《Live Streaming: Great Adventure in the Wilderness》 Chapter 1 - Chapter 1 The Beginning of Legend Chapter 1 The Beginning of Legend Translator: 549690339 ¡°Old Qin, yes, it¡¯s me, no big deal, just wanted to borrow two hundred bucks from you. I just resigned, right? Once I get through this tough spot¡­ Ah? Your wife¡¯s in the hospital? Never mind, never mind then¡­¡± ¡°Hello? Brother Xu? There¡¯s something I need¡­¡± ¡°Fatty, it¡¯s me. Didn¡¯t I just give you two thousand? No, why would I¡­ It¡¯s just that I need you to return two hundred, I¡¯m in an urgent situation¡­ Hello? Hello!¡± The rain had been falling for four hours with no sign of stopping. The cramped rented room was filled with the smell of mold; the only piece of furniture, a termite-eaten desk, was against the wall, and the young man sitting beside it once again deleted a contact from his phone before setting the phone down on the desk. The transaction record of six hundred yuan illuminated the black screen of the phone. Only three people were willing to lend him money. And he was only left with three contacts in his phone book. Though determining the quality of the relationships was the main reason, the so-called ¡°friends¡± of the original owner of this life really were lousy. In the length of the contact list he inherited, only three people were worth befriending? Forget it, that¡¯s just as well, there¡¯s no emotional burden in deleting them all. Having many close friends would actually be an inconvenience. As for those who were willing to lend him money, he would surely repay their kindness tenfold in the future! Just as the young man was firmly resolving to do this, a series of electronic tones suddenly rang by his ear. [Ding! Wilderness Live Broadcast System load complete, personal panel fully loaded, data coordination complete!] The young man stared blankly for a moment, then heaved a sigh of relief. At last, after a week of waiting, the system finally kicked in! [Sole binder: Bi Fang] [Age: 24] [Height: 183.6cm] [Weight: 68KG] [Strength: 7] [Physique: 8] [Agility: 8] [Spirit: 9] [Status: Hungry, Exhausted] [These values are based on the average data of a healthy adult male, standard constant: 10] [Enhancement Points: 0] [Occupational Skills: Foot Orienteering lv3, Rock Climbing lv1, Swimming lv2, First Aid lv3, Biological Identification lv2] ¡°Damn, such low stats, am I suffering from kidney deficiency?¡± Has he been drained by a ghost? Bi Fang looked at the panel and scoffed inwardly, even though just a week ago he was a core member of the National Wildlife Conservation Association. What rotten luck! If it weren¡¯t for trying to protect the golden cat, how could he have led the poachers away, and then fallen off a cliff in the struggle! Damn poachers! Luckily, fortune favored him, and he didn¡¯t end up in a never-ending sleep but instead arrived in another world, also named Bi Fang, a recently fired white-collar worker. No house, no car, no bad habits, nothing at all. He was done for! But since he had crossed over, as an adult, Bi Fang grudgingly accepted reality. At least his looks were still on point, not a bad deal, and he had carefully studied this world over the past week to see if there were any opportunities for¡­ pushing societal progress, shall we say. While casually waiting for his metaphoric golden finger¡­ After all, that¡¯s what they all say in the books. And then! Heaven does not forsake those who cross over! His golden finger arrived on the second day, and it was among the cr¨¨me de la cr¨¨me, a system that was still loading! Then it loaded, all the way to today¡­ He was almost unable to afford food, but finally! ¡­ Accompanied by the appearance of a pale blue panel with a technological flair, a deluge of information poured into his mind¡ªsystem explanations, mission objectives, various data¡­ Bi Fang felt dizzy for a moment, closed his eyes to ponder for a while, and eventually summarized three points: First: the essence of the system is repetitive¡­ it¡¯s wilderness broadcasting, with a variety of content mainly centered around the wilderness; Second: the system is invisible to others and relies entirely on thought for communication; Third: the system will issue missions and rewards, with the degree of compulsion unknown. Sounds decent enough¡­ Bi Fang rubbed his chin, recalling his past passion for nature and adventure which had led him to join the CWCA. If he couldn¡¯t fulfill his dream in the original world, doing it in another world wasn¡¯t a bad option. Although the memories left by the original owner weren¡¯t many, and he had made those phone calls to clear up interpersonal relationships. It could only be said that some people had really narrowed their own paths. But few as they may be, Bi Fang knew one thing for certain¡ªthe new world was almost no different from the original. The historical process was almost identical, technology was advanced, and customs were similar. Except for the cultural industry! This world had no Bear Grylls, no Grandpa De, not even similar shows! Since he couldn¡¯t sing, dance, or rap, he might as well embark on some wilderness adventures to make ends meet. As for why the system chose him, Bi Fang didn¡¯t care, nor did he dwell on it. Maybe it happened while eating, brushing his teeth, or even while wiping his butt. Anyway, when he woke up, the system was there. Perhaps it¡¯s standard equipment for a transmigrator? These days, without a golden finger, you¡¯d be embarrassed to call yourself a transmigrator! In any case, he would claim all the benefits first! [Ding! Wilderness Live Broadcast System successfully activated, beginner¡¯s gift package now issued, please check your item inventory at your leisure.] Oho? There¡¯s even a gift package? Startled, Bi Fang followed the guidance and opened the gift pack, accompanied by an effect of gold coins cascading down. [TOREAD Pathfinder trekking shoes*1, Ancestor Bird Sportswear*1, Backpack*1] [Visual Restoration Coupon*1] [Live Broadcast Device*1] [First-Person Invisible Camera*1] [Skill Can*3] Wow! Right off the bat, it was hardcore outdoor live broadcast equipment¡ªjust the timely rain for someone as poor as him! But Bi Fang knew that the most valuable items here were that coupon and the skill cans! The coupon was one of the System¡¯s rewards, and its effect was just what the name implied! And he was a bit nearsighted! Without hesitation, Bi Fang immediately focused his thoughts on the gold coupon in the item slot. Bang! The coupon turned into golden dust and scattered. Instantly, an intense sensation of coolness and sourness surged like an electric shock almost causing him to moan out loud. The horrifying amount of tears gushed out like a waterfall, quickly forming a puddle on the table¡¯s edge¡ªhe could practically dehydrate from this amount! Unheard of! Ten minutes later, as the sourness in his eyes lifted, Bi Fang slowly opened them; his stiff eyes became surprisingly lively. ¡°Wow, is it so clear?!¡± Bi Fang was startled by the sight in front of him¡ªan influx of bright light from the outside world as if a thick film had been peeled from the world. The heavy rain poured outside, slightly dim, yet he could still make out the advertisement boards several streets away, and it wasn¡¯t just the distant and near vision. The trajectory of the raindrops in the air was crystal clear¡ªthis was exceptional dynamic vision! If the coupon was this powerful, what about the skill cans? Thinking this, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t wait to use his thoughts to open one, along with the shattering effect of the can, a burst of blue light flashed. Blue Skill! Bi Fang held his breath. Was this his lucky day? Green-Blue-Purple-Orange-Red are the five levels of skills. In his past life, he had professional training, but even so, he didn¡¯t have a single blue skill! [Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining a blue top-tier skill¡ªWilderness Survivalist lv5] In an instant, a flash seemed to pass through Bi Fang¡¯s brain, and fragmented information awakened from the depths of his memory¡ªtracking prey, identifying directions, rudimentary recognition of flora and fauna, making traps, and even¡­ fighting techniques! If someone were beside him at this moment, they would undoubtedly notice Bi Fang¡¯s aura had completely changed from just a moment ago! Just a moment ago he was a timid rabbit, the next a hungry wolf¡ªnot just a hungry wolf, but a ferocious tiger! Bi Fang snapped open his eyes, and even though he was simply sitting there, his eyes shimmered with the gleam of a leopard¡ªnot only the ferocity of a wild beast but also an uncontrollable hunger within. Everyone has a beast inside; the key is how to let that beast out! ¡°Ha ha!¡± Bi Fang panted heavily, his chest heaving violently. After taking several deep breaths, he managed to suppress the restlessness within his heart. Looking at the moldy walls around him, they seemed more suffocating than ever, making him want to break through the walls and escape into the heavy rain, to run freely under the heavens and upon the earth. ¡°Is this just a max-level blue skill?¡± Bi Fang looked at his hands¡ªalien yet familiar. Everything seemed innate, fitting like a glove, a satisfaction like never before filled his heart. He looked towards the two remaining cans with an even fiercer gaze. ¡°Let¡¯s see what other good stuff is left.¡± Bang! The can shattered, revealing a purple light! Purple Skill! [Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining a purple skill¡ªAdvanced Yoga lv1] This, this, what the hell is Advanced Yoga? Seeing this, Bi Fang nearly spurted a mouthful of blood to the ceiling. He was going for wilderness streaming, not to open a yoga class! But it wasn¡¯t over yet; another electronic sound rang out. [Ding, you have received the gift pack, now initiating your first rookie mission!] Bi Fang¡¯s face showed sorrow, but his spirits lifted, understanding that after receiving benefits, it¡¯s time to work. Even a three-year-old knows this logic. And there it is¡ªthe mission! Mission Name: The First Glimmer of Sharpness Mission Location: Xiaxi Qinling Mountain Mission Mode: Wilderness Forest Survival Mission Difficulty: R3 Mission Requirements: Cannot carry any tools other than those provided by the System. Main Mission One: Set up a live broadcast, with a sustained online audience of over 500+. Main Mission Two: Survive successfully within seven days while in good condition. Side Mission: Please explore freely Completion Reward: Unknown Time Limit: 15d Ah, Qinling? Bi Fang¡¯s body trembled. He had been to Qinling in his past life, but that was with a full team and complete preparation. Now, he, a poor sickly person, was asked to survive in the wilderness without any tools¡­ He loved nature and adventure, not suicide! Ignoring the difficulty of Wilderness Survival itself, as one of China¡¯s best-preserved primeval forests, Qinling was home to many dangerous creatures. Not only did black bears often appear, but also countless venomous insects, snakes, and ants¡­ Ordinary people would perish if they mistakenly wandered in! Chapter 2 - Chapter 2: Live Streaming, Starts! Chapter 2: Live Streaming, Starts! Translator: 549690339 Bi Fang¡¯s expression was serious, and things were indeed not as simple as he had thought. Even the narrowly defined Qinling stretched over four hundred kilometers from east to west, and was more than one hundred and fifty kilometers wide from north to south. It would take half a day by car, let alone walking out on foot. There were news about tourists going missing every year, which was extremely dangerous. ¡°However, the System has given me a Blue Skill: Wilderness Survival lv5. In this area, I¡¯m an expert,¡± he said. After calming down, Bi Fang recalled the various skills in his mind and steadied himself once more. Ordinary people entering would indeed have no chance of survival. But at this moment, Bi Fang, with his professional skills, had already transcended this category; besides, he wouldn¡¯t rely solely on the System. If the first mission was this dangerous, it was foreseeable that future ones would only get more difficult. Relying solely on the System was not advisable. There were still a few days left before the mission started, and Bi Fang was going to prepare thoroughly, gather professional information, and then train his body methodically. This body was too weak, not nearly enough capital for the revolution, so he had to train! Bi Fang loved life, loved adventure, but he also hoped to have the opportunity to continue adventuring indefinitely. Why did it seem that the more we grew up, the faster time passed? Because as children we are discovering and exploring, whereas as adults we are constantly repeating. As children, we live each year as 365 days, but as adults, we live each year as 365 repetitions. He was never one for routine! The difficulties before him were not enough to scare him, and wasn¡¯t this what life was about? Fuck the office, fuck the 996 work culture, I just want to be the god of the Wilderness! With a plan in place, Bi Fang immediately took action, ready to buy tickets online for his departure. However, before that, he hadn¡¯t forgotten¡­ ¡­ There was still one unopened Skill Can¡­ ¡­ The cool mountain breeze blew in his face, causing his hair to flutter lightly in the wind ¨C the youth Bi Fang had left behind¡­ Bang! Accompanied by a bout of violent shaking, the tricycle squeaked alarmingly, on the verge of falling apart. The previously composed Bi Fang instantly broke his poise, deftly adjusting his center of gravity to stabilize his shape, yet his butt was still numb, making him wonder if he might end prematurely in his mission, suffering a coccyx fracture as soon as he made an appearance, having to let his live stream audience call for help. ¡°Old man, go a bit slower, please!¡± ¡°Alrighty!¡± The old man responded and skillfully shifted gears, making the tricycle less bumpy. Bi Fang held the handlebar with his left hand and his forehead with his right. The application at the Forestry Bureau had gone unexpectedly smoothly, but the journey there had been a real trek, transferring from high-speed train to coach, then to a minibus, and finally to a tricycle. He had made it into Qinling after much effort. To scrape together the fare, he had sold off a complete set of Ancestor Birds produced by the System¡­ Embarrassingly, Bi Fang had even considered joining the Digital Monster World to form the Dark Masters with Machinedramon, Puppetmon, and Metal Seadramon. Fortunately, wearing his own clothes didn¡¯t trigger a warning from the System, which he could still tolerate; otherwise, he might have had to practice true ¡°natural¡± survival like Grandpa De. However, when he stuffed a third jacket into his bag, he was warned by the System, quashing the little schemes in Bi Fang¡¯s mind and he stopped thinking about these unorthodox methods. With a sigh, Bi Fang started fiddling with his gear. The task had a time limit of fifteen days, with seven days for survival, two days for travel and rest, leaving him less than a week for learning and training. The results were quite significant; his strength attribute improved a bit, especially after getting a haircut, making him look much more energetic, like a completely different person from before. On the skill panel: [Green Skill: Foot Orienteering lv3, Rock Climbing lv5, Swimming lv2, First Aid lv3, Flora and Fauna Identification lv2] [Blue Skill: Wilderness Survivalist lv5] [Purple Skill: Advanced Yoga lv1] The last Skill Can he opened contained Rock Climbing, but at a higher level, refreshing the skill, which wasn¡¯t too bad. The most useful was Wilderness Survival lv5; he was relying on it primarily for survival in Qinling. As for Advanced Yoga, at first glance it seemed useless, but after practicing it a couple of times, Bi Fang found it was indeed valuable. Through various postures, it greatly improved his body¡¯s flexibility and balance, and allowed him to quickly adjust his breathing and maintain emotional stability. With a calm heart, he could understand a deeper world in any environment. This taught Bi Fang a lesson¡ªskills only provide knowledge; what effect one can achieve still depends on personal application. Like now, sitting on the tricycle with a coordinated posture, solid and steady. Pulling out the live-streaming device disguised as a drone, Bi Fang thought, and it automatically connected to the network. ¡°` I have no idea where the internet comes from in this godforsaken place, but I can only say the peripherals provided by the system are truly powerful. Not only can the live broadcasting device transform and disguise itself, it also delivers lossless image quality, operates almost silently, and is incredibly durable ¡ª not even a bullet can scratch it. It¡¯s simply perfect. The first-person invisible camera is pure sci-fi. You can wear it right in your eye. The viewpoint is clear, it can display comments, and it doesn¡¯t flicker when you blink. It connects automatically and maintains the coherence of the video, without all the usual hassles of regular contact lenses. It¡¯s just that the explanation is a bit of a hassle, but it can be managed by saying it¡¯s a highly concealed mini camera, with image quality as a result of computational optimization. Only a few smart viewers might guess the truth, but there¡¯s no way to verify it. Who would believe that a live streamer has technology that¡¯s way ahead of its time? If they were that capable, why would they bother with live streaming? Those who truly suspect would be considered fools. Now, Bi Fang really had the best hardware among all the streamers! He turned on Shark Live Streaming and went directly into the backend. Due to the participant requirement of the mission, Bi Fang chose Shark, one of the hottest platforms. He entered the live room he had previously registered and began setting the title: [Master Fang Live: Real Wilderness Survival, Experience the Charm of Qinling¡¯s Nature!] The title was a bit exaggerated and somewhat raw; it might turn some people away just by seeing it, but it was sure to pique the curiosity of many more and grab attention. After all, even the finest liquor goes unnoticed if tucked away in a remote alley. The afternoon wasn¡¯t peak streaming time, and there were few viewers. As a ¡®three-no¡¯ newbie¡ªno fans, no recommendation, no popularity¡ªhe had to have a title catchy enough to draw people in. When the viewers come in and discover this hidden gem of a boy¡ªhaha¡­ ¡°It¡¯s finally starting.¡± Bi Fang took a deep breath and hit the live button. A faint blue light flashed across the surface of the drone, and the next second, the drone took off silently and hovered behind the tricycle. The view switched to the live room¡¯s footage within his vision. In the lossless quality from above, nature seemed even more magnificent, with the leaves of tall trees in the valleys undulating in the wind like waves of ink. Impressive! Impressive enough to intoxicate and even excite! The road ahead was unknown. It was a challenge, the most thrilling adventure! Bi Fang was full of excitement, but the next moment he snapped back to reality¡ªsomeone had come in! [Wori, this image quality, is this Shark¡¯s work? Or is it a drone? What¡¯s this high-end livestream about?] [This clarity? We¡¯ve got Blu-ray quality live streams now?] The viewers who just joined were taken aback by the flawless image quality of the live broadcaster. [I have to give this picture and this face a 94. Don¡¯t ask me why, because I¡¯m watching this on the highway and got docked 6 points.] [Good image quality, thumbs up, but the streamer¡¯s looks¡­ is this another outdoor girl-chasing session? I¡¯m outta here.] ¡°Hi everyone, I¡¯m¡­¡± Just as Bi Fang was about to greet them, he realized that a third of the audience that had just come in had already left. This wouldn¡¯t do! Each viewer was a precious¡­ treasure, not to be lost so easily! However, it¡¯s no wonder the viewers reacted this way. Nowadays, most outdoor live streams are misleading; you click on one and it¡¯s all handsome guys in fancy cars trying to pick up girls outdoors. For the first time, Bi Fang felt somewhat annoyed that his face was a blend of Andy Lau on the left, Louis Koo on the right, Zunlong in front, Tin Lok behind, Tony Leung above, and Edison Chen below. Hide his face and he could pass as a fighter. But these days, everything¡¯s so competitive, even transmigration. Ugly people don¡¯t even transmigrate anymore. After all, it can affect the readers¡¯ ability to empathize. Alas, it was all his own fault. Bi Fang felt his conscience had been condemned. So he decided to be a pioneer and break this pattern! Bi Fang immediately shouted, ¡°Don¡¯t go just yet!¡± Screech. The tricycle came to a screeching halt. Under the massive inertia, Bi Fang, sitting in the tricycle, was almost thrown out, but his Advanced Yoga wasn¡¯t for nothing. With a twist of his waist and a flick of his hips, he still managed to land gracefully. ¡°Hey, I didn¡¯t tell you to stop!¡± Bi Fang said, unable to help but laugh and cry. Chapter 3 - Chapter 3 Like raindrops merging into the sea Chapter 3 Like raindrops merging into the sea Translator: 549690339 ¡°Ah?¡± The old man was confused and then looked around, shaking his head, ¡°Then I can¡¯t take you further. If we go deeper, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll get lost myself, and it¡¯s not safe!¡± Bi Fang paused upon hearing this and looked around, only then realizing that he had ventured deep into the Qinling. ¡°That¡¯s fine, let¡¯s stop here, and you should hurry back too before it gets dark.¡± ¡°Hey, you¡¯re going to stay here alone?¡± The old man was startled and couldn¡¯t fathom what the young man was thinking. He spoke earnestly, ¡°Young man, it¡¯s okay to have fun and play around, but don¡¯t joke with your life. It¡¯s already deep here. If you don¡¯t follow me, how will you get back on your own?¡± ¡°In these deep mountains and old forests, there are jackals and leopards, not one fewer. Just look at this scar.¡± The elderly man rolled up his trouser leg with a serious expression, revealing the crosshatched bite marks on his calf. Even with the undamaged image quality, the intertwined scars looked ferocious, exuding an ominous aura that startled the viewers. [Holy shit, what bit you?] [In these deep mountains and old forests, it must be a wolf, right?] [666, are there really wolves in the mountains? What is the host planning to live stream?] Bi Fang looked at the shape of the wound and also felt it was very similar to the bite marks of a canine. Wolves prefer to bite the neck, but it¡¯s not a certainty. For a moment, he regarded the man with a mix of astonishment and suspicion. Unexpectedly, the old man he had casually encountered also had a heroic tale of fighting fierce wolves. ¡°Was this¡­ bitten by a wolf?¡± ¡°How could that be!¡± The old man¡¯s yellowing eyes glared at Bi Fang, with an expression that said ¡®what are you thinking¡¯. ¡°I was bitten by a dog. If it had been a wolf, do you think I¡¯d still be standing here talking to you?¡± Bi Fang: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Young man, I¡¯m telling you this because dogs are already this dangerous, let alone wolves. You¡¯d better hurry back, and I won¡¯t charge you for the ride,¡± the old man said with sincere earnestness. Bi Fang was touched. Since his journey began, this was the first time someone had shown concern for him. But he couldn¡¯t explain it clearly, and after much persuasion, the old man reluctantly agreed, riding away on his dark green, canopy-equipped tricycle with a putt-putt sound. His silhouette was as upright as a marshal mounted on a donkey heading for the battlefield. ¡°Phew!¡± Not until the old man¡¯s figure disappeared did Bi Fang sigh with relief. It was a good thing he hadn¡¯t mentioned he was here for Wilderness Survivalist; otherwise, the old man might have tied him up and dragged him back on the spot. However¡­ He glanced at the rising popularity of his live stream and couldn¡¯t help but beam with joy; the interaction with the old man had brought significant rewards. Facing the drone camera, Bi Fang began to introduce, ¡°Alright, now that the old man has left, I didn¡¯t want to scare him. Now I can tell you, I am currently in the Primeval Forest of Xiaxi Qinling Mountain, and I will bring you a highly dangerous outdoor live stream¡ªWilderness Survivalist!¡± ¡°As the name suggests, this time, relying solely on myself, I will delve into Xiaxi Qinling Mountain, find a way to survive in this deadly wilderness, and return to civilized society!¡± ¡°In the process of outdoor travel, no matter how well-planned, things can still go wrong. You can get trapped, lost, or even fall into deadly peril.¡± ¡°So in these situations, how do we escape from difficulties? How do we stay alive? Today, I will act as a lost traveler and show you how to escape the siege of nature and find a way out!¡± While explaining, Bi Fang opened his backpack and showed its empty interior to everyone, ¡°You can see that I didn¡¯t bring any equipment, no food, and no water!¡± ¡°This is a true survival challenge against nature, a journey to the extreme!¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Bi Fang walked toward the interior of the forest, stepping on the thick turf, advancing into the silent forest that underscored the tense atmosphere! Just a few opening remarks had the audience¡¯s hair standing on end! No matter how much they imagined, they couldn¡¯t fathom how to survive in a dangerous primeval forest without any supplies! Eat dirt? Gnaw on tree bark? Beyond the necessities of survival, the forest was also fraught with danger; enemies lurked everywhere, ready to strike at any moment. Beasts, venomous snakes, viruses, parasites, natural disasters¡­ In such a deadly environment, what else could humans do apart from resign to fate? [He¡¯s crazy, truly crazy!] [Without water and food, what will you eat and drink?] [Oh my God, so scary, isn¡¯t this basically a death live stream?] [Too fake, surely no one thinks this isn¡¯t a forest park, right? No way, no way, right?] [No deception here, this really is a primeval forest. Whether it¡¯s the density of the undergrowth or the diversity of the trees, man-made forests can¡¯t achieve this. I¡¯m a graduate student in college, majoring in horticulture.] [But that doesn¡¯t prove anything. I bet the host won¡¯t last a day.] [Exactly, the dude earlier was saying there are jackals and leopards around, encountering them would be game over!] [All shills, whoever believes it is an idiot.] No matter the quality of the comments, there weren¡¯t many people in the live broadcast room, but there were quite a few sending bullet comments. In some live broadcasts, there might only be one or two people sending bullet comments out of a hundred viewers. Of course, some of these viewer counts might have been fabricated. It wasn¡¯t unusual for platforms to use bots to manipulate data. Indeed, in the field of Wilderness Survivalist broadcasting, Bi Fang, as the first one to break new ground, caused an unparalleled sensation! ¡°I won¡¯t deceive anyone. You can judge for yourselves whether it¡¯s true or not. But please don¡¯t try to imitate me. After all, I¡¯ve had professional training and a wealth of experience,¡± [Despite that, I still want to say, it¡¯s crazy.] [My goodness, you¡¯re hogging all the swagger for yourself.] [When it comes to bragging, I bow down to you as the strongest.] Indeed, nobody believed him, but Bi Fang wasn¡¯t bragging. In his past life at CWCA, he had wandered around, genuinely having seen all sorts of extraordinary things. But it¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t believe it. Just don¡¯t rush off. Seeing two more people leave, Bi Fang became anxious and immediately decided to do something. He walked straight to a tree, snapped off a straight branch, then moved to an area where sunlight was shining, and spoke to the camera. ¡°As a traveler lost in a primeval forest, the first thing we need to figure out is the direction, and then make a plan accordingly.¡± ¡°There¡¯s an old saying: During the day look at the sun, at night the stars, and on cloudy days the plants. During daylight, the sun is undoubtedly one of the most important cues for determining direction.¡± [The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Can¡¯t you just use your hands to tell the direction?] [666, just use your hands, really? Without knowing the time, how would you know where the sun is currently positioned? xswl] [Don¡¯t you have a cellphone? Or a watch?] [And phones and watches, why don¡¯t you ask if there¡¯s champagne steak available?] ¡°If you think the sun surely rises in the east and sets in the west, then you¡¯re mistaken,¡± Bi Fang said, shaking his head as he read the bullet comments. ¡°In the summer, above the Tropic of Cancer and excluding the Arctic Circle, the sun rises from the northeast in the morning and sets in the northwest in the afternoon. It¡¯s not absolutely east to west. In winter, it¡¯s the opposite. The higher the latitude, the more pronounced this phenomenon is.¡± ¡°One summer, I went to Jiamusi. The sun rose from the northeast direction at a little past three in the morning, and it didn¡¯t set in the northwest until almost eight at night. So, we can¡¯t simply use time to determine the sun¡¯s direction. The deviation can be quite significant, let alone that we don¡¯t have watches on us.¡± The audience was bewildered. If this doesn¡¯t work and that doesn¡¯t work, then how do we determine direction? ¡°Here I¡¯ll teach you all, the easiest method is still the shadow-stick method, not only convenient but also with a fixed direction.¡± As he said this, Bi Fang stabbed the snapped-off branch into the ground, then used his finger to trace the shadow of the stick on the dirt, drawing a straight line and making a mark at the end point, A. A few minutes later, to the confused audience, some of whom had even left, Bi Fang drew another line along the shadow and marked the end point B. Then he drew a straight line going through the two shadow end points. ¡°You see, the direction of this straight line is the precise east-west line. The end of the first shadow, point A, is west, while the end of the second shadow, point B, is east. The line perpendicular to the east-west line is the north-south line,¡± Gesturing with his hands, Bi Fang said with a grin, ¡°What do you think, pretty simple, right? The astronomer from the Yuan dynasty, Guo Shoujing, once used this method. No need to overthink it, just remember it directly.¡± The audience watching the screen was dumbfounded. How could two lines just drawn out of nowhere determine direction? [Eh¡­] [I know this, because¡­ so¡­ That¡¯s right, it¡¯s like this!] [You didn¡¯t say anything though] [Any genius want to explain?] [Damn, I finally get it! It¡¯s because no matter whether the sun rises strictly in the east or sets in the west, it¡¯s always symmetrical around north and south. Accordingly, the shadows also reflect this. The two shadows are like an abridged version of the east-west axis, and by selecting their perpendicular bisector, the accurate east-west axis emerges!] ¡°That¡¯s correct, this is actually a simple physics problem, and that¡¯s the gist of it!¡± Bi Fang nodded in agreement, thankful that someone else had explained it, saving him the trouble. The concept itself wasn¡¯t hard to understand; it¡¯s just something most people wouldn¡¯t think of. [666, incomprehensible but awe-inspiring] [Boss, you¡¯re awesome!] [Blue Seaweed sends the host fish balls*100¡ªImpressive!] Seeing the audience captivated, Bi Fang felt inwardly thrilled but held back his excitement, clearing his throat. ¡°Oh right, seems like I forgot to introduce myself earlier? Let¡¯s get acquainted again.¡± ¡°My name is Bi Fang, a professional explorer. I¡¯ve witnessed blue whales struggle to death under the attack of orcas and seen black panthers.n I¡¯ve crossed the Amazon rainforest and visited the land of the most mysterious miracles.n But all these moments, all these fragments of time, have become a piece of the puzzle in my exciting life, just like raindrops merging into the ocean.n This forest is the same.¡± ¡°Today marks the first live broadcast of my adventure journeys, we will begin, right here, together!¡± Chapter 4 - Chapter 4 Professional Skill max Chapter 4 Professional Skill max Translator: 549690339 ¡°Looking back at the evolution of humanity, if our ancestors hadn¡¯t possessed the courage for adventure and imagination, the willingness to innovate, and the grandeur of spirit and magnificent sentiment to make sacrifices, humans would never have surfed the seas in canoes, exploring the infinite mysteries of the oceans beyond.¡± Curiosity sparked the impulse for adventure, and adventure ignited the torch of civilization. Adventure isn¡¯t just about the natural world¡¯s oceans and mountains, deserts and swamps; it also lies within densely populated cities.¡± ¡°My name is Bi Fang, a professional outdoor explorer. Here, I¡¯ll show you how to survive in some of the most dangerous places on Earth, where without professional skills, you wouldn¡¯t last even a day.¡± ¡°This time, I¡¯ve come to Qinling, and I¡¯ll find a way to survive on foot in this well-preserved primeval forest!¡± The drone flew rapidly, with the black mountains and forests coming into view, covering everything beneath its lens. The wind blew across millions of hectares of forest¡ªit was an ocean, a vast green sea, with thousands upon thousands of tree crowns swaying in the wind, forming wave upon wave of foliage. The light of the sky cast tree shadows on Bi Fang; his tall and slender figure seemed so small and unreachable under the giant trees of the mountains, but the confidence in his speech gave an overwhelmingly strong impact. By foot alone? Is it possible? The audience felt their legs go weak. [Damn, this visual, this rhetoric, it¡¯s fire.] [So thrilling, this is my first time watching this, should I prepare some tissues? (joking)] [Isn¡¯t this more hype than ¡®Boruto¡¯?] Looking at the camera, Bi Fang pulled the stunned audience back to reality. ¡°Since we have already figured out the direction, it¡¯s time to plan our survival route.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t return the way Grandpa De sent me; that would be boring. Therefore, choosing the right direction to move forward is crucial.¡± ¡°In Qinling, I choose to head south because south of Qinling is a subtropical climate, warm and humid, with richer natural resources, which is more suitable for our survival.¡± With top wilderness survival skills, coupled with experiences from a past life, Bi Fang was confident, with a clear thought process, and as he walked, he explained his survival plan to the audience. ¡°Next, the task is to find a river. On one hand, we need water; on the other hand¡­¡± ¡°Looking at history, we can see that rivers are the cradle of civilizations, and one of the most vital conditions for the survival of living beings. As long as you follow a river, you can usually find populated areas.¡± ¡°And once we find people, our survival is considered a success.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s tone was steady, which, in the eerie primeval forest, made him seem even more composed and calm. Finding a river meant finding hope for survival. Because a river brings not only water but also the key to survival, a compass to civilization! [Though the host is young, look at this analysis¡ªjust one word, professional!] [Convincing evidence.jpg] [Kanagawa?Maple Maple has sent the host a membership card*1¡ªfollowing the wave] [But now that the old man has left, leaving only the host, why does it feel so creepy?] [Yeah, I didn¡¯t feel it at first, but now with only the host left, in the deep forest and thickets, it¡¯s like watching a horror movie¡­] ¡°It¡¯s perfectly normal.¡± As for the audience¡¯s reaction, Bi Fang was quite unconcerned; he had felt the same way during his first entry into the primeval forest: the claustrophobic environment, isolated from the outside world, dangerous flora and fauna¡­ ¡°Feeling uncomfortable in an unfamiliar environment is a very important aspect of wilderness survival. Maintaining an optimistic mindset is crucial; only with a positive attitude can you have the confidence to overcome difficulties. Now that difficulties have arisen, there¡¯s no need to make the situation worse.¡± A coin has two sides, and so do situations; you can¡¯t just focus on the negative and ignore the positive. As an expert in wilderness survival, keeping optimistic is how you ensure your body and mind stay in good condition. This not only cultivates one¡¯s character but also helps to tap into one¡¯s potential. But it¡¯s clear that mindset alone isn¡¯t enough; skill is equally important. Even basic walking requires attention to detail. ¡°During our journey, we must be careful not to take large strides. Instead, keep your steps moderate, light, and relaxed. Also, don¡¯t lift your feet too high; drag them. This can relieve leg muscles and conserve energy without affecting your speed.¡± ¡°Additionally, make your walk as natural and smooth as possible, not causing fatigue and strain to the body.¡± ¡°To achieve this, you need to control your limb movements, avoid excessive fatigue in your legs, and distribute the pressure that occurs during walking across your feet and arms.¡± Bi Fang, while ascending the slope, hunched his body low, relaxed his back and leaned forward slightly, his legs a bit bent, his head and arms lowered, stabilizing his entire center of gravity on his lower body. He coordinated his breathing with his steps, making his walk steady and energy-efficient. Even though taking long strides often feels powerful, endurance is more important for wilderness treks. Ample physical strength is the foundation of all activities. [So handsome, it shocked the Central Committee, has sent a Plane*1 to the streamer¡ªSeeing that posture, you know he¡¯s a veteran of uphill streaming.] [That goodnight w has sent 100 Fish Balls to the streamer¡ªIt¡¯s all in the details.] [Feels like the streamer knows so much, even walking has so many particulars.] ¡°It¡¯s not that I know a lot, I just knew it before you all did; now you know too, right?¡± Bi Fang laughed in the face of the audience¡¯s compliments, completely unfazed. [Damn, with just that saying from the streamer, I¡¯m a fan.] [Blue Seaweed has sent 300 Fish Balls to the streamer¡ªFor knowing beforehand, I¡¯m in love.] [Kanagawa?Maple Maple has sent a Shark Fin*1 to the streamer] [Sending over a small gray plane] ¡°Thank you, thanks everyone for your support!¡± Bi Fang was somewhat delighted, thanking each of his fans who sent gifts. This was the first time he had received so many gifts, which held special meaning. The gifts on Shark Live Stream are divided into several tiers, with a Super Rocket costing 2000, a Yacht 1314, a Rocket 500, a Plane 100, a Membership Card 6, a Weak Chicken 0.2, and a Thumbs Up 0.1. Additionally, there are Fish Balls, gifted in units of 100, with 100 Fish Balls equaling 0.1 yuan. A Shark Fin costs 1 yuan each, and sending a certain number per month in a room can lead to a level-up. Among these, the Plane is special; the streamer gets an 80% commission from this gift, rather than 50% In other words, with just that wave of gifts, Bi Fang had earned almost two hundred! You could throw an extra sausage into your instant noodles now! The situation was looking great! This made Bi Fang breathe a sigh of relief, as he had managed to keep the audience interested. Actually, before this live stream, he did not have much confidence. Although a theme like Wilderness Survival Skill is always popular as it¡¯s full of useful information, no matter the world, live streaming and edited videos are fundamentally different formats. Videos from Bear Grylls and Grandpa De are like a proper meal, nutritionally balanced, orderly, from appetizers to soup, to the final dessert and drink, even the plating is immaculate, dense with information, leaving the audience satisfied and full. Live streaming is more like snacks; as long as it¡¯s not too horrible, most people don¡¯t care about the nutrition and just want something to keep their mouths busy. For example, the boring trekking that Bi Fang was doing would definitely be cut from a video, but not from a live stream, so the density of information is lower. Therefore, interaction with and involvement of the audience is extremely important, which is also the most appealing aspect of live streaming. At this moment, the audience¡¯s sense of participation was very strong! The temperature of the live broadcast room gradually rose, and the number of viewers steadily increased, lifting Bi Fang¡¯s spirits. His legs no longer ached, his back no longer felt sore, and he traversed the forest as if it were flat ground, covering several hundred meters in a single breath. ¡°However, even though our plan is simple, carrying it out is not easy.¡± ¡°In November 2019, during a mountain climbing trip organized by an outdoor club in Xiaxi, one person went missing. At the time, there were no less than seven professional rescue teams, including the local villagers; over 150 people searched, finding the swollen, dehydrated, and unconscious climber only after five days.¡± ¡°The trapped climber related that he just wanted to take photos at the top of the mountain, but the fog was too dense to take pictures. Just as he decided to return, he found himself lost, all in less than ten minutes.¡± ¡°Even when I travel, I never change my route on a whim, and always prepare all kinds of supplies and tools just in case.¡± As he walked, Bi Fang tried to make the process of trekking more interesting while cautioning the viewers not to recklessly imitate him. These examples are all real, information he had gathered and noted down a few days ago. At the same time, this was also the speaking style of Bear Grylls from his past life, which he was deliberately emulating. Every successful project has its merits worth adopting. Bear Grylls was so popular in his previous life¡ªit would be a waste not to copy¡­ahem, not to learn from him. Surely Bear Grylls couldn¡¯t cross worlds just to hit him, right? It¡¯s just unreasonable. And looking at the rising popularity of this live stream room, Bear Grylls, forever a legend! Chapter 5 - Chapter 5 The Wilderness of Lurking Crisis 4 Chapter 5 The Wilderness of Lurking Crisis 4 Translator: 549690339 [Swollen all over¡­sounds terribly painful.] [Lost within ten minutes of leaving the group? Just like that?] [Everyone agreed to bring enough equipment, and you only brought a bag (funny).] [I¡¯m dying, it¡¯s just like agreeing with friends to prepare ingredients for hotpot, and only bringing a pair of chopsticks.] [Startled into gifting the host a membership card*1¡ªlooks like the host is the real deal!] [iMuji gifts the host fishballs*200¡ªstill, safety first.] There were a few bullet screen comments, dozens of viewers, and hundreds of degrees of heat! Bi Fang appeared calm on the surface, but his heart was surging. The real number of viewers must have already exceeded thirty by now, and it¡¯s been less than an hour, it looks like the mission requirement is just around the corner! ¡°Thank you, thank you iMuji for your concern, but don¡¯t be skeptical, folks.¡± Bi Fang faced the drone, pretending to read the comments on it, playing his part to the hilt. Although he could have the bullet screen comments displayed directly in his line of sight, he couldn¡¯t show it. As far as he knew, this world hadn¡¯t yet developed equipment at the system¡¯s level. ¡°Even experienced climbers will plan their route before a climb. If they change the route on the fly, along with poor time management, they are very likely to get lost, which can be dangerous.¡± ¡°And once you are lost and trapped, you need to stay calm, call for help, and after making contact, wait patiently in the same place or somewhere with clear signs. You must not attempt to rescue yourself blindly, hoping for the best.¡± [What if there¡¯s no signal?] [Yeah, after all, this is the Primeval Forest.] [Speaking of which, how come the host¡¯s drone has a signal? It feels so powerful, the signal is strong, and the picture quality seems better than Blu-ray.] ¡°Everyone stop guessing. This drone is custom-made for a hefty price, even better than some military ones,¡± Bi Fang casually explained. Bi Fang then rested his chin on his hands and chuckled: ¡°If there¡¯s no signal¡­ wouldn¡¯t that be the reason you all watch my live stream?¡± [666, got shown up by the host.] [What logical reasoning, Yazier.] [Just joined. What does this host do? Can someone with clout explain?] Among a bunch of joking bullet screen comments, one with a different tone slipped in, but before Bi Fang could explain, the enthusiastic audience had already explained everything. Having fans is just awesome! ¡°Welcome new viewers, but, as the saying goes, it¡¯s best to prevent problems before they arise. If there really are people wanting to venture into the wild, they should consider getting an emergency GPS beacon, which has satellite positioning. Unless you run off to the Mariana Trench, you¡¯ll have a signal.¡± After joking with the viewers, Bi Fang noticed a steep slope ahead, overgrown with bushes, and he prepared to find a suitable stick to use as a walking stick. The forest is different from the rainforest; if it¡¯s not raining, the ground is mostly dry. The main challenges in traveling are the low shrubs, and the venomous creatures hidden under the weeds and dead leaves. For this reason, a suitable stick can save a lot of unnecessary trouble. It¡¯s not only energy-saving, but it also helps to scare away snakes and insects and to make sure of the footing. Scanning the surroundings, Bi Fang easily found a reasonably straight stick and continued on his way. But after not walking far, he suddenly stopped, like a robot that had lost power. Just now¡­ something seemed off. Bi Fang tried to recall the patch of grass where he had picked up the stick. After mentally picturing the look of the grass, his pupils instantly shrank, and he quickly hurried back. [Huh? Why is he going back?] [Something¡¯s up (shh)] [Definitely found something~!] [What happened?] Yes, something big had happened. Bi Fang reached the grass patch he had been at before, crouched down, and stared intently at a small clump of grass as if there were some man-eating beast there. He had never expected to encounter such an incident just upon entering the forest; not even novels would dare to be so coincidental! He had nearly ignored it! Not far away was a clump of grass that was a distinctly different color from the surrounding environment, darker yellow, as if it were about to wither. It was scat! Some wild animal had excreted here! Almost in an instant, Bi Fang, with his top-level wilderness skills, analyzed everything. He had been too careless not to notice earlier! He thought he could rest easy with his system-acquired skills, but reality had taught him a harsh lesson. If it weren¡¯t for the subconscious warning, he wouldn¡¯t have noticed at all! Being alone in the wilderness and yet so lacking in vigilance! Bi Fang cursed himself internally, then immediately lay down on the ground, his nose close to the spot, and sniffed lightly, a strong ammonia smell wafted. Indeed! ¡°There has been a wild animal around here!¡± Boom! The viewers in the live stream exploded into a frenzy upon hearing these words. [There¡¯s a wild animal? What is it? Can you eat it?] [How does the host know?] ¡°[Whoa, isn¡¯t that very dangerous?]¡± ¡°[The host is so handsome!]¡± ¡°[Infatuated one, scram, this is a stream of true skills]¡± ¡°Everyone, take a look at these weeds. The style is clearly different from the other weeds. All the other grasses are green, so why is this one yellow and wilted?¡± Before the audience could answer, Bi Fang gave the answer, ¡°It¡¯s a burn from young plants, these are symptoms only found in burns!¡± ¡°There are no pesticides in the primeval forest, so the only possibility for sudden plant burns is being urinated on. The large amounts of inorganic salts in urine cause a change in osmotic pressure, making the soil solution¡¯s concentration higher than that of the root hair cells¡¯ fluid. Thus, the root hair cells can¡¯t absorb water and instead lose water, causing the plants to wilt!¡± ¡°[Darn, it¡¯s just pee, I got nervous over nothing!]¡± ¡°[Art Style: Feels offended]¡± ¡°[It¡¯s getting smelly already.]¡± ¡°[This urine frost is almost sticking to my face, take it away for me!]¡± ¡°[It¡¯s just some urine, right? There are so many animals in the forest, isn¡¯t that normal?]¡± ¡°[You can¡¯t talk like that. Better safe than sorry, what if it¡¯s from some fierce beast?]¡± ¡°The only good news now is that the ammonia smell on these grasses is strong, indicating that the wild animal urinated some time ago, likely over an hour, so we¡¯re relatively safe, but we still can¡¯t stay for long!¡± Burned plants need over a day to show symptoms, indicating that this wild animal frequently excretes here. This isn¡¯t the first time it has urinated here. It¡¯s likely a habitual behavior for marking territory. Bi Fang stood up, picked up a long branch, and started clearing the nearby weed bushes while paying attention to the surroundings. The originally beautiful forest became fraught with danger, as if a ferocious beast could charge out at any moment! ¡°Judging from the amount of urine, this animal is not small. It¡¯s at least bigger than a common wild dog or a deer. But to make a clearer judgment, we need to check if there¡¯s any of its feces nearby.¡± ¡°[Darn, Master Fang is ruthless!]¡± ¡°[Looking for poop, are you serious?]¡± ¡°[Didn¡¯t expect this to be a live stream with such heavy taste!]¡± ¡°[Go eat shit.]¡± Bi Fang focused on clearing the weeds, and finally found a few dark brown elongated objects beside a shrub less than three meters away. He didn¡¯t mind the dirt, directly picked them up, crumbled them, and even sniffed at them, frowning, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s feces!¡± Heavens! What is this operation? Many viewers were stunned, completely shocked by the scene. ¡°[Don¡¯t come closer!]¡± ¡°[Old Eight¡¯s secret recipe hamburger, tastes amazing]¡± ¡°[There you go, brothers, just do it!]¡± But Bi Fang ignored the audience¡¯s intense reaction, continued to knead, and then spread the crumbs in the palm of his hand. After thoroughly identifying it, Bi Fang sighed deeply, ¡°Guys, it seems our luck isn¡¯t good.¡± ¡°[What¡¯s wrong? Is there poison in the feces?]¡± ¡°[The one upstairs is toxic¡­]¡± ¡°[What happened again? Stop startling me, my blood pressure is going up.]¡± ¡°[What animal¡¯s feces are they?]¡± Looking at the feces in his hand, Bi Fang said with a grave tone, ¡°This feces is from a wolf. We may already be in its territory!¡± ¡°[Scared me to death, it¡¯s just a wolf, I thought the host was going to eat it.]¡± ¡°[Are you serious upstairs¡­]¡± ¡°[Crap, there it is, a wolf!]¡± ¡°[Should we retreat?]¡± ¡°[You kidding? Brother Fang looks like an old hunter, scared?]¡± ¡°[That¡¯s right, what¡¯s there to be afraid of? Today the host will perform ¡®Master Fang Fights the Wolf¡¯!]¡± Bi Fang¡¯s face twitched. The online friends really thought highly of him. He could handle a lone wolf using his system skills, but if there was a pack, he¡¯d have no doubt he would die. He wasn¡¯t willing to take such a gamble. ¡°Whether it¡¯s a lone wolf or a pack, these urines and feces could likely be their territorial markers. If that¡¯s the case, then we¡¯ve already stepped into their territory. We must leave quickly.¡± ¡°[That¡¯s right, safety first, live streaming second.]¡± ¡°[I can¡¯t help but support that.]¡± ¡°[Go go go! The Wild Wolf Great Escape!]¡± ¡°[Wilderness Trouble #1, Beast Attack!]¡± Tossing the feces aside, Bi Fang picked up the branch and advanced deeper into the forest. From a distance, the serene forest was no longer grand and beautiful but had become a terrifying and gloomy hazard¡­ Chapter 6 - Chapter 6: Birds Egg? Chapter 6: Bird¡¯s Egg? Translator: 549690339 [Why does the host know it¡¯s wolf dung just by glancing at it?] [Yeah, how did you figure that out?] [Coach, I want to learn this!] The audience was very curious about Bi Fang¡¯s judgment. Could he really tell so much from just a pile of dung? ¡°Because there are several very obvious characteristics,¡± Bi Fang wove through the forest, sharing his analysis. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you noticed before, but the dung has a diameter between 3 to 5 centimeters and contains a large amount of hair and bone fragments.¡± ¡°The color of the hair varies from light to dark. This is rabbit or deer hair, and the color that¡¯s darker, almost black, is because the predator consumed a lot of fresh, blood-rich meat, which, combined with the size of the dung, indicates the predator¡¯s size, while the hair reveals its dietary habits.¡± ¡°And the medium-sized carnivores that can catch rabbits and deer are wolves.¡± [Learned something new, time to confront the wolves!] [I just checked mine¡­] [Upstairs, gross!] [Aren¡¯t you guys scared¡­] [Scared +1.] [+2.] The discovery of wolf feces made many viewers anxious. In order to stay away from a possible encounter with wolves, Bi Fang didn¡¯t stop for a moment, fearing that if he slowed down, he might be followed by a pack of wolves. Fortunately, what he had sold before was the Ancestor Bird Suit, not explorer hiking boots. In the Primeval Forest, the road was rugged, and dense thickets concealed many sharp stones. Without a good pair of shoes, it would be impossible to move even an inch! However, as he hurried on, Bi Fang¡¯s condition gradually worsened, with a burning pain accompanying the emptiness in his stomach. ¡°I can¡¯t go on, I¡¯m very hungry now. For today¡¯s live stream, I didn¡¯t even eat lunch, so before we continue on, we need to find some food first.¡± After saying this, Bi Fang jumped off a boulder and wiped his sweat. This body¡¯s fitness was truly lacking. Just an hour of walking had already left him gasping for breath, and his legs started to feel weak and numb. But Bi Fang did his best to moderate his breathing and didn¡¯t show his struggle in front of the audience. [My heart goes out to Brother Fang. Wilderness live streaming is really not that easy.] [Yeah, it¡¯s already tough without food, but just the thought of wolves possibly chasing behind chills me to the bone.] [In face of beauty, loyalty steps aside. Gift to the host Shark Fins*10 ¡ªServing some shark fins to tide over the hunger for the host.] [+1, I¡¯ll send some fish balls.] [Shark fins received.] ¡°Thank you all for your concern. You don¡¯t have to worry too much; these are all normal Wilderness Survivalist operations, and I¡¯m already used to them after training,¡± Bi Fang reassured the audience. Seeing the gifts pour in, despite his urgency, Bi Fang still gave a big smile to the audience in the sunlight. [Brother Fang has such a nice smile] [I believe in love again] [Floating Life Is but a Dream gifts the host a Plane*1¡ªGo for it, Master Fang, I love you!] [Whoa, is that a female fan?] [Shocking, female fan appears during outdoor live stream, and the reason is him!] [What¡¯s so shocking? With Master Fang being so handsome, is it strange to have female fans?] An hour passed, and the popularity of the live stream continued to rise, with the number of online viewers reaching over eighty! And this wasn¡¯t even the peak time for evening live streaming yet! Lavish with instant noodles, sausages, and eggs today! But Bi Fang didn¡¯t let it get to his head and remained focused on searching for food, when suddenly, a pile of fresh weeds appeared in his view. Bi Fang¡¯s eyes shone green as he began tearing at it like a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey. [Is he going to eat grass?] [Has it become so difficult that he¡¯s starting to eat grass and chew on bark?] [The almighty Master Fang, not so impressive after all (facetious)] Bi Fang¡¯s face darkened; he wasn¡¯t about to eat grass; he quickly explained. ¡°This pile of grass has clearly been foraged through, and since there are no people in the Primeval Forest, it was most likely deer or some other herbivore that rummaged for food here!¡± ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, we can find some leftovers, be it earthworms or whatever insects, they are all high in protein, and can really help replenish our strength.¡± Over here, Bi Fang had been digging for a while when he indeed saw several purplish-red worms writhing and entangling, looking like red silk threads. They were earthworms. Great stuff! Bi Fang excitedly said, ¡°Look! There indeed are a few earthworms left, the protein content of these creatures is nearly four times that of beef, making them an excellent source of energy.¡± ¡°A gift from nature!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s words hit the audience like a depth charge, shocking and stirring them inside out! To eat earthworms? What a joke? Utterly insane! [That¡¯s so bloody disgusting!] [It¡¯s over, the streamer has gone mad with hunger!] [Earthworms? Are those things even edible?] [Spare me, I¡¯m still eating potato chips here.] Bi Fang chuckled, reached out to pinch an earthworm, and pulled it out whole, bringing it under the camera for everyone to take a good look. ¡°To you, it¡¯s just a worm, but for me, it¡¯s a precious source of protein.¡± ¡°With my height and weight, even if I lay still all day, I¡¯d consume over eighteen hundred calories, not to mention that I¡¯ve been on the move since noon and have already expended a tremendous amount of energy.¡± ¡°So, I must do whatever it takes to replenish energy. In such extreme and harsh environments, as long as you can maintain bodily functions, no matter how disgusting the thing is, you¡¯ve got to overcome it.¡± ¡°Staying alive is the foundation of everything!¡± Having said that, he stripped the earthworm of the mud on its body, holding the squirming and twisting worm, he prepared to eat it raw by tilting his head back. [I¡¯m gonna puke] [Please, no more, sob sob sob!] [My mom¡¯s asking why I¡¯m watching the livestream on my knees] [No, no, Brother Fang, don¡¯t eat. Look at the tree in front of you, there¡¯s a bird nest!] [Right, there seems to be a bird nest on the tree ahead!] [Brother Fang, stop eating, there¡¯s good stuff!] [There are bird eggs, why eat earthworms?] Hm? A bird nest? Bi Fang, upon seeing the comments, paused and lifted his head, indeed spotting a bird nest on a large tree ahead. And the seasons of summer and autumn happen to be when birds breed¡­ Bi Fang¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up, but before he took any action, he frowned again. If he weren¡¯t so hungry, no one could accept eating earthworms raw, but there might not be any goods in the bird nest, and it would be a waste of energy to check, and what if it¡¯s a protected animal¡­ Live broadcasting Wilderness Survivalist isn¡¯t that easy; one must always be cautious of every word and action. If you eat any protected animals, the state would surely ban you without a doubt. For a moment, Bi Fang hesitated. [He¡¯s reluctant, isn¡¯t he? He must be reluctant, right?] [Great Sage, put away your magical powers. The earthworms won¡¯t run away; if all else fails, just come back and eat them!] Hey, that makes sense. Enlightened by the comment, Bi Fang realized indeed, whether or not he went up to check, he could eat if there was something, and if not, he could always return to continue digging earthworms. With that in mind, he stopped hesitating, stuffed the earthworm into his pocket, and began to size up the large tree in front of him. [I love this pocket-stuffing detail.] [Frugal Master Fang.jpg] [But this tree is really tall, didn¡¯t notice it just now.] [Dang, that¡¯s got to be over ten meters tall, right? Who can even reach that!] [So we can¡¯t avoid eating earthworms, huh¡­] As the drone rose, everyone then realized just how high the bird nest was, even more than ten meters off the ground, completely out of reach! Chapter 7 - Chapter 7 Dont Reach Out! Chapter 7 Don¡¯t Reach Out! Translator: 549690339 The towering tree that blotted out the sun was estimated to be over fifteen meters tall, and the nest situated at a height of over ten meters¡ªnearly the equivalent to a four-story building. Everyone was troubled. But Bi Fang was not worried, for when he set his sight on the tree, the route planning, points of leverage, climbing motions¡­ ¡­many details instinctively came to mind, and on the spot, no less than three possible routes appeared in his mind! Among countless branches, each pathway was exceptionally clear, unobstructed! Climbing Lv5! What high tree of over ten meters? It¡¯s clearly nothing but a simple ladder! Earthworms? Decent people have eggs, who would eat earthworms! Thinking this, Bi Fang rubbed his hands together, somewhat excitedly saying, ¡°This is a Metasequoia, characteristic of having numerous branches, which start dividing from a lower point, all of which are excellent footholds, so climbing it will not be hard!¡± [???] [Is Old Fang going to climb the tree?] [How do you climb such a tall tree?] [Safety first, guys. Play it smart, don¡¯t take risks!] [Is this the end just as it began?] The number of viewers in the livestream increased gradually, and many who just joined found Bi Fang about to take the risk of climbing a tree, rushing to dissuade him. ¡°You really don¡¯t need to worry, climbing this tree isn¡¯t as difficult as you think!¡± Bi Fang was preparing to explain in detail when a long comment suddenly caught everyone¡¯s attention. [The host is right, I¡¯ve been into rock climbing for three or four years, and there are actually a lot of holds on this tree, but that¡¯s assuming you have a safety rope. The host is climbing barehanded, right?] [Without a rope, one mistake and it¡¯s goodbye. Emmm¡­ I for one wouldn¡¯t dare do that¡­] Well now, the viewers were even more concerned. After all, this was in the outdoor live broadcasting section, and it wasn¡¯t unusual to encounter viewers who really knew their stuff about rock climbing while browsing here. Seeing this, Bi Fang scratched his head, feeling that the situation was developing differently from what he had expected. This tree, to him, was indeed not challenging, with a diameter far exceeding the safety threshold of 15 centimeters. With that in mind, Bi Fang decided to let the facts speak for themselves. ¡°For trees with many branches, we can use the swing leg method, which means grabbing a branch with both hands, swinging the legs to put one leg up on the branch, and then leveraging that to climb.¡± After rubbing his palms, to the astonishment of the viewers, Bi Fang took a running start and leaped, stepping onto the trunk. The rough bark provided enough friction that, with this brief lift, Bi Fang jumped and grasped a branch with both hands. ¡°The key to the swing leg method is to swing the legs and drape one over the branch. With both arms wrapping around the branch, your biceps are then positioned on the top side of the trunk. Next, you swing the other leg that¡¯s hanging in the air, flex the biceps, and flip your body over. That way, you¡¯ll make it onto the branch.¡± After explaining, Bi Fang began to sway his body and, with a push, stepped on the trunk again, walking as if he were moonwalking, before finally using his arms and legs together to straddle the branch! The whole process was smooth and done in one go! His upper body strength may indeed have been insufficient, but his technique was top-notch! With the right technique, climbing a tree is definitely not difficult! [What just happened?] [My god, if you say the host isn¡¯t a special forces soldier, I won¡¯t believe it.] [Throwback primate.jpg] [Damn, with that skill alone, Master Fang definitely hasn¡¯t been slacking! I¡¯ve been rock climbing for almost three to four years and still am not as proficient as the host!] [Is he really that strong?] [Absolutely. The way he grabbed the branch at the beginning shows how solid Master Fang¡¯s basics are. And the fact that he dared to climb so quickly without safety ropes and without any hesitation clearly shows he often practices. I misspoke earlier; even with a rope, I wouldn¡¯t dare climb like that. He¡¯s certainly a master of barehanded climbing!] [666, here we go again, it¡¯s starting again!] Above, amidst the dense branches, Bi Fang adeptly continued to ascend, leaping directly whenever he encountered displaced branches, which was extremely risky. ¡°Whew, you see, its branches are really abundant, and all perfect footholds. It¡¯s truly not difficult, and if you, mastering some techniques, were to try a few times, you could do it too.¡± Sitting on a branch, Bi Fang looked into the camera, panting, ¡°Tree climbing is much about technique. First is clothing¡ªit shouldn¡¯t be so tight that it restricts movement, nor so loose that it might catch on branches.¡± ¡°Next, your body should be somewhat relaxed, and remember the three-point rule. Three out of your four limbs should be firmly attached to the tree at three distinct points, forming a triangulated base.¡± ¡°The triangle is a very stable structure. With three points of support, our center of gravity is easier to control and shift. Also, if one point fails, the other two can provide timely support.¡± Bi Fang paused, deciding to explain two scenarios, ¡°However, if both feet are placed on the same branch, it can only be considered one point of support. Sitting or leaning against the tree doesn¡¯t count as a support point, as it can¡¯t provide any when the other points fail.¡± Once again climbing onto a branch, Bi Fang took a break, as climbing trees was indeed very draining. ¡°Try to grab the tree branch as close to the trunk as possible, and remember, branches less than 7.5cm in diameter should only bear the weight of one hand. If stepping on it, the sole of your foot should be perpendicular to the branch and placed where it connects to the trunk. And never, ever grab a branch that is cracked as it¡¯s extremely dangerous.¡± As if to prove this point, just as Bi Fang finished resting and reached for a branch to continue his ascent¡­ Crack! Rustle¡­ The branch he had grabbed suddenly broke off and fell! Bi Fang lost his balance, his heart pounding as he quickly grabbed a nearby thinner branch and steadied his feet, barely avoiding a fall. [Damn, that scared me] [Holy shit, is his mouth blessed? Whatever he says happens!] [That reaction was too quick, right?] [666, literally dropped into hell] [Master Fang: Basic operations, don¡¯t overreact] [Everyone sit down, don¡¯t kneel] [True¡¤Preach by example] Regaining his senses, Bi Fang felt his entire body soaked in cold sweat, he calmed himself down and said seriously, ¡°Did you all see how important the three-point rule is? That branch just now was clearly eaten by insects, that¡¯s why it wasn¡¯t stable, and the crack was on top, so I didn¡¯t notice it. It seems this tree is not healthy, we need to be even more careful.¡± [Going for more?] [Bird: Chose this tree for nothing but the abundant food!] [My palms are sweating just watching this!] [I can¡¯t even watch¡­] [The host is truly strong!] [Go Master Fang!] Looking at the audience¡¯s encouragement, Bi Fang¡¯s racing heart gradually calmed down, and he wiped the sweat from his hands on his clothes. ¡°When climbing trees or rock-climbing, we must be careful not to slip, which is why many climbers carry a bag of magnesium powder with them. A single slip, and what awaits you might not be failure, but death.¡± Having said that, Bi Fang took a deep breath, climbed back onto the branch, and as he kept climbing, the overall height increased, causing the audience in the live stream to sweat even more. [That¡¯s too f*cking thrilling.] [Please don¡¯t point the camera down.] [Master Fang: That¡¯s it? These viewers are not up to it.] [It¡¯s just ten meters, the height of a four-story building.] [Here it comes, the typical ¡®I could do that too¡¯.] Luckily, no issues arose after that, and in about ten minutes, Bi Fang reached the branch where the nest was located, and he peered inside. [Finally got up there, hard work pays off.] [There are eggs, there are eggs!] [Not a wasted trip.] [Earthworm: Dodged a bullet.] ¡°Hey, they¡¯re sparrow eggs, not a protected species.¡± Bi Fang, seeing the pattern of the eggs, breathed a sigh of relief. In this world, sparrows are not one of the protected, and they¡¯re everywhere. ¡°These days, birds that are not protected are rarer than those that are.¡± [Is it that exaggerated?] [Indeed, even crows are protected now.] [Didn¡¯t expect a positive energy host, definitely going to follow!] Due to extreme hunger, Bi Fang straddling the branch couldn¡¯t wait to reach out and take all the eggs from the nest, but before he could stretch out his hand, suddenly from underneath the nest, a ¡°hiss hiss¡± sound was heard. The next second, a huge vicious brown snake head wound its way up from under the branch. Fuck! Bi Fang, who had relaxed, felt his arm tremble, and his pupils contracted sharply. Motherfucker, a Short-tailed Viper! Bi Fang had learned about some of Qinling¡¯s dangerous creatures before he came! Short-tailed Viper, also known as Flying over Grass, Ground Flattened Snake, highly poisonous, lethal! If he got bitten here, he was certain not to see tomorrow¡¯s sun! And now the distance between them was less than a meter! Practically face-to-face! [Fuck, I¡¯m scared to death, there¡¯s a hidden boss?] [What do we do, the host can¡¯t escape in the tree.] [Damn, we finally got up here, and now this happens?] [High energy!!!] [Damn, it¡¯s all because I ran my mouth, this is worse than eating earthworms. If something happens, isn¡¯t it on me for the rest of my life?] Some of the viewers who had encouraged Bi Fang to climb the tree were now full of regret and awoke all the other viewers. Indeed, because the branch was too narrow, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t move his body to dodge, and with the ground ten meters below, if he encountered an attack¡­ This was a checkmate! Chapter 8 - Chapter 8 Extremely Toxic Short-tailed Viper Chapter 8 Extremely Toxic Short-tailed Viper Translator: 549690339 The wind rustled the oily green leaves, creating a whispering sound, while sunlight pierced through from behind the leaves, illuminating Bi Fang¡¯s slightly constricted chestnut pupils, with his chest barely rising and falling. A man and snake faced off on the branch, silent like two boulders in a flowing stream. Bi Fang eyed the brown venomous snake, scanning the surroundings with his peripheral vision, his thoughts racing like lightning. Retreat? Behind him lay the end of the branch, and a nearly ten-meter drop that he couldn¡¯t safely land from. Escape? The distance was less than a meter; snakes, being among the fastest-striking creatures, wouldn¡¯t give him much chance to react with his agility at only eight! ¡°Whew! Today is really my unlucky day,¡± Bi Fang said to the camera, mocking himself. [My god, the host can still smile in this situation?] [The video quality is so strong, I can see every scale on the snake¡¯s body clearly, and I¡¯m going crazy just watching it through the screen¡ªI¡¯m most afraid of snakes] [Does anyone know what kind of snake this is?] [Don¡¯t know, but with a triangular head, it¡¯s definitely venomous!] This was not necessarily the case; Bi Fang wanted to correct the last comment, but the situation didn¡¯t allow for extended explanations, so he had to focus on what mattered. ¡°This is a Short-tailed Viper, also known as the Flying over Grass or Ground Flattened Snake, highly venomous. A bite could easily kill an adult,¡± he said. Seeing that many people did not recognize it, Bi Fang whispered some facts, ¡°And this one in front of us is over half a meter long, definitely a standout among its kind, with a venom yield several times that of smaller specimens.¡± [Doesn¡¯t this make it even more dangerous?] [The more you talk, the more scared I get. I¡¯ll never dare to disturb a nest again in my life] As the live stream¡¯s excitement grew, the scene suddenly split into two screens: one from the drone¡¯s perspective, and the other from the first-person viewpoint. Selecting either one allowed for full-screen display, stunning all viewers. [Damn, there¡¯s a first-person view too?] [Why does it feel even more advanced than other equipment, there¡¯s no warping, it looks just like being there in person!] [This gear, it¡¯s unbeatable, isn¡¯t it?] [Does Master Fang think we¡¯re not scared enough?] Even Bi Fang was surprised for a moment, not expecting the System¡¯s accessory to be so intelligent as to automatically activate another perspective. In the tension of the moment, he hadn¡¯t even remembered the first-person view, but reality didn¡¯t give him the luxury to think about it, as dealing with the Short-tailed Viper was more pressing. [Speaking of which, isn¡¯t Master Fang explaining so much risky? Could it startle the snake?] [Yeah, isn¡¯t that very dangerous?] Some viewers began to worry whether Bi Fang speaking could alert the Short-tailed Viper, potentially causing it to attack prematurely. ¡°That¡¯s not a problem,¡± Bi Fang assured them, ¡°Snakes have a very simple ear structure with only an inner ear and no outer ear or eardrum, so their hearing is quite dull and basically has no perception of sound transmitted through air.¡± ¡°However, because of this, snakes are extremely sensitive to vibrations, which puts me in an awkward situation where I can hardly move.¡± [So what do we do, just wait for it to leave on its own?] [Do we have to rely on luck now?] [How unreliable is that? Isn¡¯t this supposed to be about survival? Isn¡¯t there anything that can be done?] After hearing Bi Fang¡¯s explanation, the live stream audience grew even more tense, with the barrage of messages visibly increasing. ¡°Don¡¯t panic, everyone. The time it takes to blink once is enough for a snake to strike four times, and I¡¯m already within its striking range, so panicking is useless,¡± Bi Fang said, mildly comforting the audience. However, even though he was the one in danger, why did it seem like the viewers were even more nervous than he was? These viewers weren¡¯t cutting it. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, everyone,¡± Bi Fang continued, keeping his eyes on the Short-tailed Viper, his tone calm, as if he wasn¡¯t the one facing the snake, ¡°An old professor once taught me something that I¡¯ve always believed. When a wild beast confronts you, never run. It¡¯s actually observing you. If you run, it knows you¡¯re afraid and will chase and bite you.¡± ¡°Wild animals can smell your fear. The more afraid you are, the more excited they become.¡± The first-person perspective intensified the audience¡¯s sense of immersion, especially as they listened to Bi Fang¡¯s soft gasping, watching the Short-tailed Viper flick its tongue, their own breathing grew more rapid. Many people were still frantically asking in the barrage what to do, whether to flee or stay! ¡°Damn it, it¡¯s coming!¡± Just as Bi Fang contemplated a breakout strategy, the Short-tailed Viper began to coil around the branch, lifting its triangular head and slowly gliding toward him! The distance was swiftly closing in! From the first-person view, the audience felt as though the Short-tailed Viper was slithering toward them, and combined with the restrictive feeling of being on a branch, the sight of the snake¡¯s flickering tongue seemed to bring a fishy scent straight to their face. [My god, I can¡¯t watch, boo-hoo-hoo!] [I¡¯ve peed my pants!] Seeing this, Bi Fang felt he couldn¡¯t just sit and wait for death; he quickly spoke, ¡°Keep calm, you have to stay calm. Snakes generally don¡¯t attack humans proactively. It might just be curious about me. Whatever you do, don¡¯t startle it now or it¡¯s all over.¡± [But if you don¡¯t dodge, it¡¯ll be right in your face!] Bi Fang took a deep breath and said, ¡°I¡¯ve said before, snakes are very sensitive to vibrations, but minor movements won¡¯t provoke them, and unprovoked, a snake won¡¯t attack. What we need to do now is to move away slowly, using slight vibrations to make it hesitate.¡± After speaking, he lowered his body, gently rubbed his legs together, and began to move backward little by little. This branch was thick and sturdy; otherwise, birds wouldn¡¯t build nests on it, hence these slight movements barely caused any sway. But Bi Fang was still somewhat terrified because snake behaviors were general rules, but individuals differed¡ªone never knew if this particular snake would be aggressive or extremely timid, possibly snapping when the slightest scare occurs. For this reason, with every slight move, Bi Fang had to take deep breaths to calm himself. Feeling the minor vibrations, the Short-tailed Viper also stopped moving, fixating on the large heat source in front of it, ¡°hiss hiss,¡± flickering its tongue. Being a type of snake, the Short-tailed Viper wasn¡¯t large in size; it was short and bulky, which granted it incomparable burst strength and attack speed. When attacking, its triangular head would dart out like an arrowhead, fiercely piercing the prey¡¯s body! ¡°Heh¡­¡± Bi Fang, who had been moving for a quite a while, took a breath of relief watching the momentarily still Short-tailed Viper. Indeed, the slight tremor hadn¡¯t alarmed it, but instead, caused it to hesitate and back off. The viewers too were relieved, partially letting out a sigh, which indicated that Master Fang¡¯s method was effective. [666, worthy of Master Fang] [Forever Godlike] [Gift for you] Instantly, the live chat bursted with flattery, but Bi Fang did not let his guard down, as he wasn¡¯t yet completely out of the Short-tailed Viper¡¯s striking range. Moreover, a new problem arose; he had backed up to the limits of the branch¡¯s thickness that could support his weight. Any further, and the shaking would not only increase but might also snap outright. He had come up from a branch on the left, but now straddling the branch, he couldn¡¯t possibly leap across, and the nearest branch below him was nearly five meters in vertical height. Bi Fang pinched his palm, soaked with sweaty hands, and gazed at the fierce snakehead not far away, his mind already made up. Then, he slowly lifted his left leg, carefully stepping over the branch, transitioning from straddling to sitting sideways. Unexpectedly, this movement made the retreating Venomous Snake advance again! Although much slower, the distance shrank once more! The tension spiked again! Bi Fang swallowed and said, ¡°Not good, it might feel threatened now, considering me an enemy, which is why it¡¯s keeping its eyes on me.¡± ¡°This is tricky, I don¡¯t know how much longer I can bluff it.¡± The chatroom erupted into chaos, with a myriad of suggestions. But Bi Fang had neither the attention nor the time to look; with each delay, the distance to the snake closed by another fraction, and the peril increased by a percentile! No, if this continued, it would definitely strike! Bi Fang, with keen awareness, noted that the Short-tailed Viper was flicking its tongue more rapidly, a signal of warning as well as a collection of enemy information, deciding whether to attack or flee! Chapter 9 - Chapter 9 Such a Poor Broadcaster Chapter 9 Such a Poor Broadcaster Translator: 549690339 Bi Fang felt he had been incredibly unlucky all day. It was his first day of livestreaming, yet it seemed like he ran into every possible problem, even encountering a venomous snake while trying to collect bird eggs. Looking at the venomous snake continuously flickering its tongue, Bi Fang had a curse on the tip of his tongue that he wasn¡¯t sure he should utter, but then he remembered that he was a public figure now and decided to let it go. Now, the only way out left for him was the last one remaining. He glanced at the tree branch below with the corner of his eye. The next moment, Bi Fang did not hesitate to hook his hand onto the branch, and his seated body slid down, hanging himself from the branch. Under the techniques of advanced yoga, this whole set of limb movements used very little energy and was extremely stable. As he moved, the short-tailed viper indeed followed up. It wrapped tightly around the branch, its hard scales scraping against the mossy bark, making a faint sound. One wave had barely settled before another arose. The continuous excitement was so intense that the audience couldn¡¯t relax, clutching at their sweat. In an instant, the entire chat was flooding with messages of ¡°Master Fang, run fast¡±. But it was already too late. Bi Fang¡¯s heart was pounding violently, and the short-tailed viper spiraled closer and closer. The sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a shimmer on the densely packed brown scales. The yellow-green eyes glimmered faintly. Under the drone¡¯s dark lens, they were particularly conspicuous. Bi Fang¡¯s expression changed. His heart was thumping wildly in his chest as if it would burst out at any second, and at the moment the short-tailed viper lunged, he sensed danger. The short-tailed viper, quickly closing in on him, compressed its body like a spring. Under its short and thick physique, its muscles contracted rhythmically, each of its scales slightly flaired out. Before Bi Fang could react, the short-tailed viper shot out fiercely! Inside the livestream. The viewers couldn¡¯t help but shiver, gripped by terror! ¡°Swoosh!¡± Quick as a bolt, it cut through the air! With superb dynamic vision, Bi Fang¡¯s breathing slowed by half a beat, as if he could already smell the stench wafting from the snake¡¯s open maw. At this moment, it was too late to do anything! So, he left everything to gravity! He casually let go. His fingers brushed over the moss, and a light breeze passed by his ears. Bi Fang¡¯s entire body plummeted freely. He could feel the open scales of the short-tailed viper, its exaggerated snake¡¯s mouth, and the sharp fangs. The fetid maw gaped open to 180 degrees, then snapped shut viciously! But it caught nothing! A lunge into thin air! In the livestream, sunlight scattered, and the shadows of the leaves flickered, dark and light interlacing, framing the man and the snake. The viper, having failed its strike, coiled back around the branch, flicking its tongue as if in anger. Feeling his body¡¯s weightlessness, the falling Bi Fang blinked, leaving everything to instinct. The five-meter drop was over in a flash, and deep within his mind, Wilderness Survival Skills suddenly awoke. The moment his foot touched the branch, Bi Fang bent his knees, taking off some of the impact first. But the branch was full of moss, narrow and slippery. It was impossible to land steadily from a five-meter drop, but Bi Fang had anticipated this. Under the astonished gaze of the livestream audience. Bi Fang leaned back, using an inclined angle to let his back friction against the trunk, taking off more of the impact, but it still wasn¡¯t enough! Bi Fang, leaning against the branch, couldn¡¯t grab hold; he was still falling! But¡­ Thinking ten steps ahead, Bi Fang knew he couldn¡¯t grab onto the branch, so his initial goal wasn¡¯t to land on it in the first place! He wanted to go straight down! Below this branch was another one, only two meters away. Just one more impact reduction, and he would be less than three meters from the ground, low enough for him to land safely with the backflip skills from Wilderness Survivalist! Having already taken off a majority of the impact, Bi Fang collided with the branch again! Inside the livestream, many people covered their eyes, unable to watch any longer. A massive jolt of pain transmitted from his back, overwhelming his mind. Bi Fang plummeted straight toward the ground, but he could feel that his falling speed had already decreased to a bearable range! Looking at the ground close at hand, Bi Fang¡¯s muscles all tensed up and, at the moment of landing, he bent his knees, simultaneously shifted his weight to one side, then used his shoulder to absorb the impact, rolling out fiercely. He rolled several times before he could barely stop. Bi Fang lay on the ground, coughing a few times, feeling the world spinning around him; he hurriedly got up to check and only after confirming that he had landed successfully did he collapse powerlessly back onto the ground. But¡­ An intense pain transmitted from his buttocks and back, making Bi Fang somewhat uncomfortable. The two instances of using branches to absorb the fall had largely relied on his tough skin and flesh, and even his face was scratched painfully by various stones and weeds. It took several minutes for him to recover before he took a few deep breaths like someone who had narrowly escaped death, struggled to his feet, spat out the grass and mud from his mouth, and grinned at the camera, ¡°It seems I¡¯ve made my escape!¡± [That¡¯s incredible!] [You¡¯re okay after such a high fall?] [Was that a tactical roll?] [It¡¯s a basic fall-breaking technique in the military, but the anchor¡¯s moves are too practiced, aren¡¯t they? Without falling a thousand times, you simply can¡¯t achieve this level. Which military unit has so much training? The anchor is definitely no ordinary person] [Must be a special forces member, right? Definitely special forces, right? With wilderness survival, climbing, and now these fall-breaking moves, it¡¯s confirmed!] [Shocking, special forces right beside us?] [Little Fish Little Shrimp sends the anchor an airplane*1¡ªI¡¯m convinced, jumping from ten meters high, even Uncle Long wouldn¡¯t dare to do that] [Daycare Center Barbell sends the anchor fish balls*9999] [Lord Mu sends the anchor a Super Rocket*1¡ªI just followed, Master Fang is awesome!] Myriad gifts immediately flooded the live broadcast room, from a few dozens to a few hundreds, and they kept coming non-stop. As the audience was extremely excited, there came a ¡°boom¡±, and across all the live broadcasting rooms on Shark TV, a golden banner appeared. ¡°Lord Mu sends the anchor Bi Fang a Super Rocket, everyone, come and get your treasure box!¡± [My God, a tycoon has appeared!] [This fall wasn¡¯t a loss for the anchor at all!] [Not necessarily, right? Looking at the anchor¡¯s gear, he doesn¡¯t look like someone short of cash] Even Bi Fang was startled when he saw the Super Rocket, as it was worth a good two thousand in cash. He had only ever seen others send such gifts in live streams and never imagined that one day he would receive such a valuable gift himself. However, this was also an acknowledgment of his broadcast¡¯s content, and Bi Fang hurriedly thanked: ¡°Thank you, Brother Mu, for the Super Rocket, I really appreciate it.¡± The Super Rocket is the most expensive gift on Shark TV, worth two thousand each, and after being sent, the entire platform can see it, and there will be a treasure box for everyone to grab. This is undoubtedly a good way to attract new viewers, so Bi Fang was truly very grateful. As expected, as soon as the gift was sent out, the number of people in the live broadcast room quickly began to grow, surpassing a thousand in no time. Although many were just grabbing and running, so long as a portion could be kept, it was a gain. Taking advantage of the audience still grabbing the gift bags, Bi Fang hastily reintroduced the content of his live broadcast and said, ¡°Actually, the fact that I escaped safely just now also involved a bit of luck, having two branches for cushioning and solid fall-breaking Skill.¡± ¡°Essentially, the Short-tailed Viper is also a rather tame reptile that will maintain a ¡®do not attack if not attacked¡¯ attitude as long as it is not provoked. If you really encounter one, you generally just need to back away to avoid getting into trouble.¡± ¡°Just now, it appeared I just barged in while it was hunting and it mistook me for an enemy. Unfortunately, we lost our bird eggs.¡± Bi Fang looked up at the Short-tailed Viper still on the tree and shook his head. [I don¡¯t care, awesome is the final word] [Luck is also a part of strength, whether it¡¯s the understanding of snakes, enough Skill in cushioning the fall, or a calm attitude, could a normal person do this?] [Exactly, Master Fang is too strong. If it were me, no matter what kind of snake it was, I would definitely have fled immediately!] [Fled? I¡¯d have been frozen stiff with fear!] [What snake? Just came in, what happened?] The newly arrived viewers were baffled, but soon enough, a fan provided an explanation. Hearing that Bi Fang had just narrowly escaped from the mouth of a snake and then fallen safely from a ten-meter-high tree, they were all dumbstruck. It was also lucky that the System¡¯s granted skills were powerful, with various knowledge and techniques coming naturally, utterly without training; otherwise, that fall just now would have been fatal, or at the very least resulted in missing limbs and broken bones. [Fat Cat Pete sends the anchor a rocket*1¡ªMaster Fang, look at me!] [Master Fang, I¡¯m a professional photographer, and the scene of Master Fang dancing with the snake just now truly stunned me, may I screenshot it and post it online? I won¡¯t use it for commercial purposes, just want everyone to see, it¡¯s really shocking!] Oh? Is that so? Upon seeing the message, Bi Fang considered it briefly and realized he had no reason to refuse. This was a great opportunity to expand his influence. Chapter 10 - Chapter 10: Every Frame a Wallpaper Chapter 10: Every Frame a Wallpaper Translator: 549690339 Ma Huayi was a photography enthusiast. Though not a professional, he was quite talented and had made a name for himself within the circle. He also loved nature, and human interaction with nature was his favorite subject to capture. Usually, Ma Huayi loved traveling and then documenting the local natural scenery through photography. Whenever he ran out of materials, he would check out the live outdoor section. Many streamers liked to broadcast their hikes and travels; sometimes, when Ma Huayi saw a good landscape in a live stream, he would pack his bags, fill up his car with gas, and head west to capture a satisfying photo, facing the sunset or the boundless sea. These past few days, Ma Huayi had run out of material, so he opened a live stream and found a room with decent popularity. Out of curiosity, he clicked in, and the rest was history; from the moment Bi Fang climbed the tree, the confrontation with the Short-tailed Viper gave him an intense visual shock! The standoff, the ambush, the fall. Through the first-person perspective, every move Bi Fang made was as thrilling to Ma Huayi as a roller coaster ride, igniting his creativity like a gushing spring! Especially during Bi Fang¡¯s upside-down confrontation with the Short-tailed Viper. Dappled patches of light. A person hanging upside down on a tree. A deadly Short-tailed Viper hissing. The content was top-notch, and the photographer was quite skilled; he must be a professional. All these elements combined, conflict and harmony, color and composition, just like a balanced Tai Chi, perfectly encapsulating human interaction with nature! Between the thick leaves, a man, a snake, a tree ¨C could there be a more beautiful picture? This was exactly what he had been searching for! Ma Huayi even came up with a name for the piece, ¡°Dangerous Contact,¡± all that was left was Bi Fang¡¯s authorization. ¡°Of course, you can use it as long as it¡¯s not for commercial purposes, however you want.¡± With a moment¡¯s thought, Bi Fang agreed, partly because he was sent a rocket, no small gift, and partly because it would help to extend his own reach. [Yes, I want to use that scene as my wallpaper!] [Damn, I was so nervous just now I didn¡¯t think to take a screenshot] [Thinking about it now, every frame was a work of art!] [Handsome Master Fang, the dangerous venomous snake, the beautiful nature, I¡¯m convinced.] [Does Master Fang have a recorded video? Other devices or repostings just don¡¯t have this quality] ¡°Yes, I do. When this live stream ends, I¡¯ll post the recorded video in my column, and anyone can watch it anytime they want.¡± Bi Fang nodded; the System¡¯s equipment could not only live stream but also record, though editing was a bit of a hassle. [Fat Cat Pete gave the streamer 3 rockets¡ªthank you Master Fang for your approval] ¡°Alright, everyone, no need for that.¡± The successive rockets made Bi Fang feel overwhelmed, so he hurriedly steered the conversation back on track. He was well aware that his popularity was due to the excellent content of his live streams. If he started groveling for gifts like some of the other little hosts, that would be putting the cart before the horse. ¡°Now, let¡¯s go see if the earthworms are still there. After all that commotion, we didn¡¯t catch anything and nearly lost our lives. Such a loss.¡± Just thinking about it, Bi Fang felt the pain; those were four eggs, high in protein and energy, far better than a few worms, right? And now they were all gone. [Earthworm: Am I destined to die?] [What is meant to come will come] [I¡¯m out, let me know when he¡¯s done eating and I¡¯ll come back] [He¡¯s done] Watching the audience joke around in the barrage of comments, Bi Fang¡¯s mood improved somewhat, and he returned to the pile of weeds, finding the earthworms that had not escaped far. At that moment, the earthworms that were dragged out started ¡°panicking¡± again as they twisted. He chuckled, grabbed one end of an earthworm with his bare hands, gave it a squeeze to clear out the dirt inside, and, in front of all the viewers, tossed it into his mouth and slurped it down like a noodle. ¡°Ugh essential oil¡«¡± After chewing a few times, Bi Fang¡¯s face instantly turned green. He had overestimated himself; this stuff was not meant for human consumption! The bursting sensation, the pieces still squirming in his mouth, the bitter taste mixed with the earthy flavor; each aspect made him want to vomit. Be it in his past life or in this one, this was Bi Fang¡¯s first attempt at consuming such bizarre things. Even during his days with the Wilderness Survivalist team, field research was commonplace, but he¡¯d always eaten rations, never having to endure such ordeal. [Ew, I saw the earthworm burst¡­] [I thought I was the only one who saw that.] [I threw up.] [Earthworm: Although I¡¯m not human, you¡¯re the real dog.] [As a female fan of Master Fang, I feel I¡¯ve become a fan too early.] [Hahaha, Master Fang¡¯s face has turned green.] [Aren¡¯t they worried about parasites or bacterial infections?] The audience in the live stream was bombarded once again, with those who were eating unanimously putting down their food. At the same time, gifts in the live stream also followed with a wave of amenities, including fishballs and shark fins, dedicated to treating Master Fang to something good. ¡°Phew¡­¡± ¡°To tell the truth, this thing tasted worse than I imagined, not only does it have a strong earthy smell, but it¡¯s also quite bitter.¡± Bi Fang furrowed his brows tightly, took out the earthworm from his pant pocket, hesitating whether to throw it away or not, but after thinking for a moment, he put it back in: ¡°It seems I¡¯m not starving to the point yet. I¡¯ll keep it for now, maybe we¡¯ll come across a river and can use it to fish.¡± It takes time for protein to convert to energy, about an hour. Now that there was something in his stomach, Bi Fang felt much more comfortable. ¡°Indeed, by eating an earthworm to ambush the stomach acid, drawing its attention, my stomach doesn¡¯t feel so bad anymore.¡± [God damn ambushing the stomach acid¡­] [Why not eat them all? Direct full-scale invasion!] [Why not wait until ten o¡¯clock to eat? Maybe pull a Trojan horse?] [Why not eat dirt first? Logistics come first?] [Why not drink more hot water first, wait for the stomach acid to be worn out, then launch a major attack?] Bi Fang: ¡°¡­¡± He was just trying to liven up the atmosphere. [But eating them like that, aren¡¯t you afraid of parasite or bacterial infections?] [Right, this seems really unsanitary.] Wow! Finally, some normal bullet comments! After pondering for a while, Bi Fang spoke: ¡°Regarding the risk of infection, I can only say two things. First, don¡¯t underestimate our stomach acid, and second¡­¡± ¡°Only the living are qualified to get infected.¡± Bi Fang looked at the drone, speaking in an extremely calm tone, yet it sent shivers down everyone¡¯s spine! ¡°In the wilderness, everything is based on survival. If you can¡¯t make it, everything else is irrelevant.¡± [Yeah, survival in the wilderness is no child¡¯s play. Without true skills, you simply can¡¯t make it.] [After all is said and done, there is only one word: Master Fang is awesome!] [That¡¯s one word?] [I seriously suspect Master Fang is a special forces soldier.] Special forces? He wished. Bi Fang watched the comments in silence. Having the identity of a special forces soldier would be incredibly convenient; it could endorse his expertise and effortlessly build a strong persona. Previous survival experts like Bear Grylls and Grandpa De did just that, but he had no such opportunity. ¡°Of course, if possible, it¡¯s better for everyone to cook their food when in the wild. In a moment, I¡¯ll teach you how to start a fire.¡± After a bit of trouble, it got late. If they moved on, they wouldn¡¯t be able to set up camp before dark. After one last look at the bird¡¯s nest, Bi Fang noticed that the Short-tailed Viper had disappeared. Of course, it could also be hiding too well; a Short-tailed Viper with brown spots is not so easy to find once it¡¯s hidden. He shook his head and stopped thinking about it. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get back on topic, let¡¯s determine the time again.¡± Bi Fang interrupted the conversation, squinting at the sun: ¡°Look at its altitude, it¡¯s clearly slanting westward. It¡¯s about five in the afternoon now. I mentioned before that it gets dark quickly in the mountains, and the temperature varies greatly. So although it¡¯s late September, we need to start building a shelter quickly.¡± [Let¡¯s watch the host conjure a tent out of thin air.] [You got nothing, how are you gonna set up a tent?] [Ding, please check your airdropped tent.] [Did the host forget to bring a tent?] Seeing the audience¡¯s puzzled faces, Bi Fang pretended to be mysterious. ¡°Just watch closely, everyone.¡± Chapter 11 - Chapter 11 Building a Shelter Chapter 11 Building a Shelter Translator: 549690339 In search of a suitable camping spot, Bi Fang continued to make his way deep into the forest. [Is this some sort of magic trick?] [Surely he¡¯s not going to chop wood to build a cabin, right? How could that be done in time?] [Give it up, live streamer, while it¡¯s still light out, just go home.] Inside the live stream, there wasn¡¯t a single voice of encouragement, all held a skeptical attitude. However, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t bothered by this and seriously started looking for a suitable location. ¡°There¡¯s a lot to consider when setting up a camping site, and first and foremost is the safety of the environment. Depending on the environment there are different requirements, which I¡¯ll explain in detail when we come across them.¡± ¡°As I mentioned earlier, the temperature difference between day and night in Qinling is significant, with night temperatures generally not exceeding ten degrees. I¡¯ve only brought one jacket, so we need to pay attention to warmth and dryness to prevent rapid heat loss and a decrease in our physical condition.¡± After searching in the forest for a while, Bi Fang finally stopped in a relatively open wooded area. He rummaged around on the ground for a bit, then nodded, ¡°This place is pretty good, the ground is dry, and there are no anthills, so we won¡¯t have to worry about bugs biting us while we sleep.¡± ¡°Just now, many people were asking me what I am going to use to set up the shelter. It may seem as though I have no rice to cook a meal, but actually, we¡¯ve been overlooking a lot of things.¡± Bi Fang sent the drone up higher and a large expanse of forest appeared in the camera view: ¡°Don¡¯t forget, we¡¯re in Qinling! One of the top three forest regions in our country, you could say the ground here is littered with gold!¡± ¡°Today, I¡¯ll show you a simple method for constructing a shelter¡ªthe pointed-top shelter! This is a very common type of pointed structure, and the Ewenki Ethnic Group in our country builds them in the forest.¡± After finishing his speech, Bi Fang began looking for materials to build the shelter. As he had yet to find a water source, he only needed a temporary residence to shelter from the cold, so the material selection was quite straightforward. [Shenfeng Qingyin sends 1 veil card to the host¡ªImpressive even if I don¡¯t understand it.] [I¡¯ve realized not only do I not know what a pointed-top shelter is, I also didn¡¯t know there was an Ewenki Ethnic Group in our country¡­] [Shocked that I¡¯m learning on Shark TV, is this the corruption of morality or the distortion of humanity?] [666, just get it done.] Bi Fang looked around and spotted a fallen dead tree not too far away. He quickly walked over and started kicking it ferociously. While kicking, he explained, ¡°You see, this dead tree here is perfect for the main body of our shelter, but you have to be careful when moving it. Many venomous insects and venomous snakes like to hide under such dead trees, so give it a few kicks beforehand to scare them away.¡± Sure enough, as soon as Bi Fang¡¯s words ended, a dark shadow flickered across the camera, curling into a ball. ¡°Hey, look, there¡¯s a centipede right here! Just as I said!¡± The centipede under the dead tree coiled into a ball, its body pitch black, like a warrior clad in black armor. Bi Fang grabbed it directly in front of the camera, poking and prodding it in his palm for the viewers to get a closer look. [Not this again, right?] [Oh my, I almost threw up again, wait, why do I say ¡®again¡¯?] [Streamer, you owe me for the goosebumps!] [Why do I feel like I can ¡®sympathize¡¯ out of nowhere?] Bi Fang chuckled, his frequent field research meant he wasn¡¯t afraid of touching various insects, but most people would find it difficult, though it was all necessary for the effect of the show, and not because of any ill taste he might have. ¡°However, it¡¯s a pity that these creatures are not edible.¡± He stretched out the centipede, held it under his nose and took a deep breath, with the long insect at his fingertips looking somewhat like sniffing a cigar! ¡°If it gives off an almond scent, it means that the centipede feels threatened and is secreting substances that contain cyanide. Therefore, don¡¯t eat it.¡± Bi Fang was a bit disappointed, but chose to release the centipede and watched it stretch out and quickly crawl away. [The host doesn¡¯t really need to persuade us so earnestly¡­ really¡­] [Centipede: I actually survived from Master Fang¡¯s hands, I could brag about this for a lifetime.] [Humans should not, at least cannot¡­] Bi Fang stood up and kicked the tree trunk a couple more times, but no other creatures came out this time. ¡°It looks like there are no other creatures here besides that centipede, and as the light is fading, we need to speed up now.¡± It was getting dark, and without any more time to chat with his audience, Bi Fang dragged the dead tree toward the selected campsite. The audience in the live stream watched as the light inside the forest dimmed, growing anxious for Bi Fang, fearing that he would not be able to finish the shelter before it was too dark to even have a place to sleep. ¡°As I said before when I was climbing the tree, a triangle is a very stable structure. So, a simple pointed-top shelter can also make use of this principle.¡± Bi Fang lifted up the dead wood and placed it across the fork of a pine tree, forming a right-angled triangle with the ground. ¡°Look, this is the main structure of a solid shelter. As long as we prop up another side, we¡¯ll have a three-dimensional triangle!¡± A large branch was fixed to one side of the triangle, firmly supporting it. ¡°Next is the roof.¡± Leaves, dirt, and moss were collected and spread over the dead wood full of forked branches. ¡°Finally, let¡¯s perfect it.¡± Almost visibly, a simple shelter had been constructed by Bi Fang. Job well done! ¡°Alright, what do you all think?¡± Gazing at the complete shelter, Bi Fang dusted off his hands. Although very simple, this was his first time building a shelter with his bare hands, and his heart was filled with a sense of achievement; such an experience was not present in his previous life. [Damn, that¡¯s strong. How long was that?] [Half an hour?] [Pilili Aino has sent the host fishballs*999¡ªprofessional, bold.] [iMuji has gifted the host shark fins*10¡ªfor basic construction, I hail you as the strongest!] [Lord Mu has sent the host a rocket*1¡ªI¡¯ve watched many outdoor live streams, Master Fang is the toughest one!] [Awesome (voice cracks)!] ¡°Haha, Lord Mu, that¡¯s a bit of an overstatement, let¡¯s keep it low-key, shall we?¡± Bi Fang pressed down with his hands, signaling everyone to keep it cool. [Say Master Fang is fat and he starts panting.] [But Master Fang is really awesome, first stream and such high popularity, since encountering that snake until now, got a few thousand viewers, right?] [No wonder these days everyone wants to be an internet celebrity and do the same.] [Doing is the main point.] [But there aren¡¯t many with real skills. When it comes to live streaming, I only admire Old Fang.] ¡°Now, let¡¯s go inside and take a look.¡± With the shelter completed, Bi Fang crawled into it, and the camera switched to a first-person perspective. From the first-person POV, Bi Fang pointed to a layer of branches and dry ferns on the ground, ¡°Due to the large temperature difference, in order to keep warm, we can lay some branches and ferns on the ground for insulation and moisture protection.¡± As he spoke, he lay down in the shelter, rolled around a bit, pressed down to test it, and found it to be decent, not too uncomfortable. Despite its small size, the shelter gave him a strong sense of security in the wilderness. This was his domain, a ¡°home¡±. Bi Fang lay in the shelter and began to discuss some key points about selecting a campsite. ¡°The nights in Qinling are cold, so the chosen campsite should be dry and sheltered from wind, especially not in valleys and caves, as such terrains become wind traps at night.¡± ¡°Judging the wind direction is quite complicated, and I¡¯ll explain it in detail later. Right now, I have something more important to do, and that is to make a fire!¡± Fire is one of the greatest discoveries of humans, especially when alone against a strange, hostile wilderness. At such times, fire is indeed a gift from the heavens. The flickering flames that represent hope could even shake one¡¯s faith; they can change not only the survivalist¡¯s condition but also give the survivalist hope. Bi Fang crawled out of the shelter, the drone gradually rose, capturing most of the sky in its lens, while the sun¡¯s light gathered bit by bit, turning the clouds a lush red, a sight of extraordinary beauty. Bi Fang was engulfed in the red sun¡¯s light, like a surging tide. Regrettably, he didn¡¯t have much time to enjoy the scenery. ¡°For this survival trip, I only brought one jacket, so a shelter is not enough on this cold night. We must start a fire before dark to keep warm; otherwise, if we catch a cold, our deteriorated condition could very well cost us the chance to walk out of Qinling.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think I¡¯m exaggerating. In fact, in the wilderness, even a minor cold can be extremely fatal!¡± Chapter 12 - Chapter 12 The Legendary Fire-Making by Wood-Drilling Chapter 12 The Legendary Fire-Making by Wood-Drilling Translator: 549690339 [¡°Are you kidding? How can a cold be fatal?¡±] [¡°Right, can¡¯t you get better without medicine in a week or two?¡±] [¡°Even for the sake of the show, you can¡¯t exaggerate that much!¡±] ¡°I¡¯m not deceiving you,¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°You all lack outdoor experience. In fact, with a little thought, it¡¯s clear that the wilderness is not like the city. Any unexpected situation here can lead to a series of severe consequences.¡± ¡°Diarrhea, a common cold¡ªthese seemingly minor illnesses can become significantly more dangerous.¡± ¡°A minor cold can lead to hypothermia, weakness, muscle fatigue¡ªin this state, it will be very difficult for you to find water and food. With no replenishment, you will become even weaker. At that point, your disadvantages will snowball until all your hopes of survival are left to fate.¡± [¡°Okay, you¡¯ve convinced me.¡±] [¡°I admit I was being superficial.¡±] ¡°Remember this, should you ever find yourself in the wilderness, never overlook any condition.¡± As Bi Fang spoke, he picked up a sharp stone and started digging a small pit a meter away from the shelter: ¡°To start a fire, the first step is choosing the right location.¡± He measured the distance from the pit to the shelter. ¡°This distance is just right. The heat can get into the shelter without the smoke disturbing sleep or causing poisoning due to proximity, and most importantly, it can keep wild animals at bay!¡± ¡°Night is when wild animals are most active. With a fire, we can spend a sufficiently safe night without worrying about being bitten by venomous snakes or eaten by bears.¡± [¡°emmm, scaring the audience, a tradition of Master Fang.¡±] [¡°It¡¯s true, before in our village, a guy got drunk and slept directly in the field. That very night a snake coiled on his chest for warmth. The next day, as soon as the guy woke up, he startled the snake and got bitten on the face. Thankfully it wasn¡¯t poisonous, or that would have been the end of him!¡±] [¡°Can you not scare us like that?¡±] [¡°But the question is, how do you make a fire? Master Fang hasn¡¯t brought anything.¡±] Yeah, with nothing, how to make a fire? Many viewers were curious as to what method Bi Fang would use to start a fire. From the beginning of the broadcast, Bi Fang¡¯s series of actions had won over the audience. Now, they were all looking forward with anticipation, not wanting to miss this opportunity. ¡°True, I didn¡¯t bring a lighter or flint, but even so, I have many ways to start a fire, such as fire-making by wood-drilling!¡± [¡°Fire-Making by Wood-Drilling? I always thought it was fake!¡±] [¡°I thought it was just a legend!¡±] [¡°It¡¯s like a miracle!¡±] [¡°Waiting for Master Fang to make fire, and once it¡¯s lit, rockets to send!¡±] [¡°There are so many big spenders today!¡±] As the sun was about to set, Bi Fang no longer paid attention to the barrage. An instructor once said, treat your enemies with strategic contempt but tactical focus. Although it sounded simple, the technical complexity of fire-making by wood-drilling was quite high; it had to be taken seriously. Bi Fang scanned his surroundings and chose a few branches from a deadwood being used as a support, then found some burdock nearby and broke one. ¡°There are three types of fire-making by wood-drilling: the bow drill method, the hand drill method, and the pump drill method. Today, I¡¯ll demonstrate the hand drill method, which is the version most people have heard of.¡± ¡°The forest here is different from swamps and rainforests. The deadwood is mostly quite dry and can be directly used. And the most important thing for fire-making by wood-drilling is to have a sufficiently dry fireboard, a harder drill, and tinder.¡± Placing a thicker piece of wood on the ground, Bi Fang carefully started a hole with a sharp stone, though it was not very round. ¡°Fire-making by wood-drilling has many details, it¡¯s not just about rubbing to generate heat. You have to start with a hole on the fireboard; the shape doesn¡¯t matter as long as the drill fits¡ªotherwise, it¡¯ll be difficult to generate heat.¡± ¡°The drill needs to be hard and smooth. In the wild, we can use our nails to test the hardness¡ªif it doesn¡¯t mark easily, it¡¯s good to go. That¡¯s why I chose this burdock stick in my hand. It has a hard, woody stem that¡¯s very smooth after peeling, so it won¡¯t easily blister the palm.¡± ¡°Lastly, we need tinder. Tinder is the most important thing; it¡¯s key to whether or not a fire can be lit. Without it, unless you were born with a Qilin Arm, it would be very difficult to ignite a fire.¡± As he spoke, Bi Fang rubbed the surface of a thin dry piece of wood and one end of the burdock with a stone. Very quickly, fine wood fibers fell from both, and one end of the burdock became sharpened. His expression was serious and reverent, like an old master carving jade. Although his Wilderness Survival Skill was powerful, this was his first time attempting fire-making by wood-drilling. Failing would be a huge embarrassment. Not to mention losing viewers; the persona he had built as a wilderness expert would largely be ruined. Therefore, to ensure success, the preparation had to be complete. Bi Fang gathered the tinder into a bird¡¯s nest shape, piled it at the hole of the hearth board, then stepped on the board to keep it from wobbling. He inserted the peeled and smoothed burdock stalk, took a deep breath, and with both hands gripping the stalk, began to rotate it back and forth at high speed. ¡°Hiss hiss hiss!¡± The friction sound of the rotating burdock was exceptionally clear. ¡°As long as I can create embers through wood drilling and ignite the tinder, the fire will quickly take hold.¡± Bi Fang rubbed forcefully, the veins on his hands standing out prominently. From an initial awkwardness, he quickly became proficient, and the rough hole in the board became substantially smoother, establishing a positive feedback loop. ¡°Hiss hiss hiss!¡± The sound of friction was unending, but as time ticked by, not even a single spark appeared, making the audience grow impatient. [It seems so strenuous, it¡¯s been over ten minutes, and he is sweating. Is it all a scam?] [Master Fang living in the wilderness isn¡¯t in a hurry, so why are you?] [Go Master Fang!] Bi Fang was as focused as a meditating monk, paying no heed to the mocking viewers, his attention fully on the drill wood before him. Another ten minutes quickly passed, leaving many viewers with sore eyes. Finally, a faint, almost imperceptible burnt smell began to rise, then gradually grew more intense until billowing up as a wisp of blue smoke! Instantly, the spirit of the audience was lifted. [Damn, it¡¯s smoking!] [What are you waiting for, let the gifts flow!] [Guys, charge!] [All my fish balls go to you] Seeing the thick smoke rising, Bi Fang¡¯s eyes were filled with joy. He sped up again, applying greater pressure ¨C with smoke already emerging, could the sparks be far behind? The very next second, a few red glimmers flicked into existence. Sparks! Indeed! His heart swelled with immense excitement, Bi Fang quickly lay down, gathered the tinder, and blew gently but robustly, speeding up the airflow and increasing the oxygen contact. The blue smoke turned into thick smoke, growing denser and more voluminous, causing tears to stream down his face, yet he did not back away. It was a race against time, success or exhaust, failure now would only make the next attempt harder. The huge sun was about to sink beneath the forest sea, its last rays turning the clouds in the sky a fiery red, as if ablaze. In just a few more minutes, the place would be plunged into complete darkness. In the live stream, all that could be heard was the sound of Bi Fang slowly exhaling. Everyone¡¯s eyes were fixed on the billowing smoke, on the gathered tinder. One second. Two seconds. ¡­ The thick smoke engulfed everything, a flash of red glimmered momentarily. [Damn, it flashed, it flashed!] [The goods have arrived!] Bi Fang quickly gathered together the dry leaves, watching as a small flame spread and grew larger until¡­ Boom! The flame ignited. It was at that moment, as the sun set, that an overwhelming darkness swept over the entire world, but it seemed as if in the handover of light, there was always a flame somewhere, illuminating the joyous face of Bi Fang. [¨CYou have obtained a Fire Rack] Chapter 13 - Chapter 13 Skill Upgrade Chapter 13 Skill Upgrade Translator: 549690339 [¨CYou¡¯ve received a campfire rack!] [Fire Pile *1] [Now it¡¯s got that game vibe!] [Success!] [Master Fang rules (voice crack)!] [I got so scared, I hurriedly grabbed the lighter next to me and lit a cigarette to calm my nerves, (¤Å£þ 3£þ)y~~.] [Master Fang: Ni Zuokai] As the flames successfully ignited, another wave of bullet comments and gifts streamed across the screen in celebration; Bi Fang glanced at the backstage analytics and saw that the viewer count had stabilized at over two hundred! Awesome! Bi Fang excitedly clenched his fist, his palms aching from being rubbed raw, but it was all worth it. [Followed, the streamer is a hidden gem] [Idiot, didn¡¯t even bring a lighter, what¡¯s the point of social progress then? Just showing off!] [Caught a dumb dog live] [Ever heard of wilderness survival?] [You again? You got roasted and still haven¡¯t left? Shocking, my true fans are right beside me?] That Heifeng again? Bi Fang paused upon seeing the argument in the comments, recalling that it was the same person who had been trolling before, claiming they wouldn¡¯t watch, yet they were the most frequent commenter. Is this what they call a ¡®hate watcher¡¯? Love it. ¡°Thank you for your support, everyone, but the Hand Drill Method for starting a fire is quite challenging for beginners, it¡¯s tough to get a fire started, and it can easily cause blisters. Next time, I will teach you easier methods like the bow drill and the pump drill.¡± Bi Fang picked up some of the prepared branches, broke them into smaller pieces, and tossed them into the fire, enjoying the spread of warmth over his body and the sensation of the cold being driven away. ¡°However, although we¡¯ve got the fire going, we haven¡¯t prepared enough firewood, so I¡¯ll go gather some more from nearby soon.¡± [Why use damp wood?] ¡°Ah, this viewer is very astute,¡± Bi Fang noted the question, ¡°That¡¯s because damp wood burns longer, which ensures that the fire won¡¯t go out overnight.¡± ¡°But before I leave, we need to make sure the fire pit is far from any other flammable materials to prevent forest fires, which is also why I dug the pit in advance.¡± ¡°Also, I want to remind everyone that unless tree cutting is allowed in this area, you can only pick up dead branches from the ground for the fire.¡± ¡°The conflict between human survival and environmental conservation actually doesn¡¯t exist, as long as one is willing.¡± Bi Fang stood up and offered one last earnest piece of advice towards the camera. [Streamers who protect the environment are so cool! Instant fan] [Civilization starts with each of us; safety relies on everyone!] [Master Fang is so meticulous, he even thinks about protecting the environment while surviving in the wild, quality streamer, deserves a like] [First time seeing such a positive streamer.] ¡°Haha, you flatter me, truly,¡± Bi Fang, feeling embarrassed, touched the back of his head and chuckled. ¡°The best material for damp wood is fresh branches from trees like oak that have hard wood.¡± Large pieces of damp wood were still easy to find in the forest and almost without wandering away from sight of the fire¡¯s light, Bi Fang managed to collect enough large pieces of wood to last the night. ¡°As the fire pit is outdoors, it¡¯s easily affected by the wind, so after we add the damp wood, we can cover the burning coals with a layer of dry soil to prevent too much oxygen from entering and causing the coals to burn too fast.¡± ¡°During this process, make sure that the soil doesn¡¯t contain any dry leaves, grass, or other flammable materials to avoid accidents.¡± After adding the damp wood, the fire pit crackled loudly. The warm glow of the fire dissipated the chill of the mountains and made one drowsy. Perhaps due to being busy all day, Bi Fang, having finished setting up the camp, was still hungry but definitely felt tired; he crawled into the shelter, used his backpack as a pillow, and prepared to rest. He placed the drone in front of him, agreed to several generous fans¡¯ friend requests, then waved his hand to indicate that he was about to end the live stream. ¡°` ¡°It¡¯s getting late; I need to rest. If you like my show, please follow me. I¡¯ll continue the live broadcast tomorrow morning. Welcome to tune in,¡± [Hey, it¡¯s just past eight, isn¡¯t it a bit early?] [Yeah, keep streaming for a bit more; other hosts are just starting.] ¡°I really can¡¯t keep going. I¡¯ve been on the road all day, and I¡¯m genuinely exhausted,¡± Bi Fang said with difficulty. [Alright then, have an early rest, host. I¡¯ll definitely be here tomorrow!] [Okay then.] [Forgive the host.] Although many viewers indeed didn¡¯t want to part, they could still empathize with Bi Fang; after all, live streaming as a Wilderness Survivalist is different from playing games all night without trouble. Watching his viewers send another wave of gifts, Bi Fang expressed his gratitude and then, amidst their reluctant farewells, turned off the live stream. From the backend, he could see that his channel¡¯s following had already exceeded five hundred. During the broadcast hours, the number kept rising, peaking at nearly seven hundred viewers, with the gifts amounting to an impressive total of nearly ten thousand in revenue. One day¡¯s live stream was equivalent to the original owner¡¯s monthly salary! However, Bi Fang didn¡¯t let it get to his head; he alone knew how tough today had been. His physical foundation was too poor, and although he had gone through a crash training course for a week, due to poverty, there was no dietary support, no proper protein intake, so the exercise effects weren¡¯t good. Even with his extensive Foot Orienteering experience, he frequently ran out of breath not long into his treks, and now his legs were also incredibly sore and weak. But he never showed any of this to his audience, even pretending to be at ease. All of this was to create a persona. From the beginning, Bi Fang aimed to build his image as a wilderness expert, from his tone to his actions, all portraying the demeanor of someone who¡¯d fought many battles. He knew that with a theme like wilderness live streaming, once there is a precedent, there will be imitators, just like the myriad of Wilderness Survival shows that emerged in his previous life. With a professional persona, when people see the same kind of program next time, they will inherently think of Bi Fang as the first in the field, and they will compare, then the old fans will stick around and new fans will be attracted, creating a virtuous cycle. It¡¯s like how people always comment that someone in a new Wilderness Survival show is nowhere near as good as Bear Grylls or Grandpa De. People like to see the strong conquering nature, not the weak struggling within it. And how could a ¡°Wilderness Expert¡± possibly look frail? That wouldn¡¯t make sense. Bi Fang lay on the dry leaves, gazing up at the stars beyond his shelter, unattainable constellations, reflecting on his performance and areas to improve while thinking about how to do better tomorrow. The stars are so bright. Bi Fang squinted his eyes, stretching away all of his fatigue. The night in the Qinling Mountains was far more beautiful than in the city, lying between heaven and earth, breathing seemed to fall into rhythm with the flickering stars. Lonely yet free. Carrying a whirl of thoughts, Bi Fang slipped deeply into sleep. The next day. As the early morning sun rose, Bi Fang opened his eyes, stretched his body, and with a series of cracking sounds, felt a wave of refreshing comfort. Perhaps because he had just woken up, his mind was still a bit foggy, until the sound of the Cuckoo¡¯s courting coos outside his shelter made him realize he was still in the wilderness, his pupils instantly focused. ¡°Phew¨C¡± I really don¡¯t know if I¡¯m just thick-skinned or naturally suited for the wild, but I was able to sleep so soundly outdoors all alone. Bi Fang rubbed his face and walked out of the shelter. The morning in the Qinling Mountains was still a bit chilly; he tightened his coat. The fire in front of the shelter had died out, emitting wisps of dry smoke. Picking up a stick and stirring it, the charred wood at the bottom instantly snapped in two, sending up a flurry of sparks and charcoal dust. Bi Fang nodded to himself; it was good that there were still embers left, and with a bit of tinder, he could quickly start a fire again. Picking up the drone, he started another live stream. Just as he was about to greet the audience, a sudden electronic tone sounded. [Ding, congratulations to the host, the Skill of Foot Orienteering has been upgraded, current level: Foot Orienteering lv4] ¡°` Chapter 14 - Chapter 14 Making Hunting Weapons Chapter 14 Making Hunting Weapons Translator: 549690339 ¡°` Skill upgrade? How come it¡¯s so fast? Bi Fang was startled, not because he was surprised that his skill upgraded on its own, but because of how quickly it had happened. Skills are based on the host¡¯s capabilities, and as the host¡¯s abilities improve, so naturally do their levels. Otherwise, where would those innate skills come from? They all came from his previous life. But why did it upgrade so fast? Green Skills aren¡¯t so easy to upgrade, and he had only hiked for one day yesterday. After pondering for quite a while, Bi Fang vaguely guessed the answer. It must be thanks to the Blue Skill ¡°Wilderness Survivalist¡± and the Purple Skill ¡°Advanced Yoga¡±! ¡°Wilderness Survivalist¡± itself comes with certain hiking techniques, which might not be as comprehensive as the standalone ¡°Foot Orienteering,¡± but it could very well surpass it in some technical aspects and experience. And ¡°Advanced Yoga¡± is excellent for adjusting body balance; combining the two allowed ¡°Foot Orienteering¡± to upgrade so quickly. No wonder, Bi Fang nodded to himself. Having realized this, he stopped being hung up on it and returned his attention to greeting his live audience. Counting the days, today should be Saturday, and it¡¯s around seven or eight o¡¯clock, so there shouldn¡¯t be many people, but in just a short while, the number of viewers had already broken into double digits. While packing up his stuff, Bi Fang greeted everyone. ¡°Good morning!¡± [Good morning!] [Old Fang, did you just get up?] [Wow, from nine last night to eight this morning? Slept that well? I¡¯m starting to wonder if Master Fang is actually in the wilderness] [I saw Shark¡¯s notification early in the morning and thought the lady was up and dancing already, but it turned out to be Old Fang, what bad luck] ¡°Haha, that¡¯s really too bad,¡± Bi Fang said, pretending to be very sorry. ¡°But back to the point, today is my second day of wilderness survival. After a whole night¡¯s rest, I feel like my energy has returned, but I¡¯m still feeling physically hungry, and I haven¡¯t had a drop of water since yesterday. It¡¯ll be trouble if I can¡¯t find a river today.¡± [Wilderness survival seems so hard] [What is this, my empathy is so strong I¡¯m biting into a piece of crispy biscuit with tears, mmm, the same old taste, delicious!] [Enough, can¡¯t you have some sympathy?] [Sending some fish balls, it¡¯s the thought that counts] ¡°Thank you all for your concerns, but the situation isn¡¯t that severe yet, and I¡¯m confident I¡¯ll find a water source today!¡± ¡°However, before we go, there are some things we haven¡¯t dealt with yet.¡± Bi Fang squatted next to the extinguished campfire, felt with his hands that it had cooled down a bit, and picked a few pieces of charcoal to put into his backpack. ¡°Without matches or flint, it¡¯s actually quite necessary to move the fire we start, so when the burnt charcoal cools down sufficiently, we can collect some of it. This makes it convenient to light a fire at the next location.¡± ¡°Then, we need to check for any remaining embers and extinguish them thoroughly to prevent wildfires. If we had water, it would be best to douse it until no smoke rises, but we don¡¯t, so we¡¯ll use soil to cover it.¡± ¡°` Bi Fang covered the spot where he had made the fire with earth, then scattered fallen leaves over it to blend in with the surrounding environment. After some simple arrangements, the traces of the original fire were nearly eliminated. ¡°Maintaining the integrity of the natural beauty of the place when leaving is very important. It also means that we should erase any visible traces after we¡¯re done with the fire pit.¡± ¡°This way, when future travelers come to this place, it will be primitive again.¡± [Master Fang truly loves nature.] [Right, other outdoor streamers leave trash even when just climbing a mountain. Compared to Master Fang, there is a clear difference.] Seeing the multitude of praises in the live chat, Bi Fang was momentarily stunned, then warned, ¡°Don¡¯t stir up hatred for me, everyone. I am a quality broadcaster, and my viewers are quality viewers.¡± He couldn¡¯t stop fans from stirring up animosity, but Bi Fang still wanted to do his best to minimize this phenomenon ¨C nip it in the bud. [Pfft, haha, why does it sound so funny when Master Fang says this?] [Understood, understood.] Bi Fang¡¯s face showed visible frustration, knowing he couldn¡¯t bring the conversation back on track, so he simply let it go, determined the right direction, and shouldered his pack to set off. As the saying goes, water flows downhill; in a forest environment, if you walk downhill following the overall terrain, you are very likely to find a water source. ¡°Water, fire, and shelter are the three essentials of wilderness survival. Water, especially, on average, a group can survive about three days without it. This situation is further affected by internal factors such as temperature, humidity, and the group¡¯s health. For example, a person could die from dehydration within hours if they¡¯re engaged in intense activity in a dry, hot environment.¡± [Coach, I know this!] [So that means Master Fang hasn¡¯t had water for over a day, right?] ¡°Yes, since noon yesterday,¡± Bi Fang nodded, not denying it, ¡°That¡¯s why I need to set off early in the morning to find a water source, and, we can try making some weapons now.¡± [Weapons?] [Wow! Are we talking about hunting bows and spears?] [How can we make those?] When Bi Fang mentioned making weapons, the audience lit up with excitement, barraging the chat with messages. ¡°Both humans and animals need water, and the chance of encountering animals near a water source is greater. Having a weapon, whether for self-defense or hunting, is very convenient. If we¡¯re lucky, perhaps this time we¡¯ll not only find a water source but also catch some prey.¡± ¡°When it comes to making weapons in the wild, you¡¯d certainly shift your thoughts from the 21st century to primitive times. Think of cavemen. For thousands of years, people have used weapons and tools they made by hand with natural resources to protect themselves and satisfy their hunger. If you¡¯re trapped in the wilderness with nothing, wearing only your shirt, you would also need to make weapons with materials from the wilderness.¡± ¡°In the wild, especially in forests, the best material for making weapons is undoubtedly flint! It is a type of extremely hard siliceous rock, and its fractured edges are sharp enough to rival a knife blade.¡± [Really? Sharper than a knife?] [I seem to have heard that flint can be used to start fires, right?] ¡°Yes, it¡¯s because flint is so hard that when struck against each other, it can produce sparks and can be used to start fires. And because flint is resistant to weathering and chemicals, we just need to search around freshwater coasts, riverbeds, or other rocky areas.¡± Bi Fang walked, stopping intermittently, then suddenly quickened his pace and picked up a few stones that were darker in color from among a pile of gray boulders, lifting them high. ¡°Haha, look everyone, this is Flint Stone; flint is usually black or dark grey. This is the only physical distinction of flint from other rocks. Flint doesn¡¯t have a specific identification color, but it often combines into different colors depending on the other minerals it contains.¡± Having found flint, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t wait to start making weapons. Having a good weapon is really too important in the process of wilderness survival. Though he spoke impressively, many viewers still couldn¡¯t see what was so special about these few broken stones. Chapter 15 - Chapter 15: Weapon Master Online Chapter 15: Weapon Master Online Translator: 549690339 ¡°To kickstart your armory, there¡¯s one indispensable tool¡ªa knife. The uses for a knife are numerous, and its role becomes priceless when it¡¯s a matter of life and death.¡± ¡°Therefore, we can¡¯t just use any stone; choose the wrong material, and it¡¯s not only wasted effort, but it could also fail you at a crucial moment. Look at this piece of shale.¡± Having said that, Bi Fang picked up a piece of limestone from the pile of rocks, merely tapping it against a large boulder, which caused it to peel off in layers, shattering like an eggshell. ¡°This kind of shale is too loose and simply cannot be fixed together, which is why we need to choose flint. It is not only hard but also has sharp fractures.¡± [MMO feeling, earning tools step by step, eventually building a fortress!] [Dreaming Back to the Stone Age!] [Wood plank + Stone block + Vine = Stone Axe!] ¡°Generally speaking, what is hard, is often also brittle. To get a sharp edge on flint, we can break it directly with a heavy object, then shape the rough outline using another stone or a sharp bone.¡± Bi Fang knelt on the ground, placed the flint on a massive rock beside him, gripped it with one hand, and found a slightly larger rock to repeatedly strike the edge of the flint. ¡°We aim to create a cutting tool, not just to get a cutting object, so we must use a striking method. It¡¯s like playing chess; you have to understand each move and then think holistically about which parts to remove. For beginners, this process requires repeated trials to get the strength right.¡± In front of the massive rock, Bi Fang worked the flint like an experienced blacksmith, feeling the familiarity surge through him the moment he gripped the flint, as if he knew exactly how much force to use, and from which angle to apply it. The fact that the system skills could even directly impart a sense of touch struck Bi Fang with amazement, yet his hands moved faster and faster. Within hardly ten minutes, a sharp-edged bar was gradually taking shape. Bi Fang carefully picked it up and displayed the rough stone dagger to the audience, its fractured edge glinting coldly under the sunlight, indeed very sharp. Then, he picked up a slightly smaller piece of greenstone and continued to strike it, smoothing it down on the massive rock. Tiny chips of stone fell away, and quickly one side of the bar flattened. The whole process was short, taking no more than about ten minutes. A dagger closely resembling those of traditional terms emerged. Rip! Bi Fang tore a long strip from the hem of his shirt, carefully wrapping the tail of the dagger to form a handle, then held the stone dagger and slashed at a stick beside him. Like a pencil sharpener, a thick layer of wood peel was easily sliced off. [Holy shit, doesn¡¯t that look amazing? It¡¯s practically an art piece!] [But is good looks the point? Isn¡¯t this thing sharper than an actual knife?] [If I had this knife back in the day, there wouldn¡¯t be a single intact rapeseed flower within ten miles!] [666, show off!] [Sauce-burst fish gifts the broadcaster card*10¡ªOld Weapon Master!] [15 cm not including the head, gifts the broadcaster a rocket*1¡ªMaster Fang, can you give it to me after the live broadcast ends?] A stone dagger as a gift? Bi Fang was stunned; the idea hadn¡¯t crossed his mind at all. Considering that the thing was of no use once it left him, he had no objections. ¡°Of course, there¡¯s no problem. If you guys want it, I¡¯ll draw a viewer to give it away right after the live broadcast is over.¡± [Ah, isn¡¯t that chance too small though, one in a few hundred?] ¡°That¡¯s not the case,¡± Bi Fang shook his head. ¡°One dagger is not enough; we also need to make a few more stone spears.¡± [But that¡¯s still not a lot!] [Yeah, it¡¯s a shame!] Seeing disappointment in the live broadcast room, Bi Fang shrugged his shoulders ¡ª there was nothing he could do about it and turned his attention to making stone spears. ¡°Making a stone spear is much quicker than making a stone dagger because all we need is a pointed end on the flint, and then fixing the spearhead onto the shaft.¡± Looking around, Bi Fang found several branches of suitable thickness, over one meter in length, and fairly straight. Using the stone dagger, he trimmed the branches straight and smooth, then split one end of each branch to act as a fixing point. It must be said, having the stone dagger made everything a lot easier. Next was making the spearhead, similar to before, continuously striking the flint to sharpen one end, then inserting the blunt part into the split end of the branch. ¡°Just relying on the groove formed by the fork of a branch isn¡¯t secure enough, so we need to use an adhesive to stick it on, then tie it with a rope, and that should pretty much do it,¡± Master Fang explained. ¡°Vines are easy to find, and so is the adhesive. In the wilderness, there is nothing more suitable for an adhesive than pine resin. It¡¯s not only extremely sticky, but once it solidifies, it¡¯s incredibly strong. As everyone knows, amber is formed from pine resin.¡± As he explained, Bi Fang found several pine trees, cut a slit in them, and, after a good amount of pine resin oozed out, he quickly attached the Stone Spear to it, allowing the resin to flow over the spearhead like honey. Finally, while the resin was not yet fully solidified, Bi Fang found some vines and tied the spearhead in an X shape. Thus, a handy Stone Spear was crafted. Had it not been for the live stream¡¯s viewers who watched the whole process, it would be hard to imagine someone making such lethal weapons as spears and Stone Daggers by hand in the wilderness. [Simply divine!] [Who else is there! Who else!] [Master Fang yyds!] [Weapon Master online!] The chat erupted in celebration while Bi Fang concentrated on making the remaining Spears. Before long, a total of three Spears were completed and bundled together, carried on his back as he continued forward. In the wilderness of the jungle, Bi Fang, with a Stone Dagger in hand and Stone Spears on his back, looked incredibly dominant and wild as he moved forward, scanning his surroundings. [So cool!] [This vibe is wild, so manly, completely different from other streamers.] [Feels just like a vengeful Hunter from the movies!] [Time to drool over the screen again] As he headed up the southern slope, Bi Fang felt a noticeable improvement from the Skill upgrade. When he ran, not only could he control his breathing rhythm more easily, his body coordination and flexibility improved, with various techniques coming to him effortlessly. ¡°There are many tips to hiking in the wilderness. Mastering them can make trekking much more relaxed, and also significantly faster. Otherwise, after a whole day, not only will our feet be unbearably sore, we will be more prone to injuries and move at a very low efficiency,¡± Master Fang said. ¡°For example, right now, when going downhill, we should lean slightly backwards, look ahead, land on the full sole of the foot, and walk with legs in a bow stance, using our arms to maintain balance. Keep the pace steady, not too fast, to avoid losing control and danger. Never stop with feet together, or you may fall.¡± [Master Fang is so meticulous] [Really, he¡¯s very meticulous] [15 centimeters not including the head to the live stream airplane*1¡ªCheers to Master Fang¡¯s meticulousness!] [Fat Cat Pete gives 10 membership cards to the streamer¡ªHaha, Master Fang¡¯s face is all black] Slap! Bi Fang slapped a mosquito to death, his face full of black lines, attempting to suck his blood. You¡¯re the one that¡¯s meticulous, your whole family is meticulous! He was kindly imparting knowledge, so why was he being teased for being too detailed? Heaven and earth are my witness; I¡¯m quite robust! [Eh! Why does it seem like there are more and more mosquitoes now?] [Yeah, there weren¡¯t any before, how come there are so many now?] [Just in this short time, hasn¡¯t Master Fang killed like seven or eight mosquitoes?] Seeing Bi Fang constantly slapping at mosquitoes, many viewers noticed something was unusual. There weren¡¯t that many mosquitoes before. But Bi Fang, who had just killed another mosquito, took it in stride and even expressed joy, ¡°This is normal, it means we are on the right path.¡± ¡°Many insects prefer damp, dark environments with standing water and abundant plants, and mosquitoes are one of them. Now that the mosquitoes are getting more numerous¡­¡± Bi Fang squinted his eyes. ¡°It means a water source is nearby!¡± Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: An Invitation from the Guild Chapter 16: An Invitation from the Guild Translator: 549690339 ¡°One of the six essential skills for wilderness survival is finding water sources, and one must master the ability to find water by observing animals,¡± Bi Fang climbed over a ridge, listening intently to the various sounds of the forest, hoping to hear the sound of flowing water, while simultaneously sharing some of his experience with the audience. ¡°Places where cattails, willows, water lilies, daylilies, and mustard plants grow usually have high water tables and good water quality; in the woods, if a particular area¡¯s trees sprout early or yellow late, it suggests there is groundwater; and there are some plants that only grow where there is water, like willows and Chinese parasol trees, which usually have groundwater beneath them.¡± ¡°In summer, areas where mosquitoes gather, frogs, large ants, and snails live usually have water¡ªthese are all cues I use to make a judgment.¡± [It turns out that wilderness survival is not about having a strong body, but rich knowledge!] [Yeah, Master Fang¡¯s knowledge base is terrifying.] [It¡¯s not all about knowledge, though. If you replaced him with an equally knowledgeable old professor, could he do as much? I suspect they¡¯d be exhausted after just sitting for a while.] [Yes, I want to know.] When Bi Fang mentioned the concept of the six skills, the viewers¡¯ thirst for knowledge was immediately triggered. ¡°Of course, no problem.¡± Bi Fang nodded, another purpose of his livestream being to teach everyone the essential knowledge for wilderness survival: ¡°First of the six skills, don¡¯t fight battles you aren¡¯t sure about, prepare thoroughly before going into the wilderness.¡± ¡°Second, learn to identify directions, so you don¡¯t get lost.¡± ¡°Third, learn to find water sources.¡± ¡°Fourth, learn to send distress signals.¡± ¡°Fifth, recognize food, learn to hunt.¡± ¡°Sixth, learn to rescue yourself, don¡¯t panic when things happen.¡± ¡°With most of these six points, we can handle most situations with ease.¡± [6, concise summary.] [Master Fang¡¯s experience is so extensive, he must have been to many places, right?] [How to survive in the wilderness scientifically (dog¡¯s head).] [Knowledge is power!] The path in the mountains became gentler, indicating that Bi Fang was nearing the bottom of the incline, and the diversity of plants around him had noticeably increased. Bi Fang took a deep breath, the moist air rushing into his chest along the respiratory tract, finally carrying away the waste gases. He wasn¡¯t wrong, the water source was nearby! Thirsty, Bi Fang quickened his pace and climbed over another mound of earth¡­ ¡°Whoosh whoosh, whoosh whoosh¡­¡± The sound of a small stream suddenly came through. Bi Fang turned his head, laughing at the camera: ¡°Did you hear that? The sound of running water.¡± [Clear as a bell (applause).] [Just hearing this sound, I feel thirsty even if I¡¯m not.] [Wu Hu, we¡¯ve got water to drink!] Bi Fang took big strides, quickly passing several large trees and bursting out of the woods, the view, previously obscured, suddenly opened up. Just as expected! A small stream, three to four meters wide, was flowing leisurely from west to east. The water hitting the rocks in the streambed sent up clear splashes, and the stones below had been polished smooth and fine by years of water flow. The dense forest canopy blocked out the sunlight, casting only scattered patches of light and shadow that flickered in the wind. It was a season of lush vegetation, and the wild grass on the ground grew in thick batches, like a heavy blanket. It wasn¡¯t easy. Bi Fang looked across to the other side of the stream, his heart filled with joy. [So beautiful, this mountain stream is so clear!] [This makes me want to go on a trip to Qinling.] ¡°Dream on! You can¡¯t see such scenes at tourist spots, where it¡¯s packed with people and garbage. Only in true unpopulated wilderness like this can you come across it. But without Master Fang¡¯s abilities, you can¡¯t even get there.¡± ¡°We can only satisfy ourselves by watching the live stream.¡± Bi Fang could no longer hold back. He squatted down, stretched his hand into the stream, and the cool water flowed over his fingertips, taking away the noise and fatigue from his whole body. He washed his hands, brought his fingers together, cupped some water from the stream, and drank it eagerly. But after a few sips, still not quenched, he plunged his head into the stream and began to gulp! ¡°Gurgle, gurgle¡­¡± ¡°Ahh, refreshing!¡± After drinking several mouthfuls, Bi Fang straightened up, took a deep breath, and felt much of his strength return. ¡°It tastes so sweet!¡± ¡°Seeing Master Fang like this makes me thirsty too.¡± ¡°There it is, the dragon¡¯s drink!¡± ¡°Drinking raw water directly? Isn¡¯t that unclean?¡± ¡°But this is mountain spring water¡ªhow could it be unclean? Isn¡¯t the bottled mineral water you drink proud to come from a mountain spring?¡± ¡°Cough, well, you can¡¯t really say that.¡± Bi Fang coughed once and wiped his mouth before explaining, ¡°Due to increasing pollution, authentic mountain spring water is actually quite rare nowadays, and even if it¡¯s real, it¡¯s still processed. Most factories use groundwater, which truly can be drunk directly.¡± ¡°But I was really too thirsty. This creek is very active, and its self-purification ability is not bad, so I drank some. However, if possible, it¡¯s still better to boil the water. Many common diseases, including cholera, hepatitis A, and giardiasis, are caused by drinking unclean water.¡± ¡°And here¡¯s another tip for everyone¡ªif you¡¯ve been really thirsty for a while, don¡¯t drink water in large gulps. You need to sip slowly, otherwise, it can cause severe vomiting, and the body won¡¯t effectively absorb the water!¡± As he spoke, Bi Fang drank a few more mouthfuls, this time his actions noticeably gentle, sipping slowly. ¡°We¡¯ve already mentioned it¡¯s a tip¡ªaren¡¯t you writing it down, class rep?¡± ¡°Stop scolding, I¡¯m writing it down, I¡¯m writing it down.¡± ¡°Is it going to be on the test (joking)?¡± ¡°Maltose donated 10 VIP cards to the host¡ª I don¡¯t recognize any of these diseases.¡± ¡°That¡¯s All for Tonight donated an airplane to the host¡ªWe said it was an easy point, how could you get it wrong?¡± As time passed, the number of viewers in the live stream grew quickly, easily surpassing one hundred. It was clear that Bi Fang¡¯s performance yesterday had attracted a large number of fans. Most of those present today had also been there yesterday. Lu Junming was no exception. As an employee of an internet celebrity agency, his job was to scout for quality hosts to sign contracts with. In the meantime, he boosted the popularity of the agency¡¯s current hosts. Basically, he flitted around with a high-level account, draining cups, and boosting the achievements of his agency¡¯s talent. Yesterday, he had been browsing live streams on his phone and casually opened the outdoor section, just in time to enter this Master Fang live broadcast. He saw the host fighting snakes, building shelters, and even fire-making by wood-drilling, and he was astounded! Who wasn¡¯t afraid of death to broadcast like this? Definitely staged! Seasoned pros like Lu Junming wouldn¡¯t be easily convinced. He was sure that there must be a whole team behind this host; otherwise, who would dare to risk so much? He had seen this type of gimmick before¡ªappear to suffer on the surface, but as soon as the live broadcast ends at night, enjoy the good life. However, this form of live streaming was truly captivating; it could be said to have created a new genre in outdoor live broadcasts with very high popularity. If he could sign it for his agency, it would be a great achievement! Promotion and a raise were just around the corner! Nevertheless, Lu Junming didn¡¯t make contact right away but logged in with his alternate account early today to continue watching. After all, the other party was a newcomer. If he was too eager to sign a contract, it could inflate their ego, so he needed to play it cool. That¡¯s also why he dared to do this; the other party hadn¡¯t been promoted, the traffic wasn¡¯t big, and it was in the rather niche outdoor section. Finding it was a complete fluke, so he wasn¡¯t worried about other guilds snatching it away! After hanging on for a day yesterday, that should be sufficient. If he waited any longer, the choice piece of meat might end up in someone else¡¯s mouth. After observing for a long while, Lu Junming logged out of his alternate account, ready to switch to his Emperor¡¯s Vest to show off! With his Emperor¡¯s account, signing contracts was as good as done, wasn¡¯t it? Chapter 17 - Chapter 17 Tracing and Distinguishing Tracks Chapter 17 Tracing and Distinguishing Tracks Translator: 549690339 Just as Lu Junming dreamed of promotion and a salary raise, Bi Fang on the other side was not idle, making some unexpected discoveries as he moved along the creek. Bi Fang pushed aside a clump of weeds with the stick in his hand and discovered small footprints on the ground, exclaiming excitedly. ¡°Hey! Look what we¡¯ve found?¡± [What?] [Feels like an animal passed by here?] [What is it, a mouse?] In the weedy area that Bi Fang had cleared with the stick, there were small brown granules piled together, and a series of footprints leading deep into the forest, it was clear that some animal had been there not long ago, and more than once. The mud by the creek was softer, and the animal tracks were very distinct and would not disappear for a long time. If it were some other creature, Bi Fang might not have been so excited. But¡­ ¡°These are rabbit tracks!¡± Bi Fang was thrilled, if he was lucky, he might even get to eat meat today! He squatted on the ground, with the corner of his eye scanning the surroundings for movement in the forest, pressing down the weeds with the stick in his hand to give viewers a clearer view, while picking up some of the brown granules with his fingers. These granules were round and very small, with a diameter of about eight millimeters, and they easily crumbled into pieces when he pinched them. [Here we go again, Master Fang, the old poop expert!] [I¡¯ve never seen such a heavy-taste livestream] [Feels like it¡¯s a rat?] [Your rat¡¯s footprints are that big?] [Brother, you must be from the north, you¡¯ve never seen the rats from the south, have you?] ¡°No, it¡¯s not that.¡± Bi Fang shook his head and pointed at the footprints and droppings on the ground, saying, ¡°Whether it¡¯s the shape or the size, these are definitely not from a rodent, this is for sure rabbit droppings!¡± ¡°Firstly, a rat¡¯s toes are clearly forked and they have five of them, but rabbits only have four fingers, and they do not fork; secondly, look at the droppings.¡± ¡°Look, the surface of the dung is rough, indicating it¡¯s not from ruminants like deer, and the shape is rounder, if it were from a rodent, their shape would be oval or elongated!¡± [My useless knowledge has increased again!] [Rabbit: I had no idea I¡¯d still be caught, since that¡¯s the case ¡­ tell me, what exactly gave away my trail? What ¡­ what? It¡¯s the poop I left? How outrageous!] [Rabbit thief and the Terrifying Upright Ape!] [Great, if you¡¯re not on the monthly ticket rankings, I¡¯m not watching, I¡¯ll subscribe to everything once it¡¯s up! Write quickly.] [Ah, creating the document now, remember to vote a lot.] [Go ahead, don¡¯t worry!] Bi Fang: ¡°¡­¡± Indeed, such joyful foolishness among the netizens. [But aren¡¯t rabbits hard to catch? I¡¯ve seen wild rabbits in the mountains before; those guys are lightning fast! You can¡¯t even see the tail lights.] [Really? I feel like my rabbit can barely run ¡­] [Can a domestic one be the same as a wild one? Besides, is that a rabbit you have? Yours is clearly a pig!] Indeed. Seeing the barrage of comments, Bi Fang had to admit, wild rabbits were indeed hard to catch, not only were they naturally cautious, with keen hearing and vision, but they also ran fast and hid well. Despite the numerous predators, few animals could catch them; it was almost impossible without a trap. Bi Fang couldn¡¯t afford to waste a lot of time on this, as the System required him to survive within seven days. A day or two wouldn¡¯t be nearly enough to see any yield from the traps he made. But such animals had a fatal weakness! ¡°Wild rabbits have a quirk where they love to take the same old paths. As long as they¡¯re not disturbed or frightened, they will go in and out of their burrows through the same route every day, and over time, they¡¯ll wear a faintly distinguishable trail in the grass. Moreover, since they are nocturnal, we can now follow the traces they¡¯ve left behind and essentially find their burrow!¡± [Rabbit: My fate is sealed!] [Think you can escape when Master Fang has set his sights on you?] [Charge!] [Is it even possible to raid their homes?] [985. Journey Pot has gifted the host 10 shark fins] [Comment message: Gifting the host 10 food tickets¡ªIs this what they call hunting?] Having explained this, Bi Fang picked up a stick and followed the tracks, and if all went well, perhaps in an hour or two, he¡¯d be able to eat rabbit meat! Who had ever seen such a thing as hunting in the deep forests for the notoriously cunning wild rabbit? Young people who had lived easy lives in the city were all drawn in, watching Bi Fang tracking and identifying traces in the eerie forest, they felt the tension and excitement, calling their friends over to watch, with the viewer count rising almost continually! Effortlessly, they broke through the two hundred viewer mark! ¡°Wild rabbits like to live in mixed forests near water sources. The soil in such areas is generally soft, making their footprints easy to spot. Moreover, when foraging in the wild, rabbits nibble here and there, which is another easy point of identification.¡± ¡°Moreover, in the forest there are usually higher mounds of earth, and ninety percent of the time they have rabbit tracks, because rabbits like to walk on elevated areas for a better view to spot predators!¡± Leaning on the walking stick, Bi Fang easily found the trail through the dense weeds. Just a bit further away, one could see a sparser line, which is the trail where the rabbit had passed. Following bits and pieces of clues, Bi Fang tracked his way. Time slowly passed, and soon it was past noon. The temperature in the forest was rising rapidly, and combined with the constant activity, Bi Fang could only unzip his jacket, but his forehead was still layered with sweat. Yet the rabbit¡¯s burrow was still nowhere in sight. If he couldn¡¯t find it, it would mean a great waste of time and energy, which could be a fatal blow to Bi Fang, who had not eaten for a long time! In fact, this was a gamble, and even the most experienced hunters would not dare say that they could definitely catch a wild rabbit. But faced with several hundred viewers, Bi Fang dared to bet, he even had to! Boldly enterprising and full of adventurous spirit, he was a born Explorer. This was how the old professor from the CWCA Adventure Team had once described him. Seconds and minutes ticked by. The viewers in the live stream became more and more numerous, but the recognizable tracks in the forest grew fewer and fewer. ¡°It seems we¡¯re getting close.¡± Bi Fang took a breath, trying to steady his breathing, ¡°As the saying goes, ¡®A rabbit doesn¡¯t eat the grass by its own burrow.¡¯ This is because it needs enough grass to conceal its nest, and wild rabbits don¡¯t dig holes, they only nest in pre-existing pits. Now, we need to keep an eye out for such pits!¡± [That¡¯s not right, what about the idiom, ¡®A sly rabbit has three burrows¡¯?] [Yeah, I¡¯m puzzled] Many viewers were confused. If rabbits don¡¯t dig holes, is the saying about the sly rabbit having three burrows false? ¡°The idiom, ¡®A sly rabbit has three burrows,¡¯ actually refers to burrowing rabbits, which are quite different from the wild rabbits I¡¯m talking about. Burrowing rabbits live in groups, while wild rabbits are solitary. Burrowing rabbits generally live in grasslands, while wild rabbits live in forests.¡± ¡°Burrowing rabbits have a narrow range of activity centered around their burrows, whereas the range of activity for wild rabbits is much broader than that of burrowing rabbits. And we¡¯re looking for a wild rabbit, which is why we¡¯ve come such a long way,¡± Bi Fang explained and then wiped his sweat. At that moment. An earth mound in front, bald on the top and overgrown with weeds underneath, caught his attention. Chapter 18 - Chapter 18 Dont Shoot Chapter 18 Don¡¯t Shoot Translator: 549690339 The earth mound was about the height of a man, bare at the top, but from the midsection down, it began to sprout a profusion of weeds, which, at first glance, looked like the troubled expression of a middle-aged man¡­ It was absolutely an ideal habitat for wild rabbits! Bi Fang commanded the drone to come closer, whispering. ¡°Take a look at that earth mound¡ªthe view is unobstructed at the top, which is convenient for observation, and the bottom is thick with weeds, perfect for hiding. This is an excellent spot for rabbits to conceal themselves.¡± [Have we found it already?] [This mound of soil¡­ feels like it¡¯s been offended] [Are you a programmer? (joking)] [This slope, it¡¯s very smooth.] [Brilliant, it¡¯s like a Bulbasaur eating Bugles in Mickey Miao Miaohu, perfectly amazing] ¡°To catch animals, you must not overlook any detail, otherwise, all your effort will be for naught, especially with regards to sound, scent, and wind direction¡ªthese are all critical factors.¡± Bi Fang stretched out his hand, sensed for a moment, and nodded, ¡°It¡¯s a downhill wind, the direction is favorable; this wind won¡¯t carry our scent to the mound. You know, rabbits not only have an acute sense of hearing, but their sense of smell is equally strong.¡± ¡°Moreover, herbivores have a field of vision of up to 280 degrees, with only blind spots of 80 degrees on the front and back, so we must not enter their field of vision. It¡¯s best to approach from behind or directly from the front; otherwise, we will have wasted the entire half-day, and I can¡¯t afford that.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go over there and take a look, maybe the rabbit is right there!¡± Having said that, he started taking small steps towards the mound. But he hadn¡¯t walked two meters. Suddenly, a sporadic rustling noise came from the direction of the mound! Something was moving! Regardless of whether it was a rabbit or not, there was definitely a creature stirring by the mound! This wasn¡¯t the sound of wind rustling the grass; the noise was localized at that point¡ªit had to be a living creature! Bi Fang closed his mouth, his breathing gradually slowed, his chest rising and falling smoothly and powerfully, and his whole body¡¯s movements became soft. His right hand unconsciously touched the Stone Spear on his back, his muscles tensed, appearing relaxed but in reality, taut as a full moon bow! The wind carrying the sound brushed past his ear, like skimming over a still stone statue. Rustle rustle rustle. It moved again! And this time, it was even closer! Ten meters? Or eight? Bi Fang¡¯s ears twitched as he tried desperately to discern the distance while signaling with two hand gestures to the drone. These were tactical hand signals he¡¯d learned from a retired veteran in his previous exploration team In this situation, it wasn¡¯t convenient for him to speak, so he could only hope that there were viewers in the live stream who understood these signals. [What¡¯s with Master Fang, why has he suddenly become so tense?] [Idiot, didn¡¯t you hear something moving?] [I recognize that hand signal, it¡¯s used in special forces combat, indicating something ahead, Master Fang must have spotted something. If I¡¯m not mistaken, there was a rustling noise just now.] [Ah, is this confirmation that he¡¯s a special forces soldier?] [666, you¡¯re all so skilled, even the audience is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers.] [I dare not claim that, I¡¯m just an ordinary military enthusiast.] Suddenly, hundreds of viewers became excited, many switching to a first-person perspective, watching the almost motionless image as if they were the ones hunting, instinctively holding their breath as if a breath in front of the screen would startle the creature millions of miles away. Master Fang had not eaten much for two whole days, and the thought alone made many viewers¡¯ stomachs ache. If he failed now, who knew when the next opportunity would be. So it was natural for everyone to feel anxious for Bi Fang. And Bi Fang felt it more acutely; no one knew what might spring out before seeing the creature with his own eyes. A rabbit? A snake? Or even a wolf? Anything was possible. All fear comes from the unknown. At that moment, as if the other side had discovered something, the rustling sound suddenly disappeared. A silence as still as death. The wind blew, the trees swayed, the grass moved, insects chirped, all these sounds seemed amplified, so loud as if they were exploding right by your ear! ¡°Whew¡­¡± Bi Fang exhaled deeply, trying to stabilize his fluctuating emotions. His strong and forceful heart thumped violently, pumping scalding blood throughout his body. The veins on his forearm bulged as the muscles rose, the Short Spear in his hand creaking from his grip. ¡°Eh? Is he hunting something?¡± Lu Junming logged into his Emperor account only to find that the streamer he was optimistic about didn¡¯t seem to warmly welcome him, but was intently staring at a small mound in front of him. It was well known that even if an Emperor account did nothing but stay in the live stream room, it could boost the heat by tens of thousands! Yet, ten seconds, twenty seconds passed and not a single person showed shock or welcome at his arrival, not even a bird turned by the streamer towards him. That didn¡¯t make any sense, had the Emperor lost all presence these days? What could be more important than welcoming his arrival? To treat an Emperor account this way in a live stream room, you¡¯re the first! Lu Junming, who was used to being fawned over as a wealthy benefactor and thus satisfying his vanity, was very dissatisfied. Just before, Lu Junming was about to switch accounts to log in when he was suddenly notified of a meeting, which caused him to be over an hour late, and in that short period, things had taken a turn he couldn¡¯t comprehend. [What¡¯s he doing?] Lu Junming tapped on the keyboard and sent this comment. A gleaming golden comment floated past everyone¡¯s eyes. This was the exclusive comment feature for Emperors who spend over one hundred thousand a month! But Lu Junming waited a moment and found that the streamer still didn¡¯t move, as if he hadn¡¯t seen it, with only a few viewers slightly surprised, welcoming this unfamiliar Emperor. Ah, this¡­ What is with these people, is the streamer blind? Pretending to hunt, and taking it seriously? Lu Junming was deflated, feeling very frustrated. In fact, Bi Fang really hadn¡¯t seen it, as he was completely focused on hunting right now, where would he find the time to check the live stream room? Seeing that there was no movement on the other side for a long time, Bi Fang decided to make his move! He took out the Stone Dagger with his left hand and gripped it tightly, adjusted the weight of the Stone Spear in his right hand, and after making sure it felt right, he found a spot without fallen leaves and weeds to lightly place his foot. Bi Fang loosened his toes, cautiously stepped forward, and seeing no reaction from the other side, he started to move closer step by step. Ten meters. Nine meters. Eight meters. The distance was shrinking, but just as he moved. Suddenly. A furry brown head, facing away from Bi Fang, poked out from the bushes. Clank! The hearts of all the viewers trembled in unison. Bi Fang included ¨C he abruptly stopped his movements, freezed on the spot. It really was a rabbit! But before the audience could even catch their breath, the tension ramped up again. That wild rabbit actually turned its head! Damn, it seemed like the rabbit had noticed something! At this moment, Bi Fang, with most of his body exposed outside the bushes and only the front of his foot peeking out, had most of his body weight pressed on it. So tiring! Bi Fang felt an unbearable soreness in his toes, with a rush of blood flowing back up, turning his face beet red. This distance was way too close, and for someone who was one meter eighty tall like him, it was not about hiding; even a slight movement of his toes could give him away. Given the rabbit¡¯s speed, he had no chance of catching up if it noticed him! Chapter 19 - Chapter 19 Is that you, Leap Soil? Chapter 19 Is that you, Leap Soil? Translator: 549690339 This is it, there¡¯s no more hope. Many viewers sighed, feeling that this miss was especially regrettable. Even Bi Fang was about to give up, ready to step out when the unexpected happened The rabbit that had just turned its head halfway suddenly stopped moving! It just stared quietly at the diagonal front as if it had noticed nothing. Bi Fang, who was about to relax, was shocked again, and his body posture became even more uncomfortable and bizarre, as if each second were lasting an eternity! I can¡¯t take it anymore¡­ Bi Fang felt his calves trembling, and beads of sweat slid down his forehead, spreading a salty taste around his lips. How much longer must he endure? A second, ten seconds, or a minute? He wanted to give up, but each time he considered it, a strong reluctance surged in his heart. The craving for his prey made Bi Fang lie in wait like a fierce tiger; he licked his teeth and claws, waiting only for the prey to turn back so he could snap its throat with his sharp teeth. Time dragged on until Bi Fang¡¯s patience was nearly worn thin, and just as he was about to strike! The rabbit turned its head towards somewhere else. ¡°Ha~¡± The tightly wound Bi Fang suddenly relaxed and took a half-step forward, moving behind the bushes to the right. Blood circulated swiftly, soothing his aching calves. Just as relaxed were the several hundred viewers in front of the screens, whose spirits could hardly be at ease with all the recent twists and turns. Rubbing his calves, Bi Fang crept forward again, but with even more subtle and careful movements. The distance was now very close, making it easier to startle the rabbit. But that wasn¡¯t enough. Bi Fang knew very well that this hunt must not fail; he had to get within five, or even four meters! Seven meters, six meters, five meters. Bi Fang finally got within about four meters. He raised his Short Spear, aiming at the rabbit¡¯s body, but he didn¡¯t move. By now, even Bi Fang¡¯s slightest movements completely alerted the rabbit. The wind direction somewhat carried away his scent, and the sounds had completely vanished. The rabbit sniffed around, found nothing, rubbed its head, and stood upright. Yes! Stand up, stand up a bit more¡­ Bi Fang silently chanted in his heart. At that moment, the rabbit¡¯s body was fully upright. Now! Bi Fang¡¯s legs pushed off, and in the blink of an eye, he burst out of the bushes! The forest breeze bore down, the weeds rustled, and under the sunlight, his agile figure stretched out long, like a tiger pouncing on its prey! Bi Fang gritted his teeth hard, his muscles exerting force without cost, power silently flowing through muscles and meridians, as if the long breath went from his lungs straight to the tips of his fingers, driving his arms to hurl the Short Spear! In a flash, a spark of cold light arrived first! Whiz! Thud! Blood, dyed the land red. The rabbit, just about to run, was firmly nailed to the ground, its legs thrashing twice but unable to budge the Short Spear, and gradually, it lay still. It was dead. [Aahhhhhhh!!] [It hit! The spear hit!] [Damn, I¡¯ve never been so excited about a World Cup goal! All rise!] [Lord Mu sent the host a Super Rocket*1¡ªImpressive! I¡¯ve been watching outdoors for so many years, Old Fang is the best!] [Fat Cat Pete sent the host a Rocket*1¡ªAwesome!!!] [Awesome plus] [This posture, these skills; it reminds me of Leap Soil from my childhood¡­] [666, is that you, Leap Soil?] [All my fish balls are yours!] ¡­ For a moment, the live-streaming room was nearly overwhelmed by the audience¡¯s enthusiasm, showered with various praises and gifts sent out like money didn¡¯t matter. There was no denying that Bi Fang¡¯s effort that morning was very much worthwhile. Not only had he gained more fans, but he had also secured his meals for the day. ¡°Heh-ha!¡± Bi Fang gasped for breath; this fully-focused hunt had drained much of his energy, but seeing the audience¡¯s teasing, he couldn¡¯t help but smile happily. He pulled out the Short Spear and used some dirt not stained with blood to wipe off the bloodstain, then picked up the rabbit. But just as he reached out, a dark shadow suddenly darted out from his right! Bi Fang¡¯s pupils dilated, instinctively thinking it was some venomous snake, and before he could retract his hand, he saw the shadow graze past his fingertips and flee towards the distance, and then¡­ Bang! The sound of flesh and trees colliding violently was clearly audible. [Damn, that scared the crap out of me, what just flew by?] [Me too, but seeing Old Fang also got scared, I¡¯m relieved. ¡­] [Was that a rabbit just now?] [The second one?] [Master Fang, go take a look, it seems to have hit a tree?] Bi Fang, still shaken, looked at the barrage of comments and carried the rabbit to the base of a nearby tree. A rabbit with a bleeding head was shockingly lying motionless under the tree! Holy crap, this is bloody gold! [Motherf*cker, guarding a stump waiting for rabbits really paid off!] [My God, is that really a rabbit?] [A free rabbit, is that even possible?] The vast audience of Shuiyou (Online Friends / Audience) were stunned by the scene, never expecting that the old proverb would come to life before their eyes! Lu Junming was so surprised that his mouth hung open. He really couldn¡¯t imagine how they pulled off this effect in the show. Placing an immobile rabbit can explain hunting, but how could they possibly control a rabbit to crash into a tree? Did they get it drunk? This team is incredible! Sign, definitely need to sign. It¡¯s their first live broadcast, and they¡¯ve already attracted this many viewers; the content quality is good too, if they could be poached to our platform, the bonus would be substantial! A brimming-with-confidence Lu Junming immediately sent over a Super Rocket. [Streamer, come to our guild, we¡¯ll welcome you with open arms. Without saying anything else, if you signed with our guild, we¡¯d definitely promote you big time, your current results could at least double!] But just as Lu Junming fantasized about promotion, salary raise, and financial freedom, the mind of Bi Fang, who was standing by, was not on this at all. He picked up the rabbit, stuffed it into his bag, and hurriedly left. The smell of blood was too strong here, which could easily attract ferocious animals. Even so, Bi Fang still expressed his thanks to some of the Shuiyou, but the outdoors was not like indoors, and not seeing the barrage of comments was often the norm. Just like that, Lu Junming was ignored twice in a row. Of course, even if Bi Fang had known, he wouldn¡¯t have agreed. Being a streamer on the platform was a partnership, but joining a guild would mean becoming a worker. Not only would he face restrictions everywhere, but he would even be micromanaged on the content of the live broadcast, wouldn¡¯t that be embarrassing Grandpa De and Bear Grylls? Ultimately, Bi Fang was confident in his own live broadcast content! ¡°Damn, does this streamer really think he¡¯s a hotshot?¡± Lu Junming, ignored once again, was immediately indignant. The guild¡¯s rewards were meticulously planned, and he couldn¡¯t misappropriate them, so the Super Rocket he just sent was out of his own pocket, and the streamer didn¡¯t even care. You new streamer, what the hell are you playing at? Without the support of a guild, which streamer could possibly make it big? And how would you win the monthly rankings without us? Seeing his own 500 bucks go down the drain, Lu Junming instantly panicked and furiously pounded on his keyboard. [If you don¡¯t join a guild and lose during a competition against our people, don¡¯t blame us!] [Now, which streamer doesn¡¯t join a guild?] [Young man, don¡¯t aim too high; the world of streaming is deep and complex, you won¡¯t grasp it!] [Having good content doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯ll become famous!] Lu Junming sent barrage after barrage of comments, but instead of stirring anything up, they only annoyed the viewers. [Alright, cut it out with the guild talk, can¡¯t you see the streamer doesn¡¯t want to deal with you?] [Thought there was a big spender at first, but turned out to be just a guild rep, bad luck!] [Wielding a guild account to throw your weight around, who the hell do you think you are?] [It was just one Super Rocket, right?] Hey! Just one Super Rocket? Why don¡¯t you send one if you¡¯re so capable? Lu Junming, who was usually hailed as boss, was not used to being treated this way. Just as he was about to snap back, a series of dazzling fireworks blinded him for a moment. [Lord Mu gifted the streamer 10 Super Rockets*¡ªGet lost fast!] [Fat Cat Pete gifted the streamer 5 Super Rockets*¡ªDisappear smoothly!] [So Handsome It Alarms the Party Central Committee gifted the streamer 1 Super Rocket*¡ªRoll out quickly!] Sixteen treasure chests appeared at once, the onslaught of gifts leaving everyone dazed. ??? Lu Junming, sitting in front of the screen, jumped up like a startled rabbit. He pinched himself hard on the thigh, instantly feeling a painful sting. Who exactly has the problem? Him, or the world? Chapter 20 - Chapter 20 Is the Clown Actually Me? Chapter 20 Is the Clown Actually Me? Translator: 549690339 What kind of people are these? Throwing tens of thousands of yuan around like it¡¯s nothing? Do they think it¡¯s toilet paper? Lu Junming, bombarded by a succession of Super Rockets, went from shock to anger. He was about to spew rage when a shiver ran down his spine and a question emerged in his mind. How could a newbie streamer possibly have so many wealthy patrons? ¡°Damn, this isn¡¯t about ignoring me, this is about having already signed with a guild!¡± Upon realizing this, Lu Junming trembled with fury, his body drenched in cold sweat despite the scorching summer heat, his hands and feet icy cold. Was society still bearable? It had always been him who donated first, then led the public to donate, splitting the proceeds seventy-thirty afterward. He had never anticipated being outplayed by a peer today. Damn it, he should¡¯ve guessed earlier. That streamer¡¯s broadcasting equipment clearly wasn¡¯t cheap; it couldn¡¯t be gotten for less than a couple hundred thousand. It was obviously backed and prominently promoted by a big guild. As for the idea of a second-generation rich kid live streaming, Lu Junming never considered it. Give me a break, since when do rich kids live stream to the point of exhaustion? Lu Junming who considered himself savvy was filled with shock and anger. He had thought he found an easy target, but instead ended up shorn bare. Who could tolerate this? [***, you wait and see, you won¡¯t win next time we compete on the leaderboard!] [Trash!] After hurling these two insults, Lu Junming clicked the close button on the page. Out of sight, out of mind! ¡°Eh, what¡¯s this?¡± Bi Fang, just noticing the unusual commotion in his live stream room, scratched his head, not understanding why he was suddenly being cursed at. From beginning to end, the two of them never had a direct encounter. [Streamer, don¡¯t bother with that joker, just a guild account trying to gain visibility. But they got scared away by the big patrons.] [Right, never seen a patron this charismatic before.] [What a sight, magnificent!] [Lord Mu must be the alt of some tycoon, right?] Just as people were curious whether Lord Mu was an alt, a cool entrance effect appeared, followed by yet another ten Super Rockets. [Luo Chongyang gifts the streamer Super Rocket*10¨CEh, what happened to that guild account just now? I just changed accounts; how come it vanished?] [Haha, that familiar feeling, confirmed it¡¯s an alt!] [Lord Mu, is that you? I¡¯m Xia Yuhe from the shores of Lake Ming, remember me?] [Already starting to suck up? Not going to earn money together?] [Damn, a real tycoon for sure!] Recognizing audience members were immediately astounded. Brother Chongyang was well-known among several streamers as a VIP, having spent so much it was uncountable. Someone once noted that at his most extravagant, he had gifted several hundred thousand yuan to different streamers in a single day! No wonder he was so bold¡ªhe was the real deal! Meanwhile, Bi Fang, after reviewing the barrage of messages, finally understood what had happened and immediately thanked the wealthy patrons for their gifts. ¡°Thank you, thank you all for your support. But I won¡¯t join a guild, rest assured.¡± [That¡¯s right, don¡¯t worry about the leaderboard, Old Fang. Just stick to your own streaming style. If you lose, I¡¯ll write my name Shennong backwards!] [Count me in, Fat Cat at your service! I¡¯ll be at the top of the leaderboard!] [Then I¡¯ll be the tonsils!] Once again, the originally serious atmosphere of the live stream room turned into a fest of ridiculousness¡­ Bi Fang shook his head, somewhat at a loss. But that wave of gifts he just received really shocked him¡ªit was over fifty thousand RMB! Just his share alone was several tens of thousands. Although Bi Fang had known for a long time that with the System, fame and fortune would come his way, he couldn¡¯t help but feel his blood boil with excitement when he saw a glimpse of what was to come! A true man should be like this! However, the top priority was still to fill his stomach. Bi Fang weighed his backpack, which had gotten significantly heavier, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face. He took a glance at the live stream comments and suddenly noticed that the barrage of messages was getting more and more outrageous, even including composition of ¡°***,¡± so he quickly steered the topic back on track. ¡°Although we¡¯ve caught prey in the wild, we must never let our guard down because the scent of blood could attract vicious predators. Luckily, my backpack isolates scents well, which is why I could leave the hunting site immediately,¡± he said. ¡°But today was indeed a stroke of luck because wild rabbits usually live alone. I didn¡¯t expect to stumble upon a pair this time. Perhaps they were siblings which allowed them to coexist peacefully, or maybe they were in the midst of courtship when we encountered them.¡± [What a coincidence, a pair!] [Courtship? Traveled thousands of miles to deliver a double kill?] [Rabbits: We can only be husband and wife in the next life!] [But why did the other one hit the tree?] [Just joined, don¡¯t know why everyone is so excited, I think it¡¯s so fake¡­] Bi Fang read through the comments one by one, and when he got to the last one, he didn¡¯t explain. Even though the whole process was indeed very coincidental. But that¡¯s the truth! How could he explain that? ¡°As for the rabbit hitting the tree, it¡¯s related to the rabbit¡¯s escape habits,¡± he said. ¡°We can notice that the path a rabbit takes when fleeing is not straight but zigzags. Do you remember what I said earlier about the rabbit¡¯s vision?¡± ¡°Rabbits have high nasal bones, and each eye can only see clearly in front of that side, creating a blind spot, so it might run headlong into danger without choosing its path due to panic. Moreover, the rabbit¡¯s skull isn¡¯t very thick, so a collision can easily knock it unconscious or even cause death.¡± [Oh dear! Wouldn¡¯t you be frightened? Was just getting cozy, and suddenly comes a flying spear, skewering my mate.] [666, munching on grass, getting intimate, and suddenly the streamer swoops in for the kill!] [Watching live streams are nothing compared to reading comments.] Who would have thought ¨C being alone in the wilderness, seeing these silly comments from online friends actually significantly reduced mental stress. After returning to the creek, Bi Fang reflected on this for a moment, drank a few mouthfuls of water, cleaned his Stone Spear and hands to remove any scents, and then continued on his way. In the afternoon, just like the day before, Bi Fang found a relatively open spot, built a new shelter, and prepared to start a fire again. ¡°This time, starting a fire will be much easier. Just by using charcoal and a Flint Stone, we can get a flame very quickly!¡± Bi Fang took out some charcoal, broke it into long strip-like pieces with a stone, and arranged the charcoal sticks in a crisscross pattern, two layers worth. Then he shaved some dry wood into fine fuzz to serve as tinder and placed it in the center of the charcoal arrangement. ¡°Pay attention, everyone. When placing the tinder, ensure it¡¯s at a distance from the charcoal. If it¡¯s placed right under the charcoal, the flames from the tinder can easily be smothered,¡± he instructed. With that, Bi Fang took out two pieces of Flint Stone and started striking them over the tinder. After just a few strikes, sparks flew out and landed on the tinder, starting to smoke. It wasn¡¯t long before tiny flames sprouted, and Bi Fang quickly piled charcoal on top of the growing fire. ¡°After igniting the tinder, you can do as I did, choose long strips or pieces of charcoal to cover the tinder like a lid, which concentrates the heat. Remember to leave gaps between the pieces of charcoal to allow air to circulate,¡± he explained. In just two or three minutes, the small flame leaped up and turned the charcoal red hot. Watching the roaring flames, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t wait to unzip his backpack. All the hard work. Finally, it was time to eat meat! Chapter 21 - Chapter 21 Swallowing a Big Mouthful with Tears Chapter 21 Swallowing a Big Mouthful with Tears Translator: 549690339 ¡°` He adjusted his backpack, and that hefty weight made his stomach churn even more violently. He couldn¡¯t wait to unzip it, but as soon as he pulled it open a bit, a brown head smeared with blood tried to bite him, too bad Bi Fang dodged and avoided it. ¡°Huh? Is this rabbit still not dead?¡± Bi Fang looked at the rabbit that had knocked itself unconscious against a tree in surprise. He had only thought about leaving before and hadn¡¯t observed carefully ¨C he didn¡¯t expect that the collision hadn¡¯t killed it outright. Unfortunately, the zipper was not wide enough, and the rabbit couldn¡¯t squeeze out no matter how hard it tried; only its legs flailed inside the backpack, and it even began to scream. [Damn, it¡¯s still alive?] [So tenacious.] [Too bad, it still can¡¯t escape from Master Fang¡¯s grasp.] [Rabbits can scream? Creepy¡­] [Why has my rabbit never cried?] [They do, when rabbits are scared they will scream¡­] [It feels so pitiful, why doesn¡¯t Master Fang let it go?] Many of the live-streaming audience felt compassion upon seeing the resilience of the rabbit, but unfortunately, Bi Fang was not swayed in the slightest. Why should he let go of a rabbit he caught fair and square? Before his journey had begun, there was one term Bi Fang was particularly fond of. Nature. Yan Fu translated ¡°On the Origin of Species¡± as ¡°The Evolution of Heaven,¡± exactly to explain the ¡°survival of the fittest, natural selection.¡± The law of the jungle is the most fundamental rule of nature; to survive, the least he could do was to grant the rabbit a more peaceful departure. ¡°It¡¯s impossible to let it go; these two rabbits are enough to sustain me for the next two days. What I can do is to show enough respect to my prey ¨C no torture, no wanton killing, revere life, revere nature.¡± [So touching, grilling rabbit meat with tears.] [Such positive energy.] But Bi Fang wasn¡¯t joking. He closed his eyes silently and when he opened them again, he hesitated no longer; with a push and twist of the rabbit¡¯s head, the once wriggling rabbit stopped breathing altogether. He took out the Stone Dagger, ready to do some basic processing, but before that, there was something else he needed to do. ¡°Because the next thing I¡¯m going to do is rather bloody, and not suitable for broadcast, I will avoid showing it to everyone.¡± Not sure about the tolerance for live-stream content in this world, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t foolish enough to test the waters. Getting his account banned would be a real headache. He simply turned his back to the drone and set about processing the two dead rabbits. ¡°When consuming animals in the wild, it¡¯s essential to clean their blood and entrails thoroughly, as these are places where parasites and bacteria are most likely to be found. If not handled properly, it¡¯s very easy to get infected, which can be fatal in the wild.¡± ¡°Many common parasites, such as Liver Flukes, Capillaria, and Tapeworms, are extremely harmful to the human body. Some can even burrow out from inside you!¡± [Burrow out? From where¡­ No way¡­] [Be confident, that¡¯s exactly what it is.] ¡°Anywhere with an opening, even eye sockets are not exempt.¡± Facing the inquiries, Bi Fang¡¯s expression remained calm, and then he looked at the rabbit in front of him with a hint of regret. ¡°Unfortunately, we didn¡¯t bleed the rabbit immediately after killing it at that time; the blood in the one that died first has already coagulated extensively and can¡¯t be let out now.¡± [Damn! Stop it, I¡¯m getting goosebumps!] [The fried chicken in my hand suddenly doesn¡¯t taste so good anymore.] [What if you can¡¯t bleed it?] [Isn¡¯t that a disaster?] The audience became anxious at this, wondering if the rabbit they had caught was inedible after all? ¡°` ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so frightened, from a biological standpoint, most parasites and microorganisms can be killed through high-temperature treatment. Generally, cooking thoroughly at a temperature above 80¡ãC will prevent infection.¡± ¡°Plus, rabbits are less likely to harbor parasites unless they come into contact with a source of infection, as rabbits have a higher body temperature, around 38 to 39 degrees Celsius. They would only have a fever if it goes above 40 degrees, so lice and fleas don¡¯t fancy rabbits. I just wanted to tell you that you should generally avoid eating raw food.¡± Whew! At this, the Shuiyou collectively sighed in relief, thinking that not letting the blood out was a serious issue, but it turned out to be a false alarm. Master Fang scaring people is an old tradition. While chatting and bantering with the Shuiyou, Bi Fang¡¯s hands moved efficiently, the sharp Stone Dagger easily slicing open the rabbit¡¯s soft belly, then he used the tip of the knife to scoop out all the organs and scrape the blood vessels clean. Because he was facing away from the audience, they could only see Bi Fang¡¯s arms moving constantly, and then he set a pile of something soft and limp to one side. The soft organs, steaming hot, were piled onto reed leaves just picked from the stream bank like a pile of mushy mud. The memory of the various techniques for processing game was extensive ¡ª flying in the sky, walking on the ground, swimming in the water, none were lacking, and dealing with a rabbit was well within his means. After cleaning the organs, Bi Fang also removed the brain, which had a separate use, and then he cut off the rabbit¡¯s limbs and made two cuts in the back legs to begin skinning. ¡°The nights in Qinling are still a bit chilly, so I plan to skin them and make rabbit fur hats.¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s difficult to show you, I¡¯ll just narrate it simply. First, use the knife to make circular cuts about 1-2 inches away from the feet on the back legs; then slit open from each cut towards the groin and join them together; at this point, the rabbit skin becomes like a tube, ready to be peeled off, but when peeling, don¡¯t use too much force, and if necessary, use the knife to trim it open; when you reach the front legs, cut open the skin and then pull it out.¡± Soon enough, Bi Fang had obtained a bloody rabbit skin, which he showed to everyone. [Wow, a master artisan indeed.] [I¡¯ve wasted my studies, wasted them!] [I showed Master Fang¡¯s live stream to my pet rabbit, and it was so scared it shed all its fur overnight (jokingly)] After processing the other rabbit as well, Bi Fang wiped it down with some leaves and then found some twigs and vines to tie the two pieces of rabbit fur open and briefly smoked them over the fire. ¡°Alright, all that¡¯s left now is to deal with the organs.¡± ¡°They have a very strong odor, so I wrapped them with aquatic plant leaves early on, and now, what we need to do is to bury them far away from the camp.¡± Picking up the innards wrapped in reed leaves, Bi Fang dug a hole a few hundred meters away and buried them. After finishing all the work, he returned to the camp and began roasting the meat. Bi Fang skewered the cleanly processed whole rabbit and placed it over the fire to roast. The firewood crackled as it burned, and the moment the high heat touched the skin, the fascia began to contract, with the vivid red rabbit meat starting to turn slightly yellow. Under the starry sky, Bi Fang sniffed, already smelling the warm, charred aroma of the roasting rabbit. ¡°Wild rabbits are very agile and robust, almost entirely muscular, with strong bones and low fat content, so even without any seasonings, the taste is excellent¡ªtender yet chewy.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how much longer I¡¯ll need to make it out of Qinling, but having roasted rabbit on an unknown journey is quite a treat.¡± [Damn, you¡¯re making me drool.] [Tomorrow I¡¯ll sacrifice my fat pet rabbit to the gods!] [The rabbit that lost its fur in fright: I feel persecuted.] [Doesn¡¯t the one you didn¡¯t bleed taste gamey?] [After being hungry for two days, you¡¯d think it smelled delicious no matter how gamey it was!] Chatting away, more than ten minutes passed quickly, and the golden, fatty rabbit meat began to exude an aromatic scent. Bi Fang, starved for two days, couldn¡¯t care about the heat and directly tore off a leg to start eating. ¡°Hiss! Hot, hot, hot!¡± The roasted rabbit was very hot, but the irresistible sweet taste conquered his taste buds, making it difficult for him to let go. Because it was roasted long enough, the rabbit bones were crispy, and though the meat was slightly dry, it was charred and fragrant, satisfying the most fundamental human desires. Delicious! Chapter 22 - Chapter 22: Data Brushed in the Background? Chapter 22: Data Brushed in the Background? Translator: 549690339 ¡°Oh my god, the oil¡¯s oozing out¡­¡± ¡°I was thinking about sending some shark fin and fish balls, but now, emmm, forget it, not worth it.¡± ¡°Suddenly reminded of how my dog looks at me every time I eat¡­¡± ¡°Burp!¡± After finishing off a whole rabbit, Bi Fang let out a satisfied belch. At the same time, another rabbit was almost done smoking. Bi Fang wrapped the smoked rabbit in reed leaves, picked it up, and walked towards the forest: ¡°Although my backpack can block out scents, I still don¡¯t feel safe. Just like when we buried the entrails before, we can¡¯t leave leftovers near us.¡± ¡°But we can¡¯t simply bury leftover food like entrails because it will likely spoil and go bad by the next day, so we can choose a tree to hang the food from. This way, it can be kept safe from carnivores and also prevent spoilage effectively.¡± As Bi Fang moved on, he casually found a few thin vines. That¡¯s the beauty of the forest; even without a rope, you can use readily available vines instead. He secured the reed-wrapped rabbit meat with several vines, passed a sturdy one through it, tying it tight, and a Meteor Hammer-style meat package was ready. He gave it a gentle swing, and it was quite firm. Bi Fang looked up, found a tree of the right height, held one end of the vine, and threw the meat package over a branch, where it dangled down. Hit on the first try. After tying the other end to the meat package as well, Bi Fang wiped the sweat off his forehead: ¡°There we go, now my rabbit meat is secure.¡± The live stream audience looked at the meat package swaying on the tree and fell speechless. ¡°This the hell isn¡¯t about preventing carnivores, it¡¯s more like fishing, right?¡± ¡°What we¡¯re fishing is fish, but what we got is¡­¡± ¡°Hey, watch your language up there!¡± ¡°Ah this, it slipped out. Sorry, I went too far with the joke.¡± ¡°Alright, that¡¯s it for today¡¯s livestream. It¡¯s getting dark, and I should go to sleep.¡± Returning to the camp, Bi Fang crawled into his shelter, getting ready to end the stream. ¡°Ending so soon?¡± ¡°Newcomers need to get used to it. After all, the wilderness isn¡¯t like the city; you can¡¯t just stay up all night.¡± ¡°Just to watch Master Fang¡¯s livestream every day, I¡¯ve even changed my daily routine. Went to bed early yesterday, got up early today. My parents are starting to doubt if I¡¯m really theirs.¡± ¡°Haha, same here.¡± ¡°Haha, thanks for your love, guys. But seriously, it¡¯s important to go to bed early and get up early. Staying up late can be very harmful.¡± Bi Fang cracked a few jokes with them, chatted a bit more, but eventually, he bid farewell to the drone and shut off the livestream. Before bed, he checked today¡¯s active viewer numbers and saw that it had broken through six hundred, stabilizing at eight hundred, which was beyond the System¡¯s requirement of five hundred visits. He just didn¡¯t know why the task hadn¡¯t shown as completed. Perhaps it had to wait until after the survival challenge was over? Feeling drowsy after being well fed and watered, Bi Fang didn¡¯t think much of it. He lay down inside his shelter and quickly fell asleep. That night, at the Shark Tech Department¡­ Knock knock knock, a series of knocks sounded at the door. ¡°Come in!¡± Manager Wang Weifeng closed a file and called out to the entrance. As the door opened, an employee who had been granted permission walked in, holding a report straight up to Wang Weifeng: ¡°Manager, there¡¯s a data report that needs your attention.¡± ¡°Hmm? What is it, another streamer manipulating data? Just issue a warning, and if that doesn¡¯t work, ban them. Do you really need to come to me with this?¡± Wang Weifeng took the document but didn¡¯t open it. Instead, he pressed it onto the desk and asked a question, his tone slightly dissatisfied. He had glanced at the first page of the document, which was a line chart showing rising popularity, along with related analysis. Generally, when such a situation arises, it is due to a host violating regulations, artificially inflating data and popularity, or even tampering with the backend. These cases are handled with a warning followed by account suspension, without any need to consult him as the supervisor. ¡°That¡¯s not the case here, Supervisor. This time, the situation is a bit special.¡± The staff member noticed that Wang Weifeng was showing signs of displeasure and hurriedly explained, ¡°It¡¯s because this host has become too popular. In just two days, he has gathered an audience of over a thousand, with an average of nearly five hundred online viewers, and the momentum is getting stronger. However, we haven¡¯t detected any data manipulation, and he hasn¡¯t even advertised, so we came to consult with you.¡± ¡°Oh? Is it some new method of vote rigging?¡± But the staff member shook his head: ¡°No, that¡¯s not it. We haven¡¯t detected any anomalies. The real active engagement in the live stream is also very high.¡± Hearing this from his subordinate, Wang Weifeng became curious and began to browse the document, and he was immediately taken aback. The line on the chart was shooting upwards sharply as if it was about to pierce the sky. If the rise in popularity was over two weeks, then Wang Weifeng could understand. But such traffic in just two days seemed a bit too exaggerated, didn¡¯t it? Wang Weifeng knitted his brows in thought, then suddenly considered a possibility. ¡°What is this Bi Fang broadcasting? It¡¯s not prohibited content, is it?¡± ¡°Of course not, and we¡¯ve watched this Bi Fang¡¯s broadcast. It¡¯s an outdoor survival show, and indeed very engaging.¡± How could such an outrageous mistake occur? The young staff member wiped the sweat from his forehead. If it had been prohibited content and they had allowed it to broadcast for two days, then he might as well pack up his belongings and go home. ¡°Fine then, I will personally take a look tomorrow. If he really is a high-quality host, you¡¯ll have earned your merit!¡± Wang Weifeng tossed a ballpoint pen onto the document and waved the young man away. Filled with joy, the staff member showed a bright smile. He had delivered this report late precisely to hear these words. He had not thought about getting credit for discovering a big host, but making an impression on the leader was worth the trip! Once the staff member closed the door, Wang Weifeng picked up the report once more, muttering to himself. ¡°Wilderness Survival? What¡¯s that? Can it be that interesting? Tomorrow I¡¯ll have to see¡­¡± Meanwhile, after resting for a night, Bi Fang got up early the next day. He extinguished and buried the fire just as before, cleaned up the site, and then checked the two rabbit skins that had been smoked overnight. The rabbit skins had dried thoroughly, and their originally pale red flesh turned waxy yellow, almost fully smoked. Bi Fang nodded in approval and started the live broadcast. Almost as soon as he went live, dozens of people joined in. In the following minutes, the number continued to rise until it stabilized at around two hundred viewers. [Here it comes, got the sofa!] [Front row is mine!] [Good morning, Master Fang!] [Master Fang looks very energetic!] Looking at the barrage of messages from the audience vying with each other, Bi Fang felt a bit moved. Just the day before yesterday, he had been worried about whether his broadcast would be successful; now it seemed he had worried unnecessarily. It was astonishing that so many viewers would wake up early just to watch his stream, especially on a Sunday! Indeed, wilderness survival shows were popular everywhere. Seeing the increased viewership, Bi Fang didn¡¯t keep the audience in suspense and said outright. ¡°After a night of smoking, the moisture in the rabbit skins has been dried out, and now we have some excellent raw hides. However, this isn¡¯t enough because we are going to make a fur hat. Raw hides can easily rot when wet and become rather hard and prone to bugs, mold, and bad smell when dry. So, we need to tan them!¡± [Doesn¡¯t tanning require chemicals?] [Yeah, my family works in this field, and all the materials are very particular. How can you tan in the wilderness?] Many viewers were puzzled, wondering if Bi Fang could really accomplish a process that seemed to require modern industrial methods. ¡°Of course, I can!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s voice was filled with confidence and certainty. ¡°Nature is full of wonders, and we must always remain humble. Many times, the things you think are impossible are only so because you don¡¯t know the methods.¡± Chapter 23 - Chapter 23: Take a gamble, a bicycle turns into a motorcycle. Chapter 23: Take a gamble, a bicycle turns into a motorcycle. Translator: 549690339 Tanning leather in the wilderness? Many viewers¡¯ first thought upon hearing this was disbelief, but Bi Fang was brimming with confidence. ¡°In essence, tanning is about turning raw hides into leather, creating cross-links between the collagen peptide chains, thereby stabilizing the collagen structure and increasing the hide¡¯s resistance to various environments. The key to this process lies in the tanning agent!¡± [Yeah, isn¡¯t a tanning agent a chemical? How are you going to manage that?] [Indeed, it¡¯s hard to cook without rice!] ¡°Who says tanning agents have to be complex chemicals?¡± Bi Fang shook his head, disagreeing with the Shuiyou¡¯s comments. ¡°On the contrary, brain matter can serve as a direct tanning agent! Brain matter prevents the fibers from reconstituting into rawhide. As long as the hide fibers remain stretched and separated after drying, it¡¯s no longer rawhide.¡± ¡°Does anyone remember? The rabbit I roasted yesterday had no brain matter in it.¡± [Ah, how could I remember that¡­] [I thought Master Fang simply didn¡¯t like eating rabbit brains. I was curious; such a delicious thing¡­] [666, I¡¯ve learned something new. I always thought that mastering math and science meant fearlessly traveling the world was just boasting, but today, watching Master Fang, I realize I was careless!] [I got so scared I went and finished my chemistry homework.] ¡°In fact, egg yolk works too. But regardless of what you use, as long as the entire hide fully absorbs this mixture, that¡¯s enough.¡± While explaining, Bi Fang restored the surrounding environment to prevent forest fires and leave no traces. He then geared up and headed towards the place where he hung the meat yesterday, where he had placed the brain matter. But after only a few dozen meters, the viewers saw Bi Fang suddenly stiffen, then reflexively draw out the Short Spear from his back! The viewers were startled by Bi Fang¡¯s reaction and had no idea what had happened. At that moment, the drone from behind caught up and captured the scene in front of Bi Fang. Some people then saw, just a few meters away, the distinct imprint of a huge footprint! There was a beast with a considerable size! [Holy shit, what kind of footprint is that, so big?] [Is that a bear?] [So huge!] The Shuiyou who reacted finally understood why Bi Fang had that reaction just now. Waking up in the early morning to find that a ferocious creature had passed close by where you were sleeping would startle anyone. ¡°Exactly, it¡¯s a Black Bear!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s expression turned grave; he truly hadn¡¯t expected a huge terror to brush past him while he was sound asleep. He looked around for safety, and only after making sure it was safe did he cautiously approach and point at the footprint, saying. ¡°From the shape, we can easily tell these are bear footprints, as Black Bears have five toes on both front and hind limbs, with sharp claws at the toe tips that do not retract, and both front and rear paws have large, thick pads, which are very distinctive. This footprint is very fresh, even just stepped on not long ago, which is why I was so tense just now.¡± Bi Fang examined the size of the footprint closely, then stretched out his hand to compare, and couldn¡¯t help exclaiming, ¡°This guy is huge, just the length of the footprint is over twenty centimeters. I reckon it¡¯s an adult male Black Bear, weighing at least over two hundred kilograms, almost equivalent to three of me!¡± Hearing Bi Fang¡¯s description, the Shuiyou were all taken aback. A two hundred kilogram Black Bear, how big is that? Couldn¡¯t it kill a person with just a slap? Thinking this, many viewers shuddered. Who could imagine that while Bi Fang was fast asleep, such a colossal Black Bear had passed by! Even at a distance less than a hundred meters away! Realizing the danger, Bi Fang was sweating profusely. It¡¯s like you¡¯re fast asleep at midnight, and a murderer once stood close by your bed with a knife, staring at you! Bi Fang, who nearly suffered a heart attack first thing in the morning, worked hard to calm himself. Panicking now was useless; first, he needed to assess the situation, determine which direction the Black Bear went, figure out its intentions, and then try to avoid it as much as possible. The footprints left by the Black Bear were very fresh, indicating that it hadn¡¯t left long ago. Surely, he couldn¡¯t follow its tracks¡ªdoing so was practically asking for trouble. He had to think of a way to escape! [Don¡¯t just stand there, run!] [Exactly, while the bear hasn¡¯t noticed you.] [I heard that playing dead works when you encounter a bear?] [Damn, I¡¯m scared.] ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t panic. The bear has definitely noticed me by now, so we absolutely can¡¯t just run blindly, and playing dead is useless¡­¡± Bi Fang was somewhat speechless at the chaos in the live stream from his online friends. ¡°First of all, the Black Bear has definitely noticed me, because its sense of smell is extremely keen, even seven times that of an excellent hunting dog. It can smell unfamiliar scents within a kilometer range, and the shortest distance between us wasn¡¯t even a hundred meters. It¡¯s impossible that it didn¡¯t notice.¡± ¡°The reason it didn¡¯t attack us then, I guess, is twofold. Either it was already full, or there was something much more attractive than my hundred-plus pounds!¡± Bi Fang held up two fingers and started to analyze further. ¡°The likelihood of it being full is not very high because Black Bears prefer to sleep during the day and forage at night. If it was full, then it shouldn¡¯t have come out so early in the morning. The only possibility is that something nearby is attracting it!¡± It was last night¡¯s smoked rabbit meat and the innards! As Bi Fang was analyzing, many online friends had already typed the answer on the public screen. [Must be the meat buns!] [Innards would rot, wouldn¡¯t the Black Bear ignore them? It has to be the smoked rabbit meat!] [Damn, even the bear is drawn to rabbit meat, now I¡¯m even more craving it¡­] But Bi Fang shook his head, rejecting the online friends¡¯s guesses. ¡°I have a friend in Alaska who told me a few words: ¡®If you encounter a Black Bear, fight back. If it¡¯s a Brown Bear, lie down. If you see a white Polar Bear, then I wish you goodnight.''¡± ¡°In the case of a Brown Bear, playing dead might be useful, but not with a Black Bear, which is an omnivore and doesn¡¯t refuse carrion. Even if you play dead convincingly, since there¡¯s no rotting smell, the Black Bear will simply be glad to open up your body cavity to see if your innards are edible!¡± ¡°Moreover, I hung the meat so high last night, it probably couldn¡¯t reach. We can almost be sure then that it has gone to the spot where we buried the innards!¡± [F***, Black Bears eat carrion! Misled by those internet rumors!] [My God, so what do we do now?] Upon hearing this, many online friends became anxious. If this won¡¯t work, and that won¡¯t work, are they supposed to just wait for death? Of course not. Sitting and waiting for death was never Bi Fang¡¯s style! A few pieces of viscera, no matter how tender and delicious, could not fill a Black Bear¡¯s stomach. Once it finished eating and came back to its senses, it would definitely return to find him! And Bi Fang had not caught that rabbit yesterday just to hand it over to that beast on a silver platter. Bi Fang was not willing to give up! He was going to take back the smoked meat! Last night, when burying the innards and hanging the rabbit meat, Bi Fang had been thoughtful¡ªboth actions took on a Y-shaped path. You should know that the Black Bear is also known as a ¡°blind bear,¡± not because of poor eyesight, but because Black Bears mostly live in mountainous forest areas where trees are plentiful. If he used the trees as cover, as long as he kept the bear¡¯s keen sense of smell from locking on to him, the bear would have a hard time spotting him. As long as he could find a downwind hiding spot and then judge his position to avoid detection based on wind direction, the plan was entirely feasible! As thoughts rushed through his head like lightning, Bi Fang already had a plan. He was ready to take a gamble! A gamble on who had the better skills, him or the Black Bear! Chapter 24 - Chapter 24 Confrontation Chapter 24 Confrontation Translator: 549690339 ¡°Encountered a black bear?¡± As soon as Wang Weifeng opened the backend of the Shark live streaming platform, he saw this scene and was instantly intrigued. He had been unable to stop thinking about this anchor since one of his subordinates mentioned him yesterday, and first thing this morning, he came in to join the crowd of onlookers. Now it seemed, this newcomer was indeed quite interesting. Even to the point of bringing him a great surprise. Last night, Wang Weifeng wasn¡¯t idle; he had rewatched some of Bi Fang¡¯s footage from the past couple of days, which indeed gave him a lot of inspiration. As a supervisor, Wang Weifeng saw not only a host with great potential but also a path, a new way of outdoor live broadcasting! Outdoor live broadcasting had always been a weak point for Shark live streaming, or rather for all live streaming platforms. It was not as popular as other categories and lacked enough engaging content. If he could get other outdoor streamers to lean in this direction¡­ Wang Weifeng got excited as he thought about it, his heart fluttering, sitting motionless in his chair and suddenly calling out to someone beyond the door. ¡°Supervisor, did you call for me?¡± A young man pushed open the door; it was the staff member who had reported to him yesterday. Wang Weifeng stood up and patted the young man¡¯s shoulder in praise, ¡°Xiao Li, your report yesterday was spot on; you¡¯ve really done a great job this time!¡± ¡°Ahahaha!¡± Xiao Li scratched his head, beaming with happiness. However, he didn¡¯t think Wang Weifeng called him in just to praise him, so he quickly asked, ¡°Should I continue to follow up on it?¡± ¡°Of course, follow up, you must!¡± Wang Weifeng said earnestly, ¡°Not just that, contact Ling Xuefeng as well, have him check out the stream!¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Xiao Li paused momentarily but quickly regained composure, promptly promising to complete the task, before heading out. Without a doubt, this was the supervisor showing goodwill towards the new host. He couldn¡¯t offer a featured spot without a contract; that was the rule. So Wang Weifeng arranged for a big gamer streamer to raid the channel to help Bi Fang gain some popularity, which would make negotiations easier when it came to signing a contract. Meanwhile, Bi Fang in the wilderness was restless, his fingers constantly tightening and loosening around the wooden handle of the short spear. As that bold and terrifying plan took shape in his mind, it simply wouldn¡¯t go away. But as the balance wavered, a series of electronic tones sounded, becoming the final weight that completely solidified Bi Fang¡¯s resolve! ¡°Ding, congratulations to the host for triggering a side mission!¡± Mission Name: Snatching Food from a Bear¡¯s Mouth! Mission Reward: Skill Advancement Ticket Accept the mission? A side mission triggered? With a reward? Upon hearing the prompt, Bi Fang was initially stunned, then overjoyed. Why wouldn¡¯t he take the reward? Especially a Skill Advancement Ticket, with it, Bi Fang could easily upgrade his Wilderness Survival Skill to purple! If a blue skill allowed him to survive in the primeval forest, how powerful would purple be? ¡°Yes!¡± Without hesitation, Bi Fang chose to accept the mission. He was inclined to action in the first place, and now the system mission only reinforced his ideas! Moreover, the main quest series hadn¡¯t shown any progress yet, and Bi Fang couldn¡¯t figure out what the system¡¯s criteria were. If he went to retrieve the rabbit meat now, he might very well create a new live streaming sensation, and maybe then the completion of the main quest wouldn¡¯t be a problem. Bi Fang hated failure, and since he felt he had a good chance now, he was willing to take the gamble! After taking several deep breaths, Bi Fang shared his plan with the audience, and needless to say, everyone thought he was crazy. ¡°A 200-kilogram black bear could slap me dead with one paw¡­¡±] [¡°Master Fang, everyone knows you¡¯re amazing, but you really don¡¯t have to take such risks.¡±] [¡°It¡¯s fine, worst case scenario, can¡¯t he just climb a tree?¡±] [¡°Stop dreaming. I study biology, and I can tell you definitively, almost all bears can climb trees. It¡¯s not as simple as you think!¡±] [¡°Damn, can¡¯t even trust the books?¡±] [¡°Who said everything in books is correct? They also say playing dead works!¡±] So what did Bi Fang have now? Just a few handmade short spears and a stone dagger to take on a black bear weighing over 200 kilograms? Watching the endless arguments in the bullet comments, Bi Fang was not irritated, knowing that his online friends were just showing concern for him. But he was confident in his plan! Ignoring the viewers¡¯ admonitions, Bi Fang stretched out his right hand to sense the direction of the wind with his fingertips. The gentle breeze of the forest caressed the pads of his fingers, slipping through the gaps of his bones. East, south, west, north. An entire flat map emerged clearly in Bi Fang¡¯s mind, the location where food and innards were buried and his own position were clearly marked on this map. At the tail end of the vertical line of a Y-shaped orientation, if the Black Bear was at the left side of the Y where the innards were buried, as long as the wind blew in his direction¡­ Yes, the wind was blowing downward! After sensing the wind direction, Bi Fang clenched his fist fiercely; his plan was completely feasible! Without delay, once he confirmed his plan was workable, Bi Fang immediately ran towards the location where he hung the meat. However, he did not head over directly, but approached from a farther distance. After all, no one knew exactly where the Black Bear was¡ªit was only Bi Fang¡¯s speculation all along, and it was always best to err on the side of caution. ¡°Black Bears may look clumsy when they walk, and seem a bit unsteady on their feet, but in fact, they move quite agilely. Moreover, Black Bears walk with their full foot, which is called ¡®plantigrade¡¯, making very little noise in the forest and can run quickly, so we need to be cautious and observe our surroundings as much as possible.¡± Taking a long detour, Bi Fang began to stealthily approach the hanging point of the rabbit meat. In the live broadcast room, ominous and terrifying background music started to play, startling all the focused viewers. ¡°[Damn, this BGM, trying to scare the hell out of me?]¡± ¡°[Crap, almost pissed myself]¡± ¡°[It¡¯s got that horror movie vibe]¡± Bi Fang did not expect this, but his attention was not on it now, because even before getting close, he had already spotted several traces of the Black Bear¡¯s presence. In the Qinling mountains, not everywhere was muddy ground that left footprints easily, there were more abundant grasslands. These types of grounds did not keep footprints well, thereby making other methods of detection crucial. ¡°Look at that tree, there are distinct rub marks on the trunk, and Black Bears often like to rub against trees. Its paws cannot reach its own back, so when it feels itchy, it uses this motion to scratch itself, indicating this Black Bear has already been here!¡± The girth of the large tree was such that it could only be embraced by one person, and the bark at the bottom had been almost entirely rubbed off, indicating the staggering size of this Black Bear. Just imagine how massive the size and strength of this Black Bear must be; this was not a force humans could recklessly confront. Bi Fang was not foolish enough to engage directly. Humans, as the most intelligent of beings, do not rely on sharp teeth, claws, or explosive strength, but rather their unparalleled intelligence. Moving against the wind direction, Bi Fang bent over as he walked, continuously looking for cover. Although he had not yet seen the Black Bear, it was better to be safe than sorry. When he was less than ten meters away from the hanging smoked rabbit meat, Bi Fang even resorted to crawling. Once he could clearly see the tree holding the meat, Bi Fang, lying on the ground, looked up and, sure enough, saw the smoked rabbit meat, tied up securely with reeds and vines, hanging intact on the tree. Beneath the tree, however, were plenty of black hairs and footprints, and claw marks riddled the tree trunk. ¡°It seems my guess was correct; the Black Bear really came here, but it did not reach the smoked rabbit meat!¡± Seeing the situation was as he had analyzed, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit smug. ¡°This aligns with my initial speculation. Between me, the innards, and the smoked rabbit meat is a gradation, with each step being more enticing to the hungry Black Bear. If it couldn¡¯t reach the smoked meat, it would settle for the innards, and then finally come after me!¡± But the more Bi Fang¡¯s analysis was heard by the online friends, the more anxious they became. However, at this point, they could do nothing to help. Since they could not dissuade Master Fang, all they could do was pray that his actions would go smoothly. However, in Bi Fang¡¯s plan, nearly every move relied on timing the Black Bear¡¯s actions perfectly, and a single error in analysis could cost him his life! On one side was a dominant predator of the jungle, on the other, an exceptionally experienced wilderness explorer¡ª which of them would have the upper hand? Who is the mantis, and who is the oriole? With such questions in mind, every viewer was on edge, as if watching a performance danced on the edge of a knife. One misstep¡­ Everyone shivered! Chapter 25 - Chapter 25: Chapter 25: High Attack from Thick Blood (Extra) Chapter 25: Chapter 25: High Attack from Thick Blood (Extra) Translator: 549690339 [Can they really win?J [I don¡¯t think so, the Black Bear on the other side is too strong, the host is definitely going to lose.] [The Black Bear has too much health, the host¡¯s equipment is not up to par, only a Stone Spear, there, he¡¯s about to die.] [Sigh, today is just too unlucky, went out and bumped into the Black Bear Boss, how can he possibly win against that!] [In the end, it¡¯s still because the host isn¡¯t good enough.] Hey, what are you saying? How can a man ever admit defeat?¡± Seeing fans say he wasn¡¯t up to par, Ling Xuefeng instantly got anxious, but the more anxious he became, the more mistakes he made. Facing the attack from the Black Bear Boss, his character¡¯s already unhealthy health bar rapidly depleted, and finally, accompanied by a scream, a big ¡°noob¡± appeared on the screen. Damn it! I¡¯m done, I¡¯m done playing, I¡¯ve been tormented all day today, you guys keep recommending these broken games just to watch me suffer, games like this with pure data piling up have no soul at all!¡± Ling Xuefeng was so pissed that he slammed down his controller, his lips spewing sweet venom. [Hahaha, he¡¯s getting anxious, old Ling is getting anxious.] [It¡¯s normal, Ling Xuefeng being agitated and upset.] Seeing the host¡¯s flustered and exasperated demeanor, all the viewers mercilessly teased him, but Ling Xuefeng wasn¡¯t annoyed at all; it seemed like everyone was used to it. Don¡¯t be fooled by the name Ling Xuefeng, it sounds like he might be a cool male god, but in reality, he¡¯s a total clown. Thanks to his funny live-streaming style and decent looks, he attracted quite a few fans. He ranked as one of the major hosts on the Shark platform, amassing over a hundred thousand followers, with viewership numbering in the tens of thousands each time he went live. God knows how many small-time casters were hoping to catch a break by connecting with him and becoming famous overnight. ¡°What to do next?¡± Having been thrashed all day, Ling Xuefeng was somewhat exhausted. He clicked open the game interface again but didn¡¯t feel like starting over, so he decided to do something else on the live stream. Having just received a notification, Ling Xuefeng also intended to steer the conversation in that direction. ¡°How about we do a channel inspection?¡± The moment he said that, the term ¡°channel inspection¡± exploded in the live chat! [Yes, channel inspection! We want to see the action!] [What? If you¡¯re talking about that, then I¡¯m not sleepy anymore!] [That¡¯s right, show us the action, show us the action!] [Request Master Ling for a face-reveal!] The mass of viewers flooded the chat with barrages of messages, a spectacle so impressive the refresh rate made it almost impossible to see what everyone was saying. This was the scene everyone enjoyed the most. Goodness knows how many female casters were willing to broadcast increasingly sensational content in front of the major hosts, even if it meant risking account suspension. After all, even if only a small portion of fans from a host who streams to tens of thousands of followers in real-time were to stay, that would still be thousands of followers. Ling Xuefeng, watching the barrage on the screen, narrowed his eyes and said with a roguish smile, ¡°Alright, today I¡¯ll take you all to see something good! Channel inspection!¡± Having said that, Ling Xuefeng, in front of everyone, started browsing through the Shark live streaming platform. He had already made his choice, but still pretended to ponder, ¡°Which one to watch?¡± [This one, this one, this one¡¯s got bounce!] [No, the one below looks like she can really dance.] [Crap, who watches dancing seriously? Damn, this dance is so vanilla, my bad for being blunt.] ¡°What¡¯s so great about these.¡± Ling Xuefeng glanced disdainfully at the hosts recommended by fans. ¡°Just looking at these covers, you can tell they¡¯re Photoshopped, who knows how ugly they are in real life, you¡¯ll probably get eye infections, and then you¡¯ll blame me.¡± [Damn, then, Master Ling, tell us where to find the good-looking girls!] [Yeah, yeah, if only your skills were half as hard as your mouth.] ¡°Hey! Today I¡¯m going to tell you which section has the hottest girls! Anyone with real taste knows, to see girls, you¡¯ve got to check out the outdoor section! I don¡¯t usually tell this to just anyone!¡± ¡°That¡¯s where the top-shelf beauties are, those who exercise regularly, they¡¯ve got the bodies and the looks, all leggy and tall, only a veteran like me knows how to spot them!¡± The chat immediately flooded with a stream of 666s, agreeing with the host¡¯s words. Ling Xuefeng, seeing the conversation develop as expected, grinned and opened the outdoor section, pretending to pick out girls while actually searching for the objective Wang Weifeng had set up for him. There was no way around it, they had promised to feature him next time, and he wasn¡¯t going to pass up a freebie, especially since there was nothing to lose. Getting a recommendation wasn¡¯t shameful at all. But after scrolling for a while, he just couldn¡¯t find it, and only after scrolling down a long time did he finally find the target in the uncontracted broadcaster section. Damn! Still not contracted? Do they promote new broadcasters like this? What¡¯s this kid¡¯s relationship with Wang Weifeng? Ling Xuefeng felt a sour taste in his mouth¡­ However, after his private grumblings, he still pretended as if nothing was wrong and said, ¡°Eh, this live stream seems quite interesting, the title looks pretty impressive!¡± Master Fang¡¯s live broadcast, experiencing the Qinling scenery? The other viewers were startled for a moment, expecting to see a girl, but why was it a man? They instantly began to protest, but Ling Xuefeng started to push back strongly and led them into the stream. Sorry, I¡¯m going to monopolize this feature! But as soon as he entered, the exceptionally clear camera work and the crawling Bi Fang gave him a shock. What the hell, is this a movie shoot? And the tens of thousands of viewers who followed Ling Xuefeng into the stream were also taken aback by the fully equipped Bi Fang on the live broadcast. Looking at the deep scratch marks on the big tree, Bi Fang spoke earnestly to the camera, ¡°Although Asian Black Bears are quite large, they¡¯re actually not ¡® tall.¡¯ Even if the Black Bear we encountered has a large body, its body length would not exceed 1.8 meters, and its limbs are not nearly as long as those of primates, making it hard for them to reach above their heads.¡± ¡°Black Bears can walk upright on their hind legs, and this Black Bear Boss stood nearly 2.3 meters tall, which might be less than a hand¡¯s breadth from the height I hung the meat.¡± Looking at the highest scratch marks left on the tree trunk, Bi Fang made some estimations about the Black Bear Boss¡¯s size while he was standing upright and seemed quite puzzled. Bi Fang stood over 1.8 meters tall, and last night, he had tied the vines on his tiptoes without a doubt, the height of the smoked rabbit meat should¡¯ve been between 2.3 and 2.4 meters. And the Black Bear Boss stood up to a little over two meters¡­ Looking at the complex footprints on the ground and the claw marks on the tree, Bi Fang could even imagine the scene of the Black Bear Boss stretching up its claws desperately underneath the tree. [Man, is it really just a few centimeters off?] [Just a little bit short, but couldn¡¯t reach no matter what.] [Black Bear: It¡¯s infuriating when you can¡¯t reach.] [Seems like a silly bear] [Silly? If it bites you, you wouldn¡¯t think it¡¯s silly.] Alright, since the Black Bear isn¡¯t here anymore, let¡¯s hurry up and take the rabbit meat down. We have to be quick in this process!¡± ¡°A larger bear can reach an astonishing speed of 60 kilometers per hour when running, and the burial site for the entrails is only two hundred meters away from here. One charge from the Black Bear and it would take only ten seconds to arrive!¡± [Damn, it can run that fast? That¡¯s like sixteen or seventeen meters per second, right?] [Isn t that faster than a world champion?] [I¡¯ve seen on Animal Planet, it seems that predators in nature all run faster than humans¡­] [Master Fang really has guts!] Ling Xuefeng was surprised when he saw the barrage of comments in Bi Fang¡¯s live stream room: ¡°Woah, this bro¡¯s really in the Primeval Forest! And he¡¯s competing with a bear for food?¡± [Man, this is like a real-life human versus bear battle!] [He¡¯s got the same gear as old Ling, this is like a real-life reenactment!] [Aren¡¯t we going over to support the live stream room?] [Damn Black Bear, let¡¯s go!] The fans who followed Ling Xuefeng and saw Bi Fang competing with the bear for food were instantly thrilled and began searching for Bi Fang¡¯s live stream Chapter 26 - Chapter 26: Chapter 26 Go Big Brother! Chapter 26: Chapter 26 Go Big Brother! Translator: 549690339 | Surviving in the wilderness of the Primeval Forest and snatching food from the mouth of a giant Black Bear are just two factors that are enough to attract attention. A plethora of experienced viewers have parachuted directly into Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast room. Watching the number of viewers in his own live broadcast room dwindling, Ling Xuefeng felt his heart racing with fear and even regret. Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t a permanent loss, otherwise the promotion wouldn¡¯t be worth it. ¡°No wonder Old Ghost Wang was sucking up so much, this host really has some skill.¡± It wasn¡¯t just the viewers in Ling Xuefeng¡¯s broadcast room who were captivated by the host called Bi Fang, but Ling Xuefeng himself was attracted too. Not only was the content novel, but it was also thrilling, and the host¡¯s image was quite good, just a tiny bit handsomer than him. Really, just a tiny bit, the difference of a fingertip at most, not a fraction more. In an era where androgynous streamer stars are the trend and masculinity is lacking, the debut of a host who had both good looks and manliness was like a breath of fresh air. In the jungle, Bi Fang took out the Stone Dagger and looked around to make sure it was safe before he quickly stood up, ready to pack up the smoked rabbit meat. This action was indeed risky, equating to exposing himself voluntarily, but it was something he had to do. Snatching Food from a Bear¡¯s Mouth is essentially about quantifying the cost, the comparison between the benefits and the expenses. It¡¯s like everyone knows that stock trading is risky, but they can¡¯t help but get involved, firmly believing they won¡¯t get cut as a sucker. If successful, not only could it save Bi Fang time looking for food, but he would also gain two rabbit skin hats, maintaining ample physical energy and warmth. Moreover, the System had issued a mission, giving him another reason to snatch. No, this was reclaiming what was his! Quickly arriving at the base of the tree, Bi Fang was slightly out of breath, daring not to make a sound. After ensuring his safety, he went on tiptoe and began cutting. The spot where the entrails were buried was less than two hundred meters away. If this had been an open plain, a man and a bear could have even made eye contact! The vines were somewhat sturdy, and it took Bi Fang a while to cut them with his Stone Dagger before he could take down the meat bundle and prepare to leave quickly. But as soon as his rear foot touched the ground, ¡°Crack!¡± A clear sound of a tree branch breaking rang out. But the solid sensation of the earth beneath his feet told Bi Fang that he hadn¡¯t stepped on any branches! There was something behind him, and it was very close! The Shuiyou in the live broadcast room instantly felt their hairs stand on end, and the chat exploded in chaos. In just a few seconds, the barrage of comments completely flooded the live broadcast room. [Whoa, Old Fang, behind you!] [Behind you, look behind!] [Mommy, that¡¯s a huge Black Bear!] [Ah! It¡¯s charging over! I can¡¯t watch!] [Call for help, someone call for help!] [It¡¯s no use, too late!] In Ling Xuefeng¡¯s broadcast room, the host Ling Xuefeng himself widened his eyes, his expression was just like the other viewers, even more astonished, as he exclaimed directly, ¡°Bear! Bear! Bear!¡± It was like the code used by the Fusang people when attacking Pearl Harbor, ¡°Tora! Tora! Tora!¡± That black, majestic creature sprinted through the woods, using the bushes for cover, and the occasional patches of light illuminated its glossy black fur, as its sturdy limbs trampled the ground. In an instant, Bi Fang¡¯s hair stood on end, and his body¡¯s muscles constricted in response, his thighs readying a powerful leap in a very short amount of time. He was like a spring, tumbling forward and falling over. Bi Fang only felt a chill running up his back, and in this life or death moment, he suddenly remembered someone. ¡°Brother Lu, what happened to your hand?¡± ¡°Alt, when I was young, I ran into a crazed Black Bear that bit it off.¡± By the campfire, Bi Fang sat to one side, curiously examining the middle-aged man in front of him who had lost half of his palm, the local guide hired by the expedition team. ¡°Such a big wound, that bear must have been huge, right?¡± ¡°It was!¡± As though reliving the glory days of the past, the thirty-something man from Shandong couldn¡¯t hide his pride, ¡°It was 1.8 meters long and had to weigh at least over two hundred kilos!¡± ¡°That big?¡± Bi Fang was shocked because a bear¡¯s fat layer is exceptionally thick, making it difficult to kill even with a hunting rifle unless you aim for the head. How did this unremarkable-looking tough guy manage to survive? ¡°Fighting desperately,¡± Brother Lu replied when he heard Bi Fang¡¯s question, his eyes narrowing as though he was still shaken by the memory, ¡°It bit off my hand, so I poked out its eyes. But maybe it got scared, and also people were coming, so it just gave up completely.¡± As Bi Fang looked on thoughtfully, Brother Lu joked, ¡°What? You ask so much, you want to hunt bears?¡± ¡°How could that be, it¡¯s illegal to hunt bears in the wild. I just want to learn a thing or two; after all, doing our job, who knows when we might face danger,¡± Bi Fang shook his head, he was genuinely eager to learn. ¡°What kind of techniques can I teach you?¡± Brother Lu shook his head and sighed, ¡°When encountering wild beasts, humans really have no way out. Without a gun or a knife, you can only fight desperately, but you can¡¯t fight to the death!¡± ¡°Fight desperately, but not fight to the death?¡± The scraping of branches on the ground made Bi Fang¡¯s face sting painfully as he rolled and scrambled up from the ground, breaking out in a cold sweat as this phrase suddenly flashed through his mind. Massive claws struck the tree trunk, shredding large chunks of bark and wood; one could only imagine the kind of disaster it would spell if it hit a person! It seemed the black bear hadn¡¯t expected its prey¡¯s reaction to be so swift. The charging black bear, staring at Bi Fang who was holding a short spear, growled lowly, not rushing forward rashly again. Only now did Bi Fang have the chance to clearly see the black bear¡¯s appearance, its size not different from his previous estimate, but the visual impact was much more striking than the concept! What kind of black bear was this? It was over 1.7 meters long, with extremely thick limbs, and its sharp claws left clear holes in the ground. The bear¡¯s fur was glossy, black as ink, dense and rough, especially the hair on both sides of its neck and shoulders, which was longer. Beneath its neck, on its chest, there was a distinct white crescent-shaped pattern, adding a touch of brightness to the solid color fur. But this was the wilderness, not a circus! No one would think this black bear was cute, with its mouth full of sharp teeth still stained with blood and reeds! Indeed, just as Master Fang had guessed. The audience in the livestream couldn¡¯t help but admire upon seeing the black bear¡¯s form, but no matter how admirable, it did nothing to improve the current situation! You should know, just ten minutes earlier, Bi Fang had said that his appeal to the bear was incremental compared to that of the raw rabbit meat, not to mention he had now taken down the rabbit meat! [Go for it, host! I came from Ling Dog¡¯s to support you, hang in there!] [Big brother, go for it, don¡¯t give up!] [Reporting in from the Ling Family Army!] [Ling Xuefeng is checking in, come and greet him quickly! ] In that moment, countless fans of Ling Xuefeng swarmed into Bi Fang¡¯s livestream. In just a few seconds, the popularity of his livestream skyrocketed; two thousand, five thousand, seven thousand¡­ ten thousand! Though popularity doesn¡¯t represent the number of people, it was still terrifying enough! Ten thousand, a milestone many streamers cannot beg for, was achieved by a broadcaster who had only been livestreaming for two days and had no fame beforehand! This was a miracle! [Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing Main Mission One. The rewards will be tallied after all missions are completed! ] Chapter 27 - Chapter 27: Chapter 27: The more you fear, the more excited it gets. Chapter 27: Chapter 27: The more you fear, the more excited it gets. Translator: 549690339 The unchanging electronic voice of the System rang out, but Bi Fang hadn¡¯t caught what it said, nor did he dare to divert his attention to check. Cold sweat seeped from his forehead, yet he didn¡¯t break into a wild sprint; running was impossible, not even a world champion could manage it! Fight desperately, but not to the death! This piece of advice from another world was seared into his mind like a brand. Combining his own Wilderness Survival skills, Bi Fang gradually understood the meaning of these words as he faced off against the black bear before him. This was his only chance! Inside the live streaming room, it was also far from calm; there was a tumultuous buzz with all sorts of comments¡ªteasing ones, fearful ones, and mostly, panic-stricken ones, afraid that they were about to witness a one-sided slaughter. It¡¯s no surprise; through the first-person camera, many viewers felt as if they were the ones facing the black bear, and some couldn¡¯t take it anymore, even leaving the room to lean against a wall and visit the restroom. Ma Huayi, too, watching the live stream, stared with bated breath, feeling that his photography work over the years hadn¡¯t produced as much material as the past few days had. ¡°How are we going to handle this now?¡± ¡°We¡¯re done for, there¡¯s been a live broadcast accident.¡± ¡°Damn, Old Demon Ling¡¯s choice of live broadcast is so freakin¡¯ thrilling!¡± ¡°Hahaha, I saw Old Demon Ling looking stunned.¡± ¡°Fuck, can the fans of Old Demon Ling calm the hell down? Can¡¯t you bloody see what¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°Exactly, with the broadcaster in this state, who¡¯s in the mood to joke around?¡± ¡°Holy shit, who forced the broadcaster to go to the Primeval Forest? He chose it himself, so who¡¯s to blame? A bunch of idiots!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s his own doing, idiot broadcaster, idiot fans!¡± ¡°Old Demon Ling has sent the broadcaster a Super Rocket *1¡ªlet¡¯s show some respect and stop the bashing, the Ling Family Army needs to calm down too, this is your fault this time, everyone needs to be rational. The broadcaster is a real man!¡± Another Super Rocket soared into the sky, unexpectedly sent by Ling Xuefeng himself as an apology. He had not anticipated his fans stirring up trouble and quickly tried to quell the situation. Even a fool could see the broadcaster¡¯s potential; he shouldn¡¯t be offended. Seeing the broadcaster speaking up, Ling Xuefeng¡¯s fans also quieted down. But Bi Fang paid no attention to these things. The black bear with bloodstains at the corners of its mouth lowered its head, shaking it rapidly from side to side, slightly opening its mouth to reveal four iron hook-like black and yellow canines, looking extremely sharp. This was the prelude to an attack! ¡°Everyone, please don¡¯t panic at this time, the more you panic, the easier it is to make mistakes. Do you remember what I¡¯ve said?¡± ¡°A wild beast can smell your fear. The more afraid you are, the more excited it gets.¡± Bi Fang clenched his Stone Spear tightly, staring intently at the black bear¡¯s limbs. While observing its movements, he avoided making eye contact with the bear. The distance between them was only four or five meters¡ªit would be lying to say he wasn¡¯t afraid. In his previous life, he had his robust physique and full gear for exploration, but now his physical condition was not up to par, and the only weapon he had was a rather rough handmade Stone Spear, which was far less reliable than modern industrial-manufactured knives. But Bi Fang would not let fear dominate his brain! The standoff lasted a while, maybe stimulated by the scent of blood and deeming the bipedal creature before it not a threat, or perhaps lured by the smell of the smoked rabbit meat and no longer wanting to test its patience, the black bear licked its nose and, with a sudden flurry of its paws digging into the ground, charged at Bi Fang. Its massive body moved with such ferocious speed that the ground itself trembled. This was no mere black bear¡ªit was more like a rampaging panzer tank! At this critical juncture, Bi Fang¡¯s left leg muscles tensed, and he forcefully pushed off the ground with his left foot, rolling to the side. As he rolled, both hands gripping the Stone Spear, he thrust fiercely at the black bear¡¯s head! Snap! But having barely pierced the black bear¡¯s cheek, the pained bear shook its head. The massive force broke the Spear¡¯s shaft and it again opened its mouth to bite at Bi Fang! The distance was only the length of one¡¯s body, and as the gaping maw with its gleaming teeth bore down, Bi Fang could even smell the stench of recently- eaten animal guts! He didn¡¯t hesitate, once more pulling out a Stone Spear from behind him and plunging it forcefully into the black bear¡¯s mouth! The Black Bear was equally fearless, charging towards Bi Fang with its front limbs raised to slash violently at his head! Such ferocity! Bi Fang¡¯s heart skipped a beat, astonished that the beast was entirely unafraid of the stone spear. As the claw came at him, he, still on the ground, could only slightly shift to the side. Rip! Thud! The sharp stone spear struck directly at the Black Bear¡¯s nose, and then was blocked by its hard skull. But at the same time, the Black Bear¡¯s claw also struck Bi Fang¡¯s left shoulder. The sharp curved hooks tore through Bi Fang¡¯s clothes and backpack effortlessly, nearly grazing his scalp as they slapped past. Crack! The backpack strap provided by the System snapped instantly, causing Bi Fang¡¯s pupils to dilate¡ªthis wasn¡¯t just any ordinary backpack, but a specialized outdoor bag, far more durable and wear-resistant than normal, a bag that couldn¡¯t even be cut by ordinary knives, yet it was severed by the Black Bear¡¯s claw! All the viewers inhaled sharply, their hearts racing with fear! The Black Bear¡¯s claws were that sharp! The intense pain in his shoulder blade and the scent of blood triggered Bi Fang¡¯s fighting spirit. His eyes bloodshot, he gripped the stone spear with his right hand with all his might. The spear that had been stopped by the skull now slid further, scraping the Black Bear¡¯s cheek and left eye, opening a large gash. The nerve endings at the tip of the Black Bear¡¯s nose were the most sensitive. Now, having been pierced by the spear and also suffering a gash across the cheek and eye, the bear was in agony, as if its life was at stake! The Black Bear yowled in pain and stepped back, giving Bi Fang a chance to catch his breath. Bi Fang struggled to his feet, tossed aside the backpack with one strap broken, and pulled out another stone spear, rushing towards the Black Bear¡¯s left side. He had just injured the Black Bear¡¯s left eye¡ªnow that side would be its blind spot! This was his chance! With a few quick strides, Bi Fang reached the Black Bear¡¯s left side, holding the stone spear with both hands, plunging it fiercely into its flank! ¡°Roar!¡± The Black Bear roared, just as it tried to turn to attack, but Bi Fang immediately knelt on one knee, using all the tricks up his sleeve to hold the spear firm. As the Black Bear turned, the spear would only go deeper! Watching the screaming Black Bear, and remembering how he had struggled the day before to catch rabbits, only for the beast to eat the innards and still vie for the meat, Bi Fang was so enraged he twisted the stone spear fiercely! ¡°I¡¯m going to butcher you!¡± ¡°Roar!¡± The Black Bear let out another scream of pain, less ferocious now, and more pitiful. Bi Fang seized the opportunity and quickly stood up. He dodged the Black Bear¡¯s counterattack, clutching the stone spear tightly with his left hand, leaning in with his upper body, and thrusting with all the strength of his waist and abdomen. With his right hand, he drew the stone dagger from his waist and stabbed down rapidly! One slash, two slashes¡­ He slashed countless times, the Black Bear¡¯s side and back almost entirely soaked in blood! Under the camera, the primal beauty of raw violence burst forth like thousands of horses charging into battle. In the dappled light of the jungle, the ferocious predator launched its assault, but was made to look utterly pathetic by a few short spears. Its massive head attempted to open its jaws to bite, but it couldn¡¯t turn around to do so. In the sunlight, Bi Fang bit down hard, his left shoulder swollen and unbearable, as bear blood from his right hand flowed down his palm. [Damn, that¡¯s so freaking cool!] [I¡¯m freaking blown away by Master Fang! Total badassery!] [This is what primal is!] [Kill it! Bear paws for dinner tonight!] This is so explosive! The viewers in the live broadcast were nearly in collective ecstasy, the barrage of comments flying across the screen so thick it almost crashed the broadcast! Chapter 28 - Chapter 28: Chapter 28 The Supernova of the Live Streaming World Chapter 28: Chapter 28 The Supernova of the Live Streaming World Translator: 549690339 Ling Xuefeng felt as though he had witnessed the rise of a superstar in the world of live streaming, no, in the entire entertainment industry! Wang Weifeng is quite something, isn¡¯t he? This isn¡¯t just a featured promotion, he¡¯s handing me a golden ticket! At that moment, seeing his fans switching sides non-stop, Ling Xuefeng wasn¡¯t angry, but rather chuckled happily. It¡¯s not like they won¡¯t come back, and besides, isn¡¯t a timely help in the snow much weightier than adding flowers to brocade? just as Ling Xuefeng fantasized about the future when Bi Fang would become the number one in the live streaming world and bring him along to soar into the top 10, a roar came from the live stream. ¡°All!¡± With a roar, Bi Fang spat and directly pulled out the Stone Spear. Once free, the Black Bear went mad with ferocity, its muscles flexed, propelling its massive body forward with incredible speed! Unfortunately for the bear, Bi Fang had anticipated this, and with a step back, he continued to stay in the Black Bear¡¯s blind spot, avoiding its biting and swiping, and he smacked the wound on the bear¡¯s nose with his Stone Spear as if it were a stick! Crack! The powerful blow made the Black Bear yelp in pain, and although its right paw kept swinging towards Bi Fang, he slid away like an eel, the breeze from the bear¡¯s paw grazing his collar, and Bi Fang swung another blow with his stick. The Black Bear was strong and fierce, but its movements were limited to just a few, and once seen through, they seemed incredibly clumsy. Not to mention, Bi Fang, standing in the bear¡¯s blind spot, had virtually all the advantage! After dodging away, Bi Fang struck hard again! This time, the Black Bear was thoroughly smacked and hurt, holding its nose, it stopped attacking. [Hahaha, it feels like I¡¯m training my dog!] [I¡¯in convinced, a big Black Bear gets beaten like a large dog!] [Master Fang is awesome!!!!!] [Master Fang is awesome plus!!!!!] [Old Demon Ling sent 3 Super Rockets to the host-Damn, I just came in and watched for a bit, truly awesome! Followed you, you¡¯re a future streaming mogul!] [Lord Mu sent 10 Super Rockets to the host-You¡¯ll get used to it, Old Fang is just that awesome!] Seeing that Bi Fang had taken control of the situation, the Shuiyou stopped worrying and began to wildly praise him, sending out gifts without a second thought. Meanwhile, on the other side, as Bi Fang was preparing to continue his whacking, the Black Bear suddenly took a step back! This Black Bear was afraid! [I, Ling Xuefeng, acknowledge the host as the strongest in the outdoors!] [Old Demon Ling, take a look at others, then at yourself. You can¡¯t even beat a black bear in games, and someone¡¯s already tackling one in real life!] [Truly, a real-life encounter!] The Black Bear whimpered, covering its nose, blood dripping through its paw crevices. Apparently out of fear, it did not continue the attack. On the other side, Bi Fang with Stone Spear in hand stayed on high alert, not letting his guard down. No one could tell if the Black Bear was genuinely frightened; it might just be feigning weakness! Never underestimate the wits of a wild beast; in hunting, they are often smarter than humans! At this moment, the Black Bear seemed to have serious wounds, but Bi Fang knew well that they were mostly superficial. It was the end of September, nearing autumn, and coupled with the low temperatures in the mountains, many black bears had already started to store fat. Therefore, the Black Bear¡¯s fur was extremely thick at this time of the year, with a fat layer nearly ten centimeters thick, making it difficult for cold weapons to cause severe damage. At this point, the two were only two or three meters apart; a single leap from the Black Bear could knock him down. Must be on guard! While Bi Fang was pondering, the Black Bear suddenly leaned forward! The audience, who thought the bear had been scared off and wouldn¡¯t attack again, were startled. Bi Fang also tensed up, gripping the Stone Spear, ready to strike once more. The next second, the huge male Black Bear turned tail and fled! Watching the black bear quickly disappear into the bushes, the audience, tense with nerves, stared at each other with wide eyes. Once they came to their senses, cheers erupted instantly. [Master Fang: That¡¯s it? A 200-kilogram blackbear just like that?] [BlackBear? Tag it and sell it off to Seoul!] [Why let it go? That was a huge chunk of meat, feels like it could feed you for quite a while!] [Isn¡¯t bear hunting illegal?] [How is this bear hunting? Didn¡¯t you see it was the one that came knocking? This is self-defense!] [No, the bear didn¡¯t study law, so it doesn¡¯t count as self-defense, a law student passing through¡­] Meanwhile, Bi Fang watched the black bear completely disappear into the jungle, and a hint of color finally returned to his pale face, though he almost collapsed from exhaustion, feeling immensely relieved in his heart. Only he himself knew how dangerous that moment had been. The only reason he survived this time was by causing the black bear enough pain. When Bi Fang came to his senses and saw the fans boasting in the live stream, he was speechless. Did they think he didn¡¯t die with enough dignity? ¡°What are you thinking? I don¡¯t know how long a black bear can provide meat, but I¡¯m sure my hundred plus pounds of flesh would¡¯ve satiated it!¡¯ This remark left everyone stunned. [Ah¡­] [This is not what I had in mind¡­] [But we already chased it away, didn¡¯t we¡­] Bi Fang shook his head. He didn¡¯t kill the bear not because bear hunting was illegal, nor was he trying to establish an image of an animal protector; he simply had no other choice. The black bear let him go not because it was scared, but because it couldn¡¯t stand the pain, not because it was injured. If it had been hungrier, he might not have survived this encounter. ¡°Bear hunting isn¡¯t as simple as you think. It seemed like I had the upper hand just now, but the situation was actually very critical.¡± ¡°Now that autumn has arrived, black bears are fattening up. The thickness of their fat layer alone can reach nearly ten centimeters, and their fur becomes thicker, greatly enhancing their defensive power. Whether it¡¯s a stone spear or a stone dagger, I¡¯ve only caused superficial wounds to the black bear. Even the scratched eye might heal quickly. Look at this stone spear¡­ Bi Fang lifted the stone spear that had pierced the black bear¡¯s flank. The entire stone spearhead was covered with blood, silently informing everyone that it was a bona fide deadly weapon. ¡°Perhaps many of you would ask why I didn¡¯t push harder when I stabbed it in the abdomen to inflict severe damage to its organs, but instead, I pulled out the stone spear?¡± [Yeah, it feels like if you had stabbed deeper, damaging its heart or lungs, wouldn¡¯t that be an easy victory?] [Yes, I wanted to ask the same thing.] As Bi Fang brought up this point, the online friends started to get lively. This wasn¡¯t just some keyboard warriors boasting online; they were listening to Master Fang explain his firsthand experience. ¡°Because I couldn¡¯t, and I dared not,¡± said Bi Fang, shaking his head as he bluntly stated his reasons. ¡°The two main reasons I won were, first, the advantage of a blind spot, and second, the black bear¡¯s aversion to pain, a common trait among all mammals.¡± The stone spears made in the wilderness were questionable in terms of their durability-the first one that broke was a perfect example. To have penetrated the bear¡¯s fat layer and genuinely injure it was already lucky. Pushing the spear further might have resulted in the shaft breaking due to the muscle¡¯s strength. If I had lost this long-range weapon, the situation would have rapidly deteriorated. A life-threatened black bear might lose its sense and, ignoring the spear in its body, would do everything to turn and kill Bi Fang. just now, a mere graze from its paw caused the backpack strap, which a knife couldn¡¯t have cut through, to snap. My left shoulder turned red from the tightening and was nearly bruised. Imagine if I had been bitten. Fighting like a trapped beast is a phrase many have heard but few have experienced. Yet, it is true! After hearing Bi Fang¡¯s explanation, many people suddenly realized why he had given up on a seemingly excellent opportunity-it wasn¡¯t an opportunity but a trap! [Damn, this is a conscientious live streamer, anyone else would have exaggerated a lot already!] [That¡¯s right, Master Fang is truly the conscience of the industry!] [If you don¡¯t support this kind of streamer, what are you waiting for?] Bi Fang could only smile wryly; no matter what he said, the audience seemed to shower him with rainbow farts, making it seem as though they were paid supporters. ¡°Facing a predator, what you need is to fight with all your might, show your strength, let it know you¡¯re not to be messed with, that the cost and reward don¡¯t align for it, naturally, it won¡¯t bother you anymore. But you can¡¯t be too desperate either. Once the black bear feels it¡¯s a fight to the death, then, most likely, you would no longer be seeing me now.¡± Bi Fang knew in his heart that surviving this time was pure luck, nothing more to hope for. Chapter 29 - Chapter 29: Chapter 29: The Advance of the Black Bear Spirit Chapter 29: Chapter 29: The Advance of the Black Bear Spirit Translator: 549690339 The crisis was temporarily resolved. As Bi Fang let out a sigh of relief, he finally noticed the system notification. Indeed, his earlier guess wasn¡¯t wrong, the livestream had won a round of explosive attention, and the main quest had been completed just like that. Although the process was perilous, the outcome was not bad¡ªrabbit meat was retrieved, and half of the main quest was completed, that was enough! However, why was Quest 1 completed now? Bi Fang found this a little strange, as there had been many times before when the number of viewers had exceeded five hundred, yet the system had shown no response. Now he suspected that perhaps the requirement of five hundred meant an average number of viewers, not just a peak moment. Just like the audience on the first day was merely a couple of hundred people, it definitely required a spread of more viewers later on, with merely breaking the peak not counting as meeting the standard. With this in mind, Bi Fang glanced at the popularity index of the livestream and was surprised to see it approaching twenty thousand. Incredible! He hurriedly browsed through the barrage of comments and realized that a big streamer had raided his room, bringing in a large surge of viewers. So, he quickly said a few words of thanks. Ling Xuefeng waved his hand, indicating that it was no big deal, not worth mentioning, as he only wanted to be an attachment on the leg of a big boss. The atmosphere on site was very congenial, but Ling Xuefeng knew, this was in the bag! One promotion plus a big supporter, a huge profit! [Master Fang is truly Master Fang, not like us plebs, even in life-and-death moments, he still thinks of so much¡­] [Exactly, I almost pissed myself¡­] [Yysy, no shame in that.] [That Black Bear is seriously fierce!] [Yeah, it¡¯s like night and day compared to the ones in zoos, bigger in size, and with a nastier temper.] Bi Fang nodded, indeed this Black Bear was excessively fierce. As humans had become the undisputed boss of nature, almost all animals feared humans, but this Black Bear wasn¡¯t afraid at all and even proactively considered Bi Fang as its prey. ¡°Yes, as the saying goes, pigs first, bears second, and tigers third, this Black Bear must have never encountered humans before. It¡¯s used to ruling the forest, so it dared to treat me as prey.¡± [My name is Bear Black Black, I live in the Qinling Residential District, Mountain Range No. 48, and I¡¯m the school bully at the Wild Animal Kindergarten. Today I met a two-legged beast and was ready to feast on it, but in the next second, it pulled out something long and black and thrust it into my body. Suddenly, I lost the ability to resist. It was only later I found out that the thing was a Terrifying Upright Ape, and moreover, one with two red sticks¡­] [666, you¡¯ve got a way with words¡ªI¡¯m with you!] [Upright Ape, terrifying indeed!] [Eh? Is that you again? The one who wrote about the rabbit thief last time, wasn¡¯t it? Have you published a book yet?] [It¡¯s in progress, it¡¯s in progress, don¡¯t rush!] [How far have you got? Just created a document, right? (joking)] Seeing the livestream room get lively again, Bi Fang¡¯s mood improved. Just then, a strong sense of weakness hit him, making him feel dizzy. But Bi Fang didn¡¯t panic, he knew this was a consequence of the large amount of adrenaline that had been secreted. The situation was still quite bad, he hadn¡¯t left danger behind, and the smell of blood could also attract unnecessary trouble, he needed to leave quickly. Bi Fang took a few deep breaths to relieve the dizziness and picked up his backpack, stuffing the smoked rabbit meat into it, and then picked up his Stone Spear that had fallen on the ground. There were a total of three Stone Spears, one had broken during the fight but the other two were still usable. Unfortunately, the strap of the system-provided backpack had broken, so he could only carry it over one shoulder. That was fine anyway, as his left shoulder was badly swollen and he couldn¡¯t carry anything on it. [Almost forgot, Master Fang just got injured!] [Master Fang is a real man, doesn¡¯t even frown despite such a serious injury.] [This man is too strong, that¡¯s the title of his new book.] [Really hyping up the unusual, isn¡¯t it just human nature? With the Stone Spear, isn¡¯t it just surprising to drive back a bear?] Bi Fang had just seen this comment and almost laughed out loud, then he ignored it. The internet argument multiplier theory: If there is a disagreement between the two sides, then after each argument, the divergence will double. But the fans couldn¡¯t stand by and directly shot back in support of Bi Fang. [The guy above just made me laugh. So you think having hands is enough? Just say whatever comes to your mouth?] [May I ask who you are, sir? Are you the General of Slide Tackles?] [With your attitude, Old Fang could stab you dead with one spear!] [Master Fang: Exaggerated, exaggerated! How could a jab kill? It takes two jabs, and not a single one more!] Just as everyone was fervently discussing, a burst of golden light suddenly exploded in the live stream room, shooting straight up to the heavens. [Congratulations to Lord Mu for becoming an Emperor in Master Fang¡¯s live room!] [Lord Mu gifts the host shark fins *100000¡ªI bow down to no one but Old Fang! A token of my respect with some shark fins!] An Emperor!? The dazzling special effects stunned everyone, and Bi Fang was no exception. Are there so many tycoons nowadays? Just casually subscribing for twelve thousand a month? Forgive Bi Fang for his lack of exposure, he really couldn¡¯t understand why someone would drop tens of thousands on their favorite streamer, just to hear the streamer call them ¡®big brother1 or ¡®big sister¡¯. With that money, isn¡¯t it better spent on novels or something? A Silver Alliance membership is only ten thousand, and you can get the author to come out and grovel in all manner of ways. Huh? What? You say it¡¯s donated to me? And it¡¯s Lord Mu? Well, that¡¯s different then. Upon seeing the familiar nickname, Bi Fang breathed a sigh of relief, he was already used to such surprises. Although Lord Mu had revealed his main account last time, he seemed to still like using his alternate account to watch the live stream. Perhaps this is the world of the rich. But it didn¡¯t end there. Just as the Emperor tier had been initiated, other tycoons like Fat Cat Pete and Ling Xuefeng started sending Super Rockets one after another. A flood of treasure chests burst forth, and suddenly, the atmosphere in the stream became incredibly lively. The popularity shot up like a rocket, quickly surpassing twenty thousand! While popularity does not equate to viewer count, for a new streamer, reaching a popularity of twenty thousand is an incredible figure! It even set a historical record for unsigned new streamers! Even Wang Weifeng, who had been paying close attention from backstage, was dumbfounded. In all his years in the industry, he had never seen such outrageous figures, at least not for new streamers who were completely unknown before broadcasting. That does not include professional gamers turned streamers, who already have a substantial fan base, and their stats can¡¯t be measured the same way. Bi Fang wasn¡¯t signed yet, and no matter how high his popularity, he wouldn¡¯t appear in a prominent position on the platform¡¯s homepage. He was almost entirely relying on the treasure chests brought by the donated Super Rockets for traffic. This kind of talent must be kept at Shark! Thinking this, Wang Weifeng waved to his subordinate: ¡°Have you made contact yet?¡± The subordinate replied with a wry smile, ¡°Not yet, the phone number left on the registration page for the streaming room is unreachable.¡± Logically, those who dare to stream like this usually have dedicated logistical teams, so they shouldn¡¯t be unreachable. Strange, indeed. Wang Weifeng shook his head, decided not to dwell on it, and gestured for his subordinate to keep trying. If it¡¯s unreachable, keep calling! ¡°Thank you, thank you everyone for your support!¡± Bi Fang was very excited to receive such generous rewards; after all, as much as the Shuiyou (audience) flattered him, nothing beats cold hard cash! ¡°However, we really should hurry and leave now, not just because of the bloody scent everywhere, but also because of the possible retaliation from the Black Bear!¡± [Did I hear that right? Retaliation from the Black Bear?] [How is it like a person?] [Are Black Bears that smart?] Upon hearing that the Black Bear might come back for revenge, many viewers¡¯ first reaction was disbelief, but they were still nervous inside. ¡°Of course,¡± Bi Fang explained while hurrying along, ¡°for some more fully evolved animals, the more complex their brain structure, the better their memory. Accordingly, they also become more ¡®vengeful.''¡± ¡°Especially large animals like Black Bears, their intelligence is comparable to a 3-5-year-old human. A few, through special post-natal training, can even reach the intelligence of 6-7-year-olds. It¡¯s not surprising for them to hold grudges.¡± A few minutes later, Bi Fang finally reached the stream and began washing off the bloodstains on his body and the bloodied Stone Spear, then scooped up some stream water in his right hand to wash his face. ¡°The Black Bear¡¯s nose is too sensitive, so we can cross the river to allow the water to mask my scent.¡± Bi Fang briefly explained and then stripped off his shirt, pants, and shoes, leaving only his shorts, ready to enter the water and cross the river. It was precisely when he took his clothes off that viewers suddenly noticed Bi Fang¡¯s somewhat swollen left shoulder and were shocked once again at the ruthlessness of the Black Bear. ¡°Hiss!¡± The moment he stepped into the water, Bi Fang felt a chill that ran up his spine to the back of his head; it was still morning, and the sun hadn¡¯t warmed the stream water yet, which remained icy cold to the bone. As his blood circulated rapidly, his skin quickly turned a reddish hue. Chapter 30 - Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Hope of Rescue Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Hope of Rescue Translator: 549690339 | Bi Fang lifted his sore left arm, supporting the backpack while swimming across the river with his right hand, and quickly reached the opposite bank. Just as he climbed ashore, the electronic voice rang out. [Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the task, you have received a Skill Advancement Ticket*i] [The System prompts the host that if the novice task is completed, a reward upgrade opportunity can be obtained. Would you like to claim your side quest reward now?] A task completed? Reward upgrade? Bi Fang was startled by the two prompts. He could understand completing the task¡ªcrossing the river must have eliminated his scent, temporarily evading the black bear¡¯s pursuit, and thus completing ¡°Snatching Food from a Bear¡¯s Mouth¡±. But what was a reward upgrade? To this, the System replied: a reward upgrade is a unique reward for novice tasks, and upon consolidated upgrade, makes the original reward better. For a moment, Bi Fang hesitated. If he claimed it now, he would undoubtedly be able to upgrade his blue ¡°Wilderness Survivalist¡± skill to purple, making the upcoming adventures much more manageable. However, this would certainly mean losing some benefits. A gust of cold wind blew past, making him shiver involuntarily, and he eventually decided not to claim it. It¡¯s tougher, so be it. Having come this far, he didn¡¯t care for these small benefits and preferred to save for a better reward. Snapping back to reality, Bi Fang immediately began to move his body, starting a set of push-ups on the ground to raise his body temperature. ¡°This stream is very cold, I estimate its temperature to be only around seven or eight degrees, which has caused my body to stiffen up. So, I must warm up quickly to avoid catching a cold.¡± ¡°You have to know, hypothermia in the wild is extremely dangerous. The well- known Devil¡¯s Three Formula states¡ªdie of hypoxia in three minutes, die of hypothermia in three hours, die of dehydration in three days, and die of starvation in three weeks.¡± ¡°These illustrate just how vital it is to maintain your body heat!¡± [Drenched Benefit!] [Old Fang is handsome no matter what he¡¯s up to! ] [Old Ling! Look at him, then look at yourself! Your belly is hanging out!] Ling Xuefeng, who was named unexpectedly, felt aggrieved. Was this really his fault? After taking a few deep breaths and feeling sufficiently warmed up, Bi Fang began to sweat and then took out clothes from his backpack to put on. The backpack was waterproof, the clothes inside naturally still dry, a System product, reliable! Having dressed, Bi Fang continued along the riverbank. Just following a small stream would not be enough to find a way out, but Bi Fang wanted to try and see if he could follow it to a lake or a larger river, which would truly be places likely to attract people. Meanwhile, Ling Xuefeng watched Bi Fang travel for a while, then returned to his room, after all, he was there to check rooms, not really to watch the live broadcast. Even so, he left behind several thousand fans who were unwilling to leave, choosing to stay and continue watching Bi Fang¡¯s live streaming. This newbie is fierce. Seeing the lost viewers, Ling Xuefeng had to admit the host was indeed impressive, even he was captivated. Unfortunately, he hadn¡¯t completed his own monthly live streaming tasks, which were part of a signed contract. He gritted his teeth and finally decided he could continue watching tomorrow morning! Alas, it was tough being a game broadcaster. Now it was the third day, with four days left in the System¡¯s seven-day task timeline. Bi Fang was slightly anxious. Although there was still a good amount of time left, he wanted to see what would happen if he left the Qinling early, and whether there would be extra rewards? It¡¯s not surprising that Bi Fang had such thoughts. With time travel and a system already in hand, what¡¯s so odd about an extra reward? Soon, the sun had gradually risen overhead. The continuous journey and exposure to the sun made Bi Fang feel somewhat hot and stuffy, so he went to the stream again to wash his face. He immediately felt reinvigorated. He hadn¡¯t had a proper rest since early morning, and the progress made throughout the morning had also depleted much of his strength. Therefore, Bi Fang took off his backpack, and from it, he took out smoked rabbit meat, unwrapped the reed leaves, and started to eat directly. [This is the ration snatched back from the mouth of a black bear!] [So much trouble, just for you.] [True ¡®Snatching Food from a Bear¡¯s Mouth¡¯!] [You can¡¯t say that, though. This was originally caught by Old Fang¡­] Among the barrages of comments, Bi Fang quickly finished half of the rabbit, then wrapped it up again and tucked it back into his backpack¡ªresources were scarce, so it was better to save what he had. In this way, Bi Fang pressed on for several more hours until finally, in the evening, he heard an even louder sound of rushing water! ¡°Hey! Do you hear that? It seems my gamble paid off; this stream really does feed into a main river!¡± Bi Fang was extremely joyful and quickened his pace. After a few hundred meters, he indeed saw a cliff ahead. The cliff wasn¡¯t high, only six or seven meters, and below it was a raging river. The setting sun surged into his field of view, like a tidal wave. The massive sun was already touching the earth, and the wind brushed across tens of thousands of hectares of forest. From afar, the evening woodland looked like a sea¡ªa crimson ocean with myriad treetops swaying in the wind, forming layer upon layer of waves. The stream that had been flowing alongside him transformed into a small waterfall here, plunging into a spray of white foam, with the noise it stirred like a continuous thunder. [So beautiful. Is this what a real primeval forest looks like?] [It¡¯s so pretty. Even if the host only filmed these, a lot of people would watch, right?] [I want to go too¡­] [I want to go +1] [Can Master Fang bring people next time? I¡¯m willing to pay! ] [Bring people? With the kind of thing Master Fang is doing, not to mention whether you can keep up, can you endure the hardship?] ¡°Do you see that? This forest is very beautiful and dense but without much variation in terrain, which indicates that we have left the mountainous area! And this part is very likely a conservation area. If it¡¯s a conservation area, then there must be human activity! Our chances of being rescued are quite high!¡± Bi Fang was glowing with vitality and was extremely excited. He hadn¡¯t expected to find a way out in just three days! For a time, the live stream room was flooded with gifts again. Countless shark fins, planes, and fishballs came pouring in to celebrate Bi Fang¡¯s newfound hope for survival. Bi Fang approached the edge of the cliff, peered at the river¡¯s surface, and said, ¡°The river¡¯s current is very strong. It would be too dangerous to jump in rashly. Let¡¯s look for another route.¡± Next, Bi Fang searched for a suitable path along the cliff. Before long, he found a wall filled with protruding rocks. To call it a wall was not accurate; it was more like a steep slope of rock. With a bit of care, one could easily descend. With little trouble, Bi Fang successfully reached the riverbank. He dusted off his clothes and, seeing that it was getting late, started to look for materials to build a shelter, planning to rest for the night and search for a way out the next day. After lighting a fire, Bi Fang heated the smoked rabbit meat to solve the dinner issue and then took out the two rabbit hides, preparing to tan them. ¡°The brain can prevent the fibers from reagglomerating to form rawhide, so we just apply it directly. However, for the hide to fully absorb it, we can mix it with water and then heat it up.¡± Bi Fang dismantled the reed used to wrap the rabbit meat, skillfully shaping the reed leaves into a funnel that, unexpectedly, did not leak a drop of water! Chapter 31 - Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Eat My Dust! Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Eat My Dust! Translator: 549690339 I Bi Fang added the brain matter to the mixture and then gently stirred it with a small twig, allowing the brain matter to fully integrate with the water before placing it directly into the fire to heat. ¡°Heating allows the raw hide to fully absorb the brain matter. If necessary, you can also immerse the animal hide directly in this mixture, but we don¡¯t have a container to do that with.¡± [Wow, can you really do that?] [An old craftsman here, suggest applying for Intangible Cultural Heritage.] [Won¡¯t this burn through¡­ I [The person above, please redo middle school physics.] After heating it up a bit, Bi Fang smeared the mixture of brain matter and water onto the rabbit hide. Once it was fully absorbed, he fashioned the animal hide into a pouch shape and tied it to a branch, continuing to smoke it over the fire. ¡°It¡¯s best to add smoke-producing materials such as pine needles to the charcoal fire, then wait for several hours, making sure that no flames come off the charcoal fire, otherwise, the animal hide might get burned. After that, the hide becomes tanned and is ready to be made into clothing.¡± Bi Fang planted the stick in the ground at just the right distance and, after saying goodbye to the audience, crawled into his shelter to sleep. He had a premonition that whether or not he could survive might depend on the next day! Wisps of grey smoke rose from the ashen fire pit, as clumps of earth were tossed into the fire. ¡°Hi everyone, I¡¯m Bi Fang, a professional outdoor explorer¡­¡± In the morning, wearing the rabbit fur hat, Bi Fang cleaned up the fire pit and started the live broadcast, intending to do his usual self-introduction, when the audience interrupted him. On the screen, line by line, was precisely the self-introduction he¡¯d prepared to say, word for word. Bi Fang chuckled awkwardly, took off the rabbit fur hat from his head, and showed it to the audience: ¡°After smoking it all night, the rabbit fur is now usable. I¡¯ve fashioned it into a simple hat shape. I tried it on just now, and the effect is quite good. It¡¯s much warmer, especially on a cold morning.¡± Bi Fang then put the rabbit fur hat back on his head: ¡°Generally, about 20% of a human¡¯s body heat is lost through the head. So, if you are unbearably cold and you have an animal fur, making it into a hat is the right move!¡± ¡°This is my fourth day of survival. The first three days were like a roller coaster ride, thrilling but safe. I¡¯ve encountered attacks from venomous snakes, eaten rabbit meat, and even faced an attack from a black bear on the third day, but I¡¯ve come through it all.¡± ¡°I believe the journey ahead will be much simpler. As you¡¯ve all seen, the terrain ahead is less variable, so I suspect this could very well be a conservation area!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s drone soared high, capturing the entire forest, then he pointed to the trees around him. ¡°Have you noticed that this forest is quite different from the ones we¡¯ve passed through before, in terms of the selection of tree species and the spatial arrangement!¡± ¡°First off, it¡¯s the size of the trees. The diameter of the trees here are all quite similar, and they are arranged in an orderly fashion, clearly planted around the same time, and of the same species ¨C the yew, which is a common tree species in man-made conservation forests.¡± Many viewers only realized the differences in this forest region after hearing Bi Fang point it out and couldn¡¯t help but exclaim with admiration. The light danced through the trees, and the path was much easier to walk than before. Bi Fang continued on deeper into the forest when suddenly, a roaring sound arose, cutting through the layers of leaves and tree trunks to reach his ears. The drone captured the sound waves, and everyone heard it, loud and clear, so familiar! The noise came so suddenly and was so timely. A car engine! It was a car engine! It was the sound of machinery, humans, civilization! My God! The heart thumped in his chest, pumping blood to his limbs. Who knew how thrilled Bi Fang was in the desolate primeval forest, having finally heard the sound of human civilization after a full four days! Without hesitation, Bi Fang broke into a full sprint, running desperately towards the direction of the engine noise! [Damn, car noises!] [There are people!] [Is he saved?!] [Damn, why am I so excited, I feel like crying.] [Don¡¯t say that, me too. 1 feel so heartbroken for Master Fang, it¡¯s like I¡¯m experiencing it myself. I [Lord Mu gifted the host 10 Super Rockets¡ªCongratulations to the host!] [Old Demon Ling gifted the host 5 Super Rockets¡ªCongratulations to the host!] A barrage of rockets was launched, some from familiar tycoons and others from tycoons who had just appeared, and at this moment they all genuinely felt happy for Bi Fang! Passing one redwood after another, the brightness ahead grew stronger and stronger, until he burst out of the woods! Bi Fang looked at the large road beneath his feet, then at the departing big rig, feeling anxious in his heart, he shouted vigorously but received no response. He could only watch as the truck got further and further away. At this time, not only Bi Fang but also the viewers in the live stream felt particularly sorry, it was so close! Ah. Bi Fang shook his head, he had succeeded in surviving but had not completely succeeded. [It¡¯s such a pity, just missed it by that little bit] [Damn, is that driver deaf?I [Can¡¯t say that, maybe he just didn¡¯t hear.] ¡°Yes, don¡¯t say that about him,¡± Bi Fang quickly intervened when he saw someone cursing the driver, then smiled to show he wasn¡¯t disappointed, ¡°Anyway, we¡¯ve found the road, and getting out is just a matter of time. As long as we follow the road, we will eventually encounter a car.¡± And sure enough, before long, another truck loaded with logs came driving by, and Bi Fang immediately rushed forward to wave his hands. [Quick, Host, charge! I [Success or failure in one fell swoop!] [Return to civilization!] The audience became extremely excited upon seeing the truck. The truck driver also saw Bi Fang and slowly brought the truck to a halt. However, he didn¡¯t get out rashly but sat in the truck, looking wary. In these remote mountains, suddenly a person blocking the way could be a robber, or maybe a poacher or a wood thief? This is the stuff of TV dramas. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± [Haha, that uncle definitely thinks the host is a thief!] [Such a funny expression, that chubby uncle is so adorable.] [Normal, you¡¯ve got to be careful with strangers hitchhiking on the road; you never know who they might be! ] [Right, better safe than sorry!] Bi Fang could see that the other party didn¡¯t trust him, so he raised his hands to show he wasn¡¯t a threat, and shouted loudly, ¡°Brother, I¡¯m a tourist. I got lost in the Qinling and ended up here. Could you give me a ride out?¡± ¡°Lost?¡± The chubby uncle was taken aback, looked at Bi Fang¡¯s dust-covered face, his ragged clothes, and the rabbit hat on his head. Somewhat believing his story, his expression softened, ¡°What¡¯s that on top of your head?¡± ¡°This is a drone! Flave you seen one before, brother?¡± Bi Fang directed the drone to descend to let the truck driver have a clearer look. ¡°Is this a drone?¡± The chubby uncle looked carefully and realized it truly was, his curiosity was piqued about why Bi Fang would have a drone, but he didn¡¯t doubt any further. ¡°Alright then, get in the truck.¡± ¡°Sure thing!¡± Bi Fang, having received the driver¡¯s permission, immediately ran over, opened the passenger door, and sat inside. The driver, seeing Bi Fang¡¯s dusty and weary appearance, handed him a bottle of water. After traveling the whole morning, Bi Fang was indeed quite thirsty. He quickly thanked the driver, took over the water, and drank it all in big gulps, finishing the entire bottle. ¡°You¡¯re also lucky to have gotten lost here. If you had gone deeper into the mountains, you might have ended up being eaten by wolves and bears!¡± ¡°Haha, brother, I ran out from the deep mountains!¡± Bi Fang exclaimed with relief after drinking water, pointing to the rabbit hat on his head, ¡°Look at this hat, I caught this rabbit the day before yesterday!¡± ¡°What!¡± The chubby driver¡¯s eyes widened, looking at Bi Fang in amazement.. Chapter 32 - Chapter 32: Chapter 32 Daily Settlement Dishwasher Chapter 32: Chapter 32 Daily Settlement Dishwasher Translator: 549690339 On the road through the forest. The portly uncle stared at Bi Fang in utter shock, his driving speed involuntarily slowing down. Yet, Bi Fang nodded and said in all seriousness, ¡°I¡¯m a travel streamer, who got lost in Qinling. It took me four days to finally find my way out, then 1 ran into you, brother.¡± Got lost in Qinling? And hunted a rabbit? The portly uncle¡¯s brain buzzed as he heard this, initially horrified, but then he felt something was off. He glanced at the calm-faced Bi Fang with disdain. This kid is really boasting without blushing. Lying through his teeth. He was a local, having hauled wood on this road for several years. While driving at night, almost every month he heard the howling of wolves, and sometimes, if he was lucky, he could see a blind bear casually passing by on the road. These were things visible to the naked eye, not to mention the venomous insects and snakes in the forest. Even professional exploration teams, when they came, had to hire locals as guides and make thorough preparations. And here was this greenhorn daring to just carry a bag and go in? The most outrageous part was that he came out alive? Do you think this is some novel or movie? Or perhaps the kind of protagonist who can¡¯t die no matter what? Despite his scorn, the driver doubted the veracity of the story, as it was simply too incredible. [Hahaha, uncle doesn¡¯t believe it, eh?] [That¡¯s normal, with all this talk of fighting bears and venomous snakes. If it hadn¡¯t happened before my own eyes, I wouldn¡¯t have believed it either.] [Can¡¯t blame the uncle, it¡¯s just that the streamer is too impressive! ] [ Master Fang yyds! ] [yyds? Forever single?] Seeing that the portly uncle didn¡¯t believe him, Bi Fang took down the drone in front, spoke a few words to the audience, and then started looking for the clips he filmed in the forest. ¡°Who were you just talking to?¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m still live streaming. There are a few thousand people watching right now, through this drone.¡± Bi Fang shook the drone in his hand and pulled up the video of his struggle with the bear to show the uncle. Upon hearing that there were really thousands of people watching him, the uncle beside him got nervous subconsciously, his expression somewhat awkward. After watching the video on the drone, his awkwardness reached its peak. ¡°My dear mother! That bear! This person! This! This! This!¡± The portly uncle¡¯s face turned red as he looked back and forth between Bi Fang and the video, finally sputtering out, ¡°This isn¡¯t a movie, is it?¡± ¡°Of course not, now do you believe me, brother?¡± Bi Fang said with a smile as he took the drone back from the driver to avoid distracting him while driving. The uncle nodded vigorously: ¡°I can¡¯t tell, you young man are quite remarkable, daring to mess with a black bear and also, damn, you survived!¡± Utterly convinced, the uncle¡¯s demeanor instantly warmed, and he handed Bi Fang a bag from the side, containing two super-sized steamed buns and a bag of pickled vegetables. ¡°You must be starving after all that running. This is my lunch take it and fill your stomach a bit.¡± ¡°Ah, well, I couldn¡¯t possibly accept¡­¡± Bi Fang scratched his head, wanting to decline, but the aroma of the steamed buns had already found its way to his nose, making his mouth water uncontrollably. The uncle chuckled heartily, ¡°No worries, go ahead and eat. It¡¯s just two buns, I can go buy more later.¡± With the conversation turning in this direction, Bi Fang no longer declined. He took the bag with eyes shining green, tore into a bun, and started to eat. At the first bite, the richness of the flavor, the salty-savory taste, exploded on his tongue, almost moving enough to bring tears to his eyes. ¡°Mm, this is¡­ the best steamed bun¡­ I¡¯ve ever had.¡± With his mouth full, Bi Fang¡¯s cheeks puffed out, making his words barely intelligible. The uncle next to him, seeing Bi Fang gobble with the ferocity of a starving ghost, couldn¡¯t help but laugh out, handing him a bottle of water, ¡°Hahaha, take it easy, slow down, there¡¯s no bear to fight you for it this time!¡± ¡°Mm, yeah!¡± Bi Fang stuffed his mouth while responding, as if he knew he was in the wrong but had no intention of correcting it. [Master Fang finally gets to eat a proper meal!) [Those buns smell so good, I¡¯m getting hungry just watching.] [Master Fang: No more worms for me.] [1 want some too QAQ] [Master Fang¡¯s mukbang, showcasing the allure of buns!] In less than two minutes, Bi Fang had finished off two plate-sized buns along with a package of pickled vegetables. He took a sip of water, burped contentedly, and praised again, ¡°That was really delicious!¡± Although after a long period without food, one¡¯s stomach and spleen become weak and one shouldn¡¯t overeat, Bi Fang had after all eaten two rabbits, so he felt pretty good about himself. On the way, Bi Fang chatted and shot the breeze with the driver, sharing his survival experiences and earning more astonished looks from the uncle, until Bi Fang started to feel embarrassed. Moyo arrived at a small town around two or three in the afternoon. After giving the driver uncle a rabbit fur hat, Bi Fang got off the truck and said his final goodbyes. Watching the truck grow distant, Bi Fang entered the town, and at the same time gave his final summary to the drone: ¡°It¡¯s time to say goodbye to everyone again, but this time, it¡¯s for real.¡± ¡°This trip, 1 did a lot of crazy things and had an adventure exciting enough to satisfy me, but all of it was essentially for the sake of surviving better.¡± ¡°In fact, the Primeval Forest is not a dead end, nor is it as terrifying as we imagine. As long as we stay calm and devise a comprehensive survival plan with the right skills, there¡¯s always hope of survival!¡± ¡°Lastly, if you encounter a road, there¡¯s only one thing to do: tidy yourself up, and then give a thumbs up.¡± ¡°Friends, please remember me, I am Bi Fang, a professional explorer, looking forward to our next encounter!¡± After Bi Fang finished speaking, he saluted with two fingers, and the entire live stream room erupted in a barrage of comments, filled with reluctant and pleading words, and the wave of gifts brought a climax. Numerous fish balls fell like rain, and several dozen or hundreds of Shark Fin Planes were common sights. [8888888888] [Sigh, although 1 knew this day would come eventually, 1 still feel reluctant to let go.] [Exactly, isn¡¯t this drone rented or what?] [Petition for another broadcast, else I¡¯ll unfollow as a threat!] [It¡¯s not enough, when will Master Fang live stream again, I must watch! ] [Right, right, when will the next live stream be, still with sharks?] Glancing at the comments, Bi Fang scratched his head. He didn¡¯t know when he would live stream next either, it depended on when the System issued a mission. So he could only prevaricate, ¡°If nothing goes wrong, I will always be on SharkTV. As for the next live stream, I can only say it should happen within a month, and I will definitely notify everyone in advance.¡± In the end, without saying much more, he simply turned off the drone. Yet even so, many viewers remained in the live stream room, chatting with each other. [How can this work, Master Fang didn¡¯t leave anything behind, no QQ, no Weibo¡­] [Don¡¯t know, 1 guess we ll just have to wait, following is all we can do.] [Does Lord Mu know?] [Not sure about that either¡­] Seeing someone ask, Lord Mu spread his hands to show that he didn¡¯t know anything either. With no other choice, everyone reluctantly began to disperse in small groups. Meanwhile, Bi Fang was lost in thought, standing still, not sure what to do next because he suddenly realized he had neither a phone nor any cash on him¡­ Just as Bi Fang was considering whether to find a day job washing dishes in town, the familiar electronic tone sounded again. [Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the novice reward, now proceeding to reward settlement..] Chapter 33 - Chapter 33: Chapter 33 Qigong Master Chapter 33: Chapter 33 Qigong Master Translator: 549690339 | [Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the novice task! Checking task completion rate¡­] The next second. Facing off against a snake, hunting wild rabbits, snatching food from a bear¡¯s mouth¡­ Bi Fang stood in the rapidly changing light, watching scenes flash by like frames in an out-of-control movie projector. Emptiness, loneliness, fear, joy¡ªall these emotions piled up in seconds, then erupted like a volcano. An unprecedented mixture of sorrow and joy spread throughout him; he stood there dumbfounded, as if he could hear the whole world shouting in his ears. Not until the images finished playing did the system¡¯s electronic voice ring out again. In an instant, Bi Fang¡¯s mind cleared. He looked up at the sun and silently smiled. The fatigue of the journey suddenly dissipated by a large extent, as if he had crossed the ocean and finally sighted land. [Ding! Check complete.] [Main missions one and two complete, side mission Snatching Food from a Bear¡¯s Mouth complete, total time 4d, reward bonus 40%] Seeing the final reward bonus, Bi Fang knew his efforts were not in vain, and that there indeed were rewards for completing missions ahead of schedule! To get better rewards, he must give it his all! Adding onto the previous novice task reward promotions, his gains this time were sure to be extraordinarily rich! [Detected novice task with reward promotions, your final rewards are: Skill Upgrade Coupon*i, Skill Can*2, Enhancement Points*6, Wilderness Points* 1200] [Ding! Novice task complete, system permanently activated. Shopping and skill tree functions unlocked.] Shop? Skill tree? A series of system notification sounds left Bi Fang momentarily confused, and he quickly opened the system panel and scrolled down. [Sole Binder: Bi Fang] [Age: 24] [Height: 183.1cm] [Weight: 67KG] [Strength: 8] [Physique: 8] [Agility: 8] [Spirit: 9] [Status: Fatigued] [Enhancement Points: 6] [Wilderness Points: 1200] The original skill bar had disappeared, replaced by a glowing blue tree. The once isolated skills were now branches on this tree, with the thickest one being the Purple Advanced Yoga. Bi Fang touched the tree with his mind, and information about it flooded into his brain. He closed his eyes to digest the information for a moment before he roughly understood the function of the skill tree. In simple terms, it meant a tighter connection between skills, allowing for more integrated utilization. Take the Wilderness Survival Skill, for instance; it already includes knowledge like First Aid and Swimming, but the coverage definitely isn¡¯t as extensive as that of the individual First Aid or Swimming skills. On the flip side, the individual skills lack the specificity of the Wilderness Survivalist Skill. For example, suturing a wound in First Aid¡ªwhat use is that in the wild with no thread to suture with? So the specificity falls short. The function of the skill tree is to allow these skills to interlink, influence each other, enhance applicability, and even promote mutual growth like a tree. Further down, there¡¯s a simple ten-tiered counter and a lucky draw wheel, which must be the so-called shop, mainly for purchasing and lottery drawing. Bi Fang quickly scanned the shop, where each shelf had an item: Progenitor Bird Charge Clothes, Mammoth Mountain Boots, Calisthenics (Green) Level 3¡­ There were skills and equipment, with purchases using Wilderness Points and refresh every 5 days. There was also lottery drawing, a single draw for 50, ten draws for 480, but whether there¡¯s a guaranteed drop for ten draws wasn¡¯t apparent at the moment. However, this ten draws for 480¡­ Bi Fang¡¯s eyes twitched at the corner. He had this uncanny feeling that something was amiss, a sense of deja vu from being fleeced by game vendors! He shook his head, banishing the absurd thought from his mind and turned his attention back to the system rewards. Enhancement Points, used to improve one¡¯s four-dimensional attributes, are the most tangible and realistic rewards. Six points could nearly lift Bi Fang¡¯s physical condition to a significantly higher level. Of course, this improvement isn¡¯t endless. The further one goes, the lower the cost-effectiveness. Otherwise, if one became a superhuman, what wilderness survival would that be? If it were so, Bi Fang could have knocked that Black Bear out cold with a single punch. But even so, the fact that enhancement points are a good thing can¡¯t be denied! Bi Fang looked at his ¡°feeble¡± stats and didn¡¯t rush to allocate points. After all, he was still standing outside¡ªwho knew what surprises might arise after adding points? Similarly, the remaining rewards could wait to be checked once he was back home. With that in mind, Bi Fang, standing at the crossroads, gazed at the unfamiliar small town and eventually abandoned the idea of a day job as a dish washer. He decided to seek help from the police first. When in trouble, go to the police¡ªeveryone agrees that¡¯s the best call. In the hotel room, after taking a good bath, Bi Fang poured himself a glass of water and reopened the system panel. Although he had found a police officer, the train tickets to Xicheng City were sold out, so he had to make do with staying in the hotel for one night and depart the next day. Instead of adding points first, Bi Fang decided to advance his Wilderness Survival skill, as that was his profession, and it needed to be prioritized for upgrading. The coupon turned it into golden powder. In an instant, more comprehensive outdoor wilderness knowledge and more tracking, hunting experience, and trap-making techniques popped into his mind. Such a bargain! After a while, once he had digested the information, Bi Fang praised inwardly. The difference between blue and purple skills was simply too great. He felt that if he had possessed the purple Wilderness Survival Skill before going to Qinling, he wouldn¡¯t have been as ragged. Bi Fang, feeling mentally enriched, looked at the six enhancement points with great anticipation. Six points¡ªa considerable sum¡ªbut definitely not to be used carelessly. They needed to be allocated with purpose. So, which one should he choose? The four basic attributes¡ªstrength, physique, agility, spirit¡ªmight seem simple, yet each had a wide-ranging impact. Strength wasn¡¯t just about arm strength or bench presses but a combination of muscle density and mitochondrial energy provision. Physique covered stamina, constitution, and physical robustness, with potential life-extending benefits if increased significantly. Agility included limb explosiveness and dynamic vision. Spirit involved coordination, sixth sense, and nerve reflexes. The four basic attributes complemented and overlapped each other, and none could be overlooked. After much thought, Bi Fang added 3 points to physique, 2 to spirit, and 1 to agility. Physique strengthened his survival capabilities, making him less prone to sickness or weakness. Spirit and agility could play a critical role during dangerous moments. As for strength, it wasn¡¯t that it wasn¡¯t important, but rather it didn¡¯t offer a good return on investment. How could his strength ever match that of a bear? Against the beasts of nature, being a warrior or a tank was impractical. It would be better to be an assassin, agile and hunting on the move. Moreover, strength, compared to the other attributes, was easier to train. Using enhancement points on it just wasn¡¯t cost-effective. After allocating the points, Bi Fang didn¡¯t experience the bone-cracking and power-surge often written in novels. Instead, he soon felt his eyelids grow heavy, and his body warmed up. He turned off the light and fell straight into sleep. This sleep lasted straight through to the next morning! When Bi Fang opened his eyes again, the world seemed new! Each breath carried an exhilarating sensation! The blisters on his palms, the soreness in his shoulder blades¡ªall disappeared. Even his skin seemed to have become somewhat smoother. Well done, System! Bi Fang swung his arms and felt much lighter throughout his body. The effects were immediate and remarkable! Especially the fact that he could improve without any exercise was downright addictive. There¡¯s nothing more worry-free and satisfying than getting stronger overnight! Bi Fang, feeling refreshed in both body and mind, turned his attention to the remaining two skill cans. The previous three cans had revealed quite a few treasures. What surprises would these two bring? Thinking this, Bi Fang could hardly wait. [Ding! Congratulations to the host on obtaining a green skill¡ªField Army Level 5, and a blue skill¡ªPilates Level 3!] Pilates? After seeing Field Army, Bi Fang was just about to rejoice when he saw Pilates and was momentarily taken aback. This felt oddly familiar¡­ He knew Pilates was a full-body conditioning exercise. It primarily focused on strengthening the body¡¯s deep muscle groups to maintain and improve one¡¯s posture during normal activities, emphasizing control over the body and breath cultivation. But the problem was, it seemed somewhat similar to yoga¡­ Bi Fang felt a headache coming on. He didn¡¯t believe the skills drawn from the system were random. What exactly was this system trying to shape him into? A Qigong Master? Chapter 34 - Chapter 34: Chapter 34 Bright Shark TV Chapter 34: Chapter 34 Bright Shark TV Translator: 549690339 | At noon, Bi Fang arrived at the police station and enthusiastically greeted Officer Zhao, who had helped him the previous day. Engrossed in his official duties, Officer Zhao was stunned for a moment as he looked at the unfamiliar young man in front of him. He racked his brains but couldn¡¯t remember ever having met him before, until he noticed the backpack with a broken strap behind Bi Fang and asked with some doubt, ¡°Are you Bi Fang?¡± ¡°Yes, don¡¯t you recognize me anymore?¡± Bi Fang found it somewhat amusing and did a spin in front of Officer Zhao, then spread his hands to show he was the real deal. ¡°Goodness, I completely didn¡¯t recognize you!¡± Officer Zhao stood up and looked at the young man in front of him with a face full of surprise. Yesterday, he was a disheveled refugee with a woebegone look. After just one night¡¯s rest, he seemed like a completely different person, not only with sharp and confident brows but also exuding a distinctive jungle wildness. This aura, coupled with that face, tsk tsk tsk! Incredible, this young man has the same charm he had back in the day. And¡­ ¡°Were you in the military before?¡± Officer Zhao, an experienced police officer, was very sensitive to people¡¯s auras and suddenly asked Bi Fang. Bi Fang just smiled and did not deny it. If he had only acquired the Field Army skill yesterday, he wouldn¡¯t have admitted it, knowing that whether he had served in the military could be verified through records. But today, he readily admitted it. Identity Integration Coupon! Who can resist the allure of a ten consecutive draw? Bi Fang had won this coupon in a ten-draw lottery this morning; after all, with 1,200 Points, he couldn¡¯t resist the temptation to try his luck once. The effect was incredibly powerful, so much so that it could even change the laws of cause and effect. As long as the Identity Integration Coupon was used on the corresponding skill, one would obtain the appropriate occupational credentials, perfectly conceived and without any flaws. Awesome! Bi Fang was flabbergasted when he received the coupon. Even historical records could be fabricated. Truly worthy of the System, was there anything it couldn¡¯t do? Without a doubt, Bi Fang used it on the newly acquired Field Army skill. From now on, when meeting others, he could freely admit that he had been in the service, and all of his skills were officially backed by the state. Why did so many people admire Bear Grylls and Grandpa De in his previous life? Wasn¡¯t it because one was a special forces soldier and the other was an officer? Although Bi Fang¡¯s current skills weren¡¯t of a special forces soldier, the Field Army itself was mighty. Moreover, as the skills upgraded, the occupational certification would evolve accordingly, a one-time fix. All he had to do was to not overpromise to his fans. Now, here¡¯s Bi Fang¡¯s status panel. [Unique Binder: Bi Fang] [Age: 24] [Height: 183.9cm] [Weight: 68KG] [Strength: 8] [Stamina: 11] [Agility: 9] [Spirit: 11] [Status: Good] [Enhancement Points: 0] [Wilderness Points: 420] On the skill tree, Purple Tree Trunk: Wilderness Survival M, Advanced Yoga Ivi. Blue Tree Trunk: Pilates lv3- Green Tree Trunk: Cross-country Hiking lv5, Rock Climbing lv5, Swimming 1V2, First Aid lv5, Biological Identification lv2, Calisthenics lv3, Field Army Level 5. Among them, Calisthenics was a purchase from the store for three hundred Points. It¡¯s a great deal, relying on nothing but one¡¯s own body for resistance in exercise routines, allowing practice anytime, anywhere-very helpful for training core and endurance strength. A well-known exercise like the human flagpole is part of calisthenics. And for 300 Points, it was quite a bargain. Additionally, Bi Fang¡¯s Cross-country Hiking and First Aid were upgraded with Skill Upgrade Coupons that he won in the lottery, which could only affect blue and green skills. Apart from three upgrade coupons, he also received a special enhancement coupon which he hasn¡¯t used yet, and the rest are some outdoor gear still in his inventory. All in all, this adventure not only compensated for his physical attributes but also significantly enhanced his professional skills¡ªa great return on investment! ¡°All, why didn¡¯t you say earlier? No wonder you could make it out of Qinling alive!¡± Seeing Bi Fang admit it, Officer Zhao patted his shoulder with more warmth, and after a good chat, they headed to the station together. As they parted, they even exchanged phone numbers. The ticket and hotel expenses were all advanced by Officer Zhao, who was still waiting for Bi Fang to repay him. After all, he wasn¡¯t truly short on money. Just from live streaming these past few days, he had earned over a hundred thousand in income, an amount that even exceeded many families¡¯ annual earnings. What he really lacked was just an opportunity to get his hands on the money. Once on the bus, Bi Fang yawned, facing yet another long journey ahead. He needed to catch some sleep. On the other hand, completely unlike the carefree Bi Fang, Wang Weifeng was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. On one hand, recent events by competing platforms had taken away many users from Shark, keeping him terribly busy. On the other hand, it was Bi Fang going silent. Wang Weifeng had been set on signing Bi Fang, who in four days had gone from no inquiries to a popularity between twenty and thirty thousand-a first in his many years in the industry. He was determined to sign him no matter what. Therefore, Wang Weifeng went to great lengths to send big streamers to check on Bi Fang¡¯s room and even sent over his share of the gifts immediately after Bi Fang¡¯s live stream ended, showing how much he valued him. But having been unable to contact him for several days, Wang Weifeng couldn¡¯t help feeling uneasy. If the money hadn¡¯t gone through successfully, he would¡¯ve even suspected that Bi Fang provided fake information when applying for his streaming channel. ¡°Ding-ling-ling.¡± The phone on the office desk suddenly rang. ¡°Who is it?¡± An annoyed Wang Weifeng picked up the phone and asked. ¡°Manager Wang, there¡¯s someone downstairs who wants to see you, named Lu Junming, who¡¯s also brought a streamer from our platform with him. Should I turn them away?¡± Lu Junming? What¡¯s he doing here? Wang Weifeng¡¯s brow furrowed. He had heard the name before-a big spender on the Shark platform. Of course, the real situation was clear to everyone. Given the power of major guilds, even Wang Weifeng couldn¡¯t easily refuse. ¡°Let them come up.¡± ¡°Alright, Manager Wang.¡± Back at his rented room, Bi Fang finally took a breather. But when he remembered the money he still owed to others, he immediately took out his phone, opened the back end of his streaming platform to see if he could withdraw the earnings from the gifts. Soon after, he found that his phone was flooded with missed calls and many texts, one of which was a payment notification for a whopping 112,456 yuan! Shark platform is so generous! Bi Fang counted the six-figure sum over and over, silently giving a thumbs-up in his mind. After so long in this world, he had finally solved his urgent financial crisis! Without hesitation, Bi Fang immediately repaid the six hundred yuan he had borrowed when he first arrived in this world, fulfilling his original promise to repay tenfold¡ªtwo thousand to each person¡ªleaving the three lenders dumbfounded. Honestly, when they lent him the money, they never expected Bi Fang to repay it. On one hand, the amount was indeed trivial. On the other, they had all benefited from Bi Fang before, so two hundred was nothing at all. But to their surprise, in just a few days, Bi Fang had repaid them, and ten times over at that! What kind of lucrative deal was he doing without including his brothers? Would they lend again? No need for tenfold, just threefold or fivefold would do as a kind gesture. But Bi Fang¡¯s reply was vague, and he didn¡¯t explain much, just reassured them. Then, he transferred three thousand yuan to Officer Zhao, only to receive a refund notification soon after. Officer Zhao refused to accept the extra. After some back and forth, Bi Fang had no choice but to pay exactly what he owed. Such a good man! Bi Fang quietly marveled. After finishing all this, he finally had time to check the deluge of private messages in the backend. Typically only higher-level accounts could send private messages. Thinking of the amount of money these people had sent him, Bi Fang felt compelled to attend to them, deciding to respond to some of the more important ones. He carefully looked through them, replied to those he could, and even thanked some of the more enthusiastic female fans, before noticing a few crucial messages towards the end. Several of them, undoubtedly, were from Shark platform, inviting him to sign a contract. On average, they sent two a day, with different content every time. Was Shark TV not working, just busy sending him invitations? Bi Fang continued scrolling. He noticed one was from Lord Mu, mostly asking Bi Fang to get together for a meal when free, and throughout there was an expression of wanting to become friends, including mentioning his own identity. The CEO of a public company. Bi Fang casually checked, and found that this CEO was quite young, just over thirty, with quite a fortune. Moreover, his father was even wealthier, a major director of a group, with a net worth¡­ So many zeros that even Bi Fang¡¯s system-enhanced vision was dazzled. The last were from individuals like Fat Cat Pete, who said they had set up a fan group, which Bi Fang joined at a glance, waiting quietly for approval. After dealing with these, he finally began replying to the official messages from Shark. Chapter 35 - Chapter 35: Chapter 35: Is this rolling up now? Chapter 35: Chapter 35: Is this rolling up now? Translator: 549690339 | Following the backstage information, Bi Fang added the in-charge person named Li Liming. Within a few minutes, the other party agreed, and the message was sent as if it had been prepared in advance, ¡°May I ask if this is the anchor Mr. Bi Fang?¡± Li Liming couldn¡¯t afford to delay; his boss had issued a strict order to sign Bi Fang at all costs, and Li Liming didn¡¯t doubt the possibility of losing his job if he failed. When he received a positive response, Li Liming immediately sent over the terms and perks he had prepared in advance. ¡°Hello, Mr. Bi, our platform is very optimistic about your potential and has drafted a special contract for you, with an annual salary of six million yuan, and a gift revenue split of sixty-forty, with you taking sixty percent and the platform forty percent.¡± ¡°Moreover, considering that your content might not support high-frequency streaming, we only require that you stream for more than a thousand hours a year. This contract, with a term of three years, is extremely generous for a new anchor.¡± Li Liming spoke earnestly, and he also believed that the other party would surely agree. In his years of work, he had never seen a newcomer get such a contract, especially one with an annual salary of six million yuan, which was very generous. But what he didn¡¯t anticipate was that the other party didn¡¯t agree at all and instead sent over their demands directly. ¡°Gift revenue split of seventy-thirty, image rights are mine, I can only sign for six months with an annual salary of six million yuan. For a three-year contract, the annual salary must exceed ten million yuan.¡± ¡°Hiss!¡± Li Liming inhaled sharply; these demands were totally different from the ones his supervisor had laid out! And you, a completely new anchor, even if you have potential, haven¡¯t realized it yet, right? He decided to negotiate further right away, typing, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Bi, but that¡¯s simply impossible. First of all, a six-month term is too short. Given the nature of your streaming content, it¡¯s unlikely to support frequent streaming, right? In such a case, if you jump ship, our investment in resources would be completely unrecoverable!¡± But Bi Fang didn¡¯t budge at all; he knew the other side was playing dumb. They were all adults here, surely they had some judgment. Even if the people of this world didn¡¯t know Bear Grylls or Grandpa De, based solely on the last few days of streaming, his prospects were absolutely vast, and becoming the top broadcaster wasn¡¯t out of the question, as long as one had a bit of vision. Even if the person on the other end was just a manager and hadn¡¯t seen his streams, his leaders should be well aware. Currently, the top 10 on Shark TV all have annual salaries well above thirty million yuan, and the gift revenue split was twenty-eighty. His ten million was merely a third of what others were making. As for the image rights, selling those was out of the question, since Bi Fang was planning to earn money through endorsements! The reason he had quoted so low initially was simply to push him down a bit; it was like how the older generation would start by slashing prices in half when shopping for groceries, even though both parties knew it was impossible, but that was the process. After that, they would negotiate slowly, waiting for one side to reach their psychological threshold before relenting. ¡°This is my bottom line. If you agree, we can sign the contract now.¡± Seeing the other party hesitating, Bi Fang didn¡¯t beat around the bush. Li Liming had no choice but to inform his supervisor of the negotiation situation and ask if they should proceed with the contract. However, upon hearing the news, Wang Weifeng furrowed his brows, not because Bi Fang had made such ambitious demands. On the contrary, the offer hadn¡¯t even reached the limit he had mentally prepared for. As a supervisor, Wang Weifeng was very sensitive to the quality of the streams. He could see the potential in this path and had prepared for the other party to quote a high price; his real expectation was an annual salary of thirty million yuan, immediately positioning Bi Fang at top broadcaster status. But that was before Lu Junming arrived¡­ Three hours ago. ¡°Manager Wang, how about it? An annual salary of three million yuan, a gift revenue split of sixty-forty, we could sign for three years to start with, and also, we can do even better than him! Lu Wentao himself already has a sizeable fan base, and his regular streaming audience has about thirty thousand¡ªway more than that kid. The starting point is completely different. With the power of our guild behind it, we¡¯ve got the resources. Are you still hesitating?¡± Lu Junming sat on the sofa, exuding confidence. When he saw the other party frown and ponder, he knew he had it in the bag. He wasn¡¯t afraid of the other side weighing pros and cons; he was afraid that they would dig their heels in. Being repeatedly ignored in Bi Fang¡¯s live streaming room, and later getting pushed out by his fans, was a thorn in Lu Junming¡¯s side. Ever since that day, he had been looking for ways to retaliate, and he had found one. If you¡¯re doing Wilderness Survivalist, then we¡¯ll do it too, and we¡¯ll do it better than you. How can you compete then? In his guild, there were plenty of outdoor anchors¡ªis there none who can excel at Wilderness Survivalist? When someone else has a guild backing them, it¡¯s all about competition. His own guild had been deeply cultivating the outdoor section for so long; a single mountain can¡¯t harbor two tigers, so Lu Junming managed to persuade his superiors quite easily. The resources at Shark TV were limited; it wasn¡¯t possible to promote two same-genre live streams at once. Doing that would be too unseemly and turn off the audience. Thus, the key to choosing between them came down to who could bring in more profit. Their own guild was stronger and more experienced, and they practically owned all the well-known outdoor live streamers on the block. This time, their newly promoted streamer already had a solid fan base¡­ Sure enough, the next second, Wang Weifeng stood up and extended his hand towards Lu Junming. ¡°Pleasure doing business with you.¡± ¡°Pleasure doing business with you!¡± Resources were limited and could only lean towards one side; there was no doubt about that. One side would get the lion¡¯s share, while the other would only get the crumbs. Although Wang Weifeng was just a director, he understood a principle: to the capitalists, a good recommendation slot that couldn¡¯t bring in enough profit was a loss. And to whom the resources should be provided first was actually a simple question of profitability. Perhaps Bi Fang could make a hundred, but he would ask for sixty, while Lu Wentao could only make seventy but would only ask for twenty. Who to choose was a no-brainer. Moreover, Lu Wentao might not even be worse off; as Lu Junming had said, their conditions were actually better, and they understood live streaming more. However, one should not put all their eggs in one basket; it was better to wait and see the reaction first. It would be even better if they could benefit from both sides. Thinking this, Wang Weifeng said to Li Liming, ¡°No worries, just agree to it first to reassure him, but drafting the new contract will take some time; it may be delayed by a few days.¡± Li Liming was taken aback, and without much thought, relayed the message to Bi Fang respectively. Seeing the agreement from the other party, Bi Fang also breathed a sigh of relief; Shark TV was his ideal platform, where his benefits could be maximized. Although he loved adventure and freedom and liked to share these experiences with others, he ultimately had worldly desires. Waiting a few days was fine; after all, there was still time before the next mission, and there was no hurry. However, before that, he needed to register his own studio. It wasn¡¯t expensive, and with Bi Fang¡¯s current wealth, it was completely affordable. With a studio in place, it would be much more convenient to negotiate with Shark, offering a bigger advantage than personal signing. With this in mind, Bi Fang immediately contacted an agent, ready to get things done as soon as possible. Now registering a studio wasn¡¯t complicated, mainly involving a nominal fee and some taxes, and the whole process would only cost a few thousand yuan. Once the registration was completed in the evening, Bi Fang opened QQ, planning to check if he had joined the fan group, only to find dozens of new friend requests on his phone. Bi Fang didn¡¯t accept any of them but instead entered the fan group to check the situation. He soon discovered that this large group of two thousand people was nearly full! The chat history was filled with all kinds of topics from all over the world, occasionally mentioning him, mostly asking when the next live stream would be, and whether the edited video was ready and where to watch it. Seeing all this, Bi Fang remembered that he hadn¡¯t edited his video yet. He immediately took out his drone, transferred the videos to his computer, and was about to start editing himself when he suddenly remembered the handy System. If it could take a video, could it edit one too? Bi Fang immediately inquired with the System using his thoughts and found out that it indeed could! And not just editing; the System could also handle post-production voice-overs and subtitles! [Ding! Automatic editing with post-production voice-over and subtitles, to Points per use, would you like to use it?] Without any hesitation, Bi Fang clicked yes. to Points was not expensive, and rather than wasting a lot of effort to produce a mediocre product, it made more sense to outsource it to the System. After he confirmed the System¡¯ s editing work, it took less than ten minutes for the System to prompt him again, saying the editing was completed and the video had been imported back into the drone. Chapter 36 - Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Bi Fangs Ambition Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Bi Fang¡¯s Ambition Translator: 549690339 | The edited video was nearly an hour long, retaining almost all of the exciting moments. Especially the ¡°Snatching Food from a Bear¡¯s Mouth¡± segment, with the System¡¯s BGM accompanying it, would get anyone¡¯s blood pumping. After watching it, Bi Fang nodded in satisfaction and uploaded the video to B Island, then shared the generated link in a chat group. ¡°The video edit is done, I¡¯ve posted it on B Island. If you want to watch it, just search ¡®Master Fang Wilderness¡¯.¡± The moment the message was sent, it caused a huge stir in the fan group chat. If Bi Fang hadn¡¯t had good dynamic eyesight, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to keep up with the constantly refreshing messages. ¡°Wow, captured Master Fang alive!¡± ¡°Master Fang actually joined the group?¡± ¡°Master Fang, please notice me and add me as a friend! ¡°Will the next livestream still be on Shark? When is it? ¡® The incessant message notifications made Bi Fang¡¯s palms and scalp tingle, having no choice, he sent out a message to announce, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I won¡¯t just add friends randomly. It really affects my normal life.¡± At that moment, the group admin, Lord Mu, also sent a message, ¡°Exactly, let¡¯s not disturb Master Fang anymore, it¡¯s clear this is his personal account, and him joining the fan group is already a big favor.¡± Strikingly handsome to the point of alarming the Central Party: ¡°Yes, yes, it¡¯s better not to disturb him!¡± Now that both the group owner and admins had spoken up, the others felt it wouldn¡¯t be proper to keep asking Bi Fang to add them as friends. Indeed, using a personal QQto join a fan group was already very sincere. Unlike other streamers, who are represented by studio accounts that appear active, but in reality, the streamers themselves don¡¯t even know how many people are in their fan groups. ¡°As for the next livestream, it can almost certainly be confirmed that it will be on Shark again. The conditions have been settled; we¡¯re just waiting for the contract signing. As for the next livestream, I will definitely notify you when the time comes,¡± Bi Fang said. Upon hearing this news, the fans in the group cheered jubilantly. Seeing his fans so happy made Bi Fang feel pleased as well, as his livestreaming was receiving recognition. Everyone wants to engage in challenging endeavors, achieve excellent results, and outperform others. Being able to stay on the Shark platform was also something Bi Fang was happy about. Currently, the situation on various livestreaming platforms was similar, amidst their competition, the offers they could provide were more or less the same. The main reason was that despite Bi Fang¡¯s potential, he hadn¡¯t cashed in on it yet, which left him lacking bargaining power. So going to another livestreaming TV might not yield better treatment. Worse, he could run into a myriad of troubles that would disrupt his success, so it might be better to stay put, especially since he already had some momentum here. After chatting with the fans for a while, Bi Fang selected two clips from the edited video, the encounters with the Short-tailed Viper and ¡°Snatching Food from a Bear¡¯s Mouth,¡± and posted them on some well-known short video platforms. He also shared them in the group chat, asking fans to help spread them around. This was to prevent any potential traffic requirements that the System might impose in future missions. Completing the mission this time didn¡¯t mean he wouldn¡¯t have to worry the next time. Popularity and traffic couldn¡¯t solely rely on platform recommendations. Any work that aimed to go viral needed to break out of its circle; simply circulating within the livestreaming circle was not enough. The most classic examples are Bear Grylls and Grandpa De from the past life, as well as Ray Mears. Many are familiar with the first two but not the latter. In fact, Ray Mears is a well-known British outdoor survival expert and Bushcraft expert, affectionately called ¡°Ray Fatty¡± by Chinese netizens. Although his many television programs in cooperation with the BBC have become world-famous, his popularity in China isn¡¯t very high. The underlying reason for this is that his programs aren¡¯t as thrilling as Bear Grylls¡¯s, lacking the basis for breaking out of the circle. That basis is to have content that everyone enjoys. Wilderness survival is about being thrilling enough to attract viewers, which was exactly what Bi Fang¡¯s recent livestream perfectly delivered. In Ray Mears¡¯s shows, he mainly maintained a calm demeanor, which, despite the relaxation, required immense expertise and experience, along with a rich theoretical foundation. But the result was that Ray Fatty could only be accepted by mainstream survival enthusiasts. Bi Fang knew exactly what he wanted and what he needed to do. Next, all he had to do was wait for the heat to ferment slowly. Having done all this, Bi Fang opened the System again and found the item bar. He hadn¡¯t forgotten that there was still an enhancement ticket left unused. It wasn¡¯t because he didn¡¯t have time to use it, but because this ticket was too special. Golden Trapezius Strengthening Ticket. The trapezius muscle is located subcutaneously in the neck and back, triangular on one side, and together with the other, it forms a trapezoid shape. It connects the shoulder girdle to the base of the skull and the vertebrae, serving to suspend the shoulder girdle. Moreover, this muscle significantly protects the neck. Many professional fighters specifically train this muscle because without it, any encounter with a chokehold or being slammed could easily break one¡¯s neck. If it¡¯s a woman, having this muscle too strong is quite unsightly, creating a bulky and bearish appearance, a real killer of grace. But for a man, if this muscle is well-developed with the right proportions, it can make the shoulders look broader and more powerful, greatly helping with overall physique. Captain America is a prime example. Bi Fang hadn¡¯t used it before out of concern that a noticeable change in his physique might be directly spotted by Officer Zhao, which is why he¡¯d saved it until now. But now, after Bi Fang used it, he immediately felt a tingling itch in his shoulders. This sensation lasted for about fifteen minutes before stopping. He squeezed his shoulders and found that the muscle had become quite swollen but was soft to the touch, yet it became extremely hard when he flexed. It was indeed the Golden Trapezius, and the proportion was perfect. Standing in front of the mirror and taking off his shirt, Bi Fang reflected inwardly. The trapezius muscles on both sides highlighted his figure well, making his shoulders look much broader but not exaggerated-just the type that looked good no matter how one viewed it. Bi Fang turned his neck and discovered that both strength and flexibility were far greater than before. This lottery draw was worth it! Too bad he didn¡¯t have enough Points for another ten consecutive draws. Bi Fang looked at the remaining 410 Points with some regret, deciding to wait and see if the shop would refresh with something good before the next task. However, even with the System that could be called almighty, he couldn¡¯t afford to be lazy and shirk hard work. At present, his physical fitness was just on the level of an ordinary person. He still needed to train diligently and improve himself¡ªthat was the real deal. Moreover, he now had the Skills of Calisthenics, Advanced Yoga, and Pilates, which were very comprehensive. Combined with a proper diet, perhaps he could improve his overall physical fitness even more before the next task! Bi Fang, with a plan in mind, immediately changed his clothes and prepared to go out for a run. Why did Bi Fang feel such regret when he first transmigrated? Because he had patience, he was willing to learn and endure hardships, and he was serious about his work. Even without transmigrating, he was confident that he wouldn¡¯t lose to most people. In the evening, after a day full of exercises, Bi Fang finished dinner and then went to the pet store, bought a bunch of cat cans, and with them, headed to a coffee shop at the street corner. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you!¡± In the shop, a short-haired girl saw Bi Fang and waved at him, looking very surprised. But then she shook her head with a hint of apology, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but all the bread has been sold out today. I don¡¯t have any extra for you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not here for the bread today,¡± replied Bi Fang with a smile, taking three cans of cat food out of the bag. Chapter 37 - Chapter 37: Chapter 37 Shark TV Wide Open? Chapter 37: Chapter 37 Shark TV Wide Open? Translator: 549690339 | Many coffee shops sell bread or cakes, and if they don¡¯t sell out by the end of the day, they discount them in the evening. When Bi Fang first came to this world, the original owner¡¯s parents had gone bankrupt due to a failed investment, leaving three generations of savings reduced to nothing, and they chose to leave this world. The original owner was also unable to recover, sold everything that could be sold at home, and even moved into a small, broken-down rental house. This meant that when Bi Fang first arrived, his pockets were cleaner than his face, so he thought of this and decided to try his luck at a nearby coffee shop. Surprisingly, the staff was exceptionally polite, and almost gave him the unsold items at a half-price deal. Now that he was making money, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t the sort to forget kindness, so he remembered the three little cats in the coffee shop-one tabby, one ragdoll, and one big orange cat-and thought about bringing them some cat food. It was definitely not because the cafe owner was beautiful. ¡°It looks like business is good today?¡± Bi Fang opened all three cans and set them down on the ground. ¡°indeed, did the boss come by today?¡± Bao Xuan sneakily pointed at the figure standing in front of the counter. Bi Fang followed her gesture and, seeing that tall silhouette, couldn¡¯t help feeling astonished once again that someone could be so attractive in this world. This was actually his second encounter. The first time was when he¡¯d just come to the shop. She was dressed in white like a bundle of light snow, her eyes as cool and clear as gemstones, an otherworldly beauty. Let¡¯s put it this way-the cakes and bread in the shop always have leftovers when the boss isn¡¯t there, but whenever she comes in, even double the usual amount of freshly baked cakes isn¡¯t enough. Bao Xuan picked up a box of cat food and looked it over. Noticing the high- quality brands, she expressed her astonishment, ¡°Did you find a job?¡± ¡°Yes, and I didn¡¯t earn too little.¡± Bi Fang lowered his head again, petting the delighted orange cat and the ragdoll, then looked over at the distant tabby that was gazing at him but refused to come closer. ¡°Why isn¡¯t this tabby coming over?¡± Bao Xuan, concerned as she saw Little Flower not responding to her calls, asked, ¡°Hey, is it sick?¡± ¡°It¡¯s afraid of you,¡± came a voice as smooth as jade beads. Bi Fang turned his head and met those bright and exquisite eyes. Ning Zhiyun crouched down, stroked the tabby, and smoothed its arched back. ¡°This cat¡¯s fur is about to puff up from your staring,¡± Ning Zhiyun, with her hair wrapped in a white towel and locks hanging beside her temples, presented an image of soft grace. At the moment, she was looking at Bi Fang with curiosity. His transformation in just one week was astounding. ¡°Really, if you hadn¡¯t pointed it out, I wouldn¡¯t have noticed,¡± Bao Xuan said upon hearing Ning Zhiyun¡¯s remark. She took a closer look at Bi Fang and realized he did feel significantly different from their last meeting. When they first met, they¡¯d thought Bi Fang looked quite decent with a focused gaze that seemed all on you. Despite appearing down on his luck, he gave them a feeling that he would surely rise again. But today, that impression had completely changed; he exuded a sense of concealed sharpness. ¡°Really?¡± Bi Fang scratched his head and chuckled, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s related to the new job I found?¡± Bi Fang was aware he had changed a lot, but didn¡¯t expect it to be to such an extent. He looked at the wary tabby, and then at the orange cat and ragdoll engrossed in their food, noting the stark difference between them. All he could say was that the Chinese Pastoral Cat really lived up to its hunting prowess with its incredibly sharp senses. On the other side, Ning Zhiyun and Bao Xuan, hearing that it was related to his new job, became immediately curious, but Bi Fang just wouldn¡¯t divulge any more. They had no choice but to let it go. In the end, Ning Zhiyun prepared a Fragrant Mint Drink for Bi Fang as a reciprocal gesture. It was a unique beverage of the shop-cooling and heat-dispelling, with a decent taste. After receiving it and expressing his gratitude, Bi Fang left. After all, he wasn¡¯t there to curry favor. In the following days, Bi Fang either went out for a run or stayed at home practicing calisthenics, yoga, and Pilates. His balance and flexibility improved greatly, especially his breathing, which became calm and deep, hardly ever disturbed. On B Island, Bi Fang¡¯s video views were steadily rising, his likes had surpassed thirty thousand, and he had received a substantial recommendation. Many viewers on the live stream asked if this was a movie, and after finding out it was a live stream, they said they had hit follow and would definitely watch next time. The trend was becoming more intense. It seemed that breaking out of the circle was imminent. Bi Fang lay on the chair, watching the continuous rise in the number of fans backstage, feeling rather like a rider galloping triumphantly in the spring breeze. Less than a month since his arrival, he had already found his footing, not only escaping his impoverished life but also about to become the star presenter for Shark TV. He could already predict that the number of viewers for his next live broadcast would definitely break through to a terrifying figure! That would mark the beginning of a new journey, as well as his start to becoming the number one Wilderness Survivalist. Everyone has ambition, everyone yearns to achieve a level of success in some field that others cannot reach, and Bi Fang was no exception. He loved Nature and adventure, but if he could livestream his experiences to even more people, he would be even happier. At that moment, another new message came from backstage ¨C it was from Shark TV, a new contract document. A bit slow, aren¡¯t they? Bi Fang saw the message and wondered. Shark had mentioned waiting for a custom contract, originally he thought it would take at most a couple of days, but it had already been five days. Was Shark TV always this slow? Upon opening the file, Bi Fang didn¡¯t rush to print it out, but browsed through it first. When he came to the benefits and compensation section, his brow suddenly furrowed. What the heck? Why is it completely different from what was agreed? A 40-60 split for gifts, an annual salary of six million, and broadcast rights belonging to Shark TV ¨C it was exactly the same as the original terms! Nothing had changed, so what on earth had Shark been doing these five days? Were they stringing him along? Feeling somewhat angry, Bi Fang was about to call Li Liming when he saw that Lord Mu had sent him a message on QQ. ¡°Master Fang, have you seen Shark TV?¡± Bi Fang suddenly had an ominous premonition, ¡°No, what¡¯s up?¡± ¡°You need to take a look, on Shark¡¯s homepage, that big banner push!¡± Lord Mu typed hurriedly, his words conveying a sense of urgency. Seeing this, Bi Fang also logged into his Shark account on his phone, ready to see exactly what it was. These past few days, he had only been paying attention to the backend and hadn¡¯t really checked out Shark¡¯s live streams. The page had just loaded when a huge poster popped up. In the image, a man dressed in camouflage with his face covered in war paint was holding a Spear, standing resolute on a cliff, with a dense Primeval Forest below. Lu Wentao? Bi Fang¡¯s brows furrowed tighter as he searched his memory, but with no recollection at all. Who is this guy? At that moment, Lord Mu directly made a QQcall. Bi Fang didn¡¯t decline, and as soon as the call connected, he heard an anxious voice, ¡°Master Fang, did you see it?¡± ¡°Yeah, I saw it.¡± ¡°This is blatant plagiarism! I¡¯ve seen this Lu Wentao¡¯s broadcasts before; they were all about mountain climbing and such. Then suddenly, he started Wilderness Survivalist yesterday. It¡¯s obviously copying!¡± From the other end of the phone, Lord Mu also sounded very indignant. Hearing Lord Mu¡¯s words, Bi Fang fell silent and then his expression turned cold. Although Wilderness Survivalist wasn¡¯t patented and people seeing pi of it potential would inevitably follow suit, the fact that Shark had given the newcomer a major banner promotion was quite abnormal! The other party hadn¡¯t broadcasted Wilderness Survivalist before, but his first broadcast was given the best resources, and a dedicated poster at that-no one would believe that Shark wasn¡¯t doing this on purpose. Talk of needing time for a custom contract ¨C Shark was clearly just dangling him! Chapter 38 - Chapter 38: Chapter 38: The Relationship Between Chapter 38: Chapter 38: The Relationship Between Platforms and Broadcasters Translator: 549690339 I After discussing the contract issue, Lord Mu was extremely furious and immediately declared his intentions to find out what the deal with Shark was! Even Bi Fang hadn¡¯t expected such a strong reaction from the other party. He hung up the call without delay, and immediately phoned Li Liming, only to find that the latter seemed to have anticipated this and was also very polite in tone. ¡°The thing is, Mr. Bi, regarding your live streaming content, our leadership is actually very optimistic about it. Not only is it innovative, but your performance has been very good. We indeed agreed to your previous terms, and the platform even planned to promote you as the top streamer.¡± On the phone, Li Liming spoke with humility, and Bi Fang could only suppress his irritation and continue listening to him. ¡°But who could have expected Cheng Yaojin to emerge halfway through? Mr. Lu not only stated that he too could do ¡®Wilderness Survivalist¡¯, but also offered terms far lower than what you proposed. Mr. Bi knows, as platform operators we are essentially businessmen; if the leadership thinks it¡¯s a good deal, then we can only put you out.¡± Bullshit! Bi Fang¡¯s expression turned unpleasant. Naturally, he couldn¡¯t believe such a one-sided argument. ¡°So you just went ahead and did it without prior notification? Now that the data is out, you send over the contract, isn¡¯t double-dealing a bit too ugly?¡± That his ¡®Wilderness Survivalist¡¯ had achieved great success and attracted others to this lucrative opportunity was normal, but during these five days, there hadn¡¯t been any notification from Shark TV, which clearly indicated some trickery. Bi Fang wasn¡¯t foolish. In his previous life, he hadn¡¯t been involved in the corporate world, but that didn¡¯t mean he was completely inexperienced with society. He quickly understood the situation. Shark was clearly looking to play both sides, unable to estimate who brought more value and thus wanting to compare the two. The live stream by that Lu Wentao had already started yesterday; surely the first day¡¯s data met the expectations. After comparing, they must have concluded that the returns were more favorable with the other party, and that¡¯s why they sent the contract to Bi Fang today. On the other end of the call, Li Liming didn¡¯t expect Bi Fang to speak so frankly and directly; this caught him somewhat by surprise. Li Liming paused for a few seconds before laughing, ¡°Mr. Bi, you jest. There¡¯s no double-dealing, just a consideration of interests, we absolutely had no intention of deceiving you¡­¡± ¡°Cut the crap.¡± Bi Fang wasn¡¯t receptive to his explanation. These kinds of words were idiotic, and he seriously asked, ¡°Have you considered the consequences?¡± If the terms of the agreement failed to be reached, they could be discussed. But to easily go back on a deal that had been firmly agreed upon showed a complete lack of sincerity! Yes, he wanted traffic, fame, and more recognition from the public, but Shark TV¡¯s two-faced behavior made him feel disgusted. What a bunch of crap! As Bi Fang grew serious, for some reason Li Liming felt nervous, as if the person on the other end wasn¡¯t just a promising newcomer to the streaming scene, but some high-profile figure. But he quickly regained his senses, chiding himself for being absurd. It was just a streamer, right? What was there to be nervous about, staking a claim with unique content? Inside the office, Li Liming shifted in his chair and fell silent for a while before speaking with implied meaning, ¡°Mr. Bi, this is the decision of our leadership, and it is irreversible. If you agree, you can sign right now¡ªwe will not favor one over the other, the resources we provide to you will surely be the most appropriate. You might not be aware of Ling Xuefeng¡¯s room inspection, but that was actually arranged by us. CEO-level streamer room visits are not something every platform can offer.¡± After a pause, he wasn¡¯t in the mood for niceties anymore, ¡°Lu Wentao¡¯s team is stronger, and they will definitely make the ¡®Wilderness Survivalist¡¯ theme go viral. When that happens, it will be beneficial for both you and our platform.¡± ¡°Mr. Bi, you¡¯re still young, you shouldn¡¯t act rashly. It¡¯s really about making the pie bigger together. If you sign the contract, I can assure you that your recommendations will never stop, and we can even pay you an advance salary for a quarter, which is one and a half million! With your current situation, you surely need this money, right?¡± Li Liming was experienced with these matters, having seen them frequently. Some streamers, despite appearing successful and having a fully equipped team, were in fact penniless. Regardless of the other party¡¯s use of drones and first-person views, if they were truly wealthy, why would they undertake such dangerous live streaming? By the end of his speech, he almost convinced himself with his own sincerity, ¡°With these conditions, even if someone competes with you, what¡¯s there to worry about? We will not easily give up on anyone, and after all, resources are something you have to compete for yourself. As long as your program is more exciting than Mr. Lu¡¯s, you will definitely have more resources than him.¡± Li Liming spoke the absolute truth, his confidence in persuading Bi Fang started right there. Here were fame and prospects. Now that his streaming content wasn¡¯t unique, and with Shark TV having the highest traffic, even the dividends would be incomparable to any ordinary Joe. What reason did the other party have to refuse? Bi Fang listened quietly, but didn¡¯t rush to speak. What was he so angry about really? The sudden competition? Of course not! You support other Wilderness Survivalist streamers, fine, that¡¯s acceptable, Bi Fang has never been afraid of competition, no real sword is without nicks, only after countless clashes with other weapons can it be considered a genuine sword. It¡¯s betrayal! That is what he cannot tolerate! Promises easily broken, not only asking for outrageous prices but also deceiving the streamers, and even planning to deceive others with lies afterwards! He chose the live streaming platform because it represented a trustworthy partner, but now this partner showed not a shred of sincerity and even rolled out his replacement! Bi Fang wanted money and fame, wanted to achieve the goal of being the number one Wilderness Survivalist, that¡¯s why he came to the most popular streaming platform, but that does not mean he would grovel like a dog, indifferent to deception and concealment! He possessed a normal human¡¯s sensibility, dignity, his own principles and bottom line! The platform is not above all! Bi Fang¡¯s voice was calm and resolute, ¡°No, Mr. Li Liming, you know full well what the situation is, want to sign a contract? Fine, but the terms should be as I previously stated, and you have to remove Lu Wentao¡¯s major feature. Then I¡¯ll agree!¡± Li Liming was stunned, his smile fading quickly, his confidence vanishing. He struggled to understand Bi Fang¡¯s way of thinking, blurting out, ¡°Mr. Bi, do you realize what you¡¯re saying? You¡¯re openly opposing Shark¡¯s top management¡¯s decision, you¡¯re ruining your streaming career!¡± What is Shark TV? One of the top three live streaming platforms! More than five thousand streamers signed under its banner, not counting the small streamers who haven¡¯t signed! Countless people and tasks, beyond imagination, each promotional spot fiercely contested with people going to great lengths to grab it, and various forms of bribery rampant, a power institution! In such a scenario, withdraw a major promotion because of a demand from one streamer? Impossible! Even if you have a live audience of one million, it won¡¯t work! This is a precedent, once set, it would destroy Shark TV¡¯s credibility! Bi Fang nodded lightly, and after speaking, he felt less tense. He leaned back in the chair, laughed directly into the phone, ¡°Mr. Li Liming, I know what I am saying. If you didn¡¯t hear me clearly, I can repeat it. I¡ªBi Fang, find your underhanded, double-dealing behavior disgusting! Want to sign me? Fine, but you¡¯ll have to apologize to me, and remove Lu Wentao¡¯s major feature!¡± Bi Fang found Li Liming¡¯s remarks laughable. Resisting Shark meant ruin? Who the hell does Shark think they are? As someone who¡¯s already faced death once, would he fear this? Really think being the head honcho of streaming platforms means you can do whatever you want? Boss my ass. What if I switch platforms, what then? Are you going to ban me from the whole network? Li Liming fell silent, turning his head to look at Wang Weifeng, who had been standing by the whole time. The phone had been on speaker from the start, and all conversations were conducted under Wang Weifeng¡¯s supervision. But things had developed to a point where they were beyond his ability to resolve. Originally, Li Liming thought this was just a normal contract discussion; little did he expect to encounter a stubborn greenhorn. So the first broadcast was too successful, leading to an inflated ego? Can¡¯t gauge the relationship between himself and the platform? Wang Weifeng gestured with his hand and said, ¡°You go out first, I want to have a talk with Mr. Bi.¡± Li Liming immediately understood, quickly retreated, and only after pushing open the door did he shake his head. What an idiot to not accept such good terms. For what? Pride? Is that more important than real gold and silver, than fame? Looks quite young, seems to be just stepping into society, real damn foolhardy, every year there are plenty, but this year especially so, such a waste of my emotions! Chapter 39 - Chapter 39 Suddenly Broke Chapter 39 Suddenly Broke Translator: 549690339 | ¡°Mr. Bi Fang, our platform actually values you very much, or rather, your future, but this isn¡¯t capital for you to provoke the higher-ups. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± Hearing the voice on the other end suddenly change, Bi Fang asked curiously. ¡°Wang Weifeng, the head of Shark TV.¡± ¡°Oh, the head, huh!¡± Bi Fang was a bit surprised, he raised an eyebrow, but his thoughts didn¡¯t shift in the slightest, ¡°I stand by my choice, even if it were your chairman here, it would be the same!¡± With his subordinates gone, Wang Weifeng¡¯s expression turned colder, and he no longer minced his words, stating bluntly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Bi, you may be young, with little work experience, but I have to tell you that no one in this world is irreplaceable, even if we think highly of you. Overconfidence in one¡¯s talent often doesn¡¯t lead to a good end.¡± ¡°Is that the knife at the end of the road?¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t care, and he laughed directly, ¡°You can¡¯t replace me. This, what¡¯s-his-name, this host, oh, right, Lu Wentao, does he really know how to survive in the wilderness? Can he really win the audience¡¯s favor?¡± ¡°They have a professional team, and Lu Wentao has also served!¡± ¡°Ha? Special forces? Or has he undergone some professional training? Do you really think by setting up some half-dead animals, you can pretend it¡¯s real hunting?¡± Bi Fang casually picked up a small ornament on the table and examined it. The reason Bi Fang could say these things wasn¡¯t just because of his experience in a past life, nor was it the lesson learned from predecessors like Bear Grylls and Grandpa De. What was more important, he had the System! Haven¡¯t you heard a saying? Don¡¯t mess with a person who has traveled through time. As long as he kept training relentlessly, and with the rewards from completing missions, it wouldn¡¯t be long before even a professional special forces soldier in jungle warfare couldn¡¯t catch up with him. Lu Wentao? Never heard of him. Better he sticks to his mountaineering streams! Wang Weifeng was taken aback, not understanding what Bi Fang meant, but after pondering for a moment, softened his tone again, ¡°Really, it¡¯s unnecessary, Mr. Bi. Who would have issues with making money¡­¡± But before he could finish, Bi Fang cut him off directly. ¡°If you can¡¯t remove the recommendation ban, then I need to switch platforms. Shark TV isn¡¯t worthy of my livestream.¡± ¡°Mr. Bi, where can you go? To Tiger Fang, which promotes softcore content? Or to Wolf Fang, which is on the decline? Or is it some other small platform? And even if you leave, the fact won¡¯t change. Mr. Lu has a fan base and a strong team behind him. He will only be more successful on your foundation. Are you really content with that?¡± Wang Weifeng still wouldn¡¯t give up, ¡°By then, even if you gain a bit of fame on another platform, what will others think? What are you, leaving Shark TV? A loser who couldn¡¯t beat someone else?¡± ¡°What you¡¯re thinking, I understand very well, but I also want to remind you, surviving in the wilderness isn¡¯t as easy as you imagine. Good luck with that!¡± With complete disregard for the other party¡¯s threat, Bi Fang said to Wang Weifeng before hanging up, ¡°By the way, do me a favor and pass a message to Lu Wentao. Since he wants to replace me, he should be prepared to pay the price!¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t¡­¡± Wang Weifeng was about to say something, but all he heard was a dial tone, leaving him with a look of astonishment. In his rental room, Bi Fang hung up and immediately sent a private message to all his fans on the backend, stating that he would no longer be streaming on Shark TV. He didn¡¯t choose to stream an explanation; he couldn¡¯t stand to show his face for another second on this disgusting platform! What a joke! Bi Fang felt seething frustration inside; Shark TV¡¯s series of moves had caused a major setback in his plans, resulting in the loss of his fan base on Shark. If there was an opportunity in the future, he would never let it go! Even without considering their behavior of poaching talent, Bi Fang didn¡¯t like the attitude of Shark TV. As a streamer seeking cooperation with their platform, he wasn¡¯t there to be their subordinate. What gave them the right to be so high and mighty? The good old times are gone! It¡¯s an era where the people are in charge. Luckily, the efforts on Shark¡¯s platform weren¡¯t in vain this time. I¡¯ve gained some notoriety, made a decent amount of money, and solved the urgent financial issues. Most importantly, I¡¯ve seen Shark TV¡¯s true colors. If this hadn¡¯t happened and I¡¯d signed with them directly, who knows what kind of crap I¡¯d have to put up with later on. It¡¯s just that I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll be able to meet the System¡¯s user requirements next time. On the other hand, my fans on Shark TV who had followed me started to read the notice I posted, one after another, all shocked, and so my phone began to ring incessantly again. Lord Mu, who was somewhat aware of the situation, guessed a few things and gave the fans a rough explanation before he reached out to me privately. While I was negotiating with Shark, Lord Mu wasn¡¯t just sitting around idle; he mobilized his connections to investigate the reasons behind Shark¡¯s change of heart and even figured out the whole story. I hadn¡¯t expected Lord Mu to take it so seriously; I thought his promise to thoroughly investigate was just a polite gesture. Decisive and direct action always proves more genuine than words¡ªit¡¯s a sign of true goodwill. ¡°Master Fang, do you remember the guild member we dismissed during the live stream? That Lu Wentao is part of that guild, and he specializes in the outdoor section. Way before your first call with Shark, that guild had made contact with a Shark TV executive, Wang Weifeng. In other words, they had already planned to string you along during your first conversation with them.¡± After reading the message from Lord Mu, it was pretty much what I had speculated. However, it took me some serious thinking to remember which guild member Lord Mu was talking about. At that time, I think I was catching rabbits and didn¡¯t pay much attention to that guild member. Then I got a good scolding and vaguely remembered it, but I didn¡¯t take it to heart at the moment. I never imagined it would cause such a huge mess now. ¡°How do you know all this so clearly?¡± ¡°Hehe, this might seem difficult to outsiders, but it¡¯s easy to find out with a bit of networking. I only understood everything after I learned about the guild that Lu Wentao belongs to.¡± Although Lord Mu made light of his explanation, I knew it wasn¡¯t that easy. However, I didn¡¯t show it; I just kept this act of kindness in mind, waiting for an opportunity to repay him in the future. ¡°Master Fang, where do you plan to stream now?¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t decided yet, but definitely not on Shark.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do at all. Shark is just unscrupulous.¡± Lord Mu agreed fervently, adding seriously, ¡°If I could convince my dad to start a streaming company, that would be great. I¡¯d make sure to give you, Master Fang, the best treatment possible, promoting you heavily every day!¡± Seeing this message made my eyelid twitch¡ªthis is a true tycoon. We chatted a bit more before ending the conversation. Lord Mu said that if I decided on a streaming platform, I must tell him immediately so he could come and support the show. Lord Mu genuinely wanted to be friends with me, not because of potential value, but out of genuine admiration for me as a person. In my rental room, I took out a ballpoint pen and began to consider which streaming TV to focus on. Since Shark was definitely out of the question, I had to find another large platform. Each platform has its specific conditions, making the real choice quite a headache. Excluding Shark, there really are only two other big platforms left¡ªTiger Fang and Wolf Fang. Frankly speaking, neither situation is good. The atmosphere on Tiger Fang¡¯s platform is poor. Their issue isn¡¯t about being deceitful like Shark; rather, they are very fond of ¡°soft¡± content. The big broadcasters are either gamers or dancing girls. For them, the outdoor section is just a category to show diversity. If I went there, I¡¯d be totally out of place. As for Wolf Fang, it¡¯s actually on the decline, falling quite far behind Shark and Tiger Fang. Ah, what a headache! Chapter 40 - Chapter 40: An Unexpected Visit (Extended Chapter Bonus) Chapter 40: An Unexpected Visit (Extended Chapter Bonus) Translator: 549690339 | Shark, Tiger Fang, and Wolf Fang all emerged around the same time, but their development has varied greatly. Tiger Fang profited the most among the three major platforms by operating hs, Shark had comprehensive growth with the most traffic, while Wolf Fang¡­ This platform is somewhat too ¡°high-minded¡±, unlike the pandering Tiger Fang. Wolf Fang has strict control over its content, which resulted in it having the third-highest traffic. Honest people tend to lose out, and that saying isn¡¯t wrong. As for the rest of the platforms, they indeed come up like mushrooms after rain, but they lack the support of major capital. Without someone to take over their operations later, most are just a flash in the pan. Bi Fang was organizing the strengths and weaknesses of the major platforms on paper, but just after writing a few lines, he suddenly heard his phone ring. Picking it up, he saw it was an unknown number. When he answered the call, it turned out to be an employee from Tiger Fang¡¯s platform. The caller was very polite and direct in expressing their admiration for him, also severely criticizing Shark¡¯s unethical behavior, and then mentioned that a leader wanted to have a detailed talk with him, inquiring when he would be available, offering to reimburse the ticket cost. Bi Fang was startled, having not expected the other party to react so quickly. Although he must have gained some fame in the live streaming world by now, not to mention the heat on B Island, it would be strange if other platforms did not know about this talent. But how long had it been since he rejected Shark? They already found out his number? There must be a mole¡­ However, what happens to Shark TV now has nothing to do with him. Bi Fang naturally could not refuse, but he didn¡¯t show too much eagerness either. Instantly agreeing to the other party over a single phone call would only put himself at a disadvantage, surrendering his bargaining power for nothing. Eventually, they set the meeting for the afternoon of the third day in Magic Capital. After hanging up the phone, Bi Fang stood and pondered for a while; it seemed the other party had done thorough research. They knew not only his phone number but also his address. Xicheng City is very close to Magic Capital, just over a hundred kilometers away. Taking the highway, it¡¯s only a bit over an hour¡¯s drive, so that¡¯s why the other party set such a tight schedule. However, the first call coming from Tiger Fang was unexpected for Bi Fang. He thought Wolf Fang would be the one, considering the situation of the three, they would be the ones who needed quality hosts the most to increase their traffic. No wonder they struggle against the other two platforms¡ªthey¡¯re really¡­ No, that metaphor isn¡¯t quite right. Bi Fang shook his head, casting the thought out of his mind. Then he remembered Tiger Fang¡¯s live-streaming performance; although the platform was pandering, its traffic was undeniably top-notch. Even if his style didn¡¯t quite fit in, he was confident he could carve out a niche for himself there. But he still needed to prepare thoroughly. Choosing a platform was a major decision; the more thorough his research, the more assured he could be. Yet before he could start, the phone rang again. Not knowing who it was, Bi Fang directly picked it up. As he expected, as a new host with great potential, he had already attracted plenty of attention. Now two more platforms had called to invite him, both smaller but sizable live streaming platforms inviting him to discuss in Magic Capital. Bi Fang agreed to meet with these platforms as well, also scheduling for the third day. He calculated the timing; it was tight but doable. The headquarters of these live TV platforms, no matter their size, were all clustered in Magic Capital, which was indeed convenient. In the following two days, Bi Fang holed up in his rented room. Different platforms would have varying degrees of acceptance, and while attracting their interest, he also needed to think in advance about which terms to propose, which could be negotiated, and which were non-negotiable. Interests are the essential issue. When dealing with interests, one cannot play the saint. You respect your own interests, and others will respect you. Time quickly reached evening, and aside from some nuisance calls, Bi Fang had received invitations from a total of four platforms. However, there was still no call from Wolf Fang TV. It seems the live streaming platforms have very acute senses; sensing any movements from competitors, they immediately take action. As for Wolf Fang TV, do they feel they can¡¯t compete with Tiger Fang, so they¡¯re not even trying to poach? Not even being proactive in grabbing opportunities¡­ there really is a reason why they¡¯re falling behind. Hopefully, the negotiations after tomorrow will go smoothly. Bi Fang thought he had some fame now and expected finding a new platform to go smoothly, but the actual events of the third day surprised him. Although Tiger Fang was very interested in him, the conditions they offered were not that great. The salary was high, more than ten million, but they were stingy about giving traffic resources. Even when Bi Fang asked what kind of promotion he would receive during the visit, the other party sounded evasive. Bi Fang still remembered clearly what the person in charge said. ¡°I¡¯m very sorry, Mr. Bi, but as the outdoor section is not our main focus, giving you too many resources might seem misplaced. Our users also wouldn¡¯t agree to it.¡± What a freaking joke! So making money from Isp is so easy that you¡¯re addicted and don¡¯t plan to stop, huh? Can¡¯t you be a little ambitious? As for the other three smaller platforms, Bi Fang met with them out of courtesy, but the offers they made were poor. They even asked him to do live broadcasts for two rounds first to see the response on their platform before improving his compensation and resources. Bi Fang passed on these conditions straight away. Future improvement in terms wasn¡¯t the issue, but the System¡¯s tasks had a number requirement that he couldn¡¯t wait for two whole rounds. What if he failed the task? Who knew what would happen? So even when one company insinuated that they had found major capital backing, Bi Fang immediately declined. Who knew if it was true or not. Regardless of the truth, they put the offer out there first. Bi Fang had seen too many tricks like this before; they weren¡¯t going to fool him. This left Bi Fang once mired in self-doubt, wondering if he really should go to Tiger Fang TV? Become a breath of fresh air in a sea of pandering otakus? Bi Fang sighed deeply in his rented room. Smooth sailing after transmigration, all of that is just a lie. He only had one live streaming experience so far, and it still wasn¡¯t enough. It¡¯s not that it wasn¡¯t possible, but after finally proving his potential, was he really supposed to just wait for it to slowly manifest? Without sufficient resources, he would never be able to truly make a splash. Bi Fang always considered himself to be someone with a pioneering spirit, a sense of vigor coursing through his veins, always eager to challenge the heaviest dumbbells at the gym and longing for a broader sky. But now, the situation had suddenly become rigid. As a child, Bi Fang loved to fantasize about grasslands, deserts, oceans, starry skies, and dreams of a miraculous journey. When he first climbed out of the cradle, the living room at home seemed as vast as the whole world. When he was panting from crawling from one end of the living room to the door at the other, he cheered jubilantly, feeling that his enthusiasm and ambition could face any challenge, he could go anywhere. But when he quietly pushed open the door, an overwhelming sense of dread still enveloped him. It turned out the outside world could be so big, so much so that even the yard at home was not a barrier he could break through. If he couldn¡¯t cross such a broad lawn or climb over his father¡¯s car, how could he possibly leap to the distant stars? But his enthusiasm and ambition did not wane; being different didn¡¯t require being able to do everything. As long as he lived up to his own life, there would surely be glory waiting ahead. So after graduation, Bi Fang joined CWCA just as he wished. He had a venue for his passion and ambition, and his dreams came true. He traveled far and wide on his own feet, shouting with the morning sun, drinking silently by the still waters late at night, diving in and swimming head- down to the opposite shore, seeing whales and encountering panthers, and then one evening, he sat by the bonfire and wrote these experiences into letters to send to a friend. But the current difficulties truly stumped him; his passion and ambition found no outlet, leaving him to make choices passively. The outside world is so vast, yet life is not unlimited. There are always places he cannot go to, things he cannot do. It seemed, this was it¡­ At dusk, Bi Fang left his rented room. He had come to a decision; Tiger Fang TV it was. He would try his best, and with some luck, he could sign the contract before the next task, and it would be even better if he could take advantage of the schedule to get one over on Lu Wentao. As he approached the door, he hadn¡¯t even prepared to pull out his keys when he looked up and saw a middle- aged man standing at the doorway. He asked curiously, ¡°May I help you?¡± The middle-aged man was looking at his phone by his door. At the sound of Bi Fang¡¯s voice, he looked up startled, scrutinized Bi Fang, and immediately smiled amicably, ¡°Mr. Bi, I¡¯m looking for you!¡± ¡°Looking for me?¡± Bi Fang was startled and took a closer look at the middle-aged man; quite ordinary, barely over one meter sixty, slightly chubby, impeccably dressed in a suit, hair slicked and shiny, but lacking any vitality¡ªbalding, yellow teeth, as if going through a midlife crisis. A relative of the original owner of the body? After recognizing him, Bi Fang struggled to remember but just couldn¡¯t recall meeting such a relative. He had combed through the original owner¡¯s memories and hadn¡¯t come across any relatives like this man. At that moment, the middle-aged man straightforwardly produced a business card and handed it over with both hands: ¡°Hello, I am Wang Yongbo, the Vice President of Wolf Fang TV. I¡¯ve long admired Mr. Bi Fang¡¯s reputation. My apologies for the intrusion.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of his head. Wolf Fang TV might be on the decline, but it was still one of the top three live-streaming platforms with thousands of signed hosts. It¡¯s an existence an ordinary person has to look up to. And the Vice President, definitely one of the key executives of the platform. No matter what, he was one of the big shots in the industry, certainly not someone a mere manager like Wang Weifeng could compare to! Now that Bi Fang was also mixing in the live-streaming circle, he didn¡¯t dare to be negligent. He accepted the business card politely with both hands and couldn¡¯t help but take another glance at Wang Yongbo, ¡°I apologize, I don¡¯t have a business card at the moment. May I ask what brings CEO Wang here?¡± Signing a host shouldn¡¯t require someone of this caliber to make a move, right? Even though Bi Fang had gained some fame, it was already quite impressive for other live-streaming platforms to send a manager to negotiate. This was actually a rare gesture of sincerity, so even if the platform was small, Bi Fang would agree to meet with them. That¡¯s how society works¡ªyou scratch my back, I scratch yours. It¡¯s basic courtesy. But Wolf Fang, on the other hand, led with a big move? So it wasn¡¯t that they hadn¡¯t made a move, they were just waiting for him? As shocked as Bi Fang was inside, he didn¡¯t fall over himself in gratitude. After all, people are creatures of interest. ¡°No problem, no problem,¡± Wang Yongbo was easy to talk to. After handing over the business card, he looked sincerely into Bi Fang¡¯s eyes, ¡°What else would I be here for at this time other than that Wolf Fang is eagerly seeking talents! Please, Mr. Bi Fang, I implore you, join us at Wolf Fang TV!¡± Wang Yongbo stepped forward and firmly grasped Bi Fang¡¯s hand, the expression on his face extremely earnest, leaving Bi Fang dumbfounded. He instinctively tried to withdraw his hand but couldn¡¯t move it! Chapter 41 - Chapter 41 A BMW Paired with a Hero Chapter 41 A BMW Paired with a Hero Translator: 549690339 | Wang Yongbo was holding Bi Fang¡¯s hand tightly, with deep affection in his gaze. If the two of them didn¡¯t look completely different, Bi Fang might have suspected that this was his long-lost biological father. Are you sure you¡¯re here to recruit talent and not to recognize your kin? Bi Fang¡¯s initial impression of Wolf Fang TV was completely overturned. Had they not missed the opportunity, but were here casting a big spell instead? Though the big move was powerful, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t fresh to society; he wouldn¡¯t be immediately crippled. Half a year¡¯s worth of tender venison is tasty but doesn¡¯t hold a candle to solid gold and silver, right? ¡°I¡¯m truly flattered by CEO Wang¡¯s fondness. You must have waited for a long time, please, come in!¡± Bi Fang was stunned for a moment but then quickly reacted, opened the door, invited Wang Yongbo into the apartment, and offered him the only chair. Wang Yongbo looked around the rental apartment with a bit of surprise in his heart, but his face remained unchanged. Then Bi Fang found a glass, poured a cup of water for Wang Yongbo, and said with some apology, ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect to have President Wang come all this way. I have nothing to offer here and hope you don¡¯t mind.¡± Wang Yongbo appeared very honest as he took the cup of water and waved his hand, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. A talent like Mr. Bi deserves our respect; this treatment is only what you should expect.¡± As he spoke, Wang Yongbo took a sip from the cup, adding rather regretfully, ¡°About the unfair treatment you received at Shark TV, we have heard of it too. We originally wanted to invite you earlier, but after careful consideration, we feared that our limited capabilities at Wolf Fang might affect your future, so we didn¡¯t make a move. It wasn¡¯t until we didn¡¯t hear about you signing with anyone for such a long time that we gathered our courage to invite you.¡± Bi Fang nodded as he sat on the bed. Now he understood why so many platforms had approached him, except for Wolf Fang. It wasn¡¯t a lack of information but self-awareness. Now in the streaming business, any broadcaster with ambition aims for Shark, even if the terms are a bit less favorable, just to be there. As a result, Wolf Fang, already at a disadvantage, is doing worse and worse, now with traffic nearly a third of Shark TV¡¯s! But don¡¯t underestimate this one third. If converted into specific numbers, that¡¯s tens of millions of viewers! Seeing Bi Fang lost in thought, Wang Yongbo couldn¡¯t help but worry, ¡°You haven¡¯t already¡­?¡± ¡°No, I haven¡¯t.¡± Bi Fang came back to his senses and told the truth. ¡°That¡¯s a relief!¡± At this moment, Wang Yongbo didn¡¯t resemble a savvy business elite but rather a street vendor who burst out laughing and slapped his thigh, saying directly, ¡°Then, Mr. Bi, could you consider joining Wolf Fang? I admit, our traffic isn¡¯t as big as Tiger Fang or Shark, but our sincerity is definitely greater than theirs!¡± Bi Fang knew the main event was finally here and listened carefully. ¡°Because our contract terms are based on the number of your broadcasts!¡± ¡°Cough, cough.¡± At this point, Bi Fang choked on his water, grabbed a tissue to wipe his mouth, and looked at Wang Yongbo with skepticism, ¡°Based on the number of broadcasts?¡± ¡°Absolutely!¡± Wang Yongbo seemed to anticipate Bi Fang¡¯s surprise and stated bluntly, ¡°Our executives specifically decided this, considering your broadcasting style, it¡¯s impossible for you to do high-intensity streaming. Hence, we decided to improve your terms based on the number of broadcasts¡ª once your traffic hits a certain level, our contract upgrades to match it! We won¡¯t let you suffer a loss!¡± Bi Fang was astonished by Wolf Fang¡¯s boldness; a contract based on the number of broadcasts was something he had never even heard of. The sincerity was extremely high. After pondering for a moment, Bi Fang probed, ¡°What about resources?¡± ¡°Not to mention other resources, you¡¯ll have the right to decide on three major promotional campaigns! Whenever you want it, it¡¯s yours. Even if it means cutting a recommended slot from another broadcaster during their promotional cycle, I¡¯ll do it for you!¡± ¡°Image rights¡­¡± ¡°All yours, take any endorsements or advertisements you like! If we intervene even once, you can terminate our cooperation unilaterally!¡± ¡°Salary¡­¡± ¡°An annual salary of ten million, only going up, never down, and we can pay a quarter in advance! Regarding gifts, split 30/70¡ª30 for us! If you become a top broadcaster, it¡¯ll be 20/80; and if you become the number one on Wolf Fang, then 10/90! If you become the top in the streaming world, we won¡¯t even take a share!¡± ¡°Sss!¡± Bi Fang took a sharp breath, stunned by Wang Yongbo¡¯s terms. It wasn¡¯t just half a year¡¯s worth of venison¡ªhe was being offered Red Hare and even the legendary beauty Diao Chan! After pondering for a while and finding no reason to refuse, Bi Fang still had one question that he couldn¡¯t hold back, ¡°CEO Wang, with such terms, do you trust me that much?¡± Wang Yongbo, however, burst into laughter, ¡°So what? Even though our Wolf Fang is on the decline, we can still afford this loss. How much worse can it get? Since we¡¯ve been losing for so long, we don¡¯t care about one more loss!¡± After he finished laughing, his expression became serious again, ¡°Mr. Bi, don¡¯t think we¡¯re fools. In fact, I¡¯ve been paying attention to you for a while. I¡¯ve watched your videos on B Island at least three times and learned about the difficulty of being a Wilderness Survivalist. I am very confident that you are truly capable, not someone who could achieve this by being pushed like Shark does.¡± ¡°Shark and Tiger Fang have massive enterprises; they don¡¯t care about a single streamer like you, but we do. We¡¯re lacking someone who can carry the banner of live streaming, so we¡¯re willing to believe in you and pin our hopes on you. This is our sincerity. Please do consider joining Wolf Fang TV!¡± Wang Yongbo once again grabbed Bi Fang¡¯s hand, his eyes full of sincerity. This time, Bi Fang didn¡¯t try to pull away, he fell silent. Wang Yongbo wasn¡¯t the least bit impatient either, quietly waiting, or rather, anticipating, the answer he desired. Bi Fang had to admit, he was tempted; everyone hopes to achieve outstanding results in challenging endeavors and to surpass others. This was a need for self-fulfillment. Wang Yongbo¡¯s offer was undoubtedly the greatest recognition for him. Bi Fang liked adventure and sharing it with others; perhaps this was the fundamental reason why the System had chosen him. And now, Wang Yongbo was undoubtedly offering him an excellent opportunity. While Wolf Fang TV¡¯s traffic couldn¡¯t compare to Shark¡¯s, it was definitely much better than the other platforms, and compared to Shark¡¯s offer, which was a joke, it was not just better but ancestral treatment! A full ten minutes passed, the two men just holding hands like this, one gazing into the eyes of the other with deep feeling. Ultimately, it was Bi Fang who couldn¡¯t stand it anymore; the offer was too generous, he couldn¡¯t refuse. He gripped back firmly and smiled, ¡°Then I will definitely try my best and not disappoint Wolf Fang TV!¡± Wang Yongbo¡¯s face lit up with surprise, ¡°Mr. Bi, you¡¯ve made a wise choice. I assure you here and now, Wolf Fang TV will never let you down!¡± Afterwards, Wang Yongbo immediately pulled Bi Fang to print out the contract as if he was afraid Bi Fang might run away. After confirming there was nothing wrong with the contract, Bi Fang didn¡¯t hesitate, signed his name, and handed it directly to Wang Yongbo, who carefully smoothed out the corners of the contract and then stuffed it into his briefcase, satisfied. With the live streaming platform issue resolved, Bi Fang breathed a sigh of relief and shared the news in the fan group. Many people said they would definitely go to support him on Wolf Fang, and some even said they had uninstalled Shark and from now on were lifelong fans of Wolf Fang. In the following days, Bi Fang finally returned to a normal life trajectory. Before the next task arrived, he managed to increase his strength by a point. This was a pleasing progress, for in terms of total value, he was now at a normal level. His next live stream would certainly not be as difficult as the last one. It was on this day that the long-missed voice of the System finally rang out again. [Ding! New task activated. You can check it in the task bar.] Twelve days. It had been twelve days since the last task until this one. Bi Fang silently took note of this time. If the third task also had the same interval, then he could determine the cycle of the System¡¯s task releases. He opened the task bar. Task Name: Small Test of Skill Task Location: Mohe Task Mode: Wilderness Cold Forest Survival Task Difficulty: R2 Task Requirements: No tools may be carried except for those provided by the System, clothing may be brought for this task. Main Task One: Start a live stream with a long-term online audience of over fifty thousand. Main Task Two: Survive successfully within five days while maintaining good physical condition. Side Task: Please explore on your own Completion Reward: Unknown Time Limit: 8d Chapter 42 - Chapter 42: 30 Times the Popularity Chapter 42: 30 Times the Popularity Translator: 549690339 | Mohe? Bi Fang suddenly shivered, not out of fear, but because it was his subconscious reaction to hearing about Mohe. It was extremely cold there! How cold exactly? Well, Mohe is located at the northern foothills of the Greater Khingan Range, in the northwest of Heilonghe Province. If you wish to witness the Northern Lights without leaving the country, that¡¯s the place to be. The very fact that you can observe the Northern Lights there says it all about how high the latitude of Mohe is; it¡¯s almost at the very northern tip of the country. If Bi Fang didn¡¯t head in the right direction for survival, he reckoned he might end up crossing the border by accident. Assuming he wasn¡¯t shot in the head by a border guard first¡­ It seemed he would be facing severe cold this time, so his preliminary preparations had to be even more thorough. The System had indicated that he could bring his own clothing, which meant there was quite a bit of wiggle room there. He could pack several items, sterilize and seal them so that, in case of an emergency, they could be used as bandages or torn into strips to make rope. Although the clothing Bi Fang wore last time wasn¡¯t provided by the System, he hadn¡¯t dared to take any extras. When he tried to pack a second jacket, the System had immediately warned him. This served as a reminder to Bi Fang that the System¡¯s requirements weren¡¯t set in stone. The mission duration also differed greatly from the last time; previously it was 15 days of preparation, 7 days of survival, this time it was 8 days of preparation, 5 days of survival. Both the preparation time and the survival duration had been significantly reduced, indicating that the beginner¡¯s mission was indeed for beginners. Bi Fang sat back down at the only desk in his room and began planning once more. Despite having over a hundred thousand in his account, he had not rushed to get a new house because outdoor activities were actually quite expensive. To truly engage in them, that sum of money could vanish in the blink of an eye. A regular outdoor jacket alone would cost around ten thousand, not to mention the branded ones. During his previous lottery draw, Bi Fang had won some outdoor gear, but that was pretty much limited to a water bottle, a pair of breathable sweat-wicking pants, a firesteel, a plain white T-shirt, and two orange-flavored hard candies. Aside from the water bottle and the pants, the rest were of little use; he had to buy everything else, including the jacket. Oh, and the candy tasted pretty good. After completing his planning, Bi Fang notified his fans in a group chat and then called Wang Yongbo to inform him of his next live streaming location. Wang Yongbo was also very courteous, stating that the recommendation would be arranged quickly, and that the poster would be rushed and hopefully be featured at the top of the homepage for early morning promotion. For him, signing Bi Fang was a very lucrative deal. Bi Fang was skilled, and his live streaming content was almost guaranteed to be a hit, something that Wolf Fang TV desperately needed. They invested with wholehearted willingness, now only concerned that they lacked a leading figurehead and were not competitive in the live streaming market. Of the top 10 live streamers, Wolf Fang TV only had one, and that was barely hanging on, often at risk of falling off. Moreover, the actual cost of the contract was not high; all they really had to offer was an annual salary of ten million. Even if Bi Fang¡¯s potential was limited, they wouldn¡¯t really incur any losses; at most, it would just be a wasted sentiment. They could afford such a loss. As a major live streaming platform, ten million was nothing to them, hardly a scratch, and even if it turned out that way, it was like they had spent a fortune to discover a potential talent. In the end, Wang Yongbo made a few more polite remarks, mentioned that he had arranged an assistant for Bi Fang for any upcoming matters, and then hung up. Not long after, Bi Fang received a friend request from the assistant Wang Yongbo had arranged, Liu Qian. They discussed the details of the promotion briefly and then made the arrangements. In the evening, after completing his shopping at the mall, Bi Fang received a promotional poster. The poster was predominantly white, showing a lonely expanse of snowfield with towering mountains in the distance. The blizzard was like a white sandstorm, and a tiny figure was braving the snowflakes, making his way toward the mountains. The poster had artistic appeal, and Bi Fang was very satisfied with Wolf Fang TV¡¯s efficiency. This was the first time he was receiving treatment reserved for a top streamer. Having received a response, Liu Qian immediately replied to the tech department, and soon after, the recommendation was approved¡ª it was a major homepage feature. When Bi Fang opened Wolf Fang TV¡¯s APP and refreshed it again, the poster had already appeared at the very top of the APP¡¯s homepage. By clicking on it, one could enter his live stream. However, because the live stream hadn¡¯t started yet, the screen was still black. But the fan group had received the news early and had already begun to ¡°build floors¡± in the comments section. [Front row seat!] [A new journey!] [Is this trip headed to the Arctic?] [Who is this? I haven¡¯t seen him on Wolf Fang before. New host?] [Dumb, how could a new host get a major feature straightaway? Plus, there¡¯s a pre-announcement, this guy must have been poached from another site, right?] [What¡¯s the use though, Wolf Fang has been on a decline, what good would poaching one or two big hosts do? Isn¡¯t this just a desperate measure? In my opinion, they should loosen up the censorship, nowadays he who has the Isp (likes, shares, and posts) rules the world!] [Forget it, I think Wolf Fang TV is quite refreshing, not like Tiger Fang, I don¡¯t even want to watch when I go there.] [It¡¯s not about not wanting to watch, it¡¯s about not being able to handle it (jokingly)] [Isn¡¯t this copying Shark Lu Wentao¡¯s Wilderness Survival?] [Nonsense, it¡¯s clearly Lu Wentao who copied Master Fang!] Amidst a flood of comments, Bi Fang saw one with many replies. It was a debate about who started doing wilderness survival first and who copied whom. Bi Fang didn¡¯t pay attention to this argument because he knew he was also copying, and if he were to stand on the moral high ground and accuse others while being fully aware of this fact, it would be shamelessly hypocritical. Moreover, something like wilderness survival relies on one¡¯s own skills. Yesterday, Bi Fang had also watched Lu Wentao¡¯s live stream. The first map was the same as his, the Qinling Mountains, and he was also dropped randomly by a helicopter, which looked much fancier than what he had done. However, Bi Fang only watched for a little over half an hour before he turned it off and didn¡¯t give it another thought. If he were to make a judgement, It was terrible. Awfully terrible. Any discerning viewer could tell that Lu Wentao didn¡¯t really understand wilderness survival, simply reciting information about certain animals or plants in a rigid manner. Often, he couldn¡¯t answer the audience¡¯s questions and pretended not to see them, leading to low interaction. And unlike Bi Fang, who only brought a pack, Lu Wentao was thoroughly prepared, which put him at an immediate disadvantage. The signs of scripting were also very apparent, almost every line seemed rehearsed, and whether hunting or making tools, he appeared clumsy, with the animals he caught looking lethargic and weak before they even died. Sometimes, Lu Wentao would even start making certain tools right before ending the stream at night, and by the next day, when the viewers tuned in again, they would find the tools already made, with the excuse that he got up early to finish them. Who would believe that? Not to mention whether the tools were really made by getting up early, at least wipe off the grease by your mouth! If it were a recorded show, this would have been fine, even showing a strong sense of professionalism because many survival points were verified, but this was a live stream! Daring to stream live without true skills? For now, it was just that Lu Wentao¡¯s content seemed fresh, catching snakes and making rafts, and many new viewers found it exciting. Unfortunately, after witnessing real wilderness survival, the fans in Bi Fang¡¯s fan group didn¡¯t buy what Lu Wentao was selling at all! However, the guy¡¯s popularity was indeed high, surpassing 800,000. If Shark TV wasn¡¯t faking these numbers, then based on Lu Wentao¡¯s original 30,000 popularity, it had almost multiplied by thirty times! Chapter 43 - Chapter 43: A Ten-Year Old Fan Shows Up Uninvited! Chapter 43: A Ten-Year Old Fan Shows Up Uninvited! Translator: 549690339 | The popularity value reached more than eight hundred thousand, and this was just the first workday¡¯s live stream. The numbers were bound to grow, perhaps even breaking a million. This is the advantage of staying on a big platform; as long as the platform genuinely wants to channel traffic your way, hundreds of thousands of followers is not difficult to achieve. It all depends on whether the streamer can keep the audience. Unfortunately, Bi Fang didn¡¯t like it. Instead of worrying every day about partners stabbing you in the back, it was much better to stay steady at Wolf Fang and work together to grow and strengthen the platform. What¡¯s fake can¡¯t be real, and what¡¯s real can¡¯t be fake. Did they really think that without some real skills, they could survive in the wilderness? Bi Fang felt somewhat sorry for Lu Wentao. The association he had signed with was too greedy for quick returns, rushing to have their streamers imitate whatever was trending without considering their personal capabilities. It was only because Lu Wentao was lucky that nothing went wrong this time. If he encountered a wild Black Bear during his first survival attempt, no one knew what would happen. Hopefully, the blood wouldn¡¯t splatter on him. Bi Fang shook his head and stopped thinking about it, beginning his preliminary preparations for survival. These days, a nice item appeared in the shop¡ªa Small Hunter Combat Knife. It was very well-balanced, suitable not only for throwing but also exceptionally safe and stable in the hand, and its tip was extremely sharp. Such a good knife for only 410 Points¡ªBi Fang did not hesitate to buy it. These days, Bi Fang became obsessed with this hunting knife, and now he could use it in combination with the Field Army¡¯s skills for some good practice. Meanwhile, fans who received the news were causing an uproar in the fan group. Some were dissatisfied with Lu Wentao¡¯s shamelessness, while others were passionately discussing Mohe. It was clear that they all had confidence in Bi Fang and genuinely liked his live streams. Shark TV Headquarters. ¡°How¡¯s the situation?¡± Wang Weifeng, with his assertive manner, arrived at the tech room and asked while observing Lu Wentao on the large screen. ¡°Just as the data analysts predicted, the current figures are very good. Even without the support from the Tami Association to boost the rankings, Lu Wentao¡¯s trend is still positive. The only thing is¡­¡± ¡°The only thing is what?¡± Wang Weifeng frowned as he looked at the hesitant technician. ¡°There¡¯s a group of people crazily spamming the chat, saying he¡¯s not as good as Master Fang, and directly, the live stream quality is also a notch worse,¡± said the technician, growing quieter as he watched Wang Weifeng¡¯s expression change. ¡°Cyber soldiers?¡± ¡°No, they¡¯re all active users.¡± The tech was truly amazed by this, which caused him to hedge a bit earlier. It was unbelievable that a streamer who had only broadcast once could swiftly build up a base of loyal fans¡ªit was simply unscientific! ¡°Then set up keyword filters, one for one. Delete all mentions, and if anyone really keeps posting, ban them outright!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The technician jumped at the command but immediately agreed and started the appropriate backend operations. This Bi Fang, his presence was truly lingering like a ghost! Watching the technician working in the backend, Wang Weifeng¡¯s face darkened, and the disrespectful words of the other party seemed to echo in his ears. However, it appeared the opponent¡¯s live stream was also scheduled for these few days. As a competitor, he always kept an eye on Wolf Fang TV¡¯s every move, and so he had a crystal-clear understanding of their high-priced invitation to Bi Fang. He just didn¡¯t know if it would impact Lu Wentao¡­ Maybe he could send someone to ¡°show support¡±¡­ Wang Weifeng, in just a moment, had come up with a plan. They were competitors after all¡ªthere was nothing to feel uneasy about. Business is business, without any embarrassment. Just wondering what brand of drone the other party had that could produce such clear footage? Drones worth tens of thousands seemed like nothing compared to theirs. Three days later, Bi Fang officially set off! This time, he was far from the disheveled state of his first departure. He didn¡¯t have to sell system items for a plane ticket, not because he was suddenly rich, but because Wolf Fang TV had arranged everything thoroughly without a single worry. Without spending a cent, they randomly dropped Bi Fang into the depths of the Mohe forest by helicopter! Mohe, part of the Heilonghe Province in the Greater Khingan Range, which is the largest mountain range in northern China. Beyond it lies the Outer Khingan Ridge, already outside national borders. But long ago, that area had also been a part of China¡¯s territory¡­ Snap back to reality, Bi Fang watched the snow-covered forest through the helicopter window. Undulating hillocks drift by, the forest sea vast and indistinct. The vegetation in Mohe consists of coniferous forests, now completely blanketed in white snow. The snow dust atop the snowy woods is stirred by the wind, resembling a white sandstorm, with sharp peaks rising more than a dozen meters high, the ghastly white turning the world into a monotonous expanse. Bi Fang touched the icy, bone-chilling window glass, yet his blood surged with excitement in his heart, the fear of the severe cold vanished without a trace! Meanwhile, on Wolf Fang TV¡¯s website and app, there had already been a notification about his upcoming live stream. At Wolf Fang Headquarters, Wang Yongbo stared at the viewer count in Bi Fang¡¯s live room, clenching his fists as he saw that over five thousand people were already waiting in the room even before the stream had started, at nine o¡¯clock in the morning. These were all real viewers! Not just online popularity or heat! This investment was a surefire profit! Above the snowy plains, a helicopter painted in red and white roared, skimming the snow-covered woods like a giant bird, its massive rotors kicking up fierce winds and swirling snow in every direction. Bi Fang sat inside the helicopter, performing a final check on his equipment. After confirming everything was correct, he launched the drone with the same title as always: ¡°Master Fang Live Stream: Survival in the Bitter Cold!¡± Woosh! A blue luminescence flashed across the surface of the drone, and the next second, it silently hovered, stopping in front of Bi Fang. The home page¡¯s main feature recommendation had also officially started streaming. This was the best kind of recommendation, and also the most valuable. As soon as one entered Wolf Fang TV, everyone could see this live stream. Almost instantly, tens of thousands of viewers poured into the live room like a tidal wave, and the screen even temporarily experienced some lag. Ten thousand, fifteen thousand, twenty thousand¡­ Within ten minutes, the number of viewers was fast approaching thirty thousand! A full thirty thousand plus people were watching the live stream, and this was merely the beginning! ¡°Looking back at the course of human evolution and change, if our ancestors hadn¡¯t dared to imagine and venture, hadn¡¯t been brave enough to innovate and willing to sacrifice with their grand courage and magnificent spirit, humans would not have taken canoes to surf the seas, to explore the infinite mysteries of the other side of the ocean. Human curiosity leads to the impulse to adventure, and human adventures light the torch of civilization. Adventure lies not just in nature¡¯s seas and mountains, deserts and swamps, but also in the densely populated cities.¡± Inside the helicopter, Bi Fang exhaled a puff of white breath and smiled at the camera, ¡°I¡¯m Bi Fang, a professional explorer. This time, I meet you on the snowy plains!¡± ¡°Master Fang! We¡¯ve finally waited for you!¡± ¡°Wuwuwu, we¡¯ve waited for you so hard!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been staring at this feature recommendation for three days now, and this is the first time I¡¯ve seen a preview for a live stream. It¡¯s really tantalizing, and now we finally get to see it.¡± ¡°Is this an upgrade from a musket to a cannon? You¡¯ve even got a helicopter now?¡± ¡°B Island Field Army has come to watch the battle!¡± ¡°Wang Malu, are you there? Come out and watch Master Fang show off!¡± ¡°I¡¯m watching, I¡¯m watching, I am Wang Malu, stop calling!¡± ¡°11111111¡± ¡°23333333¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this a rip-off of that Shark platform¡¯s Lu Wentao? Has Wolf Fang TV really sunk this low? Although the host is better looking than those on Shark¡¯s platform.¡± ¡°Bullshit! It¡¯s that Lu who has no shame, ripping off Master Fang! The video dates on B Island are proof, it¡¯s certainly earlier than any Lu Wentao¡¯s live streaming sessions!¡± ¡°Exactly! Master Fang is the true pioneer of Wilderness Survival live streaming! Lu Wentao is just a pretender!¡± Bi Fang hadn¡¯t expected that the moment he started broadcasting, people would be arguing about this. He swiftly urged, ¡°Alright, alright, there¡¯s no such thing as plagiarism in Wilderness Survival, everyone has their own skills, right?¡± But before he could finish speaking, a flurry of dazzling special effects illuminated the entire live room. Bi Fang squinted and caught sight of a familiar title in his view. ¡°Congratulations to Lord Mu for becoming an Emperor in Master Fang¡¯s live room!¡± ¡°Lord Mu has gifted 100000 Wolf Fangs to the host¡ªhuh, a decade-long fan has arrived uninvited; did I miss the front row? If I did, please make some room, everyone..¡± Chapter 44 - Chapter 44: This person is not to be feared Chapter 44: This person is not to be feared Translator: 549690339 I Such arrogant talk! Many viewers were seeing such an extravagant tycoon for the first time, but before they could gather around, there was another wave of special effects explosions. [Fat Cat Pete gifted the host a Spaceship*!- Agh, still a step too late.] [Handsome enough to cause a stir gifts the host a Spaceship*!¡ªLord Mu is indeed Lord Mu, still as strong as ever! ] [Fifteen Centimeters Not Including Hair gifts the host a Flying Yacht*l¡ªI can¡¯t compare to the big shots, wuwuwu] The stream had barely started, and a barrage of extravagant gifts immediately left the new viewers dumbstruck. Where did this new host come from, he¡¯s so fierce? In Wolf Fang TV, a Spaceship costs two thousand each, and it comes with a treasure chest, followed by yachts at 1314, spaceships at 500, Big Bones at 100, meatballs at 6, likes at 0.1. Besides, there¡¯s also Wolf Brush, one hair per hundred. And the gifts these people just sent added up to tens of thousands! Not to mention there was an Emperor! In an instant, the number of viewers in the stream skyrocketed once more, easily surpassing thirty thousand this time! [Damn, which guild¡¯s crown prince is this?] [666, worshipping the big shot, getting a pile of spaceships without even streaming anything] [Master Fang isn¡¯t in a guild, these are all ten-year-old fans (funny)] [Ten-year-old fans? Then how come I¡¯ve never heard of this host before?] ¡°Don¡¯t listen to their nonsense, this is only my second broadcast, where would 1 get ten-year-old fans from?¡± Seeing some old fans tricking the Wolf Fang TV viewers, Bi Fang laughed and cursed, while also expressing his utmost gratitude to the fans who had specifically come to Wolf Fang TV to support him. These people had their old accounts on Shark TV, yet they still turned around to support him on Wolf Fang TV, and they hadn¡¯t even changed their nicknames, which was truly touching. But as moved as he was, he couldn¡¯t forget his main job. ¡°I survived four days in the Qinling before successfully escaping, and now, I¡¯m at the northernmost part of China: the Greater Khingan Range, above Mohe!¡± ¡°Many may have heard of the Greater Khingan Range but not Mohe. In fact, Mohe is located at the northern foot of the Greater Khingan Range, where the latitude is quite high. You can even observe the Northern Lights here, and similarly, we will face a fearsome opponent: the extreme cold!¡± Bi Fang had the drone fly further away, showing his thickly padded jacket in the shot. [Damn, the Northern Lights? For real?] [Just hearing Arctic¡¯ makes me feel cold¡­] [Mutedly turned down the air conditioning two degrees.] [6 my brother, where are you from? We re already wearing jackets here and still using air conditioning?] [Hainan¡­] Bi Fang opened the helicopter¡¯s cabin door, and the biting cold wind immediately sliced through, stinging the face like a bone-scraping steel knife. The white snowflakes competed to squeeze into the helicopter, and Bi Fang, squinting, shouted loudly. ¡°We¡¯re about six meters above the ground right now, but helicopter landings and takeoffs are quite complicated, so 1 don¡¯t want to bother the pilot. Do you remember how we escaped from the snake¡¯s mouth last time? Today I¡¯m going to teach you how to jump directly from a high place and land safely!¡± What? Jump down from over six meters in height? That¡¯s at least the height of two floors! Many new viewers didn¡¯t believe it when they heard this, but seeing Bi Fang eager to try, they were instantly horrified. This is way too dangerous! [666, Master Fang starts off so thrilling?] [Jump directly? So fierce? Is this a death-defying live stream?] [What death-defying, this is Master Fang¡¯s basic drill] [Isn¡¯t it different? Last time there were branches to break the fall¡­] [Damn, aren¡¯t you guys scared?] [Last time Master Fang fell from a ten-meter-high tree and was unharmed, this is just six meters, a piece of cake! Damn! Someone hold me!] Six meters might not sound like much, but when Bi Fang switched to the first-person view, many viewers went weak at the knees. ¡°Don¡¯t worry everyone, if there wasn¡¯t any difficulty, would we need to learn any skills?¡± Bi Fang smiled at the screen, ¡°Five to six meters, this height is actually totally manageable, as long as you master one skill, Fall Protection!¡± ¡®¡±Fall Protection¡¯ originally came from judo terminology, referring to the technique of adjusting posture to diffuse impact when falling. Later, this concept was militarized and became a training module in the military, aimed at helping people better protect themselves when falling or when faced with a great force of impact.¡± ¡°Today, I¡¯m going to take this opportunity to teach everyone this skill I learned in the military.¡± [Damn, learned this from the military? Has Master Fang finally admitted he¡¯s special forces?] [He kept silent before, but now it¡¯s set in stone!) [666, which elite unit are you from, Master Fang? Share with us and broaden our horizons?] [Kept it quite deep, huh!] ¡°That¡¯s not okay, that¡¯s classified information, I can¡¯t just talk about it.¡± Bi Fang laughed it off, which only made the viewers more curious. Little did they know, this was exactly the effect he wanted. Having a military background as an endorsement gave his professionalism a sort of certification, an easily convincing reason for many. After all, whether in movies or books, the impression soldiers often leave is that of professionalism and strength, creating a sense of security. But Bi Fang didn¡¯t specify his actual service unit because even though the System had provided him with the corresponding documents, things could change in the future, so what would he do if he disclosed it now? ¡°Before landing, we must ensure the ground status. Hence, I had the helicopter stop on this snow-free hillside so we could clearly see the ground conditions. Otherwise, if there was a stone buried under the snow, that could be quite dangerous for us.¡± Bi Fang looked down at the ground, stretching his stiff muscles, awakening every part of his body from the dread of the harsh cold. Ever since acquiring the Advanced Yoga and Pilates skills and practicing them diligently, his flexibility and coordination had improved greatly. Movements that used to be difficult for him were now a piece of cake, and a mere six-meter height certainly couldn¡¯t stop him. As Bi Fang knew, the safe fall height for a free fall in his previous life was 15 meters, held by Russia¡¯s Alexei-Kens! Such a fantastical figure! Unfortunately, he had met with an accident during a training session and had died after falling from the fifth floor. Although it was just a legend, it also proved that human potential was limitless. ¡°Fall protection is a process of gradually buffering and discharging force. The scientific explanation involves action and reaction forces, as well as the conservation of momentum and the impulse-momentum theorem, which prolong the duration of force application, thus reducing the reaction force.¡± ¡°When we jump from a high place, our toes touch the ground first, and our legs prepare to roll by squatting down for the first stage of buffering. Then our hands touch the ground for the second stage of buffering. Finally, tuck in your left or right shoulder and roll to that side, completing the fall protection.¡± ¡°Of course, this process requires long-term training until it becomes instinctive to be effective.¡± ¡°Just like this!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, a dark figure leapt out from the helicopter, startling everyone! In mid-air, Bi Fang crouched like an agile leopard, a rush of oxygen flooding his limbs with every breath, providing unending strength. From his feet to his arms, the rebound force transmitted from the ground. Bi Fang bent his legs in response and rolled outward, tumbling several times on the ground before standing up and brushing off the dirt from his body. As if a breeze had just passed through the clouds. [Damn, damn, damn, I was still thinking about what Master Fang just said, and there he goes jumping?] [Give me a mental prep next time; a bottle of Fast-acting Heart-saving Pills isn¡¯t enough after watching Master Fang¡¯s stream!] [Isn¡¯t this too skilled? Feels like Master Fang could do it with his eyes closed.] [Me, silently taking the pill with a snort, just this?] [Person in the hospital, just out of the emergency room.] [Brother Ox-head, how did 1 die? What? Scared to death? No, absolutely impossible! Let me go! Wah wah wah] [A struggling art student gives the host Big Bone*l¡ª666, real skill!] [Plant a big tree gives the host Wolf Fang*100¡ªIsn¡¯t this even cooler than that thing with Shark?] With some people leading the way, there was suddenly a frenzy of gift-giving. Bi Fang glanced at the back end, his heart excited; a big success! Just ten minutes into the broadcast, the number of viewers was nearly forty thousand, the barrage surpassed a thousand messages, and even! The first gift rain appeared! A perfect start! Wang Yongbo, who was silently watching from the backstage, was also shocked by the leap. If there was an accident on the live stream, he would be responsible. But when he saw Bi Fang land safely, he clenched his fist hard. As he watched the audience numbers soar like rockets, his heart thrilled, and he couldn¡¯t help but send a Spaceship himself. At this moment, he didn¡¯t consider Shark TV¡¯s Lu Wentao a concern at all. Could a logistics team pull off that jump just now? Wang Weifeng had completely missed the point! Such a shortsighted person was not to be feared.. Chapter 45 - Chapter 45: Extreme Cold of 50 Degrees Chapter 45: Extreme Cold of 50 Degrees Translator: 549690339 Shark TV. Wang Weifeng¡¯s heart skipped a beat when he saw this scene. He turned to look at Lu Wentao, who had just returned from surviving in the wilderness, only to find him stunned as well. He asked directly, ¡°Can you do this?¡± ¡°Air!?¡± Lu Wentao snapped back to reality, and upon seeing Wang Weifeng¡¯s displeasure, he faltered. ¡°This, it should be possible,¡± he said. ¡°Should?¡± Wang Weifeng frowned, realizing that the matter was not simple. The most shocking performance from Bi Fang before was ¡®Snatching Food from a Bear¡¯s Mouth,¡¯ but he didn¡¯t care much about it. Because if that feat was true, Bi Fang¡¯s survival would certainly be a fluke, but if it was staged, then the Black Bear must be an old drama king from a zoo. If Bi Fang could get the bear to put on a performance, then so could anyone else. Wang Weifeng agreed to work with the Tami Association because Lu Wentao had trained in Sanda and learned Karate ¨C he had some skills, and Wang Weifeng believed the gap between them wouldn¡¯t be too significant. But now, it seemed, the gap was quite apparent. Lu Junming, sensing the tension, quickly tried to smooth things over, ¡°Of course he can! Didn¡¯t this guy say it was a Judo move? Brother Lu definitely knows it too; he¡¯s a trained fighter after all. He just didn¡¯t have the chance to show his skills, right, Brother Lu?¡± Distracted by this, Lu Wentao quickly nodded, ¡°Right, right, right. I can do it, too, it¡¯s just that I¡¯m a bit rusty because I haven¡¯t practiced it in a long time! Seeing Wang Weifeng¡¯s continued frown, Lu Wentao gritted his teeth and declared, ¡°It¡¯s just that I wasn¡¯t expecting it to be broadcasted like this. Next time, next time I¡¯ll jump from a helicopter, not from two thousand meters, no, but three thousand meters!¡± As a host who could be recommended by the Tami Association to livestream Wilderness Survivalist, Lu Wentao definitely had talent ¨C he held a professional skydiving certification. Now that a great opportunity for widespread fame was within reach, Lu Wentao truly did not want to let it go. Having experienced the popularity of 800,000 viewers and been pursued by thousands of fans, he really didn¡¯t want to go back to being the small-time streamer who had to be overly grateful for receiving a rocket donation. Only then did Wang Weifeng¡¯s frown ease, and he looked somewhat more favorably upon the two in front of him. ¡°Good!¡± After completing the Fall Protection, Bi Fang patted off the dirt from his body, tightened his collar, took a deep breath, and felt an unrivaled sense of freshness. [Master Fang has successfully landed. Beware, the cuties of Mohe!) [Beep! Beep! Beep! Destroyer Number has completed its drop, now detecting all mobile life forms to use as its energy source!] [Wow, you guys really have some nerve.] [Why do I feel like Master Fang is suddenly enjoying just breathing?] [I¡¯ve been doing Wilderness Survivalist all my life. Can¡¯t I enjoy it a bit?] [I feel like this survival challenge will be even more difficult, especially with the icy snow everywhere; there will definitely be less food.] ¡°Of course I¡¯m enjoying it!¡± Bi Fang took a few more deep breaths. ¡°Mohe is one of the natural sanctuaries with no pollution in our country. It has over 350 days of ¡®excellent¡¯ air quality yearly, with 50,000 negative oxygen 10ns per cubic centimeter in the air and an annual average PM2.5 concentration of less than 10 micrograms. You people breathe smog every day in the city, but if you were to suddenly come to a place like this, it would be as refreshing as a fish returning to water.¡± [Damn, trying to lure me into Wilderness Survivalist again?] [Master Fang has such a dark, big heart!] [I really do want to go out and take a walk.] Bi Fang laughed, ¡°Alright, since I am now playing the role of a stranded traveler, I must look the part. Just like before, we need to first observe our surroundings, then determine our direction and devise a survival plan.¡± ¡°Mohe is located in the Greater Khingan Range, and the Greater Khingan Range is the western part of the Khingan Range, a massive mountain chain stretching over 1200 kilometers. If you get lost, there¡¯s no way you can walk out on foot. Hence, determining the direction is extremely important.¡± ¡°In the snow, we have a very good method to determine north and south, which is to look at the snow accumulation!¡± Bi Fang walked through the snow, his boots squeaking crisply against it. ¡°The snow on the southern side, facing the sun, melts faster, while on the northern side, shielded from the sun, it melts slower. We can just see which side of the hilltop exposes more soil to know where the south is. If the soil is not exposed, we can also judge by the thickness of the snow,¡± he explained. ¡°The weather is good today. Look at this hilltop; it¡¯s an irregular circle. This part stands out clearly, so we¡¯ll head in this direction, southward!¡± Bi Fang pointed at the irregular oval beneath his feet and then pointed forward. Considering that Mohe is at the northernmost edge, if one doesn¡¯t want to go to Russia in search of a populated area, naturally, one must head south in search of life. This time, his target was Mohe City. The drone soared high, and in the lonely expanse of the snowy forest, Bi Fang¡¯s figure looked exceptionally tiny but also extraordinarily resilient, as if no environment could bring him down. [Every time I watch Old Fang¡¯s live stream it¡¯s so amazing, it¡¯s a pity I¡¯m not well-educated, I can only shout ¡®awesome¡¯¡­] [Same here, almost every time I can sense the vastness and boundlessness of nature, as well as the insignificance of humans. I really feel like Master Fang is no ordinary person.] [A lone figure strides against the blizzard, and there¡¯s another screensaver.] [Isn¡¯t Mohe located in the Greater Khingan Range? What happened to the range? Why does it feel like there aren¡¯t many mountains?] As Bi Fang made his way through the forest, the audience failed to feel the imposing presence of a massive mountain range that spans 1200 kilometers in total length. Unlike Qinling, known for its lush and tall trees, the vegetation of Mohe consists of coniferous forests with sparse canopies. The trees aren¡¯t densely packed, avoiding excessive obstruction of one¡¯s line of sight. Many viewers, looking into the distance, felt as if they were looking at a snowfield rather than a massive mountain range. ¡°Ha!¡± Bi Fang breathed out a cloud of warm air and chuckled, ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re mistaken. The term ¡®Khingan¡¯ is actually in Manchu; in Chinese, it means either ¡®hili¡¯ or ¡®extremely cold place1 and, of course, some also think it signifies ¡®gold mountain¡¯. But no matter which meaning you take, it accurately highlights the characteristics of the Greater Khingan Range. The uniqueness of the Greater Khingan Range lies in its span across two countries, with an average elevation of just about 1000 meters. There are only a few hills over 1500 meters, and the highest peak, Huanggangliang, reaches 2029 meters in height. Even from the summit, one might not feel the commanding view one expects from a mountain. Moreover, Heilonghe Province Mohe County Arctic Village had recorded the lowest temperature in existing meteorological records-a chilling negative 52.3¡ãC, a record that held for forty years until the early morning of December 31, 2009, when a new extreme low of -58¡ãC was measured in Genhe, officially becoming the new ¡°cold pole.¡± The ¡®gold mountain¡¯ refers to the abundant resources in the Khingan Range, ranging from rich mineral resources to diverse surface vegetation and countless rare animals. And after listening to Bi Fang¡¯s introduction, the audience finally understood just how cold the snowy Mohe could be. [My god, below fifty degrees? Wouldn¡¯t people freeze to death?] [No wonder Old Fang is dressed in so many layers this time.] [I remember the Arctic being just around negative forty or fifty degrees, right?] ¡°Haha, it¡¯s not as exaggerated as that; after all, it¡¯s just a historical record. Moreover, it¡¯s morning now, and I feel it¡¯s just about negative seven or eight degrees,¡± Bi Fang said as he exhaled steam, then pointed at the condensing vapor, ¡°Let me share a piece of knowledge-when the temperature drops below negative twenty degrees, you generally don¡¯t see any mist when speaking, so this can be a crucial indicator to assess the severity of the situation.¡± ¡°It¡¯s also due to the low temperatures that the survival environment in polar regions is extremely harsh. Even though Mohe is abundant in resources, we still have to be cautious of the deadly dangers that the cold brings! ¡°In 2017, a mountaineering team in the Rocky Mountains encountered a sudden cold wave. Because the climb caused their bodies to sweat, increasing the moisture on their bodies, out of 23 people, a full 17 showed symptoms of hypothermia. Among them, 14 suffered from severe hypothermia and died before the rescue team could even arrive!¡± Chapter 46 - Chapter 46 Glacier Spider Web Chapter 46 Glacier Spider Web Translator: 549690339 14 people died instantly! Upon hearing this figure, the audience involuntarily shivered, as if they could already see the valley strewn with corpses, their lips cyanotic and bodies stiff from the cold. ¡°Therefore, staying warm is of utmost importance for survival in severe cold conditions! And the Onion Clothing Method is the best approach to dressing for extreme cold!¡± Spread across thousands of miles, the mountain ranges with their everlasting snow-capped peaks displayed glaciers in myriad forms, while crystal-clear snowflakes drifted onto Bi Fang¡¯s cheeks, taking a long time to melt into droplets. Bi Fang wiped his cheeks and took a deep breath, saying, ¡°The Onion Clothing Method, as the name suggests, is about layering like an onion. The inner layer should be made of good sweat-wicking material, the middle layer should insulate warmth, and the outermost layer should be waterproof and windproof to cope with weather changes.¡± ¡°Several lighter layers of clothing are far superior to one layer of the same thickness, as gaps containing large amounts of air between the layers enhance the insulation of the clothes. Also, you can add or remove layers to avoid overheating or getting too cold.¡± Bi Fang unzipped his coat to show the audience the layers beneath¡ªfive in total. Each layer wasn¡¯t very thick but provided very good insulation. After demonstrating, Bi Fang did not zip up his coat again. Having walked that bit, his body was warmed up, and heat was beginning to surge. If he bundled up too tightly, he was likely to sweat. ¡°While paying attention to keeping warm, we must also be careful not to overheat our bodies. If you overheat, you will definitely sweat.¡± ¡°In cold climates, if you sweat, the inner layer of your clothing will get wet, and if your outer layer isn¡¯t waterproof, the snow on your body will melt from your body heat and also dampen the outer clothing. So if possible, you should wear waterproof outerwear to prevent snow or mist from settling on you and soaking through the fabric, which is why I¡¯ve chosen to wear this shell jacket.¡± [I¡¯m not interested in the live stream; I just want to learn something (dog¡¯s head)] [Yysy, Master Fang is the real Wilderness Survivalist! He knows everything!] [Shouldn¡¯t you tell us the brand of what you¡¯re wearing?] [Exactly, we want the same kind as Master Fang!] ¡°That¡¯s not possible.¡± When faced with the audience¡¯s requests, Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°They haven¡¯t paid me for advertising. If I just went ahead and mentioned it, wouldn¡¯t I be at a loss?¡± [666, not taking advantage of any small benefits!] [A true business sage.] [A genius of commerce!] ¡°Nevertheless, although staying warm is not a problem for us, food and water are still crucial for our survival. I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll find anything to eat today, but we don¡¯t have to worry about water because snow is everywhere here, and once melted, it is a decent source.¡± ¡°But in cold regions, we must never eat snow directly, as doing so will consume a lot of our body heat, which is very uneconomical! Moreover, eating ice on an empty stomach can easily lead to diarrhea.¡± Upon hearing this, many viewers were immediately perplexed. Just a moment ago, he had said that there was snow everywhere and not to worry about drinking water, and now he was saying not to eat it. So how could they get water? ¡°Use body heat! We can melt the snow using our body heat!¡± As he said this, Bi Fang took a water bottle out of his backpack, looked around, finally choosing a tree with low branches and knocked all the snow from it into the bottle. ¡°Just by putting snow into the bottle and then keeping it close to our body, we can melt the snow with the escaping body heat, since heat loss from the outside is always slower than from inside the body. I prefer snow from tree branches rather than from the ground because it¡¯s cleaner and less likely to have debris mixed in.¡± ¡°Make sure to find white, pure ice or snow to melt for drinking water. If you have both ice and snow available, melt ice, as it melts faster and you get more water from the same volume of ice than snow; if there¡¯s no ice, choose denser snow as your water source.¡± After he filled the water bottle and tightened the cap, Bi Fang tucked it inside his clothing layers, and with the insulation of his clothes, he hardly felt the cold. Wilderness survival is essentially a math problem. Those who master more convenient calculation methods can thrive even in harsh environments. Otherwise, one can only be incessantly eroded by nature, eventually becoming the null value of zero. Having secured the water bottle, Bi Fang continued to advance through the forest. Before long, he arrived at a very steep slope, thick snow blanketing the ground, the unknown beneath making one wary of potential dangers. ¡°In such situations, one must never proceed without caution, for beneath the thick snow, you can¡¯t know whether the path is solid or a precipice, so a probe pole is quite important.¡± Bi Fang looked around but couldn¡¯t find a ready-made stick. With no other choice, he reluctantly broke off a relatively long and straight stick from a tree to use as a walking staff. Although he was playing Wilderness Survivalist, he was fundamentally there of his own will, not by force. So, when possible, he didn¡¯t want to actively harm the environment. [666, here it comes again, the walking staff! ] [Artifact Exploration Staff: Capable of detecting the surroundings within a certain range, identifying potential dangers, providing support, and a level of protection to the user. When necessary, it can also serve as a weapon.] [Why do you guys say ¡°again¡±?] [Are you new here? Old Fang liked to use a stick as a cane in his previous Qinling livestreams, and he was quite loyal to it¡ªusing the same stick from start to finish without replacing it.] [Bro, do you have the video from before?] [It¡¯s on B Island. Just search for Master Fang Wilderness Survivalist, where he goes head-to-head with a bear. The view count is insanely high, have you guys really not watched it?] [Damn, fighting a bear! I remember now, I thought it was a movie at the time, it was actually real?] [Of course, it was real. Do you think Wilderness Survivalist is easy? Without a wealth of knowledge and strong initiative, you might not last a day.] [666, genuine material host, followed!] [Found it! Here¡¯s the B Island link!] [Hero above! You are the real MVP!] Seeing the shock from everyone, Bi Fang scratched his head. He hadn¡¯t expected that just holding a stick would cause such a big stir, with the full screen of bullet comments discussing the incident of Snatching Food from a Bear¡¯s Mouth. Bi Fang coughed twice, ¡°Alright, alright, if you want to watch you can follow me on B Island, but right now we need to focus on our journey.¡± Minimizing the bullet comment section to a corner of the screen so it wouldn¡¯t obstruct his view, Bi Fang continued to use the stick to probe the ground ahead of him. He only moved forward after confirming that the snow was firm, making sure each step was on solid ground. ¡°In these areas of perennial snow and severe cold, there are many glacial valleys formed by glacial erosion. Some are exposed on the surface, and others are buried under the snow.¡± ¡°Similarly, some glaciers are very narrow, while others are practically abyssal. Mount Everest is among the most famous; every year, challengers fall into these glacial valleys and become a part of Nature. Due to the extreme cold and the scarcity of microorganisms, their remains can go decades without decomposing, left exposed to the wilderness.¡± Bi Fang cautiously tested the ground, only moving forward after ensuring safety. What was merely a few dozen meters felt to him like a march of a thousand miles. But just as he stabbed the stick into a patch of snow that looked no different from the previous ones¡ª Boom! A large chunk of snow in front of him collapsed instantly, revealing a deep yet narrow glacial valley before everyone. [Scary, it¡¯s right at our feet!] [Whew! That startled me, I thought Master Fang stepped into it.] [That¡¯s terrifying, to just suddenly appear like that.] Looking at the glacial valley less than ten centimeters away, Bi Fang, having had a false alarm, was about to find a detour. Crack, crack. Bi Fang¡¯s pupils dilated suddenly, and the hand he had raised stopped midway. He slowly looked down¡­ A dense network of cracks, spreading along the edge of the valley like a spider¡¯s web entrapping its prey, was creeping towards his feet! Chapter 47 - Chapter 47: No One Can Steal It! Chapter 47: No One Can Steal It! Translator: 549690339 | The thick snowpack suddenly collapsed. In the direct sunlight, the deep Glacier Valley reflected a flickering blue light at its edges. White cracks spread like lightning, as if a massive spiderweb was enveloping Bi Fang, his pupils slightly trembling, filled with the crisp sound of the ice layer breaking. Bi Fang slowly lowered his head, the ice beneath his feet clear and transparent. His vision was excellent, yet he couldn¡¯t penetrate the deadly darkness. He had the illusion of standing in the empty expanse of the sky, with nothing in the world left but him and the abyss locked in a gaze. Nowhere to run¡­ Everyone was stunned by this sudden scene, and the previously continuous barrage of comments came to an abrupt halt. Bi Fang didn¡¯t dare to make any rash movements; instead, he silently drew the Small Hunting Knife strapped to his thigh. ¡°At a time like this, everyone mustn¡¯t make any rash movements, and definitely not run; the ice here is already extremely fragile, and running will only speed up the expansion of the ice cracks, so the more you run, the quicker you die!¡± ¡°We must lie down to reduce the pressure on the ice surface and increase the area of force. However, this is not a lake but Glacier Valley. If there¡¯s nothing else to do, you could also stick something like an Ice Axe into the ground to catch yourself. But I don¡¯t have one, so I¡¯ll use a knife instead!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s voice was very soft, as if speaking any louder would cause some kind of change, which made the viewers in the livestream even more tense, not even daring to breathe heavily. At the same time, quite a few people noticed the Small Hunter Combat Knife in his hand. [Master Fang brought a knife this time?] [Feels like he came well-prepared.] [Damn, that¡¯s a cool knife!] [I want one too, what to do? Looking for the same model on TB!] After drawing the knife, Bi Fang took several deep breaths and was just about to kneel and lie down when he suddenly felt his weight lighten! The ice beneath his feet was even more fragile than he had estimated, the already fine cracks spreading like lightning, and the icy walls at the edges breaking apart directly! In the drone¡¯s camera view, the huge block of ice beneath Bi Fang shattered into pieces, his body rapidly sinking, as if he was about to plunge into an endless abyss the next instant. But at that moment, Bi Fang, hanging momentarily in the air, used all his strength to flip backwards; his upper body smashed directly onto the ice surface, then he thrust the Hunting Knife fiercely into the ice! Crack! The sharp tip of the Hunting Knife plunged straight into the thick ice layer, the blade edge squeezing into the ice and cutting a long, narrow scratch on the surface. The shards flying off the ice pelted Bi Fang¡¯s face like bullets, painfully stinging him, but Bi Fang firmly gripped the handle of the knife-it was a life-or-death struggle! As the shattered ice flew, fortunately, the Hunting Knife was sharp enough. It cut deeper into the ice as it sliced through the surface, significantly slowing Bi Fang¡¯s descent. The drone slid swiftly, moving to Bi Fang¡¯s side, capturing a clear shot of him clutching the handle, his upper body lying on the ice surface and his lower body hanging in mid-air. All the viewers¡¯ eyes widened, their palms sweaty with cold, their minds filled with a single sensation. Incredibly perilous! Thankfully, it stopped. The long, narrow scratch extended over half a meter, but it was within this distance that the Hunting Knife caught and stopped sliding. An unknown number of viewers found themselves dry-mouthed, stealthily swallowing saliva, subconsciously seeking a cup of water to drink. This was just too thrilling, the heart couldn¡¯t take it! WangXiaocong opened his mouth wide, his fruit dropping unknowingly from his hand as he watched Bi Fang hanging off the cliff edge; even when friends called his name, he didn¡¯t hear, not until someone patted his shoulder did he come back to his senses. ¡°What are you looking at that¡¯s got you so engrossed?¡± Kong Chao opened a bottle of soda, sat down beside Wang Xiaocong with a plop, glanced at the phone in his hand, and just happened to see Bi Fang struggling while clinging to the knife handle on the edge of Glacier Valley. ¡°What movie is this? Made in China? The special effects are pretty good. I¡¯m free anyway, why don¡¯t you connect it to the TV so we can watch together?¡± Wang Xiaocong, who was standing by, heard this and glanced at Kong Chao with a complex and excited tone, ¡°It¡¯s not a movie, it¡¯s a live stream, a freakin¡¯ awesome live stream!¡± ¡°Pfft! Cough, cough!¡± Soda squirted out of Kong Chao¡¯s nostrils, and he quickly grabbed a few tissues to wipe his face before snatching Wang Xiaocong¡¯s phone, his eyes instantly falling on the Wolf Fang TV logo. ¡°Damn! Is this really a live stream?¡± ¡°Why would I lie to you?¡± Wang Xiaocong, clearly annoyed at having his phone suddenly snatched away, took it back, ¡°Can¡¯t you just download the app yourself?¡± Just as he was getting engrossed, Kong Chao¡¯s phone was taken from his grasp. He smacked his lips in frustration and immediately took out his phone, downloaded the Wolf Fang TV app, and found Master Fang¡¯s live stream. Watching Bi Fang hanging on the edge of a cliff, their expressions gradually turned to shock. [Master Fang¡¯s reaction is epic!] [Take my bow!] [American blockbusters bow down, when it comes to stunts, Master Fang is the one!] [Pierce has sent the Spaceship*! to the host-Go for it, Master Fang!] [Green Onion has sent Wolf Fang*666 to the host¡ªTake care, bro!] Bi Fang lay on the ice, swallowed his saliva, the direct fall onto the ice having stunned his chest, almost leaving him breathless. His right arm was sore and painful now, as his hand grasping the knife handle suddenly had to support his entire body weight, bringing a significant burden to his not overly muscular muscles. He tried to lift his left arm and support himself on the ice to climb up, but the ice was too slippery, providing no traction at all. Bi Fang had to stop trying, caught his breath, and attempted a few more times but still failed. Helplessly, he gripped the Hunting Knife with both hands, preparing to use this point of leverage to pull himself up. Bi Fang held the knife handle firmly with both hands, his arm muscles taut, his legs sliding on the slippery ice wall, unable to help. He could only rely on the strength of his upper body. Thankfully, his past Calisthenics training had paid off, pulling himself up wasn¡¯t too difficult. The only concern was whether, during this process, the Hunting Knife could stay securely embedded in the ice without loosening again. Slowly, Bi Fang pulled himself up bit by bit out of the crevice, but just as he was about to get halfway up, the Hunting Knife began to slide again! This sudden mishap nearly caused Bi Fang to let go! Fortunately, this time the Hunting Knife only slid about ten centimeters before it got stuck again, but even so, the viewers felt a surge of urine rushing to their bladder. [I can¡¯t take it, I need to use the restroom¡­] [Together? Help me out?] [ Look at you guys, all scared, is it really necessary?] [Put on a diaper, then talk tough!] Seeing Bi Fang seemingly trapped in a desperate situation, some viewers spontaneously sent danmakus and gifted items to cheer him on. Bi Fang looked down at the bottomless Glacier Valley, took a deep breath to calm his rapidly beating heart, and once again exerted strength in his arms. This time, he moved more slowly and began to twist his body, utilizing the insignificant friction between himself and the entire ice wall. Crack. Several pieces of ice broke off due to the friction and fell into Glacier Valley, not to be heard from again for quite some time. After several tries and repeated occurrences like this, fortunately, the Hunting Knife didn¡¯t slide any further, and Bi Fang finally got more than half of his body onto the ice. With one last heave, he rolled completely onto the ice. Not daring to linger, Bi Fang moved further out until he was well away from Glacier Valley, then finally relaxed completely. He lay on his back, gasping for air, white breaths spewing out like columns. In the live stream room, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Wang Xiaocong and Kong Chao¡¯s mouths hung open wide enough to fit a duck egg. They looked at each other and, without agreement, both opened the recharge interface of Wolf Fang. The top spot, it was decided¡ªHe¡¯d claim it! Chapter 48 - Chapter 48 Poverty Limits Imagination Chapter 48 Poverty Limits Imagination Translator: 549690339 | Following Bi Fang¡¯s successful escape from Glacier Valley, the bullet chats were filled with congratulations, full of admiration and praise for him. Occasionally, a few Spaceships would drift by, making others green with envy. At this moment, several virtual gifts caught everyone¡¯s attention. [Pete Not Peeling gifted the streamer a Spaceship*i-Holy crap! Master Fang, you¡¯re freaking awesome! You are my big bro!) [Jun Not Seen gifted the streamer a Spaceship*2-Xiaocong¡¯s too stingy, when it comes to rewarding the streamer, watch how I do it.] [Pete Not Peeling gifted the streamer a Spaceship*5-Are you talking money with me?] [Jun Not Seen gifted the streamer a Spaceship*10-No, I¡¯m just stating the facts.] Holy shit, are these rich folks who know each other in real life trying to compete? The audience was dumbfounded as they watched one Spaceship after another fly by. Meanwhile, Wang Xiaocong and Kong Chao had gotten all riled up, each round more intense than the last. In the living room, Kong Chao, using his height and build, pinned down Wang Xiaocong¡¯s head and laughed boisterously, ¡°Pete Not Peeling? More like you¡¯re very ¡®peeling.¡¯ Give up, you¡¯ve already spent all your pocket money for the month, where do you get the money to reward? First place is mine!¡± ¡°Inyour dreams!¡± Wang Xiaocong, refusing to concede, shrugged his shoulders and slipped out from under Kong Chao¡¯s grip, continuing to top up his phone, ¡°I still have plenty of New Year¡¯s money, so don¡¯t delude yourself about surpassing me! ¡± ¡°What!¡± Kong Chao gasped in shock and quickly glanced at his phone. Sure enough, with another refresh, first place on the reward leaderboard had changed hands. ¡°That¡¯s outrageous, just you wait! I¡¯m going to call in reinforcements!¡± ¡°You think I don¡¯t have brothers? Who¡¯s afraid of who!¡± Wang Xiaocong and Kong Chao glared at each other and each grabbed their phones to start making calls. With the two of them leading the charge in gifting Spaceships, the live stream¡¯s activity soared even higher. With viewership already surpassing three hundred thousand, people were exclaiming in disbelief. In the back end, Wang Yongbo, who had been monitoring the data, was so ecstatic he could hardly contain himself. It had been so long since Wolf Fang had seen such a hot live streaming event! Outsiders thought Wolf Fang TV was pretty chill, but in reality, every year Wang Yongbo watched Wolf Fang TV¡¯s traffic decline steadily, feeling more anxious than anyone. Yet he was powerless to stop it, and the lower the traffic, the less new streamers wanted to join, not to mention the famous ones. This vicious cycle worsened Wolf Fang¡¯s situation year after year. Now that there was finally a glimmer of hope, how could he not be thrilled! Bi Fang, you truly are my lucky star! Lying on the ground for a while, Bi Fang got up again and looked at the fissure nearby. He said with a sense of relief, ¡°That was really dangerous just now. If I had fallen, the chances of surviving would have been slim, so remember, when you¡¯re trying to survive in snow-covered areas, always watch your step because dangers may be lurking under the snow.¡± Bi Fang looked around and noticed that the glacier valley was very long. After circling for a while, he found a narrow spot that was less than a meter wide and not too deep. He took a brisk step and leaped over the glacier valley. ¡°As you¡¯ve just seen, the edges of the glacier valley are not stable, so if you want to leap across, never choose a channel that¡¯s barely jumpable. Make sure its width is within one meter. Of course, if you can take a detour, you should. I took the risk because I was in a hurry, so my actions just now are not commendable.¡± [Not commendable¡­] [Says no, but the body is honest (smirk)] [Eh, I see a path but won¡¯t take it, just jump, just for fun.] After the shock, the Shuiyou (Online Friends/Audience) reverted to their silly selves. Bi Fang shook his head and glanced at the live stream chatroom, suddenly noticing the changes on the reward leaderboard. It used to be Lord Mu¡¯s throne at the top, but now it had slipped to third! This is indeed a rare occurrence. Before, the situation was too critical, and Bi Fang didn¡¯t notice, but now, looking back through the records, he realized it was two students who hid rewarded him. Are there really so many rich second generations these days? Bi Fang shook his head, and just as he was about to move forward, he suddenly recalled some news from his past life and quickly asked the top two on the leaderboard, ¡°When it comes to rewards, just do what you can afford. Please never do anything illegal to give rewards!¡± [Rest assured, Master Fang, this is just my weekly pocket money, it¡¯s not a big deal.] [Exactly, once my dad is back next week, I¡¯ll be fully back to life! Then, number one on the leaderboard will definitely be no match for me!] [Don¡¯t dream! It¡¯s not like you¡¯re the only one with parents!] Damn! Is it poverty that has limited my imagination? Bi Fang was speechless, this week¡¯s pocket money was almost catching up to what he earned from one live broadcast. Don¡¯t think about it, can¡¯t think about it. After chatting just a bit, he felt weak all over, and demons of the heart kept emerging, fearing that if this continued, his life wouldn¡¯t last long. Having gotten the answers, Bi Fang stopped talking and silently continued on his way. At first glance, the world cloaked in white was very beautiful, but as time passed, it inevitably seemed a bit monotonous and boring. Moreover, as the sun rose higher, the reflection from the snow became stronger, and many viewers even felt dizzy just by looking at the snowy fields. ¡°You guys are getting snowblindness.¡± Bi Fang quickly dimmed the light from the drone a bit, since he hadn¡¯t felt it himself before and thought the viewers would be fine too, so he hadn¡¯t taken any precautions. Now that he saw many viewers commenting that their eyes felt uncomfortable, he realized what was happening. Snow blindness is an inflammation caused by ultraviolet light damaging the eyes. Because the reflectivity of white snow to sunlight is extremely high, nearly 95%, under such conditions, facing the snowy fields is almost no ¡¯ different from staring directly at the sun. After a while, the eyes damaged by ultraviolet light will start to tear and redden. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t feel anything unusual myself earlier, so I didn¡¯t think about this,¡± Bi Fang first apologized to the viewers, then continued, ¡°Fortunately, you¡¯re watching through a drone, so the reaction won¡¯t be very severe. Just look out the window for a while and you ¡®ll be fine.¡± ¡°Once you really get snow blindness, it takes three to five days to recover. In Wilderness Survivalist, this is undoubtedly very fatal. So on the snowy fields, to prevent snow blindness, we can use sunglasses or a dark strip of cloth to cover up a bit, which can effectively weaken the strong light.¡± ¡°Of course, if you really don¡¯t have any resources at hand, you can also use coal apply it under the eyelids, and this can also effectively reduce the irritation of the bright light.¡± Bi Fang said this as he took out a dark-colored T-shirt from his backpack, tore off a strip of cloth, made cuts in it, and tied it over his eyes. The dark cloth absorbed light, and just by tying it near the eyes, it could reduce the amount of light entering the eyes. [So cool, it¡¯s got that assassin vibe.] [I¡¯ll make one too] [Don¡¯t even think about it. You think it¡¯s cool because Master Fang is already handsome. If you did it, it wouldn¡¯t work out.] [Well said, when someone is good-looking, even when they pick at their feet, you find it charming.] ¡°Alright, that should do it.¡± Bi Fang tested the snugness of the cloth strip to make sure it wouldn¡¯t fall off easily, nodded his head, and then took out a water bottle from his chest to take a couple of sips. After a few hours of body heat transfer, the water in the bottle had all melted, and it even had a bit of warmth to it. It was pleasant to drink without irritating the stomach, perfect for quenching thirst. Chapter 49 - Chapter 49 Freeloading Food and Drinks Chapter 49 Freeloading Food and Drinks Translator: 549690339 | After taking a few sips of water, Bi Fang stuffed some snow into his water bottle and continued to tuck it into his coat. He glanced at the sun¡¯s direction and made a rough estimate. ¡°In cold regions, we burn more calories, which means we need more food. If we can¡¯t find food in time, it could be very dangerous.¡± ¡°It¡¯s about two o¡¯clock in the afternoon now. I set out at nine in the morning and have been walking for nearly five hours, so I want to try to look for some food.¡± Seeing Bi Fang on the hunt for food, many long-term fans got excited. Last time, they had seen him catch a rabbit. What would he catch this time? [But I only see snow. Forget rabbits, I can¡¯t even see insects.] [Didn¡¯t you say before that the Khingan Range is rich in resources?] [But isn¡¯t that in the summer? It¡¯s all snow now, where can you find food? Are you going to eat tree bark?] ¡°Not necessarily. The potential of life is infinite. Even in the colder Arctic, there is still a robust food chain that supports top predators like polar bears, let alone the Khingan Range, which at least is still a forest.¡± Gasping for breath, Bi Fang climbed to the top of a hill, looking into the distance. Finally, after searching, he saw some unusual colors in the white world. It was an enticing cluster of bright colors, nestled on the branches of uneven shrubs, wrapped and pressed by thick snow, but always managing to stubbornly lift a corner of the snowy blanket, using the bitter cold and the snow as a foil to highlight the translucent beauty of their red agate-like berries. Bi Fang strode forward, kicking up puffs of white snow as he went. He ran straight to the shrub and plucked a handful to stuff into his mouth. The viewers in front of the screen couldn¡¯t make it out and thought Bi Fang was eating leaves, which gave them a fright. [Damn, what¡¯s that? Just eating it directly, aren¡¯t you afraid it¡¯s poisonous?] [Has Master Fang become so desperate that he¡¯s started eating grass?] [Seriously, what if he gets sick?] [I feel for Master Fang, it always seems so heartbreaking watching the live streams. Sending some meatballs to the streamer.] [Valley of a Thousand Flowers presents the streamer with meatballs*ioo¡ªWhy not send some takeout?] [Lord Mu presents the streamer with Big Bone*100¡ªEvery time it gets to this, I know it¡¯s time to send gifts again.) [I see what¡¯s going on here, the streamer just wants to scam us for some free eats and drinks (sarcastic)!] On the other side, Bi Fang, who was mistaken for eating grass, had only chewed a few bites before donning a mask of pain, his features wrinkling together. ¡°Huo, this is way too sour!¡± Enduring the sour bitterness, Bi Fang swallowed all the berries in his mouth. Fighting the urge to vomit, he pulled out the item he was eating from the shrub and showed it to everyone. ¡°I¡¯m not crazy with hunger eating grass. What I¡¯m eating is the fruit of this plant, North Country red beans.¡± Under the camera, Bi Fang pulled a cluster of berries from the shrub, cleared them in his hand, and showed them in his palm. These berries were no larger than soybeans, bright red, and looked like a red version of blueberries. ¡°These berries, known to the local Oroqen people as Yagda, are reddened en masse and very plentiful when ripe. Yagda has a strong vitality, tolerates poor soil, and is suitable for growth in cold regions.¡± ¡°Yagda contains a large amount of vitamins, amino acids, and plant alkaloids. It¡¯s highly nutritious and has a clear health effect. Consuming it regularly can also alleviate neural fatigue.¡± ¡°However, I only found this small cluster here, and the quantity isn¡¯t much. Moreover, the taste is terrible, extremely sour, but I still need to pick them all. Remember, in Wilderness Survivalist, taste is a luxury. Surviving is our only goal!¡± As Bi Fang spoke, he picked the red berries and put them into his backpack. [Feels like this streamer is more professional than the Shark guy.] [You¡¯re just realizing this? Master Fang is absolutely master class in Wilderness Survivalist!] ¡°Exactly, Lu Wentao is just a plagiarizing clown. There can¡¯t really be people watching his live stream, right? It looks so fake.¡± ¡°Some people were shouting about how awesome Lu Wentao was just a moment ago. Where have they all gone now?¡± ¡°All hired fans, but Master Fang¡¯s strength was too overwhelming, just washing them away.¡± ¡°Oroqen, why does it feel like Master Fang mentioned that before?¡± ¡°It seems some viewers have a good memory, but last time I mentioned the Ewenki, not the Oroqen. Although these two ethnic groups are quite similar, they are different. The Oroqen are a hunting people, while the Ewenki mainly transitioned from nomadic to settled life and are engaged in pastoralism.¡± ¡°Both are indigenous residents living in the Khingan Range, but nowadays, they are rarely seen, as they¡¯ve mostly moved out of the mountains to live in towns.¡± ¡°It feels like Master Fang really knows a lot, knowledgeable about everything.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not exactly true,¡± Bi Fang scratched his head, ¡°Everyone has their own field of expertise. If you ask me about programming architecture, then I would be totally clueless.¡± The shrubbery was not large, and all the fruit that was picked was not even enough to fill a water bottle, but it was enough to last a day. After replenishing his food supply and having traveled a bit more, Bi Fang suddenly stopped, covered his forehead with his hand, and looked up at the sun, noticing it had already started to shift westward. ¡°It¡¯s getting late, I estimate that in another two hours it might get dark, and just like I said in Qinling, darkness falls very quickly in the mountains.¡± ¡°It¡¯s mid-October now, and even at the warmest part of the day, Mohe¡¯s temperature is below zero degrees. Once it gets dark and we lose the sunlight, I estimate the temperature might drop to minus fifteen or even minus twenty degrees! Therefore, building a campsite is an extremely challenging task.¡± ¡°Wow, it hardly ever goes below ten degrees below zero all year round here¡­¡± ¡°Minus twenty degrees? Is that even a place for humans to stay?¡± ¡°Bro, have you never been to Heilonghe? It¡¯s very common for us to have minus twenty degrees in the winter here, but we have central heating. I don¡¯t know what the host is going to do. At minus twenty degrees, you could freeze your ears off.¡± ¡°Does the host have a tent?¡± ¡°No, but I¡¯ve seen videos from B Island. Is he going to build a lean-to?¡± ¡°I doubt a lean-to is going to be any good. It¡¯s so cold, could it be effective?¡± ¡°No use, and at this temperature, it¡¯s very easy for body tissues to get freeze-damaged.¡± Through the drone, viewers could only see a world wrapped in white, completely unable to imagine how to survive the upcoming bitterly cold night. They all felt anxious for Bi Fang. Confronted with the viewers¡¯ doubts, Bi Fang shook his head. If it were in a forest or rainforest, building a lean-to would naturally be more than adequate, but this is Mohe, and a small lean-to simply cannot withstand the bitter cold. ¡°Does anyone know about the Eskimo? Eskimos live in the Arctic, facing even more severe cold than in Mohe. Even though their bodies and metabolism have adapted to such extreme conditions, their way of life is still very worth learning from, namely igloo construction!¡± ¡°This is a kind of shelter built out of snow, with excellent windproofing and ability to keep out the cold.¡± ¡°To build an igloo, you need to find the right place. Not only does the snow need to be firm, but it must also be at least six feet deep, and ideally, there should be a steep slope, like a snowdrift. Of course, this is provided there is no danger of an avalanche.¡± ¡°The reason I stopped here is because this spot meets our requirements perfectly.¡± Bi Fang pointed at the snow in front of him and gave it a pat. The snow didn¡¯t budge an inch. This was an excellent place to build an igloo! Chapter 50 - Chapter 50 A Place to Stay Chapter 50 A Place to Stay Translator: 549690339 Bi Fang took out a piece of clothing from his backpack, tore it into two halves, and slipped them onto his hands as a makeshift pair of gloves. ¡°Because I need to dig a hole soon, I have to make some preparations and create a pair of gloves. Otherwise, my hands might freeze. Don¡¯t underestimate frostbite. If it persists for a prolonged period, our muscles can die, and then we¡¯re looking at amputation.¡± The audience was startled when they heard ¡°amputation.¡± Just the thought of their fingers being severed was enough to send shivers down their spines. [Stop it, it¡¯s too real, my fingers are starting to hurt.] [Here we go, the classic Master Fang move.] [Why do I feel like Master Fang brought a lot of clothes this time?] [Cotton blend gift to the host, flying ship*i¡ªanother fine detail.] ¡°Now that I have found a good location, next I will dig an entrance on this steep slope. The slope needs to be deep enough to carve out a tunnel, and the width must allow for easy entry and exit.¡± With that, Bi Fang began to excavate the cave, tossing out handfuls of snow. The process, though seemingly simple, was incredibly time-consuming and physically demanding. This task went on for a good half-hour before he had dug out a rough tunnel. ¡°Since cold air sinks, I¡¯ll build a snow platform half a meter to a meter above the entrance. The platform should be flat and large enough for someone to sleep on it comfortably, and considering that it might shrink due to the snow setting, I need to allow enough extra space in advance.¡± As Bi Fang dug, he smoothed and flattened the ceiling, shaping it into an arch. This not only optimized the structural integrity, preventing the snow cave from collapsing, but it also prevented dripping water. ¡°When using a snow cave as a shelter, you must follow the cold principle. The outside temperature must be below freezing, so the snow cave remains sturdy and the snow does not melt. Otherwise, the people inside would get wet from the melting snow.¡± ¡°For this reason, snow caves are not suitable for multiple occupants, as more people means more heat emission, causing the temperature to rise above zero degrees Celsius, putting everyone in danger.¡± ¡°Generally speaking, if you can¡¯t see your breath anymore, it means the shelter is too warm.¡± The arch-shaped area of the dwelling was approximately three times the volume of Bi Fang¡¯s body, a ratio which was ideal for easy heating and avoiding cramped conditions. [It feels like Master Fang is indeed experienced; many nuggets of knowledge seem to come naturally to him.] [Master Fang: Basic operations, don¡¯t fuss.] [I respect no one but Master Fang!] As the netizens were snacking on popcorn, gradually, a cave took shape under Bi Fang¡¯s hands, and he finally carved a ventilation hole at the top of the cave to prevent suffocation. ¡°If you ever truly get stranded, and also need to set up a clear mark outside, it helps potential rescuers to possibly find you. But survival by this method relies on luck and isn¡¯t something you can learn from, so I¡¯m not going to do that right now.¡± After everything was finished, Bi Fang crawled into the snow cave and used his backpack as a pillow. ¡°Phew, I can finally rest today. This is my first day surviving in Mohe, and I¡¯ve built a snow cave as a temporary shelter. Lying here now, I feel pretty good. If the temperature drops to minus twenty degrees tonight, then inside the snow cave it should stay around zero.¡± [Work of a genius!] [Brother Fang is incredible!] [It still seems a bit cramped, can¡¯t really make any big movements.] [I feel secure now.] [Secure? This tiny space is triggering my claustrophobia.] ¡°Haha, if you really have claustrophobia, then you¡¯ll just have to endure it. In the harsh cold, having a place to stay is already the greatest luxury. Unfortunately, there aren¡¯t many branches or fallen leaves here to lie on; otherwise, it would be even warmer.¡± Bi Fang took out the Yagda berries he had picked earlier from his bag and started to eat them, as he had not consumed any substantial food for the whole day and was now feeling a bit hungry. Although each bite was very sour, it at least ensured a basic energy intake, and whenever he came across one that was less sour or even sweet, Bi Fang became very happy. After finishing all the berries, Bi Fang prepared to end the live stream; there was no helping it, he had been too tired today. Walking in the snow without snowshoes was difficult, as each step into the snow and then pulling his foot out took a lot of effort, and after that, the digging of the snow cave had left him with very little energy. After slightly concealing the entrance to the snow cave, Bi Fang turned off the live stream amid the reluctance of his viewers, but not before he took a last look at the backstage data. The peak number of viewers was fifty-six thousand, the popularity had exceeded four hundred thousand, and his followers had reached seventy-eight thousand. All these were real platform metrics, without any inflation. In terms of gifts, he had received several tens of thousands just in donations, and many viewers, even though they didn¡¯t have much money, had given their long-treasured Wolf Brushes, with the gift-to-viewer ratio nearly reaching one to ten! Which meant that for every ten viewers, there was one donation, far exceeding ordinary broadcasters, and now the zeros in Bi Fang¡¯s account balance were a sight for sore eyes. No wonder it was a featured recommendation; the first day had already been explosive. Considering it was the weekend, this was only his debut on Wolf Fang TV, and the time slot was during the day, far from the bustling evening hours for live streams, there was still a lot of potential to be tapped. With this, there was no need to worry about completing the task anymore. For Bi Fang and Wolf Fang TV, today was destined to be a day worth celebrating, but for Shark TV, they didn¡¯t feel the same at all. In fact, the atmosphere over there was quite oppressive. Although Bi Fang¡¯s popularity of four hundred thousand was far from Lu Wentao¡¯s peak of eight hundred thousand, there were many implications in between. On one hand, this growth momentum was too fast; on the other, this was four hundred thousand on Wolf Fang TV. What if it were on Shark TV? How much would it be? Five hundred thousand or six hundred thousand? And how long would it take to reach eight hundred thousand in popularity? What was even more infuriating was that there were already messages in the live chat saying that Lu Wentao was not as good as Bi Fang on Wolf Fang TV! These issues deeply troubled Wang Weifeng, who then transferred the conflict onto the Tami Association. The Tami Association had been cultivating the outdoor scene for so long that the ground was practically tilled to death, yet they still couldn¡¯t compare to a new broadcaster? What about the promises made at the beginning? Is this it? As a result, the Tami Association pushed the pressure downstream, spreading it to Lu Junming and Lu Wentao, who now had panic written all over their faces. The two of them could see that Bi Fang was genuinely remarkable. Daring to dodge death once could be explained by luck, but what about twice? And these were things they couldn¡¯t pull off. Could they really let Lu Wentao go head-to-head with a Black Bear? Or hang in Glacier Valley struggling for survival? This Bi Fang, why push so hard? Did he have to drive his peers to death? Could society no longer be kind? Lu Junming and Lu Wentao now saw Bi Fang as a thorn in their side, a pain in their flesh! It was another sleepless night for them as they had to urgently come up with the content and location for their next live broadcast. It was no longer enough to just imitate; they had to have their own unique features! The next day, after resting for the night, Bi Fang opened his eyes, yawned, and was about to crawl out, but the moment he poked his head out, he was driven back by the cold air and retracted back into the cave. It seemed that it was still quite early, the sun had just risen, and the snow had yet to fully absorb the heat, resulting in very low outside temperatures. It would be best to wait a bit longer to avoid the risk of frostbite. But he could start warming up the live stream in advance. Chapter 51 - 51 Its getting hectic now 51 It¡¯s getting hectic now Translator: 549690339 | This promotion failed¡­ But fortunately, the editor said they could give me another chance. If I can get 450 subscribers within a week, it will meet the minimum requirements for a push. If not, then it will be cut, and you guys will probably only be able to read it for another one or two weeks, roughly until the Mohe plot comes to an end. Seems reasonable, doesn¡¯t it? I¡¯m so tired. Give me one more chance, and I¡¯d never sign an exclusive contract again, even if it kills me. The quality of this book should be okay; I haven¡¯t seen anyone say it¡¯s not good. I believe that if I persist, it will definitely take off, but capital won¡¯t wait; it only looks at the returns. I hope you guys won¡¯t blame me for signing the exclusive. Actually, my initial thought was very simple. I¡¯m just a sophomore. Writing books is born out of a hobby and a dream. If I want to continue writing, I must achieve some success before graduation to prove that I can support myself. Otherwise, if the performance is poor, my family would never agree. But after signing the exclusive, this dream suddenly turned into a job. Not only is it respectable, but it also comes with a guaranteed income. Four or five thousand a month is possible, which became acceptable to me. Those were my thoughts, but I never expected realizing them to be so difficult. Moreover, this book is harder to write than I thought. Unlike other authors in this genre, I didn¡¯t just copy Bear Grylls for the plot content, saving time and effort. That would have been meaningless. So not only do I have to think of the plot, but the plot in Wilderness Survivalist is different from that in fantasy urban fiction, where you can just follow character conflicts. In survival stories, there¡¯s no necessary connection between events. If I write that the protagonist is digging a hole in the morning, I have to think about what he¡¯s going to do in the afternoon, what he can do, what¡¯s interesting, and what can attract readers. And there¡¯s basically no connection between these activities. And I also have to look up all kinds of information, go online, read books, ask experienced people, from local topography to environmental climate, the unique flora and fauna, things that can be eaten and drunk, and repeatedly validate information to present the most accurate survival content to everyone. This consumes a lot of energy and time. Plus, some information is still not available; believe me, I¡¯ve truly tried my best with the speed. Additionally, it¡¯s exam month, and updating twice a day is my limit. Occasionally adding an extra chapter even means writing until midnight. Thank you again for your support. As I said before, if we can get through this, I will increase the updates. Chapter 52 - 52 Is it that magical? 52 Is it that magical? Translator: 549690339 | As the live stream started, in an instant, more than ten thousand viewers surged in like a tide. In just a few seconds, the barrage of comments refreshed so quickly that they became unreadable, and even Bi Fang had to limit the message frequency. [Here we come, front row seats!] [Wow, broadcasting so early?] [Damn, I was about to go to sleep, and then suddenly I got a notification that the stream started. That¡¯s it, I can¡¯t sleep now.] [Holy cow, the guy above is hardcore. Have you not slept all night?] [Seriously, ever since I started watching Master Fang¡¯s streams, it¡¯s either stick to a regular schedule or give up on rest altogether. It¡¯s one or the other.] [Is everyone else this intense?] Bi Fang smiled. He didn¡¯t realize his live streams were so popular that hardcore fans had emerged, which made him feel obliged not to ¡°pad out¡± the time, so he started to prepare in advance. He pulled out his backpack, took out a piece of clothing, removed the hood from his windbreaker, and then wrapped the clothing around his head like a sleeve. This created a double layer of protection and significantly enhanced the warmth. ¡°In extremely cold areas, we want to maximize the heat we retain. If you don¡¯t wear a hat, the heat loss from your head can account for 40% to 45% of your body¡¯s heat loss, and if your neck, wrists, and ankles are also unprotected, the heat loss will be even more.¡± ¡°These parts of the body have very little fat and act as excellent heat dissipaters. Plus, the brain is very sensitive to the cold and has a very low tolerance for it. There¡¯s a lot of blood circulation in the head, mostly at the surface, so if you don¡¯t cover your head, you will lose heat very fast.¡± ¡°So, when necessary, we¡¯d rather take off a piece of clothing to use as a head cover to keep warm. That¡¯s why I kept my hat on all yesterday, but this morning it was so cold that I suddenly felt one hat wasn¡¯t enough, so I added another one on the fly.¡± The audience watched Bi Fang, now bundled up in clothing and a hat, and began to comment through the barrage of messages. [Looks like an Arab himself.] [With those thick eyebrows and big eyes, I didn¡¯t expect you to be a foreigner!] [That rich exotic look, ah, it smells like curry!] [Silly Ben sculpture!] After ensuring he was well insulated, Bi Fang began to summarize some of the shortcomings he encountered yesterday. ¡°Today is my second day in Mohe, and as I was traveling yesterday, I realized that the snow here is really deep and soft. Once you sink into it, it¡¯s very exhausting to pull yourself out, so I plan to make a pair of snowshoes first.¡± When marching in the snow, snowshoes are a great help, especially when Bi Fang is carrying a hefty backpack. They become even more useful. Large snowshoes distribute his weight over a wider area, eliminating the ¡®postholing¡¯ effect caused by walking without snowshoes and making it much easier to walk. Mohe may be covered in snow, but there are areas with exposed shrubs and rocks, which makes snowshoes more advantageous than skis, and they are easier for beginners to use. ¡°Snowshoes mainly come in four design styles: Yukon, Beaver Tail, Bear Paw, and Western snowshoes. Each has its advantages, but I don¡¯t have the conditions to make those as it¡¯s too time-consuming and labor-intensive, so I opt to use branches to make snowshoes instead. We can look for broken branches under the snow and use them without harming the environment as much as possible.¡± [Preserving the environment, good job.] [This is why I like Master Fang. Other outdoor streamers leave so much trash even just climbing a mountain! ] [Master Fang is the best!] [Single forever?] [Lu Wentao: It¡¯s getting intense, rolling up!] After chatting with the audience for a while, Bi Fang once again crawled out of the snow cave. The sun was shining now, the temperature was starting to rise, and the bone-chilling coldness from before was gone. After cleaning up any traces of his stay, Bi Fang did some warm-up exercises to get his stiff body warmed up, then shouldered his backpack and began to look for suitable branches. With ¡°Wilderness Survivalist¡± guiding him, Bi Fang knew exactly how to make tools and quickly found several branches over a meter long. ¡°To make snowshoes, first, you need to choose trees with dense branches and leaves, like pine trees, which isn¡¯t a problem in Khingan Range as the most abundant trees here are larch and white birch. Then tie the bottoms of these branches together.¡± Bi Fang twisted the cloth strips into a rope and then tied the bottoms of the branches he gathered together, bunching the middle part loosely around a central point. Next, he used a strap to attach the shoes to the snowshoe¡¯s upper third. A pair of simple snowshoes was made, and when Bi Fang stood up and walked around, he was not accustomed to them yet, but he could stand on the snow, and as he walked, he left behind just a rough outline, without sinking in at all. [Donald Duck, is that you? Do you remember me? I¡¯m Mickey! Mickey by Ming Dynasty Lake!] [Too many elements¡­] [Holy crap, is it really that magical?] With snowshoes, Bi Fang¡¯s progress was much faster, almost effortlessly so. ¡°Sadly, those Yagda from yesterday were not nearly enough. My energy levels are low now, so I must quickly find some food, and it would be even better if I could catch some animals.¡± Bi Fang took out his water bottle and replenished his hydration, looking around as he explained his next action plan to the audience. The surroundings were still blanketed in snow, with the occasional glimpse of gray rock peeping through. Without the trees, one might have doubted the area harbored any life at all. What kind of animals could be caught in such a place? ¡°There¡¯s an old saying in the Khingan Range, ¡®Beat a roe deer with a stick and scoop up fish with a ladle, wild chickens fly into your pot,¡¯ and even the bitter cold of Mohe is no wasteland. Although we can¡¯t hunt roe deer now, this proves the abundance of the Khingan Range, especially in winter. If we find a river, we can start our fishing plan!¡± [666, are you going to catch the ones swimming in the river this time?] [It¡¯s so cold, wouldn¡¯t the river be frozen? How are you going to fish?] [Seems like it¡¯s easier to catch them when the river is frozen, right? I often see people making a hole in the ice, and the fish just jump out.] ¡°Not necessarily,¡± Bi Fang shook his head as he saw the commentary. ¡°Whether a river is frozen depends on the weather and its flow. In the Khingan Range, there are many rivers that don¡¯t freeze, still flowing even at thirty degrees below zero!¡± Treading on the snowy ground, Bi Fang continued toward lower terrain, while also providing some explanation. The terrain of the Khingan Range is unique, widely covered with wetlands. Because streams flow out from the many ravines of the Greater Khingan Range, converging at the mountain¡¯s base, the low-lying landscape, poor drainage combined with the widespread permafrost makes infiltration difficult, resulting in numerous wetlands. Such terrain is generally fertile, and the water isn¡¯t deep, so you can catch quite a few fish without going too far in. ¡°So, just like before, if we follow the terrain downhill, we are likely to encounter a river. This time we¡¯re not looking for a water source, but to obtain food. Whether it¡¯s frozen or flowing, it¡¯s good news for us.¡± He was extremely hungry; since yesterday, the only thing he had ingested were those red berries, which simply weren¡¯t enough to replenish the calories and energy Bi Fang had expended! But, with this weather¡­ Bi Fang looked up at the sun in the sky, squinting slightly. Chapter 53 - 53Chapter 52 Temperature Rise 53Chapter 52 Temperature Rise Translator: 549690339 | The sky was cloudless, and amidst the endless mountain ranges, a tiny human figure trudged on through the white snow. Every now and then, a cold, biting wind would sweep through, and the snowflakes it carried would land on the figure¡¯s shoulders. Bi Fang patted his shoulder, the accumulated snow falling off in a rustle. The weather was cold enough that snowflakes wouldn¡¯t melt immediately upon touching his clothes, or even his face. After walking through the snow-covered forest for over an hour, he was beginning to feel the strain. Bi Fang stopped, looked at the sun, and narrowed his eyes slightly. He had a bad feeling since a while ago, as if something significant was about to happen. The sky was devoid of any clouds, it even seemed a bit darker, and the harsh cold wind was noticeably weaker than the day before. He was heating up with sweat from all the walking, which was strange even considering the temperature rise towards midday. Hopefully, nothing would go wrong¡­ Bi Fang prayed internally, unzipped his coat to prevent sweating, and reassessed his direction. Lacking landmarks, it was as easy to lose one¡¯s way in the snowy forest as in the desert. It was often necessary to stop and reassess the direction. Otherwise, what you thought was a straight line could turn out to be a giant circle because human legs aren¡¯t exactly the same length, causing an involuntary veering to one side. If you push ahead without looking, you¡¯ll just end up walking in a huge loop. The physical exertion of a person in the snow is several times that of on normal ground, not only due to the difficulty of traveling but also the heat loss brought about by the cold. Therefore, we must not waste effort and must ensure the correctness of our forward direction,¡± Bi Fang said. Bi Fang looked back at the mountains. Despite walking so long, their size appeared unchanged, as if they had always been there for thousands of years, stretching across the earth beneath the vast sky, never altering. It¡¯s like running out of steam before reaching the mountains you see from afar. Bi Fang glanced at the increasingly dense larch forest, and his anxious heart leapt with excitement. The forest was dense and many of the treetops still had leaves on them, which hadn¡¯t even turned yellow. This meant he was very close to a water source! ¡°In the woods, if the trees in a certain area bud early or yellow late, it indicates that there¡¯s either groundwater or it¡¯s very close to a water source!¡± B1 Fang sprinted down the mountain, while pricking up his ears, listening carefully for any sound of a stream or waterfall nearby. About one or two hundred meters later, he began to hear some additional sounds¡­ ¡°Rustle rustle.¡± It was the sound of flowing water! Just ahead! Bi Fang¡¯s eyes sparkled like stars as he strode forward and in no time at all, he saw a frozen river! [There really is a river!] [Wow, that¡¯s divine. Is this what a pro looks like? Shuddering in awe.] [It feels like Master Fang is truly badass, sticking to a direction unwaveringly and always able to find what he¡¯s looking for.] [This is called confidence. Without some skills, do you think you could really survive in the wilderness? Like a duck being forced onto a perch, it looks totally fake.] [Lu Wentao: Stop reading off my ID!] Both banks of the frozen river were lined with gray rocks topped with a layer of snow and soaked in water. Day and night cycles of thawing and freezing had encrusted them with a thick layer of icy rubble which was bone-chillingly cold and incredibly smooth to the touch. The river flowed from northeast to southwest, only three or four meters wide, but Bi Fang guessed that there must be a main channel. If he could find it, perhaps he could find a way out along the river, just like the last time. You should know that since the establishment of the country, most of the sleepers needed for the construction of the railways have come from the Greater Khingan Range. At the peak of production, three and a half out of every ten logs in the country came from here. It can be said that every family is inseparable from the Greater Khingan Range. However, the problem that arises is that, after so many years of development, all that remains of the original forest resources in places like Mohe, which are very close to the border, is almost nonexistent. What are widely distributed are man-made forests and secondary forests, and there are a lot of rangers, so this time, following the river should be much easier than before. [Damn, are there that many? Has it not been completely stripped?] [Momma, the Khingan Range is so big.] [Suddenly, I feel like humans are so excessive¡­] Bi Fang traveled along the riverbank, while also keeping an eye on the conditions in the river. The flowing riverbed had little silt but was instead covered with rocks, which made his search more difficult. This couldn¡¯t help but make Bi Fang feel anxious as he looked up at the sky again, only hoping that his previous guess was wrong¡­ ¡°Fish are different from mammals, amphibians, and reptiles that are completely paralyzed in winter, as they don¡¯t truly hibernate. They only reduce or even stop eating, and their breathing becomes faint. During this time, they usually hide among aquatic plants or in the crevices of rocks.¡± Although fish don¡¯t hibernate, they still become very ¡®lethargic.¡¯ If we don¡¯t have a fishing rod, we can also make a spear. Even without experience, it¡¯s relatively easy to spear a fish.¡± [With such cold, won¡¯t the fish freeze to death?] [Lol, how could that be possible? According to you, wouldn¡¯t there be no fish left in the Heilonghe and Yalu River? Doesn¡¯t it hit minus ten or twenty degrees every winter there?] ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about this at all, fish have a special ¡®antifreeze glycoprotein¡¯ in their bodies, so even below zero, they won¡¯t freeze. And generally, we categorize fish into three types: cold-water, warm-water, and temperate. The temperature tolerance of these three types of fish is different, like the grass carp and silver carp we often eat are temperate water fish.¡± Bi Fang held a knife in one hand while sharpening one end of the long stick he had picked up earlier into a simple spear with the other. It has to be said that humans really are animals that heavily rely on tools; no matter how sharp natural flint is, it¡¯s nowhere near as useful as a steel knife produced by mechanical processing. ¡°Fish that live in high-latitude areas are generally cold-water species, able to withstand temperatures as low as negative 20¡ã Celsius but cannot endure temperatures above 20¡ã Celsius. Commonly in China¡¯s Heilonghe and Yalu River, such as rainbow trout, kaluga sturgeon, black-spotted pond loach, and broad whitefish, all belong to the cold-water category.¡± [Awesome, I learned something new.] [Little Sunflower Daddy¡¯s class is starting!] [I love watching Master Fang¡¯s livestreams, not for anything else, but to learn something so I can show off in front of others!] [The guy above is a legend, exactly what I was thinking. Last time I went camping with my colleagues, I told them how to find a river, and they were all dumbfounded. The way they looked at me, I¡¯ll never forget!] [Pete Not Pitt gifted the host an airship*!¡ªThumbs up for the host¡¯s knowledge!] [Ben Invisible gifted the host a yacht*i-Learned something, now off to show off, ah no, to reveal my brilliance in front of others!] Bi Fang, watching the lively livestream, also gave a knowing smile. One of his goals was precisely to teach people something during his streams. In rivers like this one that flow, we can look for places with strong currents, such as bends, where fish tend to linger near the whirlpools, especially in winter. Because of the river¡¯s flow, these places have the highest oxygen content, very suitable for ¡®lethargic¡¯ fish to breathe!¡± Following the river, Bi Fang finally found a spot where the river curved sharply, climbed onto a rock, and carefully examined the situation on the riverbed. Because it was a turning point, silt had accumulated at the mouth of the river, providing a perfect hiding place for small fish and shrimp, which in turn attracted larger fish. This was an excellent hunting spot! If all went well, they would have fish to eat this time! Chapter 55 - Chapter 54 The Bleak Universe, Furious Snowfall (Added Chapter) Chapter 54 The Bleak Universe, Furious Snowfall (Added Chapter) Translator: 549690339 When all the signs appeared consecutively, the vertical smoke, like a streak of ink, connected everything together. Bi Fang suddenly stood up, looking at the increasingly dark sky, his heart pounding wildly. In the wilderness, the most frightening thing, without a doubt, is natural disasters, which, in his opinion, rank first, even more terrifying than the attack of a ferocious beast. The so-called ¡°man conquers nature¡± is nothing but a joke in the face of real natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, and hurricanes; humans and ants at the roadside are no different fundamentally. The audience in front of the screen also jumped with fright when Bi Fang suddenly stood up, thinking something had happened. [What¡¯s going on, why did he suddenly stand up?] [Hahaha, could it be a bear is coming again? But are there bears in Mohe?] [He looks very serious, did something happen?] There were all sorts of guesses in the live stream room, but none hit the nail on the head. Without hesitation, Bi Fang immediately buried the fire with snow to prevent forest fires and to conceal his tracks while telling everyone his guesses. ¡°At first, I thought it was just because the air was more turbid today that the sky seemed dark, but did you notice that the smoke from the fire just now was totally vertical! And occasionally when the wind direction changes, it still veers to the northeast! All these factors are just too coincidental.¡± ¡°As we have been traveling, we can also clearly notice that today¡¯s temperature is much higher than yesterday¡¯s.¡± At this point, the audience was becoming more confused as they listened. Although these phenomena were strange, what exactly did they entail? ¡°Mohe is the coldest place in our country. Due to the alternating influence of continental and oceanic monsoons, the microclimate is highly variable, with significant local climate differences. In spring and autumn, due to the interchange of winter and summer monsoons, the climate is changeable, and many times, a rainstorm or snowstorm can come very suddenly.¡± ¡°If my analysis is correct, there¡¯s likely to be a snowstorm coming up!¡± A snowstorm!!! The audience in the live stream was genuinely startled upon hearing this news. Even Wang Yongbo was taken aback when he heard this. He was uncertain whether to continue the broadcast, as a snowstorm would make it impossible for the helicopter to reach them, and in the event of an emergency, they couldn¡¯t count on the rescue team. But seeing Bi Fang on the screen remaining calm, he composed himself again, ready to see how things would unfold. If Bi Fang signalled to stop, he would immediately send help. ¡°That¡¯s right, the key to the formation of a snowstorm is temperature and moisture. If there¡¯s severe convective weather, meaning a rapid temperature rise and intense air movement with strong uplifting forces, it will keep pulling up a lot of water vapor.¡± ¡°In Mohe, because the temperature is low enough, the water vapor will only condense in the air, resulting in snowfall!¡± ¡°Plus, high temperature and low pressure are like twins; an increase in temperature brings low pressure, and snowstorms are caused by low-pressure weather systems. At this time, the low pressure and strong convection result in smoke that drifts straight up, even if there¡¯s a crosswind, it¡¯s often a southwesterly wind.¡± ¡°All these signs have appeared, so I conclude there will be a snowstorm coming!¡± With this analysis, not only the audience but also Lu Wentao was dumbfounded. Adhering to the strategic principle of despising the enemy overall but taking them seriously tactically, Lu Wentao had been studying stealthily at home these two days, seeking to learn Master Fang¡¯s skills to best him. But Bi Fang¡¯s recent analysis genuinely gave him a start. Brother, aren¡¯t you a wilderness survival expert? How did you become a climate expert all of a sudden? And this string of professional analyses might even be daunting for a real meteorologist, might it not? But for Bi Fang, it was nothing out of the ordinary; after all, practice makes perfect. The purple ¡°Wilderness Survivalist¡± Skill not only granted him powerful knowledge and abilities but also a wealth of experience in the wilderness, which made his perception of changes in the outdoor environment extremely sharp, even surpassing some professionals! ¡°Wilderness survival, in essence, is about humans striving to live in a natural environment, and climate is a part of nature, so isn¡¯t it reasonable for me to understand it?¡± ¡°The power of nature is overwhelming. Even though humans have emphasized dominating nature since the Industrial Revolution, the fact remains that, even today, humans are still extremely weak before nature. Earthquakes, tsunamis ¡ªin the face of these major disasters, we humans have virtually no capacity to resist. Even in recent years, the discourse on conquering nature has lessened, gradually shifting towards a reverence for nature.¡± [Master Fang, please begin your lecture!] [This act is big enough, good enough, strong enough! I admire it! I appreciate it! I envy it! When can I also be this strong?] [It¡¯s probably impossible. Master Fang¡¯s awesome is based on real strength, whereas your awesome is based on the keyboard.] [That hurts, bro, boo hoo hoo¡­] In the live broadcast room, the teasing gradually subsided, and the content of the bullet comments began to unify around one question: what should be done next? ¡°When a blizzard strikes, heavy snow will be accompanied by strong winds, and in extremely harsh conditions, the flying snow will fill the sky, reducing visibility to less than one meter. In such an environment, we might not even be able to determine if it is snowing and can easily lose our sense of direction, which could lead to getting lost and freezing to death in the wilderness.¡± ¡°Moreover, the snow accumulation from the blizzard can form massive snowdrifts that block roads and even bury tents and houses, so if you encounter a blizzard, you must find a place to take shelter and then wait for it to end.¡± As Bi Fang spoke, he continued on his way, but within minutes, the sky, which had been somewhat sunny, rapidly darkened, and the howling wind began to whip up vast swathes of snowflakes into a flurry. This was too sudden. Such an exaggerated scene made the audience in the live broadcast room unable to discern whether it had started to snow, and everyone began to worry about Bi Fang. The world became bleak, with the snow falling wildly. With each step Bi Fang took, the howling snowflakes would immediately bury his footprints, and the strong wind made it difficult for him to keep his balance, each step requiring a great deal of effort. Finally, after advancing another hundred meters, Bi Fang found a suitable leeward slope. He leaned against the snow, holding onto the unmanned drone, which was shaking violently in the wind, and shouted, ¡°Now, we need a shelter to help us get through this, just like before, we¡¯ll dig a snow cave.¡± ¡°First, we need to find a leeward slope, like this one here, where a lot of powdery snow has been blown over by the wind. And if you dig here, due to the slope, gravity will help you move the snow down, which can save us a lot of energy.¡± Due to the blizzard, Bi Fang had to shout very loudly as he vigorously dug through the snow so that the viewers in front of the screen could hear him clearly. The wind grew stronger, and soon, a thick layer of snow accumulated on Bi Fang¡¯s head and shoulders. The sudden drop in temperature began to stiffen his limbs. He didn¡¯t dig the hole downwards because that would create a well, and all the cold air would settle on top, which would only result in being buried alive. Watching such a shocking scene, many viewers stopped typing and silently cheered him on. [Pete the Unflinching sends the host a Spaceship*!¡ªKeep it up!] [Unseen Ji sends the host a Yacht*i¡ªDig faster! ] [Lord Mu sends the host a Spaceship*!] [Grand Commander Wolf Fang sends the host a Spaceship*!- -Your salary is still waiting for you to come back and collect! ] Chapter 56 - Chapter 55: Offer gifts and kneel to the host! Chapter 55: Offer gifts and kneel to the host! Translator: 549690339 | Grand Commander Wolf Fang? Many viewers were stunned for a moment by this specially colored nickname that clearly seemed out of the ordinary, then they noticed the exclusive administrative badge that followed it. Damn, it¡¯s actually an official personnel! Before, Wang Yongbo had sent some Wolf Fangs and meatballs, and nobody noticed him; now, he sent a spaceship, instantly causing a sensation. [666, even the officials have entered the fray, who¡¯s this big shot?] [Grand Commander? If I remember correctly, that¡¯s the president, right?] [No, I know the rank of that badge, a grand general is the president, the Grand Commander is the vice president!] [Oh, I know now, it must be the big shot that Brother Fang mentioned who came to poach him!] [Awesome, the boss himself coming out to tip, what a show of status!] [What¡¯s called status? This is status!] [Master Fang: Who else, who else!] The appearance of the platform president instantly took the live broadcast¡¯s popularity to a new height, breaking through the half-million mark and setting a new record for Bi Fang. This was only the second day, and numerous smaller streamers peeking at the screen, witnessing the meteoric rise in popularity, felt a pang of jealousy. Yao Lina was one of them. She was a music streamer on Tiger Fang TV, who, despite her beautiful looks and sweet singing, wasn¡¯t doing well there due to the platform¡¯s boundaries. Moreover, because of her high attractiveness, no top streamer was willing to promote her, checking her room and such, afraid their own fans might be poached. That¡¯s the limitation of Tiger Fang¡¯s fans, and also why Tiger Fang TV had the highest revenue flowing in¡ªit had a way with emptying fans¡¯ wallets. There, many fans were not particularly wealthy, but still willingly ate plain steamed buns and pickles all day to support their favorite streamers to buy luxury bags and dine at upscale restaurants, and they were incredibly loyal, latching onto a single streamer and unabashedly fawning over them¡ªof course, it could also be because their wallets couldn¡¯t support branching out. In the end, for various reasons, Yao Lina resolutely switched to Wolf Fang TV with better terms offered, and it turned out many fans liked her here. In less than a month, she had already become a core force of Wolf Fang TV. However, upon hearing her person in charge say that Wolf Fang TV had spent a great deal to poach an outdoor streamer and even took away the promotion slot originally reserved for her next month, Yao Lina was indignant and decided to see what this streamer was made of. And now, after watching Bi Fang¡¯s escape in Glacier Valley, fishing by the stream, and now battling a blizzard, she was completely convinced and even felt like throwing herself down in admiration! Where the hell did this god come from! Not to mention the motion picture-quality of the video, even the content is as badass as a movie! No, movie protagonists aren¡¯t even as cool as you! Are you the reincarnation of Rambo or a disciple of Jason Statham? With skills like these, who would still be live streaming? So even live streaming is competitive now? She, a mere music streamer, what merits does she have to compete against him? Yao Lina silently shed tears while sending her own spaceship and kneel down in respect, not for any reason other than seeing the streamer strive so hard, it reminded her of her own difficult times struggling in the quagmire at Tiger Fang TV, and it had nothing to do with being smitten by him. [Nanana is the one gifting the streamer a Spaceship*!¡ªA gift to this beautiful yet cruel world!] [Holy crap! Is that Sister Lina watching Master Fang¡¯s broadcast too?] [Is this¡­ a pig courting a cabbage?] [No choice, Master Fang¡¯s charm is too great, the boss and the goddess both showed up.] [Wait, the pig you¡¯re talking about is Goddess Lina?] [Who else could it be? Compared to how handsome and manly Master Fang is, of course Lina is the pig. ] The north wind whirled snow, swathes of white blowing across the sky. The sky was a gloomy iron grey, the snow deep enough to bury a man, and the cold wind whirled and whimpered past Bi Fang¡¯s ears, sounding like someone playing a flute in the deep of the night, or perhaps just a hallucination brought on by the intense cold. His hands never stopped, tossing out loads of white snow, and quickly he dug out a snow cave large enough to take shelter in. Without hesitation, Bi Fang lay down inside and pointed the drone at himself. Only then did the viewers get a clear view of Bi Fang¡¯s appearance, his face pallid with cold, his eyebrows whitened by the snow, and because the hot air he breathed out melted the snowflakes, thin icicles formed at his lips, making him look extremely haggard. [Ha, it looks so cold!] [Blizzards usually bring a drop in temperature, right? Master Fang doesn¡¯t even have fog when he breathes out, is it already minus twenty degrees?] [Brother, you¡¯re well learned, Master Fang¡¯s top disciple!] ¡°Ha, I just dug less than half a meter into the snow slope, and I¡¯m already out of the wind.¡± Bi Fang lay in the snow cave, gasping for air, all the while rubbing his arms nonstop, trying to warm himself up. ¡°In this kind of environment, we must avoid facing the wind directly, because that can easily cause your body to lose heat. Right now, I feel like I¡¯in in the first stage of hypothermia, but it¡¯s still controllable. Don¡¯t let your hypothermia progress to the third or even the fourth stage.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s voice trembled as he explained to the audience what hypothermia is. Simply put, hypothermia is when the body¡¯s ability to produce and retain heat is less than its ability to lose heat over a long period, resulting in a gradual decrease in body temperature. This can be divided into four stages: mild, moderate, severe, and critical, each more dangerous than the last. In mild hypothermia, the body feels cold, shivers uncontrollably, and hands and feet become stiff and numb. Many people have experienced this, especially students who find their hands are too stiff to write when it¡¯s cold; they are in this stage. Once it progresses to moderate hypothermia, a person becomes weak and drowsy, with slower reflexes. The hands can¡¯t perform some of the most basic movements or tasks, walking can become clumsy, and speech unclear and slurred. Severe hypothermia is very dangerous. Consciousness begins to blur, and, paradoxically, there¡¯s a delayed response to cold, even to the point of not feeling cold at all. Motor skills are lost, standing and walking become difficult, speech is affected, the body shivers intermittently and, over time, shivering may stop altogether. The critical stage is self-explanatory; one is not likely to survive, not everyone is Captain America. ¡°To avoid further heat loss, we have to ensure our clothing is dry, and it helps to eat some food to replenish energy. Luckily, I ate a whole fish earlier. If you had a hot water bottle, you¡¯d place it under your armpits, around your neck, or on your stomach. Unfortunately, I have nothing of the sort, so I have to rely on shaking to stay warm.¡± Despite the situation, Bi Fang even managed to make a joke at the end of his talk. [A true warrior faces the bleak blizzard head-on!] [Plus one to the true warrior! ] [I could learn from Master Fang¡¯s mindset for a lifetime.] [Not necessary, not necessary, all thanks to my peers for making me look good.] [Lu Wentao: Stop freaking unlocking your phone with my face!] Waving his hand, Bi Fang extended his arm out of the cave to gauge the wind speed, shouting at the camera. ¡°I estimate the winds outside are at least over eighty kilometers per hour, but inside the cave, it¡¯s probably only ten kilometers per hour. The difference isn¡¯t slight because wind speed affects the wind chill temperature. Up there, it¡¯s definitely below minus thirty degrees, but inside the cave, it¡¯s definitely a lot warmer, so we need to dig the cave even deeper.¡± As he said this, he continued to toss the snow outside the cave. The snow in Mohe was dry and powdery, with no stickiness, and as Bi Fang flung it, it billowed like sand. [666, that posture reminds me of a cat covering up after pooping.] [Ha ha, great minds think alike!] [I¡¯m relieved that I¡¯m not the only one who thought that (funny)] [Clean and healthy after you bury it, post poop.] Soon, Bi Fang carved out a triangular snow cave on the slope. He curled up his limbs to reduce surface contact, huddled inside, and watched the snowstorm rage outside. ¡°This time we can¡¯t make the entrance too tight because a blizzard could cover your hole in seconds, which is extremely dangerous. Once buried, you won¡¯t be able to tell where the ground is. It is possible to dig down by mistake, which can lead to excessive exhaustion and ultimately result in being buried alive until suffocation!¡± Chapter 57 - Chapter 56: Its Over There Chapter 56: It¡¯s Over There Translator: 549690339 | If you are in the city and encounter a blizzard, you can simply take shelter in your home, warm and comfortable, but in the wilderness, facing fierce winds, heavy snow, and low temperatures, it is undoubtedly fatal. The howling wind, the cold climate, the heavy snowfall, and even the potential avalanche¡ªall these threaten Bi Fang¡¯s life at every moment. Watching Bi Fang, who was huddled in a snow cave and still persisting with his live broadcast, the audience in front of the screen felt their hands and feet turn icy, as if the storm was beating against their own faces. ¡°If a blizzard hits while you¡¯re in a tent, we must shake the tent to prevent it from collapsing under the snow, and also ensure the snow does not block the ventilation. There have been incidents where people suffocated and died in tents or snow caves when the entrances and vents were clogged by snow.¡± ¡°And once you¡¯re buried alive, remember to keep calm, because the more you panic, the faster your heart beats, which only increases your oxygen consumption, so you must not rush.¡± Bi Fang, holding the drone, lay in the snow cave and shouted at the trembling camera. The wind outside was too strong, and although the drone provided by the System was supposed to withstand it, this was undoubtedly unfathomable¡ª who designs drones that can withstand hurricane-force winds above 80 kilometers an hour? ¡°Now, I¡¯ll show you howto survive and self-rescue when you¡¯re buried alive in snow!¡± Crazy! The audience in the live stream all shared the same thought upon hearing Bi Fang¡¯s words. It wasn¡¯t that they didn¡¯t believe in Bi Fang, but being buried alive was just too terrifying; many people just hearing the word felt it difficult to breathe. [Holy shit, is being buried by snow really that scary?] [Should be, right? I¡¯ve often heard news about avalanches, and not many survive.] [Don¡¯t go down there, Master Fang, it¡¯s so dangerous you could lose your life.] [Master Fang talks about a minor incident in every live broadcast, how come he hasn¡¯t learned his lesson?] As the audience in the live stream worried, Bi Fang had already shoveled snow around him, completely covering his body. The swirling snowflakes swiftly accumulated, burying him completely in just a moment. Suddenly, there was complete darkness all around, and the drone automatically switched to night mode for filming. [It¡¯s so claustrophobic, I¡¯m already finding it hard to breathe (angry).] [Suddenly feeling really anxious.] [Everything looks exactly the same around, how do you crawl out?] [Damn it, always challenging the limits of the audience¡¯s hearts and blood vessels, might not be illegal, but it¡¯s immoral!] Under the layer of snow, Bi Fang also struggled to breathe, weighed down by the snow. The blizzard was constantly thickening the snow on top of him, like layers and layers of heavy blankets that were warm but suffocating. Before long, breathing became difficult. Whispering to the camera, Bi Fang said, ¡°You see, after being buried alive, we can¡¯t even tell which way is up or down, and it¡¯s even harder if you¡¯re buried head-down due to blood rushing to your brain, so to figure out which way is up, we must rely on something, and that is gravity!¡± ¡°Gravity always pulls us straight down, and that¡¯s the key to our escape. When we can¡¯t tell up from down, we can use the direction of our saliva dripping to guide us.¡± ¡°Normally, if you¡¯re buried, it¡¯s pitch black, and you can¡¯t see anything, so a compass is useless. In that case, you just need to open your mouth, wait for your saliva to flow, if it does, that means the direction in front of you is down towards the ground, and vice versa.¡± Saying that, Bi Fang opened his mouth, but after a while, when he didn¡¯t feel any liquid dripping, he knew he was facing the correct direction. Bi Fang¡¯s face began to turn red from the pressure, but without hesitation, he started digging in front of him. ¡°Since the space is confined, we can¡¯t stretch out our body. At this time, digging snow is like swimming, moving the snow from in front of us to behind, which requires a lot of skill.¡± Bi Fang slowly moved the snow bit by bit. The intense effort began to increase his consumption of oxygen, causing his breathing to become heavy, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t get enough air. ¡°Usually, if a person buried in snow is found within fifteen minutes, the survival rate can reach 90%. This is the golden window.¡± ¡°After 45 minutes, the survival rate drops to 20-30%, and since we¡¯re actively trying to survive, the exhaustion is faster, so we must be quick, otherwise we may run out of oxygen. Once we pass out from lack of oxygen, we¡¯ll have no chance to climb out to the surface.¡± In the dark surroundings, the audience could only see Bi Fang throwing snow in a very strange position, twisting from time to time to shove the snow behind him. Fortunately, although the snow covered him quickly, because the hole Bi Fang had dug wasn¡¯t deep, after only digging a bit over a meter, he felt it became much easier in front of him. Not long after, his two hands, one after the other, broke through to the surface. Then slowly, like pulling out a radish, he completely emerged from the ground, successfully escaping! [Awesome! That¡¯s really freaking badass!] [Nothing can trap Master Fang. That¡¯s a true master of survival!] [The title of master is well deserved!] [Truly mind-blowing! ] [Lord Mu gifted the host 3 yachts¡ªCan we go skiing in the Alps Mountains together next time?] [Pete the Undemanding gifted the host 66 Big Bones¡ªMaster Fang, from now on, you are my big brother, dear big brother! ] [Nanana is me gifted the host 1 Spaceship¡ªI never thought that one day I would actually donate to another streamer, and twice at that!] Bi Fang returned to the ground, took deep breaths, shook off the snow on his legs, and laid down again, looking at the sky ravaged by the blizzard and laughed. ¡°This snow is really heavy, I estimate it will still take several hours to completely stop, so we have to lie down for a while, I guess what follows will be a rather boring time. Maybe you can leave to do something else first.¡± [Suddenly became a salted fish¡­] [Such a sudden change in style.] [In front of nature, humans really seem so tiny.] [When the snow stops, kick me.] [First time seeing a streamer encouraging people to leave, a fresh breeze in the streaming world! ] ¡°However, air is a convective medium. Although we have temporarily taken refuge in a snow pit, cutting off most of the convective heat and slowing down the rapid loss of heat, so we don¡¯t feel cold.¡± ¡°But staying inside for a long time without the addition of heat is very dangerous. It¡¯s the same principle as boiling a frog in warm water, creating a sensation illusion. By the time you actually start to feel cold, often your physical energy is no longer sufficient to maintain your normal physiological and metabolic functions, and you might not even be able to walk out of the snow pit.¡± ¡± So we must do some activities to get our bodies burning.¡± Inside the snow pit, Bi Fang propped himself up with his hands and started doing push-ups as a way to generate heat by burning calories. Wind whipped up the heavy snow, howling low, under the dark sky a tiny figure was doing push-ups, trying to warm up. [Feels so creepy.] [Yeah, this environment looks scary. Isn¡¯t Master Fang afraid, being alone out there?] ¡°Haha, of course I¡¯m afraid,¡± Bi Fang said, panting and laughing. ¡°After all, humans are social animals. Being alone in the wilderness is inconvenient for anything, and one is sure to worry about accidents of this kind or that, so I emphasized from the first live stream that a positive attitude is very important in survival.¡± ¡°If you get scared, just think about your friends, your family, imagine a delicious feast and the new games after successfully surviving. Luckily, I have you guys to chat with, so it¡¯s not too lonely.¡± [Now I feel bad for leaving¡­] [Hahaha, me too. Thinking that Master Fang needs me, I can¡¯t bear to leave.] [You call that need? You just crave Master Fang¡¯s live streams!] [A feast and games? One can tell Master Fang doesn¡¯t have a girlfriend (jokingly)] Just as everyone was joking around, Bi Fang suddenly stopped his actions, sat up in the snow pit, and pricked up his ears. Just now, it seemed like there were some different sounds mixed in with the wailing winds. Bi Fang wondered if he was tricked by his own ears. He turned his head to look at the drone, ¡°Did you guys hear anything?¡± [Nope, didn¡¯t hear a thing.] [With the wind this strong, how could you hear anything?] [Don¡¯t scare me, Master Fang, this wind sounds like a ghost wailing. Am I too cowardly?] [Impossible, after all, since the founding of the nation, we¡¯ve not allowed such spirits, and we¡¯re successors to Marxism, so we don¡¯t believe in those things.] ¡°But it really seemed like sounds were coming from over there.¡± Bi Fang turned to look to one side, pointing with his hand. The piercing wind swept across the snow, blowing furiously. In the pitch-black forest, only the mourning sound of the wind brushing past remained, as if the sound heard before never existed, a mere auditory illusion created by the wind. Chapter 58 - Chapter 57: The Blood Seeping through the Door Crack Chapter 57: The Blood Seeping through the Door Crack Translator: 549690339 | Bi Fang removed his hat, trying to listen more clearly. Snowflakes rushed in, squinting his eyes. Bi Fang briefly closed his eyes, then opened them to silently watch the distant woods with a serious expression. The audience felt a chilling desolation as they listened to the wind, as if grass were growing in their hearts. [It feels¡­ like it¡¯s real.] [Could the blizzard have caused Master Fang to hallucinate? I heard that people on the verge of freezing to death start to see things.] [How could that be? Didn¡¯t he just do some push-ups? Isn¡¯t it just that the sound of the wind is too unnerving?] [Exactly, the sound of the wind alone is scary.] Bi Fang looked at the barrage of comments, unconcerned. He was sure he had not misheard ¡ª there had indeed been an unusual noise, and it sounded very much like a car horn. And only a horn could have such penetrating power to cut through the storm and reach his ears. There could be people up ahead! ¡°No, I must check it out whether it¡¯s real or not,¡± he said. Bi Fang trusted his judgment. He stood up from his snow burrow, put his hat back on, and, bracing against the snowstorm, staggered in the direction from which the sound had come. Seeing the streamer so resolute, the audience in front of the screen began to feel uncertain, as if there really were people on the other side. They started sending a barrage of messages to dissuade him. Because among them were many fans who had been waiting for this live stream for half a month. Even the least concerning ones had seen Wolf Fang TV¡¯s cover preview for a full three days before this broadcast. And now it was going to end in less than two days? The foreplay was so long, yet the process so short, how could anyone bear it! [Might he be rescued so soon?] [Why so fast this time? If this were a novel, it¡¯d be just over ten chapters, right? Where¡¯s the climax? You¡¯re going to flop like this! No one will follow your next series!] [Yeah, I¡¯m not yet satisfied! This is too hasty, isn¡¯t it?] [Wouldn¡¯t it be great if Master Fang had heard wrong?] [Exactly, it¡¯s better for him to be wrong.] How come these people aren¡¯t hoping for his well-being? Bi Fang felt somewhat depressed, but still spoke up to explain, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, even if I do meet someone, it¡¯s very likely to be someone else in distress. It¡¯s not even clear who is rescuring whom.¡± He pointed at the sky and said, ¡°Look at the weather. Who would come out in weather like this? And trying to emit a sound at fixed intervals? If this isn¡¯t distress, what is it?¡± When the audience heard Bi Fang explain this, they suddenly understood. It seemed to make sense! Apart from someone as skilled and daring as Bi Fang, who else would dare to come out at this time? That was just asking for death! [666, he comes out to survive in the wilderness and ends up rescuing others on top of that?] [This wave, this wave is about being rescued and instead rescuing others!] [If he rescues someone, won¡¯t he become thoroughly famous? The news would report it, right?] [Look at the live stream¡¯s popularity, it¡¯s reached half a million. Isn¡¯t that famous enough?] [That¡¯s different. Right now, he¡¯s only famous in the live streaming circles. If he makes it into the news for a rescue, the whole country would know. That¡¯s a whole other level!] After descending the snowy slope, Bi Fang entered the forest. He tightened his hat brim and continued in the direction he remembered from before. ¡°The wind is so strong, yet I could still hear the sound. So, they can¡¯t be too far from us. Probably only two or three hundred meters, or even less,¡± he said. Trudging through the thick snow, Bi Fang leaned forward against the storm. His front footprints were instantly filled by the snow chasing from behind. In the face of nature¡¯s power, no trace could be left behind. As he closed the distance, a clear sound of a car horn suddenly pierced through the snowy forest. This time, everyone heard it. [Holy shit, there really is a car!] [My god, Master Fang¡¯s ears are too keen, right?] [With such thick snow, how can a car drive? Never mind the tires, wouldn¡¯t the gasoline be frozen?] ¡°If it were an ordinary car, then surely it wouldn¡¯t work. But I think this car might be equipped with triangle tracks to progress over such thick snow. And gasoline actually has a very low freezing point, it ordinarily solidifies at minus thirty-five degrees Celsius. Diesel freezes more easily. Perhaps they also added antifreeze,¡± he explained. ¡°However, since the other party is so equippped, it¡¯s very likely a local or a ranger. But no matter what, we must go and check,¡± Bi Fang added. After another hundred meters, a beam of light lit up in the forest, piercing through the heavy snowfall. It¡¯s right ahead! The viewers were immediately electrified, and Bi Fang quickened his pace, soon reaching a snow slope. But as they barely poked their heads out and saw the situation, the viewers were stunned, the scene was indeed just as Bi Fang had predicted. It was a badly damaged off-road vehicle, with its body beaten and battered to the extent that one could hardly doubt it had been tossed around in a washing machine. A tree over thirty centimeters in diameter had fallen directly onto the roof, collapsing the sturdy frame, and two of the four doors were now missing, with thick black smoke billowing from the front engine hood of the car. [Damn, that¡¯s intense! Is the car totally wrecked? Could the people inside still be alive?] [It certainly is a tracked vehicle.] [There¡¯s a blizzard, what are these people even doing out here? Isn¡¯t this just seeking death?] [You can¡¯t say that, if it weren¡¯t for Master Fang¡¯s experience, who could have expected a blizzard? And it came without any warning at all.] Bi Fang hurried over the dirt slope to the front of the car, and as he approached, he heard screams. Not far off in the snow, a middle-aged man was pinned under a car door, wailing in agony. When he saw Bi Fang, he seemed to see a savior and desperately reached out. ¡°Quick, save me, please save me!¡± Immediately, Bi Fang set his drone aside and stepped forward to lift the already shattered car door off, while the man kept screaming. After a quick glance, he spotted a huge gash on the man¡¯s right leg, from which blood was continually flowing down the pant leg. Viewers in the live broadcast saw the gruesome wound through the first- person perspective, as if facing it themselves, and could hardly bear to look directly at it. [This is too tragic¡­] [It looks so painful.] [No kidding, can¡¯t you see he¡¯s in so much pain he¡¯s crying out?] [How pitiful.] Seeing that the wound was still bleeding, Bi Fang hastily pulled out his belt, ready to tie off the blood vessel to stop bleeding, but just touching the wound made the man scream in torturous agony. ¡°Hey! Look at me, look at me, don¡¯t look down!¡± Bi Fang stared into the man¡¯s eyes, shouting over and over until the man¡¯s focus shifted from the wound, and then he tightened the belt with a powerful tug! A scream pierced through the blizzard, echoing throughout the entire forest. The man¡¯s face streamed with tears, but in the low temperature, they quickly froze into frost, caking his face, and the intense pain twisted his features beyond recognition: ¡°I can¡¯t move, I can¡¯t move my leg, my hands neither, ah!¡± As Bi Fang secured the belt, he looked into the man¡¯s eyes and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, feeling pain is a good sign, it means your thigh nerve isn¡¯t damaged, you can still use your leg!¡± ¡°Is¡­ that a good thing?¡± ¡°Yes, are there any other places where you¡¯re bleeding?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, I can¡¯t feel anything.¡± Seeing that the man¡¯s bleeding had temporarily stopped, Bi Fang dragged him over to lean against a tree. But no sooner had he left than the man, mustering all his strength, grabbed hold of his clothes. ¡°Don¡¯t leave, don¡¯t leave me behind!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be right back, stay calm, okay?¡± After reassuring the man by holding his hand, Bi Fang trudged through the snow to the front of the driver¡¯s cab. Inside the cab, the safety airbag was already deflated, a young man was trapped against the steering wheel by the twisted car body, unable to move. When he saw Bi Fang, a frost-covered face managed a wry smile. ¡°I can¡¯t believe someone actually came; I thought I was really going to die this time.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t die, not on my watch.¡± The car door wasn¡¯t completely crushed, Bi Fang gritted his teeth and pulled it open with difficulty, then yanked the young man out from the side, his hand on the steering wheel causing Bi Fang to startle. The young man¡¯s fingers were hooked and couldn¡¯t straighten, almost deformed; it was likely the result of holding the steering wheel continuously in the severe cold, he must have been the one sounding the horn earlier. ¡°Your hand is already frozen stiff, if you continue like this, I¡¯m afraid it¡¯ll begin to necrose,¡± Bi Fang said. But instead of worrying about himself upon hearing this, the young man shivered and lifted his arm, pointing towards the passenger seat, which was the most heavily damaged part of the vehicle. ¡°No, check on the person next to me first, I saw him bleed a lot, please save him first!¡± Following the young man¡¯s arm, Bi Fang looked over, but his view was obstructed by the airbag on the passenger side. However, under the car, he could see very clearly. It was a large pool of thick, dark blood, dripping down through the door crack, and the snow beneath the car had already turned a dark crimson. Chapter 59 - Chapter 58 Withering Chapter 58 Withering Translator: 549690339 Blood had actually flowed so much, the person inside¡­ Seeing the blood dripping down from the seams of the car, everyone had a very bad feeling. A dark cloud appeared in people¡¯s hearts. Bi Fang looked at the young man with a certain gaze, then approached the front passenger seat. The door of the front passenger seat had completely vanished, and a man was lying across the seat, struggling to suppress his own screams, his breath sounding as if squeezed out through clenched teeth. Seeing Bi Fang, he immediately cried out for help. As soon as Bi Fang¡¯s gaze moved downward, the drone automatically blurred the image, and the live audience only saw a big lump of crimson. Many people, imagining the scene, vomited on the spot. Large stains of blood overwhelmed the entire car floor, too much for even a blanket to absorb. [What can we do, Master Fang, please save him! It looks so painful!] [Is he completely gone?] [Is there any hope? Does Master Fang have a way?] Almost everyone was asking if there was a way to save the person, but Bi Fang remained silent throughout, without even moving. He could see very clearly that the man¡¯s legs were completely destroyed, with chunks of bone protruding fiercely, and even the blood was barely flowing out, almost drained. Now, it wasn¡¯t a matter of whether the rescue team could arrive in time, even if they could, it was already too late. The man was merely at death¡¯s door, hanging on to his last breath. Bi Fang pulled over a towel and pressed it against the man¡¯s relatively intact thigh, as if this could save a little blood. He looked into the man¡¯s eyes, speaking as gently as possible. ¡°You¡¯ve lost too much blood, so much blood¡­ ¡°Save him, please, save him!¡± Bi Fang turned his head, looking at the young man pleading next to him, but still he shook his head gently. He was human, not a god. ¡°No more bleeding is possible, too much blood has been lost, there¡¯s blood everywhere, I¡¯m so cold.¡± The man was hallucinating from the loss of blood, muttering and grasping Bi Fang¡¯s hand, his eyes brimming with plea, ¡°Save me, please.¡± ¡°Have I been hurt? Is it serious? I don¡¯t feel good. I feel¡­I feel¡­¡± As Bi Fang pressed on the man¡¯s wound, blood filled his entire palm. He looked into the man¡¯s eyes and said in a low but serious voice. ¡°Listen to me¡­¡± ¡°Where am I hurt? I feel so cold, ah!¡± The man screeched again, ¡°Something¡¯s not right!¡± ¡°Listen, listen to me!¡± Bi Fang held the man¡¯s forehead, his eyes reflecting unprecedented seriousness, ¡°You¡¯re going to die, that¡¯s the reality¡­¡± The man froze. He slightly turned his head, looked at the young man crymg beside him, then at Bi Fang, his eyes vacant, as if he couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°No, no, no, it can¡¯t be, how could this be¡­¡± The man¡¯s emotions surged suddenly. He seemed choked up, gasping for air, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t breathe, as if his lungs were leaking and unable to hold any air. Bi Fang gripped the man¡¯s hand tightly and pulled over another blanket, as if it might warm him up. ¡°Look at me, keep looking at me, don¡¯t be afraid, don¡¯t panic¡­ Bi Fang¡¯s voice was soothing as he tried to calm the man with his words. ¡°Think about spring, think about the sun, you¡¯ll be bathed in sunlight, feeling warm, comfortable, and warm, it will be okay, everything will be okay, don¡¯t be scared.¡± ¡°Think about all the beautiful things, those that have crossed your mind, all the people you love, the people who love you¡­¡± The man¡¯s pupils trembled slightly, as if Bi Fang¡¯s words were truly helping. He wanted to cry, but tears wouldn¡¯t come, as if all the fluids in his body had run out. Think about beautiful things? What¡¯s beautiful? The whole day had been terrible, he had never regretted so much. He wanted a promotion, a raise in salary, but his stingy boss would never agree. He also hadn¡¯t bought the sneakers he promised his son, and the leak in the house his wife complained about hadn¡¯t been fixed¡­ He longed to go back and have a drink with friends, just a little bit, he¡¯d survived death, surely his wife would agree¡­ Suddenly, lush and vibrant green hues flooded his vision as if an endless forest stretched before him, sunlight piercing through the leaves, brightening his eyes. He saw the old house from his childhood once more, with newly sprouted ivy covering the windows, the sunlight filtered green before being allowed into the room, so warm, so gentle¡­ Memories became jumbled, he seemed to be that small child again, waiting for his parents to come home from work, and yet at the same time he was a father himself, looking at that rebellious little brat asking for this and that¡­ The man¡¯s pupils dilated, his body trembled slightly as if electrified, and tears suddenly flowed, without knowing why. It was heartbreaking, as if his soul was weeping out. ¡°Who do you love?¡± Bi Fang asked the question again, but no one answered him¡­ The man¡¯s mouth opened, his face gradually turning gray. The wind howled solemnly, as if mourning in a low voice. ¡°We¡­we shouldn¡¯t have come here, damn it, damn it, damn it!¡± A quiet sobbing came from a distance, the man who¡¯d been leaning against the tree with an injured thigh had tears frozen into icicles on his face, but after crying for a while, he began to laugh, as if it all were a nightmare. The nearest young man also pounded his head with stiff hands. The man had died. Bi Fang stood up quietly, suddenly unsure what to do. Was it to offer comfort? He wasn¡¯t a linguist; he couldn¡¯t possibly alleviate these people¡¯s pain and despair with a few words. The live streaming room was quieter than it had ever been. No one posted comments or sent gifts, but everyone was shaken to their core. They had never seen such a live stream, they had just watched a living person die, right before their eyes, hearing the man¡¯s delirium, watching his pupils dilate¡­ But this wasn¡¯t Bi Fang¡¯s first time witnessing such a thing. A long time ago, like the viewers, he watched a teammate pass away, frozen and unsure what to do, but he had survived all that. He didn¡¯t know why his live stream hadn¡¯t been shut down, maybe Wang Yongbo had resisted the pressure, or maybe it was something else. Bi Fang wrapped the man¡¯s body tighter in the blanket, then moved to the back seat and found a man and a woman unconscious. The man in his thirties, with a big beard, the woman probably just over twenty, very young, looking like she was of college age. After making sure that the two were only unconscious without serious harm, he turned to the young man. ¡°Is everyone here?¡± ¡°Everyone¡¯s here,¡± the young man replied, shivering. Four, there are four people still alive, Bi Fang counted, and immediately sprang to action; these people had been in the snow for too long and were beginning to suffer from hypothermia. The dead were gone, the living must struggle harder to survive! Bi Fang used his Hunting Knife to slit open the seat cushions, pulling out large pieces of fiber fabric, then swept away the snow from the ground, and took out his Firesteel. ¡°We need fire, so everything that¡¯s available must be used: seats, luggage, wood, now is not the time to worry about environmental protection, even if you are next to the Wuyi Mountain Mother Tea Tree, you can chop it down for firewood!¡± Bi Fang spoke quickly, with urgency, directly breaking off some wood and bark from the trees, gathering them with the cotton fluff, and rubbing the Firesteel, sparking a shower of sparks. ¡°The Firesteel was meant for emergencies and I didn¡¯t expect to use it so soon.¡± ¡°Compared to traditional flint fire starting tools, the main components of Firesteel are magnesium alloy and rare-earth metals, giving it superior performance. When rapidly rubbed against a knife or saw, it sheds numerous flakes of metal at thousands of degrees Celsius that can instantly ignite dry grass, dead leaves, sawdust, and other natural kindling. [Did that person really die?] As the flame lit, finally a viewer snapped back to reality, but they still seemed to find it hard to believe what had just happened. Bi Fang suddenly fell silent, adding more wood to the fire. ¡°Yes, he¡¯s dead. I really wanted to save him, but there was no way. He lost too much blood; even stopping it wouldn¡¯t have helped¡­¡± [It¡¯s okay, Master Fang, you did your best, don¡¯t blame yourself.] [Yeah, Master Fang don¡¯t blame yourself, we all know you tried hard.] [I thought it was tough before, but this is the first time I feel it¡¯s so dangerous¡­ Has anyone called the police?] [It¡¯s no use, this is a blizzard, they can¡¯t make it.] This time, viewers could truly sense the cruelty of the wilderness. Life here was as cheap as ants¡¯. Although the wilderness had always seemed dangerous and resource-scarce, as Bi Fang always managed to turn danger into safety, they gradually forgot the ruthlessness of the wild, until this moment¡­ Seeing the fire rise, the young man finally snapped out of it, he brought his hands closer to the flames, and under the light of the fire, they felt itchy ¨C not a skin itch, but a deep, flesh itch. ¡°just warming up isn¡¯t enough, if you don¡¯t want your hands to be useless, you have to endure the pain and pry them apart.¡± Bi Fang cleared the surrounding snow. ¡°I¡¯ll leave it to you!¡± The young man was decisive, and immediately stretched out his hands. ¡°Do you have frostbite cream?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s in the glove compartment of the car.¡± Bi Fang dove inside the car, found the frostbite cream and seeing the young man had crawled to the fire to warm up, immediately pulled him away from it. ¡°If you have frostbite, especially on your hands, never go warming them by the fire, this will only cause your tissues to heat up too quickly and rot away.¡± ¡°Because once frozen stiff, most of the cells in that area are already iced over, but they haven¡¯t burst yet. If they warm up too quickly, it¡¯s like putting an egg in a microwave; it will only cause the cells to explode!¡± The young man, just yanked away from the fire, thought to resist, but upon hearing this, he stopped moving. Chapter 60 - Chapter 59: Mohe Special Edition Chapter 59: Mohe Special Edition Translator: 549690339 | ¡°Many people think that after getting frostbite, they can warm up by sitting near a fire. In movies and TV shows, you often see rescuers rubbing snow on the body of someone with frostbite. But these methods are all wrong.¡± ¡°When frostbite is severe, you can¡¯t rub it with snow, vigorously massage it with a towel, or warm it by fire¡ªdoing so will cause the wounds to fester, part of the tissues to get damaged, and they will be difficult to heal.¡± ¡°To treat frostbite, you first have to get out of the cold environment as quickly as possible and then immerse the person in water that is between 40 to 42 degrees Celsius, making sure to keep adding water to maintain the temperature during the soak.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have those conditions here, so I can only use frostbite ointment for rubbing and rewarming. If that weren¡¯t available, oil would also work; both are smooth enough not to cause secondary injury from rough rubbing.¡± As Bi Fang explained, he unwrapped the frostbite ointment and squeezed a bunch onto his hand, at the same time turning to the young man. ¡® ¡®What¡¯ s your name?¡± ¡°Tianfang, Zheng Tianfang.¡± The young man¡¯s voice trembled. He found Bi Fang¡¯s way of speaking, with his instructional explanations, a bit odd. It couldn¡¯t help but remind him of his teachers back when he was in school. ¡°And you?¡± ¡°Bi Fang, the Bi Fang from the mythical bird ¡®Bi Fang¡¯.¡± Bi Fang said as he spread the silky frostbite ointment on his hand and then grabbed the young man¡¯s hand. Zheng Tianfang¡¯s hands were totally devoid of warmth and felt stone-like to the touch. Bi Fang rubbed vigorously, allowing the ointment to slowly seep in, and gradually the surface of the skin began to warm. Bi Fang slowed his movements and took hold of one of Zheng Tianfang¡¯s fingers before suddenly stretching it out forcefully. Zheng Tianfang drew in a breath and his face flushed red, his legs involuntarily stretched out straight, but he held back from crying out in pain. The audience in the live stream unconsciously gripped their phones or mice tighter, as if the intense pain had occurred on them. [My God, that looks so painful.] [It¡¯s a necessary evil, Master Fang is obviously doing it for his good.] [Ah man, that¡¯s so unlucky. I was just thinking about traveling to Mohe, but now I don¡¯t want to at all.] [Mohe City: This is a devastating blow to the tourism industry!] [It¡¯s fine, they¡¯re lucky to have Master Fang there, otherwise all five of them would probably have been done for in this weather.] [Yeah, they are really lucky to bump into Master Fang in weather like this.] The pain subsided, and that rigid finger could now be bent slightly. ¡°Hang in there, we¡¯ve only fixed one finger, there are nine more to go. If we don¡¯t loosen these joints, you¡¯ll spend the rest of your life stuck holding a steering wheel pose.¡± At that moment, Zheng Tianfang suddenly laughed. He looked at Bi Fang and poked out his tongue, ¡°Then Mr. Bi, can you tell if my tongue is frostbitten?¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t understand what he meant by that. Seeing Zheng Tianfang¡¯s mischievous expression and taking advantage of his lack of attention on his hand, Bi Fang stretched out another finger and frowned, ¡°Of course it¡¯s not, if you can still talk.¡± Hit by the intense pain again, Zheng Tianfang¡¯s face turned red as he restrained himself, ¡°If my fingers end up disabled¡­ that¡¯s fine. I¡¯m a tour guide; I earn my living with my mouth.¡± ¡°Are you guys here for tourism? How did you end up in this situation?¡± Bi Fang laughed at Zheng Tianfang¡¯s words. He rarely met someone so optimistic, especially at his age, who could still crack jokes despite being in such a dire situation. When talking turned back to serious matters, Zheng Tianfang sighed. He looked at the body of the man and sadness clouded his face, ¡°Not tourism. In our car, except for me, the four others were with National Geographic. They wanted to do a special on Mohe and hired me, the local guide, to lead them.¡± ¡°No one expected a snowstorm to hit suddenly. On our way down a slope in the car, we weren¡¯t paying attention, flipped the vehicle, and hit a tree. The one who just passed away was the photographer.¡± [That¡¯s too extreme, right? A tree that thick just snapped on impact?] [Maybe it was already weak? It¡¯s probably a dead tree since most of the branches on it seemed dried out.] [What¡¯s next for them, this group of people?] Bi Fang was also thinking about this. He stared at the flames, frowning in contemplation while methodically straightening out Zheng Tianfang¡¯s fingers, one by one. Every time he straightened a finger, the joints made a cracking sound as if breaking, and the intense pain twisted the face of the naturally optimistic young man. At this point, staying out of the situation was impossible. From the moment Bi Fang set out for this place, he had made his mental preparations. Gradually, Zheng Tianfang¡¯s fingers became movable, and the other two people who were unconscious started to wake up, although it appeared they still hadn¡¯t accepted reality and kept muttering incoherently. The previous man with the injured leg hobbled around trying to find a signal for his shattered screen phone, but all attempts were futile. Gathering everyone around the fire, Bi Fang looked at the young man next to him; he was the only one who seemed able to be of some help. ¡°Does the car have a GPS?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Zheng Tianfang nodded, but then pointed at the completely deflated bumper with a bitter smile, ¡°It¡¯s installed inside the bumper.¡± Bi Fang held his forehead in his hand, speechless for a moment. Without GPS, the rescue team simply couldn¡¯t locate them, let alone now that a blizzard was still raging, preventing the rescue team from moving out. As for determining their location based on the drone¡¯s footage, that was as difficult as finding a specific sand dune in the desert from a single photograph! [Master Fang is speechless.] [Why would you install the GPS inside the bumper? Won¡¯t it be ruined in a collision?] [Isn¡¯t the GPS supposed to be installed ourselves?] [No, it seems that car companies do install the GPS units inside the front and rear bumpers, I remember.] [Doesn¡¯t Master Fang¡¯s drone have a signal? Can¡¯t it be located?] ¡°It won¡¯t work. My drone is custom-made. It has a signal, but it can¡¯t be located. This is to provide you with the most authentic survival experience,¡± Bi Fang said. Bi Fang indicated that this was not a feasible solution; the drone was provided by the System, with no loopholes to exploit. The signal mode of the live-streaming device was not what everyone assumed. It was highly encrypted and then transferred externally, relaying the data via external networks. Firstly, cracking it was an issue, and even if it could be located, the location wouldn¡¯t be here¡ªit might as well be his own home. The drone couldn¡¯t even fly high enough to perform satellite-based terrain location, and with the blizzard, nothing could be clearly captured even at a short distance, making it problematic to even identify heat sources. ¡°Who are you talking to?¡± Big Beard, who had been murmuring all along, finally came to his senses after a great effort. Hearing Bi Fang¡¯s words, he tensed up again. He looked around, eventually focusing on Bi Fang with an anxious expression. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s a live broadcast. I¡¯m streaming live,¡± Bi Fang said as he took out the drone to calm the man¡¯s nerves. ¡°Live broadcast?!¡± Four exclamations of surprise echoed in unison, and everyone looked at Bi Fang with incredulous stares. It was hard for them to imagine what kind of person would live stream in the deep forests with temperatures below minus ten degrees, especially during a blizzard. What are they thinking, chasing fame to the point of risking their lives? ¡°You were also out on a trip and ended up trapped?¡± Zheng Tianfang couldn¡¯t help but ask. He had thought Bi Fang was someone like a ranger, given his extensive knowledge, but a streamer? Maybe a travel streamer, who also got trapped by the sudden blizzard? ¡°No.¡± Facing four pairs of widened eyes, Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°My live stream is about teaching people how to survive in the wilderness. Encountering a blizzard is normal, it¡¯s nothing to me.¡± [I¡¯m flabbergasted, utterly flabbergasted.] [Their eyes are as wide as brass bells ~ ~ ] [Haha, that look on their faces is just like when I first saw Master Fang do a fall protection move, adoring the great talent.] [Basic operation, don¡¯t freak out, everyone just sit down.] [Zheng bro: Such a sturdy thigh to cling on to, if not now, then when?] ¡°Are we all caught on camera?¡± Big Beard looked at the drone, finding it hard to come to terms with it. He was mildly resistant to the idea of broadcasting his hardship, but considering they all had been saved by Bi Fang, he didn¡¯t feel it right to complain. Besides, although the chances were slim, what if there really was a genius who could pinpoint their location just by the footage? Zheng Tianfang swallowed hard, his eyes filled with terror. Glancing at the relentless storm around them, he suddenly realized that their only chance for survival lay with the man before him who considered the blizzard insignificant! Otherwise, left to their own devices, how would they ever escape the howling cold winds? Wait to become frozen stiff? Or to be gnawed to bones by wolves? With these thoughts, Zheng Tianfang immediately knelt in the snow, his tone pleading, ¡°Can you help us?¡± This sudden act of kneeling startled everyone. Bi Fang hurriedly helped Zheng Tianfang to his feet, but just then, the familiar electronic tone sounded once more. [Ding, congratulations to the Host for activating a side quest!] Chapter 61 - Chapter 60 Something went wrong! Chapter 60 Something went wrong! Translator: 549690339 | Accompanied by the familiar electronic tone, a brand-new mission instruction appeared before Bi Fang. ¡°Ding! Congratulations to the host for triggering a side mission!¡± Mission Name: Blizzard Rescue! Mission Content: In this frosty wilderness, can the trapped four people escape alive with your help? Mission Reward: Determined by the number of survivors. Current Survivor Count: 4 Accept the mission? Accept! Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Bi Fang accepted the mission. Even if there weren¡¯t any system commands, he couldn¡¯t leave these four people alone in this situation. Moreover, rescuing people meant true survival. Many things that couldn¡¯t be done before could now be done, which undoubtedly unshackled the constraints on his main skill, Wilderness Survivalist! The sky was pitch black, indistinguishable whether it was due to the thick clouds or the sun setting. The firewood crackled as the five of them sat around it again, seeking the only sliver of warmth in the biting cold. For some reason, after being helped up by Bi Fang, Zheng Tianfang was full of confidence in the man before him, as if the other party would surely agree and lead them out of the wilderness! The other three felt the same. If someone dared to walk alone in the wilderness, he must be stronger than a few geography magazine writers. If he could take them with him, they might survive! They didn¡¯t want to die! With this thought, everyone looked eagerly at Bi Fang, the implication clear without words. Even the audience in front of the screens felt tense, afraid that Bi Fang might refuse, leaving these four people to fend for themselves in the severe cold ¨C a nearly hopeless scenario! If even the professional survivor, Master Fang, found it so difficult, what chance did ordinary people have? Seeing the four shivering people, Bi Fang smiled and bowed his head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t leave you behind. Plus, surviving with four people might even be easier.¡± [Damn, I just knew Master Fang wouldn¡¯t abandon them!] [Best broadcaster! Strongest broadcaster! Forever idolized, I¡¯m a fan of Master Fang for life!] [With such responsibility, Master Fang is definitely a real man! True manliness!] Upon hearing Bi Fang¡¯s promise, all Shuiyou were extremely excited, feeling as if these words meant that escaping to safety was no longer an issue. Even the most indifferent person, seeing life perish before their eyes, couldn¡¯t remain unmoved by the remaining four¡¯s plea. From Qinling to Mohe, Bi Fang had proven his strength and instilled confidence in the audience, who believed that Bi Fang would create a miracle and bring the four back unharmed. Once a promise is made, nothing can stand in the way! Amidst the barrage of comments, a heap of gifts started to flood in. [Pete Not Skinned gifted the broadcaster with a Spaceship*!-After a quick search and sizing up, another spaceship is sent. Master Fang, you are always the god!] [ Lord Mu gifted the broadcaster with Spaceship*io-You¡¯re really impressive, big bro. I respect you so much, wish I could buy you a drink right now if you weren¡¯t so far away!] [Nanana, that¡¯s ma, gifted the broadcaster with a Yacht-1 -The broadcaster is a real man! So manly! I¡¯m in love!] [ pfft! You actually gifted a yacht! My goddess, how did you become someone else¡¯s fawning dog?] [My Lina, my heart is broken! Although Master Fang is handsome and manly, how could you do this to us?] [Why do you say that surviving with four people will be easier?] ¡°Because from now on, my Wilderness Survival isn¡¯t just a live stream show, it¡¯s a real situation!¡± ¡°Previously, I said we couldn¡¯t catch a roe deer because it¡¯s a San You protected animal, but now, if necessary, we can consider it.¡± Actually, even though he said that, the pressure on Bi Fang who had agreed, was still quite big. After all, he couldn¡¯t ensure that he would definitely survive, but at this point, there was no other choice. If these people were left to survive alone in Mohe, it would be no different from murder! Just that thought was something he couldn¡¯t reconcile with his conscience. [666, are we allowed to eat protected animals now?] [Lucky us, tasting a delicacy!] [This is a ¡®get out of death free¡¯ card! ] [This has unbound Master Fang! The most authentic and wildest Wilderness Survival on the internet, the beast unleashed!] Damn it! Go to hell, ¡°The most realistic on the entire network¡±! The shattered phone was emitting sparks and crackling noises. Lu Wentao punched the sandbag, venting all his energy onto the punching bag in front of him as if it were his father¡¯s murderer. With the intention of mastering Master Fang¡¯s skills to surpass him, Lu Wentao had been watching Bi Fang¡¯s live streams for the past two days. Until this moment, he suddenly felt as though the more he chased, the farther away he got, especially after that recent breakthrough to over six hundred thousand viewers, which deeply stung Lu Wentao. His opponent¡¯s dust-eating stance infuriated him to no end. What should he do? If he really did save someone and made the news, how could he compete with that? He had originally thought that his financial interest was better, as if he earned a hundred and had to give away sixty, while he earned seventy and only had to give twenty, but Lu Wentao never expected his opponent to have such huge potential, so massive that it was unreachable for him! Damn it! If he could start over, Lu Wentao would rather he had never live-streamed Wilderness Survival, never knowing what it felt like to be in the spotlight. But now, it¡¯s impossible to go back. How could a frog that has seen the sky be willing to return to the pond? Even if the outside world wasn¡¯t right for him. With Bi Fang¡¯s promise secured, the four of them suddenly had a backbone. Big Beard, who had been shivering all along, directly asked what to do next. As employees of a geography magazine, setting up tents and such wasn¡¯t difficult for them, but when it came to wilderness survival, they were completely clueless. Bi Fang glanced at the trembling four: ¡°First, eat something, then build a snow shelter. When daylight comes, we¡¯ll figure out which way is south and set off. Nobody can find us here; we can only rely on ourselves to get out.¡± ¡°Someone will launch a search, right? Why don¡¯t we stay put?¡± The man with the injured leg disagreed somewhat, ¡°Since you¡¯re live streaming, someone must have called the police. Why not wait for rescue?¡± ¡°Because your GPS is broken, no one knows where this is. Can you identify the exact corner of a forest from just one picture? Moreover, with the blizzard ongoing, no plane can be sent out to search. If you don¡¯t want to freeze or starve to death, we can only rely on ourselves! And I, or rather, you, don¡¯t have time to wait for rescue!¡± Upon hearing Bi Fang¡¯s explanation, everyone fell silent, as the situation seemed to have gotten worse. [Why not just listen to Master Fang? Does this guy think he has a better plan?] [You can¡¯t say that. After all, they don¡¯t understand Master Fang¡¯s capabilities. I reckon Master Fang alone is worth a whole rescue team.] [Exactly, these people have no idea how awesome Master Fang is without watching the live stream. He¡¯s definitely a professional survivalist!] [ No doubt, I feel like he¡¯s even more formidable than special forces, with rock climbing, river crossing, not to mention, he knows all about plants and animals, the breadth of his knowledge is extensive!] | You¡¯re right, knowledge is power, and that¡¯s absolutely true. ] Seeing that no one spoke up, Bi Fang looked towards Zheng Tianfang. ¡°Do you have any supplies left?¡± Upon hearing this, Zheng Tianfang stood up, rummaged through the trunk for a while, then came to Bi Fang with a gloomy expression and put a black bag on the ground: ¡°That¡¯s all we have.¡± Bi Fang took the backpack and searched through it, finding a compass, several compressed biscuits, frostbite ointment, and a first aid kit. He immediately took out alcohol and bandages and looked at the others: ¡°Can anyone disinfect and bandage wounds?¡± ¡°I can!¡± The woman in the group raised her hand. Bi Fang handed her the medical supplies and instructed her to re-treat the man¡¯s leg wound properly. Alongside gasps of pain, Bi Fang took out the few clothes he had left and had the man, dripping in cold sweat, change his inner lining to prevent sweating and loss of body heat. ¡°Alright, next we need to hurry up and build a snow shelter. If you don¡¯t want to freeze to death, start piling snow quickly. Remember, the diameter of the ground should be at least four meters and the height above two meters!¡± As Bi Fang issued orders, the four instinctively started moving. People in a state of panic always prefer to follow others¡¯ suggestions. The four of them, who were like headless flies, were no exception. ¡°There are five of us this time; I can¡¯t dig out five snow caves. So the snow cave I made yesterday is no longer sufficient. This time, 1¡¯11 teach you how to build a snow shelter that can accommodate multiple people to rest!¡± Seeing everyone getting to work, Bi Fang explained why he had them pile the snow. ¡°First, we need to pack the snow on the ground firmly; that¡¯s essentially the foundation. And we can start by piling up backpacks or other large materials on top, so we can reduce the work needed to dig out the inner space.¡± Bi Fang watched the others pile snow as if they were making snowballs, while he stomped on the spot himself, ensuring the ground snow was compact. But just when he was halfway through, a scream came from the nearby woods! Someone was in trouble! Chapter 62 - Chapter 61: Dragged Down Chapter 61: Dragged Down Translator: 549690339 | In the gloomy forest, Hu Hao leaned against a tree, clutching his forehead. He breathed deeply, trying to increase his blood oxygen level, but he still felt dizzy. He hadn¡¯t yet recovered from the events of the day, especially after seeing an old friend of many years frozen solid, which left him feeling the world spin. Hu Hao thought it all might be a dream, hoping to wake up to see his wife and children on the warm kang, instead of this goddamn snow, snow, and more fucking snow! This snow, it rendered him helpless. Hu Hao shivered and glanced at the orange glow of the fire not far away. He found a secluded corner, ready to relieve himself to relax his tense bladder, but suddenly saw a dark figure standing outside the passenger side, moving occasionally. ¡°Fuck! What is that thing?¡± The snowstorm was so heavy that Hu Hao couldn¡¯t make out what the devil was squatting next to the passenger side. He quickly buckled his belt, starting with small steps and then breaking into a jog. But when he was less than five meters from the vehicle, bathed in the faint firelight, Hu Hao saw what it was and halted in his tracks. Seemly sensing the arrival of a human, a pair of green eyes suddenly lit up in the darkness, and erect black fur fluttered in the snowy wind. Dammit! It really was a ¡°dog thing¡±! A gray wolf! Hu Hao felt his bladder clench, the urge to urinate he hadn¡¯t managed to satisfy now felt uncontrollably imperative! Fuck! Hu Hao wanted to run, but to his surprise, after the wolf glanced at him, it continued to squat by the passenger side, its head pulling and stretching. Instantly, a scorching heat rose like steam from a furnace, rushing to Hu Hao¡¯s forehead. His face flushed, he stood there dumbstruck, not thinking of anything, and charged forward. How dare this beast, how dare it! ¡°Motherfucker, get the hell out of here!¡± Hu Hao¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, but before he could reach it, the wolf reacted swiftly, pouncing straight at Big Beard, opening its maw, dripping with flesh and blood, and biting onto his arm. ¡°Ah!¡± A scream echoed through the entire forest. Hearing the scream, Bi Fang hurried over, but by the time he arrived, he only saw a large black shadow disappearing swiftly into the snowstorm. The live stream audience was scared by the huge shadow, and they bombarded the chat with questions. [Holy shit, what was that? It was huge! ] [A wolf, right? It must have been a wolf?] [Damn, a wolf that big? That¡¯s way larger than a dog, isn¡¯t it?] [No shit, you really think wolves and dogs are about the same size? They¡¯re not even in the same league!] [What do we do now?] On the other side, Zheng Tianfang and the middle-aged man who had arrived earlier dropped their sticks and helped the gasping Hu Hao to his feet. If they hadn¡¯t come soon enough to scare off the gray wolf, Hu Hao might have been a goner. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Bi Fang asked Big Beard. With his soul barely returned to his body, Hu Hao gasped for cold air, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and despite his lips trembling with pallor, he checked his hand and was surprised to find it was only his clothes that had been bitten. He shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m okay, my clothes are thick, it only bit the clothing.¡± Relieved, Bi Fang knew well that a wolf¡¯s bite force was nearly 300 kg; if it had bitten down on the arm, a fracture was almost certain, unless you were Wolverine; moreover, a serious infection would surely follow, and Hu Hao would likely not make it out of this snowy forest. Wu Mingtao, limping, threw his stick to the ground, deeply shaken by everything that had occurred that day. He looked at Bi Fang in despair, ¡°What was that? A coyote? Why¡­ why was it so big?¡± Zheng Tianfang also stared at Bi Fang, as though hoping for a different answer, even willing to believe it was a dog if that had been the claim, and he would believe it without doubt. Bi Fang looked at the two men but gave no answer. Fearing their emotions might collapse, he pointed to the campfire not far away. ¡°Let¡¯s head back and discuss there.¡± Soon, the five sat together. Bi Fang handed a towel to Hu Hao, telling him to wipe his sweat, and glanced at the four panicked men before jokingly saying to Hu Hao, ¡°It¡¯s good you weren¡¯t bitten, or it¡¯d be trouble if you turned into a werewolf.¡± They looked at each other, but no one laughed, and the atmosphere once again fell silent. Bi Fang: ¡°¡­¡± He saw how everyone was so dejected, he wanted to liven up the mood. [Four people: Suddenly it¡¯s even colder, do you have to freeze us to death to be satisfied?] [Laughing to death, but not completely dead yet.] [You can tell, Master Fang wants them not to be too tense, unfortunately, things backfired, and the situation got worse.] Seeing the barrage, Bi Fang coughed twice. ¡± Are there a lot of those things?¡± Zheng Tianfang asked. ¡°What?¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t hear clearly. ¡°Wolves!¡± Zheng Tianfang hugged his head, even his naturally optimistic nature was almost stressed to the point of losing hair, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that wolf packs always move together¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, maybe it¡¯s just a lone wolf¡­¡± Bi Fang hadn¡¯t finished speaking when he was interrupted by a sharp voice. ¡± Aren¡¯t you a professional Wilderness Survivalist? You don¡¯t even know this?¡± Bi Fang glanced at the man with a limp who had spoken and didn¡¯t reply, ¡± what¡¯s most important now is finding food, maybe the wolf was just passing by¡­¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Big Beard interrupted Bi Fang¡¯s words, ¡°What do you mean ¡®maybe passing by¡¯? What if it¡¯s not? What¡¯s the worst that could happen?¡± Seeing Big Beard¡¯s tense expression, Bi Fang knew he might have realized something, after all, he was from a geographical magazine and knew more than the average person. He looked down and added some firewood, ¡°Living here, hunting in this area.¡± ¡°A wolf pack¡¯s territory is about eight square kilometers, and their hunting range is no less than eighty square kilometers. If we get close to their den, entering their activity radius, they will follow us.¡± The audience was completely dumbfounded when they heard this, and they started sending a barrage of comments like crazy. [Eighty square kilometers? That big? How long would we have to walk?] [Damn, isn¡¯t this game over? If that¡¯s the case, won¡¯t Master Fang encounter the wolf pack even if he doesn¡¯t save these people?] [Wolf pack? Can humans even deal with that? Even lions and tigers wouldn t dare to take on a wolf pack, right?] [Isn¡¯t this over? This is even more dangerous than the last time we encountered Black Bear!] Many viewers recalled the previous scene of Snatching Food from a Bear¡¯s Mouth, and after comparing, they found the difficulty level wasn¡¯t even close! And the four people who heard this were also stunned. An entire wolf pack targeting them? Is there enough to eat? Zheng Tianfang found the thought absurd, and when it came to him, his subconscious reaction was not whether he could fight back or not, but whether there would be enough to eat. He looked at Bi Fang, who had a calm expression, and suddenly felt a flicker of luck. He quickly asked, ¡°How do we know if they are targeting us or not?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way to know,¡± Bi Fang looked at the burning fire, They might be here looking for food and just happened upon us.¡± ¡°And the activity radius? If we entered it, what would happen? Would they attack us?¡± Wu Mingtao was very nervous. Bi Fang didn¡¯t answer, because the answer to this question was obvious. ¡°Wolf packs are afraid of nothing.¡± As Bi Fang finished explaining, the live-streaming room exploded with reactions; everyone had seen that big wolf earlier, and now they couldn¡¯t even imagine what kind of scene it would be if such ferocious carnivores gathered together. Some people even began to think that Bi Fang shouldn¡¯t have come to rescue these people. [It feels like Master Fang could have escaped on his own, but now he is completely bogged down.] [Wasn¡¯t that person bleeding a lot just now? Maybe it¡¯s the blood scent that attracted them?] [Master Fang, just ignore them and leave, four burdens, and one of them is injured. With such teammates, no matter how awesome you are, you can¡¯t make it.] [Damn, aren¡¯t you a bit too heartless upstairs? They are in such dire straits, if even Master Fang ignores them, wouldn¡¯t that be awaiting death?] [Exactly, how can one just watch and not help?] Seeing all kinds of comments in the barrage, Bi Fang hurriedly intervened. ¡°It¡¯s not because of the blood scent. The blizzard is so huge that even with wolves¡¯ keen noses they can¡¯t smell it. Encountering one this time is purely a coincidence, which means that even if I didn¡¯t come to rescue them, I would have already entered the territory of the wolves. Once the blizzard stops, they would likely follow the scent to find me.¡± Chapter 63 - Chapter 63: Chapter 62 A Blaze Reduced to Ashes Chapter 63: Chapter 62 A Blaze Reduced to Ashes Translator: 549690339 | Being able to know about the wolf presence in advance was arguably a good thing for Bi Fang, after all, being prepared and being completely unaware are two different concepts. [So, whether we save them or not, we¡¯re going to run into them, right?] [Thinking about it that way, I can accept it¡­] [Having more people is also a deterrent to the wolf pack, isn¡¯t it?] [Let¡¯s just go with Master Fang¡¯s idea, even if Master Fang is unwilling, we absolutely won¡¯t impose moral coercion!] [Right, it¡¯s too dangerous, Master Fang, just do what you think is best! We all support you!] Alright, stop hanging your heads, if you don¡¯t want to freeze to death, then keep piling up snow and quickly build the camp, Tianfang, you come with me to handle the corpse.¡± Bi Fang picked up a stick and then patted Zheng Tianfang¡¯s shoulder to signal him to follow. This young man was the only one with relatively stable emotions; Bi Fang planned to go with him to deal with the man¡¯s corpse first. Even though his group was set to depart early the next morning, they couldn¡¯t just let the man¡¯s body be exposed in the wilderness. ¡°Wait, how do you plan to handle it?¡± Hu Hao suddenly stopped Bi Fang, wanting to know how the other intended to deal with the corpse when they didn¡¯t have any shovels to bury it. And if it was buried, that would be fine, they could return later to find it and take the ashes back, but if¡­ ¡°Burn it.¡± Bi Fang could tell from Hu Hao¡¯s expression what his calculations were, essentially wanting to give the family of the deceased some closure. He ¡¯ understood but didn¡¯t agree, because this was the wilderness. Forgive my bluntness, if you don¡¯t want your companion to be dug up and eaten by wolves or something else, then just burn the body. It¡¯s fortunate that I checked, and there¡¯s still plenty of fuel left in your tank, enough for our purposes.¡± After hearing what Bi Fang said, Hu Hao fell silent and, after hesitating for a moment, silently went to pile up snow. Seeing that the rest had no objections, Bi Fang found a few relatively thick sticks, took the blankets and some spare clothes from the car, and went to the back where the fuel tank was. He planned to make several torches for protection first; wolves are very cunning animals and even understand the concepts of cover and feint attacks. ¡°Many people think that wild animals are afraid of fire; actually, that¡¯s not the case. The type of fire animals fear is the kind that has a large spreading range and rapidly intensifying flames, not small fires like torches.¡± ¡°If the animals are determined to attack you, a torch is useless. Sometimes it can even provoke the animal to take retaliatory actions. For example, walking at night with a torch makes it easy to be attacked by a venomous snake lurking in the underbrush.¡± ¡°But this doesn¡¯t mean torches are useless, because wild animals are accustomed to using the cover of darkness for their hunting activities. The light exposes them, and without sufficient security, they are less likely to undertake hunting activities they are not sure about. This is the real reason wild animals won¡¯t easily attack humans with torches!¡± Zheng Tianfang listened quietly by the side, knowing the explanation was for both the audience and himself. ¡°Are you a zoologist?¡± ¡°No, but in Wilderness Survivalist, dealing with fierce animals is inevitable.¡± Bi Fang found a hose in the trunk. [Last time it was a Bear, this time it¡¯s wolves, I feel like every live stream of Master Fang is so popular.] [Is this Tang Sanzang¡¯s flesh? (joking)] [Last time he was alone, at least now there¡¯s a team] (Last time it was one bear, so Master Fang went solo, now it¡¯s a pack of wolves, thus he got teammates?] (Toxic Sorcerer gifted the host 66 meatballs-fair competition this round, eh!] [Give it a rest, fair competition, they¡¯re all old, sick, and weak, not dragging the team down is already good, didn¡¯t you see the one with the injured leg just now? He nearly cried when he heard about the wolves.] Because of the wolf presence, the group chat was much more active, and the popularity of the live stream began a new surge, which surprised and delighted Wang Yongbo. He was excited about the high number of viewers, close to Shark Lu Wentao¡¯s eight hundred thousand, yet he worried whether Bi Fang could really be in danger. Originally just monitoring the backend data, he was now utterly captivated by this unprecedented live stream. Bi Fang also felt that his luck was exploding, thinking that maybe next time he might try buying a lottery ticket. As time passed, the blizzard slowly diminished a lot, and perhaps it wouldn¡¯t be much longer before the storm stopped. He trudged through the snow, found a stone of suitable size, and then fixed the sticks upright. ¡°If conditions allow, we should choose materials that burn slowly to make torches, and we can dip them a bit in oil. Luckily, this car¡¯s fuel tank isn¡¯t leaking, so we can make use of it.¡± ¡°Hold the drone for me.¡± Bi Fang had Zheng Tianfang hold the drone while he placed the hunting knife against one end of a wooden stick and struck the back of the knife with a found stone, splitting one end of the stick into four sections about 30 centimeters long. This allowed the torch head to fully interact with the air. ¡°A stick around the size of mine is just right, about 1.5 meters long and 6 centimeters in diameter. Actually, the best material for torches is bamboo. You split it into four equal parts up to the first node; you can pack a lot of combustible material inside, but obviously we can¡¯t get that here.¡± Watching Bi Fang skillfully making a torch, Zheng Tianfang couldn¡¯t help feeling more confident. Although he didn¡¯t know if the knowledge was correct, the other party clearly knew a lot, and was decisive in action. ¡°Remember, don¡¯t use wood that¡¯s too dry, so it won¡¯t burn too quickly. Add some oil-rich pine nuts or oil, and that will make the torch burn slower.¡± ¡°Be sure not to use materials that easily drip combustibles, like plastic. It¡¯s very unsafe, and don¡¯t use materials that produce a lot of dense smoke, as they will generate too much carbon monoxide.¡± Bi Fang opened the car¡¯s fuel cap, inserted a hose, took a sip, then pulled it out, using the siphoning principle to extract the gasoline. He drenched pieces of cloth and clothing with it and then wrapped the flammable items tightly around the head of a stick. They were going to leave tomorrow and didn¡¯t want to waste gasoline, so they made more torches and wouldn¡¯t be delayed on the road because of it. When they lit the finished torches, the surroundings immediately brightened. Bi Fang and Zheng Tianfang wrapped the body in blankets and poured gasoline on it. After making sure there was nothing around that could catch fire and that the flames wouldn¡¯t spread, Bi Fang lit the fire pit. The cremation of an adult typically requires around 21 liters of fuel and takes about an hour. To make it faster, Bi Fang poured the rest of the gasoline they couldn¡¯t carry onto it. The flames spread like serpents, thick black smoke billowed into the air, and then the wind scattered it in all directions. Bi Fang and Zheng Tianfang took two steps back, standing silently, like statues. The smell of burning a body was unbearably foul, but no one moved. That life had just vanished before their eyes, and now it was going to embrace the vast open sky. As they watched the billowing black smoke rise, the audience felt a sense of sorrow. [Life is so fleeting.] [This is the most fucking awesome live stream I¡¯ve ever seen. If I hadn¡¯t seen it with my own eyes, I would have thought it was a movie.] [I feel like with some good editing, this could totally be released in theaters.] [Lord Mu has sent a yacht to the streamer ¡ª Master Fang¡¯s broadcasts are getting more and more impressive. Every time I watch, it¡¯s a new experience.] [Nanana sending a yacht to the streamer *1 ¡ª I¡¯m about to cry.] ¡°You have a lot of fans,¡± Zheng Tianfang said, a touch of envy in his voice as he watched the barrage of comments on the drone¡¯s monitor. If he hadn¡¯t been mistaken, at least a few spaceships had flown by while they were making the torches. He was a young man who liked watching live streams and knew exactly how much a spaceship was worth. Even at a basic 50/50 profit split, he¡¯d have a few thousand in hand. ¡°All earned with my life on the line. Nothing to be envious about. Do you know what I encountered during my last live stream?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Abear, a 200-kilogram black bear!¡± As the two of them walked together, Bi Fang shared with Zheng Tianfang his glorious feat from half a month ago. But as soon as they approached the fire, a series of low growls began to sound off in the darkness beyond. Bi Fang¡¯s expression changed. He quickly shouted to the three people stacking snow to come closer. The relaxed atmosphere from the subsiding blizzard abruptly vanished, and the situation tensed up in an instant. Hu Hao and the others, who were piling up snow, panicked and stumbled over to Bi Fang. Wu Mingtao, who was injured, even took a fall, grimacing from the pam of his wound. Yet, he still crawled and rolled over to join them. In the distance, through the dark, there was a thick, inescapable scent of blood in the air, turning everyone¡¯s complexion ghostly white. It was a wolf pack! A huge pack of wolves, numbering in the tens if not hundreds! Even though they were modern people who had been exposed to the internet, familiar with data and videos on wild beasts, even the audience had never seen so many wolves gathered together. Those green eyes shimmered in unison under the cover of night, eerily glowing, causing a chill to run down everyone¡¯s spine. Chapter 64 - Chapter 64: Chapter 63: Need to Prepare 1800 Diapers Chapter 64: Chapter 63: Need to Prepare 1800 Diapers Translator: 549690339 | Big wolves! Big wolves of the same kind! Such agile creatures appearing all at once in such a large group! It was almost like a miracle, stirring an urge to worship. To say there were hundreds of wolves would definitely be an exaggeration, but dozens, for sure! Everyone was intimidated by those dozens of green eyes, trembling with fear and dripping with cold sweat. If they hadn¡¯t been seated on stools or lying in bed, some viewers might have collapsed to the ground. Many people left the screen. They didn¡¯t dare to watch anymore. The pressure was palpable even through the screen; what about in reality? They were terrified that in the next second they would witness the pack of wolves pouncing and shredding the five people on the scene into bits of flesh and bone. ¡°Everyone, stay calm, don¡¯t move!¡± Bi Fang held up a torch and stepped forward to stand in front, simultaneously stretching out his hand to protect the four people gathered behind him. Zheng Tianfang, beside him, hurriedly grabbed a torch like Bi Fang, but his trembling torch betrayed his innermost thoughts. The woman and Big Beard clutched the back of Bi Fang¡¯s clothes as if to derive some sense of security. In fact, in the event of an accident, Bi Fang himself wouldn¡¯t be safe. Nobody could face a pack of wolves without fear, including him. Fear is the protective mechanism of humans, helping people seek benefits and avoid dangers to protect themselves from harm, so it doesn¡¯t disappear; but truly strong people can overcome fear, conquer it, not letting it take control over their bodies, allowing reason to take the high ground, and looking for better ways to protect themselves and others. Bi Fang kept his cool and took another half step forward. The torch, soaked in gasoline, blazed fiercely, casting a halo of light that dispelled the darkness ahead, unveiling a wolf¡¯s snarling mouth in front of everyone. Suddenly illuminated by the firelight, the big wolf at the forefront lowered its head and took a half step back, receding into the darkness, but its eerie growl raised everyone¡¯s hackles. A faint stench of blood and filth drifted in the wind, and everyone smelled it, their faces going deathly pale as if dancing face-to-face with the wolves. Wu Mingtao¡¯s legs turned to jelly, and he uncontrollably collapsed to the ground. His pupils shrunk to the size of pinholes; he gaped, voiceless as if his vocal cords had vanished, and could only emit a harsh, breathy hiss. Having glanced at Wu Mingtao who had fallen to the ground, Bi Fang was immediately alerted by the reappearance of the wolves¡¯ muzzles and hastily returned his attention to the confrontation with the wolves. Watching the wolves on the verge of action, Bi Fang shouted loudly, ¡°Keep staring back at them!¡± But Wu Mingtao seemed to have not heard and remained seated, his hands on the ground, even trying to retreat. Bi Fang caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye and became furious. ¡°Zheng Tianfang! If you don¡¯t want to die, pull him up, quick!¡± Zheng Tianfang, taken aback when suddenly called upon, quickly came to his senses. For some reason, he felt unusually strong; turning around, he grabbed Wu Mingtao¡¯s arm and yanked him up from the ground. As another pair of watching eyes vanished, the pack of wolves grew more restless, but Bi Fang took another step forward and managed to force the wolves back into the darkness. The woman behind him grabbed Bi Fang¡¯s arm tightly, causing him pain. ¡°Wait¡­ why aren¡¯t they coming over?¡± Big Beard stared back at the wolf pack, sweat pouring down; he wanted to retreat to the safety of the car, but it was strange why the wolves didn¡¯t attack. ¡°It¡¯s the light; it makes them feel insecure. And with five of us here, as long as we show our strength and courage, they¡¯ll think they can¡¯t take us down without getting hurt!¡± [My god, do wolves even consider combat losses? Aim to take us down unharmed?] [After forming a pack, their intelligence must increase, right?] [These wolves are practically supernatural; if it were me, not only would I not be able to stare them down, I¡¯d probably pee myself out of fear.] [Don¡¯t even say it. Who watches a Master Fang live stream without prepping a few hundred diapers?] [And add a dozen bottles of Fast-acting Heart-saving Pills¡­] [With my medicine, I¡¯m back in the game!] ¡°Don¡¯t let the wolves see your fear. Make them think you¡¯re a tough nut to crack! Once you avert your gaze, they¡¯ll know you¡¯re scared and will charge at you to bite!¡± Beasts can smell your fear; the more scared you are, the more excited they become. In an instant, these words appeared in many viewers¡¯ minds, as if every time they faced mortal danger, this concept would be mentioned. This made all the long-time fans remember it well, even considering it an absolute truth. On the other side, Zheng Tianfang had also pulled Wu Mingtao up, and now all five of them were staring back at the green eyes in the darkness. As time passed, the wolves stopped moving, and Zheng Tianfang and the others gradually gained confidence. ¡°Roar!¡± A sudden roar exploded beside Bi Fang¡¯s ear, nearly making him jump. Annoyed, he blindly kicked Hu Hao beside him. ¡°What the hell are you doing!?¡± Hu Hao, who had been kicked, was stunned for a moment. Realizing his mistake, he sheepishly said, ¡°Didn¡¯t we say we had to show strength, to make them think we¡¯re not to be messed with¡­¡± ¡°You motherfucker, doing that will only enrage the wolf pack! Don¡¯t fucking take matters into your own hands!¡± Bi Fang was so angry he let out two curse words in a row. He was really fed up with this blockhead taking initiatives on his own. A moment ago, he truly thought the wolves were charging at them, and he almost drew his knife. [Damn, that scream almost made me piss myself!] [What the hell is wrong with this pig-headed teammate?] [Big Beard is too brave; this is simply blind recklessness!] [Big Beard does have guts.] [Bullshit, he¡¯s just brainless! Only knows how to drag us down, such a noob!] Luckily, the wolf pack was not provoked by Big Beard¡¯s roar into taking further action and gradually disappeared into the darkness under the watchful eyes of Bi Fang and others. As pair after pair of green eyes vanished into the darkness, everyone felt a sense of relief wash over them. The audience in front of their screens collapsed in awe, with gifts and bullet comments being spammed like a raging tsunami, as the popularity soared past six hundred thousand and was fast approaching seven hundred thousand! This was a direct soar from obscurity to fame in just two days! Many streamers had their fan count steadily increase after rounds of recommendations, but even being featured didn¡¯t have such a powerful effect. Wang Yongbo never dreamed that such a miraculous figure would appear under his own name. Miracle! He even began to imagine that the future king of the live streaming industry was about to be born on Wolf Fang TV! What¡¯s Shark TV? I, Wang Yongbo, will sweep the entire live streaming industry, from Shark to Tiger Fang, and then shit on their heads! [Prostrating in admiration!] [Prostrating in admiration +1!] [Pete not-so-Tough gifted the host a Spaceship*!¡ªMaster Fang is truly awesome] [Lord Mu gifted the host a Spaceship*!¡ªRespect, true respect, facing the wolf pack without changing expression! ] [Grandpa, Master Fang is my own grandpa. Freaking amazing!] [Roll the hell away, don¡¯t climb the family tree randomly. Does Master Fang have a grandson as old as you?] [Can¡¯t I just have claimed him?] [Where¡¯s your dignity? Can¡¯t you show a bit of shame?] [Face got snatched by a wolf¡­] [Last time battled Black Bear, this time bravely repelled a pack of wolves, I¡¯ll say this, the strongest in the live streaming world. Any objections from you all here? Who agrees, who disagrees?] Seeing the situation had temporarily settled down, Bi Fang began to assign tasks again: ¡°Once the camp is built, we¡¯ll rotate rest shifts every three hours. I¡¯ll take the first shift.¡± Having said that, Bi Fang ran over to where the snow was piled up and hurried to set up camp, while Big Beard ran over to offer a sincere apology. ¡°No harm done, just do as I say next time, and don¡¯t ever take initiative on your own,¡± Bi Fang said. Although he had been angry at the time, with the danger past, he was calm. ¡°Absolutely, absolutely!¡± Having witnessed Bi Fang lead them in repelling the wolf pack, Hu Hao was thoroughly convinced of the young man¡¯s ability and nodded and bowed. Seeing this, Bi Fang had no heart to continue to be harsh. Since the other party¡¯s intentions were also good, he shook his head and then looked at Wu Mingtao, who had collapsed on the ground with a vacant look in his eyes. He was really worried about this man¡¯s condition going forward. In wilderness survival, mental state is extremely important. Once the mind snaps, no matter how advanced your survival skills are, they¡¯re of no use. But Bi Fang wasn¡¯t a psychologist, so he could only hope that Wu Mingtao would hold on until they successfully made it through. Approaching the well-piled heap of snow, the crystallized and hardened mound was now a meter thick and very sturdy. Bi Fang began to remove items like backpacks that he¡¯d placed inside earlier to reduce the amount of work needed for digging the shelter, and then he started to reshape the interior. ¡°Be careful not to dig out too much and weaken the walls, which can easily cause a collapse. To avoid this, we can insert branches evenly into the pile, with these branches being over thirty centimeters long. Once we hit a branch while digging, that means we should stop,¡± he instructed. While explaining some tips to Zheng Tianfang, who was holding a drone, Bi Fang¡¯s hands did not stop moving, continuously throwing snow out. The entrance of the snow shelter was small, allowing only one person to pass through, and the shock-stricken Hu Hao and the others couldn¡¯t help but watch Bi Fang work on his own. Soon, as another handful of snow was thrown out, the main body of the snow den was completed. In the vast snowy woods, gazing at the snow den that blended seamlessly into its surroundings, the onlooking Hu Hao and others were left with their mouths agape, wide enough to swallow an egg! This guy was truly a genius! Chapter 65 - Chapter 65: Chapter 64 Really Professional Chapter 65: Chapter 64 Really Professional Translator: 549690339 The main structure was completed, and Bi Fang made some minor repairs, digging a tunnel as an entrance and exit so that the cold air would sink below the lying position. ¡°The entrance and exit must be as small as possible, just enough to crawl through. You can also use the snow dug out from inside the shelter to build a windbreak wall at the exit, which will minimize the drafts coming in through the entrance.¡± ¡°Big brother, that¡¯s freaking awesome!¡± Hu Hao was somewhat excited; he had heard of the Inuit people constructing similar buildings but had never seen it with his own eyes, let alone lived in one. He immediately couldn¡¯t wait to crawl in. [Hahaha, Big Beard is really curious.] [Normal, whenever it snows here, I also want to try making one; it feels more thrilling than pitching a tent in the wild.] [Watching Master Fang¡¯s live streams, I always learn so much. It seems useful not just for wilderness survival but also for trying out with friends for fun.] [Do you want to do it with friends? You just want to show off! You¡¯re shameless!] [I admit it, I just want to perform miracles in front of others, am I proud of that?] [Speaking of which, four men, one woman, are you all going to sleep together?] [The sister looks pretty; Master Fang struck it big this time!] [Damn, can you still joke about this when life is on the line? You¡¯re thinking about this now? You¡¯ve definitely overeaten.] Watching Bi Fang build a warm place to shelter from the severe cold, the audience diverted their attention from the previous sadness and tension, and the serious barrage of comments took a lighter turn again. ¡°Alright, you guys go to sleep inside; there¡¯s enough room. I¡¯ll take the first watch, then Zheng Tianfang will take over, followed by Hu Hao. You two, just have a good rest for the night.¡± Bi Fang patted the snow off himself and simply arranged the night watch tasks, taking care of the injured Wu Mingtao and the female comrade, leaving the rest to Zheng Tianfang and the others without any objections. After all, the three of them were in the best condition and could still hold on. Just as Bi Fang was about to end the live stream, he faced stronger opposition from the audience than ever before. [Don¡¯t, don¡¯t; just keep it on. If something happens, maybe we¡¯ll notice and warn you first!] [Damn, what kind of doom and gloom talk is that from the guy above? Spit it out!] [That¡¯s so ominous, just like my grandma.] [I really don¡¯t want to miss out on this live stream, even if it just stays on with no one around. We still want to keep an eye on it.] [Lord Mu donates a Spaceship*! to the streamer¡ªseriously, big brother, I really don¡¯t want to miss a single second this time!] Seeing that even Lord Mu had spoken up, Bi Fang really couldn¡¯t refuse anymore. The other party had been following his stream since his first live broadcast, never missing a day. Lord Mu wasn¡¯t just some idle rich second-generation but a bona fide company CEO. For such a person to take time out every day to watch his live streams, and to be so generous, was quite rare. It was evident that the other party truly wanted to be his friend, and this was the first time he had requested not to end the stream. ¡°Alright, in light of Lord Mu¡¯s regard, I won¡¯t end the stream this time. But first, I need to switch out the battery to prevent the drone from running out of power.¡± Bi Fang turned the drone¡¯s camera away from himself and briefly ended the live stream, reopening it very quickly. The need to change the drone¡¯s battery was a ruse; since obtaining the drone, Bi Fang had never seen it require any replenishment of energy, but he certainly couldn¡¯t let the audience know that. In the past, he could claim he changed it at night, but that excuse wouldn¡¯t work with a continuous stream. Bi Fang was a man who paid attention to detail. With the live stream back on, Bi Fang placed it in a suitable corner outside the snow shelter, so it could record throughout the night. Seeing this, the audience was finally satisfied. Today¡¯s live stream was unprecedented, and they didn¡¯t want to miss a moment of it. However, this put Wang Yongbo in a tough spot. When the platform had to shut down a streamer, it would first perform an internal review which, if the issue escalated, could lead to police intervention. As vice president, he had managed to block the initial attempt, and was currently striving hard against the second. The live stream was special this time around; it wasn¡¯t deliberately gruesome, and the purpose was positively charged, involving rescue efforts. No one could argue against its merit, especially since there was a slim chance that one could ascertain the location through the live footage. Although this probability was slim, it could not be denied as a possibility. Eventually, through persuasive efforts and with a little help from an expert, he managed to halt the second wave of shutdowns, ensuring the preservation of Bi Fang¡¯s live stream. Slumped on the couch, Wang Yongbo glanced at the blizzard-ravaged live broadcast and silently prayed for Bi Fang¡¯s safe return. All he could do was to make sure she had nothing to worry about back home¡­ In the middle of the night, when Bi Fang was halfway through her watch, she approached the snow-covered shelter and suddenly realized that none of the people inside were asleep. They were all just sitting there, quietly enduring. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you sleeping?¡± Bi Fang was somewhat displeased. A person¡¯s energy is limited, and proper rest is necessary. Without it, surviving the following days would be much more difficult. ¡°How could anyone sleep?¡± Zheng Tianfang smiled wryly. Now, when he closed his eyes, he could almost see his companions¡¯ lifeless pupils, as if silently narrating some unspeakable tale. Bi Fang sighed. Indeed, for someone¡¯s first time experiencing such a situation, insomnia was quite normal. In fact, most of the time, people¡¯s worries stem from overthinking and negative speculation about a situation, rather than being trapped by the facts. You are trapped by ¡°your own thoughts.¡± Like now, Zheng Tianfang was undoubtedly troubled by the possibility of a wolf attack, by the thought that they might not be able to make it out, but, in reality, none of these things had happened yet. ¡°Stop imagining, live in the moment, believe in the positive, and you will be freed from most of your troubles.¡± Hearing this advice, Zheng Tianfang seemed contemplative. Finally, Bi Fang patted his shoulder, encouraging him to rest some more. ¡°Try to get some rest soon. It will be your turn to keep watch before long, and you cannot afford to be sleepy. Plus, we need to set off early tomorrow, so don¡¯t hold us back.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Seeing him nod and return to lie down in the shelter, Bi Fang then continued to warm herself by the fire. Another hour passed before Zheng Tianfang came out on his own. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, you couldn¡¯t rest?¡± ¡°No, I slept for a while.¡± Zheng Tianfang shook his head. ¡°You go rest. I¡¯ll take over from here.¡± Bi Fang watched him for a moment before nodding in agreement. ¡°Remember not to stray too far, not even beyond five meters for a bathroom break! And definitely don¡¯t get distracted!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t fall asleep,¡± assured Zheng Tianfang, patting Bi Fang¡¯s arm to put her at ease. Bi Fang then crawled into the tunnel, felt the warmth of the shelter, and soon fell into a deep slumber. In the brightly lit living room, Lin Zhengnan paced back and forth. The empty living room echoed with the sound of dress shoes tapping against the floor, while the largest television in the center played Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast! This scene had been going on for half an hour. Lin Zhengnan had put in a lot of effort to ensure the broadcast remained uninterrupted. ¡°I knew it, I just knew it! 1 shouldn¡¯t have let her go for an internship at some geography magazine, dreams my ass! Now look, she¡¯s nearly lost her life!¡± Lin Zhengnan was getting angrier by the second, his heart filled with intense worry, he felt faint. On the other side, his oldest daughter, Lin Zhou, tried to comfort her father. Although she was also very worried about her youngest sister, there was little she could do at the moment. Lin Zhengnan, looking at Zheng Tianfang on the screen keeping watch, suppressed his anxiety and asked, ¡°How is it going? Is everything in order?¡± ¡°Checked out; this Wilderness Survivalist streamer is indeed impressive. Last broadcast, he even fought a bear and not only survived but was virtually unharmed. He also has military experience, although his records are classified at a very high level. From what we¡¯ve seen, he¡¯s a very reliable person.¡± Hurriedly arriving, Lin Chang handed a file to the old man. Lin Zhengnan flipped through the file, then closed it, pinching the bridge of his nose, feeling an intense throbbing in his temples. Outside, he was a giant in the domestic communication industry, but now he was just a helpless, anxious father. ¡°Is there any way to contact them?¡± ¡°No, they are really professional at survival¡­¡± Lin Chang gave a bitter smile, which was a source of his headache too; all three watched the live broadcast in the living room, each massaging their temples.. Chapter 66 - Chapter 66: Chapter 65: Million-Dollar Reward Chapter 66: Chapter 65: Million-Dollar Reward Translator: 549690339 | The night passed without incident. When Bi Fang woke up the next day, he stopped Big Beard Hu Hao just as he was about to add more wood to the fire, ¡°That¡¯s enough, we¡¯re about to hit the road.¡± Hu Hao nodded and extinguished the significantly smaller fire with snow. Bi Fang looked up at the sky. The wind wasn¡¯t cutting like knives anymore, the blizzard had greatly subsided, and the snowflakes scattering in the sky were sparse. The drone took off, and the live broadcast for the third day began. [So sleepy, has Master Fang not woken up yet?] [He should be up soon, it¡¯s 8 am already, usually Master Fang starts around this time.] [My goodness, have you all not slept the entire night?] [Yeah, just afraid of missing any unexpected developments and losing out on the big scene. I¡¯m a die-hard fan of Master Fang; I¡¯ve been following since the first live broadcast. But Master Fang is truly awesome, no appearance overnight and the viewership is still above fifty thousand, another streamer not showing up for five minutes would see their audience disappear, seriously badass.] [I also went to B Island for the first live broadcast, it was genuinely amazing, holy shit, the drone is moving!] [It¡¯s moving, it¡¯s moving! Waking up! The live broadcast has started!] Many of the viewers chatting and goofing off in the live broadcast room were thrilled to see the drone take off. After waiting all night, they finally got what they were waiting for! However, perhaps because there was no live stream notification, the number of viewers did not spike suddenly. Wang Yongbo, monitoring the data in the background, got anxious and hurriedly shouted at the staff. ¡°Quick, push out a live stream notification!¡± ¡°Ah, but that doesn¡¯t really follow the rules¡­¡± the staff member hesitated, having never heard of a broadcaster who was already live streaming needing to send out a ¡®going live¡¯ notification. ¡°Who pays your salary?¡± ¡°The finance department¡­¡± the staff member replied meekly. Wang Yongbo slapped his own face and glared at him: ¡°Just do it when I tell you to! Rules are made by humans, why are you fretting about it?¡± The staff member shrank his neck, grabbed the mouse and clicked away furiously, sending out the notification. Suddenly, the steadily growing number of people in the live broadcast room shot up at a right angle, breaking through sixty thousand! [Good morning Master Fang, did you sleep with a girl last night? (joking)] [Serious¡­ Be serious, we¡¯re trying to survive here! Stop laughing!] [Wearing so many clothes, you wouldn¡¯t feel a thing, I can tell you¡¯re all pure- hearted young men.] [Exactly, it¡¯s so cold, none of those worldly desires matter.] [But why hasn¡¯t there been any news yet? It should have been out last night, reporters have better noses than dogs!] [Yeah, I was wondering too, it feels like it¡¯s been suppressed.] The drone flew in front of Bi Fang, and seeing the comments, a twinge went through the corner of his eye, thankful that Zheng Tianfang and the others hadn¡¯t seen the comments, or it would be social death on the spot. However, he was also curious about the lack of news, but didn¡¯t dwell on it much, perhaps there was some reason. After coughing twice, Bi Fang pointed towards the blindingly white surroundings, ¡°The arrival of the wolf pack last night was no coincidence. It¡¯s difficult for wolves to track the scent of blood in a blizzard, so we¡¯ve likely entered their activity radius. Despite nothing happening last night, that doesn¡¯t mean we¡¯re safe.¡± ¡°Wolves are cunning and patient creatures, and this cunning is even more pronounced in a pack. So we must be cautious. Let¡¯s take advantage of the lighter snow today and try to get as far away from this area as possible.¡± Wolf packs are extremely dangerous, and if Bi Fang had a choice, he would rather face a Black Bear again than confront wolves. You can¡¯t fight those creatures unless you have a hunting rifle or weapons made of iron. These predators are not only highly intelligent but extremely fierce; once they gather in a pack, even lions and tigers are no match for them. Last night, Bi Fang saw that there might have even been twenty wolves in the pack! This is quite a large pack already, as the typical number in a wolf pack is about seven, the so-called ¡®seven wolves,¡¯ and odd numbers change slightly around that figure. Moreover, because of their very strict hierarchy and territorial range, it¡¯s impossible for wolf packs to collaborate with other packs, nor would there be a superpack of wolves consisting of several packs amounting to a hundred or so, as seen in novels. Therefore, a pack that exceeds twenty wolves is very rare. As for encountering thirty or more, you¡¯d only see that in a documentary. If one does encounter them, it could only mean that human activities haven¡¯t affected that area yet. Or it could be¡­ survivorship bias. [Isn¡¯t that too dangerous? Are those real wolves chasing behind?] [Master Fang is truly brave, having fought a bear and fended off wolves. Will he be fighting tigers in the future?] [The modern Wu Song.jpg] [Ling Xuefeng should really come and see this. I¡¯m making the same face as his monkey again.] [Wow, brother upstairs, were you also the one who followed from the room check last time?] [Isn¡¯t it a coincidence? Too bad Master Fang switched platforms. I bet Shark is regretting it now; he must be green with envy. Wolf Fang¡¯s stream is hitting over 600,000 in popularity. Would Shark not have reached a million?] [Shh, be cautious! Have you forgotten that Wolf Fang¡¯s boss also watches Master Fang¡¯s streams?] [Ah, right, right. Almost forgot. Congratulations to Wolf Fang for gaining a mighty warrior. Henceforth, we pass through Tiger Fang and tread on Shark, number one in the world. Boss, could you please upgrade my account level? Thanks!] The online friends in the live stream were joking around, as usual. Bi Fang once again confirmed the direction, then said to Zheng Tianfang and others who were emerging from the snow cave, ¡°We need to dig some snow pits or something. Although they won¡¯t hold off much¡­¡± But before he could finish, he was interrupted by Wu Mingtao, who had a limp. Remembering those dense, cruel green eyes from the night before, he became incoherent. ¡°Wait! What do you mean, snow pits? Do you want to fight these wolves? Have you gone mad? Didn¡¯t you say yesterday not to provoke them? We¡¯re not a threat to them.¡± ¡°Because they¡¯re likely to attack us next time¡­¡± Seeing people opposing Bi Fang¡¯s decision, the online audience immediately felt dissatisfied with Wu Mingtao. He had been the one holding everyone back from the start, and he had wanted to run away when the wolves came last night, but was caught by Zheng Tianfang. [Not even wolves are as united as humans. If you don¡¯t have the ability, just follow orders; no need to overthink!] [To be fair, this guy is indeed troublesome. Seems like he¡¯s scared out of his wits.] [This person has no will to survive; no spirit of resistance.] [Ah, if it were me, I¡¯d probably react the same way¡­] ¡°Why?¡± Hu Hao also didn¡¯t understand. They hadn¡¯t attacked the pack of wolves. ¡°Because we are a threat,¡± Bi Fang explained patiently to the crowd, each of whose fear was evident in their eyes. ¡°Wild animals test you step by step. Last night was the first time. If we don¡¯t counter their probing at the right time, they¡¯ll only grow bolder. Next time, just confronting them probably won¡¯t be enough to scare them off.¡± After listening to Bi Fang¡¯s explanation, everyone was silent for a while before Zheng Tianfang, without a word, began to dig snow pits. Once someone took the lead, soon everyone else began to move as well. Looking at the surroundings, Bi Fang decided to head deeper into the southeastern snow forest. The trees there were denser, providing more cover to avoid a wolf pack¡¯s charge. As he was packing up, the number of messages, usually limited, suddenly surged like a tsunami of comments in his field of vision! Startled by the flood of comments, Bi Fang didn¡¯t have time to examine them closely and instinctively drew his knife, on alert, looking around. But after scanning the area, he saw nothing out of the ordinary. Strange, there¡¯s no danger. Why did the netizens suddenly send so many messages? Scratching his head, Bi Fang finally focused on the content of the messages. But as soon as he read one, his pupils shrank abruptly. [Congratulations to Lin Chang for becoming an Emperor in Master Fang¡¯s live streaming room!] [Congratulations to Lin Zhizhou for becoming an Emperor in Master Fang¡¯s live streaming room!] [Lin Chang sends 100 Spaceships to the streamer¡ªMaster Fang, can you see this?] [Lin Chang sends 100 Spaceships to the streamer¡ªPlease, Master Fang, look at the comments! I am Lin Chang from Shenhua Group!] [Lin Chang sends 100 Spaceships to the streamer¡ªThe girl Master Fang saved yesterday is my sister, Lin Xue. Please make sure to bring her back safely. We¡¯re truly grateful!] [Lin Chang sends 100 Spaceships to the streamer¡ªMaster Fang, please look!] Chapter 68 - Chapter 68: Chapter 67: Nightmare Chapter 68: Chapter 67: Nightmare Translator: 549690339 | A line of people spread out like geese in flight, with Bi Fang leading the way at the front. The piercing wind felt as if knives were slicing through the skin, and whenever one wiped their face, they could always brush off a thick layer of snowflakes. Although the blizzard had died down considerably, it was now confirmed that this was wolf territory. Even though the car was larger and more likely to be spotted by a helicopter, they couldn¡¯t stay any longer. Bi Fang didn¡¯t want the helicopter to discover just a pack of well-fed wolves. After walking for a while, he took out his water bottle to quench everyone¡¯s thirst. Everyone had brought insulated cups, and melting snow with their body heat was out of the question; besides, they were now far from any stream, so any water saved was a boon. However, Zheng Tianfang and the others only took a few sips, leaving most of the water for Lin Xue. Ever since they found out who she was, everyone took good care of her, not letting her carry her backpack, although she wanted to share the load. Bi Fang was also finding out for the first time that even Lin Xue¡¯s colleagues did not know she was with Shenhua Group. The confidentiality was well- maintained. She appeared to be a strong and decisive woman. If this were decades ago, she would definitely be recognized as an advanced member of society. [The wind seems still so strong, everything is a blur of white, it looks so dangerous.] [Ah, I wonder if we can escape this time.] [What kind of live stream is this, in the Arctic? Are streamers really going to such lengths to get views now?] New viewers who joined were quickly enlightened with answers to their questions. [Damn, are there wolves chasing them from behind? Isn¡¯t that a bit too outrageous? Shouldn¡¯t this be on the news?] [Not yet, but it¡¯s true. Tens of thousands of eyes were watching last night, could that be fake?] Seeing so many people speak with such certainty, many new viewers stayed after collecting their treasure chests. The stream had a very high stickiness rate. If it weren¡¯t for the average number of online viewers being dragged down by last night¡¯s constant streaming, Bi Fang estimated that he would have completed his mission by now. In the thinly dispersed snow forest, the group trudged on with difficulty. Wu Mingtao, battling against the strong wind, began to shiver all over. He didn¡¯t know how much further they had to go, but his steps grew more labored as he watched the main group pull ahead, feeling panic rise within him. He shouted, but his voice was drowned out by the wind. He tried to get up, but he didn¡¯t have the strength. Just as Wu Mingtao watched his teammates¡¯ figures growing smaller and smaller, with anxiety gnawing at him, three shadows suddenly charged toward him from the snowy wind not far away. Wolves! Three wolves! Wu Mingtao was terrified. He wanted to get back to the team, but he was too weak and couldn¡¯t outrun the nimble wolves. He fell to the ground again. Blood splattered on Wu Mingtao¡¯s face, and he clearly saw the white bone on his forearm¡ªso fragile, like thin, brittle cookies. He even heard the crisp sound of it breaking. Another wolf latched onto his lower leg, and as the agonizing pain shot through him, Wu Mingtao saw a blur before his eyes, feeling like a balloon deflating as all the air escaped with the bite. Was he going to be reduced to a skeleton? Curse words, regret, resentment¡ªall these emotions climbed like venomous snakes onto Wu Mingtao¡¯s heart, but it was all in vain. The agile wolves left clear footprints in the snow, the prey¡¯s blood spreading out, staining the wolf paw prints red on the snow. The nauseating stench of decay emanating from the wolves¡¯ snouts was like dead fish from a seafood market. Wu Mingtao¡¯s pupils dilated, and he felt extremely weary, wishing only for a good sleep. He thought he would never leave this snow forest again. Bones of the ages, forests of a thousand years, glaciers of ten thousand years. Everything felt like a terrible dream. He tried hard to close his eyes and then open them, hoping to see the familiar room and his family, but all that met his gaze was a sea of red, and his wounds no longer hurt. The cold gradually crept into his body. He knew he couldn¡¯t sleep, but his eyes wouldn¡¯t obey. Too tired, just too tired. He couldn¡¯t¡­ walk any further¡­ Smack! A loud slap rang out. ¡°Hey!¡± ¡°Wake up, quick!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t sleep, don¡¯t you dare sleep!¡± Shouts erupted. Bi Fang slapped Wu Mingtao¡¯s face hard, hoping to awaken him from his unconscious state. Fortunately, the situation wasn¡¯t serious, and in no time, Wu Mingtao slowly regained consciousness. He looked at the four people who had gathered around him and felt instinctively for his forearm and thigh, only to find both were unharmed. ¡°What happened to me?¡± ¡°You were too tired and fainted!¡± Bi Fang said, having been startled when the man suddenly collapsed. It was indeed all just a nightmare. How wonderful would it be if it were all just a dream? Wu Mingtao thought. ¡°Haha, you were scared silly, weren¡¯t you?¡± Big Beard laughed heartily as he watched Wu Mingtao feel his leg and face. He reached out, helped him up from the snow, and brushed off the snow that had piled up on his back. [I was so scared, I thought something else happened. Thankfully, it was just a fainting spell.] [Yeah, you gave me a fright, just collapsing so suddenly and stiffly.] [Definitely too tired, suffering injuries without being able to get proper rest, on top of trekking so far. Not to mention the wolves chasing us¡ªthere¡¯s no way I could endure that.] [Right, I used to look down on them, but thinking about it now, the man with the limp¡¯s reaction was the normal one. These people are very strong, all excellent comrades!] The drone trailed at the back, capturing all of the members; this was Bi Fang¡¯s measure to prevent anyone from getting left behind. So many viewers saw quite clearly that Wu Mingtao had suddenly fallen. Bi Fang looked at the snowy forest that was still some distance away, then at Wu Mingtao¡¯s pale face, and decided they should find a wind-sheltered slope to rest and have something to eat first. In the backpack were some scavenged compressed biscuits and five lampreys, one for each person. At the wind-sheltered slope, Bi Fang restarted the fire and took out the lampreys to distribute them. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Big Beard took the frozen and stiff lamprey, examined it, and was immediately startled by its head, almost throwing it away. ¡°This is a delicacy!¡± On the other side, Zheng Tianfang was quite pleased. He recognized the creature; lampreys often appeared at the fish market in Mohe. Whether steamed, fried, or grilled, they were delicious, and there was also the belief in ¡°like cures like.¡± [Like cures like? Now that you mention this, I¡¯m not sleepy anymore (jokingly)!] [Good lord, wish you¡¯d told me sooner. Suddenly, it¡¯s starting to look cute to me.] [What does ¡°like cures like¡± mean?] [Young man, you wouldn¡¯t understand, there¡¯s deep meaning in it. Let go and let me get my fix! ] [Seeing it makes me feel like I¡¯m losing sanity again. If I become a believer, none of you can avoid the blame! ] Seeing that no one else had eaten it before, ¡°local tour guide¡± Zheng Tianfang took the initiative to explain. ¡°Lampreys are easy to prepare, just cut off the entire gill part, and the body is like an empty tube, different from regular fish. It tastes great when grilled. These have already been processed, so you can skewer and eat them straight away!¡± Zheng Tianfang skewered the lampreys and set them over the fire to grill, inviting the others to try it: ¡°Everyone should try it, it¡¯s really good!¡± Perhaps driven by hunger, the others also grabbed branches and prepared to take a taste. Since the lampreys were rigid from freezing, and it was impossible to skewer through their bodies, everyone pierced from the head through to the stomach. Watching them slowly soften over the fire and start to ooze fine oils was quite a sight. Zheng Tianfang, who had started ahead of the others, was very experienced with this. During the season of crisp autumn weather, a great time for fresh seafood, he would often try the freshest grilled lampreys at the night markets, which were very tasty. Without salt, he sprinkled on some compressed biscuit crumbs flavored with green onion, which added a unique taste. Once one person started, the rest followed suit, and they found that, just as Zheng Tianfang had said, it was delicious, and hunger further enhanced the flavor. Bi Fang took a bite. Due to being frozen, the texture wasn¡¯t great, neither like meat nor fish but it was a ¡°pleasurable delight.¡± Paired with compressed biscuits, it turned out to be a nice lunch after all. Seeing how everyone was enjoying their meal, the audience on the screen also felt a craving. [It¡¯s making me want to try it now, it¡¯s mid-October, the perfect season for freshwater delicacies.] [Is there any of this at the night market in Heilonghe?] [Not sure, I live in Heilonghe, but I¡¯ve never seen it¡­] [You probably have to go further north, right? Mohe is the northernmost part of Heilonghe.] After everyone had replenished their fluids, Bi Fang and the rest continued their journey. They had to reach the denser snowy forest before nightfall at all costs. The previous snowy forest was too sparse to stop the wolf pack effectively. That¡¯s why Zheng Tianfang and others had decided to drive into it rather than take a longer route to avoid it, but that decision had led to a big problem. However, before continuing the trek, Bi Fang had climbed to a higher ground to take a look and saw that there was a bare, treeless area between the two snowy forests, which was truly troubling. Terrains like this were ideal for a wolf pack¡¯s encirclement¡­ Chapter 69 - Chapter 69: Chapter 68: Run!!! Chapter 69: Chapter 68: Run!!! Translator: 549690339 | No! We must take action! Bi Fang looked out over the clearing with deep concern. When wolves chase their prey, they can cover dozens of kilometers, only attacking when the prey is exhausted. Such open terrain undoubtedly favors their pursuit. Moreover, the eighty-kilometer hunting range he mentioned before is just an average. Sometimes this hunting corridor can be up to a hundred kilometers long. ¡°Normally, a person¡¯s average walking speed is five kilometers per hour, but clearly, that speed is not feasible for us,¡± Bi Fang said, scanning the area before and after him and taking a breath. ¡°Because not only do we have the wounded with us, we are also walking on snow, which is more exhausting and makes it easy to lose direction. We often have to stop and reassess our direction, so managing to walk two or three kilometers in an hour is already quite an achievement. After half a day like this, we¡¯ve probably covered just over ten kilometers, which isn¡¯t even outside their hunting grounds!¡± Upon hearing these words, the four people behind Bi Fang were all stunned. They had walked for the better part of the day, drained to their core. They had presumed they had covered a good distance, yet now they realized they had only traveled around ten kilometers? When could they possibly get out of the wolves¡¯ hunting grounds? Or is there even a chance? Wu Mingtao felt a hint of despair, the nightmare of just a while ago flashing before his eyes again. It seemed as if, at any moment within the vast expanse of white snow, wolves might burst forth and bite through his throat. That was what Bi Fang had told him after seeing him wake up and feel his thigh and arm. Wolves, like all predators, prefer attacking vital areas and only turn to the limbs if there¡¯s no other opportunity. He even got it wrong in his dream¡­ ¡°The wind has died down a lot, which might not be good news for us. Although the smaller the wind, the more likely helicopters are to be deployed, and the more likely they are to find us, it also means the wolves¡¯ sense of smell will be more reliable. We must mask our scent!¡± What was puzzling, was that right after saying this, Bi Fang threw himself into the snow, rolling back and forth, coating his entire body with snowflakes, becoming like a snowman. Creak! Creak! Due to the frigid temperatures of the blizzard, a thin layer of ice crystals had formed over the snow. As his full body weight pressed down, the ice crystals shattered, emitting a muffled sound similar to that of a foam board breaking. In the live stream, viewers slowly typed out a question mark. What was this behavior? Has he given up and resorted to throwing a tantrum? [???] [What¡¯s gotten into Old Fang? Has he had a mental breakdown?] [Is the pressure too great?] [Being stuck with pig teammates and facing godlike adversaries, Old Fang is struggling to hold up alone!] [Don¡¯t stop, Captain!] Many viewers were worried, thinking that Bi Fang was under too much pressure and was mentally disturbed, which was normal given the harsh environment, the need to rescue people, and the need to guard against wolves, all while being completely isolated. Even Lin Chang was taken aback, worried that something unexpected might happen, and hastily sent a hundred more spaceships, hoping Bi Fang would revive his spirits. As the spaceships flew by, the Shuiyou (online friends/audience) looked up in unison, pretending to gaze upward. Even Lord Mu felt moved as he seldom encountered a richer tycoon than himself, but he also had no interest in competing for the top spot. For one, the other¡¯s donations were for the sake of saving lives, with a much more serious purpose than his own, and secondly, Shenhua Group was indeed formidable; even his own father¡¯s company couldn¡¯t match in scale. After rolling in the snow, Bi Fang sat up from the snow and looked at the bullet screen feeling somewhat embarrassed: ¡°I¡¯m not having a mental breakdown, I¡¯m using the snowflakes to eliminate the scent from my body.¡± ¡°The snowflakes themselves are loose and porous, similar to activated charcoal, which functions well in absorbing odors and particulate matter. Moreover, Mohe¡¯s snow is dry, similar to a powder, and doesn¡¯t melt easily upon brief contact, making it suitable for eliminating scent and reducing the likelihood of being tracked by the wolves!¡± After finishing speaking, Bi Fang also had the remaining people roll around in the snow just like he did, in order to eliminate their scent. Upon hearing this explanation, Zheng Tianfang and the others had no objections, and were even eager to get away from the wolf pack, so they imitated Bi Fang, rolling around on the ground. In the following period of time, Bi Fang and his companions would stop to remove their scent after traveling every stretch of the way, trying to minimize the chance of being tracked by the wolves. Quickly, several hours passed. It¡¯s like chasing the mountains to find them further, like longing for the deep sea that¡¯s beyond reach. It was the same with the forest; when the dense snow forest actually appeared before their eyes, it was also nearing nightfall. Seeing the snow forest not far away, everyone became excited, since according to Bi Fang, once they reached the dense snow forest, it would be difficult for the wolf pack to launch a large-scale charge, and with the trees for cover, the danger would be much reduced. [Damn, finally there, it took a whole day just to see us hurrying! Who would believe that?] [Only a bigshot like Master Fang could make people want to watch a live broadcast of traveling¡­] [It really feels like watching a movie, even though the movie is a bit boring] [Indeed, others use special effects for snowstorms, but this is all real, even the wounds are real!] [Bald Uncle: I feel offended (funny)] [I get tired enough walking for a few hours on flat ground, let alone in the snow. Didn¡¯t Master Fang say before that traveling in the snow is many times more difficult?] ¡°That¡¯s right, the forest looks close, but it¡¯s actually much further than I estimated. I thought we would arrive by this afternoon, but now it¡¯s almost evening,¡± Bi Fang said, propping himself up on his thigh with some difficulty. Although his physical fitness had reached the average adult standard, and even stood out a bit in terms of stamina, it didn¡¯t make up for the day¡¯s journey, and he also had to take care of the injured Wu Mingtao, occasionally carrying him on his back, which was very taxing. After glancing at the few people who had kept up, he continued to explain, ¡°Now we¡¯re in an open area; we must hurry, otherwise, if the wolf pack starts to encircle us, we may be completely wiped out!¡± After calling everyone together, they all quickened their steps, straining their heavy legs to move forward. The sky was dim, and with the falling snowflakes, the visibility became very short; beyond a hundred meters, it all became hazy. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Lin Xue, who had been mostly quiet, suddenly asked. Upon hearing this, the group halted. Bi Fang strained his eyes to see more clearly amidst the undulating landscape. Under the impending night, the mountains were dark and the rolling snow slopes took on a gray hue; on this thick gray, however, one could faintly perceive black spots moving swiftly. They charged forward, as fast as a streak of black lightning, the high-pitched and even shrill howling of wolves piercing the night sky, echoing endlessly! ¡°Run!¡± A roar like thunder exploded as though in their very souls. Bi Fang suddenly shouted, startling the audience in front of the screens to cover their ears. Without explanation or hesitation, he grabbed the hands of Wu Mingtao and Lin Xue and sprinted towards the snow forest! It was the wolf pack! The attacking wolf pack! The audience, who had relaxed as they neared the snow forest, had their hearts lifted high once again, as no one expected the wolves to launch their assault at this moment! Without standoff, without warning, unguarded! The snowshoes tied to their feet broke and shattered from the frantic running, but no one dared to stop; everyone tapped into the fastest speed of their lives! Chapter 70 - Chapter 70: Chapter 69: Kill Them! (Extra) Chapter 70: Chapter 69: Kill Them! (Extra) Translator: 549690339 Lin Chang and Lin Zhou both stared at the large screen, lips tightly clenched without daring to space out for even a second. They didn¡¯t go to inform the old man because he hadn¡¯t slept at all last night, and had only managed to rest a little today. If they were to wake him now, and then have him witness such a thrilling scene, the siblings might very well be inheriting the family fortune. ¡°Come on!¡± No matter who it was, at this moment they all silently prayed for the people running. The intense running caused Bi Fang¡¯s brain to lack oxygen, which suddenly reminded him of an article he had read in his previous life. The athlete¡¯s usual performance was not great, but in the end, it had earned him a world championship. The reason turned out to be that one morning, while rushing to training, the athlete was chased by a wolf, which led him to run a time he never thought possible. From that day on his ¡°governor and conception vessels¡± were unblocked, unleashing all his potential. Bi Fang had originally thought this was just a load of nonsense, but now he found out it was true! What the hell was this if not total immersion? This was fucking total immersion! Bi Fang had never felt his body so heavy, as if lead was poured into each of his legs, making it impossible to lift them higher or faster. Right now, he wished he had four legs. Faster! Faster! Even faster! Bi Fang¡¯s temples throbbed with snake-like veins, and it seemed as if a blood vessel in his head was pounding. He roared as he ran wildly, while the howls of the chasing wolf pack became more urgent and louder. Not because they were howling more fiercely, but because they were closing in on Bi Fang and the others at an incredibly fast speed! A wolf¡¯s running speed is extremely fast, up to fifty-five kilometers per hour, and they have great stamina. Unless it¡¯s an ultra-endurance race, humans cannot outrun them. But Bi Fang didn¡¯t need to outrun them; he just needed to get into the woods! ¡°Don¡¯t look back!¡± Bi Fang saw Hu Hao glance backwards and immediately shouted at him, while also catching a glimpse of wolves attacking from both sides. Through the drone¡¯s wide-angle lens, the audience could clearly see the wolf pack taking a crescent shape and flanking from both sides. They were like a huge net attempting to ensnare everyone at once. It was getting closer and closer, both the wolf pack and the forest. Seeing the shrubs just a few meters away, Bi Fang felt a surge of excitement. But just as he entered, he slipped, bringing down Lin Xue, Wu Mingtao, and the others with him. Behind them was a steep slope! One after another, Hu Hao and Zheng Tianfang were also knocked down by the charging Bi Fang, and a series of screams rang out. The five of them tumbled down the slope like bowling balls, covered in white snow. Zheng Tianfang, cushioned at the very bottom, felt pain as if his body was falling apart. Bi Fang, having a bit of cushioning, wasn¡¯t feeling as bad, but he heard the howling of the wolves on the surrounding slopes and, disregarding the pain in his back, quickly pushed the others off him. ¡°Quick, quick, quick! Light a fire! Light a fire! Light a fire!¡± Bi Fang shouted while opening his backpack and searching for the Firesteel. The others quickly got up and placed the torches, previously soaked in gasoline, in front of Bi Fang, also frantically gathering branches from around. The weather was too cold. Bi Fang felt his hands were like blocks of ice. In his urgency, he didn¡¯t hold the Firesteel¡¯s handle but instead directly rubbed the magnesium rod. ¡°Hurry up and fucking light it!¡± Feeling the approach of the wolf pack, Bi Fang¡¯s eyes reddened. Sparks of intense heat sprayed out, burning and cracking the skin on his fingers. The sparks fell on the gasoline, quickly igniting a large fire. Seeing the flames rise, everyone finally felt a bit of safety and scrambled to pile on more small branches. The wolves were still howling, but the noise had begun to diminish. Hu Hao looked around to discover the wolves hadn¡¯t charged down, feeling a bit of joy. ¡°The fire is working,¡± Bi Fang also looked around, but without relaxing, he frowned tightly, continuously recalling the various behaviors of wolves in his mind. The situation was not as optimistic as Hu Hao thought. The wolf pack had already charged; they wouldn¡¯t be scared off that easily¡­ The howling became softer and eventually stopped, as if the wolves had retreated. The fire worked?¡± Zheng Tianfang asked, looking at the serious Bi Fang. Hu Hao, seeing how useful the fire was, immediately made a suggestion-he felt uneasy without sight of it: ¡°If we light a circle of fire, the wolves won¡¯t dare to come close, and we will also be able to detect their movements in advance¡­¡± But before Hu Hao could finish his words, a piercing wolf howl interrupted him. That howl, utterly different from the previous ones, was filled with¡­ agony? Everyone instantly fell silent, listening to the growls and screams coming from the wolf pack. There was a pause for a while, but soon it started again. At last, everything returned to calmness. But the live streaming room exploded with activity; nobody had witnessed such an unusual scene before, and everyone wanted to know what exactly was going on! [What¡¯s happening?] [Why are they screaming?] [Does Master Fang know? It feels so creepy!] [Is there a rebellion in the wolf pack?] [Two packs of wolves?] ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Hu Hao¡¯s forehead was covered in cold sweat. ¡°The alpha wolf! They are attacking the alpha wolf!¡± Bi Fang was certain, a rebellion had arisen within the wolf pack, and that¡¯s why they had temporarily stopped their assault on them, not because of the flames, just as he had said before. This level of flame was far from enough to make the wolf pack feel scared. ¡°No matter the reason the pack is attacking the alpha wolf, the alpha must have taken care of it.¡± Bi Fang looked into the pitch-black darkness, which was eerily silent, like a deep, bottomless pool of still water, betraying no signs that it hid an entire wolf pack, over twenty wolves. ¡°Inside a wolf pack, there are three primary ranks: the alpha wolf, the Subordinate Wolves, and the fringe wolves, with the pups not included. Just now, it might have been a Subordinate Wolf challenging the alpha, but it failed.¡± ¡°Wait, why are you so sure?¡± Wu Mingtao didn¡¯t understand why Bi Fang was certain that the alpha wolf had won. Indeed, why? Many readers also didn¡¯t understand why it had to be the alpha that was victorious. Were they underestimating the Subordinate Wolves? An attack on the alpha at this time only happens because it is old and can¡¯t control the pack, but old wolves have an advantage. They are craftier, smarter, and more patient than the young ones.¡± ¡°If the young wolves had won just now, they would have already launched an attack on us to lead the pack to food and prove their status, instead of hiding again. This is the old wolf considering that now is not a good time to attack.¡± Hearing this explanation, everyone felt a chill down their spines. By that logic, if the Subordinate Wolves had won just now¡­ [Wow, isn¡¯t the pressure a bit too much?] [This is like a trip through the gates of hell! ] [Isn¡¯t that too scary?] [These wolves are too clever, right? They seem almost human!] [Don¡¯tyou think Master Fang is more incredible? He can guess everything that the wolf pack is up to, totally nailing it.] [Add one. I¡¯m a graduate student in biology, and I didn¡¯t realize this until the host explained it and I understood that it was the alpha that won. I only figured out that there was a rebellion in the pack, never thinking that it was possible to dissect the situation to predict the winner. His level, I feel, is fiercer than our professors.] [Right? I really want Master Fang to give a public lecture at our school. With that level, he¡¯d be way better than the armchair strategists.] [Are you from the same dorm as above?] [Yeah, ever since I discovered Master Fang¡¯s live streams, all four of us in the dorm have become fans.] ¡°What should we do next?¡± asked Hu Hao. ¡°Kill them!¡± Under the blazing firelight, Bi Fang¡¯s eyes shone with a fierce light. Now, with the pack in turmoil, it was undoubtedly the best opportunity! Chapter 71 - Chapter 71: Chapter 70: No Way Out Chapter 71: Chapter 70: No Way Out Translator: 549690339 | The situation was obvious, the wolf pack wouldn¡¯t let them off easily. Large wolf packs usually appeared during the scarce winters to collectively hunt larger prey to survive the harsh season. Moreover, this also resulted in a lower hunting success rate. Most people believed that the larger the number of individuals in a wolf pack, the easier it should be to hunt, but in fact, when wolves operated alone or in pairs, the prey they hunted was mainly smaller animals and their success rate was higher. But to reduce hunting frequency and to meet survival needs, large wolf packs often preyed on big game like musk oxen and moose, which actually lowered their success rate. In nature, a predator failing once may not be impactful, but after several failures, death was what awaited them. The most direct example was the cheetah, which only had five chances¡ªfive failures, and it faced starvation! Thus, a lower success rate meant the wolf pack would prepare more thoroughly, not striking rashly. This was why the wolf pack had let Bi Fang and the others go twice. The first time was the initial encounter, uncertain of the situation, both sides sizing each other up; the second time was when there was internal strife, and the alpha wolf considered the best hunting opportunity lost. Bi Fang even felt fortunate that he had saved these people. Given how close they were at that time, it showed that he had also entered the territory of the wolf pack. If left alone, the wolf pack would never have been as cautious as they were now. These were indeed ordinary people who were a hindrance, but it was precisely because of these five individuals that he had the means to confront them, affording him two chances to survive. But there would not be a third time! Bi Fang disliked being passive; he preferred to take the initiative. Humans were much larger than wolves, and apart from biting strength, there was a significant gap in power. The reason why wolves appeared so frightening was entirely due to humans1 long-term pampering and extreme fear of pain. Humans were afraid of getting hurt, but to take down a wolf unharmed with bare hands was virtually impossible, which was the root of the grave misjudgment people had about wolves. In nature, size dominance was a significant advantage. As long as one could wield a spear or similar long weapons to prevent the wolf from closing in, humans could very well handle one-on-one or even one-on-two situations against wolves. ¡°We have to kill them,¡± Bi Fang looked up at the shocked people and repeated. ¡°One at a time, target those that are alone. Traps, spears, get everything ready. As long as we can reduce the number of the wolf pack to less than ten, they will no longer be a threat, and I am confident I can lead all of you to escape!¡± The online friends felt as if struck by thunder; they had all seen the wolf pack that had just encircled them, finding it hard to imagine how to fend them off. However, some longtime fans were excited. Watching Bi Fang and others running away all day, they had grown weary; the online friends were looking forward to Bi Fang scaring off the opponent like he had with the bear last time! ¡°But they will do the same to us!¡± Zheng Tianfang was very serious. He grew up in Mohe and, since childhood, had heard from the elders how terrifying packs of wolves could be. He also knew that their group couldn¡¯t keep fleeing indefinitely, as that was just a slow death. Hu Hao and the others were also extremely surprised, utterly at a loss how to counter a whole pack of wolves! ¡°Then we shouldn¡¯t give them the chance!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s words were decisive. He didn¡¯t wait any longer and began looking for straight branches nearby. Using the hunting knife, he chopped them down, intending to turn these branches into weapons to fend off the wolf pack. One, two, three¡­ Under the dark night, the clouds dispersed, and a bright full moon rose. Sparks flew as the wood burned, crackling in the fire. The five of them sat around the campfire, four shaking with cold while only one young man stood upright; the light elongated his shadow, giving his face an interplay of light and dark with the flickering flames. He threw the long poles on the ground as if bringing spears to warriors ready for battle. [Damn, this composition, that¡¯s another wallpaper-quality image] [What a stunning view!] [So tough! Master Fang is truly strong!] [Aren¡¯t wolves protected animals? Is this okay?] [At a time like this, you¡¯re still worried about protected animals? Are you okay?] [Start a forest fire! Animals can¡¯t communicate with humans, and I think the government would understand.] [ What a bad idea from the guy above, you think burning the wolf means humans will be fine? Besides, if we¡¯re not in the forest anymore, wolves won¡¯t stay here either!] [Ruo Zhuxun sent the host too Wolf Fangs¡ªThe host is so cool this round!] [Plant a Big Tree sent the host a Spaceship*!¡ªStill, better to be careful, right? We can just drag it out, right? Just wait for the rescue team to arrive.] [Lord Mu sent the host a Spaceship*!¡ªThough it¡¯s better to rely on oneself than to ask for help, it really feels dangerous¡­ but it is cool¡­] ¡°Holy shit, hurry, come look!¡± In the dormitory, Cao Lifeng shouted excitedly, but the other roommates were somewhat bewildered. ¡°What¡¯s got into him these past two days, always shouting and yelling at his phone.¡± The dorm leader pushed his reflective glasses up, bewildered. Turns out the other roommates were also clueless. ¡°Watching a live stream!¡± Seeing his roommates gather around, Cao Lifeng excitedly showed them his phone, wanting to get them to acknowledge how awesome Master Fang was, ¡°This host is just insanely cool, I couldn¡¯t help but tip him a few dozen bucks!¡± ¡°Are you insane? You can¡¯t even afford your meals, and you¡¯re tipping?¡± The dorm leader was shocked¡ªthis guy was still asking his family for money yesterday, and now he¡¯s in the mood to tip a host? ¡°Really, you don¡¯t understand, you¡¯d know if you watched.¡± Cao Lifeng shoved his phone into the hands of the dorm leader, and the other guys couldn¡¯t help but crowd around out of curiosity. ¡°Wolf Fang TV? You¡¯re still using this for streaming?¡± The dorm leader, taking the phone, was surprised to see the little logo in the top-right corner of the live stream. It was a platform that had become outdated¡ªwith its former glory days behind it, the younger generation had gradually been lured away by Shark and Tiger Fang. Were people still using this? And even if it once was a big platform, it was now on the decline, so what kind of impressive host could they have? If they were really that impressive, why not go to Shark or Tiger Fang instead of Wolf Fang? Wasn¡¯t that just ruining your own prospects? Thinking this to himself, the dorm leader couldn¡¯t resist Cao Lifeng¡¯s enthusiasm and took a look at the content, but as soon as he saw Bi Fang throw the spear to the ground, his curiosity was piqued. Huh, this frame¡­ feels even better than a movie. This host is quite interesting. Seeing the dorm leader¡¯s expression, Cao Lifeng immediately knew he had hooked him. It was the unique quality of the stream that had first drawn him in, and after learning more about the content, he was so engrossed that he skipped meals just to save money to tip. He didn¡¯t believe the dorm leader wouldn¡¯t be attracted. And this scene was being repeated in many places across the country, with more and more people being recommended by those around them to watch Bi Fang¡¯s live stream. Perhaps with just one look, their curiosity was captured. After understanding more, they were so hooked they didn¡¯t want to let go¡ª those without Wolf Fang TV even downloaded it. This is the ultimate collision between man and wolf, a confrontation between lives. Is it intelligence that has the upper hand, or is it the claws that tear everything apart? Both sides are seasoned hunters with plenty of experience, but who will prove to be more skilled? Everyone watched, utterly riveted and highly excited, as a true showdown was about to begin! In such a situation, even though Bi Fang had a low-profile live stream the previous night, he still received a notification from the system. [Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the main task one. Rewards will be calculated after all tasks are completed!] Chapter 72 - Chapter 72: Chapter 71: Decision Chapter 72: Chapter 71: Decision Translator: 549690339 | Indeed! Seeing that Bi Fang had completed the task did not surprise him. The number of real viewers watching his live stream had reached a staggering one hundred thousand, with popularity approaching three million, most of which were attracted by the thousand spaceships sent by Lin Chang previously. This data had no water content, far surpassing Lu Wentao of Shark TV, and could even be said to be incomparable. Presumably, the other party should be whining in bed by now. Even just looking at the average viewing segment for the mainline mission, so far, it was more than enough. But he wondered what would happen if the viewership dropped below fifty thousand later on, lowering the average? Withdraw the completion notice? Unfortunately, rewards could only be settled after the entire task was completed. It would have been great if he could receive the rewards in advance. Bi Fang really needed the support of the System now. Dealing with the wolf pack was a necessity. If he could receive part of the rewards in advance, even if it was just a boost in physical fitness, it would greatly enhance his chances of victory¡­ [Ding, do you wish to receive part of the rewards in advance? Note: Final settlement will be deducted accordingly.] Bi Fang was whittling a wooden stick, and upon hearing this, his hands didn¡¯t stop as he continued to explain to his Shuiyou. ¡°People call the Birch Forest the ¡®Family Forest¡¯ because birch wood is firm, symbolizing the stability and harmony of a home, making it an excellent material for crafting wooden spears.¡± ¡°Making a wooden spear is quite simple. Just make sure the spearhead isn¡¯t too thin or elongated, otherwise, it¡¯s prone to break, and then roast it in the embers of a campfire.¡± ¡°Be careful not to set it aflame. Keep an eye on it at all times. When the color turns black but it hasn¡¯t ignited or started to shine, then it¡¯s ready. Wolves and bears differ; wolves don¡¯t have thick hide, so this hardness is sufficient.¡± ¡± when wolves come close, you stab them,¡± Bi Fang said as he forcefully stripped off a piece of bark, ¡°Stab hard. Mind the distance-not too far, and not too close. Too far and you¡¯ll miss; they¡¯ll have enough time to attackbefore you can reposition. Too close and you won¡¯t be able to react.¡± [Can you make one that¡¯s ten meters long, just thrust it from a distance!] [What are you thinking? Why not prepare a forty-meter sword?] [But why not climb a tree? Could wolves climb trees like bears do?] [Right, wolves can¡¯t climb trees, can they?] [Useless. As a graduate student in biology, I can responsibly tell you that wolves are very patient. They¡¯ll just wait for you to run out of strength and fall, not leaving. Even if you endure long enough, they¡¯ll take turns standing guard.] [Ah, that so¡­] ¡°That¡¯s right. In fact, climbing trees is useless against most predators. Those that can climb aside, those that can¡¯t are patient enough to wait for you to fall, and by then you won¡¯t have the strength to resist¡ªyou¡¯ll be at their mercy! Bi Fang spoke in an even tone, but the information he conveyed made the fear of wolf packs even greater. Although birch wood was hard, the hunting knife was obviously sharper, and soon, a wooden spear was crafted. ¡°Here you go!¡± Bi Fang handed the sharpened spear to Zheng Tianfang for him to roast over the fire. But Zheng Tianfang didn¡¯t take it and just looked over at him. Bi Fang looked around and saw that everyone was watching him. He couldn¡¯t help but smile and said, ¡°It¡¯s useful. At least you¡¯ll have something sharp in your hands to defend yourself.¡± After a moment of silence, Zheng Tianfang eventually said nothing, took the wooden spear, and inserted it into the campfire, roasting it as Bi Fang had instructed. Just now, Bi Fang had given him a misconception. But after thinking about it, he figured it was likely the illusion was a result of excessive stress, so he said nothing in the end. Seeing that Zheng Tianfang had no reaction, Bi Fang continued to whittle wood. At that moment, he had taken the System¡¯s advance on the rewards, receiving one Skill Advancement Ticket and one Enhancement Point. The Skill Advancement Ticket was used by Bi Fang on Field Army Level 5> without a doubt, it was the skill that could most enhance his combat capability in a short time. Now he was Special Forces Level 1! His body¡¯s capabilities had been completely transformed, his memory of various combat skills was much stronger than before, as well as various reconnaissance and anti-reconnaissance abilities, combat skills across different terrains, the overall level had been raised by more than a level! The Enhancement Points were also added to his Precision, reaching twelve points. Now his coordination and reflexes, as well as his Sixth Sense, were stronger than an average person! A world of difference from before! Although it might affect the reward settlement, this was the optimal solution at the moment. Just when Bi Fang thought everyone agreed with his idea, Wu Mingtao suddenly stood up shakily and, looking at the silent crowd, pointed at Bi Fang. ¡°Wait¡­ you guys, are you really going to listen to him? All that bullshit? Hu Hao noticed something was off with Wu Mingtao. The continuous mental shocks had already brought him to the edge of a breakdown. He got up, intending to restrain Wu Mingtao but was thrown off instead. ¡°Why do you all trust him so much? Did he lead us out? No! Look around, it¡¯s all wolves! They can see us clearly in the night, while we can¡¯t see anything! Wu Mingtao turned and pointed toward the snowy slope, pitch black to the point that no one knew what was out there. ¡°Can you talk about something else?¡± Zheng Tianfang hugged his head. ¡°I have to say it, I must! Look around, this is a damned place! By what right does he lead us out? We¡¯re five people now, and it keeps decreasing!¡± ¡°Three days, or two days? It hasn¡¯t been many days combined, so why listen to anyone now? An internet celebrity? And his crudely made wooden spears?¡± Wu Mingtao picked up a wooden stick from his side, weighed it for a moment, and then threw it away. Little did he know that this act antagonized all the audience, who began to curse him out in a frenzy. [What¡¯s up with this guy?] [An idiot, definitely. If it weren¡¯t for Master Fang just now, he would have been dead already. Does he even have the right to whine now?] [If not listening to Master Fang, then whom? His mother? I¡¯ve been annoyed by his stupidity for so long, always dragging everyone down, spreading negativity all day long, and now he even questions Master Fang?] ¡°Why are you babbling on and on?¡± Hu Hao was a bit angry, feeling that Wu Mingtao had completely lost his head, lacking any rationale, and completely forgetting who it was that had been leading them out of trouble all this time. ¡°Because I want to survive, I don¡¯t want to be eaten by those wolves!¡± Wu Mingtao¡¯s eyes were bloodshot. ¡°You¡¯re scared.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s words sharply interrupted Wu Mingtao¡¯s agitation. He turned to look at Bi Fang, slightly stunned, as the words pierced like a needle, deflating his bluster like a balloon. ¡°You don¡¯t need to speak those grandiose, empty words. What¡¯s wrong with being scared?¡± Bi Fang looked at Wu Mingtao¡¯s evasive gaze, his tone serious. ¡°Me? Scared? I¡¯m not scared at all!¡± ¡°Not scared?¡± Bi Fang repeated. ¡°Not scared!¡± ¡°I¡¯m terribly scared,¡± Bi Fang shook his head slightly. ¡°Shows clearly,¡± Wu Mingtao was still pretending to be strong. ¡°I¡¯m not ashamed to admit it, I¡¯m scared to death,¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°What good are tough words going to do?¡± ¡°Cut the crap!¡± Wu Mingtao, feeling exposed, flew into a rage. Hu Hao, seeing that the situation was getting out of hand, stood up intending to restrain Wu Mingtao again, but was pushed away and fell onto the snow. With that push, Hu Hao also lost his temper. Just as he was about to retort, he suddenly saw the flash of green light behind Wu Mingtao. He was about to warn him, but it was already too late. The flash of green leaped forward, pouncing on Wu Mingtao¡¯s back, ferociously biting and forcing all his unspoken words back down his throat! Wu Mingtao screamed in terror as Zheng Tianfang immediately grabbed a wooden spear and stabbed it into the wolf! Chapter 73 - Chapter 73: Chapter 72 All is Ready Chapter 73: Chapter 72 All is Ready Translator: 549690339 | The burning bonfire illuminated the green pupils of the gray wolf. The sudden attack of the malevolent wolf startled everyone. Bi Fang reached for a burning piece of firewood and smashed it down onto the body of the wolf, a shower of sparks fell onto the snowy ground, and the piece of wood was actually snapped in two. On the other side, Zheng Tianfang also thrust his spear at the wolf, and with the combined efforts of the two, the wolf collapsed to the ground in less than a minute into its entrance. The toppled Wu Mingtao had yet to come to his senses, still smashing at the wolf repeatedly with rocks he found who knows where. ¡°Grass! Grass! Grass!¡± Seeing that Wu Mingtao could still fight and roar, with only his clothes torn at the back, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and then burst into laughter at his loss of composure. ¡°Hey, that¡¯s enough, it¡¯s already dead!¡± Zheng Tianfang laughed and shouted. Wu Mingtao let go of the bloodied rock and collapsed to the ground, his eyes empty. ¡°Is this a Wolf King?¡± Hu Hao asked, feeling that this lone wolf coming over definitely wasn¡¯t simple. Its entrance just now was as frightening as the ghosts in horror movies. ¡°It¡¯s not the Wolf King, but a Subordinate Wolf, probably one that failed during the previous turmoil,¡± Bi Fang examined the wounds on the wolf¡¯s carcass. Although the fur was somewhat charred, one could still vaguely make out bite marks and traces of blood. ¡°The Wolf King didn¡¯t kill it, instead, it used it as cannon fodder to test us. It saw the discord among us and found a weak spot, hoping to trade one for one.¡± ¡°If the probing had been successful, it would have been the perfect time for the Wolf King to attack. Even if it wasn¡¯t successful, it still conveniently eliminated a competitor.¡± Hearing this, Wu Mingtao kicked the wolf¡¯s carcass a few times with his uninjured leg, enraged. [Damn, they can even perceive that?] [Is this really a wolf? It¡¯s smarter than people! ] [Wolf King delivering meat?] [We¡¯re having meat tonight.] While the Shuiyou reveled joyfully, undulating wolf howls suddenly arose. The wailing wind carried the deep howls that seemed to cover the entire snow forest, a display of intimidation by the wolf pack. Such an audacious pack of wolves. Did they really think they had them nailed down? Bi Fang narrowed his eyes, ¡°Let¡¯s find a big tree stick, sharpen it, and stick it up its ass. Roast this beast until it¡¯s well done¡­¡± Bi Fang then turned to look at the others, who were huddling like quails, and said calmly, ¡°And then eat it!¡± On the campfire, a large skinned and bled wolf was being slowly roasted over the flames. Hu Hao, meanwhile, turned it from time to time to ensure even cooking. Bi Fang was also making weapons and traps, while explaining to Lin Xue and Zheng Tianfang beside him. After all, he couldn¡¯t rely on himself alone to make traps and weapons. ¡°To deal with wolves, just having spears is not enough, we also need to make traps and prepare remote attacking methods.¡± ¡°As a medium-sized predator, many ranged weapons are actually not very effective. Here I will teach you about a throwing weapon called the Dart, which is very powerful.¡± ¡°When the Spanish conquerors invaded the Aztec Empire in 1519, they found that Darts launched from a thrower could even penetrate their armor!¡± That powerful? Many viewers subconsciously recalled the heavy and sturdy plate armor of the Middle Ages. What kind of weapon could actually penetrate armor? And if it hit the flesh¡­ [That powerful? Does everyone have a Qilin Arm?] [Must be some principle of physics, right? Otherwise, how could it be so strong; the maximum throwing distance of a wooden javelin is only about thirty meters] [Could this even take down an elephant?] ¡°Hey, a viewer guessed it right!¡± Seeing the barrage, Bi Fang smiled. ¡°In primitive societies, people would use Darts to hunt bison and mammoths. Even in the early stages of the resistance war, given the objective environment and the near absence of our own military industry, our weapons mostly depended on battlefield captures. Due to their unstable sourcing and insufficient numbers, we also made extensive use of primitive cold weapons such as broadswords and Darts as a supplement.¡± ¡°How do you know so much?¡± Lin Xue, who was bending over to listen carefully, flicked her hair. She was curious; not only was the other party an excellent Wilderness Survivalist, but he was also well-versed in many historical details. ¡°Live streaming, huh? How can one get by without some skills?¡± Faced with questions, Bi Fang smiled. He had made a special effort to understand this knowledge so that he could converse with his audience during many of the journeys, to avoid dull moments. Making a dart wasn¡¯t difficult, otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have been widely used by humans in primitive societies. Its main shape is a wooden base with a raised front end to support the dart, and a hook at the bottom that can temporarily clip to the tail of the dart. These could all be carved out with a knife. As he explained, Bi Fang had already created a rough model. He held the front end of the tree stick, mounted the short spear on top, and a usable dart was completed. ¡°As I throw with my hand, the launcher will be subjected to the torque from swinging my arm. While rotating in a vertical plane, it will also propel the dart itself, allowing it to launch with a higher initial kinetic energy, just like more effective long-distance shooting with a sling.¡± Bi Fang gripped the base and with a forceful swing, the dart mounted on top soared out with a piercing scream, cutting through the air and driving straight into the mud ten meters away, nearly burying itself completely! Feeling the power of the dart, Zheng Tianfang and the others were shocked, then thrilled. The more powerful the weapon, the greater their chances of survival, right? [Damn, Old Fang is really awesome. He seems to know everything, even the physical principles!] [Fake Wilderness Survivalist: Sleep one night, and the tool is made. Real Wilderness Survivalist: Makes it live and even explains the theory!] [Lu Wentao: Achoo! Who¡¯s talking about me?] [Master Fang is about content streaming. Do you think live streaming is easy nowadays?] [Ah, isn¡¯t it easy? Is it not good to be just a super streamer?] [Upstairs, I have a friend¡­] Bi Fang picked up the short spear from the ground and handed it to Zheng Tianfang, asking him to practice aiming. ¡°Now the wolf pack is eyeing us greedily, so don¡¯t throw it far off. Otherwise, we¡¯re likely not to be able to find it again. Do it like I just did, aim at the ground, draw a circle about ten meters away, and throw it into the circle.¡± ¡°A skilled dart thrower can almost achieve a hit rate of one hundred percent within thirty meters, but you can¡¯t reach that level overnight. I just need you to be able to throw twice when the wolf pack gets within fifty meters.¡± Faced with Bi Fang¡¯s instructions, Zheng Tianfang nodded, taking the dart and began to practice intently. Bi Fang continued to make a few more darts. He wanted to ensure that each person had at least two, as there would be no time to change darts when the wolf pack charged. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Hearing this, Bi Fang was taken aback, turning to look at Wu Mingtao seated beside him. ¡°I, I¡¯m injured and I can¡¯t run.¡± Wu Mingtao spoke hesitantly, deflated like a dried cucumber, ¡°I just, I¡¯m just afraid you would leave me behind¡­¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Bi Fang cut him off, smiling. Clearly, he didn¡¯t take the previous incident to heart. The hardest thing for a person to face is their own fears. There was no need to be too harsh on someone who was simply afraid. Wu Mingtao was just plain scared, much like a hedgehog curls up into a ball when in danger, a means of self-protection. Bi Fang, showing magnanimity, extended his hand for a handshake to make peace with Wu Mingtao. Wu Mingtao, looking into Bi Fang¡¯s eyes, finally gripped his hand tightly after a long pause. ¡°Let¡¯s get to know each other again, Bi Fang!¡± ¡°Wu Mingtao!¡± [Damn, is this what male friendship is like?] [Such an easy forgiveness, feels a bit perfunctory] [What else can you do, fight to the death? In face of a common enemy, unity is the only option, right?] [In my entire life, I¡¯ve never watched such a thrilling live stream. It¡¯s like a rollercoaster ride!] After the handshake, Wu Mingtao seemed to have let go of a massive burden, but soon sighed again, looking at the bandages on his leg with a complicated expression. ¡°If tomorrow, if the wolves come again tomorrow, and if we can¡¯t escape, you can leave me behind. I think I can at least hold them off for a while for you¡­¡± ¡°Cut it out!¡± Bi Fang stopped Wu Mingtao¡¯s defeatist talk, ¡°I will get all of you out of here, don¡¯t think too much about it.¡± No matter what the future held, his task was to do his utmost to get everyone out. Not for the system rewards, but because this was not where they were meant to end up! Chapter 74 - Chapter 74: Chapter 73: Fight Until Dawn Chapter 74: Chapter 73: Fight Until Dawn Translator: 549690339 I ¡°Will this even work?¡± Hu Hao looked at Bi Fang setting up the trap, somewhat skeptical. ¡°Maybe it will, maybe it won¡¯t, but if it does, we¡¯re in the money,¡± replied Bi Fang. Bi Fang secured the bow made from bark ropes to the stump, set the arrows in place, pulled it taut, and hooked it to the catch tied to the trip line behind it. ¡°All set, let¡¯s keep moving.¡± Bi Fang, torch in hand, moved on after ensuring everything was correct. They chose not to rest that night and continued their journey. Sleeping was definitely not the right move with the wolf pack watching them at all times. Along the way, Bi Fang had already set up a total of seven large traps: two log traps, one spear trap, one pitfail, and three crossbow traps. Three were placed near their previous campsite, and the rest were set up along the way. Now it was up to see how many wolves in the pack would fall for them. The log traps were the simplest, but the materials were hard to come by, requiring large logs that were time-consuming and laborious to prepare, and difficult to procure, either buried deep in the snow or too heavy. These were pretty much all the trap methods Bi Fang could think of to deal with large animals at present; he wondered if he could unlock more after leveling up. But this was the limit of his abilities for now. And seven traps should be enough; any more would be a waste of time and energy. The wolves weren¡¯t that stupid. ¡°This meat¡¯s so tough, tastes like dog shit,¡± Hu Hao mumbled with a mouthful of wolf leg. They had brought the wolf meat on purpose to ensure the pack followed the path lined with their traps. ¡°You¡¯ve eaten dog shit?¡± Zheng Tianfang asked. ¡°Damn!¡± Hu Hao cursed. ¡°Hahaha!¡± Boom! ¡°Awooo!¡± Accompanied by a scream, a large expanse of snow was dislodged nearby. The viewers were startled by the noise, but the sound made Bi Fang excitedly swing his fist in the air. ¡°The log trap worked!¡± Just seeing how the snow was shaken off, he knew the nearby log trap had been triggered. But he didn¡¯t know if it killed one wolf or two. Following the scream, a cacophony of howls rang out. The air was filled with the smell of blood and char. A large wolf sniffed the body of its fallen comrade, letting out a low growl. This was the third time. The wolf pack hadn¡¯t caught any prey for several days, but this time the enemy was unprecedentedly tough. The Wolf King had never thought there could be a hunter better than itself. The losses were significant, and discontent was growing among its members, but it had no choice. ¡°Did you hear that?¡± Zheng Tianfang was excited. Their resistance was working; the pack had sustained damage! ¡°You¡¯re no predators! We are the predators!¡± Zheng Tianfang pointed to himself and took an aggressive bite of the wolf meat, shouting out as he vented clouds of pent-up frustration. By now, each person was armed with two spears, two darts, and with all the traps set up along the way, everyone was feeling a bit inflated. [Feels like there¡¯s hope!] [Don¡¯t jinx us, bro!] [Are the wolves going nuts yet? They aren¡¯t going to freak out, are they?] [Did the rescue team ever get moving? It¡¯s been almost a whole day, right?] [Yeah, the snowstorm was less intense this morning¡ªin fact, much less. But now it¡¯s picking up again. Is there another blizzard?] [Seems like it. I checked the weather forecast for Mohe, and it did mention snow.] Many viewers were stimulated by the invisible clash between Bi Fang¡¯s group and the wolf pack, but they still hoped for a swift rescue. The snowstorm wasn¡¯t too severe that morning; helicopters should have been able to fly. But the reality was they still hadn¡¯t found them. ¡°Damn it! Where are the helicopters? Move out, move out! All of them!¡± In fact, the rescue center had been established early on, and the person in charge was inside, bellowing. A whole day had gone by, an entire day, and they still hadn¡¯t found anyone. The phone lines to their superiors were bombarded, but all to no avail. They had asked Wolf Fang TV, hoping to find out Bi Fang¡¯s landing location to start a circular search from there, but what they found out was. The helicopter pilot had flown randomly according to Bi Fang¡¯s instructions, and even the landing was random. The most fucking unbelievable thing was, there was no black box on the helicopter! No flight record! Just like the helicopter crash 15 years ago in Mohe, there was nothing! Damn it! Of all the things to learn from, why imitate Kobe? Even the pilot didn¡¯t know, and car GPS was no use either, so everyone had no choice but to honestly expand the search area. Satellite photography and thermal positioning were also useless, everything was blizzard, a vast expanse of white, and it was impossible to make out a human figure. The screen showed the person there, but just a curtain away, it felt like a world apart. ¡°Captain, all our helicopters have been deployed, and those from the nearby city have been mobilized too, but we still can¡¯t find him,¡± a team member said weakly, wiping his face from the spittle from Boss¡¯s rant. By noon, the blizzard had lessened a little, enough to allow planes to fly, but visibility was far too low, the helicopters could only fly low and search, limiting the range. Even dispatching all the helicopters, efficiency remained low. As for mobilizing civilian resources, that was even less reliable, it may well happen that they lose connection while others are still not found. ¡°Captain Chen, there¡¯s a call from the higher-ups!¡± In a corner, a young man suddenly brought over a telephone. Captain Chen was startled, and hastily picked up the call, after which a few team members heard muffled voices from the phone as their boss kept agreeing. It was a while before he put down the phone, his tone reflective. ¡°How is it, Captain Chen, what did the higher-ups say?¡± a few of the young men asked worriedly. Ever since they received the search and rescue order, Captain Chen had been under immense pressure, not having slept since the operation started. Captain Chen pursed his lips, ¡°The military¡­ they¡¯ve been mobilized¡­¡± That phone call had actually been a notification asking for their coordination. To save Bi Fang and the others, even the military had been deployed, and to guard against the wolf pack, they were even equipped with guns and ammunition. On the big screen, Bi Fang was still leading everyone along, completely unaware of this. Wu Mingtao coughed twice, a whole night of traveling had left everyone exhausted. Although they were tired, the thought of the wolf pack following them forced them to rally their spirits again. ¡°Can we¡­ rest for a bit?¡± Lin Xue leaned against a tree, resting her head against it. She was close to her limit as the day¡¯s travel had truly been exhausting for her as a woman. [Indeed, I¡¯m tired just looking at them.] [They haven¡¯t stopped all day, I would have given up long ago.] Many viewers felt the same upon hearing this, and they left messages saying it was okay to rest a while. Bi Fang wiped the sweat off his face, also feeling a great depletion of energy, he looked behind him, where it was pitch-black. He then looked ahead at the bushes and noticed a large fallen tree. Truth be told, he was very worried that the wolf pack would pounce on them the moment they stopped. But excessive physical exhaustion wasn¡¯t good either; it would make fighting off the wolf pack very difficult. Moreover, nighttime was a prime opportunity for hunting, and with daylight approaching, missing this chance might mean the wolf pack would have to wait another day, which would be a grueling test for both sides. If he were the Wolf King, he would certainly attack before dawn because his subordinates had suffered casualties, and delaying further was not a good option. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s do this; we can rest for a bit,¡± Bi Fang said. Bi Fang patted the fallen giant tree, which seemed like a suitable shelter; if the wolf pack attacked from this side, they could only jump up and become easy targets, reducing the pressure considerably. He had everyone hold their Spears and Darts in hand, prepared while taking a brief rest. ¡°What time is it?¡± Hu Hao asked after sitting down. ¡°It¡¯s almost six o¡¯clock, almost daylight,¡± Zheng Tianfang checked his watch and pointed to the sky. Bi Fang also looked up at the sky, noticing it was slightly brighter than before, and seeing everyone exhausted, he cautioned them, ¡°Don¡¯t let your guard down. The more tired we are, the more likely the wolf pack will attack.¡± ¡°Damn, don¡¯t these beasts ever rest!¡± Hu Hao cursed and threw a large rock, stirring a faint growl. Extremely close! Bi Fang was startled, instantly shaking off his lethargy as if he were a bug escaping from a spider¡¯s web. He raised his eyes and only then noticed on a nearby snowy slope stood a Gray Wolf of an unusual color. The chilling green eyes fixed on them, and the long fur around the neck splayed out like the mane of a noble steed. As soon as Bi Fang noticed it, under the dim light of dawn, the Gray Wolf howled at the sky, its cry like a distant bugle. Following that bugle sounded the trembling earth, and an entire host of Gray Wolves raced down from the snowy slope! Chapter 75 - Chapter 75: Dont wait anymore Chapter 75: Don¡¯t wait anymore Translator: 549690339 | The early morning update is gone. Some readers said it was too creepy, so I changed it to morning. In the future, updates will be at eight in the morning and at one in the afternoon. Also, I saw someone saying that it was a bug that the rescue team couldn¡¯t find them. Let me explain here. First, the GPS in the car was broken, so the position couldn¡¯t be determined, and I have mentioned this before. Second, drones do have a signal, but they have anti-tracking and anti-positioning capabilities. I¡¯ve said this too, so don¡¯t ask me why they¡¯re so awesome. It¡¯s produced by the System. It¡¯s just like asking me why cultivating requires spiritual energy. Third, because of the blizzard, the rescue team actually only searched for half a day, and because of the poor visibility, helicopters could only fly low, which reduced efficiency. Fourth, the protagonist jumps randomly, so it¡¯s impossible to use this as a center to conduct a search. Fifth, black boxes are required by regulation, but not all of them have one. Kobe¡¯s helicopter didn¡¯t have one, and a helicopter that crashed in Chongqing years ago didn¡¯t have one either! Have I made myself clear? If there are still bugs, you¡¯re welcome to correct me, and I will change them. But for those who say it¡¯s a bug without looking carefully, I don¡¯t accept that. Again, another thing. Someone just said that although my book is doing pretty well, I¡¯m obsessed with making a single book my claim to fame. If I want to cut it, I should just do it directly and not fill the end of each chapter with negative comments, making people feel sick. I apologize for the negative language, and I¡¯m very sorry for disrupting your reading enjoyment. I won¡¯t do it again in the future. But! I really can¡¯t understand the accusation that I¡¯m trying to make a single book a big hit! Decent book performance my ass; are you the author or am I the author? You think you understand the situation better than I do? Do you think I enjoy this? Every time I get promoted, I¡¯m at the bottom of the list, and I¡¯ve said before that this book is a buyout! For Zhi Huang, getting promoted and ranking at the bottom means the promotion will be stopped and the book could get canceled, understand? Even if I want to write, I can¡¯t! Do you know what I rely on to get through each bottom ranking? I spend money to hire people to help me promote! Douyin, WeChat official accounts, chapter promotion, book drought groups asking for help¡ªI¡¯ve tried everything thinkable, I¡¯ve done six rounds of chapter promotion! How many of you came here from a promotion of another book? Code Farmer Cultivation, Chapter Three Hundred and Fifty-Seven The Infinite Journey of Killing Prototype, Chapter Two Hundred and Two Rebirth of a Financial Magnate, Chapter Three Hundred and Twenty-Three I Became an Emperor and Then the Golden Finger Arrived, Chapter Five Hundred and Sixty-Four I Really Am a Flying Henanese, Chapter Two Hundred and Ninety-Five The Years I Spent Storytelling in Teahouses and Taverns, Chapter Fifty-Seven All the books that went live here are quality products, and the only one who didn¡¯t go live is the storyteller, who also exceeds thirty thousand subscriptions! I would really like to thank the big shots for their chapter promotions. For all this stuff, I haven¡¯t made a penny now, and I¡¯ve put in nearly two thousand out of pocket! Only thus have I survived to the division strength, and even then, I¡¯m just on the pass line. In the same batch of recommendations, everyone is a new book with the same amount of updates, but I just lag behind; I¡¯m just not good enough. So, where is this performance considered good? Who¡¯s going to tell me? To tell the truth, I should actually have been canceled a long time ago. I survived not because my book is good, but because I¡¯ve spent more money. Others get one promotion; mine is equivalent to two. If someone doesn¡¯t believe me, they can download the Chenggua APP and look at the previous promotion data, and you¡¯ll discover that my subscriptions are always at the bottom the first day I get promoted! I want a single book to make it big? I just fucking want to be able to keep writing this book! I originally had twenty chapters saved up, but in order to avoid getting canceled, I¡¯ve been trying to find promotional channels every day, and I can¡¯t keep up with the pace of updates¡ªit¡¯s all gone! Now what you see is me coding on the spot! And it¡¯s the end of June again, and there are final exams. I have an engine origin exam this Saturday. I¡¯m majoring in engineering, and the exam is a nightmare, but I haven¡¯t even started reviewing yet; I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m doing. Of course, I won¡¯t speak negatively anymore in the future, and I¡¯m very grateful for everyone¡¯s continuous support and encouragement. Get to bed early, as tomorrow¡¯s two chapters are going to be climactic scenes. Mohe is about to end, and I still don¡¯t know what to write for the next copy. If you have any ideas, you can comment below. Actually, I originally wanted to write about Rob¡¯s scientific research, postpone the incident from those years a bit, and turn it into a case where the research team asks the protagonist for help. But after thinking about it, I figured some readers might not like that kind of drag-along character, so I gave up on it. This time in Mohe, some people were really annoyed with the drag-along characters, saying that I was poisoning the story. Taking that as a lesson, I will try to write less of this sort of content from now on. This chapter will be deleted tomorrow. Chapter 76 - Chapter 76: Chapter 74: The Left Hand is Useless! Chapter 76: Chapter 74: The Left Hand is Useless! Translator: 549690339 | The wolf pack charged! Under the night vision mode of the drone, the grayish-black snowy slope was completely covered by the patchy gray and white of the wolves. Running with their bodies low to the ground, they looked like the gray and white ground itself was writhing from a distance. Seventeen, a full seventeen large wolves! Audience members with sharp eyes counted the number of wolves in the pack, almost screaming out loud. Seventeen! Even if it were divided evenly, each person would have to deal with three to four large wolves, not to mention there were women and the wounded in the group! Could they survive? Bi Fang was sweating profusely. The sky was just beginning to lighten, and with his first-person camera, he could see much more clearly than those around him, and was even more shocked. Just as he had thought, the wolves had not waited another night but had launched their attack before dawn! The beasts had even erupted into a riot out of hunger the night before, giving the Wolf King a sense of urgency; it needed to lead its pack to find food quickly! The Wolf King was clever; the snow slope was more than a hundred meters away and the terrain was higher¡ªperfect for a charge. But the scattered trees and shrubs hindered their momentum, continuously causing wolves to be blocked in the charge, gradually creating a lead and follow order. A great opportunity! Bi Fang was delighted to see the Wolf King slowed down by the trees. Though having the wolves close together would increase the hit rate of the darts, given the choice, he would absolutely prefer the current situation. The wolf pack was frightening because of its numbers; without that advantage, their threat was greatly reduced! Zheng Tianfang and the others were even more shocked, busily trying to throw their darts, but Bi Fang blocked them, even as the wolves continued to advance. ¡°Stay calm!¡± Bi Fang yelled to the flustered crowd. Now was not the best time to throw. They had to wait for the wolves to get even closer. Even closer! In just a moment, the vanguard of the wolf pack had advanced another several tens of feet, their sharp claws digging into the snowy ground. In the middle of their charge, a weak resistance suddenly tugged at them, but quickly disappeared. The trip lines broke, the twang of bowstrings erupted, and three wooden arrows shot toward the vanguard of the wolves. The force behind the arrows was fierce, their howling in the air as shrill as the wail of a ghost. A trap! The last crossbow arrow trap! The audience was overjoyed, recalling the crossbow arrow trap Bi Fang had just finished setting up. If these were normal arrows shooting out unexpectedly, even with the lead wolf moving at high speed, it would certainly hit its mark! Unfortunately, these were just three hastily-made wooden arrows, with poor accuracy. As they shot out, two veered off course, with only one arrow flying straight toward its target, piercing through its hind leg! The lead wolf howled in agony, toppled by the kinetic energy of the arrow, while the large wolves beside it hesitated for a moment but then immediately leapt over it. If they didn¡¯t catch their prey now, they would all die! Only sixteen left! Seeing the trap work, Hu Hao and the others suddenly gained confidence, as if the wolf pack in front of them was not invincible! There had already been one wolf downed here; perhaps more had fallen before this, but it was enough to prove that the wolf pack was not invincible! As long as it was flesh and blood, they could win! On the other side, Bi Fang gripped his dart, silently waiting for the wolf pack to reach within a fifty-meter range. Seventy! Sixty! Fifty! Already two ferocious wolves had charged within fifty meters, but Bi Fang did not move, nor did the trembling Zheng Tianfang and the others. Even the viewers behind the screens temporarily held their breaths. Until more than seven wolves entered the fifty-meter range. ¡°Throw the darts!¡± Bi Fang ordered decisively. A total of five short darts were thrown, covering the advancing wolves. Now the wolves were even closer, dense, and the group¡¯s darts were more accurate. In just a moment, two wolves were brought down. The dart thrown by Bi Fang himself even pierced through a wolf¡¯s body, nailing it dead to the ground! Only fourteen left! Blood turned the gray snowy slope completely black, but the wolf pack did not stop their attack, they kept coming! ¡°Again!¡± Bi Fang roared. Another round of projectiles followed, this time the wolf pack was even closer, only less than twenty meters away, with even better accuracy than before! These were weapons capable of hunting mammoths! The darts whistled through the air, like black thunderbolts from Zeus punishing the gods, and in almost an instant, they pierced through the fragile bodies of the wolves. Three more large wolves fell, struggling in the snow, howling in pain, their black blood staining the white snow red. Three! A full three! Only eleven wolves remained in the pack! Even the seven that charged earlier had mostly perished, leaving only two! [Damn, damn, he¡¯s going to kill them all!] [I¡¯m freaking dying right here! This host is even more ruthless than the wolves!] [It¡¯s a ranged battle against warriors, aren¡¯t they gonna be kited to death?] [Cool, cool, cool! Master Fang forever the god! All my pocket money for the month goes to you! ] Everyone cheered and jumped for joy, with a smile even appearing on Hu Hao¡¯s face, but Bi Fang knew the real battle was just beginning. Now, they had to engage in close combat with the wolves. One false move could mean total defeat! The two wolves that arrived first charged the fastest, and the deterrence of the darts had put them quite a distance ahead of the rest of the pack. Their green pupils gleamed like awls, fiercely drilling into the hearts of humans. Hu Hao¡¯s courage, just ignited, was doused in cold water again, causing him to hesitate. ¡°Good beasts!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s gaze was fiery as he stood at the very front of everyone. The wolf pack that launched their charge wouldn¡¯t back down. Neither would he! But he was going to hurt the wolves! Hurt them until they were afraid! Hurt them to the marrow! Hurt them so they wouldn¡¯t dare to mess with humans again! Ever since acquiring Special Forces skills, Bi Fang¡¯s abilities had greatly improved, and he was no longer afraid like before, but filled with boundless courage instead. If he could get through this, a smooth path lay ahead! But first, he would make these beasts pay a heavy price! He would instill in them a profound fear of humans! The two malicious wolves had already reached the massive tree and leapt into the air, aiming for Bi Fang¡¯s throat. However, he was fearless and let out a mighty yell as he thrust his spear, with the hunting and Special Forces combat experience merging perfectly at this moment. A glint of cold light flashed, and the sharp spear went straight into one evil wolf¡¯s throat, skewering it and tossing it into the air, then slamming into another malicious wolf mid-air! The collision of flesh produced a muffled thud, and the flimsy wooden spear broke upon impact! But this single spear strike had everyone¡¯s spirits surging, for itwasn¡¯t just a spear; it was like an enraged dragon, dancing wildly with ferocity and precision! Bi Fang heaved through the tough fight, ready to fling the wolf carcass on the ground when a blurry shadow leapt from beneath it. The evil wolf that was knocked down wasn¡¯t injured at all; it flipped over and charged once again. On the side, Zheng Tianfang and the others hesitated out of fear for a moment and didn¡¯t move forward immediately. By the time they wanted to block, it was already too late. The Gray Wolf s pounce was a brilliant move for a wild beast. Just after Bi Fang had slain one, his wooden spear had broken, and the other lay out of reach. The Gray Wolf seized this gap to launch another attack. That¡¯s how vicious wolves are; once their fangs are bared, blood must be spilled! Bi Fang only saw a black blur and smelled the pungent scent; he knew the Gray Wolf was upon him. Unfortunately, after that powerful thrust, he was struggling to recover in time. At a critical moment, he could only let go of the wooden spear and raise his left hand to block. The Gray Wolf bit into Bi Fang¡¯s left hand and jerked its head fiercely, trying to rip the hand off. ¡°Bi Fang!¡± Zheng Tianfang exclaimed in alarm. The viewers in the live stream were collectively silenced. In that brief moment, not a single comment could be made. The world seemed to freeze all at once, everyone saw the Gray Wolf biting Bi Fang, yet they were powerless to help. Back at the rescue camp, Captain Chen¡¯s eyes were filled with fury. This was their failure! Everyone remembered clearly what Bi Fang had said, that the bite force of a Gray Wolf was close to three hundred kilograms; a bite would certainly break bones, not to mention an unprotected palm! This left hand was ruined! Chapter 77 - Chapter 77: Chapter 75: The Great Terror Between Life and Chapter 77: Chapter 75: The Great Terror Between Life and Death Translator: 549690339 The air seemed to congeal. Everyone¡¯s heartbeat missed a beat. Zheng Tianfang even wondered, if he hadn¡¯t been scared, hadn¡¯t hesitated, but had stepped forward to block the other wolf, could Bi Fang¡¯s hand have been saved? ¡°Beast, you want a clean death? You¡¯ll get a quick end!¡± But to everyone¡¯s surprise, faced with the vicious wolf¡¯s biting, Bi Fang didn¡¯t even furrow his brow. He coldly stared into the wolf¡¯s eyes, chuckled, and with his right hand, drew out his Hunting Knife, flicking it upward and casting a spray of bloody filth. The entire knife plunged straight into the wolf¡¯s skull, dragging out a spurt of blood mixed with brain matter. The giant wolf instantly collapsed onto the ground, lifeless. Seventeen wolves had already been reduced by more than half! Now only nine remained! Flinging aside the wolf¡¯s carcass, Bi Fang, bathed in blood, was like a fierce dragon. He picked up a Spear and shouted to the dumbstruck Zheng Tianfang and others, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, after all, they are just beasts.¡± Zheng Tianfang and the others looked at the wolf¡¯s carcass and then realized that its head was still biting something. But the two sharp fangs had already snapped off. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a steel water bottle! Bi Fang had dared to use his left hand to cover the wolf¡¯s mouth because he had a plan in mind. Before the two wolves attacked, he had wrapped the watei bottle¡¯s strap around his hand. After all, wolves can¡¯t compare to humans¡¯ wits! Everyone drew in a cold breath, and the temperature around them seemed to rise several degrees. Between life and death lies great terror, but Bi Fang managed to keep his cool under such circumstances and used a steel water bottle to precisely block the wolf¡¯s maw¡ªa miracle! How much terrifying combat experience would this require? How much immense mental fortitude and reflexes? Could this really be done by a human? However, the audience, uneducated in such matters, could only respond to such feats with a screen full of comments like ¡°Awesome¡±, ¡°Big boss¡±, ¡°666¡±. ¡°Don¡¯t let your guard down!¡± Bi Fang yelled at the dumbfounded Hu Hao and the others. Bi Fang¡¯s courage in slaying the wolf had subdued everyone present, including many viewers behind their screens, who were also impressed. Some even felt a sense of security upon seeing him, a feeling that actually had no basis. ¡°Bi Fang!¡± Zheng Tianfang¡¯s voice was hoarse, filled with terror, ¡°The wolf pack is coming again!¡± ¡°I know!¡± Bi Fang wasn¡¯t panicked; panic wouldn¡¯t solve anything. He knew that the wolf pack wouldn¡¯t turn back, especially now that so many of them had been killed; it was a fight to the death. Just before, Bi Fang had used the terrain to split up the wolf pack, then caught them off guard with a Dart to inflict heavy losses. Now, the chances of repeating such an opportunity were impossible. Still nine wolves left! Even with only nine remaining, such a wolf pack was among the apex predators on land, a force that would make Brown Bears and the Northeast Tiger feel uncertain. Bi Fang¡¯s only advantage lay with the Spear in his hands! As long as he didn¡¯t let the wolves get close, there was still a chance! But to disable their claws and teeth wasn¡¯t as effective as beheading the snake, and Bi Fang¡¯s gaze was firmly locked on the Wolf King charging among them, the strongest and most intelligent wolf in the pack. If the Wolf King were killed, the pack would be headless and should immediately retreat, only to regroup after recovering and fighting a vicious battle until a new Wolf King emerged and the pack could unite once more. And even if the wolf pack didn¡¯t retreat, a pack without its leader was disorganized and sandbags, which would greatly benefit the situation. Before Bi Fang killed the second wolf with his hunting knife, a second wave of wolves had already charged within thirty meters. That brief interlude was but a few seconds; reloading the dart was no longer possible. Bi Fangwas drenched in blood, his face filled with unrestrained killing intent. He fiercely watched the approaching wolves, and as the animals almost reached him, he suddenly raised his hand, ¡°Throw all the torches out!¡± At that moment, nobody dared to disobey Bi Fang¡¯s command; five torches fell among the wolves, the gasoline on the torches sticking to their fur. The wolves that caught fire emitted a scorched smell, jumping and dodging, their formation once again disrupted. A clear path suddenly opened up between Bi Fang and the Wolf King. Only four wolves remained unharmed. They charged straight at the five humans. Zheng Tianfang watched the Wolf King and its minions attack, gripped by an overwhelming fear. The stench of wolves was everywhere, and he was exposed before the pack, facing their drooling jaws. ¡± Die, beast!¡± A sudden bellow came from beside him. Zheng Tianfang thought it was Bi Fang coming to his rescue, but as soon as that thought crossed his mind, to his astonishment, he discovered it was the normally timid Wu Mingtao who, holding a spear, had charged forward! How could this be! It wasn¡¯t just him, even the audience watching through the screen were shocked, unable to believe that Wu Mingtao, who had been the most conflict- ridden throughout the journey, dared to take such action at this moment! A large wolf leapt over a log but dodged the threatening spear. With its opponent¡¯s guard wide open, the ferocious wolf went straight for Wu Mingtao¡¯s thigh. ¡°Ah!¡± A piercing scream resounded; the nightmare turned real as the wolf¡¯s sharp teeth sank into the flesh, the wound exposing bone immediately. Wu Mingtao¡¯s thigh was bitten, but he didn¡¯t fall. Under the influence of adrenaline, he once again stabbed the spear toward the wolf¡¯s waist. The preoccupied Lin Xue and Hu Hao, seeing this, hurriedly went to help. The three of them managed to restrain another wolf, but it seemed they were still not strong enough; the cunning wolf dodged them each time. But there were still three left! If you were to ask who the pack hated the most, without a doubt it was Bi Fang. As leaders sense each other, it knew Bi Fang was the ¡°Wolf King¡± among these five humans! Without him, its pack wouldn¡¯t have dwindled to this! With a hatred as fiery as blazing flames, three large wolves lunged straight at Bi Fang. They were so massive, so fearsome, and yet they attacked as silently as shadows. The Wolf King¡¯s eyes were blood red. Bi Fang seemed to see a ¡°Spirit-in them that only humans possess. Their gray manes wildly danced in the wind; these three large wolves resembled spirits walking out of the ice and snow, noble and robust, bloodthirsty and brutal. In the first-person perspective, the audience felt a pressure like a mountain collapsing or a tsunami, the stench as if piercing through the screen into their nostrils, forcing them to retreat until they realized, leaning against their chairs, that it was just a live broadcast. It wasn¡¯t them facing the large wolves, but Bi Fang, alone! Bi Fang¡¯s pupils constricted, his screams hoarse and fierce, like the roar of an ancient god from within a bronze bell. In this instant, all victories and losses, all life and death, would be decided. Bi Fang, like a tiger launching an attack, threw off his storm jacket that he had already removed, casting it directly over the head of a large wolf. The sudden darkness took the wolf by surprise, and it tumbled to the ground. Bi Fang¡¯s left arm twisted like a snake, unequaled terrifying strength gathering in his hand, and with a powerful throw, he struck another large wolf in the shoulder, sending it flying away. Thus, two wolves were felled, one to the left, one to the right, by his hand, but he had no recourse left for the final Wolf King; he was at his wit¡¯s end! Seizing the opportunity, the Wolf King no longer hesitated and pounced, bringing him down! Chapter 78 - Chapter 78: Chapter 76: The Pack Retreats! Chapter 78: Chapter 76: The Pack Retreats! Translator 549690339 | The Wolf King was so massive and formidable that it was as big as a small horse, its body covered with knotted muscles, and its wolf teeth like white thorns, carrying a chilling, bloody stench. Its pounce was so swift and fierce, as venomous as a snake and as powerful as a lion or tiger. Bi Fang wanted to dodge, but there was nowhere to hide; he could only make a desperate sidestep. A sharp pain shot through his shoulder as if his bones were about to split apart. Screams erupted from Lin Xue¡¯s mouth, and many more such incidents unfolded in front of the screens of those watching the live stream! Over a hundred thousand viewers, with only a small portion being old fans¡ª the majority were witnessing such a live broadcast for the first time, and it was violent, bloody, thrilling, and even terrifying! While many people covered their eyes, capable of avoiding the sight, Bi Fang had no such option! But faced with such a fierce attack, Bi Fang only felt a colossal force slamming into him, as if his internal organs were about to be expelled. But Bi Fang didn¡¯t fall; he stood his ground! He knew that with such a gigantic wolf, the moment it hit the ground and gained leverage, just a twist of its head and a burst of strength could tear off his entire shoulder blade. There was no one to rescue him. In this instant, he had to fight for every chance to live by himself! Bi Fang hugged the Wolf King tight, lifting his leg and kneeing it like a fierce tiger, striking hard against the Wolf King¡¯s belly! His violent force penetrated the Wolf King¡¯s body, and a crisp sound echoed from its bones. But it wasn¡¯t over yet! Bi Fang went straight forward, crashing heavily against the large tree in front of him! The hard tree caused the wolf¡¯s spine to crackle, and the horse-sized wolf reeled backward, dazed, releasing Bi Fang¡¯s shoulder. Bi Fang didn¡¯t know the state of his shoulder; after the initial sharp pain, he hardly felt it anymore, as the adrenaline secreted vigorously helped suppress the pain. The bite force of a wolf was over 300 kilograms, and with fangs almost 4 centimeters long, such a level of biting could¡¯ve shattered his shoulder blade, but Bi Fang preferred to think it hadn¡¯t since he could still use his right hand, and that was enough! He saw the large wolf slowly standing up, its green eyes shining brighter, like gems endowed with evil power. The Wolf King¡¯s injury was merely an oversight of its prey¡¯s ability to attack. The Wolf King seemed to hesitate; it dared not approach, and the other two wolves that had been held off were only lingering nearby. Once the momentum and courage were lost after the initial rush, the Wolf King and the scout wolves lost the courage to advance. Bi Fang drew his Hunting Knife. In this life-or-death moment, he hardly felt any pain or fatigue; all he felt was a terrifying throb, as if he was sinking into endless darkness. His heart pounded violently, like beating a drum, and a dreadful power flowed through his body like flames. The Hunting Knife in his hand felt light, the wolf¡¯s stench was no longer detectable, and he seemed to be back in the moment when he grappled with Bear. A warm liquid splattered on his face, and the iron color of the blade shimmered with traces of blood as the sharp tip of the Spear penetrated through the thick fur. He had to survive! Survive! The firelight cast upon Bi Fang¡¯s ferocious face, shifting like a specter. To defeat the wolf, one had to be fiercer, more vicious, more brutal, and tear it¡­ into a thousand pieces! Everyone heard his roaring voice explode in the morning light and amidst the wolf howls¡ª it was the roar of a tiger, shocking the entire pack. Bi Fang¡¯s body trembled tremendously, as divine violence infused the blade, and his hand gripped the knife as hard as iron. Almost at the same moment, both he and the Wolf King charged, the wolf racing like a galloping horse, Bi Fang¡¯s assault like that of a savage tiger. ¡°Be careful!¡± Zheng Tianfang pointed at the two large wolves charging at Bi Fang from behind, suddenly yelling out in alarm. But no one was paying attention to his shouting. In the dawn light, Bi Fang, clutching the Hunting Knife, conjured a tapestry of memories and experiences into being¡ª an unbelievable swiftness, like an eagle swooping from the sky! The Hunting Knife, along with the arm that wielded it, became indistinguishable, and that was due to the even faster speed, which rendered his knife virtually invisible! This was a fatal stab, one that was meant to draw blood, harsh, sudden, with the howl of a tiger! The galloping Wolf King suddenly felt an immense fear; it leapt into the air but could not escape. The blade light, like a long river or vast ocean, swept over the vile wolf, and a severe pain suddenly emanated from the Wolf King¡¯s jaw, followed by an immense force that turned the world pitch black. Bi Fang didn¡¯t stop his charge, feeling the deadly threat behind him. With the momentum of his charge, he dodged the Wolf King, clutching the Hunting Knife and throwing the large wolf off! The jaw of the Wolf King was completely penetrated, and under the leverage of the Hunting Knife, it was briefly suspended in the air before being thrown, slamming hard onto the two large wolves behind it. Bi Fang, using his last bit of strength, kicked the Wolf King, sending it flying along with the two subordinates behind it. With the Hunting Knife pulled out, a splash of blood surged from the ground, spattering into the air to form a mist of blood. No one had ever seen such a scene. In just an instant of confrontation, the Wolf King was dead. This was the grandeur of the bloody desolation only found in the barbaric era! ¡°Bi Fang!¡± Wu Mingtao exclaimed in shock. Behind Bi Fang, another large wolf pounced down, its body bearing singed fur emitting a faint burnt odor. That was one of the less injured Gray Wolves! But Bi Fang had already exhausted all his strength, his head spinning in dizziness, a side effect of the temporary outburst. He had neither the strength nor the reaction to turn and defend, so weak that he seemed about to fall completely. Everyone was frantically agitated, but helpless. At this moment, no one was sending bullet comments or tips, because all their attention was captivated by this unparalleled live broadcast. Suddenly, a Spear thrust out of nowhere, blocking the attacking large wolf and sending it crashing to the ground. Zheng Tianfang! The man who had initially been petrified with fear finally stood up! Zheng Tianfang struck the large wolf like a madman, completely piercing through the soft belly of the Gray Wolf, its intestines and viscera spilling out onto the ground. ¡°All!¡± On the other side, Wu Mingtao and the others finally killed the vicious wolf that wouldn¡¯t let go of his leg. Hu Hao and Lin Xue quickly regrouped with Bi Fang, Spears out, forming a defensive formation again. Hu Hao lifted Bi Fang¡¯s uninjured arm, propping him up so he wouldn¡¯t fall. He carefully touched Bi Fang and saw him wave his hand, reassuring him. Bi Fang swayed a bit but regained some strength. Gripping the Hunting Knife again, the wolf blood not yet congealed ran down, dropping onto the snowy ground and quickly forming blood-colored Ice Crystals. The two wolves that had been kicked away stood up again, like indestructible cockroaches, while the large wolves previously hit by torches also gradually recovered. Circling Bi Fang and the others, they hesitated to launch another attack. Bi Fang stepped away from Hu Hao¡¯s shoulder, staggered a step, but quickly regained his balance under everyone¡¯s worried gaze. He stepped out from the crowd, and with every step, he caused the audience¡¯s hearts to tremble mightily, scattering the once arrogant pack of wolves. Those slow and leisurely steps, like a fierce tiger patrolling its territory. Invincible! The word appeared in everyone¡¯s hearts at the same time. Even Lu Wentao and Lu Junming had to admit at this moment that they had lost, completely lost. Who could defeat the true ¡°Wolf King¡±? When Bi Fang approached the corpse of the large wolf, the surrounding wolves had already pushed back a distance of three to five steps. They stared at Bi Fang but dared not come forward. Bi Fang carefully counted and found there were still five wolves standing. Wolves terrified out of their wits. Watching the growling pack, Bi Fang knelt on one knee, using the Hunting Knife to slowly sever the Wolf King¡¯s head. A large expanse of blood spread along the snow, forming Ice Crystals. Such a brutal scene made everyone¡¯s eyelids twitch, skipping a breath. No wolf dared growl anymore, all reverting to a low wail. And when Bi Fang completely cut off the Wolf King¡¯s head, these wails reached their peak. Looking at the wailing wolves, Bi Fang laughed heartily. With his remaining strength, he hurled the Wolf King¡¯s head fiercely at the pack! With several screams, all the large wolves fled with their tails between their legs. The pack of wolves receded! Chapter 79 - Chapter 79: Chapter 77 They Won! Chapter 79: Chapter 77 They Won! Translator: 549690339 I The moment the Wolf King died. All around was silent. Only the occasional howling wind blew across the sky. Wolf corpses lay everywhere, and the smell of scorching permeated the air, like a crematorium that had been at work for a long time. The Wolf King¡¯s head was thrown high in the air, causing the pack to scatter and flee. The sun had already risen, and the snowy forest was vast, covered in a layer of golden sunlight. The temperature rose gradually, and the huge ice armor cracked, with blood seeping through the fissures. Watching the fleeing wolves, Bi Fang looked up into the dawn and casually wiped his cheek, leaving a long streak of wolf blood across his face. Wildness, arrogance. He was like the most valiant warrior of a primitive tribe, using the blood of his prey to record glory and feats of valor. Shrouded in mist, a mountain connecting to the sky loomed behind him, its summit bathed in a sunlight that shimmered golden, with clouds wandering near the top. Zheng Tianfang and the others had braved the wind and snow for so long, never imagining they were brushing past this majestic and solemn mountain. Suddenly seeing it felt like witnessing a miracle, inspiring awe and admiration. ¡°Hahaha!¡± It was unclear who started laughing, but gradually, everyone began to laugh. Their voices weren¡¯t loud, but they reached the sky, cutting through clouds and shattering stones, echoing between heaven and earth. The aftermath of a catastrophe, nothing could be more so. This battle. They had won! Suddenly. An Emperor Effect of golden light rose from the screen, in sync with the live stream, as if another sun had exploded atop the mountain, and an eye-catching banner appeared along with it. [Congratulations to the Joyful Pigskin for becoming an Emperor!] [Joyful Pigskin sends 10 Spaceships to the host¡ªEven in the face of death one can intimidate tigers and leopards, and one need not fear bears even in perilous life. This is the most amazing live stream I¡¯ve ever seen, without a doubt, and there will never be another!] The Emperor Effect, coupled with ten Spaceships, instantly woke all the Shuiyou. But it wasn¡¯t over yet! [Congratulations to Tonight¡¯s Moonlight Charm for becoming an Emperor!] [Tonight¡¯s Moonlight Charm sends 10 Spaceships to the host¡ªI don¡¯t have the culture that the guy upstairs does, but I know that becoming an Emperor in Master Fang¡¯s live room is definitely the right move!] Seemingly inspired by the first two, the Emperor Effects followed one after the other, never ceasing. [Holy shit! Master Fang is too awesome!] [I¡¯m ashamed to say, I¡¯ve watched sports all my life, but I¡¯ve never seen a live stream like this, absolutely brilliant!] [So immersive, I¡¯ve already slapped my dog five times¡ªI¡¯m a wolf-fighting hero too!] [Though I¡¯m not human, the guy above is definitely a dog.] [Wolf-fighting hero? Are you sure you didn¡¯t hit your own brother?] [I¡¯m not talking anymore, already started wrecking the house.] [I say Master Fang is the number one streamer, who agrees, who opposes?] [Only Master Fang could draw this many rich guys, right? That¡¯s five Emperors already, who else?!] [Lin Chang sends too Spaceships to the host¡ªI¡¯m convinced, truly convinced. Lin Xue is so lucky to have met you this time!] [The real big spender has started firing rockets again, awesome, truly awesome, a sight rarely seen in a lifetime!] In the live stream room, gifts and ¡°awesome¡± bullet comments were everywhere. Occasionally, when a cultured person popped up, they would throw in a few lines of ancient poetry. The activation of two new Emperors, coupled with Lin Chang and his sister, Lord Mu, and the five natural Emperors of Bi Fang¡¯s live room, and not one of them from a guild¡ªthat was a straight up $500,000! Add to that the continuous Spaceships from various rich guys, and that¡¯s another million in revenue. Such a scene is rarely seen in years, and this time, it happened! Which streamers can achieve such results? Very few, but now Bi Fang is one of them! And this is far from his limit, he can be even stronger! Whether they were big streamers or small ones, at this moment, none of them felt any competitive spirit. These were achievements they could only look up to, touch them and you die! ¡°Hehehe.¡± The staff silently watched Wang Yongbo, who had been grinning foolishly since a moment ago, wanting to remind him that his drool was leaking out, but after thinking it over for a moment, they decided to let it be. After all, he was the boss. ¡°Though facing death one may still challenge tigers and leopards, in life¡¯s peril, one need not fear bear or boar.¡± Master Fang, a female tycoon in the business world, couldn¡¯t help but be emotionally stirred as she recited this line of poetry. Even though the verse described a pack of wolves, she felt its use here was not at all an exaggeration, and actually quite fitting. At this moment, Bi Fang¡¯s performance was akin to another ¡°Wolf King¡±! ¡°Holy shit, isn¡¯t this just too awesome?¡± Lin Chang had watched for quite some time before managing to blurt out only this much; it wasn¡¯t that he was uncultured, but rather the shock was too intense, leaving him unable to muster any eloquence, just as one might instinctively scream when startled. Swearing was much the same. Seeing Bi Fang¡¯s stellar performance, Lin Chang was even contemplating starting his own live streaming company, not for any other reason but to sign Bi Fang, and he believed that with Shenhua¡¯s strength, they could definitely grow the platform to great heights. At this moment, he had seemingly forgotten even about his sister¡¯s safety. With such a powerful figure leading the way, what was there to worry about? If even Bi Fang couldn¡¯t handle it, then nobody else could be of use. If they could even confront a pack of wolves, what difficulty could possibly stop them? This was Lin Chang¡¯s most sincere thought at the moment. ¡°Do you have a classmate who works at the Old Wave News Department?¡± Lin Zhou suddenly asked. ¡°Yeah, what about it?¡± Lin Chang was taken aback by the question, but he quickly understood, ¡°Sis, are you thinking of¡­¡¯1 ¡°Yes!¡± Lin Zhou confirmed decisively. Now that the blizzard had stopped, the rescue team should be able to find Lin Xue and the others soon. With even the pack of wolves defeated, Lin Zhou did not believe there would be any more significant dangers, so there was no need to keep suppressing the incident. As a reward, Lin Zhou wanted to give Bi Fang a boost in popularity. Although the incident itself was bound to attract attention, with Shenhua¡¯s help, Lin Zhou and Lin Chang were confident they could make the event universally known, and they believed Lin Xue wouldn¡¯t mind either. Needless to say, after this live stream, Bi Fang¡¯s following would see a tremendous surge. ¡°Is everyone alright?¡± After the last wolf had vanished from sight, Bi Fang finally relaxed, but the wound on his shoulder began to ache. ¡°I¡¯m good,¡± Hu Hao said with a grimace. His right hand was covered in fresh blood, not from a wolf bite, but from a splinter he had forcefully driven under his fingernail. Now, the fingernail on his right hand¡¯s ring finger was completely gone. On the other side, Wu Mingtao was also groaning. He had been bitten on his thigh, but fortunately it was just the thigh, and thanks to the timely rescue by Hu Hao and the others, his bone wasn¡¯t broken, and he had even luckily avoided the arteries and veins; it just looked very bloody. The only bad thing was that both of his legs were now injured, and he couldn¡¯t walk at all. ¡°But what about you? Are you alright?¡± Seeing that Bi Fang still had the capacity to care for others, Zheng Tianfang was the first to ask. The audience also remembered this concern. They had seen it clearly just now¡ªthe Wolf King had indeed bitten down hard on Bi Fang¡¯s shoulder, and that bite looked painful. Bi Fang also looked at his shoulder, but there appeared to be no sign of injury on the surface, not even a tear in his clothes. This was the advantage of buying a brand-name jacket¡ªthe fabric had not even torn under the fierce mauling of the Wolf King, which directly helped him avoid the most troublesome risk of bacterial infection. But as he unzipped and peeled away the layers of clothing on his shoulder, streaks of fresh blood began to seep through, and by the time he reached the last two layers, they were a sticky mess. Cold sweat seeped from his forehead, and Bi Fang, enduring the pain, tore open the last piece of clothing to reveal a wound with thick blood congealed in it, making everyone wince in sympathy. [Master Fang is a real man, not even a frown on his brow.] [Wasn¡¯t it the shoulder that got hurt last time too?] [During the Bear event, it was just a scratch, but this time he¡¯s actually been bitten!] [It looks like just a flesh wound, right?] Hu Hao and Zheng Tianfang were both wincing as if they felt the pain themselves. Now they were genuinely convinced; the man seemed young, but he was so much stronger than they were. Hu Hao even felt a bit regretful, if his own daughter hadn¡¯t just started middle school, he would¡¯ve considered introducing her. An absolutely outstanding young talent. ¡°It is indeed just a superficial wound.¡± After a close examination of the wound, Bi Fang¡¯s gaze flickered. To be honest, this was beyond his expectations.. Chapter 80 - Chapter 80: Chapter 78 Tears Well Up in Mv Eves Chapter 80: Chapter 78 Tears Well Up in Mv Eves Translator: 549690339 3 3 Bi bang¡¯s right shoulder looked a bloody mess, but upon examination, they found that it was indeed just a superficial skin injury, and his bones and such were essentially unharmed. This situation definitely wasn¡¯t right; even with thick clothing as protection, that was still a wolf, even the Wolf King at that. It couldn¡¯t possibly be just a superficial skin injury. However, Bi Fang had a hunch in his heart, guessing that the Trapezius Muscle Enhancement Coupon he had obtained last time might be much more powerful than he had thought. Not only was its shaping perfect, but its defensive capabilities were also outstanding, even capable of withstanding the bites of the Wolf King. ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s good that nothing serious happened,¡± Hu Hao took out a medical kit from his bag, ready to give Bi Fang and Wu Mingtao a simple disinfection and bandaging. ¡°Should we hurry and leave? With so much blood around, won¡¯t it attract other animals?¡± Zheng Tianfang leaned against a huge tree, panting. Now that the danger of the wolf pack was gone, everyone felt somewhat relieved, but he was still a bit worried. ¡°No need,¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°The hunting grounds of a wolf pack are fixed, and might even be passed down from generation to generation. Under these circumstances, it s rare for other predators to be active in this area. We re temporarily safe. Everyone can take a rest first before we resume our journey.¡± Hu Hao and the others nodded. As employees of a geography magazine, they were somewhat familiar with these facts, and now that they had Bi Fang¡¯s confirmation, they felt greatly assured and almost all slumped to the ground. They were too tired, thoroughly drained of strength, with their hearts barely beating, caught between fatigue and pain, a terrible feeling enveloping their whole bodies. Actually, the audience in front of the screen was also quite perplexed before; being from National Geographic, shouldn¡¯t they have some knowledge of survival or about animals? But when faced with a wolf pack, they were all at their wits¡¯ end, and some were even dragging their feet. When confronted with this question, Bi Fang just laughed it off without minding the embarrassed Wu Mingtao, as he explained. ¡°Actually, it¡¯s completely different. Sometimes, knowing is one thing, but doing is another.¡± ¡°It¡¯s like someone telling you that Brown Bears don¡¯t scavenger and that playing dead is effective, but most people seeing a bear still turn and run. They don¡¯t think of that; it¡¯s an instinctive reaction.¡± But Bi Fang himself was different, the skills given by the System were not just knowledge but also an abundance of integrated experience. In terms of knowledge, he might not be as broad as those magazine editors, but when it comes to real survival, all the people from National Geographic put together probably couldn¡¯t beat him alone. All of them are just juniors. Confidence.jpg 1666, In the end, it¡¯s just Master Fang showing off his prowess!] [Suddenly I remember when I was in school: I knew the formulas and principles but just couldn¡¯t solve the problems¡­] I The analogy from the commenter above speaks to my soul.] [This is the difference between the practical-doers and the theorists!] (Now I get why Lina would become Master Fang¡¯s fawning admirer. If I were a girl, I¡¯d like to fawn over him too.] I Lina Goddess: Damn! I¡¯m not a fawning admirer! ] I Hahaha, that¡¯s the spirit! Using the meme right there!) ¡°What should we do next?¡± Wu Mingtao gritted his teeth. Although the injury wasn¡¯t severe, it was genuinely excruciating, especially when they used alcohol for disinfection¡ªit felt like there were broken blades cutting through his body. ¡°Wait.¡± Bi Fang looked up at the sky. The snowstorm had almost completely stopped by now, and there were wolf corpses scattered all around, not lacking food. All they needed to do was to wait quietly for the helicopter¡¯s arrival. He had asked the System before, and for this rescue mission, as long as they waited for the rescue team, it would count as a successful survival. ¡°By the way, thanks for earlier,¡± Bi Fang looked at Wu Mingtao and sincerely expressed his gratitude. Just earlier, there had been four wolves charging at him. If not for Wu Mingtao suddenly rushing out to intercept one, he might have been done for. Thinking about it now was quite surprising; the audience watching the screen hadn¡¯t expected Wu Mingtao to be the first one to step up. The one who was initially the most terrified turned out to be the one who burst forth first. [Yeah, Brother Wu is a true man.] [They are all impressive.] [In any case, if you¡¯re awesome, that¡¯s all that matters. Awesome on the live stream, awesome in person.] ¡°No, not at all, I was just doing what needed to be done.¡± Wu Mingtao repeatedly waved his hand, dismissing the praise. In fact, they all benefited from each other¡¯s success. If it weren¡¯t for Bi Fang taking down the Wolf King, they wouldn¡¯t have escaped the wolf pack¡¯s encirclement, and by now they would have been nothing but bones; helping him was really helping themselves. But Bi Fang didn¡¯t see it that way; Wu Mingtao indeed had been terrified at the time, yet he still stood up. Standing up when confident, that¡¯s not called being a warrior; it¡¯s just a choice made after weighing the benefits and risks. A man who stands up unprepared, risking his life, is a true warrior. After the wounds were bandaged, Bi Fang put his clothes back on, cut off several wolf legs to keep as emergency rations, collected some trophies, and then led the group back on their way. This place is only temporarily safe, not absolutely. Moreover, the dense forest is another reason. Times have changed. Previously, they had to hide from the wolf pack by entering the dense forest. Now, to allow the rescue team to find them in time, they need to move through open ground. Making the right decisions based on different situations is key to survival. This time they moved even slower. Wu Mingtao could no longer walk on his own and needed to be carried. Neither Lin Xue nor Bi Fang could possibly take on this task -one lacked the physical strength and the other had an injured shoulder and couldn¡¯t carry him. It wasn¡¯t until twelve noon that Bi Fang suddenly made a new discovery. A wooden stake! ¡°Quick, look!¡± Bi Fang, struggling through the deep snow, crouched in front of the wooden stake and cleaned off the snow, visibly excited. ¡°Saw marks!¡± Bi Fang pointed at the rough bristles on the cut surface of the stake, tone excited. ¡°There are people!¡± I he rest weren¡¯t fools either; they all became excited. Saw marks meant that the tree had been cut down by someone! ¡°And there¡¯s the sound of water!¡± Lin Xue suddenly exclaimed. Everyone paused. Bi Fang also perked up his ears. Indeed! It was faint, but it was definitely the sound of flowing water! Everyone¡¯s hearts ignited with passion, they hastened their pace over the snow, and before long, a river appeared before everyone¡¯s eyes. The online friends were stunned. The rescue team hadn¡¯t found them yet, but they were about to succeed in survival on their own? I Damn, they¡¯ve found a river and saw marks; could Master Fang succeed in survival before the rescue team shows up?] I Ah, this is too embarrassing, right? The rescue team is just filling soy sauce¡­] I lhey haven¡¯t even made an appearance, it¡¯s not even soy sauce-filling! ] It wasn¡¯t just the audience who thought this. Captain Chen thought the same. So, they were of no use at all? He solved the wolf problem, and now he found hope for survival. How can such an awesome person exist? Wasn¡¯t this smashing other people¡¯s rice bowls? That¡¯s outrageous! But as he thought, Captain Chen still reported the situation to his superiors Now that the survivors had found a river, as long as they sent the helicopter to find the river recorded on the map and search along the river, the process would be very fast. They must find them before Bi Fang and the others encounter someone, or else they would lose face big time. He, Captain Chen of the rescue command, did not allow such an awesome person to exist! ¡°It¡¯s a pity not to have discovered this big river earlier,¡± Bi Fang said with regret. The vast river in front of them was nearly ten meters wide, more than enough to build a raft and drift down the river to survival. Then, even if the wolf pack was fierce, they couldn¡¯t pose a threat to them, there¡¯d be no need to fight desperately as they had just done. ¡°Luckily, everyone is still alive,¡± Zheng Tianfang said with much emotion. This experience was definitely the most thrilling and unforgettable one in his career as a tour guide. Perhaps in several decades, he could sit by the stove and tell this story to his grandchildren. Afterward, Bi Fang and the others continued along the river¡¯s edge until evening when the roar of a helicopter suddenly came from behind them. The snow dust was churned into a twister by the helicopter¡¯s rotors, a white tornado with a glint of Red Five-Star. My God! They were finally coming to rescue! Who knew how excited Hu Hao was. Upon seeing the helicopter¡¯s arrival, he threw Wu Mingtao off his back and, despite his curses, Hu Hao ran and jumped, waving his hands. The helicopter¡¯s arrival was so sudden and so timely, stirring everyone¡¯s emotions. He called out loudly for help, tears brimming in his eyes. Chapter 81 - Chapter 81: Chapter 79: The Shark That Smelled Blood Chapter 81: Chapter 79: The Shark That Smelled Blood Translator: 549690339 | In the setting sun, a line of people limped along, injured, yet filled with the joy of having narrowly escaped death. The helicopter, like a giant bird among the fleeting clouds, descended in a whirlwind onto the icy, snow-covered ground. Seeing the helicopter, Hu Hao got so excited that he couldn¡¯t contain himself, dropped his crutch, and flung the injured Wu Mingtao onto the ground as he ran towards the helicopter. ¡°Fuck! This Hu guy is not fucking human!¡± Wu Mingtao, who was suddenly abandoned, cursed loudly. Big Beard had no loyalty at all, casting aside the injured without a second thought. Friendship, gone! Zheng Tianfang picked up Wu Mingtao again, smiling as he walked toward the helicopter. ¡°(It¡¯s over, the rescue team has arrived, no chance of inheriting Master Fang s Ant Financial¡¯s Huabei debt now.) ¡°[Yeah, another missed opportunity to inherit a fortune, such a pity.] ¡°[You guys are something else, he¡¯s still alive and you¡¯re already thinking about inheritance? Isn¡¯t that shameless, not even considering me?] -[My brothers and 1 were so ambitious, yet in the end, we couldn¡¯t inherit anything.] ¡°[It¡¯s not satisfying at all, big brother!] ¡°[+1] The arrival of the helicopter stirred up extreme excitement among the online friends, and many had already started to spam the chat with messages and gifts asking them to stay. Now that the rescue team has arrived, could the end of the livestream be far? -[But the efficiency of the rescue is really poor, if it were a novel, readers would criticize it for being unreasonable.] ¡°[Are you dumb, upstairs? How else would the story develop? What kind of livestream are you watching?] ¡°[Besides, 1 feel like it¡¯s been quick, without a GPS, Master Fang¡¯s random jumping is basically like being missing, it¡¯s just that we can see him.]¡± ¡°[Exactly, don¡¯t those missing in the news take several days to find? Didn¡¯t Master Fang just give an example the other day, hundreds of hikers going missing and taking five days to search, not to mention now there¡¯s a blizzard, have you forgotten so quickly?] ¡°There¡¯s no way around it; our country has a huge gap in the number of helicopters available for emergency rescue. Back in 2008, there were only 294 civil helicopters that could be used for emergency rescue in the whole country, averaging only 3 per 100,000 square kilometers. This one isn¡¯t even specifically for rescue.¡± Seeing some viewers in the livestream confused and even angry, Bi Fang had no choice but to explain. This efficiency of the rescue team was within his expectations. Though it¡¯s a waste of resources, the country still chose to do it. No matter what, the safety of citizens is always the top priority. No sooner had the plane landed than Captain Chen jumped down from it, unable to wait. Having not found anyone in two days, his heart was in turmoil, and now that he finally saw them, he was understandably emotional. Behind Captain Chen, two young men carrying a stretcher followed; they came to Wu Mingtao and carefully lifted him onto the stretcher. ¡°Fuck, you guys are too slow!¡± Zheng Tianfang complained non-stop as he let go of Wu. He was exhausted from carrying him all this way, and now that everything was settled, the rescue team arrived, inevitably disappointing. If they had appeared earlier, they wouldn¡¯t have had to go through such a dangerous day. Hearing this, Captain Chen was taken aback, not sure what to say. ¡°All right, it¡¯s good enough to be alive, do you think it¡¯s easy to rescue people in a blizzard? Plus, without GPS, you expect them to find you like this? This one¡¯s on you!¡± Bi Fang saw the mood was off and kicked Zheng Tianfang. The odds of finding someone lost in the wilderness are already slim, with environment, terrain, and weather all being crucial factors. Even with a search team of over three hundred, there are very few instances where missing individuals are found within three days. It usually takes more than five days, around ten or so. In other countries, it might be ten days to half a month just to organize a search team. Now, having found them in just over two days, the time was already very short. ¡°No, it¡¯s our fault!¡± Captain Chen suddenly bowed to Zheng Tianfang to apologize, indeed, they didn¡¯t act efficiently enough, taking two whole days to find them a fact everyone was well aware of. ¡°And a big thank you to Mr. Bi for his courageous action.¡± After apologizing, Captain Chen turned to Bi Fang to express his serious thanks. If it weren¡¯t for Bi Fang this time, perhaps none of them would have survived. ¡°No, the hard work is on you guys, and we even trouble you to come out here.¡± Bi Fang scratched his head, feeling somewhat embarrassed. Seeing that Captain Chen had more to say, he quickly said, ¡°Let¡¯s get on the helicopter first and talk about it when we¡¯re up. I really don¡¯t want to stay here any longer.¡¯ ¡°Right! Hurry and take him to the hospital!¡± Hearing Bi Fang¡¯s suggestion, Captain Chen also realized that there was no time to waste and immediately led everyone onto the helicopter. And the originally not-so-large helicopter suddenly became crowded with so many people squeezing in. Especially Wu Mingtao, who couldn¡¯t stand or lie down, could only curl up, quivering lips and eyes brimming with red, overcome with excitement. This cramped space brought unparalleled comfort to them they were finally returning to human society. Touching the airframe was like touching civilization itself. The helicopter roared intensely, soaring towards the horizon like a giant bird. Outside the window, the setting sun gilded the clouds with a pale golden hue, and beams of light burst forth from between them like threads of gold. The wind came suddenly, the clouds scattering and changing, revealing lions, tigers, and dragons within, followed by herds of burning horses racing across the vast sky, chased by bands of crimson clouds. Finally, the sun set, and the snowy plains grew dim. Outside was the vast plateau under a star-studded sky, the darkness so profound. Surviving after a catastrophe and witnessing such a magnificent scene, that indeed was a great fortune for anyone. in the cramped cabin, everyone huddled together, and hearts quieted down, allowing both pain and joy to flow freely. A warm atmosphere draped everything with a tint of nostalgia. Bi Fang saw Lin Xue across him crying, so he turned to look out the window. This survival challenge had been extremely dangerous, yet the feeling of fulfillment swelled within him; this moment was his cultivation and aspiration. Like an elderly stonemason smoothing and carving a stone block with rough hands, Bi Fang also used his limited time to polish the stone, layering his past, even if his hands and body ached, without regret, stacking his exhilaration, his audacity, his life without remorse. Though brave and strong, that was the path. Dare to act on anything, dare to be courageous. Dare to have no regrets about your future. -Too bad, if you hadn¡¯t retired, this rescue could have earned you at least a second-class merit!¡± Captain Chen broke the silence on the helicopter. It was by chance they learned that Bi Fang was a retired special forces soldier. No wonder his survival skills were so strong, able to survive the pursuit of a wolf pack. If he were an ordinary person, then that would be questionable! However, this statement took the others by surprise, all turning their gaze toward Bi Fang, especially Hu Hao, who directly asked, ¡°Retired?¡± ¡°Yes, retired from the special forces, didn¡¯t you know?¡± Captain Chen appeared perplexed, thinking that they were all aware. Bi Fang¡¯s eyes flickered; he only knew that the System had arranged an identity for him, and he had memorized the file entirely, but he lacked specific experiential details. At that moment, being questioned, he felt somewhat flustered¡­ He wouldn¡¯t suddenly encounter a former teammate, would he? But on second thought, Bi Fang felt relieved, as he believed the System¡¯s arrangement would not have such a major oversight. The Special Forces skills granted to him were not solely knowledge but also included ample experience. Now, Bi Fang even possessed the fiery spirit and demeanor of a soldier, and being seen through was impossible. If he encountered a real special forces member, it was basically a professional recognizing another, no problem at all. As expected, the next second Captain Chen shook his head. He himself only had a limited understanding, aware that Bi Fang had retired from the special forces, but clueless about his unit number or any specifics. Captain Chen had inquired at the time, only to receive an answer involving confidential documents. It wasn¡¯t said for the sake of hyping the live broadcast deliberately. And thinking about it made sense; if someone dared to do that, the trouble from Shenhua Group alone would be substantial, not to mention from official sources. [ Damn, he really is special forces, I knew it, no wonder he¡¯s so badass! ] [Finally confirmed, compared to this, Lu Wentao is just a clown] [ Special forces, man, this is my first time seeing one alive.] (Confidential documents? That sounds so freaking cool] | But Master Fang is so young, I heard that special forces retire around thirty, how did Master Fang manage that?] [ Being young is what makes him so badass! This is the real deal! I The online audience, Shuiyou, reacted especially enthusiastically upon hearing this, particularly the fact it was confidential; it just sounded more high-profile, and after all, he needed to remain confidential despite retirement, definitely not your average person. Adding to that Bi Fang¡¯s impressive survival skills and his superb physical abilities, many netizens fantasized about an incredible drama, linking it to movies they had seen. Films like Rambo, Special Forces, the more they thought about it, the more it elevated the image of Bi Fang, evoking admiration. The barrage of comments and gifts just wouldn¡¯t stop, considering special forces were somewhat distant from ordinary people, most having only seen them on television and in movies, where they were often synonymous with strength and steely resolve. Bi Fang, reassured by Captain Chen¡¯s mention of a confidential document, chuckled at the drone: ¡°I already said it¡¯s confidential, no use guessing, and as for being young, I suppose it¡¯s just my exceptional talent.¡± This explanation was best, the more one said, the more one errored, just leave the audience with a mysterious impression, that was enough. Shrouded in mystery, to inspire awe. [666, naturally gifted, is this the world of the strong?] [Special forces saving people, isn¡¯t that just too cool?] [Turns out all the handsome ones have been handed over to the country, the strongest host!) ¡°Yeah, I should¡¯ve realized this sooner, if not for being special forces, how could he be this impressive!¡± Hu Hao slapped his forehead, regretting, When I get back, 1 must write about this experience, and if I could get a photo for the cover! Absolutely legendary!¡± -I¡¯ll write it, my skill is better than yours!¡± Wu Mingtao immediately raised his hand to express his eagerness, indirectly one-upping Big Beard in the process. Bi Fang naturally wouldn¡¯t mind such free publicity, the more the merrier. However, what he hadn¡¯t anticipated was that upon their helicopter landing in Mohe City and just stepping off the aircraft, a sudden barrage of camera flashes nearly blinded them all. Reporters swarmed like sharks smelling blood, enclosing them so tightly that there was no escape. More¡­. beneficial? Chapter 82 - Chapter 82: Chapter 80 End of Broadcast Chapter 82: Chapter 80 End of Broadcast Translator: 549690339 I The incessant snap of flashbulbs was so painful to Bi Fang¡¯s eyes that he almost cried. He hadn¡¯t suffered from snow blindness during the day in Mohe, but now the bright lights made his eyes turn bloodshot. Moreover, everywhere he looked, there were swarms of people, so packed it was suffocating. The journalists engulfed everyone like a tidal wave, eager to start asking questions. ¡°Mr. Bi, I¡¯m a reporter from XXX. Can you talk about your experience saving people this time?¡± ¡°Mr. Bi, I heard you¡¯re a retired soldier¡­¡± ¡°Miss Lin¡­¡± ¡°Come on, make way, everybody make way, we have injured people here!¡± Captain Chen felt his anger rising when he saw so many reporters crowding together, just like dogs, acting as if they didn¡¯t even notice the obviously injured. [Wow, so many reporters?] [Master Fang is going to be famous now, marrying a rich and pretty girl, and reaching the pinnacle of life!] [He¡¯s already famous, okay? With just this livestream, I bet Master Fang made at least a million!] [That¡¯s true. Young Master Lin alone tipped no less than three million. Really a tycoon. ] I Now Master Fang is a tycoon too. One livestream and he¡¯s got it made.] [No comparison, this is what Master Fang deserves.] I Right, no comparison, add one to that.] Faced with so many reporters, the online friends were stunned; the livestream room suddenly became extraordinarily lively. Even smaller stars might not have this kind of scene! Doesn¡¯t that mean Bi Fang is pretty much a star now? Correct! However, Bi Fang was in no mood to idle chat with reporters, not to mention Wu Mingtao, as he was suffering from his own injuries. Bi Fang simply pushed through the crowd, letting Captain Chen lead them to the hospital. But it wasn¡¯t over yet. Even as they boarded the ambulance, the reporters still pursued them relentlessly, and at the hospital entrance, many still followed. Captain Chen and the others promptly issued a dismissal order at the entrance to stop the reporters. The several others who hadn¡¯t been injured also needed to be checked. They had narrowly escaped death and needed rest ¨C they just wanted to lie down and sleep, even if it had to be on a hospital bed. The sound of screeching brakes, gasps, and hurried footsteps suddenly filled the hall. Captain Chen glanced at the entrance and was startled. A dozen black Mercedes-Benz cars drove into the hospital and came to a neat stop in front of the entrance. Men in black suits flooded into the lobby, all well-built, with bulges at their waists, possibly hiding batons or something. These men shoulder to shoulder formed a human wall, effectively separating all the reporters. Those trying to push through were deterred by their intimidating gazes. Captain Chen understood. With such a grand entrance, there was only one possibility. At the end of the human wall, a man and a woman were escorted over, followed by a dozen black-clad men spreading out like the wings of a black hawk, with the couple serving as the ¡°eyes¡± of this spreading wing. Everyone in the lobby was taken aback, the previously noisy environment suddenly dropped by several dozen decibels, filled with whispers all around. Lin Chang and Lin Zhou strode into the hospital and walked straight towards Bi Fang. Just as the onlookers thought some gang rivalry was unfolding, the two gave Bi Fang a deep bow. The reporters all reached a collective climax, the flashbulbs firing even faster, almost turning night into day! These were business tycoons, coming forward and bowing like that ¨C the reporters had never seen anything like it and were ecstatic. Just the image of them bowing was worth the top spot on the trending search list. Bi Fang too was startled by this and quickly helped the two of them up. As soon as Lin Chang stood up, he tightly grasped Bi Fang¡¯s hand with an emotional tone, ¡°Mr. Bi, thank you very much. Without you, Lin Xue and the others would never have been able to come back. I¡¯m truly, deeply grateful!¡± These past few days, the affair with his sister had left their whole family anxious and sleepless, especially at the sight of the wolf pack charging. No one could understand the despair they felt in their hearts. But when they saw Bi Fang turn the tide and bring everyone to safety, that despair turned into profound gratitude. Lin Zhengnan was so moved that he nearly needed oxygen at the hospital. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t just have been the two siblings visiting ¨C it would have been the entire family coming en masse. ¡°My father is getting on in years and can¡¯t thank you in person, but he said that once Mr. Bi recovers from his injuries, he will definitely thank you in person and prepare a generous gift!¡± Lin Zhou also promptly added. ¡°No, please, just call me by my name. Besides, Lin Ge, you¡¯ve already donated millions in my livestream. There¡¯s really no need for this.¡± Bi Fang repeatedly shook his head, vividly recalling the scene of Lin Chang¡¯s lavish tipping. In both his past life and this one, he had never earned so much money in one go, suddenly becoming a millionaire was still something he couldn¡¯t quite accept; asking for more made him feel embarrassed. And with Shenhua Group mentioning it as a generous gift, the value must be considerable, and Bi Fang felt it was too much for him to accept. ¡°How could that be acceptable!¡± Lin Chang¡¯s face changed instantly, ¡°If my dad finds out, he¡¯ll have my hide.¡± ¡°Cough cough.¡± Lin Zhou coughed twice to cut Lin Chang off, her brother was good in all aspects, except sometimes his speech was a bit too unhinged. She brushed her hair back and bowed again, ¡°No matter what, our whole family is very grateful, and when Mr. Bi is discharged, we will definitely be ready to welcome you.¡± In the end, since Bi Fang still needed treatment, they didn¡¯t stay long. Besides, blocking the hospital entrance was not a good look. They simply exchanged phone numbers and scheduled a time to have a meal together before leaving. Before leaving, Lin Xue gave Bi Fang a hug to express her gratitude once again. [Holy crap, I feel like this is gearing up to a long-term thing! ] [Isn¡¯t this normal? Master Fang is so handsome, and he¡¯s so awesome. If I were a woman, I¡¯d be smitten too.] [Is Master Fang¡¯s blissful life about to start?) [My heart is shattered] [Hahaha, Sister Na is depressed] [Master Fang: I am the man you can¡¯t have] [He¡¯s really made it this time, but I don¡¯t feel envious at all] [Nonsense, Old Fang got there by real skills. If you have the guts to risk your life, you¡¯d also deserve Shenhua Group¡¯s gratitude!] (Speaking of which, now that Master Fang is famous, don¡¯t forget to livestream!] ¡°Don¡¯t worry, no matter what, Wilderness Survivalist livestreaming is my day job, how could I possibly forget?¡± Bi Fang shook his head, indicating that the concerns of his online friends were unwarranted, but this did remind him that the livestream was nearing its end. ¡°Now that we¡¯ve fully returned to human civilization, it¡¯s time to say goodbye to everyone. To be honest, this livestream was far more thrilling than my last one, completely off plan, and could even be called one of the few unforgettable experiences in my life.¡± ¡°These four days, I¡¯ve faced severe cold, hunger, natural disasters, and even being pursued by wolves, but I¡¯ve also demonstrated how to survive in extreme conditions.¡± Moreover, if you were to ask what the greatest accomplishment of this journey is, without a doubt, it¡¯s bringing the victims out safely. This is undoubtedly the greatest fortune. However, this incident also demonstrates the dangers of wilderness survival, and I sincerely hope everyone will pay attention to safety when venturing out and try to avoid similar incidents. Nature, although beautiful, still deserves our respect.¡± ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t say much else. Partings are always sad, but today¡¯s farewell is for a better reunion. Please remember me. I am Bi Fang, a professional explorer. See you in the next livestream!¡± [No, don¡¯t go! It¡¯s not satisfying at all!] [Don¡¯t leave! Stream for a bit longer! You don¡¯t even have to say anything!] [I gave you my treasured meatballs, please don¡¯t leave.] Inside the livestream, the online friends collectively tried to convince him to stay, but it didn¡¯t change Bi Fang¡¯s decision at all. If every time he ended the livestream, he did so because of fans¡¯ requests for an encore, wouldn¡¯t that be chaos? So Bi Fang was accustomed to it, and couldn¡¯t indulge it. One could never be truly satisfied; things we love can never be too much, just like when reading a favorite novel, there¡¯s always someone feeling the author updates too slowly, a cliffhanger fiend. But how could I be a cliffhanger fiend? It¡¯s impossible to have every update be a complete story arc! Looking at the now darkened livestream room, the four roommates in Cao Lifeng¡¯s dormitory sighed in unison. Ever since they started watching Master Fang¡¯s livestream, they were hooked, not even willing to miss it for a trip to the bathroom, feeling lost with the screen now black. ¡°Sigh, now we¡¯ve got to wait another ten days or so.¡± The same sentiment resonated with many others just like Cao Lifeng. It couldn¡¯t be helped, the livestream was too awesome. You couldn¡¯t find a second one like it, not in the whole of Wolf Fang, not even in the entire world. Forget about the Lu Wentaos, but to the audience who had watched both, they all saw him now as nothing but a clown mimicking others! Chapter 83 - Chapter 83: Chapter 81 Ineffectual Rage.jpg Chapter 83: Chapter 81 Ineffectual Rage.jpg Translator: 549690339 I ¡°What! You want me to collaborate with Bi Fang!?¡± Lu Wentao wondered if he hadn¡¯t cleaned his ears out lately because he couldn¡¯t seem to hear clearly anymore. He quickly asked again to be sure. But the answer he received was still a firm one from Lu Junming. Due to Bi Fang¡¯s standout performances and explosive popularity, Wang Weifeng planned to have the two collaborate to expand the ¡°Wilderness Survivalist¡± market. Basically, he wanted to take advantage of the situation to ride the wave of popularity. It sounded shameless, but hey, that¡¯s business for you, no shame in it. Lu Wentao¡¯s face twisted with anger. Just thinking about having to ask Bi Fang for help, and imagining the latter¡¯s arrogant smirk, made the savagery and rage on his face grow by a fraction, until a handsome face was completely overtaken by the tempest of his fury. Although Lu Junming was also displeased, the sight of Lu Wentao¡¯s contorted expression frightened him too much to dare to approach and offer consolation. Meanwhile, Lu Wentao grew angrier and angrier until, finally, his anger dissipated¡­ He realized that no matter how angry he got, it wouldn¡¯t change his situation with Bi Fang, let alone with Shark TV, who had set these tasks. Lu Junming watched as Lu Wentao inflated with anger like a balloon, nearing the point of explosion, only to deflate on his own, and he couldn¡¯t help but want to laugh. Powerless rage.JPG Luckily, Lu Junming managed to hold it in, because, after all, it was his suggestion to begin with. He was afraid that if he laughed out loud, he might get hit. And thinking about the tasks set by Shark TV, he also began to frown with worry. ¡°Wait a second! Bi Fang is with Wolf Fang, and I¡¯m with Shark. We¡¯re both under contract. How can we possibly stream together?¡± Having regained his composure, Lu Wentao momentarily had an intelligent insight, pinpointing the crux of the issue. This kind of thing would violate their contracts; there was simply no condition for them to interact! ¡°It¡¯s not about streaming ¡®Wilderness Survivalist.¡¯ It¡¯s just about starting a stream, chatting together. Shark received information that the contract Bi Fang signed is very loose. Apart from ¡®Wilderness Survivalist,¡¯ he¡¯s basically free to do as he pleases,¡± explained Lu Junming with a sigh. When he first learned some of the contents of Bi Fang¡¯s contract, he was green with envy. Jealousy twisted his features¡ªa breaking point of matter, a quantum entanglement, a theory of black holes. Wolf Fang is treating Bi Fang like a god! They offer him light restrictions and high benefits; why don¡¯t such things ever happen to them? Now, not only have they not made much money, but they¡¯re also at the beck and call of Wang Weifeng. ¡°Damn it!¡± Lu Wentao slammed his mug down so hard it shattered. He had never felt so stifled in his life. His boss and rival were like two mountains pressing down on him, and he was just a tiny balloon. No matter how much he inflated, it would still burst in the end. The shards of the cup scattered near Lu Junming¡¯s feet, startling him, but he quickly regained his composure. Getting angry now wouldn¡¯t solve anything. Thinking of ways to keep their jobs was what truly mattered. Although they certainly didn¡¯t earn as much as Bi Fang from their ¡®Wilderness Survivalist¡¯ streams, they still had full pots and bowls, which was far more respectable than before by countless times. ¡°Actually, the ¡®Wilderness Survivalist¡¯ pie is quite large. Bi Fang can only stream for four to five days at most, and there¡¯s a nearly twenty-day gap in between. We can totally compete with staggered timings. Our threat to him is minimal, which gives us a foundation for collaboration,¡± Lu Junming tried to rationalize Wang Weifeng¡¯s thinking. At the end of the day, a businessman prioritizes profit. If there¡¯s money to be made, everything else can be put aside, and conflicts can be resolved. The so-called dignity and face are just another form of capital and cost. If enough money is made, even an apology is not out of the question. Right now, there are only two names in the wilderness streaming market. Filling the market is more than manageable, and it¡¯s certainly not a cutthroat competition. And Bi Fang could even be considered a pioneer. As long as they put on a reconciliatory front in front of the audience, Lu Wentao would be seen as receiving an unofficial endorsement. Even if his performance was slightly lacking, the audience would tolerate it. Every time after Bi Fang finished streaming and left the audience longing for more, his fans could divert their enthusiasm toward them, potentially earning even more. By next year, they could be lounging in clubs, villas, and rolling in velvet. But now, the issue lay with Bi Fang. Wang Weifeng still vividly remembered the words Bi Fang said when he left Shark, and knew that Bi Fang would not soften easily. ¡°So he wants us to apologize?¡± Lu Wentao glared, struggling to accept it. He felt like a puppet manipulated by capital, with no freedom of his own. ¡°Brother, it¡¯s the only way now,¡± sighed Lu Junming, understanding and even sympathizing with Lu Wentao¡¯s feelings. Ever since Lu Wentao knew the gap between him and Bi Fang, he had been striving to close it. Now, his study was filled with books on botany, primitive survival skills, and he had almost turned into a bookworm¡ªjust to be able to answer the barrage of questions from the audience and avoid lacking interaction during the streams. But as the saying goes, you can forgo pride, but you still have to make money. ¡°Why would he agree?¡± ¡°Who doesn¡¯t love money?¡± Lu Junming appeared very confident, raising his right hand and extending one finger. Seeing this gesture, Lu Wentao was shocked, ¡°One million?¡± ¡°Ten million!¡± ¡°Whew, that was terrifying.¡± In the hospital room, Wu Mingtao recalled the reporters¡¯ frenzied behavior, still feeling uneasy. ¡°Can¡¯t help it, who would have thought the incident would get so big, especially with Lin Xue being one of the rescued, the princess of Shenhua Group. It¡¯s impossible for the media not to go crazy.¡± Zheng Tianfang seemed to understand, reporters were more persistent than flies, always flocking to the hotspots. For a behemoth like Shenhua Group, even a casual remark from the president could trend on search engines, let alone his daughter being trapped. Normally speaking, it would definitely rank number one on trending searches. ¡°Speaking of which, why didn¡¯t anyone come to pick you up?¡± Wu Mingtao tilted his head, looking over at Zheng Tianfang, who was sitting beside him. ¡°Me? I¡¯m all alone in this world, no wife, and my aging parents don¡¯t really follow the news. They probably don¡¯t even know I was in an accident,¡± Zheng Tianfang spread his hands and pointed at Bi Fang, whispering, ¡°What¡¯s up with Brother Fang? He fell asleep as soon as he lay down?¡± ¡°Probably too tired?¡± Wu Mingtao guessed. On the way here, if anyone was the most exhausted, it was certainly Bi Fang, who was busy crafting tools and traps, and leading everyone against wolf packs. Now that he hit the bed, it was normal for him to fall asleep immediately. In fact, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t asleep at all. The moment he entered the hospital, the long-missed electronic voice sounded again. [Ding, congratulations to the host for completing the task: Small Test of Skill! Calculating task completion¡­] Similar to before. His mind began replaying the past few days of survival experiences. Escaping Glacier Valley, blizzard rescue, wolf pack assault, traps, darts, hunting knife, blood sprayed¡­ In the rapidly shifting lights and shadows, the originally sad, struggling, and subdued emotions seemed to evaporate, leaving behind only the sense of achievement and joy from a successful survival. [Ding! Calculation completed.] [Main tasks one and two completed, side task: Blizzard Rescue completed 80%, total time 4 days, no bonus rewards.] 80%? Why isn¡¯t it one hundred percent? Weren¡¯t all four people saved? Bi Fang was startled by this data, but he quickly realized the system must have included all five people, but the situation at that time simply didn¡¯t allow for saving everyone, right? It wasn¡¯t a fault of war, could that really be counted? Could it be that there actually was a way to save them? Bi Fang furrowed his brows, pondering carefully, but even after thinking for a long time, he couldn¡¯t come up with any good methods. The bleeding was simply too severe at the time, unless he had equipment and matching blood bags for on-site transfusions, there was only a slim chance of survival. And even then, the odds weren¡¯t good, how could you save someone who had lost their legs? It would have required not only specialized equipment but also superior medical skills to possibly grab a chance at life, but that was the wilderness, not a hospital! Even in a hospital, such severe injuries might not be survivable, let alone in the wild mountains. Unsolvable. Although he felt some regret, Bi Fang had to admit that he had done his best. Losing points was just losing points, it wasn¡¯t a loss. With that thought, he directly checked the rewards for this mission. [Detection of no reward upgrade, your final rewards are: Skill Upgrade Coupon*2, Enhancement Points*3, Wilderness Points*i6oo] [Ding! The shop has been unlocked and refreshed.] [Ding! Detecting that you have engaged in hunting wolves, would you like to generate the spoils of war?] Chapter 84 - Chapter 84: Chapter 82: Fire Them, Fire Them All! Chapter 84: Chapter 82: Fire Them, Fire Them All! Translator: 549690339 | No! Bi Fang didn¡¯t hesitate and immediately hit the reject button. He was still in the hospital. If he generated something strange, wouldn¡¯t he be dissected on the spot? The rewards for this task weren¡¯t as abundant as the first time, but they were still quite decent. After all, the novice task came with a double bonus, whereas this time it didn¡¯t, plus he had claimed the rewards for the main quest early on. He was already quite satisfied with the current situation. As for the shop, it was grayed out during the survival process, which was to prevent any sort of cheating. Now that the task was completed, it was accessible. Bi Fang took a look, and it was all equipment and food, nothing of immediate interest; the next refresh would be in 14 hours, so he¡¯d check back then. Both upgrade coupons were of a lower tier, only applicable to green and blue skills. Bi Fang used them all on Special Forces Ivi. This experience had made him realize the importance of combat abilities, so upgrading the Special Forces skill was necessary. Up two levels in succession, and a flood of memories emerged. More close combat experience, handling of unexpected events, demolitions and disarming, vehicle proficiency, standard firearm construction analysis and mastery, and tactical planning and execution. Even though his skills hadn¡¯t advanced, the abilities he gained from the two extra levels were undoubtedly stronger. This feeling of getting stronger without effort was incredibly exhilarating. To make it even more thrilling, Bi Fang used all the remaining three enhancement points as well: one in agility and two in physique. Explosiveness and physique were of utmost importance in wilderness survival; Bi Fang was truly sleepy this time. He now felt warm all over, almost as if he was back in the womb, developing. Becoming stronger felt amazing; it was even slightly too thrilling, like floating on a cloud, not wanting to come down. Compared to enhancing, working out and such seemed utterly lame! But he still needed to train. As a successor of socialism, Bi Fang had to engage in all activities and excel in them! He wanted it all! Finally, before going to sleep, Bi Fang took one last look at his panel. Content with the now much richer panel, he happily drifted off to sleep. [Sole Bound User: Bi Fang] [Age: 24] [Height: 183.1cm] [Weight: 70.5KG] [Strength: 9] [Physique: 13] [Agility: 10] (Spirit: 12] [Status: Right shoulder injury (Accelerated Healing)] [Enhancement Points: 0] [Wilderness Points: 1600] Purple Tree Trunk: Wilderness Survival Ivi, Advanced Yoga Ivi. Blue Tree Trunk: Pilates lv3, Special Forces lv3 Green Tree Trunk: Cross-country Hiking lv5, Rock Climbing lv5, Swimming lv2, First Aid lv5, Biological Identification lv2, Calisthenics lv3. ¡°Ah! That feels great!¡± The next morning, Bi Fang, waking up in the hospital bed, yawned and was about to open his eyes when he saw a huge face filling his entire field of vision, startling him almost to the point of throwing a punch. Fortunately, his spirit was now at twelve, and his neural reactions were much faster than the average person¡¯s. He stopped himself just in time once he recognized the person. ¡°President Wang? What¡­ What are you doing here? Is there some matter?¡± Bi Fang looked at the large face that was too close for comfort, instinctively shrinking back, pressing himself against the wall, and pulling up the bedsheet a bit. The visitor was none other than the Wolf Fang CEO, Wang Yongbo! Wang Yongbo grinned, his eyes nearly squished out of sight by his cheeks, prompting Bi Fang to involuntarily glance at Wu Mingtao on the next bed, hoping for some hint. Wu Mingtao caught the look and spoke bluntly, ¡°This gentleman arrived early this morning. Seeing you were asleep, he didn¡¯t disturb you. He has been waiting for more than an hour now!¡± Bi Fang was taken aback when he heard this. More than an hour? That idle¡­ ah, no, that concerned about him? ¡°Didn¡¯t want to disturb you, that¡¯s all,¡± Wang Yongbo waved his hand, indicating it was nothing. He didn¡¯t deny it; after all, they were adults here, and this was precisely the effect he wanted. Many things lose their charm if stated bluntly. ¡°How come you, President Wang, thought to visit me, given how busy you are?¡± Bi Fang was curious. Although touched by Wang Yongbo¡¯s special visit, he knew there was more to it than simple concern. After all, as a vice president of a publicly listed company, traveling a long distance to visit him wasn¡¯t just about sharing a few caring words¡ªonly a fool would believe that. ¡°Of course, I came to discuss the upcoming live stream with you.¡± Wang Yongbo¡¯s face burst into a smile, blooming like an old chrysanthemum. In fact, Bi Fang really misunderstood this time. Ever since Wang Yongbo signed Bi Fang, the pleasant surprises hadn¡¯t stopped coming. Although his original plan was for Bi Fang to become the frontrunner for Wolf Fang Live Streaming, he thought that would happen after several live streams, right? But he never imagined that just one live stream would bring such a great surprise. The news about the recent event was all over the trending searches, with people all over commenting and sharing. The first survival video Bi Fang posted had seen a surge in views¡ªdominated B Island, you could say he was breaking into new circles. It¡¯s no small feat for a streamer to trend¡ªShark and Tiger Fang had done it before, but Wolf Fang¡¯s occasions were pitifully few. This not only publicized Bi Fang but also promoted Wolf Fang indirectly! Even the shares of Wolf Fang TV had gone up a bit¡ªit was like mana from heaven! Shark TV must be full of regret by now, huh? Therefore, Wang Yongbo couldn¡¯t sit still and asked his assistant to book a flight immediately. He had to play ¡°Big Ears Liu¡± again¡ªa great strategy with Red Hare by his side, moving faster than a Bugatti, he needed to hurry and extend his warm regards! He rushed all the way from the Magic Capital by plane, arriving alone in Mohe, like he was conducting a surprise inspection. Then, he appeared before Bi Fang, to his astonishment. Bi Fang could understand Wang Yongbo¡¯s feelings, but though he understood, why did he always have to grab his hand? Bi Fang tried subtlely to withdraw his hand but failed. How could this bald middle-aged man have such strong grip? ¡°Mr. Bi, are you settling in well with Wolf Fang Live Streaming?¡± Wang Yongbo asked with a hearty laugh. Bi Fang began to understand¡ªthis was ¡°humanistic care.¡± After all, Wolf Fang had invested so much and provided him with many resources; it was only natural to come and check on him. ¡°Very well! Wolf Fang TV is definitely a platform with potential!¡± Bi Fang praised, though implying that the potential had not yet been realized. But after this live stream, Bi Fang indeed realized that although Wolf Fang TV was on the decline, it still had a solid foundation. The user base was not small, with the viewership for this live stream exceeding one hundred thousand. ¡°President Wang, taking time out of your busy schedule to visit, is there anything you require? Is it about the next live stream? Don¡¯t worry, my injury isn¡¯t severe. There won¡¯t be any delays,¡± Bi Fang suggested, thinking that his injury might have caused Wang Yongbo to worry about problems in the next live stream. But Wang Yongbo quickly said, ¡°Mr. Bi, please don¡¯t get me wrong. I had no such intention. You should focus on recovering. It doesn¡¯t matter how long it takes; you must ensure your safety. The next live stream can happen anytime. Honestly, I¡¯m just here to congratulate you. You¡¯ve brought hope to Wolf Fang TV!¡± Bi Fang was utterly confused. How did this one live stream bring hope to Wolf Fang? Was it just because the viewership broke one hundred thousand? What¡¯s there to congratulate? He couldn¡¯t understand at the moment; having known the popularity of Bear Grylls and Grandpa De in his previous life, he didn¡¯t regard such achievements as anything special. His ambition was not just to be the number one live streamer but to become a legendary figure like the world¡¯s number one survivalist, the world¡¯s top explorer. Wouldn¡¯t it be a waste of his skills to aim for anything less? He had reached this point all by himself. After all, humans, being the most intelligent creatures, are stronger than animals because they can use tools, and the System was such a tool. Using the System was no different from using any tool; it was still all about his effort and struggle. Suddenly, Bi Fang began to wonder if Wang Yongbo was being sarcastic. Leaders generally act in such a manner¡ªcould it be that he was dissatisfied because the live stream¡¯s performance was not up to expectations and because Bi Fang¡¯s injury might delay the next broadcast? This bald guy was getting a bit greedy. Especially when the results were actually good. Bi Fang pondered for a moment and decided to take a stance first. If he left Wolf Fang now, it would be quite troublesome. He admitted guilt, ¡°The results this time weren¡¯t ideal, but the rate of improvement is actually quite fast. A sudden surge is difficult in the short term, but the news coverage this time will surely trigger a qualitative change in the next live stream.¡± And Wang Yongbo was also baffled¡ªwhy are you blaming yourself? You¡¯ve only streamed for a few days, and Wolf Fang TV¡¯s market value has started to rise. Didn¡¯t you see how we were previously on a steady decline? Your first live stream reached over one hundred thousand viewers; the best in the same period! If you¡¯re feeling guilty about that, should I fire most of the streamers in Wolf Fang TV? Chapter 85 - Chapter 85: Chapter 83: Its too small, the pattern is too small. Chapter 85: Chapter 83: It¡¯s too small, the pattern is too small. Translator: 549690339 Seeing Bi Fang¡¯s self-reproachful expression which didn¡¯t seem feigned, Wang Yongbo was immediately filled with doubt and suspicion. Was this a mockery of himself? That shouldn¡¯t be the case! When they first met, Wang Yongbo had a good impression of Bi Fang, a modest and handsome young man, not someone who displayed arrogance because of his talents. Could it be¡­ That he truly believes these achievements aren¡¯t good? Wang Yongbo couldn¡¯t understand what kind of bizarre thought process was going on in Bi Fang¡¯s mind, but it also made him shiver inside, with a touch of emotion. Is this the world of a genius? He had to admit, the gap between a genius and ordinary people is indeed visible to the naked eye. While he himself was still complacent about a minor success, had the other party already set off toward a higher peak? My thinking is too small, my vision too narrow. So what if the stock price rose, and the company made a few billion? The future of Wolf Fang is to aim for the top platform in the livestreaming industry! Bi Fang had no idea that his few words had such a huge impact on Wang Yongbo, causing him to redefine his life goals. At that moment, he was still trying hard to pull his hand out of Wang Yongbo¡¯s grasp. ¡°Ah, indeed, listening to your words is better than studying for ten years, Mr. Bi. Your ambition is lofty¡ªit is my vision that is limited,¡± Wang Yongbo said with continuous sighs, holding on even tighter. Bi Fang:¡±¡­¡± What did I say that you equated with studying for ten years? You were just calling me Mr. Bi, and now you¡¯ve changed to calling me Teacher Bi? Wang Yongbo¡¯s peculiar thought process also suddenly made Bi Fang feel awkward. Was what this balding middle-aged man saying sincere, or was it actually sarcasm? Was it not to express dissatisfaction? Thinking this, Bi Fang didn¡¯t know whether to withdraw his hand or to keep it there, so he could only smile gracefully as if nothing mattered. Seeing Bi Fang¡¯s smile, Wang Yongbo knew he had secured his position; he had guessed right. Teacher Bi had deep aspirations and had long stopped caring about such minor successes. Wang Yongbo felt that when dealing with a genius, it was most important to understand their real thoughts and to go along with their desires. Ever since Bi Fang¡¯s first livestream was a huge hit, affecting Wolf Fang¡¯s market value positively, Wang Yongbo no longer saw Bi Fang as just a potential talent. How does the saying go, cutting off a man¡¯s fortune is like killing his parents, so offering a path to wealth is akin to having a second birth from one¡¯s parents, isn¡¯t it? If the parents are injured, as children, it¡¯s only right to show concern. It¡¯s not embarrassing. That¡¯s why Wang Yongbo made a special trip to Mohe, simply to win over people¡¯s hearts. After all, besides treating people sincerely and binding them with emotion, at Wolf Fang, they had no better way to retain top talent. Anything they could offer, Sharks and Tiger Fang could also offer, and only better. Working in the industry for many years, only Bi Fang could make Wang Yongbo act this way. After all, he was also busy with work, being the vice president of a publicly listed company. Even so, he still felt some regret that he hadn¡¯t paid regular attention to Bi Fang after signing him. If Bi Fang were lured away by Sharks or Tiger Fang, Wang Yongbo would be so frustrated he might spit blood. Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t too late. Apart from showing concern, Wang Yongbo also brought good news. ¡°Teacher Bi, considering the uniqueness of this livestream and also to promote your righteous and courageous spirit, our platform has made a decision. The income from this event¡¯s gifts will not be split according to the typical seventy-thirty, it will all go to you, even taxes, we will cover for you!¡± Wang Yongbo patted his chest with an air of integrity. Bi Fang was stunned, not taking a penny and covering the taxes? Although he hadn¡¯t calculated exactly, the income from the gifts received during this livestream was at least three million or more. Even if it was just thirty percent, that would still be close to one million. Wolf Fang was willing to give all that up? And to cover the costs additionally? The tax rate on livestream gifts is not low, and Bi Fang was clear about that. In this deal, Wolf Fang not only earned nothing but was also losing a significant amount. Considering that Wang Yongbo had hurried over this morning, he must have discussed it with the directors last night, and Wang Yongbo had surely exerted a great effort in this matter. Wolf Fang is really something! Bi Fang felt his judgment was really not off. Wolf Fang TV has the right idea; it seemed he really thought wrong before. He also politely replied, ¡°I still have to thank you, President Wang.¡± Who would think they have too much money? He was easy to talk to; as long as others were courteous, he was willing to return the favor. ¡°I should be thanking you. This small amount of money is nothing compared to the increase in market value you brought to Wolf Fang. I just never expected the first live broadcast to be such a success,¡± he said. ¡°Increase in market value?¡± Bi Fang couldn¡¯t believe his ears and pointed at himself, ¡°Because of me?¡± Of course, it¡¯s because of Mr. Bi. Could there be any other reason?¡± Wang Yongbo replied. Wang Yongbo was also amazed. A single live broadcast could stimulate company market value¡ªwho would believe that? But it was the truth. This wasn¡¯t just a talented steed; this was a Bugatti Veyron! Single-handedly boosting Wolf Fang¡¯s market cap! Impressive! Truly impressive! ¡°Since yesterday, your video has been spreading like wildfire online. Since you¡¯ve been sleeping, you have no idea about any of it,¡± Wu Mingtao suddenly chimed in- he knew the whole story. Ever since they had returned to civilization and finally had a phone signal, Bi Fang¡¯s heroic act had been dominating the screens. ¡°Mr. Bi is unaware?¡± Wang Yongbo was taken aback. ¡°How could I know without a phone?¡± Bi Fang spread his hands out; he never carried a phone with him during Wilderness Survivalist activities because that was professional. ¡°Well, that¡¯s true. After all, Mr. Bis survival skills are genuine and countless times stronger than those imitators!¡± Wang Yongbo flattered him effortlessly. Flattery never goes out of style. Then, he pulled out his phone, opened Weibo, and showed Bi Fang the top trending topic, ¡°Mr. Bi, you¡¯ve truly broken out of the circle this time. The next live broadcast will definitely be an even bigger hit!¡± Faced with Wang Yongbo¡¯s attitude, Bi Fang was somewhat at a loss for words. There he was, a CEO of a public company, acting like a sycophant straight out of a novel, with absolutely no airs. In fact, Bi Fang was really misjudging Wang Yongbo. Acting lofty was all about who you were dealing with. Had he asked the office staff at Wolf Fang Headquarters, the description of Wang Yongbo would have been quite different. One could say that anyone who could hold such a position was astute, being flexible was basic practice, and in Wang Yongbo¡¯s case, he didn¡¯t consider it acting inferior¡ªit was ¡°being approachable.¡± Meanwhile, Bi Fang was browsing Weibo and noticed that several of the trending topics were related to him. Shock! A man does this to a woman in the wilderness!¡± ¡°Daughter of Shenhua Group¡¯s CEO in wilderness peril!¡± ¡°Host of Wilderness Survivalist encounters a pack of wolves!¡± ¡°The reason behind Wolf Fang¡¯s rise in market value turns out to be him!¡± Bi Fang raised an eyebrow. Had the world of UC Shock Department merged with Weibo? ¡°And there¡¯s more from B Island!¡± Wang Yongbo showed Bi Fang B Island, where one video thumbnail depicted the moment after Bi Fang had defeated the wolf pack, with the wolves retreating and the sunrise over the mountain top. It was like something out of a movie, and it had over a million views. And that wasn¡¯t even the hottest video. It appeared to be a clip recorded by an audience member from the live room. Bi Fang clicked to watch and found the editing to be rather good. You have to admit, it looked quite cool. It was indeed him, any other person wouldn¡¯t have had the same effect. Bi Fang wasn¡¯t boasting without reason; he was as handsome in this life as he had been in his previous one. If he had gone into the entertainment industry, there would be no room for other stars. Including major forums, it¡¯s all about your recent broadcast and the previous one¡¯s edited videos, especially on Douyin. I don¡¯t know about others, but whenever I scroll through a dozen videos or so, your live broadcast cuts are bound to be there.¡± ¡°This time, it¡¯s super viral!¡± Wang Yongbo¡¯s tone contained uncontrollable joy.. Chapter 86 - Chapter 86: Chapter 84 They Understand Chapter 86: Chapter 84 They Understand Translator: 549690339 1 This is truly shocking. There are only a few live streamers in the entire industry who can reach this level, and now Bi Fang, the newcomer, has actually joined their ranks¡ªit¡¯s simply unbelievable. Currently, in the live streaming world, who hasn¡¯t been building their presence for a long time to become famous? Either naturally beautiful, skilled in a unique talent, or full of witty banter. And now, Bi Fang¡¯s popularity is exploding at a terrifying rate; his videos are spreading like a virus throughout Huaxia, north to south. Bi Fang is like a knight who suddenly charged into the fray, stirring up the calm scene into chaos, and then disappearing as quickly as he appeared. ¡°Wow! This live streamer is so handsome, especially the scene with blood on his face. I¡¯m blown away; suddenly 1 really want to watch his live streams!¡± ¡®Yeah, I never watch live streams but now I even want to check out Wolf Fang and see what¡¯s so special about Master Fang!¡± ¡°Speaking of which, the princess of Shenhua Group is so pretty, I¡¯m in love.¡± ¡°Come on, be honest, how many have you fallen for this week?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just hungry for his body, I¡¯m shameless!¡± ¡°His?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a woman, what¡¯s the problem?¡± ¡°You¡¯re awesome!¡± Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but want to laugh as he watched the netizens build thread upon thread. He turned to Wang Yongbo and asked, ¡°By the way, what about the reporters downstairs? Have they all left?¡± ¡°How could they!¡± Wang Yongbo shook his head, ¡°When I came up, there was still a bunch of them blocked at the door, all stopped by the security guards left by Shenhua Group. They said it was by Mr. Lin¡¯s orders, not to disturb your rest. Why? Do you want to see them? Should I call them up?¡± Actually, Wang Yongbo also wanted Bi Fang to accept interviews, as it would further boost his popularity, but if Bi Fang wasn¡¯t willing, he wouldn¡¯t insist. Their contract didn¡¯t impose much obligation and couldn¡¯t be overstepped. ¡°Forget it, 1 don¡¯t want to deal with reporters; too much trouble,¡± Bi Fang shook his head. There were many ways to increase his popularity, but dealing with reporters definitely wasn¡¯t one he liked. Those people always like to quote out of context, very troublesome. Lin Chang and Lin Zhou, however, were quite considerate, even leaving behind bodyguards intentionally. It seems inviting him to meals and giving gifts wasn¡¯t just being polite, but they really intended to do so. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s up to you,¡± Wang Yongbo nodded, ¡°Actually, there¡¯s another matter I came to discuss.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Endorsements!¡± ¡°Endorsements?¡± Bi Fang was taken aback, ¡°Are you looking for me to do endorsements?¡± ¡°Yes, but they are all with some smaller sports brands. So far, I haven¡¯t noticed any movement from the big brands,¡± Wang Yongbo confirmed, mentioning this since he was here anyway. Bi Fang knew that he might get endorsement offers from sports brands after becoming famous, especially since outdoor activities always require some professional gear, but he didn¡¯t expect to be approached so soon. ¡°We have no say in this matter, but since the brands couldn¡¯t reach you, they all came to us.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Bi Fang pondered for a moment, then said to Wang Yongbo, ¡°Then please, President Wang, decline them all for me!¡± ¡°Decline them all?¡± Wang Yongbo exclaimed. He had been to Bi Fang¡¯s house before, and to put it impolitely, it was quite worn down. It seemed Bi Fang¡¯s life before live streaming hadn¡¯t been easy, yet he rejected the offers so easily? ¡°Yes!¡± Bi Fang nodded. Although he wasn¡¯t exactly wealthy, well, compared to his fellow transmigrators that was the case, but he really didn¡¯t care for small brand endorsements. Bi Fang was very clear about why he had become so popular this time; it wasn¡¯t just because he saved someone, but more importantly, amongst those he saved was the princess of Shenhua Group. That was the key point. So it wasn¡¯t yet certain how much of this popularity would last. The businesses that approached him now mostly wanted to ride the wave, and their offers couldn¡¯t be too high. If he accepted any endorsement that came his way, and the products turned out subpar, it would only lower his own standing. That was not desirable. ¡°Alright,¡± Wang Yongbo nodded. Apart from that, there wasn¡¯t much else he could say, and he asked again, ¡°Is Teacher Bi¡¯s injury really not serious?¡± ¡°It¡¯s really not serious, just some superficial wounds. I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll heal before the next live stream,¡± Bi Fang was certain. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± Wang Yongbo knew Bi Fang had misunderstood him, ¡°You probably haven¡¯t eaten since last night, right? How about we go out for a meal? My treat.¡± To build a relationship, of course, you have to sit down at the dining table. Wang Yongbo was quite skilled at this. Bi Fang was indeed getting hungry. He hadn¡¯t eaten anything decent since he slept through the night. Fortunately, his leg wasn¡¯t injured, so it didn¡¯t affect his mobility; otherwise, he would end up like Wu Mingtao, lying obediently in bed. So, the two of them slipped out of the hospital under the envious gaze of Wu Mingtao. Mohe, as a tourist haven boasting multiple scenic areas, naturally wasn¡¯t lacking in grand hotels. Wang Yongbo was generous and directly booked a table at one. Of course, while they ate, they also engaged in plenty of conversation. Wang Yongbo praised Bi Fang¡¯s live stream immensely, expressed high hopes for his future achievements, and promised that the next live stream would also be heavily promoted. He assured Bi Fang that Wolf Fang would fully support whatever resources were needed, striving to achieve even greater success in the next broadcast. Coming out to bond was precisely for these discussions. After all, Wolf Fang was really struggling without any breakout streamers, which made them particularly value Bi Fang, who showed unlimited potential¡ªthey hoped that in addition to live streaming Wilderness Survivalist, Bi Fang could also stream other content, even just chatting, to minimize the long gaps between streams. Bi Fang nodded. Wolf Fang was showing him great sincerity, and he wouldn¡¯t let them down in return. He promised not to waste the resources provided by the platform and planned to start another live stream in a few days. The popularity he had gained this time shouldn¡¯t go to waste; it was best to retain some of it. It would be foolish to wait another half a month for the next live stream as he did before. Indeed, this was the right way to express leader¡¯s care! As Bi Fang ate, he also felt at ease. If Wang Yongbo had really taken the trouble to visit just to check on him, that would have been strange. Thinking back to their previous meeting, he even wondered if there was something wrong with Wang Yongbo. Being a big shot, after all, his interests were a bit unique, but that was understandable. Humans, such creatures, become fond of playing with frills once they have money. The meal lasted a full two hours. Not only did they talk extensively about Wolf Fang¡¯s prospects for the future, but Wang Yongbo also took the opportunity to drop some hints about Shark and Tiger Fang, recounting some of the sleazy things they¡¯d done and their dark histories. Wang Yongbo felt no burden speaking about such matters. If anyone were to be considered the cleanest in the live streaming industry, Wolf Fang TV would definitely rank first. It would not be that straightforward for others to claim such integrity. The positive atmosphere at Wolf Fang was something everyone agreed on, no explanation needed. It was perhaps because of that integrity that they hit a low point, but fortunately, the downward trend had stopped for now, and there was even a slight upward movement. In the end, Wang Yongbo shared his grand visions for the future with Bi Fang, even subtly expressing the ambition to one day surpass Shark and Tiger Fang to become the leader of the live streaming world. It was apparent that Wang Yongbo was worried about losing Bi Fang. He spoke with great effort to enhance Bi Fang¡¯s sense of belonging and his expectation for the future. In essence, the message was clear: As long as Bi Fang stayed, Wolf Fang wouldn¡¯t let him down, and it would be better than going to Shark or Tiger Fang. If they ever harbored ill intentions towards him, he must firmly reject them because Wolf Fang was the platform he could truly trust to collaborate with. Always a strong and steadfast supporter! The talk was good, but paired with the image of Wang Yongbo, it was hard to feel passionate. It was more like a street vendor promoting his goods. After the meal, Bi Fang and Wang Yongbo were ready to leave. Bi Fang packed some food to take back for his sick friend Wu Mingtao to try. But just as they left the hotel, they encountered two men in black. They were bodyguards left by Lin Chang and his people. Bi Fang and Wang Yongbo had sneaked out secretly; they could fool reporters but not them. They immediately followed to provide protection. Don¡¯t worry, they¡¯re professionals. If the boss says to protect someone well, then they must do so. Who knows, one day he might become Shenhua Group¡¯s son-in-law. That¡¯s how it¡¯s written in the novels, after all. In this regard, they understood.. Chapter 87 - Chapter 87: Chapter 85 Wolves Kings Sense of Smell Chapter 87: Chapter 85 Wolves King¡¯s Sense of Smell Translator: 549690339 ¡°Wow, it¡¯s like monitoring a prisoner,¡± remarked Bi Fang as he patted one of the bodyguards on the shoulder with a jesting tone. ¡°Mr. Bi, you¡¯ve got it all wrong. If it bothers you, well disappear right away,¡± the leader of the men shook his head like a rattle-drum, terrified of being misunderstood by Bi Fang. ¡°No worries, it was just a joke. In fact, 1 should be thanking you for blocking those journalists for me,¡± seeing the man¡¯s serious expression, Bi Fang felt embarrassed to continue joking and asked directly, ¡°So, had dinner yet?¡± ¡°Mr. Bi, it¡¯s already one in the afternoon,¡± the man reminded him. ¡°Oh, I totally forgot.¡± Only now did Bi Fang remember. He had such a great time chatting with Wang Yongbo that lunch had carried on for two hours, long past the usual mealtime. With that, Bi Fang didn¡¯t stand on ceremony and headed straight back to the hospital. Poor Wu Mingtao, who had been hungry for quite a while, finally got to have his meal. Meanwhile, Bi Fang pretended to fiddle with the drone on the side, instructing the system to edit the video footage and send it out through Wu Mingtao¡¯s phone. As for how the editing was done, he could easily say that he sent it to a friend first, who edited it before sending it back to him. The drone¡¯s overly smart tracking had led many viewers to believe that he actually had a secret partner controlling it. This mysterious partner wasn¡¯t just a brilliant shooter but also exceptionally good at video editing, and his live broadcast music was top-notch. He was Master Fang¡¯s good brother, a perfect partner; together, they were a golden duo! Bi l ang didn¡¯t bother correcting this misunderstanding; instead, he felt it was better to have more people think this way. Such clever netizens. At midnight¡­ Bi Fang glanced at the soundly sleeping Wu Mingtao and quietly sat up, calling out to the system in his mind, and the tech-sawy pale blue interface appeared. He hadn¡¯t forgotten that there was a system reward from the previous day¡¯s hunt that he hadn¡¯t yet claimed. Now, with the night deep and silent and no doctors or nurses coming to check up, the time was right. (Ding! Activated by your hunting of the wolf pack, would you like to generate loot?] ¡°Yes!¡± Bi Fang quickly scanned through and confirmed with a thought. The next second, perhaps it was an illusion, but Bi Fang felt his strength surge slightly. It was very subtle, not as pronounced as when he upgraded his physique. Then, he felt a cool foreign object sensation around his neck. Pulling at his collar and reaching down, he suddenly pulled out a knotted necklace. Taking a closer look, he saw that it had a large fang, about four centimeters long, hanging from it. He drew the curtains slightly and by the dim moonlight, Bi Fang saw the full appearance of the necklace-a wolf fang. Under the moonlight¡¯s glow, the wolf fang shone like jade-not only in color but also in texture, which felt like jade to the touch, vastly different from the yellow-tinged teeth he had collected before. After defeating the wolf pack, Bi Fang had pulled the largest two canines from the dead wolves, intending as gifts for the viewers. Surely, this wasn¡¯t one of them? With this thought, Bi Fang quietly pulled his backpack beside the bed and counted the teeth inside. None were missing, so this clearly wasn¡¯t one of those; this wolf fang was a system-made item. The material of the cord was also peculiar, like leather yet sinew, with remarkable tenacity. When he tried to cut it with a knife, not a mark was left behind. I Ding! You¡¯ve triggered the loot reward passive skill: Wolves King¡¯s Sense of Smell.] (Wolves King¡¯s Sense of Smell] Skill introduction: Your sense of smell and ability to differentiate scents will far exceed that of the average person. Bi Fang was taken aback by this introduction. What did it mean to exceed the average person by far? The sparse introduction also filled Bi Fang with confusion, but in the next second, a potent smell of ointment rushed into his nostrils, his mucous membranes instantly assaulted by the strong stimulus. It was like eating a huge spoonful of wasabi -the kind you eat by the bowlful -an electric shock of intense sensation piercing through his entire head. The feeling could be summed up in one word. Clear! ¡°Damn!¡± Bi Fang swore under his breath, unable to help it. ¡°Hm?¡± Wu Mingtao turned over, his eyes half-open, murmuring, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did something happen?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, go back to sleep,¡± Bi Fang said, while holding back tears and covering his nose, pretending nothing had happened. ¡°Oh.¡± Seeing Wu Mingtao lie back down, Bi Fang finally caught his breath. This was just too damn overwhelming. Tears brimmed in Bi Fang¡¯s eyes and snot ran uncontrollably down his face, one might think he loves this land deeply. It took quite an effort to recover a bit, but then even more scents rushed into his nostrils, disregarding whether the channels were willing or not; they barged in first and would deal with the rest later. The strongest scent was the ointment on his shoulder, followed by the smell of alcohol and disinfectant. Bi Fang even smelled the odor of sweat on Wu Mingtao. My God, so overwhelming, too damn overwhelming. Bi Fang kept grabbing tissues, one handful for snot, another for tears; it took him a whole half hour and a full trash can before he could barely stop. Tearing the tissue in half, Bi Fang plugged his nostrils before daring to enter the bathroom. Trembling, he turned on the light and saw himself in the mirror, noticing no difference from before; his nose was still the same, not having morphed into the straight nose of a dog. It seemed the so-called Wolves King¡¯s Sense of Smell was merely a name for the skill, a description, and not an indication that his sense of smell was literally as strong as a wolf¡¯s. Because whether or not the sense of smell is strong is directly linked to the number of olfactory cells and nerves; although this comparison isn¡¯t accurate, the construction of the human nose means it¡¯s impossible to have a sense of smell like that of a dog¡¯s. Otherwise, the smell just now might¡¯ve made him faint on the spot. Even so, Bi Fang would dare to say that his sense of smell is definitely more than ten times that of an average person, based on his comparison with his former self. Moreover, in the wild, this ability would be extremely useful, enabling him to avoid areas with the scent of blood, so as not to attract the attention of carnivorous animals on the prowl, or even hunt directly by following scents! In conclusion. This ability might not skyrocket Bi Fang to the top, but it¡¯s certainly very helpful. Facing off against that pack of wolves to save people was a huge gain! The only issue is that his suddenly enhanced sense of smell will need some time to get used to. Otherwise, he might end up tear-filled and with a runny nose from pungent odors just like he did today. The next day. Hey? What happened to you? Why is your nose so red?¡± Wu Mingtao asked early in the morning, noticing Bi Fang¡¯s distinctly red and slightly swollen nose. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, might be just a cold,¡± Bi Fang said with a chuckle, his voice nasal. ¡°If you have a cold, drink more hot water,¡± Wu Mingtao offered some soul-stirring concern. Bi Fang nodded, and just then, the doctor came in to check their wounds. After all, they¡¯d been bitten by wolves, and one couldn¡¯t be too careful with the possibility of serious infection from the wounds. However, as a female nurse was about to come over and remove the bandages, Bi Fang instinctively ducked out of the way. This surprised everyone. Bi Fang¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment; his avoidance had been a reflexive reaction because the nurse¡¯s perfume was so strong it choked him. ¡°Sorry about that, just got back from the wilderness, kind of a conditioned reflex.¡± Bi Fang laughed it off in the face of everyone¡¯s puzzled looks, before sitting back down and holding his nose for the nurse to remove the bandage. Is she disgusted by my smell? The female nurse seemed a bit miffed at Bi Fang covering his nose and was rougher in her movements. Ouch! Bi Fang felt pain in his shoulder and inhaled sharply. This woman¡¯s being way too petty. After inspecting Wu Mingtao¡¯s condition, the doctor came over to check Bi Fang¡¯s wounds. ¡°Huh, it seems to be healing quite nicely?¡± The doctor expressed his surprise after the examination, noting that not only was the wound not infected or pus-filled, but it was also healing remarkably well. ¡°It¡¯s the doctor¡¯s great skill,¡± Bi Fang said with a smile. But the doctor shook his head: ¡°No, it¡¯s your physique that¡¯s good. The amount you¡¯ve healed in one day is what would take others three days.¡± ¡°Still, that¡¯s a good thing. If there are no issues, you can be discharged today. Just make sure you apply medication on time, and don¡¯t forget to get vaccinated.¡± ¡°Alright, thank you, doctor.¡± The doctor nodded and left with the female nurse. On the other side, Wu Mingtao sent an envious glance his way.. Chapter 88 - Chapter 88: Chapter 86: The Boss Treats Chapter 88: Chapter 86: The Boss Treats Translator: 549690339 ¡°All, youth is wonderful,¡± Wu Mingtao, lying in the bed next to him, sighed as the doctor left. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, old Wu, you really think you¡¯re old now?¡± Bi Fang dressed himself, chuckling. Having been hospital mates for two days, their relationship had developed nicely, free of the tension that existed when they faced off against the wolf pack. Friendship between men can sometimes be that simple and direct. ¡°How could that be, I have nearly thirty years till retirement,¡± Wu Mingtao denied vehemently, then turned to ask, ¡°Are you leaving?¡± ¡°Yes, since there¡¯s no issue with my wound, I don¡¯t want to stay in the hospital, and since I can get vaccinated anywhere, going back works too.¡± Bi Fang was already packing his things. Wu Mingtao nodded; that made sense. ¡°Then you can rest easy. Once my injury heals, I¡¯ll start writing straightaway and publish your experience. It¡¯s guaranteed to go viral!¡± ¡°Remember to make the pictures look cool.¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Wu Mingtao laughed heartily. After stepping out of the sickroom, Bi Fang greeted the two bodyguards waiting by the door. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Journalists hadn¡¯t been able to find Bi Fang for two consecutive days and had already left. These two bodyguards were left to escort Bi Fang to his appointment in the Magic Capital. The afternoon before, Lin Chang had made contact with him and discussed having a meal together. Bi Fang didn¡¯t refuse. The other party was clearly serious, and Bi Fang thought it was good to have one more friend, one more path, so he agreed right away. Although Shenhua¡¯s headquarters was in Shenchuan, they also had a substantial branch in the Magic Capital. On the airplane, Bi Fang used a bodyguard¡¯s phone to check his B Island page and found that the video he had edited and posted with the System the day before had already reached over three hundred million views; even his follower count had soared to nearly three hundred thousand. And this wasn¡¯t even the premiere! Bi Fang was thrilled; more fans meant more people loved Wilderness Survivalist. It seemed that despite some cultural and entertainment differences between the two worlds, the love for survival programs was the same. After getting off the plane, Bi Fang saw that the entourage that came to pick him up was not small. He could tell from those cars¡¯ license plates alone that it was something impressive; a crowd gathered around, pointing and discussing, assuming some big shot had arrived. They had only seen such plate numbers on television. But when Bi Fang thought of Lin Chang¡¯s identity, he understood. Even though Shenhua wasn¡¯t publicly traded, there had always been rumors that Shenhua Group was actually a special ¡°state-owned enterprise. A military-industrial enterprise with a solid lineage. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t always be private. At that moment, Lin Chang and Lin Xue also got out of the car, which shocked the onlookers gathered around the vehicles. They hadn¡¯t expected such imposing cars to be carrying two young people; they thought they were some sort of leaders. Many people took out their phones to take pictures, and they were even more stunned by the next scene because the people being greeted were even younger. ¡°Who is that? A celebrity?¡± ¡°Seems like it, pretty handsome.¡± ¡°Could be some rich second generation, perhaps?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so, it¡¯s probably a celebrity. He looks somewhat familiar.¡± ¡°Then he must be a celebrity, right? Otherwise, we wouldn¡¯t recognize him.¡± The crowd buzzed with speculation, but no one could pin down Bi Fang¡¯s identity. As soon as Lin Chang got out of the car, he headed straight for Bi Fang with a bear hug. This enthusiastic attitude caught Bi Fang by surprise. ¡°Finally, we meet again, Bi Fang.¡± ¡°Come on, didn¡¯t we just meet a few days ago?¡± Bi Fang said with a laugh. ¡°Brother Fang, you don¡¯t know, right after my brother went back the day before yesterday, he watched your last Wilderness Survivalist video and immediately became a fan,¡± Lin Xue laughed, covering her mouth. ¡°Really? Are you just saying that to be nice?¡± Bi Fang raised an eyebrow, somewhat disbelieving. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s true.¡± Seeing Bi Fang¡¯s disbelief, Lin Chang put on a serious face and immediately reached for his phone to prove it, ¡°I¡¯ve followed all your accounts, Weibo, Douyin, and even B Island, not a single one missed! ¡°Alright, alright, I believe you!¡± Bi Fang stopped Lin Chang, who was still trying to show evidence, feeling somewhat moved, ¡°I never expected people like you to enjoy scrolling through these things.¡± ¡°What do you mean ¡®people like us¡¯? We¡¯re ordinary people, alright? We have our own personal hobbies. Otherwise, my sister wouldn¡¯t have gone to work for National Geographic.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then I¡¯ll give you a little fan benefit.¡± Seeing that Lin Chang seemed to be serious, Bi Fang opened his backpack, picked out two of the larger Wolf Fang teeth, and handed them to Lin Chang. ¡°Hey, weren¡¯t you saying in your live stream that you were going to have a giveaway? Isn¡¯t this like a backdoor deal?¡± Lin Chang¡¯s face lit up as he accepted the two big Wolf Fang teeth. ¡°What? You don¡¯t like it? If you don¡¯t like it, then give them back to me, whether you¡¯ll win in the giveaway later will depend on your luck,¡± Bi Fang pretended to take back the wolf teeth, but Lin Chang quickly blocked him. ¡°No, no, no, of course I¡¯m happy,¡± Lin Chang said, while slipping the Wolf Fang teeth into his pocket. One thing¡¯s for sure, whether Lin Chang was being genuine or putting on an act, he had absolutely none of that airs of a rich heir, making him feel just like a normal friend. And Lin Xue wasn¡¯t bad either, she was very beautiful and strong. It seems Lin Zhengnan really knew how to educate his children, otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t all be so outstanding. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s talk in the car; dad has been waiting for a while,¡± Lin Xue said. Hearing this, Bi Fang and Lin Chang stopped chatting and got into the car directly. They were then escorted away, surrounded by the rest of the motorcade. Normally, for a business tycoon like Lin Zhengnan, many people would queue up hoping to pay for the chance to have a meal with him, with no path to do so. Now that Bi Fang had this opportunity, no doubt countless people would be green with envy. But he himself didn¡¯t feel that way at all. In the first place, their industries were so different that unless he offended Lin Zhengnan, they would never cross paths. Bi Fang also didn¡¯t think he needed anything from Lin Zhengnan; he genuinely considered the meal as nothing more than a thank-you dinner. That¡¯s why Lin Zhengnan was quite surprised when they first met, as very few young people could face him with such calm composure. Even the executives of his company were very restrained around him, but Bi Fang seemed to treat their status as equal right from the start. Of course, Lin Zhengnan didn¡¯t really think he was superior to others, but that¡¯s just the way things were. ¡°Truly a young talent!¡± Lin Zhengnan came forward, shaking Bi Fang¡¯s hand, feeling emotional, ¡°No wonder you were so calm and composed in such a critical moment. It¡¯s really all thanks to Mr. Bi that Xue survived.¡± ¡°No, please, just call me Bi Fang,¡± Bi Fang waved his hand. While he wasn¡¯t intimidated by Lin Zhengnan, respect was another matter entirely. After all, the man was an elder; being called ¡®Mister¡¯ was too much for him to accept. Seeing this, Lin Zhengnan was even more pleased and promptly invited Bi Fang to take a seat. The dishes were served one after another. Lin Zhengnan called out, ¡°Come on, Bi Fang, see how our chef does. Let¡¯s see if it¡¯s as delicious as the food you eat in the wilderness. Bi Fang didn¡¯t stand on ceremony and began eating with everyone else. At the dinner table, Lin Zhengnan and Bi Fang talked happily until Lin Zhengnan mentioned the recent state of his company, which made him even more interested in Bi Fang.. Chapter 89 - Chapter 89: Chapter 87 Special Live Broadcasting License Chapter 89: Chapter 87 Special Live Broadcasting License Translator: 549690339 I ¡°I don¡¯t understand business, and I¡¯m not interested in it,¡± facing Lin Zhengnan¡¯s curious gaze, Bi Fang admitted candidly. Upon hearing this, Lin Zhengnan was even more surprised. It was rare for young people to be so direct about their shortcomings, especially in front of him. Now, there are still many young people sending emails to his inbox, evaluating the company¡¯s system or issuing grand visions about the future of business that are completely detached from reality. Reading them was like eating dog shit, their sole purpose being to gain his favor, but Bi Fang had no such intention. ¡°But what you just said was quite accurate, your judgment of the market was spot on,¡± Lin Zhengnan may have aged, but his brain hadn¡¯t deteriorated with his age, and when it came to seizing business opportunities and judging the market, he was absolutely admired by others. Thus, Lin Chang and Lin Zhou both secretly marveled, had Bi Fang actually received such high praise from Dad? I was just babbling. Bi Fang mumbled to himself. He truly didn¡¯t understand business and had never considered engaging in it. Although many aspects of this world were the same as in his previous life, there were differences still. Like how some business models hadn¡¯t developed to the stage they had in his former life. Using his foresight to spout some nonsense was harmless, but if Lin Zhengnan were to delve deep into it, he would be exposed as a paper tiger. Anyone who could master capital wasn¡¯t a fool, and even if they were, they¡¯d have a strong team behind them to help avoid mistakes. If Bi Fang really tried to get involved, he¡¯d certainly be swallowed whole, leaving nothing behind, not even bones. He couldn¡¯t fathom how his predecessors managed to thrive in business after transmigrating to this world. So it was better to be honest. The only field he could really handle was Wilderness Survival, in which he was an expert. He enjoyed and was skilled at Wilderness Survival; if doomsday ever came, he would surely be the last one to die. ¡°I have a high school classmate whose college professor analyzed this, and he told me I could make some money off it,¡± Bi Fang casually made someone up. ¡°I see,¡± Lin Zhengnan nodded. He believed it, but not entirely. If college professors were that amazing, why be a professor at all? Wouldn¡¯t being a consultative expert be much better, and more profitable than teaching? But since Bi Fang put it that way, Lin Zhengnan took it as the truth. Moreover, after their conversation, Lin Zhengnan looked at Bi Fang with even more pleasure. Neither servile nor overbearing, his composure came from the heart. This was something not just anyone could achieve. Usually, only those who have reached the pinnacle in a certain field have the confidence and mindset to face leading figures in other areas. Because such people are sufficiently confident and powerful, often it is others who need them, not they who need others. Just as Lin Zhengnan had reached the pinnacle in business, many sought to curry favor with him. Bi Fang was strong enough in the realm of Wilderness Survival that he wasn¡¯t intimidated by him at all. Important figures tend to have this problem: seeing so many who kowtow to them, they feel intrigued when encountering someone different. Lin Xue, Lin Chang, and Lin Zhou on the side were taken aback; they didn¡¯t believe what Bi Fang said and thought he was just making excuses, but their dad didn¡¯t seem to mind at all? Lin Xue was even more starstruck, for even though Lin Zhengnan was her father, she never dared to speak to him that way, and just his sternness could make her nervous. As the CEO of a company valued at over a trillion Ugly Yuan, assessed by academicians, Lin Zhengnan really hated when people were insincere or went against his will. Of course, Lin Zhengnan had the confidence to back this up. Otherwise, Lin Xue wouldn¡¯t have concealed her work at the National Geographic from Lin Zhengnan, nor would she have gone almost a year without contacting her family. It was only after her life was in danger and with the persuasion of Lin Chang and Lin Zhou that their relationship began to thaw. Brother Fang is so impressive! Bi Fang also noticed Lin Xue¡¯s gaze, and he was momentarily taken aback. What¡¯s this about? Has she taken a liking to me? Although I¡¯m quite handsome, and played the hero to save the damsel once, her eyes shouldn¡¯t be sparkling when she looks at me, right? Wait, it actually seems quite possible! Bi Fang¡¯s expression became stern, although he liked to work hard. But freeloading¡­ is not something I can¡¯t consider¡­ While Bi Fang was internally conflicted, Lin Zhengnan interrupted his thoughts. ¡°Lin Chang, go get the things,¡± he said. ¡°Alright.¡± Lin Chang nodded and immediately left his seat to fetch the ¡°things¡± Lin Zhengnan had mentioned. The main event is coming! Seeing this, Bi Fang also put down his chopsticks. He certainly hadn¡¯t forgotten the words the Lin siblings had said when they had first met, about giving him a big gift. Soon enough, Lin Chang came back with two stacks of documents, placing them in front of Bi Fang. Bi Fang picked up one and read aloud, ¡°Special Broadcast Permit? What¡¯s this?¡± Bi Fang, do you have to apply with the local forestry bureau for your livestreams now?¡± Lin Zhengnan didn¡¯t answer but responded with a question instead. ¡°Of course, I do.¡± Bi Fang nodded. He was a law-abiding citizen; both of his livestreams had been approved, and although the process was smooth, it certainly required these steps. ¡°With this, you don¡¯t need to apply anymore, just report and you¡¯re set,¡± Lin Chang explained the purpose of the document from the side. ¡°And you can push the envelope even further with your broadcasts. Like that first livestream of yours when you skinned the rabbit, there¡¯s no need for any cover-up. For many non-protected animals, even the Third-category, Second-class ones, as long as you explain the situation during the livestream, you can capture them. Just don¡¯t catch too many,¡± he added. ¡°That powerful?¡± Bi Fang was surprised. Such a document could be procured? It wasn¡¯t just about the scale of the broadcasts; what was more critical was the latter part about capturing non-protected animals, which was awesome! Aside from ¡°protected animals,¡± there are many other categories, such as the Third-category, Second-class and so on. The common toad, for instance, is one of them ¨C many people don¡¯t know that catching these is actually illegal. When Bi Fang first livestreamed the collection of sparrow eggs, he had thought about this issue. Back then, there were quite a few online friends challenging him, insisting that sparrows were second-class protected animals¡ªtypical examples of feigning knowledge. Even in his original world, sparrows were only Third-category, Second-class, not second-class! In this world, they weren¡¯t even classified as San You, something he had made sure to look up. Who knew better than these amateurs? ¡°How did you get this thing?¡± Bi Fang was very curious. ¡°I pulled some strings,¡± Lin Zhengnan said indifferently from the side. Some ¡°strings¡±? Bi Fang¡¯s eye twitched, finding it hard to imagine what ¡°a little string-pulling¡± meant for the CEO of a company that seemed private on the surface but was essentially a state-owned enterprise behind the scenes. ¡°Of course, the main reason is that your livestream content is positive; otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t be able to do anything. Plus, our country provides preferential treatment for veterans, especially for those taking on high-risk jobs like yours,¡± Lin Zhengnan added. Bi Fang nodded; he understood that the identity arranged by the System was quite powerful! But it was definitely Lin Zhengnan who played the decisive role. Anyway, this document was of great help to his livestreaming career; indeed, it was a surprising and generous gift. ¡°What do you think of this house?¡± Lin Chang suddenly interjected. ¡°It¡¯s great.¡± Bi Fang looked up and assessed. The house was indeed nice; he liked it a lot. Nice lighting, large space, a touch of history, grand and bright, and it looked very expensive. ¡°It¡¯s yours now.¡± Lin Chang pointed to the second document. On the document were several bold characters. Property Transfer Agreement! Chapter 90 - Chapter 90: Chapter 88: Sly and Shifty Chapter 90: Chapter 88: Sly and Shifty Translator: 549690339 | The spacious living room was now empty except for one person. Bi Fang stood on the glossy elm wood floor, slightly emotional. The house, complete with a garden, now belonged to him. ¡°This building was a French businessman¡¯s mansion before the liberation. My father bought it and had it renovated. Now, he has given it to you,¡± Lin Chang¡¯s voice seemed to echo in his ears. The renovated mansion still retained the old elm wood flooring, but all four walls had been knocked down and replaced with floor-to-ceiling windows. Rooms were combined by removing the walls between them, and the floors above had been taken out as well. When he looked up, he saw a dome eight meters high, with a massive branched chandelier hanging from the century-old wooden beams. Right now, the chandelier was unlit. The only light in the vast space came from the candles on the antique table where they had just had dinner. Bi Fang didn¡¯t know how much the house was worth, but it must be an astronomical figure. Typical of the CEO of Shenhua Group, always acting generously. The most critical part was the special live streaming license. From now on, Bi Fang could do as he pleased! Sitting on the sofa, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t in a hurry to go home. He took out his newly bought phone, started a live broadcast, and prepared for a giveaway event. As soon as the notification went out, a large number of Shuiyou flooded in. The number of viewers broke five thousand instantly! And it kept rising! Unbelievable! [Here he is, Old Fang has arrived!) [Finally showed up, haven¡¯t seen you for several days.) [Damn, what a huge house, is Old Fang really a second-generation rich?] [No shit, just look at all that streaming gear, it¡¯s not cheap. Can an average person afford that?) [Awesome, a special forces soldier and a rich kid. That¡¯s real positivity!] I Are you giving away Wolf Fang items? 1 want one(OcuO)] [+1 want!] [Is Old Fang¡¯s injury healed? Will it delay the next live stream?] [Exactly, when is the next live stream? Even the farm¡¯s donkey wouldn¡¯t get this much rest!] Man, they¡¯re going to work him to death, already pushing for more? Bi Fang looked at the comments, raised an eyebrow, and said bluntly, ¡°Forget it, there¡¯s no way I¡¯m going back to Wilderness Survivalist this week. Do you really think it¡¯s that simple to survive out there?¡± As soon as he said that, quite a few Shuiyou started to threaten to unfollow. ¡°If you unfollow, you¡¯ll miss out on the draw,¡± Bi Fang said indifferently. Sure enough, the Shuiyou who were just about to unfollow came scrambling back the very next second. [Forget it, I¡¯ll unfollow after the draw, unfollow after the draw.] [The guy above is so shameless, but I¡¯m really unfollowing.] [Is it worth it¡­] [He just wants others to unfollow to increase his own chances of winning¡­] [Realized the truth, I¡¯m still too naive.] [Can I buy a Wolf Fang? I¡¯ll pay for it! A thousand for one!] [The guy above wants one? I have some, inherited from my grandfather, want to buy it?] [Don¡¯t joke, can yours be the same as Master Fang¡¯s?] A bunch of Shuiyou were sending barrage comments, and Bi Fang didn¡¯t waste any time, directly holding a fan giveaway in the live stream. He sent out several dozen Wolf Fangs. He also previewed the next day¡¯s stream, which was not ¡°Wilderness Survivalist¡± but just a regular training stream, serving as a transition to keep the current hype going. ¡°Surviving in the wilderness is actually not as simple as you all think. Tomorrow afternoon, I¡¯ll teach everyone how to do some training, including auditory training, visual training, training to sense the environment, and physical training. Those interested can check it out then,¡± he explained. After saying that, Bi Fang ended the live stream once again. The viewers in the live stream room were totally baffled. That was too fast, wasn¡¯t it? They hadn¡¯t even had time to react before it was over. I Auditory training? Is that even a thing? Can it improve my English listening scores?] [You¡¯re overthinking it upstairs, it¡¯s probably to help you hear more clearly after training, right?] [You can train for that?] ¡°Didn¡¯t you say he lives here? What the hell kind of place is this?¡± Lu Wentao tugged at his collar, looking at the live stream backdrop on Bi Fang¡¯s phone, feeling very irritated inside. He suddenly felt like ten million might not be enough to handle this guy. The chandelier on the screen, no matter how you looked at it, didn¡¯t seem like a cheap item. This made Lu Wentao feel as though he was being crushed by the social hierarchy. I hat can¡¯t be right; he listed this address when he registered his live streaming room with Shark. It was here that the vice president of Wolf Fang found him. Our information can¡¯t be wrong!¡± Lu Junming was also confused, but he still insisted on his own judgment. Ever since they heard that Bi Fang had left the hospital, the two had rushed to Bi Fang¡¯s home, only to be greeted by a closed door. Despite knocking for a long time, there was no response. It was only after the old man across the hall said no one had come back that they gave up. But the two hadn¡¯t left yet because they thought that Bi Fang might have been delayed by something and hadn¡¯t returned home. So, they sat in a nearby cafe for a good half of the day, all the way until they saw this live stream. ¡°I told you! His equipment is all high-end, how could he possibly live in such a rundown place? Didn¡¯t you think a little when investigating? Do you believe everything?¡± Lu Wentao got more convinced as he thought about it, his spit flying into Lu Junming¡¯s coffee. Lu Junming silently moved his cup away, speechless. Could his information really be wrong? Did the other party provide a fake address? Was he that cunning? Wasn¡¯t this tactic a bit too sophisticated? Lu Junming couldn¡¯t help but think back to his hometown, where people were simple and guileless, and the roads not slippery. ¡°Hey! Sister Ning, don¡¯t you think that guy looks really familiar?¡± Bao Xuan whispered to Ning Zhiyun while leaning on the counter. Two men had been sitting there for most of the day, and they had only ordered two cups of coffee but refilled them three times and gone to the bathroom twice. They just wouldn¡¯t leave. Even though the coffee refills were free, wasn¡¯t this taking too much advantage? Bao Xuan despised people who took advantage like this, so she had been paying attention for a long time. But as she watched, she felt something was off, because one of them looked strangely familiar to her. ¡°Indeed.¡± Ning Zhiyun looked over and felt the same way. After all, it was only recently that they had read the news about Bi Fang, which mentioned the sole other ¡°Wilderness¡± streamer at present, Lu Wentao, leaving them with some impression. ¡°Could they be wanted criminals?¡± Bao Xuan¡¯s voice went even softer, feeling this was more likely. The two men were sneaking around, clearly not up to any good. What! Ning Zhiyun exclaimed but immediately covered her mouth, afraid of alerting Lu Wentao. ¡°Should we call the police?¡± Bao Xuan suggested again. It was getting darker outside, yet the two men showed no signs of leaving. When night falls and the cafe is only left with two pretty young girls, how dangerous would that be? ¡°All? But what if it¡¯s a misunderstanding?¡± Ning Zhiyun was inclined to consider it, yet she feared misunderstanding someone. ¡°How could it be? Look at those two, sneaky and rat-like, obviously up to no good. If it gets later and there is no one else in the shop, what if they get ideas?¡± Bao Xuan was genuinely concerned. Ning Zhiyun looked at Bao Xuan with a complicated expression. Though she thought it unlikely the two men had any designs on Bao Xuan, just to be safe¡­ Well, if it comes to it¡­ she¡¯ll just have Bao Xuan apologize later! Chapter 91 - Chapter 91: Chapter 89 Wilderness Survival Skills Training (Two in One) Chapter 91: Chapter 89 Wilderness Survival Skills Training (Two in One) Translator: 549690339 Early in the morning, after Bi Fang took his bath and put on all his gear, he grabbed the new water bottle he¡¯d bought and set off for his destination. The place wasn¡¯t far; a little over an hour¡¯s drive took him to a rarely frequented small mountain. The area was quite large and well conserved ecologically; it was said that wild rabbits were often caught at the foot of the mountain. This live broadcast wasn¡¯t a System task, and Bi Fang didn¡¯t plan to stay overnight there. He¡¯d likely return in the evening, with the broadcast focusing on survival skills training. If we didn¡¯t count the preparation period, there had been a twelve-day interval between the System tasks. If he did nothing during those twelve days and let his popularity evaporate, that would be truly foolish. Many people had seen the news and might still be interested within two or three days, but if it went beyond a week, the matter would quickly be forgotten. This broadcast was to maximize retention of the news heat and strengthen the memory of passersby, yet it couldn¡¯t take up too much time, or it would affect his training and recovery, which would be counterproductive. Even so, Wolf Fang, as a platform, still gave it a homepage recommendation, full of sincerity. Now, Wolf Fang really treated Bi Fang as if he could do no wrong, pampering him as if he were a Buddha, fearing that he¡¯d become unhappy and leave the platform. Bi Fang felt that as long as he was willing to speak up, getting a top promotion would be no problem, but there was no need for that. People came directly to his live broadcasts by searching for him, not through Wolf Fang TV¡¯s recommendation, so the connection wasn¡¯t significant. Pulling out his phone, Bi Fang saw that it was only eight fifty in the morning, not yet the official start time of nine o¡¯clock, but there were already over forty thousand people waiting in the dark screen of the live broadcast room. Among them were quite a few other streamers, such as Yao Lina. Of course, more streamers had heard of Bi Fang, the great Buddha, and wanted to come over to learn something, to see if there was anything they could emulate to boost their own popularity. [Blind support for Old Fang!] [Old Fang is awesome! ] [Damn, there are so many people, Master Fang is really considered a top streamer now.] [No kidding, you think the trending search was for nothing?] [But this time it¡¯s really fierce, last time he wasn¡¯t broadcasting and only a few thousand people were waiting, this time a zero has been added, will another zero be added when the broadcast starts?] [Adding another zero might not be possible, but doubling the numbers is absolutely easy.] [Saw on Weibo that the tough streamer who battled with a pack of wolves is broadcasting again, is it this live room?] [You¡¯re in the right place, upstairs!] Here, Bi Fang entered the backend of the live broadcast room and changed the room title to: [Master Fang¡¯s Survival: Techniques and Training for Wilderness Survival!] Then he started the drone. The next second, the eager audience felt the room stutter for a moment before a stretch of lush, bluish-green mountains appeared before them. And Bi Fang was standing at the foot of the mountain. At the same time, throughout Huaxia, all fans who had subscribed to Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast room received the broadcast notification immediately. The number of viewers surged like a tidal wave; just a moment ago there were forty thousand, but in a matter of seconds, it had doubled! Eighty thousand! In the top right corner of the room, the popularity skyrocketed, and within less than ten minutes, it broke through to five hundred thousand, no, it was already six hundred thousand! And these numbers were still climbing! Back at Wolf Fang TV headquarters, Wang Yongbo watched the rapid rise in Bi Fang¡¯s popularity with uncontrollable excitement, his thick eyebrows dancing along with the numbers. As expected, the dividends from trending searches had arrived! His investment was beginning to pay off; this was definitely a golden stock! Shark TV was bleeding so much money that not even its own mother would recognize it anymore, hahaha! ¡°Boss, it¡¯s lagging!¡± The technician next to him watched the stuttering live room and said, directly interrupting Wang Yongbo¡¯s good mood. ¡°Add more bandwidth, do I really need to say that?¡± Wang Yongbo snapped. This guy really had no initiative. If it weren¡¯t for his poor aunt begging on his behalf and the fact that the young man had decent technical skills, he would have fired him long ago! The worker who had been glared at shrank his neck once again. Wait, why did he think ¡®once again¡¯? The worker was confused and felt this was a bad habit, but soon his attention was brought back by the thumping sound on the desk, and he quickly got to work. The importance of bandwidth to a live stream was unquestionable; more bandwidth meant more internet capacity and servers, which in turn allowed more viewers in the live room, preventing lag and ensuring a good experience. Wang Yongbo hadn¡¯t seen many streamers who needed to add bandwidth urgently due to rapid audience growth in all his years. Other popular streamers either came with a fanbase that required ample bandwidth from the start or grew slowly, gradually becoming a big player, gradually increasing their bandwidth. But Bi Fang? Before joining Wolf Fang, he virtually had no base but with just two streams, the number of viewers had skyrocketed past one hundred thousand, and now it was steady at one hundred thousand! He was truly an oddity in the streaming industry! ¡°Hello everyone, I¡¯m Bi Fang, a professional explorer!¡± Facing his fans¡¯ soaring enthusiasm, Bi Fang cracked a slight smile: ¡°Since my injury hasn¡¯t fully healed, I can¡¯t do some of the more dangerous live activities. So, I¡¯ve chosen a location just a hundred kilometers away from the Magic Capital, a small mountain. Compared to my last two streaming spots, it¡¯s a bit humble but also sparsely populated.¡± Bi Fang turned the camera toward the small mountain in front of him. The mountain wasn¡¯t very tall, it couldn¡¯t even really be called a mountain, but it was extensive and filled with a primeval atmosphere. However, as Bi Fang entered the forest, many old viewers immediately noticed the difference. [The trees here are so short, completely different from before.] [Of course, this isn¡¯t the Primeval Forest. Many of these trees must have been planted later, right?] [How could there be ancient tall trees near humans?] [Eh¡­ a pedestrian street?] [Speaking of which, being so close to the Magic Capital, how can there still be such deserted places?] [Definitely, aren¡¯t they all by the highway? It¡¯s not hard to find a place with few people, but it¡¯s not easy to find one without anyone at all.] [Is it okay for Old Fang to do this with his injury not fully healed? We could actually wait (insincere.jpg).] [Didn¡¯t he say he was going to teach us survival skills? Bring on the main event!] Many viewers had been attracted by Bi Fang¡¯s deeds of fighting black bears and wolves and were now eager to see some actual content. Not wanting to keep everyone in suspense, Bi Fang walked into the woods and said. ¡°Since this isn¡¯t really a primeval forest, there¡¯s nothing much to introduce. Let¡¯s get right to the point. It¡¯s nine in the morning, and I plan to go hunting first. Last time, the rabbit catch was quite sudden, and I didn¡¯t go over some of the details. This time, I¡¯ll teach you all together.¡± Upon hearing this, many viewers got excited¡ªhunting! What man doesn¡¯t admire this primitive and charming sport? Otherwise, the ancient emperors and nobles wouldn¡¯t have considered hunting such a recreational activity. The sense of achievement that comes with capturing prey through one¡¯s own abilities is immense! [Yes, coach, I want to learn this!] [Indeed, last time with the rabbit, it just felt like Master Fang was so fierce, I didn¡¯t really pay attention to the methods.] [Even if the methods come out, you still don¡¯t have the problem-solving approach, you¡¯ll only learn to fail!] [Pete not peeling sends Master Fang Wolf Fang *1000¡ªI want to learn!] [Ju Not Seen donated a spaceship*! to the streamer¡ªNo one else coming to snatch the top spot this time, right? (Stay alert!)] ¡°How come it¡¯s you two again? Have you finished your homework? It¡¯s Monday today, aren¡¯t you supposed to be at school instead of watching the live stream? Should I buy you two a hundred sets of Huanggang Secret Papers to work on? Don¡¯t worry, this is a fan benefit, it¡¯s free of charge.¡± Bi Fang said with a somewhat inexplicable smile as he looked at the two familiar nicknames. Last time, it was these two rich second-generation students who had sworn to take the top spot on the leaderboard, only to be utterly defeated when Lin Chang, Young Master Lin, made a surprise appearance and outdid them both. However, Bi Fang didn¡¯t advocate for students to spend money tipping him, even if they were rich second-generation. It just wasn¡¯t worth it. Live streaming is entertainment. If you like it, you support; if you don¡¯t, you leave¡ªjust don¡¯t ruin others¡¯ enjoyment, that¡¯s all. Most importantly, don¡¯t neglect your real responsibilities. [Ah, is this really a fan benefit?] [This benefit is a bit terrifying.] [Stop it, Master Fang, I¡¯m scared! I¡¯m gonna start studying right now.] [Hahaha, studying now, studying now.] Seeing that the two of them stopped flooding the chat with gifts, Bi Fang returned to the main topic. ¡°In order to approach the prey and hunt them, we need to learn some techniques that allow us to catch them unawares. You might not have powerful firearms but only homemade bows and throwing sticks instead.¡± Bi Fang casually picked up a tree branch, made a throwing gesture, and pointed into the distance: ¡°To get close enough to the prey to make an accurate kill, you need to move within 10 to 15 meters of the animal. This means you have to move silently and undetected towards the prey.¡± If you aren¡¯t trained, this is actually quite hard to achieve. Like last time, when Bi Fang approached a wild rabbit and got within five meters¡ªa distance that¡¯s very easy to be detected because the human body is simply not easy to hide. That hunt mainly relied on the blind spot in the rabbit¡¯s vision and the cover of a hillock that blocked some of its line of sight, allowing for a lucky success. ¡°And the Fox Step is one of the outstanding techniques for approaching prey silently!¡± While explaining, Bi Fang observed the surrounding area, looking for any animals. A wild chicken or rabbit would do¡ªit¡¯s somewhat boring to just talk dryly. Unfortunately, the only scents in the air were of damp earth and the fragrance of leaves; there were no other smells for the time being. After two days of adjusting, Bi Fang had learned to use his sense of smell for some basic searching and identification and could do so without easily being overwhelmed, unless the smell was truly overpowering, such as an unattended toilet or cheap, pungent perfume. His abilities still weren¡¯t on par with those of a hunting dog, but if an animal had been in the vicinity and relieved itself, he would most likely take notice of the smell. ¡°The Fox Step is a slow-moving technique, and it¡¯s a way our ancestors used to approach prey. The principle is to move one step at a time, transferring your weight onto the stationary leg, letting the moving foot ¡®feel¡¯ the ground. That is to say, you gradually place your foot from the outside edge to the inside edge on the ground, exploring for anything on the surface.¡± The drone¡¯s camera automatically tilted down, focusing on Bi Fang¡¯s feet and magnifying them to capture every single movement clearly. Bi Fang pushed aside the ground foliage and carefully lifted the foot he was about to move while maintaining balance on his weight-bearing leg. Then, he extended the lifted foot forward, cautiously touching the ground from the outside edge to the inside edge. ¡°The key here is to always use the outside edge of the foot to touch down first¡ª never plant your whole foot. Only after ensuring it¡¯s safe can you fully place your foot down and then repeat this action.¡± ¡°The essence of the Fox Step is that once you¡¯re sure there¡¯s nothing sharp underneath your foot or that it won¡¯t make a sound, you can fully plant it, shifting your weight forward.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s something poking the bottom of your foot or there¡¯s noise from the ground, lift your foot again, and find a different place. Whether you are lifting or placing your foot, be careful to avoid making noise by bumping into branches or rocks.¡± Bi Fang demonstrated this slow, careful method of moving forward without making a single sound, although the pace was very slow. [Did he turn down the volume, or is the drone not picking it up?] [Master Fang¡¯s drone not picking up the volume? That¡¯s the funniest joke of the year.] [Master Fang¡¯s drone is officially badass, plus you can hear the rustling leaves and his breathing, right? If we can hear that, how could the volume be turned down?] [Alright then.] The viewer count had now exceeded one hundred thousand, which meant that more new viewers had joined and inevitably had a lot of questions. But luckily, Bi Fang had plenty of fans, so he didn¡¯t even need to explain himself ¨C a bunch of people replied for him. ¡°But isn¡¯t this way too slow? Yeah, yeah, have the daylilies gone cold? ¡°You might find this pace incredibly slow, but its main advantage lies precisely in its leisureliness,¡± Bi Fang said. He saw the barrage of comments: ¡°Because you don¡¯t need to take your eyes off the surroundings to watch the ground. Traveling this way is also very quiet, and because you¡¯re moving so slowly, many animals won¡¯t see you as a threat.¡± The moment he said this, many viewers started to reflect on their experiences, recalling similar situations they had encountered in the past. It reminds me that moving slowly seems to make many animals less vigilant. There¡¯s a stray dog downstairs of my building; it¡¯s not afraid if I walk by it slowly every day, but if you run towards it, it scoots off super fast. Bi Fang used a stick to part the underbrush, making sure there were no venomous insects, snakes, or ants before stepping forward. In these smaller mountains, there wouldn¡¯t be large predators because the food chain couldn¡¯t sustain their appetites, but there would still be plenty of venomous snakes. And now that it¡¯s October, most snakes begin hibernating in December. This is their active period, where they hunt and stockpile food for the winter. Sure enough, just as Bi Fang pushed aside some brush, a black shadow suddenly darted out. Most viewers didn¡¯t get a clear view, and the shadow shot down the mountain, startling everyone. Watching the grass still shaking not far away, the Shuiyou started commenting. Whoa, that¡¯s a long tail! Was that a snake? Such a dark snake, so slick and sly! It moved with such force, swinging the grass intensely, it must have covered dozens of meters in those few seconds. It just ran away, didn¡¯t it? This snake is too weak-spirited! If it had spirit, brother, you¡¯d be out of breath! Bi Fang was also startled, but not as much as the audience since he had recognized the snake. ¡°That¡¯s a Black-striped Snake, non-venomous. They¡¯re also found in the Magic Capital, a rather common species. They are large and move very fast. However, Black-striped Snakes are more sensitive to environmental changes than other snakes; they prefer warmth over cold and hibernate for up to six months,¡± he explained. ¡°We¡¯re getting close to their hibernation period, so this one was probably out to make one last score.¡± Bi Fang actually felt a bit of pity. Black-striped Snakes are very nutritious but grow very slowly. The market price can reach a hundred to a hundred and twenty yuan per jin in many places, even higher in some regions. You can imagine how popular they are. They are so desired that laws had to be enacted stipulating that they can¡¯t be captured at will, which stopped them from becoming a protected species. We¡¯re done for, cursed by Master Fang¡¯s bad luck. Black-striped Snake: After this score, I¡¯m off to hibernate. This is the last heist, I swear. But Master Fang really knows a lot, every time he educates us I feel like he¡¯s super cool. Add one point for coolness. ¡°You guys are poisoned.¡± Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but laugh and cry ¨C how did this turn into cursing himself? He was just speaking the truth. But there was no denying that his lunch was truly gone. He had to look for other prey now.. Chapter 92 - Chapter 92: Chapter 90: Beyond All Expectations (Three in One) Chapter 92: Chapter 90: Beyond All Expectations (Three in One) Translator: 549690339 The appearance of the Black-striped Snake was just a minor incident; Bi Fang didn¡¯t dwell on it after missing the opportunity. It wasn¡¯t even ten in the morning yet, plenty of time before lunch, and in such a vast mountainous area, he was bound to find some living creatures. However, the snake¡¯s appearance served as a ready-made example, which Bi Fang promptly used as a teaching moment. He raised the wooden stick in his hand, drawing more viewers¡¯ attention to it. ¡°See? The encounter just now proved how important it is to have a stick for probing the path while on the move. Not only can it help us distribute our body weight, reducing physical exertion, but it can also detect dangers lurking in the underbrush ahead of time, especially venomous snakes! Once bitten by a venomous snake in the wilderness, you can pretty much declare yourself dead!¡± [666, this artifact really lives up to its name, a skill that detects threats all around and reduces energy consumption, truly awesome!] [I¡¯m deeply in love with this broken stick!] [Why is it all over if you get bitten, aren¡¯t there ways to suck out the poison? I often read about how to deal with snake bites in books?] [Yeah, the books all say it¡¯s treatable, so why is it a no-go with the streamer?] ¡°Did you pay attention to one sentence that¡¯s written in all of those pamphlets?¡± Bi Fang, seeing the last comment, smiled with a hint of wry amusement. What sentence? The audience grew curious, having not really noticed any common thread in the content of those pamphlets. ¡°Seek immediate medical attention!¡± Ah, that. Quite a few viewers were speechless, having thought that Bi Fang was about to share some profound insight. That¡¯s it? Everyone knows to go to the hospital after a snake bite, isn¡¯t that obvious? ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate this sentence. No matter how nicely everything else is put or how much sense it makes, it all pales in comparison to the importance of this one sentence.¡± Seeing many viewers express confusion with question marks, Bi Fang laughed and lifted three fingers. ¡°After being bitten by a snake, you need to do just three things: first, slow down the blood flow from the bite as much as possible, second, take a photo of the snake, and third, hurry to the hospital to see a doctor. Don¡¯t believe in sucking out snake venom, especially in the wild, that¡¯s nonsense! Unless you have a professional negative pressure suction device.¡± ¡°Like my last two survival experiences, where I could barely satisfy my hunger, let alone take in a balanced diet, it¡¯s almost inevitable to have bleeding gums in such situations. If you try sucking out snake venom, it¡¯s akin to just giving the poison another place to spread¡ªand this new location is even closer to your brain! It¡¯s an utterly suffocating move!¡± ¡°So overall, even I would not take venomous snakes lightly in the wild, which is why I always find a probe stick first each time I¡¯m out there. You¡¯re right, it¡¯s truly an artifact.¡± [Damn, movies have deceived me, I always thought you could suck out snake venom.] [Bullshit, I feel like I was scammed too¡­] [Speaking of which, I have that kind of persistent bleeding gums¡­] [Normal, a lot of people have bleeding gums, you¡¯re not alone!] [Why do I feel like you¡¯re cursing me?] [But that snake was so quick, zipping around faster than any person could!] [Indeed, it darted out before I could even react.] ¡°This leads me to the second point I want to make.¡± Bi Fang gave a thumbs-up to the audience members sending messages; he needed viewers who were eager to play along. That¡¯s what keeps the chat going and prevents the live stream from becoming dull. ¡°Animals often notice us before we notice them, their alertness is extremely high. This is because, unlike us who live in cities, these animals face the threat of death practically every day. The scene just now was a prime example.¡± Even the top predators have to face many dangers in the wild. Lack of food, resistance from prey, and even a fight for a mate can be fatal for them. As for the weaker ones, they have it even worse. Every morning, they need to search for food to fill their stomachs, and they have to be vigilant for possible threats from higher up on the food chain. Compared to them, humans living in cities can almost say they¡¯re in heaven. No worries about food and clothing, and no fear of not seeing the next day¡¯s sun when going to bed. ¡°The main reasons animals can detect us are two: One is that we move too quickly or make too much noise, which can be addressed with the Fox Step I just taught you.¡± ¡°The other reason is that animals observe their surroundings in a way that is completely different from ours!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s voice was modulated in such a way that it captivated his audience easily. Another important point is that humans are inherently curious creatures. Most people¡¯s dislike of learning is primarily because the learning in schools often comes with rigid testing requirements, focusing too much on efficiency and opting for the most efficient yet boring methods of teaching. But Bi Fang didn¡¯t have that problem with the way he spoke, his content was simple enough to understand, and his style more approachable, avoiding viewer frustration. Bear Grylls of his previous world was a standout example of this; his way of educating was satisfactory, never tedious like force-feeding. ¡°Animals use wide-angle vision, this method allows them to notice everything around them, and it¡¯s one of the techniques I¡¯m going to teach you this time.¡± To catch prey, the most important are sight, hearing, and movement¡ªBi Fang has already covered movement, and now he¡¯s about to discuss sight and hearing. This doesn¡¯t mean improving visual and auditory acuity, but rather altering the way one observes objects and receives information. This is a necessary adjustment in facing the wilderness, enabling one to adapt better to survive in the wilderness. However, after acquiring his Wilderness Survival Skill, Bi Fang had automatically mastered these things, turning them into instincts. He didn¡¯t need any training, but the full training methods were also present in his memories, so he decided to teach them to his audience, while also inadvertently establishing his professional image. Just as Bi Fang was about to explain, several bullet comments suddenly appeared, forcing him to interrupt his livestream. [Lord Mu sent a Spaceship*! to the host¡ªThese past few days I¡¯ve been busy with company affairs, and Master Fang has started livestreaming? If I hadn¡¯t checked Wolf Fang TV this afternoon, I wouldn¡¯t have known about it!] [Lord Mu sent a Spaceship*! to the host¡ªAnd why didn¡¯t you call me? It¡¯s fine usually, but how could you not call me to this kind of place with no dangers? Several of my friends have been watching your livestream for a while and also like Wilderness Survival, Old Fang you¡¯re not being fair!] [Lin Chang sent a Spaceship*! to the host¡ªActually, I wanted to come too¡­ but I was too shy to say it¡­] Seeing these two comments, Bi Fang was also stunned for a moment. He had been livestreaming for so long, but it had never crossed his mind to bring anyone with him, since he couldn¡¯t even guarantee his own safety; bringing someone else would be like seeking death, wouldn¡¯t it? The missions issued by the System for his livestreams weren¡¯t possible to do with others, and he wouldn¡¯t bring anyone either, as that would be irresponsible towards others¡¯ lives. This was a matter of principle; he wouldn¡¯t now, nor in the future. However, the current situation was somewhat different. This livestream was essentially a picnic, and this small mountain clearly posed no danger, so bringing someone along wouldn¡¯t be a big issue. The greatest danger would be encountering wild dogs, and if Bi Fang, with his Special Forces lv3 Skills, couldn¡¯t handle that, he might as well go home early and sleep. Like this, he could give everyone a taste of semi-real Wilderness Survival, expand his influence, and truly interact with the public about Wilderness Survival, killing two birds with one stone. ¡°Sorry, I really didn¡¯t think of this before. How about next time? After I return from the next livestream, I¡¯ll pick a not too dangerous hilltop, and then I can take you all to experience Wilderness Survival?¡± Hearing this, Lord Mu and Lin Chang were overjoyed beyond belief. They had just casually made a comment, teasing a bit, and had not expected to actually gain such an unexpected reward! [But you have to keep your word! I have a few good friends here too, and they all want to come!] ¡°My word is good; bring them all,¡± said Bi Fang with a smile. But by agreeing, a sensation arose¡ªit wasn¡¯t just Lord Mu and Lin Chang, even the other two Emperors expressed their interest, and even the Shuiyou started to make a fuss. [Wait, what about us? We want to go too!] [To get up close and personal with Master Fang, I want in too!] [Darn, I want to go too, boo hoo hoo!] [Having lived in the city all my life, can¡¯t I enjoy a little Wilderness Survival?] So many people want to come? Seeing such an enthusiastic response, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t anticipated this. He always thought that people would only watch Wilderness Survival and that would be the end of it; did so many really want to experience it themselves? Bi Fang immediately reminded, ¡°This isn¡¯t some vacation, survival is really exhausting, don¡¯t just rush into it because you¡¯re excited.¡± [Tired is tired, but it¡¯s Wilderness Survival, okay? I might only get to experience this once in my life; it¡¯s definitely thrilling!] [Exactly, we¡¯re not afraid of being tired!] [Whoever says it¡¯s too tiring is a dog!] [Bark bark bark!] Is the market really this big? Should I start a club or something? The idea suddenly crossed Bi Fang¡¯s mind, and it wasn¡¯t just a whim. Among the numerous comments, there were not a few who were just stirring things up, but Lord Mu and Lin Chang were likely serious, and they were not short on cash; if he could really set up a high-end club¡­ Looking at the chat room, Bi Fang tentatively said, ¡°How about I create a Wilderness Survival club after I return? If you really want to experience it, you can sign up, and there will be people arranged to train you?¡± [That¡¯s great, I¡¯ll provide the location; Shenhua is never short on real estate!] That was Lin Chang speaking. [Then I¡¯ll handle the decoration! It¡¯ll be totally high-end and classy!] That was Lord Mu speaking. [emmmm, what can I do, invite my classmates to experience Wilderness Survival?] [We want to join during the summer vacation too! ] That was Wang Xiaocong and Kong Chao speaking. ¡°This is just an idea for now, the specifics haven¡¯t been decided yet.¡± Seeing everyone so serious, Bi Fang felt a bit embarrassed to put them off anymore. ¡°I¡¯ll discuss it in detail when I get back, and I definitely won¡¯t disappoint you then.¡± [Are you really starting a club? Sounds expensive.] [emmm, if it¡¯s not too pricey, I want to join too! ] [I¡¯m booking it, no one else better try to snatch it from me! ] (Crap, after watching two livestreams, I¡¯ve been wanting to go out into the Wilderness and check it out, but without Master Fang¡¯s abilities, I¡¯ve never dared. Now I finally have the chance!] [Plus one here, I¡¯ve actually wanted to go for a long time too.] [Are you starting to cash in on this already? It¡¯s only been two broadcasts, right?] [Where did this hater come from? We¡¯re doing this willingly; who do you think you are?] [Exactly, haters can roll out!] Starting a club isn¡¯t out of the question. Bi Fang didn¡¯t check the comments; with more fame comes more trouble. He already had several hundred thousand followers, so having some haters was normal, wasn¡¯t it? In the past life, there were people who accused Bear Grylls of plagiarism, and Bi Fang was no longer surprised by such things. But a club sounds vexing, who would train these people when the time comes? I certainly can¡¯t. Bi Fang doesn¡¯t have the time, energy, or interest. Mainly because it¡¯s hard to refuse everyone¡¯s enthusiastic requests. Rather than letting them mull over it, learn a move or two, watch his videos, and then hot-headedly run off into the wilderness, it¡¯s better to establish a formal channel for them to vent their energy and impulses. But that¡¯s a conversation for later. Right now, Bi Fang still needs to make sure this live broadcast goes well. The rest can wait until he gets back tonight. Lord Mu and Lin Chang both have a good relationship with him, he¡¯ll let them come up with strategies. If he really wants to turn it into a business model, he¡¯d still need to rely on professionals. ¡°Alright, back to the main point, I¡¯m here today to teach everyone survival skills, not to discuss starting a club. I¡¯m about to talk about training methods!¡± Bi Fang shouted to the drone, and instantly, the previously noisy live broadcast room quieted down a lot, everyone perking up their ears to learn some real skills. Seeing that no one in the live broadcast room was making noise anymore, Bi Fang resumed talking about the practice methods for peripheral vision. ¡°Normally, the way we look at the world involves using a series of focused lines of sight, creating separate images of our surroundings.¡± ¡°This means we only focus on certain objects, and as a result, there are many things around us that we simply don¡¯t see or notice. However, we also have the capability to use our eyes the way animals do, with less focus.¡± ¡°After practice, we can perceive all the movements of everything around us, though each thing we see will be relatively blurry.¡± Bi Fang walked down a dirt slope and found the area rather open and clear, just right for teaching everyone the training method. However, he made some unexpected discoveries on the flat ground. ¡°A little trap.¡± Bi Fang crouched down, picked up a small branch in front of him, which had a little noose attached to it. Many viewers became excited at this scene; they had never seen any other hunters besides Bi Fang. In modern society, true hunters have become increasingly scarce. Suddenly encountering a strange trap is indeed thrilling. Could this be a meeting with a peer, who¡¯s stronger? [Is this someone else¡¯s doing?] [A fellow professional?] [The trap seems a bit shoddy, doesn¡¯t look as impressive as the one Master Fang made last time.] [Nonsense, last time Master Fang was hunting wolves, what can this do? Catch mice?] ¡°It is pretty rudimentary. It¡¯s a double-hook noose trap, made of two sticks. Both sticks should have notches, allowing them to hook together. One stick is driven into the ground, while the other is tied to a sturdy, flexible small tree or branch with a length of rope.¡± Bi Fang stood up, followed the rope, and found the small tree hooked to the side, exactly as he had described. Many new viewers were wowed, commenting ¡®666¡¯, as just by glancing at the trap, he could analyze it, which proved Bi Fang¡¯s strength. ¡°The existence of this small tree ensures that the notches on the two sticks can hook together. One would place a running noose on the movable stick¡¯s hook and position the noose in an area where animals are active. Once an animal steps into the noose, the trap is triggered, and the animal is hoisted by the branch, swiftly breaking its neck!¡± At the choppy cadence of Bi Fang¡¯s voice, many viewers shivered subconsciously at the mention of breaking necks, but in the next moment, he changed the subject. ¡°But this trap isn¡¯t very professional, it¡¯s too loose. It wouldn¡¯t have a high success rate for catching rabbits.¡± Bi Fang shook his head, picking up a piece of dried, shriveled carrot from the ground. This was bait, and it had dehydrated, indicating that the trap had been set for a long time but hadn¡¯t yielded much. The person who set the trap lacked skill, not as skilled as him at the very least. ¡°Before coming here, I had looked up this place, and they say that people often catch wild rabbits here; the ecological protection is very good, it seems to be true.¡± Bi Fang threw the carrot piece back, sidestepping the topic, and stood up to teach everyone how to practice peripheral vision. He raised his arms, holding them out in front of his body, fingers facing inward, with a distance of about thirty centimeters between his hands. ¡°To practice peripheral vision, find an open area. If you have the opportunity, you can follow along with what I do.¡± ¡°First, look at everything between and including your hands. Then, slowly move both hands to the sides of the body, continuing to keep your sight between the hands. Finally, when your hands are by the sides of the body, wiggle your fingers. At this point, you should be able to see your hands again. Maintain this ¡®view¡¯ and slowly lower your arms.¡± Afterwards, Bi Fang went on to repeat this training method, this time for the vertical perspective. By maintaining this perspective and practicing, you could become proficient and use it successfully. ¡°Have you got it?¡± Out on the sports field, Wang Xiaocong lifted his arms, his eyes filled with doubt about life. This was his third attempt, and it felt no different from before. ¡°It¡¯s evident, you¡¯re perplexed,¡± Kong Chao patted his shoulder sympathetically. ¡°Perplexed, extremely perplexed,¡± Wang Xiaocong nodded involuntarily, but quickly realized what was happening, shook off Kong Chao¡¯s hand, and said incredulously, ¡°Did you actually get it?¡± Kong Chao spread his hands, his tone wistful but his expression immensely smug, ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? Being inherently talented is indeed troubling, always standing out from the crowd, I can¡¯t truly blend in with you guys.¡± ¡°Damn it, hurry up and teach me!¡± Wang Xiaocong didn¡¯t doubt him at all; despite Kong Chao¡¯s carefree demeanor, the guy actually was a genius. He¡¯d hang out with him playing games all day, and in the end, he¡¯d still be among the top ten in the exams, unbelievable! ¡°Call me daddy!¡± ¡°Buzz off!¡± Meanwhile, in a corner of the sports field, a group of girls gathered together watching Kong Chao and Wang Xiaocong lift their arms under the sun. When Wang Xiaocong suddenly staggered and flailed like a reanimated corpse, they were surprised. ¡°What are those two doing?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Having another episode?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it normal for them? Last time, Wang Xiaocong even yelled in the middle of class, scared the math teacher so much she almost dropped her chalk.¡± ¡°What? I didn¡¯t know about that.¡± ¡°You were in the bathroom, missed the whole thing.¡± ¡°What are you shouting?¡± ¡°It seems like, uh, let me think, it was¡­ ¡®Master Fang is awesome?¡±¡® ¡°It¡¯s very hard to practice wide-angle vision; it¡¯s like changing the habits you¡¯ve had for a long time, which can be very uncomfortable. Many people, while practicing wide-angle vision, find it so strenuous that they end up staggering around like reanimated corpses.¡± Bi Fang looked at the fans claiming the barrage was useless and offered a reminder. [No more talking, the camera is already shaking.] [I¡¯m feeling nauseous, everything I¡¯m looking at now has a double image!] [Stop kidding, that¡¯s astigmatism. Try it again with glasses on.] [Hey, it actually worked, that¡¯s amazing.] ¡°While practicing, everyone should remember to move their heads; this can greatly expand your field of vision, achieving 360¡ã, so you won¡¯t miss anything. Once you detect suspicious activity, immediately focus your observation on it; if nothing unusual is found, return to the wide-angle vision and continue observing.¡± ¡°On the move, if you observe in this way, you will find more wildlife in the wilderness because no small movement will escape your eyes.¡± This was also the method Bi Fang always used. With this method, not only was it beneficial for spotting prey, but he could also observe potential dangers, such as venomous snakes coiled on trees. Because of their camouflage colors, if you¡¯re not using wide-angle vision, it¡¯s easy to overlook them and bump into them directly. In addition to this, there were also auditory training exercises. Just like visual skills, your hearing can be trained as well. Following the steps of practicing wide-angle vision, try to listen to all sounds with your ears, not just the most obvious ones. And finally, feeling the environment. The Skills Bi Fang mentioned before made people¡¯s awareness of the environment clearer and made it easier to detect wildlife in the area. But in addition to that, there¡¯s a very important sense to incorporate into these skills, which is feeling, a kind of wild intuition. Feel the wind blowing across your body, your leg muscles moving, raindrops falling on your skin and clothes. This level sounds rather idealistic, but those who have survived in the wild for a long time do indeed have a clearer sense of danger. If you can master this feeling, you will become more alert and thrive in a dangerous environment, but if you can¡¯t handle it well, to others, you might seem irritable and overreact to every little disturbance.¡± ¡°When you successfully combine all these skills together, you will be more familiar with your environment. It¡¯s not just about understanding the environment; you will become part of it, enabling you to sense the presence of animals before you see them.¡± ¡°Such activities in the wilderness will allow you to get closer to local animals. When you are close enough, you can then hunt them. However, you still need more skills, such as how to approach animals and how to disguise yourself, but these situations are complex and I will explain them when we encounter specific scenarios.¡± [Awesome, this live broadcast is full of valuable content, I feel like I¡¯m a hunting expert now, I¡¯m going to confront the wild dogs on the mountain behind, and tonight I will eat meat from the hunt!] [Is the guy above serious? I feel really uneasy about this, Yazier¡­] [Take care, if you succeed, remember to send back some dog stew, if not, I won¡¯t show up for the banquet.] [I think it¡¯s just okay, not that interesting, just listening to the host babbling away, only the encounter with the snake earlier was a bit thrilling.] [By the way, did any of you see that thing behind Master Fang, what is that¡­] [What thing?] [That golden lump, it¡¯s a bit far away, in the upper left corner.] [There does seem to be a lump, holy cow, why does it feel like it¡¯s moving?] In the upper left corner, Bi Fang also saw many viewers arguing about this, and he turned to look back, but he discovered nothing. However, a few netizens swore that they had indeed seen a lump of golden something that was moving, which had suddenly disappeared. A golden lump that moves? Bi Fang was becoming more and more baffled. Is it an animal? But what animal is golden? This color is very conspicuous; it doesn¡¯t make for good camouflage. A golden tiger? Could there be a golden tiger in this crappy mountain? Bi Fang felt it necessary to say, if this crappy mountain had golden tigers, he would dare to perform a slide tackle and serve food on the spot. Let¡¯s not even talk about its distribution being impossible, it¡¯s not viable ecologically, either. A small hill like this couldn¡¯t support such top-tier predators. A few wild dogs would be about the limit. Convinced of his own judgment, Bi Fang moved forward in the direction indicated by his online friends in the live broadcast. After a few tens of meters, Bi Fang indeed caught a glimpse of gold behind a large tree! There really was something! A chill went through Bi Fang¡¯s heart as he quickened his pace, circled behind a large tree, and was suddenly confronted by a vast expanse of gold that stunned everyone. Countless comments instantly flooded the live chat. Bi Fang¡¯s pupils dilated sharply. Damn! A Golden Python! How could there be a Golden Python here? Chapter 93 - Chapter 93: Chapter 91: Catch It! Chapter 93: Chapter 91: Catch It! Translator: 549690339 I The mountain wind blew across the entire forest, flowing like a river of gold. This was a python, a golden python¡ªits massive body could easily strangle an adult to death. The red pupils burned with flames, and its scales shone brilliantly like gold under the sunlight. Thousands of golden scales opened and closed, making a rustling sound as they rubbed against the grass, playing a magnificent and savage melody in the wind. Bi Fang felt a chill in his heart, and while the golden python hadn¡¯t noticed him yet, he quietly stepped back. What the heck! How could there be a python here? And an extremely rare golden python at that? Not just the audience, but Bi Fang himself was baffled. Previously, he had only smelled a faint stench, completely unaware of any creature¡¯s presence. The reason being, Bi Fang had yet to adapt to this new skill, using smell to gauge his surroundings, so when a sudden stench wafted by, it was hard to make the connection. He had thought it was just a nearby chemical plant discharging waste. Moreover, golden pythons prefer a high-temperature environment and typically live in monsoon forests, dry forests, and sparse tree grasslands, and they even like soaking in water occasionally. Without human-induced temperature changes, Treasure Island in Huaxia would be the only suitable place for them to thrive. They surely would not appear here naturally. [Damn, am I seeing this right? Is that a python?] [I was so scared I rubbed my eyes.] [A golden python?] [Awesome, awesome, who would have thought this small hill could harbor a rarity like a golden python! There must be a dragon¡¯s vein here!] [Dragon¡¯s vein? Where is this dragon¡¯s vein? I¡¯m on the verge of a breakthrough; I need places like this to aid my cultivation! I A flood of comments burst forth, all the online friends were excited¡ªthey were actually seeing a golden python in the live broadcast! However, some viewers expressed their doubts. [Does anyone really think this is real? It¡¯s so obviously staged by the show¡¯s crew, completely fake, this sort of live broadcast is hyped up for no reason?] [No way, no way, someone really thinks only you can see through it, and the rest of us are fools?] [Is your IQ.limited, so you think everyone else is as dumb as you? If you can think it¡¯s fake, wouldn¡¯t Master Fang think so?] [Maybe Master Fang anticipated you¡¯d think it¡¯s too fake to be fake, playing the reverse psychology game¡­] [Damn, this play of Master Fang is out of this world!] ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it, I haven¡¯t arranged for anyone to release a golden python here,¡± Bi Fang shook his head. He would never stoop to such fraud, nor did he have any desire to engage in it. Those who doubted him were mostly newcomers. Old fans wouldn¡¯t question him -not after the last two live streams where he¡¯d driven off Black Bear and confronted a pack of wolves. Using a staged python to create an explosive moment would be far too lowbrow. As for Lu Wentao, perhaps that might be a possibility¡­ But if the python wasn¡¯t released deliberately, then had it escaped from a zoo? Many viewers recalled the recent news and naturally made the connection. ¡°Impossible, this golden python did not escape from a zoo,¡± Bi Fang shook his head again while continuing to step backward. So far, the python hadn¡¯t noticed him, or perhaps it had, but it hadn¡¯t made a move yet. Either way, it was still better to keep a greater distance. Though golden pythons are famously docile, even a meek person, when cornered, might grab a knife in retaliation, let alone a wild beast with lesser intelligence. Who knows if the Golden Python is hungry? ¡°There are only ten zoos in Huaxia that have Golden Pythons, and the closest one to here is the Kunshan Zoo, but that¡¯s also over a hundred kilometers away. Do you guys think a python could crawl that far?¡± This explanation made everyone pause in surprise. How could he be so sure about how many zoos have them? Isn¡¯t that a bit too impressive? Who would remember such a thing? In fact, Bi Fang knew about this by coincidence. In his previous life, he had a friend from Ugly Country who kept a Golden Python at home; their research topic was even related to it, so that¡¯s why he knew the details so well. And the zoos in both worlds were basically the same, something he had understood long ago. ¡°So, I suspect that this Golden Python was likely abandoned by someone, and not too long ago, because Golden Pythons struggle to survive in the wild.¡± The very existence of Golden Pythons is a kind of unhealthy mutation; they lack melanin, have low immunity and are prone to various diseases. They can no longer hide from predators due to the loss of their protective coloring and may even die from absorbing too much ultraviolet light. Under such conditions, it¡¯s destined to be unable to survive in the wild. ¡°Keeping Golden Pythons is popular abroad, but not in our country. All Burmese Pythons are classified as first-level protected animals here, and private ownership is not allowed.¡± Bi Fang had retreated more than thirty meters away from the pit where the Golden Python was before he continued to explain. ¡°But there¡¯s always someone who wants to be different, especially some wealthy people who think Golden Pythons are cool. Without thinking, they illegally keep them as pets. When the snake grows to five or six meters long, it either becomes too large for their home, or they find it bothersome and not worth the trouble, so they just abandon it in some desolate place.¡± ¡°Many people do not know that keeping Golden Pythons is very troublesome and expensive. The annual cost of feeding an adult Golden Python can exceed six figures, which is unaffordable for an average family. Moreover, due to their frail physique, their care is extremely demanding, and owners quickly tire of them.¡± The drone took off, clearly revealing the curled-up Golden Python in the pit¡ªa very large mass. However, its exceptionally high aesthetic appeal made it less ferocious-looking than ordinary pythons, eliciting sympathy from many viewers. [Ah, is this Golden Python doomed?] [I seem to see a lot of videos of people keeping Golden Pythons¡­ 1 never thought it was illegal.] [Six figures, my God, that¡¯s more than I earn in a year.] [Can¡¯t Master Fang think of something?] [What can be done? Do you expect Master Fang to take it home and keep it?] ¡°Nope, I have no interest in this thing!¡± Bi Fang repeatedly refused; he certainly didn¡¯t like the idea of having such a large creature at home, even if it were allowed by policy. However, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t about to let it perish on its own. After all, it was a first-level protected animal, and his sense of duty from a previous life wouldn¡¯t allow him to ignore it. And the solution to the problem was quite simple. ¡°Just send it to a zoo.¡± After all, it was a first-level protected animal, which did have its status. As soon as the message went out, surely a zoo would eagerly want it. And with professionals to take care of it, it would be much better off than as a pet. [Then why don¡¯t those wealthy people who don¡¯t want to keep it just send it to a zoo?] [What¡¯s that earlier comment? Sending it to a zoo would just expose that they were illegally keeping a protected animal, wouldn¡¯t it?] [Damn, so they just dump it outside? What if it hurts someone?] [Wealthy people, you know, they¡¯re all like that. I Lin Chang was watching the live stream when he suddenly saw this comment, causing him to cough. What the heck, how could he get hit by such a sweeping statement just by watching a live stream? He would never keep those odd things. However, when it came to contacting the zoo, Lin Chang felt he might be able to help. If he remembered correctly, his dad had a friend who was a shareholder of a large zoo. Just as Lin Chang was about to comment about this, Bi Fang on the other side, never one to shy away from dramatic statements, dropped a bombshell. ¡°Perhaps we could try to capture it before the police arrive!¡± Chapter 94 - Chapter 94: Chapter 92: Seize the Throat of Fate! (Major Chapter Update) Chapter 94: Chapter 92: Seize the Throat of Fate! (Major Chapter Update) Translator: 549690339 | Are you kidding me? Catching a python? Many new viewers were stunned and immediately the chat exploded, that was a python! Everyone had just seen it clearly; it was a six-meter-long giant python! Just by visual estimation, its weight was over forty kilograms, and just by constriction alone, it could strangle an adult to death! It¡¯s like setting off firecrackers! However, many of the regular viewers weren¡¯t so surprised, and they expressed that Master Fang was putting on a show! [Awesome, I knew Master Fang wouldn¡¯t take the ordinary path, always wanting to stir up something.] [Although this livestream is quite short, seeing that Master Fang is risking his life to catch the snake, I¡¯ll forgive you.] [Lin Chang donated a Spaceship*! to the host¡ªah, although I really want to watch, I can call the zoo people to come and catch it, they have the full set of tools¡­] ¡°No need!¡± Bi Fang waved his hand, ¡°I¡¯m not going to be so foolish as to try catching it with my bare hands. I will definitely use the right methods and techniques. As long as we use the right approach, pythons are not as terrifying as you think.¡± Bi Fang stood up and eyed the Golden Python not far from him, formulating a plan in his mind. He first took out his phone and dialed no, clearly explained the situation to the police and urged them to come quickly, then he started to collect some tree sticks as thick as fingers, about the length of a forearm. If there were several people, they could directly tackle a big python by avoiding being bitten and the others could hold down the python¡¯s body. But since he was alone, it became more difficult. He needed to create some small tools and traps; otherwise, the danger was too great. Bi Fang merely wanted to demonstrate how to catch a python in the wild, not how to escape after being constricted by a python. ¡°The key to catching a python is never to allow it space to twist. If it wraps around you, you¡¯ll be in mortal danger!¡± Pythons move slowly; they can only lunge within a certain range, bursting out with astonishing speed, but the idea of chasing prey is utterly a fantasy. And because they don¡¯t chase prey, pythons and boa constrictors are opportunistic predators, which means they wait for the prey to come close to them. They are not hunters; their very bodies are traps! To make this trap more effective, they have focused all their talents on constricting, determined to ensure that any animal bumping into them has no return! ¡°The Gebayas Tribe in Africa are adept at catching pythons. To get python skins, they would directly enter caves to capture pythons, and many have died doing so. By now, few people in the Gebayas still do this, the young people in the tribe refuse to enter the caves and fight with the pythons.¡± [Holy shit, that brave? Going straight into the cave to catch them?] [Obviously, no one is willing to do it; a single slip-up and you¡¯re dead.] [That¡¯s insane, just imagining that scene scares me, in the pitch-black cave, the python coiled up, you¡¯re face to face with it¡­] [Stop talking, I¡¯m already scared.] ¡°Yes, that¡¯s how bold they are. They would carve out a path that is tens of meters long leading to the python¡¯s cave, then carrying torches, they would crawl into the narrow python cave until they found the python.¡± ¡°When they reach the bottom of the cave where the mother python is incubating eggs, the Gebayas¡¯ people would place the torch beside the python¡¯s head, using the flame to cover its eyes, while grabbing the python¡¯s neck with the other hand.¡± ¡°Because the python cannot see clearly, it allows the hunters to grasp it. If the python tries to bite, the hunter will extend a hand wrapped in animal skin for the python to bite. This gives the hunter a chance to drag the python out of the cave. Also, the narrow cave maximizes the prevention of the python¡¯s twisting and constricting.¡± Bi Fang bent two pliable sticks into hoops, then tied them tightly with thin rope, and wrapped the remaining sticks around these two hoops, fixing them with the rope as well. This formed a simple snare. Bi Fang¡¯s approach was similar to that of the Gebayas¡¯ people, using fire to attract the Golden Python into this simple snare, and then seizing the opportunity to catch its head. ¡°Since this Golden Python was abandoned, I don¡¯t think its owner would have fed it well before discarding it, which is why we¡¯re dealing with a long-starved large python. That¡¯s also why I didn¡¯t want to approach it carelessly at first, even though it might be quite tame.¡± ¡°Under such circumstances, a small piece of charcoal fire with a bit of meat smell is enough to pique its interest.¡± Like snakes, pythons rely on sensing temperature and smell to capture prey. A piece of charcoal that¡¯s not completely smothered and has a meat scent may be mistaken for small prey like a rabbit. Even if it doesn¡¯t mistake it, the charcoal pile with a temperature clearly higher than the surrounding environment is extremely attractive to the python. It¡¯s close to the end of October now, so the temperature isn¡¯t high, not within the python¡¯s active temperature range, and it badly needs the heat. Meanwhile, Bi Fang, who had finished explaining his plan, had already started making fire, using the firesteel to easily ignite the dry wood. Carrying the snare, Bi Fang went close to the Golden Python, dug a cylindrical pit on the ground just big enough to secure the snare in place. Then, he dug another, deeper pit at the end far away from the python, using a hunting knife since he didn¡¯t have a shovel. He snuffed out the fire that was burning for a short while, chose a piece of wood the size of an arm, and placed it into the pit, then opened one of the canned foods he had brought and poured it in. [Rest in green, Master Fang actually brought food.] [What an easy survival.] [The purpose isn¡¯t survival, it¡¯s skill training, I can understand.] It turns out I still have loyal fans. Bi Fang felt quite gratified; indeed, this was the most well-prepared he had ever been for an outing, and he didn¡¯t plan on being overly serious: if he couldn¡¯t capture any prey, he would just make do with the canned food. It all made sense. Once everything was set up, Bi Fang hid behind a large tree and quietly waited for the Golden Python to take the bait. Counting the time, it had been almost half an hour since he started preparing, and by the time he captured the python, the police would be about to arrive. Everything was going according to plan! The drone quietly settled on a tree, capturing every single movement of the Golden Python. Soon, the darting tongue of the Golden Python detected unusually dense ¡°odor particles¡± in the air, exciting it instantly as it had not eaten for a long time. It had been a while since it had last eaten; even though it had found a wild rabbit before, it had been discovered before it could get close. Now, it seemed to have another chance! Through the live footage from the drone, Bi Fang saw clearly that the Golden Python started to move again, twisting its thick body as it crawled out of its burrow. [Damn, it¡¯s moving, it¡¯s really moving!] [Predicting this spot, the streamer has complete control of it!] [Awesome, this move, this is a top-level prediction!] [Lord Mu gifted the streamer a Spaceship*!¡ªamazing, Master Fang is indeed Master Fang!] As the python slithered, the viewer count in Bi Fang¡¯s live room also began to twist upwards. The trend line that had already broken a hundred thousand soared again and shortly reached the level of one hundred and thirty thousand! Impressive, many other streamers were privately shocked. Last time, battling the wolf pack and breaking a hundred thousand viewers was one thing, as the content was amazing and unique across Huaxia, no, the entire world. Plus, with Lin Chang¡¯s thousands of rockets, it was akin to broadcasting thousands of times throughout the platform. Now, without as many rockets, how come the viewer count is even higher? And from the beginning, these numbers have been incredibly stable. Many could imagine that even if the next live stream¡¯s content was mediocre, Bi Fang¡¯s viewer numbers would remain above one hundred thousand¡ªthat now defined him as a top streamer! ¡°Eh, I didn¡¯t expect to change the revenue-sharing model so quickly,¡± Wang Yongbo remarked with some emotion backstage. According to the agreement in their previous contract, as long as Bi Fang¡¯s live viewer count could hold steady above one hundred thousand, and there was no data falsification, the partnership would automatically upgrade to a star-level contract, with a gift revenue split changing to twenty-eighty. But last time, during the live stream, Wolf Fang didn¡¯t ask for this revenue sharing. He gave it all to Bi Fang, even at a loss. It was as if they had never engaged in the previous thirty-seventy revenue sharing at all, right? The growth was too quick, wasn¡¯t it? The speed of contract modification couldn¡¯t keep up with the rise in popularity; where did that leave any room for argument? Fortunately, Wang Yongbo wasn¡¯t dwelling on it since the stock price had soared by several hundred million. Fussing over such matters would be missing the big picture. Overall, their partnership was very pleasant. Everybody wins. The only one who probably didn¡¯t¡ªwas Shark? On the large screen, the Golden Python continued to crawl slowly, its path aligning perfectly with the one Bi Fang had planned! It went straight into the ditch Bi Fang had dug earlier! ¡°As expected, this snake isn¡¯t too bright, Yazier,¡± Bi Fang chuckled, pleased that the situation was unfolding just as he had planned. This pet snake was nowhere near as alert as those in the wild, completely overlooking his presence. Bi Fang didn¡¯t believe the big python hadn¡¯t noticed him; that was impossible with the python¡¯s highly developed sense of smell. It just didn¡¯t care. [The snake is really crawling so slowly.] [Normal, being fast would be strange. Snakes are ectothermic animals. Now that autumn is here and temperatures are lower, they can¡¯t move fast, and they get slower the colder it gets, until they hibernate.] As Bi Fang¡¯s fan base expanded, many basic facts no longer needed his explanation. The Shuiyou (Online Friends/Audience) would answer automatically. Just wait a little longer. A little longer. The Golden Python had crawled into the ditch, but Bi Fang did not rush out; it hadn¡¯t entered the sleeve yet. However, when the big python arrived at the sleeve, it suddenly stopped. The hearts of the Shuiyou were instantly strung up. [Has it sensed something?] [Could it fail?] [It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over. Is it hopeless? Old Fang, tell us honestly.] ¡°No, it¡¯s just observing,¡± Bi Fang shookhis head. He didn¡¯t think the Golden Python had noticed the trap. How could a pet be so alert? The frequency of the big python¡¯s tongue flicks noticeably increased, proving it was only trying to gather more information, just like how people like to sniff their food before eating. Sure enough, the next second, the Golden Python slithered into the sleeve! That¡¯s it! Bi Fang clenched his fists excitedly, waiting until the big python emerged from the other end of the sleeve. Then, he lunged forward in one swift motion! The Golden Python¡¯s attention was wholly focused on the ¡°lunch¡± in front of it, completely oblivious to Bi Fang¡¯s approach, or rather, as a pet kept in captivity, it had no sense of danger at all! Until it felt its neck being seized by a large pair of hands! Chapter 95 - Chapter 95: Chapter 93: Turns out to be my fan? Chapter 95: Chapter 93: Turns out to be my fan? Translator: 549690339 | The Golden Python, ravenous, was wholly oblivious to the peril behind it; its focus was entirely on the feast before it. But a pair of iron pincer-like hands descended from the sky mercilessly severing all of the python¡¯s thoughts. The instant Bi Fang clasped the snake¡¯s head with his hands, he felt an icy slickness in his palms, followed by a colossal force transmitting through his hands and into his entire body, nearly toppling him! What serpent was this? It was clearly a great dragon! A cold sweat instantly soaked Bi Fang¡¯s back; the situation was about to spin out of control! Even though the sleeve he had made was very narrow, directly clamping onto the python¡¯s neck and preventing it from coiling and exerting force, it was, Still not enough! In dire straits, Bi Fang clenched his teeth, and, with a powerful heave, his hands grasped the python¡¯s head and lifted high, vaulting its upper body into the air, not only preventing the python from gaining leverage but also leaping astride, mounting the Golden Python himself! Over a hundred pounds of weight bore down directly on the python, and the Golden Python, previously just a pet, had never encountered such a scene. It felt its body sink, breathing becoming difficult. Indeed, Bi Fang was sitting right on its lungs! Once the Golden Python¡¯s breathing was interrupted, it became completely disoriented, lacking any way to cope with the situation, simply writhing instinctively. To domesticate and wild were entirely different matters, this was where Bi Fang¡¯s confidence in capturing pythons alone stemmed from! A pet python was far less fierce than a wild one and sorely lacking in experience, facing such a scenario, it would only panic and attempt to flee. Moreover, it was all too familiar with the scent of humans; as long as he could restrain it, the chance it would keep resisting wouldn¡¯t be too high. The situation, nearly out of control, was finally stabilizing once again. But the Golden Python¡¯s lower half remained struggling, its sturdy body feeling like a rubber product. The python tried to wrap around Bi Fang¡¯s body but failed repeatedly. Its head, held captive, couldn¡¯t find the target, and its lower half only twisted wildly, like a frenzied, enraged dragon. ¡°Goodness! So much strength despite being so hungry!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s veins stood out on his hands, now quite red, clearly exerting a great deal of effort. Minutes later, the Golden Python seemed to give up, struggling far less violently. At the sight, the audience virtually exploded, with gifts and barrages flying! [Damn, so awesome, Wolf King lives up to his reputation!] [Wolf Lord is the boss!] [What¡¯s with Wolf King and Wolf Lord? Where did those nicknames come from?] [Those are nicknames from another place, seems like those who¡¯ve seen Master Fang¡¯s wolf-fighting videos showed up. Master Fang led a few people to defeat a pack of wolves, almost like a Wolf King commanding the wolves. So on B Island, Master Fang¡¯s nickname is Wolf Lord,] [This snake is lucky, had it not encountered Master Fang, it would have been doomed.] [Happy Yang Pigskin gifts 1000 Wolf Fangs to the host¡ªTruly Master Fang! Even a training live broadcast is this explosive!] [Tonight¡¯s Moonlight Enchants gifts the host 666 Meatballs¡ªThe snake must be utterly stupefied!] ¡°Don¡¯t misuse words,¡± laughed Bi Fang, but his movements did not relax in the slightest. The scales of the Golden Python were smooth and delicate, and very cool to the touch. It could easily slip away if one wasn¡¯t careful. It seemed its former owner had taken good care of it. ¡± When capturing a python, you have to be most wary of its front half because it relies on this portion to coil around its prey,¡± he said. ¡°The muscles along its ribs here are not only powerful but also easily perform a constricting motion. They¡¯re highly sensitive to the prey¡¯s breathing and heartbeat. With every breath the prey exhales, the python tightens its coils, squeezing tighter until the prey suffocates.¡± The front half of the python is its most flexible part, and it¡¯s with this that it can move its entire body to constrict. Outside of this section, its flexibility greatly decreases. But that doesn¡¯t mean there¡¯s no danger¡ªit¡¯s just harder to get coiled upon; the compressive force it can exert is still incredibly strong. ¡°That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t make my sleeve too big. On the one hand, it wouldn¡¯t easily slither into something too big, and on the other, it¡¯s about targeting its weakness. The key is to clamp down on a crucial point.¡± ¡°But don¡¯t underestimate the lower half of a python, either. Unlike other snakes that slither, real pythons move by using their muscles to push their bodies forward. The ability to move this way indicates that their muscles are very well-developed. By contracting their abdomens they can continuously propel their bodies forward, which can weigh from a few dozen to a hundred kilograms, hence their incredibly strong constriction!¡± Humans walk on two feet, but the structure of our feet incorporates the principle of a lever. Without levers and relying solely on our muscles, we wouldn¡¯t be able to walk. A 70-kilogram body cannot be moved by muscles alone without the structural support of feet ¡ª the same goes for a 70-kilogram animal; that small amount of muscle wouldn¡¯t be enough. Only pythons can do it! This is sufficient to prove the might of pythons, as they have developed all their flesh into muscle! No sooner had these words been spoken than the Golden Python began to struggle violently once more. It seemed it hadn¡¯t completely given up, but it was all in vain. Bi Fang was no novice and wouldn¡¯t make such an oversight. In the face of survival, no animal is less intelligent than humans¡ªsome are even smarter. Cautiously, Bi Fang loosened one hand and switched to holding the python¡¯s head with just one hand, while positioning his walking stick against the Golden Python¡¯s body and pulling out a bundle of hemp rope from around his waist. Just as he was about to tie it up, the big python began to struggle again, and Bi Fang hurriedly switched back to using both hands. It took a while before the python stopped struggling again. Placing the stick near the large python, Bi Fang began to wrap the rope around it, loop after loop, finally tying it tightly, ensuring the python couldn¡¯t struggle free. He then did the same to its lower half. The Golden Python continued to roll, but to no avail; no matter how strong it was, without space, it had no opportunity to use its power. With everything secure, Bi Fang stood up and wiped the sweat from his forehead. He appeared unharmed, but his slightly shaking hands silently testified to how perilous the recent ordeal had been. At that moment, people at last emerged from the nearby woods. They were police officers! Five in total, led by a male officer in uniform around thirty years old, wearing glasses, with a leather case in hand, followed by several others carrying long restraining forks, looking fully armed. In contrast, Bi Fang, who had brought nothing, seemed to have said something and yet nothing at all. All was understood without words. Under these circumstances, the online friends could only flood the public chat with ¡®666¡¯. Just as Bi Fang was about to greet them, the leading officer approached and shook his hand, laughing, ¡°Impressive, really impressive! You¡¯re truly Master Fang, catching such a huge Golden Python all by yourself. Your reputation is well-earned!¡± ¡°You know me?¡± Bi Fang was taken aback. Had his stories already started spreading in the world of martial arts? ¡°Of course I know you, I watch the news. My daughter and I are both fans of yours. I¡¯ve watched your video fighting the wolf pack at least a dozen times. We started watching your live stream as soon as we got the call. Just one word for it ¡ªawesome!¡± The officer¡¯s tone was excited, clearly having watched Bi Fang¡¯s videos, and he even joked, ¡°Since I¡¯ve finally met you, you¡¯ve got to give me an autograph. I¡¯ve brought paper and pen and everything. You¡¯ve got to sign, or else you¡¯ll have to come to the police station with me to give a statement!¡± As soon as he said this, the younger officers who¡¯d come with him began to egg him on. ¡°Come on, Brother Liu, that¡¯s not fair! We want autographs too!¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, I want one as well!¡± ¡°I want three¡ªone for me and two for my friends who are also your fans!¡± Am I really this famous? I can run into fans just by making a police report? Bi Fang was puzzled; he had never experienced anything like this before. Chapter 96 - Chapter 96: Chapter 94: 5 People Need 17 Signatures Chapter 96: Chapter 94: 5 People Need 17 Signatures Translator: 549690339 | Bi Fang had underestimated his own fame. Saying that he was recognized on the street after trending on hot search all day long was no exaggeration. After all, most people had only seen a clip of him, found it astonishing at the moment, but didn¡¯t retain a deep impression afterward. But if they had watched his live broadcast, it would be strange if they didn¡¯t recognize him. Now, Bi Fang had hundreds of thousands of fans, so it was quite normal for him to encounter them while out and about. Bi Fang was also quite generous about his fans asking for autographs, and he agreed graciously. (Awesome, even police have become Old Fang¡¯s fans, that¡¯s just incredible.] [No words needed, just one word, respect!] [I also want Master Fang¡¯s autograph. When will Master Fang give some fan benefits?] ¡°Huo, it¡¯s so heavy!¡± Two young officers lifted the tightly bound Golden Python, almost failing to hold on to it. ¡°Five meters six!¡± Another officer retracted the tape measure, equally shocked. They had caught snakes on duty before, but it was their first time catching a python, especially one as big as this Golden Python. ¡°It¡¯s about over seventy kilograms,¡± Bi Fang nodded. ¡°A domestically-raised Golden Python hardly grows beyond six meters, so five meters six is considered quite large. I wonder how Officer Liu plans to deal with it?¡± ¡°Releasing it into the wild is out of the question. I watched the broadcast: a Golden Python wouldn¡¯t survive if released, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct, so I hope you can contact a zoo, preferably a larger one, otherwise a small zoo might struggle to care for a Golden Python, as it¡¯s quite troublesome to maintain,¡± Bi Fang nodded, suggesting that finding a zoo to take it in would be the best solution. ¡°Then we¡¯ll do as you say. We¡¯ll take it back first, keep it contained, and then get in touch with a zoo,¡± Officer Liu nodded. Since it couldn¡¯t be released and still needed protection, the only option was to send it to a zoo. After a pause, he looked at Bi Fang, ¡°What about you? Are you going to come back with us?¡± As soon as these words were spoken, the Shuiyou showed their dissatisfaction. How could someone speak like that? Could they be a fake fan? The bullet screen was immediately flooded with pleas for him to stay. Bi Fang thought it over and agreed. Although the live broadcast was short this time, almost everything that needed to be done had been done, and the educational part was also complete. He had even caught a python and successfully made an impression in front of his Shuiyou; his goal had been achieved. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go back with you.¡± ¡°The content of today¡¯s live broadcast is basically over, it¡¯s about time to head back. But don¡¯t worry, the next broadcast won¡¯t be too far off. Let¡¯s not miss it!¡± Upon hearing the closing remarks, the audience immediately launched a screen full of comments like ¡°No, don¡¯t go!¡±, ¡°Keep streaming a little longer!¡±, ¡°Not satisfied yet!¡± along with a shower of virtual gifts. But Bi Fang still chose to ¡°mercilessly¡± end the live stream. In the police car, Bi Fang and the Golden Python sat in the back seat. Nobody wanted to sit next to the huge creature, so the back seat naturally belonged to Bi Fang. The Golden Python, now with its mouth bound too, glared with red eyes, looking despondent. Its body, tightly wrapped up, couldn¡¯t move at all. ¡°Brother Fang, you¡¯re too amazing. How could you dare to catch such a big python by yourself?¡± In the car, the two young officers were quite excited. They had been restrained when Officer Liu was around, but now that Liu was in another vehicle, they felt more at ease. ¡°Mainly because this is a pet snake. Its muscle mass and wildness are nothing compared to the wild ones, otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t dare to mess with it alone,¡± Bi Fang replied while signing autographs. In total, there were only five officers, but they asked for a combined total of seventeen autographs, claiming they were for friends. This was a bit extreme! As a pet snake, they are fed dead prey, so over time their wildness and aggressiveness greatly diminish, and how can flowers raised in a greenhouse be wild anyway? Without natural enemies, without the need to hunt prey, without harsh environments, even the fiercest of beasts become docile, and even lions and tigers would fear dogs. If one wants a python to be fierce, the simplest method is to feed it live prey over a long period of time and gradually increase the size of the food according to its body size until it grows to five to seven meters, at which point it can be fed large meals like sheep and pigs. However, Bi Fang didn¡¯t think that the kind of person who would casually abandon a pet python would have the guts to raise it that way. That¡¯s courting death! ¡°That¡¯s still pretty impressive,¡± said the officer in the passenger seat, his heart still racing from the sight of the Golden Python folded into three sections. When they had first helped to move the python, they had all touched its muscles, which were as hard as stone; let alone catch it alone, they wouldn¡¯t even dare to sit near it. Soon after, Bi Fang returned to the county town and, after saying goodbye to Officer Liu and others, he hailed a car and went back to the Magic Capital. By the time he arrived at the Magic Capital, it was just after four in the afternoon. While it was still early, Bi Fang called Lin Chang. ¡°Manager Lin, do you know any reliable outdoor brand stores or shopping malls? I want to buy some equipment.¡± Even though he couldn¡¯t bring any professional equipment from outside the System for his missions, Bi Fang had previously promised everyone that he would set up a club, so he definitely needed to get the equipment as well. ¡°You want to buy equipment?¡± Lin Chang was surprised by the call. ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask Yao Jun? Isn¡¯t that what his family does? And he lives right in the Magic Capital.¡± ¡°Yao Jun?¡± Hearing this name, Bi Fang was startled, feeling it was familiar. It took him a while to remember that this was Lord Mu¡¯s real name. Last time he had quickly looked it up and only found a group name without looking into the details. He had no idea Lord Mu was in this business. ¡°Yeah, if you come to me, I only know where to buy. But if you go to Yao Jun, you¡¯ll get the professional stuff. He loves outdoor sports, so he opened his own outdoor sports clothing brand. He does everything: sports drinks, sports clothing, even knives,¡± Lin Chang explained. He loves outdoor sports so much that he opened his own brand store? That thought made Bi Fang feel cliched, but he couldn¡¯t help it. No wonder he had run into Lord Mu during his first livestream; it was true love! With that conversation, Bi Fang didn¡¯t bother Lin Chang any further and directly reached out to Yao Jun on QQand made a voice call. ¡°Master Fang wants new equipment?¡± Yao Jun sounded pleasantly surprised. He had been wanting to help Bi Fang with new equipment for a while, as he felt Bi Fang¡¯s sportswear during the past livestreams wasn¡¯t up to par. But he had felt too awkward to bring it up proactively. It seemed like he was trying to sell his own products, and it could come off as a bit condescending. How could an outdoor streamer not afford decent equipment? Now that Bi Fang had mentioned it himself, Yao Jun was overjoyed. ¡°Not me¡­ well, kind of,¡± Bi Fang started to deny it but then considered that he might use it himself later, so he admitted it. ¡°That¡¯s great! Master Fang, just wait for me. I¡¯ll come to you right now and take you to pick some out! It¡¯s all from my private collection! Absolutely all treasures!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Yao Jun hung up. Wait, did I mention my address? Bi Fang was taken aback, looking at the disconnected call and silently sent his location. It didn¡¯t take long for Yao Jun to send a scratching-head emoji. Good lord, he really was coming. Bi Fang was speechless at the enthusiasm. Half an hour later, Yao Jun arrived. Chapter 97 - Chapter 97: Chapter 95: Just Give it a Try Chapter 97: Chapter 95: Just Give it a Try Translator: 54^90339 Within half an hour of hanging up the phone, Yao Jun galloped over to Bi Fang. This was the first time the two had met in person, and Yao Jun was thrilled. Right after getting out of the car, he grasped Bi Fang¡¯s hand and laughed aloud. ¡°Finally, I get to see you in the flesh, Master Fang!¡± Bi Fang also reciprocated the handshake politely while taking the opportunity to size up Yao Jun. An impressively built person, not the bodybuilder type of strong but solidly put together. It was clear that Yao Jun worked out regularly and genuinely loved outdoor sports. After exchanging pleasantries, Bi Fang asked curiously, ¡°Did you come over as soon as you got the call?¡± Even though Magic Capital had well-developed transport systems, traffic jams were unavoidable. Considering that only half an hour had passed since the phone call, it was evident how eagerly Yao Jun had rushed over. ¡°Hey, not at all, Master Fang. I just happened to be nearby and didn¡¯t have anything else going on, so I got here so quickly,¡± Yao Jun lied without batting an eyelid or changing his expression. The reality was that he had been shopping with his girlfriend. But upon receiving Bi Fang¡¯s call, Yao Jun made it clear. Women only slowed down his pace in star-chasing! ¡°Just call me by my name.¡± Being constantly called Master Fang was a bit embarrassing for Bi Fang. It was one thing in the barrage of live chats, but it felt a bit too adolescent saying it in person. ¡°Sure, Master Fang,¡± Yao Jun agreed amicably. He then jogged to the other side of the car, opened the door, and the pure white leather racing seats welcomed the honored guest. They had their chat, but now it was time to get down to business. The thought of exchanging his treasured collection for Bi Fang¡¯s equipment sent Yao Jun into an uncontrollable excitement. His biggest hobby had always been seeking adventure and feeling the pulsation of life within it! A month ago, the first time he saw Bi Fang live streaming, he felt they were kindred spirits, like two wild animals encountering each other in the jungle and recognizing each other¡¯s presence. The only difference was that Bi Fang was capable of pursuing adventure, while Yao Jun could only watch enviously from behind a screen. That¡¯s why he was so exhilarated to learn about Bi Fang¡¯s plan to set up a club. Bi Fang nodded. Yao Jun¡¯s unexpected enthusiasm was difficult to decline. The car Yao Jun drove over was a Porsche Panamera. Compared to his net worth, it was quite modest. The dark blue car body was sleek and low. Upon ignition, the 4.8-liter V8 engine roared defiantly. The 7-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission engaged smoothly, distributing power evenly to all four wheels. The wide tires clung to the ground like the coiled claws of a beast about to pounce. The setting sun poured over the windshield like a waterfall. Yao Jun released the brake, floored the accelerator, and the Porsche pierced through the grand curtain of light like an arrow released from its string! Humans are such creatures, relying on very few things to live¡ªand those must be tightly held onto! The Porsche merged into the flowing traffic, and Yao Jun talked with Bi Fang in the car. ¡°What sort of gear are you planning to equip, Master Fang?¡± ¡°What do you have?¡± Bi Fang asked in return. ¡°Everything!¡± Yao Jun boasted confidently. In this area, he was a true professional, much like how some people collect sneakers, his hobby was collecting sports equipment. Yao Jun had even bought a villa specifically to display his collection! Even Bi Fang was taken aback when he saw it! He wasn¡¯t new to equipment; in his previous life, he had often ventured into the wild on missions and was familiar with many major brands. And now, all around the walls hung various types of charge clothes. Ancestor Bird, Mammoth, Groundhog, both limited and unlimited editions. There was also a whole cabinet of hiking boots, trail shoes, and so on. Pushing open another room, there were neatly arranged glass showcases, inside which customized knives glittered under the light. The entire villa had no space to even step in! ¡°Are these all your collection?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. If you see anything you like, just say the word, and I¡¯ll give it to you!¡± Yao Jun was generous, all too aware of one thing. The most valuable thing about an item is when it¡¯s being used. Red Hare became world-famous because it was ridden by Lii Bu! Since Yao Jun himself couldn¡¯t make full use of this equipment, he might as well change its owner! ¡°Pretty impressive, huh!¡± Bi Fang was stroking a Progenitor Bird Charge Clothes. A month ago, he had a jacket from the same brand, but he sold it for a low price to scrape together some travel money. Now, he couldn¡¯t help feeling sentimental. ¡°Speaking of Progenitor Bird, I actually picked one up online recently. I couldn¡¯t tell what style it was, but the craftsmanship was definitely Progenitor Bird¡¯s, and the quality was very good!¡± Seeing Bi Fang¡¯s apparent fondness for Progenitor Bird, Yao Jun brought up the topic. Upon hearing this, Bi Fang nearly lost control of his expression, ¡°Picked it up recently? Can you show it to me?¡± ¡°Yeah, about a month ago, I saw it on my old flea market account. It was surprising because I had never seen that design before. And since it wasn¡¯t expensive, I bought it. But when it arrived, I found out it was definitely genuine ¡ªprobably some limited edition or custom-made that I¡¯m unaware of. The seller must¡¯ve been in a hurry to get some cash to put the price so low.¡± As Yao Jun explained, he led Bi Fang to the Progenitor Bird Charge Clothes in question. Upon seeing it clearly, Bi Fang¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of his head. Damn! This texture, this style, wasn¡¯t it the very one he¡¯d sold? The light grey exterior, the soft lining, the quick-drying fabric¡ªeverything was the same! ¡°This is too much of a coincidence!¡± ¡°What coincidence?¡± Yao Jun didn¡¯t catch on. After Bi Fang explained the whole situation and showed the sales record on his phone, Yao Jun was also stunned and blurted out, ¡°Can it even happen like that?¡± Who would have thought a jacket could make its way back to Bi Fang after all that? ¡°So our destiny began long ago, huh!¡± Yao Jun remarked, sounding inexplicably emotional. Although not many people could afford outdoor gear, and the base was small, the probability of encountering such an incident in this vast sea of people was extremely slim. Bi Fang: ¡°¡­¡± Why does that sound so weird? Yao Jun, on the other hand, felt nothing amiss and directly handed over the Charge Clothes to Bi Fang, ¡°But since it belongs to Master Fang, it should return to its original owner!¡± ¡°How can that be okay? I should buy it back at the original price.¡± Bi Fang wasn¡¯t one to take advantage of others. He had sold it reluctantly before, but now that he had money, he shouldn¡¯t be stingy. Besides, once sold, it belonged to someone else, and in essence, it had nothing to do with him anymore. But how could Yao Jun agree, ¡°Master Fang, what do you mean by that, are you looking down on me?¡± ¡°Where did that come from?¡± ¡°Then just accept it, the rest is the same¡ªtake whatever you like! If you say ¡®no,¡¯ I will no longer bear the name Yao!¡± Yao Jun spoke earnestly, ¡°I thought we were already friends!¡± Bi Fang still wanted to refuse, but after hearing Yao Jun¡¯s last words, he hesitated, then decided not to fuss, ¡°Alright then.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more like it!¡± Yao Jun said gleefully, pulling Bi Fang into another room, which was also filled with Charge Clothes, ¡°Since Master Fang likes Charge Clothes so much, take a look at these.¡± Yao Jun then picked up a jacket and began to explain, ¡°Patagonia! It embodies the rich natural environment of California: surfing, diving, fishing, mountain biking¡ªit can handle them all, extremely durable. Master Fang, you should give it a try. It¡¯s made of an abrasion-resistant material that even a Hunting Knife can¡¯t cut through, and the style is vibrant, free and easy, with an American ruggedness¡­¡± Rip! Yao Jun¡¯s words were interrupted by a grating tearing noise. He stared in shock at the gash on the sleeve of the jacket, speechless like a chicken choked by the neck. Bi Fang¡¯s face turned red as he sheepishly pulled back his Hunting Knife. He hadn¡¯t expected the jacket to be all show and no substance. It was Yao Jun who had said to give it a try¡­ Chapter 98 - Chapter 98: Chapter 96: Please be sure to interrogate thoroughly! Chapter 98: Chapter 96: Please be sure to interrogate thoroughly! Translator: 549690339 ¡°I¡¯m really sorry; I didn¡¯t do it on purpose.¡± Bi Fang looked embarrassed, just now when Yao Jun claimed the hunting knife couldn¡¯t cut through, he couldn¡¯t resist trying himself, only to find out how easily it¡­ Looking at the slit in the jacket, Yao Jun barely squeezed out a smile. ¡°No problem, it seems I bought a dud. Lucky for me, Master Fang helped me find out; I¡¯m very grateful.¡± It was he who said that not even a hunting knife could cut through it; he had to keep up the act, even if it meant doing so in tears. Without delay, Yao Jun led Bi Fang to another jacket. ¡°Let¡¯s take a look at this one, the Mammoth limited edition, a Swiss brand, designed for high latitudes and cold, rainy, snowy weather, which I think reflects the natural characteristics of its region well. It has personality, youth, and flashiness; for someone with an inverted triangle figure like Master Fang, it would definitely be very flattering, and this one is absolutely cut-resistant! Master Fang, you try again!¡± ¡°Ah, this¡­ wouldn¡¯t be good, right?¡± Bi Fang hesitated, worried that this one would get cut as well. ¡°No, this one is absolutely cut-resistant!¡± Yao Jun insisted, and Bi Fang had no choice but to test it with the knife. ¡°It¡¯s impossible for me to have two duds at the same time¡­¡± Sssshhh! Another grating noise of tearing fabric. Yao Jun fell silent. He turned and left the room, then returned with another piece of equipment. ¡°This one! This Ancestor Bird! It¡¯s also for high latitudes and snowy mountains, and personally, I think it¡¯s the best outdoor brand out there. It¡¯s stylish and fairly restrained. The cut-resistance coefficient of this jacket is very high! I¡¯ve tested it myself; it¡¯s absolutely cut-resistant. Master Fang, you try!¡± But this time, Bi Fang flat-out refused to try again. Having sliced two jackets, he had begun to understand: surely, the clothes were supposed to be cut-resistant. It¡¯s not that the enemy is weak; instead, the System possesses a Gundam. Compared to industrial assembly line products, the quality of items from the System was absolutely miles better. Just now, he had stealthily tried cutting an Ancestor Bird issued by the System and hadn¡¯t made a scratch¡­ His hunting knife was not quite the same as Yao Jun¡¯s¡­ However, this time Yao Jun would not take no for an answer; he insisted that Bi Fang must try, and refusing was not an option. But Bi Fang simply refused to agree. In the end, Yao Jun grabbed a knife and slashed fiercely at the jacket himself, not once but twice, clearly exerting a lot of force. Sure enough, this time the jacket didn¡¯t rip! ¡°Haha, look, it didn¡¯t tear! It really didn¡¯t tear! It¡¯s truly cut-resistant!¡± Yao Jun lifted the jacket and shouted excitedly. He hadn¡¯t lied! The jacket really was cut-resistant! Bi Fang nodded again and again. Right, right, right; everything you said is right, just put the knife down. ¡°I knew it, you can¡¯t trust the quality of products from Ugly Country, so many duds, I don¡¯t understand how they got so famous!¡± Yao Jun put down the knife, indignant. He swore that in the future, buying anything from Mammoth would be a fool¡¯s errand! Bi Fang joined in criticizing with Yao Jun, and then tried to change the subject. ¡°Don¡¯t you have your own sports brand? How come I¡¯ve never seen it?¡¯ ¡°Er.¡± Yao Jun scratched his forehead, suddenly a bit embarrassed, ¡°Actually, it can¡¯t compare with these big international brands, after all, they¡¯ve been developing for so many years. If it were anyone else, I would definitely recommend my own products, but since it¡¯s Master Fang, I can¡¯t just give you any old thing.¡± ¡°Back when Master Fang became popular on the trending searches, I actually thought about asking you for an endorsement, but then I thought better of it.¡± Yao Jun¡¯s meaning was clear; he knew Bi Fang would inevitably become a world-class survival master. If he endorsed an outdoor product that wasn¡¯t top quality, it could damage his image. Simply put, it wasn¡¯t swanky enough. In Yao Jun¡¯s heart, only a top-tier brand like Ancestor Bird was worthy of Master Fang¡¯s endorsement. His own brand was just minor league stuff. ¡°Then why don¡¯t you acquire Ancestor Bird?¡± Bi Fang suddenly asked. ¡°What?¡± Yao Jun was startled; he had never dared to consider such a thing, stammering, ¡°How could that be possible?¡± ¡°How is it not possible?¡± Bi Fang retorted, ¡°Although Ancestor Bird is a high- end brand, its sales have always been lackluster. It has a good reputation but doesn¡¯t make much profit. Your brand caters to the mass market, with thin margins but higher sales volumes, and is valued much higher, so why not?¡± His words were not without basis. Bi Fang remembered clearly that in his previous life, Ancestor Bird had been acquired by Anta. Why couldn¡¯t Yao Jun do it? Even if he couldn¡¯t, didn¡¯t he still have a father? Bi Fang¡¯s prompt seemed to open a door for Yao Jun. He had never considered this before, but now, it seemed feasible? Bi Fang struck while the iron was hot, ¡°If you can acquire Ancestor Bird, I¡¯ll personally endorse you!¡± ¡°Really?¡± Yao Jun asked instinctively, and for a moment, he was tempted. ¡°Why would I lie to you?¡± ¡°I need to think about it, need to think.¡± Although Yao Jun was excited, he hadn¡¯t lost his senses. ¡°Alright, then take your time thinking about it.¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t want to hustle Yao Jun; the guy wasn¡¯t a fool, and he didn¡¯t intend to trick him. Moreover, if the deal succeeded, Yao Jun might see his fortune soar. Yao Jun felt the same way. Just thinking about everyone wearing domestic brands from underwear to outer shells when they went outdoors filled him with energy, his blood pumping with excitement, his metabolism speeding up, and before he even took the first step to conquer the mountains, he urinated. But it was no matter, as the Hermes of domestic outdoor brands, everything from the inside to the outside was quick to dry. Alright, enough dreaming. I actually came here for another purpose, to select universal equipment for the club,¡± Bi Fang woke Yao Jun from his daydream. They returned to discussing serious business. At eight o¡¯clock in the evening, Bi Fang and Yao Jun finished dinner and each went home. On the way, Bi Fang suddenly received a call. ¡°Hello, is this Bi Fang, Mr. Bi? This is the Xicheng City Public Security Bureau. We have a few questions for you. Are you available?¡± The police? Bi Fang was confused upon receiving the call. What did the police want with him? ¡°I¡¯m available, go ahead and ask,¡± he said. ¡°Do you know Lu Wentao and Lu Junming?¡± Is something the matter?¡± Bi Fang frowned; he certainly knew of them, but he had never met them face to face. He left Shark precisely because of their scheming. But thanks to them, Bi Fang had seen Shark¡¯s true colors. ¡°Well, we received a report and apprehended two individuals. Surveillance confirms that they were acting suspiciously. They clearly don¡¯t live nearby, yet they lingered in front of your house for quite a while. However, they produced their IDs, admitted they were there to see you, and claimed you would not fail to recognise them, so we called to verify,¡± the officer said. ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t know them,¡± Bi Fang said, almost squinting with a big smile, as he spoke into the phone with conviction. Please, officer, make sure to ask them why they were lingering in front of my house. As a good citizen, I¡¯m very scared,¡± he said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we won¡¯t wrong a good person, nor will we let any bad person go! We will get to the bottom of their intentions,¡± the officer assured. The policeman on the other end was instantly alarmed at the response. What¡¯s going on here? Those two shifty-looking characters were indeed up to no good, daring to lie to the righteous people¡¯s police! No, it seemed that they couldn¡¯t be released so easily! They needed to be interrogated! Chapter 99 - Chapter 99: Chapter 97: Qaidam Desert! Chapter 99: Chapter 97: Qaidam Desert! Translator: 549690339 Bi Fang didn¡¯t know the follow-up of the call. He only knew one thing, the guy who had been trailing behind him and eating his dust, LuWentao, disappeared! The last time at Qinling he hadn¡¯t even finished his live stream before Lu Wentao took over, and now it had been several days since his second broadcast, yet Lu Wentao still hadn¡¯t scheduled his second streaming. What a shame, he was quite a funny guy. Bi Fang felt regretful. Even a beautiful flower needs green leaves for contrast, but why had the leaves fallen before the flower even bloomed? Stepping onto the running machine, Bi Fang prepared to start his physical workout for the evening. He didn¡¯t go back to that old shabby house; there was no need to live in hardship now that he had money. Bi Fang was no longer the unlucky chap who had nothing when he first arrived. This villa had comprehensive facilities, including its own fitness equipment, which was very convenient. It was just a bit too spacious, he could generate an echo with a shout, and he wasn¡¯t used to living alone. Bi Fang still planned to find time to look for a high-end apartment, that would have the feeling of a real home. Setting the speed to 16 kilometers per hour, Bi Fang started the running machine. Ten minutes later, just as he was preparing to adjust the speed down to a jog, Bi Fang suddenly heard a familiar electronic sound. [Ding! New task activated, please check the task bar.] This soon? Bi Fang was startled, nearly falling off the running machine ¡ª it had only been a few days, and his injuries hadn¡¯t fully healed yet! The interval between the last tasks was clearly twelve days, why was this one so short? With an uneasy heart, Bi Fang slowed down the running machine and walked as he opened the task bar. Task Name: The Edge Gradually Reveals Task Location: Qaidam Desert Task Mode: Desert Survival Task Difficulty: R1 Task Requirements: No tools apart from system-issued items can be carried. Main Task One: Start a live stream with a sustained online audience exceeding 120,000. Main Task Two: Survive successfully within five days while maintaining good physical condition. Sub-task: Please explore on your own Completion Reward: Unknown Time Limit: 15 days ¡°Phew!¡± ¡°A 15-day limit, huh? I really thought I was running out of time.¡± Bi Fang exhaled in relief, having thought the deadline was near, only to find that the timeline was about the same as last time; it was just the notice that came earlier. ¡°Difficulty Ri, huh?¡± Bi Fang stroked his chin, not quite understanding this difficulty mode, but it seemed clear from the previous two tasks that it was going up in levels. From R3 to Ri. What would be next? RST¡­ Is it S-level? Bi Fang speculated silently but didn¡¯t overthink it. No matter the difficulty, he had to face it alone. This time¡¯s survival type was not easy to handle. ¡°Qaidam Desert, is it really the desert? Another tough nut to crack.¡± If you asked Bi Fang which kind of wilderness he feared the most, it would undoubtedly be those with extreme climates and treacherous terrains, such as Mohe or the desert; nature would become the greatest adversary. In such wild environments, resources are extremely scarce. Last time in Mohe, it was still ok since it was situated by the Khingan Range with unbelievably fertile soil, trees, bushes, and occasionally some fruit could be found. But this time in the desert, that scarcity would be even more pronounced. Bi Fang opened the store, deciding to buy equipment. The store had refreshed the day before yesterday, but he hadn¡¯t made a move yet, just for this moment. He chose appropriate equipment based on the information from the tasks. From underwear to jackets, he selected everything to be breathable and quick-drying; otherwise, sweating alone could kill him. Two missions had helped Bi Fang grasp the boundaries of the system. Unless specified by the mission, only ordinary clothing could be carried, and not too much of it; professional-level equipment was not allowed at all. This time, he had also switched to a new backpack. The previous backpack had been a patch-up job, with stitched-up shoulder straps; having a new one, of course he switched to the new one. There was also a weapon refresh coupon, which Bi Fang used on his hunting knife. Even golden properties have their limits, and in the modern world, one can only continuously pursue the limits in various scenarios. No matter how good the material used to make knives and swords, they can¡¯t cleave through iron as if it were mud, except on a lathe; no matter how hard or tough the material is, cutting into stone would still chip the blade, and after too many uses, it would need sharpening. The quality of the hunting knife was only green. Unless in the future he could draw something purple or orange from the system, it might be possible to break this theory. So far, the knife had been quite handy, and Bi Fang didn¡¯t want it to wear out too soon; he didn¡¯t wait for it to dull before using the coupon¡ªthat would be foolish. And he had actually come across this coupon in the shop last time; given its refresh rate wasn¡¯t low, there was no need to save it. Up to this point, he still had 960 points left, just enough for two ten- consecutive draws; it was all about the luck now! Bi Fang rubbed his hands together and clicked the spinner wheel with his thoughts. [Low-level skill upgrade coupon*2] [Strength attribute point*i] [Orange-flavored candy*i] [Perpetual athlete¡¯s foot-free coupon*i] [Quick-dry trousers*!] [Quick-dry lining*!] [High-altitude parachuting LV2] Wait a minute, did something strange slip in there? Bi Fang caught sight of that somewhat oddly purposed coupon and silently clicked ¡®use¡¯¡­ Even though he didn¡¯t have it now, it was only a matter of time. Surving in the wilderness for four to five days, on the move every day without changing shoes or a chance to clean, it was bound to cause issues in the long run. It would be abnormal not to have any smell! The remaining two skill upgrade coupons were added to Special Forces LV3, upgrading it to LV5 by Bi Fang. What a grand harvest! Having obtained three coupons, a blue skill, and an attribute point, Bi Fang was delighted; he didn¡¯t expect he had the potential to be a Lucky Emperor. Deliciously content. The ability of high-altitude parachuting was also within the Special Forces, but obviously not as strong, lacking in variety, and not as appealing. With it, while not very practical for survival, for livestreaming, it was a gimmick! High-altitude parachuting, just the sound of it made one eager to watch. As for the strength attribute point, Bi Fang had not yet used it, planning to do so right before setting off to maximize the benefit. Stopping the treadmill, Bi Fang walked into the shower, turned on the hot water, squeezed out the excess sweat from his body, and then switched to warm water to relax his muscles. With multiple points added, his physique had begun to develop; combined with muscle growth, his weight had increased significantly. Clearwater rinsed over his bulging muscles, like streams flowing through rocky mountains, and the over-heated muscles from exercise slowly returned to normal. Bi Fang practiced regular breathing exercises, slowing his heartbeat and blood flow. This breathing technique came from the Advanced Yoga he practiced. The upcoming training regimen needed to be more targeted; heat endurance training and thirst endurance training were all on the list. It was bound to be a tough battle, and he needed to be fully prepared for it. After the shower, Bi Fang dried the water drops from his hair, changed the dressing on the wound on his shoulder, and then made a call to Liu Qian. This was the assistant Wang Yongbo paired him with last time, telling him to contact her if there was anything he needed. ¡°The next livestream location is set, in ten days at the Qaidam Desert. Same as last time, I¡¯ll be taken there by helicopter, but it can¡¯t be the same one as before; it doesn¡¯t fly high enough,¡± Bi Fang stated. Liu Qian was taking notes with a pen, and she was startled by his words¡ªnot high enough? Civilian helicopters can fly two kilometers high; how was that not enough? What was he planning? ¡°This time, I¡¯m planning on high-altitude parachuting,¡± Bi Fang stated calmly. ¡°Five thousand meters!¡± Chapter 101 - Chapter 101: Putting on the Shelf Speech (Crying and Begging for First Subscriptions) Chapter 101: Putting on the Shelf Speech (Crying and Begging for First Subscriptions) Translator: 549690339 Today, the book is officially online. Honestly, I¡¯m really scared, because the performance of this book has always been so-so, just barely in the middle tier among its contemporaries. I¡¯m afraid that the subscription results won¡¯t be ideal, which would mean another struggle. I hope everyone can support me by subscribing, and now that it¡¯s online, the performance mainly depends on the subscriptions. Continue reading isn¡¯t as important as subscribing now. So, if you friends want to nurture the book, you could set up an automatic subscription, which is good for you, good for me, and good for everyone, providing some insurance for this book. Thanks again for the support of my readers. Without you, this book could not have made it this far¡ª that¡¯s the honest truth. Without any one of you, this book would already be gone. That we¡¯ve gotten to this point is a collective effort. Next, I want to thank my editor YY. You¡¯re amazing. You tirelessly help me review the drafts and confirm the direction of the plot. I¡¯ve really learned a lot. Thinking back, I really knew nothing at the beginning. Writing web novels is far from as simple as I thought it would be. About the rules for adding extra chapters, many people have asked me, but I¡¯ve never dared to set them because I¡¯m also unsure about the actual performance of this book, whether it¡¯s real or not. Setting the bar too high would be just indulgent, and setting it too low would be a number I couldn¡¯t reach even if it killed me. As you may know, I¡¯m now a sophomore, soon to be a junior. Although my schedule is relatively light, I¡¯m not full-time. Updating twice a day is already quite busy for me. I won¡¯t be increasing the minimum number of updates during the summer vacation because I need to build up my stockpile of drafts. Writing and coding everything daily makes it hard to organize the plot. Maybe I can do it in August. But for now, if I reach three hundred first-time subscriptions, I¡¯ll add an extra chapter. If it reaches six hundred, I¡¯ll add another, and so on. One alliance leader equals two chapters. Silver Alliance equals five chapters. YY¡¯s requirement for me is to reach twelve hundred. This means this goal is possible. I hope we can all work together. How much I¡¯ll be able to burst out depends on the confidence you give me. Just a reminder, the first-time subscription is counted within the first twenty-four hours; anything beyond that time doesn¡¯t count. Updates start at nine o¡¯clock tonight. Last but not least, I have something I really want to say about this book. Sometimes it¡¯s hard to imagine how nasty comments can get, and the quality truly is terrible. I¡¯m a new author, and I didn¡¯t want to delete comments because it seemed like I couldn¡¯t take criticism. But sometimes, I literally explode, fuming in front of the computer for half a day. But in the last two days, I started deleting comments, and suddenly, it felt so refreshing. Turns out, silencing other people¡¯s nasty mouths is this satisfying without even having to fight back. It¡¯s like reaching a higher state of mind. Also, I¡¯m just someone who writes novels. I know jack about Wilderness Survivalist. The content you see is all organized and written after I¡¯ve researched the material. I can only guarantee that I¡¯ve checked every point, but I can¡¯t ensure absolute accuracy, even though I really take great care with my work¡ªerrors don¡¯t happen often, and I¡¯m very mindful of many details. For example, how many people noticed that the protagonist¡¯s height has been changing? That¡¯s because a person¡¯s height is not entirely precise, and it can even differ by up to one centimeter between morning and night. So if you want to refute it, at least do some research first, right? Wild rabbits don¡¯t burrow; it¡¯s the burrowing rabbits that do. Short-tailed Vipers can climb trees, and they¡¯re even quite skilled at it¡ªdon¡¯t pigeonhole them because they look short and stout. And sparrows are categorized as Third-category, Second-class, not second-class. The number of wolves in a pack can reach twenty, thirty is not unheard of, and their weight can be more than twenty or thirty kilograms¡ªdoubling it wouldn¡¯t be a problem. There are numerous such examples. But it¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t know. These are not common knowledge. But could you please not make your comments so offensive? Must you add a ¡°heh,¡± ¡°just kidding,¡± or that kind of sarcasm that implies whether you even understand? I¡¯m speechless. Without those words, it would be bad enough, but when you add them, it just shows ignorance, you know? Finally, I want to thank you, the readers, for your continuous support of Zhi Huang. Thank you! I hope this book can continue to accompany you all! Chapter 102 - Chapter 102: Chapter 99: Blood Pressure Skyrockets! (Please subscribe first!) Chapter 102: Chapter 99: Blood Pressure Skyrockets! (Please subscribe first!) Translator: 549690339 | Dragons arise, sand flies across the desert! This is a new journey! Looking back at the evolutionary journey of humanity, if our ancestors had not possessed the courage to take risks and imagine, the broad-mindedness and magnificent sentiments to innovate and sacrifice, humans would not have used canoes to surf the vast oceans and explore the endless mysteries of the lands beyond them. Human curiosity births the impulse to adventure, and human adventure ignites the torch of civilization. Adventure is not just found in the natural world of oceans and mountains, deserts and swamps, but also thrives amidst the densely populated cities.¡± Inside the helicopter. What echoed was Bi Fang¡¯s timeless opening address, and yet none who heard it felt the slightest boredom, instead, they could hardly contain their excitement! ¡°I¡¯m Bi Fang, a professional explorer, and this time, I¡¯ve met you in the desert!¡± [Master Fang, my god, has finally appeared!] [Fifteen days, a full fifteen days, do you know how I¡¯ve spent these days? Playing Greedy Blue Moon every day!] [Without Old Fang¡¯s live streams, I couldn¡¯t eat, or sleep; I¡¯ve lost weight.] [Newbies, do you need to exaggerate that much?] [Why are you flying so high this time? Are you doing a three-kilometer Fall Protection?] [You¡¯re playing that big? I¡¯ve got to see this!] Seeing the barrage of comments, Bi Fang¡¯s breath hitched. Three kilometers? He could be smashed into paste and eaten with onions! ¡°What kind of dream are you having? Three-kilometer Fall Protection? I can¡¯t believe you said that! Do you want to have a meal on my account?¡± Bi Fang pretended to be sorrowful, ¡°Poor me, I don¡¯t even have a girlfriend, you guys won¡¯t be able to sit at the widow¡¯s table!¡± [Hahaha, I¡¯m numb, it¡¯s hilarious!] [Then I¡¯ll sit at the kids¡¯ table!] [Old Fang doesn¡¯t have a girlfriend? How about considering me? (joking)] [Shock, gay men were beside me?] [Sharp swords, sharp eyes, I yearn for a worthy opponent! ] After enlivening the atmosphere, Bi Fang took a deep breath and turned to the drone. ¡°Getting back to the point, this time you won¡¯t be seeing a Fall Protection, you¡¯ll witness high-altitude parachuting!¡± ¡°An altitude of five thousand meters!¡± High-altitude parachuting? An altitude of five thousand meters? Many viewers had never parachuted, nor sought out information about it, this figure seems abstract at first, but considering Bi Fang¡¯s usual style¡­ his penchant for pushing limits, it was undoubtedly a dangerous figure! [Standard parachute jumps vary in height from around 700 meters to 3000 meters, only extreme parachuting exceeds five thousand meters!] [Just a few days ago, Lu Wentao did a three-kilometer jump, but that¡¯s nothing compared to Master Fang¡¯s.] [Awesome, Master Fang is still the greatest!] ¡°That¡¯s right, the higher the jump, the greater the risk!¡± ¡°At this distance, even in the military, it¡¯s a considerably dangerous figure, because I¡¯ll have to deal with threats from all sides!¡± ¡°The low temperature at high altitudes causing bodily stiffness! High-speed airflows leading to changes in the fall path! Insufficient oxygen leading to dizziness! And the impact of landing!¡± Inside the cabin, Bi Fang shouted loudly. He only cited a few obvious examples, but the audience was already sensing the risk of this endeavor! The previous world record for extreme parachuting was set by Austrian extreme athlete Felix Baumgartner. In 2012, he ascended to approximately 39,000 meters in a helium balloon, parachuted from that height, and successfully landed, breaking three world records including the highest altitude free fall. One of those records, the highest altitude for a human parachuting, was later broken by Google Senior Vice President Alan Eustace, with a figure of 41,419 meters. Of course, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t compare with them, but a height of five thousand meters was definitely not something the average person could handle! As expected of Master Fang, what he plays at is thrilling! I want to watch.jpg This was the sentiment of all viewers at the moment. They were afraid, anxious, but most of all, they were filled with anticipation! Unconsciously, Bi Fang had already erected in the audience¡¯s hearts an image of unparalleled strength. There was nothing he couldn¡¯t do! ¡°Climb, Master,¡± Bi Fang turned his head to look at the pilot. The pilot gave a thumbs up and manipulated the helicopter to ascend. ¡°The altitude of the Qaidam Desert ranges between two thousand five hundred and three thousand meters, the current helicopter height isn¡¯t enough, we need to ascend about another two thousand five hundred meters.¡± As Bi Fang¡¯s voice fell, the audience could clearly see through the cabin windows that the desert was rapidly shrinking; the dunes that were visible before became blurred and disappeared, leaving only a yellow haze. ¡°I wonder if anyone, after knowing my survival location, took the trouble to learn about the Qaidam beforehand?¡± Bi Fang looked down at the ground and asked loudly. From the ascent of the helicopter, he had been estimating the ground altitude, which is very important in the process of parachuting. Because he didn¡¯t have an altimeter, he could only rely on visual estimation and air conditions to accurately gauge distance. Nearly all special forces personnel undergo specific training for this. Only when the helicopter stabilized again did Bi Fang answer his own question, ¡°If you¡¯ve looked it up, you¡¯ll discover that the Qaidam Desert has an extensive development of aeolian landforms, accounting for 67% of the desert area in the basin! Do you know what that means? Does anyone know?¡± What does it mean? The audience was puzzled, failing to understand. Does it mean it¡¯s windy? Wait, windy? The audience¡¯s eyes widened, wasn¡¯t it just mentioned that strong winds are very dangerous? ¡°Yes, it¡¯s the strong wind! Hahaha!¡± Bi Fang laughed wildly, forcefully pushing open the cabin door and leaping out with the suddenly rising background music! The intense airflow instantly blurred all other sounds, only the whistling wind remained! Wind! Strong wind! Between heaven and earth, everything had turned to wind! In the thousands of meters high, a dark figure plummeted straight down, like an eagle swooping from the sky! The world was a sheer red, the sky so low it seemed as if one could reach out and grab the clouds! Through the drone that fell freely alongside him, everyone witnessed this breathtaking moment with all its details! The instant his body fell, Bi Fang felt as if a pair of large hands were supporting him, but they were not soft at all, all cold and sharp as if sliced by the wind! Bi Fang laughed loudly with his head thrown back, the entire sky reflected in his pupils. From this view, it seemed as if all the clouds were sprinkling from the center of the sky, all falling into his eyes. As if a god floated in the air observing the world, which became exceptionally clear. Blood raced through his veins like a river thawing from the ice, every cell sprouted wildly, breathing with all their might. As if an endless strength was silently transferring along his muscles and meridians. Bi Fang had ¡°gone all out!¡± The violently secreted adrenaline was addictive, Bi Fang put his hands together, turned upside down in the air, this wasn¡¯t enough, he could go even faster! If there truly were gods overlooking the world, would they fixate their gaze on him? Goggles shielded the dazzling sunlight and intense airflow, Bi Fang stared at the ground, silently estimating the altitude. Accompanied by the beat of the BGM and the additional first-person perspective, all the audience felt their hearts race, their blood pressure shooting up! Three thousand meters! Two thousand meters! One thousand meters! Bi Fang¡¯s speed became faster and faster, so fast that it left everyone terrified! Wow! Pong! Blood pressure went off the charts! Chapter 104 - Chapter 104: Chapter 101: Black or White? (Please Subscribe!) Chapter 104: Chapter 101: Black or White? (Please Subscribe!) Translator: 549690339 On the scorching sand dunes, Bi Fang lay on his back, his chest heaving violently. His back was still aching faintly. That was really close! It was a good thing he opened his chute at three hundred and fifty meters, otherwise he would¡¯ve been totally screwed! But Bi Fang wasn¡¯t afraid, he was prepared for the possibility of mishaps. What kind of adventure would it be without any surprises? Sand and dust filled the sky. Bi Fang lay on the ground for a solid three minutes until a gust of wind blew sand into his mouth. ¡°Ugh!¡± ¡°Ptooey!¡± Bi Fang suddenly sat up, coughing a couple of times to spit out the sand in his mouth. [Back from the dead!] [Respawned with full health!] [The quality of these clothes is pretty good, not even a tear.] [Professional equipment, you think this is a joke?] [Master Fang is eternal!] ¡°What the hell? Cursing me to be single forever again? I¡¯m a steel and straight man. No matter how much you curse, those who can¡¯t have me will never get a girlfriend,¡± Bi Fang joked after spitting out the sand. He knew it meant ¡®eternal god,¡¯ but every time he saw it, it felt like a curse on his single status. After resting, Bi Fang stood up, stripped off his goggles and the parachute pack. These weren¡¯t system equipment and couldn¡¯t be carried around, plus they were too heavy. In the desert terrain, every bit of weight had to be calculated with the utmost precision. ¡°I won¡¯t be using these pieces of equipment. After all, a parachute has too many uses, so I¡¯ll leave them all here. The guy piloting the helicopter will come down and collect them later.¡± [Another small detail for environmental protection] [Positive energy, bro!] [Dressed in professional outdoor gear: I won¡¯t use the parachute pack, it has too many functions (funny)] [Feels like this survival challenge is tougher, it¡¯s the desert after all, nothing but sand.] [Stop talking, I¡¯m already thirsty] The drone that fell freely with Bi Fang had been hovering earlier; now it ascended, capturing the endless expanse of the Qaidam Desert. Like Mohe, it was a monotony of color to the horizon¡ªa blanket of white snow there, and here a sky of yellow sand. The dry and ancient wind swept across the vast desert, with huge tawny rocks exposed on the surface. Red gravel and yellowish-green desolation were already considered exotic colors in this barren landscape. It had been like this for thousands of years: flat, vast, dry, desolate, silent, barren¡­ It had never changed. In the distance, the heatwaves were visible to the naked eye, declaring the passion of this land. Just landed from the cold high sky, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t yet felt the heat. He looked up at the sky and took off his jacket and inner lining. Different from before, instead of choosing to determine his direction first, Bi Fang went to the shadow of a large rock and plonked himself down. Under the broken rocks, a shiny black scorpion moved its stinger cautiously, creeping close to the insects in a tuft of grass. Startled by the sudden appearance of this massive object, it quickly scuttled into a crevice to escape. [???] [Why¡¯s he sitting down now? Isn¡¯t he going to survive?] [Feels like the style of this survival challenge is different this time?] [You¡¯ve changed, Master Fang!] ¡°What¡¯s the rush?¡± Bi Fang, quite relaxed, looked up towards the distant sun and said slowly, ¡°Look at the sun, does it look like a good time to travel?¡± The drone lifted its camera, and the dazzling sunlight immediately made the audience squint. Wow, what a huge sun! ¡°Making a survival plan according to different environments is key to survival. The desert is different from forests and snowy regions. Here, daytime is not a good time to travel; we should move at dusk or dawn.¡± ¡°The cool air at night allows you to move more quickly with minimal risk of heatstroke. In hot climate conditions, this decision alone can save your body three liters of water every day.¡± ¡°In the desert, survival is not our primary objective because escaping this vast expanse won¡¯t be a short-term task. More importantly, we need to find the source of life, water!¡± ¡°So are we just going to sit here?¡± ¡°This is getting a bit boring.¡± Many in the audience were confused. Even though the skydiving had been thrilling, they couldn¡¯t just stay put right after the start. ¡°Of course not. It¡¯s only ten in the morning. We should avoid traveling from eleven to four in the afternoon. I¡¯m here to make some preparations!¡± In the desert, temperature is undoubtedly the most dangerous enemy. It can lead to dehydration, heatstroke, and a serious of other serious problems, especially dehydration. If you get dehydrated in the desert, you wouldn¡¯t last many days before being turned into a dried-out husk! ¡°Most of our body¡¯s water loss occurs through sweating. We should cover as much skin as possible with loose, lightweight clothing. This will ensure you sweat and slow down evaporation, thus reducing water loss.¡± ¡°For this reason, it¡¯s better to wear a cotton sweatshirt instead of moisture-wicking fabric, and then cover it with a light windbreaker. As for the color¡­¡± Bi Fang hadn¡¯t finished speaking when he was interrupted by the barrage of comments on the screen. ¡°I know this one, we should wear light-colored clothes, right? ¡°Isn¡¯t that obvious? Light colors reflect light, they aren¡¯t hot!¡± ¡°Why do I remember people in the desert wearing black clothes?¡¯ ¡°You remembered wrong, Arabs all wear white!¡± ¡°You¡¯re all not wrong,¡± Bi Fang, seeing the commotion in the comments, was somewhat speechless. Why couldn¡¯t they just listen to him finish? ¡°Actually, what I wanted to say is, if you don¡¯t have specialized equipment, the color doesn¡¯t really matter!¡± How could that be possible? Not only were the audience stunned, but even Yao Jun, who always enjoyed outdoor activities, was puzzled. How could it not matter? Don¡¯t Arabs all wear white robes? If it¡¯s all the same, why don¡¯t they wear black? And black absorbs heat, isn¡¯t that basic physics? Facing such skepticism, Bi Fang actually nodded. ¡°Who said it doesn¡¯t matter? In reality, if you observe more closely, you would find that residents of the Sinai Desert wear black robes!¡± ¡°Back in 1980, the journal Nature published a study on this topic titled ¡®Why do Bedouins wear black robes in hot deserts?''¡± ¡°The result of the study found that the difference between the two was virtually zero!¡± Ah, this. The previously arguing Shuiyou (online friends/audience) went silent; many viewers were old friends and had no doubts about Bi Fang¡¯s knowledge. Hearing this conclusion, they were already half convinced. So they¡¯d been arguing all this time for nothing? Bi Fang paused, seeing that everyone had quieted down, and continued. ¡°The study found that black clothes indeed absorbed more heat, but it stopped there.¡± ¡°In other words, black clothes absorbed extra heat, but by the time it actually came into contact with the skin, that extra heat had dissipated because the robes are loose and easy to move, allowing for air circulation, dispersing the heat.¡± -Of course, there¡¯s also a view that the ¡®light-colored clothing¡¯ theory ignores a key factor.¡± Bi Fang raised a finger, speaking mysteriously, ¡°The heat radiated by the human body!¡± ¡°They believe that the heat radiated from the body can also be reflected by light-colored clothing back onto yourself, making you feel hotter. I think this theory is quite good, but it hasn¡¯t been verified on humans, so I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s true or not.¡± ¡°Also, if possible, find clothing labeled with UPF, which stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor, of 30+ in white. This will help prevent sunburn.¡± After speaking, Bi Fang took out a thin windbreaker from his bag, put it on, and then took out a cotton T-shirt, also draping it over his face. He stood up, scouted the distance to determine the direction, and was just about to set off when suddenly, a sound unlike the wind caught everyone¡¯s attention. What¡¯s that¡­ The sound of an engine? Wait, a car engine? Who would be driving in the desert? Have I encountered someone so soon? Bi Fang was a bit stunned. He had only just begun his survival quest! Chapter 106 - Chapter 106: Chapter 103 What Does Professional Mean? (Seeking First Subscription!) Chapter 106: Chapter 103 What Does Professional Mean? (Seeking First Subscription!) Translator: 549690339 Du Chuan turned his head away from Bi Fang¡¯s gaze, took off his glasses, and rubbed his face before picking up a bottle of mineral water and pouring it over his head. The cool sensation brought him back to reality. In the moment he had locked eyes with Bi Fang, a spear-like fierce aura had silently spread. Looking into the other¡¯s eyes was like having a gun, safety off, pressed between his brows. The subsequent smile sent chills down his spine. But how could this be? This wasn¡¯t a novel, where a mere glance could send bone-chilling cold through someone¡­ Wasn¡¯t that a bit too exaggerated? Du Chuan felt he might have been hallucinating from the sun. What a fierce sun! Du Chuan looked up, the dazzling sunlight causing his eyes to sting with pain. Even with the air conditioning on in the car, Du Chuan could still feel a burning pain on his skin. He gulped down an entire bottle of water and casually threw the empty bottle out of the window. ¡°Boss, drink sparingly; we¡¯re going through water too quickly,¡± Pan Wei reminded in a low voice, careful not to be heard on the live stream. ¡°Hmm?¡± Du Chuan, after hearing this, was taken aback and asked reflexively, ¡°Didn¡¯t we prepare five cases? Why be frugal?¡± Du Chuan wasn¡¯t entirely unprepared before coming; he knew that Bi Fang¡¯s survival challenge had a time limit¡ªfive days. With five cases, that should be more than enough¡ªone case with sixteen large bottles, four bottles per person per day. And now he was being told it might not be enough? ¡°It¡¯s five cases, but more than half of the one we opened first is gone.¡± The fatty gestured towards the trunk. He hadn¡¯t expected water to deplete so quickly. It had been less than three hours since they set off, and there were only six bottles left from one case. This wouldn¡¯t do. ¡°Alright, everyone just drink a little less,¡± Du Chuan frowned and waved his hand dismissively. They¡¯d just have to make do with less; there were still four whole cases left, after all. ¡°It¡¯s moving, it¡¯s moving!¡± Pan Wei slapped the fatty¡¯s thigh, urging him to drive faster to keep up, then shouted at the camera again, ¡°Wolf King is back to survival mode, brothers. Send rockets for support! The more you send, the more motivated we¡¯ll be to follow!¡± [Charge, it¡¯s too interesting to watch someone else¡¯s stream!] [Can¡¯t afford to send rockets, do you want a thousand fish balls instead?] [Iron Egg gives the host a rocket*i¡ªdouble the happiness!] [Is managing the comments fun? There was a lot of insults just now, all gone now, right?] ¡°Ban them again¡ªyou count one, ban every single one of them!¡± Du Chuan looked towards the tall guy. ¡°Okay!¡± The tall guy nodded and continued muting every abusive account. ¡°How come he seems not to care at all?¡± The tall guy looked over at Bi Fang, curious. He thought the other man, even if he didn¡¯t dare to fight, would at least come over and argue a bit, right? But this was the outcome? Not daring to even let out a fart? Still Wolf King? More like Dog King, huh? The audience in Bi Fang¡¯s own live stream also grew puzzled upon seeing him continue on his way. Why doesn¡¯t he say anything? [Why is Master Fang chickening out? Can¡¯t he at least, um, teach them a lesson?] [Master Fang, my Master Fang, sob sob sob.] [Bring out the same spirit you had against the wolf pack. You made wolves retreat just by scolding them; what are you afraid of a few nobodies?] [To clowns, I bow and scrape; against wolf packs, I strike with heavy blows!] [Boring, if this is what the Wolf King is, I¡¯m outta here.] [Don¡¯t be like that, Master Fang is a public figure and he¡¯s live streaming. Whatever he does will be criticized, think about his position too!] [Yeah, do you really think it¡¯s easy being Master Fang?] [Emmmm, although I understand, this adventure doesn¡¯t seem too interesting. Just seeing those guys makes me feel sick, I¡¯ll come support next time when they¡¯re gone!] The live stream¡¯s viewer ship suddenly dropped by over a hundred thousand, plummeting below three million. And it continued to fall! Wang Yongbo watched with anxiety written all over his face. Yet Bi Fang remained unfazed and unhurried, unaffected even as thousands of viewers left the stream. His live streams often ran long, sometimes exceeding twelve hours. Viewers couldn¡¯t be expected to stay in front of the screen the entire time. Seeing mundane tasks like traveling or digging wasn¡¯t interesting, and it was normal for some to leave; they would come back next time. It was just a few troublemakers spoiling the broth, not a complete loss of viewership. And actually, Bi Fang was initially very angry. But he quickly realized that being angry was useless and would only make the other side more outrageous, using it as a selling point for their own streams. But that didn¡¯t mean Bi Fang was out of options. This was the wilderness, his home turf! ¡°Just wait and see, these guys are going to end up in the hospital today.¡± No sooner had Bi Fang finished speaking than Pan Wei responded, rolling down the car window and yelling at his phone. ¡°Oh my, the Wolf King is talking tough! My iron buddies, I¡¯m so scared. This is the man who single-handedly took on Black Bear and even had a go at the Wolf King. If no one sends rockets to support me, I really won¡¯t dare to chase him anymore!¡± ¡°One rocket and I¡¯ll follow for ten minutes! If you all send more, maybe you¡¯ll get to see the Wolf King sleep tonight! Don¡¯t you want to see if anyone sends him supplies?¡± Pan Wei and the others became even more reckless, not taking Bi Fang¡¯s words to heart at all. It¡¯s funny, if the other side can handle Black Bear, what can a pack of wolves do? Can they come and beat him up? If things really got desperate and they came to fight, as long as they stayed in the car and didn¡¯t go out, what could be done? Besides, there were four of them. With this in mind, Pan Wei felt he was standing on invincible ground. What was there to fear? [666, is the Wolf King going to make a move?] [Hit hard!] [Ah, what if I suddenly want to watch?] [Disgusting faces, silencing them doesn¡¯t work! My alt account can keep creating! ] Fortunately, as soon as Bi Fang¡¯s comments came out, the popularity of the live broadcast stabilized. Some people were excited, but many were worried. Hearing such words, they were all fuming. Bi Fang, please don¡¯t lose your patience first! [Old Fang, stay calm! Don¡¯t act rashly and gamble with the future of your live broadcast career!] [Exactly, stay cool. Don¡¯t stoop to their level!] [Why argue with dogs?] Seeing Bi Fang¡¯s status wasn¡¯t right, many online friends hurriedly tried to stop him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m very calm.¡± Under the scorching sun, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t be calmer. However. How to break the siege? Taking several deep breaths, Bi Fang suppressed all the frustration in his heart. The live broadcast had just started. There was plenty of time to deal with those people, so for now, he continued the broadcast. He climbed over a sand dune and came to a huge boulder, pointing to the sand that had accumulated at its base. ¡°Rocks and the landscape might also appear smoother on the windward side compared to the leeward side. You¡¯ll see that rocks on sand dunes and slopes have a polished effect on the side facing the wind due to the abrasive action of the wind, while the leeward side accumulates a lot of sand.¡± ¡°In the Qaidam Desert, the prevailing wind direction is the northwest wind. Based on this, we can determine our direction; the side with less sand is the northwest, and the side with more is the southeast.¡± ¡°Additionally, the south of the Qaidam Desert is the Kunlun Mountains, which has more moisture and a higher probability of encountering people, so we should head south if we want to survive!¡± Under the harsh sun, Bi Fang stopped to catch his breath after a lengthy explanation, as he was feeling quite thirsty. The desert was too hot, and the distant sea of sand was completely distorted by heatwaves. [666,1 learned another way to determine wind direction!] [But doesn¡¯t this method of determining wind direction require you to memorize the wind direction of every place?] ¡°Of course not, survival isn¡¯t about rote memorization, because you can¡¯t possibly know the landscape and wind direction of a place like the back of your hand every time. What we need to do is analyze!¡± Bi Fang shook his head; his approach to survival wasn¡¯t that superficial but was based on logic and rules. Even if he went to a place he had never learned about beforehand, as long as he could figure out the latitude and longitude, he could still learn a lot. And even if he didn¡¯t have the exact coordinates, no problem, how about making a sextant with his bare hands? ¡°The latitude of Qaidam is above 30 degrees north, this area is under the influence of the westerlies, but the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau changes this, blocking the moisture from the Indian Ocean from entering the basin, altering the atmospheric circulation pattern of the Qaidam Basin and resulting in the strengthening of the Asian monsoon system.¡± ¡°This desert is affected by the Asian summer monsoon in spring, with less wind and lower wind speeds; in autumn, it¡¯s influenced by the Asian winter monsoon, with more wind and higher speeds. This shapes the landscape of the Qaidam Desert with the form of winter winds, and the winter monsoon from Asia comes from the north.¡± ¡°Moreover, between the Kunlun Mountains and the Qilian Mountains, in the canyon zones, due to the Venturi effect, strong winds are easily generated, as seen in the frequent severe windy weather in Mangya to the northwest and Chaka to the east, both of which are comparable.¡± ¡°Based on these factors, we can determine that the prevailing wind direction in the Qaidam Desert is from the north-west to the south-east!¡± Wow, amazing! Not only the audience but even Pan Wei and his crew were dumbfounded upon hearing this analysis. Many people thought Bi Fang¡¯s storm analysis last time was his limit, but today his words once again redefined their understanding of awesomeness! Could he be any more incredible? Chapter 107 - Chapter 107: Chapter 104: A Billion Years Ago Chapter 107: Chapter 104: A Billion Years Ago Translator: 549690339 Which university¡¯s geography department did Old Fang escape from? Can the president get him to come back?] [I have to give this wave a 94> don¡¯t ask why, because I was watching the live broadcast on the highway and got docked 6 points!] (Too strong, too strong, I¡¯m willing to call this analysis the strongest!] [Old Fang really knows a lot.] ¡°It¡¯s not that I know a lot, it¡¯s just that I knew it before you all did,¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°Now you know too.¡± [Ah, high EQ!] [Why does it feel like I¡¯ve heard this before?] [Old Fang said it in his first live stream, I remember it very clearly! Just for that phrase, I became a fan of this person!] Bi Fang¡¯s analysis was stunning, and once again the bullet comments and gifts surged through the chat. Pan Wei watched with envy and hawked even more energetically, sweat streaming down his face. ¡°Turn the air conditioning down a bit more!¡± he said, turning to the fat man. ¡°It¡¯s already at the lowest,¡± the fat man said, turning the dial all the way. The feeling of heat now was all due to the sun; the temperature itself wasn¡¯t very high, but the faces of the four people inside the vehicle were already beginning to redden. Bi Fang was able to walk in the shadows of the sand dunes because he was alone and had a smaller figure, but the jeep couldn¡¯t go there. It would be prone to tipping over if it did, so they had no choice but to follow under the sun. Sunburns. Sunburns are caused by excessive exposure of the skin to ultraviolet rays, with symptoms and signs appearing within one to twenty-four hours. Skin changes range from mild erythema with flaky scaling to pain, edema, tenderness of the skin, and blisters. In severe cases, there may be accompanying symptoms such as fever, headache, palpitations, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. Bi Fang looked at the few people in the car with their reddened faces and tightened the white head cover on his head as he walked toward a huge rock in the distance. It was already eleven o¡¯clock, but Bi Fang did not stop and continued to walk. He said he had to get these people to a hospital within a day, and not a minute late! As they hurried along, Bi Fang also kept sharing experiences and stories to fill the boring time. ¡°Humans have a rather long history of surviving in the harsh environment of the desert, but have never conquered it, only facing it,¡± he said. The person who taught me this lesson was a Keriya friend I met when I went to Xinjiang.¡± [Wait, Keriya people? Do we have this ethnic group in our country?] [Sounds like a foreigner¡¯s name? Is Master Fang¡¯s circle of friends that wide?] [Really?] ¡°Of course not, where would I get foreign friends from?¡± Bi Fang shook his head; it was during his research trip to the desert to count the number of red foxes that he stumbled upon that community. ¡°The Keriya people belong to the Uyghur ethnic group. They are a quite legendary local nomadic group, but not many people know about them.¡± ¡°In January 1896, the Swedish explorer Sven Hedin followed the river of the Keriya people in the Tarim Basin to the end of the desert. He wanted to know where the last few drops of water struggled to reach¡­¡± ¡± ¡°He continued deep into the Taklamakan Desert along the riverbanks where ancient trees reached for the sky. He found not only herds of wild camels running around but also a haven for numerous wild boars.¡± ¡°What surprised him even more was that there was a community of herders there!¡± ¡°This picturesque, isolated desert oasis is called ¡®Dariyabuyi¡¯ in Uyghur, which translates to ¡®on the riverside¡¯ in Chinese. Those living there are the Keriya people.¡± ¡°It is said that the Keriya people are a branch of the Ancient Loulan people from two thousand years ago, who have lived in the desert ever since. Of course, there¡¯s no basis for this claim, and it¡¯s just something to listen to.¡± Bi Fang swallowed his saliva and returned to the main topic. ¡°That person had been living in the desert since they were a child, and he said something to me that left a deep impression, ¡®Why struggle and spend energy fighting against things you cannot change?''¡± ¡°From that moment, I knew that to survive in the desert, we must adapt our bodies to its harsh conditions, instead of trying to find water and chase game. Here, conserving is much more important than sourcing.¡± Bi Fang stretched out his hand toward the vast expanse of desert before him, declaring grandly, ¡°Do you see this desert? It¡¯s our country¡¯s fifth-largest desert! Do you know when it started to form?¡± ¡°50 million years ago! The Indian plate collided with the Eurasian continental plate! The rise of the Tibetan Plateau created this vast expanse of desert!¡± The northwest wind swept the ground, and yellow sand flew. ¡°Here, mountains and basins alternate, with the Kunlun Mountains, Altyn-Tagh, and Qilian Mountains to the south, the Pamir Plateau to the west, and Tian Mountain and Altai Mountains to the north, ¡°The Helan Mountains and Yin Mountains to the east have it all enclosed!¡± Bi Fang stretched out his palm and suddenly clenched it. In front of all the viewers, the scene from thousands of years ago where the mountains rose up appeared, as if gods descended, transformed into an impassable barrier, turning this place into an eternally desolate land! This place is far from the ocean. Warm and moist air currents travel long distances to get here. Most of the moisture has already dissipated. It encounters the barrier of the mountains and the plateau. When the air currents climb over the high mountains, they further accelerate the loss of moisture. By the time they reach here, they are already exceptionally dry. It¡¯s arid and seldom rains. However, aridity alone is certainly not enough. Where does such an expanse of sand come from? On the mountains surrounding the basin. There once were glaciers larger than those of today! As the ice and snow gradually melted, massive amounts of water converged along the foothills toward the basin, forming numerous rivers and lakes. The flowing water carried sand and gravel ¡°scoured¡± from the mountains, either creating vast alluvial fans, or gradually depositing at the bottom of lakes. In the end, within the basin, layers of sediment hundreds of meters thick were formed! After Bi Fang finished his description, everyone was shaken. Could such a monotonous desert really have such a magnificent history? ¡°Even the modem Hotan River carries about six million cubic meters of silt per year, which means that in a million years, the river basin will have a layer of sand roughly 120 meters thick, the equivalent of a 40-story building!¡± ¡°And in fact, the sediment in the Tarim Basin even farther away is even deeper! These sediments also became the main source of sand for our country¡¯s deserts!¡± ¡°Conquering such a desert is not something you can do just by relying on some jeeps and bringing a few extra boxes of water,¡± Bi Fang said lightly, but everyone knew he was alluding to something. ¡°[Strange, he started reciting the ID card!]¡± ¡°[I feel that those few people are not in as good shape as Master Fang.]¡± ¡°(Based on my clinical medical experience from my bachelor¡¯s, master¡¯s, and doctoral studies, they¡¯ve gotten sunburned!]¡± ¡°[By the way, it¡¯s already twelve o¡¯clock. Didn¡¯t Master Fang say he was going to avoid this time?]¡± ¡°Ah, is it twelve o¡¯clock?¡± Bi Fang pretended to realize, ¡°I felt fine, so I just kept going. Looks like I need to find a place to rest now!¡± Upon hearing this, Du Chuan and the others¡¯ faces turned exceptionally sour. They thought the other party was doing it on purpose. How could a Wilderness Master possibly misjudge the time? But finally, it was time to rest. They also wanted to hurry and drive to a shady place, as it was really too hot here. Pan Wei rubbed his face, and fine flakes of skin fell like fish scales, startling him so much that he quickly took out a bottle of water and wiped his face with it. ¡°That¡¯s the second box, use less,¡± the voice of the fatty came from the side. ¡°I know, I know,¡± Pan Wei replied impatiently. But when they saw Bi Fang crawl into a spot where a car couldn¡¯t possibly enter and there was no shade anywhere else, they were dumbfounded. I finally found such a spot. If I don¡¯t bake you alive, my name isn¡¯t Bi. Just wait, this is just the beginning. Cradling the drone, Bi Fang crawled into the narrow crevice beneath the huge rock and sneered at the few people outside the cave. If you¡¯re not staying for three months, can that even be called an inpatient stay? Chapter 108 - Chapter 108: Chapter 105: Weve Got Your Back! Chapter 108: Chapter 105: We¡¯ve Got Your Back! Translator: 549690339 | Shenhua Group. ¡°To rely on such meager connections and dare to stir up trouble?¡± Lin Chang closed the folder handed to him by his secretary, puzzled. The information made it clear that among these people, except for Du Chuan who had some abilities, the rest were what, misfits? Ensuring the Eve broadcast wasn¡¯t shut down was all Du Chuan could muster? Didn¡¯t he consider the subsequent impact? ¡°If they really had strong connections, why would they resort to such despicable tactics? They¡¯re clearly desperate,¡± the secretary pondered seriously. ¡°Indeed,¡± Lin Chang nodded, then asked, ¡°Can we get them imprisoned for infringing portrait rights?¡± ¡°Wen¡­¡± The secretary found himself in a difficult position. He understood what Lin Chang implied but explained anyway, ¡°Imprisonment usually results from criminal offenses. Infringing portrait rights is a general illegal act that can be settled privately or through filing a lawsuit, demanding an apology and compensation for losses, but the odds of imprisonment¡­ not high.¡± ¡°Not high?¡± Lin Chang raised an eyebrow and spoke leisurely, ¡°What if it caused a terrible social impact?¡± ¡°Willful destruction of the environment?¡± ¡°Indiscriminately amassing wealth and disturbing the industry norms? ¡°Intentionally insulting veterans?¡± ¡°Stealing military enterprise trade secrets?¡± With each statement Lin Chang made, the secretary¡¯s eyelid twitched. He got it, he understood everything! Especially the last point, it was lethal! This time, Shenhua¡¯s prototype was merely an assembly model; at most, it sacrificed comfort and aesthetics for strength and toughness, and it only used civilian satellite signals. There wasn¡¯t any special information technology in essence, and to maintain the signal, some other functions were even compromised. It wasn¡¯t prepared for commercialization, thus unguarded, and leaking it wasn¡¯t a big deal; the incident itself was not an issue. But whose hands it fell into was a problem! ¡°Do you think this is serious?¡± ¡°Serious, very serious!¡± the secretary declared earnestly, ¡°Just the act of insulting and cursing at veterans is unlawful, up to three years¡­¡± ¡°Ten years!¡± Lin Chang interjected directly, ¡°At the very least, ten years! Moreover, take care of the ring leader yourself!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The secretary nodded, slowly backed away, then closed the office door and strode towards the company¡¯s legal department. As a Fortune 500 company, they had an entire team of lawyers, all elite fighters! To kill a chicken, one must use a butcher¡¯s knife! And finely chop it to mincemeat! Lin Chang turned to look out the floor-to-ceiling window. From the top floor, he overlooked the smaller buildings. Rest assured, Bi Fang, I¡¯ve got your back! Wolf Fang TV. ¡°Are all the press releases ready?¡± At Wolf Fang TV, Wang Yongbo looked at the staff. ¡°Yes, we¡¯ve contacted everyone we could, this incident will surely explode! ¡°Good!¡± Wang Yongbo patted the staff member on the shoulder, very satisfied, ¡°Give everyone a day off tomorrow; work hard today. The bigger the fuss, the better. I want to make them suffer an everlasting infamy!¡± ¡°Understood, President Wang!¡± Wang Yongbo nodded contentedly. Rest assured, Bi Fang, I¡¯ve got your back! Airport. ¡°Brother Long, I¡¯m counting on you this time!¡± Yao Jun said earnestly. ¡°Leave it to me. We¡¯ll dig three feet into the ground if necessary to bring them back and break every single one of their legs!¡± A middle-aged man and several others in black clothing nodded in unison. In this line of work, they were professionals. ¡°When you handle things, I¡¯m at ease!¡± Yao Jun nodded, watched the group board the plane, and then lowered his head to look at the live broadcast. Rest assured, Bi Fang, I¡¯ve got your back! Meanwhile, Bi Fang, who was being protected by three men, still knew nothing. He was staring at the people constantly rehydrating, silently counting the number of water bottles and then shaking his head with a smile. What a bunch of fools. Water intoxication. Drinking too much water increases the water content in the blood, which lowers sodium levels, leading to an imbalance between salts and fluids. In severe cases of imbalance, ¡°hyponatremia¡± can occur, causing the patient to experience brain swelling, headaches, and even seizures, shock, and death. In the desert, people only hydrate despite sweating profusely. Watching the group continually rehydrate, Bi Fang took out his water bottle. Before coming to the desert, he had prepared just this one bottle of water, and no more. Unscrewing the cap, Bi Fang took a sip of water, then started to dig a hole underneath him, as the sand on the surface was too hot to lie down on. Holding a mouthful of water prevents dehydration. It not only forces him to breathe through his nose but also moistens the air he inhales, providing moisture for his body. After digging through a layer of scorching hot sand, Bi Fang sat down on the ground, looking at the people scratching their heads frantically inside the car, and then swallowed the water in his mouth. ¡°During the daytime in the desert, you must remove the first layer of sand from your shelter; otherwise, it will feel unbearably hot and increase your rate of sweating,¡± he said. ¡°Moreover, if you can¡¯t find a cave like I did, you can look for or create a shaded area and bury yourself in the sand to protect yourself from the sunlight.¡± ¡°Here, I must give everyone a piece of advice,¡± Bi Fang continued. ¡°When trying to survive, you must stay calm, don¡¯t panic, because that will only accelerate your energy consumption. Buried in the sand, you will just feel hotter and hotter, and these techniques will be of no use.¡± [Everyone knows that, but when the time comes, things will be as they are regardless of whether you panic or not.] [Not everyone is Master Fang; it¡¯s like knowing there are no ghosts in the world but still shivering when watching horror movies.] [The comment above is so spot on, it¡¯s hard not to agree.] [Just look at those guys over there; the contrast is clear. I think they¡¯re starting to panic.] [They¡¯re seeking their own death. Who can they blame? Trying to gain popularity by riding on Old Fang¡¯s coat-tails without any real talent?] Watching the live chat in Bi Fang¡¯s streaming room, Du Chuan touched the fine flakes of skin on his own face and remained silent. It¡¯s just that his heart was beating a bit fast. ¡°If you¡¯re really panicking, then think of your family, friends, draw strength from memories and dreams for the future, and above all, never give up-never underestimate humans¡¯ will to survive!¡± Seeing everyone¡¯s pessimism, Bi Fang felt it was justified. The desert is nothing like a forest or a snowy landscape; here, there really seems to be no hope for life, with every minute the sun squeezing out your vitality. After some thought, Bi Fang decided to inspire everyone with the story of a legendary figure. ¡°Moro Prosperi, an ultramarathon runner, and a top athlete, a reserve member of Italy¡¯s modern pentathlon team who won the championship at the 1984. Olympics.¡± ¡°During a super marathon in the Sahara Desert, he was caught in a sudden sandstorm and got trapped in the Sahara.¡± ¡°Conditions there were even harsher, but despite this, without food, water, and unable to send a distress signal, he was found after a remarkable nine days missing. Yet, thanks to his strong survival instincts and willpower, he was still alive!¡± ¡°When they found Moro, his body was shrunken and wrinkled like a turtle. His digestive system had long stopped working. People tried to feed him, but his body couldn¡¯t digest the food.¡± ¡°It was only after doctors injected more than 16 liters of IV nutrition that he gradually began to recover.¡± [Damn, that¡¯s hardcore!]> [Strong, really strong!] [Is this the equivalent of a cow doing a handstand, incredible to the skies?] [More like a cow basking in the sun, impressively powerful.] [Grass, only people from your village know how to show off with such idioms.] ¡°That¡¯s not even the most extraordinary part,¡± Bi Fang said, looking at the comments on the screen and shaking his head. The miracles of human life go far beyond just this. ¡°You might find it hard to believe, but it is a fact that on the seventh day of being missing, Moro tried to commit suicide by cutting his wrists. Yet, miraculously, he woke up the next morning.¡± ¡°Doctors later analyzed that Moro was dehydrated from being lost in the desert. Due to the lack of fluid, his blood couldn¡¯t flow into the finer vessels.¡± ¡°So when Moro tried to end his life, his blood was as thick as tar, moving very slowly and quickly clotting. This condition saved his life.¡± ¡°Can you imagine?¡± Chapter 109 - Chapter 109: Chapter 106 A Different Kind of Desert Chapter 109: Chapter 106 A Different Kind of Desert Translator: 549690339 | Nine days? The Sahara Desert? Blood as thick as asphalt? Thinking of these points, Yao Lina subconsciously wanted to reach for her water cup to drink. Even though it was November and the weather was getting cooler, she still felt as uncomfortable as if she were standing under the summer sun. Pan Wei and the others were even more horrified, subconsciously touching their wrists, only to realize it was a false alarm after a moment. Felt like their heads were getting dizzy from the sun. Pan Wei mocked his own overreaction, then pushed his seat further back, trying to avoid the sunlight coming from the front of the car, but was kicked hard in the back of his seat by a tall guy behind him. ¡°Don¡¯t fucking squeeze!¡± the tall guy said irritably. Even though the Jeep had a lot of space, it was not meant to be squeezed like this, ¡°If you want to avoid the sun, why don¡¯t you just block it with your clothes?¡± How could they film if they blocked it? Their viewer count had just broken thirty thousand; blocking the view could lose them more than half their audience, a wasteful loss indeed. Pan Wei was speechless too; his skin had peeled from the sun, and how could he be content if he didn¡¯t earn more? Just peeling skin, right? Not a big problem, could still continue! After that, Pan Wei worked even harder. They had been hawking for less than half a day and their earnings had already surpassed six figures, a bloody fortune. Wasn¡¯t this faster than working a regular job? There was no chance he would work a regular job; only by riding on the wave of fame could he sustain his life like this. ¡°Guys, the sun is really too harsh. As Wolf King said earlier, he might have to stay here until four in the afternoon before he can leave. All of us will suffer the sun¡¯s heat without any motivation. Look at me, my skin is peeling off from the sun.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t reward me, where will the gas money for the Jeep come from? The money for our treatment? The money to charge our phones?¡± [Awesome, this move, I¡¯m willing to call it a legit reason!] [Iron Egg gifts the host a rocket*l¡ªHere¡¯s your gas money!] [Yay!] [Lol, you really know how to ask for gifts.] [Pete the Non-Sticky gifts the host membership cards*10¡ªI want to curse! Give gifts and curse! Dare to silence me and I¡¯ll stop giving!] [Kid, you¡¯re too young, don¡¯t do this; it¡¯s too cheap for this bunch of dogs] Watching from the back seat, Du Chuan nodded. He had chosen Pan Wei from among the myriad of hosts because he was shameless enough. Shameless enough, good at asking for gifts, and afterward acting as if nothing had happened. This was by no means derogatory; it was an outright compliment. To do this job, one needed that kind of brazenness¡ªthe more shameless, the more one would earn. Many viewers are like this; they need a bit of begging. Otherwise, there wouldn¡¯t be so many authors on the Chinese web constantly begging¡ªit¡¯s because begging really works! If you don¡¯t push them, you¡¯ll never know how many tickets and savings readers have! ¡°Alright, I need to sleep for the next few hours to recharge and continue the journey; I will have to pause the live stream for a few hours.¡± Bi Fang paid no attention to the noisy group; instead, he turned off the live stream amidst the reluctance of the viewers and lay down in the sandy pit. Great opportunity! The previously woozy Du Chuan and others instantly revived at full health; their moves began to shine, rising a few degrees in the scorching desert. They had been waiting for this moment! The tall guy kicked Pan Wei¡¯s seat back, and Pan Wei screamed with a voice that was about to smoke. ¡°Don¡¯t miss out as you pass by! Master Fang¡¯s live room is closed, but Brother Pan¡¯s live room is still open! You all can come over here! Don¡¯t you want to see if anyone will come to send supplies? Don¡¯t the female fans want to see Master Fang¡¯s sleeping posture? You¡¯ll find everything here!¡± As expected, the next moment, the popularity of their live rooms surged again, quickly breaking through the one million mark! Rockets, fish balls pouring in; it was all so captivating. [Wow, impressive, a different perspective.] [Not for anything else, but to come in and curse you guys!] [I¡¯ll watch quietly, won¡¯t say a word.] [Gifting a rocket.] [I don¡¯t care if I get banned; I still want to loudly curse your shamelessness!] In the Jeep, Du Chuan and the others exchanged joyful glances, all breaking into smiles, with the tall guy even starting to moderate the comments. Even though they were dizzy from the sun and starting to peel, at this moment. It was worth it! As for negative reviews. Who cares about negative reviews when you¡¯re serious? In the afternoon, Bi Fang slowly awoke, he turned his head towards the cave entrance, only to see several blood-red figures staring intently at him from outside the cave. Blood corpses? Just awakened and still groggy, Bi Fang was startled by the sight, thinking some creature from a novel had found its way to the desert, almost plastering himself to the rock wall. What the hell? But once Bi Fang gathered his wits, he finally realized what those blood corpse-like things were, he rubbed his face, and after confirming he wasn¡¯t dreaming, couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud. A few meters away in the jeep, Du Chuan and the others were staring at Bi Fang without blinking. No one was shouting anymore, and the only noise left was the howling of the wind whipping up the sand inside and outside the vehicle. The air was filled with a deathly silence. Their skin was blood-red and swollen. Pan Wei and the fat man in the front had dense white blisters like clustered grapes on their foreheads, and large flakes of white dead skin peeling off from both sides of their cheeks. They looked exactly like blood corpses from a movie whose skin had been peeled off! ¡°Damn it!¡± The fat man hammered the steering wheel hard, and the wail of the car horn carried far through the sand. To have gotten sunburned like this, won¡¯t it ruin my face? Although I wasn¡¯t much to look at to begin with, but¡­ Shit! If it weren¡¯t for the gifts already amounting to several hundred thousand, and I could get several tens of thousands afterwards, I wouldn¡¯t be suffering like this for anything! Even my wife won¡¯t recognize me! ¡°Be patient, you can get it treated when we return, and furthermore, it will cool down when it gets dark. You all know that evening is prime time for live streaming, and the revenue could easily double,¡± Du Chuan tried to calm the restless spirits with a shot of encouragement. On the other side, Bi Fang had started live streaming and heard what Du Chuan had said. Evening? Do I really have that opportunity? Having started the live stream, Bi Fang narrowed his eyes, greeted his audience with a quick hello, and without further ado, got up and left the cave, climbing up to stand on the highest sand dune with sand slipping under his feet. Atop the dune, Bi Fang gazed into the distance. The sun was setting in the west, turning the earth fiery red. The sandy ground was barren, with nothing but endless sand dunes and scorching air. There was no water, no shade of trees, only the sweeping sandstorms that provided temporary relief from the blazing sun. The ferocious sandstorm enveloped everything, burying everything in its path. It was as if the whole world was a furnace. This time Bi Fang wasn¡¯t trying to find his way; he was searching, determined to find a piece of the ¡°desert¡± that was different. Finally, within his field of vision, a patch of noticeably darker sand stood out. It was a bit far, but worth it. Bi Fang quickly slid down the dune and headed in that direction without explanation or conversation. [Why isn¡¯t Master Fang talking?] [Yeah, didn¡¯t he used to tell stories when traveling before¡­] [It¡¯s so serious, feels like Master Fang is getting down to business.] [A serious Master Fang is also handsome!] [emmm¡­] As evening approached, Pan Wei and the others finally felt a bit better, they rolled down the windows; the air was still hot but no longer scorching their nostrils and throat. However, Bi Fang¡¯s silence was causing them some worry. ¡°Hey, hey! Don¡¯t fall asleep!¡± Pan Wei initially wanted to ask the fat man, but when he turned his head, he saw the fat man constantly ¡°nodding off¡± and quickly shook him awake. ¡°Hmm? Huh!¡± The fat man wiped the sweat from his forehead and regained consciousness, seeing Pan Wei calling him, he shook his head, ¡°No problem, I¡¯m fine, just a bit tired.¡± ¡°Have some water and take a moment, we¡¯ll switch soon,¡± Du Chuan also noticed the fat man was off. ¡°Okay, okay!¡± The fat man took the water and nodded repeatedly. Better switch soon. For some reason, he felt like vomiting, and his head was spinning. Could it be carsickness? I¡¯ve been driving for so many years, an old hand behind the wheel, how could I get carsick? Trying to suppress the rising acid, the fat man took another sip of water.. Chapter 110 - Chapter 110: Chapter 107: What do you mean impossible? Chapter 110: Chapter 107: What do you mean impossible? Translator 549690339 The fatty rubbed his face, and his fingernail accidentally burst a blister on his forehead, causing a searing pain once again. Clear, whitish fluid flowed down, directly mixing with the sweat and seeping into his eyes. The fatty quickly pulled out a tissue to wipe it off, but the car suddenly veered to one side, startling everyone. Fortunately, the fatty quickly steered the wheel back, steadying the jeep once again. ¡°Maybe I should drive?¡± the tall guy looked a bit panicked and nudged the fatty¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Let¡¯s switch after we get to the area up ahead; it¡¯s easy to get stuck if we stop here,¡± Du Chuan also began to worry. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll look for a flat area to switch,¡± the fatty nodded repeatedly. The sand in the Qaidam Desert was too loose, creating a lot of resistance against the vehicle¡¯s tires. Stopping carelessly could likely cause the vehicle to sink, leading to undesirable outcomes such as the engine stalling. The fatty, who had been driving in the desert for most of the day, had also gathered some experience. It felt as if the steering wheel had become much heavier, difficult to turn, like an old machine that had run out of lubricating oil. Perhaps it was because he was too tired and had no strength left. That¡¯s what the fatty thought with a heavy head. What nobody noticed was that, accompanying the gradual drop in temperature, a teeth-gritting metallic deformation sound was quietly occurring in an unknown place. Faint black smoke was drifting out from around the radiator, and the fresh green drops that seeped out didn¡¯t even get a chance to fall before quickly evaporating into the air. An hour later, Bi Fang slowly approached the darker seas of sand. The increasingly sinking sun cast all the colors in a gloomy shade, and nobody could tefl the difference between this part of the desert and the previous one, not even Bi Fang himself. But Bi Fang was not panicked at all; as he slowed down his pace, he finally started to talk. Since he had been silent before, there were now only about eighty thousand people in the livestream, with many having temporarily left the stream. And just when everyone thought Bi Fang was about to share some more survival tips, to everyone¡¯s surprise, the content he elaborated on this time was very similar to what he had started with. And his tone lacked any fluctuations, calm as if he was an outstanding student reciting a text. The Qaidam Desert, officially called the Qaidam Basin Desert, ranks fifth among the eight major deserts in China and covers an area of 34,900 square kilometers. The Qaidam Desert is located in the hinterlands of the vast inland Qaidam Basin in the northeastern part of the Tibetan Plateau. Standing at an elevation of 2,500 to 3,000 meters, it is the highest desert in China.¡± [Looks like Master Fang is getting confused; hasn¡¯t he already talked about this before?] [Is Old Fang running out of stories? Before, while traveling, he used to talk so much more¡ªalmost like a chatty host. ] [Probably too tired to talk, look, the others aren¡¯t jumping around anymore. ] [A piece of trivia: The energy expended when a person speaks is very minimal, such that even if you talked continuously without stopping for a year, you wouldn¡¯t release enough energy to boil a cup of water. ] [This is the desert, have you not considered the moisture lost from speaking? ] [The energy expenditure from talking is already small, nitpicker (pus-filled soybean). ] [Damn it! I¡¯m talking about the loss of water, who¡¯s arguing energy with you? ] The quarrel among the Shuiyou did not affect Bi Fang, who crossed a sand dune and continued. ¡°The Qaidam Desert, with its interlacing sand dunes, Gobi, salt lakes, and saline plains, has a desert and wind-eroded surface area of 35,000 square kilometers, where moving sands account for approximately 70%, mainly composed of crescent-shaped dune chains. However, the moving sands here are not the same as the moving sands I am about to talk about.¡± ¡°What I am going to discuss is nature¡¯s most ingeniously designed mechanism, which could be hidden on riverbanks, coastal regions, or even in a neighbor¡¯s ¡¯ backyard, and could turn a large area of soil into a semi-fluid state due to the arrival of an earthquake.¡± In 1692, Port Royal in Jamaica experienced soil liquefaction caused by an earthquake that turned the ground into quicksand, resulting in the disappearance of one-third of the city and the deaths of two thousand people.¡± Hearing about one-third of a city disappearing made everyone¡¯s eyelids twitch. That sounded too exaggerated¡ªone-third of a city? How could that be possible? Following closely behind Bi Fang, Du Chuan heard, and a buzzing rose in his head, suddenly filled with an ominous premonition that ¡°something bad is about to happen.¡± He glanced at the pale-faced fatty, whose ghastly white face no longer resembled that of a living person, and, startled, suddenly shouted, ¡°Stop right now!¡± The fatty, jolted by the shout, felt his heart contract violently, and the intense pressure made it impossible for him to hold back anymore¡­ ¡°Ugh!¡± The vomit, reeking of a foul stench, came hurtling towards Pan Wei, who instinctively closed his eyes, only to taste bitterness in his mouth. Realizing what was happening, he immediately felt his stomach convulse. The strong sensation of nausea surged up, and Pan Wei, already feeling unwell, began to vomit as well. The entire cabin was instantly filled with the stench of vomit, the tall man¡¯s lips turning pale, feeling equally nauseated. The online friends in the live broadcast were all stunned, having never witnessed such a gross live stream before. Witnessing this scene, Du Chuan suddenly felt a fear arise, his temples throbbing madly, as if centipedes were crawling across his forehead. The sudden sense of crisis exploded like a fiery phoenix in Du Chuan¡¯s mind, violently colliding as if to burst his skull open! Once again, he thought of that eye contact. A spear-like vicious aura rushed at him, the unsecured gun once again pressed against his forehead. A massive fear, as deep as an abyss, struck him. The next moment, Du Chuan lunged forward, pressing down on the vomiting fatty, trying to turn the steering wheel. It was too late! The Jeep, with the accelerator floored by the fatty, sped up, crossing over the sand dune! ¡°This is a black hole hell, swallowing up all life that steps onto this land.¡± Bi Fang turned around; the quicksand made his body slowly sink as he watched the Jeep surge over the sand dune, his tone still as unhurried as ever. ¡°Welcome, to hell.¡± Boom! The towering sand dune collapsed in an instant, thousands of tons of sand poured down, lifting the Jeep like a tsunami, carrying it into the basin surrounded by sand dunes. All the viewers were shocked by this sudden turn of events, and for a moment, the live stream was devoid of any comments! Du Chuan and the tall man were the first to open the car doors in an attempt to escape but fell into the sand with one step. Pan Wei and the fatty also opened their doors, trying to struggle and flee, but they sank like stones in mud, utterly ineffective. Quicksand! The immense fear seized the hearts of Du Chuan and his companions, their faces drained of blood, frantically trying to escape but invariably sinking deeper. Soon, the sand had risen above their waists! ¡°Hey, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± the tall man slapped the fatty, only to find no response. The fatty had actually fainted! As the weather cooled down, it was precisely the time for the sand to release heat, scorching everyone like grains of fire, causing the already nearly exhausted fatty to lose consciousness instantly! How could this be? Du Chuan couldn¡¯t understand why Bi Fang would lead them to quicksand, was he not afraid of dying- just as Du Chuan felt that Bi Fang wanted to drag them to their deaths and turned to scold him furiously, his pupils shrank to the size of needle points the moment he saw Bi Fang. ¡°How is this possible!¡± Anger surged in Du Chuan¡¯s chest, almost bursting from his throat. Bi Fang braced himself with his hands, shakily stood up, and leisurely patted himself off.. With a puzzled expression, he said, ¡°Hm? What did you say? Impossible?¡± Chapter 111 - Chapter 111: Chapter 108 Im Not a Demon Either Chapter 111: Chapter 108 I¡¯m Not a Demon Either Translator: 549690339 Du Chuan felt that Bi Fang¡¯s gaze was regarding him as if he were a fool, his face was stiff as ice. Dense blood vessels threaded through the whites of his eyes, and it felt like there was blood dripping down his own heart. ¡°This is murder!¡± ¡°Nonsense! How can you smear someone¡¯s reputation like that?¡± Bi Fang was furious, pointing at the expanse of quicksand before him, angrily saying, ¡°Do you think I knew in advance that this was quicksand? Didn¡¯t I fall in just a moment ago as well?¡± ¡°Can you tell the difference between this patch of desert and the ones before? Huh? Speak up!¡± The questioning left Du Chuan momentarily breathless. Yes, even if the other party did it intentionally, what evidence did he have to prove it? Under the dim sky, all the desert was the same shade of grayish-black. Where was the difference? Du Chuan tried desperately to recall, when suddenly, a jolt, like an electric current, went through him¡ªhe remembered the last thing Bi Fang had said and immediately pointed at Bi Fang¡¯s nose and cursed furiously. ¡°Then why did you say ¡®welcome to Hell¡¯?¡± ¡°I meant to scare the audience, but who would have thought this place really was quicksand.¡± Bi Fang, looking at the steadily sinking Du Chuan, was still calm and composed. Bi Fang¡¯s acting was so convincing that Du Chuan for a moment couldn¡¯t discern the truth, and just as he was about to speak again, Pan Wei beside him couldn¡¯t hold on any longer. ¡°Master Fang, save me! Please, I beg you, save me! I don¡¯t want to die, I really don¡¯t want to die!¡± ¡°I swear, I swear I¡¯ll stop leeching off your popularity from now on, please, I¡¯m begging you!¡± ¡°I have an old parent above me, a young child below me, I can¡¯t die yet, it¡¯s all him! He led this, I was just confused!¡± Under the huge shock, Pan Wei cried as if blood were bursting, mucus mixed with vomit sliding down the corners of his mouth. His breath was like that of someone about to freeze to death in the deep cold of the night, exhaling feeble white air, yet he did not forget to point his finger at Du Chuan to lay blame. Severe sunburn combined with water intoxication, wet sand compressing the chest and squeezing the lungs, causing breathing difficulties, it was already a testament to his survival instinct that he hadn¡¯t fainted from such a significant shock. Old Fang had saved so many people last time, so he would come to save him this time too, right? Pan Wei naively thought. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to, but you¡¯re so far away, how can I save you?¡± Bi Fang spread his hands, indicating he really was powerless. The other was sent directly over by the collapse of the dune, at least tens of meters away from him; there were no trees, no ropes, how to save? What? Use torn clothes as a rope to throw? He, a frail man, who couldn¡¯t even pluck a chicken, how was he supposed to tear clothes? It¡¯s no use. Bi Fang shook his head in disappointment. He too wanted to save them, but he really was powerless! Du Chuan was left to rely on himself. Meanwhile, the online friends who had been watching were already dumbstruck. Since the collapse of the dune, they could no longer understand how events were unfolding. Is someone going to die here? Is there any way to save them? Many people¡¯s impressions of quicksand came entirely from various films; in their minds, quicksand was a monstrous creature that could suck people into a bottomless hole. Once trapped in it, one couldn¡¯t extricate themselves, and could only watch helplessly as the victim was swallowed by the sand in a mere moment. [This is a bit too much¡­] [What¡¯s too much? Master Fang didn¡¯t do it on purpose, didn¡¯t you see he just fell in as well? Can¡¯t you think a bit?] [They got what they deserved, they chose to follow; if they lose their lives, who¡¯s to blame? Better to die early and be reincarnated earlier.] [The above is over the line.] [Stop playing the saint, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s too much, no one¡¯s dead yet, right? This is instant karma!] [Won¡¯t Old Fang get into trouble? For not assisting someone in danger?] [If he¡¯s not capable of saving, how can he save? Didn¡¯t you see how far away it is? Swim over to save? I think that¡¯s doable.] As the online friends argued, Du Chuan and the others had already sunk to their chests, and breathing was becoming difficult. Pan Wei was crying his eyes out, fear gripping his heart like a claw, scraping deep bloody marks upon it. He felt a warmth in his crotch. The moisture in the surrounding sand had increased. In the midst of his panic, Du Chuan could no longer afford to consider whether Bi Fang¡¯s actions were intentional or not; Pan Wei turning against him wasn¡¯t on his mind either, he just wanted to survive! Grasping at the nearby car, Du Chuan tried to pull himself up by the counterforce, but it was no use at all¡ªthe horrifying suction coming from his lower body was relentless! Why isn¡¯t it working? Du Chuan panicked, truly panicked. He had never imagined that he would risk his life just trying to catch on to some popularity. Wrapped in burning hot quicksand, Du Chuan felt like he was being cooked alive as large droplets of sweat fell from his body. ¡°You must remember that the more you struggle in quicksand, the faster you sink. If you stay still, the sinking will be very slow. Moreover, this is wet sand. Just be honest and you won¡¯t sink,¡± Bi Fang pointed to the unconscious fatty with a look of concern. Indeed, among the four people, only the fatty who had hardly moved was decently stuck in the sand, with the sand only up to his buttocks, and he had barely sunk at all. Seeing this, Du Chuan and the others dared not move, fearful that sinking further might truly mean the end for them. ¡°You¡¯re lucky it¡¯s wet sand, not dry sand. Theoretically, wet sand is just sand permeated with water. The friction between the grains decreases, creating a semi-liquid, weight-bearing difficult mixture of sand and water.¡± Bi Fang scooped up some quicksand, clutched it in his hand, and squeezed tightly¡ªhis online friends could clearly see that the sand stuck together like putty. Just like the watered-down mud we played with as children. The danger of wet sand isn¡¯t very high, nor is it as dangerous as everyone thinks. As long as one masters certain techniques, survival is quite simple, which is why Bi Fang dared to do so. ¡°In this type of quicksand, if you think that by shaking you can loosen the sand around your body, making it easier to pull out your limbs, you¡¯re terribly mistaken. Such movement will only speed up the sedimentation of the clay, increasing the viscosity of the quicksand, causing you to sink deeper the more you struggle.¡± ¡°To escape quicksand like this, the trapped person must gently move their feet, allowing water and sand to seep into the vacuum created to alleviate the pressure on their body while gradually letting the sand loosen.¡± ¡°Additionally, one must strive to spread their limbs apart as widely as possible, because the greater the surface area of the body that touches the sand, the greater the buoyancy obtained. Provided the trapped person has enough patience and moves gently enough, they can slowly extricate themselves.¡± Bi Fang spoke earnestly, and Du Chuan and the others listened intently, wishing they could glue their ears to his face. The distance, however, made some words unclear. But they all caught the key points. Move gently, slowly extract oneself. ¡°In fluid mechanics, quicksand is classified as a dilatant fluid, meaning the greater the shear, the more resistance the quicksand has to shearing motion. Researchers have calculated that to pull out one foot of a person trapped at the rate of one centimeter per second would require about 100,000 Newtons of force, roughly the equivalent of lifting a medium-sized car.¡± ¡°Therefore, unless there¡¯s a crane to help, it¡¯s tough to pull someone out of quicksand all at once. Besides, based on this calculation, if one was to pull forcefully, the person¡¯s body would likely be torn apart before the quicksand ¡®let go¡¯.¡± Torn apart? Many viewers were startled by the word. [Holy shit, is it that terrifying?] [Hand-tearing devils?] [Now we¡¯re getting into fluid mechanics, take a look. What doesn¡¯t Master Fang know? Meteorology, geography, biology¡­ emmm] [So terrifying! Surprised to find out Master Fang really knows everything!] [But Master Fang climbed up so quickly, I didn¡¯t see clearly, how did he manage that?] ¡°Because 1 react quickly. Wet sand is slow quicksand; as long as you don¡¯t sink too deep, with swift movements and accurate direction, you can escape it,¡± Bi Fang explained. Knowing that he was dealing with quicksand, Bi Fang had been prepared all along¡ªnow his response level was a high 12, significantly surpassing that of ordinary people. ¡°However, many people were not focusing on my side at that time. If you missed it, you can wait for my survival success and then check the edited video I¡¯ll post on B Island.¡± Bi Fang was both speaking to his online friends and teaching Du Chuan and the others survival techniques. Severe sunburn, water intoxication¡­ Bi Fang touched the scorching sand, hmm, now he had to add low temperature burns, breathing difficulties, wound infection, and dehydration to the list. With this entire process, the chances of dying weren¡¯t high, they¡¯d just lose some skin at worst. After all, he wasn¡¯t a demon and was relatively magnanimous. They didn¡¯t have any serious feud to die for, just a bunch of shameless people looking to catch on to some popularity. It wasn¡¯t worth making a deadly enemy of them. Make a show of punishing one to warn the others. To let those who wanted to buzz off his popularity next time weigh up if they could handle another encounter like this. Whether they were up to the challenge.. Chapter 112 - Chapter 112: Chapter 109: The Gap Between People Chapter 112: Chapter 109: The Gap Between People Translator: 549690339 ¡°Don¡¯t struggle, because the more you struggle, the faster you sink.¡± Bi Fang kindly reminded the panicked individuals. Paralyzed in the quicksand, Du Chuan didn¡¯t dare to move; looking at Bi Fang¡¯s well-intentioned face, he felt a chill. He wanted to curse out loud, but feared that the rising and falling of his chest would hasten his sinking. The suppressed anger made Du Chuan¡¯s face turn bright red. Du Chuan couldn¡¯t understand how Bi Fang dared to do such a thing during a live stream. Wasn¡¯t he afraid of dying? Many discerning viewers also began to worry. Even if wet quicksand wasn¡¯t lethal, if word got out, it would surely strike a blow to Bi Fang¡¯s reputation. Although their fans were aware of what happened, the masses didn¡¯t care about the truth; they only believed what they wanted to see. Bi Fang knew this, but he didn¡¯t care. For him, the greater loss would be letting such clout-chasing antics occur rather than losing some favor with the general public. They had to be nipped in the bud! The previous sunburn and water intoxication had been their own doing; now, it was Bi Fang¡¯s real counterattack! In the future, those who sought to leech off his popularity would definitely think twice because of this incident¡ªthey wouldn¡¯t dare to bet whether Bi Fang would lend a hand should they find themselves in peril. However, Bi Fang had no intentions of killing anyone. The danger of wet quicksand was actually not very high. It was more about psychological intimidation. Dutch scientists had conducted several experiments and found that while one would sink to an extent in wet quicksand, it wouldn¡¯t result in complete submersion. Most deaths were caused by other factors, such as being at the seaside where, failing to be rescued in time, one would drown when the tide came in¡­ The real danger lay in dry quicksand. Being trapped in a silo full of grain, that was the truly fatal risk. Even now, Bi Fang was not sure he could escape on his own. So, he dared to lead these people here, confident that it wouldn¡¯t result in any fatalities. As a public figure, Bi Fang was aware that his actions were scrutinized and magnified. While punishing the offenders, he still had to avoid casting a negative shadow; that was his true consideration. In the desert, one doesn¡¯t just stumble upon a patch of sand that¡¯s a vastly different color for no reason. The only possibility for such a scenario is the presence of wet quicksand. Because the sand is soaked with liquid, the air bubbles in its internal structure are displaced by water. When light travels through air and water to hit the sand¡¯s surface, its path changes, creating total internal reflection. The light trapped by the water can¡¯t escape, hence the color looks darker. By the same logic, there must be an underground river beneath this patch of quicksand. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be possible for so much water vapor to seep through. Too bad it¡¯s unusable. He couldn¡¯t dig a well in the midst of quicksand. Bi Fang sighed, but he did everything he was supposed to on the surface. In order to avoid criticism, he had to personally demonstrate how to survive when deeply submerged in quicksand. ¡°Everyone thinks quicksand is frightening simply because it¡¯s been demonized by movies and TV shows. In fact, if they didn¡¯t jump out of the car, they¡¯d be safe. They just need to stay inside the car and wait for rescue.¡± Bi Fang jumped into the quicksand and, gasping for breath, he shuffled slightly to sink faster. ¡°A car with its doors closed has a lower density than the human body. As long as they stay inside and open a window, they¡¯re not in any danger.¡± Shuiyou watching saw the jeep Bi Fang was pointing at. It was only partially sunk with its hood still visible, stuck in the quicksand without sinking any further. So all the panic from those people earlier was for nothing? Du Chuan and the others subconsciously clenched their fists, feeling embarrassed. Although they couldn¡¯t see the comments, they could imagine how the viewers would mock them; it felt as if they were being stripped and tortured in front of everyone. It was more unbearable than being sunburned into stupidity. What? They were already foolish? Then never mind. [Advanced Mockery, this is definitely Advanced Mockery! ] [At the end of the day, they have no real skill. Dare to come to the desert for clout, isn¡¯t that just courting death?] [The contrast is clear. Initially, there wasn¡¯t much of a highlight in this livestream, but as soon as these people showed up, they handed Master Fang another hot search!] [Why is no one concerned about Master Fang jumping into the quicksand¡­] [You newbies don¡¯t understand. The ones above clearly haven¡¯t seen Old Fang self-buried in a blizzard. We old fans are used to this. You newcomers need to adapt!] [Now I just feel that Old Fang is showing off, I don¡¯t sense any danger at all.] [Majestic arrogance for thirty thousand miles! One show dazzles the nineteen provinces!] [Glasses Man: Thank you, I¡¯ve been packed in.] [Those of you over there, watch closely and learn well! Master Fang is doing this for you, repaying evil with kindness. I¡¯m moved to tears, uuu.] As the audience sent a barrage of messages, Bi Fang, trapped in quicksand, felt his lower body heavy as iron, sinking desperately and tightly gripped by the quicksand. The pressure in the quicksand was much greater than in water. When it rose to his chest, Bi Fang found it hard to breathe, each inhalation and exhalation requiring much effort. The immense pressure squeezed his lungs, trying to force all the air out. Even so, Bi Fang waited until the quicksand had covered half his chest, leaving only his shoulders exposed¡ªwhile the audience watched in horror¡ªbefore he began demonstrating how to survive. ¡°I said it before, when you fall into quicksand, never panic and struggle. That will only make your situation more dangerous,¡± he explained. Bi Fang took a deep breath, but even the slightest movement seemed to cause him to sink deeper. This depth was already extremely dangerous. His body was almost entirely submerged, and even the smallest movement could cause changes in the surrounding environment, making it very difficult to exert any force. ¡°Heartbeats, breathing¡ªthe slightest tremors actually change the structure of the quicksand around us, causing us to sink deeper. It¡¯s like triggering an avalanche just because a leading icicle fell, which then leads to a natural disaster.¡± ¡°This is also why I hoped they would stay in the car and not come out, because a car is inanimate; it doesn¡¯t move.¡± Du Chuan and the others felt their hearts stabbed once more, each stab deadly. Is shrimp gentler than a pig¡¯s heart? It¡¯s so terrifying. I don¡¯t even want to live broadcast anymore. Amid Pan Wei¡¯s sobbing, Bi Fang handled the situation with ease. ¡°The first step to surviving quicksand is to shed everything you¡¯re carrying.¡± Bi Fang took off his backpack and dropped it onto the sandy ground, a step that required no explanation and was easily understood. ¡°If possible, you should also remove your shoes. They create a lot of resistance when you try to pull your feet out, especially those kinds of boots with flat, hard soles. But I¡¯m sunk too deep; in this situation, it¡¯s best not to force it.¡± ¡°Next, you need to increase the surface area in contact with the quicksand. Just like I¡¯m doing, you slowly shift your body. Remember, you must move slowly¡ª don¡¯t hurry, because hurrying won¡¯t help with such a big problem.¡± The audience was really paying attention, but they almost laughed out loud at his last sentence. [666, such a big problem, and the host has got it under control.] [Give up struggling.] [The one opposite seems to be learning seriously. It looks like they were paying attention.] [Can they afford not to be serious? Not listening is a death sentence] [Little Sunflower Father Fang¡¯s class is now in session!] [Planting a big tree for the host, sending a rocket*l¡ªgo for it! All the best!] ¡°Has anyone learned to swim backstroke? The process is similar to that, but the speed needs to be many times slower to avoid intense environmental changes.¡± ¡°Quicksand¡¯s reactions to external forces are unpredictable, which means every movement you make must be slowed down so you can catch any harmful changes in the quicksand.¡± As Bi Fang leaned back slowly, the audience could clearly see his back sinking, but soon the large part of his chest emerged. ¡°Whew, it¡¯s much easier to breathe now, not as difficult as before.¡± Bi Fang gasped a few breaths and continued to explain, ¡°Lying back increases the surface area under pressure, distributing the upper body¡¯s pressure over the quicksand, reducing the pressure on your feet so they slowly come to the surface. During this process, there may be brief sinking, but don¡¯t be afraid. It¡¯s necessary.¡± Bi Fang looked down, watching his belly slowly rise as he gently began to rock from side to side. ¡°Once you feel your feet loosening, you should immediately roll onto your side and free them. This may dirty your clothes, but it is the quickest and safest way to escape.¡± The quicksand had now turned thick and sticky, like mud, with Bi Fang¡¯s face smeared with quite a bit of it. That¡¯s another characteristic of quicksand. As soon as the surface of the sand is disturbed by movement, it rapidly ¡°liquefies.¡± The surface sand becomes loose, and the shallower layers start to run down quickly; they become thicker and thicker as more moisture seeps in. When Bi Fang¡¯s legs had fully emerged from the mud-like quicksand, he started to use a swimming-like motion, inching and struggling to the edge of the quicksand. Quickly resting his head on the dry sand, Bi Fang gritted his teeth and propped his upper body onto the ground. This process was extremely draining, and after having ¡°swum¡± in such resistant quicksand, he was already beginning to tire. His arm muscles were slightly sore, but Bi Fang didn¡¯t rest. Taking a break would let the energy dissipate, and it would take more energy to get going again. He clenched his teeth and with a roll, he finally got ashore! Du Chuan and the others were stunned. Could the gap between people be this wide? Covered in mud and after rolling in dry sand, Bi Fang took deep breaths, then sat up, turning to give a thumbs-up to the drone. He had succeeded! Chapter 113 - Chapter 113: Chapter 110: Traffic Light Chapter 113: Chapter 110: Traffic Light Translator: 549690339 When Bi Fang crawled out of the quicksand, he looked up at the sky, took deep breaths, and each breath went deep into his lungs. Oxygen traveled through his blood into his whole body, quickly relieving his fatigue and soreness. A refreshing vigor surged up, as if a martial arts master had just unleashed the power in his lower abdomen, or as if he had just devoured a bowl of piping hot tofu pudding. Unobstructed and exhilarating! In the live-streaming room, needless to say, another barrage of gifts rained down. This also set Bi Fang apart from other streamers. While other streamers danced energetically, many viewers remained free-riders, sneering at the streamers¡¯ pleas for gifts, but what they saw from Bi Fang genuinely impressed them. Capable people always find it easier to earn respect from others. He deserved it! ¡°Did you get it?¡± Stiff-necked and within the quicksand, Du Chuan asked. ¡°Probably¡­ I guess?¡± Du Chuan hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded. He looked up at the edge, a dozen meters away, then at the car beside him. He felt a direct escape was unrealistic; it might be better to get onto the roof of the car and wait for rescue. Ten minutes later. The sky had turned a dark red hue. The evening breeze brought a chill. With sweat pouring down like rain, Du Chuan gently pulled on the car door, trying to pull himself out of the quicksand. When he finally managed to get more than half of his body onto the hood, he pushed hard against it, hoping to break free entirely, only to slip due to the great resistance from the quicksand on his legs, and he slid back into it. Bi Fang watched the others still floundering and smiled, occasionally providing commentary. Seeing that Du Chuan had squandered his previous effort, he certainly wasn¡¯t going to let this opportunity pass. ¡°You see, actually, Glasses Guy was too hasty there. Just now, he should have stepped up with one foot first, but he wanted to get up all at once, too eager for quick success. As a result, he didn¡¯t hold on and fell back in, all effort wasted.¡± [Hahaha, it¡¯s like a pig rolling in a mud pit.] [The difference is clear, all thumbs.] [Ultimate effort!] [He¡¯s getting anxious, he¡¯s really anxious now.] [Nice, so satisfying, suddenly they don¡¯t seem that annoying anymore.] ¡°Actually, the best method of escape is still to be preventive and avoid getting into dangerous situations. When we feel our feet starting to stick, we should immediately move back a few steps to avoid falling into quicksand.¡± ¡°Generally, the transformation of sand and soil into a liquid mixture of water and particles takes about a minute, so escaping promptly before then is the best strategy to evade quicksand.¡± ¡°That¡¯s also why I like to have a walking stick prepared. You see, a stick is very useful even in quicksand.¡± Observing the disheveled few, Bi Fang decided to explain a few more points to his audience. ¡°If I had had a stick just now, I could¡¯ve laid it across the quicksand, then used the stick as a support under my back.¡± ¡°After doing that, within a minute or two, our body would achieve balance and stop sinking. Then, you place the stick under your buttocks, stopping them from sinking too. Next, gently pull out one leg, and then the other.¡± ¡°This method of escape would save a lot more energy than what I did just now. Unfortunately, this place is too barren, and there isn¡¯t even a tree to be found, so I can¡¯t demonstrate it to everyone.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s voice carried a hint of regret. The importance of a handy tree stick was hard for someone who hadn¡¯t experienced the outdoors to imagine, and he had turned the tree stick into a recurring joke, always needing to remind people of its presence. Having lived through the previous era when online traffic was king, Bi Fang was well aware of the power of memes, so he kept fostering this concept. From the tree stick to the fixed few words he always said at the start of each stream, to his advice on not running away in fear when facing wild animals, all of this would become significant personal trademarks, ones that people would remember for a lifetime. Years later, when he¡¯s old and grey, the younger generation will repeatedly attempt to conquer the wilderness, and the audience in front of the screen will naturally recall these lines, and thus think of him, the pioneering Wilderness Survivalist. These were indelible memories. [Amazing, the essential tool might be late, but it never disappears!] [Tree stick: Who would¡¯ve thought that in almost ten chapters, I¡¯d still have a chance to make an appearance?] The Shuiyou audience thought the desert tree stick joke wouldn¡¯t show up this time, but it still made an appearance. They launched into a barrage of danmaku, teasing the streamer. When it comes to playing with memes, they were professionals. But soon, a dense torrent of danmaku obscured Bi Fang¡¯s view. [Wait, damn, isn¡¯t that one climbing up over there?] [Damn, he actually is. Tall Guy is tough!] The Shuiyou danmaku alerted Bi Fang, and when he looked up again, he saw that one of the four, the tall one, had already climbed out of the quicksand and was standing on the car roof. With one person out, it meant they could help each other. Du Chuan and Pan Wei felt much lighter, reaching out for the tall one to pull them up. But a single comment from Bi Fang made the tall one freeze. ¡°Everyone should take note that it¡¯s actually very dangerous to rashly reach out to pull someone out of quicksand. As I said earlier, quicksand has great suction power. Unless there is a crane, it¡¯s absolutely impossible to pull someone out with human strength, and it¡¯s easy to be dragged down as well.¡± The tall one¡¯s hand, which he had just reached out, spun naturally in the air, and without any obvious flaws, he scratched his head and muttered an apology. Damn it! Green with frustration, Du Chuan had no choice but to continue struggling in the sandy sea with Pan Wei. Finally, after another dozen or so minutes, the two managed to stand on top of the car roof. The moment they escaped, Du Chuan looked up and took deep breaths, his smile returning, but then Bi Fang¡¯s voice rang out again, nearly breaking his composure. Damn, that guy was nothing but trouble. The jeep was rented, and now it¡¯s all gone. The money we made today will probably have to cover the loss. What a waste of time. Damn it! ¡°Consider yourselves lucky, because of last time, I made sure to have the helicopter record the landing position. If someone in your live stream calls for help, and there isn¡¯t a sandstorm, they might arrive within an hour or two.¡± ¡°Of course, if not, then you¡¯re on your own. You should know, it gets very cold here at night.¡± Seeing that they were safe, Bi Fang turned around, waved his hand at them without looking back, and climbed up the sand dune to leave. He might have felt relieved, but his seemingly mocking words echoed incessantly in Du Chuan and the others¡¯ ears. They were completely trapped in the quicksand and couldn¡¯t possibly get out on their own. [That¡¯s so badass, Master Fang that move, Shrimp and Pig¡¯s Heart!] [I can¡¯t wait either.] (Pete not so tough gifted the host a Rocket*l¡ªI feel like Brother Fang let them off too easy] [Lin Chang gifted the host Spaceship*io¡ªLittle brother, you¡¯re still too young, you don¡¯t understand the intricacies here, this is on camera.] ¡°Little brother¡­¡± Hearing this nickname made Wang Xiaocong gloomy, though still quite angry, ¡°I always feel like it¡¯s letting those bastards off too cheap.¡± ¡°No choice, this is the limit of what can be done on a live stream.¡± Kong Chao was very calm, ¡°Brother Fang is pretty smart, understands the game rules very well, almost a top-tier player. He has control over the situation, unlike you with your simple mind, a total noob.¡± ¡°???¡± Even though Wang Xiaocong was used to Kong Chao¡¯s daily mockery, he still responded with three question marks. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Literal meaning.¡± ¡°Damn! In the quicksand. On the hood of the jeep. ¡°Want a smoke, Brother Du?¡± Pan Wei offered a mud-covered cigarette, cautiously. ¡°You can¡¯t keep a damn phone secure but can hold onto a pack of cigarettes that tightly?¡± Seeing Pan Wei, Du Chuan was nearly driven to fury. That last wave, if the phone hadn¡¯t fallen into the quicksand, they could¡¯ve made at least tens of thousands! Now look, no phone and no way to make a distress call! After getting scolded, Pan Wei¡¯s hand trembled and he almost dropped the cigarette; Du Chuan rolled his eyes and snatched away both the cigarette and lighter. ¡°Alright, alright, get lost, I get angry just looking at you! Always causing more trouble than you¡¯re worth.¡± Pan Wei nodded repeatedly and ran to the top of the jeep. ¡°Not going to save the fatso?¡± The tall guy glanced at the fatso still stuck in the quicksand and mentioned. ¡°Save what, with his big ass he can¡¯t sink even if he tried, what¡¯s there to save?¡± Du Chuan lit the cigarette and waved his hand impatiently. Seeing this, the tall guy didn¡¯t bring it up again. The cold wind blew as he shrank his body, still uncertain about how to endure what was coming. But no one noticed that the fatty, who had been unconscious for a while, blinked his eyelids. Hmm¡­ Where am I? Damn. My head hurts, and it¡¯s so tiring to breathe. My face hurts too, is it swollen? Did someone hit me? The fatty slowly opened his eyes in pain and then felt a heavy sensation below him. Where is this? Right, there was an accident. The fatty, still groggy, finally began to remember some things, but the slippery feeling underneath him was uncomfortable. He strained to pull out a hand and grabbed something at random, putting it to his nose to smell. A nasty odor hit him in the face. Such a strong smell of gasoline, is there a leak in the tank? This is, is¡­ Quicksand! Finally recalling what happened, the fatty jerked suddenly, his entire body struggling violently, but the quicksand soaked in gasoline was even stickier than before. As he moved, the surrounding sand ¡°liquefied,¡± and the jeep also started to become unstable. This big commotion caught Du Chuan¡¯s attention. He casually flicked away the burning cigarette and was about to tell the fatty to stop moving. Unexpectedly, this motion was clearly seen by the fatty, who turned around to call for help. His pupils shrank sharply, and his heart pounded like it was going to explode! An endless sea of sand with silhouettes swaying on the jeep, and above was the Milky Way spanning across the sky. In the distance on the horizon of the sea of sand, a huge white moon was slowly rising behind the jeep, the craters on its surface distinctly visible. Moonlight spilled down like an approaching tide along the coast. The sound of the tide swept in, and that pinpoint of red light under the veil of sand was exceptionally clear, like¡­ The signal light of the Grim Reaper. Chapter 114 - Chapter 114: Chapter 111 The Smell of Burning Trash Chapter 114: Chapter 111 The Smell of Burning Trash Translator: 549690339 ¡ã Bi Fang opened his backpack, took off his mud-stained windbreaker, shook off the sand, and put on his storm jacket again to ward off the cold wind. The drone soared high, and the frequency of comments suddenly decreased. Wang Yongbo, the person behind the scenes, was puzzled. It was 8 o¡¯clock in the evening, which should be the peak time for user activity. Why did the activity drop so much while they were on the move? But when he looked at the live broadcast screen, he was stunned. Under the night sky. Bi Fang walked on the cooling sands, with the Milky Way sprawling across the sky above him, and black shadows meandering across the land¡ªclouds blocking the moonlight. The wind sang in a low voice, like an ancient and mysterious song, reminiscent of the totemic characters on old stone pillars, inscribed there long before the world was born. That was the language used by the god of nature when creating the world, singing alone. He was omnipresent, the shifting sand dunes, the wind-eroded boulders, all quietly telling His stories. The vastness of the universe made the audience unable to discern where the wind was coming from; it seemed omnipresent, as if innumerable people from all directions were blowing xuns (ancient wind instruments), humming ancient and mysterious tunes. The clouds parted and the moon emerged, a perfect circle hanging in the sky, unveiling the stars above. A clean light filled the heavens, and on the boundless desert sands, each grain reflected the cold light of the stars and the moon. The boundless desert¡­ Yilihamu had lived amongst the dunes all his life but it was the first time he felt the desert to be so¡­ so grand, instilling awe in him. How beautiful. Many were at a loss for words, unable to find any terms to describe such a scene, and tacitly stopped sending comments. In that moment, their thoughts converged, their souls vibrated. Without the chatter of fools asking for gifts on the side, this clarity of the soul became even more pronounced. ¡°Beautiful, isn¡¯t it?¡± Bi Fang guessed what was on everyone¡¯s minds and voiced it. He stood still as the drone captured a 360-degree view of the entire desert and starry sky. The beauty that attracts you is the one that ensnares you without your notice. And how true this was. A beam of light piercing the night, a seed in the dirt just beginning to sprout green, a flower with a strange fragrance, a lazy cloud, a line of poetry that strikes the soul, a painting that captivates the heart, a sincere and touching melody. A vast and boundless starry sky and desert. [Suddenly feel like going for a Wilderness Survivalist experience, but what if I¡¯m not strong enough? Waiting online, urgent!] [Go for it, I¡¯ll sit at your wife¡¯s table, you don¡¯t have to worry] [Saved a screenshot for wallpaper, thrilled!] [I feel like all these years of traveling were wasted. I shouldn¡¯t have gone to cities; I should have gone to forests and deserts!] [Me too. Visiting other cities is just the same old thing, and crowded to boot.] [Watching Old Fang¡¯s live broadcast, my soul has been cleansed, oh Lord, I have sinned, I shouldn¡¯t have been born this handsome]} [Someone called me handsome, and I thought all night-who let the cat out of the bag?] As Bi Fang¡¯s fan base grew, the audience became more familiar with him, and many started to change the way they addressed him. From the original ¡°streamer¡± to ¡°Master Fang,¡± and now to ¡°Old Fang¡± as many people called him, it was evident in their address. It was a good thing; in fact, Bi Fang also felt this nickname was quite rustic, but many people liked it. After all, uniqueness could pique curiosity, curiosity brought clicks, and clicks brought traffic. Even if it was uniquely rustic. With the departure of Du Chuan and those few troublemakers, Bi Fang¡¯s live stream¡¯s popularity began to surge again. Back at the quicksand incident, there had already been a spike in interest, with the number of viewers exceeding one hundred and fifty thousand. The more passive Bi Fang had been, the more oppressive people felt; now, the more miserable Du Chuan and his crew were, the more exhilarating it was for the audience. The moment Du Chuan and the others got trapped in the quicksand, the online friends collectively reached a climax, ecstatic beyond measure. The gifts rolled in, taking Bi Fang to the top of the Wolf Fang TV gift rankings! Unrivaled! Moreover, Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast times were different from before, starting around eight or nine o¡¯clock when people¡¯s nightlife was just beginning. The online friends¡¯ activity level was incredibly high, and the popularity soared like a rocket. Gifts never stopped coming, to the point where even if Bi Fang sneezed, someone would send a gift praising the technical skill of the sneeze, making others green with envy. In such circumstances, the popularity quickly climbed to a staggering five million, rightfully earning him the title of a major broadcaster! Countless smaller broadcasters watched with eyes red with envy. Looking at Bi Fang¡¯s broadcasting experience, each live stream signified a new level, and to date, he had achieved a triple jump. What about next time? Is the top spot in Wolf Fang secure just like that? Mo Xiaoxian watched Bi Fang¡¯s meteoric rise and couldn¡¯t help but reveal a wry smile; who sat on the throne of the ¡°big brother¡± wasn¡¯t for him to decide. Perhaps in no more than two more sessions, he would have to step down and hand over his position as the lead of Wolf Fang. There was absolutely no comparison. This was the trend of the times; anyone with discernment could see that now, if anyone dared to challenge Bi Fang, they would be digging their own grave! Bi Fang had already become the uncrowned king of Wolf Fang¡¯s live broadcasts! Meanwhile, the drone was still soaring through the night sky. At the strong request of the audience, the drone flew high and filmed for a good ten minutes before returning to Bi Fang to continue the live broadcast. After coughing twice, Bi Fang began to explain the next objective. ¡°During the day in the desert, the heat and lack of water can quickly deplete your energy, so I chose to move at night. Because of the heat capacity of sand, the temperature at night in the desert is significantly lower, even cold, so I put on a windbreaker. The temperature now is about¡­¡± Bi Fang brought the topic back but suddenly sniffed, slightly puzzled. ¡°Strange, what¡¯s that burnt smell? What¡¯s burning?¡± Desert scents are monotonous, just a common bitter burnt smell, but just now, this burnt smell suddenly became much denser, like the scent of garbage being incinerated. It reminded him of the time not long ago when he had burnt bodies; the smell wasn¡¯t as complex, but there was a resemblance. [??? A burnt smell?] [Is someone coming? Or is there a fire nearby?] The live broadcast audience could only watch and listen, but not smell, so at this moment, they didn¡¯t notice anything special. However, some other comments in the chat caught Bi Fang¡¯s attention. [Say, why are Young Master Lin and Lord Mu missing?] [And that high school student too?] [Right, I wouldn¡¯t have realized if you hadn¡¯t mentioned it.] [Could it be that Old Fang, under oppressive power, would rather die than submit, so the big shots lost interest?] [Rather die than submit? Sounds interesting, tell me more!] Seeing the comments, Bi Fang realized that ever since a while back, Yao Jun and Lin Chang seemed to have stopped appearing in the chat. Logically, after driving away Du Chuan, shouldn¡¯t they have started showing off their Spaceships to blind his ¡°dog eyes¡±? Why have they all disappeared? But then, considering it again, Bi Fang let it go. ¡°After all, they are big bosses and students in real life; how could they possibly watch live broadcasts all the time? It¡¯s normal for them to leave for a while.¡± It would be really strange if they hung out in his live broadcast room every day. So, Bi Fang didn¡¯t think too much of it, and the viewers, having digressed, made him forget about the burnt smell. After all, this was the desert; there wouldn¡¯t be any forest fires. It didn¡¯t matter; perhaps some trash was really burning after all? Chapter 115 - Chapter 115: Chapter 112: The Valley Chapter 115: Chapter 112: The Valley Translator: 549690339 | Bi Fang zipped up his windbreaker and raised the collar to block the cold wind. The current temperature is probably between five and ten degrees Celsius, which is quite cold, but during the day, the desert reached an astonishing high temperature of around forty-five degrees Celsius. The temperature difference is over thirty degrees, which demonstrates the unique climate of the desert. So, if you want to go on a desert tour, you must prepare the necessary cold protection equipment.¡± ¡°Moreover, due to the scorching weather during the day, the pot of water I brought is almost finished, so I want to find a place to replenish my water supply before midnight.¡± [How do you find water in this place? Rely on an oasis?] [I always feel that oases are rare in the desert, usually only in novels] [Add one] [I¡¯m already looking forward to Master Fang¡¯s display of divine power] [That¡¯s right, Master Fang certainly has a way!] The audience can hardly imagine how to find a water source in such a barren desert. Yet they instinctively believe that Bi Fang can find it, which is a trust built up over a long time. To achieve this, the difficulty is comparable to a company trying to establish a good reputation; every single thing must be done correctly and with precision like a wristwatch. Precious. ¡°Don¡¯t pin your hopes on the existence of an oasis, they do exist but are hard to form, requiring a combination of many coincidental factors, which makes the probability of encountering one very small. My plan is to extract enough water from plants, like cactuses, for example.¡± To pin hopes on an elusive oasis is completely wrong; that is a miracle that only happens in movies and TV shows. Bi Fang had a clear goal. He didn¡¯t indulge in thoughts of finding an oasis, but finding plants in the desert was relatively simple. He opened his water bottle and drank the last sip of water, as if it were a do-or-die situation. His cracked lips moistened, regaining a bit of color. The task of finding water became more urgent. To find plants, of course, could not rely on luck. ¡°Survival is all about purposefulness. We have limited physical strength, so we must use our limited strength to achieve as much as possible. That¡¯s how we can significantly increase our chance of survival.¡± ¡°The wet quicksand we just encountered is an important clue. There¡¯s a complete and enormous underground river here; otherwise, we wouldn¡¯t have seen such an expanse of wet quicksand.¡± ¡°The conditions nearby shouldn¡¯t be as bad as before, all covered in dunes. If we can find a Gobi-like valley nearby, there will likely be green vegetation.¡± Bi Fang swallowed his saliva. Generally speaking, in places with lots of giant rocks, desertification isn¡¯t so severe¡ªit¡¯s mostly Gobi terrain. ¡°During times of war in the past, people fighting in the desert faced the biggest challenge of water scarcity.¡± ¡°To solve the water issue, scientists from Ugly Country came up with a method. It was to gradually reduce soldiers¡¯ water supply. If they didn¡¯t feel dehydrated, they could survive under water scarcity and develop physiological adaptation. ¡±But as you might guess, this method was not viable. A lack of water would only lead to a threat of death.¡± As he walked, Bi Fang casually mentioned another example. He was never a person who relied solely on the System. Instead, he actively learned and strived to improve the quality of his live broadcasts. After scouring through a vast array of materials and learning, he was now able to recount such stories effortlessly. Many long-time viewers from the beginning could clearly feel this. Even as Bi Fang was on the move, very few left; who doesn¡¯t love to hear a good story? [Awesome, Master Fang¡¯s time for a science lesson] [If I knew this much back in my day, I wouldn¡¯t be single now!] [You being single is because of this? Not because you¡¯re ugly?] [Don¡¯t expose people¡¯s shortcomings! Leave some leeway for others, so we can meet again in the future!] Quite interesting, huh. Bi Fang chuckled as he watched the barrage of comments from his online friends, and didn¡¯t feel as exhausted anymore. With company, one seldom feels lonely. ¡°To survive in the desert, the most important thing is to maintain a balance between physical activity, ambient temperature, and water consumption. To function normally at different temperatures, one must consume varying amounts of water.¡± ¡°Research indicates that under high temperatures or when performing strenuous labor, the average person needs to intake at least 3 liters of water per day. Without enough water, this advanced animal cannot make correct judgments or handle problems normally.¡± The human body needs to maintain a temperature around 37¡ãC. When we are active or in a hot environment, we easily sweat, and the amount of sweat is directly proportional to the temperature because we must perspire to dissipate heat in order to maintain body temperature balance. Otherwise, we can easily get sick.¡± Once we understand the relationship between activity, temperature, and the body¡¯s water content, we will know how to better reduce water consumption. Here, I have three ways to slow down the rate of dehydration.¡± Everyone perked up their ears. The connection between activity, temperature, and body hydration is very tight; a change in one often disrupts the balance of the others. Therefore, there are traces to follow to reduce water consumption. Expand sources, save expenses. ¡°First, reduce activity in high temperatures, which is why I avoid the sun during the day.¡± Second, make use of the sweat on our bodies. When we move, we must be fully equipped, using our clothes to preserve the sweat, keeping it on the skin. As it evaporates, we will feel cool. If exposed directly to the air, the sweat will evaporate in no time, serving no purpose.¡± ¡°The last point is, do not eat food that cannot rehydrate you when you are thirsty and lacking sufficient water supply!¡± Many viewers were listening attentively, but the last point puzzled them. Why shouldn¡¯t they eat? Doesn¡¯t eating provide energy? How can one escape the desert without strength? You are right, but before I came here, I also said something that you seem to have forgotten,¡± Bi Fang addressed the comments, explaining, ¡°At that time, I said, in the desert, survival is not the most important thing anymore, because this is not a short-term task. What¡¯s truly important is finding a water source!¡± ¡°Any food entering the body requires water to digest, so if you are very thirsty and do not have an ample water supply, and the food itself doesn¡¯t provide hydration, then definitely do not eat it!¡± Bi Fang slid down the dune, spat the sand from his mouth, and kicked a stone at his feet, feeling a slight joy. Deep in the desert, the presence of stones means getting closer to soil, even if it¡¯s just a Gobi, it¡¯s much better than a desert full of dunes. Because stones are heavy, even strong winds can hardly lift them, and under the cover of sandstorms year after year, except for real boulders, they would generally be buried under the sea of sand. Sure enough, after Bi Fang climbed over another dune, a sandstone terrain appeared before everyone. Every rock was bizarrely shaped, their jagged figures standing under the silvery white moonlight added an eerie look As Bi Fang stepped into this stretch of sandstone terrain alone, this sense of eeriness intensified. [It feels like a scene from a horror movie.] [I¡¯m a bit scared to watch, what do I do?] [Demons and devils, leave quickly, demons and devils, leave quickly!] [I¡¯ve already warned you, if you don¡¯t listen, that¡¯s on you!] [Silent Ridge 3 shooting in progress] ¡°What¡¯s there to be afraid of?¡± Bi Fang said with a smile as he caressed a rock, ¡°This is the result of thousands of years of wind erosion. It¡¯s full of historical weight, not horror.¡± Bi Fang crossed over the rocks and continued on his way. After jumping over several cracks, a canyon suddenly appeared before everyone. Here it comes! All spectators perked up at the sight of the valley. Could there be greenery here? Chapter 116 - Chapter 116: Chapter 113: Dont Miss It When You Encounter It (Makeup Update) Chapter 116: Chapter 113: Don¡¯t Miss It When You Encounter It (Makeup Update) Translator: 549690339 Under the night sky, the mountains resembled a serpentine form. The stars were clear and bright, shining upon a flat expanse nestled within the valley. From the surrounding area, this valley floor looked like a giant pot. It also appeared as a gaping maw to the viewers, many of whom suddenly felt a shiver of malevolence rising from the depths of their hearts. Beneath them was pitch darkness, making it impossible to discern whether there were any plants or animals. [It¡¯s a bit like the mouth of the abyss.] [Are there plants below? It looks so eerie.] [Is this night mode or normal light?] [I can¡¯t tell anymore, it seems like normal light, otherwise it wouldn¡¯t be this dark, right? But it also has a cinematic feel, normal light wouldn¡¯t be this bright, would it?] ¡°No, you¡¯re underestimating the night sky of the Qaidam Desert,¡± Bi Fang shook his head. The light-capture capability of the live broadcaster was indeed strong, but that was only part of the reason. The desert sat at high altitude, and nearly devoid of human settlement, let alone industrial development, the nighttime sky was exceptionally beautiful. Moonlight poured down, and even without torches or flashlight, Bi Fang could still see quite clearly, which was why he could travel so fast. ¡°It¡¯s rare to find such a large valley in the desert; its formation is mostly due to tectonic activity. If we¡¯re lucky, we might come across groundwater surging to the surface and find a water source right below us.¡± ¡°Even if that¡¯s not the case, the huge cliffs on either side of the valley provide shade, making the valley floor very cool. Even during the day, the temperature at the bottom of the valley can be many degrees lower, maybe even by ten! So I must go down there.¡± The factors limiting the growth of desert plants are two: temperature and water source. Now both might be found in one place, how could Bi Fang pass up this opportunity? [Wow! Is this rock climbing again?] [Rock climbing in the dark? No way, officer, isn¡¯t that going too far?] [So impressive, I¡¯ve been rock climbing for three or four years now and I wouldn¡¯t dare climb blind!] [Hey, your ID looks familiar, haven¡¯t I seen it before?] [Isn¡¯t that the same guy who left a long comment to show off during Old Fang¡¯s first tree climb? I thought it was a scam for donations!] [666, also a ten-year-old fan!] ¡°You¡¯re making it sound more dramatic than it is. This mountain face has a slope, and a significant one at that, not a sheer cliff,¡± Bi Fang shook his head and began searching the edge of the valley. He needed to find a gentler slope, the gentler the better. Soon, Bi Fang found a gentle slope at a relatively narrow spot, with large rocks placed every few meters as footholds. Under the viewers¡¯ anxious gaze, Bi Fang turned his back to the canyon, didn¡¯t hesitate too much, took a deep breath, and slowly extended his foot below the cliff¡¯s edge. [Damn, that step, definitely professional, both the force and the angle were just right. Without twenty years of skill, you couldn¡¯t make that step!] [Wow, is that step really so particular?] [Upstairs, you¡¯re blowing smoke, and you believe that?] [So thrilling, props to everyone, I¡¯m thankful.] Bi Fang: Just as he extended one foot and saw this barrage, he nearly developed a heart demon and quickly focused, fearful of falling into the valley to his death. [The joyful Yang Pigskin has gifted the host a spaceship*!¡ªBe careful, host! What is everyone waiting for, Master Fang is working so hard, why not send some gifts?] [Here it comes, here it comes, these are my twenty-year-old meatballs, all for you.] [Twenty years? They must be rotten by now?] This guy is playing into my hands! He deserved to be an admin. Bi Fang glanced at the live chat barrage and noticed the message from the joyful Yang Pigskin, delighted inside but remained expressionless. Please step up the effort! Until now, Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast had quite a few admins, including Fat Cat Pete, Lord Mu, Lin Chang, among others, as well as some who didn¡¯t gift much but frequently sent friendly messages, to whom Bi Fang also granted admin privileges. Wilderness survival was an activity where one could easily encounter danger, and Bi Fang couldn¡¯t always pay attention to the live broadcast, making the presence of admins quite necessary. With that thought in mind, Bi Fang stepped on a protruding rock on the rock face with his left foot and confirmed its stability before shifting his weight onto it. The skill given by the System is good in this regard; even without practice for a month, I still got the hang of it quickly and didn¡¯t feel rusty. The sky was very dark, but with Bi Fang¡¯s current rock climbing level, handling a more than twenty-meter-high cliff with a not inconsiderable slope was still not difficult. Over ten minutes later, after descending more than ten meters, Bi Fang looked at the pitch-dark ground below; he didn¡¯t dare to jump straight down. Since it was a valley, the moonlight couldn¡¯t reach it, and everything below became pitch black, making it impossible to tell if the ground was flat or littered with broken rocks. Better to climb down honestly. Bi Fang dismissed the idea of courting death and three minutes later, he landed on the ground without incident. ¡°Phew, finally down,¡± Bi Fang shook his sore arms and then looked toward the dark valley. It was too dark; he could only vaguely make out some upright shadows. But the UAV, which had already switched to night mode, captured everything clearly, and the online friends were excitedly posting barrage comments. [Grass, there¡¯s really grass!] [That¡¯s a shrub, idiot!] [Is there water to drink now?] [Not necessarily, what hydration can these shrubs provide? Shouldn¡¯t we be looking for cacti?] ¡°It seems there really are green plants here,¡± Bi Fang saw the barrage comments and sighed in relief, then added a reminder. ¡°But you all must not take it lightly, if there¡¯s green flora, it means there¡¯s a lot more moisture here, which can attract us, and naturally, it can attract other animals, especially venomous snakes! So, absolutely do not recklessly approach those shrubs.¡± ¡°It¡¯s very possible that in a corner you can¡¯t see, there¡¯s a camouflaged venomous snake waiting to strike!¡± [So sneaky?] [It¡¯s the survival of the fittest in nature! What¡¯s sneaky about it] ¡°Yes, this is the survival of the fittest in nature,¡± Bi Fang nodded in agreement and then carefully avoided those shrubs, heading to the other side of the valley where the moonlight was much brighter and some plants could be simply identified. As soon as he saw a shrub come into his view. ¡°Hey, look what I¡¯ve found, it¡¯s a ¡®flower rod¡¯!¡± Bi Fang went over joyfully, making sure there were no creatures nearby, then directly grabbed a handful and started tying it up. [Why isn¡¯t Old Fang protecting the environment anymore?] [No choice, there¡¯s really nothing here, Old Fang has to use what¡¯s available right now, it shouldn¡¯t be a protected plant] [¡®Flower rod,¡¯ that name sounds familiar] [Wait, don¡¯t tell me I planted it when I was planting trees in the Carapace Ant Forest?] [Damn, now that you mention it, I remember too!] Seeing this, Bi Fang chuckled. ¡°It looks like someone knows what it is. ¡®Flower rod,¡¯ also known as Sister Hua, flower hat, and bull tail, is drought-resistant, wind erosion-resistant, and is a pioneer plant for sand fixation in our country, mainly used for sand-fixing forests, desert highway shelterbelts, etc., often planted in the Carapace Ant Forest!¡± ¡°Most importantly, this plant is high in oil content, which makes it very suitable as a fuel for fires; I plan to make a simple torch with it.¡± Bi Fang bundled up the ¡®flower rod,¡¯ took out his flint, and lit one end. The flame burst into life, driving away both the darkness and the chill. Bi Fang picked up the torch, about to move forward, when a dry branch a meter away caught his attention. Crouching down with the torch in hand, he took a closer look and soon revealed a smile. ¡°Many desert snakes like to stay close to dry branches because they serve as perfect camouflage. Then, they wait for prey to come close and strike a fatal blow.¡± ¡°It seems we¡¯re in luck this time, we¡¯ve encountered one.¡± Chapter 117 - Chapter 117: Chapter 114 Spicy Strips Chapter 117: Chapter 114 Spicy Strips Translator: 549690339 Under the flickering firelight, a pile of dry weeds appeared before everyone. Due to the light, many couldn¡¯t make out what it was at first, not until Bi Fang brought the torch closer and a stir among the viewers revealed the deadly killer hidden in the desiccated foliage. It was a snake with a slender body, grayish-yellow back, and white horizontal stripes. At that moment, it lay concealed in the dead grass, blending in perfectly with its surroundings. If it hadn¡¯t been provoked by the torch, even if it was in front of the viewers, they wouldn¡¯t have been able to identify it immediately. It wasn¡¯t that Bi Fang saw it, but he ¡°smelled¡± it. He had caught a faint stench in the area, which made him realize there could be a creature nearby. It was with purposeful searching that he found the snake. [Dang, is that really a snake?] [The camouflage is off the charts; how can you tell normally? Kinda scary.] [There are snakes in the desert?] [Be careful! It¡¯s coiling up! Does this mean it¡¯s going to attack?] [This one¡¯s got guts, eh? Last time Master Fang encountered a Black-striped Snake, it didn¡¯t even look back; just ran away!] [Enough said, our snake family doesn¡¯t have such a disgraceful snake!] Bi Fang watched the venomous snake intently as its neck contracted and its tail shook violently, quietly explaining. ¡°This is the subtle difference between venomous and nonvenomous snakes. Typically, snakes that flee upon seeing humans are nonvenomous, while those that coil and prepare to strike are venomous. Of course, this isn¡¯t a rule but a simple judgment, similar to the triangular head¡ªit¡¯s not accurate, but it has certain applicability.¡± ¡°Especially this one in front of me, the Intermediate Viper!¡± ¡°The Intermediate Viper has an extremely fierce nature. Snakes from the Colubridae family normally flee quickly upon encountering humans, but this one never actively avoids conflict. Instead, it would contract its neck and shake its tail, entering an attack stance!¡± [? Isn¡¯t this like the flat-headed bro? Fight to death, clash to the end!] [Intermediate Viper? Did I hear that name right? Is it the intermediary I¡¯m thinking of?] [Zong Jie? This is Ponyo, Zong Jie!] [Attack mode, huh! Aren¡¯t you guys afraid?] [Afraid of what? Encountering Master Fang means it¡¯s nothing but a spicy snack!] [Viper? Is it venomous?] ¡°The ¡®Intermediate¡¯ here is exactly what you think¡ªlike the middleman who makes a profit off the margin.¡± Without looking at the barrage, Bi Fang could more or less guess what the Online Friends were talking about. This was his second encounter with a venomous snake; unlike the first time when he came face to face with one in a tree, this time the terrain was open and he had discovered the snake early on. The danger was greatly reduced. ¡°Snakes mainly rely on scent and infrared vision to capture prey. Does anyone remember what I said about the Gebayas¡¯ people before? They use flames to confuse the python¡¯s target. I¡¯m doing the same here; as long as we keep shaking the torch, it can¡¯t determine the target quickly.¡± Bi Fang shook the torch, disorienting the venomous snake while pretending to glance at the drone¡¯s screen showing the barrage. ¡°Yes, and it is highly venomous. The Intermediate Viper is the most widespread, most numerous, and most poisonous snake in the northern parts of my country. They are found in forests and the Gobi, but hardly ever in the desert. The fact that this Intermediate Viper can live here shows that this place is indeed not barren and might even be ¡®richer¡¯ than I thought!¡± Bi Fang used a somewhat inappropriate term, but compared with the previous barren desert, the gravel and rocky Gobi was indeed ¡®richer¡¯. ¡°Moreover, I can clearly tell you all one thing¡ªif it¡¯s a Viper, then it is definitely venomous, because the scientific name ¡®Agkistrodon¡¯ comes from Greek, where ¡®Ancistro¡¯ means ¡°hook,¡± and ¡®odon¡¯ stands for ¡°tooth.¡±¡± ¡°Combined, they refer to the well-known hooked fangs of the Viper. It¡¯s not a name that originated from our country¡¯s custom. Our country¡¯s research on snakes started quite late, and most of the names come from foreign journals.¡± ¡°Whenyou see a snake name that contains ¡®viper,¡¯ you can simply understand it as a snake with venomous fangs.¡± In his past life as a biological surveyor, Bi Fang was very familiar with these terms and vocabulary. Looking at the coiled venomous snake in front of him, Bi Fang narrowed his eyes. With the viper¡¯s widespread distribution and abundant numbers, it certainly couldn¡¯t be a protected animal. As long as he could catch it, wouldn¡¯t he have his meal for the night? There was still a long way to go, and the chances of encountering wildlife were slim. Moreover, most encounters would likely be with protected animals, so this was a rare opportunity. The audience became even more thrilled when they heard Bi Fang was going to catch the snake. A venomous snake! Many say they¡¯ve memorized how to catch snakes, but seeing someone catch a venomous snake with their own eyes is a first! ¡°The temperature is very low right now, which will greatly reduce the mobility of this viper. And it¡¯s naturally quite slow, but we can¡¯t take it lightly. If it bites me, this live broadcast will come to an abrupt end,¡± Bi Fang said. [Awesome, I¡¯m used to Old Fang¡¯s show-off rhythm already] [This isn¡¯t showing off, it¡¯s clearly performing miracles in front of people! (Funny)] [Viper: I can fail countless times, but you only have one chance!] [This is Old Fang¡¯s first time catching a snake!] [Nonsense! Does my Golden Python have no face?] [So thrilling, is he going to eat the snake?] Meanwhile, Bi Fang, holding a torch, took a step back, just looking for a stone, when unexpectedly, the viper followed him! Many viewers had just brushed off Bi Fang¡¯s description of the viper¡¯s ferocity, but seeing this scene, they were instantly startled. So fierce! In just a few seconds, the viper moved its significant length from the bushes. Under the firelight, its snake eyes reflected a cold glare, its tongue flicked out, and its long curved fangs were exposed to the air. Bi Fang waved the torch in front of the viper again, but this time the viper went straight for the flame! Bi Fang reacted quickly. The moment the viper bit, he swept the torch sideways, diverting the snake¡¯s head, forgoing the stone on the ground and reaching directly for the viper¡¯s tail! Damn! Many viewers broke out in a cold sweat at the sight, thinking how bold he was! When the viper bit into the torch, it immediately felt something wrong. The sensation was different from anything it had bitten before, a piercing pain shot through its fangs. Just as it planned to let go, it felt the world spin. It was being lifted! As soon as Bi Fang grabbed the tail, he stood up quickly, extending his left arm away from his trunk and shaking it rapidly. Since snake muscles are generally developed, if he didn¡¯t do this, it could quickly wind up his arm and bite him. As expected, as the viper recovered, it tried to raise its head to bite Bi Fang¡¯s arm. But with a shake, just when it got close to his arm, it was thrown down again. Holding the viper by its tail, Bi Fang slammed it against the rocky wall nearby, like cracking a whip. Just one hit left the viper dazed. Then Bi Fang stepped on the snake¡¯s head with one foot and took out his hunting knife, carefully severing its head. But at the moment the head fell, the body of the snake coiled around Bi Fang¡¯s leg! [!] [!] [!] In the heat of the moment, many viewers could only let out an exclamation, wanting to warn Bi Fang. Unfortunately, how could Bi Fang, who was not looking at the comments, notice in time? Chapter 118 - Chapter 118: Chapter 115 Side Quest? Chapter 118: Chapter 115 Side Quest? Translator: 549690339 | On this side, Bi Fang stepped on the snake¡¯s body and used the tip of the knife to slice off the snake¡¯s head, carefully flipping it away with the knife, only then noticing the barrage of comments. Seeing the screen full of exclamation points, Bi Fang was confused. What¡¯s the danger here? He looked around, in the pitch-dark environment, all was silent, nothing there at all, right? It wasn¡¯t until someone pointed out that the snake had wrapped around his calf that Bi Fang finally realized what was happening. ¡°Ah, this, I forgot to mention it just now.¡± Bi Fang casually took the snake off his leg, went back to where he had flipped the severed head, and placed the hunting knife under the snake¡¯s jaws, almost instantly, the severed head bit the hunting knife! Withdrawing the hunting knife from the firmly clamped jaws, Bi Fang showed it to the camera, then moved closer to the light, and the audience was startled to see two drops of something like water beads on the blade. ¡°This is venom,¡± Bi Fang explained. ¡°Snakes are different from humans. Their nerve centers are spread throughout their bodies, unlike humans, whose nerve centers are in the brain. Humans stop moving when their heads are gone, but a snake can still have nerve consciousness even after being cut into pieces. At this time, there¡¯s still venom in the fangs, and it¡¯s lethal. ¡°That¡¯s also why, just now, when I was cutting off the snake¡¯s head, I didn¡¯t touch it with my hands from start to finish. Even if the snake¡¯s head is severed, it can still survive for a dozen minutes to several tens of minutes, and in cold weather, this time can extend to three to four hours until the nerves die. ¡°There was a very popular news story before. It was about a restaurant employee in Guangdong who slaughtered a Thai King Cobra for a customer. After chopping off the head and putting it aside, he got bitten on the finger when he went to throw the head into the trash more than ten minutes later. He died on the spot from the poison!¡± [Fingers subconsciously tighten.] [The poisoning has already begun.] [Here it comes, Old Fang¡¯s collection of little stories.] [Before each departure, how many news stories does Old Fang check? I just searched, and it¡¯s true, unbelievable.] ¡°Nonsense, you think I¡¯m making it up?¡± Bi Fang rolled his eyes, his online friends actually didn¡¯t trust him! Next time, he¡¯d exclude him from the lottery draw! After tossing the snake carcass into his backpack, Bi Fang continued on his way. This was reserved food; Bi Fang didn¡¯t plan to eat it without having found a water source yet. Along the way, Bi Fang, carrying a torch, continued to navigate through the valley, occasionally collecting some kindling to put in his backpack; once he left this place, he didn¡¯t know if he would encounter this kind of fire-friendly plant again. This valley was unexpectedly long. Bi Fang walked for over an hour and still hadn¡¯t reached the end; he even caught a Sparganas along the way, which he killed directly with a rock. ¡°The valley has two Sparganas; it¡¯s richer than I thought,¡± Bi Fang said while holding the snake carcass, which was bigger than the previous one. Without enough geckos or lizards, this kind of food chain wouldn¡¯t hold up here. It¡¯s very likely that this leads directly to an underground river! ¡°I thought it would be good just to find some plants, but the harvest is much bigger than I expected. These two snakes are enough for me to eat for two days.¡± After stuffing the snakes into his backpack once again, Bi Fang looked up at the moon. From the direction it had risen at the beginning to now shifting significantly, he estimated the time to be just past eleven o¡¯clock at night. Though it was not so hot now, having been on the move for so long, Bi Fang s tongue felt as if it was about to crack, and his voice began to grow hoarse, speaking much less than before. He struggled to swallow a mouthful of saliva, sticky as glue. [Weird, is there really water here? There aren¡¯t even any cacti.] [There must be, with all these plants, right?] [Maybe it¡¯s precisely because there¡¯s so much underground water that there aren¡¯t any cacti.] [Makes sense!] After about another half hour of walking, Bi Fang changed to a new torch and leaned on a rock face, feeling unexpectedly slippery and wet. He withdrew his hand, pinched his fingers, and lifted the torch to examine the rock wall beside him. An entire face of the huge rock was covered in water droplets! ¡°There must be a water source nearby!¡± Bi Fang was certain, or else there wouldn¡¯t be so many water droplets here. He resisted the urge to lick the rock wall and quickly walked forward. Many viewers who were about to turn off the stream and go to sleep became excited at this sight and decided to wait until Bi Fang found the water source before sleeping. Just a little longer, then sleep right after. Sure enough, around the next bend, less than ten meters away, a small pool appeared before everyone¡¯s eyes! The pool was not small, about six square meters in area, enclosed by the mountain wall. Extending the torch out, Bi Fang could see that the pool was very clear, with ripples occasionally moving across the water¡¯s surface. [Oh ho! Found a water source!] [We¡¯ve got water!] [Watching this makes me chug a big gulp of Coke] [The guy drinking Coke, aren¡¯t you afraid of cavities.] ¡°It really is a flowing source of water!¡± Bi Fang was excited. The surface of the pond had no streams flowing into it, yet under the light of the fire, one could still see it was very clear, which was impossible! Unless it was connected to an underground water source, becoming a flowing body of water! Without a doubt, underground water is the cleanest source of replenishment in the wild. With that thought, Bi Fang immediately lay by the edge of the pond and began to fill his water bottle. But before it was full, he couldn¡¯t wait any longer and started to take small sips from it. His glue-like saliva diluted, no longer blocking his cracked throat, the crisp water slid down his smoking esophagus and into his stomach, as cracked as the earth itself. Glug glug, glug glug. This jug of water washed away ah the pent-up gloom blocking his vitality. Bi Fang did not stop there. He refilled his water twice in succession and drank nearly a jug and a half before finally wiping his mouth and letting out a series of burps. ¡°Ah, that was so satisfying.¡± ¡°However, one must drink water in moderation because we lose a lot of electrolytes through sweating. If we only drink water without replenishing salt and other essential elements, we can get water intoxication.¡± Bi Fang had never mentioned this to his audience before; he feared that those capitalizing on the situation would be prepared, reducing the effect of debuffs stacked upon them. Then his quicksand ultimate move wouldn¡¯t be as effective. [Damn, I wondered why those guys seemed to get more and more off the more they drank. So that¡¯s why!] [I always thought Master Fang was eyeing them drinking water because he was jealous, never thought it was for this reason.] [I like this, hehehe] [The wilderness is really dangerous, not knowing anything and diving headfirst is like courting death!] Bi Fang refilled his jug with water, then took out a snake corpse from his bag, set up a firewood pile, and prepared to roast and eat it right there. Now that he had found a water source, it was time to replenish his strength. He hadn¡¯t eaten anything for a day. ¡°Intermediate vipers, like this small snake, survive by preying on mice, lizards, and other small creatures, so they have a lot of parasites on their bodies, and many small bugs also live under their scales. That¡¯s why people said 1 should skin the snake.¡± Bi Fang used his Hunting Knife to separate the snake skin from the meat, prepared to strip off the entire skin. But as soon as he started to tear a small part away, the sharply focused camera allowed viewers to see white larvae falling like raindrops, dropping to the ground like granulation tissue, making their skin itch, as if they too had countless tiny bugs burrowing inside! ¡°Fuck! Sparganosis!¡± Even Bi Fang almost threw the snake away, a wave of physical discomfort spread from his scalp to his heels. If it was that rough on him, let alone the live stream viewers, many eating their late-night snacks nearly threw up. Enduring the discomfort, Bi Fang completely skinned the snake, impaled it on a stick, and started roasting it. When subjected to the high heat, the Sparganas in the snake¡¯s body immediately reacted. They frantically tried to escape the flesh, but were quickly killed by the intense heat. ¡°Phew!¡± Bi Fang sighed in relief upon seeing the Sparganas dead, and then began explaining what those parasites were, ¡°Those were Sparganosis parasites¡­¡± No one noticed. in the adjacent pond, the original gentle ripples suddenly grew much larger. A fin with spikes flashed in the light of the fire, appearing on the surface of the water, but quickly submerged once again. As if it had never appeared. It was the emergence of this unknown creature that made Bi Fang pause. The familiar System voice sounded again. [Ding! Congratulations, host, for triggering the side quest: Underground Cave. Would you like to accept it?] Chapter 119 - Chapter 119: Chapter 116: The Horse-Taming Man Chapter 119: Chapter 116: The Horse-Taming Man Translator: 549690339 Underground Cave? Where? The sudden appearance of the mission confused Bi Fang, who stopped explaining the Sparganas, looked up, and scanned his surroundings. Apart from the rock walls, it was pitch black. Could it be¡­ Bi Fang¡¯s gaze shifted to the nearby dark pond, forgetting to flip the snake meat in his hand. Is the cave in the pond? [This snake is so disgusting, you¡¯re actually going to eat it?] [Can¡¯t accept it.] [Once it¡¯s cooked, it should be fine to eat, right? Parasites are just bugs after all; they must be high in protein!] [The meat we usually eat basically has parasites too, it¡¯s just that they¡¯re all cooked well enough to prevent infection.] ¡°Yes, to kill the Sparganas, you need at least 100 degrees Celsius for 2 minutes. Even though I¡¯m grilling here, and the temperature¡¯s higher, it still needs over a minute,¡± Bi Fang regained his focus and started to respond to the comments. The viewers hadn¡¯t noticed anything unusual either. The current turn of events was somewhat unexpected for Bi Fang. If it was an ordinary hole, that would be one thing, but this one was in a pond. It was too dangerous. Unknown gases and environments, and there might even be unidentified creatures. What¡¯s more, it was specifically highlighted by the System! [Would you like to take on the side mission? Note: This mission entails a certain level of danger.] Bi Fang had never encountered such a situation before! So if there was a hole, it definitely wouldn¡¯t just be any ordinary cave, but very likely an entire complex cave system! As intricate and maze-like as a labyrinth! The critical point now was how to explain to the viewers that he wanted to check out the pond¡­ It was true, the appearance of this mission had completely captivated Bi Fang. ¡°To better get rid of parasites, when we eat anything in the wild, it¡¯s best to grill it until the surface is charred black. Although this might affect the taste somewhat, it guarantees enough safety,¡± Bi Fang said. Bi Fang flipped the slightly charred snake meat, picked a piece off the stick carelessly, and stuffed it into his mouth without minding the heat. ¡°Phew!¡± A puff of hot air burst from Bi Fang¡¯s mouth. Without any seasonings, a burnt bitterness spread on the surface of the meat. Bi Fang chewed twice, finding the meat tough and chewy, but for someone who hadn¡¯t eaten all day, it was still a rare delicacy. ¡°Without oil, this piece of snake meat is too dry, a bit stuck in the teeth, but the inside is quite good, with a texture similar to that of an eel, fishy but very fresh and sweet.¡± After chewing a few more times, Bi Fang swallowed it down. ¡°Many people say snake skin is also a delicious food, but it¡¯s too much trouble to prepare. Not only do you have to boil it in hot water first, you also have to scrape off the scales. Such effort just to eat snake skin doesn¡¯t seem worth it for someone who is struggling to survive,¡± he said. Bi Fang pointed at the snake skin next to the pond, bunched up with blobs of blood still sticking to it. ¡°If I could, 1 would take it back¡­¡± ¡°Splash!¡± A sound of water suddenly broke the silence of the night, startling everyone. Bi Fang quickly stood up, stepped back several paces, and stared intently at the pond. ¡°There¡¯s something in the pond!¡± There was no need for Bi Fang to say if, the viewers had also come to this realization, although it was incredibly unbelievable. [Damn, there are fish in such a small pond?] [From the sound of it, that fish doesn¡¯t seem small.] [Master Fang didn¡¯t say that this place is connected to an underground river with flowing water, right? Otherwise it would have dried and stank long ago.] [Are there living creatures in the underground river?] The sound of splashing water came again, as if a large fish had flipped and churned up the surface. Bi Fang gripped the Hunting Knife, not daring to be careless. Even though common sense told him that there were few large fish in the underground river, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t afford to relax. The System had already issued a warning, this creature was not to be underestimated! The only source of light was the pile of firewood, but the range of the firelight was not extensive. The brightness on the lake surface was exceedingly dim, and on the quiet water¡¯s surface, there was only a small ripple slowly spreading out. Bi Fang¡¯s nameless unease crept up on him; he stared intently at that unusually calm patch of water, but after more than ten minutes, nothing appeared. He let out a low breath, sheathed the Hunting Knife between his thighs, and turned around to pick up the snake meat. However, that calm ripple had silently reappeared, silently, like a snake gliding beneath the water. The thin line of water slowly traced a circle before disappearing again, with the water¡¯s surface returning to calm. This time, it truly disappeared. ¡°Phew, it looks like it¡¯s left,¡± Bi Fang wiped the sweat from his forehead and casually bent down to pick up the snake meat from the ground. In the silent night, nothing happened. Indeed, aquatic animals living in desert conditions is a surprising notion. But on the flip side, such an environment imposes massive constraints on the evolution of creatures. ¡°Having survived in the wild often, I¡¯ve become a bit too sensitive. Generally speaking, unless it¡¯s a crocodile, there are few aquatic creatures that dare to come ashore, let alone attack someone of my size like a¡­¡± Mid-sentence, Bi Fang felt an instant stab of pain between his brows. The water suddenly burst into a splash! In the same instant, Bi Fang leaped up, a sound like tearing silk filled the air, and the movement caused the flames to waver. A massive black shadow leaped out from the burst of water, pouncing towards Bi Fang¡ªmissed him! ¡°Fish!¡± Wu Gang couldn¡¯t help but cry out in shock. But he couldn¡¯t be sure if that was indeed a fish. Not just Wu Gang, even Bi Fang couldn¡¯t recognize what exactly it was. He searched through his memory and found no trace of such a creature! The large fish had fierce bone spikes on its head, sharp like teeth, piercing through the dark leather skin, reflecting a metallic sheen, the hard skeleton covered its entire head. The monster seemed to lack eyes; its whole head was just a gaping maw, filled with venomous snake-like barbed teeth! Its tongue was a dark brown color, adorned with what appeared to be poisonous blue nodules. Half of the creature¡¯s body was thrown onto the shore by the force of the current, its tail hard as wrought iron, desperately lashing against the rocks. It reared its head to bite at Bi Fang once more, its attention fixed on Bi Fang¡¯s legs! Bi Fang, looking at the eyeless monster, then noticing the bloodied snake skin beneath it, had an epiphany. This thing had been drawn by the scent of blood. The creature crouched, muscles tense and charged with energy. Bi Fang leaped to dodge, but the monster¡¯s massive body contained astonishing strength; it caught up to him in the blink of an eye! With excellent dynamic vision, Bi Fang stared at the gaping maw, his pupils contracted sharply. A fearsome stench emerged, and under the firelight, the dagger-like teeth dimmed and brightened. In desperation, Bi Fang didn¡¯t have time to back away. Knowing he couldn¡¯t outmaneuver his opponent and that being pounced upon would be extremely dangerous, he steeled himself and, surprisingly, extended his hands in mid-air, moving to meet the creature head-on! The firelight was dim, and no one could see clearly what he was doing with his hands, feeling only that Bi Fang was brazen to the point of near madness! Planning to lose your hands? Just when everyone thought Bi Fang¡¯s hands would be bitten off by the monster, in the next moment, Bi Fang landed abruptly, tugging at something as he hastily retreated. The entire valley was filled with the creature¡¯s cries, its efforts to roar and scream sounded like the cries of an infant. Bi Fang had actually grabbed hold of the monster¡¯s tongue! The part of the creature¡¯s body which couldn¡¯t be attacked due to its external skeleton was, in fact, its patched and vulnerable tongue. By grabbing the tongue, Bi Fang had effectively lassoed the monster like a wild horse! Chapter 120 - Chapter 120: Chapter 117: A New Species? Chapter 120: Chapter 117: A New Species? The howling echoed incessantly in the pitch-black valley, as mournful as the souls of ghosts and spirits. The cold wind blew, making the flames flicker continuously. The light, now bright, now dim, cast the confronting sides in a savage and bloody relief. The creature clearly sensed its disadvantage and wanted to retreat back into the water, so it twisted its body frantically to move backward. Bi Fang even saw that it had webbed limbs, and it was shaking them as it moved back! What on earth was this thing! An indescribable shock filled Bi Fang¡¯s mind; in just a split second, the creature violently surged, nearly dragging him into the water, but Bi Fang¡¯s nails dug into the creature¡¯s tongue, like iron hooks piercing into soft flesh. A liquid of an indiscernible color flowed over his hands, and the monster¡¯s howling became exceptionally shrill as its mouth suddenly clamped shut! Bi Fang stumbled back several steps, fell to the ground, and his hands were empty. At that moment, the monster had attempted to sever Bi Fang¡¯s hand along with its tongue, but fortunately, at the last moment, Bi Fang let go. ¡°Splash!¡± A huge splash of water erupted, and the monster disappeared. Bi Fang lay on the ground, his heart hammering wildly in his chest, his grappling hands still trembling. After this confrontation of less than a few dozen seconds, he felt exhausted. At that moment, the live stream room exploded with comments! In the early hours, when audiences should have been leaving, Bi Fang¡¯s live stream room experienced another explosive surge in viewer numbers! The popularity quickly returned to five million! Countless people were discussing what that thing was just now, eagerly @Bi Fang, hoping to get an answer from him. [That head kinda feels like a Scavenger, looks damn hard][Add one, especially since there are spines behind the head, and the body HIA looks a bit like a catfish] [Pete generously gifts the host a Spaceship*!- -Damn it, I was almost scared to death just now, what the hell, Master Fang is too cool, that pull on the tongue, one word, handsome!] [Are there really such big fish in the desert?] [It even wanted to eat people¡­] [Suddenly reminded me of the prehistoric tyrant salamander.] [What is that thing? Master Fang, stop lying there and tell us!] [Supreme Law gifts the host a Yacht*i- ¨C Add one, Master Fang, please respond if you receive this, respond please! Over!] With his eyes closed, Bi Fang regulated his breathing before sitting up again, leaning against the rock wall with a headache from straining too hard, resulting in insufficient blood supply to his brain. Especially facing so many questions made his headache even worse. Even Wu Gang was all ears, having watched Bi Fang¡¯s live stream since his second broadcast. Although he hated to admit it, as a graduate student specializing in biological evolution, he didn¡¯t recognize many animals and plants that Bi Fang could list off as if they were common knowledge¡­ Unfortunately, to everyone¡¯s surprise, the much-anticipated Bi Fang shook his head! ¡°I don¡¯t know either; I¡¯ve never seen it before.¡± At these words, the online friends were stunned. [Holy crap, is this thing so awesome?] [There¡¯s an animal Master Fang doesn¡¯t know?] [That¡¯s outrageous, right?] [A new species? This is unknown evolution!] ¡°Don¡¯t think too highly of me,¡± Bi Fang shook his head, mercilessly shattering the audience¡¯s perfect illusions about him. ¡°Researchers in the field of biology discover about 15,000 new species every year, and this rate of discovery shows no sign of slowing down. It¡¯s normal to come across an unknown species.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a computer that can instantly store a new species in my brain and retain it forever, or be able to find any information about any creature at any time.¡± Wilderness Survivalist isn¡¯t the same as a biologist. If it were about Purple Biological Identification, there might be a chance, but right now, Bi Fang really has no clue whatsoever. Especially the monster¡¯s strange fin-like limbs¡­ Shaking these thoughts from his mind, Bi Fang continued. ¡°It¡¯s almost dawn now, and I need to set up camp and rest because the temperature has been dropping more and more severely. Moreover, having traveled all day, I am very tired. Traveling in this state is very dangerous, especially in the dark, as many hazards can be overlooked.¡± Bi Fang stood up, packed up the fire and snake meat. This place was no longer safe¡ªhe needed to move further away. Two hundred meters away. Bi Fang found a large rock that was illuminated by the moonlight. He touched it with his hand, and the warmth spread from his fingertips throughout his body, making the fatigue seem to disappear. He began to dig the sand beneath the boulder, preparing to excavate a cave to shelter in. ¡°In the desert, the best way to survive a cold night is to find a sun-facing slope with plenty of rocks, and then build a wall with the rocks to ensure safety.¡± ¡°These rocks have been baked by the sun during the day and are very hot. They will continue to emit heat throughout the night, so we make sure to use the sun-warmed side as the inner side of the wall. These rocks will serve as a heat source and make it quite comfortable during the cold night.¡± ¡°But make sure not to dig the cave too big. Remember the principle of ¡®small and beautiful.¡¯ Avoid expending extra energy to create unnecessary space, no matter how much you might want to, and ensure it¡¯s sealed because if you like crawling in, so will other small animals, hence a wall is absolutely necessary.¡± As Bi Fang was digging, he explained, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t want to wake up to find yourself surrounded by venomous snakes and scorpions.¡± Soon, a very narrow cave appeared before everyone. Bi Fang then searched around for some rocks to place around it. After squeezing his body inside, he began to build a wall. ¡°The downside of such a cave is that it will be destroyed when you come out in the morning, and you¡¯ll have to rebuild it. But trust me, as a short-term shelter, it¡¯s fantastic!¡± Soon, a wall enclosing the entrance of the cave was erected. Bi Fang yawned, explained a few more points to the audience, and then switched off the drone. ¡°What the hell is this thing!¡± In the dormitory building, Wu Gang pressed his head, reexamining the screenshot of the monster, but he didn¡¯t have a clue. He had never seen such a creature before and had asked many senior students, all of whom didn¡¯t recognize it either! ¡°Could it really be a new species?¡± Wu Gang found it hard to believe. He couldn¡¯t imagine the discovery of a new species happening in a broadcaster¡¯s outdoor livestream! ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask Professor Gu?¡± a senior suddenly suggested via message. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit inappropriate? It¡¯s so late,¡± Wu Gang hesitated, though he was tempted. Professor Gu was his professor, extremely knowledgeable. Unless it was really a new species, he would certainly know! But it was already after midnight. Even if he asked, it should be the next day. ¡°No, I just got out of the lab. Professor Gu is still experimenting. He hasn¡¯t rested at all. If you are really eager to know, ask him now,¡± the senior replied. On hearing this, Wu Gang got excited. He thanked his senior and hurriedly sent the picture to Professor Gu. Meanwhile, Professor Gu, who was just about to tidy up and leave the laboratory, had also just turned on his phone. Ignoring a few unimportant calls, Professor Gu noticed Wu Gang¡¯s message. ¡°Oh? Could this be a new species?¡± Professor Gu saw the floating message and shook his head with a smile. His students rarely ventured out; where would they get the chance to discover a new species? Most likely, they had identified some rare animal incorrectly without proper study. But as he opened the conversation and saw that photo, he paused for a moment, a strange sense of familiarity washing over him, prompting thought as he walked. Even as colleagues bid him farewell, he didn¡¯t react. It wasn¡¯t until the door to the lab closed and Professor Gu stepped into the corridor that he suddenly slapped his thigh. ¡°DamnlTiktaalik!¡± Chapter 121 - Chapter 121: Chapter 118: Joy is Futile Chapter 121: Chapter 118: Joy is Futile ¡°Where did you get this picture from? Is it from a movie or a TV show? Is it made with special effects? Tell me quickly!¡± In the hallway, Gu Qingyuan strode forward, immediately calling Wu Gang, bombarding him with questions. A security guard carrying a flashlight and checking the lab greeted Gu Qingyuan warmly, ¡°Yo, Mr. Gu, working late again today, huh?¡± But what he didn¡¯t expect was that Gu Qingyuan didn¡¯t even respond and just breezed past him. And in the blink of an eye, he was gone. ¡°Huh¡­¡± The security guard was stunned, but not angry. Professor Gu was like that; as soon as something crossed his mind, he became completely focused. External matters couldn¡¯t disturb him; he could even forget to eat. People familiar with him were used to this. It looked like today¡¯s research had made some progress. The security guard shook his head and, while feeling happy for Professor Gu, continued his own work, checking if the lab doors were locked properly. ¡°Tell me, where did this picture come from? Is it real? Isn¡¯t it a screenshot from a movie?¡± Gu Qingyuan was very excited. This was a living Tiktaalik, the most powerful supporter of the theory of biological evolution. If one could be found alive, it would definitely be the most significant discovery in evolutionary biology this year¡ªno, not just this year. It was the most significant discovery in the past decade! Wu Gang, who was just about to wash up and go to bed, was startled by the excited voice of Gu Qingyuan on the phone, and hurriedly said, ¡°I saw it during a live broadcast.¡± ¡°Live broadcast?¡± Gu Qingyuan frowned, and his excitement instantly evaporated considerably. Gu Qingyuan wasn¡¯t the kind of old man out of touch with the times. On the contrary, he enjoyed surfing the internet and interacting with young people. He knew that live broadcasting was a new form of entertainment. But it had very low standards, the kind that would stoop to anything. Discovering a new species during a live broadcast? Gu Qingyuan shook his head, was the likelihood of such an event comparable to the actual existence of Aotuman? Probably just some internet celebrity looking to get famous, who randomly found a rare creature online, crafted a model, then took a few blurry pictures and claimed to have discovered a new species. If handled well, it could create a sensation like the Loch Ness Monster¡ªan even bigger phenomenon. Technology was advancing, and it was not like the old days when information was spread through newspapers and television. He had a clever mind, a different way to get famous than others, but it was utterly unethical, a deception against a septuagenarian comrade. Poor Gang Zi was deceived. Gu Qingyuan looked at the partly bright, partly dim, and somewhat blurry photo on his phone, and the more he thought, the more disappointed he became. Yet, he didn¡¯t vent his roller-coaster emotions on his student. It was normal for young people to be deceived due to a lack of social experience. As a teacher, his job was to educate him so he wouldn¡¯t make the same mistake again. ¡°Although the photo is quite blurry, and it looks a bit different from records, this creature does resemble a Tiktaalik.¡± ¡°Tiktaalik?¡± Wu Gang got excited on the other end of the line. Was there really such a creature? ¡°Yes, it looks very similar, from the fin limbs to the head, almost identical. This creature is older than sturgeon, almost from the same era as the lamprey,¡± said Gu Qingyuan, nodding. He wouldn¡¯t mistake it; from its form to its appearance, it was almost identical to the fossils they had excavated before, but sadly¡­ ¡°This creature has been extinct for over 300 million years. You¡¯ve been fooled, GangZi.¡± ¡°No, teacher! It¡¯s real,¡± Wu Gang hurriedly contested upon hearing Gu Qingyuan¡¯s words. ¡°Mm-hmm, I know it¡¯s tough to realize you¡¯ve been tricked, but that¡¯s the reality¡­¡± Gu Qingyuan thought it was necessary to console his student, but who would have thought that the other party would just hang up the phone! Gu Qingyuan couldn¡¯t help but be dumbfounded, even a little angry. This kid, not only did he refuse to listen, but why did he hang up on him? Just as Gu Qingyuan was about to call back, a video suddenly popped up from their chat box; its thumbnail was the monster from the screenshot sent by Wu Gang. Is it the live streamer who discovered the organism in the video? Out of curiosity, Professor Gu Qingyuan downloaded the video. Three minutes later. Professor Gu Qingyuan¡¯s roar shook the entire building. ¡°Wu Gang, where is this live stream? Tell me! Now! Quick!¡± The sudden shout startled the security guards into thinking someone was in danger, and they rushed out of the building in a panic, only to see Gu Qingyuan riding a shared bike towards the graduate dormitories. Swift as the wind, fierce as electricity. This night was destined to be restless. At Shenhua Group, Lin Chang was also talking with Wang Yongbo and Yao Jun. At the same time, the secretary pushed open the door and whispered something into Lin Chang¡¯s ear. On the other end, Yao Jun also received a message from Brother Long almost simultaneously. Only Wang Yongbo, who had no other sources, was nervously listening to the phone. ¡°How is it, did anyone die?¡± ¡°No,¡± Yao Jun was the first to reply. Although those people were in bad shape, no one died. ¡°Phew! Good, good, if nobody¡¯s dead, that¡¯s a relief!¡± Hearing this, Wang Yongbo breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his forehead with a tissue. But today really scared the life out of him; despite it being autumn, Wang Yongbo, sitting in his office, was sweating more than Bi Fang who was out in the desert, fearful that one wrong move could end his newly acquired cash cow. It was one thing for someone to lose followers, but he never expected Bi Fang¡¯s counterattack to be so fierce, to actually lead people into quicksand! Fortunately, the groundwork was well laid; there was no loss of face, and if a battle of public opinion broke out, both sides could argue back and forth, losing at most some popularity with bystanders. If the behavior of riding on others¡¯ popularity weren¡¯t stopped, the losses would have been greater; overall, they still came out ahead. But the question remained, how could a perfectly good jeep suddenly catch fire and explode? Thankfully, thankfully, no lives were lost¡ªthe problem wasn¡¯t too big, after all, there were two big shots here. For them, as long as no one died, everything else was trivial. ¡°They got off easy,¡± Yao Jun¡¯s face showed dissatisfaction. Things came to a head, and Brother Long, who originally intended to teach a few people a lesson, ended up becoming a firefighter! Who could¡¯ve expected that? Rushing over in a hurry, instead of breaking his legs, he only encountered a raging fire! Uncle Long, who understood the bigger picture, of course knew what was more urgent, and led a few people down to fight the fire. More crucially, the dashcam was saved as well. It just so happened that Du Chuan was sitting on the hood of the car when the incident unfolded, capturing everything clearly! ¡°Alright, we also owe you one this time, Yao Jun. If not for the fact you had people there just in time, a death would have been difficult to handle; we would have had to go to some trouble,¡± Lin Chang said with a chuckle, shaking his head. He and Yao Jun had known each other since they were kids and was well aware of his character; he was someone who wasn¡¯t afraid of trouble. Of course, Lin Chang wasn¡¯t scared either; he just found it bothersome. This time, they reaped all the benefits of the good news; the audience didn¡¯t see anything and only knew that Du Chuan and the others were trapped in quicksand but safely waiting for rescue. As for what happened later, Lin Chang had more than enough to handle it smoothly. Not to mention, an even more powerful player had entered the game. The real boss. With him involved, there was no way this incident could make it online. Even if the families made a big fuss, it would be futile. Chapter 122 - Chapter 122: Chapter 1191 say, I promised. Chapter 122: Chapter 1191 say, I promised. ¡°Has he started broadcasting yet?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Has he started yet?¡± ¡°No¡­¡± ¡°Has he started?¡± ¡°No¡­¡± ¡°Why hasn¡¯t he started yet?¡± ¡°It¡¯s only six o¡¯clock now, Professor¡­¡± Wu Gang was speechless. Since Professor Gu found out about this last night, he rushed over right away, and it had taken a lot of effort to convince him to go back. Wu had thought that the matter was settled until the knocking at the door woke him up this morning¡­ ¡°Actually, you could contact him yourself, Professor¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how to do live streaming,¡± Professor Gu Qingyuan replied, effectively shutting Wu Gang down with a single sentence. ¡°Actually, I can¡¯t guarantee I¡¯ll be able to contact him either, but I will do my best.¡± Wu Gang said, tapping away at the keyboard. From earlier on, Wu Gang had been building a wall in the blackened live stream room, hoping to catch Bi Fang¡¯s attention. Neither he nor the professor had much money; they couldn¡¯t rely on giving a large amount of donations to attract the other party¡¯s attention. As the number of Bi Fang¡¯s fans steadily grew, even with restrictions on the number and frequency of comments, there were still over dozens of bullet-screen comments shooting across every second. It wasn¡¯t certain whether they would notice Wu¡¯s efforts. ¡°I¡¯ve got six thousand yuan left. If we really can¡¯t get in touch later, you¡¯ll go and donate a¡­ boat or something¡­¡± Professor Gu Qingyuan was about to transfer the money, frightening Wu Gang nearly to the point of jumping up. ¡°No, Professor, please don¡¯t. I will be able to contact him, definitely! ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say it was very difficult¡­¡± ¡°I will be able to get through to him if I just work hard enough!¡± Wu Gang insisted that he couldn¡¯t take the professor¡¯s money, and sat back down in front of the computer, working even harder to build up the comments. Seeing how the professor was behaving, he realized just how important this was to him. Professor Gu had always treated him well; how could he let him down like this? Please see it, Master Fang! Wu silently prayed, all the while growing more curious about what kind of magic this creature possessed that had even the weathered old professor this excited? Fortunately, his prayers were not in vain. When Bi Fang woke up and started his live stream, the first thing he saw was that long string of comments. ¡°Wow, someone¡¯s been building up comments early in the morning. Bi Fang didn¡¯t look closely, smiled, and pushed aside the stone-built wall, crawling out from the cave. It was early morning, and the temperature hadn¡¯t risen too high yet. Bi Fang moved his body a bit, then greeted the audience. But he noticed that the bullet-screen comments were repeating the content of the comments! [Master Fang! I¡¯m Wu Gang from Handong University, and my professor, Gu Qingyuan, would like to talk to you about the creature you encountered yesterday, the Tiktaalik!] [It¡¯s very important, Master Fang!] [It¡¯s a creature that could make history in the study of biological evolution!] [Who is this, waking up early to spam comments? A scammer?] [Don¡¯t overdo it] [Seems serious, not like a scam¡­ I just googled, that professor is real, and he s a big name¡­] ¡°Oh, Tiktaalik?¡± Bi Fang glanced at the bullet-screen comments twice. When he heard the name, he was startled, it sounded familiar, but he couldn¡¯t recall where he had heard it. ¡°Could you explain in more detail? This Tiktaalik,¡± Bi Fang asked people to slow down the comments because he wanted to see what the other person would say. Hearing Bi Fang notice him, Wu Gang was thrilled and turned to Professor Gu, ¡°Professor, I¡¯ve made contact! He¡¯s asking what the Tiktaalik is.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Professor Gu Qingyuan¡¯s eyes lit up, and he immediately pulled Wu Gang away from the computer and started typing bullet-screen comments himself. [The Tiktaalik is a fish fossil from three hundred million years ago, discovered by a research team from Ugly Country in the Canadian Arctic.] [The fossil skeleton had fins, scales, and other characteristics of large fish, with sharp teeth and a flat body, measuring about 1.2 to 2.75 meters.] [Although still a fish, it already had key changes for transitioning to land life, a forerunner of amphibians!] [After carefully reviewing the video from yesterday, despite many changes in appearance, overall, it should beTiktaalik!] Professor Gu Qingyuan became increasingly excited as he typed. He was absolutely certain that it was a living Tiktaalik! Although the passage of long time has brought many changes, such as the sharp spikes behind its head and the overly large tongue, its overall features haven¡¯t changed a bit. It¡¯s a living fossil, just like sturgeons! A precursor? Hearing this, Bi Fang supported his chin and began to ponder deeply. However, the audience found such statements to be incredibly far-fetched. [The Arctic? That¡¯s preposterous! This is a desert!] [If you¡¯re going to lie, at least come up with something credible. Three hundred million years ago? What could possibly live that long?] [Although I don¡¯t believe it either, the comment above¡­] [It¡¯s not about living for three hundred million years¡­] ¡°No, it is possible!¡± Bi Fang refuted the audience¡¯s view, and thanks to Professor Gu¡¯s reminder, he roughly understood what kind of creature Tiktaalik was. The monster from last night did indeed look bizarre, with limbs that were part claw, part fin, and yet it had the head of a crocodile. It possessed features of both fish and tetrapods. ¡°If it truly is a creature that has survived since three hundred million years ago, then finding fossils in the Arctic is not inconsistent with it residing in the Qaidam Basin!¡± ¡°Three hundred million years ago, the Earth was in a primordial era. According to the theory of continental drift, all the land was still connected as Pangea, and the ocean was the vast Panthalassic Ocean, with no split like we see today. The distribution of species can¡¯t be viewed through the lens of current continental layouts.¡± ¡°Moreover, many scholars believe that Qaidam was actually an ancient sea a long time ago because here they not only found fossils of Wu¡¯s Fish Offering dating back three million years ago but also discovered shell layers of lamellibranchiata and gastropoda.¡± ¡°If you were to search online, you¡¯d find out that Qaidam has a very developed underground water system, with springs in some areas.¡± ¡°As for three hundred million years, that time span is actually not exaggerated. I know of several species that are even older and are still living today. Even the lamprey I ate last time appeared 360 million years ago, which is older than Tiktaalik.¡± [! I have nothing to say, just a big exclamation mark for Old Fang.] [This analysis¡­ is just outrageously implausible] [Now even continental drift is in the mix. What exactly is your background, and how do you know so much?] [Following geographers and meteorologists, do we now have a paleobiologist?] [You know too much.] [So Master Fang has feasted on such incredible creatures¡­] An expert is revealed by their handiwork. Even Professor Gu Qingyuan was startled by this analysis, many parts of which even he himself was unaware of. He pondered the entire last night and reviewed copious materials to obtain a slight idea. But now, listening to Bi Fang, everything was interlinked! A modest live-streaming platform also shelters hidden dragons and crouching tigers? If it wasn¡¯t for the thousands of miles separating them, Professor Gu Qingyuan would really like to have a thorough discussion with Bi Fang right now. ¡°So Professor Gu, was there something specific you wanted to contact me about?¡± Having grasped some of the situation, Bi Fang wanted to know why the other party had contacted him, what was the matter at hand. Professor Gu Qingyuan hesitated for quite a while upon hearing this question. He initially hoped Bi Fang would stay put or send coordinates so that he could lead a team to explore the area. But now, having truly recognized Bi Fang¡¯s extraordinary nature, and his exceptional abilities from last night¡­ As Bi Fang said, the underground water system in Qaidam is indeed very developed. One moment¡¯s hesitation or delay could mean missmg out on an excellent opportunity. As a biologist, he really didn¡¯t want to miss this chance, and the benefits a species¡¯ genetics could bring might be beyond anyone¡¯s expectations. But Tiktaalik is extremely dangerous; as everyone witnessed last night, it¡¯s not inferior to a crocodile! Professor Gu Qingyuan gritted his teeth and sent out a request he himself considered excessive. Whether agreed to or not, he wanted to give it a shot! [I want to ask you to capture a live Tiktaalik.] ¡°Alright!¡± [I know this is asking too much, but this chance is really¡ª] Professor Gu Qingyuan, who was in the midst of typing, paused, deleted the ongoing barrage, and began to edit a new one. [What did you say?] ¡°I said, I agree,¡± Bi Fang nodded. Chapter 123 - Chapter 123: Chapter 120 A Penetrating Analysis Just like that, you agreed? Chapter 123: Chapter 120 A Penetrating Analysis Just like that, you agreed? Gu Qingyuan felt that despite his age, his ears were by no means deaf, and he still moved swiftly. But at this moment, Gu Qingyuan really started to doubt whether he was getting old; he turned his head to look at the dazed Wu Gang and repeated himself. ¡°He agreed?¡± Wu Gang swallowed a mouthful of saliva and nodded. It was too unexpected. Their answer came without even a hint of hesitation, as casual and easy as when one¡¯s mother asks what they¡¯d like to eat for dinner. Are there really such people? Bom with a love for adventure, not fearing death at all? [Wait! Just wait a bit longer!] [There are too many uncertainties about this matter; we have too little information on this creature.] [I think we should discuss this some more¡­] Gu Qingyuan hurriedly sent out the message; he had acted on impulse just now, not expecting the other party to agree so easily. Now that he had cooled down, it made him feeling conflicted. This matter was truly too dangerous, as difficult as capturing a wild crocodile, no, even more so! Our current research on crocodiles is very mature, their weaknesses and habits are crystal clear, but this creature is a complete unknown! We are all blind here! You have no idea how fast it can run, how strong its biting force is, whether it¡¯s nocturnal, where its weaknesses lie, how defensible it is, or if it hunts in packs. The only bit of information we have is that short video from last night, less than three minutes long ¨C that is simply not enough! ¡°It¡¯s enough,¡± Bi Fang took off his storm jacket, smiling, his voice filled with excitement, ¡°I chased it away last night, that¡¯s enough, isn¡¯t it?¡± Gu Qingyuan was stunned. Such words were brash and spirited, like the morning sun of early spring. The natural and friendly smile carried a confidence that seemed to grip everything firmly in hand, enough to influence everyone. Seeing Bi Fang on the screen, Gu Qingyuan felt as if the young man was a tiger in the wilderness, possessing an irresistible urge to bow one¡¯s head to him! Even living fossils that existed millions of years ago would be no exception! He trembled his fingers, deleted the message he had been about to send, changing from dissuading to one of caution. [Be extremely careful!] Bi Fang nodded; confident yet not arrogant, he was very aware of the dangers involved. But, that¡¯s what adventure is all about, isn¡¯t it? Last night he was still wondering how to concoct a reason to go underwater, and today someone offered him a divine assist! Moreover, the emergence of this professor had also stirred a lot of memories for Bi Fang. Although they had never met face to face, just a few exchanges were enough to remind Bi Fang of his old professor from his previous life. With the same incomprehensible dedication to academic research, strict with himself, yet tolerant and kind to colleagues and teammates. Having returned to the pool, Bi Fang did not rush to enter the water. A lot of preparations still needed to be made; the possibility of the underground cave having plants was slim, so if it was pitch-black, a torch would be crucial. At the very least, his backpack needed to be packed to the brim with glow sticks and some flammable plants to ensure that he would have a light source in the cave. Nobody knew the situation inside the cave; it¡¯s always better to err on the side of caution. And he had many questions in need of answers, even for a creature that had not appeared before, sometimes one could infer a lot of information from its evolutionary chain. Bi Fang rummaged through his own brain and finally posed a question. ¡°Professor Gu, can you tell me about the relationship between Tiktaalik, Coelacanths, and Lungfish?¡± Brilliant! On hearing that question, Gu Qingyuan almost applauded with admiration; the other party was clearly not just an ordinary retired special forces soldier who was adept at Wilderness Survivalist! Even many of his specialized students, after understanding the special nature of Tiktaalik, could not so quickly and incisively pinpoint this question. ¡°Is it that exaggerated?¡± Wu Gang scratched his head, not quite understanding why his teacher was so excited. The speed of his typing almost matched the furious speed of his hands when he vented at his teammates while playing games. ¡°If you read more like I told you to, you wouldn¡¯t be ignorant now, would you? I bet if I made you take a test, you wouldn¡¯t score as high as this young man!¡± Gu Qingyuan was frustrated with Wu Gang¡¯s lack of progress. ¡°How is that possible!¡± Wu Gang was incredulous, recognizing flora and fauna was one thing, but evolutionary biology was not simply about recognizing different species. ¡°How is it not possible? Not to mention asking, you can¡¯t even see the key point of this question! Haven¡¯t you noticed that these two creatures have one thing in common?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ they¡¯re both lobe-finned fish?¡± Wu Gang scratched his head again, coming to this conclusion after recalling what his teacher had mentioned about evolutionary relationships. Lobe-finned fish are a superclass of osteichthyans, most of whose members are extinct. The characteristic feature of these fish is a central bone in their fins. That is evidence of biological evolution onto land! ¡°Exactly! In the long history of biological evolution, whatever creatures we see now, close or distant, connected or separate, there is always an invisible bridge linking all life together!¡± ¡°And it is the lobe-finned fish that ties together all the terrestrial vertebrates and aquatic fish of today! The two fish he just mentioned are the only two living species of lobe-finned fish!¡± Gu Qingyuan was not only responding to Wu Gang, but also typing these explanations in the chat to answer the audience¡¯s questions. [So impressive?] [I checked, and the only living Coelacanth is the West Indian Ocean Coelacanth!] [Why does my research show that it appeared between two hundred million to three hundred million years ago, which is later than that Tiktaalik thing?] ¡°Evolutionary biology should not be understood that way. Creatures moving onto land were an evolutionary trend, not an inevitability; otherwise, we wouldn¡¯t have so many fish still happily living in the sea. The two are just evidence along the evolutionary chain, with different species showing varying tendencies towards land habitation.¡± ¡°And from the point of view of emerging onto land, Tiktaalik¡¯s evolution is indeed superior because it is both a fish and a tetrapod! Compared to the signs from lobe-finned fish, it is direct evidence! It is the missing link in biological evolution!¡± Gu Qingyuan briefly addressed the netizens¡¯ queries before continuing to answer Bi Fang¡¯s questions. ¡°This creature¡¯s ¡®fins¡¯ possess primitive wrist bones and simple digits, suggesting they could bear weight and even bend like fingers.¡± ¡°From this point of view, the tetrapod most similar to it would be the crocodile, and the nostrils located on top of the fossil¡¯s head indicate they had lungs as functional as gills! This is similar to lungfish!¡± Realizing this, Wu Gang started to understand why Gu Qingyuan was so excited just before; Bi Fang¡¯s question was extremely sharp. It directly pointed out the only two surviving creatures on the evolutionary chain of the transition from water to land! Damn, that¡¯s awesome! Wu Gang was thoroughly convinced now, and if his teacher weren¡¯t still occupying his seat, he¡¯d have pushed him aside to send the broadcaster a few meatballs as a tip. ¡°So that¡¯s why it dared to come out of the water to attack me yesterday?¡± Bi Fang stroked his chin, figuring out many key points. From an evolutionary standpoint, the creature had evolved, but not completely; the monster could move on land for short periods, but its tail fin kept it from leaving the aquatic environment entirely. That¡¯s why, when Bi Fang grabbed the creature¡¯s tongue, attempting to drag it away from the water, its struggle was so fierce, preferring to risk tearing its own tongue rather than letting go. Thus, in the face of danger, fleeing onto land was almost certainly safe, a significant difference compared to a crocodile. However, the situation would completely reverse underwater. Underwater, the creature was a predator far more adept at swimming than a crocodile! Chapter 124 - Chapter 124: Chapter 121: Walking into the Trap Chapter 124: Chapter 121: Walking into the Trap After hearing Bi Fang¡¯s analysis, the Shuiyou were blown away. [Damn! Isn¡¯t it invincible underwater then?] [So strong, it turns out that what Old Fang faced before was a weakened version!] [How should we capture it, lure it?] [Can only lure it with traps, right? Otherwise, we can¡¯t beat it.] But that was not all; Gu Qingyuan¡¯s next words made the Shuiyou realize that the situation was even more serious than they had thought! ¡°The fact that such a creature still exists today means that it has already adapted to this environment, and especially in a place like Qaidam where human activities have hardly caused any disturbance. In other words, there is no possibility of it becoming functionally extinct!¡± ¡°There is a population here!¡± Bi Fang blurted out, unwittingly revealing the rest of the sentence Gu Qingyuan had intended to say. But the audience was puzzled, what is functional extinction? Facing the barrage of questions from the Shuiyou, Bi Fang offered a simple explanation. ¡°For any species to continue its lineage, there must necessarily be a minimum viable population to cope with the random changes in individual births and deaths, genetic drift, a series of random environmental changes, and various catastrophic events.¡± ¡°Below this number, the species will functionally go extinct! They can no longer reproduce on their own!¡± ¡°Therefore, species that have functionally gone extinct are called ¡®zombie species,¡¯ and the remaining last few individuals are referred to as ¡®the living dead.''¡± ¡°The most famous example is probably Lonesome George, who, even though still alive, meant that the Pinta Island Tortoise species was actually already extinct.¡± There are many such species in nature, and the Northeast Tiger is one of them! If humans do not intervene to allow the Northeast Tiger to breed with other tiger populations, even if their living conditions are optimal, various problems would arise due to inbreeding, and they would naturally go extinct in just a few decades! In short, there are many more of such monsters like last night beneath that pool of water! Holy shit! What do we do now? The Shuiyou were stunned, just when they thought that the danger level of this issue couldn¡¯t get any more outrageous, Gu Qingyuan dropped a bombshell! ¡°I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s not just that. The Tiktaalik here may be even more dangerous than those from three hundred million years ago. Do you know about Wu¡¯s Fish Offering, the famous fossil creature from Qaidam?¡± Bi Fang wiped the sweat from his forehead and nodded, ¡°I know a little, a kind of fish with incredibly robust bones, if it were any other fish, such a condition would¡¯ve been a disease.¡± The Wilderness Survival Skill that the System gave him was now of no use; the knowledge of flora and fauna it imparted was mostly about species that had not gone extinct. Extinct species that had been gone for millions of years were beyond the scope of his Wilderness Survival knowledge; what Bi Fang knew was all thanks to the accumulation of knowledge from his past life. ¡°Exactly, the skeletal robustness of Wu¡¯s Fish Offering is incredible, and the only fish similar to it is the Thick-tailed Secretory Fish. Both creatures had a similar living environment back then and underwent almost identical processes. Although there¡¯s no consensus in the biological community yet, we¡¯ve always suspected that the robustness of Wu¡¯s Fish Offering¡¯s skeleton was related to these environmental changes.¡± ¡°Let me put it this way, I suspect that the Tiktaalik that went through the same process might undergo the same transformations!¡± Gu Qingyuan stated his conjecture, offering a small piece of advice at the same time. ¡°If live capture is impossible, I suggest you use blunt weapons when facing danger, or aim for the joints in the skeleton, otherwise, a regular knife might not inflict any damage.¡± [What does that mean, I don¡¯t understand, what does this have to do with Wu¡¯s whatever fish?] [Don¡¯t understand plus one, Old Fang explain it please, your talk is too high- end.] [Back when the teacher asked me to study hard, I didn¡¯t listen, until I went to work in the factory, I had no regrets, but now, I¡¯m tearful for not understanding the livestream.] [Don¡¯t cry, those of us who graduated from 211 universities are also baffled here.] ¡°To put it simply, the fish here might have gotten armored up.¡± If it¡¯s indeed as Gu Qingyuan said, the bones of the Tiktaalik here could be much harder than imagined, doesn¡¯t that mean they¡¯ve layered up their armor? [If you had said it like this earlier, wouldn¡¯t that have been the end of it¡­] [Damn, how do we fight this? The other side is all decked out in holy gear, and it counters Old Fang¡¯s dagger too!] [Or should we just give up, isn¡¯t it better to live well?] ¡°But one can seek survival opportunities anytime, discovering a new living fossil might happen only once in a lifetime!¡± Unperturbed, Bi Fang was in fact eager to try. He headed straight to the edge of the pool. Since it was daytime with ample light, the pool was very clear at that moment, and the surrounding rocks could be seen more than two meters down. What exactly does the underground cave look like? What kind of creatures are down there? Bi Fang was very curious about these questions. He held the flying drone in his arms, pretending to take apart the camera, but in reality, he was transforming the livestream device into a wearable camera, which he then put on his head. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to see the habitat of such creatures? What does it eat? Its range of activity, the composition of its food web, does it cluster? What are its habits?¡± Surely, they wanted to. On the other side of the screen, Gu Qingyuan nodded frantically, but as he did so, he suddenly froze. Gu Qingyuan scratched his grizzled hair, feeling like there might be a problem. Something wasn¡¯t right. The situation was wrong. Wasn¡¯t the plan to catch a live Tiktaalik? Just like last night, wouldn¡¯t setting up some bait to lure the Tiktaalik ashore do the trick? How could all this other information be obtained? When he saw Bi Fang begin to strip off his clothes, a jolt of electricity suddenly shot through Gu Qingyuan¡¯s brain, causing a complete mental shutdown. It took a while before he could reconnect to the internet before it crashed. Damn! This kid is going to dive in and catch it! [You absolutely must not do that!] How could he dive in to catch it? Wasn¡¯t this just the same as an old man hanging himself for fear of a long life? But the barrage of messages sent by Gu Qingyuan had already been drowned in a sea of comments. Bi Fang didn¡¯t even glance at them. ¡°Since there¡¯s such a large creature in the underground river, there must be more than this small outlet; otherwise, the oxygen supply would be a problem. So I believe there should be other exits beneath the pool, maybe even an underground world.¡± Stripping down to only his trousers and undershirt, Bi Fang threw the rest of his clothes into his backpack. Then he lay down at the edge of the pool, observing carefully. He wasn¡¯t sure if it was his imagination, but he always felt there was a fishy smell in the pool. ¡°The rock walls here are made of talc deposits, and due to sandstorms, the bottom should be sandy. There should be other passages below leading to the underground river¡ªthis is a water cave!¡± ¡°Water caves are much more dangerous than land caves. Once you get lost underwater, it¡¯s easy to drown. You must not wait until your oxygen is running low to think of coming back; by then it¡¯s too late.¡± ¡°If such a situation does arise, don¡¯t panic. The more you panic, the more oxygen you¡¯ll use up.¡± ¡°All we can do is reduce our consumption and follow the current. Where there¡¯s a current, there must be a passage, and following the current also helps us reduce oxygen use.¡± Since he wouldn¡¯t be able to talk underwater, Bi Fang wanted to clarify the key points with everyone beforehand. After that, he took a few deep breaths, strapped on his backpack, put on the camera, and jumped straight into the pool! With a splash, the audience saw Bi Fang dive right in. Following the camera¡¯s perspective, all they could see was pure darkness below the pool. In the closed environment, many Shuiyou started to have difficulty breathing, feeling immensely afraid. Silence, a deathly silence. In the deepest part lurked an unknown monster, just waiting for its prey to fall into its trap! Chapter 125 - Chapter 125: Chapter 122: Underwater Struggle (Makeup Update) Chapter 125: Chapter 122: Underwater Struggle (Makeup Update) Bi Fang dove deeper and deeper. The light around him grew scarcer, as if his soul marched towards Hell. The depth of the pool was like a gap through which all the light drained away. Nothingness. Nothing but nothingness. The audience watched with trepidation. Merely through the camera, they felt an indescribable pressure, and many understood for the first time what claustrophobia was. They had never heard of a livestream like this, one that demanded psychological fortitude from its viewers. Outside, sandstorms raged, while the pool was serene and profound. Many first-time viewers of Bi Fang¡¯s livestreams were thoroughly convinced at this moment. It wasn¡¯t just the oppressing environment driving one mad, but the thought of unknown creatures lurking in the shadows made everyone¡¯s hair stand on end! Too formidable. There can¡¯t be many in the world who dare to do this, right? It¡¯s like the epitome of courting death! Yes, courting death. Even the regular audience, who had followed along all the way, thought so at this moment. They admired Bi Fang¡¯s abilities, but the situation this time was far too dangerous. Who would fight crocodiles in a swamp? Shouldn¡¯t you lure them to the shore first? Fighting on the enemy¡¯s turf, isn¡¯t that asking for death? At this moment, Gu Qingyuan was hitting his own head, filled with regret. He deeply loathed the person he was half an hour ago. If his head hadn¡¯t heated up, how could he have made such an unreasonable request? Gu Qingyuan, oh Gu Qingyuan, you took fame and profit too seriously. Just for a bit of research findings, would you let a young man risk his life for you? Can you live with yourself? ¡°Teacher, don¡¯t be like this, you can¡¯t blame yourself for this,¡± Wu Gang tried to console his teacher while staring intently at the livestream screen. He was afraid that if something really happened to Bi Fang, his teacher would jump right down from here! Fortunately, they lived on the first floor. But wait, the teacher is seventy years old, the first floor won¡¯t do him any good! Soon, half a minute passed, which felt as long as a century. As the depth increased, Bi Fang could no longer see things clearly two meters away. But he wasn¡¯t completely lost, as the camera atop his head automatically turned on a column-like light. This was the camera¡¯s builtin underwater filming feature, which could only be used in such environments. But as soon as the light pierced the pitch-black water tunnel and found a circle of light on the wall, a tail quickly disappeared beyond the circle! A series of bubbles escaped. Bi Fang covered his mouth, quickly retreated, and anxiously scanned his surroundings, but after a long search, he still couldn¡¯t find the owner of the tail. The water flowed past, leaving nothing behind. What pulsed was only his heart. [What happened, I¡¯ve already smashed my phone, now I¡¯ve switched to a computer.] [Horror movies don¡¯t scare people like this¡­] [I¡¯m not saying anymore, just regretting that I never remember to wear diapers when watching Master Fang¡¯s videos. I¡¯m going to change my pants now.] [This is the time to play ¡°The Haunted Basement.¡±] [The person above is inhuman¡­] [Guys, goodbye, just now my grandfather stood behind me watching the livestream and I didn¡¯t even notice, now I have to go to the hospital.] Meanwhile, Bi Fang stayed close to the rock wall, gripping the Hunting Knife tightly, constantly mindful of the surrounding currents, while calming his pounding heart. This was his tool for keeping track of time. He silently counted the beats of his heart-about seventy per minute-but his heart had become irregular just now, and he needed to start timing all over again. The average person can hold their breath underwater for 30 to 60 seconds, which, with training, can be increased to three to four minutes. The current record holder for the longest breath-hold underwater is Stig Sevennsen, known as ¡°the man who doesn¡¯t breathe,¡± who maintains several records in diving, with a breath-holding limit of 22 minutes and 10 seconds. Bi Fang hadn¡¯t reached that level, but after long-term yoga training, his breath-holding time was quite substantial, nearly six minutes, though that was under no-activity conditions. Forty seconds had passed, with roughly two minutes remaining. If he couldn¡¯t find an exit within the next two minutes, he would have to turn back the way he came. One second. Two seconds. Ten seconds. Soon, about seventy seconds had elapsed, and the environment around him was growing darker and darker, except for the beam of light above his head. Surrounding him was pitch black. Some people left the live stream; they couldn¡¯t take it anymore. Especially with this first-person perspective, it felt oppressively like an actual experience. The beam of light occasionally swept over the rugged cave walls and rubble, sometimes narrowing, sometimes veering sharply downward. The surrounding darkness was like a great hand clutching one¡¯s neck, not letting any breath pass through. Until faces turned red, many viewers suddenly coughed, remembering this was just a live stream, not reality. No wonder that monster seemed to have no eyes. Had it lived in the dark underground river for so long, surviving purely on its sense of smell to catch food? Another thirty seconds passed. Bi Fang finally reached the bottom of the pool. It was sand, thick sand. The pool was nestled in a valley, constantly exposed to windblown sand from the outside, covering the bottom with a layer of water and sand. But danger often lurked exactly at such times. The pool was about twenty-five meters deep; this depth was not something ordinary people should attempt lightly. At the bottom of the pool, Bi Fang walked along the edge of the cave wall. This way, if an attack occurred, at least one side would be safe from enemies. Moreover, he had his backpack strapped to the front as a means of defense. But one thing struck Bi Fang as odd. How come there seemed to be nothing in the pool? Reality is not fiction. Sustaining predators over two meters in size required other medium-sized animals, plus small fish and plants-basic common knowledge in biology. But here, there was nothing but rocks and sand. And that tail from before¡­ The bottom of the pool was large, and Bi Fang had grope around for quite a while without finding any other exits. Where was the underground cave? Just as Bi Fang was about to give up and search another side, suddenly, he felt his body shudder, and a surge of rapid current, wild as an untamed horse, swept over him. The next second, viewers saw Bi Fang slammed against the cave wall by the powerful current like a helpless boat! ¡°Gurgle gurgle!¡± A series of bubble sounds rose up in the silent water. Caught in the violent current, Bi Fang nearly fell apart, losing most of the air from his mouth. A sudden pain shot through Bi Fang¡¯s forehead, and upon looking up, he saw a faint wisp of red slowly dancing in the water. Disaster! His heart pounded violently. Looking down, a monstrous, ghastly water creature was already snapping at his face! Less than a meter away! A profound sense of crisis enveloped him. Many viewers gasped, covering their mouths. No one sent any messages; there was no time. Everything happened in the blink of an eye! Bi Fang kicked his legs, spinning rapidly in the water. But the creature was too fast, and there was no chance to dodge! Moreover, in water, the faster the movement, the greater the resistance. Even if Bi Fang reacted quickly, it was very hard for his body to keep up! In desperation, Bi Fang grabbed his knife and, as the creature got within three feet of him, he slashed fiercely. The Hunting Knife hooked, tearing open the skin and flesh of the creature¡¯s skull in an instant, with large quantities of red blood spilling out like ink. But Bi Fang felt no joy; the feedback from the Hunting Knife sent chills down his spine. It wouldn¡¯t penetrate! The creature¡¯s skull was just too thick! But Bi Fang wasn¡¯t going to sit and wait for death. While the creature bit down on the backpack in front of his chest and tore furiously, his Hunting Knife slid along the creature¡¯s head until it reached a depression. Now was the moment! Blood clouded Bi Fang¡¯s vision, but he knew this was his chance! Hiss! A large cloud of red blood spread through the water, enveloping everything in a mist of blood. Who would die? Chapter 126 - Chapter 126:123 Chapter 126:123 The blade slashed through flesh. The barbed teeth pierced through the fabric. The camera shook violently; no one knew the outcome. All they saw was the crimson spreading in the water, followed by the screen freezing. On screen, there was nothing but blood. What¡¯s happening? Why has it stopped moving? Watching the still camera, an ominous feeling crept over Gu Qingyuan¡¯s heart; the longer it remained still, the deeper the despair in his heart grew. Gurgle gurgle. A string of bubbles rose. Finally, the screen shook once again, and Shuiyou instantly became excited. [It¡¯s moving!! [It¡¯s perking up!] [Did he survive?] [It could be the body being eaten and shaking¡­] [Fuck off, get out of here! ] Gurgle gurgle. Another string of bubbles escaped as the crimson in the frame became increasingly sparse. A few seconds later, a figure violently burst through the cloud of blood mist! Breaking free from the blood-red, the rock wall once again appeared before everyone¡¯s eyes! It was Bi Fang! He hadn¡¯t died! Shuiyou were thrilled, as excited as if they were receiving a red envelope for the New Year! Breaking out of the blood mist, Bi Fang floated still in the water. Streams of blood swirled around Bi Fang, drifting elegantly with the current, like red ribbons fluttering in the wind, making him appear like a bloodthirsty demon god. Hovering in the water, Bi Fang¡¯s expression was grave as he looked back at the clump of red fog, where a long shadow was struggling relentlessly-combined with the crimson ink cloud, it seemed as if a monster¡¯s embryo was gestating. It hadn¡¯t died yet! Bi Fang held his breath and with a kick of his legs, rode the current swiftly away, the blood around him quickly dispersing. It won¡¯t do, the scent of blood here is too strong. The monster¡¯s eyes had already severely degenerated, which meant its sense of smell was likely developed to an unimaginable degree! If he stayed here, he would probably be faced with an onslaught from the group of monsters! But Bi Fang hadn¡¯t gone far when he looked back, the monster was once again in hot pursuit! So tenacious! Not only Bi Fang but even the viewers were stunned-after losing so much blood, it was as if nothing had happened to the fish? Without hesitating, Bi Fang dashed forward, swimming towards the direction from which the rapids had come. If there were rapids, then the exit had to be there! But time had passed for too long, and he had overexerted himself fighting with the monster; Bi Fang¡¯s ability to hold his breath underwater was nearing its limit! The discomfort from a lack of oxygen was starting to set in! In the pitch-black pool, one man and one beast chased each other, the surging water sweeping past Bi Fang¡¯s side before flushing over the monster behind him, bringing out more fresh blood. Yet even with severe injuries, the monster¡¯s swimming speed was far beyond what Bi Fang could match; in just a moment, the distance between them had closed to less than half a meter! Damn it! Countless viewers clenched their fists, sweating profusely, the intense pressure making them almost unable to breathe. The viewers had seen firsthand how sharp the monster¡¯s teeth were; moreover, the creature might have a biting force akin to that of a crocodile¡ªif it bit into flesh, the consequences would be unimaginable! Swim faster! Everyone was silently praying, wishing they could attach a turbo engine and propeller to Bi Fang. Seeing there was no escape, Bi Fang turned and swam directly upstream. In the passing moment, the monster, weakened by blood loss, didn¡¯t react in time and missed its prey. Above it, Bi Fang kicked hard, fiercely aiming at the monster¡¯s wound. There¡¯s no need to look closely, kick wherever there is the most blood. More blood was kicked out, crimson like silk threads coiling around Bi Fang s right leg, as the creature was abruptly kicked away. After that kick, the distance between them was once again increased, the severely injured creature getting thoroughly disoriented by the strike, and Bi Fang seized the opportunity to swim swiftly towards the cave opening where the current poured out. The light column above clearly marked the spot, the cave opening on the bottom of the pool was right there! [Fifteen centimeters not including head gives Spaceship*! to the host ¨C ¨C My god, this is too thrilling.] [Nanana gives Yacht*i to the host ¨C ¨C Damn, damn, damn, that¡¯s so cool!] [Salted Fish No.l gives Spaceship*! to the host ¨C ¨C That¡¯s freaking awesome! From now on, I¡¯m Master Fang¡¯s little fan girl!] (Mocha Baka gives Big Bone* to the host ¡ª The handsome ones are tipping, the ugly ones are hesitating!] [Hereyou go, tipped!] [Tipped!] As Bi Fang approached the cave, he reached out to test the water. Despite his urgency, he was still waiting for the current to slow down. It¡¯s not possible for the current here to always be this strong; the pool is only so big. If the flow here continued like this, the pool would be like a container with no outlet, the water would eventually overflow, and the valley would become a river. So this must be an outlet of a tributary of the Underground River when the water in the pool is too abundant, and the pressure too high, the flow of the water here would weaken, and it might even flow back! However, the audience in front of the screen didn¡¯t quite understand why Bi Fang wasn¡¯t entering the cave; they only knew that the creature was recovering! Only Gu Qingyuan roughly understood why Bi Fang wasn¡¯t entering the cave, and he silently prayed that everything would go smoothly. Hurry up, just a bit faster! Countless people were anxiously shouting, and seeing the creature start to move again, their tension reached a new height. Bi Fang felt that if he weren¡¯t underwater, his clothes would have surely been soaked with cold sweat by now. Surprisingly, the creature that started moving again didn¡¯t launch another attack but instead swam several circles around Bi Fang about five or six meters away, eventually disappearing into the darkness completely. [Ahahaha, it got scared!] [This must be the one from last night, right? After being hit twice in a row, it definitely got scared.] [Awesome, another creature subdued by Master Fang.] Seeing the creature disappear out of fear, the audience cheered once more; this round was Master Fang¡¯s victory! While ordinary people were cheering, Gu Qingyuan furrowed his brows and glanced at his watch. It had already been three minutes; could Bi Fang hold on after such intense activity? Underwater, the feeling of hypoxia was extremely uncomfortable for Bi Fang, but he still didn¡¯t choose to surface to catch his breath. The smell of blood was too strong here; if he didn¡¯t hurry now, the next time he came in, he might be greeted by a swarm of creatures! No matter how brave he was then, he wouldn¡¯t be able to break through the encirclement again. Time ticked away second by second, seeming to speed up and yet feel like an eternity. The lack of oxygen made Bi Fang¡¯s brain dizzy, but just as he was about to give up the exploration and go ashore for air, the rapid current disappeared! Bi Fang didn¡¯t hesitate at all and dove straight into the cave. Extra thinking would only waste oxygen! Having come all this way, how could he miss this opportunity? No matter what was inside, he had to take a look first. Seeing Bi Fang dive into the cave, everyone got excited, especially Gu Qingyuan. The previous worry was buried deep inside him, as curiosity about the unknown took over once again. What¡¯s on the other side? What kind of creatures? How did such a massive creature grow by eating what? Are there other ancient creatures? All sorts of questions grew wildly in Gu Qingyuan¡¯s mind like weeds. The cave was long; after swimming five or six meters, Bi Fang still couldn¡¯t see the end. The pressure of more than twenty meters of water squeezing his chest and lungs was making him increasingly uncomfortable, and the damn sensation of suffocation grew stronger. Just as he was about to give up, at last, a pitch-black cavity appeared! The exit was right in front of him! His heart rate, which had previously started to slow, accelerated once again, and Bi Fang dove forward, ready to burst out of the cave, but after swimming just a short distance, he fiercely grabbed onto the rock wall and came to an abrupt stop. Immense fear clutched at the hearts of all the viewers. Under the light column, at least three Tiktaaliks were swimming rapidly towards Bi Fang! Chapter 127 - Chapter 127: Chapter 124:1... Im Not Dead? Chapter 127: Chapter 124:1¡­ I¡¯m Not Dead? Below the pillar of light, a full three monster fish were speeding toward Bi Fang! Their size was not much different from the one encountered earlier, and some were even larger! The ferocious mouths of the creatures opened in unison, their sharply barbed teeth utterly terrifying. What to do? What should be done? Dense threads of blood filled Gu Qingyuan¡¯s eyes as he ceaselessly pondered this question. Gu Qingyuan¡¯s mind raced frantically, yet he could think of no solution, for here in the water, everything depended on Bi Fang alone! But could an oxygen-deprived Bi Fang truly face three monsters at once? This question was unsolvable! Hold on! It wasn¡¯t just Gu Qingyuan; every viewer watching Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast was uttering the same prayer at this moment. Giant crisis! Massive crisis! Bi Fang pursed his lips, tasting the flavor of blood, his heart, which had slowed due to the consumption of oxygen, now beating fiercely once again, the sound booming like a loud bell. He felt his body getting hotter and hotter, his chestnut-colored pupils trembling slightly, fixated on the monster fish diving toward him. However, just as Bi Fang braced himself for a full-on battle, a tremendous force suddenly struck from behind! This force, like the hand of a god or a high-speed train, violently struck Bi Fang¡¯s back! It was the water, the water! Bi Fang instantly understood that the water in the pool was flowing backward! It was a difference in pressure! This sudden inrush propelled Bi Fang quickly toward the cave entrance, not just him, but also the three monster fish were hit by the massive current, directly pushed out of the cave! The perspective shook too violently, and even with a balance system, viewers felt as if they were in a tumbling washing machine. The torrent, like a giant hand, clenched Bi Fang in its grasp and hurled him violently out of the cave, eventually smashing him against one of the monster fish. The roar of the rapid current suddenly whooshed by Bi Fang¡¯s ears. Though Bi Fang could not see the full image of the monster fish behind him, he could still clearly see its tail, and he certainly wouldn¡¯t miss this opportunity, stabbing it with a Hunting Knife without hesitation. This creature relied entirely on its tail for such swift movement in water! If he could injure this tail, he could immediately slow the monster¡¯s swimming speed and agility! The tail of the Tiktaalik was not enshrouded in thick bone like its head. Bi Fang¡¯s knife plunged into its flesh without any hindrance. In an instant, Bi Fang could distinctly feel the body of the monster fish shudder, then it violently shook its body, flinging him away. Under the tremendous force, Bi Fang, from holding his breath for so long, felt a reflexive physiological constriction in his lungs and inadvertently swallowed a mouthful of water! But he didn¡¯t engage in a prolonged fight; taking advantage of this force and the fact that the other several monsters were washed away, he quickly headed upstream toward the river¡¯s surface. At that moment, he was bursting with two hundred percent of his speed! The sound of water here was too loud; it definitely could not be a structure like that of a water pipe. If the interior was full of flowing water, the sound would be greatly reduced, so there must be a water surface, air! Right now, Bi Fang had reached his limit of holding his breath; if he couldn¡¯t breathe air soon, he would drown without the attack of the monster fish. But the monster fish weren¡¯t vegetarians; how could they just watch their prey escape? The other two monster fish had been flushed away to who knows where, but the one with the injured tail had adjusted its course and was rapidly swimming toward Bi Fang! Five meters, the distance between them was less than five meters! Bi Fang, seeing the water surface within arm¡¯s reach, steeled his heart. He did not turn back to confront the fish but instead shot straight for the water¡¯s surface. Five meters! Three meters! One meter! Finally, when the monster fish was just one meter away from Bi Fang, about to bite his leg, Bi Fang finally broke the water surface, managed to take a quick gulp of air, and immediately wrapped his arms around his neck, somersaulting to dive back down, directly into the gaping maw of the monster fish! The audience in the live stream watched in horror as Bi Fang¡¯s entire head was swallowed whole by the monster fish over two and a half meters long! Splash! The monster swallowed Bi Fang¡¯s head in one gulp, and its massive body crashed into the river like the whip of a god, kicking up a huge spray of water. Swallowed! Everyone was stunned, and as Bi Fang had created one miracle after another, they simply could not accept that a guy who called himself the number one explorer would meet his end here! Gu Qingyuan, Lin Chang, Lin Xue, Wu Mingtao, Yao Jun, and Wang Yongbo, all friends of Bi Fang, were at this moment beside themselves with rage. Could it be that Bi Fang would really die just like this? Inside the Underground River! Bi Fang only felt a tremendous force strike his head, and then he was plunged into a dark, sticky environment, accompanied by a foul stench. An unprecedented sense of urgency! But there was still hope! Bi Fang had not dived recklessly, otherwise, compared to losing a leg, the importance of his head was unquestionable. What he wanted was precisely this effect! Humans¡¯ necks are too fragile, so when he dived, Bi Fang used his hands to protect his head, and because the monster¡¯s mouth was too large, it had swallowed not only his head but also his hands that were protecting his neck! In the end, the monster could not outwit human intelligence! Bi Fang reached back and grabbed the Hunting Knife, stabbing forward fiercely! In an instant, Bi Fang felt the entire fish cavity suddenly tighten, like a vacuum pump sucking air, causing his shoulders to ache. The pain triggered the monster fish¡¯s fury, but it also stirred up Bi Fang¡¯s wildness! Far from letting go, he twisted and sliced the Hunting Knife even more ruthlessly! Boom! The monster fish¡¯s whole interior constricted in a squeezing motion, and it began to struggle violently. Bi Fang¡¯s head spun wildly. The monster fish thrashed its tail wildly, immense pain engulfing its entire body, followed by a deep, heavy roar, it opened its bloody mouth and spat Bi Fang out once more! The audience in the live stream felt darkness and then light, and water came back into view! ¡°Ha ha!¡± Bi Fang burst out of the water, creating a great splash, and swam toward the riverbank without looking back! After inflicting a severe blow on the monster fish, releasing Bi Fang, it quickly swam downwards. Bi Fang coughed, with river water constantly pouring into his mouth and nostrils, creating an unbearable physiological urge to vomit, which he suppressed as he swam to the bank in agony. In front of the camera, the waterline bobbed¡ªit was unclear how Bi Fang had managed to do it, but that didn¡¯t stop the viewers¡¯ celebration! Within a second, hundreds of comments formed a storm in the live stream! A dense flurry of gifts made the entire screen impenetrable. The only thing that could limit Bi Fang¡¯s live stream popularity now was Wolf Fang¡¯s ceiling capacity! Wang Yongbo was all too aware that many of Wolf Fang¡¯s streamers deliberately avoided streaming during Bi Fang¡¯s times, fearing it would affect their viewership! After about fifteen seconds, Bi Fang finally reached the beach of the Underground River. He rolled over with the last of his energy, then lay on the bank, gasping for breath like a dead fish. A drop of water from the cave ceiling fell on Bi Fang¡¯s forehead, cold to the bone. ¡°I¡­ didn¡¯t die?¡± The river flowed quietly beside him, fish swam in circles like spinning vortexes of light, their bioluminescence allowing Bi Fang to see the grandeur of his surroundings. He struggled to his feet, and the moment he looked out, Bi Fang forgot all his fear. His soul was filled with immense shock, and when he saw it all, everything seemed worth it¡­ ¡°Splash!¡± Water suddenly burst, and another monster fish leapt onto the bank! Just as it vaulted from the water, Bi Fang kicked it fiercely with his foot, sending it straight back into the Underground River, and he cursed loudly. ¡°You damn thing, dare to scare me when you¡¯re not even a meter long!¡± Chapter 128 - Chapter 128: Chapter 125: Underground World Chapter 128: Chapter 125: Underground World Bi Fang kicked the strange fish back into the Underground River and hastily moved up the riverbank to avoid being ambushed by the fish again. The water of the river flowed silently, and the fish, forming dazzling swirls of light as they swam in circles, were actually glowing! The bioluminescence was even bright enough for Bi Fang to clearly see this grand and magnificent place! What an inconceivable miracle of life! Was this bioluminescence coming from inside the cells or from their exterior? Why was it so bright? The phenomenon of bioluminescence is not uncommon, especially for fireflies on land, which are the most well-known examples. An Underground River filled with so many bioluminescent fish; what species could this be? Gu Qingyuan had fallen into deep thought, while Wu Gang beside him didn¡¯t entertain such roundabout ideas; he was simply immersed in the vast and unknown depths of the earth. So thrilling! In the moment he looked around, Bi Fang forgot the danger he had just faced and felt an urge to kneel in worship. He had never imagined that such a spacious underground space could exist, possibly hundreds or even thousands of feet across. He couldn¡¯t gauge the size of this enormous cavern with his own eyesight. Standing up to look around, the end of the Underground River disappeared into darkness, making it impossible to see where it led. The sound of dripping water monotonously echoed throughout this huge space. The rather wide Underground River meandered, like a river within this realm, while the accumulated stalactites over thousands of years formed the mountain ranges here. Suddenly, the sound of splashing water arose as a large luminescent fish Bi Fang had seen earlier leapt vigorously out of the water! It seemed to have dived deep for a while, and now, as it emerged, it was radiating light so bright that it was almost dazzling as the sole source of illumination in the darkness. Bi Fang squinted and took a step back, but tripped over a rock behind him and almost fell. [My goodness, isn¡¯t this place too huge?] [Is there really a cavern this big? We only descended about twenty meters, right?] [Brother, did you forget this is a valley? I reckon we¡¯re about sixty meters or more below the surface¡­] [I¡¯m never going to the Jiaofang Division again. Gifting the streamer a Big Bone*l¡ªPraise Nature] [Messier64 gifts the streamer Fish Balls*ioooo¡ªCrossing the ocean to finally see land, it¡¯s too beautiful.] Compared to everyone else¡¯s sighs of amazement, Gu Qingyuan wasn¡¯t as shocked by the expanse of this new world, or perhaps he had anticipated it. ¡°Just as I suspected, whales can only be nurtured in the ocean; a fish tank can¡¯t breed a big fish! To breed a carnivorous animal three meters in length, this Underground River can¡¯t possibly be small; it must be extremely huge!¡± ¡°But if the river is so big, why is the Qaidam still a desert?¡± Wu Gang asked, puzzled. If the underground water source was so abundant, why was the surface bone dry, a place where neither humans nor birds chose to dwell? What was the reason? Hearing this, Gu Qingyuan gave Wu Gang a glare, ¡°Do you think deserts are deserts just because they lack water? Ignorance!¡± Wu Gang scratched his head; after all, he hadn¡¯t studied geography¡­ ¡°In the Arabian Desert, there are occasional heavy rains that can even flood cities in the desert. But even so, strong rainfall can¡¯t change its desert nature because the desert¡¯s absorption and evaporation rates mean that the water will disappear within a month.¡± ¡°Simply having more water is fundamentally impossible for transforming a desert!¡± ¡°Moreover, this Underground River is at least several tens of meters deep¡­¡± Gu Qingyuan wanted to explain further, but when he saw Bi Fang start to move, he immediately brought his attention back and waved dismissively at Wu Gang, ¡°Enough, enough, you can look it up on Baidu yourself, I don¡¯t have time to answer your questions.¡± WuGang: ¡°¡­¡± Staggering a few steps, Bi Fang leaned back against a stalactite column to rest. He combed his drenched hair with his hands, shaking off the incessant drips of water. Under the gleaming light, his face looked especially pale. Bi Fang shook his head and saw the barrage of comments, still answering some of the online friends¡¯ questions. ¡°Mountains surround the basin, and the meltwater from the snow and ice of the mountains, along with precipitation, seeps into the desert geology of the basin and forms groundwater below the surface.¡± ¡°Take the Tarim Basin, for instance. Some of our country¡¯s geologists even believe that the groundwater resources beneath the Tarim Basin may well exceed the storage volume of Lake Baikal, the world¡¯s largest freshwater lake, and the situation in Qaidam is similar.¡± ¡°But seeing it with your own eyes still leaves you awe-struck. This place is simply an underground world!¡± Bi Fang looked up, greedily breathing in the air, seemingly unconcerned about toxicity. ¡°Many people watch movies where the protagonist encounters suffocation in caves, or the presence of toxic gases. We don¡¯t need to worry about the former because Tiktaalik is here. If there was a lack of oxygen in the cave, they wouldn¡¯t be able to breed so successfully.¡± ¡°As for poisonous gases, they usually arise from a build-up and fermentation of bat droppings, resulting in an excessive amount of ammonia in the air, or sulfur dioxide or something, but these gases generally have a strong odor, which I have not smelled, so we don¡¯t need to worry about that.¡± After taking off the backpack in front of him and checking it carefully, Bi Fang breathed a sigh of relief. The backpack provided by the system was a double-layered waterproof bag, and it was sturdy enough that only the outer layer was torn by the bites of the strange fish, while the inner layer remained intact, leaving the clothes inside dry. Although it wasn¡¯t too cold yet, Bi Fang could feel the wet clothes leeching away his body heat. He pretended to take the camera down again, and the unmanned drone made a comeback. Then he took off his lining and changed into a new one. The good figure revealed in the process caused a frenzy of envy among the Shuiyou. [The drone is finally back in action. I was about to get dizzy from all the shaking just now.] [Add one, I was so uncomfortable, even more than when I play 3D games.] [Speaking of which, Old Fang¡¯s physique is too impressive, right?] [Those muscles, I¡¯m in love!] [Envious!] [Screenshot and set as wallpaper.] [When can I also develop a physique like Master Fang?] [Live in the wilderness often, occasionally confront bears, wolves, and snakes, and you¡¯ll be like this in half a month.] Bi Fang didn¡¯t mind the teasing from the Shuiyou and closed his eyes. After a few minutes, when he reopened them, his eyes had initially adapted to the darkness. The lights on the drone were long extinguished, and in the pitch-black cave, the only light came from the flowing Underground River. Bi Fang didn¡¯t light any torches. Before entering the water, he had collected many flower sticks, but since there was still light, even if it was faint, he shouldn¡¯t waste resources. The terrain around him was vague, and Bi Fang tried hard to imprint it in his mind. ¡°Cave exploration is a very fashionable sport abroad and a popular activity among many extreme adventure enthusiasts. However, it is an adventurous sport after all, and most people only pay attention to the mystery, excitement, and fun of cave exploration, often overlooking the many hidden dangers.¡± ¡°Especially in unknown caves!¡± ¡°Here, we have no signs or guidance, no accurate reference points, and everything is unknown. We might even be unaware of how long, wide, or deep the cave is!¡± No sooner had he spoken than Bi Fang moved forward into the darkness, with the sound of dripping water echoing monotonously in the vast cave. Getting lost, rising groundwater levels, dangerous creatures, oxygen deprivation, abnormal temperatures and humidity¡­ In the pitch-black environment, these few sentences echoed back and forth within the cave, making the audience shiver, and the joy of escaping from the mouth of the creature vanished instantly. In such a deadly environment, could humans really find a way to survive? Chapter 129 - Chapter 129: Chapter 126: How did he get in? Chapter 129: Chapter 126: How did he get in? [Since Old Fang said so, I know it¡¯s a sure thing now.] [Although I¡¯m really worried, I still have to jinx it by responding with ¡°it¡¯s a sure thing!¡±] [Last time you said the same thing, and woof, the bear just ran away.] [But I feel like it¡¯s really dangerous this time, not on the same level as the previous times.] [We believe in you, Old Fang! Rock-solid support!] [Grand Commander Wolf Fang has sent the host Spaceship*?¡ªcharge! This wave is my bonus for you!] Bi Fang: ¡°???¡± What¡¯s going on, why are the responses different from before? Shouldn¡¯t there be a bunch of people jumping out to say I¡¯ve gone crazy, turned foolish, or am courting death? How am I supposed to set the mood with you guys like this? This generation of netizens is getting harder to lead. Bi Fang, resigned, realized that the audience¡¯s trust in him had only deepened, making it increasingly difficult to create simple show effects. Shaking his head, Bi Fang examined the surroundings of the cave and continued to move forward. ¡°Getting lost is the most common problem cave explorers encounter because underground caves are likely to be interconnecting, and there are no reference points here. Once we lose our direction, it can be quite troublesome. So, always remember to mark the path we¡¯ve passed, and never proceed recklessly. Even if we encounter danger, we must remain calm!¡± ¡°In the cave, the oppressive darkness all around can make it hard to breathe, and in such conditions, it¡¯s easiest to lose one¡¯s way. According to statistics, the majority of cave exploration disappearances around the world have been caused by getting lost.¡± ¡°For this reason, we must make sure to mark our path clearly, to constantly remind ourselves whether the route forward is repetitive.¡± Touching a stalactite that formed a column, Bi Fang found a stone on the ground, used his Hunting Knife to carve a markon it, and placed it beside the stalactite. This stalactite was the thickest one nearby, very noticeable. Leaving a mark here would serve as a clear landmark. ¡°Caves are generally rare geomorphological features; ecologically speaking, they are irreplaceable. Yet they are extremely fragile, and once damaged, it is very difficult for them to return to their original ecological state. Therefore, when choosing a marker, it is best to use methods that are less destructive to the environment.¡± ¡°Impressive!¡± Gu Qingyuan watched intently while continuously taking notes in a small notebook. Wu Gang glanced over and saw it was full of descriptive words, with records of the living environments of various species. It was clear that Gu Qingyuan greatly admired Bi Fang now. To prioritize environmental protection despite the danger was a quality rarely found in young people these days. [But you still need to be careful. In such a place, almost isolated from the world, and vastly different from our familiar external environment, it could have developed a unique ecological system. There might be dangerous creatures, and I can¡¯t judge what they are.] ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Professor, I¡¯m well aware of that,¡± Bi Fang nodded, saying it was precisely for this reason that he had chosen to walk along the bank where there was more light, to avoid stepping on any dangerous creatures. ¡°Catching a live Tiktaalik might have to wait a bit. I want to understand the surroundings better before making a move. Otherwise, carrying a big live fish would make my exploration very difficult.¡± [No problem, no problem, it¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t catch it. What matters is that you come back safely.] Gu Qingyuan repeatedly expressed that there was no rush, and if anything happened to Bi Fang, he would feel remorseful for the rest of his life. Now, no matter how many bullet comments there were, Professor Gu¡¯s comments would always stand out. To avoid Bi Fang missing them, many netizens spontaneously copied and pasted them, over and over, ensuring that Bi Fang could see them. They might not be able to give Bi Fang much encouragement, but they sure wouldn¡¯t be a drag on him. Bi Fang went deeper into the cave, the sound of running water gradually weakened, and the once-turbulent underground river began to slow. Gradually, the sound of watery trickles became faint. In the tranquil cave, with not a single human voice, water droplets ticked and tocked. Every time Bi Fang spoke, his voice would echo through the vastness of the cave. After a long time, Bi Fang gradually relaxed. It seemed that most of the dangerous creatures in this part of the cave were underwater, and there weren¡¯t any monsters on the riverbank. What followed was a fatigue of both body and mind. Those first few minutes into the cave hadn¡¯t been without cost; his energy was nearly depleted, and he was already starting to feel sleepy after walking only a short distance. Bi Fang reached up to touch the wound on his forehead, which was a result of being hit by the rushing water. The injury wasn¡¯t serious, so he hadn¡¯t bandaged it, and by now it had scabbed over, conveniently sparing him that trouble. ¡°How do I get out?¡± In the pitch-black cave, Bi Fang asked himself. Survival required skill as well as luck. He watched the glowing fish casting their luminescent light onto the ceiling, shimmering like multicolored stars. This test was so severe that even Bi Fang felt a lack of confidence. Perhaps he was too tired, causing his brain to stop functioning properly. Maybe he needed to rest for a while. Bi Fang rubbed his eyes, which were trying to close, when suddenly, a subtle noise woke him. Although it was faint, it was very clear. In a place where the monotony was only broken by the sound of water, it was strikingly distinct. But when Bi Fang leaned in to listen, he felt like it was just a slightly distorted dripping sound. Maybe just water droplets falling into an indented stone trough, he suspected he was experiencing an illusion. Bi Fang moved his feet again. ¡°Crack!¡± This time the sound was clearer, causing Bi Fang to freeze, for the noise came from under his foot. The audience members who also heard the strange noise instantly tensed up. Bi Fang slowly squatted down, shifted his shoe aside, and picked up a yellowed fragment. Bi Fang turned his head aimlessly as the drone also flew to his side, turning in the direction away from the river. Without any light, it switched from normal to night vision mode, but at the moment when everyone could see clearly, a scream pierced through the whole dormitory building! Wu Gang staggered backward, trembling. He saw an upside-down human face with hollow eyes staring straight at him, the mouth seemingly laughing soundlessly, and two rows of ghastly white teeth pressing against his face, as if to bite through his neck. ¡°What the hell are you doing!¡± Gu Qingyuan, too, was startled by Wu Gang¡¯s scream and yelled furiously, ¡°It¡¯s just a skeleton!¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Wu Gang, still in shock, was befuddled as he looked at the screen again, indeed seeing nothing but a skeletal head! At this moment, it wasn¡¯t just him; similar scenes were happening all over the country. No one expected that a pitch-black cave would contain a skeleton! Even Bi Fang himself was startled, nearly tumbling into the river. (Damn, that scared the hell out of me!] [That sudden night vision nearly scared me to death! ] [My grandpa, who just got out of the hospital, was sent back again, wuu wuu wuu, grandpa, my grandpa!] [Ah, may he rest in peace¡­] [Watching livestreams is risky, be careful with your donations!] [But why is there a skeleton here?] The last comment voiced everyone¡¯s confusion. Yeah, why was there a skeleton in here? At that moment, Bi Fang shook his head; he was also at a loss about the cave¡¯s layout. However, discovering this skeleton was an unexpected blessing. The route through the water pool to enter the cave was incredibly difficult, requiring not only exceptional breath-holding skills but also facing monsters¡¯ attacks. It was a life-and-death situation even for an ordinary person, let alone for Bi Fang himself. So, where did this skeleton come from? And where was the entrance it used to get in? Chapter 130 - Chapter 130: Chapter 127 Silk Road Chapter 130: Chapter 127 Silk Road The gloomy darkness of the cave, countless people stared in horror at the white skeleton, while Bi Fang squatted in front of the bones, carefully examining the clothes on the body. From top to bottom, from left to right, from the style to the color, and then combining the characteristics of each era and the unique climatic attire, Bi Fang propped up his chin, deep in thought. He understood. There are limits to the human brain. The clothes on the skeleton were a dark mess ¨C he could discern nothing from them. The underground cave was too damp, and a thick layer of calcification had formed on the skeleton¡¯s clothing, almost solidifying into a mass akin to stone. Even the skull, looking further back, seemed to have merged with the ground. ¡°Normally, a human body will become a skeleton within one to two months after death, and the bones will start to become brittle after a few decades,¡± Bi Fang picked up a piece of crushed bone and gave it a twist. Crack. The already small bone fragment broke into pieces the size of fingernails, and with a press of the fingers, it crumbled even further, like cookie crumbs. ¡°But for the bones to become this brittle, it would take at least a hundred years!¡± A hundred years! That long? The span of time was so great that many audience members felt they must have heard wrongly. [Whoa! Is this an ancient person?] [Did people enter this cave hundreds of years ago?] [How did they die? Starved to death here?] [This is a major archaeological site!] Bi Fang stood up again and took out a torch from his bag, lighting it and continuing deeper into the riverbed, probably less than a hundred meters. An even more astonishing scene presented itself. Yet another skeleton! More than one person died here? Bi Fang pointed the torch downwards, and this skeleton was basically similar to the previous one, except that the limbs had already separated from the torso, with the hand bones lying three meters away, and the leg bones had vanished completely! ¡°They were probably eaten,¡± Bi Fang said with a grave expression. After these people died, they were likely eaten by Tiktaalik that crawled ashore; otherwise, there was no explaining why the bones were scattered so fragmentarily. Of course, there might be even more sinister endings, but this place was not insurmountable. With so many fish in the river, such an event was unlikely to happen. As soon as the second skeleton appeared, Shuiyou in the live broadcast felt even more the chilling horror of this place. A chill to the bone. Why did these people die here, what drove them into this cave? Did they leave any clues behind? ¡°Could you¡­ not squeeze so tightly? I can¡­ hardly breathe,¡± on the couch, Ning Zhiyun had Bao Xuan¡¯s neck in a tight grasp, choking her until her eyes rolled back. Even the king of mixed martial arts didn¡¯t have a chokehold as perfect as hers! ¡°Ah, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry,¡± Ning Zhiyun quickly let go, apologizing repeatedly, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to, it was just too scary!¡± Bao Xuan empathized as she had also been startled by the sudden appearance of the skeleton, nodding and saying, ¡°This guy is pretty amazing. He dares to go into places like this, and without a sound, too. I was wondering where his money came from before. I never expected that he was live streaming!¡± ¡°I wonder if he can escape this time,¡± Ning Zhiyun said, full of concern. She had a good impression of Bi Fang. The big bag of cat food Bi Fang brought last time hadn¡¯t even been finished yet; they were all very expensive brands that made their three cats picky, not even looking twice at their previous food. The result was embarking on such a dangerous task, it was literally risking their lives for money. If the police hadn¡¯t told them, Ning Zhiyun felt she would still be in the dark. She had never expected that the two shifty-looking guys would actually turn out not to be bad guys; it was a relief they didn¡¯t come back to settle scores with them, otherwise Bao Xuan would have had to apologize. inside the dormitory building, Wu Gang and Gu Qingyuan were also very puzzled at this moment. ¡°Teacher, why are there so many bodies here?¡± Gu Qingyuan shook his head, this touched upon his areas of ignorance; as a biologist, how could he know about this sort of thing? He waved his hand and picked up the phone beside him, scrolling through the contacts on his mobile phone: ¡°Hold on, I¡¯ll give Professor Song a call.¡± ¡°The one who teaches history, Professor Song?¡± Wu Gang was startled. While waiting for the call to connect, Gu Qingyuan nodded to Wu Gang, ¡°Yes, he should know a bit more after seeing this video.¡± Watching Gu Qingyuan make the call, Wu Gang couldn¡¯t stop clicking his tongue in wonder, ¡°That¡¯s odd, even Professor Song is called in.¡± Professor Song from the history department and Professor Gu from the biology department, they were both considered hidden dragons and crouching phoenixes¡ªcough cough, two pearls of their school. When senior leaders came to inspect, they would respectfully address them as Professor Gu and Professor Song. He never expected that today both would be alarmed by a single live broadcast! Soon, an audience member named Song Tingning entered the live stream, but unfortunately, with so many people in the stream, no one noticed. After a while, Song Yanning on the other end of the phone shook his head; he too was powerless, ¡°There are too few clues. Without clothing or written characters, I can¡¯t determine who these people are.¡± The clothing in the cave had all congealed into a mass of rock; it was impossible to discern any style or features, and there were no written records. Just as Gu Qingyuan was extremely disappointed, Song Yanning suddenly changed his tone, ¡°However, I think it is very likely that this was a commercial caravan from the Song dynasty.¡± ¡°Oh? How so?¡± With a plot twist in sight, Gu Qingyuan asked curiously. ¡°The Qaidam Basin is a lowland surrounded by mountains and is located in the middle of the western region; its location is very clever.¡± Song Yanning paused, then began to organize his thoughts in his mind and, drawing on his years of historical expertise, made a plausible guess. ¡°Before the two Song dynasties, Qaidam was merely ordinary territory under the rule of the Central Plains dynasties or a stage for various other minority nations, such as the Qiang, to take turns ruling. But this place is only vast deserts and salt marshes, not good pastures, so it¡¯s always been sparsely populated since ancient times.¡± ¡°However, this changed during the confrontations between the Northern Song dynasty and Western Xia. During the standoff with Western Xia, they nearly occupied the entire Hexi Corridor. The Northern Song launched five wars to try to regain the old Hexi lands but were not successful.¡± ¡°The Hexi region has always been a hub connecting the Central Plains to the western regions. Unable to recapture it despite several expeditions, the Northern Song couldn¡¯t pass through the territory to connect with the kingdoms of the western regions, something Western Xia also wouldn¡¯t allow.¡± ¡°This became a thorn in the side of the Great Song Empire, forcing the Song to seek other routes to the western regions.¡± ¡°Speak plainly, stop beating around the bush and just say the conclusion. I don¡¯t understand, nor do I care, do you think I¡¯m one of your students?¡± Gu Qingyuan grew impatient, all this stuff about two Songs, Western Xia, five wars ¡ªit was giving him a headache just listening. Song Yanning: He suppressed the surge of frustration in his forehead and sped up his speech. ¡°This place has always been sparsely populated; people simply can¡¯t survive here. Apart from warfare, the only ones who would pass through here are the caravans, and these people are obviously only wearing ordinary clothes, without armor or swords, so they couldn¡¯t be military. And it was only during the Song dynasty that caravans passed through here, as this was part of the Silk Road.¡± ¡°Then why not the Yuan Dynasty or the Ming Dynasty?¡± Gu Qingyuan was quite confused. ¡°The Yuan and Ming dynasties had much larger territories than the Song, and when they travelled to the western regions, they would take the Hexi Corridor. So, probability and timing-wise, the Song people have the greatest likelihood!¡± Gu Qingyuan nodded, acknowledging the information. If it had been put this way earlier, he would have understood without all the beating around the bush with not a bit of useful information. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m hanging up now.¡± ¡°Hey, hey, wait, don¡¯t hang up yet!¡± Song Yanning immediately grew anxious when he heard that. So after I¡¯ve helped out, there¡¯s not even a token of appreciation? One should not be too ¡®Gu Qingyuan¡¯! Chapter 131 - Chapter 131: Chapter 128: Get to Know the Nine-layered Demon Tower Chapter 131: Chapter 128: Get to Know the Nine-layered Demon Tower ¡°Look, I¡¯ve said so much, cough cough.¡± Song Vanning coughed, vehemently hinting at Gu Qingyuan. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, tuberculosis? If you¡¯ve got something to say, spit it out. I¡¯ve still got to go apply for a quota to research rare species!¡± said Gu Qingyuan, annoyed. The two had been good friends for many years and were accustomed to mocking each other. Song Vanning was good at everything else, but he was not straightforward when he spoke, hesitantly breaking what could be said in one sentence into two. ¡°Cough cough!¡± This time Song Vanning really choked, and upon hearing Gu Qingyuan¡¯s words, he spoke bluntly, ¡°old Gu, when you take your team on a field study, can you take me with you? I also want to experience what a Song dynasty merchant caravan was like.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Gu Qingyuan agreed readily. It was just the matter of a plane ticket, which the school would reimburse anyway. He was in a hurry to apply for the quota to study rare animals. He had been only focused on having Bi Fang capture a live strange fish and had almost forgotten about this. Normally, the discovery of a new species entails on-site protection, following the principle that they shouldn¡¯t be moved unless absolutely necessary. But as always, there are exceptions, such as for scientific research. The wants of humanity supersede all. Many large laboratories have certain quotas for researching rare animals. As long as the creature has great experimental value and is not actually on the verge of extinction, researching one or two live specimens is totally allowed. Just need to get permission. As one of the leading figures in domestic biological research, Gu Qingyuan certainly had that qualification. Moreover, since Tiktaalik seemed to be thriving in the Underground River and didn¡¯t appear to be on the brink of extinction, he had asked Bi Fang to try capturing a live one. The absence of one wouldn¡¯t cause significant damage, it was simply improbable. Therefore, after relaying all this information from Song Vanning to Bi Fang, Gu Qingyuan hurried off to apply for the quota. ¡°You stay here and watch the livestream; don¡¯t wander off. If anything happens, call me right away! I¡¯ll bring you back some oranges.¡± ¡°Okay, teacher.¡± Wu Gang found this statement a bit strange, but he nodded his head anyway. After watching his teacher push open the dormitory door and leave, he suddenly clenched his fist. ¡°Yes, I can finally donate!¡± Clutching the mouse, Wu Gang skillfully opened the donation interface and sent out a few meatballs, feeling an all-round sense of pleasure. Ever since he started watching Bi Fang¡¯s livestreams, he had developed an addiction to donating, one he didn¡¯t want to cure. What was he supposed to do? Inside the cave. ¡°They were actually people from the Song dynasty?¡± Bi Fang held up a torch, looking at the skeletons on the ground with surprise in his eyes. This was already the third skeleton he had discovered. He had originally thought they might be Xianbei people; as far as he knew, Qaidam was most famously associated with the small country of Tuyuhun¡¯, founded by the Murong Clan of the Xianbei, who were also the real-life ¡°Nine-layered Demon Tower¡± tomb owners. So he never associated the discovery with people from the Song dynasty. [Wow, so historically significant?] [This is an archaeological discovery, Old Fang, you¡¯ve made another contribution to the country! Wait, why do I feel like saying ¡®again¡¯?] [Master Fang¡¯s livestreams are getting more and more amazing, even getting external assistance, awesome (voice crack)!] [Assistance from a top professor from a top university, reliable!] [A merchant caravan? Could there be antiques?] [Holy cow, isn¡¯t this a fortune? Antiques from the Song dynasty! Old Fang, remember us when you¡¯re rolling in riches!] [We should all get a share!] [We should all get a share, plus one!] ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it!¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°Do you really think that if there were antiques, they would end up in your hands? Why do you think the caravan would have entered this cave?¡± Bi Fang looked at the dead skeletons, making his own analysis. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for danger, would they have ventured so deep as to end up trapped and die here? If they encountered danger, it¡¯s very unlikely they would have been able to flee with a load of goods.¡± I suspect that if these people truly were traders, they might have been ambushed by desert bandits. The goods would have been stolen, and the survivors had to seek refuge in this cave to escape.¡± Holding the torch, Bi Fang continued to advance through the cave. The fire cast his shadow on the rock walls. With the light, he moved much faster, and soon he discovered a section of wall that was different from the others. The stone wall shone like a mirror, and as Bi Fang brought the torch closer, he discovered that there was no spot on the wall without white marks, groups of five closely packed together, densely covering the entire wall. Bi Fang counted the white marks, growing more alarmed as he counted, not knowing how these people had measured time before their death, but if each mark here represented a day, there were no fewer than a hundred marks! Roughly three months! These people had been trapped here for three full months before they died! But having held on for three months, how did they die? There was no lack of water and food here, could it have been suicide? Nature found it incomprehensible. ¡°Lack of salt and vitamins!¡± ¡°Especially without salt! Even though eating meat can replenish sodium, that¡¯s not enough; over time, one would become weak and listless, and in such a state, it¡¯s easy to entertain thoughts of ending one¡¯s life.¡± Bi Fang was solemn, the situation worse than he had anticipated; these people had held on for three months and still hadn¡¯t found the exit-what could be the reason? Had the exit been blocked by someone, or was it simply a matter of getting lost? He looked toward an alley on the riverbank, a deep alley leading toward an unseen end above, leaving a mark, Bi Fang entered the alley. Half an hour later, Bi Fang arrived at the riverbank again, and saw the marking stone at his feet¡ªit was the starting point. He had just made a big circle. [I told you we should¡¯ve taken the left fork.] [Why¡¯d we end up back here?] [I¡¯m getting anxious, what if we really can¡¯t get out?] [I think it¡¯s doubtfuL.the people here didn¡¯t find the exit even after three months¡­] [Has anyone counted how many forks there are?] [Three, four, two, probably this many, we just kept turning left.] ¡°No worries, just one more try.¡± Bi Fang wasn¡¯t disheartened; he had just been sticking to the left and had figured out one route, and when it came to caves, there was no rushing. Soon, a good half-day had passed. In this cave, devoid of daylight, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t determine the time, and could only roughly estimate that it might be evening or perhaps even later, with night having fallen. Exhaustion from the day prevented Bi Fang from keeping his eyes open, and as he explored the last alley, finally, something different occurred. At this moment, he once again arrived in a cavern, not the Underground River, but a pond, with a mound in the middle surrounded by water like a moat. But what drew the most attention wasn¡¯t the picturesque scene, but rather the creature on the mound! Another Tiktaalik, and a big one at that! Bi Fang slowed his breathing, not alarming the strange fish that appeared to be sleeping; he retreated back to the alley and pointed to the opposite side of the fish. The fluorescing river emitted a faint light, and with the help of the drone, the Shuiyou could barely make it out. There was a cave entrance right on the other side! [Ah, are we supposed to fight the monster to get through?] [Is this the King of Tiktaaliks?] [Wow, someone actually remembers this name] [This one¡¯s got to be over three meters, right?] [Catch this one, Old Fang; if you do, I¡¯ll tip you a spaceship!] ¡°This one¡¯s too big; even if I caught it, I couldn¡¯t carry it,¡± Bi Fang flatly refused. Not to mention the danger, how would he take such a big strange fish that was heavier than him? And at this point, he was simply too exhausted. ¡°Let¡¯s go back for now; we¡¯ll come back here tomorrow and have a look, maybe the strange fish will have gone by then.¡± Chapter 132 - Chapter 132: Chapter 129: This Road is Impassable Chapter 132: Chapter 129: This Road is Impassable Bi Fang retreated into the corridor, winding through the paths marked on the rock walls until he found a higher sloping terrain in the corridor. After carving an arrow into the wall, Bi Fang explained to the drone. ¡°Within these caves, we must be careful of rising groundwater levels. Here, it¡¯s common to hear the water without seeing it. One step may be on solid rock and the next could unexpectedly be over a deep pool. In case of a cloudburst, it¡¯s quite possible for the water to fill the cave overnight.¡± ¡°This scenario is extremely dangerous. In December 2009, seven cave explorers from France entered a cave at the border of France and Spain in the Pyrenees Mountains. When they reached 700 meters underground, the water level of the underground river suddenly rose, cutting off the exit route for three of them. The other four tried to rescue them without success before urgently seeking help from the outside world.¡± ¡°Later, a professional rescue team arrived at the scene. The diving team entered the cave, used explosives to blast a passage, and finally succeeded in rescuing the trapped individuals.¡± [Damn! I thought getting lost was the most dangerous situation in cave exploration. Who knew there was something even scarier?] [There shouldn¡¯t be a sudden surge of water in the desert, right?] [On the contrary, I think because it¡¯s a desert, it¡¯s more likely to have rapid water level rises. All the water would seep in from a downpour.] [But heavy rains are rare, aren¡¯t deserts less likely to experience sudden cloudbursts?] [If you get flooded in such a place, isn¡¯t that just waiting to die?] The audience was anxious, unable to imagine what a desperate scene it would be if groundwater backfilled into the corridors. It was like stuffing people into a sealed glass jar and filling it with water! ¡°Yes, it¡¯s just waiting to die,¡± Bi Fang confirmed their thoughts. ¡°If you¡¯re trapped in a cave and the water level rises and floods in, you¡¯ll drown. If you don¡¯t get drowned, you¡¯ll die of asphyxiation due to lack of air circulation.¡± ¡°Not every cave exploration outing is so lucky to have friends able to call for rescue, most victims are powerless to change their fate in such situations.¡± Many viewers nodded silently. Without a rise in water level, the intricately complex caves could drive a person mad, not to mention when they are flooded. Find the exit against the clock, how could that be possible? ¡°When we ¡®re trapped in caverns for various reasons, we must try our best to find higher ground to avoid similar tragedies. This corridor seems to be the highest ground I¡¯ve come across in my recent exploration area, and I plan to make this my campsite for tonight.¡± Bi Fang cleared the rocks on the ground and then started to look for scattered stones around the area, piling them at both ends of the corridor to create simple barriers. ¡°It¡¯s best to block both ends of the passage with stones. This can effectively prevent some creatures from entering, especially heat-seeking animals like venomous snakes. A sleeping human is simply a natural furnace to them! Without taking measures, you can¡¯t possibly defend against it!¡± ¡°I hope no strange creatures come in while I¡¯m asleep.¡± After partially blocking the passage, Bi Fang wiped the sweat off his forehead, held onto the drone, and after a few final words, ended the broadcast despite the audience¡¯s pleas not to. Gazing at the torch in his hand, Bi Fang blew out a breath. The corridor plunged into complete darkness. The sound of flowing water was faintly discernible, with water droplets landing on the damp ground and echoing clearly. Bi Fang felt his own chest, sensing the heartbeat within, and slowly closed his eyes. Next came the sound of his steady breathing. In the dark, Bi Fang drifted in and out of sleep, sometimes even feeling water droplets landing on his own face. The sound of the water seemed to draw nearer, elusive like a shadow. Inside an office. Gu Qingyuan took off his glasses, pinched the bridge of his nose, and relieved fatigue. Watching this live broadcast was truly draining, never having a moment to relax is comparable to a day full of experiments. The application for research spots had gone through and the team was assembled. The next step was to head to the Qaidam Basin. Once the research team arrived, even if Bi Fang couldn¡¯t find the exit, they could send someone to dive into the pool from the entrance to conduct a rescue. One can only hope everything goes smoothly before then. ¡°Drip-drop!¡± A water droplet traced an arc in the darkness. Bi Fang, slowly opening his eyes, reached to touch his cheek, which was covered in condensed moisture. The humidity in the corridor had increased. ¡°Is it the third day now?¡± In the darkness, Bi Fang stretched with a yawn; the fatigue from yesterday¡¯s narrow escape had vanished, and he felt considerably rejuvenated. He didn¡¯t know whether it was day or night now. Deprived of sunlight, Bi Fang had no idea how long he had slept, and determining the time was out of the question. This was a good thing; if he didn¡¯t know the time of day, then neither did the corpses. Perhaps the marks on the rock walls were not accurate at all but simply the wrong conclusions drawn by a group of desperate people. Feeling his empty stomach, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t eaten the second snake. There was no way to replenish the remaining flower sticks; fire had become a scarce resource, and he wouldn¡¯t start another unless necessary. He opened the live stream and chatted with the incoming viewers before continuing towards the cave where he had encountered the giant fish yesterday. He had mostly familiarized himself with the passageway here, with nothing new discovered. His only hope now lay within the cave across the rock chamber. It must be said that the cave system here was incredibly complex, with paths branching off everywhere. Without proper markings, getting lost was almost a matter of when, not if. ¡°We¡¯re going back to where we saw the monster fish yesterday to see if it¡¯s gone. Otherwise, I might have to forcibly break through its defenses,¡± said Bi Fang, firmly wielding a torch and marching on. Time waits for no one; the longer he delayed, the worse his condition would become. If the monster fish was still there, Bi Fang could only apologize. [Master Fang: I advise you to be sensible!] [Tiktaalik: Awoo, awoo awoo awoo, wuu wuuu!] [Slowly type out a question mark?] [You¡¯re not right, seriously not right!] [Here it comes, I sense there¡¯s going to be some intense action ahead!] The viewers¡¯ hearts pounded fiercely. They had all seen the monster fish yesterday; it was definitely over three meters long, bigger than any they had seen before. Was he going to fight with such a creature? The viewers¡¯ concerns deepened with every step Bi Fang took, as if each step heavily landed on their hearts. When a light appeared in the tunnel, their anxieties peaked! The next second, just as Bi Fang stepped out of the exit, they realized. On the small island in the circular current, there was nothing! The monster was gone! [Dang, that was super tense just now, more than a roller coaster ride!] [An exquisite piggy boy offers 1 Big Bone to the streamer¡ªWu Hu, are you safe now?] [I just hope that Master Fang can safely exit the cave!] [Lord Mu sends 10 Spaceships to the streamer¡ªkeep going!] Bi Fang approached the river and looked down. With the light fish swimming below and no sign of the monster fish nearby, he walked along the edge of the cave and quickly made his way to the cave entrance on the opposite side. Lighting another bundle of flower sticks, Bi Fang pressed on. The corridor was narrow and long, with only two forks. For the first one, Bi Fang went left, explaining as he went. ¡°Caves like this aren¡¯t too complicated, actually; it¡¯s just the multitude of forks that can be confusing. In such a case, we only need to make good marks and follow the walls so there¡¯s no need to worry too much. If it were a three- dimensional, complex cave, then that would be a real challenge.¡± ¡°Staying in that kind of cave is like being inside a Rubik¡¯s cube. Even with marks, it¡¯s tough to tell if you have been in the same place before. Don¡¯t rely too much on your brain¡¯s spatial memory¡ªunless you¡¯ve been through it multiple times, it¡¯s very difficult to make the right judgment in the dark.¡± Thanks to his previous exploration, this time Bi Fang¡¯s search seemed particularly easy. In less than fifteen minutes, he made a new discovery. More skeletons, and not just one! Just by counting skulls, Bi Fang saw at least four! But that wasn¡¯t the main point! Bi Fang felt the hard, sandy surface before him, his tone grave. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, the exit is just across from here!¡± Chapter 133 - Chapter 133: Chapter 130: No Weaknesses Anymore Chapter 133: Chapter 130: No Weaknesses Anymore Exit! Where is the exit? The audience was especially astonished. This was clearly a dead end, so where did the exit come from? Could it be that the host had been in the cave for too long and was experiencing hallucinations? It¡¯s hard for someone to keep their sanity intact in such a closed and desperate environment, especially after learning that people had died here. Wang Xiaocong was swaying in his seat, as if shaking his phone could reveal different angles of the scene. ¡°Of course not,¡± Bi Fang shook his head. He was very alert, and seeing everyone¡¯s confusion, he pointed to the bones on the ground and said, ¡°Look at these bones here!¡± The firelight flickered, casting the white bones in stark relief. On the train, Gu Qingyuan put on his glasses to take a closer look. Upon inspection, indeed, there was a new discovery! Four skulls had been found, and two of them had clear indentations at the back of the head, evidently caused by blunt force trauma. Looking further, at least three sets of remains had broken ribs. ¡°These people were murdered!¡± Seeing these marks, Bi Fang was certain. The difference between wounds left by animal attacks and those made by weapons was very obvious. Moreover, the position of these skeletons, with their backs toward the sand, was no coincidence! Bodies with their backs to the sand. Murdered by someone. Connecting all these clues together, Bi Fang had a bold conjecture. ¡°If these people really were part of a caravan, then they might have encountered bandits and tried to escape into the cave. But some were not quick enough to avoid them and were killed right at the entrance. The direction in which they fled was deeper into the cave; that¡¯s why the bodies ended up in this position, all uniformly with their backs to the sand!¡± Bi Fang stood up and touched the hard sandstone, sighing, ¡°This yellow sand has probably been accumulating here for a thousand years; it has completely buried the entrance.¡± This place was supposed to be an exit, but after a thousand years of blowing sand, it was completely buried. Perhaps those bandits knew all along that there were monsters in the cave and watched the escapees enter it, completely indifferent to their fate. (Can we get out?] (Dig out with our hands?] [Digging through sand shouldn¡¯t be so hard, right?] [Not necessarily, with the sand of a thousand years piled up here, how could it be easy to dig? At least a few meters thick, right?] ¡°A few meters?¡± Bi Fang shook his head. If only it were that simple. In the desert, it¡¯s quite normal for a sand dune to appear overnight, let alone over a thousand years? The cave entrance here must be buried by more than just a few dozen meters! ¡°Not only that, look at this yellow sand here,¡± Bi Fang struck the sand with his hunting knife, producing a metallic sound, ¡°After prolonged permeation of moisture, this yellow sand has become clumped together, hard as rock. It¡¯s not about having just one person here. Even if ten more came, we wouldn¡¯t be able to dig through. This exit might as well not exist!¡± ¡°We must continue to search for other exits.¡± Bi Fang felt a twinge of disappointment. Even if he could break through this hard crust, the remaining dry sand would be impossible to dig; it could collapse on him at any minute. Since this path was impassable, the only option was to try the tunnel on the right. The system had given him a total of five days, and today was already the third, but he had been in the cave for a whole day. Whether he could successfully survive after getting out was still an unknown. Fifteen minutes later, Bi Fang returned to the previous intersection and felt his way down the right-hand tunnel. This should be the last passage. It was notably wider than the previous ones, wide enough for three people to walk abreast. Holding up a torch, the ceiling of the tunnel was dripping profusely with wet droplets, falling at an alarming rate. Not long after Bi Fang entered, the water had already overflowed his boots. With the faint luminescence reflecting off the cave walls, Bi Fang felt an ominous premonition. As he turned a small corner, that premonition came true. The tunnel took a sharp turn downward, leading directly to the water¡¯s edge. Another pool of water! Damp stalactites, the dark, humid air, and those smooth holes on the cave wall looking as if they were eroded by water¡­ Seeing all that was familiar, Bi Fang felt as if he had come full circle. Despair spread in his heart, and the audience was beginning to lose it. This oppressive feeling of having no way out was suffocating. [There¡¯s no way out!] [We¡¯ve looked everywhere, how can there be no exit? How are we supposed to play this?] (Don¡¯t tell me we have to go back through the previous entrance? Isn¡¯t that too dangerous?] ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m prepared for this. If the exit had been so easy to find, those people wouldn¡¯t have been trapped and died here,¡± Bi Fang slightly reassured the anxious audience. Nevertheless, seeing this scene firsthand still made him feel uncomfortable. Does this mean he really has to go back through the entrance? Last time he survived by pure luck; the current wouldn¡¯t always be on his side to help him. Seeing Bi Fang¡¯s distressed expression, Gu Qingyuan also felt terrible. The whole situation had started because of him. Now that there was no way out, most of the responsibility lay with him. ¡°Should I try going underwater?¡± Bi Fang¡¯s mind suddenly flashed with this thought, startling himself, but on second thought, he felt the plan was quite feasible. There are many Qaidam Spring Eyes, and he had come down through a pool of water; perhaps this place could also lead outside? Only by daring to do what others fear can one have a glimmer of hope for survival! Thinking thus, Bi Fang could no longer suppress his desire to explore. However, when he explained, his viewers became anxious. (Don¡¯t do it! It was so dangerous last time. What if it¡¯s the same this time?] (Yeah, yeah, go back and think of another plan! ] (Why not just wait for rescue? That¡¯s much more reliable.] (Master Fang is restless again, wanting to check out whatever he sees.] ¡°If I waited for rescue whenever there¡¯s danger, then what¡¯s the point of my live stream?¡± Bi Fang shook his head, firmly rejecting the viewers¡¯ suggestions. He would be responsible for his own choices. Even if an accident occurred, Bi Fang would have no regrets. He was merely contributing his modest effort to the path of human exploration of nature. Seeing that they couldn¡¯t dissuade Bi Fang, the viewers could only wish him well in their hearts. But just as Bi Fang was about to enter the water, a sudden chill pierced into the back of his skull, and blood vessels under his pale skin jump violently as if scorched by fire! Bi Fang¡¯s muscles tensed in an instant, and his body sprung back in a stress response! Crack! A loud noise sounded as teeth meshed together like gears, but struck nothing! It was only then that the viewers could see clearly: a gigantic monstrous fish had suddenly darted out from the darkness! The monstrous fish hadn¡¯t expected its prey to react so quickly. Its hook-like teeth dripped with saliva, and a hissing sound came from its throat. The firelight reflected on the rock walls, casting half-lit, half-shadowed images of the monster¡¯s iron-gray skull, with bone spikes throwing shadows against the rocks. A monster fish! It was the same fish from before! It had not left but had entered the passageway and arrived at this pool! The viewers felt chills down their spine! They stared at the monstrous fish that was only an arm¡¯s length away, leaning back desperately as if through the screen they could smell the nauseating stench from the monster¡¯s greedy maw. Upon seeing the monster fish clearly, Bi Fang did not hesitate for a moment and started to run! The space in the passageway was too small, and the visibility was poor; facing such a ferocious beast was very dangerous! But how could the fierce monster let him go? Seeing Bi Fang flee, the short and stocky body of the monster fish squirmed and contracted in a moment, and with a swift lunge, it caught up with Bi Fang in the blink of an eye! There was no room to dodge in the cramped space, and just as the monster fish was about to pounce on Bi Fang, the viewers in the live stream screamed uncontrollably. With the pungent wind raging behind him, Bi Fang pushed his legs forward and leaped out like a rabbit, narrowly avoiding the monster fish¡¯s sharp teeth by a hair¡¯s breadth. Rolling several times on the ground, Bi Fang instinctively pulled out his Hunting Knife, but as he looked up, a gaping maw was right before his eyes! That spotted and scaly tongue was within inches, and the foul stench hit his face! Such a familiar scene triggered an almost instinctive reaction in Bi Fang, who immediately grabbed the big tongue and yanked it back! His fingernails dug into the monster¡¯s tongue, as if grabbing onto a slippery catfish! Unfortunately, this time was completely different from the last. Bi Fang was on the ground with neither time nor space to struggle, unable to wrestle with the creature as before! Thick saliva dribbled onto Bi Fang¡¯s face, carrying a faint stench. He had no time to wipe it off, nor did he dare to. As the monster¡¯s body contracted, Bi Fang knew it was assuming the pouncing posture to snap its prey¡¯s throat. He wanted to evade but was powerless. Just as the monster fish was about to lunge forward and shred him, Bi Fang¡¯s face hardened, and his hand holding the Hunting Knife valiantly swung down! Thick, fishy dark-green fluid splattered. The monster¡¯s scream turned piercingly sharp as its jaws snapped shut violently but failed to catch anything. Bi Fang stumbled backward, his hand now only holding half of a soft, limp tongue. The strike had severed the monster¡¯s tongue entirely! The torch had fallen to the side, flickering but not yet extinguished. Bi Fang steadied himself, and as he looked up, he saw that instead of taking the opportunity to return to the water, the beast was wobbling on its short limbs, its mouth dripping with dark green blood. Anyone could see that the monster was furious, its head swiveling as it searched for the scent of its enemy. The hard bones scraped against the ground, and its tail, akin to wrought iron, thrashed the ground irritably. The monster fish was over three meters long, resembling both fish and crocodile. As it struggled to rise up with its upper body, it was almost as tall as Bi Fang! It had caught the scent of its prey, instantly fixing its position and facing Bi Fang directly. It had no eyes, but the sudden silence was more terrifying than any gaze. Its mouth was flapping, green blood and mucus slowly dripping down. With its tongue cut off, it no longer had a vulnerable spot; all that was left in front of it was a piece of agile flesh! Chapter 134 - Chapter 134: Chapter 131: Darkness Chapter 134: Chapter 131: Darkness In the passageway, the torchlight was dim. The creature resembling a crocodile was extraordinarily ferocious, thick dark green juice dripping from the corners of its mouth. The torch was propped against the wall, teetering on the brink of falling into the pool of water. When that happened, there would be no light left here, only darkness. Bi Fang tried to use the live broadcast¡¯s third-person night vision mode to observe the monstrous fish but unexpectedly discovered he could not turn it on! Damn it, the System had restricted him! An unforeseen situation arose, and Bi Fang¡¯s heart raced. He discarded the half of the tongue, his peripheral vision closely monitoring the torch that might fall at any moment. Please, don¡¯t fall! Unfortunately, contrary to his wishes, there was a faint sound as it hit the ground. ¡°Tss!¡± Smoke rose, and the passageway plunged into complete darkness. Hearing the sound, the monstrous fish violently turned its head towards where the torch had been, emitting a low grunting sound from its throat. Bi Fang¡¯s pupils constricted as he exerted all his effort to adapt to the darkness, his nose slightly wrinkling as he tried to capture all the scent molecules in the air to determine the opponent¡¯s position. At that moment, both parties strangely fell into silence. Outside the screen, the audience was overwhelmed by this silence; they collapsed into their seats, hearts hammering, too scared to move. The monster quieted for a moment as if understanding something, then suddenly stood erect, supporting its body solely with its coiled tail. At that moment, it was three meters tall, a height unachievable by any fish or snake. Even the similarly-sized Siamese Crocodile could not perform such flexible movements! In night vision mode, the audience could only see the monstrous fish¡¯s straightened body tremble slightly, clearly strained to its limit, and then it forcefully ¡°smashed¡± its body outwards, like a giant whip descending from the sky, its bone spurs the thorns on the whip! In the darkness, the evil wind struck! How could Bi Fang, rendered blind, be as agile as a monstrous fish that had grown up in the dark? He evaded on instinct, but it was too late, the monstrous fish¡¯s finely scaled tail brutally struck Bi Fang! In front of him, the Hunting Knife turned into a harbinger of death. At the critical moment, Bi Fang twisted the blade, pressing the flat of the knife against his chest, forcefully bearing the impact. At that moment, he felt as if he had been hit by a giant log used in sieges, his sternum and ribs making sounds as if they were about to shatter, the force of the impact almost stopping his heart! Bi Fang was flung to the ground, directly breaking a Stalactite and causing large rocks to fall, some hitting him, others splashing water everywhere. ¡°Shit!¡± Bi Fang retched uncontrollably, as if he was about to cough up blood. But he dared not stay put; cursing under his breath, he quickly struggled to get up from the ground. He strongly suspected that the ultimate evolutionary path of this creature was to become a Crocodile: it not only looked similar but also behaved in similar ways! This was no tail, but a battering ram! The muscles and bones of Humans were far inferior to those of many animals in nature, whose proportion of fast-twitch muscle fibers far exceeded that of Humans, but this was just too much. In a matter of seconds, the difference in physical capabilities between man and animal was already apparent: Bi Fang was no match for the monster! The monster, successful in its strike, did not pause at all, instantly turning around and charging mercilessly towards Bi Fang. Its mouth open wide, it displayed its terrifyingly sharp teeth like daggers. The tongueless creature was excited, making a hissing sound. Bi Fang wiped the blood from his face, the sound tightening his whole body. But he had no way to escape. The monster had swapped places with him, and now there was a pool behind Bi Fang; retreating would mean fighting in the water, where his chances of winning were even slimmer! The monster was already reveling in the joy of devouring its prey, its short webbed limbs bending as it surged forward like lightning. It leaped, blood dripping from its fangs, the sharp whistling sound it created was like thunder; seeing the flash of lightning and then covering your ears was already too late. The blurry shadow filled Bi Fang¡¯s entire field of vision, a huge wave of wind pressure approaching, a tide of fear sweeping over his senses, everything turning pitch black as if he heard another beast roaring deep within his mind. The only thing he managed to do was to throw himself sideways towards the monster! He absolutely couldn¡¯t let the monster bite his neck! The snapping sound of teeth clashing together was like invisible needles piercing into Bi Fang¡¯s skull, and those terrifying teeth were like blades¡ªhe could even feel a tingling ache as they grazed the surface of his neck. But! Bi Fang¡¯s gamble paid off, the monster didn¡¯t bite his neck! Upon collision, both the monster and Bi Fang tumbled into the puddle, rolling in the water as mud splashed around; the next second, it was Bi Fang who struck first! He pressed down right on top of the strange fish, putting all his weight on the back of the creature, while his hands firmly held down the fish¡¯s head! Under his pale skin, Bi Fang¡¯s veins throbbed as violently as if they were serpents scorched by fire. Straining himself to the limit turned his face red, and his eyes shone brightly. If it really was as Professor Gu Qingyuan said, like the crocodile, the strange fish should have a powerful bite force, but weak tension, as long as he could hold down its snout, the beast wouldn¡¯t be able to open its mouth! However, this extremely dangerous moment looked to the audience like sheer madness! Isn¡¯t the streamer afraid the beast will just open its mouth and snap down in one bite? Yet, the scene everyone imagined did not occur; the strange fish really couldn¡¯t open its mouth! Bi Fang¡¯s eyes burned like flaming torches, filled with nothing but excitement as he seemed to gain the upper hand with his strength! ¡°Well done!¡± Professor Gu Qingyuan exclaimed excitedly from inside the train compartment. On the high-speed train, the entire research team was watching the live broadcast, and seeing Bi Fang¡¯s actions, they too excitedly punched the air. They knew very well that for crocodiles, being able to ride on their back and press down on their jaws meant they had subdued the creature! In the breeding farms, owners would use this method to restrain crocodiles; for professionals, once you¡¯re on its back, the danger is greatly reduced! No matter how the crocodile swings its tail left or right, it can¡¯t touch the person on its back. As for biting, crocodiles¡¯ heads aren¡¯t as flexible as snakes, and their movement is even more limited. ¡°This kid is too incredible, I really want to recruit him into our team!¡± ¡°Right, I feel the same.¡± ¡°So young and so talented!¡± While everyone was immersed in joy, a scream suddenly erupted from the side; an older female researcher pointed at the screen, and the terror in her eyes sent a chill down everyone¡¯s spine. ¡°It¡¯s getting up again!¡± ¡°What!¡± Not just them, at this moment, viewers all over the country involuntarily shouted in alarm. The strange fish actually stood up! How is that possible? Gu Qingyuan¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, but the next second, he realized his mistake; Tiktaalik, no matter how similar to crocodiles, was ultimately a different species! He had made an empiricist error! Damn it, he should have thought of this earlier, he should have foreseen it! The moment the strange fish appeared standing erect, he should have known! Now it was too late! The strange fish suddenly flipped over, pinning Bi Fang beneath it, and the sticky blood dripped once more onto his face as the beast licked its teeth with the remaining half of its tongue, agile as a snake. But at this moment, the strange fish had no weaknesses! If Bi Fang dared to reach out to grab it, it would be suicide! Upon pinning its prey, the strange fish hissed excitedly; within the vast cave, the fish¡¯s cries echoed, as if a hundred, a thousand strange fish were responding to it. It lowered its head and bit down! Chapter 135 - Chapter 135: Chapter 132: The Firelight Chapter 135: Chapter 132: The Firelight Suddenly, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t feel anything, not the monster fish¡¯s hiss nor the pain on his arm. It was as if his soul had been yanked from his body, now standing in absolute darkness with only a sliver of light before him. In his hand was something cold-the Hunting Knife. Despite the pitch-black darkness, a greenish glow splattered from the blade, the brightly colored edge both elegant and capable of cutting through anything. There was a nearly tearing pain in his chest, as if a ferocious beast inside him was struggling to break free from the confines of his flesh. Restless breath surged crazily in his veins, and the light before his eyes was about to dim¡­ about to fade away¡­ Once that sliver of light disappeared, he would be completely lost in the darkness. For the first time in his life, he felt such fear, not of death but of losing himself, of being trapped in this seemingly eternal darkness-never to see the sun, the forests, or the oceans again. Would he be unable to escape¡­ The last ray of light was about to vanish, and boundless darkness along with sweltering heat descended, enveloping him. The tiger-like roar suddenly became two, then three, followed by thousands upon thousands. Their roars intertwined and tumbled, seemingly about to explode everything within reach of their sound! ¡°Ah!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s head slammed against a stone pillar, sticky, fishy liquid pouring down. He wiped it off and his hand came back covered with blood, his arm throbbing with intense pain. He didn¡¯t dare to roll up his sleeve, afraid of seeing a mass of mangled flesh. He shook his head desperately, the nerves in his skull jumping as if on fire, unable to comprehend the sudden change even himself. His memory seemed to break off; with the onset of frenzied heat and darkness, he appeared to have swung his Hunting Knife, viciously stabbing into something. Everything was clear only to the live-streaming audience. In that instant, Bi Fang¡¯s Hunting Knife had fiercely pierced the underjaw of the monster fish, the immense force almost splitting its entire underjaw! The monster fish awkwardly hid in the darkness, only half of its tongue left, licking its underjaw, realizing a huge hole had been torn open! ¡°Heh heh heh!¡± It let out several frightened, strange cries. The monster fish did not continue to attack, but neither did it give up, sensing that its opponent was also injured and no better off than itself. If it could find the right moment, it would surely take its revenge! Retreating back into the darkness, the monster fish did not make a sound. Its prey was more troublesome than it had imagined; it was like a lion ambushing deer, patiently hidden in the dark. Bi Fang couldn¡¯t see the creature clearly, but the audience outside the live broadcast was petrified. They plainly saw the monster had not given up, ceaselessly probing less than two meters in front of the streamer. With just one lunge, it could rip Bi Fang to pieces! If Bi Fang¡¯s outburst hadn¡¯t frightened the monster fish just now, it might have already charged again! The monster fish¡¯s head swung left and right. It had already sensed the enemy¡¯s weakness; feeling the pain in its underjaw, its inner rage grew more intense! All over the passage were the scents of blood and burning, clogging Bi Fang¡¯s nostrils like rubber putty. Relying on scent alone, he could no longer track the opponent¡¯s movement. Cold sweat soaked Bi Fang¡¯s undershirt. The monster attacked too quickly, and now the scents were mixed, making it impossible for him to discern the monster fish¡¯s position by smell. If he waited any longer, things would only get worse! With this thought, Bi Fang unzipped his jacket, enduring the pain on his left arm, and single-handedly took off his outer coat, balled it up, and hurled it out! The creature in the dark was very sensitive. Despite its cunning nature, it couldn¡¯t truly think like a human. Feeling something approaching, it launched an attack first. The jacket landed straight over the monster fish¡¯s head! Now was his chance! The audience erupted in cheers, excited by Bi Fang¡¯s strike, yet worried whether he could perceive in the darkness that his attack had already taken effect. Of course he could! This jacket was a hardshell, and the noise of the monster breaking free from the fabric was the best kind of information! In the next instant, the audience realized Bi Fang hadn¡¯t taken the opportunity to flee, nor did he charge forward to attack. Instead, he shakily raised the object in his hand¡ªa massive stalactite hoisted above his head! That very stalactite Bi Fang had initially broken! Suddenly, many recalled Professor Gu Qingyuan¡¯s words: if one couldn¡¯t find the monster¡¯s skeletal joints, then blunt force should be used! The stalactite the monster had shattered with its attack on Bi Fang had now become the perfect weapon! Wu Gang dared not breathe as he envisioned a knight raising a battle sword. In this moment, Bi Fang resembled a cast-iron warrior, every muscle in his body tense beneath his clothing. The way he held the stone was extraordinarily burdensome, as if it were terribly heavy, making his hands uncontrollable. Just when Wu Gang had begun to feel hopeful, now he thought it was all over. Bi Fang had overestimated his strength and underestimated his injuries; he couldn¡¯t even lift the massive stone. With his body shaking like a falling leaf, there was no chance at all. But in the next moment, the stone suddenly stilled, no longer trembling. Wu Gang watched in astonishment as it became as straight as a famed blade. Bi Fang stepped forward, each step thudding onto the earth, resonant as a great bell. As Wu Gang listened, he began to feel his body heat up, his heartbeat syncing to the rhythm. With each step, Bi Fang paused briefly, then suddenly surged forward, spinning in mid-air with the massive stone rotating in his grasp. This was a spinning slash! Bi Fang let out a roar akin to a tiger¡¯s just before snapping a great deer¡¯s throat, the sound echoing in the vast cave, as if a hundred, a thousand tigers were answering his call. Wu Gang¡¯s face turned a worrying shade of red, as if his head might just explode. Ice crystals seemed to flow through Bi Fang¡¯s veins, and his brain felt as if it were pricked by a needle. Time seemed to slow in his eyes. In the darkness, Bi Fang¡¯s heart blazed. He sensed the direction of the sounds coming from the darkness, the whistling of the stone cutting through the air, and the rhythm of all things. The pupils of the audience contracted as they watched the stone sweep through everything like a towering pillar, the already cracked tip unable to bear the immense torque and beginning to break apart mid-air! This was a mighty strike capable of splitting the darkness and cleaving the chaos! The stone pillar shattered upon impact with the monster¡¯s head! Bi Fang turned and landed, gasping as he ran a few steps forward before collapsing to his knees. Propping himself up with one hand on the ground, he gasped for breath, his tongue dry as if it was splitting apart. He struggled to swallow, his saliva thick like glue, his heart pounding wildly in his chest. Blood dripped, merging with the water. The monster stiffened for a moment, then felt a breaking agony. It frantically straightened, twisting wildly, with dark green blood pouring from its head. All its scales flared in pain, and its pitch-black spines were worn down against the rocks. Until it collapsed weakly, crashing heavily onto the stone, flinging debris with its body. A brief silence felt like an eternity. Craaack! Sparks flickered in the darkness and a flame leapt up, landing on a torch. The flame reignited, dispelling the darkness. With the torch in hand, Bi Fang leaned against the wall and dragged his feet forward, moving toward the monster to pick up his coat. He saw the gash on the monster¡¯s head, the shattered stalactite pieces fully embedded in its body, not a trace visible outside. Chapter 136 - Chapter 136: Chapter 133 The Worlds Number One Explorer! Chapter 136: Chapter 133 The World¡¯s Number One Explorer! The vast projection screen erupted with flying debris, accompanied by the heavy sound of something large hitting the ground, and then everything went quiet. The faint light of Mars rose up, illuminating Bi Fang¡¯s face, smeared with blood. The entire provincial government office was silent as the grave. After a long while, applause began, followed by more and more people joining in, until it filled the room. The scene was so magnificent and crazy that it was hard to believe it wasn¡¯t a movie but was actually happening in some remote corner of Earth. In some underground area tens of meters below, a neglected corner for a millennium. ¡°It¡¯s truly, magnificent!¡± Zhou Anlin, sitting at the head of the conference table, was the first to start clapping and the last to stop. It was a miracle of life. Had the ancestors of humankind also done this tens of thousands of years ago? Fighting against wild beasts in blood and fire, and then step by step reaching the dominant position they hold today? Under the conference table, more people came back to reality, shocked, and then whispering to each other. ¡°It¡¯s really unexpected, a desert hiding so many secrets.¡± ¡°Prehistoric creatures, caravans from a thousand years ago, natural underground caverns, any one of these would be an astonishing discovery.¡± ¡°Just the other day, no less than seventeen research institutes applied for research quota, all for Tiktaalik¡ªthey left me bewildered, I thought this thing was long extinct?¡± ¡°If we could properly develop this underground cave, it could definitely become a new pillar of tourism for Qaidam, driving local development!¡± Zhou Anlin watched as everyone expressed their opinions, put down his teacup, and coughed, ¡°Alright, everybody, let¡¯s not argue. What¡¯s most pressing right now is not the future plans, prehistoric creatures, Song Dynasty caravans or the underground cave¡ªany one of these is no trivial matter. What we need to discuss is our next steps!¡± Zhou Anlin gave a signal, and the secretary next to him took out a stack of documents and distributed them to everyone present. After everyone had finished perusing the documents, Zhou Anlin started to explain. ¡°Up until now, a total of twenty-eight domestic research institutes have applied, requesting access to the prehistoric animal specimens and biological samples from this discovery.¡± ¡°Domestic? Are there international ones as well?¡± someone realized the implication in the wording. ¡°Yes, not just domestic. Over forty-seven international research institutes have also applied almost simultaneously.¡± Zhou Anlin nodded, sharing the current information with everyone. That many? The few people present were all laymen in the field of biology; they didn¡¯t understand the significance of the newly discovered species but they knew what the number meant. The news wasn¡¯t deliberately concealed, international institutes were like sharks that had caught the scent of blood. If he wasn¡¯t mistaken, quite a few foreign media outlets had probably started reporting on the discovery of a new prehistoric species. The scope of the news spread was going to be global! People around the world would learn from the next day¡¯s news that a Chinese explorer named Bi Fang had discovered a natural underground cavern in the desert! Inside was not only a caravan from a thousand years ago but also prehistoric creatures that had been extinct for over three hundred million years! And Bi Fang had bravely fought and won against the monster¡¯s attack! Was there anything more heroic than that? This kind of event, if made into a movie, would be the most classic of Hollywood action hero films! Countless people would adore, scream, and go crazy! ¡°The higher-ups are still considering whether to agree, but they want us to cooperate as soon as possible to protect the discovery site.¡± Zhou Anlin tapped the table, interrupting everyone¡¯s train of thought, ¡°Three research institutes have already been approved to go there for exploration, and how to protect it will depend on their assessment and recommendations.¡± The people present nodded, quickly getting into the right mindset and occasionally raised some suggestions and questions. But when it came to the issue of Bi Fang, problems arose. Should a rescue team be dispatched? ¡°It has already been deployed,¡± Zhou Anlin nodded, ¡°but given the special circumstances of this case¡­¡± ¡°If he hasn¡¯t called for help, once we reach the destination, we won¡¯t initiate a search,¡± the rescue team member explained amidst everyone¡¯s questions. ¡°How can that be, he¡¯s so badly injured.¡± A female researcher raised an opposing view; she had seen clearly how the monster had bitten Bi Fang¡¯s left hand, which could cause a fracture if severe, and not rescuing him promptly would almost certainly lead to disability. A few researchers nearby nodded in agreement. It was absurd to deploy a rescue team but not undertake a rescue. But Gu Qingyuan seemed contemplative¡ªhe probably had watched Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast longer than anyone here, understanding him the most, ¡°Maybe Bi Fang himself doesn¡¯t wish to be rescued?¡± ¡°Are you joking?¡± the female researcher didn¡¯t believe it. ¡°No, Gu is telling the truth,¡± Song Vanning said with a complex expression as she passed her phone over. A moment later, everyone was speechless. On the screen, Bi Fang was gritting his teeth, bandaging his wound; his face, originally covered in blood, was soaked with cold sweat, and he still made sure to instruct his viewers. ¡°If a rescue team comes, 1 hope they do not launch a rescue for me. There¡¯s no need to waste such resources on me. Getting injured in the wild is common, there¡¯s no need for a rescue.¡± ¡°My hand isn¡¯t broken, I can still walk, my hunting knife is still sharp¡ªthat¡¯s enough. As long as I can keep moving forward, there¡¯s still hope for survival!¡± Bi Fang knew that his location could be easily found, based on the satellite images¡ªto pinpoint the great canyon, and further on, his trail would be traceable. So he was worried someone would call the police out of fear, and the local rescue team would actually come to save him. Now his live stream had over 180,000 people watching simultaneously¡ªthere was bound to be someone who would do just that! ¡°What I am only concerned about now is wound infection, as the wound has already bled, and the environment here is too damp, which is very conducive to bacterial growth, and perhaps even unknown viruses. If I manage to survive, I must go to the hospital for a check-up as soon as possible. Luckily, the quality of my tactical jacket is good, so the strange fish didn¡¯t come into direct contact with my wound.¡± While the blood plasma on his clothes hadn¡¯t yet coagulated, Bi Fang carefully took off the inner layer. Under the firelight, torn skin sticking to the fabric was lifted, a sight that made one¡¯s heart thump in terror. Bi Fang clenched his teeth and ripped it off so that the skin could stick back together. In the live stream, Shuiyou watching this gruesome scene got goosebumps all over. [Damn, my hand has started to hurt] [Just looking at it hurts!] [Master Fang is really brave!] [The toughest guy in the area! Jason Statham isn¡¯t as tough as you! Not saying more, all my assets are yours!] [Lin Chang has sent 66 Spaceships to the host¡ªbro, you¡¯re a real man! The absolute strongest in the wilderness!] [Lord Mu has sent 99 Spaceships to the host¡ªWorld¡¯s number one explorer! King of the wilderness!] Following Yao Jun and Lin Chang¡¯s lead, more gifts and donations began to pour in. The recent live broadcast had been too thrilling, and many people caught their breath, naturally forgetting to donate until they had just reacted. [Congratulations to Nanana it¡¯s me on becoming the Emperor of Master Fang¡¯s live stream!] [Nanana it¡¯s me has sent 10 yachts to the host¡ªBoss Fang is the world¡¯s number one explorer!] [Ah, Sister Nana is getting too much, have you fallen hard for someone else?] [Taking our donations to support another host? That¡¯s too much!] [Hahahaha, that¡¯s hilarious!] [Ben not seen has sent 99 Big Bones to the host¡ªWe are the world¡¯s number one!] [Pete not peeling has sent 1 Spaceship to the host¡ªMaster Fang rules!!] [Master Fang rules plus!!! Let the Spaceship fly!!!] With a massive outpouring of gifts, the donations exceeded a million in just a few minutes! Now, Bi Fang felt somewhat embarrassed recalling the excitement of receiving his first gift. Really, if it were instant noodles plus sausages, he could¡¯ve eaten to death in a single live stream, unless he added a tea egg. ¡°Haha, you guys keep flattering me like this, I¡¯ll become arrogant,¡± Bi Fang said, treating his wound with the clean water from the kettle while chatting with everyone to divert his attention. The water in the kettle was drawn from the pond, and after drinking it without adverse reactions for a whole day, it was clear it was relatively clean. While treating the wound, Bi Fang also explained the methods for handling injuries in the wild. ¡°First you need to clean the skin around the wound thoroughly, definitely use clean water, and you must rinse it, never rub.¡± [What if there is no water, or the water isn¡¯t clean? What then?] Someone raised a question. ¡°If you don¡¯t have clean water, you can also use midstream urine to clean the wound.¡± [Gross, isn¡¯t that really disgusting?] [Feels so dirty¡­] [I feel like vomiting] [What is midstream urine?] Hearing about urine, many viewers instinctively felt chills and found it unbelievable. Even more asked what midstream urine was. ¡°Midstream urine refers to the part of the urine that comes out in the middle of the urination process. Simply put, it¡¯s the urine you release when you feel the most relief and flow,¡± Bi Fang explained. ¡°The outer urinary tract in healthy individuals may contain some proteins and white blood cells. When the volume of urine is too low or the flow too slow, these contaminants are not washed away properly, so some impurities may be present in the urine. However, midstream urine has a higher volume and faster flow, making it less susceptible to contamination.¡± ¡°Normally, this part of the urine can be considered sterile. In emergency situations with no cleansing agents available, we can use midstream urine to wash the wound for its cleansing effect. But after that, you must visit a hospital as soon as possible.¡± ¡°This is actually a very good method, you must not think of human urine as dirty. In some instances, urine can be much cleaner than most liquids!¡± After a simple cleaning, Bi Fang took out a clean T-shirt from his backpack, tore it into strips, and bandaged his left arm. After the treatment was finished, Bi Fang lifted the torch. At this moment, the strange fish lay motionless on the ground, nothing like the imposing creature it had been. [Dead?] [Should be dead, otherwise it¡¯s really a cockroach] [Strange fish: Now just a dead fish] The wound on the monster¡¯s head gaped horrifically, with the shattered stone fragments having penetrated completely into its body, none exposed. Bi Fang squatted down, reached out and pressed on the creature¡¯s lung cavity, feeling the beats inside, and shook his head in amazement. It¡¯s not dead?¡± Chapter 137 - Chapter 137: Chapter 134 Sunshine Chapter 137: Chapter 134 Sunshine Bi Fang¡¯s words were like a depth charge, setting the live stream room ablaze with excitement! [He¡¯s not dead yet!] [How tenacious is this thing¡¯s vitality?] [Just now, if it had hit my head, it would¡¯ve smashed my brains out!] [This isn¡¯t a fish, it¡¯s clearly a cockroach!] [It won¡¯t wake up, will it? Should we take the chance to finish it off?] Seeing that the strange fish hadn¡¯t died, some Shuiyou began suggesting taking out the creature. Bi Fang shook his head, turned around, took a windbreaker out of his bag, covered the strange fish¡¯s head with it, and then tied it up tightly with strips of cloth. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect it to still be alive.¡± Bi Fang was also surprised as he bound the strange fish. Despite such heavy injuries, it had not died. Indeed, any life form that survives for such an extended period must possess certain admirable survival traits. ¡°This big one will surely make Professor Gu very happy.¡± Looking at the tightly bound strange fish, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but think about taking it outside. This was the biggest strange fish he had ever seen, almost reaching three and a half meters in length. Growing so large surely wasn¡¯t easy. Perhaps, it might be some kind of Tiktaalik king, right? It would be a shame to simply kill it off. But the audience in front of the screen were all shocked. Such a big one, can he manage to carry it? And isn¡¯t he afraid it¡¯ll wake up and bite back? Seeing these bullet comments, Gu Qingyuan, who had just gotten excited, once again calmed down. Indeed, such a big strange fish would definitely weigh more than a healthy adult male. How was he to take it out? Moreover, an exit hadn¡¯t even been found yet. Bi Fang knew the difficulty of the task, so he placed his hope in the newly discovered pool. ¡°Whether we can move it or not depends on if there¡¯s an exit in this pool.¡± ¡°There are no luminous fish in this river, which means it¡¯s not part of the same system as the previous underground river. And despite the strong scent of blood, no other strange fish have come over. There are only two possibilities: either there are no strange fish here, or, all other strange fish have been driven away by this large one.¡± ¡°If there are no strange fish, some degree of safety is guaranteed, and we can search with peace of mind.¡± ¡°This place also has the highest possibility of an exit. If there¡¯s still no exit, then I will have no choice but to return the same way I came.¡± [It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over, Old Fang is being silly again] [I¡¯ve never seen anyone so brave in my life!] [So strong, yyds (stands for ¡°forever god¡±).] [This isn¡¯t about surviving, it¡¯s about diving into danger!] [No problem, how can he survive without facing danger (sarcastic)] Facing everyone¡¯s teasing, Bi Fang picked up the drone, pretended to tie it to his forehead as before, tightened the cuff on his left arm to prevent water from entering, and then plunged into the water. The light turned on, the water flowed quietly, and the hearts of the audience thumped. They had not forgotten how dangerous Bi Fang¡¯s first dive was; the thought of repeating it inevitably brought back the fear dominated by strange fish. The flow in this pool was slow, its sound somber. The dead silence intensified the audience¡¯s panic, fearing that something monstrous would suddenly emerge from the darkness. If so, they feared they might end up with a lifetime of psychological trauma. However, as Bi Fang swam further, the strange fish that Shuiyou imagined might appear did not show up. In the water, there was only darkness. Three minutes later, Bi Fang found nothing. He quickly surfaced to breathe and then sank once again. As time ticked away, countless viewers hoped Bi Fang would find an exit, but after several bouts of surfacing to breathe, the exit remained elusive. [It¡¯s over, this cave really doesn¡¯t have an exit!] [There should be one, right? Otherwise, where does the air come from?] [So dark, how can he find it?] [Should we just wait for a rescue?] [Really too dangerous, it¡¯s like watching a horror movie, just scared something will pop out!] [+1, my grandpa just got out of the hospital, he can¡¯t handle this kind of excitement.]} [A wave of filial piety, my folks.] The Shuiyou felt desperate. No matter how strong Bi Fang was, if there really was no exit, how could he find one? Three minutes later, Bi Fang surfaced once more to breathe. He lifted his head to look around and suddenly raised his hand to point at the cave ceiling. ¡°Look, is there a hole up there on the ceiling?¡± A hole? Shuiyou were taken aback. As the camera panned up, the audience was surprised to discover. There was indeed a hole! With the discovery, Bi Fang swam quickly towards the area below the hole. Only when he got close did he take a good look and realize it was a big hole over one meter in diameter! But then came another problem, how to climb up? [Is he planning to fly up there?] [Now I see why those traders got trapped.] [Is this a well?] [Feels a bit like it.] [The hole¡¯s no use if he can¡¯t climb up.] [You can¡¯t jump in the water, ah ah ah, it¡¯s so frustrating!] ¡°Not necessarily,¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°The pool is very deep, about seven or eight meters, and the hole isn¡¯t very high. Perhaps with the help of buoyancy and inertia, we can give it a try.¡± The hole was only about half a meter above the water¡¯s surface. Bi Fang reached out to touch the cave wall, found it to be rough, with many protruding rocks, perfect handholds. As long as he could hold on, nothing would be a problem. After estimating in his mind, under the astonished gazes of the audience, Bi Fang sank into the water, aimed at the hole from the bottom, and then, like a fish, swiftly swam upwards. At this moment, Bi Fang was extraordinarily agile, with the water splitting around his body, becoming his best ally. In the seven or eight-meter depth, Bi Fang approached the water¡¯s surface in just a few seconds and with a burst of inertia, he even leapt half his body out of the water! [Wow, awesome!] [Ascension balloons sent to the host Big Bone*6¡ªIs this too showy? Can you even do it this late?] [Ride a donkey to chase a motorcycle sent to the host a spaceship*!¡ª Awesome, this is like ascending to the sky!] The barrage of comments cried out in amazement, turning into a relentless ¡°666¡± machine. But Bi Fang, who flew into the cave and braced himself against the wall, nearly couldn¡¯t hold on. The excessive force in his left arm caused a piercing pain, and Bi Fang could distinctly feel the wound on his arm cracking and bleeding again, but he looked at the dark tunnel and said nothing. Grinding his teeth, Bi Fang continued to climb upwards until both his feet were inside the cave, then he barely let go of his left hand. Leaning against the cave interior, Bi Fang braced his whole body with his feet. With the aid of his legs, the pressure on his arms decreased sharply, but the pain in his left arm still made him suck in a breath of cold air. Bi Fang glanced at the ceiling above and, without pausing, continued climbing upwards. ¡°When stepping on such cavern walls, you must be careful not to slip; the moisture from years of water vapor makes the walls very slippery.¡± Bi Fang spread his legs and grabbed another rock with his right hand, ¡°It¡¯s best to maintain the three-point principle like in rock climbing, and not let go easily.¡± However, not long after climbing, Bi Fang leaned against the cave wall, motionless, only kept from falling by the skeletal structure of his legs wedging in place. This alarmed the audience, who thought something had happened, and they quickly sent barrage after barrage asking questions. It was only about fifteen minutes later that Bi Fang finally came back to his senses. He waved his hand to signal to everyone not to worry. He was just, too tired. Ever since the fight with the strange fish, he hadn¡¯t rested at all. To continue such physical exertion was proving difficult, and he almost fainted. If it weren¡¯t for the night vision mode, many would have noticed Bi Fang¡¯s lips were terribly pale. But he still held on. Without resting, he continued upward. In this way, amid the concern of hundreds of thousands of viewers, Bi Fang climbed nearly twenty or so meters, finally touching the top of the cave. But to everyone¡¯s surprise, this place was just like the place where the four skeletons were found before. There was still a hard shell. [No way, sand again?] [Damn, was all this climbing for nothing?] [This is too much] ¡°No, maybe I can get out from here,¡± Bi Fang looked at the underground river below him, an audacious idea emerging in his mind. ¡°If I can break this hard shell open, the soft sand above it will follow gravity and fall, maybe then we can dig out an exit!¡± That way, he only needed to break through one layer of hard shell, leaving the rest to gravity. The only concern was if there was too much sand above, it could fill the underground river while falling and still not be enough, burying him directly. But the chance was slim; the underground river was seven or eight meters deep and still flowing, and the sand, falling through a sustained small passage, would mostly be carried away by the current, making it nearly impossible to bury him. The more Bi Fang thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. Under the astonished eyes of the Shuiyou, he directly pulled out the Hunting Knife and started chipping away at the hardened shell! Could it work? The audience, who had fallen into despair, suddenly saw a glimmer of hope when they witnessed this scene. Please, let it be successful! In the train, countless people gathered, watching Bi Fang chip away at the rock layer, silently praying. In the hollow cave, the monotonous tapping kept echoing. After ten minutes, a fine crack appeared. The tapping sound began to change, from dull to crisp. Twenty minutes in, a small piece of hard shell fractured under Bi Fang¡¯s efforts and fell into the water under gravity¡¯s influence. It worked! It really was possible! Bi Fang was greatly surprised; with a breakthrough, he inserted the knife into it, rocking it left and right, and more small pieces of hard shell fell like debris. The sound of them falling into the water grew clearer and louder! ¡°We¡¯re almost there!¡± Seeing the success within reach, Bi Fang reminded everyone, ¡°But be really careful now, because it¡¯s likely there will be rocks mixed with the sand. Protect your head when the sand falls!¡± ¡°And keep your head down during the process to let the sand flow down your body, and also cover up with a face cloth to prevent the sand from getting into your mouth.¡± Bi Fang pulled out the inner lining and covered his mouth and nose, continuing to strike vigorously; more pieces of the shell fell, with fine grains of sand beginning to seep out from the cracks. After another large chunk of shell was pried off, what trickled out of the cracks turned from threads into streams, and finally a torrent! Boom! The sand poured down! Bi Fang held his head with both hands, pressing against the cave wall¡ªhe stood in the midst of this sand flow, like an invisible boulder in the rapids. Countless sand grains mixed with rocks fell, as if they were going to bury the whole world. Heavy and hard rocks hit Bi Fang¡¯s shoulders, but he didn¡¯t utter a sound; he was a good thirty meters up, and rashly falling, scraping against the rock wall, would have been worse. The sand choked Bi Fang¡¯s airways, burning hot. The good news was the temperature of the sand was getting higher, likely signaling they were approaching the surface. At last, the flow of sand stopped. Bi Fang looked up but did not see the sky he had envisioned. The sand and soil blocked again, like hair clogging a drain, but this situation was easy to solve. ¡°Here the sand had just happened to form an arch-like structure; we just need to slightly disrupt it, and this arch will collapse.¡± As expected, Bi Fang only needed to touch it slightly for a massive amount of sand to fall again. This time the sand fell for half an hour, and just as Bi Fang was about to give out¡­ The sand emptied. Bi Fang¡¯s chest swelled with immense joy. He lifted his head but felt dizzy. He hadn¡¯t seen sunlight for over forty-eight hours. Chapter 138 - Chapter 138: Chapter 135: Hope Chapter 138: Chapter 135: Hope The intense light shone on his pale face, stinging his skin. Bi Fang¡¯s vision went dark, and the relaxation from his successful survival almost made him tumble into the pit. He grabbed onto a rock, shielding his eyes with his other hand. Down the long well shaft, the vicious sunlight erased the darkness layer by layer, from top to bottom, inside out. In just a few minutes, the steam from the underground river rose, making the cave stifling as if it were the steamer in ¡°Journey to the West¡± where monsters cooked the plump monk. Clinging to the edge of the hole, Bi Fang used the last of his strength to pull himself up. With one final effort, he rolled over and lay exhausted on the desert sand. High sand dunes surrounded him on all sides. Bi Fang thought he was hallucinating; the dunes seemed like crowds of people cheering around him. It took him a while to realize that the dunes were real, and so were the cheers. He had survived. In his field of view, there was no sky, only the Spaceship, resplendently golden as it soared upwards, with barrage comments flooding and obscuring Bi Fang¡¯s entire vision. In that moment, more than one hundred thousand spectators sent their gifts, ranging from a few cents to several thousand and even tens of thousands. In just under a minute, the livestream¡¯s earnings had already exceeded two million. Backstage, Wang Yongbo expertly opened today¡¯s stock market. It¡¯s gone up again! He touched his shiny forehead, feeling somewhat gloomy. The contract will have to be changed, again. Wang Yongbo felt uneasy. He thought that even the ridiculously generous contract was not secure anymore. Maybe he should offer the company shares directly next time? He just didn¡¯t know if the shareholders would agree. After lying on the ground for a good fifteen minutes, Bi Fang¡¯s eyes were almost closing, but he bit his tongue and forced himself to perk up. He sat up, dusting off the yellow sand from his body. Just from his hair, he could shake out half a pound of sand. Looking at the unique terrain with higher sand around a central low point, Bi Fang thoughtfully said, ¡°Indeed, this should have been a sand dune, but it collapsed when I dug a hole, so I was flushed by the sand for a good half an hour before it stopped.¡± No wonder no one had discovered the Underground Cave for so many years. The entry and exit were not something normal people would think of. If not for his dumb luck, who had just been barbecuing by the pool and attracted a Tiktaalik, who knows how much longer its discovery would have been delayed. Bi Fang looked up at the sky, which had started to turn yellow. It seemed to be around four or five in the afternoon. It would soon be getting dark. ¡°It looks like I¡¯ve been walking in the cave for nearly two days and a night, and now I don¡¯t even know how far away the original canyon is, or if I¡¯m even heading in the right direction.¡± After basking in the sun for a while, Bi Fang began to feel dizzy. He turned his head to look at the deep, bottomless pit, his muscles screaming at him to give up on the big fish. But then he shook his head. If he made a promise, he had to keep it. If he really gave up, he would lose followers. [In such hot weather, won¡¯t the fish be sunbaked to death?] [Yeah, such a big fish, must be over a hundred kilos, right? Can you even bring it up?] ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Bi Fang believed there was absolutely no issue with that, judging from how the strange fish had sustained such severe injuries yet its heart remained strong and robust. Absolute Survivor. ¡°This creature is somewhere between tour-legged animals and fish in terms of evolution, so its vitality won¡¯t be weak. Just look at its relatives to understand; whether it¡¯s the crocodiles from the former or the gar and lungfish from the latter, their vitality is so tenacious it¡¯s beyond what we ordinary people can imagine. Professor Gu Qingyuan should be very clear on that.¡± Professor Gu Qingyuan, who was suddenly mentioned, nodded and began to explain to the audience through the barrage of comments. [Yes, most four-legged animals have incredibly tenacious vitality. The most typical example is the crocodile, which can survive an entire winter in a mud hole without eating or drinking.] [And gars are even stronger. A fish weighing about 95 kilograms ordinarily needs to eat a few kilograms of food every day and night, but a gar of the same weight only requires 10-20 grams of food per day and night, making it a uniquely slow metabolic creature in the world!] [As for lungfish, they are even more impressive ¨C they can live for several years on dry land without touching water! ] Bi Fang took out the rest of his clothing and began tearing it into strips to rub together, preparing to make ropes. But halfway through, he suddenly stopped. He sniffed, catching a faint smell of dung mingled with a hint of dry straw odor, barely noticeable. ¡°Why is there a smell of feces?¡± [Feces?] [Did the weird fish below scare the crap out of them?] [What kind of feces can you find in the desert?] [Could it possibly be a camel¡¯s?] A camel? Could someone be coming? Bi Fang¡¯s heart chilled at the sight of this barrage of messages. Indeed, the stench didn¡¯t seem to drift out from the cave, such a large smell meant the feces must be sizeable, and the scent of dry grass couldn¡¯t be faked. In the desert, the only large herbivores Bi Fang could think of, other than camels and ostriches, were not others. However, ostriches in China are all introduced species with no wild population, so it could only be a camel! ¡°Qaidam is the region with the most camels. Wild camels are a national first- class protected animal. Wild dromedary camels are already extinct, with only domesticated ones remaining. Wild Bactrian camels too, with only around a thousand left living in the Gobi desert. I think the chances of me encountering a wild camel are very slim¡­¡± Bi Fang stopped there, the rest went without saying, everyone understood and became thoroughly excited. Wild and rare = difficult to come across = must be domesticated = people! This logic was impeccable! [So someone has passed by?] [Damn, are we going to be rescued?] [Wu Hu!! Take off!!] [Now, even transportation is not a worry! There are camels!] Thinking of this, Bi Fang put down the rope in his hand and started climbing up the sand dune. The fine sand made the dunes difficult to climb, a single step could easily cause one to slide down, requiring the use of both hands and feet, pressing close to the dune, lowering the center of gravity, and relying on friction to ascend. Although the sand was scorching hot, at its hottest it could even melt rubber shoes, but this was indeed the most efficient method. ¡°It looks like we¡¯re quite lucky in our survival situation this time. It¡¯s not easy to come across people in the desert.¡± Sand slid down from the top of the dune, and Bi Fang struggled to finally climb atop the dune. The other party should not be far away; he just needed to stand on high ground to see them. However, he suddenly stopped. On the dune, a camel slowly lifted its head, blankly staring at Bi Fang as if it hadn¡¯t understood why someone would suddenly emerge from the sand. ¡°Uh¡­ hello?¡± Bi Fang greeted it, then suddenly reached out to grab the camel¡¯s neck, wrapping around it like a python before it could react! This was a beast weighing over five hundred kilograms, but Bi Fang still boldly made his move! Without taking action, he would waste this opportunity! The camel had a muzzle over its mouth, but the reins had long since broken off. Bi Fang had glanced around just now and found that within a few kilometers, this was the only camel! This was an escaped camel! His legs formed scissors, locking onto the camel¡¯s chest and neck. His hands separated, the right hand going around the front of the camel¡¯s neck and the left elbow bent upright. He clapped his hands together, suddenly tightening his grip! It was a naked choke! Audience members who frequently watched combat sports realized this was one of the strongest ground techniques! The camel, surprised by the sudden embrace, let out a scream, its four legs kicking as it swiftly tried to flee the dune. But Bi Fang pulled hard, and the camel, already unstable on the sand dune, instantly fell to the ground! The sand dust flew up. Man and beast, both suddenly fell to the ground! Bi Fang only felt like he had been hit by a speeding car; with his already poor condition, his eyes rolled back, and he almost passed out. It was the remaining willpower that kept him from letting go. The naked choke was among ground techniques, one with the greatest killing power. If he could hold the camel for a while, it would suffocate and pass out. Then he could just refit the reins, and he would be able to ride the camel out of the desert! Chapter 139 - Chapter 139: Chapter 136 Compassion Chapter 139: Chapter 136 Compassion In the towering dust, nobody could see what was happening. A huge shadow fiercely crashed onto the dune, then tumbled down the slope. The dust was carried away by the wind. Bi Fang clung tightly to the camel¡¯s neck, his body violently rubbing against the coarse sand and gravel, scraping trails of blood. The camel struggled desperately. It was merely curious about the commotion and came to check it out, never expecting to suddenly have its neck clamped, making it extremely difficult to breathe. Driven by its instinct for survival, the camel twisted its body, repeatedly crashing down on the dune, trying to shake off Bi Fang, who stuck to it like adhesive plaster. This was a dromedary camel, weighing up to five hundred kilograms! Such a massive weight crashing down almost sent Bi Fang to heaven, but his arms instinctively contracted, wrapping even tighter. At this moment, Bi Fang was like a wounded cheetah, making its last stand! He knew this was his last chance; if he let go, he would lose everything. A strong will to survive grew wildly in Bi Fang¡¯s heart; he tightened his hold even further as the camel became increasingly frantic, its hooves constantly kicking in disarray. The two were engaged in a primal test of strength on this stretch of desert! Loser dies! It was madness! Countless viewers swallowed nervously, not knowing why Bi Fang had suddenly made his move, but now seeing him pinned under the camel, even being dragged along, they couldn¡¯t help but feel frightened. How painful must that be? The fresh blood on his left arm stained his white T-shirt, Bi Fang¡¯s lips were as pale as a dead man¡¯s, all his muscles were shaking uncontrollably, but he just wouldn¡¯t let go. He was afraid that if he did, he would completely lose the chance to walk out of the desert, marking the first failed mission. What would happen then? Would the System give up on him? Or would it eliminate the host as described in the novels? He wanted to see more of the world, to experience more adventures, to traverse the Amazon alone, to climb Mount Everest alone, to see vistas that most people would never witness. Humans have their limits, but the System could help him break through those limits and reach even higher peaks. It was the best tool, the best ally, which was why he would go into the cave at all costs, undertake missions, and strive to improve himself. He didn¡¯t want to give up like this; that would be a huge blow! He couldn¡¯t just hand over what he¡¯d worked so hard to achieve! ¡°Ah!¡± The veins on his forearm bulged twistedly like snakes, and Bi Fang let out an angry roar. He wanted to stand atop the highest peak and see the views that no one else could. How could he¡­ give up! In the desert, billowing clouds of dust rose, followed by continuous roars that rolled and thundered. But the camel¡¯s muscles were too strong and its power too great; on the incline of the dune, it tried frantically to stand up, but slipped down again and again, knocking Bi Fang onto the sand and raising large clouds of dust. Even though it was sand, such pain was unbearable for ordinary people. This situation repeated itself countless times. Blood kept flowing, half of his clothes already soaked with its crimson shade. His strength was long exhausted, and the tenacity that had kept him going was slowly draining away with the blood. Bi Fang felt dizzy, the pain becoming less and less distinct. A numb sensation enveloped him as though his body were wrapped in heavy brocade, a fatigue that seemed to drain him of everything. With another collision, Bi Fang felt a sweet taste in his throat, as if a string in his brain had suddenly snapped, and his muscles let out a pained cry; the body that could barely hold up finally collapsed entirely. An unmatched weakness washed over him, followed by an endless darkness. He was just too tired. After fighting a monstrous fish to the death, then digging through yellow sand for nearly half an hour, how could he have the strength to subdue a beast of over five hundred kilograms? In a daze, Bi Fang seemed to return to his childhood¡ªweak and helpless, with someone gently holding him from behind. That serene and distant warmth. Bi Fang murmured something softly, more unconscious mumbling than anything. The dust rose again, and his hands fell powerlessly. ¡°Please, don¡¯t go¡­¡± Bi Fang fell to the ground, his vision blurred, he made a final plea, but could only watch the camel¡¯s silhouette getting farther and farther away. His fragile body protested, blood rushing back to his brain, Bi Fang opened his mouth but no words came out; he felt a thick surge of a sweetly metallic taste rising from within, then everything turned black. He lost consciousness entirely. The wind and sand blew over, and Bi Fang lay motionless on the ground. As if he were a dead man. Seeing Bi Fang like this, the viewers panicked. [It¡¯s over, what happened to Master Fang?] [Is he okay?] [Did something really happen?] [Doesn¡¯t look like it, seems he¡¯s still breathing, probably just fainted.] [It¡¯s all gone to hell, Old Fang really screwed up] [Master Fang has it tough, just finished fighting that freaky fish, dug sand for so long, how could he possibly catch the camel?] [What ¡®Wilderness Survivalist¡¯? Might as well watch Shark¡¯s Lu Wentao next door] [Your paid trolls have no mothers!] [Damn, go to hell, I wouldn¡¯t earn this petty cash even if you paid me!] In front of the screen, Bi Fang¡¯s friends were extremely anxious. Nothing like this had ever happened before! No matter the difficulty, this man seemed to always pull through, but to be left unconscious was a first! Passing out in the wild meant being at the mercy of the elements, right? What if some animal came by? ¡°What should we do, Old Gu! Think of something.¡± On the train, Song Vanning panicked upon seeing this scene. ¡°Captain Zhao, aren¡¯t we going for the rescue?¡± Gu Qingyuan was also extremely anxious. ¡°He hasn¡¯t called for help yet.¡± The rescuers still refused, ¡°He was conscious in the end, but still didn¡¯t send out a distress signal. I think we should wait a bit longer.¡± ¡°Wait for what? If we wait any longer, he may lose his life!¡± Gu Qingyuan urged in panic. At these words, Captain Zhao hesitated, but after struggling for a while, he still decided not to act rashly, to avoid making a bad move out of good intentions: ¡°It¡¯s 5:17 now, and it¡¯s getting dark. Let¡¯s wait for another three hours. If he doesn¡¯t wake up in three hours, we will move out.¡± Three hours was Captain Zhao¡¯s consideration; during this time, the temperature would still be suitable, avoiding the dangers of dehydration and hypothermia. If he didn¡¯t wake up after three hours, they would have to carry out the rescue for his safety, regardless of his true intentions! The cold wind whipped across the land, and the yellow sand filled the sky. The drone, set to follow automatically, quietly landed on the sandy ground, the scene almost coming to a still. Countless people called out in anxiety, but Bi Fang did not respond at all. Ten minutes later. Some in the audience started to leave; they had their own lives and jobs, and wasting time was pointless. Twenty minutes later. Even more viewers left, feeling bored, as they were just strangers who came to watch the live stream for entertainment. Bi Fang still hadn¡¯t woken up at this time. The enormous sun was setting, the dim sunlight casting vast shadows of the sand dunes in the desert. Countless trillions of sand grains sparkled with the sun¡¯s last brilliance, shining brightly. Another half an hour passed. The sunset took away the last of the twilight; night enveloped Bi Fang as if a screen had been drawn over him, the dark, boundless heights studded with drifting golden stars, with no top or wall in sight. The audience, like crabs on a beach at nightfall, retreated, leaving barely a thousand people in the live stream room. Those who were going to leave had left, and only a few wished to wait. They hoped for a miracle, having no other option. In between, people came in, but after not seeing the scene they wanted, they quickly left again. Nobody wanted to watch a person unconscious for hours. Two hours later, a faint noise suddenly arose, some of the audience sharply aware, but many others oblivious. Until this sound grew louder and closer, everyone heard it. Something was approaching! Goosebumps rose, and a chill spread through the hearts of the viewers. But at this moment, the drone was stationary next to Bi Fang, and nobody could see what creature was coming closer. The sound was getting near, and the viewers increasingly afraid. Fearing that some dangerous creature was approaching and that Bi Fang was being viewed as prey. Crunch. The clear sound of sand being crushed rose to the ears. A familiar hoof appeared in front of everyone, followed by a few loud snorts. Then two, then three. As more hooves stepped over the drone, the audience could finally see who was approaching. It was the camel! It had come back! ¡°Quick, go for the rescue!¡± In the train, Gu Qingyuan¡¯s pupils shrank as he rose to his feet, grabbed Captain Zhao by the collar, and started shouting like a madman, ¡°Animals have a sense of vengeance. If the camel has returned, it must be to seek revenge on Bi Fang. It¡¯ll be too late if we don¡¯t act now!¡± ¡°What!?¡± A few rescue team members on the train were startled and just about to move when, suddenly, Song Vanning stopped them. ¡°Wait! Old Gu, look, the camel doesn¡¯t seem to be here for revenge!¡± Under the starlight, the camel approached Bi Fang, but instead of acting out of revenge as Gu Qingyuan had suggested, it lowered its head to sniff him, nudged Bi Fang, and realizing that there was no response, it lifted its head to look around and then started pacing back and forth, seemingly worried about something. Several minutes later, as the temperature dropped lower and lower. The camel nudged the unresponsive Bi Fang again and then sat down beside him, using its body to block the cold wind! It was keeping Bi Fang warm! Everyone was taken aback, having not expected such a development. Seeing this, Song Vanning said with a chuckle, ¡°It looks like we don¡¯t need to carry out the rescue anymore.¡± Three hours later. The moon had risen to its highest point, the temperature also dropping to single digits. Bi Fang felt as if he had a dream, where he was running on a wilderness, chased by a tiger, exhausted to the point of coughing blood, and then suddenly the world turned upside down, and he found himself falling into an ice cave. He was wading in the bone-chilling river, with a dense fog covering the surface, the cold piercing into his marrow like needles. But soon, the temperature rose again, so hot that he was sweating profusely as if in a steam oven. He wanted to escape but was too tired until a familiar voice rang out. Bi Fang turned his head abruptly, a colossal mountain of snow blocking out the sky, the world propped up by it, but now it was slowly collapsing toward him. [Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the side mission.] The electronic tone sounded, Bi Fang awoke with a start, sat up abruptly, only to be blocked by a tuft of coarse fur. He looked up. A huge camel was silently watching him. Is this¡­ still dreaming? Am I still in the desert? Bi Fang held his forehead, his memory hazy, but in that very long dream before he awoke, he vaguely sensed warmth, allowing him to continue sleeping peacefully. Bi Fang looked at the enormous camel in front of him, as memories bubbled up like bubbles in water. He remembered it all. It really had come back, hadn¡¯t it? Bi Fang¡¯s expression turned complex, and he couldn¡¯t help but stretch out his hand to touch the camel¡¯s head. Why would it show such kindness to a human? Bi Fang pressed his forehead against the camel¡¯s head and whispered with closed eyes. ¡°This is Nature¡¯s mercy towards me.¡± Chapter 140 - Chapter 140: Chapter 137: Covered in Scars Chapter 140: Chapter 137: Covered in Scars The starry sky slowly rotated overhead, lighting up a flat stretch of sand between the dunes. The small shadow leaned on one another under the moonlight, as Bi Fang gently caressed the camel¡¯s head. This camel, which could have abandoned him, willingly lowered its head. The survival attempt had already failed, and it was Nature¡¯s mercy that allowed him to continue. Humans and Nature, what a contradiction¡­ Bi Fang¡¯s face was a mix of emotions, ¡°I had thought this camel had escaped, but now it seems I was wrong, it just got lost.¡± The camel¡¯s owner must be kind, otherwise how could he raise a camel that harbors such goodwill towards humans? Even the naturally timid camel was willing to help a lost traveler. [emmm, can camels get lost?] [Camels can get lost?] [Isn¡¯t it said that camels have a strong sense of direction?] Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°Camels do have a strong sense of direction and are indeed known as the ships of the desert, but being lost is not the same as being disoriented.¡± Being lost isn¡¯t the same as being disoriented? This statement confused the audience. ¡°A camel that can¡¯t find its owner doesn¡¯t mean it can¡¯t find its way home. On the contrary, if the owner has confidence in their camel, they can just go back home and wait for the camel to return on its own. However, in most cases, this is rare, and the camel would most likely take the opportunity to escape.¡± [But aren¡¯t camels supposed to have strong smelling abilities? I heard they can directly smell water sources? Even stronger than dogs?] Some audience members who were more knowledgeable about camels raised questions. Bi Fang nodded and then shook his head. ¡°Yes, camels can use their sense of smell to find water sources more than twenty kilometers away, that¡¯s true, but this doesn¡¯t mean their sense of smell is better than that of dogs.¡± ¡°The number of olfactory receptor genes in camels is actually quite low, it¡¯s just that there aren¡¯t many scents to distinguish in the desert, so their olfactory discrimination talent is all focused on sensing water and greenery, but it¡¯s very weak in other areas.¡± Bi Fang stroked the small tuft of hair on the camel¡¯s head. The camel showed no reaction, its mouth moving from side to side as it quietly chewed its cud. ¡°In such a situation, a sandstorm could easily separate the camel from its owner. If there are friends living in Qinghai Province, you could contact the local police stations to ask if anyone has lost a camel; its owner must be very worried.¡± This camel trusted humans so much, its owner must have treated it like family. They must be very anxious after its loss. [So that¡¯s how it is! I get it now.] [Then does that mean we can ride the camel at full gallop next?] [Cool, I want to ride a camel in the desert too.] [I¡¯m from Qinghai, already asking.]] [Camels walk very slowly.] [Before, survival was achieved on the fourth day, will that rule be broken this time?] [But how is that fish going to be extracted? The hole is about thirty meters deep, right? Can it be pulled up?] ¡°It¡¯s somewhat difficult, but not impossible.¡± Bi Fang tightened his clothing and decided to take advantage of the darkness to bring up the strange fish, rather than waiting until the next morning when the sun came up, as it would make the task even more difficult. He was in poor condition, having stayed in the cool underground hole for two days, always getting cold from entering the water, and now he had been exposed to the cold desert wind for half the night. Even with Bi Fang¡¯s strong physique, he could not withstand it, and his voice was starting to go hoarse. He needed to speed up and finish everything before his condition worsened! Picking up the half-finished rope, Bi Fang continued to knead and roast meat to make fire. Physical strength had to be replenished, there was one snake left to eat, without a full stomach, there was simply no energy to work. An hour later. Bi Fang, with the thick rope on his back, reassured the camel, and re-entered the cave through the hole. The hole was deep, with sand blocking ten meters, and he climbed more than twenty meters further down, bringing the total depth to nearly forty meters. The rope he had twisted was only nine meters long and completely insufficient. Bi Fang could only go into the hole and pull the strange fish up bit by bit. This was bound to be a daunting task. Half an hour had passed. The strange fish lay at the bottom of the river. Bi Fang tied the rope around his waist and, repeating his previous technique, jumped into the well again. Then, with his feet braced against the walls of the hole, he slowly pulled the strange fish up. It was manageable when the creature was in the water, thanks to buoyancy, the pull was quite easy. But for the half meter between the water surface and the hole¡¯s entrance, Bi Fang exerted all his might, barely managing to bring it out. ¡°Damn, this guy is just too heavy. I estimate its weight to be over one hundred and sixty kilograms, twice mine, definitely a heavyweight contender.¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the fish¡¯s streamlined body, resembling the Philippine crocodile, and not being too light, if it were a Nile crocodile, at the same length it would weigh over three hundred kilograms, and I definitely wouldn¡¯t be able to pull it up.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s face turned red as he hoisted the fish up another half meter. Pure strength can be considered the sum of the total power of the entire body and has always been regarded as a standard measure of strength. Professional athletes can even pull objects weighing over three times their own weight. If this were quantified into specific data, and assuming the conversion rate of points to weight does not diminish, then it would likely require both strength and physique to reach at least fifteen points or more, perhaps with an additional burst of agility. Before Bi Fang had come to the Qaidam Desert, he had barely managed to train his strength to ten points. Including the one point of strength attribute he gained from the lottery, it added up to only eleven points. However, with a physique of thirteen, he could barely manage to do it. Bi Fang, who exerted himself too much, wiped off his sweat and continued to pull upward while wrapping the excess rope around himself. Until most of the rope was reeled in, Bi Fang stepped out two steps and kept climbing, repeating the process. When tired, he would wedge the strange fish in the hole to rest. The three-meter-long fish, with only its own skeleton, could tightly wedge itself within the rock hole that was not even one meter in diameter. Having climbed less than three meters, Bi Fang was panting for breath, almost collapsing from exhaustion, but he never gave up. Finally, after more than an hour of toil, Bi Fang succeeded in bringing the strange fish out of the nearly forty-meter-deep pit! At this moment, dawn was breaking. ¡°Hoo-hah! I¡¯mup!¡± Bi Fang panted heavily, laughing heartily. After the laughter, he dug a hole in the sand and placed his bulging jacket inside, which held the five liters of water from the underground river he had collected. After swallowing a few mouthfuls of saliva, he continued, ¡°In order to¡­ hurry on the road, we can¡¯t linger and must set out as soon as possible, so¡­ I need to give the camel some water to drink.¡± The nearby camel stood up and came over to the pit to drink. In less than a minute, the water in the pit was gone without a trace. [Damn! That was too quick, wasn¡¯t it? Even a pump isn¡¯t that outrageous.] [Can it really drink that much water? How long has it been thirsty?] [Drinking so much all at once, won¡¯t it suffer water intoxication?] ¡°Of course not. A camel¡¯s stomach contains many bottle-shaped sacs called rumen pouches, which are the camel¡¯s ¡®water storage devices.¡¯ In 10 minutes, a Bactrian camel can drink down to 114 liters of water, and this water will be stored in its ¡®water storage devices.¡¯ ¡°Moreover, thanks to a long process of evolution, a camel¡¯s red blood cells have already adapted to either not drinking at all or guzzling a lot at once. They won¡¯ t burst and die even when the water content in the blood changes drastically.¡± Bi Fang, carrying the strange fish, placed it on the camel¡¯s saddle. Initially, the animal panicked as it had never seen such a creature, but under Bi Fang s soothing, the camel gradually calmed down. This made Bi Fang somewhat sentimental, growing more and more fond of it: ¡°This camel has such a good temperament; they¡¯re usually nervous around strangers, but this one is completely different.¡± After binding the fish securely with rope and ensuring the weight was balanced, Bi Fang confirmed their direction and set off with the camel. The sun was just rising, an excellent time to travel. ¡°For the first two hours after we set off, we should travel continuously without breaks, as this is the coolest time of the day. We need to cover as much ground as possible, and as the temperature gradually rises, we can increase the frequency of rest stops¡ªrest for five minutes every hour.¡± The journey was monotonous, and Bi Fang was so tired that he could barely speak, causing the number of viewers to drop steadily. Fortunately, the main task was completed while he was unconscious. The sun climbed higher, hanging over the desert, as the heatwaves rolled in. It wasn¡¯t until twelve o¡¯clock at noon that Bi Fang and the camel stopped in a patch of shade to rest. They had traveled for a solid five hours, resting for a total of less than twenty minutes, many of which were due to having to stop to determine their direction. Bi Fang leaned against the camel, sipping water. His eyes squinted while sweat streamed down his cheeks, soaking his masked attire. Clothing here had become a consumable. The system apparel purchased from the lottery and store had all been used up. But how much longer until the road to survival ended? Chapter 141 - Chapter 141: Chapter 138 Reward! Chapter 141: Chapter 138 Reward! His head felt heavy and foggy, Bi Fang decided to take a nap first. After turning off the live stream, he dug a shallow pit in the sand underneath him and promptly fell asleep. The camel sat beside him, continuing to cud its food, mouth moving oddly from side to side. After an indeterminate amount of time, Bi Fang, who had been sleeping, felt something odd moving at his back, which jolted his fragile spirit awake in an instant. Upon waking, Bi Fang nearly collapsed. He pressed a hand to his forehead, feeling as if a blood vessel in his head was throbbing violently. His occipital region felt as though it had been struck with a wooden stick, and Bi Fang fought against the urge to throw up, the discomfort overwhelming him. The cold had gotten worse! Bi Fang¡¯s heart sank for a moment, but then he turned to see the camel and calmed down. He wasn¡¯t alone. The sun had not set much, barely two hours had passed. Bi Fang habitually patted the camel¡¯s head, not thinking it had nuzzled him because it had nothing better to do. His voice was hoarse as he asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± The camel silently stood up and fixed its stance in one direction, motionless. Facing the fierce sun, Bi Fang also got to his feet and peering ahead, he could make out several streaks of dust rising like surging earthen dragons, moving at a great speed. It was¡­ cars! Someone was passing by! Bi Fang hurriedly turned on the live stream, and viewers from across the country, having been notified, quickly filled the stream, with over a hundred thousand fans joining the live room in no time. [Eh, isn¡¯t it just two o¡¯clock? Why start the broadcast so early? This is the first time being so early.] [Are we continuing the journey?] [Didn¡¯t you say we couldn¡¯t continue til four or five o¡¯clock?] ¡°It¡¯s not me who wants to continue the journey, look over there.¡± Bi Fang operated the drone, directing the lens towards those dust streaks in the distance. The image automatically zoomed in, magnifying the dust clouds like binoculars and capturing them in clear detail. Beneath the dust, wheels were rolling. Jeeps! A full four of them! ¡°Hey! Old Gu, take a look at this, are these our four cars?¡± On the jeeps, Song Vanning also witnessed this scene, frantically shaking Gu Qingyuan¡¯s shoulders. He couldn¡¯t believe the coincidence! Gu Qingyuan was startled, then looked around and instantly saw the giant rock a kilometer away, identical to the one in the live room! He quickly alerted the driver: ¡°Quick, quick, quick, turn to the left, go left!¡± The driver yanked the steering wheel and floored the accelerator, heading straight for Bi Fang¡¯s location. All four jeeps turned sharply and headed for the giant rock. On one of the cars, Gu Qingyuan was sending comments, while Song Vanning had already opened the sunroof and was waving at Bi Fang from afar. ¡°Hey! It¡¯s us! Bi Fang, it¡¯s us! I¡¯m Song Vanning!¡± [I¡¯m Gu Qingyuan! Bi Fang, the convoy you see is us!] [It¡¯s Professor Gu and the others!] [Isn¡¯t this too much of a coincidence? Have we successfully survived?] [Normal, they are here to find Master Fang, and Master Fang is out surviving. With opposing directions, it¡¯s not surprising they¡¯d encounter each other.] [That¡¯s great, it feels like this is the toughest survival challenge yet!] [Not only the toughest, but also the most unbelievable one. Prehistoric creatures, Millennium Caravan, Underground Cave, I jumped the firewall yesterday, and I even saw Master Fang¡¯s videos on YouTube!] [It¡¯s got international reach now?] [Obviously, the number of comments from overseas is over ten thousand! Even the Washington News and The Sun have articles on the prehistoric creatures; it¡¯s blowing up!] [A buddy of mine from Ugly Country also asked if it was real, and he asked me to send him Master Fang¡¯s previous videos. In the end, he gave me One Hundred Ugly Gold to help donate to Master Fang.] ¡°It has spread overseas?¡± Bi Fang was surprised by these comments, not expecting that he had already become famous abroad, to the point where people were asking others to donate on their behalf. Then he got even more excited. What fun was there in earning money from his own people? If he was going to earn, he wanted to earn from foreigners¡ªgenerate foreign exchange for the country! Just as he was lost in thought, the four off-road vehicles had already rushed over. Seeing this formation, the camel snorted loudly, a little frightened. Bi Fang quickly soothed the startled camel. ¡°Haha, finally got to meet you, eh.¡± The moment the cars stopped, two old men got out, one of them with glasses embraced Bi Fang as soon as he approached, extremely excited. ¡°Are you two Professor Gu and Professor Song?¡± Bi Fang said with a smile. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me! And this is Old Song!¡± Gu Qingyuan said excitedly as he shook Bi Fang¡¯s hand, introducing Song Vanning while constantly gazing behind Bi Fang and expressing concern. ¡°You¡¯ve really worked hard. Why is your voice so hoarse? Do you have a cold? Oh, and you¡¯re injured too. Let¡¯s get that wrapped up first; we have a First Aid kit in the car.¡± Seeing this, Bi Fang chuckled and stepped aside, ¡°I see you¡¯re a bit more interested in Tiktaalik, aren¡¯t you?¡± Caught in a slightly awkward moment, Gu Qingyuan realized he was a bit too impatient and scratched his graying hair, ¡°Sorry, I just couldn¡¯t control my excitement.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, I understand.¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t mind, their curiosity about the unknown creature was just like his love for Nature, ¡°You better go see if it really is a prehistoric creature; don¡¯t make a mistake. Plus, I¡¯m quite curious too.¡± Upon hearing this, Gu Qingyuan couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. He stepped forward, pulled the coat off the creature¡¯s head, and together with two other researchers, they carefully lifted the creature to the ground and examined it closely. The other researchers gathered around, exchanging thoughts interspersed with a great deal of technical jargon. ¡°No doubt about it, it looks almost identical to the fossils when judged from the skeleton, and its skull is as big as its pelvis¡ªit could swallow an adult¡¯s head in one bite.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a lobe-finned fish, the third kind found outside the only two known species in the world today! And it appeared in our country! We¡¯re so lucky!¡± ¡°I still think it looks more like a quadruped. Look at its limbs, apart from lacking claws, it¡¯s almost the same as a Crocodile.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s measure its length, shall we? Didn¡¯t someone bring a tape measure?¡± ¡°Right, quickly, let¡¯s measure it!¡± Soon, someone brought over a tape measure and straightened out the creature¡¯s body. After measuring from head to tail, they reported a figure, ¡°Three meters and two centimeters exactly!¡± This piece of data completely stunned everyone present. [Damn, I¡¯ve never seen a fish this big in my life!] [Awesome, it¡¯s over three meters long!] [No wonder it¡¯s so bold to even bite people.] [Aren¡¯t Yangtze Crocodiles only about two meters?] [Crocodiles in China are generally not that big, three meters is rare, that¡¯s normal.] ¡°It¡¯s that big! If it were up to us to catch it, we definitely wouldn¡¯t have had it so easy. We owe a lot to Mr. Bi.¡± The other team members also got out of the car and shook Bi Fang¡¯s hand in thanks. Hearing everyone say this, the fans also felt happy for Bi Fang, as if he had received official recognition and all the efforts along the way were not in vain. After the confirmation, Gu Qingyuan approached Bi Fang to thank him again, and Bi Fang quickly reached out to help him up, but Gu Qingyuan stepped back to avoid his gesture and said earnestly. ¡°These days, discovering a new large animal is nearly impossible, not to mention one that is also a significant Living Fossil in biology. And I¡¯ve seen that the Underground Cave is home to many more unknown creatures; it¡¯s truly a discovery of the century, all thanks to Mr. Bi¡¯s contributions.¡± ¡°We will do our best to name the new species according to your wishes!¡± Gu Qingyuan had been teaching for a lifetime and spoke with clarity and authority, yet the audience felt as if they had misheard, taking a good while to process it. My goodness, did the old man just say let Master Fang name a species? The live stream audience exploded with excitement. What an honor this was! From now on, whenever anyone sees this species, won¡¯t they naturally think of Master Fang, the discoverer? [If a species could be named after me, that would make my life!] [Just an ordinary person can forget about it, but Old Fang is going to go down in history now!] [Isn¡¯t this too awesome? When I visit this animal in the future, can I say it¡¯s a Master Fang beast?] Bi Fang was pleased until he saw the last comment and his face fell. ¡°You guys are overthinking it. Naming a new species doesn¡¯t have to include the discoverer¡¯s name. I can make up one myself!¡± [Ah, that¡¯s no fun. Just use your name, at least we¡¯ll all recognize it then, you¡¯ll be forever famous (sly)] [Yeah, use your name for the naming. It¡¯s decided then, you¡¯re the one, Bi Fang beast! Quick, use water spray!] Bi Fang, not wanting to acknowledge the absurdity from the Shuiyou, turned around and saw Gu Qingyuan seemed to want to say something more, giving him a meaningful look while surreptitiously glancing at the drone. Bi Fang took the hint, willing the drone to fly away. Gu Qingyuan pointed to the sky and whispered, ¡°There¡¯s more, the higher-ups are very happy about this. The Living Fossil, the discovery of the huge Underground Cave and the Millennium Caravan, it¡¯s all very positive news. The process for your reward is already underway, and I heard they¡¯re considering a promotion for you!¡± ¡°A promotion?¡± Bi Fang¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, ¡°Just for this discovery?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure about the details, it seems pretty complicated,¡± Gu Qingyuan shook his head, ¡°I heard it¡¯s coming from the propaganda department. They think you have a good image. On one hand, you¡¯ve made significant contributions, saving people last time, this time making a great discovery, which might even help the economic development of a region. Plus, since you¡¯re special forces, they have some thoughts about you¡­¡± Bi Fang understood. He was too outstanding, catching the eye of the big shots. On the surface, he remained calm, but inside, he was already overjoyed. This was great news! Big news! A promotion, it sounded very impressive! Who would dare to trouble him then? Shark¡¯s Wang Weifeng would probably come apologizing the very next day! ¡°That¡¯s all I have to say,¡± Gu Qingyuan stopped there, unable to guarantee the accuracy of the message, as it was only a reference at best. Later, he looked at Bi Fang, who was covered in wounds, and feeling guilty for being the cause of his condition, he said, ¡°You should come with us later. We¡¯ve cleared a vehicle for you, and someone will take you to Qinghai Province Hospital for treatment¡­¡± But unexpectedly, Bi Fang interrupted Gu Qingyuan. ¡°No, I refuse..¡± Chapter 142 - Chapter 142: Chapter 139: Life Chapter 142: Chapter 139: Life The camel carried Bi Fang toward the distance, moving slowly in the desert, swaying back and forth until it disappeared into the sands. He had only told everyone the direction and distance of the well, aside from that, he asked for nothing, wanted nothing, as if Professor Gu and the others never existed. ¡°I lie on my back in the world, without need for a house, without need for a tent, so free, without worries, my life deserves such moments,¡± Song Vanning watched the figure disappearing into the horizon, her eyes deep with emotion. ¡°What?¡± Gu Qingyuan was startled. ¡°Thomas Bernhard¡¯s Tn the Summer,¡¯ just sharing my thoughts,¡± she replied. Gu Qingyuan savored the previous statement and agreed, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect him to refuse so decisively, I had wanted to persuade him.¡± But Bi Fang had convinced him with just a sentence. ¡°If I got on the car, how would that be different from calling for rescue? Just being alive is lucky enough, please let me have a neat ending!¡± Gu Qingyuan pulled back from his memories, waving his hand, ¡°Enough of that, let¡¯s focus on the task. We need to get Tiktaalik to the lab first, then proceed with the field investigation.¡± ¡°Is that fish really that important? There are many new species discovered every year, right?¡± Song Vanning followed behind. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s important, its very existence is a jewel of evolutionary study, opening up new fields of research for both paleontology and evolutionary biology!¡± Gu Qingyuan hurriedly urged his team to lift the strange fish onto the vehicle, ¡°Be careful, it¡¯s big, just bear with it for a moment.¡± In fact, there was something he didn¡¯t mention to Song Vanning; compared to its importance for evolutionary study, perhaps the discovery was even more significant for molecular biology. This was the real reason the authorities wanted the actual specimen, despite concerns for animal protection. The lungfish¡¯s genome contains about 43 billion DNA base pairs, the largest of any animal sequenced to date, and is fourteen times the size of the human genome! How about Tiktaalik in comparison? Could it possibly have even more? With such an immense genome, it might conceal the secrets of life¡¯s evolution¡­ On the back of the camel, Bi Fang wrapped himself up tightly; with the strange fish gone, he could ride the camel, making his journey much easier. A single-hump camel can typically carry a load ranging from one hundred sixty to two hundred kilograms; carrying a strange fish isn¡¯t difficult, but it doesn¡¯t allow for additional riders. Now, the load had been lightened for both parties. And the arrival of Professor Gu also revealed much information. ¡°Since Professor Gu and his team came by jeep, judging by the time it took, the town from which they embarked can¡¯t be too far. This means we are close to success in our survival, nearing human settlements. If we¡¯re quick, by tonight, at the latest by tomorrow.¡± [Honestly, when Old Fang said how I refused, there was a bit of coolness to it.] [Master Fang¡¯s way of refusing others is so cool too!] [No! I refuse!] [Is this the world of the strong?] [I am very strong, so bear with it.] [Tyrand gifts the host a Spaceship*!¨CThis is the best live stream I have ever seen, Bollywood movies are so weak compared to you! ] [??? Where did the guy upstairs come from?] [A foreigner came to watch Master Fang¡¯s live stream? Can any big shot translate?] [This guy said this is the most exciting live stream he¡¯s ever seen, even Hollywood movies are nothing compared to Master Fang!] [Awesome!] Bi Fang, having wandered around in his past life and often watched academic research reports, naturally was not lacking in English and understood the message. He promptly expressed his gratitude in English, showing off to his online friends once again. Old Fang really knows everything, outrageous! For foreigners to climb over the wall to watch his live stream was something not even Bi Fang himself had expected; he thought at most they would watch his edited videos, but to actually have fans abroad? The development was accelerating. But it made sense; he was still wandering around domestically, and it might not be long before he went abroad for exploration. By then, he would need to establish international channels, and his foreign fan base would experience an explosive increase, the profits multiplying by more than just double compared to now! As time passed, the sun began to sink once again. It was already after five in the afternoon. Bi Fang¡¯s headache escalated from simple dizziness; his condition visibly worsened, and due to significant blood loss, his face was as pale as paper. Camels are best at maintaining a speed of 15 to 25 kilometers per hour, and they can continue without rest for four days and nights, a pace three to five times that of humans. Throughout the day, Bi Fang had walked over eighty kilometers, detouring around numerous sand dunes. However, in terms of a straight line, he must have covered more than thirty kilometers, a substantial distance indeed. The Qaidam Basin from east to west spans roughly eight hundred kilometers, with a width of three hundred kilometers from north to south, and the desert area accounts for only one third. The hope for survival was near at hand. Bi Fang straightened up and looked into the distance. In the distance, where the desert once was a blanket of yellow sand, a different color emerged ¨C a shade of brown, clusters of well-ordered shrubbery! Among the net-like arrangement of desert shrubs lay a black railway track ¨C like a dragon resting within the sands. ¡°It¡¯s the railway!¡± Overjoyed, Bi Fang urged the camel to quicken its pace. After arriving at the railroad track and seeing the intact sleepers and newly marked rails, he finally let go of his worries. This was not an abandoned railway. The online friends were completely impressed. [Awesome, this is truly a find of hope for survival, and it¡¯s not just luck!] [With the railway appearing, just follow it and you¡¯ll eventually meet people] [So strong, yyds! ] [The king of survival! The world¡¯s number one explorer! The king of kings!] Following the railroad track, Bi Fang slowed down and began to reflect on this adventurous experience. ¡°We¡¯re here and our survival mission can be basically considered a success. I must say, this experience has been quite magical, but the most delightful part wasn¡¯t the successful survival, it was the discovery of prehistoric creatures.¡± ¡°The moment I discovered Tiktaalik, I felt genuinely thrilled; an unparalleled sense of pride overwhelmed me.¡± As he spoke, a smile appeared on Bi Fang¡¯s own face. You have been here, and I have witnessed. Even if the sky hasn¡¯t retained your trace, you have flown and I have noted. How lucky I am. ¡°In the Milky Way Galaxy, there are over a hundred billion stars, and the Milky Way is but one of about a hundred forty billion galaxies. Yet, despite the vastness of the universe, the only known place with life is Earth.¡± ¡°And on Earth, from the deepest trench to the highest peak, the known breadth of life¡¯s existence spans only 28 kilometers ¨C what is that compared to the immensity of the universe?¡± The sky gradually darkened, the bright moon rose, and the silver light was cast broadly. The stars sparkled. Bi Fang walked slower and slower, as if reluctant to leave. ¡°The history of life tells a story of massive purges, followed by the diversification of a few survivors, rather than the commonly assumed continuous optimization, complexification, and diversification.¡± ¡°Earth has already witnessed five major extinction events respectively during the Ordovician, Devonian, Permian, Triassic, and Cretaceous periods, as well as many smaller extinction events.¡± ¡°Each of these major extinctions eradicated 70% to 85% of species. During the Permian period, over 95% of creatures left the stage, never to return.¡± ¡°It¡¯s important to realize the incredibly small chance for a species to fossilize, be preserved, and eventually be discovered and recorded by humans.¡± ¡°Humans have only one thing in common with other living beings: over nearly three and a half billion years, at every critical moment, our ancestors managed to squeeze through every closing door ¨C never once failing at the numerous pivotal moments that could have erased us from history.¡± ¡°This is, the miracle of life!¡± Bi Fang stopped the camel, gazing up at the starry sky. In the distance. Roads intersected, bright with lights. Chapter 143 - Chapter 143: Chapter 140: Let’s Go Watch a Movie! Chapter 143: Chapter 140: Let¡¯s Go Watch a Movie! [For some reason, listening to this fills my eyes with tears of laughter] [You1 re not alone!] [You¡¯re not human!] [Unidentified creature mingling among them (funny)] [Life is hard, cherish it as you go] [I¡¯m actually touched] [This is life!] Countless people voiced their emotions, but Bi Fang just wanted to hurry into what looked more like a slightly larger village than a small town. Before he could get close, however, a loud shout startled everyone. ¡°Stop right there, who are you! What are you doing here? Bi Fang turned his head to see a burly man with a white turban staring at him warily, and what was more exaggerated was that he was actually holding a short stick in his hand! Faced with the stranger, the burly man was quite tense. This place was usually deserted, but there stood a young man, ragged and covered in dust, solitary on a camel without even a bridle, skulking around the entrance of the village, looking far from normal. The burly man wondered if the young man was some kind of fugitive murderer. He watched the young man¡¯s eyes, so calm, yet seeming to hide a tiger ready to pounce. He had only seen such eyes once before, on a wolf he encountered in the desert. That time, the wolf had killed three of his sheep. Seeing the burly man acting like he was guarding against a thief, the comments section was in stitches. [They¡¯re treating Old Fang like a thief, hahaha] [I have to say, he does look a bit like one, Old Fang¡¯s image isn¡¯t very convincing right now.] [Old Fang, better explain quickly, I feel like the person in front of you is about to charge over] [Interesting, really interesting] Bi Fang, seeing this commotion, was not in the least bit hurried. Having successfully sought refuge, his mind completely relaxed, and seeing the man¡¯s wariness, he wanted to approach and explain, not expecting the burly man to retreat two steps, nearly dropping his stick. Bi Fang had to stop. The burly man who showed cowardice was quite irritated. What was there to fear? The person opposite was clearly just a young man. He waved the short stick in his hand, threatening with feigned bravery, ¡°Don¡¯t come any closer! If you come any closer, I won¡¯t be polite!¡± Bi Fang was speechless, ¡°I¡¯m not a bad person, nor a thief, just someone in trouble who has just escaped from the desert!¡± The burly man furrowed his brows, staring at Bi Fang, and repeated, ¡°Someone in trouble?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m not a bad person.¡± Bi Fang raised his hands to show he meant no harm. The burly man peered carefully in the moonlight, seeing the young man¡¯s pitiable state, partly believed him, but still didn¡¯t let down his guard, ¡°Then, do you have anything to prove your identity?¡± Bi Fang was stumped; he didn¡¯t have anything like that. Who would bring their ID card on a survival trip, and what if it got lost? The burly man, seeing no response from the other side, guessed the answer. . Noticing the genuine down-and-out appearance of the stranger, he still didn¡¯t feel at ease letting him stay alone there, and hesitated a bit. ¡°Well then, follow me into the village, remember not to run out of my sight, and don¡¯t wander off! Stay not too close!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Bi Fang agreed and walked in front of the burly man. As they entered the village, others noticed Bi Fang. Seeing the burly man behind him, their eyes brightened and they approached to whisper to the burly man. Furthermore, more and more people began to follow behind Bi Fang, until about a dozen of them neatly stopped after fifteen minutes, clearing a path. An elder came out surrounded by the villagers, speaking in not very standard Mandarin, ¡°Young man, I am the village chief here. You say you¡¯re a person in distress? Can you tell me about it?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Bi Fang nodded and repeated his earlier story. ¡°Where are you from?¡± ¡°Magic Capital.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s quite far away. And this camel is¡­?¡± ¡°1 luckily stumbled upon it in the desert.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the dozen people behind the elder began to whisper among themselves. ¡°You stumbled upon it¡­¡± The elder pondered for a while. He was judging the truthfulness of the statement when unexpectedly, he saw the bloodstains on Bi Fang¡¯s hand and asked, ¡°You¡¯re injured?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t mention the injury was from a strange fish¡¯s bite. If he said that, these people would surely be in an uproar. Who would believe someone got bitten by a fish in the desert? Would you believe it? ¡°Then let¡¯s treat the injury first,¡± the elder decided on the spot, regardless of whether the young man was truly in distress or not. They should see to his wounds at the clinic first to avoid any delay. They had more than a dozen people there, and the stranger had nothing on him. What could he do if he really was a fugitive? Bi Fang followed the elder to the clinic, handing over the camel to him, which had been nuzzling his back ever since arriving in the village. After seeing the human settlement, it was very excited. ¡°Can you feed my camel some grass?¡± ¡°Sure!¡± the old man promised. ¡°Um, there¡¯s another thing that might prove my identity.¡± Bi Fang took down the drone, fiddled with it for a bit, and the villagers were surprised. It was too dark earlier and they hadn¡¯t noticed such a gadget flying over their heads. ¡°Spy!¡± The burly man had a very high sense of alertness and thought of the TV dramas he had seen when he saw the gadget. Bi Fang laughed, placed the drone on a nearby stone, aimed, and projected it onto a wall in front of the clinic. The images were of his survival experience. The live broadcast device provided by the System made this a breeze. ¡°Huh? A movie?¡± ¡°It seems so, what¡¯s this thing called, proj¡­¡± ¡°Projector!¡± ¡°Right, that thing!¡± A group of people¡¯s voices grew louder, occasionally mixed with dialects that others couldn¡¯t understand, all of them amazed. Meanwhile, Bi Fang went into the clinic, leaving a group of people outside watching his live broadcast. [Hahaha, these people haven¡¯t seen much!] [Damn, fooled by Master Fang again.] [I¡¯m reminded of the driver uncle Old Fang first met when he was surviving for the first time; I can¡¯t say they¡¯re similar, they¡¯re exactly the same! Hahaha] [Those people at the door are stunned.] [The edited version is even cooler! ] [This drone is so awesome, projecting and recording at the same time] Inside the clinic, there was only one female doctor on duty who looked to be in her forties, possibly aged due to the constant blowing of wind and sand. She just cut open the dressing cloth on Bi Fang¡¯s wound and was immediately taken aback: ¡°What kind of wound is this?¡± It was obviously a bite from something! Desert Wolf? No, that can¡¯t be; wolves don¡¯t have such big mouths, do they? And doesn¡¯t this guy feel pain? With such a serious injury, a normal person wouldn¡¯t even be able to lift their arm, but this young man seemed totally unaffected? The doctor stared at the wound and was stunned, her mind struggling to comprehend. After such a serious injury, had he really ridden a camel out of the desert? Seeing the doctor¡¯s expression, Bi Fang laughed, ¡°Doctor, would you believe me if I said it was a fish bite?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe it, but you¡¯d better tell me honestly what bit you so I can give you the right treatment.¡± ¡°It really was a fish, and just a simple treatment will do,¡± Bi Fang said sincerely. Seeing that he wouldn¡¯t say, the female doctor shook her head and began to examine the wound. From the first-person perspective, the pus-filled wound was shockingly graphic. [Damn, is it infected?] [What now? They won¡¯t have to amputate, will they?] [It¡¯s over, is Old Fang done for?] ¡°In the city, even small wounds often get infected, let alone in the wild, not to mention I was in water. But, there are many kinds of infections, not all of them fatal.¡± The doctor glanced at Bi Fang, thinking he was talking about his experience, not too concerned, ¡°No worries, it¡¯s probably just a simple infection. I¡¯ll treat it here, but afterwards, you should still go to a bigger hospital for a further check-up and get a few shots, just to prevent other bacteria infections.¡± ¡°Okay, thank you, doctor.¡± Nodding her head, the female doctor turned to get some ointment, but just as she returned, a huge commotion came from the entrance, even showing signs of escalating. The female doctor couldn¡¯t contain her curiosity and went to the door, only to discover that almost everyone from the village had come, pointing and discussing the light and shadows in front of them. ¡°Lebao, what are you guys huddled here for? Aren¡¯t you going to school tomorrow?¡± the female doctor stepped forward and grabbed a little boy, asking curiously. ¡°We¡¯re watching a movie!¡± Lebao, sucking on a lollipop, was excitedly pointing at the wall, ¡°It¡¯s so good, Auntie, come and watch with us?¡± ¡°A movie? Where did a movie come from? I didn¡¯t hear about anyone showing movies in town?¡± The female doctor looked up and when she saw the ¡°protagonist¡± on the screen, her brain froze. in the screen, it just happened to show Bi Fang confronting a monstrous fish in the darkness. All the villagers present held their breath, not daring to make a sound. Accompanied by a thunderous roar. Thunk. The walking stick and the monstrous fish hit the ground at the same time. The village chief staggered and took two steps back. ¡°This young man¡­¡± ¡°He¡¯s risking his life!¡± Chapter 144 - Chapter 144: Chapter 141 System Upgrade Chapter 144: Chapter 141 System Upgrade ¡°Come on, brother, bottoms up!¡± In the adobe house, the burly Tashi Dorje put his arm around Bi Fang¡¯s shoulder, and without waiting for a reply, he guzzled down the alcohol from his bowl, and even though his Mandarin was hard to understand, he repeatedly apologized. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry about before, it¡¯s just that you looked so wretched, brother. No one ever comes here, and seeing you wandering around the village entrance alone made us uneasy! I, your older brother, am here to make amends.¡± Waving his hand, Bi Fang indicated that he didn¡¯t take it to heart and had also been infected by the lively atmosphere, taking a few sips of alcohol. In this remote village with few entertainment activities, everyone should have turned off their lights and gone to bed early, yet the arrival of a stranger had the place brightly lit up. The villagers were almost all of Mongolian ethnicity, and seeing Bi Fang¡¯s bravery in the live stream, they genuinely welcomed and admired him! Tashi Dorje even dragged Bi Fang to his home, insisting on apologizing and calling over a big group of people, pouring each one a bowl of strong alcohol. The scene suddenly erupted, and a big pot was set up on the spot, where everyone gathered in the middle to cook lamb meat in boiling white lamb soup. ¡°Little brother, is that ¡®tick¡¯ really over three meters long?¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s real ¡ª haven¡¯t you heard the experts say it¡¯s three point two meters!¡± ¡°How can we not be skeptical? We can¡¯t see a single fish here, and three meters ¡ª that¡¯s taller than a person!¡± ¡°It¡¯s got two of your heights!¡± ¡°Bullshit, I¡¯m one seventy! Drink more, talk less!¡± ¡°Why isn¡¯t the young brother drinking?¡± someone teased from the side. Tashi Dorje slapped his forehead, ¡°Oh! I get it, our sand here is too much, gives the liquor a taste of earth that outsiders can¡¯t get used to! I¡¯ll go and get the good stuff, brought it from the provincial city myself!¡± ¡°No need, Tashi, big brother, it¡¯s not that I won¡¯t drink, it¡¯s just that my hand is injured, can¡¯t drink too much!¡± The villagers were too enthusiastic, and Bi Fang felt a bit embarrassed, but these people just wouldn¡¯t listen. Finally, the village chief spoke up, ¡°The young brother is injured, he can¡¯t drink too much, stop messing around!¡± People then gave up, but they didn¡¯t quiet down, surrounding Bi Fang inside and out, once again bombarding him with questions. Tashi, rolling up his sleeves and with a face full of admiration, recalled, ¡°Brother, when you fought that crocodile, it was just as brave as when I fought a wolf!¡± ¡°When have you ever fought a wolf, Tashi? Weren¡¯t you so scared by the wolf that you wet your pants? ¡®One recognizes a good horse during the race and a hero in the wrestling ring.¡¯ We Mongolians respect brave men the most, and Tashi, you¡¯re not even half as brave as our little brother here!¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, the young brother dares to fight crocodiles for his life, and you? You even lost three sheep, hahaha!¡± ¡°Nonsense! You¡¯re slandering me! If I hadn¡¯t driven it off, it would have killed even more!¡± Tashi Dorje, having already drunk half a bowl of alcohol, saw that people doubted him and his face started to turn red. Then someone else asked, ¡°Tashi, did you really fight a wolf?¡± Tashi Dorje, giving the person who asked him a scornful look, showed no interest in defending himself. They continued, ¡°Then how come you didn¡¯t even bring back half a wolf brush?¡± Tashi immediately looked defeated and uneasy, his face clouding over, and he mumbled something. This time, it was all about how the wolf had run too fast and there was no time to do anything ¡ª some undecipherable words. At this point, everyone started to laugh aloud, filling the interior and exterior of the house with cheerful atmosphere. After the teasing, the villagers went up to Bi Fang to offer a toast, showing complete admiration for him. Using a fire poker to stir the charcoal, tiny sparks drifted up, and someone next to them puckered their lips and blew, snuffing them out in a flurry of brief flashes. The one tending the fire sniffed, ¡°It¡¯s ready!¡± ¡°Young brother, try this, an authentic lamb soup!¡± They warmly called out to him. Having been hungry for several days, Bi Fang didn¡¯t hold back on formalities, he speared a piece of succulent lamb meat, blew on it, and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing with satisfaction as warmth from the alcohol surged up, as if blowing out a fiery breath from deep in his lungs. He slapped his knee and exclaimed with approval. At his exclamation, the villagers¡¯ excitement bubbled over again, each one reaching out with their knives to scoop up lamb meat. [That¡¯s it, I really want some meat nowtoo!] [Damn, spreading midnight cravings! Old Fang, that¡¯s not very nice!] [I¡¯ve been here for five days, and it¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve tasted something salty!] [I¡¯ll trade my doughnut for that!] [Isn¡¯t that a bit too enthusiastic? They slaughtered a sheep right away!] [Nonsense, we Mongolians hold warriors in the highest regard, let alone a big shot like Master Fang! ] [Loving Riceing, you¡¯ve sent too meatballs to the host¡ªMaster Fang, what should I do if I also want to eat?] [If you can¡¯t stand it, send a spaceship to the host¡ªtake it!] The spicy fragrance stirred up everyone¡¯s spirit for wine, and several villagers, half-drunk, opened their jackets, slapped their bellies, and sang the incomprehensible songs of the northern desert, creating a roaring buzz. The revelry continued until midnight, yet Bi Fang quietly stepped out of the house and collected the unattended drone. ¡°Alright, now it¡¯s truly time to say goodbye. Did you see it? Green plants have started appearing in this village, and further away, there are even trees.¡± ¡°During our chats, the villagers told me that they planted these in response to the call for reforestation. Every blade of grass and tree painstakingly planted by the people of Qaidam on the Gobi wastelands is for the sake of a better life for future generations, which is no easy feat.¡± ¡°Many people say that if it weren¡¯t for Qinghai Lake, the sandstorms of Qaidam would swallow up half of China. The transition of Qaidam Basin from an ancient body of water to today¡¯s desertified basin wasn¡¯t only because of the rise of the Tibetan Plateau changing the atmospheric circulation patterns and causing dynamic and thermal effects.¡± ¡°In fact, there are many more reasons to reflect upon. I hope that in a few years, we won¡¯t find fossils of ¡®Naked Carp¡¯ here. I¡¯d rather hope for clear skies, green grass, and a blue lake years from now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it, friends! Remember my name and story, and don¡¯t miss the next broadcast!¡± [Don¡¯t go! At least let me finish watching your meal!] [Tips for staying!] [Ah, it¡¯s gone!] In the live broadcast room, despite the audience¡¯s pleas, the screen went completely dark in the end, leaving only a heated discussion among the netizens. [By the way, did Master Fang just mention a loli fossil?] [Idiot, that¡¯s Naked Carp! A common and beautiful fish from Qinghai Lake, not a loli! Don¡¯t let beauty cloud your vision! ] [Cute girls? Where are the cute girls?] [Corporate level understanding.] ¡°Sigh, gone again.¡± Wang Xiaocong tossed his phone aside and flopped onto his bed. Having looked forward to a break to watch for a couple of days, it ended so quickly, which was hugely disappointing, and now he had to wait over ten days more. He had no idea where the next broadcast would take him or what sort of adventure stories would unfold. ¡°I really want to join in the journey. Wonder when Big Brother Fang¡¯s club will open¡­¡± In the over 9.6 million square kilometers of land, within the countless brightly lit cities, there were many more people like Wang Xiaocong. In today¡¯s live streaming circles, Bi Fang¡¯s broadcasts were groundbreaking, even historic¡ªthere was no precedent in the world for presenting adventures as live broadcasts. Previously at most, there were documentaries, fishing for big fish, or getting a close look at wild animals, but nobody was truly confident enough to dare to air it all live. And even if there were imitators, their effects and visual impact were nowhere near as strong as Bi Fang¡¯s. Just look at Shark next door. Watching their broadcasts was just for fun, utterly incomparable. [Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the task: Emerging Sharpness. Reward dispensed. Would you like to claim it?] A flicker of light passed, and all gloom and irritation were wiped away. Bi Fang¡¯s face lit up with joy, and just as he was about to claim it, a second electronic tone sounded. [Congratulations to the host for completing three R Level tasks. Your authority is now officially unlocked. System upgrading¡­] [Upgrade complete!] Chapter 145 - Chapter 145:142 King Fishs Stomach Chapter 145:142 King Fish¡¯s Stomach ¡°Fuck, that was fast?¡± Suddenly facing an upgrade, Bi Fang was still trying to figure out how it was different from before when, the next second, it was already complete? The first time it loaded, it took a whole week¡­ [Full access to system permissions granted¡­ settlement methods changed¡­ mission system changed¡­] [Ding! Integration complete, would you like to check?] ¡°Check!¡± As soon as the thought arose, a blue screen flashed in front of Bi Fang, and a flood of information poured in. Three minutes later, Bi Fang was somewhat shocked. ¡°Such a big change¡­¡± This sudden system upgrade gave him a surprise that was nothing short of huge. First of all, there was a complete overhaul of the mission mode and reward mode. The system would still issue missions, but the requirements had changed completely. Bi Fang could refuse them, or even edit the content himself! He could choose the location and mode of his live streams according to his own ideas, whether for survival, for subsistence, or other various modes. To do all this, there was only one criterion ¨C Wilderness Points. As long as the Wilderness Points Bi Fang earned each year met the system¡¯s specified requirements, then within that threshold, no matter how many missions the system issued, he could simply ignore them. The acquisition of Wilderness Points was not solely through completing missions anymore, but could be achieved through a series of impacts, reputation, and the attention of his online friends and audience, even including money he earned on his own using the wilderness theme. Ten thousand for one point. For instance, if Bi Fang earned close to three million from this live stream, that would be more than three hundred Wilderness Points. If he were to endorse products in the future, that would be counted as well. This upgrade greatly enhanced Bi Fang¡¯s access to the system¡¯s permissions and his freedom saw a massive leap forward. Moreover, the store had also been fully upgraded, with more advanced skills upgrade coupons and Skill Cans on offer, as well as some bizarre usage coupons. ¡°Good things keep coming!¡± Bi Fang was excited. He glanced around the room and saw that everyone had passed out drunk, so he began to check out the rewards for this mission in peace. [Detected a non-reward promotion, your final rewards are: 1 Intermediate Skill Upgrade Coupon, 4 Enhancement Points, 1400 Wilderness Points, 1 Skill Formation Coupon, 1 Language Proficiency Coupon] A Skill Formation Coupon? Bi Fang was a bit puzzled, but after he read the instructions, he immediately understood. It was a treasure that could turn a white skill of level 4 or above into a Green Skill, making it a branch on the skill tree. From then on, that skill could be upgraded directly using the system-issued skill coupons! Yes, white skills. Skills of a lower level than Green Skills. When Bi Fang first came to this world, he only had a few innate skills, but that didn¡¯t mean those were the only things he could do. Cooking, doing laundry, singing ¨C couldn¡¯t these be skills too? Of course not. If calculated that way, such skills were far too numerous, so these skills were all white and invisible, not part of the system¡¯s upgrade structure. But turning them into Green Skills through learning and training would require at least a year¡¯s worth of effort. Bi Fang couldn¡¯t wait to open up his white skill panel. Instantly, a long list of skill bars appeared. He scrolled down one by one, looking for any existing level 4 or above skills that were worth upgrading, growing more and more excited as he did so. ¡°Turns out I know so much!¡± But before he could finish choosing, the electronic tone sounded again. [Ding! Detected that you have hunted Tiktaalik. Would you like to generate loot?] There¡¯s more? Bi Fang¡¯s eyes shone with excitement. His last reward, the Wolves King¡¯s Sense of Smell, couldn¡¯t be too useful! What would he be rewarded with this time? Glancing at the villager who had passed out on the table, Bi Fang entered a small room prepared for him by Tashi Dorje, who wanted him to rest for the night before leaving. ¡°Generate!¡± The sensation of enhanced strength once again arose; Bi Fang felt this surely wasn¡¯t an illusion. The generation of loot indeed had improved his physical condition, albeit by a very small margin, which made him think it was just his imagination. A cold, foreign feeling emerged, and Bi Fang took out the knotted necklace from around his neck, revealing a tooth that was thicker than Wolf Fang¡¯s but shorter, lying alongside it. It was as clear as jade. [Ding! You have triggered the loot reward enhancement: King Fish¡¯s Stomach!] [King Fish¡¯s Stomach] Ability Description: Your digestive system¡¯s digestion and absorption capabilities will far exceed those of an average person. ¡°The description is still as straightforward as ever.¡± Bi Fang scratched his eyebrow, knowing he would have to figure out the extent of his abilities through trial and error. However, the ability looked very appealing and highly practical. Although a faster digestion rate meant getting hungry more easily, his absorption capabilities had also increased. From the perspective of the conservation of energy, this was a gain. As for concerns like having too much stomach acid causing gastritis, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t worried. The System¡¯s enhancements weren¡¯t that low-end; this was an enhancement, not an upgrade with a side order of stomach ailments. Most importantly, having a strong digestive capacity was actually linked to a certain extent with infection resistance. Under strong stomach acid, few parasites and pathogenic bacteria could survive. Vultures, for instance, which frequently consume carrion yet remain lively, have stomach acidity ten times higher than humans, capable of largely killing off the pathogenic bacteria ingested. This enhancement didn¡¯t give Bi Fang the intense sensations of the last one, but as time passed, he gradually felt a warm glow throughout his body, and the exhaustion from survival began to fade significantly. Bi Fang lay in bed and continued browsing the previous selection; he looked through them one by one and finally picked a level 4 skill, which was a hobby from his past life. He had reached level 4 already, and it was perfect for upgrading to a Green Skill. Archery! His skills were already quite comprehensive, but often, he lacked offensive options. If he could craft a bow and arrows in the wilderness, combined with powerful archery, it would be like a fish in water. Of all animals, only humans can accurately throw objects over long distances using their limbs for ranged attacks. Humans have more flexible waists to increase torque, lower humeruses to expand the range of motion, and flatter shoulder joints, which help align the force of the pectoralis major with the rotation direction of the throw. Archery, in particular, is a standout in ranged combat. In thousands of years of development, it has largely replaced spear throwing because it is more precise, swifter, and faster! It might lack the destructive power of spear throws, but the reloading speed of a bow and arrow far exceeds that of throwing spears. In the wilderness, this is invincible. Bi Fang intended to maximize this advantage. Upgrade! With a buzzing sound, Bi Fang felt as if someone had struck the back of his head. From the simplest longbow to the recurve bow, and finally the modern compound bow, countless notching and shooting experiences brought with them a variety of techniques, experiences, and insights. Bi Fang looked down at his hands as if he had truly released countless arrows, and he could hardly suppress the urge to test his real level of skill. But the environment wasn¡¯t conducive, so he abandoned the thought. There were still many coupons left, and Bi Fang hadn¡¯t decided how to use them; he planned to wait until he got back since he was already very tired. The next day, Uncle Tashi was reluctant to let him leave. ¡°Are you leaving so soon? Won¡¯t you stay for a couple more days? Please don¡¯t feel obligated to go; we sincerely welcome you here.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that I feel obligated, Uncle Tashi, I still need to have my wounds checked at the hospital.¡± Bi Fang showed the bandage on his hand; Tashi gave in and waved goodbye, wishing Bi Fang a smooth journey. Upon reaching the county town, Bi Fang encountered someone he didn¡¯t expect. The owner of the camel. Chapter 146 - Chapter 146: Chapter 143 Exclusive Copyright Chapter 146: Chapter 143 Exclusive Copyright At the train station. There weren¡¯t many people at the ticket check. Passengers sitting in chairs cast curious glances as Bi Fang came by with a camel. ¡°Naron!¡± A call, and the normally docile camel became restless, seemingly wanting to break free from Bi Fang¡¯s control. Bi Fang looked at the middle-aged man at the entrance of the station and understood. He smiled faintly, patted the camel¡¯s neck, and let it go free. Without a doubt, the camel¡¯s owner had arrived. During the live stream, Bi Fang had told his online friends to call the police, and surprisingly, it worked. The camel¡¯s owner found them on his own, saving Bi Fang the trouble of searching. Not far away, man and camel hugged tightly, and after a long while, the middle-aged man came over to thank Bi Fang. The man introduced himself as Bater, saying the camel was a legacy from his father, with whom he had grown up since childhood. A month ago, when he was about to move, he planned to cross the desert with the camels. Unfortunately, they encountered a sandstorm and lost three out of thirty-seven camels. Bater was convinced that the camels, which he regarded as family, would return on their own. As expected, two of them had made it back home, but the last and most important one was yet to return. Everyone at home was frantic. Reporting to the police was futile; no one had spotted the missing camel. Bater was about to give up, but then he received a call from the police, asking him to watch a live stream to identify if the camel in it was his. That¡¯s how he found Naren. Last night, when Bater saw Bi Fang arrive in Deji Village, he guessed that Bi Fang might head to the town¡¯s train station along the railway, and came to wait early in the morning. Indeed, his persistence paid off, as he finally got what he was waiting for. ¡°After Naren left, my little daughter kept crying, thinking I had abandoned Naren on purpose. It¡¯s the last memento my father left me. It grew up with me and my children. I¡¯m truly grateful.¡± ¡°If anyone should be grateful, it¡¯s me who should thank Naren,¡± said Bi Fang, smiling as he stroked the camel¡¯s head. ¡°Lost camels rarely come back willingly. You must treat them like family on regular days.¡± ¡°Of course, I treasure every camel as a precious gift from Immortal God,¡± Bater laughed heartily. All along the way, Bi Fang had really grown fond of the gentle and lovable camel; parting with it was indeed difficult. If not for its close relationship with its owner, he would have wanted to take it back and keep it himself. With his current financial capacity, it was feasible to raise a camel. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll be taking my leave,¡± said Bi Fang, waving goodbye as he prepared to leave. But how could Bater simply let Bi Fang go? His gratitude was not just lip service but deeply heartfelt, insisting on having a meal with Bi Fang. Unable to resist further, Bi Fang agreed, and they ate heartily together, especially after Bi Fang¡¯s digestive function was enhanced. Bi Fang¡¯s appetite had increased substantially, and with his injury requiring a lot of nutrients, he alone consumed the equivalent of nearly three full-grown adults, to Bater¡¯s astonishment. The meal took quite a while, and afterward, Bater even pulled out a beautifully patterned dagger inlaid with silver and gave it to Bi Fang, hoping it would bring him good luck and safety. Bi Fang didn¡¯t refuse and accepted the gift. It was only after three in the afternoon that he managed to leave and went to the provincial hospital for further treatment of his wound. The only bad news was that his injury was severe. Even though his bones were intact, he required more than a month of rest to prevent any lingering effects. Bi Fang had no choice but to painfully use the System¡¯s acceleration healing function. It cost ten Points a day and increased the healing speed by five times, with no aftereffects. As for the new, more expensive, and more effective intensive healing, Bi Fang was reluctant to use it. After all, he only had just over a thousand Points, and each one used was one less. Moreover, he hadn¡¯t yet edited the footage for B Island, and many fans in the group were already urging him to do so. Bi Fang¡¯s live streaming quality was unique among all streamers, presenting a picture more clear, exquisite, and thrilling than even BBD¡¯s documentaries. These people were not satisfied with watching it just once, constantly clamoring for the edited version. However, the assistant arranged by Wang Yongbo, Liu Qian, interrupted this process. ¡°Mr. Bi, are you going to upload this video to B Island this time?¡± ¡°Yes, what¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°It¡¯s like this, there are currently seven video websites that want to buy the exclusive broadcasting rights to your video, but since they couldn¡¯t find you, they asked us to pass on the message.¡± ¡°Exclusive broadcasting rights?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What are the terms?¡± Liu Qian sent over a document. Bi Fang glanced through it, directly ignoring the smaller websites. Not only was their influence insufficient, but their offers were also not generous enough, a common issue with smaller companies. But that¡¯s normal, video platforms are complex businesses. To succeed, a company must balance the breadth and appeal of their content, and even if a company is willing to take a risk and spend a lot of money to buy his exclusive rights, it¡¯s very dangerous for cash flow if they can¡¯t recoup the investment quickly. Bi Fang flipped through and circled two key proposals. The best offer was from Ai Qi Yi, with the highest bid at one million per episode, and the commitment was for twelve episodes per season. If calculated normally, he could earn twelve million. B Island offered two schemes. One was a fixed price, eight hundred thousand per episode, with the commitment also for twelve episodes per season, two hundred thousand less than Ai Qi Yi. The other was a revenue sharing model. To promote their platform, B Island had set aside a large sum of money to purchase exclusive rights to excellent web dramas, and they had very generous profit-sharing rules. Additionally, the internal management rated Bi Fang¡¯s videos as A-grade, the highest video standard. According to the rules, for an A-grade web drama, as long as an individual account watches for more than 6 minutes per episode, it would count as a valid click. For every valid click, he would receive 0.4 yuan in revenue sharing. That means, for each episode of Bi Fang¡¯s videos, as long as he guaranteed a million valid clicks per episode, he could earn about four hundred thousand in revenue sharing income! The same amount, forty Wilderness Points. With Bi Fang¡¯s current number of fans, this viewership number was not difficult to achieve. Not every young person likes to watch live streams. Or rather, they only make up a relatively small part. The mainstream audience prefers to watch videos. However, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t really considered this scenario, or rather, he hadn¡¯t expected the terms to be so generous. Video platforms indeed allocate a large sum of special funds to purchase the rights for hot drama series and variety shows, or exclusive broadcasting rights, and then bundle them with memberships to increase the site¡¯s competitiveness. Rights are the moat of video platforms. Many sites burn money, primarily on this front. But he hadn¡¯t expected to be able to receive such treatment already! If he became globally famous, like Bear Grylls in his previous life, such treatment wouldn¡¯t be surprising. But he had only held four live streams in total, really ventured out only three times, and B Island¡¯s officials had already looked so favorably upon him, directly rating him as A-grade. It was somewhat unbelievable. Generally, the grading of web dramas into ABCD levels within a website all have standards, many restrictions, and is very stringent¡ªonly certain particularly excellent dramas can possibly achieve such ratings. And to get graded, one must first sign an exclusive broadcasting agreement with the platform. Therefore, exclusive broadcasting is no longer a one-time buyout; rather, revenue is shared based on the actual popularity of the video. This model is more secure for both the website and the creators, and it can reduce risk. Bi Fang twirled his ballpoint pen, pondering for a long time. Is it probably because B Island¡¯s higher-ups have recently decided to splurge, and just so happened to take a fancy to his Wilderness Survivalist, thinking it could be turned into a special column, hence this offer? After thinking it over for a long time, Bi Fang made his decision. ¡°Sign with B Island, and go with their revenue-sharing plan.¡± Chapter 147 - Chapter 147: Chapter 144: Dont you think its such a pity? Chapter 147: Chapter 144: Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s such a pity? Bi Fang decided to sign a revenue-sharing contract with B Island. He studied both companies carefully and found they were much the same as those in his original world, though it seemed B Island was somewhat richer? The market value of the two video websites was similar, but the implications of their similarities were quite different. B Island was on the rise, only recently reaching its current level, while Ai Qi Yi was continuously falling to such an extent that they couldn¡¯t even be compared. This indicated the market was more optimistic about B Island; it had deep waters, but B Island had grasped the future. Moreover, what differentiated B Island from mainstream video platforms was that it was a video platform that developed based on a community, and its community attributes gave B Island higher user stickiness and loyalty, and its content was also more popular among young people. It just so happened to overlap with Bi Fang¡¯s fanbase characteristics; young people had vigorous energy, pursued excitement more, and also had a stronger desire for knowledge. From a benefit standpoint, there was no doubt B Island was the choice to make; as long as more people watched, influence would grow, and Wilderness Points would not be few. Choosing revenue-sharing, earnings might be less at the beginning, but they would definitely exceed a flat rate of eight hundred thousand per episode in the long run, and just one or two more live broadcasts would raise the scores, in this way, the Points he earned wouldn¡¯t be few, and as long as B Island didn¡¯t go bankrupt, they would keep flowing continuously. So Bi Fang didn¡¯t upload videos immediately, but instead took some time to sign the contract. It had to be said that Wolf Fang¡¯s services were really thorough; knowing he was busy, they specially assigned the assistant Liu Qian to take care of various affairs for him, even directly using their own company¡¯s legal team during the contract signing, which saved him a lot of trouble. Bi Fang felt more and more that his initial choice to sacrifice some fans and not stay in the big pit that was Shark was the right one. In such a treacherous environment, it would be a miracle to be able to live stream in peace. After finishing the affairs, Bi Fang announced the news in the fan group. ¡°Tonight at 8 PM, my fourth edited video will still premiere on B Island, everyone can pay attention.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, definitely supporting!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll send the first barrage comment!¡± Everyone was excited, Master Fang¡¯s live streams were truly not enough to watch. Are we not going for second and third viewings? ¡°Speaking of which, why hasn¡¯t Master Fang held a lottery recently? I¡¯ve been looking forward to it for a long time¡­¡± ¡°Another person who thinks they¡¯re a ¡®Lucky Emperor¡¯ has appeared.¡± ¡°Protected animals, even scientists can¡¯t get them, how could they possibly be given to you?¡± ¡°Right, and what¡¯s there for you in the desert? Sand? Or groundwater? ¡°I can! I¡¯d find even the sand Master Fang carries fragrant. ¡°Bootlickers don¡¯t get a house!¡± Bi Fang no longer watched the ridiculous discussions of his fans online and went on the internet to buy a ticket back to Magic Capital. just as he got off the plane, Bi Fang spotted a young man wearing gold-nmmed glasses holding a sign to greet him. Someone to pick up at the airport? Bi Fang approached, somewhat hesitant, ¡°You are? ¡°Oh, Mr. Bi, I am the secretary, Jiang Li, of Mr. Lin Changlin. You can call me Xiao Jiang,¡± Jiang Li extended his hand, his face full of smiles. Bi Fang shook hands with the man, even more curious, as he had not mentioned his flight to anyone. ¡°How did Lin Chang know I¡¯m here?¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t find out, someone else notified us and asked us to pickyou up to discuss some matters in person,¡± Jiang Li replied. Bi Fang tilted his head, quite interested, ¡°Who?¡± Jiang Li smiled, stepping aside and opening the car door, ¡°Mr. Bi, let¡¯s get in the car and talk.¡± Bi Fang noticed people nearby pointing at him, as if recognizing him, and he didn¡¯t want to linger, so he directly got into the car. He wasn¡¯t afraid of being deceived; what kind of trickster drives a Maybach? ¡°Mr. Bi, do you remember those people we ran into in the desert? ¡°They had an accident?¡± Bi Fang frowned. ¡°Yes, after you left, their car had a fuel leak that ignited a big fire on the spot. Thankfully, rescue efforts were timely; only two people were critically burned, and the leader, Du Chuan, became a vegetable and hasn¡¯t woken up yet. The others also suffered injuries of varying degrees and are in the hospital.¡± Bi Fang was astonished. He didn¡¯t expect such a thing to happen after his departure? If such an incident had occurred, it made no sense that there was no sound about it in his fan group. Shouldn¡¯t the internet have exploded? ¡°Why is there no news about this incident online? ¡°Because the responsibility for the incident lies on them. Afterwards, we contacted the police for an investigation at the scene. According to the investigation, the car was rented and not quality assured, not having undergone check-ups for a long time, which directly caused the fuel tank to leak under extreme day-night temperature differences. ¡°As for the cause of the fire, it was Du Chuan carelessly throwing a cigarette butt. It had nothing to do with you. And if it hadn¡¯t been for you getting them out of the car, the fire would have truly combusted internally, and it¡¯s likely none would have survived. Most importantly, this incident has been given a characterization by certain people above.¡± ¡°Is someone helping us?¡± Jiang Li turned a comer and continued, ¡°That¡¯s right. The president of the National Geographic Society has a brother who¡¯s a leader in the propaganda department, with a very high rank.¡± Bi Fang suddenly realized, so that¡¯s how it was. indeed, good deeds do get rewarded. He had saved someone, and the payoff came immediately. Otherwise, even if no one had died, getting caught up m the situation would have been a real hassle. It must have been Wu Mingtao and his friends who had exerted their influence. By the way, he had promised last time to write a column for them, he wondered if they had written it yet since he hadn¡¯t read it. He would subscribe and take a look when he got back. ¡°Is he the person I¡¯m meeting this time?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± There was a traffic jam on the road, and the sound of horns from the cars ahead merged into one, like a boiling kettle. The map was imprinted in Jiang Li¡¯s mind. With a turn of the steering wheel, he took a shortcut, winding through a few streets, then emerged onto a wide, smooth avenue. Through the car window, Bi Fang observed people in suits and leather shoes coming and going, each walking with an air of confidence, as though they were living a fulfilling and meaningful life. Looking up, he could only see the serrated skyline and a straight stretch of sky. The surrounding skyscrapers grew towards the sky like a dense bamboo forest, as if one day they might reach and merge with the sky itself. Indeed, he still couldn¡¯t get used to it. Bi Fang heaved a sigh. At that moment, Jiang Li also stopped the car to begin the security check. Once the check was over, the two of them were allowed to enter. Ten minutes later, they arrived. As soon as he got out of the car, Bi Fang noticed that Lin Chang and Yao Jun were already waiting for him. Upon seeing Bi Fang, Yao Jun greeted him with a bear hug, ¡°Man, you¡¯re finally back!¡± ¡°Why are you guys here too?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t we here to discuss club business with you? We¡¯ve completed all the necessary procedures and now we¡¯re just waiting for you to pick the place and arrange the decoration. Hold on, you weren¡¯t just talking for fun last time, were you?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Bi Fang was speechless, how could they be more proactive than him? He had just suggested an idea, and they had taken care of everything? ¡°Good, then go on in. The real bigwig is inside, the kind my father would be scared of,¡± Yao Jun said, patting Bi Fang¡¯s shoulder, pointing towards the building. Bi Fang looked at the bulging waists of the guards at the door and felt a twinge of nervousness, ¡°What¡¯s going on exactly? Do you guys know?¡± Unfortunately, Lin Chang and Yao Jun both shook their heads. They didn¡¯t know either. The only thing they were sure of was that it was nothing bad. ¡°Alright then, I¡¯m going inside,¡± Bi Fang waved his hand. ¡°Okay, after you come out, let¡¯s go eat together to celebrate your return!¡± ¡°No problem!¡± When Bi Fang approached the entrance, the guard immediately stopped him. After confirming his identity, they conducted a body search. Watching the searched Bi Fang disappear, Yao Jun and Lin Chang leaned against the car and chatted. ¡°Strange, a provincial bigwig personally meeting him, the face he¡¯s being given is fucking huge!¡± Lin Chang shook his head, finding it exaggerated, ¡°That¡¯s not entirely true. He was just in the Magic Capital for other matters and took the opportunity to meet. Saying it was a personal meeting is a bit much. ¡°Nicely put with the ¡®just¡¯. Worthy of being the son of the Lin family, not the same as us ordinary folks. I admire you,¡± Yao Jun said, bowing with his hands clasped. ¡°Get lost, stop teasing me!¡± ¡°By the way, those people¡¯s family members were causing such a ruckus before, how did you suppress it?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t suppress anything. I just made them understand that for every hour they caused trouble, their dear sons would have to stay in for an additional year. If they dared to make a fuss for a day, it would be life imprisonment,¡± Lin Chang said casually, lighting a cigarette. ¡°The next day, they vanished without a trace, didn¡¯t even visit the hospital.¡± ¡°Tsk tsk tsk, that¡¯s brilliant, really brilliant!¡± Half an hour later, the door opened again. Seeing this, Yao Jun and Lin Chang hurried over to inquire about the situation. ¡°How did it go? What¡¯s the good news, tell us?¡± Bi Fang looked at their expectant faces and was silent for a long time, giving off a somber vibe that made their hearts sink. Unable to hold back, Yao Jun asked, ¡°What, did they criticize you?¡± Bi Fang let out a sigh, his downcast mood appearing genuine, ¡°Yes, there s been trouble, big trouble! They told me to keep a lower profile in the future.¡± The two were shocked. What did this mean? Were they censuring him? At that moment, Bi Fang took out a small booklet from his pocket and handed it over. The two quickly grabbed it, and upon seeing the contents¡­ ¡°Is this what you call keeping a low profile?¡± Yao Jun really wanted to hit someone. ¡°Yeah, I received this red booklet at twenty-five. They told me to keep a low profile, to not be too conspicuous.¡± ¡°To walk in silken robes at night, what a pity.¡± Chapter 148 - Chapter 148: Chapter 145: Size Matters in Position Chapter 148: Chapter 145: Size Matters in Position ¡°I regret that for your dad.¡± Yao Jun recalled Bi Fang¡¯s sullen look and felt irritated. All of it was just an act, obviously showing off, and the most infuriating thing was his opponent had retired from the special forces, so he couldn¡¯t even beat him in a fight. Lin Chang was still flipping through the pages, somewhat in disbelief, and asked again, ¡°How old did you say you are this year?¡± ¡°Twenty-five, doesn¡¯t it say that on the document?¡± Bi Fang pointed to the birth date on the red booklet, which was clearly written, ¡°It¡¯s also because I¡¯m so young, so it has to be this way.¡± This rank didn¡¯t seem high in Lin Chang¡¯s eyes, but paired with Bi Fang¡¯s age, it was enough to shock anyone. It was rare to the point of absurdity to be twenty-five and already a school I level officer, even at the lowest rank imaginable, there were almost none. Normally, even with significant contributions and rapid promotions, one wouldn¡¯t expect to reach this level until the age of thirty. The difference was a full five years! ¡°You¡¯re just playing coy after getting a bargain,¡± Yao Jun pounded on Bi Fang¡¯s back to vent his dissatisfaction. ¡°Afraid it¡¯s more than that?¡± Lin Chang returned the document to Bi Fang, feeling that there must be more to this encounter than a mere promotion, certainly other important matters. Bi Fang chuckled, ¡°Brother Lin¡¯s guess is spot on¡ªnot only did I get promoted, but they also added a tag to my live stream.¡± ¡°A tag, what do you mean?¡± Yao Jun didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Official endorsement?¡± Lin Chang propped his chin, stunned at the thought; was this not a bit too outrageous? ¡°About that, they basically added a logo to show it¡¯s official people spreading survival knowledge, but I still get to create the content the way I want,¡± Bi Fang put away his ID, feeling quite proud. He had not anticipated that not only would Professor Gu Qingyuan¡¯s prediction come true, but there was an even greater surprise in store. Representing the government, those few words carried significant weight; at least in this country, no one could top him when it came to live streaming wilderness survival. Not even Bear Grylls would be a match if he were around; this was like having a gilded statue erected and being stamped with official approval. In this realm, Bi Fang had become the first and incomparable. Of course, Bi Fang had shown himself to be deserving of such esteem-genuine and upright, with a special forces background, and having made palpable achievements in his two live streams, only then did the higher-ups decide to take this step. This high-level promotion was probably also because, as an official public figure, it made sense that his position should be dignified enough that speaking out wouldn¡¯t bring shame. As a reward and for propaganda, given Bi Fang¡¯s status, the more popular he would become, the more it would naturally serve as promotion. ¡°Plus, I¡¯m set up as a role model this time.¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°The live streaming industry has been growing unrestrainedly these past few years, with frequent chaos emerging. The authorities aim to reform it, hoping more positive influencers like me will emerge instead of a surge of superficial and crude internet celebrities. There¡¯s also widespread exploitation and deceit between platforms and streamers, to put it bluntly, the platforms are misaligned.¡± ¡°Did the top brass outright say that?¡± Lin Chang couldn¡¯t help asking. ¡°Of course not, but that¡¯s the gist of it.¡± Bi Fang figured Wang Yongbo would go nuts when he heard this news; this was a victory for Wolf Fang. Today, which live streaming platform circle is the cleanest? Anyone would think of Wolf Fang. Temporary setbacks are not necessarily a bad thing. As long as one¡¯s direction is right, simmering and stewing can also be ways to create something tasty. Just keep at it, and the day to come out on top will arrive. ¡°Should I go buy some Wolf Fang stocks now and make a bit of pocket money?¡± Yao Jun, being sharp, caught on at once. Bi Fang shook his head frantically, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare, I told you out of good intent, insider trading is illegal, you wouldn¡¯t set me up, would you? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re short on cash?¡± ¡°Hahaha, of course I know, just joking, I got you scared, didn¡¯t I?¡± Yao Jun put an arm around Bi Fang¡¯s shoulder, feeling he had avenged the previous jab, ¡°But today¡¯s meal, you¡¯re treating!¡± ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll treat, just say what you want to eat.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get scared now, Lin Chang, get in the car. We¡¯re not going to Tangdelli, let¡¯s go to that insanely expensive place we visited last time.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Lin Chang opened the car door, his smile mischievous. Bi Fang looked at the expressions on their faces, with not a trace of worry in his heart. After all, wasn¡¯t he a millionaire? How could a meal possibly scare him? ¡°Why does a plate of stir-fried vegetables cost $888?¡± Bi Fang held the lengthy bill, beginning to question life. It didn¡¯t even taste good. Yao Jun, who was stuffed, slouched in his seat with a toothpick dangling from his mouth, ¡°We didn¡¯t even want to come to this restaurant. The food is pretty average, you forced us here.¡± ¡°Heh.¡± Bi Fang scoffed coldly, did they really think he would be scared? A mere meal¡¯s cost, who were they looking down upon? ¡°Small change, all small change.¡± Yao Jun and Lin Chang exchanged glances, smirking, ¡°The club¡¯s venue and decoration costs are almost thirty million. Since Boss Bi is so wealthy, we¡¯ll leave it to you then.¡± ¡°Clatter.¡± ¡°Sir, your card.¡± The waiter kindly picked it up and handed it back to Bi Fang. Unperturbed, Bi Fang took it over and calmly paid the bill, then slapped Yao Jun on the shoulder with a laugh, ¡°See, no need for formalities, when there¡¯s money to be made, we make it together. How could I leave you guys behind?¡± ¡°Really?¡± Yao Jun¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Why would I lie to you?¡± said Bi Fang earnestly, ¡°Who doesn¡¯t know that I, Bi Fang, am always sincere with people, when have I ever deceived a friend? Watching the two tease each other, Lin Chang found it amusing but still interrupted, ¡°Alright, cut it out you two. We haven¡¯t discussed the club matters yet, let¡¯s talk while we¡¯re all free.¡± Seeing it was time for business, Yao Jun sat up straight, ¡°Bi Fang, have you decided on a location for the club?¡± Without hesitation, Bi Fang replied, ¡°I¡¯ve decided. It¡¯s either Magic Capital or the Capital, only these two places are suitable for the club¡¯s development. But 1 still prefer Magic Capital, it has more young people and better economic development.¡± Indeed. Lin Chang and Yao Jun nodded simultaneously, it seems Bi Fang¡¯s previous words weren¡¯t just a spur of the moment but a real intention. Clubs like this aren¡¯t for everyone; setting one up in the countryside is a death sentence, even if the main focus is on wilderness activities. In truth, if one really wanted to start a club, spending more than thirty million isn¡¯t too expensive, managing to get that sum wouldn¡¯t be difficult with Bi Fang¡¯s current status ¨C any bank would lend it to him on request. But he knew his energy was limited; the goal of opening the club was to establish a core of wilderness live streaming, gradually branching out into other industries, a means to cultivate fan loyalty. Still, it was essential to bring Yao Jun and Lin Chang into it, letting them help manage, and he would just need to be a figurehead. It wasn¡¯t for nothing, everyone understood the value within. Wilderness Survivalist was on the rise, not in the future, but now, at an observable speed. When everyone in class loves playing basketball, and the new kid likes it too, it¡¯s easy to fit in, and that¡¯s how connections are built. Lin Chang and Yao Jun had already reached the level of actively learning and fitting in with others, but offering such a platform was still a substantial help to them. Young people making connections through Wilderness Survivalist is as natural as middle-aged and older people doing business over golf, the principle is the same. Surviving in the wild definitely requires endurance, but any sport demands time and effort, even running needs proper methods and techniques. During the learning phase at the club, everyone trains and suffers together, chats during rest times, and with enough common topics, naturally, they grow closer. And over time, that¡¯s how people get to know each other, not just as nodding acquaintances or superficial friends. Wilderness Survivalist involves risk, and those who tackle it together form a friendship that tends to withstand tests. With an idea in mind, Bi Fang¡¯s thoughts began to flow freely. ¡°If we¡¯re going to do this, we have to do it with scale, making it impossible for others to imitate or surpass. We could have separate venues for each outdoor activity, such as close-range combat, rock climbing, swimming, skydiving, archery, and so on.¡± ¡°We could also start a mall to sell or rent out various outdoor equipment. We can organize regular wilderness activities, and after training, people can sign up to experience real Wilderness Survivalist ventures. ¡°But what about the instructors? You¡¯re too busy with live streaming to teach personally, right? In that case, we need to hire sufficiently professional people to help, otherwise, the professionalism will suffer,¡± Yao Jun frowned, this was his concern all along. High-end clubs aren¡¯t just about the environment, the service has to match. Otherwise, graffiti in the Louvre just won¡¯t look right. Bi Fang pulled out his still-warm credentials and placed them on the table, ¡°Have you forgotten that I¡¯m an official now, of sorts? It¡¯s not easy to find professional coaches, but retired special forces are a dime a dozen, right?¡± Chapter 149 - Chapter 149: Chapter 146: No One Goes to the Temple of the Three Treasures for Nothing Chapter 149: Chapter 146: No One Goes to the Temple of the Three Treasures for Nothing ¡°Are all special forces survival experts as tough as you?¡± Yao Jun found it hard to believe. His father¡¯s entourage included numerous retired special forces bodyguards, each incredibly brave and unsurpassed in hand-to-hand combat, but he hadn¡¯t sensed any exceptional wilderness survival skills from them. Should he take them out for a test next time? Bi Fang shook his head without a hint of modesty and admitted frankly, ¡°That¡¯s impossible. When it comes to professional wilderness survival skills in the country, I¡¯m probably number one.¡± In the System, special forces skills are merely at the Blue Level. Unless regularly involved in jungle warfare, the wilderness survival aspect when taken alone might only reach the Green Level. It might be extremely impressive to ordinary people, but in Bi Fang¡¯s eyes, it wasn¡¯t enough. However, for some specialized units that are strong in jungle warfare, their wilderness survival skills could reach the Blue Level. That would be more than sufficient to serve as instructors at a high-end club and could also help address employment issues. Not all special forces soldiers are well taken care of after retirement. ¡°Leave this aspect to me. I¡¯ll make the selection and conduct interviews when it¡¯s time. I¡¯ll provide them with specialized training whenever there¡¯s an opportunity,¡± Bi Fang asserted. Lin Chang and Yao Jun felt reassured upon hearing this, confident in Bi Fang¡¯s professionalism in this area, ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll leave this part to you then.¡± As for the shares, how should they be distributed? It doesn¡¯t matter how much we hold; it¡¯s up to you to decide how to allocate them.¡± Yao Jun became much more serious when it came to business, nothing like the ¡°devoted fan¡± he was before. Even with brothers, accounts must be settled clearly. Rewarding even hundreds of thousands casually during ordinary times was fine, but when it came to moving funds over ten million, he couldn¡¯t afford to be careless. The most critical point was his fear that if relationships were mishandled, it could cost him his friendship with Bi Fang in the future, which would be a significant loss. ¡°You mentioned earlier that the venue and decorations will cost about thirty million, right?¡± Bi Fang asked. ¡°Correct, that¡¯s the estimated cost from our team previously, but following your requirements, it might not be enough,¡± Yao Jun admitted. He had connections in the outdoor branding industry. Moreover, the thirty million was for the decorations alone, with Lin Chang taking care of the venue. When the time comes, factoring in the standard rental cost into the expenses would indeed be a considerable expenditure. Moreover, the venue¡¯s opening surely wouldn¡¯t be a one-off affair. Starting with initial construction and then gradually investing more over time would be a massive challenge for the cash flow. The actual cost upon completion would be unimaginable. Bi Fang didn¡¯t hesitate and laid out his terms, ¡°I¡¯ll put up ten million outright. You guys cover the rest. Decide amongst yourselves how much each contributes, but I want a sixty percent share.¡± After some consideration, Lin Chang and Yao Jun nodded in agreement. ¡°What about the division of responsibilities¡­¡± Yao Jun spoke up first, ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the decoration, I¡¯m more familiar with that.¡± Lin Chang also pondered and said, ¡°I¡¯ll provide the venue. Our company Shenhua has quite a lot of real estate in the suburbs.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s arrangement was also in line with what both of them had expected. The Wilderness Club project was after all developed by Bi Fang alone. It could attract fans through live stream broadcasts of wilderness adventures and also interact with these fans through the offline club. Both complement each other, with the live stream bringing customers to the club, while the club would solidify Bi Fang¡¯s position as a Wilderness Master, always as the benchmark in the wilderness niche. Without Bi Fang, who knows how long it would take for a second survival master to emerge and drive the industry¡¯s development. Plus, there are his adventure and survival games. Lin Chang and Yao Jun could almost see a vast commercial empire centered around ¡°wilderness¡± slowly taking shape. A complete one-stop service from entertainment to products. Bi Fang had baked this cake, and now only the three of them were sharing it. Forget forty percent¡ª even thirty percent would bring them a good profit. ¡°With your smarts and skills, it would be a waste not to go into business,¡± Lin Chang sounded somewhat regretful. This thought came from deep within. He and Yao Jun were, after all, just successful ¡°rich second-generations,¡± and even if they owned their own businesses, they had, to some extent, used resources from their families. Without such a foundation from home, it was uncertain whether they could have reached even half of their current achievements. Bi Fang, on the other hand, was genuinely self-made, carving out an industry that predecessors hadn¡¯t found solely through his capabilities and courage, an achievement no less significant than Mr. Ma¡¯s development of online treasure hunting. Even if this new industry chain couldn¡¯t compare to treasure hunting in commercial terms, its nature was similar. Hearing Lin Chang¡¯s comments, Bi Fang shrugged, ¡°Frankly, money doesn¡¯t matter to me. I¡¯m not interested in money because the happiest I¡¯ve ever been was when I earned a few thousand a month at the company, looking forward to traveling during the New Year.¡± Yao Jun laughed heartily upon hearing this, ¡°Your words are interesting. Actually, my dream is simple: to lie at home every day with a lot of money flowing in.¡± Lin Chang joined in, ¡°I, too, want to travel the world. Unfortunately, the old man keeps pushing me to achieve minor goals, like earning a billion. It¡¯s so dull.¡± The three men exchanged knowing glances and laughed heartily together. Next, they finalized some details, with Yao Jun to find a professional to draft the project plan and then Lin Chang to oversee the renovation, aiming to start the work before December. And so, the affairs of the Wilderness Club came to a close for the time being. A future city of the wilderness gradually took shape within the walls of a restaurant. A day later, Bi Fang returned to Xicheng City. This time, he planned to terminate his lease and pack up his things to leave. Having not returned for nearly a month, he wondered what state his rundown apartment was in, whether it had become too moldy to live in. On the train, Bi Fang browsed his social media circle, which consisted of just a few people, fewer than ten in total. Suddenly, one social media post caught Bi Fang¡¯s attention. ¡°So annoying, the boss is nitpicking again. If it weren¡¯t for the mortgage I have to pay, I¡¯d have quit long ago. I really want to throw a cup of coffee in her wrinkled old face to iron it out!¡± Bi Fang glanced at the nickname; it was posted by Gou Qi. One of the three contacts he¡¯d kept from before. When he first arrived, eager to straighten out his relationships and indeed short of cash, he used the excuse of borrowing money to sever unnecessary ties, keeping only three people. The method might have been improper, but it was quick and effective. Gou Qi was one of them¡ªwhen Bi Fang repaid the money, Gou Qi had asked if Bi Fang had found a way to get rich and to not forget him if he did, to bring him along for the ride. Looking at it now, it seemed he was not doing well. Without hesitation, Bi Fang commented, ¡°If you really want to throw it, you can come work for me. The salary might not be higher, but unless you live in Tomson Riviera, I don¡¯t think paying off a mortgage would be difficult.¡± Back when he was streaming solo, he couldn¡¯t offer a job, and giving money would only sour the relationship. Now that he was opening a club, there would always be positions suitable for him; Bi Fang remembered that Gou Qi was into software development, which could come in handy for designing an app for the club, making it easier for everyone to access information. After sending this message, Bi Fang didn¡¯t follow up; there was no need to rush into explaining. Upon arriving in Xicheng City, Bi Fang entered the deep, sunlight-deprived alley, feeling a sense of everything and nothing having changed. Two months, and nothing had changed, yet everything had. The old building with red brick facades, cement balconies, and wooden windows painted green¡ªit was hard to determine its age. The hallway was poorly lit, with a few dim incandescent bulbs providing the only light, and the walls plastered with small ads for ¡°Drain Clearing¡± or ¡°Invoice Services.¡± The ¡°12-102¡± unit number plated in blue paint on the green door; a month away, and the doorknob was covered in a thick layer of dust, with layers of small ads completely covering the keyhole. The scent of cooking and the sound of children being taught drifted from next door. As Bi Fang gently touched the rusted plate, he realized he had established a foothold in this world in less than two months. And it would only get better from here. The landlady appeared from some corner, carrying two green onions as if wielding dual swords, her face lighting up in surprise upon seeing Bi Fang, ¡°Ah, a big star!¡± ¡°Good evening, landlady,¡± Bi Fang said with a smile. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you in ages. I even saw you on the news; you are so impressive!¡± The landlady warmly welcomed Bi Fang¡¯s return, even inviting him over for dinner, but Bi Fang declined, leaving her with a few autographs instead. Delighted, the landlady accepted the autographs¡ªshe knew well that celebrity signatures could be worth quite a bit of money. Just as she was enjoying her good fortune, she suddenly remembered something, ¡°Oh right, there¡¯s been someone looking for you these past few days.¡± Bi Fang, just about to insert his key, paused, ¡°Oh, who?¡± ¡°Someone with the last name Wang, something Wang Weifeng, I think. I can¡¯t quite remember, but he¡¯s been here every day, very persistent. I suspect he might be some sort of fan, so be careful.¡± Bi Fang chuckled in disbelief, ¡°A fan? That¡¯s unlikely, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Why not? Even though the guy looks to be in his forties, I¡¯ve always had a funny feeling about him. Hey, hey, look, he¡¯s coming again!¡± As they were talking, the landlady suddenly pointed behind Bi Fang, ¡°That¡¯s him, that¡¯s the guy!¡± Out in the alley, Wang Weifeng was jogging towards Bi Fang, all smiles. ¡°Ah, Mr. Bi, oh no, Mr. Bi, it¡¯s been so hard to get a chance to see you; I¡¯ve been waiting for a week!¡± Chapter 150 - Chapter 150: Chapter 147: So Youre the Fucker Named Wang Weifeng, Huh? Chapter 150: Chapter 147: So You¡¯re the Fucker Named Wang Weifeng, Huh? ¡°Pleased to meet you, I am Shark¡¯s manager, Wang Weifeng.¡± Wang Weifeng bowed and respectfully presented the business card in his hand. Bi Fang did not reach out to take it but instead calmly sized up Wang Weifeng. This was the first time the two had met, having at most contacted each other by phone before. Despite the smile on his face, the haggardness could not be concealed, with a blue stubble on his chin, a strong smell of alcohol on his body, his tailored handmade suit was wrinkled, and even his shirt collar was not properly arranged, exuding an air of decadence. Bi Fang stroked his chin, finding it somewhat amusing. Wasn¡¯t it this guy who had misled him at Shark, pressuring him into joining Wolf Fang, and now here he was, eagerly seeking him out again? He didn¡¯t feel regret though, as it turned out, Wang Weifeng was genuinely a good person, not only did he help him stop the losses in time, he also steered him away from the wrong choice, leaving the big pit that was Shark. After a long while, the landlady standing by saw Wang Weifeng shivering and only then did Bi Fang reach out to take the business card. Wang Weifeng, whose card was taken, stood up supporting his waist and casually wiped the sweat from his forehead. As Bi Fang¡¯s popularity soared, the pressure on Wang Weifeng during the past half month was immense. From the second live broadcast, the signs of trouble were already showing, but Wang Weifeng was still holding back until after this broadcast, when someone snitched, maligning that it was he who had deliberately driven Bi Fang away and even accepted benefits from the Tami Association to promote Lu Wentao. Wang Weifeng was forced to prove his innocence, barely managing to do so, yet the senior executives were still dissatisfied, not because he was double- dealing, pressuring anchors with industry competition to lower their demands. These were the unspoken rules of the industry; everyone who understood, understood ¨C it¡¯s by doing so that the company could reap the lion¡¯s share. Wang Weifeng had always done well, which is why he became a manager. Engaging in plots and schemes was never wrong; the mistake was that, after doing all that, it resulted in losses for the company, and that was the biggest failure. But this time you drove away someone who could have been a top anchor and promoted someone inadequate, that is a problem of capability! Your incompetence caused the company to suffer losses! If you can¡¯t make amends, then pack your bags and get lost! Wang Weifeng knew there must be someone scheming for his position, but making amends was easier said than done. Ever since Bi Fang decisively left Shark, he understood this young man was different, probably hadn¡¯t experienced much failure, and was still an idealist, not yet ready to easily bow down to life. The cost of making amends would be anything but small. Wang Weifeng had always considered himself a competent businessman; Bi Fang¡¯s success was never a result of his own vision, but because fate willed it. When it came to Wilderness Survivalist, Lu Wentao was not bad at all, even making efforts to improve himself, but then came Bi Fang with his unpredictability! Just look at what he¡¯s done; Bear, Wolf, prehistoric creatures in the Underground Cave ¨C normally, he should have died when he encountered the bear, not have been able to keep going! This isn¡¯t doing a live broadcast; this is courting death! Willingness to take the business card was good; it meant that there was still room for discussion. It was feared that not even accepting a business card would make the relationship tense at first sight. Clearing his jumbled thoughts, Wang Weifeng looked at the young man in front of him, somewhat at a loss for words, and could only play the sympathy card, ¡°Mr. Bi is indeed elusive. I¡¯ve been staying in a hotel for a whole week, just hoping to catch you when you return. I¡¯m glad I finally got the chance to wait for you.¡± Hearing this, Bi Fang gave a slight smile, his fingers flipped the card over, glanced at it briefly, and then stuffed the card back into the other¡¯s suit pocket, patting it lightly, ¡°So you¡¯re the fucking Wang Weifeng, huh?¡± Wang Weifeng¡¯s face stiffened, unsure of how to respond to this remark and could only offer an awkward smile as compensation. ¡°If you truly want to talk, come inside.¡± Bi Fang also noticed the landlady watching the drama unfold and didn¡¯t want to stand in the doorway making a spectacle of himself. He pulled out his keys, ready to turn the doorknob and enter, only to find it was covered in dust. The landlady also saw this and slapped her forehead, ¡°Oh my, look at my memory; you haven¡¯t been back for so many days that I thought you wouldn¡¯t be coming back to stay, so I never cleaned up. I¡¯ll do it, I¡¯ll do it.¡± As she was about to grab her apron to clean, she was stopped by Bi Fang, who glanced at Wang Weifeng beside him. Wang Weifeng, understanding, tugged at the hem of his suit and wiped the dust off the doorknob until it was spotlessly clean. ¡°Ah, this¡­¡± The landlady had never seen such a scene and was somewhat afraid. ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing,¡± Wang Weifeng waved his hand. ¡°I¡¯ve been wanting to change this suit for a while now, it¡¯s not at all fitting; just perfect, just perfect.¡± Bi Fang walked into the room and turned on the light. Wang Weifeng nodded to the landlady, then followed Bi Fang into the house. Bi Fang had only taken two steps before he fixed his gaze on Wang Weifeng, ¡°I just mopped the floors here.¡± Wang Weifeng glanced at the dust on the ground and then at Bi Fang, walking around the room with shoes on. He silently took off his own shoes. ¡°I¡¯ve made it clear I don¡¯t want to talk, yet you¡¯ve got some nerve with that thick skin of yours.¡± Bi Fang was speechless, how could the other party be so tolerant? Bi Fang never saw himself as a particularly forgiving person; he couldn¡¯t stand being bullied without fighting back. When Wang Weifeng appeared just now, if it hadn¡¯t been for the landlady¡¯s presence, he wouldn¡¯t have even wanted to talk and had deliberately given him a hard time. He had hoped the other party would back off when things got tough, but instead, they faced the challenge head-on. Being able to become a manager undoubtedly required real skills; at least in the art of ¡®turning the other cheek,¡¯ he couldn¡¯t catch up, even if he tried. Unfazed by being called out, Wang Weifeng wasn¡¯t embarrassed in the least¡ª who doesn¡¯t climb up from the bottom to reach the top? Bi Fang¡¯s words didn¡¯t make him feel ashamed; instead, he joked, ¡°You can¡¯t say that, Mr. Bi. Isn¡¯t this just a display of my sincerity?¡± Bi Fang walked over to the side where the hot water flask was, lifted it to check, and finding that it still had water, he randomly grabbed a cup, didn¡¯t bother washing it, and poured a cup, handing it to Wang Weifeng, ¡°Drink water.¡± Wang Weifeng waved his hands repeatedly, ¡°No need, I¡¯m not thirsty.¡± ¡°So, there¡¯s nothing to talk about, huh? What about your so-called sincerity?¡± Wang Weifeng ¡°¡­¡± He took the cup, looked at the black dust floating in the water, suppressed his disgust, took a sip, then quickly put the cup on the table, ¡°Mr. Bi, let¡¯s get to the point quickly.¡± ¡°What¡¯s more important than attending to a guest?¡± Bi Fang pushed the cup back toward him. This time, Wang Weifeng couldn¡¯t take it anymore. He feared he might actually die here if he drank any more of this water. ¡°Mr. Bi, I¡¯ve recognized the error of my ways deeply. I was petty, despicable, and shameless. Please, you must forgive me!¡± After speaking, Wang Weifeng gave a deep ninety-degree bow. Ten minutes later. Seeing no reaction from Bi Fang, Wang Weifeng, who felt his back muscles almost cramping, sheepishly got up, and presented the well-prepared conditions he had brought. ¡°Mr. Bi, I am truly very sincere in asking you to return to Shark TV. No matter what annual salary Wolf Fang has offered you, we are willing to double it! And we¡¯ll pay it in advance!¡± ¡°As long as you livestream, we will feature it prominently, preheat the event in advance, ensuring every Shark TV user sees your livestream.¡± ¡°Regarding gifts, we operate on a 90-10 split, and if you livestream on our platform more than three times, we won¡¯t take a cent!¡± ¡°When it comes to room inspections, we have plenty of big-name livestreamers at Shark TV. Out of the top ten in livestream popularity, five belong to us. Just say the word, and whoever you want to visit your room, we¡¯ll arrange it!¡± ¡°Although our female broadcasters at Shark TV may not be as numerous as those at Tiger Fang, if you want it, we can still provide without leaving any trace.¡± ¡°Please, I urge you to come back to Shark TV! Please, Mr. Bi Fang!¡± Wang Weifeng was almost on the verge of kowtowing to Bi Fang. In his opinion, offering such conditions to hire a livestreamer was unprecedented. As long as the other party still cared about fame and status, it was impossible not to agree to such terms. ¡°Those are very generous terms. It would be tempting to anyone.¡± There it is! No one can resist money. Wang Weifeng felt a surge of joy, but in the next moment, his expression froze. ¡°So,I refuse!¡± Chapter 151 - Chapter 151: Chapter 148 Law-Abiding Citizens Chapter 151: Chapter 148 Law-Abiding Citizens Wang Weifeng suddenly looked up, his eyes brimming with disbelief. Such generous terms, and he actually refused? ¡°Why? Isn¡¯t our sincerity enough? If it is, I personally still hold 0.5% of Shark¡¯s shares, and I can gift you half of that!¡± Wang Weifeng gritted his teeth, revealing his bottom line. At the current market value of Shark at 6 Billion Ugly Yuan, even a 0.25% share would be close to twenty million Human Yuan. No one could resist that! This was Wang Weifeng¡¯s bottom line; he didn¡¯t want to leave Shark. Wang Weifeng knew very well that once he left Shark, everything would be over for him. Unable to recover the company¡¯s losses, the executives would not let him off, nor would his secret rivals. If they released just a little bit of damaging information, no company would dare to employ him. Moreover, according to the contract, the company would also take back the shares in Wang Weifeng¡¯s hands; then he really would have nothing left! How would he pay the mortgage for his Tomson Riviera home? How would he buy a new bag for his mistress? To this day, Wang Weifeng still had no regret for his initial choice. From the platform¡¯s interest point of view, his desire to go for a double combo meal was without a problem¡ªafter all, isn¡¯t it what every live streaming company does? The best way to make an employee obedient is to make them realize they are replaceable. If not, create the illusion. Lacking uniqueness, they would dare not switch jobs. Because without advantage, they would be forced to work wholeheartedly for you. Earning a double return while also suppressing both sides¡¯ remunerations. That is the essence of business. But who could anticipate that Bi Fang would not play by the rules and just walk away? How do you counter a punch with no set pattern? The water bubbled and boiled. Bi Fang approached the table unhurriedly and lifted the kettle. ¡°Mr. Wang, do you realize that you resemble someone right now? The two of you even share the last name, which gives me a feeling of transcending time and space.¡± Wang Weifeng didn¡¯t care about what Bi Fang was saying, but to play along, he still asked, ¡°Resemble who?¡± ¡°The vice president of Wolf Fang TV, Mr. Wang Yongbo.¡± Bi Fang leisurely poured the boiled water, rinsed the cup to remove any dust, and poured himself a cup of hot water. ¡°To be honest, he doesn¡¯t look as humanly and doggedly handsome as you do, but his character is much better than yours.¡± ¡°It was this same room, I offered him a glass of water too, and he put forth conditions I couldn¡¯t refuse. The situation is pretty much identical. But there is a big difference between you two.¡± ¡°What difference?¡± Wang Weifeng grew curious. ¡°You are far more shameless than he is!¡± Bi Fang blew on the water and, realizing it was too hot, he didn¡¯t drink it, ¡°I actually admire you. I thought with the difficulties you faced just now, you would have left. I didn¡¯t expect your skin to be thicker than I imagined. You endured it all; truly a talent. But I once said that I would make Shark pay the price, do you remember that?¡± ¡°What?¡± Wang Weifeng looked up in shock only to see a glass smashing forcefully towards his feet. The glass shattered, sending splinters flying everywhere, and the scalding water burned his feet, making him jump. ¡°If you make a mistake in school, you should be made to stand by the teacher; make a mistake at work, you should be scolded by the boss. You¡¯ve made a mistake, why shouldn¡¯t you pay the price?¡± Just because everyone does it, it is right? Consider if Bi Fang didn¡¯t have the System and left Shark, would he really make a name for himself? How many hosts are like him? How many creators are like him? He certainly wasn¡¯t a savior, nor did he intend to lead the weak to build an oppression-free society; he was the type who fed himself and didn¡¯t starve his family. But having seen such unfair, naked darkness, why be indifferent? Why let them run rampant? Why had he died trying to save a golden cat in his previous life? Was human life less valuable than that of a protected animal? Over a thousand rangers had died in Kenya in the last decade, and who knows how many more in Huaxia each year. What drove Bi Fang wasn¡¯t the meager salary, but the sincerity in his heart! Why should a platform like Shark become the leader? Why should Wolf Fang, so dedicated to quality, suffer such a fate? I am here to change this situation! This is only the beginning, it¡¯s not over yet! Splinters scattered. ¡°Get lost, I don¡¯t want to see you again!¡± Wang Weifeng fell silent, knowing that today¡¯s negotiation would fail no matter what. His future, ruined. Despair, like ink, seeped through Wang Weifeng¡¯s heart. ¡°Which company doesn¡¯t do it, why cling to it?¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Bi Fang narrowed his eyes. ¡°Good content, high quality, does that guarantee it¡¯ll catch fire? If it wasn¡¯t for Wang Yongbo backing you, what do you think you would amount to? Do you know what live streaming relies on? Capital! If it doesn¡¯t work this time, there will be a next. If Lu Wentao doesn¡¯t work out, there will be someone else! Do you think the people in the desert organically grouped up? I¡¯m telling you, this isn¡¯t over. I will find someone; there¡¯s always someone who values money over their life. If you go live once, I¡¯ll send someone to mess with you once!¡± Wang Weifeng¡¯s voice grew louder and louder until it turned into a roar, his eyes bloodshot. ¡°Would killing me finally satisfy you? You think you can play like this and always come out alive?¡± ¡°Sooner or later, you¡¯ll end up just like me, with nothing. No, you¡¯ll be worse off, dead without a whole corpse!¡± Wang Weifeng completely gave up on himself and began to laugh uproariously, even though he couldn¡¯t do anything anymore, he still wanted to disgust the other person. But as he laughed, he suddenly couldn¡¯t make a sound anymore. Bi Fang¡¯s expression had changed. Wang Weifeng instinctively took two steps back. For some reason, Wang Weifeng suddenly remembered how the other had beaten Black Bear, killed Wolf King, as if the person before him wasn¡¯t human, but a fierce tiger. Bi Fang got up and weighed the stool in his hand. Wang Weifeng swallowed, retreating another two steps. ¡°I told you to get lost, can¡¯t you understand human language?¡± ¡°I¡¯m warning you, don¡¯t mess around, ah, this is a society governed by the rule of law! Hitting people is against the law!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m a law-abiding citizen.¡± Bi Fang picked up the stool nearby and smashed it down hard! ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°Mom, what¡¯s happening next door?¡± The little boy was fiddling with the rice in his bowl when he heard a crash next door, followed by screams. He shrank his head, somewhat scared. Seeing her husband indifferent, the landlady, worried about the furniture being damaged, couldn¡¯t help herself: ¡°Oh no, could they be fighting? This won¡¯t do, I need to check.¡± ¡°Hey, hey, hey, what are you doing? Got a death wish or something?¡± The husband tried to stop her, but the landlady had already stepped out the door. However, when she got to the room¡¯s door, she heard the noise inside and became scared again, hesitating to knock. Ten minutes later. The noise inside the room slowly stopped. At the same time, the sound of police sirens and screeching brakes could be heard in the hallway. The landlady felt relieved but suddenly realized that it wasn¡¯t the police who had arrived¡­ Neat footsteps echoed. The door was suddenly opened, causing the landlady leaning on it to almost fall over. Bi Fang paused, but didn¡¯t dwell on it, straightened his clothes, wiped the dust off his hands, and said to the people behind him. ¡°The man is inside; breaking and entering, deliberate destruction of property, make sure to take a lot of pictures. Everything inside was the last memento left by my parents, very significant to me, and now it¡¯s all gone. Plus, I¡¯ve been injured by him. See this arm? That¡¯s the evidence.¡± ¡°Yes, sir! We will handle it seriously!¡± Several soldiers saluted and then entered the room, taking the dispirited Wang Weifeng away, leaving only a few to gather evidence. The landlady hiding in the corner peeked vigorously; she saw the room was a mess, like a parking lot destroyed by a tornado, or a plane that had hit a crow, a complete disaster. Everything that could be smashed was smashed, except for the walls. But the person who just went out didn¡¯t seem to be hurt at all, did he? And what was that about last mementos, wasn¡¯t everything in the room just the furnishings she provided with the rental, with maybe a few clothes at most? Such a ruckus, she thought they were fighting, but it looked like nothing happened to either of them? And if she wasn¡¯t mistaken, didn¡¯t Bi Fang already have that injury on his arm from the beginning? Thinking this, the landlady shivered. She didn¡¯t dare to say anything, nor did she dare to ask. ¡°Mrs. Liu, Mrs. Liu?¡± Bi Fang waved his hand in front of the landlady¡¯s eyes. ¡°Ah!?¡± The landlady was startled, looking at Bi Fang with a trembling voice, ¡°What¡­ what¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°I smashed your furniture, I¡¯m really sorry about that. I¡¯ll compensate,¡± Bi Fang said, taking out his phone to make a transfer. ¡°Ah, no need, no need.¡± Seeing the situation, Mrs. Liu hurriedly shook her head, not daring to accept Bi Fang¡¯s money, but then the notification of money received came through, along with a string of numbers announced afterward. The bewildered Mrs. Liu¡¯s expression was priceless, from concern to fear to bewilderment. ¡°Is that enough?¡± ¡°Ah, yes, it¡¯s enough.¡± Mrs. Liu felt as though she had experienced a rollercoaster of emotions, even wondering if she should let Bi Fang smash a little more; how much could the broken furniture fetch? Selling it as scrap wouldn¡¯t even be worth it. With the matter resolved, Bi Fang turned to leave: ¡°Alright, I don¡¯t have anything else to take. I won¡¯t be coming back in the future. You can rent out the room to someone else. Remember to use this money for a good renovation. The musty smell is too strong; I really can¡¯t stand it.¡± ¡°Sure thing, sure thing.¡± The overjoyed landlady didn¡¯t quite catch what Bi Fang had said, too busy checking her balance on the phone. Bi Fang walked downstairs, watching the jeep drive away and shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve said it before, I am a law-abiding citizen, I never lay hands on anyone.¡± Three days later. Bi Fang moved his arm after removing the bandage, planning to exercise it and get familiar with it again when the familiar electronic tone sounded once more. The fourth mission had arrived. Chapter 152 - Chapter 152: Chapter 149 Migratory Birds Chapter 152: Chapter 149 Migratory Birds Bi Fang was doing pull-ups when he heard the electronic tone and grabbed a towel to wipe off his sweat. [Ding! New task activated, you can check it in the task column.] He opened the task column. Task Name: Conqueror Task Location: Pacific Uninhabited Island (coordinates available) Task Mode: Wilderness survival Task Difficulty: S5 Task Requirements: Do not bring any tools except for essential clothing. Main Task One: Start live streaming with a consistent online audience of over two hundred thousand people. Main Task Two: Maintain good physical health while conducting a thirty-day wilderness broadcast and survive successfully. Side Task: Please explore on your own. Guaranteed Reward: Advanced Skill Upgrade Coupon*!. Time Limit: Forty days. ¡°There are ten days left.¡± Bi Fang narrowed his eyes and picked up his smartphone to casually check the coordinates marked in the task column, only to discover that this island wasn¡¯t even recorded in any record; it truly was a deserted island. Not surprising, though. The Pacific Ocean is the ocean with the most islands on Earth, totaling over 20,000 islands with an area of 4.4 million square kilometers, accounting for 45% of the world¡¯s total island area. The number of undiscovered islands among them is countless, so it¡¯s not strange for there to be no records. After all, it is an S-level task, and it should reflect some differences. Having no records means no data to reference, and the situation on the island is difficult to predict. Compared to previous tasks where he understood the local environment before executing his plan, the difficulty has to be notched up significantly. Moreover, this task is unlike the previous ones; it¡¯s not about survival but living through the challenge. Living and surviving are significantly different. Surviving focuses on getting out of danger with many emergency measures that can be adopted. For instance, eating raw food, which, despite the risks, is a risk worth taking in necessary situations. Those viewers who always babble in front of the screen about how eating raw can lead to parasitic infections, saying you can¡¯t eat that or you¡¯re doomed, wouldn¡¯t survive a day if thrown into the wilderness. Living, however, is different. It requires more consideration and higher standards: you must make choices based on the overall situation of your body in order to adapt to the environment. But once you get used to it, it becomes much easier; it¡¯s far simpler than the continuously changing environments of survival scenarios. The key difference between the two lies in whether one can build a stable living environment in the first week. But not being allowed to bring any tools, it seems I need to learn from Grandpa De. Bi Fang was not too happy about the prospect of live streaming in the nude; he always felt awkward about it, but thankfully the system mentioned that essential clothing was allowed. So, underwear is fine, right? As for the difficulty of the task, Bi Fang figured it out; after R Level should be S Level, and then there would likely be S4, S3, Si¡­ It escalated with each step, the smaller the number, the greater the difficulty. With no tools allowed and the store lacking skill coupons and upgrade coupons, Bi Fang decided to spend all of his points on the lottery. The day before yesterday, Wolf Fang had transferred the profits from the live broadcast after tax deductions, which got converted into points, totaling over three hundred. There were also additions from B Island, which added around a hundred more. Altogether, Bi Fang now had 1842 Wilderness Points. With another two days¡¯ earnings, he would have enough for four ten-spin draws. Just as Bi Fang thought about spinning the wheel, his phone rang. Bi Fang answered the call, ¡°Professor Gu? Is there a problem? Is the name I thought up not working?¡± Recognizing the caller, Bi Fang immediately wondered if there was a problem with the name he had submitted the day before yesterday. Bi¡¯s Pseudo-Crocodile. Simple yet profound, anyone interested in studying this creature would immediately think of its discoverer. Was it being rejected? Gu Qjngyuan scratched his head, ¡°Ah, it¡¯s not about the name. The name is quite good, and we¡¯ve already been referring to it as such privately.¡± ¡°Then what¡¯s the issue?¡± ¡°Well, I have a French friend who wants to talk to you about something. I¡¯m not sure what it¡¯s about, but he insists on meeting you. If it¡¯s convenient for you, could you share your address so he can come and visit in person?¡± ¡°Professor Gu¡¯s friend?¡± ¡°Yes, he is also a professor who studies birds. Of course, if you¡¯re busy, I¡¯ll reject him right now.¡± Gu Qjngyuan had made the introduction with good intentions. Since he still owed Bi Fang a favor, he could do nothing if Bi Fang was unwilling. Similarly, Bi Fang was puzzled. Why were all these professors, one by one, coming to me? When did I become so sought after? Nevertheless, since he was free these couple of days, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to spare some time to meet. ¡°No need, just let him come to me.¡± After giving his address and agreeing to meet the next day, Bi Fang hung up the phone and looked at the revolving wheel in front of him, waving his hand to dissipate it. He¡¯d meet the person first; the lottery could wait. The next day, Bi Fang met Professor Gu¡¯s old friend-a disheveled middle-aged man. To his surprise, the man began to speak in fluent Chinese! ¡°Hello, Mr. Bi. I am Elvan Mendy, a visiting professor from the University of Paris. You can just call me Elvan.¡± The disheveled Elvan took off his hat and bowed respectfully to Bi Fang. Bi Fang was about to compliment Elvan on his impressive Chinese when, without any pleasantries, Elvan rushed to state his business right after introducing himself. ¡°Mr. Bi, time is urgent, so I¡¯ll get straight to the point. There¡¯s a flock of migratory birds that need you to perform acupuncture!¡± Elvan spoke so quickly and urgently that Bi Fang had trouble understanding him. He was stunned for two seconds, puzzled. Acupuncture? What does this have to do with me? If it¡¯s about business, let¡¯s talk business. Why the insult? I m not Wu Qian. What would I use for acupuncture? I don¡¯t even know how to perform real acupuncture! ¡°Wait a minute, Mr. Elvan, what acupuncture? I don¡¯t do acupuncture. Have you got the wrong person? If you¡¯re looking for an old Chinese medicine practitioner, you can find one outside. There might be a contact number on a utility pole.¡± Elvan was just as confused. His Chinese had been learned from Gu Qjngyuan, and since the professor was getting on in years, he inevitably had a bit of an accent, which led Elvan astray. It took him quite some time to understand what Bi Fang was saying. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s not acupuncture, it¡¯s rescue! The rescue of life! There¡¯s a flock of migratory birds that need your rescue!¡± Oh, I see. Bi Fang got it, but not entirely. What did bird migration have to do with him? But out of politeness, Bi Fang still stepped aside and invited Elvan inside to discuss in detail. Once inside, Bi Fang poured a glass of water for Elvan. Elvan was so thirsty from the long journey that he gulped down the glass in two swallows. Then he opened his backpack, took out a large map full of marks, and a stack of photos, ready to get down to business. ¡°Mr. Bi, do you know the White-fronted Goose?¡± Elvan unfolded the photos and handed them to Bi Fang, pointing at the creature, ¡°This animal is a second-class protected species in your country.¡± Bi Fang flipped through the photos, each depicting birds that looked like swans. Pure white cheeks, dark grey-brown feathers-it was indeed the White- fronted Goose. As a former investigator, Bi Fang was certainly familiar with the species and had even studied their migration, traveling from south to north across the whole of Huaxia, just to research the population changes of the White-fronted Goose. This bird is a winter migratory species in Huaxia. Leaving their breeding grounds at the end of August or early September to head to their wintering grounds, they usually arrive in Huaxia at the end of September or early October. The bulk of the migration occurs in mid-to-late October, with the latest arriving by early November. The migration mainly takes place at night, and during the day they rest and feed. But due to human hunting and habitat destruction, they have become a second-class protected animal. ¡°So, Mr. Elvan, what exactly are you here for?¡± Bi Fang put away the photos and looked at Elvan. Elvan rolled out the map, pointing at the dense markings and the especially clear red line, his tone serious. ¡°I¡¯m here to ask for your help with their migration!¡± Chapter 153 - Chapter 153: Chapter 150 Chasing the Sunshine Chapter 153: Chapter 150 Chasing the Sunshine ¡°Migration?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Elvan nodded affirmatively. The migration of migratory birds was now a matter of urgency, which is why he had been in such a hurry to show up, arriving the day after they had agreed on a time. Bi Fang didn¡¯t respond, but instead took the stack of photos he had just been looking at and went through them again, and indeed, he discovered Elvan¡¯s figure among them. In the photo, Elvan was clad in brown linen garments, pretending to be a goose, leading the young White-fronted Geese in flying practice by the lake. ¡°You¡¯re raising them?¡± ¡°Sort of?¡± Elvan¡¯s tone was complicated, ¡°I found the eggs of White-fronted Geese in a wetland that was about to be developed, four nests in all, but it was too late when I discovered them. The construction crew that contracted the wetland had already started work. I waited for three days, but their parents never returned¡­¡± Bi Fang rested his chin on his hand, his eyebrows tightly furrowed, ¡°All twenty-one eggs hatched?¡± ¡°No, only eighteen goslings were born successfully, and two of them were Barnacle Geese,¡± Elvan pointed out a photo full of little goslings, among them two with distinctly black heads. ¡°So they cannot migrate on their own?¡± ¡°Exactly, these goslings were orphaned at birth, never having migrated before. Someone must guide them!¡± Elvan said, his tone charged with emotion as he smoothed out the map. ¡°I¡¯ve studied the migration routes of geese in detail. To ensure that they can breed and live healthily away from the cities, they must go to the wilderness, Mr. Bi, I can think of no one better suited than you!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve watched all of Mr. Bi¡¯s live streams, which are fantastic. As for understanding animals, Mr. Bi is an expert, and when it comes to exploration, he is the greatest explorer of the century! You are the foremost in the wilderness! Nobody understands the wild like you do!¡± As Elvan spoke these words with fervor, he was in turmoil inside, unsure whether Bi Fang would agree, hoping only to touch him with his sincerity. Leading migratory birds was no easy task. From the Arctic to Southern France, without exceptional skills, dying in the wilderness wouldn¡¯t be surprising. ¡°It¡¯s quite late now, isn¡¯t it?¡± Bi Fang turned to look at the calendar on the wall, noting it was November 21st. The weather was turning cold, which was an extremely unfavorable time for migratory birds. Yes, geese typically migrate in October, and November is later, but now it¡¯s the end of November. That¡¯s why I¡¯m so anxious. I arrived in Huaxia a day earlier, but not knowing Mr. Bi¡¯s address or contact, I couldn¡¯t get in touch. So, Mr. Bi, we don¡¯t have much time.¡± Elvan was very anxious. If they missed this year, the geese would be left behind for an entire year! The migratory instinct deeply ingrained in the geese¡¯s genetics would be completely disrupted, and by then it would be too late. Without migration, these eighteen geese would end up as ¡°dead geese¡± without any chance to reproduce! They are geese, not domestic geese! As a bird professor, Elvan couldn¡¯t accept such an outcome. Having brought back the eggs of the White-fronted Goose, he had to take full responsibility. If he couldn¡¯t ensure their continued breeding, he would feel guilty for a lifetime. Even Elvan had planned to lead the migration himself, risking his life if necessary, but a week earlier, when he saw the news about Bi Fang, a turning point emerged. Bi Fang! A man skilled in creating miracles! If he was willing to help with the bird migration, it would surely be a success! Bi Fang approached the table, gazing at the large map. The red line on the map was very conspicuous, and quite convoluted. He pointed to the red line and asked, ¡°Is this the migration route you¡¯ve planned?¡± ¡°Yes, the entire distance is just right.¡± As the conversation turned to this topic, Elvan became enthusiastic, excitedly pointing to the red line on the map, ¡°We will drive all the way to the Arctic, and then start the migration of the White- fronted Geese from there.¡± ¡°Why drive? Isn¡¯t it simpler with a small plane?¡± Bi Fang was puzzled. ¡°True, but birds will remember their place of origin, their home, which isn¡¯t where they were born, but where they first took flight. For migratory birds, instinctively, they fly south for the winter and come back north in the spring to feed and breed.¡± Bi Fang, deep in thought, pointed to the Arctic and said, ¡°So you mean, if we use a small plane, their first takeoff spot will be altered?¡± ¡°Exactly, Mr. Bi, you¡¯re much smarter than my students,¡± Elvan said excitedly, pleased that Bi Fang understood. He took out a pen, circled a spot on the Arctic, ¡°Look here, this is Lapland; there¡¯s a nature reserve. The geese can nest safely here without any dangers. And then look here.¡± Elvan¡¯s pen swept along the map, tracing a path to the south of France. ¡°This is where I found them, but it¡¯s too dangerous now, already enveloped by the city. So I will drive from there to the Arctic, then starting from the Arctic, fly a glider, leading the flock through the North Sea, Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, to the Grand Est, and then all the way back to France, right here!¡± The neutral pen marked another heavy dot on the map. ¡°Camargue Wetlands Nature Reserve!¡± ¡°Between these two reserves, the White-fronted Geese will be able to reproduce successfully, and this blue line, is the path I¡¯ve planned for them through unmanned areas. It¡¯s quite tortuous, but it ensures their landing spots are as far from humans as possible. Once they land in a city, it becomes very dangerous.¡± ¡°What¡¯s more amazing is that once they follow us and fly over this route, the White-fronted Geese will remember it, as if they have a built-in GPS system. If we change their migration destination, in a few years¡­¡± Bi Fang interrupted Elvan¡¯s speech, ¡°The goose population will increase, and it will continue to grow, thus saving the species.¡± ¡°Exactly! Human development over the past century has completely changed the original habitat of the White-fronted Goose. We must help them reach safe places to breed without human interference! In ten years, or maybe even less, we will have saved a species!¡± Elvan grabbed Bi Fang¡¯s shoulders, his eyes brimming with passion. My colleagues think I¡¯m a fool, an idiot, a hopeless dreamer, but it¡¯s only us fools who can save them! I know this plan is feasible, but it lacks someone capable of leading it. I can¡¯t, but you can!¡± ¡°Mr. Bi¡¯s full name is Bi Fang, which I understand is a sacred bird in Huaxia. The White-fronted Goose is also a bird, so I hope Mr. Bi could show a bit of favor and give some love to these little ones.¡± ¡°Please, Mr. Bi Fang, you must help them!¡± ¡°Only you can do this, it has to be you!¡± Bi Fang stared at the map on the table, caressing the texture of the thick leather, which contained Elvan¡¯s dedication and the future of the migratory birds. This map would be a new hope for an entire species. Bi Fang looked at Elvan, whose eyes pleaded like flickering candle flames. ¡°Is the glider ready?¡± A tremendous joy descended from the heavens as Elvan jumped excitedly. ¡°Yes, everything is ready.¡± ¡°Then book two tickets, we¡¯re off to France!¡± Elvan, however, suddenly shook his head and pulled out two plane tickets from his backpack. ¡°My friend has already driven to the Arctic, and I bought these tickets long ago. They are open tickets, let¡¯s head straight to the Arctic!¡± Bi Fang exhaled lightly, took one of the tickets from the excited Elvan, and pocketed it. The mission has changed. ¡°We¡¯re off to the Arctic!¡± Mission Name: Chasing the Sunshine Mission Location: Arctic ¨C France Mission Mode: Exploration Mission Difficulty: S4 Mission Requirements: No items allowed except for essential tools and the System. Side Mission One: Set up a live stream, with a sustained online viewership of over one hundred and fifty thousand. Mam Mission Two: Ensure the safe migration of eighteen migratory birds. Side Mission: Explore independently. Minimum Reward: Advanced Skill Upgrade Coupon *1, Skill Advancement Ticket *1 Time Limit: Thirty-five days This time, it¡¯s a grand migration towards the sunshine! Chapter 154 - Chapter 154: Chapter 151 Preparation for Departure Chapter 154: Chapter 151 Preparation for Departure Lapland is located at the northernmost part of Finland. Finland¡¯s domestic aviation network is extremely well-developed, boasting 24 airports in total, which is the densest and most developed domestic aviation network in all of Europe; however, there are no direct flights from Huaxia to Lapland. There are five domestic flights from Huaxia to Finland, but the only one from the Magic Capital to Finland is AY58, which Elvan had purchased tickets for. Unfortunately, the flight lands at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport in the Finnish capital, rather than providing direct access to Lapland, meaning that they would have to drive after disembarking, making it a long journey ahead. The flight from the Magic Capital to Finland would take at least ten hours, and they wouldn¡¯t arrive at their destination until the local time in the afternoon. Bi Fang did not have a Finnish visa, but Finland is a Schengen country, so entry without a visa is possible as long as one holds a visa from another Schengen country. To prepare for overseas missions, Bi Fang had long ago begun the process of getting a passport and long-term visas for some major countries. Going to Finland wouldn¡¯t be a problem, and this migratory route was also entirely within Schengen countries, so there was no issue whatsoever. But before heading to the airport, Bi Fang still had plenty to do. With an hour and a half before the plane took off, he avoided Elvan and went to his room to start a shopping spree in the System store. Equipment, tools, various skill coupons. After the desert journey, all of Bi Fang¡¯s system-equipped gear had turned into ropes and bandages. Without buying new ones, this adventure would have to be undertaken in simple clothes, and he wasn¡¯t allowed to bring much. The migratory mission covered a huge span of time and space, requiring higher standards; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have been an S4-Level task¡ªa step higher than the initial S5 survival on the island. Ordinary clothes, no matter how well-made, couldn¡¯t compete with professional equipment, and Bi Fang had to make thorough preparations. To this end, he spent two hundred Points to actively refresh the store twice. The refresh was a new function that appeared after the System upgrade, costing one hundred Points for each refresh. After purchasing all the necessary items, Bi Fang tried his luck with another draw and surprisingly got a beautifully designed dagger. The Extreme Force Tiger-Tooth Harpoon! Bi Fang knew about the Extreme Force Harpoon; it was a tactical knife specifically designed for outdoor survival by an Italian company. In his previous life, he had seen someone use it, and it was very cool. But as it had been discontinued and turned into a collector¡¯s item, the person refused to even lend it to him for a look. However, Bi Fang had never seen this particular knife before. Unlike the usual Extreme Force Harpoon, this knife¡¯s design was significantly more attractive, and its length was similar to the hunting knife he had acquired earlier, slightly longer than the usual harpoon. The blade was straight, with a black, non- reflective finish, and the back featured a row of ferocious, sharp serrations. It looked more like a combination of the harpoon and the Tiger Tooth combat knife. Unlike the hunting knife, which primarily focused on cutting, this harpoon-knife was explicitly made for thrusting, while the serrated edge provided excellent cutting capabilities. The handle was soft to the touch, with deep grooves, ensuring a secure grip whether the hand was wet, or held in a normal or reverse grip. The sheath was also made of a special black rubber material with excellent resistance to cuts and abrasions. Pleased with the knife, Bi Fang packed it away along with the other physical rewards into his luggage, and then both he and Elvan headed to the airport. On the way, Bi Fang took a moment to report to the relevant authorities through his mobile phone. Now, with his special identity, he needed to report when leaving the country. Although it was a bit more trouble, it came with several conveniences, such as when he showed his documents to the airport staff, the casual glances of several workers suddenly changed. The staff whispered among themselves, one of them hurried off, and the others offered complimentary coffee. After taking a sip, Elvan, for some reason, found the ordinary instant coffee especially aromatic. Soon, a leader with a build comparable to Wang Yongbo strode over enthusiastically. After confirming Bi Fang¡¯s identity, he even escorted them both through the VIP lane, avoiding the bustling crowds. Declining the offer for an upgraded cabin, they boarded the plane without even going through security checks. With the right credentials, it did not matter that they were carrying a knife, or even firearms; the airline staff would simply turn a blind eye. The flight attendants, noticing the leaders¡¯ respectful treatment toward Bi Fang, were intrigued. Tall, handsome passengers with an extraordinary status like him were always most welcomed. Before Bi Fang could even take his seat, they flocked around him, eagerly asking whether he needed any services. Two of them immediately recognized Bi Fang, requesting his signature and a photo with him, and even Elvan received attention. Everyone could clearly see that the two had come on board together and couldn¡¯t be ignored. All of this was quite unfamiliar to Elvan; he was just a bird expert, usually unkempt, occasionally not very light in odor, and he had only traveled in economy class, never having enjoyed the company of beautiful women surrounding him. He was at a loss for what to do. After signing the postcards quickly, Bi Fang withdrew his itchy, tickled palm and wiped off the lipstick marks that had been stolenly kissed onto his face. After declining the flight attendants¡¯ kind intentions, they settled down and quietly waited for the plane to take off. Elvan was shocked to the point of numbness, or perhaps he had been unfazed by the presence of many beautiful women around him since Bi Fang had taken out that ID. Still, he found it unbelievable. ¡°You¡¯re actually¡­¡± ¡°Shh!¡± Bi Fang put his index finger to his lips, ¡°Knowing is good enough, don¡¯t speak out loud, it could get sealed.¡± ¡°Got it, got it.¡± Elvan looked around and gestured an OK sign, staying low-key. He understood. Elvan had never heard of such a young S4 Level official and was surely impressed. No wonder his skills were so outstanding; Huaxia was indeed full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. The plane was scheduled to take off at 10:05, with twenty minutes remaining. Bi Fang took advantage of the time before the takeoff to prepare to contact Liu Qian via phone, asking Wolf Fang to get ready in advance, but before he could make the call, his phone rang first. It was Wang Yongbo. The call connected, and Wang Yongbo, as usual, exchanged brief pleasantries without beating around the bush and directly asked. ¡°Bi Fang, I heard the people from Shark TV came looking for you again? The two were well-acquainted, and Wang Yongbo had a very down-to-earth demeanor, speaking without reservation and quite frankly. in the live streaming industry, not much was secret; other companies would know about executives¡¯ plans the next day, and Wang Weifeng¡¯s moves could not be hidden from those who were paying attention, prompting Wang Yongbo to call and inquire. Hearing this, Bi Fang chuckled, ¡°Oh, I was wondering why CEO Wang suddenly gave me a call. So it¡¯s because you¡¯re worried I might transfer, huh?¡± ¡°How can I not worry? Given your current status, I¡¯m afraid they might offer a price we at Wolf Fang couldn¡¯t handle. ¡°Then, CEO Wang, rest easy. Unless Shark plans to make me the boss, I m not going back there.¡± After hearing this, Wang Yongbo didn¡¯t doubt him. He would call Bi Fang after every live broadcast and had gotten to know his character and temperament through several interactions. Knowing that Bi Fang, though easy to get along with, actually had a lot of pride and wasn¡¯t someone who could be easily swayed or controlled. However, it was better to clarify certain concerns. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. Actually, I called to discuss a raise with you.¡± Wang Yongbo, sitting in his chair, looked at the newly drafted contract and changed the subject. He knew Bi Fang¡¯s character, but that didn¡¯t mean the higher-ups did too. Hearing that Shark was approaching Bi Fang again, the top executives panicked and decided in an overnight meeting to increase Bi Fang¡¯s salary. The original annual salary of ten million was directly tripled and more, going up to thirty-eight million, the highest tier. ¡°President Wang, let¡¯s not rush into the salary increase. I have something here I¡¯d like to ask for your help with. I was about to call Liu Qian, but since the plane is about to take off, and you¡¯ve called, let me just tell you now.¡± Wang Yongbo instinctively straightened up, and his demeanor immediately turned serious, ¡°Okay, go ahead.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already finalized the details for the next live broadcast, which will be tomorrow.¡± ¡°That soon?¡± Wang Yongbo was shocked. Wasn¡¯t it less than a week since the last one ended? ¡°Can¡¯t help it, urgent matters require quick action.¡± ¡°All right, give me the location and content, and I¡¯ll get people on it right away to make sure the promotion is on point.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be leading migratory birds on their journey.¡± Wang Yongbo paused, ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t quite understand. What do you mean by leading migratory birds? Are we talking about observing their migration and filming a documentary or something? That¡¯s right, you¡¯ve been injured, so continuous high-intensity live broadcasting would be too much; something more relaxed is great, as escalating the excitement too much for the audience could backfire in the long run.¡± ¡°No, it means I¡¯ll be gliding in a glider, leading the migratory birds for three thousand kilometers.¡± Bi Fang shook the map in his hand, measuring the distance from the Arctic Circle to Southern France, which was more than fifty centimeters on the map. Using the scale, the direct distance was two thousand five hundred kilometers. Um, considering intentional detours, three thousand was within reach. Chapter 155 - Chapter 155: Chapter 152 Charge Forward Without Hesitation Chapter 155: Chapter 152 Charge Forward Without Hesitation The other end of the phone suddenly went silent. The hum of the office air conditioning filled the room. Bi Fang glanced at the time and realized he had only ten minutes before the plane would take off. He quickly asked, ¡°President Wang? President Wang? Can you hear me, President Wang? Are you still there?¡± Wang Yongbo held back for quite a while before saying, ¡°I¡¯m here¡­ but Bi Fang, I still want to say that this joke is not funny at all.¡± Joke? What joke? I¡¯m serious, I¡¯m already on the plane to Finland, look.¡± Bi Fang took a photo for Wang Yongbo and sent it over. Outside the airplane window, the sky was blue with scattered white clouds. Wang Yongbo: ¡°¡­¡± It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over, he¡¯s actually serious. Wang Yongbo was speechless; why did Bi Fang challenge his mental threshold time and again? Ever since the Mohe live stream, he had rarely watched Bi Fang¡¯s broadcasts. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me- he just wanted to stay alive. Stay alive! Helpless, when middle age hits, one can¡¯t control everything; watching Bi Fang¡¯s live streams would send his blood pressure soaring uncontrollably, like a wild horse breaking free. Who knew, he might end up watching himself out of existence. Glide three thousand kilometers on a hang glider, and that too with a bird. Is this something a human can even do? Are you Superman? Crossing a whole continent as if you¡¯re just stepping out to use the restroom? ¡°Wait, Finland? You¡¯re going abroad?¡± Yeah, don¡¯t worry, I can get a signal overseas, it won¡¯t lag.¡± That¡¯s not what anyone¡¯s concerned about! Wang Yongbo knew that Bi Fang was dead set on his plan. Actually, with Bi Fang¡¯s current fan base, even if he didn¡¯t embark on any adventure activities, as long as the quality was as the last time he caught the python, plenty of people would tip generously; there was no need for him to push himself this hard. Three live streams had already cemented his reputation. Sigh. Wang Yongbo looked up at the ceiling, his eyes devoid of spirit. Forget it, let him be; maybe this is what separates adventurers from ordinary folks. ¡°By the way, have you recovered from your injury?¡± Recovered. That¡¯s what Bi Fang wanted to say, but he held back. Aside from the hospital doctors, no one knew how severe his injuries really were. Saying he had made a full recovery in a week wouldn¡¯t raise any suspicions, but just to be safe¡­ ¡°It¡¯s not a problem anymore.¡± ¡°Alright, broadcast whatever you want, then. Who made us sign such a contract in the first place? I¡¯ll get my team to work on the cover and promotional content. From Finland to France, right?¡± That¡¯s right.¡± Bi Fang repeated his plan once again. You re quite something, skilled and brave. Has anyone ever done this before?¡± ¡°No.¡± Bi Fang shook his head. If it were the old world, there was a precedent for using hang gliders to guide the migration of geese. William Lishman, a Canadian legend, ultralight aircraft enthusiast, as well as sculptor, director, writer, inventor, pilot, biologist, and entrepreneur. In 1993, William had successfully led sixteen wild geese from Montreal, Canada, to Virginia, United States. But before setting off, Bi Fang checked and found that this world did not have this person. Instead, he would take the place of that man and become the first person to guide bird migration using an aircraft! He would be the unprecedented first! This was a tremendous challenge! By the way, have you got all your documents ready?¡± Bi Fang suddenly put down the phone and turned to ask Elvan. Things are different abroad compared to Huaxia Country. In Europe, people aren¡¯t particularly concerned about protecting animal lives, but the procedures and regulations are incredibly cumbersome. For wild animals raised in captivity like these, even crossing borders requires paperwork and approval. Elvan instinctively lowered his head and tugged at the brim of his cap, obscuring his expression. ¡°It¡¯s all ready, just waiting for you to lead the geese on their migration.¡± After listening to the exchange between the two, Wang Yongbo couldn¡¯t help but laugh to himself. Turns out, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t fully understood the situation before he left for Finland without a second thought, all to save a dozen or so geese. For some reason, Wang Yongbo was reminded of his younger days. His heart brimming with passion and determination, he was unstoppable. To turn a dream into a profession and actually enjoy it, what a perfect life that would be. Wang Yongbo touched his belly and remembered the gym membership he had but never used. The world is so cruel; people are often pressed down to the point where they can¡¯t breathe. Everyone enters the fray not lightly equipped but bearing the weight of mountains. In this world, we are all helpless, and what can crush us is not just fate, life, death, and loneliness, but also mundane matters like money and power. ¡°Just focus on your live streaming, we¡¯ll handle everything else. As long as you¡¯re with Wolf Fang, we¡¯re your eternal supporters,¡± ¡°Wishing you a smooth journey.¡± After hanging up the phone, Wang Yongbo summoned the publicity department and began planning a new round of homepage promotions. This operation must be carried out with great fanfare! Meanwhile, as the airplane began taxiing down the runway, Bi Fang turned on flight mode, glanced at Elvan pretending to doze off next to him, and leaned back in his seat. Bi Fang opened the system panel and used up all the available coupons. He bought quite a number of Skill Upgrade Coupons this time, even two Intermediate Skill Upgrade Coupons which could upgrade Purple Skills, which he applied to Wilderness Survivalist. He raised Archery to Blue, and sought to max out the Special Forces skill. Besides that, Bi Fang also opened a Skill Can, and upon shattering, a flash of blue light appeared. Swimming Dragon Bagua Level 1. Hmm? Swimming Dragon Bagua? Before Bi Fang could react, a torrent of knowledge, techniques, and experience flooded his mind, as if he had been immersed in them for over a decade, completely unlike the empty forms of modern ¡°masters,¡± possessing genuine combative utility! It was one of the three famous internal martial arts fists of Wudang! Even more astonishing was the unexpected synergy and transformation between Swimming Dragon Bagua, Special Forces, and many combat skills from Wilderness Survivalist under the effect of the skill tree. The commonalities between the three skills rapidly integrated, and the convergence of martial arts and modern combat techniques instantaneously elevated and branched out into more techniques and moves, enriching Bi Fang¡¯s combat level within minutes! Even Qi cultivation practices surprisingly underwent a chemical reaction with Advanced Yoga and Pilates. A novel method of breathing began to take shape in Bi Fang¡¯s mind, thrilling him. Bi Fang looked at the skill tree on the panel, and at that moment, he finally understood the importance of the skill tree. To integrate what he had learned and innovate from there, this was truly the realm of a grandmaster! If he wanted to reach this stage on his own, Bi Fang estimated that he would need to level his skills to Orange or higher, and even then, it would be quite challenging, certainly not as simple as now. Using the newly acquired, yet somewhat imperfect breathing method, Bi Fang calmed his excitement. Then he began allocating points, 1 to physique, 1 to strength, and 2 to agility. The warm sensation surged again and Bi Fang yawned, took one last look at the panel, and drifted off to sleep. [Sole Binder: Bi Fang] [Age: 24] [Height: 183.6cm] [Weight: 77KG] [Strength: 12] [Physique: 14] [Agility: 12] [Spirit: 12] [Status: Good] [Enhancement Points: 0] [Wilderness Points: 3] Purple Tree Trunk: Wilderness Survivalist lv3, Advanced Yoga Ivi. Blue Tree Trunk: Pilates Iv3, Special Forces lv5, Archery Ivi, Swimming Dragon Bagua Ivi. Green Tree Trunk: Cross-country Hiking lv5, Rock Climbing lv5, Swimming 1V2, First Aid lv5, Biological Identification 1V2, Calisthenics lv3, High-altitude Parachuting IV3. Ten hours passed by in a flash. At two o¡¯clock in the local afternoon, Bi Fang put on a new jacket, tightened his clothes, and, along with Elvan, walked out of the airport and rented a car, driving toward Lapland. In the car, Bi Fang opened Wolf Fang TV. By that time, Wolf Fang¡¯s homepage already featured the cover, an efficient move by Wolf Fang deserves praise. On the summit of a snowy mountain, dynamic clouds scattered and shifted. Small silhouettes lined up in a V formation, spreading out like black wings, and this spread-winged bird with Bi Fang as its ¡°eye¡± glided through the clouds on a hang glider traversing the mountains. Inside the live stream room, the floor count soared as the online friends were surprised by the upcoming broadcast. [Wow, another live stream?] [Why is the gap so short this time? Have the injuries from before healed so quickly?] [Hahaha, we¡¯re going to see Master Fang again, I¡¯m so touched! Drowning in happiness!] [Maybe they¡¯re just promoting it ten days in advance, we¡¯ll see.] (How could that be? Two days of advance promotion for a live stream is already amazing. Wolf Fang isn¡¯t running a charity. No matter how much they favor Old Fang, three days max in advance is the limit.] [Whoa, is that a hang glider? Has a helicopter no longer satisfied Old Fang? Has he moved on to hang gliding?] [I¡¯ve already begun secreting adrenaline reflexively; I feel like this will be just as thrilling!] [Old Fang never disappoints! I have transformed into a ruthless cheer machine!] Seeing the heated discussions among the online friends, Bi Fang cracked a slight smile and opened the live stream. The familiar opening, the familiar face, a single line incited utter excitement among the viewers. ¡®Hello everyone, I am Bi Fang.¡± Chapter 156 - Chapter 156: Chapter 153 Arrival at the Destination Chapter 156: Chapter 153 Arrival at the Destination The car sped along the road. Grass lined both sides of the road, seamlessly joining the gray asphalt. In the distance, white clouds enveloped the vast snow-covered mountains, their summits meeting the sky, and the ice and snow had not melted for a hundred thousand years¡ªgentle like the back of a young girl. Here lay the ends of the Earth, the Arctic Circle. Within a world where cold and vitality intertwined, Bi Fang ignited the audience¡¯s passion with just one sentence. His unchanging opening remarks made countless people in front of the screens ecstatic. They were so familiar with these words that they could recite them without missing a single letter, yet they still felt their blood boil upon hearing them. ¡°Looking back on the evolutionary journey of humankind, if our ancestors hadn¡¯t embraced adventure and imagination, if they hadn¡¯t had the courage to innovate and the willingness to sacrifice with their great capacity and majestic sentiments, humans would never have taken canoes to surf the seas or to uncover the endless mysteries across the oceans. Humans are curious, which leads to the urge for adventure; humans adventure, which lights the torch of civilization. Adventure is not found solely in the vast seas and mountains, deserts and swamps of nature, but also thrives within the densely populated cities.¡± Bi Fang smiled slightly at the camera. ¡°We meet again, I am Bi Fang, a professional explorer. This time, I meet you all in the Arctic!¡± [It¡¯s only been a week, right? Old Fang is live streaming again. No more short clips!] [I admit Old Fang is massive, so I¡¯ll bear with it.] [No matter how big word is, it still belongs to Microsoft.] [Amazing, even the Arctic is in the picture. Isn¡¯t the range too broad?] [Who¡¯s the uncle next to him? Why is there a foreigner, has Old Fang gone abroad?] [Nonsense, isn¡¯t going to the Arctic going abroad? But how come there¡¯s grass in the Arctic, so beautiful.] [Add one for beautiful.] [Is Old Fang¡¯s injury healed? Although we really want to see your live stream, safety first, no need to push yourself.] ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The last injury didn¡¯t reach the bone, it¡¯s pretty much a non-issue now, and it won¡¯t interfere with the live broadcast.¡± Bi Fang rolled up his sleeve, moved his shoulder, and showed everyone the thin layer of bandage on it. The bandage had been rewrapped; from the looks of it, it seemed indeed like nothing serious. ¡°As for the person next to me, he is a visiting professor at the University of Paris, Elvan Mendy. His main research focus is on bird conservation and migration.¡± Elvan, who was driving, heard Bi Fang introducing him and turned his head to greet: ¡°Hello everyone.¡± [Wow, that Chinese is spot on!] [6! A professor who doesn¡¯t speak Chinese is not a good professor.] [Why is this live stream different, with driving and the Arctic, and such a huge time difference? It¡¯s already dark here, why does it seem like noon over there with Old Fang?] [A professor studying bird conservation and migration, I have a feeling¡­] [Old Fang is indeed popular with professors (funny)] Bi Fang opened the sunroof and set up the drone on top, to give everyone a wider view, then he pointed towards the distant snowy mountains. ¡°Your feeling is right because I¡¯ve traversed half the globe to get to Finland; the local time here is 3 PM, which should be exactly 8 PM for you guys.¡± The system requirement for the number of online viewers kept increasing; this time it had reached a staggering 150,000, which was 30,000 more than the last time. By proportion, the peak viewership number needed to at least surpass 250,000 to clear the task. Luckily, the time difference provided convenience for Bi Fang, indirectly reducing the difficulty of the mission. There was a five-hour time difference between the two places. Bi Fang¡¯s usual live stream hours were from 7 AM to 7 PM, which translated to midday to midnight in China, the peak time when live stream viewers were most active. ¡°The reason why this live stream is so rushed is because of an urgent mission. Today¡¯s broadcasting is not about survival, but about sustaining life, helping endangered migratory birds find a glimmer of hope for existence.¡± Bi Fang briefly outlined the dangers and plight faced by the White-fronted Goose, and wholeheartedly shared why Elvan had sought him out, explaining the objectives of his live broadcast. ¡°This will be my broadest broadcast in terms of time and space. If all goes well, it will last close to a month. I will accompany these eighteen geese, along with Professor Elvan, on a glider from the Arctic Lapland and fly all the way to the Camargue Wetlands Nature Reserve in France!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s words were resolute and clear. But without a doubt, these words caused a sensation in the live stream chat. To ride a glider for 3,000 kilometers just to help eighteen geese memorize a migration route? What an international joke. Let¡¯s not even talk about whether it¡¯s possible, but gliding for three thousand kilometers, is that something a carbon-based life form can pull off? An attempt nobody has ever made, a journey no one dares to even think about: two people, one plane, 18 geese, flying from the Arctic to France, crossing all of Europe¡­ Are we writing a fantasy novel here? [Ash Blow Smoke has gifted the host a yacht *1¡ªApart from awesome, I don¡¯t know what to say, I can only support by sending gifts! ] [Li Bai Is Not White Enough has gifted the host Big Bone *1¡ªMaster Fang, yyds!] [Congratulations to Nanana is me for becoming an Emperor in the live stream room!] [Nanana is me has gifted the host meatballs *10000¡ªCharge! Go Master Fang! I¡¯m super pumped!] A blaze of golden light shot straight into the clouds! Just as the live broadcast started, someone had already signed up as an Emperor! Yao Lina was having a fine time streaming in her own room when she suddenly received a notification that Bi Fang had started streaming. Without a second thought, she brought her fans to watch Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast. After listening to Bi Fang¡¯s plan, she got so excited that she slammed her table. ¡°As expected of my idol, so freaking cool!¡± [The richest female fan, I¡¯m envious, I also want a pretty sister to admire me.] [Goddess, my goddess, why do you have to be someone else¡¯s lapdog, wuu wuu wuu] [Shocked, she even entered with a live broadcast!] [She swore too, my dreams are shattered.] [Super pumped? How do you pump (facetious)] Bi Fang sincerely thanked Yao Lina for her support. Becoming an Emperor requires a hundred thousand coins, definitely a true love fan. Up to this point, there have only been five wild Emperors in his streaming room. Adding a new one, and a pretty sister at that, put him in a fantastically good mood. Six wild Emperors, a claim that could definitely dwarf the others, especially in Wolf Fang TV, leaving countless small streamers green with envy. The atmosphere in the live stream room had already heated up before the official start of the broadcast. The gray asphalt road stretched towards the pristine snow mountains, clear and unobstructed. Bi Fang rolled up the car window and began to casually chat with his audience, introducing some details about Lapland. ¡°The northernmost parts of Norway, Sweden, and Finland have been home to the Sami and Lap peoples for hundreds of years, and hence the land got its name, Lapland. Located within the Arctic Circle, it has a harsh climate, covered with ice and snow most of the year, and is known as Europe¡¯s last wilderness reserve.¡± ¡°Here there are frozen rivers, reindeer, and the nomadic Sami people, a treasure left to the world.¡± ¡°Moreover, Lapland is also famously the home of Santa Claus.¡± [Santa Claus?] [My God, Santa Claus lives here?] At the mention of Santa Claus, the online friends got excited. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Bi Fang knew very well what his audience was interested in. This was also his usual method to fill the boring times. Telling stories. ¡°A long time ago, an old Santa Claus traveled around the world, bringing joy to children.¡± ¡°One day, he came to the Lapland area near the Arctic Circle and was enchanted by the beautiful scenery of the glistening, pristine snow. He decided to settle on Ear Mountain.¡± ¡°Since then, Ear Mountain in Finland became the place where Santa Claus lived.¡± Bi Fang pointed to the grassland beside him, which, even within the Arctic Circle, was still a vibrant green tundra. ¡°Usually, it starts snowing here in October, but we¡¯re in luck, we can still see the green grasslands along the way, a rare sight indeed. This is also good news because if this place were covered with heavy snow, the geese might not withstand the cold here.¡± Finland isn¡¯t very big, and it didn¡¯t take long for Elvan to drive Bi Fang to a lake nearby. They were at their destination. The two got out of the car, and Elvan waved to a figure by the lake. ¡°Hey, Lenin! We¡¯ve arrived!¡± Chapter 157 - Chapter 157: Chapter 154: Eve of Preparation Chapter 157: Chapter 154: Eve of Preparation Bi Fang stepped onto the grass, his glider resting quietly on the surface of the lake. That would be his reliance for crossing Europe. Big Beard Lenin, who was gazing by the lake, quickly noticed the two of them. He was wrapped in a hemp garment, his belly shaking as he walked briskly toward them and immediately gave Elvan a hug. ¡°Thank God I¡¯ve waited so long for you, these geese are nearly frozen. If you hadn¡¯t come sooner, I was really afraid they¡¯d freeze to death here.¡± Following that, Lenin extended his hand to Bi Fang, his tone full of admiration as if singing an aria. ¡°Mr. Fang, hello, at first I didn¡¯t understand why Elvan insisted on finding you, but after I watched your live stream, my goodness, you¡¯re a modern hero! A living legend! The geese are so lucky to have met you!¡± Lenin bowed three times in quick succession, but he obviously didn¡¯t speak Chinese, using halting English instead. Luckily, the drone had an automatic translation function, displaying subtitles in the live stream. But what nobody expected was that Bi Fang would actually respond in French, ¡°It¡¯s my fortune as well to be able to save this flock of geese.¡± Elvan looked dumbfounded, ¡°You speak French?¡± ¡°Is it so strange? You speak Chinese, why can¡¯t I speak French?¡± Did Bi Fang speak French? Of course not, but he had a Language Proficiency Coupon! Now, speaking French was almost the same as speaking Chinese for him. Elvan had told him about Lenin¡¯s situation, not very good at English. A common malady among the French, they possess a strong spirit of French nationalism, generally disliking the United Kingdom and even English, to the point that the majority cannot speak good English, a circumstance that seems out of place in Europe. Shuiyou:H-¡¯¡ãfl¡ã;)^! [Fuck, Old Fang even speaks French?] [Awesome, plus awesome!] [What a real studious guy, is there anything Old Fang can¡¯t do? Mastering two foreign languages, French and English, isn¡¯t this too cool? How about speaking some secret Tuvan?] [What¡¯s that country?¡­] [Just made it up.] Anyone who has attended school and learned English knows the pain of mastering a foreign language, but Bi Fang actually knows two! Seeing Bi Fang communicate fluently with foreigners in French, all the Shuiyou were shedding tears of envy. ¡°It¡¯s so good that you speak French,¡± Lenin was very happy, ¡°we should act quickly, you need to familiarize the geese with you as soon as possible. Snow might fall in Lapland any moment now, and it will be even more difficult for the geese to fly.¡± With that, Lenin took out two brown hemp cloaks from the car and asked both men to put them on. Not only that, Bi Fang noticed a young man rushing out of the camper in a hurry. The young man was just a head shorter than him, with brown hair and the look of being about fifteen or sixteen years old. Etienne¡¯s eyes lit up when he saw Bi Fang, and he hurried over with a mix of running and jumping. Elvan scratched his head, ¡°Uh, this is my son, Etienne, your fan.¡± The young man rushed in front of Bi Fang, shouting excitedly. ¡°Hey! I know you, you¡¯re the grave digger of prehistoric monsters! The wrestler of the tyrannical Black Bear! The hunter who devours wolf packs!¡± Bi Fang, about to greet him, was taken aback and nearly reeled in awkwardness. What on earth were these bizarre nicknames? ¡°You¡¯re really awesome, especially your motto!¡± Etienne imitated Bi Fang¡¯s tone, speaking gravely, ¡°The beast can smell your fear, the more you fear, the more excited it gets. That¡¯s so cool! It¡¯s the most domineering phrase I¡¯ve ever heard.¡± ¡°Can I get your autograph?¡± Etienne waved a white card in his hand, passing over a marker pen. Bi Fang scratched his eyebrow, took the pen and paper, and he occasionally watched anime, guessing this must be some sort of adolescent fantasy. ¡°Lord of the Black Flame,¡± ¡°True Eye of the Evil King,¡± they all sounded weird, but perhaps that¡¯s what young people liked. Bi Fang wasn¡¯t surprised to see Elvan¡¯s son there either; if he himself had a father who planned to sail a glider across the entirety of Europe for bird migration, he would strut through school, and such a claim alone could make him a heartthrob until his legs wobbled. What could be cooler than that? After all, there would only be two of them flying, him and Elvan; it wasn¡¯t a problem. But now it was only November, did French students get a holiday this early? Bi Fang took the brown linen robe, ready to put it on. [All, what is this style?] [Why wear a long robe? So ugly.] [Damn, feels like some African tribal shaman] The audience in front of the screen thought this outfit was terribly ugly and didn¡¯t understand why Bi Fang would wear it. ¡°Because the White-fronted Goose is on the brink of extinction, not only because of environmental destruction but also because of the uncontrolled hunting and wanton killing by humans.¡± Bi Fang found the opening of the robe and draped it over his body. ¡°So we can¡¯t let the geese think we are humans; that way they¡¯ll stay wary of other humans. By dressing like this, the geese will trust me. I guess that¡¯s how Dr. Elvan dressed before the migratory birds were bom, right?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Elvan, now in his robe, nodded. ¡°When geese are bom, they take the first person they see as their parent, a process called imprinting. To make them fear humans, I even carried out gunshot training with them; they have to flee when they see a human or hear a gunshot. We must not let them develop any fondness for humans.¡± [I don¡¯t know why, but suddenly I feel sad] [Tearing up] [To be honest, environmentalists are often maligned because there are too few who truly put in the work, those who only repeat the same messages become nothing but parrots.] [That¡¯s true, Old Fang is really awesome, he¡¯s always mindful of environmental protection, and for just over a dozen geese, he flew 3,000 kilometers at a moment¡¯s notice] [But broadcasting this, is it okay? Won¡¯t hunters also disguise themselves this way?] Bi Fang shook his head: ¡°Not really, birds recognize their kind through multiple factors, not just by donning a robe. Without Professor Elvan here, wearing the robe would be of no use. This is also why the professor must fly with me; without him, the geese would not follow.¡± After everyone had put on their robes, they entered the RV, and only then did they get a clear view of the geese. Around fifteen geese huddled together for warmth; among them, two black ones stood out conspicuously, being the Barnacle Geese. ¡°These two are Aga and Amu,¡± Etienne said excitedly, pointing to the two Barnacle Geese. ¡°I witnessed their birth! All sticky and stinky, but they look much better now.¡± ¡°Nice names,¡± Bi Fang smiled. ¡°These geese have all been implanted with chips, vaccinated, and registered,¡± Lenin said as he stroked one of them. ¡°Each one has a number.¡± ¡°Vaccinated?¡± Bi Fang wasn¡¯t too familiar with the situation in Europe. ¡°Yes, each one must be vaccinated, otherwise, they can¡¯t leave the Schengen Area,¡± Elvan said as he lifted a cage. ¡°Now everything is done with technology; this is called progress.¡± Lenin also came to help carry: ¡°From a technological perspective, it¡¯s progress, but it¡¯s a regression ecologically.¡± As Bi Fang joined in, he suddenly saw a photo inside the vehicle and picked it up, asking Lenin, ¡°Is this you?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lenin adjusted his hat. ¡°You used to hunt?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lenin said as he carried a box, with Bi Fang following him. ¡°We all hunted in the wetlands, fished too, we caught them to eat. The wetlands used to be beautiful, life was great, that¡¯s when I started getting interested in birds. But then the developers wanted to drain the wetlands, and we opposed them.¡± ¡°You lost,¡± Bi Fang did not doubt. ¡°Clearly, afterward, I turned to studying birds,¡± Lenin said as he placed a wooden crate outside and opened it. A flock of geese squawked and ran out, but they didn¡¯t take flight¡ªthe weather was too cold, and they huddled together. Elvan handed Bi Fang a whistle: ¡°This is what I made to mimic the call of the geese. You just have to run with us shortly, get the geese familiar with your presence quickly, let Etienne follow you first.¡± Bi Fang nodded; with time running out, he couldn¡¯t afford to dawdle. Led by Etienne and clutching the whistle, he began to run. Upon hearing the whistle, the geese immediately began running after the two men; then, realizing they couldn¡¯t keep up, they slowly began to flap their wings, but it was a struggle for them to fly. The drone mixed among them, capturing the scene from above; the audience in the live stream was thrilled, many seeing living geese for the first time. This was their maiden flight! The first time is always precious. Next to the RV, Lenin watched the geese trying to fly, a spontaneous smile on his face. Elvan, on the other hand, kicked a stone away: ¡°So annoying, how much longer? It¡¯s been ten days already!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Elvan, the permit should be coming through soon,¡± Lenin tried to offer some consolation. ¡°I saw the weather forecast, it¡¯s going to snow heavily the day after tomorrow; no matter when the application is approved, we must take off before that.¡± Lenin spread his hands in a helpless gesture: ¡°Hey, don¡¯t be like that, I¡¯ve already promised Johnny, he¡¯ll do it as fast as he can, maybe we¡¯ll get news tomorrow.¡± ¡°Today is Sunday, they will only go to church to attend mass!¡± Waiting for Bi Fang was just one of the reasons, but if the permit came through, they might have already started the migration with the geese. All that effort made, how could they give up! Chapter 158 - Chapter 158: Chapter 155: Failed to Follow (Subscribe Please) Chapter 158: Chapter 155: Failed to Follow (Subscribe Please) Seven months ago. ¡°You have to help us stop the development of the wetland! Four thousand eight hundred people signed the petition, but they ignored it as if it didn¡¯t exist. The mayor even said the situation would change, bullshit! They¡¯re almost draining half of the wetland now, saying they want to build an industrial park there!¡± The elderly man was indignant. ¡°Professor Elvan, you¡¯re an expert in animal conservation; there must be a way to preserve the wetland, right? I haven¡¯t seen any geese nesting here for almost two or three years.¡± The old man called out to Elvan twice but found no response from him. Elvan was staring at the corner at some feces, lost in thought; he remembered his son¡¯s complaints. ¡°Last night there was a hamster running around in my room, so loud I couldn¡¯t sleep.¡± ¡°Hamster, hamster, yes!¡± ¡°Do you have a plan?¡± The old man¡¯s face lit up with excitement. Elvan ran to the lakeside and made a phone call: ¡°Aiji, if endangered species of hamsters are found near the construction site, how long would the project be suspended?¡± ¡°The investigation would take about six months¡­ ¡°Six months?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°YES!¡± Three months ago. ¡°I¡¯ve researched a migration route that is safer than the geese¡¯s previous ones; for at least the next few decades, the geese¡¯s habitat will greatly improve. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°I guarantee it will work.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± Elvan followed the man, pleading constantly, but Legoff didn¡¯t slow down in the slightest, not even turning his head, as he entered the lobby to greet the staff and headed to his office. ¡°Isn¡¯t saving a species important? If the plan is implemented, we can save the White-fronted Goose. It¡¯s our responsibility to do so.¡± In the hallway, Legoff was annoyed and pointed his finger at Elvan¡¯s chest. ¡°Elvan, I tell you for the last time, the government has stopped financial assistance; they have more pressing issues, like unemployment rates. Wild geese won¡¯t be their top priority. Besides, your crazy idea won¡¯t succeed. Geese flying with gliders? You think geese are as naive as you?¡± ¡°But endangered species and climate change are also important,¡± Elvan still tried to persuade. ¡°I don¡¯t need subsidies; I just need your stamp of approval. If you stamp it, the plan can proceed, you know the procedure.¡± Legoff opened his office door, holding his forehead, his voice growing louder. ¡°Without genetic testing and a virus analysis report, I won¡¯t stamp it. Even if you succeed with these dozen geese, so what? Maybe two hundred are needed to truly save the species. Your plan won¡¯t work, Elvan. ¡°I know tests are necessary, but we are running out of time if it¡¯s too late they will just¡­¡± ¡°No!¡± Bang! Elvan touched his nose, saw the secretary at the door, and his eyes lit up. ¡°Aiji.¡± Elvan motioned with his eyes toward the stamp on the table. Aiji looked up at Elvan, shook his head helplessly. Elvan wouldn¡¯t give up, his eyes flickering. Minutes later, Aiji gave in, calling out to another colleague: ¡°Avra, let¡¯s go have a cup of coffee together.¡± The two got up quickly, leaving no one around. Ten days ago¡­ ¡°Alright, let me see the documents, migrating geese with gliders? Okay, you got the stamp, yes, but you still need to do blood tests, or you won¡¯t be able to pass through the Schengen Area.¡± Johnny casually flipped through the documents. ¡°What did he say?¡± Elvan asked Lenin. ¡°Need to do blood tests.¡± ¡°How long?¡± Elvan hurriedly asked. ¡°About¡­ eight days.¡± Johnny put the documents aside and spread his hands, ¡°We also have to follow procedures.¡± Countless memories flashed through Elvan¡¯s mind; he had given so much for this moment, how could he give up? Even if no one believed he could succeed. If no one had walked this path, then he would walk it! If no one would do it, then he would! Ten days had passed. The test results were still not out. Elvan thought of the blizzard the day after tomorrow and the terrible consequences of the dozen geese not being able to migrate. The arrow was on the bowstring; he had to shoot. He had been studying the conservation and migration of birds for over twenty years, but what use was research, research, and more research? They didn¡¯t need money, they didn¡¯t need manpower; all they needed was a simple stamp, and they were unwilling. On the other side, Bi Fang and Etienne were training the geese to fly. Making the geese learn to fly wasn¡¯t difficult; the instinct of birds to fly is ingrained in their genes. Just a little guidance, and they could take off smoothly. Blowing the whistle, they ran up a slope quickly; the geese couldn¡¯t keep up and naturally started to flap their wings, one stroke, two strokes, and soon these Natural Sprites had grasped the skill of maneuvering the air currents. Soon, one by one, two by two, from gliding to skilled flying, more and more geese flew towards the sky. The large geese traced a graceful arc on the horizon as if they might plummet into the mountains at any moment. Ultimately, they flapped their wings vigorously and disappeared into the dense white clouds, only to return to the people once more. Bi Fang and Etienne watched the geese flying in the sky with excitement, and the audience in the live streaming room was also thrilled. [So beautiful] [Beautiful, I agree. This is my first time watching geese fly] [Amazing, isn¡¯t this place too beautiful? I want to go and play on the stones too] [This is Finland, how could it not be beautiful? It¡¯s one of the most worthwhile places to visit in Europe.] [I heard that Finland has the highest happiness index in the world. I want to go there and be a happy idler.] [Happiness is achieved through hard work!] ¡°This is their first flight, and from now on, they will have this place etched in their hearts. They will return here next year to nest,¡± Elvan said as he hurried over and explained, watching the geese¡¯s first flight. ¡°If you do this a few more times, they will get used to your presence.¡± The geese¡¯s maiden flight was successful, and next up was the trial flight. The two of them stepped on the stones in the stream to reach the hang glider, hopping from one lily pad to another like two frogs. ¡°Have you tried this before?¡± ¡°A bit,¡± Bi Fang felt that piloting the glider wasn¡¯t difficult, like playing a game ¡ªjust maneuvering two sticks. To ascend or descend, use the control stick; pulling back raises the elevator, pitching the nose up; pushing forward lowers the elevator, pitching the nose down. The rudder is controlled with foot pedals; pressing the left pedal swings the rudder left, turning the nose left; pressing the right pedal swings the rudder right, turning the nose right. The only difficulty was that merely operating the rudder could change the glider¡¯s lateral position but could not make it turn. A hang glider has a strong inertia when flying straight. Turning the rudder would cause sideslip, like when turning sharply in a fast-moving car. Sharp turns on the road are typically sloped to prevent the car from sliding, but the hang glider is free in the air. To make the glider turn without sideslipping, one must simultaneously operate the ailerons and the vertical tail. But after getting familiar a couple of times, Bi Fang quickly got the hang of it. Next, they needed to get the geese to follow them in flight. ¡°Test, how¡¯s the test?¡± Bi Fang contacted Lenin on the shore using his headset. ¡°You¡¯re coming through clear.¡± ¡°We¡¯re taking off now. Are you ready on your end?¡± Etienne, who was in the rear seat, contacted Lenin. ¡°Everything¡¯s ready.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Elvan shouted excitedly. The most cautious executor, the most comprehensive migration plan-success was within sight! On the expansive lake surface, Bi Fang looked at the ripples on the water, started the engine, and the Elvan behind him began to honk the horn. Lenin and Etienne stood on the shore, equally excited, watching every move of the geese: ¡°Good, they¡¯re all near you now, go ahead, they¡¯re following you now, go!¡± Bi Fang nodded and steered the hang glider to glide on the lake surface. The large geese followed the hang glider, flying low over the lake surface, but as they flew, the geese suddenly scattered in different directions, flying to the sky. Only a very few still maintained formation, trailing behind the two of them. ¡°Damn it,¡± Lenin had a bad feeling. ¡°Are any still following?¡± Elvan asked eagerly. ¡°No¡­¡± Lenin felt embarrassed, ¡°They have flown away.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Elvan was startled and quickly asked Bi Fang to stop, looking back. There wasn¡¯t a single goose behind the hang glider anymore; those that were following had flown off to frolic elsewhere. Lenin on the shore had a worried frown but still offered comfort: ¡°It¡¯s okay, maybe the propeller was blocking their view, and the geese didn¡¯t see you, so they flew away. It¡¯s okay, you guys go back and try once more, as long as the geese see you, it¡¯ll be fine.¡± Elvan was unsettled and had Bi Fang turn sideways to head back, but even after the geese saw Elvan, they still ignored him and swam towards Lenin on the shore. ¡°Damnit!¡± Elvan couldn¡¯t bear such a blow and banged the seat fiercely. This was completely different from what he had expected. The geese had clearly followed their first flight on the shore, so why wouldn¡¯t they even glance at the hang glider now? Back on the shore, Bi Fang removed his helmet and glanced at Elvan, then looked towards Etienne, feeling uneasy. ¡°There must be a problem with one of the steps.¡± Elvan was very anxious. ¡°Maybe we weren¡¯t properly prepared,¡± Lenin guessed. ¡°No¡­ They were ready, they all took off, which means they were ready,¡± Elvan contested this idea, ¡°It¡¯s something else.¡± ¡°The wind?¡± ¡°Wind? Yeah, the wind, as if the wind has anything to do with it, not at all.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get mad at me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not mad, it¡¯s you telling me not to get mad that¡¯s making me mad. The two began to argue intensely. Meanwhile, Bi Fang moved away from the two and sat down next to Etienne, hugging his helmet: ¡°You mentioned before, you witnessed the birth of the Barnacle Goose?¡± Etienne, puzzled, still nodded: ¡°Yes, my father and I were there at the time. What about it?¡± ¡°No, nothing,¡± Bi Fang looked at the arguing Elvan, ¡°I just hope I¡¯m wrong. Chapter 159 - Chapter 159: Chapter 156: Positive Guessed wrong? Chapter 159: Chapter 156: Positive Guessed wrong? What do you mean? As soon as the audience heard this, they grew anxious. The mission¡¯s significance was extraordinary; its success would mean the rescue of a species, a profoundly meaningful event to witness first-hand. Now that there was a problem, everyone was especially concerned. [Why not follow and fly with them?) [What does Old Fang mean by that?] [Didn¡¯t the White-fronted Goose mistake Etienne for its parents?] [ How come they encounter a difficulty right off the bat? I thought the challenging part was the migration, never thought that getting the geese to follow would be the issue] [Isn¡¯t this just utterly ruined?] Seeing the barrage of comments, Bi Fang stepped away from Etienne and whispered, ¡°We can¡¯t rule out that possibility.¡± Otherwise, there was no explaining why the geese wouldn¡¯t follow them. Past cases had told Bi Fang that there was nothing wrong with their plan, so the problem must lie with the people! Therefore, Bi Fang sought out Elvan and explained the possibility to him. Elvan panicked at once. If that were the case, how could he lead the geese in their migration? He asked urgently, ¡°Then what should we do?¡± ¡°If the geese truly recognize only Etienne, my advice is to abandon the mission. It¡¯s far too dangerous for Etienne,¡± Bi Fang said. Bi Fang was willing to take risks with Elvan because Elvan, like him, had his own dreams and passion and was willing to sacrifice almost everything for them. Moreover, as an adult, Elvan could take responsibility for his choices. Etienne was different; he was even younger than Bi Fang had imagined, lacking three months to his fifteenth birthday. Bi Fang could not let a fourteen-year-old boy take risks with him. Upon hearing this conclusion, Elvan held his head and knocked it hard. If he must migrate, he could certainly set out with three people, but as Bi Fang said, the journey was too dangerous for Etienne. Reality isn¡¯t a novel, nobody is the protagonist, and accidents can truly happen. Between the geese and his son, the choice was undeniable. In that moment, Elvan was pained by his failure to the eighteen White-fronted Geese. Seeing Elvan in such a state, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but feel compassion and consoled him, ¡°Don¡¯t be too distressed; this is only a possibility. Perhaps I guessed wrong, maybe the geese just haven¡¯t gotten used to my presence and thus didn¡¯t follow the glider.¡± ¡°Right!¡± Elvan clutched at this lifeline, ¡°Yes, it must be that reason; we can definitely do it if we try a few more times.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s try again tomorrow,¡± Bi Fang suggested as he looked up at the sky, ¡°We¡¯ll give it another try tomorrow.¡± It was too late today. Within the Arctic Circle, the autumn days are very brief, with darkness beginning to fall at just after three o¡¯clock. Now at four o¡¯clock, the stars were already out. Elvan, resigned to the situation, agreed it was too dark for flight and decided to wait until tomorrow. The pressure of time was growing ever more intense. If the weather forecast was correct, it would snow the day after tomorrow, leaving them only one more day, or perhaps not even a full day. The crackling of burning logs resounded; the campfire lit up everyone¡¯s faces. Everyone was in low spirits due to the failure of the first flight. Just as everyone was feeling downcast, a streak of green light suddenly shone down upon the land. Bi Fang looked up, his pupils contracting. Without warning, a flame seemed to ignite in the sky, dancing and changing colors, even bursting into a near-white intense light. Strips of green ribbons stretched across the sky above them. It was the Northern Lights! These high-energy particles from space continuously collided with the Earth¡¯s atmosphere, transforming into wondrous streams of light that danced in the sky. The audience was instantly excited, and in just a few minutes, the number of viewers surged again with no sign of stopping. [Holy shit, it¡¯s the Northern Lights!] [Mom, I¡¯m seeing the Northern Lights!] [Isn¡¯t this just too beautiful? I¡¯ve only seen photos before, never with my own eyes] [Wake up, you¡¯re still at home. You¡¯re seeing this on a screen too, no difference] [No, I feel like Old Fang¡¯s live stream is different, just as breathtaking as seeing it in person.] [Old Fang¡¯s head has turned green (humorous)] [Plus one on the green, so green, Old Fang has gone completely green.] Auroras constantly changed shape, and Etienne couldn¡¯t contain his excitement. He rushed to the nearby grassland, trying to enjoy this magnificent moment alone. It was as if a symphony had reached its climax, myriad green lights began to dance, underpinned by the purple glow, shining down like divine rays upon the land. Gazing up at the sky at this moment made one involuntarily drop to their knees. At this moment, humans were but a speck of dust in the cosmos. The night belonged to the stars and the aurora. Bi Fang immersed himself in the moment and it took a while before he responded, speaking to the screen, ¡°In Finland, you can see the aurora about too times a year, mainly in spring and autumn. We¡¯re lucky.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a legend in Finland about the Northern Lights¡ªFox Fires. According to Sami folklore, a fox running swiftly across the Lapland wilderness sweeps its tail across the snow, flinging snowflakes up to the northern sky where they turn into twinkling sparks. These sparks draw colorful arcs, lighting up the pitch-black land¡ªthat is the origin of the aurora borealis.¡± ¡°In Finnish, the Northern Lights are called ¡®revontulet,¡¯ which literally means ¡®Fox Fires,¡¯ stemming from this legend.¡± Bi Fang did not explain the scientific reasons for the aurora¡¯s formation but chose to share a beautiful legend instead, lest it spoil the mood. The aurora lifted everyone¡¯s spirits from their gloom, and Lenin happily ate his canned food, ¡°A few years ago, I came here with some students and saw the aurora too. It was really beautiful.¡± ¡°Was it for a research trip?¡± Bi Fang added more wood to the fire, curious. ¡°Yes, at that time we placed the eggs of the White-fronted Goose into the nests of Barnacle Geese, hoping they would rear the White-fronted Goose and teach them to migrate.¡± ¡°And what happened?¡± Etienne was very curious; their team had two Barnacle Geese. ¡°At first, everything went smoothly, but¡­ in fact, we didn¡¯t have a permit, Johnny ordered us to leave, and then they killed the White-fronted Geese to prevent them from interbreeding.¡± ¡°That¡¯s terrible,¡± Elvan couldn¡¯t believe it. Bi Fang glanced at the geese in the cage, ¡°This time it will work.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The next day. ¡°Morning, Johnny.¡± ¡°Morning. Gosh, it¡¯s really cold today.¡± Johnny, dressed in a sharp suit, walked into the hall and stood in front of the air conditioner, enjoying the warm air for a moment. ¡°By the way, Johnny, did you finish the blood tests Lenin asked for? They seem pretty urgent about it.¡± A colleague kindly reminded him. ¡°What blood tests?¡± Johnny was taken aback. ¡°It¡¯s for the White-fronted Goose; they need the report to be allowed to leave the Schengen Area.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Johnny slapped his forehead, ¡°You mean using the glider to migrate the geese?¡± ¡°Right.¡± Johnny chuckled, ¡°Please, it¡¯s totally unnecessary. There¡¯s no way the project will work. Geese following a glider to migrate? That¡¯s the funniest joke I¡¯ve heard this year, there¡¯s no need to waste time on tests.¡± The colleague was stunned, not expecting Johnny to dare do this, ¡°But they¡¯ve called to follow up.¡± ¡°Just give them a positive report, it¡¯s just a waste of a few sheets of paper.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that inappropriate? They¡¯ve been waiting for over ten days,¡± the colleague tried to interject with little effect. ¡°No, I¡¯m just saving them time and effort for a plan that won¡¯t work,¡± Johnny said nonchalantly, ¡°Come on, print out a report quickly; we¡¯ll go find them, no need to have them keep getting cold by the lake.¡± The colleague shook his head slightly; Johnny was no ordinary employee. His father was a retired official and his family wealthy; Johnny often treated everyone to food and drinks. Oh well, as Johnny said, it didn¡¯t matter what the blood test results were; the plan was bound to fail. ¡°Are we ready?¡± By the lakeside, Bi Fang and Elvan were preparing for takeoff when a car suddenly arrived. Seeing the license plate, Lenin¡¯s heart sank. He had promised Johnny not to release the geese from the cages until the report was out. Clearly, the geese were joyfully flying about. Johnny in the car also saw the flying geese and hurriedly got out. ¡°Hey, what did I say? Without permission, no releasing birds! And the avian flu test results are positive!¡± Johnny angrily threw out the report. Chapter 160 - Chapter 160: Chapter 157: Tricked onto a Pirate Ship Chapter 160: Chapter 157: Tricked onto a Pirate Ship The report was slammed down onto Lenin¡¯s body. Lenin picked it up and turned to the last page, muttering. ¡°Positive? How could that be?¡± Lincoln looked as if his soul had left him; he had never imagined the test report would come back positive. ¡°The fact is, the bird flu test result is positive. Lenin, look at those geese; they should never have been released!¡± Johnny, angry at his orders having been disobeyed, pointed at the geese in the sky, then commanded the men behind him, ¡°Unload the boat!¡± Elvan and Bi Fang also hurried over. ¡°Wait, what did they say?¡± Elvan hadn¡¯t understood Johnny¡¯s Finnish. Lenin looked at Elvan. ¡°They said the test result is positive.¡± Elvan became agitated. ¡°Positive? How is that possible? Didn¡¯t we conduct tests before? Everything was compliant, no issues, and we also vaccinated afterward!¡± Could it be that you administered the vaccines too late?¡± Bi Fang asked. Elvan frantically scratched his head and paced back and forth. ¡°The vaccine was administered over half a month ago. Even if it¡¯s a normal reaction post-exposure, it shouldn¡¯t be positive now. There must be a mistake.¡± Johnny, who understood English, used his index finger to jab at Lenin¡¯s chest, pushing him backward until he was almost unsteady. Bi Fang stepped forward to steady Lenin and glanced at Johnny. Somehow, at that look, Johnny unconsciously withdrew his finger, coughed twice, and continued, ¡°Is that so? I told you to keep the geese caged until the results were out. But what did you do? They shouldn¡¯t have been bom, Lenin!¡± Without looking back, Johnny headed toward the small boat unloaded by the lakeside. What is he trying to do?¡± Elvan watched Johnny moving the boat with confusion. Lenin watched Johnny leave and said despondently, ¡°To take them away.¡± Capture? No, no no no,¡± panicked Elvan, running towards Johnny, blocking his path. ¡°STOP! STOP! Listen to me¡­¡± Bi Fang also intercepted alongside Elvan. ¡°Wait, wait, there must have been a mistake¡­¡± ¡°Who are you? Hurry up¡­¡± Johnny was about to scold but swallowed his words, ¡°Whoever you are, step aside!¡± Bi Fang blocked Johnny, and Elvan quickly explained, ¡°No no, OK, listen, I can explain, it must be the vaccine.¡± Elvan desperately tried to explain, but Johnny was immovable, and as they stood in opposition, the tension between them grew. The audience in the live broadcast grew anxious. Why were there problems with the blood test now? They thought the biggest challenge in animal protection would involve the environment; they had no idea that even before the project was implemented, the biggest obstacle would be humans themselves! [If it¡¯s positive, then the birds shouldn¡¯t have been released, right?] [Didn¡¯t you hear what Professor Elvan said? The tests came back with no issues, and they had been vaccinated. I think there¡¯s definitely some misunderstanding; something must be wrong.] [That¡¯s right; as a med student, I can tell you false positives are real, and even if it is positive, it doesn¡¯t necessarily mean there¡¯s an illness.] [Also, whether it¡¯s positive or negative depends on the testing method. It could be positive even after vaccination.] [Isn¡¯t it over before it even started?] [Aren¡¯t they going to kill these birds too? Didn¡¯t Big Beard say last night that the White-fronted Goose was killed simply because crossbreeding wasn¡¯t allowed?] [It¡¯s quite possible.] [Old Fang, stop them already, can¡¯t things be settled amicably? Why is the first recourse always to kill? Is this the animal protection the foreigners keep shouting about?] [Exactly, stop them!] As the two sides pushed and shoved each other, on the brink of a physical altercation, Lenin quickly contacted Etienne by walkie-talkie, who was next to the glider: ¡°Etienne, can you hear me? Etienne, if you can hear me, give a hand signal.¡± Dressed in a robe, Etienne, who was far away, looked at the scuffling group and waved at Lenin to signal that he could hear him. Lenin spoke quietly: ¡°Good, take the geese to the center of the lake, repeat, take the geese to the center of the lake, I¡¯ll explain to them.¡± After speaking, Lenin rushed between the two sides, pushing away Elvan and Johnny, and then said to Johnny, ¡°Calm down, getting angry won¡¯t solve anything.¡± Johnny knocked Lenin¡¯s hand aside and straightened his collar. Initially, he was just annoyed by the hassle of blood testing, so he¡¯d prepared a positive report in advance, planning to seize the birds and leave. He felt a bit guilty before leaving, until he¡¯d spoken with France on the way, which completely dispelled any guilt. Johnny pointed at Elvan and Bi Fang and spoke harshly, ¡°I¡¯ve been in touch with Paris, and they don¡¯t know anything about your plan.¡± The whole process was complicated, yet it was linear, and not a single step could be omitted. Paris had to agree first before Elvan could raise the non-wing-clipped wild geese and migrate with them. Then came Johnny¡¯s turn to pass the blood test, so the geese could cross the Schengen Area. Since the first step had not been completed, there was no need to look at the blood test report at all. We can test again¡­ huh, what?¡± Lenin was explaining when he heard this and went blank, as did Bi Fang standing nearby. They don¡¯t know about the plan? Wait, didn¡¯t Elvan just tell him on the plane that they had permission? They don¡¯t know what the plan is over here? Deceive me onto the boat? ¡°He said he had contacts in Paris, but they have no clue about your plan,¡± Lenin turned his head towards Elvan, repeating what he had just said before making his own excuse, ¡°Maybe there was a miscommunication. Call them again and explain.¡± Elvan touched his neck and turned to walk towards the lake. Bi Fang and Lenin hurried after him. Lenin took out his mobile phone and handed it to Elvan, ¡°Elvan, quick, ask them what¡¯s happening over there.¡± Seeing Elvan remain silent, Bi Fang sensed something was amiss, ¡°Elvan, don¡¯t you have permission?¡± Lenin denied it before anyone else could, ¡°No, I¡¯ve seen the stamped document it¡¯s real.¡± ¡°I stamped that seal myself.¡± Elvan, looking at Etienne in the center of the lake, admitted with his head down. ¡°What the hell?¡± Lenin was flabbergasted, ¡°Elvan, are you joking with me? Have you thought about the consequences of doing this?¡± Elvan remained silent. ¡°What do we do now?¡± Etienne asked through the walkie-talkie. Lenin stammered, ¡°Uhm, we don¡¯t have permission; you explain it to him.¡± He passed the hot potato to Bi Fang and then ran to explain things again to Johnny. Bi Fang took the walkie-talkie, glanced at the downhearted Elvan, and explained to the distant Etienne, ¡°Can you hear me, Etienne? The situation is a bit complicated right now. Your dad didn¡¯t get permission, and the documents are forged.¡± What?¡± Etienne felt like he had heard wrong. ¡°I know this is hard for you, but that¡¯s just how things are.¡± Bi Fang understood that Etienne had spent his entire summer with the geese and knew he must be feeling terrible now. Elvan took the walkie-talkie, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Etienne, I¡¯m an idiot, a big idiot, now they want to take the geese away¡­¡± The geese were about to be taken away. Bi Fang pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling his temples throb. He wanted to save the geese too, but the local enforcers held power here; in another man¡¯s land, his word meant nothing. If only it were in his own country, with his current status, leading a flock of geese on a migration wouldn¡¯t be so troublesome. Instead, he was now caught up with a pile of nonsense. These foreigners shouted slogans about animal protection louder than anyone else, but when someone actually wanted to do something, it was harder than anything. The mission would likely have to be reverted to its original plan. So much time wasted, and after training with the geese, they were back to square one. In the center of the lake, Etienne watched the workers at the shore pushing boats into the water, and the geese in the lake were calling out incessantly, as though foreseeing their own fate. The young birds hatched from their eggs. They learned to run for the first time. They soared in the sky for the first time. To familiarize the geese with the sound of engines, they played recordings all night even at the expense of their own sleep. They claimed to have found an endangered species of hamster to protect the wetlands and give the young birds a chance to grow up. Just because of hybrid breeding, they were going to be killed. ¡°Aga, Amu, let¡¯s go.¡± Etienne pulled the starter, the engine sprang to life, ripples spread across the lake, and the geese behind the glider, alerted by the sound, started swimming towards it. On the shore, Elvan saw the propeller spinning and realized something was wrong. He shouted urgently, ¡°Stop, Etienne, stop! Come back right now!¡± Johnny, too, noticed the geese stirring and angrily directed the boats, ¡°Chase them, chase them fast!¡± ¡°Come back, Etienne, the weather is about to change.¡± Ignoring Elvan¡¯s attempts to dissuade him, Etienne didn¡¯t care. The propeller spun faster and faster, and the once stationary glider began to move along the water surface. The engine roared to life. The boats at the shore also started their engines, and two workers drove after the glider. They had to stop the glider from taking off and bring all the White-fronted Geese back! ¡°Splash!¡± The sound of someone entering the water. Lenin turned in surprise, only to find Bi Fang had disappeared, leaving only his backpack. ¡°Bi Fang, what are you doing?¡± Chapter 161 - Chapter 161: Chapter 158: The Sunshine is at its Peak Chapter 161: Chapter 158: The Sunshine is at its Peak The glider slowly slid across the surface of the water, and Etienne was about to lead the geese on their migration alone. A teenager, trying to survive in the wilderness with a flock of geese, impossible. Whether it be Elvan or Johnny, they had to stop Etienne¡¯s actions at this moment. The staff struggled to pull the engine by the lake, attempting to start the speedboat, but just a second before the boat¡¯s engine roared to life, Bi Fang dropped his backpack and leapt into the water, swimming swiftly like an arrow cutting through the waves. Ripples spread out, the speedboat started! What was Bi Fang going to do? Not only Lenin and Elvan, but even the audience in front of the screen didn¡¯t know what Bi Fang was planning. Was he going to swim after the glider? The glider was at least fifty meters away from the shore, the world record itself took twenty seconds, the glider would have taken off by then! Absolutely impossible! Just as everyone was puzzled by Bi Fang¡¯s attempt to swim after the glider, suddenly he dove down, disappearing from the surface of the water, leaving only circles of ripples as proof of his presence. The propeller churned the water. The people on the speedboat charged towards the glider at high speed. This small boat could go from accelerating to top speed in just three seconds, and even though it was slow at the start, if it could reach its maximum speed, it might catch up with the glider. As one of the staff members turned his head to look back, he was shocked to find that the Asian man who had just jumped into the water had disappeared. Where was he? No one knew how Bi Fang had vanished into thin air. Only the staff member sitting by the side of the boat, watching the bow splitting the waves, caught a glimpse of something unusual under the water with the corner of his eye. A blurry shadow became clearer and clearer, something was rising from the lake, and it was definitely not small. Was it a big fish? No, that couldn¡¯t be! Could it be¡­ The staff member¡¯s pupils shrank in terror as he watched the shadow, intending to steer the boat in another direction, but it was too late. The surface of the water broke and a ¡°big fish¡± leapt out, grabbing the side of the boat in a fraction of a second, the immense strength tilting the whole boat sideways as the waves splashed up. This was no ¡°big fish,¡± it was the Asian man who had disappeared! The cold lake water caused Bi Fang¡¯s muscles to stiffen; breaking through the surface, he gasped for air, filling his shriveled lungs with oxygen, his rigid muscles straining without regard for the cost. Solid muscles rolled under his skin as if trying to burst forth, the wood by the boat¡¯s side creaked softly, cracking slightly, veins on his arms snaked like small serpents, sending up a spray of water as tall as a man. Crystal droplets shattered in mid-air, and taking advantage of the last bit of buoyancy, Bi Fang abruptly flipped into the boat, grabbing the collar of a stunned staff member and flipping him into the water. Splash! A heavy object hit the water, splashing the second staff member in the face. The speedboat, now relieved of three people¡¯s weight, lightened instantly, and with only two left on board, it sped even faster toward the glider, which was swiftly moving away from the water¡¯s surface. Bi Fang turned to look at the second staff member, but to his surprise, the man had already jumped into the water! The first staff member to fall into the water swallowed a couple of mouthfuls of it and barely came to his senses, struggling to stay afloat when he saw a huge dark shadow plummeting down onto him. Splash. The third splash marked another man¡¯s entry into the water. The two collided, and blood spread through the water. The first man to fall in touched his bleeding nose, angrily staring at his colleague. The colleague was embarrassed, Bi Fang¡¯s entrance had been too ¡°brutal,¡± and feeling like he was being targeted by a fierce tiger, he had uncontrollably jumped from the boat to escape upon seeing the other man board. Pulling on the starter rope, the engine roared to life. With only Bi Fang on board, the speedboat¡¯s speed was pushed to the limit; the agile vessel jumped through the turbulent waters, rushing forward like a wild horse breaking through a field. The kid was too reckless! He couldn¡¯t be allowed to just fly away. Bi Fang stood on the bow of the boat, the wind whipping at his black windbreaker, flapping loudly like a banner. Water droplets flew from his hair, as Bi Fang chased after the glider. But the glider had taken off first, no matter how fast Bi Fang pursued, it had already left the surface of the water! ¡°Stop, Etienne, stop!¡± Elvan on the shore kept shouting, but to no avail. As soon as he thought of the geese being killed, Etienne knew he could not stop! Ten meters between them, the glider had begun to ascend! It was over, once the glider took to the skies, no one would be able to stop Etienne! The walkie-talkie fell, and Elvan sat down on the ground in despair. Everything was over. ¡°Elvan, don¡¯t lose heart, Bi Fang is still chasing!¡± Lenin grabbed Elvan¡¯s arm, his nerves stretched tight. He had watched Etienne grow up, how could he stand by and watch him take such a big risk? ¡°What?¡± Elvan looked up, surprised to see that at this moment Bi Fang stood at the bow, speeding forward without the slightest intention of giving up. What on earth did he plan to do? This is a speedboat, not a helicopter, how could it possibly catch up with the glider? The distance between the speedboat and the glider was closing, and so was the difference in altitude. Five meters away, the glider rose to one meter! Three meters away, the glider rose to two meters! Two meters away, the glider rose to three meters! Three meters! It¡¯s too high. Impossible to reach! The live broadcast audience, looking up at the angle of the glider, how could it possibly keep up in such a situation? But the next second, everyone knew what was called a miracle. Bi Fang stomped on the bow, the boat sank under his tremendous force, the lake water was pushed aside, like Moses parting the sea, and in the next moment came together, buoyancy surging upwards as though the hand of God was lifting the boat towards the sky. In the nick of time, Bi Fang suddenly leaped, his muscles and bones making a crisp sound as he extended his body, lunging towards the glider in the sky. Perfect angle, perfect arc. Just like a cheetah drawing in its body and reaching out its sharp claws, he lightly hooked onto the underside of the glider. The instant he grasped it, Bi Fang¡¯s body sank, and he almost lost his grip. More than seventy kilograms of weight suddenly pressed on the glider, tilting it downward instantly, causing its wings to tilt and plummet toward the lake¡¯s surface. The glider¡¯s sudden descent startled Etienne. He had not seen Bi Fang chasing after him, nor did he know what happened, but he quickly adjusted the direction, steadying the originally tilting glider, and spiraled upwards around the lake¡¯s surface. Bi Fang hung onto the glider like a tiger clutching its prey, refusing to let go. ¡°My Lord.¡± Johnny crossed himself over his chest, the scene before his eyes shattering his understanding. In over forty years of life, Johnny had never seen a more heart-stopping scene. ¡°Stop!¡± ¡°Etienne, stop quickly!¡± Bi Fang yelled from below, but the propeller¡¯s noise drowned out everything, and Etienne, wearing a helmet, could not hear a thing; at this moment, his mind was overwhelmed by various emotions. Fear, excitement, agitation, apprehension, all woven together, he could no longer pay attention to any outside sound. The glider flew higher and higher, passing over the entire lake, where the geese lined up, their genetic instincts forming a V-formation with the glider leading and flanking on both sides. Their wings spread wide, the tips gliding through the sky, leaving invisible traces, their vigorous flapping dissipated the severe cold. The sun hung high above the clouds, with sunlight spreading thinly across the clouds. They were migrating, following the plane! The two people trembling in the cold water as they fell, watched this scene, almost forgetting to tread water, choking again. ¡°It¡¯s so magical.¡± Lenin stood on the shore, staring blankly at the scene, ¡°They are following Etienne, not that light aircraft, Elvan, your plan was successful.¡± Elvan no longer cared about the geese migrating. All his thoughts were on his son¡¯s safety. He cried out, waving his arms: ¡°Etienne, stop quickly! Bi Fang, you come down too! I don¡¯t want the migration anymore, just come down!¡± The glider circled once, flew in from the opposite side of the lake, and passed overhead. ¡°Quick, stop! Stop!¡± Elvan¡¯s hands crossed, shouting until his voice was hoarse. The glider flew higher and higher, further and further away until it became a blur and disappeared from sight. Elvan knelt to the ground. ¡°Etienne!!!¡± Chapter 162 - Chapter 162: Chapter 159: Are You Ready to Set Off? (Seeking Monthly Pass) Chapter 162: Chapter 159: Are You Ready to Set Off? (Seeking Monthly Pass) ¡°Fuck, fuck, fuck! Climbing onto a plane bare-handed, that¡¯s badass!¡± In the dormitory, Cao Lifeng went crazy yelling when he saw Bi Fang using the buoyancy of the boat to leap up and grab onto the plane, startling the few people next to him. ¡°Old Cao, what the hell are you doing? Regressing to your ancestors?¡± ¡°You scared me, I thought ¡®Dawn of the Planet of the Apes¡¯ was happening.¡± ¡°Still on your phone? Aren¡¯t you going to review for exams? They¡¯re coming up.¡± Cao Lifeng, his face flush with excitement, explained, ¡°No, it¡¯s that streamer I told you guys about! It¡¯s explosive, I¡¯m totally blown away!¡± ¡°The ¡®Migration Goose¡¯ guy?¡± Several roommates took interest, since Cao Lifeng had introduced them to Bi Fang¡¯s live stream before, Bi Fang had become popular among them, and this trend was gradually spreading throughout the class. Bi Fang¡¯s live streams spread through the campus like a virus, growing more and more intense. But with the exam month arriving, plus the fact that yesterday¡¯s goose training lacked any explosive news, Cao Lifeng was the only one in the dorm still following the streams. When Cao Lifeng explained that Bi Fang had grabbed onto the plane with his bare hands to stop Etienne, everyone hurried to his side and saw Bi Fang dangling under the plane like a flag flapping in the wind. Time seemed to reverse as they all let out the same kind of shrieks as Cao Lifeng. ¡°Holy shit, it¡¯s like the real-life Bro Tom!¡± The plane skimmed over the surface of the lake, disappearing into the distance along with the geese from the sight of Elvan and others. Etienne sat in the seat of the glider, his heart racing and palms sweating, replaying in his mind over and over again whether he had done everything exactly as his father had taught him. ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay, the rpm is normal, the wind speed is normal, the fuel is normal, everything is normal.¡± This water glider was huge, and Etienne sitting on it couldn¡¯t see Bi Fang, who was clinging to the right pontoon of the plane; he was completely focused on what was in front of him. Bi Fang, hanging beneath the plane, was blasted by the oncoming wind so violently that he could barely open his eyes. His body broke out in a sweat, while the water-soaked clothes turned stiff and cold from the wind, soon to be crusted with frost. Bi Fang dared not and could not let go, for he was more than a hundred meters above the ground, and letting go would mean certain death. The drone quietly hovered behind the glider, capturing Bi Fang¡¯s precarious situation with crystal clear clarity. The sight of his shaking body made everyone¡¯s heart skip a beat, as if he would let go at any second. This time, there was no parachute. [Hu sou ou ji ju just donated a Spaceship xi to the host¡ªThat jump just now got me all hot and bothered, here¡¯s a drink for the badass, but isn¡¯t this too dangerous?] [Hang in there Old Fang! Do we need to call for a rescue?] [This is so exciting right off the bat!] [This is making me piss my pants.] Watching Bi Fang dizzy under the plane, viewers were getting palpitations and dry mouths. This scene was even more thrilling than a movie! Bi Fang was sweating profusely, his fingers stiff as ice and no strength to muster. He shouted twice, but got no response. Etienne, tense to the extreme, couldn¡¯t hear anything. ¡°Damn it.¡± Bi Fang cursed under his breath, looked at the pontoons of the glider, flexed his arms and trapezius to lift himself almost entirely up, then with a heave, he let go of his hands and wrapped his arms around the pontoon. This scene nearly gave the viewers a heart attack. Fortunately, Bi Fang succeeded, and the glider tilted to the left and then quickly stabilized, with Bi Fang hanging on even more securely. Now Etienne was even more nervous. Real operations were much harder than practice, and he had never encountered a situation during practice where the wind direction stayed the same but the plane suddenly tilted. Bi Fang, holding tight to the pontoon, now began trying to climb onto the plane. And with each of his movements, the audience¡¯s hearts were hanging by a thread. [My god, I wasn¡¯t this nervous even when Germany was against Argentina!] [This is truly challenging human limits] [There¡¯s never the most foolish way to die, only more foolish ways!] However, it wasn¡¯t over yet. Under the terrified gaze of the audience, Bi Fang actually began to swing his body! Bi Fang was using the force of the wind to swing himself up! He had never fallen behind in his Calisthenics and Advanced Yoga. These two exercises had given Bi Fang incredible core strength. Hanging beneath the glider, he was as steady as a pendulum in a way that was a bit terrifying. Unaware, the rhythm of the audience¡¯s heartbeat seemed to synchronize with the swaying motion. Suspended in mid-air, Bi Fang¡¯s swaying amplitude grew greater and greater until, on the last swing, he took a deep breath, made a thrusting motion, and successfully placed his feet on the pontoon! At this moment, Bi Fang was facing the camera, and everyone could clearly see that frost had already formed on his eyebrows, and his lips were even frozen to the point of turning purple. [Awesome, Old Fang¡¯s move is even cooler than Bro Tom¡¯s!] [Bro Tom¡¯s a joke, there are safety measures in all that, they wouldn¡¯t dare film it like this!] [Master Fang is the strongest! yyds] [Stop with the yyds, at this rate Old Fang will never find a wife] [Ah, this.] A dozen minutes later. Besides the recent jolt, no other incidents had occurred during the flight, which gradually relaxed Etienne¡¯s nervousness. The sky was clear and washed with azure, the white clouds drifted by, and the brown geese spread their wings, almost hovering in mid-air, as if wax statues cast in the air. With a smile, Etienne stretched out his hand, wanting to touch the geese. ¡°It¡¯s not as hard as I thought.¡± Dad¡¯s plan was correct, the geese successfully followed the plane to migrate, but what next? In the urgency of the moment, Etienne hadn¡¯t thought about the consequences of rescuing the geese. How could he, alone, lead the geese to migrate? A three thousand kilometer journey, all through the wilderness. With no navigation, how could he stay on course with just a map? Etienne began to regret his decision; if only his idol were here, he was frantically scratching his head. A cold thing climbed up his neck, like a creepy venomous snake, sending a chill straight into his heart. Etienne¡¯s hairs stood on end; he wasn¡¯t the only living thing on the glider! Hundreds of meters up in the air, what kind of thing could be crawling on it? In an instant, numerous films flashed across Etienne¡¯s mind: Alien, The Day After Tomorrow, The Conjuring, and he broke out in a cold sweat, his scalp going numb, his body stiffening, afraid to look back for fear that the moment he did, a monster would bite off his head. However, the next moment, a pair of hands suddenly reached out and took off Etienne¡¯s helmet. ¡°Hey! Kid, can you hear me now? Descend immediately, this is too dangerous.¡± Huh? With his eyes tightly shut, Etienne suddenly recognized the voice as familiar. He opened his eyes and then saw Bi Fang right behind him. The cold he had felt was indeed Bi Fang¡¯s fingers, stiff with freezing. Seeing that it was his idol, Etienne hurriedly began to explain. ¡°It won¡¯t work! Didn¡¯t you hear what Lenin said? Hybrids are slaughtered, let alone allowed to migrate. We can¡¯t hand the geese over to them, we can migrate together with the geese. They have followed me in flight, did you see? They follow me! Elvan¡¯s plan worked!¡± ¡°They are definitely not sick. I have lived with them for six months, even sleeping together. It¡¯s impossible they¡¯re positive, I swear! You¡¯re so capable, if we lead them together, we¡¯ll surely succeed. We can save them! That¡¯s what you think too, right?¡± Etienne was extremely agitated, causing the glider to start trembling unsteadily. ¡°You don¡¯t need to explain to me, I understand. I saw your determination the moment you took off, do you understand how dangerous this is?¡± Bi Fang half-knelt behind Etienne, examining the helmet in his hands. The two were silent for a whole half minute before Etienne wiped away his tears. ¡°I¡¯ll go back with you, but could you let them go? If they are caught, they will die.¡± Etienne hung his head low, ¡°I don¡¯t want them to die.¡± He was just a kid, powerless before the world¡¯s number one explorer, able only to beg the other to let these geese go free. Bi Fang examined the sound insulation of the helmet, not understanding why it was so effectively noise-canceling; he had been shouting from below, but the kid hadn¡¯t heard a thing. Seated in the second seat, Bi Fang fiddled with the helmet, saying nothing for a long time. ¡°Please, I¡¯m begging you.¡± The oppressive silence made it hard for Etienne to breathe, and he couldn¡¯t help but plead again. ¡°Put on your helmet, the wind is strong, and blowing directly into your eyes can cause inflammation.¡± Bi Fang patted the young man¡¯s shoulder, handing back the helmet. ¡°What?¡± Etienne was stunned. ¡°I¡¯ve observed your flight path, and you¡¯re off course. You should veer thirty degrees to the left.¡± Bi Fang stood up, took the goggles from the crossbeam, and put them on, ¡°A three thousand kilometer migration is no tour, be prepared for hardships.¡± Chapter 163 - Chapter 163: Chapter 160: The Second Ignition Method Finally Appears! Chapter 163: Chapter 160: The Second Ignition Method Finally Appears! Etienne carefully looked at Bi Fang, who had been expressionless ever since he appeared, the same look as his mother¡¯s when he didn¡¯t do well on a test, leaving Etienne completely puzzled about the situation. Is this what the Huaxia people call being inscrutable? ¡°I don¡¯t know if what I did was right or wrong, but sometimes we can¡¯t predict the outcome, we can only make decisions based on the current situation that may be correct, and that¡¯s my consistent rule for survival.¡± Bi Fang patted Etienne¡¯s left shoulder, ¡°Let¡¯s go, I told you, you¡¯re heading in the wrong direction, turn thirty degrees to the left, lead your geese on their migration.¡± ¡°Oh ho!¡± Etienne finally understood and let out an excited roar. He stepped on the pedal, changed the direction of the hang glider, and flew towards the distant mountains beyond the layers of clouds. With Bi Fang¡¯s support, Etienne¡¯s confidence soared. With the world¡¯s number one explorer helping him, what else was there to worry about? Our hearts were full of passion and resolve, unstoppable! The live audience saw this dramatic turn and tears of excitement came to their eyes. This moment was truly cool! [Awesome! I just knew Old Fang would never let us down! ] [Even though it¡¯s a bit risky, I feel like Old Fang can definitely do it! Not even wolves, prehistoric creatures can stop him, what¡¯s migrating some geese?] [ + 1, seeing that Johnny I just felt he was no good, balding and with a face full of wrinkles, how can such a person become an animal conservation inspector? I suspect he faked the report because it was too troublesome!] [ ¡°You¡¯re letting your values be swayed by his looks, a fake report is impossible. If that were the case, his life would be over, why would anyone do that?¡± ] [Who knows, we¡¯ve seen this kind of thing before, I swear I¡¯ve seen similar news before.] [How come Etienne¡¯s father still hasn¡¯t shown up, he should be able to watch the live stream, right? He hasn¡¯t been kidnapped, has he?] The test result was positive, but honestly, Bi Fang also felt there was something wrong. Each of the eighteen geese was more vigorous than the last, none of them looked sick at all. There definitely was a mistake somewhere. But that¡¯s something for Elvan to worry about. Having already flown, might as well fly to the end, it¡¯s not like committing murder or arson. Considering Elvan¡¯s position, the worst he¡¯d face would be a fine, maybe detention for a couple of days at most. As for Bi Fang himself, he wasn¡¯t worried at all, with his current status, France couldn¡¯t even penalize him. Bi Fang pulled out the large map, studying the leverage points and made sure to avoid the camera, lest someone use the routes marked on the map to interfere by figuring out their position. Migration isn¡¯t just a simple matter of direction, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t visited every place on the map, and to know if he had reached them, he needed to work out the latitude and longitude. Now that his backpack was lost, Bi Fang was soaked to the skin, with two daggers on him and nothing else, and the cold wind made him shiver. If it weren¡¯t for his strong physique, he would likely have caught a cold by now. Bi Fang looked ahead into the distance, and his excellent vision quickly allowed him to spot a lake. He patted Etienne¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Etienne, fly towards there, let¡¯s find a lake to land in first.¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t ask Etienne to move so he could take over, changing pilots on the glider was too dangerous. Following the direction pointed out, Etienne too saw the lake hidden behind the mist, made sure the geese were following closely, then he stepped on the pedal and pushed forward the control bar; the hang glider started to descend rapidly. During the landing, Etienne was a bit afraid and he muttered softly. ¡°First control it, then surrender yourself to it.¡± Hearing these words, Bi Fang tensed up, realizing that the situation wasn¡¯t so simple. He had just seen how skillfully Etienne had been piloting, thinking the other had plenty of experience, but it now seemed this wasn¡¯t quite the case. Bi Fang grabbed the beam, watching Etienne control the hang glider circling above the lake, wobbling closer to the water¡¯s surface. Through the violent shaking of the camera, the audience also felt anxious for the two on the screen. The pontoons started touching the water surface. Thump! Thud! The moment the pontoon touched the water, it was like hitting mud. The glider shook violently, and Bi Fang¡¯s butt tingled, but the plane quickly stabilized, gliding on the lake surface. The geese landed one after another, darting into the water to frolic. The propeller turned, and the two of them glided to the lakeshore and went ashore. As soon as he reached the shore, Bi Fang drew his hunting knife and handed it to Etienne. ¡°Etienne, go find a dry spot and use this to dig a pit, it doesn¡¯t need to be too big. Then find some dry stones to lay in the pit; I want to make a fire,¡± Bi Fang instructed. Etienne excitedly took the hunting knife, which he had seen many times before, and the thrill of finally holding it in his hand spurred him to immediately look for a suitable spot nearby. Having given his instructions, Bi Fang quickly stripped off all his clothes except for his swim trunks and started doing standing push-ups on the spot. [Wow, starts stripping without a word. I suspect the broadcaster is aiming for something racy.] [Cut it out, not impressed (pulls up pants).] [True to form, talking tough once your pants are pulled up.] [That physique, those muscles, ladies, my vision is clouded by beauty.] [Just now there was frost on the clothes, it looked so cold, is it nearly zero degrees here?] ¡°Because of the swimming just now and the long exposure to the wind, my limbs have become stiff, and I¡¯m feeling somewhat drained,¡± Bi Fang said. ¡°In such a situation, the first thing you should do is to take off your clothes.¡± ¡°Wet clothes will not only fail to keep you warm but will also keep draining away your body heat, making you sick with a cold.¡± ¡°So we must exercise more to increase blood flow and quickly warm up the body. Traditional push-ups are no longer sufficient for me. Here, I recommend everyone try the Burpee Jump!¡± ¡°This exercise is also known as the standing push-up, combining a series of movements such as the squat, plank, and jump. It can raise your heart rate to its peak in the shortest time, which is perfect for our current situation!¡± [What? Old Fang is no longer satisfied?] [Goodness, you¡¯re great at getting to the crux of things!] [Clearly a pro at finding loopholes (amused).] [So good at finding loopholes, I suspect you have a problem. Come with us.] [It¡¯s no use, he could pick locks with a toothpick. Oh, I forgot, there¡¯s only two minutes. It¡¯s too late, you¡¯re done for.] Bi Fang took a few deep breaths, then leapt into the air. He crouched quickly, performed a push-up on the ground, and leapt up again, repeating the process. After a dozen rounds, his heart rate rose sharply, and his blood warmed up again. The parts that had been frozen stiff also began to thaw noticeably. ¡°Phew¡­ indeed, I feel much warmer now. The Burpee Jump is globally recognized as a ¡®fat killer¡¯ and is an effective way to burn fat and get fit. It works over 70% of the muscle groups in the body. If you want to lose weight, you should do this exercise,¡± he continued. Bi Fang spoke in Huaxia, and Etienne, standing by, could not understand, but he knew that Bi Fang had frozen himself for his sake and felt a twinge of guilt. Warmed up, Bi Fang went to a nearby bush to look for suitable materials to start a fire. ¡°The situation is urgent this time, and I didn¡¯t bring my backpack, so I can only rely on the most primitive method to start a fire. But it¡¯s not Fire-Making by Wood-Drilling, that¡¯s too slow. This time I choose the simpler bowstring method,¡± he explained. [Awesome, waited three episodes, finally, we get to see Old Fang teach a new method.] [Now that you mention it, it does seem that way¡­] [Tears of joy, Old Fang promised to show us different methods for starting fires, and today that promise is finally fulfilled.] Bi Fang laughed in response to the barrage of comments: ¡°In the past few occurrences, the situation has been urgent, and it¡¯s only now that I¡¯ve finally found the opportunity to demonstrate this.¡± The Bow Drill Fire Starting method is a common way to generate fire through friction. Like other friction fire-starting methods, it is easier to perform and can even be used in damp environments. Soon, Bi Fang found the materials he needed in the bush. Chapter 164 - Chapter 164: Chapter 161 Guruluuuluu (Request for Monthly Pass) Chapter 164: Chapter 161 Guruluuuluu (Request for Monthly Pass) ¡°The Bow Drill Method requires several pieces of wood, a drill shaft, a fireboard, a bearing block, a hand-held stick, a length of string, and most importantly, some tinder to catch the flames, and then you use a knife or other sharp tool to process these raw materials.¡± Bi Fang, draped in a spare brown robe, searched through the bushes, picking up a tree branch he tested its hardness with his fingernail, only to find it unsuitable. ¡°The principle of the Bow Drill Method is the same as the Hand Drill Method, with a slightly more complex structure, because it replaces some of the manual effort with a device, converting elastic potential energy into kinetic energy, thereby achieving higher efficiency.¡± ¡°So, when it comes to material selection, the bow drill is like the hand drill, I won¡¯t go into detail here.¡± The bushes were lush, and Bi Fang quickly found a suitable drill shaft from a tree five or six meters tall, with bunches of little red fruits hanging from its branches. The fruits looked wrinkly as if they had been there for a long time. Bi Fang cut off a small branch with a Harpoon. ¡°Last time I used burdock, this time we can use this, Ligustrum.¡± [Ligustrum? That sounds very familiar.] [I know, it¡¯s Dumbledore¡¯s old wand!] [Excuse me, can your Ligustrum be used to make wands? (funny)] [Damn, now that you mention it, I remember that Dumbledore¡¯s wand material is Ligustrum!] [Can you eat these fruits? They look a lot like the Yagda from Mohe.] Bi Fang knew everyone was joking around and joined in the banter. ¡°That might be disappointing for you all, as I can¡¯t make wands, only drill shafts. Ligustrum is soft in the middle, but the rod is quite hard and has wood marrow, capable of producing more and larger sparks, making it even more suitable than burdock used last time.¡± ¡°As for the fruits,¡± Bi Fang said as he reached out to lift the grape-like red fruit, not expecting a whole bunch to fall off as he touched it. ¡°The fruiting period for Ligustrum is from September to October; these are all rotten, and even if they weren¡¯t, we couldn¡¯t eat them because Ligustrum fruit contains a glycoside, which is used as a raw material to manufacture cyanide, so we cannot consume it directly.¡± The audience felt a sense of disappointment, having hoped the fruit would be similar to the one from Mohe and could serve as a midday meal. With the drill shaft acquired, the rest of the materials weren¡¯t demanding, and it didn¡¯t take long for Bi Fang to gather what was needed. Elsewhere, Etienne had dug the pit according to the instructions. Bi Fang felt the stones in the pit and nodded in satisfaction, explaining in French the reason for laying stones at the bottom of the pit. ¡°Owing to the presence of geese and hang gliders, we can¡¯t stray too far from the riverbank, so the soil nearby is quite damp, and we must choose a dry place for starting a fire, which is more conducive to igniting it. The stones laid at the bottom of the pit act to separate us from the moist soil.¡± ¡°Furthermore, you must use dry stones; wet ones, especially those from riverbeds or valley bottoms, must not be used. Such stones can produce steam when heated and potentially explode, which is extremely dangerous. It¡¯s okay if you can¡¯t find completely dry stones, just remember to avoid those soaked by water.¡± [Wow, that¡¯s some detailed advice.] [I¡¯ve learned another little detail.] [Excuse me, is this detail polite?] [Is the detail fine enough to pick locks?] The netizens started to get lively again, capable of turning even the comments into something entertaining regardless of the time or place. Bi Fang ignored them and continued to process the materials. ¡°The length of the drill shaft should at least match the distance between the tips of your thumb and index finger when your hand is spread out, to facilitate handling. Then you need to sharpen the tip and ensure the shaft is overall round and smooth.¡± ¡°The fireboard should be over twice as wide as it is thick to allow it to be steadied underfoot and kept stable; the bearing block also needs to be thicker than the diameter of the drill shaft.¡± ¡°The hand-held stick, or the firebow, works best with a slight curve. A straight stick can also be used but ideally, there should be some curvature for ease of handling.¡± ¡°As for the string, our shoelace will suffice. If your shoes don¡¯t have laces, you can also temporarily twist one from plant fibers.¡± Bi Fang carved a notch at one end of the fireboard and hollowed out a small hole to collect the tinder gathered from the scrapings of a coniferous tree. He then dug a small hole at one end of the bearing block, which was to secure the drill shaft in place. When the time came, the tip of the drill shaft would be inserted into the fireboard with its tail end caught in the bearing block, situated between the two blocks to prevent the drill shaft from injuring the hand during high-speed rotation. Next, Bi Fang took out his shoelace and tied it to both ends of the stick, then wrapped the drill shaft around the string, forming a cross with the stick and the shaft. The entire set of movements was methodical, the hallmark of an experienced survival master. ¡°We need to control the tension of the string properly, it shouldn¡¯t be loose enough to let the drill spindle slide up and down, nor should it be too tight to move at all. The ideal status is that it takes a certain amount of effort to just be able to turn the drill spindle.¡± Etienne watched in amazement and couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°How many different ways of making fire outdoors do you know?¡± ¡°Haha, I¡¯ve never really counted,¡± Bi Fang lifted his head and thought carefully, ¡°There are probably seven or eight different fire-making methods in different environments, of which four involve friction. Etienne was shocked, ¡°That many?¡± ¡°Not really, there are just a few usable methods depending on the environment, after all environments change and methods have to adapt, we in Huaxia call this ¡®adapting measures to local conditions.''¡± Bi Fang secured the drill spindle and looked at Etienne, ¡°Why, do you want to learn?¡± Etienne nodded. ¡°If you want to learn, I can teach you when we get back.¡± Bi Fang smiled and then started to use the bow. Fixing the drill spindle into the fireboard, with the tail end inserted into the small hole of the baseboard, Bi Fang knelt on one knee to press down on the fireboard, left hand steadying the baseboard to control the pressure, right hand beginning to move the fire bow back and forth steadily and forcefully. Soon, smoke started to rise from the fireboard, drawing astonished reactions from the audience. [This efficiency is too high, way more convenient than the Hand Drill Method] [Fast it is, but it seems so complicated, doesn¡¯t look easy to remember¡­] [I agree.] Seeing smoke rising, Etienne was very excited, his eyes filled with admiration. Making fire from nothing, it¡¯s amazing! But Bi Fang did not stop, he continued to pull the fire bow until after seven or eight minutes, when the smoke grew thicker and even a flash of red light appeared, then he finally stopped pulling the bow. There was now charcoal on the fireboard, and Bi Fang carefully withdrew the drill spindle, then transferred the charcoal to the prepared tinder and gently blew on it in his hands. Bilowing smoke rolled up, a flicker of flame glinting in the dust clouds, and as the smoke gradually lessened, the flickering flame rose, quickly spreading until the entire bundle of tinder was engulfed in flames. [Awesome!] [Zeng Hang has sent the host 1000 meatballs¡ªso fast, Old Fang is too fast!] [Super efficient!] ¡°Phew!¡± Bi Fang breathed a sigh of relief, tossing the flames into the fire pit, and Etienne hurriedly threw some dry branches into it, making the fire grow rapidly. Bi Fang sat beside the fire, feeling the long-lost warmth, and immediately felt much more comfortable. Etienne wrung out his soaked clothes and placed them over the fire rack to dry. ¡°The Bow Drill Method is convenient, but it also has many details, which is why it¡¯s often difficult for first-timers to succeed and isn¡¯t suitable for beginners.¡± ¡°just like how the tension of the string also determines the flexibility of the bow. In the process of using it, you may need to adjust the length of the bowstring. For convenience¡¯s sake, experienced people will tie a dead knot on one end of the string and a slip knot on the other.¡± ¡°Lubrication can also be added to the drilling hole with some grease to increase smoothness and compatibility, that¡¯s why I specifically chose coniferous tree fluff, as it¡¯s naturally rich in oils.¡± It was these subtle details that allowed Bi Fang to make this fire-starting attempt so successful. Etienne continued to dig on the side, preparing to bum a pair of additional fire pits, so the clothes could be dried separately by the fire, making them dry faster. He wasn¡¯t a Wilderness Survivalist and could only help with these small tasks, trying not to hold the team back. Meanwhile, Bi Fang was also feeling comfortable, like having someone to assist him, not needing to worry about anything and just quietly enjoying the fire. It was hard to think of Etienne as a child, even though he was only fourteen or fifteen, already standing at one meter seventy tall. Etienne shook his clothes, hung another piece to dry, when suddenly an unusual noise arose. Gurgle gurgle gurgle¡­ He was hungry. Chapter 165 - Chapter 165: Chapter 162 What Are We Really Protecting? (Seeking Monthly Votes) Chapter 165: Chapter 162 What Are We Really Protecting? (Seeking Monthly Votes) [Hahaha, such a clear sound! ] [That¡¯s the sound of hunger.] [So cute.] [I¡¯ve just had dinner over here, Master Fang must be having lunch, right?] Bi Fang looked up at the sky and discovered the sun was already halfway up, indicating it was around eleven or twelve at noon. ¡°Hungry?¡± Etienne nodded, then shook his head. Seeing this, Bi Fang laughed, ¡°If you¡¯re hungry, just say so. It¡¯s perfectly normal to be hungry after half a day; don¡¯t hide it, that¡¯s not good.¡± ¡°Many times, situations become bad because of the neglect of certain signs. You might not be aware, but I am, so tell me if anything is wrong, and don¡¯t try to hide it.¡± Etienne felt embarrassed, stretched out his index finger and thumb, and gestured a small gap: ¡°Just a little hungry.¡± They had set off in a hurry and brought nothing with them, and without having breakfast early in the morning, anyone would be hungry after so long. Geese could find grass to eat and didn¡¯t need to worry, but humans couldn¡¯t do the same. A month was a formidable challenge for anyone. Bi Fang stood up to check his clothes; several thick coats were still wet, but the quick-drying lining was wearable. After putting it on, he went to a nearby rock. This rock was covered with blue, ear fungus-like things that looked somewhat disgusting, but Bi Fang started scraping them off with a knife. [What is Old Fang doing, eating that stuff?] [Master Fang, you might want to turn back and look at the plump and juicy White-fronted Goose (funny)] [Gosh, you dare to eat that too?] [This is called emergency avoidance, and besides, this is abroad, it¡¯s not illegal. I eat one a day.] [The person above is so savage, I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t make it to France at this rate?] [Not all wings should be braised; they can also be fried or steamed.] Bi Fang was also amused by the silly comments from his online friends: ¡°That¡¯s emergency food, emergency food, understand? I won¡¯t eat them unless I absolutely have to, got it?¡± [Oh my, do you really plan on doing that?] [Carrying eighteen White-fronted Goose bones from Lapland to France.] ¡°Enough with the jokes, look at this lichen on the rock, it¡¯s a great source of food,¡± said Bi Fang while he continued scraping the lichen. ¡°Not just lichen, the bark and tender shoots of the spruce, pine, and polar willow are also edible, but they must be boiled or roasted to be eaten.¡± ¡°Lichen, many people are used to calling it ¡®rock tripe¡¯, and in some places, it¡¯s also called ¡®Fairy Vegetable¡¯, which is formed by algae and free-living fungi. It¡¯s very high in amino acids, minerals, and calcium, and the protein content is even higher than that of eggs, so don¡¯t look down on it.¡± After scraping most of the lichen from the rock, Bi Fang went to the lakeside to clean it briefly, then skewered the lichen on sticks like slices of meat to roast it. ¡°The lichen must be roasted soft to kill off the many bacteria that can be present because of the surrounding moisture.¡± Within a few minutes, the previously firm lichen softened rapidly under the high heat. Bi Fang handed a skewer over to Etienne. ¡°You can try it. There are no seasonings, but it should taste fine.¡± Etienne took it doubtfully, looking at the somewhat blackened lichen after roasting and unsure how to eat it. As a Frenchman, he was very skeptical whether this thing was edible. As Etienne questioned his life choices, Bi Fang had already started praising the taste of the lichen. ¡°It¡¯s somewhat like a mix of egg and wood ear mushroom, very crunchy, the texture is nice. It¡¯d be better with salt, but unfortunately, we don¡¯t have any. Going a month without salt is not good, but I¡¯ll find a way to make some in a few days.¡± [Is it really that good?] [It is very good; we eat it often here. It¡¯s very smooth, a bit like crispy jelly, but I can¡¯t be sure since Old Fang has no seasonings.] [I always feel Master Fang¡¯s taste is otherworldly; what he says is delicious may not really be] [Ah, let¡¯s watch the young guy¡¯s reaction.] Is it really that delicious? As Bi Fang heaped praise upon it, driven by hunger, Etienne carefully tried a piece, imitating Bi Fang. ¡°Ugh!¡± Etienne covered his mouth, his complexion turning bitter; the strong taste of earth and mustiness exploded in his mouth, and the lichen, both slippery and sticky, made him feel as if he had just eaten a wad of mucus, revolting to the point of being difficult to swallow. Was this really fit for human consumption? [Hahaha, I just knew it, nothing tastes good without seasoning!] [Master Fang¡¯s Wonderful Taste Buds] [That¡¯s a normal reaction for sure] Etienne kept gagging, but even so, he never spat out the lichen from his mouth. Having watched Bi Fang¡¯s survival videos, Etienne knew that food resources in the wilderness were extremely precious and should never be wasted; if Bi Fang said it was edible, then it definitely was. So Etienne, fighting back the nausea, swallowed the lichen in one go. Bi Fang quietly dealt with his lunch, as if he hadn¡¯t seen what happened. If Etienne had spit it out just now, the mission would have been terminated. Etienne persevered. Meanwhile, the goose continued to graze, completely unaware that it had just had a close shave with death. To bring or not to bring Etienne, Bi Fang had also been in a dilemma initially. The protection he offered was actually different from Etienne¡¯s, it could even be said to be two different things. Bi Fang¡¯s protection was only for biodiversity, for a future possibility, not for these specific eighteen geese. This was a common misunderstanding most people had; Bi Fang in his past life had encountered it, unable to understand the acts of animal conservationists who sacrificed their lives for the cause. People generally thought animal conservationists were the reckless types who would charge into farmers¡¯ homes to smash things up, which was entirely wrong. On one hand, it stemmed from a lack of understanding about biological conservation; on the other hand, present-day conservationists had done many puzzling things, genuinely baffling people. True animal conservation was never just about protecting animals in a singular manner; it was about maintaining a dynamic balance in nature, trying to sustain order with human intervention amidst the destruction humans inflicted on nature. It sounds ironic, but that¡¯s exactly how it is. Because the future of humans might just depend on this irony. The case of Artemisia annua is a prime example. If it went extinct decades ago, would artemisinin still exist? Would there be any hope for the many people suffering from malaria? The richer the biodiversity of an ecosystem, the greater its creativity; the extinction of every single species signals the impending death for many others. Protecting the biological chain is vital for maintaining ecological balance. True conservationists have never been about protecting just animals. It¡¯s about protecting humans themselves. The magnitude of this responsibility can be large or small; it really depends on the weight it carries in people¡¯s hearts. Many who sacrifice do so because they place a heavy weight on this duty. But Etienne was different; he didn¡¯t protect ecology or nature, but simply the ¡®companions¡¯ that had lived with him for six months, growing from eighteen eggs into eighteen geese. To Etienne, these geese were like the cats or dogs that grew up alongside you. As a child living in an old house, white bed sheets hung in the corridor, drying, the wind rustling the glossy green leaves, whispering amidst the afternoon sun beaming through a window at the end of the hallway, warmly spreading over your body. Back then, you were just a small child, waiting for your parents to get off work, waiting for so long, so very long, until finally, there was the sound of keys unlocking the door from outside. You couldn¡¯t wait to open the door, only to find, to your delight, that your parents had brought you a new playmate. It was cute, fluffy, and spoke with a lisp. For the next dozen years or so, it was there with you through tears and laughter, licking your face while you lay by its side after being scolded by your parents, even beginning to grow so old it struggled to walk. Then, one day, when you¡¯re in your teens, animal control barges in, waving a net and stating that your pet doesn¡¯t meet regulations and needs to be euthanized. Would you also sneakily release it, or perhaps even move to a different city to live with it? From the eyes of fourteenth-year-old Etienne, Bi Fang saw that resolve. Since they¡¯d already taken flight, might as well fly to the very end. He stood up, found a stick, and planted it firmly in the soil. Many seasoned viewers recognized instantly what Bi Fang was about to do. [Ah, Old Fang is going to determine the direction again!] [I know this, it¡¯s something about the AB line, right?] [Isn¡¯t there a quicker way? Why doesn¡¯t Old Fang use it?] ¡°Because of the deviation in the flight path, I need to know the location of this lake on the map to decide if it¡¯s viable to continue moving forward,¡± Bi Fang traced along the shadow of the stick. ¡°This time I need to calculate the latitude and longitude.¡± Chapter 166 - Chapter 166: Chapter 163: Unreliable Weather Forecast (Vote for Monthly Ticket) Chapter 166: Chapter 163: Unreliable Weather Forecast (Vote for Monthly Ticket) The tree stick stood in the mud, its shadow casting straight onto the ground. Bi Fang marked the shadow¡¯s position in the mud, his actions gentle and serious, like an old watchmaker in an alley, using tweezers to pick up small parts, assembling them piece by piece. If it weren¡¯t for the previous statement, some might truly believe that Bi Fang was repairing a watch. [Measuring out longitude and latitude, no way, no way, could someone really expect a stick to measure longitude and latitude?] [A stick to measure longitude and latitude? Is Master Fang kidding?] [Lying at home, I hurriedly checked my GPS and I was scared to death, thank goodness it¡¯s not me who¡¯s lost () ] [Longitude and latitude can be measured directly? If that¡¯s possible, I, Fang Shijie, will do a handstand and get diarrhea on the spot, then eat it!] [Don¡¯t try to swindle food and drinks, why not perform a lock-picking with a toothpick instead?] Not only the new audience didn¡¯t believe it, but many old fans also held doubtful attitudes. ¡°That¡¯s too fake, right? How could you measure longitude and latitude with just a stick? Don¡¯t streamers have to follow some basic principles when deceiving people?¡± A man hanging onto a subway strap couldn¡¯t help but speak out. The subway was crowded, and the man had been standing there for a while; by chance, he noticed two young girls in front of him watching a live stream, and he curiously glanced over, only to see this scene. The image on the cell phone showed a man slightly handsomer than he had been at that age, vividly promoting his act, then inserting a stick into the ground and casually scratching a couple of marks, claiming he could measure longitude and latitude with it. How do you even start with such baseless deception? It¡¯s only these naive young girls, pretty yet thoughtless, who could believe in such things. Yang Ziyun looked back and saw a balding, slightly overweight office worker slandering her idol; how could she stand it? ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t it be possible? Just because you can¡¯t do it doesn¡¯t mean Master Fang can¡¯t, he is the world¡¯s number one survival expert!¡± The man scoffed at this claim: ¡°Master Fang? A survival expert? The world¡¯s number one? That¡¯s laughable. Not to mention the titles sound dated, who rated him the world¡¯s number one? Was there a competition?¡± He pointed at Yang Ziyun and her classmate: ¡°It¡¯s you young girls who don¡¯t focus on studying properly and spend all day idolizing celebrities and internet famous figures, holding such worthless people up on a pedestal, instead of enriching yourselves by reading more books.¡± Yang Ziyun wanted to argue back, but her classmate snatched the initiative: ¡°Uncle, don¡¯t you ever watch the news? So arrogant. Even my grandfather goes online to read the news, couldn¡¯t there be someone who doesn¡¯t even know how to watch the news? No way, no way, right?¡± Uncle? I¡¯m not even thirty yet! The man choked on a mouthful of frustration. ¡°Oh, I get it, definitely because uncle has such high pressure from overtime work, and the boss is so fierce, no hope for a promotion, and his wife is cheating while his daughter is dating early, leading to no time to be online! Wow, that¡¯s so sad. Let¡¯s go, Ziyun, don¡¯t stay with him, bad luck is contagious!¡± The classmate¡¯s words shot out like bullets, and after speaking, she pulled Yang Ziyun through the crowd to another spot without looking back, leaving behind the stunned office worker. Yang Ziyun silently gave a thumbs up, her classmate still not placated. ¡°It¡¯s so infuriating, when Master Fang was hand-to-hand with the wolves, that guy probably didn¡¯t know where he was constipated in some corner.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, since he¡¯s so pitiful, let¡¯s be considerate.¡± Yang Ziyun covered her mouth to stifle her laughter. Wori. This uncle could hold back, but the aunt could not! The man overheard some of what they were saying, feeling hit right where it hurt, and was fuming with anger. How could he swallow this indignity when he had seen the name of the live stream! The man pulled out his phone, downloaded the Wolf Fang APP, and the first thing he saw upon opening it was Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast. Huo, it was even recommended on the homepage! Can¡¯t anyone see through this kind of scam? No way, he was really determined today; he wouldn¡¯t get off the subway until he exposed the other party! ¡°Calculating longitude and latitude is not hard; it¡¯s all about three factors: shadow, direction, and date. Don¡¯t find it unbelievable, what I rely on here is not the stick, but the sun.¡± Bi Fang pointed at the sun hanging high in the sky; the weather was good today, the sun had risen above the clouds, and sunlight spread down across the sky, tracing the shadows of trees on the ground. ¡°From a phenomenological perspective, we can treat the ground as a plane and the sky as a sphere, called the ¡®celestial sphere.¡¯ The sun travels along a circular path in the sky, rising in the east and setting in the west.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just the sun; all celestial bodies, whether the moon or the stars, rise in the east and set in the west on this celestial sphere as if they are revolving around an axis. This axis is Earth¡¯s axis of rotation.¡± ¡°The position on the celestial sphere to which this axis points is the south/north celestial pole. We determine our position on Earth¡¯s plane by using these celestial bodies for navigation.¡± After explaining the principle, Bi Fang continued to mark the shadow he had just made. ¡°First, we set up a rod on a level ground. Remember, it must be as level as possible so that the data obtained are accurate. Then we continually mark its shadow, and when the shadow is shortest, we record the direction of the shadow at that time, which is due north.¡± ¡°Measure the length of the shadow and the rod, calculate the solar elevation angle using trigonometric functions, consider the number of days since the equinoxes and solstices, I set out on the twenty-first, so today must be the twenty-second. Then, using trigonometric interpolation, calculate the latitude of the sun¡¯s direct radiation point for the day, add it, and you can get the local latitude value.¡± ¡°Besides, after determining the true north direction, record the time when the sun passes directly south. Because the Capital uses the time of 120 degrees east longitude, with the recorded time and the difference from 12 o¡¯clock, we can figure out the longitude.¡± ¡°However, this method of calculation is complex and might not be suitable for everyone. Isn¡¯t there a saying, if you can¡¯t do a math problem, your only option is to write an explanation.¡± [Damn, what the heck is this, I don¡¯t understand? Phenomenological? What is phenomenological? ] [Phenomenology, in physics, is when physical phenomena are not explained by their intrinsic causes but through physical laws derived from generalized experimental facts. Passing by¡­ a science and engineering dude.] [If you can¡¯t do a big question on a political exam, you can write nonsense; if you can¡¯t do an English essay, you can copy from the reading comprehension; but if you can¡¯t do a big math question, damn it, you can only write an explanation.] [Algebraist] [Who would have thought, even though I¡¯ve been stranded in the wilderness, I still have to do math problems?] Many viewers started to feel overwhelmed upon hearing the string of explanations. Bi Fang watched the shadow carefully; fortunately, it was still shortening, which meant it was nearing noon, and he hadn¡¯t missed the shortest point. If he had missed it, Bi Fang would have had to wait until night to use Polaris to measure the latitude and longitude. After several minutes, during the chat between Bi Fang and the audience, the shadow finally reached its shortest point and then began to elongate. Bi Fang hurriedly marked the spot where the shadow had been shortest. ¡°Measure the shadow and stick height; the data don¡¯t need to be precise, as long as the reference object remains constant, you can choose some small tree sticks to measure, because what we are looking for is the ratio.¡± Then Bi Fang started to write formulas with a tree branch on the nearby soil, when suddenly a few sheets of paper, a pencil, and a short ruler were handed to him. Bi Fang subconsciously took the paper, pencil, and ruler, then looked up at Etienne in surprise, ¡°Where did you get this from?¡± Etienne scratched his head, ¡°I brought my homework, I just left it on the plane, and now there are a few draft papers left.¡± [Wow, there¡¯s still this matter of homework?] [Amazing, he didn¡¯t forget to bring homework even when escaping ¨C clearly a good student.] Bi Fang was taken aback by this slick move, but having paper and a pencil did make things easier. He sat on a rock and wrote down a string of formulas that looked impressive to his online friends. [It¡¯s over, if you can¡¯t do math, does that mean you can¡¯t survive?] [This formula is giving me a headache. Old Fang is actually calculating functions by hand!] [I never paid this much attention in class, I¡¯m really sorry to my math teacher.] ¡°It¡¯s okay if everyone doesn¡¯t understand, in real Wilderness Survivalist situations, we rarely need to use this method to confirm latitude and longitude. It¡¯s just that this mission is special, there will be snow the day after tomorrow, so there¡¯s a high demand for time and accuracy.¡± ¡°Normally, you can use Polaris to measure at night. Stars are very bright in the wilderness and the method is simple. If there¡¯s a chance tonight, I will teach everyone.¡± Bi Fang bent over and struggled with the calculations, occasionally biting on his pencil, as many of the functions were not accurate without a calculator, so he had to settle for approximate values. The audience watched, their heads spinning from the complicated process. Just as Bi Fang calculated the answers, the paper suddenly darkened. Strange, why did it get dark? Etienne looked up. Lead-colored clouds rolled in from the southeast, the dense cloud layer casting an ominous foreboding. Etienne suddenly remembered what Elvan had said ¨C there would be a blizzard the day after tomorrow. But now, The blizzard had come early! Chapter 167 - Chapter 167: Chapter 164 Hoping North Sea is Fine Chapter 167: Chapter 164 Hoping North Sea is Fine Just moment ago, it was a clear and sunny day, but in less than half an hour, leaden clouds had rolled in from the southeast, thick as a winter quilt, not letting any sunshine through. [This weather is terrifying, is it going to snow?] [It seems so. I remember that professor said yesterday there would be snow the day after tomorrow, but this is only the second day, right?] [Isn¡¯t there always some error in the weather forecast?] [Master Fang, you better run now, or it¡¯ll be too late!] The online friends panicked at the sight of the clouds, remembering vividly the power of the last blizzard. If they got trapped, it wasn¡¯t just a question of whether the gliders could fly; the geese might even freeze to death. Etienne tugged at Bi Fang¡¯s robe anxiously. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s going to snow.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t panic, panicking won¡¯t help.¡± Bi Fang had naturally noticed the slowly drifting clouds, but he did not rush, as rushing would only make it harder to calculate. ¡°There¡¯s still some time before the clouds roll in over us. The most important thing is to find our current position and establish the right direction before we fly off. Otherwise, we might veer off course even more, and if we accidentally end up in a human city, the geese will remember it, and the danger will be great.¡± ¡°Go pick a few pieces of charcoal, wrap them in soil to take with us, then pour water into the pit to extinguish the fire, and don¡¯t forget to cover it with soil.¡± Hearing Bi Fang¡¯s words, Etienne complied with his instructions, though his shaking legs betrayed his nervousness. Even as Bi Fang calculated, he was explaining the methodology to the audience as if he wasn¡¯t in the least bit flustered, but the keen-eyed could tell he was recalculating a value. He had miscalculated just now. ¡°The angle of solar elevation is equal to arctanfstick height/shadow length), then calculate the latitude of the observation point = 90 ¨C the angle of solar elevation + the sun¡¯s declination angle from the almanac, and we have the latitude.¡± ¡°On clear days in the future, we can make repeated observations and calculate the average multiple times to improve accuracy. When done correctly, this method can achieve an error rate lower than 1/3000, and the positioning error won¡¯t exceed 4 kilometers.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s hands sped up noticeably, and his speech grew more urgent, the pencil scratching rapidly, with numbers almost merging into one another, the lines spreading like a fast-growing thicket. The clouds drew closer and closer, making everyone break out in a cold sweat. The world had gone mad, yet here was someone doing math problems! ¡°There are two days in the year when using the sun to measure direction is most accurate: the equinoxes of spring and fall because on these days, the length of day and night is equal globally, and true solar time aligns with mean solar time. Besides, you need to know the meridian of the East Eighth District, which is East Longitude 120¡ã.¡± ¡°This meridian passes through Hangzhou, not the Capital, so the so-called Capital time is actually the local time in Hangzhou. When calculating longitude, the time difference must be taken into account in relation to the geographic distance from Hangzhou-this detail cannot be overlooked, or the error may be substantial.¡± The calmer Bi Fang was, the more anxious Etienne became. Almost hopping from foot to foot, he urged continuously, and eventually couldn¡¯t help himself from untying the glider secured to a tree. Etienne, by the lakeside, began to prompt, ¡°Is it done yet? ¡°Almost.¡± ¡°Is it done?¡± ¡°Almost there! Go gather the clothes first!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s brows were tightly furrowed. He was acutely aware that though the clouds seemed to move slowly, they were actually racing towards them at speeds of over forty, perhaps even over fifty kilometers per hour, almost comparable to the speed of cars in the city! In just under fifteen minutes, they would overtake them! Focus, focus! Bi Fang had completed most of the calculations, with just the final result left! ¡°Is it done?¡± Etienne, clutching his windbreaker, looked up at the clouds nearly upon them, his heart threatening to leap out of his chest! This time Bi Fang didn¡¯t speak. Springing up from the rock like shattering through a layer of dark membrane back to reality, the wind flipping the pages, a set of coordinates appeared sharply defined. (Latitude 69¡ã1¡ä, East Longitude 24¡ã76¡ä)! [Holy shit, incredible! He actually figured it out!] [That¡¯s so awesome!] [Spaceship and Kneepads, Up for Grabs!] [Mastermind Doing Math at the Brink of Death! Who Else Can?] [What? A snowstorm is coming? Please let me finish this problem first] Bi Fang pulled over a storm jacket and draped it on, the wind suddenly roaring and creating a sound like a flapping flag as it whisked his black jacket. ¡°Let¡¯s go, on the plane!¡± Etienne shouted excitedly, recalled the geese, and jumped on the glider. Bi Fang pulled out a map and pinpointed their current location using latitude and longitude. As expected, they were off course! The route that was originally to the southwest had shifted to the southeast! Bi Fang folded up the map and headed to the lakefront, pausing in surprise when he saw Etienne sitting in the pilot¡¯s seat. He waved him to move back, ¡°What are you doing? Sit in the back!¡± [Hahaha, which young lad doesn¡¯t dream of piloting a glider?] [Master Fang seems scared] [He¡¯s just too used to it] Etienne also realized he was in the wrong seat and hurriedly crawled to the back. Bi Fang took the pilot¡¯s seat, cranked the engine, and the propeller blades began to spin rapidly, nudging the glider to move forward smoothly. Etienne in the back row was incessantly honking the horn, and the slightly panicked geese due to the inclement weather started to gather, quickly forming a V formation. Having done this once before, they organized very quickly this time. Tiny, scattered snowflakes began to fall, lingering on the lake surface without melting. Etienne caught one and was surprised to see it was enormous, almost the size of a bean. ¡°This snowstorm is too late. An enormous amount of moisture has built up, which might cause serious sudden snowfall,¡± Bi Fang said seriously, wishing the propeller could spin faster. At first, when they were far away, no one felt much, but now with the clouds overhead, it became clear how frighteningly thick they were-so much so that the sun was completely obscured, leaving not a sliver of sunlight visible. The chilling, ghastly sound of the wind echoed through the sky, disappearing into the vast snowy expanse, as if unleashing ferocious spirits. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, that¡¯s a nimbostratus cloud, often covering the sky uniformly, with a thickness generally between four to five kilometers, which is akin to ten Shanghai World Financial Centers stacked together. Such thickness is enough to completely block out the light from both the sun and the moon!¡± Finally, as the snow thickened and the clouds almost enveloped them, the glider left the surface of the water at last. The Shuiyou audience began to cheer, but just as the glider took off, a fierce gust of wind lifted the aircraft almost 70 degrees upward, frightening the viewers to nearly have a heart attack! Fortunately, Bi Fang had pulled the control stick in advance, lowering the nose of the glider and barely keeping it under control, then using the wind to climb higher! Facing the gale, the glider flew extremely fast. Sitting in the back, Etienne felt like he was on a roller coaster, with a strong sense of being pushed back. Soon, with violent shaking, they successfully burst through the snowfall with snowflakes in tow! Behind them, the clouds were still in pursuit, but it was too late. The glider ascended into the sky, the howling wind roaring with relentless fury as snow swirled around in an angry roar. So close to disaster, only to escape by a whisker! As the flight smoothed out, Etienne looked back and saw that not a single one of the eighteen geese was missing; all were safe and sound! He¡¯d been so worried that the geese would fall behind, given how fast they had been flying. Bi Fang looked back, saw Etienne¡¯s concern, and explained, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, geese fly very fast, reaching speeds of 68 to 90 kilometers per hour. Even on a long journey of over five thousand kilometers, it only takes a little over a month. They¡¯re even faster than the wind speed in a snowstorm. And with a tailwind, if we¡¯re flying fast, they won¡¯t slow down.¡± [That was really dangerous just now, but we¡¯re lucky we flew early, or it would¡¯ve been over for us] [Exactly, if the snowstorm had come unexpectedly, wouldn¡¯t we have been doomed? Good thing the glider is fast] [By the way, didn¡¯t Old Fang take measurements for latitude and longitude in Mohe last time? If he did, couldn¡¯t we just have coordinated rescue based on that?] [Are you dumb? Taking latitude and longitude measures is essentially about observing celestial bodies. During the storm in Mohe, there was no sunlight for days. What celestial bodies are you going to look at? Think before you speak.] [Badass, someone actually understood that! So strong] Bi Fang saw the Shuiyou joking around and chuckled. They were indeed lucky this time to have escaped before the snowstorm hit, but there was no need to worry too much if it did catch up; it wasn¡¯t their first encounter with one, just so long as it wasn¡¯t a storm over the North Sea. Storms at sea are far more dangerous than snowstorms on land. Chapter 168 - Chapter 168: Chapter 165: The meat seems to be running by itself! Chapter 168: Chapter 165: The meat seems to be running by itself! ¡°They¡¯re going to sue you for forging documents, and you, you promised me¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care about that at all, sue me if you want to, just give me back my phone, now!¡± ¡°Calm down, calm down! Sit down!¡± ¡°My son is still out there! In the wilderness!¡± ¡°Get away from me!¡± ¡°Sir, calm down!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t touch me! I need to go find him, now!¡± ¡°Alright, you¡¯re only going to make things worse like this! And Bi Fang went with him, he¡¯s very capable, Etienne will be fine.¡± ¡°But they didn¡¯t take anything with them! No food, no water, no tents! All the routes are in the wild! It¡¯s too hard, too hard!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Etienne take a backpack¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s full of papers, papers!¡± Inside the police station, Elvan was arguing with Johnny and others nonstop, and the previously quiet police department was filled with a clamor of voices. ¡°What on earth is going on? Why are there suddenly so many people here?¡± A male officer handed a coffee to a female officer, and the two leaned against the wall, watching the crowd inside the room argue. The female officer took a sip and summed up, ¡°Forgery of a permit for a glider- led goose migration project, and they also released the geese without authorization. That bald guy was going to capture the geese to take them back, but during the argument, that guy¡¯s son took off in the glider; now everyone is frantic.¡± ¡°Is the situation serious?¡± ¡°Not really, but there might be penalties, and an adult has gone with the kid too; they should be back soon. I heard there¡¯s even a live broadcast, but I can¡¯t see it because it¡¯s behind a firewall.¡± The male officer said helplessly after hearing the whole story, ¡°Kids these days really cause too much trouble.¡± ¡°You¡¯re telling me, if my son did something like that I¡¯d spank his behind raw!¡± Another portly officer chimed in, ¡°Although, animal protection is getting out of hand these days, did you guys hear about that Tesche thing? It was also caused by an environmental group.¡± ¡°Oh, what happened?¡± Both officers were curious. ¡°Tesche was built in Huaxia in just ten months, started production in a year, quick as if they rode a rocket, their stock price even doubled. After tasting success, Tesche¡¯s boss wanted to build another factory in Germany, guess what happened then?¡± More people gathered around, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Obviously, the local government was welcoming, tax revenue, jobs were all good for their record, they immediately approved a large tract of wasteland, even saying the German factory would be built faster than the Huaxia factory.¡± ¡°Of course, German engineering is the best in the world.¡± ¡°Who says so, Huaxia¡¯s construction speed is number one in the world now.¡± ¡°Impossible, absolutely impossible, Huaxia might be fast, but the quality is not good, Germany is the most powerful, number one in manufacturing precision! I¡¯ve climbed over the firewall and seen it myself, even famous Huaxia personalities say so, their sewers don¡¯t clog or flood even after a hundred years, and parts from a century ago wrapped in oil paper are still new.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Germany just get flooded the other day? Almost two hundred people died¡­¡± ¡°Wait, what does this have to do with animal protection?¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s related, they were going to cut trees and flatten the land, which was planted with some economical-valueless decorative forests just for the looks. The very first day they started to cut trees, they were sued for destruction of greenery, ecological damage, and soil erosion, but there wasn¡¯t even a river nearby.¡± ¡°Moreover, it was just wasteland, nothing there but a few mouse nests. After a few months, Tesche agreed to plant three times the artificial forest elsewhere to settle it. Not just that, there were also water usage issues, the locality only had a little over 8,000 residents, fewer than the number of factory workers. They protested about the water being used.¡± ¡°In the end, Tesche had to relocate wolf packs, move lizards and ants homes. They thought it was all settled until suddenly they found snakes hibernating underground. The environmental group got a court order to halt the work, and they have to wait until the snakes finish hibernating and are relocated to start working. Now it¡¯s almost two years and they haven¡¯t even built the fence.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I hate animal protection.¡± A nearby officer voiced out. ¡°Exactly, I feel the same way, it¡¯s completely unnecessary.¡± ¡°It¡¯s precisely these actions that cause a lot of trouble for genuine animal protection efforts.¡± As Bi Fang was gliding, he was educating the viewers on the difficulties faced by animal protection nowadays, as well as the misunderstandings many people have about it.¡± ¡°All sorts of so-called ¡®public interest organizations¡¯ in quotes go out of their way to hinder your actions with all kinds of absurd reasons, they like to take the moral high ground and talk to you about the rights of rats.¡± Nowadays, animal protection has been totally warped into two types. One type is the traditional animal conservationist, hassled at the forefront of protecting endangered species. The other kind is the ¡°cute animal conservationist.¡± They are capable of extreme behaviors such as stopping trucks carrying dogs for meat on highways, releasing animals from labs, and hurling insults and threats at others. ¡°Those so-called animal conservationists online all share a common trait, they are extremely self-centered: ¡®I feel that your behavior hurts my tender sensibilities, so I must crush you to feel better myself.''¡± ¡°They wallow in a form of self-gratification as their main purpose, commonly referred to as ¡®self-hype¡¯.¡± ¡°What these people want to protect is not any animal but their eyes, which they feel have been sullied by seeing such animals, adhering to the mentality of ¡®out of sight, out of mind.¡¯ Cats and dogs are cute and need protection, but would you protect an ugly yet endangered toad? If you can¡¯t do that, don¡¯t call yourself an animal protector. You¡¯re not worthy. ¡°The key is that these people have relatively high incomes, either from corporate settlements or gratuitous donations. Who would make donations? I wouldn¡¯t dare guess.¡± [Holy shit, that¡¯s terrifying when you think about it!] [I feel like it¡¯s the competitors!] [They¡¯re literally using slogans to eliminate rivals! This feels like a tactic to dupe the public.] [No wonder, these foreigners are ruthless!] [No kidding, animal protection is getting out of hand overseas; lobsters even have to be stunned before boiling.] [Right, I heard they¡¯re required to give pigs toys, and it¡¯s illegal not to. Their brains have gone watt.] ¡°True animal protection should be like Professor Elvan, aimed at rare animals. Essentially, it¡¯s about giving humans a way out, saving a potential future for humans, rather than worrying about ¡®mouse rights.''¡± The glider flew hundreds of meters in the sky, soaring as if riding the wind with great freedom. Bi Fang pulled the control bar, tilting the glider¡¯s nose upwards to ascend further while changing the viewpoint. The airplane soared into the sky like an arrow shot upward, creating strong air pressure. The forest beneath grew more distant as the plane surged towards the heavens and disappeared into the clouds. The viewers in the live stream could feel the surging power of the air currents around them. Bi Fang circled above the forest, gazing at the mountain ranges to the southeast¡ªlayer upon layer, like green barriers. This first-person perspective of flying however one wished brought immense shock and enjoyment to the audience. [I¡¯ve dragged the attic fan out to simulate the airflow!] [Damn, why didn¡¯t I think of that? Count me in, taking out the summer fan!] [Remember to blow it in your face with your mouth open¡ªwooo wooo wooo¡ª it¡¯s just like experiencing it firsthand, such strong immersion!] [Old Fang is showing off! The guy above is even more brilliant, stop talking, I¡¯m already flying, wooo wooo wooo~ ~ ~ ] [Manslaughter by manhood] After flying for over half an hour, Bi Fang followed the route on the map, passing through the mountains to another tundra area. Etienne, sitting in the back, looked at the mixed green and white grassland and asked curiously, ¡°Has it snowed here?¡± ¡°Maybe, Finland is close to the Arctic, and even one-third of the country is within the Arctic Circle. It¡¯s November, so it¡¯s quite normal to encounter snowy terrain. According to the map, it might take us another two or three days to fly out of Finland.¡± Bi Fang circled once, preparing to leave the area. It was around one or two in the afternoon; if they delayed, they might have to spend the night in the snowy wilderness, which would be a severe test for the Goose. However, after flying for another fifteen minutes, Bi Fang suddenly changed his mind. He stepped on the pedal, making the glider circle in the sky. ¡°Etienne, do you want to eat some meat?¡± ¡°Meat? Where¡¯s the meat?¡± Etienne searched curiously, finding nothing even after looking for a while because Bi Fang hadn¡¯t brought any food. ¡°I didn¡¯t bring food.¡± Bi Fang pointed towards the ground, ¡°But look below, there¡¯s meat running.¡± On the snow-covered ground, a herd of reindeer ran freely. They looked as small as ants moving during a rainy day. Chapter 169 - Chapter 169: Chapter 166: The Sparrow Stalks Behind? Chapter 169: Chapter 166: The Sparrow Stalks Behind? ¡°Reindeer!¡± Etienne exclaimed. As the glider flew closer, the audience finally got a clear view of the creatures, which turned out to be large deer with long antlers! [Reindeer? Is Old Fang going hunting again?] [Wow, are we going to have meat now? But isn¡¯t it illegal to eat wild reindeer meat?] [Etienne: You¡¯re kidding me, I just forced down that nasty lichen, and now you tell me there¡¯s meat?] [Upstairs, do you still think this is inside the country? This is foreign territory, lawless land, Master Fang has been unleashed!] Bi Fang hadn¡¯t expected such good luck to stumble upon a migrating herd of reindeer on flat ground! Seeing the barrage screen messages from the Shuiyou, Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, everyone. Reindeer are the most abundant species of deer in the world, with nearly four million wild reindeer worldwide. They are a major source of meat for many people living in the Polar Regions, and there are quite a few reindeer meat restaurants in Finland itself.¡± Bi Fang gained altitude with the glider, circling around, looking for a place to land. Fortunately, if there¡¯s one thing Finland has plenty of, it¡¯s lakes. Finland¡¯s land area is only 330,000 square kilometers, not even as large as Yunnan Province, yet it¡¯s known as ¡°The Land of a Thousand Lakes.¡± Even that title is an understatement, as Finland has 188,000 lakes; that¡¯s roughly one lake for every two square kilometers. If it weren¡¯t for that, Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t have bothered with the desperate calculations of latitude and longitude, as he could simply find his location on a map by some of the larger lakes. After circling around, a small frozen lake came into view. Bi Fang piloted the plane to spiral down, breaking through the thin ice with the pontoons, cutting a long waterline and docking steadily at the shore. The geese landed on the lake¡¯s surface, got a shock from the cold, trembling as they flapped their wings to climb onto the shore, shaking their feathers incessantly. Bi Fang pulled out a hunting knife, handed it to Etienne for self-defense, and pointed at the glider, ¡°You take the glider to the middle of the lake. Don¡¯t get off on shore recklessly. If you run into danger, just yell for me. The drone stays with you, And the audience will help you watch too. I¡¯ll come back as soon as I can. If all goes well, we¡¯ll have deer meat tonight.¡± Etienne was initially worried, but thinking of the lichen¡¯s unique ¡°flavor¡± ¡­ He had no choice but to agree, as he did not wish to taste lichen again. ¡°Remember, don¡¯t panic if you encounter danger. Even if the geese are in danger, don¡¯t rush to shore easily. Don¡¯t put yourself in peril for them. If it really comes to it, just fly the glider up into the sky.¡± Before leaving, Bi Fang reiterated his instructions several times. He set the drone¡¯s barrage screen to French to facilitate communication between the two parties. With the drone, he could constantly monitor Etienne¡¯s situation to prevent accidents. As long as Etienne followed his instructions exactly, there wouldn¡¯t be a problem. Very few predators are willing to swim to hunt their prey and even if there are, Etienne would have enough time to take the plane to the sky. As Bi Fang left, the live broadcast screen switched to two split views. One showed Bi Fang¡¯s first-person perspective as he hunted reindeer, and the other displayed Etienne, who remained on the water, in third-person view. Looking at the drone in front of him, Etienne was quite curious. He watched the screen as a heap of barrage comments popped up furiously, surprisingly translated into French! Etienne got excited, marveling at how intelligent the drone was, almost enabling barrier-free communication, and he extends his hand in greeting. ¡°Hello! Huaxia¡¯s audience!¡± [Wow! It¡¯s a handsome guy!] [By the way, is it winter vacation in France already?] [So interesting, one live stream, double the fun!] [Can the handsome guy tell us the story of raising the White-fronted Geese? I¡¯m so curious!] The barrage was thick and fast, and Etienne was taken aback by Shuiyou¡¯s enthusiasm, but he quickly got used to it. ¡°Of course, to be honest, I didn¡¯t like them at all when Elvan first brought the goose eggs home. To get them used to the engine noise, Elvan played that sound on the speakers every day, really loudly too, making it impossible for me to sleep at night. But gradually, I got used to it, and one day when I went to see the eggs in the hatchery¡­¡± Crrack! Bi Fang snapped off a branch, checked its weight and length, and held it in hand to serve as a walking stick. It had been less than fifteen minutes when Bi Fang reached a snow slope, and the reindeer herd spotted earlier from the air appeared once again before everyone¡¯s eyes. in the first-person perspective, this hunting view caused the adrenaline of the viewers to surge, and they held their breaths nervously, as if afraid to startle the deer herd in front of them. Bi Fang slowly descended the snow slope, lay down in the snow, and pointed to the nearby reindeer herd, saying. ¡°The most astonishing behavior of reindeer is their annual migration that spans hundreds of kilometers. With the arrival of spring, they leave the forests and grasslands they live in and head north along centuries-old unchanging routes. It is always the females that lead, followed closely by the males, marching in orderly fashion, eating as they go, and traveling day and night.¡± ¡°They shed their thick winter coats along the way, and grow new, thin summer fur; the shed wool falls to the ground, serving as markers, year after year, for who knows how many centuries.¡± ¡°This herd of reindeer is most likely migrating.¡± Below the snow slope, the reindeer herd formed a long line, with several leading reindeers bearing huge antlers, elegant and robust, their dense brown fur and powerfully arched backs indicating they are animals adept at leaping, and those big, fine-haired antlers seemed so touchable. Several deer in the line occasionally stopped to nibble the green grass buried under the snow, then lifted their heads to look around alertly, just as Bi Fang had described. What puzzled viewers, however, was that all these reindeer seemed to have antlers? Were they all males? [Damn, Old Fang¡¯s walking stick has appeared again.] [Why do I feel like this hunt seems even more difficult?] [I feel like it looks like the Pere David¡¯s deer I¡¯ve seen before, is it really not illegal?] ¡°Many people think reindeer are similar to Pere David¡¯s deer, also known as ¡öthe four not alike,¡¯ but there are significant differences between the two,¡± Bi Fang said without looking at the barrage, having to respond to netizens¡¯ questions in a different way since the drone was absent. ¡°Pere David¡¯s deer has the longest tail among deer, while the reindeer has an extremely short one. Pere David¡¯s deer¡¯s antlers have no brow tines and all the tines grow backward, whereas reindeer have very complex antlers growing forward, and they are the only type of deer where both males and females grow antlers.¡± ¡°Actually, there are no wild reindeer in our country; they are basically introduced and domesticated, speaking of which, it¡¯s interesting that the reindeer herders are the Ewenki people whom I¡¯ve mentioned many times before!¡± Bi Fang watched the reindeer herd, moving along with them and slowly looking for the right hunting opportunity while determining which deer was easier to catch. The reindeer below the snow slope remained oblivious to everything. Bi Fang took out his harpoon and tied it to the walking stick with vine, making a makeshift short spear, and took this opportunity to share some knowledge with everyone. ¡°In Ewenki legend, long ago, the Oroqen, Ewenki, and Hezhen people shared the same ancestors and lived in the primeval forests near Lake Baikal.¡± ¡°As the tribes gradually migrated, those who did not want to leave the Khingan Range became the Oroqen.¡± ¡°The tribes that moved out of the mountains to the plains became Ewenki people, living in Hulunbuir, primarily engaged in pastoralism.¡± ¡°The Hezhen people followed the river down and reached the north of the Changbai Mountains.¡± ¡°Over three hundred years ago, one of the most distant and mysterious branches of the Ewenki people migrated from places like Lake Baikal to the Argun River basin, settling on the northern banks of the Genhe at the Argun (Hulunbuir). ¡°Unlike the Oroqen, they developed an inseparable bond with reindeer and thus were referred to as ¡®the reindeer-herding Ewenki,¡¯ sustaining themselves through reindeer herding and hunting.¡± ¡°Among the Huaxia, Ewenki are the only ethnic group that herds reindeer. Regrettably, as society progresses, more and more Ewenki choose to leave the forests, and their unique hunting culture has started to collapse. ¡°In the vast northern forests, the sound of Ewenki people calling reindeer and knocking on birch bark vessels will no longer echo.¡± [Damn, I was wondering why they all had antlers, thought it was a fencing team or something!] [Fencing team¡­ looking at those reindeer antlers, they¡¯re so damn picturesque.] [Damn, it¡¯s the Ewenki again, this ethnic group seems so badass!] [Me too, feels like they know a bit of everything.] ¡°These traditional hunting-based ethnic groups have many practical survival skills, and many of my skills come from them,¡± Bi Fang said as he continued to watch the reindeer. The reindeer slowly moved, with one or two occasionally straying from the line to graze on the sides. Bi Fang fixed his gaze on a nearby reindeer, like a hidden tiger lying in ambush. But what no one knew was that, not too far away, another pair of eyes was quietly watching their own ¡°prey.¡± The resemblance between the two was striking! Chapter 170 - Chapter 170: Chapter 167: The Setting Sun Glows Red Chapter 170: Chapter 167: The Setting Sun Glows Red Round black pupils contracted to a fine line, faint light flitting within, reflecting the image of a goose. Curling claws gripped the rock firmly, the predator looked down from its high perch at its prey. The wild geese, never having lived in the wild, had no sense of vigilance and were oblivious to the impending danger, continuing to stroll leisurely in the snow-covered grass. In the middle of the lake, Etienne was having a great time chatting with his online friends, just about to spill some embarrassing anecdotes about Elvan, when out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of something moving¡¯on the boulder. It seemed¡­ as if something big was shifting about on top? ¡°What is that¡­?¡± Etienne looked up through the dense shade of the trees, where the sunlight, broken by branches and leaves, dappled and scattered, fell on hair as clear as snow. Upon the rock, a nimble figure stepped forward, each movement an adjustment of muscle status, the hind foot landing perfectly in the imprint made by the front foot. It shook its body in the wind, the mane-like long hair fluttering like a battle flag, its backdrop a reddening sunset. The sun gradually slanted westward, stretching the shadows long. Daylight is short in the polar winter; it was only just past three o¡¯clock, and in about half an hour, darkness would fall. ¡°Many felines prefer to hunt at dusk and dawn, and this is also a good opportunity for us.¡± Bi Fang scrutinized one animal after another, patiently selecting suitable prey. ¡°Don¡¯t pick the leading doe, don¡¯t pick the fawns. Reindeer are very timid; they only flee when faced with danger, but to hunt the two types I mentioned, you might encounter resistance, which is very dangerous, particularly with fawns because their mothers will go berserk!¡± This point was clear to Shuiyou without explanation. Upon closer observation, the leading doe was simply huge, like a small horse, and with those long antlers, a single hit could be fatal on the spot. We are going to catch the elderly deer and the young ones. Unless there is no chance at all, try not to go for the sick deer; high temperatures can kill bacteria, but that doesn¡¯t mean they can remove toxins. Take Staphylococcus aureus, for example. The bacteria itself can die easily, but the enterotoxin it produces is highly heat-resistant.¡± ¡°Look, that one¡¯s good.¡± Following Bi Fang¡¯s gaze, the viewers quickly spotted which one he was referring to. A young reindeer, lifting its forelegs, trailed at the back of the herd, limping and moving unevenly. Without a doubt, the best hunting target of the season had appeared! The speed of reindeer is one of the slowest among cervids, only half that of the Tibetan antelope, but they can still reach nearly fifty kilometers per hour, almost twice that of humans. Therefore, a limping deer is the optimal choice, with no second thought.¡± Bi Fang took off his black coat, leaving only the white lining, a dressing technique of his to blend into various environments for camouflage. Without the black coat, Bi Fang gradually merged with the surroundings. With his gaze firmly locked on the target, he began to move with the herd of reindeer, waiting for a sufficiently close distance. Without his coat, Bi Fang¡¯s limbs started to feel cold. He was uphill, the reindeer downhill-a natural advantage. As long as he could close the distance to within ten meters, Bi Fang was confident he could catch up to and kill the limping reindeer. But after waiting for over ten minutes, Bi Fang slowly realized something wasn¡¯t right. Reindeer were supposed to graze as they walked, so why did this herd keep running off to the sides to eat? ¡°This is a glacier!¡± Upon closer observation, Bi Fang finally realized the herd of reindeer was walking on a glacier! ¡°This is troublesome. If I charge out now, it will only cause the reindeer to scatter in panic. The heavy trampling could cause resonance and shatter the ice.¡± ¡°The surface of this kind of glacier is extremely unstable, and the depth of the water below is difficult to predict. If you fall in, the zero-degree water temperature will instantly stimulate your cardiovascular system to contract, leading to accelerated blood circulation.¡± ¡°A large amount of blood rushing back to the brain could cause temporary dizziness, and if it¡¯s someone with mediocre swimming skills, this is where they¡¯re most likely to choke on water, flail about, and with the ice breaking up in large chunks, it¡¯d be even harder to get ashore, ultimately leading to drowning!¡± [Isn¡¯t this very dangerous?] [Maybe it¡¯s better to give up?] [Or maybe just scare them a bit? Shatter the ice surface? Take the opportunity to grab one?] ¡°However, ice breaking up is a low-probability event; this group of deer has been walking for so long without any problems, so the ice is likely very thick. Plus, reindeer are good swimmers; even if the ice was shattered, I might not catch anything.¡± Bi Fang felt he could take the gamble, with his current physique even if he fell into the icy river, he shouldn¡¯t pass out. But the viewers in front of the screen were undoubtedly more anxious, as what they saw was not just an icy river, but a ticking time bomb! The limping reindeer was now about forty meters away from Bi Fang, lagging at the very back of the herd. ¡°Looking downhill from the slope gives a natural advantage, I¡¯ve said before that herbivores have a very broad field of vision, about two hundred and eighty degrees, but we can still get a bit closer.¡± ¡°Look at this wind, it¡¯s a clear headwind, and the scent is in our favor.¡± Bi Fang picked up a handful of dry snow and gently released it, as the snow drifted backward in the strong wind, clearly showing the direction of the wind. The strong wind would also help mask the sound of his footsteps in the snow. Leaving the snow slope, Bi Fang ran swiftly below it. The sound of the wind covered his footsteps, and he quickly positioned himself behind the reindeer team, narrowing the distance between them to within thirty meters. ¡°Next, it¡¯s time to wait, to wait for this reindeer to leave the herd to graze, then we seize the opportunity to throw the short spear! Even if we can¡¯t kill it with one strike, we must inflict serious damage!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a pity I don¡¯t have a bow and arrows; if I did, I could shoot directly from this distance, no need to sneak up as cautiously as I am now.¡± Bi Fang planned to make a long bow when he got back. During the month-long migration period, having a bow would greatly ensure their quality of life. Gripping the short spear in his hand, Bi Fang began to regulate his breathing. The sunset gradually pulled the sunlight from the earth, turning the vast red snowfield into a red-black expanse. Soon, nightfall would descend over Lapland, marking the last sunset this lame deer would ever see. As time ticked by the second, the world was left with only the wind¡¯s sorrowful whistle. It was getting late, and Bi Fang was so patient it was almost frightening, following the herd for nearly half a kilometer, not hurrying at all. The quieter the environment, the higher the tension for the viewers. Without the drone, the image lost some of its artistic quality but gained in engagement. The audience felt like they were a ferocious tiger, just waiting for the prey to reveal a flaw, then using their sharp teeth to bite through its throat! Finally, the limping reindeer left the group to graze! And it was on Bi Fang¡¯s side of the riverbank! The distance was closing again! So thrilling! ¡°Damn, how did this lad just waltz up on the bank like that?¡± In a dorm room, one of the guys yelled when he saw what was happening. The majority of viewers had zoomed in on Bi Fang¡¯s portion of the split screen, utterly ignoring Etienne; only a few who were watching both screens noticed the situation. Cao Lifeng asked without understanding, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Switch back to dual-screen, Etienne has landed up on the bank with his glider!¡± ¡°What?¡± The other guys in the dorm exclaimed and quickly switched back to dual-screen, indeed seeing Etienne gliding in toward the lakeside! Chapter 171 - Chapter 171: Chapter 168: Herds of Deer Frenzied Run, The Lynx Bends the Bow! Chapter 171: Chapter 168: Herds of Deer Frenzied Run, The Lynx Bends the Bow! ¡°What is this kid trying to do?¡± Bi Fang¡¯s instructions to the audience were still clear in their minds; he had repeatedly cautioned Etienne not to go ashore, just to stay in the center of the lake, but now why had he suddenly started the paraglider to go ashore? A wave of tension gripped countless viewers. In the half-hour that Bi Fang had been gone, Etienne¡¯s recollections and narratives of the past had already made everyone like this brave and strong French boy. The online friends had understood Etienne¡¯s feelings for the geese, his efforts and perseverance, and were deeply touched by it, and now seeing Etienne going ashore, they were genuinely afraid that something would happen to him. This worry wasn¡¯t unfounded; accidents in Bi Fang¡¯s live streams were all too common, so much so that it would be embarrassing to say you¡¯d been to the wilderness without experiencing something unexpected. Eating a rabbit could lead to an encounter with a Black Bear, even snacking on spicy strips might result in meeting a prehistoric creature, and what was supposed to be a simple desert trip could turn into a cave exploration adventure ¡ªwhat couldn¡¯t happen? Of course, this was also related to Bi Fang¡¯s tendency to take the initiative in dangerous situations. You couldn¡¯t say he was courting death, just that he was skilled and very brave. He would often go towards danger, but there was no doubt that the wilderness was truly perilous, and it was very easy to lose one¡¯s life out there. Faint-hearted viewers even developed a fear of the wilderness. In their eyes, dangers lurked everywhere outside, with Black Bears and wild wolves at every turn, and for Etienne to set foot on land was to step into Hell! But when Etienne got ashore, making a wide detour to the bushes where the geese were, everyone was shocked and couldn¡¯t believe their eyes. Less than fifteen meters away from the bushes where the geese stayed, there stood a massive rock, and right now, on this boulder, a big cat appeared! In the setting sun, every strand of fur on the big cat sparkled like crystal, and the tuft of short hair at the tip of its ears stood upright like needle points, while the long hair on its cheeks fluttered in the wind. Sharp claws were embedded in the rock, and no one doubted the power of those paws. They were blades that could easily rip through human throats! [It¡¯s a lynx!] [Damn, a lynx?] Someone in the live chat recognized this animal and was even clear about its prowess. [I studied biology, I¡¯ve seen this animal. It is a medium-sized predator, although the lynx itself only weighs twenty to thirty kilograms, it can hunt animals over fifty kilograms!] [Medium-sized feline species have never been recorded killing humans, but a short-tailed cat about one meter in length can hunt 150-pound mule deer, and the Eurasian lynx even has a record of killing 400-pound elks!] A set of gruesome data was laid out in front of everyone, and they all knew. It doesn¡¯t eat humans. But that doesn¡¯t mean the lynx lacks the ability to attack! The online friends became anxious, as being watched by a wild animal was so unsettling. [It¡¯s over, Old Fang isn¡¯t here!] [Why go ashore in such danger? Wind tight, pull call!] [Quickly call Old Fang! ] [It¡¯s no use, Old Fang can¡¯t see the barrage!] [Etienne, hurry back, go back!] [Right, Etienne hurry back!] [Danger!] Many online friends immediately thought of calling Bi Fang, then realized the next second that Bi Fang didn¡¯t have the drone with him and couldn¡¯t see the barrage! It was a checkmate situation, with the drone present they couldn¡¯t see the barrage, and without it, they couldn¡¯t see what was happening! In fact, Bi Fang could see the barrage, but at this moment he was at a crucial point in the hunt; the barrage had been blocked long ago, all his focus was on the reindeer, and he wasn¡¯t aware of the situation here at all. Moreover, according to his thinking, as long as Etienne just stayed put in the center of the lake, he wouldn¡¯t encounter any danger. But an unexpected event occurred! A lynx had stealthily approached, wanting to eat the geese! Etienne cared about these eighteen geese more than anyone else, and he also spotted the lynx before anyone else! He dared not sound the whistle, nor dared to drive the paraglider over. He was afraid his actions and noises would startle the lynx and make it pounce on and hunt the geese before they could react. He couldn¡¯t accept the loss of any one of them. His heart was pounding fiercely as Etienne walked towards the lynx, this movement stirring everyone¡¯s spirit. Lynx! Reindeer! Bi Fang! Etienne! Prey and hunter, man and beast! On the left screen, Bi Fang was fully engaged in hunting a large elk; on the right screen, the young man cautiously confronted the beast! In that moment, the world seemed to spin, and people could no longer discern their place in nature¡ªwere we mighty or were we weak? Why were we standing at the top of the food chain one second, and the next, turning into fish on the chopping board? The most primitive, most violent conflict¡ªthis was the destiny born into every creature! The wind howled around them, deep and vast, like a wolf¡¯s long howl under the moon or as if beasts and demons were roaring, ready to leap out of the void and tear everything apart. Nature was cruel by birth; no one could truly stand invincible, not even the powerful prehistoric Tyrannosaurus, which would one day be exterminated by nature. Etienne, wearing a long robe, clutched the hunting knife given to him by Bi Fang, his legs shaking as he stood before the goose. The lynx was just fifteen meters away; Etienne¡¯s entire body reacted to the stress, feeling as if he were being pricked by needles, his skin breaking out in goosebumps that seemed ready to jump out! The large cat stared intently at Etienne, its easy prey, the goose, now blocked; even though the creature before it was more than double its size, it still let out an angry roar. ¡°Huff, huff, don¡¯t be afraid, don¡¯t be afraid.¡± In his heart, Etienne silently encouraged himself, remembering Bi Fang¡¯s teachings and strived to stand firm while opening his long robe to make himself look bigger. When a wild beast confronts you, never run; it¡¯s actually observing you. If you run, it¡¯ll know you¡¯re scared and chase you, biting at your heels. Wild beasts can smell your fear; the more afraid you are, the more excited they become! ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, don¡¯t be afraid, it¡¯s not that big.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, don¡¯t be afraid, you can eat slowly.¡± Bi Fang was buried entirely in the snow, minimizing his movements. The light of the setting sun slowly faded, with the great sun about to sink below the horizon, the last of its light setting the clouds ablaze like fire amidst the deepening dusk, Bi Fang¡¯s gaze shining like a torch. Fifteen meters, just fifteen meters, not even as long as a train car! Bi Fang could even smell the scent of grass from the reindeer¡¯s mouth, faint and lingering. Like the reindeer¡¯s mood, it was hurt but cared for by companions. There was just not enough to eat, and as the weather grew colder, the grass became drier, like the cotton it had eaten; perhaps the grass farther away was tenderer? The reindeer walked further and further away, closer and closer at the same time. Bi Fang held the short spear, his breath nearly stopping, every muscle in his body reacting in this moment. Finally, the reindeer lowered its head. Now was the time! The will, like a beast reawakening, roared from the depths of his heart. Bi Fang felt the power growing within him. It was so strong that with the short spear, he thrust out as quick as lightning, like Zeus punishing a Titan! ¡°Ah!¡± Two roars exploded rolling forth! It was as if a tiger and a lion roared in unison, their voices intertwining and resounding through the woods. The deer herd stampeded, the lynx crouched! At that moment, the sun set, and a blanket of darkness enveloped the entire world. Night had fallen. Chapter 172 - Chapter 172: Chapter 169: Charge! Charge! Charge! Chapter 172: Chapter 169: Charge! Charge! Charge! The short spear and hunting knife gleamed with a faint blue luminescence, light as bright as the full moon. The male tiger and the young lion roared simultaneously, the moment was so astonishingly similar that the audience could no longer distinguish whose roar it was; they were all stunned in unison. The herd of deer was startled, their hooves fluttering in the air; the lynx¡¯s fur bristled all over. The reflection of the blade was the last vestige of the twilight. The tip of the spear shot out a gleam of sharpness, seizing the last bit of light from the world, its sound cold and mournful like the wail of a ghost. In an instant, the world plunged into darkness. The stag whinnied, the lynx shrieked, but their cries were immediately drowned out by the thunderous sound of deer hooves covering the sky and earth. The herd of deer ran, their hooves thudding on the icy ground like the charge of a thousand troops, shaking the very land! Noisy! Too noisy! Chaotic! Utter chaos! The live broadcast was engulfed in darkness, with only the commotion of deer hooves and accompanying roars and screams, the world seemed to be boiling over. But in the next second, a dim light appeared. Night vision mode was activated, the serene darkness was completely shattered, and the vision cleared again, leaving countless viewers breathless with tension. Hundreds of stags spread out like a tide, countless hooves kicked up a cloud of snow, a gray surge rising on the snowy plain as if a black tide was approaching along the frozen river, carrying with it an overwhelming force. The lame stag was a beat slow to react, realizing something was wrong only after its companions had fled. The stag raised its head in alarm, looking up to see a full moon rising in the sky, and within that almost perfect orb, a shadow swooped down like a mighty eagle. How could a man jump so high? This thought flashed through the viewers¡¯ minds, and in an instant, the stag¡¯s neck was struck by the short spear, its massive head jerked askew from the impact. The stag felt a pain in its neck, followed by a warm gush of blood and unprecedented panic; it leaped high with its hooves and turned to flee! Bi Fang felt the heavy heartbeat in his chest suddenly lighten, and at the same time, blood mixed with dark sweetness surged from his spine into his brain. He tensed his muscles and, after landing, burst forward, leaping out of the snowy slope! From the snowy slope to the river¡¯s surface was a drop of five meters, which could break the spine of an ordinary person, but he, brushing past the steep decline, touched the ground lightly and ran forward with the bent posture of a leopard. Charge! Hunting! Roaring! His head buzzed with the rush of blood, so much so he couldn¡¯t even hear his own deafening howl! Chase, chase, chase! Flee, flee, flee! The viewers¡¯ adrenaline spiked, never having seen such a scene, such hunting, comparable to a fierce tiger pouncing on its prey! ¡°Be careful!¡± Yang Ziyun¡¯s heart thumped wildly, nearly having a heart attack at the shout, only to realize that the warning was not for Bi Fang, but for Etienne! Under the moonlight, they saw the lynx arching its body, ready to pounce! Etienne¡¯s heart raced as if it were about to burst from his chest, and suddenly something cried out from behind him. But there was no time for him to react; the lynx, coiled to its utmost like a drawn bow ready to fire, leapt fiercely from the high ground, mouth wide open and roaring for the bite! The cry from behind was youthful and chaotic. It was Goose! Etienne shuddered, the cold sweat he had been holding back seemed to open a floodgate, drenching him in an instant; in this critical moment, memories connected, and amidst the panic, he frantically threw off his cloak, then waved his hunting knife wildly. The lynx was first startled by a buzzing drone, sensing danger mid-flight, followed by a somewhat lacking roar coming from ahead. As it was about to splatter its prey¡¯s brains, suddenly its vision was obscured by a hemp cloth, and then its claws throbbed with pain. Scalding blood stained his hands, feeling sticky all over. Etienne shivered fiercely and slowly looked at the hunting knife in his hand, covered with a layer of hot blood, the sharp weapon gleaming with bright moonlight. In a daze, the audience was surprised to see a face under the moonlight; it wasn¡¯t Etienne, but Bi Fang! No! It was still Etienne! The audience found their memories in disarray, the similarity to that confrontation with the wolf pack in the wilderness was uncanny, as if that scene was unfolding once again! Hunting Knife raised its right paw, blood dripping from it, while in its eyes burnt a cruel fire, and Etienne felt himself freezing over. in the struggle just now, Etienne had luckily injured Hunting Knife¡¯s right paw, but next time, he wouldn¡¯t be so fortunate. Hunting Knife licked its wound, eyeing the ¡°massive¡± Etienne, its muscles tensing up all over. But that leap had switched their positions, now Goose was right beside Hunting Knife, tempting it to try to snatch him from the fire, just one, and it would have a meal for the night. Etienne keenly sensed the big cat¡¯s thoughts and his body involuntarily moved to stop it, but he immediately regretted taking that step forward. The previous attack had completely drained Etienne of all courage, being able to land a blow on Hunting Knife was already a blessing from Lady Luck. Facing off against the meter-long big cat, Etienne panicked completely, his cold sweat pouring out, one foot uncertain whether to advance or retreat, frozen in place. But to everyone¡¯s surprise, Hunting Knife¡¯s fur bristled, and it withdrew half a body length with its hind legs! This one step by Etienne actually made Hunting Knife retreat half a step! All the audience members were stunned. Suddenly, Etienne understood something, a slight smile tugging at the comer of his mouth, he didn¡¯t withdraw his foot, instead, he took a second step forward! Beasts can smell your fear, the more afraid you are, the more they get excited! Footprints were deeply embedded in the snow. Bi Fang chasing the deer through the snow! The herds of deer dashed wildly, running in the opposite direction, but the high banks on both sides, while facilitating hunting, also laid the groundwork for disaster! The slope was too steep, even with the reindeer¡¯s broad hooves and their natural snowshoes, they couldn¡¯t help sliding down the slope, and in their panic, some big deer charged towards Bi Fang¡¯s side. Those huge antlers were at least half a meter long! Damn, damn, damn! The audience members were scared out of their wits, they had never seen a livestream like this, one wave settling down only for another to rise, with the situation on one side just stabilizing and another accident happening on the other. Faced with the charge of the reindeer, Bi Fang could no longer worry about the limping reindeer he was chasing, he ducked, narrowly avoiding the antlers. But it wasn¡¯t over, more panicked reindeer were on the run! In the first-person perspective, the audience could only watch helplessly as about a dozen reindeer charged towards the front, the ice river shook, their solid hooves stomping like mad, a step onto any part of the body would immediately break bones. Damn it! Bi Fang hadn¡¯t anticipated this scene, with the deer herd too close, there was no time to climb the snowy slope! Even the most timid reindeer had blood in their eyes now! ¡°Whoo!¡± Bi Fang adjusted his breathing, preparing to imitate a bullfighter against the deer, but then he suddenly heard a different sound. Crack, crick! Branch-like fissures spread across the ice layer. It was too fast, the ground itself was trembling! With so many big deer, how could he dodge? If touched by just one, the trampling that followed would leave anyone in an unrecoverable state! In the blink of an eye, Bi Fang suddenly stopped, planted his feet firmly with a horse stance, and waited calmly for the charging reindeer. He¡¯s gone mad, absolutely mad! Over two hundred thousand viewers watched this insane moment, unable to comprehend why Bi Fang was acting so recklessly, even picturing him being trampled into a bloody pulp. The wild female deer, with its huge antlers over half a meter long, charged crazily forward, and the viewers simultaneously closed their eyes. It was too late, everything was too late! Only a very few viewers kept their eyes wide open, watching as Bi Fang actually reached out to grab the antlers! Fast, accurate, ruthless! He struck at the antlers like a venomous snake lunging ferociously! The moment he grabbed a reindeer, Bi Fang instantly jumped, kicking off the reindeer¡¯s shoulder, using the gentle force to turn sharply, borrowing the full strength of his body to make the reindeer veer and smash into the ground! What is Tai Chi? To move a thousand pounds with four ounces, that is Tai Chi! The big deer hit the ground, accompanied by a shower of ice chips flying in all directions. With nothing but white before his eyes, Bi Fang lost his balance and fell, plunging into the ice river he had smashed open. Chapter 173 - Chapter 173: Chapter 170: Gather 7 Wild Emperors! Chapter 173: Chapter 170: Gather 7 Wild Emperors! The ice shattered into a fine powder. Bi Fang, clutching the reindeer, sank into the river. Surrounded by the flow, he felt his blood about to freeze, his whole body icy cold. The bone-chilling freeze nearly cracked his mouth open, but the cold water flowing over his throat calmed him. His blood vessels constricted inch by inch, stiffening gradually. The reindeer in his arms struggled violently. Bi Fang did not dare to resist and quickly let go to watch the reindeer swim swiftly upstream and clamber onto the ice. Bi Fang did not hurry to emerge; he stayed underwater, watching as one after another large reindeer, each weighing over a hundred kilograms, leaped over the ice caves and fled. The thumping sounded like the true depiction of the audience¡¯s electrocardiogram. Thump-thump, thump-thump! Tense, chaotic, rapid. As dense as drumbeats. Minutes later, the noise gradually ceased. Bi Fang, nearly completely frozen stiff, finally surfaced and took deep breaths. ¡°Ugh!¡± After spitting out two mouthfuls of water, Bi Fang stripped off his clothes and once again started doing burpee jumps. But after being submerged twice, his body was overwhelmed. Even after a dozen burpees, he still felt piercing cold. He was experiencing hypothermia! Feeling his body growing colder and his head dizzying, Bi Fang hurriedly followed the bloodstains on the ground, picking up his clothes and the parka he had initially dropped, continuing the chase; the limping big deer, struck in the trachea, couldn¡¯t have gone far. Everything was as anticipated; less than two hundred meters away, Bi Fang caught up with the injured reindeer following the trail of blood. The reindeer looked at Bi Fang with eyes full of panic, but severe blood loss had left it without the strength to flee any further. Bi Fang approached cautiously, seizing the opportunity to grab its antlers. Pulling out the short spear, the reindeer began to struggle fiercely, but its head was firmly held in place. Bi Fang did not prolong its suffering; with stiff hands, he grasped the slippery harpoon and inserted it between the ears of the reindeer, inducing instant brain death. The heavy body of the big deer collapsed beside Bi Fang, splattering him with blood. Bowing his head, he saw the deer¡¯s head at his feet, its eyes not closed, black pupils empty. The blood dyed a large area of the ice red, and the warm blood quickly mingled with the biting ice to solidify. Hunting success. Lu Wentao sat on the couch. Seeing this scene unfold, his expression was undisturbed. He downed a gulp of liquor, not distressed but rather excited. He had come to terms with it; Bi Fang had never been his match. They weren¡¯t on the same level. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t keep up with him. Especially this ability to stream without chat and still know what interests viewers; he was born to be a streamer, no denying it. Better to give up struggling and become an ordinary viewer. Or it could be said that since the disappearance of the manager, Wang Weifeng, the mountain of pressure that had always weighed on Lu Wentao had also vanished. Actually, setting biases aside and watching Bi Fang¡¯s stream was surprisingly engaging, almost uncontrollably tempting him to send gifts! Damn it, sometimes the gap between people is bigger than between a person and a dog! Master Fang, YYDS! A spaceship sent! Even Lu Wentao, his former rival, felt this way, not to mention other viewers. The number in the live broadcast had surged to a new peak within half an hour, breaking through the 200,000 mark! That¡¯s audience count, not popularity! The number of people in Bi Fang¡¯s live room now exceeded the popularity of most streamers! Such a broadcast that increased viewership to a new level with each session was unheard of, unseen! Even bamboo doesn¡¯t grow this fast! [Congratulations to Huanye on becoming an Emperor in Master Fang¡¯s live room!] [Huanye has sent the streamer meatballs*ioooo] And there it was! The seventh Emperor! Golden light dazzled as it streaked across the skies. [Master Fang actually gathered seven wild Emperors! Off the charts!] [Who else do we need?] [I¡¯m going to use these seven Emperors to summon a tycoon!] [Old Fang rocks! On average, he gains at least one more Emperor per livestream, amazing! A true master! ] [Don¡¯t mention it, it hurts just thinking about it, my goddess is a bootlicker for Master Fang, wuwuwu.] The reindeer that was killed was still twitching its legs, undergoing nerve reflexes. Bi Fang hurriedly spread his coat on the ground and pressed the reindeer onto himself. Indeed, through heat transfer, Bi Fang¡¯s body temperature finally stabilized and even showed signs of rising. ¡°Phew, I feel much better now. Hypothermia was really dangerous just now, and all my clothes were soaked. If I hadn¡¯t caught the reindeer, I might have died from hypothermia. This was really dangerous.¡± Having recovered some of his strength, Bi Fang finally had the energy to chat with his audience. ¡°Even when temperatures drop to minus 50 degrees Celsius, reindeer can still maintain enough body heat, all thanks to this thick fur. While its body temperature is still up, I have to warm up quickly. Haha, this is definitely the warmest part of my day.¡± [Holy shit, he¡¯s capitalizing on the warmth] [My eyes are done for!] [Old Fang, that pose is so cringeful, hugging a dead reindeer for warmth.] [Honestly, I was so scared just now. I didn¡¯t expect Old Fang to be so badass.] [That¡¯s right, that fall was very impressive to me. Does Master Fang also know martial arts? Holding a horse stance, calm and composed, so cool! Best moment of the year! ] [Absolutely, so cool. The reindeer was about to collide, and Master Fang didn¡¯t even flinch. That¡¯s just badass! ] [Feels like the Tai Chi move ¡®Using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds¡¯] ¡°Many of you might be interested in the move I just performed. Yes, I¡¯m coming clean¡ªI¡¯ve practiced Youlong Bagua, which shares the same roots as Tai Chi. I just used the force of the reindeer¡¯s impact to break through the ice.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s admission immediately caused a huge stir, as traditional martial arts holds a special place in the hearts of Huaxia People. Nowadays, the internet is full of con artists, and everyone is unsure if traditional martial arts are actually useful. But Bi Fang¡¯s feat was genuine skill. Certainly, a wild reindeer couldn¡¯t have been acting, right? Seeing that everyone was very interested in this topic, Bi Fang continued to explain. ¡°Actually, the so-called ¡®Using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds¡¯ is a common technique in martial arts, and it appears frequently in boxing and Sanda. It¡¯s just that Tai Chi and Bagua particularly emphasize this aspect.¡± ¡°For example, what traditional martial arts call ¡®breaking the horizontal with the vertical,¡¯ appears often in Sanda. The idea is that if someone is attacking you straight on with great force, you only need to deflect it sideways with a smaller force to neutralize the attack. Zou Guojun, early Sanda champion and ¡®Asia¡¯s Fastest Leg,¡¯ also liked to use it. It¡¯s just that ¡®Using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds¡¯ is a more literary way of expressing it.¡± ¡°In weapon combat, there are even more examples, such as the European Two- Handed Sword emphasizing the strong and weak parts of the blade, various levers, all sorts of ¡®Using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds¡¯¡­ Martial arts is really just a game of mechanics.¡± Having warmed up with the reindeer for a while, Bi Fang recovered considerably. He got up, put on his coat, and hoisted the entire reindeer onto his shoulder. ¡°Gee, this is heavy.¡± Just as he lifted the reindeer, Bi Fang almost fell to his knees. The deer wasn¡¯t fully grown yet but weighed at least sixty kilograms or even close to seventy, roughly the weight of an adult man. It was impossible to carry it back. Bi Fang had no choice but to put it down again, use snow to quickly cover up the scent of blood, and with the help of a rope, dragged the reindeer forward. At that point, Bi Fang also finally noticed the barrage of comments about Etienne. [Etienne was very brave just now too, although there¡¯s a big luck element involved] [Add one, he¡¯s got a bit of Master Fang¡¯s flair, captured a Little Wolf King] [Heroes emerge from the young!] Huh? What is that about? Bi Fang was confused by what he heard. What had Etienne done behind his back? Chapter 174 - Chapter 174: Chapter 171: A Deer Head Sparks a Bloodbath Chapter 174: Chapter 171: A Deer Head Sparks a Bloodbath Bi Fang dragged the large deer through the snow, curiously switching the camera to the live stream, only to discover that Etienne was sitting pretty in the middle of the lake as if nothing had happened. ¡°You all must help me keep this a secret, I¡¯m afraid Master Fang will be angry, Etienne instructed the audience. [Obviously, everyone gets it, no sweat] [There he is! The typo guy! I¡¯ve noticed every time there¡¯s a typo in the comments, it¡¯s you typing them out!] [Etienne did well, a star of the Wilderness Master in the making. Today, even I, with my tight purse strings, couldn¡¯t help but tip him] [Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll keep your secret. What landing ashore and grappling with lynxes? Never heard of it, Old Fang won¡¯t know] [Still, it was very dangerous this time. Better not to do it again next time.] Etienne chuckled, Bi Fang had warned him a thousand times not to go ashore, yet he didn¡¯t listen and even grappled with the lynx on land. Even though the lynx ended up with a scratched paw and ran away, in essence, what happened was still wrong, and Etienne knew it. It was certainly best if the netizens were willing to keep it secret for now. Unfortunately, Etienne thought that Bi Fang couldn¡¯t see the bullet screen or what was going on his end, little did he know that Bi Fang had been monitoring every move, and just a quick look through the stream¡¯s records would reveal everything. But for now, Bi Fang had to pretend as if he knew nothing. ¡°Actually, this time I set a wrong example. Experienced hunters tend to avoid chasing game directly; the more you chase an animal when it¡¯s startled, the faster it will run. In the end, not only are you likely to get injured, but it¡¯s also easy to get lost. Don¡¯t underestimate an animal¡¯s fight for survival when it¡¯s at death¡¯s door.¡± ¡°But I was worried the reindeer would run too far, and the chase would drag on into the night. I might get lost, and that would be troublesome. Besides, the limping reindeer was limited in speed and had suffered such a serious injury, that¡¯s why I made a decisive strike.¡± [In the end, it¡¯s still Master Fang that¡¯s amazing!] [So strong it¡¯s boundless!] [Stop blowing smoke, Old Fang can¡¯t see it anyway.] Dragging the reindeer back to the lakeside, Etienne got onto the glider and disembarked, praising the reindeer behind him over and over. For such a young age, his acting was so naturally flawless; it was a pity not to mix into the entertainment industry since there was no sign of the previous tussle with the lynx. But just when everyone thought all was well, Bi Fang, without a word, called back the drone and started reviewing the playback. Uh-oh, busted! Etienne¡¯s face froze, not at all expecting this move. When Bi Fang saw the scene of Etienne driving away the injured lynx, silence spoke louder than words. ¡°It¡¯s over.¡± Etienne hung his head, expecting Bi Fang to scold him, but to his surprise, Bi Fang just rubbed Etienne¡¯s head and gave him a thumbs up: ¡°Well done.¡± Etienne instantly looked up, full of surprise. ¡°What? Thought I would scold you?¡± Bi Fang laughed, ¡°You¡¯ve got guts, daring to face off against a lynx all by yourself.¡± Etienne was overjoyed. ¡°So gutsy that I want to send you off right now.¡± Etienne¡¯s face fell, knowing things weren¡¯t so simple. [Hahaha, that twist was superb!] [Excellent!] [Wait, Master Fang isn¡¯t serious, is he?] [I find this stream so interesting, don¡¯t cut it off!] The online friends wailed. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t caught this reindeer, I definitely would¡¯ve sent you back.¡± Having reached this stage in the plan, Bi Fang didn¡¯t want to give up easily. With the reindeer, at least he wouldn¡¯t have to hunt for a week, and he could keep an eye on Etienne. Moreover, Etienne¡¯s performance truly gave him a pleasant surprise; the outcome was ultimately positive, so he reluctantly forgave the impulsiveness this time. Which is more important, life or the act of living, shouldn¡¯t be a subject of honest debate, but rather an understanding that varies between different social strata. However, there won¡¯t be a next time. Bi Fang will keep an eye on Etienne, and if he doesn¡¯t listen again, he¡¯ll be sent straight home to raise geese for the rest of his life. Understanding but not accepting, he¡¯s such a hypocrite. ¡°You should feel lucky.¡± ¡°Yay!¡± The reprieved Etienne jumped up and helped Bi Fang drag the reindeer over, showing great enthusiasm. ¡°Look, I found these nearby!¡± Etienne handed over several black stones. ¡°Flint Stone?¡± Bi Fang exclaimed in surprise. ¡°Yes, I found them under the rocks over there. I remember you explained during your livestream that these stones can be used to make weapons and start fires, so I should be correct,¡± Etienne pointed to a large boulder nearby, the very place where the lynx had just been. ¡°Not bad.¡± Bi Fang hadn¡¯t expected this windfall and, as before, he cleared away the snow from the ground, collected tinder, and then started a fire using the flint stone and the charcoal he had previously. Sparks from the flint stone lit up the darkness, and in no time, flames erupted. After warming himself by the fire for a while, Bi Fang propped up his clothes to dry. They hadn¡¯t dried completely from his previous soaking and were wet again, making him long for the times when he had a backpack and a change of clothes. ¡°Next, we need to process the reindeer, and we have to be quick before it freezes solid.¡± Bi Fang pulled the reindeer over, touched its body, and sure enough, it was still warm and its fur soft. ¡°I don¡¯t slaughter the animals where I kill them, because that might attract more animals.¡± ¡°This reindeer is a big one, and quite a hassle to deal with. First, we need to bleed it.¡± ¡°We have to grab the animal¡¯s hind legs and hang it up, cut its throat, and let the blood flow out. If it¡¯s a larger animal, it¡¯s hard to hang it up by yourself. In that case, you should use the terrain to position the animal¡¯s head facing downhill so that the blood can flow out with the help of gravity.¡± Bi Fang and Etienne grabbed the reindeer, lifting it onto the large boulder next to them, the entire process being extremely strenuous. [Wasn¡¯t the strange fish last time much heavier? Old Fang could move it, so why is this so strenuous?] [Did he secretly find a girlfriend behind our backs?] [Moderation, Master Fang! Lust is a bone-scraping steel knife! I won¡¯t let you indulge yourself like this; step aside and let me do it!] ¡°Moderation, my ass,¡± the barrage nearly took the wind out of Bi Fang. ¡°Pulling and lifting are completely different actions. Deadlifting can be said to use the combined strength of the whole body, and it is one of the three major power movements in the gym. A well-trained person could even pull more than three times their own body weight. But when it comes to lifting, being able to lift twice your weight is already very impressive, and three times is beyond even Olympic champions.¡± After lifting the reindeer onto the boulder, Bi Fang took out his harpoon, cut the reindeer¡¯s throat, and warm blood flowed out. Without wasting a drop, Bi Fang caught it all in an empty plastic bottle, one of the few items left from the glider. ¡°You need to make sure you cut the jugular vein and that the blood starts flowing out, from ear to ear. If you¡¯re not sure where the jugular vein is, then just cut off the whole head. The blood can be preserved too, and after boiling and sterilizing it, it can be eaten.¡± ¡°Many indigenous people have the habit of drinking raw blood, which isn¡¯t good, because animal blood may contain pathogens or parasites.¡± [Lord Mu sends 10 Spaceships to the streamer-Old Fang, can you bring that deer head back for me?] [Damn, how did I not think of that? I really want it too!] [Damn, that¡¯s so cool! I want to hang it in my living room! Just like the big shots in the movies!] [Lin Chang sends 20 Spaceships to the streamer-Give it to me! I want it, too!] [Nanana sends 5 Spaceships to the streamer-Wah, I¡¯m not as rich as the tycoons, but can you send one to me too, wailing!] [Damn it, if I weren¡¯t broke, I¡¯d fight for it too!] The act of Yao Jun asking for the deer head set the live broadcast room ablaze. What could be more exciting than collecting a complete deer head? Look at these antlers, they are so big and thick. And that deer head, both handsome and wild, would be absolutely awesome hanging in a living room! Not to mention that it was hunted by Bi Fang using the most primitive methods, with video to prove it! Chapter 175 - Chapter 175: Chapter 172: Listen to your brothers advice; you can eat this. Chapter 175: Chapter 172: Listen to your brother¡¯s advice; you can eat this. ¡°OMG!¡± Peter, using a translation app, watched a group of people sending gifts to compete for a reindeer head, his whole body frantically scratching his head. Such a humongous reindeer head, and it was even hunted by Master Fang with a spear. Oh my God, that¡¯s so cool! With that alone, he could invite girls over to check it out! Wants it so bad! But no money! Peter yanked out a handful of hair, even if he took out all his allowance, it wouldn¡¯t be the fraction of these gifts! He scratched his head in frustration, having worked hard doing chores all week, his aunt and uncle only gave him 20 US dollars. ¡°Please, a fan lottery, there has to be a fan lottery, then I still have a chance!¡± As a white person, Peter firmly believed in his lineage. ¡°Peter, Tony¡¯s come over to hang out, you should learn from him, stop hugging your computer all day, come down!¡± his aunt¡¯s voice came from downstairs. Peter was startled and just about to go downstairs when he bumped right into Tony. Tony, without any ceremony, opened the fridge, took out a can of Coke, and sat on the couch: ¡°Hey, Peter, why haven¡¯t you been out to play these days? Feels like forever since you¡¯ve been out. Are you secretly studying behind my back?¡± Peter scratched his head, it seemed that way, but he wasn¡¯t secretly studying. These past few days, he went straight home to watch Master Fang¡¯s live stream as soon as school ended, not having any time to hang out with friends, even his rich classmate Tony hadn¡¯t been licked for days. Wait a second, Peter suddenly froze, Tony is the son of the largest ranch owner in Texas! He had no money to tip, but if he hooked Tony in, wouldn¡¯t Tony¡¯s tips be essentially his? Hey, Tony, check this out, I¡¯ve found a super cool live stream!¡± ¡°Live stream? What¡¯s so interesting about that? I never watch live streams.¡± ¡®This live stream is really amazing¡ªit¡¯s not only that the host has discovered prehistoric creatures, but he can also hunt reindeer with a spear!¡± Peter excitedly pulled Tony toward the computer. ¡°Prehistoric creatures? Hunting reindeer? Alright, I¡¯m a bit interested now.¡± Tony sat down, pulled by Peter, curious about just what capability this highly praised host had. ¡°Oh, these two kids.¡± Peter¡¯s aunt, who had sent Tony upstairs, held her forehead, hoping that Tony could take Peter out for some activity, but why had they both sat down? Kids these days, sigh. Bi Fang was astonished by the viewers¡¯ enthusiasm, especially Lin Chang and Yao Jun, who were competing with each other in sending gifts like bidding at an auction, spending money as if they were naming prices. But this wasn¡¯t an auction, and the money sent away couldn¡¯t be taken back! For a moment, Bi Fang didn¡¯t know whom to give the reindeer head to; it indeed had a collectible value, but like before, having a lottery would be unfair to people like Yao Jun who had always supported him. ¡°Bringing it back is no problem, but I don¡¯t have the conditions to tum it into a specimen on hand, bringing it back might just be a skull with antlers.¡± [No problem, that¡¯s even cooler, right?] [Yes, even cooler!] Yao Jun didn¡¯t mind at all; he was determined to get the reindeer head hunted personally by Bi Fang, willing to fight with Lin Chang for it! Seeing that the two were about to continue bombarding with gifts, Bi Fang hurriedly intervened. ¡°Alright, alright, I got it, no more tipping, how about this, when I get back I¡¯ll pull a small group and have a lottery among you seven Emperors?¡± This was the best solution Bi Fang could think of, leaving the decision to fate. After waiting for a while, people like Yao Jun finally replied with a barrage of messages. [Alright then, a one-in-seven chance, I¡¯ll go pray to the gods when I get back, I must get it!] [No objections] [I think we can fiddle a bit behind the scenes, acting all pitiful (.>-¡®<)_0] Yao Lina put on a cutesy act, too bad Bi Fang wasn¡¯t swayed in the slightest. Seeing that everyone agreed, he continued processing the reindeer. ¡°For the indigenous Sami People living in Lapland, the reindeer is a treasure trove, especially its skin and fur. We can use it to make clothes or water bags. Look at how thick this is.¡± The camera zoomed in, showing the long fur by the reindeer¡¯s neck fluttering, at least as long as a finger! ¡°When I skinned the rabbit before, I laid it on the ground with its back down, but with large animals like deer, it¡¯s best to hang them. Otherwise, it¡¯s very ¡¯ difficult to skin, and you must be careful with the knife to avoid puncturing the innards.¡± ¡°But that takes a lot of effort and we don¡¯t have enough time, so I¡¯ll process it right here.¡± Bi Fang made a small incision at the reindeer¡¯s breastbone, inserted his fingers, then separated the incision with the knife, taking care not to puncture the innards. He continued to create space under the animal¡¯s skin with his fingers and cut more of the skin with the knife, making openings at the limbs. The overall technique was similar to that used for the rabbit, so there was no need to explain it again, just let the camera record. The prey was large enough for the audience to see clearly. After the procedure was finished, what followed was simply tearing it apart, which was quite laborious. With Etienne¡¯s help, Bi Fang spent over ten minutes before he could procure an intact piece of reindeer skin. ¡°That¡¯s so cool!¡± Etienne held the reindeer skin, finding it hard to believe that he had helped Bi Fang skin it. Alright, next comes the main event, we¡¯re going to process the ingredients.¡± Bi Fang flexed his stiff shoulders and plunged a knife into the back of the reindeer, cutting all the way from the rear to the neck [Wow, he can still manage to process ingredients] [Definitely, I feel like Master Fang is getting more comfortable in the wild. Before he had to eat earthworms, now he¡¯s eating deer meat directly, tsk tsk tsk] [Is it really that smooth?] ¡°We¡¯ll cut it open from the rear to the neck, then remove the innards. Beware, the smell might be very foul. So, you might want to consider wearing a makeshift mask to cover your nose and mouth.¡± ¡°Is it that exaggerated?¡± Etienne was startled, and the next second, when Bi Fang pulled open the stomach, the reindeer¡¯s innards slid out to the ground, releasing a potent smell that hit the back of the skull, as though tossing feces into a jar of sauerkraut and stirring it, then infusing it with stinky socks for a month. ¡°Ugh!¡± Etienne couldn¡¯t hold back and ran to the lakeside, kneeling and retching all bile. [Before, Master Fang always seemed so composed, but now I finally see what a normal person¡¯s reaction is.] [So real.] [Master Fang doesn¡¯t even flinch, but Little Wolf King is still not up to par.] ¡°I came prepared and I¡¯ve gotten used to it,¡± Bi Fang laughed heartily. It took a while for Etienne to recover, then he doubtfully asked, ¡°Why does this thing smell so bad?¡± ¡°Big animals are all like this. You¡¯ll get used to it. And do you know what reindeer like to eat?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Barnacle Goose droppings,¡± Bi Fang pointed to Amu, who was standing idly by, ¡°Reindeer subsist on low-quality plants like moss and lichen. Though they won¡¯t starve, the quality of life is quite tough.¡± ¡°Not getting much nutrition from their bland diet, they¡¯ll want something more savory, which is-they eat droppings. Barnacle geese can¡¯t digest cellulose well, so even though they consume a lot, the grass and moss are not fully digested and are excreted along with the feces, which become treasured food for the reindeer. Sometimes the reindeer will even chase them away to quietly enjoy the feast.¡± ¡°Stop it,¡± Etienne covered his mouth and ran aside to vomit again, but having eaten only lichen all day, he had nothing else to throw up. After removing the innards, Bi Fang pulled out the reindeer¡¯s heart, which was as big as a human head! Bi Fang brought the massive heart in front of the camera and, exhausted from the continuous labor, panted as he spoke. ¡°Here I can tell everyone for certain, theoretically, parasites can breed in any part of an animal¡¯s body, even the brain is not an exception, but they will never reside in a heart unless it¡¯s the blood-moving tapeworms, which is very, very rare, due to the heart¡¯s rapid blood flow.¡± ¡°So if you are really desperate, eating the heart raw would be a very good choice, and it¡¯s still warm.¡± Bi Fang held the bright red heart, feeling the surge of acid in his stomach, and took a bite. White teeth tore into red flesh, with blood sliding down from the comer of his mouth. A primal and wild scene struck at everyone¡¯s heart. Chapter 176 - Chapter 176: Chapter 173: Not hungry? Then youre not hungry enough. Chapter 176: Chapter 173: Not hungry? Then you¡¯re not hungry enough. ¡°Hungry or not?¡± ¡°Hungry¡­¡± ¡°Eat or not?¡± ¡°Not eating¡­¡± ¡°Then you¡¯re not really hungry, what a shame, it tastes quite good.¡± Bi Fang skewered a piece of deer meat and chewed it in his mouth. ¡°Ugh!¡± Etienne knelt on the ground and dry heaved again, unable to count how many times he had vomited, only remembering that with every bite of meat Bi Fang ate, he had to vomit once, his mouth full of the taste of stomach acid. ¡°Tiger fights with wolf, wolf eats the deer, deer eats grass, grass is innocent too, don¡¯t feel guilty, larger animals eat smaller ones, even the elk eats grass, but who would pity those blades of grass? We all come from the same cell 3.5 billion years ago.¡± Bi Fang patted Etienne¡¯s shoulder, trying to console him. This speech truly captured the law of the survival of the fittest in nature. If there were new viewers, they might actually think that Etienne couldn¡¯t bear to eat because he had seen the reindeer die in front of his eyes. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t tricked me into eating raw deer eyes¡­¡± Etienne was gasping for air but still summoned the last of his strength to accuse the main culprit, a feat much stronger than many TV dramas. Just now, Bi Fang had boldly eaten the deer¡¯s heart raw, shocking everyone. That wasn¡¯t the end; right after, he dug out a deer¡¯s eye and without a word, chewed it in his mouth, juice bursting out, praising it as tasty and asking Etienne if he wanted one. A deer has a pair of eyes, and with one gone, there¡¯d be no second chance in this village, so the young Etienne couldn¡¯t resist the temptation and tried tasting it too. As a result¡­ Etienne swore, he would never try such bizarre things again! Bi Fang seemed unconcerned, ¡°I think it¡¯s not bad, animal eyes are one of the places with the least parasites, second only to the heart, and they¡¯re bursty in texture, rich in fatty acids and vitamins, quite nourishing.¡± Etienne highly suspected that Bi Fang did it on purpose, as a punishment for his act of leaving the middle of the lake to save the goose. He would never forget the slimy juice, mixed with a heavy, pungent smell, exploding in his mouth. [Hahaha, this conversation, so funny] [I¡¯m dying of laughter!] [Master Fang is so bad!] [With that serious look, I can¡¯t tell real from fake anymore, whether Master Fang¡¯s taste is off, or if he¡¯s really fooling Etienne.] All the audience was laughing, filling the livestream room with a jovial atmosphere. ¡°Reindeer meat is quite prized, treated as a delicacy in local restaurants, with calf liver being considered an exquisite dish, though for some reason, Finnish cuisine was considered by other European countries as unpalatable as British cuisine.¡± Next to the roaring campfire hung a large amount of deer meat, looking like a dense meat forest, as Bi Fang grabbed a piece of greasy deer meat and began cutting it with his knife and fork. ¡°But I think it¡¯s alright, the deer meat is tender, similar to veal, with less fat and tenderer than most meats, but very gamey, extremely gamey, I¡¯d say about the same level as pig kidneys.¡± [My god, Master Fang says it¡¯s gamey, can people still eat that?] [Eating pig kidneys without any seasoning, I¡¯m gonna puke] [Bi Fang: Don¡¯t underestimate folks, dang it!] [You got manners?] Bi Fang swallowed another piece of deer meat and began to prepare the campsite, picking up a stick. ¡°It¡¯s too dark; for ease of gathering materials, we can make a torch for light. This time, we don¡¯t have gasoline, but we can use animal fat oil.¡± ¡°I need to first wrap the top of the torch with cloth, which serves a similar purpose as a wick. There¡¯s no need for too much, just a small piece will do,¡± Bi Fang cut a strip of cloth from the hem of his robe and then heated a bit of the yellow solid fat he had found on the deer by the fire, just enough to melt it slightly before dripping the oil onto the cloth strip. ¡°Impregnating the cloth with oil is an essential step. To make the torch burn for a long time, you must soak the cloth in fat. With the oil, the torch could burn for at least twenty minutes.¡± [Why can animal fat also be ignited? I tried burning pig fat at home with a lighter when I was a kid, but it seemed like it wouldn¡¯t catch fire?] [Yeah, yeah, I¡¯ve tried burning it too, but it just wouldn¡¯t light up.] [Awesome, if it had caught fire, there would have been trouble ¨C the ¡®Mom Will Hit Me¡¯ series.] ¡°Lucky for you, it didn¡¯t ignite,¡± Bi Fang said with a smile. ¡°This is also why the torch needs to be wrapped with cloth, which is the key to it being combustible.¡± ¡°It¡¯s quite easy for many liquids to reach the ignition point locally, but in order for the whole to sustain combustion, it depends on whether the heat generated by combustion can conduct and radiate to the liquid surface and vaporize it.¡± ¡°The essence of liquid combustion is actually gas combustion; only with a high enough heat flow density can it provide the heat of vaporization to undergo thermal decomposition or vaporization.¡± [I know this, I learned it in college!] [Dammit, I¡¯m just ignorant¡­] ¡°This is quite difficult for edible oil because its ignition point is around 300 degrees Celsius, while the flame from a household lighter is only about 200 degrees. It is even more challenging to ignite locally because the surrounding unignited liquid will act as a rapid coolant.¡± ¡°So a relatively easier method would be to heat the container as a whole. The higher the temperature of the cooking oil in the container, the easier it is to ignite. Sometimes when frying food, the oil ignites on its own simply because the entire temperature of the wok is too high, which is the same reason.¡± Bi Fang explained in simple terms, and his examples were ones many in the audience had witnessed firsthand. Even Etienne was listening intently. For some reason, listening to Bi Fang explain these things was much more interesting than listening to a teacher; it didn¡¯t feel dry at all. ¡°But it¡¯s different with cloth. Fiber materials have a strong capillary action, making it easier to draw out the oil, and the energy density is higher because the entire thing is enveloped by flames.¡± ¡°In an ideal scenario, the wick is there to facilitate the burning of the oil. It should always be the oil burning, not the wick itself, which is why a torch with oil can burn for so long.¡± The large amount of fat melted quickly, soaking the cloth strip in oil. Bi Fang hurriedly wrapped the oil-soaked cloth around one end of the stick, not letting the oil drip away. After placing the completed torch on the fire pit for a brief moment, the torch started to burn on its own in less than a dozen seconds, leaving the audience stunned. [Got schooled by Master Fang again.] [Darn, he fooled us again!] [This is the most knowledgeable live streamer I¡¯ve ever seen, bar none!] [What kind of educational background does Master Fang have? I¡¯m completely confused. He¡¯s a special forces member and knows so much, and he¡¯s only in his twenties! I think people usually retire from the special forces around their thirties! It¡¯s outrageous!] [Hisss, is that true upstairs? Terrifying indeed.] ¡°Perhaps I¡¯m just the genius from the legends,¡± Bi Fang said with a slight smile, his profound skills hidden beneath a humble facade, which only piqued the audience¡¯s interest further. They had long suspected that Bi Fang¡¯s background was no ordinary story, especially since the title of this live stream now featured a little red star sign, impressive yet inscrutable. Now that someone had brought it up, everyone wanted to know, but Bi Fang just wouldn¡¯t tell, leaving them scratching their heads in curiosity. After making the torch, he collected materials and built a shelter, just as he had done before. The area was surrounded by coniferous forests and, unlike last time, there were no wrecks nearby to scavenge from. They could only chop down trees to gather materials. Bi Fang handed the torch to Etienne to hold for lighting, then zeroed in on a large tree and climbed up to begin cutting its branches. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to him, a fiery celebration was slowly kindling elsewhere. Chapter 177 - Chapter 177: Chapter 174: It Seems, Perhaps, Indeed, There Is Something Going On? Chapter 177: Chapter 174: It Seems, Perhaps, Indeed, There Is Something Going On? Boom! The office door was suddenly flung open, startling Li Yawen into a frenzy as he hurriedly closed the webpage; when he realized who the newcomer was, he erupted in anger. ¡°Wang Yongbo! You again, why don¡¯t you ever knock before entering? Can¡¯t you respect my privacy?¡± Wang Yongbo ignored him, hoisted up a stool, and planted himself beside Li Yawen, handing him a tablet: ¡°Stop watching those booty-shaking female streamers. Here¡¯s something a man should watch.¡± Li Yawen¡¯s face turned red with embarrassment: ¡°Who was watching female streamers? How can you accuse me of such things without any evidence¡­¡± ¡°What innocence? I¡¯ve caught you several times watching live streams during work hours, female streamers, and you, Wolf Fang CEO, spending all day on Tiger Fang live streams? How does that look?¡± Li Yawen¡¯s face turned even redder, veins on his forehead bulging as he argued: ¡°Watching live streams can¡¯t be considered just watching¡­ I¡¯m also a vice president!¡­ Can a vice president¡¯s actions be described as mere watching? It¡¯s clearly spying on the competition! If I don¡¯t venture into Hell, who will? I¡¯m risking my life for Wolf Fang!¡± ¡°Alright, alright, I won¡¯t bother with these empty talks, just watch this,¡± said Wang Yongbo as he went over to the water dispenser to quench his thirst, parched for quite some time. Li Yawen looked up at the clock and realized it was already past eleven; he muttered, ¡°What¡¯s there to watch now? It¡¯s time to get off work¡­¡± A few minutes later, having watched the video, Li Yawen wore a stunned expression. This video, less than thirty minutes long, was the entire record of Bi Fang and Etienne¡¯s hunting and being hunted, and it had already amassed over three hundred thousand views on the most popular overseas platform, MeTube! Barely an hour had passed since its upload! There was enormous potential for growth! With this momentum, Li Yawen believed it could reach ten million views. ¡°Isn¡¯t this the talented streamer you found before?¡± Wang Yongbo¡¯s face was brimming with smiles: ¡°Hard to believe, right? It would be one thing if it was uploaded by some famous streamer, but previously, the uploader was just an ordinary high school student, not even breaking into triple-digit followers. One video, and he gained thirty thousand!¡± Li Yawen was at a loss for words; it took him a long time to gather his thoughts: ¡°How did Bi Fang do it? I mean, why does he have so many fans overseas?¡± Wang Yongbo pulled out a stack of newspapers and placed them on the desk: ¡°Remember the prehistoric creature he discovered during his last live broadcast?¡± Eagerly, Li Yawen picked them up and flipped through, realizing they were all English newspapers, many of them quite reputable with followers all around the world. This was the foundation, as well as the reason Bi Fang had become famous overseas following the discovery of a prehistoric creature! ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± Li Yawen asked seriously, sensing that Wang Yongbo¡¯s visit wasn¡¯t as simple as just watching a video. Wang Yongbo leaned in closer: ¡°Have you ever thought about Wolf Fang expanding overseas?¡± Li Yawen looked shocked: ¡°Are you insane? We can¡¯t even handle it here in China; you want to expand overseas? Even Shark and Tiger Fang wouldn¡¯t dare to do that. What makes us think we can?¡± ¡°On what basis? This sharp sword!¡± Wang Yongbo pointed at Bi Fang on the tablet, ¡°Plus, do you think this was my idea? I wouldn¡¯t dream of it! It was MeTube who took the initiative to come to us! They want to partner with us!¡± ¡°I think we can work with them to develop an overseas section! Together, we¡¯ll slice into the outdoor live streaming market!¡± Li Yawen said skeptically: ¡°You didn¡¯t just wake up from a nap before coming to me, did you? Still half asleep?¡± Wang Yongbo threw down another stack of documents: ¡°You¡¯re underestimating Bi Fang¡¯s current influence.¡± Li Yawen took the documents, and what he saw made his eyes pop. They contained all sorts of partnership invites, from big-brand endorsements to variety channels, and even manufacturers wanting to develop co-branded toys! ¡°Bi Fang is a sharp sword, his content unique to the whole world, impossible to learn or even mimic. Who else can wrestle with black bears? Find prehistoric creatures? Take on wolf packs single-handedly? And now, traveling across Europe with geese?¡± ¡°Bi Fang isn¡¯t just a streamer; he¡¯s a modern legend! It just so happens that he chose live streaming as his medium!¡± A modern, legend? Li Yawen was taken aback. He wasn¡¯t just some office worker stealing glimpses at female streamers, he too had his own way of thinking. What Wang Yongbo said sounded¡­ as if, indeed, perhaps, there might be something to it? This could be an unprecedented opportunity for Wolf Fang and for Bi Fang as well. The difficulty of developing overseas users is well understood by everyone; it¡¯s possible that there won¡¯t be any significant achievements within a year, but as long as there¡¯s an opportunity, even a longer duration is acceptable. The first live broadcast achieved good results, which might have been luck; the second live broadcast doubled in popularity, which might have been chance, but to say it¡¯s luck for the live broadcasts to become increasingly successful each time, with all achieving brilliant results, is too much. And Bi Fang had a huge success in all three broadcasts, admired by the ordinary people; even when he ran a ¡°bonus¡± broadcast for a day in between, the popularity was still sky-high. It can only be said that he truly has unmatched abilities in this field, and such a person should not be confined to just one domestic market¡ªthe only thing limiting him is the platform! How could Wolf Fang lag behind? This genius had fully proven his strength beyond doubt. It was not only Wang Yongbo personally who had great expectations for him, but the entire Wolf Fang company hoped he would create another miracle and prove to the world that although Wolf Fang once had a brief period of decline, it still had the strength, and would one day reclaim the leading position, even becoming the industry leader worldwide! ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± ¡°Tomorrow I will propose this decision to the board of directors, and you have to support me unconditionally!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Bi Fang made a notch in the branch and then used a rock to hammer the back of his knife. After just two strikes, Bi Fang suddenly saw darkness, the firelight disappeared, and a strong sense of dizziness came over him. He became rigid in the tree. [What happened to Master Fang?] [Why isn¡¯t he moving?] The audience sent in their queries, but Bi Fang quickly recovered, pinching his brow: ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯m probably just too tired today, a bit dizzy.¡± After speaking, Bi Fang continued to hit the back of the knife, and the others didn¡¯t suspect anything. Before long, a three-meter-long branch fell to the ground. Bi Fang had already chopped down three such branches, which were the main supports for the shelter. [How is he going to build this time? There are hardly any leaves on the trees, how can they serve as the roof?] [Yeah, the snow isn¡¯t thick enough, and there are no leaves, it seems like he can¡¯t build a conical shelter or a snow cave, right?] The audience was skeptical, and it seemed a bit difficult. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m here to build a bush shelter today. This is a tundra region; we don¡¯t have many leaves like in Qinling, so we can only make use of the bushes.¡± Bi Fang returned to the ground, and Etienne dragged the three long logs behind him. The two stopped at a flat area. ¡°The structure is still a simple triangle, which is the most energy-efficient and stable. However, there is also a knack to choosing the spot, Etienne, do you see anything different about this place?¡± Etienne looked at the ground and thought for a while: ¡°Eh, is it a slope?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, a slight slope; this way, our feet will be a little higher than our heads when we sleep. Especially after a whole day of walking, having the legs slightly higher than the head can be very relaxing. It allows the blood to flow back from the legs, providing some temporary relief after a hard day.¡± Bi Fang stood a short stick upright on the ground, marked it with his knife for a while, and then tied two other V-shaped sticks tightly with vines. ¡°To secure it in place, we will use the simplest cross knot. However, we need to carve a groove at the intersection of the cross, so that the rope will be fully tightened into it, making it more secure and less likely to come undone.¡± ¡°I surely don¡¯t want a log falling on my face while I¡¯m asleep.¡± Bi Fang joked with the audience while he laid out branches on the supports and then covered them with a layer of bushes, quickly constructing a brown shelter. Just by moving the fire over, it would become a perfect campsite. ¡°Bush shelters can¡¯t block the rain, but they definitely protect against harsh winds and cold air.¡± That¡¯s settled; I have a place to sleep tonight. The geese huddled together under the rocks, slumbering, and Etienne wrapped them in a layer of burlap. Bi Fang also went to collect laundry; the quick-drying clothes could dry in an hour with just the wind, let alone being baked. After dressing, Bi Fang and Etienne crawled into the shelter and ended the day¡¯s broadcast amidst the reluctance of the audience. Chapter 178 - Chapter 178: Chapter 175: Accidents Always Come Unexpectedly Chapter 178: Chapter 175: Accidents Always Come Unexpectedly ¡°It hurts, it really hurts.¡± Bi Fang felt his brain was heavy, and his body was burning hot. A scorching sensation rushed up from his chest, as if he were about to throw up from eating something extremely spicy, searing and painful, making him forget about face or pretense, just wanting to open his mouth. He suddenly sat up, breathing rapidly, his entire body covered in cold sweat, startling a goose that had squeezed into the shelter at some unknown time; eighteen geese squawked as they flew out of the crowded shelter. ¡°Phew!¡± Bi Fang took big gulps of air, his mouth and nose felt so dry they seemed to smoke, as if scorched by fire, he supported his forehead, which was damp, and a terrible sensation between exhaustion and pain spread throughout his body. Etienne was awakened by Bi Fang¡¯s movement, and asked in confusion, ¡°Is it dawn already?¡± But when he peered outside the shelter, he saw it was only dimly lit outside, Etienne rubbed his eyes and turned to look at Bi Fang. What the heck is this situation? Etienne was startled. ¡°Boss, why do you look so terrible?¡± In front of him, Bi Fang¡¯s face was terrifyingly pale, with not a hint of color on his lips, sweat dripped down the sides of his forehead, he looked as if he had just been fished out of water. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I¡¯ve got a fever,¡± Bi Fang said casually. This sight made Etienne¡¯s heart pound with fear, could it be that Master Fang, who was always as fierce as tigers and leopards, had such a weak moment? Etienne worried deeply, he knew very well that Bi Fang was his only reliance to survive in the wilderness, what would happen if there was an accident? Bi Fang grabbed his clothes and put them on, then took the drone outside the shelter and started today¡¯s live stream. [Wu Hu, how lucky, another live stream! Good afternoon, Master Fang!] [No, it should be good morning, it¡¯s still morning where Master Fang is.] [Every time I come back from work, I can watch the live stream, time difference is so awesome!] [OMG, Master Fang, why are you so pale?] [Damn, that pale face scared me, what happened?] The audience had just greeted him when they noticed Bi Fang¡¯s face was terrifyingly pale. Bi Fang coughed twice, his voice hoarse as he explained, ¡°I guess it¡¯s because I fell into the river twice yesterday, causing my body temperature to fluctuate violently, it was okay yesterday, I thought it was nothing, but I woke up with a fever this morning.¡± A fever? The audience couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit scared; they clearly remembered how Bi Fang had once said how dangerous it was to have a fever in the wilderness. A fever when alone in the wilderness, in Bi Fang¡¯s words, was almost like losing half your life! [Damn, even the ironclad Fang has fallen!] [It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over, a double tragedy!] [What the heck is a double tragedy¡­] [If Master Fang falls, Etienne won¡¯t escape either, isn¡¯t that a double tragedy?] [Wow, I never thought of it that way.] [Invincible Mr. Fang, please think of a solution fast!] ¡°Don¡¯t panic, under normal circumstances, getting cold and fever in the wilderness is indeed very dangerous, because it will drag down your status, preventing you from carrying out activities like hunting, leading to a series of bad situations, but yesterday I caught a deer over sixty kilograms, greatly alleviating the situation,¡± he said. It was very bad, extremely bad, but it wasn¡¯t a desperate situation yet, Santa Claus¡¯s steed brought hope with its life. Bi Fang covered his face and forehead, feeling his own status, bearing the discomfort, he made an analysis. ¡°In such a situation, don¡¯t panic first, start by judging whether the situation is serious.¡± ¡°When you have a fever, if the temperature isn¡¯t too high, you¡¯ll often feel your whole body is hot and you feel weak all over, without energy, some people will also experience headaches, dizziness, or muscle pain throughout their body.¡± ¡°If the fever is very high, many patients will experience chills, cold hands and feet, and the headache and other symptoms can become more severe. Right now, I just feel hot all over, which means it¡¯s not too serious; give me some time, and I¡¯ll be able to bounce back.¡± After analyzing the problem, Bi Fang began to consider his predicament. ¡°The food reserves are not a problem right now,¡± I smoked all the remaining venison last night, and considering the temperature changes and removing the inedible parts, the remaining weight should support our food resources for at least a week. This is enough time for me to recover.¡± Hearing that there was nothing wrong with Bi Fang, Etienne finally breathed a sigh of relief and couldn¡¯t help but deeply admire Bi Fang¡¯s strength and composure. Even with such a pale face, he was able to analyze the situation without batting an eye; truly a tough guy who could munch on a heart if needed, Etienne could never match that skill in his lifetime. However, it was clear that Bi Fang was too weak at the moment; most of the upcoming tasks would have to be done by him. ¡°Are we still going to fly these next few days?¡± Bi Fang, pinching the bridge of his nose, said, ¡°Fly, why wouldn¡¯t we? We can¡¯t afford to delay.¡± Etienne was moved by this unyielding will and exclaimed loudly, ¡°Worthy of being my idol, still wanting to fly the glider in this condition!¡± ¡°Who said I was going to fly?¡± Bi Fang looked at Etienne with confusion. He pointed at Etienne, ¡°You do it!¡± Etienne was bewildered for a moment, wondering if he had misheard. He looked around, saw no one else, pointed at himself, and confirmed again, ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Who else? Didn¡¯t you do quite well the first time? Weren¡¯t you happy saving Goose back then?¡± My own status is very poor; personally flying the glider would be too dangerous. It was just that Etienne was too nervous and lacked mental fortitude; he would be fine after a couple more tries. The task only lasted for a bit over thirty days, so it wouldn¡¯t be worth stopping for several days just because of a fever. ¡°I can¡¯t do it,¡± Etienne still wanted to struggle; it was scary the last time he flew, and he did not want to repeat the experience. ¡°If we waste too much time, Goose might end up freezing to death.¡± ¡°lean do it.¡± Etienne had no choice but to hang his head and agree. ¡°Go hang all the venison on the glider¡¯s wings.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Etienne, who had been ready to pack up the venison, was startled. Hang it on the glider¡¯s wings? ¡°Smoking can¡¯t prevent mold growth completely; we still need to air-dry it to ensure absolute safety. You can use a spare robe to cut into strips for ropes; just make sure to tie it tight. If any fall off, we¡¯ll eat your meat.¡± [Master Fang is bullying child labor!] [Etienne: Wuu wuu wuu, eat my meat? Life is so hard for me.] [Wow, hanging smoked meat on a glider, who else but him?] Half an hour later, Etienne, who had hung all the smoked meat on the glider¡¯s wings, was speechless. ¡°This looks too ugly¡­¡± The huge wings with dangling strips of meat, one could easily imagine what it would look like in flight¡ªabsolutely unrefined! But there was no choice; it had to be done. After quenching the fire and restoring everything to its original state, the massive deer head was mounted at the front of the glider and the two of them took off once again. ¡°Fly carefully, steady,¡± Bi Fang leaned back and instructed without lifting his head from the map. Etienne gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Okay¡­¡± The propeller spun faster and faster, and Etienne pushed the horizontal bar, flying unsteadily into the sky. The strips of meat fluttered in the wind, and rows of geese flew neatly by their sides. Bi Fang checked the direction to make sure it was correct, then started to decide what to do next, but a severe headache sapped his energy. He regretted not picking more Ligustrum when he had the chance; it was a shrub that could significantly alleviate cold symptoms. Now, it was too late for any regrets. There once was a medicinal herb in front of Bi Fang, but he didn¡¯t cherish it, and only when he lost it did he feel grievous regret. There¡¯s nothing more painful in this world than this. How will he be able to recover as soon as possible? Bi Fang¡¯s head hurt again. Chapter 179 - Chapter 179:176 From Sagittarius to Sagittarius Chapter 179:176 From Sagittarius to Sagittarius The glider flew quickly, and the strong wind nearly plastered the venison to the wings. Lake after lake, hill after hill of pale green and white, snow cover had grown thinner with the passage of time, and many hilltops no longer bore traces of snow. Buffeted by the chilly wind, Bi Fang felt much better, but he was still groggy and queasy, his thoughts significantly dulled. It took him a while to remember he should say something. Scouring his memory for knowledge, he mustered the language with difficulty. ¡°Elders often say that when you have a fever, you should sweat it out by bundling up, thinking that sweating profusely will help, but inducing sweat can lead to a massive loss of fluids through the skin, along with a lot of heat, indeed resulting in a temporary drop in temperature¡ªbut this practice is very incorrect.¡± ¡°This is especially true for children; after inducing sweat and rapidly losing a large amount of fluids, it only leads to dehydration. Dehydration in infants and young children is more serious than a fever, as severe dehydration can cause organ failure.¡± Bi Fang touched his forehead, his personal experience at the moment lending credibility to his words. ¡°If you¡¯re really uncomfortable, you can remove some clothing to let out the heat from your body, but be careful-you should feel cool, not cold, and if you start feeling cold, you need to put your clothes back on right away.¡± (I think Master Fang¡¯s complexion is getting worse] [It¡¯s a bit alarming] [I think it¡¯s better to take a rest] ¡°No, actually I feel okay, just a bit dizzy and uncomfortable. It¡¯s a good opportunity to make some things while we have the time, like bows, containers, and water bags.¡± While chatting with the audience, Bi Fang opened the reindeer¡¯s stomach sack. He weighed it, and the stomach sack kept shaking, like a balloon filled with water, bulging and taut. Last night, he had kept the reindeer¡¯s stomach, which was actually a very good container. Once rinsed clean, it could be used to hold liquids. Before leaving today, Bi Fang had also placed two scalding hot rocks in it to boil water, because there was water, he wasn¡¯t worried about the stomach being damaged. ¡°To recover from a fever quickly, you need to drink lots of hot water. Not only can drinking hot water dissolve toxins, enabling them to be expelled from the body with the urine, but it can also enhance the activity of your body¡¯s enzymes to fight the virus more effectively.¡± Bi Fang made a small opening and drank more than half with gulps and slurps, then wiped his mouth afterward. ¡°So when you¡¯re feeling under the weather, and your boyfriend tells you to drink more hot water, it¡¯s not that he doesn¡¯t care about you-it¡¯s actually for your own good. Love can be shown in the simplest of details.¡± [Even with a fever, he can think so clearly. Master Fang is such a straight-shooter] [I must admit, this move is pro level!] [My wife is also watching Master Fang¡¯s live stream, hehehe.] [Man, my girlfriend told me she¡¯s got a cold. I told her to drink more hot water, and wham, I got slapped back. Wuuwuuwuu.) [Wait until you¡¯re half as handsome as Master Fang, maybe it won¡¯t end like that.] Etienne, piloting the glider, pricked up his ears and interjected, ¡°Where we come from, few people drink hot water. Even with instant noodles, we just use cold water and a microwave.¡± [Really?] [Indeed, I have a foreign friend who never drinks hot water either, which surprised me at the time.] [Cultural differences, I guess, but hot water is still healthier.] Bi Fang smacked Etienne¡¯s head lightly. ¡°Just focus on flying this glider, don¡¯t get distracted!¡± Etienne shrank back, deciding to temporarily avoid arguing with a sick person. Bi Fang then grabbed another long piece of wood, intending to make the bow and arrows he had long coveted. Holding a wood length nearly as tall as himself and thicker than his arm, he began to cut and shape it. ¡°The bow is a widely used hunting tool, able to facilitate approach and kill various sizes of game. The bow I¡¯m making today is suitable for short-term survival, often referred to as the ¡®Father-Son Bow¡¯, which means a larger bow has a smaller bow tied to its back, overlapping the two.¡± Bi Fang placed a short stick behind the long piece of wood, giving a simple demonstration. The reason for this design was because Bi Fang didn¡¯t have good wood material or time. A bow made from fresh wood, though easier to make, isn¡¯t as sturdy as one made from superior wood. By adding a small bow in this way, we can increase the strength of the bow despite using poorer wood materials.¡± [Then why not use bamboo? It seems like bamboo has great elasticity and smoothness.] My grandfather made me a bow out of bamboo when I was a kid!¡± ¡°Ancient people rarely used bamboo for bows, right?¡± ¡°No, how come I remember there being a lot of bamboo bows?¡± ¡°No, in fact, in ancient times, people from various ethnic groups around the world unanimously considered bamboo to be the lowest grade material for bow making. A truly fine bow would never be made of bamboo.¡± ¡°The wood for a bow can¡¯t have knots, meaning branches. If there are any, it¡¯s likely to crack. The only advantage of using bamboo for bows is that it¡¯s easy to find uniform materials, so it¡¯s low-cost and can be mass-produced. Wood knots are quite common, making it difficult to find suitable wood that meets the requirements for making a bow.¡± ¡°Bamboo is generally used for arrows, as it¡¯s too soft and not tough enough for bows, so it doesn¡¯t have much elasticity. People from rural areas who have made bows out of bamboo know that its too good elasticity means the arrows don¡¯t have much power.¡± Bi Fang whittled the wood with a knife, cutting off one end to make it about one and a half meters long, then split it in half. One half was the ¡°Father¡±, the main frame, with the bark side serving as the bow¡¯s back and the side without as the belly. He then carefully shaped it, polished it with a stone until it could bend evenly. Having finished this part, Bi Fang paused for a moment, quietly opened his water bottle, and took a few sips. Just making this half of the bow had left him somewhat fatigued, something that would be impossible under normal circumstances. The fever still affected him, causing him to break into a continuous cold sweat. After resting for a good while, Bi Fang continued making the bow. He treated the other half of the wood in the same way, carving notches at both ends to secure the bowstring, then he tied the two halves together. ¡°The shorter bow¡¯s belly must be attached to the longer bow¡¯s back, with some small wood sticks inserted between the two to increase the gap, which can enhance the bow¡¯s toughness.¡± ¡°For the bowstring, I used the bark of a hardwood tree, taking the inner layer of the bark which is very tough once it dries.¡± Bi Fang took out a strip of tree bark, rubbed it into a rope to serve as the bowstring, and tied it at both ends, thus completing a rudimentary bow and arrows! He gave it a simple pull, and the grating sound of teeth aching with effort arose, showing the bow¡¯s great power. Bi Fang looked it over and was very satisfied, ¡°Now the sound when pulling the bow can alert the prey, but it¡¯ll be fine after a few more practices.¡± ¡°Damn, that¡¯s cool! A melee warrior becoming a ranged one?¡± ¡°The strongest archer has logged on!¡± ¡°The moment of hunting!¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you use deer sinew for the bowstring?¡± Bi Fang set down the bow and began making arrows: ¡°The power of a bow and arrow comes from the limbs of the bow, not the bowstring. Therefore, the bowstring should have no elasticity and be as sturdy as possible. Animal sinew for bowstrings is a fabrication from novels or storytellers.¡± Making the arrows was even simpler. Bi Fang sharpened broken deer bones to use as arrowheads and whittled wood for the shafts, and quickly, a complete set was ready. Bi Fang nocked an arrow to his bow and shot it at the lake below. Before it hit the ground, it was blown away by the wind and drifted off to an unknown location. ¡°Hahaha, that¡¯s sad.¡± ¡°That arrow¡¯s really drifting (covering mouth)¡± ¡°Is this considered high-altitude littering?¡± ¡°Twenty-one days with no chicks hatched, such a bad egg!¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t feel ashamed, ¡°Normal, a newly made bow still needs to be broken in and doesn¡¯t have the right feel yet. Plus, the height is too great, so it¡¯s normal for it to drift.¡± ¡°Huff.¡± His vision darkened again, and Bi Fang pinched the bridge of his nose, leaning back in the chair. Just these two hours felt like he had been active for a day, incredibly tiring. Fortunately, he now had almost everything he needed, hoping for a smoother path ahead. The days were too short, the sun didn¡¯t rise until nine in the morning, and by four in the afternoon, it was dark, so there were less than five hours of flight time each day. He couldn¡¯t get very far. It might take several days just to fly out of Finland. Quietly estimating the journey and time, Bi Fang delegated the client-acquisition task to Etienne and closed his eyes to sleep. Chapter 180 - Chapter 180: Chapter 177: Its Really Too Cool! Chapter 180: Chapter 177: It¡¯s Really Too Cool! One day later. On the third day of their migration, Bi Fang¡¯s fever not only failed to improve, but it became even more severe, to the point where last night¡¯s tent was pitched by Etienne alone, taking a full two hours. Bi Fang¡¯s face was completely devoid of color as he took the stomach bag Etienne had filled with water. Having just eaten dried meat and feeling quite thirsty, he gulped down the entire bag of water. The temperature of the water was just right, neither hot nor cold, and quite pleasant. Etienne was very attentive, first boiling the water with stones, then partially immersing it in the lake, using the lake water to cool it quickly, and only taking it out when he felt it was about the right temperature. After finishing the water, Bi Fang saw Etienne did not leave but rather stared at him with puppy-dog eyes. Bi Fang leaned against a tree and asked curiously, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Etienne scratched his head and glanced at the nearby camera, somewhat embarrassed, ¡°Do you still have any paper on your side?¡± Bi Fang immediately understood, ¡°You want to use the bathroom?¡± Etienne scratched his head and gave a sheepish smile. Well, it had been two or three days, so it was perfectly normal to have such needs. Bi Fang looked around at the nearby woods and saw that they were all coniferous forests; if they were to be used, one would hope not to plan on sitting down on a flight for the next two or three days. [That¡¯s right, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever paid attention to this issue before, but has Master Fang never taken a shit?] [He definitely sneaks away and deals with it when we aren¡¯t looking.] [Speaking of which, what do you use to wipe when you¡¯re pooping in the wild?] [Isn¡¯t there a lake right next to us? I think just washing off after doing your business should be fine.] [Eh, is it really okay to discuss this kind of issue so seriously? I¡¯m grossed out.] After pondering for a while, Bi Fang finally told Etienne, ¡°Use snow to wipe.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± ¡°Ah what? These are the conditions; I still need to save the paper for calculating latitudes and longitudes, I can¡¯t let you waste it like that.¡± Etienne was unconvinced, ¡°But that paper was given by me¡­ ¡± ¡°Actually, snow is much nicer than paper and also very clean.¡± Bi Fang felt he needed to win people over with virtue and demonstrate the power of scientific knowledge. Wilderness survival: knowledge is the primary productive force. ¡°There are only so many sheets of paper, and we have to keep going for at least a month; this little amount won¡¯t suffice for that purpose, so sooner or later you¡¯ll have to get used to it. Of all the materials that can be used in the wild, snow is most suitable. Later, when we¡¯re in a lower latitude, you won¡¯t even need it.¡± Both Etienne and the viewers in the live stream were shocked. ¡°Don¡¯t be surprised, this is actually a very serious wilderness survival tip. Choosing the right material is also crucial; first, it should be soft to the touch, preferably waterproof, and secondly, try to choose something that won¡¯t impact the environment.¡± ¡°In the wilderness, there are two things that are even better to use than toilet paper: snowballs and lichens. The former has a grainy texture and a fine quality, with a built-in rinse buff, while the latter is very thick and similar to shaggy carpet, both of which are great materials.¡± ¡°Next come stones and leaves; don¡¯t be shocked, they really are viable options, but you have to find the right kind. Large leaves with a fuzzy underside are best. If I can find other materials, I wouldn¡¯t choose leaves first because most leaves are too slick to clean properly.¡± [Wow, I learned something new.] [There are so many tricks to pooping in the wild?] [Of course, otherwise what would you do if you wiped too hard, caused bleeding, and got an infection?] [I¡¯m just going to slowly type a question mark here¡­] [Master Fang has tried them all? I won¡¯t watch any reviews unless you¡¯re in them!] Seeing how seriously Bi Fang spoke, Etienne had no choice but to believe him. He nodded solemnly and headed towards the deserted snowy landscape. ¡°Remember to pack the snowballs tightly, and afterwards, wipe again with some dry material.¡± Bi Fang called out to Etienne¡¯s retreating figure, and for some reason, the silhouette seemed to stagger. Ten minutes later, Etienne returned with a flushed face. ¡°You said it is really true!¡± ¡°Right? Why would I lie to you, snowballs are really useful.¡± [My god, I can no longer look at Little Wolf King directly¡­] ¡°Alright, let¡¯s continue our journey. Once we reach a lower latitude, maybe I¡¯ll be able to find some herbs, and then I¡¯ll recover much faster.¡± Bi Fang wobbled onto the glider, and Etienne, having packed up the campsite, set off again. The deer meat had dried and was wrapped in deerskin; the plane finally looked like a plane again, not like the balcony at grandma¡¯s house during New Year. Having gained flight experience yesterday, today he was much more skilled at takeoff, which was very smooth, and he could even adjust the altitude according to the wind speed. ¡°Looking at the map, we might be able to fly out of Finland tomorrow or the day after tomorrow,¡± Bi Fang directed from the back seat. Elvan¡¯s map was very detailed. The red lines indicated the places where we couldn¡¯t stop, blue was for possible stops, and purple tags marked places where we could rest for an extended time. There were also yellow tags with many notes attached. There was a stretch of red route coming up, indicating human settlements where we couldn¡¯t stop. Bi Fang glanced at the fuel gauge: ¡°We have enough fuel for three days; the day after tomorrow, we¡¯ll need to look for supplies left by Elvan along the way.¡± The glider was custom-made by Elvan, with an especially large fuel tank. However, the primary power source for the glider was actually the wind. The propeller was mainly to enhance its takeoff speed. After folding away the map and chatting with the viewers, Bi Fang felt sleepy again. He had been lethargic for the last two days. ¡°Sister, look, the birds are following the airplane!¡± At a port, a little girl pointed excitedly at the glider in the sky. The girl¡¯s sister looked up and was also stunned to see Etienne piloting the plane. Was that a flock of geese beside it? Were they flying together by chance? But why were the geese migrating just now? Out of curiosity, she took out her phone to record and zoomed in, then cried out in shock. The glider was actually leading the geese! And what was up with the deer head in front? That was too cool! The excited elder sister recorded a video until the glider disappeared, then eagerly uploaded it to the internet, adding the caption: My god, this is unbelievable, someone is actually leading a migration of geese with a glider! Having a few thousand followers of her own, the video quickly garnered comments online. [My god, is this real? Are the geese actually following the plane?] [The deer head on this glider is so badass! I want a plane like that too! Even a toy version would be great.] [I can¡¯t believe what I¡¯m seeing. This scene is so magical.] [Wait a second, these two look familiar. Isn¡¯t this the hunting video posted by Spider-Kid? My god, it¡¯s really them! I would recognize that handsome Huaxia man anywhere!] [OMG, I remember now! It¡¯s that great master! The world¡¯s number one survivalist! He¡¯s the one with those skills!] The elder sister grew curious and couldn¡¯t help but inquire about the hunting video¡­ Meanwhile, Bi Fang and his companion were oblivious to all of this, still focused on leading the geese in their migration. In the afternoon, Bi Fang suddenly asked Etienne to land. Etienne was puzzled, as it wasn¡¯t evening yet¡ªwhy did they need to stop now? But he did as Bi Fang requested and, as the plane descended, Etienne suddenly realized something was wrong. Why was steam coming off the lake? ¡°This isn¡¯t an ordinary lake, it¡¯s a hot spring!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s eyes shone; his cold was about to be cured! Chapter 181 - Chapter 181: Chapter 178: Is this the legendary member of the Dragon Group? Chapter 181: Chapter 178: Is this the legendary member of the Dragon Group? ¡°Ah, refreshing!¡± Bi Fang was soaking in the hot spring, mist rising into the air, feeling as if his whole body might ascend to heaven. This was his most comfortable moment in the wilderness; every pore of his body was opening up and sweating, and the sunshine felt like a pair of soft hands caressing his body. Finland is rich in geothermal resources, with even floor heating being supplied by hot water, but Bi Fang had never imagined actually encountering a natural hot spring. Though this hot spring was too hot for a direct soak, close to sixty degrees, Bi Fang found a depression and used stones to block the lower end, mixing hot and cold water together to make it bearable. ¡°Soaking in a bath can greatly alleviate my illness because the increased temperature can help to lower the activity of the virus, and accelerated blood circulation can help to remove toxins from the body. But remember, keeping warm after a bath is very important, otherwise it will only make things worse.¡± Etienne, next to him, was also comfortably sighing. He had never imagined that he could enjoy a bath during his travels. Especially in this cold weather, all the fatigue of the journey seemed to have vanished. ¡°Ah, I feel like I¡¯m already sweating. Maybe my fever will be gone after today.¡± [Awesome, while others struggle to survive you soak in hot springs, while others starve you eat venison, literally not playing by the rules.] [So strong, Wilderness Survivalist like this, awesome plus!] [Cancel Wilderness, check Vacation!] Bi Fang¡¯s posture had aroused the envy of countless online friends. Surviving in the wild and even finding a natural hot spring to soak in, it¡¯s infuriating. [Wait a second, didn¡¯t Old Fang say yesterday that you shouldn¡¯t sweat too much? Could even wear less to dissipate heat?] [Blind, you¡¯ve spotted a key point!] [Old Fang is talking nonsense; let¡¯s all disperse, leave me be to enjoy it alone (facetious).] [How dare you! Such a vicious woman, always thinking about nonsense. You want to monopolize his favor?] To achieve certain goals, humans go through a heating process after getting a fever, the quicker this process is completed the better. But if the peak temperature can¡¯t be reached, it will keep rising, entering a high-temperature ¡®plateau¡¯ state, causing one to ¡®burn out¡¯, and at this point, it¡¯s necessary to undress to cool down.¡± ¡°Recall what I said at the time: if you really feel uncomfortable, you can indeed reduce your clothing. That¡¯s the rationale.¡± ¡°Additionally, sweating and deliberately inducing sweat are two different things. Sweating does help alleviate the symptoms of a cold, but it cannot be forced.¡± Bi Fang shook his head, feeling the steam from the spring water, his whole being ethereal, as the discomfort rapidly faded away. ¡°People feel tired after catching a cold because the body is operating in overdrive, trying to eliminate the virus. That¡¯s why you need to rest more during a cold, to concentrate all energy on fighting the virus. Though inducing sweat can be useful, it mainly causes discomfort and dehydration. This should be viewed dialectically.¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t because of sweating that a fever breaks; instead, it¡¯s the other way around. Because the body cools down, we sweat. It¡¯s a result, not a cause, which many people get backwards.¡± Once these common-sense explanations were given, most people understood: inducing excessive sweat is too draining on bodily functions and can bring the body down. By the time Bi Fang finished soaking in the hot spring, it was already three in the afternoon, and dusk was approaching once again. He quickly got up, wiped his body clean with dry clothes, his skin all aglow with a reddish sheen, and his complexion visibly much better. After getting dressed, Bi Fang let out a long breath, ¡°Roar! I feel much more spirited!¡± [Isn¡¯t this just a healing pool rather than a hot spring?] [Healing complete!] [Next up, charge!] The Shuiyou were all very happy to see Bi Fang reviving his spirits. However, it was already late, and Bi Fang and Etienne continued to set up camp, planning to sleep before setting off again. What nobody knew was that videos about them on the internet were becoming more and more numerous, and increasingly popular. Along the way, it wasn¡¯t just one person who had captured them on video. ¡°Elvan, look, look! Another video has been posted, they¡¯re about to fly out of Finland! It has a million views!¡± In the police station, Lenin shook Elvan with excitement. Elvan was also extremely excited, ¡°I just knew it, Bi Fang is a master, a real master, no difficulty can stymie him!¡± The two of them hugged and laughed loudly, jumping around like two big boys. The plan had succeeded, the geese followed the plane, not a single one was missing! A nearby officer left quietly, running over to Johnny¡¯s side, pulling out his cellphone, and zooming in on the map. ¡°We¡¯ve found the boy and the geese, over here¡­¡± ¡°What are they doing?¡± Lenin, after his excitement had subsided, looked at Johnny with a bad feeling. Elvan felt the same way, he grabbed Lenin by the shoulders, ¡°Lenin, you collected a sample too, right? When you were injecting the chip?¡± ¡°Yes, just the day before we set out, what do you want to do?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll make our own report!¡± Elvan was firm, ¡°They¡¯re definitely going to try to stop Bi Fang, to cull the geese, we must make our own report to prove that the geese are fine!¡± The biggest problem now was the virus detection report; as long as they could prove it was negative, Johnny, the park director, would have no right to intervene! Dawn had not yet broken. Bi Fang and Etienne enjoyed another session in the hot springs, and when daylight came, his spirit was thoroughly invigorated, his earlier fatigue completely vanished. Starting the live stream again, the two of them continued on their way, passing through the red line routes. There were always a few video clips that made their way online, followed by a huge outcry, each more significant than the last. ¡°He¡¯s so amazing!¡± Gwendolyn exclaimed, stars in her eyes as she watched Bi Fang pilot the stag head glider on the screen. ¡°I should never have shown her this.¡± Peter regretted it a bit. Ever since he posted Bi Fang¡¯s hunting video online, his number of followers skyrocketed. He then posted videos about making shelters, enjoying hot springs, and some flight clips. Each one caused a huge sensation, ¡¯ especially when he explained in a blog post the reasons for Bi Fang¡¯s flights, which made the popularity explode. Even here his follower count soared to tens of thousands, which gave him the courage to invite the girl he had secretly admired to watch the live stream together at his home. But then¡­ No longer in love. Whimper, whimper, why can an Asian be so handsome? With one leading to ten and ten leading to a hundred, more and more people had started paying attention to the actions of Bi Fang and Etienne, learning of their act of piloting gliders to guide the migration of geese across Europe. Numerous websites had set up dedicated discussion areas, and videos of Bi Fang¡¯s previous adventures had been dug up¡ªthe details of his life, his achievements, all were revealed. [Is he the explorer who discovered prehistoric creatures? My God, no wonder he seemed so familiar. I always thought it was just my imagination because all Asians look alike!] [A Huaxia special forces soldier? That¡¯s amazing, seems even more formidable than our Royal Air Force Regiment.] [I knew it, it must be the Huaxia Dragon Group, I¡¯ve read about it in novels! He must have a lot of wives! So the books were all true! ] [The protagonist has been by my side all this time?] [The guy upstairs must have read too many of our web novels, right? Our country doesn¡¯t have a Dragon Group.] [Are you a Huaxia person? Then do you know about GOD Fang¡¯s deeds? Can you give us a detailed introduction?] [Yes, yes, tell us!] [Actually, I¡¯m a student studying abroad. I¡¯m not very clear about recent events in my home country, and I¡¯m hearing about this person for the first time¡­] A single spark can start a prairie fire¡­ Chapter 182 - Chapter 182: Chapter 179: The Fading Bird Comes Migration, Day Five. Chapter 182: Chapter 179: The Fading Bird Comes Migration, Day Five. Time zone: 10 a.m. ¡°Let¡¯s stop here to refuel.¡± Bi Fang rolled up the map again. After several days of recovery, his fever had completely subsided, and his abundant energy took the high ground. But another difficulty had arisen. They had left Finland and arrived in Norway, and the North Sea was next, but they were short on fuel. There was no choice but to look for an opportunity to replenish their fuel. This was a safe point marked by Elvan, a small town harbor where many fishing boats were docked. The harbor was large, suitable for the White-fronted Goose to rest and forage. Most importantly, the local ban on hunting the White-fronted Goose and considering it a creature that could bring good fortune. To the locals, Bi Fang and Etienne, arriving by glider, were a sight of curiosity. Bi Fang approached a smoking man at a docking point, attempting to barter deer hide for gasoline, displaying it to show its quality: ¡°This deer hide is of very good quality, almost unscathed.¡± The uncle squinted his eyes, his rough skin glistening with sweat. He didn¡¯t directly answer Bi Fang¡¯s request but curiously flicked out his cigarette: ¡°Are those geese following you guys in flight?¡± Bi Fang scratched his eyebrow and smiled, ¡°Yes, we are guiding them on their migration.¡± ¡°Migration? This late?¡± Bi Fang briefly explained their plan and the predicament they were currently facing. ¡°I heard the locals are quite fond of the White-fronted Goose, so if possible, I was hoping you could look out for these little guys¡­¡± ¡°No problem,¡± the boat owner interrupted before Bi Fang could finish, ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve seen White-fronted Geese coming to this harbor, the first time in nearly three years.¡± Etienne cheered. This was truly great news. Dreams are not easy to come by, but they always have the power to touch one¡¯s heart. Along the way, the two of them had gone through a lot, but not all of it had been rough. After refueling, Bi Fang handed over the deer hide, but to his surprise, the man refused it. The uncle shook his head, neatly folded the deer hide, and placed it on the plane: ¡°Consider it a little effort for the geese. If I take this deer hide, what will you exchange next time? Keep it until you need to refuel again.¡± [Wow, what a cool uncle!] [I¡¯m touched] [There are still more good people in the world!] [For real, watching Old Fang¡¯s videos gives me a lot to think about. Not only do I learn new things, but I also feel things I don¡¯t normally experience in everyday life. This is truly a divine live stream!] The audience was touched by the gesture. Bi Fang touched the deer hide and sincerely thanked the man along with Etienne: ¡°I really appreciate it.¡± Watching the two board the drone, the uncle suddenly asked, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Bi Fang paused but then chuckled and shook his head: ¡°I¡¯m Bi Fang, and he is Etienne.¡± Under the man¡¯s gaze, they took to the skies once more. Over a small hill, Etienne, sitting in the back, was puzzled by Bi Fang¡¯s behavior just now. ¡°Why did you hesitate just now?¡± ¡°When you¡¯re out and about, you can¡¯t skimp on the necessary precautions. Even if someone seems good to you, aside from your parents, no one is unconditionally good to you.¡± ¡°Why did you still tell him then?¡± Bi Fang smiled and flew the drone higher. ¡°Because I decided to trust him.¡± An hour later, a car drove into the harbor. The uncle from the fishing boat, puffing on his cigarette, saw the car logo and blew a smoke ring: ¡°Cadre? Doesn¡¯t look like good news.¡± Johnny got out of the car, furious to find that the vast lake was devoid of the glider he wanted to see, stamping his foot in anger. ¡°Damn it! Damn it, they¡¯ve slipped away again!¡± As the affair got bigger and the chase continued unsuccessfully, Johnny felt increasingly uneasy, fearing his deeds would be exposed by journalists and the media, making his desire to find Bi Fang even stronger. No one is fearless against the power of public opinion, and even if the park was his to rule, under these circumstances, there was no guarantee that someone wouldn¡¯t betray him, selling the news for a good price. ¡°They must have come through here, I¡¯ve seen the video, they couldn¡¯t have flown far!¡± Johnny surveyed the surroundings, confirming that this was the harbor seen in the video. He went straight to the shore to the uncle on the fishing boat, gesticulating. ¡°Have you seen an Asian man with a boy on a glider?¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± the uncle nodded. Johnny¡¯s face lit up with joy as he eagerly asked, ¡°Tell me quick, where are they?¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°They¡¯re smuggling geese across the border! We¡¯re trying to catch them!¡± ¡°I see,¡± the uncle scratched his cheek, pointing towards the horizon, ¡°they flew that way, left about ten minutes ago.¡± Johnny didn¡¯t even say thank you before he hurried off. Click. The uncle looked at the video he had just captured on his phone, smirked, and hit send, even giving it a like for good measure. Rings of smoke drifted slowly out. Perfect. At noon, the two men ate some of the remaining deer meat and began to divide the tasks between them. Etienne was in charge of boiling water, while Bi Fang continued to calculate the latitude and longitude to ensure they were on the correct maritime course. Looking over Etienne¡¯s homework, Bi Fang suddenly remembered a question, ¡°By the way, are you on vacation now?¡± ¡°No, but I took some time off.¡± ¡°Won¡¯t it affect your studies?¡± ¡°To me, studying and smoking weed are no different; both are about holding the dead plant and having hallucinations.¡± [I must say, that¡¯s professional!] [A contemporary great philosopher! ] [I wonder what Elvan would think if he heard this, heh.] [His ass might be blooming with flowers!] Etienne picked up a scalding hot stone and put it inside the deer¡¯s stomach. They had crossed from Norway to Denmark, not the entire North Sea, which would probably take about two days. The stomach could hold three liters of water, and if they conserved it, that should be enough. It must be said, that stomach was really handy, feeling like rubber to the touch, very sturdy. In desperate times, it could even serve as emergency food. Once everything was ready, the two set off into the vast ocean. ¡°Look, they¡¯re all taking pictures of us!¡± Passing by a river, Etienne excitedly said as he saw the tourists on the cruise ship. The tourists went up on the deck, flashlights everywhere. They had never seen a scene like this before: a hang glider flying with geese, all pulling out their phones to take pictures. [What a spectacle! Looks like Master Fang has really made it big overseas!] [Woohoo, who else can match this!?] [Awesome, just amazing, I¡¯ve never seen any other streamer get this popular abroad, Old Fang is definitely the first!] [Master Fang¡¯s livestream is a dimension-reducing strike! A complete crush!] [Too bad they can¡¯t watch Master Fang¡¯s livestream.] By the time it was a little after three o¡¯clock, Bi Fang finally saw the coastline, which was no longer adorned with green hills and white snow, but a stretch of blue. No trees, no mountains, no people. ¡°Roar!¡± Etienne yelled excitedly. As the latitude decreased, daylight began to extend. It wasn¡¯t until after four o¡¯clock that it would get dark, and to save time, Bi Fang didn¡¯t stop but headed straight out to sea. ¡°Aren¡¯t we stopping?¡± Noticing it was getting late, Etienne worried they wouldn¡¯t find an island to rest on. ¡°No worries, let¡¯s fly a little longer,¡± Bi Fang said, not the least bit anxious, ¡°Norway has the most islands in the world, up to 150,000, and the coastline is very short. I could navigate there with my eyes closed. Look, isn¡¯t that one right there?¡± Etienne looked up and saw, indeed, three islands just within his line of sight. ¡°Impressive!¡± It wasn¡¯t until the last trace of light had faded that Bi Fang finally steered the glider towards an island to land. ¡°Many of these nearshore islands have been developed by humans, so we don¡¯t have to worry about danger. We can set up camp here with peace of mind,¡± said Bi Fang. Bi Fang secured the glider and went with Etienne into the forest to gather materials for setting up camp, as they had been doing these past few days. Once the camp was set up, the sun had already sunk beneath the sea. Bi Fang skewered the deer meat, ready to fish for some sea goods to taste. It had been nearly a week without salt, and he felt that his mouth was about to fade into blandness. Chapter 183 - Chapter 183: Chapter 180: One is not enough? Have another one, one for each person! Chapter 183: Chapter 180: One is not enough? Have another one, one for each person! Bi Fang smashed the reindeer bones and began to select bone fragments of the right size, then carefully ground them with a rock. ¡°Short-term survival without salt is not a big issue, but long-term lack of salt intake could lead to some very serious consequences, like nervous system weakness, general fatigue, and in more severe cases, it could even cause acids to accumulate in cells, leading to high acidity that damages DNA structures, which in layman¡¯s terms means an increased risk of cancer.¡± ¡°The solution to this problem is actually quite simple. Near the sea, you can dilute sea salt from seawater, but sea salt contains too many impurities, so it can only serve as an emergency fix.¡± ¡°Additionally, you can collect your own sweat, or drink the blood of animals. These are all good methods to replenish salt.¡± [So Master Fang kept the deer blood to drink?] [Damn, it¡¯s going to be a week soon, wouldn¡¯t it have gone bad?] [This is true primitive survival.] ¡°No, I did not keep the deer blood to drink; I have better choices, which is to eat as much meat as possible!¡± Bi Fang displayed the bone fragment he held in his hand to everyone, which originally was just a piece of broken bone but now had been turned into the shape of a fish hook! ¡°Catching animals is harder, but it¡¯s also a good way to supplement salt. However, compared to the previous methods, it¡¯s undoubtedly much more difficult.¡± ¡°This is a fish hook I made from the reindeer bone. We¡¯ve almost finished eating its meat, but we can use its bones and blood to catch more fish. This move truly stunned the netizens. Who would have thought that Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t even spare reindeer bones and that there could be someone more skilled at extracting resources than him? [Damn, even heartless capitalists don¡¯t exploit resources like Old Fang does! He doesn¡¯t even leave the bones!] [Reindeer: I¡¯ve been drained dry, truly not a drop left.] [The weak: Hey, I can use the salt from my body, and I can sun-dry sea salt. The strong: Hand it over, I want to eat meat!] ¡°Bone-made fish hooks are a very old traditional method. They are made by grinding animal bones into hook shapes. Although it¡¯s not very convenient or quick, they are stable and durable.¡± The line was still drawn from his robe, which was visibly shorter than before the trip, now revealing Bi Fang¡¯s ankles. ¡°Apart from this barbed point, I made the vertical end into a T-shape so that the line wouldn¡¯t easily come off.¡± Bi Fang tied the line tightly and turned to ask Etienne, ¡°Can you give me a button?¡± Etienne directly tore a button off his coat, and Bi Fang then tied it to the fish line as well. ¡°The best times to fish are early in the morning, at dusk, on a full moon night, or if you have a light source, then any night is possible. Fish behavior is hard to predict; their habits vary with species, and factors like the time of year, the salinity of the water, as well as temperature and current strength, all have an impact. But there are a few universal truths.¡± ¡°They like to rest in slowly flowing water, hide in rubble and rocks, search for oxygen-rich water, and look for food and warmth in the shadows of deeper lakes.¡± ¡°Some fish are also attracted to shiny things¡ªyou can hang tin foil, a button, a coin, a piece of colorful cloth, or any other shiny object on the hook.¡± Bi Fang, barefoot, led Etienne to a beach strewn with pebbles, which was covered with white foam left by the receding sea, wet and slippery underfoot. The black tide, with its white froth, crashed onto the pebble beach in front of them, occasionally scattering small, reflective-backed shrimp or crabs across the pebbles. These little creatures were knocked about by the incoming tide, but once they regained their balance, they kept struggling on, their reflections dotting the beach. ¡°These are also good ingredients. If we don¡¯t catch any fish today, we can eat them.¡± Bi Fang picked up a small crab and threw it back into the sea, then poured the reindeer¡¯s blood and guts into the water, creating an area to attract fish. After that, he lowered the fish hook, and then it was time to wait. Etienne held the fishing line, while Bi Fang held a spear, ready to make a deadly strike when a fish was hooked. After several minutes, the fish hook moved. Splash, a wave splashed. Bi Fang¡¯s voice became very soft, ¡°Hey, do you see that? That wave, it might be a big one!¡± ¡°Woah, feels like a big fish!¡± ¡°True, the water here is deep. Only Master Fang can handle it, sure to catch a big one!¡± ¡°I know this, the North Sea fishing grounds in Europe are one of the world¡¯s four largest!¡± ¡°Damn, now I remember, studied it in middle school geography!¡± The audience was excited, and Bi Fang was calm and focused; at Etienne¡¯s signal that the fish had taken the bait, he instantly thrust his spear forward. Splash! Struck by the spear, the big fish struggled violently, splashing water everywhere as Bi Fang lifted it out of the water. Wiping the water from his face and aided by the moonlight, the tiger stripes on the fish¡¯s back were faintly visible, allowing Bi Fang to quickly identify it. ¡°It¡¯s mackerel!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s face beamed with joy. The fish was not small, as long as an adult man¡¯s lower arm, ¡°This fish is very common, a very fatty kind with darker flesh, perfect for grilling!¡± ¡°Can we change up dinner then?¡± Etienne was delighted; after a week of eating smoked and dried deer meat until it was tough, he was almost sick of it. But Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°Wait a second, what actually makes me happy isn¡¯t that we can change the dinner menu, but that mackerel like to swim in schools and are attracted to light, and November happens to be the prime fishing season for them.¡± Etienne immediately understood, ¡°Can we catch more?¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Bi Fang grinned, pouring more deer blood into the water, ¡°Let¡¯s work harder, we can catch a week¡¯s worth of food!¡± ¡°Alright!¡± The next morning, fish bones littered the ground and wisps of smoke rose, showing how bountiful their haul had been the night before. A total of sixteen fish, another week¡¯s food supply taken care of. Smoked fish hung from the glider¡¯s wings, a familiar scene replaying itself. ¡°You fly.¡± Bi Fang had no intention of piloting the flying apparatus. Etienne¡¯s face fell; he knew he¡¯d have to do the embarrassing task again. ¡°This is all sea; if we take the wrong direction, don¡¯t blame me!¡± Bi Fang ignored Etienne¡¯s last struggle, ¡°Go ahead and fly, I¡¯ll be watching from behind.¡± Settling into the seat, Etienne truly wanted to perform a Pugachev¡¯s Cobra maneuver in the glider and shake Bi Fang right off, but he thought better of it. Life is precious, after all. The sea was covered in sunlight, and seagulls gathered, flying low. It was his first time flying over the sea, and everywhere looked the same, making it impossible to discern the direction. As they moved farther from the shore, islands became even rarer, sometimes taking an hour or two before spotting one, which was understandably unnerving. However, as time passed, Etienne gradually relaxed and began to enjoy the unique experience. ¡°Today¡¯s really nice weather.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily a good thing.¡± Bi Fang interrupted Etienne¡¯s contentment, even beginning to suspect that the guy might jinx things. Dark clouds loomed in the distance, ominous and foreboding, as if a demon who had mastered dark magic was bringing a tempest to devour the flesh of the monkXuanzang. Chapter 184 - Chapter 184: Chapter 181 The Storm Chapter 184: Chapter 181 The Storm Dark clouds rolled in suddenly, and just as Bi Fang realized what was happening, the sun was already obscured. The white-hot lightning cleaved the sky, and Etienne felt as though the bolt had split his mind as well, leaving a void. Fear, like a cold snake, slithered from the bottom of his heart, spreading to every limb. He wanted to pull the control stick to land the plane, but his body seemed frozen, moving even a finger was impossible. The wind grew stronger, and the geese started to struggle in flight, wavering, desperately trying to keep on course. Bi Fang pressed down on Etienne¡¯s shoulders, stopping the shaking. From his vantage point, the shallow gray sea was tumultuous, as if giant sea creatures were about to break the surface, waves several meters high crashing against the cliff below, while the light from a distant lighthouse monotonously swept over the sea. Etienne¡¯s tongue was tied, his teeth chattering, ¡°Maybe we should¡­ should go back¡­¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s too late. How long has it been since we last saw that island? An hour or two? Can you fly back accurately? And did you see the direction of the clouds? They¡¯re coming our way.¡± If they turned back now, they would be racing against the dark clouds, the more they tried to escape, the less likely they were to succeed. To die, lost in the unrecognizable paths of the sea. ¡°Located at the fluctuating edge of extreme latitudes, the North Sea is prone to frequent cyclonic activities, especially in winter. From November to March every year, storms often occur, possibly generating waves several meters high, or even over 10 meters. We¡¯ve now encountered one.¡± Bi Fang had worried about the condition of the North Sea when he first calculated the latitude and longitude; his nightmare had become a reality. (!!!) [So what do we do now?] [Are we screwed?] Bi Fang¡¯s words, like thunder from a clear sky, not only stunned Etienne but also the viewers. The dark clouds hung low, with the sea below rolling restlessly. Black cliffs sliced through the black waters, leaving behind white trails. Peter wrapped in a small blanket, his heart pounding wildly, could hardly imagine how to survive a storm of this magnitude, whether to keep flying or land amidst the raging waves¡ªall seemed like a slim chance at life! Gwendolyn, who was watching with him, suddenly shouted with excitement, ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t there a lighthouse? We must be near the coast!¡± No sooner had she spoken than a forked lightning illuminated the sky, and the stone cross atop the distant lighthouse broke from its base, plunging the figure of Jesus toward the sea, shattering upon impact, as if the whole world was collapsing¡­ Gwendolyn quickly grabbed Peter¡¯s blanket and wrapped herself tightly in it. The majestic force of Nature was awe-inspiring and intimidating. Countless people following the migratory birds had now stopped in their tracks. Elvan, Lenin, Johnny, seeing the fans chasing on videos¡­ Unanimously, they parked their cars on the side of the road, watching the grand yet dangerous live stream with anxious expressions. Bi Fang noticed Shuiyou talking about the lighthouse, but he shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s no use, lighthouses serve many purposes, indicating direction, marking dangerous sea areas, route lighthouses, not all are close to the coast.¡± Clearly, this particular lighthouse was not one close to the coast. They could not go back. ¡°So what do we do now?¡± Despite facing the storm, Etienne listened with increasing alarm, feeling cold to his bones, and his hand on the control stick as if searing hot. He wished he could turn around and flee, but Bi Fang firmly held his shoulders. ¡°Crank the engine to maximum, then let me take over!¡± ¡°What?¡± Etienne had barely processed the question when Bi Fang had already unbuckled his seatbelt, reaching out to him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the plane is steady, it¡¯ll only take a dozen seconds, or even less!¡± ¡°OK, OK!¡± Etienne took a deep breath, slowly unbuckled his seatbelt, and reached out his hand towards Bi Fang. A forked lightning vanished in the clouds, followed by a thunderous roar. Etienne cried out in fright, retracting the hand he had just extended. Thousands of tons of water fell towards the earth, waves on the sea growing higher and higher, they were practically flying through a waterfall! Rain lashed against the wings as Bi Fang roared. ¡°Where is the courage you had when facing the lynx? Where has it gone!¡± ¡°Look at the geese, they can¡¯t hold on any longer! What was the purpose of bringing them out? To watch them die in the storm?¡± Etienne turned his head to look, and the geese that had been neatly arranged were now scattered by the strong wind, with occasionally one being blown far away and taking a long time to fly back. It wasn¡¯t just them struggling, the geese were too, they were never afraid of the storm, only afraid of losing Etienne. For this reason, no matter how strong the wind, they had to desperately keep up. ¡°You¡¯ve given them courage, and they¡¯ve returned to you with trust! Etienne, listen to me, reach out your hand!¡± Etienne looked down, seeing the waves collide and disappear, leaving behind white foam, like a silver ingot with a finely etched surface. Once the geese got lost in the storm, they would never return. ¡°Ah!¡± Etienne roared out loud, closed his eyes, and reached out his hand, entrusting everything to Bi Fang. ¡°Good!¡± Bi Fang shouted angrily, grabbed Etienne¡¯s arm tightly, and yanked him backward. Just as he disconnected from his seat, the severely shaking plane suddenly veered to one side, almost flying at a forty-five-degree angle! The sudden weightlessness made Etienne¡¯s feet slip, and he fell from the plane. ¡°Etienne!¡± Elvan¡¯s pupils shrank suddenly as he pounded the steering wheel like a madman. The horn blared, startling a flock of birds. ¡°Fall down, all of you fall down!¡± Johnny opened his mouth wide, issuing the most vicious curse, hoping the migration plan would meet its end. Nobody pays attention to the losers, and naturally, nobody would notice the flaws in his report. With no ships, no lifeboats, not even life jackets, falling meant certain death! ¡°Damn it!¡± Johnny slammed his fist on the steering wheel, his hopes were dashed as Bi Fang held tightly onto Etienne! In such a situation, how could Bi Fang be caught off guard? The moment Etienne began to fall, Bi Fang grabbed him with both hands, then slowly pulled him up. Fortunately, the plane Elvan had prepared wasn¡¯t purely a glider; to be precise, it was an engine-equipped light aircraft, otherwise, they would have been powerless against the storm. But now the plane was being blown increasingly off course by the wind, and it was less than three hundred meters from the sea surface. [Go Etienne, Master Fang, go!] [Come on, Old Fang!] [Lord Mu has gifted the host 10 Spaceships] [Nanana, that¡¯s me, gifted the host 6 Spaceships¡ªKeep it up, Master Fang!] [Fat Cat Pete gifted the host 1 Spaceship] Countless people were sending their blessings at this moment, praying that the two could overcome the difficulty together. Bi Fang did not disappoint the expectation, using both arms, he pulled the stunned Etienne back to his seat, fastened his seatbelt securely, and took the pilot¡¯s seat when the plane was less than two hundred meters above the sea surface! At the critical moment, Bi Fang pushed the control stick, stepped on the pedals, and the plane adjusted its direction, at less than a hundred meters from the sea¡¯ surface, but it was too late. The plane was unable to adjust its course properly, at best, Bi Fang¡¯s actions turned a forty-five-degree tilt into thirty degrees! It was still drifting towards the sea surface! Etienne gasped for air, at this moment his brain had completely crashed, unable to think too much, mechanically watching Bi Fang control the plane. ¡°Damnit!¡± In a panic, Bi Fang unbuckled his seatbelt, and under the shocked gazes of everyone, he secured the control stick and on his own reached for the plane¡¯s left wing, putting his entire body weight onto it! Chapter 185 - Chapter 185:182 Chapter: The Petrel Madman! Chapter 185:182 Chapter: The Petrel Madman! A complete madman! Johnny¡¯s pupils shrank to the size of pinpoints, unable to imagine a scene akin to movie special effects unfolding in reality. The wings of the glider were above his head, within reach if he stretched out his hand, but no one would ever think to control the angle of an airplane in this manner. This was something only a madman would do! Not even the most skilled stunt performers would dare attempt such a feat! A single slip would mean being shattered to pieces! The black sea churned, as if the airplane, mimicking a shaking vessel, followed suit, with a force beneath that seemed ready to tear the ocean apart at any moment. But in this moment, Bi Fang was the captain in the midst of the tempest, pulling the ropes of the sail to break through the colossal waves! This was no mere wing; it was a sail facing the wind! There were no words to describe the shock of this moment, that surging and brave force, like feeling the birth of lightning in the center of a storm cloud, or like witnessing humans create fire in the depths of ancient darkness, embracing light for the first time in the night. In an utterly impossible manner, Bi Fang saved the plane that was about to fall, declaring that life¡¯s opportunity is hidden even in what seems like an impossible dead end! Dangling beneath the wing, his weight over seventy kilograms pressing down, he rapidly forced the skewed wing down. The rain poured furiously, streaming down the edge of the wing, encasing him as if in a veil. Bi Fang wiped the rainwater from his face and began moving toward the center of the airplane. The rain sought to knock the plane into the sea, while the wild wind hoisted it to the sky; through stillness and motion, the airplane maintained a strange equilibrium. The Goose flew beside Bi Fang, with him commanding the dark clouds, and the lightning serving as his weapon in battle. He was a knight, an invincible warrior in the wilderness. Touching the pole, now slippery from the rainwater, Bi Fang inched towards the center of the plane. He dared not let go; the veins in his forearm stood out like twisted snakes, his unmatched strength converging there. If it were a hollow steel tube, it might have already crumpled. Finally, when everyone was nearly out of breath, Bi Fang returned to his seat. The audience gasped for air, the scene before them had even made them forget to breathe in unison. ¡°fuck!¡± Johnny hung his head in frustration, unable to believe there was still a chance for recovery in such a situation? ¡°Could it be, could it be that even God is helping them?¡± Johnny had a desperate thought, but he instantly dismissed it, ¡°No, impossible! If God were really helping them, they would not have encountered the storm in the first place!¡± Yes, it had to be that way! Johnny stared intently at the screen; what did it matter if the plane hadn¡¯t crashed? Lightning, torrential rain, strong winds! They would never make it through the North Sea! Bi Fang returned to his seat and, instead of shrinking back, piloted the plane up into the sky! This storm, formed by the convergence of cold and warm air, moved very quickly; they had no retreat. Since escape was impossible, they would have to break through the storm! Lightning serpents struck the sea¡¯s surface, with the ocean stretching as far as the eye could see, dark waves surging forth and crashing into each other, creating white foam. The sea heaved, looking like an endless wasteland, with branched lightning striking the surface, as if bizarre giants trees were growing from the black wilderness into the clouds. Etienne leaned tightly against the back of his chair; he seemed to be able to smell the scorching scent of lightning cutting through the air as the geese on both sides let out overwhelmed cries of distress. Wait, geese? Etienne hastily looked to the side, saw the geese tumbling and stumbling around, and quickly warned, ¡°Don¡¯t fly too far, stay close to us!¡± At that moment, the airplane also reached a critical point, Bi Fang flying higher and higher until they almost burst into the clouds, where everything was a dark expanse. ¡°Etienne, hold tight!¡± Bi Fang yelled a reminder to Etienne, then charged into the dark clouds, aiming to fly above the cloud layer! The frontal cloud system was mainly stratocumulus, but due to the subsidence inversion in the cold and warm air masses, the thickness and height of the clouds were limited. Over the marine environment, the base of the cloud layer was no more than six hundred meters above the ground, with a thickness ranging from a few hundred meters to two thousand meters. If they could find a weak spot, they could escape this storm! The airplane shuddered like a roller coaster, countless spectators shut their eyes, unwilling to watch anymore, and Etienne gripped the armrest white ¨C knuckled. The raindrops were so dense it seemed as if they shattered against each other in mid-air, turning into a spray of water as they fell into the sea. Humans struggled, and the geese struggled too. They flapped their wings with all their might; this was the only disaster they had ever encountered since birth, but their thoughts were simpler: as long as their wings weren¡¯t broken, they would never stop. The heavens roared in anger, the ocean bellowed, and darkness shrouded everything, making it impossible to distinguish directions. But just then, a ray of light suddenly pierced through in front of them, and Bi Fang looked up to see ¡ªa hole in the clouds! It was as if the sky had a large hole torn through it, and light seeped in. Bi Fang stepped on the pedals, the once assisting gale now becoming the greatest obstacle. It was an untamed wild horse, and only the most skilled rider could tame it, but Bi Fang was undoubtedly such a king. He gripped the control column tightly, as if choking the wild horse¡¯s neck, never to let the plane spiral out of control. As long as they could enter the cloud hole, they would survive! The plane wobbled and shook, and the nerves of the audience grew taut as they watched Bi Fang inch closer to the cloud hole. But suddenly, a gust of wind struck, blowing the almost-entering airplane away from the hole. A shadow fell over Etienne¡¯s heart, as if plummeting into an icy abyss. Bi Fang quickly adjusted the direction of the plane, aiming for the cloud hole again, but the wind grew stronger and the plane was blown farther and farther away, the once close cloud hole seeming to vanish from sight. Damn! As the hope for rescue grew dimmer, Bi Fang made a bold decision and shut down the engine, turning the glider¡¯s rudder to the max. [Holy crap, what¡¯s he doing? Has he given up the struggle?] [Wori, don¡¯t scare me like this!] Nobody understood Bi Fang¡¯s maneuver; the audience was stunned by his actions, completely at a loss about what he was intending to do. Was Bi Fang seeking death? Of course not! He was using the wind as an ally! A cloud hole¡¯s presence meant only one thing: a cyclone was here! Without the engine¡¯s resistance, the plane was pulled like a kite by the storm, but just as the cloud hole was about to disappear, the wind changed direction! In that moment, the plane, like a ball thrown in an arc, was pulled infinitely far before it suddenly changed its trajectory and flew back towards its original direction! ¡°Boom!¡± The engine roared to its maximum as Bi Fang stepped on the rudder, the airplane shot toward the cloud hole again with the slingshot like inertia. Gonna die, gonna die, gonna die! In the backseat, Etienne felt a strong push against his back, almost screaming out loud, his stomach churning violently, just short of an erupting outlet, and everything around him blurred due to the high speed. There was silence in the live broadcast room; no one had thought breaking through would be possible in such a way, even to entertain such a thought was beyond human limits! No one could have thought of it, no one dared to do it, no one could succeed. Could Bi Fang succeed? Was he really human? No one answered because the answer had already presented itself. When light pierced the black clouds again and appeared before their eyes, this miraculous scene caused countless foreign viewers to cross themselves and kneel in prayer, their devotion intense. The light grew nearer. The dense clouds seemed to boil, and the hidden sea level within the black clouds suddenly lit up like it was on fire, the line where the sea met the sky especially bright, as if sunlight were shining on the surface of the water. The cloud layers were like an ocean. The once unsteady airplane suddenly steadied, sunlight streaming through the atmosphere and filling Bi Fang¡¯s slightly dilated pupils. They had succeeded, they were now above the cloud layer, three thousand meters in the sky! Peter and Gwen looked at each other, cheering as they tossed blankets into the air, arms over each other¡¯s shoulders, twisting and making mocking faces at the aunt who had come at the news. Lenin was shaking Elvan¡¯s shoulder vigorously: ¡°Elvan, they did it, they made it!¡± ¡°Yes, yes,¡± Elvan laughed happily. Everyone was cheering, celebrating this victorious moment. ¡°Damn, damn, damn!¡± Johnny banged his head against the steering wheel; the fast food he had eaten at noon was creating havoc in his stomach. He felt like vomiting but couldn¡¯t, danger growing closer and he had no idea how to solve it, everything had slipped out of his control from the start. It was just a plan that seemed impossible to achieve, just a trivial matter, so why had it turned out this way? While everyone else was cheering and jubilant, not a single smile could squeeze itself onto Etienne¡¯s face; in a panic, he shouted, ¡°Wait, Amu, Amu is gone!¡± What? Bi Fang was taken aback; he quickly looked around but did not catch sight of that familiar black silhouette¡ªthe pair of Barnacle Geese was missing one! ¡°Damn, it got lost?¡± ¡°What to do? Could Amu be dead?¡± ¡°Damn, damn, damn, how could it get lost?¡± The initial joy stalled, no one had expected this to happen. But how could they find a lost Goose amidst the storm? It was impossible! Bi Fang flew the plane in circles, again and again, blowing the horn, but it was completely futile. Inside the cloud hole, thunder roared; it was like two different worlds. One side heaven, the other side Hell. Lightning could not deter Bi Fang¡¯s confidence to move forward, but at this moment, he hesitated. Should he go back to look for Amu? In his heart, Bi Fang already had the answer; it was too dangerous, and the chances of finding Amu were slim to none, nearly impossible. To give up was the wisest choice. Etienne in the back seat understood something too, he knew Amu might never come back¡­ But he said nothing, Etienne knew it was the right choice. He had been willful more than once, but this time his willfulness was no use. The Geese slowed their speed, as if they realized one of their companions was gone for good, letting out mournful cries. But among them, there was one cry that seemed particularly tired, yet it conveyed tenacity. ¡°Is that Aga?¡± Bi Fang looked to the side, towards the other Barnacle Goose, which might have been more upset by the death of its kin than the other geese, but then he realized something was off¡ªAga was not the one calling, yet the cry rang out again. Etienne followed the sound and his pupils widened drastically. Within the cloud hole, a small shadow was struggling to avoid the lightning, flapping its wings hard, flying towards the airplane. ¡°Awesome!¡± A man¡¯s voice suddenly erupted in the last subway car, his fists clenched as he shouted, scarcely believing the sight, it was a miracle! The man was so excited he nearly jumped, a perfect ending! A perfect ending! ¡°Mister, you again?¡± Yang Ziyun unexpectedly encountered the same person on the same subway line! How could she forget the uncle who had sarcastically taunted her before? What bad luck! Without meaning to, Yang Ziyun glanced at the man¡¯s phone screen. ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t this Master Fang¡¯s live broadcast? Uncle, why are you watching it?¡± The man¡¯s face turned awkward. Gonna die. How was he to explain? Chapter 186 - Chapter 186: Chapter 183: History Changes from Today (Please Subscribe) Chapter 186: Chapter 183: History Changes from Today (Please Subscribe) In the live stream, the tiny figure dodged lightning, flapping its wings hard to fly through a gap in the clouds. The speck became larger and larger as it approached¡ªit was Amu. It hadn¡¯t given up; it was chasing the plane! ¨¦tienne shouted excitedly, ¡°Amu! Amu!¡± Bi Fang quickly turned the plane around to meet it. The sun spread out endlessly, rumbles of black clouds gathering in a dark hole, heavy and leaden. Golden rays spiraled in the profound darkness, as if lightning burst through the dark, the light coming from behind Bi Fang, highlighting the approaching Barnacle Goose. The Barnacle Goose, using all its strength, hurled itself towards the plane, and after joining the flock, Amu flew for a while before plummeting straight down, having exhausted its final bit of energy after breaking through the storm. It could no longer fly. But in the next second, a pair of large hands cradled it. Bi Fang held the Barnacle Goose, silent for a long time. Even through the thick feathers, he could feel the goose¡¯s heart beating fiercely. And as if it understood human nature or by sheer coincidence, Amu fluttered its wings twice and unconsciously pecked gently at Bi Fang¡¯s fingertips. ¡°OMG, OMG, AMAZING!¡± Matthew Hall knelt on the ground, eyes brimming with tears, repeating it over and over again. Perhaps it was because of his profession¡ªMatthew was a journalist for the Global Times. He had been to war zones, witnessed the cruelty of death, and been to forests, witnessed the beauty of nature¡ªbut he swore on his career that this scene was one of the most moving images of his life. The moment he saw Amu break through the lightning and fly towards them, a tidal wave of emotion surged from the deepest part of his heart, as if it would engulf the entire world. Black clouds, lightning, birds, a young man, an adventurer. Nature and life interwoven to create this unrepeatable miracle. Matthew wiped his burning tears, opened a document; he wanted to record this scene, but staring at the blank document, he couldn¡¯t write anything. All words seemed pale in comparison; it was a sight beyond human description. Yet the overwhelming emotions tormented Matthew, and his restless heart couldn¡¯t help but start typing. He wanted to skip the introduction and the process and head straight to the conclusion, the words filled with volcanic emotion and hot tears. In the end, looking at what he had written, Matthew remained silent and deleted everything, instead placing a screenshot from the live stream above and titling it simply: Miracle. This was a miracle of nature and life, and it should not be adulterated with any subjective words. The staff members behind the scenes, too, were touched by the scene. With almost no editing, they took the image directly and replaced the homepage photo with it. It was a magnificent scene beyond any artist¡¯s imagination, with golden clouds flowing like an ocean, planes soaring, geese flocking together toward hope and light. Breathtaking! ¨¦tienne gently stroked Amu¡¯s feathers, overjoyed by the recovery. The black clouds gradually receded, and Bi Fang breathed a sigh of relief. Passing through the gap in the clouds was like entering another world¡ªa light, vast sea of golden clouds stretched infinitely. Bi Fang reached out to touch it, but could grasp nothing, leaving only trails where his hand swiped through the clouds. The invisible clouds flowed through his fingers. [Ah, it¡¯s so beautiful, so beautiful!] [That¡¯s what a live stream is, this is a fucking live stream!] [Just now my mom called me to study, but ended up sitting down to watch it with me.] [Another day of using screenshots as wallpapers] ¡°It¡¯s so good, so good.¡± Elvan clutched his chest, gasping for breath. According to his planned journey, the North Sea was the hardest hurdle; from there, it would be on to Denmark and Germany. A decrease in latitude also signified a rise in temperature. As long as the blood test report came out, everything would start moving in a positive direction. ¡°How long until the report comes out?¡± ¡°About two or three days.¡± Lenin calculated the time it took to send the blood samples and arrived at an approximate timing. The report was conducted by a third-party authoritative institution. Even if Johnny didn¡¯t accept it, there would be a buffer, and whether or not Johnny agreed, the park would definitely retest. ¡°Damn, why are you crying?¡± Startled, Lenin wondered what had happened. He was watching the live feed when he suddenly noticed Elvan wiping tears and quickly handed him several tissues. ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing.¡± Elvan dabbed his eyes, signaling he was alright, but at that moment, no one could understand the excitement and exhilaration he felt inside. His colleagues saw him as a fool, a blockhead, an incurable daydreamer, but the facts proved that his plan was viable! Bi Fang executed the plan and mastered it. The white-fronted goose, this endangered species, could truly be saved by human intervention. What if he was a fool? It was these fools who managed to do what everyone else dared not do, dared not even think about! They were the pioneers, the creators of history! History would be changed from this day forth! Bi Fang took off his windbreaker, as the weather had visibly become warmer. The smoked fish and meat were soaked by the rain, and they needed to be smoked again over a fire to prevent mold, as hunting conditions would not be as favorable further on. The North Sea fisheries, the reindeer of Finland, these were hunting spots that could hardly be asked for. Beyond this point, even large animals became scarce. After landing the plane on the small island, ¨¦tienne¡¯s legs buckled and he nearly fell as he disembarked. He hadn¡¯t felt anything while seated, but his legs had turned to jelly once the plane landed. He staggered a few steps before sitting down with a thud on the sandy beach, staring vacantly into the sky. ¨¦tienne swore this was the most thrilling moment of his life, with adrenaline off the charts, scarier than any roller coaster ride ¨C this could really kill a person! [Hahaha, jelly legs] [No kidding, I¡¯d be the same, only Master Fang acts like nothing¡¯s wrong, I have reason to suspect he¡¯s not even human!] [I¡¯m about to puke just from watching the camera, let alone being directly on it] Bi Fang went to the shore, wrung out his rain-soaked clothes, and took his spear, hoping to find something good. He chose not to dive. Although the temperature was above freezing, diving would be too cold, and Bi Fang did not want to catch a cold again. However, despite searching for a while, he only found some small crabs. ¡°It seems our good luck has run out.¡± Bi Fang wasn¡¯t discouraged; after all, there was enough food for over a week, so there was no need to panic. He approached the fire and found that all the geese had their heads tucked into their feathers. ¡°It looks like the geese are very tired; them tucking their heads into their feathers indicates they are sleeping. Moreover, geese are very vigilant birds. Before they sleep collectively, the lead goose must assign a sharp goose as the sentinel, who will squawk loudly at any sign of disturbance, rapidly awakening the others from sleep.¡± ¡°Look, that one there is doing just that.¡± The camera followed Bi Fang¡¯s finger, and the audience indeed saw a white-fronted goose that was not sleeping but looking around vigilantly. ¡°This is good news, it means they can adapt to life in the wild.¡± Bi Fang smiled, assured that everything they had done was meaningful. These eighteen geese were just the beginning. In the future, they would breed many more, growing from a dozen to dozens, and then to hundreds. Perhaps in a few years, they would see vast flocks of geese following the migration route they had now established, migrating all the way from spring to winter, year after year. In the evening, the geese woke up one after another, refreshed after an afternoon¡¯s rest. Bi Fang, seeing a clear sky with no clouds, felt they could travel at night. According to the map, they had completed less than a third of their journey, which made Bi Fang somewhat anxious. Chapter 187 - Chapter 187: Chapter 184: Never Stop Chapter 187: Chapter 184: Never Stop The audience hadn¡¯t quite recovered from the recent storm when Bi Fang was set to embark on a journey again, which inevitably raised concerns about whether the migration intensity was too high. They still vividly remembered the thunder and lightning from a few hours ago, the heavenly majesty too blinding to behold. Under such circumstances, ordinary people wouldn¡¯t dare to step outside, let alone fly an airplane through a storm. Even a tumble dryer wouldn¡¯t spin like that. [Has Master Fang stopped being human? If so, can you take me with you? I don¡¯t want to be human either.] [Flying at night, can the geese keep up?] [Yeah, it¡¯s pitch dark, isn¡¯t that dangerous?] [In just a few hours, can they rest well?] ¡°Of course they can. In fact, most of the migration of geese takes place at dusk or at night; it¡¯s just that I chose to do it during the day because that suits human habits,¡± he explained. ¡°And don¡¯t underestimate the geese¡¯s resilience and stamina¡ªthey are one of the few birds that can fly across the entire Himalayas.¡± Bi Fang revved up the engine, and in the darkness of the night, the glider swept through the air like a giant black bird, with eighteen geese neatly aligned behind it. ¡°Speaking of which, I rarely travel at night, but when it comes to nighttime, you can¡¯t help but mention the starry sky.¡± Breathing in the salty, moist air, Bi Fang turned his camera towards the starry field, where the boundless night sky spun overhead. ¡°Thousands of years ago, our ancestors had already begun using the motion of celestial bodies to determine direction. If you can determine your location through the movement of the sun, moon, and stars, then even without navigational tools, you can still find the right direction,¡± he said. [I know this one, find Polaris!] [There¡¯s also the Big Dipper; I learned this in kindergarten!] [Ah, isn¡¯t the Big Dipper the same as Polaris¡­] [I push open the door and look out¡ªwow, no stars!] Due to the time of the live stream, the number of viewers had decreased significantly, from over two hundred thousand to around one hundred thousand, yet the barrage of comments was unrelenting, the audience¡¯s enthusiasm undiminished. Bi Fang estimated it was around nine o¡¯clock in the evening. It would be two in the morning back home, yet so many people were still active? But nowadays, people really do lack some common knowledge, confusing Polaris with the Big Dipper. Bi Fang sighed silently, though he could understand. Nowadays, most people live in cities, and at night, the only bright thing in the sky is the moon. Sometimes, when the clouds are thick, they can¡¯t even see the moon, so who would care about the names of invisible stars? ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by the similar-sounding names of the Big Dipper and Polaris; they are two different things. First, the number is different. Polaris is the name of a single star, while the Big Dipper consists of seven stars, named for its shape like a ladle, also known as the ¡®Big Dipper Seven Stars.¡¯ ¡°Secondly, their functions are different. Polaris can accurately point out true north, while the function of the Big Dipper is to help us locate Polaris. Polaris lies almost directly on the extension line of the two stars at the end of the Big Dipper,¡± he explained. Bi Fang looked up at the sky and began to talk about some techniques for finding and recognizing the stars; through his first-person perspective, viewers followed his gaze in search of the so-called Big Dipper Seven Stars. ¡°Polaris is part of Ursa Minor and is the brightest star within it. But since the rest of the stars in Ursa Minor are dimmer than Polaris, we usually need to find Polaris via the Big Dipper Seven Stars.¡± ¡°The Big Dipper is the main part of the Great Bear Constellation, situated at the tip of the Bear¡¯s tail, shaped like a ladle. The target range is bigger, making it quicker and more convenient to identify the solitary target of Polaris,¡± he continued. The Big Dipper contains six second-magnitude stars and one third-magnitude star, making it quite easy to recognize, especially in the open and less polluted seascape; once seen, it¡¯s hard to forget. The night sky was clear, filled with cool light, as if travelers in the quiet of a moonlit night were guided by the gods to find their way home. [Fuck, this is the first time I¡¯ve actually seen the Big Dipper!] [Mom, I¡¯m making progress!] [Look at that little accomplishment of yours!] [Staying up all night and seeing the Big Dipper, worth it!] [Because I often stay up late, my liver seems a bit off; can you guys call me ¡®Little Liver¡¯?] ¡°From the two stars at the edge of the Dipper, in the direction of the extension line stretching about five times beyond the Big Dipper, we will find our target, the most important star pointing the direction in the northern hemisphere¡ªPolaris. See it?¡± he asked. Bi Fang stretched out his hand, followed the line with his gaze, and soon the viewers spotted the brightest star in the night sky. ¡°Within a fairly large area around Polaris, there are no brighter stars, so it¡¯s exceedingly easy to locate it using this method.¡± ¡°Against the backdrop of the night sky, Polaris is less than 1 degree away from the North Pole, so once we find Polaris at night, we¡¯ve essentially found true north.¡± With the direction established, Bi Fang increased the plane¡¯s speed, bringing forth a whistling wind through the sky. [Wow, it¡¯s so bright!] [The brightness is just not on the same level as other stars!] ¡°Of course, Polaris is one of the few first-magnitude stars.¡± Bi Fang was very happy, feeling wonderful sharing with others, just like having teammates around in his previous life. ¨¦tienne in the back row was also engrossed in the starry sky and curiously asked upon hearing the concept of first-magnitude stars, ¡°What is a first-magnitude star?¡± ¡°Ah, this¡­¡± Bi Fang scratched his head, ¡°The brightness of stars is different, which relates to the temperature of the stars, distance, and so on. You know this, right?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°Legend has it that the ancient Greek Hipparchus categorized the brightness of stars into six magnitudes based on their varying brightness, with first-magnitude being the brightest and sixth the dimmest. The brightness difference between each magnitude is about 2.5 times. In reality, there is a hundredfold brightness difference between a first and a sixth-magnitude star. But this grading has continued on and doesn¡¯t account for the distance of the stars; it¡¯s how we perceive their brightness from Earth.¡± ¨¦tienne had an epiphany. It was the first time he had heard of this ranking concept, ¡°Are there stars brighter than Polaris then?¡± ¡°Definitely, the division into six magnitudes was very rough. Later, scientists designated more magnitudes. If a star is a bit brighter than Altair, then its magnitude is zero. Vega is a zero-magnitude star.¡± Bi Fang digressed a bit, with Polaris in sight, there¡¯s no fear of getting lost at night, as long as it¡¯s not a cloudy sky, so one can drive boldly and confidently. ¨¦tienne in the back seat looked at the twinkling Polaris and asked, ¡°Does the position of Polaris not change?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good question.¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t expect ¨¦tienne to ask this, but it was something he was knowledgeable about, having asked an old professor the exact same question in his previous life, ¡°I can tell you with certainty that it will change.¡± ¡°The Earth¡¯s axis of rotation shifts, so of course Polaris does too. In the vast universe, the solar system moves at a pace that could be called slower than a snail¡¯s. Only after a long period of time will there be an apparent shift in Polaris¡¯s position as seen from Earth. But given enough time, it will eventually move away from true north.¡± ¡°So Polaris refers to ¡®the star that is nearest to the north celestial pole¡¯ which we can simply understand as the star toward which the north end of Earth¡¯s axis of rotation points. This is a definition, and the definition won¡¯t change.¡± ¡°Polaris is not a specific star¡¯s exclusive name but is taken on by different stars in turn. When the current star we call Polaris moves away from true north, the people of Earth will then call another star, the one the north end of Earth¡¯s axis points toward at that time, Polaris.¡± ¡°The current Polaris is ¡®Kochab¡¯, also known as ¡®Alpha Ursae Minoris.¡¯ It is still approaching the North Pole, but in five hundred years, it will be ¡®Pherkad.¡¯ That¡¯s why the method to determine Polaris involves using the alignment of the Big Dipper Seven Stars.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s explanation once again stunned the numb audience. You are an expert in wilderness survival, using stars to determine direction is reasonable, but even knowing this? Isn¡¯t that a bit too much? [Whoa, after becoming a grand mathematician, physicist, geographer, and climatologist, has Old Fang now awakened the skill of an astronomer?] [This is too far-fetched, what else don¡¯t you know? Confess now!] [The fake explorer: proficient in mathematics, physics, geography, climate, and astronomy. The real explorer: survives with blind enthusiasm, leaving teammates to save him.] The audience¡¯s praise made Bi Fang blush, he also knew this knowledge by chance, and without ¨¦tienne¡¯s question, he wouldn¡¯t have remembered it¡ªit wasn¡¯t an intentional display of holiness. Clearing his throat, Bi Fang steered the conversation back, mentioning other methods of determining direction. ¡°Aside from Polaris, in the dark canopy of the night sky, we can also use the Orion Constellation to find our bearings. The Orion features four bright stars forming a large quadrilateral, with three smaller stars lined up in its center. We can draw an imaginary horizontal line through these smaller stars as the celestial equator, and this line would then be the east-west direction.¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s different in the southern hemisphere; the Big Dipper Seven Stars might be hidden below the horizon. I¡¯ll tell you more when I get to the southern hemisphere one day.¡± [Southern hemisphere? What¡¯s there?] [Antarctica, or maybe Australia?] [Why the secrecy? I¡¯m not convinced!] ¡°Cough cough, that¡¯s all for now. What will I talk about next?¡± Bi Fang spread his hands, ¡°But just having a direction isn¡¯t enough. Our route is planned; we¡¯re heading to Denmark, and it wouldn¡¯t do to land in Holland or Copenhagen. So, we have to use the stars not only to determine direction but also to measure latitude and longitude!¡± Chapter 188 - Chapter 188: Chapter 185: The Golden Cicada Sheds its Shell is Just a Little Brother Chapter 188: Chapter 185: The Golden Cicada Sheds its Shell is Just a Little Brother All the lights in the city were on, the hard skyline submerged in the light. The skyscrapers in the business district appeared from afar like square cages woven out of light, beyond which lay a vast lake. Adjacent to the lake, the elevated road was bustling with cars, their headlights merging into a flowing river of light. In front of the floor-to-ceiling window, Matthew felt that every point of light in this flow was a living firefly, trapped within the curving, slender elevated road, compelled to rush forward in search of an exit. He wondered where his own exit was and thought of the struggling goose. After watching Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast in the afternoon, Matthew¡¯s mind was filled with the impulse to embark on an adventure in Nature, much like intestines writhing in pain during a bout of roundworm infection, unstoppable once it begins to hurt. Gazing down at the city beneath his feet, Matthew took a deep breath and, observing the city under the night sky as if standing on a cliff, felt both perilous and light, like a bird that had flown high on the wind. Here he was free, casually savoring the changing scents of wind, daylight, and the shifting seasons in the city, sometimes its iris flowers, sometimes leaves, and sometimes the sweet fragrance of oranges being sold in the street below. But it always seemed like something was missing. Matthew recalled the time he was a war correspondent; every day was a heart-pounding experience, his first act upon waking was to touch his chest just to make sure his flesh was still pulsating with life. Despite the danger, he could clearly feel that he was alive. Now, it was work, clock in, work, clock in¡ªlife was like stagnant water, utterly waveless. The emptiness inside him felt as if tapping on his chest would produce a hollow sound. ¡°Hurry, hurry, you lazy bums! We are the most professional newspaper, I want to see all the papers printed before dawn tonight, and then have them appear on every newsstand¡¯s doorstep!¡± Fitz adjusted his tie, came up next to Matthew, and together they admired the night view, ¡°Matthew, you are truly a genius. No one understands the news better than you, this is definitely the most touching news this month. It has already been pushed online, and the print version is also being rush-printed. It¡¯ll be delivered to everyone¡¯s homes first thing tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°Fitz, I want to quit.¡± ¡°WHAT?¡± Fitz thought he might have been overworked; something must be wrong with his ears, or maybe the person in front of him was not Matthew but some alien in human skin. ¡°I said I want to quit.¡± Now Fitz was sure he had heard correctly, and he stared in astonishment, ¡°Are you sick or something? What kind of joke is this? Look at you, you¡¯ve achieved success and fame, and now you¡¯re talking about quitting? I¡¯m sorry, but if you¡¯re serious, Matthew, then I suggest you see a doctor!¡± ¡°I was just saying,¡± Matthew laughed, ¡°Maybe by tomorrow morning I¡¯ll have forgotten all about this.¡± ¡°I hope so.¡± On the elevated road, a car drove out of the exit and slowly stopped beside the lake. Johnny opened the car door, stepped out, and lit a cigarette, then shouted to his colleague in the passenger seat, ¡°You drive, I¡¯m going to get some sleep.¡± Andrew had been driving all day, exhausted in both body and mind, but he coughed twice as he looked at Johnny surrounded by smoke. ¡°I think, let¡¯s just drop it. If we go back now and tell them we got the report wrong and grant their permit, they won¡¯t pursue this any further. It¡¯s just a bunch of birds, let them relocate.¡± Andrew had warned Johnny when he¡¯d wanted to fudge the report; it wasn¡¯t the first time Johnny had done such a thing, but no one had expected things to blow up to this extent, becoming almost public knowledge. In the past, even if they used fake reports to deceive, no one would make a fuss, and there were actually people who believed their tests were substandard and willingly paid for a satisfactory report. Over time, no one felt uncomfortable about it, but this time the issue had become a major problem, and not only could Johnny be in trouble, but even Andrew might not be able to extricate himself so easily. As an inspection agency exposed for issuing false reports, nobody dared to imagine the consequences. Even Johnny¡¯s father couldn¡¯t shield him; it was certain he would end up inside. Johnny did not respond, and the cigarette visibly shortened in his hand, a faint glow emanating from within the dark interior of the car. Seeing that Johnny offered no reply, Andrew began to grumble, ¡°I warned you before that this wasn¡¯t good, but you never listened. If you had listened to me back then¡­¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Johnny roared, the long ash breaking off and scattering across the carpet, ¡°If I tell you to drive, just fucking drive!¡± ¡°Do you think you¡¯d be fine if I¡¯m screwed? Don¡¯t be naive! None of you will get away with it. What you need to do now is drive, just drive, drive! Then go after them, catch them, and execute those damn geese with a gun!¡± Johnny finished the cigarette in one drag, flicked the butt onto the car mat, and stomped it out viciously. Andrew¡¯s fingers turned white on the steering wheel. Without a word, he twisted the key to start the engine, turned the car around, and drove back onto the elevated road. Like fireflies, they strained forwards, searching for an exit. ¡­ [Can stars measure latitude and longitude?] [Is this for real? So exaggerated? Observing the stars at night, a modern Zhuge Liang?] [Amazing, it¡¯s late at night, how can a stick cast a shadow when it¡¯s stuck in the ground?] ¡°It¡¯s not about using shadows. Have you heard of a sextant? It¡¯s an optical instrument used to measure the angle between two distant objects, a principle first proposed by Newton.¡± ¡°In the wild, we can make a simple sextant to measure latitude and longitude. We only need a clear night to see Polaris, a piece of paper, a string, and a small stone.¡± Bi Fang secured the airplane¡¯s crossbar and began to operate. First, he took out a sheet of paper and drew a quarter circle with a pen as the radius at one corner. Then, he carefully tore along the edge to obtain a quarter-circle paper piece. After that, Bi Fang carefully marked the scale on it, bisecting the center to indicate forty-five degrees. ¡°The accuracy of the scale markings relates to the precision of the sextant; the higher the accuracy, the more precise our positioning. Here, we can use the bisection method and then gradually mark the other scales.¡± Once he finished marking the scale, Bi Fang pulled out a small stone from nowhere, tied one end of the string around it, and anchored the other end at the center of the circle. ¡°We let the arc of the circle hang down naturally, use the weight of the stone to stretch the string straight, align it with the numbers marked on the scale, and then align the center of the circle and the mother line on the edge to form a straight line. This straight line¡¯s end should align with Polaris.¡± Bi Fang aligned with Polaris, letting the stone hang naturally, and the taut string fell neatly on a scale. Following his line of sight, the audience could see from the edge of the circle piece, following this straight line, the very top was the shining Polaris. ¡°At this moment, the celestial height and the latitude of your location are actually determined. Remember, only Polaris can be used. You can¡¯t calculate latitude using the sun with this method because the sun¡¯s height changes with the seasons. Having the celestial height and latitude, the method for finding longitude is just as I described earlier, very simple.¡± Bi Fang knew this method had errors, but it was sufficient to determine the general direction; he would at least not fly out of Denmark. [Incredibly¡­ simple?] [Holy shit, why does this feel familiar? It reminds me of that scene from a Stallone prison break movie, where he also made a sextant.] [I know that one, Escape Plan!] [Isn¡¯t it different, though? I feel like Old Fang¡¯s method seems simpler, and it doesn¡¯t even require a mirror.] Seeing the comments from netizens, Bi Fang was startled¡ªthis world also had that movie? He had seen that movie too. It told the story of Stallone, a master of prison escapes, who was framed and then broke out. He remembered it well: ¡°That¡¯s right, the principles are similar, but movies are always just movies.¡± In the movie, the prison Stallone was locked in was a moving cruise ship, and to find out his location so someone could meet him, he made a DIY sextant and had another inmate measure the data on deck, from which they calculated the longitude and latitude. ¡°In the movie, the protractor, like mine, was drawn by hand, but his sextant used the reflection of two plane mirrors to superimpose the image of the star with the image of the sea level. Not to mention where the plane mirrors came from, the bigger issue is, the mirrors in the movie were made from glasses!¡± ¡°Without reflective coating, let alone being flat, all connections would end up shaky. Even if they were tight, they hadn¡¯t been calibrated before use. Also, one would need to see the sea level, could the Arab in that kind of well-like place see the sea level?¡± ¡°Moreover, Nogo even asked if it was the Southern Hemisphere or the Northern Hemisphere, which is quite redundant. As I just said, you can¡¯t see Polaris from the south. However, the movie¡¯s method of determining hemispheres by observing water vortexes was quite interesting.¡± [Damn, impressive!] [Just keep bragging. If you¡¯re so good, why don¡¯t you do it? What? You¡¯re Master Fang? Then no worries.] [I strongly suggest that directors of these kinds of movies should hire Master Fang as a consultant. That¡¯s a true survival master!] [I think Master Fang could make his own movie¡­ handsome and fierce?] [Why make a movie? I feel like I¡¯m already watching one.] [What if you have nothing on hand?] ¡°It¡¯s no problem if you have nothing.¡± A master is distinguished by doing what others cannot. If you don¡¯t have paper and pen, you should at least have hands, right? If you don¡¯t even have hands, Bi Fang had to say frankly, it would be difficult for him to survive in the wilderness as well. It would be better to dig a hole and then call it a night. Bi Fang extended a hand, stretching it as far as he could, extending the index finger: ¡°An amateur astronomer can easily measure celestial heights with fingers, knuckles, and the palm, with accuracy I estimate to be about the same as the simple sextant in the movie.¡± ¡°First, we stretch our arm out as far as possible, index finger pointing out, the width of the fingertip is 1 degree, hook the index finger, the widths of the three knuckles are 2, 3, and 5 degrees respectively, make a fist with the palm, with the thumb not tightly held, the width of the fist is about 10 degrees, make the fist with the thumb held tight, the width is about 8 degrees, make a ¡®6¡¯ gesture with the hand, the width from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger is about 20 degrees.¡± ¡°Using this method, you can also measure latitude. The accuracy may vary from person to person, but it¡¯s simple and convenient, with an error of about five percent.¡± Chapter 189 - Chapter 189: Chapter 186 Capture Chapter 189: Chapter 186 Capture In the square, a man passing by the newspaper kiosk suddenly stopped, pulled a newspaper from the stand, and took out his wallet. ¡°Boss, one copy of Global Times.¡± The newspaper vendor, who was chatting with the owner of the fruit stand next door, heard him and came over, ¡°Alright, Global Times, two yuan, thank you.¡± ¡°The price went up again?¡± The man was taken aback, put the coins he was holding back into his wallet, and took out a two-yuan note, ¡°It used to be one and a half.¡± ¡°Yes, prices have gone up around here. From Monday to Saturday, it¡¯s gone from one and a half to two yuan, and the Sunday edition from four to five yuan. In other places, it¡¯s even more expensive, costing six yuan.¡± The vendor took the banknote, examined it against the sunlight to verify its authenticity, and happily pocketed it, ¡°Two US dollars is really rare.¡± Ben didn¡¯t leave right away but browsed the newspaper headlines at the stand and started chatting with the vendor, ¡°I haven¡¯t read the newspaper in a long time. Anything interesting in the news recently?¡± ¡°Of course, there¡¯s something today. When I got the newspaper, I thought the Global Times had started peddling fake news, too, but then I saw the photo and realized it was true. Someone used a glider to migrate geese across more than three thousand kilometers!¡± The vendor pointed to the newspaper in Ben¡¯s hand, its colorful cover striking, ¡°It¡¯s a Huaxia person, unbelievable! I¡¯ve never seen such a beautiful photo.¡± Ben looked curiously at the photo and the next second, he stood there, stunned. Passersby who heard this conversation also picked up a newspaper and were similarly shocked, covering their mouths. ¡°My God.¡± In the photo, a black hole and the sun were equally high; inside the cloud hole, there was no light, just the deepest, darkest black, like a gap in the sky with all light flowing out from it. Occasionally, a purple lightning bolt illuminated the struggling geese trying to fly out. Aboard the plane, the man spread his arms toward the geese, the wind lifting his brown robe, and he wore a bone-tooth necklace on his chest, shouting at the geese. The sun stretched across the sky, a deluge of light pouring down; its fiery, intense light was a dazzling gold and white, with the plane upheld by the clouds, like a little boat from heaven. Aunt¡¯s entire body tightened up, the dazzling light making her instinctively want to shield her eyes, and then she realized this was just a photo. ¡°This is too incredible.¡± ¡°Right?¡± Ben, back at home, could empathize as he spread peanut butter on his toast, ¡°My reaction to this photo was exactly like yours. It¡¯s simply a miracle of life, it reminds me of The Wonderful Adventures of Nils! Fairy tales have actually come to life right before our eyes!¡± ¡°Good morning, Uncle, Aunt,¡± Peter said, descending the stairs with heavy dark circles under his eyes. ¡°Good morning, Peter. Did you not sleep well last night?¡± Ben noticed Peter¡¯s dark circles. Seeing Peter looking listless, Aunt got annoyed, ¡°He must have stayed up late again playing on the computer. I really regret agreeing to his request last time. Look at ¨¦tienne, at his age, he¡¯s already able to fly around the world, while you can only stay under the covers playing games all night!¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t playing games!¡± Peter couldn¡¯t help but retort and immediately noticed the newspaper on the table, picking it up with surprise, ¡°Wow! Master Fang is in the news!¡± Ben was curious, ¡°You know him?¡± ¡°Of course, he¡¯s so cool! I¡¯ve been staying up these past few nights just to watch his live stream!¡± At this moment, Ben seemed to understand why Peter had been sleeping poorly. Had it been his own childhood, he might have also stayed up late to watch. He coughed twice and put down his piece of toast, ¡°Um, Peter, could you let me have a look, too?¡± Peter trembled with excitement upon hearing this. Did he hear that right? This was a perfect opportunity to draw someone in! Peter took out his phone, deftly circumvented the firewall, entered Wolf Fang TV, and Ben leaned over as the two of them started watching the live stream together. ¡°Ah.¡± Aunt sighed. The same scene was happening in countless homes, with Peter¡¯s house being just the tip of the iceberg. More and more channels began to spread this news, and it was everywhere¡ªthe young people had heard the news. It was a sensation. Videos on the platform kept being shared, and the original hunting video even surpassed ten million views! Despite such growth, the speed didn¡¯t slow but kept increasing faster and faster! Unprecedented, never before had a Huaxia host gained such immense traffic on the most famous interactive platform abroad! Wang Yongbo and Li Yawen were so excited they were trembling! With this achievement, they successfully convinced the senior management, and the whole overseas live broadcasting plan would be under their full responsibility. If everything went smoothly, Wolf Fang would achieve a leapfrogging overtaking, surpassing Tiger Fang and Shark, to become the domestic platform with the most users! At the same time, another unknown video quietly went viral¡ªit was the one filmed by the uncle who gave Bi Fang gasoline! The comments section under the video was extremely heated. [Master Fang is the greatest explorer of this century. He should run for President of the United States. Although I¡¯m not sure it¡¯s legal, I think he qualifies just based on this goose migration alone!] [Is this the lake where Master Fang stayed? It¡¯s so beautiful, and the uncle is a good person, thumbs up for you] [Why did that bald man want to stop the migration??] [It¡¯s because the bird flu test failed, so they can¡¯t cross the Schengen Area. However, Elvan, the original leader of the plan, insists the report was wrong.] [Wait, what¡¯s the Schengen Area? Is that a place?] [Ah, you can roughly understand it as if you have permission for the Schengen Area, you can move freely through most parts of the European Union.] Hearing this, more netizens shared their thoughts; they couldn¡¯t believe these adorable geese could be sick birds. Look at them, so vibrant! [I hope the report was wrong. Elvan is a professor at the University of Paris; I think he¡¯s quite authoritative. These geese are so spirited, having survived the storm, I¡¯m sure they¡¯re healthy.] [What happens if they¡¯re caught?] [They¡¯ll be executed!] [That¡¯s too sad. I think something must be wrong somewhere. I hope they investigate thoroughly; I don¡¯t want to see these geese come to harm.] Change was quietly happening, and Bi Fang had yet to realize that this live broadcast was different from any he had done before. He was becoming known to more and more people at a viral rate, understanding him, it¡¯s just that the number of viewers in the live broadcast room limited his awareness. The second time he received free gas also gave Bi Fang a vague premonition. Like before, the other party didn¡¯t want deer skin and was overly enthusiastic, going so far as to take a photo with them and even offered them burgers. Bi Fang declined, but ¨¦tienne was delighted. It was the first time in ten days he had tasted food with such rich flavor, nearly moved to tears. Rousing ¨¦tienne from sleep, Bi Fang began to wash up. They were now in Denmark, soon to reach Germany. A heavy rain had fallen last night, but it didn¡¯t hinder them; as the latitude decreased, the coniferous forests had turned into broadleaf forests, greatly enhancing the waterproofing effect of their leaf-built shelters. ¡°Maintaining hygiene in the wilderness is very important, especially oral hygiene, and look, a ten-day journey has already started to make my chin grow a beard.¡± Bi Fang touched his stubbly chin, planning to shave today. He pulled out the harpoon, heated it over the fire, cooled it in his canteen afterwards, and began to shave in front of the lake. Just as Bi Fang had the blade against his face ready to shave, a loud cacophony of goose calls almost made him slice open his own skin. ¨¦tienne stepped forward trying to comfort the geese, but it was of no use. The geese were frantically calling out, running around chaotically, as if warning the two men of something. Bi Fang¡¯s expression grew serious; he remembered these geese were only trained to avoid humans, their current extreme reaction¡­ From the distance in the woods, several figures stealthily approached. When they heard the noise of the geese, realizing they might have been exposed, they charged out. ¡°Quick, there they are! Catch them!¡± Chapter 190 - Chapter 190: Chapter 187: Could It Be True? Chapter 190: Chapter 187: Could It Be True? Thorns slashed across Johnny¡¯s ankles, leaving trails of blood, but Johnny seemed to feel no pain at all as he led the police towards the lake, his speed so fast that one wouldn¡¯t think he was a middle-aged man, his agility comparable to that of a cheetah! ¡°Run, run fast!¡± Upon recognizing the approaching figure, Bi Fang quickly pulled ¨¦tienne onto the airplane, he stretched out his hand to sense the direction and realized he was on the upwind side, immediately understanding that he had been careless. Only 30% of the indigenous people in Oceania have no body odor, only 10% of whites, and only 0.5% of Blacks! In other words, apart from East Asians, nearly every foreigner has body odor¡­ that¡¯s also why they need perfume¡­ So normally, as long as someone approaches, Bi Fang would be able to smell it, but he forgot this point, or rather, he didn¡¯t expect someone to pursue him so relentlessly. He even forgot he was upwind, which meant he couldn¡¯t smell anything; otherwise, he would have noticed much earlier. The geese were squawking madly, and through Elvan¡¯s training, their fear of humans, especially those armed with guns, was deeply ingrained in their brains! Yes, the police were armed with guns! Seeing firearms appear, the audience panicked, those were real guns! Not props from movies or TV shows! [Damn it, just for catching a bird and they¡¯ve brought guns? Can¡¯t they take a joke?] [The land of the free, Ugly Li Jian, gunfights every day] [This isn¡¯t Ugly Li Jian¡­] [Old Fang, run for it! If they catch up, it¡¯s all over!] [This Johnny is such a loser, can¡¯t he take a joke? Old Fang, use your bow and arrow to deal with him! Turn him into a porcupine, let him know who the Number One Archer is!] Just yesterday, Bi Fang had left a deep impression on the viewers by shooting a rabbit in the woods with an arrow, and many radical viewers even proposed to fight back. What a joke! He¡¯s not the Green Arrow! Bi Fang felt he was only in his twenties and had his whole life ahead of him to enjoy, so there was no need for rash actions. The two hurriedly escaped onto the airplane and successfully started it before Johnny and the police arrived, causing the plane to glide over the water¡¯s surface. Seeing that the two were about to fly away just like last time, Johnny shouted, ¡°Quick, stop them, open fire and block them!¡± A few police officers exchanged glances, drew their guns and aimed at the airplane, ¡°Sir, stop immediately! Sir, stop now! Otherwise, we¡¯re going to shoot! We¡¯re going to fire!¡± But why would Bi Fang listen to them? The journey was already halfway through, how could he give up just like that? He wasn¡¯t here on vacation, what a joke! After more than ten days of companionship, he had grown fond of the flock of geese, and now they were about to be captured or even killed, he was the first to object! Bi Fang at this moment was the same as ¨¦tienne from before! Law? What a load of crap. If there¡¯s a problem with the implementation of a rule itself, then why adhere to it so rigidly? If there¡¯s something he wants to do, then just do it, it¡¯s that simple. Under the gunpoint, Bi Fang was extraordinarily resolute, far from slowing down, he increased the engine power to its maximum. At this moment, Bi Fang had completely forgotten the words he used to stop ¨¦tienne back then, a prime example of double standards. And at this moment, everyone remembered one thing: when it comes to innate madness, ¨¦tienne was nothing compared to Bi Fang! Master Fang was the kind of person who would fight with a bear just for a rabbit! Elvan, who had been lurking behind the screen, felt his bladder swell when he saw the police draw their weapons, nearly wetting himself. He had never expected Johnny to dare deploy the police, and even arm them! This was way beyond his authority! Bi Fang was just too crazy, completely reckless! ¡°Fuck! Fuck! Fire! Shoot!¡± Seeing that Bi Fang had no intention of stopping, Johnny gestured to the police beside him to take action quickly. The leading police officer hesitated for a moment and chose not to shoot, in his mind, opening fire just because someone was transporting a few geese across the border was too much of an overreaction. They weren¡¯t Ugly Country police, and moreover, there was a teenager with them, an accidental injury would be even more unacceptable. ¡°Damn it!¡± As the plane ascended into the sky, Johnny¡¯s eyes turned bloodshot. He had finally found them, and now, were they going to disappear before his very eyes again? Absolutely not! Killing all the Geese still leaves some wiggle room, no one cares about a blood test report of a bunch of dead geese, but once successful, the meaning changes completely! Even if they keep the blood samples, Johnny isn¡¯t afraid. A blood test report looks at the latest sample, the past doesn¡¯t prove anything. It can only show that the Geese were fine before, not that they¡¯re fine now. But if the migration is successful, and they test again¡­ The near-mad Johnny lunged at the nearby police officer, trying to snatch his handgun! ¡°Hey! What are you doing!¡± The lead police officer noticed Johnny¡¯s odd behavior immediately. The moment Johnny reached for the gun, he withdrew his hand in advance and pinned Johnny to the ground. The nearby officers also reacted quickly, no longer paying attention to Bi Fang, they all held Johnny down. The plane flew farther and farther away. As Johnny was pressed down, unable to catch his breath, he watched the plane disappear from his sight once more. His face turned red with indignation, and he shouted loudly. ¡°I won¡¯t let you make it to France! Never!¡± His voice carried far, but Bi Fang in the sky could no longer hear him; he was cheering for escaping once again. [Outlaw!] [Hahaha, I suggest you obey the law, Master Fang!] [Awesome! Daring to fly like that, I get weak at the knees just seeing a gun in real life.] [Another day above the law, better turn yourselves in, Ah-fang. Uncle Long is everywhere outside!] ¡°Whew!¡± ¨¦tienne shouted loudly into the blue sky, feeling absolutely exhilarating! No one could catch them, nobody at all! The two laughed in the wind and flew for over an hour before stopping again. With the plane¡¯s speed, they had long left Johnny and his group far behind. Who knew when they would be chased again? After high-fiving ¨¦tienne, Bi Fang calmly walked to the shore and continued his shaving business, as if the recent escape didn¡¯t concern him at all. [Old Fang¡¯s composure is through the roof!] [Ditched the pursuers and still shaves calmly, badass] [I feel like they won¡¯t let Master Fang off so easily, maybe they¡¯ll deploy helicopters for the capture next time?] [Don¡¯t jinx it above] [Ace pilot requesting to engage!] ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if they come at us again, I¡¯ll just shake them off once more. They can only eat dust behind our asses!¡± Bi Fang wasn¡¯t too concerned. So what about helicopters? He could even take turns using drainage ditches. As long as they¡¯re not fighter jets, he¡¯s not worried. However, the police being armed this time did concern him a bit. He didn¡¯t expect the police to come with guns; Denmark isn¡¯t Ugly Country, not all police carry guns. By rights, what they did shouldn¡¯t warrant the police being armed¡­ The other side seemed very anxious, seemingly even more determined not to let the Geese migrate than Bi Fang was to migrate them. Really odd, do they need to go to such lengths? Are Europeans really this professional? Or is it just something blown out of proportion by public intellectuals? Shaking his head, Bi Fang continued shaving. ¡°I advise everyone to shave with a small knife when available; even if you find something sharp like Black Flint, it¡¯s best not to use it for shaving. If you do shave, be extremely careful, because it¡¯s much sharper than metal blades ¨C and that¡¯s no exaggeration, it¡¯s the truth. Most importantly, the edges are highly irregular.¡± Bi Fang shaved off a small patch of beard, then took out the Flint Stone from his pocket to show everyone: ¡°Using this to shave could easily leave many bloody marks on your face, which can become easily infected. It¡¯s better not to shave and hurt yourself, we¡¯d rather use Flint Stone to cut our hair.¡± ¡°Besides beard and hair, nails also need to be trimmed, as in the wilderness, long nails can easily break and cause infections.¡± Bi Fang stretched out his fingers, his hands clean and tidy, showing no signs of having lived wild for more than ten days, his nails barely grown. [This is outrageous, is this the power of the mighty?] [Returning to the wild like coming home, all animals here taste delicious and make pleasant sounds, I love it here.] [Politeness: Are you an animal?] ¡°That¡¯s because I grind my nails with a stone every three or four days. It¡¯s rough, but very practical. You can just pick any stone, I believe there¡¯s no need for me to say more.¡± After finishing his shave, Bi Fang cleaned his Hunting Knife by the shore, and ¨¦tienne had also made simple toothpaste and a toothbrush as requested, beckoning him to come over for oral hygiene. Chapter 191 - Chapter 191: Chapter 188: The Hatch is Welded Shut! Chapter 191: Chapter 188: The Hatch is Welded Shut! ¡°` The so-called toothbrush and toothpaste were actually just a tender birch twig accompanied by some charcoal ash. Birch sap is a pretty good refreshing drink and even has medicinal health benefits. Its branches have plenty of fibers that can totally be used as a toothbrush, and some of the older branches can even be made into arrow shafts. Bi Fang chewed on a piece of the tender birch branch, then used the leftover fibers as a toothbrush and the water mixed with charcoal ash as toothpaste. ¡°The method of using charcoal ash for brushing teeth can¡¯t be used all the time, because it can damage the teeth. But remember to mix it with water before using, as the alkalinity of the charcoal ash is very strong and can easily burn the skin.¡± ¡°As for the effectiveness, well, it¡¯s definitely not as strong as modern industrial products. However, it¡¯s not far off because charcoal ash has good adsorbency. It is enough for us to do a simple oral cleaning in the wild, but cleaning is all it can do. We also need to pay attention to sterilization, so we need to use it in conjunction with mouthwash.¡± Mouthwash? The audience became curious. At first hearing, this word filled with ¡°modern¡± vibes felt a bit out of place. Many people at home don¡¯t even use mouthwash when brushing their teeth. How do they use it in the wilderness? Bi Fang held up the plastic bottle passed to him by ¨¦tienne, and through natural light, the audience could clearly see it was filled with light green water. [Lake water? The color¡¯s so green] [Impossible, what¡¯s the use of lake water?] [Admin, someone¡¯s swearing, give them a ban!] [Lord Mu: I¡¯m juggling millions every minute, how do I have time for this? So just let me be the admin, I¡¯m super free (Dog¡¯s head)] [Master Fang: After all, I¡¯ve trusted the wrong person.] ¡°Lake water isn¡¯t this green,¡± said Bi Fang, shaking the plastic bottle, which was still a bit hot. ¡°This is pine needle water that I had ¨¦tienne mash up the pine needles and boil them before filtering. Use it to rinse your mouth, it not only smells good but also has a certain antibacterial effect.¡± Bi Fang blew on it to cool it down, took a sip from the bottle, swallowed with a gulp. Audience: ¡°???¡± [Isn¡¯t mouthwash for rinsing¡­ why is he drinking it?] [What happened to the mouthwash?] Even Bi Fang himself was stunned and realized what he had just done, he instantly started coughing and choking. After a while, Bi Fang, regaining his composure, was dumbfounded. ¡°Damn it! I¡¯ve gotten used to drinking hot water these past few days, I swallowed it before I could react.¡± [Won¡¯t he get poisoned from eating charcoal ash?] ¡°No, no worries,¡± Bi Fang spit out another mouthful of saliva and kept rinsing his mouth, ¡°Charcoal ash itself isn¡¯t poisonous, and it can even have an antidiarrheal effect. However, eating too much may lead to constipation. The amount I swallowed isn¡¯t significant.¡± A slip of the mind. Bi Fang spit out the mouthful of water that still carried a hint of pine fragrance and shook his head with a laugh. He hadn¡¯t expected that he too would have a day of confusion. After cleaning up, the two of them stewed some smoked fish for breakfast and prepared to hit the road again. Who knew how Johnny had found them, whether it was by tracking them through the live stream or if Elvan had told him their whereabouts? If it was the latter, they couldn¡¯t continue following the map¡¯s route. Bi Fang opened the map, hesitated for a while, but ultimately chose to trust Elvan and did not change his plans, continuing along the route on the map. ¡°Johnny has got us in his sights now. We will minimize our rest time as much as possible to avoid being caught up with again.¡± [Epic, being pursued and still calm.] [Johnny: No one knows how to catch better than I do.] [Today I just want to be beyond the reach of the law, and I¡¯m even live-streaming it! A lawless rogue, that¡¯s just how arrogant I am!] The audience was thrilled. In their view, this was as exciting as skipping school to sneak off to the internet caf¨¦ without the teacher¡¯s knowledge, and whether it was really illegal was still to be determined. What if the problem lies with Johnny? Bi Fang pulled on the throttle, the engine roared to life, and the sound of the rotating propeller grew from nothing to a loud hum, increasing in intensity until it became a thunderous roar. ¡°Weird, why has the engine sound gotten louder?¡± ¡°` He stepped on the pedal, somewhat puzzled. Was the engine broken? Why had the noise become so loud? Bi Fang worried that the propeller was emitting smoke. Just as he turned his head back, a curse blurted out. ¡°Damn it!¡± A dark green helicopter roared as it flew overhead, its huge rotor blades whipping up a fierce wind, slicing through the air like a knife, zooming past the forest canopy like an enormous bird. What the hell! It had only been three hours, yet Johnny actually sent a helicopter after them! Bi Fang pulled the control stick to climb urgently, failing to understand why Johnny treated them as if they were smuggling a flock of geese with ¡°questionable¡± health certificates. What did he think they were, Mexican drug lords? ¡­ ¡°Minister, these are the hospital test reports issued by Elvan¡¯s team, all negative, and none of the blood samples are older than a month,¡± the secretary presented the reports to the park director. ¡°But Johnny¡¯s report came back positive¡­¡± The minister pinched the bridge of his nose. He didn¡¯t actually have clarity on what Johnny had been up to, resulting in the park¡¯s upper management being completely confused about the situation. Were the flocks of geese sick or not? If not sick, then why positive results? And who really was sick? Me? The minister couldn¡¯t help wanting to pace, but seeing the secretary still there, he dismissed the thought. The secretary was equally puzzled by Johnny¡¯s strong reaction, relentlessly pursuing a few individuals. Was he ever this dedicated before? ¡°It should be as Elvan and his team said, a normal reaction after vaccine exposure. Johnny¡¯s making a mountain out of a molehill,¡± the secretary pondered. ¡°Make a call and have him return, let¡¯s not concern ourselves with this matter anymore. I¡¯ve seen his dedication; grant him a promotion when he¡¯s back,¡± the minister deliberated for a moment, ¡°Also, have him send me the previous test reports. I want to take a look, better safe than sorry.¡± In fact, whether the geese were sick or healthy, or even if they had been healthy a month ago but now ill, Johnny had to stop the pursuit immediately. Because just an hour ago, the World Animal Protection Organization had called. The minister felt a headache looming; the situation was spiraling, drawing even the scrutiny of the World Animal Protection Organization, which was not just any NGO, but an international body with comprehensive consultative status with the United Nations. The World Animal Protection Organization saw it as an excellent opportunity to raise public awareness about wildlife conservation. Based on the geese¡¯s living conditions and behavior over the past ten-plus days, they judged the report as erroneous, the case needed re-investigation, and they demanded a halt to the apprehension of the animals, asking to aid Elvan with the migration plan. Just as the secretary was about to go and contact Johnny, a male staffer suddenly burst into the office, shouting anxiously. ¡°Minister! Johnny has dispatched a helicopter to capture the geese! He¡¯s already catching up to Fang Bi!¡± The minister stood up hastily, full of confusion, ¡°What?¡± Shadows rose over the forest, a droning noise like giant bees flapping their wings approached at high speed. The helicopter hovered mid-air, circling like a hunting eagle, while the white plane ahead of it was merely a tiny sparrow, issuing a final, desperate scream amidst the roaring noise. ¨¦tienne gripped the armrest tightly, the light aircraft¡¯s speed pushed to its limit. He felt as if he could hear the plane¡¯s structure groaning under the strain. This was it, glider versus helicopter? Was wildlife conservation always this dangerous? Dad, please save me! I realize my mistake! I want off the plane! Buffeted by the fierce wind, pressed hard against his seat, unable to move, ¨¦tienne shed two lines of tears. He felt his adrenal glands had been played to ruin, overworking, unable to restart. The cabin door was welded shut! No one could get off! Chapter 192 - Chapter 192: Chapter 189: Where is the airplane? Chapter 192: Chapter 189: Where is the airplane? ¡°` There¡¯s a problem! A huge problem! Bi Fang clenched his teeth, the engine overworking and emitting a terrifying clatter. The light aircraft¡¯s engine, after enduring half a month of flying and the torture akin to a tumble dryer, was on the verge of collapse with the throttle fully open once more. ¨¦tienne dared not look up anymore; he turned his head, clutching the chair back, his face pressed and distorted like a sticker, his entire body firmly pressed into the seat. Bi Fang¡¯s face wasn¡¯t looking good either. As a respectable citizen who only went to amusement parks for ¡®Mickey Mouse and His Friends¡¯ rides, when had he ever been chased by a helicopter? It was just a flock of birds, who would dispatch a chopper for that? You can¡¯t afford the game, but is this really necessary? Bi Fang was frustrated to the point of spitting blood. He had just thought he had escaped, only to be chased down again in the time it took to brush his teeth! Don¡¯t you have the energy to deal with the Mexican drug lords instead of wasting time chasing a Goose? Did the Goose eat your family¡¯s rice? Or does your wife¡¯s lover look like me? If he¡¯s as handsome as me, why would he be a lover? Intuition told Bi Fang that things couldn¡¯t be as simple as they appeared on the surface, there had to be reasons he was unaware of, but the pressing situation and lack of time didn¡¯t allow him to ponder any further. ¡°Land the plane, I repeat, land the plane!¡± Inside the helicopter, Johnny shouted through the megaphone. Although his gun-snatching behavior was despicable, considering Johnny¡¯s identity, the sheriff hadn¡¯t made it difficult for him and instead let him continue the pursuit. But the more the other side yelled, the faster Bi Fang flew. He wished the wind speed would increase even more, and that a typhoon would come. The distance kept closing, but Johnny couldn¡¯t wait a moment longer, urging the pilot, ¡°Faster, he¡¯s just a glider! Can¡¯t you even catch up with a glider? Is this the level you¡¯re at with the taxpayers¡¯ money?¡± The pilot corrected him, ¡°It¡¯s a light aircraft, not a glider. Gliders don¡¯t have engines. Besides, you¡¯re Norwegian, this is Denmark. Your taxes have nothing to do with us, we haven¡¯t taken a cent of your money for any of the roads we¡¯ve fixed.¡± The pilot even had the mood to nitpick, since he was just dragged in for an emergency. Why should he go all out? Was there a bonus? Catching up was all that mattered. When the pilot first learned that they were using a helicopter to chase a flock of Geese, he almost thought the other party was joking with him. This mission didn¡¯t excite him at all. Besides, the speed was already high. Hadn¡¯t he noticed that the Geese could barely keep up with the plane in front? This helicopter wasn¡¯t military-grade, with a speed of only a little over 200, plus it was downwind, which obviously provided a greater boost to the plane in front, with its speed at least over a hundred. With the other side being so perfunctory, Johnny was helpless; the only person here who could fly a helicopter was the pilot, and if he walked out, there would be no chance to catch up. At least now the distance was closing. The helicopter wasn¡¯t fast, mainly due to its design with a top rotor, which compared to fixed-wing aircraft, took less forward thrust and found it difficult to achieve high speeds. But it all depends on what you compare it to! Not all airplanes are the same. Wuling Hongguang also has a rear-mounted engine, but does that make it a sports car? Bi Fang was aware that his plane, even broken down, wouldn¡¯t outrun a helicopter. It would take less than a few minutes to be caught by those behind him as the distance of a few hundred meters closed. He could even feel that the other side wasn¡¯t using full strength! After sulking for a while, ¨¦tienne turned his head and saw the approaching helicopter closing in significantly, and instantly panicked as if he was some heinous serial killer, with the police blocking him from the ground to the sky¡ªif caught, he¡¯d be locked in prison for a hundred years. ¡°Think of something fast! We¡¯re about to be caught!¡± Bi Fang yelled back, ¡°I¡¯m thinking!¡± [Take some blood pressure medication.] [Mr. Fang, what are you doing? Think of something with that invincible brain of yours!] ¡°` [So tense, it feels just like a cop and robber movie] [Above the law! Above the law! We are outlaws beyond reach!] Peter and Ben huddled on the sofa, staring tensely at the TV, not even hearing their aunt calling them to go to bed and sleep. On the opposite side of Earth, Elvan¡¯s face was pale, veins bulging as he gripped Lenin¡¯s hand, while Lenin tugged at his beard, his entire face twisted together. Bi Fang suddenly yanked the control stick, and under the massive deflection, the plane hurtled towards the forest, seemingly out of control. The sudden weightlessness caused ¨¦tienne to momentarily leave his seat. Under the camera lens, his expression resembled a painting that depicted sheer desperation, with the reflection of the airplane in his pupils and his mouth, wide open to the extreme, letting out a soul-tearing scream, akin to a long note played on a violin. The plane¡¯s maneuverability was too poor, unable to match the flexible movement of the helicopter, leaving Bi Fang with no choice but to take a gamble. The helicopter pilot¡¯s face lit up with joy; the person flying the plane opposite seemed like a greenhorn. Didn¡¯t he know that the helicopter could dive down twice as fast? Was he actually lowering his altitude intentionally? Perfect. The sooner this ended, the sooner he could rest. He still needed to pick up his daughter who had just started third grade. The helicopter suddenly accelerated, closely following behind the plane, reducing the distance to less than two hundred meters¡ªwhich, for the plane, was almost within reach. At such high speeds, it wasn¡¯t long before the Goose began to tire out. The goose¡¯s speed ranged between seventy and ninety, and it could burst beyond one hundred for a short duration, but could not sustain it for long. By now, they were close to falling behind. ¡°Can we hit them?¡± Johnny, excited at the sight of the geese two hundred meters away, felt this was the closest he¡¯d been to success. He didn¡¯t need the plane to stop; he just needed the geese to die off! ¡°No,¡± the team leader shook his head. They were just ordinary policemen, their marksmanship not that precise. At least within a hundred meters, they could be sure of hitting the geese without damaging the plane. Damn it! Johnny cursed, irritated as he looked at the firearms protected by the police chief, but seeing the plane drawing ever closer, he suppressed his inner agitation. This moment, his attention was fully on Bi Fang, not noticing an incoming call on his cell phone. Amongst the low hills with their mountain ranges extending far into the distance, the two aircraft maneuvered through the valley floors like large birds, as if two dancers aware of each other¡¯s moves were performing a grand yet perilous tango. The plane flew extremely low, and ¨¦tienne could even feel instances when branches scraped against the pontoons; any lower and they would surely crash and burn! Bi Fang made the plane skim over the trees, bypassing the low hills, yet could not shake off the pursuer behind him. The helicopter always managed to maintain a steady position behind, mockingly preying on its quarry. Under these circumstances, the helicopter pilot once again slowed down, fearing to push the other to the brink of a crash right before his eyes. ¡°¨¦tienne, hold tight!¡± Bi Fang suddenly shouted, causing ¨¦tienne to grip the seat once again, his fingers digging deep into the cushion, nearly tearing through the leather. The distance between them had now shrunk to less than a hundred and fifty meters! Bi Fang stepped on the pedal, turning the plane as sharply as possible, repeating the trick; he maneuvered behind a low hill to once again use the terrain to obstruct the helicopter¡¯s line of sight. Watching the plane disappear from sight, the helicopter pilot was not concerned; in a few seconds, he¡¯d see the plane again: ¡°Useless; haven¡¯t you learned your lesson after so many times?¡± The pilot, harboring such thoughts, circled around the low hill, and suddenly froze. In front of him, the mountains were lush with vegetation, as millions of hectares of forest spread across the slopes in waves, with the dense fir, red pine, and ponderosa pine creating an impenetrable thicket. If not for the mission, it would certainly be a great spot for camping, with the sky clear and boundless. But, where was the plane? Chapter 193 - Chapter 193: Chapter 190 Ace Pilot Chapter 193: Chapter 190 Ace Pilot Years later, standing in front of migrating geese returning home, ¨¦tienne would remember that distant afternoon when Bi Fang took him flying in a plane, escaping their pursuers. Look at this opening line, how magically real it is. ¨¦tienne felt this would be the most magical journey of his life, having already encountered wild beasts, eaten raw food, and survived thunderstorms, he was about to face a plane crash! The sensation of weightlessness attacked once more, his buttocks had lost all feeling, for they had completely left the seat, and his sweat-soaked underwear, hit by the wind, felt not only empty but chillingly cold. No one could have imagined Bi Fang¡¯s daring; he actually pulled the control stick fully at the moment the plane cleared a low mountain and planted it into the forest like a rice transplanter! Hundreds of tree branches were broken off in an instant as the plane descended, violently pruned; Bi Fang leaned against the back of his seat, feet on the pedals, maintaining balance in the violent turbulence like a triangle ruler propped between the seat and control stick. The instant the plane touched the ground, it was as if anesthesia had been injected into the spine, cutting off all sensation below the vertebrae; the plane almost bounded forward on the uneven mud. It got worse, as the airborne police lost their target and fired stun grenades all around to force them out, Bright ¨¦tienne watched the bright trajectories crisscrossing like a net above his head. ¡°Isn¡¯t this a bit too thrilling?¡± ¨¦tienne screamed. ¡°Indeed thrilling!¡± Bi Fang shouted, ¡°Would you find it even more thrilling if I told you there¡¯s a cliff ahead?¡± ¨¦tienne, fighting his fear, forced his eyes open and suddenly saw a cliff not far away. ¡°Ahhhh!!!¡± The plane passed the dirt slope onto flat ground, and after leaving the slope, it steadied, but the cliff was visible and looming closer! If they slid any further, they¡¯d fall off! The plane, like a wild stallion, charged across the mud, its body constantly shaking, with Bi Fang¡¯s foot pressed hard on the pedal, his face expressionless. In his hands, the plane became an instrument for plowing the earth. With the cliff approaching rapidly, ¨¦tienne¡¯s eyes rolled back further and further, nearly fainting. Bi Fang dared not touch the ground, as the immense ground friction could dislocate his joints and break his legs in an instant, but he released the pedal and slammed his foot onto the front rudder! The rudder was violently driven into the soil, kicking up dust a meter high, as if an invisible knife was slicing through the earth below. The steel frame of the rudder emitted a grating groan, the tough metal twisted and deformed at this moment; as it plowed into the ground and piled up more and more dirt, the overwhelming friction drastically slowed down the plane, which even started to turn! Bi Fang was driving the plane like a boat! What did he think the rudder was? An anchor? Crazy, but effective! He was the light that pierced the darkness, the Transformer that pierced the universe, the Ultraman that pierced through time and space, the supreme badass that pierced death! He shattered the darkness with a thunderbolt! ¨¦tienne believed he would never forget this scene for the rest of his life, as the sliding plane kicked up stones and dead branches, leaving two trails that stopped at the edge of the cliff. The plane stopped before the cliff, like a bull charging toward a bullfighter but whose tail was grabbed at the last moment. The wings had already reached over the cliff, pebbles fell into the abyss, and in just a few meters, it would fall off, leaving no chance for Bi Fang and ¨¦tienne in their seats to survive. They¡­ were alive! ¡°Ugh!¡± ¨¦tienne vomited profusely, ejecting the breakfast he had just consumed mixed with acid. He was as pale as a ghost, his face covered in sweat, looking like he had been fished out of water. His hydrocephalus was nearly jolted out! What was in his head wasn¡¯t a brain anymore, but brain pulp that had been turned into juice! [Whose division commander is this? So brave and valiant?] [Badass, so badass!] [My wife has puppy love, and I can see pink hearts in her eyes!] At this point, the audience was nearly scared to pee themselves, tense and relaxed, even the strongest bladder couldn¡¯t withstand the moment the plane stopped, as many were overwhelmed with the urge to urinate. Bi Fang was pale, but not quite as miserable as ¨¦tienne. He looked at the recording drone, raised his index finger to shush the viewers, and then turned off the live stream. [???] [Why did Old Fang end the stream?] [What does this mean, why end the stream right at the climax?] [Are they worried that the other side is watching the live stream too?] [!] Shuiyou guessed right. A moment later, Bi Fang deleted all content showing the appearance of the helicopter and started playing the footage of the previous escape on loop again. [He¡¯s out! He¡¯s out!] [Why is he taking off again?] [What does Old Fang mean by this maneuver?] [I think I kind of get it now, Master Fang is so clever!] [I still don¡¯t understand, elaborate please?] [I think Master Fang is worried that the other side is also watching the live stream and has found out he¡¯s hiding in the forest, so he¡¯s pretending to still be flying!] [Then won¡¯t our comments give it away?] [Makes sense! Old Fang, run! The helicopter is catching up, it¡¯s getting closer, fly faster!] [???!!! Learned so quickly?] Just seconds after Bi Fang ducked into the forest, the ferocious helicopter rounded the hill, aiming to catch up like before, but was surprised to find that the plane had vanished. The roar of the propellers filled their ears, and all they could see was a carpet of forest stretching out over a million hectares, grand and desolate, the trees swaying in the wind. Where¡¯s my plane? How could such a big aircraft just disappear? Unlike sparse coniferous forests, broadleaf forests have tall trees which create dense shadows below, leaving no light between them, let alone allowing a helicopter to spot anything. The police inside the helicopter, having fired their stun grenades, were also baffled as to how the plane had suddenly disappeared. Minutes later, after the pilot had circled around the small mountain without finding any trace of the aircraft, he was at a complete loss. Watching this scene, Johnny felt a sinking feeling, but the next second, he thought of a solution: ¡°Climb! Climb up!¡±] ¡°Yes, indeed!¡± The pilot slapped his palm with a fist, having been drawn into a low-altitude chase by the plane, it hadn¡¯t occurred to him that he could ascend for better observation. Minutes passed again, and the pilot, having climbed to two kilometers altitude, was confused once again. Despite his exceptional eyesight of 5.1, he couldn¡¯t even see a bird. It seemed as if the plane had disappeared even more completely¡­ What was this, magic or some kind of mysterious Eastern power? The pilot, cold sweat drenching him, wondered if he was seeing ghosts in broad daylight. A silence fell within the cockpit, when suddenly, the chief of police clapped his hands and asked Johnny: ¡°Didn¡¯t you say they were live streaming? Why don¡¯t we check their stream to see where they are?¡±] Johnny realized with a start and immediately pulled out his phone. He unconsciously swiped away the missed calls, not caring who had called under such urgent circumstances, he dismissed the log and went straight to Wolf Fang TV. The forest in question was a government-designated environmental protection area, as seen on the map. The dense forest made building roads through the mountains difficult, deterring settlers, and there was a lack of public amenities. The signal was erratic, especially as foreign programs required bypassing regional restrictions, and despite Johnny¡¯s urgency, the phone kept spinning in circles as it loaded. It wasn¡¯t until fifteen minutes later that the live stream gradually came into view. In the footage, the plane was swaying and still flying! ¡°He must have used some method to shake us off!¡± The pilot declared as he slammed his fist onto the dashboard, unable to believe that they had been outplayed by someone piloting a light aircraft! Fury blazed in the pilot¡¯s eyes, feeling his profession had been mocked. He swore to reclaim his dignity, but the next second, a flash of insight struck him like cold water to the face, instantly extinguishing his anger. He abruptly remembered the scene where the plane had suddenly flown low. A pilot with such superior skills couldn¡¯t possibly be unaware that a helicopter could dive faster. It was intentional! The pilot broke out in a cold sweat, his pupils constricting to the size of pinpricks. Could it be, could it all have been within that Huaxia person¡¯s calculations? First, by feigning inexperience with low flying, he lured the pilot into complacency. After a few minutes of chase, he got him used to the pattern of pursuing at low altitude before using his superior flying skills to vanish. By the time the pilot thought of climbing for a better vantage point, several minutes had already gone by, greatly increasing the distance between them. Including the time spent watching the live stream, a full twenty minutes passed, and by then the plane had long since escaped. Who exactly was he chasing? An ace pilot from the Huaxia Dragon Group? Could such a person truly be defeated? The pilot trembled all over. Chasing a pilot with such exceptional skills, what could he even do? Chapter 194 - Chapter 194: Chapter 191 Too terrifying, completely overwhelmed. Chapter 194: Chapter 191 Too terrifying, completely overwhelmed. Oh, how terrifying. Completely overwhelmed. Exactly which unit¡¯s retired pilot is this, regardless of technique or tactics, it¡¯s not even close. The driver¡¯s pupils dilated and then contracted, his little heart greatly wounded, he couldn¡¯t believe he had been outmaneuvered by someone in a glider. Seeing that the pilot was off, the chief of the police team inquired, ¡°Steve, what¡¯s wrong?¡± The pilot looked into the chief¡¯s eyes, his pupils trembling slightly, and he swallowed, ¡°Nothing, nothing at all¡­¡± ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay? Why are you sweating so much on your forehead? If you¡¯re not feeling well, should we go back?¡± ¡°No! Keep following! We can¡¯t go back without finding them!¡± Johnny slammed his phone onto the ground, his voice filled with irrepressible rage; unfortunately, it also revealed his intrinsic frailty. The chief, who had come to help, was instantly displeased. They had come to assist out of respect for Johnny¡¯s position, and not only was he ungrateful, but what was with that attitude? Do fuel and ammo cost nothing? They would have to write a report to explain why they used the ammunition today. Did he really think that their job was that easy? Thinking of the follow-up work, the chief lost his enthusiasm and, regardless of Johnny¡¯s reaction, waved his hand, ¡°Search two more rounds, and let¡¯s go back no matter whether we find them or not.¡± ¡­ The helicopter circled overhead for almost half an hour, and Bi Fang nearly thought his tricks had been seen through and considered fleeing. Unexpectedly, just as he was about to do so, the situation turned, and the helicopter left. Yet, Bi Fang didn¡¯t start the live stream again; instead, he quietly waited, worrying they might double back. He also didn¡¯t forget to record with the drone. After the event, such a thrilling moment could be shown to the audience. ¡°How are you feeling, any better?¡± ¡°A little.¡± ¨¦tienne leaned against a tree, continuously drinking water; after half an hour of recovery, his headache had subsided somewhat. The recent events could really scare the life out of someone, with blood pressure soaring off the charts, his pale face turning red from fear. Twenty minutes later, the helicopter flew over their heads once again, this time not stopping but continuing straight on. ¡°Are they gone now?¡± ¡°Wait a bit longer,¡± Bi Fang signaled to ¨¦tienne to be patient. He knew that his narrow escape was not due to proficiency or tactics, but rather to his wit. The helicopter¡¯s pilot simply couldn¡¯t imagine that anyone would be so crazy as to force their plane to nearly crash for an emergency landing and hide in a forest within seconds of evading sight. It was only because his light aircraft was not heavy and had minimal inertia that Bi Fang had been able to control it. If it had been heavier, it might have crashed outright. Well, not necessarily. Friction would also increase; it¡¯s a function of multiple variables. Meanwhile, the pilot, who was unaware of the reality and believed he had been bested by superior skills, was still in meltdown¡­ Bi Fang crouched down to check the direction rudder of the airplane; its alloy frame was completely deformed, and the rudder was almost snapped off. It was useless now. ¡°Can it still fly?¡± ¡°It can fly.¡± Bi Fang tapped the direction rudder, which emitted a dull thud, as hard as iron, beyond hope of bending back to shape. This was a seaplane where the pedals could control two kinds of steering, both in water and in the air. The damaged direction rudder was for steering on water, while the air control used the wings, tilting them to create a effect similar to ailerons, thereby generating steering force. So the broken direction rudder wouldn¡¯t affect flying; at most, they wouldn¡¯t be able to turn on the water. For flying, the wings were the main thing. After another twenty minutes, once sure the helicopter had flown away, Bi Fang finally turned the live stream back on. What they needed to do now was to fly away as soon as possible, before the other party could piece together the truth from the live stream and come back. [He¡¯s started, he¡¯s started again!] [Waited a whole hour, man, that¡¯s so cautious, I hail Old Fang as the most shrewd!] [I feel like the other side is completely baffled.] [Who the hell could have thought of that, Master Fang¡¯s brain is too powerful, so smart to do something like this!] [Even if you think of it, you wouldn¡¯t dare to do it, in the end, Master Fang is just too badass!] The audience¡¯s livers trembled with excitement, the scene of the airplane landing had been so awesome that an hour passed and they still hadn¡¯t recovered from the excitement. But what were they to do next? The seaplane had landed in the forest, how were they supposed to take off? There was only the hard-packed dirt ground, no lake for it to taxi on, and without a runway, how could the plane fly? ¡°Isn¡¯t there a cliff? Push it off.¡± Bi Fang propped his chin, pondered briefly, and came up with an answer. ¨¦tienne: ¡°!¡± Why did he have a bad feeling about this? He went to the edge of the cliff and, looking down at the twenty-meter drop, his legs instantly went weak. ¡°No, no, no, it can¡¯t be, that high?¡± Bi Fang came beside ¨¦tienne, looked down and nodded: ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s pretty high.¡± This height would make most people¡¯s legs go weak. Many people have no concept of height, but a five-meter diving platform is enough to discourage fifty percent of people. A ten-meter platform without training almost invariably causes leg weakness, it¡¯s just that most people don¡¯t feel it when looking from the side. ¡°But this height is just perfect. Any lower and the plane could easily fall to the ground before taking off.¡± ¨¦tienne shuddered at these words: ¡°Fall to the ground!¡± Three minutes later. ¨¦tienne sat shivering in the back seat, watching Bi Fang start the engine. But even at full throttle, the plane didn¡¯t budge, the friction was too great. ¡°Whew.¡± ¨¦tienne let out a sigh of relief, as if they wouldn¡¯t have to fly after all. Bi Fang came down and looked at the motionless plane, frowning: ¡°No, the resistance is too great. Someone has to push from the behind.¡± ¨¦tienne: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Who¡¯s going to push¡­ and who¡¯s going to pilot?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll pilot.¡± ¡°Me again?¡± ¨¦tienne pointed at himself. Bi Fang nodded: ¡°Only you can push. Otherwise, how would you get on after pushing? You can¡¯t manage it, I have to do it.¡± In the moment of pushing the glider off, he would have to grab the pontoon and climb up. This was much more dangerous than piloting the glider, so it had to be Bi Fang himself. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve flown for so long, I know the power of this plane. Twenty meters is enough for it to take off, don¡¯t be afraid.¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± ¨¦tienne was persuaded, once again taking his place at the pilot¡¯s seat, starting the engine. Bi Fang placed wooden sticks under the plane¡¯s floats, pushing it to see if it really could move. ¡°Ready?¡± ¨¦tienne, sitting in the pilot¡¯s seat, gave an OK gesture. Bi Fang walked to the back of the plane and took a deep breath. His arms were not bulky but had the sinewy strength of bamboo, with a special rhythm when the power surged. The strength bursting from flexibility was much stronger than pure brute force. Bi Fang steadied the plane, focused, and channeled a long breath from his lungs to his fingertips before exerting his strength! The plane slowly started to move, the wooden sticks at the bottom began to roll, and the wings inch by inch jutted out over the cliff. The audience in front of the screen held their breath, knowing this was a critical moment. Soon, most of the wing had been pushed out. Bi Fang¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he increased his force. The plane, already on the edge of the cliff, suddenly sped up its descent. Rocks tumbled down the cliff with a dull rumble. The plane slid faster and faster, and when it was nearly halfway out, it began to fall on its own, careening off the cliff side. The audience was startled at this sight, but then a figure sprinted and leapt from the cliff, diving soundlessly into the abyss. In Peter¡¯s pupils, the white plane soared, and Bi Fang, clutching the plane, swung into the seat. Chapter 195 - Chapter 195: 192 said it and it happened Chapter 195: 192 said it and it happened ¡°Where to next?¡± ¡°Keep heading south.¡± Bi Fang put on his wind goggles, and the wind sent the straps fluttering to the sides, dancing like snakes. Johnny¡¯s pursuit had given Bi Fang a sense of crisis. They needed to speed up their migration, as the same tactics couldn¡¯t be used a second time. If a helicopter came after them again, they would have no chance of escape. As the duo¡¯s fame grew, the likelihood of being spotted and posted online along their route grew higher, and the timing and precision of their location would become increasingly accurate. ¡°But why is Johnny so desperate?¡± What puzzled Bi Fang the most was Johnny¡¯s behavior. It¡¯s one thing to be a park director with a sense of responsibility and personally take part in the chase, but his actions seemed excessively dramatic. He had traveled all the way from Finland to Denmark, and they were about to enter Germany. When he couldn¡¯t catch up on land, he immediately deployed a helicopter for aerial pursuit. It wasn¡¯t something that could simply be explained by a sense of duty. It was more like¡­ impatience? As Bi Fang considered deeper reasons, the live comments suddenly became harmonious, with everyone posting the same thing. The last time this happened, it was when the online community wanted to ensure Professor Gu Qingyuan¡¯s words were conveyed accurately. Bi Fang scrolled up to look, and sure enough, it was Gu Qingyuan again. His fans recognized the old professor by now, and when they saw his post, they immediately copied and pasted it to make sure it would be seen. [Bi Fang, Elvan asked me to tell you that the park has given up the chase! They are already contacting Johnny to call him back, so you can continue with your plan.] Oh? Bi Fang was overjoyed¡ªjust as he was worrying about how to avoid pursuit, Elvan brought good news. It seemed Elvan hadn¡¯t been idle! This news greatly boosted their spirits. Great! Now that this was the case, it was time to give it their all! ¡­ The tavern was bustling with noise. ¡°A story about a little boy and a Huaxia man with a flock of geese?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I know, a splendid adventure¡­¡± ¡­ In the park. ¡°Hey, Lilith!¡± ¡°What are you doing here? Don¡¯t tell me¡­¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m here to take pictures. The news said they might fly over this area! It¡¯s so exciting! That Huaxia guy is so handsome! I¡¯m totally obsessed with him, just seeing his face gets me excited!¡± ¡°Me too! His muscles are so beautifully defined, oh my god, it¡¯s a shame he doesn¡¯t have Latte, or I would follow his personal account.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s too bad.¡± ¡­ ¡°Governor, please look.¡± The governor took the newspaper and looked at the headline. [An Incredible Journey.] The governor shook his head, failing to understand why such matters were notified to him, and casually threw the paper onto the table. ¡°Let them go. We can¡¯t stop them anyway. What kind of story is this? Just a man flying with geese, right? Aren¡¯t there more important things to worry about? Forget it, I didn¡¯t see it. Next.¡± ¡­ ¡°This fantastical adventure tale is exactly like ¡®The Wonderful Adventures of Nils¡¯, a novel beloved by readers¡­ Twenty days ago, they started from the Polar Region, planning to cross the whole of Europe to the south, reaching the Camargue Wetlands Nature Reserve in France, leading twenty endangered White-fronted Geese on their migration, hoping they can return to the wild.¡± ¡°As of now, the two have reached Germany and are about to enter France. Their dream is near at hand. This journey is a combination of science and culture and represents a highly significant adventure that deserves attention. Video related to it can also be found online. This is the morning report.¡± ¡°No.¡± Legoff shook his head slightly, as this was not an adventure worth caring about, a complete waste of effort. Clipping the wings of the geese was the best option, raising them like ducks, or else keeping them in cages, but Elvan had never listened to him. Legoff had never supported this plan because it was impossible to realize. Back when Elvan had approached him with the bird eggs, Legoff had clearly refused, citing the difficulty of flight, the abundance of uncertainties, and even if migration were successful, what then? Would the geese return next year? Could they breed successfully? It was impossible for a species to survive based on these few geese alone, would they do this every time? It was just a plan approval that allowed Elvan to raise geese, what was the big deal? The plan was doomed to fail, that was the reason. He was convinced. ¡­ ¡°Hahaha, see that? They¡¯re welcoming us!¡± Bi Fang piloted the plane through buildings, looking down at the entire city from high above. People crowded at the traffic lights waiting to cross, office workers in neat suits and shirts went in and out of upscale office buildings, the girls¡¯ attire was very much like what you¡¯d find in fashion magazine templates. People looked up as if by agreement, watching the roaring plane overhead, and took out their phones to take pictures. There were even some holding support signs with Bi Fang¡¯s and ¨¦tienne¡¯s names, cheering at street corners, clearly prepared in advance. ¡°Roar!¡± ¨¦tienne waved at the crowd and shouted loudly. The glider, like a large bird, skimmed between high-rises without stopping, flying toward the distant horizon. In this thriving metropolis, Bi Fang saw a white bird hastily traversing the sky, nervously looking around as it landed on the rooftop of a building, its chest heaving rapidly. It was a seagull, probably flown over from the docks, finding no way out in the narrow maze crammed with buildings, anxious and uneasy, surrounded by the noise of human voices and engine roars. But then, it saw the plane and the geese, cried out excitedly, flapped its wings, and joined the geese, flying off toward the distance. ¨¦tienne¡¯s eyes lit up when he saw the gull that had joined their group, ¡°Hey! We¡¯ve got a new friend!¡± ¡°Yes, a seagull.¡± Bi Fang felt greatly relieved. The appearance of the seagull meant they were at a significantly lower latitude, which would be their last stop before entering France, a city, in red on the map, no place to linger. There were ten days left until the mission ended, and in these ten days, they would cross all of France to reach the Camargue Wetlands Nature Reserve. A week had passed since their last capture, and Johnny indeed had not shown up again; everything was going very smoothly. At dusk, the two of them stopped by a lake in the wilderness, preparing dinner and the campsite for the evening. Bi Fang looked at the plane tilting to one side and, after confirming there were no issues with the hole, went ashore. During the emergency landing that day, one of the pontoons got a small hole, thankfully noticed in time. Bi Fang plugged it with a wooden stopper; otherwise, they would have to rely on cliffs for takeoff from now on. The fading sunlight cast shadows of trees on the ground. By the fire, ¨¦tienne cleaned the bass thoroughly, skewered them on sticks, and set them over the fire to roast. The initial supply of reindeer, tiger-skin fish, and a hare had been completely eaten three days ago, and these two bass had been caught that morning. [Is this still Wilderness Survivalist? I don¡¯t even eat this well at home.] [This twenty days of live streaming is too cool; Old Fang is really enduring this time, so fucking exhilarating to watch, just like watching a DDC documentary.] [The city flyover just now was way too cool, I wanna play too.] [Everyday gourmet, Master Fang, aren¡¯t you going to weigh yourself, see if you¡¯ve gained weight?] [Huo, is that real flesh on your face?] Bi Fang subconsciously touched his cheek, ¡°No way around it, this time the trip is too long, we must ensure we get enough salt from meat. And because of the long distances, we have more opportunities to encounter prey, shoot once, move to another spot¡­¡±] Bang! The gunshot was like thunder, swallowing Bi Fang¡¯s words. Birds nestled in the woods were startled into flight. Chapter 196 - Chapter 196: Chapter 193: A Person Died Chapter 196: Chapter 193: A Person Died ¡°` Legoff pulled the trigger, and the bullet whistled out of the chamber, hitting the drone midair with precision. The setting sun sank below the horizon, and a splendid shower of sparks scattered like a fountain. The drone was instantly knocked out of the sky and then plummeted to the ground. The sound of the gunshot erupted like thunder, causing ¨¦tienne¡¯s heart to almost stop, leaving him dazed and frightened to his very bones. ¡°¨¦tienne! Get down!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s roar mixed with the sound of gunfire, thick with murderous intent. He instantly tackled ¨¦tienne to the ground and then crawled to pull him behind a mound of earth, his eyes fixed on the direction from which the gunshots had come. Dozens of meters away, Legoff raised the barrel of his gun and blew away the gunpowder smoke: ¡°Done?¡± Johnny watched the new cellphone anxiously, and upon seeing the livestream black out, he rejoiced, ¡°Done, he stopped the livestream. Move in now, bring all the Geese back!¡± ¡°Next time you deliver the Goods, you know what to do, right? Firing at a drone in front of a live broadcast is too dangerous,¡± a companion joked on the side. ¡°Yeah, if we get filmed, we¡¯re finished.¡± ¡°The risk is too great.¡± The other two chimed in agreement. Johnny nodded, ¡°Of course, we¡¯ll do everything as we¡¯ve negotiated.¡± Legoff spoke lightly, ¡°Add ten percent.¡± Johnny was stunned, then furious, ¡°You can¡¯t do this. Without my supply, where would you get a stable source of Goods over these years? Don¡¯t you know how severe the crackdown on poaching in Europe is now? Ten percent is impossible! Not even one percent!¡± ¡°Then catch them yourself,¡± Reilof suggested nonchalantly as he wiped the gun barrel. ¡°I¡¯ve seen his livestream; he¡¯s not bad in a fight. You can try to handle him on your own.¡± Veins popped on Johnny¡¯s forehead, and he shot up, suddenly grabbing Legoff¡¯s collar, but with just a look, Legoff made Johnny feel like he had fallen into an ice cave, with goosebumps rising instinctively all over his body. He abruptly realized the gap between their statuses. The other man was a poacher who licked blood off the blade, whereas he was just an ordinary park director. Legoff brushed off Johnny¡¯s hand and patted his collar lightly, ¡°If blood tests find a problem, you¡¯re the one who will lose the job. If that happens, forget about the cut; you might even end up in big jail. Even without a park director, we can collaborate with someone else. There will always be a continuous stream of ¡®unqualified¡¯ animals supplied to us. This is your only chance, so think it over.¡± Johnny¡¯s eyes were bloodshot as he contemplated for a long while, ¡°Add five percent more. Any more is no good for anyone. Do you think there¡¯s no risk in finding new contacts?¡± ¡°Deal!¡± Legoff stopped wiping and smiled slightly. Suppressing his fury, Johnny crouched back into the bushes, watching as Legoff¡¯s companions emerged from the undergrowth, unaware that Bi Fang was watching everything unfold before him. In the first-person night vision mode, Bi Fang saw Johnny¡¯s figure, a face he would never forget in his lifetime. ¡°Johnny!¡± Bi Fang lowered his voice, coming across like a tiger grinding its teeth for blood. ¨¦tienne remained silent as a cicada in winter, his half month of wilderness survival making him extremely sensitive to the changes in the environment. He acutely sensed a special aura rising off Bi Fang. This indescribable terrifying demeanor was somewhat similar to his mother¡¯s after a failed test, but it wasn¡¯t comparable to her level at all. If he had to make a comparison, it was like the lynx he had encountered. No! Even more terrifying! It wasn¡¯t like a human at all but some¡­ monster that devoured humans. The muscles on the side of Bi Fang¡¯s face tensed involuntarily, revealing a sharpness akin to a blade. He wasn¡¯t afraid¡­ he was enraged! ¡°` These days, he¡¯d had the same dream several times, dreaming of a world ablaze, an airplane under a cliff exploding in the raging flames, ¨¦tienne burning fiercely. He reached out to touch him, but ¨¦tienne turned into red gravel falling away, his fingertips grasping nothing but air. When he woke, his head was drenched in sweat while his heart was ice-cold, and he even felt regret for having given in to ¨¦tienne¡¯s request. The weak Bi Fang from his past life had come back to haunt him, as he recalled the real sensation of death from his previous life, sealing that memory deep within his mind after awakening. Bi Fang was not unafraid, he had simply never revisited those memories. Now, he recalled again that sense of utter powerlessness when everything turned to nothing, and the cold, disappointed, and even mocking look in the poacher¡¯s eyes just before his own death¡­ ¡°Thought we¡¯d hit the jackpot today, but it turns out it¡¯s a human who¡¯s died.¡± Damn it! Bi Fang wrapped himself up as solid as iron, yet his heart was as fragile as shattered pottery. He must resolve this issue to stop having that nightmare, to keep his thoughts from lingering on the moment of his death! If he didn¡¯t restrain himself, he would immediately throw himself at Johnny, choke the annoying Norwegian against the wall and demand to know his true intentions! Why had he fired the gun? If Johnny couldn¡¯t give a reason, Bi Fang would crush his throat! Legoff¡¯s associate coughed softly, striding boldly out of the bushes, aware that the other man had no gun, nor any means of long-range attack. ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous, I¡¯m not a bad guy¡­¡± The shadowy figure shouted as he approached, his words muffled, intelligible yet with an unidentifiable accent. It was a middle-aged man. In the light of the fire, the viewers could see the man was clad in a dark green windbreaker over dark jeans, around five feet seven in height, with rough, yellowish skin and hair cut so short that only stubble showed, appearing to be in his thirties or forties. That¡¯s right! Just when Johnny and the others thought the live stream had ended, the drone rose again, its pitch-black shell blending perfectly into the night, silent and ghost-like, perching on a tree, like an observer coldly capturing everything. The bulletproof drone supplied by the System was by no means damaged by a single gunshot; the screen going black was entirely within Bi Fang¡¯s control, who resumed the broadcast only after seeing Johnny put away his phone. All the viewers were startled by the gunshot, and the short period of a black screen had them on edge, as for many, it was the first time they encountered a real gunshot in real life! ¡°Huaxia people, don¡¯t be nervous, I came out here hunting, just thought it was some bird, turned out I was wrong. I recognize you, you¡¯re the guy from the news about migrating geese, right? I¡¯m so sorry, did I damage your live stream equipment? If I did, just name the price, I¡¯ll compensate!¡± The man came over with a smile, making clear his intentions. Upon hearing this, the viewers breathed a sigh of relief; they knew that in many parts of the world, it was legal to hunt with guns, and mistaking a drone for a bird at dusk wasn¡¯t impossible, though it spoke volumes about his poor shooting skills since the drone was unharmed. Bi Fang pressed ¨¦tienne¡¯s head down forcefully, making him crouch low behind the mound of earth, and whispered urgently not to come out, then casually asked. ¡°Where did you come from?¡± ¡°Just outside the woods.¡± As the man got closer, just when he was about to see ¨¦tienne and Bi Fang behind the mound, Bi Fang suddenly asked. ¡°Why isn¡¯t Johnny coming out?¡± ¡°What?¡± The man was taken aback, but in that moment of distraction, a gust of wind rushed at him, and his face turned pale instantly, his right hand quickly moving toward his waist. But Bi Fang was faster; as he pounced, his figure blurred, the result of an unbelievably rapid burst of speed. Though he had been at the bottom of the slope, he dove like an eagle swooping from the sky! Chapter 197 - Chapter 197: Chapter 194 Poacher Chapter 197: Chapter 194 Poacher Wind! No, not the wind! A tiger! It was a raging tiger! The man was bewildered for a moment. An invisible pressure came with Bi Fang¡¯s pounce, causing his heart to tremble and his breath to pause. By the time he reacted, it was already too late. So fast! The only thought left in the man¡¯s mind was this. Bi Fang¡¯s figure became a blur, his arms indistinguishable. It was due to an even greater speed that made his punches almost invisible! If this were a knife, it would be the kind that killed people, firm, stern, with a bloody murderous aura. A punch like that would penetrate even a slab of iron. But the man was no iron slab! The man didn¡¯t even have time to cry for help before his abdomen received a punch, hitting his nerve plexus with deadly accuracy. The knobby joints of the back of the hand pierced in like the tip of a dagger, and the explosive force burst from the abdomen to the spine, violently churning his intestines, so painful he couldn¡¯t make a sound. Yet his right hand managed to reach for his waistband, accompanied by the sound of metal friction, and underscoring the metallic luster of bluish steel, a hunting knife was revealed, but before it could be fully drawn, a hand firmly pressed it down. Bi Fang pushed the knife back into its scabbard, then effortlessly seized the man¡¯s wrist, twisting and pulling it back. A crisp sound of bone breaking echoed. The man¡¯s pupils shrank violently, his entire palm now rendered powerless, limply hanging down. He was disarmed with a single move! The opponent was not just skilled, he was not even human! The man¡¯s pupils trembled, shaking like sifting powder, as if he had encountered a starving tiger in the woods, understanding his fate in the next few minutes with just one glance. What kind of¡­ monster is this? It wasn¡¯t over! Bi Fang stared coldly at the man. He had to completely incapacitate his opponent! He grabbed the man¡¯s wrist and jerked it forward, completely disrupting the man¡¯s balance. As the man tilted forward, Bi Fang stepped forward, his movement fluid like a dragon, and his elbow struck the man¡¯s lower jaw. Different from the sound of the break before, this blow didn¡¯t make the big bang everyone expected. It was like thunder muffled by a pillow, a deep and suppressed explosion. The spectators were dumbfounded. The distance was too close, and they couldn¡¯t see the details, only noticing Bi Fang launching an attack, a string of strikes later, the man stood there looking stunned, his jaw hanging open, drooling like his mouth couldn¡¯t close. They didn¡¯t even understand why Bi Fang had struck, only saw the man come over to greet and then got punched into a fool; it was as if the game had disconnected. [Damn, what¡¯s Master Fang doing? He suddenly made his move?] [Is there something wrong with this guy?] [??? Did I miss something?] That was too brutal! Even Legoff, hidden in the bushes, didn¡¯t see clearly. He only saw a shadowy figure emerge in the flickering light, and after a few shakes, both men had gone down the slope together. Johnny was gripped with anxiety, the sudden silence made him uneasy, and he began to regret this operation, but not wanting to die suddenly, he had no choice but to proceed, not a moment too late. The longer the night, the more the World Animal Protection Organization got involved. With the blood test issues, they were bound to investigate further, and upon investigation, trouble was sure to arise. Falsifying reports wasn¡¯t a new thing, as they had done so several times before. There were two solutions: bribe, and then Johnny would produce a compliant report. Without a bribe, give the animal to Legoff, splitting the profits fifty-fifty. Accepting bribes was hardly a secret, and Johnny knew he had offended many people. Previously, his father had put pressure on others, but now that the United Nations had arrived, no matter how powerful his father was, he couldn¡¯t affect them. Once the suppression failed, the World Animal Protection people would investigate what happened to the ¡°non-compliant¡± animals¡­ Like the unbreakable bond of entwined lotus roots, a whole string of records could be pulled out connectedly. Moreover, Bi Fang was too hard to find. He passed through only a handful of cities and spent most of his time wandering in the wilderness, where there were few witnesses and even if one saw him, they couldn¡¯t pinpoint his location¡ªit was all just identically looking forests! The most troublesome issue was the live broadcasting by the opposition. The only option was to ask Legoff to take it down with a single shot. Seeing Johnny as anxious as a groundhog, Legoff raised his finger to silence him. His initial plan was to have his cohorts relax their guard and stealthily attack without alarming the White-fronted Goose, then to take the goose back after a successful ambush. The White-fronted Goose, when threatened, would run very fast. It wouldn¡¯t fly but just run, then hide or dive underwater, which would make it all the more trouble to recapture later, for each goose was ¡°Ugly Money¡±. Now, it seemed like something unexpected had happened? ¡°Mmm mmm mmm!¡± The man lay on the ground, struggling, but it was futile. Bi Fang¡¯s arms were wrapped around his neck¡ªhis left hand gripping the elbow and the wrist, his right hand clenched behind the man¡¯s head, suffocating him tightly. Naked Choke! The man¡¯s face turned as red as blood, his blood seeming to surge beneath his skin like a wild beast, wanting to seep out through his pores. Having taken a heavy blow to his jaw nerve, he was already prone to fainting; now, with his carotid artery constricted, his efforts to struggle significantly weakened. A true Jujutsu master could choke someone unconscious in just a few seconds! To choke someone to death didn¡¯t even require a minute! Within moments, the man¡¯s arms went completely limp. ¨¦tienne, who was holding down the man¡¯s feet, turned pale as he observed the motionless man, wondering if he was dead. He didn¡¯t understand why Bi Fang had suddenly struck, but after twenty days together, he had come to trust Bi Fang unconditionally. Bi Fang was not just satisfying his and his father¡¯s wishes by migrating the geese; he actualy relished it, hoping to rescue an endangered species. ¨¦tienne felt that someone who shared his father¡¯s ideals couldn¡¯t be all bad. Bi Fang lifted the man¡¯s eyelid to ensure he was indeed unconscious before releasing his grip and hastily extinguished the fire. The sparks flickered out and darkness fell. Without rope and worrying the man might regain consciousness, Bi Fang simply dislocated the man¡¯s limbs. In the darkness, the crisp sound of breaking bones kept resounding, making the audience¡¯s hair stand on end. What had the man done to deserve his joints dislocated? How terrifying¡­ The audience couldn¡¯t understand why Bi Fang had become so brutal, frightening them into even being afraid to send messages. From the stranger¡¯s appearance to the sudden attack and strangulation, the whole sequence took less than two minutes, as if he had rehearsed countless times. What was even more terrifying was that Bi Fang¡¯s expression remained unchanged throughout, like a meticulously planned assassin from a movie! Bi Fang breathed heavily. The recent outburst was not without cost as it had expended a great deal of his energy. Now that the crisis was temporarily averted, he finally had a chance to explain, ¡°These people are poachers.¡± [Poachers!?] [How come there are poachers? Why poachers? What do we do now?] [Did that man lie just now?] ¡°If that man hadn¡¯t missed his shot just now, the drone would have been shot down already. It was deliberate.¡± Bi Fang lay on the slope, silently staring at the bushes. His top Special Forces skills and Wilderness Survival Skill had long endowed him with an acute ability to discern sounds, especially the direction of gunshots. But the audience was still unclear. How did Bi Fang know they were poachers, and is there really a difference between a poacher and a man who said he was out hunting? ¡°Yes!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s pupils burned with substantial flames. He would never forget that scene in his entire life. When poachers revealed their ominous presence. That feeling of having a volcano of fury smoldering inside him, where the anger, once ignited, would never extinguish until it incinerated the enemy or consumed himself. Chapter 198 - Chapter 198: Chapter 195: Blood Revenge and Blood Wash! Chapter 198: Chapter 195: Blood Revenge and Blood Wash! The poacher¡¯s decaying stench could be smelled by Bi Fang from a kilometer away. There was absolutely no mistaking it! The deliberate approach of the other party was too conspicuous, using words to draw attention while their body continuously moved closer, even scanning the surrounding geese. This completely went against human psychology. Humans naturally harbor distrust towards strangers; even with classmates who are not well acquainted, one wouldn¡¯t deliberately get close, let alone in the wilderness. If they were truly fans of Bi Fang and ¨¦tienne, why would their attention be on the geese? The most crucial point was that the man¡¯s hunting knife sheath had a clasp, and when he approached, the clasp was intentionally unfastened and tucked away, clearly to facilitate drawing the knife. If it was for safety, then why get closer? Wouldn¡¯t it be better not to approach at all? For all these reasons, even if the other party hadn¡¯t been mingling with Johnny, Bi Fang would definitely strike first, taking control of the situation into his own hands. The audience was shocked upon hearing this explanation; they had all missed these details just moments before! If they were in the wilderness facing such a scenario, wouldn¡¯t they be wiped clean? [Holy shit, there were these details?] [So dangerous!] [Is it really a poacher? How can a poacher appear here? Could it be that they came after watching Old Fang¡¯s live stream? Maybe you should shut it down first, Old Fang?] [Yeah, better shut down the live stream first, it¡¯s too dangerous!] [Lord Mu has gifted the host with a Spaceship*1¡ªHurry back! You can call the police, let them catch the poacher!] [Right, call the police! Does anyone know the phone number for the French police? Can we call them from here?] ¡°No need, I just shut down the live stream to confuse them. Besides, it¡¯s too late; in these deep mountains and forests, even with the location pinpointed, it would take at least half an hour for the police to get here. By that time, everything would be too late.¡± Bi Fang shook his head; he had seen Johnny turn off his phone, the network signal here was definitely not good, and the other party was watching through a VPN. To view the live stream again would take at least ten minutes, time enough for him to counterattack, and counterattack was all he could do. He didn¡¯t tell the audience about Johnny¡¯s presence; some matters, Bi Fang had to handle personally. The simultaneous appearance of Johnny and the poacher had made the truth very clear, the park director was in cahoots with the poacher, killing all the geese just because of hybrid breeding. Even though the geese were healthy, they falsely claimed they tested positive; the malicious intent was obvious. Because of him, Bi Fang and ¨¦tienne had no choice but to embark on this journey, facing such numerous dangers, even nearly falling into a ravine. He would settle every single account! This was an exciting adventure, but not the kind of adventure Bi Fang wanted! It had been three minutes since the man went out, and Johnny¡¯s heart grew more and more anxious. Upon seeing the fire deliberately extinguished, Legoff finally realized something was wrong. According to their plan, by now their companion should have subdued the Huaxia man and controlled the kid who could call the geese, rather than this quiet situation. The other two accomplices couldn¡¯t sit still either and looked at Legoff simultaneously, ¡°Boss, what do we do now?¡± Legoff, a retired special forces soldier, held the greatest prestige and strength within their four-man squad. He usually made the plans, and the other three were willing to follow his lead. Now that something had gone wrong, the first thing the remaining two did was ask for his opinion. Legoff stared at the extinguished fire, feeling it was a thorny issue. The decisiveness and strength of his opponent had somewhat exceeded his expectations. Jaden was the second strongest in their squad after him, yet he was taken down without even a sound¡ªas if devoured by a monster in the darkness. But twenty thousand Ugly Gold was right before his eyes, and he had no reason to give up, especially considering they still had three men left, excluding Johnny. There was no need to fear a broadcaster who had no firearms if they all attacked together. He gestured several hand signals, and after the other two understood, they began to tread silently using the Fox Step, quietly dispersing to both sides. Encirclement tactics. Johnny, crouched in the bushes, didn¡¯t dare to even breathe loudly. He was just a civilian who secretly traded animals; against a retired Legoff, ten of him might not even be able to put up a fight, so he could only pray silently for the plan¡¯s success. Bi Fang turned his head towards ¨¦tienne, ¡°How¡¯s your swimming?¡± ¡°Runner-up in the school swimming competition.¡± Bi Fang was taken aback, not expecting ¨¦tienne to have this skill. He immediately formed a plan, ¡°Then you dive into the lake and swim to the center, dive as much as you can and don¡¯t come out. Without light, they can¡¯t see you, and the geese will dive with you. They know camouflage better than you. Remember, keep quiet and don¡¯t let them detect you.¡± The fact that the opponent¡¯s marksmanship was inaccurate was just a ruse to deceive the audience. In reality, under the dim conditions of twilight, being able to accurately hit a moving target at tens of meters away meant their shooting was definitely not weak. If they tried to escape in the glider, either the noise or the movements would give them away, and they would likely be shot by the opponent. ¨¦tienne nodded, he knew staying there would only hold them back. Without any hesitation, he slowly backed away, reached the lakeside and dipped his legs into the water first. The temperature of the lake water was only in the teens¡ªa bit chilly. ¨¦tienne shivered and slowly submerged his entire body into the water. The geese started calling out in the water, to which ¨¦tienne quickly shushed them, immediately silencing their calls. Man and birds, they all started to swim slowly towards the center of the lake. The silence from the opposite side was frightening, but Bi Fang knew they wouldn¡¯t just sit and wait for death. He frisked the man and found no guns, just a Hunting Knife. It seemed the opponent was quite confident, thinking he could handle Bi Fang on his own, only to be disconnected within a minute. It couldn¡¯t be said he was a poor teammate; rather, it was like encountering a godlike adversary. Bi Fang¡¯s brain was running at high speed. France was different from the domestic scene¡ªthis was Europe¡¯s hunting powerhouse. Just the statistics from 2017 showed over 1.2 million licensed hunters in the area, the highest in Europe. Especially poachers, who are never short of firearms. Bi Fang couldn¡¯t believe that as part of a poaching group, there would only be one gun. Just now, he had only seen Johnny and Legoff, with several more figures vaguely visible, yet he couldn¡¯t determine the exact number. Conservatively estimated, there were at least three. Counting Johnny, it could be a five-man team, or even more. Poaching was no easy job. Hunters not only had to contend with various outdoor dangers and deadly animals but also had to be vigilant of anti-poaching organizations and rangers. Therefore, it often required team cooperation, with each having their own role. With a squad of five, at least three were combat members, almost all having seen blood, each one extremely dangerous. Bi Fang took careful steps back, removed the bow and Arrows from the plane, drew an arrow with his right hand, and set it on the longbow. Until now, the only blood the bow and arrows had seen was that of a rabbit, but they might just be hunting bigger ¡°Goods¡± Bi Fang, now equipped with bow and arrows, ran into the distance and likewise laid low in the underbrush, composed and still as a rock. The drone flew silently to perch in a tree behind him, continuing its stealthy vigil. Darkness became the best protective color for everyone. This was a hunt, a life-and-death hunt! Let¡¯s see whose prowess is stronger! A blood feud washed away with blood! Chapter 199 - Chapter 199: Chapter 196: Raging at Teammates Chapter 199: Chapter 196: Raging at Teammates Time ticked away second by second, everyone maintained silence, whoever spoke up would become the next target. The atmosphere was oppressively suffocating. There were hardly any comments in the live stream, all eyes were fixated on the lethal hunt. Dai Chunhua stared at Bi Fang, who was lying in the bushes, and at the continuously soaring live stream popularity, convinced that Bi Fang was Shark TV¡¯s enemy for life. Ever since upper management had Wang Weifeng look for Bi Fang, for reasons unknown, he was taken away without a word, thrown into detention for over half a month, eating nothing but radishes, salty vegetables, and big steamed buns, running in the morning, working on a sewing machine at noon, and stringing bracelets at night. Wang Weifeng¡¯s family connections were useless, not a single day less, a full twenty days locked up, only released yesterday to see his family. Already unhappy with Wang Weifeng¡¯s previous actions, the upper management was ready to demote him to middle management, but with this, he was demoted straight to the bottom of the company hierarchy, the very bottom where the next step down was cleaning the company¡¯s toilets. This whole ordeal scared Dai Chunhua from personally seeking out Bi Fang, always feeling like Bi Fang was a jinx, whoever touched him would be cursed, and it would even bring misfortune upon himself. Would a normal live stream have all these complications? Lu Wentao had never even seen a bear, let alone any prehistoric creatures. F*ck my life, heaven wants me dead, an undeserved calamity indeed. Dai Chunhua comforted himself silently, and just as he was thinking about his next move, a young man pushed the door open and came in. Dai Chunhua¡¯s eyes lit up, and he said joyfully, ¡°How did it go, when will the live stream be banned?¡± As a supervisor who had just been promoted by employing some tactics, he was eager to show some results, and Bi Fang, the archenemy of Shark TV, was certainly under his close watch. He dared not confront him directly, but he could sneak in a few tricks, right? Look at this live stream, not to mention the knives, guns even came out, and he hit someone on camera. If this doesn¡¯t get banned, are we waiting for the New Year or what? I, Dai Chunhua, will anonymously report it to the superiors! Thinking he¡¯d receive good news, Dai Chunhua was baffled by the young man¡¯s expression: ¡°Eh, what¡¯s with that look on your face?¡± The young man had a mournful face: ¡°Reporting it is useless¡­¡± Dai Chunhua¡¯s breath hitched: ¡°Why?¡± The young man came over to Dai Chunhua and whispered a barrage of information. Dai Chunhua¡¯s face went through a spectrum of expressions, with his short eyebrows twisting and bouncing, and his mouth going from a 45-degree upward tilt to a 45-degree downturn in a matter of seconds. Red Light Body Shield, how to deal with it? Online now, quite urgent. After explaining the situation, the young man sighed as he looked at the stupefied Dai Chunhua, thinking why did he have to pick on Bi Fang? How long would this supervisor last? Iron-clad Bi Fang, transient supervisors, what on earth is going on? Ripples spread across the water as a pair of eyes gradually surfaced, quietly observing the darkness around. ¨¦tienne heard his own heartbeat thumping fearfully. Since swimming to the center of the lake, he could distinctly feel something brushing against his ankle, cold and slimy, like a lurking venomous snake. The small lake that didn¡¯t seem too big from the sky suddenly felt vast and limitless, as if an ant had crept into the deep of night. Before long, the sensation disappeared. ¨¦tienne let out a breath, but in the next second, his body stiffened like frozen meat in an icebox, his breathing nearly stopped. The cold sensation returned, this time at his neck! He covered his mouth, forcefully restraining himself from making any noise. As the cold sensation crept further up, just when ¨¦tienne could hardly resist the urge to flee, a goose¡¯s head emerged from the water, a pair of little eyes gazing at ¨¦tienne, blinking. ¨¦tienne suddenly relaxed, nearly choking on water¡ªthe thing that had touched him was just the goose¡¯s neck! ¡°Amu, you almost scared me to death!¡± He tapped on Amu¡¯s head. Bang! The gunshot was deafening! The icy lake water engulfed ¨¦tienne, his limbs losing control, his feet involuntarily treading water, and it took a good while before he resurfaced, desperately suppressing the urge to cough as water spilled from his mouth and nose, even thinking for a moment that he had blown Amu¡¯s head off! A gunshot, how could there be a gunshot, had they already encountered a poacher? What¡¯s the situation? Not just ¨¦tienne, Legoff was equally puzzled. He clenched the rifle in his hands and cursed under his breath, that was the sound of a shotgun! The enemy is on the right! Without the need for Legoff¡¯s reminder, another poacher also headed towards the direction of the gunshot. The four of them had brought just three guns for this trip up the mountain: one shotgun, one small-caliber semi-automatic rifle, and one sniper rifle, the most commonly used and practical types for hunting. Each one of them had one; the sniper rifle was in Legoff¡¯s own hands, while Fourth Brother, who had the shotgun, had just gone around to the right. But he was the weakest in the four-man squad! Luckily, there were no other sounds after the gunshot, so there should be no issue for the time being. At this moment, the audience in the live-streaming room didn¡¯t dare to breathe, and some even covered their ears, shocked at Bi Fang¡¯s audacity to test the other side under the gun! [Damn, that gunshot was so loud, my ears are nearly deaf!] [That sound was f***ing loud, wasn¡¯t it? So loud?] [Old Fang, you¡¯re too gutsy!] Bi Fang brushed the dirt off his hands; the environment was too dark, and if the other side was careful to hide, they could not be detected at all. He could only throw a stone to test them, and this test indeed clarified their position. In the darkness, a standing silhouette was moving quickly. After firing the shot, Fourth Brother realized he¡¯d been tricked. There were no suspicious targets in his field of vision, and the enemy had not launched an attack at the instant he fired, presumably a little trick to confirm the position. Understanding this, Fourth Brother didn¡¯t know whether to run or to stop moving and hide in the darkness. After hesitating, he decided to move, but the time he took to think was enough for Bi Fang to lock on him! Bi Fang drew his bow, focusing on the moving shadow, aimed slightly to the right of the center, pulled the bowstring taut, and released! A sharp whoosh filled the air, and the arrow cut through the night. At about ten meters distance, the arrow hit the silhouette in a fraction of a second. The man cried out in pain, the intense agony causing his eyes to roll back as he reached out towards the direction from which the arrow had come and pulled the trigger. Flames burst forth, the shotgun roared. Each bullet would explode with countless tiny lead pellets, spewing out like a tide, leaving pits and holes in the soil and trees everywhere. ¡°Ah!¡± A scream echoed. Fourth Brother, enduring the pain, split his mouth wide as thick, warm blood flowed down the arrow shaft in torrents. This wasn¡¯t a smooth and sharp carbon arrow but one of Bi Fang¡¯s rough-made ones with a bone tip. Once hit, it created a hole difficult to heal, but Fourth Brother felt it was worth it. Even though he was hit by an arrow, he had also hit the other side. His shotgun, called ¡°Deer Shot,¡± was a large caliber with eight 8.38mm diameter lead pellets in each shell. One shot was a barrage, a hit to the body meaning a fatal wound! Without even a scream, the other side must be dead, right? Fourth Brother couldn¡¯t help but laugh, but just as he started, a burst of swearing froze his smile completely on his face. ¡°F*** YOU, Sap, you bastard, are you trying to kill me?¡± Chapter 200 - Chapter 200: Chapter 197: Bizarre Situation Chapter 200: Chapter 197: Bizarre Situation Third Brother clutched at his left hand, from which blood wouldn¡¯t stop flowing, wincing in agony. He had just rushed over to provide support when a lead bullet grazed his arm, almost piercing his bone! ¡°WHAT?¡± Sap was wracked with excruciating pain, his mind incapable of much thought; whom had he just shot? Third Brother? But how had the other side managed to do it? By the time Legoff finally made it to the scene, Third Brother, enduring the pain, stood up to keep watch, while Legoff crouched down to inspect Sap¡¯s wound, only to discover it had been caused by an arrow! ¡°Damn it, is this guy Indian or what?¡± Legoff didn¡¯t dare to pull out the arrow, fearing it might cause a secondary injury. He picked up the shotgun from Sap¡¯s hands, scanning the surroundings. Facing an unseen opponent, the shotgun, with its wider range of damage, was clearly a better choice, while the viewers¡¯ tension peaked because Bi Fang was only a dozen meters away! Without mentioning the range, it was a distance he could reach with almost a sprint! As he fired that one arrow, Bi Fang had never intended to follow up with a second one. Almost simultaneously with the release of the arrow, he switched from stillness to motion, a dive and roll to evade the shotgun¡¯s line of fire and Sap¡¯s line of sight, then hid motionless behind a tree. And Sap¡¯s shot had just happened to hit Third Brother who was coming to help! [Hit my own teammate!] [Damn, Master Fang¡¯s mental strength is just too powerful!] [So creepy, it¡¯s only a dozen meters, right? Not even twenty meters!] [Damn, damn, damn, what do we do now? Isn¡¯t this a dead end if we¡¯re discovered?] Bi Fang¡¯s expression was solemn; it wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to move, but that he couldn¡¯t move. Tonight was overcast, and the canopy of trees added to the gloom; the forest was frighteningly dark. Taking advantage of the tree shadows and the darkness, his stillness could keep him hidden, but any movement would make him excessively conspicuous. If the others saw him vanish, they should have been very frightened, yet except for the screaming Sap, the other two couldn¡¯t make a sound. They were like a pack of wolves poised to ambush a tiger, patiently hidden in the darkness. This was no ordinary poaching team, but one that had undergone some training. If they were just regular poachers, they would have panicked by now, not remaining as calm as they were. Neither side dared to use a light source; in this environment, whoever turned on a light first would be the target. At such a close distance, Bi Fang also didn¡¯t dare to shoot an arrow; with the three of them gathered together, his position would be firmly locked the second he made a shot. With neither side daring to move, the situation eerily settled into a deadlock. Eventually, Legoff seemed to lose his patience, ¡°You should have figured out who we are, no problem, it¡¯s so dark that you couldn¡¯t have seen our faces. So, let¡¯s make a deal, Huaxia People, we just want the Goose. We¡¯ll let you leave unharmed, what do you say?¡± Legoff continued to persuade, ¡°I know you might not believe me, but think about it carefully. We¡¯re just after the money, why should we be burdened with two human lives? That would be stupid. Once we get the money, we¡¯re gone. My word is my bond.¡± The agonized Sap couldn¡¯t help shouting, ¡°Legoff, find that bastard and slaughter him!¡± ¡°They all listen to me, and if I say I¡¯ll let you go, I definitely will!¡± ¡°Legoff, you always said you wouldn¡¯t let go of anyone who hurt our brothers!¡± Sap¡¯s temples were throbbing with exposed veins, showing his adamant stance. ¡°Damn it, can¡¯t you shut up for just two seconds?¡± Legoff snapped in annoyance hearing that. Was Fourth Brother out of his mind? The audience in the live stream grew impatient. [I think we should just give them the Goose, right? This is too dangerous; I feel like what they¡¯re saying makes sense, they¡¯re after the money, not our lives¡­] [Yeah, Master Fang, that¡¯s enough already, just hand it over if it comes to it] Some viewers were still young, not as experienced with the viciousness of society, and they started to believe much of what Legoff said upon hearing his words. But there were others who understood Legoff¡¯s true intent. [Are you stupid upstairs? They¡¯re clearly trying to trick Master Fang into making a sound¡ªare you seriously believing this crap? Would you entrust your life to a stranger? Even betting on your life, you wouldn¡¯t dare gamble like you suggest!] [! Wow, I didn¡¯t see that coming, isn¡¯t that too cunning?] [Holding the dagger, the intent to kill arises on its own, don¡¯t trust foreigners!] If the viewers could understand this, Bi Fang was of course even more aware. Moreover, in their minds, his live streaming device had already been smashed; Johnny would undoubtedly wish for his death, hoping his secret would be buried with him forever. In the darkness, aside from Sap¡¯s agonized screams, there was silence. Damn it! Legoff cursed under his breath upon hearing the scream, his annoyance mounting. Without uttering a word, Bi Fang took off his robe, balled it up, and hurled it out forcefully. This type of blinding tactic was not new, but it was highly effective, especially in dimly lit conditions. The enemy was definitely observing their surroundings, and would have only a fraction of a second to think upon seeing a dark silhouette appear. The enemy had guns, and in such situations, 99% of people would shoot. Firing a gun in an extreme state of tension was not an action of thought but a nervous reflex. As expected, both Legoff and Third Brother caught a glimpse of the dark shadow in their peripheral vision and immediately raised their guns to shoot. But the moment the bullets were fired, another dark figure darted out from the other side of the tree! Damn, it¡¯s a distraction! The instant another figure appeared, Legoff realized he had been fooled. He immediately dove forward to dodge the attack, but Third Brother reacted a beat too slow¡ªhe didn¡¯t notice Bi Fang¡¯s approach and continued to fire at the robe. Bi Fang rolled a few times after he lunged, not having time to get up, and knelt on both legs with his body half-bent, drawing his bow to shoot! Third Brother, who had just been shooting at the robe, couldn¡¯t react in time, and a sharp sliver of bone, transforming into a streak of black light, pierced straight into his abdomen! Awesome! So freaking awesome! Simply a master of modern combat! Just like a special forces warrior! The audience wanted to cry out in astonishment. Dealing with humans was completely different from dealing with animals. The disparity in strength that both sides could demonstrate was more evident, whether it was psychological quality or tactical competition. This moment showcased Bi Fang¡¯s formidable prowess entirely! ¡°Ah!¡± Third Brother cried out in agony, falling backward, but Bi Fang didn¡¯t continue to dodge at this moment¡ªhe charged straight towards the injured Third Brother! What is Master Fang doing! The audience¡¯s eyes widened, utterly baffled by Bi Fang¡¯s insane action. Why wasn¡¯t he continuing to hide after gaining the upper hand? Charging at someone with a gun, wasn¡¯t that suicide? A distance of a dozen meters, a world champion sprinter would take less than two seconds, and Bi Fang only needed three! ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± ¡°Crack!¡± A jet of blood grazed his cheek, splattering on the dark ground, sending a chill down Sap lying on the ground. The Hunting Knife, gleaming with a dark sheen, stabbed lightning-fast into the neck of Third Brother as he fell backward, and Bi Fang¡¯s long and powerful left arm wrapped around Third Brother¡¯s neck, pulling back swiftly! The dropped rifle clattered to the ground, and yellow, blood-stained bullets tumbled across the dusty, muddy ground. The shotgun-hit robe flew six or seven meters away, and landed gracefully like a descending black hawk. In the blink of an eye, Legoff was almost in a daze. What kind of person were they up against? Until a loud roar! ¡°Nobody move!¡± Legoff instinctively drew his pistol and pointed it forward. ¡°I said, don¡¯t move!!¡± Bi Fang tightened his left hand a bit more, the tremendous force causing Third Brother¡¯s eyes to roll back as blood gushed out from the handle of the Hunting Knife, his face turning pale rapidly, and he teetered on the verge of shock. ¡°I said don¡¯t move, damn it, or this man is as good as dead!¡± Looking at the middle-aged man pointing his gun, Bi Fang bellowed, and with one kick landed on Sap¡¯s face, Sap¡¯s neck nearly separating from his body. Chapter 201 - Chapter 201: Chapter 198: Murder? Chapter 201: Chapter 198: Murder? ¡°Eric!¡± Legoff couldn¡¯t care less about any targets; his flashlight beam landed ahead, revealing half of Bi Fang¡¯s face covered in blood in the dark, a frightening crimson. Countless specks of dust danced in the light, and the breathing of several people grew increasingly heavy. Legoff stood up, and the knife in Bi Fang¡¯s hands sank deeper, with blood gushing out. ¡°Let him go!¡± ¡°Put the gun down! Otherwise, both of them are going to die!¡± Bi Fang roared again, the dust in the beam of light vibrating slightly. ¡°You let him go first!¡± ¡°Then you put your gun down!¡± ¡°You release him first!¡± ¡°You drop the gun first!¡± The four people made the woods feel constricted and dangerous, the countless dust particles continuously floating in the air covered the smell of sweat and stench with the scent of blood. Sap, lying on the ground, could hear the soft cartilage between his vertebrae whining, with only the hard bone desperately supporting the fragile blood vessels and the spinal cord; Bi Fang¡¯s kick had nearly broken his neck, and before Sap could figure out what happened, the situation had spiraled out of control. What the hell, who are they fighting against? All Huaxia¡¯s anchors are this fierce, how did the Eight-Nation Alliance ever make it in? Sap¡¯s mind was foggy, filled with a mess of thoughts. The viscous, warm blood flowing out around the tip of the Hunting Knife made Bi Fang¡¯s right hand extremely slippery, the blood dripping down his right elbow into the dust, forming little balls. ¡°Who exactly are you?¡± Legoff couldn¡¯t fathom that the man Johnny had tasked him to deal with could be this troublesome. Neither in tactics nor psychological quality was he like a broadcast host well-versed in survival, he seemed more like an elite from some ace military unit. ¡°I¡¯m your grandpa!¡± ¡°My grandpa has been dead for a long time.¡± Legoff, not understanding the mockery, answered earnestly. ¡°Then I¡¯m your daddy!¡± ¡°Stop kidding around, Huaxia man, Third Brother is almost strangled by you¡ªdo you want to kill someone? You¡¯re a public figure, not someone who lives in darkness like us, do you still want to live stream?¡± ¡°Who told you to be so disrespectful to your daddy? My drone was taken down, do you think my audience won¡¯t call the police? How long do you think it¡¯ll take for the cops to get here?¡± Bi Fang spat trash talk, his English interspersed with Chinese and French as if he¡¯d lost control of his emotions, yet his eyes never left Legoff and Sap in front of him, using his words to heighten their tension, looking for an opportunity. Acting¡ªwho doesn¡¯t know how to do that? Only fools would believe it. Previously unsure of how many were lying in ambush, he hadn¡¯t rashly taken the unconscious Poacher hostage, but now the situation had been largely ascertained. Apart from Johnny, there were a total of four Poachers, the one with the flashlight was the Boss, with the rest being good with their hands, but still far less than the Boss. Bi Fang noticed Legoff¡¯s prestige within this team; without superior skills to others, this kind of prestige could not be established. Bi Fang glanced at Sap, who was slowly shifting his position, ¡°And you, the bearded Sun Zi, too much testosterone that your beard is so long? Grandpa is telling you to sit there and don¡¯t move.¡± Legoff nodded at Sap, motioning him to stay still for the time being, and continued to Bi Fang, ¡°Then we¡¯ll each take a step back. You let go of Third Brother, I¡¯ll let you go, and I won¡¯t want Goose either.¡± Bi Fang sneered, ¡°What a joke, do you think I would believe that? Leaving your daddy¡¯s body out in the wilderness to be eaten by wild wolves? What a filial son.¡± ¡°Nothing works, what exactly do you want?¡± Legoff slowly moved his feet while Bi Fang also shifted sideways; the two were like rocks in a stream, standing steadfast against the rushing water. ¡°You throw away your gun, I¡¯ll take this guy and leave, I¡¯ll let him go when it¡¯s safe.¡± ¡°You¡¯re kidding.¡± ¡°When the cops arrive, you all are going to die anyway!¡± ¡°You¡¯d be the first to die!¡± ¡°Then we die together!¡± ¡°Who¡¯s afraid of who!¡± ¡°Come on!¡± ¡°Come on!!¡± ¡°Come on!!¡± The foreheads of the two men bulged with veins, their roars overlapping each other, each louder than the last, stirring up the dust that should have settled. Legoff¡¯s gun was aimed, ready to turn Bi Fang into a sieve at any moment. Bi Fang¡¯s arm, like a python, kept constricting, his right hand likely to pull out the Hunting Knife at any time. Sap, who had fallen to the ground, stared fixedly, his complexion growing worse by the moment. Eric¡¯s face was pale, his body temperature continually slipping away, and severe lack of oxygen almost made him faint. Even the audience felt suffocated by the scene, unable to breathe; it was a true life-and-death situation where no one could overpower the other. Everyone wanted to survive, yet each wished for the other¡¯s death. The earth turned soft and mushy, soaked with blood, stamped with one bloody footprint after another. ¡°We can¡¯t just stand off like this forever, it won¡¯t be good when the police arrive.¡± Bi Fang sneered, ¡°It¡¯s you who won¡¯t see anything good.¡± Legoff laughed as well, ¡°If we¡¯re to die, shall we take you with us?¡± ¡°How do you know you can take me?¡± ¡°Stop wasting time. Today is our fault, and I already regret it. Eighteen geese, worth less than twenty thousand in total, not even enough to cover the medical bills. So, I¡¯ll count to three, and we¡¯ll both go. I throw my gun, you release the hostage, how about it?¡± ¡°Fine!¡± ¡°One!¡± Legoff¡¯s handgun pointed downward. ¡°Two!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s arm slightly relaxed. ¡°Three!¡± Nobody moved. All the viewers were dumbfounded, and then broke out in a cold sweat. The gamble between life and death was so intense they could smell the blood through their screens, sending a chill to their brains. ¡°Are you kidding?¡± Legoff lifted his arm, the gun still aimed, but now his little finger hooked around the flashlight, quietly gathering strength. ¡°Same goes for you; how could a son fool his father.¡± Bi Fang continued to taunt. Once the other party was angered, his goal was reached; a calm opponent was the most frightening, but unfortunately, the other party didn¡¯t take the bait. ¡°No more bluffing; we¡¯re serious this time,¡± Legoff proposed again. ¡°So you admit that the last time was a bluff?¡± Bi Fang twirled the tip of the knife, drawing more blood. Third Brother screamed in pain. Bi Fang had avoided the artery but could sever it at any moment. The most terrifying thing was having life and death hinging on a mere thought! ¡°It¡¯s because you didn¡¯t release the hostage,¡± Legoff said without shame. ¡°Bullshit,¡± Bi Fang cursed in Chinese, but the meaning was clear to all. ¡°We¡¯re serious this time.¡± ¡°And you expect me to believe that? What¡¯s your guarantee?¡± ¡°If you keep talking like that, this will never end.¡± ¡°Then this time, I¡¯ll do the counting!¡± ¡°Fine.¡± This time, Legoff agreed without hesitation; he didn¡¯t want to drag out the time any longer as it would be disadvantageous to both parties. ¡°One!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s toes touched the ground, tendons tensing, moving slightly forward, his muscles rippling and tightening like water waves. ¡°Two!¡± Sap glanced between Legoff and Bi Fang, uncertain what he was thinking. Legoff¡¯s arm muscles relaxed, ready for any reaction. ¡°Three!¡± Bi Fang bellowed, his body surged with unending strength and, the moment he unleashed his power, there was no opportunity for thought or alteration. In an instant, a beam of light swept over; it was Legoff¡ªhe threw the flashlight, momentarily dazzling Bi Fang! The audience gasped for air in tension, knowing they would go blind in an instant, but Bi Fang was prepared; he never looked towards Legoff and dropped down instead! As the flashlight was thrown, Legoff propelled himself off the ground, leaves and debris flying, his calloused hand rapidly reaching for the yet-to-touch the ground gun, catching it before it landed. Swiftly, Legoff rolled, squatted to grab the gun, and aimed! But a familiar figure blocked his view¡ªit was Eric! Legoff¡¯s shot was obstructed by Eric, more blood spraying; he clearly saw Third Brother¡¯s eyes fade into grayness, the blood quickly spreading from his neck, soaking into his clothes and turning into a vague black. The enemy had slit open his carotid artery. ¡°NO!¡± Legoff cried out in fury, pulling the trigger at the silhouette behind Sap! Chapter 202 - Chapter 202: Chapter 199 Knife Strike After Knife Strike Chapter 202: Chapter 199 Knife Strike After Knife Strike Almost at the moment Legoff aimed, Bi Fang immediately squatted down, using Third Brother¡¯s body as cover, and charged straight at him! Legoff saw Third Brother¡¯s body curl up like a shrimp as it approached, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets with everything happening so swiftly that he barely had time for further thought, and fired at the shadow behind Eric! Sap instinctively used his hands to cover his head, preventing blood from splattering onto his face. Gunfire erupted, illuminating the dark forest. Bullets flying out from the fiery gun barrel pierced holes in the trees! Only one bullet drew blood; Bi Fang¡¯s left arm went numb instantly, as the bullet grazed his upper arm, spraying blood, the searing pain hitting him right after the numbness. Bi Fang gritted his teeth, not slowing his pace at all, and tackled Legoff across a body! The tremendous impact made the crouching Legoff completely lose his balance and fall backward, but he clung desperately to his handgun. As Legoff fell to the ground and continued to pull the trigger, a dark glint stabbed into his wrist, and pained, he dropped the handgun. Seeing this, Legoff tried to retrieve it but was kicked away mid-air by Bi Fang, who then kicked him squarely in the face. Crack! The sound of a bone breaking was clear to hear! Damn it! Legoff, who had been kicked in the head, had his nose bridge directly broken, his yellow, bloodshot eyes instantly turning blood red, his nose quick to swell and bleed, as a strong dizziness overwhelmed his brain, causing him to retch. The hot, metallic smell rose; blood gushed eagerly from his nostrils, looking particularly horrifying! However, Legoff had no time to tend to his wounds, as facing the blade-wielding Bi Fang and having lost both guns, he rolled away, drew the broad-bladed Hunting Knife from the side of his thigh, and slashed at Bi Fang¡¯s abdomen! If this knife struck, it would gut him open! But in a fight for life or death, no one is just a target to be hit passively; Bi Fang stood his ground, didn¡¯t step away, and swept his arm in an arc that paused mid-air. Legoff¡¯s violently bloody knife strike was imminent when suddenly, Bi Fang¡¯s knife also disappeared, only relying on a flick of his wrist, and the Harpoon made a sharp jab with not much force at the tip of Legoff¡¯s knife. This was a technique surpassing speed and strength, the knife acting as a lever, with the force at the tip transferring to the wielder¡¯s wrist, and Bi Fang chose the instant before Legoff truly exerted his strength. That was when he was at his weakest, and Bi Fang made the cut! Sap, standing not far off, couldn¡¯t make out these details, only seeing Legoff rush at Bi Fang, who stood firm, simply sidestepping, making Legoff stagger slightly as if he had hit a wall, then stumbling backwards several steps. The counterattack was instantly dissolved by Bi Fang, and Legoff¡¯s momentum drained away like a flood; in a daze, Legoff even thought himself like a child playing with knives before an adult. Merely a light flick was all it took to neutralize his attack. Bi Fang rotated his wrist, trying to shake off the tremendous force he had just felt; although he only touched Legoff¡¯s broad blade for an instant, the force was real. Legoff might be lacking in technique, but he was extremely strong; this white man was built like a bull calf. The two paused for a moment, then clashed again. The flashlight fallen on the ground cast beams cutting through the forest, with shadows and flashes of knife intertwined within. Both wielded their knives with their dominant hands, showing they could kill and defend, proving neither of them was weak. Legoff stepped forward, relying on his height and size to attempt a straight-on collision, his right hand twirling the knife, stabbing downward, aiming for his opponent¡¯s temple. Bi Fang raised his Hunting Knife to block, his body sinking and pushing in rhythm with his prolonged breath, dissolving Legoff¡¯s force in the blink of an eye. With another flick, the blade sliced directly towards Legoff¡¯s wrist. Legoff, not dodging or flinching, blocked downwards with his broad blade, diverting the Harpoon with immense strength and, like a wild ox, closed in, the edge of his blade aiming for the fingers of Bi Fang¡¯s knife-holding hand! ¡°Ah!!¡± Legoff bellowed in anger. Bi Fang¡¯s heart skipped a beat, with no time to retreat, he made a split-second decision to release the Harpoon, leaned backward, pivoting on his left foot, and spun his right leg, kicking once more towards Legoff¡¯s head. Not good! The audience, seeing Bi Fang forced to abandon his knife in just a few exchanges, were so startled that they nearly swiped out of the live stream. Legoff¡¯s heart swelled with joy as he arched back to dodge the kick aimed at him, ready to close the distance for an attack the moment it passed, determined not to give Bi Fang any chance to catch his breath. But as he dodged Bi Fang¡¯s right foot, a flash of a blade¡¯s edge unexpectedly aimed for his throat! What! Again? Almost instinctively, Legoff relied on his extraordinary waist strength to arch back, barely avoiding a slit throat, but still, a long gash opened up across his entire chest. Only the onlooking audience could see clearly that, as Bi Fang let go of the Harpoon and spun with a kick, his left hand steadily caught the falling Harpoon. As his right leg created a distraction, the Harpoon drew a circular arc from below upwards, aiming for Legoff¡¯s neck. The Harpoon rose like a dragon ascending to the heavens, its ice-cold tip harshly slicing towards Legoff¡¯s chest! The cloth tore. The charge jacket ripped open as the blade sliced through, leaving a deep cut across Legoff¡¯s chest, the skin peeling apart to reveal crimson muscle tissue, with a copious amount of blood pooling into a red hollow at the wound. It wasn¡¯t over yet! Upon landing a successful strike and while Legoff was still down, Bi Fang switched his thrust to downward, pressing his arm against the blade, and slamming it vehemently into Legoff¡¯s left shoulder. In urgent desperation, Legoff hurriedly held up his knife to block! The metallic clash roared through the woods, leaving many in the audience with a sour taste in their mouths. Seeing blood, Bi Fang¡¯s ferocity was unleashed, fighting with all his might to drive the knife down. Every bit of force he used caused Legoff to buckle slightly, just like a tiger firmly clenching the throat of its prey, never to relinquish its grip once it had taken hold! Fuck! Legoff¡¯s eyes began to blur, his broken nose continually bleeding. From the start, he had been at a disadvantage; the blood clogged his airway, disrupting his breathing rhythm and making it impossible for him to exert his full strength with each effort. Moreover, the opponent¡¯s strength was strangely elusive, as if no matter how much force he used, it could be easily negated. His own blade felt like it struck cotton when he swung, but when the same techniques were used against him, he felt like a piece of pork about to be chopped into mincemeat. ¡°Ah!!!!¡± The intense pain in his chest made Legoff release a heart-wrenching roar, more blood spewing from his mouth and nose. In this life-or-death moment, Legoff¡¯s potential erupted, his strength burning fiercely, stubbornly holding up against Bi Fang¡¯s Harpoon. Both combatants¡¯ blades faced off, one vertical, one horizontal, locking together at a cross. Seconds ticked by, the onlookers were frantic with worry, yet the two fighters remained in a deadlock. Bi Fang¡¯s face turned red, feeling his strength gradually failing, and the blood loss from his left arm left him unable to exert force. But he couldn¡¯t let go, for doing so would change the tide from offensive to defensive; he had to quickly think of a way to break the stalemate! Bi Fang¡¯s muscles flowed like water, his right knee shot up, crashing viciously into the enemy¡¯s ribs! Chapter 203 - Chapter 203: Chapter 200: The One Who Should Be Careful Is You! Chapter 203: Chapter 200: The One Who Should Be Careful Is You! Legoff felt like he had been hit in the side chest by a siege log, his whole ribcage making a sound on the verge of shattering, the impact force halting his heartbeat in an instant. Blood surged once more; Legoff choked on the blood spraying from his nose, and with that choke, his strength ebbed, Bi Fang¡¯s harpoon descending another inch! ¡°Die!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s eyes were about to split with rage! ¡°Cough!¡± A mouthful of bloody phlegm was spat out by Legoff, splattering on Bi Fang¡¯s face. Bi Fang instinctively closed his eyes, then a sharp pain in the ribs came as Legoff responded with a knee strike of his own! The two were relentless in leveraging their gains, following up with knee strikes wildly, clashing bones, one after another, jackhammering each other¡¯s intercostal spaces! Crack! Legoff¡¯s rib in his waist suddenly broke, and with that excruciating pain, his strength drained rapidly. As the blade was about to stab into his neck, his eyes turned bloodshot as he suddenly reached out to grab Bi Fang¡¯s wounded left arm, fingers digging into the flesh, pinching hard! ¡°Ah!¡± Bi Fang screamed in agony, the audience closing their eyes in unison, unable to imagine the pain of fingers probing and squeezing a wound. Legoff unleashed all his physical energy, twisted and pushed the blade diagonally, sparks flying in the clash of blades, as he dodged the harpoon! The blade missed its mark, the harpoon embedding into the muddy ground, Legoff took the opportunity to roll and draw his blade, his arm tracing an arc, plunging the knife towards Bi Fang who was prone on the ground due to inertia! But Bi Fang was not Legoff, his long-term yoga training and calisthenics had made him more agile than the physically larger Legoff, and even stronger core strength, a carp flip got him rolling into position, his feet kicking fiercely into Legoff¡¯s lower abdomen. Legoff, with his broken ribs, feared the kick would drive the broken bones into his organs, he forcibly twisted his weight and stepped back, but with his heel hitting the ground to gain leverage, he lashed out with the knife again! Finally, Bi Fang managed to pull out his harpoon, used it to block, his blade¡¯s back bracing against Legoff¡¯s! Metal vibrated once more. Legoff pressed down hard. In an instant, roles reversed! The tide of battle surged again, the continuous excitement nearly knocking the audience out. But Bi Fang was not Legoff, using the back teeth of the harpoon to trap the blade, he twisted his wrist and snapped Legoff¡¯s blade off before sweeping it aside. Both exposed, Bi Fang and Legoff locked eyes and with ferocity, headbutted each other hard! The head-on strike to the head concussed both men, intensifying the pain and dizziness, their visions blurring, clinging to their fighting spirit as they grappled together, like drunken men desperately clutching at each other¡¯s throats. At that moment, the fight had almost become instinctive, all notions of Youlong Bagua or stabbing techniques completely forgotten. In this state, all tactics completely lost their meaning, as they clung together rolling, striking each other¡¯s faces with all their might, elbowing throats, kneeing lower bellies. This was the most primitive of struggles, no different from the tearing and biting of wild beasts, with nobody minding using even their teeth. Legoff was a retired special forces soldier from the Qiaobote Assault Team, and Bi Fang likewise possessed powerful skills rewarded by the System, both elite among elites. Yet now, not even a neat hook could be thrown, relying only on ferocity and tolerance for pain. Legoff¡¯s elbow strike split open the corner of Bi Fang¡¯s eye, Bi Fang¡¯s fingernails nearly tore open Legoff¡¯s skin, kicking furiously at Legoff¡¯s ribs over and over. Rage ignited all the fighting spirit in their blood; they had no weapons in their hands, but their vehemence was even more ferocious than when they did. The two strangled each other, waves of suffocation hitting them, but Legoff overestimated himself and underestimated Bi Fang¡¯s endurance. Already choking on his own blood, he began to falter! As time dragged on, Legoff¡¯s consciousness grew more and more blurry. This guy, this guy¡­ how is he so formidable¡­ His vision started to hallucinate, scenes in his head flickering like a carousel¡ªthe joy of hunting success, the satisfaction with money in hand, the soft body of a woman¡­ Am I going to¡­ die? Blood sprayed from his mouth and nose, Legoff went numb for a moment, then his consciousness began to drift, everything in front of him turned blood red, his gaze dropping from the red mud to the black sky, the world trembling several times. Seizing the opportunity, Bi Fang pounced on Legoff¡¯s back, his arm tightly securing Legoff¡¯s throat, but this time he used both hands and feet to lock his body in place. Yet another Naked Choke! The technique to subdue the opponent using one¡¯s entire body as shackles! The audience, recognizing this familiar scene, gasped, as if this bloody battle was about to come to its end with the same move as the one initially used against the poacher! Die! Bi Fang gritted his teeth and roared! Legoff¡¯s legs flailed weakly, but his consciousness grew blurrier and blurrier; the carousel of images in his head stopped spinning, and he felt himself plummeting into the depths of despairing hell. [Be careful!] [Damn it, Master Fang watch out for the sneak attack!] [Master Fang, be careful! There¡¯s another poacher!] The previously calm live stream chat erupted like a volcano, with many female viewers screaming in fright. Another Sap, there was another Sap! The battle, which lasted only a few minutes, made everyone forget about the injured Sap lying nearby; he was hurt but not yet devoid of the ability to move! Sap nervously looked at Legoff, who was now only showing the whites of his eyes, and with all his might, he crawled towards the distance. Three meters away, there it was¡ªthe rifle that had fallen to the ground! But at the moment, Bi Fang surely couldn¡¯t spare any effort to read the barrage of messages; he was using all his strength to deal with Legoff! Blood mixed with mud, tracing a crimson path. Just a few meters! If he could just get to the rifle, victory would still be theirs! Hurry, hurry! Sap struggled to crawl, the shaft of the arrow dragging and tearing a larger wound in his belly, blood spurting out more profusely, causing Sap to break out in a cold sweat from the pain. FUCK, FUCK, FUCK! Having ventured out together without ever failing, how could it have come to this? He was just a streamer, only a streamer. Tears and snot poured from Sap¡¯s face, the wound in his belly growing ever larger, his hand getting closer to the rifle. Three meters. Two meters. One meter. Almost there, almost, Legoff, just hold on a little longer. A smile spread across Sap¡¯s face, but in the next second, a gunshot thundered, and the bullet mercilessly hit the rifle, sending it flying three meters away, crashing hard to the ground. Sap froze, despair enveloping him entirely as he stared blankly at the beam of light from the flashlight. Within the beam, a figure gradually approached, becoming clearer. Bi Fang staggered through the light and shadows, barely managing to stay upright as he walked up to Sap, almost collapsing, but his determination kept him standing. He gripped the gun in his hand; it was the very pistol he had kicked away earlier. Bi Fang wanted to smile, but he no longer had the energy even for that. His mouth opened silently, and blood seeped through his teeth, spitting a mouthful of bloody spittle directly onto the stunned face of Sap. ¡°You should have been more careful.¡± A hard object pressed against Bi Fang¡¯s back, an icy chill piercing straight to his heart. It wasn¡¯t just the four of them in this forest; someone had breached their battlefield, waiting for an opportunity to ambush him. Bi Fang¡¯s vision nearly blacked out; he had overlooked someone insignificant yet crucial¡ªJohnny. With all his strength depleted, Bi Fang was no longer able to resist. The joy of an expected victory washed away, and in that moment, he found an odd sense of calm. Johnny, trembling, held the rifle. He was very scared, but the smile on his face couldn¡¯t hide the pride within. In the end, he was the victor, though it was a pity that Legoff¡¯s poaching team was done for. He had no intention of bringing them back for treatment; it was better to leave them to die here. It was, after all, his first time killing someone. There was fear, but more overwhelming was the thrill. Johnny intended to finish off Bi Fang immediately, but his pride made him blurt out all the misdeeds he had been involved in over the years. ¡°I never conducted blood testing on your Geese, but what could you do about it? Elvan was too dumb, in reality, all you needed was to pay a small price for a passing report. Too bad now I¡¯ll have to look for new partners.¡± Johnny shook his head in disappointment, but his expression froze the next second. The same touch, the same chill. Johnny¡¯s body couldn¡¯t stop shaking as he raised his hands in a tremble. ¨¦tienne, holding a shotgun, stood behind Johnny. ¡°The one who should have been careful is you, baldy.¡± Chapter 205 - Chapter 205: Chapter 202 Glorious All the Way Chapter 205: Chapter 202 Glorious All the Way ¡°Peter, hurry up!¡± ¡°Okay, coming!¡± In the room, Peter was rapidly packing his clothes, stuffing his coat haphazardly into his backpack and running downstairs with his suitcase on his back. ¡°Be careful!¡± his aunt scolded as Peter slid down the banister. As he slid down the stair rail, Peter yelled past his aunt, who wore a helpless expression, ¡°It won¡¯t happen again next time!¡± Stepping out of the house, Ben shook his head with a smile, ¡°He¡¯s too excited,¡± His aunt complained, ¡°It¡¯s all because of you, we¡¯ve only got two days for the weekend, and you agreed to Peter¡¯s request to watch the goose migration. Plus, Christmas is just a few days away, and I still have so much to prepare.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t help it, the opportunity is so rare, and we haven¡¯t gone on a trip in such a long time. Plus, with Peter insisting so strongly, going once is no big deal.¡± Uncle Ben scratched his head, how could he admit at this moment that he himself wanted to go? Poor Peter had to take all the blame. That¡¯s right, he¡¯s the main culprit! But May still worried about the money, wouldn¡¯t it be better to save that money for a Christmas tree? Seeing May unhappy, Ben continued to persuade her, he wanted the family to have a good trip, so not to worry about these trivial matters. ¡°This is about protecting geese, you know, a worldwide first! Christmas can happen many times, but migration happens only once. We are witnesses to history. Just think, in the future, not only will these birds not go extinct, but they will also increase in numbers! When they fly over your head, you will remember that you also participated in their salvation. It¡¯s very meaningful, I¡¯ve already bought the tickets.¡± His aunt imagined it for a moment and finally sighed. There was nothing she could do about the uncle-nephew duo as she dragged the suitcase and opened the car door. ¡°Alright, just this once, transoceanic plane tickets are really expensive.¡± ¡­ ¡°Ready, Fitz?¡± ¡°All set!¡± Fitz, with his backpack on, ran toward Matthew. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d be back to my original job as a photographer, and to personally take photos. This camera is way too heavy.¡± Matthew laughed, ¡°Think of it as a vacation. Christmas is coming, and this is a double holiday!¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, it¡¯s a paid vacation! And we get to witness history on the way!¡± ¡°Hahaha! That¡¯s right, we¡¯re off to witness history!¡± ¡­ ¡°How much longer till we get there?¡± ¡°The news said tomorrow.¡± ¡°I thought it was the day after tomorrow?¡± ¡°Maybe because you watched the news yesterday?¡± ¡°Oh, could that be it? Makes sense!¡± ¡­ ¡°Our reporter has already arrived at the Camargue Wetlands. According to reports, the geese may arrive today or tomorrow, and this is the largest lake in the Camargue Wetlands, which will also be the most likely landing spot for the geese.¡± The riverside crowd bustled about, with tents everywhere. Many people even arrived here three or four days earlier, countless photography enthusiasts setting up their ¡°big guns and small cannons¡± to capture the first moments of the geese landing. The wetland manager looked at the lake shore crowded with at least a thousand people and smiled; revenue from ticket sales alone over these two days exceeded holiday earnings! Everyone was focused on this geese migration, from the government and the public to enthusiasts around the world, with over a million people following the livestream. MeTube and Wolf Fang¡¯s collaborative channel started a trial run with Bi Fang¡¯s consent, allowing audiences around the world to watch on their respective platforms and join the same livestream to watch Bi Fang¡¯s broadcast, with the combined viewership already surpassing a million! Even language lessons started in the livestream room, with domestic and international players enjoying themselves immensely, everyone spontaneously cheering for Bi Fang and ¨¦tienne. ¡°Look, Bi Fang!¡± On the brand-new airplane, ¨¦tienne pointed at the mosaic of colors on the ground. Bi Fang removed his wind goggles to look down, seeing dark text pressed into the green lawn: Master Fang, ¨¦tienne rocks! The word ¡°Master Fang¡± was in Chinese, ¡°¨¦tienne¡± was in French, and the rest was in English. On the green ground, the text was square and upright. On the edge of the text, people got out of their cars and waved toward Bi Fang and ¨¦tienne in the plane. The audience in the livestream all showed shocked expressions. [Damn, people have made it here already?] [How did they find out Old Fang¡¯s route? Who leaked the info? Come clean!] [Isn¡¯t it easy to guess? Knowing the hospital where Old Fang stayed and then the Camargue Wetlands, just look at the map and see which places are far from the cities, the shorter the distance, the easier it is to guess the route.] [Is there any other streamer in the world as badass as Master Fang? He¡¯s the ultimate cultural export! Who says our Asian people aren¡¯t capable? Look at Master Fang! He can take on ten at a time!] [That¡¯s right, the first time I entered the livestream, I thought his name was so uncool, and Master Fang was hardly known, I was about to leave, but luckily Old Fang let out a howl at that time, and I ended up staying ever since.] [Aged fan here! So envious! I found out about Master Fang during his second livestream, I was wondering then who the new streamer was, just arrived at Wolf Fang and straight to the front page recommendation, so badass, and it turned out to be genuinely explosive! Blew me away!] [Actually, there are two versions of the videos on Bilibili, a complete version and an edited version, you can watch both, no worries if you missed it¡­] [What do you know? Participation is important, and anyway, the full version doesn¡¯t have bullet comments, it just doesn¡¯t have the same feel!] [My god, I¡¯m so jealous, I¡¯m in Ugly Country, I just found out about it this livestream, what a pity.] The audience engaged in a heated discussion, and more and more people started to talk about their experiences of getting to know Bi Fang, even international netizens joined in. Nobody expected that in less than half a year and after just four livestreams, Bi Fang had completely stirred up a wilderness survival craze, turning the attention of the whole world towards him. It was a miracle, an irreplicable miracle! There was always a kind of magic in Bi Fang¡¯s livestreams, a core competitive power that no one else could learn, no matter how hard they tried to emulate. Even if Bi Fang revealed all his wilderness survival knowledge to others, hoping to teach them with the same patience as he would his own child, they would never learn it. That was the magic represented by the name Master Fang; when people heard it, the only thing that came to mind was the word ¡°legend.¡± This was a truly living contemporary legend. ¡°Hello everyone!¡± ¨¦tienne waved and shouted to the people nearby, and the crowd below waved back, with children running after the plane carrying colorful banners. More and more people were paying attention to Bi Fang, and their movements could no longer be concealed. ¡°How does it feel?¡± ¨¦tienne laughed, ¡°Great! Woo-hoo!¡± This feeling of being the center of attention and anticipation was just too awesome! Underneath the plane, Elvan¡¯s car followed, also waving to the passers-by on both sides. Today was the penultimate day; they planned to arrive at the Camargue Wetlands by tomorrow morning. Bi Fang had ended up resting in the hospital for only two days, because he couldn¡¯t delay any longer, with very little time left. On the third day, he set off with ¨¦tienne once more, dragging his injured body to cross the whole of France in five days, in order to complete the mission within the deadline. At night, the group found a secluded corner to land. ¡°Be careful.¡± ¨¦tienne tied the plane to a tree, then cautioned Bi Fang. Bi Fang smiled and jumped down from the float: ¡°My injuries aren¡¯t that severe.¡± ¡°Time to eat.¡± Inside the RV, Elvan came out with bread. That was their dinner. Perhaps because the last difficulty of the trip had been overcome, the System did not issue any notices but instead reminded Bi Fang that his main mission was already complete. Tomorrow would be the last day. Bi Fang looked up at the starry sky, a view he had seen countless times over the month, yet it never felt monotonous. Bi Fang remembered Kant saying there were three kinds of happiness: one was from direct benefits to you, offering you advantages, a material or physiological joy. The second type was the happiness you feel when you do the right thing, a moral pleasure. The last kind is neither beneficial to you nor related to morality; it¡¯s when you feel comfortable and indescribably joyful in your soul upon hearing the wind rustle the falling leaves in the middle of the night. In this moment, as he looked at the stars, happiness felt so simple. Chapter 206 - Chapter 206: Chapter 203 Wilderness Adventurer Chapter 206: Chapter 203 Wilderness Adventurer ¡°This is our last leg of the journey.¡± Across the endless expanse of the lake, Bi Fang confirmed the final direction and rolled up the map with one hand. ¨¦tienne reached out to touch the goose, knowing it would be his last day with it. They had brought eighteen healthy geese over, but how many would return tomorrow? ¡°Amu, you¡¯re the naughtiest. The storm really scared me to death; from now on, you must train hard and not fall behind. Being a drag is bound to make you disliked.¡± ¡°Aga, take good care of your little brother. Though he¡¯s clumsy, don¡¯t bully him, for you two are the closest brothers.¡± ¡°Dist, you¡¯re the smartest among them. Make sure to take care of everyone and not discriminate against Aga and Amu.¡± ¡°Doug, you¡¯re the weakest, make sure to eat well, and you must flee quickly if you encounter danger¡­¡± After saying his goodbyes, ¨¦tienne felt a sense of loss: ¡°Can our plan succeed? Was Director Legoff telling the truth?¡± ¡°It will succeed.¡± Bi Fang placed his hand on ¨¦tienne¡¯s shoulder with a certainty never felt before, ready to stake his life on the plan¡¯s completion and success. He was even confident that this plan was better and more flawless than those in the original world. The pioneers of the original world didn¡¯t have Bi Fang¡¯s help and couldn¡¯t select the real wilderness migration routes, needing to constantly resupply in cities along the way. Bi Fang and ¨¦tienne had done their best. The eighteen geese would return to the Arctic, breed with other flocks, and bring more goslings back each year, eventually freeing themselves from the crisis facing their species. ¡°Birds, from now on, you must fly on your own.¡± Bi Fang moved past ¨¦tienne, reached out to shut off the engine, and, using the wind, the plane glided alongside the geese. It wasn¡¯t a malfunction; it was simply to savor the moment. The vast wind blew beneath them, carrying moisture and warmth, as Bi Fang looked towards the north and then the south. Heaven and earth. Humans and birds. On the beach, colorful campsites rose high, as people couldn¡¯t wait to witness the final moment of the geese landing. They propped up sun umbrellas, basking in the sunlight. Vendors pushed their mobile freezers, hawking their cold drinks. Men wearing sun hats walked on the beach, carrying wooden boxes filled with various sunscreens, offering samples to any well-figured girls they encountered. Journalists drove in early, ready with their ¡°long guns and short cannons.¡± Matthew blended into the crowd, looking at the dense heads of people and feeling something amiss, as if something had changed. ¡°Uncle, are you a journalist too?¡± Peter strolled on the grass and saw Matthew standing alone in the forest. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Then why don¡¯t you go to the beach? Wouldn¡¯t it be clearer there?¡± Matthew paused, then counter-asked Peter, ¡°What about you? Why aren¡¯t you going?¡± Peter spread his hands helplessly: ¡°Too many people.¡± Matthew suddenly froze, finally understanding why he had silently chosen to stand here. Indeed, the boy was right. There were too many people. It was supposed to be a migration far from humans, so why had it turned into this? ¡°The wind¡¯s too strong, I can¡¯t hear clearly. What? Thirty-five minutes, five minutes? Roger!¡± On the beach, the leader received the message and hastened to the shore, shouting, ¡°Five more minutes, they¡¯ll arrive in five minutes!¡± The crowd stirred, and those holding placards quickly stood up, ready with their welcome banners. A man beside the leader quickly stood up and ran to greet Elvan, ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Hello.¡± Elvan stood up in response, as the plane would pass over a large lake, he had set off early in the morning and waited in advance at the destination. The man hurriedly asked, ¡°Where will the plane land?¡± Elvan looked up and pointed to a spot on the beach, ¡°Over there, where it says ¡®Bi Fang and ¨¦tienne are heroes,¡¯ with the heart next to it.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll make sure the camera captures it, thank you.¡± The man expressed his gratitude and then began to direct the cameraman, ¡°Jim, a little further back, a little further back!¡± Five minutes later, a shadow appeared at the edge of the sky, then grew larger and more distinct. The people on the beach began to cheer, waving their signs and screaming in anticipation of the heroes landing on the lake surface. Bi Fang was startled by the pitch-black beach; he thought there would be a welcoming party of maybe a hundred or two at the destination, but how many were there now? A couple of thousand? No, even more. The geese next to the airplane began to cry out in alarm. Finally realizing something was amiss, Elvan on the beach stopped Lenin, who wanted to go forward, and looked behind, ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯re leaving.¡± ¡°Where to?¡± ¡°Just follow me!¡± Bi Fang on the plane saw Elvan and also stopped ¨¦tienne, ¡°Don¡¯t get off yet, fly a few more circles.¡± ¨¦tienne, not understanding why, did as he was told. The crowd on the beach cheered even louder, thinking Bi Fang was performing some kind of stunt, their voices swelling more and more. Not until Elvan had run far enough did Bi Fang point towards the distance, ¡°Quick, keep up with your dad!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± The airplane roared as it flew over the heads of the people below. The leader looked at the rapidly disappearing airplane, stunned, ¡°Why is he flying over there?¡± The crowd, caught off-guard by the disappearance of the airplane, let their signs fall to the ground. Matthew raised his camera with a smile and pressed the shutter towards the geese in the sky. [Damn, that¡¯s so wicked!] [So cunning!] [This is the migration I had in mind, too many people spoil it!] [True salvation has always been the effort of a few, Old Fang, I wasn¡¯t wrong about you, a man who doesn¡¯t bow to popularity!] [A bit cool, indeed.] ¡°Hurry!¡± Elvan called out to Lenin. Lenin, panting heavily, felt as if all his body fat was burning, but he kept running. The two of them walked further and further until they reached a deserted small lake. The airplane turned off its engines and spiraled down, the geese swam into the marsh as if diving into the sea. Elvan walked into the water, watching Bi Fang and ¨¦tienne come down from the plane. The four looked at each other, first with smiles, and then burst into loud laughter. ¡­ Lenin piloted the airplane away, Bi Fang and ¨¦tienne stepped out of the cabin, looking at the geese moving in the wetlands, their eyes full of satisfaction. In the live streaming room, the viewers also realized that the final moment of farewell was coming, both for humans and geese, and for them and the geese. Bi Fang put his arm around ¨¦tienne¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Let¡¯s go, from now on they¡¯ll have to rely on themselves, you¡¯ve known this day would come, haven¡¯t you?¡± Bi Fang was just as reluctant to leave; this was the most unique adventure he had ever been on, filled with not just tension and excitement, but also great satisfaction and a cleansing of the soul. The beginning of the journey might not have been quite right, and he had violated many things, even taking the risk of bringing along a fifteen-year-old boy. But it was precisely because it was ¨¦tienne that they could succeed. The adult world is always full of rules, just as Elvan would have encountered obstacles from Director Legoff and given up, yet a teenager¡¯s binary world is more pure. This might just be a teenager¡¯s ¡°second-year syndrome,¡± but Elvan envied this purity. ¨¦tienne wiped away his tears and smiled, ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re doing the right thing.¡± ¡°Exactly, the right thing,¡± said Elvan, putting on his coat, ¡°Let¡¯s go, we should go have a genuine French meal, Bi Fang, you¡¯ve been here for so long and I haven¡¯t properly hosted you yet.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m going to have a feast.¡± Chapter 207 - Chapter 207: Chapter 204: The land is not something we inherit from our ancestors. Chapter 207: Chapter 204: The land is not something we inherit from our ancestors. The group got in the car and headed toward the restaurant, along the way, they could still see plenty of vendors hawking small gifts in light of the holiday, immersed in a strong Christmas atmosphere. Is Christmas coming already? Bi Fang felt a little disoriented, only now remembering that he had set out in mid to late November. After a journey of over a month, it was almost the 25th. ¡°Could I borrow some money?¡± Bi Fang turned to look at Elvan in the back seat. They had been in such a hurry on their journey that he hadn¡¯t even thought of exchanging currency and didn¡¯t carry any extra cash. ¡°Of course! Any amount is fine, you don¡¯t have to pay me back.¡± Elvan took out his wallet, signaling Bi Fang to take as much as he liked, but Bi Fang only took the smallest denomination and then asked Lenin to stop the car. He went to a small stall selling gifts, had a brief chat with the vendor, and then got back into the car. Elvan came forward and asked, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Nothing much, just bought something.¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°Let¡¯s get going, I¡¯m starving. I haven¡¯t had anything decent to eat in a month.¡± Hearing Bi Fang say this, the others became less curious and assumed he had just bought some souvenirs. The car stopped in front of a white French-style building with a sign planted on the lawn bearing the restaurant¡¯s name. The waiter, dressed in black with white gloves, opened the car door respectfully. Elvan really wasn¡¯t stingy, taking them directly to a famous local restaurant that, according to a quick internet search by Bi Fang, was said to serve authentic French cuisine. Reflecting on it, he had been in Europe for over a month, France for over a week, yet he had hardly had any good food. The only decent meals he had were the liquid foods provided by the hospital, with a faint burnt taste. Bi Fang took the chef¡¯s menu from the waiter, and after confirming there were no dietary restrictions, he asked for a double portion. ¡°Double?¡± The waiter was taken aback; it was the first time he had heard of ordering a double serving. Bi Fang closed the menu, ¡°Is there a problem? Just pretend five of us came.¡± The waiter hesitated, ¡°Sir, our individual meals should be satisfying enough.¡± ¡°No worries, just serve five portions, and quickly.¡± Elvan cut off the waiter¡¯s words, urging him to bring the food quickly. Having come here, he was prepared to spend a good amount, and he knew Bi Fang could eat a lot. When in the hospital, Bi Fang was able to consume what three people could eat, leaving even the nurses astonished, fearing the patient might overeat and cause himself issues. However, nothing bad happened, and his wounds actually healed quite faster. [French Cuisine¡ªLeading the Trends in Western Gastronomy!] [Wilderness Broadcaster Turns Into Mukbang Host!] [Master Fang can really eat, haha, Elvan¡¯s wallet is twitching, foaming at the mouth!] [I see everyone else in pairs, a man and a woman, but why does Old Fang have four guys, so boring!] [I want to see Old Fang team up with a young lady (Dog¡¯s head)] ¡°Thinking of staying in France a little longer?¡± ¡°Depends. I might stay a few more days in the wetlands to observe the geese.¡± ¨¦tienne tried to persuade him, ¡°Won¡¯t you stay a few more days? You could come to our place for Christmas.¡± ¡°No, I have lots of things to take care of.¡± Bi Fang bent his head to wrap the gift box and responded, ¡°Today is the 21st. I have a lot to sort out after these couple of days. The geese migration has brought me not only great fame but also a host of affairs to deal with.¡± ¨¦tienne felt quite downcast. Not only did he have to part with the geese, but he also had to say goodbye to the idol he had spent over a month with, which was tough for him to accept all at once. A slim, red gift box was handed to ¨¦tienne. ¨¦tienne looked up at Bi Fang, not understanding what it meant. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to open it?¡± Bi Fang extended the red gift box toward ¨¦tienne, ¡°Even though I can¡¯t be with you for Christmas, I wouldn¡¯t skimp on the Christmas gift.¡± ¨¦tienne, excited, looked at Elvan, who nodded with a smile. [Wow, what did Master Fang give?] [I don¡¯t know, just now the camera angle got blocked, I didn¡¯t see what Old Fang put in there] [Darn, I want a gift personally given by Master Fang too!] [Did he just get out of the car to buy a gift box?] [Oh my gosh, such thoughtfulness, I want a boyfriend just like Master Fang, waaaa] [Wake up, you¡¯re a guy!] Untying the ribbon, ¨¦tienne opened the gift box, and a beautifully crafted hunting knife was quietly lying inside. ¡°It¡¯s a hunting knife!¡± ¨¦tienne¡¯s eyes lit up as he looked up in disbelief at Bi Fang, ¡°Are you giving it to me?¡± Bi Fang smiled and nodded. He had purchased this hunting knife from the System store after his first live stream. It had been with him through many adventures and held a lot of sentimental value. Now that he had a harpoon as a replacement, he decided to give the knife to ¨¦tienne. As a testament to a month of adventure. Having been in this world for half a year, Bi Fang¡¯s gains weren¡¯t only the repeated adventures, but also fans who liked him and many friends. Yao Jun, Lin Chang, Lin Xue, Gu Qingyuan, Zheng Tianfang, some people from the geography magazine, and now Elvan, Lenin, ¨¦tienne, Bi Fang was gradually establishing a deeper connection with the new world. Because he had experienced loss, he would cherish what he regained all the more. ¡°Merry Christmas!¡± ¡­ After the meal, Bi Fang stepped out of the restaurant. The live stream was about to end, and he was ready to say his official goodbyes to the audience. ¡°The live stream is coming to an end. Leading the geese to learn their migration route was indeed an impressive act, but as a public figure, I still need to tell you, I didn¡¯t do well enough. ¡°You must remember that this started as an illegal act, even if it was only in France where it was not allowed, and obviously, many more rules were broken along the way, making this trip dangerous for a young man.¡± ¡°I was initially moved by ¨¦tienne¡¯s sincerity and made a rash decision. Although later I also established a bond and trust with the geese, I must admit, I regretted agreeing to ¨¦tienne more than once. But there¡¯s no helping it, a man has to keep his word.¡± Bi Fang spread his hands to show his own helplessness, having acted impulsively in the beginning. Behind him, Elvan laughed, vigorously ruffling ¨¦tienne¡¯s hair. ¡°Back to the main point, environmentalists are often discredited for lacking people who truly make efforts and undertake actions, being only echo chambers. So I¡¯ve made a decision here, from now on, I will donate one third of the income from each of my live streams to the CWCA, to make my own contribution.¡± [!] [One third? How much would that be? Old Fang¡¯s live streams make millions in turnover, right?] [My God, isn¡¯t that too much?] [Big spender, huh?] ¡°Stop it, I¡¯m making this promise here because I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll regret it later. If I don¡¯t say it out loud now, I might back out in a couple of days.¡± Bi Fang laughed, aside from that one time in Mohe when Lin Chang made a surprising breakthrough, his income from each live stream had been steadily over a million, and one third meant he would be donating hundreds of thousands from this broadcast alone. But it wouldn¡¯t pain him, because Bi Fang knew that his main income was no longer from the gifts during live streams, but rather Wolf Fang¡¯s salary and more commercial activities. Although hundreds of thousands was a lot, it wouldn¡¯t cause him distress. Bi Fang never went out of his way to avoid taxes, even if it was legal. He has always been a man easily contented. As long as he had enough money, that was fine for him; there was no need to accumulate too much. But the viewers in the live stream room admired Bi Fang from the bottom of their hearts; to donate one third of his earnings, and on a continuous basis, was not a decision just anyone could make. Getting back on track, Bi Fang looked towards Elvan, ¡°Professor Elvan, why don¡¯t you say a few words as well? You¡¯re the initiator of this plan.¡± Elvan was taken aback and pointed to himself, ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Of course. You¡¯re a professor at the University of Paris, say a few words, as if we were your students,¡± Bi Fang encouraged Elvan. Elvan hesitated, ¡°Will they understand what I say?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s automatic translation, didn¡¯t I just speak in French?¡± ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll say a few short words.¡± Elvan scratched his head. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m not much of a talker, my students don¡¯t like my classes, so I¡¯ll just mention two figures.¡± ¡°In thirty years, Europe has lost over 420 million birds, and every year there are 80,000 hectares of land turning into concrete and roads. I don¡¯t have many ideals to preach, but I want to share an Indian proverb with everyone: We don¡¯t inherit the land from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.¡± Chapter 208 - Chapter 208: Chapter 205: Uncle Fangs Adventure? Chapter 208: Chapter 205: Uncle Fang¡¯s Adventure? In the afternoon, Bi Fang and Elvan had spent the day at the Camargue Wetlands, further confirming that the geese were doing well in the wild. Upon returning to the hotel that evening, Bi Fang was about to check his task rewards when he received another call from Wang Yongbo. ¡°Bi Fang, are you asleep?¡± ¡°Uh,¡± Bi Fang looked up at the clock and scratched his coarse chin, ¡°Isn¡¯t it only eight o¡¯clock?¡± ¡°I have someone here looking for you, will you meet with him? If yes, let me know which hotel you¡¯re at, and I¡¯ll bring him over. It¡¯s a major deal worth billions!¡± Wang Yongbo¡¯s tone was brimming with excitement, which puzzled Bi Fang. A deal worth billions? And he¡¯s coming to the hotel to find me? Isn¡¯t that a bit exaggerated? What kind of business deal involves billions? I¡¯m a decent person, I wouldn¡¯t do or accept such deals worth billions; getting exposed would make me lose followers. Wang Yongbo, oh Wang Yongbo, I didn¡¯t expect a man of your robust appearance to be into this sort of thing. After giving his address to Wang Yongbo, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help feeling uneasy. Should he accept or not? If he did, he wasn¡¯t that kind of person; if he didn¡¯t, they were coming all the way here. It would feel rather rude to reject them just like that. Caught in his dilemma, there was a knock on the door. Bi Fang sighed, ultimately deciding to face reality. He wasn¡¯t suited for this kind of thing; he was a righteous gentleman. He went to the door, took a few deep breaths, and opened it. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Mr. Bi, hello, I¡¯m Brandt Palliston. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you. Just call me Bran.¡± Standing outside his room was a Caucasian man alongside Wang Yongbo, wearing a confident smile and speaking fluent Chinese with an accent, his enunciation clear. The man was dressed in a silver-gray suit, shiny leather shoes, and a rose-gold watch; his attire¡¯s luxury matched perfectly with his robust figure. The epitome of a successful and elegant gentleman. If it wasn¡¯t for what he said next, Bi Fang might have mistaken him for a male model from some agency. ¡°Mr. Fang, I am here on behalf of the Disney Company to discuss a potential collaboration with you.¡± Bran sat down on the sofa, and his opening remark took Bi Fang by surprise. Disney? Why would someone from a movie-making company like Disney come to him? ¡°What kind of collaboration?¡± ¡°We wish to acquire the rights to adapt your experience with the migrating geese into an animated film, planned to release within three years.¡± Bran took a sip of coffee, crossed his left leg over his right, then after a while, switched to cross his right leg over his left. For some reason, ever since he entered the room, he had felt a sense of defeat, involuntarily toning down his presence as if he had entered the den of some formidable beast. Wang Yongbo stood by, glancing between Bi Fang and Bran, and felt that Bi Fang¡¯s presence was slightly more imposing. Bran exuded confidence before entering the room, but after sitting down in front of Bi Fang, Bran seemed to have changed completely. He looked like a wolf but felt somewhat like an Erha. Bran coming to seek collaboration was also unexpected for Wang Yongbo because the matter seemed rather sci-fi: an overseas corporation suddenly comes to you, hoping you¡¯d grant the rights to turn your story into an animated film. The first reaction for most people would be to think it¡¯s a scam. However, when this happened to Bi Fang, it somehow didn¡¯t seem so far-fetched. Breaking the harsh and unreasonable rules of the adult world, one sets out on a nature adventure with fervor and dreams, Migrating geese, hunting reindeer, confronting lynxes, flying through storms, youth, adventurers, starlit forests, officials colluding with poachers to traffic wildlife. Is there any fairy tale more realistic than this? This perfectly aligns with the consistent core of Disney animations. By the time Bi Fang¡¯s name echoed around the world, Disney was already contemplating turning this story into a blockbuster. After days of meetings and discussions, everyone agreed it was feasible, and so Bran was honorably dispatched. ¡°If you agree, we will pay thirty million Ugly Yuan for the licensing rights, and your movie will be released globally, letting more people know about this animal conservation effort and calling for greater participation,¡± he said. Bran presented Wang Yongbo with a figure that made his heart skip a beat; he had even researched Bi Fang beforehand, hedging his persuasive efforts not on value but on influence. Thirty million! Ugly Yuan, no less! ¡°Thirty million? That much?¡± Bi Fang was surprised, too. Were licensing fees normally this high? ¡°You misunderstand. We are not just paying for the licensing rights but purchasing your entire adventure,¡± Bran explained. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Your adventure is so perfect it doesn¡¯t need any adaptation. In fact, to adapt it would be an insult to the story. Our company has never encountered such a situation before, so we¡¯ve always believed thirty million to be a reasonable price.¡± Bran wasn¡¯t lying; this was indeed their first encounter with such an instance. Previous live-action rights almost always involved adapting the experience to some degree to enhance the storytelling. No one¡¯s real-life adventures are genuinely as fairy tale-like as Bi Fang¡¯s were. So, the sum included not just licensing fees but also scripting fees, consultancy fees, copyright fees, and so forth. Taking Bi Fang¡¯s influence into account, the price was fair. Disney was no fool¡ªthey had meticulously studied Bi Fang¡¯s explosive popularity curve, which clearly had ample potential left to tap. In just half a year, he had become nearly globally known, save for parts of Africa and other third-world regions that lagged in news coverage. Almost everyone in Europe and North and South America who watched livestreams knew of Bi Fang¡¯s fame. By the time the animated film comes out, perhaps a year later, how much would Bi Fang¡¯s popularity have grown? Disney¡¯s data analysts were astounded after their research, concluding it could increase tenfold! Thus, Bran treated Bi Fang with the utmost respect, just like a top-tier star. ¡°Furthermore, we plan to develop an animated series in addition to the film. Have you heard of ¡®Uncle Long¡¯s Adventures¡¯?¡± he asked. ¡°Of course.¡± Bi Fang was certainly aware of it; the animation was famous and of high quality. ¡°If you¡¯re willing to accept our collaboration, we also plan to develop a similar type of animated series. Of course, we will pay an additional fee for the image rights, and we can assure you, the quality will be no less than ¡®Uncle Long¡¯s Adventures¡¯.¡± Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but be moved; it was like a pie falling from the sky. The world¡¯s best animation company suddenly comes to you, offering collaboration, to bring your story to the silver screen¡ªit was every adventurer¡¯s dream. It was the perfect opportunity to break out. Bi Fang had always known that livestreaming had its limitations¡ªmany streamers might be famous in the eyes of their viewers, but outside the streaming community, they were barely known. He could claim global fame now because many news outlets had reported on him; otherwise, relying solely on livestreaming, he could never have reached such heights. If news coverage could do this much, what about movies and animations? What level could they reach? Chapter 209 - Chapter 209: Chapter 206: Can This Thing Even Fuse? Chapter 209: Chapter 206: Can This Thing Even Fuse? ¡°` ¡°Then tomorrow I will bring the legal team to discuss the details further, and once everything is finalized we can sign the contract directly.¡± Having tentatively confirmed the intention to cooperate, Bran didn¡¯t stay long, picking up his coat to leave the unpleasant room. He needed to hurry to get the authorization from ¨¦tienne. Bi Fang closed the door and looked at Wang Yongbo, who was still in the room, unsure why he had stayed behind: ¡°Is there anything else?¡± Wang Yongbo laughed, pulling out a stack of documents. Of course, there was a reason for him to stay. Strangely enough, it was really difficult to get in touch with Bi Fang, either due to no signal or no time to talk, finding him for regular business matters was a matter of fate. This created a paradoxical situation: almost all of Bi Fang¡¯s personal business was handled by Wolf Fang. It almost became a consensus in the circle that finding Wolf Fang was akin to finding Bi Fang. How could ordinary staff witness such posture? With matters being relayed up the hierarchy, everything piled up with Wang Yongbo, making a corporate vice-president act like a personal assistant. ¡°Don¡¯t you have a studio? You could hire a personal assistant.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Wolf Fang assign Liu Qian to me?¡± ¡°She is just your managerial responsibility¡­¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you let her resign and come work for me, then? I¡¯m not lacking the salary for her, I¡¯ve noticed that your Wolf Fang people have good business skills. If you let her come, I won¡¯t treat her poorly.¡± Bi Fang flipped through the invitations without looking up. ¡°But that would require her consent. If she agrees, then I¡¯ll let her go.¡± Wang Yongbo smiled. He had only made the comment in jest; in reality, both parties were quite satisfied with the current arrangement. This unique cooperation brought them closer together, rather than being just a simple partnership. Bi Fang was not like any other broadcaster at Wolf Fang, he was more like a franchisee, with an international presence that Wang Yongbo, despite many years in broadcasting, had not seen before, both domestically and abroad. Never before had someone like Bi Fang been seen, and with his current status, teaming up with any platform would be a mighty alliance. Yet, he chose to stay here, to grow alongside Wolf Fang. With Bi Fang¡¯s help, Wolf Fang overcame their difficulties and even began expanding internationally, leaving their declining days far behind. Bi Fang was similarly grateful for Wolf Fang¡¯s support when he was at his wit¡¯s end, offering to stream under the best conditions. ¡°Have you watched any of the broadcasts on our platform lately?¡± ¡°No, why?¡± ¡°Recently, there have been a lot of imitators of you on our platform. I¡¯m not sure if I should sign them.¡± Wang Yongbo was worried, unsure how to deal with the situation. The popularity of the wilderness broadcast theme was soaring, sparking a trend. Many tried to emulate Bi Fang¡¯s Wilderness Survival, and although most were clumsy, eating bugs on deserted islands and such, there were a few who showed signs of teamwork, comparable to Shark¡¯s Lu Wentao in overall strength. Most broadcasters opting for this theme chose Wolf Fang because with Bi Fang there, Wolf Fang had the largest fan base interested in this theme. ¡°If there are good broadcasters, just sign them. The platform can make its own decisions. I left Shark over contract deception, not competition. I¡¯m not afraid of real competition; you don¡¯t need to worry about me in this matter.¡± ¡°I¡¯m concerned it could cause a split in your audience.¡± Wang Yongbo had clarity; ten, a hundred, no, no number of wilderness broadcasters could match the impact of Bi Fang alone. If Bi Fang spoke up, Wolf Fang wouldn¡¯t sign any of them. Bi Fang flipped through another invitation and calmly said, ¡°Would they dare to dilute my audience while I¡¯m broadcasting?¡± Wang Yongbo was taken aback, realizing it was indeed true. Ever since Bi Fang started his broadcast series ¡®Chasing the Sunshine¡¯, other broadcasters indeed had stopped for a month! To say stopped was a bit exaggerated; they still broadcasted daily to keep their audience¡¯s loyalty, but they unanimously chose to halt their wilderness broadcasts, even Shark¡¯s Lu Wentao had been quiet, only recently announcing his fourth series of wilderness broadcasts. One person dominating the entire network, it was truly so. From his very first broadcast, Bi Fang had created the persona of a Wilderness Survivalist, now unshakeable, especially the authenticity of his broadcasts, which no one doubted. Anyone who found out about the wilderness theme through other means would inevitably be drawn to Bi Fang¡¯s streams. ¡°Alright, then I am reassured.¡± Wang Yongbo nodded, noting that Bi Fang was still looking through invitations and couldn¡¯t help advising, ¡°Is there one you¡¯re interested in participating in?¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t you guys marked them out for me?¡± Bi Fang picked out an invitation with a folded corner, Amy¡¯s Interview Show. ¡°` He had heard of this interview show; it was quite famous abroad and could be said to be a household name, its guests usually being major celebrities or even prime ministers. Bi Fang had not expected that he would receive an invitation from a foreign interview program. ¡°This is our company¡¯s assessment and recommendation. Actually, I also hope you¡¯ll participate. If it were a domestic interview invitation, it wouldn¡¯t matter much as your base here is very stable. But you¡¯ve just begun to tap into the overseas market, and attending an international interview would be very beneficial for your development,¡± Wang Yongbo¡¯s words had to be admitted, they tempted Bi Fang. Indeed, Bi Fang was still a newcomer to the international audience; more exposure would help build a solid fan base. There were some programs in China that had invited him before, but those were not interviews, rather variety shows, something that Bi Fang did not want to participate in. Playing those kind of silly games on screen could make a person silly, too. ¡°There¡¯s no problem with this program itself, right?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve investigated, there are no issues, and the presenter doesn¡¯t have any scandals,¡± Wang Yongbo knew what Bi Fang was referring to. Foreign programs often come with biases, and they will not make such a mistake. Bi Fang nodded, ¡°A good arrangement. I have no objections. Just let me know in advance when it¡¯s time.¡± After settling the business and seeing Wang Yongbo out, Bi Fang quickly closed the door. He could finally check his rewards! Bi Fang was excited since the rewards for this task were specified in advance! An Advanced Skill Upgrade Coupon and an Advanced Skill Progression Coupon! With these two coupons, Bi Fang could completely upgrade his Wilderness Survival Skill to the orange level! When that time comes, Wilderness Survival would be his first orange-level Skill! If he could reach that level, he would surely be a once-in-a-century Wilderness Master! [Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the task: Chasing the Sunshine. Rewards are being issued. Would you like to receive them?] Bi Fang took a deep breath. Receive! [Detected no award escalation. Your final rewards are: Advanced Skill Upgrade Coupon *1, Advanced Skill Progression Coupon *1, Wilderness Points *1600, Enhancement Points *4, Skill Advancement Ticket *1] ¡°Wow, a bountiful harvest!¡± Bi Fang saw the rewards he had received and was satisfied. However, it seemed there was no hunting reward this time, even though he had caught a poacher and a reindeer¡­ Never mind, Bi Fang was not obsessed with that, he was already content with the rewards he got. He opened his panel to start examining how to use the rewards. The first was the lottery draw. Sixteen hundred points, oh, there were three points left from last time, so it should be one thousand six hundred and three points in total. He could start with two runs of a ten-spin. He clicked the roulette wheel, and ten minutes later. [Congratulations to the host for obtaining a Blue Skill, Tai Chi Level 1. Detection of the host¡¯s existing Skill: Swimming Dragon Bagua Level 1. Would you like to fuse them?] Fuse? Bi Fang paused when he saw the message; could these two Skills even be fused? The bonuses provided by the Swimming Dragon Bagua were significant for Bi Fang; it helped him dodge the charge of a reindeer and deal with Legoff, as big as a calf, mainly relying on the Swimming Dragon Bagua techniques. Traditional martial arts had to be acknowledged as very strong, especially the ones provided by the System. Bi Fang even felt that the Skills he obtained were more authentic than those currently passed down on Wudang Mountain. They could actually be used in a fight. But about fusion, well, he had no reference for that, and he didn¡¯t know what the outcome would be. Nevertheless, Bi Fang thought it could be worth a try, having been influenced by web novels. Usual logic suggested that such fusions would most likely not result in a loss, and since he would have to try it sooner or later, if there was no reference, then he might as well create one. With that thought, Bi Fang chose to fuse. Chapter 210 - Chapter 210: Chapter 207: Generous Rewards, Once Again I Set Off. Chapter 210: Chapter 207: Generous Rewards, Once Again I Set Off. [Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining the special blue skill, Tai Chi Traveling Dragon lv1] Special skill? Bi Fang¡¯s mind went blank for a moment, and before he could understand what a special skill was, he felt his body start to heat up, as if all the ATP in his body was breaking down and metabolizing to provide energy. He exhaled a mouthful of hot air, took off his jacket, and couldn¡¯t help but start to move his body. His limbs stretched out, it wasn¡¯t Tai Chi, nor was it Youlong Bagua, but one could see the shadows of both forms. If there were bystanders, they would be amazed to find a special rhythm and beauty in Bi Fang¡¯s movements. All the movements were harmonious and unified, self-consistent and perfectly integrated, like a dance that could dazzle the world. Blood surged like a river thawed from ice, and every cell in his body breathed unrestrainedly like the buds of spring. A silent strength was transmitted along the muscles and meridians. Half an hour later, Bi Fang called room service to order some food, then dived into the shower and turned the water up to full blast. The hot water displaced the heat and sweat from his whole body. The overheated muscles and tendons retracted, and Bi Fang saw his own reflection in the mirror, his skin rosy, as if he had completely recovered from a month of wilderness living, showing a perfect state of health. Bi Fang took a deep breath. He even discovered that his way of breathing had been completely changed. It was no longer the normal abdominal breathing, but rather an alternation of abdominal and reverse abdominal breathing that had become instinctual. The breathing frequency was also very special; each breath seemed to generate strength. Let alone the special frequency, the natural alternation of abdominal and reverse abdominal breathing was something that normal people couldn¡¯t do. Maybe by concentrating, one could perform reverse abdominal breathing, but as soon as the mind wandered, they would immediately revert to abdominal breathing. Whether for exercise or for health, the method of breathing is very important, and Bi Fang had a lot to say on this matter. If Bi Fang didn¡¯t know the system¡¯s main task was wilderness livestreaming, he would have suspected he had received a health cultivation system. After mastering the skills it provided, one could prolong life, as if it was nurturing him to become a master of health cultivation. Tai Chi Traveling Dragon, yoga, Pilates¡ªwas it afraid he¡¯d die young, or did it want him to livestream until he was a hundred? Various breathing techniques were easily handled by Bi Fang. The so-called abdominal breathing method is the normal method of breathing for people: inhale and the belly swells, exhale and the belly flattens. It works by contracting the diaphragm during inhalation, lowering the diaphragm to increase the thoracic space, and doing the opposite during exhalation¡ªthe diaphragm relaxes, the diaphragm rises, reducing the thoracic space to push out waste gases¡ªa movement of the diaphragm up or down by one centimeter can increase the lung ventilation by about 300ml. Bi Fang¡¯s abdominal breathing was also different from that of an ordinary person. He even suspected that the vibration amplitude of his diaphragm had reached more than five centimeters, making the oxygen content in his blood far exceed that of normal people and also increasing the activity level of his nervous system. Reverse abdominal breathing, also known as ¡°fist breathing¡±, involves muscle contraction step by step, creating an effect of inhaling with the belly flattened and exhaling with the belly swelled, which is the opposite of abdominal breathing in appearance. But it¡¯s not so simple; the underlying principles are quite complex. This breathing method helps to generate power, and its effect on strengthening the body is obvious. Once accustomed to it, it makes one¡¯s strikes in combat more ferocious and powerful¡ªthe side effect is that it forces the gastrointestinal system to speed up digestion, requiring a particularly strong energy supply. Many boxers will use this breathing method during training to increase the effectiveness of their workouts. However, few can turn this method into an instinct, as breathing is one of the most basic instincts of living beings, and changing it is exceedingly difficult. Yet Bi Fang not only turned it into an instinct, but also alternated between the two without deliberately trying to control it. Telling others about this would surely drop jaws in astonishment! It wasn¡¯t just a simple fusion of Tai Chi and Youlong Bagua. Bi Fang could even sense that it also incorporated elements of Pilates and the breathing techniques of advanced yoga, much more thoroughly integrated! As expected of a special skill, it not only provided knowledge, technique and experience, but even induced a slight instinctual change in him. Bi Fang opened his eyes, looking at himself in the mirror, and could more clearly feel the difference. His thoughts were sharper, and even his aura had changed. He was no longer as intense but more tranquil and upright. Like a modest gentleman with a sword sheathed. At that moment, the room service Bi Fang had ordered before his shower arrived. After settling the payment, Bi Fang sat down at the table, picked up a steak and devoured it, downing two thick cuts, three pieces of bread, and an apple. Aside from skill fusion, the lottery had plenty of other prizes, all outdoor equipment. However, what caught Bi Fang¡¯s attention the most was one big item. The system displayed that it needed a space of 5*5*2.5 to fit¡­ What the hell did I win, something that requires such a huge space? That¡¯s the size of a bedroom; back in the capital, it¡¯d cost at least a million. If I hadn¡¯t earned some money, I might not even have been able to afford the prize. It seemed that he could only deal with it once he got back. Bi Fang curbed his curiosity, preparing for a second round of ten consecutive draws. But just as he clicked on the wheel, he found out that the system indicated a lack of points. Bi Fang: ¡°???¡± He hurriedly checked his remaining Points and found that only 123 were left, a whopping thousand less! It was only after checking the record that he realized fusion actually required Points! ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say so earlier!¡± Bi Fang literally spat blood, with a thousand Points, he could have had two sets of ten consecutive draws, but now they were fused into a single Skill. It took quite a while, but Bi Fang finally accepted the reality. Upon reflection, it wasn¡¯t wholly unacceptable¡­ The effect of the Skill fusion had exceeded his expectations, and now he could definitely thrash Legoff. Well, maybe ¡°thrash¡± was an exaggeration, it would be fairer to say he could beat him in a normal fight. At least, he wouldn¡¯t struggle as he did a week ago, barely surviving at the edge of life and death. With the last Advanced Skill Upgrade Coupon, he upgraded Wilderness Survivalist, but Bi Fang now realized embarrassingly that it was only lv4, which wasn¡¯t enough to meet the advancement criteria¡­ It was so unexpected that the advancement coupon couldn¡¯t be used anymore, as there were no Advanced Skills to advance, nor could he draw a miracle with a ten-consecutive draw, and single draws¡­ Who does single draws anyway¡­ With a sigh, Bi Fang used another advancement coupon to upgrade Special Recon Soldier to a Purple Skill, and the Skill became Special Recon Scout lv1. Similar to the previous times, the advancement provided greater improvements compared to leveling up, with more experience, knowledge, and techniques pouring into his mind. Recon Scout? Bi Fang was delighted. Most veterans knew that the training for a recon scout was always the toughest in the military, and each recon scout could be considered a top-tier combatant. Whether it was domestic recon units or foreign assault units, recon scouts had the strongest individual combat capabilities, wilderness survival skills, and escape abilities. This advancement greatly enhanced Bi Fang¡¯s personal combat abilities! Finally came the main event: adding Points. No Skill could improve more directly than by adding Points. After three enhancements, Bi Fang had achieved the physical fitness of a real special operations soldier, and adding more Points could push him close to a professional athlete. Bi Fang had made a personal categorization. If the average value for a normal person was 10, then for a professional soldier it was 12, for a special ops soldier between 13 and 14, and for a special recon scout between 14 and 15. Anything over 15 was at the level of a professional athlete. Reaching twelve was already very difficult to improve upon with short-term training, which is why Bi Fang chose to directly add Points, one for each category. After everything was completed, a warm and comfortable sensation appeared again, and Bi Fang took one final look at the status panel before going to sleep. [Unique Binder: Bi Fang] [Age: 24] [Height: 183.6cm] [Weight: 77KG] [Strength: 13] [Physique: 15] [Agility: 13] [Spirit: 13] [Status: Good] [Enhancement Points: 0] [Wilderness Points: 3] Purple Tree Trunk: Wilderness Survivalist lv4, Advanced Yoga lv1, Special Recon Scout lv1. Blue Tree Trunk: Pilates lv3, Archery lv1, Tai Chi Traveling Dragon lv1. Green Tree Trunk: Cross-country Hiking lv5, Rock Climbing lv5, Swimming lv2, First Aid lv5, Biological Identification lv2, Calisthenics lv3, High-altitude Parachuting lv3, Running lv1. Chapter 211 - Chapter 211: Chapter 208 Extreme Environment Training Chapter 211: Chapter 208 Extreme Environment Training ¡°Finally, back home!¡± Stepping onto his native land, Bi Fang felt that every breath he took was sweet, surrounded by familiar faces and the comforting mother tongue. ¡°Then I¡¯ll have Liu Qian contact you later,¡± said Wang Yongbo as he walked down the plane, carrying his briefcase and bidding farewell to Bi Fang. Bi Fang nodded. He looked around and adjusted his mask to fit more snugly. Both of them had returned quietly, not even notifying their fan clubs. Otherwise, with Bi Fang¡¯s current status, the airport might already have been overwhelmed by fans and reporters. After parting with Wang Yongbo, Bi Fang casually hailed a taxi, prepared to go home and see what exactly the 5*5*2.5-sized thing was. If it turned out to be useless, could he refuse it? Property prices in the Magic Capital were far from cheap. However, Bi Fang had still underestimated his own popularity. In less than ten minutes from getting into the car, he noticed that the driver had glanced at him no fewer than ten times, averaging more than once a minute. ¡°Driver, stop looking. Do you recognize me?¡± Bi Fang pulled down his mask. The moment the driver saw Bi Fang¡¯s real face, he was shocked and then overjoyed, ¡°Oh! You¡¯re that, that big star, right? I¡¯ve seen your videos and the magazines! Yes, magazines, I was just looking at them. You¡¯ve been on several issues!¡± The driver opened the storage compartment, which was crammed full of magazines. Being a frequent driver for airport pickups, he had collected quite a few and liked to read them in his spare time. He picked out a few and handed them to Bi Fang. It was National Geographic! There were three issues, and all of them had Bi Fang¡¯s picture on the cover. The first one featured the heavy snowfall in Mohe, with Bi Fang leading Wu Mingtao and the others in a battle for survival. The second one showed a vast expanse of yellow sand, with Bi Fang emerging from underneath, climbing out of the ground. The third issue, and the most recent, displayed a clear blue sky with white clouds, capturing the moment Bi Fang was flying a plane to guide a flock of geese. After the magazine¡¯s professional retouching, each picture had its own unique characteristic. ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve seen National Geographic use so many photos of the same person. They usually feature mostly landscape photos, and you rarely see people. You¡¯ve almost got your own personal column now, amazing, truly amazing!¡± The driver had watched all of Bi Fang¡¯s videos and admired him immensely, considering him the epitome of manliness. Sometimes, he¡¯d get so engrossed in watching that he¡¯d forget to take orders. It was just too thrilling and exciting! Watching one video felt like watching an entire movie, no, even more exciting than a movie, because this was real life. ¡°Right, what happened to that group of poachers? I heard they even killed someone, didn¡¯t they? Could they be sentenced to death?¡± The driver, reminded of the latest developments and having the concerned party right in his cab, felt compelled to inquire. ¡°The death sentence is out of the question, but they¡¯ll probably spend their lives behind bars,¡± Police had come to investigate while Bi Fang was hospitalized. However, with the live broadcast record, there wasn¡¯t much doubt about the whole incident, as the evidence was irrefutable. France was the first country in Europe to prohibit torture, yet it was the last in Western Europe to abolish the death penalty. Nevertheless, no matter how late they abolished it, it was, after all, abolished. But with such a high-profile case, things didn¡¯t look good for Legoff and his companions. Even if they didn¡¯t get life sentences, several decades were the bare minimum, and without the possibility of bail. By the time they got out, they would be old men in their eighties or nineties, not even certain if they could catch a wild chicken. The driver, filled with righteous indignation, spluttered, ¡°It¡¯s such a pity. Foreigners just have a screw loose, why abolish that thing? Those four, oh, five poachers should all have been taken out!¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Bi Fang shook his head, equally baffled by foreigners¡¯ way of thinking. Feeling the validation from the ¡°big shot,¡± the driver kept nodding, turning the conversation in various directions all the way to Bi Fang¡¯s residential complex, seemingly reluctant to end the chat even as they arrived. The driver, having dropped Bi Fang off at the entrance, took out a pen, ¡°It¡¯s not every day I drive a big star. I can¡¯t take your money, please give me an autograph. Just sign on this magazine.¡± As Bi Fang signed his name, he declined, ¡°That wouldn¡¯t be right.¡± ¡°Ah, don¡¯t mention it, let¡¯s just leave it at that,¡± said the driver, grabbing the magazine and zoomed away with a press on the gas pedal, leaving Bi Fang disheveled in the wind. After replacing the pen cap, Bi Fang looked at the payment deduction notification on his phone, utterly confused by what the so-called waiver of the fare meant. He had clearly used an app for the ride, and the system had deducted the payment¡­ ¡°Ah!¡± Bi Fang shook his head and turned to go home. After being away for a month, the house was covered in a layer of dust. Bi Fang went straight to the basement door and asked the System to manifest the reward. [Ding! Location selected, would you like to deploy?] Bi Fang, looking at the spatial blueprint in his mind, decided to deploy it against the wall on the side. [Ding! Deployment successful.] As the system prompt finished, Bi Fang saw a huge piece of mechanical equipment suddenly appear out of nowhere in the basement, its upper edge almost touching the ceiling. The entire apparatus was square and solid, with a dark metal frame glowing with a faint green light at its edges, and its body composed of thick quartz glass. This sealed structure was currently empty, with several tubes beside it. What does this mean? Do I have to assemble it myself? [Ding! Congratulations to the host on acquiring the underwater training equipment.] Following the prompt, a detailed instruction manual appeared in Bi Fang¡¯s hands, and after looking it over, he roughly understood. Isn¡¯t this just a sealed swimming pool? Overall, it¡¯s a machine that uses water resistance for training, but with many functions: it can increase pressure and oxygen, simulate various underwater environments and currents, and even speed up recovery by adding herbal ingredients to the water. The herb formula includes, but is not limited to, cinnamon, Sichuan pepper, star anise plus a whole bunch of stuff Bi Fang couldn¡¯t understand¡­ Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but rant; while these ingredients could indeed be used medicinally, isn¡¯t it a bit too much to mix them all together? Isn¡¯t this underwater training, but rather a scaled-up pressure cooker? After tapping the thick glass wall, Bi Fang accepted it; after all, drawing Tai Chi in a ten-pull was already quite good, and to get such a useful big gadget was definitely a windfall. Actually, it was an excellent tool for training in diving. Normally, training in diving is very dangerous, but with this device, Bi Fang could stop at any time and simulate various underwater environments. The extreme pressure could even reach the equivalent of 500 meters underwater. In reality, the deepest freediving record without equipment is 113 meters, while the record with equipment is 332 meters. Here, the term ¡°without equipment¡± means truly with bare hands, not using oxygen tanks, without relying on any external devices during the dive or ascent, propelling oneself solely with physical strength and holding their breath to brave the deep sea. Physiologists have calculated that the limit for human deep diving is only around 100 meters, which shows the true potential of the human body. Thinking of this record, Bi Fang rubbed his hands, eager to find out his own current limit of adaptation. After connecting the water hose, Bi Fang began to fill the equipment. When it was filled, he took a deep breath and entered the device. The device automatically sealed, and the water pressure began to change according to Bi Fang¡¯s will. Five meters, ten meters. An average person, without the aid of any tools, can generally dive around 10 meters. Those with slightly poor physique might only manage around 5 meters. But Bi Fang felt he could go further: fifteen meters, twenty meters, twenty-five meters. At this depth, he began to feel the pressure, which was the same as what he had experienced in the Qaidam Aquatic Cave. When the pressure reached twenty-eight meters, Bi Fang¡¯s face began to turn red. Until thirty meters, Bi Fang started to struggle and asked the device to decrease the pressure. The device was intelligent, reducing the pressure at a speed suitable for Bi Fang¡¯s tolerance. This is also a very important aspect of diving because decompressing too quickly can lead to decompression sickness, and in severe cases, gas embolism! This is the most dangerous thing in diving! Can you imagine what it¡¯s like to have a person¡¯s blood vessels filled with bubbles? ¡°Hu!¡± Resurfacing, Bi Fang took deep breaths and, looking at his record of thirty meters, knew what his training content would be next. So far, ordinary exercises had little effect on him; to survive in more extreme wildernesses, he needed training in even more extreme environments! The deep sea, the high peaks! Chapter 212 - Chapter 212: Chapter 209: The Mysterious Mission of the Adventure Channel Chapter 212: Chapter 209: The Mysterious Mission of the Adventure Channel In the sealed hydrostatic device, a dark green solution surged, and a shadow flickered and was gone as if nothing had happened. Wang Yongbo had come to join Bi Fang to go to the airport; he was headed to discuss overseas business with MeTube, while Bi Fang was off to participate in the Amy Show. They had arranged to take the same flight. Guided by the housekeeper, Wang Yongbo made his way to the basement and laid eyes on the ¡°swimming pool¡± that glowed with a dim green light. ¡°It¡¯s kind of creepy.¡± In the silent basement, Wang Yongbo examined the unique pool, puzzled by Bi Fang¡¯s peculiar taste in having such a large ¡°swimming pool¡± underground. Just as he was about to take a closer look, suddenly, a pale hand slammed against the glass wall! ¡°Ah!¡± Wang Yongbo let out a shriek, stumbling backward as a face slowly emerged from behind the hand in the green solution. It was Bi Fang. ¡°Phew, you almost scared me to death.¡± Recognizing who was in the water, Wang Yongbo almost cursed out loud. If not for the fact that he frequently watched Bi Fang¡¯s live streams, conditioning himself to be fearless, he might have had a heart attack right there! Bi Fang, floating in the water, showed a smile and gestured with his hand against the glass to wait a moment as he started to depressurize the hydrostatic device. Ten minutes later, Bi Fang emerged from the water. ¡°What is this thing?¡± ¡°A training device; it¡¯s filled with a medicinal solution that helps relieve fatigue from exercise. Mainly, I use it to adapt to some extreme environments. After returning from scuba diving in Qaidam, I had it custom-made; it just arrived a few days ago.¡± Wang Yongbo exclaimed, ¡°You¡¯re this dedicated and not famous? That would be an outrage.¡± Wiping himself with a towel, Bi Fang answered with a laugh, ¡°Aren¡¯t I already famous? Could there possibly be any host on Wolf Fang more famous than me?¡± Touching the technologically advanced ¡°swimming pool,¡± Wang Yongbo suddenly asked, ¡°This thing must¡¯ve been expensive, right?¡± Pressing his hand against the glass, Bi Fang looked at the green solution inside: ¡°Just in this pool of water, I¡¯ve put in nearly sixty thousand dollars worth of Chinese medicine, good only for twelve hours. So, expensive or not?¡± Wang Yongbo¡¯s tongue clicked in astonishment; no wonder people say extreme sports are for the wealthy, with clothing alone costing over a hundred thousand. He was getting a firsthand look at how much money gets burned in this industry. ¡°What about the matter we discussed last time? Have you thought it over?¡± Bi Fang put on his jacket, curious, ¡°The Amy Show? Didn¡¯t I already agree to it?¡± ¡°Not that, the one about the Discovery Channel.¡± ¡°Oh. That¡¯s fine, I¡¯ve told them. We can collaborate.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s schedule had been quite packed over the last few days, with requests for interviews from the Associated Press, Guowen Media, the East Asian Daily, BBC, and many other media outlets all wanting to feature Bi Fang to the point where he had almost forgotten what was most important¡ªthe content of his next live stream. Since he had the option to modify his tasks, Bi Fang was less concerned about the missions issued by the System and therefore took the cooperation invitation from the World Geography Channel more seriously. They wanted to purchase the TV broadcasting rights for Bi Fang¡¯s live streams. These broadcasting rights were still with Bi Fang; when he signed the contract with Bilibili last time, he had the foresight to sell only the online video broadcasting rights, which did not include television rights. Furthermore, the World Explorer Channel also wanted to work with Bi Fang to tailor-make a Wilderness Survivalist program. This was an excellent opportunity to transition from the web to television. In the previous world, shows like Bear Grylls¡¯ ¡°Wilderness Survivalist,¡± Grandpa De¡¯s ¡°Running Wild,¡± ¡°Survival 1+1,¡± ¡°Primitive Survival 21 Days,¡± and many other world-renowned outdoor programs were almost exclusively produced by this TV channel, which also created many high-quality documentaries. It was definitely a powerful TV channel. Wang Yongbo asked, ¡°Have the specifics been worked out?¡± ¡°Not yet, they¡¯re being pretty secretive, even told me not to panic when the time comes.¡± Bi Fang scratched his head, marveling that indeed the Explorer Channel knew how to play it cool, maintaining a serious and mysterious demeanor. Having packed their bags, the two men left the basement. What Wang Yongbo didn¡¯t see was that inside the dim green hydrostatic device, the red number 51 was slowly darkening. Before leaving, Bi Fang instructed the cleaning staff he had hired, ¡°Just come to clean every two days. If there¡¯s an issue, you can call me.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Three days later. When Bi Fang arrived at the set of the Amy Show, he was surprised to find the studio entrance already packed, surrounded by fans holding support signs. The moment they saw Bi Fang, they screamed excitedly, with the flash of cameras continuously going off and the sound of photography and cheers filling the air. Having received the news in advance, they had waited for several hours, and they actually saw him in person! ¡°God Fang, oh my god, I love you!¡± ¡°Master Fang! It¡¯s Master Fang!¡± ¡°An autograph, can I have an autograph, please?¡± ¡°Can I have a hug?¡± The female fans screamed crazily as Bi Fang walked on the red carpet, making so much noise the security guards felt their eardrums might burst. If it wasn¡¯t for the barrier of guards and railings, they even suspected these frenzied women would rush forward and tear Bi Fang apart! Facing the international fans, Bi Fang smiled and took their notebooks, signing them one by one. A very few even grabbed his hand and refused to let go, but luckily he was strong enough to pull away. As Bi Fang passed by a teenager about ¨¦tienne¡¯s age, he paused and curiously asked, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Who? Me? My name is Peter, Peter Parker!¡± A blushing and excited Peter, completely incredulous that his idol was actually asking for his name, handed over his notebook. ¡°I¡¯m such a fan. I really admire you so much; you are the greatest explorer of this century, no, the greatest in history. I dream of becoming someone like you. I want to be brave, strong, and powerful too.¡± Once his idol prompted him, Peter¡¯s floodgates of words burst open. ¡°Can you teach me how you train? You looked so cool when you fought four guys at once. Is it Huaxia kung fu?¡± ¡°Yes, it is Huaxia kung fu. But if you want to become as strong as me, there¡¯s something I must tell you,¡± Bi Fang said with a smile. He stylishly signed his Chinese name, specially adding a Chinese phrase afterward, then propped the pen in the notebook and handed it back to Peter, ¡°With great power comes great responsibility.¡± After speaking, Bi Fang turned and entered the studio, leaving Peter holding the notebook, pondering intently. ¡°With great power comes great responsibility?¡± Peter kept mulling over these words, finding them increasingly meaningful, as though it was his destiny to live by them. Could this be the reason why God Fang is willing to migrate geese? Incredible! Inside the studio, a slightly chubby-faced Amy in a suit was eagerly awaiting Bi Fang¡¯s arrival. As soon as he appeared, he came forward with a big hug. ¡°God Fang! I actually met you in person, it¡¯s unbelievable¡ªdude, I¡¯m in the presence of a living legend!¡± ¡°A living legend? You¡¯re exaggerating. I¡¯m just a man with an adventurous hobby,¡± Bi Fang responded with a laugh. ¡°No, not an exaggeration at all,¡± Amy released Bi Fang. ¡°You have no idea how legendary the things you do are. You know what my reaction was when I heard someone was going to pilot a hang glider and lead a flock of geese across Europe? Madman! A complete madman.¡± Amy¡¯s expression was animated: ¡°Only a god could accomplish that, so you¡¯re God Fang. That nickname is so fitting, especially after I watched all your videos. My God, I¡¯ve never interviewed a hero like you.¡± Bi Fang responded courteously to Amy¡¯s praise: ¡°Your talk show is also impressive; it¡¯s known worldwide and is definitely one of the most successful shows I¡¯ve seen. I believe the sole reason is because you, and not someone else, are the host.¡± The director, watching the mutual business flattery, couldn¡¯t help interrupting, ¡°Sorry to cut in, but it¡¯s six o¡¯clock now. We need to start shooting officially at eight, so we should start preparing as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Oh, right, you see I got so excited I forgot about that,¡± Amy said with a slight smile, turning to Bi Fang, ¡°So, before we begin the official recording, there are a few things I¡¯d like to ask Mr. Bi. Is there anything I shouldn¡¯t mention, like your past experiences? Or anything else?¡± Bi Fang pondered for a moment before shaking his head, ¡°No, if there¡¯s something you want to ask, then just go ahead and ask.¡± ¡°Okay, after the show finishes, if there¡¯s anything impolite, we can cut it out. Also, we¡¯ve prepared a little game; have a look and see if it¡¯s suitable. If it¡¯s not, we can make changes.¡± Amy nodded, pulling Bi Fang to the front of the stage, and began explaining some key points about the broadcast, as well as the schedule. They ran through a rehearsal to ensure that there would be no surprises during the show. After seven o¡¯clock, the audience gradually arrived. By eight o¡¯clock, the show officially began. Chapter 213 - Chapter 213: Chapter 210: Dreams Chapter 213: Chapter 210: Dreams The excited audience all took their seats, with Matthew looking eagerly towards the stage. Today, tickets for the audience were incredibly hard to come by. For Bi Fang¡¯s debut interview show, countless people wanted to delve deeper into the life of the legendary adventurer. Even Matthew had to pull quite a few strings to finally grab these two audience tickets, dragging his friend Fitz along to watch the live show. Fitz arrived, looking travel-worn: ¡°My goodness, I just saw so many fans outside. They¡¯ve blocked the entrance. They¡¯re actually waiting for Bi Fang to come out, but the show doesn¡¯t end until eleven o¡¯clock.¡± The show was to start at eight, meaning that the fans would be standing outside for over three hours¡ªinsane! Matthew nodded. Bi Fang rarely appeared in public outside of livestreams; his private life was almost a blank slate to the public. This episode of Amy¡¯s interview show had fans of the idol going absolutely wild. The two of them discussed Bi Fang, both eager to know what questions Amy would ask and which topics everyone was curious about. Soon enough, the television station¡¯s Amy Interview Show started. Bi Fang appeared alongside Amy on a semicircular platform, the whole studio decked in white to focus the audience¡¯s attention squarely on the host and guest. The audience, looking at Bi Fang on stage, felt a sense of strangeness¡ªas if he was somewhat different from usual, but upon closer inspection, it was indeed him. To be camera-ready, Bi Fang had naturally groomed himself, and was dressed in a chic suit, a complete turnaround from the disheveled figure he cut during wilderness livestreams. Under the professional lighting, he seemed more dignified and overwhelmingly charismatic. The female fans below the stage saw an even more handsome Bi Fang, with an unbeatable demeanor, and cheers and whistles were non-stop. ¡°Good evening, everyone! Did you all have a good Christmas holiday?¡± Amy greeted the audience and, as per tradition, delivered an opening monologue, promptly introducing her guest. ¡°It is a great honor to have with us today the greatest adventurer of our time¡ªhe has faced off alone against a black bear in the Qinling Mountains, raced with wolves in the Arctic Desert River, discovered prehistoric creatures in the desert¡¯s heart, explored underground worlds, and recently, he piloted a hang glider and led eighteen geese across Europe, defeating poachers in the process!¡± ¡°He is a legend, an epic, our hero¡ªBi Fang! Maybe you are more familiar with his other nickname, which is¡­¡± ¡°GOD FANG!!!¡± Four beams of light swept across the audience, finally focusing intensely on Bi Fang as he rose from his chair and gave a modest bow in acknowledgment. With just a few sentences, Amy had worked the audience into a complete frenzy, heating up the atmosphere swiftly. ¡°God fang!¡± ¡°God fang!¡± ¡°God fang!¡± The fans repeated Bi Fang¡¯s nickname over and over, the chanting filling the space for over three minutes before Amy finally gestured with her hands for the audience to calm down, and slowly, they did. Amy turned to Bi Fang with a smile, ¡°It seems our audience has given you a very warm welcome. Did you expect your fans abroad to be this crazy about you? I even heard you were signing autographs for half an hour at the door and almost delayed the show.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Bi Fang nodded. He had seen his share of fans¡¯ crazy antics before but never imagined it happening because of him, ¡°I was prepared before coming, but I didn¡¯t expect everyone to love my livestreams so much. Thank you, thank you all.¡± If the discovery of prehistoric creatures left an impression of the name Bi Fang, then this migration of geese had made his name resound loudly. ¡°Wow, your English is really good. Did you have any experience abroad before?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I haven¡¯t. Maybe it¡¯s because I learned it well in school.¡± ¡°Whoa, were you a top student?¡± The two casually chatted about some very ordinary topics. Amy, an experienced host, used these simple questions to help Bi Fang, who was on a talk show for the first time, relax and ease his nervousness. Once the mood was set, Amy pulled out a stack of cards and began to ask the questions she had prepared. But before she did, she added a comment. ¡°Actually, our team also invited ¨¦tienne, but his father, Mr. Elvan, firmly refused, the reason being that ¨¦tienne had taken too much time off for the goose migration and needed to catch up on the schoolwork he had missed. I can¡¯t even imagine, a young hero who dares to face a lynx with a knife, sitting down under his parents¡¯ urging to do homework with a pencil.¡± The audience below let out laughter and also felt regretful, as most of them knew Bi Fang because of the goose migration and couldn¡¯t forget the equally brave ¨¦tienne. ¡°That¡¯s really too bad.¡± Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the thought of ¨¦tienne doing makeup lessons under Elvan¡¯s urging. ¡°Yes, otherwise the migrating duo could have been reunited on our show,¡± Amy said as she flipped over the first card. ¡°As far as I know, when you first started live broadcasting, you were ridiculed by netizens for the nickname ¡®god fang,¡¯ right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Why was that?¡± ¡°Because they thought the nickname was too tacky.¡± ¡°Tacky?¡± Amy repeated the word Bi Fang had used. Bi Fang hadn¡¯t expected that the opening question of the show would be about this, but he answered truthfully. The reason he had chosen that nickname at the beginning was to attract as many viewers as possible. Although he was ridiculed at the time, it had achieved its effect. With each live broadcast, Bi Fang had been forging his own godlike status, and today, when people mentioned that nickname, they no longer felt doubt at first; instead, they gradually became convinced. The audience below gasped in surprise; they hadn¡¯t expected Bi Fang to have such an experience, but now it seemed that the nickname ¡®god fang¡¯ was indeed deserved. ¡°Indeed, if I saw that nickname, I¡¯d definitely want to go in and see what kind of skills a man who dares to use the name of a god has. It seems that the live broadcasts of ¡®god fang¡¯ were not all smooth sailing,¡± Amy nodded. ¡°So, my second question is, why did you choose to live broadcast, or rather, why do you love adventuring? Is there a reason?¡± The audience was also curious; they could only see Bi Fang¡¯s thrilling adventures time after time but didn¡¯t know what was driving him to continue. ¡°Well,¡± Bi Fang scratched his eyebrow, obviously, he couldn¡¯t say it was because the System made him live broadcast. He had always believed there was a reason why the System chose him. If the Wilderness System had given the task to a shut-in, would he have achieved his current success? Would they willingly take on those side quests given by the System? A person¡¯s success cannot be separated from help from the outside, but it¡¯s actually one¡¯s personal choices that truly make the decisive factor. Bi Fang thought for a while, then said to Amy, ¡°Let me tell you a story.¡± Amy nodded. ¡°When I was a child, I grew up in the city. I attended a New Year¡¯s Eve party when I was in high school. When I arrived at the venue, I saw hundreds of young people crowded together. The memory is still very vivid. There were many couples hugging each other, and someone sprayed canned beer on me.¡± ¡°But after the party, I couldn¡¯t get a taxi for two full hours, so I walked on the streets for a long time. The blocky stores were lit with high saturation lights, and young people with tattoos on their backs were riding high-powered motorcycles under the traffic lights. They had cigarettes in their mouths, blowing smoke, and fashionably dressed girls had their legs exposed even in the cold winter, wearing stiletto heels that were at least ten centimeters tall¡­¡± ¡°Day after day, the surrounding skyscrapers grew toward the sky, like a dense bamboo forest, and it seemed that one day they would grow to touch the sky.¡± ¡°All of this made me very uncomfortable. I didn¡¯t know where to go. It was that day that I found out I really didn¡¯t know how to enjoy myself.¡± Amy echoed, ¡°Was that when you realized you didn¡¯t fit in with city life? Or felt that this wasn¡¯t the life you wanted?¡± ¡°Yes, it was at that time that I felt I should pursue something. Of course, I¡¯m not saying big cities are bad. Some people are in small places but they like the bustle and glamour, and some people are in big cities but they like tranquility and nature. Everyone has their own aspirations, and that¡¯s all very normal.¡± Bi Fang leaned back in his chair, feeling that sharing his past was an interesting experience. His connection with the world had become a bit closer, and the audience below listened attentively. Nobody pursued the truthfulness of the story, because it had been many years, and the truth was no longer verifiable. Many people think that investigating a person is easy, even to the point of finding out how many times they peed as a child, but they are mistaken. When you¡¯re nobody, no one really cares about you, and once information is buried by time, it is much harder to know the truth. So at this moment, Bi Fang could speak freely of his past. Who would have known that among those at the New Year¡¯s event there was a future adventurer who would be renowned around the world? It was from that time onwards, Bi Fang dug deep into his heart, discovering that he shouldn¡¯t just be a nine-to-five office worker in the city, what he truly yearned for was not that. ¡°So, if you truly aspire, then just go for it, don¡¯t worry too much about those who doubt you. As long as you can take care of yourself, not everyone in a big city is miserable, and not everyone in a small place is bored. It all depends on what kind of person you are.¡± Chapter 214 - Chapter 214: Chapter 211: Criminal Element? (Two in One) Chapter 214: Chapter 211: Criminal Element? (Two in One) ¡°F**k, you¡¯re making me want to quit my job and go on an adventure.¡± Amy tossed the card onto the table, casually grabbed the jacket next to her, and stormed off, looking as though she were about to leave in a huff. Bi Fang quickly stepped forward, grabbed her, and pushed her back into her seat. The audience below burst into laughter. Having achieved her desired effect, Amy reluctantly sat back down and grumbled, ¡°Alright, for the sake of god Master Fang¡¯s face, as well as my generous salary, I¡¯ve decided to keep at it. Of course, how much longer I can take it depends on whether the station manager gives me a raise.¡± The audience laughed even louder, while Matthew in the audience was very moved. Master Fang¡¯s words had struck a chord, and in that moment, he seemed to understand his true desires and decided what he was going to do next. ¡°Okay, the third question: Do you feel tired after each live broadcast¡­? For example, when you immediately jump from one broadcast to the next without much of a break, if I¡¯m not mistaken, the interval between desert and migration was very short, and the previous live broadcasts usually happened once a month, lasting only five days?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, it can be exhausting at times, but as long as I manage my fatigue, it¡¯s fine. There are two kinds of tiredness: mental and physical. Physical exhaustion is easy to recover from; I¡¯m still young and energetic. As for mental fatigue, I¡¯m equally well off. If this is the life I¡¯ve chosen to pursue, how could I be tired?¡± ¡°No more talk.¡± Amy pulled out her phone and started tapping away furiously, ¡°I¡¯m going to start booking my flights now.¡± ¡°Stop, if you leave, who will host the show?¡± Bi Fang pressed down on Amy¡¯s phone. Amy was about to be touched by his concern when she heard Bi Fang continue, ¡°Just finish hosting this event before you go. It won¡¯t be too late, I¡¯m still waiting for my big reveal.¡± Amy rolled her eyes, withdrawing her phone. Bi Fang¡¯s response had reminded her of another question, ¡°How old are you this year?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be twenty-five after this year.¡± Amy was dumbstruck. She glanced around at the audience before returning to her senses, ¡°How on earth are you so young? As far as I know, you¡¯re not only a retired special forces soldier, you¡¯re also an expert in geography, astronomy, meteorology, math, and even biology!¡± Right then, the big screen timely displayed exciting excerpts from Bi Fang¡¯s past live broadcasts. Predicting an impending storm through various signs. Determining the latitude and longitude by observing the stars. Calculating the direction of local erosion based on wind and sand erosion, as well as geographic location. Solving trigonometric functions and their inverses using just a piece of paper and a pen, and so on. The audience screamed in excitement at these highlights, marveling at how cool it was for one person to know so much. Not only that, but Amy revealed more, ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not 007? And according to our research, you even attended the Hunter Academy, graduating with the highest honors!¡± Hunter Academy? The audience was taken aback, many of them not having heard of the place, but the name alone sounded impressive. Seeing the audience¡¯s confusion, Amy briefly explained what the Hunter Academy was. The Hunter Academy, located in the tropical jungles of Venezuela, is a world-renowned special forces training center, where countries from around the world send their best soldiers to train. Due to ¡°Devil Selection¡± process, which mimics actual combat in terms of environment, conditions, situations, and methods, the dropout rate is a staggering 50% to 80%! Experiencing death is almost like a daily meal at the academy. Sometimes, while the members are still asleep, a squad of armed militants would burst into the dorms, blindfold them, and haul them off to the depths of the forest in vehicles. After getting off the vehicle, the first thing that greeted them was poison gas. Without any protection or preparation, the team members were completely exposed to the toxic gas for 3 minutes. Then came resistance to beating, where many times trainees were beaten until they were left with just a breath. In sub-zero conditions, they were drenched for two hours with ice water mixtures, ate only one meal a day, received no food if training fell behind, and a 48-hour interruption of training was deemed an automatic withdrawal, among other things. As a result, some team members returned to their hometowns with regrets, some became disabled along the way and were discharged, and some even unfortunately lost their lives. This was also a brand-new experience arranged by the system after Bi Fang became a special forces member with a Purple status. The audience below, just by listening to a simple oral description from Amy, could already feel the danger involved, gasping in alarm, with many emotional female fans even starting to shed tears secretly. Bi Fang scratched his eyebrows: ¡°Maybe this is genius? I started school rather early, the university I attended wasn¡¯t bad, it was prestigious, I was not even eighteen at the time, and I competed to enlist in my freshman year.¡± ¡°I was doing a dual track at that time, studying while training. Four years later, when I was twenty-two, I directly got my diploma. I joined Hunter Academy for training when I was twenty-three, for a period of one month. I didn¡¯t retire until this year.¡± The original host wasn¡¯t actually such a failure; he indeed got into a key university, but once he was in college, he began to indulge himself. Starting from the first year, he stopped attending classes and spent all day playing games in his rental house. Many of his classmates didn¡¯t even remember him, and later when his family went bankrupt and almost didn¡¯t recover, he only lasted three months at a job, getting fired before he even got to know all his colleagues. Thus, the timeline matched up perfectly, the original host was such a person who was never seen. Therefore, Bi Fang was able to speak frankly, with candidness, and his acting wasn¡¯t particularly convincing. His emotional fluctuations were not strong when he spoke; it was as if he had come to terms with it, displaying a carefree demeanor that didn¡¯t take hardships to heart. This directly left the female fans in the audience stunned. Had Bi Fang really suffered so much? It really didn¡¯t show at all¡­ Surely, effort pays off! ¡°Wow, amazing!¡± Amy was equally amazed; this was an experience beyond the imagination of ordinary people. If this were a novel, it would be the perfect protagonist template! ¡°No wonder you could defeat three poachers at the same time. Is there any place on this Earth that you cannot reach? I want to know, is there anywhere you wouldn¡¯t dare go?¡± ¡°There probably isn¡¯t,¡± Bi Fang said with a slight smile. ¡°I¡¯m still young, and I plan to explore many more places in the future¡ªMount Everest, the deep sea, the Amazon, the Congo¡ªall of these most dangerous places on Earth, I will visit one by one, letting everyone continue to join me on these adventures.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Amy couldn¡¯t believe it, he joyfully said, ¡°Will you truly visit these places in the future? I mean the Amazon, Mount Everest, and so forth?¡± ¡°Yes, I will keep live streaming, and the adventure will never stop. I hope that everyone will continue to support me as always.¡± ¡°Support! Definitely support!¡± ¡°I will keep watching!¡± ¡°As long as you dare to broadcast, I dare to watch!¡± Amy took the opportunity to ask her real question: ¡°Do you have any idea what the next live stream will be about?¡± As soon as this question was asked, the audience became restless. This was the topic they were most concerned about¡ªwhen would the next live stream be, and what would it involve. ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t have control over the content of the next mission,¡± Bi Fang spread his hands, looking helpless, ¡°because I¡¯ve decided to cooperate with the World Exploration Channel, and the contract is signed. However, they keep a mystery and don¡¯t want to reveal the content to me, which means the next adventure is also unknown to me.¡± ¡°World Exploration Channel? Do you mean that we can watch your live stream on TV next time?¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± The audience was completely insane, not expecting to actually hear such explosive news on the spot. Was this not first-hand information? Not only that, but Bi Fang struck while the iron was hot and revealed his collaboration with Disney. ¡°Not long ago, Disney also came to me, wanting to buy the rights from my hands. They hope to collaborate on an animated movie, as well as a long animated series. The content of the series is undecided, but the content of the animated movie will be about this goose migration, and I agreed,¡± he said. The scene was dead silent, and Amy hadn¡¯t expected to break such big news either; he took a sip of water to calm his nerves, ¡°So how much did they pay you for the rights?¡± ¡°Thirty million dollars.¡± ¡°Pfff!¡± Amy spit out his water, questioning life: ¡°Are you sure Disney only bought the rights and didn¡¯t ask you to star in it?¡± ¡°Yes, just the rights.¡± ¡°My god! Thirty million dollars?¡± What is a successful man? This F** is a successful man! ¡­ ¡°My god, did you hear that? Master Fang is going to make a movie with Disney!¡± Gwendolyn pinched Peter¡¯s neck, disbelieving the scene before her¡ªit was too dreamy. Her favorite movie production company was actually going to craft a movie about her idol¡¯s deeds, even promising to keep over ninety percent of the storylines! Even the dubbing was decided to be done by the protagonist of the event himself! ¡°Yes, yes, I heard it too. I must go to the cinema to watch it!¡± Peter¡¯s face was flushed with excitement. Watching Bi Fang speak so eloquently on TV filled him with admiration. This episode was too exciting, thrilling to the core. Not only was there cooperation with Discovery Channel, but there were also updates about Disney¡¯s animation. All of it made Bi Fang¡¯s fans¡¯ hearts swell with excitement! The TV program continued; the humorous and witty conversation between Amy and Bi Fang made the over-an-hour-long show not the least bit dull. Bi Fang even criticized and ridiculed animal protection organizations extensively. ¡°The simplest and most mistaken basic views of animal protection organizations are two. First: Utilization is not protection, demanding an end to humans directly utilizing wildlife resources, and granting a moral superiority to those who do not use them¡ªsuch as vegetarians, who often proudly display their dietary philosophy as moral,¡± he elucidated. ¡°Second: Protection is non-utilization; this view goes a step further, advocating for protection by outright attacking utilization. To put it bluntly, the logic is a bit too simplistic. Although these two views are simple, their foundational logic is fundamentally flawed, but they have caused ideological impacts that have influenced the rules set in many countries and regions.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Amy was somewhat confused. He had always thought that Bi Fang was a staunch animal protectionist, but his views turned out to be completely different. ¡°In fact, if a species can still be utilized in various ways, then it possesses certain value; and if this value can be reflected back into conservation, then we don¡¯t have to worry about it going extinct at all. On the contrary, those species that can hardly be used by any means are the ones whose futures are genuinely concerning. Under the objective premise that ¡®inability to use¡¯ leads to ¡®no utilization,¡¯ they receive absolutely no protection.¡± ¡°This is the ultimate means of animal protection: by establishing legal pathways, by increasing the value of animals, by making the public understand this value.¡± Peter nodded thoughtfully, seemingly understanding Bi Fang¡¯s point. In fact, humans have never truly protected animals but rather value. Anyone who has studied biology knows that every species has direct value, indirect value, potential value, And so-called species protection is actually about preserving their potential value, the unknown parts that are beneficial to humans. This is what Bi Fang, a true animal conservationist, does and is why he was willing to go to such great lengths to migrate geese. ¡°Humans are part of nature; humans and nature are not in opposition but should coexist inseparably. But this does not mean that humans in nature cannot live better. It doesn¡¯t mean that humans necessarily have to face nature in a predatory way, nor does nature have to react in extreme ways.¡± ¡°Wild horses stir the dust, the evolution of all things is interrelated, and among thousands of possibilities, there indeed exists a path for long-term coexistence.¡± Well said! Countless viewers in front of their screens had a moment of clarity, especially the people in Ugly Country, who had long suffered the so-called ¡°animal protection¡± woes. Now, when compared to Bi Fang¡¯s spirit, the superiority was immediately clear! So strong. Is this what a real powerhouse is? Strength and wisdom combined! As a result, this episode became a smash hit, even making it to the headlines of several variety entertainment editions, scathingly criticizing animal protection behavior. The voices supporting Bi Fang became particularly loud. Although there was a minority who opposed him, the overall public opinion supported Bi Fang. Subsequently, the view count of Bi Fang¡¯s videos started to rise once more. Breaking ten million views was now routine; if it didn¡¯t break ten million, it was only because the platform was subpar. Some merchants even noticed that even reindeer toys suddenly sold a lot more, but it was definitely not because of Christmas; otherwise, why would only reindeer sales jump, not Santa Claus? Who are they underestimating? ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of being opposed?¡± In the hot spring, Amy asked Bi Fang, while Wang Yongbo also cast a concerned look, as he was the man most worried about Bi Fang¡¯s career. After recording the program, Bi Fang and Amy exchanged contact information, becoming friends. He didn¡¯t hurry back but stayed to discuss some business and script matters with Disney. A week had passed, and everything was taken care of. They all agreed to find a place to have some fun together. It just so happened that Disney had arranged a hot spring resort for Bi Fang, which resulted in the three men soaking in the hot spring together. ¡°What¡¯s there to be afraid of? What I said is the truth, and it is correct. I don¡¯t need everyone to like me, nor do I need everyone to become my friend or fan,¡± Bi Fang took a sip of orange juice, ¡°Just as I don¡¯t need to do everything well, doing one thing well in a lifetime is enough to live well. That¡¯s the secret to my success.¡± ¡°Awesome!¡± Amy gave a thumbs up. As a host, he wasn¡¯t so fortunate; he had to be careful with everything he said, as a slip-up could spell the end of his career. Indeed, only someone at the pinnacle of their own field has the privilege to be whimsical. However, as the three men were enjoying the hot spring comfortably, several figures avoided the attendants and ran towards the hot spring with several boxes in tow. ¡°Are you clear on the target? Is it definitely him?¡± ¡°No doubt, there are only two Huaxia men, and he¡¯s definitely not that fat bald guy.¡± After confirming the target, the leading man looked around cautiously to ensure no one was nearby. He then unlocked the box, which surprisingly contained a long rifle! Chapter 215 - Chapter 215: Chapter 212: Will Doing This Get Me Killed? Chapter 215: Chapter 212: Will Doing This Get Me Killed? ¡°Boss, aren¡¯t we going to get killed doing this?¡± Fourth Brother looked worried as he watched Boss load his gun. He had seen videos of Bi Fang taking on Poachers all by himself, one against a team, impressively taking no one seriously, beating them as if they were dogs. If the opposite side got their act together, were they even enough to be killed by Bi Fang alone? He certainly didn¡¯t want to lose control of his bladder and bowels. ¡°Relax.¡± Second Brother handed a syringe to Boss and patted Fourth Brother on the shoulder to comfort him, ¡°I¡¯ve watched that video many times. The guy pulls his punches¡ªno one died. Even if we get caught, it won¡¯t be too bad.¡± The comforted Fourth Brother looked to the heavens and cried, ¡°Why do I feel even more worried now¡­¡± ¡°Shut up, can you two say something encouraging for once!¡± Boss, who was loading the syringe, slapped Fourth Brother on the forehead, clearly angered. The operation hadn¡¯t even started, and his brothers were already speaking such discouraging words. In Huaxia terms, this was like boosting the enemy¡¯s morale while undermining your own prestige! And you, Second Brother, is that what you call comforting someone? What do you mean ¡®it won¡¯t be too bad¡¯? Not getting killed is a success? Can¡¯t you speak like a normal person? ¡°Do you think I haven¡¯t watched his videos? Sun Zi said it well: Know the enemy and know yourself, and you¡¯ll fight without danger in many battles. I¡¯ve studied carefully. Although the target takes on four, he mostly creates one-on-one situations. We have four people; as long as we don¡¯t let him get the chance for one-on-one, wouldn¡¯t that be fine?¡± We might not be special forces, but at least we¡¯re professional soldiers. Four men working together, guns in hand, and we can¡¯t handle one naked man? ¡°Amazing, Boss! You even know Chinese! You¡¯re so dedicated!¡± Third Brother was impressed by Boss¡¯s display of Chinese. Boss, flattered by the praise, tilted his head back with pride and snorted, ¡°Of course! Besides, we signed a contract! If we really get hit, we just surrender, right?¡± ¡°You¡¯re awesome. How did I not think of that? Boss, you¡¯re even smarter than Uncle Yule¡¯s little dog!¡± ¡°Idiot! Is that supposed to be a compliment?¡± ¡°What was that noise?¡± Bi Fang looked back and saw four pillars standing quietly in the bathroom, the spacious area empty. Disney had booked the place, and the staff had been instructed not to disturb, so other than them, there shouldn¡¯t be anyone else there. Amy asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing, probably just heard something wrong,¡± Bi Fang pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling dizzy. Perhaps he had soaked too long. Then he stood up from the water and stepped onto the golden teakwood floor, ¡°Continue soaking, I¡¯m going out for a drink.¡± On the huge computer screen, Bi Fang walked out of the hot spring. There were floral paintings hanging on the wall, and crystal chandeliers one after another on the ceiling. The four men undertaking the mission peeked at Bi Fang using a reflective mirror, tiptoeing and constantly moving around, keeping close together and always staying behind the large pillars. ¡°Jerret, what should we do? He hasn¡¯t found out, has he?¡± Safety assistant Pondy was worried that their plan might have already been exposed, and if so, today¡¯s preparation would have been in vain. ¡°Impossible, all the crew members who know about this signed confidentiality agreements. It must be him suspecting something on his own.¡± Jerret was very confident in his own arrangements. Every step was flawless. The only unexpected event could only happen with Bi Fang. The station placed great importance on the collaboration with Bi Fang, sending Chief Director Jerret to take full charge of the arrangements. Today¡¯s scene was the result of Jerret¡¯s meticulous planning¡ªthey were going to kidnap Bi Fang! Long before Bi Fang entered the hot spring resort, they had set up an ¡°Inescapable Net¡± here, ensuring that every camera could capture the action. The entire process was completely real. The arresting party¡¯s rifles contained a total of ten tranquilizer darts, all intended for Bi Fang¡¯s trio. Once the capture was successful, they would start transporting Bi Fang to the destination to begin a new wilderness live broadcast! Of course, the capture might be a bit rough, but Bi Fang had given his consent when signing the contract, as long as there was a fifteen-day transition period to rest after the last broadcast, the rest didn¡¯t matter. But now there seemed to be a problem. Bi Fang appeared to have sensed something amiss and had come out of the hot spring! The capturing group was extremely nervous, their hearts almost leaping from their throats, yet Bi Fang walked straight out of the bathroom, completely unaware of their presence. Jerret breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, they hadn¡¯t been discovered. Otherwise, if Bi Fang had taken the initiative, they couldn¡¯t guarantee that the four of them could overpower him. The track record of one against four in the night was too astonishing. Even with the advantage of time and location, the bloody and barbaric scene was still haunting, especially the lighting effects after the flashlight fell, which were in no way inferior to a Huailaiwu blockbuster. Moreover, Jerret didn¡¯t want his great idea to go down the drain. He believed that as long as he released this capture scene, it would definitely attract a huge audience. The anticipation was maxed out. The Discovery Channel was a company specialized in producing programs about adventure, history, the outdoors, and technology. They decided to collaborate with Bi Fang because they were interested in his wilderness live broadcast¡ªit was a novel theme and his significant abilities provided the company with many ideas for program development. Jerret, as the person in charge, had high expectations placed on him. Therefore, the company specially set up a brand-new program team. Led by Jerret, they started the collaboration, creating a new wilderness live broadcast show. This program was the Discovery Channel¡¯s first attempt at a live broadcast format, to be streamed on Wolf Fang TV domestically, live on the Ugly Country¡¯s Discovery Channel, and globally on MeTube, combining the three streams into one. In order to have a good start, the Discovery Channel had reviewed all of Bi Fang¡¯s wilderness broadcasts. Initially, seeing Bi Fang always surviving alone, they thought it might be interesting to add another person to form a wilderness duo for survival challenges. However, after discussions and assessments by professionals, they created a scoring system based on outdoor skills, physical condition, knowledge level, and mental state. This also took into consideration the assessment criteria of the Marine Corps. With each section worth up to ten points, they were surprised to find that Bi Fang¡¯s PSR score was exceptionally high, exceeding 8 points, reaching a level of 8.1! Even if speaking solely on knowledge level and outdoor skills, he had far surpassed special forces level, belonging to professional domain expertise¡ªthe so-called research specialists¡­ So the person who proposed the idea was embarrassed because, without professional selection, it would be hard for them to find a ¡°partner¡± who could match Bi Fang¡¯s level in a short time. If the skill gap was too wide, it wouldn¡¯t be a ¡°partner,¡± but rather a burden. In the end, Jerret determined the course of action with his own plan, starting with a ¡°kidnapping,¡± followed by an airdrop into the sea for a twenty-one-day survival challenge! Jerret gripped the walkie-talkie tightly, ¡°We must succeed!¡± On the big screen, Bi Fang came into the lobby and looked around. The attendants who were originally present seemed to have all disappeared, leaving the entire lobby empty and echoing. Bi Fang shook his head. He tightened his bathrobe around him, rotated his neck, took a deep breath, and finally turned to look back down the corridor. ¡°Come out, how much longer do you intend to hide?¡± Chapter 216 - Chapter 216: Chapter 213 Kneeling on the Ground Chapter 216: Chapter 213 Kneeling on the Ground At the moment when Bi Fang announced the presence of the four, the audience in the livestream who had watched the entire process exclaimed in surprise. [Holy shit, they got discovered just like that? So thrilling!] [Damn, is the Discovery Channel playing this wild now? Secretly live-streaming behind Master Fang?] [Why the bath towel wrap? Master Fang¡¯s body is too amazing, right? Worship!] [Photographer: I¡¯m an old photographer, the kind that finds rice in chicken legs.] [This can¡¯t be scripted, can it?] [Stop kidding, Old Fang¡¯s livestream with a script? I¡¯d be the first to call bull! But this capture team seems pretty dumb, so unreliable.] [This livestream is so sudden, no heads-up or promotion. If not for a friend telling me and the push notification, I would have thought I was scammed.] Many viewers were originally playing with their phones when they suddenly received a notification for the livestream, completely without any prior announcements, unlike previous times where there would be posters released in advance. By the time they entered the livestream, they saw the group of four discussing how to capture Bi Fang. At first, they really thought it was poachers seeking revenge, but as they continued watching, they realized something was amiss. Old Fang actually didn¡¯t know! They hadn¡¯t expected the start of the livestream to be so explosive, being able to witness such an exciting scene! Kidnapping Master Fang? Too interesting! The only prayer of the audience was for the somewhat dumb four-man team not to get into trouble; they felt that if a real confrontation happened, it wouldn¡¯t even be a minute before Master Fang would be on the ground begging them not to die. Seeing the feedback from the viewers, Jerret excitedly clenched his fists. Indeed, his arrangement was correct; this setup was definitely going to catch the audience¡¯s eye! But upon hearing Bi Fang¡¯s words, the group of four didn¡¯t make any rash moves, who knew whether Bi Fang was just bluffing them¡­ ¡°Four people, huh? Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s too few? But you do seem well-prepared.¡± The group at the corridor entrance all stiffened in unison, with the Boss almost dropping his gun. Had they really been discovered? That shouldn¡¯t be possible, right? They had hidden themselves so well, how could they have been found? Damn it, when did it happen! Third Brother tugged at Boss¡¯s sleeve, awkwardly saying, ¡°Boss, what do we do?¡± The Boss shrugged off Third Brother¡¯s hand and hissed softly in anger, ¡°How the fuck would I know?¡± ¡°Maybe, ask the director?¡± ¡°Right, ask the director.¡± ¡°Yes, when in doubt, ask the director, that¡¯s always the right move!¡± The Boss was taken aback, then hesitantly pressed his Bluetooth earpiece. Actually, he didn¡¯t really want to contact the director; if he¡¯d been discovered, then the plan was as good as exposed, wouldn¡¯t that mean they¡¯d accomplished nothing? Could they even get paid? But on his brothers¡¯ advice, the Boss still hesitated, ¡°Should we ask then?¡± ¡°Ask!¡± ¡°Hurry up and ask!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go home early.¡± Second Brother, Third Brother, and Fourth Brother immediately nodded in agreement. They didn¡¯t care about the pay; they had revered Bi Fang from the start, and now that they had been unexpectedly exposed, they were even more frightened. True to his reputation as a heart-eating big devil! Way too scary. The money burns in the hand! Just thinking about being stabbed in the neck and having their hearts dug out and eaten alive, the brothers shuddered. But to Bi Fang, it was strange; could he have been mistaken? Initially soaking in the hot spring, he indeed thought he was just light-headed, but on the way from the bathroom to the corridor, besides the smell of sulfur and floral fragrance, he had also smelled a very strong scent of sweat, and more than one kind at that. The other side might have four or five people. At that moment, Bi Fang thought of the poachers¡¯ team seeking retaliation, but then he recalled the Adventure Channel¡¯s advice not to panic. The two possibilities left him conflicted, unsure whether it was real or fake, and if it was fake, whether he should play along? No matter which it was, Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t let his guard down and recklessly put himself in danger, lest Wang Yongbo and Amy get injured by mistake. After finishing his call with the director, the boss stiffened even more, and his brothers quickly inquired about the situation. The boss clenched his teeth, ¡°The director said no work, no pay! If we pull this off, our wages will be tripled! And all medical expenses will be reimbursed afterward!¡± ¡°Tripled?¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Are the medical expenses definitely covered?¡± Boss, Second Brother, and Third Brother all turned to look at Fourth Brother, who scratched his head awkwardly, ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that, I¡¯m okay even if they don¡¯t reimburse¡­¡± ¡°Damn it, let¡¯s do it!¡± Driven by the huge reward, the four-man crew forgot their fear of Bi Fang and rallied. The boss raised his tranquilizer gun, ready to make a big move now that they had been discovered, there was no choice but¡­ Huh, where¡¯d he go? The boss, just as he raised his gun to set up the ambush, was taken aback. The end of the hallway was now completely empty, void of Bi Fang¡¯s figure. ¡°Boss, he¡¯s gone!¡± ¡°I fucking know!¡± The boss was nearly dying of anger; from the beginning until now, his teammates had only been rattling his composure, ¡°Quick, go back and check if the other two are still there!¡± Still, they had all been trained, and upon hearing the reminder, they instantly realized the opponent might have employed a diversionary tactic! By the time they got back to the bathroom, indeed, the fatty and the white guy had also vanished! They¡¯d been played! ¡°Chase!¡± The boss immediately gave the order. There were only two exits, and the passage they were just in was completely devoid of people, which meant they¡¯d left through the other exit! Inside the RV, Jerret was now extremely excited; this was precisely the effect he wanted! On the screen, after leading Wang Yongbo and Amy away, Bi Fang had not left but instead put on his clothes, ran to the control room to shut off the ventilation system, and then returned to the bathroom! And in places hidden from Bi Fang¡¯s view, the audience was already buzzing with excitement. It was indeed Master Fang; he didn¡¯t even try to flee, he stood his ground! Without the ventilation, the mist from the hot spring slowly dissipated, soon filling the entire room. By the time the four realized something was wrong, it was too late, and they could only silently huddle together, back to back. But this also made it difficult for the audience to identify what was happening, as the misty fog not only blinded the crew but also obscured their vision. ¡°Damn it, it¡¯s a trap!¡± Huddled together, the boss was filled with regret. This situation was strikingly similar to when Bi Fang used the cover of night to attack the poachers. They quickly formed a circle and then retreated from the bathroom to avoid being picked off one by one and repeating the tragedy. But the camera angles in the footage switched rapidly, and the audience quickly realized that Bi Fang wasn¡¯t using the element of surprise to launch stealth attacks like last time but had instead gone to the kitchen. Was he looking for tools? Seeing pots, pans, ladles, and spatulas, the audience first thought Bi Fang might go for a knife to arm himself, but wouldn¡¯t that be going a bit too far? What if Bi Fang really mistook these people for poachers and killed them? But then, they discovered that Bi Fang didn¡¯t reach for a knife; instead, he rummaged through cabinets and drawers until he found a rolling pin! [Ah, I feel like Master Fang has already guessed it.] [Right, Old Fang is a bit too smart.] [Later on, we¡¯ll have to play along with the ¡°kidnapping.¡±] At this moment, the audience felt even sadder for the four-man crew. It wasn¡¯t that they had confidence in Bi Fang, but the crew¡¯s recent performance was just pathetic, showing fear before a fight, even talking about reimbursed medical expenses. However, all of this was still within Jerret¡¯s plan. Everyone had no confidence in the four-man crew, but who said being timid wasn¡¯t an advantage? Chapter 217 - Chapter 217: Chapter 214: Dont Jinx It Chapter 217: Chapter 214: Don¡¯t Jinx It The quartet¡¯s idea was right: no matter how formidable a person is, it¡¯s hard to fend off the hands of four, and Bi Fang could defeat the Poachers primarily by creating one-on-one conditions. When the group huddled together like a turtle shell, Bi Fang really had a hard time making a move. If he couldn¡¯t take down all four at once, any one of them firing a shot meant game over. ¡°Hahaha, as long as I¡¯m cowardly enough, even Master Fang can¡¯t do anything to me!¡± ¡°I¡¯m actually quite looking forward to it, to see Master Fang being kidnapped.¡± ¡°There is something to that; I also want to see what it looks like when the invincible Master Fang is humbled.¡± The audience, ever the instigators of chaos, were used to seeing Master Fang have the upper hand and were curious to see what Bi Fang would look like humbled after being captured. Quite thrilling. But the audience still underestimated Bi Fang. He hid at the end of the corridor, just waiting for the quartet to emerge from the thick fog. When he saw the type of firearms they were holding, Bi Fang felt reassured. They were tranquilizer guns! Tranquilizer guns have a distinctive look. To accommodate the thin, long tranquilizer darts, the design of the tranquilizer gun is quite different from that of a regular gun. The rifles are generally thin and long, somewhat resembling blow pipes at first glance, while the pistols are similar to break-action guns, also having a thin, long barrel. Of course, a few don¡¯t have long barrels, but their design is still distinct from mainstream pistols and easy to tell apart. So when Bi Fang saw the tranquilizer guns, he understood that the show¡¯s arrangement was highly probable. If it were truly a reprisal from a poaching organization, they wouldn¡¯t bother with such trouble. This was Ugly Li Jian, where gun battles were a daily affair, and a moment¡¯s worth of bullets were far cheaper than a few dozen or hundred tranquilizer darts. With this in mind, Bi Fang took a step forward and shouted from the end of the corridor, ¡°Hey, how much is the show paying you? I¡¯ll pay double!¡± The addressed quartet hesitated: ¡°???¡± Could you give us some face? We¡¯re trying to kidnap here! However, double sounded quite nice; more appealing than triple. If it meant getting double after the capture, that would be even better¡­ While Second Brother was lost in indecision, Boss slapped him across the face, ¡°What are you thinking? Where¡¯s your professional ethic? We¡¯re live here, who¡¯s going to hire you after you do this!¡± Second Brother was startled, damn, Boss was absolutely right, no wonder he was the boss. He¡¯d been careless to think he could replace him! Dammit, not only was the opponent strong, but he was also adept at psychological warfare! ¡°Hahaha, I¡¯m dying of laughter, how did the style suddenly change?¡± ¡°Did the Adventure Channel turn into the Comedy Channel? Where did the show¡¯s crew find these four clowns?¡± ¡°Such a disgrace to Ugly Country¡¯s military!¡± ¡°Speaking of which, don¡¯t you think these four guys look alike? Do I feel like they¡¯re siblings?¡± The audience was in stitches. If comedy was the show¡¯s aim, they¡¯d successfully achieved it. The online friends were witnessing a live broadcast in the style of a comedy film for the first time. Bi Fang appeared before them¡ªa golden opportunity the quartet couldn¡¯t let slip away. They immediately raised their guns to shoot, but Bi Fang¡¯s body flickered, using the wall as cover as he turned and ran. ¡°Chase him!¡± Hearing the footsteps receding, Boss immediately ran toward the end of the corridor with his gun raised, but the audience felt a little sorry to watch any longer. Because at the end of the corridor, on the front side, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t gone anywhere. Instead, he was rooted to the spot, creating the illusion for the quartet that he had fled. Even worse, he had not only made off with a rolling pin from the kitchen, but also a large bucket of cooking oil! Listening to the footsteps drawing nearer, Bi Fang splashed the contents of the oil bucket forcefully onto the ground! The top half of the oil bucket had been entirely removed, offering no resistance at all, and a large amount of golden oil was instantly sprawl. The quartet almost simultaneously stormed forward. Seeing Bi Fang emerge, they went on high alert, only to then realize what was being thrown at them. Years of military training had them instinctively hit the deck. The next moment, an extremely slippery sensation came from the ground. ¡°Ahhh!!!¡± The four men were sprawled out, sliding through the hallway like bowling balls, leaving behind long, oily skid marks, unable to stop. ¡°What a pity for the custodian.¡± Bi Fang sighed, avoiding the cooking oil on the floor and heading towards the last of the four. The struggling Third Brother, who had fallen behind, tried to get up frantically, but the floor and his body were covered in golden grease, offering no friction or reaction force. ¡°Fuck, don¡¯t come over here!¡± Seeing that he couldn¡¯t get up, Third Brother scrambled to pick up the anesthetic gun that had slid even further away, but Bi Fang was faster, darting between the gaps in the oily mess of the four men, stepping on the gun before picking it up and pulling the trigger, under Third Brother¡¯s desperate gaze. And so, the group of four was down by one. ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± The Boss, true to his title, got up the fastest and aimed at Bi Fang, but Bi Fang was always one step ahead and immediately ducked behind a pillar. The tranquilizer dart struck the pillar squarely and then fell to the floor. Without hesitation, Bi Fang dashed off into the distance, knowing that the anesthetic gun had limited ammunition. He checked and saw that after firing that shot, the gun was out of ammo. As Bi Fang ran farther and farther away, the Boss¡¯s eyes reddened with rage. He crawled over to Third Brother, looking at his brother who was about to close his eyes, he couldn¡¯t help but grasp his hand. Under the influence of the drug, Third Brother¡¯s eyelids grew heavier. He looked up at his big brother and said with difficulty, ¡°Boss, Boss¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m here, if you have anything to say, I¡¯ll do everything in my power to make it happen!¡± Tears filled Third Brother¡¯s eyes as he was touched by his big brother¡¯s sincere words. With his last bit of energy before closing his eyes, he advised, ¡°If you guys succeed, will my share still count?¡± Looking at his brother whose eyes were about to close, the Boss couldn¡¯t bear to tell him the truth and said firmly, ¡°It counts!¡± ¡°Then I can rest easy¡­¡± With his answer, Third Brother smiled and closed his eyes. ¡°Boss, Boss, what do we do next?¡± The remaining two finally managed to get up from the ground and carefully approached the Boss, asking what should be done next. ¡°Of course, we keep chasing.¡± The Boss wiped away his tears, and just as he tried to stand up, he fell again, the hard floor hitting his pelvic bone, causing excruciating pain. Second Brother and Fourth Brother quickly helped him up. Standing up while rubbing his sore behind, the Boss felt indignant, ¡°Although he took Third Brother¡¯s gun, no worries, I had foreseen the possibility of the guns being taken, so I loaded only one tranquilizer dart in each. Since he has dealt with Third Brother, that gun is useless now, giving us the upper hand!¡± Second Brother and Fourth Brother were amazed by the Boss¡¯s wisdom and bravery. [Stop jinxing it!] [I¡¯m numbed; it feels like we¡¯re heading for a total wipeout.] [Surviving without getting shot counts as a success!] Seeing this, the audience had lost much hope. Comparing the two sides, Bi Fang seemed much more formidable, not breaking a sweat and even looking rosy from his bath. The group, no, now a trio, was not only covered in oil but also had to walk gingerly to avoid falling flat on their faces. ¡°My god, I can¡¯t believe I missed such an exciting scene!¡± At that moment, Amy and Wang Yongbo, who had just left the resort, were informed by the staff about the event and exclaimed at the thrill of Bi Fang effortlessly taking down a captor. Inside the resort, the trio changed into their shoes and became even more cautious, while Bi Fang faced a bit of a challenge with such wimps. It was just as Jerret had guessed, being cowardly enough seemed to really grant them invincibility. Chapter 218 - Chapter 218: Chapter 215: Spare Me, Hero (Vote for me monthly) Chapter 218: Chapter 215: Spare Me, Hero (Vote for me monthly) But following in the direction of Bi Fang¡¯s escape, the three of them searched for quite some time without finding anyone, and even the crew couldn¡¯t switch to Bi Fang¡¯s footage at this moment. If it weren¡¯t for the last shot capturing where Bi Fang went, the audience would¡¯ve really believed that Old Fang had already left the building. Inside the live broadcasting room, the audience erupted in astonishment. [Damn, can you really crawl through air ducts?] [I always thought it was fake in movies] [Pretty badass!] Indeed, Bi Fang had crawled into an air duct! The trio gathered together, covering all directions, and their movements were extraordinarily cautious; they even tested the waters when turning a corner, which really didn¡¯t give him many opportunities to attack. No matter from which side he would launch a surprise attack, he would be quickly discovered, and then the other two would initiate their attack. If he wanted to approach silently, he would have to choose the blind spots in their vision, from above or below. He couldn¡¯t tunnel underground, but he could opt to strike from above! Bi Fang had carefully observed the floor plan; the air ducts spread in all directions, and as long as he could seize the opportunity, along with a little bit of luck, his plan could succeed. As soon as he entered the duct, Bi Fang felt very uncomfortable, with water stains everywhere, and all of it was cold water. The difference between movies and reality was quite significant. In reality, few air ducts can accommodate the size of an adult. Such places are mostly air shafts. Even large hotels wouldn¡¯t be equipped with such exaggerated air ducts, but there are a few exceptions, such as banquet halls over 200 square meters or certain areas that require large-scale dehumidifying, like hot spring resorts. Coincidentally, the location where Bi Fang was met both of these conditions. But as soon as Bi Fang entered, he realized something was wrong¡ªthe steel plate was too thin! The air ducts were made of galvanized steel with a thickness of about 3mm, and Bi Fang¡¯s physique, weighing over 78kg, questioned whether it could bear his weight. Even the sound he made while crawling was quite loud. Fortunately, because the air ducts often got wet, there wasn¡¯t much dust inside, only some mold at the corners, and possibly some small insects. ¡°Damn it, movies are such a damn lie.¡± With no other choice, Bi Fang could only inch along cautiously, sliding through the duct while trying to spread out his body as much as possible to avoid putting too much pressure on the duct. When he reached the first vent, he didn¡¯t dare to move, realizing that the steel beneath him was slightly deformed. He couldn¡¯t crawl any further, as Bi Fang worried that he might fall through before reaching the position he desired. So he decided to unscrew the vent, opened it up, and waited quietly for the trio to arrive. The wait lasted over ten minutes. The deformation of the steel plate beneath Bi Fang grew more severe, and he thought about retreating. However, to his fortune, the trio actually came. Looking down through the grate, Bi Fang watched as the trio slowly approached. He glanced at their direction of movement, which was a bit off. Even at their closest point, there was still a gap of over a meter. It all depended on who reacted faster. [Damn, why does this feel like watching a horror movie? Something jumps out and scares you suddenly] [Why hasn¡¯t Old Fang come out yet? How can he hide?] [I seriously suspect that Old Fang has already left] Not just the audience, even the trio began to doubt that their target might have snuck away, but since the director hadn¡¯t informed them, they had no choice but to bravely keep searching. The trio had no idea that not far from them, a vent was quietly being moved. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s check over there,¡± Boss indicated a direction, and just as the three took a few steps, a sudden sound of metal echoed from above! Boss was stunned, his scalp tingling as if a million tiny insects were crawling over it. He shivered and instinctively looked up towards the air vent¡ªno air vent was there, just a face! Bi Fang descended from above! Second Brother and Fourth Brother quickly raised their guns, but it was already too late. Those two steps Boss took had directly positioned Bi Fang to land amidst the trio! Fuck! The audience was all shocked; they hadn¡¯t expected Bi Fang to break the deadlock in such a manner! Instantly, the four men became entangled in a scramble. Amidst the chaos, as Second Brother¡¯s gun muzzle was raised in the air, Bi Fang was already chest-to-chest with him, grabbing Second Brother¡¯s right hand, and with a reverse shot hit Fourth Brother, who was just about to get up, and then, with his arm around Second Brother¡¯s neck, he shielded himself from Second Brother¡¯s anesthetic darts using Fourth Brother. ¡°F**k!¡± Shot Fourth Brother couldn¡¯t believe it, but soon found himself twirling around as if weightless, only to be violently flung away at the last moment. The rotational force projected Fourth Brother out, and then Bi Fang pounced on Second Brother, who was starting to feel woozy. In the blink of an eye, Bi Fang had dealt with two men, leaving only the last, Boss. The audience didn¡¯t see much of a surprise or it was as they expected. If it had been three special forces operatives, perhaps not the most elite but still capable, they might have been able to wrestle with Bi Fang. But there was still a sense of unwillingness as the result unfolded. The situation developed too quickly. Just as Boss was taking aim, Bi Fang had taken Second Brother hostage for cover, making it difficult for him to get a clear shot. By the time he found an opportunity, Bi Fang had already charged over! The distance was too close, and since Boss was using a rifle, Bi Fang closed the gap in one leap, grabbing the barrel with his bare hands and lifting it upwards. At that moment, darkness fell before Boss¡¯s eyes. It¡¯s over, there goes the paycheck. He didn¡¯t even bother to struggle; he just raised his hands to show he posed no threat: ¡°I surrender, please treat the prisoner well!¡± Just as Bi Fang was about to take action, he froze. What was happening? He raised an eyebrow: ¡°Not going to put up a fight?¡± ¡°No need, I can¡¯t beat you.¡± Bi Fang was dumbfounded, scratching his eyebrow. Why did it feel like there was no sense of achievement after winning? Who was capturing whom? Yet, he didn¡¯t release his grip but continued to hold Boss hostage: ¡°Are you arranged by the show¡¯s crew?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And your objective?¡± ¡°To kidnap you, then air-drop you into the sea.¡± ¡°What to do in the current situation?¡± ¡°To tell you the truth and then hope you¡¯ll cooperate with our kidnapping.¡± Bi Fang, completely baffled, was this how laid-back it was supposed to be? Seeing that Bi Fang was flustered, Boss spoke softly, ¡°Can we discuss something?¡± ¡°Speak!¡± ¡°Pretend that we¡¯ve captured you, then we split the money with you. That way, we can still earn a bit, maybe even 1.5 times our usual pay!¡± ¡°Is that even possible?¡± ¡°I think it is. What do you say?¡± Bi Fang really didn¡¯t know what to say, but just as he was about to refuse the offer, he felt a numbness in his waist; something had struck him. An anesthetic dart was embedded in his waist; Bi Fang pulled out the dart and then looked back at Second Brother. Second Brother chuckled, then fell into complete unconsciousness, the dart gun dropping beside him. ¡°Haha, you¡¯ve been fooled.¡± Boss laughed triumphantly, this was their Plan B! The anesthetic didn¡¯t take effect immediately. Before passing out, they still possessed some ability to act, and this window was enough time for them to reload. The only downside was that the target had to be close, otherwise, the drug would greatly affect stability¡ªany farther, and the accuracy would suffer. If they couldn¡¯t win head-on, then they¡¯d feign weakness to the enemy. When the enemy thought he was sure to win, the remaining two would launch a surprise strike. No matter how formidable Bi Fang was, he was still human and bound to have emotional fluctuations. As Sun Zi said, this is known as creating a diversion! Boss tried to pry Bi Fang¡¯s grip loose but couldn¡¯t budge it and resolved to wait for the drug to take its course: ¡°I didn¡¯t realize you could hold out so well, but this fast-acting agent will have you feeling numbness over your entire body in mere seconds. Then you¡¯ll release your grip on your own¡­ see, there it is.¡± As he prised Bi Fang¡¯s hand open, Boss turned to look at him but found that he was standing tall and straight: ¡°Don¡¯t act tough now, you¡¯re¡­¡± Boss froze. Bi Fang lifted his shirt to reveal a thickly wrapped scarf. He had wrapped several layers of towels around his torso beforehand to muffle any noise while crawling through ventilation ducts¡ªthree layers inside and out. ¡°You were saying¡­ what about now?¡± Boss collapsed to his knees with a thud, covering his head and crying out. ¡°Mercy, noble sir, have mercy!¡± Chapter 219 - Chapter 219: Chapter 216: You Never Know What Will Be Airdropped from the Plane Chapter 219: Chapter 216: You Never Know What Will Be Airdropped from the Plane The city I live in has been rated as the best in the nation for public safety, and I¡¯ve made an indelible contribution to that, because I got caught¡­ Countless viewers opened the live broadcast first thing in the morning and the first thing featured on the homepage was a black and white promotional copy. The accompanying image showed a mysterious figure with a black hood over their head and hands bound, strangely familiar to all who saw it. Viewers were all baffled. Who is this impressive that their arrest is being broadcasted live? Scrolling down, they saw the disheveled capture team, each member covered in grease, clearly having gone through a fierce struggle. Holy crap, such a badass criminal? Almost as brave as Master Fang! There was also a link to a trailer. Clicking on it brought up a video. This was the program creator¡¯s condensed version of yesterday¡¯s live content, which was then simultaneously posted to MeTube, the Explore Channel, and Wolf Fang TV. [??? What kind of big shot was caught?] [Dude, didn¡¯t you watch yesterday¡¯s live broadcast?] [What live broadcast? I was at work yesterday, no time for live streams.] [Then you really missed out, you didn¡¯t see Master Fang get taken away!] [Holy shit? Master Fang was taken away? What happened? Did he commit a crime? Is there a video? Was it for cannibalism?] [I freaking knew it! Good-looking men are never up to any good. Prophecy fulfilled!] [I was wondering who could be so impressive, turns out it was Master Fang, so it¡¯s all good then.] Within less than a minute of the promotional video¡¯s release, total clicks surged past one million, and after a few hours, it had multiplied several times over. By today, it¡¯s firmly surpassed ten million views, with the majority provided by MeTube. Neither the original Wolf Fang nor the current Explore Channel can match MeTube¡¯s user base. In less than twenty-four hours, Bi Fang¡¯s promotional video topped MeTube¡¯s popularity chart, and the program team was busily gearing up for their first live broadcast. Right now, countless people are scratching their heads waiting for the live stream; the arrest broadcast was so sudden that many missed the full process. The promotional edit by the program team was naturally cut to shock and awe, causing many viewers who lagged behind with the news to actually believe that Bi Fang had done something serious, and they were dying to know the truth. Then there were the knowledgeable netizens who simply refused to spill the beans, teasing the clueless ones, just for kicks. Some even took the game further, concocting charges against him, ranging from smuggling nuclear fuel to extremist attacks, to the failed assassination of a high official from Ugly Country. The broadcast, they surmised, was a meticulously planned entry into Ugly Country¡¯s territory to get close to its dignitaries¡ªwhat an aspiring criminal mastermind he seemed to be. Bi Fang¡¯s capture was indeed real, but it was not against his will. He volunteered for it. The four-person team was utterly defeated in the capture operation, and so the real Plan B had to be initiated, which was to persuade Bi Fang to ¡°surrender¡± himself. In the end, Bi Fang saw the light and the plan went into action; the formidable tiger was caught and then airdropped into the sea to survive for twenty-one days. This time, he would have no weapons, no equipment, and the location and environmental conditions, including whether he could find land, were all unknown. The only thing accompanying him was a solitary life raft. Mission Name: Riding the Wind and Waves Mission Location: Unknown Mission Mode: Survival Mission Difficulty: S4 Mission Requirements: Aside from ordinary clothing and a life raft, no additional items may be brought along. Side Mission One: Start a live stream, with a sustained online viewer count of over eight hundred thousand. Side Mission Two: Survive twenty-one days in good health. Side Mission: Explore on your own. Minimum Reward: Intermediate Skill Upgrade Coupon*1, Shark Muscle Strengthening Coupon*1. Time Limit: Twenty-two days. The fifth livestream is about to begin! Inside the helicopter, Jerret was directing the entire team to adjust the equipment. This time, in addition to Bi Fang¡¯s own drone, they had prepared three professional solar-powered drones for filming. One was for backup, one for close-up shots, and the third for long shots. With this arrangement, there were at least three camera angles available at any given time. Aside from Bi Fang¡¯s drone, control of the shots was entirely in the hands of the director of photography to ensure the best viewing experience. ¡°Really can¡¯t give me another camera angle? I could switch them more smoothly if they were all under my control,¡± the director of photography had been eyeing Bi Fang¡¯s drone for a long time. Although their drones provided clear footage and were documentary-quality with good image resolution, they seemed to lack something compared to Bi Fang¡¯s. What exactly they lacked, he couldn¡¯t say. He just felt that someone else¡¯s was always better, always more desirable, just like when he envied his neighbor¡¯s wife. ¡°No need, my shots will coordinate with yours, there won¡¯t be any issues,¡± Bi Fang replied with a smile, hearing this while wearing his headgear. He wouldn¡¯t hand over control of his drone to anyone, and he could ensure there wouldn¡¯t be any issues with coordinating the footage. Seeing this, Jerret didn¡¯t mind and asked, ¡°Are we ready?¡± ¡°Anytime.¡± Jerret had all the staffers leave the cabin, leaving only Bi Fang and the team of four. The drone slowly took off, and the livestream began! As the broadcast started, it opened with a promotional video, from Bi Fang taking a bath to a raid by personnel, a struggle, and finally capture, followed by raging waves and various dangerous marine animals. Accompanied by the background music, a voice-over with a classic broadcaster¡¯s intonation narrated the events. As they spoke, it was a line well-known to many. ¡°Looking back on the evolutionary journey of mankind, if our ancestors hadn¡¯t been adventurous and imaginative, without the courage to innovate and the boldness to sacrifice, with grand magnanimity and splendid sentiments, humans wouldn¡¯t have taken canoes to surf the seas, to explore the endless mysteries across the oceans. ¡°Curiosity leads humans to adventure, and adventure has ignited the torch of civilization. ¡°Venturing is not only among nature¡¯s seas and mountains, deserts and swamps, but also lies within the densely populated cities.¡± ¡°Today, the greatest explorer in history, GOD FANG! Has come alone to the high seas, where he will face the harshest of challenges. For twenty-one days, with no food, no water sources, drifting alone on the ocean.¡± ¡°For this livestream, our explorer is utterly unprepared, without knives, without fire-starters, he doesn¡¯t even know his geographic location. The only thing he has is a life raft. So, can he survive in these perilous waters and complete his mission challenge?¡± The scene shifted to countless violent waves crashing, the deep blue sea looking like an abyss. The howling wind at one¡¯s ears, the endless depths right before one¡¯s eyes. Music, narration, and visuals came together as one, filling the broadcasting room instantly with tension and anticipation, especially with the raging waves, the collision of foam, and the splashing bursts in the air. Just looking down made one feel the immense power within. The next second, the scene switched again. This time it wasn¡¯t the vast expanse of the sea, but a dark cabin. Inside the cabin were two rows of seats. Bi Fang sat alone in one row, while the captured four-person team was squeezed into the other row. This scene made it seem as though Bi Fang was some sort of dangerous person, causing all four to unconsciously want to stay away. Some attentive viewers noticed that Bi Fang was no longer wearing professional outdoor gear but a very ordinary winter coat, black trousers, and even his shoes were just regular sneakers. Compared to his attire in previous livestreams, this time he looked like he was resting at home on the weekend and was suddenly caught for a livestream. In fact, that was pretty much the case. [Damn, I thought he was really caught, such a letdown.] [The classic opening line was taken by the narrator, can Master Fang endure this? I definitely couldn¡¯t.] [The opening line isn¡¯t from Master Fang, I¡¯m devastated!] [Airdropping Bi Fang? Damn, I could understand airdropping an atomic bomb, but why Bi Fang? What sins has this ocean committed?] As soon as the opening gambit played, the audience was instantly excited. Emotional manipulation was false, but the airdrop livestream was real! Too awesome, another livestream to watch before the New Year! [By the way, who ended up with the deer head from last time? Can any of the heavy hitters please tell us?] [There was also the deer hide, that hide somehow never got given away] [Damn, Master Fang¡¯s gifts are getting too high-end, I can¡¯t even grab one. I only ever got a Wolf Fang.] [Awesome, someone actually got a Wolf Fang! Envy, real name envy.] Bi Fang¡¯s headgear was taken off, and he was at a loss for words when he saw the barrage of comments: ¡°I thought you would be concerned about me, but instead, you¡¯re discussing gifts?¡± Laughter erupted in the livestreaming room. Yao Jun ended up with the deer head from the last broadcast, while the deer hide went to Yao Lina, who is also a livestreamer. The remaining five Emperors had no luck with the draw this time. After deciding on the ownership, Bi Fang didn¡¯t bring back the deer head and hide but directly mailed them to his country from Europe after a lottery among the seven; by now, they should have arrived. Bi Fang lifted his head, observing his surroundings, and realized that he was likely in a transport plane, whose cabin was quite spacious, ¡°I don¡¯t know where I am, but I must be abroad by now, and quite possibly at a high latitude because I can definitely feel the temperature dropping. Most importantly, I was on a plane for a substantial amount of time yesterday.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t accurately estimate how long the flight was, but it was probably about four hours. Considering that commercial airliners usually maintain a speed of 800 kilometers per hour, could this be the Atlantic Ocean? Or Greenland?¡± The group of four stiffened, shocked that he could figure this out. ¡°It seems that way,¡± Bi Fang concluded. ¡°It must be Greenland, because¡­¡± While Bi Fang was analyzing, he noticed the slightest relaxation in Fourth Brother¡¯s body to the side, ¡°Ah, the North Atlantic, have I returned to Europe then?¡± Fourth Brother blurted out, ¡°How do you know?¡± ¡°You just told me.¡± With a slight smile, Bi Fang easily bent his bound hands over his head, then started gnawing at the hemp rope with his teeth, ignoring the four guards watching him. Having practiced yoga for nearly half a year, this kind of movement was all too easy for Bi Fang. The group of four: ¡°¡­¡± How embarrassing. And how did you do that, are you boneless? While untying the ropes, Bi Fang also explained, ¡°In fact, around ten thousand people are abducted each year globally, yes, that many.¡±¡® Abduction is also a part of survival skills, which I rarely had a chance to talk about before, but now the opportunity has come. ¡°As early as the Spring and Autumn period in Huaxia, exchanging hostages among feudal states was a common practice, and during the Three Kingdoms era, Wei even included the method of retaining the relatives of the generals who went to war as hostages in its laws,¡± he continued. ¡°In the West, during the medieval knights¡¯ era, holding captive enemy knights for ransom or political advantages was virtually taken for granted.¡± ¡°In places like The Middle East and Italy, even the predecessors of the Islamic assassination groups and the Mafia had a history of kidnapping hostages. However, these hostage-taking incidents usually had specific purposes, rarely harmed innocents, and the perpetrators, seeking to leverage the hostages for benefits, wouldn¡¯t mistreat them or even provided them with relatively good treatment until a clear break with the extorted party occurred.¡± Some viewers nodded their heads, already knowing Bi Fang was knowledgeable, so this came as no surprise. ¡°But this scenario changed in the modern era with the emergence of a new kind of organization, namely extremist organizations, which may kidnap hostages purely to spread terror, without any concern for the victims¡¯ survival.¡± ¡°So if you¡¯re kidnapped and taken hostage, you must attempt to escape as soon as possible. The longer you¡¯re held captive, the slimmer your chances of escape become.¡± Bi Fang bit off pieces of the rope fiber by fiber ¡ª there¡¯s no special technique to biting ropes; just start slowly from the edge.¡± ¡°Try to make an escape attempt early on. It not only tests the kidnappers¡¯ response capabilities but also helps you gather more information for a future escape. Of course, if you fail, you might face anything from harsh scolding to severe beating. You need to ensure you have the willpower to endure such outcomes beforehand,¡± he explained. ¡°Once the kidnappers have taken you to their prepared detention location, especially the first one, the hope of escape becomes extremely slim. Being detained is different from being moved; they have complete control over the hostage and will do everything in their power to prevent escape.¡± [Holy crap, Old Fang knows about this?] [Impressive, ten thousand a year? Seems like a lot, the world is kind of dangerous] [No kidding, Old Fang is a special forces guy; aren¡¯t all special forces taught how to rescue hostages?] [I almost forgot, Old Fang is not just a Wilderness Survivalist, he¡¯s also a damn special forces legend! I looked up the Hunter Academy last time, the training looked frightening, and Old Fang actually made it through!] As a special forces elite, Bi Fang had a broad skill set and was well-versed in hostage rescue and self-rescue techniques; he was now demonstrating for the audience. ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve already missed the best chance to escape since this is on a plane. If you really want to flee, not only must you know how to parachute, but you also need to understand how to open the cabin door as quickly as possible, which is generally beyond most people¡¯s capabilities.¡± ¡°The actual best opportunity for escape should¡¯ve been when you¡¯re put into a car. Back then, you may have been simply tied up by one or two kidnappers and placed into a vehicle before they quickly drove off. Unless you¡¯re highly vigilant, the kidnappers¡¯ actions can catch you off guard. However, this is your first chance to escape.¡± Bi Fang moved his stiff jaw muscles and continued. ¡°You should try to use your body¡¯s strength to force open the door on the other side and escape, based on the assumption they haven¡¯t locked that door.¡± ¡°However, such an opportunity is effective because it allows them to quickly flee when trouble arises.¡± ¡°The rear door of a panel van offers a better option. Once pushed into the van, we should try to break out through the back door immediately. Suffering a shoulder injury or breaking a few ribs may be a better choice compared to being locked up for weeks or facing worse situations.¡± ¡°Of course, before you ram the door, you need to make sure which door is open because a door that¡¯s locked might not even give way to an elephant,¡± The thick hemp rope had already been thoroughly chewed through. After untying himself, Bi Fang picked up the rope and continued to explain, ¡°If your wrists are bound with a rope, even if you can¡¯t twist your joints like I can, you can still loosen it by continually making fists.¡± ¡°Even if it¡¯s a wide woven strap, soft pipe cleaning line, or a narrow band binding, it may be sturdier than the body, but we can still create an opening at the edge, then tear it across.¡± ¡°The real trouble is nylon rope; that¡¯s the hardest to deal with because the thin loops can tighten into the flesh when you struggle. At that point, you must use something sharp to cut or slice through it to escape.¡± After tossing the coarse hemp rope onto the ground, Bi Fang looked at the group of four huddled together, ¡°Hey, come on, you guys are kidnappers, can you cooperate a little?¡± ¡°Cooperate?¡± Second Brother asked cautiously, ¡°How do we cooperate? What do we do?¡± Being first-time kidnappers, they lacked experience and were currently all ears for any advice. ¡°Uh.¡± Bi Fang was stumped by the question; he didn¡¯t know either, ¡°At least you shouldn¡¯t be so, so apathetic, right?¡± [Hahaha, I died laughing, I always feel like Master Fang kidnapped the four of them!] [Epic!] [Such an unusual turn of events, the kidnappers don¡¯t act like kidnappers, and the hostage doesn¡¯t act like a hostage] [You¡¯re the hostage, dumbass, don¡¯t get too cocky!] Bi Fang chuckled, ¡°Actually, when facing danger, the most important thing is to keep your emotions stable, don¡¯t let fear cloud your judgment, because panicking can make the situation much more dangerous.¡± ¡°When dealing with intense emotions, we can try the 5-4-3-2-1 technique, which can help ¡®cool you down,''¡± 5-4-3-2-1? What¡¯s that? Not just the audience, but even the group of four were hearing this for the first time, perking up their ears to eavesdrop involuntarily. ¡°The so-called 5-4-3-2-1 technique starts with paying attention to your surroundings, inhale, exhale, breathe deeply and slowly.¡± ¡°Hoo.¡± Fourth Brother exhaled deeply, only to turn around and find that Boss, Second Brother, and Third Brother were all looking at him. ¡°What, I¡¯m nervous, is that wrong?¡± Bi Fang felt like laughing but continued, ¡°Next, say out loud five things you see around you, four things you can feel, like the warmth of your skin, your feet pressing against the ground, the chair under your butt, three things you can hear, two scents you can smell ¨C take a deep breath for this one, and finally, say one good thing about yourself.¡± ¡°So, is anyone trying it?¡± Fourth Brother looked astonished, ¡°Hey, it really works, I think I¡¯m not scared anymore!¡± Boss slapped him on the head, ¡°The hell are you scared of?¡± [Damn, it seems to really work] [That¡¯s pretty interesting] [It¡¯s not just fear, right? I feel like it can suppress other emotions too] [Amazing, I just finished watching a horror movie, and now I don¡¯t seem scared at all. Can I show off this trick when I watch movies with friends in the future?] While Shuiyou were cracking jokes, the group of four suddenly received a directive from the director. Second Brother beside him threw the life raft on the ground to Bi Fang, and Third Brother, who was closest to the cabin door, stood up and opened the hatch. The harsh cold wind mixed with thick moisture howled in as if slashing with knives. Bi Fang, holding the heavy survival raft, stood in front of the cabin door, his black clothes flapping wildly. Looking down, the height of twenty meters was enough to make anyone¡¯s legs go weak. Chapter 220 - Chapter 220: Chapter 217 High-altitude Diving Chapter 220: Chapter 217 High-altitude Diving The cabin door slowly opened. The group of four obeyed the Bluetooth commands and silently stepped back, leaving the frame to Bi Fang alone, who stood alone in the only light, his black robe billowing with the wind. Standing on the unfolded cabin door, Bi Fang looked down at the turbulent ocean below. The wind was strong, and the waves were so dense that they seemed to shatter into foam upon hitting each other in the air, then scatter into the sea as spray. Bi Fang walked onto the extended platform, and looking down from the high altitude, the first-person camera angle made everyone subconsciously feel a weakness in their knees at the sight of the more than twenty-meter drop. Even the safety assistant Pondy couldn¡¯t resist clutching his pants, wiping the sweat from his hands. When the viewers saw the altitude, and that the aircraft showed no sign of descending, they immediately understood the production team¡¯s intention¡ªthey planned to have Bi Fang jump directly! [Damn, that high? Jump straight down?] [My palms are already sweating] [Damn, last time I went to the swimming center to dive, I didn¡¯t dare jump from seven meters, and this is at least twenty!] [Master Fang makes an appearance, extraordinary as always!] At that moment, a line of numbers also appeared on the screen, a note from the production team: at that moment, the helicopter was twenty-three meters above the sea level! As soon as the data was shown, everyone silently sweated for Bi Fang! Bi Fang also took a sharp breath when he saw the surging waves beneath his feet, but soon after, his heartbeat began to accelerate, and the blood flowing rapidly through his veins gradually warmed him up in the cold air. For a while, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t tell whether his increasing heartbeat was due to excitement or a physiological reaction to the cold. He turned his head and spoke to the drone with a smile, ¡°What about you? Do you feel the urge to jump down?¡± [Jump down? Are you crazy? Not at all] [Please let me leave, thank you] [Only you want to jump down!] ¡°Don¡¯t go against your true self!¡± Bi Fang laughed in the face of the wind, showing not a trace of fear He placed his hand over his heart, ¡°Just feel it for a moment¡ªdo you really feel nothing?¡± Seeing Bi Fang speak so seriously, and apparently not joking, quite a few people actually started to contemplate, and upon looking down again, they seemed to feel an inclination to jump? What was going on? Do I have a suicidal tendency? Many netizens were puzzled. ¡°This isn¡¯t about having a suicidal tendency. It¡¯s innate for any living being to seek benefits and avoid harm, and our brain produces a subconscious response to escape dangerous situations or environments to protect ourselves.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why none of us like to go near edges of high buildings, bridges, or cliffs without guardrails! However, under the control of our consciousness, sometimes we do go to such places to experience unique scenery. But occasionally, you might feel a strange impulse¡ªthat is the desire to jump down!¡± As he spoke, Bi Fang had already reached the very edge of the unfolded cabin door, heightening the audience¡¯s suspense even further! ¡°If you¡¯ve ever felt such an impulse, don¡¯t worry, it doesn¡¯t mean you have a subconscious desire to commit suicide, but rather that you¡¯ve experienced a physiological reaction known as the ¡®High Place Phenomenon¡¯, which has an even cooler name in France called the ¡®Call of the Void¡¯!¡± ¡°Cool, isn¡¯t it?¡± [Not cool at all!] [Can you not stand on the edge, I¡¯m scared¡­] [Okay, okay, I get it, Master Fang, please spare me your glare! Don¡¯t look down anymore, I can¡¯t handle it!] ¡°Actually, this phenomenon stems from the distortion of our balance perception. On a horizontal distance, our visual reception system and the vestibular system don¡¯t conflict, but on a vertical distance, as the altitude increases, it can make us feel fear and vertigo,¡± he said. ¡°This is because the vestibular perception system believes that the ground beneath our feet is very stable, while the visual system tells our brain there is a significant visual drop, which can make us dizzy and lead the brain to believe that our body is in an unbalanced state, possibly about to fall.¡± When Bi Fang looked down at his feet again, even through the lens, the audience felt a genuine sense of dizziness, as if the ocean was really muttering in their sleep, tempting people to jump down. But after some thought, the audience was shocked out of their wits by their own absurd idea. ¡°When the brain¡¯s balance status is disrupted, it can produce feelings of fear, unease, and dizziness, and the subconscious quickly issues orders to seek safety and avoid harm, to return to a safe place. But sometimes these commands are wrong!¡± ¡°Like when we¡¯re standing in high places, the brain¡¯s first reaction is to jump down! To eliminate the imbalance caused by the height difference!¡± ¡°Human instinctive reactions are impulsive and fast, when the brain¡¯s safety center is threatened, it immediately sends alarm signals to the cerebral cortex.¡± ¡°However, the cerebral cortex processes information relatively slowly. In this delayed process, erroneous commands can be created, causing people to feel the urge to jump. But after a brief rational analysis, one would realize that the best way to eliminate this visual discrepancy is to retreat to a safe area, not to jump down!¡± [I¡¯ve learned something new¡­ Old Fang really knows a lot, genuinely awesome.] [So does that mean one should never climb high when emotionally upset? Is that the message?] [It¡¯s indeed the call of the void, fatally alluring.] [Why didn¡¯t I feel anything when Old Fang did high-altitude parachuting last time?] [That¡¯s because it was too high, and your brain didn¡¯t feel anything. Looking at the ground was like looking at a painting.] Bi Fang nodded, the last time because the height was too great, without any reference point, the brain couldn¡¯t believe that it was high above, so he didn¡¯t mention this point. ¡°This delay in rational judgment is more likely to result in impulsive outcomes for those who are sensitive, have weak willpower, are depressed, or already harbor suicidal thoughts, especially in critical moments,¡± he declared. Looking out at the boundless ocean, Bi Fang shouted into the wind: ¡°So, if you are emotionally unstable, don¡¯t go to bridges or any high places to clear your mind, it can be very dangerous. Even a twenty-metre-plus fall, even into water, can cause injury or disability. The great impact can, at the very least, cause swelling, and at worst, break bones.¡± Quite a few viewers nodded silently, many had studied physics and were aware of this fact. ¡°Just like what I¡¯m doing right now!¡± Right now? What? The audience was startled, still not fully grasping what was happening, when they saw Bi Fang suddenly throw the life raft into the sea with no warning, bend his legs slightly, and powerfully jump out of the hatch, his body rigidly plunging down! Fuck, didn¡¯t he just say it was dangerous? The viewers¡¯ eyes widened, and they suddenly felt a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. They only realized then, dammit, Master Fang did the same during the last parachute jump, talking about the danger, and then he jumped anyway! Shit, not again! You can¡¯t keep doing this! Once free from the hatch, Bi Fang closed his eyes tightly, his hands clinging to his legs, in complete freefall, plunging into the sea like an arrow. The intense airflow instantly blurred the sound of the waves and the rotors, leaving only the howling wind! Moments later, the camera shook violently. The white sky suddenly vanished, a vast blue burst into the frame, the screen filled with the silver reflection of bubbles. Chapter 221 - Chapter 221: Chapter 218 Isolated and Without Help Chapter 221: Chapter 218 Isolated and Without Help Bi Fang clenched his eyes shut until, with a ¡°plop,¡± he was enveloped in bubbles. He fell into the water. The huge recoil numbed his legs as numerous bubbles rushed upwards, displacing the air. Sea water instantly surged in, completely engulfing him. The bone-chilling cold penetrated every pore, crawling up his spine like a venomous snake, injecting its deadly venom into his marrow. Under the intense shock, his blood vessels contracted reflexively. Bi Fang slowly opened his eyes underwater, immersed in the pale blue water. In such severe cold, Bi Fang didn¡¯t immediately look for the life raft but stayed motionless in the water, waiting for the initial chill to subside as his blood began to circulate rapidly to provide warmth. Then he kicked with his legs and burst above the water¡¯s surface, swimming towards the bright orange life raft. Seeing Bi Fang safely in the water, the helicopter didn¡¯t linger at all and flew straight into the distance. But nobody expected that, just as Bi Fang was about to reach the life raft, a wave suddenly struck, tossing the raft several meters away! The icy seawater quickly began to sap his energy. Bi Fang took a breath, dove into the water, and swiftly swam towards the life raft. [Damn! That wave is fierce!] [Damn, why does it feel like it¡¯s getting further and further away?] [Hiss, this sea water looks so cold. I¡¯ve fallen into a river in winter before; that refreshing pain, I almost froze to death!] Remembering what Bi Fang had just said, that a normal person might only survive a few minutes in cold seawater, many people felt anxious for him. Fortunately, as the distance shortened, no waves struck this time, and Bi Fang successfully grabbed the life raft. ¡°Ha! This seawater is really too cold, I feel like my bones are about to freeze, I hope I don¡¯t get arthritis when I¡¯m old,¡± Bi Fang joked to the camera, grabbing the life raft¡¯s inflation cord. ¡°Okay, what I need to do now is inflate the life raft. At this moment, we mustn¡¯t let go because once we do, the inflated valve can easily be blown away by the wind, and then no matter how fast you swim, you won¡¯t be able to catch it.¡± Inside the inflatable life raft, there are items for inflation, which can quickly blow up if opened correctly. Bi Fang yanked the inflation cord forcefully, rapidly opening the inflation valve. White mist billowed out over the sea, as he clung to the edge of the life raft ¨C his lifeline, and the only mercy from the production crew. Without the life raft, no matter how clever his methods, he wouldn¡¯t be able to survive twenty-one days in the frigid ocean. Already on the plane, Bi Fang had observed that there were no nearby islands. From a height of twenty meters, even ignoring whether he could reach the edge of his line of sight, even with unlimited stamina, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to survive long in such cold seawater. With a strenuous effort from his waist and abdomen, Bi Fang somersaulted into the life raft. Once inside the life raft, he quickly zipped it up, leaving only a small opening to keep out most of the cold sea breeze, then he removed his clothes, wrung them out vigorously through the small hole, and spread them inside the raft to dry as fast as possible. After dealing with his clothes, Bi Fang closed the last small opening and started a series of intense exercises to restore his body heat. A few minutes later, Bi Fang¡¯s previously pale skin quickly reddened. After all this, Bi Fang didn¡¯t dare to lie down but huddled in a corner of the life raft, continually exhaling. ¡°Ha! I was really close to freezing to death just now. Luckily, I have a life raft. Most of these rafts have a tent-like design and are very warm.¡± ¡°When you¡¯re inside, the heat radiation your body emits will quickly reflect back, raising the temperature inside the tent rapidly, preventing you from freezing from the sea breeze, and the increased temperature will also speed up the drying of your clothes.¡± ¡°So unless necessary, I definitely won¡¯t unzip it again.¡± Bi Fang rubbed his skin nonstop to alleviate his discomfort, ¡°To be honest, this challenge is the harshest environment I¡¯ve ever encountered, not only is it cold, but we don¡¯t even have the basic supplies. Without supplies, I can¡¯t establish more fundamental survival assurances.¡± This challenge, even he himself didn¡¯t have confidence in it, surrounded on all sides by the sea, aside from fish, no creature could feel safe in this environment, there were no food, water, or fire above. ¡°And look, my feet are still numb.¡± The camera focused on Bi Fang¡¯s feet, and the audience suddenly noticed that despite not being rubbed, the skin was a bright red. [Is it from diving?] [I think I understand why Old Fang entered the water feet first. I always thought diving started headfirst.] [The person above, have you been watching too much diving on TV?] ¡°See that? That¡¯s the danger of high-altitude diving, even though my movement was precise enough.¡± ¡°Whenever we dive, the moment we hit the water we¡¯ll face the impact of the waves. And this force increases with the height. In such cases, it¡¯s quite easy to get injured if the posture is not properly controlled.¡± ¡°The world record for the highest dive is 61 meters, but the diver broke his spine from the fall. The injury-free diving record is held at 53.90 meters, created by Oliver from Switzerland in 1987 on a French cliff, where he even performed a beautiful backflip with two rotations and entered the water smoothly.¡± Upon hearing this height, the audience was astounded¡ªfifty meters! Without some technique, wouldn¡¯t diving be just like jumping off a building? ¡°The reason why divers can dive from platforms over 10 or even 20 meters high and remain unscathed is because they have received professional diving training and know the correct way to enter the water.¡± ¡°The correct diving posture is to enter the water feet first, the body must be straightened, legs tight together, hands pressed to the sides, just like standing at attention, this way, the surface area of the body in contact with the water will be minimal.¡± ¡°Plus, we can also throw a large rock or something ahead of time to break the surface tension of the water, minimizing the force of the impact, that¡¯s why I threw the life raft in first.¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s not a problem if you don¡¯t throw anything, as the wind is strong, and the waves on the sea surface are already significant.¡± Bi Fang pointed to the shadow outside the tent of the life raft, waves half a meter high crashing against the tent, making the life raft very bumpy. Thankfully, the drone could fly low to film, otherwise, some viewers would certainly start to feel dizzy. ¡°To be honest, I didn¡¯t expect the production team to set such a tough challenge, it¡¯s indeed difficult. Just now when I surfaced, I glanced at the helicopter and saw it was a CH-46 transport helicopter, which has its distinctive features¡ªit can land and take off in shallow seas, and when necessary, it can even be driven like a boat.¡± ¡°Looks like the production team is willing to spend money. If I remember correctly, this helicopter was only recently retired from service a few years ago; they¡¯re probably watching me from a few dozen kilometers away.¡± Bi Fang looked towards the camera as if he could see the production team dozens of kilometers away, making even the director of photography feel a sense of disquiet from being seen through. Turning away from the camera, Bi Fang watched the waves breaking against the tent. To survive twenty-one days, the best approach would be to find an island or, even more fortunately, land directly, but that wouldn¡¯t be easy. The production team wouldn¡¯t foolishly drop him off near the coast. The one thing Bi Fang could confirm was that there was no land within at least thirty kilometers! Chapter 222 - Chapter 222: Chapter 219: Get Some Water to Drink Chapter 222: Chapter 219: Get Some Water to Drink At sea, an orange life raft bobbed and drifted aimlessly. Through the interplay of light and shadow, one could faintly see someone moving inside. Seeing the program go smoothly, Jerrett heaved a sigh of relief. Everything was unfolding in an orderly fashion, and now it all depended on Bi Fang¡¯s skills. Could he succeed in this extreme challenge of the icy ocean for twenty-one days? At the time of signing the contract, the production team intended to follow closely, but Bi Fang had flatly refused. He believed that there had to be a distance of at least twenty kilometers between them for him to feel safe broadcasting live. What is the most important thing in Wilderness Survivalist? If there were a ranking, Bi Fang would first place willpower at the top. The potential of humans is infinite. Only when one is brought to the brink of death can that potential be truly unleashed. If one leaves oneself any way out, even the strongest person will relax subconsciously. In the face of a sudden accident, the chance one might have had to fight for survival could be lost due to that moment of laxity. In the face of danger, Bi Fang preferred to trust himself rather than rely on rescue, which would always be delayed no matter what ¨C to trust his own hands, his own abilities. It was best to have the production team as far away as possible. Even for a helicopter, twenty kilometers would take several minutes to arrive, truly placing oneself in a desperate situation. Being isolated and without support could indeed trigger passivity. ¡°According to statistical data, every year there are about one hundred thousand people who encounter maritime disasters, and only about one third of them are able to get on a life raft or a wooden raft. Often, in the first three days after a ship encounters disaster, when food and drink are not yet in short supply, some people have already died, a scenario that has become all too common,¡± he continued. ¡°Just two hours after the sinking of the Titanic, the rescuers found some of the people in the lifeboats already dead or dying.¡± Hearing this grim data, the audience gasped in astonishment. [Holy shit, one hundred thousand, is it really that exaggerated?] [That¡¯s a bit outrageous] [The Titanic? I know that one, it¡¯s the one with the nude painting, right?] [Here comes Mr. Focus, so you remembered only that from a two-hour movie? Can¡¯t you be more high-minded like me, and stay away from such lowbrow tastes?] [Laying it out here, I¡¯m a mongrel, and I love watching it, over and over again.] The unsteady life raft made Bi Fang waver constantly. The sudden change in temperature and the pitched life raft were causing him extreme discomfort. If not for the fact his Physique had reached fifteen points, he might have already started vomiting. Bi Fang held his head and continued to explain, ¡°I¡¯m not talking about the movie, but the actual historical Titanic.¡± ¡°In fact, beyond environmental factors, a contributing factor to this high mortality rate is emotion!¡± ¡°Being in the middle of the ocean, without a solid deck underfoot, can cause an intense emotional turmoil. At this point, a person¡¯s heart, brain, and nerve activities rapidly intensify, followed by the opposite process ¡ª extreme inhibition. This inhibition can cause the heart to stop beating altogether and brain activity to cease.¡± The audience was shocked to hear this. Was this what they call dying of fright? Bi Fang saw the comments and nodded in agreement, yes, it could be understood in that way. The metabolism and physiological processes of those in danger would be severely disrupted, leading to neurogenic vascular paralysis. This mechanism of death is similar to the so-called ¡°witch doctor¡¯s death¡± in certain African tribes. ¡°Witch doctor¡¯s death¡± refers to cursing certain individuals with catastrophic fear, quickly replaced by despair and apathy, leading to death shortly after. But the curse doesn¡¯t really exist; it¡¯s the enormous psychological stress that collapses a person¡¯s entire body. Simply put, those who lose hope when facing danger, who let despair take control, are the ones who will die. ¡°Damn, Old Fang knows so much, even random wilderness survival tips, he truly knows what he¡¯s talking about!¡± ¡°I always thought that Master Fang did his research before going somewhere, which is how he knew so much, but now I¡¯m kind of scared, he¡¯s too awesome!¡± ¡°Watching Master Fang¡¯s livestream, you simply can¡¯t keep any Wolf Brush!¡± Many viewers had thought that the knowledge Bi Fang demonstrated was likely pre-researched, such as historical records and tales of strange people and events. Yet now, even with random deployment, he could still speak knowledgeably! All you could do was hand over the Wolf Brush you¡¯d been saving for a month! Wolf Brush was a free gift on Wolf Fang TV that viewers could obtain through opening treasure chests, signing in, or as a bonus for recharging. In a month, one could accumulate quite a few, but Bi Fang¡¯s livestreams were like a harvester. Open it once a month, and it was like a shearing machine, not leaving a single hair behind. Truly unparalleled at shearing! ¡°So do you guys still remember the 5-4-3-2-1 technique I just taught you? Don¡¯t forget it, in these kinds of situations, the only one who can save you is yourself!¡± ¡°Have faith in your own strength, trust in your friends and your country to come and rescue you, and believe firmly that the heavens won¡¯t let you die!¡± ¡°My foreign friends can have faith that your God won¡¯t let you die easily! In fact, devout believers often have a higher probability of surviving until rescuers arrive. It¡¯s not a miracle of God, rather you become the light in your own trials.¡± Bi Fang took a deep breath and then exhaled, large and slow, employing the technique to alleviate his psychological stress. ¡°I can see the life raft, the surging waves, clothes, hands, feet; I can feel the cold, the tossing, the rubber texture, the dampness; I can hear the wind, the tide, the sound of friction; I can smell the plastic, the sea, and finally, my strengths¡­¡± ¡°Ah, my strengths are just too numerous.¡± Bi Fang rubbed his head, showing signs of trouble, ¡°To be honest, this is a bit challenging for me¡­¡± ¡°If I have to choose one¡­ does being handsome count?¡± The viewers burst into laughter as they watched Bi Fang seriously claim his handsomeness. They were all infected by Bi Fang¡¯s optimism at that moment. Unconsciously, the tension of being adrift on the sea seemed non-existent, as if the storms outside the tent simply couldn¡¯t trouble a person like Bi Fang. Bi Fang exhaled a breath of warm air, the temperature inside the tent was now significantly higher than outside, and he was no longer as uncomfortable as he had been at the start. Having calmed down, Bi Fang began to decide on his next actions. He always liked to turn passive situations into proactive ones, establishing his own survival assurances in the wilderness. Everything would get better. That saying was too vague for Bi Fang, who preferred to say: if you don¡¯t take the initiative to do something, things will never get better. ¡°If you¡¯re stranded on the vast ocean, all you can do is wait, wait for the sea breeze and the tides to push you towards the shore, or maybe you¡¯ll be lucky enough to encounter an island.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s too much reliant on luck. If you¡¯re unlucky, you might not make it to shore within twenty-one days, and then we would have to consider food and especially water, as without a water source¡­¡± Before Bi Fang could finish, he noticed that many viewers had started to answer ahead of him. [I know! The Devil¡¯s Formula!] [Nope! It¡¯s now the Master Fang Formula!] [Three minutes without oxygen you die! Three hours without warmth you die! Three days without water you die! Three weeks without food you die!] ¡°Hah, you guys remember it pretty well.¡± Bi Fang laughed. Even though only a few thousand people watched his first livestream, millions from B Island had watched his videos, and many remembered them quite vividly. For now, there was no need to worry about oxygen or warmth; the only issue was water. Out on the vast ocean, he needed to get some water to drink. Chapter 223 - Chapter 223: Chapter 220: Professional Branch: Master of Meteorology Chapter 223: Chapter 220: Professional Branch: Master of Meteorology Above the sea, the drone intermittently switches lenses for multifaceted filming from different angles. A drone even flew outside the tent, capturing the rise and fall of the life raft in clear detail from a high-altitude perspective. In the face of dangerous Nature, humans are like this life raft, bobbing up and down, seemingly at any moment they might be capsized by the waves and thus submerged beneath the sea. ¡°I can¡¯t take it, my head¡¯s getting dizzy!¡± Bi Fang held onto the edge of the boat, resisting the urge to vomit. Life rafts are unlike boats. Without a keel, the inflation valve can only be maneuvered by the waves. Every step taken is soft, without a single firm foothold. Add to that the psychological pressure of being shipwrecked; if a person gets seasick, their dizziness would be at least tripled! The experience is definitely intense. A strong physique has little to do with seasickness. If it hadn¡¯t been for Bi Fang practicing yoga for over half a year and mastering Tai Chi Traveling Dragon, thus having a strong sense of balance, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to hold on at all. He would be doing more than just thinking about vomiting; he¡¯d be considering whether to discard the vomit instead. ¡°It¡¯s hard for me to imagine what it feels like to be trapped in a life raft for two or three days, or even a week. Just the thought of it makes me want to throw up.¡± Bi Fang changed his strategy and began to lie down inside the life raft, trying as much as possible to go with the flow of the ocean currents and respond to unchanging amid constant changes, to cope with the dizziness. Perhaps he would be able to adapt after a while. ¡°Although we are surrounded by the sea, you all should know that seawater is not drinkable. Drinking this high-salinity water will not only fail to quench your thirst but could also put you in fatal danger.¡± Bi Fang touched his clothes and found that they were still a way from being dry, which only added to the torment. Even though the temperature inside the tent was higher, that didn¡¯t mean he could go without clothes. The cold was constantly draining his energy, a debuff that would inevitably leave him weakened over time. ¡°The salt concentration of seawater is about four times that of human body fluids, and the kidneys¡¯ capacity to excrete salt is limited, usually not exceeding a concentration of 2%, which is below seawater¡¯s salt concentration of 3.5%. This leads to the conclusion that drinking seawater is not only ineffective in replenishing water but causes dehydration in humans instead, not to mention the possible parasites and bacteria in it.¡± ¡°How are we supposed to get water then? Forget water, Old Fang doesn¡¯t even have a container to hold water on his face, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, looking at the sea won¡¯t quench thirst.¡± ¡°My head is about to explode; the production team is too pitiless, leaving us with nothing!¡± The audience couldn¡¯t help but feel anxious upon hearing this. It was Bi Fang¡¯s first live broadcast where he had nothing, but that was on land where he could at least gather materials and make tools himself. Now, there were no materials to be had. It¡¯s difficult to cook without rice. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m drying clothes, aren¡¯t I? Once they are dry, we will have water to drink.¡± Bi Fang picked up a bath towel, which the production team had not taken, and he had not completely wrung out. He had left it slightly damp. ¡°There should be many things inside a life raft, such as flares, flashlights, whistles, food, and water, but obviously, the production team has taken all these. The best way to obtain water for survival at sea is, of course, rainwater, which is also what I am hoping for.¡± ¡°Do you remember my speculation on the airplane? This is the North Atlantic, where throughout the year, especially in autumn and winter, the winds are strong. Moreover, based on the temperature, I deduce that it should be close to the Arctic Circle.¡± Bi Fang trusted his deduction to be correct. He had set off from Ugly Country, flying across the entire Atlantic, then traveled by car to the coastline before departing by helicopter. He had changed modes of transport twice and wouldn¡¯t be more than five hundred kilometers from the coastline. This allowed him to roughly determine his location. The northern part of the North Atlantic! Northwestern Europe! In the autumn and winter seasons, the tropical cyclones over the North Atlantic transform into strong temperate cyclones, bringing gale-force winds to the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean. Some of the stronger temperate cyclones can cross the Atlantic, bringing gales and heavy precipitation to Northwestern Europe! [Whoa, here comes the Master of Meteorology again!] [I won¡¯t watch the weather forecast if it¡¯s not you!] [Got schooled again, I¡¯m definitely going to pass geography this time. Don¡¯t ask, if you do, it¡¯s because of the Church of Bi Fang.] [It must be fun having Master Fang as a teacher. Student: How do you know? Teacher: Because I once drifted at sea for twenty-one days.] ¡°So, during our drift, the probability of encountering rainwater is very high, but we can¡¯t put all our hopes on that. In the absence of rainwater, of course, the best way to get water is still distillation,¡± he said. Bi Fang turned the towel over and, pointing at the tent canopy, said, ¡°The life raft is watertight, and one of the reasons I don¡¯t open the zipper is so that we can trap the evaporated moisture inside, eventually condensing it on the canopy to form distilled water, which then runs down. Even though it¡¯s inefficient, it¡¯s indeed a good method.¡± He tore off a strip of cloth, tied it around the center of the canopy, and fastened the other end tightly with a shoelace, using the weight of the shoe to sag the canopy, forming a funnel shape. This way, the evaporated water vapor could drip in one direction through the funnel, improving efficiency. [666, learned a new trick, time to compete with the little pond!] [Come back and tell us how much water you collected in a day.] [But isn¡¯t this efficiency too slow?] ¡°It is slow. This method of water collection simply cannot meet my water needs, but that¡¯s survival. If necessary, I would even choose to drink urine.¡± Bi Fang swallowed hard, somewhat impatient for the water to drip down. Drink urine! This distasteful word startled many viewers when it came up. Many people had heard from various news stories about earthquake victims trapped without water to drink, forced to survive by drinking urine. But no matter how harsh the environment or how dangerous the situation had been before, Bi Fang had never spoken of, much less done, such a thing. But this time Bi Fang said it out loud, suggesting that the situation might be even more difficult than the viewers had originally imagined, forcing the always resourceful Bi Fang to resort to more extreme methods. ¡°If you can survive in the wild without any reduction in physiological function, then it¡¯s not just survival anymore, it¡¯s living, because you¡¯ve established a virtuous cycle,¡± he explained. ¡°But real survival is cruel. The harsher the conditions, the more evident the cruelty. My goal is to use every possible means to keep myself alive longer, to extend the process of deterioration using every method at my disposal, to hang on until I make it ashore or am rescued,¡± he said. Bi Fang spoke these words with calmness, but everybody could feel the brutality in them. It wasn¡¯t his first time leading everyone to experience this feeling, yet it seemed like a brand new experience every time. Everyone got something different out of Bi Fang¡¯s live streams. Some loved the natural beauty within, charmed by its lethal allure. Some were keen on seeing the infinite potential humans could unleash in times of crisis, that extreme vitality of life. Some enjoyed when Bi Fang explained knowledge in various environments, satisfying their thirst for learning. And of course, perhaps some simply liked Bi Fang because he was handsome¡ªa simple and pure affection. [Cut off from society, thou shall, no WiFi connect.] [Ah, upper floor, you owe me for that touch of emotion!] [Damn it, the emotions I was brewing just vanished. It¡¯s true, the wilderness is terrifying. There¡¯s not even WiFi.] ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the scariest part,¡± he agreed. Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but admire the creativity of the netizens. No matter how dangerous a situation, it always turned amusing through their comments. Chapter 224 - Chapter 224: Chapter 221: Who Says the Huaxia People Cant Create Miracles? Chapter 224: Chapter 221: Who Says the Huaxia People Can¡¯t Create Miracles? A coat, two inner layers, a pair of long pants, and a bath towel. Besides the pants worn to avoid any pixelation effects, Bi Fang spread out each of these clothes within the life raft, arranging them like a vendor displays his wares, allowing them to evaporate and dry with the utmost efficiency. [Wow, a boss who doesn¡¯t wear long johns! Truly worthy of you, Master Fang!] [Why is your focus so strange?] [The pants are lined with fleece, right? Is it really okay to seriously discuss this?] Bi Fang selectively ignored the barrage of comments from his online friends. After airing out for so long, the raft had started to become humid and warm, which made him more irritable and compounded his discomfort. However, to drink water, he had no choice but to do this. Tiny droplets slid down the funnel-shaped tent top, gradually dripping down, while Bi Fang opened his mouth wide below to catch each precious drop of freshwater. Without a container, this was the only way he could do it. As water droplets slid from top to bottom, they would carry many smaller droplets. After drinking for a while, he could rest briefly and allow the little droplets to condense again. Because of the temperature difference between the inside and outside, the water drops condensed quite quickly. Approximately every ten to twenty minutes, he could moisten his mouth again. Drifting at sea was not a simple matter. Bi Fang¡¯s previous estimate of twenty kilometers was conservative. Observing the color of the seawater, he even suspected that he had strayed far from the continental shelf, hundreds of kilometers from the coast! When he mentioned this possibility, the viewers were astounded. [Hundreds of kilometers? Is Master Fang joking?] [Can you really tell from that distance? Can humans see hundreds of kilometers?] [Did the production crew actually not plan for Master Fang to make it ashore?] ¡°Of course, humans can see hundreds of kilometers, not to mention hundreds of light-years. Otherwise, how could you see the stars? Whether you can see an object primarily depends on the object¡¯s size and brightness. As long as it¡¯s big enough and bright enough, you can even see Polaris.¡± ¡°Do you remember when I scanned the surroundings standing on the helicopter? Since Earth is a sphere, standing on its surface, our straight line of sight can only reach a portion of it. How far we can see depends on its diameter. This is a bit complicated, so let me just give you the conclusion.¡± ¡°On a clear day, the farthest distance a person can see over the sea can be estimated using the equation distance squared = 16.88h.¡± ¡°Where h is the height of your eyes above sea level, with h in meters and distance in kilometers. If someone¡¯s eyes are 1.5 meters above sea level, then their visible distance is roughly five kilometers.¡± [Holy moly, what¡¯s with this feeling like I¡¯m back in math class?] [I came to watch the live broadcast, not to solve math problems, survival scum!] [Make it simpler, talk in a simpler way.] [It¡¯s so complicated that you won¡¯t explain it which feels so real. I have limited knowledge; just hearing this makes me cough.] ¡°And the height from which I dived, plus my height, puts me approximately 25 meters above the sea surface. If you calculate it that way, my visible distance is roughly twenty kilometers.¡± ¡°Of course, this assumes clear weather and no haze in the air. And this is just one of my bases for judgment.¡± Bi Fang shook his head, pointing outside the tent, ¡°I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ve seen the footage taken by the drone outside the tent. Did you notice that the seawater is particularly blue?¡± The director of photography quickly switched the shot to the drone outside the tent, ascending and filming from above, where the seawater was almost deep blue. It was profoundly terrifying. Especially since below the vast expanse of deep blue, only an orange life raft bobbed up and down. Extremely tiny. [Master Fang didn¡¯t mention it at first, but once he did, my thalassophobia started kicking in] [Ah, I can¡¯t watch this! Just looking at it, it feels like there¡¯s some kind of monster in the water!] ¡°My second basis is to look at how blue the sea is. This is an issue of light scattering. The deeper the water, the more thorough the scattering of blue and violet light, so the bluer the sea appears to us.¡± ¡°This sea is nearly deep blue, so I estimate its depth to be at least 150 meters. Within the continental shelf, the depth of the water generally doesn¡¯t exceed 200 meters. Reaching a depth of 150 meters means we are already very far from the coastline, hundreds of kilometers is pretty normal.¡± Inside the helicopter, Jerret turned to his safety assistant Pondy, ¡°Is he right?¡± Pondy scratched his head, slightly embarrassed. Although he was a safety assistant and knew about visibility, judging location by the color of seawater was something he had heard about but never accomplished. Faced with Jerret¡¯s question, all he could do was speak the truth. ¡°` ¡°I know there¡¯s this method, but I can¡¯t make that deduction; only a fisherman who has spent a lifetime fishing might possibly do it. However, we did indeed fly nearly three hundred kilometers from the shore.¡± Jerret was shocked. Although Pondy wasn¡¯t an expert in this area, he was a safety professional. With an age of over forty, he had a wealth of experience and a strong understanding of many marine First Aid knowledge. Could it really be that even he couldn¡¯t make a judgment? It seemed that the scores they had given to Bi Fang might have underestimated him. Just how many more skills did this guy have that he hadn¡¯t shown yet? Jerret couldn¡¯t help but raise Bi Fang¡¯s strength in his mind again. It was hard to imagine that such seasoned judgment could be found in a twenty-five-year-old young man! Experience was something that required time and a broad range of encounters to accumulate, while physical strength would decline as one grew older. Rich experience and abundant physical strength, two seemingly contradictory qualities, were both present in one person! In films and television, he would definitely be the absolute protagonist who wins the hearts of beautiful women! The world would pay attention, no, it was already paying attention! A true genius! Nature¡¯s darling! A born Adventurer! These titles naturally sprang up in Jerret¡¯s mind. He even found it hard to imagine, what Bi Fang would become at forty, no, not forty, thirty, or even just five more years from then? Still at the physiological peak of humans, but with five more years of growth, how formidable would Bi Fang be? By then, would there be any difference for him between any place on Earth and his own backyard? ¡°Whew!¡± Having solved the water problem, Bi Fang took a deep breath, unzipped the zipper slightly, and poked half his face out to breathe in fresh air to relieve his dizzy brain. After a while, he zipped up again and felt much fresher. Bi Fang rubbed his face and continued to chat with his audience. There wasn¡¯t much he could do with the rough seas outside, but once the waves calmed down a bit, he could try some methods to catch fish. Although the task restrictions were virtually nonexistent for him now, it was still better to complete them. Completing tasks brought rewards, which were his assurance of becoming continuously stronger and the prerequisite for him to keep exploring areas where humans were forbidden. ¡°Actually, surviving twenty-one days at sea is not impossible. To my knowledge, the longest known survival time adrift at sea is 133 days¡­¡± So, to retain his audience as much as possible, Bi Fang was sharing all the knowledge he had. But before he could finish, the audience was already shocked by the number. 133 days, what kind of monster is this? Master Fang had only survived for a little over an hour and was already suffering so much, so who was this person who drifted at sea for a third of a year? Could it be without vomiting bile? [It must be some big shot who¡¯s challenging the limits, right? They must have brought some food, right?] [Is it someone from Ugly Country? I feel like only people from Ugly Country would dare to court death like this!] [Indeed, people from Huaxia don¡¯t seem to like taking on extreme challenges. Perhaps it¡¯s our body structure that¡¯s not up to it.] Whenever the topic of ultimate survival comes up, the audience thinks of some Western images. Even the examples Bi Fang previously mentioned involved foreigners, like getting lost in the desert while running a marathon, not dying from wrist-cutting, diving, breath-holding, and other records were all created by foreigners. It¡¯s almost as if they represented the human spirit of daring to challenge Nature and never giving up. It seemed that pushing the limits of nature had nothing to do with the Huaxia people. But this time Bi Fang chuckled, ¡°Then you are very wrong. The creator of this record is not someone else, but a native Huaxia person!¡± ¡°` Chapter 225 - Chapter 225: Chapter 222 A Fruitless Endeavor Chapter 225: Chapter 222 A Fruitless Endeavor 133 days. That¡¯s one-third of a year, over four months, a school term¡ªit doesn¡¯t seem like much. But what if it were spent surviving adrift at sea? Surviving at sea for 133 days. This is a number that sounds incredible to anyone, created by a person from Huaxia. ¡°His name is Pan Lian, an ordinary yet extraordinary person from Huaxia, hailed by Ugly Country¡¯s National Geographic Magazine as the ¡®World Survivor Champion.''¡± What Bi Fang spoke of was a true event. In fact, apart from some cultural differences, most of the world¡¯s history is indistinguishable from the previous world¡¯s, including its people. When World War II broke out, the United Kingdom recruited a large number of Huaxia seafarers, among them was Pan Lian. Four years later, Pan Lian was transporting wartime goods in the Atlantic Ocean when a German submarine spotted them and launched two torpedoes at the merchant ship. What happened next can be guessed by all, when the second torpedo hit the ship it sank quickly, creating a powerful suction that pulled him towards the seabed. In the chaos, Pan Lian grabbed a wooden plank and surfaced. When he had been aimlessly drifting at sea for 2 hours and was about to despair, a miracle occurred. A life raft from the merchant ship, which hadn¡¯t been destroyed, floated over to him. The life raft was a square wooden raft with masts at its four corners, and on both sides of the raft there were isolation compartments with metal boxes. The metal boxes contained various canned goods and food, 40 liters of fresh water, sugar, condensed milk, etc., as well as several flares and a flashlight. ¡°Although many cargo ships at that time were equipped with life rafts like this, only Pan Lian managed to survive for an extended period. Because drifting at sea is not easy, it is a test of wisdom and willpower.¡± The audience was amazed, such tenacity of life was almost unimaginably exaggerated. Thereafter, Pan Lian¡¯s predicament was somewhat similar to Bi Fang¡¯s, though he too encountered a disaster in the Atlantic Ocean, he was at a lower latitude, and unlike Bi Fang, he wasn¡¯t prevented from entering the water; however, the heat also meant that Pan Lian needed more fresh water. ¡°He collected rainwater using the roof, tied knots to count the days, and had an extremely strong will to survive. He even made a fishhook from the spring in the flashlight, twisted the mooring rope into a thin fishing line. He used the soft bodies of shellfish attached to the raft as bait¡­ and even crafted a rudimentary knife out of a tin can.¡± [Holy shit, that¡¯s impressive!] [Who says Huaxia people can¡¯t challenge human limits?] [Honestly, I think Master Fang has been challenging limits all along. I haven¡¯t seen anyone more badass than him to this day!] [Right! Master Fang is the best in the world!] [Who says Huaxia people can¡¯t challenge limits, isn¡¯t Master Fang the very definition of a limit? Wherever he stands is the peak of humanity!] The audience was fired up. Indeed, who says Huaxia people can¡¯t challenge human limits? Master Fang already had, wherever he stood was the peak of humanity! If there was a summit, then he was the summit, and all others could do was chase after his shadow! ¡°No, you can¡¯t say that,¡± Bi Fang interjected. Even Bi Fang felt a little embarrassed by the praises from the netizens. The world was full of capable people, and there were countless wonders, it¡¯s only that they hadn¡¯t had the chance to stand in front of the public. It was better to remain low-key. Although he had the System, it had only been half a year. To declare himself the world¡¯s number one was premature; perhaps in a few more years, a few more years. At least for now, Bi Fang felt there was still a significant gap between himself and Pan Lian¡ªnot in skill or experience, but in willpower. In the later stages of survival, Pan Lian, due to prolonged exposure to sea water and the lack of fresh water to bathe, combined with a shortage of vitamins from vegetables, developed pustules and ulcers on his limbs¡¯ skin, and his joints swelled. His only belief was: survive. Sometimes, amidst hunger, thirst, and pain, he would pinch his swollen muscles fiercely, preventing himself from falling asleep, lest it be a sleep from which he would never awaken. During World War II, many sailors escaped on life rafts, but after two or three months, they would lose the will to live, eventually succumbing to despair and madness, and giving up on survival. Bi Fang didn¡¯t know if he could possess such a strong will if he found himself in such a desperate situation, but that didn¡¯t stop him from expressing his admiration. ¡°It¡¯s worth mentioning that one time, a merchant ship passed by. Pan Lian fired a flare. The merchant ship noticed and even approached, but when he could nearly see the faces of the people on the deck, the ship sailed away.¡± As he reached this point in the story, there was a slight change in Bi Fang¡¯s tone, ¡°The reason was that he was a Huaxia person.¡± The atmosphere in the live broadcast was a bit heavy, and even international viewers fell silent, with some feeling guilty. Everyone understood the history of that time, and though it went unsaid, they comprehended the nature of such events; but everything has gotten better now. Anyone who dares to look down upon this nation with a history of five thousand years will surely pay a bloody price! ¡°However, the ending is a good one. In the end, Pan Lian was rescued by fishermen and lived until he was 73 before passing away peacefully.¡± The audience nodded involuntarily, but soon, some people realized a new problem. The situation Bi Fang was in now seemed to be even worse! [At least that person still had food and fresh water, could make fishing lines and hooks, but Master Fang really has nothing, and can this life raft even gather shellfish?] Upon seeing this comment, viewers were taken aback; indeed, Master Fang¡¯s current situation seemed even more difficult. At least the other had containers and materials, while Old Fang had nothing but his bare hands. Catching fish? With what? And without catching fish, where would food come from? ¡°Don¡¯t panic, a healthy adult can go a day or two without eating without significantly affecting their mobility. We have plenty of time to prepare.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think it¡¯s very cold here, but geographically, this is still considered a temperate warm sea area, and the variety and quantity of life are extremely rich.¡± But staring at the vast ocean, viewers could only feel that Bi Fang was comforting everyone; they racked their brains but still couldn¡¯t figure out how he would procure food. Evening. Bi Fang had put on his clothes, and with clothing, he felt much better. After drinking the collected droplets of water again, he wiped his mouth and said, ¡°Many people believe that in a water shortage, water should be rationed like food, used sparingly unless absolutely necessary, but this is actually a common misconception. You must never do that.¡± ¡°The negative effects of this water-saving method often far outweigh the positive impacts. Often, dehydration can quickly overcome a person, so quickly that one may not realize it, which is a very dangerous situation.¡± ¡°When dehydrated, it¡¯s easy to faint without any warning signs. Many real-life cases have shown this to be true, with people dying of dehydration often having a whole bottle of water right next to them. Therefore, even when water is limited, it should not be conserved too much.¡± ¡°If the weather isn¡¯t hot, and you are stranded for 2 to 4 days, you should still drink 400 milliliters of water daily. By the fifth day, when your body has adapted to the lack of water, the amount can be reduced again, but it should still be between 60 and 250 milliliters, depending on the weather and how much water you have, but never less than this amount!¡± After drinking the last bit of water, Bi Fang didn¡¯t moisten the towel again but used it as a cushion for the back of his head, preparing to rest for the night. The wind outside the tent had died down a lot, and the life raft was no longer as unstable as in the beginning, which made it much more comfortable for Bi Fang. Let¡¯s hope for some luck in finding food tomorrow. Recalling several methods in his mind, Bi Fang closed his eyes. If not necessary, he actually didn¡¯t want to use some extreme methods. The first day at sea, drifting, yielded nothing. Chapter 226 - Chapter 226: Chapter 223 My Only Opponent Is Myself Chapter 226: Chapter 223 My Only Opponent Is Myself The second day. When Bi Fang woke up, he felt an unprecedented pain in his head. It was not an acute pain, but a continuous one, like the erosion of waves, as if his brain had been stirred in a washing machine for three days and nights, turned into pulp, and with every movement, he could hear the sloshing of the liquid inside. In addition to the headache, his stomach was also very uncomfortable, with stomach acids burning his stomach lining. Bi Fang had no catch the previous day, but the severe headache alleviated his desire to eat, in short, he had no appetite. If he actually ate something, he probably would have vomited it back up. For sea survivors, the greatest dangers are not wearing clothes and severe dehydration, and seasickness can exacerbate dehydration. The production team saw that the main character was awake, so they quickly turned on the drone and started the second day of live streaming. The Discovery Channel cut off the documentary that was playing and switched to the live broadcast, with the narrator once again introducing the current state of affairs. ¡°Today is the second day of the live stream, and so far, our protagonist has gone more than twenty-four hours without food. On this vast ocean, with only a life raft at his disposal, what will he do next?¡± There wasn¡¯t much pontificating in the live room, just a lot of silly comments after greetings. [Good morning, Master Fang!] [Will you catch anything good today?] [I doubt it, this time you really might starve. I remember Master Fang went without food for two days once, right? Are you going to break that record this time?] [Starve for three days, skipping nine meals? Seems plausible to me.] [Congratulations Master Fang on unlocking a new achievement: Starving for three days, skipping nine meals!] Still groggy from sleep, Bi Fang gave a disdainful wave of his hand after reading the comments, ¡°Go away, it¡¯s only the second day and you¡¯re already cursing me, how could I possibly starve for three days without nine meals.¡± The audience laughed heartily. As a host, Bi Fang always managed to show a personable side, which was one of the reasons he was able to quickly gather a following. After laughing, Bi Fang took off an undershirt and began to unravel it. The only items Bi Fang could use at this point were the life raft and the clothes on his body, and he intended to turn his clothes into line in order to make a fishing line. ¡°If you¡¯re truly stranded, it¡¯s good to keep a navigation diary if you can. This helps with your state of mind, gives you a clear understanding of your surroundings. You can record the names of the survivors, the location of the accident, the date and time, weather conditions, and salvaged items into a table to help you organize your thoughts,¡± he explained. ¡°In cold oceans like this one, if there are more survivors, everyone could huddle together to maintain body temperature, prevent muscle or joint stiffness, and keep the blood circulating. Move your body moderately, but be careful not to move violently or suddenly to avoid unbalancing the raft or boat,¡± he said. ¡°When the climate is hot, you can remove excess clothing, but be sure to shade from the sun to avoid heatstroke and sunburn, and you could also make simple protective goggles to prevent damage from strong light.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s really too hot, you can also soak your clothes in water to help cool down, but be careful not to catch a cold at night.¡± ¡°If necessary, you could dip your lower body in seawater to reduce the loss of water, but make sure to fasten your safety belt, and be aware that prolonged exposure to water can cause skin ulcers.¡± ¡°In the tropics, there¡¯s one more thing that must be kept in mind, and that is when the temperature is too high, some of the air inside the rubber raft should be let out, as air expands when heated¡ªwe just need to loosen the valve, and then inflate it again at night.¡± Bi Fang pointed to a valve on the life raft, and in his hand, a line more than three meters long was already being twisted together. He zipped his jacket all the way up and forcefully broke off the zipper pull, then tied it with a thread, gently bending the two metal rings on each side open to create a makeshift fishhook shape. Bi Fang was very careful with this step as the zippers¡¯ toughness wasn¡¯t great, and they could easily break; fortunately, he succeeded on his first try. After completing this, he continued explaining, ¡°Besides serving as a fishhook, this zipper pull can also be used for¡­¡± Before Bi Fang could reveal the answer, some of the Shuiyou (Online Friends) had already figured it out. [Many types of fish like reflective objects!] [Wu Hu, I remember this!] [A snap hook can reflect light!] ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s the point, even though the reflection from the snap hook is not strong, it¡¯s the only thing I have that can be used.¡± The smooth surface of the snap hook, under the illumination of either sunlight or moonlight, can produce a fair amount of reflection, so even without bait, with a bit of luck, it might still attract some small fish. Bi Fang tied the other end of the rope to the safety lock rope of the life raft and then dragged the snap hook out of the raft, letting the fishing line shimmer with the movement of the drifting raft. [Swish, swish, swish, are we even forgoing bait now?] [Is this like Master Jiang fishing in the sea?] [Feels like there isn¡¯t much hope, huh?] [Why not hold it in hand? That way, wouldn¡¯t you instantly know when a fish bites?] ¡°Absolutely not hold it in hand.¡± Bi Fang shook his head, for sitting on an inflatable life raft, that was very dangerous. ¡°Do not manipulate the fishing line with bare hands, nor wrap the line around your hands or simply tie it to an inflatable rubber raft.¡± ¡°After being soaked in seawater, the line will release salt, and salt accumulated on the line is quite abrasive. This is dangerous for both the hands and the rubber raft. That¡¯s why I put the locking rope that binds the fishing line into the sea instead of leaning against the raft.¡± Life rafts are equipped with locking buckles to secure the people in distress, but the buckles on this life raft had been cut off, leaving only a small section of locking rope. Bi Fang had tied the fishing line to this locking rope, knotting them together to ensure it was fail-safe before letting it into the sea. Next was a long wait, but Bi Fang was quite optimistic. ¡°If not today, there¡¯s tomorrow; if not tomorrow, the day after. Given my physique, going hungry for three days shouldn¡¯t be a big problem.¡± ¡°Besides, the odds of catching a fish are pretty good. Not only do many types of fish like shiny objects, but since we are on a life raft, to avoid sunlight, some fish species and turtles are often drawn to the shade under rubber or life rafts and come to rest beneath the boat.¡± ¡°So if we had a net, we could hang it at both ends of the ship¡¯s keel, and it would need two people to hold firmly on each end.¡± After explaining all this, Bi Fang unzipped the life raft to let the fresh sea breeze blow in. He wasn¡¯t thirsty yet, preferring to breathe some fresh air to relieve his headache somewhat. Perhaps the drifting process wasn¡¯t very interesting to watch¡ªthroughout the morning, the number of people in the live stream hadn¡¯t made any significant breakthrough. From a peak of over two million after the start of the broadcast, it had now dropped to about 1.2 million stable viewers, which was quite modest. This included nearly 500,000 viewers from within the country, with the rest being international audiences. It might not sound like a lot, but it was already a figure that all the other streamers couldn¡¯t match. Take the most popular Shark streamer, Ri Bao, for example: his live broadcasts rarely exceeded 300,000 in real viewers. The so-called 20 million viewing figure was basically data released by the platform, not very credible, even virtually non-existent. Just thinking about it, you would know it¡¯s not possible. And moreover, saying it was modest is relative to Bi Fang¡¯s previous ¡°achievements¡±; he had always climbed a notch every time he went live, always climbing, and except for some major live competitive events, no one else could beat him when it came to personal broadcasting. Bi Fang¡¯s only competitor was always himself. Chapter 227 - Chapter 227: Chapter 224 Did he say it? Chapter 227: Chapter 224 Did he say it? The usual state could still maintain an audience of over 1.2 million. Such data, whether for Discovery Channel or YouTube, was very satisfying. Especially for Discovery Channel, which had seen its ratings decline for years due to the development of the era, the viewership actually soared! It was incredible! In fact, many older generations who were not proficient in using smartphones and computers didn¡¯t know much about live streaming, but Discovery Channel provided them a channel to get in touch with it. Unsurprisingly, Bi Fang¡¯s program didn¡¯t see a decrease in its appeal to audiences of any age. Especially for the people of Ugly Country, individual heroism was their favorite. Discovery Channel¡¯s new program literally gave a blood transfusion to the declining television station. Many who didn¡¯t like watching bullet comments and wanted to enjoy family warmth with their loved ones, turned on Discovery Channel and put down their phones. If a TV media company could make a fortune, what about the platform? No one knows how many people were green with envy. Not to mention the direct beneficiary Bi Fang, even the Wolf Fang boss must have been laughing in his dreams. Who could have thought that the host he had brought back at a great cost would bring in such a profit in just half a year? In a few more days, it would be the annual New Year¡¯s ranking day when fans of all kinds would vote for their favorite hosts. The viewership would surely increase by a lot, then what would the scene be like? Thinking of this, the Shark boss wasn¡¯t just envious, he was almost ready to pop his eyeballs out and play ping pong with them for three hundred rounds. This profit should have been exclusively for them, Shark! What the hell did Wolf Fang have to do with it? With Bi Fang, it was like having a divine weapon in the live broadcasting circle, wreaking havoc, especially with its subsequent impact. Whenever Bi Fang trended, didn¡¯t the comments always mention he was a Wolf Fang host? Gradually, Wolf Fang, which was about to drop out of the top three live streaming platforms, was milked right back up. Not only did their user downloads surge in the past six months, but their market value rose steadily and was already on par with Shark and Tiger Fang! Damnit, something that should have been dead was bloody revived and became nauseating. If it were Shark, they would have killed their way through already, then what would Wolf Fang and Tiger Fang have to do with it? Now it had become a situation where one was superior and several were strong. Such a powerful tool used for resurrection, and it¡¯s no good for you, Wolf Fang! Huge profits, huge profits! Thinking of this made Wolf Fang¡¯s boss¡¯s heart ache even more. Where the hell was Wang Weifeng? Dare he still sit in the office? Go guard the door! No, go clean the toilets for me, scrub the toilets!!! ¡­ Bi Fang stayed on the edge of the life raft for a whole three hours. Not to mention a bite, not a single fish came close. [Air Force] [Master Fang in the Air Force? Interesting£¨funny£©] [It¡¯s noon already, I feel the hope is slim] [Still need to use bait, this is my over ten years of experience in Air Force, roadside bums are not reliable!] [In ancient times, The Buddha cut flesh to feed eagles, now we have Master Fang cutting flesh to fish, listen to me, you still need to use bait] [Wow, that¡¯s a bit too much] ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily the case,¡± Bi Fang remained optimistic. He pointed at the big sun in the sky, ¡°Look, the sun is so intense, maybe there will be fish that come to rest under my boat. So let¡¯s not give up too easily. Sometimes, the more you want to give up, maybe the closer you are to success.¡± ¡°The first time is always difficult, don¡¯t be anxious. Maybe we have to wait for a day, or two days, but as long as we get a fish on the hook, even if it¡¯s just a little bit, I can hold on in this sea.¡± Bi Fang wasn¡¯t exaggerating. As long as he could get one fish, he could use small fish to catch larger ones. Moreover, he could use the fish bones as hooks. By then, obtaining food wouldn¡¯t be difficult. This is after all the North Sea. With such an optimistic mood, Bi Fang fished until nightfall. Throughout the day, he watched the sun traverse from east to west, the moon even rose, and yet not a single fish took the bait. ¡°I can¡¯t do this anymore, I¡¯m so tired.¡± Bi Fang collapsed onto the life raft, his lips turning white, his voice weak, the entire raft shaking. Fishing with a piece of iron, this isn¡¯t something humans should do. Maybe he shouldn¡¯t have pinned his hopes on fishing at all. If he was lucky, he might encounter a lost seabird. In foul weather, birds can be blown off their usual migratory paths and lose their way, and only a few seabirds can sleep on the ocean surface, so a life raft like this, a rare resting spot, has considerable allure¡­ Damn it, that¡¯s even less likely than fishing! Bi Fang slapped his forehead, doubting whether hunger had muddled his senses, to actually pin his hopes on such an event, the likelihood of which was even damn smaller than catching a fish. [Hahaha, six meals missed, an achievement is about to be unlocked, too bad there are no rewards] [Maybe the showrunners could airdrop an achievement reward¡ªa pool of seawater as the prize!] [Don¡¯t laugh, Master Fang¡¯s lips are turning white, it feels like the challenge set by the showrunners this time is beyond human capability!] [Indeed, I feel the same way, it¡¯s too hard, at the very least leave a tin can, a piece of iron or something, maybe pair it with a standard life raft!] Even Jerret started to doubt himself. Originally, he only thought about the impact of the show, plus Bi Fang left a very deep impression on him¡ªstrong, invincible, a man who could turn the impossible into the possible. That¡¯s why he stripped everything from the life raft, he even removed all but a small section of the safety harness. Now, it seemed, maybe it really was an impossible challenge from the start. In pursuit of the effect of the show, he had not taken objective facts into account and had not considered Bi Fang¡¯s feelings. Even Pan Lian, as Bi Fang mentioned, had never faced such a situation; he still had food for bait, a tin can for a knife, and various tools to help him fish and replenish nutrients, his starting point was much better. ¡°Do you think this task has any chance of success?¡± Jerret looked towards Pondy, waiting for the safety consultant¡¯s answer. If he said no, then Jerret would stop this farce he had initiated, even if it meant facing the TV network¡¯s penalties. If it was indeed impossible, why continue? The problem lay with him; Bi Fang should not have to bear the brunt of a failed adventure for no reason. ¡°Impossible.¡± Pondy covered his chin with one hand, gazing at the fluctuating Bi Fang on the screen, and shook his head swiftly and assertively. Jerret sighed, ¡°Is that really the case? Let¡¯s suspend the show for now.¡± ¡°Wait, why?¡± Pondy was stunned, not understanding why Jerret would say such a thing. The live broadcast was going well, so why suddenly suspend it? After Jerret explained his reasoning, Pondy suddenly laughed. ¡°I said impossible, because it¡¯s impossible for me. My knowledge and experience tell me it¡¯s impossible.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Pondy extended his hand, pointing towards the lone hero on the big screen, ¡°Has he said so?¡± ¡­ Bi Fang leaped up from the life raft, beating his head, dispelling the last remnants of negative thoughts, rejuvenating his spirit. He continued to unravel the threads, then reattached them to the lock rope, tying the last bit around his waist. Unable to catch anything during the day didn¡¯t mean he couldn¡¯t at night, when the reflection of the moon was even more apparent. Tonight he was going to outlast the fish. As long as a fish approached, he would catch one, even if it meant going into the water! Just as Bi Fang regrouped and focused on the ocean, he was taken aback. Onto the sea surface filled with starry reflections, suddenly drifted a patch of shadow devoid of any starlight. Chapter 228 - Chapter 228: Chapter 225 Im Floating Chapter 228: Chapter 225 I¡¯m Floating What is that? Bi Fang was the first to notice the non-reflective shadow, his tired spirits instantly tense. It was the ocean, where cries for heaven went unanswered, and pleas to earth bore no fruit, a true isolation without support. Anyone seeing a non-reflective shadow suddenly at midnight would be scared out of their wits. Especially when the shadow was considerably large, fear surged uncontrollably like breathing. Bi Fang¡¯s anomaly caught the attention of some of the audience. When they followed Bi Fang¡¯s gaze, they too noticed something amiss. On the brightly lit sea surface, the shadow spread like an expanse of darkness, all light seeping out from it. [Damn, what¡¯s coming our way?] [It¡¯s huge.] [A fish?] [Why is the fish moving so slowly?] Everyone was somewhat worried. They had all witnessed first-hand how bad Bi Fang¡¯s condition was. Having not eaten for two days, while not life-threatening, was far from being in top shape; he¡¯d do well to use half of his strength. If an accident occurred, could he resist it? Even Jerret and Pondy were on full alert, immediately instructing the driver that they must rush to the rescue at the first sign of danger. The shadow was about one square meter in size, it still seemed rather big, particularly at night, and with the cinematographer¡¯s eerie music, added quite a bit of tension. The life raft was not a wooden raft, but inflatable rubber and nylon fabric. Meeting any kind of danger could lead to deflation. Once the raft was punctured, even with a hole no bigger than a palm, the challenge could basically be deemed a failure. Therefore, Bi Fang had no choice but to muster all the energy he could, treating the shadow with the utmost caution. This was a heavy burden on both body and mind for someone who had been starving for two days. Perhaps it was because there were no waves during the day, the mere appearance of a shadow was enough to pique the viewers¡¯ interest, and the number of viewers started to climb slowly. Lying at the edge of the raft, Bi Fang stared for more than ten minutes, his eyelids knotting up, while the shadow remained motionless. Could it be an inanimate object? At this thought, Bi Fang perked up. Lucky him, he had been racking his brains for a lack of materials, and here one was drifting towards him. Could it be that his luck for the past two days was finally turning? Even a piece of plastic sheeting would be hugely useful to him at the moment. ¡°Maybe I should go check it out.¡± After looking on for a long time, Bi Fang decided to move closer and take a look. From what he could see now, it didn¡¯t seem dangerous, but still, many of the faint-hearted viewers were scared. The sinister music, dark environment, and the rise and fall of the camera¡¯s view gave the feeling of watching a horror film. They feared that as soon as Bi Fang paddled over, just as he reached out, something monstrous would leap out from the shadow and bite down. Having made his decision, Bi Fang didn¡¯t rashly approach but took some seawater in his hands and sprinkled it towards the distance. The drops hitting the surface of the water made a distinct sound. The shadow remained immobile and wasn¡¯t attracted by the noise. Now, Bi Fang was much more reassured and took more water again, this time sprinkling it directly towards the shadow. The result was the same. ¡°It seems it really is some sort of dead thing.¡± After several confirmations, Bi Fang was somewhat excited. Whatever dead thing it was, it was a material, and if it could be used, then it was a good thing! Assured that it posed no threat, Bi Fang immediately lay at the edge of the raft, pushing down on half of the raft, rolling up his sleeves, and paddling towards the shadow bit by bit. Without a paddle, relying solely on his hands, the life raft moved very slowly, sliding through the water like a short-legged turtle, one without hind legs at that. With little wind or waves, there was no hurry, and Bi Fang could steadily get closer to the shadow. Minutes later, as the distance between them closed to less than two meters, Bi Fang, with the help of the faint moonlight, finally made out what that mass was. Seaweed! [Seaweed? Can seaweed appear here?] [Damn, has Old Fang¡¯s luck finally turned around? Did a piece of seaweed actually drift over here? Is the achievement of starving for three meals going unfulfilled?] [Damn, even the Heavens are helping Master Fang!] [Why would seaweed appear here? Doesn¡¯t this stuff usually grow along the coast? Didn¡¯t Old Fang say the water here is at least one hundred and fifty meters deep? Can seaweed even grow in such a place?] [Could it be arranged by the program group?] [But it¡¯s not like you can¡¯t eat seaweed, right?] [I think it¡¯s fine, at this point, wouldn¡¯t we even consider eating grass and tree roots?] The appearance of seaweed took everyone by surprise, sparking various discussions and even leading some to suspect it was arranged by the show¡¯s organizers. Bi Fang didn¡¯t pay attention to the viewers¡¯ reactions and instead wrapped his hands in a bath towel, his eyes filled with a green glow. Damn, it¡¯s seaweed indeed! ¡°There are over a thousand known species of algae in the ocean, not all of which are edible. However, the types of seaweed that can appear in the open sea are few, and among them, there is one common seaweed that is edible.¡± Bi Fang spoke excitedly. Although the moonlight was dim and he couldn¡¯t see clearly what kind of seaweed it was, he strongly suspected that the seaweed that had drifted nearby was the kind he knew. Sargassum Natans! This type of Horsetail Kelp doesn¡¯t grow in the open ocean; on the contrary, it grows in coastal waters, mostly in the intertidal zone. But it has one characteristic! It drifts easily! As a ¡°raft,¡± this plant grows in the ocean, absorbing nutrients directly from the seawater, requiring only sunlight to thrive and reproduce. This growth form allows Horsetail Kelp to travel about under the influence of ocean currents, and it isn¡¯t rare for it to drift to the open sea; in fact, it¡¯s quite common. Many ships in the open ocean often see some seaweed debris, of which ninety-nine percent are Horsetail Kelp! Especially Sargassum Natans in the Sagos Sea Area and the North Atlantic warm current are greatly influenced by the current, allowing them to drift very far. For Bi Fang, who is drifting in the North Atlantic, encountering it is not unusual. Luck is on my side! [Damn, so that¡¯s the case? Sorry for my ignorance.] [When luck comes, you can¡¯t even block it!] [It drifts that easily (Dog¡¯s head)?] [Not only is it edible, but it can also be used as bait, right?] ¡°Exactly! If it truly is Horsetail Kelp, then it¡¯s not only edible but can also be used as bait!¡± Upon saying this, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but feel elated. Damn it, after starving for two days, he finally saw some good ¡°goods¡±. Although it wasn¡¯t fish, having something to eat was much better than before! ¡°However, before fetching it, everyone needs to be careful. These floating seaweeds may harbor many small crabs, shrimp, and fish that feed on them. Some cephalopods are dark brown, similar to seaweed, and like to hide within it, making them hard to detect.¡± The shadow wasn¡¯t large, so Bi Fang wasn¡¯t worried about any big fish being hauled up and tearing the life raft. Having some small fish or shrimp might even add to the meal. ¡°Of course, since it has drifted to the open sea, the likelihood of finding small fish and shrimp inside is slim, but we cannot be careless; therefore, we shouldn¡¯t rashly touch it with our hands. We can wear gloves; otherwise, getting cut or bitten could be troublesome.¡± The more fruitful the harvest, the calmer we must be. In wilderness survival, any injury can be fatal, even a small wound can pose an infection risk hundredfold compared to in the city! With this in mind, Bi Fang wrapped his hands in a bath towel, approached the shadow getting closer, and once within reach, he swiftly extended his hands and scooped up the entire clump of seaweed! Chapter 229 - Chapter 229: Chapter 226: Achievement Crushed Chapter 229: Chapter 226: Achievement Crushed Bi Fang suddenly stretched out his hand, and while the seaweed wasn¡¯t paying attention, he violently scooped it onto the life raft. ¡°Ha, it¡¯s quite heavy.¡± As he flung the seaweed, Bi Fang estimated it must weigh quite a few pounds; if he actually ate it, he figured it could last him several days. A truly nice catch. ¡°However, natural seaweed is tough and chewy with a high salt content, so it¡¯s hard to digest, and eating too much at once can easily lead to constipation. It can only solve urgent hunger issues, and if you¡¯re short on water, try not to eat it.¡± Whether it¡¯s constipation or difficulty urinating, or even highly concentrated urine, in harsh environments, all are quite abnormal and should be treated with caution. Bi Fang absolutely did not want to encounter such situations, especially with the crew around. Even though he might be fine, there was no guarantee they wouldn¡¯t film some bizarre stuff. At that point, his lifetime reputation would be ruined. ¡°I¡¯ve mentioned before that any food will consume the water inside your body unless you¡¯re eating fruits that provide more water than they consume. But seaweed clearly doesn¡¯t belong in that category, and it¡¯s even a bit salty; too much consumption can easily lead to dehydration.¡± Bi Fang fiddled with the seaweed on the life raft but didn¡¯t find any small fish or shrimp. However, he wasn¡¯t discouraged; harvesting the seaweed was already quite good. At least the gift from the ocean would allow him to hold on for a few more days. As long as there¡¯s enough time, there will always be a chance for a turnaround. With a large enough base, even the least probable events can occur. Picking one of the seaweeds, Bi Fang held it up to the moonlight to examine it closely. After a while, he confirmed with joy that it was indeed Horsetail Kelp! Without hesitation, Bi Fang wiped down the stem a couple of times, cleaned it briefly, and stuffed the Horsetail Kelp into his mouth to chew; the mild salty and savory flavor spread out. ¡°Hmm, the taste is not bad, there¡¯s a hint of the sea, but the plant itself is not dead or rotten, it¡¯s quite crisp. After eating it, my mouth feels drier, but it¡¯s not as salty as I thought it would be.¡± Bi Fang picked another piece of Horsetail Kelp and threaded it onto the fish hook; though it wasn¡¯t meat bait, having some vegetation as bait was much better than before, and he actually worried that true meat bait might attract some fierce carnivorous fish. On this tiny broken boat, if a large carnivorous fish came, it would most likely be a situation of fish dead, boat broken. After putting on the bait, Bi Fang zipped up the life raft, hoping to drink distilled water again. ¡°But what we¡¯ve encountered is just a remnant. If you come across the actual growth area of Horsetail Kelp, you¡¯d be absolutely shocked. It¡¯s nothing like water plants; it¡¯s more like a prairie at sea.¡± While eating, Bi Fang described the real growing environment of Horsetail Kelp. When he had nothing else to do, he relied on this to pass the time, or you could say, to retain the audience. Horsetail Kelp is a very common species among algae, but when they grow in the Atlantic, they¡¯re different. Once Horsetail Kelp starts reproducing here, people are accustomed to calling this sea area the Sargasso Sea. The sea surface is calm, stagnant throughout all seasons, with weak currents, and the sea water between different layers does not mix, so the nutrients in shallow waters are refreshed very slowly and are almost immediately occupied by Horsetail Kelp. ¡°Explorer Columbus, when he led the expedition fleet to explore the Atlantic, sailors on his ship had discovered a green ¡®prairie.¡¯ As you might have guessed, it wasn¡¯t a prairie, but a Sargasso Sea.¡± ¡°At that time, Columbus was very happy, thinking he had reached India, and ordered the ship to enter the ¡®prairie.¡¯ The result was they realized it was an endless expanse of seaweed, and they ended up being trapped inside for a month before they managed to get out.¡± [Damn, a month? That long?] [Columbus was really tragic, I always thought mistaking North America for Asia was his black history, didn¡¯t expect there¡¯s something even darker] [A month? Is it really that horrible?] ¡°Yes, the Sargasso Sea looks beautiful. But many ships, accidentally caught in the seaweed, fail to escape. The seaweed climbs onto their decks like snakes and wraps around the ship. Over time, due to lack of food and fresh water, many sailors end up dying from starvation. Hence, the Sargasso Sea is also known as the ¡®Sea Graveyard¡¯ and ¡®Devil¡¯s Sea.''¡± ¡°And because the surface is occupied, many plankton cannot survive, followed by a massive amount of fish dying from suffocation and rotting. The smell of this ¡®green field¡¯ is very disgusting, and there are wrecked ships everywhere.¡± Bi Fang had not seen it with his own eyes, but his Wilderness Survivalist experience told him how horrifying that scene was, almost like Hell. [Holy crap, is it that scary?] [If Old Fang gets trapped, isn¡¯t he screwed?] [Horsetail kelp is that formidable? It can even ¡®eat¡¯ people? Damn!] [Isn¡¯t this stuff like red tide? How can it grow like that?] ¡°Pretty much, they¡¯re both harmful, and about how horsetail kelp grow big, to this day, people still haven¡¯t found a precise answer. Some oceanographers believe these types of kelp drift from other seas and accumulate over time.¡± ¡°Others think that these types of kelp originally grew on the seabed of this area, before floating up to the surface due to underwater current activity.¡± ¡°Of course, the most surprising is the mobility of horsetail kelp, like they¡¯ve got long legs, drifting from time to time. Many scientists frequently encounter this strange phenomenon: They sometimes see a large green mass of horsetail kelp, but after a while, it disappears.¡± As Bi Fang chewed the horsetail kelp in his mouth, he not only described its properties but also addressed the viewers¡¯ suspicion about the ¡°program crew setting things up.¡± It really wasn¡¯t. Encountering horsetail kelp while drifting on the sea is normal, especially in the North Atlantic; it would be embarrassing to say you¡¯ve been to the Atlantic if you haven¡¯t run into it at least once. [Damn, there goes the ¡®three days without food¡¯ achievement] [Crap, Master Fang actually has food now] [Here we go, back on track. Even in this situation, Master Fang turns it around, infuriating!] [But I think another achievement has been unlocked, breaking the record for holding a tree stick!] [Hey, damn, why didn¡¯t I think of this, okay, I¡¯m all in, howling to the moon, I bet Master Fang won¡¯t get his hands on a tree stick this adventure!] [Holy shit, I¡¯m going all in too, all or nothing! If he manages to get a tree stick, I¡¯ll eat my monitor!] The livestream channel¡¯s admin immediately opened a Wolf Brush betting round, wagering whether Bi Fang would get a tree stick this time. It seemed to be a new rule on the platform, where betting with Wolf Brushes was either yes or no, and if you won, you¡¯d share the Wolf Brushes of those who lost. The moment the round opened, the ¡®no¡¯ option crashed the ¡®yes¡¯ one; everyone thought it was easy money, with over a hundred thousand Wolf Brushes staked. God knows how many people joined in. Pretty clever play. Bi Fang chuckled, placing a hundred ¡®yes¡¯ Wolf Brushes himself. He didn¡¯t care much about such a small gamble, casually stuffing two more pieces of horsetail kelp into his mouth. Not only did the kelp stave off hunger, but it was also rich in minerals and vitamins, nutritionally balanced¡ªquite the catch. It directly revitalized Bi Fang, who had been starving for two days, replenishing a good deal of his strength. After eating some horsetail kelp, water droplets once again began to condense inside the life raft. Perfect for Bi Fang who was parched and thirsty, he drank until there was nothing left. Then he scooped out the excess water from the raft and wiped the raft dry with a towel, laying himself down to rest. ¡°At night, you can¡¯t let the raft get too damp; prolonged contact with seawater can cause skin ulcers. I¡¯ve mentioned this before.¡± ¡°In a small boat or rubber raft without cover, water can accumulate everywhere, and you might have to soak your feet for long periods, which is quite troublesome.¡± ¡°Moderate exercise helps protect the feet, preventing frostbite. Sleeping bare is dangerous; make sure to cover your body while resting, and move your limbs slightly when keeping watch.¡± ¡°Too bad I don¡¯t have a blanket, just this wet towel. Thank goodness I was nabbed in a bathhouse; otherwise, I might not even have this towel.¡± Bi Fang made a self-deprecating remark, He still had to think about how to survive the next nineteen days. A bunch of seaweed wouldn¡¯t be enough, he needed meat. Second day of survival at sea, harvest, a bunch of horsetail kelp. Chapter 230 - Chapter 230: Chapter 127: The Seas Fury Chapter 230: Chapter 127: The Sea¡¯s Fury The ocean surface was sprinkled with sunlight, making the cold weather feel warm. Other than the strong wind on the first day and the indecision of the rain, the weather had been good for the following two days, with not the slightest intention to rain. Bi Fang lay on the life raft, drifting with the waves, occasionally glancing at the fishing line with the corner of his eye to see if any prey had taken the bait. After three days of adaptation, he had grown accustomed to drifting. He no longer felt dizzy, and the ups and downs even gave him a feeling of ¡°floating in bliss,¡± which was rather nice. Bi Fang casually plucked a strand of horsetail kelp and chewed on it, his hands pillowed behind his head, basking in the sun leisurely without any rush, or rather, rushing was futile. Fishing was, besides skill, largely a matter of luck, especially since he was using grass as bait rather than meat. But with his current state, basking in the sun amidst the drifting sea, he looked not like a castaway but as if he were out on a vacation, provided one ignored his slightly pale complexion. Though food was secured, fresh water resources remained scarce. The small amount of daily evaporation was enough to meet the bare minimum, not the healthy requirements. Holding on for another four or five days was not a problem, but in the long run, it was not the same. He was waiting for a rain, a life-saving rain. It might sound as if he placed all his hope of survival on the whims of the heavens, but in reality, survival was just that, uncertain. The only certainty was probability. Some people became survival experts because they knew what actions would yield the greatest probability of success. Just like Bi Fang knew that the North Atlantic was affected by temperate cyclones, with unpredictable weather, wind, and rain every other day, the probability of getting rainwater was extremely high. That was why he was willing to wait, otherwise he would have zipped up and distilled water non-stop, instead of opening the tent to absorb the sun and reduce heat loss. This was a choice that conformed to the interests of the moment. A real survival master knows where every ounce of their effort should go, which is why their probability of surviving is far higher than others. Without water, you can¡¯t conjure it out of thin air; without food, you can¡¯t materialize it either. Bi Fang was human, not a deity. No matter how much people hailed him as Master Fang, he still couldn¡¯t conjure bread and water out of nowhere. Surviving was about leveraging ¡°probabilities¡± ¨C the simplest math logic was key to survival. Many people, including Bi Fang himself, had been pushed to the painful limits by struggling against harsh environments and circumstances. In such situations, life itself could feel like a threat. The feeling of fear might be momentary, or it might torment you for hours or days until you realized you had to confront it, and then everything would suddenly become clear. It was then that a person truly gained the conviction to live on, to find a way out, and return to the life they belonged to. These were not just Bi Fang¡¯s real thoughts, they were also his real actions. He was not stingy about sharing his experiences with everyone. ¡°Many times, I became a member of an uncommon team, where hardy spirits, smart minds, decisive decisions, humble qualities, and indispensable friendships were present.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the valuable things learned from those excellent people during hard times, the things that have accompanied my life¡¯s journey, not just in past moments of danger and life-threatening situations but also now.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t consider myself an expert professional adventurer, but through many pleasant, cruel, uplifting, terrifying, or bleak experiences, I have understood the value of knowledge, clear thinking, and respect for all extreme and challenging environments. I ought to show them.¡± ¡°This is to be able to adapt to the natural environment and try to understand it, which will help you adapt to your surroundings and thereby give you hope.¡± Bi Fang kept the audience entertained with conversation, feeling that after a few live streams, he had honed quite the gift of gab, enough to perform a solo comedy act. At the same time, he was also telling everyone not to be misled by his sunbathing and drifting; he wasn¡¯t a salty fish but was instead making rational plans. He really wasn¡¯t on vacation. [Got it, Old Fang is an algebraist!] [I believe you] [Can you put your hand down before saying that? It¡¯s hard to take you seriously with you resting your head on your hand and sunbathing!] [Really? I don¡¯t buy it (jokingly)] Bi Fang chuckled, lowered his hand, and sat on the edge of the raft to check if there were any fish biting, but the outcome was quite obvious. The horsetail kelp swayed on the water¡¯s surface, with no fish hooked. He sighed. Two days had passed ¡ª how could not even a single fish be caught? Even if it was winter, it shouldn¡¯t be like this. Besides, it wasn¡¯t an empty lure; he was using grass bait. Why didn¡¯t the fish show him any face? Nowadays, many people regarded Bi Fang as the world¡¯s number one adventurer, and if he boasted about this, he would be the laughingstock. Was it environmental degradation or overfishing? Was fishing supposed to be this difficult? Bi Fang scratched his head, perplexed. To pass the time, he could only continue to chat with his audience and share some survival experiences. ¡°Although we are quite far from the shore, that doesn¡¯t mean seabirds won¡¯t show up. The North Atlantic often has strong winds, and it¡¯s possible that some birds may lose their way in the wind. They could be so hungry and tired that upon seeing my shabby raft, they might think of landing to rest for a bit. Therefore, we can put some seaweed on the tent to increase its attractiveness.¡± Bi Fang took a handful of horsetail kelp out of a large clump and placed it on top of the tent, spreading it out to make it more visible. [666, Master Fang is now even drawing the birds] [Speaking of which, after eating so many creatures from the land and sea, it seems we haven¡¯t really tried the ones from the sky?] [It was a shame about the goose last time, one by one, big and with lush feathers. They looked plump; it was quite a pity.] [¨¦tienne: Are you being polite? Thinking about my geese all the time?] [Do seabirds eat seaweed? I thought they all fished for food?] ¡°They do eat it, of course, they do. Many seabirds eat seaweed, and according to scientific research, the smell emitted by the decomposition of microorganisms on the surface of plastic debris is similar to that of decaying seaweed. As a result, seabirds, including the albatross, might mistake them for food and ingest them.¡± ¡°It¡¯s reported that about 90% of seabirds have ingested plastic debris, mostly because they mistook plastic for seaweed.¡± After arranging the horsetail kelp on top of the tent, Bi Fang sat down again and waited for the fish to bite. But the audience became restless upon hearing this news. 90%? What kind of ratio was that? [Damn, is that really a thing?] [90%? Is it really that many?] Bi Fang nodded, ¡°Yes, there are. Why would I lie to you about this? Just look it up online and you¡¯ll know.¡± Many viewers, upon hearing this, promptly switched platforms, only to find that it was indeed true, and even more than 90%! [Damn, it¡¯s actually true] [Has the environment deteriorated to this extent? It¡¯s time for us ¡®vaccine people¡¯ to make our move!] [So pitiful, eating plastic, aren¡¯t they doomed to die?] [I¡¯ll never litter again¡­] [Master Fang on ¡®Wilderness Survivalist¡¯ always tries to minimize environmental damage, even looking for tree sticks he¡¯d find those that had already fallen off¡­ Ah, why is there such a big gap between people?] Many viewers were also reminded of Bi Fang¡¯s actions; even when building a fire, except in emergency situations, he always chose dry branches and leaves and restored the environment as best as he could afterward. Compared to those who carelessly litter on the beach, the difference in attitude was stark, and it commanded respect. Risking their lives to survive, they dared not leave a trace in nature, and cleaned up thoroughly afterwards, preserving the pristine environment. Yet, as a tourist, after enjoying the beauty of nature, you leave behind trash? How shameless is that? [Stop scolding, I won¡¯t dare to do it again next time] [Awesome, Master Fang is truly conscientious] [I respect nobody but Old Fang!] The audience was full of praise again, and Bi Fang was somewhat embarrassed. After chatting idly for a bit more, he calmed his heart and went back to fishing. However, before noon he noticed something was wrong. The sky darkened. No way? Another storm? The oppressive dark clouds rolled in from the southeast, the air thickened and grew sultry, and the once calm sea started to get choppy, looking like it could turn into huge waves at any moment. This sight alarmed the viewers. The image of Bi Fang gliding through the storm on a hang glider was still fresh in their minds, with lightning splitting the heavens and earth, growing wildly like branches, it was like something out of hell. And now it was happening again? Wait a minute, it seems like Bi Fang was already waiting for the rain, wasn¡¯t he? ¡°I was just wondering when it would rain this morning, and now here it is?¡± Bi Fang marveled at his own good fortune. Yes, good fortune. He had never expected to go through twenty-one days of survival without encountering a storm. Since a storm was inevitable, worrying was useless; better to consider its benefits, like fresh water. So, Bi Fang believed his good fortune had turned. But now wasn¡¯t the time to dwell on whether luck was good or bad. He needed to prepare thoroughly for the upcoming storm. As he lowered the tent, he explained. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, everyone. I¡¯ve actually been mentally prepared for this because rain generally occurs when warm and cold air masses meet, causing water vapor to cool down into water before falling. There isn¡¯t much cover at sea, so this meeting of air masses becomes more evident when it rains, resulting in stronger wind and waves.¡± ¡°If the downpour consists of large hail, it¡¯s because water vapor suddenly encounters a strong cold air current, or due to strong convective high pressure, that it directly sublimates and falls as ice.¡± ¡°Besides, I¡¯ve mentioned before that weather in the North Atlantic is unpredictable. I¡¯ve long thought about the possibility of encountering a storm, so don¡¯t be too anxious. It¡¯s the production team that should leave quickly, especially if they¡¯re at sea. Don¡¯t stick around, because it¡¯s very dangerous for a helicopter to hover over the ocean. It would be a disaster if they ended up adrift like me.¡± The sun had shone intensely for the past two days, causing significant evaporation from the sea surface. A sudden rainfall is hardly surprising. Bi Fang was neither too rushed nor too leisurely, even taking the time to remind the directors and assistants of the production team to avoid any mishaps during filming. Of course, the production team knew this without him saying so, especially with Pondy there as the safety consultant. They checked the weather forecast daily. Once they detected a change in the weather, they would evacuate beforehand. But that just meant the danger to Bi Fang increased, although he himself didn¡¯t care. The audience was stunned by Bi Fang¡¯s composure. He¡¯s not worried about himself but concerned about the production team? Is this how a boss operates? ¡°Additionally, if we had a sea anchor, we could deploy it to keep the boat close to the scene of the accident and help you maintain the boat¡¯s position against the wind and waves. By adjusting the sea anchor, we could position the life raft at the peak of a wave while the sea anchor is in the trough. That way, it¡¯s easier for us to avoid large waves. But I don¡¯t have one.¡± A sea anchor is a large, sinkable object with 3 to 4 hooks, each with a rope tied to it. Each rope is about 1 meter long and they converge to connect to the stranded person¡¯s boat. When sunk into the water, it creates a certain amount of resistance and provides stability, helping the boat resist wind and wave movements. The wind was picking up, and Bi Fang unconsciously raised his voice as he spoke. He could clearly feel that the life raft was moving faster ¨C not just faster, it was like lightning! To prevent the life raft from being capsized by the wind, Bi Fang had to lower his center of gravity. A sea anchor helps the victim to remain near the point of distress, making it easy for rescuers to locate them, but Bi Fang didn¡¯t have one, and he never mentioned it. ¡°Ocean currents can have a significant impact on the performance of anchors and boats, so be vigilant for any changes that could happen at any time. If possible, you can make one yourself. A length of 5 meters or more for the anchor rope would suffice. When a huge wave hits, it should be positioned in the trough of the wave!¡± Bi Fang pulled the top of the tent as low as possible to facilitate lowering his center of gravity. He needed to keep the canopy upright to keep the life raft dry. ¡°If you¡¯re in a life raft capable of holding 20 people, the heaviest person should sit in the middle, and everyone else must sit properly. By distribution of body weight, the force of the wind trying to lift the life raft can be suppressed.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t sit on the edge of the life raft, and don¡¯t stand up, as it¡¯s very easy to fall into the water. Also, don¡¯t move suddenly without informing the other people in the raft in advance. Once someone falls into the water, you¡¯ll quickly be separated, and after the storm ends, the chances of being found are slim. The same applies to me; if I fall into the water, it¡¯s pretty much a death sentence!¡± ¡°So we must take every measure to prevent the life raft from capsizing.¡± Bi Fang reached out, pulling water towards himself, trying to face the wind, to clearly see and pass over the incoming waves. Large waves, especially giant ones hitting the port or starboard side, could capsize a vessel, particularly a life raft. But Bi Fang¡¯s life raft was circular, a design that can withstand giant waves from any direction. The downside is that it rarely offers paddles or anything else for maneuvering. The world seemed lead-gray, and Bi Fang¡¯s shout was drowned out by the wind. He could no longer say a word; as soon as he opened his mouth, a great amount of air rushed in, as if it could go straight to his stomach. Raindrops suddenly struck Bi Fang¡¯s hand ¨C the rain had finally started to pour. He looked up, and across the lead-gray world, a great pressure of water descended from above, smacking fiercely toward the life raft! Chapter 231 - Chapter 231: Chapter 228: Cant Lose Even Once? Chapter 231: Chapter 228: Can¡¯t Lose Even Once? The surging waves swept over like mountains, and when Bi Fang looked up, it felt as if the sky was collapsing, stirring up immense fear! This wasn¡¯t just a wave, it was as if the heavens had fallen! Even through the screen, the audience could feel the immense pressure, similar to the giant tsunami heading towards human cities in disaster movies. They held their breath and silently prayed for Bi Fang on the life raft. Natural disasters are always the most terrifying, beyond the reach of human prowess. Even the most skilled survival experts are no different from ordinary people when faced with giant waves. And Bi Fang only had a life raft that could capsize at any moment¡­ The giant waves drew closer and Bi Fang held tightly onto the tent, clinging closely to the raft, trying to minimize wind resistance to prevent the life raft from being overturned by the wind before the wave hit, or the body of the raft not flipping while the tent flew away, which was not very sturdy. But he couldn¡¯t dismantle the tent either. Once removed, rainwater would pour directly into the raft, increasing the risk of capsizing. Moreover, the temperature was dropping. If his body came into direct contact with the rainwater, Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t last long in the cold weather. The energy drained by hypothermia was enough to cause him serious trouble, and it was difficult to say whether he could survive. The Horsetail Kelp on top of the tent had also been packed away, and everything on the boat was securely fastened by Bi Fang to prevent them from falling into the sea due to the rocking of the boat. The ocean seemed resourceful, but without tools, it was nothing but a ¡°desert.¡± He couldn¡¯t afford to waste any resources, even a drop of water could be critical to his survival. The drone swayed in the wind and rain, but the footage it captured was still stable. Jerret gripped the remote in his hand. He wasn¡¯t worried about the drone; it was the latest, most advanced model, custom-made from Huaxia, with a high cost that most ordinary families couldn¡¯t afford. Even in a Force 7 wind, it could operate stably. His only concern was whether Bi Fang would be okay. According to meteorological data, the sea state had reached Force 5 and might even approach Force 6! At sea condition Force 5, waves are three to four meters high, and the wind reaches Force 6. Fishing boats pitch violently and must reduce their sails, even fully, to avoid capsizing. Fishing is highly risky, and travel is not recommended. At sea condition Force 6, waves are four to six meters high, and the wind reaches Force 7. Fishing boats halt their outings and shelter in port, and those at sea need to anchor to stabilize their vessels. Even at Force 5, if not operated properly, fishing boats could capsize, let alone a small life raft. Could it really withstand this? Before long, the first wave hit. Bi Fang desperately searched his memory for knowledge to ensure he had done everything possible. The rest was up to fate. The life raft pitched wildly as high wave crests formed, surrounded everywhere by larger white foam peaks, and sometimes, spray. The crests of the waves took up a large area on top of the peaks. The wind began shearing away the wave crests, turning the broken waves into foamy streaks along the direction of the wind. The first wave of streaked giants swept across, and the audience was nearly suffocated. The air in their shelters grew thicker and more viscous, like gel, encompassing everyone, leaving no room to struggle. More terrifying was that the glue-like air surged into their respiratory tracts. This eerie air gel, soft like a long tongue, slid down the windpipes, completely blocking their lungs. Bi Fang was stifled by the immense pressure, his heartbeat skipping a beat. Above his head, the dark blue giant wave writhed like a giant serpent, and in the blink of an eye, it swept beneath the life raft. The tent, which had some semblance of structure, collapsed instantly under the tremendous uplift force, clinging tightly to Bi Fang¡¯s body. From the perspective of the airborne drone, one could clearly see a human shape outline. The more timid audience members began to scream. From the first-person perspective, they felt as if they were on a roller coaster, equally thrilling and fast-paced, but this type of ¡°roller coaster¡± could be deadly! The black sky above was heavy with storm clouds that spun rapidly in Bi Fang¡¯s vision, like a kaleidoscope, giving him an unreal sensation. The howling wind, the rotating clouds, the oncoming mist¡ªit all seemed as if time was rapidly flying by beside him. The circular life raft adapted well to the giant waves. It didn¡¯t capsize but kept rising with the wave. Bi Fang tightly grasped both sides of the raft, flattened as if he was on a pancake, feeling an extreme sense of G-force. Bi Fang exerted all his strength to lower his center of gravity, ensuring the raft¡¯s stability. When he reached the highest point of the giant wave, his speed also dropped to the lowest. The audience held their breath, not daring to utter a sound, watching the valley floor slowly approach, like a person on the guillotine waiting for the blade to fall. The next second, a feeling of weightlessness suddenly struck! Bi Fang could feel his lower abdomen involuntarily tightening, sending chills throughout his body. It wasn¡¯t a spasm, but rather a conditioned reflex formed over thousands of years of human evolution. Whenever the human body is in a state of weightlessness, it feels tense. The body thinks you are falling from a great height and rapidly considers which way of landing could minimize injury. The tightening of the lower abdomen helps you adjust your posture more easily. Bi Fang plummeted from the peak to the trough, feeling as if he were standing in the void of immense heights, with nothing left in the world but himself and the silent, black sea. Potential energy transformed into kinetic energy. Adrenaline surged desperately. If Bi Fang were to take a urine test at that moment, the result would likely indicate that his adrenaline contained trace amounts of urine! The audience, at that moment, could no longer bear the tension; from a first-person perspective, they only felt themselves plummeting downwards, unable to restrain from screaming. The life raft shot towards the valley floor like an arrow, as if it would crash into the seabed the next moment, boat and man perishing together. Bi Fang knew this was the most critical moment, and also the most difficult one. The slightest deviation could cause the massive force of impact and inertia to flip the life raft completely over, plunging him into the abyss of Hell. Blood surged like rivers, blue veins bulging. He clung tightly to both sides, shifting his body¡¯s center of gravity backward, desperate to lift the life raft just a little bit. Just a few centimeters would be enough, to keep the angle of descent below sixty degrees¡ªthat would be safe! The surging waves gleamed with a deathly black light, like a scroll leading to Hell itself. All of Bi Fang¡¯s will was devoured by that black light in an instant. His body trembled violently, and as if on the brink of doom, a tremendous force burst forth within him, suddenly tipping the life raft upwards! Boom! Lightning struck the sea surface, instantly vaporizing a vast amount of seawater. The steaming mist dispersed, and was rapidly blown away by the fierce winds, as if nothing had happened. The life raft crashed violently into the bottom of the wave, throwing up a mass of white spray. After a violent jolt, Bi Fang opened his eyes and found that he had safely survived the giant wave. The audience opened their eyes and could not help but cheer and jump for joy¡ªthey did it, Bi Fang had survived beneath the massive waves! Even a life raft could survive the violent storm, not due to luck, but because the person on board was Bi Fang! He was the hope, the guarantee of everything! Having conquered the land and sky, he had once again extended his reach to the sea, leaving his mark! But was it over? No! The storm was just beginning! Bi Fang¡¯s brows were tightly knitted, blue veins throbbing at his temples. What awaited him were not just one giant wave, but hundreds and thousands of them! With each one, he could not afford to lose! Chapter 232 - Chapter 232: Chapter 229: Then dont lose even once! Chapter 232: Chapter 229: Then don¡¯t lose even once! The world was pitch-black, with occasional zigzagging bolts of lightning striking the sea surface. Visibility over the ocean was extremely poor, and beyond a dozen meters, everything was shrouded in a blinding mist, with raindrops colliding and shattering mid-air, falling into the sea as scattered spray. Even as the drones managed to work steadily in the Level 7 winds, they now had to close in to discern the specific condition of the life raft. The sea conditions had officially reached Level 6, with wind speeds at Level 7, and five-meter-high wave peaks were visible everywhere; the ocean roiled like a churning earth dragon, beneath the black sea, only the orange life raft struggled desperately, much like a small beast fighting to escape from the jaws of a snake. Raindrops struck the life raft, casting a layer of faint glow upon it. Above and below were rain, beyond was the boundless darkness, below the raft was the ocean, reaching hundreds of meters deep, and all around were transparent curtains of water, as if all the fish in the world had gathered in this space, with rivulets of rain tightly packed with no gaps to be found. Wave peaks sheared by the wind began to extend into elongated strips along the slopes, and at times, the peaks took on the elongated shape of storm waves. Their edges even started to disintegrate into spray, shattering in mid-air, turned by the fierce winds into invisible, colorless mist. Bi Fang¡¯s arms were incredibly sore; he no longer remembered the number of waves he had faced or how long he had endured. Each wave consumed his physical and mental strength, and if not for his stamina already boosted to fifteen points, matched with his elevated recovery abilities, he might have already failed to persevere and left his fate to the heavens. The will to survive was like a coal mine that, once ignited, was difficult to extinguish. You can do it! Countless viewers in front of the screens prayed and cheered for Bi Fang. There were familiar friends and loyal viewers; with each wave that crashed, it was a stretch to the limits of life¡¯s tension, a perfect demonstration of human survival instinct. Milani stared at the surging giant waves, her mouth agape, unable to believe that such a scene could be real, what impressive Huaxia people! Even more formidable than her silly Grandpa De! He¡¯s now her idol! Milani reached out her little hand and poked the burly man beside her, ¡°Silly De, are you as strong as him?¡± Mulenga patted his daughter¡¯s head, watching the giant waves on the television, and despite feeling a shiver, he smiled and nodded, ¡°Of course, your silly dad is the strongest!¡± Milani puffed up her cheeks, her tone full of doubt, ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe it.¡± Where did this little girl learn this argument? It almost choked him up. Mulenga¡¯s expression stiffened, his face the epitome of awkwardness, but he still insisted, ¡°Of course it¡¯s true, would I lie to you?¡± Milani pointed at the TV, ¡°Then you go and try drifting too!¡± This time, Mulenga was truly stumped; he looked up at the life raft struggling in the waves, admiring yet not completely convinced. In his view, Bi Fang¡¯s actions had nothing to do with strength anymore; it was sheer recklessness! To talk about actual skill level, it was really hard to say. Of course, not to say Bi Fang was without skill, he definitely had it, and it wasn¡¯t shabby either; being able to struggle against the sea waves for dozens of minutes just on physical strength alone would surpass the vast majority of people, otherwise, he would not have accumulated a group of loyal fans. But as for being the world¡¯s number one¡­ Mulenga had heard of this recently rising adventurer and recognized his achievements, but to claim, as his fans did, that he was the world¡¯s number one was a bit too exaggerated, or at least he felt he himself was not inferior. Mulenga originally belonged to the British Scottish Deerstalkers Special Forces, a legendary unit with a long history. Because Scotland has traditionally been dominated by the livestock industry and is home to a plethora of wildlife, it has given rise to many exceptionally skilled hunters. As the poaching industry ran rampant, these hunters, under official leadership, formed a special forces unit known as the Deer Hunters. Those who could join the ranks of the Deer Hunter Troop were, without exception, elite hunters who had received professional military training and had a long family tradition. They were masters of many wilderness survival skills unknown to the public and had extraordinary marksmanship, regarded as the forefathers of modern military snipers. These feats were enough to show what a formidable presence the Deer Hunters were! Mulenga, at thirty-six years old, had just retired last year. He was at the peak of both his experience and physical fitness. His family, spanning three generations, were all hunting experts. It was absolutely impossible for him to acknowledge a twenty-five-year-old youngster, a full ten years his junior, as the world¡¯s best. ¡°See, you don¡¯t dare, do you?¡± The teasing laughter of Milani snapped Mulenga back to reality. Facing his daughter¡¯s challenge, Mulenga couldn¡¯t help but feel provoked, ¡°There¡¯s nothing I wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± ¡°Then prove it to me!¡± ¡°How should I prove it?¡± ¡°You should go on the show too!¡± Following his daughter¡¯s arm, Mulenga looked towards the television, where Bi Fang was struggling in the storm. The sight plunged Mulenga into deep thought. Participate in the show? With his hand stroking his coarse chin, Mulenga glanced at the Bi Fang on the screen, quite tempted. Before this, it had never occurred to him that even wilderness survival could be transformed into a form of entertainment, and be this popular. He had been a Deer Hunter for ten years. Although he could manage a decent life with his pension and hunting after retirement, how could that compare to the quick money of becoming an entertainment star? If he could really achieve what ¡°Master Fang¡± had on TV, become a leader in the field, and earn his keep with his skills, wouldn¡¯t the money just pour in? Not only would his family be able to move into a better house, his wife would be able to buy pretty handbags, and even his daughter would be able to attend a good school¡ªall these were benefits. But most importantly, how could he lose face in front of his daughter? Mulenga looked up once more, his eyes now ablaze with fire! He believed he wasn¡¯t the only one harboring such thoughts. But who was afraid of whom? All this, of course, Bi Fang was unaware of, as he was battling furiously with the waves, completely oblivious to the fact that someone was eying his world number one spot. Of course, even if he knew, it wouldn¡¯t matter to him. He wasn¡¯t some tycoon who monopolized an industry and prohibited others from ascending. He wasn¡¯t afraid of competition; Bi Fang was fully confident in himself. He actually looked forward to the emergence of more formidable survival experts in the world, eager to measure his skills against theirs. The winds of the wilderness were stirred by him, so, how many gods were hidden in a world without Bear Grylls and Grandpa De? Another giant wave surged towards him. Bi Fang ducked his head down and low to stabilize his center of gravity. After battling the storm for nearly half an hour, he was utterly exhausted. This made his entire body sore, but he still clung tenaciously to the life raft, not daring to relax in the slightest. Fortunately, after half an hour of struggle, Bi Fang could clearly feel that the storm had subsided a great deal. This wasn¡¯t an illusion¡ªthe soreness in his arms indeed began to decrease, indicating that the pressure he was facing had lessened. The sea conditions might have downgraded from level six to level five; the spray from the giant waves was noticeably less than before, indicating a decrease in wind speed. As the wind speed dropped, so did the height of the giant waves, with a drop of less than five meters, greatly reducing the likelihood of capsizing. If the trend continued, the drop would be even less, and the life raft would survive without his intervention. With this in mind, Bi Fang pulled over a coat, preparing for his next move. He hadn¡¯t forgotten the ultimate purpose of waiting out this rain. Now that the waves had diminished, the urgent task was to collect water. He had been thirsty for a full three days. Chapter 233 - Chapter 233: Chapter 230 Great Grandmaster Chapter 233: Chapter 230 Great Grandmaster The waves rhythmically slapped against the hull as Bi Fang slowly opened his eyes. His body was utterly fatigued, yet his spirit, after plummeting to the depths, surged with renewed vigor. He could sense the stormy waves diminishing. The hardest moment had finally passed! With the storm gone, it was now his turn to take the upper hand! With his immensely strong arms, he battled the icy waves time and again. Bi Fang felt like an arrow slicing through wind and waves, unstoppable by anything¡ªthe waves, the storm, hunger, even Nature itself¡ªbecause he was sharp enough! Bi Fang suddenly flung open the tent, breathing in the normal air once more, and found the piercingly cold air so sweet. He turned to look back, seeing a vast expanse of darkness, no islands, no continents, just an endless ocean supporting their orange life raft. The unmanned drone in the storm was no longer visible, surrounded by nothing but dark, undulating waves, but the waves were much smaller than they had been minutes before. Victory was almost assured. The viewers¡¯ hearts, almost leaping from their chests, gradually began to settle. Was this intense half-hour battle with the storm finally coming to a close? Of course not! Bi Fang clutched his jacket and laboriously knelt on the life raft. Even though the waves had halved in size, this didn¡¯t make the raft stable. The three-meter-high waves, coupled with Bi Fang¡¯s excellent balance, meant that, should he dare to stand, a single wave could instantly topple him into the sea. Opening his jacket wide with the hem facing the heavens, Bi Fang tried to collect the cold rainwater. This was the simplest and fastest method to collect water, but it also had significant downsides. Without the shelter of the tent, Bi Fang¡¯s body was completely exposed to the rain. Piercingly cold beyond measure. The rain quickly drenched him; his soaked inner layer clinging tightly to his body, defined muscles soft and graceful under his skin. Water dripped from the tips of his hair¡ªhe ran his hand through it, pushing his iron-gray hair neatly back, revealing his pale cheeks, handsome and distinguished, undeniably sexy. Even the international audience had to acknowledge Bi Fang¡¯s allure, with female viewers frantically taking screenshots, almost drooling¡ªoh, or perhaps they were already drooling, only that no one knew. It was hard to understand whether it was for Bi Fang the person or Bi Fang¡¯s story that they watched the show. But Bi Fang felt no joy for the cheers of the audience, he was utterly indifferent. Not a trace of happiness crossed his face; a lonely cold wind swept through, flaying the heat from his body with razor sharpness, and then his whole body shuddered as if in spasm. The cold, extreme cold, oozed from skin to muscle, from blood to bone marrow, inch by inch gnawing at a body that seemed almost perfect. Due to hypothermia, his body quickly showed adverse reactions. Pain gripped his lower abdomen like a venomous snake unwilling to let go; the severe agony made Bi Fang tremble even more, but he held on without letting go. He needed water, water was necessary. There wasn¡¯t even a rack on the life raft. Without using his hands to prop up the jacket, it was impossible to catch the rain pouring down from the sky, but this also meant he was necessarily exposed to the rainfall. Bi Fang had thought of other ways, such as propping up the tent, then pulling the middle down to make it funnel-shaped so that the rainwater could naturally gather, and then punching a small hole at the top for collection. However, this idea was quickly dismissed as being too unreliable. ¡°` Setting up the tent to collect water would make it impossible for Bi Fang, sheltered beneath, to observe the situation closely, and with the rise and fall of the waves, most of the rainwater would inevitably be lost, not to mention the splashing spray, which becomes useless as soon as it mixes with the seawater. No one knew how long the rain would last, and once missed, it might be another five or six days before it rained again. If Bi Fang had to rely on distillation to drink, he could endure, but his status at that time would certainly be unimaginably poor, and he could not possibly do that. The mission goal was to survive for twenty-one days. How long could he hold on, ten days? Twenty days? Bi Fang needed not just water, but also food. Choosing to distill water for twenty-four hours might keep him going, but what would he rely on to find food? This was an unsolvable dilemma, choosing water or body temperature? Comparing the two, Bi Fang finally chose to go out and collect water. With a physique score reaching fifteen points, such a number was already quite high, and could even be considered robust, making catching a cold a rare occurrence in daily life, a gamble worth taking for Bi Fang. The waves were becoming smaller, but the deluge of rain continued, falling on the life raft and turning into numerous droplets, like mist rising up. Bi Fang could feel the clothes in his hands getting heavier. Of all his clothes, only his jacket was water repellent, and fortunately, it was waterproof. Very few articles of clothing are completely waterproof, except for professional sports gear. Although the kidnapping attack came out of the blue with no preparation, Bi Fang genuinely preferred to wear sports attire since he had to train extensively every day. He could pull out a professional piece from his wardrobe at any given moment, and having money, he naturally bought good quality goods. He tightened the cuffs and zipped up the zipper. If all went well, such a piece of clothing might bring him over eight liters of potable freshwater, almost half a bucket of purified water! Even at one liter a day, it would cover the drinking water needs of an adult man for over ten days, allowing him to focus all his energy on searching for food. In order to make the most of the rainwater, Bi Fang even opened his mouth to the sky and caught rainwater with his mouth, garnering a little more use from the collected rain. After drinking a couple of mouthfuls, Bi Fang finally got a chance to speak to the viewers, ¡°When collecting rainwater, be very careful of the waves at sea. Once seawater gets into your container, the freshwater you¡¯ve collected could all be for naught, so we must store up as many containers as possible.¡± ¡°In addition, you can drink your fill when it rains, but do so slowly. As I¡¯ve said before, drinking too quickly when you¡¯ve been dehydrated for a long time can cause vomiting.¡± Just as he was talking, Bi Fang suddenly shivered, but he still persisted in speaking. ¡°If the rain is too heavy and floods the deck, don¡¯t panic, because water itself is a good ballast. Even if the water has risen to the deck, you can still keep afloat.¡± ¡°Look, the water has already covered the tops of my feet, but I haven¡¯t been dealing with it, it can even help wash the salt off the Horsetail Kelp, though with the waves constantly coming in, it might not be very effective, but it¡¯s somewhat useful.¡± The camera switched to the inside of the life raft, and viewers noticed that Bi Fang¡¯s feet were indeed mostly submerged, with the Horsetail Kelp tied up nearby starting to drift just as it did in the sea waters initially. [Damn, why is Old Fang shivering as he talks?] [No shit, he must be freezing. I¡¯m cold just looking at this rain, and the wind is fucking strong too] [I thought things would be safe once the storm lessened, but I didn¡¯t expect the real difficulties lay ahead] A lot of viewers nodded in agreement with this comment. They had thought the same, but the real challenge turned out not to be the storm, but how to collect the rainwater. ¡°` ¡°` Ah, if it were near the equator in the Pacific Ocean, it would have been cool after the rain. Not like now, where the water is like poison, causing continuous damage on contact. Master Fang was already freezing when he first appeared, and now it¡¯s been three days. Can he still hold on with his condition deteriorating? Some fans expressed concern, but most people still had full confidence in Bi Fang. He had survived the storm, and things would start to get better from here. [Hey, doesn¡¯t anyone think Old Fang¡¯s clothes are awesome? Such good waterproofing?] [It¡¯s obviously a high-end brand.] [Not sure, but a good shell jacket costs at least several tens of thousands. It has all the necessary features, not to mention waterproof. I¡¯ve heard some can even withstand fire¡­] [Master Fang has always had good equipment, and he is a real big deal, a rich dude.] [What to do if you¡¯re broke] [Envious, truly earning money through skills. Isn¡¯t that better than those internet-famous pretty boys? Old Fang could take on ten of them!] [Ten? That¡¯s modest. Guys who cry over a scratch, no offence, but it¡¯s more like a hundred.] The direction of the conversation in the comments often strayed under the manipulation of the Shuiyou, and it wasn¡¯t long before they started discussing what to eat for dinner. Bi Fang, who was holding up his arms, was struggling to keep it up. He was already exhausted from struggling against the wind and waves while clinging to the life raft. Now, holding up his arms was making them go numb from fatigue. With no other choice, Bi Fang¡¯s arms weakened, and he placed the jacket that had been collecting water on the life raft to relieve his arm fatigue. Nevertheless, he kept a vigilant watch on the surrounding waves to prevent seawater from contaminating the freshwater, which was crucial for his survival and could not be compromised. Finally, after nearly half an hour of collecting water, Bi Fang filled his jacket. He hurriedly tied off the bottom of the jacket with a towel. Using extra clothing to tie it off was also meant to increase the jacket¡¯s volume. If he used the jacket¡¯s own hem, the capacity would be much smaller. After finishing all this, Bi Fang quickly set up the tent again, then drained all the rain and seawater from inside the raft. He dried off the remaining water with clothing, wrung it out, and then curled up inside the life raft. ¡°Ha!¡± He placed the water bladder off to the side, and his whole body trembled. His face was pale and colorless as he continuously exhaled warm breaths, trying to warm his stiff hands. The waves were not too high, so Bi Fang did not have to worry about capsizing without his control, but hypothermia almost brought his thinking to a halt. [Damn, just looking at that makes me cold] [It¡¯s only because Master Fang has a strong physique. If it were me, I¡¯d have frozen to death by now] [Hey, why doesn¡¯t Old Fang just stay in the tent and hold the jacket out to catch the water? That way, only his hands would be cold, right?] [No way, didn¡¯t you hear that he has to prevent the rain from getting contaminated by the waves? How can you watch for the waves if you¡¯re in the tent? If it gets contaminated, all his efforts would be wasted. Moreover, as soon as you open the zipper, water will definitely get in.] ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Seeing the comments, Bi Fang nodded with a shiver. If he collected water while the tent was set up, it would create a blind spot in his field of view, and he wouldn¡¯t see which direction waves were coming from, risking freshwater contamination. ¡°` On the other hand, while the wind had died down a bit, it was still strong. If I kept the zipper open without fully securing the tent, it could have been blown away entirely, which would have been a serious loss. ¡°But it was all worth it, at least for the next ten days, I won¡¯t have to worry about fresh water.¡± Bi Fang curled up in a corner, continuously rubbing his skin trying to warm up. ¡°The sea conditions must have reached level four by now, stronger than when I first arrived. At this point, the waves on the sea still have a clear shape, with many crests breaking up, forming whitecaps everywhere and occasionally sprinkling sea spray. So, I can¡¯t make any big movements yet; that would still be quite dangerous.¡± The audience was a bit shocked to hear this. What did he mean? The danger hasn¡¯t been lifted? ¡°No, it¡¯s been lifted,¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°Danger is present, but not high. Under level four sea conditions, normal fishing boats just experience significant rocking and need to reduce sail somewhat, there¡¯s no need to sail fully unfurled. As long as we don¡¯t make big movements, the danger is already far away from us.¡± Bi Fang then briefly introduced the classification of sea conditions. Sea condition levels are classified by what can be visually observed at sea. Levels 1-9 are called calm, light ripple, small wave, moderate wave, large wave, huge wave, violent wave, tempestuous sea, and raging sea, respectively. Waves higher than 20 meters are classified as stormy waves, which are rare and not an official classification. It is generally only from level five and above that poses a significant threat to ships. The storm Bi Fang had faced earlier even reached level six, which was the most dangerous, especially for life rafts. After hearing Bi Fang¡¯s explanation, the audience was even more thrilled. Damn, that¡¯s impressive, level six sea conditions where fishing boats dare not leave the harbor, and yet Old Fang got through it safely¡ªhe truly lives up to the name Master Fang! Mulenga had to admit Bi Fang¡¯s courage. Whether or not one deserved fame was one thing, but he certainly was no impractical scholar, after all, the camera doesn¡¯t lie. This wasn¡¯t make-believe hunting; it was a real storm confrontation. The live broadcast room once again exploded with a surge of comments and gifts, most of which were bones and meatballs, accompanied by messages saying they wanted to make him soup to warm his body. Bi Fang gladly accepted, and seeing the screen filled with gifts, he suddenly felt not so cold anymore. Even Jerret from the program team received a message from the channel. The leadership praised Jerret¡¯s arrangements over the phone, and the Explore Channel¡¯s ratings had spiked to 3.2%, the highest of any program broadcast on the channel this year. A 3.2% rating might not seem high, but compared to a decade ago when ratings of anything less than ten percent were insignificant, times have changed. Today, even just over 3% is cause for the channel leadership to treat the director like royalty, with constant attention and care, and those in lower positions hardly have a chance to participate. Seeing this excellent performance, the leadership immediately made a call, urging Jerret to work hard to stabilize the high viewership¡ªnowadays with the general economic downturn and fewer people watching television, seizing such an opportunity was crucial. They promised to offer a raise upon their return. Faced with this call, naturally, the program team was ecstatic¡ªwho doesn¡¯t love cold hard cash? And having worked on such a program, you¡¯d have an impressive resume for the future. No one would dare to underestimate you; you wouldn¡¯t even have to worry about job-hopping. In light of this situation, even Jerret couldn¡¯t remain calm. Although he was the number one director at the Explore Channel, the television industry had been generally struggling, and he hadn¡¯t had a hit in a long time. Having produced a show that hit 3.2% viewership, with the potential to reach even 4%, was naturally a cause for celebration. And all of this, Jerret and Pondy were well aware, was largely thanks to Bi Fang. He was the one who brought the concept of Wilderness Survivalist to the public, making people realize. Oh, so that¡¯s what Wilderness Survivalist is like, and you can play it like this? Placed in Huaxia, like a Great Grandmaster founding a school, surely worthy of respect that lasts a lifetime. Even carving a wooden statue to be worshipped, well, that might be an exaggeration. But creating a figurine to put on a desk wouldn¡¯t seem out of place at all. Chapter 234 - Chapter 234: Chapter 231 How to Catch? Chapter 234: Chapter 231 How to Catch? The sun near the horizon is tepid, like a boiled egg, unable to warm the sea surface. Yet this is the last of today¡¯s sunlight; nightfall will soon arrive, leaving more than ten hours without the sun, and the temperature will drop even further. The storm has ceased, and the life raft drifts languidly on the sea like a ghost ship with no one at the helm. The sea surface that just started to warm up after two days of sunshine has been mercilessly reset by a ruthless storm, reminding everyone that this is the winter North Atlantic, where even the temperate zone cannot escape the cold. Bi Fang on the life raft doesn¡¯t stop doing push-ups, further squeezing every bit of energy from his body into heat to combat the severe cold. [Old Fang still has the strength to do push-ups! I¡¯m tired just watching] [What a strong waist, his girlfriend must be very lucky] [Thanks for the invite, I¡¯m in the North Atlantic, just got off the life raft, and yes, the waist strength is real, nearly passed out, thanks for the blessings, I¡¯m very happy.] [Get lost, Master Fang is mine! Zzzip!] [The power of the waist, in three stages!] [Hiss, this boy is terrifying! He must not be left alive!] [Xiu¡¯er, I¡¯ve washed my hands, can I hold the trophy now?] Seeing Bi Fang energetic, the online friends return to their frivolous ways. Bi Fang lets out a breath. Accompanied by rigorous exercise, he finally feels his cold body warming up, and the stomach pain eases slightly. After finishing the last set, he lies fully in the life raft, his forehead dotted with sweat, skin slightly flushed, steam rising from his body. He touches his clothes and finds them still wet. Bi Fang must continue to endure the cold. With the fluctuation in temperature, his head aches unbearably, as if roundworms have infested his brain and are burrowing in all directions. ¡°Huh, no, I can¡¯t rest.¡± Exhaling deeply, Bi Fang continuously adjusts his breathing in an attempt to relieve the discomfort, but just as it eases, a piercing hunger warns him that he needs to eat. He is famished. Horsetail kelp can fill the stomach, but as a plant, the energy it provides is far from sufficient, even pitifully inadequate. What he really needs is meat. Without having eaten high-calorie food for three straight days and having expended so much energy in the rain, Bi Fang¡¯s body is nearly at its breaking point. The principle of death by starvation after three weeks no longer applies, and Bi Fang doesn¡¯t know how much longer he can hold on. A week, perhaps? Thinking this, Bi Fang struggles up, takes some entangled horsetail kelp, removes a piece, and continues to string it onto the fishhook. He opens the ziplock and tosses it out. Just a few simple actions nearly deplete Bi Fang¡¯s physical strength. [Master Fang really deserves our praise, but you just praised him, and now he¡¯s weak?] [Is Old Fang okay? His forehead is covered in sweat, it¡¯s hard for me to watch] [Last time I had food poisoning, it was pretty much like this. My face went terribly pale, vomiting and diarrhea, squatting in the toilet, holding a basin to catch the vomit. I totally understand] [The person above, you¡¯ve got a point] [Is he really okay? I feel like we could actually end this mission. Even if Old Fang had an empty bottle, it wouldn¡¯t be this bad, right? The show crew is too harsh!] [That¡¯s right, if Master Fang can¡¯t do it, just give up. We¡¯ll understand!] As soon as the suggestions to give up appear, it immediately resonates with a large group of people. They truly admire Bi Fang, yet they don¡¯t believe he can succeed in this adventure. ¡°To be honest, although Old Fang is in good shape, he doesn¡¯t have much fat. If he can¡¯t get food for a short period, he would really struggle to hold up. Master Fang is the type who thrives on combat, not on enduring hardship. Give him a wooden spear, and he could conquer the wilderness.¡± There were quite a few outdoor enthusiasts in the live stream, and although they were not as professional or powerful as Bi Fang, they were no novices and could spot the problem right away. Master Fang was too ¡°lean.¡± Although he had well-trained muscles that were neither bulky nor gaunt, full of a sense of power, he had too little fat reserves. When faced with danger, such as being stranded and starving over a long period, needing to burn fat, he would find it very tough to last. In Wilderness Survival, the only way to get out of this predicament is to ¡°fight to survive.¡± If you¡¯re strong enough, then you don¡¯t have to starve. With no food, go hunting; as long as you¡¯re strong enough, you won¡¯t fear the lack of food. But the situation now is different. No matter how capable you are, can you conjure tools out of thin air? It must be said that Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast was a tactical misstep. He chose a survival mode that he was least equipped to handle. For someone else, just an extra ten kilograms of fat could mean surviving quite well. A week without food wouldn¡¯t matter; ten kilograms of fat would be enough to burn and sustain them. Surviving a week, even with the worst of luck, they should have caught some fish by then, right? All in all, it¡¯s not that Master Fang isn¡¯t strong, but that he isn¡¯t suited for this mode. With no tools, luck and time become critical. Even with just a wooden spear, he could dive and catch fish, unlike now when he can only wait for a fish to bite. That¡¯s Bi Fang¡¯s only weakness. Many viewers, after listening to the expert¡¯s explanations, felt heavy-hearted. They finally understood why Master Fang¡¯s survival challenge seemed so tough this time. Could it be that his first challenge would end in failure? Bi Fang also saw the online friends¡¯ discussions and had to admit there was some truth to them. If he had a bit more fat, he would indeed be in a much better situation than now. But Bi Fang shook his head. Things were far from being at their worst. He didn¡¯t need such ¡°what-ifs,¡± and besides, opportunity and danger often coexist. The storm was dangerous, and he had indeed lost a great deal of heat and physical energy, but it wasn¡¯t without benefits. He did not hastily drop the fishing hook just to try his luck, but because it was indeed the best time to fish. ¡°Rainy weather lowers the atmospheric pressure, causes a decrease in the oxygen content in the water, making it difficult for fish to breathe. They would rise to the surface to get enough oxygen. Sometimes fish even jump out of the water.¡± ¡°And now there¡¯s some sunshine, though it hasn¡¯t been out long enough for the temperature to rise, but its presence is felt. Regardless of how cold it is, the water surface temperature will recover, and warmth-loving fish will come up.¡± ¡°In other words, now is the best time to fish, and it mustn¡¯t be missed.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s face was calm, but inside he was somewhat tense. If all went well, he might be able to obtain food today. He refused to believe that for three continuous days he couldn¡¯t catch a fish. If it was still calm after the storm, then it wasn¡¯t his method that was the problem, but something was wrong with this part of the sea. Hearing this explanation, the audience, who had almost lost hope, perked up a bit. It seemed unlikely, but Bi Fang¡¯s past performances still made them choose to believe once more. Perhaps if they waited just a bit longer, the fish would indeed appear. And they waited, until the sunset. The massive sun had touched the sea, and millions of tons of water gently undulated beneath the life raft. His clothes were almost dry, but Bi Fang still had not caught any fish. He put on two inner layers, doubting himself. Could it be? Has overfishing in the Atlantic become this severe? Are there no fish left? ¡°Give it up, Old Fang, come back and get some sleep.¡± ¡°Master Fang has not lost, he¡¯s just out of luck!¡± ¡°Adam didn¡¯t lose; he just died!¡± ¡°Ah¡­ well¡­¡± Bi Fang scratched his head, feeling truly irritated. He unzipped the zipper and stuck his head out of the tent, ready to see what was going on. As soon as he went out, the desolate and cold breeze made Bi Fang shiver, once again reminding him of the feeling of being dominated by the cold. But instead of turning back, he looked at the end of the fishing line; the horsetail kelp continued to drift with the current. ¡°` After the downpour, the water flow accelerated, which was caused by the convection between the surface layer and the bottom layer. In such a situation, the Horsetail Kelp swayed just like a little fish. But it was not a fish. Bi Fang, feeling dejected, pulled up the fishing line, preparing to try again tomorrow. However, when he held it in his hand, he suddenly froze. A small notch had abruptly appeared at the end of the Horsetail Kelp! [Why isn¡¯t Old Fang moving?] [What¡¯s going on? Did he stop fishing?] [If he caught a fish, Old Fang wouldn¡¯t be frozen like that. He would be excitedly telling us how to cook it so it tastes good] [Ah, why isn¡¯t he moving? Don¡¯t tell me he¡¯s been scared stiff by a shark?] [The prophet, cut the crap] Due to the camera angle, the drone high in the sky didn¡¯t capture the scene clearly, and the tent was in the way as well, so the audience hadn¡¯t noticed this discovery. Excitement surged through his chest, like a hungry beast thrilled by the scent of blood. Bi Fang licked his lips, his eyes shining. There were fish nearby, there had to be! Bi Fang shifted his position and held the Horsetail Kelp in front of the camera, unable to contain his excitement in his voice, ¡°It¡¯s not a shark. Look, there¡¯s a notch on the Horsetail Kelp! It¡¯s not broken because of the water flow; it¡¯s been bitten by a fish. There¡¯s even a clear impression on it!¡± Under the camera, a row of clear bite marks were visible at the end of the Horsetail Kelp. Even a fool could tell it had been bitten by something! [Holy shit! Is that really a fish?] [What do you call this? Persistence pays off!] [Go Master Fang! Frickin¡¯ go for it!] [How was there no sign of movement just now? This fish is really good at hiding!] Bi Fang nodded. Since it was too cold outside, he had been staying inside the tent the whole time and hadn¡¯t come out to take a look. He hadn¡¯t expected that a fish would take a bite of the bait right under his and tens of thousands of viewers¡¯ watchful eyes. ¡°The fish can¡¯t be very large, and it has sharp teeth. There wasn¡¯t even a sign of movement on the fishing line, which means it easily bit off the Horsetail Kelp. But now, even a fish the size of a palm would greatly improve our situation.¡± No matter how small the fish, it was still a fish. Even if it was not edible, it could be used as bait. And the bones could be used to make better hooks. After hearing Bi Fang¡¯s analysis, the audience¡¯s eyes lit up. Now there was something substantial to eat! [Oh my god, it¡¯s the middle of the night and Master Fang is actually about to get some meat!] [Oh, now that you mention it, I am getting a bit hungry myself] Bi Fang glanced at the barrage of messages and didn¡¯t pay much attention. Nearly half of his viewers were from his home country, and due to the time difference, it would be the middle of the night there. Seeing such messages was not surprising. ¡°Alright, we need to act quickly. The sun is about to set over the ocean. Once it gets dark, it will be very inconvenient for us to move.¡± Inside, Bi Fang was thrilled as he carefully stretched his body out, attempting to stick his head beyond the raft to get a better look. He dared not make any big movements. If the fish was right under the life raft, a rash move could scare it away. That¡¯s why Bi Fang was lying down, trying to keep his center of gravity as low as possible. The camera switched to first-person view. The crew didn¡¯t allow the drone to come closer, fearing that its shadow might startle the fish in this situation. As Bi Fang¡¯s head emerged from the body of the raft, the viewers held their breath. This feeling of checking to see if the prey was still there was thrilling. If it was still around, naturally, everyone would rejoice. Their tough survival situation would have a positive turn, and everyone would be happy for Bi Fang. ¡°` If the fish didn¡¯t bite this time, who knows when they would again, if they could even hold out until then was a question in itself. It was a matter of life and death, whether they would feast on delicious food hinged on this moment! The gaze slowly shifted from inside the raft to the sea, and the audience¡¯s anxiety grew. When the sea finally came into view, it was devoid of anything. Nothing? The sun had not yet completely set, and under the sunlight, the seawater was crystal clear, allowing the audience to see the condition of the sea a few meters down. Nothing at all. Disappointment washed over them like a tide, the sparkle in their eyes slowly fading. Had the fish left? Bi Fang didn¡¯t think so. He took a deep breath, leaned most of his body out of the life raft, and slowly submerged his head in the seawater. The ice-cold water once again stimulated his cerebral blood vessels, causing them to contract sharply, which made Bi Fang feel dizzy for a while. But he quickly adapted and looked below the life raft with his eyes open underwater. As the scene appeared, the audience¡¯s pupils shrank in shock! In the deep blue sea, shafts of sunlight penetrated down to the dark seabed. Amidst the surging currents, numerous squids were slowly ascending toward the surface, drawn by the light. Thousands upon thousands! Bi Fang¡¯s heart pounded violently, the icy and bone-chilling sea no longer uncomfortable. ¡°Damn, that¡¯s a lot of squids?¡± ¡°Man, that¡¯s a windfall!¡± ¡°Feasting time!¡± ¡°I always thought squids were near the shore.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been watching too much tide-pooling, haven¡¯t you?¡± The live stream chat erupted in cheers, no one had anticipated that, though they hadn¡¯t caught any fish, a massive group of squid had shown up! A super feast! The squids seemed unaware of their observer, continuing their unhurried swimming. Bi Fang didn¡¯t act rashly and instead gradually retreated from the water. After wiping the water from his face, Bi Fang breathed in the air deeply, calming his wildly beating heart. The problem had not been resolved¡ªthough food had appeared, how to catch it was another problem. Seeing the excited viewers, Bi Fang threw cold water on their enthusiasm. ¡°Don¡¯t celebrate too soon. They might look like they¡¯re swimming slowly, but in reality, squid are the fastest swimmers among invertebrates. They move forward at great speeds by jetting water from the funnel on their bellies, like a rocket launch. In the face of danger, they can usually reach speeds of fifteen meters per second. It¡¯s absolutely impossible to catch them by direct grab.¡± The audience was startled inside, not realizing that squids, which seemed to drift leisurely, could swim so fast! Fifteen meters per second¡ªhuman beings couldn¡¯t achieve that even on land, and those who could reach ten meters per second were considered masters. ¡°So what do we do?¡± Yeah, what do we do? Bi Fang frowned in deep thought. They had been hungry for so long, giving up was definitely not an option. It was rare to encounter so many squids, the next opportunity was uncertain; giving up would be a huge loss. The sun gradually sank below the horizon, the last of its afterglow scattered across the sea, with half of the sun and its reflection together forming a complete circle. Time was running out, once night fell, the hope of catching them grew even slimmer¡­ Chapter 235 - Chapter 235: Chapter 232 You Still Say Youre Not Poisoned! Chapter 235: Chapter 232 You Still Say You¡¯re Not Poisoned! The sun was about to set, and there wasn¡¯t much time left. Bi Fang had to catch a squid during the day, otherwise once night fell, the darkness would make it exponentially harder to capture them, let alone see them clearly. A large group of squid was right before his eyes, but there wasn¡¯t much time left for him to capture them, and the feeling of seeing but not being able to eat was indeed frustrating. Thousands of squid swam below him, yet not a single one belonged to him. It was indeed a sad story. Bi Fang rubbed the spot between his eyebrows, shook off the negative emotions in his mind, and began to think about how to catch squid. It was clear that diving in to catch them was not feasible. The squid¡¯s reaction was too fast; the chances of catching one in the sea were too low, unless he had a net. But he didn¡¯t even have a piece of cloth, let alone a net; all his possessions added up to nothing more than the clothes on his back and a life raft. He would have to be a fool to tear down his tent and cut holes in it. The most crucial point was that Bi Fang didn¡¯t have the strength to go back into the water. He had just gotten through a storm, recovered from hypothermia, and now he was expected to dive in again¡ªhow could anyone endure that? Super Saiyan? If he didn¡¯t catch anything, he¡¯d be completely done for. His body couldn¡¯t take any more torment. Even with a physique of 15 points, it couldn¡¯t withstand entering the water repeatedly in the winter. Since he couldn¡¯t catch the squid directly, he could only try fishing for them. Bi Fang¡¯s gaze became resolute. There were significant differences in fishing methods for different creatures, and this was something in which Bi Fang was quite confident. With so many squid, the chances of getting a bite were very high. As long as the fishing technique was right, he would catch one with every attempt. Then he could eat one and throw one away, grilling or steaming as he pleased, with no one to stop him. The sight of a squid school surfacing was rare¡ªseizing this opportunity was like seizing the future! With that in mind, Bi Fang picked up a fishing hook, plucked off the horsetail kelp that was on it, and submerged the bare hook into the water, beginning his grand plan to fish for squid. ¡°Many people living by the sea may often see squid, so they think it inhabits the coastal waters, but this is actually a misconception. Compared to the coast, squid prefer to dwell in the deep waters of the open sea.¡± ¡°Every spring and summer, squid swim from the deep sea to the shallower inner bay to spawn. From April to June, they lay their eggs attached to seaweed and other objects, like bunches of grapes. Squids also like to be gregarious and often migrate in the same water layer, creating the scene you see.¡± ¡°Whenever this happens, coastal fishermen often bind sticks and the like into bundles and drop them into the sea to attract squid to lay their eggs. When the schools of squid come to spawn, they then spread out nets to capture them, reaping a bountiful harvest.¡± [Ah, squid really love diving!] [So are all the squid caught while beachcombing in winter fake?] [By the way, why did Old Fang pull off the horsetail kelp to fish? Not using plant bait anymore?] The netizens had many questions, and Bi Fang answered them one by one after seeing them. This was one of the charms of his live broadcast, with very strong interactivity. ¡°Squid live in the open ocean, but not too deep, usually inhabiting waters between 30 and 60 meters. They ascend to the surface of the water in the morning and evening, and descend to the middle and lower layers during the day. But since a storm just passed, the water is low in oxygen, and the temperature in the middle and lower layers has further dropped, forcing this group of squid to come up to the surface bathed in sunlight. This presents an excellent opportunity for us.¡± ¡°Moreover, squid are carnivorous, mainly eating crustaceans, shrimp, and juvenile fish. My horsetail kelp has no appeal to them, less so than the hook itself. What bit the hook just now probably wasn¡¯t squid, but some other small fish¡ªI didn¡¯t catch a glimpse of it, though. So our main goal is still to catch a squid.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s wrist moved ceaselessly, hoping to entice a squid to bite. The end of his fishing line was very smooth and flat, reflecting light very clearly under the slant of the setting sun, and it didn¡¯t take long for several squid to take notice and leisurely swim toward the reflecting object. Since he was at the water¡¯s surface, Bi Fang could see several blurry figures swimming towards the life raft. ¡°Do you see that? A few are coming over.¡± Bi Fang lowered his voice, afraid that a louder sound would scare away the squid. However, the excitement in his voice was palpable, and he continued to move his wrist even more rhythmically. ¡°` [Holy cow, can you really fish without bait?] [Eye-opener!] [The first person to catch something out of nothing!] [Master Fang is awesome!] The audience was shocked by this scene. Could you actually catch a fish with just a button? Isn¡¯t this too magical? They seriously suspected that Master Fang had seduced the squid with some kind of drug! ¡°That¡¯s because squids are attracted to light. If we don¡¯t have shrimps as bait, we can wrap the fishing hook with cigarette foil, which is the silver paper inside the cigarette box. We tear it off and wrap it around the hook. There are many ways to do this, either covering each of the three hook points separately or wrapping the entire hook, but it¡¯s important that the foil is ball-shaped rather than flat strips.¡± ¡°This way, as the hook moves up and down, the foil continuously refracts and reflects light, luring the squid onto the hook. But I don¡¯t smoke, and the button is enough. Of course, the best method is actually to light up at night, which greatly increases the catch rate of squids, almost guaranteeing a catch with every cast.¡± Every item is of use in Wilderness Survivalist, even a cigarette box can play a key role when necessary! [Ah, suddenly I have a legitimate reason to smoke] [When my wife asks again, I¡¯ll say it¡¯s for the day I get marooned on a deserted island, so I can use the foil to fish!] [Genius! I¡¯ve learned something useless] [Marooned on a deserted island, that¡¯s really something] As the squid drew nearer, the audience¡¯s barrage of comments dwindled as they concentrated on the unfolding scene, hoping Bi Fang would catch a squid and break the three-day curse of no meat. Hope was in sight, and Bi Fang¡¯s movements became subtler and subtler. Aside from his wrist, his body was almost imperceptible to any tremors, as if even his heartbeat had stopped. The half a year of breath control practice had turned Bi Fang into a stationary rock. If it weren¡¯t for the breeze moving his hair, the audience might have thought he was a stone statue. But Bi Fang was not. Instead, as the squid swam under the life raft, his lips buzzed, his voice barely audible. Without the powerful function of the drone, it might not have captured anything he said. ¡°If you are using shrimp jigs or shore fishing and encounter squids, the bite signal of the squid is similar to that of fish. But when fishing baitless like I am doing, it¡¯s quite different. At this time, the squid¡¯s bite is peculiar; it doesn¡¯t have the clear bite signal that fish do. The only sensation is that during lifting, the hook will feel suddenly heavier and there will be a sensation of tugging. At this point, we should relax the fishing line a bit. The reason for the heavy feeling is because when the squid bites while swimming, its body is suspended, but it doesn¡¯t swallow the bait. Instead, it uses its numerous tentacles to firmly embrace the bait. The sudden heaviness comes from the ¡®fish¡¯s¡¯ weight and the resistance of the water. The ¡®tugging¡¯ is the squid reacting to the lifting of the bait by contracting its tentacles, which doesn¡¯t mean it has taken the bait. At this moment, the purpose of slackening the line is to make the squid embrace the bait even tighter.¡± After the squid has taken the bait, some fishermen, being impatient, lift it out of the water; as a result, when the squid reaches the surface, because it hasn¡¯t firmly held onto the bait, it gets off the hook and all that¡¯s left behind is a cloud of ink.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s energy was grounded, and his mind was as calm as still water, like Meditating Buddha¡ªonly, this Buddha hadn¡¯t eaten meat for so long, his stomach was grumbling. The sun cast slanting rays, and due to the reflection, the cameras could no longer clearly see the situation as the squid approached closer. Without bait, fishing relied entirely on hand feel, which greatly tested the angler¡¯s experience and technique. Fortunately, Bi Fang lacked neither. Within minutes, he felt the line in his hand sink. Here it comes! Bi Fang¡¯s pupils dilated, indicating his immense excitement, but even so, he did not act prematurely. One mistake could scare away the other squids; this was his only chance! The fishing line didn¡¯t shake at all, but the sensation of heaviness was very clear. The audience¡¯s eyes were fixed, their hearts pounding. The fishing line was three meters long, and Bi Fang methodically tested and felt the heaviness in his hand, realizing that the squid had taken the bait! ¡°` Bi Fang moved slowly, starting to gently reel in the line as he softly explained. ¡°Squid don¡¯t swim fast unless they are in danger. When they encounter bait, their tentacles will cling tightly to it. As they move forward, they tug on the fishing line. When they feel the line is hard to pull but are reluctant to give up the tasty morsel at their mouth, they will retract their body, which draws the fishing rod downward. There¡¯s no need to jerk the rod when angling for squid; reeling in is enough to achieve the goal. Moreover, the speed must be even. Once there is any abnormality, the squid will release the bait and escape. Also, when bringing the squid to the surface, to prevent it from dropping the bait and fleeing, it¡¯s best to use a landing net. Squid use the suction cups on their tentacles to grasp the bait. The moment they are lifted out of the water, they immediately let go and escape. That¡¯s why after hooking a squid, you mustn¡¯t lift it out of water. Before lifting it out, you should net it with a landing net. But I don¡¯t have one, so now it¡¯s a test of your reaction and hand speed,¡± he said. Bi Fang kept a close watch on the water¡¯s surface. Without a landing net, it meant he had to extend his hand to grab the squid at the very moment it left the water. Should he fail, the startled squid would instinctively squirt ink. Once the ink dispersed, it would alert the other squid making it extremely difficult to catch any more. Estimating the length of the fishing line, Bi Fang¡¯s hands became steadier. He had marked the line, tying knots at intervals. When the last knot emerged from the water, his mind was extremely tense. Just half a meter to go! Bi Fang pulled his right hand back, switched to his left hand to draw the line single-handedly, and slowly brought it upward. He could even see a blurry outline of the squid! He wrapped the line around his wrist, the squid becoming clearer and clearer. Just as it was about to surface, the constantly pulled squid finally realized something was wrong. Its naturally keen instincts kicked in, and it immediately tried to let go and flee, but! It was too late! Bi Fang¡¯s heart pounded as the sun dipped lower. It was as if the sea had stopped rippling, and his right hand, like a venomous snake, shot out fiercely towards the water! In just an instant, the slippery and greasy sensation was in his grasp. No time for joy, Bi Fang quickly scooped it out! Sparkling water beads danced in the air, scattering all around. The squid in mid-air suddenly contracted its body, and a jet of black ink burst out. Bi Fang dodged the ink sideways but did not expect the force of the squirt to be so strong that the squid slipped right out of his hands! Damn it! As Bi Fang had said, squid propel themselves forward at great speeds by ejecting water through the funnel on their undersides; they can leap from the depths and jump out of the water rising 7 to 10 meters high, their bodies soaring like cannonballs for about 50 meters in the air! The audience¡¯s hearts sank, yet the next second, to everyone¡¯s surprise, the squid flew straight into the tent! The squid, suddenly launching out of Bi Fang¡¯s grip and thinking it was about to escape to freedom, abruptly collided with a large cloth and fell down, its ink spraying onto the tent, leaving a black spot. The squid still wanted to escape, but having sprayed once, it was now too weak to do so again; out of the water it was even less energetic than a fish, lying limply on the life raft until Bi Fang grabbed hold of it. ¡°Ha! Finally got you!¡± he exclaimed. Bi Fang pinned down the squid, extended his index and middle fingers, and directly removed the cuttlebone from its body. This bone, similar to the spine in mammals, meant the squid became a limp mass upon its removal. Without pausing to sort out his catch, Bi Fang hurriedly dropped the hook back in the water. It had taken him mere minutes to catch one, so why not take advantage of the remaining sunlight to catch a few more? A single squid was about the size of his forearm; frugally it could last him two days of meals. With less than half an hour until sunset, going by his previous pace, with some luck, he might still be able to catch three or four more. Indeed, Bi Fang followed the same method. He even used a small piece of limb from the caught squid as fresh bait on the hook, preserving the lure¡¯s flash without affecting it. Five minutes later, Bi Fang once again reeled in another squid. Two now! [Holy crap, jackpot!] [Finally, something good to eat. I¡¯m so moved I could cry.] [Old Fang is too strong!] [Using squid to fish for squid, this technique is so nerve-wracking I¡¯m getting goosebumps!] [Xiu¡¯er, can I touch your trophy? Just for a moment, please! I¡¯ll wash my hands!] [Do squids eat their own kind?] ¡°Yes!¡± Bi Fang affirmed, ¡°Squids are creatures known to cannibalize. It¡¯s quite common to see a larger squid eating a smaller one, and it¡¯s even more uncertain whether they can distinguish between pieces of their own kind and other food when I only use a small segment of a squid limb as bait.¡± Bi Fang wore a broad smile, delighted to have caught two squids, he couldn¡¯t wait to cast his line a third time. This time it took a bit longer, about seven or eight minutes, but he managed to pull up another one. Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t avoid the squid ink this time and his shoulder and half his face were sprayed. However, he learned from his previous experience and held on to the squid tightly, crushing its cuttlebone directly. Truly, it shattered! [Hahaha, Old Fang looks so bedraggled!] [Isn¡¯t squid ink poisonous? Is Master Fang okay?] [Wow, poisonous?] ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s poisonous.¡± Bi Fang wiped the ink off his face, only to find that the more he wiped, the blacker he became. His wiping smeared the ink all over, blurring half of his face, but after a brief attempt to clean himself up, Bi Fang stopped caring about his appearance and cast his line again, hoping to catch another squid. At the same time, he reassured his anxious audience, ¡°But don¡¯t worry, the ink, primarily used by the squid to confuse predators¡¯ sense of smell, although toxic, isn¡¯t significantly dangerous. It¡¯s a relatively weak paralytic poison, harmless to most animals. I can¡¯t feel much from it, and I¡¯ve heard that this stuff is quite popular in Japan, where they eat it directly.¡± Bi Fang stuck out his tongue, some ink had sprayed directly into his mouth, leaving a numb sensation on his tongue, which made his speech slightly slurred, but he felt the numbing sensation fading rapidly. [Master Fang! And you say you¡¯re not poisoned!] [You¡¯ve got a lisp now] [Life¡¯s tough but don¡¯t tear it down] [People can make it, at least they should try] Bi Fang tugged at the corner of his mouth, feeling a bit helpless, but continued to focus on squid fishing. Sadly, for some reason, he didn¡¯t catch a fourth one for a full ten minutes, and even after the sun had set completely, he had no luck. Did they notice? Bi Fang wasn¡¯t disheartened. He was quite satisfied with the three squids he had caught and didn¡¯t ask for more. However, he didn¡¯t give up too easily. The setting of the sun didn¡¯t mean that the squid shoal would immediately leave. They would surely linger for a while, and indeed they did. Half an hour later, Bi Fang caught the fourth squid. After dealing with it, he fished a little longer, but this time it was truly over; a long while passed without any squids biting. ¡°Phew, a fulfilling harvest!¡± Far from being disheartened, Bi Fang was actually quite excited. Without hesitation, he packed up his hook and line, grabbed a squid, and unceremoniously tore off one of its tentacles to put in his mouth. Feeling the suction cups wriggling in his mouth, Bi Fang had a strange sensation. He had never eaten squid raw before, and it was weird. But it had a nice chewiness, that was for sure. After chewing several times, Bi Fang swallowed the squid tentacle. His strong stomach acid began rapidly digesting the food, and almost as soon as Bi Fang had started on the second tentacle, the warmth spread from his stomach to his limbs and bones. Savoring the hard-earned warmth, Bi Fang almost teared up. On the third day of sea survival, he caught four squids. Chapter 236 - Chapter 236: Chapter 233 Setting Sail Chapter 236: Chapter 233 Setting Sail Fresh squid is quite chewy; Bi Fang¡¯s jaw muscles grew sore and tired before he finally managed to finish eating the squid¡¯s nine tentacles, each one damp, sticky, and accompanied by a fishy sea smell. As he bit down on the last one, the suction-cup-covered tentacle kept twitching at the corner of his mouth and even latched onto Bi Fang¡¯s skin. Bi Fang sucked in an attempt to detach it, but the tentacle was too firmly attached and wouldn¡¯t come off, so he had to peel it with his hand and stuff it into his mouth to continue chewing. The audience felt a psychological shadow watching the scene; it was too fierce. In the middle of chewing, Bi Fang suddenly remembered something and reminded everyone. ¡°I forgot to say earlier, when eating squid or octopus tentacles raw, you must make sure to chew thoroughly, never swallow them whole. Creatures like these invertebrates, even when dead, their limbs can still move. If you don¡¯t chew them quickly, they can easily adhere to your windpipe and lead to suffocation.¡± After speaking, Bi Fang even opened his mouth to show the audience. Even though it wasn¡¯t as clear as during the day with the night mode on, the viewers could still feel how, even partly chewed, the tentacles kept moving, which was chilling. [Holy shit, I can¡¯t look at squid and octopus the same way anymore!] [Damn, that¡¯s hardcore, who else but Old Fang could stomach it?] [I¡¯ve got goosebumps, disgusting!] [Crab-roe Pipi Shrimp sends a Meat Bone*1 to the host¡ªawesome!] [By the way, what species of squid is that? It seems different from what I usually see; I¡¯ve never seen one like that. Are you sure it¡¯s not poisonous, Master Fang?] [Can¡¯t raw eating cause parasites?] [What¡¯s there to be afraid of? Seafood has fewer parasites; otherwise, Japan wouldn¡¯t enjoy eating it so much. Besides, it¡¯s not Old Fang¡¯s first time eating raw; didn¡¯t he eat a heart last time?] The scene of Bi Fang bravely eating fierce seafood indeed stimulated the audience, and in a short while, the barrage of comments expanded to over a thousand. This was despite Bi Fang having set commenting qualifications, duration, and frequency as a triple safeguard in the software¡¯s backend. Many top streamers at most set two layers of restriction, anything more would appear as though the channel wasn¡¯t popular enough. Who else but Bi Fang would dare to implement triple restrictions and still maintain a barrage of comments so dense and lively? It¡¯s hard to imagine how explosive the comments would be without those three safeguards; probably in the tens of thousands at the climax, truly astonishing. Bi Fang skimmed through the comments and selected two with the most questions and misconceptions to explain. The first reply he gave blew the audience¡¯s minds. ¡°Firstly, regarding the species of the squid, I don¡¯t recognize it either, but it should belong to the family of Spear Squid, based on its appearance.¡± Audience: ¡°!!!¡± You actually don¡¯t know something? Many viewers widened their eyes, as if they couldn¡¯t believe the words ¡°don¡¯t know¡± could come out of Bi Fang¡¯s mouth. [It¡¯s over, Old Fang has been possessed! Quick, who the hell are you?] [Kill Master Fang, steal the top spot on the leaderboard, sorry, wrong scene] Most viewers reacted as above, while Bi Fang could only helplessly roll his eyes. With so many species in the world, it was impossible for him to know every single one, even with the red-level Wilderness Survival Skill; it probably wasn¡¯t achievable to that extent. Unless he activated the Biological Identification skill specifically for marine life. ¡°There are hundreds of squid species in the ocean; how could I possibly recognize every single one?¡± You¡¯re eating it even though you don¡¯t recognize it? The audience was even more surprised. Weren¡¯t they afraid of eating something poisonous? Many people had heard about things like the blue-ringed octopus, a single one of which could poison dozens of people, secreting a neurotoxin a thousand times more powerful than cyanide! ¡°Surviving in the wild doesn¡¯t mean you have to be familiar with every creature; you need to use our intelligence.¡± Bi Fang tapped his head, highlighting a significant difference. Previously, he hadn¡¯t encountered species that were difficult to identify, so this aspect had not been exposed, leading the audience to form a stereotype: eat only what you know, don¡¯t eat what you don¡¯t know. ¡°Regarding the squid, there¡¯s an important point to note: there is only one species of poisonous squid, and that¡¯s the Flame Squid.¡± Bi Fang picked up the piece of squid in his hand and gave it a shake, ¡°You can tell from the name, this one is obviously not it.¡± Indeed. The audience nodded in agreement, the squid that Bi Fang had caught looked much like the ones they usually ate, with only slight differences. As Bi Fang suggested, it could be a species of Spear Squid. ¡°In Wilderness Survival, you don¡¯t need to remember which of the more than three hundred kinds of squid are edible, you just need to remember which ones are not. Otherwise, you¡¯d foolishly try to memorize over three hundred species, wouldn¡¯t that exhaust you to death?¡± Thinking about a problem from a different angle can make it much simpler. Moreover, squids are not protected animals, and the few rare kinds are deep-sea squids, which even Bi Fang would not be able to catch. ¡°Then there¡¯s the issue of parasites. Many people think that saltwater has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, so they believe there are fewer parasites on sea fish. How is that possible? Sea fish have no fewer parasites than freshwater fish; in fact, there are even more. The most resource-rich place in the world is the ocean, where the earliest cells appeared. Marine biodiversity far exceeds that on land, and the marine ecosystem is very complete, so there are definitely a lot of marine parasites. You have this misconception solely because of osmotic pressure. Marine parasites, being unable to adapt to the osmotic pressure inside the human body, have a much lower survival rate compared to freshwater ones. The infection rate is lower, creating the false impression that there are fewer marine parasites.¡± As he spoke, Bi Fang began gnawing on the squid. Without fire, he could only eat it raw, and squid happened to have fewer parasites, making them somewhat safe to eat uncooked. To tell the truth, the squid wasn¡¯t very tasty¡ªextremely fishy, with a faint stench. Bi Fang suspected that it was because of its unpalatable taste that it hadn¡¯t made it to the dining table, which is why he didn¡¯t recognize it well. Had he fire, he certainly would have chosen to cook the food immediately. But such hope depended on finding an island. ¡°So everyone should try to eat cooked food whenever possible. In the ¡®Three Kingdoms,¡¯ Chen Deng died because he liked to eat raw fish slices. And the descriptions in the historical records are truly horrifying. When Hua Tuo treated him, Chen Deng vomited three liters of worms, all wriggling with their red heads.¡± [??? Writhing red heads? What the heck?] [I¡¯m getting visuals here¡­] [It¡¯s just a ball of squirming worms, right? Ew!] Thinking about vomiting parasites from one¡¯s mouth, many viewers simply couldn¡¯t bear it, especially the red worms, which seemed like a clump of thin red earthworms emerging from one¡¯s organs. Bi Fang took another bite of squid flesh. The four squids greatly alleviated his survival predicament, giving him something to look forward to. If a person were an engine, then food would be the fuel. A good car needs good fuel, and this creature has very high protein content. The empty stomach of the Fish King had been idle for days, but now it was at work non-stop, breaking down food and delivering it to the intestines for absorption and digestion. The calories surged up quickly¡ªpure bliss! The cold in his limbs was driven away, and Master Bi, who had been tired all day, finally could rest well. He had no intention of saving any for later, devouring an entire squid. Only then was Bi Fang free to do more work, starting with the ink. Having cleaned the ink from his face, Bi Fang also gathered up excess ink scattered on the life raft, not much but better than nothing. Although the toxicity was low, the ink indeed had a brief paralyzing effect. Fishermen, after catching squids with a landing net, would let them squirt out the ink and then haul the catch aboard to prevent the ink from spraying on people, indicating its substantial effect. Bi Fang wasn¡¯t sure if it would be useful, but it¡¯s always better to be safe than sorry. The real issue, however, was the container. Bi Fang had no choice but to empty another squid and use its head as a temporary container to hold the ink, leaving the audience staring in bewilderment. All this done, sleepiness came over Bi Fang. Full and content, it was easy to get sleepy, and with night falling, it was time for bed. After a brief farewell, Bi Fang turned off his live stream. In the live stream room, footage of Bi Fang conquering the storm began to loop¡ªwaves piled upon waves, the tiny raft standing against the surf, fearless and Riding the Wind and Waves. A bunch of viewers stared in the live streaming room, big eyes watching small eyes. This was a new feature of Wolf Fang, where the stream wouldn¡¯t go to a black screen after the host signed off but instead looped over previous exciting moments. It took several minutes for the Shuiyou to realize the live stream had ended, and they departed reluctantly, still longing for more. Inside the helicopter, Jerret sat in the lead seat, flipping through the ratings report with a serious expression, while Pondy, the director of photography, the four-member team, and others around him all looked pleased. However, as the person in charge had yet to speak, they could barely suppress their eagerness to talk. After Jerret finished reading in detail, his expression became even more solemn, his hands trembling slightly, leading one to wonder if he was showing early signs of Parkinson¡¯s. The day¡¯s highest rating was 3.6%, with an average rating of 3.1%. Such a performance¡­ Could it be, could it be that their show was this popular? Such average ratings of 3.1% for a new show without any reputation to speak of was incredibly exaggerated, wasn¡¯t it? ¡°` The most important thing is that today¡¯s broadcast has already squeezed into the top ten of the hot broadcast list, which is simply an unbelievable feat. Had it been on a more popular channel, it might have even made it into the top five. This kind of adventurous TV program has completely hit the G-spot of foreign youths. Storms, squid fishing without bait, and survival at sea, put them all together and it¡¯s simply exhilarating, alright? These days, every TV channel faces internet pressure, which has snatched away a large portion of the television audience, leaving TV increasingly vulnerable, like a weak chicken. The Discovery Channel has been thinking creatively, and achieving such a great result undoubtedly proves everyone¡¯s capabilities. But could he create such great results in the future? Jerret shook his head with a smile and stopped dwelling on this matter. Either way, today was definitely a day for celebration. He looked around and, leading by example, exclaimed, ¡°Well done!¡± Everyone cheered loudly. Pondy looked at Jerret, and upon receiving a nod, immediately brought out the supply box and distributed cans of food. Each person got several, and with canned goods in hand, everyone was even more excited. Due to their location, even though they could not end up like Bi Fang with nothing to eat, they were only able to get a fixed amount of compressed biscuits, canned food, and the like every day. After three continuous days, they were quite tired of it, so having a canned food feast was indeed wonderful. As for Bi Fang, there was nothing to be done; he couldn¡¯t join the celebration. Allowing him to eat would be cheating. They would have to wait until his live broadcast ended, and then everyone would find a nice place to have a big meal together. After all, he was the biggest project! The next morning, Bi Fang opened his eyes, squinted for quite some time against the piercing sunlight before gradually adjusting. It was another day with beautiful weather. How long had he slept? Was it nine or ten o¡¯clock? It seemed like he had slept for over ten hours because of the exhaustion from the day before. Just waking up, Bi Fang was still a bit groggy, but based on the sun¡¯s position, he estimated the time roughly. He rubbed his head; the headache was still there but not as intense. The good news was that Bi Fang did not catch a cold. Honestly, with the extent of yesterday¡¯s rain, he had braced himself for a cold, or even a fever, but fortunately, none had come. It seemed that the training had been very effective, Bi Fang thought to himself. The underwater training device gifted by the system also had temperature control. More than once, Bi Fang swam in zero-degree water, and with nearly a week of adaptability training, his tolerance was still very high. And the moment Bi Fang woke up, the director of photography, who had been monitoring the camera, wanted to start the live broadcast immediately. But Bi Fang waved at the camera, then took down the drone that was docked atop the tent, stuffed it inside, stood up from the zipper entrance, and completely blocked the camera¡¯s view. The director of photography was momentarily stunned, but quickly realized what Bi Fang was about to do. When nature calls. Seeing this, he didn¡¯t rush to start the live broadcast, waiting a few minutes until everything was done. Then, under Bi Fang¡¯s direction, he began the live stream. Following routine, Bi Fang greeted everyone and started today¡¯s broadcast. [Is Old Fang being lazy today? It¡¯s already half-past nine and he¡¯s just starting the live broadcast. I¡¯ve been waiting for over an hour, refreshing Wolf Fang waiting for you to start!] [Add one, I¡¯ve also been waiting a long time.] [You must make it up to us! Extra broadcast tonight!] [Right! You must compensate with an extra broadcast, otherwise, we¡¯ll just stay in the live streaming room and not leave!] [Staying and not leaving? Wolf Fang¡¯s boss would wake up laughing from his dream. Please, stay a bit longer.] Bi Fang just laughed and said nothing more; he had a lot to do. Processing the squid could wait, and although the sun was out, the temperature was still not high. The squid would be preserved for two to three days without any problem, and afterwards, he¡¯d have to consider drying them for storage. Next were the four squid bones; they were truly good stuff, genuine ¡°hard goods¡±. ¡°I should be thankful that what I caught were squids, not octopuses. If they were octopuses, they wouldn¡¯t have this hard ¡®bone,¡¯ instead, there would be something like a soft plastic, which wouldn¡¯t be very useful to me. But squid bones are different; they are actually quite hard.¡± Bi Fang picked up two squid bones and clacked them together, making a bony clacking sound, proving indeed some hardness. ¡°Even though squids are invertebrates, they have a bone-like internal shell, which has a specific term known as ¡®sea piaoxiao¡¯. Of course, a squid¡¯s bone-like internal shell is different from the bones of humans and many other animals, and it¡¯s not what people usually understand as bones. Its main component is calcium carbonate.¡± Calcium carbonate? ¡°` Chalk? Isn¡¯t it the kind that snaps easily? ¡°Exactly, it¡¯s chalk, but the structure of this squid bone is different, its unique structure gives it a lot of tenacity. Just looking at its hardness and toughness, it¡¯s a pretty good material. It can be used in medicine and also crafted into jewelry. So, I¡¯m planning to grind it into a fish hook¡­¡± Bi Fang gripped a fish bone and snapped it forcefully, quickly breaking it into two pieces. But that wasn¡¯t all; he snapped it two more times, dividing the fish bone into four segments. While the snap hook is metal and has much better hardness and toughness than squid bone, the only problem is that it¡¯s too small. It can attract squid and other small creatures, but if I were to catch anything else, it would be at most the size of my palm. The fish bone was split into four; next was the sanding. Without tools, I¡¯d have to use the material itself. Bi Fang used one fish bone to grind down another. Bone powder fell like drizzle, and the process was quite fast. It didn¡¯t take long for the rudimentary shapes of two fish hooks to appear. The newly made fish hooks were significantly larger than the previous ones and very sturdy. Their overall shape resembled a boat anchor, thin at both ends and wide in the middle, a structure designed as much as possible to prevent the hook from breaking. After all, no matter how hard it was or how good its structure, it was still made of calcium carbonate, not quite up to par with real bones, let alone modern metal fish hooks. But it was definitely better than the snap hook. Strung with a squid tentacle, it might even catch something big. The audience watched with great excitement; we finally have tools! Is it time to show off what I¡¯ve got? About half an hour passed, and all four fish hooks were completed. Washing them in seawater, they were smooth and thick. One was about as big as a curved little finger, who knows how many times larger than the previous metal snap hook. Bi Fang couldn¡¯t wait to thread a squid tentacle onto a hook and toss it into the sea, waiting for a fish to bite. What came next, a long wait? No, Bi Fang made a move that took everyone by surprise. He¡¯s dismantling the tent! Has he gone mad? The audience couldn¡¯t comprehend what Bi Fang was doing. Why dismantle the tent? What will he do when it rains again? He hadn¡¯t taken it down even in a storm, so why dismantle it when the sun is shining? The screen was full of messages trying to dissuade Bi Fang, but he saw them and ignored them, continuing to disassemble the tent. The edges of the thing were seamlessly connected to the raft, and he had to be very careful while slashing with the fish hook to avoid damaging the raft itself and causing a leak. For the past three days, Bi Fang had been making a mistake, which only became apparent after the storm yesterday inspired an epiphany. This morning Bi Fang had a vague realization of what the problem was. He subconsciously thought that a life raft was supposed to drift slowly, awaiting rescue, because there were no conditions to allow an inflatable life raft to navigate. Every survival guide says the same thing: stay put as much as possible, don¡¯t swim around, shoot flares or light fires, eat supplies, and wait for rescue. But Bi Fang overlooked one thing: was his goal to wait for rescue? Not at all! He had to survive for twenty-one days and try to find land in that period! He had no supplies, no flares, no fire starters, everything depended on him. Then why not take the initiative to move forward, in search of a continent or an island? A violent storm had left him clueless about where he had drifted. If Bi Fang hadn¡¯t held down the tent back then, the strong winds and waves could have made him drift dozens of kilometers. The life raft could move forward; it just needed some simple conditions. Bi Fang was going to use the tent, As a sail! Chapter 237 - Chapter 237: Chapter 234 Plan Through Chapter 237: Chapter 234 Plan Through With the addition of a sail, the speed of the liferaft¡¯s drift noticeably quickened. The waves buoyed the light raft, carrying it far away, especially during strong winds, when it could cover at least dozens of kilometers a day. Based on Bi Fang¡¯s earlier judgment, the production team had dropped him in the North Atlantic, so he should drift eastward to have a greater chance of encountering land. ¡°To determine direction at sea, one mainly relies on a compass. Without a compass, one can only rely on the sun or the stars, and if you have a watch, we can use the watch and the sun to determine direction. There are many methods to use a watch to gauge direction. The simplest one is to lay the watch flat and align the hour hand with the sun. The line that bisects the angle of less than 180 degrees between the hour hand and the 12 o¡¯clock on the watch dial points to the south.¡± Here we go, it¡¯s time for Master Fang¡¯s show-off time again. The audience perked up their ears, wanting to know how to determine direction on the open sea when there is nothing to rely on. The situation seems even worse than the desert, at least in the desert you can rely on the dunes for direction. ¡°Of course, at sea, you can¡¯t be sure you¡¯re level, so other methods must be used, which are a bit more complicated¡­¡± The Earth rotates 360 degrees in 24 hours, 15 degrees per hour, and the hour hand of a watch generally moves twice as fast as the sun. Based on this principle, you can roughly determine the direction using a watch and the sun. At 6 in the morning, the sun is roughly in the east, casting shadows towards the west. At this time, point the hour hand of your watch towards the sun, and the ¡°12¡± on the dial will point west. If you rotate the dial 90 degrees, halving 6 o¡¯clock, so the ¡°3¡± on the dial faces the sun, the ¡°12¡± will then point north. At noon, when the sun is in the south, halve 12 o¡¯clock so that the ¡°6¡± on the dial faces the sun, the ¡°12¡± still points north. At other times, change the time accordingly, and the effect is the same. ¡°The above methods are only suitable north of the Tropic of Cancer. If south of the Tropic of Cancer, align the direction of the sun with the 12 o¡¯clock on the dial, and the midpoint between the hour hand and 12 o¡¯clock points north. Also, pay attention to the time zone issue; if you don¡¯t know, you can spend a whole day confirming the time of the sun¡¯s rise and set, then adjust your watch accordingly.¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t have a watch, unless you tell me the time, and it has to be friends from Europe.¡± No sooner had Bi Fang¡¯s voice fallen than a barrage of comments appeared, all from time-reporting birds. ¡°No need, besides these methods, we can also determine our direction by judging the wind direction based on our location,¡± Bi Fang chuckled and shook his head; they had underestimated him¡ªwithout tools, he couldn¡¯t be stumped. The grand master of geography, Fang, made his entrance once again. Beyond tools, wind direction is the best teacher for navigation. Sometimes the sea will blow winds according to the season. Especially in the monsoon climate zones, in summer, because the temperature of the sea is lower than the land, the atmospheric pressure over the sea is higher than on land, causing winds to blow from the sea towards the land; in winter, because the land temperature is lower than the sea, the atmospheric pressure over land is higher than over the sea, causing winds to blow from the land towards the sea. One quarter of the Earth¡¯s surface can be defined as having a monsoon climate, and the North Atlantic, being close to Europe, is no exception. Moreover, there is a famous ocean current here, the North Atlantic Current, which spans almost the entire ocean. Even without wind, following the direction of the current could also lead you to the European continent. All was clear, with food, bone hooks, and now a sail, Bi Fang was in high spirits and couldn¡¯t wait to set sail, conquering the sea by following the wind direction. As the strong wind blew, the canvas swiftly bulged, and the waves carried the liferaft flying towards the distance, with fish hooks unable to sink into the sea, likewise drifting on the surface. It could actually go this fast! The audience was dumbfounded¡ªwere they sure this thing wasn¡¯t a speedboat? It looked inflatable on the surface, but was there actually an engine installed beneath the raft? Luckily, the strong wind lasted only for a while, and the speed of the liferaft gradually slowed, no longer so exaggerated. Bi Fang braced his hands against the tent, letting it face into the wind. He hadn¡¯t cut the tent completely open; the bout of strong wind earlier nearly tore it apart at the seams, showing the force of the wind. Transforming the tent into a sail proved to be a success. Compared to two days before, without a sail, he clearly felt he was closer to the mainland. The reason was the sea water that had a slight change in color, though, to the audience, it all looked one color, hardly discernible for any deeper change. Using the color of the sea water to determine depth isn¡¯t really friendly toward those with color blindness or color weakness, is it? Bi Fang did not dismantle the entire tent, but rather half of it, leaving enough to firmly secure the tent. If it rained again, he just needed to hold on tight to both sides to stay secure. The audience was captivated by Bi Fang maneuvering the liferaft; his streamlined arms pulled against the tactile canvas, with occasional cool seawater splashing over his feet, as he sailed swiftly across the ocean. By noon, Bi Fang sat down to rest and supplement his nutrition, grabbing the third squid to eat and occasionally tearing off some horsetail kelp for a balanced meat and vegetable diet, to avoid constipation. By this point, except for the last squid used as a container, all three had gone into his stomach. Bi Fang didn¡¯t entertain the idea of saving food because, aside from the four squids, he had made some catches in the past two days¡ªtwo North Atlantic mackerels! That¡¯s right, the same type of fish Bi Fang had encountered before! What a twist of fate! As if knowing he had grown tired of squid, they had made the long journey from the North Sea, especially for him. Both mackerels were the size of Bi Fang¡¯s forearm, caught yesterday as he passed through a certain sea area. These fish like to school, so Bi Fang stayed in that spot. Unfortunately, he wasn¡¯t very lucky and only managed to catch two by nightfall. But no matter, two were enough to last him for three days. The mackerels were fatty and tender, with a fat content much higher than that of the squid, providing even more energy when eaten. Wiping the corner of his mouth, Bi Fang fished out the hook with an experimental mindset and found there was another catch. A little hairfin anchovy! Hey, his luck was picking up. The fish wasn¡¯t big, only about ten centimeters, much smaller than the mackerels, but Bi Fang was still grinning from ear to ear. Since catching the squid and obtaining bait, his ¡°sea fishing¡± venture had been smooth sailing, and he had been catching fish day after day, with no need to worry about food. More importantly, this situation was only going to get better. Both mackerel and hairfin anchovy had blood in them, as well as internal organs with a strong, pungent smell, making them more suitable for fishing. Perhaps he might even catch bigger fish in the future, like the North Atlantic salmon, the kind that could feed him for days! [It¡¯s over, Old Fang has found good food again.] [Damn it, did he come up here to stock up?] [What kind of fish is that?] [The king of sea fishing,] [Eh, I think I¡¯ve seen it, they seem to sell it at our local market.] ¡°Yes, hairfin anchovy is the foreign name for it. In our country, we call it a spring fish, which sounds much nicer. This fish is delicious and widely distributed, making it a great economic species.¡± Bi Fang quickly lowered the fish hook again. Hairfin anchovies are schooling fish that are also very active, and they feed frequently even in winter, on small shrimp and plankton, hoping to catch more. What¡¯s critical is that this fish is excellent bait. Cod, whales, seals, dolphins, sharks, tuna, and squids all like to eat it, having no ¡®fish rights¡¯ so to speak. [Wow, does that indirectly mean this fish is especially tasty?] [Clear logic, well-founded, flawless¡ªworth a try.] [It¡¯s pretty delicious, my mom buys it often.] The tentacles of the last squid had been completely peeled off, and it wasn¡¯t every time that Bi Fang could catch a fish successfully; often he would pull up the line to find the hook had snapped or the bait was gone. Previously, to catch the mackerels, he had used two cuttlebones and eight squid tentacles. Afterward, Bi Fang no longer used cuttlebones to fashion fish hooks but real bones instead. The jawbones of those two mackerels were harder and more resilient than the cuttlebone. However, this time Bi Fang didn¡¯t spend too much time fishing. After catching three hairfin anchovies and feeling it was enough, he packed up and left. Staying in the area, teeming with many animals¡¯ bait, could easily result in encounters with animals he couldn¡¯t handle, like large sharks. With this in mind, Bi Fang quickly set up his tent and continued forward, pushed by the strong wind. The great wind starts to rise. But what no one noticed was that shortly after Bi Fang left, a huge shadow moved under the water and opened its mouth wide, violently gulping down the school of hairfin anchovies. ¡°Pfft!¡± ¡°Whew, refreshing!¡± Bi Fang, hands on hips, was slightly tanner than a week ago, but his eyes sparkled brightly, looking energetic and lively. Days at sea had given him the likeness of a seafarer, and perhaps in a few more days, he would be even darker. Facing the chilly sea breeze, Bi Fang didn¡¯t feel cold at all. Having just eaten, his body was warm all over, completely unfazed by the cold wind. Moreover, the King Fish¡¯s Stomach digested the food very cleanly, rapidly generating heat. ¡°` Indeed, it was because of his stomach that Bi Fang was able to eat raw food without hesitation; otherwise he would have undoubtedly tried to minimize the risk, such as by drying the fish to make jerky, which, despite its inferior taste and still not being 100% safe, would significantly reduce the danger. ¡°Truly, the most difficult part of a survival mission is actually the first few days. When you¡¯re new to an environment, your mentality and body can¡¯t adapt, and you lack sufficient resources to gain a survival advantage. But once you get through the initial days, you¡¯ll find that survival isn¡¯t as difficult as you thought,¡± he said. On the sixth day of ocean survival, everything started to look up. The mainland was getting closer, and there was even a possibility of encountering land within twenty-one days. Moreover, the closer one got to shore, the greater the likelihood of finding an island. Bi Fang categorized the difficulties of survival into different levels. For survival missions lasting twenty days or a month, the hardest part was the first week. After that, if no accidents happened, the chances of survival would be very high. Of course, that probability was based on not just barely scraping through the first seven days. If the first week was spent fighting hunger, then it was highly likely that each day would be harder than the last¡ªthe so-called ups and downs, downs, downs, downs¡­ Oh, without even the ups, just downs. If the survival time were extended, the second difficult period would probably come in the second month when one would face nutritional and psychological problems. Prolonged high-stress survival could lead to mental breakdowns. If you can get through all that, then you¡¯re indeed a natural talent with a strong will and rich experience. You just need to deal with immediate diseases and the psychological stresses of prolonged isolation. After riding the waves for a few hours, evening approached. The setting sun spread out, casting a layer of somber deep red over the winter ocean. The waves rose and fell, reflecting dazzling light, as if sprinkled with crushed gold. Bi Fang squinted his eyes, preparing to put down the tent for rest, when suddenly he noticed a hazy shadow in the distance. What is that? Bi Fang got up to look, trying to see more clearly, but the direction was directly facing the sunset, making it glaring and blurry. The production team also noticed Bi Fang¡¯s unusual behavior and quickly sent a drone up, following his line of sight to film, while zooming in on the image. The audience in the live broadcast grew curious and, as the picture became clearer, many of them opened their mouths in surprise. It was actually an island!!! [It¡¯s an island!] [Old Fang! It¡¯s an island!] [Damn, damn, damn, it¡¯s an island!] [Old Fang hit the jackpot!] The barrage was as overwhelming as a tsunami, nearly all of it focused on the appearance of the island. The platform quickly sent out a notification, which read: On the sixth day of drifting at sea, an island was discovered! Upon receiving the notification, more curious viewers flooded in like a tide. The number of viewers surged, and before long, it broke two million globally, excluding those watching on television. To encounter an island while drifting at sea! What incredible luck! As Bi Fang had mentioned, the person who survived more than a hundred days at sea had never encountered one! Peter¡¯s mouth fell open, unable to believe that Master Fang had found an island in just six days. His idol lived up to his reputation! Incredible! Bi Fang was equally shocked inside, realizing he was the blind cat that chanced upon a dead rat ¡ª stumbling upon a small island purely by accident. Blessed by the goddess of luck.jpg! Without any hesitation, Bi Fang quickly adjusted the sail¡¯s direction, heading toward the island, but before he could reach it, the wind started to die down; by nightfall, he was still a good distance away from the island. What the hell, why is the wind suddenly gone? Where¡¯s the energy from the storm? Did it run out of steam so quickly? Bi Fang was slightly annoyed; just when he needed wind, there was none, but a storm would come when he was exhausted, right? With no other choice, Bi Fang lowered the sail and started paddling toward the island with his hands. They say ¡®hope to see a mountain run dead horse¡¯ ¨C it¡¯s spot on, and looking at the island might as well kill Bi Fang. After paddling most of the day, Bi Fang collapsed inside the life raft, nearly sticking his tongue out and rolling his eyes back: ¡°I can¡¯t do it, I¡¯m about to die of exhaustion!¡± ¡°` [How can you stop now!] [Master Fang, get a move on! The island is right there!] [Starting only with a life raft, all equipment is scavenged] [What are you doing, Master Fang!] [Don¡¯t stop now!] Bi Fang almost vomited blood when he saw the barrage of comments. He had been paddling for nearly a kilometer by now, the equivalent to running three to five kilometers, and his arms were incredibly sore. But the island was so close; how could he possibly give up? After a brief rest, Bi Fang quickly gathered his strength and continued paddling. The sun had completely set, and only by the stars in the sky could he barely discern his direction, which was also very difficult. It was easy to drift off course unintentionally. Bi Fang paddled and worried at the same time, fearing he might be going in the wrong direction. Fortunately, he had the audience to help him, and he could also cheat a little by using night vision mode to observe the direction of the island. Three hours later. ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t go on.¡± Bi Fang curled up inside the life raft like a dead dog, tongue lolling out, his body sweating profusely, a few hundred meters away from the island, he just couldn¡¯t paddle any longer. Whoever said paddling was easy was clearly exhausted from it. Don¡¯t say paddling is easy ever again! Paddling is actually the most exhausting! [How can a man admit defeat?] [You¡¯re giving up already? No way, no way, can¡¯t believe someone can¡¯t swim a few more kilometers!] [Just a few more kilometers, Old Fang what are you doing, get up and keep paddling!] Bi Fang was too weak to argue, now so tired he couldn¡¯t even utter a complete sentence and lay motionless as if asleep, until half an hour later when he suddenly woke up. It¡¯s over, I almost fell asleep, don¡¯t get freaking swept away by the waves! Bi Fang got a shock, hurriedly got up, only to find that the waves had carried him closer to the island. Only a dozen meters left! Yay! Although he was very happy, Bi Fang, approaching the island, didn¡¯t rush ashore. Instead, he surveyed the surrounding environment to prevent any rocks from tearing the life raft, which would be a major loss. Then, under the faint moonlight, Bi Fang was finally able to make out the shape of the island. The island was very small, extremely small¡ªto what extent? Approximately the size of a villa¡¯s plot¡­ [Such a tiny island¡­] [I¡¯m afraid there are no animals on this island, right?] [I doubt it] [It¡¯s hardly habitable for humans] But even if the island was small, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t disappointed. It was a stroke of great fortune to encounter an island at all; some drift for over a hundred days without seeing one, and he had found one in six days¡ªit was sheer dumb luck. Of course, it might also be due to being close to the mainland. The chance of encountering an island in the open sea depths is slim to none, but close to the mainland, the number of islands significantly increases. Bi Fang was content because the island had trees! If you can¡¯t stay, turn it into a supply station. Trees = tools = improved living environment = greater chance of survival ¡Ì Plan approved. Chapter 238 - Chapter 238: Chapter 235: Grilled Seafood Plan Chapter 238: Chapter 235: Grilled Seafood Plan ¡°` The tide churned, and the white froth of the waves washed ashore. Bi Fang dragged the life raft onto the beach with difficulty, his entire body creaking as if at its limit, yet his spirit was extremely excited as he forcibly kept going, dragging the raft ashore. It¡¯s so hard, I¡¯m really having a tough time. Bi Fang was drenched in sweat; it was one difficulty after another, a real test of strength¡­ He had manned the sail for a whole day and was just about to rest when he spotted the island. Then he paddled for several kilometers and had to hurry to drag the life raft ashore to prevent it from being carried away by the currents. Bi Fang even started to wonder if he would pee blood tomorrow. His saliva was as sticky as glue. Bi Fang covered his wildly pounding heart, spat out a mouthful, then untied the towel knot, stuck his head inside to moisten his lips, tongue, and throat before taking small sips. After retieing it, Bi Fang, looking as if a fairy had drained his vitality, threw his head back and collapsed onto the beach, with the foam-like waves kissing his feet. [No way, he¡¯s done already? Can¡¯t someone swim a few kilometers? Isn¡¯t this a sign of weak kidneys?] [Damn, where is this? I¡¯ve only been gone for three hours, and Master Fang has already stormed the beach?] [I just got the notification and thought it was fake, but he actually hit an island, what luck!] [Wu Hu! Taking off!] [This is so thrilling! My uncle, who¡¯s been paralyzed for years, saw this video and immediately jumped out of bed, running on the walls, and has been missing ever since.] [Is Old Fang not moving anymore?] [Yeah, what¡¯s going on?] The audience thought Bi Fang was just lying down to rest, but after discussing for over ten minutes, it seemed Bi Fang had no intention of getting up. Is there a problem? Jerret frowned, realizing this was not a simple matter and quickly asked the director of photography to bring the drone closer. As soon as it flew near his head, the faint sounds of snoring became clear. Pondy and Jerret looked at each other. He¡¯d actually fallen asleep¡­ Bi Fang felt he had a nightmare, in which because of his increasingly strong physique, he was spotted by a coach and taken to participate in an athletic meet, aiming to bring glory to his country. After running a marathon and with the triathlon short on people, he, unrested, was conscripted and pushed into the water to start swimming¡­ ¡°Holy shit, blood, it¡¯s blood!¡± Bi Fang suddenly woke up with a cold sweat on his back. He widened his eyes and looked around in a daze, realizing he was on a beach and not on a race track, and he hadn¡¯t fainted in the bathroom. ¡°It was just a dream.¡± Bi Fang held his head, feeling even more exhausted. His arm muscles were sore and swollen, and after struggling to recall for a while, he realized he had fallen on the beach and fallen asleep straight away last night? ¡°Boss, he¡¯s awake!¡± Third Brother, who was constantly monitoring the screen, immediately noticed Bi Fang¡¯s awakening and quickly summoned the director of photography and Jerret. Watching Bi Fang, still somewhat bewildered on the screen, they waited until Bi Fang came to and nodded, before the live broadcast resumed. As soon as the stream started, the Shuiyou flooded in. [Damn, he just got to the island yesterday, and he f*cking fell asleep, making my hemorrhoids burst.] [It¡¯s so uncomfortable being half in, half out. Can we get something exciting?] [What is this aggressive language? Can we keep it civil? There are kids in the live stream, you know.] [Run away with Master Fang overnight] ¡°` Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but laugh and cry as he mustered the energy to greet everyone, then hurriedly continued to tug the life raft further up. ¡°I almost got a fright this morning when I woke up because I fell asleep without pulling the life raft all the way ashore yesterday. I was really worried it might get carried away by the waves overnight. If you ever find yourself in this situation, be extremely careful. Not only must you keep the life raft from being touched by the waves, but you should also maintain a distance of at least three meters to prevent it from being swept away by the high tide at night.¡± Heaving the life raft onto the shore, Bi Fang wiped off the semblance of sweat from his hand. Although he hadn¡¯t slept well, it was more of a mental exhaustion, and his physical strength was quite recovered. It was just his upper arm muscles that were slightly sore. ¡°There¡¯s a lot to consider when hauling a boat ashore. It¡¯s not as simple as everyone thinks. First, you need to choose a good landing point that makes it easier for the boat to reach the shore or for you to be able to abandon ship and swim to land. Next, lower the sails if you have them, observe the rocks, anchor towards the shore to slow the boat down; of course, if you don¡¯t have an anchor, that¡¯s fine too. Remember not to land against the sunlight since it makes spotting rocks quite difficult, but using rocks we can take the time to adjust our direction.¡± As he explained, Bi Fang continued to drag the heavy life raft, which looked light but was actually quite heavy. If there were multiple choices, a sloping coast under the backwash is ideal, but the island was too small and there weren¡¯t any big waves, as the water just flowed directly down both sides. ¡°We have to seize the opportunity and advance with the waves to prevent getting overpowered or turned around by the waves coming at us. Moreover, we must exert all our efforts to reach shore swiftly and accurately because once the tide changes, it could pull you back into the sea. That¡¯s why I was so anxious yesterday. If the tide falls, the boat could be pushed back into the deep sea. This could cause the boat to take on water and become heavier, so make sure to tie yourself to the raft. Even if the boat capsizes and you¡¯re injured or unconscious, you¡¯ll still have a chance of survival; whereas alone in the waves, if you¡¯re swept towards the rocks, it¡¯s likely you¡¯ll lose your life.¡± ¡°If you really can¡¯t do it and have to abandon ship to swim to shore, it¡¯s very easy to collide with rocks in the turbulent sea. We could wear more clothes to cushion the impact, and it¡¯s better if you have a life jacket. When rushing towards rocks, lift your feet in front of you to take the brunt of the force on the soles of your feet. Bend your knees to absorb the shock.¡± [Men can¡¯t say they can¡¯t!] [Is getting ashore really that hard? Why do I feel like Old Fang is doing it rather easily?] [Idiot, obviously Old Fang scoped out the place with his eyes, a master at landing on shore.] Bi Fang, who had pulled the life raft ashore, stood up. He looked at the small island beneath his feet and was truly moved by his good fortune. Not only were there no reefs surrounding it, allowing him to drag the boat ashore smoothly, but the island also had a few trees, which were extremely rare. ¡°I¡¯ve always stressed that the North Atlantic is windy, and many trees don¡¯t grow well before they¡¯re prone to being snapped by strong winds, making it very difficult for trees to thrive. But not only did these grow, they have formed a small grove.¡± Bi Fang walked around the small island, a short journey measured in minutes. Although small and unlikely to host any wildlife, a careful count revealed that this island, less than three hundred square meters in area, actually had twenty-three trees! All are good materials! Bi Fang¡¯s eyes gleamed, and he was all but drooling. After drifting at sea for a week, he had had enough of having nothing at hand; it was as if someone had provided a pillow just as he was dozing off. And¡­ Bi Fang chuckled with a smirk, squinted his eyes, and said, ¡°Who was it that bet I couldn¡¯t find a tree stick again?¡± [!] [Careless of me, I didn¡¯t dodge it!] [Damn it, the host is shameless! Compensate my hard-earned Wolf Brush!] [Damn it, there go my Wolf Brushes that I saved up for over ten years! All gone, just like that!] [Regret at leisure¡ªlove life, stay away from gambling!] [Slay Master Fang, loot the Wolf Brush! Here I come, and peace will reign once Wolf Fang has been secured!] In the first few days of drifting, viewers had suggested that the exploration stick that appeared in every live broadcast couldn¡¯t possibly show up again. A betting game was initiated, and in a matter of minutes, over a hundred thousand Wolf Brushes were amassed. By the time the betting closed, the number of Wolf Brushes reached a whopping million, marking the biggest betting game since the launch of the system! The odds for those who bet against it were one to eighteen; bet one stick to win eighteen! At that moment, the staff behind the scenes timely sent out the rewards. The staff were all very perceptive; such things didn¡¯t even need to be mentioned. If Bi Fang just bent down to pick up a stick, the Tree Stick would appear once again, proving the point more than words ever could, and the Tree Stick made a return yet again! [Hehehe, to refuse such courtesy would be disgraceful, indeed disgraceful.] [It¡¯s all thanks to the brothers elevating me, tearfully making eighteen times the profit, I¡¯m so bad.] [It¡¯s the first time my wallet is this bulging, I¡¯m a bit scared, should I hire a bodyguard?] The Shuiyou who received the rewards were extremely showy, and Bi Fang looked at them with the urge to hit them, not to mention the audience who lost the bet, of course, Wolf Brush itself wasn¡¯t worth much, it was just an entertainment section. However, the effect was still very good, for just a little money, the atmosphere was whipped up, and under the leadership of top broadcaster Bi Fang, Wolf Fang¡¯s development was getting better and better, not showing any signs of the decline it had experienced at the beginning. Instead, it was subtly beginning to overshadow Shark and Tiger Fang. It¡¯s said that employees were often seen looking at a picture of Bi Fang with a silly smile, wondering if they might even breathe on it and carefully place it on their office desk. Whether it¡¯s true or false¡­ Speaking of which, seems like the annual PK is about to start? When is it, does it start this afternoon? Bi Fang stroked his chin, looking at the active Shuiyou and suddenly remembered that it was indeed happening. It¡¯s a tradition in the live streaming circle, every year before the Chinese New Year there would be a giant week-long PK event, judging the popularity of the platform¡¯s broadcasters using a set of public data including viewership, donations, and barrage comments. In the past, this data was compared internally within the platform, but this year was a little different. The story goes back to when Bi Fang got his certificate; he learned that upper management intended to rectify the live broadcast platforms, and so this year they organized a joint event, where all broadcasters compete against each other, with data certified by a third party, no falsification allowed. If caught cheating, one would be blacklisted and banned from broadcasting for a month. For broadcasters who live off their popularity, this is a huge punishment. It¡¯s not strange for them to lose half their followers. This is the first step in upper management¡¯s rectification, a warning against data falsification by platforms. Who knows how many broadcasters couldn¡¯t break through because the platform deliberately suppressed their data, forcing them to sign a series of overbearing contracts. Bi Fang knew about this news half a month ago; Liu Qian told him over the phone. He remembered it, but because he had been busy fishing the past few days, he hadn¡¯t thought about it. Now that his livelihood was secure, it popped into his head again. All broadcasters ranking together? And he didn¡¯t feel the slightest bit of nerves; was this what they call ¡°lonely at the top¡±? Bi Fang felt his mental state wasn¡¯t right. Ever since Goose started migrating their broadcasts, the number of people watching his live streams had risen to at least several hundred thousand, which made him somewhat arrogant, no longer taking the PK seriously. To be honest, he, as a top broadcaster, was quite different from the top broadcasters of other platforms. If the top broadcasters of Shark and Tiger Fang were like precious sweaty horses, then Bi Fang was like a Golden-Winged Great Peng bird, grabbing hold of Wolf Fang and skyrocketing, a different level of prestige altogether. The flattery of other platform¡¯s broadcasters, no matter how hard they tried, couldn¡¯t compare to his greatness. After all, he was a global broadcaster, not only unseen but unheard of, a crushing blow from a higher dimension. When Bi Fang asked if the PK event was starting this afternoon, the audience all laughed. [Master Fang, are you worried about this? Are you underestimating yourself or us?] [Brothers, let the barrage fly, don¡¯t let the time limit affect your silly hearts!] [The event starts at 2 pm, it¡¯s only 9 am now, save your energy] [Master Fang is definitely going to be number one, but I still suspect foul play!] [If there¡¯s foul play, you get banned for a month, could you handle that?] [Damn, why is it that when Master Fang is banned, the viewers are the ones worried? What kind of logic is this? It¡¯s not logical at all!] ¡°Sigh!¡± Mo Xiaoxian was live streaming, pleading for support from his top patron when the PK officially starts in the afternoon. But as soon as he opened Bi Fang¡¯s live stream on his phone and saw the deluge of comments like tidal waves, he let out a little sigh. The sigh wasn¡¯t out of dejection, it was more of a sense of marvel. He had been the hottest broadcaster on Wolf Fang for three consecutive years, but now it seemed that today he had no choice but to step aside and possibly fight for second place. No, with all platforms combined in this event, he could only strive for the top ten. And there was no sense of unwillingness. To be honest, being first place was just a nominal title with no substantial benefits. At this point, what limited a broadcaster¡¯s growth was the platform¡¯s ceiling. The more users on the platform, the more fans one could attract. Bi Fang¡¯s arrival had forcibly raised this ceiling, and other Wolf Fang broadcasters all enjoyed the benefits. They were all thrilled, and they were more reluctant to see Bi Fang leave than anyone else. If it had been their past achievements, they probably wouldn¡¯t have made it into the top ten of the popularity list, but now they could contend for a spot, and all this was because of one person. In response to this, Mo Xiaoxian could only say, ¡°Master Fang, please step it up!¡± Aside from Mo Xiaoxian, the other Wolf Fang streamers felt the same way. If running a platform was like playing chess, then Wang Yongbo of Wolf Fang had undoubtedly made a divine move. Especially Bi Fang¡¯s ¡°big thigh¡± accessory, the well-known female sycophant of Wolf Fang, Yao Lina. If you knew Master Fang, you had to know his loyal sycophant, a woman who had followed him since Bi Fang¡¯s first live stream on Wolf Fang, without missing a single one. Because she was beautiful and generous, many people would join her live stream for fun after Bi Fang signed off. And as she kept on sycophantically courting, she went from a modestly famous streamer to a big-time broadcaster. Many people mocked her for licking ¡°thick leg hairs¡± off Master Fang¡¯s leg. Yao Lina didn¡¯t take it as a disgrace but as an honor. In her words: ¡°I licked it up with my own skills, if you¡¯ve got the guts, you lick it too!¡± Bi Fang chuckled and shook his head, no longer paying attention to the silly netizens, and turned to gather materials. The first thing to do, of course, was to make a fire. Having not eaten cooked food for a full seven days, he really missed the taste. Brimming with energy, Bi Fang started roaming around the island. The situation was pretty much as he had expected¡ªthe little broken island didn¡¯t have any animals, not even insects to be seen, just a few trees and grass. After looking around, he barely managed to gather the necessary materials for survival, but from Bi Fang¡¯s standpoint, they still weren¡¯t quite satisfactory. There was no choice but to make do. The classic Hand Drill Method. After preparing a hole in a rock and making some tinder, Bi Fang huffed and puffed as he began his grand plan for fire-making. The audience watched intently, having not seen Bi Fang use the Hand Drill Method since a long time ago. Last time he succeeded on his first try, so they figured it wouldn¡¯t be difficult this time either. Half an hour later. Dammit! ¡°It won¡¯t ignite!¡± Bi Fang threw the tree stick in his hand and began to doubt himself. [Master Fang has lost his touch] [Qilin Arm has regressed, haven¡¯t you been secretly getting a girlfriend behind our backs?] [Moderate, Master Fang, women only affect the speed of your Fire-Making by Wood-Drilling!] [Sister Na, come out, is it your fault?] [That¡¯s right, it¡¯s me! No more pretending, I lay my cards on the table.] Bi Fang, wordlessly choked, still explained the reason, ¡°The island is too small, the moisture too high, and my arms are still sore. I can¡¯t even drill up some char.¡± There was no flint stone on the small island either. Bi Fang frowned with concern. One glance at the small island told you what was there and what wasn¡¯t, and he was certain that there was no flint stone. Just regular rocks wouldn¡¯t produce sparks. No way, Bi Fang was determined, the charcoal-grilled seafood plan couldn¡¯t fall through! If hand drilling didn¡¯t work then bow drilling, if bow drilling didn¡¯t work then saw drilling, if saw drilling didn¡¯t work there was still pump drilling. He refused to believe that with so many skills, he couldn¡¯t start a fire. I¡¯m definitely seeing fire today! Charcoal-grilled seafood, wait for me! Chapter 239 - Chapter 239: Chapter 236 Raft Drifting Plan Chapter 239: Chapter 236 Raft Drifting Plan The ocean was very calm, radiating a warm yellow sunlight that made the shores glisten. Waves crashed ashore, leaving behind white foam. Bi Fang¡¯s palms were very slender. Although they were covered in thick calluses, they were clean and beautiful. Right now, these hands were holding a wooden stick, vigorously rubbing it against another piece of wood, sending a large quantity of wood shavings flying due to the friction. This was the second fire-making method Bi Fang resorted to after the failure of Fire-Making by Wood-Drilling, called the Fire Plough. This was the simplest method, completely reliant on the user¡¯s arm strength, involving a pointed stick being rubbed up and down in a groove on a wooden board. At the bottom of the groove, very fine wood shavings would appear, accumulating more and more until, eventually, when the temperature reached a certain level, they would ignite. Because of the continuous movement, a slight sweat formed on Bi Fang¡¯s nose. He dared not wipe it away for fear that, with even the slightest distraction, the heat he had so painstakingly gathered would dissipate once more. He had been rubbing for over ten minutes, his body heating up, even removing one of his coats. There were too few plants to choose from on the island, without the proper softness or hardness for making fire. Most of the trees were too hard, not well-suited for this use, and Bi Fang could only opt for the best of the worst, selecting materials that were barely suitable. At this moment, Bi Fang was in the center of the island, with his legs tightly gripping the wooden board to prevent it from swaying during the friction, lest the shavings in the groove scatter out, which would mean all his efforts had been in vain. A few more minutes passed with the viewers on edge, yet Bi Fang remained calm, rubbing to a certain rhythm. The Fire Plough was admittedly a tough process, but its advantage lay in its steadiness. The secret not only involved the technique of friction but also included maintaining a good state of mind. Having lived outdoors for most of the last half year, Bi Fang had long understood these truths. Finally, the heat transmitted through the wooden board to the skin of Bi Fang¡¯s legs, which invigorated his spirit and sped up the rhythm of rubbing, striking while the iron was hot. Here it comes! With the appearance of a faint white smoke, the viewers¡¯ spirits lifted, almost wishing they could replace Bi Fang to blow on the smoke to make it rise sooner. Watching the broadcaster make a fire was like watching a gamer get equipment. Although the process was repetitive, when the equipment finally dropped at that moment, the sense of satisfaction was immense! With the presence of smoke, the rest was much simpler. The wood groove gradually turned black, and viewers could visibly see the finest wood fibers begin to redden and vanish; they were on the verge of success, as real flames were about to emerge. First, the thinnest fibers vanished, followed by slightly thicker ones, and finally, large clumps of wood shavings began to glow red and scatter. Success! Seeing this, Bi Fang was no longer anxious. He quickly put down the wooden board and curved a piece of tree bark tanned into tinder into a nest shape on top of it. He then blew in large, slow breaths, allowing the air to make full contact with the embers. The light smoke turned to moderate smoke, and the moderate smoke thickened, transitioning from white to yellow. Sparks scattered, and a small flame emerged from the thick smoke, dancing enticingly, captivating all who watched. ¡°Finally found it!¡± Bi Fang wiped the sweat from his face with his hand and flicked it away. After striving for more than half an hour, he finally produced a flame. It wasn¡¯t easy. [Fire Ploughing, get¡Ì] [giaogiaogiao, there¡¯s fire! It¡¯s lit!] [Spread the word, matchless in haste, a role model for our kind!] [Isn¡¯t it time for some charcoal-grilled seafood?] [Charcoal-grilled seafood, I¡¯m drooling. Suddenly hungry, what to do?] Gazing at the gentle flames, Bi Fang¡¯s sense of achievement skyrocketed¡ªthe fruit of half an hour¡¯s labor. ¡°Ancient people used these primitive methods to make fire, relying on this skill for survival. When we learn this ancient skill, there¡¯s a special feeling, especially when after a long effort, you finally succeed in igniting the first spark. Even after making fire countless times, you still experience a special sense of accomplishment,¡± he said. [I¡¯m heading to the mountain to make fire by wood-drilling now] [Set the mountain on fire, and you¡¯ll sit in jail until it wears out!] [Then why can the host do it?] ¡°Don¡¯t learn from me, I have forest industry permission, not everyone can be treated the same,¡± Bi Fang said with a chuckle, genuinely afraid that some silly netizens would copy him. With the fire ready, the rest was easy, Bi Fang briefly processed the mackerel and skewered it on a stick before placing it over the fire to smoke and roast. In wilderness survival, fat is king, and any high-fat food can win Bi Fang¡¯s favor, with mackerel being among the best. Unlike sesame mackerel, the Atlantic mackerel is rich in fat: without needing extra oil, even simple grilling can make it glisten, especially in the winter when it accumulates fat, offering an incomparably succulent taste that shouldn¡¯t be missed. Watching the fish gradually change color and exude oil under the high heat, the fragrance eagerly rushed into his nostrils, and Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but swallow. How does that saying go, grilling might not be healthy, but it sure is delicious! Having feasted on raw food for several days, Bi Fang watched the mackerel skin turn crispy, and without waiting for it to cook through, he couldn¡¯t resist tearing off a piece and hastily shoving it into his mouth. The scorching heat along with the unique salty aroma left by the evaporated seawater exploded on Bi Fang¡¯s taste buds like a culinary bomb! ¡°Ha!¡± Bi Fang opened his mouth, white steam billowing out as he quickly chewed twice and eagerly swallowed, feeling the scalding heat slide down his throat. ¡°Delicious!¡± [Mom, that looks so real, it feels like grilled saury!] [I can even hear the crispness of the fish skin, just like a biscuit] [Grilled fish skin, yyds!] [Old Fang knows how to live] Bi Fang laughed heartily, having tasted the delicious fish he couldn¡¯t hold back anymore, and quickly ate up the rest of the fish skin. His energy had depleted greatly from last night till today, and he urgently needed to eat. So, as soon as the surface was cooked, Bi Fang hurriedly consumed the flesh of the fish, even fashioning a pair of thin wooden sticks as chopsticks to enhance the satisfaction. After a week of hard work, a meal of charcoal-grilled seafood was indeed something to celebrate. By the time the fish was thoroughly cooked, nearly the whole fish had been devoured, and even the bones were not spared. Crisp from the grill, they were crunched up like crackers and gobbled down. After consuming an entire big fish, he was barely full. Energy replenished +10 Patting his belly, Bi Fang lay down on the shore to digest, with the warm sun shining on his slightly darkened face, making it look even more comfortable. [Wandering Desert Island ¡Á, vacation paradise ¡Ì] [Full belly, sipping drinks and bathing in the sun, oh how I envy this life] [Midnight gas attack, utterly foul!] [Um, midnight? Bro, where are you from? The time difference is so huge? It¡¯s only the afternoon here] [Hawaii] [I¡¯m throwing up a question mark with a backhand??] [What the hell is Hawaii? Are you on vacation? Can you say that with a clear conscience?] [Tears of Poverty Left Behind] He lay on the shore for a while, enjoying the sun and the sand, listening to the cascading sounds of the tide, comfortably stretched out, but he hadn¡¯t forgotten his mission: to survive twenty-one days on the island. Lying down wouldn¡¯t win him survival. The island was too small, offering nothing but plant life, unable to provide sustenance. One of the two big fish was eaten, the hairfin anchovy could not be consumed, as it needed to be kept for bait. This meant that Bi Fang¡¯s food reserves were down to just one squid and one fish, which once again made him feel uneasy. No food in hand, makes the heart fret. Thinking of this, Bi Fang sat up in alarm, scratched his head, and continued to wander around the island. Scavenging on the beach is very important, sometimes you can find many unexpected things. And as an adventurer with aspirations, he could not stay on a small island forever. If it were a large island, Bi Fang would have stayed, living out the remaining days, but it was doubtful whether this island even measured up to two hundred square meters. Bi Fang could at most consider this place a temporary base, his real desire was to find a continent, that would be truly ¡°Riding the Wind and Waves.¡± The evaluation of the mission would undoubtedly be higher, which was certain. With his previous experiences, Bi Fang had a clear understanding of the System¡¯s intent: it wanted him to take initiative. If he scraped by on every mission, that was undoubtedly problematic, severely affecting the speed of his growth. He was, after all, a man who aspired to climb Mount Everest! And in order to prepare for the coming days, Bi Fang needed to make complete use of everything available on the island, the first step was definitely to free up the squid container. Although the head of the squid could hold ink, it was not a long-term solution and easily scattered. Bi Fang needed a plastic bottle, and places like islands were very likely to accumulate marine trash. Especially plastic, which could last for decades or even a century. Many people in his previous life watched Bear Grylls and Grandpa De videos and often assumed that the plastic they picked up was placed there on purpose, but it wasn¡¯t. Plastic waste was already everywhere in the ocean. Bi Fang shook his head slightly and, after a thorough search of the entire island with his thoughts preoccupied, he indeed found two plastic bottles, the common soda bottles. Out of caution, he still washed them in the sea and filled them with the ink only after they were thoroughly cleaned. The remaining ink still clinging to the head of the squid was mixed with some sea water and poured in as well. Edible squid +1 With a slight increase in his food reserves, Bi Fang felt a bit more comforted, but more important tasks lay ahead. He had to build a raft! Build a raft? The audience was startled by this idea. [Why build a raft? Is Old Fang going to continue drifting?] ¡°Exactly,¡± Bi Fang nodded. ¡°I hope to find a real continent, not just linger in desperation on this tiny island with less space than a villa¡¯s footprint.¡± [Not surprised at all, I¡¯m used to it by now. Even now, if Old Fang tells me he¡¯s going to wrestle with a whale, I¡¯d think, is that all?] [I¡¯m familiar with the routine now, haha.] [Charge, motherfucker!] [Giaogiaogiao, Master Fang is the bomb!] ¡°Life rafts are really too unstable. Even a tiny hole can lead to the threat of sinking, and I definitely don¡¯t feel safe,¡± said Bi Fang, pointing to the life raft not far away. Many viewers nodded in agreement; indeed, forget about sharks¡ªif even a slightly larger fish bit into it, it could deflate the life raft and completely ruin everything, leaving no chance of recovery. But a raft was different. A well-constructed raft could effectively float on the sea surface, and even if it encountered a slightly larger shark, it wouldn¡¯t matter. In reality, unlike in the movies, Great White Sharks as depicted don¡¯t exist. Most of the time, they bite once to taste and leave if it¡¯s not to their liking. The life raft¡¯s fear was precisely that one bite. ¡°Building a sea raft depends on the materials you have on hand, the conditions of the waters where you¡¯ll be drifting, and how long you plan to be adrift. There is no fixed rule to follow here. With common sense, good tying skills, and some things that can create buoyancy, you can build a decent raft.¡± ¡°For this, we need to collect a sufficient number of logs or bamboo, roughly equal in length, and lay them out on the ground in the shape of the raft we want to build. At both ends of each log or bamboo, about 1 meter apart, carve a notch. Stack them on top of each other so that they exert ¡®pressure¡¯ on each other. If you¡¯re using bamboo, you can drill a hole to replace the notch. Thread the bamboo through these holes, which will ensure they are more tightly bound together.¡± Bi Fang squatted on the ground and began picking up stones. The island¡¯s resources were limited to these twenty-three big trees, but he didn¡¯t need that many. The trees were tall, and the trunk of each could be chopped into four or five sections. He figured he¡¯d have plenty of wood to spare with the thinner branches as well, and about five trees would suffice. If he were to chop down all of them, there would be no certainty that trees would grow on this island again. Without the big trees sheltering them, the saplings would struggle to thrive, but five wouldn¡¯t have an impact. Although it wouldn¡¯t have an impact, Bi Fang still silently apologized in his heart for the offense. For the grand plan of drifting away, he could only resort to cutting down trees. [How to chop down a tree, with a stone axe?] [This stone doesn¡¯t seem as good as flint, it¡¯s just the ordinary kind] ¡°It¡¯s pretty ordinary, but it¡¯s enough. Besides, I¡¯m not planning on making a stone axe.¡± Bi Fang tossed the stone he was holding. Stone axes were unreliable and hard to sharpen. Given the thickness of the trees, they were likely to break upon striking. But an axe that wasn¡¯t sharp was no use, so he planned to use a chisel to chop down the trees. All that was needed was a stone chisel and a stone hammer. Both were easy to craft. Tree bark was rich in fiber and could be twisted into a rope, tying a rock to one end of a tree stick would make a stone hammer. ¡°However, to make it sturdy, we need to process it a little more. First, we need to split one end of the stick, then wedge the stone inside. When tied up, it will be more secure.¡± Bi Fang stood the tree stick upright, aligning a sharp stone with one end, then knocked the stone against the tail end of the chisel. The stick cracked as he struck it; Bi Fang pried open the crack, wedged the stone inside, then tightly bound it with rope, creating a quality stone hammer. Swinging it a couple of times, Bi Fang nodded in satisfaction, finding it comfortable to handle. [Seeing Old Fang with a weapon in hand puts my mind at ease] [Top-tier lumberjack has logged in] [Charge, charge, charge!] With tools in hand, the great task of felling trees had begun. Bi Fang now marked a line at the base of a tree, then ground out a slot to secure the chisel. Standing up, he tapped it to position it, then raised the stone hammer and forcefully smashed it down onto the tail of the chisel! The originally unstable chisel instantly burrowed about a centimeter into the interior of the tree, becoming exceptionally secure. It seemed effective. Bi Fang nodded, his swings with the stone hammer grew more vigorous, whistling through the air with every blow. Once the chisel had sunk halfway in, he grabbed it and wiggled it from side to side to pull it out. ¡°When using this method to chop a tree, remember not to drive the chisel in more than half, or you¡¯ll have trouble pulling it out. About half is enough, then we switch to the other side and keep repeating the process a few times. The tree can then be chopped down.¡± Bi Fang angled the stick slightly, inserted it into the crack, and continued to swing the hammer as before. Soon, the base of the tree was riddled with splits, and the whole tree began to wobble. With a kick, it broke off and crashed down. The sound of the wooden stem snapping echoed, and the tall tree slowly fell to the ground, causing the whole island to tremble. As the spectators gazed at the fallen tree beneath their feet, they couldn¡¯t help but marvel. Was the efficiency really this high? Bi Fang wiped the sweat from his forehead and headed towards the second tree. Throughout the afternoon, the audience watched as Bi Fang chopped down trees, each one causing the entire island to shudder. After felling four trees, Bi Fang paused. He decided to start making something to see if four trees would be enough. Afterwards, he followed the same method to break down the trees into logs, each about two meters long. This process continued into the evening, and only then did Bi Fang officially obtain a pile of logs. With the prep work finished, the most important part was next. He was going to build a raft! Chapter 240 - Chapter 240: Chapter 337: Big Brother is a Craftsman Chapter 240: Chapter 337: Big Brother is a Craftsman Under the cover of night, Bi Fang worked up a sweat, his large hammer striking the logs repeatedly, striving to split them into uniformly sized timbers as soon as possible. There was one thing Bi Fang never mentioned to others, and that was his mild obsessive-compulsive disorder¡­ If the logs were of uneven lengths or the thickness varied too greatly, he would feel extremely uncomfortable and would end up spending more effort on this basis. However, doing so wasn¡¯t without purpose; if the logs were the right size, then the raft would naturally be sturdier, less likely to encounter any accidents. Yes, that¡¯s right, he was doing this for more safety, ¡°Wilderness Survivalist,¡± with Master Fang leading with stability! [Several days to chop a tree, I actually watched for a whole day, unbelievable.] [Old Fang could stand out as a part-time lumberjack, just what I need for home renovation. How much would it cost to hire Old Fang to make furniture?] [Big hammer eighty, small hammer forty.] [Wu Hu? That cheap (Dog¡¯s head emoji)] [Why does Old Fang strip all the bark off the trees?] ¡°Because I¡¯m going to use the bark to make ropes. Bark is a great source of plant fibers, which are essential for binding the raft together. Plus, plant fibers aren¡¯t afraid of water, they even become tougher when wet.¡± Bi Fang mustered his last bit of strength to lift the hammer high, then slammed it down mightily. A crisp cracking sound. The large tree at his feet broke in response. ¡°Phew, finally finished chopping them all.¡± Bi Fang wiped the sweat from his forehead, did not immediately sit on the ground to rest, but ran to check on the squid by the fire, finding it perfectly cooked with a tantalizing aromatic scent. He sat down nearby, began to eat the squid to replenish the day¡¯s energy expenditure, and took sips of bottled rainwater when thirsty. Life had taken on a completely new form compared to a few days earlier, resembling a poor farmer¡¯s march toward modest wealth. Completely comfortable. Having eaten his fill, Bi Fang started the braiding process. ¡°The best braiding material is actually shrubs, those kinds of plant stems, like nettles, but for us, bark is already sufficient. Even if we don¡¯t have enough, we can rely on quantity to ensure our raft is both sturdy and stable.¡± Bi Fang pointed towards a large pile of bark on the ground, more than enough for him to bind the entire raft three times over using the standard technique, without wasting a bit. Making the rope wasn¡¯t complicated. Bi Fang first picked up a piece of intact bark, removed the woody parts, then scraped off the fibrous surface layer with a stone, which did not increase the fiber¡¯s strength but instead made it more brittle. Finally, he rubbed the complete plant fibers in his hands until they became soft and pliable. ¡°Before we start braiding, we need to ensure that the fibers don¡¯t get wet, otherwise the ropes we¡¯ve made will shrink, causing them to become loose.¡± Bi Fang took a bundle of fibers, tied one end together to secure it, then divided it into three strands. He moved the left strand to the middle, placed the right strand on top, moved the current left strand to the middle again, and continued weaving in a process that looked somewhat like braiding hair. ¡°This method of making ropes is called plaited braiding. You divide the thread into three strands and braid them together to form a thicker, stronger rope. To extend the length, you can stagger the strands and add new fibers. When making ropes in this way, the strands should be as tight and smooth as possible. If you lack experience, you could also make ropes by hand-twisting.¡± ¡°Besides this, there are other methods, such as the twisting method. You combine plant fibers and twist them, the direction doesn¡¯t matter, as long as you maintain a consistent direction because we¡¯re short on time, I won¡¯t demonstrate this here.¡± As he spoke, Bi Fang was already lifting the rope in his hands to show the audience through the camera lens, and to their surprise, you couldn¡¯t even tell that the rope was handmade; it looked no different from the ropes they were used to seeing, and might even appear more attractive because it was handcrafted. ¡°There¡¯s no particular trick here; with a few more attempts you might all be able to do it, and girls who enjoy tying braids might have a bit more dexterity. The only thing to pay attention to when making ropes is that each strand of fiber should be approximately the same thickness, and each should also maintain a consistent thickness throughout. If the strands are uneven, the thinner parts might break when under stress after the rope is finished.¡± Bi Fang wrapped a loop of hemp rope around each hand and pulled hard. The section of cord made from tree fibers instantly went taut, leaving deep grooves in his arms. Despite the pressure, it showed no sign of breaking. Is it that strong? The audience was surprised; they hadn¡¯t expected a piece of handmade rope to be so durable. Does that mean it¡¯s time to start tying the logs together? ¡°Not enough, not yet,¡± said Bi Fang, shaking his head. ¡°We still need to twist two more strands together and then combine the three strands in the same manner. Only then will it be strong enough to withstand the drifting at sea for a fortnight without breaking. You must realize, we could encounter storms, and while a single rope might keep the raft intact, it cannot assure safety through a tempest. We need to be fully prepared; once we¡¯re at sea, should any mishaps occur, there will be no chance for regrets.¡± [666, very cautious] [Are we going to spend the whole night twisting hemp rope?] [When do we set sail? I can¡¯t wait any longer! Let¡¯s fucking go!] [What about the life raft? Don¡¯t we need it anymore?] ¡°Of course, we do. Why wouldn¡¯t we use a good, intact life raft? I¡¯m building the raft as a precaution.¡± Bi Fang shook his head. Kids choose; adults take everything. Whether it¡¯s a life raft or a wood raft, he would abandon neither. Instead, he planned to combine them. Together, they would provide an unobstructed passage across the sea, upgrading from a bird gun to a cannon. By then, even a small Shark wouldn¡¯t scare him. It would be a Shark feast! That¡¯s what it means to ride the wind and waves! With this thought, Bi Fang¡¯s hands moved even faster, quickly twisting several hemp ropes. His hands flew so fast that he didn¡¯t realize the number of viewers in the live stream had significantly decreased until it was quite late in Huaxia, likely in the early hours of the morning. Then he stopped working to rest. A night passed without incident. By the time the viewers tuned in again the next day, Bi Fang had finished making the hemp ropes and was ready to start building the raft. [OMG, that was fast, wasn¡¯t it?] [Did Old Fang keep working after ending the stream?] [Professional, meticulous] [Ah¡­ the big brother is also a craftsman, earning his keep with his craft] ¡°Of course not.¡± Bi Fang shook his head. After ending the stream last night, he had slept in the life raft. But he had gotten up early today and, before the crew started the live stream, he had completed the prep work. He had twisted most of the bark into ropes¡ªall three-ply, each one as thick as a little finger, and looking remarkably strong and durable. What followed was the most exhilarating moment¡ªthe construction, pushing the boat into the sea! Placing the logs on the beach, Bi Fang carefully picked out the two thickest and longest ones. These two logs were different from the rest and evidently served a different purpose. Is it something like a foundation? The audience couldn¡¯t help but wonder. Unpredictably, Bi Fang carried the two logs to the side of the life raft and then positioned them along the sides of the raft. What is he doing? Now the audience was completely puzzled. Chapter 241 - Chapter 241: 338 Chapter 241: 338 What are the logs placed on either side of the life raft for? The audience, with puzzled expressions, only a few had a faint guess. It was only after Bi Fang carried other shorter logs and laid them on top of the longer ones that the audience had a sudden realization! Master Fang is combining the two and securing them together! ¡°Exactly, that¡¯s my intention. I can hide inside the life raft normally, and if the life raft gets a leak, I can move onto the wooden raft,¡± Bi Fang smiled. His plan was to use the two longest and thickest logs as rails, then place the other slightly shorter ones as sleepers side by side, leaving one-third of the end to embed and fit in the life raft. There were also plenty of nylon rope loops on the side of the life raft, originally for securing buckles, which were perfect for threading through hemp ropes and tying to the wooden raft. Securing all three sides would make the structure solid enough to prevent them from easily separating. A perfect solution. [Brilliant!] [Damn, Old Fang has a talent for design, and it even looks damn good!] [It looks stronger than the original life raft!] Even though Bi Fang hadn¡¯t tied it up with ropes yet, just setting up the outline made the audience feel far safer than before. After determining the correct distances, Bi Fang tied all the logs tightly with ropes, wrapping each log at least three times to ensure they wouldn¡¯t fall apart in stormy seas. Then, Bi Fang did not secure the life raft first, but instead pushed the wooden raft into the water. As the wooden raft slowly moved into the water, everyone held their breath, especially when they saw it floating on the surface, their excitement was uncontrollable. ¡°It¡¯s not over yet. Putting the raft in the water is just a test. We still need to see its load-bearing ability. Although the raft is large, over three meters long and nearly two meters wide, theoretically it has great buoyancy, but whether it can truly carry a person remains to be seen,¡± Bi Fang did not take it lightly but stepped into the chilly sea water, standing on the wooden raft under the nervous gaze of the audience, placing one foot on the raft. The raft dipped slightly but remained stable. It worked! Bi Fang was thrilled, knowing he had succeeded greatly, then stepped on the raft, slowly placing his other foot on it. The raft immediately tilted. Watching this, the viewers held their breath, especially as Bi Fang stood up from the water, their tension reaching its peak, even Bi Fang himself felt a little anxious. Although he lacked neither experience nor skill, this was still his first time building a raft, and accidents were not impossible. If merely stepping on the edge could overturn the raft, it would undoubtedly be deemed a failure. Unable to shake off his apprehension, Bi Fang closed his eyes without hesitation and leaped onto the raft. The tide rippled as he stood on the raft. There was a slight wobble, but it did not tilt as he had feared, and he excitedly opened his eyes. Although the other end of the raft lifted slightly, it did not leave the surface of the water! Very stable. The raft was a success! The live stream room was immediately filled with a tide of cheers, Master Fang had succeeded! [giaogiaogiao, go for it!] [That had me on the edge!] [Hurry up and go!] [From poverty to modest wealth, the people finally have hope!] Bi Fang, in good spirits, quickly pulled the raft back to shore, then secured the life raft in the empty spot. With the two combined, he even found it a bit difficult to pull. Fortunately, it was eventually successfully put in water. This time, when Bi Fang stepped on the edge of the wooden raft, with the increased buoyancy from the life raft, the raft didn¡¯t even sway, extremely stable, both in terms of feel and safety, it was a hundred times better than the original life raft! The following task was even simpler: collect as much food and tools as possible and then set out to find the mainland! With a clear goal in mind, Bi Fang got busy with preparations. He first searched the shore for any small fish or crabs, and to his surprise, he actually found a few crabs. However, they were very small, only about the size of a hawthorn. Bi Fang didn¡¯t mind the size, catching over a dozen of them and putting them in a bark container he had made that morning. It was simply a loop of bark with a bottom, not capable of holding water but more than sufficient for other items. Besides these small crabs, there was nothing else to be found. Bi Fang shook his head in disappointment. Just as he was about to leave, a gleam caught his eye. A jar? Bi Fang approached, curious about the object buried in the sand and mud that was sparkling, revealing just a corner. When he got close and scraped away the mud, his surprise was evident. ¡°Hey! It¡¯s actually obsidian!¡± Bi Fang carefully unearthed a large chunk of black stone, surprised to find such a thing. [Obsidian? I think I have a necklace made of obsidian¡­] [Old Fang seems incredibly happy. Is this like flint? Can it start a big fire?] [It looks pretty cool, kind of like a black magnet] [Isn¡¯t obsidian just another name for flint?] ¡°Of course not,¡± Bi Fang shook his head. ¡°Flint is flint, obsidian is obsidian. Their formation conditions are different. Obsidian is natural glass formed by the sudden cooling of volcanic lava. It¡¯s slightly less hard than flint, so it can¡¯t start a fire, but it shares one characteristic: once sharpened, it¡¯s incredibly sharp.¡± Holding the glass-like obsidian, Bi Fang was excited. He suspected that this obsidian might have been washed ashore following an undersea volcanic eruption. He hadn¡¯t expected to find such a treasure just as he was about to leave the island¡ªit was the perfect material for making weapons! ¡°You should know, the sharpness of an obsidian fracture is 300 to 500 times sharper than a surgical scalpel!¡± This revelation shocked the viewers. What was a scalpel? It was a knife that could easily slice through human tissue, and obsidian was supposed to be hundreds of times sharper? Are you kidding me? [!!!] [400 times? Is Old Fang serious?] ¡°Of course, I¡¯m serious. Not only that, but there¡¯s evidence that wounds separated by an obsidian blade heal faster and with fewer scars,¡± said Master Fang, unable to wait, as he picked up another stone, ready to shape the obsidian into a dagger that would significantly increase his hunting ability. If he encountered a large fish that was hard to handle, he would tie the obsidian knife to the tree stick. One thrust with that, and it would definitely pierce right through. ¡°However, obsidian has its drawbacks; it¡¯s very brittle. If you use it for high-intensity actions, it mostly won¡¯t work. It¡¯s only capable of cutting through biological tissues and the like.¡± Bi Fang, holding a stone in his hand, gently tapped on the obsidian, even more carefully than he had with flint, for fear that one wrong hit could just break the stone entirely. With a series of clinking sounds, tiny fragments were struck off, and the shape of a sharp-pointed dagger gradually became visible. Because it resembled glass, it looked even more attractive than the previously made flint knife, especially as it glittered in the sunlight. [Cool!] [Does this mean we can have another draw? Hehehe] [Hundreds of thousands of people, and you¡¯re telling me the odds are lower than winning the lottery?] [I heard someone sold Master Fang¡¯s Wolf Fang for over ten thousand¡­] [Seriously? Are you sure it¡¯s legit for that price? What if it¡¯s a fake? Wolf Fangs aren¡¯t that hard to come by] [This is beyond my area of expertise] Bi Fang furrowed his brow slightly upon seeing the comments, not so much angry that someone sold an item he gave away but concerned that someone might be using it as a gimmick to scam money. He also planned to change the lottery system, to make only certain levels of followers eligible for prizes. This would naturally reduce the pool of people. Ah well, these concerns could wait until he got back. The priority was to make as many tools as possible. Bi Fang shook his head, clearing his thoughts, and picked up a few more tree sticks. He also searched for more obsidian but soon realized that there was only that one piece. With everything ready, Bi Fang looked back at the island without a hint of nostalgia and pushed the raft into the sea. On the eighth day of sea survival, Bi Fang had acquired one raft, various tools, and a small amount of food. Chapter 242 - Chapter 242: Chapter 239 Aircraft Carrier Is Not a Dream Chapter 242: Chapter 239 Aircraft Carrier Is Not a Dream ¡°` The weather was clear, the sea surface sprinkled with sunlight, one man standing on a raft, gazing towards the endless waves. A few long poles stood on the raft, laden with ropes and supporting a large sail; the sea breeze whistled, and with its urging, the sail provided tremendous power, propelling the raft steadily forward. However, the very front pole was slightly different, with slices of fish hanging and swaying in the wind, resembling the cured meats on a balcony during the New Year, adorned with the joy of a bountiful harvest. Today marked the eleventh day of drifting at sea and also the first day that Bi Fang officially left the island. Two days earlier, after completing the raft, Bi Fang did not leave immediately. Instead, he lingered near the small island, fishing with a line, and expanded his food reserves to over five days before setting off. With wood for support, he no longer needed to personally raise the sail; it functioned just propped up, saving him far more effort than before. Besides, Bi Fang also used plastic bottles, branches, and some tent material to set up a simple distillation device. The main part was a tree bark container, shaped and fixed at the bottom with a piece of tent fabric tightly secured to prevent leaks, and similarly covered at the top with another layer of tent fabric. However, a stone was placed on top to create a funnel shape. The container was filled with seawater. A plastic bottle stood in this sealed space; when the seawater vapor rose and condensed into droplets on the upper tent fabric, they would fall by gravity into the plastic bottle, providing a continuous supply of fresh water. Although there was still more than half of the rainwater left from last time, Bi Fang always liked to prepare for a rainy day. Having come across an island, it was natural to equip himself with all sorts of tools; otherwise, once this chance was gone, there would be no other opportunity. He looked up at the sea surface glistening like scattered gold. Audiences often teased that Bi Fang was a ¡®Daredevil King,¡¯ but gazing at the vast ocean, how could he let his journey end on that tiny island? ¡°Time to eat,¡± he said. Bi Fang diverted his gaze, feeling hungry. He casually took down a string of fish slices and came to sit cross-legged on the raft. In front of him was a tiny low table, very small, only as big as a stool, and without a tabletop. The uppermost part only supported two parallel branches with a large seashell in between. He poured out two pieces of charcoal. Using the previous method, Bi Fang carefully ignited the fire and placed it under the seashell. Once it was heated, he took down the fish slices and placed them in the shell. As soon as the fish touched the hot seashell, a sizzling sound instantly filled the air, evoking thoughts of the rich oils contained within the flesh. Once the fish turned a reddish gold and was cooked through, Bi Fang used chopsticks to pick up a piece and tasted it¡ªit was scalding but satisfying. The viewers¡¯ mouths watered, cursing Bi Fang for making them jealous. Is this really drifting at sea? Even making a grill, aren¡¯t you afraid of setting the raft on fire? [Master Fang, be a human being, please. I haven¡¯t had dinner yet, and I¡¯m so hungry] [That sizzling sound, I can¡¯t take it anymore. I¡¯m going to order delivery right away, barbeque for dinner tonight!] [Starting with just a life raft, equipment all earned by crafting, this is truly outrageous!] [What¡¯s this?] Drifting at sea. This is sea drifting? Nobody believes it, I don¡¯t believe it. This is sea drifting? The day before yesterday, you were eating raw meat, yesterday you got distilled water, and today you¡¯re having barbeque] The online audience displayed their wit, playing with memes, as the scene before them was simply too shocking. This morning they discovered Bi Fang was tinkering with this small table; at the time, none of the viewers imagined Bi Fang was planning this! He wanted to eat cooked food on a raft! Cooked food! ¡°` ¡°` What¡¯s even more frightening is that by the looks of it, Master Fang has actually succeeded! Is that reasonable? It¡¯s highly unreasonable! The audience certainly hasn¡¯t forgotten what Old Fang said earlier about how difficult it was for Pan Lian, but looking at him now, you can¡¯t tell there¡¯s anything difficult about it at all. On the contrary, it looks like he¡¯s on vacation, truly without a care for food or drink. It¡¯s outrageous! Bi Fang faced the audience¡¯s teasing with a chuckle. When he left the island, he nearly dug three feet into the ground, taking everything that seemed useful, including a large seashell. Then, while eating breakfast this morning, he suddenly had a brilliant idea; he felt he could make something similar to a stone grill. Once the idea came to him, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t contain himself, especially after having a cooked meal on the island, he became even more impatient and started building right away. Fortunately, he took plenty of wood, more than enough for burning. As for worrying about setting the raft on fire, that wasn¡¯t necessary. After all, soaked with seawater, it wasn¡¯t easy to ignite, and Bi Fang had made preparations. He first laid a layer of wet leaves on the raft, followed by dry planks, and only then did he add the charcoal. Triple protection allowed him to enjoy a cooked meal successfully. Delicious. [After staying two days, he has a water purification device, various tools, and now a raft. Combined with the life raft, it¡¯s almost like a boat. And now there¡¯s even a barbecue grill. I seriously doubt that if Old Fang stays a bit longer, he might manage to launch an aircraft carrier from the island.] [It¡¯s hard not to agree.] [Master Fang: It¡¯s worth considering.] [Fast forward to when Master Fang uses his Exploration Skill to discover iron ore and extract iron from the island.] [Fast forward to Master Fang using the iron ore to make a steam engine.] [Master Fang: Too slow, too slow. Skip to launching a spaceship and exploring the universe.] The audience chuckled, but their admiration for Bi Fang was genuinely solid. On a deserted island with only a few trees, Bi Fang managed to make a boat out of a raft after his arrival. Considering the size of the life raft itself, it was almost five meters long and two meters wide, comparable to a small boat. It was hard to imagine what he would do in a place with more resources. The audience wouldn¡¯t be surprised if he truly started smelting iron. Now, many ¡°survival experts¡± similar to Master Fang have appeared online, but once compared to him, those who could still be watched are no longer watchable. They fall short in looks and even more so in professional skills. Strong, too strong. After lunch, Bi Fang continued his grand fishing endeavor. Fishing could be said to be the main source of food after a sea disaster, and aside from this, there were no other good solutions. But Bi Fang had lots of small fish to use as bait, greatly increasing the likelihood of catching fish. These two days, he had been well-fed and hydrated. The horsetail kelp from the beginning was already spared. If only he could encounter it again, it would balance the nutrition well. He had already accumulated plenty of survival knowledge. If nothing unexpected happened, his situation would only get better, and there would be no need to worry about the future. Looking up at the sky, Bi Fang squinted. The weather these past two days had been suspiciously good. The sunlight on the sea was very intense, causing a bit of soreness in his eyes. ¡°The sun is strong indeed. There¡¯s one thing about sea survival I haven¡¯t mentioned before¡ªit¡¯s somewhat similar to snow blindness. When encountering strong light at sea, to prevent eye injury, we can wear a mask. If an ulcerated eye is caused by the strong light, we should take a piece of cloth, soak it in seawater, then tie it over the eyes to relax them, but it shouldn¡¯t be done for too long to avoid skin ulcers.¡± As he explained to the audience, a shadow swept across the sky, suddenly entering Bi Fang¡¯s field of vision and quickly flying toward the raft. What is that? Bi Fang was momentarily stunned by the shadow, but his hand rapidly lifted, pulling the fishing hook back onto the raft. The shadow grew nearer and, reaching just above the raft, it rapidly shrunk in size before immediately descending and growing larger again, falling toward the raft. Bi Fang instinctively ducked, and when the slight tremor reached him, he opened his eyes to look through. It was, unbelievably, a seagull! ¡°` Chapter 243 - Chapter 243: Chapter 240 Changing Flavors Chapter 243: Chapter 240 Changing Flavors Seabird! Bi Fang held his breath, crouched down, and stood as still as possible, fearing that any little movement of his might startle away this creature that had suddenly intruded. The production crew quickly lowered all the drones to their minimum altitude and reduced their volume to the lowest, so as not to disturb Bi Fang. Even the audience slowed their breathing as if the seabird was standing right in front of them, and the number of people sending bullet comments decreased, as everyone recalled what Bi Fang had said before. Because the life raft is a rare resting place, it has a considerable attraction. It¡¯s actually true! The audience was exhilarated, could they finally eat bird meat? Bi Fang kept his eyes locked on the seabird, unlike the audience, his mind raced with thoughts and he considered even more things. The seabird¡¯s chest heaved violently, puffing up like a balloon, indicating it had flown a long distance and was extremely fatigued. Desperately upon spotting the raft, it had landed even with the presence of a person. And moreover¡­ Bi Fang took a light breath, slowly shifting his body to a more comfortable position. He wanted to talk to the audience but feared scaring the seabird, so he kept his volume as low as possible. ¡°I mentioned before¡­¡± Bi Fang uttered these three words cautiously, his gaze firmly fixed on the seagull, and only after confirming that it didn¡¯t make any further movements, he continued, ¡°I¡¯ve said that in severe weather, birds may be blown off their usual courses and lose their direction¡­¡± ¡°Few seabirds can sleep on the sea¡¯s surface and can fly more than a hundred kilometers away from land. Mostly, they leave land before noon and return in the afternoon. So, continuous bird calls are a blessing, signaling that land is not far away.¡± [But it seemed like there was only this one, right?] [Yeah, the one that came down from the sky, with a very clear shadow, just one] [Have you ever seen a seagull fall from the sky?] ¡°Indeed¡­¡± If that were true, it meant he could be less than a hundred kilometers from the coast. Although the ocean currents wouldn¡¯t carry him more than 9 to 13 kilometers a day, if he were heading in the right direction, he might find the continent before the challenge ended ¨C that would clearly be a greater achievement. Bi Fang was not content with merely surviving twenty-one days; he wanted to find the mainland within those twenty-one days and accomplish an even more remarkable feat. But the likelihood of that happening now seemed very small¡­ Bi Fang took another breath, trying to minimize the vibration in his throat: ¡°I also mentioned the situation of there being only one bird; it means this seagull has been blown off course and lost its way, which is also quite common.¡± Immediately, the audience remembered that Bi Fang had indeed said this, but many had somewhat forgotten, or they hadn¡¯t watched that part of the live stream and had just entered the livestream room. After all, not everyone can watch the live broadcast every day; many who have watched a few days of live broadcasts will watch the edited version again to make sure they haven¡¯t missed anything. [What do we do now, eat the bird? Such a big bird, Old Fang must like it] [It must taste very good] [Pass it on: Master Fang definitely likes eating big birds] [Pass it on: Master Fang likes eating birds] [Pass it on: Master Fang eats birds] [¡­?] Bi Fang refocused, not bothering with Shuiyou¡¯s nonsense, and started thinking about how to capture the seagull. Catching a bird that has landed on the boat can be difficult but not too challenging. If he remained quiet until it settled down completely, he might get lucky and catch it. Especially in bad weather, when the exhausted birds¡¯ physical strength and response time are significantly reduced. However, Bi Fang had a better idea; he gently dragged the fishing line in his hand, moving the fishhook close to him. The fishhook was a treasure; theoretically, it could catch anything, even a seagull, especially since Bi Fang had baited the hook with meat. A Hairfin Anchovy, a favorite of the seagull. It had flown for so long, must be very tired, must be very hungry, right? As long as he used the fish as bait to get the seabird to swallow it, the fish hook hidden inside the fish¡¯s body would go through its throat. It wouldn¡¯t be long then, till the seagull would die on its own. Although there were slices of fish hanging on his own rod, they were all dried, and their smell was far less strong than the Hairfin Anchovy in Bi Fang¡¯s hands. He believed the seagull would choose the Hairfin Anchovy. Moreover, the slices of fish that were hanging on the rod were not as accessible as the Hairfin Anchovy lying directly on the ground. The Shuiyou witnessing Bi Fang¡¯s subtle maneuvers instantly understood what he was up to and were incredibly excited, bird fishing, eh? Who had done this before? [Awesome, Old Fang isn¡¯t satisfied with just fishing anymore, he actually wants to fish for birds, really likes to eat birds, no?] [Strong, with this wave, even the flying creatures are on the menu, haven¡¯t ever tasted seagull, wonder if it¡¯s good] [emmm, I¡¯ve tried, to be honest, seagull doesn¡¯t taste very good¡­ the meat feels weird to eat] [Ah, there really is all sorts of people in the live broadcast] Bi Fang grasped the Hairfin Anchovy, looking for an opportunity to toss it by the seagull¡¯s feet, yet was also scared of frightening the seagull and making it act irrationally at first. ¡°Though the seagull is the messenger of the sea, and one of the symbols of peace, in reality, it is famously known as a marauder, very fond of snatching food and attacking its kin. Therefore, we must be careful not to let it puncture the inflation valve when we catch it. Even though the inflation valve is quite sturdy, this probability isn¡¯t non-existent. Plus, it might not immediately eat the fish. If it happens to drag the fish hook and puncture the valve, that¡¯s another problem.¡± That powerful? The audience was stunned, but seeing Bi Fang standing on the raft, they quickly realized how wise Master Fang¡¯s firm decision to build the raft was. No matter the final outcome, at least he wouldn¡¯t end up falling into the sea without a vessel. The seagull made a cawing sound with each breath. With each rise and fall, Bi Fang could clearly see the seagull¡¯s chest rapidly inflating like a balloon, as if it would explode if pricked. At that moment, the seagull was staring at the sea¡¯s surface, one of its eyes on the side fixating on Bi Fang. He didn¡¯t make any rash movements, quietly waiting for the seagull to turn its head, just like when he fished. Quite a few of the Shuiyou were getting anxious, for as time passed, they could clearly see the bird¡¯s chest rising and falling less dramatically, fearing it would regain its strength and escape. However, after a few more minutes, the seagull did not flee but instead shifted its gaze elsewhere. A great opportunity! Bi Fang did not hesitate and immediately cast the Hairfin Anchovy from his hand, using only the strength of his wrist, trying to minimize the vertical height to avoid a loud noise upon landing. That cast reached two meters, landing right at the edge of the life raft. The slick mucus allowed the Hairfin Anchovy to slide off the raft¡¯s edge, and luckily, it didn¡¯t fall into the sea but landed on the wooden raft, making a very faint sound. The seagull was attracted by the sound. It looked down and saw the Hairfin Anchovy right by its feet. Food? The seagull froze, not understanding why a fish would suddenly appear by its side. But Bi Fang¡¯s guess was not wrong; the continued long journey had indeed left the seagull both tired and hungry. Seeing the food by its feet, it only glanced twice before leaning forward, pecked a bit, and grabbed the Hairfin Anchovy with its beak, ready to swallow it into its stomach. Success! Bi Fang was thrilled but still did not rush things. Instead, he watched the seagull swallow the entire fish, making sure the whole fish hook was ingested before lunging forward abruptly! The evident movement alarmed the seagull instantaneously. Instinctively, it tried to spread its wings to flee, but the two were too close, and before it could take off, Bi Fang had already pounced, seizing its foot. The prepared fish hook was rendered unnecessary. The suddenly captured seagull immediately attempted to fight back, fiercely pecking toward the large hand on its leg, but before it could land a blow, Bi Fang swung the bird up. Under the massive centrifugal force, the seagull had no chance to strike again. Bi Fang slammed it onto the wooden raft immediately and stepped on the seagull¡¯s neck, forcefully twisting it to break it. Amidst a slight bone-cracking sound, the bird was still performing reflexive movements but had completely lost any chance to struggle. ¡°Hoo!¡± Looking at the seagull with its life fading, Bi Fang let out a breath, not expecting that after so many days surviving at sea and eating so much fish, he would be able to change the flavor. He pulled out the dagger made of Obsidian and smiled. Chapter 244 - Chapter 244: Chapter 241 Still Can Sleep a Bit Longer Chapter 244: Chapter 241 Still Can Sleep a Bit Longer Bi Fang stood on the raft, looked around, and found that all the containers he had were already in use, leaving no extra to spare. In the end, he chose to cut another piece of tent fabric and took out the plastic bottle from the water purification device, drank the fresh water inside, then covered the mouth of the bottle with the tent fabric, pushing it in with his finger to adhere to the inner wall, finally securing it with rope. Having done all this, Bi Fang pulled on the fishing line and dragged the Hairfin Anchovy back out; the fishhook scraped the seagull¡¯s trachea, bringing out a few traces of blood. Many female viewers couldn¡¯t help but close their eyes at this scene, feeling a bit uncomfortable. [It¡¯s too pitiful to die of gluttony.] [What is Old Fang doing with a cup?] [Is he draining blood?] ¡°Yes, I need to use a container to catch the blood. On one hand, it might be useful in the future, and on the other hand, if we put blood directly into the sea, it might attract some dangerous creatures. Although I have a raft, it¡¯s still better to avoid some dangerous situations as much as possible,¡± Bi Fang explained. Bi Fang took out his obsidian dagger and aimed it at the seagull¡¯s neck, stabbing in; bright red blood immediately flowed down the blade and started to drip into the bottle through the fabric when it reached a certain point. Watching the blood flow into the bottle and begin to fill the tent fabric, Bi Fang nodded, confirming that the obsidian dagger was indeed sharp and very effective to use. Bi Fang raised a forefinger of his knife-holding right hand and, pointing to the blood flowing down the blade, asked, ¡°Are there any friends who grew up in the countryside who have seen butchers slaughtering pigs?¡± ¡°When bleeding like this, it¡¯s best to use a sharp weapon to stab in and block the wound. This way, the blood will flow down along our knife. If we choose to cut open, the blood will spatter from the artery, making it impossible to collect effectively. This is also true for slaughtering pigs. Pig blood is a delicacy, and too much spattering is a waste. Moreover, stabbing directly into the neck with a sharp knife can also kill the prey as quickly as possible, preventing it from suffering too long. So a good butcher¡¯s ¡®clean cut¡¯ is all about efficiency.¡± Previously, slaughtering pigs during festivals was an important tradition, but such activities are becoming increasingly rare. Only a few viewers who spent their childhood in the countryside still have some impression, and now, comparing it with what Bi Fang mentioned, they suddenly remembered and couldn¡¯t help nodding. [Weird knowledge has increased] [Damn, this is the first time I¡¯ve heard this explanation. I always thought it was just to reduce the pain for the pigs.] [Add one, I saw pig slaughtering when I was a kid, but this is the first time I knew there was this much attention to detail, learned something new.] [Looking at Master Fang, he must be an experienced butcher, this technique is so smooth, I wouldn¡¯t believe he hasn¡¯t slaughtered a hundred pigs.] [Slaughter? Are you leveling up your proficiency here?] [Just look at Old Fang, he¡¯s a pro, definitely leveled up by slaughtering plenty of pigs.] The blood trickled steadily, and once enough had drained, Bi Fang wiped his blade on the tent fabric, then tightened it over the bottle¡¯s mouth, lifting out the now blood-filled bag that resembled a water-filled balloon. Thus, the blood was collected without wasting the bottle, which was then placed back into the container so the water purification device could be reused. However, without hot water, plucking the feathers was somewhat strenuous. It took Bi Fang quite a while to strip all the feathers from the seagull, which he then put on the charcoal fire to roast. Seagulls are tricky to dry, better to eat them fresh for dinner. Bi Fang, having never eaten seagull before, was somewhat looking forward to it. However, he was greatly disappointed after it was roasted, wondering if he lacked cooking talent, or if the ingredient itself was subpar. It was fishy and tough, chewing felt like eating tree bark. But having roasted it, Bi Fang didn¡¯t want to waste the charcoal; after all, it was a meal, so he forced himself to eat it all. When he spat out the last bone, he felt a wave of relief. ¡°To be honest, seagull doesn¡¯t taste good at all, it¡¯s fishy and tough. I recommend that everyone avoid trying it unless you¡¯re forced to drift at sea like me. Plus, seagulls eat just about anything and live near the sea, their bodies might accumulate a lot of heavy metals or even bacteria, so if you must eat it, make sure it¡¯s well-roasted.¡± [Hahaha, this is the first time I¡¯ve heard Old Fang say something tastes bad.] [Kind of interesting] [I remember eating them when I was a kid, but they weren¡¯t very tasty, the meat was tough and very fishy] [Now it seems we can¡¯t eat them, this thing is considered San You in our country, exceeding a certain number means a fine. It¡¯s only abroad where the numbers are overwhelming and you can take as you please, probably because they are too distasteful.] After eating the seagull, the time had come to evening, and Bi Fang, watching the setting sun gradually sink, reconfirmed his direction before stowing the sails, and the audience understood that Bi Fang was about to end the stream. In the past two days, Bi Fang had done just that, taking in the sails to avoid sudden gusts of wind from different directions at night, causing the raft to drift too far. ¡°However, the arrival of the seagull is also good news for me. Even if the seagull gets blown off course by the wind, it won¡¯t be too extreme, suddenly being blown to the center of the ocean. This means we are indeed getting closer to land, perhaps a hundred kilometers, or maybe two hundred. But I believe there is a very high probability that I will find land before the 21 days are up.¡± Bi Fang stood at the prow stretching his body facing the sunset, seen from the back as if embracing the sun, his body aglow with golden light. The ocean current¡¯s speed was roughly ten kilometers per day, but now Bi Fang had a sail, and with the force of the wind, he could travel at least twenty kilometers a day, even thirty kilometers was not impossible. And judging by the appearance of the seagull and the color of the seawater, as long as the direction was correct, finding land was a certainty. At the thought, Bi Fang felt quite excited inside. Even if the ocean scenery was beautiful, after a while, it always became monotonous. And moreover¡­ Bi Fang stretched out his palm, for due to long hours in the sunlight, he had become much darker than when he first arrived at sea, and no one would find it strange to call him a ¡®sea folk¡¯¡­ ¡°Alright, that¡¯s it for today¡¯s livestream, we¡¯ll meet again tomorrow.¡± Bi Fang withdrew his hand, took down the sail that had been propped up, turning it back into a tent, and after bidding farewell to his audience, he returned to the life raft to sleep. Lying inside the raft, the well-fed and well-drunk Bi Fang quickly began to feel drowsy. With the support of the wooden raft, the stability of the entire raft was greatly increased, no longer tossing about as before, but rather due to the inflation it became soft and comfortable, and he soon entered dreams. Waves rose with the wind. When Bi Fang opened his eyes again, he noticed the temperature seemed to be much lower, completely different from the feeling upon waking up the previous days. The change in weather furrowed his brow. Was it going to rain again? Bi Fang lifted the tent flap, the cold crept in, as the sleep-muddled mind seemed to be poured upon with a basin of cold water, clearing instantly. He stared at the sea with wide nervous eyes, noticing it was just cold, so cold it made one want to turn back under the tent to wrap up in the sailcloth and continue sleeping. There was no wind around, and yet the sky was starting to darken. The audience, notified of the stream starting, rushed in, and seeing this scene, they immediately became anxious, vividly recalling the storm of the past few days. [What¡¯s happening? Is it going to rain again?] [Woken up this morning to bad news] [Is it a second round?] [Damn it, a second round] Bi Fang looked seriously for a moment, then his gaze relaxed again, mixed with a hint of joy. ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s not a storm, just a light rain, I can sleep a bit more.¡± Chapter 245 - Chapter 245: Chapter 242: School of Fish Chapter 245: Chapter 242: School of Fish Winter always makes it easy for people to want to go back to sleep in their cozy beds. Bi Fang was no exception, especially after confirming there was no danger, he found the cold stimulating and wanted to crawl back into his tent. However, after taking a few deep breaths and quickly increasing his blood oxygen level, he perked up and stood back on the raft. The sky was silent because of its gloominess. Suddenly, the silence shattered as rain fell with a hiss, turning the sea into a white expanse. The raft remained stable. Bi Fang reached out his hand to touch the water, feeling the coldness of the raindrops splashing on his skin. ¡°Not every rainfall at sea is a storm. Sometimes it¡¯s just a calm rain like this, with no strong winds or big waves. This is the best opportunity to collect rainwater.¡± Exhaling a breath that turned foggy in the cold air, he retreated into his tent, untied his jacket that was set up to collect rainwater, and reached out both hands to start gathering the rain. He even took out the plastic bottles and containers from the water purifier to catch the water. But this time, Bi Fang stood under the tent¡¯s shelter, extending only his arms outside, using his jacket to catch the rain. ¡°This isn¡¯t a storm. In fact, the sea is even calmer than usual. So, there¡¯s no need to worry about waves contaminating the fresh water or the raft shaking so much that it spills. In these conditions, you can just stay in the tent to collect the water. There¡¯s no need to get as drenched and cold as I did last time.¡± An astonishing coldness spread up Bi Fang¡¯s arms, but it was undoubtedly more bearable than last time. Previously, he had been soaking wet and started to lose body heat. This time, only his arms felt the chill, merely a drizzle by comparison. ¡°But you can¡¯t be too careless. If you were in the Arctic Ocean, it might be worse because the extremely cold environment could cause cell necrosis and worsen the situation. So, the method you use to collect rainwater must depend on the specific circumstances.¡± While speaking, Bi Fang noticed that the jacket in his hands had grown significantly heavier. It seemed the rain was not light, and once the rain stopped, it would be a great time to fish. He might even encounter a school of squid surfacing. He hadn¡¯t eaten for days and found himself missing the taste of squid cooked on a slate. After half an hour, Bi Fang¡¯s arms grew stiff with cold, but the jacket had become much heavier, almost full. The rain started to lessen. After taking a few sips of water, he hurriedly tied it up again with a towel. ¡°Now to wait for the rain to stop.¡± Bi Fang capped the water bottles and secured the containers with the tent fabric, then stowed them inside the life raft. The consumption of tent fabric had been significant these past two days. Luckily, it was raised, providing a larger coverage area than the life raft itself; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t even cover the raft by now. Today marked the twelfth day of survival at sea, with only nine days left until the mission¡¯s end. Yet, Bi Fang had already stored over ten liters of rainwater, meaning he no longer had to worry about his fresh water supply and could drink about a liter and a half each day. Even after finishing the water in the containers and bottles, he could continue to use the purifier to get more water, almost reaching healthy drinking standards. [Awesome, damn it, surviving in such harsh sea conditions, that¡¯s incredible, seriously incredible!] [Plus one. I thought at first that Old Fang was going to fail, but he¡¯s got water and food, and can even have barbecues. It¡¯s like compound interest, feels like he could live there for months.] [Just break Pan Jinlian¡¯s record and live stream for three months!] [It¡¯s Pan Lian, goddammit, not Pan Jinlian!] [Impossible, Old Fang could only shorten the time, not lengthen it, very tiny indeed.] [By the way, what about the guy who said he would write a novel? He promised to start a document. Has he written anything at all?] [He has. That guy is in the fan group, there was a chat about it, and he¡¯s reportedly written a 100-word beginning.] [Holy shit, I want to see it too.] [All ten fan groups are filled up¡­] ¡°Oh, he really wrote it?¡± Bi Fang was equally surprised, as he rarely engaged with the fan group. It was quite unbelievable to hear that someone had truly started writing. [Yes, and I¡¯ve seen it. The writing is elegant, the diction exquisite. It¡¯s a rare gem, sure to hit ten thousand orders once published, and destined to be legendary upon completion. The world of online literature has gained another great author.] Bi Fang smiled and, unconcerned with copyright issues, showed interest, ¡°Well, I¡¯ll have to check it out when it¡¯s published.¡± After the chat, the rain had almost stopped, and Bi Fang hurried to the front of the raft, ready to fish. Sea fishing is quite interesting, especially the moment the prey is hooked and breaks the surface. There¡¯s a strong sense of satisfaction¡ªthe bigger the fish, the stronger the satisfaction. No wonder so many people enjoy being anglers. Since it had just rained, the raft was still a bit damp. Bi Fang stood at the front, waiting for a fish to bite. The audience was curious to see what he would catch this time, and if it might be possible for him to reel in the legendary Bluefin Tuna. ¡°Bluefin Tuna?¡± Bi Fang scratched his eyebrow and then shook his head. He stepped on the raft and pointed to the fishing line in his hand. ¡°It¡¯s unlikely, although bluefin tuna mainly live in the Atlantic Ocean and have a very high temperature tolerance, the force of these creatures is too great. Just with my setup here, it¡¯s tough to haul them up. Remember what happened the day before yesterday? The line broke because the fish was too big.¡± The audience nodded, recalling Bi Fang¡¯s encounter the day before. That day, when he was fishing, Bi Fang caught something extremely heavy, and before it even surfaced, the line snapped with a loud pop, costing him bait and a bone hook. A wood raft, fishing line, and a bone hook¡ªif they could catch a fish of ten pounds, it would be quite an achievement, let alone bluefin tuna. Not to even talk about catching one, they dared not even dream of it. [Ah, that¡¯s really a pity.] [When will Old Fang go deep-sea fishing for tuna, maybe break a world record?] [Master Fang: ???] [A world record isn¡¯t something you can break just because you say so. Isn¡¯t that about luck? So many people are fishing, why should you be able to catch the biggest one as soon as you go out to the sea?] Bi Fang smiled, finding the comments of the netizens quite interesting. Just as he was about to respond, suddenly the fishing line in his hand sank. A fish was on the hook! His relaxed concentration instantly tightened. Bi Fang immediately grabbed the fishing line, but when he looked down to pull up the fish, everyone was startled by what was happening underwater. The clouds had just dispersed, and the sun had just risen. Thousands upon thousands of fish formed a vast school, shimmering like the morning glow. Some traced upward spirals, while others swirled down into the sea¡¯s depths. Some fish shone bright as silver, some appeared nearly transparent under the sunlight, and others even reflected a faint blue luminescence. They circled like black holes in the ocean, moving swiftly, with ripples and reflections of light everywhere you looked. The scene before them was vast and magnificent. The dreamlike beauty was beyond the limits of imagination, making one mistake the sunset-colored waters for the sky before dusk, with the fish inviting guests to swim in the heavens. Herring! Thousands of Atlantic herrings! Bi Fang momentarily forgot to pull up the line. [Damn, so many fish? Are they all crazy?] [What¡¯s Old Fang doing staring? Get to work!] [After this haul, we won¡¯t have to worry about eating and drinking ever again!] [Doesn¡¯t that look like herring?] [Damn, those smelly canned herrings?] Seeing the school of fish, the audience exploded with excitement. When had they ever seen such a spectacular scene? How many fish were there? A few thousand, tens of thousands, or even millions? There were too many to count. Too many! Faced with the audience¡¯s excitement, Bi Fang remained unmoved but furrowed his brows. The whirlpool formed by the school of fish seemed to be contracting? The fish were already packed tight, yet they were still compressing further. Suddenly, Bi Fang¡¯s heart raced. Only one thing could explain this behavior. There was a predator nearby! [Something¡¯s coming!] The audience exclaimed as the camera swiftly switched. Through the underwater drone¡¯s footage. In the sunset-colored waters, a sleek shadow moved, its long tail swaying slowly. It moved leisurely, but anyone could tell it could burst into incredible speed at any moment, like a torpedo aiming at its target. Each dive caused the school to shrink a bit more. Shark. A school of sharks! Chapter 246 - Chapter 246: Chapter 243 The Most Dangerous Shark in the Ocean Chapter 246: Chapter 243 The Most Dangerous Shark in the Ocean ¡°` Sharks, a school of sharks! As Bi Fang¡¯s heart pounded with alarm, Pondy in the live stream booth was already breaking out in a cold sweat. ¡°White-fin sharks! It¡¯s actually white-fin sharks!¡± Upon hearing Pondy name the species of shark, Jerret¡¯s two brown eyebrows instantly knitted together. He often shot documentaries and was not entirely unfamiliar with various top predators. The group of four exchanged glances, equally scared by the appearance of the sharks, but not understanding why the two of them tensed up so severely, as if facing a formidable enemy, fielding their curiosity. ¡°What¡¯s up with the white-fin sharks?¡± Grinding his teeth and covered in cold sweat, Pondy watched Bi Fang confront the sharks as if he himself were standing on the raft. Confronting the brothers¡¯ questioning, his voice seemed to squeeze through his teeth. ¡°White-fin sharks! One of the five most dangerous species of sharks in the world! But personally, I think they are actually the most dangerous, no exception.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it the great white shark?¡± ¡°Yeah, isn¡¯t the great white shark supposed to be the most dangerous?¡± ¡°These sharks don¡¯t seem too big, though. Last time I was at the aquarium, I saw great white sharks over four meters long! Didn¡¯t Bi Fang deal with a nearly three-meter-long mackerel? These creatures seem to be at most two meters, right? I think he can handle them.¡± Third Brother spread his arms wide, forming a large circle, trying to gesture the concept of three meters. He didn¡¯t recognize something called Tiktaalik; the name was too complicated for him, and he just thought the creature Bi Fang had handled in the video looked like a large mackerel. After seeing the vocal foursome, Pondy couldn¡¯t help but let out a cold laugh at their naivety and ignorance: ¡°White-fin sharks have attacked humans more times than all other sharks combined!¡± Hiss!!! The group of four inhaled sharply. More than the total? What kind of concept was that? And now, such terrifying sharks were right next to Bi Fang, the nearest few not even five meters away. The gray-white dorsal fins broke the surface, and an aggressive and bloody aura hit them full in the face. Boss shakily raised his hand, reaching for his chest pocket for some first aid medicine, only to pat empty air. Damn it! He forgot he was only in his thirties, with sound cardiovascular health, not accustomed to carrying emergency medicine. And now there was none to use! No good, he had to stock up on some fast-acting heart-saving pills at home! Meanwhile, Bi Fang had also quickly recognized the species of shark, expressing almost the same opinion as Pondy. Danger, extreme danger. ¡°White-fin sharks are extremely fierce and bold, well-known for following ships, utterly disregarding divers¡¯ defensive measures, demonstrating remarkable toughness and aggression. During World War II, many transport ships were sunk, and soldiers falling into the water often faced the threat of white-fin sharks. Some scientists even believe they are the kind of shark most responsible for devouring soldiers. Marine explorer Jacques Cousteau also listed the formidable white-fin shark as one of the most dangerous sharks.¡± The audience didn¡¯t recognize who Jacques Cousteau was, but they latched onto a key point¡ªdevouring the most soldiers! ¡°` ¡°` Even though White-fin Sharks are the most numerous in the ocean, this fact alone is enough to strike terror into everyone! ¡°Damn, I always thought that Great White Sharks were the most dangerous, I¡¯ve never even heard of White-fin Sharks.¡± ¡°Maybe you¡¯ve seen too many movies, White-fin Sharks don¡¯t look as fierce as Great Whites, they actually look kind of nice.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the use of looking nice, they bite all the same.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t sharks not like to eat people? That¡¯s what I saw online.¡± ¡°Not liking doesn¡¯t mean they won¡¯t eat you, plus sharks are very curious about humans. Great White Sharks have large and sharp teeth, and a strong biting force, getting bitten even once basically means you¡¯re done for, not to mention the bleeding would trigger their aggressiveness to the MAX.¡± Reading this, the audience was all petrified. Now they felt that such a small raft was completely unreliable, wishing they could switch to a battleship, no, an aircraft carrier! Bi Fang stood on the boat motionless, afraid that any movement of the raft would attract the attention of the shark swarm. Once they launched an attack, he was very likely to fall into the water, making the situation even more dangerous. As they slowly approached the continent, the color of the sea water faded substantially. With the clouds dispersing and the sunlight growing stronger, Bi Fang could easily make out the conditions seven or eight meters below the water. In the coral-colored sea, gigantic predators swam along with schools of fish, lazily waving their fins and tails as they roamed the ocean. Like snowballs rolling downhill, the schools of fish grew bigger and crazier in their twisting movements. From above, it seemed for a moment that even the sharks could do nothing to them. But with every approach of a shark, the fish would split apart, and as soon as the shark left, they would return to their original state, showing who the real rulers were. Perspiration beaded on Bi Fang¡¯s brow; he hadn¡¯t expected to be so ¡°lucky¡± as to stumble into the hunting ground of the White-fin Sharks. Perhaps he should have left as soon as he saw the mackerel school. No, perhaps it would have been too late by then as well. He had just noticed the mackerel school and hadn¡¯t caught any when the sharks all crowded in. ¡°Many fish in the ocean exhibit schooling behavior, forming groups to fend off predators and as a means of collective protection, like mackerel and Hairfin Anchovies. The typical mackerel school numbers from one to three million, making it one of the largest schooling fish in the ocean. If a predator is attracted, it¡¯s usually a group predator, which is even more dangerous.¡± ¡°When I encountered the Hairfin Anchovies, I didn¡¯t dare linger for long, and yet I still ran into this.¡± But thinking about this was of no use now. The immediate concern was how to survive the crisis. It was impossible to simply paddle away. The raft was so visible that any movement would likely attract the shark swarm¡¯s attention. All animals are more sensitive to moving objects. Moreover, there are many White-fin Sharks hidden in the deep water, and if they suddenly surfaced, taking a couple of snaps at his hands, it would be impossible to guard against. Bi Fang pulled out his dagger and cautiously stepped back to the edge of the life raft, reached inside, and pulled out a long tree stick. He then securely tied the obsidian dagger to the forked end of the stick, making a spear. ¡°The number of shark attacks reported every year is actually very low, even lower than those killed by bee stings, and only a small percentage are fatal. But survivors at sea are much more vulnerable, isolated, and helpless than the numerous beach swimmers mentioned in statistics.¡± After tying the dagger, Bi Fang swung it around to get used to the feel. It seemed just right. If a shark attacked, he would fight back, hoping to kill the attacking sharks before the raft was torn apart. He didn¡¯t dare get too close to the edge of the raft, staying in the center instead, keeping a firm eye on the few White-fin Sharks in the water. He wasn¡¯t too worried about the ones on the surface. Sharks usually attack from a diagonal upward direction, so before an attack, their dorsal fin would suddenly disappear as they dive underwater. A visible dorsal fin is actually not that dangerous. Furthermore, sharks from different regions have different habits. All sharks in the ocean are capable of preying on humans, but in tropical waters where food is abundant, the sharks are not vicious and are usually quite timid. A simple prod with a stick, especially on their sensitive snouts, can scare them off. Moreover, sharks live and feed in the deep sea. Most of the time, they hunt at the bottom, but hungry sharks will rise to the surface along with schools of fish and enter shallow waters. Unfortunately, Bi Fang found himself in both of these sad situations. The North Atlantic is not only cold but also a place where sharks all rise to the surface, opening their mouths to enjoy a gluttonous feast. ¡°` Chapter 247 - Chapter 247: Chapter 244: The Scent of Blood Chapter 247: Chapter 244: The Scent of Blood The two-meter predator roamed the sea. Its undulating chest and belly hid powerful muscular strength; once it bit into its prey, it would tear fervently, resembling a frenzied demon. Bi Fang¡¯s heart beat steadily and powerfully, his breathing long and sustained as he stood on the raft, immovable as a mountain. The situation was dangerous, but he had been through similar experiences at least four or five times. In the face of danger, the human body secretes a large amount of adrenaline to numb the nerves and switch off the pain receptors, allowing an explosion of hidden potential. But adrenaline also makes one¡¯s thought process tense and narrows the field of vision rapidly. That¡¯s why people who¡¯ve never fought before can become flustered when they encounter danger, their minds blank, flailing with instinct, with memories blurry afterward. The only way to address this problem is through continuous combat and high-pressure confrontation until the body adapts. And in terms of wilderness combat, Bi Fang felt his experience was more than sufficient. Not to mention his core muscles were quite well-developed, and even in walking and standing, he was vastly different from the average person. When Bi Fang held a spear in confrontation with wild beasts, the aura unique to a Wilderness Hunter emanated from him, making him appear steady and reliable, naturally instilling confidence in his audience. Even the meandering sharks seemed less terrifying, ready to become the souls under Master Fang¡¯s spear should they dare come close. [666, serious Old Fang is super cool] [Giao! Giao! Giao! Hunting in the deep sea!] [The Megalodon should invite Old Fang for a role, damn, I can take screenshots and lick them again, add one to the Master Fang album] [Album¡­ Can you show it to me? (Dog¡¯s head)] [Old Fang, stab it with your spear!] ¡°If you all need to use a knife for self-defense, remember to avoid its reflection, because in the eyes of a shark, that might symbolize ¡®there¡¯s fish here¡¯.¡± The limited vision of the shark¡¯s small eyes made reflections dazzle them as if they were the sun. As Bi Fang concentrated, he suddenly felt the raft tremble; a shark was crashing into his wooden raft! ¡°Here it comes!¡± Bi Fang shouted sharply, simultaneously adjusting his weight to stand steadily on the raft, not at all startled by the sudden attack. The audience fell silent in unison, realizing that danger had truly arrived. Sharks had already noticed the relatively large raft! [Damn, I didn¡¯t even see the shark coming, and the raft just started shaking!] [A big one, definitely no small creature!] [Can the drone not dive into the water? I¡¯m getting seasickness here; the feeling of not seeing but suddenly feeling it is too unbearable.] ¡°Don¡¯t panic, everyone.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s gaze remained steady as he firmly held the tree stick, utterly calm. To deal with sharks, there were many special techniques, and they were often very effective. ¡°Sharks primarily locate their targets in the water through smell and body movements, being extremely sensitive to blood and bodily excretions like urine. So, everyone must secure their food right now, avoid dropping it into the water, and try to hold it in if you have any needs. Besides, weak and rapid movements can also easily attract the attention of sharks because they imply that the target is easy to attack or already injured. Strong and rhythmic movements producing loud noises might cause the shark¡¯s heart to falter and hesitate.¡± Having said that, Bi Fang started to beat the water surface vigorously and rhythmically with the tree stick. Most crucially, the audience could clearly see several swiftly moving sharks slow down; it was effective, truly effective! Bi Fang¡¯s expression was serious, he remained vigilant of the water surface. The collision wasn¡¯t scary¡ªthe raft was five meters long and over two meters wide; it would be difficult for a two-meter White-fin Shark to overturn it, and the raft was designed big and tight. The ropes securing it originally were incredibly tight and very sturdy. But the next moment, Bi Fang sharply noticed that one of the three fins that had been above the water¡¯s surface had disappeared! Such a ferocious creature! Bi Fang went pale with fright, having never imagined that his own knocking on the water surface hadn¡¯t scared the shark away but rather made it dive down, preparing to attack! Just as he was shocked, a thin line of water formed behind Bi Fang. The drone circling in the sky captured everything clearly. In the camera¡¯s view, a massive creature was breaking the water¡¯s surface. The grey skin of the shark was smooth and delicate, and with a powerful thrash, it lunged at the raft! ¡°Old Fang behind! Something¡¯s swimming! The shark is coming!¡± An audience member screamed out. The sound of water breaking echoed, as something burst out of the water, gracefully casting a large shadow. In an instant, Bi Fang reacted, rolling to the side toward the other end. In the drone feed, the audience¡¯s eyes widened to see the shark almost brushing past Bi Fang¡¯s scalp before crashing onto the raft. He actually dodged it! Such quick reflexes! The audience was deeply shocked, having not noticed Bi Fang looking back, as if he had sensed the impending danger entirely by instinct and moved to dodge before it struck! The whole raft shook violently. Bi Fang looked up in shock to find a White-fin Shark had toppled onto the boat, nearly half of its body pressing down. This has got to be a mistake. Bi Fang¡¯s pupils dilated. He had never seen such an aggressive shark, almost like the model worker among sharks¡ªwas it starved mad? Weren¡¯t there still herring below? The shark was incredibly heavy; just having half of its body press down was nearly enough to tip the entire raft. Without hesitation, Bi Fang took a large step, sucked in his abdomen and twisted his waist, gripping the Tree Stick, and swung it at the struggling shark, aiming for its snout. Aside from the gills, this was the most vulnerable part of a shark. Only one strike sent it reeling from pain, as if it had been shocked with electricity. The nearly two-meter-long, hundred-kilogram body writhed frenetically on the raft, forcing the bow into the water, but it didn¡¯t retreat. Instead, it opened its bloody maw, and its sharp Shark Teeth, reeking of fish, snapped toward Bi Fang. Bi Fang merely took two steps back to avoid the bite, while his Tree Stick came down once more. Another barrage of strikes, the shark growing even more berserk. The spectators watched with hearts pounding, never having thought a shark could be so ferocious, unmoved even after being hit on a weak spot. Especially the scars on the White-fin Shark¡¯s body, reminiscent of turbine wounds, made it look even more fierce and terrifying, exhaling an aura of blood and primitiveness that sent shivers down one¡¯s spine. The current scene was just like in the movies, with a Great White Shark biting off half of a boat¡¯s bow, waiting for its prey to fall into its mouth! Bi Fang had also noticed the scars on the White-fin Shark¡¯s body, which resembled those made by a ship¡¯s turbine, the crossed scars gave him some speculation. Seeing the shark fighting to the death, not even stopping in its lashings of the water¡¯s surface with its tail¡ªthis was the Shark¡¯s way of calling its companions¡ªBi Fang couldn¡¯t help but switch ends of his Tree Stick, pointing the Stone Spear side at it. He had refrained from spilling blood before, not wanting to incite a frenzy among the shark school, but now he had no choice but to do so. If he allowed this shark to twist and turn wildly, more and more White-fin Sharks would be attracted by it. They might take the same actions, and by then, his small boat was very likely to be torn apart! With this thought, Bi Fang¡¯s brows suddenly sharpened, his cheek muscles involuntarily tightening, revealing lines as sharp as the edge of a blade. A murderous aura filled the air. Bi Fang fixed his gaze on the stripes on the side of the Shark, the most vulnerable part of its body¡ªthe gills, which were also the deadliest spot. Should they be damaged, it would be unable to breathe! Clenching the Spear tightly, Bi Fang watched as the Shark continued to thrash and without further hesitation, he thrust it fiercely toward the Shark¡¯s gill slits. The tip of the spear cut through the air, giving rise to a piercing whistle. A slight resistance was punctured. Blood, spreading through the seawater. Chapter 248 - Chapter 248: Chapter 245: Surrounded by Sharks Chapter 248: Chapter 245: Surrounded by Sharks The spear trailed a streak of blood mist dispersing in the water, and the once violent White-fin Shark immediately lost its strength. If the tail thrashing before was to flaunt its ferocity, then the current convulsions were a violent struggle. Taking advantage of the Shark¡¯s thrashing head, Bi Fang hurried forward and kicked it back into the sea, then watched the other Sharks vigilantly. When he noticed the two Sharks that had surfaced earlier also diving back into the water, his expression grew even grimmer. The surface of the sea appeared calm, one human, one raft, but the unseen world beneath teemed with danger. Thousands upon thousands of herring swirled like a whirlwind, making one wonder whether they¡¯d be shredded if they fell in. He gripped the spear tightly in his hand, his heart rate slowly accelerating, every muscle in his body awakening bit by bit. ¡°When Sharks circle around you, be very careful. They might attack you within twenty minutes, especially when there¡¯s blood in the water!¡± Sharks have an extremely keen sense of smell and are very sensitive to the scent of blood, but the sensitivity varies, with fish blood being the strongest and human blood the weakest! Even Sharks do not balk at cannibalism, even if it means devouring their own offspring! As the White-fin Shark¡¯s blood diffused through the seawater, all the Sharks went into a frenzy. To them, blood was like drugs are to Humans. They swam frantically around the herring, creating huge water flows with every swish of their tails. The bloodthirsty butchers couldn¡¯t resist diving into the school to tear and bite, making a sudden charge. They always managed to catch a few, and with one bite, patches of fish blood dispersed, a sight that further inflamed the Sharks¡¯ ferocity. Several Sharks closest to Bi Fang had already started circling inwardly around him! If Sharks maintain a certain distance, it indicates curiosity, but if they start circling inward and suddenly sprint, the likelihood of an attack becomes extremely high! Just as Bi Fang braced himself, the Sharks suddenly attacked, not him but the injured White-fin Shark with damaged gills! Gills are the respiratory tracts of all fish, and once damaged, the likelihood of death is extremely high. The White-fin Shark that had just been viciously speared in the gills was done for. After convulsing in the water for half a minute, it slowly turned over, its belly up, floating in the seawater. Its companions clearly didn¡¯t pass up this opportunity and began gnawing on the corpse! Bits of flesh and blood scattered, and white fat rose to the surface of the water. The sight of cannibalism shocked all the spectators, especially when they saw the Shark blood spreading through the seawater, their fear reaching a peak, and they looked toward Bi Fang with even more concern. The two were just three to four meters apart! The White-fin Sharks had fully noticed him, and they curiously eyed this ¡°huge entity,¡± eager to taste its flavor. The raft shook violently, another Shark making an exploratory attack. Bi Fang steadied himself, his gaze piercing through the gaps in the raft, ever watchful for the oncoming Sharks. Bang! Another collision, and Bi Fang¡¯s heart skipped a beat. A raft is still a raft, no matter how tightly he had tied it with ropes, it couldn¡¯t compare to a real boat. If this continued, the raft would definitely break apart. Splash! Another sound of water breaking, and Bi Fang quickly turned his head to see another Shark lunging, but it didn¡¯t come directly at him; instead, it bit onto the raft. Damn! The last thing Bi Fang wanted happened¡ªthe Shark was tearing at his raft! He swung the tree stick; this time, he didn¡¯t strike the Shark¡¯s nose but aimed for its eyes. The Shark that bit the raft couldn¡¯t dodge in time and took a solid hit, blood quickly spreading in its eyes. This Shark wasn¡¯t as fierce as the previous one, recoiling from the pain immediately, taking away large chunks of wood shavings. Bi Fang quickly lay down to check, a row of sharp teeth marks deeply etched into the raft, large chunks of wood shaved off, and right there was a section of rope, now completely severed. The frayed ends of the rope made it clear that the Shark had quite a set of teeth. [Damn, that bite almost broke the wood] [Shit, Sharks have such strong teeth?] [Shark bro, this thing does not endure biting well.] [Why don¡¯t sharks bite the life raft instead, why bite the wood?] ¡°Because sharks seldom attack things with conspicuous colors. Sharks find striking colors unfamiliar and due to their animal caution, they won¡¯t rashly attack,¡± he explained. The life raft was conspicuous orange, which, compared to it, made the sharks more likely to tear at the wooden raft. But that was not all. Bi Fang touched the raft, looking at the pale bloodstains left from a previous white-fin shark, understanding that there also was the scent of blood that attracted the sharks. Luckily, it was only the edges that were bitten; the raft was still solid. Just as Bi Fang finished his inspection and was about to get up, the surging water beneath him immediately caught his attention. Without a moment of hesitation, Bi Fang dodged to the side. Sure enough, a shark burst forth, and he immediately leaned back, evading the shark¡¯s attack once again. While the audience breathed a sigh of relief thinking the danger had passed, an unexpected event occurred that no one anticipated. As Bi Fang leant back, another shark attacked from behind! It was a coordinated attack! The sound of breaking water rang out, Bi Fang¡¯s heart contracted violently; he had not expected two sharks to attack at the same time. As Bi Fang leaned back without any support, in his urgency, all he could do was twist his waist and abdomen, barely grazing past the white-fin shark behind him. But after shifting his center of gravity twice in quick succession, his upper body was completely off the raft, his balance utterly lost! Splash! The same sound of water breaking but this time, it wasn¡¯t a shark leaping out to attack; it was Bi Fang falling into the icy sea! Disaster struck! The viewers and the production crew alike felt a suffocating pressure surge over them as they looked at the deep blue sea. Heaven help us, he actually fell into the sea! Not just the viewers, even Bi Fang¡¯s own heart skipped a beat. When his body touched the freezing water, his nerves nearly froze. It was dangerous enough on the boat, but in the water? This was the shark¡¯s home turf! His vision was full of silvery-white bubbles, his veins contracted sharply, and Bi Fang¡¯s head spun for a moment. If he were an average swimmer, he might have choked by now, but Bi Fang recovered in just a few seconds, his mind in shock, he immediately looked around. Right then, he felt a strong pull of water on his right side! He was all too familiar with this sensation; something was approaching! And fast! Above the water, all the spectators could see a shadow swimming rapidly towards Bi Fang! Shark attack! Bi Fang¡¯s body¡¯s potential was fully unleashed. His legs bent and extended, propelling him like a frog leaping out. He turned sharply, but not quickly enough. Through the first-person perspective, viewers could almost clearly see it graze Bi Fang¡¯s scalp. The strong current brushed past him, the tremendous violent force of the shark¡¯s body hit him full in the face. Bi Fang seized the opportunity, grabbing its tail with one hand, the other hand holding the spear stabbed towards its body. The touch was like leather, and in a moment, a large amount of blood dispersed. He felt as if a thick scent of blood mixed with the stench of urine was penetrating his nostrils. The injured shark struggled violently, seeking to counterattack, but Bi Fang only sank lower, positioning himself beneath the shark, embraced it and flipped powerfully. The shark, which had been so fierce just moments ago, now lay belly-up, startlingly motionless as if it had lost all its fighting spirit! What was happening? The audience was stunned silent. They saw clearly that Bi Fang¡¯s spear had caused nothing more than a superficial wound to the shark. How could it have suddenly died? Chapter 249 - Chapter 249: Chapter 246 Divine Protection? Chapter 249: Chapter 246 Divine Protection? Unfortunately, Bi Fang had no time to answer the audience¡¯s questions at this moment. Only a few professionals understood his maneuvers and wanted to post explanations in the comments, but they were instantly lost in the sea of comments. Standing in the water, Bi Fang just glanced around and quickly noticed that there were more than six White-fin Sharks swimming nearby, eyeing him predatorily. Not only that, but the White-fin Shark that had just been stabbed with a spear was still bleeding profusely, attracting even more sharks to approach. Surrounded by danger, Bi Fang¡¯s hair stood on end, and he felt a needle-like pain all over his body. Every pore screamed, frantically warning him that danger was at hand. What to do? The audience could no longer worry about why Bi Fang had made the shark suddenly ¡°die,¡± realizing that a greater emergency had arisen. Bi Fang dared not move rashly; sharks have special eyes that struggle with capturing colors and light, so their vision is duller than that of humans, especially sensitive to ¡°movement.¡± Moreover, sharks are also predators. Once their prey shows weakness, they will attack. If Bi Fang dared to swim up and climb onto the raft now, before he could even get up, at least three sharks would attack, giving him no chance at all. The sharks kept circling inward, the encirclement growing tighter. Just as they seemed about to strike, Bi Fang bit down hard and grasped the obsidian dagger tightly in his hand! Red clouds of blood rose to the surface of the sea, resembling lushly growing seaweed. What is Old Fang doing! At this moment, the audience was extremely frightened. He actually cut his own hand deliberately. Did he think there weren¡¯t enough sharks already? He¡¯s gone mad! Bi Fang even felt it was not enough, spreading his palm and clenching it repeatedly, allowing more blood to freely rise. Seawater passing over the wound brought with it a searing pain, but he felt nothing of it now, his adrenaline suppressing all sensation of pain. The cold was creeping into Bi Fang¡¯s limbs and bones. Silence enveloped him like he was on an alien planet. The entire world seemed far away from him, and a terrifying sense of isolation haunted him like a ghost. He seemed to hear his own heart pounding, like a great drum on the verge of splitting. Am I going to die? In the midst of Bi Fang¡¯s tense thoughts, he saw something flash before his eyes, a dark shadow zipped past about ten meters from him! The viewers saw that it was a White-fin Shark! Just after the White-fin Shark passed by where Bi Fang was, a group of White-fin Sharks followed closely behind! The viewers¡¯ hearts were tense to the point of barely being able to think about why the shark didn¡¯t attack just now. It wasn¡¯t Bi Fang who seemed to be lacking oxygen, but themselves, because Bi Fang was right in the middle of the shark swarm! We¡¯re doomed, doomed, doomed! Is Master Fang going to be bitten by the sharks, his extraordinary skills leading to his downfall here? Last time, he faced off against at most three Tiktaalik, but now there were at least seven or eight big sharks, their size comparable to that of Tiktaaliks. The viewers had no idea how to cope with this utterly hopeless situation! The next moment, a shadow appeared again beside Bi Fang! It was a White-fin Shark! The viewers clenched their teeth, gripping their clothes, feeling blood rush to their brains, their foreheads so hot they almost seemed to steam. This was a physiological reaction of intense nervousness, where the heart contracts abruptly, and the blood pressure in the body spikes instantly! The Boss of the program team had bloodshot eyes. He reached for his chest again, damn, still no antihypertensive medication! Everyone was terrified! The White-fin Shark swimming towards them was even closer now, just one meter in front of Master Fang. There was virtually no difference from being up close; with the Shark¡¯s two-meter length, a single turn could initiate an attack on Bi Fang! Bi Fang¡¯s pupils shrank violently. He gripped the obsidian dagger tightly, ready to strike at any moment! But in the blink of an eye, a scene that shocked and even made countless viewers scream unfolded! The approaching White-fin Shark, as if blind, completely ignored Bi Fang next to it and continued to viciously swim towards the school of herring up ahead, swallowing several small fish in one gulp! How is that possible! This scene was beyond the understanding of the viewers, and many wanted to ask Bi Fang why. Were the Sharks raised by daylight? Blind as bats? Such a large target, and only one meter away at that, how could it not be seen? But the reality was just this, more and more Sharks were attracted by the scent of blood, either devouring the corpses of their own kind or looking for prey among the herring schools, completely overlooking Bi Fang! ¡°I¡¯ve bet correctly!¡± Bi Fang forcibly suppressed the joy of a narrow escape and immediately turned back to look at the White-fin Shark tearing at the body of its cohort. Understanding that their attention was no longer on him, he immediately swam towards the sea surface. A few seconds later, a ghostly pale hand suddenly grasped the raft, followed by bulging veins, as half a person burst from the water. Bi Fang lay on the raft, gasping for air. He didn¡¯t dare to leave his legs in the sea. After a brief respite, he exerted himself again, collapsing entirely onto the raft, breathing deeply. Once he caught his breath, a cold wind blew over, making Bi Fang shiver instantly. He hurriedly took off his clothes, wrung out an undershirt, dried off the water from his body, then set up the tent again, no longer caring about the direction, aligning it with the strong wind to increase the raft¡¯s speed as much as possible. The raft drifted with the wind, and on its path, it happened to pass by the first White-fin Shark that died. By now, the dead White-fin Shark had been consumed by half, its abdomen almost hollowed out, with no Sharks nearby continuing to feed on it. Seeing some flesh still left on it, Bi Fang hesitated for a moment, then used a stick to lift it onto the boat. After that, he didn¡¯t dare to linger. He adjusted the angle of the sail to its maximum, and the raft quickly left this blood-soaked wasteland behind. Bi Fang looked back, the ocean surface was calm, with only the occasional Shark fin breaking the water¡¯s surface, then quickly sinking, disappearing from sight. The program team flew the drone to its highest altitude for a panoramic shot. Below the deep blue sea surface, the herring school swarmed like bees, dense and numerous, while Sharks, like swords, weaved through, hunting at will. On the edge of this hunting ground, an orange-brown raft sped away. The viewers couldn¡¯t help but feel their scalps tingle at this sight. When you see a school of Sharks feeding together, the bloodiness and cruelty hit you head-on, and the sea wind is filled with the smell of blood. The previously cloudy skies had cleared, the sunlight bathing the sea¡¯s surface in warmth and coziness, but that scene had completely changed in flavor. Beneath the calm and tranquility of the sea surface lurked the most sanguine of rules. There, killings could happen at any moment; the weak made the most of their time alive with play, while the strong stalked their playful prey. This sea area, no, any wilderness really, was constrained by bloody and violent rules. Every creature here had to adapt to the law of the jungle; the weak flocked together, the strong went hunting, including Humans themselves. After running for more than half an hour, Bi Fang finally relaxed. Suddenly, an electronic voice in his mind announced that his first task had been completed. Bi Fang paused, then wasn¡¯t surprised. It was the time of the annual rankings, with domestic viewership numbers doubling. The task requirements for viewership were met long ago, and there was probably a surge just now. Bi Fang checked the backend, and sure enough, there were a total of two and a half million viewers, with over two million witnessing his narrow escape from the jaws of the Shark. Similarly, there were over two million questions. The chat in the live broadcast room was exploding. Everyone wanted to know the real story behind Bi Fang¡¯s escape from death. That scene was too fantastical, as if a deity was providing protection. After all, what happened? Chapter 250 - Chapter 250: Chapter 247: Give It a Try and Pass Away Chapter 250: Chapter 247: Give It a Try and Pass Away On the raft, Bi Fang, having escaped danger, took down the sail and wrapped it around himself. Then, he pulled out a large heap of charcoal, lit it, and moved closer to warm up. The warmth spread through his fingertips, and the fish flesh in his stomach was quickly broken down, endlessly providing energy. This was the third time Bi Fang had gotten wet. Unlike the previous times, he not only had a fire to bake himself but also a large amount of fish meat to utilize. Warming up both inside and out, it was far less uncomfortable than before. After establishing an early advantage in survival resources, that¡¯s just how domineering it was; his ability to resist risks had greatly increased. Only when the cold had somewhat subsided did Bi Fang begin to perk up a bit. In a life-or-death situation, it¡¯s a great test for both physical and mental strength; the slightest distraction could lead to a separation between life and death. Only then did Bi Fang have the leisure to look toward his live-streaming room. As expected, the barrage of comments had completely exploded. A quick browse revealed all sorts of remarks, including some viewers suspecting that the sharks were actors with superb acting skills, completely natural and indistinguishable. [I suggest that the relevant departments dissect Old Fang. The revival of spiritual energy is right before our eyes, and I¡¯ve long suspected that Old Fang is the first awakened one. Quickly dissect him for research and let me catch the train of the era!] [Pang You, with the revival of spiritual energy, do you have a ticket?] [Shocking, is a cultivator of qi right beside me?] [I suspect Bi Fang is transformed from his true form. The evidence has long been in front of me, yet I failed to realize it. It¡¯s too dark under the lamp!] [With reason and evidence, it¡¯s hard not to be convinced.] Bi Fang felt a nerve twitch, only to think the wild imaginings of his online friends were outrageous, but it also better illustrated their doubts at the moment. The online audience, Shuiyou, didn¡¯t understand at all how Bi Fang managed to slip away under the watchful eyes of over a dozen sharks; their questions were like countless claws scratching at their hearts. With their limited knowledge, they could only lean toward the mystical for explanations. ¡°I know you all have many questions. The situation was urgent at the time, and I didn¡¯t have time to explain. Everyone, please reduce the barrage of comments, and I¡¯ll explain them one by one.¡± Bi Fang rubbed his temples, waited for a few minutes, and then looked back at the live-streaming room. Sure enough, there were far fewer comments, with people seriously asking questions. ¡°First off, I remember saying that sharks are extremely sensitive to the smell of blood and can detect the scent of flesh in concentrations of one part per million. So, they can easily sense the ¡®value¡¯ of blood.¡± ¡°Humans are not marine creatures; the calorific content of our flesh and blood is too low to meet the nutritional needs of sharks. So most sharks are actually not interested in humans; they usually attack humans out of curiosity or mistake humans for sharks. Once humans are bitten and bleed, sharks will abandon the attack.¡± ¡°But the bite force of sharks is too strong, and ordinary people who are bitten usually have trouble surviving.¡± At this point, Bi Fang felt a chill recalling the experience. At that time, more than a dozen sharks were circling around him, and thinking of this method was a last resort, with an element of gambles; otherwise, he would have used it earlier on the boat. But as it turned out, he had gambled correctly. ¡°Therefore, unless sharks are very hungry and have no better option, they may choose to consume humans. But the problem was, at that time, the school of sharks had already launched an attack on the school of herring, and two sharks were injured and bleeding. Plenty of healthy, delicious fish blood was in front of them, and I was like emergency canned food, filling, but not delicious.¡± Bi Fang picked up a slice of fish meat with his ¡°chopsticks,¡± swallowed it, felt the warmth rise, and continued to explain. ¡°Besides, sharks¡¯ vision is not good; they can barely see stationary objects. Although movement is relative, and they could still see me moving, it¡¯s certainly not as obvious as when both of us are moving. Combining these two points, I¡¯m naturally easier to overlook.¡± ¡°So, at that time, I chose to cut my palm. As long as I let out a suitable amount of fresh blood, the shark school would understand that I¡¯m not a fish, not tasty, and have a low presence, I might be able to slip by.¡± The comments went completely silent. After listening to Bi Fang¡¯s explanation, the audience seemed to be silenced at the same time. After understanding it simply, they couldn¡¯t help but admire Bi Fang¡¯s guts and courage. Without a sufficient understanding of sharks, who else would dare to bleed in front of them? Dare you graze past a group of sharks, known as the ¡°wolves of the sea¡±? Ordinary people, let alone think so much, get scared stiff. Really seeing a shark approach, they can only stand dumbfounded and be bitten. Only a top-notch awareness coupled with top-notch maneuvers allowed Master Fang to emerge almost unscathed from the encirclement of more than a dozen sharks, perfectly avoiding a deadly situation! After explaining all this, Bi Fang also recovered from his chaotic thoughts; he took a deep breath, recalling the life-and-death situation that had passed, and gradually relaxed his mind. ¡°To be honest, I wasn¡¯t 100% certain that this method would succeed; it was a desperate choice made in a moment of rapid thought colliding. Moreover, there are always exceptions. What if there happens to be a shark that¡¯s addicted to eating humans? But at that time, I had no other choice. Looking back now, I was very lucky; the probability of success in doing this is quite high. If you one day face the same situation as I did, perhaps you could give it a try.¡± [Trying it is dying!] [I don¡¯t understand very well, but I feel like I¡¯ve wasted my studies. Also, can you dive during your period? This is a serious discussion.] [I¡¯m not going to argue this time. I¡¯ll stay home and play with my goldfish.] [This is the difference between black bread and steak. Who would gnaw on dry and tough black bread when there are schools of sardines?] [Cannibalism really scared me.] [I can¡¯t believe it¡¯s not the resurgence of spiritual energy, Old Fang, you¡¯ve really disappointed me. If you don¡¯t make an effort, when can I embark on the path to becoming an immortal?] After understanding the reasoning, the online friends/admirers nearly worship Bi Fang. This isn¡¯t any superhuman ability or acting; it¡¯s purely the product of rich survival experience and the strong decision-making ability forged at countless life-and-death moments. However, many viewers had another question: why did the shark that attacked Master Fang underwater suddenly ¡°die¡±? Unexpectedly, Bi Fang shook his head. ¡°That shark didn¡¯t die. Flipping the shark is a common method to deal with them. Many divers do this when attacked. Scientists call it tonic immobility. Once the shark is flipped over, its brain secretes a chemical to prevent panic, trying to correct its upside-down visual world. If this chemical¡¯s concentration gets too high, the shark will faint. Moreover, sharks won¡¯t suddenly stop while moving, nor can they change direction swiftly. A good swimmer can definitely outmaneuver a single large shark by quickly changing direction. That¡¯s why a single shark is relatively easy to handle, which is why I succeeded so easily. The difficult ones are the shark swarms, like the ones I previously encountered.¡± The underwater training system provided by the System greatly improved Bi Fang¡¯s agility underwater and his perception of water currents. Only in the moment of a shark¡¯s attack could he dodge so adeptly; otherwise, it would have been impossible to succeed so easily. If it turned into a prolonged battle, more sharks would join, and the situation would become extremely dangerous. It seems that I should not forego training after returning, as this unexpectedly acquired device is quite useful. ¡°However, if you really encounter an accident, don¡¯t try to emulate me. Instead, see if you can find a Shark Repellent on the life raft. Most life rafts are equipped with them, both chemical and electronic pulse types. Although they¡¯re not 100% effective, they can certainly handle most situations. However, the chemical type should only be used in extremely dire circumstances when conditions are severely adverse because its repellent will disperse in the water and lose effectiveness soon after.¡± Having said that, Bi Fang yawned. Having reached a safe place, he felt sleepy as he relaxed, especially after eating. The gain was not all lost this time. Although he didn¡¯t catch sardines, he did get a large shark, two meters long. Even though it was eaten by more than half, the remaining scraps would be enough to eat for quite some time. Keep in mind, he was awoken by the cold that morning and hadn¡¯t rested well, not to mention contending with such danger, which drained a lot of his physical and mental energy. So Bi Fang looked around, dragged the shark¡¯s body to the middle of the raft, and said: ¡°It¡¯s about noon now, so I¡¯m going to sign off and take a nap. I¡¯ll see you all in the afternoon.¡± Ten minutes later, having cleaned the bloodstains from the boat, Bi Fang crawled into the tent, curled up, and fell into a deep sleep. Chapter 251 - Chapter 251: Chapter 248: The Taste of Moms Cooking Chapter 251: Chapter 248: The Taste of Mom¡¯s Cooking Evening. Bi Fang opened his eyes to the reflection of the gilded sun in his pupils, rubbed the corners of his eyes, and felt slightly dazed as he sat up. It took him a moment to realize that he had slept through the entire afternoon. Upon noticing Bi Fang¡¯s awakening, the production team turned the live broadcast back on, and in an instant, over eight hundred thousand viewers flooded in. The numbers continued to skyrocket, almost crashing the platform¡¯s network. A few minutes passed, and the viewership count broke through one million, with signs that it might even reach two million. At present, aside from some global sporting events, no other broadcaster had reached such an astonishing number of viewers. Perhaps it was the relief of having survived a calamity, and having incidentally completed his task, that Bi Fang felt refreshed after sleeping. He finally had the time to deal with his greatest accomplishment of this trip. A White-fin Shark two meters long! Would there be a hunting reward? Bi Fang secretly hoped, as the previous times he had caught large creatures, the System had given him very good rewards. The Wolves King¡¯s Sense of Smell allowed him to easily distinguish scents, making catching prey much more effortless, while the digestion and absorption abilities afforded by the King Fish¡¯s Stomach drastically reduced his chances of contracting parasites and infections. He had nearly killed the shark with his own hands, running it through the gills with a spear, killing it on the spot. If it was a shark, what kind of reward would there be? Would it be another sense of smell? Scent-wise, sharks were even more adept than wolves. However, receiving another scent ability would be too boring, and so Bi Fang shook his head. It would be nice to get a reward, a pleasant surprise that would make all he went through worthwhile¡ªnot getting one would not be a regret, as he was after an exciting life anyway. Bi Fang put on his already dry clothes, went up to the raft, and gripped the obsidian dagger in his hand, ready to harvest his trophy. [Hey, didn¡¯t Old Fang say that sharks have a strong sense of smell? There¡¯s still blood on the shark¡¯s body. Why didn¡¯t it attract others?] [Why would they come if they¡¯re already full? Have nothing better to do?] [Ah, that makes sense!] [Listening to your words is better than listening to a book.] [I heard they could smell from tens of kilometers away?] Bi Fang, cutting the shark steak on the raft, shook his head upon hearing this: ¡°Sharks do have a very sensitive sense of smell, even outrageously so. But in reality, it does not reach the few kilometers, or even tens of kilometers, spoken of in rumors. The actual distance is usually less than one kilometer.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s remarks greatly surprised the audience¡ªwas it really only that far? How did sharks track their prey then? Was it luck? ¡°This is actually a matter of the medium. A 100-kilogram mammal has about 7 to 8 liters of blood in its body. Even if this blood was diluted to one in ten billion in seawater, its diffusion range would be just over three hundred meters. Being able to smell from several kilometers away is basically impossible.¡± ¡°As for why sharks can track from so far away, it¡¯s not due to their sense of smell, but rather an organ called the Lorenzini Ampullae. Look, these are the pits.¡± Though much of this White-fin Shark¡¯s surface had been damaged, there were still some intact parts. Bi Fang flipped the shark over, pointing to one area of intact skin¡ªmainly black in color with many pits, located on both sides of the shark¡¯s face, ¡°These pits contain electroreceptive crystals that are extremely sensitive to electrical fields, capable of detecting voltages as minute as a few billionths of a volt per square centimeter. It¡¯s precisely because of this organ that sharks can sense their prey from several kilometers away. Anyone who has watched wildlife documentaries should know that sharks like to swing constantly from left to right as they move forward, because they need to continuously scan in different positions, like a radar.¡± ¡°In order to make better use of this organ, many sharks have evolved to have broader ampullae. For example, the Hammerhead Shark¡¯s body shape helps maximize these advantages¡ªthe larger their size, the more pronounced the benefits from the ampullae.¡± [Whoa, is that really how it works?] [Old Fang knows so much? A biologist online!] Bi Fang did not visibly agree: ¡°Well, it¡¯s not that impressive, I mostly have a lot of knowledge about large carnivores.¡± As a wilderness expert, besides knowing a fair bit about rare poisons, he definitely needed to be well-versed in large animals that could pose a threat to his life. Sharks in the sea, lions on the grasslands, tigers in the forest, and wolf packs in the wasteland¡ªthese were all concerns he had to pay special attention to. If you don¡¯t know this, you might as well not mix in. After dissecting the shark meat, Bi Fang did not throw away the skeleton. ¡°We can hardly find any shark fossils, just some sharp teeth, because, apart from their teeth, sharks are made of cartilage, which easily decomposes, so don¡¯t throw it away, this stuff is edible too.¡± Bi Fang held a piece of shark cartilage and gave it a slight twist, it was very elastic, obviously different from normal bones. [Damn, that¡¯s also edible?] [Speaking of which, the shark fins of the White-fin Sharks didn¡¯t fall off! Is Old Fang in for a treat?] [Cool, eating shark fin in Wilderness Survival? Damn, I¡¯m envious.] As he lit the charcoal and saw the commentary, Bi Fang smiled, the shark fin might taste good, but the flavor of it untreated would certainly not be great, it could even be worse than most meats. ¡°Sharks don¡¯t have a urinary system. Their waste is completely transferred out of the body through muscles and skin, so their meat is full of urea. The meat of some species is even toxic, like the Arctic Sleeper Shark. In addition to this, sharks easily accumulate mercury in their bodies, the shark fins contain a certain amount of neurotoxins, which are potentially harmful to humans, so you should eat less shark fin, it¡¯s not at all beneficial and yet some people treat it as a delicacy, leading to sharks becoming endangered.¡± [???] [Weird knowledge increased] [What the heck, skin urination? I¡¯ve learned something new.] [No wonder the last time I ate shark meat, it felt like there was a faint smell of urine.] [No killing, no trading] Bi Fang picked up a piece of shark meat he had cut and rinsed it in the sea, but even without bringing it close to his nose, he could still smell a strong urine odor. He gave up worrying about it, eat what you have, after scraping off a layer of shark skin, he put the meat in a shell. ¡°If you were to eat shark meat in normal life, that would definitely be unhealthy, but out at sea, shark meat is good stuff, high in calories and high in sodium, the perfect choice for replenishing energy.¡± Taking advantage of the time while the meat was roasting, Bi Fang wrapped the newly scraped shark skin around his palm and took his obsidian dagger, removed the fabric at the handle, and rewrapped it with the thick shark skin. Shark skin is not as smooth as it looks, it has scales, a very dense layer of dermal denticles, which if not handled properly can affect the meat¡¯s quality. However, Bi Fang didn¡¯t care about that, he scraped it off casually and now the touch felt good, the texture deep. Just let it dry and it can be used. Bi Fang took down the shark skin and hung it on a rod nearby, then took a piece of shark meat that was almost done roasting and tasted it. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± The audience waited for Bi Fang to comment. Chewing the shark meat, Bi Fang felt it was actually not bad. He was someone who had eaten earthworms, so his tolerance for shark meat was high, and after discerning the flavor¡­ ¡°The taste is strong but the texture is okay, chewy!¡± [Ah, it¡¯s the taste of mother!] [Damn, now that you mention it, I can picture it!] [A frown and the flavor hits hard] [I can¡¯t even look at the word ¡®chewy¡¯ anymore.] [Nothing tastes bad in Master Fang¡¯s mouth!] Twelfth day of survival on sea, caught a shark. Chapter 252 - Chapter 252: Chapter 249 Purchasing Goods Chapter 252: Chapter 249 Purchasing Goods Bi Fang speared a clump of floating Horsetail Kelp and flung it onto the boat. This was the third clump of Horsetail Kelp Bi Fang had come across in the last two days, and it was their only source of vegetable intake; squinting, he looked up at the sky. The sea surface was scattered with sunlight, and seagulls converged, swooping low. All they waited for was for the playful waves to leap forth with small fish, as the ocean, on a sunny morning, was a sumptuous feast for the gulls. Their targets locked onto the small fish, in anticipation of a Hairfin Anchovy or a European Eel occasionally surfacing. This time it wasn¡¯t just a single seagull, but flocks of them! Bi Fang was emotionally stirred and couldn¡¯t help shouting through cupped hands. His shout startled a diving seagull, who, unable to capture its fish in time, hurriedly flew away, flapping its wings in panic. Continuous calling of the birds was a gospel, signifying that land was no longer far away! ¡°We are close to land now!¡± The increasing presence of Horsetail Kelp hinted at the same thing. Bi Fang took a deep breath of the salty sea breeze, the cold air filling his lungs all the way down his trachea. He looked up at the sky as if all the sunshine in the world was showering down on him. He felt neither cold nor tired, only the sounds of the seagulls crying and the tide resonating in his ears. [Sixteen days! Have we finally come across land?] [Damn, I¡¯ve waited for so long, is it going to end now?] [Should be another two or three days, right? Didn¡¯t Master Fang say that a flock of sea birds could fly around a hundred kilometers?] ¡°Yes, at most a hundred kilometers, given our current speed, we may reach the mainland within two or three days. If we directly find a port, my survival mission will be completely accomplished.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s face was brimming with smiles. The more than two weeks at sea had darkened his complexion and grown a stubble on his face, making him look rugged, resembling an experienced old fisherman. Yet his eyes were astonishingly bright, shimmering under the sunlight¡ªyouthful and vibrant. The perfect fusion of two distinct qualities gave a strong sense of safety, like a long-honed sword, sharp yet resilient. The mission was to survive for twenty-one days, yet Bi Fang might find land in less than twenty, definitely an overachievement! Bi Fang picked up a piece of the newly retrieved Horsetail Kelp, washed a section of it, and chewed on it in his mouth. The unique crispness of the plant cells spread in his mouth, diluting the fishy taste from days of eating fish. ¡°A great abundance of driftwood, coconuts, and other floating plants all suggest that land is not far now. Of course, coconuts are only found in the tropics, plus with the flocks of seagulls appearing, I estimate that I will reach the mainland before the 20th. By then, I wonder if it will be a desolate wasteland or a port; if it is a port, then our mission is accomplished.¡± Bi Fang put the few pieces of wood remaining into the charcoal, waiting for the heat to build up, then he pulled open the tent, revealing a life raft heaped with a string of fish. There were three European Eels, one North Atlantic Salmon, seven or eight small Hairfin Anchovies, a skeleton of a Shark, some Shark meat, along with two Herrings and one Mackerel. The life raft was nearly full; if it weren¡¯t wrapped in a piece of torn cloth, Bi Fang would be sleeping with the fish every night. The torn cloth was one of the gains on the fourteenth day, just floating on the sea, and Bi Fang had to exert some effort to retrieve it. [Damn, the goods have arrived?] [Stop surviving, become a fisherman] [All damn good stuff, ah, my Salmon!] Bi Fang grabbed a European Eel, cut off a piece of Salmon meat, sat cross-legged on the raft, and started to roast slices of Salmon meat on a shell. Rich in oils, the Salmon quickly started to sizzle. When most of the fat had rendered, Bi Fang placed the cut pieces of Eel meat on top, allowing it to absorb the Salmon¡¯s oil; soon, a unique aroma began to waft through the air. He sandwiched the Eel between two slices of Salmon, adding Horsetail Kelp on the outside. Bi Fang took a bite, the richness oozing with fragrance, complemented by the fresh taste of the seaweed and its juices¡ªan absolute delight! [Damn, that looks delicious] [Is that a seafood burger?] [What an extravagant waste of food!] [Using salmon for grilling, such a reckless squandering!] Bi Fang chuckled, ¡°Although Atlantic salmon can be eaten raw, after all I¡¯m running out of wood, I should try to have more cooked meals.¡± ¡°Wild North Atlantic salmon are now rare, and the taste of the ¡®supreme among fish¡¯ is indeed very fresh and delicious. If you grill it, you might find it a bit oily, but living in the wild for a long time, I find it incredibly succulent, especially when paired with European eel. It¡¯s really a pity if you haven¡¯t tasted it.¡± Bi Fang, while eating the salmon and looking at the remaining fish bones, couldn¡¯t help but think of something else and began to share his thoughts with the audience. As a migratory species, the vitality of salmon has always been something he greatly admired. Unlike the survival instinct of Tiktaalik, which avoided crisis after crisis through evolution, salmon possess a pure life force. Every autumn, they swim upstream to return to their birthplace, migrating to the lakes high in the mountains. However, the journey is far from easy. Bears wait along the riversides, cormorants roam above the water surface, and groups of catfish lie at the bottom with their mouths open, revealing sharp teeth, waiting for the most bountiful feast of the year: these tender and flavorful salmon. Yet the salmon do not fear or hesitate. Regardless of the bear¡¯s sharp claws, or how eagles and schools of catfish snatch and tear their companions away, they struggle forward. With each inch they advance, they draw closer to the clouds above. Because atop the mountains lies a warm lake, full of aquatic plants. The surviving salmon lay thousands of eggs to replace their perished brethren. In the spring of the next year, these eggs hatch, and the young fish will live like their parents, as well as those salmon that couldn¡¯t escape from the hunters. Year after year, life continues to flourish. ¡°And the bodies of those salmon don¡¯t go to waste either, they become nutrients for nature, providing sustenance for their offspring and other aquatic life forms.¡± [Ah man, this makes me feel guilty about eating salmon in the future] [Homeland!] ¡°This is the cruel law of survival in nature,¡± Bi Fang said. Bi Fang lowered his head and took another bite, then paused and added, ¡°However, the salmon you all eat now are farmed. If they were still to migrate naturally, the fishermen would be the first to disapprove, as the loss would be too great.¡± [???] [I¡¯m moved!] [Way to ruin the mood] After devouring the entire ¡®burger¡¯ in just a few bites, Bi Fang looked out at the water. The appearance of the salmon and European eel had reminded him of something. ¡°Whether it¡¯s salmon or European eel, both require high water quality, which is also why wild salmon are scarce. So, I suspect that once I reach the shore, I might not find a harbor but a wilderness instead.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s speculation was not without reason; places with ports are often developed areas that have various factories and ships, which makes it hard to maintain high water quality. Only near the wilderness is it possible for salmon and European eel to breed here. It seems like immediate rescue is unlikely, Bi Fang sighed and was about to set sail to continue forward, when suddenly, a violent shaking came from beneath the raft. Bi Fang felt himself briefly lift into the air, then the raft tilted steeply, and seconds later, it crashed back down. The raft groaned under the strain. Bi Fang immediately looked up, but all he saw was, A tail, immensely huge! Chapter 253 - Chapter 253: Chapter 250: The Greatest Miracle of Life in the World! Chapter 253: Chapter 250: The Greatest Miracle of Life in the World! Whale! At the sight of that massive tail, Bi Fang realized at once what he had encountered. A huge whale! The raft fell into the water, splashing up a great deal of spray, and the craft rocked violently. Bi Fang lowered his center of gravity, letting his body sway in sync with the raft, narrowly avoiding being thrown off; then he tensed up as if facing a great enemy, staring fixedly at the whale beneath the raft. The audience was terrified by the sudden thrust of the whale just moments ago. Some even thought that an underwater volcanic eruption was about to send Bi Fang sky-high, only to realize it was just a nudge from the whale¡¯s tail. Wait, just a nudge from the whale¡¯s tail!? [Damn, that scared the piss out of me, I thought it was an earthquake!] [Holy shit, that¡¯s a huge whale, my goodness!] [It doesn¡¯t eat humans, right?] [Beiming has a fish, and now this] [Can Old Fang even handle a whale? It nearly flipped the raft just now, right?] The raft had almost fallen apart a while ago; if the whale struck with its tail once more, facing the largest animal on Earth, everybody was on edge. Out of the shark pack and into the whale¡¯s mouth? Bi Fang was silently sweating bullets himself; he had never been so close to a whale. Although he had seen them in his past life, it was from the safety of a boat, a good several dozen meters away! But just now, he could have touched it with an outstretched hand! No one could remain indifferent in the face of a creature dozens of meters long, a single opening of the whale¡¯s mouth could swallow his small craft whole! [By the way, I remember whales don¡¯t usually eat people¡­] ¡°Whales don¡¯t eat people, but that doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯re not dangerous! If it¡¯s a toothed whale, if you anger them, they might chew you up before spitting you out!¡± After showing its head, the whale rapidly vanished. Bi Fang lay beside the raft, staring intently at the ocean floor, trying to determine the type of whale since the situation had been too urgent earlier to get a clear look. Looking at the calm sea surface, it was enough to trigger a maximum level of thalassophobia, fearing that a giant mouth might suddenly emerge from below and swallow the raft whole! [Holy crap, are whales this scary?] Bi Fang did not respond but instead waited for the whale to resurface, or hoped it would never appear again. Unfortunately. A whale¡¯s call sounded again, and a giant head surfaced from the ocean, followed by a huge spray of water which formed a faint rainbow under the sunlight. And at the moment the whale¡¯s head appeared, Bi Fang¡¯s suspended heart was somewhat relieved. It wasn¡¯t a toothed whale, but a baleen whale, and the most widely known one at that. ¡°Blue Whale!¡± The largest existing animal on Earth, its weight is equivalent to more than 25 African elephants, or the combined weight of 2,000-3,000 people! Fifty people could stand on its tongue. Its heart is as big as a small car. An adult man could crawl through its arteries, and a newborn blue whale calf is heavier than an adult elephant. In the first seven months of its life, a calf drinks 400 liters of mother¡¯s milk, gaining 90 kilograms every 24 hours. This is a miracle of life, the most enormous, most majestic animal! [Holy shit, first time live-streaming a whale! Is this the Blue Whale?] [My god, it¡¯s so close! So big!] [Can you use some other words, and not sound so uncultured, please?] [Why don¡¯t you say something cultured?] [Holy crap, that¡¯s insanely cool!] [What kind of whale is that? Is it dangerous?] Bi Fang was also stunned by the close encounter with the blue whale, his eyes wide open. He didn¡¯t even notice the barrage of comments, and only thought to respond after the whale had dived back down. ¡°There might be a small chance, but it¡¯s very low. Blue whales are baleen whales, and most baleen whales are generally docile, very docile like a granny next door. But if it¡¯s a toothed whale, then the danger is much higher. Toothed whales are mostly fierce and ferocious, and the sperm whale is one of them, so many creatures in the ocean don¡¯t dare to provoke sperm whales.¡± The blue whale had just nudged the raft, probably unintentionally. After all, with the blue whale¡¯s massive size, it¡¯s quite difficult to maintain distance, and his raft was just a tiny one. Bi Fang lay at the edge of the raft, gaze eager. He wanted to see the blue whale again. Such opportunities were rare, especially at such close range, practically face-to-face, which to someone like him who pursued thrilling adventures was the ultimate reward. The audience, hearing there wasn¡¯t much danger, were all excited as well. Many people knew that blue whales were the largest whales in the world, yet had never seen one. Now, they were witnessing it together with Bi Fang, live-streamed, feeling the excitement of shared adventure. The massive shadow of the whale moved under the water, making the raft above seem incredibly tiny. As he watched the whale slowly swim by, Bi Fang suddenly seemed to remember something, his thoughts flashing through his mind like electricity, mapping out a picture of the Earth that linked into a line. ¡°The intersection of warm seawater and cold seawater is the perfect habitat for blue whales. Cold seawater is usually rich in plankton and krill, which are the main diet of blue whales. This coincides with the current sea area we¡¯re in.¡± ¡°There are only two populations of blue whales in the North Atlantic. The first is around Greenland, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, estimated to be around 500. The second is farther east, appearing around the Azores Archipelago in spring, and by July and August, they move to Iceland, navigating between these two volcanic islands along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The entire North Atlantic population ranges between 600 to 1500. Now it¡¯s February, the end of winter and start of spring, so based on their migration patterns and timing, as well as me approaching the mainland, could my final destination be Ireland?¡± Jerret looked at Pondy beside him, and Pondy looked back at Jerret. Both of them simultaneously typed a question mark. How the hell could he deduce that? According to the drone¡¯s GPS location, the closest land to Bi Fang indeed was Ireland! His guess was correct! Originally, Jerret thought that without paper or pen, and with the North Atlantic¡¯s rough seas and constant drifting of the raft, it would be impossible for Bi Fang to determine his exact latitude and longitude in order to identify his location¡­ And you¡¯re telling me he figured out where he is just by spotting a blue whale? Even professionals were astonished, let alone the ordinary viewers. Although Bi Fang had made many remarkable achievements, identifying his location by seeing a blue whale truly shocked everyone. [Production team, come out, is this for real?] [Although I¡¯ve always known Old Fang was awesome, this time it¡¯s just too awesome!] [Crap, he knows this too? That¡¯s outrageous!] [Damn, what¡¯s his role this time? A biological researcher?] The audience was overwhelmed with excitement. Such deductive methods were simply too cool. In such a vast ocean, to encounter one of the thousand blue whales, how fortunate and thrilling that was! Just then, the blue whale breached the surface. The whale broke through the water, sending a spout high into the sky. It stirred the sea with its long tail, leaving behind a transparent vortex over ten meters in diameter, its immense body creating thunderous sounds as it moved through the water. This was a blue whale dozens of meters long, its underbelly patterned like gray-and-white clouds, a giant Kun in the sky! Bi Fang stood on the raft, a smile on his face. This wasn¡¯t knowledge granted by the System, but from his past life as an investigator, he had always been fascinated by blue whales, and he knew where every single group was located. Land, not far now! Chapter 254 - Chapter 254: Chapter 251 Weve Been Pranked! Chapter 254: Chapter 251 We¡¯ve Been Pranked! ¡°Eric, any catch?¡± ¡°No, Charles, maybe we should go farther out.¡± Eric looked at the net with only a few small fish and felt a headache coming on. It was the third day they had been out at sea, and the catch was miserably small. The fish they had caught were only enough for their daily consumption; there was nothing to sell. They might have to return with an empty boat. Charles walked out of the captain¡¯s cabin and, seeing Eric looking downcast, patted him on the shoulder and consoled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Eric, we¡¯ll definitely have a catch today. We¡¯ve already gone far from the port, haven¡¯t we?¡± His old friend was good in every way, just too impatient. Fishing was something that required patience, and it wasn¡¯t unusual to return from a week at sea with nothing. ¡°Yes, we have gone far from the port.¡± Eric nodded. Because of the poor catch during the past three days, the two of them had decided to come to this area rarely traversed by other fishing boats, away from the port. Maybe this would yield more. This was the first trawling in this area today, and it didn¡¯t prove anything¡ªperhaps they would have a plentiful catch with the next haul. Both men grabbed the trawl net, ready to cast it again, but as Charles pulled open the net, he was shocked to find a large hole in it! ¡°Hey! Eric, do you see this? There¡¯s a hole in the net?¡± ¡°Uh, is that something to be happy about?¡± Eric was speechless. Why was his friend so pleased about the net being torn? Charles tried to lift the spirits of the pessimistic Eric, ¡°But it proves that it¡¯s not that there are no fish here, but rather a problem with our fishing, right?¡± Eric was startled. That seemed to make sense! With this thought, he became excited and ran to the winch to prepare for changing the net and starting to fish again. Charles also came to assist, his face full of smiles with the good news, ¡°This is truly the first good news of the day. It seems we¡¯re in luck, maybe we¡¯ll see whales or dolphins!¡± ¡°Then I must take a photo for my daughter! She¡¯s never seen dolphins before!¡± The waters around Ireland are an important habitat for whales and dolphins, where they often feed, rest, and breed. It is one of the prime spots for whale watching. Local fishing boats often see these sea creatures, and fishermen consider sightings a sign of a bountiful catch, ensuring they won¡¯t return empty-handed. But just as the two men finished replacing the trawl net, ready to throw it back into the sea, Charles suddenly stopped his movements. He stood still on the deck, squinting his eyes toward the distant ocean, slightly dazzled by the sunlight. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Eric stopped what he was doing as well and looked in the direction of his friend¡¯s gaze. After a while, he squinted his eyes in the same manner. Out on the distant sea, a patch of orange was becoming clearer and more conspicuous, looking a bit like a tent with something dragging beneath it. Was that, a life raft!? After staring for quite some time, Charles was startled and quickly ran back to the wheelhouse, ¡°Quick! That¡¯s a life raft, let¡¯s go check it out!¡± Eric¡¯s expression turned grave as he immediately began to stow the fishing net. They might have encountered survivors of a sea disaster! On the other side, the high-flying unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) had also captured the figure of a small fishing boat in the distance. The spectators were all excited; Master Fang had actually encountered people after nineteen days at sea! [Damn, is that a fishing boat? After twenty days, he¡¯s finally met someone, Master Fang is awesome!] [Awesome plus! He really made it to land on his own skill!] [Stink-stink, who got smoked to death, sends the host a Spaceship*1¡ªso incredible!] Bi Fang had also seen the fishing boat but did not immediately call for help. Instead, he observed the boat for a good while. Although the possibility of encountering pirates in the waters of Ireland was low, it was still better to be cautious. Not until he saw the trawl net and the few small fish within it did he determine that it was truly a fishing boat, and Bi Fang then chose to approach. As Charles steered the fishing boat closer to the raft, Eric immediately lowered the roped ladder from the deck. When Bi Fang climbed up to the railing, Eric reached out to pull him aboard. ¡°Hello, can you speak English?¡± Seeing their target rescued, Charles emerged from the cockpit and curiously sized up the slightly dark-faced young man in front of him. ¡°Yes!¡± Realizing that Bi Fang could understand English, Charles hurriedly asked, ¡°How long have you been adrift? Are there any other people needing rescue? Where are they? Quickly, lead us to them.¡± The other person didn¡¯t seem to be in particularly bad spirits, which suggested he might have only recently been in trouble. The incident location might be nearby, but were there any others needing rescue? Bi Fang shook his head. He wasn¡¯t really a castaway; facing the fishermen¡¯s inquiries, he responded truthfully. ¡°I¡¯ve been adrift for almost twenty days.¡± ¡°What?¡± Eric and Charles exclaimed in unison, with Eric being the first to disbelieve. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s twenty days? Not two days?¡± Bi Fang knew they would not believe him because the pronunciation difference between ¡°twenty¡± and ¡°two¡± in English meant that the two could not be confused. ¡°You¡¯re saying you survived on a life raft at sea for twenty days!?¡± Even after getting an affirmative, Eric still didn¡¯t believe it. He quickly walked to the edge of the deck, pointing at the raft below. But as soon as he looked down, he almost popped his eyes out. FUCK, how can there be so many fish? Atlantic Salmon, European Eel, Mackerel, Herring, Hairfin Anchovy, and even a Shark longer than a grown adult! Eric could rationalize the abundance of fish in front of him. Perhaps there was a fishing rod that snagged quite a haul during the accident, but how the hell is there a shark? This goddamn thing can also be caught? Are you Santiago? Are our two or three days¡¯ catch less than what a castaway has? At that moment, Eric suspected that he might have come across some sort of scam, or a television prank aiming to make a fool of him and Charles. Charles, seeing that his good buddy had checked the raft and gone silent as if he had crashed like a clockwork toy without its winding key, also curiously looked down. Clockwork toy without its winding key +1 The cold wind blew, chilling the hearts of the two brothers. Eric shakily reached inside his clothing. Bi Fang¡¯s eyes grew sharp, his body tensed with caution, until he saw Eric pull out a cigarette, then he relaxed. Eric took out a cigarette pack, drew one and placed it between his lips. His hands trembled as he tried to find a lighter, only to realize he might have forgotten to bring it. Just as he was about to put the cigarette back, a similarly quivering flame approached. He looked up; it was Charles, his hand also shaking severely. Bi Fang watched the scene, feeling somewhat moved. Indeed, fishermen lead hard lives. Look at these two, only in their thirties or under forty, and already they had chills, their hands trembling so much they couldn¡¯t even hold a cigarette steady. Eric took a deep draw on his cigarette and slowly exhaled. He looked at Bi Fang, convinced this was a prank show meant to mock fishermen like them who had been at sea for many days without any catch by having someone pretend to be a castaway and then loading up a boat with fish to taunt them. Life is tough, fishermen sigh. Suffering so much, yet still fooled by life, one must admit, their goal had been achieved. ¡°Tell me, where¡¯s the camera?¡± Bi Fang was startled, not expecting them to realize so quickly that this was a wilderness-themed show. Previously, to enhance the effect, the production team had specifically instructed the unmanned drone to fly low, avoiding their line of sight. Now that they had been found out, Bi Fang no longer intended to pretend, and he gestured with a hand. ¡°It¡¯s right there.¡± The drone slowly rose up, and the two brothers looked at each other and nodded simultaneously. They had indeed been pranked! Chapter 255 - Chapter 255: Chapter 252 Landing ashore Chapter 255: Chapter 252 Landing ashore ¡°Hahaha, you¡¯ve got it all wrong!¡± Aboard the fishing boat, Bi Fang was amused and helpless about the brothers¡¯ misunderstanding. It was unbelievable that someone mistook him for a prankster. Charles and Eric were dumbfounded. They had just been searching through the Discovery Channel, and when they saw themselves and their brother on screen, they had no choice but to believe that Bi Fang had actually survived for twenty days at sea with only a life raft! Even more so, there was not a single piece of supplies on the life raft, and even the safety rope had been cut, leaving only a short stub of a fixing head. Incredible! It wasn¡¯t that they hadn¡¯t seen survivors of sea accidents before; fishing boats met with accidents every year. But to say twenty days¡ªwhen even two days under the immense psychological pressure could make a person utterly haggard. Not to mention surviving for a full twenty days without any supplies. Such stories they had only seen in movies, never even heard of in reality. [Hahaha, these two are just too funny, thinking someone was playing a prank on them.] [Normal. If I met someone who survived on the sea for twenty days with just a life raft, lively and even catching a boatload of fish, I¡¯d think the same.] [No need to say anything else, just one word, Master Fang is awesome!] Admiration filled Eric¡¯s eyes, ¡°You¡¯re incredible! This is the first time I¡¯ve seen such an amazing star!¡± Charles nodded as well, impressed by Bi Fang¡¯s feat of surviving alone on a raft at sea for twenty days and immediately wanted to take a photo with him. ¡°How far are we from shore?¡± After the photo, Bi Fang looked at the compass and asked. ¡°It¡¯s about less than forty kilometers from the shore, a few hours¡¯ sail. But if we head to the port, the route is a bit longer. We probably won¡¯t be able to take you back until tomorrow.¡± Charles thought that Bi Fang wanted to board their boat to return. He explained the situation honestly. Encountering such a feat made missing a fishing trip worthwhile. ¡°No.¡± Bi Fang shook his head. He understood what the other meant but felt that since the distance was not far, he might as well continue to the shore by raft. It might even be faster than by boat. The two brothers were startled, but thinking about how the man before them had survived alone at sea for twenty days, they figured he must have his own aspirations for achievement and didn¡¯t try to persuade him further. ¡°Then stay on board for lunch before you go.¡± Eric, who had tied the raft to the railing, came over and invited Bi Fang. Bi Fang gladly accepted and couldn¡¯t help but smack his lips. Having survived at sea for twenty days, he truly missed the delicious food of human society. Even if what the two brought out was just canned food, it tasted exceptionally good. Bi Fang also took out the most delicious European eels and the remaining half a Atlantic salmon from the boat to share. ¡°This salmon has been out for two days now; it might not be very fresh.¡± ¡°How could that be? You have no idea how rare wild salmon is these days. Even if it¡¯s been out for a week, people would be fighting to get it! We¡¯ve been out at sea for three days and haven¡¯t caught any big fish!¡± Eric said excitedly, not expecting that he would get to enjoy wild salmon and European eels, both of which are top-notch luxury goods expensive enough to break the bank. Adding canned sauce to the pot to stew with the eel, the fantastic aroma wafted out. Together with the juice-soaked bread, it was a trip well worth it, indeed! The three sat around the dining table, feasting and listening to Bi Fang¡¯s amusing stories, especially when the brothers heard that Bi Fang had just seen a blue whale, their eyes lit up. ¡°A blue whale? You really saw a blue whale?¡± ¡°Yes, my raft isn¡¯t very fast. It was probably around north by northwest thirty degrees, over fifty kilometers from here. If you¡¯re lucky, you might catch sight of it too.¡± Charles and Eric looked at each other and immediately decided to head in the direction Bi Fang pointed to. It wasn¡¯t just because they wanted to see the Sea Sprite but also because where there are whales there are usually plenty of plankton, krill and other creatures, which in turn means other fish that feed on them are abundant¡ªan assured bountiful catch. After eating, Bi Fang bid the two farewell, raised the large sail, and set off towards the continent, while Charles and Eric hurriedly rushed toward the sea area Bi Fang had indicated. Bi Fang faced the sea breeze, feeling the pervasive sense of freedom, experiencing a beautiful feeling of escaping into nature, free and carefree. Less than forty kilometers, if the wind was strong enough, he might have found the shoreline today. Indeed, as evening approached, a blurred outline appeared in everyone¡¯s view; with the distance narrowing, the audience finally saw that it was a coastline resembling a towering rock wall, full of cliffs and precipices that were impossible to ascend. No wonder there was no harbor! [How are we supposed to get up there?] [Damn, can we even climb that? It¡¯s got to be at least twenty meters high, right?] [Finding the coastline is already good, just follow it and we¡¯ll eventually find a place to land] Bi Fang nodded in agreement, yes, by following the coastline, one would always find a place to ascend; if all else failed, one could just climb up. By the time he actually approached the rock wall, it was already night. Darkness enveloped everything, with only the pale moonlight remaining, while the tide shattered into black foam beneath the dark cliffs. A young man touched the towering rock wall, inching along as he tried to find an open space. The monotonous sound of the tide made an unusual silence. Climbing up wouldn¡¯t be difficult on its own, but Bi Fang was reluctant to leave behind the bounty of his ship. In the live stream, some viewers didn¡¯t choose to watch through the night vision camera but looked at the images under normal light. As clouds parted and the moon shone through, the ocean surface gleamed, the black cliffs plunging into the sea like a fortress descending from the sky avoiding the ocean, dividing the land and sea into two distinct realms. And beneath the immense cliff, a small figure of a young man carefully moved along, supporting himself against the black rock face, his face half in shadow, half illuminated when the moonlight fell upon him. [What an aesthetic! The moonlight is incredible!] [Nature is the best lighting designer] [Old Fang is handsome no matter what!] ¡°Everyone must be careful when you are under the cliffs because strong winds could easily knock rocks down from above. A fall from ten or twenty meters could be fatal to humans.¡± ¡°So when we hear the sound of falling rocks, we must immediately press ourselves against the cliff face as closely as possible, then crouch down with our hands over our heads. This minimizes the chance of getting hit by falling rocks, or reduces the harm they can cause, and prevents a fatal blow.¡± As Bi Fang explained, he kept his focus on the rock face, taking no chances, especially in pitch darkness. Finally, after feeling the wall for over three hours in the dark, Bi Fang saw a patch of shingle beach gleaming under the moonlight! Bi Fang paddled towards the shingle beach, being careful of the rocks in the water at all times. The more perilous the situation, the less one could afford to hurry; he remained vigilant of the tides, knowing that a shift could drag the raft back into the ocean. The raft drifted slower and slower until, with a wedging jolt as if caught on something, Bi Fang was overjoyed. He wrapped all his bounty in canvas, excitedly moving to one end of the raft. The black tide, with its white foam, washed over the shingle beach, and occasionally, small crabs with reflective shells scuttled across only to be knocked sideways by the next wave. The beach was dotted with the reflections of these small creatures. Splat. A pair of deep footprints were left in the mud. Twenty days of survival at sea. Landing. Chapter 256 - Chapter 256: Chapter 253: In Name and In Reality Chapter 256: Chapter 253: In Name and In Reality His foot pressed into the soft sand and gravel, and the unrealistic sensation of daily drifting instantly vanished, replaced by a sense of solid steadiness. It was an inexplicable feeling of safety, like a traveler returning to his hometown. At this moment, Bi Fang¡¯s confidence was through the roof, and even if a lion suddenly sprang forth, he felt sure that he could take it on in a fight. Of course, not with a guarantee of winning. Even the audience was enveloped in a sense of bliss at this moment. The fear that had them on tenterhooks every day, worrying that the raft would fall apart and they would be lost at sea, had completely disappeared, leaving them feeling grounded and at ease. The live broadcast had them accompanying Bi Fang as he drifted at sea for twenty days before being rescued. This rich sense of participation was unmatched by prerecorded programs. Especially the uncertainty was very appealing, making it hard for them to tune out. With prerecorded shows, everyone could guess the ending. If a real death threat emerged, filming would cease, and the recording would pause. But live broadcasts are different; no one knows what will happen next. Encountering a shark, no one knew if Bi Fang could survive or if he would indeed be in danger. Such allure was extremely fatal. Many switched channels, only to find themselves irresistibly drawn back within minutes, afraid that while they were caught up in the melodramatic plots of doctors, lawyers, and students falling in love, Bi Fang might be creating a significant story out at sea they would regret missing. [Finally came ashore, I¡¯m so tired of looking at the sea every day, I feel like throwing up.] [Yeah, Master Fang actually did it, that¡¯s amazing. It must have been hundreds of miles, right? He found land just by using a life raft.] [Another chapter for the legend¡¯s biography!] [Disney: Got new material] [Don¡¯t even mention it, I used to watch Disney animations and thought foreigners had wild imaginations with beautiful stories. Now it seems trivial. If they came to work with Master Fang, I wouldn¡¯t find it strange at all. It only shows they are insightful, so I strongly demand a raise!] [The legend is right beside us! I feel like Old Fang is now even more impressive than Pan Jinlian!] The head of the Discovery Channel was equally thrilled to see the ratings soar beyond previous records. If it weren¡¯t for still being at work, he would¡¯ve loved to crack open a beer and celebrate on the spot. ¡°He really did it.¡± Jerry and Pondy looked on with complex emotions, a mix of admiration and excitement welling up inside them. The two had experienced incredible highs and lows in life. Initially, they thought the mission was just challenging, but in reality, they soon realized it wasn¡¯t just difficult; it was the impossible mode of Hell. And yet, Bi Fang had actually accomplished it. It was no wonder his fans called him GOD FANG, a title well-earned. In any case, the ratings had exploded, the crew was over the moon, everyone benefitted, Bi Fang included, as his fame spread even farther. Everyone loves an adventure story. Nowadays, people are accustomed to browsing content of interest on their phones, but a thrilling adventure story can keep a whole family patiently sitting in front of the TV. As more people become aware of this new style of show in the future, the ratings will only get higher. In times of industry downturn, the Discovery Channel will become a shining example of success against the current. Many online have already reviewed the new show launched by the Discovery Channel, with mostly positive comments. But Jerry didn¡¯t bother with these remarks and asked the team to stay alert and prepare for the final work. The mission objective was to survive at sea for twenty-one days. Now, by directly finding a fishing boat on land, it also meant that the mission was indirectly accomplished, and beautifully so. It remained to be seen whether Bi Fang would want to continue filming the complete twenty-one days or if it would end here and he would return to the city for recuperation. The hospital had already been contacted, and as soon as Bi Fang gave the word, a helicopter would immediately go to take him to the VIP ward for a full check-up, including heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and every organ, to ensure his safety. ¡°Let¡¯s complete the twenty-one days.¡± Bi Fang saw the display on the drone and shook his head, declining their kind offer. The numerous live broadcasts had given Bi Fang a sense that he wasn¡¯t far from the city. Perhaps today or tomorrow, he would find a town to put a perfect end to this drifting journey. He dismantled the life raft from the raft, dragging it ashore: ¡°It should be early morning now. I won¡¯t say much more. Everyone should get some sleep. First thing tomorrow morning, let¡¯s go in search of the city together.¡± After saying goodbye, Bi Fang ducked into the tent and went offline. Closing his eyes, ten minutes later¡­ Bi Fang suddenly opened his eyes wide. He couldn¡¯t sleep anymore. Twenty days of drifting at sea, suddenly the swaying stopped; being stable and secure was something he was not used to. The excitement of finding land was still shaking him. Eventually, he didn¡¯t know when, but a strong wave of sleepiness hit him, and he fell into a drowsy slumber. The next day, countless foreign viewers sat in front of their TVs early, tirelessly watching a documentary on Discovery Channel about turtles completing the grand harmony of life and reproducing their offspring, waiting for the screen to switch, In the live broadcast room, millions of viewers were urging on. [It¡¯s already nine o¡¯clock; Old Fang usually wakes up after six or seven days. He¡¯s being too lazy.] [I stayed up until five in the morning yesterday; damn, I¡¯m dead tired. What happened afterward?] [They found land, but then they encountered a bunch of fierce bandits who even shot at them with machine guns. Old Fang made a beach landing, fought ten at a time, and kicked their asses.] [I don¡¯t believe you, what is this, Syria? Machine guns? Why don¡¯t you just launch a nuclear bomb?] [Coincidentally, this group of bandits had stolen a mini nuke; the deal got busted on-site, which is why they went on a killing spree. Luckily, Old Fang stopped them in the end, preventing a massacre.] [Did all¡­ this really happen?] ¡°He¡¯s still not awake?¡± Jerret woke up early and headed straight to the director of photography. ¡°Not yet¡­¡± the director of photography began to reply out of habit, wanting to say not yet, but suddenly saw Bi Fang moving in the video, then opening his eyes, ¡°He¡¯s awake!¡± Jerret immediately urged, ¡°Hurry up!¡± The director of photography nodded and after confirming Bi Fang was okay, started the live broadcast. After greeting the viewers, Bi Fang jumped off the life raft and began to pack the remaining things. Anything unnecessary was left behind; two days¡¯ worth of supplies would be enough, and he only took one bottle of water. The remaining shark bones were too big and not very convenient; he felt a tinge of regret, but it was just a tinge. These bones could only be eaten, not preserved for long, so he left them to naturally decompose. Lastly, there was a full bag of Shark Teeth; many, super many. Bi Fang hadn¡¯t counted them, but there were at least a thousand. ¡°Now you guys are in for a treat; probably about half the people in the fan groups should be able to get one.¡± Bi Fang weighed the parcel in his hand, the sound of teeth clinking inside. [Wow, I¡¯m envious, all five fan groups are full, and I can¡¯t get in¡­] [Looks like¡­] [I wonder if I could get another, I washed the Wolf Fang from last time, drilled a hole in it, and made it into a necklace. Old Fang in the frame, so cool.] [I¡¯m envious.] ¡°Don¡¯t forget to retrieve the life raft.¡± Bi Fang shouted at the screen, he was instructing the show¡¯s crew, and this was a request they agreed to fulfill; just a matter of the helicopter following him and picking it up. Apart from the life raft, the rest were natural materials, so there was no need to worry too much about harming the environment. Turning the canvas into a makeshift backpack, Bi Fang shouldered a full bag of fish meat and hit the road. Chapter 257 - Chapter 257: Chapter 254 Hostility! Chapter 257: Chapter 254 Hostility! ¡°` The figure jumped across the tundra. There were no big trees here, only the green tundra, and the open environment made Bi Fang could not help but start running as soon as he set foot on land, hopping from rock to rock with practiced ease, like a lithe cheetah. Occasionally, when he encountered a rock wall six or seven meters high, all he needed to do was take a glance and he could climb up like a monkey, as swiftly as if he had done it a thousand times before. Much stronger compared to his first livestream. [I feel like Old Fang is way more awesome than in his first livestream, running for so long without even breaking a sweat or getting out of breath] [He had to teach before which definitely slows you down] [Maybe he broke up with his girlfriend, that¡¯s why he¡¯s got so much energy] [Indeed, young people need to be temperate. Even if one has a good back, you can¡¯t squander your health. Life has an end, and in the wilderness, facing danger, you can be more composed] [I¡¯ve already made him temperate, but who could help being too beautiful] [Pfft, gross] Bi Fang glanced at the comments and forcefully suppressed the urge to retort. He had definitely become stronger. Apart from anything else, his body weight had increased by ten kilograms over the last six months, but fortunately, it was all muscle, so the change in his physique wasn¡¯t obvious. As for skills, Bi Fang had to admire his own foresight. Pretending to be an ¡°expert¡± was indeed the right move, even now that he had become an actual expert, the performance gap wasn¡¯t huge. To the audience familiar with him, it just seemed like he was getting more adapted with each livestream, a natural progression. It would be strange if he hadn¡¯t improved at all after so many adventures. ¡°The vegetation is getting denser!¡± Bi Fang climbed a small hill and, looking down at the forest below, then checked the slope to make sure it wasn¡¯t too steep. He lowered his center of gravity and slid down the slope sideways, sliding directly down the hillside. The moss and other plants were very slippery, and Bi Fang slid down quickly, the grass clippings flying and sticking to his shoes while wisps of hair at his temples flew up with the wind. [Holy shit, that move was kind of cool.] [I wanna slide, too.] [Slide your way into the hospital, why don¡¯t you.] [This is very dangerous. Without strong core muscles, it¡¯s best not to casually imitate.] Just as the audience was exclaiming over Bi Fang¡¯s movements, a gunshot alarmed everybody. The gunshot was deafening, and Bi Fang reflexively ducked and rolled, before flattening himself on the ground, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily, but no one appeared. Who could it be? Not just Bi Fang, but the audience was startled as well, especially the program team. The most famous incident involving Bi Fang was naturally the goose migration, where he encountered the merciless poachers. Could it be that he had run into them again? The area was desolate and seemed like a good spot for hunting. [Holy shit, I was just joking. He hasn¡¯t really run into some desperate bandits, has he?] [Hurry and say ¡°ptui ptui ptui!¡±] [Pfft pfft pfft!] [Rustle rustle rustle!] Bi Fang lay in the underbrush, not daring to make any sudden movements. Last time he managed to take on four mostly because he had the advantage of the environment. If he encountered armed criminals again, he couldn¡¯t be sure he could handle it. ¡°Go have a look.¡± Jerret immediately instructed the director of photography to control the drone to look in the direction of the gunshot. This was too dangerous and needed to be scouted. Seeing the drone move away, Bi Fang didn¡¯t say much and quietly waited for the outcome. Much as he felt his luck couldn¡¯t be that bad to encounter poachers every time, and since Ireland didn¡¯t have any rare animals, it seemed more likely that he had run into an ordinary hunter. ¡°Hey, Barton, a big fox!¡± Mugalen was waving a long-haired, plump fox, and in addition, he had a rabbit hanging over his shoulder. Barton drove up to where Mugalen stood: ¡°Hey, you¡¯re in luck, actually managing to hunt as soon as you arrive.¡± ¡°` ¡°` Mugalen was somewhat unhappy when he heard that, ¡°This isn¡¯t luck, I¡¯m a Deer Hunter! I caught them with my skills! A rabbit and a fox, we¡¯re going to have a good meal tonight.¡± ¡°Bunnies are so cute, how can one eat bunnies!¡± A childlike voice suddenly came from the back seat, and Milani crawled out, a hint of anger in her eyes. Mugalen was startled, ¡°But you clearly ate a whole bowl last time!¡± ¡°Ah, that was rabbit meat?¡± Upon hearing the dreadful news, the light in Milani¡¯s eyes dimmed as she recalled how tasty the rabbit meat was, and tears involuntarily streamed down from the corners of her mouth. Barton couldn¡¯t help but pat Milani¡¯s head, ¡°Hahaha, don¡¯t be sad, Milani, next time Uncle will catch you a live one to keep as a pet!¡± Milani¡¯s eyes immediately sparkled again, ¡°Still for stew?¡± Barton: ¡°¡­¡± This little girl, why is her thought process so strange? Not cute at all like his son. Thinking of his son, Barton suddenly remembered that ever since his friend had come over to his house, Milani had gotten his son hooked on some Wilderness Survivalist¡¯s livestream. Usually, they wouldn¡¯t even respond to calls for dinner, so why did they think of coming out today? ¡°Master Fang has come ashore, right in Ireland, I think we might run into him!¡± Milani said seriously, ¡°Danny is so stupid, he didn¡¯t even respond when I called him, he has no clue what he¡¯s going to miss! What a dummy!¡± Milani was clearly unhappy that her little companion stayed at home to watch the livestream alone. Now that they were in the wild, the signal wasn¡¯t good, and the video was lagging. Barton and Mugalen exchanged a glance and laughed heartily, but didn¡¯t have the heart to burst the little girl¡¯s bubble. How could it be possible to just go out hunting and run into¡­ ¡°Duh dad, we¡¯re on TV!¡± Their laughs froze, and they both looked at Milani¡¯s phone at the same time. ??? A big question mark appeared over the heads of Barton and Mugalen, then Barton looked up and suddenly noticed the drone above, pressing down on Mugalen¡¯s head to look up at the sky. A drone was hovering silently overhead. All of their conversation had been captured. [Holy crap, Old Fang, even here you encounter your fans?] [Fans know no borders] [Awesome, that little girl is so cute, I think I could wait ten years] [One shouldn¡¯t, at least probably not] [One should, at least give it a try] [Wow, life¡¯s getting more predictable by the day.] ¡°Hello there?¡± Bi Fang slowly walked out from the forest. Through the bullet comments, he¡¯d figured out the identities of these people, who would at least not be bad folks since they brought their daughter out with them. Mugalen was at a loss, not expecting that they would actually run into him just like that. His gaze towards Bi Fang was complex. This was the guy who had captivated his daughter these past few days. He had thought that she wanted to come out to see her father¡¯s brave hunting pose, but it turned out it was still because of this man. Mugalen felt as if he had lost something, the little coat draped over him getting colder and colder. Barton, on the other hand, was very cheerful. He got out of the car to greet Bi Fang enthusiastically and invited him to visit their home. His boy practically idolized Bi Fang; running into him just like this would make him crazy happy! ¡°The town is just at the foot of the mountain, we¡¯ll be there in a bit, no difference, right? My son is your fan; he must be watching the livestream right now. He¡¯d go crazy if he found out I didn¡¯t bring you home!¡± ¡°Well then, sorry to trouble you.¡± Bi Fang, hearing there was another little fan waiting for him, felt too embarrassed to refuse and immediately agreed. He also noticed the little girl in the car and the man next to her whose gaze revealed some hostility. He stiffened, what was going on? Did he say something wrong? Why did this man have hostility towards him? ¡°` Chapter 258 - Chapter 258: Chapter 255 Overwhelming Situation Chapter 258: Chapter 255 Overwhelming Situation Four people in a car, they set off for the small town at the foot of the mountain in a grand manner. Everyone in the car was having a great time, except for the serious-faced Mugalen. The cheerful laughter was like a siren¡¯s song to his ears; seeing his adorable daughter¡¯s smiling face, Mugalen felt like he had lost something important. Especially when he noticed Milani¡¯s gaze furtively glancing at the pouch around Bi Fang¡¯s waist, the longing in her eyes made him uncomfortable. It appeared to be some animal¡¯s teeth inside the pouch, combining that with the livestream they had watched the day before, it must be shark teeth. Mugalen didn¡¯t give much thought to mere shark teeth. It was a bit dangerous to kill a two-meter shark with bare hands, but it wasn¡¯t difficult for him, a member of the Deer Hunter Elite Special Forces, as long as he didn¡¯t run into a school of sharks, then he could have as many shark teeth as he wanted. But he understood that such shark teeth held a completely different value in his daughter¡¯s heart; they weren¡¯t collectible shark teeth. The so-called raffle was only drawn among Huaxia¡¯s audience; his daughter had no chance of getting them. No choice then¡­ A fierce glint flashed in Mugalen¡¯s eyes, anger rose in his heart, and he reached out his large hand to grab the passenger seat¡­ ¡°Hey, can I trade this fox and rabbit for two of your teeth?¡± He grasped two fluffy prey, trying to strike a deal with Bi Fang, ¡°I killed both with a single blow, especially the fox, the fur is still in decent condition, can I exchange for two teeth?¡± Having decided to trade, he might as well get two, to bring one back for the Barton¡¯s kid as well. If that didn¡¯t work¡­ Then there was no other option. Mugalen sighed in his heart. Bi Fang was engrossed in a pleasant conversation with Milani when he was suddenly interrupted by Mugalen. After pondering for a moment, he unhooked the pouch from his waist, rustled around in it, and handed two of the largest and finest shark teeth to the eager Milani. ¡°And one more is for Danny, be careful with it, it¡¯s very sharp, don¡¯t hurt yourself.¡± ¡°Mhm!¡± Milani¡¯s eyes sparkled as she treasured the two shark teeth in her hands as if they were precious gems. Bi Fang smiled and patted the girl¡¯s head, turned to look at Mugalen, ¡°No need to trade, you just prepare them, and we¡¯ll all enjoy a meal together, how about that?¡± ¡°No problem!¡± Before Mugalen could reply, Barton at his side already cheerfully agreed. Since the game was hunted together, it was abundant everywhere. He took the initiative to agree, planning to host them at his house, and the game they had caught would be perfect for entertaining their guests. Perfect! [Damn, Old Fang has charm that even wins over little girls!] [Speaking of which, shouldn¡¯t Master Fang reek of fish right now?] [Nonsense, a fairy¡¯s fart smells sweet, how could a male fairy stink?] [Ah¡­ makes sense, into the Ganges River you go.] At this moment, however, Mugalen felt like a rooster with its throat snatched, his presence among the four had diminished to its lowest, and a sense of dissatisfaction began to well up inside him. ¡°I¡¯m in too.¡± ¡°What?¡± Bi Fang was confused, not understanding what Mugalen meant. Seeing Bi Fang clueless, Mugalen suddenly felt a sense of superiority as he finally delivered his line, ¡°The Discovery Channel is organizing a second wilderness program, it¡¯s a multi-person competition, I¡¯ve signed up for it, are you interested?¡± Milani finally remembered her father, who was as inconspicuous as the air, ¡°My dad is with the Deer Hunter Troop, he¡¯s awesome!¡± ¡°Deer Hunter?¡± A touch of peculiarity flickered in Bi Fang¡¯s eyes; he had a certain understanding of many special forces units around the world. If there were special forces that were particularly adept at jungle warfare, the Deer Hunters were definitely one of the best. The live-stream chat was also drawn to the name of this unit. The Deer Hunters sounded like a formidable opponent, more like a hunter unit than a special forces one. Indeed, many military enthusiasts thoroughly understood, enthusiastically educating other viewers. As Bi Fang¡¯s followers kept increasing, the chat had all sorts of people. [Damn, a unit made up of hunters? Sounds badass.] [Speaking of which, has the Discovery Channel already begun preparing a second program?] [A multiplayer event? Want to see it. Will Old Fang participate? It¡¯ll be a sweep!] ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± In that moment, Mugalen smiled. He was eager to know if Bi Fang would join, for if he could win against him on the show, he might just win back his daughter¡­ well, the reputation as the number one Wilderness Survivalist. Mugalen knew that the other party was from Hunter Academy, but that referred to hunters in the literal sense, essentially a special forces training camp, different from his own profession as a hunter. Don¡¯t put too much faith in novels, movies, or television shows portraying special forces soldiers; in terms of wilderness survival, they generally don¡¯t match up to professional hunters. This wasn¡¯t to belittle them; rather, it was a single-sided comparison. Modern special forces weren¡¯t all-knowing as some might believe, and when it came to hand-to-hand combat, they weren¡¯t necessarily stronger than professional fighters unless they were among the elite, like a team captain. The true strength of special forces lay in their firearm proficiency, sniping, demolitions, and teamwork. They excelled at various tactical arrangements and strategic awareness, as well as obedience¡ªskills that hunters couldn¡¯t hope to match. If both sides were fully prepared, a small squad of special forces could easily wipe out a large group of hunters, whether in an urban setting or the jungle. Of course, if the hunters avoided contact and engaged in a war of attrition in the jungle, that would be a different story. After all, times had changed; so-called martial arts masters were no longer merely the strongest brutes in physical combat. Being proficient with firearms and well-versed in various tactics and knowledge was the real skill. But Mugalen was proficient in both worlds. Coming from a family of hunters and having received special training, he was a marksman of exceptional talent. Even if Bi Fang, who hadn¡¯t upgraded his Wilderness Survival Skill to the orange master level, had to admit that the other party was a formidable opponent. ¡°What do you say? Will you participate? It¡¯s a wilderness survival event with at least five people.¡± [Feels like this guy is a bit arrogant. Old Fang, accept his challenge!] [Right, let others see what real skill is!] [Speaking of which, why wasn¡¯t Master Fang informed about such an awesome show? Do they think he¡¯s too high-level (dog¡¯s head)?] Bi Fang¡¯s eyes gleamed. Contrary to what everyone assumed, he actually¡­ knew about the show. Moreover, he had already participated, but his involvement differed from Mugalen¡¯s expectation. When the Discovery Channel approached him, they had arranged for two programs: the first one, with unknown content, was the current ocean survival plan; the second was the Wilderness Arena, which he knew entirely about, even more clearly than Mugalen, a contestant. However, at the time, the program team didn¡¯t want him to participate directly in the competition but instead¡­ serve as a judge. He was set to act as an authoritative figure, scoring the remaining members at the end of the show to determine the ultimate champion. Bi Fang had calculated the timing. The broadcasting of the show would happen just a few years after the conclusion of his current live stream; it was also during the annual Spring Break period of Huaxia. He didn¡¯t plan to stream during that time but rather to take a proper rest. How could he miss out on being a judge, an easy yet entertaining task? Watching Mugalen, whose eyes were ablaze with the fires of combat, Bi Fang felt uneasy being too blunt, lest others think he had grown arrogant with fame. He offered a noncommittal response. ¡°I will participate.¡± ¡°Oh! Really?¡± Mugalen, excited, reached out and firmly shook Bi Fang¡¯s hand, ¡°Then, I look forward to our next encounter.¡± Bi Fang smiled. ¡°You will.¡± Chapter 259 - Chapter 259: Chapter 256 Wilderness Hunter Chapter 259: Chapter 256 Wilderness Hunter The sun had reached its zenith when Bi Fang finally arrived at the town at the foot of the mountain. He looked around, to the north lay a forest teeming with high mountains and dense clouds, and to the south was a European town brimming with the vigor of life, situated at the border between the North Atlantic and the inland. At this moment, it was the warmest time of day, the streets were gradually bustling with activity, a competent and beautiful landlady stood at her doorstep greeting familiar customers, fishmongers and fruit vendors had set up their stalls out on the street, and the air was filled with the salty sea breeze and the aroma of coffee. Cars drove by. There was a sign in front of the town with some English on it, probably the town¡¯s name, but it was somewhat abstract, and Bi Fang couldn¡¯t make it out at a glance. The streets of the town still exuded the atmosphere of the last century, flanked by stone houses, with merchants hanging blue batik signs in front of their shops, and the occasional modern structure was a two- or three-story building, with blooming shrubs planted in between the buildings. The audience from Huaxia, most of whom lived either in cities or rural areas, had never seen such an authentically flavored European town and found everything novel and curious. Barton parked his car in the garage of the courtyard, and upon opening the car door, he heard the sound of the tides. They couldn¡¯t see the sea, yet they could distinctly feel its presence, with a small mountain separating them from it, the sound of the tides echoed between heaven and earth. Since the town was surrounded by mountains and beyond them were steep cliffs, ships couldn¡¯t dock, so naturally, there were no harbors. To reach the nearest bay, one would have to drive for about an hour through forest trails, which is why many places still retained their era-specific character. Bi Fang took in the warm scents of the street with flared nostrils, feeling as though he had returned to the human world. ¡°It¡¯s over,¡± he said. A breath full of sea-scented turbidity was gently exhaled, and Bi Fang, looking at his live stream, showed a smile. The audience, seeing this familiar smile, vaguely sensed what was coming. [Ah, is it ending?] [No way, is it ending this quickly?] [Wori, it¡¯s only day twenty, there¡¯s still one day left, refund my ticket!] [Exactly, there¡¯s still one day left.] ¡°I can¡¯t help it, I¡¯ve completely returned to human society,¡± Bi Fang said as he pointed to the street beside him, with passersby occasionally walking past, curiously sizing up this outsider, as if he had arrived in a paradise. ¡°The conditions at sea are extremely harsh, it¡¯s a vast blue desert with no resources, no tools, and even water is hard to come by, with part of one¡¯s destiny already controlled by nature. But at all times, we must remember that the will to survive is paramount. Never give up, never get discouraged, keep your spirits high, and even if your body¡¯s last bit of energy is squeezed out, do not fall, let your will dominate your body. That is also why I¡¯ve always kept the helicopter at a distance. Its presence would give me a way out; once the will weakens, it¡¯s not a true survival adventure. With a firm belief, even someone like Pan Lian, a common man with no basis in survival, can unleash potential that is hard to imagine for most people.¡± ¡°Without further ado, this is where the sea survival live stream ends. Next time, I might be on the other side of the Earth, a brand new corner untouched by humans, waiting for you.¡± Bi Fang gave a two-finger salute, then the live stream went black before the eyes of the eagerly watching audience. But after a few seconds, the screen lit up again, and everyone perked up. Had it returned? The screen lit up not with Bi Fang¡¯s image but two turtles in the midst of completing their life¡¯s great harmony. It was a pre-set loop video. Yeah, really over! [Wait for the edited highlights, eagerly.] [May the heavens and earth bless me so that I may draw a shark tooth in the lottery.] [Admiring, I don¡¯t dare to hope to win the lottery, but to be accepted into the group would be a success.] [Upstairs has been single for twenty years, let me win the shark tooth.] After the live stream disconnected, the audience¡¯s enthusiasm not only didn¡¯t wane but grew even stronger, looking forward to becoming the Lucky Emperor. On the other side, Bi Fang also arrived at the Barton household, where he met another little fan, Danny, who showed even more exaggerated enthusiasm than Milani, his face brimming with happiness as he took hold of the Shark Tooth. Barton arranged a room for Bi Fang directly, saying he should stay the night before leaving. Bi Fang, unable to resist such warmth, accepted after speaking with the production team. Afterwards, he took a bath, washing away all the fishy smell from his body, and shaved his beard, emerging a completely refreshed man. The two little guys¡¯ eyes shone even brighter. That evening, the Barton couple and their family, along with Milani, Mugalen, and the visiting Bi Fang, six people in total, enjoyed a lavish dinner to celebrate Bi Fang¡¯s successful survival. Glasses clinked and conversations crossed. After the lively festivities, Bi Fang returned to his room, lay on the modern industrial product, and almost fell asleep as his head hit the pillow. The feeling of enduring countless hardships and then resting in the city was simply too delightful. After dozing for a moment, Bi Fang calmed his mind and began to check the rewards for this live broadcast mission. [Ding! Congratulations to the Host for completing the mission: Riding the Wind and Waves. The rewards are being issued, would you like to claim them?] Claim! [Detected that the Host has completed the task with high efficiency, your final reward includes the minimum guaranteed reward: Intermediate Skill Upgrade Coupon*1, Shark Muscle Strengthening Coupon*1. Additional rewards: Wilderness Points*2000, Enhancement Points*3, Identity Change Coupon*1] Bi Fang¡¯s spirits lifted as soon as he saw the completion rate of the task, knowing that his initial thoughts were correct, reaching land indeed made a difference compared to drifting and surviving for twenty-one days. An unprecedented grand harvest! Just the Wilderness Points alone amounted to two thousand! This was the first time his points had exceeded the two thousand mark! The remaining coupons were all valuable too, not to mention the Identity Change Coupon, the special forces identity had given Bi Fang a significant boost, and it would continue to be very useful as it could evolve with the advancement of his skills. The Shark Muscle Strengthening Coupon was just as good; it targeted the serratus anterior muscle, which connects the shoulder blades, chest muscles, and obliques. Because it looked like gills of a shark, it was named the shark muscle; not only does it sound imposing but also looks it, and it is one of the characteristics of human aesthetics. However, this muscle is extremely difficult to develop, but once mastered, the benefits are immense, noticeably enhancing overall strength and explosive power, hence deemed the boxer¡¯s muscle, one of the core muscle groups. Yoga has a significant effect on it, but up till now, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t made any notable progress which showed the difficulty level. Fortunately, the System¡¯s reward gave him a direct upgrade. However, whether it was the Strengthening Coupon or the Identity Change Coupon, in Bi Fang¡¯s eyes, neither was as important as another coupon, the Intermediate Skill Enhancement Coupon! Bi Fang had received such a coupon before, but none were as important as the current Intermediate coupon. Because, he still had an Advanced Skill Progression Coupon. As soon as he leveled up his Purple Wilderness Survival Skill lv4 to the maximum, he would acquire his very first Orange Legendary Skill! Without hesitation, upgrade! A purple light flashed, and the Wilderness Survival lv4 had now turned into Wilderness Survival lv5, the prerequisite condition was fulfilled! Bi Fang found the Advanced Skill Upgrade Coupon, took deep breaths continuously. In his past life as a professional, he only had some Green Skills which were the result of years of dedicated practice. The System gave him the opportunity to peek at greater heights, allowing him to experience views seldom touched by the common folk. Without skills, he couldn¡¯t have calmly assessed the situation under the Black Bear¡¯s attack, driving away the threat. He couldn¡¯t have led his team step by step away from danger when encountering a pack of wolves, setting traps, and formulating counterattack plans targeting the wolves¡¯ weaknesses. He couldn¡¯t have defeated prehistoric creatures that had lived in an Underground Cave for hundreds of millions of years. And it was impossible to triumph over armed poachers equipped with thermal weapons using only cold weapons, traversing three thousand kilometers to escort Geese home through the night. Bi Fang closed his eyes, scenes from the past constantly flickered through his mind, and after three minutes, he exhaled and reopened his eyes. By pressing this coupon, he would truly become a top master in this field! Bi Fang¡¯s expression was solemn as his finger slowly pressed down. A burst of orange light exploded into view. [Ding! Congratulations to the Host for successfully advancing the skill. The quality has been updated to Orange: Wilderness Hunter lv1] Chapter 260 - Chapter 260: Chapter 257 The First Legendary Skill Chapter 260: Chapter 257 The First Legendary Skill Orange light flashed brilliantly! A torrent of knowledge, experience, and techniques flooded his mind. Bi Fang squinted instinctively, feeling a heaviness in his brain and goosebumps all over his body, with a shiver enveloping his soul. This enhancement was unprecedented, evolving from purple to Orange Legend, a leap in improvement far greater than any previous skill advancement. The bright light receded, and the description of the upgraded skill appeared on the panel. Wilderness Hunter lv1: No one knows the wilderness better than you. Your understanding of the wilderness has reached the pinnacle of mastery, almost the limit of the current human society level, with your own interpretation and innovation in Wilderness Survival turning into a biological instinct; you are a legend in your own right. Legendary Ability: Wild Instinct. Wild Instinct: You have your own inherent perception of danger, but this newly awakened ability seems not very powerful. Bi Fang sat down heavily on the bed, his brain pounding with pain. The leap from purple to orange was too great, almost a torturous force-feeding sensation. Fortunately, with the aid of the skill tree, the newly acquired knowledge quickly integrated with the old system, and Bi Fang gradually recovered. He immediately noticed his new talent, Beastly Instinct. Past system descriptions had been quite scant, but it seemed Orange Legend was an exception, providing extensive explanations and many details not previously available. Understanding his legendary ability, Bi Fang cherished it like a treasure. He did not treat Beastly Instinct as just another skill but as a talent. A very useful talent. Humans who have lived in cities for a long time are often very slow to perceive danger, having degenerated to an extent that is almost beyond recovery. But it¡¯s different for wild beasts living in the wilderness. Even ordinary animals become uneasy before an earthquake strikes, whereas humans remain oblivious, indicating how much this ability has degenerated. Top predators are the best among them. One typical example is the tiger, which possesses an extremely keen perception of danger. If you were to hunt a tiger with a bow and arrow, the tiger might sense the danger and instinctively jump away to avoid it before you even draw the bow. Now it¡¯s different. From now on, as Bi Fang traverses the wilderness, Beastly Instinct might just save his life, as the body¡¯s instinctive reactions are much faster than conscious thought. It¡¯s just uncertain to what extent it can do so. Bi Fang gazed at the last comment about Beastly Instinct, puzzled by the vague concepts of ¡°just awakened¡± and ¡°seems not very strong,¡± which were thought-provoking. Could it detect a venomous snake hiding in the dead leaves or a hungry beast eyeing its prey? Wild beasts that live permanently in the same environment encounter only fixed dangers. A creature from the rainforest will never survive in the desert. Perhaps it could handle a Bamboo Viper but not necessarily a Rattlesnake. But Bi Fang was different; he would go to any corner of the world and needed a much stronger adaptability¡­ Well, he¡¯d experiment more when the opportunity arises. Bi Fang closed the panel, extremely satisfied. The rewards aside, just upgrading the purple Wilderness Survival to the orange Wilderness Hunter made everything he had done worthwhile, not to mention the additional derivative skill. However, having reached the orange domain, Bi Fang suddenly learned new information. Upgrading skills above the legendary level required Enhancement Points¡­ Currently, upgrading an orange skill by one level needed an Advanced Skill Upgrade Coupon plus one Enhancement Point. As his physical data continued to improve, Bi Fang could feel that the effect of the fifteenth Enhancement Point was actually not as strong as the thirteenth, but the decline wasn¡¯t significant and still within the ideal range. However, it was clear that the returns would diminish further in the future, something Bi Fang had known from the start and was not surprised by. It seemed that he had to be more careful with the allocation of Enhancement Points in the future. He needed to carefully compare the benefits of increasing physical data versus skill upgrades. Bi Fang didn¡¯t immediately use the remaining coupons but instead checked the shop to see if there was anything worth buying. There indeed was, an Achilles Tendon Enhancement Coupon worth six hundred points, which could increase the length and strength of the tendon. Purchased. Without hesitation, Bi Fang bought it. A longer Achilles tendon meant higher explosiveness and speed. Such an attribute is predetermined by genetics and cannot be lengthened later in life; the average person¡¯s tendon is about 15 centimeters, while the sprint king Bolt possessed an unprecedented over forty-centimeter tendon. Amidst his excitement, Bi Fang purchased some shoes and equipment. After his third set of ten consecutive draws, the system finally delivered its second prompt¡ªthe rewards for hunting the shark! He clicked to generate the spoils of battle, and a huge shark tooth, over six centimeters in length, appeared on the necklace. [Ding! You have triggered a loot reward enhancement: Biological Sensing.] [Biological Sensing] Ability Introduction: You will possess the same electromagnetic sensing ability as a shark to detect the presence of prey. Bi Fang was taken aback after reading the introduction. Previous enhancements involved inheriting the distinctive abilities of prey. He¡¯d contemplated possessing many of the shark¡¯s abilities, but he never dared to imagine that he¡¯d actually gain an electro-sense like a shark¡¯s. How is that possible? Does this mean he could directly discover creatures tens of kilometers away in the future? No, that¡¯s not right! Bi Fang, whose mind had been clouded by the huge surprise, suddenly realized something was amiss. If it truly was like the shark¡¯s, why didn¡¯t he feel anything? Logically, the Barton couple were just upstairs, yet he sensed nothing from them. After calming down, Bi Fang furrowed his brows in thought and suddenly realized a problem¡ªwater and air have completely different conductivities! On land, this ability was essentially useless! Could it only be used in water? Bi Fang¡¯s brows gradually relaxed. Indeed, if he could directly sense the existence of creatures tens of kilometers away on land, then he might as well start considering whether he could evolve into Superman or Magneto. Moreover, the strength of the ability was dubious. The system only mentioned the ability was the same, but it didn¡¯t specify if the strength was the same. Judging by the Wolf King¡¯s Sense of Smell, it was definitely weakened. As he was contemplating the strength of his new ability, Bi Fang suddenly thought of the large fish tank in the Barton family¡¯s living room¡­ Squeak¡­ The door was quietly opened a crack, and Bi Fang peered through the gap to check the situation in the living room. There was no one around; everyone had gone back to their rooms to rest after dinner, and not a single light shone in the living room in the middle of the night. Bi Fang tiptoed over to the fish tank. Gazing at the pitch-black fish tank, he slowly dipped his hand into it, closed his eyes, and truly, a vague sense of detection emerged in his mind! Bi Fang was overjoyed and immediately concentrated, trying to sense more. One, two, three¡­ A total of eight little fish, different from the seven he saw in the afternoon¡ªperhaps he had missed one then. The sensing was quite clear; he could even vaguely determine the size of the fish, but the intensity felt much weaker. Bi Fang opened his eyes and pondered silently. The fish tank was roughly two meters long; he could sense the other end, but the clarity became somewhat blurred as the distance increased, judging from this. Normally, he should be able to sense down to twenty to thirty meters underwater. That¡¯s powerful! Far from being disappointed, Bi Fang was actually quite pleased. Twenty to thirty meters was not a short distance; for Wilderness Survival, it was definitely a powerful tool. As long as there were fish in the river, they couldn¡¯t escape the palm of his hand! While he was excited¡­ Pat. The light turned on. Danny, who got up to use the toilet at night, rubbed his eyes and looked at Bi Fang, standing proudly in front of the fish tank, his movements gradually slowing down. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Chapter 261 - Chapter 261: Chapter 258: I am not the same person I was yesterday Chapter 261: Chapter 258: I am not the same person I was yesterday Bi Fang gripped a handful of shark teeth and stuffed them into a small hand. Watching Danny head back home happily, even forgetting to use the bathroom, Bi Fang sighed in relief. He had finally fooled the kid. Standing in front of someone else¡¯s fish tank in the dead of night without turning on the lights, if one didn¡¯t know the reason, they would likely think that person was a bit off. Fortunately, this kid was only eight years old, and a handful of shark teeth had done the trick. After determining his abilities, Bi Fang returned to his bedroom, used up all the remaining enhancement tickets, enhancement points, and the promotion tickets he had won in the lottery, and then drifted off to sleep amid a warm coziness. The next morning, feeling incredibly refreshed and invigorated, Bi Fang looked out at the sunshine and happily opened the panel. [Unique Binder: Bi Fang] [Growth Age: 24] [Height: 184cm] [Mass: 79KG] [Strength: 14] [Physique: 15] [Agility: 14] [Spirit: 15] [Status: Good] [Enhancement Points: 0] [Wilderness Points: 83] Orange Tree Crown: Wilderness Hunter lv1 Purple Tree Trunk: Advanced Yoga lv1, Special Recon Soldier lv2. Blue Tree Trunk: Pilates lv3, High-altitude Parachuting lv3, Tai Chi Traveling Dragon lv2, Archery lv1, Rock Climbing lv1, Biological Identification lv1, Swimming lv1. Green Tree Trunk: Foot Orienteering lv5, First Aid lv5, Calisthenics lv3, Running lv3. Special Talent: Beastly Instinct. Spoils of War Skills: Wolf King¡¯s Sense of Smell, King Fish¡¯s Stomach, Biological Sensing. Bi Fang was extremely satisfied with his gains this time. The lottery prizes from yesterday included a few promotion tickets and a bit of enhancement points for spirit, but that wasn¡¯t the reason for the collective upgrade of many skills; it was the ¡°feedback¡± from the Wilderness Hunter skill. This had to be the most significant leap in Bi Fang¡¯s strengths to date. In the past, whether facing a pack of wolves, prehistoric creatures, or even poachers, Bi Fang often had to pay a price, sustaining light injuries and barely managing to win, sometimes even exhausting himself. But now, with the additions of Blue Tai Chi Traveling Dragon, Purple Special Recon Soldier, and Orange Wilderness Hunter, if Bi Fang were to revisit his past adventures, he was confident he could emerge unscathed. To make a more current comparison, yesterday¡¯s Bi Fang would have considered Mugalen a formidable opponent, but today, Mugalen posed much less of a threat to him. The limit represented by the orange skill in human society was not to be taken lightly. Of course, it wasn¡¯t to say there was no threat at all, after all, Bi Fang was still competing within the realm of humanity. Even a boxing champion, if caught off guard, could be injured by a child wielding a sharp blade; one should never be careless at any time. Bi Fang sat up in bed, his bones cracking pleasantly as he stretched his body as much as possible. At the same time, he lifted up his shirt and saw the clearly defined abs, the serratus anterior muscles which were barely lined before had now slightly bulged, with clear and supple lines, resembling shark gills. With each breath, they appeared extremely explosive. Then lifting up his pant leg, the muscles on his calves had become more defined. Bi Fang made a rough estimate; the length of his tendons had grown from fifteen to about twenty-two or twenty-three, providing a feeling of being lighter, swifter, and more powerful in his jumps than before! Bi Fang couldn¡¯t resist performing a combination of moves. His body broke into a light sweat, and he felt energized; this enhancement could only be described with one word. Satisfying! It was mainly due to the continuous accumulation that led to the appearance of the orange Skill. If he had not strived for ¡°perfect¡± achievement in every task, he would never have reaped such a huge reward within half a year. If he just completed the tasks by the book, the emergence of the Orange Legend might have been indefinitely postponed, with the time requirement at least doubling. Someone else wouldn¡¯t have dared to undertake those hazardous side missions. Now, Bi Fang could truly be considered a master of Wilderness Survival, not the slightest bit intimidated, even if a Bear Grylls or Grandpa De were to suddenly appear in this world. After washing up, Bi Fang joined Barton¡¯s family for breakfast in the living room, completely ignoring Danny¡¯s excited expression about ¡°having a secret between us, now we¡¯re good friends¡± and just focused on eating his meal. That¡¯s what he said last night, but is yesterday¡¯s Bi Fang the same as today¡¯s Bi Fang? Of course not. Is there a problem? No problem. Not only Danny, but Mugalen and Barton too kept glancing at Bi Fang, feeling that there was something different about him today compared to yesterday. But they couldn¡¯t pinpoint the difference; it was just a sense of danger, and nobody could guess the existence of a System that could increase someone¡¯s strength overnight. After thinking it over for a while, they could only attribute it to Bi Fang having had a good night¡¯s rest, looking more vigorous than before, thereby creating an illusion of greater prowess. After breakfast, Bi Fang still did not rush to contact the show¡¯s production team but accepted the invitation from Barton and Mugalen to go hunting on the mountain, taking the two little ones along. ¡°Is it okay to bring them along?¡± Bi Fang looked at the two children playing in the back seat ¨C he¡¯d wanted to ask this yesterday. ¡°It¡¯s fine, let them come out and gain some experience,¡± Barton said, waving his hand. ¡°My car is bulletproof, and they won¡¯t get out of the car anyway. Even if we come across a giant moose, it won¡¯t be a problem. Besides, there¡¯s not much in these mountains. I grew up here and know everything like the back of my hand. In the winter, there are just some rabbits and foxes, nothing else.¡± Bi Fang nodded thoughtfully while examining the hunting rifle in his hand, his emotions fluctuating slightly. Although the existence of system Skills ensured that he could shoot, and even be quite good at it, this was still Bi Fang¡¯s first time hunting with a gun. Charging the bolt is a man¡¯s romance. ¡°How about it? The competition is in half a month, shall we have a little competition of our own first?¡± Mugalen couldn¡¯t stop polishing his beloved gun, looking at Bi Fang with a challenging expression. He¡¯d been hunting at a friend¡¯s place these past two days partly to take his daughter out but also to get a feel for the upcoming competition. Winning the final competition would bring a reward of a whole hundred thousand US dollars! A huge fortune! All you had to do was participate in a ten-day wilderness competition and win the first place to get it. ¡°What do you say?¡± Until now, Mugalen still thought Bi Fang was one of his competitors and saw him as the biggest threat, not knowing that whether or not he could win the final prize of a hundred thousand dollars depended on whether Bi Fang nodded his head¡­ ¡°Sure!¡± Bi Fang agreed, finding some stress-free hunting activities intriguing ¨C a suitable way to relax after completing a mission. Seeing Bi Fang¡¯s agreement, Mugalen¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement, having awaited this moment to reaffirm his image in front of his daughter! Barton shook his head, cursing that damned competitive urge. When the SUV reached the spot where they had encountered Bi Fang the day before, the two competitors alighted from the vehicle while Barton followed in the car. As soon as they stepped into the wilderness, Bi Fang instantly felt that something was different. His gaze swept over the forest, and in just one look, he spotted no fewer than three places suitable for setting traps. Analyzing both the environment and the location, he deduced which animals frequently appeared and what kind of traps would increase the success rate of the hunt! He even noticed traces of two rabbits that had passed by; by following the tracks and scent, there was an eighty percent chance of capturing them. Bi Fang¡¯s eyelids twitched as he recalled the description of Wilderness Hunter. A personal understanding and creation of survival skills transformed into a biological instinct. Instinct, huh? Bi Fang looked down at Mugalen, who was still searching for tracks, and a smile couldn¡¯t help but form on his face. Chapter 262 - Chapter 262: Chapter 259: Is There a Reward for Second Place? Chapter 262: Chapter 259: Is There a Reward for Second Place? ¡°There¡¯s something here!¡± Mugalen walked slowly through the grass, searching for animal tracks. As a member of the Deer Hunters, there was no doubt Mugalen had real skill. Less than two minutes after getting out of the car, he had found traces of prey in what seemed to the casual observer to be a uniform expanse of grass. A patch of flattened grass. With a look of pleasure, Mugalen was about to step forward for a closer examination when he suddenly remembered something. He consciously glanced at Bi Fang out of the corner of his eye to see if the other had made any discoveries, only to find nothing. There was nothing in the corner of his eye but a patch of green moss. Hmm? Where is he? How could such a big man just disappear? Mugalen was stunned. He turned to look at his side, only to find that Bi Fang, who had been standing behind him, had vanished without a trace. He couldn¡¯t believe his own eyes. The two of them had clearly gotten out of the car together. How could he suddenly be gone? He quickly turned back to ask Barton, who pointed in a direction. Following his gesture, Mugalen saw that Bi Fang had already walked deep into the forest, leaving only a small figure in the distance. Did he find something? That quickly? Mugalen hurried over, slowing his pace as he got close so as not to startle the prey. Barton followed in the car, stopping at a safe distance before getting out with the two youngsters to walk and see what Bi Fang had discovered. Barton, who had stayed in the car, saw it all very clearly. After Bi Fang got out, he seemed to look around casually and then purposefully started walking in a certain direction. This was completely different from Mugalen, who was searching everywhere for clues. That¡¯s impressive. Barton silently felt sorry for his friend. He wasn¡¯t very optimistic about the outcome of the competition, especially given the skill Bi Fang had just displayed in finding prey¡ªundoubtedly better than his friend¡¯s. By the time Mugalen caught up, Bi Fang had also found his target¡ª a rabbit in the midst of feeding. ¡°So soon?¡± Mugalen¡¯s pupils constricted, he had only just found the clues, but his opponent had already found the prey¡ª the speed was frighteningly fast! Finding clues and finding prey were two different things. Usually, hunters who found clues had to spend at least half an hour to truly track down their prey, not to mention actually finding it. What had the other done just now, found it with just a glance? It must be luck! Mugalen comforted himself with that thought. He too had experienced such fortune before; indeed, on a good day, one could come across prey right after heading out. ¡°Your turn?¡± Noting that Mugalen had caught up and thinking that he wanted to give it a try, Bi Fang whispered in a low voice and tilted his head to indicate the rabbit forty meters away. Mugalen waved his hand, lowering his voice just as much, ¡°No, no, no, you go ahead. You found it first.¡± Finding the prey counted as a win for the other party; after all, luck was part of one¡¯s strength, nothing to argue about. But whether he could catch it was another matter altogether. Bi Fang nodded without making a fuss, lowering his center of gravity and beginning to crawl toward the rabbit. Although he had a gun, the closer the distance, the better. Experienced hunters could get within fifteen meters of their prey, but Bi Fang stopped at thirty meters. It wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t go closer; he just didn¡¯t need to. He simply raised his gun to aim. This was an ordinary hunting rifle without a scope, so he had to use iron sights. Mugalen paused, then continued to follow behind Bi Fang, no longer caring about finding prey to compete. Although somewhat unethical, Mugalen had to admit that seeing Bi Fang find his prey within two minutes had given him a great shock, leaving him feeling pressured and not as confident about the competition half a month away as he had been at the start. So, he wanted to observe his opponent up close. There¡¯s a saying in Huaxia that goes well, ¡°Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be imperiled in a hundred battles.¡± Hmm, his footsteps are very steady, his Fox Step is exceedingly skilled, and the sound is barely detectable¡ªclearly the mark of a professional. But he¡¯s still a bit hasty. A normal person would first test the gun to familiarize themselves with its subtle differences. There aren¡¯t two guns in the world that are exactly the same¡ªeach one feels different, not to mention this is an old gun, the precision is very different from a new one. Don¡¯t be misled by the sharpshooters in movies, Mugalen¡¯s instructor once told him something that he remembers very clearly to this day. If someone is shooting at you with a handgun from fifteen meters away, just run¡ªthey have a ninety percent probability of missing. Thirty meters is still quite a distance, Mugalen clearly remembers that this gun shoots to the left. The first time handling this gun, the chances of hitting a target beyond thirty meters are very small. Yet, Bi Fang took the gun and without any intention of test-firing, went straight to using it, which is strange behavior for a special forces operator and shouldn¡¯t need reminding by anyone. Bi Fang is calm and focused, squatting on the ground, taking aim at the hare. Before he¡¯s ready, however, the hare suddenly stands upright, as if sensing danger, looking around, just about to turn their way. Mugalen¡¯s muscles tense, strung tight with anxiety. Just as he thinks of retreating, a gunshot raises his hackles. So fast! Gone! In that instant, two thoughts flash through Mugalen¡¯s mind one after the other. Bi Fang shot so quickly, Mugalen recalls that he had barely crouched before firing. How could it be possible to hit the target under such conditions! As expected, the fur of the hare in his sight is ruffled as the bullet grazes its back and embeds itself in the tree behind, sending bark flying¡ªthe shot had clearly missed! Startled, the hare springs into action, its powerful hind legs kicking up clods and grass. In just fractions of a second, the hare leaps forward seven or eight meters, nearly turning the thirty-meter distance into forty. But before Mugalen can even begin to feel regret, the sound of a bolt being pulled back rings out, a golden shell is ejected, and a second gunshot follows closely behind. Now two seconds have elapsed, and the hare has bounded nearly twenty meters, but it won¡¯t get away. An orange bullet enters from the left side of its body and exits the right, taking a substantial amount of fresh blood and fur with it. The immense force sends the hare flying through the air, only to drop to the ground lifelessly, without even a chance to cry out. Mugalen¡¯s pupils shrink to the size of pinpricks, an involuntary rasping noise emanates from his throat, his expression one of numb shock. Even Barton, observing from afar with two young ones hidden behind a tree, gapes in amazement, because as a fellow Hunter, he understands perfectly what just happened. The opponent fired two shots in extremely rapid succession, correcting for the bullet trajectory after the first, then striking a moving target at fifty meters with the second shot. Is this even human? The smell of gunpowder lightly lingers, Bi Fang sniffs, not quite accustomed to the scent, finding it pungent. He picks up the gun again, aiming at the downed hare, ¡°This gun¡¯s trajectory leans to the left. Otherwise, I would have hit with my first shot. You might want to change the barrel when you have time.¡± At this moment, Mugalen is completely speechless, his mind a blank, simply nodding without thinking. Seeing the other man silent, Bi Fang shakes his head and approaches the fallen hare. Now, it¡¯s utterly breathless, with an added bullet hole in its body. ¡°What a pity, the fur isn¡¯t in the best condition, plus the gunshots are too loud and the smell of blood too strong. Though hunting with a gun is convenient, it has quite a few downsides.¡± Bi Fang shakes his head and casually picks up the hare. By now, Mugalen has somewhat recovered from his brief shock and finally reacts, coming up to Bi Fang with a complex expression, as if wanting but hesitating to speak. Bi Fang, sensing something amiss, asks with a smile, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Mugalen is silent for a moment before finally speaking with difficulty. ¡°Is there a reward for coming in second?¡± Chapter 263 - Chapter 263: Chapter 260 New Years Chapter 263: Chapter 260 New Year¡¯s ¡°` Finding the prey directly could be explained by luck. But Bi Fang¡¯s recent feat of rapid-firing dual guns and swiftly hitting a moving target fifty meters away after calibrating the bullet trajectory was an extreme operation that left Mugalen utterly unable to utter the words ¡°luck.¡± Absolute strength had crushed everything, at least Mugalen himself completely couldn¡¯t do it. Calibrating bullet trajectories was not that simple, not to mention the time was so short¡­ Such a performance was enough to prove that the other party didn¡¯t forgo the test shot; he merely regarded the first shot as the test shot. How confident was that? Confident enough to fire a second shot before the rabbit could escape and hit it accurately? Should one say that it was no wonder he came from Hunter Academy? Mugalen had never been to Hunter Academy, but he had heard of the harsh training there. However, were the graduates really that strong? ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t understand the other person¡¯s thought process. What second place? Wasn¡¯t it just a private comparison between two people? Why was there also a reward? If you want to eat rabbit meat, just say it! The mindsets of a judge and a contestant were completely different. Things that Mugalen cared about didn¡¯t concern Bi Fang at all, who was now completely confused. Thinking the other party was admitting defeat jokingly, he exercised the traditional virtue of the Huaxia people: modesty. ¡°Luck, it was all luck.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Mugalen looked complex and skeptical, ¡°Those two shots just now can¡¯t be explained by luck.¡± ¡°Ha, you mean this?¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s no big deal. After all, my hunting in the wild is primitive hunting; I don¡¯t use guns.¡± Hmm? Mugalen was taken aback as if sunshine had pierced through the night, and dawn stealthily edged across the sky, he had an epiphany. Right, how good can one be with a gun? During the competition, guns couldn¡¯t be carried anyway; it all came down to primitive hunting skills. He had started learning hunting with his grandfather at the age of three, caught his first prey using a trap at eight, learned to make large traps by thirteen, hunted a fifty-kilogram deer with a spear at sixteen, could go into the mountains alone by eighteen and dared to enter the mountains barehanded at twenty. By twenty-four, he joined the Deer Hunter Troop and was definitely among the best in primitive hunting. Thinking this, Mugalen¡¯s eyes blazed with a fighting spirit. Looking at Bi Fang, he said earnestly, ¡°You win this time, but I will not give up easily!¡± Bi Fang: ¡°¡­?¡± With that, Mugalen left to find his own prey. As Bi Fang watched Mugalen¡¯s retreating figure, he was puzzled but didn¡¯t dwell on it, continuing his search for his own prey. The feeling of pulling the bolt had been too great; guns were not allowed in his country, so he wanted to take advantage of the rare opportunity as much as possible. Unfortunately, the recent gunshot had frightened away many nearby game animals, requiring Bi Fang to hunt further away. This was also why he didn¡¯t test fire at first¡ªit was too troublesome. By noon, watching Bi Fang return with three rabbits and a fox, Mugalen silently hid the only wild rabbit he had caught. It seemed he just had bad luck today. A group of five people took out a barbecue grill from the car and started a wild barbecue. Differing from Bi Fang¡¯s first wild rabbit outing, this time there were all sorts of seasonings available. With the high heat of the charcoal, enough oil brushed on, and a generous sprinkling of spices, even the tough rabbit meat could be made to taste quite good. In the afternoon, Bi Fang said goodbye to the reluctant Milani and Danny, contacted the production crew, and took a plane back to Ugly Country. After meeting Jerret and a few staff members, they first discussed the details of the next program, Wilderness Arena. Then, Jerret handed the list of contestants to Bi Fang and proposed a big dinner to celebrate the perfect conclusion of this program. After handling everything, Bi Fang returned to the hotel. However, before he could rest, Disney called again; they had some issues they wanted to resolve while Bi Fang was still in Ugly Country. ¡°` ¡°Ah, it¡¯s really busy,¡± Bi Fang sighed. Truly feeling the pressure of popularity, there wasn¡¯t a moment to stop, with endless matters to deal with. He was suffering and enjoying it at the same time, but who could complain when the numbers in his bank account kept soaring? He hadn¡¯t done the math, but Bi Fang conservatively estimated that his balance might have exceeded a hundred million¡­ Most of it came from Disney, and there was still a portion of the residual earnings to be collected. The production of animated series also gave him a slice of the pie. And that was without accepting any advertisement endorsements. If he did, there would be even more. In his past life as well as this one, this was the first time Bi Fang enjoyed the feeling of being rich. This kind of cash flow that he could fully control and didn¡¯t come from running a company eradicated all his financial stress. He could travel wherever he desired. Bi Fang was already considering whether to buy a vehicle. He had always envied those costly ¡°toys.¡± Just as Bi Fang was pondering, he suddenly realized he had overlooked something. After thinking for a while, he remembered he still had an unused ¡°identity change ticket.¡± The ¡°language ticket¡± was not urgent; it could be used when needed. But Bi Fang had someone in mind for the identity change ticket all along. Wilderness Traveler lv1 Last time, using it on the special forces was really practical. It provided him a lot of protection. Not to mention, just the part against Poachers, maybe the live broadcast was okay, but whether the subsequent videos could be released was questionable¡ªyet it seemed to completely slip his mind. In front of an audience, it also helped him establish a strong image. The more interesting part was that the identity would change as his skills upgraded, which was thoroughly advantageous. What would happen if he used it on Wilderness Traveler? As he thought about it, Bi Fang decided to give it a try and applied the identity ticket to Wilderness Traveler. After a while, a completely new identity emerged, and Bi Fang summarized it. First, a Hunter¡¯s License, different from the one the Lin Family had given him. This hunting certificate was internationally recognized, allowing the holder to hunt most species not critically endangered. Second, a Permit allowing him to travel to any corner of the world or handle related affairs, promptly recognized by local governments, effectively opening doors of convenience, with a maximum duration of twenty-four hours. Indeed, he was right! Bi Fang felt joy in his heart, glad that he used it in the right place. Whether the first or the second, both were quite useful credentials. Because of his identity, the last time Bi Fang had managed to go to France so quickly was also due to Elvan pulling some strings. But now he wouldn¡¯t have to worry. He could get permission within twenty-four hours. Awesome. Content, Bi Fang lay down to sleep. Three days later, having settled his affairs and only waiting for the crew¡¯s call, Bi Fang returned to Huaxia¡ªit was nearing the New Year, and this would be his first Spring Festival in this world. A few days later. The crackling sound of firecrackers from the far end of the street across overpowered the cheers and laughter for a moment. The air was filled with the scent of bursting bamboo, which wasn¡¯t unpleasant, but instead brought a comfortable warmth in the harsh winter weather. The streets were sparsely populated, with paper from firecrackers scattered everywhere by the big households near their doorsteps, fluttering in the wind. Occasionally, affectionate couples embraced on the streets, spreading ¡°dog food¡± everywhere. This was New Year¡¯s Eve, when the young people who normally drove around drunk at night stayed home, waiting for the New Year¡¯s bell to welcome spring. The next day, waking up bright and early, Bi Fang accepted Yao Jun¡¯s invitation to visit the not-yet-fully-decorated club for some leisure time. Chapter 264 - Chapter 264: Chapter 261: The Turnaround of the Salted Fish Chapter 264: Chapter 261: The Turnaround of the Salted Fish ¡°Not bad, riding on a Ducati now?¡± Standing at the doorway, Yao Jun watched Bi Fang ride up on a black motorcycle, dust trailing behind him, and let out a pleased whistle. ¡°Buy whatever you like, otherwise what¡¯s the point of making money? But man, your place is really out in the sticks.¡± Bi Fang set down his helmet and got off the bike, looking at the clubhouse entrance which was still not fully renovated. He nodded in satisfaction; although it wasn¡¯t completely finished yet, it already had scale and exuded the aura of a high-end club. If it had been him from half a year ago, he wouldn¡¯t have even walked through the doors. No other reason, just a realization through his eyes, it was a place he couldn¡¯t afford. What a turnaround indeed. ¡°Can¡¯t help it, if you want a large space, you have to move to the suburbs. Otherwise, the cost is too high. Speaking of which, you really let go as the absentee landlord, didn¡¯t even inquire about the location.¡± Yao Jun also felt the club was a bit far from the city center, but fortunately, it was still on the main road with convenient transportation. The three partners were all well-off, so if they were going to do something, they wanted to do it right. Not to mention anything else, at the very least the place had to be impressive, otherwise they¡¯d lose face just talking about it. ¡°Isn¡¯t it better to leave the professional stuff to the professionals?¡± Bi Fang said with a smile. The other two¡¯s business acumen was far superior to his own, and they had plenty of capable people under them, so there was no need for him to meddle. Bi Fang glanced around and suddenly asked. ¡°Lin Chang didn¡¯t come?¡± ¡°He¡¯s tied up. After the New Year, he went back to the company to deal with business. I¡¯ve realized I¡¯m the only one who¡¯s idle; if I weren¡¯t busy with the club this year, the old man would probably accuse me of being lazy.¡± Yao Jun scratched his eyebrow, even Bi Fang had just returned from abroad not long ago. Compared to them, it seemed he was indeed the one with the most free time. ¡°Thanks for your help with the rankings last time.¡± ¡°Ah, it was nothing. Don¡¯t belittle me with that talk; without me, you¡¯d be first anyway, believe it or not?¡± ¡°Credit where credit is due, if you give me money, I have to thank you.¡± ¡°Damn, not playing next time!¡± The two chatted as they walked deeper into the club, which was currently constructing several venues simultaneously: rock climbing, archery, and even a fighting gym. The decorations were very modern and nicely done. The walls even incorporated color-changing glass, which under the lighting gave off a feeling of being deep in the jungle, along with the indoor trees surrounding the area. But the more Bi Fang looked around, the more he felt something wasn¡¯t quite right, or rather, it was missing something. It seemed to lack a certain zest. Though the real adventure would take place outdoors, as far as the club was concerned, apart from the d¨¦cor being a bit different, filled with ¡°natural ambience,¡± at first glance, it didn¡¯t seem much different from any standard rock climbing or archery club¡ªperhaps only combined. Bi Fang was clear on the aim of the club. True wilderness expeditions were harsh, and aside from the enthusiasts, many people might only come once for the novelty and never return. Most people would come with two goals in mind: fun and socializing. To ensure fun, the club had to be easy-going, not too challenging, as the high learning curve could easily discourage some. The club¡¯s current appeal was lacking. It might make money upon open, but certainly not a fortune. Instead, it risked becoming an expensive toy requiring a lot of energy to manage. At this thought, Bi Fang vaguely regretted his decision. Aside from the initial investment, he had later put in several tens of millions more. To think that he ended up with this? No sign of the expected effect. Yao Jun, noticing Bi Fang¡¯s discontent, immediately laughed and said, ¡°Are you feeling like this club is just a stitched-together monster?¡± Bi Fang looked at him in surprise and then nodded. Yao Jun wasn¡¯t worried at all. ¡°Actually, Lin Chang and I came to check this place out a month ago. We also felt something was off. This thing, well, it¡¯s hardly fun to talk about. It¡¯s like a club for professionals, naturally discouraging. On the other hand, it still has an appeal to a certain group of people, particularly the wealthy ones.¡± Most outdoor enthusiasts are also well-off. Relying on just a small group of people could cover the daily expenses. With Bi Fang¡¯s reputation, losing money is unlikely, but the payback period would also be long. ¡°So, we brought in a professional marketing team afterward, had a meeting together, and decided to approach from two angles: professionalism and entertainment.¡± ¡°Professionalism is about being the best, the kind enthusiasts can get certificates in. Don¡¯t worry about the proof; we¡¯ve got connections for that. We¡¯re just waiting for you to hire instructors from the military.¡± ¡°And the entertainment aspect?¡± Yao Jun cackled strangely and led Bi Fang through the hall to the back of the club. Suddenly, a mix of licorice and manure odors made Bi Fang¡¯s brow furrow. Here, surprisingly, they were raising a good number of animals. Just by looking, one could see rabbits, foxes, deer, and goats. Bi Fang suddenly understood and immediately realized Yao Jun¡¯s idea, ¡°You¡¯re planning to do hunting?¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Yao Jun confirmed, ¡°Do you remember how we later asked you for a big sum of money? We rented out the entire back mountain of the club, more than two square kilometers. It¡¯s this size for now, but we plan to expand later. We¡¯re planning to build a hunting ground!¡± ¡°Primitive hunting ground, cold weapon hunting!¡± ¡°Is that even allowed?¡± Bi Fang was shocked, and then he had another question, ¡°Do you have a permit? And won¡¯t it be dangerous for the tourists?¡± Yao Jun shook his head, ¡°You¡¯re underestimating us. Lin Chang and I might not have what it takes, but he and my father have plenty of connections. Plus, the main appeal of this entertainment is its mass appeal. The risks have been considered; otherwise, how could it be opened to the public? When the time comes, visitors will need relevant certificates, and it all comes full circle.¡± Yao Jun led Bi Fang to the armory to show him the items inside. Bi Fang looked them over one by one; there were longbows and spears, but without exception, the heads had been removed, replaced by a special pouch head covered with colored powder. ¡°The arrows have no tips; they¡¯re made of rubber. Once they hit the prey, the paint will leave a mark on the animal, counting as a successful hunt. Afterwards, customers can pay to purchase the prey, covering the cost of its upkeep, or it will be not for sale. Plus, they can get related souvenirs. We¡¯ve thought about the difficulty level too. The animals are bred and not so alert. Under the lead of a captain, tourists can fully enjoy the thrill of the hunt. We¡¯re also considering setting up a restaurant where one can process the prey or rent equipment for the visitors to grill on their own. We even plan to introduce some not-so-rare animals later on, turning it into a kind of alternative zoo.¡± Purchasing the prey? Well, I¡¯ll be! Bi Fang thought to himself, an expert at making money twice over: this sounds indeed fun, distinctively featured, and safe while still being accessible to the general public. ¡°That¡¯s pretty cool, you guys!¡± Bi Fang playfully punched Yao Jun¡¯s shoulder, his excitement apparent, ¡°Can I give it a try now?¡± ¡°Of course, the fence is almost completely built, but there aren¡¯t many animals yet, so catching them might be a bit difficult.¡± Yao Jun scratched his head, remembering how excited he had been himself half a month ago when he hadn¡¯t managed to catch even one rabbit. After listening to Yao Jun¡¯s experience, Bi Fang looked at him with scorn and said, ¡°Do you think you¡¯re on the same level as me?¡± Yao Jun: ¡°¡­¡± Why did he find those words so unpleasant to hear? Can¡¯t he take a hint? That very afternoon, Yao Jun witnessed firsthand what real expertise looked like. Out of the twenty rabbits and two deer released, Bi Fang caught twenty-two rabbits back, and not a single deer was missing. He even caught wild rabbits that were originally on the mountain. However, two of the bred ones were not found. If it weren¡¯t for the sheer size of the place and the lack of time, Yao Jun would have doubted whether any animal could escape at all. It must be said, the bred rabbits were indeed plump and tender, and much easier to catch than the wild ones. Almost none could escape once spotted. Bi Fang and Yao Jun ate to their hearts¡¯ content that night, packing up plenty to send to Lin Chang for a taste. In the following days, instead of intensively training, Bi Fang relaxed properly during the spring break, occasionally visiting the club. In the mornings, he would go to the park to practice Tai Chi with the old men. His flowing, unique movements dazzled the crowd, who exclaimed in amazement. Several elders even wanted to become his disciples on the spot, but unfortunately, Bi Fang stopped them. What would he do with a group of elderly disciples? Because of this, many park-goers witnessed an odd scene for a few days. A handsome and vigorous young man leading a group of old men in Tai Chi, not hesitating to rebuke them for incorrect moves, was indeed strange to see. In the meantime, Bi Fang had also kept an eye on Gou Lin¡¯s situation. As one of the friends who had borrowed money, Bi Fang had promised to give him a hand, but unfortunately, after mentioning it once, the other party never replied. Half a month passed quietly like this. Chapter 265 - Chapter 265: Chapter 262: This name is worth just two points. Chapter 265: Chapter 262: This name is worth just two points. ¡°Primitive Survival 21 Days,¡± ¡°Survival 1 Plus 1,¡± ¡°King of Survival,¡± ¡°Wilderness Couples File,¡± and so on were all very popular wilderness survival programs in my previous life. However, in this world without Bear Grylls or Grandpa De, these exciting programs had not appeared, but once Bi Fang introduced the concept of wilderness survival in the form of live streaming entertainment and achieved great success, it was as if people had a breakthrough, understanding everything all at once. Discovery Channel was among the best of them, quickly becoming innovative. Following Bi Fang¡¯s 21 Days of Sea Survival, they launched the brand-new program Wilderness Arena. Numerous wilderness survivalists competed on the same stage, undertaking challenges of wilderness survival for 300 hours, or twelve days. During this time, those who were eliminated received no reward. The remaining contestants were ranked based on Bi Fang¡¯s evaluation, with the first place receiving a hundred thousand Ugly Gold, second place fifty thousand, and third place ten thousand, including all medical expenses covered. If no one remained, then no reward would be given. This was a race system that could be called cruel, yet full of allure. The first-place prize of one hundred thousand US Dollars was a very generous reward, and with the program covering all medical and travel expenses, it was a completely unrestricted one hundred thousand US Dollars. As for Bi Fang, he played multiple roles throughout the program, serving as both commentator and safety advisor, responsible for handling any potential crisis situations, and also the final judge. The judges were more than one, but Bi Fang had the most authority, with the final say and decision-making power, while the other judges only had advisory rights, which showed how much Discovery Channel valued him. On one hand, Bi Fang¡¯s fame was too great, having accomplished many well-known feats. Ordinary people living off a single one of these for a lifetime were common, but when all these feats happened to one person, he became synonymous with legend. Moreover, from any perspective, Bi Fang was also a master at crisis management. There seemed to be no situation he couldn¡¯t resolve, no matter how desperate the circumstances, he always turned danger into safety, boosting his reputation even higher. Ugly Country, a certain restaurant. Bi Fang met Jerret and Pondy again. As one of the much-anticipated programs, Jerret still naturally wielded the reins of this program, and having a foundation of cooperation with Bi Fang, he was a very suitable partner. Upon meeting, Jerret proudly showed off a couple of Chinese phrases he¡¯d just learned. ¡°Mr. Bi, Happy New Year.¡± Even though the other party¡¯s Chinese carried a strong garlic accent, Bi Fang still praised, ¡°Your Chinese is not bad.¡± Hearing this, Jerret became animated, as this was the result of a month¡¯s study. His quick effectiveness boosted his eagerness to show off, but he was directly interrupted by Bi Fang¡¯s fluent English. Better to let foreigners give up learning Chinese¡ªit was torture for the ears. Sitting down, Jerret passed the menu, ¡°Did you see the list?¡± ¡°I have, they are all very capable.¡± Bi Fang took the menu, ordered two items at random, and looked at the 16 contestants, all of whom had relevant experience. Twelve had military backgrounds, and several were especially memorable to him. The Deer Hunter, Mugalen, needed no further mention. Bi Fang had experienced his skill firsthand; he was a seasoned hunter and a strong contender for first place. Besides him, there were many other contestants worth noting. Bono Cross, a member of the United States Marine Corps who later joined the Ranger Regiment, became one of the elite special forces with expertise in various combat techniques and wilderness survival experience. His military quality was extremely strong. Doligong Hawk, an elite firefighter at the Canadian National Forest Park responsible for forest conservation and wildlife protection, had once faced off against a bear over two and a half meters tall and managed to escape, a close call even more harrowing than Bi Fang¡¯s first live encounter with a black bear, making him a formidable natural fighter. Apart from these, many were experienced hunters, and there was even a Chinese participant, retired from a Special Police detachment, whose combat abilities were comparable to a special forces operative. Honestly, when Bi Fang first saw the list, he was surprised. For a show in Ugly Country, he did not expect to meet a fellow countryman. He immediately put his mind to work. If this person was capable enough to survive in the wilderness, he wondered if he could entice them to join his own club as an instructor, especially since they were short on staff. After all, not everyone from the troops is an expert in survival, just as not everyone is like Bear Grylls. ¡°Has the exact time for the show¡¯s premiere been set?¡± Jerret nodded, ¡°In three days, at ten in the morning, the show will officially begin. In the Rocky Mountains, these people will be randomly airdropped, just like how you were dropped onto the sea surface that time. We¡¯re still going with our four-man team to capture them one by one.¡± The Rocky Mountains? Bi Fang nodded, finding it an excellent choice. If he remembered correctly, Bear Grylls had been there in his past life, featuring mountains, water, and ferocious beasts, home to five national parks, evidencing how ¡°wild¡± it was. As for the four-man team, Bi Fang still had high hopes for them, although their first performance was quite comical. However, that was because they had encountered him, so it wasn¡¯t their fault. ¡°Moreover, we¡¯ve made some changes to the competition format,¡± Jerret suddenly said, handing over a map. ¡°To add to the fun, our production team has built some cabins in the forest with some survival supplies inside, not much, but helpful. Finding them won¡¯t deduct points, nor will it add any.¡± Bi Fang raised an eyebrow, quite surprised. He took the map and noticed that the locations were marked; green for the cabins and red for where the participants would be airdropped. ¡°Quite interesting.¡± Bi Fang could hardly wait to see how this group would perform. Surviving twelve days in the forest for sixteen people was definitely a tough challenge, but he believed that surely some of them would persevere. Moreover, many of the locations were relatively close to each other, which he assumed was a test set by the production team. The competition did not mandate going solo. Teaming up was allowed, but it was clearly stated that this would result in points being deducted. The larger the team, the more points would be taken off. To win, one would need to put in more effort. Hunting game, establishing a camp¡¯s safety index, whether one could escape outright, and the survival status index after were all points-adding factors. Team members hoping to take first place would have to weigh the pros and cons. ¡°By the way, are you just giving me this distribution chart? Aren¡¯t you afraid I might leak it?¡± Bi Fang held the ¡°airdrop chart,¡± surprised at the trust the production team had in him. Unexpectedly, Jerret laughed, ¡°It¡¯s just a hundred thousand US Dollars. Do you think Mr. Bi would care? If you want, our channel can give it to you directly.¡± Indeed. Bi Fang laughed at his own thought, too. A hundred thousand US Dollars was a lot to the average person, but it really didn¡¯t matter to him with his current net worth. ¡°We¡¯ll be relying on Mr. Bi a lot this time. Your presence means our show is already on unbeatable ground,¡± said Jerret as he and Pondy raised their glasses in a toast. In their eyes, Bi Fang¡¯s participation was the biggest support they could hope for. If a three-point rating was expected, then just by announcing Bi Fang¡¯s name, they could account for two points. The remaining point came from the appeal of the Wilderness Survival theme. Bi Fang also raised his glass, with a slight sense of reflection in his heart. Back when he first live-streamed with the Sharks, he had needed Ling Xuefeng to bring in viewers. Half a year later, he had become the hottest topic himself. Times had indeed changed. Chapter 266 - Chapter 266: Chapter 263: Isnt the Judge Also a Participant? Chapter 266: Chapter 263: Isn¡¯t the Judge Also a Participant? ¡°` In the afternoon, after dinner, Bi Fang didn¡¯t return to the hotel, but instead chose the suitable ¡°props¡± with Jerret. Unlike last time when the capture of Bi Fang was done stealthily, this time the show¡¯s team arranged for the sixteen contestants to stay in different hotels and explicitly stated that there would be attempts to capture them, which they could resist. If they successfully resisted, they would receive a reward¡ªa random starting item just like before. Although the items were random, they were guaranteed to be useful, and now Bi Fang was picking out the right ones. After all, in this area, he was the expert. Standing in front of the display case, Jerret suddenly asked, ¡°How many people do you think can escape capture?¡± Bi Fang recalled the list of contestants and their profiles and experiences, and after considering the capabilities of the four brothers he had encountered before, he came up with a mental estimate, ¡°Two or three.¡± Jerret was dumbfounded when he heard this number, not because it was too many, but because it was too few. A total of sixteen people, and in Bi Fang¡¯s mind, only two to three could escape the four-man teams capture? These were not just some random people snatched from the street, but competent individuals, many of whom were special forces soldiers. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t dare to sign up for Wilderness Arena. Yet, in Bi Fang¡¯s words, only two or three could escape capture? Bi Fang laughed, knowing what Jerret was thinking by his expression, ¡°The four-man team may not be special forces, but they are professional soldiers, and they work well together. Don¡¯t underestimate them: regular special forces soldiers can¡¯t handle them easily. Last time I also had a slight advantage.¡± The Wolves King¡¯s Sense of Smell was no joke. The four-man team hadn¡¯t even formally started their action last time when Bi Fang smelled them; afterward, he could also roughly deduce their location based on their scent, predicting the enemy¡¯s moves, and that¡¯s why he seemed to deal with the four-man team with relative ease. If it were someone else, it might not be the same. To escape capture, one¡¯s skills have to be good, and one¡¯s alertness has to be high, with a strong counter-surveillance awareness. Not everyone can meet both criteria. ¡°Also, don¡¯t over-mythologize special forces; they are formidable, but not invincible. In real situations, a special forces soldier handling three or four ordinary soldiers is already quite impressive.¡± ¡°Okay, then.¡± Jerret reluctantly nodded, involuntarily gaining more respect for the four-man team, difficult as it was to believe. But who else but Bi Fang was saying this? It¡¯s like when an ordinary person meets Einstein, and he tells you one plus one equals three, your first reaction isn¡¯t to think he¡¯s wrong but to wonder if it¡¯s some calculation method you don¡¯t know. A few minutes later, Bi Fang, with six items ready, nodded to indicate he had made his choice. A 500g military canned meat, a twenty-meter piece of nylon rope, a small claw knife, two military canteens, and a standard compass. ¡°Just these?¡± Jerret was somewhat speechless, taking only six items. Did he really think that few would escape? Bi Fang blinked, ¡°Believe me, even with six items, there¡¯ll still be some left over. Do you believe that?¡± ¡°Believe, believe, if not you then who should I believe in myself? I¡¯m just a director, what do I know about wilderness survival.¡± Jerret rolled his eyes. ¡­ The next morning, Bi Fang sat with the production team inside a motorhome, surrounded by large screens showing every move of the contestants. The show was officially set to air the day after tomorrow, but the capture operation could start now. The four-man team was already checking the tranquilizer guns to ensure the task went smoothly. With the experience from the first time, the four brothers were now confident and skilled, believing that they wouldn¡¯t be as embarrassed as the first time when they hardly made contact before all being taken down. They were determined to restore their manhood in front of a million viewers! Thinking of this, the four-man team couldn¡¯t help but glance at Bi Fang in front of the computer, fantasizing about him being thrashed by the four brothers, feeling refreshed by the thought¡ªit was like being constipated for three days and then suddenly having a release. There¡¯s only one word for it: exhilarating! Pondy came over with two big buckets of popcorn, offering one to Bi Fang, ¡°Want some?¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t hesitate to take it and grabbed a handful to stuff into his mouth. Then he looked at the four-man team, ¡°Tastes good, want some?¡± ¡°` For some reason, he always felt like the four-man group¡¯s gaze was somewhat impolite, perhaps it was just a misconception, what bad intentions could a partner have? The brothers shivered and politely pushed the popcorn bucket back, joking, they¡¯ll talk about reviving manhood later. The guy in front of them had fought a bear, beaten wolves, and ridden a huge python; prehistoric animal brains had been smashed to a pulp by him, enduring humiliation was not a disgrace. Bi Fang glanced at the four people¡¯s eyes, shook his head, and stopped paying attention to them, he opened the live broadcast backend, just waiting for the target to leave the room to start broadcasting. The production crew had warned in advance; within the three days before the program started, watching live broadcasts was strictly forbidden, and if caught on camera, it would be considered a violation and they would be out of the competition. Nobody would be foolish enough to cheat in such a way; at least three drones would be tracking and filming them, ensuring there were no blind spots. Finally, a contestant from the show exited his room, a discharged soldier, not special forces but with ten years of military experience, and for a time, a hunter. The four-man group packed up their things and immediately left the trailer, and headed towards the target. The hotel side had been notified, many guests were also told to stay in their rooms as much as possible to avoid panic during the upcoming activity, and those interested could also turn on their phones to check the live broadcast at any time. On this end, Bi Fang had also connected to his live streaming room, even though the broadcast was a surprise attack, with the push notification sent out, the viewer count began to grow rapidly. Whether it¡¯s Wolf Fang or MeTube, the daily view counts are very large, as soon as a notification is sent out, it won¡¯t take long to spread rapidly. Those die-hard fans of Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcasts would also be paying attention to the live room in advance, the moment a notification popped up, they would rush over just as quickly. So after just a few minutes, while the four-man group hadn¡¯t yet reached the hotel, the audience in the live room had already grown to a significant number, a few hundred thousand. Among them, thirty percent were domestic viewers. [Whoa, Old Fang started broadcasting, and it¡¯s not even the end of spring break, diving right into Wilderness Survivalist, so dedicated, I¡¯m touched.] [Being able to watch my favorite streamer during spring break, what bliss is this, Old Fang truly spoils his fans.] [Hurry up with the opening remarks, I can¡¯t wait any longer!] [Let¡¯s throw a Wolf Brush to celebrate.] Seeing the excited audience, Bi Fang also felt honored, with a faint sense of happiness lingering in his heart, a sense of achievement as if his value had been proven, but sadly, he was about to disappoint everyone this time. ¡°Sorry, this time it¡¯s not me who¡¯s going on a wilderness adventure. Remember that other show Mugalen mentioned last time, Wilderness Arena?¡± Upon hearing this, the audience felt a sense of loss, but as soon as they heard Wilderness Arena, many viewers remembered, and the platform had been promoting it the last few days. But if they remembered correctly, hadn¡¯t it been announced that Bi Fang would participate? [That¡¯s not right, didn¡¯t you say you were participating, Old Fang?] [Yeah, yeah, and you had an agreement with Mugalen to meet again, why aren¡¯t you joining now? Isn¡¯t this taking advantage of the honest people?] Bi Fang chuckled, ¡°I haven¡¯t taken advantage of the honest people.¡± Then, he lifted the camera to shoot a panoramic view, capturing the entire scene inside the trailer, leaving nothing out, indicating that he was engaged in recording the program. ¡°I am participating, but didn¡¯t say as a competitor.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t being a judge also participating?¡± Chapter 267 - Chapter 267: Chapter 264 Action Begins Chapter 267: Chapter 264 Action Begins F*ck! The audience was extremely shocked. So when Bi Fang said he was joining, he didn¡¯t mean as a contestant but as a judge? That¡¯s freaking cool! While everyone else was fighting tooth and nail for first place, the real big shot had already taken his throne, watching everyone¡¯s performance. And he was holding a bucket of popcorn in his hands. [Bro, I¡¯m already a judge, you know.] [Mugalen: That¡¯s your so-called joining? Is that polite?] [I thought we were on the same starting line, but it turns out you¡¯re not just in the audience, you¡¯re a judge in the audience. Also, put the popcorn down, it¡¯s offensive.] [Popcorn: I feel offended.] [Well, with Master Fang¡¯s standing, it would be beneath him to compete with everyone else.] Audiences both domestic and international were not only undismayed but even more excited to hear that Bi Fang would not compete but would be a judge, as if their idol¡¯s status in the industry had been recognized. He was completely unlike the contestants who were struggling to prove themselves! Bi Fang smiled and knocked on the table. There was no need for a preamble today; he would save it for the official live stream the day after tomorrow, as it was just an ordinary hunting mission. He took out a piece of white paper, stated all the game rules provided by the show, and once the audience had understood, he switched the camera back to the contestants in the hotel lobby. ¡°Within three days, a four-person team will hunt everyone. For each successful capture, they¡¯ll be rewarded with a thousand US dollars, and if a contestant successfully escapes, they can also get a starting prop. So everyone is going full throttle. Today, four people will be hunted in total. You all can guess how many the show team will catch.¡± As he spoke, Bi Fang opened a betting pool by himself, with five options ranging from one to four, and one being that nobody would be caught. The System will automatically adjust the odds according to the amount of Wolf Brush bet by everyone. [Sh*t, Old Fang isn¡¯t throwing in his lot, I¡¯ll follow Old Fang¡¯s bets!] [Right, right, let¡¯s follow Old Fang.] [Hold on, isn¡¯t there a preamble? I¡¯m confused.] [Someone wants to fleece my Wolf Brush, dream on!] The audience had grown wiser from past experience, sensing a trap in this round of betting. Master Fang became serious and immediately enticed them, ¡°How could there be a trap? Why would I deceive you over such a small matter? Plus, look, the ones carrying out the hunting mission are the four brothers. Bet boldly and confidently!¡±] Huh? It¡¯s the four-man team again? Upon hearing Bi Fang¡¯s words, everyone was startled and turned their attention to the live stream. Upon closer inspection, they realized it was true! Everyone had witnessed the performance of the four brothers last time and couldn¡¯t help but feel they were somewhat unreliable. Suddenly, the audience became energized, and the number of people betting on three and four surged. It seemed that everyone was quite confident in the contestants¡¯ ability to escape capture. Just then, Bi Fang¡¯s phone buzzed. He picked it up and saw a message from ¨¦tienne, asking which option he should bet on. The kid is pretty smart, seeking insider information. Bi Fang glanced at the camera, avoided being filmed, and sent out his message. ¡°All in on ¡®none¡¯.¡± As a judge, Bi Fang had slightly altered the hunting sequence, a privilege he still had. The result was that the four least likely to escape were arranged on the first day. The purpose was to create an upset. When the audience saw the comically inept four-man team performing heroically, the contrasting effect would naturally enhance the show, definitely boosting the ratings. Later, if someone did manage to escape, it would cause an even bigger sensation¡ªthis was a classic case of holding back before pushing forward. Of course, Bi Fang admitted that there was a chance he could be wrong and someone might actually escape, but the probability was indeed smaller compared to those in the following two rounds. After sending that message, Bi Fang¡¯s thumb moved again, quickly following up with another one, then he smiled and put the phone in his pocket. ¨¦tienne, who received the message, hadn¡¯t had the chance to be happy when he saw the content; his face fell immediately. The phone¡¯s screen prominently displayed a few words. ¡°Did you finish your homework?¡± ¡­ The group of four kept touching base with the contestants, who were either completely oblivious or pretending to be, in a ruse to lull the contestants into a false sense of security. On the surface, he seemed to be just preparing to have lunch. Bi Fang began to introduce the contestants and also showed off the starting items he¡¯d prepared, whetting the audience¡¯s appetite, leaving them wondering who would get the starting rewards. The rewards only belong to the strong! Those who could capture the escapee were definitely not weak. Gaining an item early on could definitely play a significant role, so for the contestants, this was not just a simple escape game. It could very well determine the outcome of the game! [Wow, Old Fang seems to have an emperor-like vibe, so much power!] [Is there anyone bribing Old Fang? (Dog¡¯s head)] [With Old Fang¡¯s current wealth, how much money would it take to bribe him, not enough even if the prize money is gone, right?] [Are there any female contestants?] [Hehehe, buddy, you¡¯re onto something, I think it¡¯s doable too] [Old Fang, come on, are there any female contestants? What do they look like?] ¡°Well, you said it, there are indeed female contestants.¡± Seeing the barrage of comments, Bi Fang casually pulled out a stack of files and flipped through them, selecting two. They contained personal information and ID photos. ¡°Ava Monson and Lisa Price, one is a professional off-road athlete, and the other is a member of Beret Hat, both very formidable.¡± Showing the IDs to everyone, it immediately provoked a burst of exclamations. [Holy crap, there are really women participating?] [Can women handle this kind of thing? Feels like they are going to drop dead!] [They look average.] [Nonsense, ID photos can¡¯t look that good, but for sure they have a nice figure, girls who exercise always do] [You guys are focusing on the weirdest things, seriously. To have the courage to sign up for this show is already impressive. Can we be serious?] Bi Fang nodded in agreement, actually, judging by the photos both did look pretty average, but not ugly, certainly passable, which disappointed a bunch of perverted netizens. But seeing a bunch of people underestimating the women, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but say a few words. ¡°Actually, although women may not be as strong as men, Wilderness Survivalist is mainly about experience and skills, and it¡¯s not necessary for only strong people to survive it. Women aren¡¯t completely out of the running, and in certain situations in the wilderness, women might even have an advantage over men.¡± [? Old Fang, you¡¯re not joking, are you? Tell us, do you have a girlfriend now? Did she make you say that?] [Old Fang, if you¡¯re being held hostage, blink blink] [How could that be, the extreme records are all set by men, that¡¯s an objective fact!] Bi Fang shook his head: ¡°That¡¯s why I said ¡®in certain situations¡¯. Women have more robust immune systems, estrogen can also protect the cardiovascular system, they have a lower metabolic rate, stronger endurance, and even live longer. Not to mention fat content, several percentage points higher. Under the same conditions, such women would be able to out-hunger the men. Men, with their well-developed muscles and high levels of testosterone, have a lower immune level and, in a variety of situations, are more likely to die than women.¡± The audience was suddenly taken aback; this was the first time they had heard such a statement. ¡°But our show isn¡¯t about who can survive hunger. If someone just lasts these twelve days by enduring hunger, they definitely don¡¯t meet the standard, so you need to go hunting, to find food. In that situation, strong men certainly have an advantage, so¡­¡± But before Bi Fang could finish his sentence, he noticed the chat had exploded. In the live stream, the group of four was making their move! Chapter 268 - Chapter 268: Chapter 265: The First Round of Arrests Chapter 268: Chapter 265: The First Round of Arrests Inside the hotel. The dining hall had a total of four exits, conveniently corresponding to the four members of the capture team, one guarding each exit. If a contestant wanted to break through the encirclement, they would have to confront at least one of them face-to-face. The show was this thrilling from the get-go! The audience immediately got excited, wanting to see how the contestants would escape. Bi Fang also acted as the narrator, briefly introducing the contestant who was cornered, and then added, ¡°It¡¯s clear that this contestant is quite thoughtful. This hotel has a total of four dining halls, but he chose the busiest Hall 2 instead of the most spacious Hall 1, a very correct decision.¡± As he said this, the production team timely broadcast the dining locations of the contestants over the past two days. Without exception, they were all in Hall 2, undoubtedly proving that the contestant¡¯s presence was not by chance but purposeful. ¡°An empty location is undoubtedly advantageous for escaping, but when you face multiple attacks at the same time, the chance of escaping directly drops to freezing point. At that time, more people around can cause more chaos, the so-called ¡®muddying the waters to catch the fish.¡¯ The greater the chaos, the easier it is to look for opportunities, and the strangers around can also serve as a warning.¡± Bi Fang watched with interest as the two parties approached, but suddenly felt that there was something off between the contestant and the surrounding environment. He glanced at the contestant, then at the diners beside him, and immediately understood something, asking with a chuckle. ¡°Did you guys notice anything about the contestant¡¯s clothes?¡± Clothes? What¡¯s up with the clothes? The audience looked at the contestant¡¯s attire and were initially baffled by Bi Fang¡¯s question, because the contestant was just wearing very long winter clothing. Isn¡¯t this what you wear in the winter? Could it be that he¡¯s wearing a bulletproof vest inside? Does Bi Fang have X-ray vision? Can he see what¡¯s worn underneath? ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s very ordinary winter attire, but ¡®ordinary¡¯ depends on the context. This set of winter clothes is inappropriate here. We need to pay attention to the environment.¡± Bi Fang stretched out his hand and pointed at the clothes of a few diners next to him, and the difference became immediately apparent. The other diners were mostly wearing sweaters or just shirts, far from clad in thick coats like the contestant. The audience had an epiphany, remembering that the hotel was air-conditioned. Not to mention wearing a coat, even a sweater would seem a bit too warm, let alone an overly thick coat. [Is this kidney deficiency? Why wear so much?] ¡°Of course not, this is actually a layer of protection. The contestant must have referred to the scene when I was caught, believing the captors would use anesthetic darts, using the thick coat to diffuse the anesthetic darts.¡± At first glance, Bi Fang saw through the contestant¡¯s idea. The method was crude but indeed effective. The needle of an anesthetic dart was limited in length, and if the clothing was thick enough, the anesthetic couldn¡¯t be injected. [Damn, impressive, impressive. Old Fang is such a bull, he saw through it at a glance.] [Aren¡¯t they going to be toasted alive? The hotel¡¯s air conditioning can dehydrate a person.] [Speaking of which, capturing someone in a public place, won¡¯t that cause chaos?] [Yeah, yeah, what if there¡¯s a stampede?] ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that. The capture plan was discussed in advance with the hotel¡¯s customer service and the guests, so they are all prepared.¡± As expected. When the four-person team took the elevator to the dining floor, many people noticed these oddly dressed individuals. But when they saw the anesthetic dart guns in the hands of the four, they smiled knowingly, and some even waved at the camera, looking like they wanted to join in the excitement. Causing chaos because of a capture was something that the production team would not do. Everyone was not new to making shows, and they understood the importance of safety. The four-person team split up and ran towards the four exits, attracting the attention of quite a few patrons along the way, and the crowd in turn made the contestant vigilant. Having stayed in the hotel for three days, he was particularly sensitive to such abnormal conditions, especially when he thought of the production team¡¯s ¡°capture plan.¡± He immediately wanted to leave this place of trouble. No sooner had he stood up to leave when he saw Third Brother at the entrance ahead, aiming the gun at him. Startled, with no time to avoid, he grabbed the edge of the table and violently flipped it over! A faint whirl of air followed by a needle viciously embedding itself in the wooden table. The contestant who had narrowly dodged was about to leave, but suddenly felt a pain in his waist ¡ª two more syringes flew towards him, piercing through his coat. He looked anxiously to his left and right, surrounded by captors! The team of four had walkie-talkies to communicate, and almost simultaneously fired their guns. Even if one could dodge from one direction, escaping the others was next to impossible. Damn! The contestant cursed internally. It turned out that the starting items were not so easy to obtain. He had taken every precaution, yet he was still cornered. Three anesthetic darts ¡ª was it three people? He yanked the darts out of his body and sprinted towards the last exit. During his three days staying in the hotel, he hadn¡¯t been idle; he had mapped out the hotel¡¯s layout almost on the first day, learning every thoroughfare and exit. The last few days, he had spent familiarizing himself with the paths. Thus, the moment the anesthetic darts appeared, he¡¯d identified where someone was and the only ¡°exit¡±! ¡°It seems our contestant is not very lucky, or perhaps he is just too nervous. He completely failed to realise that there would be an ambush at the fourth exit.¡± Bi Fang watched the contestant run straight for the last exit and couldn¡¯t help but sigh, guessing what would happen next. One has to admit, the cooperation among the team of four was indeed seamless. Three members had shot at the same time, deliberately leaving the last exit unguarded to make the contestant subconsciously think that there were only three captors and to flee in that final direction. The audience exclaimed with excitement! What kind of live broadcast attracts the most attention? Of course, the more twists, the better! ¡°When under attack, normal people will run towards the safest place, it¡¯s a biological instinct, no one is an exception. In fact, even if the contestant suspected an ambush at the last exit, he would still have to run there. It¡¯s a gamble, after all. Every other direction is blocked, and the last exit may or may not be guarded. Plus, the subconscious will play its part, and in the end, he will run towards the last exit.¡± Bi Fang analyzed calmly for the audience, explaining the purpose behind the group of four¡¯s actions, surprising the audience with their unexpected shrewdness. So they were that smart? Were they just simpletons in front of Master Fang? The distance from the dining table to the last entrance was about thirty meters. It would only take five or six seconds from getting up to reaching it. Before Bi Fang could finish explaining, the contestant burst out! At that moment, a dark shadow also lunged from the right! ¡°Been waiting for you!¡± The contestant sneered, having anticipated an ambush at the last exit. Instead of dodging, he charged right at the shadow, but just as he prepared to attack, he found nothing but air. His fist hit a coat! Damn, it was a feint! Before the contestant could react, he felt a tremendous force at the back of his knees, and before he knew it, he was kicked to the knees and forced to the ground. Fourth Brother, who had been standing to the side, pounced from behind, unleashing all his strength to pin the contestant to the ground. The contestant tried to struggle, but lying on the ground, he had no leverage or power. In the midst of his flailing, a few more seconds passed, and the other three members had already arrived, piling on top of him. Any hope of escape instantly shattered. The first round of the capture operation, a success! Chapter 269 - Chapter 269: Chapter 266: The Ultimate Contrast Chapter 269: Chapter 266: The Ultimate Contrast Bi Fang grabbed a handful of popcorn and stuffed it into his mouth, not surprised by the outcome in the slightest. However, the audience in the live streaming room was in an uproar, as the scene before them completely contradicted their usual understanding. [Geez, geez, did that even take a minute? They caught him just like that?] [Is the quartet that awesome?] [Why does it feel like the quartet suddenly got smart? Or is it Old Fang bestowing a buff, could it be that he is a novel protagonist?] The technique of Fourth Brother¡¯s sneak attack didn¡¯t require Bi Fang¡¯s commentary; a switch in the camera angle made everything clear to the production team. Before taking action, Fourth Brother had prepared a simple trap by securing an outer garment with a nearly invisible thread. Once they reached the lobby, he used tape to stick the clothing to the right wall. When someone was about to rush over, Boss would give an order through the walkie-talkie, and Fourth Brother would pull the thread, yanking the clothing down to create the illusion of a shadow attacking from the right. In the heat of the moment, whether contestants opted to dodge or counterattack, they would face it head-on, trying to discern the danger and unwittingly exposing their backs. Fourth Brother, hiding to the left, would then pounce, not needing to fight or struggle; he just had to hold the opponent for a few seconds, which was enough time for the other three to arrive. At that point, four against one, the quartet couldn¡¯t think of any way the opponent, apart from Bi Fang, could solve the predicament. After watching the entire capture process, even Bi Fang had to admit the ingenuity of the plan, which was indeed very different from the quartet¡¯s previous performances. He thought about it and figured the difference might lie in whether one took the initiative or reacted? Last time, the quartet was practically discovered before even moving, and after being spotted, they didn¡¯t rush to escape. Instead, they wanted to stay and assess the situation, confident they could take down the opponent directly if possible. Their thinking was unlike that of most people. Therefore, from the beginning, Bi Fang had seized the initiative, later opting to stand his ground and fight, single-handedly taking down three men, causing the quartet not even to have a chance to perform but to end up looking like a flustered and disheveled mess instead. ¡°No matter the action, taking the initiative is quite important. Did you notice that the exit the capture team reserved was actually the farthest from the contestants? I don¡¯t know if it was by chance or intentional, but this tactic allows the others to quickly catch up if the contestants get held up.¡± The farthest distance also meant the rest of them were closer to the contestants, enabling them to catch up more quickly when a contestant was trapped. [Amazing! Another small detail] [I misjudged the quartet. They are my Wolong and Fengchu, so awesome! I¡¯m a fan now!] [Quartet: I cower before Master Fang but strike hard at the contestants!] [A capture successful within one minute, I¡¯m impressed] [But how would Old Fang break the game?] [Right, right, right, in this situation what would you do, Old Fang?] ¡°Me?¡± Bi Fang scratched his eyebrows, looking at the captured contestant on the computer and pondered for a moment before replying, ¡°Compared to uncertain situations, I prefer clarity because I can¡¯t be sure if there will be an ambush or what kind of ambush there might be. I might run toward the entrance where there are people.¡± ¡°Of course, the premise for doing this is that you have the confidence to deal with a single enemy quickly,¡± he added. [Damn, he just showed off!] [Crap, such a show-off.] Bi Fang chuckled, ¡°Actually, I¡¯m not certain either. If I really faced that kind of situation, thinking is just a matter of a split second. Often, the body¡¯s instincts are faster than the brain¡¯s reaction, so I might also run towards the last exit; it¡¯s all uncertain.¡± He paused and didn¡¯t go on. If it were him running towards the last exit, he would actually be able to distinguish which side had the stronger scent, at least not as easily fooled as the contestant just now. Moreover, with his upgraded capabilities, he would react faster and more fiercely in a fight, not easily being taken down by a regular soldier in a short period of time, and definitely not ending up being tackled and piled upon. There are differences between people, after all. ¡°All right,¡± Bi Fang recaptured the audience¡¯s attention and continued to comment, ¡°The first round of capture has ended. I wonder if any lucky viewers guessed the result. This year, four people were set to be captured, but one has already failed.¡± [Damn, my Wolf Fang!] [I always feel that something isn¡¯t quite right.] [Can we open the betting again? I regret it now.] [Actually, it¡¯s not necessarily the case, right? The strength of this contestant seems to be one of the weaker ones in combat, right? I think there might be some tough competitors coming up, at least I¡¯m optimistic about Mugalen.] Amidst the audience¡¯s debate, Bi Fang remained unaffected and waited for the RV to start, taking him to the next location. As for the captured contestants, they would be ¡°escorted¡± to a hotel in a city near the Rocky Mountains, where they¡¯d be arranged to stay until the recording of the show began, and then they¡¯d be scattered and airdropped deep into the forest. About ten minutes later, the camera switched back to the capture team. This time their target was a female, which instantly energized the viewers, as this was one of only two female contestants in the show. Ava Monson, a professional cross-country athlete. When the camera cut to this female contestant, the only one of two in the crew, it immediately prompted wolf whistles from the Shuiyou. True to the Wolf Fang platform users. [Wow, wow, wow! What a figure! I¡¯m blown away!] [From the camera angle, she looks quite okay.] [Nonsense, can anyone actually look good in an ID photo?] ¡°People who like to do sports generally look better than those who don¡¯t,¡± said Bi Fang as he saw the Shuiyou interested, not minding to discuss this topic further. ¡°Because of sports, your body will gradually change. Issues like rounded shoulders, hunched back, or forward neck posture hardly occur, or if originally present, they will improve. Plus, increased metabolism makes the skin look better. You hardly see soldiers with acne all over their faces. It¡¯s the high level of physical activity that speeds up their metabolism, reducing toxin buildup in the body. Over time, the more physically fit and confident you become, the better your overall demeanor, and those two together make a big difference compared to those who don¡¯t exercise,¡± he explained. Bi Fang chatted while flipping through Ava¡¯s records, reciting her profile to the audience. Ava might be the most well-known contestant of them all, having participated in many cross-country world competitions, and achieving decent placements in them. In terms of physical endurance alone, she was definitely among the top contestants. Unfortunately¡­ This cross-country expert¡¯s abilities in counter-surveillance and combat were much weaker than those of the former soldier before, and with hardly an effort, the capture team seized her. After being caught by the capture team, she even made a self-deprecating comment: ¡°Though I knew my chances of escaping capture were slim, this was just too quick. I hope I¡¯m not the worst performer.¡± So far, both captures had been successful, just as Bi Fang initially predicted. Bi Fang reached for the popcorn bucket, but found it empty; it had been almost entirely devoured. But soon, another full bucket was handed to him. Jerret brought over a stool to sit beside Bi Fang, smiling as he greeted the audience. ¡°It seems there weren¡¯t any surprises, just as you guessed,¡± he said. ¡°You should trust my judgment,¡± Bi Fang replied. Sure enough, even the remaining two didn¡¯t cause much of a stir; except for the last one who, relying on his speed, ran quite a distance before ultimately being captured as well. The first day of capture was a resounding success, temporarily catapulting the capture team to fame. This led to another question. Just how strong was Bi Fang, who initially fought back against the capture team? Chapter 270 - Chapter 270: Chapter 267: A Drop Merges into the Sea Chapter 270: Chapter 267: A Drop Merges into the Sea How big is the gap? Faced with the audience¡¯s question, Bi Fang stretched out his index finger and thumb, leaving a tiny gap between them. ¡°About¡­ just a little bit?¡± [Here it comes! Fingertip Universe!] [A tiny bit!] [Is this sarcasm? This must be sarcasm, right?] Leaving the audience in suspense, Bi Fang didn¡¯t delay any further and planned to end today¡¯s live broadcast. ¡°Okay, that¡¯s it for today¡¯s hunting session. There will be two more rounds of hunting in the next two days, so stay tuned.¡± After finishing, the live stream went dark and disconnected. [Wow, come on, has Old Fang become this abrupt? Hasn¡¯t he been streaming just for a few hours?] [Old Fang has changed, indeed. Once a man gets wealthy, he starts to brush people off. He used to chat more before, and now he pulls up his pants and doesn¡¯t recognize us.] [It¡¯s all because you guys spoiled him!] The audience in the live chat were chattering noisily while Bi Fang took off his headphones and discussed further developments of the show with Jerret and others. As an ¡°experienced player,¡± Bi Fang¡¯s ideas brought a lot of surprises when he exchanged thoughts with Jerret and the team. ¡°My god, Bi Fang, it¡¯s such a pity you¡¯re not a program planner. If all these shows you¡¯ve proposed actually get produced, I think I can be popular for another thirty years!¡± Jerret couldn¡¯t stop praising the ideas that Bi Fang had suggested. Just by listening to them, they were captivating enough, and it goes without saying that they would be a hit if actually made. Bi Fang waved his hand. It was an overstatement; he was just standing on the shoulders of giants. ¡­ The next day. ¡°Good morning.¡± ¡°Morning.¡± After greeting the staff, Bi Fang sat in front of the screen, deep in thought. The System had just sent a task¡ªto go on a survival mission in the rainforest, but Bi Fang had flatly refused it. He liked adventure and nature, but there was no need to rush; it was still before the Spring Festival, and taking a long vacation occasionally was also good. Constantly testing the limits of danger without taking a break could lead to a breakdown; moreover, due to his flawless performance so far, he had always completed the System tasks above expectations, so he wasn¡¯t worried about not having enough Points. What Bi Fang was considering was a different issue: Could the Wilderness Arena become a System task? No amount of thinking could substitute for one actual trial, so Bi Fang opened the task editor and began to compile this mission. If he could generate the task, then it would prove to be feasible. Task Name: Wilderness Arena Location: Rocky Mountains Mode: Show Supervisor Difficulty: R2 Task Requirements: None Main Task One: Start a livestream with a sustained online viewership of over eight hundred and fifty thousand. Main Task Two: All sixteen contestants to survive without any serious injuries or disabilities. Side Task: Free exploration. Guaranteed Reward: 1000 Wilderness Points. Time Limit: 15 days. After finishing the task editing, Bi Fang clicked confirm. When the prompt for task generation appeared, he couldn¡¯t help showing a huge smile. This judging gig was more than fair¡ªit was a total windfall! It was so easy to freeload a wave of task rewards, even if it was just a few points, that was pretty good. The task difficulty plummeted by a whole major grade out of thin air, which showed it wasn¡¯t too difficult, at least much simpler than migrating geese or surviving at sea. If nothing unexpected happened, Bi Fang might not even need to leave the helicopter and just watch the players perform. Of course, if the players really encountered insurmountable dangers, it would definitely be a test for Bi Fang, so it wasn¡¯t completely without difficulty. ¡°What are you laughing at?¡± Jerret walked into the RV and saw Bi Fang laughing, handing over a bottle of mineral water as he asked. ¡°I just remembered something funny.¡± ¡°What funny thing?¡± Bi Fang went along with the conversation and was about to say his wife had given birth, but then he remembered he didn¡¯t even have a girlfriend, so he abruptly stopped and evaded, ¡°It won¡¯t be funny if I say it out loud.¡± ¡°Alright then,¡± Jerret said, not dwelling on it, and went off to direct the staff. Soon, the second capture session began! Bi Fang started the live broadcast and, after greeting the eagerly awaiting audience, began to introduce today¡¯s contestants. At the same time, he casually opened another betting pool with the exact same options, but the voting results were quite different from yesterday. The audience almost unanimously bet on complete failure, with only a handful betting on anything else, but even they were betting on just one or two escaping successfully, with almost none choosing three or four. [I¡¯m not going to be fooled anymore!] [Great, with my sharp eyes, I have already seen through everything!] [Tell the truth, the group of four is actually strong as a horse, I don¡¯t believe anymore that anyone can escape successfully] Yesterday, the group of four had captured all four contestants effortlessly, causing the audience to lose confidence in the players, even though today¡¯s contestants were entirely new, people still didn¡¯t believe anyone could escape successfully. ¡°Ah, today¡¯s contestants have a lot more value than yesterday¡¯s.¡± Bi Fang sighed. He had opened the betting pool only after publishing the players¡¯ information, but he didn¡¯t expect the audience to trust him so little. The scene shifted, and the current contestants seemed completely unaware of the looming danger, strolling casually on the streets, the epitome of skilled bravery. Bono Cross, a member of the United States Marine Corps, later joined the Ranger Regiment. Bi Fang placed him in the first interval for today¡¯s capture operation, holding high expectations, believing that if anyone could escape the capture of the group of four, it would undoubtedly be him. ¡°Perhaps many military fans can list from memory the special forces of various countries, such as Rice Country¡¯s Royal Air Service, the Polar Bear¡¯s Alpha Squad, Ugly Country¡¯s Navy SEALs, Delta Force, and so on. However, there is also a rather formidable unit within Ugly Country¡¯s battle order, often serving as pathfinders for other units including special forces, and they are the strongest light infantry, bar none. This unit¡¯s responsibility is to take the lead in combat, to assault and infiltrate the enemy, comprised almost entirely of Special Recon Soldiers, and that is the ¡®Ranger Regiment¡¯.¡± It¡¯s worth noting that Ugly Country¡¯s history of statehood spans only a little over two hundred years, while the Ranger Regiment, a historically significant and formidable military unit in the Ugly Army, has origins dating back nearly three hundred years. They are often mentioned alongside the Army¡¯s special forces, Delta Force, and the Navy SEALS.¡± Bi Fang gave a brief introduction that stirred a great deal of excitement among the audience. To be honest, the audience was somewhat unfamiliar with the Ranger Regiment, but they knew well about Delta Force and the Navy SEALs from movies and TV shows, where they often appear as tough characters capable of decimating a gang single-handedly just because the villains provoked them. [Damn, is this guy that strong?] [Crap, why didn¡¯t I check up on the Ranger Regiment beforehand?] [Does this mean that this person might actually escape?] Bi Fang nodded, ¡°That¡¯s right, the Ranger Regiment is adept at assault and infiltration, which gives them a strong advantage in this kind of capture operation. The so-called strongest light infantry isn¡¯t just a name for nothing!¡± As the group of four closed in, the Boss contacted the opposite side via walkie-talkie, planning to launch a joint attack when his gaze suddenly turned blank. Where¡¯s the person? Chapter 271 - Chapter 271: Chapter 268 An unexpected incident Chapter 271: Chapter 268 An unexpected incident Bonuo casually threw a hundred-Ugly Money bill on the counter and picked up a duckbill cap, intending to leave, but was unexpectedly stopped by the clerk¡¯s outstretched hand. ¡°Sir¡­¡± ¡°No need for change.¡± Bonuo waved his hand, as he had more important matters to attend to, and the extra could be considered a tip. However, just as Bonuo took a step forward, he was stopped again by the clerk, and irritation flared within him. What an insolent clerk, was he implying the tip wasn¡¯t enough? But the clerk¡¯s next words pierced through him like a sharp spike, deflating his bloated balloon of anger. ¡°Sir, this isn¡¯t enough.¡± Bonuo¡¯s defenses collapsed instantly, as he took off his cap in shock and anger. What kind of rip-off hat cost more than a hundred Ugly Yuan? A hundred denomination was a quite large bill. If you withdrew a hundred from an ATM in Ugly Country, it would spit out five twenties, a testament to its value. And now you¡¯re telling me it¡¯s not enough? As if reading Bonuo¡¯s thoughts, the clerk pointed to a shelf nearby with a clearly marked price, fair to both young and old alike. Two hundred and thirty-seven Ugly Yuan. Bullshit! Bonuo slammed the cap onto the counter and grabbed his money before storming off. This time he had not brought that much money with him. Upon leaving the shop, Bonuo raised his collar and scanned the surroundings with sharp eyes. As a Rover Cavalry, his reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance skills were beyond doubt. With less than two days before the official broadcast of the show, he knew capture attempts would certainly occur soon, so Bonuo decided to take the initiative instead of waiting passively. He occasionally left his room and wandered the streets, hoping to lure them out. To onlookers, it seemed like a casual stroll, but in reality, he never relaxed his vigilance, always on the lookout for anything amiss. Therefore, the moment the quartet appeared, he realized the capture had begun. Immediately, he entered a clothing store, flipped his clothes inside out as a disguise, and had intended to grab a duckbill cap¡ªbut he didn¡¯t have enough money. Thinking about this irritated Bonuo further, so he straightened his collar and walked into the crowd in the opposite direction of the quartet. The bustling street crowds perfectly concealed his figure, and after a few quick moves, not even the cameras could catch a glimpse of Bonuo. Just like a droplet joining the sea. Truly the strongest infantryman, adept at breaking out and infiltrating, shaking off a few people was as simple as eating and drinking. According to the rules, as long as he shook off the quartet, it counted as evading capture, so he had no intention of a head-on confrontation, and instead, he left stealthily. The drone simply changed direction and didn¡¯t follow, in order not to clue in the quartet, who might deduce something was amiss and track the target through the drone. The game was fair to both sides. The quartet, losing their target, were now turning around like headless flies. The two split groups reassembled, and finally they all received a message from Bi Fang. ¡°Come back, the target has gotten away, your mission failed.¡± Quartet: ¡°¡­¡± That was too fast, wasn¡¯t it? There hadn¡¯t been any direct confrontation, and the target had escaped right under their noses? It¡¯s over, there goes a thousand Ugly Gold. Yesterday, the quartet made four thousand Ugly Gold, plus bonuses, totaling over a thousand each. Where else could you find such a great job? But unfortunately, they were off to a bad start, allowing their target to escape. Damn it! ¡°It seems that our first escapee has appeared, and this is the first successful escape to date. Does anyone have any thoughts?¡± Bi Fang sat in his chair, not at all surprised, as it was just as he had predicted. However, the audience was somewhat dissatisfied because they felt like they had watched, yet somehow seen nothing. The two sides had merely assessed each other like high-level martial artists, and the victor was decided without any special effects or fight¡ªquite dull indeed. [Somewhat lame, didn¡¯t find it very interesting] [What do you mean ¡®not very interesting¡¯?] [That¡¯s what I mean] [Feels like it¡¯s supposed to be very badass, but I didn¡¯t catch it.] [In a clash of masters, the essence lies in the unseen] Seeing the audience¡¯s dissatisfaction, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but laugh and cry. Not everyone was like him, having the opportunity to escape directly but choosing to come back and look for a chance to fight back. After all, fighting back was risky. If Bi Fang hadn¡¯t guessed that the other party might be from the show¡¯s crew, he too might have just walked away. ¡°Bonuo¡¯s approach is quite correct. No one can be a hundred percent sure they can handle another person without any accidents happening. The best method is to shake them off and walk away. After all, reality isn¡¯t a TV drama; it¡¯s not about always chasing after spectacular scenes and coolness.¡± Briefly explaining, he saw that the audience was still dissatisfied and quickly changed the subject. ¡°However, don¡¯t worry. There are still quite a few contestants left. Maybe some of them like to clash head-on; everyone just wait and watch.¡± The previously somewhat disappointed audience was once again excited by Bi Fang¡¯s words, continuing to wait for the next lucky person to be captured. Indeed, the next two contestants were evidently stronger than yesterday¡¯s. Not only did they hold their own against the group of four for a while, but the third contestant almost managed to escape. Unfortunately, the relentless pursuit by the group left nearly everyone unable to run at the end, and they were caught. The audience sighed in pity. Although the first match wasn¡¯t very exciting, Bonuo was still the first one to successfully escape, fulfilling some of the audience¡¯s expectations. The next two matches were of higher quality and more exciting than yesterday¡¯s. [So close, they almost succeeded!] [The group of four is still strong.] [Indeed, fair is fair.] [I only lost to stamina.] [But it¡¯s still a matter of strength, right? If he was as good at disguising himself as that Rover Cavalry, he wouldn¡¯t need to run like parkour. He could have just ducked into the crowd.] [Ah, if you put it that way, that Rover Cavalry guy really is strong!] [Sure is the strongest soldier type. But as I watch, I can¡¯t help but feel like all these people are just setting the stage for Old Fang. Did Old Fang secretly bribe someone?] ¡°Why would I bribe anyone?¡± Bi Fang couldn¡¯t understand the audience¡¯s train of thought. That he was strong was an objective fact; it wasn¡¯t because he had used any tricks to succeed. Since the third capture took a toll on the foursome¡¯s energy, they had to rest for a while before continuing their action. Now having nothing to do, Bi Fang chatted with the audience about customs from different places. In his past life, he had ¡°Wandered Around¡± and seen many strange things, which left the audience exclaiming in surprise and appearing to learn quite a bit. Soon evening came, the four had rested up and began the fourth round of capture. But unexpectedly, an accident occurred right at the start. A contestant was directly eliminated. ¡°How did it turn out like this?¡± Bi Fang and the show¡¯s crew hurried to the scene, where they saw the contestant crying in pain. In an attempt to evade capture, he had jumped from the third floor but failed to master ¡°Fall Protection,¡± breaking his leg. The bone in his lower leg was unnaturally twisted. This was the first serious injury during the capture operation. Some staff members wanted to help, but Bi Fang immediately stopped them: ¡°Do you know ¡®First Aid¡¯?¡± The staff shook their heads. ¡°Then don¡¯t touch him, leave it to me!¡± Bi Fang took off his coat, folded it well, and moved to the contestant¡¯s side, placing the coat under the lower leg for support, to make it somewhat bearable. Next, he placed his fingers under the contestant¡¯s knee to feel the still powerful pulse and nodded. ¡°There¡¯s still a pulse, which means the situation isn¡¯t too bad.¡± ¡°For a patient with a fracture, we should avoid directly touching the fractured site, and unless it¡¯s extremely urgent, we must never move the victim, nor should we use makeshift splints rashly. Medical staff will bring more professional medical equipment.¡± As he spoke, Bi Fang looked back at the staff: ¡°Have you called?¡± ¡°They¡¯re on their way.¡± Bi Fang nodded, ¡°Fortunately, it¡¯s a closed fracture, meaning the skin around the fracture site hasn¡¯t broken and the bone hasn¡¯t pierced through the skin. There¡¯s just swelling and no heavy bleeding, otherwise, we¡¯d have to worry about bacterial infection. But at least a few months of recuperation won¡¯t be avoidable. Rest assured, the show will cover all medical expenses, you don¡¯t have to worry about that.¡± The contestant smiled bitterly and nodded; at this point, there was nothing he could say, only that he had overestimated his abilities and lacked proper training. Soon, an ambulance arrived, and with the help of Bi Fang and others, the contestant was lifted onto the ambulance, which departed with a burst of sirens. Chapter 272 - Chapter 272: Chapter 269: The Final Wave Chapter 272: Chapter 269: The Final Wave Everyone was caught off guard when, before the show could even officially start, someone was forced to withdraw due to circumstances beyond their control, reducing the number of contestants by one. Bi Fang looked up at the third floor. Each floor was three meters high, and jumping from the third floor meant a vertical height of six meters. Even he would have to make sure before daring to jump, let alone in the urgency of being pursued¡ªa careless leap could easily lead to accidents. Taking this opportunity, Bi Fang warned, ¡°Did everyone see that? Even professionals can slip up when it comes to fall protection, so don¡¯t try this recklessly and make sure to seek guidance from a professional.¡± [That¡¯s one hell of a bad example.] [Just the thought of jumping down from the third floor makes my legs go weak.] [That¡¯s frightening as fuck, the first time I¡¯ve seen a fracture in real life, holy shit, the swelling is terrifying.] [It¡¯s nothing, you haven¡¯t seen the kind of fractures where the bone fragments are sticking out. I once came across someone who jumped off a building, and man, the blood was flying everywhere, a real fright fest, could make you vomit your dinner from the night before.] [Stop, I¡¯m getting visuals.] After addressing the unexpected accident, Bi Fang gave some brief advice and then ended the broadcast. With the accident occurring before the start of the show, many adjustments had to be made, and they also needed to visit the hospital to understand the details of the situation. ¡°How¡¯s it looking?¡± ¡°No major issues, just an ordinary fracture. The doctor reckons it¡¯ll take about a month to recover, with no lasting side effects.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± Jerret wiped his forehead, relieved. In outdoor shows like this, injuries are inevitable, but fractures are considered quite serious. Once they confirmed that there were no major problems, the crew paid the medical bills and began to prepare for the live broadcast the next day, while also informing all the contestants about the accident. The message was clear: if they were worried, they could quit now. But those who had come to participate were each outstanding in their own fields, having considerable confidence in their own abilities. Even after hearing the news, nobody chose to withdraw. The show must go on. The missions continued as well. The third day, which was also the first day of the capture mission, nearly all of the formidable players were present. Lisa Price from the elite members of Beret Hat. Doligong Hawk, from the elite firefighting team of Canadian National Forest Park, responsible for forest conservation and wildlife protection, once faced off against a brown bear over two and a half meters tall. Ji Zuodong, ex-military police brigade, with capabilities comparable to special forces. Mugalen, an old acquaintance, with a background as a Deer Hunter, a combination of a hunter and special forces, probably the most overtly powerful among the fifteen contestants. Bi Fang had initially wanted to switch Lisa for Rover Cavalry¡¯s Bonuo, making the final day a true clash of titans, but it was Jerret who, with his decades of experience, made the suggestion. Three men and a woman would be more attractive than a group of four men. This piece of advice was like a wake-up call, making Bi Fang realize the considerable gap between himself and a true producer; he hadn¡¯t thought of that at all. Sure enough, as soon as today¡¯s capture list was published, the audience was almost universally ecstatic. Bi Fang casually opened a new betting pool. With the example set by Bonuo¡¯s success, the online friends didn¡¯t completely lose faith in the contestants, with most bets placed on three people succeeding. [Holy shit, this lineup feels a whole level higher than the previous two rounds!] [Epic, there¡¯s my father-in-law again] [Father-in-law? Who¡¯s your father-in-law?] Mugalen ah Grass, people can¡¯t, at least they shouldn¡¯t People should, at least give it a try. After the warm-up in the past two days, the show¡¯s popularity had completely skyrocketed. Bi Fang¡¯s fans almost all knew that for such a new wilderness program, skepticism was inevitable. However, when Bi Fang joined, even just as a judge, the quality was guaranteed. Moreover, a fracture accident occurred yesterday. Although unfortunate, it undeniably generated a wave of viewership. All things considered, today, as soon as Bi Fang¡¯s broadcast started, the number of viewers was heading towards the millions, with a whopping opening rating of 2%! ¡°Today is the last capture operation. After the capture is over, we will take the sixteen, oh, now fifteen contestants, and airdrop them into the Rocky Mountains. As you can guess, after the capture is finished, it will be the afternoon, and by the time we reach our destination, it might already be dark. So, the first serious challenge they face is how to spend their first night in the wilderness.¡± The wilderness at night is undoubtedly the most dangerous¡ªwith wild beasts roaming, plunging into such a forest is a huge test. It made the audience exclaim with excitement, unable to tear themselves away, feeling the thrill as if a test were approaching and the teacher suddenly comes over to explain the problems. After a brief introduction of the rules and content, Bi Fang switched the screen, handing over the live stream to the contestants. Today¡¯s first capture target was one of the female contestants, Lisa. ¡°Unlike in Huaxia, in Ugly Country, although women have already joined multiple extremely dangerous frontline combat units, such as serving as fighter pilots and armed helicopter operators for Draws Country¡¯s Navy and Air Force, special forces have long been off-limits to female soldiers. Since Ugly Country uses mixed units, women must meet the same assessment standards as men to join the special forces, which is quite difficult since women naturally have less physical strength and fitness than men. Very few are selected, and even fewer complete the entire course¡ªonly one to be exact.¡± Fuck, that¡¯s awesome. Is she the only one who has succeeded? That¡¯s so badass. A role model for my generation! ¡°No, she isn¡¯t,¡± Bi Fang threw cold water on the excited audience, ¡°According to the information provided by Lisa, she only holds a special forces combatant training certificate and has the qualifications, but did not pass the course to join. However, it¡¯s not an overstatement to say she¡¯s a member of the Green Berets.¡± ¡°Every member of the Green Berets is a master of guerrilla warfare, speaks at least one foreign language, and possesses their own technical expertise¡ªweaponry, engineering, communications, medical¡ªpretty much like the cool teams you see in the movies.¡± Although the audience felt let down by the news she wasn¡¯t an official member, they were still hugely interested after hearing the introductions. When the camera switched over to Lisa, they almost crashed collectively. Fuck, is that a woman? If she didn¡¯t have long hair, I really wouldn¡¯t believe it¡­ Ah, not as pretty as that off-road sister¡­ But she¡¯s tougher than your off-road sister, knocking them out one punch at a time. Bi Fang wasn¡¯t surprised by the viewers¡¯ reactions, because from her ID photo, Lisa already showed features that were more masculine. Just by appearance, she was far from Ava. In fact, this is perfectly normal. Countless scientific evidences show that the lower limit of strength for male athletes is almost the upper limit for female athletes. For a woman to exceed the strength of an average man, it is certainly not going to be with a slender figure; more likely, she will not correspond with gentleness, having big thighs like Chun Li¡¯s is the norm. If Ava could still be considered fit with her strength mainly in her legs, then Lisa, who had the qualifications of a special forces member, could be regarded as ¡°big and burly,¡± with a completely masculine look. The typical scenario in urban novels where the female team member is extremely strong yet maintains a slim figure is almost impossible. This is what a special forces member looks like. During Bi Fang¡¯s brief introduction, the four-man team also launched their attack. Chapter 273 - Chapter 273: Chapter 270: The Second Escapee Chapter 273: Chapter 270: The Second Escapee ¡°` To deal with the pursuit, Lisa had hardly stepped out of her hotel room in three days; even her meals were delivered by the hotel¡¯s room service. She was well aware that strength was not her forte. Perhaps she could handle one or even two pursuers, but any more than that, and physical exhaustion was inevitable. For this reason, she had to come up with some special methods. ¡°You two, break through the main entrance. Fourth Brother, you come and wait downstairs with me.¡± Lisa¡¯s room was on the second floor, one level lower than before. Boss was extra cautious, blocking off all possible escape routes. Second Brother and Third Brother, clutching the room card, arrived at Lisa¡¯s door. Under normal circumstances, they would have broken down the door in a bust, but since they had communicated with the hotel, they chose the more convenient method. However, this approach had its drawbacks: using the room card was slower than a forced entry and came with a burst of electronic noise. But that didn¡¯t matter much, as the only escape routes for the target were two: the main door or jumping out of the window. After a confirming glance, they swiped the card, and after a beep, they kicked the door open with force. The room was empty! ¡°She¡¯s gone!¡± Second Brother, noticing the open skylight, shouted into his walkie-talkie. Boss downstairs also spotted the figure climbing out of the window and immediately pulled the trigger, but Lisa reacted just as swiftly. Instead of jumping, she leaped up and grabbed hold of a water pipe! Both anesthetic darts hit the window instead. What a nimble figure! Both the audience and the team of four were slightly taken aback. ¡°Lisa must have practiced this more than once; otherwise, she couldn¡¯t have been so proficient.¡± Bi Fang could tell at a glance that this wasn¡¯t her first time, that she must have practiced numerous times. Well before the operation began, she had already planned her escape route, swiftly climbing up the pipe. Her goal wasn¡¯t to jump down, but to climb up! She was taking this chance to get up to the third floor! After firing two empty shots, Boss and Fourth Brother quickly reloaded. This gave Lisa enough time to climb up to the third floor, slide open a window, and roll into a room. ¡°Ordinarily, hotel windows cannot be opened from the outside. Lisa must have considered this. Unless she was relying on luck, she might have even spent her own money to reserve the room above hers, which would explain how she so smoothly made her way in.¡± Bi Fang saw through Lisa¡¯s tactics. Her strategy was completely different from the previous contestant with a broken leg. She didn¡¯t aim to escape by jumping out of the window but to move upwards to avoid pursuit. ¡°Unfortunately, she¡¯s been hit by the sedative now and won¡¯t last much longer. If I¡¯m not mistaken, she might choose to hide in one of the third-floor rooms, take advantage of the darkness beneath the light, or perhaps go even further and reserve another room on the third floor, using her last moments to hide. Escaping the building is nearly impossible now.¡± Capturing Lisa was only a matter of time. When the team of four reached the third floor, it didn¡¯t take long for them to find Lisa in the bathroom, close to losing consciousness. The audience felt a pang of regret; no one expected the first contestant to fail so soon. But it was okay, three were still left. Among them, Bi Fang only had faith in Ji Zuodong and Mugalen. ¡°Although Doligong is from the Forest Park Firefighting Team and is very adept at wilderness survival, he has never undergone professional anti-surveillance and escape training, so it¡¯s unlikely that he¡¯ll evade the four-man team¡¯s capture.¡± As they spoke, the team reached Doligong¡¯s location, and just as Bi Fang had surmised, with some effort, they also captured Doligong. [Is it time for them to come for one of our own now?] [Awesome, this is the first time I¡¯ve seen a Huaxia person on this kind of show. I¡¯m a bit excited.] ¡°` ¡°Who said that? Strictly speaking, Old Fang was actually the first one.¡± ¡°Plus one. Master Fang is simply a genius. I never realized Wilderness Survivalist could be this entertaining.¡± Ji Zuodong, an armed police special officer, in Bi Fang¡¯s eyes, should be the best at urban combat among all participants, and escaping capture is simply out of the question for him. ¡°Old Fang, which are a bit more formidable, the armed police or special forces?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯d like to know too.¡± As soon as the audience saw the armed police special officer, they instinctively wanted to compare him to the special forces, and with Bi Fang right there, of course they would ask the professional. ¡°Well¡­¡± Bi Fang paused. ¡°Both the Army Special Ops and the special police are classified as special forces, trained in a comprehensive set of skills, so both their collective and individual combat capabilities are very strong, nearly at the same level, but their focuses are different. The armed police are more proficient in urban combat, while the special forces are all-terrain.¡± ¡°But there¡¯s one thing worth noting. The armed police are very skilled at subduing enemies. Special forces, when encountering an enemy during a mission, will never let the enemy speak, whereas special police, when they encounter an enemy, will first shout, ¡®Don¡¯t move, drop your weapon,¡¯ with subduing them being the priority.¡± ¡°Special police are responsible for maintaining social order and fighting crime, while special forces carry out national missions. However, with the prevalence of terrorists today, special forces are also involved in counter-terrorism.¡± ¡°A word from you is worth more than a lecture from anyone else.¡± ¡°So after all that, who¡¯s really stronger?¡± ¡°This actually still depends on the individual. Although they are all special forces, there is still a difference in level among individuals. Under the same training process, some people just turn out to be stronger.¡± Seeing that the audience was determined to dig deeper, Bi Fang didn¡¯t hold back and candidly said, ¡°If he were to fight me, chances are he wouldn¡¯t be able to beat me.¡± The armed police special officer is on par with the special forces. But Bi Fang is not your average special forces member. He is a Special Recon Soldier who has trained at the Hunter Academy and possesses a refined Tai Chi Traveling Dragon skill. In terms of hand-to-hand combat, he is definitely much stronger. Having professional combat skills makes a huge difference. When Bi Fang faced Legoff, he was actually firmly in control, clearly holding the upper hand in their first few encounters, with less danger than Legoff faced. As the commentary continued, Ji Zuodong was also confronting the group of four head-on. Almost at the first glance, Ji Zuodong made a move that the audience was all too familiar with. Throwing his coat! Bi Fang had demonstrated this move long ago. When faced with something unexpected, people¡¯s instinctive reaction is to use their eyes to track it, to prevent any danger from arising. This brief moment is enough for someone to make a getaway. In the instant the group of four was distracted, Ji Zuodong turned to flee, but upon flashing around a corner, he didn¡¯t continue to run. Instead, he looked around, picked up a large trash can to empty it, and with a few leaps, arrived at a ground-floor windowsill with the trash can in tow. As soon as Boss, the first to charge in, got close, Ji Zuodong violently threw the trash can over him, completely enclosing him! The trash can hit its mark, and Ji Zuodong quickly advanced, using Boss as a shield on one hand and reaching for the tranquilizer gun in his hand with the other. With a simple joint lock, he stripped away Boss¡¯s tranquilizer gun in an instant. Before everyone else could react, Ji Zuodong had no intention of having a stand-off with the gun. He lifted the gun, aimed at Third Brother, and was about to shoot. Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t hit his target, but Ji Zuodong wasn¡¯t annoyed. He kicked Boss to the ground and continued his escape. Although he had retired a long time ago, Ji Zuodong¡¯s skills hadn¡¯t declined. He continued to ambush, successfully ¡°taking out¡± two members of the group of four, and successfully escaped. The second escapee appears! ¡°It seems my skills haven¡¯t fallen behind.¡± Having been informed by the show¡¯s crew to return, Ji Zuodong faced the camera with a hearty smile; he was the true embodiment of someone who had forcefully escaped capture. With that, fifteen of the sixteen contestants had been attempted for capture, leaving only Mugalen as the show was about to officially start. As the earliest contestant the audience had been acquainted with, could he pull off a successful challenge? The audience wasn¡¯t the only curious one¡ªBi Fang was too. Chapter 274 - Chapter 274: Chapter 271: Main Event Chapter 274: Chapter 271: Main Event The answer leaves no room for doubt. Yes. The quartet slammed their car doors shut and hurried toward the hotel, their approach so fierce that if it hadn¡¯t been for a prior heads-up, someone would have thought a sworn enemy had come for revenge. The manager pulled back the curtains and glanced at the license plate number. Once it was confirmed to be correct, he didn¡¯t wait for the men to come but opened the door in advance, even taking care to give a reminder to passersby when possible. ¡°Top floor on the right.¡± The man leading, Boss, gave the manager a surprised look. After numerous capture operations, this was the first time he¡¯d seen someone so cooperative, which left him with an uncanny feeling of being a lackey. The manager noticed the four men arriving and smiled slightly to show friendliness. As a hotel, they¡¯d welcome the chance for a TV station to visit and film ¡ª it was a coveted opportunity. Of course, they¡¯d serve them well, and as long as it wasn¡¯t too destructive, breaking a few things was fine. Of course, they had to pay for damages. The armed foursome split into two groups. One group went through the lobby to the outside courtyard to lie in wait, following the usual protocol. The other dashed for the stairs and quickly went up. At that moment, the scene switched to the room, and the viewers immediately saw a mosaic of pixels. Bi Fang was drinking water. Seeing this scene, he almost spit it out, ¡°Uh, seems like our protagonist just finished bathing. It¡¯s the last day before the show starts, and I didn¡¯t expect Mugalen to still have the mood for a bath.¡± In the frame, Mugalen was a blur of mosaic, yet despite that, sharp-eyed viewers could still discern that he was almost one color ¡ª surely wearing nothing at all. You have to admit, he¡¯s quite bold. On a day when capture was inevitable, he dared to leisurely take a bath. Only when he picked up his underwear and put it on did the mosaic finally disappear. Mugalen picked up the remote, intending to sit on the couch and watch TV, but then he suddenly heard hurried footsteps in the hallway. The heavy boots tapped against the solid wood floor, making a thumping sound. ¡°It looks like our protagonist has sensed the danger approaching.¡± Bi Fang watched as Mugalen got up, went to the door, and secured the bolt. This way, even with a room card, the capture team outside couldn¡¯t get in. Not only that, but Mugalen even moved a chair to angle it in front of the door. The rush of footsteps outside, plus the timing of events, gave Mugalen, with his hunter¡¯s alertness, almost complete certainty that this was the capture team. Realizing this, he didn¡¯t bother to open the door to check; that would only be a waste of time. Whether he confirmed it or not, he would do the same, so any unnecessary actions should be omitted. Then Mugalen began dressing, moving the table next to the bed aside. He had just poked his head out to look at the courtyard when he spotted two people also rushing over. Without a doubt, they were also part of the capture team. Surrounded front and back, Mugalen looked around and set his gaze upon the little door on the bed, which led to the attic. At this point, banging noises came from outside the door. ¡°Bang!¡± The door burst open. Boss and Fourth Brother looked around the room but didn¡¯t see their target. They asked through the walkie-talkie, and it was confirmed that no one had jumped out the window. The two immediately began searching the room and soon discovered the attic entrance. But as Boss just opened the door, a pair of legs suddenly kicked out, knocking Boss to the ground. Then Mugalen quickly pulled the door shut before climbing inside. Boss was almost dazed by the kick, gasping for air on the ground. Fourth Brother immediately gave chase. Once he entered the attic, he found it extremely tight and saw that a skylight was wide open. Just as he got there, he could see a pair of legs dangling outside; Mugalen was struggling to climb up. Unfortunately, before Fourth Brother had the chance to take aim, Mugalen had already escaped to the rooftop. Fourth Brother hurried after him. ¡°Quite a beautiful tactic,¡± Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but nod in approval, ¡°When facing a siege by multiple people, if you have confidence in your own strength and stamina, the best method is to run towards narrow spaces. Try to create one-on-one situations as much as possible to reduce the effectiveness of the crowd tactic to the lowest level. At the same time, the narrow space also makes it inconvenient for firearms to aim.¡± Almost at the moment Fourth Brother poked his head out of the skylight, a pair of large hands reached over, using the exact same routine. In the rush, Fourth Brother could only face the attack, but never expected that Mugalen had a belt looped in his hand. With a few quick flicks, he somehow got the belt around Fourth Brother¡¯s hand, then with a strong pull, he firmly trapped Fourth Brother¡¯s hand and snatched away the anesthesia gun. Mugalen took the gun and ran to the edge of the roof, then slid down the drainpipe. The whole set of movements flowed like moving clouds and flowing water, and by the time the audience realized what was happening, Mugalen had already completed the first round of direct confrontation, with Boss and Fourth Brother almost utterly defeated. Once Mugalen landed on the floor below, he stayed close to the wall, using the eaves to avoid the line of sight of the two men downstairs. He knocked the glass tiles with his hand, reaching in to unlock the latch, and pushed up the window, rolling into it. Downstairs, Second Brother and Third Brother didn¡¯t stay in the yard any longer and rushed towards the inside the hotel. Hearing a rattle from upstairs, the manager quietly contemplated how much compensation to ask for, wondering if he could make a profit from this incident. Mugalen, who had entered the room, quickly went downstairs, but before reaching the bottom, he saw Second Brother and Third Brother coming head-on. He pulled out the anesthesia gun he had snatched earlier and shot Third Brother, who was in the lead, with a single shot. Then, with his tiger-like gaze, just as Second Brother was about to catch up, Mugalen suddenly flipped and leaped to the staircase one level below, avoiding Second Brother. By the time Second Brother realized it, Mugalen wasn¡¯t directly ahead anymore, but had moved to the stairs below, completely reversing direction. What should have been a chase upstairs suddenly became a chase downstairs, disorienting anyone. When Second Brother finally went down after him, Mugalen had completely vanished without a trace. Boss and Fourth Brother also chased down from the top floor, but when the whole group passed through the lobby and onto the street outside, seeing the coming and going traffic, everyone¡¯s heart sank with disappointment. Another thousand dollars gone. Boss gasped for air and threw his hat to the ground in frustration. Damn it, are commandos all this fierce? The whole capture process took no more than ten minutes, truly providing the audience with a feast for the eyes, giving them the thrilling satisfaction of watching a movie in a cinema. So far, three escapees in total! [I knew I wasn¡¯t wrong about you, Mugalen is still strong] [Worthy of being the man who entered the stage early, the last one to show up is always the mightiest!] [To be fair, it feels like Master Fang has the best vision! Just one glance and he can tell who has it and who doesn¡¯t.] ¡°It¡¯s exactly as you predicted.¡± Inside the RV, Jerret couldn¡¯t help feeling impressed. When initially selecting items, he had asked Bi Fang for his thoughts, and the answer he had gotten was that the number of escapees would be between two and three. Looking at it now, it was indeed the case. It has to be said, only a true expert understands another expert, and only a real master could accurately judge the strength of the competitors. This confidence also encouraged Jerret for the upcoming filming. What is the biggest worry when producing a wilderness program? Of course, it¡¯s accidental loss of life, but with a powerful master on hand, the probability of accidents was reduced to the lowest level, and all safety measures could be checked and filled in. Jerret felt a bit of satisfaction in his heart, no longer dwelling on this point, and called the show¡¯s crew to action. The warm-up for the program had concluded, and what was coming next was the real highlight. Eagerly anticipated by countless viewers. The Wilderness Arena! Chapter 275 - Chapter 275: Chapter 272 Challenge Begins Chapter 275: Chapter 272 Challenge Begins The capture concluded, and Bi Fang ended the live broadcast before hurrying to the nearest airport. Once everyone had arrived at a city near the Rocky Mountains, they were split into three helicopters, each carrying four contestants, dropping them one by one. When the capture was over, it was around two in the afternoon; by the time everyone reached the Rocky Mountains, it was already five in the evening. Bi Fang sat inside the helicopter, chatting with a few contestants while once again going over the game rules to ensure that no one would have second thoughts. And at that moment, Mugalen was experiencing a tumult of emotions. It was only when he was taken onto the plane that he learned Bi Fang¡¯s so-called participation was as a judge. In that instant, no one could understand the intense psychological changes that Mugalen underwent. It was a melancholy sensation to regard someone as a formidable rival, only to realize they didn¡¯t even remember you existed. In such a circumstance, Mugalen thought he would be angry, but upon a second thought, he was unexpectedly pleased. If Bi Fang was not participating¡­ Wouldn¡¯t he be able to stand out? Reopening the live broadcast after just three hours made the viewers unable to wait any longer. The capture action was not merely a warm-up; it was clearly a tease! In front of millions of viewers, Bi Fang once again spoke those words everyone was intimately familiar with. ¡°Looking back at the evolutionary trajectory of humans, if our ancestors had not ventured and imagined, had not dared to innovate and make sacrifices with their magnanimous hearts and grand emotions, humans would not have used canoes to surf the seas and explore the boundless mysteries of the ocean on the other side. Humans are curious, giving rise to the impulse for adventure; humans venture, igniting the torch of civilization. Adventure lies not just in Nature¡¯s oceans and mountains, deserts and marshes, but is also hidden amidst the densely populated cities.¡± Quite the speaker. The few contestants had also watched Bi Fang¡¯s live streams before, and hearing these overly familiar words now, they all felt moved. No wonder he had become a worldwide sensation; mere commoners couldn¡¯t hold a candle to his level of eloquence. ¡°But¡­¡± Bi Fang¡¯s tone shifted, ¡°today¡¯s protagonists are not me, but our fifteen contestants. In the first three days of the broadcast, everyone has gained a preliminary understanding of each contestant and has noticed the differences in their strengths. However, what I want to say is, Wilderness Survival and urban escape are two different things.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think that those who didn¡¯t evade capture are weaker than those who did. A hunter might not beat a soldier in a fight, but their survival abilities are definitely going to be stronger.¡± Mugalen, upon hearing this, let out a laugh: ¡°Then I¡¯ve got both!¡± [Old Mugalen is pretty confident] [I feel like Mugalen¡¯s odds are quite high] [Go father-in-law!] [Mugalen: Before the competition, I¡¯ll smash my son-in-law¡¯s ¡°Dog¡¯s head¡±!] ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± The pilot¡¯s voice came through Bi Fang¡¯s headset. The helicopter had arrived at the center of the Rocky Mountains. ¡°The Rocky Mountains, one of North America¡¯s most famous tourist destinations, with lakes, snow-capped mountains, meadows, plains, rivers, forests, glaciers, hot springs, waterfalls, and canyons. Almost every scene you can think of is pretty much here, and it¡¯s also rated by Ugly Country Geography as one of the top fifty places one must visit in a lifetime.¡± ¡°But beneath the beautiful environment lies deadly danger. The beauty of Nature usually means it¡¯s untamed. Every year, millions visit here, yet more than a thousand fail to make it back to the city.¡± ¡°And our contestants are about to face their first challenge, which is to make it through their first night in such a dangerous forest.¡± As the helicopter¡¯s hatch slowly opened, the sky awash with twilight and the orange-hued forest seemed to meld together. Bi Fang stepped alone onto the deck from the hatch. Under the setting sun, the helicopter circled with the Black Hawk, as Bi Fang stood on the deck, his back to the sunset sky that purpled into twilight, the forest ahead like raging flames, as if the whole world was alight. In not too long, the sun would completely set, and ferocious predators would emerge en masse, searching for any food to fill their bellies. [Wow, kind of beautiful] [When has a place chosen by Bi Fang ever not been beautiful? But I feel like the prettier it is, the more dangerous,] [Epic, screenshot this chapter!] After displaying the forest scenery, Bi Fang turned to look at the contestants and gave them a meaningful reminder. ¡°Since you¡¯ve chosen to participate in the competition, you must have done a thorough study of the Rocky Mountains; however, I still want to remind you, it¡¯s the end of February now, and the competition will run into March. Do you know the approximate time when Black Bears wake from their hibernation?¡± As he finished speaking, two contestants¡¯ faces immediately changed color. March is precisely the time Black Bears gradually awaken from their hibernation, ravenous after a long sleep of several months! The previously beautiful forest instantaneously became fraught with danger! ¡°Asian Black Bear?¡± Mugalen didn¡¯t seem daunted, but rather found it quite interesting. The Rocky Mountains are in Canada, home to both Asian and American Black Bears. The American Black Bear hibernates for a longer period and it is mostly the Asian Black Bears that awaken during this time. Asian Black Bears are smaller in size; the ones that Bi Fang encountered previously were 1.7 meters in length, already considered unusually large, with most around 1.5 meters. If you¡¯re adequately prepared, it¡¯s not impossible to fight one. ¡°Seems like you¡¯re quite confident?¡± Mugalen, flashing his red gums, laughed and said, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say confident, but it¡¯s not my first time dealing with a Black Bear. If I hadn¡¯t considered the possibility of encountering them, what would be the point of joining the show?¡± Bi Fang nodded and said nothing more, instructing the crew to blindfold all the contestants. After the helicopter flew a bit farther, he signaled for it to land and dropped off the first contestant, with two drones circling nearby. This was standard for every contestant: two drones responsible for filming and a wristband capable of real-time heart rate and body temperature monitoring, to ensure all values stayed within a safe threshold. It could also display a 300-hour countdown and had an emergency button. If a contestant could no longer continue, they could press the button to forfeit and be retrieved by helicopter. However, these items were not to be damaged or used for advantage, and even the comments displayed by the drones were manually selected by the crew. Although this method was less efficient, it maintained interactivity while preventing viewers from conveying information to their favorite contestants through comments. After ensuring the surrounding area was safe, Bi Fang approached the contestant and said, ¡°You can take off your blindfold after one minute.¡± The helicopter took off again, and after flying some distance, dropped off another contestant. When the last contestant, Mugalen, was finally put down, Bi Fang left him an extra item. As a reward for escaping capture, a 500g military canned meat. Feeling the weight of the canned meat in his hand, Mugalen was pleased. ¡°Seems I¡¯m quite lucky? Is this canned meat?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± Bi Fang nodded. The six items were marked for the three contestants to draw lots. Mugalen had drawn the number one canned meat. Besides him, Ji Zuodong got a Claw Knife, and Bonuo got a twenty-meter piece of Nylon Rope. ¡°You can remove your blindfold after one minute.¡± The same words were repeated four times. Without further admonition, Bi Fang jumped up to grab the rope dropped from the helicopter, hanging midair, saluting the drones below with a two-fingered gesture. ¡°I¡¯m Bi Fang, this is Wilderness Arena. Have fun, and I sincerely hope that you succeed in the challenge.¡± Chapter 276 - Chapter 276: Chapter 273: Rocky Mountains Chapter 276: Chapter 273: Rocky Mountains 299:59:59! As the helicopter began its ascent, a line of crimson numbers appeared in the top left corner of the live broadcast room and started to pulsate. Three hundred-hour countdown! Thoughts flashed through the viewers¡¯ minds like lightning. Everyone was crystal clear about the game¡¯s rules, and upon seeing the countdown-like notation, they instantly grasped its significance. Bi Fang clutched the ladder rope and climbed back into the cabin. At that moment, rows of equipment had already begun operating, and the other two helicopters had completed dropping off competitors. Huge screens started displaying thirty-two separate scenes, each manipulated by different crew members, while the chief director selected exciting footage to broadcast onto the giant screen directly in front of Bi Fang. The images Bi Fang saw were the same as those on Discovery Channel. Such multi-camera operations were quite intricate, demanding high levels of expertise from commentators¡ªwho either knew their stuff or didn¡¯t¡ªand even that wasn¡¯t enough. They had to instantly comprehend what the competitors were doing, or they¡¯d struggle to keep up with the pace of perspective shifts. Otherwise, what kind of commentary would it be if, after explaining someone¡¯s tent-building technique, the feed switched to another person and took ages to figure out? The quicker commentators were to get ahead, the more it testified to their skill level, and the more it stoked the viewers¡¯ enthusiasm, providing everyone with a sense of predictive thrill. If even competitors didn¡¯t grasp what they should be doing, and the commentator made it clear, then that was truly impressive. Bi Fang was such an individual. Simultaneously, viewers in the broadcast room had a wider array of choices: they could follow Bi Fang and watch a multi-angle version of Discovery Channel, or they could independently switch to observe their preferred survivalist, accommodating the preferences of all. Fifteen competitors, each with a wealth of information so extensive that it would be a challenge to choose whom to focus on without the experience of having directed Wilderness Survivalist¡ªit seemed every single one of them was critical, far more thrilling than a regular broadcast! Bi Fang sat before the large screen, fiddling with a map of the Rocky Mountains and showing it to the audience while approximately circling the challengers¡¯ locations. ¡°The Rocky Mountains extend far from north to south, with significant climatic variations. The northern end experiences Arctic climate while the southern tip has a tropical fringe climate. Thus, survival requirements differ by area. It¡¯s February now, but within the same region, some places are still blanketed with snow, while others have already sprung with grass. We¡¯re located in the middle where it was still quite cold when I went down, with temperatures around just five degrees Celsius. Hence, our competitors¡¯ first challenge is to construct a warm and comfortable shelter¡ªotherwise, they could very well succumb to a cold on the first night. Those of you who have watched my shows know just how miserable it is to catch a cold in the wild, especially in a competitive situation. An early cold could make it extremely challenging to persist. Early stages are critical for establishing sufficient survival resources. Fall behind at the start, and you¡¯ll be trailing throughout, making victory nearly impossible later on. So if someone catches a cold, that¡¯s undoubtedly a deduction in my book. Of course, if someone still manages to create a decent advantage despite the cold, a deduction could just as well turn into bonus points.¡± Bi Fang served as both the commentator and the judge and naturally had to live up to his responsibilities. Inability to build a shelter to fend off severe cold on the first night was a sign of lack of competence, marking the need for a little ¡®X¡¯. However, some people naturally had weaker physiques and were prone to catching a cold from minimal exposure. So perseverance in the face of sickness was considered a highlight in his eyes. [Damn, I¡¯m getting a boss vibe here, like he¡¯s got the power of life and death!] [I don¡¯t know why, but what Old Fang said just sounds so cool!] [I wanna be masterful like Master Fang too!] [I really wish someone would jump out right now and say, ¡°If you¡¯re so capable, then go for it. You do nothing but whine. You wouldn¡¯t last even a day (dog head emoji, double safety)] [Master Fang: I could totally do it, and I¡¯d knock ¡¯em all down too, so fierce!] [Sitting atop the golden throne, Master Fang lifts his head high, baring his neck. With a single kick, he flings open the heavy chest, and coins scatter across the floor. He sneers, ¡°Entertain me to your heart¡¯s content! The winner takes it all!¡±] [Awesome, he¡¯s got the vibe of an overbearing CEO. An overbearing adventurer!] Bi Fang ignored the excited viewers and opened the mini-map in the upper left corner, a map with green dots representing the real-time positions of each person, located via a wristband GPS. If someone¡¯s status became too poor ¡ª for example, with a temperature too high or too low ¡ª the green dot would turn orange, requiring constant attention. And if the deviation was too large, the orange would become red. Regardless of whether the person agreed, it would be considered a disqualification, and they would be sent to a hospital for treatment. In addition to player positions, the mini-map also showed golden points, three in total, which were the locations of the cabins. Even the closest contestant was a hundred kilometers from the nearest cabin. Every day at noon, a signal flare would be launched from the direction of the cabins. At this time, contestants could decide whether or not to head towards the cabins, and the direction was significantly off the correct survival route. If contestants chose to go, they would need to take a detour. A gamble worth considering ¡ª going there would certainly waste some time, but perhaps one could acquire unexpected gains. [What¡¯s inside the cabin?] [Yeah, yeah, tell us, Old Fang] ¡°I can¡¯t give spoilers.¡± Bi Fang shook his head, refusing the audience¡¯s requests. He was concerned that some viewers, knowing details, might inform the contestants through comments, even though the comments were screened by the staff. One can never be too sure if a contestant has arranged for someone outside to use coded language, or fit strange punctuations into normal conversations as a signal ¡ª it¡¯s impossible to guard against such tactics. It¡¯s better to stay silent altogether. After all, it¡¯s a hundred thousand US dollars at stake, not a small amount by any measure. It¡¯s worth employing some tricks. Inside the streaming room, the sky had completely darkened, and all thirty-two drones had switched to night vision mode. Each drone was quite expensive, just slightly less so than the drones used during Bi Fang¡¯s ocean survival challenge, but the difference was marginal. More than half of these were rented; they were to be returned once the time was up, for the costs were too high ¡ª a testament to the Discovery Channel placing high importance on this program. ¡°If contestants choose not to survive in the forest for twelve days and instead go for the option with higher bonus weight ¡ª traveling through ¡ª they¡¯ll need to find an inhabited place. If they choose the north, they need to traverse nearly eight hundred kilometers of forest and prairie. They could encounter a big river many have heard of ¡ª the Missouri River ¡ª and find many towns along its banks.¡± ¡°Eastward lies an even greater distance, nearly a thousand kilometers of permafrost and mountain ranges that must be crossed to encounter a railway where, similarly, numerous small towns can be found.¡± ¡°To the west lies the greatest challenge; they must cross the entire Rocky Mountains to find a town.¡± ¡°As for heading south, a marsh awaits them, and though this route is the shortest ¡ª being only about five hundred kilometers to an inhabited area ¡ª the danger rating is the highest, as the further south one goes, the higher the temperature, and many hibernating animals have just awakened, ravenous. A famished black bear might be waiting for a delicious feast.¡± ¡°Overall, no matter which direction they head in, there¡¯s a chance to encounter inhabited places. But whether they¡¯ll meet others or will be able to form teams, we cannot predict. Moreover, the show¡¯s crew is filming entirely with drones, without even a single cameraman; everything is up to them!¡± Chapter 277 - Chapter 277: Chapter 274: Sudden Change in Style Chapter 277: Chapter 274: Sudden Change in Style Bi Fang briefly explained on the map the predicament faced by the contestants, the options for their routes through the four cardinal directions¡ªnortheast, southwest¡ªand unintentionally gave the viewers quite a shock. In Bi Fang¡¯s mouth, these were four paths that could lead to human habitation, but why did they feel like dead ends to the viewers? Heading east meant traveling dozens of kilometers, while going west spanned across the entire mountain range, the south had large swamps to contend with, and the north was covered with forests and grasslands. Something was off, very off! ¡°Can they even make it out of there? Is Master Fang sure these are routes and not deathtraps?¡± ¡°Although Master Fang¡¯s tone is very calm, this vibe of a behind-the-scenes boss designing a death game, wanting to see them die in the wilderness, why is it so strong? It must be an illusion, definitely an illusion!¡± ¡°Experience despair! Experience pain, if you want to challenge my throne, you¡¯re too weak!¡± ¡°Do they know where they are? Is it the same as with Old Fang, where they didn¡¯t even know their location?¡± ¡°They must know, right? Didn¡¯t Old Fang mention it when they got off the plane? Besides, not knowing the place would be way too unfriendly, that would be actual murder.¡± While the audience was still discussing the dangers of the Rocky Mountains, the contestants had already sprung into action. If they didn¡¯t set up tents and start fires soon, it would be too late. A stable and warm shelter could take hours to build. The fastest mover was Ji Zuolin because he was the only one with a weapon at hand¡ªa Claw Knife. Though the blade was small, barely five or six centimeters, it was enough to cut through some branches. In less than ten minutes, he had gathered four or five sticks thick as a baby¡¯s arm, stripped off the bark to use as cordage, and began assembling the main structure of his tent. This kind of main structure might not be the most stable, but it was quick to erect. ¡°Because it¡¯s getting dark, the temperature could have already dropped below zero. It¡¯s fine if they keep moving, but once they want to sleep, the clothes on the contestants won¡¯t be enough. I¡¯ve talked about hypothermia before,¡± ¡°If a contestant¡¯s core body temperature drops below 35¡ãC for more than ten minutes, we will automatically judge them to have failed the challenge and initiate a rescue operation.¡± ¡°35¡ãC? That condition seems too stringent, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Many viewers felt that reaching 35¡ãC could be easily accomplished by just catching a bit of chill, signaling that contestants could easily be eliminated by accident. ¡°Pay attention to my words. I¡¯m talking about core body temperature, not skin temperature. The core body temperature is different from peripheral temperature. The liver is the main organ of heat production in the human body. Therefore, the core body temperature refers to the internal temperature of the body, simply put, inside your belly. To maintain normal metabolism, core body temperature fluctuates very little. It is usually about 1¡ãC higher than peripheral temperature. In other words, our bodies are in a state of ¡®fever¡¯ every day. The normal human body temperature is between 36¡ãC to 37¡ãC, which means the core body temperature is around 37¡ãC. A core temperature of 35¡ãC is already 2¡ãC below the normal range. Some people may experience spasms, not to mention the premise of exceeding ten minutes, which can be extremely dangerous.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s expression turned quite serious. If the core body temperature remains below the threshold for more than ten minutes, it¡¯s highly probable that they can¡¯t recover on their own and external intervention would be required. By evening, there¡¯s no need for a hospital; it¡¯s straight to the mortuary. ¡°To measure the body temperature accurately, we¡¯ve equipped each contestant with a thermal belt around their waist, which avoids interference from humidity and external environment. Contestants are not allowed to remove it on their own, or else they will be considered eliminated,¡± As he spoke, Bi Fang swiped the screen, displaying another set of data showing each contestant¡¯s body temperature. There were fluctuations, but it was stable; after all, the live broadcast had just started, and the contestants were in good health, unlikely to encounter problems so soon. To ensure the program runs smoothly, he had put in great efforts. First was fairness. Besides the equipment issued by the show, contestants had to undergo a thorough check, men by men, women by women. It must be said that these people are really good at hiding things; those who appear to have nothing on them often turn out to be carrying a bunch of tools, even a short rope is tucked away. Next are the various emergency teams, one group is the medical team responsible for first aid, another is the security team tasked with preventing attacks from large animals, there is also a monitoring team in charge of tracking each contestant¡¯s movements, and notifying them at the first sign of danger, plus several helicopters at the ready to ensure a rapid arrival at the scene. After listening to Bi Fang¡¯s introduction, many viewers felt deeply touched; they used to think watching Master Fang braving the wilderness alone was cool, but they hadn¡¯t realized how dangerous it was. Keep in mind that nearly every time Bi Fang goes live, apart from a camera and some equipment, he never brings things like a positioning bracelet that the rescue teams might use, facing dangers all by himself. He truly embodies the very essence of adventure, no wonder so many people are willing to acknowledge him as the world¡¯s number one adventurer, the true king of the wilderness, a solitary hero. After a few brief words, the camera returned to the fifteen contestants. Bi Fang quickly took stock and found that only three people were immediately setting up their shelters, the remaining eleven were all working hard to start a fire, and as for the last one¡ª The camera switched to Mugalen, who at that moment was attempting to open a canned food¡­ His style was different from everyone else¡¯s; as soon as he disembarked from the plane, he thought about opening a can. ¡°Haha, it seems our Deer Hunter thinks differently from the others, wanting to eat something first to warm up the body. Military rations are high in calories and sodium; just a little can provide a lot of energy.¡± Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but laugh; if it were anyone else, there¡¯s no way the can would be opened right now, it would at least be saved for a day or two when no game could be caught and used as emergency food, not like Mugalen at the present moment. A good number of viewers were puzzled, wondering why the can was so difficult to open. Isn¡¯t there a pull-tab? ¡°Because this is a real military can,¡± Bi Fang explained after taking a sip of water. Many people have never seen a real military can and are completely unaware of its packaging. Many so-called military cans available on the market, whether or not they¡¯re genuine, usually have pull-tabs after processing. ¡°Military food basically doesn¡¯t have pull-tabs; it¡¯s not suitable. The easier it is to open, the less suitable it is for off-road transport. Too easy, and it might deform, opening and leaking air, leading to spoilage. Moreover, if you work with a green cylindrical object trying to open it with a pull-tab in poor night visibility, it may cause unnecessary misunderstandings. At best, you might get knocked down by a rifle¡¯s buttstock, at worst, everyone may duck down or it might even prompt an alarm in the camp. So military cans are generally made to be sealed, which is convenient for the manufacturer, low cost, and more durable. There are many benefits. When it¡¯s time to open them, if you have a can opener, use that; if not, just insert a knife and scrape around the edge, which is also very convenient.¡± [Holy cow, what a revelation! This is the first time I¡¯m hearing about this.] [Useless knowledge, increased.] [Awesome, finally someone who knows what they¡¯re talking about! Whenever I watched those bloggers test cans, I felt like saying they weren¡¯t authentic at all!] [To be fair, if you¡¯re not careful, opening a pull-tab really does sound a bit like gunfire!] Many viewers had their eyes opened¡ªthe absence of pull-tabs on military cans is indeed something very few ordinary people would know about, or even if they knew, they wouldn¡¯t fully understand why. Meanwhile, Mugalen still couldn¡¯t get the can open and had to search for a somewhat sharp rock to assist him. The camera continued to switch back and forth as Bi Fang commented on each contestant¡¯s methods. By the time he finished with the last one, out of the sixteen originally dark screens, suddenly one switched back to daylight mode. Someone had started a fire. Chapter 278 - Chapter 278: 275 Chapter 278: 275 Fifteen screens, but only one was lit, standing out like a sore thumb. The scene shifted, the firelight illuminated half of the face of the fire-maker in shadow and half in light, yet a relaxed and joyous expression could still be made out. It was Doligong. Many viewers had a deep impression of this elite member of the fire-extinguishing team, as Bi Fang had introduced him particularly, detailing how he had once confronted a brown bear and managed to escape. Drones flew around, capturing the objects beside Doligong. Two black rocks lay quietly on the ground, flint stones. Both flint stones had neat fractures, originally one whole piece, presumably broken by Doligong himself. The audience suddenly understood why he was able to start a fire so quickly; however, finding flint stones in the pitch-dark night seemed to be a stroke of luck or genuine skill. Bi Fang joked, ¡°It seems our firefighter is not only good at putting out fires but also quite adept at starting them.¡± With the light, even if minimal, the subsequent tasks became easier. Doligong wrapped the flint stones with cloth strips, fashioning a makeshift knife, and started chopping branches as well, preparing to build a shelter. Although he did not escape capture and acquire initial items, as a national elite firefighter, often active outdoors, Doligong¡¯s knowledge of the wilderness absolutely ranked at the top among all the contestants. Extinguishing fires was not as simple as ordinary people imagined. It required considerable knowledge of the terrain, trees, and environment, not merely dousing it with water; moreover, protecting wildlife was also part of Doligong¡¯s duty. To protect effectively, one must understand animal behavior, right? Now that he had a fire, he could resist the severe cold with more confidence. There was no need to hurry with the next tasks; they could be completed gradually. The rest of the participants naturally thought the same; fire could bring not only light but also warmth. Unfortunately, they weren¡¯t as lucky as Doligong, finding flint stones so easily and had to attempt more primitive methods such as fire-making by wood-drilling, which was quite a test of skills and physical strength. Besides, material selection was also critical, or else Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t need to explain how to choose materials each time. Geographical environments varied, as did plant species. Bi Fang always adapted his material choices for fire-making to local resources, preferring those that were common and effective in the area. But the night was already dark, suitable materials were hard to come by, and the contestants dared not wander far from the drop-off point ¨C at least the drop-off point had been deemed safe by the production team. Who knew what dangers lay in other places? Thankfully, the weather remained bitterly cold, and many venomous insects and snakes had not yet reached the time to come out, making the night slightly less unbearable. Thus, a full half hour had passed, and counting Doligong, only three contestants had managed to light a fire. It was worth mentioning that Mugalen finally managed to break open the military can with a sharp stone. The military can was very calorie-dense; just two bites of meat made Mugalen feel the heat rising from his stomach, no longer fearing the cold, and he quickly began to dig a hole. ¡°A dugout?¡± Bi Fang recognized the type of shelter Mugalen was building after a brief glance. It was a hole in the ground to hide in, ¡°A dugout requires high standards and is typically used in deserts because there are fewer venomous insects in the disturbed soil, unlike in the forest where dugouts are rarely used.¡± After a pause, Bi Fang explained further, ¡°But under the current circumstances, it¡¯s a good option. The severe cold has turned many areas into permafrost, not many insects, and due to the freezing, the lower soil is quite dry. More importantly, digging a dugout is much easier than fumbling in the dark to chop branches.¡± [Truly hunter material, there¡¯s something about him] [The stranger the style, the stronger the ability] [Mugalen the Bold] The soil, frosted over, was not firm; rain had seeped into it, freezing and sublimating overnight, making it quite soft. Mugalen had dug out a hole big enough for one person in less than twenty minutes. Not deep, the soil became harder the further down he dug. The effort expended and the return received were uncertain; a depth just enough to completely lay down was sufficient. ¡°` Subsequently, Mugalen laid a layer of dead branches and fallen leaves on the bottom, and when he lay down, he placed another layer over his body before sprinkling soil on top, covering himself tightly and actually fell asleep like that. The audience watched in amazement, praising the old Hunter for his courage¡ªfor he didn¡¯t even light a fire and dared to sleep directly. After seeing Mugalen¡¯s pit, the camera switched to Ji Zuodong, who had also finished constructing his shelter, a very simple open hut. He found two closely spaced trees and leaned long poles against them, then layer by layer constructed a windbreak with dead branches and shrubs, and a simple hut was completed. However, such a hut was much less effective at retaining warmth, and for this reason, Ji Zuodong was also trying to start a fire. With a Claw Knife, he easily produced fine tinder, and Bi Fang had no doubts about his ability to start a fire. The shelter built by Bonuo, the first one to successfully escape, truly impressed everyone. It was actually a hammock! The twenty meters of Nylon Rope was a considerably long piece, which Bonuo made full use of, turning it directly into a hammock that not only effectively prevented bugs on the ground but also provided much more comfort than sleeping on the floor. [A hammock! I¡¯ve never slept in one before] [This Rover Cavalry is impressive, thinking of such a use for the rope] But even though it had its advantages, Bi Fang still shook his head. ¡°If this were the Rainforest, making a hammock would be excellent, as a hammock elevated from the ground can effectively isolate the dampness, and with the Rainforest¡¯s rich biodiversity, there are many Venomous snakes and ants, a hammock could also avoid these dangerous creatures. But this is a forest, and it¡¯s the end of February in the Rocky Mountains, where the climate is very cold. Even if you pile leaves on the hammock, the insulation is limited. It is fine just to cope with one night, but over time, the body definitely won¡¯t be able to withstand the cold.¡± Bonuo wrapped many branches around the hammock, turning it into more than just a few strings and capturing lots of dead branches and leaves, but this was still not enough. In a cold environment, the primary element of a shelter is warmth. ¡°If someone¡¯s Physique isn¡¯t strong enough, they are better off earnestly building a shelter. Otherwise, let someone else try it, one night is sure to lead to a cold.¡± The performance of the three escapees was the audience¡¯s main concern, and after viewing theirs, the camera shifted back to the remaining contestants. Some succeeded in making fire, while others tried for half an hour, ending up with sore arms from failure. But without exception, after they attempted or didn¡¯t attempt to start a fire, they all began constructing their shelters out of materials at hand, and if all else failed, at least roughly put together a shelter that could block wind and rain. The first night passed like this, and as everyone began to sleep, the first day of the live broadcast came to an end. In the woods, a transport helicopter was parked on the frozen ground, with its cabin full of screens and personnel. ¡°How¡¯s it going?¡± Bi Fang took off his headphones and looked towards Jerret. Jerret raised his thumb, admiringly saying, ¡°Impressive. Not only in the field of Wilderness Survival, but I have also never seen commentary like yours in any other field.¡± Commentators are found in many places, whether in gaming competitions or sporting events, they¡¯re indispensable for their voices. A qualified commentator should have two basic requirements: one is a professional quality that is second to none, and the other is the ability to speak well and adeptly guide the audience¡¯s emotions. As for the former, there¡¯s no need to say more¡ªBi Fang is an Orange Legend-level Wilderness Traveler. If that strength doesn¡¯t count as professional, then no one in the world can call themselves professional.¡± ¡°` And the second point where Bi Fang excelled was practice makes perfect, as his live streams weren¡¯t just about demonstrating skills, but more crucially, about communicating with hundreds of thousands, even millions, of viewers. During Wilderness Survivalist, a lot of time is spent on the move, and being able to keep even half the audience engaged during these dull moments speaks volumes about Bi Fang¡¯s impressive abilities. At any location, he could recount local history, and with any task, he could trace its origins, telling relevant ethnic stories. Even if Bi Fang wasn¡¯t skilled at first, after half a year, he became as proficient as an old man selling oil, relying only on his practiced hands. Combining these two aspects made Bi Fang a seamless commentator. Bi Fang nodded, it was good that there were no problems, and then he touched his stomach. He hadn¡¯t eaten all afternoon, and now he was really feeling hungry. Jerret noticed this too and brought out a large box filled with all sorts of canned food, instant noodles, and ready-to-eat meals. They had no choice, they were to accompany the competitors for 12 days here and it wasn¡¯t feasible to have helicopters deliver supplies every day, so they had to make do with these food items daily. Bi Fang didn¡¯t hesitate to help himself, as compared to what he often ate in the wild, a box of instant noodles was considered a delicacy. The food produced under modern industry may not be the healthiest, but in terms of taste, it was incomparable. The next day, when the first contestant sat up from the pile of dry branches, Bi Fang started his live stream, greeted the viewers as was customary, and then turned the camera to focus on the first waking participant. It wasn¡¯t fully light out yet, but it was obvious the contestant couldn¡¯t ¡°sleep.¡± [No way, up this early?] [Isn¡¯t it still dark? What time is it now?] ¡°The local time is roughly 5:30 AM, about an hour away from dawn,¡± Bi Fang explained to the audience who seemed surprised, glancing at his watch and speaking calmly, ¡°The reason why this contestant is up so early is simply because he didn¡¯t sleep at all last night.¡± Didn¡¯t sleep? The viewers were shocked. Bi Fang nodded, clearly having anticipated this situation. Besides the monitoring team checking on the contestants throughout the night, he too would occasionally get up to check on them. Out of fifteen people, at least three hadn¡¯t slept the entire night, seven became too exhausted and fell asleep only in the latter half, and two hadn¡¯t moved at all, which was hard to judge. What was clear was that only a few had fallen asleep soon after crawling into their shelters. ¡°The pressure of surviving in the wilderness is immense, especially when you¡¯re alone without any guarantee, insomnia is almost inevitable.¡± Who has truly slept alone, unarmed, in the wilderness? This wilderness isn¡¯t the roadside by a village, but deep in the forest, where it¡¯s pitch black at night and where you can often hear wolves howling in the Primeval Forest. No tents, no companions, no weapons, and even no sense of direction. Although all fifteen contestants had experience with wilderness camping, none had experienced all three of these conditions at once. The fact that Bi Fang could fall asleep quickly in the wild during his first live stream was actually a testament to his strong psychological resilience. Of course, the skills granted by the System also provided him with certain experience and confidence to not panic too much, or else he too would have suffered from insomnia. [But why keep waiting if he can¡¯t sleep early?] [Yeah, isn¡¯t that just wasting time?] ¡°Because of cost.¡± Cost? The viewers were puzzled upon hearing this word, feeling vaguely familiar with it¡ªhadn¡¯t Master Fang mentioned it before? ¡°Of course, you¡¯ve heard it before. I¡¯ve previously mentioned that Wilderness Survivalist is essentially a mathematical problem. In everything you do, you must consider cost and benefit,¡± Bi Fang said, pointing to the footage of the first contestant stretching his body after waking up, stiff from the cold night. ¡°What can you do if you don¡¯t sleep at night? Travel in the dark? Definitely not a good idea. Walking through the forest at night is highly dangerous, firstly because of the problem with direction. Without stars, you can easily get lost, and at night is when many animals are active. Wandering around aimlessly and leaving a trail of scent behind could easily lead to dangerous encounters.¡± ¡°If the weather is too cold and you try to keep warm through movement, your body will burn a considerable amount of energy and you¡¯ll get hungry quickly. So, you have to lie in your shelter, and even if you can¡¯t sleep, that¡¯s what you have to do. These people might not have slept alone in the wilderness before, but they understand the logic. They might not summarize it as clearly as I do, but they know to conserve as much energy as possible, waiting until daylight to explore.¡± Only then did the viewers understand why the contestants, even though they couldn¡¯t sleep, would still tough it out in their shelters¡ªit was to conserve their strength. After the first participant woke up and warmed up for a while, the sky began to brighten. Feeling his body heat, he exhaled a puff of breath and started looking for new materials to start a fire. He had failed to start one the previous night, his arms too sore to continue. Having recovered a bit, he decided to try again. Utilizing the dim light, he began searching for suitable materials, often going towards larger piles of rocks, which puzzled the viewers. Seeing the viewers¡¯ confusion, Bi Fang explained, ¡°He¡¯s looking for Flint Stone. In the wild, Flint Stone can be found in large rock piles, which offers the highest likelihood of finding it.¡± As the day gradually brightened, more and more contestants woke up. The temperatures in the outdoor Rocky Mountains were well below freezing, and many contestants woke up to frost on their faces. Gradually, the viewers noticed that two contestants were sneezing. This was a sign of a cold coming on. Many viewers were worried, and Bi Fang too had a premonition that perhaps, just as the game was beginning, someone would have to drop out. But what was coming up was the main event. Bi Fang held his thermos, his thoughts wandering far off, reminiscing about his own map design. The contestant drop-off points were calculated with precision. How the contestants would spend their 300 hours, whether to establish a base camp and accumulate survival materials step by step, or to opt for higher scores by crossing the wilderness? If they choose to cross, do they deviate from the straight line to search for a cabin hundreds of kilometers away, betting on the supplies there? Searching for a cabin would take at least two days. Could they successfully make the cross then? If they give up crossing, can they still outperform those who opted from the beginning to stay and accumulate supplies for several days? Physical strength, distance, danger, time. Every step required the contestants to contemplate carefully; one misstep could lead to a cascade of errors. The first step might sound the horn of success or plunge one into an endless abyss. Today was the contestants¡¯ first daylight experience and also the day they needed to make a choice. ¡°To move forward, to stay, or perhaps¡­ to call it quits?¡± Chapter 279 - Chapter 279: Chapter 276: What Happened? Chapter 279: Chapter 276: What Happened? The nascent sun rose above the clouds, and sunlight spread evenly down, casting shadows across the sparse forest and tinting everything with a faint, bright golden hue. As the temperature gradually recovered, clarity began to dawn in everyone¡¯s hearts. Of the fifteen contestants, not a single one chose to set off immediately; instead, they searched for materials right where they¡¯d been dropped. Perhaps many had originally planned to cross the wilderness directly, but the severe chill of the previous night had brought everyone to a stark realization, scrapping all initial plans. Surviving in the wilderness was far from as simple as they had imagined. Bi Fang hadn¡¯t brought everyone here by airdrop until evening just for this reason¡ªto let them understand their own strength after surviving a night, which served as a cooling-off period. Otherwise, had they been dropped during the day, many might have rashly chosen to traverse the wilderness only to run into trouble later on. But this scene seemed utterly dull to the audience. After all that buildup, not a single person moved forward to start the journey or tried to find civilization; they all stayed at the ¡°safe point¡± where they were initially dropped. The viewers, accustomed to Bi Fang¡¯s usual bold approach, were somewhat impatient. [Isn¡¯t anyone going to cross the wilderness? Even if they don¡¯t find civilization directly, shouldn¡¯t they at least try to find a cabin?] [Is everyone really just staying put? So timid?] [From the heart.jpg] [Old Fang would have probably just set off already.] ¡°It¡¯s not that no one wants to cross over. If you look closely, you¡¯ll find that actually quite a few people are making weapons,¡± said Bi Fang, shaking his head and pointing to Bonuo in front of him. To do a good job, one must first sharpen one¡¯s tools. As a member of the Rover Cavalry, despite sleeping in a hammock all night, his years of intense training had not left him too worse for wear. However, Bonuo still vaguely sensed that something was amiss. It was too cold; he had been woken completely by the freeze. The hammock was clean and convenient, but it served only as an emergency measure. A couple more nights in it, and he wouldn¡¯t be able to endure. This wasn¡¯t his first time surviving in the wild. Training in the wilderness was commonplace; sometimes, he could even spend a full day and night lying in the thick grass, so although Bonuo realized the difficulty of the challenge, he didn¡¯t plan to stop there. He was determined to cross the wilderness and earn a higher score! Out of the fifteen, there couldn¡¯t be too many who would last the full twelve days, but there wouldn¡¯t be few either¡ªat least Mugalen and that Huaxia person posed a significant threat. Playing it safe would make it difficult to come out on top! With this mindset, Bonuo forcefully snapped off a tree branch, then found two stones of appropriate quality and, after chiseling them slightly, began to carve the wood. ¡°He wants to make a spear, doesn¡¯t he?¡± Bi Fang nodded. This was a choice many other contestants had also made: to craft a weapon to the best of their ability, be it stone or wood, each with its own advantages, whether for defending against danger or hunting animals. Stone Spears, wooden spears, stone hammers¡­ As time passed, a variety of weapons began appearing before the audience¡¯s eyes, inspiring awe. They were seeing many methods of weapon crafting they had never seen Bi Fang use before; it was quite novel. Clutching the fully roasted wooden spear, Ji Zuodong extinguished the fire, slung three long spears and two short spears behind him, and, with the air of a primal Hunter, set off into the depths of the forest. Wild and enchanting, he caught the admiring gleam in the viewers¡¯ eyes¡ªthis outfit was incredibly cool. [Whoa, we¡¯ve got a Great Sage here] [An old general with his flags all set] [Slowly hits out a question mark?] [Ji Zuodong: Are you being polite?] With their preparations complete, more and more people made their choices, erasing any traces of themselves and setting out on their journey, like Bonuo and Ji Zuodong. And when they erased their marks, everyone knew they were not planning to return. Meanwhile, Mugalen was still struggling incessantly with a large tree, adamant like someone who wouldn¡¯t rest until it was felled. This caught Bi Fang¡¯s attention because he noticed Mugalen had taken quite a while just selecting the tree. With his keen eye, Bi Fang instantly recognized it as a fir. Fir. A type of wood definitely worth pondering over. To make an ordinary wooden spear, there was no need to go through such troubles. One could just pick a branch from any of the common tall trees; they were everywhere, so why waste time searching for fir? After watching for a long time, Bi Fang realized what Mugalen was up to only after he shaved off the outer layer of the tree, and he said somewhat surprised, ¡°He¡¯s making a bow!¡± [A worker?] [In the wild mountains and forests, you want a worker?] [Without even a meal secured, and you think about a worker?] ¡°It¡¯s not about a worker; he¡¯s crafting a bow and arrow,¡± explained Bi Fang, mimicking the action of drawing a bow. The audience realized and was again deeply puzzled. They¡¯ve seen Bi Fang make bows and arrows before¡ªusing branches. Why go through the huge effort of cutting down a whole tree for it? ¡°Because he plans to make a real bow and arrow. My method of bow-making was just a quick fix; its durability and strength are incomparable to a true bow and arrow. Mugalen is adopting a very primitive method, using the entire tree to make a sturdy bow. Willow, fir, walnut wood¡ªthese are all ideal materials for making bows. If you want a good bow, the material is crucial, which is why Mugalen went to the trouble of searching for fir. This is an incredibly time-consuming approach. He might not even finish it today. I think Mugalen must have planned this from the start; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be spending so much time on it.¡± Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but admire Mugalen¡¯s perseverance. Had it been someone else, perhaps even himself, they might have made some weapons, but definitely wouldn¡¯t spend such a long time. Even if making a bow, they would use a simpler method, like last time, and not chop down a tree to craft a large bow. The survival challenge lasts only twelve days, using up a whole day or even more to make the bow is quite risky because you¡¯ll be tens of hours behind everyone else. While others might have already found rivers and food, you might end up empty-handed because your bow isn¡¯t completed yet. ¡°However, Mugalen has a 500g can of meat, so it¡¯s understandable why he would do this. The human body needs about 1700 calories per day, of course, this varies with size and activity, but that¡¯s the rough amount. 100g of pork belly has about 350 calories, meaning that can covers the daily caloric intake, which is his advantage,¡± Bi Fang mused. [That¡¯s pretty awesome, it feels like gambling.] [+1, if it were me, I definitely wouldn¡¯t eat the can of meat unless I had to, saving it for when I¡¯m desperate. I didn¡¯t expect Old Mugalen to be so bold, using it up right from the start.] [The brave may not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all.] Mugalen was unaware of the audience¡¯s heated discussion and patiently continued crafting his large bow, with Stone Chisel in hand, bit by bit chipping away the unnecessary parts. The initial shape is always the easiest to achieve, the subsequent finishing and treatment are what truly consumes time and effort, it is also the key to the quality of a finished bow. ¡°It¡¯s an English Longbow.¡± Even though the bow was only a rough shape, Bi Fang recognized what Mugalen was attempting to make and joked, ¡°Should I say it¡¯s expected from a Deer Hunter?¡± Thinking about Mugalen¡¯s background, it wasn¡¯t hard to understand why he chose to make such a bow. The English Longbow isn¡¯t a recurve bow, it¡¯s quite primitive in design but tremendously powerful, capable of shooting a hundred meters and piercing armor, it is one of the best quality longbows. A skilled archer can shoot six arrows per minute, or even twelve arrows per minute without aiming. The only drawback is that the user must have a sturdy physique along with superior skill and coordination. Many soldiers had abnormal spinal curvatures due to the long-term pressure and specialized posture even after dying. One of the reasons the United Kingdom initially chose to equip support troops with firearms wasn¡¯t because of their greater power, but rather because, like crossbows, firearms required less training to use effectively. Otherwise, it might not have been easy to phase out the English Longbow, given its significant power. Having one is like owning a firearm, and its primitive design also means it¡¯s easier to create. With so many advantages, it¡¯s no surprise some traditional hunters still use it today, and certainly not surprising for Mugalen, who comes from a traditional hunting background, to choose to make one. After listening to Bi Fang¡¯s detailed explanation, the audience began to understand why Mugalen would rather spend a day crafting such a bow. [This is a game-changer! If he makes it, wouldn¡¯t it be like slicing melons and cutting vegetables?] [No wonder Old Mugalen took half the day just to select the tree, how can you create a game-changer without good materials?] [All of them are talents!] [Gululu sends 10 Big Bones to the host¡ªgreat commentary, learned a lot, awesome!] Seeing that Mugalen wouldn¡¯t finish any time soon, the Director of Photography switched the camera back to the other contestants. They were all grown-ups, some leaving and some staying, everyone with their own ideas. Those who completed their weapons and equipment left, while others intent on surviving the twelve days in the forest began diligently building their shelters. As the camera panned over each one, when the shot landed on Ava, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but sit upright. Not because a female contestant appeared on the screen, but because the only two female contestants had crossed paths! This was the first encounter between contestants! It¡¯s important to remember, the show allows teaming up but does not prohibit fighting! Resource plunder is allowed as long as no harm is caused! Now it depends on whether the contestants can grasp this intention. The audience was also surprised by the encounter. [Wow, they found kin so quickly?] [Awesome, and it¡¯s both ladies too, start fighting, come on, fight! The kind where clothes get ripped off!] [???] [How were the airdrops done at the beginning? Why is it so easy for them to encounter each other?] ¡°Everyone might remember, the fifteen contestants were dropped off by four helicopters, effectively in four groups. These groups were spaced out, but the members within each group were very close to each other,¡± the host explained. Since forming teams and plundering were both options, it was necessary to give contestants a chance to meet. If they were too far apart, they might never find each other, let alone engage in conflict. It so happened that Ava and Lisa were in the same group, less than a kilometer apart. If they didn¡¯t explore broadly, they could easily bump into each other. Therefore, when the two met, they were both startled, confronting one another in the middle of the forest, neither speaking, in total silence. The silence lasted for a long time, but not a single viewer felt impatient, all were looking forward to what would happen next. ¡°Let¡¯s team up.¡± Ava broke the ice first. She didn¡¯t want to waste time, as wasting time in a competition meant wasting life. Lisa only thought it over briefly before nodding: ¡°Okay.¡± Viewers: ¡°¡­¡± Had they already crowned their Kings of Scarlet? What exactly happened that led to their teaming up so quickly? Chapter 280 - Chapter 280: Chapter 277 Nothing Gained Chapter 280: Chapter 277 Nothing Gained Lisa and Ava¡¯s team formation was baffling, leaving people scratching their heads. It wasn¡¯t what was expected. Shouldn¡¯t there have been a period of probing before revealing sincerity, and ultimately deciding on unified sisterhood with benefits that cut through gold? What the hell is this one question one answer, and the team is set? ¡°Hahaha, as I thought,¡± Ben laughed. Bi Fang wasn¡¯t surprised by the outcome at all. If one were to say which two out of the fifteen were the most likely to team up, it was undoubtedly Lisa and Ava. ¡°Firstly, it is basically impossible for conflicts to occur in the early stages of the contest because everyone is in the same boat, stripped of everything. What would they rob? Clothes? Secondly, out of the fifteen participants, there are only two women. Objectively speaking, both are at a disadvantage. This forms the basis for sticking together, and both would be in considerable danger when encountering other contestants. However, once they team up, the danger shifts to the other contestants. The only issue is the foundation of trust, but it doesn¡¯t seem to be a problem now, I suspect they might have discussed it long ago.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s gaze flickered. Even with the bases he mentioned, the two were natural allies for team formation. Normally, the decision to form a team shouldn¡¯t be made in a single question and answer¡ªit was too hasty. The only explanation could be that the two had met before, which led to this brief team invitation. Perhaps on the helicopter? If they had known each other before joining the show, then even this conversation wouldn¡¯t have happened. They must have discussed it on the helicopter, right? So that¡¯s it! The audience nodded, finally understanding why the team had formed so hastily¡ªit was all arranged in advance! In the scene, Lisa and Ava huddled together, starting to discuss their route. After murmuring to each other for a while, they both stood up and headed north. North! They were the first team to head north! Out of the fifteen, eight chose to take on the crossing challenge and seven stayed to take on the survival challenge. Of the eight, six headed south, and so far, only Lisa and Ava chose to go east! What¡¯s in the east? The audience began to recall what Ben had said: going east would mean crossing almost six hundred kilometers of forest and prairie before coming across a large river, the Missouri River. Following the river, one could encounter quite a few small towns. Six hundred kilometers¡ªthat¡¯s a hundred kilometers more than the five hundred kilometers to the south! ¡°An average person can cover about five kilometers per hour, so covering five hundred kilometers in twelve days is already quite difficult. You¡¯d have to walk at least forty kilometers a day, and an extra hundred kilometers would add a heavier burden, meaning you¡¯d have to walk fifty kilometers a day. Of course, off-road progression cannot simply be measured by walking speed; in reality, the pace will be somewhat faster, over six kilometers per hour, but it¡¯s still a considerable challenge.¡± [Damn, walk fifty kilometers a day? Won¡¯t their legs break?] [Isn¡¯t that a bit too extreme? My legs hurt just from walking ten thousand steps a day.] [That¡¯s because you¡¯re weak.] [Seriously, my legs do start to suffer from walking ten thousand steps a day. I feel like I¡¯m getting old, weak and infirm.] [The children from the southern village mock me for my aging weakness, boldly carrying me off into the bamboo] [Something¡¯s off with you, very off¡ªis that the original phrasing??] The data shocked the audience¡ªfifty kilometers a day, many people were skeptical, can someone really walk that far? ¡°Of course, they can. Even ancient military marches, equipped with logistics, could cover about sixty kilometers a day. Forced marches could reach eighty kilometers, covering five hundred kilometers in seven to eight days is not impossible. To tell you something even more incredible, has anyone heard of Pan Junfan?¡± Pan Junfan? The audience was stunned, not having any memory of it. Some quick-reacting viewers were already searching, and Bi Fang didn¡¯t keep them in suspense, revealing, ¡°Pan Junfan, who set the record for a five hundred kilometer cross-country run in 202 hours¡­¡± Before he finished, viewers had already found the information, and they were incredulous. [Damn, this guy is an amputee with one leg!] [??? A single-legged amputee running five hundred kilometers cross-country in eight days, what the hell?] [Am I the only waste here?] [That¡¯s a bit ridiculous, right? Five hundred kilometers, it¡¯s only over three hundred kilometers on the highway from my house to my grandma¡¯s¡ªhalfway across the province?] ¡°So, covering five hundred kilometers off-road in twelve days is perfectly achievable. The only issue is our contestants have to not only rush on their journey but also hunt and find water sources, which also take time, not to mention six hundred kilometers, so the difficulty is indeed quite significant.¡± ¡°However, the choice of route by the pair was unexpected yet reasonable.¡± With the most basic geographic knowledge, the lower the latitude, the warmer the temperature, suitable for life, which is why the Amazon Rainforest has the richest variety of species in the world. Heading south, even if one doesn¡¯t encounter any populated areas, the resources are more abundant and easier to obtain. Hence, nearly all the eight participants chose the south. ¡°Their decision is a way to avoid contact with the rest, and going east could also play to the strength of women¡¯s endurance. For them, it¡¯s a pretty good route to take.¡± Having seen the choices of the fifteen participants, the camera shifted to those who chose to stay and survive for the next twelve days. Compared to the hasty shelter setups from the previous night, today the participants had noticeably more materials to choose from, and each shelter was constructed with more finesse. ¡°They started building early.¡± Bi Fang slightly shook his head, seven people stayed behind, five set up camp at the safety point, while only two chose to leave the safety point to find suitable camp locations nearby. It was understandable because, in general, those who chose to stay were weaker. ¡°There¡¯s no river near the safety point, and the closest river is even dozens of kilometers away. Did they really not consider the drinking water problem when they decided to build here? Although one should build shelters away from rivers to avoid attracting wild animals to the water, it shouldn¡¯t be to this extent, and besides, if they were closer to the riverbank, they could build even better shelters.¡± By being closer to the river, mixing water with mud, Bi Fang could even build a small mud house, unafraid of wind, rain, or hail. Even if someone managed to cross the wilderness, he was confident he could earn higher scores with his wilderness survival knowledge. Ah, it all comes down to strength. By evening, clusters of flame rose on the screen; of the fifteen participants, thirteen were already able to produce fire, and there were two¡­ ¡°I reckon these two will be eliminated within three days.¡± Bi Fang sighed. He hadn¡¯t expected that among the fifteen participants, there would be some who couldn¡¯t even make fire; the disparity in abilities was quite significant. Being able to start a fire was one of the most basic survival skills, especially in cold environments. Without fire, the body¡¯s energy consumption could be exceptionally high. No one seemed to have caught prey that day, except for Mugalen who had canned food to eat; the others almost went hungry the whole day. Water wasn¡¯t too much of an issue, with frost in the morning quenching their thirst. Spring wasn¡¯t truly here yet, so barely any wild fruits or insects could be seen. To obtain food, hunting was the only option, but success in hunting depended on both luck and skill. The luck of the fifteen participants didn¡¯t seem to be very good. However, Ji Zuodong found a river, which might give him the chance to catch some fish. ¡°Hu, it¡¯s finally almost done.¡± Mugalen released the stone he had been holding. After a whole day of grinding, his hands were severely sore, but he couldn¡¯t suppress his excitement. The entire piece of wood was polished incredibly smooth, thicker in the middle with flattened sides and curved inwards, nearly as tall as a person¡ªit looked like a powerful bow. With a sharp blade in hand, what is there to fear? Bi Fang nodded in amazement: ¡°Mugalen¡¯s bow-making skill is indeed impressive. If he were to open a shop, he would probably do well. Up to this point, the bow¡¯s shape has been completed. What¡¯s left is smoking it, drying out the moisture inside the bow, settling its shape, and at the same time strengthening its hardness and tenacity.¡± In the picture, Mugalen indeed started to smoke the finished bow over the fire. He sat next to it, braiding a cord from tree bark, intending to use it as bowstring. Come tomorrow, a brand-new English Longbow would be complete! ¡°The English Longbow is capable of hunting large animals, and the Rocky Mountains are teeming with them: there are carnivores like Black Bears, Grizzly Bears, Brown Bears, American Mountain Lions, and wolverines, and herbivores like reindeer, Moose, Elk, and bighorn sheep, and so on.¡± [Brown Bear, Black Bear, Mountain Lions¡­ can he actually kill these things?] [Wow, that sounds really dangerous] [Is that bow strong enough?] ¡°Of course, the effective range of an English Longbow is around two hundred meters, with a lethal distance of over a hundred meters. The draw weight is about 135 to 180 pounds. I usually get within ten meters of the prey, and that distance is very dangerous, but if I give myself a bit more space, say twenty meters, the lethal force is high and the accuracy is better too, which significantly reduces the difficulty of hunting.¡± Awesome! Although many viewers didn¡¯t really understand how much a pound was, they could tell by the number that it was something substantial. Over a hundred pounds, Mugalen thought joyfully, that even if he encountered a Mountain Lion, he would have a fighting chance! Looking at the longbow over the flame, Mugalen crawled back into the hole he had dug the day before and slowly drifted off to sleep. Sacrificing a day was totally worth it. Achieving mastery in skill is what empowers one to bravely explore. Otherwise, one might not even leave remains upon death. Mugalen was confident, but confidence didn¡¯t mean arrogance. Good things come to those who wait, no need to rush. In another part of the forest, Doligong dug a peculiar fire pit: he first excavated a large pit, deep enough for a forearm and twenty centimeters wide. About twenty centimeters away, he dug another smaller-mouthed pit of identical depth and joined the two at the base. The tunnel was wide enough for an arm to pass through. Having done all this, Doligong then started a fire in the large pit using conventional methods. This operation left Bi Fang quite astonished. Bi Fang didn¡¯t wait for the viewers to ask and proactively explained: ¡°It¡¯s a Dakota Fire Hole. This type of fire pit is often used in war zones to prevent detection by the enemy. It¡¯s a bit time-consuming to set up, but if done correctly, it can keep a fire burning discreetly for a long time with minimal smoke. To reduce smoke, one should collect as much dry wood as possible, and the height of the wood should not exceed the height of the flames.¡± The scene switched again¡ªJi Zuodong, gripping a wooden spear, focused on the pitch-black river. Although it was night, the moonlight and the firelight allowed him to barely make out some detail; he hoped to catch a meal for dinner. In the valley, Bonuo surveyed the terrain, holding Nylon Rope in his hand, pondering something. The only duo who had teamed up also huddled together to sleep, trying to conserve as much heat as possible. As darkness crept in, more and more participants drifted into dreams, while others stared at the countdown on their wristbands, overwhelmed by despair. Chapter 281 - Chapter 281: Chapter 278: Incurable Chapter 281: Chapter 278: Incurable ¡°Achoo!¡± As soon as Marcus woke up, he felt uncomfortable in his nose, and the next second, his face twisted sharply, his lungs contracted violently, and he sneezed, the air with droplets racing out of his nostrils. A faint stench wafted through the air, and Marcus¡¯s heart sank after the dizziness subsided. Damn. He had caught a cold! But then he harbored a sliver of luck, thinking it might just be an uncomfortable nose, spring had arrived, perhaps some flowers had bloomed, maybe it was pollen¡­ ¡°Achoo, achoo.¡± The two sneezes that followed mercilessly shattered Marcus¡¯s wishful thinking. He snuffled, his face indescribably sullen. In the city, a cold was no big deal, something that would get better in a couple of days, but being alone in the wilderness¡­it was a huge deal. Feeling his blocked nostrils and heavy body, Marcus cursed under his breath just as he was about to get up, and lay back down on the dry leaves. Little did he know that this whole scene had been witnessed by all the spectators. While Marcus was still asleep, people realized something was wrong. It was well into the morning, and the other competitors were already up and about hunting or looking for food; only he was still sleeping. With him getting up and sneezing several times in succession, anyone could tell he had caught a cold. [Is it over, is he going to be eliminated on the second day?] [The first one to be eliminated!] [Not necessarily, he hasn¡¯t given up yet, can everyone please not be so discouraging?] [Where¡¯s Master Fang, hurry up and tell us, how is it?] ¡°Whether he gets eliminated or not, I¡¯m not sure, it still depends on the individual¡¯s will and development. However, it¡¯s highly likely he won¡¯t make it through,¡± Bi Fang stroked his chin, pondering Marcus¡¯s performance. ¡°Marcus hasn¡¯t eaten for almost more than thirty hours since the airdrop, and all the water he¡¯s drunk has been frost, further aggravating his energy consumption. Now he¡¯s caught a cold; it would be impressive if he still had the energy. And you see the way he is, almost curling up into a ball.¡± On the screen, Marcus was like a cooked shrimp, completely curled up inside the shelter, shivering severely, clearly averse to the cold, and occasionally coughing violently. ¡°So this is not just an ordinary cold, but a wind-cold cold, characterized by a heavy aversion to cold, mild fever, clear nasal discharge, and coughing. Typically, one needs to prevent cold and keep warm to feel better. Judging by Marcus¡¯s behavior, it matches exactly. It might even turn into a fever later on.¡± A fever? The audience was startled; a fever was quite serious. Even in normal life, a fever was unbearable, enough to make one not want to go to work, let alone in the wilderness. If he developed a fever, Marcus¡¯s challenge could almost be declared a failure. This was clear to the audience, and, of course, Marcus understood as well. He didn¡¯t want to be eliminated so soon. Struggling, he got up from the ground and tried to find something to eat. But as soon as he steadied himself, he felt the world go dark and nearly fell, but the light quickly returned, allowing him to see his surroundings clearly. Coughing twice, Marcus headed towards the simple trap he had made the day before. In his current state, hunting was virtually impossible, so he could only hope that the trap set overnight had yielded something. Unfortunately, the first trap was completely empty. It was a fairly simple trap, using two small branches to hold up a noose, one end of the noose tied to a tree, ready to tighten instantly if any prey passed through. Bi Fang took the opportunity to introduce to the audience: ¡°This is the simplest and most primitive type of noose trap, commonly known as a neck-hanging noose. Although it¡¯s simple, it covers a wide range of prey, from small ones like squirrels and rabbits to big ones like wild boars. Setting this kind of trap requires familiarity with the animal¡¯s size, consideration of the height off the ground, and, most crucially, finding the animal¡¯s path. Otherwise, it¡¯s very difficult to have any success.¡± [So are there animals that often pass by here?] ¡°No.¡± The audience was dumbfounded. No, what do you mean? ¡°Anyway, I didn¡¯t see any animal paths here. Marcus probably just took a gamble. Didn¡¯t you notice? He set up many traps; this is already the third one.¡± Bi Fang shook his head. The traps set by Marcus were scattered at various distances, and it would take a long time to check them all. The production team had no intention of following him continuously and switched the scene to the other participants. The bow that Mugalen had been smoking overnight was now complete. He bent it to test its strength, which was surprisingly high. Clearly, it was a fine bow. He couldn¡¯t wait to string it and set out as soon as it was done. Running a full day late, there was no telling if he could turn things around. Ji Zuodong¡¯s luck wasn¡¯t bad either; backed by a wild river, he had indeed caught a small fish last night. Unfortunately, it was so tiny it could barely fill a tooth gap. He got up early this morning and walked along the riverbed, obviously looking for a good spot to fish. If he caught a big fish, it would mean he wouldn¡¯t have to worry about food for the next two or three days. Bonuo, Doligong, and several others were still unhurried, continuing on their way. However, two participants did something unexpected as they stayed put to maintain their shelters; they dug into the thick soil, half a meter deep, and pulled out a bunch. Earthworms! The soil acts as insulation. In the winter, earthworms don¡¯t all die but burrow deep underground, near half a meter. Watching the serious contestants, the audience had an ominous feeling. [Damn, what¡¯s with this d¨¦j¨¤ vu!] [That day, the screams of being dominated by earthworms rose once again¡­my apologies, wrong set.] [Awesome, awesome, I thought I¡¯d never see this scene again. This round might witness Old Fang¡¯s miraculous move!] The audience exclaimed in admiration, recalling Bi Fang¡¯s prior example, most could anticipate what would happen next. As expected, one of the contestants frowned deeply. It¡¯s quite amusing, though, this trick he actually learned from watching Bi Fang¡¯s videos, and this was also his first attempt. After squeezing the soil out of his stomach, leaving a deflated worm behind, the contestant closed his eyes and gulped it down in one go! ¡°Ugh!¡± The thick earthy stench exploded, and the contestant couldn¡¯t hold back, vomiting out the acidic liquid along with the worm, and within the mess vomited out, one could vaguely make out a red worm wriggling, but this scene was quickly censored by the show¡¯s production team. It was a bit of a mood killer. Another contestant seemed to fare a bit better, swallowing it in one breath, and then kept dry heaving. It¡¯s just not fit for human consumption! At least until the two of them absolutely couldn¡¯t continue anymore, there was no way they were going to eat worms again, whether mentally or physically, they were extremely uncomfortable. Then there was a large group of viewers asking how Bi Fang managed to eat them in the first place, but Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t say. After a hearty laugh and observing everyone¡¯s reactions, he switched the screen back to Marcus. Marcus had already finished making his rounds, and attentive viewers had counted a total of thirteen noose traps. All of them were empty. ¡°Traps are of use only in the right places; otherwise, it¡¯s like waiting for a rabbit by the stump¡ªa laughably low chance of success. Think about it, on a hundred-meter-long stretch of land, how much space does your noose take up? Twenty centimeters? The odds of an animal running right through it are next to none. But if you set up the trap in places that animals frequent, like a passage that is only a few meters wide, the chances of catching something are much higher.¡± Having made a full loop without any catch, Marcus nearly fainted on the spot. He staggered backward, leaning on a tree, as his stomach acid burned his stomach lining like boiling water, causing an excruciating pain. It¡¯s all over now, truly over. Forget about the competition, even just surviving these twelve days now seemed like a luxury. With a sense of despair, Marcus sat down on the ground and, in a fit of frustration, ripped out some weeds from beside him and threw them on the ground, then clutched his head in his hands. Yet, what Marcus had tossed aside caught Bi Fang¡¯s attention. He furrowed his brow, looked for a long while, and after confirming Marcus didn¡¯t realize what he had done, he regretfully said, ¡°Such a pity, actually, his chance to turn things around was right in front of him.¡± [Turn things around? What do you mean?] [Did Master Fang notice something? Come on, tell us!] [Stop being so mysterious!] [He¡¯s still thinking about turning things around?] ¡°Do you know what he just threw away?¡± Bi Fang pointed at the ¡°weeds¡± near Marcus and said, ¡°That¡¯s Echinacea, also known as Coneflower.¡± Echinacea? The audience looked at the muddy plant on the ground and slowly typed out a question mark. [Is that supposed to be a flower? Where¡¯s the flower?] [No one believes that; I don¡¯t believe it either (Dog¡¯s head)] ¡°The flower hasn¡¯t bloomed yet.¡± Bi Fang wasn¡¯t surprised by the audience¡¯s reaction because the Echinacea now didn¡¯t look at all like a flower but seemed like simple weeds. However, it is indeed a very common herbal plant. ¡°Echinacea is originally from North America, and indigenous residents used it to treat toothaches, sore throats, colds, and infections. Especially at the onset of a cold, it is very effective in treatment. To recover from a cold quickly in the wild, you either take a hot spring bath like I did last time¡ªif you have a strong physique, a single soak is almost enough. Otherwise, you rely on medicinal herbs. Many common herbs have the effect of treating colds, such as Schizonepeta, Isatis root, mulberry leaf, Imperata root, dandelion, hedge mustard, and these things are very common, found worldwide.¡± [Damn, dandelions can cure colds?] ¡°Yes, but the effect is not as good as Echinacea. This herb is the best-selling health product in Ugly Country, particularly suitable for times when the body needs the immune system to work hard. I¡¯ll tell you an interesting fact: there are no medicines in the world that can cure a cold¡­¡± How is that possible? [Nonsense, I feel much better after taking medicine!] [Right, there are so many cold medicines, how can that be?] [Old Fang, aren¡¯t you sensationalizing a bit much?] [I¡¯m a medical student, actually] The screen was filled with doubtful comments, with occasional support that was quickly drowned out by the voice of the crowd. ¡°Mr. Bi, are you serious?¡± Not just the viewers, but even the staff on-site cast skeptical glances after hearing this. If there were no medicines that could cure a cold, then what had they been taking all this time? For comfort? ¡°You can check it out.¡± Bi Fang raised an eyebrow, ¡°I know it contradicts what you¡¯ve always believed, but that¡¯s the reality. Since colds are viral infections, no medicine can cure them. The medical community¡¯s approach to treating colds still revolves around rest, symptomatic treatment, and preventing secondary infections. The symptoms in symptomatic treatment refer to nasal congestion, runny nose, cough, sneezing, fever, and other issues caused by a cold. The cold medicines on the market today target these symptoms. Which is to say, all the cold medicines available now don¡¯t ¡®cure the cold¡¯, they¡¯re just there to alleviate the various discomforts a cold brings. The only defense that can kill the cold virus is our own immune system, so this is the best time to take Echinacea.¡± Chapter 282 - Chapter 282: Chapter 279: Death Cap Mushroom Chapter 282: Chapter 279: Death Cap Mushroom After listening to Bi Fang¡¯s explanation, even those who initially didn¡¯t believe began to doubt, and when some netizens went online to check and came back, their doubt turned into shock. Unbelievable! The common cold actually has no cure! ¡°Treating the common cold relies on the body¡¯s own immune mechanisms, and the main physiological effect of echinacea is to directly enhance immunity. You may see the phrase ¡®boosts the immune system¡¯ on the descriptions of many health products, but most health foods, like ginseng, wheatgrass, and antioxidative phytochemicals, have relatively indirect effects on immunity enhancement. They strengthen the physique first, and then the immune system naturally improves. The mechanism of echinacea¡¯s immunity boost is much more direct and fast-acting. Upon intake, it quickly stimulates the immune system, allowing the body to enhance its ability to fight pathogens in the shortest time, comparable to a miracle drug. Because of this, echinacea is not suitable for long-term, uninterrupted use at medium and low doses. You should take it when you need it.¡± [Awesome! Has Master Fang secretly studied medicine?] [You can¡¯t survive the wilderness without medical knowledge!] [You always show off like this. The second company commander is tired of holding the tray, the oranges are tired of being traded around every day, and Mr. Chen Duxiu is weary of handing out awards daily and just wants to go back to writing his articles] [¡­It¡¯s really tiring to draw the forty-meter-long sword and then sheath it again. The price of Detergent of Flower Beauty has gone up, and the trophies are all worn from being touched. Have you ever cared about these? No, you only care about yourself!] [But is it still useful without flowers?] ¡°This is another feature of echinacea, it is useful for both the flowers and the roots, so it is just as useful even without blooming flowers. As long as you find the root, you¡¯re good. What¡¯s crucial is that it¡¯s a perennial herbaceous plant, which means it can live for more than two years. Its roots are always there, you can find it no matter what the season, but unfortunately, Marcus didn¡¯t recognize it, or to be precise, he didn¡¯t know it at all.¡± There was a hint of regret in Bi Fang¡¯s tone. The audience could understand, even feeling a bit like hating iron for not turning into steel. If you hadn¡¯t found it, it would have been one thing, but to have it right in front of your eyes and not recognize it! What¡¯s the difference between that and leaving a treasure mountain empty-handed? They gave you a chance, and you¡¯re still not up to it! At this moment, countless people felt regret, but it was soon replaced by admiration for Bi Fang. Would they have recognized it if they were in his place? Without the flowers, even a student of Chinese medicine might not be able to tell it apart from a bunch of weeds, right? [Old Fang is awesome, knows everything, unlike me, who thinks everything looks like weeds] [Plus one, I was driving past a farm with a friend last time and he couldn¡¯t even tell the difference between wheat and rice, not to mention any herbs.] [When can I be as excellent as Master Fang?] [Stop it, I still can¡¯t tell the difference between leeks and weeds] [Whatever can be harvested is leek, what can¡¯t be is weed (dog¡¯s head for life)] [Weeds can be harvested too (playful)] Bi Fang remained indifferent to the audience¡¯s praise; it was nothing new to him. Since acquiring the orange skill Wilderness Traveler, his ability to differentiate various plants had greatly improved, and he could basically identify many common medicinal herbs, which was an extremely practical ability. What are you most afraid of in the later stages of Wilderness Survival? Nothing more than injury and illness, understanding how to use medicine is even more powerful than learning how to farm. It seems he won¡¯t make it through the day. Marcus¡¯s condition was worsening by the minute, and it¡¯s likely that he would hit the rescue button this afternoon, initiating his withdrawal voluntarily, instead of being forced to quit. Just as Bi Fang was pondering this, a slightly urgent alarm suddenly sounded. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Bi Fang immediately took off his headphones and asked the staff. ¡°Someone pressed the distress button.¡± Bi Fang looked immediately to Marcus but noticed no abnormalities. Marcus was still propped up against a tree, looking as if he was about to fall asleep. ¡°Not him, someone else.¡± The staff quickly switched the screen to another participant ¨C Moyo, who was about forty years old, one of the older ones. The participant who hit the distress button didn¡¯t show any signs of distress, just a lost look in his eyes, slumped to the ground motionless. ¡°Did he give up voluntarily?¡± Bi Fang narrowed his eyes. This participant, who wasn¡¯t sick nor in danger, just gave up like that? He had thought that Marcus would be the first to be eliminated, but it turned out there was someone who gave up even earlier than him, and in a better condition at that. Since there were no abnormalities, Bi Fang stayed inside the cabin and didn¡¯t join the rescue team. After the helicopter brought the participant back, the medical team found no anomalies, aside from having not eaten for two days and low blood sugar. The participant was currently on the helicopter munching on bread, wiping tears while murmuring, ¡°It¡¯s too exhausting, really too exhausting, I can¡¯t hold on anymore¡­¡± Jerret stood beside Bi Fang, feeling slightly contemplative, ¡°Unexpectedly, the first one out isn¡¯t Marcus.¡± ¡°The wilderness is always heartless, his will was a bit weak.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s thoughts wandered; the wilderness was merciless, and not everyone could withstand that pressure. Even with the production team on standby, many dangers might not be reactable, let alone when you¡¯ve been hungry for two days and both your body and mind are exhausted. Moreover, the pressure is even greater when you¡¯re alone. Barrages of comments are just that, but when it comes to taking action, the sense of loneliness that you have to rely on yourself is indelible. Humans are social animals, always subconsciously relying on the strength of a group, and can panic when support is suddenly lost. Being able to calm down under such circumstances is highly commendable. Jerret patted Bi Fang on the shoulder, ¡°Let¡¯s go, there¡¯s nothing else to do here.¡± Bi Fang nodded, returned to his seat, put on his headset again, and looked at the other contestants. Currently, he did not need to worry about Marcus, the production team¡¯s monitors would take care of him. Today was the second day, and without finding food, many people would not be able to hold on, not physically, but mentally. Fortunately, many had begun to try eating things they had never tried before, such as earthworms, moss, and lichen. The audience was surprised to find that whatever Bi Fang had eaten before seemed quite good in comparison, rabbit meat, wolf meat, snake meat, deer meat, various fish meats¡ªat least it was still meat. Until the appearance of another contestant attracted the production team¡¯s attention. In the frame, a participant was holding a mushroom with an indecisive look, seemingly struggling over whether it was edible or not. ¡°Wait, Bi Fang. Take a look at this.¡± The director of photography immediately switched the shot to Bi Fang. Unsure whether the mushroom was edible, they asked Bi Fang to judge. At that moment, the contestant in the frame seemed to recognize the mushroom, and confidently began to bring it to his mouth¡­ ¡°Stop! Quick, warn this guy to stop!¡± Bi Fang suddenly bellowed, startling everyone, but the staff reacted very swiftly and immediately issued a warning to the contestant. Bogdo¡¯s wristband blared with a piercing and urgent shriek, causing him to flinch, and the white mushroom fell to the ground, gathering dirt upon it. Seeing the mushroom fall to the ground, Bi Fang breathed a sigh of relief and then turned to the staff with a stern look. ¡°Tell him, he¡¯s disqualified!¡± Everyone was startled by Bi Fang¡¯s stern demeanor. While they did not understand, no one questioned his decision; in everyone¡¯s mind, Bi Fang had long since become an authority. Only Pondy seemed thoughtful looking at the mushroom on the ground. ¡°Is there a problem with the mushroom?¡± ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s a Death Cap mushroom,¡± Bi Fang replied, his complexion frighteningly grim. Pondy was shocked. He had heard of the notorious Death Cap, and although he had not recognized it either, he vaguely understood the reason for Bi Fang¡¯s anger. What kind of reckless person would dare to sign up without any common sense? Not recognizing it was one thing¡ªnormal even, with so many different types of mushrooms, it¡¯s impossible to know them all¡ªbut not to even perform an edibility test? That was a fundamental lack of basic knowledge! [Death Cap mushroom? Damn, a poisonous mushroom?] [Damn, is it poisonous? I actually thought it was edible, looks just like the ones we normally eat.] Without Bi Fang¡¯s detailed explanation, the viewer could tell this mushroom was bad news just from its name. Would a proper mushroom have such a name? ¡°Death Cap contains amatoxins which inhibit RNA polymerases and interfere with various cellular functions. Poisoning often starts in the liver and kidneys, and can lead to death within 2 days; it¡¯s a deadly poisonous mushroom. It¡¯s also one of the most common deadly mushrooms, and it closely resembles edible straw mushrooms and button mushrooms, making it easy to mistakenly consume and be poisoned by.¡± ¡°If I hadn¡¯t stopped him just now, he would have swallowed it by now. Disqualifying him is not an overreaction at all! In Wilderness Survival, the last thing you want to do is to eat things randomly, especially mushrooms! No matter how similar they look, you should always be cautious. If he had done an edibility test, I wouldn¡¯t have disqualified him outright, but he didn¡¯t do it! If this were real survival, he would be dead already!¡± The aforementioned edibility test is a series of methods to determine if unknown plants are edible, through visual inspection, smell, skin contact, oral testing, chewing, and finally, consuming a small amount, to ultimately confirm that a plant is safe to eat. If he had undergone a round of tests, he would have realized this thing was not fit to eat. Viewers were seeing this severe side of Bi Fang for the first time, but they also understood his anger. The contestant was too frivolous, even arrogant, when facing mushrooms that could easily lead to incidents. The frame still showed the contestant arguing with the show¡¯s staff, not believing that he was in the wrong and that his disqualification was unjust, thinking there must be some kind of conspiracy. That was until he was informed that it was a Death Cap mushroom¡ªthough he still didn¡¯t seem altogether convinced, countering, ¡°Isn¡¯t the Death Cap¡¯s growing season during summer and autumn? We¡¯ve only just entered spring; how could they possibly be here?¡± Bi Fang massaged his forehead as if the contestant¡¯s argument amused him. He pointed at the contestant onscreen unapologetically, ¡°This is a classic example of arrogance¡ªlearning things halfway, never understanding the characteristics of plants in depth. The Death Cap mushroom may resemble straw mushrooms and button mushrooms, but the differences still exist, and those who understand can easily differentiate them. Furthermore, mushrooms have a short growth cycle and do not have a set growing season; they can grow all year round, given the required nutrients, temperature, humidity, and other environmental conditions are met. These past two days have seen warmer temperatures, fully meeting the growth environment for Death Caps. You can tell him, if he doesn¡¯t believe it, then just continue eating; if nothing happens, I¡¯ll shell out a hundred thousand Ugly Gold myself!¡± Well, that¡¯s¡­ something. The staff on the other end of the walkie-talkie looked at each other. Of course, they wouldn¡¯t do as such. Ignoring the contestant, they escorted him toward the helicopter. One of them even picked up the mushroom from the ground. After all, they had to convince the contestant to give up. The next morning, two more contestants were eliminated. Chapter 283 - Chapter 283: Chapter 280 Ah!!! Chapter 283: Chapter 280 Ah!!! ¡°Phew, good thing I took a look, otherwise there really would have been an accident.¡± The director of photography wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and let out a long sigh of relief. It was fortunate that the contestant hadn¡¯t eaten it, or there would have been an accident on live broadcast. Just moments ago, the crew had confirmed that the mushroom the contestant was about to eat was indeed the Death Cap mushroom. Instantly, everyone was utterly convinced of Master Fang¡¯s expertise. Identifying a poisonous mushroom that¡¯s easily confused with others at a glance is not something just anyone can do. Such a reassuring consultant! The eliminated contestant had nothing to say, silently allowing the helicopter to take him out of the Rocky Mountains. ¡°It¡¯s just part of my job,¡± Bi Fang said with a wave of his hand, indicating it was not worth mentioning. As a safety consultant, it was his duty to avoid danger. A false alarm. The supervisory team paid even closer attention to the contestants, being extra vigilant to prevent them from consuming any more odd things. [My gosh, finding something and still not being able to eat it feels even more dangerous.] [Sparrows, thankfully we have Old Fang, or wouldn¡¯t we be dead?] [But do mushrooms even grow in this kind of weather?] ¡°Yes, many mushrooms also grow in winter, but I am a bit surprised to see Death Cap mushrooms,¡± replied Master Fang to the audience¡¯s question. Death Cap mushrooms should only appear around April. It¡¯s not impossible for mushrooms to sprout a month early, but has the temperature been that high these past two days? Bi Fang glanced at the thermometer and found that the temperature had actually reached around ten degrees Celsius. Two nights ago, it could still drop below zero! Even if the temperature warmed up during the day, reaching five or six degrees would have been normal, but now it had climbed to ten degrees Celsius! ¡°Chinook winds?¡± he muttered, rubbing his chin, Bi Fang began to suspect. They were near the cold current, and the Rocky Mountains shouldn¡¯t have such temperatures at the end of February and beginning of March. The only explanation was the Chinook winds! Pondy heard Bi Fang¡¯s mutter and asked with curiosity, ¡°Chinook winds, what¡¯s that?¡± ¡°A strange weather phenomenon that occurs in the Rocky Mountains of North America.¡± Seeing someone ask about it, Bi Fang took the opportunity to explain to the audience as well. The Rocky Mountains were formed by the intense collision and compression between the American and Pacific Plates, stretching from northwest to southeast, basically parallel to the western coastline of North America. The area chosen for the competition was north of 50¡ãN latitude. From the perspective of pressure and wind belts, this zone is under the control of the prevailing westerlies all year round. In winter, the influence of the cold air from the Arctic Ocean is more significant, resulting in low temperatures and heavy snow. As winter ends and the climate gradually warms, the high-pressure from the North American continent begins to weaken, and the influence of the cold air from the Arctic Ocean also gradually lessens. Conversely, the prevailing westerlies from the Pacific start to impact this region. Due to the mountains blocking their path, the warm and moist westerlies are lifted dramatically by the terrain, creating abundant orographic rain. However, once over the high Rockies, the airflow has less moisture and it descends along the slopes on the eastern side of the range. As the altitude decreases, the air temperature continues to rise, and by the time it reaches the foothills, it becomes a dry, warm ¡°Chinook wind.¡± Chinook wind occurrences are not unique to this region; similar phenomena occur in the Alps, the Greater Caucasus at the intersection of Asia and Europe, and the Andes in South America. ¡°If it was carrying moisture, it¡¯d be better, as the evaporation of water would take away plenty of heat, but the mountain range blocks the moisture, leaving only the dry, hot wind behind. During this period, the temperature in the Rockies will rise very quickly. It¡¯s like a giant warm air blower pointing at the ground, and the vast amounts of snow formed by the cold air from the Arctic Ocean will melt very quickly. Look, there was still some snow on the ground two days ago, and now it¡¯s almost all gone,¡± Bi Fang explained. The production team promptly pulled up footage from two days ago for comparison. No one had noticed before, but now it was clear as day. The forest floor once covered with a layer of white snow was now entirely melted away, revealing the dark brown soil, which would likely turn green before long. Hasn¡¯t it melted too quickly? Generally, the thicker the snow, the longer it takes to melt in the spring. Not to mention the wilderness, even in the city, an unexpected heavy snowfall would take nearly a week to completely disappear, but this scene had occurred in just under two days. ¡°Because of the Chinook winds, each spring, as soon as the warm winds blow, snow accumulations over 10 centimeters can melt rapidly within a day. As the snow melts, the land quickly revives, and many mushrooms begin to grow earlier. This weather phenomenon aids local agriculture, so locals refer to these warm currents as ¡®snow eaters.''¡± [What an evocative name, snow eaters, awesome!] [No wonder Death Cap mushrooms are growing, our side¡¯s mushrooms also appear around April.] Many viewers expressed that they had learned something new and had never heard of such weather phenomena before. Pondy, however, was a bit concerned. Wouldn¡¯t a rapid climate warm-up due to the Chinook winds have some effect? ¡°Could animals like brown bears wake up earlier if the temperature warms up?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Bi Fang pondered with his head bowed before nodding slowly after a while. ¡°It¡¯s a possibility.¡± Audience: ¡°!¡± A lack of food is the main reason animals hibernate, and if food is abundant, many bears may not even hibernate. ¡°However, the odds are relatively low. Wilderness Survivalist inherently carries high risks, and the dangers are objectively present. The contestants are aware of this. Do you really want to abandon the shoot because of this?¡± Bi Fang said, attempting to ease Pondy¡¯s concerns. In his previous life, those Wilderness Survivalist shows wouldn¡¯t cease production just because there were wild bears; what would be the point otherwise? The aim was to capture the sense of reality. It wasn¡¯t as if the areas Bear Grylls visited had all the bears, tigers, and wolves removed by the crew before filming, was it? Impossible. That would be like throwing out the baby with the bathwater. Bi Fang patted Pondy on the shoulder, ¡°Alright, don¡¯t think too much. What we can do is ensure the safety of the contestants as much as possible. Let¡¯s go back and continue filming.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Pondy nodded. With the conversation at this point, there was nothing else to do. The competition among the contestants was still ongoing, with Bonuo, who had started out the earliest, already nearly seventy kilometers away from the drop point, far outpacing the other players. Mugalen, who had started last, was not showing any signs of weakness either. After eating some food and being full of energy, he had reached a speed of seven kilometers per hour. He had even taken a detour, clearly having discovered something. The two female participants had made a discovery as well¡ªa cave. Ava, excited, stared at the cave not far away and waved to Lisa, ¡°Hey, Lisa, come and take a look!¡± ¡°A cave?¡± Lisa was somewhat surprised and then thrilled. For two days, apart from having eaten some lichen and earthworms, they had caught no prey. What might be in the cave they had suddenly found? [Could this be our lunch breakthrough?] [What¡¯s in the cave? A python?] [It feels like a rodent burrow?] [Master Fang, tell us, what¡¯s in there?] There are many species in the forest that dig burrows, but considering the local species and combining this with the size of the entrance¡­ Bi Fang stared at the hole, which was only as wide as a palm, and said with some suspicion, ¡°It looks a bit like the burrow of a prairie dog?¡± Prairie dog? What is that? ¡°It¡¯s a ground squirrel.¡± [Ground squirrel? You should have said so earlier, I¡¯m familiar with that, ah!!!!!] [Wow! There¡¯s a visual now.] [Is it that ¡°ah!!!¡± kind of ground squirrel?] Bi Fang nodded and explained, ¡°There are many ground squirrels in the Rocky Mountains. They¡¯re usually found in lower altitude grasslands, which is exactly where the pair is headed¡ªthey¡¯ll have to pass through forests and grasslands.¡± ¡°Moreover, ground squirrels don¡¯t hibernate. They are used to living in groups, are highly socialized animals, prefer being active during the day, and are good at digging burrows. If this is indeed a ground squirrel burrow, it means that there is a large group of ground squirrels here, at least six or more!¡± Six! The audience, thinking of the plump ground squirrels, held their breath. That could feed them for quite a while! The duo hadn¡¯t considered this point; they still didn¡¯t know what was inside the burrow, but the discovery itself was cause for celebration. Judging by the size of the hole, the animal living inside couldn¡¯t be too small¡ªat least it would be enough for their daily needs. With the prospect of a meal, the two were full of vigor. After a quick consultation, they cooperated and divided the tasks: Ava went to look for shrubs and branches, while Lisa, as a member of the Beret Hat organization, searched for other holes nearby. Seeing Lisa block the newly found holes with stones, Bi Fang nodded in approval, ¡°That¡¯s the right decision. Many animals adept at digging have multiple escape routes. If you just wait at one hole, you may end up with nothing. You must search for other holes and block them all. Ground squirrels are burrowing experts. They have a vastly independent burrow system that can go as deep as 5 meters. The entrance is often built up to prevent water from entering. There are also refuge chambers nearby in case of predators. Deeper down, there are storage rooms, living quarters, toilets, and more. Usually, at the end of the tunnel, there is a main nest lined with soft grass¡ªtheir infrastructure is quite comprehensive.¡± Additionally, the branches Ava gathered are selected with care. Her likely goal is to burn the vegetation and smoke out the animals in the burrow. Hence, she is collecting fresh branches broken off from trees, which have high moisture content and will produce more smoke when burned.¡± [Ground squirrel: Trembling, the outside world is so scary.] [Damn, even ground squirrels live more comfortably than me!] [Wori, the quality of their life is higher than mine. I¡¯ve been working for three years, and I still can¡¯t afford a toilet, so jealous.] [Who isn¡¯t?] Hearing Master Fang¡¯s description of the ground squirrel¡¯s luxurious dwellings, many people showed envious expressions. But the thought of them being eaten soon brought an inexplicable sense of satisfaction. Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Don¡¯t say it like that. Although prairie dogs are also rodents, they actually contribute to natural fertilization. They continually trim the grasslands, increasing the protein content and the grass¡¯s decomposition capabilities, which is of great significance for environmental protection.¡± In the midst of the conversation, Lisa had blocked all the holes she could find with stones, and Ava had rekindled yesterday¡¯s charcoal fire. Within fifteen minutes, Ava had ignited the fire. She put the branches and shrubs she collected into it, and under the high temperature, the branches quickly warped and twisted, producing a large amount of white smoke. Seeing this, Ava quickly stuffed the shrubs into the hole and took off her jacket to block the front of the fire, keeping the white smoke trapped within the burrow. With nowhere else to go, the white smoke could only drift into the hole, quickly filling the entire burrow. Lisa gripped the spear tightly, ready to strike the moment an animal emerged from the hole. Soon, there were rustling noises coming from the burrow, followed by slightly shrill squeaks. ¡°Here they come!¡± Lisa was very excited¡ªthe burrow really did have something inside! By the sound of it, there seemed to be more than one creature! Chapter 285 - Chapter 285: Chapter 282 Improving Meals Chapter 285: Chapter 282 Improving Meals Don¡¯t panic. I¡¯ve written two thousand five hundred words so far and am still typing. It will probably be early morning before I can post, so consider this a measure against piracy for now. I will change it back around early morning, and you all might see it then. Lisa gripped her spear, trembling slightly¡ªa testament to her current state of agitation. The noises drew closer, the squeals more piercing. Until suddenly, a dark shadow burst forth from the cave! Now is the moment! Her arm muscles contracted in waves, power surged along the shaft of the spear, and in the end, she thrust it like a bolt of lightning at the panicked prey¡ª A sharp squeal echoed. The sensation of striking leather rebounded, and a smile flashed across Lisa¡¯s face¡ªa huge, fat rat! But it wasn¡¯t over; there were far more than one inside the cave! Several smaller shadows darted out from beneath the coat, scattering in all directions. Ava was quick to act, swiftly drawing in the coat and trapping three of them in one go. ¡°There are more!¡± More shadows leapt out, and Ava shouted excitedly, trying to catch them with her bare hands. Lisa produced the remaining spears and struck one with each thrust. Except for a few that got away, they caught three more. By the time they turned to catch the others that had fled, they were long gone, with about a dozen having escaped. ¡°They sure run fast.¡± Ava felt a twinge of regret, but her disappointment was soon drowned out by excitement as they counted their catch¡ªeight groundhogs in all! A groundhog was the size of a small arm and extremely plump, enough for the two of them to eat for four or five days! The viewers were happy for their catch; Lisa and Ava were the first to catch such a bounty among all participants. Having caught so many prey, Lisa and Ava couldn¡¯t wait to sit down on the ground, moving the still-burning fire over and adding a large amount of firewood, intending to roast one on the spot! After simply processing the fur, the plump groundhog was skewered from head to tailbone with a stick and placed over the fire, which soon began oozing golden fat. The sight was too much for some female viewers, who found it hard to stomach. Subconsciously, they still regarded groundhogs as no different from the common mouse, albeit slightly cuter, but still a mouse. [Can you really eat groundhogs?] [Yeah, it looks a bit disgusting. Plus, they¡¯re so cute, how could they be eaten?] [I eat my three bowls of rice with tears.] ¡°Of course you can, and not only that, but they¡¯re incredibly tasty,¡± Bi Fang¡¯s memory drifted back to long ago. ¡°On the Tibetan Plateau, groundhogs are considered a delicacy, especially in the autumn when they are at their plumpest¡ªlike little fat bears. Deer and sheep meat can¡¯t compare. The roasted meat is very tender and rich in fat; one bite and it¡¯s all oil in your mouth.¡± Wild groundhogs were among the most delectable fare in Bi Fang¡¯s memory; all other meats, even rabbit meat, were tough and seemed delightful only because he had gone too long without food. Many viewers were enticed by Bi Fang¡¯s description and couldn¡¯t help but swallow hard. But then, several viewers quickly came to a realization. Wait, Master Fang¡¯s taste buds aren¡¯t normal; if he thinks it¡¯s tasty, it¡¯s probably not something an average person could stomach. How did that saying go? Crunchy, tastes like chicken? ¡°I¡¯m serious, why won¡¯t you believe me?¡± Bi Fang was quite speechless, and when had he ever mentioned anything about the taste of chicken? How did a joke from the last world follow him to this one? Was it brought over by another streamer? After catching the gopher, Bi Fang glanced over at the other contestants. Ji Zuodong walked along the river and tried to fish in a bend, ending up with quite a bountiful catch. It was two Arctic aniseed fish, large in size, fast-growing, with firm muscles and a delicious taste. Mugalen took advantage of the power of his bow and arrow to successfully hunt a jackrabbit, roasting it on the spot and savoring it with the leftover sauce from the canned food¡ªa truly delightful meal. He seemed to be following a strategy of fighting to feed the fight, not at all sparing in his consumption of food, showing quite the determination. The remaining contestants had little to no harvest; the most anyone got was a relatively small one. The two who had stayed put found a stream and crafted a small fish trap, into which they placed earthworms and managed to catch a few small fish. By the afternoon, Marcus¡¯s cold had become much worse, his face incredibly pale and his temperature rising to 39 degrees Celsius. No longer able to feign strength, he had no choice but to press the sos button. Only then did the audience realize that just halfway into the second day, three people were already eliminated. From the original sixteen contestants, only twelve remained. ¡°The early stages of survival are always the most difficult, testing a person¡¯s willpower, technical skills, and adaptability. Those who make it through the first five days will find the subsequent one¡¯s increasingly easier. I predict there will be another peak of elimination tomorrow and the day after, and by day five, I estimate only seven to eight will remain.¡± Seven to eight? Many viewers fell silent. It sounds like quite a few are left, half of the contestants, but they hadn¡¯t forgotten that these sixteen were no ordinary people; most of them had military experience, and even the few who didn¡¯t were professionals in related fields, with substantial experience. And only seven to eight could last five days? What if they were all ordinary people? Wouldn¡¯t that mean total annihilation? By the end of the competition, would they even be able to find three finalists? Moreover, according to another safety consultant, Black Bears and Brown Bears might wake up early, adding a chilling presence to the quiet forest. Just watching the live broadcast was thrilling; this is the greatest charm of Wilderness Survival, something that television programs in the former world didn¡¯t have, far surpassing recorded shows in tension and excitement. Bi Fang, however, wasn¡¯t worried. It was still possible to pick out three contestants. With this thought, he pulled up the mini-map and looked towards Bonuo, who had traveled the farthest. This guy wasn¡¯t just traversing the wilderness; he was heading in the direction of the cabin. Bonuo was one of the escapees, but his method of escape differed from the remaining two¡ªhe didn¡¯t confront them head-on, but simply vanished from the crowd. Many viewers might have underestimated him, but this wasn¡¯t a sign of incompetence. At least this unwavering determination to head directly for the cabin wasn¡¯t something everyone had, meaning he had walked a hundred kilometers for nothing. ¡°He¡¯ll probably get there tomorrow.¡± The signal from today had already disappeared, and Bonuo didn¡¯t dare to proceed rashly. After reducing the distance to less than twenty kilometers, he slowed down, planning to launch red smoke again at noon tomorrow, by which time he should arrive. [The first one to find the cabin?] [What exactly is inside? I¡¯m really curious. I really want to know (kicking and screaming).] [Is there food inside? It¡¯s not going to have a submachine gun, right?] ¡°Submachine gun?¡± Bi Fang was somewhat embarrassed, ¡°You guys really dare to imagine. If they put a submachine gun in there, we might as well just declare the winner right away.¡± [Okay, no submachine gun, one answer ruled out.] [Is it this kind of submachine gun, picture.jpg] [I think it¡¯s this, picture.jpg] [When I have money, I¡¯ll definitely buy a mobile phone that can view pictures.] ¡°Mr. Bi, come take a look at this.¡± A staff member suddenly called out to Bi Fang and then transferred the footage he had captured to him. It was a drone climbing high, with forests stretching as far as the eye could see, a boundless expanse of blue-gray, and further away, mountain ranges covered in snow and blue rivers. But none of these were the key points. At the bottom of a hillside valley, a large herd of deer was leisurely grazing on shrubs, easily a hundred of them. More reindeer! Not only Bi Fang but also the audience who had seen them once recognized them right away¡ªwasn¡¯t this a large group of reindeer? Master Fang had hunted reindeer with a short spear last time and then hid under the ice river to avoid being trampled. It was vivid in everyone¡¯s memory, and now they had encountered another group? ¡°Is anyone nearby?¡± ¡°Bonuo, less than three kilometers away.¡± The camera immediately switched to Bonuo, who at that moment did not seem to realize there was a large group of reindeer nearby; he was single-mindedly trying to find the cabin. But it was already four in the afternoon, and it would soon be dark. Several hours had passed since the last smoke release, and the precise direction was somewhat unclear. ¡°Where is it?¡± Bonuo murmured to himself. As the show¡¯s carefully arranged supply site, the stuff inside must be good, perhaps there was food, so he had been rushing along even though he had been hungry for two days. ¡°Let¡¯s look from higher ground.¡± To determine the direction and target, the best choice was to look from higher ground. With a little effort, one could see the situation tens and even tens of kilometers away. After looking around, Bonuo chose a rock wall. The subsequent development was just as everyone guessed. He didn¡¯t find the cabin but discovered the large herd of reindeer. Bonuo¡¯s eyes bulged, completely not expecting his luck to be so good. He didn¡¯t find the cabin, but instead, he found a large group of reindeer. How long could one reindeer last? If he could catch one, without considering decay and weight, it would easily last twelve days! Without hesitation, Bonuo climbed down from the rock face and rapidly ran toward the direction of the reindeer herd. [Are we going to see reindeer hunting again?] [So exciting, I wonder how he will catch them?] [The terrain is different from last time, can he catch them?] Many viewers excitedly discussed how Bonuo would capture the reindeer but suddenly noticed that a gift rain started again, and it was all familiar top donor IDs. [Lord Mu gave the host 1 Spaceship¡ªThe desire to collect reindeer heads is burning up again] [Lin Chang gave the host 5 Spaceships¡ªTo be honest, I want one too] [Nanana is me giving the host 1 Spaceship¡ªThis time he should be able to catch a few, right? After that guy is done, can we catch another one? I want one too (pity)] Bi Fang laughed: ¡°Yao Jun, didn¡¯t you get a reindeer head last time? Why do you still want to mix in?¡± [I don¡¯t mind having more.] ¡°Let¡¯s see. After Bonuo is done, if there¡¯s a chance, we can try,¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t refuse. On one hand, he was feeling eager; on the other, he wanted to improve his diet. On hearing this, the audience became even more excited. Half an hour later, Bonuo lived up to expectations and found the reindeer herd. But he did not act immediately. Instead, he stood on the slope above the reindeer, observing the environment, and after a long while, he stealthily moved down to the slope below the reindeer herd. This move from top to bottom confused the viewers. What was he doing? They all started asking Master Fang. Everyone got used to it, whenever they encountered something they couldn¡¯t understand, they would ask Bi Fang, and nine times out of ten, they¡¯d get an answer¡ªeven one more comprehensive than what they had in mind. Those in the know understood that the ability of the person being asked to answer all questions did not mean the two individuals were on the same level, but rather that the one being queried was far more knowledgeable than the person asking. This was also what deeply shocked Pondy. ¡°Rope!¡± Bi Fang put himself in Bonuo¡¯s perspective and thought about what he owned, combining it with the characteristics of reindeer to make a probable judgment. ¡°He¡¯s going to use rope to hunt reindeer!¡± Bi Fang pointed at the screen very confidently. ¡°The area where the reindeer herd is a clearing, but below it is a forest. If it were me, I would wrap the twenty meters of nylon rope all around the trees, then go back above the reindeer herd. Reindeer are skittish, you just startle them into the forest, and as soon as one enters the area with the nylon rope, their antlers will get entangled. With their limited animal intelligence, once their antlers are caught, they can¡¯t escape!¡± ¡°Achoo!¡± Marcus just woke up feeling uneasy in his nose, and the next second, his face twisted violently as he sharply contracted his lungs and let out a forceful sneeze, with the gas and droplets rushing out of his nostrils in a frantic burst. A faint stench wafted through the air, and Marcus¡¯s heart sank after the dizziness passed. This was bad. He had caught a cold! Yet immediately, he harbored a glimmer of hope. It could just be an uncomfortable nose, spring had arrived, perhaps it was pollen¡­ As he went out to hunt for food, still alone, he fell asleep. As soon as he got up, he sneezed several times in a row, and anyone could tell he had a cold. [Is it over, will I be eliminated on the second day?] [The first to be eliminated] ¡°To treat a cold, you rely on the body¡¯s own immune system, and the main physiological effect of Echinacea is to boost immunity, very directly. You might see many health products claiming to enhance immunity, like ginseng, wheatgrass, antioxidants, and phytochemicals, but most health products contribute to immunity in a more indirect way. They first strengthen the physique, and then, naturally, the immunity relatively improves. The mechanisms by which Echinacea boosts the immune system are more direct: upon consumption, it can immediately stimulate the immune system, allowing the body¡¯s ability to fight pathogens to be boosted in the shortest time possible. It can completely rival specific medications because of this characteristic, and because of this, Echinacea doesn¡¯t get to be recognized by others too easily. Even Lieutenant General Orange and Chen are tired from being auctioned and awarding prizes every day, wanting to go back to writing. Did you ever care about anything else? No, you only cared about yourself!] [But is this useful even if it hasn¡¯t bloomed?] ¡°That¡¯s another characteristic of Echinacea, it works with the flowers and roots, so it¡¯s useful even if it hasn¡¯t bloomed; finding the root is enough. The most frustrating part is that if you hadn¡¯t found it, it would be one thing, but the thing was right in front of you and you didn¡¯t even recognize it! How is that any different from leaving a treasure mountain empty-handed? You were given an opportunity, but you¡¯re not making use of it! Countless people felt regret at this moment, but it was immediately followed by admiration for Bi Fang; could they have recognized it if they were in his shoes? If it hasn¡¯t bloomed, even a student of traditional Chinese medicine might not be able to identify it amidst a pile of weeds, right? [Bi Fang is awesome, he recognizes everything. Not like me, everything looks like weeds. ] [Add one, I once drove past a field with a friend, and he couldn¡¯t even tell the difference between wheat and rice, let alone medicinal herbs.] [When will I be as excellent as Master Fang?] [Don¡¯t talk about practical skills. What¡¯s the biggest fear in the later stages of Wilderness Survival?] Chapter 286 - Chapter 286: Chapter 283: Night Raid Chapter 286: Chapter 283: Night Raid ¡°` Don¡¯t panic, the reason is the same as yesterday. I¡¯ve been attending classes during the day and busy with car parts at night; I haven¡¯t had time to write. The official chapter will drop in the early morning; everyone can rest early. The rising sun climbed above the clouds, and sunlight spread horizontally across them, casting shadows in the sparse woods and tinting them with a faint bright golden hue. As the temperature gradually returned, the answer became clearer in everyone¡¯s hearts. All fifteen contestants chose not to set out immediately but to search for materials on-site. Perhaps many had planned to traverse the wilderness directly, but last night¡¯s bitter cold made everyone recognize the reality, and all original plans were scrapped. Wilderness Survival was far from as simple as they had imagined. Bi Fang explained in the evening that this was the purpose of dropping everyone off here¡ªto let them understand their strength after surviving a night. It acted as a cooling-off period; otherwise, had the drop-off happened during the day, many might have rashly chosen to cross the wilderness, and it would be troublesome if they encountered danger later on. But to the audience, this scene was quite dull. After all that buildup, not a single person set out to advance or try to find civilization; everyone stayed put at the ¡°safe point¡± where they were initially dropped off. The audience, accustomed to Bi Fang¡¯s bold and forward style, were somewhat disappointed. [Isn¡¯t anyone going to traverse the wilderness? Even if they don¡¯t find civilization directly, shouldn¡¯t they at least try to find a cabin or something?] [Really? Everyone is staying put? How timid!] [Right in the feels.jpg] [If it were Old Fang, he¡¯d probably set off right away.] ¡°It¡¯s not that no one wants to cross, if you look carefully, you¡¯ll see that actually, quite a few people are making weapons,¡± Bi Fang shook his head and pointed to Bonuo in front of him. To do a good job, one must first sharpen the tools. As a Rover Cavalry, even though he¡¯d spent the night in a hammock, his constant intense training meant he wasn¡¯t too badly affected. However, Bonuo still faintly sensed something amiss. It was too cold; he was completely awakened by the freeze in the morning. The hammock might be clean and convenient, but it was only a stopgap measure, and he wouldn¡¯t withstand sleeping in it too often. It wasn¡¯t as if he hadn¡¯t survived in the wild before; training in the wilderness was commonplace, and sometimes he could even spend a day and a night lying in a pile of grass. Therefore, although Bonuo was aware of the challenge¡¯s difficulty, he didn¡¯t plan to stop there. He wanted to cross the wilderness to earn a higher score! Out of the fifteen, it was unlikely that many could last twelve days, but there wouldn¡¯t be few either; at least Mugalen and that Huaxia person posed a significant threat. If he played it safe, it would be hard to come out on top! With that thought, Bonuo snapped off a branch with force and then found two stones of suitable quality. After some light chiseling, he began to carve the wood. ¡°Do you want to make a spear?¡± Bi Fang nodded; this was a choice made by quite a few contestants ¡ª to make a weapon as best as they could. Stone or wood, each had its advantages; whether defending against dangers or hunting animals, it was essential. Stone Spear, Wood Spear, Stone Hammer¡­ As time progressed, a variety of weapons came into view for the audience, causing admiration. Many of the methods of making these weapons were new to them, having never been used by Bi Fang, and they found it novel. Cradling the finished wooden spear, Ji Zuodong extinguished the fire and, with three long Spears and two short spears strapped to his back, set off into the depths of the forest in the manner of a primitive hunter. Wild and charming, it made the viewers¡¯ eyes sparkle; his outfit was overwhelmingly cool. [Wow, someone¡¯s going full Monkey King here.] [Looks like an old general with flags on his back.] ¡°` [Slowly typing out a question mark?] [Ji Zuodong: Are you being polite?] As preparations were completed, more and more people made their choices. Bonuo and Ji Zuodong did their best to erase any traces on the spot before they embarked on their journeys. When they cleared their own traces, everyone knew that they had no intention of coming back. Meanwhile, Mugalen was still struggling with a large tree, determined not to stop until he had felled it. This caught Bi Fang¡¯s attention because he noticed Mugalen had spent a long time just selecting the tree. With his keen eyesight, he immediately saw that Mugalen had chosen a fir. Fir wood. A type of wood worth pondering over. For making ordinary wooden spears, there was no need for such trouble. One could simply use the branches of some common tall trees, which were everywhere. Why bother wasting time looking for fir? Bi Fang watched for a long time and only understood Mugalen¡¯s intentions when he saw him strip off the outer layer of the tree. He expressed his surprise. ¡°He¡¯s making a bow!¡± [Worker?] [In the wild mountains and ridges, you still want a worker?] [You can¡¯t even get a meal, and you¡¯re thinking about a worker?] ¡°Not a worker, but making a bow and arrow,¡± Bi Fang gestured to mimic drawing a bow. The audience suddenly understood but were then deeply puzzled. They had seen Bi Fang make bows and arrows, using branches, so why would someone go through the trouble of cutting down an entire tree? ¡°Because he wants to make a real bow and arrow. My previous bow-making technique was just a shortcut; it can¡¯t compare with the durability and strength of a real bow and arrow. And Mugalen¡¯s choice is quite primitive: making a sturdy bow out of an entire tree. Willow, fir, and walnut wood are all ideal materials for bow-making. To create a good bow, the material is key, which is why Mugalen would go to the trouble of finding fir. This is a very time-consuming approach; he might not even finish it in one day. I guess Mugalen planned this from the beginning; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have risked spending so much time,¡± Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but admire Mugalen¡¯s determination. If it were someone else, even him, they might make weapons, but certainly not spend so much time on it, and if they did make a bow, they would use the simple method from last time instead of felling a tree to shape a large bow. Survival time totals only twelve days. Taking out an entire day, or even more, to make a bow was quite risky because one would be hours behind everyone else. Others might have already found rivers and food by then, but you might end up empty-handed because the bow wasn¡¯t finished yet. ¡°However, Mugalen has a 500g can of meat, so I can understand his approach. The human body generally needs to consume about 1700 kilocalories per day; of course, this varies with size and activity level, but that¡¯s the rough amount. And 100g of pork belly has about 350 calories. So, that one can could cover one day¡¯s energy consumption, which is his advantage.¡± [That¡¯s pretty badass. It feels like a gamble.] [Plus one, if it were me, I definitely wouldn¡¯t eat the canned meat unless I had to, and would wait until I couldn¡¯t go on. I didn¡¯t expect Old Mugalen to be so bold, using it up right away.] [Perhaps it¡¯s a case of the boldness of the skilled.] Mugalen was unaware of the heated discussion among viewers as he patiently crafted his large bow, holding a stone chisel and painstakingly chipping away unnecessary parts. The initial rough shape was always the easiest to achieve; the later refinements and treatments were what really took time and effort and were key to the quality of the finished bow. ¡°It¡¯s an English Longbow.¡± Even though the bow was still in its rudimentary form, Bi Fang could tell what Mugalen intended to make, and he laughed, ¡°Should I say it¡¯s no surprise coming from the Deer Hunter?¡± Thinking of Mugalen¡¯s identity, it wasn¡¯t hard to understand why he was making such a longbow. The English Longbow isn¡¯t a recurved bow. Its design is quite primitive, but its power is immense; it can shoot a hundred meters and penetrate armor. It is among the highest quality of longbows. ¡°` An adept archer could even fire 6 arrows in a minute, and without aiming, they could fire 12 arrows in a minute. The only drawback was that the user had to have a robust physique, superb skills and coordination on all fronts. Many soldiers, due to long-term stress and the impact of special postures, had spines that were abnormally curved after death. The original reason the United Kingdom began equipping support troops with muskets was not even because of the firearms¡¯ greater power, but because, like the crossbow, guns were weapons that could be used easily with little training. Otherwise, the English longbow might not have been phased out, indicating its formidable power. Owning one was like having a firearm, and its primitive design also meant it was easier to make. Having so many advantages, it¡¯s no surprise that even now some traditional hunters still use it, and it¡¯s no wonder that Mugalen, who came from a traditional hunter background, chose to make one. After hearing Bi Fang¡¯s long explanation, the audience finally understood why Mugalen would rather waste a whole day to craft such a longbow. [This is a godly weapon! With it, wouldn¡¯t chopping vegetables be a piece of cake?] [No wonder Old Mugalen was so picky about the trees, how could you craft a godly weapon without good materials?] [All of them are talents!] [Gurulu Gurulu gifted the host Big Bone*10¡ªExcellent commentary, quite enlightening, awesome!] Seeing that Mugalen couldn¡¯t finish grinding for a while, the director of photography switched the camera to other contestants. They were all grown-ups; whether they stayed or left, they each had their own plans. Those who were finished making weapons and equipment left, and those who wanted to survive twelve days in the forest began earnestly constructing their own shelters. Looking over, when the camera turned to Ava, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but sit up straight. It wasn¡¯t because a female contestant appeared on screen, but because the only two female contestants had encountered each other! This was the first time contestants had encountered one another! One should know that the program allowed teaming up but didn¡¯t prohibit fighting! As long as no harm was done, resources could be snatched away! It was up to the contestants to understand the intent. The audience was also surprised by the encounter. [Wow, they found their own so soon?] [Amazing, amazing, it¡¯s the two ladies. Fight, start fighting, the kind where clothes get ripped off!] [???] [How were the airdrops done initially, how come they encountered each other so easily?] ¡°Everyone should remember, the fifteen contestants were originally dropped off by four helicopters, divided into four groups. These four groups were quite far apart from each other, but the members of each group were very close to each other.¡± If contestants could form teams and also snatch resources from each other, then they definitely needed an opportunity to encounter each other. If they were placed too far apart, contestants might not even meet, let alone snatch anything from each other. As it happened, Ava and Lisa were from the same group, less than a kilometer apart, making it very easy to run into each other if they didn¡¯t explore too widely. Therefore, when the two met, they were both startled. Standing off against each other from five meters apart in the forest, neither said a word, and all was silent. The silence lasted a long time, but not a single viewer felt impatient, all anticipating the next development. ¡°Let¡¯s cooperate.¡± Ava took the initiative to speak first. She didn¡¯t want to waste time; in a competition, wasting time was wasting life. Lisa, after a moment of thought, nodded: ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°` Audience: ¡°¡­¡± Are they the Scarlet King now? What just happened and they already formed a team? ¡°There¡¯s something here!¡± Mugalen moved slowly through the grass, searching for animal tracks. As a member of the Deer Hunter community, there was no doubt that Mugalen had real skills. Less than two minutes after getting off the vehicle, he spotted the traces of prey amidst the grass, which looked almost identical to the untrained eye. A patch of grass that had been trampled down. Mugalen¡¯s expression lit up with joy. Just as he was about to move closer for a more detailed look, he suddenly remembered to glance over at Bi Fang with his peripheral vision to see if he had found anything, only to come up empty. In his peripheral vision, there was nothing but a patch of moss. Huh? Where¡¯s the person? How could someone that big just disappear? Mugalen was taken aback. He turned his head to the side, only to find that Bi Fang, who had been standing behind him, had vanished without a trace. He couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. The two of them had clearly gotten off the vehicle together. How could he just suddenly disappear? He hurriedly turned back to ask Barton, who pointed in a direction. Mugalen followed the gesture and saw Bi Fang walking deep into the forest, leaving only a small silhouette behind. Did he find something? That fast? Mugalen hurried over and slowed his steps as he got closer to avoid startling the game. Barton followed closely in the car, stopping at a safe distance to get out with the two small ones to see what Bi Fang had discovered. Barton, who had stayed in the car, saw very clearly that Bi Fang had seemingly glanced around casually after getting off the vehicle and then walked purposefully in one direction, in stark contrast to Mugalen, who was searching for clues all around. ¡°Primitive Survival 21 Days,¡± ¡°Survival 1 Plus 1,¡± ¡°King of Survival,¡± ¡°Wilderness Couples File,¡± and so on, were quite popular wilderness survival programs in a previous life. However, in this world without Bear Grylls or Grandpa De, these exciting programs had not emerged. But when Bi Fang introduced the concept of wilderness survival in the form of live entertainment and achieved great success, it was as if people had their meridians unblocked¡ªwhen one understands, all understand. The Discovery Channel was among the best, and right out of the gate, they played their cards well. Following Bi Fang¡¯s 21-day sea survival, they launched the brand-new program, Wilderness Arena. Many wilderness survivalists competed together, facing wilderness survival challenges that lasted for 300 hours¡ªtwelve days. Within this time, those eliminated would receive no reward, and the rankings would be decided based on the remaining survivors. Bi Fang would judge, with the first place receiving a hundred thousand Ugly Gold as a reward, the second place fifty thousand, and the third place ten thousand, all with covered medical expenses. If no one remained, then no reward would be given. This was a challenging and also a tempting competition format. A first-place prize of a hundred thousand Ugly Gold was quite a substantial reward, and on top of that medical expenses, travel costs, and such were all covered by the program and the hundred thousand US dollars were completely at the winner¡¯s disposal. As for Bi Fang, he played multiple roles within the entire program, both as a commentator and safety consultant, responsible for handling any potential crisis that might occur, and also as the final judge. There were multiple judges, but Bi Fang held the most power, with the ultimate interpretative and decision-making authority, while the other judges only had advisory power, reflecting the Discovery Channel¡¯s high regard for him. On one hand, Bi Fang¡¯s fame was immense, having achieved many legendary feats. If an ordinary person accomplished even one of these, they could live on it for a lifetime, but when all of these feats happened to one person, that person became synonymous with legend. And from any angle, Bi Fang was also a crisis management expert, seemingly able to resolve any issue, no matter how desperate the situation seemed. He always managed to turn danger into safety, boosting his reputation even higher. Chapter 287 - Chapter 287: Chapter 284 Slaughter Wolf · Fake Chapter 287: Chapter 284 Slaughter Wolf ¡¤ Fake ¡°` Disguised Chapter The sea was very calm, emitting a warm yellow sunlight that made the shores shine brightly. The waves crashed in, leaving behind white foam. Bi Fang¡¯s palms were very slender. Though calloused and rough, they appeared clean and attractive. Now, these hands were clutching a stick, rubbing it incessantly against another piece of wood, producing a large amount of sawdust from the friction. After failing at Fire-Making by Wood-Drilling, this was the second method Bi Fang had resorted to¡ªshaving fire-making. It¡¯s the simplest method and one that entirely relied on the user¡¯s arm strength, using a sharpened stick to rub up and down in a groove on a wooden board. In the bottom of the groove, some very fine sawdust would appear. This sawdust would accumulate more and more, and once the temperature reached a certain level, it would ignite. The continuous motion caused Bi Fang¡¯s nose to bead with sweat. He didn¡¯t dare to wipe it off, afraid that any slight distraction might cause the gathered heat to dissipate once more. He had been rubbing for more than ten minutes, his whole body was overheating, and he even took off one layer of his jacket. On the island, the choice of plants was too limited, without materials of the suitable softness or hardness. The trees were generally too hard, which was not ideal for making fire. Bi Fang could only pick the best among the poor options, choosing some reluctantly suitable materials. Now at the center of the island, he tightly clamped the wooden board between his legs to prevent it from wobbling during friction and to keep the sawdust in the groove from scattering. Once scattered, it essentially meant all his previous efforts were wasted. A few more minutes passed, and the audience was on edge, but Bi Fang remained calm, maintaining a steady rhythm of rubbing. Shaving fire-making was an extremely strenuous process, but its advantage lay in its stability. The technique involved not only friction skills but also a good mindset. Over the past half-year, Bi Fang, having lived mostly outdoors, had come to understand this principle well. Finally, the heat passed through the wooden board to the skin on Bi Fang¡¯s legs, which invigorated him, and he quickened the pace of rubbing¡ªthe time to strike while the iron was hot had come. Here it comes! With the emergence of faint white smoke, the audience perked up, almost wishing they could replace Bi Fang to puff the smoke and hasten its rise. Watching the host make a fire was like watching a gamer obtaining equipment; although the process was repetitive, the moment the desired item finally dropped, the sense of satisfaction was monumental! With smoke, the rest became much simpler. The wood groove gradually darkened, and the audience could visibly see the finest sawdust threads starting to glow red and vanish. Now just one step away, the actual flames were about to be born. First, the finest fibers gradually disappeared, followed by the slightly coarser ones, and finally, large clumps of sawdust began to glow red and drift away. Success! Seeing this, Bi Fang was not the least bit panicked. He quickly put down the stick and fashioned a bird¡¯s nest shape out of tree bark treated as tinder, placing it above and blowing slowly and deeply, allowing the air to fully contact the ember. Light smoke turned to thin smoke, thin smoke to thick smoke, and thick smoke changed from white to yellow. Sparks scattered, and a small flame emerged from the dense smoke, flickering freely, captivating onlookers. ¡°Finally it¡¯s lit!¡± Bi Fang wiped the sweat beads off his forehead, flicking them to the side. After struggling for more than half an hour, he finally managed to produce a flame¡ªit wasn¡¯t easy. [Shaving fire-making, got ¡Ì] [giaogiaogiao, we have fire! It lit up!] [Spread the word, call out loud, he¡¯s a role model for us all!] [Grilled seafood time?] [Grilled seafood, I¡¯m suddenly hungry, what to do?] Watching the flickering flame, Bi Fang¡¯s sense of achievement skyrocketed¡ªit was the fruit of his half-hour¡¯s labor. ¡°` ¡°Ancient people relied on these primitive methods of making fire for survival. There¡¯s a special feeling when you learn this ancient skill, especially when you finally get your first spark after putting in so much effort. Even after starting fires countless times, you still feel a special sense of accomplishment.¡± [Going to make fire by wood-drilling in the mountains right now.] [Set a fire and burn the mountain, and you¡¯ll end up sitting through your prison term!] [Then why can the streamer do it?] ¡°Don¡¯t copy me; I have a forestry permit. You can¡¯t generalize about people,¡± Bi Fang said with a laugh, shaking his head. He was really afraid that some foolish netizens would imitate him. Once he had fire, the rest was easy. Bi Fang processed the mackerel a bit, skewered it on a stick, and placed it over the fire to smoke. In wilderness survival, fat is justice. Any food high in fat is favored by Bi Fang, and mackerel is among the best. Unlike sesame mackerel, the fat content of Atlantic mackerel is rich. Without any added oil, even simple grilling brings out a sheen. Especially during the fat-accumulating winter season, it is incredibly succulent and not to be missed. Watching the fish slowly change color and start to sizzle under the high heat, the fragrance aggressively made its way into his nostrils, making Bi Fang involuntarily swallow. How does that saying go again? Grilling may not be healthy, but it sure is delicious! After eating raw food for several days, Bi Fang watched the mackerel¡¯s skin crisp up. Without waiting for it to cook thoroughly, he couldn¡¯t resist tearing off a piece of the crispy skin and hurriedly putting it in his mouth, regardless of the heat. The intense heat, along with the distinctive salty flavor left after the seawater evaporated, exploded on Bi Fang¡¯s taste buds like a gastronomic bomb! ¡°Ha!¡± Bi Fang opened his mouth, and a cloud of white steam erupted from it as he hastily chewed a few times, then swallowed eagerly, feeling the scorching sensation slide down his throat. ¡°Delicious!¡± [Mom, that looks so good, it¡¯s like grilled saury!] [I can even hear the crunchiness of the fish skin, just like a biscuit.] [Grilled fish skin, yyds!] [Old Fang knows how to enjoy life.] Bi Fang laughed. After tasting the deliciousness, he couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. He finished eating the rest of the fish skin bit by bit. His physical exertion had been huge from the night before until today, and he urgently needed to eat. Therefore, as soon as the surface layer was cooked, Bi Fang ate up the fish flesh completely. For this, he even fashioned a pair of thin tree sticks into chopsticks. It was truly satisfying. After a week of exhaustion, a meal of charcoal-grilled seafood was worthy of celebration. By the time the fish was thoroughly cooked, the entire fish was almost gone, even the bones. Bi Fang didn¡¯t waste them; after grilling them until they were crisp, he crunched them down like biscuits. A whole fish filled his belly, barely satisfying his hunger. Energy Boost +10 Patting his belly, Bi Fang laid down on the beach to digest his food, the warm sunshine shining on his slightly tanned face, making it even more comfortable. [Deserted island ¡Á, holiday resort ¡Ì] [Eat well, drink well, sunbathe¡­ I¡¯m envious of this life.] [Releasing toxins in the middle of the night, such unbearable stench!] [Uh, middle of the night? Buddy, where are you from? So much time difference? It¡¯s only afternoon here.] [Hawaii] ¡°` [Laozi¡¯s mother threw a question mark with the back of her hand??] [What the hell is ¡°Ha, the one¡±? You think you¡¯re on vacation or something? Does saying that sit right with your conscience?] [Left behind the tears of poverty] Bi Fang had been lying on the shore for quite a while, basking in the sunlight and sand, listening to the successive waves crashing and feeling comfortably relaxed. However, he hadn¡¯t forgotten his mission; surviving twenty-one days on a desert island wasn¡¯t something he could win just by lying around. The island was too small , providing no food from animals other than plants; one of the two big fish had been eaten, the Hairfin Anchovy couldn¡¯t be eaten and had to be saved for bait, meaning Bi Fang¡¯s food supply was down to just one Squid and a fish, which made him anxious again. No grain in hand, and a heart full of worry. With that thought, Bi Fang jolted upright, scratched his head, and continued walking around the island. Picking things up on the beach was important, as sometimes you could find some very unexpected items. Plus, as an adventurer with aspirations, staying on a tiny island forever was not an option. If it were a bigger island, Bi Fang would have stayed, passing the remaining days without worry. But it was doubtful whether this island was even two hundred square meters; at most, Bi Fang considered it a temporary base. He much preferred to find a mainland¡ªonly then would he truly be ¡°Riding the Wind and Waves.¡± There was no doubt that the evaluation for the task would be higher. With previous experiences, Bi Fang had already figured out the System¡¯s intention: it expected him to take proactive actions. If he just scraped by in every task, it would undoubtedly be problematic, severely affecting his pace of becoming stronger. He was a man who aspired to climb Mount Everest! For the coming ten-odd days, Bi Fang knew he had to prepare thoroughly, using up everything he could on the island, starting with releasing the Squid ink sac. The Squid¡¯s head could store ink, but it wasn¡¯t a long-term solution and the ink could easily disperse; Bi Fang needed a plastic bottle. In places like this island, it was very likely to find marine debris stranded. Especially plastic waste, which lasts for decades or even centuries. In a previous life, many people watched Bear Grylls and Grandpa De¡¯s videos and often suspected that the plastics they easily found were planted, but in fact, they were not. Plastic trash was already everywhere in the ocean. Bi Fang shook his head slightly, and after carefully exploring the entire island with his thoughts, he did indeed find two plastic bottles¡ªcommon soda bottles. For caution¡¯s sake, it was necessary to wash them thoroughly in seawater before filling them with ink. Some ink remained stuck in the Squid¡¯s head, so Bi Fang added some seawater and poured it all in together. Eatable Squid +1 With a bit more food stored, Bi Fang felt slightly comforted, but an even more important task awaited him¡ªbuilding a raft! Building a raft? The audience, hearing this idea, were stunned. [Why does he need to build a raft? Is Old Fang going to drift again?] ¡°Exactly,¡± Bi Fang nodded, ¡°I hope to find a real continent, not just linger on this little island that¡¯s smaller than a villa¡¯s land area.¡± [Not at all surprised, I¡¯m used to it by now. Even if Old Fang tells me he¡¯s going to wrestle a Whale, I¡¯d think, just this?] [I¡¯m familiar with the routine lol.] [Charge, motherfucker!] [giaogiaogiao, Master Fang is explosively awesome!] ¡°The life raft is simply too unstable. A small puncture and I¡¯d be facing the peril of sinking. It really doesn¡¯t give me a sense of security,¡± Bi Fang said, pointing to the life raft not far away. Many viewers nodded in agreement; indeed, it¡¯s not just about encountering a Shark¡ª even a slightly bigger fish taking a bite could risk deflating the raft, resulting in complete doom with no recourse. But a raft is different; a good raft can effectively drift on the ocean, even if it encounters slightly bigger Sharks, there¡¯s no problem. Reality isn¡¯t like the movies; the Great White Sharks seen in movies don¡¯t exist in reality. Most of them just take a bite to taste and leave if it¡¯s not to their liking. What the life raft fears is precisely that one bite. ¡°` ¡°Building a raft for ocean drifting relies on the materials available at hand, the conditions of the waters you intend to drift in, and the duration you plan to be adrift. There is no set rule to follow here; use your common sense, good binding skills, and anything that can produce buoyancy, and you can create a pretty decent raft.¡± ¡°For this, we need to collect a sufficient number of logs or bamboo, approximately of equal length, and arrange them on the ground in the shape of the raft. Carve a notch at both ends of each log or bamboo, one meter from the ends, and stack them on top of each other. This will create a certain ¡®pressure¡¯ between them. If you¡¯re using bamboo, you can drill holes in each piece to replace the notches. Thread the bamboos through the holes, ensuring they are tied tightly together.¡± Bi Fang squatted on the ground and began picking up stones. The resources on the island were these twenty-three big trees. He didn¡¯t need that many, the trees were all very tall, the main stem of one could be cut into four to five sections, and there still would be many thinner branches that could be used, probably about five trees would be enough. If he cut them all down, it wasn¡¯t certain whether trees could still grow on the island anymore, without big trees to block the sea breeze, it would be difficult for saplings to grow, but five wouldn¡¯t cause an impact. However, even though it wouldn¡¯t cause an impact, Bi Fang still silently apologized in his heart for the offense; he had to cut down the trees for the sake of the raft-making plan. [How are you going to chop trees, with a stone axe?] [This stone doesn¡¯t seem as good as flint, just the ordinary kind.] ¡°It¡¯s quite ordinary, but it¡¯s enough, and I don¡¯t plan to make a stone axe.¡± Bi Fang tossed the stone in his hand. Stone axes are not reliable and are hard to sharpen. Since the tree is thick, once it¡¯s sharpened and chopped on, it¡¯s likely to break. But a blunt stone axe wouldn¡¯t chop anything, so he planned to use a chisel to break the large trees. All that¡¯s needed is a stone chisel and a stone hammer. Both are very easy to make. Bark fibers are abundant and can be twisted into rope, and then a stone can be tied to one end of a tree stick to make a stone hammer. ¡°However, for added firmness, we need to process it a bit. First, we split one end of the tree stick, and then we jam the stone inside it, which makes it much firmer after it¡¯s tied.¡± Bi Fang set the tree stick upright, pointed a sharp stone at one end, tapped the stone against the tail of the chisel, and the stick split upon impact. He pried open the crack, jammed the stone inside, and then tied it up with rope, creating a high-quality stone hammer. Swinging it around twice, Bi Fang nodded in satisfaction, finding it very handy. [Seeing Old Fang with a weapon in hand gives me peace of mind.] [Top-tier lumberjack online!] [Charge, charge, charge!] With tools at hand, the major task of tree-felling officially began. Bi Fang first marked out a line at the base of the tree, then ground out a pit that could hold the chisel steady. Once it was secure, he stood up, made a couple of positioning taps, and then raised the stone hammer, smashing it down hard on the end of the chisel! The previously unstable chisel instantly penetrated the tree about a centimeter deep, becoming exceptionally firm. It seemed effective. Bi Fang nodded, his stone hammer swung more vigorously, whipping up a wind with each stroke. When the chisel was embedded halfway, he grasped it and shook it out from side to side, pulling it out. ¡°When chopping trees this way, remember not to hammer the chisel deeper than half its length, or you¡¯ll have a hard time pulling it out. About a small half is enough; then we switch to the other side and repeat the process a few times, and the tree can be broken.¡± Bi Fang shifted his angle slightly, inserted the chisel into the crack, and began to swing the stone hammer methodically. Soon, the base of the tree was completely torn, and the whole tree started to wobble. He gave it a kick, and it broke off completely. The sound of the wood stalk breaking echoed, and the tall tree slowly fell to the ground, shaking the whole island. Seeing the fallen tree at his feet, the audience was amazed; was the efficiency really that high? Bi Fang wiped the sweat off his brow and moved on to the second tree. All afternoon, the audience watched Bi Fang cutting down trees, each falling tree shaking the entire island. Chapter 288 - Chapter 288: Chapter 285: Contestants Diary Chapter 288: Chapter 285: Contestant¡¯s Diary The other teams had already seen the entire hunting process through the live broadcast, and when they saw the invitation, those who had not had dinner couldn¡¯t wait for Jerret to notify them and came over one by one in high spirits. A total of four helicopters and even an off-road vehicle, medical team, supervisory team, security team, and coordination team surrounded the entire clearing. Except for a few who remained in front of the screen to monitor safety, the large group of over twenty people completely encircled the area. Bi Fang scanned the field, which was blocked by helicopters and off-road vehicles, effectively forming a natural barrier around them. It looked like they didn¡¯t even need to change locations. After the hunt, there was the removal of the innards and skinning, the scene was rich with the smell of blood, which could easily attract keen-smelling predators. But even a brown bear, seeing the current scene, would probably not dare to approach, right? There were over a dozen tranquilizer guns, more than five professional soldiers, one top-level adventurer, and a full complement of cars and helicopters, even emergency live firearms; any coming beast would only be delivering its own head. Dozens of people bustling about, hauling out barbecue grills, pouring out piles of charcoal, the lighting of which released the distinctive fragrance of fruitwood, invigorating anyone who caught the scent. After consuming canned food for three days straight, the opportunity to have fresh roasted venison had everyone working fervently. A large deer, just in pure meat, weighed over a hundred pounds, on average. Bi Fang, looking at the cumin and salt beside him, was quite surprised. Having a barbecue grill was already inconceivable, let alone all sorts of seasonings, including even ginger and garlic! ¡°How did you manage to prepare so thoroughly?¡± ¡°Hahaha, it¡¯s not that we were prepared, we just wanted to do this. We planned to have a hunting feast after the show ended.¡± Pondy sliced a piece of deer leg meat, putting it into a pot on a nearby temporary stove to simply boil with a lot of ginger and cooking wine to remove the gamey flavor, then skewered it with an iron stick and placed it over the fire to grill. The wild deer had a strong gamey taste; it needed some treatment. Bi Fang squatted down to take a look; the stove was burning biomass pellets, completely setting the scene for a camping trip. Jerry, seeing everyone¡¯s enthusiastic involvement, suddenly had a burst of inspiration. What if there was a show where hunters and cooks hit the road together, competing to see whose hunted game, cooked under primitive conditions, tasted better? It seemed promising. But it was still just a budding idea, something to consider well once he got back. The charcoal fire was fierce, and the venison was quickly roasted. Bi Fang grabbed a skewer to taste, and his eyes lit up. The venison was brimming with a smoky flavor, the fat was almost bursting from the meat layers, giving a fluffy and delicate texture, the cumin was rich, complemented by the salt crystals that had just been sprinkled on and not yet fully melted, creating distinctly layered flavors, far more delicious than anything he¡¯d eaten in the wild before. He patted Pondy¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Not bad, do you barbecue often?¡± ¡°I camp quite a lot, so naturally, I¡¯ve picked up a few tricks.¡± Pondy replied cheerfully, clearly pleased with the praise. He carried a large platter of meat towards the others. A staff member nearby, holding a small bottle of wine, tossed it to Bi Fang, ¡°Catch, Mr. Bi!¡± Bi Fang reached out and caught the bottle in his hand. Countless viewers watching this scene were dripping with envy, especially the international audience. For the production crew, it was only around eight, but in China, it was already late at night. This ceremonial arrangement was tantamount to a late-night temptation, utterly inhumane! ¡°Damn, I¡¯m so hungry!¡± ¡°I really want to join in too!¡± ¡°Contestant¡¯s Diary: Another night curled up in the shelter, watching the bright bonfire party in the distance, I tightened my clothing around me, just hoping the cold night would pass quickly, that tomorrow I wouldn¡¯t have to eat worms again, with 200 hours left until the competition ends. I hope to survive until then.¡± ¡°The good days are still to come (sly).¡± ¡°My heart is filled with nothing but gratitude.¡± Seeing the barrage of comments, Bi Fang chatted with the audience for a few more sentences and then ended the live broadcast directly. There wasn¡¯t much to see next. It was just the queueing up in the wilderness this time. After working for three days straight, everyone relaxed properly tonight, only parting at ten in the evening to take the helicopters back to their posts. After clearing the traces from the scene, Bi Fang left the large pile of reindeer entrails for Nature. If the pack of wolves hadn¡¯t gone far, they might come back and find a meal waiting for them. Due to years of hunting by humans, the wolf population in the Rocky Mountains had dwindled. That¡¯s why Bi Fang had only killed the alpha, not even exterminating the scout wolf that had taken a piercing blow to the abdomen. With the wolf¡¯s self-healing capabilities, if luck wasn¡¯t too bad, those wounds could still heal. The supervisory team was still working, watching the screens, making sure that nothing went awry, while the others, having eaten their fill, gradually fell asleep. Bi Fang reshuffled his sleeping bag and squeezed in with everyone else. What developments would tomorrow bring? Quite exciting indeed. The third day, the live broadcast continued. The contestants had now experienced two full days and three nights, and many who were once confident in their survival skills had begun to doubt themselves, creating a bizarre scene for the audience. Many of the contestants who were already awake didn¡¯t take any action and instead stared vacantly at the countdown of over two hundred hours remaining on their wristbands, seemingly lost in thought. Wondering what they were thinking about. Bi Fang shook his head and said softly, ¡°They¡¯ve shaken their own confidence and determination and are starting to doubt if they can hold on. To be honest, this is not a good sign. In Wilderness Survivalist, when one¡¯s resolve begins to loosen, it often marks the beginning of failure. Many times, it¡¯s not that people cannot endure, but rather their will is not firm enough.¡± Even Doligong, whom Bi Fang initially favored, had begun to waver. As a man who had faced down a Brown Bear, his strength didn¡¯t seem to be as formidable as thought, and he even began to ponder whether to continue his trek. Bi Fang believed there was a high chance that he might seek out a cabin, using it as a base to build a shelter. The audience recalled a classic survival case Bi Fang had mentioned a long time ago. Moro, who got lost in the Sahara from a marathon, and Pan Lian, who persisted over a hundred days at sea, were such cases. Were they born from special forces? No, they weren¡¯t, especially Pan Lian, who was just an ordinary person yet managed to accomplish what others could not. The audience was well aware that the watershed of strength had already appeared. Forget making comparisons with Bi Fang from last night¡ªthat was plain bullying. The disparity in the statuses among the contestants themselves clearly revealed the difference in their levels. Ji Zuodong, Bonuo, Mugalen, and even the duo showed certain advantages. They got up early without any hesitation, abandoning their shelters to venture into the unknown forest. They moved forward with decisiveness, without the reluctance seen in other contestants. Especially the duo, having hunted eight groundhogs, their food crisis was resolved. As long as they found a water source, surviving a week wouldn¡¯t be a problem, and their mental states were both good due to mutual support. As for Bonuo and others, being special forces, their willpower was much stronger than that of ordinary people. Without that resilience, not to mention becoming special forces, one wouldn¡¯t even pass the basic selection. Bi Fang sighed, ¡°That¡¯s why I say today and tomorrow will still be a period of high elimination. If a contestant can¡¯t get through this phase, there¡¯s no hope of competing for the championship.¡± Many people agreed deeply, with few doubting his judgment would be wrong. Such was the transcendence brought about by Bi Fang¡¯s status. Though he didn¡¯t want to be an authority, the people regarded him as one. At this moment, a member of the monitoring team suddenly pulled Bi Fang aside as if having something to say. Chapter 289 - Chapter 289: Chapter 286: The Second Squad Chapter 289: Chapter 286: The Second Squad ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± The monitoring staff didn¡¯t speak but simply pointed at the screen. Bi Fang¡¯s eyes narrowed, it was a green dot map, with a green dot and a gold dot nearly overlapping. Contestants and the cabin¡­ ¡°Did Bonuo find the cabin?¡± ¡°Judging by the distance, they are now less than three kilometers apart, but it¡¯s not yet twelve days, the exact location is still unconfirmed, if he doesn¡¯t wait, it might take some effort to find it.¡± The audience instantly became excited, had someone finally found the cabin? What exactly was inside? Unfortunately, Bonuo was only drawing near to the cabin by intuition, and under the cover of the trees, he couldn¡¯t find the exact location, buzzing around like a headless fly, and with a heavy load of deer meat on his back, he was soon out of breath. Such a pity for a deer head. Bi Fang watched regretfully as Bonuo tied up a deer head with withered vines behind him, to make weapons, Bonuo had smashed the complete deer head and took two separated antlers as weapons. The idea was good, and fairly cool, it just felt a bit of a pity. The two deer heads Bi Fang had hunted last night had already been hung in the helicopter cabin, looking impressively dominant, every passing staff member couldn¡¯t help but stop and watch for a long time. On the other side, Bonuo was also anxious, his instincts telling him the cabin was nearby, but no matter what, he couldn¡¯t find it. However, he had to wait until noon when the signal flare would be fired to confirm its exact whereabouts. This would undoubtedly waste a lot of time. He looked at his wristband, although it was a 300-hour countdown, he could roughly use it as a watch based on the timing of the signal flares over the past two days. Three more hours to go before the second signal flare was fired. No choice but to wait. After two exhausting hours, Bonuo found nothing, he sat on the ground, quietly waiting for today¡¯s signal flare. Meanwhile, Ji Zuodong and Bonuo were racing to catch up, without a doubt, they were both heading for the cabin. Admiring courage and skill, they naturally weren¡¯t afraid of a longer trek. Would they meet? That was what the audience cared about most. Some, hoping for chaos, wished the two would fight over the resources. There was still a long time left, Bi Fang didn¡¯t just wait idly, but instead checked on a few other contestants. During this time, another gave up, which was quite regrettable, but there was nothing to say, just sent him away. Until now, only eleven remained. At the same time, the actions of another contestant caught Bi Fang¡¯s attention. He was one who decided to stay and build a shelter. However, at this moment, he was scurrying all over the forest, apparently not looking for food. Was he looking for someone? Bi Fang watched him as he walked and shouted, obviously searching for other contestants. ¡°Has he chosen to seek an alliance with others because it¡¯s hard to keep going? That¡¯s not a bad choice, but isn¡¯t he afraid of attracting some fierce beasts by shouting like that?¡± Bi Fang suspected the man was a bit of a simpleton, Goulbin was one of the contestants who chose to stay back and survive, young and just thirty, truly in the prime of his strength, he signed up full of confidence. Unfortunately, he was taught a lesson on the very first night. Being in the real primeval forest, he couldn¡¯t sleep at all, the silent darkness seeming to hide unknown wild beasts at any moment. So much so that on the second day, he dismissed his original plan of traversing the wilderness and honestly fortified his shelter, ready to endure the twelve days. Naturally, he got educated again. If it weren¡¯t for good luck, finding a squirrel¡¯s nest on the second afternoon, capturing two squirrels and a pile of various nuts, he might not have made it this far. But you can¡¯t always be lucky, so from the start of the third day, he began to consider finding teammates. Strength in numbers, they might have a way to survive. As for being number one, although a bit of a stretch for him, Goulbin thought the others were probably not much better than himself. Half an hour later, Goulbin shouting in the forest did indeed get a response. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°A contestant?¡± The other party didn¡¯t rashly approach, talking to Goulbin across a distance. ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Goulbin was somewhat excited, ¡°Form a team? I think we should try teaming up and then go look for the cabin! Use the cabin to set up a base!¡± ¡°Use the cabin to set up a base?¡± The other party was momentarily confused, clearly not expecting this move. If it was as the production team said and the supply point was a cabin, then it would definitely be a high-quality shelter. The only problem was the need to traverse a hundred kilometers, which was quite a difficult task for those who had chosen to stay put. In Goulbin¡¯s view, getting supplies might be difficult since they were already three days behind, but in the eyes of those seeking survival, the cabin was actually the biggest treasure! Unfortunately, he was not confident in crossing alone, which is why he was pulling in teammates. After he made the suggestion, the other person fell silent, obviously moved by it. He struck while the iron was hot, continuing, ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry, I didn¡¯t bring anything, no weapons. How about we talk face to face?¡± ¡°Then step out, don¡¯t come closer, stay away from me.¡± This person had supplies on hand. Goulbin felt joy inside, it seemed the other person was quite strong, or else why so cautious? They must have gained something and feared it would be taken by others! Under the drone¡¯s lens, nobody dared to harm others intentionally, fearing to be encountered by others. The only worry was about having the hard-won supplies stolen. Goulbin did as told, and soon enough, they saw each other across a stretch of forest. Ten minutes later. The second group allied. Since they formed an alliance, of course, they had to take out their supplies and plan together. The squirrel had been eaten yesterday, leaving Goulbin with only some nuts, quite a lot actually, about two pounds, which was a great energy supplement. However, what the other party brought out was somewhat disappointing to Goulbin: just a few bird eggs, and very small ones at that. They were not even enough to fill the gaps in one¡¯s teeth, a total loss. Alas, there was no helping it. The deal was done. It had to be this way. After they distributed the food simply, both gathered the tools they made in the past two days and headed towards the cabin as they remembered it. Viewers kept watching the struggle of the other survivors, and when they got to the last one, they were surprised, as that person was actually collecting urine! Also, where did that plastic bottle come from? Ben wasn¡¯t aware of every viewer¡¯s situation in real-time. He pulled aside a staff member to inquire. ¡°Found it?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The staff member nodded, probably from last night. It was inconceivable, deep in the Rocky Mountains, to find an empty plastic water bottle. Had environmental pollution become this severe? [Dang, I¡¯m never littering again.] [That luck is way too good.] [But are they planning to drink urine? Even collecting it?] Because they avoided the cameras, viewers could still see the yellow liquid accumulating in the bottle. Ben recalled this player¡¯s past and realized he hadn¡¯t drunk water for three days, except for dew every morning. Speaking of Wilderness Survivalist, one can¡¯t avoid extreme conditions, and drinking urine is one of those measures. It¡¯s common in the news to hear about people surviving earthquakes by doing so¡­ Now, watching a contestant actually do this was unexpected for everyone. ¡°Drinking urine is a very dire situation. At least I haven¡¯t encountered it yet, and I don¡¯t recommend it unless one¡¯s life is in critical danger. Because when dehydrated, drinking urine, already concentrated with high levels of sodium due to dehydration, might worsen dehydration. Strictly speaking, urine drinking is not for quenching thirst but for survival. Usually, the osmotic pressure of urine is higher than that of blood or other body fluids, and it¡¯s even higher when one is thirsty. However, the human kidney has a strong capacity to concentrate urine. After drinking it, the kidneys will obtain some water, allowing the body to excrete metabolic wastes in an even more concentrated form. Drinking urine does not relieve thirst but can extend survival during a waterless period. The best method is still to distill the urine after collecting it, or at the very least, filter it before drinking, even if it¡¯s just a simple filtration with clothing.¡± Ben explained briefly. But the competitor didn¡¯t seem to have really made up their mind. After looking for a while, they screwed the bottle cap shut. Many viewers breathed a sigh of relief, yet there was also a hint of disappointment, as if they were hoping for something to happen. Chapter 290 - Chapter 290: Chapter 287 Leave the items behind for me! Chapter 290: Chapter 287 Leave the items behind for me! People always have a fascination for the bizarre. From light, surprising stories to the heaviest, all-inclusive curiosities. Drinking urine is one of them, which psychologically speaking, many people know to be a rather disgusting physiological act, yet when they actually hear about it, they can¡¯t help but let their curiosity drive them to learn more. Unfortunately, the competitor before the screen did not satisfy the viewers¡¯ curiosity. After staring at the nearly full bottle of urine for a long while, he eventually put it away into his pocket, much to the disappointment of many. After Bi Fang gave a simple explanation, he didn¡¯t care much about it. He had no interest in practicing it for the viewers to see, as long as the reasoning was clear. After briefly checking through the remaining participants¡¯ performances, the time was drawing ever closer to twelve o¡¯clock. The audience gradually became excited, and even Bi Fang had shrunk his screen to keep a special watch on Bonuo. The staff member looked at Jerret, ¡°One more minute, shall we launch it?¡± Jerret nodded his head, ¡°Launch.¡± At the leader¡¯s command, the team immediately sprang into action. The sixty-second countdown passed in a flash. A dazzling red flare, screeching as it soared, burst into a beautiful swath of light against the pure white sky canopy, its colors gradually shifting from red to purple, resembling magnificent auroras. A flock of startled birds scattered into the sky. ¡°There!¡± The flare was so conspicuous that even from dozens of kilometers away, it was crystal clear, prompting Bonuo to sprint off! It was nearby, he was certain, less than three kilometers from the hut! But there was someone faster than Bonuo! Ji Zuodong! The man who had been traveling along the river! Both had set off almost simultaneously the day before, with Bonuo having covered a bit more distance. Although Ji Zuodong¡¯s route was along the river, deviating somewhat from the direction of the hut, it also meant he didn¡¯t need to waste time searching for water sources. Add to that Bonuo¡¯s waste of three to four hours this very morning, and it was enough for Ji Zuodong to catch up head-on! ¡°Could my luck really be this good?¡± Ji Zuodong looked at the tall hut before him, his eyes flickering. As the flare exploded, while he was walking along the river thinking about finding some food, a screeching sound suddenly came from three hundred meters away, followed by an aurora-like light curtain appearing overhead¡­ Ji Zuodong admitted that he too was looking for the hut, but he hadn¡¯t expected such a fortunate coincidence. The audience, viewing through drones, were somewhat speechless. Bonuo had been searching all morning and hadn¡¯t found it, yet this Huaxia man just walked along the river and stumbled upon it by sheer luck. Can grinders not compete with a lucky emperor? Not so wild after all! After observing his surroundings for dangers, Ji Zuodong gripped the claw knife in his hand. Although the short spear was more lethal, in close quarters, a nimble dagger was more preferable. Moreover, he wasn¡¯t a viewer and couldn¡¯t be sure if there was anyone in the hut, nor whether the production crew had set traps to enhance the show¡¯s effects. Lethal traps were not likely, but prank traps were a possibility, as many variety shows like to set those up. The hut wasn¡¯t large, a simple square structure without even a roof, approximately 2*2*1.5 meters in size. One would have to bend down to enter, it was obviously a temporary setup for storing equipment. It could serve as a dwelling if necessary. After all, it was a hut, definitely stronger than a shelter built in the wild. Unfortunately, Ji Zuodong appeared to be a man who would not stay there. He carefully pushed open the wooden door, his gaze sweeping the dark interior for a glance, only able to discern the rough outlines of supplies without seeing what they specifically were. He opened the hut¡¯s door wider, but there were no signs of movement. It seemed there were neither people nor traps. After a quick assessment, Ji Zuodong slipped into the hut without closing the door behind him, for if it were closed, everything inside would be enveloped in total darkness. Following the daylight, one survival item after another came into view for all to see, igniting Ji Zuodong¡¯s gaze with increasing intensity. Sleeping bag*1 Firesteel*1 Thermal blanket*1 Thermal clothing*1 Portable medical kit*1, containing bandages, disinfectant alcohol, saline solution, sterile gauze ¨C unfortunately no scissors or pen. But these enviable supplies weren¡¯t the most attractive; Ji Zuodong¡¯s attention was firmly captured by the last item. A machete! The audience was stunned. [Holy shit, a machete!? Isn¡¯t that a bit like cheating?] [Everyone¡¯s got wooden spears and bows, and you not only have a claw knife, but now a machete too?] [Is it breaking the fairness of the game?] [It¡¯s outrageous, but after all, they found it by taking an extra two days of journey, so you could say it¡¯s a reward for hard work.] [If I had a machete, wouldn¡¯t I be killing through the jungle?] Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not outrageous because he can only choose two items from inside, and the price he paid for this was two days of travel and physical strength.¡± There were a total of three cabins, distributed at the offset angles of the south, east, and northwest cross, considering that some people might take different routes. Hence, the showrunners set up the cabins in different directions, meaning that there was only this one cabin going south. So they set up six items, and the rule that one person could only take two was in place, otherwise allowing one person to take everything would indeed break the game balance. Can only take two items? The audience somewhat understood, but still, a machete seemed too powerful, right? Wouldn¡¯t you be fearless against most creatures now? ¡°A machete isn¡¯t as useful as you think. In fact, most of us don¡¯t know how to use a knife, or such a big machete, in real scenarios. These items can be very dangerous in the hands of an untrained person.¡± Seeing the audience¡¯s reaction, Bi Fang mentally searched for an example to advise them, to prevent any accidents during future camping trips. He had the System safety net, plus he had integrated the Wilderness Traveler Skill with his last Identity Integration Coupon, so discussing past experiences was no big deal. ¡°Once, on a journey to Belize in Central America, someone in our team claimed to have extensive jungle trekking experience. Each of us had a machete, and his was the longest. As the ¡®most experienced,¡¯ he plunged into the jungle, perhaps aiming to become the team leader. But just a few hours later, we heard screams from ahead. The reason was that this experienced guy had swung his machete too fiercely, hit a tree branch, but failed to cut it. The branch sprang back and slashed from his lip down to his jawbone, causing a serious laceration. At that time, the situation was still manageable as we had just entered the jungle and were able to rescue him in time and kicked him out of the expedition team. His behavior also exposed his supposed machete experience as pure boasting and revealed how dangerous handling a machete can be.¡± Many knives have unique uses, apart from choosing the right knives for wilderness and many other precautions. An inappropriate knife used for too long can also cause blisters, and getting blisters on your hands in the wilderness is easy to lead to infection, and festering wounds are even more troublesome. Bi Fang had never elaborated on these points before, but seeing the machete reminded him of this issue. Just right, he could save it for the next live broadcast. Bi Fang noted this in his mind, sparing himself the monotony of the journey. Wanting to play on, he continued chatting with the audience. ¡°Also, I remember someone in our team once sat on his sleeping bag and felt something bulging against the inside of his thigh. After investigating, it turned out that a teammate had placed a knife on top of the sleeping bag, and then got busy with something else and forgot about it. By sheer coincidence, the crease in the sleeping bag positioned the blade upwards at an angle. If this guy had been sitting a few centimeters off, it would have been much more painful.¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t elaborate, but from the sound of it, the situation must have been serious. If off by a few centimeters, where would he have been stabbed? The audience shuddered, feeling a tightness in their behinds, as if they could already see themselves bleeding out on the ground. Oh man! But Master Fang¡¯s experiences are really diverse, seeming like he¡¯s been everywhere, huh? Add his age, and it¡¯s just outrageous. Look at those Special Forces contestants, not one younger than thirty, with kids already, and many foreign competitors with big beards, looking quite mature. Is this the world of geniuses? Speaking of which, who was it that let him retire? Do they not understand making the most out of resources? To actually let him go live streaming? Decay, that¡¯s just decay! Unseen, Bi Fang harvested a portion of the audience¡¯s admiration. Bringing the topic back, Ji Zuodong was faced with a tough choice, which two items should he pick? A medical kit goes without saying, as injuries and infections are highly probable in the wild. Having bandages and alcohol is like having a godsend. Clothes and blankets are the same, the cold from their arrival is still vivid in memory. It¡¯s gotten warmer in the last two days, but the nights are still unbearable, and rain would make it worse. With twelve days¡¯ time, encountering rainy weather is highly likely. Every single item in the cabin was undoubtedly very useful. It was truly distressing to see them and have to give them up because of the rules. After much contemplation, Ji Zuodong made up his mind and finally picked a sleeping bag and a machete. A sleeping bag is very useful in the wild. Now, with the weather being relatively cold and fewer poisonous insects and snakes, there¡¯s no need to build a shelter if you¡¯re in a rush. Just spread out the sleeping bag and sleep on the ground for strong warmth. Not to mention the machete, though many people don¡¯t know how to use it, this definitely does not include Ji Zuodong. Tying the thin rope of the sleeping bag around himself, Ji Zuodong carried the machete, took one last look at the cabin, reluctantly left, but just as he was about to step out of the cabin. A rustling of footsteps on dry leaves startled everyone. The audience then suddenly recalled that there was still one person near the cabin, and he was about to arrive! Bonuo arrived in front of the cabin, gasping for breath, and before he had the chance to rest, he saw Ji Zuodong walking out of the wide-open wooden door. Bonuo immediately became furious, thinking about how he hurried for three days with hardly any food, only taking action when encountering a reindeer herd. And now someone else reached the cabin before him. In an instant, anger surged from his heart, and malice arose on the brink of action. ¡°Stop! Leave the items!¡± Chapter 291 - Chapter 291: Chapter 288 Careless Chapter 291: Chapter 288 Careless The loud shout vibrated through the woods. The birds that had initially flown off took flight once again. Ji Zuodong¡¯s right foot, stepping out of the wooden door, paused ever so slightly, before falling again, subtly treading left and right, and the mud with budding grass sprouted out from the sides of his shoes. As one could imagine, a deep footprint had already been branded into the ground. ¡°Impossible.¡± Ji Zuodong squinted at the panting Bonuo, shaking his head in refusal. There was no reason to hand over something that was already within reach. The standoff between the two men brought the audience to a climax, were they about to fight? Also, was Ji Zuodong¡¯s English really that good? As the only Huaxia person among the sixteen contestants, Ji Zuodong was able to reply with fluency when faced with Bonuo¡¯s threats, ¡°It¡¯s quite normal. What do you think Special Forces and paramilitary police are? They are the elites, not merely martial fighters. Many of them are proficient in a foreign language. In addition to French and English, I even spent five months before attending Hunter Academy learning Spanish.¡± Bi Fang was showing off a bit, but indeed that was the truth. Special Forces were not only physically strong, their intellects were equally mighty. When he said this, he even used Spanish, and then it was automatically translated into Chinese subtitles, the trilled R sound he produced was so lifelike, it was almost identical to a native speaker¡¯s. In Spanish language learning, nothing is more difficult than the trilled R, but it seemed that Master Fang had mastered it, surprising and even shocking the few knowledgeable viewers in the live broadcast. Wait a minute, isn¡¯t this his third foreign language? ¡°Spanish is one of the entry qualifications for Hunter Academy; I find it not surprising at all.¡± Since Bi Fang had upgraded from Blue Special Forces to Purple Special Reconnaissance Forces, and his status had changed accordingly, the System had arranged for him to have completed a stint at Hunter Academy, ensuring there would be no gaps in his cover¡ªSpanish was given to Bi Fang as an additional skill. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Ji Zuodong¡¯s face was filled with an amused smile, showing no hint of nervousness, and he casually lifted the machete in his hand, ¡°Want to try taking it by force? Give it a try.¡± Bonuo took deep breaths, trying to quickly recover the physical strength he had exhausted from rushing over. He gripped the antler weapon in his hand, looking fiercely determined. There were six items in the cabin, and although it was unclear what the other four items were, he was certain that whatever Ji Zuodong had taken was the best! Had he not encountered it, it would have been fine, but now¡­ Rob the bastard! Without much probing or communication, Bonuo suddenly lunged forward, the seven to eight meters distance flashed by in a blink, like a priest from ancient times, his antler weapon smashing towards Ji Zuodong¡¯s head¡ªa ferocious strike indeed! Ji Zuodong involuntarily ducked his head as the antler weapon brushed past, grazing his hair above. His heart was slightly shocked; he hadn¡¯t expected the other party still had such vigorous strength. When the first strike missed, Bonuo did not back down. His wrist flipped, changing the smashing motion to a chopping one, and almost at the same moment, Bonuo also felt the fierce wind aimed at his chest. He roared as he twisted his body halfway, and his chopping hand didn¡¯t stop for a moment. The antler weapon, carrying a tearing sound, struck Ji Zuodong¡¯s shoulder accurately and powerfully. Ji Zuodong¡¯s mouth opened wide with pain, but he did not make a sound. However, the claw knife in his hand was not affected at all. The sharp, tiger-claw-like blade rested against Bonuo¡¯s chest. With a slight pause, it pierced through the fabric, sliding towards the skin! Bonuo was startled. In the wilderness, a cut from a sharp object was much more troublesome than a blunt force injury. He immediately retracted the antler weapon and moved to the side to dodge. Ji Zuodong was relentless. He had intentionally taken a hit, determined to make his opponent pay a price. His wrist exerted force and the cold claw knife slid downward, the clothing was torn open in a large swath, forcing Bonuo to retreat backwards, suddenly losing his balance and falling directly to the ground. He took advantage of the moment to roll backwards, then kicked out to the side, rolling several times, momentarily creating distance. Without rushing to pursue, Ji Zuodong moved his shoulder that had been hit to restore circulation of his blood and qi while setting down his sleeping bag behind him. He stared at Bonuo, who was not far away, still with a smile brimming on his face. To be honest, he kind of wanted to eliminate his opponent right there. Bonuo¡¯s panting grew heavier, and after he stood up, his chest heaved uncontrollably as the sensation of oxygen deprivation returned; he looked down at his torn shirt. Blood oozed from his chest, staining the lining which clung to the flipped-open flesh. The sweat from two days of travel had left salt encrusted in the fabric, causing a scorching pain where it stuck to his wounds. Damn it, I was too impatient. Cursing in his heart, he had initially felt frustrated that someone got ahead of him. His temper flared uncontrollably, and he¡¯d heatedly attempted to snatch the prize without thinking it through, convinced that it wouldn¡¯t lead to a fatality. But now he had suffered a serious setback and was even considering retreat. Watching Ji Zuodong eager to advance, he immediately shouted. ¡°Wait, wait, trade you some venison for your chopper. How about that?¡± ¡°Too late!¡± ¡°A sleeping bag then, a sleeping bag! Claw Knife! Can we make a deal?¡± Desperate, Bonuo yelled, but Ji Zuodong pretended not to hear. Venison? If I eliminate him, it will be mine anyway! His thigh muscles tensed, sinking a one-centimeter-deep footprint into the ground as he lunged toward his adversary. FUCK! Seeing that the other man was not letting him off, Bonuo stopped counting on luck and swiftly ducked down, throwing himself towards his opponent. There¡¯s no way I can run; after just running several kilometers, I¡¯m too worn out to escape, and the situation will only worsen. Eventually, I might be worn down to death. I¡¯ve got to fight back! The two men collided fiercely, one brandishing an antler weapon, and the other using the nimble and peculiar Claw Knife. The antler¡¯s force was heavy and powerful, the Claw Knife sharp enough to chill to the bone, and for a moment they seemed to reach a standoff. But Bi Fang could see that Bonuo was at a disadvantage, partly due to his physical strength and also because in close combat, the agile Claw Knife was faster and had the upper hand, even enjoying the benefits of the rules! The Claw Knife is such an unfair advantage! The show¡¯s rules forbid causing excessive harm, so naturally, Special Recon Soldiers who focus on killing are at a disadvantage compared to the skillful Ji Zuodong who excels at subduing opponents. The Claw Knife, being small and only a few centimeters in blade size, even if it caused a cut it wouldn¡¯t be severe, allowing Ji Zuodong to exploit his full potential. Bonuo¡¯s sleeve was slashed open again, revealing a shallow wound on his forearm. He could feel his condition deteriorating, with almost no chance of turning the tables. In the midst of battle where circumstances shifted in an instant, Bonuo suddenly aimed the massive antler in his hand at the enemy¡¯s face. Ji Zuodong blocked the antler and turned to see Bonuo taking the opportunity to flee, even discarding his venison to lighten his load. Is he seeking his own death? Ji Zuodong didn¡¯t understand why his opponent chose to run, but had no time to ponder. To quickly eliminate the threat, he sprinted after him. The two pursued each other swiftly through the woods, but Ji Zuodong who was relatively more rested sped up too quickly. Even though Bonuo had used a diversionary tactic and had a head start, the gap between them was closing rapidly. As the footsteps behind him drew nearer, Bonuo silently calculated, knowing that once the distance was right, Ji Zuodong would pounce! The whooshing sound came from behind his head, yet Bonuo was not alarmed; instead, he was actually pleased. Knowing he couldn¡¯t outrun his foe, if he couldn¡¯t dodge this move, he would surely be taken down. Since they were not allowed to harm each other excessively, he was likely to lose. But this was also an opportunity! Prepared, Bonuo braced his right foot, which had been sprinting forward, and instantly halted. He spread his legs front to back, lowering his center of gravity, standing firmly in place! As he made this move, Ji Zuodong had already lunged onto his back with both hands swiftly wrapping around his enemy¡¯s neck. It was a Naked Choke! Bi Fang had demonstrated this move multiple times. The audience, all too familiar with it, recognized it instantly. Is he going to win? Chapter 292 - Chapter 292: Chapter 229: Caught in Between Chapter 292: Chapter 229: Caught in Between Naked Choke, a commonly used move in Jujutsu to strangle an opponent from behind, is highly practical in actual combat, to the point that many military units have specialized training for it and numerous people have used this move to achieve victory over their enemies. Once the Naked Choke is in place, conventional methods are essentially useless in breaking free! In the very instant Ji Zuodong¡¯s arm reached over, Bonuo suddenly grasped the incoming right arm with both hands, then the core muscles, hard as steel, twisted, and with a diagonal thrust from his hips, an immense flinging force traveled from Ji Zuodong¡¯s right arm throughout his entire body! It was an over-the-shoulder throw! Ji Zuodong¡¯s pupils contracted, not expecting such a swift reaction; he clearly had been taken by surprise, with the opponent planning to use this move all along! First, Bonuo steadied his stance to anchor his center of gravity, fiercely resisting the flying tackle to avoid falling down, knowing that once he hit the ground, he would have no leverage and could only be helplessly bound by the Naked Choke. Then, anticipating Ji Zuodong would go for a neck lock roar, as flying in to lock the neck was the best tactical combination for a rear attack, something anyone with professional combat training would basically know. He was betting, betting that he could disrupt it before the Naked Choke was fully applied, and retaliate! With the momentum of Ji Zuodong¡¯s flying tackle, Bonuo twisted his waist and performed a powerful dragon over-the-shoulder throw! At the same time, domestic viewers also witnessed this scene through drone footage, finding it somewhat ominous. As fellow Huaxia People, they naturally supported Ji Zuodong, and seeing him about to be thrown by Bonuo, they couldn¡¯t help but worry. Losing in such a manner would be terrible, possibly leading to Ji Zuodong being pinned down and even losing the match. In the helicopter, even Bi Fang widened his eyes, filled with apprehension. But, just when everyone thought Ji Zuodong was about to be thrown over the shoulder by Bonuo, they saw him disregard everything and continue to tighten his right hand! Time was too short, all of this was an instinctive reaction. How could this be? Bonuo¡¯s eyes bulged, utterly shocked that his opponent still insisted on choking him despite being under the threat of an over-the-shoulder throw! What kind of training did he undergo to be able to suppress his instinctual reaction in such a situation? The next second, the audience saw Ji Zuodong, who was about to be thrown, grabbing Bonuo¡¯s neck and dragging him down with him. This force was too strong; if Bonuo resisted, his neck could very likely break! He certainly didn¡¯t want to lose his life for the sake of a match! You¡¯re ruthless! With a face full of ferocity, Bonuo had no choice but to go with the force and fall to the ground. The heavy fall of two adult men kicked up a cloud of dust, and with Bonuo facing downwards, he lost sight, as he was in a blind spot! What an opportunity! It wasn¡¯t just Ji Zuodong who saw this; even the audience recognized the chance, each of them becoming extremely excited. Ji Zuodong likewise did not let the audience down. He landed on his back, which was better than being upside-down and strangled into oxygen deprivation like Bonuo. He could react more quickly. He immediately rolled over, grabbed Bonuo¡¯s right hand, and twisted it fiercely, pressing his legs on top of Bonuo¡¯s head before flipping over to clamp down! His legs became like scissors, ¡°cutting¡± into the opponent¡¯s head. Cross Hold! Many fight enthusiasts in the audience instantly recognized this move, and even many who don¡¯t follow fighting knew it, as it often appeared in movies and TV shows! The Cross Hold uses the principle of leverage, which means the person applying it might only need to withstand a fraction of the force required to directly break the elbow joint to fracture the opponent¡¯s elbow! Seeing this, Bi Fang relaxed. The victory was assured. Taking advantage of the deadlock between the two, he finally found the opportunity to explain, as the fight had been too intense for him to get a word in earlier. ¡°Like the Naked Choke, once the Cross Hold is set, it¡¯s impossible to escape. Actually, not just the Cross Hold, you could say the point of any joint technique is to force the opponent to choose between disability and submission, and there¡¯s almost no good way out. Just like the Naked Choke just now, I wonder if there are domestic viewers who like watching the UFC, which stands for Ultimate Fighting Championship. I reckon foreign viewers might watch it more often. UFC is the most elite and largest professional mixed martial arts event in the world, running for over twenty years now, and since Gracie Jujutsu won the first UFC championship to the present day, I¡¯ve never heard of anyone escaping a fully applied Naked Choke by using an unexpected move, which just goes to show that no one has thought of an escape.¡± [Really? I seem to remember seeing someone managing to break out using digging tactics, right?] [Master Gray? I¡¯ve seen that too, the person who tried to come up with logic afterwards got hit with a black tiger groin strike.] [Damn, that would mess someone up big time, brutal!] ¡°Impossible,¡± Bi Fang said with utmost certainty. ¡°I¡¯ve also seen discussions before, and I¡¯ve even seen a master disengage a Naked Choke by digging, but that was before the choke was fully applied. Once it¡¯s completed, it¡¯s simply not possible, you can¡¯t dig because you¡¯re too close. Eye gouging doesn¡¯t work either, its only purpose is to distract or draw the opponent¡¯s attention. It triggers the body¡¯s natural stress response, giving you an advantage for your next attack. The moment your opponent resists, you¡¯ll lose your ability to think due to pain or suffocation and will instinctively struggle. No matter how long you train, the outcome is the same; at best, you might try to use technique to break free before losing consciousness.¡± Gouging, biting, kicking the groin¡ªthese dirty tricks are just a step toward achieving the goal, not the ultimate result. The only method is brute force. A three-year-old child applying a naked choke on an adult would definitely fail to succeed. Likewise, the only feasible way to deal with a cross hold is to stop it before it¡¯s fully applied. In fact, a cross hold has significant vulnerabilities during its execution and is easily countered, which is why experienced fighters do not lightly use it without being very certain. In terms of practical combat, the naked choke is stronger and simpler.¡± Many submission techniques in jujutsu offer opportunities and methods to escape before they¡¯re fully locked in, but once in place, they¡¯re very difficult to escape from, unless there¡¯s a huge disparity in technique and strength, or other special circumstances like not having fully secured the position. This is also the reason why Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has become a world-famous fighting style¡ªit¡¯s simply strong. ¡°[I think I¡¯ve seen Batman use this move before]¡± ¡°[Isn¡¯t it awesome to be clamped by a beautiful girl? (joking)]¡± ¡°[Ah, Senior Qi has expressed great interest]¡± ¡°[So bouncy, so fragrant, so soft]¡± Bi Fang raised an eyebrow. He didn¡¯t know any Senior Qi, but he roughly understood what the online friends were thinking; they certainly had their minds in the gutter, he added. ¡°As for whether the practitioner feels any pleasure in their groin, I don¡¯t know, but for those gentlemen who wish to feel the touch through a cross hold, you guys can go wash up and go to sleep. Once the cross hold is in place, the arm that¡¯s locked will feel nothing but intense pain.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s words mercilessly shattered everyone¡¯s fantasies, but that didn¡¯t stop them from nosebleeding and making wild claims. On the other side, the struggle between the two had finally reached its conclusion. Bonuo chose to surrender, actively pressing the rescue button. Whether it¡¯s voluntary or forced, pressing the rescue button means giving up the competition, and Ji Zuodong immediately released him. The helicopter was quickly dispatched and retrieved Bonuo. Before boarding, he looked at his opponent with a complex expression, finally sighed, and without saying more, allowed the medics to bandage him. Resigned? Certainly not. After running several kilometers to get there, he was already physically drained; his reactions and status had greatly diminished. Furthermore, his equipment was inferior to his opponent¡¯s, so defeat was almost predictable. But a loss was a loss; there was nothing more to say. It was a pity, being eliminated on the third day, truly embarrassing. He was the first real powerhouse to be eliminated directly, and many viewers felt that Bonuo could have made it to the end if he hadn¡¯t been so hasty and avoided confronting Ji Zuodong. With the two pieces of equipment he had, he certainly could have survived until the final moments, and had he rested properly, the outcome of whose deer would fall might still have been uncertain. Compared to the disappointed Bonuo, Ji Zuodong was completely overjoyed. He not only snagged a bunch of venison but also acquired two antler weapons, a twenty-meter nylon rope, and most importantly, he eliminated a heavyweight contestant. Oftentimes, it¡¯s your adversaries who understand you the best. This statement couldn¡¯t be more accurate. Although the fight was brief, Ji Zuodong was acutely aware that he had benefited greatly; his opponent was definitely not weak, just unlucky. But luck is also a form of strength, isn¡¯t it? Ji Zuodong sighed. It seemed his luck was always good. Strolling along the riverbank, he stumbled upon a cabin and encountered a strong opponent who had run for three kilometers and was physically drained. If he didn¡¯t win, who would? Shouldering his backpack, Ji Zuodong set off towards the distance. Meanwhile, Mugalen was still on his way. The male duo cautiously navigated through the jungle, while Avrilisa hurried across plains, her body adorned with plump groundhogs. In the forest, some persevered, while others hovered on the brink of giving up, constantly pressing their rescue buttons. By evening, Mugalen finally arrived at the cabin and took the firesteel and the thermal blanket. Another fifty hours passed, and more and more people chose to give up, including Doligong. It was already the sixth day. Of the original sixteen, only the last eight remained for the final showdown. In an unknown cave, a massive creature that had slumbered for five months seemed to sense the warming air, its ear twitching slightly. A hunger too intense to bear awakened it from sleep, its green eyes suddenly lighting up in the pitch-black cave. Who will be the final victor? Nobody knows. Chapter 293 - Chapter 293: Chapter 290: What a big hole! Chapter 293: Chapter 290: What a big hole! Day six of survival. Only seven contestants remained, with just one stubbornly squatting in the original spot, hoping to endure the last six days, while nearly all the others crossed through the woods. Even the pair who initially wanted to use the cabin as a base did the same; after they rushed to the cabin, they didn¡¯t stop but continued on their way. Of course, this wasn¡¯t because of some courageous inspiration prompting such a decision; it was because when they rushed over, the cabin had already disappeared, leaving only a few scattered planks on the grass. Yes, the cabin was gone. Goulbin was baffled for quite a while. Where was the cabin? Wasn¡¯t there supposed to be a big cabin right here? Only the live stream audience knew that Mugalen, the bastard, had taken away the thermal blanket and firesteel but didn¡¯t stop there; he even dismantled the cabin! Confident in his archery skills and high combat strength, fearless of any sneak attacks, he stayed at the cabin for half a day. He disassembled all its planks and built a simple raft, planning to travel downstream. Traveling by water was much faster than by land and saved energy. Even Bi Fang hadn¡¯t thought of such a tactic; indeed, you were only allowed to take two items of the six, but the production team didn¡¯t say the cabin was off-limits. Unfortunately, while Mugalen was adept at making bows, his raft building skills were terrible. After less than an hour on the river, he crashed into a huge rock, bottomed out, and ¡°shipwrecked.¡± He didn¡¯t travel far, but ended up soaking wet. Had it not been for the thermal blanket and the game he¡¯d hunted, he might have caught a cold. Therefore, when the pair that was a step late arrived at the cabin, they could only see the medical kit and thermal clothes left on the single remaining plank; the cabin was completely gone. Seeing the disappearance of the cabin, the two nearly smashed the medical kit in anger. Damn it, which son of a bitch who was born without an XX dismantled the damn cabin! With the crucial cabin gone, the original plan naturally fell apart. They had no choice but to press on. They had traveled for two days, and since they were already there and hadn¡¯t encountered any danger, this situation gave the two great confidence, deciding to continue onwards. Otherwise, even if the cabin was gone, they would not have proceeded, preferring to camp in place. There was only the last half of the three hundred hours of competition time left. Was there really a chance to cross the forest? Besides, six consecutive days of clear skies had raised the temperature in the entire forest to about ten degrees. Occasionally, when the contestants hurried, their noses might even start to sweat slightly. This was both good news and bad news. The good news was that the weather wasn¡¯t as cold, and the survival environment wasn¡¯t as severe; the bad news was that this applied to the wildlife as well, and perhaps dangerous creatures would wake up prematurely from hibernation, requiring increased vigilance. But for the production team, another problem ensued. The forest was too dense. As time went on, the distances the contestants covered grew longer, and after more than two hundred kilometers, the density of the trees became much more significant. This was a fatal issue: dense trees meant a lack of clearings for helicopters to land. Moreover, cargo planes were much larger than regular helicopters and couldn¡¯t keep flying overhead for long. As for the idea of an off-road vehicle coming in, that was even less likely. Before, when the trees were sparse, it was alright. Occasionally, when the woods became denser, they could still bypass it by taking a detour over the adjoining wild plains. But they were helpless in the face of a vast forest; they were not tanks that could just drive through. Unable to keep close, how could they ensure the safety of the contestants? Dangers often came unexpectedly. Without being able to arrive promptly, the so-called security measures would lose most of their effect. Although ¡°Wilderness Survivalist¡± inherently carried the element of danger and the contestants had signed contracts and were mentally prepared, as a TV show, risks must still be minimized. ¡°What should we do? Should we follow them in? That might mean returning to the city daily for refueling, and our monitoring capacity would decrease significantly. Besides, we don¡¯t have enough manpower.¡± Jerret decided to seek advice from a professional. Looking at the towering, layered dense jungle below the helicopter, Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°Forget the helicopter. Don¡¯t we have motorbikes strapped to the off-road vehicles? I¡¯ll follow them on a motorbike.¡± Most of the contestants were in the forest, and they needed to stay close. Otherwise, it would be very difficult to respond in time to any incident. Pondy had no real grounds to object, but he was still hesitant, ¡°Isn¡¯t that too dangerous?¡± ¡°If they encounter a threat I can¡¯t handle, would they have any chance to fight back?¡± Bi Fang spoke calmly, but the confidence in his words was something everyone could feel, pumping the nearby staff with enthusiasm. People are always drawn to strength. ¡°` This could almost be called an instinct. ¡°Do you need someone to follow you?¡± Bi Fang thought back to the look of the motorcycle and imagined a big guy sitting behind him, having to hold onto his waist because of the bumpy ride, and politely declined. ¡°No need, just give me a few more tranquilizer guns.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± With that said, Jerret and Pondy didn¡¯t try to persuade him further. After coordinating the helicopter with the off-road vehicle, they dropped Bi Fang off. The dual-wheeled off-road motorcycle crushed the soil, and bits of grass and leaves scattered in the whirl of the motorcycle¡¯s engine. His black windbreaker rustled in the wind, his black Bluetooth snug against his left ear. Bi Fang, riding the bike, twisted the throttle all the way, a long-barreled tranquilizer gun and javelin strapped to his back, cutting through the endless wilderness and dense forest, rapidly closing in on the players¡¯ positions. [Ace pilot requests to join the battle] [Forget it, Master Fang has been air-dropped, the little animals in the woods are in for it again!] [Bear: I just freaking woke up, and you¡¯re showing me this?] [Werebears will never be slaves! Resist to the end!] [Don¡¯t fight anymore, bro, or you¡¯ll become a stupid bear] Seeing Bi Fang personally ensuring player safety, the audience collectively reached a climax. They had watched a hunting of wolves for the past two days, and it wasn¡¯t satisfying at all; now they were even more excited. Wilderness Survivalist is soulful with Master Fang in it! Opening the map, Bi Fang located a central position among all the red dots of the players, ensuring he could reach anyone if an accident occurred. Aside from the one who was still staying put, and the female group heading east, those three didn¡¯t need to be worried about. The helicopter following them didn¡¯t have issues with not being able to stay in place. It was the four in the forest who needed close attention. Especially the Goulbin group. Compared to Mugalen and Ji Zuodong, Bi Fang was more worried about them running into trouble, because even if they encountered sudden danger, Mugalen and Ji Zuodong had some fighting ability, but¡­ It wasn¡¯t that Bi Fang looked down upon Goulbin¡¯s team, he was just being realistic. Meanwhile, Goulbin continued into the forest with his buddy, but due to the dense trees, their pace was significantly slowed. ¡°I¡¯m so hungry.¡± Goulbin rubbed his stomach. The nuts and bird eggs they had found three days ago had long been eaten, and being hungry for two days was indeed uncomfortable. There were no wild fruits available during this season, and even though they occasionally found some mushrooms on the ground, they were reluctant to eat them fearing they might be poisonous. At this moment, the two stumbled upon a cluster of mushrooms on a dead tree. But Goulbin gave up after a couple of glances. They were strangely shaped and too red, obviously poisonous. His companion felt the same, and the two had no choice but to continue on their way with empty stomachs. Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but click his tongue. The species of mushroom they didn¡¯t recognize was familiar to him: ¡°That¡¯s Beefsteak fungus, and they just missed it.¡± After a pause, Bi Fang stroked his chin and smacked his fist into his palm, saying, ¡°Well, once they¡¯ve left, I¡¯ll go pick it up!¡± [Wait a minute, does Master Fang mean that thing is edible?] [So bright and colorful, and it¡¯s actually edible?] ¡°Yes, it¡¯s edible. It¡¯s called Beefsteak fungus. The mycelium can grow between 8¡ãC and 32¡ãC. It¡¯s named for its resemblance to a beefsteak. I¡¯m not sure how it tastes, but it¡¯s a valuable fungus with a big market demand. It¡¯s rarely found in the wild, only in North America and our country. It¡¯s said to have cancer-suppressing effects, too.¡± Bi Fang lay on his motorcycle and explained. If he hadn¡¯t seen it, it wouldn¡¯t matter, but having seen it, he had to try it. Besides adventuring, experiencing unusual foods was also one of his hobbies. ¡°I¡¯ve taught you all before how to find a water source, from observing plants to insects. Beefsteak fungus also has this effect. Its growth environment requires a relative humidity of 90%-95%. It hasn¡¯t rained recently, so there¡¯s likely a river nearby. We¡¯ll just go and take a look to see if it¡¯s there.¡± Wow! The audience deeply felt the immense gap between ordinary players and Bi Fang. In their eyes, it was a ¡°poisonous mushroom,¡± but in Bi Fang¡¯s eyes, it was a symbol of delicious food and a sign of a nearby water source. Half an hour later, Bi Fang headed toward the direction of the Beefsteak fungus, unaware that the duo had made a new discovery. ¡°What a big hole!¡± ¡°` Chapter 294 - Chapter 294: Chapter 291: Shocking Bear for a Whole Year Chapter 294: Chapter 291: Shocking Bear for a Whole Year Goulbin crouched down, pushed aside the underbrush, and stared at the large hole in front of him, his face a picture of shock as he involuntarily shouted out loud. The hole was wide enough for an adult to enter with ease, and it truly looked like a suitable place to live¡­ Amidst his excitement, a bolt of lightning suddenly flashed through Goulbin¡¯s mind, causing his thoughts to freeze. Wait, what kind of thing would live inside? The hole was so large, could it be a bear? His companion, who had also come to the same realization, turned deathly pale and immediately began to pull Goulbin away. The two of them had run here by accident; they had never imagined that they would stumble upon a bear den right under their feet! ¡°Go, let¡¯s get out of here fast!¡± Goulbin didn¡¯t need to be told; he took off running as fast as his legs could carry him, surprising his companion who quickly followed suit. The two of them ran several hundred meters in one breath, only daring to slow down after making sure nothing was coming after them. Goulbin leaned on his knees, gasping for air, hardly able to believe that he had just run into a bear den; talk about bad luck. He looked at his companion, ¡°fuck, was that a bear den?¡± A bear den? The audience, who were following the two, were taken aback, not understanding why they were suddenly talking about a bear den. Associating it with the pair¡¯s recent frantic running, they immediately began frantically @¡¯ing Master Fang. ¡°Hmm?¡± Bi Fang, who was nearby looking for any overlooked hericium mushrooms, was startled and opened the wildly vibrating window only to see the screen full of ¡°bear den.¡± A bear den? Master Fang¡¯s expression turned serious in an instant, and he immediately asked the staff to send over the video of the two discovering the big hole. After watching it for a while, his eyebrows almost knotted together. It was actually a bear den! And judging by the size of the entrance, it was very likely a brown bear! This thing is not something you can compare with a black bear; it¡¯s much bigger in size! It¡¯s one of the largest mammals in the Carnivora order on land! First pigs, then bears, followed by tigers. Bi Fang still felt shaken by his last encounter with a black bear, believing that luck played a major role, and even now, he felt he didn¡¯t stand much of a chance against a black bear that was around 1.6 or 1.7 meters, let alone a brown bear that typically measures over two meters! ¡°Every year as winter approaches, the brown bear starts to prepare its den in places where there are many fallen logs and branches, where the cold wind is weaker, on the sunny side. They tend to live in large tree holes or crevices in rocks and sometimes dig burrows on dry mounds in swamps. They pad their dens with dry grass, leaves, or moss using their front paws.¡± Bi Fang briefly described the characteristics of brown bear dens, then pointed at several features of the cave on the screen for a one-to-one comparison; they were almost identical! ¡°However, these two were quite alert, not considering going inside to have a look. I don¡¯t know whether there¡¯s a bear in this den, but whether there is or not, moving away immediately is always the best decision. When brown bears hibernate, loud noises, the intrusion of predators, and rising temperatures can wake them up. Since the metabolism of hibernating brown bears does not decrease to very low levels like in animals that truly hibernate, these sleeping bears could wake up at any time, and on warmer days they may even become active again and come out for a stroll.¡± Bi Fang breathed a sigh of relief as well, and without concerning himself with whether there were more hericium mushrooms nearby, he got on his motorcycle and headed toward the two men. He couldn¡¯t guarantee that the brown bear hadn¡¯t set its sights on them, so it was better to play it safe and keep a close watch on them. These fellows, each one of them really doesn¡¯t make life easy! ¡°Brown bears hibernate starting from the end of October or early November, and it lasts until the following March or April. Normally, each individual occupies a den alone except for the female bears, who share with their cubs under three years old.¡± Before entering their dens, they would circle the entrance, then jump in, back in, or they would deliberately mess up their own tracks to prevent predators from finding their caves and to better conceal themselves. It was now March, and with the weather warming up, it wouldn¡¯t be impossible for brown bears to wake up early.¡± The show began at the end of February; six days passed, and it was already early spring in March. Many people have heard about methods to deal with bears to some extent, but knowing is one thing and being able to do it is another; without having a direct confrontation, it¡¯s hard to understand that trembling sensation in your legs. It¡¯s not something that a couple of visits to the zoo can change; only those who have faced it in reality can skillfully apply this knowledge. Luckily, Bi Fang was well prepared before setting out, carrying not only a tranquilizer gun but also bear spray. When facing a high-attack, high-defense, high-health predator like the brown bear, even a tranquilizer gun might not work well. A shot might not penetrate their tough skin and flesh, and by the time the tranquilizer takes effect, a brown bear could kill you three times over. On the way, Bi Fang didn¡¯t forget to enlighten his audience. ¡°In Glacier National Park in Ugly Country¡¯s Montana, a couple once encountered two young grizzly bears, that is, brown bears, on a mountain trail. Although the bear cubs paid no attention to these two humans, their mother immediately jumped out and watched the two humans with alert eyes. The couple did not retreat calmly; instead, they glared at the mother bear and put on a show trying to scare it away. The bear mother became furious and immediately charged at the two humans who were evidently showing aggression and possibly meant harm to her cubs.¡± Luckily, the couple had pepper spray designed for bears on them. At the critical moment, the husband took out the spray and spritzed it on his wife¡¯s face¡­ [???On his wife¡¯s face?] [Master Fang, you didn¡¯t misspeak, did you? Is there something wrong with that object?] ¡°I didn¡¯t say it wrong; he didn¡¯t spray the bear, he sprayed it on his wife¡¯s face¡­ The pepper spray designed for bears is more potent and powerful than that designed for humans. His wife immediately fell to the ground, rolling around with her hands over her face, screaming heart-wrenchingly. The mother bear was stunned by the scene before her, she halted her charge, appeared troubled for a while, and eventually decided to leave with her two cubs¡­¡± When the old professor first told Bi Fang this case, his reaction wasn¡¯t exactly the same as the audience today, but it was very similar. This unconventional method actually worked, and to this day, he couldn¡¯t figure out what was going through the husband¡¯s mind when he took out the spray. [Bear: This shocked me for a whole year] [Humans are fierce, ruthless even to their own kind] [My god, that¡¯s just outrageous. If it weren¡¯t for Master Fang telling this story, I¡¯d definitely think it was made up!] [So, is this technique replicable?] Contrary to everyone¡¯s expectations, Bi Fang shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. The couple in the story actually confused the methods for dealing with black bears and grizzly bears. Their escape involved a lot of luck, and the situation was special since it was a mother bear with cubs. I think the likelihood of replication is very low, and everyone better not try it lightly. I just wanted to tell you all that it¡¯s best to bring the spray when going camping; that¡¯s the truly useful thing.¡± Bi Fang twisted the throttle to the limit, speeding over a mound of earth toward the two green dots on the map. Meanwhile, back at the original bear den, a huge paw print appeared at the entrance. The massive creature shook its head, sniffed at the entrance, and a strong scent hit its nostrils. It didn¡¯t quite understand why, after just a short exit, the scent of another creature was at the entrance. However, feeling the hunger in its belly, the massive creature shook its head and ran off in the direction the scent was leading. In early spring, food was scarce. Chapter 295 - Chapter 295: Chapter 292 Whats the Rush Chapter 295: Chapter 292 What¡¯s the Rush ¡°Okay, okay, let¡¯s take a break, I can¡¯t run anymore.¡± Goulbin knelt on the ground, tugging at his collar, gasping for air. His lips were completely chapped, covered with peeling white dead skin, looking both horrifying and pitiful. They had been in a state of thirst, and had suddenly run two or three kilometers, which was really too much for them. The air they breathed into their lungs didn¡¯t feel like air at all, but rather a ball of fire, scorched their nose, mouth, and throat to ashes. His companion stood with hands on hips, equally short of breath, but still clutched at Goulbin¡¯s right hand, wanting to leave this place quickly. It was said that brown bears could smell scents from twenty miles away, and the distance they had covered was certainly not enough. The discovery of the bear cave really scared both of them. They sprinted for a few hundred meters, then ran for a long time. If it wasn¡¯t for the brown bear not showing up yet and the lure of 100,000 Ugly Gold, they would have pressed the rescue button by now. But, Goulbin was an adult male after all, and he also was out of strength. After pulling for a while, he had no choice but to give up. After taking a few steps, his companion looked up. They were on high ground, but looking out, it was still all forest, impossible to discern any direction, the sunlight unable to penetrate the dense canopy. ¡°This is bad.¡± His companion murmured, the two of them had been only focusing on escaping and had suddenly forgotten to check their direction. Now, they were actually lost. Earlier, on the hillside, they had seen a valley, planning to cross it before dusk. Now, finding it was a problem. After a mental search for ways to determine their direction turned up empty, the companion turned to Goulbin, placing his last hope on him: ¡°Do you have a way to determine the direction?¡± ¡°We¡¯re lost?¡± Goulbin seemed to realize only afterwards, followed by a surge of anger. This guy in front of him had been dragging him around, and they had ended up not even knowing their direction? He had really hit a streak of bad luck; had he known, he would not have formed an alliance with him. Apart from a couple of bird eggs, he had gotten nothing for free, had lost a lot of gear, and now he was hungry, thirsty, and had lost direction, and there might even be a bear chasing them¡­ Dammit! He plucked a handful of grass, the stems and leaves snapping, the broken foliage was thrown violently to the ground. Well, it seemed there was no way to deal with this. They were truly lost. The audience present had seen wilderness live streams before and realized that they had no options left; the two were thoroughly lost. In the past, watching Master Fang in the wilderness, he seemed to never lose his composure, even in the face of setbacks, he didn¡¯t get too disheartened, his mood was eerily stable, leading many to mistakenly think the wilderness wasn¡¯t that scary. Now, with over a dozen people for comparison, the differences really showed. [These two are not good, their psychological quality is too poor, how could they even participate in the competition? They better go to sleep.] [I feel the next one to be eliminated will be them.] [They can¡¯t even determine their direction, aren¡¯t they done for? Old Fang probably could come up with three different solutions at once, without any repeats.] [Speaking of which, if the sunlight is blocked by the trees, what can they do? Where¡¯s Master Fang? Come out and tell us.] The audience discussed animatedly, all talking about the current predicament of the two men. After all, they had come across a bear cave, and even if the bear hadn¡¯t really appeared, it was enough to draw the spectators¡¯ attention. Not only was the viewership in the live stream room continuously increasing, but it had returned to the two million baseline, and the ratings were also climbing steadily. Jerret tapped his pen on the desk, uncertain whether this was good or bad. Normally, an increase in viewership should be cause for celebration, but thinking about the possible appearance of a brown bear always brought a sense of dread. Especially since Bi Fang was alone in the forest, it heightened his worries. What if something went wrong? What if rescue came too late? Pondy noticed Jerret¡¯s unease and laid a hand on his shoulder, reassuring him. ¡°It¡¯s okay, you know, this isn¡¯t his first time facing this kind of situation. You need to believe in him.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Jerret hesitated for a moment, then smiled. He was worrying over nothing¡ªsince Bi Fang had chosen this arrangement, it was likely he wasn¡¯t joking with his own life. Elsewhere, Bi Fang slowed down, reducing the motorcycle¡¯s noise to the lowest, searching the area on the live map on the screen: ¡°It should be right here.¡± The forest was silent, not a sound from the two quarreling. Yes, quarreling. It hadn¡¯t even been two minutes since the scene changed when the disheartened pair began to speak with heavier and heavier tones, eventually devolving into insults. But their vocabulary for cursing was quite limited, just FUCK this and FUCK that, utterly soulless. On the screen, Goulbin had already started arguing with his companion, shoving the blame onto each other, even believing that without the other, they might perform better, that even if they couldn¡¯t secure the first place, second or third were still possible. Bi Fang wasn¡¯t surprised by this scene at all. Under high pressure, people need an outlet for their emotions. It¡¯s the same principle as many who get bullied outside and come home to snap coldly at their families. ¡°Just stay here by yourself!¡± His companion¡¯s face turned extremely ugly as he turned and prepared to leave in a different direction. It was Goulbin who had approached him to team up initially, and now, when things went wrong, blame fell on him, as if somehow their failing was his fault, not to mention not seeing what ¡®Goods¡¯ he was himself! ¡°Hmph, without you, I wouldn¡¯t have encountered the Brown Bear. That¡¯s all you¡¯re good for. Go ahead, leave. I¡¯ll be better off without you. Maybe I¡¯ll even catch some prey by the afternoon.¡± Goulbin saw the other leaving and his heart sank. He felt a significant loss of security, knowing that, despite everything, two were better than one. He was just venting; he hadn¡¯t expected the other to actually walk away. He thought about calling him back, but remembering the insults thrown at him, he was torn and didn¡¯t know how to choose. He could only stiffen his neck and continue with the mockery, hoping the sting would bring his companion back. The next moment, his companion indeed halted. Hmm? Goulbin was startled; he hadn¡¯t expected it to actually work. Joy surged in his heart, but his expression remained unchanged as he continued to scoff, ¡°Why¡¯d you stop? Did you run into a Brown Bear or something?¡± ¡°Shut up! Perk up your ears and listen closely!¡± His companion was indescribably furious. As he looked at Goulbin, the rage in his pupils seemed capable of spewing forth, burning him to cinders! Goulbin jumped, swallowing down the words and saliva he had readied. Yet, embarrassed by being scared off with a single sentence, he was fuming and just about to retaliate when he was drawn by a sound from the woods. He suddenly stood up, scanning the surroundings like a hamster whose nest has been discovered. The noise in the woods grew louder, as if some heavy object was trampling over the dry leaves and branches, completely crushing everything in its path. What was it? Goulbin swallowed hard, cold sweat drenching his back. He could even hear his heart thudding, as if some terrible event was about to happen. The sound became clearer and its direction more discernible. Both men turned to look behind them¡­ Behind them, the forest was the same as before, but at its heart was a strikingly noticeable shade of brown that drew everyone¡¯s gaze, snatching away one¡¯s attention with brute force. It was a bear. A giant bear over two meters in length! Goulbin swore he had never encountered such a huge Brown Bear; it seemed not so much an animal as an armored tank! Despite the distance being over fifty meters, they felt as if they could smell the bear¡¯s bloodthirsty scent wafting through the air. No one knew how it had caught up to them; its black eyes glistened, and its fangs, fully bared, seemed to wear a mocking smile. An overwhelming terror exploded, flooding over Goulbin like a tidal wave. His legs shook, wanting to run, but they were as if frozen, unable to lift even for the simplest of steps. One can¡¯t outpace a bear. At the moment of encounter, the death sentence was already pronounced; the eternal spear was thrust, and even before the strike, death had arrived. He was going to die. Goulbin¡¯s vision darkened, his body uncontrollably wobbling and falling, but suddenly, a sturdy palm braced his lower back, gently and forcefully steadying him. ¡°What¡¯s the panic? I¡¯m still here.¡± Chapter 296 - Chapter 296: Chapter 293 Confrontation Chapter 296: Chapter 293 Confrontation Bi Fang stood behind the two of them, preventing them from collapsing directly onto the ground. With the help of this strength, Goulbin barely managed to prop himself up and stood wobblingly, his broad palm leaving and pressing on his shoulder instead. As soon as Goulbin regained his balance, his numb brain began to think again, the light returned to his eyes, and he reflexively pressed the rescue button. It seemed he hadn¡¯t realized that someone had already come to his rescue. Meanwhile, his companion reacted even faster, and a glimmer of light burst forth in his eyes the moment he saw who was supporting him. ¡°Is it you!?¡± Bi Fang made a gesture to keep silent and then stared seriously at the brown bear in the distance, whispering, ¡°You guys go first.¡± The forest was very large, and it wasn¡¯t something a helicopter could reach quickly; they had to save themselves. ¡°But you¡­¡± His companion looked at him worriedly, but Goulbin took to his heels! Bi Fang arched an eyebrow, but said nothing. After all, he was there to rescue them, and running away in fear was a normal human reaction. However, the companion and even the viewers were shocked. They had been astonished by Bi Fang¡¯s courage, but now they felt as uncomfortable as if they had swallowed something indescribable. [Damn it, Master Fang comes to save you out of the goodness of his heart, and you don¡¯t even say thank you, just running away?] [Mom¡¯s spaghetti, this guy must be nuts] [Damn, damn, damn, he just fucking shouldn¡¯t have been saved!] [Ride a motorcycle away, maybe?] ¡°Hurry up and go, you¡¯re just in the way, and you can¡¯t help with anything.¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t look at the barrage of comments, and said softly to the other person, his words straightforward¡ªthere was no time for beating around the bush. With that, although the other person¡¯s face showed displeasure, he had nothing to say and turned to leave after glancing at the tranquilizer gun behind Bi Fang. Yet Bi Fang stayed where he was, silently watching the brown bear, showing no intention of retreating. This scene shocked the viewers. Why wasn¡¯t he leaving? Bi Fang of course didn¡¯t want to stay, but he couldn¡¯t leave. He calmed his slightly thumping heart and explained softly. ¡°The brown bear can be considered as an upgraded version of the black bear, and the approach to dealing with them differs greatly. Since black bears are smaller, they are more afraid of humans. If you encounter a black bear that is aggressive, you should try to intimidate it as much as possible, for instance by glaring, shouting, or waving your arms at it, so that it does not consider you easy prey. If you unfortunate enough to come across a particularly bold black bear that still wants to attack you, then you must fight back fiercely. Under no circumstances should you show weakness; instead, make it think twice about attacking. Grizzly bears are much more difficult to handle than black bears. Due to their large size, human shouting and arm-waving do not scare off grizzly bears and may even provoke them instead.¡± It was for this reason that Bi Fang hadn¡¯t driven his motorcycle over but had left it behind and traveled on foot. The sound of the motorcycle could have been perceived by the brown bear as a provocation, leading it to directly attack the two of them. To avoid such a situation, he had to come alone. ¡°So, the tactic for dealing with black bears is completely the opposite of that for grizzly bears. If you encounter a grizzly bear and want to save your life, you have to act like Sun Zi. Keep calm, stand firm, and slowly back away without making direct eye contact with the bear. Do not appear aggressive, and definitely do not act like prey. This process requires you to never take your eyes off the bear and certainly not to turn and run! I have said numerous times, never show weakness in front of a predator, as it will think you are scared and become even more fierce! The moment you run, the chances of being attacked greatly increase!¡± If you turn and run out of cowardice, the predator will definitely chase you, and there¡¯s a good chance you won¡¯t be able to outrun it, Wild animals can smell your fear! This sentence has been heard by viewers countless times, but every listen brings a new feeling. Knowing is one thing, doing is another. Many people understand this principle, but how many can truly do it? Currently, it seems that only Master Fang is capable. Just now Goulbin, had it not been for Bi Fang supporting him, the audience even doubted whether he would wet his pants. The reason Bi Fang had the two leave first was precisely this: being unable to remain calm in response would only have allowed the Brown Bear to see through their bluff. It was better to have them leave first. He stepped back slowly, his gaze never leaving the Brown Bear. The two even faced off for over ten seconds before Bi Fang moved his feet and calmly left, as if without a trace of fear, as if what he was facing was not the largest carnivorous mammal on land, but a small beast. And the Brown Bear also stayed in the valley bottom, never advancing from beginning to end. Once the Brown Bear disappeared from his sight, Bi Fang immediately sprinted to the motorcycle that had fallen not far away and chased after them on the bike! Goulbin and his companion obviously panicked and chose their route haphazardly, leaving many traces along the way; the scent in the air was also distinctly noticeable. The two hadn¡¯t bathed for six days! With the help of the motorcycle, Bi Fang quickly caught up with the two men. Seeing Bi Fang, the two seemed to have found their pillar of strength and involuntarily stopped, leaning against a big tree and gasping for air like crazy. It was only a few hundred meters, but the two were nearly exhausted. Their hearts were pounding wildly in their chests, their saliva was thick like glue, and all their physical strength had been wrung out, leaving them with no energy to spare. Being injured, the terror between life and death is immense, and fear is the most draining on both mental and physical strength. This is why on the battlefield, many new soldiers, despite being stronger, still don¡¯t have the endurance of veterans. Because of fear, panic, even if doing nothing, physical strength will be rapidly depleted, let alone after running a few hundred meters. Bi Fang didn¡¯t let his guard down but looked behind him. Just as he turned around, the sound of dry branches breaking arose, and a brown silhouette dashed through the woods. ¡°Go, quick!¡± Bi Fang immediately yelled and made room for the two to get on the bike, speeding away once the Brown Bear closed in within fifty meters again. The fallen big tree, the rugged rocks, the roar of the Brown Bear. All of it was stimulating the audience¡¯s senses. But less than ten minutes after they started, a waterfall suddenly blocked their path. It was a river! The audience suddenly remembered what Bi Fang had said before¡ªthe presence of morels indicated that a river was likely nearby! This was their chance! Seeing the river, Bi Fang¡¯s eyes lit up. Thinking of how the three of them had been frantically fleeing, he immediately said. ¡°Like this, we¡¯ll never be able to escape.¡± He scanned his surroundings and suddenly saw a large tree snapped and fallen, leaning on the rocks to form a natural triangular structure. He immediately dismounted. ¡°Come help me pull this tree!¡± At this moment, neither Goulbin nor his companion had any opinions of their own and subconsciously followed Bi Fang¡¯s words, moving toward the tree to help. ¡°On the count of three!¡± Bi Fang hugged the tree¡¯s root and the other two hurriedly followed suit. ¡°One, two, three!¡± As the final number was called, the three men exerted their strength together and dragged the entire tree to the riverbank before beginning to push the tree. The tree was simply too large, and it was not something three grown men could easily move. Bi Fang picked up a thick tree branch and propped it under the tree, shouting the motto again. Strength was constantly being sapped, and all three of them had fierce expressions, gritting their teeth. At that moment, another bear roar sounded. Bi Fang¡¯s veins throbbed. Damn, they had been targeted! Chapter 297 - Chapter 297: Chapter 294 Collapse of the Mountains Chapter 297: Chapter 294 Collapse of the Mountains The waterfall in the mountain stream surged and flowed fiercely. The roar of the bear echoed and rolled through the woods, exploding in everyone¡¯s ears with a thunderous blast. Goulbin¡¯s legs went soft, Bi Fang¡¯s burden of the tree on his shoulders grew even heavier, his face red with exertion, and when he saw Goulbin letting go, his anger flared instantly. Damn it. If he had turned tail and run at first, Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t have said anything¡ªit was human nature, and besides, Bi Fang had told Goulbin to run. But now, to be scared stiff by the roar of the bear, without showing a trace of courage, where had the confidence come from to sign up? How had such a mentality and psychological quality not been eliminated in the past few days? Luckily, Goulbin wasn¡¯t an idiot; though dumb, he wasn¡¯t completely foolish. In a panic, he stood up and continued to carry the tree. The three men bore the same large tree, gradually erecting it until at last Bi Fang pushed hard, and with the potential energy of gravity, the tree toppled over to the opposite side in an instant. A loud crash resounded, and dust billowed. ¡°Quick, cross now!¡± Bi Fang called out to the two behind him, then held the tree steady to avoid it rolling, immediately allowing them to cross over the log. Looking at the turbulent stream below, his comrade swallowed hard. He wasn¡¯t sure how high the mountain stream was, but it was certainly over ten meters, and the edges were all covered with boulders. Falling would surely be fatal. The noise behind them grew closer and closer, making even the viewers sweat with anxiety. Taking a deep breath, his comrade no longer looked down, stared straight ahead, and quickly stepped across, then, like Bi Fang, held the tree to prevent it from rolling. ¡°Quick, your turn!¡± Bi Fang called out to Goulbin again. Gurgle. Between the precipices ahead and the huge bear behind, just the thought of it made Goulbin feel the unstoppable urge to urinate. His hands trembled as he tentatively put one foot on the log, feeling a sense of instability as if he might roll and slip off at any moment, but this was all an illusion. ¡°Hurry, Goulbin, faster!¡± urged the comrade on the other side with all his might. ¡°Don¡¯t look down!¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t rush him¡ªthe more urgent the situation, the more he could only roar a reminder. The sound behind them was as if it were ringing in their ears, as though the bear had already arrived at their side, licking their earlobes, ready to open its mouth and devour them. If it weren¡¯t necessary, Bi Fang truly did not want to directly confront the Brown Bear, to say nothing of using a tranquilizer gun. This wasn¡¯t the first time he had faced such danger. Bi Fang could see that the Brown Bear was merely eyeing them, trying to find an opportunity; otherwise, it would have pounced at the beginning instead of facing off for so long. Once gunfire started, in the eyes of animals, it was seen as a provocation, and a deadly confrontation would become inevitable. Using a tranquilizer gun against a Brown Bear, no matter how quickly it took effect, within the range of the firearm, it was enough for the Brown Bear to charge at you and slap your Heavenly Spirit Cover before the anesthesia took effect. And even the effect was in question; Brown Bears just awakened from hibernation often have fur that can exceed ten centimeters in length! Almost like a layer of hair woven into a natural armor. Goulbin spread his arms like wings, inching his feet forward bit by bit, his slow pace infuriating the onlookers to the point of cursing¡ªwishing they could jump through the screen to give the guy a beating and then drag him across the river by his neck. ¡°Move faster!¡± The comrade on the other side urged vigorously, filled with utter contempt for Goulbin¡¯s cowardice. Had it not been necessary to stabilize the tree to prevent it from rolling, and had Bi Fang not been on the other side, he would have truly liked to turn around and leave. Just as he raised his head wanting to urge him again, a color all too familiar and painful to the eyes pricked like a needle from within the forest on the opposite side. He stared dumbfounded, pointing behind him: ¡°Bear, bear!¡± Startled, Goulbin crouched down instinctively, grabbing hold of the protruding branches on the log. ¡°Hurry!¡± Even Bi Fang had started to urge them on. He glanced back and saw the brown figure drawing relentlessly closer, the distance now less than a hundred meters. The Brown Bear¡¯s speed wasn¡¯t fast, which undoubtedly confirmed his guess¡ªthe Brown Bear was still looking for an opportunity. Otherwise, it should now be sprinting, covering a hundred-meter distance faster than Bolt¡ªno need for even ten seconds. ¡°Relax!¡± Seeing Goulbin squat down, Bi Fang nearly died of frustration. After much encouragement, Goulbin finally stood up, adjusted his posture, and walked towards the ground. It seemed he also knew the Bear was about to strike, his pace quicker than before. The Bear was getting closer, eighty meters, fifty meters, thirty meters. By the time Goulbin had crossed to the other side, Bi Fang could even smell the stench from the Bear¡¯s mouth. Only when the distance narrowed to less than ten meters did the audience truly realize just how gigantic this Brown Bear was¡ªfar more than just a ¡°massive beast¡±! It was more like a mountain, a mountain made of defensive layers of thick fat and sinewed muscles! Its physique was robust¡ªmuscles over its shoulders and nape bulging. The muscles protruding from its back gave its forearms an extraordinarily powerful look. Its claws, measuring 15 centimeters long, were more like iron daggers than the usual calcified claws. Its whole body was covered in brown fur that, under the sunlight, even seemed to shimmer with a golden light! Seeing Bi Fang alone, the Brown Bear no longer restrained its hunting instincts and pounced towards him fiercely; the mountain of muscle and fat charging at him was an unstoppable force. It seemed as if the sky was collapsing and about to crush down on him! On the other side, two people¡¯s pupils shrank sharply, almost shouting out at the same time. Feeling the reek of death approaching from behind, Bi Fang suddenly lunged forward, rolling and standing on the log with an incredibly bizarre sense of balance, wave upon wave of gasps from the audience escalating¡ªone¡¯s balance had to be incredibly unimaginable to achieve such a feat! To roll on the log and still maintain one¡¯s posture required tremendous control over every muscle in the body, and the balance was terrifyingly horrifying! Even those who knew nothing of the sort felt deeply thrilled by the scene! One roll brought Bi Fang to the center of the tree. Just as he thought about getting up to rush out, the log beneath him suddenly began to shake violently, as if it were a rope. It was the Brown Bear! Not daring to advance, it stepped on the tree, pressing down intermittently, shaking the whole tree with its weight! What a clever Bear! This anthropomorphic scene made it seem as if this wasn¡¯t a beast living in the depth of the forest but a sly and experienced Hunter! The viewers had just heaved a sigh of relief seeing Bi Fang reach the center of the tree, but now their hearts were suspended once more. But now was not the time to discuss whether the Bear was clever or not¡ªthe chat in the live broadcast was already in chaos, the comments streaming endlessly! Jerret was so anxious that he almost felt like kicking the helicopter pilot away and taking his place. [Holy shit, that scared me to death!] [Damn, this Bear¡¯s IQ is about to surpass mine!] [Be confident, it already has.] [I played like this when I was alive. Now I am in line waiting to sip soup] The audience¡¯s hearts were practically hanging from the ceiling, with several familiar viewers preemptively reaching into their chest pockets and pulling out their go-to medications. The temporary bridge made of trees was not stable. Companions on the opposite shore noticed loose stones starting to move, but it was too late to warn him. The huge tree slipped from the opposite shore in an instant! Chapter 298 - Chapter 298: Chapter 295 Escape Success Chapter 298: Chapter 295 Escape Success The massive tree suddenly slipped, and although there were numerous boulders in the mountain stream and the falling tree got stuck again between the rocks, the sudden violent shock made it impossible for Bi Fang to maintain his balance any longer. His foot slipped, and he plunged toward the ravine. ¡°Danger!¡± Jerret suddenly stood up, his reaction mimicking that of countless viewers at that moment, who could hardly contain their exclamations. The ones in public spaces even attracted quite a bit of attention, but they didn¡¯t care at all, their minds were tensely focused on Bi Fang alone. In desperation, Bi Fang wrapped his arms around the tree, but it was so sudden, he couldn¡¯t grip the trunk tightly; instead, the bark slipped, and he lost his grip again. With no other choice, he could only reach out with one hand to grab a broken branch ahead. Fortunately, the situation wasn¡¯t beyond redemption. Bi Fang successfully grabbed onto a branch and dangled below the giant tree, calming his wildly pounding heart. This branch was the same one that Goulbin had squatted down to hold onto a moment ago, and now, in turn, it had saved his life. In the midst of the ravine lay the horizontal giant tree. Bi Fang¡¯s right hand clung firmly to the branch, and below him was a waterfall gushing furiously. The melting snow from the Rocky Mountains replenishes the rivers and lakes, accounting for one quarter of all the fresh water sources in Zhan Chou Country, with the rivers originated from the Rocky Mountains flowing into three oceans: the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Arctic Ocean. At that moment, it was a waterfall less than three meters wide, but the water was incredibly turbulent. The massive flow of water plunged into the ravine with the force of thunderbolts, creating a majestic and fatal rapid. Falling into the ravine emitted a thunderous roar, and along the way, there were boulders protruding; if one fell into them, they would be smashed to pieces going down the flood-draining waterfall. ¡°Hu.¡± Bi Fang took a deep breath in and slowly exhaled, calming his tense nerves. With his current strength, he could pull himself up with one arm, but the Brown Bear in no way seemed willing to let his prey that was within reach slip away so easily and continued to press down hard on the tree. The muscle lines suddenly became more pronounced, and just as Bi Fang was about to pull himself up, he felt the tree tense up and all the force he¡¯d mustered was suddenly released like a flood. Bi Fang fiercely looked towards the Brown Bear. Such ferocity. The hunting capabilities of brown bears were originally not that great, and though it was early spring, the temperature hadn¡¯t fully recovered yet, and the vegetation was still withering. Roaming brown bears could only eat carcasses, and they might even fight with tigers to the bitter end over a meal. The huge bear paw landed on the giant tree, and under the double amplification of weight and strength, the tree visibly slipped downwards. ¡°Be careful!¡± The companions on the other side and Goulbin could only be anxious, watching the Brown Bear exert force on the giant tree, powerless to do anything. A companion picked up a stone from the side and threw it at the Brown Bear, but it had no effect at all. It was like throwing a grain of sand on the bear¡¯s body. It felt nothing and didn¡¯t even bother to lift its head. The combination of weight and strength was obviously not as simple as one plus one, and in just a few swats, the giant tree broke sharply and slid down again! The massive tree fell toward the ravine! This time, there were no boulders to catch the tree, and Bi Fang plummeted straight into the waterfall. Below the giant tree, the waterfall surged wildly. The viewers couldn¡¯t help but shudder inwardly, filled with dread. They were already in a precarious situation, and now it had completely fallen into the abyss! In the instant that the tree began to slip, Bi Fang¡¯s gaze was firmly fixed on the tree. Feeling the moment of weightlessness, he held onto the tree. Taking advantage of the brief halt in midair, he flipped his entire body onto the tree, then hugged the trunk tightly, pressing his body against it and closing his eyes. Several seconds later, the half-rotten behemoth crashed into the river, tumbling and making a thunderous noise, startling a flock of birds nestled in the forest. Teammates and Goulbin hastily lay on the boulder looking down, as the mighty wind swept through from between the mountains of the Rocky Mountains. The vegetation in the ravine fluttered in layers, colors changing from greenish yellow to emerald green, mixed with the white of the frothing rapids. But that familiar figure was nowhere to be seen. Their hearts sank, yet they did not give up hope. They immediately moved along the boulder, inching closer to the bottom of the ravine, but hardly had they taken two steps when the fallen tree suddenly rose from the river. Then the tree flipped over, revealing Bi Fang clutching it. Feeling himself above the water, he straightened his upper body, spat out some water, and before the others could react, he stood up from the log. The waterfall splashed nearby, causing the log to continuously float and roll. Bi Fang, relying on his good balance, jumped from the log, leaping several steps back to shore. He looked up at Brown Bear on the other side of the river. The fruitless Brown Bear roared a few times, its surging muscles like undulating hills, containing staggering power, but it couldn¡¯t cross the ravine and ultimately turned away reluctantly. Seeing Brown Bear leave, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Standing before you, a behemoth weighing over half a ton exerts an incomparable pressure. Even the Black Bear Master Fang encountered last time was a good half meter shorter in body length compared to this Brown Bear, there was simply no comparison! ¡°That was incredible, how did you do it?¡± The teammate slid down from the boulder to Bi Fang¡¯s side, his face full of astonishment. To fall from a waterfall ten meters high and be completely unscathed! This pool was not very deep, a slight carelessness could result in a collision with the giant rocks at the bottom! ¡°It¡¯s quite simple, just hold on to it tightly,¡± Bi Fang said. He pointed to the tree still in the river, which was now drifting downstream under the water¡¯s influence, but soon it got stuck in the river channel. The moment he fell, Bi Fang sharply tugged at the tree, accelerating its descent while also gaining a brief suspension for himself, balancing the fast and slow movements to adjust his position. When the log fell beside him, he grabbed it tightly. Once he had hold of the log, everything was easy. All he needed was to ensure the log was oriented downward before hitting the water. ¡°The buoyancy of the wood is much greater than that of a human body, so it¡¯s very hard for it to hit bottom or collide with the rocks. Even if it does, the tree provides cushioning. However, the prerequisite for this is to hold on to the tree very tightly, leaving no gap. At the moment of water contact, the pressure will be immense. If there¡¯s any gap, you will feel as if you¡¯ve been hit by a truck.¡± ¡°That¡¯s amazing.¡± Admiration filled the teammate¡¯s eyes, unable to imagine how someone could make so many moves and reactions in just a few seconds of falling, as if survival instincts were etched into their DNA. ¡°If you entered the competition, no one would be able to win. I¡¯m really thankful for this time. Once the show is over, I definitely have to treat you to a meal.¡± Goulbin also chimed in with flattery, having been too fearful before. Now that Brown Bear had left, he realized how foolish his actions had been. Unfortunately, Bi Fang didn¡¯t pay much attention. If it wasn¡¯t for this guy moving so slowly, he would not have gone through all this and would have simply walked across. Not showing any annoyance was already a sign of great restraint. Seeing Bi Fang¡¯s indifference, Goulbin felt extremely awkward and wisely shut his mouth. Fortunately, the awkwardness didn¡¯t last long as the roar of a helicopter began to sound. The hoist ladder was lowered, picking them up and as losers, ferrying them away from the mountains. Chapter 299 - Chapter 299: Chapter 296 Heavy Rain Chapter 299: Chapter 296 Heavy Rain Seven contestants were eliminated in one go, leaving only the last five to compete in the final showdown. The final moment had not yet arrived, and no one knew who would claim the victory. But the selection of the past six days had almost completely separated the chaff from the grain; it was clear that unless something unexpected happened, the remaining six days would hardly be a challenge for them. With the help of the helicopter, Bi Fang successfully transported the motorcycle to the other side and then continued following the remaining contestants. In fact, the crisis was not completely resolved. ¡°A wandering Brown Bear is a very persistent animal; simply crossing a river may not be enough to shake it off. During seasons when food is scarce, you can hardly imagine the persistence of a roaming Brown Bear. Such a large creature possesses endurance and determination far beyond that of normal humans. When Kostegrode studied them, he discovered a huge Brown Bear tracking a young male tiger, just to kill it! The Bear followed it for 14 kilometers straight, only stopping when the tiger approached a human settlement. In another incident, the tiger wasn¡¯t so lucky. It circled around but still couldn¡¯t escape the pursuit, and eventually, it was caught and torn apart.¡± [Hiss! A Brown Bear killing a tiger? Master Fang, are you sure about that?] [How is that possible? I always thought tigers were the strongest] [No way, no way. Surely no one really believes tigers can beat bears, right?] [Don¡¯t leave us hanging, Master Fang, tell us, which is stronger, the bear or the tiger?] Who is stronger, the bear or the tiger? This is probably a question any animal lover wants to know, but however much it¡¯s discussed, it¡¯s impossible to convince the other side. Those who favor tigers say the tiger is stronger, boasting high attack and agility, capable of dodging with great finesse and then dealing heavy damage. Those who favor bears say the bear is stronger, with high attack and defense, where one hit can mean death, and one bump can cause injury. But when Bi Fang stood there, all these people lost their right to speak. With the boss present, the rest ought to step aside. This was a real man who had fought Black Bears in close combat, escaped the grasp of Brown Bears, battled prehistoric creatures, fought off large packs of wolves, and even the Terrifying Upright Ape could not escape unscathed. Bi Fang hadn¡¯t expected the audience to be so concerned about this question; it touched on a blind spot in his knowledge¡­ Of course, this blind spot was not about not knowing who was stronger, but rather about it being difficult to answer. ¡°Bears come in many varieties, Black Bear, Brown Bear; they are all bears. Even among Brown Bears, the heaviest Kodiak Brown Bear can weigh up to 800 kilograms and stand up to 2.5 meters tall when upright. The lightest, the Syrian Brown Bear, weighs only 90 kilograms. Tigers too vary, with the Northeast Tiger being the largest and the Sumatran Tiger the smallest; the difference in body length is quite significant. To add another point here, there are currently fewer than four thousand wild tigers globally, not of a single kind, but all species combined.¡± Four thousand? The audience had been listening intently to the beginning, and this sudden shift took them by surprise; but considering Bi Fang¡¯s usual demeanor, they could understand why he suddenly brought up this point. However, the figure of four thousand still made many of them gasp in shock. They knew tigers were rare, but had not thought there were so few. Bi Fang nodded. Four thousand was no exaggeration¡ªin fact, it was even a bit more; the actual total number of all subspecies combined was just over three thousand. There were barely over twenty wild Northeast Tigers, and about twenty South China Tigers, which were almost functionally extinct. Natural reproduction would lead to death due to various inbreeding problems, and without human intervention and subspecies mixing, extinction was inevitable. That¡¯s why a while ago, when a wild Northeast Tiger entered human territory, it was captured and then bred. But all this was beside the point. Bi Fang mentioned it only out of a sense of responsibility and then steered the conversation back to the topic. He didn¡¯t beat around the bush and directly stated the conclusion: ¡°For the same size, the tiger is stronger, even considering the large differences in size that exist in reality.¡± The relationship between tigers and Brown Bears is complex; the tiger is both a predator of the Brown Bear and their ¡®benefactor.¡¯ But one thing is for certain: as apex predators, tigers usually have the upper hand in conflicts with Brown Bears. Legendary tiger king Dale had killed a mature male black bear and a brown bear mother with cubs in December. However, those with young tigers are more dangerous and usually end up being the killed party. Furthermore, some particular environmental conditions favor brown bears and are disadvantageous to tigers. Under normal circumstances, the decision to fight or not fight is almost entirely in the tiger¡¯s hands, as tigers are faster and more agile, and can escape if the situation turns bad. But during the winter with deep snow, the deep snow hampers the tiger¡¯s movement, preventing it from utilizing its advantage in mobility. Moreover, no matter where the tiger goes, the brown bear can follow its tracks. ¡°Some netizens may doubt the accuracy of my data due to online reverence for certain animals, believing that brown bears cannot possibly kill tigers. But nothing is absolute; it¡¯s true that brown bears do not usually provoke tigers, but that doesn¡¯t mean they never encroach on tigers. Both brown bears and tigers have strong and weak individuals, and special environmental conditions can create miracles. Haven¡¯t I myself defeated a black bear before? Does that mean my strength surpasses theirs?¡± However, that being said, given the choice, Bi Fang would rather encounter a brown bear than a fierce tiger. With a brown bear, there¡¯s a chance to escape, but a tiger attack usually means no hope for survival. Unless extremely enraged, masters who can slide tackle are another story. But one shouldn¡¯t underestimate brown bears; in terms of strength, brown bears are indeed stronger than tigers. Biologists have researched that the force of a full-power slap from an average-sized brown bear can reach about 1600kg, which is the force of more than a ton from a single palm! It seems the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms would be nothing compared to this. However, due to environmental constraints, brown bears rarely can utilize the full force of their palm, generally only able to exert about two-thirds or half of their full strength. ¡°Here I must mention that influenced by the online animal fighting community¡¯s skewed beliefs of ¡®bigger and stronger,¡¯ many animal enthusiasts enjoy watching tigers and brown bears fight, thinking that killing more of the opponent proves greater strength and ferocity¡ªthis is actually quite tragic. What does it mean if tigers frequently kill brown bears? It indicates that the tiger¡¯s preferred prey, elks and wild boars, are diminishing, suggesting that the survival of the beloved tiger is under threat. What does it mean if a brown bear kills a tiger? It implies that there is a scarcity of ungulates and fruits, that brown bears have not eaten their fill before winter and have to roam the snowy fields out of desperation for a meal, risking their lives against tigers; just thinking about it is pitiable. While male brown bears roam, many female bears hibernating in dens likely have even worse nutritional status, and many bear cubs may starve to death.¡± Many who were still pondering the question of who is stronger, tigers or bears, suddenly bowed their heads in shame. [Ah¡­ I¡¯ve never actually considered this issue.] [I feel ashamed, my thinking is not on par with Master Fang.] [I¡¯m sorry for disgracing everyone.] ¡°In early spring, brown bears¡¯ body weights are still at a high standard. When do brown bears weigh the least? You might instinctively think it¡¯s right after hibernation ends, but that¡¯s not the case. In spring, when food is scarce and it¡¯s the breeding season requiring extra energy, brown bears¡¯ weight continues to drop, reaching its lowest in summer. As nuts and berries gradually ripen, the brown bears begin to regain weight from late summer, peaking just before hibernation.¡± The implication was clear: that brown bear was at its peak condition, and just out of hibernation¡¯s hunger, it was very likely to pursue relentlessly. Although the probability was very low, one couldn¡¯t afford to let down their guard. Thus, Bi Fang didn¡¯t return to the helicopter right after rescuing the two men; if the bear was persistent enough, it might very well catch up. It wasn¡¯t until dusk, a few days later, that a heavy rain arrived, allowing Bi Fang to fully relax. The heavy rain would erase most of the scents. But for the contestants, it was yet another formidable challenge. Chapter 300 - Chapter 300: Chapter 297: Im Embarrassed for You, Despicable! Chapter 300: Chapter 297: I¡¯m Embarrassed for You, Despicable! Silence shattered. Thunder streaked across the sky, lightning pierced the heart of heaven, and rain rustled down. The rain suddenly intensified, with large, cold droplets falling from the sky, causing a faint pain as they hit the skin. The wind picked up, chilling to the bone, but Bi Fang, standing amidst the woods, felt no fear of the cold. ¡°Chun Yu, huh,¡± he muttered. What a downpour. Chun Yu was supposed to be as fine as cow hair, but this scene was clearly more like a summer thunderstorm. Bi Fang looked up, his gaze piercing through the tree canopy towards the leaden sky, catching raindrops with his palm. ¡°Days of dry winds have evaporated all the moisture in the woods into the sky, only to burst forth once it reaches a critical point, causing Chun Yu to become this fierce. Moreover, the massive rainfall will wash away any traces left by animals, making it almost impossible for Brown Bear to follow us unless our luck is incredibly bad and we just happen to run into him again, but that has nothing to do with the traces we left¡ªit¡¯s purely misfortune.¡± His palm suddenly clenched, squeezing the droplets, which exploded on impact; Bi Fang flicked his hand forcefully, scattering the rainwater on the tree trunk like a knife cut. The contestants must be having a hard time. The surprise deluge caught everyone off guard; those searching for shelter in the woods, like the trio, were still manageable¡ª the dense foliage blocking most of the rain. But Ava and Lisa, who had already reached the plains, weren¡¯t so fortunate. The rain came too swiftly, leaving them utterly unprepared, its bone-chilling coldness almost stabbing through to the marrow. Women, naturally susceptible to cold, found it even more unbearable after being drenched, and they both felt dizzy after running in the rain for a short while. It took a two-kilometer sprint before they found a rocky slope and squeezed under a boulder to find a narrow space for shelter. The chill of the past six days seemed to have converged on this one, forcing all contestants to endure the discomfort as the price for past comforts. The two squeezed under the rock, took off their jackets, and began repetitive physical exercise to generate ample body heat. Afterward, they dug a dry pit in the dirt, placed charcoal and tinder inside, and quickly sparked a fire. When all was done, they embraced tightly in an attempt to preserve as much of their body heat as possible. Better physiques were exposed to the air, greedily soaking in the warmth from the flames, skin palely glowing with a hint of color under the firelight. [Ah, why am I not excited at all at this scene I¡¯ve been longing to see?] [Is that excitement? I¡¯m too embarrassed to say this, but you¡¯re indecent!] [It¡¯s normal, anyone who has survived in the wilderness for a week wouldn¡¯t look all that great.] [Can only appreciate the physique then.] Surviving in the wilderness for a week definitely takes a toll, erasing any semblance of beauty¡ª Bi Fang himself had grown a bluish stubble after surviving a week, still brave but by no means fresh. For those living in the woods, the situation was much better, with the tree canopy blocking the rain, allowing them to find shelter without panic. As for the contestant who had chosen to live in the forest from the start, there was even less to worry about. When the rain came, he stayed inside his shelter, not getting a drop on him. Six days of building had made his shelter very solid, constructed beneath a giant boulder situated on high ground to avoid water pooling. Most of the dirt below had been hollowed out with dried branches and leaves spread across as a mattress. There was even a fence and a wooden wall woven from branches at the entrance, which, when pulled across, offered a feeling of security at night. To prevent the boulder from collapsing, he had propped up thick tree trunks as ¡°load-bearing walls.¡± Such a shelter was more than capable of shielding from the wind and rain. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be common knowledge to take shelter under a tree during rain, because if you stand under a big tree, when the powerful current of a lightning bolt passes through the tree and into the ground, spreading outwards, it can create different voltages at different points. The voltage difference between the feet of a person standing there can cause harm, which is often referred to as ¡®step voltage injury¡¯. Unless necessary, during thunderstorms, try to keep as far away from tree trunks as possible; even if taking shelter, strive to maintain a distance of more than three meters from the trunk.¡± [If it¡¯s not raining and there are no dark clouds, does that mean it¡¯s safe?] [Lightning never strikes the same place twice.] [I once saw a film that said if I can¡¯t reach a shelter and hear lightning nearby, I should immediately lie flat on the ground.] [A victim of a lightning strike is electrified; if you touch them, you¡¯ll be electrocuted too.] There were many comments from the audience, with a flurry of discussions, but Bi Fang leaped out of this loop, reading them out, right as the audience thought these were points to remember. Then, he took a turn in his talk. ¡°All of the comments I just read are rumors; everyone has been deceived and should not believe them.¡± Audience: ¡°???¡± ¡°Not raining, no dark clouds, does not mean you won¡¯t be struck. The attack range of lightning can exceed 4 kilometers from the center of a thunderstorm, with some even reaching as far as 20 kilometers. There have been cases of fatal lightning strikes under clear skies. In fact, when you can hear thunder, you should hurry to find a place to hide. Furthermore, lightning often strikes the same place multiple times, especially if there are tall, isolated objects in the vicinity; such places have a high probability of being repeatedly struck. New York¡¯s famous landmark, the Empire State Building, is struck by lightning over 100 times a year. Lying flat will only increase your chances of being injured by dangerous ground currents. During the early stages of a thunderstorm, you should keep moving towards a shelter, not stop. As for the last rumor, it¡¯s truly disheartening. I don¡¯t know whether the person who said that is simply ignorant or had ulterior motives, but the human body does not store electricity; it¡¯s not like touching an electric door. Once the electric current has passed through the human body, it¡¯s completely safe to touch the victim and give first aid.¡± Ah, this. Many audience members scratched their heads, acknowledging they had learned something new, not realizing that everything they heard just before was a rumor. Pah, such dangerous misinformation. Watching the rain getting heavier and not stopping anytime soon, Bi Fang took down the tent from his motorcycle, and in less than ten minutes, he had it propped up, sheltering inside from the rain, all the while observing how the others were doing. Except for Ava and Lisa, who were on the plains and initially unable to take shelter from the rain, causing substantial loss of heat, the others were all fine. It was only in the evening that the rain gradually stopped. The situation for the two of them was still not optimistic. The human body is very sensitive; a sudden change in the external environment can easily affect the transport ability of the cilia, leading to an imbalance in nasal flora and inducing an infection. This is the main reason most people catch a cold. The next morning, Ava¡¯s constant sneezing proved Bi Fang¡¯s guess was correct. She had caught a cold. Pulling out the thermometer, it read 37.5, a mild fever. ¡°Otherwise, you continue on by yourself.¡± Ava¡¯s nose was red as she touched the countdown timer on her wrist. Chapter 301 - Chapter 301: Chapter 298: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind Chapter 301: Chapter 298: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind Still writing, just claiming six monthly tickets for now A sudden roar reverberated through the woods. The birds that had settled once again took flight. Ji Zuodong¡¯s right foot, as he stepped out of the wooden door, paused ever so slightly, then quickly continued down, treading softly left and right, the mud with sprouting grass squished out from the sides of his shoe. One could easily imagine, a deep footprint had been firmly impressed into the ground. ¡°Impossible.¡± Ji Zuodong squinted at the panting Bonuo, shaking his head in refusal. To simply hand over something that was mine? No way, that¡¯s not how it works. The standoff between the two immediately sent the audience into a frenzy. Were they going to fight? Also, was Ji Zuodong¡¯s English really that good? As the only Huaxia person among the sixteen contestants, Ji Zuodong managed to reply smoothly when faced with Bonuo¡¯s threat, ¡°It¡¯s normal. What do you think Special Forces and the armed police are? They are elites, not just simple warriors. Many can master a foreign language proficiently. Aside from French and English, I even spent five months before attending Hunter Academy to learn Spanish.¡± Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but toot his own horn, but indeed, it was a fact that Special Soldiers were not only physically formidable but intellectually as well. As he spoke, he even used Spanish, automatically translated into Chinese subtitles, with a trilled ¡®r¡¯ as authentic as a native speaker¡¯s. Mastering the Spanish trilled ¡®r¡¯, one of the most difficult aspects of learning the language, seemed to be a skill that Master Fang had perfectly acquired, to the surprise and even shock of the few knowledgeable viewers in the live stream. Wait, wasn¡¯t this his third foreign language? ¡°Spanish is one of the prerequisites for entering Hunter Academy. It¡¯s not surprising to me.¡± Ever since the Blue Special Forces were upgraded to Purple Special Reconnaissance Forces and his status changed, the System arranged for him to have completed studies at Hunter Academy, naturally, there were no discrepancies, and Spanish was included as an extra Skill given to Bi Fang. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Ji Zuodong smiled, showing no sign of nervousness, and casually lifted the machete in his hand, ¡°Do you want to try and steal it? Give it a try?¡± Bonuo breathed heavily, trying to recover the stamina he had expended on the way here. He gripped the antler weapon tightly, his gaze fierce. There were six items in the cabin, and though he didn¡¯t yet know what the remaining four were, he was certain that what Ji Zuodong had taken was the best. If they hadn¡¯t crossed paths, it would have been one thing, but now that they had¡­ He was going to rob him blind! Without much feeling out or conversation, Bonuo lunged forward, closing the distance of seven or eight meters in a flash, like an ancient shamanship officiant, bringing down his antler weapon towards Ji Zuodong¡¯s head with a brutally savage blow! Ji Zuodong involuntarily ducked, the antler scraping past his hair, narrowly missing him, sending a shock through his heart at the still-abundant energy of his opponent. Missing with his first strike, Bonuo didn¡¯t back down. His wrist twisted, changing the smash into a chop, and almost simultaneously with his attack, he also felt a strong wind assaulting his chest. He roared, half-turning his body, but the chopping motion of his hand didn¡¯t stop. The antler, with a tearing sound, struck Ji Zuodong¡¯s shoulder accurately and forcefully. Ji Zuodong¡¯s mouth wide open in pain, yet not a sound escaped, the Claw Knife in his hand unaffected, its sharp edge pressed against Bonuo¡¯s chest, paused for a moment, cut through the fabric, and slid towards the flesh! Bonuo was startled. In the wild, a cut from a sharp weapon was far more troublesome than a blunt injury. He immediately pulled back the antler, swerving to the side to avoid. Ji Zuodong was relentless. Having taken a hit on purpose, he was determined to make his opponent pay. His wrist exerted force, and the cold Claw Knife glided downwards, ripping open a large tear in the clothing and forcing Bonuo to retreat backwards. Suddenly, he lost his balance and fell to the ground. He took advantage of the momentum to roll backward and then flipped to the side, kicking his legs to roll several more times, creating some distance in the process. Not rushing to pursue, Ji Zuodong moved his struck shoulder blade, getting the blood flowing again. He also put down the sleeping bag he was carrying on his back and watched Bonuo, who was not far away, still with a smile. Honestly, I kind of want to eliminate the other guy right now. Bonuo¡¯s panting grew heavier, and as he stood up, his chest heaved uncontrollably. The sensation of oxygen deprivation that had been suppressed was creeping back. He looked down at his torn shirt. Blood flowed from his chest and stained the inner lining. The sticky lining then adhered to the exposed flesh. The salt from two days of sweating on the road was all on the lining, causing a burning pain when it stuck to the skin. Damn it, I was too hasty. Cursing inwardly, he had just felt irritated that someone else had gotten the jump on him. With rising anger and a hot head, he wanted to rush in and steal it away, thinking that it wouldn¡¯t lead to a fatality anyway. But he ended up at a disadvantage, and for a moment, he even considered retreating. Seeing Ji Zuodong eager to try, and about to move forward, he immediately shouted out. ¡°Wait, wait, how about I exchange deer meat with you for the machete? How about that?¡± ¡°Too late!¡± ¡°The sleeping bag is okay too, the sleeping bag! Claw Knife! Can the Claw Knife work?¡± Bonuo desperately yelled, but Ji Zuodong acted as if he hadn¡¯t heard a thing. Deer meat? If he eliminated the other guy, it would be his anyway! His thigh muscles tensed, forcibly creating a one-centimeter-deep footprint on the ground as he pounced toward his opponent. FUCK! Seeing that the other guy wouldn¡¯t let him off, Bonuo gave up on any luck and suddenly ducked low, charging at his opponent as well. There was definitely no chance of running away. Having just run several kilometers, he was too exhausted to escape and the situation would only get worse. He could well be worn out to death, so there was only one option left¡ªto fight! The two clashed fiercely, one wielding an Antler Weapon and the other using the swift and tricky Claw Knife. The Antler Weapon was powerful and heavy while the Claw Knife was sharp to the bone. For a moment, they were at a standoff. But Bi Fang could tell that Bonuo was at a disadvantage. On one hand, it was a matter of stamina, and on the other hand, in close combat, the agile Claw Knife was faster and had the upper hand, even receiving help from the rules! The Claw Knife is too shameless! The production crew doesn¡¯t allow excessive injury, and naturally, the Special Forces, who focus on killing, are at a disadvantage compared to Ji Zuodong, who excels in subduing. The Claw Knife is small, with the entire blade being just a few centimeters long. Even if one got cut, it wouldn¡¯t be too serious, allowing Ji Zuodong to make full use of his combat skills. Bonuo¡¯s cuff was slashed open again, showing a shallow cut on his forearm. He could feel his condition getting worse and worse, almost making a comeback impossible. In the rapid changes of combat, Bonuo suddenly smashed the huge Antler Weapon towards the enemy¡¯s face. Ji Zuodong blocked the Antler Weapon, turned his head only to see Bonuo taking the opportunity to run away, even throwing down the deer meat to lighten his load. Is he seeking his own death? Ji Zuodong didn¡¯t understand why the other would choose to run away, but there was no time to think. To eliminate his opponent quickly, he broke into a run after him. The two chased each other swiftly through the woods, but Ji Zuodong, with his relatively better stamina, was much faster. Although Bonuo used a blinding tactic and took the initiative, the distance between them was rapidly closing. Feeling the footsteps behind him drawing closer, Bonuo silently estimated the distance and, once it was close enough, Ji Zuodong would leap at him with all his strength! The sound of the wind whistling from behind his head didn¡¯t alarm Bonuo. Instead, his expression brightened. He knew he was no match for his opponent¡¯s speed. If he couldn¡¯t dodge this move, he would surely be tackled down, and since they couldn¡¯t inflict serious harm, he was likely to lose. But this was also an opportunity! The well-prepared Bonuo suddenly halted the right foot he had been running on, spread his legs front and back, and lowered his center of gravity, standing rooted to the spot! As he made this move, Ji Zuodong had already pounced on his back, swiftly wrapping his arms around the enemy¡¯s neck. It was a Naked Choke! This move had been demonstrated by Bi Fang many times, and the audience was extremely familiar with it, recognizing it instantly. Is he going to win this? Chapter 302 - Chapter 302: Chapter 299 A Stir of Excitement Chapter 302: Chapter 299 A Stir of Excitement ¡°` ¡°Fuck, it really knows how to chase!¡± ¡°Why won¡¯t it die?¡± The muddy figure dashed frantically through the forest, constantly wiping the mud-dripped off his forehead to reveal a pair of black eyes while crazily cursing, forcing the production team to incessantly beep out the profanity. After the heavy rain, the forest was filled with muck, and the soaked weeds were exceptionally slippery. Mugalen had just run too hastily and took a fierce tumble in the forest, rolling several times and now not only his shoes but his whole body was covered in mud. Luckily, Mugalen reacted quickly, scrambling to his feet, otherwise, he might have been trampled through by the moose. Getting kicked by this thing was no joke, it could break bones if it didn¡¯t kill you. There had been incidents where a 300-pound zebra had kicked a 400-pound lion to death. One must never underestimate the kick from a hooved animal; many times, it¡¯s better to attack from the front than to even get close behind, for this very reason. Continuing through the dense forest, Mugalen kept up his struggle with the moose. For the moment, it seemed there was no immediate danger. But to see it chase him this far with an arrow through its neck was truly an eye-opener for the audience. The vitality of this animal was incredibly tenacious, and despite its large size, it could run so fast! ¡°I guess the arrow didn¡¯t puncture the trachea, or else it would¡¯ve run out of strength long ago,¡± Bi Fang speculated as he watched the blood continuously flowing from the moose¡¯s neck wound. In the forest, Mugalen continued to flee, but he clearly wasn¡¯t content with just escaping reactively. He took a short spear from his back, trying to fight back. ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by the moose¡¯s size; in reality, it can run at a speed of fifty-five kilometers per hour for several hours, its stamina is incredible, and it¡¯s also very fast. But its vision is extremely poor, it¡¯s short-sighted, relying on its sensitive hearing and sense of smell. So when in danger, we can run into the woods to outmaneuver it and look for a chance to counterattack.¡± The moose¡¯s neck continued to bleed profusely, and Bi Fang keenly noticed its speed had slowed considerably. Mugalen picked up on this, circling around a large tree. As the moose charged past, he quickly threw the spear, which penetrated into the animal instantly. Unfortunately, due to the angle, it didn¡¯t penetrate deeply, just a spearhead¡¯s worth. But that was enough! Overcome by the pain of a second injury, the moose was overwhelmed by fear, panic, and rage. It no longer displayed bravery and, after charging past Mugalen, it didn¡¯t look back and turned to flee. ¡°YES!¡± Mugalen wiped the mud off his face, spat, and flung it hard to the ground, feeling a tremendous sense of relief. Every pore in his body seemed to breathe freely, as if he had expelled three days¡¯ worth of constipation in an instant. He was exhilarated. With the moose fleeing, Mugalen was in no hurry to pursue; after all, a cornered beast still fights. ¡°Let the bullet fly a little longer.¡± When he caught up, it would naturally be too weak to resist. Following the trail in the vegetation, Mugalen arrived at a riverbank where he scooped up some water to wash his face. Then, feeling unsatisfied, he plunged his whole head into the water, shaking it a few times as the mud dispersed. A small section of the river turned a muddy brown, which only started to fade away with the current after half a minute. ¡°[Wow, how much mud was in his hair?]¡± ¡°[I suspect that when he rolled on the ground, he must have swallowed a few mouthfuls of mud.]¡± ¡°[It¡¯s you, the swamp monster!]¡± ¡°Ah, that¡¯s better.¡± When Mugalen lifted his head, water droplets flew, and with a smooth stroke of his hand, his hairline neatly appeared. Hmm, it was a bit high. Perhaps due to ethnicity and age, Mugalen grew a steady beard on his chin after just a week, but if it were Bi Fang, ten days would only yield some stubble. ¡°[Ah, Master Fang did this same movement when he was adrift at sea, I always thought it looked damn cool, but now I realize, it really depends on the face.]¡± ¡°[Boss doing that move is a bit harsh on the eyes¡­]¡± ¡°` [Mugalen: Are you polite?] [Feast your eyes on my Master Fang wallpaper, hmm, that¡¯s comforting.] After washing his face, the refreshingly spirited Mugalen returned to the original spot, tracking the fleeing moose by following its tracks and bloodstains. While doing so, he even began to explain to the audience. ¡°Tracking wild animals is the supreme skill a hunter can master¡ªin my opinion, learning to track is almost like learning a new language, in short, it¡¯s a process of becoming familiar with different patterns. Once you master this technique, you¡¯ll never forget it. After mastering this skill, wherever you look, you¡¯ll be able to see the subtle signs of a hidden world. The rain was really heavy yesterday, now the ground is muddy. The good news is that the days are getting longer, giving me more time to be active.¡± The explanation from Mugalen left the audience perplexed, many wondering why Bi Fang¡¯s voice had changed, only to realize upon checking their phones that it wasn¡¯t Master Fang who was speaking, but Mugalen tracking the moose. ¡°This man has quite the ambition, even taking my job; it seems he¡¯s harbored intentions to replace me for a long time. We cannot keep him here.¡± Bi Fang wasn¡¯t angry, but rather made a joke, prompting laughter from everyone. ¡°If you want to train your tracking skills, you can actually start from the small and simple things. For instance, if it has rained in recent days, you can clearly see the tracks of animals on muddy paths, and it¡¯s even better if you get up early, before the footprints of dogs and their walkers have spoiled them. You can try going into the city center early one day to look for animal tracks; it¡¯s quite easy to find traces left by animals. I once found roe deer tracks in Hampstead Heath Park, and an unclear badger footprint by a muddy puddle next to Regent¡¯s Canal, and also fox tracks in Wales. Of course, if it¡¯s difficult to find them in the city, then head to the countryside, where you¡¯ll find more animal tracks than in the city. Not only are there more animal tracks in rural areas, but there¡¯s also much less chance of them being spoiled by humans. All you have to do is head to the intersections between fields, forests and streams, places where animals live and pass through. Fertile soil can record the clearest footprints, and to find these tracks, you should look around walls, fences, and gateposts, and don¡¯t overlook the edges of forests. If you find ¡®paths¡¯ that animals frequently pass through, and follow them, you¡¯ll be able to find places where animals raise their young and reproduce. Flattened grass, denser vegetation with small holes than other areas, or tangled fur at low points in fences¡ªthese all tell you that animals pass through here. Once you find something, take pictures to document it, so that you can compare them at home later and know which animals left them. You could try looking for foxes in rural areas. First, look at the footprints; fox prints are longer and slimmer than a dog¡¯s, typically 5 centimeters long by 4 centimeters wide. There is a gap between the two front and two back paw prints, which is longer than a matchstick. With winter¡¯s approach, you can also see fur between fox prints because as the weather gets colder, the fox¡¯s fur grows thicker.¡± [Studied too hard, studied too hard, tonight I¡¯m going to the park to pick a fight with wildlife, and anyone who catches prey gets to feast on hotpot!] [Bullfrog, learnt a new trick, will go to the African Savanna to confront lions, as long as I run fast, they won¡¯t catch me] [Not bad at all.] [Master Fang, is what he said correct?] ¡°Yes, that¡¯s basically the training process. Ordinary people should start with parks, practice makes perfect is very important. When you take pictures, it¡¯s best to include a reference object, like a coin or other common item. Moreover, the best times to go out are at dawn and just before sunset, when the sun¡¯s position can clearly reveal these tracks.¡± Mugalen basically got it right, and Bi Fang just added a bit more information. As they chatted and explained, the trail of blood they were following became more frequent. This was a normal sign that the moose was slowing down, with more blood falling to the ground in the same amount of time. Feeling hungry, Mugalen quickened his pace, but as he rounded a large tree, he suddenly stopped, his pupils shrinking to the size of pinpoints, frozen in place. The drone ascended higher, and the audience erupted in commotion. Chapter 303 - Chapter 303: Chapter 300 The Preemptive Thiefs Awakening Chapter Chapter 303: Chapter 300 The Preemptive Thief¡¯s Awakening Chapter ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± The monitoring staff didn¡¯t speak but just pointed to the screen. Bi Fang narrowed his eyes, it was a map with green dots, one of the green dots and a golden dot were almost overlapping. Contestant and cabin¡­ ¡°Bonuo found the cabin?¡± ¡°Judging by the distance, they are less than three kilometers apart. However, it is not yet noon, so the exact location is not confirmed. If we don¡¯t wait, it might take some effort to find it.¡± The audience instantly became excited. Had someone finally found the cabin? What on earth was inside? Unfortunately, Bonuo was only guided by his instinct and could not find the exact location due to the obstruction of the trees, wandering around like a headless fly. Moreover, he was out of breath after a while from carrying a large amount of deer meat. Such a pity for a deer head. Bi Fang watched with some regret as Bonuo, with a deer head tied up with dead vines on his back, had smashed the complete deer head to make weapons, taking two separate antlers as weapons. The idea was good, and quite cool, but it was somewhat regrettable. Just last night, the two deer heads Bi Fang had hunted were hung separately inside the helicopter cabin, looking impressively dominant. Every passing staffer couldn¡¯t help but stop and watch for a long time. On the other hand, Bonuo was also very anxious. His gut told him the cabin was nearby, but no matter how much he searched, he couldn¡¯t find it. Unfortunately, the signal flare that could confirm the exact location could only be launched at noon, so he had no choice but to wait. This undoubtedly would waste a lot of time. He raised his hand to look at his wristband. Although it was a 300-hour countdown, based on the timing of the signal flare from the past two days, it could roughly be used as a watch. There were still three hours left until the second flare launch. No way around it, just wait. After wasting two hours, Bonuo didn¡¯t find anything. He sat on the ground, quietly waiting for today¡¯s flare to be launched. Meanwhile, Ji Zuodong and Mugalen were also in hot pursuit. Undoubtedly, they were both headed towards the cabin, bold and fearless, not afraid to travel a long distance. Would they meet each other? This was what the viewers cared about most. And there were those who loved chaos, hoping that the two would fight over the supplies. There was still a long time left. Bi Fang didn¡¯t just wait idly; he looked at the other contestants. Meanwhile, one more person had given up, which was a shame. But there was nothing to say; they were sent away directly. As of now, only eleven were left. At the same time, the actions of another contestant caught Bi Fang¡¯s attention. He was supposed to build a shelter, but he was now running wildly through the woods, not appearing to be searching for food. Was he looking for someone? Bi Fang watched as he walked and shouted, clearly looking for other contestants. ¡°Because he could not endure, he chose to look for others to form an alliance? That¡¯s not a bad choice, but isn¡¯t he afraid of attracting some fierce wildlife with all that shouting?¡± Bi Fang suspected the other was a bit of a simpleton, Goulbin was one of those contestants who had chosen to stay and survive. He was not old, just thirty, in the prime of his life. He signed up with full confidence, but unfortunately, he got a rude awakening on his first night. Being in the true Primeval Forest, he could not sleep at all. In the silent darkness, it felt like an unknown beast could emerge at any moment. So much so that on the second day he gave up his original plan to traverse the wilderness and settled down to consolidate his shelter, hoping to last the twelve days. But naturally, he was educated once again. If not for his luck, having found a squirrel nest in the afternoon of the second day and successfully obtaining two squirrels and a pile of various nuts, he might not have made it to now. Not every time can be lucky, so on the third day, he started to consider finding teammates. More hands make light work, and perhaps there could be a way out. As for being the champion or whatever, although he was a bit lacking, he thought the others probably weren¡¯t much better than him. Half an hour later, Goulbin, who was shouting in the forest, did indeed get a response. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Contestant?¡± The other party didn¡¯t rashly approach, instead choosing to converse with Goulbin across the distance. ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Goulbin responded impatiently, ¡°Form a team? I think we can try to team up and then look for a cabin! Use the cabin to build a base!¡± ¡°Use a cabin to build a base?¡± The other person was taken aback, obviously not expecting this kind of strategy. If it was as the crew had said, and the supply point was a cabin, then it was definitely a high-quality shelter. The only problem was the need to cross a hundred kilometers. For those who chose to stay put like them, it was quite a difficult task indeed. In Goulbin¡¯s view, though it may be difficult to obtain the supplies since they were three days behind, for people yearning for survival like them, the cabin was essentially the biggest treasure! Unfortunately, he wasn¡¯t confident about crossing the distance alone, which was why he was looking to recruit a teammate. After proposing this idea, the person across fell silent, obviously moved by the suggestion. Seizing the opportunity while it was hot, he continued, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I haven¡¯t brought anything, no weapons. How about we talk face-to-face?¡± ¡°Then step out, but don¡¯t come closer. Keep a distance from me.¡± This person must have supplies on hand. Goulbin was elated internally. Their caution suggested a considerable advantage¡ªmaybe they had gained something and feared it being taken by others! Under the watch of the drone cameras, no one dared to harm others on purpose, for fear of being seen. The main concern was someone coveting the hardly-gained supplies. Goulbin did as he was told, and soon, the two saw each other across a stretch of forest. Ten minutes later. The second group formed an alliance. Since they had allied, it was only natural to pool their resources for joint management. The squirrel had been eaten yesterday; all Goulbin had left were some nuts, still not a small amount, around two pounds, making for a good energy supplement. On the other hand, what the other person took out was disappointing to Goulbin: just a few bird eggs, and the small kind at that, hardly enough to fill the gaps between teeth¡ªsuch a loss. Alas, it was done, so they could only make do. After allocating food, the two prepared the tools they had made in the past two days and set off towards the direction of the cabin, as they remembered it. They also observed the other survivors¡¯ struggles. When they saw the last one, the audience was shocked because the person was actually collecting urine! And where did you get that plastic bottle? Even Ben wasn¡¯t aware of every contestant¡¯s situation, so he pulled aside a monitoring staff and inquired. ¡°Found it?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The staff member nodded, it was probably last night, and it was just as inconceivable to them that there could be an empty plastic water bottle deep in the Rocky Mountains. Had environmental pollution become this severe? [Damn, I¡¯m never littering again] [That luck is too good] [But are they planning to drink urine now? And to collect it?] Because the camera avoided it, but the audience could still see the yellow liquid accumulating inside the bottle. Ben recalled the contestant¡¯s past and realized that apart from the morning dew, they indeed had not had water for three days. When it comes to Wilderness Survivalist, one can¡¯t avoid extreme circumstances, and drinking urine is one of them. It is often seen on the news that many people have survived disasters like earthquakes by relying on¡­ such measures. The fact that a contestant was doing so now was unexpected to everyone. ¡°Drinking urine indicates very grave circumstances. At least I haven¡¯t encountered such a situation yet, and, unless it is a matter of life or death, it is generally not advisable to do so. Drinking urine concentrated with high sodium due to dehydration can actually worsen dehydration. Strictly speaking, drinking urine isn¡¯t for quenching thirst, but for survival. Normally, the osmotic pressure of urine is higher than that of blood or other body fluids, and it¡¯s even more so when thirsty. However, the human kidneys have a powerful ability to concentrate urine. After drinking urine, the kidneys will receive some water, allowing the body to excrete metabolic waste in a more concentrated form. Drinking urine won¡¯t alleviate thirst, but it can extend the survival period without water The best way is still to collect the urine and distill it. If nothing else, it should at least be filtered before consumption, even simply through clothing if necessary.¡± Chapter 304 - Chapter 304: Chapter 301 Blood-Stained Battle Flag Chapter 304: Chapter 301 Blood-Stained Battle Flag ¡°An eleven-year-old nomadic boy from Africa killed a lion with a spear and painted a totem on his face with the fresh blood of the male lion. An Indian boy slapped a brown bear and displayed the fearless ritual of an adult with its hide.¡± ¡°All these are real events, not fabrications. Human potential is far greater than you can imagine.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll first distract the bear¡¯s attention and then hunt it, no problem. If others can do it, so can I! If others can, I can too!¡± ¡°Today, I¡¯m going to kill that beast.¡± Mugalen climbed up a hillside, panting heavily. Despite his disheveled appearance, his eyes shone brightly underneath. Long spears filled the area behind him, each as thick as an adult¡¯s forearm and over two meters in length. It was hard to imagine such wooden spears piercing into the body of a bear, creating such a scene. To even wield such a spear was difficult, let alone use it normally, but only with such strength could it avoid breaking and deliver a fatal blow to the brown bear. That¡¯s how bear traps work; you lure the bear so that it falls into a pit full of sharp spears, using the bear¡¯s own weight to kill it. The most vulnerable underbelly exposed to the sharp instruments, and the half-ton weight pressing down, there was no possible recovery. This was the best attack, and the most effective one. Is it really useful? Will the brown bear actually come? The online friends worried and puzzled at the same time. After all, it was a brown bear, with a body length of 2.3 meters, standing over 3 meters tall, as high as two adults, capable of crushing a person to death just by its weight. And you plan to hunt such a giant creature with primitive weapons? ¡°The chances are high,¡± Bi Fang was certain, judging from the bear¡¯s previous behavior that it was not afraid of humans. ¡°Most animals are fairly unfamiliar with humans because we all live in cities and seldom appear in the wilderness. At first, animals approach with caution, but those that have attacked humans once will know that humans can be attacked, and they¡¯re much easier to hunt than other animals.¡± ¡°I suspect this brown bear has attacked humans before, that¡¯s why it charged directly at Goulbin and his companion when it saw them.¡± [Why didn¡¯t Master Fang simply kill it at the time?] [Yeah, I feel like if Mugalen can do it, surely Master Fang could too, right?] [Plus one, Master Fang, forever the god! (Glow sticks waving frantically)] ¡°Why should I have killed it?¡± Instead of answering, Bi Fang threw the question back at the audience. He knew someone would ask this. Both faced with a brown bear, he chose to retreat, while Mugalen chose to hunt, naturally creating a contrast. ¡°Every hunt is risky, even if I wanted to kill it, I¡¯d still be responsible for the contestants. I couldn¡¯t just leave them and go head-to-head with the brown bear. Besides, I wouldn¡¯t be able to overpower it without setting some traps first. Mugalen must¡¯ve had the same idea. Look¡­¡± Following Bi Fang¡¯s direction, the audience¡¯s attention once again gathered on Mugalen, who was on the move. He circled around a hillside, and the huge brown bear appeared before everyone once more. By then, the brown bear had finished eating and was sound asleep on top of the moose carcass, seemingly unworried about attracting other animals. A perfectly normal behavior, being at the top of the food chain as a predator, it didn¡¯t have to worry about attracting any animals, be it a pack of wolves or a mountain lion. Seeing this, Mugalen was even more infuriated, but he remained cool-headed and didn¡¯t let anger cloud his judgement; rushing in now would be suicide. ¡°Today, the brown bear stole my game and had a hearty meal. Even if it smelled the scent of blood, it¡¯s unlikely to give chase, so I can set more traps and be ready to deal with it tomorrow.¡± Mugalen wiped the sweat from his forehead and climbed down from the hillside. He was unaware that this brown bear had previously attacked other contestants and had a strong propensity to attack humans. The bear could charge at any time if it was hungry, no matter who stood in front of it. But even if this hadn¡¯t been the case, the plan was still sound. By tomorrow morning, the moose left out in the wild and muddy outdoors would be likely starting to decay, and with the presence of fresh blood, would the bear still fixate on the moose? In the natural world, aside from humans, no species consistently eats on a schedule. Driven by instinct, when a living being feels hunger, it wants to eat, but wanting to eat and actually eating are two different things, being hungry is one thing, being satisfied is another. Wild animals eat whenever they have access to food. The so-called mealtime occurs as needed, a brown bear can eat one meal that lasts for several days, or it can eat several meals in one day, entirely depending on the situation. With strong confidence, Mugalen began crafting traps, creating several short spears, and attaching them to a large rock¡­ The next day, while most participants were still sleeping, Bi Fang rose early and started the live broadcast. [Good morning!] [Here I am, front row seat, I¡¯m the first!] [Third!] [Old Fang, what time is it there? We¡¯re already having lunch here (dog¡¯s head)] [Add one, I had hotpot for lunch today, tripe, goose intestines, fatty beef, prawns in spicy pot, mmm, it was divine, jealous much?] [Wori, I just had a simple boxed lunch at noon, listening to you makes me hungry, can¡¯t you be a bit more humane?] ¡°So many people? Have you all been staying up? Oh, it should be the afternoon in China, right?¡± Bi Fang was curious about the large number of viewers, only then realizing that because of the time difference, it was afternoon in China, a time when people are generally more free. Without hesitation, she switched the camera over to Mugalen. From yesterday¡¯s bear encounter till now, Mugalen¡¯s footage had taken up a whole eighty percent, of course, this was also why the audience liked watching him. Going with nothing, using the most primitive methods to hunt brown bears¡ªjust including such a title would attract a large crowd, let alone the live broadcast. Audiences around the globe were anticipating a miracle. In the video, Mugalen was already awake early, he was no longer in a hurry to travel but instead repeated checks on his traps to ensure there were no issues. He spent a full three hours yesterday setting up a single trap, solely hoping that it would work. After ensuring the mechanism was flawless, Mugalen stepped out a few hundred meters, coming to a dead tree with a small trap perched atop. ¡°Ha, got something.¡± Mugalen walked excitedly towards the cage, snatching the squirrel out and then tearing off a piece of cloth, he pressed the squirrel onto it and smashed it with a rock, causing blood to burst. Red and white matter splattered onto the fabric, staining it with thick blood, while a fishy smell began to waft around. Stringing the blood-soaked fabric onto a wooden spear, Mugalen jogged back to his spot, then lit a fire and placed the squirrel over it to roast. He also stuck the spear with the fabric into the ground, so the smell of roasting meat and the stench of blood drifted far into the woods. The fat dripped down the small body of the squirrel onto the charcoal below, sizzling, and in a matter of minutes, the aroma of cooked meat filled the air. Mugalen took the squirrel meat off the fire, blew on it a few times, heedless of its heat, and ate the entire squirrel, leaving no remnants, not even the bones. However, the fragrance lingered for a long time, and that was enough. After finishing the roast squirrel, he extinguished the fire and then stood in the woods with the blood-stained spear, making it as inviting as possible for the brown bear to approach. The blood-stained cloth hung on the spearhead like a flag. The silence in the woods was like death itself, sunlight piercing through the tree canopy to bathe the land in a beautiful golden light, and Mugalen stood in the morning mist, his heartbeat drumming like war drums, his pupils dilated, surveying his surroundings alertly. The sound of snapping trees rang out, the whole mountain forest seemed to have just woken from a nap, the noise soft yet sharp, forceful and unstoppable. Chapter 305 - Chapter 305: Chapter 302: Anti-Theft Bear Chapter Chapter 305: Chapter 302: Anti-Theft Bear Chapter Lisa¡¯s hand, holding the spear, trembled slightly, proving that her emotions were anything but calm at the moment. The sounds grew closer and more piercing by the second. Until a dark figure suddenly burst out from the cave! Now! Her arm muscles contracted in waves, the strength traveled along the spear shaft, and finally transformed into a lightning-fast thrust, aiming at the panicked groundhog! A sharp squeal sounded. The leathery feel bounced back up, Lisa¡¯s face lit up with delight, what a big fat rat! But it wasn¡¯t over yet, there wasn¡¯t just one in the hole! Several smaller shadows darted out from the underside of the coat, scattering in all directions, Ava, quick-eyed and deft-handed, quickly gathered the coat and caught three in a single sweep. ¡°There¡¯s more!¡± More shadows darted out, Ava shouted with excitement, reaching out to grab them with her bare hands. Lisa pulled out the remaining spears, one for each groundhog, and managed to catch three more, apart from a few that escaped. By the time they turned around to go after the others, they were already long gone, roughly a dozen had fled. ¡°They are really fast.¡± Ava felt a bit of regret, but almost immediately, the excitement overwhelmed the disappointment. She counted their prey, eight groundhogs in total! One groundhog was the size of a forearm, incredibly fat, enough to feed two people for four or five days! The audience also felt happy for their catch; the two of them must be the first among all participants to capture so many prey. Having caught so much prey, Lisa and Ava couldn¡¯t wait to sit down on the ground, they moved the still-smoldering fire over, added a lot of firewood, and decided to roast one on the spot! After a simple skinning, the plump groundhog was skewered on a stick from head to tailbone and placed over the fire, sizzling away, and soon began to emit golden-yellow fat. Seeing this scene, many female viewers couldn¡¯t accept it, deep down, they still thought the groundhog wasn¡¯t much different from the common rat ¨C slightly cuter, but still a rat. [Can you really eat groundhogs?] [Yeah, it looks kind of gross, and they are so cute, how can you bring yourself to eat them?] [Tears flowing as I wolf down three bowls of rice] ¡°Of course you can, not only can you eat them, they are incredibly delicious,¡± Bi Fang¡¯s memory went back a long time, ¡°On the Tibetan Plateau, groundhogs are considered a delicacy, especially in autumn, when marmots are at their fattest. They¡¯re like little fat bears, deer and sheep meat can¡¯t compare at all, the roasted meat is very tender, dripping with fat, and the oil just bursts in your mouth.¡± Wild groundhogs were one of the most delicious things Bi Fang had ever eaten; other meats, even rabbit, were tough, and only seemed tasty because of extreme hunger. Many viewers were enticed by Bi Fang¡¯s description and couldn¡¯t help swallowing their saliva. However, some viewers quickly realized something wasn¡¯t right. No, Master Fang¡¯s taste isn¡¯t normal; if he finds it delicious, it probably isn¡¯t something most people can stomach. What was that saying again, crunchy, tastes like chicken? ¡°I¡¯m serious, why don¡¯t you believe me?¡± Bi Fang felt a bit exasperated, and also, since when had he mentioned anything about chicken flavor? How did a joke from his previous world follow him here? Was it brought up by another host? After catching the groundhogs, Bi Fang glanced at the other contestants: Ji Zuodong followed the river, looking for a bend to try his luck at fishing, and indeed, he had a quite fruitful catch. Two Arctic aniseed fish, large and fast-growing with firm flesh and a delicious taste. Mugalen, with the help of his bow and arrows, successfully hunted a jackrabbit and immediately roasted it, combining it with the leftover sauce from the canned food for a delightful meal. It seemed like he was following a live-off-the-land strategy, not sparing any food at all, quite bold. The remaining few didn¡¯t have much luck, their catch was smaller. Among them, two who stayed in one place found a stream, made a small fish trap, baited it with some worms, and indeed caught several small fish. By the afternoon, Marcus¡¯s cold had gotten much worse, his face was extremely pale, and his temperature had risen to 39 degrees; now, pretending to be strong was useless, and he had no choice but to press the SOS button. Only then did the audience realize that only half of the second day had passed and already three people had been eliminated. Out of the original sixteen contestants, only twelve remained. ¡°The initial stage of survival is always the most difficult, it¡¯s a severe test of one¡¯s willpower, skills, and adaptability. Those who can get through the first five days will have an easier time afterward. I predict there will be another peak of eliminations tomorrow and the day after; by the fifth day, I reckon there will be only seven or eight left.¡± Seven or eight? Many viewers fell silent; the number didn¡¯t sound small, half of the contestants remained, but they hadn¡¯t forgotten that these sixteen contestants were no ordinary people¡ªthe majority were military veterans, and even the few who weren¡¯t had relevant professional experience. So only seven to eight people can last for five days? What if they¡¯re all ordinary people? Wouldn¡¯t that mean complete annihilation? By the end of the competition, wouldn¡¯t there be a shortage of even three top contenders? Plus, I heard from another safety advisor that Black Bear and Brown Bear might awaken early, adding an eerie touch to the silent forest. Just watching the live broadcast is thrilling enough. This is the greatest charm of wilderness live streaming, something the shows of my previous life lacked, far surpassing pre-recorded programs in tension and excitement. Bi Fang, however, wasn¡¯t concerned at all. You could still pick out three people. With that thought, he pulled up the small map again and looked towards Bonuo, who had made the farthest advance. This guy wasn¡¯t just traversing the wilderness, he was heading towards the direction of the wood cabin. Bonuo was one of the escapers, but his escape method differed from the other two¡ªhe disappeared into the crowd without a direct confrontation, causing many audience members to underestimate him, but this wasn¡¯t a sign of incompetence. At least he had the determination to head straight for the cabin without any hesitation, which meant a hundred kilometers of road had been walked in vain. ¡°He¡¯ll probably get there by tomorrow.¡± Today¡¯s signal tip had disappeared, and Bonuo didn¡¯t dare to move forward rashly. After reducing the distance to less than twenty kilometers, he slowed down, planning to deploy smoke again at noon tomorrow to arrive. [The first one to find the cabin?] [What¡¯s actually inside? I¡¯m so curious, I really want to know (throws a tantrum)] [Is there food inside? It¡¯s not going to be a submachine gun, is it?] ¡°Submachine gun?¡± Bi Fang was embarrassed, ¡°You guys really have wild imaginations. If it were a submachine gun, we might as well just announce the winner directly.¡± [Okay, no submachine gun, that¡¯s one answer eliminated] [Is this the kind of submachine gun, picture.jpg] [I think it¡¯s this, picture.jpg] [When I have the money, I will definitely buy a phone that can view pictures] ¡°Mr. Bi, please take a look at this.¡± Suddenly, a staff member next to him called Bi Fang over and transferred the footage he had captured to him. It was a drone flying high, overlooking forests as far as the eye could see, an endless patch of grey-green, with snow-covered mountains and blue rivers further in the distance. Yet none of these were the point of interest. At a glen in the hillside, a large herd of deer grazed on shrubs, easily a hundred head, relaxed and carefree. Reindeer sighted again! Not just Bi Fang, but even audience members who had seen them before recognized them¡ªwasn¡¯t this a huge herd of reindeer? Last time Master Fang hunted reindeer with a short spear, then hid under a river of ice to avoid being trampled. The scene was still vivid in memory, and now they¡¯d encountered another herd? ¡°Who is nearby?¡± ¡°Bonuo, less than three kilometers away.¡± The camera immediately switched to Bonuo. At this moment, he seemed unaware of the large herd of reindeer nearby, single-mindedly focused on finding the cabin. But now it was four o¡¯clock in the afternoon, and it would soon be dark. It had been several hours since the last release of smoke, and he was somewhat uncertain of the specific direction. ¡°Where is it?¡± Bonuo muttered. As a supply location carefully set up by the production team, the contents inside were definitely not going to be poor, perhaps even food, so he had been pressing on, hungry for two days. ¡°Let¡¯s get to high ground and have a look.¡± To confirm the direction and the target, high ground was the best choice. With just a little effort, one could clarify the situation for tens, even dozens of kilometers away. Bonuo looked around and chose a rock wall. The development that followed was exactly as everyone had guessed. He didn¡¯t find the cabin, but he did find the large herd of reindeer. Bonuo¡¯s eyes bulged, completely surprised by his own luck; the cabin hadn¡¯t been found, but he stumbled upon a large herd of reindeer instead. How long can one reindeer last? If he could catch one, not considering spoilage and weight, there would be more than enough food for twelve days! Without hesitation, Bonuo climbed down from the rock wall and swiftly ran towards the direction of the deer herd. Chapter 306 - Chapter 306: Chapter 303 Victory Chapter 306: Chapter 303 Victory The behemoth charged wildly across the land. Feeling the slight tremble of the ground, Mugalen¡¯s heart chilled as he glanced out of the corner of his eye and even saw ripples upon ripples in the puddles. Although he had mentally prepared himself before executing the plan, facing such a massive beast was intimidating to anyone. But by now, there was no turning back. In such a situation, any accident could happen in the blink of an eye, no one could rush over in time, and everything depended on him alone. In narrow straits, brave men prevail! Watching the behemoth roar towards him, Mugalen fiercely pulled down the triangular cheval de frise! This terrain was carefully chosen by Mugalen: a narrow valley bottom that was easy to defend but difficult to attack, with a strategic advantage similar to holding a pass against thousands, and one side blocked by the cheval de frise, not even a brown bear could charge through unimpeded. Moreover, the heavy rain from the day before had collected mud water that reached the lower legs in the valley bottom, soaking the soil until it was loose, and with a little force at a specific angle, the cheval de frise could sink deep. As the behemoth charged, Mugalen pulled down the cheval de frise while delaying its steps and thrust his wooden spear toward the neck of the brown bear, momentarily creating an evenly matched struggle. It was a pity that the construction of the cheval de frise was time-consuming and laborious, and even after Mugalen had stayed up all night, he only managed to make five of them. For those wooden spears and traps, even his calloused hands developed many blisters, and now the brown bear had already broken through the third barrier. The behemoth¡¯s paws slapped in the puddle, splashing water higher than a man. Mugalen kept retreating, step by step, as the brown bear pressed on, smacking the cheval de frise and shattering the wooden framework into countless splinters which scattered, just as the audience¡¯s composure was being shattered, their nerves so tense they were nearly curling up, not knowing what to do. Mugalen¡¯s arm muscles bulged as he brandished the wooden spear once more, aiming for the brown bear¡¯s neck, the spot where its defense was weakest and where the blood vessels could be most easily punctured. But the brown bear reacted quickly, with experience from many previous encounters, it bit the wooden spear, and with a single effort, Mugalen was forced to let go, watching in dismay as the bear snapped the spear the thickness of his arm in one bite! Hiss! The online friends inhaled sharply, astonished by the biting power that could snap a thick wooden rod, imagining the same fate could befall a human leg! Immediately more concerned about Mugalen¡¯s predicament, it was fortunate that Mugalen had prepared well in advance, placing a large number of wooden spears by each barrier precisely to anticipate such a scenario, and he promptly picked up another spear from the cheval de frise¡¯s side to confront the bear again. Water splashed everywhere, a fetid wind gusting. As the last barrier was destroyed, Mugalen had no choice but to face the brown bear directly with no more obstructions, maneuvering the wooden spear, circling it in front of the bear¡¯s forehead. ¡°Come and catch me, come on!¡± ¡°You beast!¡± While verbally insulting, Mugalen lured the brown bear to follow him, controlling the rhythm step by step. Until he reached the end of the valley, with no way out, and it was precisely when the brown bear¡¯s patience had run out. Raging anger consumed its mind, and faced with the reptile that kept jumping before it, the brown bear no longer wished to dawdle and charged straight forward, bumping against the wooden spear, knocking Mugalen to the ground, then stood up to attempt its final attack. Countless viewers screamed and closed their eyes, but this was exactly what Mugalen hoped for! He turned around, facing the even larger brown bear head-on, staring intently at every movement of the bear, just as it was about to bring down its attack. ¡°Now!¡± Mugalen roared, his muscles bulging, veins on his wrists throbbing violently as he wedged a wooden spear into the rocks behind him, and then he thrust it upward fiercely! Just as the brown bear was about to strike, its entire weight bearing down like a mountain, a look of terror filled its eyes¡ªbut it was too late to pull back. Its half-ton weight pressed down, and even the bear couldn¡¯t control it! An unstoppable force fell like a collapsing mountain; for a moment, Mugalen forgot to dodge. He wanted to escape, but he couldn¡¯t. The behemoth¡¯s body fell, and the wooden spear pierced into its flesh. Under such massive force, even the strongest defense was as frail as paper. The brown shaft carried out red blood, piercing through the bear¡¯s body. The brown bear roared at the sky, excruciating pain coursing through its body, blood spilling from the corners of its mouth¡ªnot the blood of a deer, but its own bear blood. At this moment, it had no strength left to fight back; all its energy gushed out with the gaping hole in its chest. Its ferocious gaze fixed on Mugalen below, but soon it lost focus and dimmed, followed by a thunderous crash as it fell to the ground. Dead, huh? The online friends dared not readily believe the scene before them, yet the reality told them¡ªthe bear, over two meters and thirty centimeters in length, had died under its own weight. And what about Mugalen? The joy of victory quickly faded, and the audience grew worried about Mugalen¡¯s fate. He was completely pinned down¡ªwould he be alright? The drone immediately moved above the brown bear, and numerous viewers watched this incredibly shocking scene. In the sunlight, the bloody spear tip emitted a faint white vapor; the brown bear¡¯s body was fully spread out as if it were an ancient and bloody totem. Only now could the people truly see the brown bear¡¯s features and understand just how large the behemoth was. Its massive body lay quietly in a puddle, resembling a large, brown pancake stretched out on the ground, with a length of over three meters from front to back. Bloodstains covered the bear¡¯s brown fur, while Mugalen lay motionless underneath. In front of the television, Barton¡¯s heart skipped a beat, not able to believe it. In his eyes, this man who had earned a medal in the army was not supposed to die, shining with an eternal light like the protagonist of a story. Suddenly, the bear¡¯s left paw moved a little. Barton¡¯s heart leaped with joy, but many other online friends were startled. Could it be alive? Goulbin, who had gone to a hotel to watch the live broadcast after his failure, was so frightened that he leaped from his chair, his shirt already soaked with sweat, not knowing if it was due to the heat from the air conditioning or fear. No one understood the fear of facing a top predator better than he did. Facing a brown bear felt like being immersed in profound darkness, as if there was nothing else in the world, only he was left alone. Fear flooded into his throat like a deluge, spilling into his nostrils. Countless microorganisms irritated his nasal mucosa, causing him to be dizzy and to breathe rapidly. By the time he regained his senses, he was already drenched in cold sweat. However, in the next moment, a pale hand suddenly reached out from under the brown bear; compared to the bear¡¯s paw, it seemed tiny, like a child¡¯s arm. The pale hand struggled to grasp the bear¡¯s paw, pushing it away with all its might. Mugalen¡¯s head emerged, as he supported his chest and took deep breaths. ¡°Damn, that almost crushed me.¡± Chapter 307 - Chapter 307: Chapter 304 Anti-Theft in Europe Chapter 307: Chapter 304 Anti-Theft in Europe ¡°An African nomadic boy at the age of eleven killed a lion with a spear, using the fresh blood of the male lion to draw totems on his face. An Indian boy slapped a brown bear and used its hide to demonstrate a fearless adult ritual. These events have all truly happened, not fabricated, and human potential is far greater than you can imagine.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll first distract the bear¡¯s attention, then hunt it down, no problem. If others can do it, so can I! If others can, I can too! Today, I¡¯m going to kill that beast.¡± Mugalen climbed up a hillside, gasping for breath, his hair disheveled and his face dirty, but his eyes shone surprisingly bright. Behind him were many spears, each as thick as an adult¡¯s forearm and over two meters long, making it hard to imagine the scene of such wooden spears piercing into a bear¡¯s body. These spears were not just difficult to wield normally but even to swing, but only thus could they avoid breaking and deliver a fatal blow to the brown bear. That¡¯s how bear traps work, luring the bear and making it fall into a trap with sharp spears at the bottom, using the bear¡¯s own weight to kill it. The softest part of the belly exposed to the blades, a half-ton weight pressing down, there¡¯s no possibility of recovery, this is the best and most effective attack. Would it really work? Would the brown bear come? The Shuiyou were concerned and confused, after all, it was a brown bear, measuring up to two meters three in length, and standing over three meters tall, it was as tall as two adults and could crush a person with its weight alone. Hunting such a giant creature with just primitive weapons? ¡°The chances are high.¡± Bi Fang was certain, knowing from the brown bear¡¯s previous behavior that it did not fear humans. ¡°Most animals are quite unfamiliar with humans as a species because we live in cities and rarely appear in the wilderness. At first, animals react with caution, but once they have attacked a human, they realize that humans can be hunted, and are much easier prey compared to other animals.¡± ¡°I suspect this brown bear has attacked humans before, which is why it charged directly at Goulbin and his partner.¡± [Why didn¡¯t Master Fang just kill it then?] [Yeah, I feel like if Mugalen can do it, Master Fang should be able to as well, right?] [Plus one, Master Fang, Master Fang, forever our god! (Glow sticks waving frantically)] ¡°Why should I have killed it?¡± Instead of responding, Bi Fang posed the question back to the audience. He knew someone would ask this; facing the same brown bear, he chose to retreat while Mugalen chose to hunt, naturally forming a contrast. ¡°Any hunting comes with risks, even if I wanted to kill it, I still have a responsibility to the contestants, I can¡¯t just leave them behind and fight the brown bear, and besides, I couldn¡¯t win a direct fight, at least not without setting some traps first. Mugalen must be thinking the same thing, look¡­¡± Following Bi Fang¡¯s indication, the Shuiyou¡¯s gaze once again focused on the toiling Mugalen. He rounded a hillside, and the huge brown bear reappeared before them. Having finished its meal, the bear lay on top of the moose carcass, fast asleep, not in the least concerned about attracting other animals. Such behavior was normal; it was a predator at the top of the food chain, not needing to worry about any animals, whether they were packs of wolves or mountain lions. Seeing this, Mugalen couldn¡¯t help but seethe, yet he remained calm, not letting anger cloud his judgment, charging in now would be akin to suicide. ¡°Today the brown bear has taken my prey for its feast, and even if it smells the blood, it¡¯s unlikely to give chase, so I can set up even more traps and prepare to deal with it tomorrow.¡± Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Mugalen climbed down the hillside. He was unaware that this brown bear had also attacked other contestants and had a strong aggression towards humans; if it became hungry, it might charge at anything standing in front of it, but even without this incident, the plan was still viable. By tomorrow morning, the moose left out in the wilderness mud would likely start to rot, with fresh blood nearby, would it still cling to the moose? In the natural world, aside from humans, no animals eat on a regular schedule. Driven by instinct, when an organism feels hunger it wants to eat, but wanting to eat and managing to eat are two different things; being hungry is one thing, feeling satiated is another. When wild animals eat depends on when they can obtain food. Meal times are based on demand¡ªa brown bear might eat enough to last several days or might eat several meals in one day, depending entirely on the circumstances. With strong confidence, Mugalen started making traps, crafting short spears, and tying them to a large rock¡­ The next day, while most of the contestants were still sleeping, Bi Fang got up early and started the live stream. [Good morning!] [I¡¯m here, front row seat, I¡¯m the first!] [Third!] [Old Fang, what time is it there? We are already having lunch over here (Dog¡¯s head)] [+1, I had hotpot for lunch today, tripe, goose intestines, marbled beef, prawns in a spicy pot, mmm, superb, jealous much?] [Wori, I only had a lunch box at noon, I¡¯m starving just listening to you, can¡¯t you be a decent human being?] ¡°So many people? Did you all stay up late? Oh, it must be afternoon back home, right?¡± Bi Fang was curious why there were so many viewers and then it dawned on him that due to the time difference, it was already afternoon back in China, a time when people were more likely to be free. Without hesitation, he switched the view over to Mugalen. Since encountering the bear yesterday, Mugalen¡¯s feed had taken up a whole eighty percent of the broadcast time, and of course, that was also why the audience liked watching him. Going without any gear and hunting brown bears using the most primitive methods¡ªjust having that title would attract a large audience, let alone a live stream. Viewers from around the world were anticipating a miracle. In the footage, Mugalen had woken up early. He was no longer in a hurry to travel but instead repeatedly checked his traps for any flaws. He had spent three hours yesterday setting up a single trap, hoping it would work. After making sure the mechanism was faultless, Mugalen walked a few hundred meters to a fallen dead tree where he had set up a small trap. ¡°Ha, got something.¡± Mugalen excitedly approached the cage and caught a squirrel from within it. Then he tore off a piece of cloth, pressed the squirrel against it, and smashed it with a rock, splattering blood everywhere. The mix of red and white sprayed onto the fabric, soaking it with thick blood, and a pungent smell began to drift away. After skewering the bloody cloth on a wooden spear, Mugalen jogged back and started a fire, placing the squirrel over it to roast. He also planted the spear with the fabric in the ground, and the scent of roasting meat mixed with the smell of blood wafted through the woods over a great distance. The fat dripped down the small body of the squirrel, sizzling as it hit the charcoal. In just a few minutes, the aroma of cooked meat wafted out. Mugalen took the squirrel meat, blew on it a few times, and, not minding the heat, ate the entire squirrel, leaving no bones or scraps behind. The lingering scent was enough. After finishing the roasted squirrel, he extinguished the fire and stood in the woods with the bloody spear, trying his best to make a brown bear feel at ease approaching. The blood-stained cloth hung from the spear like a flag. The silence in the forest was like the stillness of death; the sunlight broke through the canopy, casting a beautiful golden hue on the ground. Mugalen stood in the morning mist, his heartbeat throbbing like a war drum, his pupils shrinking as he watched his surroundings with vigilance. The sound of breaking branches arose, as if the entire forest, having just taken a nap, was slowly awakening. The noise was faint yet crisp, powerful and relentless. Chapter 308 - Chapter 308: Chapter 305 Alls Well That Ends Well Chapter 308: Chapter 305 All¡¯s Well That Ends Well The sun shone bright across the plains, the wind swept across the earth, and countless little yellow flowers swayed, covering the naked brown land left bare after the winter¡¯s snow had melted. The wilderness was vast, as if a golden layer of sunshine had been draped over it. ¡°Spring is here, huh.¡± Bi Fang stood in the wild, the air rushing into his nostrils, the strong scent telling him that the sight before him was surely a swath of vibrant green, even without looking. From February to March, everyone had witnessed, through drone observation, the Rocky Mountains welcoming its spring, watching the earth¡¯s colors change and change again. The wind brought moisture and warmth from the Pacific Ocean, the snow line on the mountains climbed higher, and huge icy armors cracked, with meltwater flowing from the crevices like honey. The long-silent land was exposed to the sunlight once more, breathing in fresh air to its heart¡¯s content, with delicate grass pushing through the ground, like a surge of emerald spring water rising from the depth of the earth, spilling over the undulating wilderness all the way to the horizon. The winter jasmine bloomed first. With a robust vitality, like weeds, they scattered across the entire world, planting their flags in every corner of Earth. They grew crawling on the ground, sprouting branches from the leaf axils, producing long stalks with tender yellow five-petaled flowers. The tender yellow of the flowers overwhelmed the green of the wild grass, extending all the way to the sky, forming a huge blanket of blooms with no visible end. Vibrant with life. Even the audience felt joy in their hearts. In modern society, how many people have such an opportunity to be close to nature and spring? In just over ten days, such changes truly made people feel the presence of ¡°spring,¡± instead of it just being a concept in books, or a fleeting glimpse during a hectic weekend. Even worse, those without even a weekend off¡­ It was the true emergence from nothingness. ¡°Only half an hour left.¡± Bi Fang rolled up his sleeves, unveiling a watch identical to those of the contestants; the digits now shifted from the initial 299:59:59 to the current 000:31:12. ¡°Has Mugalen arrived yet?¡± ¡°He¡¯s already here.¡± Pondy pointed to a small figure in the distance, draped in a huge bearskin, the massive bear¡¯s head sitting atop Mugalen¡¯s own. If one didn¡¯t look closely, they might even think an actual brown bear was approaching. And not to be afraid of being shot. In these times, poachers were not scarce, and a bear¡¯s worth was far more than a hundred thousand Ugly Gold. Walking through the forest in a bearskin, it was indeed possible to be accidentally shot. In the distance, Mugalen also saw the helicopter parked by the road, giving a thumbs-up to the drone¡¯s camera, and shouted toward Bi Fang and the others. ¡°Am I the first one?¡± Bi Fang smiled and nodded, ¡°If no miracle happens in the remaining half hour, then indeed you are.¡± ¡°Ha!¡± Mugalen laughed out loud, extremely pleased with the outcome. But there was still half an hour left before the program officially ended, so he wasn¡¯t in a rush. He made himself at home on the helicopter, flopped down into a chair, swayed from side to side, and heaved a sigh of relief. Damn, it¡¯s more comfortable here; he would have to become a commentator in the future. Half an hour later, no miracle occurred. Ava and Lisa were still nearly a hundred kilometers away from human habitation, failing the crossing. The production team dispatched helicopters to pick up the participants one by one and discuss the final award ceremony process. Bi Fang was discussing with the other judges. The first and second places were without a doubt, belonging to Mugalen and Ji Zuodong, but the third¡­ Who would it go to? The judges had a dispute, between Avrilisa and the guy who survived in the Wilderness for twelve days, who would take third place? After all, crossing over is harder than just surviving, and even though they didn¡¯t make it, Avrilisa are women, and are naturally physically weaker; they should be given extra consideration, and the conditions should be relaxed a bit¡­ ¡°Enough, Aojinka third!¡± The judges were arguing noisily, and Bi Fang, annoyed, directly made the call for third place. ¡°Ah, this¡­¡± The judges looked at each other, those who supported Aojinka were naturally happy, while those who didn¡¯t felt choked up and uncomfortable; all the conditions they listed were ignored. Bi Fang scornfully curled his lip; all these judges were from the Ugly Country, probably brainwashed. In his view, a failure was a failure; there were not so many excuses. He definitely admired the will and ability of Avrilisa; women¡¯s inherent conditions were indeed weaker, but if they were to win because of this, that would be the true lack of respect. Do real strong women need your pity? With these judges, let Lisa come over, and she would knock them out one by one with a punch. Moreover, this wasn¡¯t fair to Aojinka either; he actually won by skill, firm for twelve days, continuously catching small game, showing real ability, understanding how to find animal paths, and his shelter was well built and fortified. It was indeed very impressive. Jerret naturally had no objections to this decision; when he first invited Bi Fang over, he made it clear that Bi Fang was the primary judge with the decisive power, while the others only had the right to suggest. Not satisfied? Fine, go hunt a black bear and come back to talk, otherwise, hold your peace. Seeing that no one had any more objections, Bi Fang walked over to Mugalen, grabbed his hand and lifted it high. ¡°Then let us congratulate Mr. Mugalen Abufus Viller, our champion! The king who conquered the Rocky Mountains, the warrior who hunted the brown bear!¡± Nearby, the staff immediately brought over the trophy, which had Mugalen¡¯s full name engraved on it, along with a large cheque. Mugalen didn¡¯t care about the darn trophy; he was here for the hundred thousand Ugly Gold, but upon receiving it, he saw it wasn¡¯t a hundred thousand, but a full six hundred thousand! The audience¡¯s breath nearly stopped when they saw it, six hundred thousand? Wasn¡¯t that nearly four million Red Tickets? Oh my god! Mugalen¡¯s mind went blank, wondering if the show had made a mistake. Jerret, however, explained with a smile, ¡°Actually, it was Bi Fang¡¯s idea; he felt that a hundred thousand simply didn¡¯t match your performance, so he suggested adding all the tips from the audience during those two days plus any tips from segments you appeared in. The production team just rounded it up. The other survivors got their share too; everyone got the tips from the segments they appeared in.¡± Ji Zuodong, who came second, and Aojinka, who came third, also received cheques; looking down, it was indeed as he said, their earnings were several times more than the pre-set amounts! Even Avrilisa, who failed the challenge, got their share; as long as they hung in there, they all received prize money, making their half-month struggle worthwhile. In an instant, the live studio was filled with congratulations and cheers; for the first place winner, Mugalen, they had absolutely no objections, a true heavyweight. Hearing the prize money had increased, everyone was genuinely happy from the bottom of their hearts. Likewise, Bi Fang¡¯s generosity had to be praised; after all, he didn¡¯t actually have to share the money, and no one would naturally assume that Bi Fang shouldn¡¯t take the money. If it wasn¡¯t for him, the show wouldn¡¯t have been as popular as it is now. It might have been in the future, but certainly not in the first season. The audience who spent money tipping generally came for Bi Fang. After all, for a new show, no matter how exciting or popular, there¡¯s always a lag; it¡¯s usually the later audience watching the recording, not at all like now with so many live viewers. A reward exceeding a million Ugly Gold, in any show, could be considered generous, and it laid the best foundation for Wilderness Arena. Even if Bi Fang wasn¡¯t there in the future, the Explorers¡¯ Channel was confident they could continue it. Everyone was happy! Chapter 309 - Chapter 309: Chapter 306: Preventing Theft Chapter 309: Chapter 306: Preventing Theft Giant It was indeed that very brown bear from before! The audience couldn¡¯t be mistaken, such a massive body could only belong to the giant brown bear! Mugalen¡¯s palm clenched suddenly, unable to accept the scene before him, his hard-earned prey had fallen into the jaws of a beast! The brown bear that was happily eating suddenly twitched its nose, as if a different smell had intruded, ruining its delightful feast. Sniffing around, it turned its head towards Mugalen behind it. Less than twenty meters away. Mugalen could even smell the stench from the brown bear¡¯s gaping mouth, thick blood trailing from the corners, wetting its fur, clumping together. Plop. A chunk of flesh fell through the gaps in its teeth, dropping into the mud. The brown bear didn¡¯t pick it up again; it just stared at Mugalen, quietly observing. Mugalen did not look away either, locking eyes with it, his gaze filled with ferocity, My God! The audience was almost holding their breath. Why not escape while the brown bear was distracted with its meal? Why would he lock eyes with it? Wasn¡¯t he afraid of provoking it? They vividly remembered Master Fang saying that locking eyes with a bear could easily provoke it. Had Mugalen gone mad? The sight of the brown bear gnawing on its prey, blood dripping, sent a frantic shiver through the audience. The immense pressure was like facing a ghost in a horror movie¡ªcold sweat dripping silently. The air seemed to grow thicker, and worse yet, the audience felt as if glue-like air was creeping into their respiratory tracts, resembling a soft, long tongue sliding down their windpipes into the lungs, bursting all the alveoli, filling their mouths with the taste of rust. But Mugalen didn¡¯t take a step back, his hand gripping the longbow trembling slightly, not out of fear, but anger. It was not easy to catch a large prey that could solve his hunger and earn points, only to have his success stolen by a brown bear. How about slaughtering it? Killing a brown bear, even if he didn¡¯t complete the crossing successfully, he should be first, right? This thought startled Mugalen himself, but then it caught fire like dry kindling, growing stronger rather than receding. He really wanted¡­ to try. Under the tense gaze of the audience, Mugalen¡¯s thoughts raced, and when he refocused on the brown bear, he saw that it had lowered its head again, continuing to chew. He definitely wanted to give it a try! Looking at the moose with its entire abdominal cavity hollowed out, Mugalen immediately firmed his resolve. The audience, seeing the brown bear didn¡¯t care about Mugalen, breathed a sigh of relief, completely unaware of the determination Mugalen had just made. They only felt relief that the brown bear had paid no further attention to them. Thank goodness, that kind of oppressive feeling was truly terrifying, even scarier than a horror film. At least with horror films you know they¡¯re fake, but this was a live broadcast, the most real imagery, where in the next second real death and a bloody incident could occur. Bi Fang also relaxed his spine, exhaling softly in relief that nothing had happened. Mugalen had quite the guts, to take such a gamble under those circumstances, matching his own. However, many in the audience were still puzzled. Shouldn¡¯t a predator protect its food? Why didn¡¯t the brown bear react at all when Mugalen glared at it? Was that reasonable? ¡°Actually, it¡¯s reasonable. This has to do with the brown bear¡¯s habitat and genetics. Brown bears are typical omnivores, they eat mammals as well as fruits. When they are full and not hungry, their willingness to attack other creatures is very low, even lower than a domesticated dog, not to mention randomly attacking other creatures while eating,¡± Clearly, Mugalen was aware of this, which is why he dared to stare straight at the brown bear. If it were two days ago, it would be a wonder if the bear did not pounce on him. Regrettably, the moose was snatched away by the bear, an undeserved calamity. ¡°Similar incidents have occurred before, but it wasn¡¯t between humans and brown bears, it was a tiger and a brown bear. That time a male tiger returned to his prey only to find a male brown bear, full and satisfied, sleeping soundly on the carcass of the deer it had hunted. The male tiger thought to approach slowly for a surprise attack, but was noticed by the bear when it came within 15 meters.¡± The ambush had failed, but the tiger still launched an attack, making five great leaps around the bear without success. The male bear was not afraid of it; standing up about 15 meters from the tiger, it rested its front paws on a fallen tree, assuming a stance ready for both offense and defense. Ultimately, the male tiger gave up on reclaiming its prey, and the bear continued to feast. [Ah, this is history repeating itself!] [Old Fang really knows his stuff, how does he know about these things? Did he peek at the answers?] [What a pity, though, isn¡¯t this moose bigger than the one Bonuo caught?] [Reindeer simply can¡¯t compare to moose. I saw a moose during my last trip to Canada, and that guy was at least three meters tall, longer than two of me.] [Two of you, brother, you must be a bit short.] [But it¡¯s still such a pity, such a big moose gone. Maybe we could wait for the Brown Bear to finish eating and then pick up the leftovers? That¡¯s about all we can do now.] As the audience and Bi Fang felt sorry for Mugalen, he himself did not think so; he instead saw this as a golden opportunity. Many things become less difficult once you set your mind to them. He had a hunting license; he was allowed to hunt Brown Bears, which was not a problem at all. However, this was his first time primitively hunting a Brown Bear, a tremendous challenge. Then, what happened next not only shocked the audience, even Bi Fang was mildly surprised. Mugalen didn¡¯t leave; instead, he kept circling around the Brown Bear, seemingly closely observing the opponent. Was he waiting for the Brown Bear to leave? No, this behavior was definitely not that. What was he planning to do? ¡°Bear hunting,¡± Mugalen explained calmly. It must be said, Mugalen was a very talented man; he knew what to do to attract an audience. As soon as he spoke up, the viewers were stunned. Hunting a bear? How could that be possible? This was an adversary even Master Fang would avoid if he encountered it! After carefully observing the Brown Bear¡¯s form, Mugalen slowly retreated into the jungle, began looking for long, straight, suitable timber, and used his Stone Knife to cut it into spears. Tapping his head, Mugalen said, ¡°To hunt a creature far stronger than yourself, you must use your brain. Understanding the habits, movements, and behaviors of these creatures is their vulnerability. We are humans; what makes us much stronger than other animals is not physical strength or sharp claws, but our brains. We must use our brains to defeat them!¡± ¡°Make spears, lure the Brown Bear, entice it to attack. When the bear stands on its hind legs, as it lunges forward, stab it with a spear, like a bear trap. Bear hide is too thick for a normal person to inflict effective wounds, but what if we use the bear¡¯s own strength? Make it kill itself!¡± Is that possible? The audience wondered. Of course, it¡¯s possible, even highly feasible. Bi Fang nodded, ¡°Many animals have a monotonous attack pattern, just like a one-trick pony. Why did the tiger fail the first two times but succeed on the third? It was because it was unfamiliar with the donkey¡¯s attack pattern and got kicked, but by the third time, it saw through the donkey¡¯s tactics and was prepared, leading to a successful hunt. Tigers are the same; the limbs of tiger species are very strong, allowing them to leap high. For smaller prey, tigers tend to use their powerful forelimbs to knock down their prey, attacking it with their canine teeth. In non-ambush situations, tigers also rely on their forelimbs to test, even when two tigers fight, they stand and punch each other with their forelimbs. Only when facing large prey, like a big, strong buffalo, will they jump on top of the prey, applying their weight to quickly subdue it. Therefore, the widely circulated idea of a sliding tackle is impossible; tigers won¡¯t jump up to offer such an opportunity. But knowing it will use a paw swipe, couldn¡¯t we employ some tactics against it? Mugalen¡¯s reasoning for tackling the Brown Bear is similar.¡± Okay, the plan may be feasible, but another problem arises. What should be used as bait? ¡°Me.¡± Having finished carving the spear, Mugalen looked towards the drone. ¡°I am the bait.¡± Chapter 310 - Chapter 310: Chapter 307: This Thing Is More Useful Than Money Chapter 310: Chapter 307: This Thing Is More Useful Than Money Bi Fang sat on the edge of the bed, feeling quite excited. Just yesterday, he had been wondering when the System would release a task, and surprisingly, it arrived today. Excluding the time spent recording in the Wilderness Arena, Bi Fang had been resting for over a month since before the New Year, and he felt his bones were starting to rust. He couldn¡¯t wait to open the task panel. Task Name: Ruins City Task Location: Abbascan Yeimen Region Task Mode: Warzone Survival Task Difficulty: S2 Task Requirement: No items may be carried except for System equipment. Sub-task One: Establish a live broadcast, with a simultaneous long-term online audience of over one million. Sub-task Two: Conduct a six-day wilderness live broadcast, and survive successfully. Guaranteed Reward: Unlock a breakthrough task. Time Limit: Fifteen days. Ruins City? After browsing through the entire task, Bi Fang furrowed his brows. He didn¡¯t like this task, not one bit. Abbascan, one of the most chaotic countries in the world. Yeimen, a ruined city within this nation, where bandits, organizations, and armies, with their complex and intertwined forces, made it possible to be suddenly attacked just walking on the streets, with no safety to speak of. But Bi Fang was not afraid, as he had faced life-and-death crises before. It was not fear that deterred him, it was genuine dislike. All along, he had been an advocate of nature adventures. Although Ruins City could be considered part of the wilderness, Bi Fang didn¡¯t like it at all. Rainforests, forests, deserts, snow mountains ¨C even if they appeared barren, they were all ¡°brimming with life.¡± Unique landforms and scenery, magnificent natural beauty, all sorts of animals struggling and striving hard to adapt to their environments¡­ Ruins City¡­ The only way to describe it was deathly still, devoid of any hope, because those struggling here are humans themselves, and the reason for its current state was also humans themselves. When Bi Fang first saw this task, his inner response was one of rejection, until he saw the guaranteed reward at the end and paused for a moment. Open a breakthrough task? What was that? He had never heard of it before. He had experienced several tasks before, in forests, tundras, deserts, across the whole of Europe, but what was a breakthrough task? What was it breaking through? The intuition of the Wilderness Master told Bi Fang that this was something important, and if he rejected it, he might very well regret it. Accept. Bi Fang trusted his instincts and clicked to accept. This task was different from the previous ones. There was no issue going to France before, with Elvan providing a guarantee with his research assistant credentials, but Abbascan was too sensitive a country. Given Bi Fang¡¯s current status, going there could lead to complications. The task was only six days, yet the System had given fifteen days for preparations, presumably to allow time for making the necessary arrangements. Bi Fang took out his phone and dialed a number, on the other end was a person arranged from above to be something like a handler, since his public live streams were branded, making it easier to find someone to solve any issues that arose. ¡°Abbascan? Mr. Bi isn¡¯t joking, is he?¡± The person in charge on the other end of the line was taken aback, even checked his ear to make sure he hadn¡¯t misheard, and after confirming that he wasn¡¯t mistaken and that the other party wasn¡¯t joking, his expression turned serious. ¡°This is a bit of a troublesome matter.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m giving an early heads up, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°A notification?¡± The person in charge rubbed their brow, the other party¡¯s words were too clear. A notification it was, not a request for approval, the desire to go was very strong. After some thought, the person in charge nodded: ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll notify the higher-ups as soon as possible, and then contact the Abbascan side. The key to this matter actually lies not with us, but with whether they agree or not. If they don¡¯t agree, our agreement would be in vain. Mr. Bi should understand this point.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Bi Fang nodded. He was, of course, aware that the approval actually depended on the will of the Abbascan side. If they said yes, then it was truly possible. After notifying the officials, Bi Fang immediately contacted Wolf Fang, but when Assistant Liu brought up these matters, the other party seemed somewhat confused, vaguely agreeing to them. A moment later, the phone rang again. Wang Yongbo¡¯s loud voice came from the other end of the phone: ¡°Abbascan, Bi Fang, you can¡¯t be joking, is that place even considered wilderness?¡± ¡°It is,¡± Bi Fang nodded earnestly. ¡°¡­¡± There was a moment of silence on the other side of the phone, and then a trembling voice: ¡°But they are at war there. Even planes dare not fly over that area!¡± ¡°Otherwise, why would I go?¡± ¡°You! Ah, it¡¯s not the same!¡± ¡°It is the same.¡± Wang Yongbo was speechless, the other party really had guts. Although he had never been to Abbascan and didn¡¯t dare to go, he knew from movies and TV shows how terrifying that kind of place could be. Compared with domestic environments, it was like the difference between hell and heaven. After a long silence, Wang Yongbo finally sighed: ¡°Do whatever you want, I realize that I¡¯ve tried to persuade you more than once, yet to this day nothing has happened to you, while I¡¯m nearly getting a heart attack.¡± Perhaps that was the gap between an ordinary person and a legend. After a brief warning, Wang Yongbo no longer tried to dissuade him, and instead brought up another matter, inviting Bi Fang to an award ceremony. ¡°An award ceremony? Wasn¡¯t it already held?¡± Bi Fang frowned, thinking that the award ceremony mentioned by Wang Yongbo was the annual meeting, inviting himself as one of the top live streamers on the platform to receive some prize money and make an appearance. During the Wolf Fang annual meeting last month, he had been drifting at sea, naturally he didn¡¯t go, so what was this now? ¡°It¡¯s not the annual meeting. That was a month ago, how could it be the annual meeting? It¡¯s an official commendation!¡± Wang Yongbo clicked his mouse, sending a notification message to Bi Fang. It turned out to be an official invitation to Wolf Fang to participate in the Magic Capital Quality Entertainment Platform, Excellent Culture Communicator Award Ceremony and Live Observation Meeting. Bi Fang¡¯s name was listed there, with emphasis highlighted. Bi Fang suddenly remembered the news he had heard a long time ago. The authorities intended to rectify the chaos in the live streaming industry, and clearly, this event was also part of the recent regulatory efforts, with both punishment and commendation, suppressing the improper and establishing the standard. Live streaming is a form of entertainment that emerged rapidly with the internet era, growing swiftly from the moment it appeared. Within just a few years, it spawned several companies worth billions. Rapidly growing things are often rough, like adolescent boys, still with runny noses, yet sprouting barely firm beards from their lips. Sometimes upon waking up, they¡¯d find their pants have become shorter. It was as if after a thunderclap at the waking of insects, various bugs began to pester humans. One day, with a startling thunder from within, multicolored red, white, yellow, and purple sores burst forth on the face, capturing people¡¯s attention. Live streaming was the same; its growth was too rapid and too rough, relying entirely on market norms, and could even be described as barbaric, with frequent chaos. But this was, after all, a nascent thing. It shouldn¡¯t be abruptly cut off but rather guided towards a healthy and positive direction. Bi Fang¡¯s emergence was the most powerful proof of that. Thus, while criticizing Tiger Fang and Shark for their actions, the authorities also needed to commend exemplary platforms, setting a standard for the industry. There was no need to say who the standard was. Wolf Fang was selected as an excellent video platform, and they specifically mentioned Bi Fang¡¯s presence! Initially, when Wang Yongbo saw this notification, he almost thought he was seeing things; it was completely unexpected. Winning an award for live streaming? Although it was just an award with no tangible reward, it represented official recognition and encouragement, which was more effective than money. Chapter 311 - Chapter 311: Chapter 308: Uncle, I want a cup of Cappuccino. Chapter 311: Chapter 308: Uncle, I want a cup of Cappuccino. ¡°The meeting is on Friday morning, and there will be an award ceremony and a livestream. It¡¯s not just a chance for our platform, but also for you to show your face, so you must dress spiritedly,¡± Wang Yongbo repeatedly reminded on the phone, fearing that Bi Fang would screw up when the time came and had even thought of all possible excuses. Slept in, traffic jam, forgot, didn¡¯t want to go, where there¡¯s training there¡¯s bliss¡­ After all, he¡¯s a man who would skip the annual meeting that handed out bonuses without a second thought, so any mishap wouldn¡¯t surprise him at all. The annual meeting is an internal Wolf Fang event, and it wouldn¡¯t make any difference whether Bi Fang attended or not. Even the bonus he was due had to be given to him, to the last cent, of course secretly. Otherwise, what would the other attendees think? But the award ceremony was different; miss it once and you can forget about attending any future ones. Bi Fang was no fool and nodded, ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll definitely be there on time the day after tomorrow morning.¡± Upon receiving the promise, Wang Yongbo happily hung up and began discussing with his colleagues in the company where to place the certificate and trophy to make them most conspicuous once they had been obtained. He also needed to consult the publicity department about the poster for the next livestream. As a shrewd businessman, Wang Yongbo realized Bi Fang¡¯s additional value early on. When someone tried to use Bi Fang¡¯s image rights to make merchandise and posters, his immediate thought was, why not do it himself? Due to the special nature of Bi Fang¡¯s livestreams, almost every episode could become a poster and merchandise, perfectly coinciding with a one-month cycle, which overlapped with the Shuiyou¡¯s payday. After some discussions with Bi Fang, Wang Yongbo, once granted permission, eagerly started an initiative where the top hundred fans on the leaderboard would automatically receive a new poster every month, the top fifty would get both a poster and merchandise, and the top ten would receive signed posters, photos, and merchandise. As for those beyond the top hundred, they would have to purchase these items. To this day, the best-selling ¡°Goose Journey¡± had shipped over a hundred thousand copies, earning dozens of yuan per copy¡ªthat¡¯s a few million yuan, with Bi Fang taking half of it, a lucrative deal! Wang Yongbo grew prouder of his exceptional foresight in discovering this treasure of a livestreamer in Bi Fang at a time of little significance, with Shark delivering a divine assist. He was thinking of awarding them the trophy, as they deserved it. Without Shark, there would be no few days for Wolf Fang, and without Wang Weifeng, there would be no Wang Yongbo! Such a huge favor, never to be forgotten in this lifetime! ¡°Ha!¡± Wang Yongbo breathed hot air on the picture frame, pulled out a tissue and wiped repeatedly until the glass shone, and then placed it respectfully on his desk, revealing an auntie¡¯s smile. ¡­ ¡­ Friday. In the corner of the office, Wang Weifeng unlocked his phone to swipe through Weibo, hoping to catch up on some news. Now, he was utterly without status in the company. Not having fallen to the level of cleaning toilets or standing guard with the security team, but the office he was given was in the most remote corner¡ªcramped and crowded, uncomfortable even to sit in. Every day he was tasked with trivial yet annoyingly abundant errands. He knew the company was just trying to wear him down, waiting for him to resign on his own. But if he resigned, where could he go? After what he did, which company in the industry would openly hire him? Wouldn¡¯t hiring him imply that their company condoned such actions and wasn¡¯t the least bit bothered by it? Facts are facts, and on the surface, it cannot be said as such. Sigh. Thinking of this, Wang Weifeng sighed again, wondering why he was so unlucky to have encountered such a disaster, truly the worst misfortune in several lifetimes. Lu Wentao got savaged by the critiques, left Shark early, and his livestream numbers are worse than before. He has already left Shark and nobody knows where he is streaming now. Lu Junfeng had it even worse. Pressured by Shark, the guild simply fired him. But what can a man skilled only in manipulating leaderboards do without his guild? Unable to find work, with the high cost of living in Magic Capital, who knows what he is doing now? Only Wolf Fang, I don¡¯t know what kind of dumb luck he stumbled upon. Just thinking about it makes me boil with rage. If it weren¡¯t for this dying platform making a last-ditch struggle and getting Bi Fang on board, he really might not have achieved what he has now. Heard Wolf Fang has risen recently, and the live streaming platforms outwardly appear to have returned to a three-way standoff, Wang Weifeng feels quite disdainful at heart. What risen, bullshit! With Wolf Fang¡¯s stiff style, even if it rises, it¡¯s just temporary. Once the wilderness trend is over, it¡¯ll definitely reveal its true colors. How could it stay popular for long with just one wilderness show and one person? Even if it really does stay popular for that long, Bi Fang will get old one day, won¡¯t he? That¡¯s not at all a strategy for growth. Not to mention anything else, Shark spent a lot of money digging up quite a few big-time anchors after the annual meeting this year¡ªgame streamers, dance broadcasters, entertainment hosts¡ªall bringing in a new wave of traffic. What does Wolf Fang have to compare with that? Wear a little less and get blocked, gaming broadcasters can¡¯t be too free with their words, the contract constraints are poor, can¡¯t retain big broadcasters¡ªall these three conditions alone are enough to turn away a whole group of Shuiyou. If it weren¡¯t for the early launch and the many early followers, Wolf Fang would have been dead and buried by now. It¡¯s just living on borrowed time, a brief resurgence. As for the real leader, you have to look at Shark. Shameless or not, having become a casualty in the struggle, such a ruthless model indeed stands firm and cuts through the competition. If you want to make a name for yourself, relying purely on luck won¡¯t work, you have to be ruthless. There was even a hot post that came out recently, and Shark is still trying to suppress it through connections. It¡¯s about Bi Fang and the whole affair with Shark. Once someone gets famous, people get curious about their background, especially with Bi Fang¡¯s move from Shark to Wolf Fang¡ªthere¡¯s no way there isn¡¯t some dirty laundry there, and anyone intent on digging will find out. Some even tout that Shark¡¯s time is over, and the future belongs to Wolf Fang, urging to quickly download the Wolf Fang APP, obviously the work of paid internet shills. Having nothing better to do, Wang Weifeng found this post on Weibo and planned to criticize it as a target, hoping to satisfy a certain urge. But as soon as he pulled out his phone, he found that someone had @ him, and he had received messages¡ªnot just one. Wang Weifeng was puzzled. What had happened? He quickly clicked open and then saw a group photo associated with a news release. It looked like a very official occasion, with a red banner hanging above the conference room that read, ¡°Magic Capital Quality Entertainment Platform, Content Creators, and Works Awards and Observational Meeting¡±. Beneath the banner was a large group photo, with Wolf Fang¡¯s vice-president Wang Yongbo personally in attendance, his old face grinning so wide that his chrysanthemum folds were showing, holding a trophy and certificate in his hands, standing up straight and neatly. Wang Weifeng, very familiar with Wang Yongbo, dared swear on his own head that this guy definitely wore height-enhancing shoes, and even put a stool underneath him. In the middle of the photo stood Bi Fang, a man Wang Weifeng would recognize even if he turned to ashes. Among a crowd of entrepreneurs with potbellies, bald heads, and teeth yellowed from smoking, the tall and handsome Bi Fang was as conspicuous as a poker in a pocket. But what the hell is this? Wang Weifeng, ¡°¡­?¡± What is this event? Why is Wolf Fang there? Why is there no Shark? One after another, three questions appeared in Wang Weifeng¡¯s mind. With so much information, his expression was filled with confusion¡­ He had a vague sense that something was amiss and desperately needed some tranquility, but his busy work left no time for Wang Weifeng to muse. ¡°Hey, Old Wang, pour me a coffee.¡± ¡°Eh, coming right up!¡± ¡°With or without sugar?¡± ¡°Less sugar, my blood sugar has been a bit high lately.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± ¡°Crap, why is it so hot?¡± ¡°Ah! I¡¯m so sorry, so sorry¡­¡± Chapter 312 - Chapter 312: Chapter 309: Theft Prevention Chapter 312: Chapter 309: Theft Prevention ¡°This bear, might be worth even more than the first-place prize.¡± Mugalen stood in front of the bear¡¯s corpse, slightly out of breath. The pressure he just felt was truly suffocating, as if three or four adults were weighing him down. Nowadays, brown bears are a rarity. The price one can fetch for a single bear is astronomical, especially for such a massive one. ¡°It¡¯s just that the fur quality is a bit lacking.¡± Mugalen felt a twinge of regret. Not to mention the large holes and bloodstains, just the battering it took had left several large gashes on the bear. If the skin was peeled off intact, it was bound to be pockmarked. Thinking this, Mugalen no longer cared about appearances and flopped down in the mud, waving at the drone and shouting, ¡°Hey, could you help preserve the bear paws? Freeze them directly. There are still two days left until the end, and I¡¯m afraid they¡¯ll go bad.¡± Mugalen knew for sure that a whole bunch of people were watching him; otherwise, it would be strange. The show¡¯s crew looked at each other, confused. Such a request was actually against the rules, but given the circumstances, breaking the rules just this once seemed to be no big deal. ¡°Let¡¯s agree to it.¡± Jerret nodded. Anyone in this situation would make an exception. Mugalen, having received an affirmative response, was all smiles. He pried open the brown bear¡¯s large mouth, and a putrid smell hit his nostrils, but Mugalen didn¡¯t show the slightest disgust. He reached straight in, veins bulging on his forehead. After a moment, Mugalen managed to pry out a canine tooth, and upon losing his strength, he fell back into the puddle. The water, which should have been ice-cold, felt completely unnoticed by Mugalen as he washed the tooth in it, then raised it triumphantly in front of the camera. Under the sunshine, the slightly yellow canine tooth shimmered, measuring four centimeters long¡ªno one would dare to underestimate it. It was, after all, a trophy from one of the strongest land predators. Just auctioning it could fetch a handsome price because this was no mere bear tooth, but one obtained from primordial hunting, a symbol of human strength and intelligence, worthy of commemoration. But Mugalen¡¯s mindset clearly wasn¡¯t on this point as he shouted joyfully, ¡°Milani, can you see this? This thing is way prettier than a shark tooth!¡± The audience was momentarily stunned, but many quick-witted ones got the joke and burst into laughter. [Holy shit, who¡¯d have thought this is what you actually cared about?] [Seriously, is this the main point? Now I¡¯m starting to question the real motive behind Mugalen hunting the bear. ] [But still, bad-ass. ] [Indeed, must be first place by now, right? I feel like even if he can¡¯t make it out, Mugalen should still be first. But there¡¯s probably still time to leave, right? ] [Only two days left, it¡¯s a bit risky, but no problem. Another rising star has emerged, just not as cool as Master Fang.] [True, Old Fang is still more awesome in this regard (Funny.)] [Damn, why do these kinds of people exist, handsome and capable (Crying), should¡¯t it be more like Uncle Mugalen? ] For three whole hours, Mugalen was busy with the bear carcass. A bear¡¯s hide is not something that can be dealt with easily. On one hand, the bear was too large for one person to handle, and on the other hand, the hide itself was severely damaged, so it had to be carefully processed to prevent further decline in quality. The skin had to be cut open with a small knife at every patch, like a butcher meticulously carving meat. Draping the entire bear hide over oneself, that sense of accomplishment was truly unmatched, causing countless viewers to watch with envy, almost to the point of tears. Moreover, many international viewers even offered high prices to buy the bear¡¯s head and hide, but Mugalen declined them all. Joking, such a feat, even he himself wasn¡¯t sure he could replicate it. Of course, he had to keep it in his own home for a collection; selling it was absolutely out of the question. However, he could sell a couple of bear paws. ¡­ Survival Day Eleven. Mugalen set out again, his bear hide on his back. To lighten the load, he had even taken off his jacket. Ava and Lisa were still suffering from colds. Luckily, their condition wasn¡¯t too severe, and they were able to move around, supporting each other as they walked. But it seemed unlikely for them to make it through the wilderness. The guys in the jungle were still living a leisurely life, catching small animals every day, heading to the river for water when hungry. They were having an easygoing time, to the point of having a makeshift yard now. As for the last one, Ji Zuodong¡­ Ji Zuodong stopped in his tracks and looked down at the broken tree beside him, his expression brightening with joy. The cross-section was smooth and even, it clearly wasn¡¯t broken by nature. It was chopped down! ¡°The cross-section of a tree broken by nature is always rough, but only humans using tools could make such a smooth cut. I¡¯ve finally found traces of human activity. With any luck, I might find a human settlement today.¡± Running his hand over the smooth surface, Ji Zuodong felt a surge of excitement in his heart. Eleven days, he had survived in the wilderness for a total of eleven days. Do you know how he had spent them? Playing the game¡­ traveling every single day! His legs had even started to ache and swell. The more Ji Zuodong thought about it, the more thrilled he became. After confirming his direction, he continued forward, filled with fighting spirit. ¡°If it¡¯s a wheel track, there might be a road nearby, if it¡¯s a chopping mark, there might be a village or a small town nearby. Only then would someone go into the forest to chop down trees. Of course, it¡¯s also possible that I¡¯ll find a road first.¡± Sure enough, an hour later, Ji Zuodong reached the top of a hill. The view was wide open, and he could clearly see for tens of kilometers around. Utilizing his vantage point, he spotted a road below the hill at a glance! ¡°Damn it, Old Fang has finally made it out!¡± Ji Zuodong couldn¡¯t help but shout out loud, even letting out a curse word, followed by a burst of uninhibited laughter. Finishing his crossing more than a day early, he must be the first, right? Not to boast, but with only five people left, it was very likely that he would secure first place. All he had to do was descend the hill, and in less than a kilometer, he would reach the road and declare his challenge a success. With that thought, he hurried down the hill, seemingly still full of energy. It was truly incredible. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for someone as bold as Mugalen, this championship might really have been ours. It¡¯s a shame we can only settle for second place now.¡± Bi Fang, who had already returned to the helicopter, smiled and felt a tinge of regret. The reason for saying this was because Mugalen¡¯s first place was almost certain. If he hurried, his success in the crossing was almost guaranteed. In this case, Ji Zuodong¡¯s advantage was arriving a day early, but such an advantage was nothing in the face of Bear. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯ll go welcome him now.¡± Meanwhile, Ji Zuodong had already reached the road, and he began looking for road signs to figure out exactly where he was. But before he found them, the roar of a helicopter overhead interrupted his thoughts. ¡°Did I make it?¡± Ji Zuodong looked up at the familiar helicopter, feeling very moved. To survive eleven days and traverse over five hundred kilometers was an experience he had never had before in his life. ¡°Congratulations, after 268 hours, you¡¯ve successfully crossed!¡± Bi Fang stepped off the plane, extending his hand with a smile on his face. Ji Zuodong politely shook his hand, eagerly asking, ¡°I just want to know if I¡¯m the first one.¡± ¡°That¡­¡± Bi Fang and Pondy exchanged glances behind him, a look that made Ji Zuodong¡¯s heart sink with a bad premonition. A hundred thousand Ugly Gold was not a small amount, converted to cash, it was over six hundred thousand. It was several years¡¯ worth of salary for a normal person, and to think it could be earned in just half a month, anyone would naturally feel anxious. He hurriedly asked, ¡°Has someone else crossed before me?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not the case.¡± ¡°Then how did he win?¡± Ji Zuodong was puzzled, not so much questioning the fairness of the show, since everyone¡¯s progress was live broadcasted. If he hadn¡¯t secured first place with such a large advantage, it only meant that someone else had performed even better. What exactly did he do? Bi Fang didn¡¯t waste words, pulling out his phone to show Mugalen¡¯s bear hunting scene, to make the other accept the result wholeheartedly. Ten minutes later, Ji Zuodong returned the phone with a complicated expression, feeling a bitter taste in his heart. ¡°Impressive!¡± Chapter 313 - Chapter 313: Chapter 310: Arriving at the Capital Chapter 313: Chapter 310: Arriving at the Capital ¡°Demands? What demands?¡± Bi Fang became curious. What could Abbascan possibly want? He wouldn¡¯t be asked to help carry out their missions, would he? That would be too preposterous. ¡°A minor request. They demand that your live stream must not stop, that it has to be on twenty-four hours a day, in real time. They will appoint an official to supervise and prevent some terrible impacts. Moreover, they will have the authority to shut it down, meaning you¡¯ll have to hand over control of the feed to them, letting their personnel operate it.¡± ¡°Shut it down?¡± Bi Fang furrowed his brow slightly. He could understand and accept everything up to that point. It was just like the time with the wolf pack, keeping the live stream on even while sleeping. Apart from affecting his average viewership numbers, there wouldn¡¯t be any other impacts. It could even explain why the personnel requirements for this mission were not as high as before; it probably had already been accounted for by the system. But having the authority to shut it down was like handing over his right to broadcast, wasn¡¯t it? If the other side wanted to censor the content, wouldn¡¯t he have no autonomy at all? If a weird cap was fitted, there¡¯d be no way to recover. This was not unusual. Many people, whether for self-promotion or some bizarre psychology, liked to make a big fuss about things as if they needed to prove their existence. Bi Fang¡¯s live streaming was actually a bit taboo too since dissecting animals inevitably involved gore. He used to turn his back to avoid broadcasting it, but after he got official approval, he didn¡¯t need to be so discreet, and he started to boldly show it. Others didn¡¯t have this privilege. Who knows what Abbascan¡¯s group¡¯s level of psychological acceptance was? Moreover, who would supervise those with the power to shut it down? There¡¯s another inescapable issue. As for whether the signal source would involve the system, that wouldn¡¯t be a problem. The shutdown authority here belonged to the Wolf Fang¡¯s backend, not an issue with the drone signals. If Wolf Fang¡¯s management cut the signal, naturally, the audience could not see anything, unrelated to the drones. Just as Bi Fang was wrestling with uncertainty, the man opposite him smiled and said, ¡°I know the latter demand was a bit much, so we negotiated with them again. The current proposal after consultation is for us to endorse it, giving that power to us, and then letting them supervise. Right now, this is the best outcome. Take a look and see if you can accept it. If you can, then let¡¯s prepare on Wolf Fang¡¯s end.¡± ¡°You should have led with that. Do me a favor and don¡¯t gasp like that next time, okay?¡± Bi Fang heaved a sigh of relief and scolded with a laugh, damn, he really thought it was beyond saving. He could absolutely trust his own people. ¡°Didn¡¯t we want to emphasize its importance to you? Now the country is backing you up, so think carefully about what you say and do. Don¡¯t let anyone down.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve live-streamed so many times before, you know me.¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s why we¡¯re confident in endorsing you. No one else could get this privilege.¡± After Bi Fang hung up the phone, the worries that had been weighing on him were finally settled. It was indeed cause for celebration, and since he now had a higher-level connection, even the visa and everything else had been sorted out quickly and conveniently, saving a lot of time. Now that all channels were open, it was time to get everything arranged¡ªthe best planning, coordination with the platform. Wolf Fang naturally took this very seriously, and as soon as they received notification, they posted the prepared promotional poster on their official website. This time it was no ordinary forest or desert but the ruins of a human city. Just the novelty of it could set the whole network ablaze; it was sure to be a sensation in the world of live streaming. The large cover featured a desert-like bright yellow, vivid yet reeking of desolation. Below were broken walls and ruined furniture, and Bi Fang, with his travel bag on his back, stood in front of a building half-destroyed by a cannonball, looking up at the gaping hole, seemingly contemplating whether to enter and search for supplies. In the lower right corner of the image, a shadow hinted at the presence of others. A sense of cruelty and desolation spontaneously arose, putting viewers on edge, as if bandits could spring out of the shadows at any moment. At the same time, Bi Fang updated the location and time of his next live stream on his Weibo, and Wolf Fang¡¯s official account immediately responded to @Bi Fang. @Bi Fang: The strongest adventurer in history, known as Master Fang, the master survivalist, the traveler in the wilderness¡ªBi Fang has set out alone to the world¡¯s most chaotic region, inhabited by the despairing, bandit gangs, insurgents, and rebels, a place of relentless warfare, transformed into a desolate forbidden land of ruins: Abbascan! April 1st at 12:00, you think it¡¯s April Fool¡¯s Day? No, this is the day of departure! Comment and share, and Little Wolf will select the first fifty lucky fans to give away a signed poster, the top twenty will receive a chibi figurine, and the top three will even receive Shenhua¡¯s latest smartphone model. What are you waiting for? Join in now! Below was a long list of reposts from Wolf Fang¡¯s major hosts, Mo Xiaoxian, Yao Jun, Lin Chang, Yao Lina, and even Ling Xuefeng from Shark had shared it, with many of his fans jokingly calling him a traitor¡ªa lively scene indeed. ¡°Pretty good at playing this game.¡± Bi Fang saw the repost by Wolf Fang on Weibo and couldn¡¯t help but remark; wondering if he really had signed that many posters last time? Having forgotten how many signatures he had done, Bi Fang fell into thought. Just one Weibo post stirred so many celebrities, causing many people to sigh deeply. The once small-time streamer had now become a big star, a simple move of his would attract a large following, and every decision he made touched people¡¯s hearts. Even the Shark platform had to pay attention, shifting some of its important activities to avoid coinciding with Bi Fang¡¯s live streaming time, stepping back from the limelight. As for the internet, Heh. Isn¡¯t a huge uproar the norm? In less than an hour after Weibo and Wolf Fang¡¯s announcement, the news of Bi Fang¡¯s next live stream heading to Abbascan skyrocketed to the top ten of the trending list. It probably also had the push from Wolf Fang, but reaching such a level of popularity before the broadcast even started was an experience not seen in his previous streams. This alone demonstrated the shock that the live stream had on the melon-eating masses. ¡°Damn, is Master Fang going to war?¡± ¡°Huaxia Soldier King goes berserk in a war-torn area? Is this the headline?¡± ¡°There are still places at war¡­?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t even know that? Go out more, and you¡¯ll realize how lucky you are to be born in this country.¡± ¡°This live stream is way too dangerous, he¡¯s actually going to Abbascan, damn, are we going to see real guns and battles? Isn¡¯t he afraid of being turned into a sieve?¡± ¡°King of Soldiers Master Fang: Are such good things really happening?¡± ¡°Good lad, right in his wheelhouse.¡± ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not as exaggerated as you think. It¡¯s a Ruins City, not a frontline battlefield; it¡¯s not that chaotic. But the desolation is real, as nearly all places have been scavenged by the starving. You could say there¡¯s nothing growing there, not even grass, and the trees have been stripped bare, more extreme than a locust plague.¡± The trending topic drew even those unfamiliar with Bi Fang into the grand discussion, with netizens voicing their varied opinions¡ªwhether they had watched Bi Fang¡¯s live streams before or were only just getting to know him. Some accused him of sensationalism, others of seeking death, but the majority were still his fans showing support and anticipation. The internet has a memory that can trace back to ancient times, but netizens¡¯ memory can be even shorter than a goldfish¡¯s. In just two or three days, most people had almost forgotten about the trip to Abbascan, with only the fans in the fan groups still discussing it fervently. With little attention, Bi Fang took a quiet flight and arrived at the capital of Abbascan. Chapter 314 - Chapter 314: Chapter 311: Preventing Theft Chapter 314: Chapter 311: Preventing Theft Sunshine bathed the plains, and the wind grazed the earth, waving through thousands upon thousands of small yellow flowers that concealed the naked brown soil left bare after the heavy winter snows had melted. The wilderness was vast, as if blanketed with a layer of golden sunlight. ¡°Spring is here,¡± Bi Fang stood on the field, and the air rushed into his nose, so fragrant that he knew without looking that in front of him was certainly a vast expanse of lush green. From February to March, everyone witnessed the Rocky Mountains welcoming spring through drones, watching as the colors of the land transformed time and again. The wind brought moisture and warmth from the Pacific Ocean, the snowline on the mountains continuously rose, the huge ice armor cracked, and the cracks flowed with snowmelt, sweet as honey. The long-silent earth was again exposed under the sun, breathing fresh air to its content, and tender grass squeezed out of the ground, like emerald green spring water gushing from deep within the earth, spilling over the undulating wilderness all the way to the horizon. The first to bloom were the spring flowers. Their vitality was so strong, they scattered like wild grass across the entire world, planting their own flags in every corner of the Earth. They grew prostrate on the ground, sprouting branches from the leaf axils, producing long flower stems, and blooming with soft yellow five-petal flowers. The tide of soft yellow blossoms overcame the green of the wild grass, stretching endlessly to the sky, forming a huge, boundless flower meadow. Full of life and vigor. Even the viewers felt joy in their hearts, in modern society, how many have the opportunity to be this close to nature and to spring? In these ten or so days, such a change truly made one feel the existence of ¡°spring,¡± rather than it being just a concept in a book, or a hurried glimpse during a tense weekend. Worse yet, for those without even a weekend off¡­ A true genesis from nothing. ¡°There¡¯s only half an hour left.¡± Bi Fang rolled up his sleeves, revealing the contest-standard watch, which now displayed a countdown that had gone from the initial 299:59:59 to the current 000:31:12. ¡°Has Mugalen arrived?¡± ¡°He¡¯s already on his way.¡± Pondy pointed to a tiny figure in the distance, draped in a vast bear skin, with a massive bear head resting on Mugalen¡¯s own head¡ªif one didn¡¯t look closely, they might actually believe a brown bear was approaching. And one wouldn¡¯t want to be mistaken for a real bear and get shot. Poachers were not rare these days; a bear¡¯s worth was far beyond one hundred thousand Ugly Gold, and walking in the forest in a bearskin could accidentally lead to getting shot. From afar, Mugalen also spotted the helicopter parked by the road, and raising his thumb at the drone¡¯s camera, he shouted toward Bi Fang and the others. ¡°Am I the first one?¡± Bi Fang nodded with a smile, ¡°If no miracles happen in the remaining half hour, then indeed you are.¡± ¡°Ha!¡± Mugalen laughed loudly, utterly pleased with the outcome. But with half an hour still to go before the program officially ended, he wasn¡¯t in a hurry, settling himself naturally onto the helicopter, dropping onto the seat and rocking it back and forth as he exhaled a long breath. Damn, it¡¯s comfortable here; he¡¯s going to be a commentator from now on. Half an hour later, the miracle ultimately did not occur; Ava and Lisa were nearly a hundred kilometers away from human settlements, failing to cross over. The production team sent out helicopters to pick up each contestant one by one, discussing the final award ceremony process. Bi Fang and the other judges discussed together, first and second place were undoubtedly Mugalen and Ji Zuodong, but the third¡­ Who should it go to? The judges had a dispute¡ªbetween Avrilisa and the guy who survived in the Wilderness for twelve days, who should take third place? After all, crossing is harder than staying in one place to survive. Even though they didn¡¯t succeed, Ava and Lisa are women, who are naturally physically weaker, so they should be given extra care. It¡¯s only fair to relax the standards a bit for them¡­ ¡°Alright, Aojinka third!¡± The judges were noisy and contentious, Bi Fang grew frustrated listening and directly settled on the third place. ¡°Ah, this¡­¡± The judges looked at each other in dismay. Those who supported Aojinka were naturally happy, while those who didn¡¯t felt as if they were choked with discomfort. They had listed so many conditions, yet the other side didn¡¯t even glance at them. Bi Fang scorned with a curl of his lip, thinking these Ugly Country People judges must have been brainwashed. A failure was a failure; there weren¡¯t that many reasons to it. He absolutely respected Ava and Lisa for their will and ability. Women¡¯s natural conditions are indeed weaker, but if that becomes a reason to skew fairness, then that is the truest form of disrespect. What real strong woman would need your pity? As for these judges, if Lisa came over, one punch would turn them into whining creatures. And this wasn¡¯t fair to Aojinka either. He had gotten the win on his own merit, indeed persevering for twelve days, catching small game continuously¡ªclear evidence of his true skills. He knew how to find animal tracks, his shelter was solid and colorful, he even constructed fences, indeed very impressive. Jerret naturally had no objections to this decision. When he previously invited Bi Fang over, he had made it clear that Bi Fang was the chief judge with the final say, while the others had only a voice for suggestions. Disagree? Sure, go and bring over a black bear first, then talk. If you can¡¯t, just hold it in. Seeing that no one else had any objections, Bi Fang came over to Mugalen, grabbed his hand, and lifted it up high. ¡°Then let¡¯s congratulate Mr. Mugalen Abufus Viller, our champion! The king who conquered the Rocky Mountains, the brave man who hunted brown bears!¡± The staff immediately brought the trophy over, engraved with Mugalen¡¯s full name, along with a large check. Mugalen cared nothing for the fancy trophy; he was there for the one hundred thousand Ugly Gold, but when he took the check, it wasn¡¯t for one hundred thousand, it was a full six hundred thousand! The audience almost stopped breathing when they saw it¡ªsix hundred thousand? Isn¡¯t that nearly four million Red Tickets? Holy smokes! Mugalen was stunned, wondering if the show¡¯s crew had made a mistake. Jerret, meanwhile, explained with a smile, ¡°Actually, it was Bi Fang¡¯s idea. He felt that one hundred thousand didn¡¯t match your performance, so he suggested including all the tips from the audience within those two days, as well as any tips collected during the segments you appeared in. Our show¡¯s staff just rounded it up. Other survivors got their share too¡ªwhatever tips they received during their on-screen appearances, we gave it to you guys.¡± Second place Ji Zuodong and third place Aojinka also received checks; looking down, they saw that the amounts were indeed several times higher than what had been initially set! Even Ava and Lisa, who failed the challenge, got a share. As long as they persisted, they received prize money, making their half-month of hardships worthwhile. Suddenly, the live broadcast room was filled with congratulations and cheers. No one had any complaints about the first place winner, Mugalen¡ªthey truly felt happy from the bottom of their hearts to hear that the prize money increased. Similarly, there were praises for Bi Fang¡¯s character. After all, he didn¡¯t really need to give out that money, and nobody took it for granted that Bi Fang shouldn¡¯t take it. If it weren¡¯t for him, the show would not be as hot as it is now. It might have been possible in the future, but certainly not in the first season. The audience willing to tip generously were basically there for Bi Fang. After all, as a new show, no matter how exciting or popular it would become, there would be a delay¡ªusually, it¡¯s the viewers who watch the recordings later. There is no way it could have attracted such a large audience during live broadcast like it did now. A reward of over a million Ugly Gold was considered a generous gesture in any show and laid the best foundation for Wilderness Arena. Even if Bi Fang didn¡¯t come in the future, the Discovery Channel had the confidence to carry it forward. It was a win-win for everyone! Chapter 315 - Chapter 315: Chapter 312: Starting with a Package Chapter 315: Chapter 312: Starting with a Package It was midnight in the country. The dark screen of the phone suddenly lit up, and Cao Lifeng, who was about to put down his phone for a nap, was startled. He rubbed his sleepy eyes and glanced at the push notification. ¡°Extreme Survival in Ruins City, a Glimmer of Life in War-torn Lands?¡± After reading the content, Cao Lifeng dismissively curled his lips. The notifications these days are getting more and more sensational, coming up with any kind of title just to trick him into clicking, not knowing that Big Boss Cao is not so easily fooled. Time to sleep. Cao Lifeng closed his eyes, deciding not to think about that darn Ruins City anymore. But as soon as he closed his eyes, something felt off, and he couldn¡¯t get that notification out of his mind. Ruins City, Ruins City¡­ Sounds strangely familiar. Damn it! Cao Lifeng suddenly woke up, with sleep completely gone, his eyes wide as bells. Wasn¡¯t it Master Fang¡¯s announced topic for his latest live stream? The quiet dormitory suddenly echoed with a shout. ¡°Holy smokes, Master Fang is live streaming!¡± Like Cao Lifeng, there were tens of thousands, no, countless people overjoyed upon receiving the notification, a hundred thousand, three hundred thousand, five hundred thousand¡­ People from all over the world flooded into the live stream room, once again seeing the familiar face and the well-known opening words. [Looking back at the course of human evolution, if our ancestors hadn¡¯t possessed the instinct for adventure and imagination, the courage to innovate, and the willingness to make sacrifices with their broad minds and grand emotions, humans wouldn¡¯t have surfed the oceans in canoes, nor explored the endless mysteries across the oceans.] [Curiosity leads humans to the urge for adventure, and adventure ignites the torch of civilization.] [Adventure is not only found in the vastness of nature¡¯s oceans and mountains, deserts and swamps, but also lies within the densely populated cities.] [I am Bi Fang, a professional outdoor explorer. Here, I¡¯ll show you how to survive in some of Earth¡¯s most dangerous places¡ªplaces where, without professional skills, you might not even last a day.] [So, is the live stream starting?] Before Bi Fang even finished speaking, the audience had already sent out the opening lines as bullet comments, and despite the tens of thousands simultaneously posting, they appeared extremely neat and organized. ¡°You guys remember it even clearer than I do.¡± Bi Fang laughed heartily inside the helicopter, today¡¯s effect was good, justifying his repetitive groundwork from the past. It was like the fruit he had personally sown, finally bearing fruit after half a year¡ªit wasn¡¯t very sweet, but it was still a harvest, how could it not bring joy? ¡°Besides Master Fang, who else gets this kind of treatment, too awesome, besides the league, in my life, I¡¯ve never seen such a popular live stream.¡± In the dormitory, not caring about his afternoon nap or his cursing roommates, Cao Lifeng who entered the live stream room leaned on the cushion, filled with awe. He didn¡¯t start watching Bi Fang¡¯s streams early or late, but during the desert journey. That kind of carefree and dashing prowess immediately attracted him. Is there really anyone else in the world who could be so uninhibited and cool? Compared to him, what are these little fresh meats? They¡¯re completely outclassed! A true man should be like this, unfettered between heaven and earth. Therefore, disturbing roommates out of excitement doesn¡¯t really matter anymore, especially when each one of them was even more excited than him; who could sleep at a time like this? They all got up to watch the live stream. Since the last ocean journey, Master Fang hadn¡¯t had a proper live stream in over two months. How could they not be thrilled by his return? Refocusing their attention on the screen, Bi Fang appeared in a windbreaker and outdoor pants, his smile brimming with warmth. [Hahaha, I¡¯ve waited two months, and finally, there¡¯s a new live stream! King of Soldiers Fang is online!] [Damn, I¡¯ve been holding back for so long, I need a video from Master Fang to let off some steam!] [You¡¯re not right in the head] [Indeed, we must get back to business. A solo live stream is the best. The Wilderness Arena during the Spring Festival was good too, but it just doesn¡¯t match the thrill of watching Master Fang live!] [Master Fang got even more handsome!] In the face of his online friends¡¯ enthusiasm, Bi Fang chuckled and positioned the camera in front of the plane¡¯s window to give everyone a closer look at the scenery. The center of Abbascan had not yet been reached, but they were already at the outskirts of a town. Looking down from high above, the landscape was barren, with hardly any trees; it looked as though a layer of skin had been scraped off the Earth. ¡°This is my sixth live stream, and unlike the previous survival in Nature, this time I¡¯m not going to the jungle, nor the desert, but to Abbascan, one of the most chaotic countries in the world. Since the rebel war broke out ten years ago, the sound of gunfire has never ceased on this land. Because of the continuous war, many buildings in Yemen have turned to ruins. The once bustling city of a hundred thousand people, now it¡¯s questionable whether even a thousand remain, almost becoming a ¡®Ghost City¡¯.¡± At this moment, I¡¯m rapidly approaching this city. If you had tuned in earlier, even before getting close to Yemen, you might have heard the terrifying sound of artillery.¡± Just a few simple sentences had the audience holding their breath in tension. My God, they could even hear the sound of artillery. For most viewers watching the live stream, this was unimaginable, even in Ugly Li Jian where daily gun battles were an inside joke. Most people might have fired guns, but the vast majority had never seen artillery fire up close. Those able to watch the live stream are generally not living in war-torn areas because where there¡¯s war, there¡¯s not even a stable signal tower, let alone access to the internet to watch live streams. Bi Fang filmed the aircraft¡¯s instrument panel for a while, which was dazzling with instruments like the artificial horizon, altimeter, speedometer, combined compass, vertical speed indicator, turn and slip indicator, engine parameters, and more. Just briefly introducing these instruments left the viewers dizzy, but after all, it was an armed helicopter, and there were still many interested viewers. Focusing the camera on the altimeter, Bi Fang said, ¡°As you all can see, the purpose of the altimeter is to display the aircraft¡¯s altitude. Right now, I¡¯m two hundred meters above Yemen. This survival mission will take place in an abandoned urban environment, which is a challenge for me, as my previous five times were in nature. However, this time I am in a human city. Nevertheless, I will use the same skills I¡¯ve masterfully applied in the wild to show you how to survive in harsh environments. I will be facing extreme dangers, much like a spy or soldier on the front lines, as I try to live through the great disaster of this city. But I haven¡¯t prepared much because I will play the role of an ordinary tourist. Other than a backpack, I¡¯ve brought nothing¡ªnot food, not a water source, and I haven¡¯t even carried any weapon for self-defense; I¡¯ll live six days in this ¡®Ghost City¡¯ without them.¡± Despite prior promotions and being mentally prepared, the audience couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of excitement upon hearing these words. Yes, that¡¯s right! After two months, it¡¯s the familiar thrill, the enterprising Adventurer! Of course, many viewers were still worried after hearing this. How on Earth was he going to protect himself in a war-torn area without bringing anything¡ªnot to mention firearms, but even the military knives commonly seen in the past weren¡¯t carried? Master Fang was often seen thriving in the forest, but how was he going to survive in Ruins City? This was a completely different environment, and the survival tactics in a city were undoubtedly much more practical than in the wilderness since most of them lived in cities. What if disaster struck? Aside from major events like the September 22 incident and Hurricane Katrina, which were extremely dangerous, natural disasters could also be a threat even in our own country. Starting off with just a backpack and relying on scavenging for equipment! Chapter 316 - Chapter 316: Chapter 313: Preventing Theft Chapter 316: Chapter 313: Preventing Theft ¡°Demands? What demands?¡± Bi Fang grew curious. What could Abbascan possibly demand of him? ¡­. He wouldn¡¯t be asked to help them carry out a mission, would he? That would be utterly preposterous. ¡°Just a small request. They demand that your live broadcast cannot be paused and must be operational 24 hours uninterrupted. When the time comes, they will have officials overseeing to prevent any adverse effects. They will also have the authority to shut it down, meaning they want to take control of the signal source and let their people operate it,¡± the person explained. ¡°Shut it down?¡± Bi Fang slightly furrowed his brows; he could understand and accept what was said in the beginning. It was just like with the wolf pack incident¡ªbroadcasting even while sleeping. Aside from affecting his average viewer count, there was no other impact. It might even explain why the personnel requirement for this mission was actually lower than before; it was probably already calculated within the System¡¯s metrics. But having the authority to shut it down¡ªit meant handing over control of his broadcast rights, didn¡¯t it? If they decided to censor it at will, wouldn¡¯t he be completely powerless? Various strange accusations could be thrown at him, and it could become impossible to recover from them. This situation wasn¡¯t uncommon. Many people, for reasons unknown¡ªeither to claim credit or due to some odd mentality¡ªloved making a big fuss over minor things, as if they had to prove their existence by intervening. Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast did have some taboos. Dissecting animals invariably led to bloody scenes. In the past, he used to turn away the camera to avoid showing it, but later on, with official endorsement, he no longer needed to be so discreet and was bold enough to broadcast openly, something not granted to others. Who knows what the psychological tolerance level of Abbascan¡¯s group was? Moreover, who would oversee the ones with the authority to shut it down? That was another unavoidable issue. As for whether taking control of the signal source would involve the System, that was not an issue; the shutdown authority lay with Wolf Fang¡¯s backend, not a drone signal problem. Once the management at Wolf Fang cut the signal, the audience naturally couldn¡¯t watch; it had nothing to do with drones. As Bi Fang wavered in thought, the person from the other side smiled and said, ¡°I know the subsequent demands are a bit much, so we renegotiated with them. The current proposal is for us to endorse it, transfer that power to us, and then let them oversee. Right now, this is the best outcome. Take a look and see if you can accept it. If you can, let the folks at Wolf Fang get ready.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say so earlier? Next time, do you think you could breathe a little less heavily?¡± Bi Fang let out a huge sigh of relief and jokingly scolded, damn it, he really thought the situation was irretrievable. For his own people, that was absolutely trustworthy. ¡°Wasn¡¯t trying to get you to pay serious attention? Now the nation is endorsing you. Think a bit more about what you say and do from now on; don¡¯t let everyone be embarrassed.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve done so many live streams; you know what I¡¯m like.¡± ¡°Right, which is why we feel confident endorsing you. Who else would get this treatment?¡± Bi Fang hung up the phone, relieved that the issue that had been worrying him was finally resolved, and it was indeed a cause for celebration. Plus, having connections in high places meant even visas and such were taken care of quickly and conveniently, saving a lot of time. Now that all channels were clear, it was time to arrange everything meticulously, planning and communicating with the platform. Wolf Fang naturally took this very seriously. They posted the prepared promotional image on their official website the moment they received the notification. This time, it wasn¡¯t about going into forests or deserts but exploring human city ruins. The mere gimmick could set the whole network abuzz, guaranteed to set the live streaming world ablaze. The giant cover featured a desert-like bright yellow, vivid yet filled with a sense of desolation. Below were broken walls, ruined furniture, and Bi Fang, with a travel bag on his back, standing in front of a building half-destroyed by cannon fire, looking up at the gaping hole as if pondering whether to enter and search for supplies. In the bottom right corner of the image, shadows loomed as if other people were also present. A sense of cruelty and desolation arose, keeping viewers on edge, as if bandits could spring from the shadows at any moment. At the same time, Bi Fang updated the location and time of his next live broadcast on his Weibo, and the official Wolf Fang immediately responded to Bi Fang. @Bi Fang: The strongest adventurer in history, known as Master Fang, the foremost survival expert, a traveler through the wilderness¡ªBi Fang, alone heads to the world¡¯s most chaotic region, inhabited by bandit gangs, thugs, and rebels, a battleground with ceaseless gunfire, the chaotic and forbidden Ruins City: Abbascan! April 1st at 12:00, you think it¡¯s April Fool¡¯s? No, this is the day of departure! Comment and share, and Little Wolf will pick the top fifty lucky fans to send a signed poster, the top twenty to receive a Q version figurine, and the top three will even get the latest Shenhua smartphone. What are you waiting for? Get involved now! Below was a long list of retweets, all of Wolf Fang¡¯s major streamers, Mo Xiaoxian, Yao Jun, Lin Chang, Yao Lina, even Shark¡¯s Ling Xuefeng had a hand in sharing it, which led to his fans jokingly calling him a traitor in great mirth. ¡°He sure knows how to play.¡± Bi Fang saw the shared Weibo by Wolf Fang, not only feeling impressed but also wondering, did he really sign that many posters last time? Bi Fang, having forgotten how many autographs he signed, fell into deep thought. The WeiBo post touched so many celebrities that many people couldn¡¯t help but feel a little emotional, recalling how the once small-time broadcaster had become a big star, casually stirring up countless followers, each decision pulling at their heartstrings, even the Shark platform had to take notice, postponing some of their major events to avoid clashing with Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast time, temporarily avoiding the limelight. As for online, Heh. Isn¡¯t creating an uproar the usual drill? Within less than an hour of the Weibo post and Wolf Fang¡¯s announcement, the news that Bi Fang would be going to Abbascan for his next live broadcast had already surged into the top ten trending topics. It was estimated that Wolf Fang was pushing hard, but to catch fire to this extent even before the actual broadcast was unprecedented compared to his previous live streams. This just goes to show the shock this broadcast brought to the rubbernecking public. ¡°Damn, is Master Fang going to war?¡± ¡°Huaxia Soldier King rampaging kill streak in a war-torn area? Is that the title?¡± ¡°Are there really still places at war¡­?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t even know about this, upstairs? Go outside more, and you¡¯ll realize how fortunate you are to be born in this country.¡± ¡°This live stream is too dangerous, he¡¯s even going to Abbascan, damn, will we see real gun battles? Isn¡¯t he afraid of being shredded by bullets?¡± ¡°King of Soldiers Master Fang: Is there such a good thing?¡± ¡°Good buddy, right in his wheelhouse.¡± ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not as exaggerated as you think, it¡¯s Ruins City, not the frontlines, it¡¯s not that chaotic. But the desolation is real, virtually everything has been scavenged by hungry people, it¡¯s stripped so bare that even the tree bark has been peeled off, more extreme than locusts passing through.¡± The trending search drew even more people unfamiliar with Bi Fang into the grand discussion, with netizens expressing their varied opinions, both those who had seen Bi Fang¡¯s broadcasts and those who were meeting him for the first time. Some accused him of sensationalism, others of deliberately courting death, but most of the voices were from Master Fang¡¯s fans offering support and looking forward with anticipation. The internet¡¯s memory can trace back to ancient times, yet the memory of netizens is even shorter than a goldfish¡¯s, and in just two or three days, most had almost entirely forgotten about the trip to Abbascan, apart from the fans in the fan groups, who were still discussing it heatedly. With little public interest, Bi Fang took a plane and quietly arrived at the capital of Abbascan. Chapter 317 - Chapter 317: Chapter 314 The Stinkiest Start Chapter 317: Chapter 314 The Stinkiest Start As the figure plummeted straight down, the audience¡¯s eyes bulged in shock. F*ck! What is the concept of fifty meters? On a flat plane, it¡¯s nothing too significant, just a few seconds to run across, but in vertical height, it¡¯s an extremely terrifying visual experience, equivalent to an eighteen-story building! Jumping from such a height, isn¡¯t that a direct descent to the eighteenth layer of Hell, done in one fell swoop? Moreover¡­ did Bi Fang just jump without any safety measures? Even the most uninitiated understand that in such a situation, one must secure a harness. But what did Bi Fang do? He wrapped a loop around his waist and just jumped down!? Fifty meters, it wouldn¡¯t just cause serious injury, it would undoubtedly be fatal! Yet clearly, Bi Fang was not intending to commit suicide. The moment he jumped from the helicopter, he suddenly turned, winding the rope around his thighs and waist in a specific way like a whirlwind, retracting his hand into his sleeve to grasp the rope, holding tightly onto the long rope through the sleeve while green veins slithered like a snake on his forearms! With just this move, he greatly reduced the massive kinetic energy, rapidly decreasing his falling speed. The little-finger-thick nylon rope constricted tightly around Bi Fang, sliding swiftly like a python. Amidst the immense friction, even with a layer of sleeve as protection, Bi Fang¡¯s hands felt as though they were holding a ball of fierce sun, burning through the flesh to the very bone. The strong wind howled by his ears, buildings overlapping in his view. Bi Fang stabilized his form, not daring to let go for even an instant, straining to look up at the sky while catching a glimpse of a building out of the corner of his eye. As sunlight slanted down, dark smoke suddenly erupted among the shadow of the building, shooting towards the sky. ¡°F*ck, an RPG!¡± Bi Fang, hanging in midair, was almost paralyzed with shock, instinctively yelling out loud. The pilot¡¯s pupils shrank dramatically, he too had spotted the RPG. He instantly pushed the control stick, and the famously agile ¡°Little Gazelle¡± maneuvered swiftly. Almost instantly, Bi Fang felt a violent shaking, like a hanging trinket on the rope, being dragged behind the helicopter. Everyone was dumbstruck, having not anticipated an attack to occur at such a time, and even less that a rocket launcher would appear! At that moment, the shadow of war loomed over everyone¡¯s heads. Fire and debris instantly enveloped the building; its already patchy walls burst open with a large hole, chunks of concrete fell from the building¡¯s exterior, hitting the ground and stirring up dust. But it wasn¡¯t over yet ¨C the light of fire flickered within the building, and in the next instant, it triggered a secondary explosion! The visible shockwave spread out from the building, firelight fiercely contracted then expanded as if gathering strength, sending countless fragments flying, slicing through air with shrill screeches. The helicopter¡¯s dark green shell was instantly marked with streaks of white, but Bi Fang, descending rapidly below, missed a piece of the action, being not on the same plane. Still, he was sweating profusely with fear. By this time, he had descended to the very end of the rope. But given the circumstances, the helicopter had long since ascended again, now a dozen meters above the ground and way beyond what a simple fall protection technique could counter. Given that the enemy had an RPG, a devastating weapon, the helicopter hardly had time to escape, much less to deliberately rescue an unknown ¡°streamer¡± like him. As far as the Abbascan officials were concerned, they were naturally welcoming of Bi Fang¡¯s arrival. But when it came to military execution, that was another story ¨C they would not risk a highly valuable armed helicopter for the sake of some streamer. Yet as Bi Fang watched the helicopter climb higher and higher, he knew that hanging in the air would make him a sitting target for an attack. With a glance, he locked onto a window, steeled his heart, and jumped straight down! Countless people screamed until they lost their voices, hearts pounding like drums about to burst. But in the instant Bi Fang fell, he fiercely grasped a rusted balcony mast next to him. However, under the tremendous impact, how could the mast hold up? Even though Bi Fang held on tight, it deformed and bent, emitting a piercing metallic groan, and in a brief moment, it bent to its limit and broke off from the balcony! But Bi Fang was prepared. As he fell, he had anticipated various scenarios and had readied himself, instinctively adjusting his body. Then, with a powerful kick against the balcony of the floor below, he leaped out like a leopard. In such a situation, even the quickest of reflexes wouldn¡¯t be enough for Bi Fang to flip into the floor below. Even if one could react, the sheer momentum was not something he could control. Therefore, his goal wasn¡¯t to cushion his fall, but to choose a landing spot. The drone followed Bi Fang, and viewers watched, astonished, as he leaped past the balcony, plummeting toward a pile of trash in the narrow alley below! The city had not seen a proper cleaning for many months, and in the box, there wasn¡¯t even a hint of a garbage bin left, clearly submerged within a mountain of trash. Bi Fang didn¡¯t need to exert much effort and successfully landed amidst it, kicking up a large cloud of dust. A moment passed. Under the tense gaze of the audience, a hand suddenly shot out from the depths of the garbage pile. Bi Fang struggled and climbed out, coughing heavily and continuously waving away the dust in the air. Most of the waste piled here was household trash, devoid of any hard objects and serving as a perfect cushion. Even without the support from that balcony, falling into it would have most likely caused no harm¡ªunless some damned fool had tossed a knife in there. But that was unlikely; amidst the turmoil of war, even a kitchen knife wouldn¡¯t be carelessly discarded. A thick stench competed to invade his nostrils first. Bi Fang, with his Wolves King¡¯s Sense of Smell, almost vomited in that instant. Even as he breathed, large amounts of dust and flying insects swarmed into his nose, inducing a surge of acid reflux. Damn it, what kind of start is this! Bi Fang cursed inwardly, never expecting such a perilous moment right after disembarking the aircraft! An attack? No, without any vendetta or grudge, and hearing the gunshots and sounds of combat from outside, he felt more convinced it was an accident¡ªhe had been caught in an unknown conflict! The armed helicopter he was on was even mistaken for an enemy force. Fucking hell! Wasn¡¯t it said there was some distance from the rebels? He had never started out so destitute. The audience on the other side of the screen heaved a great sigh of relief upon seeing Bi Fang land safely. My goodness, he actually survived that. Master Fang is really lucky! Awesome! [Snake-skin Movement!] [The chubby with potential six-pack abs donated a Spaceship*1 to the host¡ªbull, Master Fang¡¯s livestream never disappoints!] [Hahaha, starting by falling into a trash heap, is this Master Fang¡¯s worst moment yet?] [Stop laughing, I was scared shitless just now, so damn terrifying. They fight and kill in broad daylight?] [Was it intentional? Master Fang, hurry up and escape! If they catch up you¡¯re screwed, right?] Many viewers were amazed at Bi Fang¡¯s nimble response, and were equally startled by the attack¡ªalthough it was not targeted at the helicopter, it was still an incredibly dangerous moment in a lifetime. Knowing it was unsafe to stay long, Bi Fang struggled out from the trash heap with no footing, and once again smelled the stench on himself, which caused another round of retching. It wouldn¡¯t do; he had to find a place to bathe. The odor was too offensive, especially to his sensitive nose¡ªit all smelled like rotting insects. After spitting out some gastric juice, Bi Fang dared not linger. He shared his analysis with everyone while simultaneously scoping out the surroundings, looking for a good escape route. Charging straight out was definitely not an option; the group that had appeared was in the direction of the exit. Fleeing through the alley entrance could likely lead to a head-on collision with them! While Bi Fang was considering his options, a series of footsteps approached from a distance! Chapter 318 - Chapter 318: Chapter 315: War Epic Chapter 318: Chapter 315: War Epic ¡°Fuck!¡± When Bi Fang heard the sound of footsteps, his expression tightened. Before he could run away, gunfire rained down like a storm at the entrance of the alley, bright trajectories intertwining into a net, leaving no doubt that anyone rushing in would be shot into a pile of mush. Accompanied by screams and curses, the previously skeptical audience was utterly convinced. They had indeed stumbled into a local conflict. When they looked back at the helicopter, it was already gone without a trace. The pilot had even intentionally gained altitude, visually assessing to have risen at least 300 meters, escaping the range of RPGs. What a joke, the enemy had RPGs. If the helicopter rushed in, and bad luck struck, the outcome would be certain death. Delivering a ¡°tourist¡± was all that was needed; his life or death was of no concern, especially since that¡¯s what he had come for, right? And that kid was no ordinary person: descending swiftly without safety equipment¡ªwas that even humanly possible? Just clinging to a length of rope and daring to jump down; he hadn¡¯t encountered such a person in all his years of flying helicopters, not to mention how many seconds had that guy taken to rappel just now? He descended fifty meters in the blink of an eye, something an average person absolutely couldn¡¯t do. And without even wearing gloves, he went down with just his sleeves to protect his hands¡ªtruly a tough character. He must have been a soldier, and not just any regular one. In most countries, the regular army doesn¡¯t train for parachute or fast-rope insertions. A special forces agent? Even less reason to worry then. Thinking this, the pilot pushed the cyclic to fly away even faster, wishing to leave this troublesome place immediately. After all, the man had been dropped off, and whatever happened next had nothing to do with him. ¡°A bit too thrilling, huh?¡± Bi Fang wryly smiled, not expecting to crash into a local armed conflict the moment he arrived; however, by the look of things, he was still alright. The battle was still raging outside the alley, but it hadn¡¯t spread to his location. Yet, he was indeed trapped in the alley. ¡°They¡¯re still fighting now, but once they sort it out, I¡¯ll be in trouble.¡± The audience was feeling the aftershocks, well aware of the extreme danger of the journey, but they had never imagined it would be to this extent. It was just a ride on a helicopter, but what greeted them instead was a rocket launcher. What an ¡°authentic local experience.¡± [Damn it, a rocket launcher right from the start, explosively high-octane] [Are they shooting a war movie here?] [Too fierce, right? Master Fang finally shows up and they greet him with a rocket launcher? Where¡¯s the machine gun setup?] [Hey battalion commander, where¡¯s your damn Italian cannon?] [Is it really the time to joke? Although it¡¯s not dangerous at the moment, they¡¯re still at war. We could¡¯ve been gone just now.] This was not a place to stay for long. Bi Fang glanced around twice, fulfilling the role of a ¡°War Correspondent¡± for a moment, and then surveyed his surroundings. Seeing the wall at the alley entrance over four meters high, he quickly began a short sprint. In a few seconds of dashing, Bi Fang reached the base of the wall, with no intention of slowing down. His calf tendons contracted sharply, and he leapt from the ground, almost as if teleporting, covering close to a meter in distance. Then, with his feet hanging in the air, he stepped against the wall, using friction to push himself up a second time. Still, it wasn¡¯t enough. What happened next was startling. In mid-air, Bi Fang twisted his torso and miraculously stepped against the opposite wall. Utilizing the triangular topography for a third leverage point, he made it to the other side of the alleyway, grabbing the edge of the wall and gently swinging up to straddle the top of the wall. Fuck, that was cool! The audience couldn¡¯t really grasp the technical complexity of the action they had just seen. In reality, there wasn¡¯t much to it; as long as you tried a few more times and had enough strength, anyone could do it. But such wall-scaling skills truly amazed many people, especially the younger ones, who were eager to try. They started thinking about which nearby residential area had this kind of terrain so they could give it a go tonight. However, Bi Fang, perched atop the wall, did not jump down. Instead, he looked up at the balcony above him, leaped up, and climbed on it. Then his arm and shoulder muscles contracted, effortlessly pulling himself up. The entire process was very smooth, clearly demonstrating the strength of Bi Fang¡¯s upper body. With his shark muscles and trapezius muscles enhanced, doing pull-ups was a breeze for him. Coupled with the continual upgrades from the System, it would be a waste if he couldn¡¯t do this much. But what was he up to? The audience was puzzled and getting impatient. The gunfire nearby had diminished quite a bit¡ªdidn¡¯t that mean things were about to end, and they would be caught? Once Bi Fang entered the balcony, he kicked and shattered the glass. The breaking sound went unnoticed under the cover of the gunfire. Opening the apartment door, Bi Fang went straight into the abandoned room. ¡°I am now in an urban environment created by man, and the laws of survival are the same. You need protection, rescue, water, food. To survive, you must keep these basic rules in mind. Survivors of urban catastrophes have to rely on themselves for days before being rescued. Knowing where to find the necessities of life could save you. Unlike in the wilderness, you cannot know where there are more resources in the wilderness. Your only choice is to head towards the equator. The closer to the equator you are, the warmer it gets, and the greater the chances of finding supplies. But in the city, you don¡¯t need to follow this rule. You can only succeed if you find the right target, not just a vague direction. Therefore, choosing a high spot to observe is essential. Right now, this building next to me seems like a good choice. Besides, in a war-torn area, you must understand the distribution of nearby forces, which are friendly and which you should not mess with. I¡¯ve barged in here; I better figure these things out. No need to interact, just need to see how many of them there are, what the situation is like with their armed forces. Now is the best opportunity while they are still fighting. I need to take a look.¡± Inside the room, Bi Fang didn¡¯t rush to go upstairs. Instead, he searched around, found the bathroom, picked up a hard object, broke the mirror on the wall, chose a piece quickly, and moved briskly to the stairwell. He went straight to the rooftop. The whole process took less than two minutes, and the struggle below hadn¡¯t even ended yet. Bi Fang pulled a silk thread from his clothing, then tied the mirror to a piece of rebar. He carefully poked it out from the building, reflecting a clear view of the street scene below. The two groups used broken-down cars as simple barricades, shooting at each other. Thugs drilled hole after hole into the Hummer¡¯s body, the rearview mirror long gone, its side glass shattered. A streak of light flew over the top of the car and exploded a dozen meters ahead, illuminating the front windshield in a fiery red, countless tiny shrapnel stuck in the engine hood. All the viewers were amazed. It¡¯s insane! ¡°In such a situation, everyone must be very careful. Stray bullets are merciless; even if no one sees you peeping, a stray bullet may come your way, so it¡¯s best to use a mirror to refract and observe the situation. You don¡¯t need to worry about snipers. The training of snipers is very harsh and strict. It¡¯s very difficult to encounter one on the battlefield.¡± The chance of encountering a professional sniper in such a battlefield is even lower than the odds of winning a million in the lottery. And through the small mirror piece, Bi Fang got a good look at the conflict scene. The viewers had an even better advantage with drones, giving them a much better view than Bi Fang, almost like panoramic photography. Unfortunately, by the next observation, the battle was nearing its end, and the viewers had not seen many intense scenes, but were still shocked by the scale of the broadcast. Can you really show this kind of thing? Chapter 319 - Chapter 319: Chapter 316 Almost Chapter 319: Chapter 316 Almost Armed violent conflict appeared for the first time in the livestream. Even Wang Yongbo was secretly worried, unsure if it would breach any taboos. In fact, there was no need to worry at all, given the high vantage point, even if bloody scenes did occur, the viewers wouldn¡¯t be able to see them very clearly. Moreover, in the past, there were people who live-streamed drug busts, which were also officially approved with no issues. Compared to that, Master Fang¡¯s situation, although exaggerated, had not crossed the line of what could be broadcasted. After quickly glancing over it, Master Fang had gained a rough understanding of both sides¡¯ firepower and manpower. ¡°We need to cultivate our ability to deal with various situations. Use our observation and inspection abilities to stay alert to potential terror risks that might be hidden in our surrounding environment. The skills used by police and military for close protection and undercover work, such as ¡®Play the Gray Character,¡¯ are the most important skills we need to master. As long as the terrorists don¡¯t single you out as a target or think you¡¯re worth special attention, your chances of survival will greatly increase. So don¡¯t step forward to ¡®play the hero.¡¯ Let¡¯s get out of here.¡± After confirming the conflict was indeed between thugs and assessing their firepower, Master Fang didn¡¯t linger; he had to leave the area quickly. But just as he looked up, he saw a dense screen of comments in front of him. And the sounds of gunfire below disappeared at an unbelievable speed. [Holy shit, Master Fang, look behind you] [Motherfucker!!] [It¡¯s going down!] [The building¡¯s collapsed!!] Master Fang turned around quickly, his pupils reflecting a burning building ¡ª the one previously hit by a rocket, which had exploded a second time for some unknown reason, was now slowly tilting like a collapsing sky. The ground shook, underground water pipes burst, high-pressure jets of water spouted like fountains, and the layers of cement coating the building¡¯s exterior peeled off, crashing to the ground with a thunderous noise. The thugs scattered and ran, sprinting frantically in all directions. It was like a scene prophesied in a book of doom; in front of the apocalypse, everyone seemed as insignificant as dust. ¡°Motherfucker!¡± At that moment, Master Fang was no longer composed; was this damn building¡¯s load-bearing wall blown off!!!? He raced along the eaves, roaring in anger as he went; no one was sending messages now. The huge building slowly toppled behind him, countless sparks shooting into the air, like a burning bird soaring to the sky, gripping the hearts of all the viewers with a disaster-like scene. Run, run! His heart pounded like a runaway wild horse; for the first time, Master Fang felt just how bad his luck was. He could even feel the strong air pressure from the falling building behind him. Unfortunately, no matter how hard he tried, Master Fang still couldn¡¯t outrun gravity. The building crashed into the residential block with a thunderous impact, and even the viewers behind their screens felt as though they could sense the shaking. Master Fang felt the ground beneath him quake, nearly instantaneously numbing his legs as if he were holding a steel pipe and struck another steel pipe ¡ª the recoil alone nearly made him lose his footing, and the subsequent feeling of the ground tilting filled him with horror. This is bad! How could a residential building withstand the force of another building smashing into it? It barely lasted a moment before the roof of the entire block began to tilt and collapse. His pupils contracted to pinpoints, Master Fang cursed inside but dared not stop; to stop would mean death! Master Fang¡¯s legs tensed beneath his pants; he clenched his fists, the veins on his arms popping like angry snakes. Around him was the rumbling of the earth, waves of sound rising higher and higher, spreading out like shockwaves. He felt cut off from the world, wishing he could roar out loud. Adrenaline secreted recklessly, a terrible heat flooding his body, as if his veins were about to burst. Master Fang roared with all his might, and in a flash, life returned to his body. The two waves of sound combined and spread out; Master Fang leaped with all his might, but the rooftop beneath him could no longer hold, shattering and collapsing. It was too far, though. Master Fang couldn¡¯t reach the uncollapsed rooftop and disappeared into the dust along with it on the screen. The viewers were stunned. What followed was an uncontrollable panic. What to do? Something happened, something big! Wang Yongbo¡¯s eyes were about to split, his fingers whitening as he gripped the mouse. He had never anticipated something like this happening¡ªwas Abbascan¡¯s construction all just shoddy as tofu dregs? How could the building collapse after being hit by just one blast? Such a problem occurring right when the live stream started made everyone¡¯s liver and gallbladder tremble with fear. It was impossible to imagine what Wolf Fang would be like without Bi Fang. Wolf Fang couldn¡¯t be without Bi Fang, just like the West couldn¡¯t lose Jerusalem. His eyes bloodshot, he suddenly yelled at someone beside him. ¡°Quick, quick, quick, get in touch with Abbascan right now, tell them to go rescue!¡± The staff member beside him, as if woken from a dream, fumbled to get out their phone, but when push came to shove, they didn¡¯t know how to contact Abbascan. However, the official overseer sent from the headquarters reacted quicker, promptly connected with Bi Fang¡¯s person in charge, and walked to the side to give an account of the situation. The news spread rapidly, and anxious emotions spread throughout the entire office floor. Everyone present was Wolf Fang¡¯s staff, and who among them didn¡¯t know about Bi Fang? Upon hearing that he might have been in an accident, almost everyone turned on the live stream, but on the screen, all they could see was a pile of ruins. Even some of the more sensitive girls could barely hold back their sobs. ¡°Hurry up!¡± Wang Yongbo was so anxious he felt like going mad, wishing he could sprout wings and fly to the rescue site led by Abbascan himself, and personally dig through the entire building. And it wasn¡¯t just Wang Yongbo. Bi Fang¡¯s friends were also extremely nervous. Yao Jun was furiously erupting in his office, and the fans were frantically spamming the live stream with comments begging Bi Fang to hurry up and show himself, telling him to stop ¡°Playing the Gray Character,¡± hoping for a miracle. But many knew it was impossible. Even through the screen, one could feel the bone-chilling despair. The scene on the screen showed nothing but ruins, and to be struck by an entire building¡­ How could anyone survive? The Wolf Fang office building became briefly agitated then quickly fell again into a deathly silence, with only the ¡°whoosh¡± of computer fans spinning. It seemed everyone had accepted an undeniable fact, and the frantic emotion was gradually supplanted by grief, followed by a wave of desolation. Wang Yongbo, enraged, swept his monitor onto the floor. Watching the screen shatter into pieces, he felt no regret, only overwhelming sorrow in his heart. Having known Bi Fang for so long, their relationship had long surpassed merely a partnership. He felt a deep kinship with Bi Fang, like that between a master and a confidant¡­ Seeing this, everyone lowered their heads. Liu Qian was equally grief-stricken, her tears almost spilling over. As Bi Fang¡¯s assistant, she felt unbearably pained at this moment. ¡°Cough, cough.¡± A series of coughs broke the silence. The mournful atmosphere was shattered. Liu Qian, somewhat annoyed, glanced towards the source of the sound, but did a double-take. It was ¡­ The sound system? Another round of coughs rang out, and this time Liu Qian confirmed that it was indeed coming from the speakers. But she had been watching Bi Fang¡¯s live stream all along. Why were there coughing sounds? Liu Qian¡¯s pupils slowly dilated. That was¡ªthe tired but calm voice coming from the collapsed residential building: ¡°Damn, that was close.¡± The dust slowly cleared, revealing Bi Fang perched on the edge of the building¡¯s roof. His nose and mouth were full of dust, looking utterly disheveled, forcing him to cough a couple of times to ease the discomfort. He glanced at the comments, which were full of messages of condolence, and couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°What¡¯s with these comments? Do I look dead to you? How come I didn¡¯t know about it?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t just curse people like that!¡± Chapter 320 - Chapter 320: Chapter 317: Careless, Taught a Lesson Chapter 320: Chapter 317: Careless, Taught a Lesson The dust cleared, revealing Bi Fang¡¯s figure, teetering on the edge of the broken rooftop. Bi Fang felt a chill in his heart, because as far as he knew, Yemen should have been an abandoned city, as even the mission brief stated. All along the way, he saw the same scene: abandoned buildings, not a soul around, no different from a Ghost City. It was precisely for this reason that he thought he might encounter stray bandits in Yemen, though the probability should be extremely low. He had grandly flown into the city in a helicopter, followed by a high-altitude descent, never expecting to run into thugs right away, with a violent confrontation where rocket launchers were drawn, and inexplicably a building was bombed, leading to the current situation. It was not that he regretted it. As a live streamer, he needed to act ostentatiously and attract attention. If you do nothing, say nothing, you won¡¯t attract viewers. In his previous life, Bear Grylls made his recordings by taking risks; otherwise, how would he have earned nicknames like ¡°must dive into every hole¡± and ¡°must sink every boat¡±? Moreover, live streaming needed more highlights than recorded broadcasts. It had not been easy for Bi Fang to get to where he was. Next time, he¡¯d have to do more reconnaissance. As his personal capability grew, Bi Fang realized his mindset was subtly changing, even getting lazy with preparation work. It started when he commented solo and faced off against a wolf pack. This change, it wasn¡¯t good. Little did he know, when personal capabilities improved, wasn¡¯t the difficulty of the tasks also increasing? Bi Fang sighed, having learned a lesson from the surprise attack, and shook off the distractions in his mind, his eyes regaining their determined and fearless look. His live streams were about doing what others dared not; if he lost that adventurous spirit, he couldn¡¯t possibly have reached his current status. What¡¯s done is done. How could he just turn back now that he had entered the territory of the Bandit Gangs? He couldn¡¯t just retreat from Yemen now; that would be a total loss of face. He just needed to be cautious. Having made up his mind, Bi Fang once again worried about his situation. This place, it wasn¡¯t easy to climb. The drone flew high, and the audience could see the collapsed building had almost completely smashed the residential building across the street, like a square cake that had been gouged out with a spoon, leaving only a small fraction teetering on the edge. The top floor, made of reinforced concrete, was even more fragmented. Bi Fang was clinging to a slab that hadn¡¯t completely fallen but was also on the verge of collapse. Due to the stress on the structure, it had nearly broken apart, held together only by a few steel bars. When Bi Fang had tried to move, several bars bent down, scaring him into stopping immediately, but leaving him stuck where he was. If it were just his weight, the bars wouldn¡¯t have bent like this, but there was also a large chunk of concrete on top. Conservatively estimated, it weighed at least half a ton; with Bi Fang¡¯s weight additionally, even the slightest movement posed a great danger. Many viewers also cried out about the danger, unsure of what to do. But seeing that Bi Fang was temporarily safe, most of them let out a sigh of relief and dismissed the idea of seeking a rescue team. In the eyes of the audience, as long as things hadn¡¯t reached the last step, it seemed Master Fang always had a way to solve them, and they just watched on. However, after realizing the true precariousness of Bi Fang¡¯s situation and seeing the gradually bending steel bars, everyone was greatly alarmed, unsure of how to proceed. There were no points of support above, and below, it had been smashed to pieces; letting go would mean falling from the seventh floor, with slim chances of survival. But how long could he hang there on his own? [It¡¯s over, should we get the helicopter that just flew away to give Master Fang a lift?] ¡°How am I supposed to get up there? If I hang from a horizontal bar, I can only last a minute at most. Rescue wouldn¡¯t make it in time, right?¡± ¡°Why would a solid building collapse? Are rocket launchers really that powerful? Times really have changed, modern technology is incredible.¡± ¡°Could it have hit a gas pipeline or something? I seem to remember there was a secondary explosion?¡± ¡°It was indeed a secondary explosion.¡± Bi Fang, suspended in mid-air, nodded his head. A rocket launcher had not enough power to bring down a building just like that. ¡°It could be that the building¡­ had not been maintained for years, plus the secondary explosion, or even the armor-piercing warhead that hit a load-bearing wall, leading to the building¡¯s direct collapse.¡± As Bi Fang explained, he looked around in search of a way to survive. Looking down, the dust on the ground had not completely settled, but it had thinned out a lot, making the situation visible. The fighting factions had long since disappeared, with no clue where they had fled. They seemed like a group of bandits with little military training. How they got their hands on rocket launchers was a mystery, not to be underestimated. Operating in Yemen, there might still be a chance to encounter them. ¡°In this kind of situation, we mustn¡¯t panic too much. We need to calm down. The more panic we are, the faster we use up our energy. We could figure out a solution, but in a rush, we might lose our ideas, and we might not last until we come up with that solution.¡± After a brief explanation, Bi Fang slowly let go of one hand, causing the pupils of the viewers to constrict sharply. That¡¯s damn dangerous. In such a predicament and he dares to let go with one hand? ¡°Are you out of your mind?¡± ¡°Holy shit, Master Fang, you¡¯ve got guts, holding on with one hand. That¡¯s badass! I don¡¯t even hold on peeing against a wall, but you, I respect.¡± ¡°How long has it been? Half a minute? He¡¯s still holding on with one hand? I would have given up long ago.¡± ¡°Damn it, I¡¯m going to run laps tomorrow for sure. I have to improve my endurance!¡± Was Bi Fang courting death? Of course not. He had his eye on a broken rebar nearby, but it was out of reach, forcing him to try another method. Letting go with one hand, Bi Fang pressed the buckle on his waist and slowly started taking off the backpack from his back. ¡°The strength and toughness of the steel reinforcement in reinforced concrete are very high, enough to support the weight of an adult. But I¡¯m also hanging a chunk of concrete here. Under the leverage effect, the force becomes very great. As you have just seen, it started bending the moment I moved slightly.¡± Bi Fang took a deep breath, and it was clear to any observant person that his energy was being rapidly consumed. ¡°So, my goal is to use my backpack to hang onto another piece of exposed rebar.¡± The camera shifted, and everyone immediately saw the broken rebar jutting out, not too far away, roughly one and a half meters, but just beyond reach. Halfway through taking his backpack off, Bi Fang carefully switched hands. He relaxed his left hand, which greatly reduced the soreness, but he didn¡¯t dare delay, and immediately took off the entire backpack. With the backpack off, Bi Fang looked at the rebar not far away and felt challenged. He glanced at the backpack in his hand, shifted slightly to the left, then grabbed one of the shoulder straps and swung out the backpack. The strap hadn¡¯t hooked on when the concrete that Bi Fang was holding suddenly sank. In the chaos, he completely missed the mark! The sudden sinking of the concrete nearly scared the viewers out of their wits, and even Bi Fang himself broke into a cold sweat. In April, the weather hadn¡¯t fully warmed yet. A cold wind blew, and the lining suddenly clung to his back, chillingly cold, like a slippery venomous snake. Chapter 321 - Chapter 321: Chapter 318 Hell Chapter 321: Chapter 318 Hell Bi Fang clung to the broken rebar, his arms trembling slightly, and below him was the scorching sun that blazed towards the sky. The violent wind lifted the hem of his clothes, bringing a cold touch, but that chill was quickly baked away by the heat, leaving behind an intense burn. After the building collapsed, the fire did not extinguish; instead, it spread around like serpents, entwining and climbing over the residential buildings. Looking down from above, it seemed as if a fiery python had burrowed out from the core of the Earth, inch by inch squeezing and twisting its way up the building, determined to crush it to dust. The fire grew more intense, with temperatures on the top floors reaching fifty or sixty degrees Celsius. Bi Fang felt as if he hung above a furnace, his cold sweat instantly drying. Time was running out; if things continued this way, he would either run out of strength and fall to his death or be roasted alive. Swallowing saliva that was thick like glue, Bi Fang¡¯s movements grew increasingly desperate and even somewhat deformed. The rebar bent lower bit by bit. Half a minute passed, and not only had he failed to secure a hold, but he also found himself even further from the broken rebar. Having hung from the top floor for a full minute and a half, under normal circumstances, this amount of time was trivial, barely a test of skill. But now, hanging from a tall building, exhausted, and with flames burning below, his strength was sapped away faster, sweat couldn¡¯t even run down his skin; it was forcefully evaporated within his pores. Feeling the salt crystals left on his face from the dried sweat, Bi Fang licked his lips and steeled his heart, the movements of his hands grew larger. He was no longer just swinging his bag but swaying side to side like a pendulum, with an astonishing amplitude. Such intense actions naturally caused the rebar to bend almost like a plastic board, emitting a grisly creaking sound until, with a tremor, a chorus of metallic clangs rang out as the rebar on the floor above broke off. And just when everyone couldn¡¯t bear to look, Bi Fang took the opportunity to launch himself outwards! Midair, Bi Fang¡¯s heart pounded wildly, but he successfully got closer to the broken rebar. Watching for the right moment and force, he threw his backpack! The shoulder strap, swung by centrifugal force, instantly hooked onto the broken rebar! Under the influence of gravity, Bi Fang plummeted down, his entire body weight pressing down, causing searing pain in his right hand grabbing the other shoulder strap, almost dislocating it, but he clung to the strap, his fingers white from the pressure. Bi Fang knew that once he let go, it would be all over. Hiss! The countless viewers inhaled sharply, as if even the temperature at the fire scene had dropped a few degrees, nearly stunned by the scene before them. They were unclear about Bi Fang¡¯s status but still felt elated. [Damn, awesome!!!] [The legendary ¡®inverse hanging stunt,¡¯ that¡¯s insanely strong!] [For the host stinking of smoke, Bear gifts you 5 Spaceships.] The flames below roared higher, the temperature getting hotter by the moment, leaving Bi Fang¡¯s lips white and peeling with dead skin. His right arm, which had been enduring for some time, had just gone through a fierce strain and felt as if the muscles were tearing, leaving him momentarily unable to exert any pressure. Fortunately, catching the rebar meant there was no major problem. The backpack acted as the connecting medium, stretched and completely deformed. Thankfully, it was a product from the System; its reliability could support not just one person but even another if needed. Bi Fang reached out with his left hand to grab the strap, pulled himself up by grasping the backpack, and took hold of the rebar, replacing the strap. The moment he touched the rebar, it was so hot that it almost burned off a layer of skin from his hand. ¡°Damn it.¡± Even with Bi Fang¡¯s tough disposition, he couldn¡¯t help but swear at that moment. The thermal conductivity of the rebar was too good; its temperature was so much higher than the surroundings. But no matter how hot it was, he dared not let go; bit by bit, he pulled himself up. Not until half of his body emerged over the top of the building did the crowd cheer and jump for joy. The majority of people also relaxed their minds, silently praising, ¡°It¡¯s no wonder that Master Fang can survive in such a desperate situation. Anyone else would have been terrified silly just seeing a whole building bearing down on them, let alone escaping.¡± Bi Fang climbed back up to the top floor. The dust was held back, and the air was clear. He lay there, taking deep breaths of fresh air. Seeing these discussions, he let out a laugh, showing none of the annoyance of being trapped but instead patiently explained. ¡°It¡¯s quite normal. When animals face danger, apart from the strategies of ¡®fight¡¯ and ¡®flight,¡¯ there¡¯s another very important one¡ª¡¯acting weak.¡¯ When the power disparity is too great, and they can neither fight nor flee, animals have evolved the instinct to ¡®play dead.¡¯ Trembling, weak legs, or even fainting outright, the common point is ¡®showing weakness.¡¯ It¡¯s easy to understand, if you can¡¯t fight or flee, then you¡¯d do well to minimize your threat level. If the aggression isn¡¯t predatory in nature, showing weakness in a dire situation can make it easier to survive.¡± After catching his breath, Bi Fang sat up from the ground. Even through his trousers, he could feel his backside starting to heat up. He opened his right hand to take a look, finding several blisters. They hadn¡¯t gotten to the point of peeling skin, but they were enough to show how critical the situation had been and further impressed the audience. The billowing black smoke grew larger around him, and the fire was clearly about to reach him. Bi Fang quickly stood up from the ground. ¡°It¡¯s no use. I have to escape quickly.¡± Moving his sore right arm, Bi Fang ran towards the east side of the residential building. The residential buildings were connected, making it easy to run across the rooftops. The collapsed building was situated at the edge, so once he ran a bit further, it wouldn¡¯t be a bother. After crossing four or five buildings, Bi Fang dared to slow down, clicking his tongue at the fire that grew larger behind him. It was past noon in his home country, but here, it was dusk. The entire residential building was ablaze, with even the tendency to spread. The roaring flames and the orange dusk sky reflected off each other; for a moment, even survival expert Bi Fang couldn¡¯t tell east from west, feeling bewildered. Damn, I¡¯ve never had such bad luck in my life. First, I encounter an attack by bandits upon arriving, then, as luck would have it, a building collapses¡ªutterly perilous. If I had known, I would¡¯ve gotten an off-road vehicle and sneaked into the city quietly. I mustn¡¯t act like this again in the future; I have to do thorough research before setting out. The once arrogant Bi Fang from the increase in power was knocked back to reality. Fortunately, his awakening was not complete; being suppressed at the first sign of hubris might even be considered a good thing. With a sigh, feeling the scorching heat close at hand, Bi Fang continued to flee, trying not to let the fire catch up to him. It was only after running half a street that he stopped; the line of fire was blocked by the open road, thus cut off. Bi Fang stood atop a tall building, looking out. Intense light shone on his black clothes¡ªnot sunlight, but the glow of fire. In the raging flames, the city was wailing; it was practically hell. ¡°I see my shoulders crumble from dust, I see my beauty fall ill, Apart from vanishing¡ªthere¡¯s no other wish.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s eyelids drooped as he murmured, his face half in light, half in shadow. Chapter 322 - Chapter 322: Chapter 319: Guard Against Theft Chapter 322: Chapter 319: Guard Against Theft Bi Fang sat on the edge of his bed, feeling quite excited. Just yesterday, he was wondering when the System would issue a new task, and today it had arrived. Excluding the time spent recording in the Wilderness Arena, Bi Fang had been resting for over a month since before the New Year, and his bones were starting to rust. He couldn¡¯t wait to open the task panel. Task Name: Ruins City Task Location: Abascan Yeimen Region Task Mode: Warfare City Survival Task Difficulty: S2 Task Requirement: Apart from system-supplied equipment, no other items may be carried. Subtask One: Establish a live broadcast with a consistent online audience of over one million. Subtask Two: Conduct a six-day wilderness live broadcast and survive successfully. Guaranteed Reward: Unlock one breakthrough task. Time Limit: Fifteen days. Ruins City? After browsing through the entire task, Bi Fang frowned. He did not like this task one bit. Abbascan, one of the most chaotic countries in the world, and Yimen, a ruined city within it, with bandits, organizations, and the military, all with their complex influences¡ªjust walking on the street might lead to a sudden attack, speaking nothing of safety. However, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t afraid, as it wasn¡¯t his first time facing life-threatening danger. His dislike was genuine. He had always revered nature adventures. Although Ruins City could be considered part of the wilderness, Bi Fang disliked it thoroughly. Rainforests, forests, deserts, snow mountains¡ªthese places might look barren but are always ¡°brimming with life.¡± Unique landscapes, magnificent natural sceneries, various animals adapting tenaciously and diligently to their environment¡­ Ruins City¡­ The only description for it was bleak, without any hope, because those struggling here are humans themselves, and the reason for its current state is also humans. Upon seeing this task, Bi Fang¡¯s heart initially rejected it, but when he saw the guaranteed reward at the end, he was taken aback. Unlock one breakthrough task? What was that? An unheard-of thing. He had undertaken several tasks before¡ªforests, tundras, deserts, traversing the whole of Europe¡ªbut what was a breakthrough task? Break through what? The instincts of a Wilderness Master told Bi Fang this was something very important, that refusing it might lead to regret. Accept. Bi Fang trusted his instincts and clicked to accept. This task was different from the previous ones. Going to France had been no issue, with Elvan using a researcher assistant¡¯s certificate as assurance. But Abbascan was a sensitive country. With Bi Fang¡¯s current status, going there could possibly cause trouble. The task duration was only six days, yet the System gave fifteen days of preparation time, seemingly to allow him to make the necessary communications. He took out his phone and dialed a number, the phone on the other end belonged to someone akin to a manager arranged by his superiors, after all, his current public-facing broadcasts were marked, making it easier to find someone if an issue arose. ¡°Abbascan? Is Mr. Bi joking?¡± The person responsible on the other end of the line was taken aback, and after digging at his ear to make sure he hadn¡¯t misheard, and confirming that the other party was not joking, his expression turned serious. ¡°This is a bit troublesome.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I informed you ahead of time, no?¡± ¡°Informed me?¡± The person in charge rubbed his brow, finding the other party¡¯s words a bit too straightforward. It was a notification, not a request for approval, seemingly reflecting a very strong desire to go. After long consideration, the person in charge nodded, ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll notify the higher-ups as soon as possible and then get in touch with the Abbascan Faction. The crux of this matter isn¡¯t really with us, but rather whether they will agree. If they don¡¯t agree, our consent is in vain, Mr. Bi should understand this.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Bi Fang nodded, of course aware that the agreement depended on the Abbascan Faction¡¯s stance, only if they said it was possible, would it truly be possible. After informing the officials, Bi Fang immediately contacted Wolf Fang, but Assistant Liu seemed somewhat confused about these matters and agreed with a seeming lack of full understanding. A moment later, the phone rang again. Wang Yongbo¡¯s loud voice came from the other end: ¡°Abbascan, Bi Fang, you¡¯re not joking, are you? That place counts as wilderness?¡± ¡°It does,¡± Bi Fang nodded earnestly. ¡°¡­¡± There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, trembling slightly, ¡°But that¡¯s a war zone, planes don¡¯t even dare to fly over it!¡± ¡°Otherwise, why would I go?¡± ¡°You! Ah, that¡¯s different!¡± ¡°It¡¯s the same.¡± Wang Yongbo was speechless, the other guy sure had guts; though he himself had never been to Abbascan and wouldn¡¯t dare to, he could tell from movies and TV shows just how terrifying that place was. It was as different from the domestic environment as heaven is from hell. After a long silence, Wang Yongbo finally sighed, ¡°Do as you wish, I¡¯ve realized that I¡¯ve tried to advise you more than once, yet nothing has happened to you so far, and here I am nearly getting a heart attack.¡± Perhaps this is the gap between ordinary people and legends. With a brief warning, Wang Yongbo no longer tried to dissuade him and instead brought up another matter, inviting Bi Fang to an award ceremony. ¡°An award ceremony? Wasn¡¯t that already held?¡± Bi Fang frowned, thinking the award ceremony Wang Yongbo spoke of was just the annual meeting, where they invited top streamers from his platform to show their faces and receive bonuses. Last month, when the Wolf Fang annual event was held, he was still adrift at sea, naturally unable to attend. So what was this now? ¡°It¡¯s not the annual meeting, it has been a month, how could it be the annual meeting? It¡¯s an official commendation!¡± Wang Yongbo clicked his mouse, sending Bi Fang a notification message; it turned out to be an official invitation for Wolf Fang to participate in the Magic Capital¡¯s High-Quality Entertainment Platform, Outstanding Cultural Transmission Event, Award and Observational Meeting. Bi Fang¡¯s name was prominently listed, highlighted even. Bi Fang suddenly remembered a message he¡¯d received a long time ago about the authorities planning to rectify the disorder in the webcasting industry. Clearly, this event was also part of the recent enforcement actions: rewarding the good and penalizing the bad, cracking down on impropriety and establishing a standard. Webcasting was a form of entertainment that emerged with the rapid development of the internet era, growing rapidly as soon as it appeared, and within a few years, several companies were valued at billions. The rapid growth mostly resulted in rawness, just like a boy during puberty, with a snot-covered nose and soft whiskers sprouting mindlessly around the lips, sometimes waking up to find that his pants have become too short overnight. Just like the sudden roar of thunder awakening insects everywhere, causing annoyance to humans. One day, with a clap of thunder within, various red, white, yellow, and purple eruptions would burst forth across the face, seizing everyone¡¯s attention. Webcasting was the same; it had grown too fast and too recklessly, wholly dependent on market norms¡ªeven barbaric in its growth, with frequent chaos. However, as a nascent field, it couldn¡¯t simply be cut off, but guided towards a healthy and positive direction. The emergence of Bi Fang was the most powerful testament to this. So, while the authorities criticized platforms like Tiger Fang and Shark, they also needed to acknowledge the good ones, to set an example for the industry. It goes without saying who the example was. Wolf Fang was selected as an outstanding video platform, with a special mention of Bi Fang¡¯s presence! When Wang Yongbo first saw this notification, he almost thought he had read it wrong, as it was completely beyond his expectation. Webcasting and winning an award? Although it was just an award with no substantial reward, it signified official recognition and encouragement, and that was more valuable than money. Chapter 323 - Chapter 323: Chapter 320 Learned Something Incredible Chapter 323: Chapter 320 Learned Something Incredible Factory. An unexpected choice. [Seriously, of all places, you just had to choose a factory, what¡¯s the reasoning behind that, does Old Fang also want to be a factory worker?] [Workers unite, worker soul, all workers are above others!] [Shocking, famous live streamer actually wants to work regularly! Is it the platform¡¯s coercion, or has the streamer¡¯s morality degenerated?] [What¡¯s wrong with working? Look down on workers? 996 is a blessing (dog¡¯s head)] The audience chuckled, and Bi Fang coughed twice, as he unwrapped the bandages from his right hand and counter-questioned. ¡°If you were to find yourselves in Ruins City, what would you choose to do first?¡± Run into the wilderness on your own? Many viewers were stunned; they were used to watching live streams and had never considered such a situation. Suddenly being confronted with the question, they even felt a surge of excitement as though they were part of it. It was as if by suggesting something, the Bi Fang visible on the screen would actually do it, giving them a sense of decision-making superiority. [Should we start by hoarding food? Or go to the supermarket? Maybe the market?] [I think we should find weapons first. Go to the police station? Searching for help is also an option, and if not, look for weapons there.] [Bro, you¡¯re ruthless. How could you think of such a thing? Fearless!] [What¡¯s so special about that? It¡¯s just talk; if something really happened, I¡¯d definitely prioritize self-preservation. There might be firearms in a police station, which would greatly increase my ability to protect myself.] [We could also head to the hospital, hoard medicines, and maybe even strike it rich later.] Quite a few viewers really thought this way. Just looking around at the desolation, the weeds in the corners, newspapers fluttering in the wind¡ªit felt intensely apocalyptic. Plus, with the sky¡¯s gloom, there was a natural greyish dark-light filter present, adding to the sense of horror, not much different from a disaster movie. Under such circumstances, not having any tools at hand was indeed unsettling. It was somewhat different domestically; going to the police station was mostly for seeking shelter. Abroad, however, the primary intent was usually to obtain weapons. After bandaging his right hand, Bi Fang smiled. The thoughts of his audience were not far off from his own guesses; how to survive in the apocalypse requires resources and power. Supermarkets, hospitals, and police stations are excellent places to look, but hospitals are slightly less ideal. Those who understand know that while medicines may be even scarcer than food, they¡¯re not easy to protect. Thus, in truth, securing them should come after obtaining weapons. ¡°So, these are all places we can¡¯t go. If it was the first moment of the disaster, these places would definitely be key locations to target, akin to strategic points that armies contest over. But it¡¯s been at least half a month since Yemen turned into this ghostly state. What you can think of, others can too¡ªlikely even more comprehensively and extensively. Now, heading there would just be picking up scraps, and you¡¯d likely get nothing. But factories are different. Did anyone suggest going to a factory just now? No, right? But what could one find inside a large factory?¡± What could there be? Hearing Bi Fang¡¯s question, the viewers frowned in thought, now considering the advantages a factory might offer. First, under normal circumstances, there would certainly be a lot of people, and where there are people, there has to be food, and also the need for order and organization¡­ A cafeteria and¡­ a security office? The quick-witted ones immediately typed this answer in the live streaming chat, enlightening others. Damn, yeah, a large factory would definitely have a cafeteria and a security office. No need to say much about the cafeteria¡ªit would naturally have rice and grain; the same with the security office. It¡¯s quite different here compared to other places; security guards have significant authority, especially in a country accustomed to war. To say that the security here doesn¡¯t have anything equipped, nobody would believe that. There must be some good stuff. But half a month has passed; surely, even the slow-witted would have caught on by now, right? Bi Fang nodded. He didn¡¯t think highly of himself to assume he was the only intelligent one around. Certainly, others would consider heading to the factory, perhaps even the workers themselves. ¡°Surviving is never going to be smooth sailing; no doubt many smart people could think of this. But compared to supermarkets and police stations¡ªthe obvious choices for the average person¡ªthe possibility of finding supplies in a factory is undoubtedly higher. When has survival ever been a sure thing? I have long said that to survive in the wilderness is to constantly choose from options that nature presents. You¡¯re not the one setting the questions, so it¡¯s impossible to know the answers. Therefore, you must choose the option with the highest probability of success. Moreover, we still don¡¯t know what this factory actually produces; who knows, there might be some good things, right?¡± Bi Fang leaped from the rooftop, arriving at a low-rise building. He quickly descended through the stairwell to the street level. Once there, he didn¡¯t dare to run but cautiously searched around corners, investigating alleys before proceeding. The incident from yesterday was a bloody lesson, indicating that Yemen hadn¡¯t completely turned into Ghost City, but was still fraught with thugs roaming about. Half an hour later. A faint stench of decay assaulted Bi Fang¡¯s nostrils, making him frown. His first reaction was the smell of rotting corpses, a inherent part of the battlefield¡¯s harsh reality, but a closer sniff revealed it was different. The stench of human decay is an overwhelmingly strong odor that can even induce vomiting in many seasoned forensic experts caught off-guard, and it carries a distinct, faintly sour note. This is why in films and TV shows, when someone dies in a building, the neighbors on either side, above and below, can all smell the decay. But the foul smell here was somewhat different, yet Bi Fang couldn¡¯t pinpoint exactly what it was. Often, recognizing a smell doesn¡¯t mean you know what it is. That requires long-term training. It was not until he passed three streets and a pale green ¡°river¡± appeared behind the factory that Bi Fang understood the source of the stench. Walking along the riverbank, he saw a half-meter-thick water pipe that had long since dried out, but the viscous green material inside it was a stark reminder to everyone that the source of the river¡¯s odor really did spread from here. ¡°This kind of factory wastewater must never be drunk. It¡¯s dirtier than stagnant water in the wilderness, containing a plethora of chemical substances. Even many bacteria can¡¯t survive in it, and drinking it is almost certain death.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s face twisted in disgust from the stench, almost wanting to vomit, but he managed to hold back. ¡°After being roasted by the fire yesterday and going a day without water, my throat is practically smoked dry. But the tap water in all the residential buildings has practically stopped. Without water, without electricity, even a city is nothing but a steel jungle. What¡¯s worse is that most urban water sources can¡¯t be directly consumed due to various kinds of industrial pollution. The water in city rivers might even be dirtier than the stagnant water outside. Drinking water from the wilderness might at most cause diarrhea, but water here can be lethal. Even evaporation and purification are useless. Even through distillation, toxic substances can vaporize at high temperatures and mix with the distilled water.¡± Bi Fang furrowed his brows tightly. Water was indeed a big issue, and he had actually forgotten to collect some rainwater yesterday. ¡°Regardless, let¡¯s go into the factory and take a look first.¡± [All this talk, just to enter the factory, Dog¡¯s head to save my life, emoji.] [This is exactly like a post-apocalyptic crisis. It¡¯s my first time seeing such a city, without a single person, without a sound. Reminds me of The Quiet Place.] [Shoot a film with the location right here.] [Movies wouldn¡¯t dare shoot here, would they? It¡¯s too risky, a careless move could lead to disaster.] [They¡¯d abduct the actress to squeeze her dry as a lady of pressure, haha.] [So, how do we find water? There¡¯s no tap water, aren¡¯t we going to die of thirst? Is there any point in going in?] ¡°While domestic and industrial water both come from the water plant, they¡¯re actually two separate systems. Often when the domestic water supply stops, the industrial one doesn¡¯t. Let¡¯s go in and see first. If there¡¯s a water source, we might even catch some game.¡± Bi Fang adjusted his mood and optimistically began searching through the factory. At the entrance, he casually picked up a piece of rebar. This was one of the advantages of urban survival¡ªmany common items could easily become makeshift weapons. The rebar was about as thick as a little finger and over half a meter long. It appeared to have been cut, with a sharp fracture and a blob of cement attached. He struck it hard against the wall. The cement shattered, exposing the rebar. After swinging it a couple of times, he found its weight and length to be quite suitable. [That¡¯s it, that¡¯s it, the tree stick has actually upgraded to an iron stick, incredible!] [The Artifact¡¤Tree of Life Stick evolves, Super Artifact¡¤Red Origin Divine Iron Stick!] [Miying Pingzong sent a gift of Spaceship*1 to the host¡ª I think Wolf Fang could create a special set of live-stream gifts for Master Fang, like sending tree sticks, iron sticks, silver sticks, gold sticks and the like (laugh)] [Lecherous stick? Where¡¯s the lecherous stick?] While the viewers were causing a ruckus, Bi Fang approached the factory gate, noting the tightly closed iron doors with a standard lock hanging on them. Seeing this, Bi Fang inserted the rebar and, rolling up his sleeves, grabbed both ends of the rebar. The veins popped on his muscular forearms as he twisted the rebar. There was a screeching sound of the lock being torqued, the lock head deforming and stretching until, with a snap, it broke off! ¡°Squeak.¡± Pushing open the gate, Bi Fang entered with a slightly labored breath, looking at the astonished viewers. Was it really that simple to enter? It seems, after all, that they may have learned something quite extraordinary. Chapter 324 - Chapter 324: Chapter 321: Leniency to Those Who Confess Chapter 324: Chapter 321: Leniency to Those Who Confess ¡°[This technique is so skillful¡­ Come on, how many times have you done this?]¡± ¡°[Confess to leniency, resist to severity ¨C the choice between spending New Year¡¯s in jail or with family (funny)]¡± ¡°[It¡¯s over, Master Fang is on a one-way path to crime¡­]¡± The audience was shocked by Bi Fang¡¯s skilled lock-picking, and equally unexpected was the fact that the lock was so flimsy? ¡°Ha, it depends on the lock. The one just now was a very common U-lock, and it was a short integrated type, not a long separate type. If it had been a long separate type, I probably wouldn¡¯t have been able to pick it. But a short integrated type is just a regular bike lock. I don¡¯t know who gave them the confidence to use it on an iron gate. However, having a lock is actually a good thing. It shows that no one has brazenly broken in. Maybe some have climbed the fence, but those are just petty thieves. If it had been a thug, they would¡¯ve cut the lock right away. Of course, now I¡¯m one of them.¡± Bi Fang shook his head, pushed the iron gate open, and stepped into the factory, only to be instantly dumbfounded. On the factory gate happened to hang a long separation type U-lock! Good grief, this was waiting for him! Facing the second lock, the audience nearly burst out laughing. Bi Fang hesitated for a moment, shook the iron bar in his hand and approached the factory gate, inserted it into the lock mechanism, and started twisting with force. After a while, he got nowhere, and the newly acquired iron bar was bent quite a bit, forcing him to give up. Just as he said, the separate type U-lock is very difficult to pick. It is made of steel, that is often thicker than a rebar, and its strength is exceedingly high. Unable to enter through the main gate, Bi Fang could only look around for other entrances. However, after circling the entire complex, he found that this was the only gate, and the other buildings had the same structure ¨C quite troublesome. He would have to find another way to get in. The structure of the factory was simple, squarely built, but aside from the main door, the windows were all uncomfortably high. Ordinary people would find it very difficult to enter. Just as some viewers were about to mock Bi Fang¡¯s fanciful thinking, he didn¡¯t feel let down, but rather quite happy. ¡°The harder it is to get in, the better ¨C doesn¡¯t that just mean ordinary people can¡¯t get in? It suggests that many valuable things haven¡¯t been lost.¡± Shh! The Shuiyou collectively hissed, never expecting Master Fang to have such thick-skinned confidence ¨C wondering whether to praise his optimism or his self-assurance. After looking around for a long time, Bi Fang finally set his sights on a plastic water pipe. He tapped on it ¨C it sounded solid, long, thick, hard, and quite ¡°fresh.¡± It looked sturdy and usable. Yet plastic pipes, given enough time, get oxidized and brittle, losing their support and hardness, making them unfit for climbing. From his point of view, the pipe ended in a ventilation duct, a great opportunity to get inside the factory. Though it was high, it was well worth exploring. However, before attempting to enter, he needed to make some preparations since he couldn¡¯t be sure what would be inside the air duct. It was necessary to make a torch for scouting the way. There was no need for this in the resort because it hadn¡¯t turned into ruins and the air ducts were in normal use, so there were no weird things inside. But Yemen was different; the air duct could have become a rat¡¯s nest. Therefore, a torch was needed for observation and to fend off snakes, insects, rats, and ants. But it had just rained ¨C where to find materials? Bi Fang knocked around, and as a factory is convenient for finding ¡°garbage,¡± he soon found something useful amidst a pile of trash. He pulled out a piece of broken felt, expressing his joy. ¡°A damp environment might not seem the ideal place to look for torch materials, but if you search hard enough, you will always find something. We can use this tar paper ¨C the material is great. It¡¯s flammable and the flame lasts relatively long. Tar paper is made from thick paper pulp impregnated with tar and asphalt for waterproofing, commonly laid on factory roofs for water resistance. It burns steadily and continuously, perfect for making a torch.¡± With tar paper, starting a fire became much simpler. Bi Fang searched the trash pile, finding many metal objects, but after considering them, he shook his head. Almost done rummaging through the pile, he finally found two blackened metal pieces. Striking them together produced sparks. The Shuiyou¡¯s eyes brightened ¨C weren¡¯t these natural flint stones? Bi Fang was also pleased, feeding his ¡°let¡¯s try¡± attitude, he searched and managed to find such high-hardness metal components, wondering what parts they could be. ¡°` Each profession has its own area of expertise, and although Bi Fang was not familiar with it, as long as it was useful, that was all that mattered. He wouldn¡¯t have to go to the trouble of searching for dry materials to make fire by wood-drilling. With these, it was no longer necessary. Stuffing the torch, sawdust, and iron tools into his backpack, Bi Fang tightened the bandage on his hand, stuck the iron rod into his backpack behind him, and grabbed onto the water pipe with both hands. Then, with a jump, he stepped onto the pipe and climbed up effortlessly, as if walking upward step by step, looking relaxed and at ease. A simple principle of mechanics was all that was needed, no need to hug the pipe and exert all his strength; he just had to keep his hands from letting go. With his upper body arched back and feet pushing against the pipe, he leveraged himself upward. The high pipe, several dozens of meters tall, was reached in no time. Looking back, the sheer height was enough to make someone¡¯s legs go weak. [From picking locks to climbing water pipes and entering ventilation shafts, so skilled as if he knows something incredible] [I¡¯m so dumb, really, I only knew Master Fang was nimble, but I had no clue why he was so good] [Come on, tell us, what are your side hustles, don¡¯t prevaricate under everyone¡¯s watchful eyes.] [That¡¯s it, I¡¯m scared of heights, this must be over twenty meters, right?] ¡°Bullshit!¡± Bi Fang arrived at the end of the water pipe, flipped onto the roof, and cursed with a laugh upon seeing these comments. ¡°These skills are very common; one of the training contents for special forces is urban combat. Picking locks and climbing pipes are routine operations. What¡¯s with the astonishment, making such a big fuss?¡± Taking everything out of his backpack and putting together a makeshift setup, a blazing torch appeared before the eyes of the online audience, quite impressive indeed. No matter how many times one saw it, the ability to make fire with such simple tools was seriously powerful. Just think about it, having a warm campfire in the wilderness is an immense motivation, just that alone could help one hold on for a couple more days. Prying open the entrance with a steel bar, Bi Fang extended the torch inside to scout around, discovering a layer of dust and rust on bolts, indicating a lack of maintenance over the years. ¡°Surviving in the concrete jungle is as challenging as in Nature¡¯s woodland, but both share a commonality: you need to know how to advance quickly and safely. This involves balancing confidence and advance planning, the perfect coordination of eyes and feet. This is an old ventilation shaft, which may be the best route into the building. Since there are no other more obvious entries, this ventilation shaft could provide us an entrance. It¡¯s a bit rusty, but it might be easy to get through.¡± Wiping his hand over the dust, Bi Fang shook his head. He hadn¡¯t quite gotten rid of yesterday¡¯s smell from falling into the trash bin, and now he was about to get covered in dust again. Looking at the dust, this old steel pipe had been out of use for a long time and severely eroded by the harsh climate. ¡°Now we can enter the ventilation shaft. I¡¯ll try to squeeze in; if you¡¯ve already found enough supplies, remember not to eat too much for lunch.¡± Cracking a joke with his audience, Bi Fang first stuffed the torch in, then grabbed both sides of the vent, checked its stability, and dove in headfirst. Entering the vent system was like exploring an untouched cave; the environment alone was daunting and oppressive, the air stale, every breath filled with dust. He slowly climbed further in, the torch flickering dimly, casting a silence that was frightening. ¡°The torch here is not just for light, but also a reminder to us whether there¡¯s enough oxygen for breathing. The dampness also means more severe rust, so be cautious with the path ahead. It¡¯s somewhat like navigating a minefield, filled with tension. You never know if the ground beneath you is stable, if the footplate is solid or rusted through. This means we have to be very careful, testing every step before taking it.¡± Having crawled through a ventilation shaft before, Bi Fang was quite experienced. He stretched out his limbs as much as possible to evenly distribute his weight across every thin plate. Until the light shone upon a piece of metal that was shockingly red with rust. Damn it, to rust like this, doesn¡¯t anyone do maintenance? Frustrated internally, Bi Fang could only continue crawling forward. Having come this far, of course, he had to grit his teeth and persevere; to give up now would be to abandon all his preceding efforts. ¡°This part is too rusted; we have to pretend we¡¯re walking on thin ice and distribute our weight. If necessary, use our hands to help distribute the weight. This plate is too thin; tiptoeing on thin ice is better than having nowhere to step at all. Be careful here; it goes straight down, looks like it leads directly to the next floor. We could drop a pebble to gauge the depth.¡± Bi Fang inched deeper inside, and he could feel that he was entering the heart of the factory, but gradually, he realized he was starting to struggle for breath as the oxygen supply dwindled. ¡°` Chapter 325 - Chapter 325: Chapter 322 Receiving Goods Chapter 325: Chapter 322 Receiving Goods In the ventilation duct, the light from the torch grew fainter, until after the last flicker, the entire passage was engulfed in utter darkness. There¡¯s no oxygen left! By now, there was no need for Bi Fang to remind everyone, as the online friends already knew the situation was critical. He had been crawling for a long time, and at this point, a lack of oxygen was no joke. Cao Lifeng, who had been watching all along, furrowed his brow intently and hurriedly sent a small gift, hoping Bi Fang could carry on, and even encouraged the others to join in the support. A few of the online friends had no choice but to part with their long-cherished Wolf Brush, their hearts pounding as they continued to watch the live stream. ¡°I practice Wilderness Survivalist techniques in this abandoned city, navigating through man-made obstacles. Did you all turn on night vision mode because of me? Actually, I¡¯m just crawling through a ventilation duct.¡± Bi Fang made a joke with the newcomers watching the stream, then continued to climb further in. Helicopters have a term called the point of no return, meaning that past this point, they can no longer return as the fuel will not suffice for the return flight, and they must continue towards the destination. The situation was similar now, but Bi Fang had measured the length of the ventilation duct, and the exit wasn¡¯t far away. ¡°I¡¯m trying to enter this building to search for essential survival supplies, but my torch has gone out. The part of the ventilation duct I¡¯m in is getting narrower and narrower. It¡¯s hard for people to like such constricted places. Surviving in tight spaces requires a lot of attention, and you must remain calm and not panic. Once you panic, your chest cavity will expand, making the tight space feel even tighter. We¡¯re almost at the end. Cough cough, so much dust¡­ This section is particularly narrow, but I can see a glimmer of light at the end of the duct. I just need to squeeze through a bit more, controlling my breath as much as possible. However, the duct is full of dust and grease, and my airways are almost completely clogged by it.¡± Finally, the sensation of difficulty breathing gradually subsided, and the ventilation duct became increasingly spacious. Looking ahead at the lushness in front of him, Bi Fang wanted to kick it down, but the tight space made it impossible for him to adjust his position, so he could only slap it with one palm after another. The rivets trembled slightly, with wall dust falling in flurries. A faint sound of metal hitting the ground was heard as a rivet was dislodged. The audience cheered, urging Bi Fang to speed up until the third rivet came loose and Bi Fang, with a burst of strength, eagerly pushed out the grille! Damn it, finally out. Bi Fang poked his head out, taking deep breaths of the fresh air outside. There was still plenty of dust, but it was nothing compared to the inside of the ventilation duct. After catching his breath, Bi Fang looked around and slowly crawled out of the duct. ¡°Let¡¯s see if this place was worth all the effort I put into getting here. Such old buildings can be a rare treasure trove for survivalists.¡± [Ah ha, I¡¯m on it, this is looting, right? Time to search for goods.] [Sounds like someone who¡¯s seasoned in battle royales.] [Haha, you¡¯re making me want to play a round right now.] ¡°Huh, it¡¯s pretty spacious.¡± After crawling out of the air vent, Bi Fang glanced around; perhaps it was because it was the top floor, but there were no machines, just vast open space. Shaking off the dust from his body, Bi Fang continued to walk deeper in. Along the way, he encountered many doors, all locked, and they were all hefty metal doors. Bi Fang tried to break through one, but failed. It wasn¡¯t until he came across an unlocked bathroom that his spirits soared. [Ah, isn¡¯t it just a restroom¡­] [Is there water?] [Hurry up and check it out.] Bi Fang, however, shook his head: ¡°Water is only one aspect. Do you remember the dirty water we saw outside before we entered? That dirty water indicates that the industry this factory was involved in caused pollution. With pollution comes toxicity, and factories like this are strictly required to be equipped with first aid kits, which are usually kept in the restrooms! In case of danger and the need to wash off, one can immediately use what¡¯s inside!¡± So that¡¯s how it is! The audience suddenly understood. Bi Fang immediately went in, and to his surprise, there was almost no smell. Of course, it had been abandoned for so long. Instead of rushing to look for the first aid kit, Bi Fang first turned on the tap. Still no water. Bi Fang¡¯s brow furrowed, utterly unexpected there was no water, and just as he felt disheartened, suddenly, a stream of dark brown water began to slowly flow out of the faucet. Initially, the flow was very small, but after a few sputters, the flow abruptly increased! There really was water, thank goodness! [But this is all brown, isn¡¯t it rust? Is it drinkable?] [Wow, is this some sort of paranormal adventure? Red water, like a scene from a horror movie.] [Newcomer? This is wilderness exploration.] Bi Fang took a long breath, finally finding water, ¡°Rust isn¡¯t a problem, as long as there¡¯s water. Just need to run it longer and clean water will come out, but it might take a while, it¡¯s nearly been a month of rust, can¡¯t clean it in a jiffy.¡± Having said that, Bi Fang began to search for the crux of this mission, the First Aid kit. Sure enough, fortune favors the diligent. As he rounded a partition, he really found it, right there in the nearby showcase! ¡°Locked again?¡± Bi Fang tugged at it, unsurprisingly to no avail. No other choice, he took a steel rebar from his backpack and smashed it towards the showcase. But the next second, Bi Fang, whose hands tingled from the vibration, staggered back, staring at the unscathed glass in astonishment. Tempered glass! Was there really a need for tempered glass in such a place? Too much money to spend? Bi Fang, massaging his numb palms, silently cursed. ¡°This is made of tempered glass; the rebar¡¯s hard impact made my hands hurt. We need to think of another way.¡± Bi Fang looked around, then suddenly stepped out of the restroom and came to a corner where there was a small rack with items like promotional sides and newspapers on it. He casually pulled out a newspaper, the most recent issue was from February. Taking all the papers at once, Bi Fang rolled them into a cylindrical shape, without leaving any gaps inside, then folded them against each other, making the middle as hard as steel. ¡°Let¡¯s see if the newspaper can break it. If folded correctly, ordinary paper can be almost as strong as a Wolf Fang baton, just by simple folding it becomes very hard.¡± After swinging it a couple of times, Bi Fang was quite satisfied. Returning to the showcase, just one hit and the glass was covered in spiderweb-like cracks, not a single area unscathed. Good lord, the audience was stunned by the power of this newspaper, could it really be this impressive? Seeing the effect, Bi Fang pressed his advantage and within three strikes, the tempered glass burst into pieces. He grabbed the First Aid kit out in one go, flipping through it briefly. There were wound dressings for bandaging wounds, small scissors, bandages, alcohol, and even potassium permanganate. Bi Fang opened a cap and recognized the deep purple substance at a glance. ¡°Good stuff, potassium permanganate dissolved in water can clean wounds and turns purple when absorbing water. It¡¯s also a great marker. If it¡¯s an icy, snowy area, you can sprinkle it on snow to mark for airplanes. It has many other uses too. I¡¯m taking it.¡± One could say that with this medical kit, Bi Fang¡¯s foray into the factory was not in vain; it was, in fact, a huge gain. Back at the faucet, the rusty water finally turned clear. Bi Fang immediately unraveled the bandage on his right hand. The skin over the blister stuck to the bandage, making people cringe, even peeling off a small piece of skin, revealing reddish-white inflamed tissue that seemed to be purulent. Hiss. The viewers couldn¡¯t help but clench their hands, feeling a wave of pain. Now with medication at hand, it was sure to disinfect and rebandage. ¡°When using alcohol, make sure to check its concentration; the best is seventy-five percent, not too high or too low. Alcohol kills germs by denaturing and coagulating proteins, which requires a certain concentration of alcohol. The optimal concentration is 75%. Too low needs no explanation, but if the concentration is too high, it makes the protein denature too quickly, forming a tough layer of denatured protein on the surface of bacteria. It¡¯s like giving bacteria a protective shell, preventing the alcohol from penetrating further into the bacteria, thus lowering the germicidal effect.¡± After disinfecting and rebandaging the wound, Bi Fang felt much relief. He took a couple of sips of clear water and continued searching, but no further luck came easily. ¡°Since there¡¯s nothing good left on the top floor, let¡¯s go down and check. The exit in the stairwell is locked; we need to find another way.¡± ¡°There was an elevator earlier, definitely without power, but if we can get into the shaft, we could use it to descend.¡± Bi Fang circled around to the elevator door and conducted a brief search. ¡°Elevators usually have an emergency switch for firefighters, an off-power leveling device. With this emergency switch, firefighters can access the shaft even without power. You see, right here!¡± He pressed a red button, and the elevator seemed to show no change, leaving even Bi Fang unsure if it had worked. After watching silently for half a minute, Bi Fang thought it might not have¡­ [So it¡¯s useless, huh?] [Hahaha, I¡¯m dying, thought it would open the door] ¡°No worries, there¡¯s a backup plan.¡± Bi Fang, unfazed, took out a piece of wire he had found somewhere and slid it into the elevator door gap, gliding upward until he hit resistance. ¡°Looks like the core is here!¡± Overjoyed at finding the lock core, Bi Fang reinserted the wire and fiddled around for a while. After hearing a slight click, he quickly put down the wire and took out a crowbar. ¡°Let¡¯s see if it¡¯s movable¡­ careful, careful, careful, the elevator is definitely not on this floor, it¡¯s at least seven floors away, we need to find a way down, but Chapter 326 - Chapter 326: Chapter 324 Inside the Factory Chapter 326: Chapter 324 Inside the Factory ¡°` The end of the broken rebar was extremely sharp, and, after aiming it at the crack of the door, Bi Fang thrust it forcefully. The door trembled slightly and the rebar easily caught in the crevice. Bi Fang shook it left and right a bit, pushing the rebar deeper, then with a sudden lever to the right, the elevator door burst open! ¡°Huo!¡± A cold wind hit his face. Bi Fang looked down into the pitch-black elevator shaft and abruptly stopped in his tracks, quite alarmed. He had used too much force and, as the ground was covered in dust, his feet slipped, nearly causing him to fall down the shaft. Cold air scurried up and down the deep and dark elevator shaft. The elevator wasn¡¯t there, leaving only a few hoisting ropes dangling in the void, with no clue which floor they might have stopped on. [¡°How are we supposed to get down? The elevator can¡¯t be used during a power outage.¡±] [¡°Nonsense, Old Fang was just looking for the elevator, he must have some way to go down.¡±] [¡°Slide down the hoisting ropes?¡±] [¡°Swing, oh swing, my wild abandon.¡±] [¡°Leap with passion, you deserve to own it!¡±] Bi Fang touched the hoisting ropes with his hand, which came away coated in lubricating oil. After a moment of consideration, he said, ¡°Going straight down is definitely not going to work, the hoisting ropes are covered in lubricating oil, you can¡¯t hold onto them. We need to increase their friction; otherwise, we won¡¯t be able to stop, and it¡¯ll be just like falling down, which could be even worse if we lose our grip.¡± There were many methods to increase friction. Bi Fang initially wanted to tear off a piece of cloth, wrap it around the ropes, and slide down holding the fabric, but after a moment of thought, he started looking around. ¡°A factory that has first-aid kits even in the restrooms should be very standard, so the fire safety measures should also be in place. If we can find it, then we won¡¯t need to tear our clothes, just take a piece of the fire hose down, which is much rougher and more useful than fabric.¡± Indeed, his guess was correct. After bypassing a corridor, the red fire hose cabinet suddenly appeared before everyone, with the hose coiled into a circle and hung in the middle. The fire hose cabinet wasn¡¯t locked, nor would anyone lock it, but Bi Fang didn¡¯t choose to open it. Instead, he took out the rebar, stepped back half a step, shielded his face with his right hand, and swung the rebar to shatter the glass. This time it wasn¡¯t tempered glass. With a ¡°crack,¡± shards of glass flew. ¡°This time I didn¡¯t bring a dagger, and I don¡¯t have any sharp tools on me. The traditional fire hoses have a rubber lining and the outer surface is wrapped with flax fabric, which is wear- and cut-resistant. That¡¯s why I chose to break the glass, to artificially create a sharp tool. It¡¯s brittle, sure, but it¡¯s sufficient for cutting a hose, see, this piece is good.¡± Picking through the pile of broken glass, Bi Fang picked up a crescent-shaped shard whose sharp edge twinkled coldly. He opened the fire hose cabinet, dragged the hose out, and threw it onto the ground. The hose was long, and Bi Fang pulled out a section to wrap around the piece of glass, then reached out with the shard to cut into a length of the hose, truly achieving ¡°taken from the hose, used on the hose.¡± The glass began to rub against the hose with great speed, but progress did not meet the audience¡¯s expectations, and after half a minute, only a single coil of thread was severed. The man himself had much more patience; after all, it was glass, not a real knife, and with a layer of hose to get through, it wasn¡¯t easy to apply force. ¡°Although the glass is very sharp, the hose isn¡¯t a pushover either. Don¡¯t rush, if we take our time, we¡¯ll get through. At least it¡¯s not completely ineffective, right?¡± Bi Fang said with a laugh as he cut open a small portion of the hose. Hearing him say this, the audience also became patient. Now there was an opening; the rest would be easier. They cut down along the opening, and quickly a section of the hose was detached. Grasping the fire hose, Bi Fang returned to the elevator entrance, looking down at the height of over ten meters, he cautiously reached for the hoisting rope. The hoisting rope was quite far away, and Bi Fang could hardly reach it without leaning out, balancing the upper half of his body¡¯s weight on the ropes to manage the reach. Having adjusted his position, Bi Fang started to wrap the fire hose around the hoisting ropes, three full turns, then tied a firm knot. ¡°The coarse fabric of the fire hose will protect my hands and forearms, as well as increase friction. Alright¡­ huh, I didn¡¯t feel it when climbing up the hose, but now looking down, it seems so high, at least twenty meters.¡± ¡°` Bi Fang took a deep breath and looked down into the pitch-black elevator shaft, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead. He knew he shouldn¡¯t look down, but he couldn¡¯t help it. ¡°The key to sliding down a rope is to use the strength of your legs as much as possible, rather than your hands. A common mistake is to rely on arm strength habitually instead of the legs, because humans¡¯ hands are far more flexible than their legs. Over time, it becomes more natural to solve problems with one¡¯s hands, but as the old saying goes, ¡®The arm is never stronger than the thigh.''¡± With one burst of effort, then a decline, and finally exhaustion, Bi Fang briefly explained. Then, he tensed his thighs, bent them slightly, and with a leap, he latched onto the rope. Immediately, he wrapped his legs around the rope, pressing his whole body against it to increase friction, hugging the rope tightly. The next second, he felt his body suddenly drop and begin to slide down rapidly. Fortunately, the speed was within the anticipated range! A sweat broke out in Bi Fang¡¯s mind, but he was somewhat delighted, ¡°During operation, the elevator cables are regularly inspected for wear, but these old cables have been discarded, so I wasn¡¯t too sure if they were still secure. Now, it seems, they are quite sturdy.¡± However, that bit of delight soon vanished. A large amount of lubricating oil had been stripped off by the ¡°rubbing¡± against the water pipe skin, accumulating more and more, and the speed of descent was showing signs of becoming uncontrollable. Even the audience, observing Bi Fang¡¯s facial expressions, realized something was wrong, especially when they saw the thick layer of black grease on his hands. Having descended only five or six meters and already facing this situation, Bi Fang quickly looked for a solution. As he watched the scenery falling by, he steeled his heart, released the grip of his thighs on the rope, and stepped onto a column on the wall of the elevator shaft. Without the control of his legs, the speed of descent was as fast as free-falling, making onlookers break out in a cold sweat. The first step missed, the second made contact but wasn¡¯t firm, and it wasn¡¯t until the third column that Bi Fang¡¯s firm step finally slowed him down. When he had managed to reduce his speed, Bi Fang gasped for air, ¡°No good, this is too tiring, let me shake out my hands for a bit. I¡¯ve only descended halfway, and my hands are very tired. It¡¯s also a torment to the mind. You have to concentrate, remind yourself that falling from here means certain death. And you have to strenuously hold onto the rope. Just now, I almost couldn¡¯t hold on any longer due to the excess oil. Fortunately, there was no mishap, but I descended quite a distance. Later, I will still need to find a way to get through the elevator car.¡± The entrance was more than ten meters away, completely unreachable now. After evenly sliding down another seven or eight meters, Bi Fang finally saw the elevator. He released his hands and landed heavily on top of the elevator with a ¡®thud¡¯. ¡°There must be a way out at the top of the elevator. The top usually has a safety exit¡­ No good, it¡¯s too sturdy here, I can¡¯t get through this gap.¡± Bi Fang fumbled in the dark for a long time and couldn¡¯t find an opening at the top of the elevator. With no other choice, he moved around to the back of the elevator box to have a look. There was a small gap between the back of the elevator box and the wall surface, not completely flush, but through it, a sliver of light could be seen. ¡°Estimating the height of the entire building, the elevator seems to have stopped at the first floor. If we can get down there, maybe we can get out directly.¡± After a rough estimation, Bi Fang decided to descend through this gap. The gap was very narrow, approximately only 25 centimeters wide. It was extremely tight, but just enough for Bi Fang to pass through the elevator. When he reached the bottom, he could even see the ground through the light. Without hesitation, Bi Fang relaxed his muscles and dropped straight onto the ground, arriving in the space between the low elevator and the ground, with the elevator hanging right above his head. As luck would have it, the elevator seemed to be jammed between floors, with a similarly small sliver of light shining through. ¡°Phew, now we¡¯ve made it underneath the elevator. Above my head is over a ton of steel, which could easily crush me to death. Even though it¡¯s been hanging here for a month, I still can¡¯t relax. Fortunately, the situation isn¡¯t bad. The gap is very narrow, but it¡¯s still possible to get through.¡± After stuffing his backpack into the gap, Bi Fang took off his jacket, left with only a layer of lining on his body, and squeezed out through the gap, sticking close to the door panel. The light spilled onto Bi Fang¡¯s face, making him squint slightly. Chapter 327 - Chapter 327: Chapter 325: One Day (Two-in-One) Chapter 327: Chapter 325: One Day (Two-in-One) ¡°Ptooey, ptooey.¡± ¡°Finally got out, that wasn¡¯t easy!¡± Having finally seen the sunlight, Bi Fang spat out twice, clearing his mouth of all the dust, and took deep breaths of the fresh air. To call it fresh was not entirely accurate, as it wasn¡¯t a huge forest, and if you sniffed carefully, there was still a smell of gunpowder, but it was still far better than the elevator shaft full of dust and the smell of black oil. Once inside the factory, Bi Fang looked around. The floor was spacious; at first glance, it seemed like there were just a few load-bearing walls. The ground and the walls were covered in dust that had turned yellowish, and many of the windows had been fully shattered. The drone¡¯s sweep showed the audience even bullet holes preserved on the walls, with patches charred black ¡ª truly horrifying. [It¡¯s like a scene from the end of the world!] [It¡¯s so frightening, if you didn¡¯t tell me this is a real place, I would definitely think it¡¯s a movie set.] ¡°A machinery factory?¡± The empty floor told the story of a place long since emptied, leaving only a few broken lathes in the corners. ¡°They must have moved everything themselves; otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have bothered locking the door after clearing out. But finding anything good now will be difficult.¡± Bi Fang meticulously searched within the factory, not missing any room, even checking the kitchen, finding nothing but some bottles and jars and the ground covered with black granular matter. ¡°Rat droppings.¡± Bi Fang picked one up and pinched it, easily recognizing what it was without needing much deliberation. ¡°There might be rats nearby, which is actually not bad for food. I¡¯ve gone almost twenty-four hours without eating, and now I¡¯m so hungry it hurts. We can try to find a rat hole, and if we do, we might be able to catch some, and then we¡¯ll have something for lunch today.¡± With that, he stood up and began to search, carefully examining along the corners of the walls. [Damn, eating rats?] [This place is so dirty, won¡¯t the rats be poisonous?] When the audience heard Bi Fang was going to catch rats to solve the food crisis, they all got a shock. Can rats even be eaten? They¡¯re filthy and disgusting, and what¡¯s more, they might carry diseases. Besides, when compared to the prey Bi Fang had caught before, rats seemed rather insignificant and hardly something to boast about. ¡°I don¡¯t have a choice, but this is still a city, even if it¡¯s fallen into disrepair. Neither stray cats nor dogs can survive here, only rats can thrive in such an environment.¡± Bi Fang spread his hands, paused in thought for a moment, and then began to smile mischievously. ¡°I forgot to tell you something, don¡¯t think rats aren¡¯t worth mentioning. In fact, one of the major benefits of rat meat is its ability to strengthen the kidneys. It contains a large amount of protein as well as various minerals and vitamins. It enters directly into the kidney meridian, helping improve kidney function and enhance kidney energy. It¡¯s quite effective in preventing and relieving men¡¯s kidney deficiency and frequent urination. Moreover, rat meat is a high-protein, low-fat food that contains various amino acids essential to the human body. It promotes metabolism, improves bodily functions, and is high in selenium, which after being absorbed by the body can slow aging and also enhance male vitality.¡± [???] ¡°What the heck, if you¡¯re talking about that, I¡¯m not sleepy anymore!¡±] [¡°That¡¯s it, we¡¯re having a mouse feast tonight!¡±] [¡°Hurry, hurry, where are the mice? I¡¯ve got my net all ready!¡±] [¡°Let me go, I can keep eating, what? Kidney deficiency? Impossible, how could I possibly have kidney deficiency¡±] The Shuiyou¡¯s eyes lit up at the mention of other benefits, sparking with a green glow almost like the ferocious wolves Bi Fang had encountered. ¡°Hahaha, everyone can try it, but I still need to remind you that mice carry viruses and bacteria. Eating something bitten by a mouse can lead to the plague, so you must cook them thoroughly, sterilizing by fire. Eating them raw can easily cause illness, and it¡¯s best to choose field mice. City mice live amidst trash every day and might ingest chronic rat poison and harmful substances like heavy metals. Many unscrupulous sellers slaughter domestic mice and pass them off as field mice to their customers, who have trouble telling the real from the fake.¡± After adding this advice, Bi Fang started looking for traces of mice. ¡°Mouse holes are usually close to walls because that¡¯s where they prefer to be. Being by a wall lets them feel safe from predators. Also, pay extra attention to parts with water pipes. With water pipes, mice have an escape route in case of danger, allowing them to burrow right into the pipes¡ªlook, this is it!¡± Based on the features Bi Fang described, he quickly found a natural mouse hole, with a fallen water pipe as an excellent escape route. This path connects their nest to their foraging spots, making it an ideal spot to set traps. Here, setting traps would be twice as effective with half the effort. ¡°Last time in the Wilderness Arena, someone haphazardly placed traps without first finding animal paths, and failed to catch anything after several days¡ªan bloody lesson. To find food in the wilderness, you first have to identify the signs of animal presence, such as droppings and urine. Based on this, setting traps in their frequent spots increases your chances of catching them by more than sixty percent, unlike last time when numerous traps caught nothing.¡± [¡°Contestants: Stop cursing, stop cursing.¡±] [¡°Drag them out for a beating!¡±] [¡°Nameless contestants quietly passing by.¡±] [¡°Contestant: It¡¯s only been a few days, and you¡¯ve already forgotten my name? Love really does fade away, doesn¡¯t it?¡±] Having located the animal trail, Bi Fang got down to business, gathering materials to make traps. Hunting traps are not one-size-fits-all; you have to adapt to the size and type of the animal, and the materials at hand. ¡°Just like in the wild, the urban jungle provides all the materials you need. This old factory is full of discarded materials I can use to build a trap.¡± Bi Fang pulled out a welding rod, took a few steel pipes, picked up several ropes, and returned to the mouse hole. He tied one end of a rope to a thick steel bar, and after securing it, Bi Fang lifted it to test the weight. It was very heavy. He propped up a large steel plate at an angle using a welding rod as a support bar, explaining, ¡°This part is the actual trap. It needs to provide enough weight to catch the mice. This is indeed heavy, and the weight of the heavy steel bar can provide enough force in the trap. Most people would struggle to carry it with one hand. Next, I will use the welding rod as a trigger¡­¡± He bent the welding rod he found earlier, its coated layers of flux flaking off. Made of soft metal, the rod bent easily and held its shape, perfect for seamless insertion. It was placed beneath the trap, and finally, he unraveled a wire, connecting one end to the support bar and hanging the other end on the bent hook. ¡°With this setup, a slight touch will trigger the mechanism. We¡¯ll then use another welding rod to make a steel ring. This is the trap the mice will have to cross. If anything steps on it, it will fall down. With such heavy weight, the mouse might even be crushed to death, which could then attract others¡­¡± He placed the steel ring right in the center of the trap. Just as Bi Fang was about to proceed, he suddenly thought, what if the mouse is crushed immediately, brains squished out, attracting other animals? In the aftermath of the great disaster, all animals were struggling to survive. The scent of blood could bring them from afar. Shouldn¡¯t he set another trap, killing two birds with one stone? The Shuiyou hearing this were dumbfounded. [Goodness, infinite nesting dolls, huh? Should I perhaps set up another trap to catch the animal that hunts the mouse?] [Should I also set another trap to catch the trap that catches the animal that hunts the mouse?] [Should I even set another trap to catch the trap that catches the trap that hunts the mouse?] [Let me break this nightmare cycle!] [The mantis stalks the cicada, I¡¯m impressed with your tactics!] [Getting something for nothing, I¡¯ve learned nothing at all] It would have been fine if Bi Fang hadn¡¯t thought of it, but now that he had, his heart felt as if it were being scratched by a hundred claws. In the end, he sighed and still used the remaining wire and his own body to make a simple noose trap. Noose traps could catch anything, from small squirrels and rabbits to large wild boars, as long as he set the right height from the ground. Most importantly, he had to find the animals¡¯ travel path. ¡°The trap is about seven or eight centimeters off the ground, tailored to the size of a wild cat. Moreover, to increase the chances of success, we could block the other side with something, so that animals can only come from one direction.¡± Bi Fang brought over a large wooden box and placed it on the left side of the mouse trap, while the noose trap was on the right. Should any animals come by, they would inevitably approach from the right, greatly increasing the odds of a successful capture. With the trap set, all that was left was to patiently wait. ¡°Mice won¡¯t dare come near my trap if I¡¯m around, so I need to leave quickly to increase the chances of success.¡± Bi Fang moved away from the mouse hole and started searching for usable materials again, starting with water storage containers. This was simple, it didn¡¯t need to be too elaborate, a plastic water bottle would do. ¡°Don¡¯t just use any plastic bottle you find. You can¡¯t be sure what was originally inside it, especially from a factory. So you must find a mineral water bottle for better safety. But even then, you can¡¯t be sure it originally contained mineral water, so we have to first look, then smell, and finally wash it. Only after completing these three steps can we use it. Actually, the best method would be to boil it in hot water to sterilize it, as you can¡¯t be sure who used it first, but that¡¯s too much bother. Besides, normal mineral water bottles are mostly made of PET plastic, and boiling might release toxins, so I only do the first three steps.¡± [My goodness, this is way too cautious. I¡¯d never think of all this.] [I wouldn¡¯t survive three days in the wilderness] [You¡¯re thinking too much, one day, and not a day more.] [Prudent and strong survivor!] Bi Fang picked up a mineral water bottle with quite a bit of transparent liquid inside that looked like clean water, but that wasn¡¯t enough to guarantee it was safe. He opened the cap and smelled it; there was no strange odor. Finally, with the bottle in hand, Bi Fang went to another tap. Unsurprisingly, there was water here too, but the rust water contained a large amount of iron oxide, which would be a heavy burden on the liver if drunk directly. After waiting for all the rust to clear, Bi Fang carefully washed the bottle before confidently starting to fill it. Since he had drunk some water on the top floor earlier, he just filled the bottle this time before leaving. The spring chill was biting, and since Abbascan¡¯s latitude wasn¡¯t low, the temperature these past few days had been pretty low. It was only yesterday that he had lost a lot of water. Except for the elevator incident, he hadn¡¯t sweated much today and wasn¡¯t that thirsty either. ¡°If you can, it¡¯s still best to drink boiled water. Considering the current situation in Yemen, the water plant¡¯s filtration system is probably out of service. Even if it¡¯s groundwater, because of urban pollution, it¡¯s not good to drink directly.¡± Now that he had a water source, the most critical moment had passed. Ben heaved a sigh of relief and carefully searched the factory, but didn¡¯t find anything particularly valuable. ¡°However, this factory is very big. Looking from the high-rise before, we could see there¡¯s not just one building; maybe this is an industrial park. If we explore the other buildings, we might find something. It¡¯s a very good base camp, so I plan to make a nest here to get through the remaining days.¡± The factory had everything, and Ben didn¡¯t want to miss this opportunity. If possible, he wanted to camp here, and if he could scavenge some useful items to work with over a couple of days, he wouldn¡¯t even be afraid of the mobs. Of course, if there were too many people, that would be a different story. Exiting from the inside of the factory was much easier than entering, because there were plenty of materials to use. Feeling the weight of the parts in his hand, Ben tossed one forcefully, breaking the glass high on the wall. Then he threw out a length of hemp rope with an iron stick tied to one end. The stick lodged in the window ledge, and with a pull, it was secure. And so, Ben climbed from the inside of the factory to the window, a good four or five meters up. The descent was just a matter of the same process in reverse, perching on the wall top, turning the iron stick in the other direction to secure it before lowering himself down using the rope. In a few hours, he might come back to check for trapped prey. People couldn¡¯t get into the factory, but there were still small holes in many places, enough for a cat or even a dog to get through. As soon as he left the factory, Ben spotted a great shelter on a weed-covered path in one glance. An overturned car! ¡°Haha, look what I¡¯ve found, an old car!¡± Excited, Ben approached the car and tried to pull the shattered door open with a bit of effort, and it opened. [Hold on, can this thing house a person?] [There¡¯s no shortage of scrapped cars by the roadside, why find an overturned one?] [Yeah, yeah, couldn¡¯t you just fend off with a building like last night?] ¡°No way, it¡¯s too cold. I almost froze to death last night.¡± Ben shook his head. Last night, that¡¯s what he had thought, but the temperature dropped sharply overnight, and he had been freezing until the sun rose and warmed things a bit. As for why he specifically sought an overturned one. ¡°Would you pay special attention to an overturned car?¡± The Shuiyou paused, but then some seemed to understand Ben¡¯s idea. The terror attack from yesterday was a lesson for Ben. This city wasn¡¯t just inhabited by him, a Wilderness Traveler; it was also home to all kinds of thugs. If he didn¡¯t take them seriously, he might not be so lucky next time. An overturned car wouldn¡¯t attract special attention from anyone; even giving it a second glance would seem unnecessary. ¡°Moreover, an old car is safer and warmer than an old building. With a little modification, it can be quite comfortable. But you have to be careful with overturned cars, making sure there¡¯s no gasoline leakage around. However, after this much time, if there was any, it¡¯s long gone.¡± After a brief inspection of the surroundings, Ben began to dismantle the car seat from above his head. Car seats are usually filled with foam, which is a great insulator. They can serve as temporary bed boards to lie on and they¡¯re quite comfortable. Maybe tonight he could get a good night¡¯s sleep. Chapter 328 - Chapter 328: Chapter 326 Louse Chapter 328: Chapter 326 Louse Why choose an overturned car? Not just because it¡¯s overturned but because it indeed makes for a comfortable campsite. Those with experience understand that the roof of a car is actually very soft ¡ª practically a natural soft bed. It¡¯s also spacious, unrestricted by seats, and one person can lie down with room to spare. ¡°Moreover, a small space actually has its benefits, as it can provide a sense of certainty. Open, dark, unknown environments make people feel uncertain, and that feeling of uncertainty is hard to bear.¡± Closed, controllable environments offer much higher certainty. There¡¯s nothing unknown, everything is within one¡¯s capabilities, and it feels safe and comfortable. It¡¯s the same reason why cats like to squeeze into tight places.¡± With a stable environment, people can rest better and use less energy.¡± After clearing away all the broken glass and debris, Bi Fang took a kitchen knife he had found in a corner of the kitchen to cut open all the seats, removing the foam padding. Kitchen knives from abroad are usually delicate and sharp, quite decent to use, and could make do as a dagger as well. ¡°Wait, what¡¯s this here?¡± While cutting the padding, Bi Fang¡¯s peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of something underneath the back seat. He crawled over, picked it up, and examined the English on it, then opened the cap, sniffed it, and quickly sealed it again. ¡°Antifreeze. It smells of it, with a faint sweet smell. This is a bucket of antifreeze. Although it smells sweet, don¡¯t ever taste it; it¡¯s toxic. We can keep it; it might come in handy later.¡± [Hold on, did you say it smells a bit sweet? Can sweetness be sniffed out?] [Probably smells like syrup. Actually, you can smell the sweetness in syrup too. I feel queasy just by smelling it.] [You¡¯re making me want to take a whiff.] [Sweet smell, so that¡¯s ethylene glycol, right? I remember this stuff can be used to make explosives?] ¡°Yes, ethylene glycol is also known as sweet alcohol, hence the sweet smell. It¡¯s hazardous because it can burn or explode upon contact with open flames, high heat, or oxidants. It seems the Shuiyou are full of hidden talents. Is this from someone specialized in chemistry?¡± Bi Fang chuckled, recalling that basic chemistry wouldn¡¯t cover this topic. Of course, he couldn¡¯t be certain as he¡¯d never seriously studied chemistry in either his past life or this one. After dividing subjects in high school, he studied biology instead. His knowledge of these matters came entirely from the skills the System provided. The Shuiyou, however, were startled. Could it really be used to make explosives? [Bold prediction, it will definitely be used!] [Careful confirmation, it¡¯ll appear in the next episode!] [Wild guessing, use it to blow up a door!] [Wild guessing is still okay.] [I knew it, Master Fang has revealed yet another skill. Damn, I¡¯m envious.] ¡°There¡¯s a lot of padding, and besides blocking up these broken windows, we can also lay some on the ground for additional warmth. Despite it being spring, the chill can be severe. Last night was so cold that I woke up three times, though you didn¡¯t notice.¡± ¡°Moreover, placing padding underneath is better than having two layers on top. The body loses heat to the ground much faster than to the air, so the insulation on the bottom is key to staying warm.¡± After laying down the padding, Bi Fang lay inside to test it. He found it soft and warm, and his muscles relaxed in the coziness. He hadn¡¯t had a good rest since getting off the plane the previous day, and the previous night¡¯s sleep was unsatisfactory. Instead of relaxing, it had only made the fatigue worse. ¡°Alright, the simple shelter is already set up. If it weren¡¯t for the need to prepare for the upcoming days, I¡¯d really like to lie down and take a nap right now.¡± Bi Fang sat up from the cushion, pulled away the padding covering the car window, and carefully crawled outside. He was going to start a fire. ¡°With a car, starting a fire is naturally much simpler. There¡¯s no need to exhaust all my strength trying to produce some elusive sparks. This vehicle has all the tools needed to start a fire.¡± Once outside, Bi Fang turned to the front of the car, crouched down, and pointed at the headlight, ¡°Next, I¡¯m going to remove a headlight. By using the headlight and the battery, I can make a temporary lighter. Actually, what I want is the small bulb inside the headlight.¡± While saying this, he removed the headlight. He took down a large light, smashed it a couple of times with a rock, and the plastic shell shattered, revealing the target item. A tiny bulb, no bigger than a thumb, that was the true source of light in the headlight. ¡°This is it. The exposed filament inside will act like an electric lighter. The intact filament within the bulb, once it conducts the full current from the battery, will overheat and catch fire. We need to be careful to pry open the glass of the small bulb, being very cautious not to break the filament inside,¡± said Bi Fang. Bi Fang held the handle of the knife, tapping at the small bulb with the back of the knife, controlling the force, carefully creating cracks, and then breaking it open. He took out the car battery, pulled out two wires, stripped open the rubber casing, and Bi Fang caused them to spark against each other, creating a dazzling display of sparks. The Yemen war had erupted only one or two months ago, so the cars had been abandoned here for at most two months; the batteries were fully charged. Bi Fang pulled over a clump of sponge padding, held the wires, and moved them close to the tail of the bulb. When they touched, a stream of electrical sparks burst forth, bright as a magnesium stick, startling the audience. Even Bi Fang took two steps back, nearly blinded, but after shaking his head, he approached again and continued trying. ¡°You don¡¯t really need to worry too much. The voltage of a car battery is generally less than 24 volts, which is below the safe voltage for the human body, so just be careful not to get exploded on, and it will be fine. This level of electrical sparks can burn a layer of skin off, and even if it¡¯s not serious, it still hurts a lot.¡± [Don¡¯t worry, everyone just be careful. Bi Fang¡¯s legs: Took two steps back] [Damn, that¡¯s amazing!] Moving the wires close again, this time it went much better. The light bulb got powered, and almost instantaneously, the filament turned red and got hot. In no time, the sponge padding began to blacken and smoke; catching fire took only about half a minute. This efficiency was far better than spending the usual half hour on Fire-Making by Wood-Drilling, even if one used charcoal to light the fire, it would still not be less than fifteen minutes. Aside from the somewhat troublesome initial preparation, it was absolutely effortless. As long as one was careful about safety, basically anyone could learn it. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that the batteries are too heavy, otherwise they could be carried around.¡± After expressing his regret, Bi Fang pinched the burning sponge with two fingers and threw it into a metal tube, which contained a pile of flammable materials; cardboard was ignited first, and soon thick smoke rose up; a small flame glimmered into existence. Success! With fire and shelter, a makeshift refuge was now established. ¡°I¡¯ve set up the shelter and lit the fire, but with nightfall approaching, I ought to check the mousetraps.¡± After adding some more flammable material to ensure the fire wouldn¡¯t die out easily, and seeing that it was getting late and night was about to fall, Bi Fang thought it was time to go check on the traps. He went to the factory wall, threw out the rope, hooked the iron rod onto the windowsill, and once again climbed inside, following his memory to where the mouse holes were. Unfortunately, looking at the dark walls, Bi Fang¡¯s gaze grew dim as he sighed. The trap was empty. But what was more ironic was that the trap didn¡¯t fail to catch prey; it was just that something else had taken the catch away, leaving behind a piece of dark brown innards, which looked like it had rolled on the floor and gathered dust. Picking up the small clump of innards, Bi Fang explained. ¡°The trap was right here, and it¡¯s been triggered, but my trap is empty. Look, the innards are still here. This is common in urban environments, where wild cats and foxes are likely culprits. My secondary trap didn¡¯t work either. It seems like the adversary is quite cunning, perhaps they¡¯ve encountered traps before, otherwise they wouldn¡¯t have deliberately gone around it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be discouraged, everyone. Victory and defeat are common in war. You might catch some prey, but later they might retaliate. I¡¯m not the only animal trying to survive here.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t bother with the guts. Rat innards can contain all sorts of things and are very filthy. Eating them would definitely make you sick, so I¡¯ll leave them here as bait instead.¡± ¡°Rats are actually very clever animals. With a companion dead here, the chances of catching another in this spot are not high, but it might attract other creatures. I can set up some more noose traps, so I can¡¯t let the opponent clean us out and slip away again.¡± [Actually, I think it¡¯s because Old Fang explained the plan (smirk)] [Plus one, every time I talk about glue traps my mom hisses at me, saying you can¡¯t let the rats hear] [Same mom] Following the previous arrangement, Bi Fang set up several more traps nearby, aiming to maximize the likelihood of catching the adversary. However, the hopes weren¡¯t very high, Let¡¯s hope for the best. Feeling the grumble of an empty stomach, Bi Fang exited the factory. Since the traps came up empty, he needed to start looking for other food sources. ¡°The choices around here are very limited. If I can¡¯t catch any prey, I¡¯ll need to make some other choices, like some insects. Let¡¯s go to a place with plants.¡± [My god, bugs?] [Have things really come to this?] [I can¡¯t believe Old Fang has fallen so low as to eat bugs. Tell us! Have you found a girlfriend behind our backs, been drained dry, and your skills declined?] [Ah, so my affair with Master Fang has been discovered, huh? I¡¯m so embarrassed (shy)] [Pfft, you¡¯re shameless.] ¡°Haha, altogether I¡¯ve just been hungry for a day and a night. I could hold out much longer if I had to. Haven¡¯t I gone three days without food before? Just like that time drifting at sea. But here in Yemen, I need to maintain my strength at all times.¡± Bi Fang returned to the campfire. The night had already fallen, and he needed to take a torch to continue his search for food. ¡°On my first day here, Yemen gave me a rude awakening, showing me this isn¡¯t the real ¡®Ghost City,¡¯ but a violent town occupied by outlaws. If I¡¯m in bad shape, it could be dangerous if something happens.¡± [Outlaws?] [Zhang San: My time to flex is here] [DNA stirring] If faced with animals, one might deal with them by confrontation and intimidation, backing them off with the ¡°laws of nature,¡± but if targeted by humans, all talk becomes useless. How can you struggle if you are starved for two days, with most of your strength gone? Having learned his lesson, Bi Fang was more cautious this time. He¡¯d rather eat less desirable food than compromise his condition, ensuring he had the strength to defend himself in the face of danger. Holding the torch, Bi Fang began searching the area and came across a bush. While looking for some firewood, he made a discovery¡ªa large number of winged insects crawling on the bushes. Under the glare of the firelight, the cluster of bugs gathered together was particularly creepy. [Damn, my fear of insects is kicking in!] [Oh no, what the heck is this?] [Ugh, so disgusting.] ¡°It¡¯s booklice!¡± Bi Fang was very happy, not finding it disgusting at all, but rather delighted. Without any disdain, he went over and scraped up a whole bunch in his hand. Tonight¡¯s dinner was settled. ¡°Booklice are small insects that inhabit moist and dark environments. They¡¯re considered pests like mice, and although they spread plant viruses, they don¡¯t really affect humans, so eating them is safer than eating rats. Don¡¯t be fooled by their wings; they can¡¯t actually fly. They¡¯re just for show, although some species can fly, it¡¯s clear that the ones we have here are not those. Most pleasingly, booklice reproduce sexually, but they have a low reproduction rate which requires them to have stable habitats, so they rarely change locations. We can come back later and there might still be some.¡± [Holy crap, this is eating out of house and home!] [That¡¯s unethical] Bi Fang¡¯s hands were so full that he couldn¡¯t empty them; his left hand grabbed and stuffed into his right hand, brimming full. Having made a catch, naturally he was happy. He came to the fire bucket with a clutch of insects and placed a thoroughly rinsed, thin iron plate on top. Once the iron plate was hot, Bi Fang found another and placed it above the right hand, timing it right, he released his grip and prevented the insects from escaping by pressing down the iron plate. The booklice, living in bushes, had never encountered such a situation. The high heat seared away half their lives in an instant, and when the iron plate pressed down, not one could escape. They were all thoroughly roasted, becoming grilled insects on the hot plate. The audience only heard banging noises, which felt weird, kind of like nature¡¯s popcorn. ¡°When the banging stops, we¡¯re almost ready to eat. Booklice are staple food for birds and other insect eaters, but it¡¯s my first time eating them. Grilling them is definitely much better than eating them raw.¡± When the noise stopped, Bi Fang knew it was about time. He moved the iron plate away, found a mat to protect it from the sea surface, and shifted the plate on the fire bucket to another location. The booklice lay still on the plate, perfectly charred. He gave them a shake and listened to the friction between them and the plate, which seemed somewhat crispy. Without any courtesy or hesitation, Bi Fang pinched one and tossed it into his mouth, chewing it up. It was crispy, but not overly so, given their small size, generally around half a centimeter. ¡°Tastes a bit like not-so-fresh shrimp, the kind you chew with the shell on, maybe even worse. The protein content in most insects is very high, several times that of meats; over seventy percent is protein.¡± [What¡¯s the remaining thirty percent? I really want to know.] ¡°The remaining thirty percent? Who knows. Just kidding, there¡¯s also hemolymph and other stuff. Insects are indeed great survival food. I don¡¯t usually eat them, simply because I don¡¯t like to and there¡¯s no necessity. This time I didn¡¯t catch any rats, which would have been the second-best food, even though it doesn¡¯t count as a meal.¡± Bi Fang cooled the insects down a bit, and when the iron plate wasn¡¯t too hot to handle, he grabbed the remaining booklice and stuffed them into his mouth. After that, he went back to the bushes to look some more. After a couple of rounds of searching, he successfully managed to stave off hunger. It felt pretty good. After drinking some water, Bi Fang could no longer resist the urge to sleep. He approached the overturned car, crawled through the door, sealed the window, and placed the drone to one side. And fell into a deep sleep. Chapter 329 - Chapter 329: Chapter 327: Smell Chapter 329: Chapter 327: Smell Cold, hard, morning mist drifting, yet seemingly like gun smoke. That was Bi Fang¡¯s first sensation upon awakening in the morning, and even though the rest was soft sponge padding, it still felt like he had slept on a hard plank bed all night. Sleeping in the city was vastly different from sleeping in the wilderness. It was colder, more uncomfortable, not only more constricting but also more unsettling. Upon waking, his airways felt as if they were clogged with dust. ¡°Cough, cough.¡± After coughing twice, Bi Fang opened his eyes, gazing at the seat above him for quite a while before he realized he was in the middle of a six-day Wilderness Survivalist broadcast in Yemen. Today was the second day. [Wow, Master Fang is up!] [Spread the word!] ¡°Everyone¡­¡± Bi Fang wanted to say hello, but as soon as he began to speak, the rumbling from his stomach abruptly cut off his words, making the scene quite awkward for a moment. [It¡¯s noon now, and I¡¯m just eating my lunch, so delicious. Hahaha] [Hot pepper mixed with rice, with a side of steaming spicy veggies] [Got to go, I¡¯ll take down this fish head first.] Amidst the Shuiyou¡¯s boastful comments, Bi Fang scratched his head and laughed, all the while removing the sponge padding that blocked the window as he introduced his situation. ¡°I¡¯m currently in Abbascan¡¯s war-torn city of Yemen, which seems to be an abandoned industrial area, and I¡¯ve had a rough night. Cold, wet, and hungry doesn¡¯t begin to describe my current state. If there were a basin of hot breakfast in front of me now, it would definitely be the happiest thing for the past few days.¡± Climbing out of the car¡¯s interior, Bi Fang breathed deeply into the morning sun, exhaling a misty breath, the cold stimulating every cell in his body, quickly reviving him from his dormant state. After doing some simple warm-up exercises to recover, Bi Fang decided to check the traps he had set yesterday. If he came back empty-handed again, it would not be good news for him. Grasping the rope to re-enter the factory, Bi Fang once again arrived at the trap site, but his heart sank before he got close. From a distance of several meters, he could see that every single noose trap was empty! [It¡¯s over, fortune is not on Master Fang¡¯s side!] [It seems Old Fang is having a rough time this round, not catching any game for a whole day, just eating some bugs] [Seems like only the first time with the ocean direct broadcast when Old Fang was this unlucky, right?] The Shuiyou, seeing Bi Fang¡¯s traps coming up empty again, were not exactly rejoicing in his misfortune, but they found the situation amusing nonetheless, finding entertainment in seeing the strong falter. Fought bears, killed wolves, yet repeatedly frustrated by setting traps. ¡°Although the traps are empty, let¡¯s not give up too easily. Let¡¯s get closer and look. There might be a surprise discovery. I left mouse guts here yesterday. Now that the noose traps didn¡¯t catch anything, it doesn¡¯t necessarily mean no game approached. It¡¯s also possible that the prey wasn¡¯t fooled and escaped. But there must be traces if they came by, so there might still be hope.¡± Despite the disappointment, Bi Fang was not frustrated. Trapping was always a matter of luck, and one couldn¡¯t place too much hope on it. Getting closer by a few meters, Bi Fang, who was about to give up completely, suddenly knit his brows and then smiled. It seemed there was not a total lack of findings. A faint stench in the air indicated that some creature had indeed been there. As they got closer, even the online friends noticed that the leftover mouse innards from last night were gone! [Holy moly, there really was something?] [What the heck is so clever?] ¡°Foxes!¡± Bi Fang squatted on the ground, pointing to the unmistakable diamond-shaped footprints in the dust, and nearby, a few strands of pale yellow fur could be found, obviously left by some other creature. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you still remember the training method for tracking prey that Mugalen taught us last time; those discussions were basically correct.¡± ¡°Foxes have three little claws, cats have plum blossom prints, bears have four claws in front plus large pads, deer and sheep are similar, with two sharp points, rabbits have a plum blossom spot in front followed by a long stripe, which are the back leg prints. The ground looks like it¡¯s been bulldozed where wild boars have passed. Look, these footprints are narrow diamonds, because fox footprints are thinner and longer than dog¡¯s, usually 5 centimeters long and 4 centimeters wide. There¡¯s a gap between the two front paws and the two back paws; the gap is longer than a matchstick.¡± And early spring, March to April, is when foxes shed their fur, so you often see fur between the footprints, not just foxes, most animals shed during this time, dogs between March and May, cats in spring and autumn too.¡± Bi Fang picked up some fur on the ground to show the audience, a thick tuft of short hair. Most crucially, Bi Fang smelled the distinct stench unique to foxes. [Holy shit, is fox stench real?] [The smell is so strong, can you really smell it directly?] [Amazing, Master Fang, is your nose a dog¡¯s nose?] Bi Fang shook his head, explaining that anyone paying close attention could actually smell it, as it was indeed overwhelming. ¡°Foxes themselves don¡¯t smell much, otherwise if they really had a natural body odor, wouldn¡¯t they be a natural mark in the eyes of many predators with a keen sense of smell?¡± The online friends nodded involuntarily, as if there was some sense to it. ¡°Foxes are similar to skunks in this regard; they have a gland sac on each side of their anus that can release a peculiar smell, functioning to evade predators. So when a fox is irritated or frightened, it¡¯s very likely to emit an unbearable stench. Moreover, the stench in a fox¡¯s urine is also strong and hard to remove. It¡¯s even more apt to say it¡¯s a kind of pungent stench rather than just an odor. So I guess, this little fox not only ate the mouse innards but also relieved itself here.¡± With a flare of his nostrils, Bi Fang easily found the fox¡¯s excretion spot, distinguished by the dry traces amidst the dust on the ground. A patch of dried yellow irregular stains starkly appeared on the factory floor, and Bi Fang was sure it hadn¡¯t been there the day before. It¡¯s true that foxes are rare in cities, but in abandoned urban areas like Yemen, it¡¯s still possible to occasionally see some wildlife. Moreover, the urban construction in Abbascan is quite loose, not as dense as in Huaxia, otherwise the big fire the day before yesterday, unchecked, would not have just burned down half a street. In such cases, some wildlife might occasionally enter the city. ¡°I don¡¯t have any bait left on me, and under these circumstances, it¡¯s unlikely that the fox will appear a second time. So I can only try to track it and see if I can catch it directly, just by following the footprints¡­¡± And the scent¡­ Bi Fang, pointing to a series of footprints on the ground, lowered his eyelids, leaving the latter half of the sentence unsaid. In a city covered with cement surfaces, it¡¯s hard to find prey by footprints alone. Sadly, this fox made a fatal mistake; after eating the innards, it urinated, getting the smell on itself. Isn¡¯t this seeking death? Chapter 330 - Chapter 330: Chapter 328: Appeared Chapter 330: Chapter 328: Appeared ¡°I can¡¯t believe it ran this far out.¡± Bi Fang looked up at the tall enclosing wall, having chased it for nearly three or four kilometers, only to be blocked by this wall. There were many hairs scraped off under the door crack; the fox surely must have squeezed through here, a pity, while the fox could get through, a person could not. The gap was too narrow, and Bi Fang was a bit too big. He glanced around, took two steps back, and under the shocked gazes of the audience, he charged and kicked off the wall, grabbed onto the fence with his hands, and flipped over with a hawk-like somersault. [Damn, that wall must be three meters tall, right? And he just flipped over it just like that?] [Extreme parkour, six six six] [Holy shit, dude, that¡¯s some snake-skin movement right there] Unlike the last time he scaled a fence, this time there was no triangular wall to leverage from. Flipping over a three-meter-tall wall so easily truly opened the eyes of the audience. Dust billowed slightly, Bi Fang bent his knees, and faced with the boiling excitement of the audience, he didn¡¯t react much, but followed the hair and footprints to pursue once more. The scent was getting stronger, and Bi Fang had a feeling that he was getting close. Scents naturally disperse, the more concentrated they are, the less time they have had to spread, meaning they were left recently. Thinking this, Bi Fang slowed his pace. ¡°Foxes have very good hearing and can accurately locate sounds. Their sense of smell is also very sensitive, and the most terrifying thing is that their peak speed can reach about 50 km/h, absolutely not to be underestimated. Once they spot you first, catching them is almost impossible.¡± ¡°Moreover, Yemen is ultimately a city, not a forest. If it slips into a building, I¡¯d be helpless, so it¡¯s best to proceed with caution¡­¡± Bi Fang walked with extreme care in the abandoned factory, aiming not just to avoid being detected by the fox but also to avoid being discovered by others. It would have been easier to manage at night, but now it was daylight, when running into other people was more likely. In Yemen, out of every ten people you meet, if not nine, at least eight would be thugs; otherwise, it would be very difficult to survive in this city. Good people in this city are like mice squeezing through narrow gaps. After crossing the wall, the ground was no longer cement, but soft soil which, due to the rain a couple of days ago, was quite loose and actually retained fairly clear footprints. Following the footprints into the distance, at the corner of the wall there was a huge pile of miscellaneous items, various broken pieces of furniture. The footprints stopped at this pile of goods, and from within this mess, there were many to and fro footprints. If this weren¡¯t the fox¡¯s den, it wouldn¡¯t be like this. ¡°It seems to be right over here.¡± Bi Fang narrowed his eyes; the closer he was to success, the more cautious he needed to be, lest the past hour¡¯s effort be in vain. A single fox could at least restore his status to ninety percent and would allow him to hold on for one more day, not to mention using it as bait to capture other prey. ¡°I can¡¯t get any closer, or the likelihood of being discovered is too high. We should set a trap to catch it.¡± Bi Fang continued to retreat until he was behind a building, where he took off the backpack from his back and pulled out a ¡°net¡± he had previously found. Although Yemen was an abandoned city, it was still a city. With a careful search in many trash accumulation areas, one might find some unexpectedly useful things. Like this net, which Bi Fang had stumbled upon while on the move and had joyfully collected straight away. A net is a killer tool for area hunting! The location of the fox was at the base of an enclosing wall, next to a factory building. ¡°I¡¯m going to set up a bird-catching net trap right at the entrance to its home. I don¡¯t believe it won¡¯t fall for it.¡± A bird-catching trap? Will this work for catching a fox? The viewers¡¯ mouths twitched, unsure how to rely on this bird trap to catch a fox. First of all, it was of course necessary to repair the net; a big hole would simply not do. This was no trouble for Bi Fang. For a small hole, he just threaded a rope through the surrounding mesh and tied it tight, and the small hole was fixed. The trouble was with larger holes, which required several threads to weave and mend a net-like patch. The entire process took less than half an hour. In the end, Bi Fang found several long plastic pipes and entered the factory building, heading straight to the second floor. He connected all the pipes into one piece, lifted the four corners of the last net pocket, and hung it on the pipe end. He placed a stone in the middle to serve as a weight dangling down, stretched it out from the window on the second floor, and slowly laid it on the ground, spreading it out bit by bit. A large net was thus laid out where the fox tracks were most dense. Next, all he had to do was wait for a fox to walk over it, and Bi Fang would ¡°rise to the occasion,¡± utter the command to pull the net and trap the fox within. The waiting was the hardest part. Bi Fang was okay but the audience was suffering, wanting to see the outcome, yet bored by the tedious wait. Had it not been for Master Fang occasionally telling a couple of jokes and stories, it would have been truly difficult to get through this time. Even so, a half-hour wait directly resulted in a loss of nearly one hundred thousand viewers. Such is the challenge of live streaming. The drastic fluctuations in viewership could send shivers down one¡¯s spine. If it weren¡¯t for Bi Fang¡¯s extensive experience, his hands might have been shaking with nerves. The half-hour flew by, and it was now 12:37 local time in Yemen. Just as more and more online friends grew impatient, ready to leave the stream to play video games or watch TV shows, a shadow suddenly darted past from a pile of junk! There¡¯s something! The sharp-eyed viewers were thrilled, and instantly the chat was flooded like a tide. In a moment, nearly all viewers knew something had appeared. The unmanned drone on the windowsill automatically zoomed in on the image, making more viewers hold their breath, their hearts pounding with nervous anticipation. Could it really be a success, relying on an old, torn net from a pile of rubbish? Bi Fang, tired from the wait, had relaxed a bit but jolted when he saw the chat¡¯s reminder. Focusing his gaze, he immediately spotted a blurry figure in the pile of debris, inside that tattered cabinet! A look of joy spread across Bi Fang¡¯s face as he whispered softly, ¡°No mistake, it¡¯s a fox, a sand fox at that!¡± Abbascan is located in the central west and has desert areas, so it¡¯s not unusual for a sand fox to venture into the city. Within the gaping hole of the battered cabinet, there was definitely a fox, though its exact size couldn¡¯t be made out. Awesome, my brother! Even though Bi Fang¡¯s analysis was spot-on, witnessing a fox appear before his eyes was a genuine shock of confirmation. Once the fox appeared, the viewers no longer felt bored. After a few minutes, the sand fox finally emerged from the pile of junk, sniffing the air cautiously, allowing the viewers to see its full figure. About half a meter long, with a fluffy tail, its eyes nearly squinted into slits. This sand fox first sneaked towards the factory gate, looking as if it was about to go out hunting. The yellow soil beneath the gate, frequently burrowed by the fox, had caused that part of the ground near the crevice to visibly sink, looking quite comical. But just as it reached halfway there, as if catching a scent, it suddenly stopped and turned. Bi Fang¡¯s heart tightened. Oh no, it might have caught his scent from the net! Chapter 331 - Chapter 331: Chapter 329 Heavy Rain Chapter 331: Chapter 329 Heavy Rain Matthew Hall held his breath, not daring to make a sound. He pressed hard against his chest, where his wildly racing heart seemed to be vibrating hard enough to split his head in two, and it felt as though someone was pounding furiously on his chest from within. Tiny flying insects buzzed by his ears, occasionally one would slip into his nostril, causing Matthew discomfort and nausea, yet he clamped his mouth shut, not daring to cough out loud. With no thunder or lightning in sight, a torrential downpour suddenly descended, the huge raindrops pounding on the roof of the car with a loud clatter. Further down the street, the flashing headlights of vehicles howled like ghosts and wolves, the downpour having triggered their alarm systems. A few motorcycles and SUVs were parked in the alley, their headlights on and engines still running, yet not a soul was in sight. These people weren¡¯t concerned about someone stealing their vehicles; if someone did steal them, the vehicles would still end up back in their possession, and the thief would end up dead. ¡°What a heavy rain,¡± the leader spat, wiping the unlucky rain from his forehead with a grimace, and whistled at his underlings who were still searching for their target. ¡°Forget it, stop looking, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°But¡­,¡± ¡°There¡¯s no ¡®but.¡¯ It¡¯s just a few photos. What if they get out, will anyone come? Eh? Hahahaha,¡± the leader laughed heartily, his two companions joining in. The rest looked at the pouring rain, feeling the chill on their bodies, shrugged it off, secured their safeties, and gradually left the alley. Getting into their cars and bikes, they floored the accelerator, the dark vehicles charging through the streets like suddenly unleashed beasts, crashing back and forth. ¡°It¡¯s just crazy,¡± Rainwater seeped through the cracks, filling the city¡¯s countless wounds, while Matthew peered through the gap in the garbage bag, watching everything outside the alley, clutching his camera tightly to his chest, tears streaming down his face. What should he do now? ¡­ ¡°What heavy rain,¡± Bi Fang exclaimed, his heart, however, filled with joy. If the rain had come half a minute earlier, he might have made a mistake, but now¡­ He looked at the fox caught in the net and grinned. No harm done. ¡°Fur-bearing animals don¡¯t come out in the rain, just like how people feel uncomfortable with their clothes soaked, animals feel uncomfortable with their fur wet¡ªa simple concept. I thought this fox had caught my scent, but it turned out to be because of the downpour. I saw the dark clouds coming this morning, but I¡¯m not as sensitive as the animals. I thought it would rain in the afternoon.¡± Three minutes earlier, just as the fox was about to step into the trap, it suddenly stopped moving and even started to back away. The Shuiyou were scratching their heads in frustration, but Bi Fang was quick to react. He pulled out the water bottle from his backpack and hurled it behind the fox, startling it into leaping forward, right into the trap. The old bait-and-switch amused the audience, who cheered and chanted ¡°666¡± in support. Opening the window, Bi Fang slowly retracted the plastic hose. The little fox struggled desperately in the net, baring its claws and fangs at Bi Fang, letting out threatening hisses, to no avail. Meanwhile, many female viewers seemed to feel sorry for the creature. [The fox is so cute, how can you eat it?] [Yeah, I feel sorry for it.] [What¡¯s there to feel sorry about? When it¡¯s in Master Fang¡¯s hands, there¡¯s no escaping it.] [Absolutely, I¡¯m not here to see you conquer the wild, hurry up and get the meal started (joking).] [I suggest B Island includes Master Fang¡¯s live stream in the food program group (Dog¡¯s head).] [Cute? Drool uncontrollably slides down the corner of my mouth, let me go, I can have two more bowls!]] [Doesn¡¯t the fox smell bad, it doesn¡¯t taste good, right?] ¡°Foxes do have a strong scent, but if you want to eat them, just remove the two musk glands on the insides of their thighs, and then the meat won¡¯t smell as strong. When you catch prey, don¡¯t let your guard down, animals can become more aggressive at such times, and we must be careful not to get bitten,¡± Bi Fang said, as he held the net, ignoring the fox¡¯s attempts to leap and bite him, he stepped on its head, then pulled out a kitchen knife and, aiming for the back of its head, plunged it in. Blood spilled down the blade; the once lively fox suddenly fell silent and limply collapsed on the ground. As for any concerns regarding female viewers, that¡¯s out of the question. I¡¯ve already killed rabbits in front of them; why would a fox be any different? After wiping the blood off the blade, Bi Fang pulled the fox out of the net bag, flipped it over, and with a raised eyebrow, exclaimed with pleasant surprise, ¡°It turns out to be a vixen!¡± Seeing Bi Fang so happy, the Shuiyou immediately started teasing him, sending mocking bullet chats. [It¡¯s just a vixen, why are you excited, Old Fang?] [Impossible, surely humans shouldn¡¯t, at least they ought not to¡­] [I have faith in you] [Are you a vixen fan?] ¡°What are you guys thinking?¡± Bi Fang laughed, not bothering to skin the fox; he stuffed it into his backpack instead. ¡°I¡¯m happy because foxes usually have their pups from late March to early May; Arctic foxes a bit later, even at the end of May. It¡¯s just April now, and even though foxes are solitary, during the mating season, male and female foxes will live together. If we¡¯re a bit luckier, maybe we can find a lair with little foxes and adult foxes. I need to hurry and check it out; we might get an extra meal tonight!¡± Eat baby foxes? Hearing this, the female viewers reacted even more strongly. How could he eat baby foxes? That¡¯s too much. Bi Fang glanced at the barrage of messages with a bit of a headache, but his actions were not slow; he walked towards a pile of rubbish covered with a tarp. Unfortunately, maybe the viewers¡¯ protests had an effect; Bi Fang searched in the heavy rain for a long time and found no traces of other foxes, so he had to return inside the building to make a fire and roast the meat. The familiar process: skinning, removing the scent glands, and scooping out the entrails. ¡°Because of the heavy rain, we don¡¯t have to worry about the smell of blood being detected by other predators. In fact, in the city, we don¡¯t have to worry too much about this either, even in Ruins City it¡¯s still a city, it¡¯s nearly impossible for predators that can threaten humans to appear, the worst we¡¯d encounter is just a big dog.¡± Bi Fang cut the fox meat into small pieces, skewered it on sticks, and started to grill it outdoors with practiced ease. ¡°I¡¯ve never had fox meat, but I¡¯ve heard it¡¯s similar to donkey meat. Some unscrupulous businesses even use fox meat to pass off as donkey meat. It¡¯s not bought only because there¡¯s an oversupply and no effective consumer market or sales channels. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s true, but there are indeed benefits to eating it; fox meat is sweet and warming, nourishing and invigorating, it¡¯s really not bad for the body.¡± While waiting for the meat to cook, Bi Fang chatted with the viewers, eyeing the fox meat as it shrunk and sizzled with fat, releasing its aroma, and he began to salivate. When it seemed about right, he sprinkled some collected salt on it, and could hardly wait to take a bite. [How is it? What does it taste like?] [Tell us, is it good?] [What? You¡¯re asking if Old Fang likes it? Haven¡¯t you heard of his ¡°Talented in Various Classical Chinese Arts¡± taste? (facetious)] The audience was already impatient, eager to know what fox meat tasted like. ¡°Hmm~¡± Bi Fang chewed thoughtfully for quite a while before finally swallowing. ¡°Not bad, it¡¯s not as awful as I thought. After removing the scent gland, the strong odor is gone, leaving only the normal gamy taste. Maybe it¡¯s because of the salt, it tastes much better than the previous times I¡¯ve eaten it.¡± Just as Bi Fang guessed, as a carnivore from the family Canidae, fox meat is rich in protein and calories. Even if it¡¯s lean and musky, it¡¯s still a rare delicacy for someone in dire need of energy. Because he hadn¡¯t eaten for two days, Bi Fang devoured two thighs and half of the fox¡¯s body in one go, only stopping when his hunger was sated. He stuffed the remaining half into his backpack, saving it for the third day¡¯s rations. Seeing that the downpour didn¡¯t seem to be stopping anytime soon, Bi Fang didn¡¯t plan to waste time. After cleaning up the site, he threw on his tarp and rushed into the rain, running back the way he came¡­ An hour later. A figure dashed into the factory, drenched by the rain, and upon seeing the scorch marks left by the fire on the ground, was overjoyed. ¡°This is the place!¡± Chapter 332 - Chapter 332: Chapter 330: Explosion, Understand? Chapter 332: Chapter 330: Explosion, Understand? The heavy rain washed over the ground, pouring into the vehicle through the gaps in the car door, leaving standing water. ¡°Can¡¯t stay here anymore¡­¡± Wrapped in oilcloth, Bi Fang hurried back to the camp with a deep frown against the pouring rain. The shelter he had finally managed to build was destroyed by the torrential downpour, and his heart was filled with melancholy. Outside the eaves, the rain was like a curtain, with mist mingling among the raindrops, reducing visibility to less than twenty meters; beyond thirty meters all was a white blur. Raindrops collided and shattered in the air, splashing onto the ground, mixing water vapor and cold air, seeping through every crevice with relentless force. Bi Fang stood under the eaves, the chilly air penetrating his body, causing him to shiver violently, but soon the undigested fox meat in his stomach turned into warm currents that revived his spirits. Rain soaked his forehead and hair, dripping wet; he reached back with his hand to sweep it back, squeezing out just two wisps of hair from between his fingers to fall from his temples, the faint daylight casting a halo around his dark silhouette. ¡°It¡¯s okay, we can rebuild the campsite. Just have to be careful not to catch a cold. Your health is capital for the revolution. Encountering such heavy rain is not unusual in the wild. Everyone doesn¡¯t have to be too pessimistic. Neither humans nor animals tend to move much in this kind of weather. This is actually good news for us.¡± The worse the weather, the less people want to go out, and bandit gangs are no different. For ¡°vulnerable groups¡± like Bi Fang, it was an excellent opportunity to act. With that thought, the unhappiness due to the destruction of the campsite was washed away by the rain. Bi Fang no longer felt cold but was reenergized, pondering where to scavenge for supplies next. ¡°We¡¯ve already been to the south side of the industrial district. Let¡¯s change directions and check out the east side next. I remember there¡¯s a cooling tower there¡ªthe kind that¡¯s shaped like a hyperbolic curve.¡± Bi Fang gesticulated with his hands, outlining the curves. Cooling towers were actually quite common; as a kid watching movies, the showdown between Wolverine and Deadpool took place right at the edge of one. Back then, he didn¡¯t understand much, thinking that such towers were a hallmark of nuclear power plants, impressively mysterious and making him instinctively want to avoid them. It was only when he grew up that he found out large steel mills and power plants also had these structures, and they weren¡¯t anything special. ¡°Cooling towers are different from the common tall and thin chimneys. They¡¯re cooling equipment typically used in large factories, like chemical plants, steel mills, and power plants. There are all sorts of good stuff in these places. No matter the type, we should be able to collect things that are useful to us.¡± Having determined the direction, Bi Fang wrapped himself tightly in the oilcloth and once again dashed into the rain. Moving through the city has its advantages. Once you¡¯re familiar with the surrounding environment, it becomes easy to recognize directions¡ªan advantage not afforded by forests where, even when returning to a campsite, without markers and facing nearly identical trees, you¡¯d have to discern directions all over again. Stepping out of the factory, the way ahead was south, so naturally, the east was just a left turn from the entrance. After that, just keep moving in that direction. Rainwater streamed across the streets. Matthew Hall ran through the heavy rain, but he just couldn¡¯t find that familiar figure. Gradually, he couldn¡¯t run anymore, his body felt as though it was filled with lead, a dizzying heaviness about to crush him. Raindrops fell in countless numbers, exploding on the ground all around him; he spun around, his gaze vacant, and in a daze, it seemed as if walls enclosed him from every side. Yemen had been ravaged by war. Modern warfare is informational warfare, and signal towers are prime targets. Apart from satellite signals, other methods of communication were almost completely severed. Matthew was fully aware of this. Du Ming had specifically brought a satellite phone for this reason, but the phone had gotten lost during a previous escape¡­ The last image from the live stream was of a campfire inside a factory. Beyond that, where he went was utterly unknown. In a city reduced to ruins, was it even possible to find one man by sheer luck? Matthew regretted his impulsive decision to quit an enviable job and return to the front lines, especially after learning of the other¡¯s destination, choosing to go to the same city. But having seen him, how could he not care? He had witnessed tragedies countless times, was powerless against them countless times, and could only record the atrocities with his camera. But that man was right here! He must have a way! ¡­ Insects struggling to avoid drowning in a puddle flailed endlessly, with roads muddy and wet after the rain. With each step, Bi Fang¡¯s shoes gathered a layer of mud. He put down his oilcloth tarp, gave it a gentle shake, and water droplets rolled off of it. After folding it up, he took his online friends to observe the destination, feeling a hint of excitement in his heart. Bi Fang had climbed over the fence ten minutes ago, intending to get inside the factory. However, he was once again stopped by a door. With no other option, he started looking for another way in, walking a full circle around the building, and unexpectedly made a discovery. Inside the perimeter wall, the factory buildings were lined up closely together, and between the wide passages, exposed pipelines were laid bare on the outside of the wall. Bi Fang held a steel rod and struck the steel pipes, making a clanging sound that was clear and lingered on. He arrived at a metal box and, with the ease of someone well-versed in this, inserted the steel rod and pried it open. ¡°These metal boxes aren¡¯t actually very sturdy, just a thin layer of iron sheet, which is quite easy to pry open. However, everyone should be careful. It¡¯s likely that the contents are flammable and explosive gases. Don¡¯t apply too much force and cause a tragedy.¡± He inserted the steel rod into the gap and the metal creaked. Soon, with a loud bang, the iron door twisted out of shape and broke free. He pulled open the iron door to reveal two large steel cylinders. Bi Fang wiped the label and pointed excitedly at the two big cylinders, ¡°It¡¯s acetylene and oxygen!¡± He looked up at the massive factory, ¡°This type of gas pipe setup on the outside of a building isn¡¯t common. They must be for the convenience of the workers. I think this is a steel factory, because the combination of acetylene and oxygen is commonly used in gas welding. Acetylene is a combustible gas, oxygen is an oxidizing gas; when mixed and ignited, the temperature can reach up to three thousand degrees, easily melting steel.¡± As soon as Bi Fang mentioned gas welding, quite a few Shuiyou were startled. [Damn, we did this in our metalworking practicum at the start of the semester, the temperature is insanely high, I directly melted a metal box.] [Holy shit, no wonder it looked so familiar, it¡¯s gas welding!] [Can this thing still be used?] [Whether it can be used or not is one thing, what I really want to know is if it will explode (dog¡¯s head).] Bi Fang stepped back two paces and looked at the orderly arranged pipes. A bold idea came to his mind and he clapped his fist to his palm. ¡°Acetylene mixed with oxygen is very unstable, highly volatile, but at the same time, if you know what you¡¯re doing, you can put it to good use. What can a bunch of combustibles mixed together do?¡± What can they do? They can easily explode! Without Bi Fang spelling it out, the audience naturally came to this conclusion. Just think about all those gas cylinder explosion incidents; isn¡¯t it the same principle? The power of acetylene might even be greater! [Old Fang, are you going to make a bomb?] [You¡¯ve come a long way, Master Fang] [Success on the horizon!] [Insist that the officials use satellites to monitor every move of Master Fang, and never let him out of surveillance, otherwise the danger is tremendous (dog¡¯s head)] [Are you Hojiro Houma?] Bi Fang chuckled and began to twist the knob on the steel bottle. Perhaps because of the long passage of time, some rust had formed on the knob, making a creaking sound as it turned. The audience watched with trepidation, terrified that the moment he finished twisting, an explosion would occur. ¡°I was just looking for a ventilation duct to enter the factory, but now it seems unnecessary. We can keep it simple, find a simpler way to enter. There is ample evidence that many flammable materials can actually be made into makeshift bombs, but this is absolutely a specialized field. Everyone should not try this lightly. Just watch for fun, so don¡¯t miss out. I¡¯m going to demonstrate it live just this once, miss it and you¡¯ll have to catch the replay.¡± Bi Fang joked with the audience, also aiming to keep them engaged. After all, aside from catching a fox, he hadn¡¯t had much business today. The officials were very cooperative, as Wolf Fang and MeTuBe obligingly sent out a push notification again, with the headline: Ruins City: Bi Fang Blasts the Gate. The catchy title quickly drew more viewers to the live stream, with the audience count shooting up in just ten minutes by a hundred thousand! [A loud smack, that was quick! I came in as soon as I saw the title, hearing there¡¯d be blasting, hoping Master Fang delivers and isn¡¯t just clickbaiting] [Same here, is this really going to be a blast? Did Old Fang get his hands on some explosives?] [I was just at work, but I had to come in when I saw this title, not wanting to miss out.] [No explosives, but there is a bottle of acetylene] Seeing the new influx of viewers, Bi Fang once again explained his situation and objectives, leaving the Shuiyou electrified and eager to see what a real blast looks like. While he spoke, a small steel bottle shorter than a meter had already been unscrewed. Bi Fang weighed it; it was heavy, but the weight was mostly from the bottle itself. Carrying the steel bottle to a side door of the steel plant, Bi Fang began collecting some other materials from the area. For soldiers and spies, entering a building is a vitally important strategic and survival Skill. Special forces are trained in bomb disposal, and naturally, Bi Fang understood it well, and even more extensively, since many situations also involved sophisticated chemical knowledge. The key to blasting a door and conducting a controlled demolition is how to direct the explosive force to blow the door off. Bi Fang looked around and spotted a large iron box, over a meter tall and two meters wide. It was locked with a small padlock, but with a simple pry, the box was opened, revealing a mix of various items inside, mostly heavy tarpaulins and oilcloths that were of little use. Many factories stock up on tarpaulins and oilcloths so they can cover things to protect them from rain, preventing lots of objects from getting wet and losing their function. This was why Bi Fang could so easily find oilcloth; in industrial parks, these items are the least scarce. Convinced there was nothing valuable inside, Bi Fang grabbed the edge of the iron box and began dragging it toward the door, explaining as he went. ¡°Sometimes blasting is the only way into a sealed building. The key is to place a huge and heavy ballast in front of the blast target to stop shrapnel from flying this way and instead direct the blast force at the target. Here, the focus is the lock and the hinges on the door. Actually, this is similar to firing a bullet, where the firearm uses the barrel to restrict the direction of the bullet, making it fly toward the intended path and hit the target. The same principle applies here, but this ballast isn¡¯t heavy enough. We can stuff some stones or clods inside to increase its weight, to prevent it from being blown apart by the explosion. As for the actual design of the blasting part¡­.¡± Having blocked the door, Bi Fang paused to catch his breath, smiled at the eagerly waiting Shuiyou, and said, ¡°That¡¯s something I won¡¯t tell you. In our line of work, many tricks can¡¯t be spread rashly. If something goes wrong and they trace it back to me, that¡¯d be dreadful. But I¡¯m quite confident that blasting this door open won¡¯t be difficult at all.¡± The Shuiyou were somewhat disappointed by the first part of his statement, even feeling it was bait and switch, but upon hearing the second part, they smiled understandingly. ¡°You just teach, I won¡¯t blame you if something goes wrong (Dog¡¯s head)¡± ¡°Bang bang bang, open the door, I¡¯m here to read the meter¡± ¡°Open the door, your delivery has arrived, quickly sign for it¡± ¡°One dares to teach, another dares to learn¡± ¡°Alright, we can begin now.¡± Using an iron box to block the side door, Bi Fang picked up the acetylene tank and placed it between the ballast and the side door, wedging it firmly in the middle. He then set down his backpack and took out the bottle of antifreeze they had seen earlier. The viewers might remember it contained ethylene glycol, which is dangerous as it can burn and explode when exposed to an open flame. ¡°Ethylene glycol can burn and explode when it comes into contact with an open flame, which is actually similar to gasoline. We can stuff a strip of cloth into it, soak it well, and it will serve as a fuse,¡± he explained. Bi Fang stuffed a thin strip of cloth into the bottle to soak up the ethylene glycol, then pulled it out again, wrapping one end around the mouth of the acetylene tank, and trailing the other end outside, beyond the ballast. Next, it was time to light the fuse. ¡°In Ruins City, fire-making by wood-drilling is difficult. As you might have seen earlier, it took me a lot of effort to start a fire, and since there has just been a heavy rain, dry wood is even harder to find, which increases the difficulty of making fire. However, after entering the factory, I found something great that can help us quickly start a fire,¡± he said. Bi Fang dug through his backpack and pulled out a small bottle. Under the dim light, it seemed filled with black powder. Potassium permanganate! Many long-time viewers immediately recognized this familiar substance: it was the potassium permanganate found earlier in the medical kit. But wasn¡¯t this stuff meant for disinfection and marking? The viewers with good memory might remember that Bi Fang had said it was indeed for disinfection and marking, but the marking was to be done in the snow. What did it have to do with making fire now? ¡°The connection is huge. You see, you weren¡¯t good in chemistry class. Potassium permanganate is a strong oxidizing agent, and as soon as it encounters a reducing agent, it will decompose automatically, releasing a large amount of heat. This heat gathered together makes the best igniter, and fire starting becomes very convenient. As for the reducing agent, we actually have one¡­¡± he said, before reaching again into the bag and pulling out a larger bottle, grinning as he showed it to his online friends. And this reagent was also recognized by the viewers¡ªit was the medical alcohol! ¡°Ethanol is one of the reducing agents that can cause it to decompose through oxidation, but unfortunately, it seems that not many people realize it,¡± he said. On this survival journey, Bi Fang had brought only one backpack, and everything inside was previously collected, with which the viewers were familiar. However, few could connect them and utilize them effectively. With these materials, making a fire was very simple. First, Bi Fang tore off a piece of sponge padding. He had anticipated the possibility that he might need to start a fire, so he had earlier taken some sponge from the car interior and placed it in his backpack. The sponge was fluffy and soft, can trapping a lot of air, and also dry and flammable, making it a suitable igniter. Bi Fang started by placing some weeds on top of the fuse as a layer, then he put the sponge padding on top of the weeds. A layer of green grass would prevent the sponge from burning too fast. After that, he poured a bit of potassium permanganate on the sponge, followed by a bit of medical alcohol, and stirred thoroughly with a piece of wire. In no time, plumes of white smoke began to rise. Seeing this, Bi Fang immediately stopped what he was doing and went to the acetylene tank, quickly turning on the valve. Instantly, a hissing sound of gas leaking could be heard. He didn¡¯t dare to turn it too much as there was a risk of an immediate explosion. Once the gas was leaking, Bi Fang ran about ten meters away and hid behind a large tree, covering his ears. The explosion was about to happen! Chapter 333 - Chapter 333: Chapter 331 The Abandoned Steel Mill Chapter 333: Chapter 331 The Abandoned Steel Mill Bi Fang sprinted for dozens of meters, then leaned against a large tree, covering his ears. A drone flew high into the sky as the online audience watched intently at the sponge, so small it was almost invisible. Less than half a minute passed before a yellow-brown dot suddenly brightened. It¡¯s on! The fire trailed quickly along the fuse, climbing like a small snake, coiling and twisting as it opened its flame-filled maw, biting down fiercely! A loud boom momentarily deafened everyone; a visible white shockwave spread out, and the gushing flames resembled an oversized blowtorch, the scorching wind softening steel and shattering glass into pieces. The black cement ground within a few meters abruptly turned white and then cracked and deformed. Gazing down from above, the online audience¡¯s eyes widened, their hearts skipping a beat within the explosion¡¯s roar, incredulous at the scene before them. The cement should have been greyish-white, turned black due to rainwater soaking it, but now it turned white in an instant¡­ In the blinding light of the fire, the iron gate twisted and was thrown into the air by the blast, soaring several meters high before plunging back down to the ground with force. Even Bi Fang, leaning against the tree, felt a slight push from behind, a testament to the strength of the shockwave. Thick mist condensed into droplets, lightly raining down and dampening the ground once more. Yet before it could soak in, the residual high temperatures evaporated the moisture again. Blown by the wind, it dissipated into nothingness. The drone changed angles, moving in front of Bi Fang. Feeling a bit dizzy, he did not rush to make an appearance, instead taking out a water bottle and drinking it to ease his discomfort. The audience could only see Bi Fang sitting calmly on the ground, drinking water while tendrils of smoke billowed behind him, as if all was unrelated to him. After ten minutes, once he confirmed there was no secondary explosion, Bi Fang dusted the ash off his shoulders, stepped out from behind the tree, and looked at the thick smoke coming from the side door without surprise. Bi Fang took a couple of steps forward to the gate, stepping on the cracked pavement and said, ¡°Acetylene burns with thick smoke because of its high carbon content and the temperature is very high. As you can see, the cement here has turned white, meaning the moisture has been evaporated, truly a terrifying temperature.¡± Hearing Bi Fang¡¯s calm analysis, the audience, shocked by the explosive power, were astonished; only a heart like his could witness such an explosion directly. This was far more shocking than a grenade explosion in movies. The ground turned from black to white, cracked every inch, and the iron gate was lifted several meters high by the shockwave, beginning to deform in the air before crashing down. [¡°Terrifying? I think you¡¯re more terrifying than the explosion.¡±] [¡°Master Fang is so calm.¡±] [¡°Of course, just the crises we¡¯ve seen are life-threatening enough, let alone the unseen ones. He¡¯s too awesome. I¡¯m shocked.¡±] [¡°With Tai Shan collapsing in front of him, his color remains unchanged; elk play around him, yet his gaze never wavers. Master Fang wouldn¡¯t be Master Fang if he wasn¡¯t badass. I¡¯m the ruthless 666 machine!¡±] [¡°After all, it¡¯s acetylene. Isn¡¯t the explosion temperature much higher than a regular bomb?¡±] ¡°Yes, acetylene can reach 3600 degrees in oxygen combustion, and even in air, it¡¯s over 2000 degrees, far exceeding the high temperatures of regular bomb explosions. And the melting point of iron is only about 1500 degrees; if the gate wasn¡¯t blown apart, it might have turned into a puddle of iron by now.¡± ¡°When you encounter such an explosion, don¡¯t rush in, because you don¡¯t know what¡¯s behind the door. If there are also flammable and explosive materials, it could be dangerous. Even if you¡¯re sure there¡¯s none of that stuff, you still need to be careful with fire extinguishers.¡± Fire extinguishers? Cao Lifeng, just finished getting his food and on his way back to the dorm, glanced at the fire extinguisher without much thought. What¡¯s there to be cautious about with something meant for putting out fires? ¡°Many people only know that fire extinguishers can put out fires, but the extinguisher itself is a high-pressure tank. The internal pressure is about ten times that of the atmosphere. Under normal circumstances, the thick tank walls effectively prevent explosions, but the bodies of expired fire extinguishers may corrode from external contaminants and thin out.¡± Furthermore, with the carbon dioxide, flame-retardant dry powder, foaming agents, and other components in the fire extinguisher, exposure to high temperatures could potentially cause a chemical reaction, leading to increased internal pressure. At that time, even a slight knock could trigger an explosion, and the power of such an explosion would be extremely frightening. In 2007, a worker at a wholesale market warehouse in Shenyue was killed on the spot when an expired dry powder fire extinguisher he was using suddenly exploded. In 2012, at shop No. 405 in the Yantan furniture market in Lanzhou City, when Mr. Lin, the shop owner, heard abnormal noises coming from the scrapped dry powder fire extinguisher at the door, he went over to have a look. Suddenly, the fire extinguisher exploded, seriously injuring Mr. Lin¡­¡± Hiss! Cao Lifeng inhaled sharply, feeling as if the temperature around him had risen. He stared at the extinguisher in the corner without showing his alarm and shifted his steps discreetly, circumventing it and heading upstairs in the corridor on the other side. ¡°Alright, there are many more similar cases, but I won¡¯t go into detail,¡± Master Fang said, and during that time, the thick smoke and flames at the door had already dissipated. He pulled out a towel, dampened it with water, covered his mouth and nose with it, and spoke in a muffled voice. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside and have a look. Still, everyone should be careful before entering. Although the combustion of acetylene produces carbon dioxide and steam, there¡¯s still a lot of dust from the explosion, so be cautious. The safest method is to keep a wet towel over your mouth and nose. In any case, it¡¯s best to be careful.¡± Once prepared, Bi Fang put on his backpack and approached the site of the explosion. The scene was even more shocking. The iron boxes used as ballast were blown away, and the tarpaulin inside had long been burnt to charcoal, merging with the molten iron boxes surrounding it. He pinched a piece from the wall, and it crumbled into yellow ash with the slightest touch. Stepping inside, the online friends¡¯ gaze was instantly drawn to a patch of red on the wall¡ªthe fire extinguisher. It was far enough away not to be affected by the explosion. Yet, the rust in their hands still sent a shudder through the online friends who knew about the potential for the fire extinguisher to explode. In ordinary days, there would naturally be someone responsible for inspection and maintenance, but in the chaos of Yemen, where life itself couldn¡¯t be guaranteed, who would care about such small matters of fire safety? Even Bi Fang was careful to avoid it, and the moment he bypassed the fire extinguisher and entered the interior of the factory, he felt it was all worth it. Standing by the railing and looking down from this height of several tens of meters, he felt a sense of ambition and aspiration looking at the vastness of the factory. The factory¡¯s interior was fully equipped, and except for the absence of people, it was almost identical to how it would normally be! This indicated that the place had never been looted, or perhaps there had been no time to evacuate the equipment due to an emergency. Anyway, compared to the previously emptied factory, this one was undoubtedly much better. Looking at the spacious factory, the online friends couldn¡¯t help but marvel. It¡¯s huge. [Unbelievable, isn¡¯t this place too big?] [The bigger, the better, right? It means stronger security. Could there be something good in the kitchen?] [Yeah, the bigger it is, the more likely we¡¯ll find something good, didn¡¯t Old Fang say so?] ¡°Not only the wilderness can give a sense of vastness and dread; this place is so big it¡¯s terrifying. This is an abandoned factory of colossal size. I estimate it to be at least as big as four football fields and as tall as a great cathedral. The workers have long since departed, but other creatures have begun to take up residence. Let¡¯s go, I want to see what good things we can find here,¡± Bi Fang said as he ran along the railing, waving at the drone. He could no longer contain his desire to explore! Chapter 334 - Chapter 334: Chapter 332 Advanced Welder Chapter 334: Chapter 332 Advanced Welder Bi Fang looked up as he walked into the vast space, like an ant creeping into the Forbidden City in the dead of night. The sound of his steps echoed unhurriedly through the empty factory. [Isn¡¯t Old Fang in a hurry? Won¡¯t the explosion just now attract other people?] [Add one, shouldn¡¯t he hurry to grab something and slip away at this time?] ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Bi Fang shook his head, seemingly unconcerned, or perhaps he had anticipated this. ¡°Describing Yemen with a small explosion every three hours and a big one every five hours isn¡¯t an exaggeration. Moreover, it¡¯s just rained, and everyone is exhausted at such times. It¡¯s a period when few creatures are active, an instinct engraved in DNA. I took advantage of this very fact to dare to make such a big scene; otherwise, taking such a big risk just to show you an explosion wouldn¡¯t be worth it.¡± Shuiyou were amused, remembering Bi Fang¡¯s recent jests about not missing out as he passed by. Bi Fang left out one detail, for some reason, neither the rebels nor the military had really entered the center of Yimen City. Just some rogue bandit gangs wouldn¡¯t normally venture close to such dangerous places; figuring out the cause of an explosion wasn¡¯t their concern¡ªthere wasn¡¯t a need. People cherish their lives. The normal reaction upon seeing an explosion is to steer clear, and the bandit gangs did the same. In cases where people flock to such events, they are mostly in safe cities. Those living in Yimen would never do so. After spending half an hour making his way through a large part of the factory, Bi Fang figured out the layout. He stopped in his tracks, excitedly looking at the room in front of him. Shuiyou were puzzled and didn¡¯t understand why Bi Fang started to smile inexplicably upon reaching this spot, until he moved a box to stand on and wiped the dust-coated sign on the room¡¯s door. Defense Department! It was an English sign, but the drone¡¯s footage automatically provided appropriate translations based on the different zones it filmed. [Holy shit, is this a security office?] [What security? It¡¯s called the Defense Department, look at that name, it¡¯s so international.] [¡­Isn¡¯t this in English? It¡¯s all about translation, blame the translator!] [Stagehand: I¡¯ll take the blame for this one!] [There really is one!] [Damn, hurry up and see what goods are inside, could there be guns? I really want to know! Ahhhh!] Upon spotting the possibility of there being weapons and equipment, Shuiyou were incredibly excited, almost wishing they could kick the door down themselves and start looting. Unfortunately. Bi Fang turned the doorknob, but it didn¡¯t budge. Still locked. Taking two steps back, Bi Fang suddenly charged forward and slammed his shoulder against the door. A loud bang ensued, but aside from dislodging a bit of dust, nothing happened¡ªthe door seemed impregnable. [Is this where we go for another round of explosions?] [Demolition maniac¡¤Master Fang.gif] [Wow, it¡¯s not jpg anymore, huh? We¡¯ve moved on to gifs?] [When I¡¯ve got money, I¡¯ll definitely buy a phone that can display images] [Viewing Wolf Fang¡¯s live streaming with image support, any day now!] Bi Fang looked around, shook his head, and dashed the hopes of Shuiyou wanting to see another explosion. ¡°We can¡¯t blow it up again. Inside the factory is not like outside¡ªthere are many miscellaneous items around. If we were to blow it up, we¡¯d have to clean up first, which is troublesome and not worth it.¡± [Ah, then what do we do?] A Shuiyou timely played the straight man. Though anxious, seeing the confident look on Bi Fang¡¯s face, they knew he must have had a plan in mind. ¡°We could burn through the lock!¡± Bi Fang made a startling suggestion. ¡°The factory surely has its power shut off by now. We can¡¯t use many facilities, but there is one thing we can still utilize. Remember the acetylene and oxygen cylinders outside the workshop? We can actually use them normally. Just take an acetylene torch, you can burn through the lock with it. The advantage of acetylene welding is that it doesn¡¯t need electricity; in places with poor power supply, when you need to weld, acetylene becomes very useful because you can just adjust the bottle pressure to release the gas, and it¡¯s ready to go with a spark.¡± The audience was startled by Bi Fang¡¯s idea, then found it ridiculous. Use it normally? So you admit that wasn¡¯t the normal way to use it, right? If you could do this earlier, why did you start with blowing things up? Bi Fang scratched his head and laughed, ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t have a gas welding gun, did I? It was good enough to find the cylinders, but without a gun, I couldn¡¯t weld.¡± After circling the factory, Bi Fang followed his memory to a certain place. If he remembered correctly, the gas pipeline was laid out just behind this wall. Following the gas pipes that extended from outside the wall, Bi Fang found many acetylene cylinders and oxygen cylinders again. He picked two with sufficient gas and pressure, and he also found several tubes and a welding gun. The items were heavy, so Bi Fang moved them onto a cart and pushed it to the front door of the Defense Department, and began to connect the equipment. His skilled actions left the viewers amazed. Was this what they called a jack-of-all-trades? He even knows how to weld? [I really want to open up Master Fang¡¯s head and see what¡¯s packed in there] [Count me in, that¡¯s just outrageous! He knows how to weld, is there anything you can¡¯t do except give birth?] [Learn your math and science well, and you¡¯ll be fearless wherever you go. The ancients didn¡¯t lie to us] [When the apocalypse comes, I¡¯m certain Old Fang would be the last man standing] ¡°Haha, it never hurts to have too many skills. I had a friend who was in welding. I learned a bit from him.¡± After Bi Fang finished setting up the equipment, he opened the main valve of the oxygen cylinder and adjusted the output pressure to 0.3¡ª0.5Mpa, then he opened the main valve of the gas cylinder and adjusted its output pressure to 0.3¡ª0.5Mpa as well. He even showed his Shuiyou the whole process, explaining and demonstrating, seemingly really wanting to teach them¡­ ¡°Turn on the welder¡¯s gas valve, and next you use an open flame to light the tip of the welder. I forgot to get a light earlier, so now we have to start a fire again. This time I¡¯ll teach you a new method without using antifreeze.¡± Bi Fang set down the welding gun and took out potassium permanganate from his bag, but this time, instead of taking out antifreeze, he took out a small glass bottle filled with white granules. He opened the lid, poured a bit into the palm of his hand, and swallowed it in front of everyone. [Good grief, Master Fang is snorting white powder!] [¡­] [What¡¯s that stuff? Salt?] ¡°It¡¯s white sugar, bet you didn¡¯t see that coming.¡± Bi Fang broke off two pieces of wood from a table, poured some potassium permanganate and white sugar on the wood, and explained. ¡°Potassium permanganate can produce heat and release oxygen when it comes into contact with organic substances or friction, leading to combustion. We mix one part sugar and two parts potassium permanganate, then grind it between the dry pieces of wood. If the weather is dry, the wood will catch fire very quickly, and the method is short and effective. It takes just a few minutes.¡± ¡°Oh, and I forgot to mention earlier, potassium permanganate is a strong corrosive. You shouldn¡¯t touch it directly with your hands to prevent skin burns. You should only handle it directly when it¡¯s diluted to a safe concentration. In both instances, I didn¡¯t use my hands ¨C once I poured it on a sponge, and this time, on wood. Not sure if you noticed.¡± Bi Fang took another piece of wood and covered it on top, then started to rub. In no time at all, he could feel the wood beginning to heat up. In less than a minute, smoke started to appear, and in just three minutes, he had successfully started a flame. The viewers were astounded once again. ¡°That¡¯s why you should always keep potassium permanganate at home. It¡¯s truly a great thing: it can clean wounds and purify water. When collecting water outdoors, add three or four grains to 1 liter of water, and it¡¯s drinkable after 30 minutes. It can even be used to mark your trail if you get lost in the snow.¡± ¡°Especially when you accidentally ingest plant toxins outdoors, it¡¯s crucial to wash out your stomach quickly to reduce the absorption of toxic substances. A simple method is to use a potassium permanganate solution with a concentration between 1:1000 and 1:4000 for stomach washing. Plus, it¡¯s easy to prepare the correct concentration; you just go by the color ¨C it should be light purple or light red. If the solution turns purple or dark purple, its concentration has reached 1:100¡ª1:200, which is highly concentrated and can lead to corrosion of the stomach lining, and absolutely cannot be used for stomach washing. So safety first with its use.¡± Bi Fang spoke at length about its benefits; he only briefly mentioned it before, but now he seriously explained it. [Holy crap, it¡¯s that useful?] [I was so scared I immediately ordered three boxes of potassium permanganate to eat like food] [That said, who are you advertising for? (Dog¡¯s head)] [Advertising? My fists got harder!] With a flame now available, Bi Fang brought the welding gun close and like lighting a match, a flame of orange-yellow burst forth from the tip of the welding gun. He opened the welding gun¡¯s oxygen valve and finally adjusted the oxygen control knob and the gas control knob. With the oxygen supply, the temperature of the flame soared rapidly, and soon the blazing light blue flame revitalized everyone¡¯s spirit. Bi Fang, holding the welding gun, moved to the front door and directed the heat at the doorknob. Before long, the knob began to glow red and soften. Incredible! Is this what a high-level welder looks like? Chapter 335 - Chapter 335: Chapter 333: Unboxing! Unlucky One or Lucky Emperor? Chapter 335: Chapter 333: Unboxing! Unlucky One or Lucky Emperor? The air was filled with rolling heatwaves. The door lock of the defense room had turned cherry red, easily melting under the scorching heat of over three thousand degrees. Bi Fang wiped the fine sweat from his forehead, turned off the spray gun, stepped back two steps, and kicked the door. Without the restraints of the lock, the door didn¡¯t hold for a moment, bursting open with a dull thud. Yay! The online friends cheered, finally arriving at the delightful scene of unboxing! Especially at that moment of hard-earned payoff, even the smallest gain could prove that their efforts weren¡¯t wasted, how could it not be exciting? A barrage of comments and gifts flooded the live stream, all suggesting Bi Fang hurry in and scavenge. [Quick, go in and see what¡¯s inside!] [My god, could there be guns? Damn, I¡¯m so excited] [Feels like I¡¯m playing a battle royale] [So thrilling, shoot shoot everyone, I¡¯ve climaxed] Bi Fang understood the excitement of his online friends, and he felt the same way. Suppressing the urgency in his heart, Bi Fang took a deep breath, stood up, and dragged two steel cylinders into the room, quickly scanning the surroundings. Inside the room, everything was neat yet covered in dust. Two tables, several stools, three large cabinets, one safe¡ªit was a scene ripe with the promise of bounty, if only he knew how much was inside. A thick layer of dust piled up on the surface of the table as he brushed it with his finger. Bi Fang let out a sigh of relief. His biggest concern was a room in disarray. A mess would mean he wasn¡¯t the first one here, but it was still too soon to feel completely at ease; the absence of outside scavengers didn¡¯t mean the factory¡¯s internal staff hadn¡¯t taken any equipment. But no matter what, it had to be better than the worst-case scenario. Out of the three cabinets, two were locked. The one that wasn¡¯t locked revealed some sundries and clothes when he pulled it open. Bi Fang wasn¡¯t surprised by this, his real focus was on the two locked ones. They could very well be gun cabinets! Dragging the cylinders, Bi Fang didn¡¯t hesitate to start welding again. Bang! He broke the softened lock and pulled open the cabinet doors. Hiss! The moment the items in the cabinet were exposed to light, the audience sucked in a cold breath, and global warming intensified by a fraction. A series of neatly arranged protective gear hung quietly in the cabinet. Bulletproof vests! Riot helmets! Tactical boots! All good stuff! There were only three kinds of items in the wardrobe, with several of each kind, but just with this one cabinet, Bi Fang¡¯s trip was already worth it! [We¡¯re in the money now!] [Holy shit, they even have bulletproof vests! That¡¯s insane!] [Normal, this is Abbascan, how can the defense department not have a couple of guns? Bulletproof vests must be standard issue!] [Quick, look in the other cabinet and the safe to see what else there is!] [Aaah, I can¡¯t wait any longer!] [Can this be given away? I really want one! It¡¯s so freaking cool!] [Add one, and I¡¯ll swipe for a spaceship right now!] [A spaceship? Aren¡¯t you being too stingy? How about a Spaceship instead?] [Then I want the one Master Fang has worn (shy)] [Pssh, shameless! But seriously, can you give away the bulletproof vest? Is that even legal?] The audience was abuzz with excitement. Just by looking at the frequency of the barrage chat, one could tell the commotion, and the staff backstage were overjoyed. The better the data, the higher their bonus would naturally be. Now, Bi Fang¡¯s live streaming server was even an independent one, intended to provide the best user experience and avoid any lag. After all, thousands of messages flashing by in an instant was not a joke, straining a common server shared with other broadcasters could possibly crash it. Suppressing his inner excitement, Bi Fang pulled out a pair of combat boots, and after a cursory glance, was ecstatic to find they were brand new. No one liked second-hand goods, especially boots. After flipping through, he found a size that would suit him. He casually picked up a bulletproof vest and felt the material with his hand; it was incredibly soft and comfortable. ¡°A Kevlar bulletproof vest, with a hard layer inside, probably an alumina ceramic layer. This kind of quality is pretty strong. It seems like the owner of this factory is no simple character. Besides being bulletproof, Kevlar can also resist cuts to some extent, which is an effect other materials do not offer. As for giving it away¡­¡± Bi Fang paused for a moment, as he naturally saw the barrage chat too. At that moment, the Shuiyou were on edge, their hearts lifted with anticipation. In reality, most were worrying over nothing. The live stream had over a million viewers, but there were less than twenty items in total present. Even bringing all of them wouldn¡¯t make the odds favorable; they were pitifully low, not to mention that now Bi Fang¡¯s giveaways were calculated based on fan value. Those with insufficient fan value couldn¡¯t even get a taste of the action. ¡°Bulletproof vests are defensive items, and my country actually doesn¡¯t prohibit their circulation. However, at most, I can only carry one extra piece. Don¡¯t be fooled by the small size of a bulletproof vest; it weighs around three kilograms, so it¡¯s impossible for me to carry more,¡± he explained. Upon hearing this, the audience was naturally extremely disappointed, but weren¡¯t too heartbroken since being an Unlucky One was the norm in this world, with Lucky Emperors being rare and short-lived. Without rushing to collect, Bi Fang dragged the steel cylinder to the second metal cabinet. What would be inside? Would there be any guns? The Shuiyou were so excited they could barely contain themselves, especially the male viewers. Their worship of violent weapons was almost innate¡ªdidn¡¯t every boy have a toy gun growing up? This was the most primal desire, that of violence and conquest. For food, territory, and survival, ancestors had to hunt and even kill, ensuring their dominance over females, their right to live, which is why men revered might so much. This instinct, through the passage of time, seeped into their blood. Enjoying a peach and feeling refreshed? That¡¯s heresy! They should be condemned at the stake! Many who enjoyed watching Bi Fang¡¯s live streams revered his strength and willingly spent their years-saved pocket money and cigarette and liquor funds with lavish tips during his incredible feats. Such adoration was unshakable! Compared to him, other broadcasters couldn¡¯t offer the same level of excitement and thrill, cementing his unique and increasingly stable status in the industry. The same procedure to melt the lock and then open the cabinet door was followed. Even though they were mentally prepared, the audience was still very excited to see the items inside the cabinet. Unlike bulletproof vests and helmets, this cabinet mostly contained tools. Stun guns! Electric batons! Tactical flashlights! Several daggers! All were very practical items, but unfortunately, the one thing the viewers wanted to see most was not there. But Bi Fang wasn¡¯t disappointed, after all, it goes without saying how important firearms are. If there were any, they would likely have been taken by the factory staff long ago, so the possibility of them being left behind was slim. However, judging by the resources found so far, he had already hit the jackpot! With the last cabinet finished, there was only one safe left¡­ Chapter 336 - Chapter 336: Chapter 334: Awesome and Commanding Chapter 336: Chapter 334: Awesome and Commanding The safe was noticeably thicker than the previous ones and was more difficult to weld. ¡°Since it¡¯s unclear what¡¯s inside the cabinet, we must be careful, in case it¡¯s ammunition or something. A misstep in welding could end in disaster, so we need to find the right balance,¡± he said. Having said that, Bi Fang turned off the welding torch and instead pulled out a steel bar, inserting it into the mostly welded gap and prying the safe open little by little. With a dull thud. The safe¡¯s lock completely broke, and Bi Fang opened the door to take a quick glance and suddenly couldn¡¯t look away. Most of the cabinet was empty, but in the corner, there was a faint glimmer of gold! Seeing Bi Fang frozen in place, the audience grew incredibly anxious. Fortunately, at that moment, the drone changed its angle and captured part of the scene inside the safe. The online friends held their breath! In that glowing corner lay a pile of shiny, yellow bullets! Jackpot! At that moment, the audience was almost more excited than Bi Fang himself. Those were bullets, real deadly weapons! ¡°With no firearms, what¡¯s all the excitement for?¡± Bi Fang suddenly threw a wet blanket on the audience, instantly cooling their excitement. He sighed. ¡°Seeing these bullets, I know there must have been guns here before, but someone else must have taken them. It¡¯s a shame. Now with no firearms left, only these bullets remain, and it looks like they¡¯ve mostly been taken, or else it wouldn¡¯t look like this.¡± The bullets inside the safe were piled up in the corner and weren¡¯t that many. With a little imagination, the viewers began to picture the scene. There was an emergency, and the people inside the defensive location could only manage to take away the firearms and open the safe to grab most of the ammunition, hastily leaving behind some in the corner. As for why it was locked again, perhaps they thought they might return one day? But looking at the dust on the table¡­ The audience instantly felt dejected. Had they thought they found something good only to realize it¡¯s useless? [Damn, I thought we had found some epic loot.] [Is it of any use holding onto it now?] [No problem, you can bring it back to give to us, I won¡¯t mind (facetious).] [Ugly thoughts, pretty dreams. Do you think bullets can be traded like bulletproof vests?] [You could empty out the gunpowder and give out the casings, that would still be nice.] [Too bad, now that the city has no electricity, otherwise you could machine a gun barrel.] Bi Fang grabbed a handful of bullets and observed them in his palm, finding two different calibers, one short and round, the other long and slender: ¡°7.62mm and 9mm standard rounds. The 7.62mm is for rifles, long and slender; the 9mm is for pistols, shorter and rounder. For a factory¡¯s defense force to have rifle bullets is quite preposterous.¡± [Wow, is that long one 7.62mm?] [Why do I feel like the 7.62 has more power than the 9?] [+1, isn¡¯t it like that in games too? 9mm bullets have the least power.] [Hahaha, I feel the same, 9mm isn¡¯t up to much.] A bunch of online friends shared their opinions, but Bi Fang just shook his head, flipping the bullets in his palm and finally stuffing them into his backpack. ¡°Don¡¯t confuse gaming with reality. Although 9mm bullets are small, they have a large caliber. In close range, they create a larger damage area, and generally, due to their lack of penetrating power, they tend to stay and tumble inside the body, causing the most harm,¡± ¡°7.62mm and 5.56mm, although they have more ammo and greater range and penetration, the wounds they inflict are not as harmful to people due to the caliber limitation, so they do not cause as much damage as 9mm.¡± ¡°As for why pistol bullets in games are less powerful, even though I have never played, I think this is due to the balance within the game. If a 9mm sub-machine gun had low recoil, a very high rate of fire, and the highest damage in close combat, then other guns wouldn¡¯t get a chance to be used.¡± In reality, 9mm bullets are short, meaning they have a shorter range, but their close-range damage is very high, which is suitable for street fighting. 7.62mm and 5.56mm bullets have an extremely long range and a larger effective attack radius, making them more suited for large-scale warfare. After hearing Bi Fang, the professional¡¯s explanation, the audience suddenly saw the light. That¡¯s how it was. ¡°But after all, it¡¯s still ammunition storing gunpowder, we should collect it anyway, it might come in handy.¡± Once he finished speaking, Bi Fang had already put all the bullets in the cabinet into his backpack, not leaving a single one behind. The audience couldn¡¯t tell if Master Fang¡¯s luck was good or bad. It was frustrating to finally find bullets, but have no firearms to use them with. But Bi Fang was happy. With Wilderness Survivalist, contentment breeds happiness, and a positive attitude is very important. It was already great to have found so many pieces of protective gear. After all, here he was to survive, focusing on defense and preservation of life, not to descend upon the battlefield and slay across Yemen. So, after Bi Fang had gathered the bullets, he returned to the two other metal cabinets. Tactical flashlight, dagger, boot knife, all taken. Also, grab two anti-riot helmets; they can double as pots. Then he took off his jacket and undergarment, and found a bulletproof vest of the right size and put it on. It was heavy, but in that moment, as soon as he donned the vest, Bi Fang¡¯s sense of safety surged. Facing armed criminals, his safety massively increased after armoring up. A normal person hit by a bullet, even if not in a critical area, is basically incapacitated due to pain and blood loss; it¡¯s not like movies and TV shows where you can tough it out and pursue enemies for three kilometers. Hence, the bulletproof vest is a necessity. Next were the tactical boots. Bi Fang took off his hiking boots and found a pair of brand-new tactical boots of the right size to switch into. ¡°This survival trip I was wearing hiking boots, but since there are tactical boots available, I think it¡¯s better to switch to tactical boots. Tactical boots have many advantages. They are waterproof and breathable, can partly replace leg bindings by supporting the calf muscles to prevent congestion, protect the ankles from sprains, and can even have a boot knife inserted into them, enhancing safety. The soles are also equipped with puncture-resistant plates, thick and durable. The downside is they are heavier than regular boots because the soles are thicker,¡± After changing into tactical boots and inserting a boot knife, donning the bulletproof vest, and reshouldering his backpack, Bi Fang looked completely renewed, an imposing figure. Almost all the viewers were impressed. So cool! Bi Fang was already handsome and imposing, his slightly damp hair neatly combed back, leaving only two strands hanging down from his temples. Tall and commanding, his every step seemed to carry the wind with it. After putting on the combat suit, this feeling was even more evident ¨C like a tiger in armor, sharp and fierce. The pair of black tactical boots on his feet looked even more domineering and powerful; the boot knives added an edge of lethality. This was, after all, one of the functions of tactical boots: to boost morale and intimidate by their robust appearance. [Damn, that gear is way too cool] [Wow, where can I find those boots? I want a pair too!] [Dream on, dude. These things need to match the person wearing them. Old Fang has a good physique, full of vitality, and looks that surpass 99% of people. No one else could pull off that look.] Bi Fang, fully geared up, took a deep breath, reopened the door to the room, and strode away. The challenge continues. The journey through Ruins City is far from over! Chapter 337 - Chapter 337: Chapter 335 Expired Food Chapter 337: Chapter 335 Expired Food All the workers had left, and only Bi Fang remained in the empty factory, silently searching the rooms to see if any supplies had been left behind. He thought of how this place had once bustled with activity, now a desolate shell covered with dust and ignored by the world. Things remain, people change. In an instant, this phrase popped into the minds of many, and when compared to the current ¡°desolate scene,¡± it seemed quite unsettling. ¡°Feeling a bit scared, aren¡¯t you?¡± His combat boots stopped moving on the floor as Bi Fang scanned his surroundings, amused by an audience member¡¯s comment expressing fear. It was true that the enormity of the space around him gave him that feeling, prompting Bi Fang to reflect on an off-topic subject. ¡°Know why horror stories often take place in schools?¡± As he opened a door and started rummaging through the contents, Bi Fang posed this question to his audience. Without waiting for their responses, he continued with the answer. ¡°Because schools are usually bustling during the day and empty at night. But most people are familiar with them in daylight. If you suddenly enter one at night, the stark contrast can naturally cause discomfort, and this discomfort can easily turn into fear without much prompting. Hence, many ghost stories happen in schools.¡± [Wow, there¡¯s an explanation like that?] [Holy frog, first time hearing this. No wonder I feel so creeped out fetching homework from school at night] [Another day of gaining knowledge] [Day 1,081 kneeling before Master Fang] [What is Master Fang looking for? Does he really need to search through cabinets one by one?] Since the beginning, Bi Fang had not spared any room in his search for supplies, examining even the smallest drawers, which made the audience wonder if it was really necessary. But the next second, as Bi Fang pulled open a drawer, what appeared inside left everyone speechless. ¡°Hey, snacks!¡± Bi Fang chuckled, revealing that inside the drawer he had just opened were not files but a heap of little cookies! Bi Fang shook a pack of the little cookies he had picked up; these were exactly what he had been searching for in every cabinet and drawer. ¡°In Ruins City, the most likely place to find food is not the kitchen, but these ¡®offices¡¯! Even in a factory, places like these are set up. I think many of the audience watching the live stream are probably sitting in offices, right? Do you guys store some snacks in your drawers? Out of ten people, I bet nine would do so, right?¡± Many Shuiyou immediately blushed. Thinking of their own drawers stuffed with various snacks, they understood Master Fang¡¯s actions and reasoning, and they couldn¡¯t help but admire him. It was clearly a place where supplies were very likely to exist, yet few people thought of it, and it had to be admitted that knowing was one thing, but thinking of it was another. Bi Fang held a pack of biscuits in his hand and began to check the English packaging. In no time, he found the expiration date and the production date. After a quick calculation, he was surprised to discover that the nine-month shelf life had expired just three days ago! Now Shuiyou couldn¡¯t really say whether this was a coincidence or not. But Bi Fang clearly didn¡¯t care about that; he simply put the biscuits into his backpack after emptying the drawer into it. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry too much, in fact, food expiration doesn¡¯t mean it can¡¯t be eaten. The shelf life is ultimately a ¡®guarantee¡¯ from the seller regarding the food quality. They guarantee that within this period, the quality won¡¯t be compromised. If the quality deteriorates within the shelf life, the seller is responsible. But if something goes wrong after the shelf life has ended, they¡¯re off the hook. So the shelf life doesn¡¯t equal the standard for food spoilage¡ªit¡¯s just a liability period set by the seller.¡± ¡°If the food has a short shelf life, then the food safety risk of a product that¡¯s ¡®expired by one day¡¯ can be much higher than a product ¡®with one day left before expiration.¡¯ It is recommended to throw away short shelf-life foods once expired, such as yogurt with a 21-day shelf life. But for long shelf-life goods such as biscuits, which can last for half a year or more, there is no substantial difference between ¡®expired by one day¡¯ and ¡®one day from expiration.¡¯ Is it suddenly inedible the second it expires? It¡¯s not like there is some mystical force that causes food to undergo some kind of change the moment it surpasses its expiration date. It¡¯s just like overnight water being deemed undrinkable, but the water that sits from morning to afternoon has gone through the same time period as water left overnight¡ªwhat¡¯s the difference?¡± As he spoke, Bi Fang tore open a small packet and guzzled down the biscuits, finishing it off quick and even wiped his mouth afterward. ¡°However, eating expired food is a matter of weighing risks; it¡¯s best not to take the risk unless necessary.¡± Finding a pile of biscuits put Bi Fang in a great mood. Big factories really are different with their abundant supplies; it was a series of pleasant surprises. Just this big pack of biscuits was worth the price of admission, not to mention the great gear he had obtained. This multitude of discoveries also made Shuiyou realize the importance of choosing the right place in urban survival. Wandering around aimlessly like a headless fly, how could one find as many things as now? ¡°Let¡¯s go, there¡¯s still a lot of places we haven¡¯t seen yet. We need to speed up and try to cover this place before dark. I must say, this place is just too big.¡± Repacking his backpack, Bi Fang left the office and returned to the desolate factory interior, but soon after taking a few steps, he made a new discovery. Bi Fang squatted down, picked up a few feathers from the ground, and examined them closely in front of the camera. He quickly realized what creature had left them. ¡°Pigeon feathers?¡± He looked up at the steel beams crisscrossing overhead. Bi Fang surveyed the surroundings: ¡°These feathers are likely from pigeons. They prefer these kinds of huge abandoned buildings which offer them shelter from the elements. Generally speaking, where there are pigeons, there are also pigeon eggs. Adult pigeons lay eggs monthly except in winter, and even if we cannot catch the pigeons, we will most likely find their eggs.¡± Bi Fang discarded the feathers in his hand and looked up at the roof. ¡°Although I already have almost half a fox and a large pack of biscuits, these supplies might still be slightly insufficient for the remaining four days. In the wilderness, storing food is like squirrels preparing for winter¡ªyou can never have too much. So, I don¡¯t want to miss this opportunity. Pigeons prefer to nest high up, and we should perhaps start looking.¡± Climbing such a building was akin to scaling a cautious man¡¯s jungle of steel rebar, but for Bi Fang, this was clearly not a problem. Scanning around, a clear route for climbing came to the fore in his mind. Looking at the debris by the wall, Bi Fang ran a few steps, stepped on the junk, leaped forcefully, and grabbed onto a nearby ventilation pipe. Chapter 338 - Chapter 338: Chapter 336: Walking in the Sky Chapter 338: Chapter 336: Walking in the Sky ¡°Is this a ventilation duct? I¡¯m not quite sure either.¡± After embracing the round pipe, Bi Fang exhibited a rare sense of perplexity. The duct was different from the usual, not smooth but with many small pipes protruding from it, offering cheap and suitable handholds for climbing. Among the selected routes, this ventilation duct was the easiest to ascend. ¡°This is somewhat similar to climbing trees. I have explained long ago that before moving, you must ensure the stability of every foothold. What you need to be mindful of this time is the presence of oil and dirt, which is common in factories. It¡¯s almost impossible to find any surface not smeared with oil in these areas, so be extra careful when reaching out for them.¡± Bi Fang stretched out his hand, showing the audience the black grease on his palm, which was very greasy and could easily smear off in large swaths with a casual wipe. Luckily, the presence of dust made the situation not as bad. With dust, even if things were slippery, the extent was limited. ¡°Always remember the three-point rule, which is the most crucial among all climbing laws. Three out of four limbs must be firmly fixed on the attachments, distributed at three different points to form a stable base. If both feet are placed in one spot, it is only considered one anchor point.¡± As a veteran, Bi Fang was highly proficient in climbing simple ventilation ducts, and the audience could only watch his smooth ascent. If it were not a live broadcast, they might even suspect he had rehearsed on the spot numerous times¡ªhow else could he be so skilled? [I always feel that Old Fang is getting better and better. When I first watched his live broadcast, it wasn¡¯t as smooth as it is now, although it was also impressive, but it doesn¡¯t feel as remarkable as now] [Impressive, but not completely impressive] [Feels stronger than the rock climbing coaches at my local, decisive and powerful, super steady!] Among the audience, those who knew their stuff could tell that Bi Fang¡¯s climbing moves seemed simple, but were not achievable without extensive training. It was really strange. Looking at Bi Fang¡¯s youthful face, many silently sighed in their hearts. There truly are geniuses in this world. Soon, Bi Fang reached the end of the ventilation duct, next to which was a steel beam, solid and cold. ¡°This climb was quite strenuous and dirty, but I¡¯ve already reached the first layer, and I¡¯m closer to the goal now.¡± Bi Fang grasped the I-beam with his hand, his sleeve slipping down to reveal the smooth muscle lines of his forearm. His legs clamped tightly around the ventilation duct, still not daring to relax. Stretching his arms, he pulled his upper body up to the bar, and Bi Fang gradually released the duct. Finally, he stood slowly on the I-beam made of steel. The drone flew right in front of Bi Fang, filming meticulously. Looking from above, the height of over fifteen meters made all the viewers hold their breath, as if they were walking on a highwire, with everyone sweating for Bi Fang. Especially when the drone¡¯s camera captured his feet perched on the I-beam, that tension was once again cruelly heightened. It¡¯s that familiar Master Fang flavor! Standing on the beam, Bi Fang balanced his body and pointed at a nearby window, saying, ¡°Look, there is a broken window up top, I reckon that¡¯s the passageway where pigeons come and go. There¡¯s a good chance pigeons are nesting there. We¡¯ll go check it out, but we might as well make some preparations first.¡± With that said, Bi Fang untied a coarse hemp rope from around his waist, one he had found below, wrapped one end of the rope around his waist, then passed it through the I-beam and started tying a knot. ¡°Since we will be crossing over, for the sake of precaution, we still need to take some safety measures. Here I will teach everyone a knot, the figure-eight knot, named so because it resembles the shape of the number ¡®8¡¯ when tied. The figure-eight knot is often used in situations requiring high slip resistance. It¡¯s used in rappelling, rock climbing, and so forth. We first cross the tail end of the rope, thread the end through the loop after winding it around the main rope, wrap it around twice and then tighten it to complete the knot. It¡¯s simple to tie and the knot is quite secure, a classic method.¡± The figure-eight knot is not hard to learn, and once you hold the end of the rope, it hardly comes undone automatically, making it a very convenient knot. As he spoke, Bi Fang¡¯s fingers deftly worked, and soon a knot resembling the number 8 was tied. Standing on the beam, Bi Fang pulled at the rope, finding it secure. Assured of his safety, he then extended his right foot, inching toward the other side of the factory bit by bit. [Damn, this is exhilarating!] [Unbelievable, seriously unbeatable, just go for the thrill without a second word!] [There¡¯s a type of fear in the world that¡¯s scary just by looking at it] Ignoring the comments, Bi Fang calmed his mind, breathed steadily, and seemed unfazed by the environment. This was actually the necessary mental quality for any adventurous act; a calm mind ensured steady hands, and without calmness, the likelihood of accidents was greater. So he couldn¡¯t be afraid, he just had to keep moving forward relentlessly. Moreover, the I-beam was not a wire rope, walking on it was much smoother than on the wire rope, as long as he kept his center of gravity within a controllable range. Dragging the hemp rope, Bi Fang quickly arrived at the opposite side of the I-beam. From here, the path was much easier, with a narrow corridor and railing available. Undoing the knot, Bi Fang flipped over and landed inside the railing, which finally let the audience breathe a sigh of relief, but before they could recover, they heard Bi Fang¡¯s voice again. ¡°We can try climbing up from here.¡± Bi Fang stepped onto the railing and climbed along the pipe once more, reaching a height of nearly thirty meters this time! He then stepped onto another rail! Whoa! This time, no one could stay calm, because this rail was different from the previous ones, looking from the side like a gate, long and flat, impossible to tie a knot to! Even its width was narrower than the previous I-beam! Yet, under these circumstances, Bi Fang took only two deep breaths before slowly extending his right foot out, but this time, he didn¡¯t immediately follow with his left foot. He looked ahead, his expression solemn and somber, even somewhat cold and severe, as he needed to find the right moment to engage. Walking at such a height, one had to move in one go, without any pause. The audience waited a full five minutes before they saw Bi Fang¡¯s toes leave the ledge and fully step onto the rail! What followed was a mechanical advancement, eerily calm. The online friends were so shocked that they became somewhat numb, it was okay before when there was a ¡°safety rope,¡± but now this situation scared them. Too risky! [How does he keep his balance?] [Damn, this is fucking terrifying, and it¡¯s live! Outrageous] [I¡¯m already in the hospital taking care of my grandfather] [Good lord, how many times has he been to the hospital now? Master Fang, such a devoted grandson] [Every time I watch a Master Fang livestream, the hospital loses a bed!] [No livestream, then there¡¯s a bed available!] Climbing to the top of this factory roof was like climbing to the high canopy of a rainforest, both strength and skill were indispensable, and he still needed a clear mind at high altitudes. At the edge, Bi Fang maintained his balance at all times, his nerves were highly strung, all his senses were highly focused, even his sense of smell became more sensitive. The stench of rotting pigeons, the foul smell of bird droppings¡­ The sun outside the building gradually set, and the slanting sun shone through the window onto him, making him appear godlike. Chapter 339 - Chapter 339: Chapter 337: High-Altitude Bird Nest Robbing Chapter 339: Chapter 337: High-Altitude Bird Nest Robbing Sunlight slanted in from the skylight, the sun gradually sinking below the horizon, a smear of blush red at the edge of the sky. The person standing on the rail spread his arms wide, and the daylight split him in two, half in light and half in shadow. Bi Fang silently exhaled, slowly stepping out from the shadows. Thirty meters below, Bi Fang seemed incredibly minuscule, as if about to be completely engulfed by the shadows behind him. But every time he was nearly swallowed, he took a step forward and embraced the light anew. Light and shadow intertwined, clearly demarcated. After a few steps, Bi Fang seemed to have found the knack for walking, the memory of balance long lurking in his muscles fully awakened, like scales of a snake unfurling one by one, using instinct to replace thought, guiding him step by step forward. One meter. Two meters. Three meters. Neither hurried nor slow. Bi Fang¡¯s arms were spread wide, his balance like the wings of migratory birds. Even though indoors, it felt as if a vast wind blew beneath his feet. Bi Fang gazed ahead through the brightness; at this moment, the steel factory was like a small hill conquered beneath his feet. He stood high, overlooking the world, so close to the sunset yet so far from the world of humans. Kolo Edward stared blankly at Bi Fang in the light and shadow. With the incredible resolution, he could even see the dust dancing in the beam of light. Only a connoisseur understands a fellow expert. As a professional high-wire walker, Kolo was well aware of the difficulty of tightrope walking at a height of thirty meters. Even he would approach it with utmost care. He had expected Bi Fang to struggle, yet he walked with such ease, fluid and carefree, like an artwork come to life. As if treading on firm ground! MeTube, Wolf Fang¡¯s staff, made a snap decision, posting this scene on the homepage of the official website along with a warning sign. Not for the faint-hearted! Yet such a warning only served to draw a flood of new viewers, and the number of people in the live stream soared once again! The overseas channel¡¯s audience count instantly broke through one and a half million! Bear in mind, this was only Bi Fang¡¯s second live broadcast for the overseas audience, his third if including the trip to Yemen. Between the Discovery Channel, Bi Fang¡¯s own legendary exploits, and MeTube¡¯s promotion, reaching over a million viewers in three broadcasts was nothing short of a tall tale for other streamers. For an ordinary streamer, even an audience of fifteen thousand, just one additional decimal point, would be a rare sight for a top streamer! [Wow, so powerful, is he wearing special shoes?] [Combat boots? Holy crap, that¡¯s professional, awesome!] [So cool!] [What is he doing? The streamer seems so strong, Master Fang, how come I¡¯ve never heard of him before?] [No way, no way. Is there really someone who plays live streams and doesn¡¯t know Master Fang? Just got internet in your village?] [Catching birds lol!] [???] At this moment, everyone¡¯s heart trembled with Bi Fang¡¯s footsteps; the sound echoed in the high air, the beating of hearts pounding in chests. Just as two-thirds of the journey had been crossed, the other side within reach, the audience able to catch their breath, Bi Fang suddenly halted, reached out to point ahead, and said in a low voice. ¡°Look!¡± Following Master Fang¡¯s arm to look ahead, two dark figures suddenly flapped their wings and landed on the rail in view of the camera, cooing incessantly. Pigeons! There really are pigeons! Master Fang¡¯s guess was right! Seeing the harvest within reach, Bi Fang was quite delighted, yet he didn¡¯t act rashly. He began to constantly adjust his center of gravity, slightly bending his legs and slowly squatting down. His movements were very slow and careful enough. When his center of gravity dropped below half a meter, Bi Fang firmly grasped the steel rails with both hands, his muscles tensed to support part of his body weight. This allowed his legs to relax a bit before he gradually shifted his feet and slowly dangled them on each side of the rail, straddling it as he sat down. Only after sitting down did Bi Fang relax and explain. ¡°For safety¡¯s sake, let¡¯s not walk on the rails anymore. It¡¯s too narrow here, and if the pigeons get startled and rush over, we could easily be disrupted. At times like this, any slight change can trigger a chain reaction. Meanwhile, we can also look around to see where there might be nests.¡± As he spoke, Bi Fang moved forward a bit but just as he did, his hands were covered in dust. Even without a war, this is a place that wouldn¡¯t be cleaned, and one can only imagine how much dust has accumulated over days and months. Scraping it with his hand, it was almost half a finger thick. Bi Fang felt his backside and, sure enough, it was all dusty. He laughed softly and said, ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll need to change my pants when I get back.¡± [Is it really because of the dust that you¡¯re changing your pants? (Dog¡¯s head)] [Really? I don¡¯t believe it.] [That¡¯s too risqu¨¦.] [So, is that big splotch in front of Old Fang bird poop?] [Damn, I didn¡¯t even notice until you said it. Is that bird poop?] ¡°Yes,¡± Bi Fang said, also looking toward a spot about two meters away on the steel rail that was clearly a different color, like a splash of white and yellow. Undoubtedly bird droppings. Besides that¡­ Bi Fang moved forward, pinching a piece of white material. ¡°There are also some eggshell fragments here, a good sign. As I mentioned before, pigeons lay eggs almost every month except in winter, and wild pigeons do the same. Under suitable conditions, they can breed up to eight times a year, and each time there will be two pigeon eggs. So, if you can find an area where pigeons reside during the non-winter seasons, you¡¯re almost certain to find bird eggs in the pigeon nests. Right now, my position is on the factory roof, which is too narrow and not conducive to catching pigeons directly. Even setting traps wouldn¡¯t be convenient for checking, so my initial target was pigeon eggs. It¡¯s worth noting that eggshells are also edible. The main component of eggshells is calcium carbonate, which can be digested by the human body to supplement calcium. Many chicks are fed crushed eggshells by farmers after they hatch. However, just because it¡¯s digestible doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s easily digestible. Eating eggshells directly can be hard to digest; it¡¯s better to grind them into powder. But for me, this bit of eggshell isn¡¯t worth collecting.¡± After tossing the eggshell fragment from high up, Bi Fang moved like a caterpillar to the edge of the rail, grabbed the glass, stood up from the rail, and came to the wall beside the window. The width was just half a meter, but compared to the steel rails not even wide enough for a foot, it was ¡°spacious,¡± and he could even take large strides. ¡°Wild pigeons nest on cliff tops, and likewise their city relatives tend to build nests in high places¡­ This should be the highest point in the factory. A fall from here would be disastrous.¡± Walking along the window, Bi Fang deliberately kicked down an abandoned lamp. From a height of over thirty meters, it took more than two seconds to fall and smashed on the ground with a loud crash, totally shattering the lamp and startling the now slightly relaxed Shuiyou once again. ¡°No doubt, falling from here would be a certain death. But it¡¯s places like this where pigeons nest. Fortune favors the bold. Compared to hunting prey in the Primeval Forest, we¡¯re actually quite safe here, at least we don¡¯t have to worry about any dangerous creatures that might compete with us for food. Hey, take a look, there¡¯s a nest over there!¡± Chapter 340 - Chapter 340: 338 Chapter 340: 338 The direction is correct, the action is correct. It wasn¡¯t long before Bi Fang made a discovery while walking along the wall. He found a clump of a bird¡¯s nest in a corner. Bi Fang nearly sprinted over and then quickly waved at the drone, looking very excited. ¡°Come quickly, look, in this nest, there are pigeon eggs!¡± The Shuiyou¡¯s spirits were lifted, the drone sped up its flight and immediately arrived beside Bi Fang. Inside an oval bird¡¯s nest, several milky-white eggs shone brilliantly in the sunset¡¯s glow, looking very tempting. Bi Fang reached in and turned them over, but found that although there seemed to be many eggs, some were empty, with only two being solid. ¡°These must be leftovers from before, these two were just laid. My goodness, I even feel these eggs are warm.¡± After rummaging through the bird¡¯s eggs, Bi Fang held the two pigeon eggs in his hands, brimming with excitement. The pigeon eggs were not small at all; in fact, they were comparable to some small chicken eggs. Bi Fang pulled out a water bottle from his backpack and began to wash them on the spot. ¡°Theoretically, all bird eggs are edible raw, as long as they don¡¯t smell off. Of course, unless you¡¯re really in a bind, it¡¯s usually better not to eat bird eggs casually, unless you can confirm they¡¯re not from any rare animals. Just like I know these are pigeon eggs, so there¡¯s no problem.¡± Having wet the eggs and cleaned their surfaces, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t wait any longer. He put one into his mouth, in front of everyone, and crushed it, letting the egg liquid slide out before stuffing the shell into his mouth and chewing vigorously. Pigeon eggshells are much thinner than chicken eggshells and eating them doesn¡¯t feel odd; instead, there is a sandy crunch. The Shuiyou could only hear a crisp sound, as if he were chewing crackers. After swallowing the entire egg, Bi Fang drank two gulps of water and swallowed, a sense of satisfaction naturally arising. ¡°This experience of adventuring and then gaining a reward is truly extraordinary, like studying hard for a month and finally getting first place in the class, very satisfying. And the pigeon egg was great too, a bit fishy, but I was mentally prepared for it, so it wasn¡¯t so hard to accept. This must be the most nutritious and delicious thing I¡¯ve eaten so far. When your body is in a state of energy depletion, eating a bird egg, even if it doesn¡¯t taste great, the feedback from your body is fantastic, Although I¡¯m not actually very hungry since I ate more than half a fox at noon, the nutritional intake is definitely imbalanced. But the bird egg provides me with a very comprehensive range of nutrients any egg would offer.¡± Bi Fang let out a satisfied burp, clearly very content, a sight that left the viewers quite envious. [Damn, watching this is making me hungry] [Standing in front of the fridge with a raw chicken egg in my hand] [Put it down, this isn¡¯t something humans should eat!] [Back when I was working out, I used to down five raw chicken eggs a day] [Wow, brother, that¡¯s hardcore. I can¡¯t even stand the smell, barely eat fried eggs] After eating one bird egg, Bi Fang took out another horizontally. It was a large bottle, similar to a sports drink, also filled with water. Bi Fang opened the bottle, poured out all the water, then stuffed the pigeon egg inside, secured the cap, and carefully placed it into his backpack. ¡°Since I¡¯m not very hungry right now, I¡¯ll save the egg to eat tomorrow. Putting it in the bottle helps to avoid it getting crushed. Of course, even if it gets crushed, we can still eat it to avoid waste.¡± [Ah, I feel like you didn¡¯t have to dump the water, keeping the egg in the water would make it less likely to spoil, right?] Some viewers were puzzled by the scene of Bi Fang emptying the water bottle, but Bi Fang shook his head in response. ¡°That won¡¯t work. Most eggs are the same, they can¡¯t be stored in water as they¡¯ll easily spoil. Some people find the eggs they buy too dirty and wash them with water before storing them. This is incorrect, as it damages the nutritional value of the eggs and could even cause the eggs to spoil.¡± Bi Fang picked up another broken eggshell from the nest to show everyone. ¡°Look, there is actually a layer of ¡®bloom¡¯ on the outside of bird eggshells, which seals the pores on the shell. It not only prevents bacteria from entering the egg but also stops the evaporation of moisture inside, keeping the egg fluid fresh. When you wash the eggs, the ¡®bloom¡¯ comes off, allowing bacteria to invade and moisture to evaporate, causing the egg to spoil. So, eggs that need to be preserved shouldn¡¯t be washed, and definitely should not be kept in water.¡± [A little knowledge for daily life!] [Wow, learned something new again.] [Follow Master Fang and learn new things every day!] ¡°Let¡¯s quickly look for more bird eggs in other corners while it¡¯s not completely dark yet,¡± I said. Packing away the plastic bottle, Bi Fang continued searching the walls for any missed bird eggs. The factory was so large, there couldn¡¯t possibly be just one bird¡¯s nest. Sure enough, before the sky had turned completely dark, Bi Fang, after making a full round, successfully found three more nests, harvesting five pigeon eggs in total. Six eggs lying in the bottle, filling it to the brim, it was a sight that filled one with satisfaction. Just these few eggs could sustain a person for a day if used sparingly. ¡°I really made the right choice coming to this steel factory; the haul is more than what I got in the past two days combined. If I¡¯m careful, I might not even need to look for food for the next few days! Alright, now it¡¯s time to head back to the ground level.¡± Bi Fang dusted off his hands and took out a flashlight from his bag, retracing his steps along the wall. ¡°Earlier, as I walked along the wall, I found a platform that seems to be a balcony. We¡¯ll go there and see if we can find a way back. Luckily we have a flashlight; walking in the dark in these conditions would be too dangerous. But remember, we must shine the flashlight down at the ground, just at your feet, and never into the distance,¡± I instructed. This statement confused most of the audience, wondering why the light could only shine at the feet. [Why?] [Why can¡¯t we shine it into the distance?] ¡°Because this is Yemen,¡± I explained. Bi Fang held the flashlight close to the glass and located the terrace outside the window. He turned off the flashlight and pointed towards the residential building in the distance: ¡°What do you think would happen if a flashlight suddenly lit up in that residential building? In other words, if you were in a city reduced to ruins and suddenly saw signs of human activity, what would you do?¡± [Of course, I would go towards it, I¡¯ve found the group!] No sooner had these words been sent than the online friend who typed the message paused, suddenly remembering the scene that had unfolded when Bi Fang had first arrived here. Could they really approach it? Not only should they not approach, but they should also prevent others from approaching. ¡°Even in extreme hardship, we must not easily trust others, or we may end up in a fate worse than death!¡± [It¡¯s like the dark forest law!] Bi Fang pulled an anti-riot helmet from his bag and smashed it against the window glass, breaking all of it until there was enough room for him to get through. Once on the terrace, Bi Fang made a round and actually found a way back. Looking at the charred wooden door in front of him, Bi Fang squeezed the handle, and as expected, it was locked. ¡°Good thing it¡¯s a wooden door. These single-layer wooden doors aren¡¯t actually that sturdy; we can try to break it down.¡± A minute later, Bi Fang charged like a cannonball and burst through the locked wooden door. His quick reflexes allowed him to catch the doorknob just in time to stop himself. Looking down at the sheer drop of six or seven stories at his feet, Bi Fang¡¯s back was almost soaked with cold sweat. He had almost stepped into nothingness! Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, Bi Fang was still shaken, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect it to be hollow.¡± No sooner had he spoken than faint footsteps came from below. Bi Fang¡¯s ears perked up, and his expression instantly froze. Someone was coming! Chapter 341 - Chapter 341: Chapter 339: Gathering place? Who are you kidding? Chapter 341: Chapter 339: Gathering place? Who are you kidding? The sound of footsteps echoed in the vast space, slowly closing in. Perhaps right below. There were two of them. Bi Fang felt a shock in his heart as he was trying to discern their position and numbers when suddenly a beam of a flashlight swept over, and he swiftly leaned back, narrowly missing the light. Only then did the audience, who had just come to their senses from the thrill of Bi Fang¡¯s near fall, realize what had happened. [Holy shit, someone¡¯s there!] [Who¡¯s there? Show yourself!] [Why are people still coming here? Were they attracted by the explosion during the day?] ¡°Keep the light steady. What are you shaking for?¡± Below, a man dressed in a dark green light cotton jacket pressed down on the right hand of the man in black beside him, bringing the beam¡¯s focus forward. The man in black wasn¡¯t angry but simply frowned, ¡°I thought I heard something just now.¡± ¡°Heard something?¡± The man in the green jacket moved visibly but didn¡¯t show it, instead shouting loudly, ¡°You¡¯re thinking too much, must be rats, right?¡± ¡°Rats?¡± The man in black was about to object when he suddenly saw a unique contact hand signal coming from the right hand beside the man in green. He immediately understood and, instead of objecting, nodded in agreement while secretly pointing upstairs. ¡°Yeah, rats.¡± The man in the green jacket narrowed his eyes and spoke in a voice slightly louder than normal conversation, ¡°Let¡¯s hurry up. I¡¯ve been hungry all day. Let¡¯s see if there¡¯s anything to eat here. Lots of people are waiting for us to bring food back to the camp. I don¡¯t know if we¡¯ll have another chance to go out. Yesterday, Charlene even questioned me if I was hiding food, damn it, I emptied my pockets and she still didn¡¯t believe me.¡± ¡°Haha, can¡¯t help it. She is a mother after all. It¡¯s quite normal for her to ask for more food. If we find some today, let¡¯s give her a bit more.¡± ¡°If we give her more, what about the others? She¡¯s not the only one with a child.¡± Having said that, the two walked together toward the depths of the factory as if they truly believed the sound they had heard was just a rat. After the two had walked away, the man in black suddenly turned off the flashlight, and the man in green asked in a low voice. ¡°What exactly did you hear?¡± ¡°Sounded like a door being hit.¡± ¡°Hit the door? Someone there?¡± ¡°Probably.¡± ¡°Could it be another organization? The entrance¡­¡± The man in green suddenly remembered the huge blast marks at the entrance, very shocking, as ordinary bombs could not produce such marks. ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem like it. A bomb couldn¡¯t have that effect. Might be a steel cylinder exploding in the factory. Anyway, we need to go check it out. The more ¡®goods¡¯ we have, the better.¡± ¡°Should we call for help?¡± ¡°Call!¡± ¡­ A camp? Children? Food? Several key pieces of information appeared in Bi Fang¡¯s mind. From the conversation between the two, it seemed there was a survivors¡¯ camp and they were out collecting food? [Damn, have they found their organization?] [Refugees?] [Should Old Fang go and help them out? (Dog¡¯s head)] [I think Master Fang can contact the authorities to evacuate everyone, it feels pitiful to just leave them here to die, doesn¡¯t it? Old Fang even struggles to find food, let alone ordinary people.] Bi Fang slowly leaned against the wall, smelling the burnt scent, yet his expression didn¡¯t relax at all. He saw the barrage of comments and responded, at the same time lowering his voice as much as possible. The space in the factory was too large; even the faintest of sounds could echo for a long time. ¡°Do you guys think what they¡¯re saying is true?¡± Uh¡­ The audience firing off the barrage froze, startled by Bi Fang¡¯s question. What did he mean by that? Could it be¡­ fake? No way, right? Cao Lifeng, who had been just about to tip and ask Bi Fang to help them, suddenly stopped, somewhat unwilling to accept the implications of Bi Fang¡¯s words. ¡°I can¡¯t be sure either.¡± Bi Fang shook his head, not completely denying the audience¡¯s suggestions. In fact, he had been close to the ground earlier, and had neither heard the rest of the two people¡¯s conversation nor seen any secret signals. Otherwise, he could have confirmed his suspicions. The other party seemed to intentionally leak so much information. Their words were crafted in such a way that one could subconsciously feel that this settlement was a safe zone. There were women and children there, and because they were so pitiful, they even got extra food. Just by hearing this, an image seemed to form in one¡¯s mind of vulnerable individuals supporting each other, stubbornly surviving in a war-torn city. It confirmed that the gathering area the two people spoke of was a ¡°humane¡± place to go to. But the nerves honed from constantly skirting the edge of danger told him that things weren¡¯t so simple. ¡°Let¡¯s just be careful, and not trust anyone too easily.¡± The calm of the factory standing in the night was shattered by the sudden intrusion of several people, and Bi Fang, trapped on the balcony, suddenly felt a sense of urgency. The place was too cramped; if a confrontation happened, it would be very disadvantageous for him. Bi Fang went to the wooden door; beneath his feet lay a yawning abyss. He looked all around, but it was pitch black, and he couldn¡¯t make out the path ahead. ¡°Right now, I must find an exit, but the way up here is too dangerous. Plus, if I were discovered while crossing the rails, it would be completely over.¡± ¡°But we can¡¯t afford to turn on a light now; that would undoubtedly expose our position, and then we would lose the initiative. I¡¯m not sure of the identity of the people opposite, and they can¡¯t be certain of my existence either. We¡¯re both still in a probing phase, so I mustn¡¯t reveal my position at all costs.¡± Stepping on the edge of the wall, Bi Fang carefully shifted, assuring it was safe before moving along the narrow wall outside the wooden door. Bi Fang had glimpsed a pipe in the corner of the wall earlier. He wasn¡¯t sure if it really existed, but he had to go and check it out. ¡°This place is as high as six or seven stories, and the room¡¯s completely hollowed out; no floors, no stairs, just beams left. I have to find a way down. I can only hope there really is a water pipe there; maybe we can slide down it directly.¡± Bi Fang held onto the wall, inching his way carefully. As he got closer, the shadow of the steel pipe became gradually clearer in the moonlight. This scene undoubtedly stirred excitement among the viewers, and Bi Fang¡¯s pace quickened considerably. He looked at the edge of the wall beneath his feet, just the width of a beam, not too wide but not too narrow either. ¡°This is actually quite interesting. If this were on the ground, I wouldn¡¯t think twice about such a width and would just hop right across, but when there¡¯s such a high drop next to you, even moving your feet slightly can seem difficult, making your heart race with panic. We have to calm ourselves down, breathe deeply, and try not to think about other things.¡± Bi Fang focused all his attention on his feet and tested each step before taking it, ensuring there was no loose debris. For the same reason, with such great heights, even a small falling pebble could make a loud noise. Chapter 342 - Chapter 342: 340 Chapter 342: 340 ¡°I¡¯ve found this to be harder than I imagined.¡± Bi Fang leaned against the wall, panting heavily. It was only about fifty meters, but it felt like he had expended the energy of five thousand. ¡°I don¡¯t know if there are really any people who aren¡¯t afraid of heights, but I think such people don¡¯t exist, because it¡¯s determined by human physiological structure. Your balance system will instinctively start fighting.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be too quick to deny it.¡± Bi Fang saw in the live chat that some people claimed they weren¡¯t afraid of heights, even saying they were not scared at all, so he already started to explain. ¡°Being afraid of heights doesn¡¯t mean you have acrophobia. They¡¯re different things. Some people might feel only a little scared standing in high places, which doesn¡¯t reach the level of a ¡®phobia,¡¯ and there are those with strong hearts who might not feel fear at all. But essentially, your balance system is still fighting, which affects your brain¡¯s decision-making. In fact, humans instinctively want to stay away from any situation that can threaten their lives.¡± ¡°If you really like to stand at the edge of a high wall without any safety measures, that might not just be about not being ¡®afraid of heights,¡¯ but rather it could be a symptom of another condition. Maybe you should see a psychologist.¡± The sharp-edged concrete structures created by humans made this more terrifying than any cliff. Bi Fang touched the wall as he moved forward, but suddenly his hand found nothing, and with quick reflexes, he reached down and grabbed a loose brick to catch his balance. As the bricks and pebbles fell, Bi Fang was taken aback, ¡°The whole wall here is somewhat loose; that¡¯s the problem. You always want to grab something, and once you grab air, you might find something more dangerous in your panic. Luckily¡­ I¡¯ve finally made it.¡± Bi Fang let go of the brick and reached for the iron pipe in front of him. The iron pipe was about as thick as a common plastic water pipe, with a diameter of around fifteen centimeters, too big to encircle with both hands. He shook it; it felt very solid. ¡°It looks like it can support my weight, and it¡¯s also very close to the wall. Even if it can¡¯t go straight to the ground, we can still get to other floors. The most crucial thing is that it¡¯s very rough; the friction is good, you see, it¡¯s rusty, and I believe it can go straight down to the ground because it looks a bit like an oversized firefighter¡¯s pole. It seems we¡¯ll have a long slide ahead.¡± The Shuiyou watching Bi Fang introducing the pipe started to panic, because if what Master Fang said earlier was true, then the psychological motives of those two liars would be very concerning. Regardless of whether those two were telling the truth or not, the Shuiyou did not want to encounter them again. And in such a situation, Master Fang didn¡¯t seem to be in a hurry. He had just spent nearly ten minutes walking along the wall, and now he still had the mood to introduce these things. [Hurry up, Old Fang, you can talk about this stuff after you get down.] [Get moving already.] [Exactly, it¡¯s midnight over here, aren¡¯t you going to get back to the safe area quickly, or do you want us to stay up with you?] [The Emperor is not in a hurry, but his eunuchs are.] ¡°Right away!¡± ¡°But everyone doesn¡¯t need to worry too much; it took me a lot of effort to get up here. I spent half a day and couldn¡¯t find it; it¡¯s unlikely they can too. Even if those two really can find the way, it¡¯s not something they can do in a short time, so there¡¯s no need to be too anxious. We just need to be careful¡ªthat¡¯s enough. When you¡¯re in a rush, it¡¯s easy to make mistakes. The more dangerous the situation, the more careful and cautious we need to be to ensure we don¡¯t fail.¡± Bi Fang gracefully accepted the advice, quickly pulled out the hemp rope from his bag that was previously used for anchoring, and tied it into a loop around the iron pipe. He inserted his hands into it and pulled hard. The enormous friction naturally held his upper body in place. ¡°I¡¯m going to use the rope to increase the friction on the pipe. This method is quite common. If we have friends from Hainan, they might have seen the locals climbing trees to pick coconuts using a rope this way. An experienced climber can even ascend a tree in just a few seconds.¡± With the rope in place, the next step was to slide down. Bi Fang put one foot on the pipe and held the rope tightly with both hands, slowly leaning back. The friction on his arms held him steady against the pipe. Then, Bi Fang placed his other foot on it as well. And so, he was completely clinging to the iron pipe, with his legs tightly wrapped around it. ¡°This pipe, looking like it¡¯s used for heat dissipation, is both old and rusty, creating significant friction, yet relying solely on the strength of my arms is still impossible. Therefore, my legs must clutch tightly to the pipe, only this way can I ensure my survival. The insides of my thighs also need to exert force.¡± Bi Fang clamped the pipe between his legs, his upper body slightly leaning back to increase tension in the noose and thereby enhancing friction; compared to clinging tightly to the pipe, this method saved quite a bit of energy. With ample support, Bi Fang descended rapidly, almost ¡°walking¡± on the steel pole. However, Bi Fang soon ran into a bit of trouble. Everything was fine up until now, but the pipe below suddenly bent. It was bent but not completely. This made the curved pipe covered with dust yet impossible to stand on. Different from the areas coated with rust, the dusty spots became slippery, making it difficult for Bi Fang to get past. Struggling, Bi Fang clutched at the water pipe, dust swirling around him. In the darkness, he could hardly see the situation behind him, and the dust choked him, making it hard to catch his breath. Clinging to the water pipe like a sloth, the noose was no longer much help to him at this point. Through night vision mode, the audience watched Bi Fang inch downwards, their hearts racing with anxiety, the pitch-black environment heightening the tension. The online friends were terrified that the two ¡°malintentioned¡± individuals might appear suddenly, turning the scene into a horror movie. Without clear knowledge about the authenticity of those two individuals, the online friends naturally trusted Master Fang¡¯s analysis and presumed them to be malintentioned right from the start. Finally, after a prolonged shuffle, Bi Fang traversed the unusually curved section of the pipe. Rapid descents are extremely dangerous, similar to falling, and what Bi Fang did was akin to holding a one-way ticket straight down. Soon, he reached the end of the water pipe. Bi Fang stretched out his foot to probe, finding no path ahead. He took a deep breath and continued, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, everyone, I can see the ground now. I also counted the number of floors a moment ago, this should be the first floor. Once past this, everything will be alright. Unfortunately, the factory floors are quite high, even the first floor is about seven or eight meters.¡± Bi Fang stretched out his right foot, stepping onto the floor of the adjacent level, and then, using his hands for support, he pushed himself up to the second floor. This place was much better than the top floor. Although many areas were still empty, with only beams, some parts had actual flooring. From a height of seven or eight meters, even with fall protection landing would be dangerous, not to mention the uncertainty of whether there were steel bars below, which would make a fall perilous. For a moment, Bi Fang felt the situation was quite troublesome. But the next second, Bi Fang knew that his time was running out. A gunshot suddenly rang out not far away! Chapter 343 - Chapter 343: Chapter 341 Have you heard my story? Chapter 343: Chapter 341 Have you heard my story? Bi Fang instinctively crouched down. Then another gunshot followed, the distance had not lessened; it was clear that the other side had fired twice in quick succession from the same location. Moments later came a sound of doors being broken. The audience was startled, belatedly realizing that their opponent actually had a gun! ¡°They¡¯re using guns to unlock doors! Right on this floor!¡± The voice was very clear, and also very close, close at hand! How far was it, twenty meters? Or thirty meters? After breaking through the door, the other side didn¡¯t make a scene but advanced silently. The non-urgent, steady footsteps pressed on the atmosphere, making it tenser and tenser. Bi Fang quickly got up from the ground, suppressed his breathing, and the darkness was filled with nothing but footsteps. Run! At this moment, the audience stood united, unanimously urging Bi Fang to move quickly. Pupils silently dilating to let in more light, Bi Fang surveyed his surroundings, retreating quickly and steadily like a tiger lurking in the darkness. As the two parties who were about to intersect once again missed each other, the onlooking audience could not help but exhale in relief as the roller-coaster-like plot twists made their hearts leap out of their chests! Bi Fang wiped the sweat off his forehead, his heart equally tense. Fortunately, he had avoided this wave, but as he took another step and entered a narrow alley, the sensation under his feet suddenly changed! ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t kill me!¡± ¡­ Matthew lay prone on the ground, daring not to move an inch, as large cold sweat dripped crazily down his body, soaking him as if he had just been pulled from water. The sudden gunfire almost snapped his heartstrings, and the subsequent sound of breaking doors was like a death knell. He covered his head with a black cloth, trying to blend into the night to escape. But before he could evade, a powerful pressure came crushing down on his back, penetrating through his chest. The newcomer similarly hadn¡¯t realized that someone else was hiding in the darkness. A foot stepped on his back, then lightly leaped up and darted out of the narrow alley. That bone-crushing step pressed right on Matthew¡¯s lungs, squeezing the breath out of him, and he involuntarily cried out before immediately raising his hands to surrender. ¡°Don¡¯t kill me!¡± Bi Fang was startled. He pulled out the rebar from his waist, quickly crouched down, then got on one knee, using a knee strike to keep Matthew, who was trying to get up, pressed down. At the same time, he wrapped the rebar around the other man¡¯s neck and tightened it fiercely! ¡°Don¡¯t, don¡¯t kill me¡ªugh!¡± Matthew¡¯s hands desperately pushed against the rebar. His face color was indiscernible in the dark, but everyone could see his face turning blue with strained veins due to the lack of oxygen. ¡°Shut up!¡± Bi Fang hissed softly, looking at the man struggling beneath him. He withdrew the rebar, switching to restraining him with one hand, and pulled him into the narrow alley. For some reason, the moment after hearing Bi Fang¡¯s rebuke, the man indeed stopped struggling and let Bi Fang drag him into the alley. Just as the man¡¯s feet entered the alley, a beam of flashlight light struck them directly, causing both their pupils to constrict. Bi Fang, holding the man, pressed tightly against the wall behind him, staring at the white light in front. He could even distinctly feel the man in front of him trembling slightly, with his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing up and down. ¡°Is anyone there?¡± The man in black shook his flashlight, hesitating as it swept over the alley before moving it elsewhere. The man in the green jacket explained as well, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, although we have guns, we won¡¯t hurt you. We were just using them to open doors. We need weapons to protect ourselves and others, don¡¯t we?¡± After waiting a long while, there was still no response. The two exchanged glances, both drawing their handguns, and cautiously approached the alley. A minute later¡­ ¡°No one?¡± The man in black¡¯s eyebrows nearly twisted into a knot. The voices had definitely come from here, how could there be no one? ¡°Forget it, it might have been a stray cat. The ¡®goods¡¯ around here were almost completely looted; it¡¯s impossible that we would just happen to find other survivors in a random factory,¡± the man in the green jacket casually kicked a stone, unsurprised. After the turmoil in Yemen, there was no shortage of stray cats and dogs; their screams could often be heard in the middle of the night. The man in black shook his head, sticking to his opinion, ¡°No, there definitely was someone.¡± Once could be an illusion, twice definitely isn¡¯t. How could it be such a coincidence? The voice just now was muffled and distorted, but it was unmistakably human! Yet gazing at the empty alley, the man in black couldn¡¯t understand where the person had gone. After waiting for a moment, he could only leave. What neither of them saw¡ªor if they did, they didn¡¯t realize¡ªwas that at the far end of the narrow alley, a black cloth was indeed covering a horizontal beam, and beneath it, a thick hemp rope was pulled taut. Bi Fang was hanging straight below the beam with his left hand clutching the man and his right hand wrapped around the hemp rope! So heavy! Bi Fang¡¯s temple veins bulged, the weight of two people almost made him lose his grip, but thankfully the man also grabbed the rope, taking on some of the weight. The audience was yelling ¡®666¡¯, scenes one would only expect in a movie were actually unfolding in reality! Incredible! [Awesome, that¡¯s so badass!] [I hereby declare Master Fang the strongest creature on earth!] [Young hero, what arm strength!] [Such a waste not to use that arm strength for heavy lifting, our construction site needs talents like you!] [Youthful Power Big Brother gifts the host Big Bone *666¡ªBlow up Master Fang¡¯s arm strength!] [Tonight Sleep with Black Silk Senior Sister gifts the host Meatball *66¡ªAll my instant noodle money for the month goes to you!] ¡°Can you hold on?¡± After confirming that the two people above had left, Bi Fang asked in a low voice. Considering the current situation, he realized that the man he had stepped on earlier was not with the other two above. ¡°I can!¡± The man nodded frantically in response. Seeing this, Bi Fang slowly let go with his left hand, and the man did not disappoint him, managing to grab the rope without falling. With much of the weight lifted, Bi Fang felt the pressure decrease. He held onto the rope with both hands, raising himself bit by bit, grabbed the horizontal beam again, and heaved himself up. Then he swiftly turned around, grabbed the rope, and pulled the man up. After completing the whole set of motions, even with Bi Fang¡¯s current physique, he felt somewhat spent. Lying on the ground, he took big breaths to catch his breath. When he had recovered a bit, he suddenly sat up and stared at the man in front of him. The two men locked eyes. Matthew blinked, using the faint starlight to see that familiar face with its distinct outlines, along with black hair and black eyes, and a tall figure. The person he had been longing for day and night suddenly appeared before him¡ªhow could he not be thrilled? Matthew wanted to say something, but the excitement seemed to squeeze his throat, and before he could utter a word, Bi Fang spoke up first. ¡°Is it you?¡± Bi Fang¡¯s words shocked everyone. Master Fang knows this person? [Damn, Master Fang, you know him?] [Wait a minute, both appearing on the battlefield, Old Fang even knows him, could this be some comrade on a secret mission? Is it really okay to livestream this?] [What¡¯s this called? This is called a united front, my friends.] [Are you all dumb? Old Fang is a born and bred Huaxia People, how could he have a foreigner as a comrade in arms?] [Who can say for sure, maybe he¡¯s a sleeper agent, there are proletarian warriors in foreign lands too!] ¡°You know me!? Have you heard of my story?¡± Sure enough, hearing Bi Fang¡¯s question, Matthew got even more excited, his face turning red with effort. As a former War Correspondent, Matthew had a bit of fame, and even after becoming a newspaper executive, his legend persisted in the underworld. Matthew thought Bi Fang might have heard his story! ¡°I don¡¯t know you.¡± Matthew: ¡°¡­¡± Chapter 344 - Chapter 344: Chapter 342: Coincidence or Trajectory? Chapter 344: Chapter 342: Coincidence or Trajectory? ¡°What do you mean by that just now?¡± Matthew¡¯s face darkened, he almost thought that the other person was making fun of him, but after thinking about the situation, he felt that it was unlikely, so he asked with a stern face. ¡°I don¡¯t know you, but I have seen you. On the day of the Amy Show recording, you were sitting in the first row.¡± Bi Fang spoke with certainty. As his own qualities continued to improve, he found his memory getting better. The enhancement in the ¡°Spirit¡± section of his stat panel involved neural reinforcement, which might have something to do with this. Often he couldn¡¯t quite achieve photographic memory, but it was close enough. In the starlight, the man¡¯s face across from him gradually became clearer. He hadn¡¯t had time to think about it carefully before, but now, after making eye contact, a sense of familiarity surged in his heart. After reflecting carefully, Bi Fang remembered where he had seen the other person. The Amy Show! Invited for an interview, the man across from him had been sitting in the first row. After the recording, he even asked for an autograph and a photo together, which made a deep impression on Bi Fang. On the other hand, upon hearing Bi Fang narrate the cause and effect, the Shuiyou (Online Friends/Audience) got excited, discovering a new trait of Master Fang. Super-strong memory! [Isn¡¯t that the Amy Show, that was over three months ago, right? Isn¡¯t this memory a bit too exaggerated?] [Indeed unbelievable, it¡¯s been the issue of the new year, and he even remembers the audience?] [So is it him or not?] [Wait a minute, could it be some crazy fan? Following Master Fang all the way to Yemen?] [Holy shit, can¡¯t be, right? Is he that obsessive? Running to the Primeval Forest I can understand, but to Yemen? If something goes wrong, wouldn¡¯t that mean he can neither live nor die as he pleases?] [Is it also possible that he¡¯s like the ones from that previous desert trip? Also here to hog the limelight recklessly?] Seeing the last comment, Bi Fang was taken aback and had to consider this possibility. His fist immediately tensed up. He had taught those people last time such a harsh lesson, and yet there were still those who didn¡¯t learn their lesson? Matthew on the other side hadn¡¯t noticed the barrage of comments on the drone¡¯s display, but kept nodding: ¡°That¡¯s right, I was sitting in the first row at the time!¡± Seemingly noticing that Bi Fang¡¯s expression was somewhat off, recalling Bi Fang¡¯s past experiences, Matthew quickly explained, ¡°My name is Matthew¡­¡± In fact, if Matthew had paid attention to the barrage, he would find that the Shuiyou (Online Friends/Audience) were quite accurate in a few points. Since the Goose trip, Matthew had been following Bi Fang, the ¡°emerging broadcaster,¡± captivated by the content of his live broadcasts, and it reminded him of the glorious years when he was a War Correspondent. After becoming a newspaper executive, although the salary and work were better, he always felt something was missing, until that moment. The man flew the drone through the stormy clouds, and no words could describe the shock of that moment. Like oceans flowing with golden clouds, airplanes soaring, flocks of geese flying, toward hope and light. Such a surging and courageous force was like feeling the lightning strike in the midst of the storm clouds, or like in the primordial darkness, seeing people create fire, embracing light for the first time in the dark night. After that experience, Matthew watched all of Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast videos, pondered for a while, and finally decided to follow his heart, resigning from the newspaper, and once again pursuing what moved him. Just as Matthew resigned without a specific goal in mind, Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast announcement appeared once again. Yemen! This city filled with pain and despair! It matched Matthew¡¯s previous profession, and he could even follow in the footsteps of his idol. How could he not go? Matthew even hoped for an encounter. He knew about the disgusting behavior of those from the desert journey, Matthew would not do the same; he would only silently take pictures, then watch Bi Fang¡¯s figure disappear into the distance. Especially after escaping from danger, Matthew started consciously looking for Bi Fang¡¯s whereabouts. Following the last photo seen on his phone before it was lost, he found the place where a fire had been made, but unfortunately, he was a step too late. The two had not met. After that, without photos or videos, it became even harder for Matthew to search. Finding someone in a city was almost impossible. At that moment, Matthew almost despaired, wandering aimlessly through the industrial district, placing his fate in the hands of Lady Luck. Until that explosion¡­ Whether it was trying his luck or having a stroke of dumb luck, deep down Matthew had a hunch as he made his way to the steel factory. He felt that such a big commotion was very likely the work of the idol who ¡°adventured¡± habitually¡­ So while ordinary people would avoid it at all costs, Matthew did the opposite, heading to the steel factory, and ended up getting stepped on. Thus, their encounter at that time was coincidental, yet not entirely so. There was a trace of luck in the trajectory that was meant to be. Audience: ¡°¡­¡± Can such a story really exist? The scene of Bi Fang hanging under the beam to evade his pursuers was already ¡°cinematic¡± enough, but after listening to Matthew¡¯s story, that scene paled in comparison, merely mundane. [Why do I feel like shipping them together all of a sudden?] [Shut up, stop shipping everyone; it¡¯s annoying.] [Add one to that, stop with the shipping; it¡¯s irritating!] [Seriously cool, the world¡¯s most dedicated fan chasing? Is that all?] [I dub you the ultimate fan king!] [Learned calculus and linear algebra but won¡¯t change my name ¨C sending the host meatballs*10 as a reward, admiring your perseverance!] [Leopard Head Zero Charger ¨C sending the host Big Bone*1, who would have thought I, the king of freeloading, would one day donate big bucks to a live stream, I¡¯ve fallen!] But Bi Fang wasn¡¯t too surprised by the story just told; after all, a forest with many birds harbors all sorts. With tens of millions of fans and millions watching his streams daily, the occasional oddity wasn¡¯t strange at all. He was more concerned with a key point in Matthew¡¯s recent words. ¡°Did you just say¡­ made it out alive? What does that mean? What have you run into, or did you cause some trouble? Did you specifically come to find me for this?¡± If the other party had run into some kind of issue that was of no real consequence, Bi Fang was still willing to assist by contacting the Yemen government to find a way to get the other party out. It would be a small effort. However, after asking this, Matthew fell silent for a good while before finally speaking, not answering the question but asking instead. ¡°Did you just hear those two mention ¡®goods¡¯?¡± ¡°Goods?¡± Bi Fang frowned as he thought for a moment, then nodded. Indeed, those two had mentioned this, saying the area had been swept and it was unlikely that any ¡°goods¡± still remained. The Shuiyou (Online Friends/Audience) also started recalling, and some, even more diligent, played their recordings backwards, revisiting that scene. They confirmed the existence of ¡°goods.¡± Seeing how edgy Matthew was, the audience¡¯s first thought was whether this ¡°goods¡± could perhaps be drugs? But on second thought, it seemed unlikely. If they were drugs, why would they need to search all over? Such things could not be conjured out of thin air. Matthew didn¡¯t beat around the bush, pausing for a moment, then speaking in a low voice. ¡°Their ¡®goods¡¯¡­ are people!¡± Chapter 345 - Chapter 345: Chapter 343 Swamp Chapter 345: Chapter 343 Swamp ¡°` A massive moon leapt out of the dark clouds and rose slowly outside the window. Moonlight spilled in, like the tide rushing towards the shore, enveloping the entire factory in the cold, watery light of the moon. The shadow of the window pane cast across Bi Fang¡¯s face as he sat in silence, tilting his head up to meet the moonlight. Though beautiful, he would have preferred the moon to keep sleeping at this moment. Moonlight would reveal more traces. ¡°Huh¡­¡± Matthew swallowed, his breathing slightly heavy but soon held back. He looked around, even out of the window. The entire city was dark; no lights, no fires¡ªthere was only him and Bi Fang left. Matthew found it strange, as he had thought his news would shock Bi Fang, or at the very least elicit some reaction. The seriousness of Bi Fang right now had even made Matthew think those two had returned. Bi Fang¡¯s sudden silence left Matthew unsure of what to say next. It was as if he had told a joke that only he found amusing, chilling the atmosphere instantly. Matthew dared not speak again, nor even breathe too heavily. There was a silence in the factory that seemed forbidden to break. Only in the live streaming room, unlike the cold factory, a near uproar ensued. [Is this for real, human trafficking?] [Unexpected, yet not surprising.] [Are you kidding?] [Scared the hell out of me.] Having been busy with exams and absent for a long time, Wang Xiaocong finally managed to make time to watch Master Fang¡¯s live stream today but had not expected to be hit with such explosive news. He suddenly patted Kong Chao on the shoulder, ¡°Hey, do you think what he said is true?¡± Kong Chao¡¯s expression was a bit unnatural, clearly stunned by the news as well, ¡°It should be true, since the guy knows Master Fang, it¡¯s unlikely he is shooting in the dark¡­¡± They exchanged glances and then fell silent. ¡­ ¡°What if this is true?¡± Cao Lifeng repeated this phrase over and over in his dormitory, his heart filled with both fear and excitement, as if he could already see the scene of Bi Fang wreaking havoc. His roommate felt the same. ¡­ ¡°Do such things really exist?¡± In the greenhouse, ¨¦tienne turned to look back at his father Elvan. He still found it hard to believe that such things could actually happen in reality, just beyond a screen¡¯s separation. Elvan, who was tending to a new batch of precious birds, took off his glasses, rubbed his eyes, and carefully returned the migratory bird to its straw nest. He, too, was shocked by the news, but having experienced more of life than ¨¦tienne, he soon regained his composure. Is it strange? Strange, because it¡¯s sufficiently horrifying to consider what would happen to the people taken away as ¡°goods.¡± What could men provide? Healthy organs, hard labor in mines, or even as consumables in games¡ªevery horror depicted in movies has occurred in reality. Not to mention women. Yet, it¡¯s not strange at all that such things would happen in an abandoned city; it¡¯s almost inevitable, not some sudden coincidence. The only coincidence was that Matthew stumbled upon it and exposed it to the viewers. ¨¦tienne was stunned into silence by his father¡¯s confident answer. Elvan smiled and patted his son on the head, ¡°Anyway, just trust Bi Fang. He always finds a way, doesn¡¯t he?¡± ¡­ Bi Fang remained calm because he knew such events could occur and even had mentally prepared for them. After so many adventures, Bi Fang had developed a strong mindset, and he could even guess why Matthew had come to find him. ¡°` After a long silence, Matthew could no longer hold back. He took out his camera from his backpack and whispered, ¡°I have photos, I took pictures, you can see¡­¡± Unexpectedly calm, Bi Fang did not reach for the camera but instead looked at Matthew and countered, ¡°You should go to the local government with this kind of thing, or even the rebels. Anyway, you should not come to me, I am just one person!¡± ¡°I know! Of course, I tried, but, but¡­¡± Matthew became agitated. He had indeed tried before, as soon as he had the chance while his phone was still with him, he attempted to contact the Abbascan officials, but the result was as expected. The eastern front was tense, all the troops were as if stuck in a quagmire. They had no spare capacity to deal with a local gang, even if appalling events were taking place there. By the time they got the message, it would still be a two-day wait. A two-day wait, how could he wait? Not even one day could be waited! ¡°The message I overheard is that they will ship this batch of people out in three days, and one day has already passed, we only have two days left!¡± Seeing no reaction from Bi Fang, Matthew revealed even more shocking news. ¡°Wait, you overheard? How did you overhear it?¡± Bi Fang suddenly interrupted, picking up on a key point. ¡°I just¡­ just sneaked in¡­¡± Matthew was taken aback, not understanding why Bi Fang was asking this, ¡°Their defenses were not particularly tight, or rather, there weren¡¯t any. There were just a dozen or so people. When I went, they were gathered drinking. I took the opportunity to slip in¡­¡± Bi Fang¡¯s mouth twitched: ¡°Is¡­ is that so?¡± The online friends were also bewildered. Was it really that simple? [Damn, why do I feel like this gang is completely unreliable?] [Yeah, I see a chance. Go for it, Master Fang!] [I choose you, Pikachu Fang!] Bi Fang tapped his index finger against the ground like a pendulum. Tap tap tap¡­ The two people who had just appeared made Bi Fang believe that this group was professional and may have even received professional military training. If that were the case, he would never agree to Matthew¡¯s request. It was not a matter of unwillingness, but of not wanting to find death. Better to avoid trouble, especially involving foreigners, but after all, it had happened right before his eyes. If he hadn¡¯t seen it, it would have been one thing, but having seen it, Bi Fang suspected that if he remained indifferent, the audience would curse him to death, and he could forget ever becoming a top broadcaster. They don¡¯t care how many people are on the other side, or how many guns they have. Most people¡¯s thinking would be: If Goose can save, why can¡¯t people? Although the levels of danger were entirely different, bystanders never care about that. People always like to add fuel to the fire, never considering whether the flames are burning the right things or if they will burn themselves. Therefore, when Matthew said what he did earlier, Bi Fang was somewhat dissatisfied inside, but but now, looking at Matthew¡¯s description, this group seemed more like a ragtag bunch. It might be doable if one was careful. But it was still very dangerous. A dozen people¡ªif they all had firearms, no, they would definitely have firearms. Overseas, especially in war-torn regions, one should not harbor any illusions about this and had to be well-prepared. The rocket launcher incident when he first arrived was still fresh in Bi Fang¡¯s memory. Wait, could these people be the same group? Bi Fang¡¯s thoughts stalled. He hadn¡¯t strayed far from the initial landing point these past two days, roughly staying within the industrial area. Just like any animal, humans also have a sense of territory, and this rings true for gangs that form as well. In a desolate city, the territory a gang can hold is quite vast. The people Bi Fang had encountered initially could very well be the same group! Bi Fang narrowed his eyes, his tapping index finger paused, about to say something, when a sharp screeching of brakes came from outside¡ªclearly, a vehicle traveling at high speed had come to an abrupt stop in front of the factory. ¡°A car?¡± Matthew stood up, intending to go to the bedside to look. If it was a survivor, it would be best to drive them away to avoid being caught by those two people. Bi Fang suddenly grabbed his wrist, ¡°Don¡¯t go out, it¡¯s not just one car coming, it¡¯s a convoy!¡± Chapter 346 - Chapter 346: Chapter 344 Crisis Approaching Chapter 346: Chapter 344 Crisis Approaching Matthew¡¯s wrist was pinched painfully, but he couldn¡¯t afford to cry out in pain at the moment¡ªhe hurriedly perked up his ears to listen carefully. The entire city was silent, and with concentration, Matthew could even hear his own breathing, strangely though, he could not hear Bi Fang¡¯s. There was no time for him to ponder that now, however. Indeed, there was only the sound of one vehicle outside, but why did they mention a convoy? The vehicle stopped at the factory gate without turning off its engine, emitting a roar like a behemoth, combined with the extremely sharp screeching of brakes, it was clear that it had stormed all the way here. Just as Matthew started to doubt whether Bi Fang had made a mistake, a howling of a pack of beasts approached from the distance, rushing furiously closer. It truly was a convoy, two off-road vehicles leading several motorcycles. The second off-road vehicle had been modified, with a huge shovel-like bumper installed on the front, charging past the first vehicle and headed straight for the factory. An explosion-like boom woke up the entire city instantly. The metal gate was smashed and sent flying, twisted and shattered, eventually landing several meters away. The remaining vehicles streamed in one by one. From the window, their sinister tail lights looked like a swarm of blood-red wasps. Huge spotlights shone directly on the tall building, and Matthew finally understood why Bi Fang had instructed him not to go near the window¡ªthey had shone a beam just beside him, a mere three meters away. Had he gone to look, he would certainly have been seen by everyone. Bi Fang pressed Matthew to the ground, and the two of them crawled toward the window, peering down at the action below. While crawling, Bi Fang suddenly noticed a toolbox nearby. He rummaged through it quickly, found two Phillips screwdrivers, and surreptitiously gripped them, hiding them in his sleeves before resuming his intense scrutiny of the situation below. The motorbikes the thugs had sat down on were modified to resemble the death-defying racers seen on the highways of Ugly Country. The online audience even noticed flames shooting from the rear of the second off-road vehicle, blue flames. [Holy shit, turns out Kart Rider doesn¡¯t lie, the rear of a car really can spit flames!] [Ignorant much? That¡¯s called nitrous oxide boosting!] ¡°These guys have fitted the vehicles with NOS cylinders, which can inject nitrous oxide into the engine to further increase power. While it does damage the engine, it significantly boosts the vehicle¡¯s power and speed,¡± explained Bi Fang. Bi Fang¡¯s expression darkened; anyone could tell that these people meant trouble and certainly didn¡¯t come to invite him for tea! [Why did these people suddenly show up? It couldn¡¯t have been those two who called them, right?] [Definitely! Otherwise, why would they just appear out of nowhere? They definitely snitched!] [Damn, that¡¯s just shameless, isn¡¯t it? Bullying!] [Don¡¯t worry, Master Fang can take on ten of them!] [What about the eleventh?] [Doesn¡¯t Master Fang still have someone with him? He proposed the rescue; surely he won¡¯t let Master Fang risk it all alone? Death should come standing in front of Old Fang!] The Shuiyou were in an uproar, with a barrage of comments flooding like a waterfall, a vast data stream momentarily clogging the network, causing temporary lag. MeTube staff and those from the Langya Cooperation Department abroad had never seen such a phenomenon, staring blankly at the stuttering live stream. However, the seasoned Langya staff didn¡¯t even need to consult their superiors before skillfully utilizing other servers to allocate more bandwidth to Bi Fang¡¯s stream. They solved the lag issue within seconds, leaving the MeTube personnel in awe. The trunk of the first off-road vehicle popped open automatically, and riding motorcycles on either side of the lead car, the raiders pulled stainless steel machetes and sawed-off shotguns from the trunk. These people wore exaggerated leather jackets studded with brass nails, their arms covered in fierce tattoos. Their hair wasn¡¯t dyed in odd colors, since Yemen no longer had any operational barbershops. Matthew¡¯s eyes were nearly bulging out of their sockets; he recognized the bald head leading the pack¡ªit was the man who had captured him earlier. ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s that group!¡± he exclaimed. They actually found this place, those lunatics, but no, they weren¡¯t here for me; they believed there was ¡°Goods¡± in this building! What to do? Bi Fang had already let go of his hand, and Matthew, rubbing his reddened wrist, felt as though his sense of security had also slipped away, his heart filled with unease. Unlike the previous solo infiltration, back then, this group wasn¡¯t this ¡°fierce and vicious.¡± They were just like a bunch of rowdy ruffians, loudly bragging and drinking, a totally different situation compared to now. ¡°No worries, though there seem to be many of them, not all will come at us.¡± ¡°There are thirteen people coming, plus the two already in the building, that makes fifteen. They are here to capture someone, so they¡¯ll definitely try to prevent escape, meaning at least eight people will be needed to secure exits at the four directions of the workshop, which implies that only seven will enter. So there will be nine inside the building. They won¡¯t act together; they¡¯ll surely split into small groups of two or three. There¡¯s a chance for a fight!¡± Bi Fang leaned against the wall, wrapping a cloth around his hand with a dagger in it, checking the equipment on his body to ensure his boot knife could be smoothly drawn, while analyzing the situation at the scene. The audience suddenly realized that at some unspecified time, the steel rod at Bi Fang¡¯s waist had disappeared, replaced by a long steel pipe hanging there, and he pulled out a bullet that he stuffed into his trousers. What was he up to? Was he preparing to snatch a gun or set a trap? Thrilling! Hearing the familiar voice and seeing Bi Fang¡¯s prepared stance, Matthew found himself feeling a little more courageous. The opponent was like an invincible hero from the movies, when the hero finally appears, you just know, this is going to be good. How could someone so cool not fight his way out? Bi Fang was unaware of Matthew¡¯s inner thoughts, but had he known, he surely would have grimaced. There were many assailants, all fully armed, yet he didn¡¯t even have a gun; the only weapon he could use straight away was the dagger. These people were desperadoes beyond the reach of the law, who wouldn¡¯t get the death sentence even for murder, but if I died, it would be for real. Bi Fang felt his brain overheating from the rapid thinking; the current situation was very bad. Facing knives or guns wasn¡¯t the scary part; Bi Fang had dealt with such situations before, even with plenty of experience, but what¡¯s really frightening was being outnumbered! When there are many, logic doesn¡¯t apply. The group had already disembarked from their vehicle and started trickling into the building in pairs and trios. The ones remaining were following procedure ¨C sealing the exits and then trapping us like turtles in a jar. Bi Fang watched coldly, everything fitting the scenario he had anticipated. Although they were a gang of bandits, untrained professionally, it looked like it wasn¡¯t their first job. So the most I would need to handle would be three people. As long as I was quick enough, I could escape before the others arrived. The only problem was¡­.. Bi Fang glanced at Matthew standing dazedly beside him and sighed internally. ¡°Stick close to me later on, remember to be smart. If you¡¯re in danger, just hide; don¡¯t worry about me, taking care of yourself is the best help you could give me. Did you get that?¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Matthew nodded vigorously. Chapter 347 - Chapter 347: Chapter 335: Manual Launch Chapter 347: Chapter 335: Manual Launch Reinforced concrete is the best medium for transmitting sound; it brought back the rapid footsteps. The gang had finished sealing off the area and was now rushing in through the front door! The gunfire fell and rose. Orange light burst forth in the darkness, striking the door and splashing spectacular orange sparks. The attackers had shown their true colors and were no longer pretending to be a survivor¡¯s base. In the dark, various modern machinery, long since silent and covered in dust, echoed the only remaining sounds through the air: the roar of engines from the streets and the sound of gunfire. The world had fallen into a strange, black silence. Bi Fang suddenly asked Matthew, ¡°Did you see any other ways in when you arrived? Like a vent or some path less traveled by ordinary people?¡± Matthew shook his head nervously, ¡°No, I didn¡¯t find any other way. I came in through a side door that had been blown open. Was that your doing? What a spectacular scene. What did you use to blow it up? Do you have any more? Are we¡­¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t answer. The acetylene cylinders were too heavy and not easy to ignite or detonate, similar to fuse explosives, which were very inconvenient to use. Using them to break through the encirclement was not feasible. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Bi Fang suddenly grabbed Matthew by the wrist and ran into the darkness. Matthew stumbled but quickly followed, taking cover with Bi Fang behind a load-bearing wall. The next moment, an explosion sounded, the door lock was blown off, and people swarmed in from the entrance. The beams of flashlights swept across the first floor, leaving the spot where the two had just hidden completely exposed. Under the light, Bi Fang could even see the types of firearms they carried, most of which were sawed-off shotguns. ¡°Shotguns fire a barrage and are well-suited for breaching doors. A hit is not lethal, but for the person hit, it¡¯s worse than death.¡± Bi Fang glanced down, confirming the grouping and movements of several people, then turned his head. ¡°Dozens of lead pellets would embed themselves into flesh in an instant, creating honeycomb-like wounds, and you wouldn¡¯t even bleed because the entry wounds are plugged by the pellets, but the injuries could last a lifetime.¡± The gangsters didn¡¯t kill people; living people were valuable. Dead people could only contribute organs. If they were not handled properly, they couldn¡¯t even donate organs, greatly reducing their value. Hearing such a gruesome scenario, Matthew shuddered, feeling as if a cold snake had slithered over his heart. The audience was even more anxious but didn¡¯t know what to do. Helpless behind a screen, they dared not and could not offer any help, only able to send their encouragement to Bi Fang through the chat. However, this was of little use compared to handing Bi Fang an unloaded gun¡­ On the first floor, the gangsters fired their guns, threatening the survivors to come out, while doors were violently blasted open, with paper and wood chips flying and dust filling the air. The silent factory became noisy and rowdy. Under such tension, Bi Fang closed his eyes. A huge three-dimensional map began to grow wildly in his mind like branches, the giant factory breaking down into squares, old paths blocked, new routes forming. As time ticked by the second, Matthew nervously watched the gangsters, his heart racing. Under the light, he saw a staircase in the corner, and the gangsters were drawing near! The stairwell was not part of the steel factory Bi Fang had infiltrated earlier. The steel factory had no distinct floors and was very high, with only some beams fitted with railings to form corridor-like pathways. When Bi Fang reached the top floor and climbed out onto the balcony, he was in another factory building. Just as Matthew turned to warn Bi Fang, he suddenly noticed that Bi Fang had closed his eyes. What? ¡°They¡¯re coming up.¡± Matthew urged nervously, just when he thought Bi Fang might have fallen asleep, a pair of bright eyes suddenly burst open in the dark. Bi Fang dragged Matthew inside. ¡°Just now, when I slid down the duct, I vaguely saw a drain on the third floor, quite large in diameter, about twenty inches, roughly half a meter, very thick. It might be a sewage outlet or maybe the staff bathhouse. It wouldn¡¯t be hard for the two of us to go through, but we have to go up first!¡± ¡°How do we go up?¡± ¡°The stairs.¡± The duct could be descended, but it was not feasible for climbing up. If they were to try climbing it now and were discovered, they would merely serve as targets; any method that didn¡¯t allow a quick ascent was impractical at this moment. Matthew knew this, but he had already noticed that someone had explored towards the stairwell: ¡°But there¡¯s someone over there!¡± ¡°Then we kill them¡­ Have you got a lighter?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Bi Fang reached out his hand towards Matthew, and a windproof lighter was immediately stuffed into the palm of his hand. Matthew wasn¡¯t there to survive; he had brought a full range of basic equipment. Although he had lost most of it while being chased, he still had some small tools. Bi Fang wrapped his left hand in cloth, holding the barrel of the gun, then pulled out a 7.5mm rifle bullet from his pocket. Casually picking up a snakeskin bag from the ground, he cut off a small piece with a dagger, wrapped the bullet, and stuffed it into the steel pipe. ¡°As the biggest consumable on the battlefield, bullets generally consist of four parts: the bullet head, the propellant, the casing, and the primer. The design of this thing hasn¡¯t changed much since it was created in the 19th century.¡± ¡°When shooting, you first pull the trigger, which causes the firing pin to strike the primer of the bullet, igniting the propellant inside the casing. Once the propellant burns and the internal pressure of the casing rises to 250 to 500 kg/cm2, the bullet head is pushed out of the casing, squeezed into the rifling, and shot out rapidly under the action of high-pressure gas, inflicting damage on the target with its powerful kinetic energy.¡± Bi Fang advanced to the stairwell with Matthew, his tone not fluctuating much, as if it wasn¡¯t him who was in danger. Turning the corner, a sharp metallic sound rang out. Bi Fang flipped open the lighter, rubbed the flint, and set fire to it. He then scorched the base of the bullet inside the steel pipe, making Matthew¡¯s eyelids twitch as he watched. He moved away a few steps without changing expression, but the next second, a burst of gunfire from downstairs brought him a few steps closer again. ¡°The primer will ignite the propellant and shoot out the bullet head when exposed to high temperature or severe impact. Some bullets are heavy; when fired, the propellant blasts out of the thinner part of the casing first, so it¡¯s quite possible that the casing explodes but the bullet doesn¡¯t shoot out.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why we can¡¯t use handgun bullets with short bodies and heavy heads; we can only use rifle bullets with light heads and long bodies.¡± ¡°Many people must think that after heating a bullet, the bullet head will fly erratically in the air, possibly hitting someone nearby by accident. But in reality, this is not the case. A bullet that has left the gun may explode, but if you maintain a certain safe distance, it is not as dangerous as imagined.¡± ¡°Wait¡­ you¡¯re going to shoot the bullet!?¡± Matthew exclaimed in shock, as if only at this moment coming to his senses. The entire factory was filled with gunfire, so there was no need to deliberately lower one¡¯s voice. ¡°Just use this¡­¡± A deafening gunshot cut off what Matthew was about to say, leaving him staring blankly at the bullet holes in the wall, speechless. Bi Fang shook his numb left hand and glanced at the stupefied Matthew. ¡°Yeah, what about it?¡± Chapter 348 - Chapter 348: Chapter 336: A Strike to the Target Chapter 348: Chapter 336: A Strike to the Target What¡¯s going on? What¡¯s going on? What¡¯s going on? These few words echoed nonstop in Matthew¡¯s mind. Regrettably, he was not a Huaxia man. In such a situation, he couldn¡¯t even let out a ¡°fuck¡± and could only look at the pockmarks on the wall, speechless and choked up. He had so much to say, yet he could not speak. His face turned red as he nearly roared, ¡°F**K!¡± [Holy shit!] [Fuck!] [Oh my God!] Various expletives flooded the live broadcast room. Not just the average viewers, even many military enthusiasts were shocked by the scene in front of them. To fire bullets with one¡¯s bare hands, without relying on guns, is that even possible? Bi Fang showed everyone with his actions that it was indeed possible! The sound of gunfire mixed with the pelting explosions of buckshot didn¡¯t attract much attention, but Bi Fang used it to roughly estimate the timing, accuracy, and power. Much better than expected, the accuracy was not as poor as he had imagined. Some viewers, besides yelling ¡°holy shit,¡± thought further. Since bullets could be fired, did that mean they no longer had to fear those people? At least on the surface, the gap in strength wasn¡¯t that big anymore. [Can we arm-wrestle with those guys now?] [I think so!] [Charge, motherfuckers!] [Take all those bastards down!] But unexpectedly, Bi Fang shook his head. He didn¡¯t create this makeshift launcher to fight back, but to intimidate. Although there were bullet holes in the wall, they were shallow. Bullets fired this way had too little power. Even if a bullet was launched, due to the lack of confinement by a gun barrel, there was no sustained acceleration or spinning flight, so the power was far less than that of a bullet shot from a firearm. Moreover, the recoil from the explosion, even though lessened by wrapping with cloth, still nearly made the weapon slip from Bi Fang¡¯s hand when it reached him. And the launch speed was way too slow; from ignition to firing, it took at least ten seconds. The only effect it could have was to scare the enemy, making them think they also had firearms. Having firearms or not in a battle were totally different scenarios. As long as he could create a doubt in the enemy¡¯s mind, Bi Fang¡¯s effort wouldn¡¯t have been in vain. After hearing Bi Fang¡¯s explanation, the audience was greatly disappointed, but they also gained a little confidence. At least compared to just now, when they were completely unarmed, they now had some green gear with a built-in fear effect. During the explanation, Bi Fang and Matthew had already run to the stairwell. At this moment, Matthew¡¯s heart was about to jump out of his chest, fearing that as soon as he stuck his head out, he would be shot in the head. Fortunately, that situation didn¡¯t arise. When Bi Fang listened closely by the wall, the thug running in the lead hadn¡¯t come upstairs yet. ¡°Good chance!¡± Bi Fang dragged Matthew and ran upstairs with him. If they could avoid a direct confrontation, they should; that was Bi Fang¡¯s principle. But luck wasn¡¯t always on their side. When they reached the third floor, two figures caused Matthew¡¯s pupils to shrink in shock. It was the men in green and black. Damn it, how could they forget about them! The viewers almost pissed themselves in fear; even horror movies weren¡¯t this thrilling! Luckily, at that moment, both men had their backs turned to Bi Fang and hadn¡¯t noticed them. The two retreated back into the stairwell, and Matthew was sweating profusely. They had almost been discovered. He quickly looked at Bi Fang, ¡°What do we do?¡± Bi Fang lifted his hand to give Matthew a flashlight, while gripping a steel pipe, he lit his lighter again, and started burning the base of a bullet. ¡°I¡¯ll count to three, and then we¡¯re going to rush out together, and you¡¯ll use the flashlight to shine on them, aim for their eyes, got it?¡± With the proverbial wolves in front and tigers behind, if they waited for the two upstairs to leave, they would likely be caught up by the people downstairs, facing enemies on both sides, Bi Fang had no choice but to break out directly. Matthew took the flashlight. Although he was nervous, the past few minutes with Bi Fang made him understand that professional matters should be left to professionals; he didn¡¯t ask why, but simply nodded. Having often been to war zones, it was impossible for him to have poor mental fortitude, but having never been directly involved, Matthew¡¯s palms were now all sweaty. It seemed as if there were footsteps behind him, or perhaps it was just the sound of his own heartbeat; the flame in the dark was particularly conspicuous. One second, two seconds, three seconds. Ten seconds passed in a flash. ¡°Three, two, one, now!¡± At Bi Fang¡¯s low shout, Matthew shuddered and almost stumbled as he charged out. At that moment, Bi Fang and Matthew hadn¡¯t turned on their flashlights. Two dark shadows darted out, catching the attention of the man in black and the man in green. But before they could even demand what was happening, a blinding light suddenly swept across them. The abrupt change from pitch darkness to blinding light prevented their eyes from adapting in time. By the time they managed to adjust to the brightness, the assailant with the sawed-off shotgun would have turned them into a bloody mess. But Bi Fang wasn¡¯t about to give them that chance. He focused all his energy on this strike, his muscles flexing, pulling on his skeleton with machine-like precision as he lifted his hand to aim. There was no scope, no trigger, all he had was a ¡°gun barrel¡±! How could it be just a simple scare? ¡°Bang!¡± Flames burst forth from the mouth of the steel pipe, the metal projectile tightly confined within, whistling as it left the barrel. Blood splattered, gunshots and screams nearly simultaneous. The man in green felt a sharp pain in his left shoulder, then lost consciousness. The man in black was startled even more. They had thought they were up against an ordinary challenger, yet they had encountered a tough nut! Although their vision was still blurry, realizing the other party had a gun too, the man in black immediately dove to the side. He and the man in green had once been conscripted into the army, and although they¡¯d later escaped, they still received some professional training and were among the organization¡¯s elite, often partnering up to search for goods. They had consistently been on the advantageous side, never imagining today would be when they slipped up. There were no doctors here; if the gunshot wound wasn¡¯t treated properly, his partner might be done for! The man in green, hit by the bullet, reacted a beat too slow, but his blurred vision started to clear a bit. Humans are, after all, remarkably adaptable animals. But when he saw there were only two of them, especially when he spotted what one of them was holding, he couldn¡¯t help but be stunned. What was that thing? A gun? No, that¡¯s just a steel pipe, isn¡¯t it? He was hit by that? Feeling the pain in his shoulder, the man in green hardly had time for more emotions. Realizing the other might not be able to ¡°fire¡± a second shot anytime soon, he raised his pistol to fight back. But as he made his move, he saw a man on the opposite side take a step forward, swiftly pulling something from his waistband and throwing it with force. Immediately after, the other shoulder of the man in green was struck with severe pain. It seemed he was hit in a critical spot; he couldn¡¯t apply strength to his whole arm, his grip loosened, and the pistol fell to the ground, fortunately without going off. The man in green staggered back two steps, his eyes widening as he stared at his shoulder, the sight before him beyond his comprehension. What was that thing on his shoulder? A steel spike? Chapter 349 - Chapter 349: Chapter 347: Go Up! Chapter 349: Chapter 347: Go Up! The man in the green jacket was dazed by the steel spike in his shoulder, staggering backward as the handgun in his hand dropped to the ground; the man in black next to him saw the fallen weapon and instantly sensed trouble. In the bright beam of light, Bi Fang and Matthew had already revealed themselves; the man in black, who had dodged their advance, could see clearly¡ªthe opponents obviously had no guns, yet somehow managed to fire a shot. It was absolutely crucial not to let them pick up the weapon! The man in black wanted to warn the man in the green jacket, but he found out that he had already been bewildered by the sudden attack, utterly failing to react in time. Damn it! Seeing the green-jacketed man unreliable, the man in black turned around, holding a sawed-off shotgun to fend off the approaching enemies, but in the next second, someone in his field of vision suddenly disappeared from the light, as if he had never existed. The light from a flashlight is invariably conical, illuminating the entire corridor but, annoyingly, not the darkness right in front of oneself. Bi Fang pounced silently; just before landing at a forty-five-degree angle, he fiercely kicked off the ground, catapulting out from the darkness like a ferocious tiger pouncing on the two men in front of him. Cold sweat seeped from the forehead of the man in black as he finally realized that those opposing them were certainly not mere survivors. The man in black wanted to shout, to do something to alert everyone, but it was too late! Bi Fang, crouching low, suddenly reached out in the darkness to grab both of their ankles. The two men lost their balance and lurched forward, but the man in black, who was accustomed to war-torn regions and was still young and quick to react, had already raised his sawed-off shotgun even before crashing to the ground. But Bi Fang would not allow them to fight back or even scream; slightly shifting to avoid the barrel, he thrust his hands out, his four fingers curling inward while his thumb pressed against the knuckle, striking the men¡¯s abdomens with the joints of his second fingers. That area, the stomach and diaphragm, rich with nerves, experienced suffocating-like severe pain that shot through their nerves, immediately silencing both men. The two men, curling up like shrimp, were smashed to the ground, and Bi Fang reached out to find that a sawed-off shotgun had fallen into his hands. Bi Fang grasped the shotgun and spun around half a circle before tucking it into the back of his waistband; seeing the two men trying to prop themselves up, wanting to rise, he stepped forward and delivered a swift punch to their jaws. Matthew, who had stood still with his mouth wide open, faintly heard the sound of bones cracking in the darkness and shuddered. Bi Fang shook his hands, releasing the cloth strip from his palm along with the steel piece inside; with a heavy punch containing the metal, he broke both men¡¯s jaws and caused concussions, leaving them motionless on the ground. A perfect attack: from start to finish, Bi Fang maintained control without drawing any attention from others. The commotion was everywhere, gunfire resounding all around; a small scuffle here wouldn¡¯t attract attention, but yelling would, which is why Bi Fang struck back swiftly, taking them down before they could open their mouths. Such a violent attack filled the onlookers with adrenaline, making them wish they could join in the fight alongside Bi Fang. [Awesome!] [You can always trust Master Fang, my idol!] [Leopard-Head Zero Charge gifts the host 1 spaceship¡ªbreaking my silence again, but I still have to shout as loud as I can, Master Fang is a badass!] [EDG is awesome!] [????] [Are these two guys dead?] [No way, they just got hit a couple of times, how could they be dead?] [You obviously didn¡¯t see Master Fang take on a shark with bare hands] ¡°Did they, did they die?¡± Matthew, from behind, approached the two men and, seeing them motionless, felt a tremor in his heart; not just the audience, but even he doubted whether Bi Fang had killed them. ¡°No, they¡¯re just unconscious.¡± Bi Fang eased the pain in his wrists; snapping the jawbones with two hits was not as simple as it looked, even with the added steel pieces and the cushioning from the cloth, the impact was still significant, but given the urgency, he no longer held back his strikes. Matthew wanted to say more, but the sound of footsteps was closing in fast from behind. Their time was running short¡ªthey needed to evacuate quickly! ¡°Quick, move them out of the way!¡± Bi Fang extinguished his flashlight and felt for the shotgun ammunition on the man in black, then grabbed one of their collars and headed for the corner of the wall. Right now, Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t do anything to alert the enemy. Although it was only a matter of time before these two were discovered, delaying even a little bit was worthwhile. A careless bandit was much easier to deal with than an alert one. This attack had caught both of them off guard. Following closely behind, Matthew dragged the man in the green jacket by the collar across the floor and briefly checked the man¡¯s jaw in his hand. The feel¡­ the feel was completely different, very¡­¡±flexible¡±. It was hard to believe someone¡¯s jawbone could be broken while they were still alive. They covered the two men with a black cloth, then crouched beside the shelves, hastily concealed the scene, and quickly left. Having dealt with the man in black and the one in the green jacket, all the bandits were now only behind them, which greatly increased their pace. They had also seized a pistol and a shotgun, giving them the power to fight should they encounter bandits again. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just kill them earlier?¡± Bi Fang silently gestured towards the drone, the message clear without words. ¡°I¡¯m not talking about that.¡± Matthew, of course, knew that Bi Fang was still live streaming and couldn¡¯t just kill at will, but that wasn¡¯t what he meant. When they first encountered each other, Bi Fang could have taken them both down directly with his skills. Why did he choose to evade? It was completely superfluous, right? Bi Fang glanced at Matthew and didn¡¯t want to say more, preferring to hurry on their way, but this was also a question on the minds of the vast audience. ¡°Any attack comes with risks, and besides, I hadn¡¯t confirmed their identities at that time, it was only a suspicion. Whether to attack or not was a tricky decision.¡± The two rushed out of the stairwell and finally reached the third floor. Following his memory, Bi Fang arrived at a door, pulled out his shotgun, and fired at the door handle, sending a spray of lead pellets that left it shattered. With a kick, the door burst open. The beam of the flashlight swept back and forth, rows of metal cabinets came into view, and the four white walls were stained with yellow. The ceiling-mounted shower heads above were covered with rust. Bi Fang¡¯s guess was correct, this was the employee shower room, and the ventilation duct was just above a metal cabinet. All they had to do was open it to enter, and then they could follow the duct to the outside of the building, avoiding direct contact with the bandit gangs. But no sooner had the two climbed onto the rack, the corridor echoed with the shouts of pursuing thugs. ¡°You go first!¡± With hands gripping the wire mesh, Bi Fang leaped off the rack and quickly pulled down the rusty bars, even pulling off some chunks of cement. Knowing he couldn¡¯t help, Matthew covered his mouth and nose with a towel and dived into the ventilation duct. Seeing Matthew disappear into the duct, Bi Fang dragged the nearby rack in front of the door, bolted it top and bottom, then tipped the rack over to brace the door. In the corridor, the pursuing bandits sounded like hunting dogs. When they found the door they couldn¡¯t open, they grew excited. ¡°We¡¯ve found something!¡± ¡°There¡¯s something here!¡± Three people shouted loudly, quickly drawing a nearby group over. Five men arrived at the door, raised their shotguns, and kept blasting away. Five shotguns firing in unison was practically like a barrage of cannons! In just a few breaths, the entire door was shot to pieces, revealing the rack behind it. Someone deliberately blocked their way! Seeing the rack behind the door pushed over, although the room was empty and deserted, even a fool could see what was going on at this moment! ¡°Quick, quick, there¡¯s someone here!¡± Chapter 350 - Chapter 350: Chapter 348 Disguise Chapter 350: Chapter 348 Disguise ¡°There¡¯s someone here!¡± A chorus of shouts roused the entire factory, and the bald man outside heard the yelling and cracked a smile. His efforts had not been in vain. The fuel money was secure. Leaving two to defend the first floor, eight went inside and six of them arrived in front of the bathroom. ¡°Where¡¯s the person?¡± Those who arrived later looked at the empty room, puzzled, until an older man with a clearly higher status stepped forward and loudly questioned the young man who had shouted first. ¡°I don¡¯t know! But when we got here, there was this metal rack blocking the way!¡± From the drag marks on the floor, it was clear that the metal rack didn¡¯t fall over naturally, but was moved by someone. The flashlight shone on the rust, the dust on the floor was swept aside by the dragging, and the footprints made it blatantly obvious that the metal rack had not been down for long! ¡°Right, why haven¡¯t Mogadi and Mikran come?¡± ¡°How should I know? Maybe they found something upstairs, those two always like to steal the glory. They¡¯re just trainees, right? Deserters all the same.¡± ¡°Maybe they¡¯ve been taken out already?¡± ¡°How could that be, they had guns after all.¡± ¡°Shut up! Focus on searching!¡± Six beams of light moved in unison inside the confined room, searching for a possible exit, but found nothing. The young man who was questioned first started to panic under the others¡¯ hostile glares, and before he could speak, a crisp sound of metal clashing echoed through the room. Five pairs of eyes turned simultaneously to another member, who sheepishly pointed at the iron bars on the floor, and then up at the ventilation shaft on the wall. ¡°It just fell down when I touched it¡­¡± The older man suddenly froze, realizing something was amiss and immediately bellowed. ¡°Quick, chase them!!!¡± ¡­ ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Positive!¡± Bi Fang nodded affirmatively, warily peering out at the guards by the wall. The two of them leaned against the wall, looking quite disheveled, covered in dust and nearly blackened, but considering the original disgusting plan involving the sewer, this was much better. It was just a bit of dust and grime, clean compared to a sewer teeming with strangers¡¯ skin flakes and bacteria. The only pity was that had it been a sewer, the two could have followed it underground and escaped; but a ventilation shaft did not reach underground, it only extended at ground level. At that moment, Bi Fang¡¯s gaze was firmly on an off-road vehicle not far away, with flames flickering in his eyes. Just as the two had crawled out of the ventilation shaft, a bold idea sprung to his mind. [Damn, can we hijack it?] [Go for the modified one, I think it¡¯s worth a shot.] [Right, the modified one, with that huge fork, so cool. If we get chased, we can just ram it.] [I think it¡¯s doable.] [Are you all just full of plans, huh?] Hijacking the vehicle was essential; Bi Fang was sure they had been discovered. Once the people in the factory reacted, they wouldn¡¯t get far on foot. They had to seize one forcefully. Now was the best opportunity, with most of the factory¡¯s personnel distributed elsewhere, each off-road vehicle guarded one direction, and each direction was defended by only two people. Two people, that was all, and Bi Fang, comparing their skills, was still fairly confident. It was a risky gamble. If it failed, they could be turned into sieves by more than a dozen guns, and by then, even transforming into Rambo to reenact the legend of First Blood would be futile. But should they succeed, these people wouldn¡¯t be able to touch them anymore. If he had a choice, Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t want to resort to such a dangerous move, but given the situation, he had no choice but to take the risk. With a success rate of around fifty percent, Bi Fang was willing to give it a try. With that thought, Bi Fang combed his hair and handed his coat over to Matthew, then put on the jacket he had stripped from the man in black earlier and straightened the collar. This scene left both the audience and Matthew dumbfounded. Big brother, I know you¡¯re live streaming, and you¡¯re one of the top broadcasters in the world, but is it really appropriate to change outfits and tidy up your image right now? But a second later Matthew was speechless, because he saw Bi Fang, having donned the jacket, swaggering around the corner. Matthew couldn¡¯t stop him even if he tried. Was he planning to blend in and sneak out!? It finally dawned on Matthew, but could it really work? There were only about a dozen people who came. Did they not all recognize each other? But he didn¡¯t understand that Bi Fang was still playing on the information gap. The adversaries didn¡¯t know who was hiding in the factory, still thinking it was the same type of survivors as before. How could they guess that a fierce tiger was hidden inside, daring to appear boldly before them? Moreover, the Bandit Gangs¡¯ only sources of illumination were car headlights and flashlights, so as long as the timing was right and there was no conversation, one could sneak in completely. At this time, two men were leaning against an SUV, smoking and chatting idly, glancing around now and then for a bit of vigilance. They had done this many times without any mishaps, and felt extremely at ease. Seeing someone approaching, one of them lifted their flashlight, not shining it on the face¡ªas nobody shines a flashlight in someone¡¯s face, especially the typically ill-tempered Bandit Gangs. Thus, the two men just glanced at the approaching figure¡¯s attire: a vest, with a sawed-off shotgun at the waist¡­ Yep, one of their own. The two bandits clearly did not expect Bi Fang to be so bold. A captured man actually dared to show up right in front of them, walking with such swagger! So when Bi Fang, in a jacket and slinging the iconic sawed-off shotgun around his waist, no one suspected that he was the ¡°prey¡± in disguise. ¡°Hey, how did you end up like this? Did you climb out through the ventilation duct? Where¡¯s your partner?¡± Although they didn¡¯t shine the flashlight on his face, the diffused light still revealed parts of Bi Fang¡¯s facial outline, which was fortuitously very dark. So dark, in fact, that they wondered if Bi Fang had just crawled out of a ventilation duct. Unfortunately, even though the two guessed the truth, Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t be handing out any awards, and instead silently continued walking forward, rapidly closing the distance. ¡°Hey, why are you not talking? I¡¯m talking to you!¡± Watching Bi Fang, who said nothing and kept approaching, the men finally realized something was amiss. ¡°Hey, stop right there!¡± One of them stopped fussing about and shone the flashlight directly at Bi Fang¡¯s face, only to see the rapidly approaching face of a stranger. Too late! Before the two of them could react, Bi Fang pulled out a steel spike from his waist and swung it forcefully. The whistling steel spike flashed as it struck one of them. Before a scream could escape, the second man counterattacked, but Bi Fang was already up close. He drew a pistol and a shotgun, pressing them against the foreheads of the two men, and threatened, ¡°Where are the car keys?¡± ¡°They¡¯re, they¡¯re in the car!¡± The two threatened men swallowed hard, not making any attempt to resist. Bi Fang took a glance inside the car to confirm, then called Matthew over to help control the situation, after which he knocked out both men. The two of them climbed into the car, Bi Fang tossed the backpack into the back seat, and took the keys to start the vehicle, his hands finding the steering wheel. Huh, it¡¯s real leather. Excitedly, Bi Fang had just turned the key, the dashboard lights had just come on, when suddenly, a head popped out of the third floor of the factory, shining a flashlight toward the end of the ventilation duct and shouted. ¡°Someone¡¯s escaped through the duct!¡± Unfortunately, the only response was the roaring of the engine. He floored the throttle, and the high-powered engine roared as the SUV, like an unbridled wild dog, rolled over the factory fence and dashed into the city under the cover of night. Chapter 351 - Chapter 351: Chapter 349 Chapter 351: Chapter 349 The moment the off-road vehicle¡¯s engine roared, it was as if a gap had been torn in the night. The bald leader¡¯s face twisted ferociously, he bellowed, ¡°Quick, chase them!¡± Gangsters from all directions charged toward the off-road vehicle. The bald man ran swiftly, firing at the car, sparking a spray of sparks, while those with quicker reflexes pushed their motorcycles, circling from the opposite side of the building to pursue, charging straight to the rear of the off-road vehicle. Bi Fang and his partner¡¯s chance was to break through a path before the crowd could gather. As long as they could get onto the road, with this liquid nitrogen-boosted car, very few vehicles could catch up. He shifted into reverse, slammed the accelerator to the floor, the left hand gripping the handgun, the right hand spinning the steering wheel, suddenly turning direction, charging toward the motorcycle without a moment¡¯s pause. The thug on the motorcycle obviously had not expected the survivor to be so fierce; panicking, he jumped off and tumbled awkwardly to one side. The off-road vehicle, now carrying the motorcycle, smashed its way out of the factory, the ground sparking impressively. The brilliant headlights pierced the night, while the beast-like roar surged through the alleys. Amidst the roar, tires rubbed against the pavement, trailing a line of blue smoke, as it bolted out like a wild horse breaking free. The bald man¡¯s face darkened as he watched motorcycle after motorcycle zoom past him, then jumped onto another off-road vehicle to join the chase. Bi Fang fixed his gaze on the rearview mirror, watching as the first motorcycle that had charged out drew ever closer. He rolled down the window, his left hand reaching out. Three consecutive muffled gunshots rang out, their flashes illuminating the night, until with the third shot, the motorcycle¡¯s front wheel suddenly burst, and the rider, together with the vehicle, tumbled and slid towards the roadside. ¡°Hold tight!¡± Bi Fang settled back into his seat, his gaze swiftly scanning the telephone poles on both sides of the road, yelling at Matthew, who by then had become numb. Finally snapping back to reality, Matthew clung firmly to the front handle of the car roof, his veins bulging out. Bi Fang yanked the handbrake with his right hand, while with his left hand, he executed a sharp turn. Matthew was gripped by a spine-chilling sensation of being airborne. Instinctively, he gaped, saliva flying, and then with the inertia, he slammed into the car door. Specialized driving was a compulsory skill for special forces! Besides shooting people directly, Bi Fang had used every trick in the book. He couldn¡¯t shoot at people directly because the drone was still hovering overhead; it was both his recorder and his limiter. As seen from the drone¡¯s perspective, the off-road vehicle under Bi Fang¡¯s control suddenly spun on the straight road, crashing fiercely into a telephone pole on the roadside. The reinforced front bumper hit the concrete lamp post, which cracked and broke, with half of the post and the streetlamp falling onto the road, temporarily halting the advance of the crowd. The off-road vehicle, under the effect of inertia, spun half a circle around the pole, ending up facing the blockaded crowd. Matthew, fighting the urge to vomit, rolled down the window and extended his middle finger at the furious thugs, laughing heartily. However, sparks suddenly struck the car roof, frightening him back inside. What a character. A smile tugging at the corners of his lips, Bi Fang put the car into reverse and drove away nonchalantly on the big road. It was only after two hundred meters that he spun the car around and, under the watchful eyes of everyone, careened away into the distance. ¡°AMAZING, AMAZING!¡± Having escaped danger, Matthew leaned against his chest, gasping for breath, his face flushed with an unusual redness, still not coming out of the recent events, murmuring a single word repeatedly. [It¡¯s over, this guy¡¯s gone mad.] [The perfect blend of luck and showmanship, Old Fang really put on a show for him.] [I¡¯m stunned just watching. If I were in the passenger seat, I might have just gone straight to heaven.] [Gone, heaven?] [Jue Jue Zi!] [Jue Jue Zi and speechless are definitely the two most ¡®nt¡¯ words of the year, without exception.] [I am Hunter, specifically hunting those beings from Chernobyl who keep adding ¡®zi¡¯ at the end of every sentence!] [Mama mia?] During the peak of fan activity for the trip to Ruins City, a scene typically only seen in movies astonishingly happened in real life, somewhere on Earth. ¡°` How could that not be exciting? Just as the audience was excitedly discussing, two golden rays of light added fuel to the already passionate atmosphere. [Congratulations to Miying Pingzong for becoming an Emperor in Master Fang¡¯s live broadcast room!] [Miying Pingzong has sent the host 10,000 Meatballs¡ªGo for it!] [Congratulations to Jia Keyi for becoming an Emperor in Master Fang¡¯s live broadcast room!] [Jia Keyi has sent the host 10,000 Meatballs] [Looking up to the big shots] [Jia Keyi, isn¡¯t that the crappy author (funny), giving up writing novels to watch live streams instead] Bi Fang took a moment to check the live broadcast room. Number of viewers¡­ Three million! One million three hundred thousand domestically, one million six hundred thousand internationally! A new record! Last month, when Bi Fang was receiving an award, he had heard a figure by chance; Huaxia¡¯s current domestic live streaming user base had reached 370 million people, and even though the average active users during the same period were less than sixty million, at this very moment, just watching his livestream were well over one million three hundred thousand! The so-called sixty million is across the entire network, but how many people are registered on the Wolf Fang platform, and how many are active users? At this moment, Bi Fang alone had attracted nearly half of Wolf Fang¡¯s traffic! Moreover, ¡°active¡± does not mean online at the moment, to put it bluntly, if there are five people watching Wolf Fang live streams, then two of them are in Master Fang¡¯s broadcast room! By his lonesome, he was drawing over two-fifths of the entire platform¡¯s traffic! In the past, only outdoor streamers of the same type would avoid Bi Fang¡¯s live stream timing, opting to stream at night, or when he was not streaming, in order to ensure their viewer numbers. But now, even streamers of other genres had no choice but to temporarily avoid the limelight. No wonder the Wolf Fang streamers had secretly given Bi Fang a nickname behind his back¡ªPeople-Devouring Whale. It meant that every time he started streaming, it was like a whale eating krill. A blue whale can eat millions of krill in one go, and Bi Fang¡¯s streams could swallow up millions of viewers, leaving other streamers with just scraps. Utterly ruthless. But that was just a private joke after all, for these streamers, Bi Fang¡¯s presence had its pros and cons. While he drew away fans during his streams, he also greatly expanded the size of the Wolf Fang pie, by nearly a third in just half a year. When Bi Fang wasn¡¯t streaming, other hosts could benefit from this expanded viewership. He was like an insurmountable giant. Since they couldn¡¯t fight against him, they could only lie down and enjoy the perks he brought along. Super cool! ¡­ ¡°So you just let them get away like that? Just two people? What do you usually eat for meals, shit? Huh!?¡± A fist slammed down on the coffee table, causing all the items on it to jolt. The bald guy, who had been domineering in the factory, was now all forehead sweat and didn¡¯t dare to say another word. About ten minutes later, ¡°Forget it, forget it, if they could escape from more than a dozen people, they aren¡¯t ordinary folks. Don¡¯t bother with them anymore. It¡¯s just two people, after all, no need to provoke further. Just keep an eye on the Goods, we need to hand them over the day after tomorrow. Don¡¯t go out in the next few days.¡± ¡°The company is pressing hard.¡± ¡°` Chapter 352 - Chapter 352: Chapter 350: Gourmet Food Chapter 352: Chapter 350: Gourmet Food ¡°Have we, have we actually escaped?¡± On the highway, Matthew still couldn¡¯t believe his eyes, looking at everything around him, he felt a sense of vastness and that life was endlessly wonderful. Bi Fang gave a nonchalant hum, focusing intently on driving. The entire city had no power, there were no streetlamps on the road, and the road itself was littered with garbage and scrapped vehicles, requiring heightened alertness to avoid dozing off. The whole escape process took only about half an hour, but the mental exhaustion was far more than that of a normal half-hour. By eight in the evening, Bi Fang was already nodding off. The industrial district didn¡¯t have many tall buildings; perhaps the original Yemen had a flow of people, but the current one was desolate, with large buildings standing like dark boulders against the night sky. Half an hour later, Bi Fang parked the car in a deserted parking lot, turned off the headlights, and everything around them plunged into complete darkness. Having previously been attacked, Matthew now felt an unlimited sense of security in the dark. In the darkness, looking out at the light from the windows, it was not easy to be discovered, yet it was easy to spot others. Of course, the main reason was the presence of a big shot beside him, who could break out of an encirclement of a dozen people, more of a protagonist than movie protagonists. Bi Fang glanced sideways at Matthew, who was sprawled on the seat with a silly smile, but paid him no mind, and started fiddling with the drone he¡¯d summoned. Many people feel secure in darkness because when the light dims, people¡¯s visual sensitivity drops low, and many subtle expressions and behaviors can¡¯t be seen by each other, so there is no need to be too concerned about the details of one¡¯s own behavior, which is more conducive to relaxation. Especially at the moment, having just escaped capture, the tense mood was suddenly relieved, laughing just by sitting. Gurgle gurgle~~ Matthew¡¯s smile stiffened, and he sat up awkwardly. He wasn¡¯t Bi Fang, who could easily find food amidst ruins. Having lost their supplies, it had already been a whole day without food, and his stomach gurgled with hunger. ¡°There are biscuits in the backpack on the back seat, go look for some to fill your stomach for now, and I¡¯ll cook the remaining half of the fox thoroughly in a bit,¡± ¡°Uh-huh.¡± Matthew had wanted to be polite, but felt that politeness was out of place under the circumstances. After thanking him, he pulled the backpack from the back seat, opened the zipper, and rummaged through. Indeed, there was everything inside: newspapers, sea rations, alcohol, medicines, metal sheets, daggers, half a fox wrapped in a plastic bag, fox fur, and several small bottles that looked like spices. Matthew unscrewed one and sniffed, then dipped his little finger in it to taste. Hmm, it¡¯s sugar. If he remembered correctly, it had only been two days, right? To have found so much supply? Spices, biscuits, fox, and even pigeon eggs, all enough for two days¡¯ supply, was just too exaggerated. Matthew wondered if given enough time, Bi Fang could achieve even more exaggerated feats. At last, Matthew found a bunch of biscuits at the bottom and couldn¡¯t wait to tear open a package and start eating. While eating, he looked towards Bi Fang, who was holding the drone, doing something. After a series of operations, he set the drone flying again. Was he sending a message? ¡°What were you just doing?¡± ¡°Sending a message.¡± ¡°Not rescuing people? Weren¡¯t you the one who found me before?¡± Bi Fang looked at Matthew with a smile. Rescuing people is something the local government should be doing, not him, a foreigner. Acting without authority could easily lead to unnecessary disputes. It was one thing to break out of an encirclement since it was self-defense, but to actually go rescuing others would definitely require asking for permission first. The drone now carried many more plugins compared to when it started, and contacting the platform and contacts directly was no longer an issue. It was precisely to prevent this kind of problem from arising today. Matthew was overjoyed when he heard this! In his view, as long as Bi Fang agreed, this matter was as good as sorted! Waiting for a message was a long process, Bi Fang pulled over the backpack, took out the half fox, opened the car door, and prepared to start a fire for roasting the meat. When they ate the fox, due to hunger, Bi Fang didn¡¯t roast the whole one but cut it into small pieces. Then the rain started, and in his haste to return, he didn¡¯t fully cook the remaining half, which still showed traces of blood beneath the torn skin and flesh when pulled apart. With his mouth stuffed full of biscuits, Matthew swallowed and, smelling the fragrance of the meat, his mouth watered. Fox meat, oh, he¡¯d never eaten it before. Bi Fang picked up some easily ignitable rubbish and dead branches, took out a newspaper, tore off a piece, and poured a small spoon of potassium permanganate onto it, added a few drops of car antifreeze, then crumpled the newspaper into a ball and threw it onto the flammable materials. Matthew watched this process dumbfounded, as he hadn¡¯t seen Bi Fang¡¯s previous broadcasts and was naturally unaware of this method of starting a fire. ¡°Is that it?¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t answer, but the efficiency of this method was proven as within a few seconds, wisps of smoke rose, followed by the ignition of the newspaper and flames spreading to other flammable materials. A blazing bonfire appeared before everyone¡¯s eyes in less than two minutes. The online friends watched Matthew¡¯s antics and burst out laughing, as if they had traveled through time and were looking at their former selves from a third-person perspective. [Fans¡¯ Real Reactions.jpg] [So this is what I used to be like] [The spitting image!] [Absolutely brilliant, way too cool, just take something, wrap it with newspaper, give it a toss, and fire appears, super suave] [I¡¯m going camping the day after tomorrow, I¡¯m going to be cool too!] Bi Fang skewered the remaining half of the fox on a stick. As the flames licked the fox meat, after a long while, fat dripped down. Bi Fang didn¡¯t waste it, catching it in a small cup, then he took his dagger to cut the meat, sprinkled some salt grains on it, and added crumbled biscuits for seasoning before handing half to Matthew. Matthew took out another knife to skewer the fox meat, watching as the salt slowly melted in the heat and seeped into the flesh. His index finger twitched with anticipation, and he couldn¡¯t wait for it to cool before he began tearing and biting into it. ¡°Huff huff huff, this wood is so good, but wow, it smells amazing!¡± Having not eaten fresh vegetables or meat for a long time, even if the fox meat wasn¡¯t as delicious as he had imagined, Matthew thoroughly enjoyed it, feeling like he had reached a pinnacle in life. ¡°Eat slowly, no one¡¯s fighting you for it, there are also pigeon eggs,¡± ¡°Hm, huh?¡± Caught in the delicious moment, Matthew paused¡ªfox meat and pigeon eggs? Weren¡¯t they practically eating through most of their supplies? He hurriedly swallowed the fox meat he was eating and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t we saving any? Today¡¯s just the second day, right? Don¡¯t we still have several days ahead of us?¡± ¡°We need to build up our energy and strength,¡± Bi Fang said indifferently. If nothing unexpected happened, the two of them would start their rescue mission tomorrow, so of course they had to get in the best shape possible. There was no need to ration anything. If they could eat well, they should eat well. After today¡¯s meal, Bi Fang¡¯s status would essentially return to normal, not affecting anything. ¡°I see!¡± Matthew had an epiphany, no longer fussing over the supply conservation plan. Chomping down on the meat, he didn¡¯t even let the bone scraps go to waste. He put them in the fire to roast until crispy, and then ate them like biscuits. Meanwhile, Bi Fang found a flat, elongated stone. He wiped it clean, poured water over it to rinse twice, and after cleaning, placed it on the fire. When the water on the stone¡¯s surface had evaporated, Bi Fang waited a moment longer, then tested the heat with his hand. Feeling the rolling heat waves, he poured the collected fox fat onto the stone and spread it out, releasing a burst of smoky fragrance. ¡°Although eating raw is the most nutritious intake method, one ought to have some pursuits in life. If you can make something delicious, don¡¯t miss out¡ªthe opportunities aren¡¯t many. After all, good food is also one way of finding joy amidst the hardships on the road to survival, which helps maintain a cheerful mood and aids in our upcoming actions as well.¡± Seeing Bi Fang justifying eating with such righteousness, Matthew secretly gave him a thumbs-up. The pigeon eggs were poured out of the bottle, lightly cracked, and their clear whites and golden yolks flowed out of the shell¡¯s cracks onto the sizzling fat. ¡°Sizzle sizzle sizzle¡«¡± The egg whites bubbled and coagulated rapidly under high heat, the clear whites starting to turn white. Soon, the perfectly fried eggs were formed, emanating a unique fragrance distinct to eggs. Matthew was completely captivated, and the viewers were outrightly stunned. Is this still a wilderness survival show? Are you sure it¡¯s not some outdoor food festival? Your hidden profession is a five-star hotel chef, right? With just a few simple ingredients, to create such appetizing food, it¡¯s truly unbelievable! [Damn, stone-grilled eggs! Fox fat fried eggs are really incredible, I want to try them.] [It¡¯s over for me, I¡¯m so hungry, I want fried eggs, I¡¯m not getting up until I get some, time to feast, I want to feast, wuwuwu.] [What the hell, late-night food show? You¡¯re making me hungry, this isn¡¯t humane!] [Didn¡¯t see that coming, Old Fang with the bushy brows, you¡¯ve also betrayed the revolution, are you using this to test the cadres?] [I want to challenge my weakness.] [Haha, everyone¡¯s so lively, huh? I just fainted from working 17 hours straight under capitalist exploitation, and just woke up. Wanted to relax by watching Master Fang¡¯s livestream, but now I¡¯m starving.] The fried egg was quickly done, and Bi Fang used his dagger like a spatula to serve it up to Matthew. With no bowls or utensils, Matthew carefully received it with his fruit knife, gazing at the fried egg that looked like a little sun, almost feeling reluctant to eat it. He took a bite of the fried egg, and tears silently streamed down his face. It was just the right doneness, with a faint scent of meat fat. It wasn¡¯t that it was so delicious it brought tears to his eyes, but after escaping death, in a city that resembled ruins, to be able to enjoy a hot steaming fried egg. That was enough to make anyone cry. Chapter 353 - Chapter 353: Chapter 351 Infiltration Chapter 353: Chapter 351 Infiltration Morning fog swathed the area, with dim golden light crossing over the wall covered with green moss, shining into the abandoned parking lot. ¡°Ah~¡± Matthew opened his eyes and let out a big yawn, feeling refreshed and energized as if he had been through a long journey and finally could sleep comfortably. What he experienced yesterday was far more thrilling than anything in his whole life, like a dream, and he was unsure if Bi Fang¡¯s response had come through. With this thought, the spirited Matthew turned his head and saw that Bi Fang had already gotten up at some point and was observing something with a drone. He keenly noticed a flashing green light at one corner of the drone¡ªif he remembered correctly, that same light flashed when they sent the message yesterday! Matthew¡¯s eyes suddenly brightened with excitement and he asked, ¡°Did we get a message?¡± Bi Fang fiddled with the drone, squinting as he absorbed the information. Since he was already caught in the vortex, he had to act, and so he had gotten up early to check for messages¡ªthe news he received said¡ª It¡¯s possible! The Abbascan Faction had already made a promise that as long as they could get the people out of Yemen and to the rear of the battle lines, they would take over! Facing Matthew¡¯s question at this moment, Bi Fang had no intention of hiding anything and nodded. [Damn, did they really agree?] [Awesome, Old Fang, are you taking office immediately?] [Great winds rise and clouds soar¡­ If only I could find a brave man to roam in all directions¡­ Bandit Gangs! They must be eradicated at all times¡­ No mercy! Imagine you take your wife out of the city, enjoying hotpot and singing songs, then suddenly you¡¯re ambushed by bandits! Thus, only days without bandits are good days!] [Must submit a petition!] [My goodness, doesn¡¯t Patriarch Huang also trade in human lives?] [Incredible!] Early in the morning, the audience that had been waiting for the grand show reached a collective climax, making their early rise or even all-night wait worthwhile! Upon certain affirmation, Matthew¡¯s expression grew visibly more excited, and he hastily asked, ¡°So what do we do now?¡± Bi Fang closed his eyes and pondered in silence; Matthew did not dare to disturb him and could only hold his breath and wait for an answer. ¡°If your intel is correct, their shipping day is tomorrow¡ªwe have more than twenty hours left to prepare, which is still ample time¡­¡± Minutes later, Bi Fang opened his eyes, already having a plan in mind, ¡°Anyway, we can¡¯t just barge in, stealing is better than robbing, and attacking is better than fighting. Do you know where their gathering place is?¡± ¡°The dock¡ªtheir gathering place is at the dock!¡± Matthew was sure, paused for a moment, and then added, ¡°That¡¯s where I discovered them, at an abandoned shipyard.¡± Upon hearing this, Bi Fang immediately twisted the ignition and pressed the accelerator, heading towards the dock. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go take a look at the dock first!¡± ¡­ Half an hour later. ¡°That¡¯s the place.¡± Matthew pointed toward the large building in the distance. The two crouched in the bushes, not getting too close. From over three kilometers away, Bi Fang and Matthew had come on foot. Their modified off-road vehicle was too conspicuous, and once discovered, could easily give them away. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Bi Fang gestured for Matthew to follow him. Matthew grabbed Bi Fang¡¯s arm, his forehead covered in cold sweat, ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t this too risky? Are we just going to head straight in?¡± Bi Fang nodded, ¡°Although the enemy¡¯s numbers are vast, the shipyard is enormous, and they can¡¯t possibly cover every corner with their defense. That¡¯s impractical, and if so, it wouldn¡¯t be a bandit stronghold, but more like a military base. What we need to do is to ascertain the entire shipyard¡¯s layout, then infer their precise location based on the guards¡¯ shifts and movements, and finally, implement the rescue operation!¡± ¡°How is it possible, just the two of us clarifying the entire layout of the shipyard, isn¡¯t that guaranteed to bump into someone?¡± Matthew said. ¡°We don¡¯t need to search the entire shipyard, we just need to find the factory map. The larger the factory, the more likely they are to have one, and it¡¯s usually located in the lobby for the convenience of new workers or visitors to find their way. Right now, nobody knows the specifics, all I can do is make a judgement based on experience.¡± Is this the equivalent of groping one¡¯s way across a river by feeling the stones? Matthew¡¯s heart raced inwardly, astonished by Bi Fang¡¯s boldness. Directly entering the factory to check the map, was he sure this river wasn¡¯t the Amazon River? One wrong step and it¡¯s so easy to drown! The audience was also startled by Bi Fang¡¯s audacity, and they burst into a flurry of discouragement. [This factory is not a place to enter lightly!] [Your Majesty, please think thrice, Your Majesty] [Charge the motherfucker!] [Look on life and death lightly, If you disagree, just do it!] [When it comes to infiltrating, Old Fang is the professional, why the fuck are you all so anxious?] [Exactly, just enjoy the show from Old Fang.] ¡°If you¡¯re unwilling, you can stay here and wait for me.¡± Bi Fang took out all the guns and ammo from his bag, performing a final check and preparation. Upon hearing this, Matthew didn¡¯t hesitate much and gritted his teeth, ¡°Fuck it, let¡¯s do this!¡± ¡°Good!¡± A look of joy appeared on Bi Fang¡¯s face. Actually, Matthew¡¯s initial act had somewhat dragged him into the situation. When Matthew had taken the initiative to come to him, as a public figure, there really was no room for refusal. The feeling of being coerced wasn¡¯t pleasant, but Matthew¡¯s actions at least proved he hadn¡¯t done it on purpose, and that he sincerely wanted to save those people. After preparing, Bi Fang handed the shotgun to Matthew. A shotgun didn¡¯t require much accuracy; no need to aim precisely, just getting the direction right was good enough, just fire away. Matthew, who had some shooting experience, was up to the task, while the pistol, which required more skill and precision, naturally remained in Bi Fang¡¯s hands. Once ready, the two set off for the shipyard. ¡°Don¡¯t walk directly in the sunlight, choose the shadows as much as possible. If you walk in the sunlight, it¡¯s easy to be spotted by someone above. The shipyard is in the northeast direction, so we need to take the east corridor and use the difference in sightlines as a barrier to ensure we won¡¯t be easily discovered.¡± All the way, Bi Fang kept explaining the essentials and soon led Matthew to the front of the shipyard. ¡°No one¡¯s here!¡± Bi Fang was astonished as he stared at the empty entrance, never expecting that there wouldn¡¯t even be a guard at the gate, and after scanning the surroundings, there were no security cameras either. Could defense really be this lax? It was understandable the last time Matthew snuck in; it wasn¡¯t an important moment. But tomorrow was the ¡°delivery¡± day, and there was no guard at the main gate? ¡°Last time you came in, did you see them keeping dogs or anything like that?¡± Matthew was taken aback, furrowed his brows to think hard, and finally shook his head, ¡°No.¡± No guards, no surveillance, not even dogs. With this realization, Bi Fang cast an inexplicable glance at Matthew: ¡°No wonder you could sneak in.¡± Matthew: ¡°¡­?¡± There was something off about what he said, but he couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on it. Forget it, saving people comes first. Shaking his head, Matthew stopped overthinking the matter and followed closely behind Bi Fang, slipping into the shipyard. Chapter 354 - Chapter 354: Chapter 352 The Sewer Prince Chapter 354: Chapter 352 The Sewer Prince ¡°I¡¯ve found it!¡± In the expansive hall, Matthew scurried over like a thief, calling out in a low voice as he ran. Bi Fang pushed himself up from the front desk where he had been leaning against a cabinet, surprised, ¡°Found it?¡± Matthew handed the map to Bi Fang, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve looked over it, it should be this one, right?¡± Bi Fang snatched the map and spread it out. The map, with clear green and white distinctions, showed various square-like positions distinctly, and with just a glance, Bi Fang located where he and Matthew were. Looking at the small corner on the map, then at the wide hall, the audience¡¯s eyes widened with anticipation, and those who understood the map, after calculating according to the index at the side, were even more shocked. [Damn, that¡¯s hugely complicated.] [Geez, that must be almost 100,000 square meters, right?] [100,000 square meters? One and one make one, two twos make four, March Eighth is Women¡¯s Day, May First is Labor Day¡­] [Doesn¡¯t that mean working from the Stone Age?] ¡°No wonder there¡¯s no one guarding the gate; with a place so vast, it can¡¯t be defended anyway, as long as they can keep an eye on their own little area, that¡¯s enough.¡± Bi Fang was also stunned by the immense scale of the shipyard, but on second thought, it seemed plausible given that Yemen¡¯s economy was at the forefront in Abbascan, primarily due to its convenient water transportation, and owning such a large shipyard was within expectations. ¡°Look, where was it that you found them that time?¡± Bi Fang picked up a pen from the table and circled their current location, then asked Matthew to point out exactly where he had seen those people that day. Matthew moved to one side, studied the map intently, recalling the memory, then took the map outside to check against the surrounding buildings; tapping his forehead with the pen tip, he finally marked a hesitant circle in the upper right corner of the map. ¡°It should be here¡­¡± Bi Fang looked at the space on the map that was almost one-fifth circled, raised his eyebrows slightly, and repeated, ¡°It should?¡± Matthew frowned, looked around, and with a more certain tone abandoned his hesitation, affirming, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s right here.¡± ¡°A warehouse?¡± Within the red circle, the map was clearly labeled, indicating that the space was mostly used for warehouses storing ship parts and the like, similar to what they had speculated before coming here. Only now, it wouldn¡¯t be ship parts there¡­ [By the way, with Master Fang live streaming, could there be people watching from the other side?] [Unconsidered perspectives] [You¡¯re telling me Ben is watching the live stream, and it just feels so jarring, like Old Fang sitting on a duck] [What a peculiar analogy] [Can¡¯t be, right? Isn¡¯t it supposed to be all power outages and no signal there?] ¡°Could that really be possible?¡± Matthew also saw the comments on the drone¡¯s live stream. He knew very well how exaggerated Bi Fang¡¯s follower count was, and he instinctively covered his waist, looking around warily, afraid they might be ambushed and sent across the Atlantic Ocean to be treated like animals, perhaps even losing his kidneys and being of no use even if rescued. Bi Fang too was startled by the thought; it was indeed something he had never considered before. But after another moment, he understood why he had never thought about it. Because it simply wasn¡¯t possible. Subconsciously, Bi Fang had never even pondered the possibility. First, there¡¯s the matter of probability. With a whopping population of seven billion people in the world, how many have actually seen Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcasts? It¡¯s just a drop in the ocean. What are the odds that among a gang of fewer than a hundred bandits, there happens to be a fan of Bi Fang? Last night, he didn¡¯t even show his face; it was pitch-black. Even if someone had seen him, they wouldn¡¯t have recognized him, let alone thought of monitoring him through a live broadcast. Moreover, Yemen was still in turmoil. The number of people who had the luxury to enjoy television broadcasts for entertainment was pitifully small, and even bandits who lived a better life than ordinary people felt the same way. Finally, and what Bi Fang was most certain of: The hardware didn¡¯t allow it. Take Matthew, for example. There was simply no signal in Yemen. Even making a phone call required satellite communication. Watching a live broadcast under these circumstances? Besides, there wasn¡¯t even electricity; charging a device required a generator. Setting up a generator wasn¡¯t difficult in itself, but would you really go through the trouble of getting one just to charge the phones of your subordinates so they could watch entertainment broadcasts? ¡°Ah, when you put it that way, it does seem impossible.¡± Hearing Bi Fang¡¯s explanation, the audience had an epiphany, and Matthew breathed a sigh of relief. His kidneys were safe for the moment. ¡°Where to next, shall we start taking action?¡± Matthew¡¯s voice was somewhat shaky, indicating just how tense he was inside. Even though he had seen countless wars and taken countless photographs, and knew the cruelty and brutality of warfare, the chilling feeling that crept from his scalp to his toes when it came to armed struggle was inevitable. ¡°No.¡± Contrary to expectations, Bi Fang shook his head. The preparation wasn¡¯t enough yet. While they had obtained the map of the buildings above ground, they still needed the one for below ground. ¡°We¡¯re going to city hall now!¡± Two hours later. Bi Fang and Matthew returned to their off-road vehicle and cautiously made their way through most of the district to arrive at the city center. ¡°The enemy has too many people, and we are only two. A frontal assault is basically impossible, so we will avoid it whenever we can. Shipyards, being large factories near the rivers and coastline, have their best access points where there¡¯s rain, since flooding can cause significant damage. Therefore, the sewer systems underground are highly developed, even allowing people to walk upright. My plan is to use the sewer system to reach the inside and break in from there.¡± ¡°No one knows what kind of security system the bandits have set up inside, but at least if we enter through the sewers below, we can avoid places frequented by people.¡± ¡°Achieving this step is not easy because the sewer system is like a cave; it¡¯s difficult to recognize directions. We need a map, but even the factory itself may not have such a map, and it¡¯s not something sold in the market. Only city hall might have a complete set of maps of the sewer system, and we¡¯re here to find it!¡± Bi Fang and Matthew entered the lobby. By then, city hall had long been emptied of people, desolate and quiet, with even most of the materials moved out, but many things could not be removed. Bi Fang and Matthew made their way to the archive room. Many shelves were empty, but a lot of materials still remained. Fortunately, the section with the maps was still there. The two began searching, and pages flew about. Half an hour later, a thick stack of maps of the underground sewer system sat on an office desk nearby. Matthew¡¯s eyes twitched at the sight. This was the underground sewer system map of the entire city. Their task was to find the section of the system map for the shipyard area. After another flurry of activity, when the two finally found the maps, it was already noon. Bi Fang¡¯s fingers moved along the web-like sewer pipes, a look of surprise on his face. ¡°There¡¯s a sewer right below the warehouse. If we follow it east, bypassing the shipyard from below and then into the main pipe, it won¡¯t be long before we come across the warehouse. It¡¯s a total length of one kilometer!¡± Chapter 355 - Chapter 355: Chapter 353 Sewer Ecology Chapter 355: Chapter 353 Sewer Ecology Evening. Bi Fang and Matthew sat quietly inside a parked off-road vehicle with the engine off, gazing at the distant tall black building. ¡°From now until tomorrow morning, we have about eight hours of operation time, enough for us to make a round trip to the shipyard,¡± Bi Fang said as he pulled out the car keys and finished the last piece of biscuit. ¡°There¡¯s no nightlife, and it¡¯s easy to get sleepy when it¡¯s dark, making it the perfect time to move. If it gets too late, we might drag into the next day, causing many unnecessary troubles. Once both sides collide, the resistance will increase exponentially.¡± The mere thought of breaking into the Bandit Gangs¡¯ headquarters at night to rescue the kidnapped survivors sent Matthew¡¯s heart pounding wildly, as if he were on a roller coaster reaching its peak before a sudden plunge. Just the thought was enough to stimulate adrenaline secretion, numbing him from the scalp down to his toes. Having disassembled and reassembled his pistol, Bi Fang asked, ¡°I¡¯m asking you one last time, are you sure you want to join me? You could actually stay outside to back me up, waiting until I bring out the people.¡± ¡°Absolutely!¡± Matthew was resolute. Of course, he couldn¡¯t just stay behind. Providing backup was merely self-deception. He couldn¡¯t let Master Fang take the risk alone after suggesting it himself. Otherwise, how would he face his colleagues afterward? Others only knew that Master Fang had stormed into the Bandit Gangs¡¯ stronghold, blown up the headquarters, and rescued scores, if not hundreds, of innocent people¡­ Oh, what was I doing? I don¡¯t know, of course, I was standing three kilometers away, cheering for him. He couldn¡¯t afford to lose face like that. Inside the live-streaming room, the viewer count had already surpassed three million. Except for a few special events, no single streamer had ever achieved such an exaggerated number of real-time viewers. [Damn, Master Fang¡¯s real viewer count makes those with inflated data look modest] [+1, I remember the Emperor Master, the most badass outdoor streamer on Shark¡¯s platform, once said his record was only two hundred thousand, and Old Fang just smashed it by more than tenfold.] [Master Fang, forever our god!] [Crush them!] [You¡¯re the chosen one, Pikachu Fang] [Skull-flower has gifted a Spaceship*1 to the host¡ªthis is military supplies!] [Flying Henan Man has gifted Big Bone*66 to the host¡ªammo money!] Bi Fang tucked the pistol into his waistband, covered by a black trench coat. Beneath it was a bulletproof vest, and on his feet were tactical boots. Matthew was dressed in the same manner. The pair returned to the steel plant in the afternoon, picked up an extra set of equipment, and Bi Fang had changed out of his previous jumpsuit coat. The black trench coat was found in a building. Stepping out of the vehicle, they set off toward the distant destination. ¡°We should avoid clothes made of synthetic fibers like polyester or nylon, as they make noise when we move. It¡¯s best to wear clothes made of natural fibers like cotton or wool, or leather¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s so dark.¡± Matthew looked around; tonight, there was no moon, and there weren¡¯t many stars either. ¡°It looks like it might rain,¡± Bi Fang remarked. Bi Fang also felt the weather was a bit suffocating today. They had been busy making plans and scouting the terrain during the day and had forgotten to check the weather conditions. But no problem, rain would be to their advantage. It would wash away their traces and muffle their sounds. The two didn¡¯t approach the shipyard but instead took the road toward another building, descended into the second underground level via the staircase. Having scouted the location during the day, they moved with ease through the familiar route. Bi Fang turned on his flashlight, and the beam illuminated the dusty tabletop, which although dimmed from long-term disuse, still glowed with a faint red shimmer. Descending the metal ladder into the sewer, the flashlight revealed walls covered in moss, evoking a cinematic sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu for the viewers, as if entering a scene from a movie. [I¡¯ve always wanted to say, Old Fang¡¯s live-streaming picture quality is really amazing! How do you even shoot with such lossless quality?] [Don¡¯t ask, it¡¯s all about investing big money.] ¡°[What kind of plugin did they install, something like image restoration, similar to a beauty filter? Technology is really amazing now, though this real-time kind must cost a fortune.]¡± ¡°[Beauty filter? So what does Old Fang really look like in reality? Is he actually that handsome?]¡± ¡°[Wait until the day after tomorrow when Master Fang is back and sleeping next to me, I¡¯ll snap a photo for you guys (Dog¡¯s head)]¡± The structure of the sewer was very ancient, with a semicircular cross-section, a channel for water in the middle, and narrow paths on either side designed for maintenance workers to run down to the sewers for repairs and dredging. Dark green aquatic plants hung down from the walls and ceiling, blending with the pitch-black moss that grew from the corners of the walls. Matthew, following closely behind Bi Fang, wasn¡¯t paying attention and was unexpectedly brushed across the face by these plants, the cold sensation like a venomous snake slithering over his face. ¡°Ugh!¡± Matthew tried to endure it, but couldn¡¯t help running to one side to retch. However, his feet slipped on the moss underneath, and he fell directly towards the water channel. Splash! Just in the nick of time, Matthew only felt a powerful force pulling him by the back of his neck, and when he opened his eyes, his face was just half a meter from the water, and the stench assailed his nostrils. Bi Fang¡¯s flashlight swept towards the place where the splash had come from, but it was too late; all he saw was a slender tail, before ripples spread and the shadow disappeared into the water channel. ¡°Be careful, the ground is covered with moss and it¡¯s very slippery.¡± Bi Fang pulled Matthew up, now somewhat doubting whether this guy would actually be of any help to him, given his poor performance. ¡°What was that thing?¡± Matthew asked with lingering fear, ¡°A salamander?¡± He could only hope that the owner of that slender tail was something relatively ¡°cute¡± like a salamander. ¡°Snake, probably. Salamanders, although adaptable, lack scales and their skin is vulnerable to bacterial attacks. They require cleaner water than what is found in these industrial sewers. Even standing here I can smell the stench. Household sewage is a possibility, but don¡¯t get too close to the water channel. A bite, even from a non-venomous snake, would not be good in this situation. Here, you even have to be careful of non-venomous snakes.¡± The appearance of the snake startled everyone, particularly as they looked around at the pitch-black surroundings. The viewers were even more anxious that a venomous snake might suddenly leap out and bite them on the leg. ¡°[I¡¯m already hiding under my blanket]¡± ¡°[It has a sense of adventure]¡± ¡°[Feels like a horror movie]¡± ¡°Due to long periods of neglect, a stable ecosystem has formed here: rats, snakes, cockroaches, they could all survive here. As invaders, this environment is not friendly to us,¡± Bi Fang said, leading the way with his flashlight, ¡°The sewer ecosystems of each city are different, related to rainfall, temperature, and the pH level of groundwater. The most important thing to avoid here is injury. It¡¯s easier to get infected here than outdoors, especially with parasites. Once there¡¯s an open wound, they can enter through the bloodstream and lay eggs in your body.¡± Rats, cockroaches, snakes. Just hearing about these creatures made the Shuiyou¡¯s scalps tingle, wishing they could give wings to Master Fang to fly out of this hellish place. It was too terrifying. Even if they weren¡¯t experiencing it firsthand, just watching the live stream felt like someone was breathing down their necks. But looking back, the living room was empty, nothing there. Bi Fang glanced at the map in his hand: ¡°Another kilometer and we¡¯ll cross the street to directly underneath the shipyard. The shipyard is by the shore, and the sewer exit is there too, so there are water turbines set up. If we pass the turbines and walk a little further, we¡¯ll reach the warehouse. With the entire city out of power, at least we don¡¯t have to worry about being sliced into pieces by the turbines.¡± Bi Fang tried to lighten the mood with a joke, but it was to no avail; Matthew felt the sewers become even colder. It was as if they were walking through the intestines of a behemoth¡ªcold, wet, slippery, and revolting. As they rounded a bend, Bi Fang also saw a few empty tin cans and some rotten magazines. Matthew stepped on a small pile of pale yellow rubbery material, which looked like deflated balloons or rubber gloves without the palm section. The live stream quickly blurred the image with a mosaic, making Matthew feel as sick as if he had saved up two weeks¡¯ worth of phlegm in a steamer to stew. It was incomprehensible why there would be so many rubber gloves accumulated here. Just as Matthew was about to vomit, Bi Fang suddenly stopped in his tracks and shone the light upward. A gigantic water turbine appeared before everyone. It was extremely close. Chapter 356 - Chapter 356: Chapter 354 Flammable and Explosive Chapter 356: Chapter 354 Flammable and Explosive The giant waterwheel with a diameter of over two meters slowly rotated, thrilling every spectator who saw this scene. [Damn, that¡¯s a huge waterwheel!] [So this is what a sewer looks like? The movies didn¡¯t lie to me] [I always thought it was fake] [Why is it still turning, is there still electricity?] Bi Fang pointed at the water channel below the waterwheel, ¡°The waterwheel has already stopped; it¡¯s the flow of water that¡¯s pushing the blades. It has rained yesterday and the day before, accumulating lots of wastewater in the sewer, which naturally flows towards the ocean and rivers at lower elevations. Also, due to the unique structure of the blades, they continue to rotate, though the force is weak and it can be easily stopped.¡± Here, the sewer had widened to resemble a river, with droplets of water jumping and rolling between the blades, carrying large swathes of polluted algae. The two climbed up the iron ladder beside the waterwheel, ran through the flume, and faced the slowly approaching blades. Bi Fang reached out and grabbed one, the blade was heavy, and it cut through the water like a steel knife under the effect of the current. Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t very fast, and they were just barely able to block it. ¡°In a normal operating status, the more than a meter-long stainless steel blades could easily shred an adult into pieces, which would then be discharged into the sea along with the wastewater, to be eaten by schools of fish, leaving no trace for anyone to discover.¡± As the blades passed close by, Bi Fang and Matthew took the opportunity to move across, sliding down the damp pipe wall. Bi Fang shined his flashlight down at the pipe below and said. ¡°There should have been layers of cleaning nets here to intercept the waste in the water. Cleanup workers would shovel the sediment and waste that had accumulated at the bottom of the pipe and carry it to the sewage chute above, but I suspect the cleaning nets may have been damaged. Otherwise, the build-up of several months of dirt would have blocked up the place long ago.¡± His voice echoed through the pipes. As everyone followed the direction of the flashlight beam, sure enough, a large wire mesh had already been torn open, and all the original algae and trash had flowed out through the hole, rendering it utterly ineffective as a cleaning agent. Bi Fang turned off his flashlight without lingering further: ¡°Let¡¯s go, we didn¡¯t come here to look at small water channels, let¡¯s hurry, we¡¯re less than five hundred meters from our destination.¡± Matthew followed behind Bi Fang and asked, ¡°How come you know so much about the sewers too?¡± ¡°Read more books.¡± Matthew: ¡°¡­¡± ¡­ The sound of footsteps echoed through the pipes. ¡°Did you hear that?¡± Bi Fang whispered, silently gesturing upwards with his hand. Matthew caught on instantly, holding his breath to listen. Soft footsteps began to sound from overhead, his eyes shining. ¡°From now on, don¡¯t speak loudly, in a tubular space, any sound can be magnified and carried far away. We must be careful not to be discovered. Take this,¡± Bi Fang instructed as he handed Matthew a pebble, ¡°hold it in your mouth, so you won¡¯t make a sound if something unexpected happens.¡± Matthew awkwardly accepted the stone, thinking of stuffing it into his mouth, but after two attempts, he felt too foolish to proceed. Seeing the hesitation on his face, Bi Fang reassured, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve washed it; it¡¯s clean.¡± ¡°Fine!¡± Determined, Matthew closed his eyes and stuffed the pebble into his mouth. When he opened his eyes and looked at Bi Fang again, he discovered that Bi Fang hadn¡¯t also placed a stone in his mouth but had instead turned around to climb the ladder, ready to open the manhole cover. ¡°¡­?¡± Matthew mumbled unclearly, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you holding one?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve undergone professional training and can control the impulse.¡± [Mr. Matthew, we¡¯ve received strict training. No matter how funny something is, we won¡¯t laugh unless we can¡¯t hold it in.] [Ah hahaha!] [Unless we can¡¯t hold it in, ah hahaha!] [Strong Visual Impact] After about a dozen seconds, footsteps were heard above again. Bi Fang turned off his flashlight and climbed the iron ladder, took a deep breath, and carefully pushed the manhole cover. The perspective switched to the first person, with everything pitch-black in view, but soon, a bright light appeared in the middle of the frame, gradually coming into focus. The moment the manhole cover was opened, streams of water poured in through the cracks, turning the silent world into a noisy one; the sound of flowing water disappeared, replaced by the bustling noise of rain. The massive warehouse seemed like a behemoth hidden beneath the night sky, with the air filled with a damp, stifling smell as rain drizzled down. About a dozen bandit gang members, wearing clear raincoats, patrolled around, their flashlights sweeping back and forth. Even though they were from the bandit gangs, they didn¡¯t want any major mistakes happening so close to delivery, so they had arranged a substantial number of people to guard and patrol. Through the raincoats, one could see the bandit gang members¡¯ bulging waists¡ªthere was no doubt that guns were equipped there. ¡°It¡¯s raining,¡± Bi Fang said as he closed the manhole cover, ¡°It must have started on our way here, but the rain isn¡¯t too heavy yet.¡± Gurgle. The bandit gang members, wearing boots, stepped over the manhole cover, gradually moving away, never suspecting that someone was hiding just beneath them. ¡°What do we do now? There are at least ten people there, and you can¡¯t possibly take them all down, not to mention it¡¯s a problem just getting out,¡± Matthew murmured with a pebble in his mouth, speaking indistinctly. The plan was perfect, but reality was harsh. If only the manhole cover led directly into the warehouse, but no one would do such a thing. ¡°Although I have enough bullets now, I can deal with only three to five targets at a time at most, and with Matthew taking one, that makes it around five or six, but the other side has at least fifteen guns, and I don¡¯t even know if they are equipped with grenades or other deadly weapons. Suppressing them with firepower is definitely not an option,¡± he said. The audience fell silent, aware they were only a step away from success, yet that single step held the distance of an entire Mount Everest, virtually insurmountable. Was the rescue mission going to fail just like that? [Maybe we should just give up¡­] [I think so too, it¡¯s too dangerous. With so many people, Master Fang can¡¯t possibly take them all down. Even if he manages to take down most of them, he might still be targeted for retaliation later on. That would be the end.] [Yeah, let¡¯s just drop it.] [I¡¯m just worried someone will guilt-trip us.] [Ha, I¡¯d rather save a goose than a person, pathetic.] [My blood pressure is rising!] ¡°No, there still might be a chance,¡± said Bi Fang. He spread the map out again, shining his flashlight on it. As soon as he¡¯d learned that the passage didn¡¯t lead directly into the warehouse, he considered such a scenario and had planned accordingly. On the map, Bi Fang pointed to a red dot that marked their current manhole cover¡¯s location. Then with a sweep of his hand, covering just a few centimeters, another manhole cover appeared. ¡°It¡¯s not far from the warehouse, still inside the shipyard, only a few steps from the warehouse. If we create enough noise, the guards watching the warehouse won¡¯t have any choice but to investigate.¡± ¡°But how are we going to create enough noise?¡± ¡°Explosion,¡± Bi Fang said as he rolled up the map and stuffed it back into his backpack. He then pulled out a canister of liquid¡ªautomotive antifreeze! Ethylene glycol, highly flammable and explosive! ¡°We¡¯ll just make a time-delayed explosive. As long as it¡¯s powerful enough, at least a third of the guards will be drawn. These guards are spread in four directions; only those in three directions can see us directly. If these people are lured away, we will have our chance to break through!¡± Chapter 357 - Chapter 357: Chapter 355: Gas Mask Chapter 357: Chapter 355: Gas Mask The stench of sewage surged like a tidal wave, the rotten, damp rankness shooting straight to the brain, choking one to the point of breathlessness. ¡°My god, it stinks so bad here! What¡¯s going on? Is this leading directly to the toilets? Just now¡­ hey, what¡¯s wrong with you!?¡± Matthew pinched his nose tightly, tears streaming down his face, his question muffled by the stones in his mouth, but when he turned around, his heart sank. In the pitch-black environment, everyone saw Bi Fang leaning against the wall, continuously retching, his face pale and his eyes bloodshot, while thick saliva dripped unconsciously from his mouth, falling to the ground. ¡°Hey, hey, hey, are you okay?¡± Matthew was so scared he almost jumped, hurrying over to support Bi Fang, which was much more terrifying than vomiting himself. If something happened to Bi Fang now, Matthew would be done for as well. He was just a small accessory, and Matthew was very aware of that. ¡°I¡¯m okay, just give me a moment!¡± Bi Fang leaned against the wall and slowly sat down on the ground, cutting off a piece of his lower clothing, soaking it in water, and covering his mouth and nose with it made him feel a little better. To a normal person, the smell was nauseating, but to Bi Fang, it was amplified a hundred times in his nostrils. The mucous membrane in his nose felt scorched, every olfactory cell was wailing in agony¡ªit was practically like facing a stink bomb head-on! Thinking back to his memory of the smelliest toilets he had visited, and intensifying that odor by dozens of times, was probably how Bi Fang felt right now. The fact that he had made it this far was a testament to his formidable willpower. After several attempts at catching his breath, Bi Fang¡¯s senses cleared up a bit. The remaining distance was less than a hundred meters, but unless he stopped breathing from now on, he couldn¡¯t go any farther. But going there and back was a total of two hundred meters, and in between, he had to find the right spot to make the bomb. It definitely couldn¡¯t be done in less than five minutes¡ªespecially not while constantly moving for those five minutes. Hearing that Bi Fang couldn¡¯t do it, Matthew panicked, ¡°What do we do then?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t rush, let me think, just think¡­¡± Bi Fang¡¯s mind was still a bit fuzzy. The plan had been perfect, but he had never expected to be stumped by this stretch of sewer. The smell here was just too overwhelming. ¡°The smell of a normal sewer is unlikely to break the physiological limit of humans. I suspect there might be hydrogen sulfide here, and perhaps methane as well. Super-sized factories are equipped with septic tanks to prevent the accumulation of sewage. Months of abandonment may have resulted in a fault in the gas filtration system here, coupled with the failure of the exhaust fan, causing poor air circulation in the sewer and the level of hydrogen sulfide in the air to far exceed normal standards.¡± ¡°Last July, in Busan, a beautiful place, a 19-year-old girl died from hydrogen sulfide poisoning. The 19-year-old student went to a public toilet near a swimming facility and never came out again.¡± ¡°Twenty minutes later, her companions sensed something was wrong, rushed into the toilet, and found her collapsed on the floor, unconscious. The stench in the toilet was unbearable, and her companion nearly passed out from the fumes while continuously vomiting during the rescue attempt. The girl did not survive and was declared dead from hydrogen sulfide poisoning.¡± ¡°It was also a malfunction in the gas filtering system that had produced a lot of hydrogen sulfide, which was then released from the exhaust vent of the toilet where the girl had her accident. In the cramped toilet, the concentration of hydrogen sulfide reached 1000ppm, which is 60 times higher than the 15ppm safety standard. At high concentrations, hydrogen sulfide can even cause ¡®electrocution-like¡¯ deaths within seconds. The poisoning mechanism of cyanide is similar.¡± Matthew, standing nearby, was listening with his eyes growing wider and wider, and his breathing became lighter and lighter. He looked around, saw Bi Fang and quickly imitated him, tearing off a piece of cloth from his body, dampening it, and covering his mouth and nose. ¡°It¡¯s useless,¡± Bi Fang shook his head. ¡°I covered my mouth and nose to alleviate the irritation. A wet towel is just a fabric of fibers; it can¡¯t block these gas molecules and has no protective effects against poison. If it really could effectively block smoke and poisonous gases, it would also cut off the air supply, making it impossible to breathe.¡± [Damn, is it that dangerous? I¡¯ll never go to a public toilet again.] [Scary, so scary.] [Old Fang knows too much, like a chemist.] [Ah, I looked it up! When hydrogen sulfide enters the bloodstream, it quickly finds an oxidized form of cytochrome oxidase and binds with the trivalent iron in the heme. This enzyme¡¯s trivalent iron should be reduced to a divalent iron to form a reduced-type cytochrome oxidase that passes electrons during the redox process, utilizing molecular oxygen.] [Continued: But hydrogen sulfide steals the trivalent iron, thus blocking the human respiratory chain and causing tissue cells to lack oxygen. Additionally, hydrogen sulfide also has a strong cytotoxic effect on the respiratory system¡¯s lungs, causing severe damage to lung tissues and resulting in pulmonary edema!!!] Quick-reacting netizens had already started searching on Baidu, finding out the dangers of hydrogen sulfide, ¡°What do we do now?¡± Seeing that a wet towel was useless, Matthew had no idea what to do; he was a photographer and had no clue how to save himself in this situation. Unexpectedly, Bi Fang waved his hand, signifying to Matthew to stay calm, ¡°Don¡¯t rush. There are often toxic gases in sewers, so I came prepared for such a situation. In case we encounter this, we can make a simple gas mask. Do you remember what I asked you to do before we came down?¡± ¡°Are you talking about that charcoal?¡± Matthew quickly dropped his backpack, pulling out a big handful of black charcoal particles that Bi Fang had him prepare that morning, but he hadn¡¯t explained why. Now, it was starting to make sense. Bi Fang took the charcoal from him, explaining, ¡°A gas mask generally consists of four parts: a poison filtration material, a smoke filtration material, an isolation material, and a durable sealing material.¡± ¡°What we¡¯re dealing with is toxic gas, so the poison filtration material is essential. In the wild, we only have a few simple options: one is lime soil particles, two is activated carbon, and three is charcoal.¡± Bi Fang took out an empty plastic bottle and used a screwdriver to poke small holes at the bottom to serve as the intake holes for the poison filter, then cut an arch on the other end to fit against the face, ensuring it would match a human¡¯s nose and facial shape. ¡°All three materials are easy to obtain, especially charcoal. However, I¡¯ve processed it a bit to make more effective activated carbon. The preparation of activated carbon is also simple. Just burn wood to create charcoal, then break it into small pieces, put the pieces into a clean nylon net bag, tie the bag closed, and boil it in an acidic solution for over thirty minutes to remove the oily substance.¡± Matthew suddenly understood. ¡°No wonder you had me put vinegar in this morning! It¡¯s acetic acid, right?¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Bi Fang nodded. ¡°Vinegar contains acetic acid, but you can use other acids if you don¡¯t have vinegar: hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, even citric acid, which is added to a lot of foods and even some cosmetics; all of these can be used, as can the alkaline sodium carbonate. If you really have nothing at hand, you could even induce vomiting and use stomach acid to boil.¡± Bi Fang nodded, placed a sponge at the bottom of the bottle where he had made the holes, followed by sawdust, adding 7cm and compressing it down to 5cm. Then he placed a layer of gauze above it, followed by 3cm of activated carbon, and topped with another sponge. A simple gas mask was thus completed. ¡°All we need now is a sealing material for the face mask, a plastic bag will do. Just make sure it¡¯s soft, thick, and transparent, and most importantly, airtight.¡± Bi Fang pushed the body of the canister out of the bag, sealed the joints firmly with tape, and added an adjustable strap through the canister before handing it to Matthew. ¡°The path ahead you must take on your own.¡± ¡°Alright¡­ Huh?¡± Matthew took the gas mask, about to put it on his head, when he heard this and was taken aback, pointing to himself, ¡°Me?¡± Bi Fang nodded. ¡°Yes, you. To be frank, my sense of smell is much more developed than the average person. I smell several times what you can, and I can no longer move forward.¡± ¡°Also, don¡¯t use antifreeze to ignite an explosion. Just spread it on the ground, and remember not to use an open flame. Use the method I taught you last time, wrapping potassium permanganate and antifreeze with newspaper. The ignition will take about thirty seconds. Once ready, throw it on the ground then run towards me. Be quick, understand?¡± Bi Fang¡¯s expression was serious; the presence of hydrogen sulfide had made him change some of his plans. In sewers, nine out of ten gases are flammable and can explode, which is why he had avoided using an open flame all this time. Had his flashlight not been a highly sealed military grade one, he might not have used it at all. The magnitude of an explosion¡¯s force depends on how much explosive material there is. A whole barrel of antifreeze combined with half a barrel of gasoline might attract some attention if it explodes, but the effect would certainly be limited. But what about all the hydrogen sulfide and methane in the entire sewer system? If half the street blew up, how many people would that draw over? Chapter 358 - Chapter 358: Chapter 356: Blood Shadow Chapter 358: Chapter 356: Blood Shadow ¡°I¡¯m going!¡± Matthew, solemn, turned and left without looking back. The light beam shone on him, casting his elongated shadow against the wall, leaving the audience with a sense of tragic heroism, as if a warrior were descending into the chilly waters of Yi River, never to return. Bi Fang was quite at ease as he walked away, leaning against the wall and gazing after Matthew until his figure vanished into the light. As long as Matthew followed his instructions, there shouldn¡¯t be too much risk involved. Half a minute¡ªthat¡¯s how long it takes a normal person to run at least one hundred and fifty meters, enough to escape the danger zone. [It¡¯s a bit scary to walk through the sewers alone] [Agreed, it wasn¡¯t so bad with two people, but now, alone with just a flashlight, it feels kinda scary¡­] [Feels like we¡¯re watching a horror movie] [The Brave Man Shrinks His Feet] In his dormitory, Cao Lifeng couldn¡¯t help but withdraw his feet from outside the covers back under them and pinched the corner of his blanket to make sure it was tight before continuing to watch. Following behind Matthew, the drone captured him walking alone, flashlight in hand, meandering through the dark passageway. The water flow next to him was almost stagnant, with an occasional light splash as if something had fallen into the water. The clear snot reached the corner of Matthew¡¯s lips, only to be sucked back up. He wore a gas mask, yet it seemed Matthew could still smell the stench, which reverberated within his brain, even causing his eyes to start swelling and tear up from the irritation. ¡°I never knew Master Fang¡¯s sense of smell was this strong. Just walking up to here is unbearable for me; I can hardly imagine what it would be like under his nose.¡± [Master Fang truly has an extraordinary sense of smell!] [Is there really such a thing as a natural talent for smell?] [Yes, there is. I have a senior in my graduate program with this talent. Just by smell, he can tell you what experiment you¡¯ve been conducting.] [The difference between humans can sometimes be even greater than that between humans and dogs.] [¡°Humans have a poor sense of smell¡± is actually a 19th-century meme. The human olfactory bulb is small in proportion to the entire brain, but not smaller than that of other animals. In laboratory tests for specific odors, humans can detect some scents better than both rats and dogs, each species having their strengths and weaknesses in scent detection.] [Ah, an unknown expert has appeared!] [Useless knowledge increased!] Matthew looked at the barrage of comments on the drone and felt a bit of the tension in his heart fade away in the face of the unknown darkness. The audience was right; it¡¯s natural to be scared when walking alone at night, let alone in such a dark tunnel. Thinking this, Matthew quickened his pace. A distance of a hundred meters was a matter of mere seconds. Using the military-grade LED flashlight to illuminate the map, he quickly reached his destination. Looking down at the fault at his feet, he shifted the beam of light upwards, revealing a manhole cover. ¡°Generally speaking, a place with manhole covers indicates a deep well.¡± Since the drone was following him, Matthew felt a responsibility to retain Bi Fang¡¯s audience, so he began to give a brief introduction to them. Of course, most of this knowledge came from what Bi Fang had told him, with some insights gained from studying sewage system maps. ¡°There are three manhole covers here; it must be a septic tank!¡± Modern septic tanks all have Grade 3 Septic Treatment, always equipped with three manhole covers. Below the well there was another passage. To get a clearer view, Matthew tied his flashlight to his waist belt, climbing down a metal ladder. Halfway down, he reached through the rungs to hold his mask steady with one hand, while the other hand unfastened the flashlight to illuminate the surface of the water in the well. The wastewater well was only four or five meters deep, with rainwater seeping through the soil and accumulating at the bottom. The water was pitch-black, how many years of stagnant decay it contained was anyone¡¯s guess. ¡°Just now, Bi Fang warned me to stay far away from these stagnant waters, or if I were to fall in, the best-case scenario would be disability, worst case, death. This kind of wastewater contains a variety of microbes, parasitic eggs, and an extremely high number of toxic substances. If someone were to fall into it, they could suffer acute lung injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute¡­ uh.¡± Matthew frowned, trying hard to recall, but the long list of professional terms was just too hard to remember; the fact that he could remember so much was already no small feat. ¡°What was it again? I forgot, but basically, there are a lot of diseases, and the chance of these diseases occurring is extremely high, and they can easily cause disability or death. Plus, many toxic gases are heavier than air and settle at the bottom, leading to oxygen deficiency. Oh my god, Master Fang was right, I feel like I¡¯m having difficulty breathing already, I need to hurry up and get back.¡± Matthew took a few deep breaths from his gas canister to recover his strength, then shook his flashlight around inside the well. Dimly, something blood-red floated on the surface of the water. Matthew squinted, lowering his hand further; he wanted to see more clearly. The patch of light from the flashlight swayed in the pitch-black depths of the well, like a searchlight. The circular patch of light moved about, gradually illuminating what was below, and the blood-red colour inside the well became clearer, resembling¡­ a human shape. Matthew¡¯s face showed a look of horror, as the vivid, striking red in front of him resembled freshly spilled blood! As the light trembled and moved in front of the red, the audience finally saw the blood-red object. It was a blood-coloured coat, hooked and hanging at the bottom of the well by a wire mesh, as if someone was standing in the black water. At this moment, the hearts of all the viewers watching the program skipped a beat; such a shocking scene almost uncontrollably triggered their micturition reflex! Only the uniform ¡°Holy shit!¡± in the bullet comments could express their feelings at the moment. [Holy shit!] [I nearly peed myself just now!] [Not talking anymore, I¡¯m going to change my pants] [I¡¯m straight up¡ªstraight up!] [Stop dilly-dallying and finish up quickly, let¡¯s get out of here, this place isn¡¯t for humans] Numerous viewers, who were frightened into a psychological shadow, quickly urged Matthew to finish everything and then leave. Matthew readily agreed and went to the platform beside the bottom of the well, taking out antifreeze and gasoline from his bag. The gasoline had been siphoned from the off-road vehicle. It wasn¡¯t much, just half a can, but it was indeed an excellent combustion agent. He poured both liquids onto the ground, then climbed back up the iron ladder. He poured potassium permanganate onto a piece of newspaper that had absorbed some antifreeze, crumpled it into a ball, and violently hurled it toward the bottom of the well, then ran back without looking back. In the sealed passageway, substances collided, and a chemical reaction was happening rapidly; just a single spark would be enough to blow the entire deep well sky-high. The feeling was like a military dog running through a hoop of blazing fire, surrounded by terrifyingly high temperatures and flames. If he were tested on the hundred-meter dash in such a place, Matthew believed that even at over thirty-five, he could still score an excellent time! The two-hundred-meter distance went by in a flash, and Matthew clearly saw Bi Fang¡¯s figure not far away. Seeing Matthew running over, Bi Fang had a measure in mind; he stepped forward, grabbed Matthew¡¯s collar, turned the corner, and hid inside a recess in the wall. In the distant well, the paper ball landed in the water, rapidly generating heat. The crumpled paper began to shrink and smoke, and the flames quickly followed, with one last spark appearing. The next second, the flames shot up violently, and the fire soared into the air. The entire waste water well blazed furiously, and the coat in the water seemed to dance in the flames, dancing as it turned into ashes. ¡°Boom!¡± Chapter 359 - Chapter 359: 357 Chapter 359: 357 The deafening explosion sounded from a hundred meters behind, shaking the entire shipyard. The violent explosion burst from the narrow passage, and the surging flames burst out like an oversized welding torch. The high temperature rapidly drained the oxygen within the channel, Matthew knelt on the ground, his face swelling into a bizarre purple-red, his ears¡¯ sponges trembling slightly. Next to him, Bi Fang pressed hard on the back of Matthew¡¯s neck, lying motionless on the ground, feeling the scorching airflow whipping past. The audience watched in horror as the air distorted and waved due to the heat, and in that moment, everyone seemed to lose their hearing. On the ground, amidst the blinding firelight, a metal manhole cover was thrown into the air by the shockwave of the explosion, reaching a height of twenty meters before crashing back down, embedding itself into the shattered concrete. ¡°What¡¯s going on? What¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°Someone, anyone!¡± ¡°Has the army attacked us!?¡± ¡°Help!¡± Shouts echoed through the night, some buildings suddenly lit up, and the quiet darkness was completely shattered. Countless people panicked, deafened by the enormous sound of the explosion, with bright columns of light and the roar of motorcycles rushing in. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Minutes later, Bi Fang picked up the dazed Matthew and re-entered the passage, heading for the manhole cover in front of the warehouse gate. Along the way, everyone could see that the scene in the sewer was completely different than before. The walls were scorched and cracked, the moss climbing the walls burned to a crisp, leaving only a few parts flickering with dark red light in the darkness. The stench in the air was even thicker, but it wasn¡¯t the smell of hydrogen sulfide, but the stench after the sewage was evaporated, like dried excrement. ¡°Ugh!¡± Arriving below the manhole cover, Matthew could no longer bear it and vomited out loud, the high temperatures from the explosion and the ringing in his ears surging up in that moment. Bi Fang climbed up the iron ladder, carefully lifting the cover, speaking without much surprise, ¡°Vomit it out; you¡¯ll feel much better after.¡± Under the starless night sky, a dark figure silently observed everyone from the corner of a road, the manhole cover balanced on top. Bi Fang watched as the lights of the motorcycles scattered like fireflies to every corner of the shipyard and then extinguished. People poured out from every building, fleeing and wailing. Just as Matthew had said, these people really were half-baked, standing on the ruins relying on ruthlessness and viciousness. If it had been a trained crowd, the situation would not look like this. All passageways would have been guarded long before now, at least until the explosion was thoroughly investigated, they shouldn¡¯t allow free movement of personnel! His gaze swept around the warehouse. The dozen or so guards that were originally stationed had mostly run away, leaving only a few scattered around, even hesitating in place. Matthew asked from below, ¡°How is it? Any use?¡± ¡°Yes! Wait here for me!¡± Bi Fang pushed the manhole cover open and leaped out of the well, climbing the iron ladder. After he carefully replaced the cover, he crouched down and ran forward like a leopard, disappearing into the grass beside him. In a building not far away, members of the Bandit Gangs gathered. Soon someone pushed the door and entered. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Is it the loyalists or the rebels, or have they all started fighting?¡± The Boss of the Bandit Gangs was tense. Such a commotion, aside from the military, he couldn¡¯t imagine any other situation. For months, the Bandit Gangs had been imposing their will on the entire city, with everyone avoiding them as they acted like they ruled the world. But facing a real army, they were no better than stray dogs; no, not even dogs, just rats from the sewer that could be burned clean with a single fire. ¡°No¡­nobody attacked,¡± panted the young man as he ran in, simultaneously swinging the door open. Blazing light poured into the dark hall, not sunlight, but the glow of fire. The flamess seemed to gush forth from the bowels of the earth, shooting high into the air. Charred human figures ran through the fire, and huge steel devices burned as they flipped and fell. Bi Fang¡¯s heart seized, and he abruptly grabbed an ashtray to smash forward. The young man let out a blood-curdling scream, clutching his bleeding forehead as he dropped to his knees, not understanding why the Boss suddenly hit him. ¡°Still say no one attacked! If no one did, did you start this fire?¡± Boss¡¯s eyes were full of bloodshot rage, his face terrifying. The young man lay on the ground, blood continuing to stream from his forehead. He reached up to touch it, feeling as if a piece had caved in, tears of pain brimming as he quickly explained, ¡°Really, Boss, if someone had attacked, we would have known earlier. Not a single person, I swear. I heard Sabbas say it might be the underground natural gas pipeline that exploded, that¡¯s why. Half the road got blasted away, and a few guys were in the bathroom at the time. They can¡¯t be found now, seems like they were burned to death.¡± Bandit Gang Boss was taken aback and walked to the door to look around. It seemed indeed there was no one. The chaos was solely due to his own unreliable men. They were not from the military. The fear that had risen in Bandit Gang Boss¡¯s heart sank back down, relieved. ¡°No attack is good, no attack is good,¡± he muttered, looking at the young man to the side, devoid of further intent, and waved a dismissive hand, ¡°Alright, alright, go get that wrapped up. Can¡¯t even talk properly.¡± The young man dared not say more and bowed his head as he withdrew. ¡°Wait, the ¡®goods¡¯ weren¡¯t damaged, were they?¡± ¡°No, they were close, but it didn¡¯t reach there.¡± ¡°Good, hurry and put out the fire, so many troubles even this late at night.¡± Watching his subordinate¡¯s retreating figure, Bandit Gang Boss rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ¡°Is there even natural gas these days?¡± ¡°It must be marsh gas.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡­ In the shadows, a figure stealthily lurked, hiding its body behind bushes that hadn¡¯t been trimmed in months, thoroughly concealed. From the northeast corner of the warehouse, through the gaps in the bushes, the drone gave the audience a clear view of the warehouse¡¯s outline. This was the best position for an assault. Rock Climbing had checked thoroughly; from this direction, there was only one guard, whose angle of view was off. Quick and decisive action meant no one would notice. Rock Climbing smeared some black ash on his face and tore off a piece of rag, then boldly approached his target. ¡°Hey, stop, don¡¯t move! Who are you?¡± The moment Rock Climbing appeared near the warehouse, the guard spotted him and moved his hand toward his waist. The more chaos, the less room for error. The guard was acutely aware of this. Thus, as Rock Climbing approached, he moved to draw his gun to fend him off, but before his hand could even grasp the gun, a white towel was suddenly hurled at his face. What a joke, playing catch with a handkerchief? A flicker of absurdity crossed the guard¡¯s mind as he instinctively reached out with his left hand to grab it, but the next second, a hand firmly caught his wrist! Immediately after, a huge force struck the guard¡¯s left cheek! Chapter 360 - Chapter 360: 358 Chapter 360: 358 First, disrupt the opponent¡¯s vision. A white strip of cloth floated before his eyes, and the guard reached out to grab it subconsciously, but immediately sensed something was wrong. Then, block his blind attack. As the guard unfurled the cloth and threw a punch, a straight punch struck him on the left cheek, muscle ripples spreading across his face, suppressing any words back into his belly. Burst both eardrums. Bi Fang clapped his hands onto the guard¡¯s ears on both sides, intense dizziness instantly deprived the man of his consciousness. In desperation, the opponent would flail punches blindly, using his elbow to block, then striking the torso. With his left elbow blocking the arm, Bi Fang¡¯s right hand took advantage of the situation to hit the guard¡¯s liver area, a sharp pain zapping through like electricity. Dizziness, tinnitus, severe pain. Wave upon wave of these sensations assaulted him, and the guard had completely lost his reason, forgetting what he should be doing at that moment; of course, he could no longer do anything. Even someone with the strongest of wills could not endure the pain of a ruptured liver. The human body is not a perfect system. Striking the ears with the fist or palm can cause rupture of the tympanic membrane in the middle ear due to external shock and the impact of air pressure, leading to internal bleeding, pain, tinnitus, and loss of hearing. Moreover, Bi Fang had also powerfully struck the opponent¡¯s liver. When the head is hit, the first sensation is extreme dizziness, not pain, and one still has a certain ability to move. Whereas, when a liver is ruptured, the person¡¯s mind remains clear, but the intense pain is hard to control, forcing the body to fall to the ground the next second, and the brain, sensing that an important organ has been damaged, compels the body to fall and curl up to protect itself. The liver itself does not have pain receptors, but it is surrounded by many nerves. When the liver is struck, the sensation of pain will be transmitted to the nervous system throughout the body within seconds. The heartbeat quickens, breathing becomes rapid, and the blood flow will be uncontrollable. An adult male being hit in the liver with a velocity of 5 meters per second can be diagnosed with liver damage. And Bi Fang¡¯s fist had just reached a speed of nearly seven meters per second! Of course, everyone¡¯s nerve response varies, and the opponent may have the chance to counterattack, delivering the final blow. So, could this guard become the victor of a desperate counterattack? Before the guard collapsed, Bi Fang stepped forward, half-twisting his body, his left elbow striking the left side of the jaw, completely dislocating it, then he followed up with another attack to the liver area, finally lifting his right foot and kicking squarely on the opponent¡¯s diaphragm. The guard lay on the ground, curled up, his face pale as if dehydrated; he had entirely lost the ability to move. Bi Fang picked up the white cloth, approached the guard, and kicked him in the back of the head, casually draping the white cloth over the guard¡¯s face. Assessment of effects: Severe tinnitus, fractured jawbone, three cracked ribs, four broken ribs, hemorrhaging of the diaphragm, liver damage, estimated recovery time for normal physiological functions exceeding ten weeks, psychological recovery time¡­ There is no psychological recovery time¡ªdoctors couldn¡¯t possibly be found here. The patient would have to lay in bed for a lifetime, at the very least. The audience in front of the screen were stunned by Bi Fang¡¯s swift and fierce actions. This was the first time Master Fang had taken the initiative to strike. He had dealt with humans before, but whether it was Poachers or bandits, it was always in counterattack. Only this time did he launch a proactive strike as he decided to rescue someone, and his ferocity shocked everyone. [The guard is coming, the guard is down!] [Wori, that was ferocious] [Seven steps out, the gun is fast; within seven steps, the fist is fast!] [Seven steps out, the gun is fast; within seven steps, the gun is swift and accurate!] ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Bi Fang waved toward the manhole cover, and Matthew, who had been covertly on the lookout, immediately pushed open the cover and followed suit. Upon reaching Bi Fang, Matthew looked around apprehensively, noticing a considerable number of people in several other directions. He quickly pulled his head back and asked, ¡°How do we get in?¡± There were no entrances in their immediate vicinity, which probably explained the sparse guard presence. Bi Fang pointed at a window high up on the wall, more than three and a half meters above: ¡°We¡¯ll build a human ladder; you boost me up.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± With urgency at hand, Matthew didn¡¯t hesitate. He immediately crouched down, and Bi Fang, bracing himself against the wall, sat on his shoulder. Matthew¡¯s face turned red. Though fit, the past days spent in Yemen had drained his energy significantly below normal levels. His temples bulging with visible veins, Matthew, leaning against the wall, slowly stood up. Even so, Bi Fang was still a distance away from the window. The criminals had intentionally designed it this way; the higher the windows, the harder it was for those inside to observe outside, making it difficult to plan an escape route. At the same time, it also made management easier¡ªshutting the door in the case of an emergency would ensure absolute security. ¡°Just a little longer!¡± ¡°I can hold on!¡± Teetering on Matthew¡¯s shoulders, Bi Fang reached out to grab the ledge and, with a practiced pull-up, leaned over the edge of the window. With one more push, he hoisted himself up. Matthew, his shoulders suddenly unburdened, almost collapsed, gasping for breath as he sat on the ground. ¡°You keep watch outside. If you see someone coming, throw a stone at the window. If there¡¯s danger, don¡¯t try to fight; just run. Got it?¡± Matthew made an OK sign and then crouched down into the bushes nearby, all the while clutching a broken stone tightly in his hand. The untrimmed bushes easily concealed a grown person¡¯s figure. Plus, it was night; even if someone stood right next to Matthew, they probably wouldn¡¯t notice him. Assured that he wouldn¡¯t be easily detected, Bi Fang turned his attention to the window before him. He squinted into the darkness, unable to discern anything within. Shouts from inside masked other sounds, but he was too close, and the distinctive noise of breaking glass could easily draw attention. He was less than ten meters away from the other guards! Such a high window wasn¡¯t designed to be opened in the first place; it simply couldn¡¯t be opened. Bi Fang examined the window and said, ¡°It¡¯s a very old window, still fixed with iron nails. These types of windows aren¡¯t hard to dismantle; we just need to pry off the nails to open it.¡± He then took out a dagger and began to pry along the seam. The old window used several thin iron nails to fix the glass in place; removing the nails would allow the glass to be taken out intact. The wood, neglected over the years, had become very soft. The dagger slid in almost effortlessly, easily prying out the nails. Soon, Bi Fang had removed the first pane of glass. A strong, foul smell immediately made him furrow his brow. Perhaps his sense of smell had adapted to the odors of the sewer, for it wasn¡¯t until he opened the window that Bi Fang smelled the damp, musty scent. ¡°My goodness, what a strange smell¡ªit¡¯s like moldy mushrooms, damp, cold, and accompanied by a stench of decay. The situation inside might be worse than we anticipated.¡± Just the smell alone gave an idea of the torment the people inside were enduring. ¡°I can¡¯t get through a single pane; we¡¯ll have to pry off some more.¡± However, just after Bi Fang had successfully removed the second pane of glass, a stone struck him in the back. Someone was coming! Chapter 361 - Chapter 361: Chapter 359: Even Someone of Such an Old Age? Chapter 361: Chapter 359: Even Someone of Such an Old Age? Damn it! Cold sweat instantly squeezed out of Matthew¡¯s forehead, the clump of dirt in his hand was crushed into a ball, which he then punched into the ground. Looking towards the shadow on the high wall, it was still there! Why now of all times? Couldn¡¯t it be earlier or later? Around the corner of the warehouse, two shaky figures approached, causing all the viewers to break out in a cold sweat. What to do, what to do? Matthew¡¯s mind raced, but he didn¡¯t have Bi Fang¡¯s skills. Facing two armed individuals, he had absolutely no chance of success, and with Bi Fang¡¯s warning, even if he was determined to lead them away, he couldn¡¯t act on it. The vague figures drew closer, and all Matthew could do was pray that Bi Fang, lying atop the high wall, could take them by surprise and take them out before they could shout¡ªbut just as Matthew almost made out the appearance of the two individuals, he looked again at the window on the high wall only to find that the figure prying at the window had vanished! Did he go in? Taken aback, Matthew breathed a sigh of relief, but when he looked again, he suddenly noticed something was amiss. The previously flat window sill seemed uneven, as if something had been added¡­ Matthew¡¯s breath halted, and he instantly understood everything. Bi Fang was still lying there! Such audacity! For safety¡¯s sake, the drone hadn¡¯t followed Bi Fang, but instead stayed hidden in the bushes with Matthew. Through the drone¡¯s night vision mode, the viewers could see even more clearly¡ªBi Fang was indeed lying motionless by the window! He hadn¡¯t gone in, nor had he made any other movements! Everyone was so shocked they couldn¡¯t speak. In the dark night, barely visible, Bi Fang had paused his movements, attempting to bluff his way past the guards right under their watchful eyes! Could it be possible? Watching the guards drawing closer, everyone¡¯s hearts fluttered with unease. Bi Fang had tried to slip through the window opened by removing two panes of glass, but he didn¡¯t have the ability to ¡°compress his bones,¡± and with a hole obviously smaller than his frame, he couldn¡¯t possibly get through quickly! To break the window would undoubtedly be the most foolish method as it would definitely reveal his position, and to take them down quietly and unawares was equally difficult. After brief consideration, Bi Fang decided to take a gamble. In the darkness and rain, taking advantage of the guards¡¯ carelessness and panic, Bi Fang lay petrified at the window edge, pressing tightly against the glass, trying to make his body as flat as possible, his breathing barely perceptible, no sign of his chest rising or falling¡ªan act so convincing one might believe he was a corpse! Matthew¡¯s breathing seemed to pause along with Bi Fang¡¯s, but his heart raced madly as the two individuals drew closer, his oxygen rapidly depleting, he should have felt suffocated by now, yet it was as if he had forgotten the matter. Here they come, here they come! Through the drone¡¯s feed, the viewers could clearly see two guards wearing semi-transparent raincoats heading towards another side of the warehouse. They walked directly to the base of the high wall, everyone¡¯s hearts pounding at their peak, nearly bursting from their chests. Bi Fang was right above them, and where a guard should have been was now empty. Would they notice something? The guard who was previously knocked unconscious had already been dragged into the bushes by Matthew, a rookie mistake Bi Fang would naturally not expose. Yet, with such open surroundings, it was similarly prone to arousing suspicion. Yet, seeing no one around, the two guards at the bottom of the wall not only failed to be alert but even mocked the situation. ¡°Has everyone run off?¡± ¡°They¡¯re sure scared, getting this frightened by a small explosion. The last time a rocket launcher exploded right by my feet and I wasn¡¯t this scared. Soma is definitely going to chew us out for not putting out the fire quickly.¡± ¡°Enough, I¡¯ve heard you brag so many times before. If it really exploded right by your feet, would you still be able to talk to me now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s true!¡± Chatting idly, the two gradually walked away. ¡°Phew!¡± A gust of cold wind blew by, sending a shocking chill through the already sweat- and rain-soaked shirt. Matthew gasped for air, and only then did he feel the deadly lack of oxygen, taking deep breaths as his heart was filled with after-fear. ¡°I actually fooled them.¡± [Fuck, that was too thrilling, just like watching a damn ¡®Mission: Impossible¡¯ movie!] [Even movies aren¡¯t this thrilling.] [I took a sip of room-temperature water, then downed a couple of nitroglycerin tablets.] [You even rhymed, bro.] Watching Bi Fang as he got up again to pry the window, the audience couldn¡¯t handle it. It was too much; the thrill was unbearable. Master Fang had guts for sure. Any normal person would be scared to death in this situation, but only Old Fang dared to play dead under the enemy¡¯s nose. You should know, Bi Fang on the wall was practically a live target; one shot toward the top of the wall by the two men and it would have been over, but he actually managed to fool them! No wonder he was the man who could counterattack even Black Bear, his mental strength was impressive! As the two men walked away again, Bi Fang quickly got to his feet, speeding up his movements to remove the third pane of glass from the window and gently placed it aside. All three panes of glass were removed, Bi Fang grabbed the wooden window frames in two places, and with a forceful pull, a slight dismantling noise was heard, and the whole window was torn down, creating an opening that could accommodate an adult. The musty smell in the air grew stronger. Bi Fang stepped into the inside of the warehouse, which was pitch black, and wanted to turn on his flashlight to check the surroundings and see if the floor was even enough for a Fall Protection maneuver. The beam of light shone, illuminating the cold white reflections off the dark metal cages. Shouts of surprise rang out, and Bi Fang immediately turned down his flashlight, issuing a low warning. ¡°Shh! Quiet, everyone!¡± Realizing that the newcomer was somewhat different, the crowd in the warehouse quickly quieted down, without causing too much commotion. Bi Fang waited on the spot for a while to make sure he hadn¡¯t attracted the guard¡¯s attention, then turned to gesture towards the underbrush not far away. The drone immediately rushed over. The images transmitted by the drone left the audience silent, followed by an erupting rage. In the camera¡¯s view was not any single beds or straw mats but small iron-wire cages. Each cage contained two to three, yes, two to three, not one by one, and the increased number of people made the cages seem even smaller. The individuals inside could not stand, only curl up in the corners. Without exception, they were all dirty and disheveled, emaciated, some to the point where it was impossible to tell men from women. These weren¡¯t humans; they were clearly being treated like livestock! Bi Fang gasped in shock, as someone who had been human for two lifetimes, he had never seen such a scene. Directly below him were cages. As Bi Fang dropped down from the high wall, he landed on a cage before carefully making his way to the ground. Perhaps his unique entrance led the captives to surmise something, and Bi Fang could even see some people¡¯s eyes lit up upon his arrival! ¡°Young man¡­ who are you¡­¡± An old hoarse voice sounded. Bi Fang turned around and illuminated the area with the dim LED light at the end of his flashlight, immediately feeling surprised. There was actually an old man? Bi Fang was puzzled, as normally, human traffickers wouldn¡¯t choose this kind of ¡°goods.¡± Children, men, women were all possible, but the elderly were the most useless¡ªthe old, without the physical attraction, even their organs were hardly of any use. Bi Fang looked around and noticed that except for the old man, the others also seemed keen to know his identity but kept silent. This old man was actually the leader! Chapter 362 - Chapter 362: Chapter 360: Cant Grasp Chapter 362: Chapter 360: Can¡¯t Grasp The audience found it somewhat unbelievable to see the elderly man with white hair and a full beard on screen. Was this Bandit Gang really that indiscriminate in who they abducted? Children, young people, middle-aged folk, men, and women all had their uses, but what was the deal with capturing an old man? Was he just there to mooch off free meals? [I get it.] [You get it again?] [What do you get?] [All I can say is those who get it, get it, and those who don¡¯t, I can¡¯t explain too much. I¡¯ve seen this kind of thing a lot. I just want to say, those who understand, understand; those who don¡¯t, I won¡¯t explain further. After all, it¡¯s enough if you know for yourself. Savor the nuances.] [Could it be someone in the Bandit Gangs has a particularly peculiar taste? (Dog¡¯s head)] [Your logic is compelling and convincing.] [Man, are they really so undiscerning in their hunger?] It must be said, netizens really are a group that can crack jokes at any time. Bi Fang was obviously not concerned with these comments. By just observing that only Old Fang questioned him, he understood that this guy was no ordinary man. After Old Fang spoke, no one else asked any more questions, which at least showed that Bi Fang could command their respect. This was a good sign. There was already a leader in place. If he could just deal with the leader, everything else would be much easier to resolve. This approach was far simpler than if Bi Fang had appeared out of nowhere and then tried to organize everyone to follow him. Realizing this, Bi Fang approached Old Fang, reached out to grab the bars of the cage, and began to look for a way to open it, while explaining, ¡°I¡¯m here to rescue you.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Are you here to save us?¡± ¡°Has our country finally remembered us?¡± ¡°Wuwuwu, this is great, we¡¯re finally being saved.¡± ¡°Finally, finally¡­ hahaha.¡± When they heard Bi Fang¡¯s answer, all the people held captive there were moved to tears. Their tear ducts, which had dried up from excessive weeping, seemed to regain life, and tears fell one by one onto the dusty ground, rolling into beads. They didn¡¯t know how long they had been confined here. Often, men or women were dragged out, only to be brought back half-dead. Or perhaps this unending darkness only took a few days to drive someone to nervous exhaustion. Now, learning that they were finally going to be rescued, everyone was tearfully howling with excitement. However, as soon as this man saw someone howling, he immediately shouted for silence, his voice distorted with a hoarse cry. ¡°Quiet, everyone quiet! Do you want to die?¡± Even Old Fang realized something was wrong and quickly signaled everybody to be silent. But it was not easy to calm the surging emotions all at once, and for a while, the warehouse was filled with crying and laughter. Seeing this, Bi Fang cursed quietly to himself, scanned the surroundings, and quickly found a dark corner to hide in. Moments later, the warehouse door busted open with a bang. The already agitated guard cursed loudly without even looking and fired a shot diagonally upwards: ¡°What¡¯s all the noise? The first one to make noise will be the first to go!¡± The sound of the gunshot was more than ten times more effective than any command to stop. Almost instantly, the shouting in the warehouse ceased. The beam of the flashlight swept around the warehouse. Bi Fang, nestled between gaps of two cages, minimized his exposure by shrinking his body. Fortunately, Old Fang, and the others inside the cage were not fools. They pulled several people closer, moving their bodies to block Bi Fang from view. When the beam swept over, it found nothing out of the ordinary. The guard, confirming that nothing was amiss, grunted coldly. These people had cried and made a fuss when they were first brought in, but in less than a day, they had almost all quieted down. Now, fearing that they knew they were being sent away the next morning, they had started crying again. The recent explosion might have also sparked forbidden thoughts in them. After one more warning shot, the guard closed the large door again. The warehouse plunged into darkness, and from the silence, sporadic low sobs could be heard. Soon, the faint LED lights flickered on once more. ¡°Whew.¡± Bi Fang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. He was so close to being discovered just now, if not for his quick reaction, he would have been spotted for sure, trapped in the middle of the warehouse with no way to fly away. Looking at the several people quietly weeping, he offered a few helpless words of comfort. Seeing this, the old man in the cage asked, ¡°Are you really here to rescue us?¡± ¡°Why would I lie to you?¡± Bi Fang examined the iron cage in front of him, finding it not too difficult to open, and wondered where the Bandit Gangs had gotten so many cages from¡ªa breeding farm, perhaps? The old man perked up immediately upon confirmation: ¡°How many of you are there? The explosion just now was your doing, wasn¡¯t it? Did the military come? No, no, that can¡¯t be right, if it were the military, they (the Bandit Gangs) would have fled by now. Not many people? Is it a small team? There are at least a dozen guards outside, and the entire Bandit Gang has around fifty members. Isn¡¯t a small team a bit risky? You might have plenty of gunpowder, but it won¡¯t stand up to their numbers. I suggest that you first¡­¡± The old man rambled on, clearly an experienced man, doling out analysis after analysis, even offering advice, but before he could finish, the man in front of him waved his hand to interrupt him as he pulled wire cutters from the bag and said. ¡°What small team, there¡¯s just two of us.¡± ¡°Then just take them and¡­ uh, uh-uh.¡± The old man, caught up in his excitement, suddenly choked up, almost unable to believe his ears, and after clearing them out, he whispered incredulously, ¡°Two of you?¡± ¡°Two.¡± Seeing that the other party seemed somewhat unreliable, Bi Fang added, ¡°To be exact, there¡¯s actually only one of us who can move, the other one, aside from providing information, is pretty much like you guys, and might already be keeping you company right now.¡± [Matthew¡¯s reputation has taken a hit] [Matthew: That¡¯s right, I¡¯m just a giveaway with the phone bill] [The one leading the way is none other than my cameraman, Matthew!] [How can you say that? Matthew is Old Fang¡¯s biggest fan, chasing stars all the way to the battlefield. Without him, how could we capture Master Fang¡¯s valiant image? He¡¯s the soul of the team.] [A fan with a camera is not a good journalist.] The old man seemed reluctant to believe: ¡°The explosion just now?¡± ¡°You could think of it as us blowing up a septic tank, but it was actually an explosion of gases like methane and hydrogen sulfide. I was just responsible for lighting a fire.¡± With the wire cut, Bi Fang put on gloves, grabbed the wire mesh, and tore it fiercely to make a large hole. The audience was puzzled, if it could be torn open so easily, how were these people confined in the first place? ¡°Wire mesh can only be torn this way if there¡¯s already a hole. It¡¯s like the snack packages we eat, which always have a small notch or serrated pattern to make it easy to tear open. Otherwise, it¡¯s very difficult to tear. And it¡¯s not just these cages that kept them confined, the people outside are the key.¡± While explaining, Bi Fang had already torn a hole in the cage large enough for an adult to pass through. Although it was odd that Bi Fang specifically took the time to explain this, the old man didn¡¯t care about it at the moment, what he cared about more was whether the other party could truly get them out? If they failed halfway, their fate could end up worse than before. Thinking this, the old man grabbed Bi Fang¡¯s wrist and asked seriously, ¡°What exactly is your plan for rescuing us?¡± Bi Fang was momentarily taken aback, then looked around and saw that many didn¡¯t dare meet his gaze, and suddenly understood. Human nature is unpredictable, and if he can¡¯t articulate a rescue plan now, these people might betray him before he could even begin the rescue. Strictly speaking, this isn¡¯t malice, all living beings have the instinct to preserve themselves. If Bi Fang¡¯s appearance was like a hero descending from the heavens, filling all the captives with immense relief, when they learned that there were only two rescuers, that relief turned back into despair. If they failed to escape or didn¡¯t get away successfully, their fate would be worse than if they had never attempted to escape. Chapter 363 - Chapter 363: Chapter 361 Congested Sewer Chapter 363: Chapter 361 Congested Sewer Facing the old man¡¯s question, Bi Fang simply took out a map from his bosom and displayed the complex network of sewer lines to everyone present. ¡°We came here all the way from the adjacent sewer without anyone noticing us. At the same time, all the guards in the southeast direction of the warehouse have left, and the only one remaining has already been taken care of. This is your best chance. Believe it or not, it¡¯s up to you. If you want to leave, you can tell me now; if you don¡¯t, then I will take everyone who wants to leave. But if anyone is thinking of snitching¡­¡± Bi Fang¡¯s gaze swept around the room, and even in the dim environment, an invisible pressure seemed to emerge. Each person who met his gaze lowered their heads. At that moment, they felt as though they were in a confined space with someone swinging a flail. Even though they were confident that the flail wouldn¡¯t hit them, fear still spread in their hearts. ¡°You can try.¡± ¡°Cough cough, since that¡¯s the case, I definitely want to leave. If someone really wants to stay, they¡¯d better think clearly about what they are doing.¡± Seeing the atmosphere growing tense, the old man quickly coughed twice to lighten the mood and set the tone, meanwhile giving Bi Fang a nod of approval. The rest of the people no longer had objections, which made Bi Fang even more curious about the man¡¯s identity. After tossing the wire mesh aside, he couldn¡¯t help but inquire about the old man¡¯s identity. Supported by two younger men, the old man emerged from the cage and declared astonishingly, ¡°I am the Chieftain here.¡± Bi Fang frowned. The Chieftain? The viewers in front of the screen were even more puzzled. Wasn¡¯t Abbascan part of the Commonwealth Country? Where did this chieftain come from? Bi Fang, having researched Abbascan thoroughly before the departure, had some clarity. The actual period of Abbascan¡¯s independence was, in fact, not very long. Therefore, even though it was part of the Commonwealth Country, some areas still retained a rather primitive chieftain system, though their actual influence had become minimal. Moreover, the title of chieftain could signify varying levels of authority ¨C at its most significant, one could be the ruler of a nation, while at its most minor, it might be just a tribal leader. It seemed that this man was more than just a minor tribal leader. If he were, it was unlikely he would command such high esteem among this group of people. Three people had been freed, and the actions that followed quickened. Bi Fang took out several wire cutters from his bag and instructed two young men to open the remaining cages. Bi Fang had brought more than one wire cutter, so the more people they rescued, the faster they could solve the problem. He then moved to the warehouse door and pushed the cage that had held the old man against it. With only himself before, it had been easy to hide; but now that so many people were released, if they were suddenly checked, it would be game over. As a precaution, Bi Fang quickly pulled out a length of hemp rope, climbed back onto the high wall using the cage for support, and removed the window frame he had placed earlier. He stood on its base and disassembled it into five wooden sticks¡ªtwo long and three short. He took two long sticks and crossed them into a shape of a cross, tying them securely with rope, thus creating a simple crucifix. Bi Fang placed the crucifix in the corner of the window, gave it a forceful tug, and seeing the cross hold steady, he nodded in satisfaction. Outside the high wall, without the cage to step on, the height was close to four meters. Anyone without proper training could easily get hurt from the descent. Any sprained ankle could drastically slow down the tempo of the group, and if someone involuntarily cried out in pain, that would be even more trouble. Seeing Bi Fang¡¯s organized and methodical rescue operation instilled confidence in the people. Thus, they accelerated the pace of liberating the others. When everyone had been rescued, Bi Fang was the first to leave the warehouse. He surveyed the surroundings, and after confirming once more that there was no one below the high wall, he tossed a pebble into the bushes to signal Matthew to get ready. He then prepared the trapped individuals for evacuation. ¡°Women and children go first, then the disabled, and finally, the healthy men. Remember, as long as you are not discovered, you must wait for the person ahead to enter the bush before the next one appears. The more people outside, the greater the risk of exposure. The smaller the target, the better to hide.¡± After making the arrangements, Bi Fang turned to the old man and said, ¡°You stay with me until the end.¡± Bi Fang wanted the old man to hold the rear to prevent being stabbed in the back by his own people. Moreover, the old man was more familiar with the others and could arrange things better. The old man nodded his head, clearly aware of this and had no objections. Now they were all in the same boat, and there was no need to be wary of anything. As the first woman appeared, Bi Fang helped her onto the iron cage and brought her to the edge of the high wall. He went down first and then instructed the woman to carefully slide down the wall while holding onto the rope. ¡°Keep your center of gravity low, don¡¯t be scared. It¡¯s just four meters; even if you fall, you¡¯ll be fine. Your movements must be steady and quick!¡± Perhaps due to long-term malnutrition, the muscles in the woman¡¯s arms had visibly atrophied. Her hands trembled as she held the rope, making Bi Fang worry she might fall straight down. He stayed below, ready to catch her carefully. Fortunately, maybe the hope of survival gave everyone new strength, and this situation did not occur; the woman landed successfully. When she stepped onto the solid and open ground, the woman could hardly contain her excitement and almost cried out. Bi Fang quickly covered her mouth. ¡°Don¡¯t cry, don¡¯t shout, we haven¡¯t escaped yet!¡± Thinking of the ferocious Bandit Gangs filled the woman¡¯s heart with fear once again. She nodded frantically, and Bi Fang then let go, allowing her to run toward the bushes. Matthew, who had been hiding all along, immediately stood up, grabbed the newcomer, and pulled her into the bushes. Seeing a figure suddenly appear in the bushes, the woman was almost frightened into making a noise, but she quickly remembered that this was the comrade the other had mentioned and allowed him to take her hand. Indeed, that was the case. Matthew led the woman to a curb beside them, pushed open a manhole cover, and instructed her to go down. As the woman disappeared, Bi Fang immediately called for the next one. Quickly, one, two¡­ Time passed by, and the audience in front of the screen grew more tense. It had been over half an hour since the first explosion. The fire in the distance had started to diminish, and the shouting had lessened significantly, all of which proved that the situation was under control and they didn¡¯t have much time left. During the rescue, there was even a small incident when a guard from next door appeared again. Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t because he had noticed anything amiss; he simply wanted to find a secluded spot to relieve himself, which scared Matthew into pressing someone down in the bushes, daring not to make a move. Thankfully, until the figure left, he didn¡¯t notice anything unusual in the bushes. The previous method Bi Fang had instructed, to escape one by one, had proven its superiority. Though slow, it was secretive and stable, and any small issues that arose were completely within control. If everyone had run out at once in a line, there was no way they could have stayed hidden. Not until the last of the people from the warehouse had entered the sewer and only Bi Fang and the old man remained did everyone finally breathe a sigh of relief. My, surely we¡¯re safe now, right? Chapter 364 - Chapter 364: Chapter 362: Picking Up the Goods Chapter 364: Chapter 362: Picking Up the Goods ¡°On fire?¡± On deck, a man dressed in a black combat suit put down his binoculars, touching his chin and deeply furrowing his brow. The blaze from the shipyard in the dark night was visible even from half a nautical mile away, and it was still raining, although much less heavily, which was enough to prove the fierceness of the fire across. Through the binoculars, one could even make out the figures fleeing in the light of the flames. Today was the day agreed upon by both parties for the final transaction, but it seemed there might have been a little accident? ¡°A bunch of incompetents, how could they be reliable.¡± The man¡¯s subordinate snorted coldly beside him, clearly looking down on these bumpkins, but the man raised his arm, quietly hushing, stopping the other¡¯s next words while spreading his open palm, and a satellite phone was immediately passed to him. The man took the phone, adeptly dialed a number, and after barely half a minute, the slightly flustered figure on the other end picked up. ¡°Mr. Angelo, are you calling to check on the goods? Don¡¯t worry, everything is fine, no problems at all, I am personally supervising the security¡­¡± ¡°Please stop there.¡± The man cut off the other¡¯s words, his friendly tone nevertheless containing an undeniable insistence, causing the person on the other end of the line to wisely shut his mouth. ¡°I am not here to inquire about the situation. In fact, Mr. Maasai, our ship is about to enter the port, we are here to pick up the goods. Mr. Maasai, please have your men start the inventory.¡± ¡°Pick up, pick up the goods?¡± The Boss of the Bandit Gangs absolutely didn¡¯t expect the other party to pick up the goods at this time; they had clearly agreed on eight o¡¯clock in the morning. The previous transactions had all been punctual, why this time¡­ ¡°Mr. Maasai! The transaction is ahead of schedule, do you understand?¡± ¡°Uh, okay, okay, I understand, Mr. Angelo. I¡¯ll give the orders right now, your goods will be ready for direct loading before you enter the port.¡± ¡°Good, then I¡¯ll see you in a bit.¡± ¡°See you in a bit.¡± After hanging up the phone, Sisko took out his service gun, disassembled it, checked it, and finally pulled bullets out of his pocket, one by one loading them into the magazine, the release lever snapping the magazine into place with a crisp sound. His subordinates behind him did the same, as all the men in combat suits methodically chambered their rounds. Under the pitch-black night sky, the entire ship was devoid of any careless noises. This wasn¡¯t their first transaction; since the previous two times, the quality and quantity of the goods had markedly deteriorated, unerringly signaling that Yimen¡¯s potential had reached its limit. This was going to be their last transaction. Meanwhile, the Boss of the Bandit Gangs, after hanging up the phone, felt a vague unease about the premature transaction, but as he looked at the significantly smaller fire outside the window, his heart gradually settled down. Maybe it was the explosion that had unsettled him. After all, they had dealt many times before with no issues, and he had received all the money in full. Perhaps the last transaction would be the same, and maybe it was the other side who had some problems and wanted to move ahead of schedule? Maasai was well aware that the living population in this city was dwindling, and this delivery, he could barely scramble together fifty people at Stone Peak. After this score, there probably wouldn¡¯t be much left to gain, so this was his last haul. After this one last haul, Maasai was thinking of calling it quits, then he could take the money and head to Hawaii, where nobody would have a say over him. Crushing out his cigarette butt, Maasai grabbed the coat from the back of the chair and walked outside, signaling to a few of the lackeys nearby, ¡°Let¡¯s go, call back the firefighters, there¡¯s no need to control it anymore, after we load this batch of goods, we¡¯re leaving immediately.¡± Loading the goods? Wasn¡¯t it supposed to be tomorrow morning? The underlings harbored doubts, but seeing the boss¡¯s mood, they knew he was upset and wisely refrained from asking more. Approaching the warehouse entrance, Maasai looked at the mere four or five people guarding it and his face darkened, ¡°Didn¡¯t I arrange for more than a dozen? Why are there only so few now? Huh?¡± The guard at the warehouse entrance felt his heart skip a beat as he trotted over obsequiously, ¡°No, Boss, there were more than a dozen originally, but didn¡¯t an explosion just happen? The brothers were startled as well, and since it¡¯s only a hundred or two meters away, just a few steps and we¡¯d be there. Everyone was afraid the fire would spread here, so we dispatched some to put out the fire. Don¡¯t worry, Boss. Before leaving, the brothers checked; everyone was present, not a single one less. And except for these two hours, we¡¯ve always had at least ten brothers here, there won¡¯t be any problems.¡± Maasai was somewhat skeptical, ¡°Is that really so?¡± Faced with Maasai¡¯s doubt, the guard immediately swore, ¡°Absolutely true, I wouldn¡¯t dare lie to you. If anything goes wrong, just shoot me dead, and I won¡¯t say a word!¡± ¡°Hmph, it better be like that. Hurry up and open the door, we need to load the goods!¡± The guard chuckled awkwardly, immediately took out the keys, and tried to unlock the warehouse door. The padlock sprang open with a crisp sound, but when the guard tried to push the door, he was stunned. A resistance he had never felt before emanated from the door, causing his heart to throb violently twice. He immediately exerted more force, but after several tries, he still couldn¡¯t open it! Maasai grew impatient, ¡°What are you doing? Dilly-dallying?¡± ¡°Well, maybe the warehouse is in disrepair. Look, these hinges are all rusted and stuck.¡± Sweat appeared on the guard¡¯s forehead, but it was unclear if it was rain or perspiration. His voice seemed to tremble as he spoke, then he pushed even harder. Seeing that something was not right, the other few guards also stepped forward to help, but even with three people pushing, the door remained unresponsive and only moved a little bit. The guard¡¯s heart raced wildly, his throat felt as if it was on fire, and he wanted to say something but couldn¡¯t speak. The next second, he was suddenly kicked aside. ¡°Move!¡± Maasai kicked the guard to the ground, his face filled with rage as he commanded the minions behind him, ¡°What are you all standing around for, help me open this door!¡± A dozen people immediately swarmed up, all squeezing in front of the door, pushing hard. The grating sound of sliding erupted, the door trembled violently, then became much easier to move. Beams of flashlight desperately shot through the gap into the warehouse. The cold iron cages reflected a chilling light, and pieces of broken wire mesh lay scattered on the floor. The cages were empty! Maasai¡¯s slightly obese body squeezed through the gap like rubber, his stretched clothes torn by wooden splinters, even drawing blood, but he was completely indifferent. The veins on his forehead throbbed violently in anger as Maasai pushed open one cage after another. Empty, empty, all of them empty! Maasai exuded a terrifying aura, grabbing an iron rod and fiercely smashing it onto the head of a nearby guard. His eyes were red like an infuriated bull. The guard hit with such anger didn¡¯t even let out a scream before collapsing limply to the ground. ¡°Search! Everyone, find them all!¡± ¡°If you can¡¯t find them, you¡¯ll be the ones to answer for it!¡± A lightning bolt forked through the clouds, flashing and booming overhead. The fire at the shipyard gradually extinguished under the cover of the rain. The rain grew heavier. Chapter 365 - Chapter 365: Chapter 363: Fireworks Fill the Sky Chapter 365: Chapter 363: Fireworks Fill the Sky The shrill alarm cut through the sky, echoing throughout the shipyard like the howling specter of a frenzied ghost. Originally meant to signal air raids, the alarm was now used to alert all the bandit gangs to capture the fleeing ¡°goods.¡± The whole shipyard burst into activity; the world was filled with the rustling sound of the rain, the pounding of footsteps back and forth, the clacking of loading ammunition¡ªall overwhelming Maasai¡¯s head to the point of explosion. He grabbed his sleeve, looked at the second hand of his watch, and each tick tormented and judged him. It had to be now, of all times. If only he had one more night, Maasai wouldn¡¯t be so vexed. How much time did he have left? Half an hour? Or only ten minutes? Wiping the spray from his face, Maasai screamed at the top of his lungs, ¡°Hurry, hurry, grab them all back! Not one less, if we¡¯re short one, I¡¯ll use you to substitute!¡± ¡°Wait, here, there seem to be traces here! A lot of people have gone through!¡± ¡°The shrubs are all trampled, they¡¯ve fled that way! Who was guarding here? Who?¡± ¡°The culvert, they must¡¯ve gone into the sewers!¡± A flash of lightning streaked across the night sky, followed by thunder so loud it was deafening. ¡­ Standing alone at the bow of the ship, Sisko heard the alarm and lifted his hood; the rain swiftly streamed down his face. ¡°Has something really happened?¡± he murmured. The situation was not beyond his expectations. If the fire had been an accident, then the alarm had just confirmed an answer: the real drama was only just beginning. ¡­ ¡°Quick, quick, move faster, hold hands, don¡¯t fall down! Don¡¯t be scared, they haven¡¯t caught up; just a little faster, and we¡¯ll be out, once we¡¯re out, we¡¯ll be safe.¡± In the narrow passage, Bi Fang urged everyone to evacuate quickly upon hearing the alarm, but despite the distance, the sharp piercing sound still reached everyone¡¯s ears. Many screamed in panic and pain but quickly recovered with Bi Fang¡¯s urging, trembling but continuing to escape. A total of fifty-three people held hands in a long line, weaving through the wet, mossy path. If anyone slipped and fell towards the ditch, the two people beside them would pull them back in time to prevent accidents. ¡°Why are we going this way? It¡¯s too narrow, isn¡¯t it? If we retrace our steps, we could move a lot faster.¡± Matthew followed Bi Fang closely, reeking from head to toe, afraid that he would slip and fall back into the stinking gutter, from whence the stench on him had just come. ¡°Our tracks from fleeing can¡¯t actually be covered up. If they take some time, those people will surely catch up. By then, we will be very passive. They will definitely follow our footprints. Once they get here, the bandit gangs¡¯ numerical advantage will be gone, as they, too, will have to stick to the walls to move forward, with only a few at the front able to act. But if they follow the direction we came from, their pursuit will be very swift, and we will have to face a large number of people!¡± From the warehouse to the small waterway, everyone had used the shrubs to conceal their trails well, and before discovery, it served as the best cover. But once the search started on a large scale, traces on the mud, soaked by the rain, would easily reveal their whereabouts, and those muddied and numerous footprints couldn¡¯t be hidden. A downside of concrete is that once stained with colored slurry, it is difficult to clean without the aid of a high-pressure water jet, inevitably leaving a trace. The muddy traces ended at the manhole cover; anyone with a bit of brains could figure out what that meant. Bi Fang never considered himself the smartest, but even within the worthless bandit gangs, there were definitely smart ones. Right now, he had no doubt that someone was already on their tail. Later, in the narrow passage, both sides would be constricted, but compared to the bandit gangs whose real fighting power rested solely on Bi Fang, such terrain clearly imposed more restrictions, and numerical advantage would be useless. ¡°In other countries, the probability of a fugitive being recaptured within 72 hours after breaking out of jail is less than five percent, because after 72 hours, the range of movement for the escapee is too vast,¡± ¡°making it extremely difficult to conduct the search and thus lowering the odds of finding them. A very specific analysis of the mode of transportation used by the escapee, the radius of their activity, and the range of the search personnel is required.¡± ¡°Although we¡¯re not fugitives, the situation we¡¯re in is not much different. Therefore, the earlier it is, the easier we are to be caught. We must be very careful. The longer we hold out, the less likely they are to find us. Conversely, because it¡¯s so easy to be caught in the early stages, we must be on our guard. That¡¯s why I chose to take the linear conduit. Once we get to the front and reemerge from the shipyard, the chances they¡¯ll catch us drop a lot.¡± [Master Fang is awesome! Crush them!] [It¡¯s all in the details] [Wori, damn exciting, full of traps everywhere!] In the pitch-black waterway, shafts of light from several flashlights scattered around, making the atmosphere the viewers felt both tense and thrilling, as if they were in a large-scale battle royal. Bi Fang led the group around a corner, continuing to move forward. According to the imagery in his memory, they only needed to walk another five hundred meters to reach the exterior of the shipyard. By then, when they got out, they could truly be free as birds in the sky. ¡°Everyone, hurry up. Only five hundred meters left. In five hundred meters, we can escape! When we get out, don¡¯t scatter. Follow me closely; that¡¯s your only chance to be completely safe. If you run by yourselves, you might still get caught. Tomorrow morning, a boat will come to pick us up, and we will be completely safe!¡± On hearing that a boat would come to pick them up the next morning, the spirits of the more than fifty people on site perked up, and despite being chronically malnourished, they still found strength surging within them. Even the old man felt that his chronic leg arthritis had greatly improved. But just as everyone thought they were about to be safe, a series of hurried and chaotic footsteps came from the passage behind them. Matthew¡¯s heart skipped a beat, but just as he was about to stick his head out to look, Bi Fang pulled him back. ¡°Don¡¯t stick your head out!¡± After pulling Matthew back, Bi Fang leaned against the wall with a handgun in his hand, pondering a solution. With a splash, a sound of someone falling into water suddenly echoed. Shouts and curses reverberated through the entire passage. ¡°Damn it, pull him up fast!¡± ¡°Quick, quick, pull him up, go!¡± After several arguments, two more splashes followed. Soon afterward, the sounds grew closer, but then they became much quieter. The audience and the people present all breathed a sigh of relief, and Bi Fang also felt at ease. The route had been carefully planned by Bi Fang beforehand. He had everyone hold hands, partly to avoid falling into the water and slowing down, and partly because this route contained many side passages. Without this measure, it would have been easy for people to get dispersed. A dozen minutes later, those walking against the wall finally saw the vertical shaft. Matthew immediately climbed the metal ladder and called for others to follow. After Bi Fang was the last one out, the heavy iron cover closed again. The sewer was plunged back into darkness. But just as Bi Fang stood up, in the direction of the shipyard not far away, a column of fire burst into the sky. The flames, which had been on the verge of dying out, blazed fiercely once more. Chapter 366 - Chapter 366: Chapter 364: Ten Seconds Chapter 366: Chapter 364: Ten Seconds ¡°WHAT THE FUCK?¡± Matthew looked toward the nearby shipyard, a confused expression on his face. Bi Fang climbed out of the vertical shaft, scratching his head uncontrollably as he listened to the distant sounds of gunfire. What was going on? Who were the Bandit Gangs fighting against? Had Abbascan suddenly freed up his hands and sent reinforcements? [Could it be that the heavens had eyes and sent someone to wipe out the Bandit Gangs?] [Could it be Abbascan¡¯s men who had arrived? Maybe Old Fang should ask?] [Has the battle situation changed this quickly? They said yesterday that they couldn¡¯t spare the forces, only able to send fishing boats to pick us up, and today they are able to bomb with cannons?] [Modern Warfare.jpg] ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that for now, whatever the case, it¡¯s a good opportunity for us to get out of here. Let¡¯s retreat!¡± The current intelligence didn¡¯t help Bi Fang make sense of the sounds of gunfire, but he didn¡¯t ponder it further. The crisis hadn¡¯t yet touched them, and it seemed like the Bandit Gangs were having trouble, which was the perfect chance for them to make a complete escape. ¡°Right, right, run, everyone run!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t scatter and run blindly! Stick close to me, and we¡¯ll be able to leave Yemen by tomorrow, otherwise, we¡¯ll be caught and hauled back!¡± Matthew led the way at the front, while Bi Fang took up the rear position of the procession to ensure no one got lost or fell behind. With the raging fire at the shipyard lifting the constraints of the terrain, the group started to sprint wildly and quickly distanced themselves from the area. However, upon passing a building, Bi Fang suddenly stopped in his tracks and stared in shock at the other side of the narrow passageway. The audience was the first to notice this scene, asking in succession what had happened and why he had suddenly stopped. Feeling that the beam of light from the flashlight behind him had disappeared, Matthew at the forefront realized something was amiss, stopped in his tracks, and turned back to see Bi Fang who had paused. ¡°What¡¯s happened?¡± Matthew ran back while asking, but only saw Bi Fang pointing down the alleyway and looked in that direction. Under the night sky, the sea surged restlessly. A black boat cut through the black waters, leaving behind white foam, and huge boat lights pierced the sky as thunder rumbled across tumbling dark clouds. A fishing boat? ¡°Someone¡¯s fishing?¡± Matthew exclaimed in surprise, but then immediately found the idea absurd. How could there be fishing at sea under these circumstances? Wouldn¡¯t the boat have been bombed to pieces only a few miles out? ¡°It can¡¯t possibly be a fishing boat.¡± On this point, Bi Fang and Matthew¡¯s views were aligned; this could not and would not be a fishing boat. If it wasn¡¯t a fishing boat, what was it doing here at this time? ¡°Could it really be that Abbascan actually managed to free up his hands and even arrived ahead of time?¡± ¡°Impossible. I haven¡¯t received any news here,¡± replied Bi Fang, pointing to the drone. If there was any news, he would definitely know. The ship they saw now didn¡¯t belong to Abbascan, so where on earth had it come from? Both men immediately realized the implications. Matthew¡¯s eyes widened with realization: ¡°Are they picking up ¡®goods¡¯ ahead of schedule?¡± Bi Fang affirmed, ¡°That¡¯s the only possibility!¡± ¡°A mutiny?¡± Connecting this to the current sounds of gunfire, Matthew became excited. A mutiny would be great, both sides hurting each other, sending these scumbags to meet God! ¡°No, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a mutiny; it¡¯s more like a silencing,¡± Bi Fang squinted his eyes. The act of picking up ¡®goods¡¯ ahead of schedule was suspicious on its own. Moreover, he was very clear: before the rescue plan had started, this ship didn¡¯t exist at all, meaning that the other party had arrived here within a mere two hours and then the conflict had broken out. The timing seemed too rushed, more like a premeditated plan. ¡°I need to have a look.¡± ¡°Are you out of your mind?¡± Matthew nearly screamed, clutching desperately at Bi Fang¡¯s sleeve, seriously doubting if Bi Fang had lost his will to live. Bi Fang shook off Matthew¡¯s hand and asked seriously, ¡°Where do you think the people picking up ¡®goods¡¯ might sell them?¡± ¡°How should I know¡­¡± Matthew didn¡¯t want to answer, but upon seeing Bi Fang¡¯s eyes, hesitated and replied, ¡°They could be sold to Southeast Asia, Ugly Country, or Black Mexico.¡± ¡°Do you think these Bandit Gangs can manage that?¡± Bi Fang challenged Matthew in return. The behavior they were witnessing was beyond what a mere local gang could accomplish. In fact, they were only responsible for the supply of ¡®goods¡¯, and knew nothing about the channels. The illegal sale of a single heart could fetch as much as three hundred thousand ugly dollars. With such massive profits at stake, it was more likely that a transnational syndicate was involved. If Bi Fang could get back, even just snapping a photo could expose this group to the light of day, and this act would have far greater significance than resolving the fate of just a handful of people. [Why am I not surprised at all, and even find it expected?] [Here it comes, the familiar feeling is back.] [Ah, this, ah this, I have no doubts that the man before me is the true Master Fang.] Matthew fell silent. Bi Fang patted his collar, ¡°You take them and continue along the route we planned earlier; I¡¯ll catch up with you.¡± With that, he ran towards the shipyard ablaze with fire without looking back. Matthew was stunned for a moment before cursing under his breath. ¡°Damn it!¡± ¡°Everyone follow me, speed up!¡± ¡­ Inside the shipyard, the situation was even more exaggerated than during the earlier explosion, with fully armed soldiers split into teams of three scouring every corner of the shipyard. Each of them was armed, firing mercilessly upon sighting someone, and many from the Bandit Gangs were laid to the ground the instant they showed up. Gunfire was deafening, so much so that Maasai thought he was on the eastern front facing off against legions. He was completely speechless, only able to stare wide-eyed at the Angelo before him. ¡°Mr. Maasai, I have said that this was going to be our last collaboration,¡± Sisko said as he lifted the hem of his garment as if to shake off the stains. Unfortunately, what stained it was blood, not dust. Upon hearing Sisko start to speak, Maasai finally snapped back to reality and hastily said, ¡°I can still capture them, still, this time it was just bad luck that let them escape, next time it definitely won¡¯t happen, a hundred, no, two hundred! Next time I can capture two hundred, and at least half of them young and strong men, Mr. Angelo, believe me, please believe me!¡± Before these men, the thugs from the Bandit Gangs were like defenseless kittens, their weapons more akin to obsolete fireplace pokers from the First World War, each one disheartening Maasai and leaving him only to plead for the forgiveness of the man before him. Even now, Maasai believed it was this failed delivery that had brought disaster upon him. ¡°Don¡¯t you understand yet, Mr. Maasai? A single failed delivery means nothing to us. The final deal is the final deal. Besides, I am not really called Angelo; please call me Sisko.¡± Sisko¡¯s face was illuminated by the fire, looking down unemotionally at Maasai who had collapsed to the ground from exhaustion, not moved in the slightest as he engaged the safety on his pistol. Hearing these words, Maasai¡¯s face was filled with defeat. Just as everyone thought he had given up hope, suddenly, a flash of fire lit up, revealing his fierce face. But then, Sisko¡¯s next words completely drained Maasai of his courage to resist, ¡°I¡¯m giving you one more chance, ten seconds. After ten seconds, I will only fire once. Whether you survive or not, I leave that to God.¡± Maasai blinked, ten seconds? What did that mean? The subordinates behind Sisko all smiled simultaneously; they knew what it meant. Before Maasai could ponder it further, Sisko on the other side had already begun counting down in a tone as steady as a clock. ¡°One.¡± ¡°FUCK!¡± Maasai had no time to think and scrambled to his feet, but the pebbles underfoot made him slip, and his bulky body fell to the ground again, his trembling fat rippling like waves. ¡°Two.¡± Ignoring the fresh blood on his palms and pain in his knees, Maasai struggled to his feet once more. ¡°Three.¡± ¡°Run, run fast.¡± At this moment, Maasai burst into the fastest sprint of his life, faster even than when he was sixteen and raced a hundred meters in front of a girl he liked. He even thought, for a moment, that he could give Bolt a run for his money. Indeed, it¡¯s said that human potential is merciless, and when Sisko counted to ten, even Maasai, who weighed over two hundred kilos, had run nearly seventy meters. Looking at Maasai, who had nearly become a dot in the distance, Sisko¡¯s lips curved slightly. ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°To have made it¡­ Ugh! How, how is that possible!¡± Maasai¡¯s eyes widened; his life ended as a bullet with tremendous kinetic energy entered his body, leaving a smoking bullet hole in that bloated torso, a spray of blood carrying with it flecks of pink fat. Sisko approached Maasai at a leisurely pace. Maasai looked down, struggling to glance at the bullet hole, and looking up at Sisko¡¯s blurry figure, he said only, ¡°One day, you, you will end up the same¡­ as me!¡± Reaching Maasai¡¯s side, Sisko tipped his hat with the gun, smiling, ¡°Well, I hope that day comes later rather than sooner.¡± ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Gurgle.¡± Bi Fang leaned against the wall, feeling the multitude of crossfiring bullets brushing past the wall, a cold sweat sliding down his temple. He swallowed his saliva, filled with disbelief. Performance in terms of shooting precision, the handgun is far less accurate than rifles and machine guns, due to its short sighting baseline and lack of a stable shooting platform. In real combat, the effective range is typically only between 5 and 20 meters. Most trained soldiers could only guarantee the precision of handgun shots at a range of 25 meters. To ensure accuracy at 50 meters, only a few sharpshooters can hit a stationary target, and if the target is moving, the difficulty multiplies. Over sixty meters, in dim light, a single shot hit. Impossible! Chapter 367 - Chapter 367: Chapter 365: Breakthrough Task, Return to the Wilderness Chapter 367: Chapter 365: Breakthrough Task, Return to the Wilderness Dockside. The morning fog was thick. The people who had escaped from the warehouse were lying exhausted inside a vacant apartment building, quietly waiting for the arrival of the rescue boat. Matthew stepped out of the apartment building, wiped the damp steps, and sat down with a plonk next to Bi Fang, seeing him still fiddling with the drone, he asked curiously, ¡°So, can you see anything clearly?¡± Bi Fang hung his hands low, sighed, and handed over the drone: ¡°No use, it¡¯s too dark, plus the glare from the flames. Can only see half a face no matter how I adjust it.¡± Matthew took the drone and, even after adjusting it numerous times, still felt disappointment knowing the situation; he squinted at the screen but could discern nothing. The firelight cast on the sharp contours of the man¡¯s face, where sensitivity and sharpness interwove, the bridge of his high nose casting a shadow while one of his eyes was veiled in darkness, the other cold and expressionless. Last night¡¯s blaze had seen Bi Fang risk his life to return and capture footage, witnessing the leader of the men use a pistol to dispatch the bandit leader from sixty meters away and catch half of his side profile. [With half a face, we should be able to reconstruct the image, right? Technology is so powerful now.] [A bit challenging, I do this for a living, it involves light and shadow imaging, as well as 3D light sense and analysis of muscles and skeleton¡­ all of which I¡¯m embellishing.] [Goodness, woke up this morning and saw it¡¯s on trending, this guy¡¯s never gonna be able to show his face again (dog¡¯s head).] [I saw it too, the guy who was photographed must be totally confused; anyone who knows him would recognize him.] [Won¡¯t Old Fang be subject to retaliation?] [emmmmm, that does make some sense.] [Afraid of what? Bring them on, Old Fang will smash them all to bits.] ¡°Too bad the drone was spotted, couldn¡¯t capture more footage.¡± Bi Fang was somewhat annoyed; last night, leaning against a wall, he let the drone fly out to film, but the opponent was too well-prepared, even having infrared sensing equipment. The drone was discovered and shot at before it got close, and he had no choice but to run. In the end, it was a close call without any harm done, and Sisko, not yielding any results from the search, could only lead everyone to return. Matthew patted Bi Fang on the shoulder to comfort him, ¡°It¡¯s okay, at least we know he¡¯s Caucasian, right?¡± Bi Fang let out a wry smile, was about to say something, but suddenly stood up. Matthew thought something unexpected had happened and quickly scrambled to his feet, then saw the mist churn suddenly, and a black prow emerged through the mist before their eyes. Matthew exclaimed in alarm, ¡°Is that the one from yesterday?¡± ¡°No, it isn¡¯t.¡± Bi Fang let go of the drone, allowed it to hover above their heads, and swiftly calculated the size of the boat based on the bow, ¡°It¡¯s much smaller than yesterday¡¯s, not the same one.¡± Realizing it wasn¡¯t the same boat, Matthew paused momentarily but quickly caught on, shouting in surprise. ¡°The rescue boat!¡± ¡°Rescue boat?¡± ¡°Has the rescue boat arrived?¡± ¡°The rescue boat is here!¡± Matthew¡¯s shouting stirred the drowsy people, who were now wide awake, all sticking their heads out of the windows, looking at the distant boat, filled with excitement. ¡°Hush, don¡¯t make noise.¡± In the midst of excitement, Bi Fang threw cold water on the situation, ¡°It¡¯s not certain if it¡¯s a rescue boat yet, hide first and let the boat come closer.¡± Hearing Bi Fang¡¯s words, the previously thrilled crowd sobered up as if doused with cold water, recalling the terrifying scene from last night. A cold wind blew as they withdrew their heads, leaving only their eyes to silently watch. Bi Fang, however, ran a bit further, reaching higher ground, and watched the vessel adorned with letters approach slowly. From its appearance, it was undoubtedly a fishing boat, yet the information provided by Abbascan was consistent. Once docked, several soldiers disembarked from the fishing boat and quickly noticed Bi Fang standing on the high ground. The soldiers seemed to recognize Bi Fang, saluting him at first glance, then one of them detached from the group, unloaded his rifle, handed it to a comrade, and ran alone toward the high ground. Seeing this, Bi Fang¡¯s heart finally eased. It was over. ¡­ The drone soared into the sky, the sky clear as crystal following last night¡¯s rain, a vast expanse of blue. ¡°Saved over fifty people, how does that feel?¡± Matthew, in his casual manner, sat at the bow¡¯s deck, tossing over a bottle of mineral water, looking down at the survivors who were crying and helping each other on board, feeling an indescribable emotion within. ¡°I¡¯m very tired, just want a good sleep. If you hadn¡¯t shown up, I wouldn¡¯t have had to be in this mess now. Please don¡¯t follow me anymore, okay?¡± ¡°Am I not helping you trend online?¡± ¡°Do I need that? Please, the line of women chasing after me could stretch from Antarctica to the Arctic Circle, okay?¡± ¡°Will I also have female fans this time?¡± Bi Fang chuckled but didn¡¯t reply; he guzzled down an entire bottle of water and then collapsed backwards onto the deck, with the sea breeze blowing and playing with his hair. ¡°Every time I meet someone, it¡¯s never good news; I always feel like I¡¯m either rescuing someone or on my way to do so. Give me a break, will ya?¡± ¡°You deserve to be famous, the world¡¯s number one explorer¡­¡± Matthew wanted to add something, but just as he opened his mouth, he heard faint snoring sounds. He shook his head with a laugh and leaned against the railing, slowly closing his eyes. They had been awake for two days straight. ¡­ [Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the quest: Ruins City. Rewards are being distributed, would you like to claim them?] When Bi Fang woke up again, he found himself in the vast rear area of the eastern front lines of Abbascan, where the war hadn¡¯t caused much damage, and the infrastructure was well-preserved. Looking at the crowd in front of him and the leading officials, Bi Fang felt a bit of a headache and postponed claiming his reward. Anyone would feel lousy after not sleeping for two days and then suddenly sleeping from dawn until evening¡ªnot to mention having to deal with a huge crowd of people. Fortunately, representatives from Huaxia had also arrived, and after dealing with the formalities, Bi Fang had a meal with everyone before returning to the inn to continue his deep slumber. It was only after waking up the next morning that Bi Fang¡¯s mind finally felt completely clear. He downed a cup of warm water in one gulp, sweeping away all his fatigue. ¡°Claim.¡± He opened the System and couldn¡¯t wait to claim his mission rewards. Reinforced concrete, bullets flying everywhere, intertwined cold grey shadows¡ªall eventually fading into nothingness. [Detection of no reward elevation, final rewards are: Skill Advancement Ticket*1, Skill Upgrade Coupon*2, Enhancement Points*3, Wilderness Points*800, Breakthrough Task Target*1 (unique and only one).] His haul¡­ was reasonable. Bi Fang stroked his chin, comparing this mission¡¯s gains to previous ones. It seemed like the rewards weren¡¯t as high this time¡ªwas it because of the breakthrough task? Bi Fang tried to open the task target, but found it was grayed out and unresponsive. ??? What¡¯s going on? A reward that can¡¯t be used? What kind of reward is that? Bi Fang was baffled; it was the first time he had encountered this situation. A reward that you can¡¯t use, how is that a reward? Is there a prerequisite condition? Looking at the greyed-out target, that was all Bi Fang could think of. With no choice, he could only use the other rewards: add to agility and strength first, bringing them to fifteen, then prioritize his physique. After using two Enhancement Points, Bi Fang tried to enhance his physique to sixteen but found, to his surprise, that it failed! His physical stats on the panel did not increase, and the Enhancement Points were not consumed. What¡¯s happening, is the System crashing? How lame. It was Bi Fang¡¯s first time encountering such a situation; could fifteen be the system¡¯s upper limit? But he didn¡¯t feel anything at all¡ªwas the human limit really that low? He couldn¡¯t even break ten seconds in the 100m dash; could that even be called a limit? Just as Bi Fang was puzzled, he suddenly noticed that the once gray breakthrough task had turned gold. There¡¯s hope! [Ding! The host¡¯s fulfillment of the prerequisites for the breakthrough task has been detected, activation in progress.] Task one: Anoxic climb to the roof of the world¡ªMount Everest. Task two: Unprotected deep-sea crossing¡ªTharp Debold Cave. Task three: On foot crossing of the Sea of Death¡ªLop Nur. ? Chapter 368 - Chapter 368: Chapter 366 The Choice of an Irrefusable Task Chapter 368: Chapter 366 The Choice of an Irrefusable Task ¡°` Oxygen-Free Mount Everest Climb, unprotected crossing of Tharp Debold, trekking across Lop Nur¡­ Bi Fang felt that either he had woken up incorrectly or he had accessed the system incorrectly. Anyway, another sleep. Just as Bi Fang lay down with a headache, a series of knocks on the door interrupted his thoughts. When he opened the door, a stranger appeared before him. White-whiskered, lean, neither tall nor short, the familiar figure overlaid with memories made Bi Fang uncertain for a long time before he tentatively asked, ¡°Chieftain?¡± Completely different from the down-and-out appearance he had before, the old man, having tidied up after a rest, actually looked quite handsome. The bush of white whiskers not only did not make him look old, but also added to his dignity, making Bi Fang almost fail to recognize him. The old man laughed heartily, ¡°It seems Mr. Bi still remembers me.¡± Bi Fang bitterly smiled twice, ¡°We just met yesterday. Is there something you need from me, Chieftain?¡± Hask also laughed, showing his brightest smile in a year. It was only after having lost and then regained something that he truly understood what was most precious. Facing his lifesaver, Hask¡¯s smile faded, as he took a respectful step back and then knelt on one knee, expressing his gratitude deeply, ¡°Mr. Bi traveled thousands of miles to our country and risked his life to save mine. I, Hask, will forever bear in mind this great kindness. If Mr. Bi has any requests, I will do my utmost to fulfill them!¡± ¡°There¡¯s really no need!¡± Bi Fang was startled by Hask¡¯s actions and hurriedly pulled him up from the ground. Poor Hask wanted to insist, but how could a small old man who had been trapped for over ten days and was malnourished stand against a young man who had just added points? He was picked up as easily as picking up a chick, and now it was not quite appropriate for him to kneel again, so he could only scratch his head awkwardly. ¡°Since Mr. Bi insists, I won¡¯t press the matter. However, I would like to arrange a dinner to properly thank you and Mr. Matthew. I hope you can grace us with your presence.¡± After considering, Bi Fang thought there was no issue. It was just a dinner, and he wasn¡¯t likely to leave right away anyway, so he agreed on the spot. Watching Hask¡¯s retreating figure, Bi Fang rubbed his chin, his eyes narrowing slightly. He always felt something was amiss. He had originally thought Hask was just some minor chieftain of a local family, otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been captured by a mere local gang. But the way things were, it was clear there was an air of authority about him, far beyond what a small clan leader would possess. It wasn¡¯t an exaggeration; Bi Fang had wandered around and met many people. Some big shots who have been in high positions for a long time do have a certain imposing presence, the kind that stands out in a crowd. But if he had such an important background, how could he have been captured so easily? Isn¡¯t that contradictory? Even after thinking it over for half an hour, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t figure it out, so he shook his head and closed the door. What did it have to do with him? He was just a small-time wilderness broadcaster, occasionally wrestling with a bear and incidentally saving a few people. It wasn¡¯t anything significant. Approaching the bed, Bi Fang reopened the system and found that the three tasks were still the same, not a single change, which confirmed for him that he wasn¡¯t hallucinating. However, what he was most concerned about was not the difficulty of the breakthrough tasks given by the system, but the fact that he could not add points. The system hadn¡¯t changed at all; the only difference was the color. [Unique Binder: Bi Fang] [Growth Age: 25] [Height: 183.7cm] [Weight: 78.4KG] [Strength: 15] [Physique: 15] [Agility: 15] [Spirit: 15] [Status: Good] [Enhancement Points: 0] [Wilderness Points: 83] ¡°` Orange Tree Crown: Wilderness Traveler lv1. Purple Tree Trunk: Advanced Yoga lv1, Special Recon Soldier lv2. Blue Tree Trunk: Pilates lv3, High-altitude Parachuting lv3, Tai Chi Traveling Dragon lv2, Archery lv1, Rock Climbing lv1, Biological Identification lv3, Swimming lv1. Green Tree Trunk: Cross-country Hiking lv5, First Aid lv5, Calisthenics lv3, Running lv3. Special Talent: Beastly Instinct. Spoils of War Skills: Wolves King¡¯s Sense of Smell, King Fish¡¯s Stomach, Biological Sensing. Looking at the gray panel, Bi Fang frowned deeply. Why can¡¯t he add points anymore? Had his limit been locked? Having the limit locked was not good news; it was downright terrible news. As if his queries were heard, suddenly a piece of information was again infused into his mind, and he finally understood what was going on. The limit hadn¡¯t been locked, or to be precise, it was only temporarily locked, and the conditions to unlock it were simple: there were two ways to do it. One was to give up the limit-break task, and Bi Fang could immediately add the remaining Enhancement Point. The other was to complete the limit-break task. After completion, the limit would unlock, but differently, as the effects of adding points would change. Did normal people, through crazy training, only reach the limit that the system panel rated as fifteen? Of course not. Fifteen was far from the limit, yet it was a threshold. Bi Fang¡¯s previous enhancements were all within this threshold, but now he had reached its end. The human body is a finely tuned whole, pull one strand and the whole body moves. What would happen to those who trained their strength crazily? The answer, of course, was becoming muscle-bound, exchanging muscle mass for ultimate strength, but in doing so, while gaining strength, they almost inevitably lost speed and flexibility. By giving up on the limit-break task, Bi Fang could naturally continue to add points, but the consequence would be that his other attributes might slip! And his physique would undergo substantial changes! Was there a solution? Yes! Complete the limit-break task! Prove that he deserved it! The limit-break task was a choice of one out of three, unchangeable, non-editable¡ªonly these three, but completing any one would be considered mission accomplished. Task completed, threshold broken! Why did some people have greater strength with the same muscle mass? Why did some people become world champions with the same training routine? The gap in talent really existed and couldn¡¯t be changed later. Bi Fang clenched his fists. Was he going to give up? The thought was laughable. The only question now was, out of the three tasks, which one should he choose? Mount Everest, a challenge from the limits of physical strength, the world¡¯s highest peak, with extremely dangerous terrain and complex conditions. Even normal climbing had a death rate over 10%, while the mission required oxygen-free climbing¡ªa feat that throughout history, only a handful had achieved. Lop Nur, a challenge of the spirit of adventure, known as the Sea of Death. Through the ages, countless explorers ventured into it, risking their lives, earning it the title of ¡°Devil¡¯s Triangle¡± of the Asian continent. Many were found to have died of thirst just a short distance from water sources, both bizarre and mysterious. Tharp Debold Cave, a challenge of courage and wisdom, located seventy-five meters deep in the ocean where sunlight cannot reach. The dark environment, the silent seabed, the unknown directions, all magnified your fear of the dark to the extreme, spreading to every corner of your body. A small cave, yet more than three hundred people had died, making it resemble an underground graveyard! Chapter 369 - Chapter 369: Chapter 367: A Small Gift Chapter 369: Chapter 367: A Small Gift In the hall, Bi Fang, who had arrived as promised, immediately saw Matthew, who had been waiting once again. Hask had thoughtfully prepared fresh clothes for both of them to change into. Matthew was dressed in a black suit, with a white shirt underneath and a narrow black tie. It fitted his salesman¡¯s physique perfectly, making him look every bit the elite of society, and most crucially, the stench of garbage was gone from him. Bi Fang rubbed his nose. Despite having rested for an entire day, it seemed his nostrils could still detect a faint putrid smell. It probably wouldn¡¯t get better for another week. ¡°You¡¯re finally here!¡± Matthew, on the other side, hurried over upon seeing Bi Fang and looked around suspiciously, as if there was something secretive going on. Bi Fang raised an eyebrow: ¡°Is there a problem?¡± ¡°A big problem!¡± Matthew confirmed that no one else was nearby before whispering, ¡°Do you know who that old man you saved yesterday is?¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°The actual Chieftain of the entire Eastern District of Abbascan!¡± Bi Fang dug his pinky into his ear and cocked his head as if he hadn¡¯t heard clearly: ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°The real Chieftain of the entire Eastern District!¡± ¡°¡­?¡± The Chieftain of the Eastern District was almost sold by a gang of Bandit Gangs? What kind of international joke was this? Although the Chieftain of Abbascan might not be valuable now, it still depended on the situation. The Chieftains of small families, indeed, weren¡¯t worth much, but if it was a great Chieftain, the situation was entirely different. It wasn¡¯t just a matter of being a wealthy landowner; they could even legally own their private militia! ¡°Are you serious?¡± Bi Fang looked at Matthew skeptically. Matthew patted his chest: ¡°You can trust my professional integrity. I¡¯ve been in this line of work for thirteen years and have reported over a thousand news articles, but I¡¯ve never reported false news!¡± ¡°So what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°There¡¯s not enough time for detailed research, but one thing is for sure: that old man has many sons. However, one of them, since last night after the ship arrived, has never appeared again, and that person became the power holder after Hask disappeared.¡± ¡°Hiss!¡± Bi Fang inhaled sharply, recalling the old man kneeling on one knee before him. It¡¯s true that appearances can be deceiving. As for his own situation¡ªif Hask¡¯s son hadn¡¯t disappeared, he might be worried, but since he had¡­ Thinking this, Bi Fang grabbed Matthew¡¯s shoulder and scanned the area, nodding subtly. Matthew, thinking that Bi Fang had something important to say, bent down to listen carefully. ¡°I heard Chieftains can marry several wives, is that true?¡± Matthew: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You f*cking ask me this after all that? Do you think I¡¯m a paparazzi? I¡¯m a journalist, a war correspondent, not a paparazzi!¡± ¡°Just tell me, how many?¡± ¡°Seven.¡± ¡°Impressive.¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯ve been a journalist for more than a decade.¡± ¡­ The two arrived at the entrance of the hotel and saw that Hask had even arranged a car for them, which took them to a luxurious villa area. Although they had left Yemen, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t forgotten that this was still a country torn by war. Even if the flames of war hadn¡¯t reached this place, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a little emotional. Entering the lobby, it was clear that Hask had already received news and pulled the two men to meet his family. Bi Fang took a closer look. When he had returned that day, someone had come to pick them up, but he had been too tired and drowsy to see clearly in the swarming crowd. However, I still have an impression of the few who led the way, and now that I look at it, it seems like one is indeed missing? It seemed that Hask had read Bi Fang¡¯s thoughts as he ran over, patted his arm, and whispered, ¡°My child made a small mistake earlier, and as his father, it was natural for me to punish him. Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯ll learn his lesson.¡± As soon as Hask finished speaking, without waiting for Bi Fang to respond, he clapped his hands, and two men as robust as bodybuilding coaches immediately brought over two trays covered with black cloth, one placed in front of Bi Fang and the other in front of Matthew. Matthew lifted a corner of the black cloth, and a dazzling light spilled out, startling him so much that his hand trembled, and the black cloth drifted to the ground. Gold bars were neatly and evenly arranged in the tray, piled up into a small mountain. A whole tray of gold! Bi Fang also lifted the black cloth in front of him, and a similar size pile of gold was arranged in the tray, but unlike Matthew, there was a small black bag on top of the gold. When he untied the small bag and poured its contents into his palm, pure white light reflected, and diamonds clinked against each other, rubbing and shining. Matthew was shocked by the scene before him. Although he had achieved a certain level of financial independence, this was the first time he had seen so much money. So much gold, it hurt his eyes to look at it. Bi Fang rolled the diamonds in his palm, the hard minerals made his hand ache, and he was so stunned that when the gold and diamonds were laid out before him, there was a sense of impact that money could not bring, more shocking than an equivalent amount of cash. No wonder the bearers of the tray were so strong¡ªif they were not muscular, they could not have firmly held such a large plate of gold. Hask nodded with satisfaction, then said, ¡°Do not refuse, this is just a little token of my appreciation for the two of you, not as repayment. Of course, a life-saving debt cannot be repaid with money; this is just a small gift as a friend of mine, Hask. Please accept it.¡± Gulp. Matthew embarrassingly swallowed his saliva and then looked at Bi Fang. As for Bi Fang having an extra bag of diamonds, Matthew certainly had no objections. The person was his rescue after all, and he was merely a guide; the gold was already a pleasant surprise. The problem was that Matthew knew Bi Fang¡¯s character well¡ªhe could even directly donate a third of his live broadcast earnings, which was at least several million dollars. If Bi Fang didn¡¯t take it, Matthew himself would also feel a bit embarrassed. Damn, he really wanted it; he had never seen so much gold in his life. Matthew nearly gritted his teeth to pieces. After thinking for a moment, Bi Fang changed the subject and asked, ¡°What about the others who were rescued?¡± Hask spoke in an unrushed tone, ¡°Mr. Bi, rest assured, I will take good care of those people, much better than the officials would. After all, I have been caged with them before and they have taken care of me to some extent; there is a bit of affection there.¡± Bi Fang glanced at Matthew, and since that was the case, there was nothing to hesitate about. ¡°Alright, then I will accept it.¡± YES! At that moment, Matthew wanted to jump up with joy. If it weren¡¯t for being too rude, he would love to bite into a gold bar right now to see if it would leave teeth marks. He never expected that among the people he had rescued was such a big croc; truly, good deeds are rewarded. ¡°Good!¡± Hask gestured for the servants to withdraw; the items, of course, could not be taken directly by the two men, but would be transferred to an international bank, with a direct handover of ownership. With the gifts delivered, Hask led the two to take their seats, and the host and guests enjoyed themselves. Although his eldest son was a disappointment, Hask still had other children. Especially his younger third son, Taseto, who was very interested in the adventurer Bi Fang¡¯s experiences and kept asking questions. These were not the cheap stories bragged about by the mediocre; they were legendary adventures recorded and filmed with drones! During the meal, after hearing yet another adventure, Taseto raised his glass in tribute and curiously asked, ¡°Mr. Bi, have you decided where your next adventure will be?¡± Upon hearing this, Bi Fang wiped his hands and nodded, ¡°Indeed, I have some thoughts.¡± ¡°The next stop, I¡¯m going to Mount Everest.¡± Chapter 370 - Chapter 370: Chapter 368: Reach Out and Touch the Sky Chapter 370: Chapter 368: Reach Out and Touch the Sky Mount Everest! No sooner had Bi Fang finished speaking than Taseto sprang to his feet with a whoosh, the legs of his stool screeching across the floor as he placed his hands on the tabletop, his face full of surprise. ¡°Mount Everest! Is that the world¡¯s highest peak?¡± ¡°Is Mr. Bi going to climb Mount Jolmo Lungma?¡± Bi Fang set down his knife and fork, and before he could comprehend why the other¡¯s reaction was so strong, Hask, sitting beside him, rapped his knuckles on the table and shot a glance at Taseto. Despite his scolding tone, there wasn¡¯t much blame in his voice, ¡°Taseto, what do you look like? Sit down!¡± Embarrassed, Taseto sat down. After scolding his third son, Hask looked apologetically toward Bi Fang, ¡°I¡¯m really sorry for the interruption, Mr. Bi. Please forgive us. It¡¯s just that Taseto has been passionate about this kind of adventure since he was little.¡± Bi Fang waved his hand dismissively, not minding the incident and nodded affirmatively, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the one, the first highest peak in the world, Mount Everest.¡± Matthew was the first to express skepticism, ¡°Have you climbed a mountain before?¡± While not familiar with the world of mountaineering, Matthew, having wandered around, knew quite a lot, especially about Mount Everest. The highest point on Earth. It is an area with some of the thinnest air, one of the most hostile environments. Sometimes a cough could be fatal, and even taking a breath could cause a pain so intense it felt as if one¡¯s liver was being torn apart. If an accident occurred, not even the body could be retrieved; it would stay forever in that desolate place, becoming an eternal landmark. It is a realm where not a single mistake is permissible. Even though Bi Fang had created miracles time and again, when faced with the weight of the world¡¯s highest peak, it still wasn¡¯t enough for people to have full confidence in him. Therefore, Matthew had to ask, although it had not been mentioned in the broadcasts, maybe Bi Fang was a mountaineer before becoming a broadcaster¡­ ¡°No.¡± Matthew¡¯s train of thought was interrupted; his pupils dilated gradually. He unconsciously opened his mouth wide but after several attempts, he couldn¡¯t speak. At last, it became a sentence, ¡°Are you insane!? How is that possible?¡± At the dining table, Hask¡¯s family also looked on in shock. Except for Taseto, the others were not interested in outdoor adventures, but that didn¡¯t mean they were ignorant. The dangers of Everest, any Earthling, even if they couldn¡¯t list the specifics, knew it was a perilous place. ¡°I¡¯m not crazy.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s tone was very calm, in stark contrast to everyone else. He picked up his knife and fork again, cutting off a piece of tender steak and started to chew. After quite a while, he swallowed and then tapped his head, ¡°In my view, there are two most important things for adventures: a healthy body and a brain that understands the wilderness.¡± ¡°Coincidentally, Matthew, I have both. I¡¯m twenty-five this year, my physical condition is at its peak, and I also possess one of the top wilderness brains in the world.¡± ¡°It¡¯s totally¡­ not the same thing. You¡¯ve never been there, never been there¡­¡± Matthew stammered, unable to articulate his thoughts, feeling that the whole thing was too absurd. A person who had never climbed a high-altitude mountain range suddenly announced his intentions to conquer the world¡¯s highest peak. Has Don Quixote taken possession? A madman? Bi Fang, seeing the look on everyone¡¯s faces, knew they didn¡¯t believe him. Indeed, it was nearly impossible for someone who had never climbed high-altitude mountains to suddenly declare they would defeat Mount Everest. He gripped his knife and fork, dabbed a bit of sauce, and drew a rudimentary map of the region on the white porcelain plate. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Although Mount Everest is the world¡¯s highest peak, it¡¯s not the most difficult to climb on Earth. I¡¯ve given myself a long period for this mission, planning to spend as much as two months, with an additional month for training. It¡¯s mid-April now, and by mid-May, which is a month away, it will be the best time to climb Everest. During this period, all my live streams will revolve around Mount Everest.¡± As the fork moved continuously, everyone¡¯s attention was drawn to the black sauce, as if there indeed stood a tall mountain range; between Heaven and Earth, Mount Everest towered there. ¡°Mount Everest is located on the China-Nepal border, with the Indian subcontinent to the south and the Bay of Bengal to the east of India. In May, the continental cold air over the Bay of Bengal begins to retreat northward. The movement of high and low-pressure interfaces often accompanies the formation of cyclonic airflows. Therefore, as soon as a cyclonic airflow forms over the Bay of Bengal and shows signs of moving north, it¡¯s the best time to summit Mount Everest.¡± ¡°The climate around Mount Everest and its nearby peaks is complex and variable, with obvious monsoon characteristics. The weather is too unpredictable, so it¡¯s essential to choose a stable climatic period. Too early, and the monsoonal winds haven¡¯t stopped; too late, and the monsoonal wind shift has finished, neither of which is suitable for summiting. This weather window usually lasts from a few days to ten days, and most Mount Everest summiting is done within this window. Everything coincides with my timing plan perfectly.¡± Matthew, Hask, Taseto, and others stood behind Bi Fang¡¯s chair, blinking at the map on the porcelain plate, before exchanging glances. All present were laymen, not understanding, but feeling quite impressive¡­ It seems, it looks, not that difficult, indeed? Worthy of Master Fang (Mr. Bi), indeed well-prepared! ¡°This, why does the formation of a cyclonic airflow stabilize the weather?¡± Taseto, the only one with some knowledge of outdoor activities, struggled to pronounce the technical term, a term he had heard for the first time. Having heard it just once and trying to say it accurately was somewhat difficult for him. Bi Fang looked around the circle, and from the looks in everyone¡¯s eyes alone, he knew that nobody had understood. So, he dipped his finger in some sauce and drew several circles: ¡°It¡¯s simple, a simple explanation is like the eye of a typhoon, which compared to the wind wall, is relatively still, so the climate is stable.¡± ¡°Oh~~¡± They seemed to have really understood, as everyone let out a collective ¡°Oh.¡± Matthew, who had been very worried initially, seemed to be convinced as well. He now thought it might actually be feasible. He was just a layman after all, looking at Master Fang, who spoke so convincingly. Indeed, a layman is a layman, and the road ahead is still long for oneself. Seeing the skepticism in people¡¯s eyes turning into trust, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but smile. Is climbing Mount Everest really that simple? What he had said was, of course, correct, but that didn¡¯t mean climbing Mount Everest was simple. Choosing the right summiting window just reduced the requirements from one hundred percent to ninety percent. To challenge high-altitude mountains, the first step is to engage in low-altitude outdoor activities, physical training, and learning of basic techniques. If a beginner could use all the weekends, this phase could be completed within a year. The second step is to start entering the thin air areas of high altitude. Before attempting to climb Mount Everest, it¡¯s best to have 2-3 high-altitude climbing experiences. Progressively start from peaks at 6000 meters, then 7000 meters, and 8000 meters. This stage takes at least one year for the fastest, and 2-3 years for the average person. And for himself, he had only one month! Twirling the fork in his hand, Bi Fang¡¯s gaze was resolute and fearless. Above an altitude of 8500 meters, that is an exceedingly high measure of ethics that is beyond human demands, it is a no-go zone for humans. Thinking this, Bi Fang even felt somewhat excited. Whether in this life or in the past life, so many people had gone forth, issuing challenge after challenge to Mount Everest. He himself had also imagined it, but that place also buried batch after batch of challengers. He neither had the qualification nor the strength and could only dream. Never before had he been so close to his Goddess Peak as today. It was as if, one could touch the sky by merely reaching out. Bi Fang smiled, he had never stopped his stride, and the new journey had just begun. Chapter 371 - Chapter 371: Chapter 369: The Huaxia Anchor, Heh. Chapter 371: Chapter 369: The Huaxia Anchor, Heh. It was just before dawn at the dock, where a tiny silhouette of a ship arose on the sea¡¯s horizon, its bow slicing through the waves, leaving behind a deep blue water trail. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s Sisko and his men!¡± One of the lookouts, having recognized the boat¡¯s insignia, shuddered with excitement and immediately turned back to shout at the hulking figure in the passenger seat. Upon hearing this, Monsa Arnol put down his phone, half his body leaning out of the SUV window, resting on the roof while squinting toward the horizon. He chewed unconsciously on his cigarette holder until, as the boat¡¯s silhouette drew closer and he could make out its waterline, Monsa grinned, snuffed out his cigarette bud, and ducked back into the vehicle. ¡°Quick, quick, quick, to the dock! Let¡¯s greet the big star!¡± ¡°Wow, a big star!¡± ¡°To think you can become famous even in our line of work. Boss, you think I¡¯ve got a chance? I want to be a star too; it pays way better than what I¡¯m making now!¡± ¡°Sure, of course, you can. Tomorrow I¡¯ll send your criminal record to the police station. Look forward to jail time, haha!¡± ¡°Then make sure you send me back home for trial, so I don¡¯t get sentenced to death! And remember, Boss, you gotta bail me out!¡± On the sea, Sisko, standing at the bow of the boat, likewise saw the procession of vehicles roaring toward the dock, his brow furrowing slightly. The leading cars were all muscle cars¡ªthe kind favored by beefy thugs, their engines rumbling so loud it seemed to carry across ten nautical miles, followed by cargo vans splattered with mud. Just by looking at this display, Sisko knew who had come. ¡°Sir, it¡¯s Monsa and his crew. They seem to have ill intentions and must have been waiting here since early morning.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that they seem to have ill intentions; they do. To wait for us before dawn, it must¡¯ve been tough for him. But really, does that guy never worry about his gas-guzzlers breaking down in the middle of the grassland?¡± Sisko¡¯s tone carried a hint of irony, but his heart sank slightly. Even though he knew the cargo vans must be empty, just by the numbers he could tell that his adversaries must have come back with bountiful spoils. While the success of his own voyage was secondary to getting rid of his tail, who could have expected such an unexpected encounter? Monsa was not the type to welcome him without a reason. As expected¡­ No sooner had Sisko stepped onto land than he was greeted by a shrill burst of laughter, loud and unbridled. ¡°Look, it¡¯s Sisko. Just got back, huh? Guess what I¡¯ve found? Can you believe it, Sisko? Is this really you on here? You¡¯ve actually become a big star? Ah? Hahaha! Who would¡¯ve thought, hahaha, I can¡¯t even¡ªahahaha.¡± The burly man waved a newspaper, pointing at Sisko¡¯s image and laughing out loud, the sound even overwhelming the noise of the tides. Veins throbbed in Sisko¡¯s forehead as he ignored Monsa¡¯s provocation and led his men away without another word. Watching Sisko leave as if he wasn¡¯t there, Monsa wasn¡¯t annoyed; instead, he laughed heartily. ¡°Sisko, if you can¡¯t manage, why not let one of my underlings take over for you? It¡¯s just steering an empty boat¡ªanyone with hands can do it, right? Will you still be able to carry out missions? With a big star¡¯s face like that, oh, I forgot, you¡¯re¡­ damn, he¡¯s gone.¡± Watching the unyielding Sisko, Monsa spat on the ground and then touched his crew cut. ¡°Shit, why does it still seem like there¡¯s little hope?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t be, right? After such a big slip-up, Sisko still has a chance?¡± ¡°What do you know?¡± Monsa frowned, a spark of wisdom flashing between his brows that belied his muscular build. ¡°This guy was a top X in the central military forces and even served as an instructor for snipers. I¡¯ve seen him shoot a rabbit dead with a rifle from 300 meters away!¡± ¡°So what? Couldn¡¯t you do the same, Boss? I remember seeing you shoot a deer dead with a rifle.¡± Monsa slapped the back of the lackey¡¯s head. ¡°Bullshit, I used a sniper rifle; he used a regular one, with iron sights! Hand you a rifle and you couldn¡¯t hit shit from fifty meters.¡± All three sidekicks around him gasped in amazement. Bloody hell, a rifle with iron sights at 300 meters? To think that some rifles have an effective range of only 300 meters! The target was even a living rabbit¡ªhow was that even humanly possible? The last man to follow, Jerry, his eyes spinning, piped up: ¡°Boss, should we perhaps throw in a bit more flattery with the head honcho?¡± Monsa glanced back at Jerry, who was trailing behind, and kicked with irritation, ¡°You little shit, took a bribe from Sisko, did you?¡± Jerry scratched his head, not quite grasping Monsa¡¯s drift. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m a fool? One shake is enough; keep it up and you¡¯ll only show how little ambition you have. Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go, once this job¡¯s done we can have a few days off. I¡¯ll take you guys out for some fun!¡± ¡°I¡¯m getting ten!¡± ¡°You? Ten? You¡¯d probably be found dead the next day, lying in¡­¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± ¡­ Ferreira, observing the boisterous group on the dock, didn¡¯t find it humorous, only noisy. ¡°` ¡°Can¡¯t figure it out?¡± Sisko took off his gloves, seeing the confusion in his subordinate¡¯s eyes at a glance. Ferreira nodded, always feeling something off about Monsa, even if he was prone to mockery; waiting on the dock before dawn just to exchange a trivial greeting was not his style. ¡°It¡¯s simple, Monsa has a daughter now.¡± ¡°He¡¯s short of money? Wants to gobble up the Asian market?¡± Freyra connected the dots with the latest news, and suddenly it all made sense. ¡°Something like that. In our line of work, no one complains about having too much money, not even one billion, ten billion is enough.¡± Sisko pinched the bridge of his nose, thinking that if Monsa wanted the Asian market, so did he. ¡°Wait, what¡¯s going on with Asia?¡± The young man following on Sisko¡¯s right side was somewhat lost in the conversation between the boss and Freyra. ¡°Ansen Huang is in trouble.¡± Sisko did not elaborate, and Ferreira naturally took on the role of explainer. Chewing gum, the young man blew a bubble, ¡°Then why not just fish him out? Pay some bail? Hasn¡¯t it always been like that before?¡± ¡°This time it¡¯s a bit different, the East Asian government is hell-bent on putting him behind bars.¡± Ferreira patiently explained, the turn of events had caught everyone off guard, even Huang Ansen himself had never imagined the police would escalate things this far. ¡°So this Huang¡¯s a big deal?¡± With a helpless gesture to his forehead, Ferreira said, ¡°Do you know anything about the business you¡¯re in?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen this as a job, you think I¡¯m up for 996?¡± ¡°996? What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Nothing, it¡¯s a popular term online, something you old folks wouldn¡¯t understand. It¡¯s a dreadful way to work, with no overtime pay.¡± Ferreira drew a sharp breath, feeling the temperature rise several degrees, unable to tell if it was the greenhouse effect worsening or summer arriving early: ¡°Overtime without overtime pay? My God, that¡¯s worse than being sent to jail.¡± ¡°So who exactly is Huang Ansen?¡± Alucard blew another bubble. ¡°A longstanding partner of the company.¡± Sisko explained calmly, returning from buying a newspaper at a nearby stand, ¡°This man remotely controls Asia¡¯s largest-scale wildlife trading organization. The Luhe Wildlife Company he manages conducts most of its shady dealings almost openly, legally wholesaling countless reptiles every year, and the origin of most snakes, lizards, turtles, and frogs traded in pet stores in Ugly Country can be traced back to him. He also owns a private zoo, which he uses as a front to sell contraband, like snow leopard fur, panda skin, rhino horns, rare birds, and even Komodo dragons. From South American squirrels to elephants, he smuggles endangered wildlife from Oceania, Huaxia, Madagascar, Old Eastland, Nanmei, and other places, and then sells them in the markets of Europe, Japan, and Ugly Country.¡± Alucard drew in a breath, the gum stuck in his throat, coughing nonstop as he looked at Sisko¡¯s profile: ¡°Fuck, black and white skin? Boss, you¡¯re not kidding me, are you?¡± Sisko cast a sidelong glance at Alucard, ¡°Do I need to lie to you? It¡¯s true. Mr. Huang himself has told me that it¡¯s a breeze for him to acquire black and white skins, and because of that, our company has always cooperated with him. Apart from him, no one else can get black and white skins.¡± Alucard was speechless, it took him a while to come back to his senses: ¡°So how did he get caught?¡± Sisko shook the newspaper and did not respond; Ferreira continued the story. ¡°Because of a suitcase.¡± ¡°Had goods in it?¡± ¡°Last month, a lock on a suitcase at Kuala Lumpur Airport broke, which wouldn¡¯t have been a problem, except it contained nearly 100 juvenile pythons, two venomous snakes, and a South American turtle. And its owner was none other than Ansen Huang.¡± For someone who can control such trade, facing prison over a suitcase full of pythons was akin to Mexico¡¯s Poison Bird being arrested for a few marijuana cigarettes in his pocket. ¡°The company has long coveted the Asian market but never had the opportunity to get involved. Now that Huang Ansen is arrested, we can¡¯t let this pass. You know, in Huaxia, the profit from one black and white skin can exceed the earnings from many of Monsa¡¯s expeditions. We need to shift at least a hundred shipments to match it. And the boss here was the perfect candidate, but unfortunately¡­¡± There were many Hunter Teams like theirs in the company, active around the world, forming an unimaginable huge web of interests. Sisko¡¯s Hunter Team was the largest and strongest within the company. ¡°Unfortunately, we screwed up this operation, huh?¡± Alucard, ever blunt, realized what he said as soon as the words left his mouth and covered his mouth with a hand, cautiously looking at Sisko, afraid he¡¯d stepped out of line. After a couple of glances, Alucard realized that Sisko wasn¡¯t paying him any mind. Sisko¡¯s brow furrowed as he looked at the photograph on the newspaper, his own face seeming strangely unfamiliar. After a while, Sisko¡¯s expression softened and he crumpled the paper into a ball, tossing it into a trash can with a sneer. ¡°Huaxia newscasters, heh.¡± ¡°` Chapter 372 - Chapter 372: Chapter 370 All is Ready Chapter 372: Chapter 370 All is Ready The elevator doors opened, and a tide of noise flooded in, accompanied by billowing black smoke. Bi Fang coughed twice, and as the black smoke cleared, he stared at the office in astonishment. To those in the know, it was Yao Jun¡¯s office, but to the unknowing, it might have seemed like the entrance to a rock band¡¯s recording studio during a fire. Yao Jun set down his wrench, leaned against the wall to turn on the light. There was no Vanguard Band, just an antique engine roaring loudly, its chains and gears clicking together like the interlocking teeth of a skeleton, continuously emitting thick smoke, like a dark steed from Hell. Bang! A crisp cracking sound erupted. Bi Fang dodged the flying part that had apparently long been plotting its escape, which flew past and left a shallow dent on the gray-white wall. Annoyed, Bi Fang kicked a wrench off the floor and said, ¡°Where did you dig up this old relic? Are you planning to drive it in an off-road race or something?¡± Yao Jun wiped the sweat from his forehead, leaving a black smear of engine oil, and explained excitedly, ¡°It¡¯s not mine; it¡¯s an antique my old man collected. A few days ago, he suddenly remembered this thing and wanted to ride it, only to find it was broken, the engine wouldn¡¯t even turn. He insisted that I fix it. I¡¯ve been busy all day, and it seems to be in worse shape now. Some parts have been discontinued and are hard to buy.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you get someone else to fix it?¡± Yao Jun shook his head, ¡°Nope, the old man specifically named me to do the repair.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Bi Fang was curious, ¡°It¡¯s not like you broke¡­ Okay, no need to say more, I get it.¡± Bi Fang covered his eyes, feeling mentally exhausted. Feeling a bit embarrassed, Yao Jun chuckled and cleared a path through the cluttered office, then asked in confusion, ¡°How come you thought to look for me? The club still needs some time. Although most of the equipment is in place, we still need to fine-tune it. We¡¯re planning to release some tickets first, do a trial run. The online model isn¡¯t finished either. Didn¡¯t you say last time that you would recommend someone for it?¡± ¡°Forget it, I can¡¯t even get in touch with that person anymore. Let¡¯s talk about it later. If I can¡¯t reach them by May, you¡¯ll have to find someone yourself.¡± Bi Fang found a spot to sit down and casually offered an explanation. He had intended to lend a hand, but what could he do if he couldn¡¯t find the person? Yao Jun nodded; after all, it wasn¡¯t charity work ¨C they couldn¡¯t really delay the project for one person. He handed Bi Fang a cup of tea, saying thoughtfully, ¡°That was really close. I saw it all on screen, those guns flashing ¨C it made my eyes hurt and my heart almost jump out. Did you manage to catch them? You got half their faces on camera, even though the lighting was blurry, it shouldn¡¯t be difficult, right?¡± Unexpectedly, Bi Fang shook his head, which took Yao Jun by surprise. ¡°You got their pictures yet you can¡¯t catch them?¡± ¡°It¡¯s tough!¡± Bi Fang took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, ¡°You don¡¯t run around outside much, so you don¡¯t know much about this stuff. It¡¯s not as simple as just identifying who¡¯s the problem and making a decision. Besides, if it was just some small fry, it¡¯d be one thing, but from their setup, it¡¯s clear that they are organized, and definitely not small.¡± That night it was too far to estimate the size of the ship, but a vessel that could hold a hundred people was certainly not small. The overall quality of the adversary was not something ordinary gangs could match. Compared to the Bandit Gangs, it was like a game of downgraded combat, not just in terms of weapons and equipment, but also overall capability. Command prohibited, neat and orderly, to cultivate such a team quality, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t think of any place other than the military. Once any organizational structure becomes large, it becomes difficult to deal with ¨C not easily overthrown by a blurry photo, especially overseas. ¡°If you can¡¯t deal with them, doesn¡¯t that mean you¡¯re in danger? The enemy won¡¯t seek revenge, will they?¡± Yao Jun suddenly got scared after hearing this. They were a whole gang of tough bandits ¨C Bi Fang had taken photos, made them publicly known; wasn¡¯t he, in essence, offending them? ¡°Should I and Lin Chang think of a way to help you keep it under wraps?¡± ¡°No need. It¡¯s been a long time; everyone online knows by now. What¡¯s the point of fixing it now? And if I had the guts to do it, I¡¯m not afraid of them either,¡± said Bi Fang with a shrug, appearing unconcerned. ¡°Do you think reality is the same as in the movies, where offending someone means you have to root them out? The more organized the group, the more they care about how they do things. As long as they do a little research, they¡¯d realize that I¡¯m just a streamer. The photo was an accidental shot, not an intentional pursuit. Since it¡¯s accidental, there¡¯s nothing to be done after the fact.¡± ¡°Unless you¡¯re archenemies, the adversary won¡¯t take special measures to seek revenge, unless you run into each other again by chance. But that¡¯s even less likely. I was just visiting Ruins City once ¨C essentially, I¡¯m still a wilderness streamer. The odds of going to that kind of place are almost zero. It¡¯s not likely that they would be running around in the wilderness, right? That would be way out of their jurisdiction.¡± Though both involve illegal trafficking, humans and animals represent entirely different matters, with completely separate supply chains and clients. Developing both is exceptionally difficult as they are two unrelated chains of interest. Either of these activities can be extremely profitable, but likewise, the risks are immense. Doubling down on risks isn¡¯t as simple as one plus one; it escalates exponentially. However, perfecting one over the other can eventually lead to an over-abundance of wealth. Bi Fang didn¡¯t believe the other party was capable of successfully handling both sides of operation simultaneously and with equal robustness. If that were really the case, then the organization must be so massive that even he could hardly imagine its scale. After listening for a while, Yao Jun thought he understood. In essence, from now on, Bi Fang would only venture into the wilderness and wouldn¡¯t cross paths with the thugs capturing people in the city. However, he was still somewhat concerned, ¡°But I always feel¡­ ¡± ¡°You need to understand one thing, if the other side was truly capable of handling both, then my personal worries would be utterly pointless.¡± If things were really headed towards the worst-case scenario, what use would his concerns be? Could he just stay at home forever and never go out? Bi Fang tapped his temple and said with a smile, ¡°Human worries often stem from overthinking and negative speculation about situations, not from the facts themselves, but from ¡®thoughts¡¯ that trouble us. Once you start fearing the future that you imagine, you will hesitate to move forward.¡± ¡°Being afraid of these guys does me no good beyond keeping me awake at night.¡± What he could do was continue to grow stronger, to blossom brilliantly on the path of adventure, making himself more formidable¡ªthat was what truly mattered. Yao Jun¡¯s eyes widened, and for a moment, he was lost in thought until Bi Fang waved his hand in front of his face to snap him out of it. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Yao Jun didn¡¯t answer but instead exclaimed with surprise, ¡°Impressive!¡± Bi Fang replied irritably, ¡°Cut the nonsense. You¡¯ve got me off track. I forgot what I came here for. We¡¯ve strayed too far from the topic. I came to you because I need something.¡± ¡°Just say it. Whatever help I can provide, I surely will!¡± ¡°I want to borrow some of your equipment. I¡¯ve got a big plan.¡± ¡°No problem! Take as much as you need! I can afford it! But can you share a bit about your plan? Are you sure you don¡¯t need a rest? This could be dangerous.¡± Upon hearing what Bi Fang said, Yao Jun immediately became serious. The city expedition was too dangerous, full of deadly risks, and even the spectators were terrified the entire journey, let alone Bi Fang who experienced it firsthand. Yao Jun, a fellow adventure enthusiast, knew all too well how draining such intense live streaming could be on one¡¯s vitality. It¡¯s like someone pouring all their energy into doing something, and after it¡¯s done, they might need a long time to feel spirited again. Being in a relaxed yet exhausted state, both physically and mentally, taking on any high-risk activity could indeed lead to an accident. The simplest analogy would be feeling extremely tired for several hours after a math exam, and Bi Fang¡¯s high-intensity live broadcasting was certainly no less taxing, requiring at least a week to recover. Yao Jun had thought that Bi Fang would take some time to rest after returning this time, but to his surprise, he was already planning something big. As both the top regular in the live stream and a real-life friend of Bi Fang, Yao Jun really wanted to see him create miracles, yet he didn¡¯t want him to risk any harm. Especially since Bi Fang was so young, there was a real concern that he might become reckless due to his popularity and the encouragement of certain overzealous fans, heedlessly attempting to push his limits, challenging even higher human peaks. After all, the journey of adventure, if truly pursued, is endless! Humans have peaks, but adventure does not! The spirit of adventure does not! Bi Fang waved his hand, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know what you¡¯re thinking. I¡¯m not going to be reckless. I¡¯m just borrowing equipment first. I plan to go abroad early and train for at least a month before I take action.¡± Yao Jun finally breathed a sigh of relief. Bi Fang continued, ¡°I plan to train for a month and then challenge the snowy mountains!¡± Train for a month and then challenge the snowy mountains? Even Master Fang needs to train for a month before he dares to challenge them, and he even came to him specifically to borrow equipment. The difficulty must be quite significant, right? Yao Jun took a sip of his tea, ¡°Are you talking about the Alps or the Alaska Range? Or maybe¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s Mount Everest.¡± ¡°Spit! Cough cough cough, cough cough cough!¡± Yao Jun suddenly sprayed the tea from his mouth, choking on the tea leaves through his nose, gasping for breath as he leaned on the office desk. It took him a while to pull out tissues to clean his face and catch his breath. Awesome, my brother! Yao Jun was completely flustered. Damn it, you¡¯re talking about climbing the world¡¯s highest peak? What¡¯s with the sudden career switch from wilderness host to extreme sports? Can you not joke about this, please? Are you here to borrow props? Why not borrow a coffin while you¡¯re at it? Considering our long friendship, I will spend a fortune to craft you an agarwood urn, ensuring your remains will smell pleasant even after death! Bi Fang smiled and didn¡¯t continue to tease Yao Jun. Unlike laymen like Matthew and Hask, Yao Jun was very knowledgeable about various extreme sports, especially the notorious Mount Everest, and he was well aware of the difficulties involved, not something that could be easily fooled by a few words. But Bi Fang knew his goal. This was not just a System task; if he couldn¡¯t climb Mount Everest once in his lifetime, he would regret it forever. ¡°You¡¯re not a layman, so you should know that there aren¡¯t only Mount Everest above eight thousand meters in the world, but a total of fourteen peaks. Though Everest is the tallest, it is not the most difficult. Everest doesn¡¯t even make the top ten in difficulty. And I¡¯m not looking to challenge the most challenging one, Annapurna I. If it were that, I wouldn¡¯t even think about it unless I had half a year of training.¡± Yao Jun was speechless, unable to refute Bi Fang¡¯s nonchalant attitude as if it was the most natural thing in the world, only managing a weak counterargument, ¡°It¡¯s still Everest though.¡± ¡°It¡¯s already April. The best climbing window is approaching, and I don¡¯t want to wait another year. The seed of adventure has already been planted; waiting another year would drive me insane. After a year, it will burst through my skull and grow out of my brain. Do you understand?¡± Bi Fang placed his hand on his Heavenly Spirit Cover, spreading his fingers as if a large tree were truly sprouting from it, making the viewer¡¯s eyelids twitch uncontrollably. ¡°Ah this, ah this¡­¡± Bi Fang patted Yao Jun on the shoulder earnestly, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to see me become a plant person with a plant growing out of my head after a year, then support me.¡± Yao Jun was at a loss for words. With the conversation at this point, what more could he say? If the other party had truly decided, he had no right to stop it. ¡°This is too crazy!¡± ¡°You¡¯re only thirty. Isn¡¯t that the age to be crazy?¡± ¡°Goddamn it, go for it! If you die, don¡¯t come haunting me as a ghost!¡± ¡°Ha ha ha, don¡¯t worry. If I really die, it will be on Goddess Peak, returning to the embrace of Nature. Why would I bother you, a smelly man?¡± ¡°Have you told Wang Yongbo?¡± ¡°No, he¡¯s older and doesn¡¯t have your capacity for stress. I was afraid the shock might kill him.¡± Yao Jun: ¡°¡­¡± On April 17th, the day after returning to the country, Bi Fang checked his equipment in person and sealed the bag. All the gear was provided by Yao Jun alone, whose collection could only be described as terrifying. Ice axes, snow goggles, gloves, even moisture-wicking breathable socks¡ªeverything was there. Just one of these sealed bags contained equipment worth millions, and Bi Fang had prepared three of these bags. Even amateur mountaineering, meeting only the most basic requirements, costs at least 200,000 RMB. It is worth noting that due to various factors such as weather, not every investment guarantees summiting success. In other words, tens of thousands of yuan could potentially be wasted in one trip. For a non-amateur climber fulfilling the highest possible needs, an expedition could cost millions, which is not an exaggeration. The trip to the snowy mountains is unlike any other adventure, extremely intense. The more extreme the sport, the higher the demand for equipment, from major items down to a pair of socks, attention to detail is crucial. Even though System-provided equipment is of higher quality, with the Points Bi Fang had accumulated after surviving Ruins City, it was impossible to collect so much gear all at once. However, he managed to get something useful in the System¡¯s store. ¡°Universal Prop Coupon.¡± Considering Bi Fang had come to borrow equipment from Yao Jun, the function of this coupon was self-evident. ¡°Phew, next I need to contact Jerret and his group, and finally tell Wang Yongbo about it. I¡¯m really afraid he won¡¯t be able to handle it.¡± Bi Fang wiped the sweat from his forehead. The climb to Mount Everest was genuinely an extreme journey where a single mistake could mean sudden death. Therefore, he wanted everything to be as perfect as possible, leaving no room for regrets. That¡¯s why he needed to get in touch with Jerret, a top-tier photography team in the industry. Thinking of contacting them, Bi Fang habitually opened the System store. Today was the store refresh day, and he wanted to see if there was anything good since he hadn¡¯t spent Points on gear, and he still had plenty left. His gaze skimmed past some typical equipment, and suddenly, a gleaming skill coupon caught his eye. Bi Fang¡¯s breathing grew heavier for a moment. ¡°Oxygen Uptake Index Enhancement Coupon*1¡± Chapter 373 - Chapter 373: Chapter 371: Maximum Oxygen Uptake Chapter 373: Chapter 371: Maximum Oxygen Uptake ¡°` The breath control Bi Fang had maintained for so long suddenly collapsed, his breathing became abruptly heavy, and his heart started to beat violently. His chest was filled with tremendous joy, and in a matter of seconds, his expressions nearly made the passersby on the side take notice. Bi Fang¡¯s wildness from living in the wilderness for so long was starkly distinct from the comfort of the city. This was due to the high pressure causing a surge in hormone secretion, often referred to as the scent of a man. Many special forces soldiers and frontline detectives possess a similar aura. It is for this reason that people with similar experiences and heightened sensitivity could exchange glances and immediately sense that there¡¯s something extraordinary about the other person. Such a man, when mixed into the city, is like a drop of red ink in a pool of plaster, naturally eye-catching. At this moment, Bi Fang was particularly noticeable. This guy, he looks so familiar. Is he a celebrity? As passersby began to notice Bi Fang, the more they looked at him, the more familiar he seemed, and the more astonishing it became. ¡°Hahaha, sorry, I just thought of something happy,¡± Bi Fang touched the back of his head, laughed heartily, and quickly stepped out of line, his steps surprisingly sprightly. Turning his back, the smile on Bi Fang¡¯s face was almost overflowing. How long had it been since he¡¯d had such a surprise? It was as if someone offered a pillow when he was sleepy or a steaming, spicy bowl of noodles when he was hungry. How satisfying! ¡°Oxygen Uptake Index Enhancement Coupon*1, redeem for 4600 Wilderness Points.¡± ¡°Gold coupons are different indeed, they cost over four thousand.¡± Seeing the price of the Oxygen Uptake Coupon, Bi Fang¡¯s excitement at encountering the gold coupon subsided slightly. The points he could earn from one mission were only a little over a thousand, never even reaching two thousand. This gold coupon was worth three times the points of his missions. Over four thousand points. That was the most expensive voucher Bi Fang had ever encountered; he didn¡¯t even know how much it would increase his index, but he knew he had to have it. Oxygen uptake. Many people have not even heard of this concept, yet it is a golden figure among professional athletes. Maximum oxygen uptake, also, is the most direct data for assessing cardiovascular health in the field of exercise physiology. It represents the amount of oxygen one can inhale when the body can no longer continue to support further exercise at the maximum intensity. Renowned as the gold standard for evaluating endurance levels, it is one of the crucial criteria for selecting endurance athletes. A healthy male typically has a maximum oxygen uptake between 35-40, while for females it¡¯s between 27-31. A maximum oxygen uptake value over 60 usually results in significant achievements in aerobic sports. The average for international top male runners is an astonishing 85! What qualifies as international top level? It¡¯s not something as simple as being a national team athlete, that would be undervaluing them. These people are treasures of humanity, representing those capable of competing for world championships, the pinnacle of human physical capabilities! Furthermore, good cardiovascular health even means such individuals are likely to live longer than the average person! And those above ninety? They should no longer be called human but rather¡ªmonsters. ¡°` Indeed, Bi Fang felt exactly that way, to him, anyone with a maximum oxygen uptake over ninety was a monstrous being, undeserving of the title ¡°human.¡± Such individuals could even jog on Mount Everest! To jog in the forbidden zone for humans at an altitude of over 8,800 meters, where oxygen is extremely scarce! Just imagining this scene made Bi Fang¡¯s face flush with excitement. A path he never envisioned, a scenario he never dreamt of, could he run on Mount Everest? No, there was no need to run, even walking, one step at a time, was his lifelong aspiration. Compared to the population of humans, the number of people who have climbed Mount Everest is minuscule, and among them, over 90% could barely crawl after reaching the summit due to the thin air, standing being nearly impossible! If that were all, Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t be so excited, but the key point was that, according to medical research, maximum aerobic capacity could only be improved by 5-25% through training, with the remaining 72-95% being primarily influenced by genetic factors! In other words, it was a talent! No matter how much ordinary people trained, they could not reach it! Any enhancement through exercise also demanded continuous training to maintain. If training stopped for 2 weeks, aerobic capacity would significantly decline; 4-12 weeks without training could reduce cardiorespiratory function by 50%; and without training for half a year, the function would revert to the level before training. Moreover, short-term training could not improve maximum oxygen uptake, usually requiring 10-20 weeks of training to be effective, with at least 2 sessions per week to enhance it substantially. Therefore, the appearance of this gold coupon in the store caused Bi Fang to be so excited. Why did he want to climb Mount Everest? The main reason was very simple, it was a dream, an aspiration, to put it in the words of New Zealand climber Hillary (actually, it¡¯s Hillary, but you all understand), ¡°because it¡¯s there.¡± The second reason was the breakthrough he sought after his own limits; the appearance of the enhancement coupon was also a kind of limit breakthrough. Through various training and breathing methods, Bi Fang had already reached the training limit of his maximum oxygen uptake. Naturally, any further improvement was impossible. Only the system could help Bi Fang break through the limit, to reach domains that predecessors had reached and even those unattained. 4600 points, even if it meant smashing the pot and selling the iron, he would get them! Bi Fang scrolled down his personal panel. The points brought by Ruins City weren¡¯t much, only 1600, and he had never been one to save points, as that would be disrespectful to every mission. However, fortunately, the system had been updated a long time ago, and aside from acquiring Wilderness Points through missions, they could also be generated by certain influences and fan bases. Furthermore, points could be directly exchanged with money. Ten thousand for one point. Aside from using it right after the update, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t touched this piggy bank, almost forgetting about it. When he checked, he added the points from the missions. ¡°Still short by one hundred and twenty?¡± Bi Fang was stunned. When production wasn¡¯t enough, it meant resorting to conversion with money, which was 1.2 million. To be honest, the club¡¯s investments were like a bottomless pit, which made Bi Fang¡¯s wallet constantly in a state of being both wealthy and poor. Apart from maintaining the basic expenditures, he had hardly any extra wealth, especially since renting various vehicles for each trip overseas was also a major expense. Digging out the certificate of deposit from his pocket, Bi Fang was speechless and on the verge of tears. The gold bars Hask had given him hadn¡¯t even had time to get warm before he had to give them up. But there was no choice, it would take some time for the coupon to be adapted to, the sooner the better. Bi Fang could only reluctantly choose to exchange. The sound of gold coins falling to the ground resounded in his ears, a clear and crisp echo, bleeding the heart. Although Bi Fang didn¡¯t care much about money, he had the habit of saving it. Probably a mindset that came from poverty in a previous life, losing a large sum of money always caused him heartache for a long time. ¡°By the way, after completing the task on Everest, will the points increase? Otherwise, if I encounter a gold coupon in the future¡­¡± ¡°` Bi Fang gasped at the cold air, and immediately felt a sharp pain in his liver. But when he saw the gold coupon appear in his backpack, Bi Fang set aside the heartache and found a hidden corner in the lobby to click ¡®Adapt¡¯. Every time he used the various enhancements provided by the System, Bi Fang would secretly record it with a camera on the side, reviewing the footage afterward to see if anything was amiss. The results proved that, aside from feeling sleepy on occasion, there were no other conspicuous external changes. Thus, at this moment, he was quite eager. In the void, the gold coupon turned into fine powder and enveloped Bi Fang, merging into his body. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, so sleepy?¡± Bi Fang¡¯s eyes were blurry as he looked through the plants at the corner toward the bustling lobby, slowly lowering his head. In his sleep, Bi Fang had a dream where he found himself on a cold and freezing grassland. The weather was so cold that he was about to freeze, but soon, a warm gust of wind blew over. It started off cold, but gradually, it became warm. The wind brought moisture and warmth; the massive armor of ice cracked, and streams of snow honeydew flowed through the crevices. The once dormant path was again exposed to the sunlight, breathing in the fresh air eagerly, and sprouts of green grass seemed like springs emerging from the deep earth, spilling over the undulating grassland all the way to the horizon. The sky was a clear blue with white clouds, and herds of geese flew across, changing directions. He became a lone herdsman, riding freely across the plain, free to go wherever he wished. ¡°Mr. Bi¡­ Mr. Bi, Mr. Bi!?¡± ¡°Hmm, ah!¡± Bi Fang suddenly woke up and, by instinct, grabbed the man¡¯s wrist, twisting it behind his back. However, before the man could cry out in pain, Bi Fang, realizing who he was, quickly let go and raised his hands halfway up. At that moment, the security guard¡¯s pain signals seemed to have just reached his brain; he cried out in pain, attracting the attention of the few remaining people in the vicinity. ¡°Sorry, sorry, very sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to,¡± Bi Fang said with his hands half-raised, his face a mix of embarrassment and shame. He glanced around and instantly understood everything. Compared to the crowded lobby during the day, it was now eerily quiet, where even a small noise could echo far. Not far off, the man¡¯s colleagues were already rushing over. Obviously, he had accidentally fallen asleep after using the gold coupon and had slept into the night. The kind-hearted attempt to wake him had unexpectedly resulted in Bi Fang reflexively using a martial hold, possibly even spraining the joint. But there was no helping it; he had just returned from Yemen, and his nerves had not fully relaxed yet, coupled with his wild instinct, many actions were made subconsciously. ¡°I am truly very sorry, maybe you should go to the hospital to have it checked out. I will cover all expenses, including lost wages and the like, I really apologize.¡± ¡°No, no problem, it just hurts a bit,¡± the security guard winced in pain but still waved his hands repeatedly. ¡°Hey, Old Huang, are you okay? You there, step away from him!¡± The man¡¯s colleague was already hurrying over. The man quickly stood up and waved his hand: ¡°It¡¯s fine, just a misunderstanding, I accidentally took a fall.¡± His colleague looked skeptical: ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Really! Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± The man stood out more, took a few steps forward to show his colleague, said a few words, and only then did his colleague let down his guard and leave. The man turned back to look at Bi Fang again, who was now even more embarrassed. He hadn¡¯t expected to hurt the man¡¯s arm only for him to then cover for him. He felt terribly sorry. However, the man¡¯s attitude led Bi Fang to some speculation: ¡°Do¡­ do you know me?¡± ¡°` The man moved his shoulders, grimacing in pain, but still managed to laugh, ¡°Right, I¡¯ve seen your livestream, Master Fang!¡± Bi Fang was even more embarrassed, not expecting the other person to casually wave his hand, ¡°No worries, I understand. You¡¯ve just come back from Yemen, being tense is normal. And it¡¯s my fault too, I shouldn¡¯t have gotten close to you, always thought Cao Mengde¡¯s ¡®I delight in killing people in my dreams¡¯ was fake, but today I was really schooled.¡± With a joke, the tense atmosphere immediately loosened up. Bi Fang also breathed a sigh of relief. Compensating for the damage and apologizing were minor; he was in the wrong to begin with. His worry had been that the other party would be unyielding and make a big deal out of it, which could tie him down, and he couldn¡¯t afford that right now. Every day was precious and could not be wasted. Today, he was giving a perfunctory apology gift, and tomorrow he would set off for real. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault, a thousand times over. You should hurry to the hospital for a checkup, and I¡¯ll take care of the costs,¡± Bi Fang offered. ¡°Eh, no need for that, you let go quickly and I¡¯ve had some training myself. Look, it¡¯s almost nothing now, worst case I just slap on a plaster tonight and it¡¯ll be all good,¡± Huang Tianming declined repeatedly, swinging his shoulder in circles to show he was fine, and gave Bi Fang a thumbs-up. ¡°Master Fang, I watched the entirety of your livestream a few days ago, you are really made of iron. Damn, you really make Huaxia proud, those beasts dared not act humanely, doing things that defy nature and heavens. And who says only foreigners have the guts to take risks and strive? Be it a behemoth in a river or a rainforest expedition, we don¡¯t have such shows, they only want those sissies to dance and sing. But in truth, we Huaxia people are no less, we can do it better and more badass! What¡¯s the big deal with editing? It¡¯s all fake. Livestreaming is the ultimate badassery, who dares call it fake? Sadly, I don¡¯t have much ability or money to help out. What¡¯s a little twist? It¡¯s nothing. Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Huang Tianming ended up comforting Bi Fang instead, patting him on the shoulder. ¡°This¡­¡± Bi Fang still felt bad about it. ¡°It¡¯s really okay, really. Look, if you can¡¯t get over it, why not tell me about where you¡¯re planning to go next? When¡¯s the next livestream starting?¡± At this topic, Huang Tianming¡¯s eyes lit up. He was truly Bi Fang¡¯s fan. Unless he was tied up with work, he would follow every episode, and he sincerely thought so too. Watching Bi Fang survive and explore in various dangerous territories abroad through a screen was damn thrilling, way better than any movie! Especially after Jerret¡¯s survival show aired, it made Master Fang¡¯s bravery and fearlessness, as well as his outstanding skills, more prominent ¨C rightfully the number one wilderness survivor! Making us proud! Genuinely making us proud! ¡°For the next episode, I do have something prepared.¡± ¡°Hey, come on, spill the beans, or I really won¡¯t let you off,¡± Huang urged. Bi Fang looked around, leaned in, and whispered, ¡°I¡¯m going to climb Mount Everest!¡± ¡°Hiss! Mount Everest? My dear mother!¡± Huang exclaimed. Bi Fang scratched his head, seeing that the passersby he had finally walked away from had gathered around again, somewhat speechless. Why does everyone have such a big reaction? I haven¡¯t even started the climb! Chapter 374 - Chapter 374: Chapter 372: Thats it? (Two in One) Chapter 374: Chapter 372: That¡¯s it? (Two in One) The enormous moon rose slowly outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the entire hall was bathed in the cold, watery moonlight. The shadows of the window panes were cast upon the backrest of a long bench, where two men sat at either end¡ªone animatedly talking about his dreams, the other listening quietly. Strangely, it was Huang Tianming who did the talking, and Bi Fang who listened. Learning that Bi Fang was planning to go to Mount Everest, the reaction of this security guard before him was far stronger than imagined, and he was more excited, his face flushing red as he spoke about his desire to save money for travel and adventures. Huang Tianming spoke for a full fifteen minutes before he smacked his lips and asked, ¡°Climbing must be expensive, right?¡± Bi Fang nodded slightly, ¡°Yeah, about two hundred thousand or so per trip.¡± ¡°Ah, really, I really, really want to go, to see the snow-capped mountains, the very high snow-capped mountains.¡± Huang Tianming looked up at the moonlight, then down at the uniform he wore, suddenly heaving a sigh. His face, which had been flushed with excitement, suddenly lost its color like a deflated red balloon, ¡°You¡¯re so lucky, handsome and knowledgeable, strong in everything you do. I have nothing, I¡¯m poor and unattractive.¡± Bi Fang scratched his eyebrow, the sudden change in tone caught him off guard, he couldn¡¯t help but recall his own arrival in this world. So destitute he couldn¡¯t afford meals, relying on the generosity of friends listed in his phone book to get through those first few days. What should his life have been like? Perhaps he wouldn¡¯t have been able to join the CWCA? Thinking this, Bi Fang raised an eyebrow, suddenly he had an idea, ¡°Do you have something you can give me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s really nothing, no need, uhmm? What, what?¡± Huang Tianming was halfway through his refusal when he was taken aback, thinking he might have misheard. That¡¯s not right. It was you who sprained my arm, normally shouldn¡¯t you be giving me something? Asking me for something, what¡¯s that about? Seeing the other man taken aback, Bi Fang urged him a couple of times, ¡°Do you have anything? Anything will do, preferably something lightweight and durable, even a piece of cloth is fine.¡± ¡°Oh, yes, I have something, this is my ID lanyard that I carry with me every day. It got torn when I slept on the table at noon today, I¡¯ve been keeping it in my pocket since.¡± Out of professional habit, and since it was his idol, Huang Tianming didn¡¯t make a fuss, he took out a blue cord from his pocket. Just as Bi Fang reached out to take it, a familiar call sounded again, interrupting their conversation. ¡°Hey, Old Huang, where are you? Is everything okay or not? If it¡¯s fine, get over here quickly, you already took leave last month, don¡¯t slack off!¡± ¡°Eh, coming right away!¡± Huang Tianming stood up reflexively, replying loudly, then turned to apologize to Bi Fang, ¡°Sorry, I got so carried away with the chat.¡± ¡°No worries, it¡¯s my fault after all.¡± Bi Fang himself had caused the other¡¯s sprain; listening to a conversation was the least he could do. ¡°Well, if it¡¯s okay, then I¡¯ll be going.¡± Huang Tianming felt regret but still nodded, watching as Bi Fang turned and left through the main doors. Approaching midnight, with the hall almost empty, Huang Tianming, still shocked by the conversation about climbing Mount Everest, watched as the figure exited and gradually moved further away, and for some reason, on impulse, he waved and shouted at the man disappearing into the darkness. ¡°Keep it up, I will definitely see you reach the summit! The world¡¯s number one!¡± With one hand in his pocket, Bi Fang listened to Huang Tianming¡¯s shouts and smiled silently, looking up at the man standing with his back to him as he raised his right hand high, a blue cord naturally falling before it was firmly grasped. ¡°Number one!¡± ¡­ ¡°Huff.¡± Bi Fang slowly exhaled, his breath long and continuous, as if, to the careful observer, he had stopped breathing. He cast aside the thoughts in his mind, knowing dwelling in the past was pointless. The best way to meet life was to treat the future kindly. Finally having a moment to himself, Bi Fang earnestly felt his new status, every breath long and measured. A clear and immensely effective power revealed itself within him. It was as if his body had been cleansed by clear water from the inside out, feeling much lighter. Just like that, Bi Fang even felt his vitality had increased, the vitality of his organs, muscles, and bones seemed to have all improved. It was like an ordinary sedan used for delivering tofu had its old, rusty antique engine replaced with that of a race car¡¯s. On top of that, it was filled with fuel, every cell developing, emitting a high-pitched roar, his body hair standing on end, giving him goosebumps! If his previous self was like wearing a ¡°lead suit,¡± now he had shed the ¡°lead suit,¡± with clear ears and sharp eyes, feeling light all over. The cold midnight wind blew as if he had been transported to an icy world. A black storm swept across everything, a tiny figure swung his ice axe on the rock wall, struggling upward, The storm couldn¡¯t shake the determined figure, the cold couldn¡¯t freeze the warmth of his heart. Gazing at the empty, boundless streets, Bi Fang put on his hoodie¡¯s hood and slowly started running toward home. The total distance was less than twenty-six kilometers, which the transformed Bi Fang did not regard as significant at all. A hundred minutes later. Bi Fang leaned against his front door, breathing heavily, sweat dripping down his temples, yet his face showed no signs of fatigue, even a smile. Twenty-six kilometers, a hundred minutes, this speed was not world-class. The increase in maximum oxygen intake brought significant improvements in endurance and recovery, but his physical condition hadn¡¯t improved much; there was still a long way to go to reach the top. But in terms of endurance alone, Bi Fang was very satisfied. Leaning against the door, he could clearly feel his heart beating steadily and strongly, he had plenty of energy left! And after just a few minutes of resting, he felt much better overall. And for climbing, the most important things are endurance and recovery. Those with high maximum oxygen uptake are very suitable for the extreme sport of mountain climbing! ¡­ The next day, a neatly dressed Bi Fang pulled out a black peaked cap from the wardrobe and placed it on his head, grabbed his backpack, and walked out to the yard. Outside the gate, Yao Jun, similarly equipped, honked the horn. In the car, Wang Yongbo, with huge panda eyes, sat in the back seat. Poor guy, worried that Wang Yongbo might try to stop him, Bi Fang didn¡¯t notify Wolf Fang of his plans right away, and even the promotional poster was done by someone Yao Jun found and sent it over. As a result, Wang Yongbo only knew about Wolf Fang¡¯s Wolf King¡¯s mountain climbing expedition a mere ten minutes before Bi Fang¡¯s fans, and after learning about the difficulty from some professional outdoor streamers, he had not slept all night. Early in the morning, he had found Yao Jun and joined him in the car to look for Bi Fang. Yao Jun honked the horn twice more: ¡°Hurry up, didn¡¯t you say time is tight? It¡¯s already nine o¡¯clock.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the rush?¡± Wang Yongbo watched as Bi Fang got into the car and knew that at this point, it was impossible for him to stop him; he could only hand over the boarding pass to Bi Fang, ¡°Think about it, even though we posted the promotional posters early yesterday morning and started hyping it up, if you really don¡¯t want to go, it¡¯s no big deal. Just create some video to fudge it. This mission was very tight, and at most, everyone will just be a bit disappointed; it won¡¯t cause too much of a reaction. Your fans are very loyal; once they start watching, they hardly ever leave, so even if they are disappointed, there will be almost no impact on the live stream. As for Wolf Fang, I won¡¯t even get into that¡­ Anyway, we¡¯ve all been treating you like a VIP.¡± As an executive at Wolf Fang, Wang Yongbo was fearless at this moment, and his words clearly indicated that Wolf Fang was especially keen on having Bi Fang on board. Bi Fang smiled, amused. Being VIP was an exaggeration. The company was a business, not a charity; the fact that they gave leeway and showed consideration was already quite a gesture of goodwill. Even if he demanded a raise on the spot, Wolf Fang wouldn¡¯t refuse immediately but would start considering it right away. However, Bi Fang didn¡¯t see the need. Jacking up the price on the spot wasn¡¯t something a real man would do. Initially, when Wolf Fang made such a sincere offer before he had fully proven his value, Bi Fang naturally wanted to reciprocate. Just receiving what he was entitled to was enough. ¡°Did you take care of everything I asked you to?¡± Bi Fang fastened his seatbelt and turned to look at Yao Jun. ¡°Everything¡¯s ready. The guides, the camera equipment, I¡¯ve arranged it all for you. Jerret and the others have also gone ahead. The gear you sent over yesterday has arrived too. Oh, and I got this special item you asked for; be careful with it. I had to rush to find someone who could get it; there are only these two sticks, no extras.¡± Yao Jun opened the glove compartment and handed over two silver-white metal cylinders to Bi Fang. ¡°Good, two sticks are enough, one as a spare.¡± ¡°Right. It¡¯s a shame Lin Chang isn¡¯t as free to join; otherwise, he would definitely want to be part of the excitement.¡± Wang Yongbo, who was sitting in the back seat, leaned forward curiously, examining the metal sticks with fascination, ¡°What are these? Climbing equipment?¡± ¡°Haha, that¡¯s a secret. Huh, President Wang, what are you still doing here?¡± Bi Fang was about to tease him with the answer when he suddenly noticed that Wang Yongbo was still in the back seat. Turning his head, he gaped in surprise¡ªhow come he was even wearing sportswear now? Bi Fang, accustomed to seeing Wang Yongbo in suits and penguin outfits, rubbed his eyes as they stung from the unusual sight. He thought Wang Yongbo would have left after finishing his business, but something seemed off now. Wang Yongbo scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed: ¡°To be honest, climbing Mount Everest has always been my dream.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s eyes widened as he sized up Wang Yongbo, who was 165 cm tall and weighed 165 kg. He couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. How could the Sherpa people even carry him! ¡°What¡¯s that look for?¡± Wang Yongbo got a bit angry, feeling that Bi Fang¡¯s gaze was very impolite. ¡°I know my own limits. I don¡¯t intend to climb. I¡¯ll just stay at base camp, not go anywhere, and just watch you reach the summit up close!¡± Bi Fang sighed with relief. Although few people climb Mount Everest, countless tourists visit every day. Wang Yongbo was just one of them, going along for the excitement like Yao Jun. The only one climbing was him. But then Bi Fang hesitated, scratching his head before deciding to forewarn him, ¡°President Wang, the base camp is at five thousand meters too. Yao Jun will be fine, at least he¡¯s young, but your physical condition¡­¡± ¡°What? There¡¯s such a thing?¡± Wang Yongbo turned pale with shock, his complexion quickly turning ashen, but then he recovered, waving his hand dismissively, ¡°No problem. I still want to go. I¡¯ll stay in the hospital if I have to see you reach the summit! Besides, without going, how do you know for sure I can¡¯t do it. Damn it, don¡¯t underestimate me!¡± How does a man in his forties manage to roar like an anime protagonist? Bi Fang felt a headache coming on but figured there was no need to worry too much. Every year, many people who believe they won¡¯t get altitude sickness eagerly head to Everest, only to be rushed to the hospital soon after. They¡¯re quite experienced in handling such cases already. Half a day later, a horrific wail rose in the air. ¡°The oxygen tank! Quickly, give me the oxygen tank! Ugh!¡± Bi Fang supported Yao Jun and Wang Yongbo on each side, his face exuding speechlessness while simultaneously pulling the pre-prepared oxygen bottles from his bag. Anticipating that Wang Yongbo might not believe it, Yao Jun, how could you be this weak too? Originally, the oxygen canisters were just a precaution, but unexpectedly, they had indeed become necessary. Wang Yongbo took an oxygen canister and deeply inhaled, his pale complexion finally regaining some color. He looked at Yao Jun, who was also looking unwell, and mercilessly taunted him, ¡°Hahaha, that¡¯s it? You¡¯re even worse than a fatty like me, gasping harder than I was.¡± ¡°Damn, I miscalculated,¡± Yao Jun weakly inhaled the oxygen, puzzled, ¡°I¡¯ve been exercising the past few days, so why isn¡¯t it doing any good?¡± ¡°Forget it,¡± Bi Fang helped the two sit down on the side and explained, ¡°The more you exercise, the more likely you are to suffer from altitude sickness because training keeps your muscles highly active with a higher metabolic rate, ultimately leading to increased oxygen demand. You¡¯ve suddenly come to a place with thin air, the oxygen supply naturally can¡¯t keep up. That¡¯s why it¡¯s advised to stop exercising a week before going to high altitudes. It¡¯s also my fault for not reminding you, but even if I did, it would be too late. With the short time frame, stopping for just a day or two wouldn¡¯t help.¡± ¡°Okay, so it¡¯s like that,¡± Yao Jun nodded weakly, just as he was piecing things together and realizing what was wrong, ¡°Wait, that¡¯s not right, you exercise crazily more than I do, how come you¡¯re fine?¡± Bi Fang raised an eyebrow, mercilessly mocking, ¡°You¡¯re comparing yourself to me? I may have a high oxygen demand, but my oxygen intake is even stronger! At least this much stronger than yours.¡± Yao Jun watched as Bi Fang pointed towards the sky and almost passed out from anger. Elsewhere, many of the people who had just gotten off the airplane were suffering from varying degrees of altitude sickness. None were as unaffected as Bi Fang, but unfortunately, not everyone was as well-prepared as he was. ¡°Young man, do you have any more oxygen canisters? I¡¯m really feeling terrible, feel like vomiting.¡± ¡°Sorry, I only prepared two, and look, they¡¯re both in use now.¡± ¡°Doctor, doctor, someone¡¯s fainted here!¡± In the crowd, some people were even starting to stagger. ¡°Look over there, someone¡¯s selling oxygen canisters!¡± ¡°I want one too, I want one too!¡± ¡°Hurry, give me one!¡± ¡°Sir, oxygen canisters are Three Hundred Yuan each.¡± ¡°Three Hundred Yuan, are you fucking robbing me? It only costs a few Yuan to get oxygen at the hospital for an hour!¡± ¡°Robbing people isn¡¯t as profitable as selling oxygen canisters. Sir, do you want it or not while you¡¯re on the ground?¡± Yao Jun, holding his forehead, was extremely uncomfortable: ¡°How long will it take me to recover from this?¡± Bi Fang thought for a moment: ¡°Probably a few days, depending on the person¡¯s constitution. Maybe you should just go back. If something really goes wrong, it would be quite a hassle.¡± ¡°No way, not even if I die!¡± Yao Jun¡¯s face flushed with determination, looking at the oxygen canister peddler nearby, and with a wave of his hand, ¡°I¡¯ve got plenty of money. Over there, give me a hundred oxygen canisters first!¡± Bi Fang sighed. ¡°Eh, why bother?¡± Chapter 375 - Chapter 375: Chapter 373 Mountain Chapter 375: Chapter 373 Mountain On the benches inside the waiting area, tall oxygen tanks were piled up into a small mountain, which drew the curious glances of everyone passing by in the bustling hall. Sitting beside this mini-mountain was a young man wearing a black baseball cap. Just then, another young man approached the baseball cap-wearing man and nervously asked, ¡°Excuse me, are these oxygen tanks for sale? My grandfather is feeling a bit unwell. Could you give us a discount? Three hundred is really too expensive.¡± Bi Fang looked up at the elderly man struggling to breathe on the bench opposite and casually grabbed a few oxygen bottles and shoved them into the young man¡¯s hands, ¡°Take them, no charge.¡± ¡°Oh, thank you, thank¡­¡± the young man said, his face lighting up with surprise as he took the oxygen tanks and bent down to thank him. But as he lowered his head, his gaze suddenly met those serene eyes and his emotions spiked, ¡°You, you¡¯re Master Fang!¡± ¡°Shh!¡± Bi Fang gestured for silence with one hand while firmly gripping the young man¡¯s wrist with the other, yanking down hard to prevent him from standing up and shouting. The young man was forced to swallow the second half of his word, but his excitement was impossible to hide; he bit his lip hard while the muscles on both sides of his cheeks trembled slightly. To say there was a young person in Huaxia who didn¡¯t recognize Master Fang would mean they had no understanding of what dreams, passion, or adventure were! ¡°Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap, is it really Master Fang? I saw the poster on the Wolf Fang official website this morning, are you really going to climb Mount Everest?¡± the young man asked in a low voice, trying to contain his excitement. Mount Everest, oh, Mount Everest. His idol, the tallest mountain in the world, was really going to climb Mount Everest? The next second, the young man¡¯s heart exploded as he saw Bi Fang nod his head! ¡°I¡¯m just passing through here, won¡¯t stay long, don¡¯t want any trouble, understand?¡± The young man nodded vigorously, ¡°Understood, understood!¡± ¡°Alright, go look after your grandfather, he¡¯s been waiting a long time.¡± ¡°Thank you, thank you, Master Fang.¡± The young man¡¯s heart pounded inside his chest. The thrill of unexpectedly meeting his idol up close was simply too exhilarating ¨C that was Master Fang, the idol so many young people yearned for, handing him oxygen tanks in person! Wolf, Bear, Shark, ancient creatures, even armed poachers ¨C one after another, these fearsome beings fell before Master Fang¡¯s advancing path. This was a living legend, an idol in life! A man should damn well be doing this! This is what a real man should be doing! Watching the young man return to his family with the oxygen tanks, jumping and bubbling with excitement, more and more people who felt unwell but couldn¡¯t afford the oxygen tanks turned their hopeful eyes to Bi Fang. But before any of them could get close¡­ A clattering noise broke out as the towering mountain of oxygen tanks toppled over. A fat man and a skinny man, one tall and one short, suddenly climbed out from the pile, tossed out an empty tank each, and started breathing from the new ones unanimously, dissipating the focused gazes around them once more. Inside the great quantity of oxygen tanks could be seen a sparse number of humans. ¡°Inhale, exhale! Inhale, exhale!¡± The fat man and the skinny man, tall and short, inhaled and exhaled rhythmically, their lungs working like broken bellows. Bi Fang watched them with great speechlessness, ¡°Maybe you guys should just go to the hospital. There¡¯s really no need to wait here. Once the plane arrives, I can just let you know, right?¡± ¡°No way, there¡¯s still three hours left. I can hold on! Just have to get on the plane, and besides, I¡¯ve got the money! If only I knew to choose a different route, couldn¡¯t I have flown here from some other place? Why did I have to come to such a high-altitude area? Isn¡¯t this torture?¡± Yao Jun glared at Bi Fang, ¡°Also, how could you be so generous with someone else¡¯s money! Those were the canisters I bought!¡± ¡°You said you¡¯re wealthy, huh? Plus, the Lhasa to Kathmandu flight is one I specially chose; you definitely wouldn¡¯t want to miss it.¡± Yao Jun scratched his head, somewhat puzzled. What¡¯s so special about a flight route that it shouldn¡¯t be missed? ¡°Is there a surprise?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll find out when the time comes.¡± Bi Fang said mysteriously, winking before quickly changing the subject. ¡°By the way, did you guys fall asleep on the plane just now?¡± ¡°Hmm? Didn¡¯t you sleep?¡± Bi Fang suddenly realized, no wonder these two guys had a reaction as soon as they got off the plane; it was because of this. Besides reacting immediately after getting off the plane, in fact, many people who had just arrived in Lhasa wouldn¡¯t feel anything at first, even thinking, ¡°I don¡¯t have a headache or shortness of breath; I don¡¯t have altitude sickness at all!¡± That¡¯s because the oxygen content in the blood right after getting off the plane is still sufficient and doesn¡¯t decrease with the rising altitude. By that night and the following day, as the blood oxygen content decreases, symptoms of altitude sickness such as headache, nausea, shortness of breath, lethargy, and fever will come on fiercely. ¡°But if you sleep, the blood circulation slows down, and since you¡¯re sitting, the oxygen can¡¯t be delivered in time. When the plane lands and you wake up in a low oxygen environment, it¡¯s easy to feel uncomfortable. It looks like you both slept soundly, probably entering deep sleep directly; otherwise, bearing it for a few hours should¡¯ve been fine.¡± Yao Jun and Wang Yongbo had been listening with interest until the last sentence, when they suddenly became furious, ¡°It¡¯s all your fault, rushing us like that. Last night, I was still busy handling things for you, of course, I was tired during the day! You, on the other hand, have nothing to do, just move your lips, do you even realize our legs could break from all this running around!¡± Bi Fang shrugged his shoulders, dismissing the matter. This time, they needed to get to the south slope of Mount Everest, which required reaching Nepal, but the Magic Capital had no direct flights to Nepal. Only flights from Guang, Kun, Cheng, Lhasa, and Hong Kong were available. Considering distance and acclimatization reasons, the group took the Magic Capital-Lhasa-Nepal route. Lhasa¡¯s altitude is 3650 meters. For people from the plains, traveling to Lhasa would usually involve some form of altitude sickness, but the situation is much better in Nepal¡¯s capital, Kathmandu, which is only a little over a thousand meters above sea level, and generally poses no problem for the average person. At noon, Bi Fang took the two of them for lunch while they breathed oxygen, waiting until three in the afternoon for the plane to finally land. The three of them packed their luggage and set off from Lhasa directly to the capital of Nepal¡ªKathmandu. Kathmandu, commonly referred to as Kathmandu, is Nepal¡¯s largest city, located in the Kathmandu Valley at the confluence of the Bagmati River and Bhingmati River. Surrounded by mountains, Kathmandu was founded in 723 AD and is an ancient city with over 1200 years of history. Many first learned about this beautiful ancient city through the Doctor Strange movie. Exquisite architectural art and ancient wood and stone carvings symbolize Nepal¡¯s ancient culture. Successive dynasties have built a vast number of palaces, temples, pagodas, and gardens here. In an area of less than seven square kilometers, there are more than two hundred stupas and temples and nearly three thousand shrines! And because Kathmandu is located on the southern slope of the Himalayas, natural barriers shield the city from the cold winds of the north. With the warm currents from the Indian Ocean to the south, the city¡¯s unique geographical environment is created. The average monthly high temperature never exceeds twenty-nine, and the low never drops below two degrees Celsius. With sunshine prevailing all year round and green trees surrounding it, it is an ideal tourist destination. One of the objectives for Bi Fang and his companions after landing was to meet with Jerret¡¯s photography team here and find a guide company before heading to the campsite. On the plane, Wang Yongbo comfortably settled into his seat, having recovered most of his strength back on the plane, showing none of the previous weariness. Wang Yongbo, marveling at Bi Fang who also spent half a day in Lhasa but seemed unaffected, asked curiously, ¡°If you¡¯re so capable, why do you still need a guide?¡± Bi Fang pulled back the window curtain and replied, ¡°Surviving in snow mountains and trekking through the wilderness are both life-threatening situations, but I¡¯m not just about surviving. If it were just about living in the mountains, of course, I wouldn¡¯t need a guide. But I want to summit, and that¡¯s a different concept. Moreover, the opponent is Mount Everest. I must know the routes up the mountain in advance to make favorable judgments. These are trails blazed by countless climbers with their corpses.¡± The word ¡°corpses¡± sent shivers down Wang Yongbo and Yao Jun¡¯s spines, as if they could already see the climbing routes paved with white bones beneath the ice and snow. Ignoring the beauty of Mount Everest, that¡¯s not just the highest peak¡ªit¡¯s clearly a towering tombstone! ¡°` As the two were chatting away awkwardly, Bi Fang knocked on the plane¡¯s window with his knuckles, ¡°Pay attention, this might be your only chance. I specifically chose a window seat.¡± Yao Jun and Wang Yongbo curiously poked their heads out. The plane was still steadily climbing when suddenly, the clouds below began to thin, the misty fog slowly dispersing and everyone¡¯s pupils dilating swiftly. That was a mountain! A huge mountain! The setting sun¡¯s Himalayas stretched across the west part of the earth, like a natural barrier separating Huaxia from Nepal, with pale golden edges etched along the division between the mountain range and the sky, dazzlingly bright. But the sunset couldn¡¯t suppress the light of the stars; seven cyan stars rose in the golden sky, their brightness as piercing as freshly sharpened iron swords. The clouds reveled in the extensive and majestic Trans-Himalayan and Himalayan mountain ranges and the winding rivers glimmering with light, affording an unparalleled divine perspective. In Bi Fang¡¯s brown pupils was reflected the image of the Roof of the World, and he softly said, ¡°Chengdu to Kathmandu, with a stopover in Lhasa, this is the only flight route in the world that goes over Mount Everest, and it¡¯s also hailed as one of the most beautiful flight routes in the world.¡± This is the part of the flight from Lhasa to Nepal that¡¯s worth every penny of the ticket price! ¡°Damn, no wonder you insisted on flying from Lhasa. So this was the reason. I stayed up all night for the tickets, totally worth it!¡± Yao Jun exclaimed admirably, his eyes not blinking for fear any flicker would turn into a lifelong regret. Everyone greedily took in everything they could see, even though their eyes were already dry and acidic from not blinking. The last warmth of sunlight fell between the mountains, eagles darted swiftly through the sky, and between the valleys, an unknown variety of small yellow flowers created knee-deep flower beds that extended beyond the line of sight where the mountain met the sky. With the wind, the flowers undulated, creating waves upon waves, and the frozen ground in this rare thawing season slowly breathed in the fresh air. ¡°A rainbow, a rainbow!¡± someone suddenly shouted out. All eyes moved skyward, and even the flight attendants, who were used to such sights, couldn¡¯t help but cover their mouths in amazement. A pure, half-arc of rainbow light shot straight from that corner of golden light to the distant horizon. Such pristine colors, floating dream-like in mid-air, were more breathtaking than any rainbow seen in a lifetime. ¡°How can there be a rainbow without rain?¡± someone asked, puzzled. ¡°It¡¯s an ice rainbow!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s pupils nearly dilated to the extreme, his heart pounding, ¡°Rainbows don¡¯t always come after rain; they can appear when there¡¯s a sufficient number of small droplets in the air and sunlight. But we¡¯re at an elevation of ten thousand meters, where the air is filled with ice crystals. Only when sunlight passes at just the right angle through the high-altitude clouds can you see such a rare phenomenon. This isn¡¯t just a rainbow, it¡¯s a sun halo as well!¡± ¡°How rare is it?¡± Yao Jun asked out of curiosity. ¡°You may only see it once in your lifetime!¡± ¡°This is how things are here, simple and straightforward. A patch of green grass, as far as the eyes can see is green; when the sky is clear, looking up is all blue; a rainbow, and half the sky takes on its color. It¡¯s not like the east, where everywhere you look, it¡¯s filled with people,¡± said an excited Tibetan with flushed cheeks. ¡°There¡¯s a mountain! There¡¯s a mountain!¡± another person shouted excitedly. Mountain? Where wasn¡¯t there a mountain? In their bewilderment, everyone began to space out. It was indeed a mountain. A real mountain! In disbelief at their own eyes, as the last rays of the sun lit the earth, a mountain enveloped in clouds, rising to meet the sky, appeared before them. Sunlight shone on the mountaintop, glowing brilliantly as the clouds drifted near the peak. Many on the plane had never imagined that they would brush past this majestic and solemn mountain; witnessing it now was as astounding as a miracle. ¡°Many landscapes, we only realize what they truly look like when we see them with our own eyes, otherwise they¡¯ll forever remain how we imagine them in our minds.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Goddess Peak.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s wildly beating heart suddenly calmed down. Not that he wasn¡¯t excited, but he was numbed by the shock of the massive beauty; a warm current flowed from his scalp to his toes and finally sweat poured out of every pore with their expansion. This was what he had most anticipated, most longed for, most wanted to hold onto, it was his faith! ¡°That is what I am pursuing,¡± Bi Fang whispered in a barely audible voice, yet it was still captured by Yao Jun standing behind him. Yao Jun watched Bi Fang¡¯s devout expression in silence, his heart filled with solemnity. What was it that had drawn him to Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast? He too loved the sport and knew many professionals who had made achievements in their field, but none had ever given him the shock that Bi Fang did. What was the difference between these people and Bi Fang? At this moment, Yao Jun finally understood deeply. Not having missed any of his live-streaming adventures, how wonderful. Is this what Master Fang was pursuing? Wang Yongbo in the front row leaned back in his seat, his body too exhausted to exert an ounce of strength. Watching Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcasts in the past, he could feel the tension, the fear, the boiling in his blood. But he had never, like today, personally experienced the ¡°beauty.¡± Is this adventure? Is this Nature? Is this what he himself was lacking? ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful!¡± ¡°` Chapter 376 - Chapter 376: Chapter 374 Idols Idol, The First Generation Legend Chapter 376: Chapter 374 Idol¡¯s Idol, The First Generation Legend From Lhasa to Kathmandu, after ninety minutes, the group finally landed at Tribhuvan International Airport, with Yao Jun and Wang Yongbo still having faces flushed with excitement that wouldn¡¯t fade. This flight was totally worth it, okay! The only thing they wanted to do now was not to climb Mount Everest, but to buy ten more tickets, get back on the plane, and just fly back and forth for fun! On the other side, just out of the cabin, Bi Fang saw a burly Caucasian man holding a sign with the words ¡°Master Fang¡±. Yao Jun took deep breaths of the fresh air and, seeing the display sign, explained, ¡°It must be from the guide company, coming to take us over.¡± Bi Fang nodded, went up to greet the man, and before he could even introduce himself, the Caucasian man enthusiastically welcomed him, ¡°My goodness, I can hardly believe it¡ªI¡¯m actually going to guide the legendary GOD FANG.¡± ¡°You know me?¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯ve seen your show in Ugly Country, it was absolutely thrilling, your fight with the Brown Bear was so exhilarating! I¡¯m Rob, your true fan and your team¡¯s lead guide. The company showed me your profile and I was so amazed, I never thought they¡¯d arrange for me to lead your team. Sorry, I¡¯m just a bit too excited.¡± Bi Fang raised an eyebrow, looked back at Yao Jun who seemed a bit embarrassed and without saying much, approached with a smile and shook Rob¡¯s hand, ¡°I¡¯m glad to meet you too.¡± After exchanging a few pleasantries, Rob got down to business. ¡°Although I know you¡¯re eager to climb Mount Everest right now, I¡¯m sorry to say it¡¯s already late in the day, and since you¡¯ve just arrived in Kathmandu, you¡¯ll need to acclimatize, so I¡¯ll take you to a hotel to rest tonight. Tomorrow I¡¯ll take you to Everest Base Camp to meet up with the other team members, if that¡¯s okay with Mr. Bi.¡± ¡°Wait, other team members?¡± Yao Jun, who had been listening to the arrangements, suddenly looked confused and, looking up at Rob, spoke somewhat angrily, ¡°Didn¡¯t I specify a private expedition? No one else! I paid extra for this!¡± Rob waved his hands quickly, ¡°I know, I know, but they had all booked before Mr. Yao arrived. Mr. Bi should be aware, there are only two windows each year for climbing Mount Everest, and there are particularly many climbers at this time. Subtracting the time needed for acclimatization, you have indeed arrived a bit late. There simply aren¡¯t enough guides, but rest assured, they will only accompany you to Base Camp, after which my colleague will take over their group. From then on, I shall be responsible solely for guiding you, you can be assured of that.¡± ¡°That¡¯s okay.¡± With that, Bi Fang nodded his head, and Yao Jun didn¡¯t say any more. As Rob walked ahead to lead the way, he suddenly turned to Yao Jun and asked quietly, ¡°How did you find this outfit? Are they reliable?¡± I¡¯ve indeed shot a show in Ugly Country, but I never dealt with Brown Bears! The one who dealt with Brown Bears was Mugalen, I¡¯ve only ever dealt with Black Bears. Clearly, this guy just glanced at a brief summary and got it all mixed up. He¡¯s not really a fan of mine at all, and might not even have heard of me before this. But Bi Fang wasn¡¯t angry. With over seven billion people on Earth, he wasn¡¯t some famous scientist changing the world. There was no need for everyone to know him. To the other man, he was just a generous customer and it was normal to exchange pleasantries. ¡°Totally reliable! Many climbers have used this company, they are utterly professional. Each guide has official certification. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can ask him.¡± ¡°I believe you, but how much did you pay for the one-on-one service?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that, it wasn¡¯t too expensive.¡± ¡°Come on, tell me.¡± Yao Jun scratched his head, ¡°Sixty-five thousand per person, including the guide. Originally our group was supposed to be eight people, I covered their shares too. I thought the others would just be refused, but they switched to a different guide instead.¡± ¡°Red Note?¡± ¡°Ugly Knife.¡± ¡°Hiss!¡± Bi Fang had never been to Mount Everest in his previous life and had never imagined that hiring a guide would be so expensive. Sixty-five thousand Ugly Knives, even if an ordinary person saved without eating or drinking, it would take several years. Wang Yongbo also counted on his fingers, shocked at the exorbitant cost. But on second thought, it made sense. Although guides couldn¡¯t take people directly to the summit, maxing out at eight thousand meters, the level of danger was still ridiculously high, carrying a tremendous risk¡ªit was literally earning money at the risk of one¡¯s life. Moreover, after climbing once, it wasn¡¯t possible to immediately lead another team; a significant period of rest was necessary. In one climbing season, managing to lead two teams would be quite an achievement. Bi Fang then understood, ¡°It seems they are all tycoons. Besides wanting to earn more money, they probably also find it hard to directly refuse, as it could easily offend people.¡± In a commercial guiding company, money is the standard that measures everything. ¡°I¡¯ll pay you back when we return.¡± ¡°No need, it¡¯s less than three million,¡± Yao Jun waved his hand, ¡°If you consider me a friend, don¡¯t mention it. Talking about money hurts the relationship. There¡¯s really no need.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Bi Fang lowered his head and thanked him sincerely. Yao Jun, online alias Lord Mu, if it weren¡¯t for this guy¡¯s generosity, how could I have become so popular so quickly? Scratching the back of his head, Yao Jun chuckled, ¡°Eh, why be so formal, haha. My old man always thinks I¡¯m wasteful with money. If he knew I spent it on you, he¡¯d probably be thrilled.¡± After settling into the hotel, Bi Fang immediately received a message from Jerret and others. After greeting Yao Jun and Wang Yongbo, he rushed to the prearranged meeting spot. As soon as they met, before Bi Fang could ask about the photography team, Jerret put his arm around Bi Fang¡¯s shoulder and whispered mysteriously, ¡°I know you want my photography team, but don¡¯t rush. I have something even more important and surprising waiting for you.¡± ¡°A surprise? What kind of surprise? Did you prepare a drone that can go up to eight thousand meters for me?¡± Jerret rolled his eyes, somewhat speechless, ¡°Eight thousand meters? Are you kidding? Let alone eight thousand, I haven¡¯t even seen one that can reach five thousand! There¡¯s someone who wants to meet you!¡± ¡°Someone who wants to meet me? Tell him to keep his distance, I don¡¯t have time to meet anyone.¡± Bi Fang, thinking there really was some surprise, was greatly disappointed. Was it just some person wanting to meet me? Who could possibly be worth my time to meet, a celebrity? ¡°Hey, don¡¯t regret it! I can assure you, if you knew who he is, you would want to meet him and beg me for the introduction!¡± ¡°What a joke, not even the Ugly Country President could make me beg you for a meeting. Is there something or not? If not, let¡¯s quickly check the equipment, or I¡¯m leaving.¡± Bi Fang, growing impatient, tugged at his ear and turned to leave. When Jerret saw that Bi Fang was really about to leave, he could no longer play coy and immediately shouted, ¡°It¡¯s David Attenborough! He wants to meet you!¡± Bi Fang abruptly stopped in his tracks, his eyes wide with disbelief as he turned to look back at Jerret, his mouth slowly dropping open in an almost fierce expression. Jerret nodded in satisfaction and repeated, ¡°David Attenborough, and not a namesake; he¡¯s indeed the one you¡¯re thinking of. He just happened to be passing through Kathmandu, and since I have his contact, seeing as we¡¯re in the same industry¡ªDiscovery Channel also frequently films documentaries¡ªI thought I¡¯d meet an industry pioneer. But as soon as we met and he heard you were also here, he wanted to meet you.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s head swam, overwhelmed for a moment, before being overtaken by immense joy, nearly jumping on the spot. If there was anyone in the world he admired, it was this elderly gentleman. David Attenborough! The author of works such as Planet Earth, Frozen Planet, Human Planet, The Life Story, Africa, Blue Planet, Hunting, and many more¡ªthe father of the world documentary! One could even say that he was the predecessor to Bi Fang¡¯s live streaming of nature, only not through live broadcasts, but through documentaries, turning nature into art as if painting! In his past and current life, the father of the world documentary was Bi Fang¡¯s idol, yes, his idol. Apart from those documentaries that resemble works of art, David Attenborough is also considered the man with the longest travel distance in history, having explored almost every known ecological environment on Earth in person! To spend a lifetime doing what one loves, to personally experience every corner of this world, to get to know every species, to deeply understand this lonely blue planet, to learn about her, understand her, love her, and protect her. This is what Bi Fang had longed for! After crossing over, Bi Fang once thought he might never see his idol again, until he later searched for documentaries online and discovered that this world had an almost identical person, with the same name, the same works, and the same experiences! Could there be anything more blissful than that? Now, his idol was going to meet him! ¡°Quick, quick, quick, take me there!¡± Bi Fang, excited, grabbed Jerret¡¯s sleeve and dragged him towards the street. Jerret stretched out his hand to stop him but found he couldn¡¯t pull away. Bi Fang¡¯s grip was like steel, pulling him against the current. Wherever they went, the crowd had to make way for them, and the two men were like solid boulders in a river. Left with no choice, Jerret could only shout, ¡°Wait, wait, you¡¯re going the wrong way, it¡¯s not here, it¡¯s on the other side, hahaha, I knew it, you¡¯d definitely beg me to take you!¡± Suddenly realizing that he didn¡¯t know the way himself, Bi Fang finally let go. Jerret didn¡¯t dare delay any longer and hurriedly led Bi Fang toward their destination. Through the crowd, Bi Fang also took out a drone from his backpack. Jerret, leading the way up front, saw it and was surprised, ¡°Do you always carry a drone with you?¡± ¡°No, I was planning to shoot Kathmandu tonight, just as a warm-up for the live broadcast. I didn¡¯t expect you to give me such a big surprise. I want to show my fans my idol! Let them see who their idol¡¯s idol is!¡± Jerret smacked his lips and shook his head. He thought Bi Fang might be interested in David Attenborough, but he never imagined he¡¯d be this excited. In the midst of conversation, Bi Fang quickly started the live stream. Many fans who came in at the beginning even heard Bi Fang say he was going to meet his idol. The idol¡¯s idol? [Damn, Master Fang started the live early? I¡¯m the first one!] [Wolf Fang is slacking off more and more. There was no advance notice, just knew that there was going to be a live soon, but no specific time.] [The idol¡¯s idol? Who said Master Fang was my idol? He¡¯s clearly my husband!] [Pffft, shameless woman, if you¡¯re so rich, why not buy a mirror? If you¡¯re broke, just pee and look at yourself in it, and see if you¡¯re worthy to get involved in the relationship between me and Master Fang.] [Are they going to climb Mount Everest? Why does it feel like they¡¯re on the street?] [This looks so familiar, isn¡¯t this Kathmandu? I think I¡¯ve been here on vacation before, in Nepal. Is Old Fang really going to climb Mount Everest? Damn, that¡¯s badass!] [So, what exactly is Old Fang up to? Who is his idol anyway?] ¡°Hahaha, hello everyone, I¡¯m Bi Fang. I¡¯ll skip the opening remarks since I haven¡¯t officially started the live stream yet. Today, I wanted to take you all on a quick tour of Nepal¡¯s Capital, Kathmandu, but something unexpected happened. My idol showed up, and he wants to meet me!¡± Bi Fang followed closely behind Jerret while sending his drone soaring high, and suddenly, the audience got a view of historical Kathmandu, filled with a sense of history. As introduced before, this ancient historical city is brimming with a feeling of vicissitudes; sometimes, you might find yourself staring at a wall and, before you know it, tears may fall. [If Master Fang replies to me, I¡¯ll go tear apart a Great White Shark with my bare hands, count grains of sand in the desert, put rings on ants, and install an elevator on Mount Everest.] Bi Fang raised his eyebrows and laughed, ¡°This netizen who calls himself ¡®Really Handsome¡¯, I saw your comment. Please hurry up and install that elevator so that I don¡¯t have to go through the hard struggle of climbing it.¡± Ah, this. Thousands of kilometers away, a viewer named pp was instantly stupefied. He had just made a joke; with hundreds of messages flooding in every minute, how could his be seen? But, to his astonishment, Master Fang had actually responded to him. ¡°Haha, just kidding, I¡¯ll keep you guessing a little longer about who my idol is. Feel free to make your guesses.¡± Bi Fang teased, then turned the camera to Jerret, ¡°I don¡¯t know if you remember Jerret. Do you recall the last program on the Discovery Channel? Whether it was about the ocean or a multiplayer survival show, the man behind it was this guy, a gold-medal producer for the Discovery Channel!¡± Jerret cooperated by greeting the audience, even saying hello in Chinese, since nobody would complain about having high viewership. ¡°This time I¡¯ve specifically invited Jerret to help me bring you a better live broadcast. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll be climbing Mount Everest with the film crew, the always number one on the leaderboard, Lord Mu, and my ¡®immediate superior¡¯ Vice President Wang. Of course, the latter two are just tagging along for fun, so don¡¯t take it seriously. I doubt they can endure even three thousand meters.¡± ¡°Taking the guides into account, there will be about eight of us in total. The best group size for climbing Mount Everest is a seven-person team, but sometimes it can be eight. That¡¯s a reasonable configuration for ascending Everest. Any more becomes cumbersome and the climb becomes very dangerous.¡± Dangerous? What dangers? The guides can¡¯t take care of everyone? The audience raised timely questions. ¡°It¡¯s not that the guides can¡¯t take care of everyone, but because there are many places on Everest that are difficult to pass, and each additional person will waste more time. Everest has many crevasses and nearly vertical cliffs. To get through, you can only use long ladders or ropes, connecting a path between two rocks, allowing climbers to pass one by one. Each person passing can take a few minutes at the least, and up to ten minutes or even half an hour at most. Counting all the crevasses big and small, an extra person might mean several more hours. The weather on Everest is unpredictable, and those few hours could lead to an accident, endangering the whole team. Don¡¯t think it¡¯s incredible, it¡¯s true. In high-altitude areas, even with oxygen tanks, normal people would find their movements sluggish, have difficulty breathing, and even experience reduced cognitive function due to the low pressure and extreme cold.¡± [In slow motion, how slow? Slower than in snow? (Funny)] [Sword~~~~ come~~~~~!] Bi Fang smiled. Just then, Jerret, who had been leading the way, suddenly stopped and pointed ahead, ¡°Here we are, he¡¯s inside.¡± Through the floor-to-ceiling windows reflecting the starlight, in the coffee shop, an old man sitting by the window was smiling and waving at Bi Fang. Chapter 377 - Chapter 377: Chapter 375: Sir Chapter 377: Chapter 375: Sir The new chapter isn¡¯t ready yet¡­ It might take about half an hour to send out a chapter to count for the attendance, I¡¯ll correct it in a bit. It won¡¯t cost more, I¡¯ve noticed there are always misunderstandings. Paid chapters can¡¯t be deleted, once paid for, that¡¯s it, just refresh after the changes and you can see it, just like correcting typos, no need for readers to subscribe again, it won¡¯t cost you an extra cent. The same principle applies to anti-theft measures, it doesn¡¯t cost more, it doesn¡¯t cost more, it doesn¡¯t cost more. Last time during the anti-theft, someone said my eating habits were unsightly, I¡¯m utterly speechless. Did I earn any extra money from you? The deer were grazing on the slope, while the people were tying knots at the bottom of the uphill. Bi Fang was right, after leaving the uphill slope, Bonuo moved to the bottom of the reindeer herd and pulled out a twenty-meter-long nylon rope from his pocket, winding it continuously through the woods. The nylon rope was very thin yet exceptionally strong, and after winding it a few times, a rope trap with a radius of five meters was set. ¡°Nylon braided rope is the most widely used of all ropes, strong and wear-resistant, with great shock absorption capacity. Even tires have nylon ropes inside to resist tension; stopping a big deer is nothing difficult.¡± Reindeer are naturally docile and skittish, and can be tamed by humans. As long as the rhythm and direction are well managed, it¡¯s quite easy to drive them in a designated direction.¡± Bi Fang tapped his knuckles on the table, quite appreciative of Bonuo¡¯s choice, exactly as he had guessed. Whether male or female, reindeer naturally grow antlers, tangled and large, which easily get caught in ropes. Due to their lack of agility, once ensnared, they are very hard to free themselves. Not everyone has the skill to hunt with a short spear, and many can¡¯t even get within twenty meters of an animal, let alone throw a spear. Trapping with a rope is the most reliable and simplest way. After finishing the winding, Bonuo hurried back non-stop and returned to the top, watching the reindeer while gasping for breath. To avoid being discovered by the herd, he had to make a big detour, nearly out of breath after going back and forth twice. Hiding behind a huge rock, Bonuo swallowed a mouthful of saliva and waited silently for the reindeer to move, looking for the right opportunity. The long line of reindeer was oblivious to being targeted by the hunter, continuing to graze leisurely on the slope, occasionally lifting their heads to look around and, ensuring safety, lowering them again. Amidst them, a large deer suddenly drew everyone¡¯s attention. [Wow, am I seeing things? What¡¯s that on the deer¡¯s head?] [Where, where?] [I see it too, the one in the middle with the really big antlers] [Damn, what the hell, does that deer have two heads? So creepy!] [Has nuclear wastewater already reached here?] Bi Fang squinted and, following the audience¡¯s directions, found which one they were talking about. After looking twice, he was momentarily speechless. The reindeer looked normal, but hanging on its antlers was the head of another reindeer! Their antlers were twisted together like entwined roots; it seemed the head had been hanging for so long that it was shriveled like dried jerky, with only the neck skin of the severed head flapping in the wind. Utterly horrifying! Even Bi Fang¡¯s heart skipped a beat when he saw it for the first time. Such a scene was not common. ¡°It was probably killed fighting over a mate, I guess.¡± After some thought, Bi Fang understood the reason. The antlers were entangled so tightly that they must have been caused by a struggle. Reindeer rarely fight, and most of their conflicts are over mates. The breeding season for reindeer is from about September to November. Calculating the time, it must have been dead for several months. No wonder it was so shriveled¡ªit looked like jerky. Had it been summer, who knows what state it would have decayed to. However, to be killed in a fight over a mate and have its head break off, stuck on the antlers of another, that was truly rare. After hearing the explanation, the audience relaxed, understanding the reason. They had really thought they had encountered some terrifying event. Still, seeing this scene was quite unsettling. There was a dead reindeer head hanging there, and it was of their own kind. Anyone seeing that would find it too much to bear. [Ah, does this mean we¡¯re actually lucky?] [Can¡¯t we take that reindeer head down? It¡¯s going to give me nightmares.] [How would you take it down? Too much of a hassle, right?] [We could catch this one, two heads with one carcass!] Such rich imagination! Bi Fang thought to himself, but the audience¡¯s comments reminded him of something¡ªit was indeed two heads with one carcass. If he caught it, it would be a huge gain. He turned to one of the crew members, ¡°Keep a close eye on it.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± With the reindeer situation handled, the audience¡¯s attention returned to Bonuo, who, after a brief rest, had regained his breath and was ready to jump out at any moment. The feeding herd of reindeer moved slowly, and by the time the long line reached the predetermined spot, Bonuo took a deep breath, firmly grasped the rock with both hands, pushed off with a foot, and leaped onto higher ground. His lungs expanded violently, and in a very short amount of time, he expelled all the air with a roar. His voice rolled thunderously in the open slopes, surging toward the herd like a mighty river. Over a hundred reindeer froze in unison, their most instinctive reaction making them lift their legs and flee. Nearly a hundred kilograms of weight pressed down on their hooves, causing the earth to tremble slightly as if being galloped across by a wild horse in full sprint. Without hesitation, Bonuo leapt down from the rock after catching his breath, chasing after the herd and continuously throwing stones at them. Though he hit none, he subtly altered the direction of a few reindeer¡¯s flight. A few reindeer pulled in towards the middle, leading more to change direction toward a certain part of the forest. The reindeer, not being the fastest among cervids, didn¡¯t run very quickly and hadn¡¯t left Bonuo¡¯s sight yet. From the drone¡¯s perspective high in the sky, there was an odd sensation of herding! As the reindeer panicked and rushed toward the woods, they totally missed the thin ropes hanging in mid-air. And then, the first reindeer was tripped up. While it sprinted at full speed, a tremendous force suddenly hit its head, the immense inertia nearly breaking its neck. Spying this from behind, Bonuo¡¯s face lit up with joy, but the next second, the reindeer shook its head and, incredibly, broke free! Damn it! Bonuo cursed under his breath. The reindeer was too small, not tall enough; its antlers had few tines, so only the uppermost part got entangled and it easily broke free with a bit of struggle. The surrounding reindeer weren¡¯t dumb; they quickly caught on to what happened and scattered in all directions, threatening to all escape. Bi Fang raised an eyebrow, having not expected that Bonuo would have such bad luck to actually get hit by a deer, and even more, that it would manage to escape. It was regrettable, but there was nothing to be done. The height was too high, only a minimal portion of reindeer could reach it, making it almost useless. When the ropes were too low, many deer would simply crash into them head-on, not getting tangled in the antlers at all, equally useless. Fortunately, Lady Luck hadn¡¯t completely deserted Bonuo. Only the reindeer nearby had detected the danger; those at the back of the pack hadn¡¯t noticed and were heading straight for the nylon ropes. Like a wild horse caught by the reins, the reindeer felt only a sharp pain in its neck, followed by a sense of restraint coming from its head. The entangled reindeer panicked. With the thought of the ¡°Terrifying Upright Ape¡± chasing from behind, it immediately tried to shake its head to break free. Its large, branched antlers quickly tangled up the surrounding ropes, intensifying the restraint. Yet the stronger it felt, the more desperately it wanted to escape. Just like an insect trapped in a spider¡¯s web, no amount of struggle was of use¡ªthe more it thrashed, the tighter the web constricted, and the deeper it sank. Its violent struggles only drew the hungry web-spinner closer. Success! Bonuo¡¯s face lit up with joy. ¡­ The surrounding reindeer, seeing their companion trapped, showed no intention of coming to the rescue. They scattered in every direction as if fleeing from a plague. Bonuo wasn¡¯t worried anymore. One adult reindeer was enough food for him; two would be difficult to handle, prone to spoil, and too heavy to carry. Even stripped of bones and innards, the pure meat from one adult reindeer was nearly a hundred kilograms. Attempting to cross the wilderness with that load would be nothing short of a fool¡¯s errand. At this moment, the trapped reindeer appeared as a lamb awaiting slaughter. Bonuo no longer ran but ambled leisurely towards the reindeer. By the time he reached the trap, the herd had long scattered, leaving only this lonely one in the woods. ¡°What a fatty,¡± Bonuo remarked as he looked at the deer with a shoulder height of one meter. His stomach involuntarily grumbled. He hadn¡¯t eaten anything for the past two days, spending all his time traveling. Suddenly having such a mound of meat before him, he almost wanted to gobble it up raw. Suppressing the desire welling up inside him, he cautiously approached the reindeer. Perhaps sensing the terror of the ¡°Upright Ape¡± before it, the reindeer struggled even more fiercely. But the nylon ropes were firmly tightened around it, making it nearly impossible for the animal to even twitch. Realizing this, Bonuo felt mostly relieved but didn¡¯t drop his guard completely. Instead, he circled to the rear of the reindeer. ¡°The death throes of a wild beast can be terrifying. Even a herbivorous animal can unleash unbelievable strength in the face of death, just like the last time. The reindeer that couldn¡¯t escape even dared to charge at its predator¡ªan uncommon sight. Many experienced hunters dare not confront such ferocity head-on, nor do they favor relentless pursuit. The more you chase, the faster it flees, and in desperation, you not only risk injuring yourself but also risk getting lost. Therefore, hunters usually let wounded prey flee and later follow blood trails and tracks to find the exhausted animal, delivering the coup de grace.¡± [I know this one: ¡°A cornered beast will do anything to survive!¡± This term often appears in novels.] [It isn¡¯t easy, old Bonuo. This is your first meal, right?] [Speaking of catching such a big reindeer, do we get points for that?] Bi Fang nodded, ¡°Of course, we award points for any outstanding performance.¡± As the first contestant to single-handedly hunt down a prey weighing over a hundred kilograms, such performance certainly qualified as outstanding and was definitely worthy of bonus points. To deal with the reindeer, controlling its pair of large antlers was the first order of business. Bonuo, holding the Stone Dagger, reached behind the reindeer and immediately grabbed onto the antlers. The startled reindeer kicked out rapidly, but Bonuo dodged them all. Without hesitation, he thrust the Stone Dagger into the back of the reindeer¡¯s head. Unfortunately, it appeared the Stone Dagger wasn¡¯t sharp enough as he failed to succeed even after several attempts. Many viewers, watching the wailing reindeer, felt a twinge of pity. Left with no choice, Bonuo gave up on a quick kill and instead opted to slit the throat and let the blood flow. Watching the copious blood spurt from the artery in the reindeer¡¯s neck, its eyes gradually glazed over, losing all color. ¡°Slitting the throat is not a good way to handle prey, because it wastes a lot of fresh blood, and the smell of blood could also attract a lot of unnecessary trouble. So, if we have a choice to minimize blood loss, we opt for that.¡± Seeing Bonuo slit the reindeer¡¯s throat, Bi Fang frowned and explained. After the reindeer had completely died, Bonuo, not daring to waste too much time for the reasons Bi Fang mentioned, the heavy smell of blood could very likely attract unnecessary trouble. He immediately started skinning and processing the carcass with quite skillful techniques, showing his experience. After skinning and removing the innards, Bonuo cut away a lot of unnecessary meat and bones, lightening the whole reindeer carcass by more than half. He took down the nylon rope from the tree and, after binding the big reindeer, immediately carried it on his back and ran back along the original path, eager to leave this place of potential danger. He ran for several kilometers, and only when it had grown dark did Bonuo dare to stop. He arrived at a small river, where he quickly rinsed the reindeer to try to eliminate the scent, then rolled up his trousers, took off his shoes and hung them around his neck, and waded across the river. ¡°I remember I told you that crossing a river is a good way to shake off predators in the wild. Wild animals are not like trained police dogs, once they lose the scent, it becomes much harder for them to follow, and they won¡¯t come to the opposite riverbank to look for your exit point. So if you¡¯ve caught your prey and got all bloody, it¡¯s best to find a river to cross for extra safety.¡± [I¡¯m overthinking it. If I were thrown into the wilderness, I could only eat earthworms. Let alone hunting deer, I might not even be able to catch a wild chicken.] [Add one, the last time I went to the back mountain, I saw a wild chicken, man, it darted away so fast, I lost sight of it before I even got moving.] [I¡¯m only fit to eat dirt.] [Eating dirt is worse than gnawing on bark, at least there¡¯s some nutrition there.] [Speaking of which, can you really eat bark? I really want to know.] ¡°Yes, you can, but only a few types of bark are edible, such as elm bark; the rest is mostly poisonous, and even edible bark is not recommended, as it contains a lot of fibers that the human body can¡¯t digest. If you eat too much, you could actually bloat to death.¡± Unless you¡¯re really close to starving, eating bark is a last resort, something you should never try. Once across the river, Bonuo set down the reindeer. Without making a fire, he eagerly dug out the deer¡¯s eyes and swallowed them in one gulp with his eyes closed. As he bit down, a torrent of foul-tasting juice burst forth, yet Bonuo didn¡¯t find it disgusting at all and swallowed every last drop without waste, even digging out the other eye and gulping it down in just two or three bites, still unsatisfied. Wow, this guy¡¯s hardcore! The audience, watching Bonuo unflinchingly eat the deer¡¯s eyes raw, were all shocked. If they hadn¡¯t been watching from the beginning to the end, they might have thought he was eating some kind of fruit, not the foul-smelling deer eyes. ¡°It¡¯s normal. Bonuo is a special forces soldier, after all. In the training programs for special forces, there are usually courses on wilderness survival and consuming raw food. Raw meat is nothing; things like earthworms, bugs¡ªalmost every special forces soldier who has undergone training has eaten those. Even if you catch animals like wild rabbits, wild boars, or birds to fend off hunger, you can¡¯t cook them or make soup because you can¡¯t have an open fire in the wild as it could reveal your position to enemies, so you have to eat it raw.¡± After eating something to draw his stomach acid¡¯s attention, Bonuo felt much better and even felt the illusion of regaining strength. He hurriedly took out the charcoal from his previous fire-making endeavor and took out the flint to start a fire again. Half an hour later, eying the deer leg oozing with grease, Bonuo¡¯s gaze intensified. By now, every contestant had eaten something, be it earthworms or deer meat. Watching a few start building their shelters, Bi Fang in the helicopter wiped his newly made spear over and over. The weight was well-balanced, and the tip was sharp. Switching the view to the drone tracking the reindeer herd, Pondy could see the eagerness in Bi Fang¡¯s eyes. Having watched for so long, even the judges were getting itchy fingers. Chapter 378 - Chapter 378: Chapter 376 Starting to Climb Chapter 378: Chapter 376 Starting to Climb Having found a common topic, the two conversed with much more ease. As they inquired about each other¡¯s future plans and discussed their similar life experiences, it was clear that the two hit it off quite well. Jerret, sitting on the side, felt a bit awkward, almost as if he had become the third wheel, and could only silently sip his coffee. The live-stream audience was also witnessing such a scene for the first time. Although it wasn¡¯t as dynamic and interesting as a wilderness live stream, it had its own charm, and the viewership surprisingly stabilized at over two hundred thousand people. Many viewers even started asking when Sir¡¯s next documentary would be released and how long he would stay at Mount Everest. ¡°That will depend on how smoothly the shooting goes. If it¡¯s successful, maybe half a month will be enough; if not, it could take a month. You know, shooting a documentary is very time-consuming, from weather to angles, to timing, all these are crucial elements for an excellent documentary,¡± he said. Watching Sir speak eloquently in front of the camera and recalling some of his own experiences, Bi Fang suddenly had a bold idea. ¡°Sir, would you be interested in climbing Mount Everest with me?¡± Before Sir Edinburgh could answer, the viewers in front of their screens exploded in a frenzy. Were they serious? Asking a person near a hundred years old to climb Mount Everest? Do they want Sir to die on that natural graveyard? Bi Fang immediately explained, ¡°Of course, I don¡¯t mean reaching the summit. How could that be possible? Just to Everest Base Camp. I think Sir¡¯s health is still quite good, even exceptionally healthy.¡± Having sat opposite for so long, Bi Fang could sense that although the old man looked pale, his heart remained passionate and young. Similarly, breathing is a powerful indicator of one¡¯s health. Bi Fang, who placed great emphasis on breathing techniques, could acutely perceive that the old man¡¯s breathing was still steady and strong. Perhaps climbing mountains wasn¡¯t impossible for him. As expected, after making the suggestion, Sir Edinburgh didn¡¯t immediately reject it; instead, he seriously lowered his head in thought as if he was genuinely considering it. Bi Fang was right¡ªbeneath the aged physique was indeed a heart ablaze with passion. As a legendary figure who participated in World War II, witnessed humans¡¯ first ascent of Mount Everest, and whose footsteps covered every corner of the world, it would undoubtedly be a regret not to have climbed Mount Everest. Of course, reaching the summit was no longer possible unless God intervened or he was rejuvenated. However, climbing a section of the route was still feasible. Bi Fang¡¯s invitation was sincere; he truly wanted Sir¡¯s footsteps to be left on Mount Everest. Even if Sir couldn¡¯t reach the summit, if Bi Fang could achieve the ascent himself, the significance would be just as profound. Moreover, lately, Bi Fang had begun to subtly feel that his live-streaming had reached a bottleneck¡ªthe usual solo acts were increasingly difficult to attract more viewers. In his current live streams, viewership numbers could almost always stabilize at over three million during peak times, with over two million online viewers from Huaxia and more than one million from abroad. It¡¯s important to note that these were online traffic figures, not actual fans¡ªthose who would tune in to watch Bi Fang¡¯s stream punctually. Due to the realities of day-to-day life and work, not all of Bi Fang¡¯s fans could always be in front of their screens every time he went live. Three million is already an exaggerated number, and if used for advertising to attract traffic, even with only a conversion rate of one-tenth, that would still exceed three hundred thousand in viewer traffic, which is nothing short of terrifying. Regrettably, the potential upper limit of personal live broadcasts may have been reached. With continued broadcasting in the future, the number might still rise, but it¡¯s certain that the growth curve has entered a period of plateauing. The previous world¡¯s LOL championship finals had an overseas viewership of just over four to five million, owing to a naturally large and established fan base. For Bi Fang to achieve a viewership of one million within a year was already an incredibly unbelievable miracle. However, if the personal show is full, introducing some fresh elements might change the curve and restore growth. In a past life, Bear Grylls operated just like that, demonstrating basic skills to the audience with a guest on the previous day and then sending the guest away in a helicopter to venture alone, thus retaining both the intrigue and challenge. Frankly, the appearance of the maximum oxygen uptake voucher gave Bi Fang a sense of urgency. Was the appearance of the gold voucher happenstance? Of course not. Before each expedition, Bi Fang could keenly sense the shop¡¯s bias whenever it updated its inventory; when encountering a desert, there would be more camouflage clothing and desert boots, and when in the mountains, there would be more climbing boots and quick-dry sweatshirts. The emergence of the gold voucher was no accident; it might be interpreted as a form of sympathy from the shop. But the requirement of over four thousand points left Bi Fang feeling somewhat like a Muggle; unable to save points, he almost couldn¡¯t afford the purchase. Aside from earning through tasks, money and fan influence were also means to acquire them. It was only by expanding the latter two that one could avoid the embarrassment of almost not being able to afford items like this time. Only by seizing every opportunity to become stronger could one aspire to truly achieve boundless travel. The orange Wilderness Traveler was not the end; above it, there might be even more powerful skills. Rock climbing, swimming, knotting, escaping, animal identification¡ªI still have a long way to go! Sir, who recorded ¡®Animal World¡¯ and ¡®Nature,¡¯ was naturally beloved by the audience. Moreover, he was my idol, sitting right in front of me. With so many reasons, Sir was undoubtedly the best choice. Countless people¡¯s childhoods and youth have been accompanied by a familiar voice rising over the African Savanna¡ªwhen it comes to fan numbers, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t catch up with Sir Attenborough even if he tried. After pondering for a moment, Attenborough didn¡¯t rush to answer, but instead asked Bi Fang, ¡°Do you think it¡¯s still possible for me to climb a snow mountain now? Even if just a few thousand meters? I¡¯ve been to many places and seen many animals, but in terms of human survival, perhaps you are the real professional. So I¡¯d like to hear your advice, Adventurer.¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t confirm it outright, as he could only deem the plan feasible from a superficial standpoint: ¡°Just judging from the surface, I believe your climb is feasible. Merely two to three thousand meters of ascent is not a problem at all. One of the bigger challenges in climbing is altitude sickness. In fact, compared to women, men and compared to the elderly, the young, have faster metabolisms and energy consumption, hence their bodies consume more oxygen and experience stronger altitude sickness. Some older people and long-term smokers, on the other hand, experience a noticeably smaller reaction than others when they enter high altitudes, mainly because they¡¯ve been in a state of mild hypoxia for a long time due to smoking and aging, and thus have greater tolerance to oxygen deprivation. After entering altitude, they¡¯re often able to ¡®adapt¡¯ more easily to the hypoxic condition.¡± ¡°Of course, this adaptation is predicated on the absence of other severe diseases in your body, like asthma, heart disease, etc. If there was a medical checkup report, I could possibly make a more accurate judgment.¡± Having experienced countless wilderness adventures, if asked who understands exotic environments best in the world, Bi Fang believed he had the confidence to be among that very top echelon. It wasn¡¯t just Bi Fang himself; his viewers thought so too. [Holy crap, that actually sounds feasible!] [Amazing, seriously amazing, is Sir planning to become the oldest climber ever?] [A ninety-year-old climber, isn¡¯t that a bit exaggerated? Feels like something out of a novel] ¡°Not at all,¡± Bi Fang said with a smile, ¡°There are many miracles on Mount Everest, and the advancement of modern human technology has greatly reduced the difficulty of reaching the summit. In fact, the oldest person to summit Everest is Japan¡¯s Mr. Yuichiro Miura, who was eighty years old. Although Sir is over a decade older, what he aims to do is not to reach the summit, an endeavor which is much less challenging than Mr. Miura¡¯s.¡± Despite the delicate relations between Huaxia and Japan, this did not affect Bi Fang¡¯s love for his homeland or his admiration for those passionate about challenging human limits. ¡°Moreover, because of companions and the issue of route selection, we opted for a commercial guide to help us with the preparation and training before reaching Everest Base Camp, and that will certainly be effective in helping Sir. After arriving at base camp, I will climb alone, adopting the alpine climbing style to complete this live broadcast and challenge.¡± The methods of climbing differ. The mainstream styles are commercial climbing and alpine climbing. With a filming team involved, choosing a commercial climbing team was inevitable. A commercial climbing team, unlike ordinary teams, involves a lot of collaboration, and climbing large peaks is more like a complex system engineering project, far too complicated. However, some climbers like the Sherpas or Western experts such as Messner, climbing solo and lightly, or without collaboration, manage to summit and return in just a few days. This is known as the alpine style of climbing. These people either make a living from collaborative climbing or see it as their life¡¯s pursuit. In recent years, Huaxia has started to develop some commercial climbing organizations and commercial climbers, a necessary stage of development. Upon reaching Everest Base Camp, Bi Fang will begin an oxygen-free ascent, using the alpine climbing method to engage in a physiological challenge and a brave man¡¯s game. After listening to Bi Fang¡¯s explanation, Edinburgh seemed to ponder, then suddenly stood, glanced at the stars outside the floor-to-ceiling window, casually picked up the top hat on the armrest and placed it on his head, then turned to extend his hand to Bi Fang. ¡°Youth truly brims with life force. Listening to your words, looking at your plan, I feel as though I¡¯ve grown much younger myself. So, I hope to receive some good news tomorrow when I see my medical report, Mr. Adventurer! I look forward to our joint climbing journey. It¡¯s getting late and the elderly need their rest, goodbye.¡± Watching Sir¡¯s departing figure, Bi Fang and Jerret looked at each other and burst into laughter. ¡°Sir! Forever Godlike!¡± ¡­ At dawn, Bi Fang sprang up from bed, pulled back the curtains, letting sunlight pour in, and gazing at the city that resembled the medieval era, he experienced a surreal feeling of traveling through time once again. After the meeting with Sir the night before, Bi Fang and Jerret went to inspect the filming equipment. True to Discovery Channel¡¯s reputation, they were set to film Bi Fang¡¯s ascent. Considering the previous successful collaboration, Discovery Channel brought out their prized equipment. Two drones worth millions, with a maximum altitude of 5800 meters and documental image quality, would be operated from base camp once the climb started. There were also close-up mini cameras that could be worn on the chest, with pin design¡ªthe image quality goes without saying¡ªif it were even slightly blurred, it wouldn¡¯t be brought out. Several positions would simultaneously record to capture the most complete and shocking footage of an oxygen-free summit. There¡¯s also the matter of checking Sir¡¯s medical report. In the hall, everyone gathered around Bi Fang, watching him scan the document with tense expressions. Nearly everyone present was an industry insider and recognized the famous Sir. Therefore, they all shared a sense of anticipation and anxiety for the possibility of climbing together, with Yao Jun and Wang Yongbo being no exceptions. The former was a fan of the animal world, while the latter was tense and excited about the potential collaboration. Wolf Fang and Bi Fang could be called a community of shared fate, with benefits for one resulting in a win-win situation. ¡°This medical report is from this March, just before I left, not even a month ago, so there shouldn¡¯t be any problems. Of course, if it¡¯s not alright, just tell me directly¡ªit¡¯s all about age, after all,¡± Sir said calmly, yet the whitening knuckles gripping the teacup revealed a more complex state than his tone suggested. At over ninety years of age, nearly a centenarian, could he truly attempt to climb the world¡¯s highest peak and leave his own footprint? Even if just two or three thousand meters. Having traveled so far and wide, Mount Everest remains an everlasting desire. After a thorough review of the report, Bi Fang rubbed his nose bridge and sighed. Edinburgh put down his teacup, forcing a bitter smile: ¡°No good¡­¡± ¡°Sir, this medical report of yours makes me wonder if you got the wrong one or stole someone else¡¯s,¡± Bi Fang, sighing, changed his worried expression to a smile, ¡°From what I can tell, as long as you¡¯re fully equipped, it¡¯s not just about two or three thousand meters¡ªif even six thousand meters at Everest Base Camp is not out of the question. Your actual physical age does not seem to be ninety, but rather more like eighty, no, even less than eighty. It should be between seventy-five and seventy-eight. It looks like we¡¯ll be seeing more documentaries from you.¡± Jerret looked at Bi Fang tensely and asked, ¡°Can he climb?¡± Bi Fang nodded assuredly and absolutely: ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Wu Hu!¡± The crowd in the room immediately cheered. Even Sir burst out laughing: ¡°More documentaries? That would indeed be an honor!¡± Just then, the climbing guide Rob arrived at the hotel in a taxi, took out his phone, and called Bi Fang. After a few seconds, the call connected. ¡°Guys, all the climbing gear and tents are ready from our company, may I ask if we can set off now?¡± Bi Fang zipped up his backpack, checked all the details, nodded at everyone in the room, and energetically pushed open the doors of the hall, excitedly declaring. ¡°Mount Everest, let¡¯s go!¡± Chapter 379 - Chapter 379: Chapter 377 Continue the Challenge Chapter 379: Chapter 377 Continue the Challenge ¡°` ¡°Looking back at the evolutionary journey of humankind, if our ancestors had not dared to venture and imagine, had not had the courage to innovate and the willingness to make sacrifices¡ªthe breadth of chest and grand sentiments¡ªhumans would never have taken canoes to surf the seas and explore the boundless mysteries across the oceans. Human curiosity leads to the impulse for adventure, and human adventure ignites the torch of civilization. Adventure is not only in the seas and mountains, deserts and swamps of nature but also hidden within the densely populated cities.¡± Three drones took off simultaneously, forming a V-shaped formation as they quickly flew toward the dark mountains and pyramid-like snow peaks that loomed ahead. Like falcons sweeping through the sky, they covered everything beneath their lenses, looking up at Mount Everest, the world¡¯s highest peak. Even if they flew with all their might, they could only reach halfway up the mountainside, where Bi Fang stood at the foot of the mountain range with a bulging backpack on his back. He looked as tiny as an ant yet spoke the most stirring words with the calmest voice. Countless viewers in front of their screens shouted excitedly; this was adventure, the grand adventure of life. The Ruins City was humanity¡¯s confrontation with disaster, but the natural race of strength was the most awe-inspiring great existence. The wilderness is an impulse etched in the DNA of life¡¯s very origin, the most yearned for and thrilling drive! At this moment, how could that familiar voice and introduction not excite the people? At the airport, ¨¦tienne jumped up high from his seat, disregarding the astonished looks from those around him, and shouted at the top of his voice, ¡°Charge! We¡¯re going to the summit!¡± Elvan, who was next to him, did not stop him but instead laughed out loud, reminding him of that marvelous and unbelievable hang-gliding trip from last winter. [Wu Hu! Charge!] [Master Fang has finally officially started the broadcast!] [Feels like you¡¯ve been much more diligent lately, are you running out of money at home? (Dog¡¯s head)] [Although we last met just the last time, it¡¯s been almost two months since I¡¯ve seen the wild wilderness!!!] ¡°I¡¯m Bi Fang, a professional outdoor explorer. Here, I will show you how to survive in some of the most dangerous places on Earth, where you wouldn¡¯t last a day without specialized skills.¡± ¡°This time, I¡¯ve come to Nepal, the region of the Himalayas, and will start from the foot of the world¡¯s highest peak. Relying only on my legs, hands, and an ice axe, and without the assistance of any oxygen supply equipment, I¡¯ll ascend Mount Everest without oxygen!¡± Mount Everest¡ªa term that many have heard over and over. For most, the first thing that comes to mind when they hear this term is the world¡¯s highest peak, with its climbing difficulties, altitude sickness, cold, and sheer cliffs. How difficult is it to climb to the summit without oxygen? Many people do not know; most even have never climbed a mountain a thousand meters high, let alone experienced the feeling of oxygen deprivation due to high altitudes. They only have a conception of it as very, very difficult¡ªto the point that only a few in the world can achieve it, difficult to the extent they never even dream they could do it, as if it were a different world altogether. Possible? Wang Yongbo and Yao Jun, sitting to the side, suddenly burst out laughing. It seemed inappropriate yet somehow fitting for the moment. The audience watching saw Bi Fang¡¯s companions laughing behind him and, while annoyed, it was as if they were looking in a mirror and seeing themselves. Right, every time before an adventure, they would all face this question, but Bi Fang always had, and only had, one definite and affirmative answer for everyone. This familiar scene reminded people of the first live broadcast of the man known to his fans as Master Fang. That tall and slender figure appeared so insignificant at the foot of the mountain range, as if out of reach, yet bathed in daylight, he seemed to radiate brilliance¡ªjust like the infinite glow of the Primeval Forest and a similarly seemingly impossible legendary challenge. No oxygen summit of Mount Everest. Can Master Fang create a miracle once again? [Let¡¯s charge!] [Go for it, Master Fang!] [I believe in you! To the summit! To the summit! To the summit!] [To the summit!] [To the summit!] [To the summit!] Tens of thousands of viewers posted their answers on the screen. They all had one collective wish: to witness Bi Fang now and in the future on every journey, to see him undergo one legendary adventure after another. They believed that Mount Everest would not be a hindrance but another milestone! Bi Fang laughed out loud. The feeling of being firmly believed in was like a car filled with fuel¡ªburning hot and full of vigor! Seeing the live chat atmosphere heating up, Bi Fang put his arms around Yao Jun and Wang Yongbo¡¯s shoulders and introduced them to the viewers with a smile, ¡°For this ascent, I will engage in Alpine-style climbing after six thousand meters, which means going alone, but before that, I will have a few teammates. Let me introduce them to you. This skinny one here is Lord Mu, the big brother who has long dominated the top of my live broadcast leaderboard!¡± ¡°And on the other side is my ¡®boss,¡¯ Mr. Wang Yongbo. Tell me, doesn¡¯t he look handsome!¡± After speaking, Bi Fang even winked at the camera. The savvy viewers immediately understood and showered the two men waving on the screen with exaggerated flattery. [CEO Wang is explosively handsome!] [I¡¯ve heard that Wolf Fang was declining, but the heroic CEO Wang miraculously appeared out of nowhere to steer it back on track, and it¡¯s flourishing once again. Now that I see him, indeed, he¡¯s a man of striking appearance!] [Are you guys serious?] [Report to Master Fang, I caught an honest man, seriously suspect he¡¯s a spy sent by the enemies, suggest immediate elimination!] [Shocking, big brother on the leaderboard spends a fortune for a private date with the famous broadcaster, and in the wild they dare to do this!] [Come to work at the company tomorrow, I¡¯ll pay you triple the salary!] ¡°` ¡°` After the laughter, Bi Fang pulled over Jerret and his photographer companion, ¡°These two are from the Discovery Channel, the director and photographer from the last ¡®Survival in the Wild¡¯ program. They are here to help me control the camera, providing everyone with a better viewing experience.¡± Jerret and his companion immediately nodded to the camera and made some remarks to lighten the mood. After introducing most of the members, Bi Fang finally got to the main event. He straightened his back, approached the last member wearing a black felt hat, cleared his throat, and began speaking in a deep, magnetic English voice, ¡°On the vast African Savanna during the dry season, not a drop of rain falls, and it¡¯s almost like a desert, even catching fire naturally. Then, during the rainy season, the savanna comes back to life, everywhere bursting with vibrancy.¡± Sir David Attenborough laughed twice, pushed Bi Fang away, stepped forward, and introduced himself, ¡°My name is David Attenborough. If you have seen me elsewhere, I hope you like my work and I sincerely thank you for your affection. I¡¯ve heard that many viewers in Huaxia have given me a nickname, ¡®Sir,¡¯ right?¡± As he spoke, Sir David Attenborough looked back at Bi Fang, who nodded vigorously, ¡°That¡¯s right, perhaps many people already saw him last night, but I still have to formally introduce him. This is the most distinguished guest of this mountaineering team, the renowned ¡®Sir¡¯ whom I¡¯ve gone to great lengths to bring here!¡± Since last night¡¯s live stream started hastily, only a few hundred thousand viewers came to the live room. Today, only tens of thousands in the live room knew about it, and the overwhelming majority of the audience were not yet aware that the famous ¡®Sir¡¯ would be joining the climb¡ªa fact that excited many to the point of blushing. [Holy shit, it¡¯s the ¡®Sir¡¯! Old Fang, how did you manage to bring him here?] [Climbing Mount Everest at such an old age? Aren¡¯t you afraid of throwing out your back?] [Spring has come, and it¡¯s the season of animal mating again. With the arrival of the wet season, rains batter the parched earth, and all beings start to stir.] [Sir, Wu Hu! My idol! A legend!] [To the one in front, you¡¯re mixing up your lines. That¡¯s Mr. Zhao¡¯s line, not Sir¡¯s, what Master Fang just said is the right one, you fake fan!] [Double fan ecstasy! Double fan ecstasy!] Almost everyone welcomed Sir¡¯s arrival warmly. People who love Nature are almost invariably fans of Sir. Even if they¡¯re not, they would have heard of or seen this old man before, and childhood or youthful memories flooded back, inciting pure elation. However, a minority of people expressed their concerns. ¡°Rest assured, I¡¯ve meticulously reviewed Sir¡¯s medical report. He¡¯s very healthy, and theoretically, there¡¯s absolutely no problem. He could still work for at least twenty years and contribute more than ten documentaries!¡± ¡°Ten documentaries?¡± Sir David Attenborough laughed, ¡°You couldn¡¯t make that many even if you split me into twenty pieces.¡± ¡°Anyway, there¡¯s no need to worry. In theory, it¡¯s feasible, and in practice, I¡¯ll be monitoring constantly. You have to believe in my skill!¡± After chatting idly for a few moments and briefly mentioning the presence and role of the guide Rob, as well as the necessity to wait for other team members, everyone was relatively at ease. ¡°Since there are many in the team who have absolutely no mountaineering experience, having a guide will be extremely beneficial for us in terms of cooperation. Once the rest of the team members arrive, we will set off immediately.¡± After briefly discussing the situation, Bi Fang then shared some knowledge and introductions with the audience. ¡°Mount Everest, a place people once looked up to, a mountain that¡¯s now been conquered by humans, lies on the border between Huaxia and Nepal. Its north slope is within the Tibetan Plateau in our country, and the south slope is within Nepal, where we are currently located.¡± ¡°Mount Everest has an elevation of 8,844.43 meters and is the main peak of the Himalayas, as well as the highest mountain in the world. ¡®Zhumu¡¯ in Tibetan means ¡®goddess,¡¯ and ¡®Langma¡¯ means ¡®third.¡¯ That¡¯s because, near Mount Everest, there are four other peaks, with Everest being the third. ¡°` ¡°` The second theory originates from a tale popular in the XZ Region, recounting the story of the five immortal sisters who, according to legend, resided in the palaces of Mount Everest. As for the third, the coldest places on Earth are Antarctica and the Arctic, but Mount Everest is also frigid, with even the peak¡¯s highest summer temperatures being dozens of degrees below zero. Meteorological observations have recorded the summit¡¯s lowest temperature at minus sixty degrees Celsius, hence Mount Everest is called the ¡®Third Pole of the World.¡¯ These three reasons are all sources of the name of Mount Everest, and everyone is free to choose the one they prefer.¡± Having finished explaining the origins, Bi Fang gestured towards Mount Everest on the horizon, which seems deceptively close due to its status as the world¡¯s tallest peak. In reality, the true summit route is not merely the eight thousand eight hundred meters one sees, but an arduous journey of dozens of kilometers. The drone also took off, reinforcing the presence of Mount Everest once again. ¡°Mount Everest¡¯s massif forms a gigantic pyramidal shape, majestic and soaring into the sky, with extremely perilous terrain and a very complex environment. It is not only towering and grand but also possesses a majestic aura. Within a 20-kilometer radius around it, a multitude of peaks stands tightly packed, one behind the other. Mount Everest is towering and commanding with a unique geographical environment, and the summit¡¯s lowest year-round temperature hovers around minus thirty to forty degrees Celsius. Some parts of the mountain are perpetually covered in snow, and glaciers, ice slopes, and ice towers can be seen everywhere. The thin air at the summit contains only a quarter of the oxygen found at sea level in the eastern plains, posing a significant challenge for climbers. The soaring Mount Everest has always been a holy place where humans attempt to prove their climbing prowess. After the first successful ascent on May 29, 1953, many mountaineering enthusiasts from all over the world, including Huaxia, wished to leave their footprint on the summit. Sadly, only one in ten actually succeed, while many others end up with disabilities or even lose their lives.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± interjected guide Rob beside him, self-absorbed in his own remarks, ¡°That¡¯s why each year, climbing teams generally arrive at Everest Base Camp in February or March to begin acclimatizing, starting at four thousand meters to adapt to high altitudes, then moving to five thousand and six thousand meters, and finally commuting between seven thousand and eight thousand meters to enhance their endurance. When the weather window emerges, and the meteorological office announces those few days, they will launch an assault, which is why there are traffic jams on Mount Everest. Even though Mr. Bi seems to have made a lot of preparation, I must say that you have arrived a bit late, and none of you has had any high-altitude climbing experience before. Not even coming in February or March is enough; at least a year of training is required.¡± Even for a commercial guide, where money talks, Rob is still professional. With a climbing record of eight thousand six hundred meters, he stands merely two hundred and forty meters shy of Everest¡¯s peak, a feat he takes pride in and often boasts about to clients. Otherwise, the fallout from wealthy clients encountering accidents isn¡¯t something ordinary people could afford to bear, so every time he takes a job, he ensures a thorough understanding of his clients¡¯ physical condition, as well as their climbing history and experience. In the company records, the present group had not even scaled six thousand meters, let alone eight thousand. Their brazen talk of summiting Everest was downright audacious and ignorant. Just because they survived a few instances in the wild, some live-streaming entertainers have the nerve to nonchalantly talk about summiting. Do they really think conquering Everest is that simple? If it weren¡¯t for his benefactor, Rob would hope to make even more money, and such overconfident talk would never have been spoken. He might have rolled his eyes on the spot. With the commercialization of mountaineering, indeed the difficulty has decreased significantly, and there¡¯s even been gossip about Sherpas carrying people up the mountain. At eight thousand meters, it¡¯s hard enough to walk, so how could someone carry another? If it were possible, there wouldn¡¯t be so many bodies abandoned along the way, left uncollected. Would the wealthy clients¡¯ families just watch their husband or son¡¯s body left exposed to the elements? However, the wealthy do have a tremendous advantage; if they can¡¯t be carried, at least their oxygen cylinders can. While others carry four oxygen bottles, the wealthy can afford forty, and the more guides, the better ¨C they don¡¯t have to carry their own gear and can even plaster their bodies with heat packs. Twenty Sherpa guides, each carrying ten heat packs for their wealthy client¡­ walking sandwiched in between, secured by safety locks ¨C if you have money¡­ you get to do it comfortably. Just pop a bunch of pills, have the physical ability, and scramble up¡ªit¡¯s done. A physically fit livestreamer, given half a year of advanced training and adaptation to the eight-thousand-meter altitude environment, without attempting any flashy feats like a no-oxygen climb, and spending loads of money, could just possibly summit if the luck was on their side too. But now, heh. This livestreamer, utterly foolish. ¡°` Chapter 380 - Chapter 380: Chapter 378 Fortunately, I Didnt Die Chapter 380: Chapter 378 Fortunately, I Didn¡¯t Die ¡°So, when will the others arrive?¡± Bi Fang looked up at the sun, somewhat surprised by the other party¡¯s lateness. Since Rob had led them to this area of broken stones, they had been waiting for well over half an hour. Sir was getting a bit tired, slightly panting for breath. Standing still could be more exhausting than walking. While standing, the legs bear the full weight of the body, and blood and lymph fluid can accumulate in the lower limbs, leading to a feeling of tiredness due to poor circulation. Walking, however, gives the legs alternating rest and promotes blood circulation, which is much more comfortable compared to standing still. Fortunately, Sir was in good physical condition, only a bit fatigued and nothing serious. But even if the team had no issues, the audience watching Bi Fang and his companions could no longer bear it. [Damn, making people wait for over half an hour is too much.] [Don¡¯t they have any sense of time?] [When can we finally set off?] ¡°Are they going to come at all?¡± Yao Jun was getting impatient. He wasn¡¯t a pretty girl that others would wait for. This was the first time he had stood around dryly for over half an hour; even if it were a girl, he would have switched to someone else by now. This was simply humiliating. Rob glanced at his watch, hesitated for a moment, ¡°Erm, they should be arriving soon.¡± ¡°You said that before. Give me a definite answer, or else I¡¯ll have your company send someone else who can get here faster!¡± Yao Jun reached his limit of patience. He wasn¡¯t without money to be treated this way; if they didn¡¯t arrive soon, he¡¯d tell those people to roll as far away as they could. Damn it, how dare they piss me off? [Wu Hu, Lord Mu always speaks with such authority!] [Exactly, I¡¯m here slacking off at work, getting paid to watch this, and now I have to see Master Fang wait for half an hour, I¡¯m spitting blood.] [My pants are down, and this is what you show me? Hmph (zipping up).] Rob also felt awkward and apologized to the financier before stepping away from the group to make a phone call. After a brief conversation, he jogged back to the team. ¡°They said they will be here soon, definitely within ten minutes.¡± This time he was right; five or six minutes later, two Caucasian men and an Asian man arrived, bumping along in a tricycle from a distance. Yao Jun squinted and snickered coldly, ¡°Heh, driving through a pebble beach, not afraid of breaking their butts.¡± Seeing the remaining three finally arrive, Rob let out a huge sigh of relief and was extremely thankful. These wealthy people were really hard to serve, one more troublesome than the other. As everyone was introduced, Rob promptly introduced the three newcomers. He pointed to the first white man to get out of the tricycle: ¡°Folks, this is Wessels, you might notice he has a bit of a Texas flair.¡± ¡°Whew, I¡¯m a hundred percent Texan, three generations of Texan men. Sorry to keep you waiting, but believe me, waiting a little longer won¡¯t matter, since you¡¯re gonna end up waiting at the base camp until the entire weather window is over, right?¡± The big man jumped down from the tricycle, whistled, and without even glancing at Bi Fang and the others, he shouted to Jerret and his companions. Clearly, he had already gotten some information. Rob, standing in the middle making introductions, didn¡¯t know what to do as he had never anticipated a conflict would erupt as soon as both parties met. ¡°Three generations of grandfathers and grandsons, where¡¯s the great-grandfather then?¡± Bi Fang looked at Sir, who was sitting on the gravel beach and catching his breath, scratched his eyebrow, and grinned, ¡°Is he catching turkeys for Thanksgiving?¡± Wessels¡¯ smile froze on his face, and the second white man in the car quickly tried to smooth things over, ¡°Wow wow, there¡¯s a real whiff of gunpowder here, we¡¯re so sorry about that, we drank a bit too much last night, and today we came to have some fun. Wessels is a bit muddled.¡± Rob also hurriedly introduced, ¡°This is Groom, from Queens.¡± ¡°I¡¯m originally from Canada, and I¡¯m a lawyer by profession.¡± Groom patted Wessels on the shoulder, then shook hands with everyone. Bi Fang sized up the other party and didn¡¯t say much more, accepting his goodwill. Seeing that the situation had eased, Rob immediately went on to introduce the last Asian person, ¡°This is Saito Tomonobu, from Japan, a bank manager.¡± Saito Tomonobu was different from the previous two, nearing middle age with seemingly little expression on his face, his taut skin stretched over his bones, he nodded slightly to everyone as a greeting. Once everyone was acquainted, Rob immediately called for a helicopter from the airport, as helicopters charge by time, and Rob made contact only after everyone had gathered. ¡°Why are those people hostile to us?¡± During another period of waiting, Bi Fang leaned close to Yao Jun and asked in a low voice. The other party hadn¡¯t been rudely speaking without reason, after all, there are few fools in life, there had to be a reason. ¡°I have no idea.¡± Yao Jun spread his hands, his only responsibility was to spend money, the rest was left to the guide company to handle, so who knew the others would set things up so poorly. ¡°Is it because of the number of people?¡± Jerret suddenly thought of the issue Bi Fang had raised the night before last about the number of people in the Mount Everest summit team. The ideal number for a team is seven to eight people, any more and there would be problems. When they arrived, the group that was just right, including Wessels and the others, had to be accompanied by another guide because the company would not have arranged it this way if the original guide wasn¡¯t fully booked. Adding three people, the team was significantly overstaffed, and the chances of summiting could drop sharply. ¡°That¡¯s the only reason.¡± Bi Fang nodded, after all, 65,000 Ugly Gold is not a small sum, and anyone would feel uneasy knowing they spent so much money and the possibility of summiting had sharply decreased. Scratching his head, Yao Jun felt fairly smug, ¡°Heh, I can¡¯t afford it so why should I care?¡± Sir, who was sitting on the side, suddenly interjected, ¡°Did I also borrow your summit quota? And what about this suit I¡¯m wearing, how much does it cost? I can¡­¡± ¡°Eh, no, no, no.¡± Bi Fang got so scared he jumped up from the stone, ¡°Sir, this would be completely embarrassing for me! I insisted on bringing you here, how could I possibly charge you? You see, all these up here are your fans. If each of them pitches in a bit, it¡¯ll be more than enough. I¡¯m just basking in your reflected glory.¡± Bi Fang pointed to the drone, and the audience cooperated very well, immediately flooding the screen with gifts. As Bi Fang¡¯s fame grew, many broadcasters would come to watch his livestreams, not so much for mutual benefit, as they were not on the same level and couldn¡¯t provide much help. However, as it happened, Bi Fang became familiar with many broadcasters, and as soon as he spoke, the first to jump out was a well-known game broadcaster. A glittering treasure chest burst forth, displaying a golden banner across, directing the entire platform¡¯s traffic towards Bi Fang¡¯s channel like a dragon sucking water. [Congratulations to the nearly mermaid-lined fatty who has opened an Emperor in Master Fang¡¯s livestream!] [The nearly mermaid-lined fatty presents the broadcaster with Big Bone *666¨CMy God, Master Fang is actually letting fans fundraise, aren¡¯t I just sheep ready to be fleeced? I grew up watching the old man¡¯s Animal World, how could I not chip in?] [Nanana is me presents the broadcaster with Spaceship *1¨CFor the face of Animal World, I¡¯m in!] [Woody presents the broadcaster with Spaceship *10¨CJust for Animal World and Nature, I must give!] [Sob sob sob, tycoons, so many tycoons, three million viewers, if each gives me a dollar, I¡¯ll be a millionaire, wouldn¡¯t that be wonderful?] [Report the guy above for illegal fundraising!] ¡°See that, Sir? It¡¯s all because of you. Just the money from your fans is enough,¡± Bi Fang said with a joyous face. He hadn¡¯t encountered such a scenario in a long time. Indeed, bringing the old man over was a decision more correct than any other. Yao Jun got excited as well: ¡°Come on, come on, everyone who sees this should join in, why aren¡¯t you crowdfunding for me? It¡¯s obviously all my money?¡± Edinburgh watched it all with a big laugh, never having expected to have so many fans in Huaxia. Rob also came over, and although he looked down on the livestreamer using Mount Everest as a gimmick, he knew just how important traffic was these days. Seeing a big broadcaster right in front of him, anyone would want to show off a bit: ¡°We¡¯ll be taking a helicopter here to go to Lukla, a town at an altitude of 2,840 meters, which is the starting point for all ascents of Mount Everest and EBC treks. Remember to choose the left side when boarding the plane, during the flight you¡¯ll be able to see the most spectacular Himalayan ranges on this planet.¡± At this, Rob even gave a wink, a piece of good advice he wouldn¡¯t normally share with just anyone. [Ah, can you really see the Himalayas?] [Why do we need a helicopter, I thought we were supposed to climb all the way up from the base of the mountain?] [Mount Everest is over 8,000 meters starting from the sea level, it doesn¡¯t mean the starting point is at zero meters] [The area around Everest can be considered a plateau, all around 3,000 meters high, with many smaller mountains. It¡¯s pointless to approach through the smaller mountains from outside¡ªno challenge, and deadly tiring. So Lukla is recognized as the official starting point for the south side of Everest.] [Looking up at the tycoons above] [Speaking of which, I still don¡¯t know why Old Fang chose to have a guide¡­ It feels like the guide might not be as awesome as Master Fang, he gets lost on the Himalayas, and Old Fang stays different.] Bi Fang chuckled. He had explained it to Wang Yongbo before, but he had never told his audience, so he had to explain it all over again. ¡°First, a guide can help confirm the route, saving me the time it takes to find my way. Second, whether you take the south or north face, you need to choose a commercial climbing company to apply for a Mount Everest climbing permit, the expensive ¡®Everest ticket.¡¯ Only with this ticket are you allowed to climb; otherwise, you¡¯re not permitted.¡± ¡°That¡¯s also why climbing Everest is so expensive; you must hire a guide with a certification, the 65,000 Ugly Gold is a cost you can¡¯t avoid. Furthermore, there¡¯s the gear, and most ordinary people can¡¯t make it on their first attempt¡ªthose with talent train for over a year, and others possibly even longer, to have just a slight chance. Most need to start training from 7,000 meters high, and each climb costs around 50,000 to 60,000. Therefore, you need to prepare at least a million.¡± Hiss! The viewers in the livestream were shocked by these figures and also felt a bit dejected. They thought it was merely a brave man¡¯s game, only to discover it required the pre-condition of being wealthy. A million to climb a mountain once? How rich do you have to be? No wonder the guide companies refuse to push away other clients¡ªoffending someone who can afford that sort of thing is unbearable. ¡°If anyone¡¯s interested, I can also roughly explain that the south face has more mature commercial climbs, while the north face is dominated by a single company, with only one company to choose from. On the south face, there are different types of climbing teams to choose from, but the north face is more limited. Therefore, there¡¯s a certain competitive relationship between climbing companies on the south face, and the prices for going up from there will be lower than from the north face.¡± ¡°Moreover, the north slope has higher entry requirements for climbers, demanding greater technical expertise. Due to the climbing environment on the north slope, climbers are expected to have more advanced skills, and those attempting the north slope are required to possess a certificate for climbing above 8,000 meters. The requirements for the south slope are somewhat relaxed in this regard, allowing climbers with less experience to ascend from the south. I don¡¯t have this certificate, so I can only come to the south slope.¡± [Holy crap, isn¡¯t this monopolistic?] [Shush, what are you blabbering? Be discreet, be discreet!] Fortunately, the helicopter didn¡¯t take long to arrive. In just ten minutes, the sound of the rotors cutting through the air echoed in everyone¡¯s ears. Bi Fang and the others immediately boarded the helicopter, with Yao Jun rushing to sit on the left side by the window. Ever since he had seen the mountain ranges from the sky once, he had become somewhat addicted, unable to shake off that soul-stirring sensation. Yao Jun and Wang Yongbo were the first to dash up, leaving Wessels and company speechless. Master Fang forcefully seated Sir on the left, along with Jerret and the photographer; while Bi Fang, the guide, and the other three took seats on the other side. Rob introduced the upcoming situation again, while raising a finger and speaking in a low tone, ¡°Next, we are heading to Lukla Airport, ranked as the most dangerous airport in the world and crowned with the title ¡®Runway on the Roof of the World.¡¯ It was established in 1964, constructed with funds raised by Sir Edmund Hillary to enable climbers easier access to Mount Everest and to repay local residents by improving local transportation. Sir Edmund Hillary built Lukla Airport for these reasons.¡± ¡°And have you heard the story about who exactly was the world¡¯s first person to summit Everest?¡± The usually silent Saito Tomonobu suddenly spoke up, ¡°Rob, you¡¯ve seen more than one.¡± Clearly, this was not Saito¡¯s first visit, nor was he newly acquainted with Rob. Rob shrugged, ¡°Sorry, but perhaps many haven¡¯t heard it.¡± As expected, Wang Yongbo raised a hand, then realized that everyone¡¯s gaze seemed to converge on him, making him somewhat resigned, ¡°Okay, fine, let¡¯s not talk about it.¡± Bi Fang smiled, ¡°The fact is, there were two people who made the record climb at that time: one was the New Zealand climber Sir Edmund Hillary, and the other was the Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay. The two of them endured countless hardships and finally reached the summit of Everest, only to take a secret oath at the top, swearing to never reveal who was the first to summit. They weren¡¯t individuals; they were a team. You know, being the first versus the second is a big deal. This pledge led to a lot of scrutiny from all around, and it wasn¡¯t until forty-six years later that Edmund divulged in his diary that he was the first to reach the top. But because it was a personal statement and Danzeng had already passed away, making it a sort of ¡®dead men tell no tales¡¯ situation, skepticism remained. However, the general consensus now is that Edmund was the first to summit.¡± Rob crossed his chest while his tone suddenly grew solemn, ¡°They are both legendary figures. To those who dare face their dreams, Gide Company will bestow upon you courage that words cannot express.¡± Rob paused, then looked at everyone, ¡°Do you know why we don¡¯t put these things in the brochures?¡± Bi Fang folded his arms, exhaling, ¡°Because most of the mountaineering experience is painful.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Rob snapped his fingers, then looked at Saito, ¡°Speaking of mountaineering accidents, Mr. Saito, would you mind¡­¡± Without saying another word, Saito silently removed his boots and stretched out his left foot. Everyone on the left, including Yao Jun, shuddered at the sight. Bare. It was a completely bare foot, devoid of any toes. ¡°My reward for reaching eight thousand meters. Fortunately, I didn¡¯t die.¡± Chapter 381 - Chapter 381: Chapter 379: Into the Mountains Chapter 381: Chapter 379: Into the Mountains The atmosphere in the helicopter, previously pleasant, suddenly became quiet. Jerret and the others looked at each other, and then shivered collectively. Saito Tomonobu silently put on his socks and shoes and then spoke the longest sentence since meeting everyone: ¡°An emergency can not only cause you to lose your toes, but more likely your life. Your blood will gradually freeze amidst the ice and snow of high altitudes, turning into blood crystals.¡± ¡°Even though the death rate for climbing Mount Everest has dropped from 14.8% ten years ago to 4.4% now, that¡¯s the mortality rate for all climbers. Among them, many give up at C1 or C2. The higher you go, the greater the chance of death.¡± ¡°I started climbing in 2013. That year, I stopped at 7,400 meters because I saw a line of bodies ahead of me. At the time, my brain was severely lacking oxygen. Maybe I was scared as I retreated. I didn¡¯t succeed in 2014 or 2015 either. I wasn¡¯t very lucky¡ªthere was an avalanche during the weather window in 2014; and in 2015, a huge earthquake hit Nepal, followed by a massive avalanche. No one succeeded in reaching the summit that whole year.¡± As Saito spoke, he suddenly took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing as if he saw the boundless sky that awaited at the summit. After a while, he continued with his stiff accent: ¡°I haven¡¯t come back since then, but this year, I¡¯m here again. This is my fourth attempt to climb Mount Everest, and with my fortieth birthday approaching, I hope to give myself the gift of reaching the summit. I heard from Rob that you haven¡¯t even climbed a mountain of 7,000 meters. Human bodily functions don¡¯t operate at the cruising altitude of a Boeing 747. Once you reach South Col C4 Camp on Mount Everest, your body will begin to slowly die.¡± ¡°Ha, how is that possible.¡± Wessels laughed, trying to break the silence, but apart from him, no one else was laughing. Saito continued to stare at him expressionlessly. The laughter faded, and as Wessels awkwardly clenched his fist to cover his face and coughed twice, Saito¡¯s voice rang out again: ¡°You may not believe it, but my first climb stopped in the face of death. Even though my thoughts had slowed to where they were barely functional, I could feel¡ªclearly feel¡ªDeath sitting in front of me, so close I could hear his breathing.¡± ¡°Climbing Mount Everest is a game, a game to see if you can reach the summit and return before your body dies. Win, and you conquer the world¡¯s highest peak. Lose, and your body will become part of this giant tombstone.¡± ¡°Gulp.¡± Yao Jun and Wang Yongbo both swallowed their saliva, sweating slightly on their foreheads, their limbs going weak. It sounded so frightening¡­ Is it still possible to turn back now? Even the viewers in the live stream were a bit confused. Although Saito¡¯s English was broken and heavily accented, the subtitles translated his words very accurately. It sounded as if Bi Fang was not going to climb a mountain but rather a tombstone. Suddenly, a hand patted their shoulders, making them shiver, sweat trickling down their cheeks. Bi Fang¡¯s voice rose: ¡°What¡¯s there to panic about? I haven¡¯t asked you to reach the summit. It would be impressive if you two could make it to C2. Forget about C4.¡± ¡°Huaxia person, are you the one attempting the non-oxygen climb to the summit?¡± Saito coldly observed, staring straight at Bi Fang next to him. Bi Fang raised his eyebrows, looking directly back at Saito and even tilted his chin up slightly: ¡°That¡¯s me.¡± Saito stared at Bi Fang silently, not saying a word, and everyone else was confused by the tension between the two until, after three minutes, Saito finally averted his gaze. ¡°Then I hope you make it back alive.¡± ¡°I will bring back snow from the summit.¡± ¡­ Half an hour later, the helicopter crossed the mountains and made its way to a small airport. The helicopter slowly descended onto the runway, and Rob was the first to jump out, holding onto his hat, and gesturing around. ¡°Before Lukla Airport was built, this place was nothing but rocks and shrubs. After Edmund Hillary obtained the land permit, he hired 100 locals to build the airport. They would chisel rocks and cut down the shrubs during the day, and at night they walked on the runway, flattening and compacting the ground with their steps. The airport was completed in December 1964 and has been serving the region ever since. To this day, Lukla is inaccessible by road, and all living supplies have to be transported through Lukla Airport. In 2001, the airport had its runway paved with asphalt, but it is still very dangerous. Look, even this runway is uneven and has a significant slope.¡± Bi Fang landed on the ground and immediately felt its unevenness¡ªthe overall slope was very steep! ¡°At least fifteen degrees, which is a terrifying angle on a road, let alone for an airplane, and¡­¡± Bi Fang squatted halfway, showing everyone the first-person view of what he was seeing. Through his eyes, the viewers not only saw the horrifying slope but also the undulations! [Damn, is this even a runway for planes?] [I¡¯d be scared to drive on this.] [Ace drivers, request to engage!] [No wonder it¡¯s ranked as the most dangerous airport.] Rob, who was nearby, called the locals over to move the luggage, then came over and laughed, ¡°That¡¯s right, the runway has a slope of 18.5 degrees, quite steep, and its undulating shape is rare in the world. Just for this alone, it qualifies as one of the most dangerous airports.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve just observed the pilots and realized this airport seems to only allow visual flight, which is completely reliant on sight. There¡¯s no DME, no ILS, not even approach lights or PAPI lights. Besides, the bumpiness of the plane when flying is quite noticeable, and it has a strong feeling of side-slipping, which is probably because the airport is situated in a deep valley amidst high mountains. The wind along the valley forces planes to counteract continuous crosswinds during takeoff and landing. Moreover, the generation, accumulation, and transportation of moisture in the valley further make the visibility at the airport unpredictable, no wonder it¡¯s so dangerous. The demands on pilots are high indeed.¡± The slew of professional jargon left the audience somewhat dizzy, but the latter part was translated into normal Chinese and didn¡¯t hinder their understanding. Could you really discern so much just by sitting in a helicopter for a while? [Holy shit, can you actually feel all that?] [Strange knowledge has increased, add one to Master Fang¡¯s skill panel.] [Old Fang wouldn¡¯t also know how to fly a helicopter, would he?] [Almost forgot that Old Fang is also an ace commando, damn, maybe he really could?] ¡°I can¡¯t pilot, but I do understand a bit about it,¡± Bi Fang laughed heartily, unloading all the backpack luggage on the ground, and looked towards the distant mountains shrouded in clouds. With a heroic gesture, he pointed, ¡°Here is the starting point for Mount Everest. From now on, we¡¯re officially on our way forward!¡± Although Jerret and the cameraman were still in awe of the cloud-hidden Everest, they did not forget their job. They quickly brought out their equipment, started the drones and cameras, and got to work immediately. Filming the entire airport from the air, the top-down view from the altitude was truly serious; it was completely a cliff edge. There were no fences on either side of the runway, only precipices! The two onlookers were dumbfounded. They had actually landed on such a runway? Descending from the plane, Sir looked towards the distant peaks, feeling equally thrilled. His aged face inexplicably glowed with vitality, as if he had regained several years of youth. Yao Jun, standing beside him, pulled out something resembling a pager from his lining and pressed a few buttons. A set of fluctuating data suddenly appeared before everyone: ¡°Altitude 2845! Altitude 2845!¡± [What is that thing?] [An altitude meter?] ¡°Right, an altitude meter.¡± Bi Fang took the device from Yao Jun¡¯s hand, showed it to everyone and explained, ¡°This contains a GPS chip, which continuously emits signals to provide precise locations, though its accuracy is limited, and there could be some margin of error, so there¡¯s about a one-meter discrepancy.¡± ¡°Huh, there¡¯s a signal here?¡± Wang Yongbo took out his mobile phone and was surprised to find there were signals in this area, different from what he had imagined. ¡°What year do you think it is?¡± Bi Fang rolled his eyes. ¡°Our country has installed a new mobile base station 19 kilometers away from the peak of Mount Everest. Since then, climbers taking on Everest have been able to make calls from the summit, with the British mountaineer Rod Baber being the first man to make a call from the top of Mount Everest.¡± As he spoke, Bi Fang also took out an object resembling a walkie-talkie from his bag and waved it in front of the camera. ¡°Initially, climbers mainly used Morse code to communicate with the ground from Everest. Subsequently, shortwave radios and satellite phones replaced it as the common means of high-altitude wireless communication. However, the former has a limited range, and the latter is expensive and prone to weather disruptions. Compared to other means of communication, one of the biggest advantages of mobile phones is their lower cost. Nevertheless, for high-altitude communication, shortwave radios remain the most reliable method, but some budget adventure organizations cannot afford to provide radio equipment to their members. This is a device recently prepared by the guide company for us; I¡¯ve checked, and the quality is high. Don¡¯t lose them; it¡¯s best to keep them in your lining.¡± In 2007, four Italian climbers who were part of a budget climbing team encountered a perilous situation near the summit of Everest, and they had to use expensive satellite phones to call back to Italy for an emergency rescue. The reason these four Italians survived was due to the timely help they received from ¡®Experience Himalaya Adventures,¡¯ the climbing company that Baber had joined, providing them with oxygen supplements. ¡®Experience Himalaya Adventures¡¯ climbing company usually charges each climber a fee of 20,000 British Pounds. Generally speaking, climbing companies charging only ten thousand Ugly Knives are not that reliable, so everyone be careful when choosing.¡± Upon hearing the all-too-familiar case information, Yao Jun and others immediately took out their walkie-talkies and carefully placed them inside their inner linings for safekeeping. [Redefining ¡®budget¡¯] [I can¡¯t even afford the budget company¡¯s price, damn it, it¡¯s infuriating] [I feel numb now. Master Fang¡¯s individual climbing cost is sixty-five thousand Ugly Knives; any random climbing company charges twenty thousand British Pounds. I wonder if inflation forgot about me because everyone¡¯s spending tens of thousands like it¡¯s nothing, and yet I agonize over spending five bucks on a potato pancake in the morning.] ¡°Alright everyone, have we got our luggage sorted? It¡¯s time to set off!¡± Seeing that everyone was ready, Rob, who was at the front, clapped his hands, and the mules carrying the luggage immediately started moving. ¡°Transportation is not convenient here, so the methods are still quite primitive. The transport of goods mainly relies on mules. From Lukla to Everest Base Camp, we will need about six to seven days of trekking. Next, we will walk from Lukla to Phakding for about three and a half hours, descending from an altitude of 2840 to 2610 meters, briefly going down two hundred meters, but soon making up for it,¡± Bi Fang explained, patting the mule beside him. ¡°The good news is that the altitude on this part of the journey is below three thousand meters, so generally, anyone in good health won¡¯t experience altitude sickness.¡± It was eleven o¡¯clock, and the sun had risen to a high position. Two hours later, even Bi Fang began to sweat from the heat. After crossing a narrow and short suspension bridge, perhaps due to the high humidity in the mountains, the path became muddy, crowded with long-distance trekkers, mules and horses, red-robed monks, and barefoot Sherpa people bending under the weight of lumber. ¡°I¡¯ve found that climbing Mount Everest isn¡¯t quite as poetic and picturesque as it¡¯s made out to be in stories. As you can see, the whole path is littered with animal droppings. I even feel that the ground isn¡¯t so much a dirt road as it is a trail of dung. It might sound a bit exaggerated, but you really have to watch your step with every move because there are so many herds of cows, horses, and donkeys here. However, you can see that the scenery on both sides is still pretty nice, with small yellow flowers all along the roadside, just like what we saw from the airplane. It¡¯s truly beautiful.¡± Bi Fang crouched down and lifted a small flower, as the moisture from the mountain hit his face, and the clouds here turned into a fine misty rain, making every leaf on every plant dotted with water droplets. The small flower appeared even more vivid in color. ¡°It looks a bit like an azalea, but I¡¯m not sure exactly which kind. There are yellow flowers over there too, but I don¡¯t recognize them either.¡± Bi Fang shook his head regretfully. There are thousands of species of animals and plants in the world, and although he could now identify the vast majority, he was not accurate down to the species level for every single one, especially with plants, which he could only broadly classify to the family Rhododendron, but no further. Perhaps a professional botanist would know. Just then, a somewhat elderly voice familiar to everyone¡¯s ears rang out: ¡°This is the yellow scaly-stemmed azalea, and over there is the Prunus Mume.¡± By Bi Fang¡¯s side, Sir likewise crouched down, wiping the sweat from his forehead as he carefully examined a yellow flower. ¡°Haha, I almost forgot, I¡¯ve got Sir along with me on this trip!¡± Bi Fang scratched his head; he almost overlooked the fact that he had a true expert by his side! When it comes to identifying animals and plants, there are few in the world who can match the knowledge of Edinburgh. ¡°The scaly-stemmed azalea usually grows at altitudes of around three thousand meters, which is right about here, and if I¡¯m not mistaken, further up, there should be pink bristle moss azaleas.¡± Sir pointed to the peaks shrouded in clouds, and the camera operator let the drone fly higher, then adjusted the focus, reviewing the footage on the computer screen. Slowly, a touch of pink suddenly appeared in everyone¡¯s view. Could it really be there? Even Bi Fang was surprised. Indeed, experience does count for a lot! Could you really identify the genus just from a casual roadside wildflower? The azaleas were a minor diversion; besides maintaining interaction with the viewers, the team¡¯s pace remained brisk. Fortunately, with the help of mules, even the elderly like Sir could keep up. The path into the mountains was not devoid of human presence; there were many Sherpa clan villages in the Himalayas, such as Namche Bazaar, which lay before Bi Fang and the others, a small town. Namche Bazaar hung on the slopes like a giant, tilted, disc-shaped satellite halfway up the dangerous slope, with paths between houses meandering like a labyrinth. Inside the town, there was a normal human society with services such as hotels, and that night, Bi Fang and his companions stayed in Namche Bazaar. The real difficulties lay in the days to come. Chapter 382 - Chapter 382: Chapter 380: No Lack of Oxygen in the Highland Air Chapter 382: Chapter 380: No Lack of Oxygen in the Highland Air ¡°My God, how much longer do we have to walk?¡± In the inn, Yao Jun collapsed on the bed, took off his shoes, and after a whole day of walking, his feet were both tired and swollen, making him only want to sleep well. ¡°Huo, take the shoes outside, why do they smell so bad?¡± Bi Fang fanned his nose. He hadn¡¯t smelled such an odor in a long time and immediately pulled Yao Jun up from the bed, telling him to place the shoes outside the window. ¡°Is that really necessary?¡± Yao Jun got up awkwardly and placed his shoes and socks outside. Bi Fang shook his head helplessly, ¡°It¡¯s not just you here, and my nose is much more sensitive than the average person¡¯s, I really can¡¯t stand it.¡± Being in the mountains, what¡¯s called an inn is actually just a few small earthen houses. Don¡¯t even think about single partitions; one room usually contains earth beds that can sleep at least four people. At that moment, Bi Fang and the others were gathered in one room, while the guide and a few others were in another, all waiting for the house owner to bring dinner. Bi Fang took a hot towel to wash his face, then sat on a small stool with the others around a fire in the yard. The temperature in the mountains fluctuated greatly. Although it was still a bit warm at noon, it had begun to turn cold in the evening, even necessitating wearing a thin cotton coat. As their fingers warmed up, Bi Fang spoke up, ¡°Today was everyone¡¯s first day of walking, and everyone¡¯s pace varied, causing the group to stretch out a bit. Adjusting to a proper pace is something we need to discuss tonight. Did anyone feel like they couldn¡¯t keep up today? Or could keep up but felt particularly tired? Be honest and tell me immediately if you have any issues. Though the risk of altitude sickness isn¡¯t that high at three thousand meters, it¡¯s not non-existent. And Sir, I haven¡¯t heard you ask for a break all day; please don¡¯t force yourself too hard.¡± Sir Edinburgh laughed, ¡°You may be worrying too much. I have always been at the forefront of the team. I¡¯ve trekked far through both mountains and rainforests, so don¡¯t underestimate me. I just hiked twelve kilometers on the grasslands not long ago.¡± Seeing Sir had no issues, even with a flush on his face, Bi Fang turned to Wang Yongbo and the others, ¡°How about you?¡± Everyone shook their heads, except for Wang Yongbo who scratched his head, ¡°I had a bit of trouble keeping up today, and my heart felt weird, like it was being squeezed by a hand. Could it be a precursor to altitude sickness?¡± Bi Fang frowned, ¡°What about the rest of you? Do you have the same feeling?¡± The others shook their heads, but Jerret and the cameraman raised their hands. Indeed, they hadn¡¯t reacted before, but thinking about it now, it seemed they did have that sensation. All of these people had undergone physical exams before coming, and there were no diseases. ¡°It might be a precursor.¡± Wang Yongbo and the others were startled, then started to worry. They were experiencing altitude sickness at just three thousand meters? What about the rest of the journey? ¡°No worries, if the physical exams were fine, then there¡¯s no need to be overly concerned. As long as you¡¯re healthy, the vast majority of people won¡¯t have problems at three or four thousand meters. Besides, many people just experience a psychological reaction. I suspect you¡¯re just a bit over-exerted today, and since we took a helicopter directly from one thousand meters to three thousand meters, the rapid elevation change might not have fully settled in yet. A good rest tonight should help.¡± Wang Yongbo was a bit chubby, but not fat. As for Jerret and the cameraman, Bi Fang suspected it was just because the equipment was too heavy. Even with animals helping carry it, they both had to carry an extra near five jin of weight each, and the altitude sickness was likely due to the excessive physical exertion. After some thought, Bi Fang had a plan, ¡°Here¡¯s what we¡¯ll do. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll ask Rob to find two porters to help carry your backpacks. Tonight, eat more cheese and chocolate¡ªhigh-calorie foods are good for combating altitude. Later, I¡¯ll have Rob buy some water, and you start drinking first thing tomorrow morning¡ªdrink at least 4L. Grab about eight bottles of Nongfu Spring or something, take small sips, aiming to feel like you need to go to the bathroom every half an hour. That should probably solve the problem.¡± ¡°Drink water?¡± Wang Yongbo was puzzled, ¡°Does that really work?¡± The viewers in the live streaming room were also very curious, could drinking water really cure altitude sickness when earlier employing porters to carry things was understandable? [Isn¡¯t this just major hydration?] [I remember there are medicines for altitude sickness, right?] [Exactly, isn¡¯t Rhodiola one of them?] Unexpectedly, Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s useless, those medicines aren¡¯t as effective as drinking water. In fact, the vast majority of altitude medicines are placebos. They might be able to slow down the symptoms of altitude sickness but there¡¯s no clinical trial to prove it, and it¡¯s the same with Rhodiola. To this day, I haven¡¯t seen any authoritative scientific proof. At most, it has some effect on the lethargy that can occur with altitude sickness.¡± ¡°Besides, do you all believe that there¡¯s less oxygen in high altitudes?¡± Bi Fang looked around the audience and realized that everyone indeed nodded, as that¡¯s what they all believed. Sir was also puzzled, ¡°Isn¡¯t that the case? Isn¡¯t altitude sickness caused by the thin oxygen at high altitudes?¡± ¡°Wrong,¡± Bi Fang shook his head again, this being the second time in a short span, ¡°from sea level up to 100,000 meters in altitude, the oxygen content in the air is about 21%.¡± Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked. Isn¡¯t that common knowledge? [Is Old Fang also suffering from altitude sickness (joking), losing clarity of thought?] Bi Fang rolled his eyes, as his peak oxygen intake was at least over eighty at the moment. For a person like him to experience altitude sickness upon reaching an elevation of 3,000 meters, he¡¯d have to suffer from a heart condition, a blood disease, cerebral vascular issues, along with various respiratory diseases, epilepsy, schizophrenia, and uncontrolled diabetes, with a plethora of debuffs before altitude sickness would be likely. ¡°There¡¯s no lack of oxygen in the high-altitude air! It¡¯s the people in the high altitude who lack oxygen. Have you been on an airplane? Its engine is essentially an internal combustion engine. If the high-altitude environment ¡®lacked oxygen¡¯, then the airplane engine wouldn¡¯t be able to burn fuel normally to produce power to support flight, nor would passengers in the cabin be at risk of suffocation. Yet, in reality, every day, thousands of passengers fly safely in commercial airplanes at 10,000 meters up in the sky. If the oxygen content is 21% in plain areas, the proportion of oxygen is also 21% in high-altitude areas most of the time, which means there¡¯s no lack of oxygen in the atmospheric environment. The proportion of oxygen doesn¡¯t change at all.¡± ¡°Then how come altitude sickness occurs?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the air pressure,¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t beat around the bush and gave the direct cause, ¡°at an elevation of 4,270 meters, the pressure of oxygen is only 58% that of sea level. So, even though the relative proportion of oxygen in the atmosphere hasn¡¯t changed, the absolute amount of oxygen has decreased due to the thinner air, leading to a lack of oxygen.¡± ¡°When our bodies go to the high altitude, we need the same amount of oxygen as we do in the plains, but the lower absolute amount of oxygen in the high altitude means that we have to breathe more air to get the same oxygen. Our breathing and heartbeat must speed up; we have to breathe twice at high altitudes to get the same amount of oxygen that we could with one breath on the plains.¡± The benefit of an increased peak oxygen intake lies precisely in this, a higher utilization of oxygen. Where others might need to breathe multiple times on the high altitude to maintain their oxygen intake, Bi Fang could do it in one breath; the only difference might be a slightly larger expansion of his chest. ¡°Breathing is very easy to lose water, I¡¯ve told you in the desert to breathe through your nose rather than your mouth so you lose less water. Because both the frequency and depth of breathing increase, we lose a lot of water, making us more dehydrated than the plains. At the same time, the increase in lung activity and heart movements also consumes a lot of water. Dehydration can easily lead to a decline in blood flow and a reduction in the amount of oxygen transported within. If not promptly hydrated, the consequences can be severe.¡± Due to the cold and lack of oxygen, the high altitude can dull one¡¯s brain. By the time you realize you are lacking oxygen, the consequences are already very serious; this is what¡¯s known as altitude sickness. ¡°That¡¯s why drinking water can effectively alleviate altitude sickness. It¡¯s more effective than any medicine.¡± [Impressive, it¡¯s a real eye-opener!] ¡°` [When a calf stands on its head, it¡¯s bullishly sky-high] [Who the hell taught you all these riddles?] Just as everyone was marveling, the door suddenly opened, and a dark-faced Sherpa man came in, holding several large plates. ¡°Huo! Finally time to eat!¡± Yao Jun sprang up from the bed and rushed to the table, starving after a day¡¯s walk. ¡°Eat up, we¡¯re currently at an elevation of 2610 meters in Phakding, the mid-point between Lukla and Namche Bazaar. We¡¯ve got a long trek ahead of us tomorrow, so you need to fill up.¡± Bi Fang passed out chopsticks to everyone. The food on the table wasn¡¯t anything special, just some stir-fried noodles, fried rice, noodle soup, steamed buns, and permutations like Ruyi noodles and pizza-like concoctions. ¡°In the past, most trekkers on the EBC route were whites from Ugly Europe. In recent years, we¡¯ve seen an increase in travelers from Huaxia. The inns and lodges along the trail have added a lot of Chinese dishes. You can find dumplings and noodles, and there are even chopsticks available. We¡¯re in a good era now. Otherwise, we¡¯d be stuck eating western food with our hands.¡± Out of hunger, no one really cared about appearances and just started eating with chopsticks and fork and knife in hand. Yao Jun, on the other hand, stopped the innkeeper: ¡°Boss, I see there¡¯s a Wi-Fi signal here. Can you tell me the password?¡± The innkeeper wiped his hands, chuckled with a weather-beaten yet kind face that bore lots of wrinkles, unfortunately, the words out of his mouth weren¡¯t so kind as he held up three fingers: ¡°300 rupees.¡± Yao Jun was stunned: ¡°WTF? You charge for it? Alright, alright, tell me the password, I¡¯ll pay! Let everyone use the Wi-Fi!¡± But unexpectedly, the innkeeper shook his head again: ¡°Three hundred per person, should I enter the password?¡± Yao Jun: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Hahaha, forget it Yao Jun,¡± Bi Fang patted his shoulder, ¡°No need to bother; don¡¯t expect the Wi-Fi speed to be any good in a place where even the electricity isn¡¯t stable. Just use your data plan.¡± After dinner, Bi Fang summarized some issues and points to note. ¡°You can¡¯t rely on feeling to tell if a person is lacking oxygen, because the brain and heart can tolerate a fair bit, and it¡¯s not easy to sense issues. We need to measure it. Observing lip color is one way to measure¡ªit¡¯s a visual check. The color of the lips represents the color of arterial blood. If the lips are purple or black, it signifies that arterial blood is not well-saturated with oxygen, indicating a lack of oxygen in the body. Keep this in mind when climbing Mount Everest, so you don¡¯t run into trouble. The most convenient method is to use a pulse oximeter; it reveals the true situation in 10 seconds. I see Rob has one, I¡¯ll take you to get one tomorrow.¡± ¡°The remaining issue is trekking. I¡¯ll call you all in the morning. Go to bed early tonight; we¡¯re setting out at 7:30 tomorrow morning from 2610 meters in Phakding to 3440 meters in Namche Bazaar. We¡¯ll be ascending 800 meters, and at that time, I¡¯ll teach you some climbing techniques.¡± At night, Bi Fang turned off the live stream and went out for some exercise before retreating back to his room to rest. The next morning, Bi Fang opened his eyes, it was the first time sleeping in a bed during a live stream, which felt weird, but he quickly got up, dressed, opened the door, and started the live stream. The drone immediately took off. [So early? Isn¡¯t it just 6:30?] [Isn¡¯t it still dark?] ¡°Latitude reasons, mate. Around Everest, it generally doesn¡¯t get light until after seven during the spring and summer.¡± Bi Fang exhaled a breath of cold air, indicative of the chilly morning temperature, frost clearly visible on the nearby leaves. ¡°Today is April twenty-first. I estimate it¡¯ll take six days to reach Everest Base Camp. Then I¡¯ll have less than a month to do pull training, depending on the weather forecast from the meteorological bureau. If the right conditions come early, I might not even have half a month, so I have to intensify the training. That¡¯s why I got up so early.¡± Half an hour later, a sweating Bi Fang returned to the shelter, boiled some water, mixed some cold water in, then went out to the courtyard, stripped down, instructed the drone to avoid the view, and poured the hot water over his head. ¡°Whew! Much better.¡± Bi Fang shook his towel, wiped his face, and after exercising, his blood vessels were dilated, so he didn¡¯t mind the cold at all, which wasn¡¯t really severe as it was still above freezing. [Damn, aren¡¯t you cold?] [Drone, fly to the right? I can only see his head.] [So tough¡ªoutdoor showers, is this what real men do?] The sound of water outside soon caught everyone¡¯s attention as the sky began to brighten. Yao Jun blinked, yawning as he got up, then saw Bi Fang walking in, his body steaming. Yao Jun rubbed his eyes in shock: ¡°Holy shit, are you self-combusting? Why are you steaming all over?¡± ¡°Took a shower, get up quickly, and also this, you guys should use it.¡± Bi Fang put on his clothes and casually tossed a small bottle. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Everyone crowded around and found it was an alcohol spray. ¡°Alcohol spray. Go wash your feet in a bit, then spray this on, especially between the toes and the heels. After drying, apply a little alcohol to increase your feet¡¯s endurance, it won¡¯t tire as easily. I don¡¯t share this tip with just anyone.¡± Yao Jun didn¡¯t quite understand but was greatly impressed; this was his first time hearing of such a thing: ¡°What¡¯s the reason?¡± ¡°It¡¯s to relieve pain, and it reacts chemically with leather, making the shoes softer. Mountain boots are generally new; ours are too. New boots have the most friction but are too rough when unadapted and can rub your feet raw. Apply some alcohol and they¡¯ll soften up.¡± Excited by the information, Yao Jun immediately went under the bed to experiment. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say so earlier? I rubbed my feet raw all of yesterday. Forgot about it when we left the hotel, and after walking so much, I didn¡¯t want to trouble you anymore.¡± ¡°Damn!¡± (Come check out the official version, gentlemen. A book only costs a few bucks.) ¡°` Chapter 383 - Chapter 383: Chapter 381: Arrival at Base Camp, Above the Snow Line! Chapter 383: Chapter 381: Arrival at Base Camp, Above the Snow Line! ¡°When hiking as a team, especially when some members are inexperienced, you need an experienced person leading at the front and another experienced person bringing up the rear to ensure no one falls behind. Today, I¡¯ll have Rob lead, and I¡¯ll cover the rear.¡± Bi Fang pulled his trekking pole from the dirt, climbed on a rock, and from today onward, they would be ascending, with at least a six hundred meter climb ahead of them. ¡°When we walk uphill, we should take small steps and lean forward. Try to keep your stride as consistent as it is on flat ground. When walking downhill, also take small steps, lean back, and keep your knees slightly bent to reduce the pressure on your knees from the backpack¡¯s weight. Moreover, taking a zigzag path on steep slopes will save more energy.¡± ¡°If the soil on the incline is loose, such as sand, gravel, or snow, it¡¯s best to side-step and stop in a side-stepping position because it¡¯s more stable. This reduces the likelihood of slipping, and you must be mindful of your footing to avoid slipping on loose rocks. In addition, carrying a trekking pole is necessary¡ªit can help you maintain stability.¡± Sir, listening intently up front, couldn¡¯t help but admire: ¡°I¡¯ve walked many paths but never considered the reasoning and simple rules behind them. It seems your adventures aren¡¯t just about individual heroics but also a display of wisdom.¡± Bi Fang scratched his head and smiled bashfully. [Serious teaching that¡¯s laughable ¡ª not needed at all.] [Homebody who never left the city.] [I want to travel too, climb snowy mountains, but my wallet won¡¯t allow it.] [What won¡¯t allow? It¡¯s just laziness! Follow Master Fang, need nothing, find a tricycle, head to the Primeval Forest, wouldn¡¯t that be wonderful?] [Clearly an old fan here.] Just then, Rob¡¯s voice suddenly came from the front: ¡°We¡¯re going to cross a bridge, so stow your trekking poles to avoid getting them stuck in the bridge gaps.¡± Bi Fang packed away his trekking pole and looked ahead. It was still a narrow bridge, one of many they¡¯d encountered along the way. The bridge was so narrow that two people couldn¡¯t walk side by side, and it hung high in the air, enough to make one nervous. But after crossing several times, one grows accustomed, shifting from initial trepidation to driving with ease, presenting no difficulty at all. After the bridge, Bi Fang took out his trekking pole again and continued, ¡°In open terrain, we should advance in single file, with each individual within arm¡¯s reach of one another. The advantage of this is that if a blizzard hits and visibility drops dramatically, no one will get separated from the group.¡± ¡°Phew, ha, I can¡¯t do it,¡± Wang Yongbo suddenly started gasping for air up ahead, appearing as though he had been holding his breath for too long. He gulped a large mouthful from his water bottle and then leaned on his chest, breathing deeply. ¡°This is for your own good.¡± Bi Fang raised his hand to check his watch. Only twenty minutes had passed. ¡°To put it bluntly, among us, CEO Wang¡¯s physical condition is the worst. It¡¯s very possible that you won¡¯t even make it to Camp 1, so now you must practice diaphragmatic breathing.¡± ¡°Inhale and swell the belly, exhale and deflate the belly,¡± just like smelling the fragrance of a flower, ¡°inhaling¡± the breath into the lower abdomen, breathing at a normal rate for half a minute will significantly increase the blood oxygen saturation, an immediate and foolproof effect. This was taught to everyone this morning, especially to Wang Yongbo. Following Bi Fang¡¯s method, if he kept at it patiently, correctly, and consistently, his blood oxygen saturation wouldn¡¯t fall below 95%. In just a few minutes, he would feel significantly relieved or not feel the lack of oxygen at all. However, if diaphragmatic breathing stops, blood oxygen saturation would drop within half a minute, so to maintain an oxygen-rich state, one needs to form a habit. It generally takes more than a month for an average person to master this through practice, and one must overcome restlessness and resistance with strong willpower. Once the habit is ingrained and becomes subconscious, everything gets easier. ¡°I¡¯ve stressed this many times, breathing is important, breathing is important. If the body is an engine, then oxygen is the fuel, and the way you breathe represents combustion efficiency. Diaphragmatic breathing is about the quality and depth of breath. We need to improve the quality to adapt to low-oxygen environments.¡± Wang Yongbo sighed, ¡°That¡¯s easy to say, but it¡¯s really exhausting. I relax a bit and forget. I forget as I walk, and even hopping over a rock makes me forget. I just can¡¯t remember it all.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be watching, and if I notice your breathing change, I¡¯ll remind you. Now is the best time to practice because at four thousand meters, you won¡¯t be able to practice anymore.¡± ¡°Alright, alright,¡± Wang Yongbo waved his hand and changed his breathing method again. The group once again crossed a river, and the noisy sounds of people came from ahead. A few donkey carts driven by their owners approached, and everyone, including Bi Fang, moved to the side, quietly waiting for the carts to pass; Sir even took off his hat and bowed politely. ¡°When you are hiking in the countryside, you must pay attention to protecting the natural environment and respect the other people you meet along the way. You should yield to other walkers, cyclists, or horseback riders, take all rubbish with you, and avoid trampling or disturbing crops or livestock. If you have a dog with you, keep it on a leash to prevent these situations. Lastly, watch out for vehicles and always walk on the outside to react in time.¡± After letting the donkey carts pass, everyone set off again. The paths through the fields crisscrossed; despite being on a plateau, the landscape flourished as if it were a plain. Nearly every piece of flat and open land was cultivated with various crops; strings of prayer flags hung across the hillsides, and Buddhist temples and walls carved with scriptures stood tall among the peaks. All were sojourners. Locals planted crops between ridges, and travelers headed towards the snowy mountains they dreamed of. Living in the here and now. ¡°Let¡¯s take a break.¡± After crossing another mountain peak, Rob directed everyone to take a brief rest. They all entered a teahouse and ordered a pot of the local masala tea. ¡°Every time I see the locals living in harmony with nature, I feel it¡¯s the most beautiful moment in life. I¡¯ve said before that there are about 4 million different species of flora and fauna in the world. Thus, there are 4 million different answers to the question of how to survive. Now, it seems to me, 7 billion humans have 7 billion different answers to how they want to live,¡± Sir reflected, planting his walking stick into the earth as he watched the Sherpa people working the terraced fields. Bi Fang looked up, squinting his eyes, and played along by asking, ¡°And what¡¯s your answer, Sir?¡± ¡°Me?¡± Edinburgh paused to think, then said, ¡°For me, nature is the greatest joy, the ultimate visual feast, and the fountainhead of intelligence. It¡¯s the source of many things that make life meaningful for me. What about you? What¡¯s the reason for your relentless adventures? You always set one goal after another for yourself, and I think they are not easy for you to achieve, right? Such goals are meaningless, but since they are difficult, there will inevitably come a day of failure. Will you feel disappointed then?¡± [Ah, reasons, they stem from a high school annual party (sarcastic).] [Master Fang can never fail!] [I feel this is really tough this time, no-oxygen ascent, and I¡¯ve never seen Old Fang climbing mountains.] [This thing should require continuous training, right? Master Fang is always live streaming. After it¡¯s over, he rests. When does he have the time to train for mountaineering?] [I boldly predict the beginning of Waterloo!] Bi Fang loosened his backpack straps and changed the subject, ¡°I¡¯m actually inclined towards Adlerian philosophy. Sir, have you ever heard of the phrase ¡®living in the moment¡¯?¡± ¡°The moment?¡± ¡°Yes, the Adlerian philosophy strongly supports this viewpoint. Some people¡¯s route to happiness is to progress first, believing that only by advancing can they find happiness. Others prioritize freedom first.¡± After taking a sip of the masala tea to moisten his throat, Bi Fang was about to continue when Saito Tomonobu, who had been silent all this time, suddenly interjected, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with the roadmap of progress?¡± Bi Fang gave Saito a surprised look but shook his head, ¡°Fundamentally, there¡¯s nothing wrong with it. No one has the right to oppose the way others seek happiness, but happiness is ultimately subjective. I don¡¯t agree with the roadmap to progress because you¡¯re always on the road, just like mountaineering, Mr. Saito. You attempted to conquer Everest four times but didn¡¯t succeed, even wanting to treat summiting as a birthday gift. Is that because you think only the peak is happiness? Is the process of climbing merely the price of happiness?¡± Suddenly Saito fell silent; he did not agree or disagree. Seeing that everyone¡¯s gaze was fixed on himself, Bi Fang finished his tea in one gulp and quickly countered, ¡°But what if I can¡¯t reach the top? What if, after reaching the top, I find there¡¯s an even higher mountain? This kind of life feels like being led by a certain goal, and I don¡¯t think that¡¯s either happy or free.¡± ¡°Adlerian philosophy holds that life isn¡¯t merely a line aiming for a certain destination¡ªlife is a sequence of countless ¡®points.¡¯ Each present moment, each instant should be cherished, experienced, and enjoyed. It¡¯s like traveling, where it¡¯s not about reaching a destination to be considered a journey; the journey begins the moment you step out of your house, and every single detail along the way is worth appreciating.¡± You want to become a piano master, that¡¯s fine. But it¡¯s not that you¡¯ll only be happy once you¡¯ve become a piano master. Adler doesn¡¯t tell you not to strive for goals, he tells you to enjoy every moment of practicing the piano. In other words, Adler wants you to live earnestly. Being earnest is not equivalent to being profound. Life doesn¡¯t need to be profound¡ªearnestness is enough. If you can¡¯t live earnestly, always on the road, always disliking your current self, then you may really never achieve happiness in your lifetime. Being earnest is the most basic attitude¡ªit¡¯s an attitude toward oneself. I never treat various goals as burdens, but as markers on my pursuit of freedom and happiness. They signify that I have been here, that I have appreciated this place, and not as turning points from suffering into happiness. They aren¡¯t burdens, they¡¯re my motivation, and even if I fail in my challenges, I won¡¯t be too saddened. Of course, reaching a goal will be a peak moment of happiness, and that is where the true meaning of my pursuit lies.¡± Yao Jun slapped Bi Fang on the shoulder, gasping, ¡°Damn, that sounds so awesome.¡± ¡°Read more books.¡± Yao Jun: ¡°¡­¡± On the side, Wessels sniffed, ¡°But if you don¡¯t reach the summit, nobody will remember you.¡± Bi Fang was very calm, ¡°I¡¯ve said it before, happiness is very subjective. If you make fame and fortune your pursuit, that¡¯s your business.¡± [Master Fang, I¡¯ve had an epiphany] [I¡¯m going to write novels, even if I face failure every time, even if I¡¯m starving, I¡¯ll persist, ugh ugh ugh.] After finishing their tea, everyone set off again, perhaps touched by Bi Fang¡¯s words, the team¡¯s pace quickened that afternoon, and they managed to arrive at Nanki before dusk. They could rest for another night. ¡­ Day three: Nanki 3440m ¨C Tangboche 3860m Departed at 7:15, first sight of Mount Everest, which was obscured by clouds, on the right was Lhotse Peak, and the weather was good the entire journey, with Mount Everest accompanying along the way. Tangboche is a local religious center. This monastery was the first place where we received hada scarves. Rob led us to a nearby monastery and hoped the lama there would bless our journey. When receiving the hada offered by the lama, our leader also reminded us not to forget to give a little donation for the oil money, and I paid five Ugly Gold. The lodge that night did not provide hot water or free charging, charging once cost 300 Rupees, no matter it was a power bank or a phone, there were no toilets in the rooms, only shared public toilets, and I specially took time that night to shave. Day four: Tangboche 3860M ¨C Dingboche 4410M Here we could clearly see the famous peak on the journey, Ama Dablam Peak. In such high-altitude areas, as soon as the sun sets, the temperature drops faster than a dive; it¡¯s very cold both morning and evening. As most team members had never reached such an altitude before, I planned to have them acclimatize on the following day, staying two nights in Dingboche to improve everyone¡¯s adaptation ability. Yao Jun had been sleeping restlessly the last few nights, always getting up 3 or 4 times a night. Rob was a competent guide, but his basic skills needed polishing, and he seemed unable to keenly observe everyone¡¯s physical condition; I needed to pay more attention. The lodge didn¡¯t provide free charging, there were still no toilets in the rooms, only shared public toilets; since the lodges were built of wood, but having reached this altitude, to have these amenities was already quite good. Day Five: Dingboche 4410M ¨C Nakashan 5616M ¨C Dingboche 4410M Today was an acclimatization day, where we needed to climb to a higher altitude during the day and then return to a lower altitude to rest at night, which helps to speed up the adaptation to the low-oxygen environment. I tried to climb Nakashan to get a bird¡¯s eye view of Dingboche, with the surrounding hills all over 5000M. But due to the weather, the higher I climbed, the thicker the clouds became and the visibility was almost non-existent. In the end, I only climbed to about 4820M before turning back. It felt easy, with little difficulty, but the real challenges lay ahead. No matter how good the photo, it can¡¯t capture the expanse of being there in person, the feelings that can¡¯t be moved without being there. Starting from 4000 meters, people¡¯s bodies began to slowly show signs of stress, whether it was insufficient blood oxygen, or bloating, lack of appetite, and a few began to have runny noses; thankfully there were no other particularly uncomfortable symptoms. There was both good news and bad news. The good was that Wang Yongbo¡¯s feeling of heart constriction had completely disappeared today (his blood oxygen continued to drop, and maybe C1 would be his endpoint), which eliminated one potential cause of altitude sickness. And Sir¡¯s physical reaction was better than I had imagined, quite impressive indeed. The bad news was Gelman¡­ smeared¡­ Bellman¡­ okay, to be honest, I admit I don¡¯t really remember that person¡¯s name. His only pair of climbing boots had split open. Probably because the descent from Nakashan was too steep today, he only noticed the split when he returned. Faced with almost 10 more days of travel, it was a looming concern. But our spare boots didn¡¯t fit him; his feet were at least one size larger than all of ours. Asians have two phalanges in the little toe, while Ugly Europeans have three, with two fewer bones per foot in total. Are Ugly European feet really generally bigger? Fortunately, we will part ways after reaching base camp. Rob helped him by applying strong adhesive tape and bandaging it, hoping he would be fine. I had no discomfort, with all my body¡¯s indicators being normal. The air was very fresh. Day Six: Dingboche 4410M ¨C Lobuche 4910M In the stone hut ruins surrounded by mountains, without the colorful flags, it had a slight Northern European vibe. In the memorial area for climbing heroes who rest eternally at the foot of Mount Everest, there were stone monuments everywhere. At 4 p.m. outdoors it was only 1 degree, from tonight onwards I will sleep wearing a down vest. Tomorrow we¡¯re reaching EBC, slightly behind schedule, leaving me maybe less than twenty days for my training pull. Day Seven: Lobuche 4910M ¨C Gorak Shep 5140M ¨C Everest Base Camp 5364M On April 28th, we reached base camp. ¡°Snap!¡± Bi Fang capped his pen and stuffed the notebook into his lining. Gazing at the distant peaks, Bi Fang took a deep breath, the icy air rushing into his lungs as he set foot on the snow line, leaving a deep footprint. Altitude, 5364 meters! Chapter 384 - Chapter 384: Chapter 382 Shattered Flags Chapter 384: Chapter 382 Shattered Flags Among the roadside rubble, tattered flags representing faith fluttered in the wind, firmly wedged between the stones, perhaps burying the dreams of some anonymous climber. Expanses of snowy mountains reflected the dazzling orange glow of the sun, causing a temporary blinding effect for everyone, even casting doubt on their own vision¡ªcould there really be such a majestic mountain range in this world? Seven days, a full seven days! It took the party a whole seven days to finally reach Everest Base Camp! They could have rested for an entire day in the small village below, but nobody could wait. From soil to rock, from black to white, from warmth to bitter cold, it was all for this moment. This moment! Whether viewed from an overhead plane, gazed at from a distance, or looked up to from the foot of the mountain, there were three completely different ways of interacting with Goddess Peak. Its beauty seemed boundless; even missing just by a millimeter presented an entirely different vista. The group stood on the edge of the snowline, gazing up at the sky. Just at the snowline, the biting wind was bone-chilling, each breath felt like inhaling shards of ice, making it hard to imagine how cold and piercing the summit, three thousand meters above in vertical height, must be¡ªthe ultimate height of the world, the third pole of Earth! ¡°Hey, stop keeping a diary, what kind of serious person writes a diary?¡± Crossing the snowline, Yao Jun teased Bi Fang for putting away his notebook and eagerly jogged onto level ground. When he saw the flag in front of him, he couldn¡¯t help but stop, shielding his eyes from the sunlight, squinting, and curiously asking, ¡°How long has it been planted here, looking so tattered like this?¡± Rob, the team guide, hurried up from behind, and whether he truly understood the Chinese or just caught the mention of the flag, he said breathlessly, ¡°Perhaps a few weeks, or maybe some months. I didn¡¯t see it when I was here last year; I wonder if the owner of the flag was successful.¡± ¡°A few weeks? A few months?¡± Yao Jun, who had studied abroad, understood Rob¡¯s words loud and clear. He was taken aback, even stepping back twice. Could a few weeks or months render a flag nearly torn into strips? ¡°The environment on Mount Everest is extremely harsh, especially on the south slope, which is known for heavy precipitation and oceanic monsoon climate characteristics. It¡¯s common for the weather to be unpredictable even within the span of a single day, let alone throughout the seasons. Especially from mid-November to mid-February, when controlled by strong northwest cold currents, temperatures can drop to -60¡æ, with average temperatures ranging between -40¡æ and -50¡æ. The maximum wind speed can reach 90 meters per second!¡± Gasp for breath, Wang Yongbo caught up from the back of the group, took a sharp inhale when he heard this data, as the frigid air squeezed out all the warmth from his lungs, bringing a few more moments of clarity to his brain, his voice even distorting a bit, ¡°Ninety meters per second?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Bi Fang confirmed, nodding firmly, his brows furrowed tightly together as if he had already conjured the terrifying scenario in his mind. Ninety meters per second!? What did that even mean? Wang Yongbo looked at Rob, noting the experienced guide¡¯s serious expression. Saito, with his perennially impassive face, seemed even more frozen than before, immutably so. Even Sir, accustomed to braving the stormiest seas, appeared somber, like facing an African Lion on the savannah. But what did it really mean? Wang Yongbo felt somewhat embarrassed, but seeing that no one seemed to take the initiative to explain and Bi Fang even started to move forward, he mustered the courage to ask awkwardly, ¡°Is this wind¡­ very strong?¡± Bi Fang¡¯s right foot, which he had just stepped out, subtly shifted as he coughed twice, then turned back to look at Wang Yongbo, his gaze filled with disbelief. You don¡¯t know? ¡°What the hell did you just inhale?¡± ¡°Was that deep breath just for dramatic effect?¡± Facing Bi Fang¡¯s lethal glare, Wang Yongbo felt so awkward he started picking at his foot, pointing at everyone and then at himself, ¡°We¡¯re over five thousand meters up here, isn¡¯t it perfectly normal for me to be out of breath¡­ You can¡¯t expect me to be like you monsters.¡± Indeed, everyone in the team had at least some basic hiking experience, even Jerret and his photographer who accompanied him had gold medals from the adventure channel¡ªhow could they not have hiked before? Wang Yongbo was the only exception; he was here purely for the experience. But Wang Yongbo did have a point; not everyone could adapt to altitudes over five thousand meters. At this height, many people dared not make sudden movements, even walking had to be done at a slower pace, or else the sense of oxygen deprivation would become very apparent. Wang Yongbo and Sir even occasionally used oxygen tanks. At this point, viewers in the live stream were losing it with laughter. ¨¦tienne, who was thousands of miles away, laughed so hard he dropped his phone, hitting himself in the corner of his mouth. His teeth clashing against his lips, he cried out in pain. [CEO Wang has me dying of laughter] [You laugh at his ignorance of wind force levels, he laughs at your lack of financial freedom] [To be fair, I don¡¯t quite get it either, but it sounds impressive that¡¯s for sure] [I¡¯ve been mountain climbing for so long, can¡¯t I catch my breath?] When Bi Fang turned his head to see the barrage of comments, he realized many viewers didn¡¯t understand either and knew he had failed to explain things clearly. Previously overwhelmed by the majesty of the peak, he had forgotten about this. Many viewers were just ordinary people who had no understanding of these detailed classifications. ¡°A wind speed of ninety meters per second is equivalent to twice that of a category 16 typhoon. Any wind above level 12, we call it a typhoon or hurricane due to its immense destructive power, which is rarely seen on land. Moreover, natural wind forces sometimes exceed level 12. For example, the wind strength in the eye of a severe typhoon, or inside a tornado, can be much greater than level 12¡ªit¡¯s just that winds above level 12 are rare and usually aren¡¯t specifically categorized. Level 16 corresponds to winds over 51 meters per second, which can uproot large trees and completely destroy brick houses.¡± ¡°Bear in mind, the largest acid rain cloud ever discovered on Venus spans over 7,500 kilometers and has existed there since 1983, but its wind speed is only around ninety meters per second.¡± With this comparison, it was much easier for everyone to understand. [Holy crap, that¡¯s terrifying!] [Is this one of the reasons planes can¡¯t fly over Mount Everest?] ¡°That¡¯s one reason, yes. If it was just about altitude, then even commercial airliners could reach it, as they typically fly above ten thousand meters, but they cannot land. Planes can only cruise at high altitudes. If they were to land, they would need to slow down, which means deploying flaps to increase lift. However, when the plane¡¯s speed is low at the altitude of Mount Everest, it¡¯s impossible to maneuver the flaps due to the plane¡¯s structure. That prevents the plane from slowing down, making it unable to land. Moreover, because of structural strength limitations, deploying the landing gear at high speeds would cause it to break off. And at low speeds, there isn¡¯t enough lift to keep the plane airborne. If you¡¯re thinking about parachuting, that¡¯s impossible too because the oxygen levels aren¡¯t sufficient, and due to pressure differences, the plane can¡¯t depressurize. At that altitude, anyone would die from lack of oxygen. And this applies to everyone, even those who have climbed Mount Everest because the rapid change in air pressure is too much to adapt to quickly. Plus, the weather conditions are extremely harsh, making it totally unsuitable for landing. Avalanches, valley winds¡ªwinds so strong you can¡¯t imagine. Strong enough to flip over the world¡¯s largest passenger jet, the A380. If all 6 billion people on Earth jumped at once, maybe a few unlucky souls would land on the summit¡­ and then freeze to death.¡± [What about helicopters then? What about them?] ¡°Helicopters won¡¯t work either. They rely on the rotation of their rotors to generate downward force in order to ascend. But above five thousand meters, the pressure is too low to provide enough force. Even if you increased the revolutions, with the current designs, it¡¯s still very hard to achieve it. Also, higher altitude airflows are complex, making it difficult for helicopters to control direction. They can easily collide with the mountain and crash. That¡¯s why summiting high mountains remains a badge of honor for the brave, a glory for a lifetime.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s hurry up and move on. Now that we¡¯ve reached the snowline, don¡¯t forget to put on your sunglasses to prevent snow blindness. I taught everyone how to do this back in Mohe. If you don¡¯t have any, you can also use strips of cloth or charcoal ash to cover your eyes,¡± said Bi Fang as he took off his sunglasses and continued to move forward. Soon, the group arrived at the base camp, and contrary to expectations, it was filled with tents and, to their dismay, littered with garbage in many corners! Colorful plastic bags and torn pieces of fabric looked especially unsightly against the background of the pristine Mount Everest! [Wow, there are really a lot of rich people here] [If I threw a brick backhanded into this, I¡¯d kill a millionaire on the spot] [Master Fang caught the brick with a backhanded grab and threw it back, Zhang San: ¡°This is self-defense!¡±] [Damn, why is there so much trash?] [Right? Throwing garbage on Mount Everest, do they have any sense of public morality?] Bi Fang looked at Edinburgh but found that the latter was not as emotional as he had imagined. Sir¡¯s expression was calm, as if he had already witnessed thousands of similar scenes: ¡°Since we, as creatures, came to this planet, we have cut down, dug out, burned, and poisoned other life forms. And today, we are committing the same atrocities on an unprecedented scale. A hundred years ago, the Earth had only 1.5 billion people. Now, our fragile planet is overwhelmed with over 6 billion people. Yet even so, there are still some places on Earth that are rarely touched by humans. With the commercialization of Everest, this scene was almost predictable.¡± The guide Rob, sensing the awkward atmosphere, quickly changed the subject and led the group straight into a large tent adorned with their company¡¯s logo. The group followed closely. Upon entering the sturdy tent, a warm stream of air instantly hit their frost-reddened faces, quickly melting and evaporating the ice crystals. ¡°Holy shit, this is too awesome.¡± Yao Jun was the first to enter, took a deep breath immediately, and compared to the piercing cold wind outside, he had the idea of just staying here and not going out again. Compared to the harsh environment outside, this place was simply heaven. ¡°Wait a moment, I¡¯ll take the others to find their guides.¡± After settling Bi Fang and the others, Rob immediately left with Wessels and others to find their actual guides. Bi Fang, meanwhile, wandered around to inspect the inside of the tent, which was really impressive. The biomass pellet stove provided a continuous supply of heat, keeping the whole tent toasty warm, and there were fluffy blankets that even looked brand new. In the corner, there was quite an assortment of instant foods, as well as fresh ones like potatoes and tomatoes, and even an oxygen generator. One could say you get what you pay for; 65,000 Ugly Knives was indeed expensive, but the guarantee was solid. The group, after climbing the mountain all day, lay down on the blankets, feeling so comfortable they thought they might die. Taking advantage of Rob¡¯s absence, the group took the chance to rest. About half an hour later, Rob returned, having successfully seen off Wessels and the others, and he began to organize everyone for a chat, talking about their personal journeys and the like. This was what¡¯s called psychological guidance, something almost every qualified guide did. The goal was to counsel everyone so they could face Everest with a peaceful mind. If below the base camp there could still be some merriment, beyond it was a completely different world¡ªrugged paths, cold climate, howling winds, and glaciers hidden under the snow layer¡ªall of which were potentially fatal. Bi Fang lifted the curtain to check the sky and saw that there was still some time until sunset, so he took the opportunity to suggest going out to have a look. Everyone naturally agreed, and Rob, checking the time, also agreed happily. ¡°I remember there is a pass above the base camp, not far away and only less than a hundred meters high. We should be able to reach the pass before it gets dark and then come back.¡± With that, everyone immediately became excited. ¡°A pass is a common feature on the plateau, generally a conspicuous saddle-shaped depression on a mountain ridge, often serving as a passageway through high ridges. It is very suitable as a platform to look out from on a mountain.¡± With a destination in mind, Bi Fang and the others immediately set off, leaving only Wang Yongbo, who was huffing and puffing, and Sir, who was too tired, inside the tent. As they left the tent and moved away from the base camp, Bi Fang had a discovery and immediately stopped everyone. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s a Tibetan Snowcock!¡± Tibetan Snowcock? Rob and the others were taken aback, and when they looked towards the direction Bi Fang was pointing, they saw nothing. It wasn¡¯t until they stared for several minutes that they could make out some small creatures moving among the rocks. The photographer adjusted the camera and aimed at the Tibetan snowcock. Rob was shocked on the spot, his gaze uncontrollably shifting towards Bi Fang. How on Earth did this guy spot it? Moreover, ever since they passed four thousand meters, Rob had been seriously watching the livestreamer he thought was silly. Yet everything he observed was shocking. With no experience in climbing, yet showing no signs of altitude sickness even above five thousand meters at the base camp. Lacking mountaineering background, yet he had a grasp of climbing knowledge as if it were instinct. How is that possible? Had this guy hidden some kind of record? Is this motherfucker really a livestreamer? ¡°Tibetan snowcock? Where¡¯s the chicken? Can you eat it?¡± Yao Jun perked up upon hearing about a chicken. The road food had all been fried noodles, fried rice, noodle soup, and steamed buns. Initially, he was excited about these meals and would take photos to remember. But later, the very mention of food made him nauseous. ¡°Eat your head,¡± Bi Fang rolled his eyes, truly speechless, ¡°Even though they¡¯re not endangered globally, they are a Class II protected species in our country. If you eat one in front of me, where would I put my face?¡± Yao Jun sneered upon learning it was a protected animal, ¡°But this is Nepal, isn¡¯t it?¡± The corner of Bi Fang¡¯s mouth twitched, as he realized the logic was sound, leaving him momentarily at a loss for words. Then he changed tack, ¡°Even if you caught it, you couldn¡¯t eat it. Here above five thousand meters, you simply can¡¯t boil anything. You wouldn¡¯t be able to eat it.¡± ¡°We could roast it. Wasn¡¯t there a roast oven in the tent just now?¡± Yao Jun said matter-of-factly. Bi Fang: ¡°¡­¡± [Damn, it¡¯s rare to see Old Fang lose face] [666, no wonder he¡¯s the top-ranked bro, made Master Fang lose face just by opening his mouth] [It¡¯s time to call Sir Edinburgh!!] [Sir, you¡¯ve been chosen, replace Master Fang!] [Are there still animals above five thousand meters?] ¡°Hey hey hey, how can you forget your old love as soon as you find a new one?¡± Bi Fang said with an incredulous spread of his hands before pointing at the Tibetan snowcock hiding in the rocks not far away, ¡°Tibetan snowcocks typically dwell between the tree line and the snow line at altitudes ranging from 3,000 to about 6,000 meters. They live in alpine shrublands, tundras, and rock grounds. Perfectly matching our location, they often forage near the snow line, prefer to congregate and are usually found in small groups of three to five individuals.¡± The audience¡¯s attention was immediately drawn, and they counted the moving pebbles, finding exactly five, just as Master Fang had described. Awesome! ¡°The Tibetan snowcock is similar in size to domestic chickens and has grey and white mottled feathers. The wings are mostly dark grey while the abdomen is predominantly white. This coloration helps them blend into the ground when they lay down, making them less noticeable to predators. This is their way of surviving. Moreover, Tibetan snowcocks from different regions hatch in different durations. According to ¡°Chinese Ornithology,¡± it takes 27 days in Tibet, 26 days in Xinjiang, and 19-22 days in Gansu.¡± ¡°You might think they¡¯re just chickens, but these animals¡­¡± Just as Bi Fang crouched down, ready to inch closer and explain, a piercing scream interrupted him. ¡°Help!!¡± Chapter 385 - Chapter 385: Chapter 383: A Ruthless Person Comparable to Bi Fang! Chapter 385: Chapter 383: A Ruthless Person Comparable to Bi Fang! Bi Fang suddenly rose to his feet, his slightly reddened ears twitching lightly as he strained to catch any sound from around him, yet all that remained was the howling of the cold wind. He looked at the bewildered faces of the crowd and asked with some doubt, ¡°Did you¡­ hear anything?¡± Yao Jun, shivering with cold, dug at his ears and said indifferently, ¡°Nope, the wind is too loud, are you hallucinating? It¡¯s so cold, how nice would it be to have a bowl of hot chicken soup right now, hehehe.¡± Bi Fang was somewhat speechless. Was this guy really so obsessed with Tibetan Snowcock? These people before him were of no help¡ªBi Fang could only hope that the viewers had heard it. For some reason, he felt as if he had indeed heard a human cry. Unfortunately, the viewers were also confused and hadn¡¯t heard any calling out. [Master Fang, are you hallucinating?] [With the wind this strong, how could there be any sound?] [Could it be a chicken crowing?] [The sound of the wind is too similar to a roar, right? You must have heard it wrong.] ¡°Was I really mistaken?¡± Bi Fang began to doubt himself, wondering if the wind was too loud, causing him to mishear. ¡°Are we still going to the pass?¡± Rob looked at the sky again and realized there might not be enough time. The appearance of the Tibetan Snowcock had caused some delay, and it was becoming tense to move now; as soon as it got dark, the journey would become extremely dangerous, and no one would climb Mount Everest at night. Bi Fang hesitated for a moment but still nodded. Yet, just as he was about to move forward, a faint cry for help pierced through the cold wind once more, immediately halting everyone. ¡°No, there really seems to be someone shouting!¡± ¡°What sound, are you trying to scare me?¡± Yao Jun, who was fantasizing about chicken soup, looked around, hearing nothing unusual. ¡°Listen, the shouting,¡± Bi Fang whispered intently, ¡°it sounds like someone is calling for help!¡± The flag suddenly flapped loudly as a gust of cold wind blew directly into their faces. As the skies grew darker, the wind became fiercer and changed direction; the west wind since dusk had turned into a north wind, cutting against their skins sharply like a cold knife. Bi Fang, watching the flags waving around intensely at the base camp as if they could be torn apart any moment, was highly alert. Seeing Bi Fang¡¯s seriousness, the others fell silent and listened intently. Soon, among the raging wind, they seemed to really distinguish a special sound¡ªone time, then another, until it seemed like a desperate shout, and suddenly the sound of the flapping flags changed. ¡°Help!! HELP!!¡± Wori, it really was a cry for help, and holy shit, it was a bilingual plea! Bi Fang abruptly looked up; he finally heard it clearly¡ªit was indeed a cry for help. ¡°Damn, what¡¯s going on? Is someone in trouble?¡± Yao Jun, startled, quickly scattered the thoughts of chicken soup from his mind and looked around hurriedly, realizing none of their own were missing except for Wang Yongbo and Sir, who were inside the tent, and he breathed a sigh of relief. But his heart tensed up again quickly. It wasn¡¯t one of their own, but someone else was in trouble! However, with the wind howling, no one could make out from which direction the sound was coming, so they all just held their breath and focused; but how could they hold their breath at an altitude close to six thousand meters? ¡°Oxygen tanks, quickly bring the oxygen tanks!¡± Rob immediately ordered the Sherpa porters to bring out the oxygen tanks and then handed them over to everyone. But when it was Bi Fang¡¯s turn, he refused. Without worrying about it anymore, everyone picked up their oxygen tanks, raised them in unison, then took a deep breath, holding their breath and concentrating. The sound of the wind, the sound of heartbeats. Only two figures remained between heaven and earth. Bi Fang¡¯s heart was pounding, and just when everyone was about to give up, he suddenly looked up. ¡°Up there! Very close!¡± Everyone followed the direction of Bi Fang¡¯s pointing fingers, looking up, but they only saw a cliff that towered more than a dozen meters high! ¡°It¡¯s over, how do we get up there?¡± Jerret looked at the high wall, then turned his head to Rob, ¡°Guide Rob, how do we get up there? Is there a path nearby?¡± Rob¡¯s expression stalled, and he stared blankly at the cliff, his voice bitter, ¡°Yes, but you can only go up from the steep slope, and then come down from another platform, at least five hundred meters! And it¡¯s very difficult to navigate, with a lot of columns and sheer cliffs!¡± Running a few steps left you gasping for air, even a feeling of dizziness at this altitude; five hundred meters here was equivalent to fifteen hundred meters on flat ground, and it was a challenging fifteen hundred meters at that. By the time they caught up, the person would have long been dead! Hearing this, Bi Fang immediately dropped his backpack, took off his gloves, and started free solo rock climbing. By the time the rest had realized what was happening, Bi Fang had already reached three meters above their heads! Rob: ¡°!¡± While he was still in shock, Bi Fang had climbed another two meters. At a height of five meters, it was starting to make people feel fearful. [Damn, that familiar scent] [No way, there¡¯s already an accident just after reaching base camp?] [Mount Everest is both a milestone and a tombstone, haven¡¯t you heard?] [Death rate of four percent¡­ There were definitely more than a hundred at base camp just now¡­ Is someone destined to die? Terrifying¡­] [Damn, now that you mention it, it¡¯s really scary] [Someone has to die, why couldn¡¯t it be me?] [People hardly manage to walk around here, and Old Fang can still climb¡­ Really awesome¡­] Not buying into superstitious fears, Rob pulled out a portable thermometer. Outdoor temperature, minus eight degrees. Broken? Impossible, this was a specially made outdoor thermometer, accurate even at minus sixty degrees. It must be the world that has a problem. Rob thought, looking at Bi Fang who had climbed to ten meters. This motherfucker is a rookie? This motherfucker! Is a rookie! ¡°Let¡¯s go, we need to get up there quickly.¡± Rob bit his teeth as he looked at Bi Fang above, giving orders to the Sherpa porters to come with him, and then said to Yao Jun and the others, ¡°You guys wait here, don¡¯t go back to the camp directly, wait for us to return.¡± The cold mountain wind blew, making Bi Fang¡¯s fingers stiff with cold, but there was no way around it; his gloves were for warmth, and he couldn¡¯t perform vertical rock climbing with them on. Fortunately, the distance of more than ten meters wasn¡¯t too high, and although Bi Fang experienced some breathing difficulties and dizziness after successfully climbing up, these symptoms quickly subsided after a few breaths. This was also the first time Bi Fang felt dizzy while mountain climbing, which showed the dangers of Mount Everest! Once on the platform, the cries for help became much clearer. Bi Fang, who had come up, looked at the even steeper ice wall and quickly located the source of the voice. Not far to his right, a climber was lying on the slope with loose rocks sliding down below, but there was no platform beneath, only an abyss. A slip would mean certain death! Stones kept rolling down from beneath the climber, then plummeting into the abyss, not even an echo to be heard. The climber dared not move, but there were too many loose rocks beneath him, and he would soon slide down along with them. He even feared to call for help too loudly, for if his voice was too loud, it could cause vibrations to intensify, and he might even slide down immediately. If it weren¡¯t for Bi Fang and his team being right below him, it would have been impossible to hear him! The viewers watching the scene were stunned; it was like a slow death! [Damn, this is terrifying!] [Fuck, I¡¯m sweating in my palms.] [How did this happen? Doesn¡¯t he have teammates?] [Did he slide all the way down from above?] [If it were me there, I wouldn¡¯t even dare to shout, I¡¯d just pee my pants!] ¡°HELP!! HELP!! Save me, save me!¡± The climber¡¯s voice was urgent. Any significant vibration could be fatal at this point, and he didn¡¯t even dare to breathe too forcefully. But how was this possible? The fierce beating of his heart caused his oxygen consumption to skyrocket, and the thin air seemed like a death warrant. The climber, not daring to breathe heavily, had a whitened gaze and a strong sensation of dizziness overwhelmed him. He even began to have hallucinations, and, momentarily losing his alertness, he instinctively took a deep breath. Instantly, the loose rocks beneath him tumbled again, and his body descended a full twenty centimeters! ¡°Save me, is there anyone?¡± The cold was making the climber¡¯s body progressively chill. He didn¡¯t dare open his eyes but could feel the dwindling light. Nobody would climb Mount Everest at night, and once darkness fell, his chance for rescue would be utterly lost. The dual pressures of body and mind nearly caused him to break down; to have held on until now was a testament to his exceptional mental strength. [Fuck, he can even speak Chinese, is he one of us?] [No matter the bilingual cries for help, this is too incredible] [How on earth did he manage this, it¡¯s really crayfish-level] The audience in the live stream was frightened by this seemingly inescapable situation, and Bi Fang quickly tried to comfort the other party. ¡°Hey, are you Huaxia? Are you okay?¡± Just then, a voice unexpectedly broke through the darkness and reached the climber¡¯s ears, like the dawn piercing the night. The climber even thought he was hallucinating due to the cold, but when the voice came once more, he finally realized that someone had come! Someone had come, really someone had come! A glimmer of hope ignited in the anxious heart of the climber. Yet the voice came from behind his head, and when he tried to turn around, he was immediately stopped. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t move, don¡¯t move at all!¡± Bi Fang stopped the other¡¯s movement, knowing from the way he was moving his neck what the climber was about to do, but at this moment, it was advised not even to breathe, let alone turn his head. It seemed that the other party realized the inappropriateness of his actions and stopped immediately. Good, good. It¡¯s good that he can follow instructions. Bi Fang sighed with relief in his heart. He looked down at his feet to find a more secure place to stand, but the ledge wasn¡¯t big, and beside it was a slick, sloping ice wall embellished with a few protruding rocks¡ªthough, without exception, all were far from the victim. The one under his feet was the closest, yet it still was at least two meters away. ¡°What are you doing?¡± The other¡¯s voice was hoarse and distorted. ¡°I am trying to find a way. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t leave, you can be at ease,¡± Bi Fang immediately reassured the other, aware that at times like these, both emotions and mental strength were extremely fragile. His presence had undoubtedly brought a ray of hope to the other. If he were to show indifference, it would undoubtedly cause complete despair. ¡°Are you a guide? Or Sherpa?¡± Bi Fang was taken aback, not expecting such a question from the other. Was this an attempt at casual conversation to distract and prevent psychological pressure from becoming too great? But if that were so, shouldn¡¯t he be the one talking like this? Although he didn¡¯t understand the other person¡¯s intent, Bi Fang responded, ¡°None of those. I¡¯m just a climber.¡± Just as Bi Fang was about to perform a rescue, the next sentence from the victim not only stunned the audience but even Bi Fang himself was left wide-eyed and speechless. ¡°Have you received professional rescue training? If not, call your guide over quickly, or you might make things worse!¡± Upon hearing this, Bi Fang froze on the spot, and the audience went completely wild. [??? What kind of sorcery is this, so ruthless?] [First time seeing someone like this, damn impressive,,, to remain so composed in such a situation..] [Amazing, truly amazing; I¡¯ve only seen such a person last time I saw¡­] [Idiot, it¡¯s Master Fang, for heaven¡¯s sake! Only Master Fang could remain calm in this situation as far as I have ever seen.] A tough character! This thought flashed through Bi Fang¡¯s mind. To be so rational at such a time! To a large extent, the other party was right to refuse Bi Fang¡¯s rescue. In such circumstances, blindly accepting help from a stranger could indeed make things worse, just like someone who has never been trained in First Aid attempting CPR! But this was a good thing, as the victim couldn¡¯t see him, and all rescue operations had to be directed by Bi Fang. The calmer the other party was, the easier it would be to carry out the rescue. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve been trained. Just listen to me, you¡¯re lying on a scree slope now. The most important thing is to stop sliding down. In a moment, I¡¯ll pass you my climbing pole. Stretch out your left hand and see if you can reach it.¡± Hearing Bi Fang¡¯s words, the other party relaxed considerably, leaning quietly against the ice wall, no longer speaking. They conserved all possible energy as the severe cold and vigorous heartbeat had already begun to drain their strength.. Bi Fang stepped to the edge of the platform, extending the climbing pole as far as possible, while instructing the other¡¯s left hand to slowly lift and stretch out. Unfortunately, no matter how much they stretched, they were always less than thirty centimeters apart and couldn¡¯t reach each other. Bi Fang looked up, and unlike the rock wall beneath his feet, above was an ice wall. Even if he could use an ice axe to ascend, the other person wouldn¡¯t be able to hold on in time, so he had no choice but to try a different method. ¡°How are you feeling now? Do you still have the strength?¡± ¡°Not good. I¡¯m having a lot of difficulty breathing, and I feel very dizzy. It¡¯s probably altitude sickness; I¡¯m severely lacking in strength.¡± Lack of strength, now that was a big problem. The viewers outside the screen were anxious, but none had a good solution. In just a few short minutes, the victim had slid down nearly half a meter, and of everyone present, only Bi Fang was the most professional. As for the guide Rob, he was still on his way on horseback. After a moment of thought, Bi Fang immediately put down his backpack, unzipped it, and pulled out a section of Dyneema rope: ¡°Don¡¯t panic, I¡¯ll try another way. I have a section of Dyneema rope here. In a moment, I¡¯ll make a slipping noose and toss the other end over to you. Just lift your left hand a little, not too high. I¡¯ll try to loop the rope over your left hand and then pull you up!¡± The other party didn¡¯t speak but made an OK gesture on the ice wall, clearly approving the plan. With a plan in place, Bi Fang quickly found the end of the rope, folded it, then wrapped the slightly shorter end around three times and threaded the end through the loop he had reserved behind his hand, completing a noose. This was a slipping noose; tightening the other end of the rope would automatically secure the knot, and the more one struggled, the tighter it would get, which was perfect for someone who was out of strength. ¡°All right, lift your hand.¡± The person bent their arm, lifting their left hand. If it were a matter of lassoing cattle, the accuracy would naturally be low, but at this distance of less than three meters, looping a hand was as easy as pie. Bi Fang easily looped the noose over the person¡¯s hand and tightened the rope! There was hope! Chapter 386 - Chapter 386: 384 Chapter 386: 384 On the edge of the cliff, Bi Fang¡¯s arms rotated and wrapped around the rope, squatting low to lower his center of gravity, focusing all his attention on the other person. ¡°During a normal rescue, you can wrap the rope around appropriately to prevent slipping, but don¡¯t wrap it too tightly, or both people might end up in danger. I used a tightening noose to secure the other person, which is a very practical rope, similar to the lasso you often see in movies and TV shows.¡± ¡°OK, can you raise your left hand a little higher, then bend your elbow and try to grab the rock beside you? There is a protruding rock a bit to the left below your left foot, about ten centimeters away. Your half-foot can probably step on it¡ªcan you try to step on it?¡± Bi Fang observed the environment around the other person, instructing them to act as per his guidance. If there was a support point, the noose could be tightened even more. After hearing Bi Fang¡¯s words, the other person slowed his breathing, then braced his right hand against the icy wall to provide some friction and gently pushed. The rolling stones beneath suddenly moved, and the climber slid straight down! The audience let out a gasp, the life-and-death speed of the rescue causing their adrenaline to surge, and even the people like Yao Jun below the rock face were panicked to death. Although they couldn¡¯t see the actual situation due to line of sight issues, they could watch the live broadcast, couldn¡¯t they? Even base camp had a WiFi signal! Fortunately, in the final moment, the person managed to step on the rock! [My god, that was freaking intense.] [Not saying anymore, I¡¯ve got to pee so bad, heading to the wall to the bathroom.] [I¡¯m already peeing in splits.] The setting sun gradually dipped below the horizon, casting shadows on the icy wall, with orange and black intertwining into darkness. Bi Fang wiped the fine sweat from his forehead. Such a rescue took a huge toll on him, especially at high altitude, where the energy depletion and heartbeats almost made him lose his breathing rhythm. Luckily, the person found the rock as a leverage point. The mission would be much easier now. Bi Fang tugged the rope, and the noose that initially encircled the person¡¯s left arm quickly tightened, visibly constricting the jacket, but this slight movement once again caused the gravel to slide. However, the person did not slide any further, thanks to the half-protruding rock beneath his feet. As Bi Fang tightened the rope, he reminded the person again, ¡°OK, OK, relax. Take a deep breath, don¡¯t be scared, I¡¯ve got you now! It¡¯s secure. In a moment, I¡¯ll pull you toward me. If possible, try to kick in my direction. Can you do that? It¡¯s okay if you can¡¯t, but it would be better if you can.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m starting to pull!¡± Bi Fang quickly caught his breath three times, then took one last deep breath, pressing down the air, and with a strong pull with both hands, a surge of tremendous force came from the left arm of the climber. With no resistance, following that force, the climber forcefully kicked with his left foot. Unexpectedly, the kick did not give the climber sufficient reactive force, but instead, he stepped into the abyss! The whole rock came loose from the icy wall and fell into the cliff. The climber who missed his step plummeted quickly, but the next second, a massive pulling force halted his fall abruptly. ¡°Damn, so heavy!¡± Bi Fang clenched his teeth tightly, holding onto the rope for dear life. The rope on the other end was being tugged fiercely, tightening again and firmly encircling the climber¡¯s arm. The climber dangling in mid-air was still in shock, quickly pressing against the wall upon realizing he had been caught, providing the last bit of support he could. Fortunately, they were already close enough to each other. Bi Fang only needed to pull him up two meters, and the person would be able to reach the platform where Bi Fang stood. The other person grabbed the platform, and with the combined effort of both, they finally succeeded in escaping the dangerous situation. [Fuck, finally pulled them up; it was so nerve-racking I nearly pissed myself] [The late emperor didn¡¯t get halfway through the live broadcast before pissing himself] [] The climber lay on the ground, while Bi Fang also sat down on a rock, took out his thermos, and took a big gulp of water, relieving his body¡¯s discomfort. Gazing at the drone in front of him, he felt somewhat dizzy. ¡°My god, I haven¡¯t adapted well to the high altitude yet. Suddenly engaging in such intense exercise made me feel a bit light-headed and dizzy, buddy, you¡¯re way too heavy.¡± The other person seemed not yet to have recovered from the fright, with copious sweat breaking out from his forehead and down his nose, which then quickly froze in the cold wind. Without a response from the other climber, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t annoyed; he understood the situation well and silently took another sip of water, ¡°Many times, when people face danger, they might not be too scared due to the effects of adrenaline, but afterwards they often break out in cold sweats and may even fall severely ill because of it.¡± Not until the sky had completely darkened, plunging Mount Everest into darkness, did the man struggle to his feet. At the same time, Rob and the others finally arrived. ¡°How is it, all good?¡± ¡°All good.¡± Bi Fang shook his head. Although the others had arrived a little late, they had indeed tried their best. Had they been staying here for a day already, going through the initial adaptation, perhaps Rob could have climbed straight up from the rock face as well, but regrettably, he had not. If he had rashly attempted to climb, it was very likely he would have failed to rescue and ended up trapped instead. On Mount Everest, death is a common sight, and very few people would risk their lives to save others. In other words, everyone who comes here is mentally prepared for such an outcome. Rob looked up at the icy wall nearby, the rocks perched on the ice slope were frightening; a strong wind might send them sliding down. He then looked down at the climber still panting, and with his experience, he quickly grasped what had happened. Climbing slopes is feared for its steepness, descending slopes for its slipperiness, and this time the other person encountered the fear of slipping downhill. This kind of situation is very common on Mount Everest. Above the ice wall is usually a large icy slope with beautiful scenery that attracts many visitors to take pictures. While walking and snapping photos, it¡¯s easy to slip. Rob himself had led teams where climbers had slipped twice. Some slipped due to inattention while taking photos, while others fell due to wearing cheap crampons with front spikes only, causing instability when their heels touched the ground first. The other person must have been no exception. Indeed, once the other person had regained his composure and thanked everyone before introducing himself, everything became clear. The man¡¯s name was Ze Long, and he had lived in Tibet for many years, already blending into the local life. Moreover, this guy had arrived in Lhasa back when the train service just started in 2006, living out what people refer to as a poetic and distant life. His days in Lhasa were extraordinarily leisurely, waking up near noon, basking in the sun, sipping sweet tea, running a guesthouse with only seven rooms, making the days pass by, with half the year working and the other half spent playing. During this time, Ze Long tried various outdoor activities like self-driving tours and cycling, but these activities were relatively easy for him, and over time, he found himself in the same rut as office workers: life seemed to have an end in sight. By chance, Ze Long participated in a mountain climbing activity through a friend¡¯s introduction, summiting the 6,206-meter-tall Qizi Peak. Standing at the summit, Ze Long finally understood what was missing from his life. A state of passionate fervor, that moment of feeling one¡¯s heart beat, the surge of life, and the realization that one is still alive while standing on the mountain top. These things can only be obtained through mountain climbing, to challenge, to break through, and to enjoy the exhilarating status above the snow line. So this leisurely innkeeper trained desperately to enhance his stamina and physical condition, to learn and accumulate knowledge on the mountains, and methods to handle problems. Ze Long sold his inn, spent all his savings, which was over two hundred thousand, and embarked on the journey to summit Mount Everest. And then he just blew it. Everyone: ¡°¡­¡± [Wori, selling a house to climb Mount Everest¡­ I actually find it kind of inspirational?] [Got it, gonna go sell my house!] [Eh, dreams are for those who don¡¯t have to worry about making a living, but I still have a child in elementary school to raise¡­ Watching Master Fang¡¯s live broadcast is the biggest happiness I have every day.] [Me too, I even ran into Master Fang at the station last time!] [Seriously? For real, you can run into Master Fang?] [What¡¯s so strange about that? I¡¯ve driven Master Fang before and even got an autograph!] [Earning three thousand a month, just stop thinking about what¡¯s at the end of the universe.] [But this dude is really fierce, saying sell the house and selling it, nearly falling off a cliff and still asking if Old Fang is a professional, amazing, were you born with such big nerves?] Ze Long¡¯s experience resonated with many, and Bi Fang suddenly asked, ¡°What about your guide and teammates? Where are they? Didn¡¯t they come to rescue you?¡± Ze Long scratched his head awkwardly, ¡°I was following the guide, but it got too late, and we were just preparing to retreat back to base camp. Then just as we reached the col, and with the sunset, I wanted to take a couple of pictures. Thinking the camp was only a few hundred meters away, I let them go ahead. When I was taking pictures, my climbing pole accidentally fell down the slope. It was only a little over a meter away from me, and then¡­ well, things turned out the way you all saw¡­¡± As expected, Rob wasn¡¯t surprised anymore. This was why Rob never dared to let the team members act alone, even if they could see the camp and it was only a matter of tens of meters. That¡¯s why he had just asked Yao Jun and the others to stand still instead of going back to the camp to wait for them. You could never predict how daring these mountaineering novices could be, daring to pick up things on the rocky layers. Bi Fang waved his hand, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s head back, it¡¯s already dark.¡± ¡°I¡¯m really sorry for the trouble,¡± Ze Long said, scratching his head embarrassedly. Guide Rob stood up, looking at the pitch-black environment with trepidation. They had already taken a long detour to descend from above. How were they going to get back now? ¡°It¡¯s simple, just keep descending from here,¡± Bi Fang said. Bi Fang pointed at the remaining rock face. He had climbed up here, so naturally, he would have to descend the same way. Rob went to the edge of the rock face and turned on his flashlight to look down. The distance of more than ten meters made him involuntarily step back. How the hell do you get down from here? ¡°No big deal, I brought a rappelling rope with me.¡± Bi Fang picked up the length of rope from the ground. Under the light, the rope was dazzling white. He untied the tight loop and explained, ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by the small volume of this piece of rope; it¡¯s actually fifty meters long.¡± What? Fifty meters? The audience watched the white rope that could be grasped with one hand, wondering if it truly spanned fifty meters. [It should be, the rope looks so thin.] [Isn¡¯t the rope too thin? It can sustain a person¡¯s weight and it¡¯s that slim, is it made of nylon?] ¡°It¡¯s not nylon, it¡¯s made of Dyneema fibers, also known as Dyneema, or UHMWPE, which stands for ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene and is the strongest material that humans can currently synthesize. With a fiber thickness of one-thousandth of an inch, it has a significant strength-to-weight ratio, making it the toughest fiber in the world. Dyneema fibers have a pulling strength 15 times that of steel of the same weight. They are also cut-resistant, shear-resistant, and even processing them requires lasers; you can essentially consider it a steel cable. It¡¯s the preferred choice for outdoor sports.¡± Bi Fang re-tied a knot and then looked around the platform, successfully finding a stone pillar, which was good as it spared him having to drill. ¡°Dyneema fibers have an extremely long molecular chain that effectively allows the load to be transferred to the polymer backbone. This physical property gives Dyneema fibers a higher pull strength than other fibers of the same weight, and a lighter weight for the same pull strength. Given the same weight, Dyneema fibers have a pull force 15 times that of steel. Besides, they¡¯re cut-resistant, shear-resistant, and usually require lasers for processing; it can totally be considered a section of steel cable. It is the go-to for outdoor activities.¡± After securing the knot around the stone pillar, Bi Fang stepped on it to make sure it was sturdy. ¡°Does everyone know how to rappel?¡± Everyone, including Ze Long and Rob, nodded their heads. They were all mountaineers, and not knowing how to rappel would be embarrassing to admit. Once he confirmed that the stone pillar was secure, Bi Fang wrapped the rope around his waist, handed one end to Rob and the others, and then went to the edge of the rock face: ¡°Even if you are sure that the stone pillar is very stable, do not rappel rashly. It¡¯s better to set up double or even triple safeguards. Then get to the edge, lean back gradually, apply your weight, and when you¡¯re fully tilted and still secure, you can begin your slide. At this moment, it¡¯s best to wear gloves; otherwise, it¡¯s easy to get friction burns.¡± After completing the tilt test and ensuring safety, Bi Fang began to slide down gradually. Descending was far easier than rock climbing. With just a few breaths, he covered the distance of more than ten meters. After him came Ze Long, Rob, and the Sherpa porters. Only once everyone had descended did the rescue mission come to a complete end. ¡°Damn, that was way too risky, brother, you¡¯re hardcore.¡± Yao Jun watched as Bi Fang gathered the rope, still shaken. In the live broadcast, the scene of sliding to the edge of a cliff, unable to make the slightest move, while slowly descending was absolutely despair-inducing. Ze Long felt awkward about the praise and bowed again to apologize, ¡°I¡¯ve caused you all so much trouble.¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. We¡¯re all compatriots; it¡¯s normal to lend a hand in times of distress. But next time, you¡¯d better not leave the group on your own again. If I hadn¡¯t heard you, you would have been completely done for, you know that?¡± ¡°I would never leave the group again, I¡¯d rather die than not stick to the guide!¡± Bi Fang smiled, then led Ze Long back to the camp. After expressing his gratitude once more, Ze Long left the group to find his own tent. Back in his tent, Bi Fang immediately went to the stove to warm his hands, while Wang Yongbo and the others started preparing dinner, oblivious to what had happened. Bi Fang picked up a bowl of unidentifiable food and crammed it into his mouth, the sticky texture almost making him spit it out. ¡°What the heck is this?¡± ¡°Egg noodles.¡± Wang Yongbo handed him a pair of chopsticks without any expression. At their altitude, boiling water barely reached just over eighty degrees Celsius, so it was impossible to cook anything properly. Chapter 387 - Chapter 387: Chapter 385: Heaven Chapter 387: Chapter 385: Heaven ¡°Can this really be eaten?¡± Yao Jun held the plastic basin, looking at the gluey food inside, and felt his stomach churn, entirely without appetite. Bi Fang scooped up a spoonful to taste. The flavor was bland, and because of the boiling point issue, even after cooking for a long time, the noodles were still somewhat hard. Combined with the mushy vegetables, it was like eating undercooked instant noodles mixed with marshmallows¡ªa truly difficult swallow. [Why does it look like pig slop? (dog¡¯s head)] [Ah, can¡¯t we eat something better?] [Eat grilled Tibetan Snowcock!] [Say chicken not bar, let¡¯s all be civilized] Rob also sat down with his bowl of food after a day of hard work, without such particular tastes. He slurped down a good half of it in no time, and afterward said, ¡°Every two days, the Sherpa people bring up fresh bread and vegetables. It¡¯s all provided by our company, guaranteed healthy and nutritious, and what¡¯s more, it¡¯s free. There are also people selling food, but believe me, it¡¯s not much better, and it¡¯s more expensive.¡± The supplies here were all transported over long distances, so whether it¡¯s a pancake or an egg, prices are incredibly steep, even ten times higher isn¡¯t surprising. And even so, they¡¯re still scarce. Feeling a sense of bliss over a bowl of plain porridge is not uncommon. Yao Jun sighed, knowing he couldn¡¯t ask for much and lifted his bowl to drink it all in one go. After finishing, he smacked his lips and looked at the Sherpa people next to him, ¡°Did you put salt in this? It tastes so bland to me?¡± The Sherpa was puzzled, dipped his pinkie in the dish to taste, and then nodded confidently. ¡°That¡¯s odd, I can¡¯t taste any saltiness at all,¡± Yao Jun said, scratching his head. ¡°That¡¯s because high altitudes dull your taste buds,¡± said Bi Fang as he drank a bowl of the gluey food, which also tasted bland, as if it had no oil, which was quite disappointing. However, to replenish energy, he had to eat it all, ¡°At low pressure, the blood supply changes, and the sensitivity of the brain¡¯s nerves alters too. Once the brain¡¯s nerves that perceive taste change, the sensation of flavor will be different from what it is in normal conditions. It¡¯s about thirty percent blander. Sherpa people live here all the time, and are accustomed to it. Since we¡¯ve just arrived, naturally, we¡¯re not used to it.¡± ¡°In addition to that, there¡¯s also the reason of smell, but in our perception of flavor, smell accounts for up to 80%. Smell cells only work well in a moist environment. Now we¡¯re around the stove, it¡¯s warm, but dryness is inevitable. Combine the two, and naturally, the flavor gets even blander,¡± he continued. It is generally accepted in the scientific community that there are only sour, sweet, bitter, salty, savory, and the sixth taste, ¡®fatty¡¯, which Purdue University of Ugly Country scientists confirmed 15 years ago. These taste molecules are captured by the tongue, which then relays the information to the brain, ¡°telling¡± the tongue what flavor the ingested item has. Smell also plays a crucial role in capturing flavors, but now both the brain and nose have dulled quite a bit, so naturally, you can¡¯t really expect a strong taste. It¡¯s also why airline meals generally taste poor. ¡°So things get worse the higher we go?¡± Yao Jun was shocked. Bi Fang shrugged, ¡°Did you really think you came here on vacation? Having food at all is already good. Higher up, you can¡¯t even get supplies.¡± Yao Jun felt a bit suffocated ¡ª his mouth was so bland, it could bore a bird. Disappointed, he waved his hand, ¡°Ah, I¡¯m feeling a bit hypoxic again, I¡¯ll rest. According to Rob, we have training tomorrow.¡± Everyone exchanged smiles, sped up their meal, and then spread out their sleeping bags next to the stove and crawled in. Bi Fang was the last one, bidding goodnight to the audience. Just as he was about to sleep, he saw many viewers calling for him, prompting him to lift himself up once again after lying down halfway. [Old Fang, does this stove never go out?] [Yeah, is there no crack in your tent? Won¡¯t you get poisoned?] [How could Old Fang also stumble?] ¡°Oh, this one.¡± Bi Fang pulled out a fire poker nonchalantly, opened the stove to poke around, and to everyone¡¯s surprise, instead of extinguishing the fire, he added a hefty amount of fuel. Afterward, he smiled and said, ¡°How could I possibly forget about something like this? But what we¡¯re burning here isn¡¯t coal¡ªit¡¯s biomass pellets. These are made from compressed wood, straw, and other biomass materials. When they burn, they produce no tar and have low particulate emissions. Any excess is vented outside through a flue pipe. It¡¯s smokeless and odorless, clean and sanitary, even more environmentally friendly than coal. It burns completely, without producing carbon monoxide, so there¡¯s no need to worry.¡± [emmm, clinging to my little earthen stove, I¡¯ve gained more knowledge again] [There¡¯s such a variety, I¡¯m so envious of the wealthy bosses. Watching Master Fang spend hundreds of thousands like it¡¯s nothing, I¡¯m so jealous my teeth could shatter] [What¡¯s there to be envious about? You know he¡¯s spending your money, right? If he climbs, it¡¯s just like you climb, isn¡¯t it? You¡¯ll be a man who has summited Mount Everest without oxygen too] [I¡¯m a cheapskate at heart!] [Speaking of Sir, he can really persevere. Being able to get to base camp at ninety¡­ Last time I went to xz, I almost died. Indeed, uselessness knows no age; I¡¯m the only exception] Bi Fang was amused by the lively audience and chatted idly for a while before finally ending the live stream. Before going to sleep, he also checked the number of viewers in the live stream and discovered that at today¡¯s peak, it had actually reached 2.45 million, a cause for celebration. His own Everest challenge hadn¡¯t even officially started yet¡ªjust chatting and enjoying the view had attracted as many viewers as his normal peak streaming times. It seemed that Sir¡¯s arrival did indeed have a significant impact. The host from the world of animals had come to Master Fang¡¯s live stream, leading to word spreading from one to ten, ten to a hundred, and even attracting many people who normally didn¡¯t watch live streams, just to see with their own eyes what kind of live stream could draw in Sir¡¯s participation. Bi Fang closed his eyes contently; this live stream had ended, and his Wilderness Points would see a significant increase, at least 300, enough for some high-level equipment. Plan successful. The next day. ¡°I can¡¯t do this anymore, you guys go ahead. If I climb any more, I¡¯ll be done for.¡± Wang Yongbo took a deep breath of oxygen, his eyes ringed with dark circles, and said. Wang Yongbo had hardly slept last night, frequently needing to take a breath of oxygen, and even when he did sleep, it felt as if something was pressing on his chest in his dreams, utterly unbearable. If he continued climbing, he might really die on Mount Everest. Managing the long journey to a camp almost six thousand meters above sea level had already been extremely difficult for him. Looking higher up, although only three thousand meters remained in elevation, how much more was left in terms of distance? Climb a Beichuan Jiuhuang Mountain on foot? That was just over two thousand meters, but imagine how difficult the remaining distance must be¡ªit wasn¡¯t something he could achieve. If he actually went up, others would have to divert their attention to take care of him, which wasn¡¯t good. As for the remaining distance, Bi Fang planned to advance little by little, ultimately waiting at an altitude of 7,900 meters for the weather forecast. Once the conditions were right, they would summit before two in the afternoon and then return. Bi Fang scratched his eyebrows, considering Wang Yongbo¡¯s total abandonment to be within expectations, ¡°So, do you want to head back first? Rob will climb up with us. At this time, no other guide teams will be descending, so if you want to go down, you can only go with the Sherpas who came to deliver vegetables.¡± Wang Yongbo waved his hand, ¡°No problem, I¡¯ll just wait here for you guys. Over 5.000 meters, I feel okay, just let the porters bring me some extra oxygen tanks.¡± With that, Wang Yongbo opened the oxygen generator nearby and skillfully inserted the oxygen tube into his nostrils as if he were a severe UCI patient, which made Bi Fang chuckle. Shaking their heads, the group left him alone and continued their training with Rob. Today, they were going to reach a mountain pass first, then go through a series of exercises before returning to the camp for rest in the evening. The next day, they would continue advancing, aiming to reach the second base camp. Time was tight, but there was nothing to be helped about it. Bi Fang and the others had arrived late, and the main training site had to be shifted to Camp Three. No sooner had they left the camp that Yao Jun faced a problem¡ªhe grabbed Bi Fang with a constipated expression. Bi Fang was puzzled, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Yao Jun¡¯s face turned beet red; he looked around and, after a long while, finally asked, ¡°Is there a toilet here?¡± Bi Fang pointed speechlessly to a nearby pile of rocks. Yao Jun was extremely embarrassed¡ªhe looked at the seemingly endless field of rocks and almost died of social embarrassment on the spot. Dude, you¡¯re still live broadcast; are you really going to let me poop here? But when the team had to stop due to Yao Jun¡¯s toilet problem, he reluctantly took the toilet paper and found a large rock among the rocks. It was truly a unique outdoor defecating experience. Yao Jun had defecated outdoors before but unlike his past experiences in China, which usually involved finding a bush or some cover, the terrain here lacked any. He could only find a large rock to hide behind. Even though it could protect him from the teammates¡¯ view, the space behind him was vast, with a clear view spanning 2 to 5 kilometers. This meant that anyone in the 2 to 5 kilometers behind could see him¡ªcould there be anything more thrilling? For the first time, he experienced the joy of unburdening his youth under such a vast sky¡ªwhat more could he ask for? When the team was once again fully assembled and heading towards the mountain pass, they encountered Tibetan Snowcocks again. Unfortunately, they didn¡¯t stay, simply took a couple of photos, and moved on. After a comfortable gentle slope, the team entered an area of rock debris. These scattered rocks were the remnants of glacial movement. ¡°Get ready to start ascending; check your ice claws, don¡¯t be careless, this area is above the snowline, and it¡¯s very dangerous.¡± After walking two hundred meters, Rob said, gasping for breath. The group stopped to check their gear, and Bi Fang also tapped the ice claws on his feet, showing them to his audience. Many viewers with no mountaineering experience noticed for the first time that Bi Fang¡¯s climbing boots now sported a pair of claw-like attachments. ¡°I¡¯m using professional full-step-in crampons which require the boots to have special slots. The advantage of full-step-in crampons is that they¡¯re very stable after being fixed in place and not easy to loosen, and they¡¯re relatively easy to put on and take off. However, the downside is that if the boots are made with crampon slots, the soles need to be specially reinforced, making them very stiff and heavy. It also makes the boots expensive to manufacture, so they won¡¯t be cheap overall. I didn¡¯t attach them yesterday, but today we¡¯re above the snowline, so they¡¯re a must.¡± Rob pointed at the walking tracks not far ahead and said, ¡°Because there are many dangerous ice fissures nearby, we can only follow in the footsteps of those who came before.¡± The group advanced along the tracks, and before long they arrived at a super huge boulder. Then, they began to climb at an angle of nearly 60 degrees. The sky, without warning, started to pelt hailstones, and all they could hear was the overstrained sound of their own panting. The environment was truly harsh, with thin and dry air, temperatures around minus five or six degrees, and intense ultraviolet radiation, compounded by their fatigued and chilled bodies. They really could only continue on by sheer willpower. As the snow on the ground grew thicker and more abundant, just when everyone felt they could no longer persist, a vast expanse of white snow appeared before their eyes. Rob looked up and made the sign of the cross over his chest, excitedly exclaiming, ¡°We¡¯re here, the pass!¡± Upon reaching the pass, their view suddenly widened spectacularly, allowing them to see the entire chain of undulating mountains through this natural window. Bi Fang finally saw the distant snow-capped mountains and the endless stretch of sandy land beneath them. He pulled out the altimeter. 5814M No county-level city was higher than this pass. Even the highest, XZ Shuanghu County, was only 5000 meters. Now, they were much higher than most humans, and at this altitude, there were no permanent residents on Earth. The oxygen content in the air was roughly only 50% of that at the capital, but the advantage was. There was not a hint of smog. The air was cold, yet incredibly fresh; it felt like what they were inhaling into their lungs wasn¡¯t air but clear water. Standing there, Bi Fang could clearly see a huge depression on the earth¡¯s surface, the bed of a large lake¡ªDuoqingcuo, with the snow-covered Zhumu Lagiri, towering over 7000 meters, behind it. On the dried-up lakebed, fierce winds blew, carrying rain and gravel across the ground. The group looked towards the snow mountain and saw clouds billowing behind it like a tide surging towards the low-lying pass between the peaks¡ªa moisture from the distant Indian Ocean, attempting to surmount the world¡¯s highest mountain range. Although they managed to cross the high peaks, they gradually dissipated not far from the pass. The group reached out their hands as if they could feel the moist air. Sir Edinburgh squinted against the ultraviolet rays, yet still managed with childlike innocence and joy to discern and say, ¡°Beyond the snow mountain is Bhutan, and past the mountain is the mysterious Yadong Valley. I have been there before; it¡¯s breathtaking. One side of the mountain hosts a dry sandy land where only the most drought-resistant plants can survive in such extreme conditions; and on the other side of the pass, are the moist foothills perpetually shrouded in clouds and mist. Most regions of XZ lie on the northern side of the Himalayas, with climates primarily characterized by cold deserts or dry warm valley weather, resulting in unique but not diverse species. However, the Himalayas have been deeply cut by rivers into several valleys, where moisture spreads and rises along the valley, creating climates very different from the surroundings, allowing many subtropical and even tropical plants to grow at higher altitudes along the warm and humid trails of the water vapor. The huge elevation difference from the peaks to the valleys, with its resulting changes in temperature and humidity, has led to extremely varied plant communities and a richness of species. Moreover, the high mountains between the valleys act as natural barriers, causing a dramatic differentiation of plant species in this area and the emergence of many endemic species. For these reasons, the valleys of the Himalayas have become the region with the richest biodiversity in all of XZ, and it is also the plant haven in Huaxia that attracts me the most. I was truly excited when I went there; it was simply paradise!¡± At that moment, Sir was so animated that he danced around; he had been to both sides of the mountain but had never come to the mountaintop to look down at the two sides. Such a magnificent view even caused him to inadvertently drop his walking stick, which slid straight down the icy slope into the valley between the mountains. Chapter 388 - Chapter 388: Chapter 386: Reserve a Spot Chapter 388: Chapter 386: Reserve a Spot The sea was very calm, with warm yellow sunlight that made the shore shimmer brightly. The waves slapped against the coast, leaving behind white foam. Bi Fang¡¯s palms were very slender; though calloused and rough, they appeared clean and beautiful. At this moment, those hands were gripping a wooden stick, vigorously rubbing it against another piece of wood, scattering a large amount of wood shavings produced by friction. This was the second method that Bi Fang tried after his failure with Fire-Making by Wood-Drilling, the planing method. This method was the simplest and relied entirely on the user¡¯s arm strength, using a sharpened stick to rub back and forth in a groove on a piece of wood. At the bottom of the groove, some very fine wood shavings would appear. These shavings would accumulate, and eventually, when the temperature reached a certain level, they would ignite. The continuous motion caused Bi Fang¡¯s nose to gather a slight sweat. He dared not wipe it away, fearing that the slightest mistake would dissipate the heat he had just accumulated. He had been rubbing for more than ten minutes, and his body was hot. He had even taken off one of his jackets. On the island, there were too few plant choices, and no materials with the right softness or hardness. The local trees were generally too hard and not very suitable for making fire. Bi Fang could only make do with what was available, choosing the most passable materials. At that moment, he had come to the center of the island, his legs clamping tightly onto the wooden board to prevent it from moving during the friction and cause the wood shavings in the groove to scatter, which would mean all previous efforts were in vain. Several more minutes passed. The audience was on edge, yet Bi Fang remained calm, rubbing at a steady pace. The planer method for making fire was quite arduous, but its advantage was stability. The trick was not only the technique of rubbing but also maintaining a good mentality. Bi Fang had spent the better part of the past six months living in the wild, and he had come to understand the principle behind it. Finally, the heat permeated through the wooden board to Bi Fang¡¯s leg skin, inspiring him with energy. He quickened the pace of rubbing, striking while the iron was hot. Here it comes! Accompanied by faint white smoke, the audience¡¯s spirits lifted¡ªthey almost wished they could replace Bi Fang and blow on the smoke to make it rise faster. Watching the host make fire was like watching gamers acquire new gear. Although the process was repetitious, when gear finally dropped, the satisfaction was immense! With the appearance of smoke, what followed was much easier. The wood groove darkened, and the audience could visibly see the finest fibers beginning to glow red and vanish. Just one final push was needed for the real flame to emerge. First, the finest fibers gradually disappeared, followed by slightly coarser ones, and finally, the large clumps of wood shavings began to glow red and drift away. It¡¯s done! Seeing this, Bi Fang was no longer panicked. He hastily put down the wooden board, shaped a piece of bark-tanned tinder into a nest, and placed it on top, blowing deeply and slowly to allow ample air to touch the embers. The thin smoke turned to light smoke, which thickened and changed from white to yellow. Sparks scattered as a small flame emerged from the thick smoke, dancing with abandon and captivating the viewers. ¡°Finally, we¡¯ve got fire!¡± Bi Fang raised his hand and wiped off the beads of sweat, flinging them aside. After striving for more than half an hour, he had finally produced a flame. It wasn¡¯t easy. [Planer method for fire-making, got ¡Ì] [giaogiaogiao, we have fire! The fire¡¯s ignited!] [Spread the word, it¡¯s beyond calling, an example for us all!] [Isn¡¯t it time for some charcoal-grilled seafood?] [Charcoal-grilled seafood, damn, I¡¯m suddenly hungry. What do I do?] Looking at the gentle flames, Bi Fang¡¯s sense of achievement surged¡ªit was the fruit of half an hour¡¯s effort. ¡°Ancient humans used these primitive methods to make fire, relying on this skill for survival. There¡¯s a special feeling when you learn this ancient skill, especially when you¡¯ve worked hard for a long time to produce that first spark. Even after lighting fires countless times, you still feel a special sense of accomplishment.¡± [Now let¡¯s go up the mountain to do Fire-Making by Wood-Drilling] [Set fire to the forest, and you¡¯ll rot in jail!] [Then why can the host do it?] ¡°Don¡¯t copy me; I have permission from forestry authorities. You can¡¯t generalize one person¡¯s actions to everyone,¡± Bi Fang said with a laugh, genuinely afraid that some brainless netizens might imitate him. With the fire ready, the rest was easy. Bi Fang quickly processed the mackerel, skewered it on a tree stick, and placed it over the fire to smoke and roast. In wilderness survival, fat is justice, and any high-fat food could win Bi Fang¡¯s favor. Mackerel was among the best of such foods. Unlike sesame mackerel, the Atlantic mackerel was rich in fat. Even without added oil and with just simple grilling, it could glisten with oil, especially in the winter when it accumulated fat¡ªmaking it all the more delicious and unmissable. As he watched the fish gradually change color and ooze oil under the intense heat of the grill, the aroma aggressively vied for his attention, causing Bi Fang to swallow involuntarily. As the saying goes, barbecue may not be healthy, but it sure is delicious! Having eaten raw food for several days in a row, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t wait to tear off a piece of the mackerel¡¯s crisping skin as soon as it started to show signs of charring, regardless of the scalding heat, and popped it into his mouth. The intense heat combined with that specific salty fragrance left by dried seawater exploded on Bi Fang¡¯s taste buds like a culinary bomb! ¡°Ah!¡± Bi Fang opened his mouth, white heat billowing out as he hastily chewed a few times before eagerly swallowing, feeling the scorching sensation slide down his throat. ¡°Delicious!¡± [Mommy, looks so good, it¡¯s like grilled saury!] [I can even hear the crispiness of the fish skin; it¡¯s like a cookie.] [Grilled fish skin, yyds!] [Old Fang knows how to live.] After having a taste, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t stop himself. He methodically finished off the rest of the fish skin. After the considerable energy expenditure from the previous night till now, he was in urgent need of food. So, as soon as the surface layer was cooked through, Bi Fang ate all the meat off the top, and he even fashioned a pair of thin tree sticks as chopsticks to make the experience more enjoyable. After a tiring week, a celebratory meal of charcoal-grilled seafood was well-deserved. When the fish was thoroughly cooked, nearly the entire fish had been eaten. Bi Fang didn¡¯t waste even the last of the bones, toasting them until crispy and crunching them down as if they were crackers. Having eaten the whole fish, he was barely satisfied. Energy +10 Patting his belly, Bi Fang lay down on the shore to digest his meal, basking in the warm sun which made his slightly tanned face even more comfortable. [Stranded on a deserted island¡Á, holiday resort¡Ì] [Full belly, basking in the sun, I¡¯m envious of this life.] [Merely thinking about it makes me feel the stench in the middle of the night!] [Um, middle of the night? Bro, where are you from? The time difference is huge? It¡¯s only the afternoon here?] [Hawaii] [WTF? What the hell is Ha-wei-yi? Are you freaking vacationing? Could you say that with a clear conscience?] [Leaves behind tears of poverty] Lying on the beach for a good while, enjoying the sun and the sand, and listening to the rolling waves, Bi Fang felt utterly relaxed. Yet, he hadn¡¯t forgotten his mission ¨C surviving on the island for twenty-one days, knowing full well that one couldn¡¯t win by just lying around. The island was too small, and besides plants, it hardly had any other life forms to provide sustenance. Of the two big fish, one had been eaten, the hairfin anchovies couldn¡¯t be eaten as they needed to be saved for bait, which meant Bi Fang¡¯s food reserves were down to just one squid and one fish, making him anxious once again. Without food in hand, the mind races with worry. With this thought, Bi Fang sat up abruptly, scratched his head, and continued to wander around the island. It was important to pick up things on the beach because sometimes you could find many unexpected items. And as an adventurer with aspirations, it was impossible to stay on a small island indefinitely. If it had been a big island, Bi Fang certainly would have settled down and spent the remaining days there, but the size of this island was doubtful to even be two hundred square meters. Bi Fang could at most use it as a temporary base; he preferred to find an actual continent. That would be true ¡°Riding the Wind and Waves.¡± The assessment of the mission would definitely be higher, there was no doubt about that. From his previous experiences, Bi Fang had gotten a clear sense of what the System wanted, which was for him to take initiative. If he did only the bare minimum for each task, that would undoubtedly be problematic and severely impact the speed of his self-improvement. And he was a man who aspired to climb Mount Everest! In preparation for the next ten or so days, Bi Fang definitely needed to make adequate preparations, using up all usable resources on the island. The first step was to free up the squid container. The head of the squid could hold ink, but that wasn¡¯t a long-term solution and was prone to spill. Bi Fang needed a plastic bottle, and places like islands were very likely to have ocean refuse stranded on them. Especially plastic, which can last for decades or even centuries. In his past life, many people who watched Bear Grylls and Grandpa De videos often thought the plastics they picked up were planted, but in fact, they weren¡¯t. Plastic trash had long been scattered across the oceans. Bi Fang shook his head slightly and, after carefully finishing his tour around the entire island with his thoughts, he indeed found two plastic bottles, the common soda type. To be cautious, he still took them into the sea for a thorough wash before pouring the ink into the cleaned bottles. Some ink remained stuck to the head of the squid, to which Bi Fang added a bit of seawater before pouring it in as well. Edible squid inventory +1 With a bit more food in reserve, Bi Fang felt slightly reassured, but an even more important task awaited him¡ªbuilding a raft! Building a raft? The audience was taken aback upon hearing this idea. [Why build a raft? Is Old Fang going to continue drifting?] ¡°Exactly,¡± Bi Fang nodded, ¡°I hope to find a piece of real land, not just clung to this tiny island that¡¯s not even as large as a villa¡¯s yard.¡± [Not surprised at all, I¡¯ve gotten used to it. Even if Old Fang now tells me he¡¯s going to wrestle with whales, I¡¯d just think, is that all?] [Already familiar with the routine, hahaha.] [Charge on, dammit!] [Giaogiaogiao, Master Fang is freaking awesome!] ¡°Life rafts are just too unstable. The slightest puncture could lead to the danger of sinking, which really doesn¡¯t give me a sense of safety.¡± Bi Fang pointed to the life raft not far away, and many viewers nodded repeatedly. Indeed, not to mention encountering sharks, even a slightly larger fish could potentially bite and deflate a life raft, and then it would be completely over without any recourse. But rafts were different. A good raft could effectively float on the sea, and even if it encountered a larger shark than usual, it wouldn¡¯t matter. Reality is not a movie; the great white sharks from the movies don¡¯t exist in reality. Most of them just take a bite to try and if it¡¯s not appetizing, they leave. What life rafts fear is exactly that one bite. ¡°Building a sea raft depends on the materials you can find at hand, as well as the conditions of the waters you plan to drift in, and how long you plan to be adrift. There are no fixed rules here. With common sense, good tying skills, and some buoyant materials, you can construct a pretty decent raft.¡± ¡°For this, we need to gather enough logs or bamboo of roughly equal length, arrange them into the shape of a raft on the ground. Carve a groove at a distance of 1 meter from each end of a log or bamboo, stacking them on top of each other, to create ¡®pressure¡¯ between them. If you¡¯re using bamboo, you can drill a hole through each piece to substitute for the groove. Thread the bamboo through the holes, ensuring they¡¯re tightly strapped together.¡± Bi Fang squatted on the ground and started picking up stones. The island¡¯s resources consisted of twenty-three large trees. He didn¡¯t need that many. The trunk of one tree could be chopped into four or five sections, and there were also many thinner branches that could be used. Probably about five trees would be sufficient. If all the trees were cut down, it would be uncertain whether trees could continue to grow on this island. Without the shelter of large trees, it would be difficult for saplings to grow. Cutting down five wouldn¡¯t make a difference, though. However, even though it wouldn¡¯t make a difference, Bi Fang still silently apologized in his heart. For the sake of his rafting plan, he had to chop down trees. [How are you going to chop down the trees? With a stone axe?] [That stone doesn¡¯t seem as good as flint, it¡¯s just the ordinary kind] ¡°It¡¯s pretty ordinary, but it¡¯s good enough, and I don¡¯t plan to make a stone axe,¡± Bi Fang tossed the stone in his hand. Stone axes aren¡¯t reliable and are hard to sharpen. Since trees are thick, the stone axe could easily break upon sharpening and chopping. If it isn¡¯t sharp, it¡¯s useless for chopping. Therefore, he planned to use a chisel to cut down the trees. What he needed was a stone chisel and a stone hammer, both easy to make. Tree bark is rich in fiber and can be twisted into rope, binding a rock to one end of a tree stick to make a stone hammer. ¡°But for sturdiness, we need to do a bit of processing. First, we¡¯ll split one end of the tree stick, then fit the stone into it. That way, it¡¯ll be more secure when tied,¡± Bi Fang stood the tree stick upright, with the sharp end facing up. He lined up the rock and struck the tail end of the stone chisel. The tree stick split as expected. He pried open the crack, slotted the stone in, and then tied it with rope, producing a high-quality stone hammer. After swinging it a couple of times, Bi Fang nodded in satisfaction; it was very handy. [Seeing Old Fang with a weapon in hand puts my mind at ease] [Top-notch lumberjack logs on] [Charge!] With tools ready, the major task of cutting trees began. Bi Fang first drew a line at the base of the tree, then ground out a notch to hold the chisel steady. Standing up, he lined up the blow, then raised the stone hammer and struck down hard at the end of the stone chisel! The chisel, originally not very sturdy, plunged about a centimeter into the tree and became exceptionally secure. It seemed effective. Bi Fang nodded, swinging the stone hammer more vigorously, generating a whoosh with each strike. After the chisel had sunk halfway, he grabbed it and rocked it from side to side, pulling it out. ¡°When chopping trees this way, remember not to drive the chisel in more than half, or you¡¯ll struggle to pull it out. About half is enough, then you switch to the other side, and repeat a few times until the tree can be chiseled through,¡± Bi Fang shifted his angle and inserted the chisel into the crack, swinging the stone hammer in the same manner. Soon, the base of the tree was torn open, and it started to wobble. With a kick, he broke it outright. Got too caught up in the game and didn¡¯t finish writing, just marking a spot here. Update in the early morning. Better go to sleep early. ¡­ Not many people are following the serial, and probably no one is watching right now¡­ The sound of the wooden stem snapping roared as the tall tree slowly fell to the ground, the entire island trembled with it. Looking at the tree at his feet, viewers gasped in amazement. Was the efficiency really so high? Bi Fang wiped off the sweat and moved towards the second tree. Throughout the afternoon, viewers watched Bi Fang chop down trees, with each one making the entire island shake. After four trees were chopped down, Bi Fang decided to start constructing to see if four were enough. The method was the same: he broke down the trees into logs, roughly two meters each. This process continued until nightfall, and Bi Fang had only finished breaking down three large trees, with one last to go. But it wasn¡¯t over yet; after the processing was done, what came next was even more important. He was going to build a raft! Chapter 389 - Chapter 389: Chapter 387: Reserve a Spot Chapter 389: Chapter 387: Reserve a Spot ¡°Divine Realm: Original Sin 2¡± is so addictive; I played it way too much. I¡¯ll change it at dawn and reserve a spot. The sun was about to set, and time was running out. Bi Fang had to catch a squid before nightfall; otherwise, once it got dark, the difficulty of capture would increase exponentially. It wouldn¡¯t just be about whether he could catch one, but whether he could even see clearly enough to try. A large group of squid was right in front of him, yet he had hardly any time to catch them. The feeling of seeing but not being able to eat was truly frustrating. Thousands of squid swam underwater, but not a single one belonged to him. It was a sad story indeed. Bi Fang rubbed his forehead and shook off the negative emotions. He started considering how to capture the squid, knowing that diving in to catch them was definitely out of the question. Squid reacted too quickly; the chance of catching one underwater was too slim, unless he had a net. But Bi Fang didn¡¯t even have a piece of cloth. His entire belongings summed up to the clothes on his back and a life raft. The only other option would be to dismantle the entire tent, cut holes in it, but that was something only a fool would do. Most importantly, Bi Fang didn¡¯t have the strength to go back into the water. He had just survived a storm, recovered from hypothermia, and now you ask him to dive again? Who could withstand that? Super Saiyan? Catch or not, if he didn¡¯t catch any, he would be done for. His body couldn¡¯t take any more battering. Even with a physique of 15 points, he wouldn¡¯t withstand consecutive winter swims. Since he couldn¡¯t catch directly, he could only resort to fishing. Bi Fang¡¯s gaze grew determined. Different creatures required different fishing methods, and in this aspect, Bi Fang was somewhat confident. With so many squid, the chances of getting a bite were very high. As long as the technique was right, he was sure to catch one every cast. Then, he could eat one and discard one, grill or steam them, no one could say anything about it. It was rare to see a school of squid rise to the surface. To seize the opportunity was to seize the future! Thinking this, Bi Fang picked up the fishing hook, removed the horsetail kelp from it, and submerged the hook into the water, embarking on his grand squid fishing plan. ¡°Many people living by the sea often see squid, so they think it lives in coastal waters, but that¡¯s a misconception. Rather than coastal areas, squid prefer to live in the deep waters of the open ocean.¡± ¡°Every spring and summer, squid swim from the deep sea towards the shallow inlets to spawn. Egg laying takes place from April to June, sticking to seaweed and other objects, clustered like grapes. Squid are gregarious creatures often migrating at the same depth level, creating the scene you¡¯re witnessing.¡± ¡°At that time, coastal fishermen often tie branches and the like together and toss them into the sea to lure the squid to lay their eggs. Once the groups of squid come to spawn, the fishermen stretch out their nets to catch them, reaping a bountiful harvest.¡± [Ah, squid really love diving!] [So, is catching squid in the winter while scavenging in the sea all a lie?] [By the way, why did Old Fang remove the horsetail kelp from the hook for fishing? He¡¯s not going for vegetable bait anymore?] The friends had many questions, and Bi Fang answered them one by one. This was one of the charms of his livestream, with strong interactive features. ¡°Squid live in the open sea but not too deep, usually inhabiting waters 30 to 60 meters deep. They rise to the surface in the early morning and evening, and sink down into the middle layers of water during the day. But there¡¯s just been a storm, oxygen levels in the water are low, and the temperature of the middle and lower water layers has dropped further. This forces the group of squid to rise to the surface, where sunlight is abundant. This presents a perfect opportunity for us.¡± ¡°Squid are carnivorous animals, feeding mainly on crustaceans, shrimp, and juvenile fish. My horsetail kelp holds no attraction for them; it is less appealing than the hook itself. The one that just bit wasn¡¯t a squid, but some other small fish. However, I didn¡¯t catch a glimpse of it, so our main goal is still to catch a squid.¡± Bi Fang worked his wrist non-stop, hoping to entice the squid to bite. His polished sleek snap swivel, reflecting brightly under the slanting rays of the setting sun, soon caught the attention of a few squid. They slowly swam towards the shiny object. As Bi Fang hovered near the water¡¯s surface, he spotted several blurry figures swimming toward the life raft. ¡°Do you see that? A few are coming over,¡± Bi Fang whispered, fearing that his voice might scare the squid away, yet excitement was unmistakable in his tone, and his wrist flicks became even more rhythmic. [Holy shit, can you actually fish without bait?] [What an eye-opener!] [The first person to pull a rabbit out of an empty hat!] [Master Fang is awesome!] The audience was shocked by the scene, to think that you could actually catch fish with nothing but a button? Was this some kind of magic? They seriously suspected that Master Fang had drugged the squid! ¡°This is because squid are phototactic. If we don¡¯t have shrimp for bait, we can wrap fish hooks with cigarette foil, the silver paper found inside cigarette packs. We can tear it and wrap it around the hook in many ways, either wrapping the three individual hook points or covering the entire hook. But it¡¯s important that the foil is crumpled into a ball shape, not strips,¡± ¡°So the hook reflects and refracts light as it moves up and down, luring squid to bite. But I don¡¯t smoke, and the snap button is enough. Of course, the best method is to fish at night with lights, which substantially increases the hit rate of the squid. It¡¯s practically a catch with every drop.¡± In wilderness survival, everything can be useful, even a cigarette pack, which could play a vital role when necessary! [Ah, suddenly there¡¯s a valid reason to smoke] [Next time my wife asks, I¡¯ll tell her it¡¯s preparation for that one day I¡¯m stranded on a deserted island, ready to use the foil for fishing!] [Genius! Wasted my schooling] [Stranded on a deserted island, really?] As the squid drew closer, the audience¡¯s barrage of comments began to thin out, everyone locked in concentration on the unfolding scene, anticipating whether Bi Fang would catch a squid and break the three-day meat curse. With hope in sight, Bi Fang¡¯s movements became even subtler, with no visible shaking except for in his wrist, as if even his heartbeat had stopped. Half a year of breath control practice had turned Bi Fang into a still boulder. If not for the breeze moving his hair, viewers might have mistaken him for a stone statue. But Bi Fang wasn¡¯t. Instead, when the squid swam under the life raft, his lips buzzed quietly. The sound was so faint that it may not have been caught if the drone wasn¡¯t equipped with powerful features. ¡°If you¡¯re using shrimp jigs or shore fishing and come across squid, the bite signal would be similar to catching fish. But with my no-bait method, the experience is quite different. At this time, the squid bite is peculiar. Unlike fish, there are no obvious bite signals. The only sensation is a sudden heavy drop and pulling feeling when lifting the hook. At this point, we should relax the line briefly. Because when the squid bites as it swims, its body is suspended, and it does not swallow the bait. Instead, it uses its many tentacles to envelop the bait tightly. The sudden heavy feeling is from the weight of the ¡®fish¡¯ and water resistance. The ¡®pulling¡¯ happens because the squid¡ªfeeling the bait rise¡ªcontracts its tentacles, but this does not mean the squid is hooked. Our purpose in slackening the line is to get the squid to grasp the bait even tighter. After the squid has bitten, if an angler is too hasty and lifts it out of the water, the consequence is that as the squid reaches the surface, because it hasn¡¯t grasped the bait tightly, it escapes, leaving behind only a cloud of ink.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s energy sank deeply within him, his mind was as still as water, every bit the embodiment of a meditating Buddha. The only difference was that this Buddha hadn¡¯t eaten meat in too long, and his stomach was growling. The sunlight was slanted, and due to the reflection, the specific situation of the approaching squid was no longer visible. Without bait, fishing relied entirely on the sense of touch, a true test of an angler¡¯s experience and technique. Fortunately, Bi Fang lacked neither. In just a few minutes, he felt a sudden pull on the line in his hand. It¡¯s here! Bi Fang¡¯s pupils dilated, signaling his extreme excitement, but even so, he didn¡¯t act rashly, aware that failure could scare away the other squid, leaving him with only this one chance! There wasn¡¯t the slightest tremble in the fishing line, but the weight was distinctly noticeable. The audience watched intently, their hearts pounding. The fishing line was three meters long, and Bi Fang, following procedure, tested and discovered a heavy feeling in his hands, understanding that a squid had taken the bait! Bi Fang moved gently, slowly reeling in the line, while softly explaining. ¡°Squid don¡¯t swim fast unless they feel threatened, and when they strike at the bait, their tentacles will tightly grasp it, pulling the fishing line as their bodies move forward. When the squid feel resistance and are reluctant to let go of the delicious morsel, their bodies will shrink back, pulling the fishing rod downward. ¡°When angling for squid, you don¡¯t need to jerk the rod, just reeling in will do. The speed must be steady, as any abnormality will cause the squid to let go and flee. Also, when bringing a squid to the surface, to prevent it from abandoning the bait and escaping, it¡¯s best to use a landing net. ¡°Because the squid uses its suction-cupped tentacles to hold onto the bait, the moment it¡¯s lifted out of the water, it will instantly release its grasp and escape the hook. So after hooking a squid, you shouldn¡¯t lift it out of the water, instead use a landing net to scoop it up before it reaches the surface. ¡°But I don¡¯t have one, so this is where you have to rely on your reaction and hand speed.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s gaze was locked onto the water¡¯s surface. Lacking a landing net meant he had to try and grab the squid the moment it left the water, a failed attempt would startle the squid into instinctively squirting ink, dispersing it around and putting the other squids on alert, making it extremely difficult to catch another one. Guessing the length of the fishing line, Bi Fang¡¯s hand grew steadier. He had marked the line, tying a knot at intervals, and as the last knot surfaced, his tension skyrocketed. Just half a meter to go! Bi Fang switched his right hand for the left, pulling the line up slowly by hand, even making out a blur of the squid¡¯s shadow! Wrapping the line around his wrist, the squid became clearer, approaching the moment when it would breach the surface. The continuously lifted squid finally sensed something was amiss, and its naturally alert self attempted an escape, but¡ª Too late! Bi Fang¡¯s heart thumped wildly, the setting sun plunged, and the seawater seemed to cease its swaying. His right hand thrust out like a venomous snake, stabbing fiercely into the water! In just a moment, the slippery and slimy sensation met his hand, leaving no time for joy, Bi Fang quickly scooped it up! Gleaming droplets danced midair, scattering exuberantly. The squid in midair contracted sharply, spewing a jet of black ink in an instant; Bi Fang barely dodged the ink, but did not anticipate the force of the squid¡¯s jet, which slipped right from his grasp! Damn! Bi Fang had said that squid propel themselves rapidly forward by shooting water from a funnel on their bellies, allowing them to leap from the deep sea and soar up to 7 to 10 meters above the water, traveling about 50 meters in the air like a cannonball! The audience¡¯s hearts sunk, but what took everyone by surprise the next second was that the squid flew right toward the inside of the tent! The squid surged out of Bi Fang¡¯s palm, just when it thought it would make an escape, it was suddenly smacked down by a large cloth, splashing ink onto the tent, leaving a black stain. The squid struggled to flee, but having already squirted once, it lacked the strength to do it again. Out of the water, it was even less lively than a fish, flopping helplessly on the raft, quickly seized by Bi Fang¡¯s hand. ¡°Ha! Finally caught you!¡± Bi Fang pressed down on the squid, his index and middle fingers reached in, directly removing the squid¡¯s cuttlebone, akin to the spine in mammals. Once removed, the squid turned into a limp mass. Without time to attend to the catch, Bi Fang swiftly set the hook back into the water. It had only been minutes before he caught one squid; shouldn¡¯t he take advantage of the remaining daylight to catch more? One squid was about the size of his forearm, and if he was careful, it could last him barely two days. With less than half an hour until sunset, if he maintained his previous speed and was lucky, he might be able to catch three or four more squids. Indeed, Bi Fang repeated the procedure, even using a small part of the squid he had caught as bait on the hook, maintaining the lure¡¯s flash while adding flesh bait. Five minutes later, Bi Fang was reeling in another squid. Got two now! [Whoa, struck it rich!] [Finally, we can have some decent food, teary with joy.] [Old Fang is too strong!] [Using a squid to catch another squid, this move is so stunning it¡¯s making my scalp tingle!] [Xiu¡¯er, can I touch your trophy? Just for a moment, please! I¡¯ll wash my hands, I promise!] [Do squids eat their own kind?] ¡°Yes!¡± Bi Fang confirmed, ¡°Squids are cannibalistic creatures. It¡¯s often seen that larger squids eat smaller ones. Moreover, I just cut off a small section of a squid¡¯s limb; it¡¯s questionable whether they can even distinguish it.¡± Bi Fang smiled broadly, feeling quite pleased with himself for hooking two squids. He couldn¡¯t wait to throw the fishing hook down for the third time, though this time it took a bit longer¡ªseven to eight minutes to catch another. Unfortunately, Bi Fang didn¡¯t manage to dodge the squid¡¯s ink, and most of his shoulder and face were sprayed. However, he had learned from the previous mishap; he firmly grasped the squid without letting go and crushed its cuttlebone directly. Truly, it broke! [Hahaha, Old Fang looks so embarrassed!] [Isn¡¯t squid ink poisonous? Is Master Fang okay?] [Whoa, poisonous?] ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s poisonous.¡± Bi Fang wiped the ink from his face, but as he did, he inadvertently smeared a big blotch, making it worse by spreading it around. His face was obscured by the black stain, but after a brief attempt to clean up, he didn¡¯t bother with his appearance anymore and once again threw down the hook, hoping for another catch while he explained to the anxious audience. ¡°But don¡¯t worry, Burglar Ink is mainly used to confound the enemy¡¯s sense of smell. Though it contains poison, the toxicity is minor, and it¡¯s a type of weak paralytic venom, generally harmless to most animals. I don¡¯t feel anything much, and I¡¯ve heard that in Japan, they actually eat this stuff.¡± Bi Fang stuck out his tongue. Just before, the ink had sprayed into his mouth, leaving his tongue feeling numb and words coming out with a lisp. Fortunately, he felt the numbing sensation fading quickly. [Master Fang! And here you are claiming you aren¡¯t poisoned!] [You¡¯re already slurring your words!] [Give the guy a break!] [Humans can take it, should at least give it a try.] Bi Fang tugged at the corner of his mouth, somewhat helplessly, but remained focused on fishing for squid. Unfortunately, for some reason, not even after ten minutes, until the sun had completely set, did he catch a fourth one. Has it noticed something? Bi Fang was not disheartened. He was quite satisfied with the three squids he had caught and didn¡¯t yearn for more. However, he didn¡¯t easily give up either. The setting sun didn¡¯t mean the school of squid would leave immediately; they were sure to linger for a while, and indeed they did. Half an hour later, Bi Fang hooked a fourth one, and after handling it, he tried to fish for a while longer, but this time it was truly over; no squid bit for quite some time. ¡°Phew, a full haul!¡± Bi Fang was not the least bit discouraged; on the contrary, he was quite excited. Without hesitation, after putting away the hook and line, he pulled over one of the squids and unceremoniously tore off a leg and stuffed it into his mouth. Chapter 390 - Chapter 390: Chapter 388: Reserving a Spot Chapter 390: Chapter 388: Reserving a Spot ¡°` One reason¡­ The long-cultivated breathing discipline suddenly collapsed as Bi Fang¡¯s breathing turned abruptly heavy, and his heart began beating violently. His chest swelled with immense joy, which within a few seconds, nearly caused passersby to take notice. Bi Fang¡¯s wild temperament, honed over a long term of living in the wilderness, stood out starkly against the ease of the city. This was due to high-pressure situations causing intense hormonal secretions, what many people refer to as ¡®manliness.¡¯ Many special forces and frontline detectives exhibit this sort of aura, which allows those with similar experiences and a heightened sensitivity to exchange just a glance and sense that the other is no ordinary person. In the city, such a person is like a drop of red ink spilled into plaster; naturally eye-catching ¡ª and at this moment, Bi Fang was exceptionally conspicuous. This guy, looks so familiar. Is he some kind of celebrity? Just as pedestrians began to notice Bi Fang, the more they looked, the more familiar he seemed, and the more astonished they became. ¡°Hahaha, sorry, I just thought of something delightful,¡± Bi Fang said, scratching the back of his head with a laugh before briskly stepping out of the line, his steps unexpectedly light. With his back turned, Bi Fang¡¯s face was nearly overflowing with a smile. How long had it been since he experienced such a surprise? It was like being offered a pillow when dozy, or being served a steaming bowl of spicy oil-splashed noodles when starved. Utterly comfortable! ¡°Oxygen Uptake Index Enhancement Coupon * 1, exchanged for 4600 Wilderness Points.¡± ¡°Golden coupons really are different, costing over four thousand.¡± Seeing the price of the oxygen coupon, the excitement Bi Fang felt upon encountering the golden coupon subsided slightly. The points he earned from one mission amounted to just over a thousand, never even reaching two thousand, and here was a golden coupon worth three missions¡¯ worth of points. Over four thousand points, it was the most expensive exchange coupon he had encountered so far, not even knowing how much it would enhance, but Bi Fang knew he had to have it. Oxygen uptake. Many people hadn¡¯t even heard of this concept, yet it¡¯s a golden data point among professional athletes. Maximum oxygen uptake, in the field of exercise physiology, is the most direct data for assessing the quality of cardiorespiratory function. It represents the volume of oxygen a person can intake during peak-intensity exercise, at the point when the body can no longer sustain the exercise effort. Acclaimed as the gold standard for evaluating endurance levels, it is one of the important criteria for selecting endurance athletes. A healthy male¡¯s maximum oxygen uptake typically falls between 35-40, and for females, between 27-31. A maximum oxygen uptake value of over 60 often signifies remarkable achievements in aerobic sports. The international top male runners have an average that¡¯s a terrifying 85! What¡¯s considered international top level? Not just any athletes from national teams¡ªthat would be an understatement for them. These individuals are treasures of humanity, representing the group that competes for world championships! They are the pinnacle of human physiological function! Moreover, robust cardiorespiratory health even suggests they will live longer than the average person! As for exceeding ninety, such individuals should no longer be called humans, but rather¡ªmonsters. ¡°` That¡¯s right, this is exactly how Bi Fang felt. Those with a maximum oxygen uptake over ninety were, in his eyes, monstrous beings. They shouldn¡¯t even be called humans. Such people could even jog on Mount Everest! Jogging in the human-forbidden zone with an altitude over 8,800 meters where oxygen is extremely scarce! Just imagining this scene made Bi Fang¡¯s face flush with excitement. A path he had never considered, a scene he had never fantasized about¡ªcould he run on Mount Everest? No, there was no need to run; even walking, step by step, would fulfill the longing of his lifetime. Compared to the number of humans, those who have climbed Mount Everest are few and far between. Among them, over ninety percent of climbers can barely crawl after reaching the summit due to the thin air; they find it difficult to even stand! If that were all, Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t be so excessively excited. The key point is that, according to medical research, maximum aerobic capacity can only be improved by 5-25% through training, while the remaining 72-95% is mainly affected by genetic factors! In other words, this is a talent! Ordinary people, no matter how much they train, could not achieve it! Moreover, the little improvement gained through exercise needs continuous training to maintain. After stopping training for 2 weeks, aerobic work capacity would significantly decline; after 4-12 weeks, cardiorespiratory function could drop by 50%; and after half a year, it would return to the level before training. Furthermore, short-term training can¡¯t improve maximum oxygen uptake either. It usually takes 10-20 weeks of training to see effects, and at least two training sessions a week are necessary for effective improvement. Therefore, the appearance of this gold coupon in the store was what made Bi Fang so excited. Why did he want to climb Mount Everest? The main reason is very simple: it¡¯s a dream, an aspiration. Using the words of New Zealand mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary¡ªthough actually it¡¯s ¡®Hillary,¡¯ but you all understand¡ªit¡¯s ¡°because it¡¯s there.¡± The second reason is the breakthrough of his own limits. The appearance of the enhancement coupon represents such a breakthrough. Bi Fang had already reached the training limit of his maximum oxygen uptake through various exercises and breathing techniques. It was normally impossible to achieve further improvement. Only the System could help Bi Fang break through the limit, reaching realms others have, and even those unattained before. Four thousand six hundred Points¡ªa price he would pay even if it meant selling everything he owned! Bi Fang scrolled down his personal panel. The points from Ruins City were not much, just sixteen hundred, and he never had the habit of saving points, which would be disrespectful to every mission. But fortunately, the System had been updated a long time ago. Apart from earning Wilderness Points from missions, they could also be generated through a certain level of influence and number of followers and could be directly exchanged with money. One point for ten thousand. Except for using it once after the update, Bi Fang had never really touched this piggy bank, nearly forgetting it. He hurriedly clicked to check it, adding up the mission points along. ¡°I¡¯m actually short by one hundred and twenty?¡± Bi Fang was stunned. Not enough points from his output meant he would have to use money, which would be one hundred and twenty thousand. Honestly, the club¡¯s investments were like an endless pit. This resulted in Bi Fang¡¯s wallet always oscillating between being wealthy and impoverished. Aside from maintaining basic expenses, he didn¡¯t have much surplus funds. Moreover, every trip abroad and the rental of various vehicles were also a huge expense. He rummaged in his pocket for the storage certificate, Bi Fang speechless with tears in his eyes. The gold bars Hask gave him hadn¡¯t even warmed up, and now he was forced to part with them. There was no choice¡ªthe enhancement coupon would take some time to adapt to, so the sooner, the better. Bi Fang reluctantly chose to exchange. The sound of gold coins falling seemed to echo in his ears, clear and crisp, causing his heart to bleed. Although Bi Fang didn¡¯t care much about money, he had the habit of saving. This was probably a mindset that stemmed from poverty in his previous life. Every time he saw a large sum of money disappear, it always pained him for a long time. ¡°Speaking of which, after Mount Everest, will the Points for completing missions increase? Otherwise, the next time I come across a gold coupon¡­¡± Bi Fang gasped sharply, immediately feeling a twinge of pain in his liver. But seeing the gold coupon appear in his backpack, Bi Fang didn¡¯t have time to dwell on the pain and found a secluded corner in the lobby to click ¡°Adapt.¡± Each time he used enhancements provided by the System, Bi Fang would secretly record the process with a camera, reviewing the footage later to check if there were any abnormalities compared to normal humans. The findings proved that, aside from occasionally feeling sleepy, there were no conspicuous external signs. So at this moment, he was somewhat impatient. In the void, the gold coupon turned into a fine powder that enveloped Bi Fang, merging into his body. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, feeling this sleepy?¡± With bleary eyes, Bi Fang peered through the plants at the corner at the bustling lobby and slowly lowered his head. In his deep sleep, Bi Fang dreamt that he was on a freezing cold prairie. The weather was so cold that he was almost frozen solid, but soon, a gust of wind arrived. At first, it was chilling, but gradually, it became warm. The wind brought humidity and warmth, the massive ice armor cracked, and snow honey water flowed through the cracks. The path, long silent, was now exposed to the sunlight, breathing in the fresh air with abandon. The tender green grass seemed like spring water surging up from deep within the earth, spilling over the rolling prairie all the way to the horizon. The sky was a tile blue with white clouds, and flocks of geese crossed overhead, changing direction with ease. He himself was a lone herdsman, galloping on horseback, free to go wherever he wished, unfettered. ¡°Mr. Bi¡­ Mr. Bi, Mr. Bi!?¡± ¡°Uh, huh!¡± Bi Fang suddenly woke up, reflexively grabbing the man¡¯s wrist and twisting it behind his back. But before the man could cry out in pain, Bi Fang, upon recognizing him, quickly released his grip and raised both hands halfway. The security officer¡¯s pain signals seemed to only now reach his brain, causing him to cry out in pain and attracting the attention of the few remaining people around. ¡°Sorry, sorry, I¡¯m really sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to.¡± Bi Fang held his hands halfway up, his face a mixture of embarrassment and shame. He glanced around and instantly understood everything. In contrast to the crowded lobby during the day, the place now seemed vast and empty, with even the slightest sound creating echoes that carried far. Not far away, the man¡¯s colleagues were hurrying over. It was clear that after using the gold coupon, he had accidentally fallen asleep and had even slept until night. Someone had kindly tried to wake him, only to be unexpectedly restrained by Bi Fang, who might have twisted the man¡¯s joint in the process. But there was no helping it; he had just returned from Yemen, and his nerves hadn¡¯t completely relaxed yet. Plus, with Wild Instinct, many of his actions were done unconsciously. ¡°I am really very sorry. Do you want to go to the hospital to have it looked at? I¡¯ll cover all the costs, including loss of work and so on, I truly apologize.¡± ¡°No, no problem, just a bit painful.¡± The security officer grimaced in pain but kept waving his hand dismissively. ¡°Hey, Old Huang, are you alright? You, step away from him!¡± The colleague of the man was already hurrying over from a distance, and the man quickly stood out to wave his hand: ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just a misunderstanding, I accidentally tripped.¡± The colleague looked skeptical: ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Really! Don¡¯t worry.¡± The man took a few more steps forward to show his colleague, spoke a few words, and then the colleague finally dropped their guard and left. The man turned his head back to look at Bi Fang, who felt even more awkward. He hadn¡¯t anticipated that after hurting the man¡¯s arm, the man would still cover for him. He felt overwhelmingly remorseful. However, the man¡¯s attitude made Bi Fang guess: ¡°You¡­ do you know me?¡± The man moved his shoulders, wincing and twitching at the corner of his mouth, but still laughed heartily, ¡°That¡¯s right, I¡¯ve seen your live broadcast, Master Fang!¡± Bi Fang felt even more embarrassed. He hadn¡¯t expected the other party to simply wave his hand and say, ¡°No worries, I understand, it¡¯s normal to be tense after just coming back from Yemen. And it¡¯s also my fault, I shouldn¡¯t have come close to you. I always thought Cao Mengde¡¯s ¡®I enjoy killing people in my dreams¡¯ was just a bluff, but it seems today I¡¯ve been enlightened.¡± The joke broke the ice, and the tense atmosphere suddenly became more lively. Bi Fang also breathed a sigh of relief. Apologizing and compensating was the easy part; he had indeed made a mistake. What worried him was the other person making a big deal out of it, which could hold him back. Time was precious, and he couldn¡¯t afford to waste it. Today he would send his parting gifts, and tomorrow the expedition was set to start. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault, so please hurry to the hospital to get checked out. I¡¯ll cover the costs.¡± ¡°Eh, there¡¯s no need; you released your grip quickly, and I¡¯ve had some training. Look, it¡¯s almost all better now. At worst, I¡¯ll apply some plaster tonight, and that should be good enough,¡± Huang Tianming said, waving his hands and rotating his shoulders to show he was all right, while giving Bi Fang a thumbs up. ¡°Master Fang, I watched your entire live broadcast the other day, and man, you¡¯re tough as nails! You really made the Huaxia people proud. Those animals don¡¯t know the first thing about humanity, doing things that harm both heaven and reason! And who says only foreigners have the guts to adventure and strive? Whether it¡¯s the giant beasts in the rivers or rainforest expeditions, we don¡¯t have that kind of program here. They just let those sissies dance and sing, but the fact is, we Huaxia people are just as good, if not better, and even more kickass!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the big deal about editing? It¡¯s all fake. Live broadcasting is where it¡¯s at, which is irrefutable! Unfortunately, I don¡¯t have much ability or money to help you out. But what¡¯s a little twist? Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Huang Tianming ended up comforting Bi Fang instead and patted him on the shoulder. ¡°This¡­¡± Bi Fang still felt quite regretful. ¡°It¡¯s alright, it¡¯s alright. If you really feel bad about it, why not tell me where you¡¯re planning to go next? When will the next broadcast start?¡± At this, Huang Tianming¡¯s eyes lit up. He was a true fan of Bi Fang, almost never missing a broadcast unless work prevented him. He genuinely felt this way despite being separated by a screen. Watching Bi Fang¡¯s survival adventures in various dangerous places abroad was fucking thrilling, way better than any movie! Especially after Jerret¡¯s survival show aired, it highlighted Master Fang¡¯s strength, fearlessness, and exceptional skills, truly making him the top survival expert of the wilderness! Pride! Genuine pride! ¡°For the next episode, I¡¯ve indeed made preparations.¡± ¡°Hey, spill it, spill it. If you don¡¯t tell me, I really won¡¯t let you off,¡± Huang Tianming pressed eagerly. Bi Fang glanced around, leaned in, and whispered, ¡°I¡¯m going to climb Mount Everest!¡± ¡°Hiss! Mount Everest? Oh, my dear mother!¡± Huang Tianming exclaimed. Bi Fang scratched his head, seeing that the passersby who had finally dispersed were gathering around again, somewhat at a loss for words. Why does everyone have such a strong reaction? He hadn¡¯t even started climbing yet! Chapter 391 - Chapter 391: Chapter 389: Reserve a Spot Chapter 391: Chapter 389: Reserve a Spot ¡°` Those who reserved a spot, you know what I mean. Edited in the wee hours. The elevator doors opened and a tide of noise rushed in, accompanied by billowing black smoke. Bi Fang coughed twice, the black smoke cleared, and he looked around the office in surprise. For those in the know, it was Yao Jun¡¯s office. To the uninformed, it looked like a rock band¡¯s recording studio¡ªplus a recent fire. Yao Jun set down the wrench, supported himself against the wall to turn on the light. There was no Vanguard Band, just an antique engine booming loudly, its chains and gears clacking together like the tight bite of skeletons, constantly emitting thick smoke, like a dark steed from Hell. Pop! A clear, cracking sound echoed. Bi Fang dodged a flying part, which clearly harbored intentions of escape, and left a shallow dent on the gray-white wall. With an annoyed kick, Bi Fang sent a wrench on the floor flying and said, ¡°Where did you dig up this antique? Planning to take it to an off-road race?¡± Yao Jun wiped the sweat from his forehead, leaving a streak of black oil. He animatedly explained, ¡°It¡¯s not mine. It¡¯s an antique my dad collected. A few days ago, for some reason, he suddenly remembered this thing, then found out when he rode it that it had broken down long ago, the engine won¡¯t even turn, and insisted I fix it. I¡¯ve been at it all day and it seems to have gotten worse. Some parts are discontinued, and they¡¯re even hard to buy.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you just get someone else to fix it?¡± Yao Jun shook his head. ¡°No way, the old man specifically named me to do the repair.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Bi Fang got curious, ¡°It¡¯s not like you broke it¡­ alright, never mind, I understand.¡± Bi Fang covered his eyes, feeling weary. Yao Jun, feeling somewhat embarrassed, laughed sheepishly and cleared a pathway in the cluttered office, then asked in puzzlement, ¡°How did you think of coming to me? The club¡¯s matters still need some time. Although most of the facilities are set up, we still need to do some testing. We¡¯re planning to release some tickets for a trial run, and the online mode isn¡¯t ready yet. Didn¡¯t you say last time you were going to introduce someone to us?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, can¡¯t even get in touch with them. Let¡¯s talk later, if I haven¡¯t made contact by May, you¡¯ll have to find someone else.¡± Bi Fang found a spot to sit down and casually explained a bit. He had intended to give a helping hand, but what could he do if he couldn¡¯t find the person? Yao Jun nodded; after all, it wasn¡¯t charity work. They couldn¡¯t really delay the project just for one person. He handed Bi Fang a cup of brewed tea and sighed, ¡°That was really close. I saw it on the screen, all those guns flashing, it made my eyes hurt and my heart almost jumped out of my chest. So, were you able to catch them? Half the face was captured, even though it was a bit blurry, it shouldn¡¯t be hard, right?¡± Unexpectedly, Bi Fang shook his head, which truly surprised Yao Jun. ¡°The person was caught on camera and still can¡¯t be apprehended?¡± ¡°It¡¯s difficult!¡± Bi Fang took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, ¡°You don¡¯t often run out there and don¡¯t know much about this area. It¡¯s not just about knowing who¡¯s at fault, you can¡¯t just make a judgment. And if it was just small fry it¡¯d be one thing, but you can tell from the show of force, the other party is organized, and definitely not small.¡± That night, the distance was too great to estimate the size of the boats, but boats that could hold a hundred people definitely weren¡¯t small. The overall quality of the other party wasn¡¯t something average gangs could match. Compared to those bandit gangs, it was like a dimension reduction strike, not just in terms of weapons and equipment, but in overall quality. Orders flowed without violation. The neat and orderly manner in which they operated could only come from a trained team. Bi Fang couldn¡¯t think of any place other than the military that could develop such team quality. Any organizational structure, once it scales up, becomes difficult to deal with. It¡¯s not something easily brought down by a blurry photo, especially overseas. ¡°If you can¡¯t handle them, aren¡¯t you in danger? They won¡¯t retaliate, will they?¡± Yao Jun was startled after hearing this. A whole group of fierce bandits, and Bi Fang had taken their photo, making it public knowledge. Wasn¡¯t that like offending the other party? ¡°Should I talk to Lin Chang and figure out a way to help you push it down¡­¡± ¡°` ¡°There¡¯s no need, it¡¯s all been a long time, everyone online already knows. What¡¯s the use of remedying it now? And if I dared to do it, I¡¯m not afraid of them,¡± Bi Fang shrugged his shoulders, seeming unconcerned, ¡°You think real life is like in the movies, offend someone and they¡¯d go to the trouble of eradicating you completely? The larger the organization, the more methodical they are with their actions. A little investigation would show them that I¡¯m just a broadcaster, and that taking those photos was merely an accident, not intentional tracking. Since it was accidental, there¡¯s no point in fretting over what¡¯s already happened.¡± ¡°Unless we became archenemies, they wouldn¡¯t seek revenge just for the sake of it, unless we were unlucky enough to meet again, but that¡¯s even less likely. I¡¯m just going to visit Ruins City once; I¡¯m essentially a wilderness broadcaster. The chances of going to such a place again are next to none; those guys are not going to venture into the wilderness, would they? That would be stretching their business too wide.¡± Though both involve illegal trafficking, the sale of humans and animals are completely different matters, with entirely different supply and demand networks, and it¡¯s extremely hard to bridge the two separate chains of interests. Both are hugely profitable, but so too are the risks very high. Double the risk isn¡¯t a simple matter of one plus one, but rather a multiplier effect; getting involved in just one can feed you to the point of bursting. Bi Fang didn¡¯t believe they could effectively manage both. If they were that formidable, then the organization must be so vast it¡¯s beyond even what he could imagine. Yao Jun listened for a while and somewhat understood; in summary, Bi Fang would be sticking to the wilderness and avoiding those city thugs in the future. But Yao Jun was still somewhat worried: ¡°But I always feel¡­¡± ¡°You need to realize one thing, if they could handle both, then my personal worries are useless.¡± If things really did take a turn for the worst, what good would his worries do? Could he stay home forever and never go out? Bi Fang tapped his temple and smiled: ¡°Human troubles often stem from excessive imagination and negative speculation, not from facts, but from ¡®thoughts.¡¯ Once you fear the future you¡¯ve fantasized about, you hesitate.¡± ¡°Fear of these guys, apart from causing me sleepless nights, brings no benefit.¡± What he could do was continuously grow stronger, creating dazzling sights on the path of adventure, getting stronger. That was what truly mattered. Yao Jun¡¯s eyes widened, and he was momentarily stupefied until Bi Fang waved a hand in front of him to bring him back to reality. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Yao Jun didn¡¯t reply but instead exclaimed in admiration, ¡°Incredible!¡± Bi Fang said in annoyance: ¡°Stop talking nonsense. You¡¯ve distracted me so much I¡¯ve forgotten what I came here for; our conversation has strayed. I came to you because I need a favor.¡± ¡°Just say it, I¡¯ll help wherever I can!¡± ¡°I want to borrow some of your equipment; I have a big plan.¡± ¡°No problem! You can take everything you need! I can afford it! But if it¡¯s alright to ask, what¡¯s the plan? Are you sure you don¡¯t need to rest for a while? This could be very dangerous.¡± When Yao Jun heard what Bi Fang was planning, he turned serious. The journey through the city ruins had been incredibly dangerous, fraught with fatal perils that terrified not just the viewers but also Bi Fang himself, who had experienced it firsthand. Yao Jun, also an adventure enthusiast, was well aware of the enormous toll such high-stakes livestreaming could take on a person¡¯s vitality. It¡¯s like someone giving their all for a task; they might lose their zest for a while afterward, languishing in a state of fatigue-induced comfort, both physically and mentally. To then engage in risky activities could indeed lead to mishaps. The simplest analogy is being exhausted for hours after a math test, and Bi Fang¡¯s intensive livestreams were even more draining, requiring at least a week¡¯s recovery. Yao Jun had expected Bi Fang to rest for a while after returning, so he was surprised by the quick turnaround. As both a top contributor in the livestream and a real-life friend, he was eager to witness Bi Fang create miracles, but he didn¡¯t want him to take any risks. Particularly with Bi Fang being so young, he worried that his popularity and some overzealous fans might cloud his judgment, prompting him to recklessly challenge his limits and seek greater human peaks. ¡°` Adventure, you see, if you really want to pursue it, it¡¯s an endless journey! Humans have their peak, but adventure has none! The spirit of adventure has none! Bi Fang waved his hand, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know what you¡¯re thinking. I¡¯m not that suicidal. I¡¯m just borrowing it for now. I need to go abroad earlier this time and train for at least a month before I take any action.¡± Yao Jun finally breathed a sigh of relief, and Bi Fang continued, ¡°I plan to train for a month, and then try my hand at the snow mountains!¡± Train for a month before taking on the snow mountains? Even Master Fang needed a month of training before attempting it, and he even came specifically to borrow gear from him. The difficulty must be quite substantial, right? Yao Jun took a sip of tea, ¡°Abroad? The Alps? Or maybe the Alaska Range? Or perhaps¡­¡± ¡°Mount Everest.¡± ¡°Puh! Cough cough cough, cough cough cough!¡± Yao Jun suddenly sprayed the tea from his mouth, choking on the leaves that came out of his nose, leaning against the office desk, coughing nonstop. It took him a long time to pull out a tissue to wipe his face clean and take deep breaths. Awesome, my brother! Yao Jun was completely taken aback. Damn it, are you saying you want to climb the world¡¯s highest mountain? Be reasonable, you¡¯re a wilderness broadcaster, what¡¯s with the sudden switch to extreme sports? Can we not joke around? You¡¯re here to borrow gear? Why not borrow a coffin plank while you¡¯re at it? Considering our long-standing friendship, I¡¯ll spend a fortune to craft you a luxury casket of agarwood to ensure you rest with a scent soothing even in death! Bi Fang laughed and didn¡¯t continue to provoke Yao Jun. Unlike laymen like Matthew and Hask, Yao Jun was very knowledgeable about various extreme sports, especially the famous Mount Everest, and was well aware of its difficulties. It wasn¡¯t something you could just coax someone into believing with a couple of words. But Bi Fang knew his own goal. This was not just a mission from the System. If he couldn¡¯t ascend Mount Everest once in his life, he would regret it forever. ¡°You¡¯re not a layman, so you should know that in the world, there are not only Mount Everest above eight thousand meters; in fact, there are fourteen such peaks in total. Although Everest is the highest, it¡¯s not the most difficult. It doesn¡¯t even rank in the top ten; it wouldn¡¯t even make the top ten. I¡¯m not aiming for the toughest, like Annapurna I, which I wouldn¡¯t even consider without half a year of training as a foundation.¡± Yao Jun was at a loss for words, unable to find anything to rebuke the nonchalance with which Bi Fang spoke. It seemed only natural, so all he could muster was a feeble, ¡°But it¡¯s still Mount Everest.¡± ¡°It¡¯s already April now. The best climbing window is approaching. I don¡¯t want to wait another year. The seed of adventure has been sown, and waiting another year would drive me mad. In one year, it will burst through my skull, growing out of my brain. Do you understand?¡± Bi Fang placed his hand on his Heavenly Spirit Cover and spread his fingers as if a giant tree were really sprouting from it, a sight that made onlookers¡¯ eyelids twitch. ¡°Ah, this, ah, this¡­¡± Bi Fang earnestly patted Yao Jun on the shoulder, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to see me become a vegetable with a plant growing out of my head in a year¡¯s time, then support me.¡± Yao Jun was completely speechless, with the conversation at this point, what more could he say? If the other party had truly decided, he had no right to interfere anyway. ¡°This is just too crazy!¡± ¡°You¡¯re only thirty, that¡¯s exactly the age to be crazy, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Damn right, let¡¯s do it! If you die, don¡¯t come back and haunt me as a ghost!¡± ¡°Hahaha, don¡¯t worry, if I really die, it¡¯ll be on Goddess Peak and I¡¯ll return to the embrace of nature. What would I want with a smelly man like you?¡± ¡°Have you told Wang Yongbo yet?¡± ¡°No, he¡¯s older and can¡¯t take it as well as you. I¡¯m afraid it might just scare him to death.¡± Yao Jun: ¡°¡­¡± On April 17th, the second day after returning home, Bi Fang personally checked his equipment and zipped up the seal bag. All the gear provided by Yao Jun alone, his collection was nothing short of terrifying. Ice axe, snow goggles, gloves, to the moisture-wicking breathable socks, everything was accounted for. Just this one seal bag, the equipment inside was worth millions. And Bi Fang had prepared not just one, but three such bags. Amateur climbing, even to meet the most basic conditions, costs at least 200,000 RMB. You see, because of weather and other factors, there¡¯s no guarantee that even after spending the money, one would definitely reach the summit. In other words, tens of thousands of RMB could potentially go down the drain in one trip. For non-amateurs, to fulfill the highest demands, a climb could cost millions, and it¡¯s not just scaremongering. The snow mountain expedition was incomparable to any previous adventure. It was too extreme, and the more extreme the sport, the higher the demand for equipment. The requirements could range from major items down to a pair of socks. Even though System equipment was of higher quality, with the Points Bi Fang had accumulated after surviving Ruins City, it was entirely impossible to gather so much gear all at once. However, he found something great in the System¡¯s store. ¡°Universal Prop Coupon.¡± From Bi Fang borrowing equipment from Yao Jun, the use of this coupon was self-explanatory. ¡°Phew, now I still need to contact Jerret and the others. I¡¯ll let Wang Yongbo know at the last minute, just in case it¡¯s too much for him.¡± Bi Fang wiped the sweat from his forehead. The upcoming climb of Mount Everest was truly an extreme journey. A single mistake could be fatal, which is why Bi Fang wanted to ensure everything was perfect. He didn¡¯t want to leave any regrets. That¡¯s why he needed to get in touch with Jerret, the industry¡¯s top photography team. As he thought about reaching out to them, Bi Fang habitually opened the System store. It was the store¡¯s refresh day, and he wanted to see if there were any good items. Since he hadn¡¯t spent on equipment, he still had quite a few Points left. As his eyes skimmed over some regular items, a golden ticket suddenly caught his eye. At that moment, Bi Fang¡¯s breath became slightly heavier. ¡°Oxygen Uptake Index Enhancement Coupon*1¡± ¡°` Chapter 392 - Chapter 392: Chapter 390: Take a Place Chapter 392: Chapter 390: Take a Place Seeing this title. Everyone should understand. Procrastination at its latest stage, editing at dawn From Lhasa to Kathmandu, after ninety minutes, the group finally landed at Tribhuvan International Airport, with Yao Jun and Wang Yongbo¡¯s faces still flushed with excitement that refused to fade. This flight, was it worth a fortune or what! The only thought on their minds right now was not to climb Mount Everest, but to buy ten more tickets, get back on the plane, and just fly back and forth for fun! On the other side, as soon as he stepped out of the cabin, Bi Fang saw a burly white man holding a sign that read ¡°Master Fang¡±. Yao Jun took deep breaths of fresh air and explained after seeing the sign, ¡°It must be from the guide company, coming to take us over.¡± Bi Fang nodded, walked forward to greet the man, and before he could introduce himself, the white man came up enthusiastically, ¡°My God, I simply can¡¯t believe it, I¡¯m actually going to guide the legendary GOD FANG.¡± ¡°You know me?¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯ve seen the show you recorded in Ugly Country, it was truly thrilling, your fight with the Brown Bear was absolutely blood-pumping! I¡¯m Rob, a real fan of yours and the lead guide for your team. I was so shocked when the company showed me your information, I never imagined they would assign me to lead your team. Sorry, I¡¯m a little too excited.¡± Bi Fang raised an eyebrow, glanced back at Yao Jun who seemed a bit embarrassed, and didn¡¯t say much, but went forward with a smile and shook Rob¡¯s hand, ¡°I¡¯m very pleased to meet you, too.¡± After exchanging pleasantries, Rob began to get down to business. ¡°Although I know you must be eager to climb Mount Everest right away, I¡¯m sorry that it¡¯s too late now, and since you¡¯ve just arrived in Kathmandu, you need to rest. So tonight I¡¯ll take you to a hotel to rest first, and the next day I¡¯ll take you to Everest Base Camp to meet up with the other members, is that okay with Mr. Bi?¡± ¡°Wait a minute, other members?¡± Yao Jun, who had been listening to the arrangements, suddenly looked confused and slightly angry, looked up at Rob, ¡°Didn¡¯t I say to charter it privately? Without any other people! I paid extra!¡± Rob waved his hands repeatedly, ¡°I know, I know, but they all made their bookings before Mr. Yao arrived. Mr. Bi must understand that there are only two windows per year to climb Mount Everest, and there are a lot of people climbing at this time. Considering the time needed for acclimatization, you¡¯ve arrived a bit late, and there simply aren¡¯t enough guides available. But rest assured, they will only accompany you to the Base Camp, and then my colleague will take over the lead. After that, I will be solely responsible for guiding you; you can be assured of that.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± With that, Bi Fang nodded, and seeing this, Yao Jun said no more. As Rob walked ahead to lead the way, Yao Jun leaned in and asked softly, ¡°How did you find this guy, is he reliable?¡± Indeed, I had filmed a show in Ugly Country, but I never dealt with Brown Bears! It was Mugalen who had dealt with the Brown Bears, the only Bear I ever confronted was a Black Bear. Clearly, this guy only glanced at a brief and confused everything, he¡¯s not a real fan of mine and might not have even heard of me before. But Bi Fang wasn¡¯t angry; with over seven billion people in the world, and him not being a famous scientist who changed the world, there was no need for everyone to know him. As far as the other person was concerned, he was just a generous customer, so polite gestures were normal. ¡°Absolutely reliable! Many mountaineers have used this company, they are truly professional, each guide has a professional certification. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can ask him yourself.¡± ¡°I believe you, but how much did you pay for the one-on-one service?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that, it wasn¡¯t too expensive.¡± ¡°Spit it out.¡± Yao Jun scratched his head, ¡°Sixty-five thousand per person, including the guide. Originally, our team was supposed to have eight people, but I covered the costs for them. I thought the rest would just turn down the offer, but it turns out they found someone else to lead.¡± ¡°Red Notes?¡± ¡°Ugly Knives.¡± ¡°Hiss!¡± In his former life, Bi Fang had never visited Mount Everest and had never imagined hiring a guide would be so expensive? Sixty-five thousand Ugly Knives¡ªa regular person would have to save up for several years without spending on anything else. Wang Yongbo also counted on his fingers and was shocked by how high that amount was. When could Wolf Fang ever earn that much? But then he thought about it and it seemed reasonable. Even the best guides couldn¡¯t just take people to the summit every time they went up; if they could, the people with the most summits would be the guides, not the climbers. So at most, they would go up to eight thousand meters, perhaps not even that high, but the danger level was still ridiculously high. It was a great risk, essentially making money with their lives on the line. Moreover, after one ascent, it was impossible to continue leading teams without a proper break. During one climbing season, managing to lead two teams was already quite an achievement. Bi Fang had also come to an understanding, ¡°It looks like they are all tycoons. Besides wanting to earn more money, they probably find it hard to refuse directly as it¡¯s easy to offend people.¡± In the business of guiding companies, money is the standard that measures everything. ¡°I¡¯ll pay you back when we return.¡± ¡°No need, it¡¯s just under two million,¡± Yao Jun waved his hand, ¡°If you see me as a friend, then don¡¯t bring this up. Talking about money is hurtful to the relationship, there¡¯s really no need.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Bi Fang bowed his head, sincerely grateful. Yao Jun, username Lord Mu. If it were not for this guy¡¯s willingness to spend lavishly, he couldn¡¯t have become so popular so quickly, could he? Yao Jun touched the back of his head, ¡°Eh, what¡¯s there to be polite about, haha! My old man always thinks I¡¯m squandering money. He¡¯d be delighted to know I¡¯m spending it on you.¡± After settling into the hotel, Bi Fang immediately received a message from Jerret and the others. After greeting Yao Jun and Wang Yongbo, he ran straight to the arranged meeting spot. As soon as they met, before Bi Fang could even ask about the photography team, Jerret put his arm around Bi Fang¡¯s shoulder and said mysteriously, ¡°I know you want to ask about the photography team, but don¡¯t rush. I¡¯ve got an even more important surprise waiting for you.¡± ¡°Surprise? What surprise? Did you prepare a drone that can go up to eight thousand meters for me?¡± Jerret rolled his eyes, somewhat speechless, ¡°Eight thousand meters? Are you kidding? I¡¯ve never even seen one that can go up five thousand meters! It¡¯s that someone wants to meet you!¡± ¡°Someone wants to meet me? Ask them to keep their distance, please. I don¡¯t have time to meet with anyone.¡± Bi Fang was disappointed, having thought there was a real surprise, and all it was, was someone wanting to meet him? Who could be worth my time to meet in person¡ªsome celebrity? ¡°Hey, you might regret it! I¡¯m sure that if you knew who he was, you¡¯d definitely want to meet him, begging me to make it happen!¡± ¡°What are you joking about? Even if it was the Ugly Country President, it¡¯s impossible that I¡¯d be begging you to see him. If there¡¯s no issue, let¡¯s just check the equipment. Otherwise, I¡¯m leaving,¡± Bi Fang said impatiently, reaching for his ear. With that, he turned to leave. Seeing that Bi Fang was really about to leave, Jerret could no longer play dumb and immediately shouted, ¡°It¡¯s David Attenborough! He wants to meet you!¡± Bi Fang braked hard, his eyes widening in disbelief as he turned back to look at Jerret, his mouth slowly opening, his expression bordering on ferocious. Jerret nodded with satisfaction, repeating, ¡°David Attenborough. Not a coincidence, but the very person you¡¯re thinking of. He just happened to pass through Kathmandu, and I happened to have his contact. After all, we¡¯re in the same industry. The Discovery Channel also often makes documentaries. I had thought about meeting a senior from the industry. I never expected that upon meeting him and hearing you were here, he wanted to meet you.¡± Bi Fang felt dizzy, his brain struggling to keep up. Then, overwhelming jubilation clouded his mind, almost making him jump on the spot! If there was anyone in this world he could idolize, it was this elderly gentleman. David Attenborough! The creator of Earth, Frozen Planet, Human Planet, The Life Story, Africa, Blue Planet, Hunting, and so on¡ªthe father of wildlife documentaries! One could even say he was Bi Fang¡¯s predecessor in live streaming nature, except he didn¡¯t use live streaming but turned nature into art through documentaries! In his past and present life, this father of wildlife documentaries was Bi Fang¡¯s idol, indeed, his idol. Apart from those documentaries that were like works of art, David Attenborough was also considered to have traveled the most in history, having explored almost all known ecosystems on Earth! To spend one¡¯s life doing what one loves, personally feeling every corner of the world, getting to know every species, deeply understanding this lonely blue planet, learning about her, comprehending her, loving her, protecting her. This was what Bi Fang had always dreamed of! After crossing over, Bi Fang once thought he might never see his idol again, until later, when he searched online for documentaries, he discovered that this world had an almost exact replica: same name, same works, same experiences! Could there be anything more blissful? Now, his idol actually wanted to meet him! ¡°Quick, quick, take me there!¡± Bi Fang, excited, grabbed Jerret¡¯s sleeve and began dragging him toward the intersection. Jerret reached out to stop him, but found himself unable to break free. Bi Fang¡¯s grip was iron-strong, propelling him against the tide, forcing people to make way for them, as unyielding as boulders in a river. Without any choice, Jerret had to shout, ¡°Wait, wait, you¡¯re going the wrong way, it¡¯s not here, it¡¯s the other side, hahaha, I told you, you would definitely beg me to take you!¡± Realizing he didn¡¯t know the way himself, Bi Fang finally let go. Not daring to delay, Jerret hurriedly led Bi Fang toward their destination. Through the crowd, Bi Fang took out a drone from his backpack, surprising Jerret, who was leading the way, ¡°Do you carry a drone with you all the time?¡± ¡°Not really. I was planning to film Kathmandu tonight as a warm-up for the live stream, but I never expected you to surprise me with such a big one. I want my fans to get a glimpse of my idol! Let them see who their idol¡¯s idol is!¡± Jerret clicked his tongue and shook his head, thinking that Bi Fang might be interested in David Attenborough, but not expecting him to be so excited. As they spoke, Bi Fang quickly started the live stream. Many fans who joined early even heard Bi Fang speak about meeting his idol. The idol¡¯s idol? [Damn, Master Fang started the live stream early? I¡¯m first!] [Wolf Fang is getting worse, no prior notice for the early broadcast, we only knew it was happening soon, but no exact time] [Idol¡¯s idol? Who said Master Fang is my idol? He¡¯s clearly my husband!] [Pfft, shameless woman, if you¡¯re wealthy, buy a mirror; if you¡¯re broke, pee on the ground and look at your own reflection to see if you are worthy to meddle in the relationship between me and Master Fang.] [Are they planning to climb Mount Everest? Why does it look like they¡¯re on a main street?] [This looks so familiar, isn¡¯t this Kathmandu? I think I¡¯ve visited here before, in Nepal. Is Old Fang really climbing Mount Everest? Holy cow, that¡¯s so badass!] [So, what on Earth is Old Fang doing exactly? Who is his idol anyway?] ¡°Hahaha, hello everyone, I¡¯m Bi Fang. I¡¯ll skip the opening speech since I haven¡¯t started the official live broadcast yet. Today, I wanted to give you all a glimpse of the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu, but something unexpected happened. My idol came by, and he even wants to meet me!¡± Bi Fang followed closely behind Jerret while letting the drone fly high, and the audience instantly caught sight of Kathmandu, filled with historical charm. As introduced before, this ancient historical city was permeated with a sense of time, sometimes staring at a wall could even bring tears to your eyes. [If Master Fang replies to me, I¡¯ll tear apart a great white shark with my bare hands, count sand grains in the desert, put rings on ants and install an elevator on Mount Everest.] Bi Fang raised his eyebrows and chuckled, ¡°This user who goes by the very handsome name, I saw your comment. Please hurry up with the elevator installation, so I won¡¯t have to climb Everest with so much effort.¡± Ah, this. Thousands of kilometers away, a viewer named pp instantly turned into a muggle. He had just joked around¡ªamong hundreds of comments flashing by every minute, how could his be noticed? But against all odds, Master Fang actually responded to him. ¡°Haha, just joking, who my idol is, I¡¯m going to keep it a secret for a little longer. You all can guess.¡± Bi Fang teased the audience and then turned the camera to Jerret, ¡°I don¡¯t know if everyone remembers Jerret. Do you recall the last program on the Discovery Channel? Whether it¡¯s marine exploration or group survival, the executive producer behind it all is this guy, a golden producer for the Discovery Channel!¡± Jerret greeted everyone in coordination and even said hello in Chinese¡ªafter all, no one complains about having too much traffic. ¡°This time, I personally invited Jerret to help me bring you all a better live broadcast experience. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll be climbing Mount Everest with the filming team, as well as Lord Mu, the top-ranked player, and my ¡®immediate boss¡¯ Vice President Wang. Of course, the latter two are just joining for fun, don¡¯t take them seriously. I doubt they¡¯ll last above three thousand meters.¡± ¡°Counting the guides, we¡¯ll probably have around eight people in total. The optimal team size for climbing Mount Everest is a seven-person squad, sometimes it can be eight. That¡¯s a reasonable configuration for such an ascent. Any more than that becomes too cumbersome and the climbing becomes extremely dangerous.¡± Dangerous? What kind of danger? Are the guides not able to take care of everyone? The audience posed their questions right on cue. ¡°It¡¯s not that the guides can¡¯t take care of everyone, but because there are many spots on Mount Everest that are difficult to traverse. For each additional person, more time is wasted. There are many crevices and sheer cliffs on Everest where one can only pass by using ladders or ropes, creating a path by connecting tools across two mountains for climbers to cross in turns. For each person that passes, it could take a few minutes, or even up to ten minutes, or half an hour. With all the big and small crevices combined, an extra person can require half a day¡¯s more time. The weather on Everest is unpredictable, and that bit of time could lead to accidents, putting the entire team at risk. Do not find this unbelievable, for it is indeed true. At high altitude, even with oxygen tanks, in low pressure, and extreme cold, normal people can become clumsy, experience difficulties in breathing or even have their intelligence affected.¡± [Slow motion, how slow? Even slower than in the snow? (Funny face)] [Sword~~~~ come~~~~] Chapter 393 - Chapter 393: Chapter 391 Occupy a Spot Chapter 393: Chapter 391 Occupy a Spot *Cough cough cough*, I¡¯m a goner. You can think of it as me procrastinating for a day, and then posting at dawn every day (Dog¡¯s head) Squatting on the spot, Ling Cheng changed On the long bench in the airport waiting hall, tall oxygen tanks piled up into a small mountain, and seated beside it was a young man wearing a black baseball cap, as people coming and going in the hall all curiously looked at this small mound. ¡°Are these oxygen tanks for sale?¡± asked a young man who suddenly approached the man in the baseball cap, nervously. ¡°My grandpa is feeling unwell. Could you make them a bit cheaper? Three hundred is really too expensive.¡± Bi Fang looked up at the old man having trouble breathing on the other side of the bench and casually stuffed a few oxygen bottles into the hands of the young man, ¡°Take them, no charge.¡± ¡°Ah, thank you, thank ¡ª¡± The young man accepted the oxygen tanks with a surprised face, bowed to express his gratitude, but as he lowered his head, his gaze suddenly met those calm eyes, and he instantly became excited, ¡°You, it¡¯s you, Fang!¡± ¡°Shh!¡± Bi Fang motioned to silence him with one hand while firmly grabbing the young man¡¯s wrist with the other, sharply pulling down to keep him from standing up and shouting. The young man was forced to swallow the rest of his words, yet he couldn¡¯t suppress the excitement in his emotions. He bit his lip hard, but the muscles on both sides of his cheeks trembled slightly. If there is a young person in the country who doesn¡¯t recognize Master Fang, he must not know what ideals are, what passion is, what adventure is! ¡°Holy crap, holy crap, is it really Master Fang? I have seen the Wolf Fang official website. Are you going to climb Mount Everest?¡± The young man suppressed his excited heart and asked softly. Bi Fang nodded with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m here on a transfer, won¡¯t stay for long, don¡¯t want to make a fuss, understand?¡± The young man nodded vigorously, ¡°Understood, understood!¡± ¡°Alright, go to your grandpa. He¡¯s been waiting for a long time.¡± ¡°Thank you, thank you, Master Fang.¡± The young man¡¯s heartbeat thumped wildly within his chest, this close and unexpected encounter with his idol was truly thrilling. That was Master Fang, the idol many young people admired, who had personally handed him oxygen tanks! Wolves, bears, sharks, prehistoric creatures, even armed poachers, one after another, beings that sound terrifying just by mention fell before Master Fang¡¯s advancing path; he¡¯s a living legend, an idol in life! That¡¯s what men should fucking be doing! This is the stuff a real man should be into! Watching the young man return to his family hopping and jumping with the oxygen tanks, visibly excited, more and more people who felt unwell but couldn¡¯t afford oxygen tanks started looking at Bi Fang with hope. But before they could get closer ¡ª A clattering noise erupted, and the towering mountain of oxygen tanks toppled over. Two men, one fat and one thin, one tall and one short, suddenly climbed out from the pile, casually throwing out an empty tank, and started breathing from a new one in perfect unison ¡ª causing the focused attention to scatter once again. Within the abundance of oxygen tanks, a few humans could be seen. ¡°Inhale, exhale! Inhale, exhale!¡± The fat and thin, tall and short pair breathed in a synchronized rhythm, their lungs like broken bellows, and Bi Fang was thoroughly exasperated, ¡°Why don¡¯t you just go to the hospital? There¡¯s no need to wait here, just wait for the plane to arrive and I¡¯ll tell you.¡± ¡°No way, there are three more hours, I can hold on! Just get on the plane, and besides, I have money! Had I known, why choose the Lhasa route? Couldn¡¯t I have just flown from somewhere else, why come to a place with such high altitude? Isn¡¯t this torment?¡± Yao Jun glared at Bi Fang, then added, ¡°Besides, how can you be so generous with other people¡¯s stuff? Those were my tanks!¡± ¡°You said you¡¯ve got the money, and besides, Lhasa to Kathmandu is a flight route I specifically chose for you. You definitely won¡¯t want to miss it.¡± Yao Jun scratched his head, somewhat puzzled. What was so special about a flight route that you wouldn¡¯t want to miss it? ¡°Is there a surprise?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll find out when the time comes,¡± Bi Fang said mysteriously, blinking his eyes, then quickly changed the subject, ¡°By the way, did you guys fall asleep on the plane?¡± ¡°Huh? You didn¡¯t sleep?¡± Realization dawned on Bi Fang. No wonder these two guys reacted the moment they got off the plane; it was because of this. Apart from reacting right after deplaning, in fact, many people don¡¯t feel much upon arriving in Lhasa and might even be under the illusion that ¡°I don¡¯t have a headache or shortness of breath, I¡¯m totally not suffering from altitude sickness!¡± That¡¯s because right after disembarking the aircraft, the blood¡¯s oxygen content is still at a sufficient level and hasn¡¯t decreased with the increase in altitude. By the night of the same day and the following day, as the oxygen content in the blood reduces, symptoms of altitude sickness such as headache, nausea, breathlessness, fatigue, and fever will ferociously come rushing in. ¡°But if you¡¯re sleeping, the blood circulation slows down, and because you¡¯re sitting, oxygen isn¡¯t delivered in time. When the plane lands and you wake up to a low oxygen environment, it¡¯s very easy to feel uncomfortable. It seems you both had a good sleep, probably went into deep sleep right away, otherwise enduring a few hours should be no problem.¡± Yao Jun and Wang Yongbo were listening with interest, but at the last sentence, they burst out in anger, ¡°It¡¯s all your fault! You hurried us so much. Last night, I was still busy running errands for you, of course, I¡¯d be sleepy during the day! And you, you do nothing, just need to move your lips, do you have any idea our legs would fall off from running around!¡± Bi Fang just shrugged his shoulders and ignored them. This time, they needed to reach the southern slope of Mount Everest and had to get to Nepal to do so, but the Magic Capital didn¡¯t have direct flights to Nepal. Only from Guang, Kun, Cheng, Lhasa, and places like Hong Kong were direct, and considering both distance and acclimatization, they took the route from Magic Capital to Lhasa to Nepal. Lhasa is situated at an altitude of 3650 meters. If people from the plains travel to Lhasa, they typically experience some degree of altitude sickness. However, Kathmandu, Nepal¡¯s capital, is much better in this respect. Its elevation is only a bit over a thousand meters, and most people have no problem with it. At noon, Bi Fang took the two of them to eat while inhaling oxygen until three in the afternoon when the plane finally landed. The three of them packed their luggage, departed from Lhasa, and flew straight to Nepal¡¯s capital¡ªKathmandu. Kathmandu, commonly known as KTM, is Nepal¡¯s largest city and is located in the Kathmandu Valley, at the confluence of the Bagmati River and Bhingmati River. Surrounded by mountains, KTM was established in the year 723 and is an ancient city with a history of over 1200 years. For many people, their first acquaintance with this beautiful ancient city may have been through the movie Doctor Strange. The exquisite architectural art and ancient wood and stone carvings are the symbols of Nepal¡¯s old culture. Many palaces, temples, pagodas, and gardens were built here by dynasties over the ages. The city covers an area of less than seven square kilometers, yet it¡¯s rich with over two hundred stupas and temples, and nearly three thousand big and small monasteries! Moreover, because KTM is located on the southern slope of the Himalayas, natural barriers protect the city from the cold northern winds. The city faces the warm currents from the Indian Ocean to the south, creating a unique geographical environment. The average monthly maximum temperature is only twenty-nine degrees Celsius, and the minimum is two degrees. With year-round sunshine and green trees surrounding it, it is an excellent destination for tourism. One of the reasons Bi Fang and his companions got off the plane was to meet with Jerret¡¯s photography team here and find a guide company before heading to the campsite. On the plane, Wang Yongbo settled comfortably into his seat. Back on the plane, he had mostly recovered, devoid of his previous lethargy. Seeing Bi Fang, who had also spent half a day in Lhasa yet was unaffected, Wang Yongbo marveled and curiously asked, ¡°You¡¯re so tough; why do we still need a guide?¡± Bi Fang pulled back the curtain, replying, ¡°Surviving in snowy mountains and wild traverses are both about living in extreme environments, but I¡¯m not just about survival. If it was just about existing in the mountain range, I surely wouldn¡¯t need a guide, but that¡¯s not the case. I aim to reach the summit, which is a different concept. Besides, we¡¯re dealing with Mount Everest, and I must know the route up the mountain in advance to make favorable judgments. This is a path that countless climbers have explored with their corpses.¡± The word ¡°corpses¡± gave Wang Yongbo and Yao Jun a shudder, as if they could already see the mountain path paved with bones under the snowy sky. Ignoring the beauty of Mount Everest, it wasn¡¯t just the tallest peak¡ªit was clearly a towering tombstone! Just as the two were chatting, Bi Fang tapped the window with his knuckle, ¡°Pay attention, this may be your only chance. I specially purchased a window seat for this reason.¡± Yao Jun and Wang Yongbo curiously stuck out their heads. The plane was still steadily climbing when suddenly, the cloud cover below became sparse. The hazy fog slowly dissipated, and people¡¯s pupils dilated quickly in response. Those were mountains! Huge mountains! The Himalayas, bathed in the glow of sunset, stretched across the western horizon like a natural barrier between Huaxia and Nepal. A pale golden fringe outlined the division between the mountain range and the sky, bright enough to dazzle the eyes. But the sunset could not suppress the luster of the stars¡ªthe seven steel-blue stars rose into the golden sky, their light as sharp as freshly forged swords. From above the clouds, one could admire the majestic and expansive ranges, the Transhimalayas and the Himalayas, with the meandering rivers shimmering in blue light, securing an unparalleled God¡¯s-eye view. In Bi Fang¡¯s brown pupils reflected the likeness of the Roof of the World, he spoke softly, ¡°From Chengdu to Kathmandu, stopping over in Lhasa, this is the only flight route in the world that flies over Mount Everest and is also hailed as one of the world¡¯s most beautiful routes.¡± This is the part of the flight from Lhasa to Nepal that makes the ticket price worth it! ¡°Damn, no wonder you insisted on flying from Lhasa. So, this was the reason. I burned the midnight oil to snag these tickets, totally worth it!¡± Yao Jun praised loudly, his eyes unblinking, as every blink now would become a life¡¯s regret. Everyone greedily took in the view beneath them, even though their eyes were already dry to the point of burning. The last rays of warmth touched the interstices of the mountain range. Falcons darted swiftly through the sky, and in the valleys, an unknown variety of small yellow flowers piled up to knee height forming a sea of blooms that extended beyond the sightline to where the mountain met the sky. Riding the wind¡¯s sway, the flowers surged in waves, as the frozen ground gently breathed in the precious thawing air. ¡°A rainbow, a rainbow!¡± someone suddenly shouted. All eyes shifted toward the sky, even the seasoned flight attendants couldn¡¯t help but cover their mouths in awe. Indeed, it was a semi-circular arc of light that spanned from one edge of golden light to the distant horizon. Such pure colors, magically suspended in mid-air, made all the rainbows one had seen in life seem less astonishing. ¡°How can there be a rainbow without rain?¡± someone wondered aloud in surprise. ¡°It¡¯s an ice rainbow!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s pupils expanded to their limits, his heart racing, ¡°Rainbows don¡¯t only appear after rain. As long as the air is filled with enough tiny droplets and sunlight, a rainbow can occur. But up here at 10,000 meters, the air is filled with ice crystals. You can only see this rare phenomenon when the light from the sun passes perfectly through the high cirrus clouds. This is not just a rainbow, but a sundog!¡± Yao Jun asked out of curiosity, ¡°How rare is it?¡± ¡°You might only see it once in your lifetime!¡± ¡°That¡¯s how it is here, everything is simple. A patch of green grass, all you see is green. When the sky is clear, all you see is blue. A rainbow colors half the sky, unlike in the east, where everywhere you look is filled with people,¡± an excited Tibetan with flushed cheeks explained. ¡°There are mountains! Mountains!¡± another person exclaimed. Mountains? What wasn¡¯t mountain here? As the crowd pondered in confusion, they suddenly began to space out. It was a mountain. A real mountain! It was almost unbelievable to the eyes that when the last sunlight spread over the earth, a great mountain draped in clouds and reaching towards the sky appeared before them. The sunlight glowed golden at the mountain¡¯s summit, and the clouds wandered near the top. Many on the plane had never imagined that the aircraft they were on would brush past this grand and solemn mountain. Suddenly witnessing it felt like a miracle that filled them with admiration. ¡°Many landscapes must be seen with our own eyes to truly understand what they look like; otherwise, they will always remain as imagined in your mind,¡± someone mused. ¡°It¡¯s the Goddess Peak,¡± Bi Fang¡¯s wildly beating heart suddenly calmed down. It was not for lack of excitement, but because he was so overwhelmed by the immense beauty that it numbed him. A warm current flowed from his scalp to his toes and eventually, with each pore¡¯s expansion, turned into a cold sweat that left his body. This was what he had been most looking forward to, most desired, and what he had always wanted to hold onto¡ªhis faith! ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯ve been pursuing,¡± Bi Fang¡¯s voice was almost imperceptible, but Yao Jun behind him caught it. Yao Jun watched Bi Fang¡¯s devout expression and a solemn feeling filled his heart. What had drawn him to Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcasts? He too loved the sport, knew many professionals who had made their mark in his field, but none had ever given him the same sense of shock that Bi Fang had. Where, exactly, did these people fall short compared to Bi Fang? At that moment, Yao Jun finally deeply understood. Not having missed any of his live-streamed adventures, what a fortunate thing it was. Was this what Master Fang sought? Wang Yongbo, in the front row, leaned on his seat, completely drained of strength. Watching Bi Fang¡¯s live streams had always made him feel the tension, fear, and boiling of his blood. But he had never experienced ¡°beauty¡± as profoundly as he did today. Is this what adventure is? Is this what Nature is? Is this the thing I¡¯ve been missing? ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful!¡± Chapter 394 - Chapter 394: Chapter 392: Reserve a Spot Chapter 394: Chapter 392: Reserve a Spot Reserving a spot, as the name suggests Ling Cheng edited The long-cultivated breathing techniques suddenly collapsed, and Bi Fang¡¯s breathing grew rapid and heavy. His heart started to pound fiercely, his chest swelling with immense joy. Within a few seconds, his expression nearly drew sideways glances from passersby. Bi Fang¡¯s wild temperament, honed from years of living and traveling in the wilderness, stood in stark contrast to the comfortable urban environment. This was the result of high pressure leading to intense secretion of hormones, what is commonly known as ¡°manliness.¡± Many special forces and frontline detectives possess a similar demeanor, which is why sensitive individuals with similar experiences can often exchange glances and immediately sense that there is something extraordinary about one another. Such a person mixed into the city is like a drop of red ink spilling into plaster¡ªconspicuous by nature. At this moment, Bi Fang was particularly eye-catching. This guy, he looks so familiar. Is he some kind of celebrity? Just as the passersby began to take notice of Bi Fang, finding him more and more familiar, more and more astonishing¡­ ¡°Hahaha, sorry, I just thought of something delightful,¡± Bi Fang said as he touched the back of his head and let out a laugh, quickly stepping away from the crowd with surprisingly light steps. With his back turned, Bi Fang¡¯s smile was almost overflowing. How long had it been since he felt such a pleasant surprise? It was as if a pillow had been delivered while feeling drowsy or a steaming hot bowl of spicy oil-drenched noodles handed over when hungry. So comfortable! ¡°Oxygen Uptake Index Enhancement Coupon*1, exchanged for 4600 Wilderness Points.¡± ¡°Gold coupons really are different, huh? They cost over four thousand.¡± Seeing the price of the oxygen coupon, Bi Fang¡¯s excitement at encountering the gold coupon subsided slightly. After all, he would only earn around a thousand points from a single mission, never even reaching two thousand. This one gold coupon was equivalent to the points from three of his missions. Over four thousand points; this was the most expensive exchange coupon he had encountered so far, and he didn¡¯t even know by how much it would increase his index. Nevertheless, Bi Fang knew he had to have it. Oxygen uptake. Many people might not have even heard of this concept, yet it is a golden datum among professional athletes. Maximum oxygen uptake is an essential indicator in the field of exercise physiology for assessing the condition of heart and lung function. It represents the amount of oxygen the body can absorb when engaged in maximum intensity exercises until the body is no longer able to sustain the effort. Revered as the gold standard for evaluating endurance levels, it is one of the crucial selection criteria for endurance athletes. A healthy male¡¯s maximum oxygen uptake is usually between 35-40, while for females, it is 27-31. Anyone with a value over 60 can achieve significant accomplishments in aerobic exercises. The average for international top male runners is an astounding 85! What does international top mean? It¡¯s not just athletes at the national team level; that would be underestimating them. These individuals are the jewels of humanity, representing those who compete for world championships¡ªthe peak of human physical capabilities! Moreover, excellent cardiopulmonary function could even mean that they will live longer than the average person! ¡°` As for those with a maximum oxygen uptake over ninety, they should not be called humans but¨Cmonsters. Yes, that¡¯s exactly what Bi Fang felt. Those who have a maximum oxygen uptake over ninety are like monsters in his eyes, they shouldn¡¯t even be called humans. Such people could even jog on Mount Everest! Jog on Mount Everest at altitudes over 8,800 meters, where oxygen is extremely scarce, in an area that is off-limits to humans! Just thinking about this scene caused Bi Fang¡¯s face to flush with excitement. Roads he had never imagined, scenes he had never fantasized about, could he run on Mount Everest? No, there was no need to run, even walking, step by step, would be the longing of his lifetime. Compared to the number of humans, those who have climbed Mount Everest are few and far between, and among them, over ninety percent can barely crawl after reaching the summit, unable to even stand due to the thin air! If that were all, Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t be too excited, but the most crucial point was, according to medical research, maximum oxygen uptake can only be increased by 5-25% through training, and the other 72-95% is mainly affected by genetic factors! In other words, this is a talent! Ordinary people, no matter how much they train, can¡¯t come close! Moreover, the little that is improved through exercise also needs to be maintained with constant training. Stop training for 2 weeks, and your aerobic capacity will noticeably decrease; stop for 4-12 weeks, and your cardiopulmonary function could drop by 50%; stop for half a year, and your cardiopulmonary function will return to the level before training. Furthermore, maximum oxygen uptake cannot be increased with short-term training; it typically takes 10-20 weeks of training to see effects, and you need to train at least twice a week to effectively improve. Therefore, the appearance of this gold coupon in the store was what so excited Bi Fang. Why did he want to climb Mount Everest? The main reason is very simple, it¡¯s a dream, an aspiration, to answer with the words of New Zealand mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary (actually it¡¯s Hillary, but you all understand), because it¡¯s there. The second reason is his pursuit of breaking through his limits. The appearance of the enhancement coupon is also a form of limit-breaking. Through various training and breathing methods, Bi Fang had already reached the training limit of his maximum oxygen uptake. It was impossible to improve it any further under normal circumstances. Only the System could help Bi Fang break through the limit and reach the realm that others had reached, or even those previously unreachable. 4600 points must be acquired, even if it means selling every last pot and pan! Bi Fang scrolled down his personal panel. The points gained from Ruins City weren¡¯t much, only 1600, and he had never been in the habit of saving points¡ªit was a disrespect to every mission. However, fortunately, the System had updated some time ago. Wilderness Points could be earned not only from missions but also from a certain level of influence and the number of fans. Besides, they could be directly exchanged with money. One point for ten thousand. Apart from the time right after the update, Bi Fang had hardly touched this piggy bank, almost forgetting it existed. He hurriedly clicked on it to check and added it up with the mission points. ¡°Still short by one hundred and twenty?¡± Bi Fang was dumbfounded. If the production was not enough, it had to be converted with money, and that was one hundred and twenty thousand. To be frank, the investment into the club was like a bottomless pit, which has led to Bi Fang¡¯s wallet always being in a state of being wealthy yet impoverished. Aside from maintaining basic expenses, there wasn¡¯t much surplus, and each trip abroad, renting various vehicles was also a huge expense. Fishing out the gold storage certificate from his pocket, Bi Fang was speechless with tears, Hask¡¯s gold bars hadn¡¯t even warmed up yet, and he had to give them up. There was no choice, he needed some time to adapt to the enhancement coupon he would use, and naturally, the sooner the better. Bi Fang could only reluctantly choose to exchange. It was as if the sound of gold coins falling rang in his ears, clear and ringing, making his heart bleed. Although Bi Fang wasn¡¯t too concerned about money, he had the habit of saving, probably a mentality borne of poverty in a previous life. Every time he saw a large sum of money gone, it always hurt for a long time. ¡°` ¡°After Mount Everest, will the points for completing tasks increase? Otherwise, what will happen when I encounter a gold coupon¡­¡± Bi Fang sharply inhaled a breath of cold air and immediately felt a pang of pain in his liver. Yet, seeing the gold coupon appear in his backpack, Bi Fang ignored the pain and found a secluded corner in the lobby to click ¡®Adapt¡¯. Each time he used one of the System¡¯s various enhancements, Bi Fang would secretly record it with a camera, later reviewing the footage to check for anything unusual. His findings proved that, save for occasionally feeling drowsy, there were no other noticeable external symptoms, making him all the more eager at this moment. In the void, the gold coupon transformed into fine dust and enveloped Bi Fang, merging into his body. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, feeling so sleepy?¡± Bi Fang¡¯s eyes blurred as he looked through the plants at the corner toward the bustling lobby and slowly lowered his head. In his sleep, Bi Fang dreamt that he had arrived at a freezing, barren grassland. The weather was cold, so cold that he was about to freeze solid, but soon, a strong wind blew. It was very cold at first but gradually became warm. The wind brought moisture and warmth, massive ice armor cracked, streams of honeyed water flowed through the fissures, long-silent paths were once again exposed to the sunlight, breathing in the fresh air heartily, and tender green grass seemed to spring from the depths of the earth like fresh spring water, spilling over the undulating grassland all the way to the horizon. The sky was a clear blue with white clouds, and flocks of geese passed overhead, changing directions. He had become a herdsman riding alone across the plains, free to go wherever he wished, without any constraints. ¡°Mr. Bi¡­ Mr. Bi, Mr. Bi!?¡± ¡°Hmm, yes?¡± Bi Fang jolted awake, reflexively grabbing the man¡¯s wrist and twisting it behind his back, but before the man could cry out in pain, Bi Fang, recognizing his face, quickly released him and raised his hands halfway. It seemed that only now did the pain signal reach the security guard¡¯s brain, causing him to cry out in pain and draw the attention of the few remaining people in the vicinity. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, so sorry, it was unintentional,¡± Bi Fang said, his hands halfway raised, his face a mix of embarrassment and shame. He glanced around and instantly understood everything. Compared to the crowded lobby during the day, it now seemed desolate, where even a slight noise could produce an echo and carry far. Not far away, the man¡¯s colleagues were already hurrying over. Clearly, he had accidentally fallen asleep after using the gold coupon and even slept until nightfall. And when someone kindly tried to wake him, he had reacted by reflex and immobilized them, possibly even injuring a joint. But there wasn¡¯t much he could do about it. He had just returned from Yemen and his nerves had not completely relaxed. Moreover, his wild instincts meant many of his actions were subconscious. ¡°I am truly sorry. Perhaps you should go to the hospital to have it checked out? I will cover all expenses, including loss of wages and so on. I really am sorry.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s okay, just a bit painful,¡± the security guard grimaced in pain but continued to wave his hand dismissively. ¡°Hey, Old Huang, are you all right? You there, stay away from him!¡± The colleague from a distance had now approached, and the man hurriedly stood up to gesture, ¡°It¡¯s okay, just a misunderstanding. I accidentally took a fall.¡± His colleague looked skeptical, ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes, really! Don¡¯t worry.¡± The man moved forward a bit more and took a few steps, proving to his colleague he was alright. After exchanging a few words, his colleague finally let down his guard and left. The man turned his head to look back at Bi Fang, who felt even more awkward. He hadn¡¯t expected that after injuring the other¡¯s arm, the man would still cover for him. He felt terribly sorry. However, the man¡¯s attitude led Bi Fang to make a guess, ¡°You¡­ know me?¡± The man moved his shoulders, wincing as he twitched the corner of his mouth, but still let out a hearty laugh, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve watched your live streams, Master Fang!¡± Bi Fang felt even more embarrassed and was about to say something when the man waved his hand dismissively, ¡°It¡¯s fine, I understand. You just got back from Yemen, so it¡¯s normal to be tense. It¡¯s also my bad for getting too close. I always thought Cao Mengde¡¯s ¡®I enjoy killing people in my dreams¡¯ was just talk, but I guess I¡¯ve seen it for myself today.¡± The joke lightened the tense atmosphere immediately. Relieved, Bi Fang knew that compensating and apologizing financially were minor things; he had made a mistake, after all. What worried him was if the other party wouldn¡¯t let it go and make a big deal of it, which could hold him back. With every day precious, he couldn¡¯t afford to waste any. After giving away the farewell gifts today, he would be setting off officially tomorrow. ¡°I¡¯m completely at fault here. Please, go to the hospital right away, and I¡¯ll cover all the costs.¡± ¡°Eh, there¡¯s no need. You let go quickly, and I¡¯ve had some training, too. See, it¡¯s not a big deal anymore. At most, I¡¯ll just slap on a plaster tonight, and it should be fine,¡± Huang Tianming reassured Bi Fang, waving his hand and rotating his shoulder to show that he was fine while giving Bi Fang a thumbs-up. ¡°Master Fang, I watched your whole livestream the other day. You¡¯re a real tough guy, damn, you¡¯ve made the Huaxia people proud. Those animals had no conscience; they don¡¯t shy away from doing vile things. And who says only foreigners have the guts to take risks and strive? We don¡¯t have shows about fighting river monsters or exploring rainforests. All we get are those sissy dance and singing acts. But the reality shows that we Huaxia people are second to none, and we can even do better, kick more ass! ¡°What¡¯s the use of editing skills? It¡¯s all fake. Live streaming is where it¡¯s at¡ªwho would dare call it fake? Sadly, I¡¯m not that capable, nor do I have much money to help. But what¡¯s the big deal with a little twist? Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Huang Tianming ended up comforting Bi Fang, patting him on the shoulder. ¡°This¡­¡± Bi Fang still felt quite sorry. ¡°It¡¯s alright, it¡¯s alright. Look, if you really feel that bad, why not tell me where you¡¯re planning to go next? When will the next stream start?¡± At the mention of this, Huang Tianming¡¯s eyes lit up. He was a true fan of Bi Fang¡¯s; unless he was tied up with work, he hardly missed an episode. He also genuinely felt this way. Although separated by a screen, watching Bi Fang survive and explore in all sorts of dangerous places abroad was so fucking awesome, way better than any movie! Especially after Jerret¡¯s survival show aired, it made Master Fang¡¯s bravery and fearlessness even more apparent, as well as his high level of professional skill, rightfully earning him the title of number one in the wilderness! Making us proud! Truly making us proud! ¡°For the next episode, there is indeed something planned.¡± ¡°Hey, tell me, tell me. If you don¡¯t, I really can¡¯t let you off the hook.¡± Bi Fang looked around, then leaned in and whispered, ¡°I¡¯m going to climb Mount Everest!¡± ¡°Sss! Everest? My dearest mother!¡± Bi Fang scratched his head and saw that the passersby he had finally shaken off were gathering around again, leaving him rather speechless. Why does everyone react so strongly? He hadn¡¯t even started climbing yet! Chapter 395 - Chapter 395: Chapter 393: Mountain Gods Blessing Chapter 395: Chapter 393: Mountain God¡¯s Blessing In the enclosed space, the sound of breathing fluctuated continuously, deep and viscous, like a broken bellows. In the darkness, Bi Fang and Edinburgh huddled to rest, conserving their energy and heat, while only Danzeng kept digging, following the rope and ceaselessly excavating, his hands nearly numb from the cold. It wasn¡¯t that Bi Fang was being finicky; in a critical moment for his team¡¯s survival, he still aimed to complete the mission without oxygen. The reason was that he was in pain almost all over his body¡ªrescuing Danzeng had drained every last bit of his strength. If he chose to use oxygen at this point, it would mean failing both the mission and the rescue. Truly worthy of being the warrior of the Third Pole, the favorite of the high mountains. Feeling the shadowy figure swaying in the darkness, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but think. The joke that the Sherpa people possess a third lung lobe specially for mountaineering is not without foundation; genetically, they are better adapted to high-altitude conditions than ordinary people. They have low blood pressure, ensuring ample brain blood supply, and powerful muscle flexibility; compared to the length of their legs, their torsos are longer to maintain a stable center of gravity on the rugged mountains. ¡°Mr. Bi, Sir Edinburgh?¡± ¡°Here.¡± His head was getting dizzier. The air was pitifully low in oxygen, and every breath felt futile, no matter how hard the alveoli tried to expand, they couldn¡¯t filter in any oxygen. The blood flow was increasingly sluggish, the hemoglobin desperately trying to catch oxygen molecules, but it was all in vain. The silent darkness was unnerving, and at this moment, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t suppress his panic. This wasn¡¯t fear, but a physiological reaction brought on by the lack of oxygen, not so easily overcome by sheer willpower. If only there was light. In the moment of being struck by the wind and snow, aside from the backpacks secured to their backs, the headlamps of Bi Fang, Sir, and Danzeng had long since been washed away, their whereabouts unknown. If only they had a lamp now, it wouldn¡¯t be like this. With his lungs heaving, Bi Fang took another deep breath, further depleting the oxygen in the air, which in turn, increased the concentration of carbon dioxide. The now calm Bi Fang gave himself a preliminary diagnosis: his arms were completely powerless, his muscles were cramping and stiffening, perhaps a minor strain. A strain would be troublesome as it wouldn¡¯t heal quickly; he hoped it was just simple fatigue. If they didn¡¯t get out soon, carbon dioxide poisoning might claim his life. It wasn¡¯t just carbon monoxide that could poison you; carbon dioxide could as well. Normally, the carbon dioxide content in exhaled human breath is 4.2%. The partial pressure of carbon dioxide in blood is higher than that in the alveoli, which is why carbon dioxide can diffuse into the alveoli. But once the environmental concentration of carbon dioxide increases, the concentration within the alveoli likewise rises. At that point, the pH levels undergo drastic changes, stimulating the respiratory center, eventually leading to paralysis of the respiratory center and causing asphyxia due to hypoxia. ¡°Damn it, how did we encounter an avalanche.¡± Bi Fang looked up and hit his head against the snow wall, unable to understand how this could have happened. Perhaps sensing the change in atmosphere, Danzeng called out softly, ¡°Mr. Bi, Sir Edinburgh, are you alright?¡± This was already Danzeng¡¯s thirteenth inquiry, asking almost every half a minute. Just as Bi Fang was about to respond as before, a wave of indescribable comfort washed over him, and every cell rejoiced as if¡­ The oxygen concentration was increasing! Bi Fang suddenly sat up and expanded his lungs again¡ªno mistake, the oxygen concentration in the air had increased! It wasn¡¯t an illusion! Were they about to dig out? But that wasn¡¯t right. Danzeng was digging along the rope. Was someone else not buried? That was impossible, right? With confusion in his heart, Bi Fang followed the rope to Danzeng¡¯s side: ¡°Danzeng, continue to dig, fast, keep digging!¡± Danzeng looked bewildered, but he didn¡¯t stop his movements, continuing to excavate as large chunks of snow were thrown out. ¡°` As he kept digging, Bi Fang sharply noticed that the oxygen concentration in the air seemed to have increased a little. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Mr. Bi?¡± Danzeng was perplexed, not knowing why Bi Fang suddenly reacted. Bi Fang didn¡¯t answer; he braced his hands on the snow in front of him and pushed hard with both arms. Suddenly, the snow layer in front of everyone collapsed violently, a cloud of snow dust flew, and the air circulation stirred up a breeze, with fresh air rushing in. Did they break through?! Danzeng and the semi-conscious Edinburgh¡¯s eyes widened; although they could see nothing in the darkness, they keenly sensed the airflow. Are they out?! No, not yet. Bi Fang surveyed the pitch black around him; the sky over Mount Everest was very clear, if they were outside, it would not be as pitch black as it was now. It was an internal ¡°vacuum.¡± Bi Fang recalled the scenario of the avalanche and gradually simulated the situation at the time. He took a deep breath to alleviate the dizziness caused by the lack of oxygen, and Bi Fang explained, ¡°When the avalanche occurred, it quickly engulfed everything, but the Eagle Head Ice Slope¡¯s shape was too unique, leaving some space in the rocks after the deluge had passed.¡± Just like when a plane crashes into the sea and is quickly enveloped by the ocean, the air inside the cabin gets compressed to the top and cannot escape, creating a breathable area. The peak of the Eagle Head Ice Slope rises high into the sky, but it faces away from the oncoming avalanche. As the deluge swept down, it really protected the last remaining survival space underneath the avalanche like an eagle! As Edinburgh and Bi Fang marveled at the incredibility of the situation, Danzeng¡¯s shout rang out in the darkness. ¡°Mr. Bi, there are other people here! Lama Qin! Lama Qin! It¡¯s the Mountain God¡¯s manifestation, it¡¯s the Mountain God¡¯s manifestation! Lama Qin! Lama Qin!¡± Other people? Forcing himself to stand, Bi Fang suddenly faced a blinding light. Bi Fang hurriedly covered his eyes. Realizing his mistake, Danzeng quickly dimmed the light. After slowly adjusting to the blinding headlamp, Bi Fang slowly opened his eyes. In the not-so-large space, Yao Jun, Rob, and Jerret, were all there! ¡°Everyone¡¯s okay, everyone¡¯s okay!¡± Danzeng was visibly excited, but the next moment, his mood dropped significantly, ¡°It¡¯s a pity about Uncle Holt and Uncle Lezha; they shouldn¡¯t have run away. I wonder how they are now.¡± Edinburgh comforted the young man: ¡°It¡¯s an instinctual reaction, there¡¯s no right or wrong, you don¡¯t have to worry too much about that. The Mountain God will protect them.¡± Coughing twice, Bi Fang came next to Yao Jun and the others, checking each of them in turn. They all were still breathing, and their breathing was normal, just temporarily fallen into unconsciousness. Taking out oxygen cylinders from their backpacks and fitting them, Bi Fang then rummaged through Rob¡¯s backpack, and successfully found a small radio. Phew. Finding this, Bi Fang let out a sigh of relief. Luckily it was still there, with this device, even if they couldn¡¯t dig themselves out, they could wait for rescue with assurance. ¡°` Chapter 396 - Chapter 396: Chapter 394: Reserving a Spot Chapter 396: Chapter 394: Reserving a Spot I¡¯ll stake a claim here. Edit in the early morning. By the dock. The morning fog spread. The exhausted group who had escaped from the warehouse collapsed inside the spacious residential building, quietly waiting for the rescue boat to arrive. Matthew stepped out of the residential building, wiped the damp steps, and sat down next to Bi Fang. Seeing him still fiddling with the drone, he asked curiously, ¡°How is it, can you see clearly?¡± Bi Fang let his hands droop and sighed as he handed over the drone, ¡°No luck, it¡¯s too dark, and the fire is reflecting too much. You can only see half a face, no matter how you adjust it, it¡¯s useless.¡± Matthew took the drone and, despite tweaking it countless times, still felt regret after learning the situation. He stared at the screen, but still couldn¡¯t make out anything. The light from the flames cast on the man¡¯s sharp face, creating a mix of sensitivity, with a tall nose casting a shadow. One eye of the man was hidden in the darkness, the other cold and expressionless. Last night, amidst the massive fire, Bi Fang risked his life to go back and capture footage. He saw the gang leader at a distance of sixty meters use a pistol to finish off a bandit leader and managed to capture half of his side profile. [With half a face, they should be able to reconstruct it, right? Technology is so advanced now.] [It¡¯s a bit difficult, this is what I do. It involves light and shadow imaging, three-dimensional lighting, and muscle and skeletal analysis, all of which I¡¯m boasting about.] [Good lord, I woke up this morning and saw that it made the trending search. This person will never dare to show their face again (dog¡¯s head).] [I saw it too, the person in the photo must be utterly baffled. Anyone familiar will definitely recognize them.] [Won¡¯t Old Fang be retaliated against?] [Emmmmm, you got a point there.] [Afraid my arse, bring one and I will smash one, Old Fang will smash them all to bits.] ¡°Too bad the drone was discovered, couldn¡¯t capture more footage.¡± Bi Fang was a bit annoyed. Last night, he hid behind a wall and sent the drone out to film, but the opposing party was just too well-prepared. They even had infrared equipment, and the drone was spotted before it got close and shot at, leaving him with no choice but to flee. In the end, it was a close call with no result. Sisko, having come up empty-handed as well, could only return with his people. Matthew patted Bi Fang on the shoulder to comfort him, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. At least we know he¡¯s Caucasian, right?¡± Bi Fang forced a smile, about to say something, but then suddenly stood up. Thinking something was wrong, Matthew also quickly got up, only to see that the hazy mist suddenly surged and a black bow of a boat appeared through the fog before everyone¡¯s eyes. Matthew was startled, ¡°Is it the one from yesterday?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not,¡± Bi Fang released the drone, letting it circle overhead, and quickly estimated the size of the vessel based on the bow. ¡°It¡¯s much smaller than yesterday¡¯s. It¡¯s not the same one.¡± Realizing it wasn¡¯t the same boat, Matthew was stunned for a moment but then quickly grasped the situation and exclaimed joyfully. ¡°Rescue boat!¡± ¡°Rescue boat?¡± ¡°Has the rescue boat arrived?¡± ¡°The rescue boat has come!¡± Matthew¡¯s shouting revitalized the sleepy and drowsy people, who all poked their heads out of the windows, looking at the distant boat and could not help but be overjoyed. ¡°Shh, quiet down first.¡± In the midst of excitement, Bi Fang threw cold water on everyone, ¡°Whether it¡¯s a rescue boat or not is still uncertain. Hide first, and let the boat get a bit closer.¡± Hearing Bi Fang¡¯s words, the people who had just been extremely excited sobered up like a cold shower had been dumped on them, remembering last night¡¯s terrifying scene. The cold wind blew, and they withdrew their heads, leaving only their eyes silently watching. Bi Fang then ran farther away to higher ground, watching the lettered vessel slowly approach. Judging from its shape, it was undoubtedly a fishing boat, matching the information given by Abbascan. After mooring, several soldiers disembarked from the fishing boat and quickly spotted Bi Fang standing on the high ground. The soldiers seemed to recognize Bi Fang, and upon seeing him, they saluted him militarily. Then one of them removed his rifle, handed it to a comrade, and ran toward the high ground alone. Witnessing this scene, Bi Fang finally breathed a sigh of relief inside. It was over. ¡­ The drone took to the sky, the sky clear and washed blue after last night¡¯s rain. ¡°Saved over fifty people again, how does it feel?¡± Matthew, scruffy as ever, sat on the bow deck, casually tossing over a bottle of mineral water. Looking at the survivors below who were crying and helping each other onto the boat, he was filled with an indescribable feeling. ¡°I¡¯m so tired, I just want to sleep well. If it weren¡¯t for you showing up, I wouldn¡¯t need to be in this mess now, so please don¡¯t follow me anymore, okay?¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t I helping you trend online?¡± ¡°Do I need that? Please, my female fans could circle from Antarctica to the Arctic Circle, okay?¡± ¡°Will I also get some female fans this time?¡± Bi Fang chuckled but didn¡¯t answer. He guzzled down an entire bottle of water and then sprawled face up on the deck, the sea breeze fluttering his hair. ¡°Every time I meet people, it¡¯s never good. I always feel like I¡¯m either rescuing someone or on my way to rescue someone. Just let me rest, please.¡± ¡°You¡¯re bound to be famous, the world¡¯s number one explorer¡­¡± Matthew wanted to say more, but just as he opened his mouth, he heard the faint sound of snoring. He chuckled, shook his head, leaned on the railing, and slowly closed his eyes. They hadn¡¯t slept for two days straight. ¡­ [Ding! Congratulations to the Host for completing the mission: Ruins City. Rewards are being issued. Would you like to claim them?] When Bi Fang woke up again, he was already in the rear of the eastern front of Abbascan, a place not much affected by the war, with well-preserved infrastructure. Looking at the vast crowd in front of him and the leading officials, Bi Fang felt a headache coming on and put off claiming his rewards. Anyone would feel groggy if they hadn¡¯t slept for two days and then suddenly slept from dawn until evening, let alone having to deal with a big crowd. Fortunately, people from Huaxia had also arrived. After briefly dealing with them, Bi Fang had a meal with everyone and then went back to the inn to continue his deep sleep. It wasn¡¯t until the next morning that Bi Fang¡¯s mind completely cleared up. He gulped down a glass of warm water, sweeping away the fatigue from his body. ¡°Claim.¡± He opened up the System, eager to claim the rewards for this mission. Steel and concrete, barrages of bullets, the interlacing of cold gray lights and shadows, all eventually dissipated like bubbles. [Detection: No reward upgrade available. Your final rewards are: 1 Skill Advancement Ticket, 2 Skill Upgrade Coupons, 3 Enhancement Points, 800 Wilderness Points, 1 Breakthrough Mission Indicator (unique and singular).] The spoils were¡­ decent. Bi Fang touched his chin. Compared to the previous missions, the earnings this time didn¡¯t seem too high. Was it because of the breakthrough mission? Bi Fang tried to open the indicator but found it grayed out and unresponsive. ??? What¡¯s going on? A reward that I can¡¯t use? What kind of reward is that? Bi Fang was puzzled; this was the first time he had encountered such a situation. Was a reward that couldn¡¯t be used even a reward? Was there a prerequisite? Looking at the gray indicator, Bi Fang could only think of this possibility. Helplessly, he decided to use the other rewards, first adding to strength and agility until they both reached fifteen, then prioritizing his physique. After using two Enhancement Points, Bi Fang tried to enhance his physique to sixteen but was stunned to find that it failed! The physique stat on his panel hadn¡¯t increased, and the Enhancement Points hadn¡¯t disappeared. What¡¯s going on, did the System crash? How could this be? As this was Bi Fang¡¯s first encounter with such a situation, he was somewhat baffled. Could fifteen be the System¡¯s limit? But he didn¡¯t feel anything at all. Was the human limit really that small? His 100-meter sprint couldn¡¯t even break ten seconds, could that be called a limit? Just as Bi Fang was confused, he suddenly noticed that the once-gray Breakthrough Mission Indicator had turned gold. There¡¯s hope! [Ding! Detection: The Host has met the prerequisite conditions for the breakthrough mission, which is now activated] Mission one: Anoxic climb to the top of the world¡ªMount Everest. Mission two: Protective gear-free deep-sea crossing¡ªTharp Debold Cave. Mission three: Trekking across the Sea of Death¡ªLop Nur. ? Chapter 397 - Chapter 397: Chapter 395: Alive, truly alive! Chapter 397: Chapter 395: Alive, truly alive! ¡°Cough cough.¡± The cold air made Bi Fang cough uncontrollably. When he raised his head to look at the chat room again, he suddenly found that the previously bustling space full of barrage comments had become refreshingly clear, just like a pine tree shaking off its snow. Strange, why has everyone suddenly stopped talking? After a long while. [Holy shit, Old Fang is alive!] [Damn, I just prayed for Master Fang¡¯s safety by sacrificing my roommate¡¯s chance at love for a lifetime, and now my roommate¡¯s doomed to be single forever.] [Roommate: ?] [Roommate: Thanks a lot, dickhead.] [Awesome, he survived an avalanche! Who else could do that!] [Crap, I was yelling so loud, my mom asked why I¡¯m not asleep yet.] [Badass, bro, you¡¯re supremely badass!] ¡°They survived! They survived! They¡¯re okay, oh God, they¡¯re okay!¡± Inside the Arctic Circle, Elvan hugged Lenin¡¯s shoulders tightly and jumped around with joy. ¡°Yes, yes, God blesses the kind-hearted,¡± Lenin said, stroking his big beard and laughing heartily. ¨¦tienne ran around the vast lake, shouting at the top of his lungs, ¡°They¡¯re too awesome! Woo!¡± In the brightly lit building, the duty staff immediately contacted Li Yawen to share the good news as soon as possible. ¡°Boss, Master Fang¡¯s live stream is on!¡± In the living room, seeing Bi Fang safe and sound, Li Yawen clenched his fist and pounded the table: ¡°Damn it, I knew this kid wouldn¡¯t go down so easily. Bloody hell, it¡¯s got my blood pressure soaring.¡± After opening the drawer and taking his blood pressure medication with some water, Yao Xuehui sat back in his chair and heaved a sigh of relief, while the woman beside him gently patted his chest to calm him down. ¡°This damned kid, always messing around. He could¡¯ve used the time to promote his own brand instead of this nonsense! He¡¯s driving me crazy.¡± ¡°Oh come on, quit it, you worry too much. You get angry when the kid¡¯s in trouble and just as mad when he¡¯s fine. You might as well be a balloon.¡± In the brightly lit building, the sound of smashing items and growling could be heard from time to time. ¡°What¡¯s up with the manager? Did the stock market tank or did he find out his kid isn¡¯t his own?¡± The same situation, but now it was little B asking little A. Little A, looking at Bi Fang scanning the surroundings on his phone screen, chuckled: ¡°Probably because some business plans that had just been agreed upon have gone bankrupt again. But, what does it have to do with us? We¡¯re just working stiffs. If the company profits, we don¡¯t see a cent. If the company losses, it¡¯s not going to declare bankruptcy and lay us off.¡± Little B was taken aback, as if he had an epiphany, then slowly put down the document in his hands and picked up the mug beside him. The sounds of destruction continued, but little A and little B, holding their coffee cups and gazing up at the ceiling, sipped their coffee and exhaled a stream of hot vapor. Every time you slack off, a boss loses his dream. [Lin Chang gifted the host with Spaceships*10¡ªcompensate me for my lost sleep!] [Holy smokes, why¡¯s the second-place big shot not sleeping in the middle of the night? Turns out, it¡¯s because of him!] [By the way, what¡¯s the deal with this cave? Why is there a cave anyway!] [Master Fang, you finally stopped pretending, you urban superpower!] [I¡¯m laying it all out there, I¡¯m not pretending anymore. Here¡¯s my transformation device; yes, I am the light!] The audience followed Bi Fang¡¯s perspective for a full scan and discovered that the space they were in was actually not small¡ªalmost as large as a minibus. A breath of cold mist was exhaled as Bi Fang sat on the ground, taking a deep breath to explain, ¡°Just now, we encountered an avalanche. Aside from the two missing Sherpa guides, everyone else in the team is in stable condition, with no major issues beyond some scrapes.¡± What can fly without wings? What can punch without fists? What can see without eyes? This is a riddle that has been circulating since medieval Europe. The answer is an avalanche. An avalanche is also known as the white death. When an avalanche occurs, the snow relentlessly collapses down the mountain from high elevations under the force of gravity, at high speeds and with immense impact force, often leveling everything in its path. According to statistics, avalanches are the greatest natural risk leading to fatal accidents in winter outdoor sports¡ªwithout equal! Bi Fang leaned against a snow wall, feeling incredibly fortunate. There have been numerous avalanches on Mount Everest, with the Khumbu Glacier being a disaster zone, mostly happening in the early hours of the morning. This is mainly due to the terrain of the Khumbu Glacier. When the cohesive forces within the snow on a slope can no longer resist the pull of gravity acting upon it, the snow will slide downward, causing a large amount of accumulated snow to collapse. The Chinese Academy of Sciences Tianshan Snow Avalanche Research Station once found that on slopes with an angle of about 40 degrees, avalanches are most likely to occur, which coincides with the terrain of the Khumbu Glacier. Once in danger, waiting for rescue is almost impossible. By the time it arrives, your body would have already become part of the glacier, buried for a long time, and you might, like the story Bi Fang previously told, reemerge with the movement of the glacier a century later. Audiences watching the screen couldn¡¯t believe it was true that Eagle Head Ice Slope had protected Bi Fang and his group. [The Mountain God has manifested, this must be the Mountain God¡¯s work!] [Damn, that¡¯s awesome] [So good deeds really do get rewarded?] ¡°I had demonstrated avalanche survival before; I didn¡¯t expect to really encounter one. There are usually three causes of fatalities in avalanches¡ªbodily injury, asphyxiation, and hypothermia. There are rescue methods for each: one is to escape before the avalanche stops, two is to prevent being completely buried, and three is to reduce the time the trapped person is buried. Generally, an avalanche doesn¡¯t kill by impact; the cause of death is the cold and lack of oxygen after being buried. However, snow also contains life-saving oxygen. Ideally, after being buried, one should raise their arms to create a breathing space, which can effectively prolong survival time. If I had started the live broadcast earlier, you would have seen Sir doing exactly that, a very standard method of self-rescue.¡± Bi Fang crossed his arms over his chest. Asphyxiation from being buried is not quite the same as ordinary asphyxiation. Once buried securely, it¡¯s almost impossible to expand the lungs without certain escape techniques to widen the space, leading many avalanche victims to asphyxiate not due to the lack of oxygen, but because their lungs cannot expand. ¡°We are very lucky. There are many types of avalanches based on the physical properties of the snow and the fracture location, but basically, there are two kinds¡ªdry avalanches and wet avalanches.¡± Bi Fang grabbed a handful of snow from the nearby snow wall, and when he squeezed it hard with his hand, miraculously, the snow did not clump together but scattered like powder between his fingers, as if it was dry flour. ¡°We experienced a dry avalanche. Friends in the south may not relate, but those in the north must have encountered this situation, where the snow is as dry as flour, unable to clump together, totally unfit for a snowball fight. This is because the winter temperatures in the north are too low and the air is dry, similar to a dry avalanche.¡± ¡°When the snow¡¯s water content is less than 1%, it¡¯s generally considered to be a dry avalanche. During a dry avalanche, due to the low viscosity of the snow, a large number of snow particles collide with each other while moving, and will hang in the air forming a white fog. Viewed from high above, this kind of avalanche is very spectacular. Today it¡¯s too dark, but you should see it very clearly in night mode.¡± Indeed, many viewers nodded inwardly, because of the altitude issue, the drone wasn¡¯t flying high, practically face-to-face with the avalanche. Rumbling snow waves stretched for hundreds of meters, the sky filled with white dust, almost obscuring the sky altogether. ¡°High-speed fog compresses the surrounding air to form powerful shockwaves, destroying everything in its path. After the devastation of the shockwave, the real avalanche comes trailing after, the wild snow burying everything in its wake.¡± [So where is the luck in this, LOL-cry] [There¡¯s dry, so there must be wet, and I bet wet avalanches are even more destructive!] ¡°Exactly,¡± Bi Fang smiled. ¡°When the water content exceeds 1%, it¡¯s considered a wet avalanche. Wet avalanches mainly occur when the temperature rises. As the temperature increases, the snow melts and the meltwater infiltrates the snow layers, increasing the snow layer¡¯s water content. The infiltrating meltwater can easily refreeze into ice crystals, altering the shape of the internal snow particles, and localized collapses on the snow surface induced by high temperatures cause collapsing snow to slide along the slope, gathering speed along the way and collecting more snow to gradually form snowballs. Therefore, before an avalanche, large numbers of rolling snowballs tend to appear on the slopes. Ultimately, the aggregated mass of rolling snowballs breaks the calmness of the snow surface and slides down, causing an avalanche. During the slide, snowballs grow in size and can carry melted ground soil, rocks, and the like, resulting in destruction far exceeding that of dry avalanches.¡± Bi Fang paused, exchanging air a few times before continuing. ¡°This kind of avalanche, as you can imagine, is extremely dangerous. The rocks carried with it are as lethal as stones blown around in a storm; a hit could, at the least, result in serious injury, and at worst¡­ you understand.¡± Chapter 398 - Chapter 398: Chapter 396: Reserving a Spot Chapter 398: Chapter 396: Reserving a Spot Chapter two is not finished; I¡¯m just staking a claim. Edited in the wee hours. The waterfall in the mountain stream surged violently. The bear¡¯s roar thundered and tumbled through the forest, exploding in everyone¡¯s ears. Goulbin¡¯s legs went soft, and the weight on Bi Fang¡¯s shoulders grew heavier by a fraction, his face turning beet red from the strain. Seeing Goulbin let go, he flared up with anger. Damn it. He had nothing to say about running away at the first sign of trouble; it was human nature, and besides, it was Bi Fang who had told Goulbin to run. But now to be so frightened by the bear¡¯s roar that his legs gave out, showing not an ounce of courage¡ªwhere did he get the confidence to sign up for this? How had this mentality and psychological quality not gotten him eliminated in the past few days? Luckily, Goulbin wasn¡¯t a complete idiot. Stupid he might be, but not terminally so. He scrambled to his feet in a panic and continued to carry the tree. The three of them carried the same large tree, erecting it bit by bit, and finally, with a vigorous shove from Bi Fang, the tree tipped over to the opposite side under the force of gravity. With a loud crash, dust billowed up. ¡°Quick, get over here!¡± Bi Fang called out to the two behind him, then held the tree in place to prevent it from rolling and immediately let them cross over the tree. Looking at the rushing water in the mountain stream, his companion swallowed hard. He had no idea how high the stream was, but it was certainly more than ten meters, and the edges were all huge rocks. A fall would mean certain death. The noises behind them grew louder and closer, making even the spectators sweat bullets. Taking a deep breath, his companion decided not to look down any longer. He looked straight ahead and quickly crossed over, then like Bi Fang, held the tree to prevent it from rolling. ¡°Quick, it¡¯s your turn!¡± Bi Fang called out to Goulbin once more. Gulp. Trapped between a mountain stream in front and a huge bear behind, the thought alone made Goulbin feel an unstoppable urge to urinate. He shakily extended one foot onto the log, immediately feeling as if it were wobbling and he might roll and slip off, though it was all an illusion. ¡°Hurry up, Goulbin, hurry!¡± his companion on the other side urged impatiently. ¡°Don¡¯t look down!¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t rush him. The more he rushed, the more panicked he would become, so he could only roar a reminder as the sounds behind them seemed to be right at their ears as though the bear was right beside them, licking their earlobes, ready to open its maw and devour them. If it weren¡¯t necessary, Bi Fang truly didn¡¯t want to confront the brown bear head-on, not even with a tranquilizer gun. This was not the first time he had faced such a perilous situation. Bi Fang could tell that for the moment, the brown bear was just eyeing them, seeking an opportunity. Otherwise, it would have pounced from the start, rather than having a standoff for so long. Once a gun is fired, in the eyes of an animal, it¡¯s seen as a provocation, and confrontation is inevitable. Even if you use a tranquilizer gun against a brown bear, no matter how fast it takes effect, within the range of the firearm, the bear has enough time to charge at you before succumbing to the sedative and slap your Heavenly Spirit Cover. And that¡¯s even putting into question whether it would take effect at all. A brown bear just out of hibernation often has fur longer than ten centimeters ¨C a natural armor woven from layers of hair. Goulbin spread his arms like wings and moved his feet bit by bit, advancing at a pace that had the spectators cursing out loud. They were so frustrated they couldn¡¯t jump through the screen to beat him up and then drag him by the neck across the river. ¡°Faster!¡± His companion on the other side urged vehemently, filled with contempt for Goulbin¡¯s cowardice. If it weren¡¯t for the need to stabilize the tree to prevent rolling, and the fact that Bi Fang was still on the other side, he would¡¯ve turned around and left. As he raised his head, intending to urge him again, a familiar color in the forest on the opposite side struck his eyes like needles. He was stupefied, pointing behind him: ¡°Bear, bear!¡± Startled, Goulbin instinctively crouched down and grabbed onto the protruding branches on the tree. ¡°Quick!¡± Now even Bi Fang began to urge him on as he glanced back, the brown silhouette rapidly closing in, the distance practically under a hundred meters. The Brown Bear¡¯s speed wasn¡¯t fast, undoubtedly confirming his conjecture; the bear was still looking for an opportunity. Otherwise, by now, it should have been sprinting forward¡ªin a hundred-meter dash, a Brown Bear can run even faster than Bolt, and it wouldn¡¯t even take ten seconds. ¡°Relax!¡± Seeing Goulbin squat down, Bi Fang nearly died of frustration. After much encouragement, Goulbin finally stood up, got his posture right, and started walking toward the ground with a speed that was noticeably faster than before, as if he too knew the bear was about to arrive. The Bear kept closing in, eighty meters, fifty meters, thirty meters. By the time Goulbin reached the opposite shore, Bi Fang could even smell the stench from the bear¡¯s mouth. Only when the distance narrowed to less than ten meters did the audience truly realize just how immense the Brown Bear was¡ªit was not just ¡°huge.¡± It was clearly a mountain, a mountain made of defense-layered thick fat and convoluted muscles! Its body was robust, with muscles bulging on its shoulders and back of the neck. The muscles raised on its shoulder made its forearms appear exceptionally powerful, with claws reaching 15 centimeters long that resembled iron daggers rather than calcified talons, and its entire body covered in brown fur that shimmered with a hint of gold under the sunlight! Seeing Bi Fang isolated, the Brown Bear no longer suppressed its hunting instinct and pounced towards him aggressively, its body of muscle and fat¡ªa mountain in its own right¡ªcharging with an unstoppable momentum. It appeared as if the heavens themselves were collapsing, ready to crush down upon you! The pupils of the two on the opposite shore contracted sharply, and they almost screamed out in unison. Feeling the fierce wind from behind, Bi Fang threw himself forward, rolling and standing up on the log with an alarmingly balanced posture. The gasps from the audience grew louder with each wave, such balancing skills were simply unimaginable! Rolling on the log and still keeping one¡¯s balance required immense control over all the muscles in the body, as well as terrifying balance¡ªit was frightening! Even those who knew nothing of such feats felt utterly thrilled by this scene! With one roll, Bi Fang arrived at the center of the log, and just as he was about to rise and rush out, the log beneath him suddenly began trembling violently, like a rope being shaken. It was the Brown Bear! It dared not come closer but stepped onto the tree, pressing down uncertainly, using its own body weight to shake the large tree! What a clever bear! Such anthropomorphized behavior made it feel like this wasn¡¯t just a wild beast living in the forest, but a cunning and experienced Hunter! The audience, having seen Bi Fang reach the center of the tree, had just breathed a sigh of relief, only to have their hearts suspended once more. But now was not the time to discuss whether the bear was clever or not¡ªthe chat in the livestream had already descended into chaos, with comments flying in rapid succession! Jerry couldn¡¯t wait to kick the helicopter pilot out of his seat and take over himself. [Holy shit, that scared me to death!] [Damn, this bear¡¯s IQ is about to surpass mine!] [Be confident, it already has.] [In my life, I¡¯ve played like this too, now I¡¯m in line waiting for soup] The audiences¡¯ hearts were almost hanging from the ceiling, with many familiar viewers preemptively reaching into their chest pockets to pull out their emergency medications. The tree had been hastily constructed and wasn¡¯t very sturdy. The quick-eyed companion on the other shore noticed the pebbles starting to loosen, but before he could warn anyone, it was already too late. The massive tree suddenly slid down from the opposite shore! Chapter 399 - Chapter 399: Chapter 397: Survival Chapter 399: Chapter 397: Survival ¡°We should expand from here and try to compact the surrounding snow so it won¡¯t easily collapse.¡± Inside the pit, Yao Jun, following Bi Fang¡¯s instructions, labored to scoop snow as Jerret threw it out behind him. Soon, a small mound of snow began to accumulate in the enclosed space. After about ten minutes, Yao Jun¡¯s hands relaxed, and he collapsed into the pit, his tongue hanging out as he panted heavily. He swallowed a mouthful of saliva and said, ¡°I can¡¯t do it, I really can¡¯t. It¡¯s too narrow, my back¡¯s about to break. Let¡¯s switch, somebody else take over.¡± Hearing this, Jerret crawled out of the pit and pulled Yao Jun out after him, while Bi Fang took over the headlamp and peered inside. ¡°How long have you been digging? It doesn¡¯t seem like there¡¯s much change. Even a dog could dig faster than you.¡± Yao Jun bit his glove and threw it aside: ¡°I really can¡¯t anymore, the position is too taxing. Digging snow like this, I¡¯m worn out.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take over.¡± Rob put on the gloves and crawled into the hole, followed by Danzeng who continued to dig out the snow, and the pile inside kept growing. As Yao Jun took out an Energy Bar from his chest pocket, he refused it, mumbling unclearly, ¡°Why not make the hole bigger?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s larger, it¡¯s more likely to collapse.¡± Bi Fang too sat down beside him, pulled out an Energy Gel and slurped it into his mouth. The cold Energy Gel glided into his stomach, and soon enough, he could feel warmth spreading to his limbs, and his stiff muscles felt much better. Compared to Energy Bars, Energy Gels are easier to digest and provide heat to the body more quickly. ¡°I saw the snow shelters you built before were much larger than this. How come they didn¡¯t collapse?¡± ¡°Firstly, I¡¯ve never built an ice-house; it was a snow cave in Mohe, got it? Snow caves, snow houses, ice-houses¡ªthese are three different things that take progressively longer to build and are of increasing quality. A good ice-house may take a whole day to figure out, while a simple snow cave could be done in a couple of hours. But even the simplest snow cave is built with compacted snow throughout, so of course, it¡¯s more stable.¡± Everyone was buried in dry snow, and even just compacting a circle around was difficult; if the internal space was slightly larger, it would be prone to collapse. ¡°Look at this place, it¡¯s round. A round structure has greater strength, like an egg, that¡¯s why it can be so large and still not collapse. Moreover, the Eagle Head Ice Slope is propping it up like a roof beam.¡± Bi Fang looked up, and the headlamp illuminated the interior. The audience could clearly see the round space with the eagle¡¯s head and body of the Eagle Head Ice Slope supporting a large area of snow. ¡°Eh, so it looks like we got lucky. I wonder how the others are doing, probably not well.¡± Indeed, while the Eagle Head Ice Slope is not uncommon, how many could have taken refuge beneath it before the avalanche? And considering the many cracks in the Khumbu Glacier, even escaping requires caution or one might tumble into a crevasse and face a near-certain death¡­ As Rob was digging, he heard the conversation behind him, and his actions slowed. Yes, what about the others? His friend Wessels had set off with their team, possibly not even a hundred meters behind them, yet facing a dramatically different fate. Making the sign of the cross over his chest, Rob swept the snow from beneath him out of the way. Hope to God for protection. In the gloomy ice cave, a figure was huddled and trembling. Wessels rested his head against the ice wall, breathing heavily, his breath quickly condensing into frost on the smooth ice surface. Cold, an unprecedented chill. His body cooled inch by inch with every breath, signaling the loss of warmth. Hypothermia crept over him, and in the quiet of the crevasse, the ticking of his wristwatch was audible, each minute and second a passing of life. ¡°Cough, cough, cough, cough.¡± It felt as if something was stuck in his throat. Wessels coughed forcefully; a warm, rust-flavored clump was expelled. Looking down, the beam of his headlamp revealed clumps of dark blood clinging to his black gloves. Ten minutes earlier, as the avalanche struck, nobody could hear Wessels¡¯ commands. In panic, they untied their ropes and scattered in all directions. Unlike Bi Fang¡¯s team, where instinct took command amid chaos, even the brain would reflexively seal off external information. Hence, Bi Fang didn¡¯t waste any words; he grabbed the rope and forcefully took over their thinking with his most decisive actions. Although Wessels was experienced in mountaineering, he clearly hadn¡¯t faced many life-and-death crises. It was already a challenge for him to stay composed; he couldn¡¯t lead everyone through danger decisively and confidently like Bi Fang. With the slightest slip, he lost control over his team members, whose instincts fully kicked in like a group of frightened rabbits scattering in every direction. Having no choice, Wessels could only flee for his life, but he hadn¡¯t gone far when the ground beneath his feet gave way, and he plunged into darkness. Wessels¡¯s face then violently smashed against the ground. During the fall, Wessels instinctively extended his right hand, trying to stab his axe into the ice to slow his descent. However, the weight of his rapidly falling body yanked his arm out of its socket, leaving behind a mass of shattered bones and torn soft tissue. The crashing tumble stopped with the sound of bones cracking. ¡°I¡¯m going to die,¡± Wessels thought. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m already dead,¡± he thought again. He could feel his lungs heaving, struggling to pull in air. Each breath brought a wave of intense pain. Looking down, he saw his legs hanging in mid-air. He had landed on an ice shelf suspended in the darkness above, with a pallid blue-white halo over his head. He couldn¡¯t move. But for the moment, he was alive. The existence of his left hand was completely gone, along with, perhaps, many broken ribs. Who knew how deep the crevasse really was? Now, his greatest wish was for a cup of hot coffee. Looking around, Wessels realized he wasn¡¯t on a platform carved out of the crevasse but on a chunk of ice that had fallen down and got stuck between the walls. In the ever-shifting, changing Khumbu Glacier, how long would it maintain its wedge shape? Wessels¡¯s body swayed slightly as he tested his limits. Every movement sent agony throughout his body, making him dizzy and making every breath excruciating. Touching his face, he found that the wounds on his eyes and forehead were frozen, temporarily stopping the bleeding. It took Wessels almost ten minutes to sit upright and twist himself onto a safe perch on the block of ice. Simple movements left him gasping for breath, the icy air gushing out from the depths of the glacier. His body was trembling, and his fingers were icing up, quickly turning numb. He reached into his chest with his right hand and pulled out his phone. No signal. The layer of snow was too thick, or maybe the crevasse was too deep. There was no signal on the phone. Waiting for rescue was out of the question; with his current status, it wouldn¡¯t be long before he¡¯d freeze to death, or fall and die. Above Wessels, the snow was soft; the air in the crevasse had condensed on the walls, leaving a surface with the consistency of cream. The width of the crevasse was about two and a half meters, but looking to the right, Wessels saw that on the left, the crevasse seemed to narrow. If he was lucky enough, it might be narrow enough that he could ¡°chimney climb¡± upwards, or wedge his body in the crevasse, climbing up with just one hand. With his still functioning right hand, Wessels placed an axe at eye level and dragged his feet to the right, kicking the ice crampons into the ice, then reached over his body with the same hand, placing the other axe as far to the left as possible. When he grabbed the first axe, shifted his weight, and then reached for the second axe with his right hand, the pain made him scream, but he had to endure it. But when Wessels looked down, his headlamp cast a deep blue light. In the light, the familiar silhouette took him aback. ¡°Wessels, Wessels, is that you?¡± ¡°Wessels!¡± Chapter 400 - Chapter 400: Chapter 398 Occupy a Spot Chapter 400: Chapter 398 Occupy a Spot ¡°` Chapter two is not ready yet. Just staking a claim. Editing in the early morning. Mount Everest! No sooner had Bi Fang¡¯s voice fallen than Taseto sprang up with a swoosh, the legs of the stool scraping against the floor with a piercing screech. He placed his hands on the table, his face alight with surprise. ¡°Mount Everest! Is it that world¡¯s highest peak?¡± ¡°Mr. Bi is going to climb Mount Jolmo Lungma?¡± Bi Fang put down his knife and fork and, before he even had a chance to understand why the other party¡¯s reaction was so strong, Hask knocked on the table with his knuckles and gave Taseto a glare. Though his tone was one of reprimand, it wasn¡¯t too severe: ¡°Taseto, just look at yourself! Now sit down!¡± Taseto sat down, abashed. After scolding his third son, Hask turned to Bi Fang with an apologetic face: ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry for that scene, you must be amused. However, Taseto has been passionate about such adventures since he was a child, please forgive him.¡± Bi Fang waved his hands, not minding at all, and nodded affirmatively: ¡°That¡¯s right, the world¡¯s highest peak, Mount Everest.¡± Matthew was the first to express skepticism: ¡°Have you climbed before?¡± Though not well-versed in mountaineering, Matthew, who had wandered around, knew a lot, especially about Mount Everest. The Earth¡¯s highest point. The region with the thinnest air, one of the places with the harshest environments. Sometimes, even coughing could cost someone their life, and just taking a breath could cause excruciating pain as if tearing the liver and splitting the gut. Should an accident occur, even the bodies could only ever remain in that no-man¡¯s land, becoming an eternal landmark. It was a domain where every step had to be perfect; even though Bi Fang had created miracles time and again, the weight of being the world¡¯s highest mountain was still an obstacle that made it hard to have complete confidence in him. Therefore, Matthew had to be clear, although it had never appeared on the live stream, perhaps Bi Fang was a mountain climber before he became a streamer¡­ ¡°No.¡± Matthew¡¯s train of thought was interrupted, his pupils slowly dilating as his mouth opened unconsciously. After opening and closing it a few times without being able to speak, he finally managed to say, ¡°Are you crazy!? How is that possible?¡± Around the dining table, the Hask family also looked on in shock. Except for Taseto, the others were not keen on outdoor adventures, but that didn¡¯t mean they were ignorant. The perils of Mount Everest were well known to any Earthling, who, even if they couldn¡¯t list them, were aware of its terrifying aspects. ¡°I¡¯m not crazy.¡± Bi Fang, in contrast to everyone else, spoke calmly, picking up his knife and fork again to cut off a piece of veal steak and chew it. It took a good while before he swallowed, then tapped his head, ¡°To me, adventure requires two most important things: a healthy body and a brain that can insight into the wilderness.¡± ¡°Coincidentally, Matthew, I have both. I am twenty-five this year, my bodily functions are at their peak, and I also possess one of the world¡¯s top wilderness minds.¡± ¡°It¡¯s completely¡­ not the same thing. You haven¡¯t even been there, never been there¡­¡± Matthew stammered, unable to articulate, feeling that the notion was absurd. Announcing a bid to conquer the world¡¯s highest peak seemed ludicrous for someone who had never climbed at high altitude. Has he been possessed by Don Quixote? A madman? Bi Fang, seeing the looks on their faces, knew they didn¡¯t believe him. Indeed, someone who had never climbed a high-altitude mountain suddenly announcing their intention to conquer Mount Everest seemed nearly impossible. He took up his knife and fork, dabbing a bit of sauce, and drew a rudimentary regional map on the white porcelain plate. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, while Mount Everest is the world¡¯s highest peak, it isn¡¯t the most difficult one to climb. I¡¯ve set myself a generous timeline; the plan spans two months, with a month dedicated to training. It¡¯s mid-April now, and in one more month, it¡¯ll be mid-May, the best time to climb Mount Everest. During this period, all my live streams will revolve around preparations for Mount Everest.¡± ¡°` As the fork slid continuously, everyone¡¯s attention was drawn to the black sauce, as if there truly was a towering mountain range there, standing as the highest peak under the firmament, upon the Earth. ¡°Mount Everest is located on the China-Nepal border, with India to the south and the Bay of Bengal to the east of India. In May, the continental cold air above the Bay of Bengal begins to retreat northward. The movement of the high and low-pressure fronts often coincides with the formation of a cyclonic flow, so once a cyclonic circulation forms over the Bay of Bengal and shows signs of moving northward, it is the best time to summit Mount Everest. The climate around the Mount Everest area and the nearby peaks is complex and variable, with distinct monsoon characteristics. The weather changes are too unpredictable, so it¡¯s essential to choose a stable climatic period for the ascent. Too early, and the monsoon winds haven¡¯t stopped; too late, and the monsoon winds have shifted direction, neither of which is suitable for summiting. This weather window usually lasts a few days to ten days, and most ascents of Mount Everest are completed within this timeframe. Everything coincides perfectly with my timing plan.¡± Matthew, Hask, Taseto, and the others stood behind Bi Fang¡¯s chair, blinking at the map drawn on the plate, then looking at each other with confusion. Those present were all amateurs, hardly understanding but feeling quite impressed¡­ It seems, rather, that it might not be so difficult? Indeed, Master Fang (Mr. Bi) was well-prepared as expected! ¡°Why, why does the formation of a cyclonic circulation stabilize things?¡± Taseto, the only one with some outdoor sports knowledge, struggled to pronounce the technical term, which he had heard for the first time, and found it a bit difficult to say accurately after hearing it only once. Bi Fang looked around at everyone¡¯s eyes and knew they didn¡¯t understand a thing, so he dipped his fork in the sauce again and drew several circles: ¡°It¡¯s quite simple. To explain it simply, it¡¯s like the eye of a typhoon, which, compared to the eyewall, is relatively still. Therefore, the climate is stable.¡± ¡°Oh~~¡± It seemed they truly understood, as everyone let out a collective ¡°oh.¡± Matthew, who had been quite worried, seemed to be swayed as well, starting to feel it wasn¡¯t impossible after all. He was just a layman, after all, listening to Master Fang speak with such authority. Sure enough, a layman is a layman; the path he must walk is still long. Seeing the skepticism in everyone¡¯s eyes turn to seven parts trust, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but smile. Is climbing Mount Everest really that simple? What he had said was correct, but that didn¡¯t mean climbing Mount Everest was easy. Choosing the right summiting window was just lowering the requirements from one hundred percent to ninety percent. If you want to challenge high-altitude mountains, the first step is low-altitude outdoor activities, physical training, and learning the basic techniques. A beginner, utilizing all of the weekends, can complete this stage within a year. The second step is to start entering high-altitude areas with thin air. Before attempting to climb Mount Everest, it¡¯s best to have 2-3 high-altitude climbing experiences. Gradually proceed from mountains of 6000 meters as a starting point, then to 7000 meters and 8000 meters peaks. This stage can take as little as 1 year, but for ordinary people it requires 2-3 years. And for him, there¡¯s only one month! Twirling the fork in his hand, Bi Fang¡¯s gaze was resolute and fearless. Above 8500 meters, that is the height where human morality cannot demand anything, it is a forbidden zone for humans. With this thought, Bi Fang even felt a surge of excitement. In this life or the previous one, so many had gone forth, issuing challenge after challenge to Mount Everest. He had also dreamt of it, but that place also buried countless challengers. He was neither qualified nor powerful, only able to dream of it. Never before had he been so close to his Goddess Peak as he was today. As if, he could touch the sky with his hand. Bi Fang smiled. He had never stopped his pace, the new journey had just begun. Chapter 401 - Chapter 401: Chapter 399: But this is the adventure. Chapter 401: Chapter 399: But this is the adventure. Dawn had already arrived, the sky was a dark white, and behind them was pitch black, the horizon gradually became as clear as a knife¡¯s edge. Bi Fang watched as the sun leaped above the horizon, the grand and intense morning sun breathed life into the sky, slowly melting the frozen mountains and rivers. Looking down, the Khumbu Glacier, originally covered with cracks large and small, seemed as though it had been given a big clean, all its scars covered by the snow. But this was not a good thing; the rapidly rushing snowflakes didn¡¯t fill the crevasses, instead, they hid them, making the path even more dangerous. Yao Jun exhaled a breath of cold mist, not knowing what to do, he looked towards the guide Rob beside him, but Rob then cast his gaze back onto Bi Fang. ¡°What do we do now? The crevices are covered by snow, it¡¯s very dangerous to proceed, if we wait, it¡¯ll take at least a week to basically confirm safety.¡± The glacier was covered by snow, but such an attic-like structure was not safe, a slight tremor was all it took for it to collapse. Under the glacier¡¯s motion, the blanket of snow would soon disappear, buried deep within the glacier. Of course, there were also layers of snow maintained for various reasons, but those were just the usual dangers. Many times, deaths occurred because quite a few unlucky individuals fell into such glacial traps. At this moment, everyone¡¯s gaze settled on Bi Fang. Unconsciously, even an experienced guide like Rob viewed Bi Fang as the pillar of the group. After all, who else could have personally experienced an avalanche and come out with lessons learned? An avalanche, such a natural disaster, one was incredibly lucky to survive even once, and survival could likely leave one with a lifetime of psychological trauma. Only Bi Fang could possess rich ¡°experience¡± and still come out just fine. [Master Fang, quickly use your invincible Wilderness Survivalist skills to think of a solution!] [Is this what a big shot looks like?] [All eyes are on you, hoping for a textbook self-rescue! You truly are the Wilderness Survivalist God!] Bi Fang didn¡¯t answer but instead took out the altitude meter from his pocket, 5874 meters. ¡°The altitude of Camp One is 5943, the altitude of the base camp is 5334, we were almost at Camp One last night.¡± Putting away the altitude meter, Bi Fang furrowed his brow and pondered for a moment, considering that he was not alone. If it were up to him, he would not return to the base camp, but instead, head towards the closer, safer Camp One. But there were others with him. Bi Fang looked at Jerret, whose complexion was flushed from capillary dilation due to lack of oxygen; Yao Jun who kept coughing, he might have injured his lungs and windpipe; and Adenborg from the University of Edinburgh, who was sitting on the ground catching his breath, might not have any immediate issues, but age was a definite drawback. Additionally, the use of oxygen was a problem. There was no need to worry too much about Danzeng and Rob, their physical fitness was trustworthy. After thinking for a moment, Bi Fang felt he should still ask the others. ¡°I have a suggestion, I will go ahead to the base camp, try to help other victims along the way. Mount Everest rescues are different from regular rescues, it may not start until this afternoon, by that time it would be too late, so I¡¯ll take the lead. If any of you can¡¯t hold on, come with me, we can descend and reduce the altitude, and then wait for rescue at the base camp. Danzeng and Rob can head towards Camp One to help people there. I think right now we might be the group in the best physical condition on Mount Everest.¡± Observing the terrain and changes around him, Bi Fang guessed that last night¡¯s avalanche might have come from one of the peaks over 7000 meters next to them, and Camp One was likely also in trouble. So far, without a doubt, Bi Fang and the others were the people closest to the affected area and in good physical condition, the first and only ones to have successfully self-rescued from the avalanche. Returning the altitude meter, Bi Fang looked at the people around him: ¡°Alright, now who wants to go down with me, and who wants to keep moving forward?¡± Looking around, everyone exchanged glances. Jerret coughed twice: ¡°I¡¯ll go down with you.¡± Yao Jun also smiled: ¡°Me too, I won¡¯t be a burden to everyone. Let¡¯s go down together, we can also help save some people. Honestly, I think it¡¯s because I haven¡¯t trained and adapted enough, you should have talked to me about it earlier.¡± ¡°I want to go up, cough cough,¡± Adenborg looked at everyone and smiled, ¡°Why are you looking at me? Don¡¯t you Huaxia have a saying related to sunk cost? I find it very interesting, what¡¯s it called again?¡± Bi Fang laughed: ¡°We¡¯ve come this far!¡± ¡°Right,¡± Adenborg squinted and smiled, ¡°We¡¯ve come this far, it¡¯s less than a hundred meters, I think I can handle it.¡± ¡°Whether you can handle it isn¡¯t up to you to say.¡± Bi Fang came over to Sir, grabbed his wrist, and felt his pulse. Don¡¯t get the wrong idea, although Bi Fang could call himself a survival expert, he was no expert in old Chinese medicine techniques. He was just simply checking the pulse to estimate the heart rate. Edinburgh gripped his fists tightly. ¡°The heartbeat is stable, but we can only say that there haven¡¯t been any major issues so far.¡± A minute later, Bi Fang did not refuse Sir¡¯s request. Just as Edinburgh said, he was a ninety-year-old man, and nothing, no one could easily change his mind; Bi Fang was merely a ¡°health advisor.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s get going.¡± Bi Fang stood up again, pulled out his climbing stick, and jabbed it into the snow ahead, with Jerret and Yao Jun following closely in his footsteps through the snow. The path ahead became increasingly difficult, increasingly dangerous. You might shy away, Shying away might mean you are cowardly, or it might mean that you have a very wise grasp of the risks. Regardless of your decision, in the face of death, you can¡¯t lie to yourself, you will clearly see your true nature. You might be adorned with honor and wealth, or you might never return and forever accompany the wilderness. But this, this is adventure. Watching the departing Bi Fang, Edinburgh also stood up from the ground, brushing the snow off his trouser legs, ¡°Human adventuring behavior is a product of human evolution.¡± Danzeng looked curiously at the brave old man, not understanding why he suddenly said such a thing. In the face of Danzeng¡¯s curious gaze, Edinburgh smiled, ¡°This is a theory proposed by a friend of mine at the University of California. He said, humans take risks driven by benefits; the more willing to take risks, the more likely to become powerful.¡± Having lived all his life at the foot of Mount Everest, Danzeng didn¡¯t know what California was, but he understood the statement and asked, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°He believes that this human tendency to seek adventure dates back to prehistoric times. Back then, Earth was inhabited by two major types of primitive humans,¡± Edinburgh patiently raised two fingers to the seeker, and narrated. ¡°One type built nests and settled down, while the other dared to venture out and explore new worlds. Those who settled mostly stayed in their lairs, living off the surrounding plants and small animals, always cautious. The explorers roamed everywhere, realizing that bold actions increased the chances of dying unexpectedly, but also allowed them to find tastier fruits and more prey.¡± ¡°In moving about and struggling against the dangerous outside world, these people accumulated a wealth of survival experiences and were thus better able to withstand Nature¡¯s harsh trials. Compared to the first type, they were more adaptable to the environment and were better able to survive. Besides, they also amassed a wealth of survival experience, which allowed them to better withstand Nature¡¯s harsh trials.¡± ¡°These more capable doers often lived longer, were able to raise many children, and successfully passed on their genes to the next generation, until their kind ultimately came to dominate in Humans. So, a penchant for adventure is a biological inheritance of humanity.¡± Most ordinary people cannot understand the behavior of these adventurers. Some spend their entire lives avoiding danger and hardship, shunning the uncertainties of life to feel a bit safer. But others live to pursue the unknown; they are full of interest and a desire to explore everything uncertain. Compared to the risks they endure, the process of conquering these dangers holds more significance for them. For most people, this spirit of adventure is incomprehensible. In fact, this incomprehension is more a matter of different life philosophies. ¡°Of course, adventure is not the same as recklessness and loss of control, nor is it simply about seeking thrills and courting death; it¡¯s about challenging human limits, doing great things no one dares to do, things that have a great significance for humanity, like those people I just mentioned who brought back more fresh fruits for their tribe. Only those who hold the key are truly powerful,¡± Edinburgh explained. After listening, Danzeng said thoughtfully, ¡°I think you are also a powerful person.¡± Edinburgh smiled and pulled out his own climbing stick. ¡°Alright, gentlemen, it¡¯s time for us to set off. Don¡¯t take care of me just because I¡¯m an old man. To tell the truth, I¡¯ve always felt I¡¯m only twenty at heart.¡± Chapter 402 - Chapter 402: Chapter 400 Occupy a Spot Chapter 402: Chapter 400 Occupy a Spot Holding a spot, Ling Cheng modification An ear-splitting explosion roared from a hundred meters behind them, the tremor shaking the entire shipyard. The violent blast tore through the narrow passageway, erupting in flames like an oversized blowtorch, sucking the oxygen out of the air rapidly with its intense heat as Matthew knelt on the ground, his face turning an eerie shade of purple-red, his ear sponges quivering slightly. Bi Fang, lying next to him, pressed down hard on the back of Matthew¡¯s neck, staying motionless on the ground, feeling the scorching airstream howl past them. The audience watched in horror as the air twisted and shimmered with heat, and in that instant, everyone seemed to lose their hearing. On the ground, within the blinding burst of fire, a metal manhole cover was hurled into the air by the explosion¡¯s shockwave, ascending twenty meters before crashing back down fiercely lodged into the shattered cement. ¡°What¡¯s going on?! What¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°Someone come, someone come!¡± ¡°Has the military attacked?!¡± ¡°Help!¡± Shouts pierced the night, and parts of the buildings suddenly lit up, shattering the tranquil darkness completely. Countless people panicked, the loud boom rendering them deaf, as bright columns of light and the roar of motorcycles surged in. ¡°Go!¡± Minutes later, Bi Fang lifted the dizzy Matthew and re-entered the passageway, heading towards the manhole cover in front of the warehouse. Along the way, everyone could see the sewer scene had changed drastically from before. The walls were scorched and cracked, the moss that had clung to them burned away, leaving only small patches that glimmered with a dark red hue in the darkness. The air smelled foul, not of hydrogen sulfide but of sewage evaporated by heat, like dried-out feces. ¡°Bleah!¡± Arriving under the manhole cover, Matthew could no longer hold back, vomiting as the high temperature from the explosion and the ringing in his ears surged. Bi Fang climbed the iron ladder carefully, lifting the cover and without much surprise, said, ¡°Throw up, you¡¯ll feel better after it¡¯s out.¡± Under the starless night sky, a shadow stood with the sewer manhole cover, observing everyone silently from a corner of the road. Bi Fang watched as the lights from the motorcycles scattered like fireflies to every corner of the shipyard, then went out, while people poured out of buildings, fleeing and howling. Just as Matthew had said, these people were indeed amateurs, standing on the ruins with sheer viciousness and cold hearts. If they were trained individuals, the scene would not be like this; all passages would have been secured, at least until the cause of the explosion was clear, and no personnel would be allowed to move freely! He scanned the area near the warehouse. The dozen or so guards who had been stationed there had mostly fled, leaving only a few scattered around, some still hesitating on the spot. From below, Matthew asked, ¡°How is it? Is it useful?¡± ¡°Yes! You wait here for me!¡± Bi Fang pushed the manhole cover aside and leapt out of the well, stepping onto the iron ladder. After carefully replacing the cover, he crouched down like a leopard and sprinted forward, disappearing into the grass beside him. Not far away, inside a building, bandit gang members converged, and soon someone pushed the door open and entered. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Is it them or us, or are both sides fighting?¡± The Bandit Gangs¡¯ Boss looked tense ¨C such a large disturbance could only mean the military, he couldn¡¯t imagine any other scenario. For months, the bandit gangs had been strutting around the city, making everyone steer clear of them, arrogant beyond measure. But now, faced with a real military force, they were like homeless dogs; no, worse than dogs, nothing more than sewer rats that fire could obliterate completely. ¡°No¡­ No one attacked.¡± The young man who had just run in gasped for air as he opened the main gate. The intense light flooded into the gloomy hall, not sunlight, but the light of fire. The fire seemed to erupt from the core of the earth, shooting up high, and charred human figures ran through the flames while gigantic metal devices burned, tumbled and fell. The gang leader¡¯s heart clenched, and he suddenly grabbed an ashtray to throw forward. The young man screamed in agony, kneeling on the ground with blood streaming from his forehead, not understanding why the Boss had suddenly hit him. ¡°And you say no one attacked! If they didn¡¯t come, did you start this fire?¡± The gang leader¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, his face terrifying. The young man lay on the ground, blood gushing from his forehead. He touched it lightly with his hand, it felt like a piece had caved in, causing him so much pain that tears welled up. He hurriedly explained, ¡°Really, Boss, we would have noticed if someone attacked. No one came, honestly. I heard Sabbas say it might be the underground natural gas pipeline that exploded, that¡¯s why it¡¯s like this. Half the street¡¯s been blown away, and a few guys were in the toilet at the time, now we can¡¯t find them, probably burnt to death.¡± The gang leader paused for a moment, stepped to the door to look around, and indeed it seemed like no one was there. The chaos was entirely due to his own incompetent subordinates. Not the military. With that thought, the gang leader¡¯s anxiety was swallowed back down. As long as they hadn¡¯t been attacked, that was good, as long as they hadn¡¯t been attacked, that was good. He glanced at the young man beside him, void of any other thoughts, waved his hand and dismissed him, ¡°Alright, alright, go get bandaged up, you¡¯re useless with words.¡± The young man, not daring to say more, bowed his head and retreated. ¡°Wait, the goods are okay, right?¡± ¡°Yes, although it was close, it didn¡¯t reach there.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good, hurry up and put out the fire. It¡¯s so late and still so much trouble.¡± As the subordinate¡¯s figure faded into the distance, the gang leader stroked his chin. ¡°Is there still natural gas now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably marsh gas.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡­ In the shadows, a figure stealthily skulked, hiding his body behind shrubs that hadn¡¯t been trimmed for months, completely concealed. This was the northeast corner of the warehouse. Through the gaps in the shrubs, the drone gave the audience a clear view of the warehouse¡¯s outline. This was the best location for an assault. Bi Fang had checked carefully; this direction had only one guard, whose viewing angle was skewed. As long as Bi Fang could act swiftly and decisively, he wouldn¡¯t attract anyone¡¯s attention. Bi Fang smeared some black ash on his face and pulled off a piece of torn cloth before boldly approaching the target. ¡°Hey, stop, don¡¯t move! Who are you?¡± Almost as soon as Bi Fang appeared near the warehouse, the guard spotted him and moved his hand toward his waist. The more chaotic it was, the less room there was for mistakes. The guard knew this well, so as soon as Bi Fang approached, he tried to draw his gun to force him back. But before his hand could grip the handle, a white towel suddenly flew toward his face. Is this some kind of joke? Playing drop the handkerchief? A sense of absurdity flashed through the guard¡¯s mind, and he instinctively reached out with his left hand to catch it, but in the next second, a hand firmly grasped his wrist! Immediately, the guard felt a huge force strike his left cheek! Chapter 403 - Chapter 403: Chapter 401: Avalanche Survivor Chapter 403: Chapter 401: Avalanche Survivor ¡°Blood scent? Where?¡± Yao Jun shrugged his nostrils, but he couldn¡¯t smell anything. The weather was too cold, and every breath felt like tiny knives were slicing inside his nostrils. If there really was a blood scent, it must be his own blood. ¡°Is the detector responding?¡± Bi Fang adjusted the detector again, but there was no response. Yao Jun touched his head in confusion. ¡°No response, huh? There isn¡¯t anyone around, right?¡± ¡°Maybe we¡¯ve lost the detector, or maybe the other party wasn¡¯t prepared, but I definitely smelled blood, and it was strong.¡± ¡°But I didn¡¯t smell anything at all.¡± Yao Jun took a strong sniff but still nothing. ¡°In such cold weather, any blood would have frozen, right? How could the scent drift? Are you a dog¡¯s nose?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ask, if you ask, it¡¯s a talent.¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t explain further and cautiously jogged towards the smell in the air. When they crossed over a small slope, Bi Fang sharply retracted his right foot and stopped Yao Jun and Jerret who were right behind him. ¡°Be careful, there¡¯s a glacier.¡± As he spoke, he extended his climbing stick and prodded the pile of snow in front of him. Under the weak force, the snow slope collapsed rapidly, sending up plumes of white dust. Illuminated by the sunlight, a deep blue, seemingly bottomless crevasse appeared before them all. The audience was stunned, just looking at the snow slope in front of Bi Fang, they could not discern any signs. If it were an ordinary person, wouldn¡¯t they just fall right through? How the hell did Master Fang identify it without any warning signs? ¡°[Holy shit, how the hell did he discover that?]¡± ¡°[X-ray, Master Fang used x-ray!]¡± ¡°[What the hell is x-ray, did I stumble into the Sci-Fi channel? What¡¯s this madness?]¡± ¡°[New fans might not know this, but Old Fang is our country¡¯s secret weapon, having undergone a physical transformation. His eyes can shoot out x-rays for easy scanning. Inside our military, there¡¯s an unwritten agreement: If the enemy doesn¡¯t deploy nuclear weapons, we don¡¯t bring out Master Fang!]¡± ¡°[Is the ultimate weapon¡¯s existence no longer a secret?]¡± ¡°You obviously can¡¯t tell just by looking at this pile of snow in front, but if you extend your view a bit further¡­¡± Upon hearing Bi Fang¡¯s words, the photographer back at the base camp immediately flies the drone up high to capture the entire slope. With the sightline drastically expanded and good lighting conditions, the audience finally could spot the difference. On the snow slope, another scar-like snow line was slightly raised, casting slight shadows under the sunlight. Even though it was subtle, once the view widened, it became conspicuous. ¡°Glaciers covered by snow are difficult to spot, and every year, many people get buried because of such glaciers. However, a broader view can lead to a more complete understanding. When such streamlined snow lines appear before you, you should be alert. Besides the snow line, you can also judge by the color.¡± Bi Fang grabbed a handful of snow from the edge of the crevasse, took a few steps back, and placed it on the ground. The audience widened their eyes, and after careful comparison, they slowly realized that the snow on the edge of the crack seemed darker? ¡°[Is the snow on the edge of the crack darker? Is this an illusion?]¡± ¡°It¡¯s not an illusion. These crevasses covered by snow are called hidden crevasses. Besides being slightly lower than the surrounding area, which can be observed from high altitudes during the day through shadow lines, it¡¯s through the color of the snow. The snow on hidden crevasses will be slightly yellowish or blackish.¡± ¡°Is it really that amazing? What¡¯s the principle behind it?¡± Yao Jun listened with interest, grabbing a handful of snow and giving it a lick. It didn¡¯t taste any different, did it? Just as icy. Bi Fang chuckled, ¡°Take a guess?¡± ¡°If I could have known, I wouldn¡¯t be following behind you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the specific heat capacity.¡± Bi Fang patted the snow in his hand, ¡°Below the crevasse is air that can¡¯t circulate. The specific heat capacity is higher than that of rock, and the temperature difference causes the ice crystals and density of the snow to vary, changing its refractive index and deepening its color.¡± What? The audience was dumbfounded. [I thought Bi Fang knew a lot already, but I underestimated him.] [Specific heat capacity, damn it, I would never have thought of that reason in my lifetime¡­] [Is this what a big shot is like? Shivering.] Bi Fang walked along the glacier crevasse, trying to find if any Sherpa had left behind an aluminum ladder. ¡°The depth of a typical glacier crevasse is 25-30 meters. This one is obviously deeper; the ice layers beyond this depth are much more solid. The deeper it goes, the bigger the ice crystals become, and the stronger the adhesion. When it¡¯s subjected to pressure trying to separate it, its inner structure becomes even denser due to the pressure, and it¡¯ll appear thick like cream or syrup.¡± ¡°Actually, the best way to cross a glacier is to go around it. Circling around is much safer than crossing over. If that¡¯s not possible, the next best option is to choose a snow bridge. The deep snow of winter can become hardened under strong winds, potentially forming a snow bridge over the crevices that won¡¯t melt until summer. There¡¯s also a stronger type of snow bridge, but that¡¯s not really a snow bridge anymore¡ªit¡¯s a slender isthmus connecting two crevasses.¡± [What the hell is an isthmus?] [It¡¯s a narrow strip of land connecting two larger landmasses, like the Isthmus of Panama between the continents of South America and North America. That¡¯s a typical isthmus, but one connecting crevasses is rare, at least I haven¡¯t seen many.] [Bro, what do you do for a living?] [I¡¯m a geological explorer. This morning, a colleague of mine told me about this guy live streaming an avalanche and executing a textbook self-rescue, so I got curious and came to watch. The live streamer is really impressive. Although I haven¡¯t watched for long, he is very professional, and there is some knowledge I¡¯m not clear about.] Old Deng stroked his glasses and typed this message on his computer. The color of the snow over a glacier¡¯s hidden crevasse is deeper because of the specific heat capacity. Although he hadn¡¯t been working long, and his main focus wasn¡¯t glaciers, he understood more about this than most people. This knowledge truly opened his eyes, making him feel an urge to fly to Mount Everest to study glaciers right away. ¡°This phenomenon isn¡¯t something you can simply find out through basic research and investigation; it requires a lot of experience. Where did this guy get all that?¡± [Wow, we have all sorts of people watching the live stream. Yesterday, a top hacker appeared, and today a geological explorer joined in.] [Didn¡¯t we also have biology and history professors before? (Dog¡¯s head)] [Prosperous!] Regrettably, Bi Fang did not find any aluminum ladder left by the Sherpa, only the peg holes left next to the glacier. The aluminum ladder was likely swept away by last night¡¯s avalanche. But luckily, Bi Fang did find a snow bridge. It was wide and thick, looking like a paved road. ¡°When you encounter a snow bridge, you need to closely observe from the side before stepping on it. Ensure it¡¯s not thin, then try walking on it to physically check it out. Be very careful, and if you have a teammate, let them stand to the side to make sure they keep the rope taut to prevent you from falling into the crevasse should the snow bridge suddenly break. After the first person crosses, the rest of the team can follow their lead closely, with another teammate ensuring the rope is tight.¡± ¡°The sturdiness of a snow bridge is mainly influenced by the temperature. On cold winter days or in the early morning, a snow bridge might support the weight of a truck, but in the afternoon sun when the snow begins to melt, it might not even support one¡¯s own weight. Every crossing of a snow bridge must be approached with increased alertness; just because it was safe in the morning doesn¡¯t mean it will be safe in the afternoon.¡± ¡°Stay tight,¡± Bi Fang turned back and said to Yao Jun and Jerret. The two nodded and simultaneously lowered their centers of gravity, crampons firmly set into the ice. Bi Fang took a deep breath, about to step forward when, a few meters away on the edge of the glacier, a bloodied hand pressed against the ice, its blood quickly coagulating into a handprint and sprouting sharp ice crystals. Bi Fang¡¯s pupils shrank suddenly. ¡°Quick, go save them!¡± Chapter 404 - Chapter 404: 402 Chapter 404: 402 In the azure depths of the abyss, a figure grew larger as it struggled upward. The edges of the crevasse were narrowing, slowly, moving to the leftmost Fei She began climbing upwards, viciously hacking his ice axe into the creamy wall to find his footing; each step required his focused effort and was excruciatingly painful. He crawled upward like a worm. Stab, kick, shift, repeat. Between his palms and the ice axe, there was no longer any sensation, perhaps frozen or maybe necrotic; everything became an obsession to survive. ¡°Perhaps I¡¯ve already lost consciousness, and all this is just an illusion.¡± Fei She thought, unable to believe that the man who had been seriously injured within the ice rift and had managed to move a hundred meters up was himself. Finally, after the umpteenth mechanical upward swing of the axe, a sliver of blue sky appeared. Fei She wanted to rest, but he couldn¡¯t, for if he let go, he would die. He propped himself up and lay there, halfway in and out, completely exhausted and unable to move. Five minutes later, with the last burst of energy, he forced his body forward and flopped onto solid ground. He staggered to his feet, and then collapsed again. He couldn¡¯t walk; he could barely even get down on his knees. It was then that Fei She realized how broken his body was. As he dragged his broken ribs across the ice, he knew that unless his companions found him, he wouldn¡¯t be able to survive. Perhaps he was bleeding internally and needed first aid. But just as he was about to hit the ground, a hand yanked him abruptly. Fei She opened his frosty eyes. Was this an illusion? There were actually people. People after the avalanche, this has to be an illusion, right? Fei She tried to open his mouth as though to say something, but after much effort, he didn¡¯t call for help or even say thanks. ¡°Got any coffee? Preferably hot.¡± ¡°Someone, come quickly!¡± Upon receiving a response, Fei She completely passed out. Yao Jun and Jerret rushed to Bi Fang¡¯s side, and upon seeing the pitiful state of Fei She, they shuddered; this wasn¡¯t a person, but rather a demon that had crawled out of Hell! His clothes and the corners of his mouth were covered with frosty blood, the man¡¯s left hand hung limply, bizarrely elongated compared to his right, and his left ankle was similarly unnaturally twisted. Witnessing this, the two felt a sickening sensation in their teeth and couldn¡¯t help but think, if it weren¡¯t for Bi Fang, would they end up the same way? After stealthily glancing into the crevasse and feeling the bite of the cold wind on their faces, Yao Jun discarded the thought; he probably wouldn¡¯t even be able to crawl out, only wait for death below. The viewers were dizzy with shock. [This guy is tough] [Is this what an avalanche victim looks like?] [Fuck, this is too freaking scary] [I can¡¯t handle this, gonna have nightmares tonight] [Master Fang, please blur the image, I¡¯m afraid] In the live broadcast, the wretched figure of Fei She was quickly blurred. Bi Fang carefully laid Fei She on the ground, ¡°Yao Jun, see if you can find any ID on him, Jerret, got any hot water?¡± ¡°Oh, yes.¡± ¡°Give him some to drink.¡± Bi Fang quickly undid the man¡¯s clothing, and upon discovering large bruises on his chest and abdomen, he inhaled sharply: ¡°Bleeding from the mouth and nose, body swollen, muscles tense and turning dark, signs of internal bleeding!¡± [Internal bleeding, he¡¯s not going to die, is he?] [Damn, that¡¯s serious, isn¡¯t it?] [It¡¯s not certain, it depends on the type of internal bleeding and whether there are symptoms of shock and respiratory arrest. Considering he managed to climb out of such a deep crevasse, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s particularly severe.] ¡°Jerret, prop up his feet with the backpack.¡± ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Bi Fang pressed down on the man¡¯s right hand, trying to take the Ice Axe out of his grip. Just as he pried the fingers open, a layer of skin tore off, revealing that the Ice Axe was completely frozen to the man¡¯s palm, making viewers¡¯ scalps tingle in horror. [My God, that¡¯s terrifying.] Bi Fang took the warm water from Jerret and slowly poured it over the man¡¯s hand. Only after the blood and ice thawed was he able to successfully remove the Ice Axe, then proceeded to check the pulse at the wrist. After a while, Yao Jun asked anxiously, ¡°How is it?¡± Yao Jun had never witnessed someone die in front of him, and though he thought it wouldn¡¯t be a big deal, actually facing it really made him nervous, even causing him to stutter. Feeling the heartbeat, Bi Fang¡¯s brow gradually relaxed, ¡°It¡¯s okay, the heartbeat is stable. It¡¯s just a simple faint, not shock. Right now, we can only suspect internal bleeding, possibly due to broken ribs, but it¡¯s not too serious. At least no major organs are injured, otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to climb out of the abyss.¡± ¡°So what do we do now?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do,¡± Bi Fang shook his head. He knew survival and First Aid, but he wasn¡¯t a doctor, couldn¡¯t perform surgery, and even if he could, the conditions weren¡¯t right. ¡°The best thing to do for a patient with internal bleeding is to keep them quiet and immobile, positioning the head lower than the feet to redistribute blood flow using gravity, and then wait for rescue. Any significant movement could cause the internal injuries to worsen.¡± ¡°The shoulder over here¡­¡± Bi Fang examined closely. Subway, elderly, cellphone. ¡°It¡¯s not just a dislocation; the shoulder blade may be fractured, and there could be many splinters. Surgery is necessary. As for the ankle here¡­ the ankle I can handle.¡± Bi Fang took off the shoes and felt the man¡¯s ankle; it was just a dislocated ankle joint, no fractures, and he quickly repositioned it. ¡°For dislocations like this, if you¡¯re not very experienced, do not attempt to manipulate it randomly. It¡¯s best to take it to a professional hospital for a doctor to fix. Yao Jun, do you have a towel? Wrap his ankle and apply cold. When you cold compress, it¡¯s best to use a towel as a barrier to prevent frostbite.¡± Yao Jun went to search for a towel but instead pulled out an ID: ¡°Oh, right, I found this on him.¡± Bi Fang took the work ID, surprised, ¡°Fei She? Is he Fei She?¡± [Holy shit, that guide who works with Rob! The guide for the Japanese and Texan! Where are they?] [This guy is tough.] [Awesome, seriously awesome. Internal bleeding and a dislocated left hand, and he climbed out of the crevasse by himself, that¡¯s just fucking incredible¡­] [Is this what a pro looks like?] [The guide is here, are the others here too? They¡¯re not still in the crevasse, are they?] Bi Fang took off his headlamp and shone it into the crevasse, but he didn¡¯t find any other people until he had walked more than fifty meters and then saw an extremely familiar figure lying in the rift. The drone slowly descended, and the audience gasped and covered their mouths. [Is that Wessels¡­] [I¡¯m scared to look¡­] [Although he was rude, ¡®dust to dust, ashes to ashes, may the departed rest in peace¡­] [This is literally a horror live stream.] [How strong is this streamer¡¯s backing to be able to broadcast something like this?] [Nonsense, did you see the red star next to the name? Official authentication, are you kidding?] Above the crevasse, Bi Fang directed the light into its very depths, sunlight shining on his back and the glacial blue light reflecting onto his face, flowing slowly and appearing rather blurred. Tens of meters apart, heaven and Hell. Ah. After a moment of silence, Bi Fang sighed. For the second time, someone died in front of him. Chapter 405 - Chapter 405: Chapter 403: Return to Base Chapter 405: Chapter 403: Return to Base ¡°` After wrapping Fei She in the sleeping bag and feeding him two energy gels to ensure he wouldn¡¯t lose heat and his vitals could continue to stabilize, Bi Fang looked around and suddenly spotted Yao Jun¡¯s red scarf. He grabbed it, squeezed it in his hand, and asked, ¡°Did you buy this scarf yourself, or was it a gift? Does it have any particular significance?¡± Yao Jun was startled, then replied with smug pride, ¡°How about that, looks good, right? It¡¯s a limited edition, I specifically¡­¡± Before Yao Jun could finish speaking, Bi Fang yanked the red scarf off him. Feeling a chill around his neck, Yao Jun hadn¡¯t even reacted when he saw Bi Fang use a dagger to cut a strip of red cloth from his scarf. ¡°Damn it, what are you doing!¡± Ignoring Yao Jun, Bi Fang tied the red strip of cloth to a spare climbing stick in Fei She¡¯s backpack, used a simple snow shovel to dig a hole in the ground, and then firmly planted it inside, before covering it back with snow and weighing it down with rocks. Bi Fang stood up and brushed off his hands, ¡°There, this big expanse is all white, or it¡¯s just exposed dark rock. A piece of red ribbon will be really noticeable. It will make it easier for the rescue personnel to find us. Many times, when passing through avalanche-prone areas, climbers tie bright ribbons to their heads or arms for the same reason. I just asked you to find out if the scarf had any special significance. Since it doesn¡¯t, let¡¯s put it to good use.¡± At that point, Yao Jun was on the verge of tears. ¡°It really is a limited edition, only five hundred in the world, sob sob sob.¡± ¡°Wait, what about Wessels? Should we not care for him?¡± Jerret called out just as Bi Fang was about to leave. Jerret wasn¡¯t a saint. As a director, he was accustomed to protecting the reputations of his actors, and if Bi Fang could retrieve the body at this moment, he would certainly earn a good reputation. If Bi Fang could break this unwritten rule, it would undoubtedly be more beneficial than harmful to his own ¡°future.¡± Unfortunately¡­ Bi Fang glanced at the crevasse, shook his head, and said, ¡°No need, and besides, how do you know he definitely wanted to return home?¡± Jerret was taken aback, then as if something suddenly dawned on him, asked, ¡°Did Wessels sign some documents?¡± [Documents? What documents?] The audience was confused. Speak of something we can understand, please. Bi Fang briefly explained, ¡°Something like a body donation form.¡± Climbing Mount Everest is a game for the wealthy and dream-chasers, which has also exposed an issue: even with professional training, many people are still unprofessional. Unprofessionalism leads to accidents, and accidents can endanger the entire team. Upon Mount Everest, climbers are almost always ¡°selfish.¡± When it comes to those on the brink of death, the others will turn a blind eye. Every climber knows well the cost of helping others¡ªit might mean ¡°everyone dies together.¡± As for transporting bodies, it¡¯s even more out of the question. Therefore, every climber will sign a document before ascending the mountain, which must also be signed by their family members. It details whether they want their bodies brought back if they die. And the answer is, many choose to ¡°stay on the mountain.¡± ¡°There was once a Sherpa team that found a body and moved it to a better place on the mountain, but after finding out, the family expressed their wish to move the body back to its original place because that was the deceased¡¯s last will.¡± [Is that so?] [I can understand. If I were to accidentally perish, I wouldn¡¯t want to come down either. Maybe someone will see me after a hundred years.] [Following Master Fang is an eye-opener every day.] [Another eye-opener, I can go back and show off now.] [Picking up girls skill +1] [After watching Bi Fang¡¯s Mount Everest livestream, can I pretend I¡¯ve been there too (Dog¡¯s head), and recount it all in detail?] After explaining, Bi Fang continued to lead Yao Jun and Jerret down the mountain. According to the signal from the detector, they found two more people. Regrettably, one was gravely injured, and the other was already without signs of life. Like with Fei She, Bi Fang could only perform simple first aid on the injured one, trying his best to stabilize his vital signs. After that, it was all up to fate. During the short fifty-meter descent, they witnessed the death of two lives, which quieted the mood in the livestream quite a bit. The death rate is just a simple statistic. The dangers of climbing Mount Everest were laid bare at this moment, like a skinned elk, gruesomely exhibited before everyone. Until the appearance of the third person. ¡°Old Fang, Old Fang, there¡¯s someone over here, too!¡± Bi Fang rushed over at the sound of the voice, looking at the ¡°ice block¡± that Yao Jun and Jerret had uncovered, and wiped the snowflakes off the person¡¯s face. This was¡­ ¡°That Japanese guy! Damn, what a coincidence!¡± ¡°` ¡°I mean, come on, Jerry, maybe let¡¯s just call it quits (dog¡¯s head)¡± ¡°Ahh, seriously, you can¡¯t say that, man, it¡¯s poor sportsmanship.¡± ¡°His lips are turning purple already!¡± ¡°Same team, but the leader is up top and the member down below; got swept away, huh?¡± ¡°This is severe hypoxia! It shouldn¡¯t be happening though.¡± Bi Fang was startled as he looked at the oxygen bottle cradled in the man¡¯s arms with some confusion. Not having time to think further, he opened Saito¡¯s shirt and started compressions, but after just a few, the man suddenly began coughing violently. ¡°Awake?¡± Bi Fang was confused again. He had only pressed a couple of times. Could it be that he had a hidden talent for medicine? ¡°The magical healing touch of Doctor Bi!¡± ¡°Epic, a couple of compressions and a dead man comes back to life!¡± Saito continued to cough. Bi Fang picked up the oxygen bottle from Saito¡¯s arms, ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be so, how could there be hypoxia with an oxygen bottle? Polar Bear oxygen bottle brand POISK, the most popular oxygen bottle brand, weighing approximately seven pounds, or about three kilograms. This is the most common type of oxygen canister on Mount Everest. According to the calculations of the Nepal National Mountaineering Guides Association, a bottle like this should last five hours at the highest breathing rate, but now¡­¡± Bi Fang rolled up his sleeve; it was 7:27. They were buried around 4:30 last night which means it¡¯s only been about three hours now. Even if they had taken a few breaths during the ascent, it shouldn¡¯t last just three hours. Bi Fang wiped the frost off the pressure gauge on the oxygen bottle. The needle was far to the left. No more oxygen? ¡°Shoddy product almost killed someone!¡± ¡°+1¡± ¡°Call consumer services! Demand compensation! They almost cost a life, don¡¯t you know!¡± At this moment, Saito took a couple of sips of Jerret¡¯s water and finally came around. He recovered so fast, and the oxygen bottle showed no oxygen¡­ Bi Fang handed the breathing mask to Yao Jun, ¡°Take a breath and see.¡± ¡°Me? For what?¡± Yao Jun looked at Bi Fang warily. ¡°Just try it, it¡¯s not poison, hurry up.¡± Yao Jun, still doubtful, clearly didn¡¯t trust Bi Fang. But unable to resist the pressure, he reluctantly took a couple of breaths and discovered to his surprise, ¡°There¡¯s oxygen in this!?¡± Bi Fang suddenly realized, ¡°It¡¯s psychological hypoxia!¡± Saito, who had just woken up, was still confused and didn¡¯t understand what that meant. Bi Fang replaced the oxygen mask on Saito, ¡°You try it again.¡± Saito, puzzled, took the breathing mask and after a couple of breaths, his pupils slowly contracted, ¡°How can this be, the oxygen was clearly¡­¡± ¡°Clearly depleted, right? But if it were really gone, you¡¯d have died of hypoxia within minutes. Do you really believe you could be that lucky to wait for us to come just in those few minutes?¡± ¡°So what exactly happened?¡± Yao Jun and Jerret were both confused. Bi Fang tapped the pressure gauge on the oxygen canister, ¡°There¡¯s still oxygen in the tank; it¡¯s just that the pressure gauge is broken, possibly frozen or crushed. You had a headlamp on when you were buried and covered your mouth and nose, didn¡¯t you?¡± Saito nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right, the space you had allowed you to see the broken gauge and believe the oxygen was gone, creating a psychological effect that made you think you would suffocate. This led to ¡®pseudo high-altitude sickness¡¯ with purple lips and eventually unconsciousness. However, since you still wore the mask, you didn¡¯t completely lack oxygen and waited in that state until we arrived.¡± ¡°I know you¡¯d ask how this could be possible, but likely, that¡¯s what happened. It¡¯s a bit like being scared to death.¡± ¡°Scared to death¡­¡± Saito gave a wry smile as he now inhaled the oxygen. Even if he were reluctant to believe, he had to accept it. ¡°Okay, you¡¯re lucky to have run into us and had a detector with you. Otherwise, even if you weren¡¯t really suffering from a lack of oxygen, by the time the rescue arrived, it would have become real. How do you feel, can you still walk? If you can, come down the mountain with us.¡± Saito stood up unsteadily with Bi Fang¡¯s help and nodded, ¡°My limbs are stiff, but I can move. Let me warm up a bit, and I will go down with you.¡± ¡°Right, we¡¯re at an altitude of 5432, just a hundred meters more and we¡¯ll be at base camp.¡± Bi Fang checked the altimeter and frowned. What worried him now was whether this avalanche would lead to Nepal cancelling the climbing season. When would it reopen? Chapter 406 - Chapter 406: Chapter 404: Then, You Have My Condolences Chapter 406: Chapter 404: Then, You Have My Condolences By the time everyone returned to Everest Base Camp, it was already twelve noon, and what had originally been a trio had expanded to eleven people. Yes, eleven people. After rescuing Saito, at an altitude of 5,400 meters, Bi Fang¡¯s detector reacted again. Upon digging, it was like uncovering gourd babies; except for one individual who died on the spot, six others suffered various injuries but could still walk. Given that the altitude was not far from Base Camp and that they had left the range of the Khumbu Glacier, Bi Fang had the six of them support each other and walk together. As for why four plus six equaled eleven, the reason was that Bi Fang had also found an old acquaintance, one of the two Sherpa guides who had initially cut the rope to save their lives. The other, unfortunately, Bi Fang had not found, and their fate remained unknown¡­ After the Sherpa was dug out and heard that not only had Bi Fang and his companions survived, but could be said to be unscathed, he was thoroughly choked up. Seeing the campsite not far away, he was so moved that he couldn¡¯t even weep. If he hadn¡¯t cut the rope at that time, but had followed Bi Fang, he might not have lost a leg, nor his closest friend. Being the sole breadwinner in his family, one can imagine the impact of losing a leg on his entire household. Unfortunately, there are no what-ifs in life. Seeing this, Bi Fang didn¡¯t know what to say to comfort him. He didn¡¯t blame the man; as a wilderness adventurer, he understood all too well the influence of instinct on a person. He patted the man on the shoulder and reassured him, ¡°Stay alive, that¡¯s the best outcome. There¡¯s still hope for everything. The Mountain God let you survive for a reason; look forward, that¡¯s what matters.¡± All the team members watching the weeping Sherpa stayed silent, tears falling quietly; they too had lost companions in the avalanche. [Three lives, it¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen so many people¡­] [Natural disaster¡­] [If only we had something like in the 007 movies, something that pops up like an airbag when an avalanche hits¡­] [Stay strong, damn it!] [Honestly, the impact of this avalanche on me is even greater than that of the human traffickers we encountered last time.] The moment they saw the camp, a man wrapped in bandages on his forehead knelt down in the snow, his body quivering, startling his teammates next to him. ¡°Thank you, thank you. Alive, we¡¯ve come back alive, thank you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay, that¡¯s what we do. Come on, get up,¡± Bi Fang was taken aback for a moment, then quickly went to help him up. People nearby also came to their senses, recalling the scene of the night¡¯s avalanche and their own despair when buried, and tears began to fall. ¡°If we had waited for rescue, we¡¯d definitely be dead by now. You¡¯re even greater than God!¡± ¡°God bless you, God bless you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright now, truly alright.¡± The audience watching this scene was also deeply moved. [That¡¯s what an adventurer is!] [Sir is right, the Adventurer Fang is awesome!] [My idol, my idol, hehe] [So handsome I¡¯m drooling] [Who¡¯s Nantong?] [With great power comes great responsibility ¡ª gifting the host a spaceship*1¡ªThat¡¯s all my pocket money for this month!] At the same time, the personnel who stayed behind in the camp and the climbers who had not yet set out also saw Bi Fang and his team approaching from the distance. ¡°That is¡­¡± A climber squinted, somewhat incredulously. Last night, an avalanche had occurred, but due to unstable conditions, no one dared to act rashly, let alone climb, especially on the Khumbu Glacier. When the sun rose in the morning, the glacier was very unstable; a vast expanse of white lay above, and apart from the occasional piece of broken trash carried by the wind, there wasn¡¯t a single person in sight. Now there were people on the mountain? And not just a few. Out of concern, the man cupped his hands around his mouth to form a megaphone and took a deep breath before shouting, ¡°Hey, avalanche! Avalanche! Stop climbing! Danger!¡± Clearly, the climber mistook Bi Fang and the others for wealthy youngsters attempting to observe the avalanche up close, but in the next moment, a figure dashed past him, followed by a second, a third¡­ ¡°Here it comes, a big scoop, a big scoop!¡± ¡°Quick, it¡¯s GOD¡¤FANG! GOD¡¤FANG!¡± The climber was baffled and reached out to grab someone, quickly asking, ¡°Who is this? Do you know them?¡± ¡°F**K, don¡¯t pull me!¡± The third man to dash past tried to shake off the climber¡¯s grip with force, but the climber was so strong that the man couldn¡¯t break free even after trying three times. As his colleagues were already rushing up, he hastily explained, ¡°These are the survivors of the avalanche, they¡¯ve rescued themselves!¡± ¡°Survived, rescued themselves?¡± The climber was flabbergasted. He had heard of avalanches and seen a few, but he had never heard of anyone successfully rescuing themselves from one and then returning alone. If there were any, it was only a very few cases reported in the news. At least he had never seen such a thing, let alone with so many people? Wait, all these people had survived and rescued themselves? The climber wanted to ask more, but the man didn¡¯t give him the chance. Seeing that he couldn¡¯t escape, he actually took off his coat and ran out. ¡°What on earth is happening?¡± The climber was completely dumbfounded. It wasn¡¯t just the climber and the onlookers who were confused; Bi Fang too was perplexed. Upon arriving at the entrance of the camp and seeing a few people rushing over, he thought they were relatives of the climbers, but when he saw the microphones in their hands, he felt something was amiss. ¡°Are those journalists? You¡¯ve got to be kidding,¡± remarked Yao Jun, the little prince of entertainment news. He was all too familiar with this setup but simply couldn¡¯t fathom, ¡°The rescue team hasn¡¯t arrived yet, how did they get here?¡± Jerret seemed to have a clearer understanding, ¡°Rescue workers¡¯ lives matter too. The Mountaineering Association has to consider whether the mountain is stable, the causes of the avalanche, whether there could be a secondary disaster, whether rescue can be promptly executed, and then devise a rescue plan. But paparazzi don¡¯t need to worry about that. As long as there¡¯s money to be made, how important can danger be?¡± While they were talking, groups of journalists had already surrounded them. Being at Everest Base Camp, there were some reporters around, but the harsh environment limited their numbers. Bi Fang gently pushed them aside. A bombardment of various languages came their way: Nepali, English, Hindi, and even Chinese. ¡°Excuse me, please make way, please. There are injured people who need to rest as soon as possible.¡± ¡°GOD¡¤FANG, GOD¡¤FANG, I¡¯m your idol, what do you think about your self-rescue that netizens are calling textbook-worthy?¡± ¡°Right now, I just want to lie down and watch, so please make way.¡± ¡°Master Fang, as a rescuer, what are your thoughts?¡± ¡°I feel your mother.¡± ¡°Excuse me, can you speak English?¡± ¡°I appreciate your mother.¡± ¡°Excuse me, my mother has passed away.¡± Bi Fang: ¡°¡­¡± After a long pause, just as Bi Fang was at a loss for what to say, another round of shouting and cursing arose from behind the journalists. ¡°Get out of the way, all of you, we¡¯re from the Mountaineering Association! Don¡¯t delay the rest for the injured!¡± Thank heavens. Bi Fang breathed a sigh of relief. Although he really wanted to drive these persistent nuisances away, he simply didn¡¯t have any energy left to do so. Chapter 407 - Chapter 407: 405 Chapter 407: 405 I¡¯m saving a spot, brothers. I¡¯ve had quite a few banquets in the past two days. I haven¡¯t finished writing yet, I¡¯ll be revising at dawn, it¡¯s practically theft-proofing. ¡°OK, hurry over, no problem,¡± Bi Fang smoothly slid to the other side and waved at his companions behind him. ¡°MY GOD.¡± Jerret arrived at the edge of the crevasse and just as he looked down, his legs went soft and his hands began to rapidly cross himself in front of his chest. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be afraid, look, the rope is very securely nailed and there¡¯s a safety line. Even if you let go, you won¡¯t fall down, as long as you move properly,¡± said Bi Fang, shaking the rope vigorously, while the long nail in the ground didn¡¯t move an inch. Every climbing season, the Sherpa people would repair the glacier paths, set up ladders, drill holes in the glacier, hammer in spikes as long as a forearm, and attach ropes to help climbers cross. This was their source of income and their job. Almost every year, someone would die doing this. Here, the Sherpa people were almost considered a consumable. Trembling, Jerret wrapped the safety rope around himself and tied it. Looking into the bottomless abyss, his brain felt even more deprived of oxygen. Grabbing the ascender, Yao Jun saw this and gave him a push. ¡°Ah!!!¡± ¡°Alright, you¡¯ve made it, stop yelling. A little noise could really bring down an avalanche and then we¡¯d be in trouble.¡± ¡°Ah, uh, hmm?¡± Jerret blankly opened his eyes and stepped on the solid ice, feeling rather surreal. Looking back at the glacier, Jerret suddenly felt a sense of pride. Khumbu Glacier, is just like this, huh? Close your eyes and open them, and isn¡¯t that it, you¡¯ve crossed it? When the rest of the people gradually made it over, Rob finally exhaled and clapped his hands, ¡°Okay, that was the first glacier we¡¯ve crossed. Simple, but there are hundreds, maybe thousands more waiting for us! Let¡¯s not let our guard down!¡± Hundreds, thousands? ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Is there really no other way?¡± Jerret ran over and grabbed Bi Fang¡¯s arm. ¡°No, there isn¡¯t, look over there,¡± Bi Fang pointed. Not too far away stood towering hanging glaciers and the faintly visible Nuzi Peak and the massive Mount Everest. Just the thought of climbing these peaks was enough to feel an immense pressure, ¡°Those hanging glaciers, Nuzi Peak and Mount Everest are too close to us. The snow above is so thick that any slight vibration could cause it to collapse. So next time, try not to shout. If you can bear it, bear it. It¡¯s dangerous, and it can trigger an avalanche.¡± Jerret: ¡°o(¨i©n¨i)o¡± [Jerret: Grandpa De, I¡¯m stunned] [The fake Khumbu Glacier, a big crevasse with no bottom in sight, the real Khumbu Glacier, like this, Grandpa De still has hundreds, maybe thousands!] [I also thought Khumbu Glacier was just this one crevasse, and I was really curious why so many people died here¡­ With so many deaths, shouldn¡¯t the crevasse be filled by now¡­] [Glacier: I¡¯m Already Filled] [Huh?] [No, that¡¯s not right. If the glacier moves every day, don¡¯t the Sherpa people have to come up for maintenance every day?] ¡°In theory, yes, but in practice, it¡¯s extremely difficult. So, many times climbers will encounter situations with no path. At those times, we have to set up ladders ourselves. Do you see my backpack?¡± Bi Fang set down his backpack for everyone to see. The group was shocked to find a long, telescopic ladder stuffed between the straps and layers of the pack, which explained why the whole thing looked so rigid and straight! ¡°This is a telescopic ladder. When collapsed, it¡¯s only one meter long, but when extended, it¡¯s actually four meters. If we encounter places with no path, we need to set up the ladder to cross them. Because it¡¯s not fixed, that¡¯s where the real danger lies.¡± ¡°Mount Everest¡¯s requirements for gear are extremely, extremely high. Many parts even require aerospace-grade materials. Take this ordinary-looking climbing ladder, for example; first, it has to work in extremely low temperatures. You must know that many types of steel become brittle at low temperatures. For instance, Q345E can only withstand impacts at minus 40 degrees Celsius, any lower and it would become brittle and unusable, while the lowest temperatures on Everest can approach minus fifty degrees! So, I chose aluminum which has better resistance to low temperatures.¡± Bi Fang paused to catch his breath before continuing, ¡°The second point is to reduce weight as much as possible while guaranteeing structural strength, so titanium is not an option either. Titanium is almost twice the weight of aluminum, and the specific strength of aluminum is sufficiently high. Third, is the design of the structure; the more complex a design, the easier it¡¯s likely to break. Even a telescopic design can become a fatal factor in Everest¡¯s conditions, so the design of the connections has to be as simple as possible.¡± Besides the ticket, gear is also one of the major expenses. Just one oxygen bottle, including transportation fees for the high altitude, can cost up to 500 Ugly Yuan. Many people¡¯s salaries for a month might not even afford them one breath of it on Everest. Then there are the down jackets with a windproof and waterproof outer layer that must remain soft in extreme cold and as light as possible. The zipper design requires a full adhesive tape to ensure it¡¯s waterproof and can be opened and closed smoothly even with thick gloves on; the filling should be duck down or goose down with about 90% fill power to cope with strong winds and temperatures below minus 30¡ãC. ¡°There are also climbing boots designed specifically for altitudes above 8000 meters. The pair I¡¯m wearing weighs 1413 grams¡­ whereas a pair of running shoes is usually around 300g, and normal outdoor climbing boots are typically 500-800g. Because freezing injuries are a serious concern when climbing snowy mountains, many climbers have to undergo amputation after coming down the mountain, it¡¯s because their limbs have been frostbitten to death. The warmth provided by the boots must be top-notch. My pair is less a pair of boots and more a boot system that combines an outer boot, an inner boot, a gaiter, insoles, and an outer sole. This makes them completely unable to bend like regular shoes, and it feels like your feet and lower legs are firmly encased.¡± Bi Fang lifted up his pant leg and showed off his thick boots to everyone. They were essentially an enlarged, heavily padded version of snow boots, and their flexibility was poor¡ªbut that was a necessary sacrifice to ensure adequate warmth. In his previous life, Grandpa De had to amputate because he didn¡¯t have adequate protection from the severe cold during a survival situation, leading to his toes dying. Bi Fang watched at the time with his eyelids twitching uncontrollably as he saw the entire toe swollen to an extreme from the cold. ¡°Frostbite starts with the cold, and as the tissue gradually dies, you begin to feel pain, sharp pain, because the fluids in your tissue are freezing and your blood turns into ice crystals that rupture the cell membranes, blowing the cells apart. It¡¯s an irreversible process by that time. Even if you recover, the cells cannot regain vitality. At this stage, it¡¯s still reversible; your cells can still reproduce. But when the damage is too severe, to the point where even the nerves are affected, amputation is necessary. Your toes are at that point irreparably dead, just pieces of frozen flesh attached to your body. Once you return to a warm place, they will decompose, and if not removed, your entire right leg or even your life would be threatened.¡± Yao Jun was intently listening to all of this, but as he did, he suddenly felt a chill in his toes. He looked down and thankfully his own toes were still there. Damn it, that¡¯s amputation you¡¯re talking about. Could you not mention it so casually? ¡°However, there¡¯s no road longer than the journey on foot, and no mountain taller than the will of a person. Except for high altitudes and the Arctic and Antarctic, normally wearing all of this would indeed smother someone to death.¡± Bi Fang smiled, stepped over a small crack that was only half a meter wide. It seemed freshly formed, still quite young¡ªperhaps in ten years¡¯ time, it could grow into a large glacier. [Tell me how much all this gear costs so I can give up now.] [I found the same model on Amazon¡­ six thousand dollars¡­] [Just under forty thousand, hmm, that¡¯s cheaper than I thought.] [A big spender has arrived!] [Deliveries under Big Ben, set it up below, ship it from the top.] [Learned something new. I¡¯ve discovered one of Master Fang¡¯s hidden professions, Material Mechanics! Taking notes in my little book, Astronomer, Zoologist¡­ add Material Scientist.] [So, what else doesn¡¯t Master Fang know? Spill it all at once and enlighten me.] Bi Fang smiled, ¡°There¡¯s a lot I don¡¯t know, actually. For instance, why ice is so slippery.¡± Why is ice so slippery? Master Fang doesn¡¯t know? Question marks appeared on the faces of the viewers. Are you joking? Tony thought this was an overly simple question because it¡¯s ice, so of course it¡¯s slippery. But when Master Fang said it, it somehow didn¡¯t seem that straightforward. Tony looked up at Peter, his buddy whom he hadn¡¯t seen in a while. ¡°Peter, why is ice so slippery?¡± Biting on his pen, Peter had not heard a word Tony said. Ever since Master Fang had given him some encouragement last time, his mind had been elsewhere, busy with his outdoor research, and he hadn¡¯t been watching Master Fang¡¯s live streams much. He had even gone so far as to create a website about migratory birds. Although the traffic wasn¡¯t high yet, it was a good start. He had also made contact with bird conservation organizations, keeping it constantly updated. The migratory birds were due to return this year pretty soon, and a large flock was already on their way. Eh, hopefully, things will go more smoothly this time. Those damned poachers should have been wiped out long ago. ¡°Peter? Peter!¡± ¡°Uh, hmm?¡± After a few calls from Tony, Peter suddenly snapped back to attention, realizing his friend was talking to him. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Supporting his forehead with his hand, Tony said, ¡°What¡¯s with you lately? I remember how you used to love watching god fang¡¯s live streams. You¡¯ve hardly been online to fangirl over the last two. It¡¯s not right, really not right. You¡¯re not in love, are you? Is it Mary from class three or Gwendolyn next door? It¡¯s not Mary, is it? But she¡¯s too sly for you¡­ you probably can¡¯t handle her¡­¡± Peter twitched the corner of his mouth. What was all this about? His relationship with Mary was purely friendly. They were all goose enthusiasts and there was nothing more to it. That¡¯s right, he had an album to give to her. He would have forgotten if Tony hadn¡¯t mentioned it. He¡¯d deliver it to Mary tonight after Tony left. She seemed to have a cold and probably shouldn¡¯t be going out. She really should drink more hot water. ¡°Hey, hey? Why are you spacing out again?¡± Tony waved his hand in front of Peter¡¯s eyes. ¡°Ah, sorry, what was it?¡± ¡°Why is ice so slippery?¡± Biting his finger, Peter hesitated before responding, ¡°Because it¡¯s ice?¡± ¡°Idiot!¡± [Because this shit is an unsolved mystery in the world!] [Really? An unsolved mystery?] [Isn¡¯t it because the surface is smooth?] Bi Fang laughed heartily but then suddenly coughed a couple of times. Damn, he was starting to feel a lack of oxygen too. ¡°If anyone is interested in this question, you can search it up online. But indeed, this thing is an unsolved mystery. Ice is slippery because there¡¯s a layer of water film on its surface that acts like lubricant. Moreover, no matter how low the temperature gets, this water film always exists, but its molecular structure isn¡¯t like ordinary water. As to why, the scientific community really doesn¡¯t know to this day.¡± ¡°When traversing a broken glacier and you come upon a crevasse you need to step over, try to place the front of your high-altitude boots against the edge of the crevasse, clearly observe the opposite edge, and step over in one big stride without hesitation. It¡¯s also best to tie everyone up with a rope so if someone accidentally falls into the crevasse, they can be pulled up, avoiding any danger. However, this requires a high degree of execution in the team; otherwise, a ¡®one pulls many¡¯ situation could arise, making it impossible to pull anyone up.¡± Everyone continued half an hour more, constantly stepping over various large and small crevasses. The viewers in the live stream were all holding their breath in terror, especially as more and more types of glaciers appeared as they moved on. Not all glaciers can easily be crossed with a single rope. Bi Fang is climbing, not descending, and these types of glaciers represent only a tiny fraction. Most of them are high in the front and low at the back, and you can¡¯t just descend using a rope. You need to pull yourself up using the rope as if climbing a giant¡¯s staircase. If there¡¯s a crevasse underneath, that¡¯s even more dangerous. Two sections of a ladder tied together, with each end resting on something. People climb from below, hoping that their teammates are reliable enough to steady them. In such situations, Bi Fang always went up first. This was the most dangerous part because you don¡¯t know if the ropes tied to the ladder above have loosened. Once Bi Fang got up, he could double-check and reinforce everything. ¡°My life is in your hands now, steady the ladder for me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Yao Jun gave a thumbs up. ¡°I can pee against the wind three meters out without leaning on a wall, let alone steady you!¡± Bi Fang scolded with a laugh and placed his backpack on the ground. ¡°When climbing a ladder, it¡¯s best to go up lightly equipped for more stability. Once you¡¯re up, the backpack can be pulled up with a rope. This is a bit more troublesome, but it¡¯s safer.¡± Lightweight due to the equipment, plus the ladder fashioned from two ladders bound together, swayed precariously in the cold wind, constantly shaking. As Bi Fang set foot on it and came directly above the abyss, the drone also arrived overhead. At an altitude close to six thousand meters, plus the chilling wind, even the drone was shaky, its trembling lens increasing the tension and fear of the entire endeavor. On the swaying long ladder above the abyss, Bi Fang walked alone, suspended between sky and earth, advancing towards the snowy mountains. Suddenly, Yao Jun let out a big sneeze, and the ladder jerked violently. Bi Fang immediately hugged the ladder tightly while Yao Jun realized his blunder and hurriedly steadied it, but before the ladder was stable, Yao Jun¡¯s mouth opened wide, emitting a heaving sound inadvertently. Amidst the howling cold wind, a strange noise intermingled. Bi Fang gripped the ladder and scanned the surroundings; he sensed danger, a cold chill running down his spine. The ladder beneath him began to tremble¡ªnot the oscillation from the wind but a tremor! The tremors grew stronger, and the freshly fallen snow started to slide sibilantly across the ice. Everyone sensed the oddity and looked around nervously. ¡°Avalanche! Rob! It¡¯s an avalanche!¡± Bi Fang pointed at the snow peak above and bellowed. Chapter 408 - Chapter 408: Chapter 406: Desperate Situation? Chapter 408: Chapter 406: Desperate Situation? ¡°` The mountaineering season is canceled. The news swept through the camp like a hurricane, leaving many astonished, some erupting in anger, while others, who had braced themselves, sighed deeply despite their frustration. ¡°The Mountaineering Association has no right to make us descend and suspend our summit attempts! No right at all!¡± ¡°I paid you eighty thousand Ugly Gold, eighty thousand! Do you realize what that means? You owe me a full refund, plus compensation for my losses! Otherwise, my lawyer will be talking to you.¡± In the camp, Bi Fang took off his hat, letting the cold wind howl, while various quarrels competed to flood into his ears, making him laugh involuntarily. People who made a last-minute decision like him were few and far between. If they were truly here to climb, they wouldn¡¯t still be at base camp. At the very least, they¡¯d be training between Camp One and Camp Two, instead of arguing with the guides at base camp. Most of those remaining were like Wang Yongbo and Yao Jun. They had money, but once they reached base camp, they realized they couldn¡¯t make it with their physical condition. Besides, the Mountaineering Association promised that this year¡¯s climbing permits would still be valid next year. The current squabbling was just an attempt to recoup some losses, trying to get their money back. After walking through most of the camp, Bi Fang went to use the restroom. When he returned, he found that the situation had not improved; on the contrary, it had escalated, with Sherpa people and even himself becoming targets of blame. ¡°This is a decision made by the Mountaineering Association. I¡¯m just a guide, powerless to change it, sir.¡± ¡°Why cancel the climbing season to mourn for them? I paid money! That was their job! They get paid well, so they should take the risk! If an electrician dies from electrocution, should the whole city shut down for three days to commemorate him, huh?¡± ¡°Furthermore sir, the Khumbu Glacier is very dangerous after the avalanche. The original route is completely destroyed, and no one can guarantee your safety.¡± ¡°Why can that Huaxia person go up when you cannot? Aren¡¯t you supposed to be the most professional climbing guides? Can¡¯t you even outdo an entertainment broadcaster?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go, it¡¯s time to descend. I¡¯ll come back next year, I¡¯m used to this, three times in a row now.¡± ¡°Fuck your mother, refund my money!¡± Thais was explaining from a high platform, but no one was listening; he was so anxious he felt tightness in his chest. Bi Fang sat on a rock, took out a lollipop from his pocket to replenish his blood sugar, and watched them argue calmly, finding it quite interesting. When Thais relayed that the climbing season was canceled, Bi Fang had felt far more emotional turmoil than any of those arguing before him. The cancellation of the climbing season unquestionably meant that his efforts were in vain and the mission was doomed to failure, with his limits locked by something called ¡®talent.¡¯ This wasn¡¯t just disappointment; it was despair, a plummeting into an abyss of despair. But lying in bed, calming his mind, he thought it over, and in this situation, if he couldn¡¯t accept it, what else could he do? What comes is a blessing; what goes is fate. His physical condition could still improve; it¡¯s just that the balance was disturbed, and he could no longer progress uniformly. If this was the will of Nature, what could be done? The days ahead might be harder, more tiring, and even more hazardous, but where the heart aspires, no mountain can block the path. To achieve one¡¯s dreams, how could one not pay a price? A simple truth. If it had been him when he first arrived in this world, maybe he would have been obsessed over it, but after many adventures, Bi Fang was now able to see it clearly. Seeing that his efforts to calm the crowd were futile, Thais, sweating profusely, apologized to Bi Fang, ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry, Mr. Fang. I know you wanted to complete the no-oxygen summit record and become the first successful Huaxia person to do so, but I¡¯m really sorry. I¡¯m powerless in the face of such an accident.¡± Crushing the candy in his mouth, Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s alright; I was prepared for this.¡± It was an old move by the Mountaineering Association, and Bi Fang was not at all surprised. Being prepared meant he could face the failure of the mission with such composure. Picking up the nearby drone, Bi Fang prepared to tell his fans the news, but to his surprise, they were already more informed than he was. As soon as he entered the live broadcast room, they asked him if the climbing season was canceled. The moment Bi Fang nodded, a wail went up. [Wori, was the long-awaited climb all for nothing?] [What can you do about it, go talk to the association] [Surely it didn¡¯t have to be canceled?] [Why, oh why? Mourning could be done in another way, why take such a drastic and blunt approach?] ¡°` Indeed, why must it be so blunt and crude? Bi Fang looked up at the sun, squinting his eyes. He could accept it, but that didn¡¯t mean he was content. ¡°If there has to be a reason, perhaps it¡¯s still the conflict between man and nature?¡± Conflict between man and nature? Thais, who was listening intently nearby, was taken aback, not understanding why Bi Fang would say such a thing. Wasn¡¯t this just an ordinary memorial service? What did it have to do with the conflict between man and nature? Even Thais didn¡¯t quite understand, let alone the audience in front of the screen. Bi Fang pursed his lips, uncertain whether to speak in front of Thais, but after hesitating for a moment, he went ahead and said it. The Sherpa people had lived generation after generation by farming and herding, leading a peaceful and tranquil life. But that peace was shattered by mountaineers from all over the world who came to Nepal with a desire to conquer Mount Everest. The arrival of outsiders brought the prospect of a better life, and every person has the right to pursue a better life. They wanted a better life for themselves, to let their children stand out and not be trapped in the mountains forever, to provide their parents and children with a warm and full life. However, all these hinged on money, hence the first Sherpas were very happy. The Sherpa people, living deep in the high mountains, had no other means of livelihood, and mountaineering became their most lucrative activity. But those who viewed conquering Everest as a wealthy pursuit saw the summit as a prize of fame and fortune, leaving various kinds of trash and corpses on the mountain as they continued to come incessantly, regardless of how it affected the Sherpa people. What did the Sherpas matter to them? In the grand visions of the mountaineers, the Sherpas often played the role of obedient ¡°servants,¡± doing everything to aid the climbing to the summit, helping these high-paying clients realize their dreams of conquering the peak. Climbers would fly from Kathmandu Valley in Nepal to Lukla Airport, then trek for ten days to reach base camp. They were demanding and carried little themselves, relying almost completely on Sherpa labor. In the past, one person reaching the summit was considered a success, but now everyone paid, and it became the company¡¯s challenge to let everyone reach the summit, which meant more supplies were necessary. Sherpas built camps from the bottom up, transported, and stored supplies for weeks at a time to give clients the greatest chance of summiting. It was an industry that required manpower, and more and more Sherpas chose to work on the mountain. ¡°We passed the Khumbu Glacier on our way, and as you know, that¡¯s very dangerous. The Khumbu Icefall is a waterfall formed by the glacier flowing out of the western valley, sensitive to sunlight, with huge blocks of ice breaking off without warning. Climbers only need to cross the Khumbu Icefall two or three times, but during the transportation and the route-making process, Sherpas need to cross it 30 to 40 times each season. The risk of Sherpas sacrificing their lives is far greater than that of the climbers.¡± The audience thought about that scene for a moment¡ªthirty to forty times each season? Even if the death rate was one percent, multiple climbs would make the probability infinitely higher. ¡°The death rate is just one reason, the greater reason is exploitation,¡± Bi Fang adjusted his trouser legs to sit more comfortably and continued. Nowadays, the business of climbing Mount Everest has become managed entirely by climbing companies. Sherpas serve these companies, with all the supplies needed for the summit being carried up the mountain by Sherpa labor. Men with faces lined with wrinkles used a single stick as a climbing staff, their backs laden with bamboo baskets filled with three differently colored large mountaineering bags. Women joined the carrying teams, tying white bags to their backs, again tied over their heads, pressing down firmly with both hands. Bearing loads larger and heavier than their own body size, they climbed the mountains step by step, while only the children were free to run around. While climbers, using trekking poles, walked at the front. Yet even so, their earnings were pitifully small. Even the Nepali government exploited them, even banning airplanes from transporting supplies up the mountain. Of the 100,000 Ugly Gold paid by climbers for climbing fees, a large part went into the pockets of the government, with another portion to the climbing companies. After a season of climbing in 2014, each Sherpa got only a small share¡ªabout 4,000 Ugly Knife. ¡°These are all reasons, and also the triggers, until the avalanche in 2014 when the powder keg was completely ignited. Speaking of which, you¡¯re also from the association, you should be aware of what happened after that, right?¡± Bi Fang looked toward Thais. And at that moment, Thais was filled with shame. Chapter 409 - Chapter 409: Chapter 407 Occupy a Spot Chapter 409: Chapter 407 Occupy a Spot Chapter two is not ready yet, just staking a spot. Mount Everest! The moment Bi Fang¡¯s words fell, Taseto sprang up with a resounding clang, the legs of his stool screeching against the floor as he leaned forward with his hands pressed on the table, his face alight with surprise. ¡°Mount Everest! Is it that world¡¯s highest peak?¡± ¡°Mr. Bi is going to climb Mount Jolmo Lungma?¡± Bi Fang put down his knife and fork, and before he could make sense of why the other¡¯s reaction was so pronounced, Hask next to him rapped the table with his knuckles and shot Taseto a glare. Though the tone was scolding, it carried little reprimand, ¡°Taseto, look at yourself! Sit down!¡± Taseto sheepishly took his seat. After berating his third son, Hask turned to Bi Fang with an apologetic face, ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry for this display, Mr. Bi. Taseto has been passionate about adventures since he was small. Please forgive his manners.¡± Bi Fang waved his hand dismissively, not minding the interruption, and nodded affirmatively, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right, the world¡¯s highest peak, Mount Everest.¡± Matthew was the first to express skepticism, ¡°Have you climbed mountains before?¡± Even though he was not familiar with the mountaineering field, Matthew had wandered around and knew a lot, especially about Mount Everest. The highest point on Earth. It was where the air was thinnest, one of the most hostile environments, where sometimes even a cough could be fatal or a single breath could cause excruciating abdominal pain. In case of accidents, even corpses could only remain forever in that desolate place, becoming eternal landmarks. It was a domain where one could afford no mistakes, and even though Bi Fang had created miracles time and again, the sheer weight of being the world¡¯s highest was still not enough to give people full confidence in him. Therefore, Matthew had to ask clearly, although there was no mention in the live stream, maybe Bi Fang was a climber before becoming a broadcaster¡­ ¡°No.¡± Matthew¡¯s thoughts were interrupted, his pupils slowly dilating as he unintentionally opened his mouth wide, closing it several times without being able to speak, finally managing to say, ¡°Are you insane? How is this possible?¡± At the dining table, Hask¡¯s family also cast shocked glances, everyone but Taseto. They were not keen on outdoor adventures, but that didn¡¯t mean they were ignorant. The dangers of Mount Everest were known to any inhabitant of Earth; even if one could not articulate specifics, the fearsome aspects were well acknowledged. ¡°I¡¯m not crazy.¡± In stark contrast to everyone else, Bi Fang spoke very calmly, picking up his knife and fork again to cut a small piece of steak, chewing it thoroughly before swallowing it. After a good while, he tapped his head and said, ¡°In my view, adventure relies on two key things: a healthy body and a brain that can navigate the wilderness.¡± ¡°Coincidentally, Matthew, I have both. I¡¯m twenty-five this year, my body is at its peak performance, and I also possess one of the top brains in the world for wilderness survival.¡± ¡°It¡¯s completely¡­ it¡¯s not the same thing at all. You¡¯ve never been there, never been¡­¡± Matthew stammered, unable to fully express his disbelief. It seemed too absurd, someone with no experience in climbing high-altitude mountains suddenly announcing an attempt to conquer the world¡¯s highest peak. Has Don Quixote taken hold of him? A madman? Watching the others, Bi Fang knew they did not believe him. Indeed, it was nearly impossible for someone who had never climbed high mountains to suddenly proclaim he would conquer Mount Everest. He took his knife and fork, dipped it in some sauce, and began to draw a simplified regional map on the white porcelain plate. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, although Mount Everest is the world¡¯s highest peak, it¡¯s not the most difficult. I¡¯ve set aside a very generous amount of time for this mission¡ªtwo months of planning, with one month dedicated to training. It¡¯s mid-April now, and in one month¡¯s time, it¡¯ll be mid-May, the best time to climb Mount Everest. All of my live broadcasts during this period will revolve around Mount Everest.¡± As the fork continued to glide, everyone¡¯s attention was drawn to the black sauce, as if there really was a tall mountain range there, the highest peak standing tall between the heavens and the Earth. ¡°Mount Everest is located on the China-Nepal border, with India to its south, and to the east of India lies the Bay of Bengal. May is when the continental cold air above the Bay of Bengal begins to retreat northward. The movement of the high and low-pressure fronts usually coincides with the formation of spiral air currents, so once these spiral currents form above the Bay of Bengal and show signs of moving northward, it¡¯s the best time to summit Mount Everest. The weather patterns around Mount Everest and the nearby peaks are complex and changeable, marked by clear monsoon characteristics. The weather is so unpredictable that it¡¯s difficult to forecast, which is why it¡¯s imperative to choose a period of stable climate. If it¡¯s too early, the monsoon hasn¡¯t stopped; if it¡¯s too late, the monsoon has already shifted, neither of which is suitable for summiting. This window typically lasts from several days to ten days, and most Everest summits are achieved within this window, aligning seamlessly with my schedule.¡± Matthew, Hask, Taseto, and others stood behind Bi Fang¡¯s chair, blinking as they looked at the map on the plate, and then they looked at each other, puzzled. Those present were all laymen, unable to understand, but they felt that it seemed quite impressive¡­ Could it be, perhaps, it really isn¡¯t that difficult? As expected of Master Fang (Mr. Bi), he was indeed well-prepared! ¡°This, why does the formation of a spiral current indicate stability?¡± Taseto, the only one with some understanding of outdoor activities, struggled with the technical term that he had just heard for the first time. It was a real challenge to say it correctly after only hearing it once. Bi Fang looked around at everyone, and just by seeing the bewildered looks in their eyes, he knew no one had understood. He dipped his fork in the sauce and drew several circles: ¡°It¡¯s simple, a simple explanation would be the eye of a typhoon, which is relatively still compared to the surrounding storm wall, resulting in stable weather.¡± ¡°Oh~~¡± It seemed that they had truly understood, and everyone exclaimed in unison with an ¡°oh.¡± Matthew, who had been quite worried at first, also seemed to be swayed, feeling that perhaps it wasn¡¯t so impossible after all, being a layman himself, listening to Master Fang, who spoke so convincingly. Indeed, a layman is a layman, and the path I have to walk is still long. Seeing the skepticism in everyone¡¯s eyes turning into trust, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but smile. Is climbing Mount Everest really that easy? What I have said is certainly correct, but that does not make climbing Mount Everest simple. Choosing the appropriate summit window only reduces the requirements from one hundred percent to ninety percent. To challenge high-altitude mountains, the first step is to partake in low altitude outdoor activities, physical training, and learn the basic techniques. A beginner could complete this phase within a year by making full use of every weekend. The second step is to start entering high-altitude areas with thinner air. Before attempting Mount Everest, it¡¯s best to have two to three experiences of high-altitude climbing. Gradually progress starting from peaks at 6000 meters, then move on to 7000 meters, and 8000 meters. This phase takes a minimum of one year, while the average person needs two to three years. And I, I only have one month! Twirling the fork in his hand, Bi Fang¡¯s gaze was firm and fearless. Above an altitude of 8500 meters, that area is beyond the high measure of morality that human beings can demand, a zone forbidden to mankind. At this thought, Bi Fang even felt a surge of excitement. Whether in this life or his past life, so many people had ventured forth, challenging Mount Everest time and again, and he too had dreamt about it. But that place was also a graveyard for numerous challengers; he had neither the qualifications nor the strength, and could only dream about it. Never before had he felt as close as he did today, Chapter 410 - Chapter 410: Chapter 408 Impossible! Chapter 410: Chapter 408 Impossible! At base camp, the arguments among the group continued, gradually reaching a fever pitch. From time to time, individuals descended the mountain to join the dispute, while association members ascended to maintain basic order. For a moment, the entire base camp seemed to be engulfed in chaos. If not for the high-altitude hypoxia, which caused heavy breathing from the slightest exertion, Bi Fang suspected that a fight would have already broken out. ¡°For these people, tens of thousands of Ugly Knives is just pocket change, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°The richer they are, the stingier they get.¡± ¡°I looked it up, and Mount Everest has been closed several times in recent years, not just this once. Does the association do this every year?¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°The reasons for the closure vary. Apart from the accidents in 2014 and this year, the other closures were due to environmental concerns or weather conditions, such as severe snowfalls. The former would be announced before the start of the climbing season, and the latter is due to the high risk, so it¡¯s an unavoidable measure, with only mourning as a reason, and is the most unacceptable.¡± So that was the case. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s been ten days, I¡¯ve watched the livestream for ten days, and just when it got to the most exciting part, it abruptly ended.¡± Lying on the couch inside the camper, ¨¦tienne let out a long sigh, but accidentally jerked his hand and smacked his phone against his face, knocking his teeth against his lips, causing him so much pain that he grimaced. Elvan and Lenin, who were checking the moving red markers on the computer, took the opportunity to give unsolicited advice, ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s a shame. But what can be done? Life can¡¯t always be smooth sailing. All we can do is accept it.¡± ¡°OKOK, stop with your preaching,¡± ¨¦tienne said, unimpressed. Outside the Arctic Circle. Peter and Tony closed their laptops in disappointment and went off together to find Peter¡¯s aunt, planning to make some apple pie to appease their discontent. Matthew clicked his ballpoint pen, his intended report now reluctantly put aside. Unbeknownst to those on Mount Everest, the interest in Bi Fang¡¯s livestream quickly declined. ¡°How long is this going to go on?¡± Bi Fang scratched his eyebrow, unsure of what to do. The abrupt end of the livestream left him, who had never encountered such a situation before, at a loss. Maybe wait for Edinburgh to come down and visit the documentary filming site together? Just as he was contemplating this, a shout snapped him back to reality. Turning around, he saw it was Thais. ¡°Thais? What¡¯s the situation now?¡± Thais, gasping for breath, felt nearly suffocated by the atmosphere in the crowd, ¡°It¡¯s bad, very bad. The cancellation of the climbing season is set in stone. It can¡¯t be changed, their quarreling is useless. Moreover, the Sherpa people have stated that if it doesn¡¯t stop, they will do as they did ten years ago and halt all activities. We can only wait for our president to arrive now.¡± ¡°When will he be arriving?¡± ¡°Tomorrow.¡± ¡°Then Edinburgh and the others should be descending about now. I should be leaving tomorrow as well.¡± ¡°We are still very grateful for Mr. Bi¡¯s help; without you, this rescue would not have gone so smoothly. If possible, please don¡¯t rush away, our association would like to express our gratitude.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not necessary,¡± Bi Fang waved his hand dismissively, ¡°If I want to save someone, I just do it. I don¡¯t have any other motive. You can go back now.¡± With that, without waiting for Thais to respond, Bi Fang returned to his tent and ended the livestream after a bit of idle chat. The next morning, early hours. More people came down from the mountain, including Edinburgh and Rob, who had returned to base camp via a newly carved route. Gasping for air, Edinburgh entered the tent, scanned the room, but did not find the person he was looking for. Anxiously, he turned to Bi Fang to ask, ¡°Where¡¯s Danzeng?¡± ¡°Danzeng?¡± Bi Fang was taken aback, then turned to Wang Yongbo and others, ¡°Have any of you seen him?¡± Wang Yongbo shook his head, then looked toward Yao Jun. Yao Jun also shook his head, then turned to Jerret. Everyone shook their heads. No one had seen Danzeng. ¡°Wasn¡¯t he with you?¡± Bi Fang asked, growing concerned for the young man who had been willing to help others during the avalanche. ¡°No! He descended the mountain by himself yesterday!¡± ¡°By himself!?¡± Everyone was shocked. Descending the mountain alone was far too dangerous. After the avalanche, the route was completely reset. Even with Bi Fang¡¯s experience, descending was a terrifying ordeal. Yet a young man who had just turned twenty chose to go down alone, and what¡¯s more critical, he is now missing! ¡°Rob, do you have his phone number?¡± Rob nodded but then shook his head: ¡°I called, but it didn¡¯t go through.¡± These Sherpa guides were all arranged by the company; Rob had contact information but he had tried early in the morning and couldn¡¯t reach him. ¡°Damn it, where could this kid have gone?¡± Realizing the urgency of the situation, Mr. Bi quickly rushed out of the camp and joined everyone in the search, but half an hour later, when they reconvened, no one had found him. The Mount Everest base camp is only so large; where could this guy have gone? He couldn¡¯t have really encountered danger, could he? Bi Fang swallowed hard as he looked up at the towering mountain. Just as he hesitated whether to climb the mountain to search, commotion broke out within the camp. The President of the Nepal Mountaineering Association had arrived! Sherpa stepped down from the helicopter, adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses and took a few deep breaths before gesturing to quiet the noisy crowd. ¡°I am terribly sorry, everyone. May I have a word?¡± Seeing that the president of the association had come, everyone at the base camp gradually lowered their voices, curious to hear what he had to say. Noticing the improved atmosphere, Sherpa resumed speaking: ¡°I am deeply sorry for what has happened and feel a great sense of guilt for the compatriots we¡¯ve lost in this disaster.¡± After finishing, without waiting for a response, Sherpa bowed his head to observe a moment of silence. In such a situation, it was hard for the onlookers to blame or insult him, and the voices grew quieter. Just then, a shout of anger came from the crowd. ¡°We never wanted an avalanche to happen, and we too are heartbroken! But you can¡¯t block our dream to climb because of the sacrifices! Sacrifices are inevitable, the dead shouldn¡¯t stop the living¡¯s journey! Either continue the climbing season or give us back our money!¡± ¡°Yes! Exactly!¡± ¡°Refund us!¡± ¡°Return our tickets!¡± Seeing the situation he had just stabilized flare up again, irritation flashed in Sherpa¡¯s eyes, and he shouted: ¡°Impossible, the climbing season cannot possibly start! Why do you think you can move forward? Why? Is it because of yourselves? No, most certainly not. Look around you, look!¡± Sherpa pointed to the surroundings, to the graveyard below the mountain and the colorful litter scattered everywhere. ¡°It¡¯s been said that Mount Everest today is littered on the left with trash and on the right with corpses. Is that a lie? No! In 2018, a Sherpa cleaning team cleared 28,000 pounds of human excrement. In 2019, 14 Sherpas cleaned up 10,386 kilograms of trash from Everest on their own. As for human bodies, it goes without saying. After the 2021 spring climbing season, the official death toll was 309 people, most of whom were whom? And why? Don¡¯t you know? Ah!?¡± ¡°It¡¯s you, it¡¯s because of you!¡± ¡°Ever since this disaster, more than six Sherpas have lost their lives, including those who are missing and unaccounted for! They could have been at home with their wives, with their children. Why should they accompany you to trample on the sacred mountain in your minds? Why?¡± ¡°Given this, shouldn¡¯t the climbing season be canceled?¡± Chapter 411 - Chapter 411: Chapter 409 Chapter 411: Chapter 409 Just a little bit more, nearly done. Will have it fixed before 12:10. In the closed space, the sound of breathing was constant and deep, thick like a damaged bellows. In the darkness, Bi Fang and Edinburgh curled up, resting to slow down the depletion of their energy and heat, only Danzeng continued to dig, following the rope and digging without cease, his hands nearly numb from the cold. It wasn¡¯t that Bi Fang was being finicky. While the lives of his teammates were at stake, he had to maintain an oxygen-free mission throughout. The reason was that he was in almost complete pain, and digging out Danzeng had already drained his last bit of strength. If he chose to use oxygen at this time, neither the mission nor the rescue could be completed. Truly worthy of being the warriors of the third pole, the darlings of the mountains. Feeling the shadow swaying in the dark, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t stop thinking. The playful nickname given to Sherpa people about having a third lung lobe for climbing isn¡¯t without basis, it¡¯s genetically determined that they are better adapted to high-altitude environments than ordinary people; their low blood pressure ensures sufficient blood supply to the brain, and their muscular contractions are powerful; compared with their legs, their torsos are longer, ensuring that they can balance their center of gravity in rugged mountainous terrain. ¡°Mr. Bi, Sir Edinburgh?¡± ¡°Here.¡± Getting dizzier. The oxygen in the air was pitifully scarce, each breath was ineffectually straining, no matter how hard the alveoli tried to expand, they simply couldn¡¯t filter enough oxygen, blood flow was increasingly sluggish, and hemoglobin was struggling in vain to capture oxygen molecules. The silent darkness was panic-inducing. By now, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t suppress the anxiety. It wasn¡¯t fear, but the physiological behavior brought on by oxygen deprivation, hard to overcome by sheer willpower. If only there were light. In the moment they were hit by the blizzard, aside from the backpacks secured on their backs, the headlamps of him, Sir, and Danzeng had long been washed away, whereabouts unknown. If only there was a lamp now, it wouldn¡¯t be as bad as it is. Bi Fang¡¯s chest rose and fell as he took deep breaths again, further depleting the oxygen in the air, while, conversely, the carbon dioxide concentration rose. Bi Fang, regaining his calm, made a preliminary self-diagnosis: his arms were completely limp, muscles spasmed and stiffened, or there was a slight strain. A strain would be troublesome, not easy to heal in a short time. He hoped it was just a simple case of weakness. If he didn¡¯t get out soon, carbon dioxide poisoning might claim his life. It wasn¡¯t just carbon monoxide that could poison someone; carbon dioxide could do the same. Under normal circumstances, the carbon dioxide content in human exhalations is 4.2%. The partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the blood is higher than in the alveoli, which enables diffusion into the alveoli. But once the carbon dioxide concentration in the environment increases, the alveolar concentration also rises. This causes a drastic change in PH, stimulating the respiratory center, resulting eventually in paralysis of the respiratory center and hypoxic suffocation of the body. ¡°Damn it, how could there be an avalanche.¡± Bi Fang hit his head against the snow wall, his mind just couldn¡¯t understand it. Perhaps sensing the change in atmosphere, Danzeng called out softly, ¡°Mr. Bi, Sir Edinburgh, are you guys okay?¡± This was the thirteenth time Danzeng had asked, nearly every half minute. Just as Bi Fang was about to reply as before, an indescribable sense of comfort surfaced, each cell rejoicing as if¡­ The oxygen concentration had increased! Bi Fang suddenly sat up, expanding his lungs once more, yes, that¡¯s right, the oxygen in the air had increased! It wasn¡¯t an illusion! Are we going to dig out? That doesn¡¯t make sense, Danzeng was digging along the rope. Was somebody not buried? Impossible, right? With confusion in his heart, Bi Fang approached Danzeng along the rope, ¡°Danzeng, keep digging, hurry, keep digging!¡± Danzeng looked utterly confused, but his hands didn¡¯t stop moving, continuing to excavate, with large chunks of snow being thrown out. While digging, Bi Fang keenly felt that the oxygen concentration in the air seemed to have increased somewhat. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Mr. Bi?¡± Danzeng, clueless, didn¡¯t understand why Bi Fang suddenly reacted. Without answering, Bi Fang braced his hands against the layer of snow in front of him and pushed hard with both hands. Suddenly, the layer of snow in front of everyone collapsed violently, sending a shower of snow dust flying, air circulation picking up a breeze, with fresh air rushing in desperately. Dug through!? Danzeng and the semi-conscious Edinburgh widened their eyes. Although they could see nothing in the darkness, they keenly sensed the airflow. Did we make it out!? No, not yet. Bi Fang looked around at the pitch-black surroundings; the sky over Mount Everest was very clear. If they had gotten out, it wouldn¡¯t be as pitch-black as it was now where they couldn¡¯t see anything clearly. This was an internal ¡°vacuum¡±. Bi Fang recalled the scene of the avalanche, gradually piecing together the scenario of that moment. Gathering his breath in one go to alleviate the dizziness from the lack of oxygen, Bi Fang explained, ¡°When the avalanche occurred, it swiftly engulfed everything. But the shape of the Eagle Head Ice Slope is so unique that after the torrent swept over, it left part of the space within the rocks.¡± Just like an airplane crashing into the sea would be quickly enveloped, the air inside the cabin would be squeezed to the top and unable to flow out, creating a breathable area. The Eagle Head of the Eagle Head Ice Slope soared into the sky but faced away from the direction of the avalanche. As the torrential flow rushed down, it really protected the last living space underneath the avalanche like an Eagle! As Edinburgh and Bi Fang marveled at the incredibility of the situation, Danzeng¡¯s shout rang out in the darkness. ¡°Mr. Bi, there are other people here! Lama Qin! Lama Qin! The Mountain God showed his sign, the Mountain God showed his sign! Lama Qin! Lama Qin!¡± Other people? Pushing himself to stand up, Bi Fang was suddenly blinded by a burst of bright light. Bi Fang quickly covered his eyes. Realizing his mistake, Danzeng who picked up the headlamp, quickly dimmed the light. After finally adjusting to the blinding headlamp, Bi Fang slowly opened his eyes. Inside the small space, there were Yao Jun, Rob, and Jerret, all here! ¡°Everyone¡¯s okay, everyone¡¯s okay!¡± Danzeng was obviously a bit excited, but the next moment his mood dropped a lot, ¡°It¡¯s a pity about Uncle Holt and Uncle Lezha. They shouldn¡¯t have run away; I don¡¯t know how they are doing now.¡± Edinburgh comforted the young man, ¡°It¡¯s an instinctual reaction, there¡¯s no right or wrong; don¡¯t dwell on it too much, the Mountain God will bless them.¡± Bi Fang coughed twice and went over to Yao Jun and the others, checking each of them. They were all still breathing, and the breathing was normal, just temporarily unconscious. Taking oxygen bottles out of their backpacks and putting them on for them, Bi Fang rummaged through Rob¡¯s backpack and found a small radio. Whew. Bi Fang sighed with relief upon finding this device. Fortunately, it was still there. With it, even if they couldn¡¯t dig their way out, they could wait for rescue with peace of mind. Chapter 412 - Chapter 412: Chapter 410 1 Chapter 412: Chapter 410 1 A true mountaineer¡­ Puba¡¯s roar was vivid before his eyes. Bi Fang¡¯s gaze swept over the permit in his hands with complex emotions¡ªjoy, emotion, longing, nervousness¡ªall surged up inside him at once. He had come full circle and could climb once again. Was there greater joy in life than to regain what was lost? What he thought he could never pursue again had suddenly reappeared before him. No matter how furious the Sherpas were, he really could climb. Looking at the silly grin on Danzeng¡¯s face in front of him left Bi Fang speechless; he had never expected that Danzeng¡¯s uncle would turn out to be Puba, nor that he would descend the mountain overnight to get a petition for him. But as he looked on, he too broke into a smile, which turned into laughter, to which Danzeng¡¯s smile grew even wider. At that moment, Puba, who had finished negotiating with the Sherpas outside, walked in. Hearing the laughter of the two, he couldn¡¯t help but join in. After a while, the laughter inside the tent gradually subsided. Bi Fang stood up to thank Puba. Without this guide, renowned in the world of mountaineering, he couldn¡¯t have smoothly become the sole climber: ¡°Mr. Puba, I¡¯m extremely grateful for your help; this is a dream of my lifetime.¡± Puba shook his head: ¡°It¡¯s mutual help. You¡¯ve helped our Sherpa people, and we Sherpas will help you too. The moment you risked your life to rescue us, we were already friends. Friends helping friends is nothing but normal.¡± ¡°Yeah, friends!¡± Danzeng chimed in at the side. Bi Fang smiled and reached out to ruffle the other¡¯s hair thoroughly, messing it up. Puba smiled, waited for Danzeng to fix his hair, and then said seriously to Bi Fang, ¡°However, there¡¯s one more thing I believe Mr. Fang should be clear about: this climb will consist of only Mr. Fang, and only you. Even we Sherpas will not accompany you. Do you understand?¡± Why did the Sherpas cancel the climbing season? Without Puba¡¯s explanation, Bi Fang could understand it¡ªit was for dignity, to stop those who regarded them as ¡°servants¡± from stepping over the bodies of their compatriots, to prevent the sacrifices of their people from becoming as cheap as four hundred Ugly Knives. Compared to climbers, they were the ones who truly scaled these towering peaks. Modern Sherpas not only hope to help others realize their dreams, but also aspire to obtain equal honor and status. This wasn¡¯t just for others but for themselves too. They could allow their benefactor, a devout climber, to climb, but they could not tolerate stepping on the bodies of their own kind. Once they broke their own rules, the hard-earned dignity would lose all sense. ¡°I understand,¡± Bi Fang nodded. Climbing without oxygen was already a mode of hell but climbing Mount Everest alone was even rarer than without oxygen! This wasn¡¯t just a mode of hell, it was a march toward hell. Puba stared into Bi Fang¡¯s eyes yet saw no retreat or hesitation. The guy was serious. Climbing without oxygen, climbing solo¡ªeither challenge was extraordinary. Puba had never tried and didn¡¯t have the ability to attempt either, but the man before him, a professional climber, had done so without a moment¡¯s hesitation. No words of dissuasion could be uttered anymore; countless thoughts rose from his gut and turned into a single sentence. ¡°Good luck.¡± Bi Fang tugged at the corner of his mouth: ¡°My ¡®luck¡¯ has always been pretty good.¡± ¡­ ¡°So, you can climb again?¡± When the others learned the news. Wang Yongbo, having packed up all his belongings, found himself unsure of where to place his hands, looked around, then sat down again. ¡°Great news!¡± Yao Jun slapped Bi Fang on the shoulder with mighty force, ¡°What happened, tell me, did the association decide not to cancel the climbing season after all?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to Danzeng.¡± Bi Fang recounted his recent ordeal and experience, and when everyone learned that he was the only one climbing this time, they were all utterly dumbfounded. ¡°Has anyone made it to the top this year?¡± Yao Jun suddenly realized something and looked at Rob. Rob shook his head, ¡°Not yet, the meteorological bureau hasn¡¯t announced the real window period, so no one has started their final ascent.¡± Wang Yongbo couldn¡¯t keep his composure any longer; he shot up from his seat. What did this mean? It meant that since the commercialization of climbing Mount Everest, excluding the year of the great earthquake 15 years ago, this was the first time there could be only one successful summit within a year! And that¡¯s not including the fact that this could be Huaxia¡¯s first solo ascent without oxygen! Anything, with a ¡®first¡¯ attached to it, becomes incredibly precious. If he really could succeed, the value of this achievement would be more substantial than pure gold! ¡°You¡¯ve struck it big! Old Fang, you¡¯ve struck it big!¡± Yao Jun couldn¡¯t contain his joy as he held onto Bi Fang¡¯s shoulders, realizing that befriending him was the best decision of his life! Edinburgh was equally elated, ¡°So, the good are rewarded in the end, aren¡¯t they?¡± ¡°When do we set out?¡± Jerret was a bit impatient. ¡°Tonight!¡± In the dead of night, everyone got up on time to see Bi Fang packing up and leaving. Stuffing the rope into his backpack, Bi Fang hesitated for a moment, then took out a dagger and cut the rope at two-fifths of its length, leaving only thirty meters. On his own, he had to carry many necessary but rarely used tools, and every gram he could shed mattered. Once he got everything packed and stepped out of base camp, a desolate vista of the earth under the sky unfolded before everyone¡¯s eyes. The cold wind howled. With many people already gone, the base camp, still dotted with colorful tents, lacked its usual bustling atmosphere. Granting an exception for Bi Fang meant the climbing season was essentially canceled. The remaining climbers had no reason to stay; with the Sherpas¡¯ firm stance, they could only try again next time, or perhaps never come back at all. The drone powered up again. Millions of viewers flooded in instantly. Informed early on, Wang Yongbo had asked Wolf Fang to release another statement, elaborating on the reasons for continuing the climb and posted a video of Puba challenging everyone, even weaving Bi Fang¡¯s narration and Danzeng¡¯s experiences into a story that moved many to tears. No one knew that the Sherpa people in the fields had such a past, nor were they aware that the reason Puba, poised to break a world record, had quit climbing was for the dignity of all Sherpa people. No one likes working 996 or 007, but for the sake of life and the future, they persist until one day, for dignity, they must fight. [The broadcast has started, it¡¯s on!] [Go for it!] [Front row seats with snacks, selling sunflower seeds, cola, and mineral water!] [On the summit of the mountain, Dugu seeks defeat alone!] [Damn, this is kinda spooky.] The dark blue mountains stretched towards the horizon, meeting the sky, while the white snow line appeared distant and stark in the moonlight, turning the earth below into a vast map. As Bi Fang set foot on the mountain¡¯s ridge, his footprints reflected a glimmering white light in the moonlight. Chapter 413 - Chapter 413: Chapter 411 Elevation 6000 Meters Chapter 413: Chapter 411 Elevation 6000 Meters Outside base camp, more and more people were emerging from the campsite, not to climb, but to see what this year¡¯s only qualifier actually looked like. A white man spat at Bi Fang¡¯s feet, but Bi Fang did not even spare him a glance. ¡°Remember to sign your body donation for organs!¡± someone yelled at the top of their lungs, followed by a burst of laughter, ¡°Oh, I forgot, probably nobody wants your frozen organs! Hahaha.¡± Laughter echoed through the camp, but Bi Fang seemed to hear nothing, see nothing, just moving forward. Snowshoes crunched on the snow, and crampons left sharp holes in the ground. ¡°Come on!¡± A roar rose above all other noises, and people turned back to see¡ªit was another Asian. Was it the man¡¯s companion? The people wondered. The laughter did not stop, in fact, it grew even more unrestrained. ¡°Come on!¡± Another roar sounded. It came from an Asian, a fat man. ¡°Come on!¡± It was from a young Sherpa man. ¡°Come on!¡± This shout was not very loud, but it was full of force, from an old man. But these few voices were clearly not enough to drown out the much louder jeering, yet soon, a new wave of noise briefly overcame the cacophony. There were whites, Asians, and blacks, all survivors of the avalanche, people who were not seriously injured, but had stayed behind, now standing inside the camp, shouting towards a departing figure. Yet this group of fewer than twenty people was like a small splash in a pond, seeming not to stir a big wave, but gradually, the splash showed no signs of ceasing, growing larger and larger, carrying wave after wave of cheers. People watched in astonishment as the wall of less than twenty people grew longer and thicker. It was the Sherpa people! It was the roar of the mountain¡¯s darling! Leading them was Puba, standing at the forefront, with a growing number of villagers behind him, more and gathered, his eyes sharp like a hawk, intimidating every heckler into silence. Some gave up mocking, others retreated to their tents, and some joined the cheering. ¡°Come on! Come on! Come on!¡± Voice after voice joined together, converging into a sound wave that piled upon itself, forcing all the scoffers to slink back into their tents, yet the cheering went on undiminished until Bi Fang disappeared from sight, finally slowly coming to a stop. ¡°Humans cannot conquer mountains, they only climb them, like a child climbs onto its mother¡¯s knees,¡± Puba murmured as he watched Bi Fang vanish, then patted Danzeng on the head, ¡°Let¡¯s go back, whether he succeeds or not is now up to him.¡± Danzeng nodded vigorously. Watching the snowstorm, Edinburgh tightened his collar; he harbored no doubt about Bi Fang¡¯s success, as a centenarian, he understood one thing clearly. Once a person has a goal, they become unstoppable. Above the snow-capped mountain, the campsite behind Bi Fang had already blurred into the distance, but the viewers in the live broadcast room were still stunned, trying to recover from what they had just witnessed. If not for knowing the backstory, knowing what kind of person Old Fang was, they might even think it was all a performance! Of course, there were those who doubted, and not just the old viewers, but plenty of new viewers were skeptical as well. Some even raised questions, but Bi Fang did not need to worry about it, as older viewers naturally stepped up to explain. [Epic class!] [When it comes to prestige, you have to look up to Master Fang!] [Sniffle, I¡¯m moved, Master Fang rocks! Who says only those in the spotlight can be heroes?] [How far are you planning to climb today?] Bi Fang adjusted his headlamp, glanced at the barrage of comments, and explained, ¡°I will reach Camp One before the sun rises. There should be some people there still, not entirely evacuated yet. Also, my drone will be placed at Camp One because beyond that altitude, the drone cannot fly anymore. So, after that point, you can only watch the live stream in first-person view.¡± ¡°And because of the oxygen issue, I¡¯ll be talking less and less. Often I won¡¯t be able to reply in time, so if you have any questions, you need to ask them quickly. Once I reach 7,000 meters, I will try not to talk unless necessary. It might become a bit boring then.¡± [How could it be?] [This is my first time watching a Mount Everest live stream; I¡¯m a bit nervous. What can I say now to get everyone¡¯s attention?] [I didn¡¯t come here to watch you conquer the wilderness; hurry up and start eating!] [Ah, I was actually here to see what Master Fang is having for dinner today, slipping away now.] [Speaking of which, neighbors Shark and Tiger Fang teamed up the other day and launched a wilderness segment. Does anyone know?] Oh? Bi Fang raised his eyebrows; what was this situation? He didn¡¯t even know about it. [I saw it, it was launched for less than half an hour (Dog¡¯s head) and, calculating the time, it¡¯s almost the duration from when Master Fang was buried by the avalanche until he came back online.] [Tiger Fang, Shark: The sky cleared, the rain stopped, I think I can do it again.] Bi Fang was momentarily stunned and nearly laughed out loud. As a pioneer with templates and the System, he had well and truly cut off the path for any newcomers. From his very first live stream, Bi Fang paid attention to establishing a professional image. Now, he stood unbeatable like a giant in the field of wilderness, miles ahead of the rest. For anyone trying to catch up, the only way would be through a significant inflow of viewers, but the cost was mostly not worth it¡ªthe input and earnings did not add up. His earlier efforts had not been in vain. Gathering his thoughts, Bi Fang gripped the ascender and swiftly slid across the crevasse. Viewers who had watched the previous live stream even felt a slightly different sensation, as if¡­ Bi Fang climbing alone was even faster now? A figment of their imagination? Many scratched their heads, but this question was confirmed when they saw familiar mountains and the Eagle Head Ice Slope and then looked at the time. He was a full twenty minutes faster than before! [As expected, teammates are just a burden!] [Master Fang is a lone ranger!] [The lone brave one] As the daylight grew stronger, large ice crevasses became more numerous, many places lacked proper aluminum ladders, and there were no natural snow bridges. Bi Fang had to set up ladders himself, slowing down, he tied a rope to the ground and then to himself before moving forward. ¡°When climbing aluminum ladders, we hook the front teeth of our crampons onto the rung. Naturally, the rear teeth will hook onto the next rung behind. After making sure it¡¯s stable, we step up one by one. Every step must be clean and decisive to ensure there¡¯s no tripping while switching feet. The incline of the aluminum ladders varies; you might have seen many along the way, with four ladders joined end to end climbing upward, two connected across a crevasse, and others descending. No matter the angle, just make sure to take each step well. Don¡¯t be afraid, even if you fall off the ladder, two safety ropes attached to you can catch you.¡± The more experienced a person is, the more they know how absolutely important safety measures are. Therefore, Bi Fang did not dare to be careless with each step. All those who were careless ended up in the crevasses. Being alone in such an environment easily leads to psychological pressure, and under such strain, until the sun rose, the viewers finally saw Camp One through Bi Fang¡¯s perspective. Chapter 414 - Chapter 414: Chapter 412 Acquaintance Chapter 414: Chapter 412 Acquaintance Having exerted much effort to reach Camp One, Bi Fang exhaled cold mist and squinted at the sun before rolling up his sleeve to check the time and letting out a breath. ¡°Eleven-thirty-seven, not bad, we haven¡¯t missed lunchtime.¡± Starting at two in the morning, it took nearly ten hours to reach Camp One. The entire Khumbu Glacier seemed to ascend only a few hundred meters in altitude, but the actual distance covered exceeded fourteen kilometers, truly a ¡°long trek.¡± There were countless large and small crevasses, and Bi Fang had crossed seventeen aluminum ladders, finally reaching Camp One. Standing on this vast platform, the view was superb. Bi Fang expanded his lungs for deep breaths. Though the air was fresh, it was anything but comfortable to breathe due to the extremely low oxygen content. Standing at the entrance to the camp, Bi Fang could certainly see the ¡°height¡± of the surrounding mountains. His altitude was merely six thousand meters, but nearly all of the neighboring peaks rose above eight thousand. Holding the drone that couldn¡¯t fly, Bi Fang gripped his climbing poles and pointed towards the distance. ¡°The weather is good today, the mountain mist isn¡¯t too heavy, we can see very clearly. From left to right, these are four peaks over 8000 meters: Cho Oyu, Mount Everest, Lhotse Peak, and Makalu. The ones where the tips emerge from the clouds are Mount Everest, and the large gray expanse below is the massive Rongbuk Glacier, with the white at the bottom being the frozen Gokyo Lake Three.¡± The mountains were majestic, leaving the viewers speechless. After a while, they could only flood the live stream with a barrage of ¡°f*ck,¡± expressing their amazement. ¡°There are only fourteen peaks on Earth that exceed an altitude of 8000 meters, with ten of them being in the Himalayas and the other four in the Karakoram.¡± [The Himalayas still hold the trump cards] [Ten, but aren¡¯t there quite a few other peaks nearby? Don¡¯t they count?] Many viewers noticed Cho Oyu, the shortest of the four peaks pointed out by Bi Fang, but there were even sharper peaks above it, making the count more than just four. Bi Fang shook his head: ¡°Those are subsidiary peaks or forepeaks, which generally don¡¯t count. In geography, the highest peak in a mountain range is known as the main peak; a lone peak is an independent mountain; those that are relatively close to an independent mountain and present a protective formation are considered subsidiary peaks and forepeaks. Those higher than Cho Oyu are just subsidiary peaks of other mountains, and although they also exceed 8000 meters, they are not included in the count.¡± ¡°Of course, what I said earlier was not accurate either. The precise description should be a group of peaks exceeding an altitude of 8000 meters. In fact, there are more than 14 peaks on Earth that exceed 8000 meters in altitude, with many subsidiary peaks existing around most of the main peaks.¡± As the name suggests, a peak group is a ¡°collection¡± of an independent peak and all its subsidiary peaks¡­ The concept of a main peak is easy to understand, like Mount Everest being the main peak of the Himalayan range. But what does ¡°lone¡± mean? How could there be ¡°lone¡± peaks amidst the vast expanse of the Himalayas? How close is ¡°relatively close¡±?¡­ These concepts are qualitative rather than quantitative, and their boundaries are not clear, which makes the ¡°identity¡± standards for 8000-meter peaks also quite vague. [So where did this standard come from?] The audience was curious. Where did this unified statement of 14 peaks come from? ¡°That¡¯s because over the 100 years that mountaineering has been popular, only the British Military Survey Team has conducted systematic measurements of these mountains. So their statement about ¡¯14 peaks¡¯ became predominant and later gained the unanimous acceptance of mountaineers. Mountaineers have also concluded from practical experience that these ¡¯14¡¯ are actually the highest peaks within 14 distinct 8000-meter peak groups, that is, independent mountains. Around an independent peak, even if the elevation exceeds 8000 meters, they are considered subsidiary peaks.¡± [Is Old Fang now a mountaineer too (dog¡¯s head)?] Bi Fang laughed and neither admitted nor denied it: ¡°Once I summit Mount Everest solo and without oxygen, you can call me that.¡± ¡°` Although he had not achieved any specific accomplishments in climbing yet, simply reaching the summit of Mount Everest without oxygen was enough to secure Bi Fang a place at the climbing festival. Not to mention, he did it solo, without oxygen¡ªa double buff. In the entire history of climbing Mount Everest, the number of people who had achieved this could be counted on one¡¯s fingers. If this couldn¡¯t qualify someone as a mountaineer, then most of those who called themselves climbers would have to die of shame. Awesome! The audience didn¡¯t understand all the twists and turns, but at this moment, they had only one thought in mind. [Solo climbing is the way of the invincible; who needs an oxygen cylinder anyway.] [I was the first to disagree when Teacher Ma withdrew from the literary world.] [There¡¯s another identity verification; does anyone with great abilities have the stats on how many identities Old Fang has?] [Mathematician, chemist, physicist, biologist, climber, adventurer¡­ the list goes on, please add if I missed any.] [Architect, aviator, astronomer (dog¡¯s head)] ¡°I only have a smattering of knowledge in these fields; I¡¯m far from deserving the ¡®master¡¯ title. Don¡¯t inflate my ego,¡± Bi Fang waved his hand, eliciting laughter from the audience. Without lingering too long at the entrance to the campsite, Bi Fang prepared to rest a bit at Camp One before continuing his climb. ¡°I am going to rest here, replenish my energy, recover my strength, and then continue the climb. Once we get past the Khumbu Glacier, the danger decreases significantly. We just need to ascend another four hundred meters to directly reach Camp Two. The distance is approximately five kilometers, but it¡¯s much less dangerous than the Khumbu Glacier. That¡¯s also why we don¡¯t need to make a point of starting off in the middle of the night anymore.¡± Upon entering the current base at Camp One, the viewers could clearly see that in the southeastern corner, the snow had completely submerged it, with several colored tents buried underneath. This area was also affected by the avalanche. There were still people there, mourning their deceased companions and packing their belongings to return home. This was undoubtedly a somber atmosphere. They didn¡¯t realize their dreams here; instead, they had lost their lives. Bi Fang identified the tent prepared by the guide company from the markings on it and made his way to the designated permanent tent. As a formal guide company, there wasn¡¯t just Rob as a guide; there were many others. These people needed a foothold when they come to base camp, so naturally, the company would prepare campsites and supplies every season. Also, due to the strong winds at Mount Everest, repairs were almost necessary every year. Upon lifting the tent flap, a wave of warm air hit him¡ªthe temperature inside the tent was much higher than outside. ¡°The weather today is really good; the tent has been warmed by the sun, although the wind is a bit strong. Now we need to hydrate as much as possible, have some food, and later on, I¡¯ll take a nap, about an hour and a half, going through a full sleep cycle to recover my energy.¡± At this moment, the tent was empty, but some supplies were left behind. Bi Fang unpacked the fuel and lit the stove with a lighter, preparing to cook something. Unexpectedly, at that moment, a series of shouting was heard from outside the tent. ¡°Is Mr. Bi inside?¡± ¡°` Chapter 415 - Chapter 415: Chapter 413: Superman Chapter 415: Chapter 413: Superman Who¡¯s there? As Bi Fang was preparing something to cook, hearing the voice startled him. To his knowledge, all the guides and service staff from Rob¡¯s guide company should have already descended the mountain by now, so who could be looking for him? With curiosity, he lifted the tent flap. Because he was facing the sun, the light blurred his vision. Bi Fang squinted his eyes and expressed his surprise, ¡°It¡¯s you!?¡± The man standing before him was none other than Ze Long, the dream-chaser whom Bi Fang had saved just a few days ago! Even though it had only been a few days, the numerous events that had occurred in between made it seem to Bi Fang like a distant past. Many of the audience members who were drawn by the avalanche had no recollection of the incident, but quite a few enthusiastically shared their accounts. [That day at the pass, this guy slipped and nearly fell off a cliff. If Master Fang hadn¡¯t climbed down and pulled him up, he would have been done for] [Indeed, it was very dangerous. The slope was steep and covered with loose gravel. A slip could have been fatal.] ¡°What are you doing here? Haven¡¯t you descended yet? Come in, the wind¡¯s strong and it¡¯s still rather chilly outside,¡± Bi Fang said with a smile, stepping aside to make room for the other man to enter. Seeing that Bi Fang remembered him, Ze Long laughed and, without any hesitation, came into the tent with his fruits and vegetables, and sat down next to the stove to warm up. ¡°We started climbing that very night, so we were a day ahead of you. But I guess we were lucky; if we had been on the Khumbu Glacier with you, we might have perished. That would have been even more dangerous.¡± Ze Long placed the vegetables and fruits on the table. ¡°As for these items, our guide had them delivered last night. They¡¯re still quite fresh, but we¡¯ll be descending soon and won¡¯t be able to eat them. It would be a waste to leave them behind. After I got back, I followed your live stream, and honestly, I really admire people like you who walk the talk. Awesome!¡± ¡°Aw, just trying to make a living,¡± Bi Fang replied, somewhat embarrassed by the compliment. The audience found this amusing. [True struggling for a meal] [Sometimes even that¡¯s hard to come by (dog¡¯s head)] [I still remember Old Fang¡¯s first time; he didn¡¯t eat for two days and ended up eating earthworms, which nearly made me throw up. That was also the stream that got me hooked.] Ze Long also smiled. Those were the kinds of words one could only listen to. ¡°So just now, when I saw your stream coming up to Camp One, I decided to come and give them to you as a token of my respect,¡± he said. ¡°Hey, can¡¯t let it go to waste, thanks a lot,¡± Bi Fang happily accepted the goods. After all, the other man wasn¡¯t going to stay, so rather than let the food go bad, he might as well eat it himself. As Ze Long had said, it would be a waste otherwise. Moreover, canned food often has a strong taste, so having some fresh vegetables to lighten the palate couldn¡¯t hurt. The two of them chatted for a while longer. Ze Long didn¡¯t stay too long and after expressing his gratitude once more and mentioning that Bi Fang could come visit him in XZ when he had the chance, he left. Bi Fang then put the vegetables into the boiling water, stirred them with chopsticks, and poured himself a cup of the hot water. He blew on it just a bit before drinking it, to the amazement of his audience. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, I¡¯m at Camp One, which is at an altitude of 6,000 meters. Here, boiling water only reaches 80 degrees Celsius, and the temperature itself is below zero. The water cools off quickly enough to be drinkable. And since it¡¯s high-altitude ice water, there are no parasites, and bacteria are minimal. Even if it can¡¯t be boiled to 100 degrees, drinking it isn¡¯t really a problem. Of course, there are exceptions for those with sensitive stomachs, but they are very rare.¡± It was only then that the audience members came to their senses. Indeed, comfortably watching Bi Fang¡¯s live stream from home, with Bi Fang himself appearing so relaxed, they had almost forgotten where he actually was. Besides, anyone who could comfortably make it to Camp One couldn¡¯t be in too poor of shape. Physique often correlates with immune strength, and it¡¯s quite rare to find someone with a sensitive stomach. [Old Fang¡¯s physical condition is so strong. He hasn¡¯t shown any signs of altitude sickness up there¡ªI¡¯m envious] [Is that envy? You¡¯re just drooling over his physique, you¡¯re so lowly!] [Ah, yes, yes, I¡¯m lowly] Of course, it was good. Bi Fang was happy; his excellent physique had been earned through risking his life. Where there was danger, there he would be, completely disregarding the laws of wilderness survival. If he saw a mountain, he would climb it; if he found a cave, he would explore it. Only then could his four dimensions reach an extremely balanced fifteen points. A healthy male physique would be just ten points. This wasn¡¯t a simple relationship of one and a half times, but a qualitative leap, nearly the limit that special forces could achieve. With just a bit of focused training, he could reach a professional athlete¡¯s level. Even professional athletes would fall short in some areas¡ªafter all, not everyone could manage both speed and strength, let alone add nerve reflexes, resilience, and so on. Bi Fang was a bug who, thanks to the system, had forcefully developed all-around abilities. Soon, the vegetables were cooked, and Bi Fang didn¡¯t pay too much attention, simply eating them together with the flatbread. ¡°In the high mountains, it¡¯s not convenient to transport supplies, so you can¡¯t eat too well, unless it¡¯s canned food heated up. But that brings another problem, which is excessive trash¡ªmany people are willing to eat but not willing to take their trash with them. You guys know my habits, so this time I¡¯m making do. If you all come to places like this for a trip in the future, try to make do too, okay? Try not to create too much trash for the sake of your taste buds. If you really want to eat, it¡¯s best to take your trash with you when you leave.¡± After a mushy lunch that resembled porridge, Bi Fang turned off the live stream, laid out his sleeping bag, set up the stove, and took a brief nap. Due to traveling at night and the physical exhaustion, if it weren¡¯t for a coughing fit and severe altitude sickness, almost everyone who reached this point could fall asleep the moment they lay down. When he got up again, it was already two-thirty in the afternoon. After restarting the live stream, Bi Fang packed up his things, ready to hit the road once more. ¡°The elevation of Camp Two is around 6,400 meters, so it¡¯s about 400 meters higher than where we are. But between C1 and C2, there is a glacier zone where you have to climb up and down several ice cliffs almost 5-10 meters high with a nearly vertical ascent. This stretch has numerous crevasses, both visible and hidden. It requires crossing via about 8 ladders, followed by a 10-15 degree inclined ice field. Ordinary people usually need 3 to 4 hours of ¡®wriggling¡¯ to cover the 5 kilometers distance. Moreover, below Camp C2 is a high avalanche frequency area. It¡¯s safe to say that almost every year there¡¯s an avalanche here. Quite a few photography enthusiasts even come back to this place to capture the scene of an avalanche, so extra caution is needed. However, the good news is, we¡¯ve already encountered one not too long ago, and it¡¯s unlikely that another avalanche will happen soon.¡± Every year? Some were startled by this frequency. Wasn¡¯t it said that including this time, there have only been four avalanches on Mount Everest in the past ten years? ¡°Those four were avalanches with significant casualties, where at least dozens of people were injured or killed. The ones that frequently occur below Camp C2 are strictly monitored, and the overlap with climbing paths is rare. So even though the frequency is very high, there are basically no fatalities as a result.¡± Having everything ready, Bi Fang grabbed his climbing poles, stepped out of the tent, and before leaving, he pulled out the pegs, laid the tent flat on the ground, and then pressed it with rocks and snow. ¡°Alright, although it can¡¯t be completely prevented, this can significantly minimize the tent from being blown away before the next climbing season begins.¡± Getting the campsite packed up, it was already three-twenty in the afternoon; he had to admit that at an altitude of 6,000 meters, it took a toll on Bi Fang, and he would feel winded when tired. Bi Fang was not Superman. Chapter 416 - Chapter 416: Chapter 414: With Strong Willpower, Any Difficulty Can Be Overcome! Chapter 416: Chapter 414: With Strong Willpower, Any Difficulty Can Be Overcome! Arriving at the base of the avalanche, a rugged mountain path lay above, covered in snow. The avalanche had covered nearly a quarter of Camp One, sloping down majestically. Looking from above, tents of various sizes stood in lines, much smaller than those at the base camp and far fewer in number. Most climbers spent only one night here, so the tents were generally small, and there were very few large ones. There were also the restrictions of conditions. With the increasing altitude, the number of people grew fewer, and the items they could carry became lighter. Large tents weren¡¯t so easy to bring up. Teams were still descending the mountain, and among the dozens of people, only Bi Fang was moving against the current, like a boulder in a river. Many who didn¡¯t know the truth looked sideways and whispered until some became aware of the situation and cast strange glances. Why him? That was everyone¡¯s first reaction. No one cared why Bi Fang was allowed to continue climbing; they just knew they had to descend because of a word from the association, yet here was someone defying that rule. Seeing Bi Fang unmoved, his footsteps firm as he ascended, some wanted to say something, but the high altitude made them dizzy. ¡°Hey!¡± A shout echoed through the valley as Bi Fang stopped and turned around, squinting into the sunlight to see that it was still Ze Long, this guy. He was now standing at the camp entrance with seven or eight others, shouldering their backpacks and waving goodbye for the last time. ¡°Goodbye!¡± Bi Fang waved back, watching the others disappear into the snowy horizon. Ze Long had spent all his money to come here and didn¡¯t know if he would ever return. ¡°That guy¡­ I¡¯m not convinced!¡± Ze Long¡¯s teammate put down his oxygen tank and spat, feeling somewhat annoyed. Ze Long gave him a surprised look, his expression not very pleasant, ¡°Convinced of what? Next time you can apply to climb solo without oxygen as well.¡± His teammate fell silent. At six thousand meters, he needed to take a breath of oxygen now and then; climbing to the summit without it was out of the question. Yet, accustomed to privilege, how could he accept just standing aside and watching? He couldn¡¯t be bothered with these people. Bi Fang felt that talking to them was just a waste of time. He lifted his foot and started to jog down the path, quickly passing the group of onlookers. !? The white man, about to spit, flicked his tongue and swallowed the saliva with a gulp. The thin air at this altitude slowed everyone¡¯s minds, making them speak more slowly and appear exhausted. After successive incidents, their mood was even lower. But you¡¯re jogging here? Are we all climbing the same mountain? Several resentful people instantly lost their energy, feeling their physical strength insulted and silently tightened their collars as they turned to walk down the mountain. The drone had been set to fly down the mountain by itself. Now Bi Fang¡¯s filming was entirely in the first person, so although the viewers had an excellent sense of immersion, they couldn¡¯t directly see Bi Fang¡¯s movements. They were puzzled to see the people around staring dumbfounded with their mouths open until the camera began to shake and they realized what was happening. The System¡¯s black technology was still very powerful. Even in the first person, the stability was excellent. There was no shaking when walking, nor would it blink because of blinking. Only when running could a significant tremor be felt, but this wasn¡¯t a flaw. On the contrary, it gave the audience the most direct experience, as if they were on the scene themselves. At this moment, the viewers saw the climber¡¯s viewpoint suddenly begin to tremble. Some veteran viewers immediately understood. Is he running? Running¡­ on a six-thousand-meter snow mountain! [Damn, is Old Fang actually running?] [Be human, please.] [Everyone around was stunned (Dog¡¯s head)] [The last time I saw someone with such strong physical prowess, it was a real-life superhero] [Is Ultraman real? (Crying)] Bi Fang wasn¡¯t trying to show off, but rather wanted to reach Camp Two before dark to avoid night travel. Although ice and snow are more stable at night, visibility is indeed hindered. Without a guide leading the way on familiar paths, it¡¯s easy to go wrong, and he didn¡¯t want to take that risk. Light jogging was the most suitable option for Bi Fang at the moment. Ignoring the oxygen factor, the journey from Camp One to Camp Two is relatively easy and not too exhausting, making it a good pace to pick up speed. Not carrying an oxygen cylinder also had its benefits, at least the total weight could be reduced by a dozen kilograms without the breathing apparatus and oxygen bottle. Besides, Bi Fang¡¯s gear was extremely lightweight, including not carrying a tent. In case of an emergency, it meant he couldn¡¯t protect himself against the snowstorm, nor did he bring common medications like cold medicine and antibiotics, or a sleeping bag and pad for sleeping outdoors. He only ate energy gel bars and used a 20cm ultra-mini ice axe for steep snowy slopes. For most people, this would be unthinkable. This behavior vividly illustrated: People¡¯s physiques are different! ¡°Actually, there¡¯s not much difference,¡± Bi Fang took a sip of water to rehydrate. ¡°Scientists had researched a man before. His name is Wim Hof, also known as ¡®The Iceman¡¯. He holds nearly thirty world records in cold resistance. For example, he ran a full marathon in the Arctic Circle wearing just shorts, and swam in an ice lake for fifteen minutes. I don¡¯t remember if I¡¯ve mentioned this, but in those conditions, normal people could easily die within a minute, and he even climbed Mount Everest wearing just shorts and sandals¡­¡± Audience: ¡°!?¡± [Climbing Mount Everest in shorts and slippers?] [Did I hear that wrong?] [Did he succeed?] ¡°No.¡± [Phew, you scared me. I was like, how is that possible] [If he really succeeded, that would be too awesome] ¡°He didn¡¯t succeed because Wim Hof injured his foot during the climb. And although he failed, he still reached an altitude of 7200 meters, higher than where I am right now.¡± ¡°Aside from that, he also ran a full marathon in the Sahara Desert without drinking a single drop.¡± Wow, this man is incredible. After hearing Bi Fang¡¯s words, the audience was astonished. They could only think one thing: he¡¯s a real-life superman! Some people didn¡¯t believe it and looked it up, only to find out it was all true! ¡°I think it¡¯s impressive too. At least I don¡¯t dare to strip down to my shorts right now, but many scientists have studied Wim Hof, from his blood to his genes, from his skin to his organs. The conclusion they came to is that he isn¡¯t much different from anyone else, and what he can do is all due to his incredibly strong willpower.¡± [Willpower is that strong? I¡¯m uneducated, don¡¯t trick me.] [I don¡¯t believe it, this world is materialistic! (Crying)] [I¡¯m a supporter of Marxist Philosophy, wuu wuu wuu, Marxist Philosophy, my Marxist Philosophy, hehe.] [It¡¯s over, someone¡¯s gone crazy] [My worldview has been crushed!] [So am I to deduce that in a state of extreme anger, one really could punch through a five-meter wall? (Laughing)] [I see, you really can perform a slide tackle, Master Fang, quickly teach me how to take down a tiger!] Bi Fang laughed: ¡°So remember, with a strong will, you can withstand any difficulty and not panic in the face of danger, you¡¯ll always get through it.¡± Chapter 417 - Chapter 417: Chapter 415: The Small Animals on the Mountain Chapter 417: Chapter 415: The Small Animals on the Mountain After finishing a bag of water, Bi Fang stopped to look around and planted his mountaineering poles near a glacier. He first took out the ice axe from his waist, tapped with it to find a suitable spot, and then slammed it down fiercely, the tip of the axe penetrating the ice, creating cracks that spread like lightning. Holding the other end of the ice block, Bi Fang leveraged with his right hand, and a thick chunk of ice was knocked off. He scooped up the block of ice, took out a small knife, and started to shave the ice into chips, filling his water bag while scraping and speaking. ¡°At this altitude, there are no streams on the mountain, and all the water is in the form of ice and snow. To hydrate, one can only use ice and snow, like I did in Mohe, slowly melting it with the body¡¯s dissipated heat. Because you need to hydrate frequently, it¡¯s best to prepare three hydration bags to avoid running out of water when you need it. Don¡¯t put in big chunks of ice; they won¡¯t melt easily. It¡¯s better to shave it into chips, as I am doing now.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate this situation; it¡¯s actually very dangerous. I¡¯ve said before that drinking water can effectively alleviate altitude sickness. Once dehydrated, it could disrupt the entire mountaineering rhythm. You should never wait until you¡¯re thirsty or showing symptoms to hydrate, by then it would be too late. You should know exactly when to run, walk, drink water, and replenish energy.¡± The opening of the water bag was very large, specially prepared by Bi Fang, so shaving the ice went quickly. After filling it up, he reinserted the dagger, tightened the cap of the water bag, and placed it inside the inner pocket of his coat. ¡°Moreover, you shouldn¡¯t overhydrate; it can lead to water intoxication. The frequency should be to drink little but often, better to sip and hold a mouthful, or you could add some salt to make saltwater. That would also help a lot.¡± [Why not use snow, though? Snow is finer, right? Ice requires scraping.] ¡°Because ice is cleaner than snow,¡± Bi Fang pointed towards the sky. ¡°For water vapor in the air to condense into snowflakes, there needs to be a nucleus for condensation. Only with a nucleus can it form snow, and usually, this nucleus is a speck of dust. But the ice on the glacier is different, much cleaner than snowmelt.¡± ¡°Glaciers are also transformed from snow through slow changes over time. The snow that fell in ancient times was compressed over millions of years, and any impurities originally contained in the snowflakes were squeezed to the edges of the crystals and washed away. The resulting ice blocks, especially those formed from single-crystal snowflakes, have a purity that can compare to water distilled three times.¡± For this reason, Bi Fang had seen many businesses selling mineral water under the guise of glacier water, which wasn¡¯t exactly a deception; it truly is clean, even cleaner than water purified by water filters. After crossing the glacier, Bi Fang continued forward with his mountaineering poles, but after a short distance, he suddenly stopped, then stepped back two paces. Everyone tensed up, only to see his gaze constantly shifting, as if Master Fang was looking for something. [What¡¯s going on, what¡¯s happening?] [What happened? Old Fang, what are you looking for?] [Let me have a look] The moving gaze gradually came to a halt, and the viewers also saw what Bi Fang was looking for. [A bird¡­ a bird¡¯s nest?] [Holy shit, what kind of bird builds nests on Mount Everest?] [Props team, props team, continuity error! Continuity error!] The fans were dumbfounded, finding it unbelievable that a bird¡¯s nest could appear at an altitude of over six thousand meters! Bi Fang was also surprised; the bird¡¯s nest was hidden in a crevice between rocks. If he hadn¡¯t glanced at it and sensed something amiss, and then looked back to search, he might have missed it. The nest wasn¡¯t big, made of dry twigs, leaves, feathers, and even bits of cotton. When Bi Fang got closer, he was astonished to find that there were actually eggs in the nest! There were three eggs in the bird¡¯s nest, yellowish-grey with brown specks. Bi Fang removed his gloves and picked up one of the eggs, feeling its surface before smacking his lips, ¡°It¡¯s still warm, the bird mother or father must have just left recently. In low temperatures, birds require a lot of energy, so they often need to search for food.¡± Holding the egg in the palm of his hand, Bi Fang scavenged his memory. The current altitude was 6,289 meters, and it was a rarity to find birds nesting at such high altitudes. Based on the location, altitude, environment, and the shape of the egg¡­ Bi Fang tucked his climbing pole under his arm and stroked his chin, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, this should be an Alpine Chough egg. These birds typically nest between three and six thousand meters, with some even at six thousand five hundred meters, which is higher than any other bird species. Now it¡¯s May, which theoretically is spring, a time when a large number of birds reproduce. Laying eggs now means that they¡¯ll hatch in summer when the temperature rises, which is very suitable for the chick¡¯s survival. Sir, could you help me take a look to see if this is indeed an Alpine Chough egg?¡± Bi Fang took out his phone and contacted Edinburgh. The old man¡¯s academic status was not for naught; it was better to ask to be on the safe side. It didn¡¯t take long for Bi Fang to receive a positive response; it was indeed an Alpine Chough egg. Bi Fang¡¯s expression brightened, ¡°It seems Sir has been watching my livestream all along. Such attention!¡± [Hit the little star] [So, can it be eaten?] [Eat, eat, eat, all you think about is eating.] ¡°It can be eaten, as the Yellow-billed Chough is not a protected animal and its population is over a million without the risk of extinction. However, I do not recommend eating it,¡± Bi Fang placed the egg back to its original place and covered it with some nearby cotton fluff, ¡°Yellow-billed Choughs, especially, like to rummage through garbage piles for food, which isn¡¯t very clean. They may circle through a garbage pile and then come back to incubate their eggs, so unless necessary, I don¡¯t recommend eating their eggs.¡± The audience felt a pang of regret, having thought they could eat local food on Mount Everest. Watching the livestream, the most exciting part was always seeing Master Fang hunting, eating authentic game. [Speaking of which, are there other animals there, at an altitude of over 6,300 meters? Is there anything living even higher?] As Bi Fang pondered while moving forward, he recalled a creature that could definitely be said to live at the highest known altitudes, ¡°This creature can even live at altitudes of over 6,100 meters. It is absolutely the highest-altitude living being.¡± With this thought, Bi Fang sped up again and arrived at the edge of a glacier, occasionally looking inside, but unfortunately, there was nothing to be seen. [What is it? Tell us already] [Yeah, spill it] The audience¡¯s curiosity was piqued. What kind of creature could live at such a high altitude? ¡°Don¡¯t rush, don¡¯t rush. You¡¯ll know once I find it. It shouldn¡¯t be hard to find,¡± Bi Fang calmed the anxious hearts of the viewers. While mountaineering, after half an hour or so, he indeed made a discovery! Bi Fang lay down at the edge of the glacier, reached out his hand, and scooped up something too quickly for the viewers to see clearly. He looked delighted, obviously having caught something. When he opened his hand¡­ [Holy shit, a spider!] [There should be screaming right now.] Indeed, if there were any girls there, there would undoubtedly be screaming because in Bi Fang¡¯s hand was a fuzzy, large spider crawling about! Chapter 418 - Chapter 418: Chapter 416 Silent Valley Chapter 418: Chapter 416 Silent Valley A large spider? Bi Fang paused for a moment, staring at the spider the size of a fingernail on his palm for quite some time. emmmm. To say it was big was somewhat true; spiders larger than one centimeter were indeed rarely seen in the city. Usually, you would only find spiders this size in the countryside, in the shadows under the eaves, crawling in and out of old tree holes, inside last year¡¯s cicada exuviae¡­ At this moment, the spider suddenly scooped out of the crevice was dashing frantically across the vast expanse of Bi Fang¡¯s hand. Its jointed legs covered in bristles moved back and forth, and on its shriveled head were eight black eyes diminishing in size from big to small. I¡¯m getting goosebumps! [What the hell is this thing?] [Can you not hold it in your hand? I¡¯m getting stressed out.] [The hair on my hands is standing on end!!!] ¡°Jumping spider. This guy is a Himalayan Jumping Spider, its scientific name is Euophrys omnisuperstes, meaning ¡®above all else.¡¯ It can survive in ice crevices at an elevation of 6,700 meters, making it the highest-dwelling creature in the world.¡± Gazing at the tiny creature scampering across his palm, Bi Fang, out of a sense of mischievousness, gently prodded it with his thumb, forcing the jumping spider to change directions and scurry erratically. At this altitude, the only living thing Bi Fang could see was the Himalayan Jumping Spider on his hand. Once everyone left the mountain, above 5,000 meters on Mount Everest, he would be left all alone. One man, one mountain. [Doesn¡¯t it bite? Is it venomous?] [Man, you¡¯re playing with fire!] ¡°Don¡¯t worry, human skin is quite thick for a jumping spider, and the clever creature is very much aware of that. It rarely attacks humans. In fact, not just jumping spiders¡ªother spiders seldom attack humans either, as they know it¡¯s a futile effort that brings them no benefit. Usually, what you think is a spider bite is most likely caused by some other insect. ¡°This is especially true in Huaxia. In our country, a spider that poses a fatal threat to humans is virtually nonexistent. Even the spiders that can attack humans and whose venom causes severe reactions, like spiders of the genus Latrodectus, are extremely rare in Huaxia. Therefore, there¡¯s no need to be afraid of spiders. If you win the one in a million chance and encounter one in the wild, you should buy a lottery ticket or try to catch it and show it off to a zoologist, as it¡¯s pretty hard for everyone to find one.¡± Many international viewers were moved to tears when they heard this, especially those from Australia, [Wuuu wuuu, Huaxia is truly a blessed land] [I stayed in Australia for a while last year, and the spiders there were bigger than fists!] [I heard that over there, you might encounter a venomous snake slithering out of the toilet, the kind you don¡¯t see before sitting down, from the drainage pipe (dog¡¯s head)] [My heart just cooled down] [Wait a minute, if only the jumping spider lives at such high altitudes, what does it eat? What about the food chain?] [Smart guy, you¡¯ve caught the crux of the matter.] ¡°Yes, when scientists first discovered it, they were also curious about this. At such high altitudes, only the jumping spider survives, but for living creatures to exist there must be energy intake. As an animal, the jumping spider can¡¯t photosynthesize, so there must be some food chain sustaining its existence. Unfortunately, there isn¡¯t one.¡± How is that possible? Then what exactly does it eat? The audience was utterly astonished. If only one kind of creature exists there, what does it feed on? There aren¡¯t even any plants here, no soil, just rocks. Does it gnaw on rocks? ¡°It¡¯s frozen insects,¡± Bi Fang said without beating around the bush. ¡°The Himalayan Jumping Spider relies entirely on the sporadic frozen insects blown by the mountain winds for energy. It is precisely because of this predation method that biologists can unequivocally confirm that the Himalayan Jumping Spider is the highest-dwelling creature, bar none.¡± When he spoke these words, even Bi Fang sounded somewhat amazed; in many cases, animals¡¯ formidable survival abilities can leave humans in the dust. ¡°Eight eyes give it a 360-degree field of vision; its body temperature can drop to negative twenty degrees Celsius; fine hooks on its feet provide gripping power so it isn¡¯t blown away by the wind; its long legs allow it to jump effortlessly between rocks, with distances up to fifty times its body length. Jumping Spiders don¡¯t spin webs, but they can still produce silk; the safety-rope-like spider silk allows them to move about freely. ¡°Moreover, the Jumping Spider¡¯s greatest advantage is its size. Its tiny body can cling closely to the rocks, which absorb energy from the sun, creating a nearly three-centimeter layer of warmth¡ªa perfect microenvironment for this pint-sized hero.¡± Unable to venture beyond the Five Fingers Mountain, the tiny spider spat out a thread of silk onto the palm of a hand, then energetically leaped, instantly clearing the boundary. ¡°Food is scarce and the weather is harsh; settling here might seem odd, but there are reasons behind it. Here, there are only Jumping Spiders, nothing else, no one preys on them. Despite their small size, they are atop the food chain of Mount Everest.¡± The sun began to dip. Bi Fang stood up, the Jumping Spider descended slowly, like a mountaineer with a safety rope, eventually returning to the ground. It bit the silk thread, cutting it off and scampering away. [That¡¯s enlightening.] [The wonders of Nature.] [Has Old Fang received the true teachings of Sir these past days? (Dog¡¯s head)] ¡°Of course. With the master by my side, it would be a crime not to seek his counsel. Chasing stars isn¡¯t about yelling for autographs¡ªthat¡¯s chasing after nothing. It¡¯s about learning skills and certain qualities from your idols that truly matters.¡± Bi Fang laughed heartily. Climbing with Edinburgh wasn¡¯t just about mountaineering in silence; the interaction was profoundly enriching, advancing Bi Fang¡¯s knowledge of many local customs and special creatures. However, he was already familiar with Jumping Spiders. While there are many species of Jumping Spiders, he couldn¡¯t possibly know them all, but he was well-versed in some of the creatures that are the most exceptional in the world. [What can you learn from chasing after Master Fang? (Sly smile)] [Confronting Nature. (Dog¡¯s head)] Having observed the spider, Bi Fang continued to climb. Along the way, he would often encounter people descending the mountain, but there were fewer and fewer of them. Bi Fang used his ice axe to tap on the icy surface, helping himself to climb up the steep slope. Occasionally, loose rocks would fall down. If hit by them, one could easily fall off the cliff at this height, with a high chance of being severely injured or even dying instantly if struck on the head. Bi Fang personally witnessed a rock about the size of an old-fashioned computer whistling down towards him. Although the rock fell from a far distance, he managed to avoid it in time. However, from a first-person perspective, the viewers still gasped until they saw the rock plummet into a chasm and finally realized they had broken out in a cold sweat. This first-person perspective was even more thrilling than playing a horror game. A single slip, and it could truly be fatal. ¡°If you¡¯re wearing prescription glasses underneath your goggles, please make sure your breath doesn¡¯t frost up the lenses, as it could affect your vision and judgment. We¡¯re now very close to Camp Two, walking through ¡®Silent Valley¡¯. As you can see, to my right is Nuzi Peak, and the slope of the mountain on the left is prone to avalanches. Normally, one should proceed quickly and stay alert to their surroundings.¡± Climbing up the icy slope, Bi Fang took a breath and finally straightened his back, turning his head to look at the sunset in the sky. It was already evening, and he was now at an altitude of 6,400 meters, where mist flowed around like water. A high-altitude crow returned from hunting, flying towards the mountains, while a Jumping Spider suddenly leaped up from a rock¡­ The snow-capped mountains looked magnificent in the sunset, glowing with the beautiful color of gold, their ice, snow, rocks, and cliffs forming exceptionally beautiful curves and patterns. The sky, the wind, and the light were in a dynamic, perpetual act of creation¡­ but perhaps someday, the seracs will disappear forever. The environmental overdraft and damage caused by human development were also harming the Himalayas. After watching for a long time, until the sun had set, Bi Fang finally snapped back to reality and continued his climb up the mountain. Chapter 419 - Chapter 419: Chapter 417: Saving a Spot Chapter 419: Chapter 417: Saving a Spot Chapter two isn¡¯t finished yet, just claiming a spot. I¡¯ll make changes before 0:30. In the azure abyss, a silhouette laboriously grew from small to large. At the edge of the crevasse, which was narrowing, Bi Fang slowly moved to the left and began to climb upwards, viciously hacking his ice axe into the wall of cream-like ice to find his foothold¡ªeach step a concerted effort filled with agony. He climbed up like a worm. Stab, kick, shift, repeat. There was complete numbness between his palms and the ice axe; perhaps they were frozen, or maybe they were necrotic. It all turned into an obsession for survival. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m already unconscious, and this is all a hallucination,¡± Fei She thought, unable to believe that the man, severely injured in a crevice and still able to move up over a hundred meters, was himself. Finally, after what seemed like the umpteenth time mechanically swinging the axe upwards, he glimpsed a patch of blue sky. Fei She longed to rest but he couldn¡¯t afford to let go. If he did, he would die. He propped himself up to lie there, half in, half out, totally exhausted and unable to move. Five minutes later, with a final burst of energy, he forced his body forward and fell onto the solid ground. He staggered to his feet, only to collapse again. He couldn¡¯t walk; he could barely get down on his knees. It was only then that Fei She realized how broken his body was; dragging his fractured ribs over the ice wall, he knew that unless his companions found him, he wouldn¡¯t survive. Maybe he was bleeding internally and needed rescue. But just as he was about to hit the ground, a hand fiercely grabbed him. Fei She opened his frost-covered eyes. A hallucination? There was actually someone there. After an avalanche, there was still someone. This must be a delusion, right? Fei She weakly opened his mouth as if to say something but after struggling for a while, he didn¡¯t cry for help or even say thanks. ¡°Got any coffee? Preferably hot.¡± ¡°Quick, rescue him!¡± Upon receiving a response, Fei She passed out completely. Yao Jun and Jerret arrived beside Bi Fang and shivered as they looked at Fei She¡¯s miserable body, which looked like a demon that had crawled out of hell, not a human. His clothes and the corners of his mouth were caked with icy fresh blood; his left hand dangled uselessly, eerily elongated compared to his right; his left ankle was also twisted irregularly. The sight made both men¡¯s teeth ache and they couldn¡¯t help but think, if it hadn¡¯t been for Bi Fang, would they be in the same state? Glancing into the crevice, the cutting wind on his face, Yao Jun banished the thought. He probably couldn¡¯t even climb out, only wait to die below. The viewers felt dizzy. [This guy is tough] [Is this what an avalanche victim looks like?] [Fuck, this is too damn terrifying] [I can¡¯t handle this, I¡¯m going to have nightmares] [Master Fang, censor it for me, I¡¯m scared] In the live broadcast room, Fei She¡¯s ghastly face was quickly censored. Bi Fang carefully laid Fei She on the ground: ¡°Yao Jun, look for some ID on him that can prove his identity. Jerret, do you have any hot water?¡± ¡°Oh, yes.¡± ¡°Give him a little.¡± Bi Fang quickly undid the man¡¯s clothes and discovered extensive bruising to his chest and abdomen, drawing a sharp intake of breath: ¡°Bleeding from the mouth and nose, body swelling, muscle tense and turning purplish; these are symptoms of internal bleeding!¡± [Internal bleeding, he¡¯s not going to die, is he?] [Damn, this is serious, isn¡¯t it?] [Not necessarily, it depends on what kind of internal bleeding it is and whether there are any symptoms of shock or respiratory arrest. If he could climb out of such a deep glacier, I think it might not be that serious.] ¡°Jerret, use the backpack to prop up his leg.¡± ¡°Oh, oh.¡± Bi Fang pressed down on the man¡¯s right hand, trying to take the ice axe from his grip. As soon as he pried the fingers open, a thin layer of skin was torn apart. The ice axe and the man¡¯s palm had completely frozen together, causing viewers to feel a tingling sensation on their scalps. [My god, that¡¯s terrifying.] Bi Fang took the warm water from Jerret and slowly poured it over the man¡¯s hand. Only after the bloody ice melted was he able to successfully remove the ice axe, and then he pressed the wrist to check the pulse. After a while, Yao Jun asked nervously, ¡°How is it?¡± Growing up, Yao Jun had never seen someone die before his eyes. He had thought death wasn¡¯t a big deal, but now that it was actually happening, he was genuinely nervous, and his speech was slightly stammering. Feeling the heartbeat, Bi Fang¡¯s brows slowly eased: ¡°It¡¯s okay, his heart rate is stable, it¡¯s just simple fainting, not shock. Now we can only suspect internal bleeding, possibly due to broken ribs, but it doesn¡¯t seem too severe. At least no vital organs were damaged, otherwise he couldn¡¯t have possibly climbed out of the abyss.¡± ¡°So what do we do now?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t do anything.¡± Bi Fang shook his head. He knew survival and first aid, but he wasn¡¯t a doctor and didn¡¯t know how to operate. Even if he did, there were no conditions for it now. ¡°The best thing to do for an internal bleeding patient is to keep still, elevate the legs to redistribute the blood flow due to gravity, and then wait for rescue. Any significant movement could potentially exacerbate the internal injury.¡± ¡°Over at the shoulder¡­¡± Bi Fang looked and looked again. Subway, elderly, mobile phone. ¡°It¡¯s not just a simple dislocation; the scapula might be fractured, and there might be a lot of shattered bones. Surgery is a must. As for the ankle¡­¡± Bi Fang paused. ¡°I can handle the ankle.¡± Bi Fang took off his shoes and felt the other person¡¯s ankle. It was just a dislocated ankle joint with no fragmented bones, and he popped it right back into place. ¡°If anyone encounters a dislocation, don¡¯t try to handle it without proper experience. It¡¯s best to take it to a professional hospital and have a doctor fix it. Yao Jun, do you have a towel? Wrap his ankle and then apply a cold compress. The best way to do cold compresses is with a towel in between to prevent frostbite.¡± After hearing this, Yao Jun went to look for a towel but ended up pulling out an ID card: ¡°Oh, right, I found this on him.¡± Bi Fang took the work card, somewhat surprised: ¡°Fei She? He¡¯s Fei She?¡± [Holy shit, the guide from the same company as Rob! The guide for the Japanese and the Texan! Where are they?] [This guy is tough.] [Awesome, truly awesome. Internal bleeding plus a dislocated left hand, and he climbed out of the crevasse alone, that¡¯s just exaggerating¡­] [Is this what legends are made of?] [The guide is here, could the others be too? They¡¯re not trapped in the crevasse, are they?] Bi Fang took off his headlamp and shone it down into the crevice, but he found no other figures until he had walked more than fifty meters and then saw a very familiar figure lying in the crevice. The drone slowly descended, and the viewers gasped and covered their mouths. [Is that Wessels¡­] [I hardly dare to watch¡­] [Though the other party was very rude, ¡®Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, may the deceased rest in peace.¡¯] [This is clearly a horror live broadcast.] [This streamer has such a strong background, they can broadcast this sort of thing?] [Nonsense, see the little red star after the name? Official verification, you kidding me?] Atop the crevice, Bi Fang shone his light down to the very bottom. Sunlight struck his back, and the blue light of the glacier reflected onto his face, flowing slowly, making it somewhat indistinct. Dozens of meters apart, heaven and hell. Sigh. After a silence, Bi Fang exhaled a sigh. It was the second time someone had died before him. Chapter 420 - Chapter 420: Chapter 418: The Lost Souls under Lhotse Wall Chapter 420: Chapter 418: The Lost Souls under Lhotse Wall May 8th. Bi Fang woke up at Camp Two, and even with the shelter of the rock walls, his body was already piled with snow. He removed his mask to shake off the ice crystals that scattered in the wind, sat leaning on the ground, and pulled out two Energy Bars for breakfast. Just then, his phone vibrated. It was Yao Jun calling. Bi Fang took off his gloves to answer and asked as he ate, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°The weather bureau¡¯s forecast is out: from the 10th to the 14th, they say that¡¯s the best window for summiting!¡± ¡°Not bad.¡± At least there were five more days. That was enough. Bi Fang wasn¡¯t too disappointed by this news, as it wasn¡¯t far off his expectations. Under normal training conditions, this time wouldn¡¯t be sufficient, but Bi Fang didn¡¯t plan to train in the conventional way of going up and down three times. Extraordinary times called for extraordinary measures. He planned to reach Camp Three in one go today and then acclimatize to the environment. After ending the call, Bi Fang silently started the live stream. The audience waiting in front of their computers and phones only saw a flash of a black screen before a blizzard filled their view. [He¡¯s live, he¡¯s live!] [Is he going to Camp Three today?] [Master Fang makes a shining entrance!] [Pepe Shrimp kicking it up a notch with 1000 fishballs for the host¡ªCharge!] [Liang Feifan delivers 10 rockets to the host¡ªReach the top quickly!] [Just started and already seeing whales, I¡¯m so jealous] In response to the barrage of comments and gifts, Bi Fang expressed his thanks once again, but he didn¡¯t dwell on it for long. He soon got back to the matter at hand, stood up, shook off the snow on him, and moved deeper into the valley. The valley was incredibly deep, and while many people might never have climbed a big mountain, the sheer size of Mount Everest was greater than most can imagine. To have a valley that¡¯s kilometers long at just 6,400 meters elevation was a testament to the mighty power of Nature. By now, the oxygen levels were extremely low, and a normal person would almost certainly need an oxygen bottle just to be here, constantly reminding themselves to regulate their breathing. At this altitude, movements become slower, and each kick into the hard icy snow seemed to use all of one¡¯s primordial strength, hardly any different than a sloth¡¯s pace. Even Bi Fang began to feel the discomfort in his breathing upon reaching this point. Fortunately, having navigated through so many dangerous environments before, Bi Fang¡¯s balanced physique allowed him to adapt incredibly well. After walking for a while, the discomfort gradually faded away. ¡°Psychology has a concept called ¡®flow,¡¯ which is when a person becomes fully immersed in an activity, they experience a high level of pleasure and fulfillment, and during this process, they forget the passage of time. If you¡¯re feeling empty, anxious, or even physically unwell, go do something that gets you into that state. It will bring you pleasure, just like when I¡¯m absorbed in mountain climbing.¡± The cold wind howled through the narrow valley, and it took about an hour for Bi Fang to arrive at the base of the Lhotse Wall¡ªan 800-meter ascent that meant relatively steep slopes, averaging over 40 degrees, with the steepest parts around 60 degrees. Beyond the steepness, the Lhotse Wall was a mix of ice and snow, with many areas covered in hard ice. This hard ice is formed when intense sunlight during the day melts the snow, and then at night, the temperatures drop and the water freezes over again. This cycle leads to very hard ice that is difficult to kick into or to anchor an ice axe into, which means more effort and energy are required. At that moment, Bi Fang took out his rope and ice axe, ready to climb upwards. Before coming here, Bi Fang had introduced the Lhotse Wall, but the steepness of the ice wall might seem like just a concept, especially since many viewers didn¡¯t feel much when hearing about it¡ªfifty to sixty degrees was merely a number. But now, as Bi Fang stood below the Lhotse Wall looking up, many people¡¯s mouths hung open in awe. Is this what they call a slope? [This is fifty to sixty degrees? Are you sure it¡¯s not ninety degrees?] [Indeed it is, but the visual impact is too strong.] [Can you even climb this?] [Of course you can climb it, otherwise how would you reach the summit?] ¡°Indeed you can climb it, but the danger is also very high,¡± Bi Fang exhaled a puff of warm air, acknowledging that there was no way to be fully confident, especially when climbing alone. Normally, Mount Everest climbs are a team effort. If the team is professional, the efficiency is higher. For instance, a slope like this one would require the setting up of ropes. Nails would be hammered into the rock or ice wall, then ropes would be hung for protection, using them to ascend bit by bit in a repetitive, laborious process. Alone, the efficiency would drop significantly, and the climb would be much more dangerous. Even the climbing machine had lost his grip and fallen off a cliff, tragically losing his life. Don¡¯t misunderstand; the climbing machine is not an actual machine, but a person, Ueli Steck. ¡°Ueli was one of the greatest climbers of his era, a two-time Piolet d¡¯Or winner, famous for his solo speed climbs. He completed a grand slam of the Three Great North Faces of the Alps¡ªEiger, Grandes Jorasses, Matterhorn¡ªall in under two and a half hours, even down to two hours. These three records made Ueli widely known as the ¡®Swiss Machine¡¯.¡± ¡°In 62 days, Ueli climbed all 82 peaks above 4000 meters in the Alps region, becoming the king of Alpine climbing. Besides, he pioneered a new route on the north face of Tengkampoche Peak, earning a Piolet d¡¯Or, and in ¡¯13 soloed the south face of Annapurna Peak to win another Piolet d¡¯Or. In ¡¯09 he soloed K2 and Makalu, in 2011 he completed Shishapangma in 10 hours and 30 minutes, and in 2012, he summited Mount Everest without oxygen.¡± A series of accomplishments left the audience dizzy, many of whom had never even heard of most of these mountains, but they understood one thing: this was a major figure, a pivotal heavyweight in the mountaineering world. Unfortunately, Bi Fang¡¯s tone changed, revealing regret, ¡°Ueli¡¯s two Piolet d¡¯Or climbs were both accomplished in the Himalayas, and in the end, he met his demise on the Lhotse Wall. The Himalayas made Ueli into the legend he was, and they also became his final resting place.¡± Indeed, Ueli had perished right there on the Lhotse Wall in front of Bi Fang. In ¡¯17, a significant avalanche occurred on the western side of the southern face of Lhotse Peak, but it didn¡¯t threaten the climbing route of the Khumbu Glacier, so many people overlooked it. After all, small avalanches are a common occurrence on Mount Everest. However, just half an hour later, base camp received the devastating news that ¡°Ueli has suffered a fall on Nuzi Peak, and his body is shattered.¡± In the world of mountaineering, there are many ways to prove one¡¯s ability, among which the most remarkable are: solo summits, oxygen-free ascents, pioneering new routes, and speed climbing. Completing any one of these feats on any challenging mountain would make one¡¯s name in the mountaineering community. Bi Fang¡¯s current attempt was a solo, oxygen-free climb. Though this was an achievement even Ueli himself hadn¡¯t attained, the sheer list of his accomplishments was enough to prove the brilliance of this climbing machine. The aura of a lone wolf, an oxygen-free climber, the master of speed climbing, had already convinced the public that the ¡®Swiss Machine¡¯ was ¡®capable of anything,¡¯ but still, he died at the foot of the Lhotse Wall. Thinking about this, a shiver ran through the audience. Chapter 421 - Chapter 421: Chapter 419 Occupy a Pit Chapter 421: Chapter 419 Occupy a Pit Chapter two still isn¡¯t finished, wuwuwu. Edited before one o¡¯clock. By the time everyone returned to Everest Base Camp, noon had arrived, and the original team of three had expanded to eleven. That¡¯s right, eleven people. After Bi Fang rescued Saito, at an altitude of 5,400 meters, the detector reacted again. Digging was like unearthing gourds on a vine, seven from a single stem¡ªapart from one who was dead on the spot, the other six were injured, some severely, some less so, but all were able to walk. Since the altitude was not far from Everest Base Camp and they were out of the Khumbu Glacier area, Bi Fang let the six of them support each other and walk together. As for why four plus six equaled eleven, the reason was Bi Fang had found another old acquaintance, one of the two Sherpa guides who had untied their ropes and fled for their lives. The other, unfortunately, Bi Fang did not find, and his fate remains unknown¡­ After the Sherpa was dug out and heard that not only did everyone in Bi Fang¡¯s party survive, but they were essentially unscathed, he was utterly choked up. Seeing the campsite not far away, he broke down and was unable to cry. If he hadn¡¯t untied his rope back then and had followed Bi Fang, perhaps he wouldn¡¯t have lost a leg and wouldn¡¯t have lost his best friend either. As the only able-bodied worker in his family, the impact of losing a leg on his entire family can only be imagined. Unfortunately, there are no ifs in life. Bi Fang, seeing this, didn¡¯t know what to say to comfort him. He didn¡¯t blame the man¡ªin fact, as a wilderness adventurer, he understood all too well the influence of instinct on a person. He patted the man on the shoulder, consoling him, ¡°Stay alive, that¡¯s the best outcome. There¡¯s still hope for everything. Your Mountain God let you survive for a reason, look forward.Keep moving.¡± All the members of the team, watching the Sherpa weep, kept silent, shedding tears of their own¡ªthey too had lost companions in the avalanche. [Three lives, this is the first time I¡¯ve seen so many¡­] [Natural disaster¡­] [If only we had that thing from the 007 movies, something that pops open like an airbag during an avalanche¡­] [Keep going, for fuck¡¯s sake!] [To be honest, this avalanche has moved me more than the previous group of human traffickers ever did.] The moment they saw the campsite, a man with his forehead wrapped in bandages fell to his knees in the snow, his body trembling, startling his teammate next to him. ¡°Thank you, thank you. I¡¯m alive, I¡¯ve come back alive, thank you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, this is what we should do. Get up quickly,¡± Bi Fang hesitated for a moment, then hurriedly went to help him up. At this, the rest of the crowd also came to their senses. Remembering the avalanche that night and the despair when they were buried, they started to cry. ¡°If we had waited for rescue, we definitely would have been long gone by now. You are greater than God!¡± ¡°God bless you, God bless you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right now, really, it¡¯s all right.¡± The audience was also moved by this scene. [This is what an adventurer is all about!] [Sir was right, Adventurer Fang is freaking awesome!] [Male god, my male god, hehe] [So handsome I¡¯m drooling] [What¡¯s Nantong?] [With great power comes great responsibility, sent to the host¡¯s spaceship*1¡ªthere goes all my pocket money for the month!] At the same time, the personnel remaining in the camp and the climbers who had not yet set off also saw Bi Fang and the others not far away. ¡°That is¡­¡± A climber squinted, somewhat in disbelief. An avalanche had occurred last night, but due to the unstable conditions, no one dared to take action on their own, let alone go climbing, especially on the Khumbu Glacier. When the morning sun rose, the glacier was very unstable, a vast expanse of white, and aside from the occasional passing piece of broken debris, not a single human figure could be seen. Now there were actually people on the mountain? And not just a few it seemed. Out of kindness, a man cupped his hands around his mouth to form a megaphone and took a deep breath to shout, ¡°Hey, avalanche! Avalanche! Don¡¯t climb! It¡¯s dangerous!¡± Obviously, the climber mistook Bi Fang and the others for rich young tourists trying to get a close-up look at the avalanche, but the next moment, a figure rushed past him, followed by a second, a third¡­ ¡°Here it comes, big news, big news!¡± ¡°Quick, it¡¯s GOD¡¤FANG! GOD¡¤FANG!¡± The climber was befuddled, stretched out his hand to grab someone, and hurriedly asked, ¡°Who is this! Do you know them?¡± ¡°F**K, don¡¯t pull me!¡± the third man to rush out tried to shake off the climber with effort. But the climber was very strong; after one, two, three tugs and still not breaking free, and seeing his companions already charging ahead, he quickly explained, ¡°These are survivors of the avalanche, they¡¯ve rescued themselves!¡± ¡°Survived, self-rescue?¡± The climber was befuddled. He had heard and seen avalanches a few times, but he had never heard of anyone being able to rescue themselves from under an avalanche and returning alone, at least not except for a few rare cases in the news. He had never seen such a thing himself, and so many of them? Wait, all these people had rescued themselves and come back? The climber wanted to ask more, but the man didn¡¯t give him the chance, seeing no way to escape, he simply took off his coat and ran out. ¡°What on earth is going on?¡± The climber was completely dumbfounded. Not just the climbers and the onlookers, but Bi Fang was dumbfounded too. Arriving at the camp entrance, he saw several people charging over and thought they might be family members of the climbers, but when he saw the microphones in their hands, he felt it was unlikely. ¡°Are these reporters? Have they got it wrong?¡± As the little prince of entertainment news, Yao Jun was all too familiar with this scene, but he really couldn¡¯t imagine, ¡°The rescue team hasn¡¯t even arrived, how did they get here?¡± Jerret saw things a bit clearer: ¡°The lives of rescuers are lives, too. The Mountaineering Association has to consider whether the mountain is stable, the cause of the avalanche, whether there could be a secondary disaster, whether real-time rescue is possible, and then formulate a rescue plan. But for paparazzi, do they need to? As long as there¡¯s money to be made, is danger that important?¡± During this brief conversation, groups of reporters had already gathered around. Even though this was Everest Base Camp and there were indeed reporters, they were not numerous because of the harsh conditions. Bi Fang lightly pushed and managed to push them away. All sorts of languages were bombarding them; there was Nepali, English, Hindi, and even Chinese. ¡°Excuse me, make way, please. There are injured people here who need to rest as soon as possible.¡± ¡°GOD¡¤FANG, GOD¡¤FANG, I¡¯m your idol, could you share your thoughts on this self-rescue that netizens have called a textbook case?¡± ¡°Right now, I just want to lie down and rest, please make way.¡± ¡°Master Fang, as a rescuer, what are your feelings?¡± ¡°I feel your mom.¡± ¡°Sorry, could you say that in English?¡± ¡°I thank your mother.¡± ¡°Sorry, my mother has passed away.¡± Bi Fang: ¡°¡­¡± Stunned for a while and not knowing what to say, more cursing came from behind the reporters. ¡°Get out of the way, all of you, we are from the Mountaineering Association! Don¡¯t delay the injured needing rest!¡± Thank God. Bi Fang heaved a sigh of relief. Although he wanted to drive away these sticky burrs immediately, he simply didn¡¯t have the extra strength. Chapter 422 - Chapter 422: Chapter 420: Sprint! Chapter 422: Chapter 420: Sprint! After half a month of continuous climbing and so many incidents, Bi Fang didn¡¯t want to delay any longer. He decided to make a summit bid early this morning. Today is the ninth, and after midnight it will be the best summit window announced by the meteorological bureau. And judging from Bi Fang¡¯s own experience, the weather has been too good these two days. Apart from the strong wind, there has been no snowfall ¨C but it¡¯s abnormal for Mount Everest to have no wind. After completing his acclimatization exercises at noon, Bi Fang announced his decision, ¡°We¡¯ll make a push at dawn, straight to the summit!¡± The audience in front of the screen was thrilled. Why were they watching the live broadcast if not to see Bi Fang successfully summit? According to Bi Fang, Camp 3 on Mount Everest is at an altitude of 7,200 meters, leaving only the last 1,600 meters that seemed within reach. Although they were aware of the immeasurable risks involved, the audience had long been accustomed to Bi Fang¡¯s judgment, with only a few new viewers expressing concern. Nonsense, could they know better than Bi Fang whether the summit could be reached just by watching the video? Besides, what use would it be to dissuade him as a viewer? Just do it! At the base of the mountain, Yao Jun and the others were worried about Bi Fang¡¯s decision but sincerely hoped he would succeed and return safely. Danzeng asked Rob, ¡°Can Mr. Bi succeed?¡± Rob nodded then shook his head, and after pondering for a moment, he nodded again. Yes, can he succeed? Rob didn¡¯t know. Bi Fang¡¯s excellence was something he had never seen in all his years of leading expeditions. Top-notch climbing skills, the endurance of a world-class athlete, a supremely balanced physical constitution, and just the right weather window ¨C with these, Rob felt Bi Fang had all the qualities needed to succeed. If he couldn¡¯t make it despite all this, then the success of the countless ¡°carried¡± wealthy would be nothing short of a myth. But climbing is not all about tangible strength, otherwise how could the ¡®Swiss machine¡¯ have perished on the Lhotse Wall? But this was Bi Fang. Rob recalled the joy in Bi Fang¡¯s eyes when he looked towards Mount Everest, his eyebrows sharp as swords, nothing could stop him; he remembered the agile figure when rock climbing, honed to perfection; and he thought back to how calm and composed Bi Fang had led everyone when they faced the deadly avalanche. This is Bi Fang! It¡¯s just a step away¡­ Bi Fang looked up at the summit, already excited on the inside. But to be extra cautious, in the afternoon Bi Fang pushed on a bit further. The ¡®Yellow Band¡¯ at an altitude of 7,500 meters is a section about 100 meters long consisting of mixed ice and rock. It posed some difficulty for climbing, but it did not create a significant obstacle. Eventually, at two in the afternoon, Bi Fang reached an altitude of 7,600 meters. The time on his watch was two. He set his alarm for eleven twenty, leaving only forty minutes for preparation. An altitude of 7,600 meters was the ¡°starting line¡± Bi Fang had set for himself. In the early hours, he would make his final sprint! ¡­ At ten o¡¯clock at night, the village at the foot of Mount Everest was brightly lit, with almost no one asleep. For the Sherpa people, who rise at sunrise and rest at sunset, this was incredibly unusual, but it was happening. All because of one person. A man from Huaxia, attempting to solo Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen. In a small room in the village, an unknown borrowed projector beamed onto the screen. Yao Jun, Danzeng, Jerret, Edinburgh, Rob, Wang Yongbo, and others all brought their stools and sat in front of the wall. Undoubtedly, the image projected was of Bi Fang, still sleeping. Yes, tonight, before the live broadcast, Bi Fang had turned on the live streaming equipment and left it by his side, having not shut it down as usual, causing many people to remain in the live chat room waiting for the alarm to ring. Although it was Bi Fang who was summiting, the atmosphere inside the room seemed even more tense than on the mountain. Unable to bear the atmosphere, Yao Jun¡¯s thighs were aching. He rubbed his stomach and looked at the others, ¡°Are you guys hungry? I want to go make some instant noodles.¡± Danzeng was the first to raise his hand, ¡°Me too!¡± The atmosphere was too oppressive, and they needed something to break it. Once one person started, all the others raised their hands. Yao Jun went out and quickly returned with seven or eight cups of instant noodles, expertly boiling water and making the noodles. This was already their third round of eating since five in the morning. Not just them, many people were destined to stay up tonight to watch the live broadcast. Not to mention anything else, just by looking at the barrage of comments, you could tell that from six o¡¯clock on, the quiet live broadcast room began to stir, with many people sitting in wait right after getting off work or finishing school. Perhaps because it was Saturday, the number of viewers was exceptionally high, surpassing three million! And this was before the broadcast had even started! The actual number of viewers was more than what most streamers inflated proportionately, it was ludicrous, like opening the door to absurdity¡ªabsurdity paid a visit. Tonight, the upper management of Shark and Tiger Fang had sleepless night, pulling an all-nighter at work. At this moment, the management at Shark and Tiger Fang were completely dumbfounded, only able to utter gibberish. If someone had told them six months ago that in half a year there would be a broadcaster with three million viewers before even starting the broadcast, they would have taken that person¡¯s head and gouged their eyeballs out! ¡°The foundation of our rise, oh, the foundation of our rise! Gone, all gone!¡± ¡°It hurts, it hurts so much!¡± ¡°Wuwuwu, I¡¯m so sad, like playing Chopin in the rain.¡± For a time, the office building was filled with cries of sorrow, the employees were shivering, feeling a heavy chill within the building, and a few days later, a new urban legend began to circulate¡­ Drip! The waiting audience shivered reflexively, then realized it was only eleven o¡¯clock, not yet the moment for the alarm to ring. [It¡¯s eleven o¡¯clock.] [Been waiting since I got off work, computer streaming live, playing with my phone while I wait] [I wasn¡¯t even this enthusiastic for the meteor shower] [It¡¯s so thrilling, feels like I¡¯m the one about to sprint] [Nanana is me giving the broadcaster spaceship*10¡ªsitting and waiting] [A chubby person about to develop abs sends broadcaster big bone*666¡ªadd another] [Holy crap, Master Fang is still asleep, who are you tipping, ghosts?] [Used to it, just a bunch of fanatics] [To get tips while sleeping, I¡¯m envious] Under the watchful eyes of thousands, time passed second by second, and finally, the time reached 11:20. At this moment, countless netizens who were either drowsy or just beginning their nightlife suddenly perked up. Here it comes! Even those viewers who wanted to go to the bathroom held it in forcibly. ¡°Beep beep, beep beep.¡± A finger pressed the side button on the wristwatch, turning off the alarm. Almost at the same moment the alarm sounded, Bi Fang woke up. His sleep was light; at this altitude, even he couldn¡¯t sleep too comfortably. But what you lack in quality you make up for in quantity. More than nine hours of vanished sleep still allowed Bi Fang to recover from all the fatigue of the day. The first sensation Bi Fang felt as he got up was cold, bone-piercing cold. But not only did Bi Fang not wrap himself up in his coat, he took it off in front of everyone! He was going to, Go light! Chapter 423 - Chapter 423: 421 Chapter 423: 421 ¡°` I¡¯ll claim a spot, will be done by 00:45 After making a huge effort to reach Camp One, Bi Fang exhaled a cloud of cold mist and squinted at the sun before rolling up his sleeves to check the time, exhaling with a huff. ¡°Eleven thirty-seven, not bad, we didn¡¯t miss lunchtime,¡± he said. Leaving at two in the morning and finally arriving at Camp One took nearly ten hours. The whole ascent of the Khumbu Glacier seemed to be just a few hundred meters of elevation gain, but the actual distance traveled was over fourteen kilometers, truly a ¡°long march.¡± The numerous large and small crevasses along the way were countless, and just navigating aluminium ladders, Bi Fang had crossed seventeen, finally reaching Camp One. Standing on this vast plateau, the view was excellent. Bi Fang took deep breaths into his lungs. The air here was fresh but breathing certainly wasn¡¯t a pleasant experience due to the very low amount of oxygen available. At the entrance to the camp, Bi Fang could well say he had a view of mountains ¡°above,¡± though his own altitude was just six thousand meters, the peaks around him nearly all exceeded eight thousand meters. Holding an undeployable drone, Bi Fang gripped his climbing pole and pointed towards the distance with a shake. ¡°The weather¡¯s good today, not much mountain fog. We can have a clear view ¨C from left to right, they are four peaks over eight thousand meters: Cho Oyu, Mount Everest, Lhotse Peak, and Makalu. The tip peeking out through the clouds, that¡¯s Mount Everest, and the large grey stretch below is the massive Rongbuk Glacier, with the white area at the bottom being the frozen Gokyo Lake Three.¡± The majesty of the mountains left viewers at a loss for words; after struggling to find the right expressions, they could only flood the live streaming chat with a barrage of ¡°holy sh*t¡± to convey their awe. ¡°There are only fourteen mountains on Earth over eight thousand meters above sea level, and ten of them are in the Himalayas. The other four are in the Karakoram.¡± [The Himalayas still hold prestige] [Ten of them, but aren¡¯t there also many peaks nearby? Don¡¯t those count?] Many viewers noticed Cho Oyu, the shortest among the four peaks pointed out by Bi Fang, but above it, there were pointed peaks that were even taller, already numbering more than four in sum. Bi Fang shook his head: ¡°Those are subsidiary or fore-summits, which generally don¡¯t count. In geography, the highest point in a mountain range is the main peak; an isolated peak is an independent mountain; and those near an independent peak that form a ¡®guarding pattern¡¯ are subsidiary and fore-summits. The ones taller than Cho Oyu are just subsidiary peaks of other mountains. Even though they also surpass eight thousand meters, they are not counted among them.¡± ¡°Of course, what I just said wasn¡¯t accurate either. A more accurate description should be there¡¯s a group of mountains over eight thousand meters above sea level. In fact, there are more than fourteen mountains on Earth over eight thousand meters, as most main peaks are surrounded by several subsidiary peaks over that elevation.¡± As the name suggests, a mountain group is a ¡°collection¡± of an independent mountain and all its subsidiary peaks¡­ The concept of the main peak is easy to understand; for example, Mount Everest is the main peak of the Himalayas. But what exactly is considered ¡®isolated?¡¯ In vast mountain ranges like the Himalayas, where are the ¡®isolated¡¯ peaks? How close is considered ¡®relatively near¡¯?¡­ These concepts are qualitative rather than quantitative, and the demarcations are not clear, making the identity criteria for 8000-meter-class mountains vague as well.¡± [So where did this standard come from?] The audience was curious, wondering where did this unified statement of fourteen peaks come from? ¡°That¡¯s because over the 100+ years since mountaineering became popular, these high mountains were only systematically measured by the British Military Survey Team, so their statement about the ¡®fourteen¡¯ has taken hold. Later, it also received unanimous approval from the mountaineering community. Mountaineers have also summed up through practical experience that these ¡®fourteen¡¯ are actually the highest peaks within fourteen separate 8000-meter peak groups, that is, independent mountains. Even if there are peaks around an independent mountain that reach over eight thousand meters, they are considered subsidiary peaks.¡± [So now, is Old Fang also a mountaineer? (Dog¡¯s head)] ¡°` Bi Fang laughed and neither admitted nor denied, ¡°Wait until I summit Mount Everest solo without oxygen, then you can call me that.¡± Although he had no specific mountaineering achievements of his own, just the act of summiting Mount Everest without oxygen would secure Bi Fang a place at the mountaineering festival. Not to mention doing it solo, with the double buff, there were fewer than ten people in the entire history of Everest ascents who had achieved this. If that couldn¡¯t qualify someone as a mountaineer, then most of those who called themselves such would have to die of shame. Awesome! The audience didn¡¯t understand all the ins and outs, but at that moment, this was the only thought in their minds. ¡°A solo climb is an invincible path, why bother with an oxygen cylinder.¡± ¡°I was the first to disagree when Teacher Ma retired from the literary scene.¡± ¡°There¡¯s now one more verified identity; does anyone with the prowess keep track of how many identities Old Fang has?¡± ¡°Mathematician, chemist, physicist, biologist, mountaineer, adventurer¡­ others to be added.¡± ¡°Architect, aviator, astronomer (Dog¡¯s head)¡± ¡°I¡¯m just a little knowledgeable, not enough to be called ¡®master.¡¯ Don¡¯t put me on a pedestal,¡± Bi Fang waved his hand, amusing the audience into bursts of laughter. Without staying too long at the entrance to base camp, Bi Fang planned to rest and recuperate at Camp One before continuing the climb. ¡°I will rest here for a bit, replenish my energy, restore my strength, and then continue the climb. Once past the Khumbu Glacier, the subsequent stretch becomes much less dangerous. We only need to ascend another four hundred meters to reach Camp Two directly. The distance is roughly five kilometers, but it¡¯s much less hazardous than the Khumbu Glacier, which is why we won¡¯t need to specifically aim for a midnight start.¡± Entering the current Camp One, viewers could clearly see one corner in the southeast completely submerged in snow, with several colorful tents weighed down at the very edge, also affected by an avalanche. There were still people lingering there, paying their respects to their deceased comrades and packing up to leave. This was undoubtedly a somber atmosphere; coming here didn¡¯t fulfill dreams but instead cost lives. Bi Fang went to the permanent tent that the guide company had prepared, identified by the markings on it. As a standard guide company, there was more than one guide like Rob; there were many. These people needed a place to stay at base camp, so the company naturally prepared campsites and supplies for them each season, and because of the strong winds on Mount Everest, they almost had to be repaired every year. Upon lifting the tent flap, a wave of warmth hit him, the temperature inside the tent was much higher than outside. ¡°The weather today is really nice. The tent is warm from the sun, but the wind is a bit strong. Now, we need to replenish our fluids as much as possible, then eat something. I¡¯ll take a nap soon, roughly an hour and a half, to recover my energy with a complete sleep cycle.¡± At this time, the tent was empty, but some supplies were left behind. Bi Fang opened up the fuel and then used a lighter to ignite the stove, preparing to cook something to eat. Unexpectedly, a shouting voice came from outside the tent at that moment. ¡°Is Mr. Bi inside?¡± Chapter 424 - Chapter 424: Chapter 422: Ox-Head and Horse-Face Chapter 424: Chapter 422: Ox-Head and Horse-Face ¡°` Eight thousand meters is a line between life and death. Pulmonary edema, cerebral edema, hypothermia, slips and falls¡ªthese are the four killers above an altitude of eight thousand meters. In this thin air zone, sometimes a cough could take a person¡¯s life, even taking a breath could cause excruciating pain as if tearing the liver and splitting the belly. In bad weather, low temperature, violent winds, and blizzards can claim the lives of even the strongest climbers. But for Bi Fang, the more unbelievable the environment, the more demanding the requirements, the more invigorated his blood flowed when he later enjoyed the relaxation after the pressure passed. Perhaps this is the rationale behind all adventure sports: to clear your mind of mundane concerns, you consciously increase the stakes of working hard and focusing. This is a replica of life. But there¡¯s one difference: in your daily life, mistakes can be corrected, compromises can make up for faults, but at this specific time, your actions are a matter of life and death. The spectators silently fixed their gaze on the world¡¯s highest peak along with Bi Fang¡¯s view, the true ¡°Mount Everest,¡± standing right there, seemingly within reach, yet unattainable. This line between life and death, even the current Bi Fang could not easily cross, he stood there, stunned. To the viewers, it seemed as if there really was an unbreachable line of guard around the colossal peak. Rob, Puba, and many other climbers, at this moment, all had pupils trembling with fear. Would they take that step? Would they take that step? The effective oxygen content in the air at Camp C4 is only about 7.7%, which makes it very difficult for a normal person to concentrate or even lowers one¡¯s IQ. Even if Bi Fang stopped here, Puba could completely understand. At an altitude of 8000 meters, everyone undergoes a change. This change is reflected in the boundless amplification of emotions and the excessive fear of the uncertain factors of high altitude. Sadness, hysteria, irritability¡ªall rush to the head at once, but venting emotions to resolve inner fears is actually of no help at all, it only consumes more oxygen and energy. In the village, Danzeng¡¯s heart clenched, Edinburgh¡¯s eyebrows twitched slightly, Wang Yongbo¡¯s beer belly trembled, Yao Jun¡¯s feet jittered back and forth. From base camp to Camp 4, You might encounter bad weather, That prevents you from moving forward, And you may even wait for many days. Impatient, reckless emotions, Test your patience, Or you might experience blurred vision, frostbite, and other symptoms. Mount Everest is like a big testing ground, Where every detail of your body is subjected to extreme scrutiny, A small problem can be magnified here, It shows you where the limits of your body are, Past Camp 4, you enter the zone above 8000 meters, The continuous presence of victims on the road declares this as, The Death Zone! At this moment, Bi Fang was unable to speak, nor could he talk, he just silently took out his phone, looked at the meager battery left, opened the map, and clicked on his location. Perhaps due to the signal, the buffering circle kept spinning. At this time, Bi Fang seemed to feel unwell, began to gasp for air incessantly, like a person who¡¯s about to drown but can¡¯t catch a breath! At such a bizarre scene, the audience instantly panicked. If something were to happen, what would they do? There was nobody else on the mountain; Bi Fang could only wait for death! The executives from Shark and Tiger Fang both widened their eyes, staring intently at the screen, and silently sent their regards to the deities of various sects in their hearts. [Hurry up and retreat, Old Fang, hurry up!] [Life is the priority, life is the priority!] [The mountain will always be there, come back next time, come back next time!] [It¡¯s no use, he can¡¯t see the bullet chat!] ¡°` Just when everyone was getting anxious, the spinning circle on the cellphone finally stopped, signaling that the information had loaded. A burst of laughter cut through the tense atmosphere as everyone¡¯s minds crashed on the spot. Bi Fang pointed to the cellphone¡¯s GPS and laughed heartily, ¡°Look, I¡¯m back in my country!¡± The cellphone was held high, and at that moment, the audience could see clearly that the cellphone¡¯s GPS was showing: Huaxia! Not Nepal, but Huaxia. This place was none other than their homeland! And the time on the phone was changing, advancing by two hours and fifteen minutes! It became exactly the same as the time countless Huaxia viewers saw on their phones! After taking a few breaths, Bi Fang continued, ¡°Once you reach Camp C4, your phone¡¯s GPS will switch to Huaxia! The time will also automatically set to the Huaxia time zone. Remember not to miss anything because of a mistake in time, I don¡¯t know if this counts as smuggling, but luckily there are no sentries here, so I don¡¯t have to worry about getting my brain blasted.¡± After saying that, Bi Fang fell silent, clearly, the recent heaving of his chest was just to pace himself for this speech. It was Old Fang¡¯s style. Yes, it matched the character. [Now, you deserve a burst of gunfire in your head, no, a whole magazine!] [Wori, you were gasping just to say that?] [You¡¯re scaring us to insanity!] The audience was beside themselves with frustration but also couldn¡¯t help laughing; it turned out the heavy breathing was to build up the strength to speak! Ever since the altitude exceeded 7,600 meters, Bi Fang had stopped speaking, and the audience had gotten used to it. They didn¡¯t expect him to suddenly drop such a line, which left them dumbfounded. The Death Zone? To arrive was to enter the Death Zone! Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Bi Fang pocketed his phone and stepped forward, marching towards the summit! That was fucking crazy! Watching Bi Fang move forward without a second thought, the audience was completely thrilled; this was Master Fang, this was truly Master Fang! Especially the viewers from the Huaxia region, their eyes were bright with fervor; could he really make history? The first Huaxia person to summit without oxygen, the first Huaxia person to do an oxygen-less solo ascent! All expectations seemed to be validated with this single step he took. However, the next moment, the exhilarated audience felt as though a bucket of cold water had been dumped over their heads. Corpses. They were everywhere. The summit was in sight, but death was even closer; above eight thousand meters, not only the beautiful peaks greeted them, but also the bodies of those who had perished, stark and conspicuous. From the first-person perspective, the audience suddenly felt fear and even weakness, to the point where their legs softened, so much so that they could not stand, even though it was not them on the mountain. In this final stretch, giving up might require even more courage than going forward. Yet Bi Fang¡¯s mentality wasn¡¯t affected at all. Beyond eight thousand meters, he saw more than a hundred corpses¡ªfar more than a hundred, in fact! If you considered it in terms of vertical height, there was a body every five meters or less along this eight-hundred-meter stretch. Such a high frequency of dead bodies, how could one not feel terror? It was as if their destination wasn¡¯t the highest peak, or a place of glory and courage, but rather, they were stepping on the Road to the Underworld, heading towards the gates of the afterlife. Would they encounter ox-headed and horse-faced guards further ahead? This ridiculous thought flashed through the minds of the audience members, but as more and more bodies appeared, they all fell silent once again. The Death Zone, true to its name. Chapter 425 - Chapter 425: Chapter 423: Aspiring to the Highest Peaks, Redoubling Efforts Chapter 425: Chapter 423: Aspiring to the Highest Peaks, Redoubling Efforts Above the mountain peaks, the morning sun rose, and a pitch-black figure moved across the snow slope, agilely crossing one yellow patch of bright ice after another. The clouds below the mountain moved rapidly, making the entire mountain seem rooted in the clouds, as if a fairyland. Bi Fang immersed himself wholeheartedly in the climb, each breath infusing strength into his limbs, focused and undistracted, his natural instincts seemingly unleashed without the heavy coat and knee-high boots. He did not use a safety rope nor did he employ climbing poles, but relied solely on the two short ice axes in his hands, continuing to ascend. At this moment, Bi Fang was like a fierce combination of a rhinoceros and a nimble cheetah! Even novices with no experience could see how dangerous Bi Fang was, like a dancer on a tightrope, where a single misstep meant total loss. Those in the know were even more terrified, evident from Rob¡¯s instinctively clenched fists in the village. Climbing without a safety rope and without poles, advancing on the snow slope merely with ice axes wasn¡¯t impossible, but there was a most fatal issue¡ªit was impossible to stop! How to securely climb a slope? One way was to be careful and steady, tying on a safety rope, supporting oneself with climb poles and moving step by step. The second was Bi Fang¡¯s way, using speed and momentum to surge straight up in one go. Faster, stronger, steadier, but also, More dangerous. This method required not only maintaining a certain speed but also ensuring that every step was faultless. The faster you climb, the lower the margin for error, which is why speed climbing has the highest death toll among the four greatest climbing challenges! The margin for error was too low! The faster the climb, the less time for thought, and the placement of each step became more critical. The slightest carelessness could result in a fall off the cliff. Not to mention, at this altitude, human brain function slows and many people might only realize what they had just done one or two minutes later. If considering only the climb above eight thousand meters, Puba even felt it could count as a hypoxic solo speed climb, all three combined! Don¡¯t misunderstand, this isn¡¯t any compliment; if truly achieved, these three elements naturally bestow honor. But before success, these are the three top-tier debuffs! Such debuffs on a regular person could strangle them to death. However, in the eyes of the viewers, it was all about stability. From a first-person perspective, they couldn¡¯t see Bi Fang¡¯s expressions, but the paths under his feet, the clouds below the mountain, and the snow at the peak, everything transformed at an extremely constant speed. In the top right corner of the livestream, numbers continued to steadily jump. Starting from 8000.00, it had climbed to the current altitude of 8196.47 meters. [Such steady speed also proved that Bi Fang¡¯s physiology was still normal, healthy, energetic, and his brain had not become slow due to lack of oxygen.] A comment on the screen was pinned and colored. It was Puba explaining to the viewers. At this time, Puba was a special guest in Bi Fang¡¯s livestream, present specifically for commentary. Each of his comments would be bolded and pinned for a minute before disappearing. This was also done to help viewers understand better and enhance interactivity. Needless to say, it was Wang Yongbo¡¯s idea. The implementation was simple using a back-end plugin. After convincing Puba, the Wolf Fang¡¯s staff had it ready by the afternoon. Though his physical condition was average, when it came to running a live broadcast business, whether it was foresight or decision-making, Wang Yongbo really had something special. Since Bi Fang couldn¡¯t speak to maintain his breathing rhythm, let someone else provide explanations. Or else, just watching the animation, a dry nature would be boring, and it also constituted another form of ¡°strong alliance¡±. As a hero who could have set the record for most summits but gave it up for his people, and as a senior who admired a brave junior, wasn¡¯t this also a way of passing the torch? When the number in the upper right corner finally jumped to 8200.00. ¡°Here lies the famous ¡®Yellow Band¡¯ of Mount Everest. As the name suggests, this is where yellow-colored rocks are exposed beyond the ice and snow. At night, under the close-up illumination of headlamps, bright crystals reflect off the yellow rocks.¡± Exposure of the rocks typically indicates a steep slope. During such times, ensuring a firm footing with each step is crucial in the icy, rocky mixed terrain. That¡¯s when the strength of one¡¯s legs becomes especially important. Don¡¯t hesitate, don¡¯t linger, just press on upwards with all your might. The entire ¡®Yellow Band¡¯ ranges from 8200 meters to about 8600 meters, but there are only a few places where it gets relatively steeper.¡± Puba was as diligent and responsible as ever, as if he were still guiding as he used to. The only difference was that he was not the one summiting. In the broadcast, Bi Fang moved quickly yet steadily, but his pace had decreased slightly, from a slow jog to a brisk walk. However, each step he took propelled him upwards with mechanical stability, his ice axe firmly anchoring into the ice. His movements, filled with coordination, revealed the beauty of humans engaging in extreme sports. Every exertion was masterful, no, it was just like Master Fang, fluid as water, resolutely moving forward. One had to think and make decisions in tenths of a second, take action without hesitation, and step with conviction. Bi Fang¡¯s response time and physical condition were at the pinnacle among climbers. More importantly, it was his courage. In that moment, one must not show fear, even if facing thousands of troops and a sky full of arrows; only by applying force with precision and ferocity could one grasp a chance at survival. And Bi Fang had done just that! Fearsome is the prowess of youth. At that moment, all Puba could feel was this sentiment. With Bi Fang¡¯s live performance and the professional commentary, the viewers could only look up in admiration. ¡°Incredible, Master Fang is a human miracle!¡± ¡°Top-notch talent, is this broadcaster a national team climber?¡± ¡°Holy shit, there are still people who don¡¯t know about Master Fang?¡± ¡°No, this is just his ¡®hobby¡¯.¡± ¡°If the national team had someone like this, they would¡¯ve been boasting long ago. As for the existing records, no Huaxia person has succeeded in a no-oxygen summit, Old Fang here is already doing a solo and no-oxygen climb, with a bit of speed climbing thrown in!¡± The national team, the national mountaineering team, an official organization, gathered countless climbing experts, but at this moment, all seemed to pale in comparison to what Bi Fang was doing. ¡°For an ordinary person to complete even one of these would be astoundingly amazing, but Old Fang has touched upon three of the four great climbing achievements. Do you understand the value of this?¡± (Tactically reclining) ¡°Haven¡¯t we had people summit without oxygen already?¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t the summit already achieved before?¡± ¡°What are you thinking? Globally, the first recorded summit was in ¡¯53, but the first no-oxygen summit wasn¡¯t until ¡¯78¡ªthat¡¯s a 25-year gap. Climbing in our country has always developed slowly, so even now there¡¯s no one who has succeeded in a no-oxygen summit.¡± The live broadcast attracted not only onlookers but also many amateur and professional climbers. With so many records, it¡¯s impossible to remember them all, but Mount Everest is the world¡¯s highest peak! The significance is entirely different. Many people who understand the sport cherish each first-time achievement, and they immediately point out that Bi Fang might become the first Huaxia person to summit without oxygen. It wasn¡¯t just a no-oxygen climb; he was unlocking multiple achievements like solo and solo no-oxygen in one go! Many mountaineering enthusiasts were puzzled by the barrage of comments. With such impressive achievements, why had the broadcaster never mentioned them? ¡°Strange, has the broadcaster never mentioned this? Could it be he isn¡¯t Huaxia or he changed his nationality?¡± ¡°No, Master Fang is definitely Huaxia, but indeed, Old Fang never mentioned¡­¡± Shortly after, someone posted a comment. ¡°Maybe because he¡¯s a broadcaster, so if he said anything, people would think he¡¯s just showing off for attention. So, Master Fang just wanted to prove himself¡­ That¡¯s my guess¡­ Don¡¯t flame me.¡± The audience fell silent. Once again, the audience looked up in admiration. Chapter 426 - Chapter 426: Chapter 424 The Gecko Crawls on the Wall Chapter 426: Chapter 424 The Gecko Crawls on the Wall Bi Fang climbed steadily upward, terrifyingly stable as if he were not a human, but truly a mountain-climbing machine. Apart from the sound of the wind, the live stream room was filled only with his deep and rapid breathing. The audience trembled, their mouths agape, their lungs involuntarily expanding with each breath, again and again. Gazing at the nearly vertical Mount Everest on screen, Rob was covered in cold sweat; all his strength and courage drained away with it. He couldn¡¯t stand, couldn¡¯t move; the only thing active was his brain. If possible, he truly wished he could fly to Mount Everest right now, pry open Bi Fang¡¯s skull, and see if the emotion ¡°fear¡± even existed within, or if he remained within the biological category of ¡°humans.¡± Fear? Bi Fang didn¡¯t know, maybe he did, maybe he didn¡¯t. At that moment, he had completely entered ¡°the zone,¡± with his mind focused solely on climbing, free of any other thoughts, even though at such a height, with oxygen so scarce, it was impossible to keep his brain highly active. So he shut down all other functions that hindered thought, discarded emotions, distractions, and troubles, leaving only consideration for the next point of contact. The future and the past were cast aside, leaving only the present. Now, there was a glimmer of hope for survival. The only problem was, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t a true machine. At an altitude of 8398.37 meters, Bi Fang stopped on a jutting ice ledge that could hold two people standing. With a foothold, he could finally slow his momentum and rest for a while. He breathed deeply, settling his oxygen-deprived state after the intense exertion. The thin, chilly air poured into his lungs through his mouth, cold as shards of broken knives, slicing through his windpipe and alveoli inch by inch. The earlier sprint had left Bi Fang somewhat dizzy, which could affect his judgment. For this reason, he had to stop and rest. Without a supply of oxygen, he had to conserve energy. After a few deep breaths, the discomfort finally subsided. He had started the ascent at 8,000 meters around 5:30, and now the time had reached 7:00. He had also stopped for a while at 8,200 meters, resting for a quarter of an hour. So far, everything was going smoothly, with the expectation of reaching the summit by noon, leaving plenty of time to retreat. With this in mind, Bi Fang took a water pouch from his pocket and sipped it slowly, the warm water quickly soothing his throat. Then he took out an Energy Bar from his pocket and devoured five big ones in succession. At this moment, the King Fish¡¯s Stomach finally proved its worth. The food followed the path down his throat to his stomach, rapidly colliding with the gastric acid. The stomach churned, breaking down the food, continuously digesting it, and swiftly replenishing energy for Bi Fang¡¯s body, alleviating fatigue. Puba in the live stream room also figured out Bi Fang¡¯s plan, and it had to be said, it was hard to imagine a climber so young having such a precise and cautious plan. Bear in mind, just a few dozen meters ahead was ¡°the Balcony¡±! A bare plateau at an altitude of 8,400 meters, a landmark surface which many climbers call ¡°the Balcony.¡± The large protruding rock allowed climbers to briefly stop and rest, but Bi Fang decisively stopped after climbing another 200 meters, not lured by the so-called achievement of reaching a ¡°landmark.¡± This was like when playing a game, and the boss was about to die, but its attacks were coming as well. Just one more strike would finish the boss, but Bi Fang chose not to make that strike, promptly retreating to find another opening for attack. [Stopping every 200 meters for a rest, fifteen minutes each time, to avoid muscle relaxation while fully resting ¨C a very precise plan. What¡¯s more admirable is that less than a hundred meters ahead is ¡°the Balcony,¡± but he still controlled the desire to reach the goal and forced himself to stop and rest, which is remarkable.] [A thousand words converge into two, awesome.] [Isn¡¯t it WTF?] [WTF awesome.] [Only four hundred meters left, an excited heart, trembling hands.] [Adventurer, Joe William, 48 years old¡­] [To the person ahead, something¡¯s off with you.] ¡°Animals that roam the mountains all year round must have good meat quality.¡± Shortly, a quarter of an hour passed, and Bi Fang didn¡¯t indulge in the feeling of relaxation. After getting up and moving around, he continued forward. The sun had already risen, and the temperature had risen slightly, but Bi Fang estimated that the current temperature was still below minus thirty degrees Celsius, perhaps it could rise to around minus twenty-five degrees by one o¡¯clock in the afternoon. The advantage of the equipment finally manifested at this moment, even though Bi Fang appeared to be wearing ¡°thin¡± clothes, he only felt a slight chill, which disappeared after a brief movement. The shoes on his feet were the same; they wouldn¡¯t let water seep in or cause toes to stiffen from the cold. Looking around, he could no longer see the long, magnificent mountain ranges, only a few peaks showing their tips. The surrounding area was all flowing pale golden clouds, which would turn white once the sun rose higher. At this moment, Bi Fang¡¯s heart was as vast and silent as if he was living in a dreamland. No people, no cities, no trivial matters of life, only the sky and clouds, and the high mountains that stretch between heaven and earth. Fortunately, solitude wasn¡¯t a bad thing; at least Bi Fang didn¡¯t have to worry about being ¡°stuck in traffic¡± due to a crowd. The climb continued, and Puba kept explaining various matters to increase the audience¡¯s engagement. ¡°Before we make a final push, we often empty our bowels in advance, especially for women, it¡¯s a good idea to use the toilet once more before departure, because untying the safety harness and down pants is really inconvenient.¡± ¡°At this altitude, another important thing is to avoid falling asleep during the ascent. I once experienced such exhaustion that I nearly walked in my sleep, which is extremely dangerous. At very high altitudes, drowsiness occurs, and usually, the sleep in the previous two or three days is also insufficient. People often fall asleep while climbing and tumble down cliffs; if there¡¯s no safety rope, death is almost certain.¡± Viewer: ¡°¡­¡± That¡¯s a bit outrageous. ¡°My personal experience is to keep a few throat lozenges or pickled plums in your mouth, or listen to music; continuous thinking is required, having a dialogue with your own soul.¡± Bi Fang did not understand Puba¡¯s commentary, as he was fully occupied with combating the rock face in front of him. Bi Fang found a nearly vertical rock face on the path he had chosen. It wasn¡¯t tall, only about ten meters or so, but it genuinely lay across his route. Seeing this, Bi Fang wanted to detour, but though the rock face was not high, it was incredibly wide. The distance to bypass it was somewhat long, over a hundred meters, and there were at least several seventy-degree steep slopes along the way. He measured in his mind and realized that climbing over would consume less energy. With no choice, Bi Fang braced himself for the challenge. He packed away his ice axe, tightened his gloves, and prepared to rock climb with bare hands. Such terrain was not uncommon, but it was usually climbed by a team working together with safety ropes for guaranteed protection, which is completely different from solo climbing. ¡°Generally speaking, rock walls that are too steep won¡¯t be covered with ice and snow, because gravity and friction make it impossible for ice and snow to hold firmly, plus high winds mean that even above the snowline, there are many exposed rocks.¡± ¡°Though the ice axe is tough and sharp, it can only be used on ice faces. Rock faces are too hard, which increases the risk of damaging the ice axe. Generally, ice axes come in T and B types, with B being sharper and T tougher. But even with the T type, the strength of the pick is great, it can¡¯t be used solely on rock faces, so you have to climb rocks when encountering the terrain like this.¡± High-altitude mountaineering seeks to be lightweight; spare equipment is not carried in excess, just like this time, Bi Fang only brought three ice axes. If one were damaged, the journey ahead would become very difficult. Inside the live streaming room, Puba explained conscientiously. Bi Fang¡¯s palm grabbed a protruding rock, and his body hugged the wall, inching along like a gecko, rapidly ascending by stepping on the stones beneath his feet. The double-layered gloves maximized the prevention of slipping, and the ice claws on the soles of his feet were firmly wedged into the rock fissures; with at least three points of contact, he moved up steadily. But accidents always seemed to catch people off guard. When he reached a third of the way up the rock face, Bi Fang secured his body, freed his right hand, but found that within the entire circumference of his arm, there wasn¡¯t a single protruding rock. Chapter 427 - Chapter 427: Chapter 425: The Last 350 Meters Chapter 427: Chapter 425: The Last 350 Meters Master Fang suddenly stopped moving? The constantly moving image abruptly came to a standstill until the audience saw a hand that could reach nothing, and then they finally realized what was happening. He¡¯s run out of holds! Bi Fang looked up and down, and the rock wall nearly two meters above him was exceptionally smooth. It would be impossible to grip, even without gloves, let alone with them on, and there was not the slightest protrusion. Looking at it side-on in the sunlight, one could even see reflections. In the village, the commentator Puba looked pale and said with an ugly expression, ¡°This is bad; now he¡¯s in trouble.¡± Wang Yongbo and Yao Jun, who were beside him, immediately became anxious after hearing this:, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Generally speaking, climbers who undertake solo rock climbing have to choose their path in advance. Sometimes they might even suspend themselves from the cliff, rehearsing the climb in their mind to ensure each step has a secure foothold and that the rocky protrusions are stable.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why climbers need guides to determine the route, including the climbing path. But Bi Fang is soloing Mount Everest and had never been here before. On Mount Everest, he¡¯s a complete novice! Without a guide, he can only find his way on his own. In other words, he¡¯s trying to forge a new route on this rock face, but now he¡¯s hit a dead end!¡± This is why opening new routes is one of the four great achievements¡ªit¡¯s because climbers encounter many situations like this during the process. There might be cracks on the way, or halfway through the climb, the rock wall is too smooth, forcing a retreat to start over. ¡°There is a Huaxia saying: ¡®It¡¯s hard for a clever woman to cook without rice.¡¯ A rock face without holds can¡¯t be climbed; no matter how high one¡¯s skill is, it¡¯s useless without proper handholds because that¡¯s simply unscientific! Look around, within a radius of over one and a half meters there are no rocks. Further out there is a protrusion with a better climbing path on it, but presently, it¡¯s out of reach!¡± As an experienced guide, Puba was fluent in Chinese, English, and Hindi, and could use many idioms with ease. He was typing as he spoke, not only explaining to those around him but also showing the audience. How is he going to climb this? The audience was stumped¡ªit seemed the only options were to go down and choose a new path or to bypass the obstacle entirely. In any case, clinging tightly to the rock wall without any safety measures is an exceedingly exhausting task. The more he hesitated, the more dangerous it became. Not just the onlookers, but Bi Fang himself felt extremely troubled. Many who solo peaks don¡¯t go solo on their first trip; they climb it once with assistance before attempting it alone. Bi Fang¡¯s approach was a rare case. On his first visit, with no one to lead, he could only follow what paths he could see. The climbing ability contained in the orange skill package might be powerful, but after all, it was just a skill, not suction cups spontaneously sprouting out of nowhere, allowing one to walk sideways on any smooth wall. [This is the toughest climb I have ever seen] [Is Old Fang aiming to accomplish the four great achievements to ascend to godhood?] [This route is like the giants¡¯ path in the Alps] [Start over, Old Fang, don¡¯t hesitate] In the live stream, the audience watched Bi Fang with a mix of admiration and pity¡ªit seemed he had no choice but to start over. But the current altitude was already 8,501 meters; at the ¡°Yellow Band¡± of Mount Everest, the energy expenditure was colossal. Going down to start over or taking a detour was a severe test of Bi Fang¡¯s physical endurance. With no time to waste, Bi Fang¡¯s gaze explored his surroundings. He also noticed the rock that Puba mentioned, at eye level with him but far too distant. The closest his left hand could get was still over a meter and a half away. Just as Puba had said, it was out of reach. Start over? Bi Fang shook his head. The toll at 8,500 meters was greater than he had anticipated. Rather than gambling on an unknown future, he preferred to break the norm and choose the present. Seconds later, the viewers saw Bi Fang lower his gaze, reach under his neck, and lift half of his face mask. Then he grabbed the ice axe hanging on the side of his thigh, biting it in his mouth. Next, he pulled out a rope from his bag, tied it with one hand to the end of the ice axe, then gripped the handle and fiercely smashed it into the rock wall. The rock wall was hard and smooth but not without flaws. At least just above the spot where Bi Fang¡¯s left hand was holding, there was a tiny crack too small even for a fingertip. At that moment, Bi Fang was slamming the ice axe into it. The first strike, the ice axe missed the mark. The second, it hit, but not deep enough, and by then the ice axe¡¯s head had already started to deform slightly. Bi Fang took a deep breath, and finally, on the third strike, he hammered the tip of the axe hard into the crack, which had been frozen for quite some time, causing it to expand instantaneously. But that wasn¡¯t enough. Bi Fang shook the axe vigorously, pulled it out, then with the last strike, smashed it into the wall, burying a whole third of the front section of the ice axe into the rock face. After swinging it up and down, it was extremely secure. What was he doing? The audience asked Puba, but even Puba couldn¡¯t answer, uncertain of the profound purpose of this move. However, it wasn¡¯t long before everyone was stunned. Their gaze suddenly shot skyward, then calmly shifted back in front, where a strong hand was holding onto the ice axe. The next moment, the view became unsteady, moving downwards¡ªBi Fang¡¯s feet had left his foothold! He was swinging! His whole body swung back and forth like a pendulum, using the ice axe as the pivot point! He used the swinging motion to increase distance, to break free from the predicament! In an instant, the audience who had come to understand the situation felt a surge of cold sweat in their palms, as if it were their own hand holding onto the ice axe! Madman! That¡¯s terrifying! Did he have not a trace of fear in his mind? Is this really a human? For Bi Fang, who was ¡°swinging¡± on Mount Everest, the spectacle appeared dangerous solely because of height¡ªif it had been on flat ground, surely no one would be shocked, at most they would remark how healthy his body was; it wouldn¡¯t even qualify as being strong. The most crucial point was, this technique saved much more energy than detouring or starting over. Wiping the sweat from his palms, Puba couldn¡¯t help but gasp at Bi Fang¡¯s audacity. This method of breaking deadlock was something he couldn¡¯t even fathom: ¡°He is a born adventurer, in this field, he is the most outstanding individual of this era.¡± [If he devoted his life to climbing, perhaps he would become a miracle, a history, a legend.] [Don¡¯t compare professional challenges with someone¡¯s hobby (laugh).] [Damn, he¡¯s a monster among monsters.] [An example for my generation.] [Master Fang, yyds!] (Note: ¡°yyds¡± is internet slang for ¡°forever godlike.¡±) [Seeing the protagonist of ¡°Sword Wind Saga¡± run for three days already amazed me, I never thought reality could be crazier than anime!] As he swung back and forth, Bi Fang¡¯s arm reach expanded by a large margin, and he successfully grabbed onto a protruding section of rock on the other side, finding his footing on a rock below. With two new points of contact, Bi Fang quickly shifted his weight, and pulling on the rope in his hand, he rocked the ice axe side to side again. The ice axe had been jammed in too deeply, and it took a good while before Bi Fang could pull it out and reel it back along the rope. Unfortunately, those last couple of strikes had done some damage to the ice axe, blunting what was originally a sharp tip significantly. After shifting his weight, the path ahead suddenly opened up. He reinserted the ice axe into the holster on his thigh and took out his water bottle to replenish some fluids before continuing his climb. Fifteen minutes later, he had surmounted the rock face, and the slope became notably gentler. The last three hundred and fifty meters. Chapter 428 - Chapter 428: 426 Chapter 428: 426 ¡°` In the snow, the owner of a pair of green boots curled up, lying stiff within a snow-filled cavity in the rock and ice, as if just taking a little rest. The bright colors of the red mountaineering jacket, blue climbing pants, and green boots made him stand out starkly against the white and gray tones of Mount Everest. The legendary ¡°Green Boots¡±. Puba explained to the audience that this was one of the three major ¡°Corpse Markers¡± on Mount Everest; nearby lay the equally famous ¡°Resting Climber,¡± who maintained the position of hugging his knees with his eyes staring straight into the distance before he died. It could be said that these bodies served as ¡°signposts¡±. But Bi Fang did not linger, merely glancing briefly before continuing his climb along Mount Everest¡¯s southeast ridge toward the summit. As time passed, he climbed, rested, passed the third Corpse Marker ¡°Sleeping Beauty,¡± climbed again, and rested again. After two more rounds of rest, in which Bi Fang had refueled his body more than once, the true ¡°anoxic exercise¡± on Mount Everest commenced; every hundred meters climbed represented a tremendous drain on energy, one that only intensified. The higher the altitude, the greater the consumption of moisture, physical strength, and energy. At 8,700 meters, Bi Fang reached the South Summit, facing the final obstacle to reach the top of Mount Everest. [The Hillary Step! The Hillary Step!] Even Puba couldn¡¯t help repeating it twice, his fingers trembling slightly as he typed. It was unbelievable. Puba had complex feelings toward Bi Fang, even harboring some disdain they first met, following Danzeng¡¯s initiative to find him¡ªperhaps Puba himself hadn¡¯t noticed it at the time. However, upon seeing Danzeng¡¯s request and witnessing Bi Fang¡¯s actions and the genuine equality and respect he showed for the Sherpa people, as well as his admiration for the sacred mountain, Puba finally decided to help out of concern for his junior. But now, after having witnessed a miracle, Puba had to admit that indeed, he had felt such emotions in his mind. After all, he had summited Mount Everest 21 times, and countless Sherpa and people from around the world viewed him as a legend; yet even so, he hadn¡¯t dared to attempt a solo, oxygen-less ascent. Let alone a solo ascent without supplemental oxygen, as it required talent, flair, ability, and luck¡ªmissing any one of these was not an option. But now, what he had been unable to achieve in his youth, a 25-year-old who had never even been to Mount Everest was about to accomplish. With a complex expression, Puba even felt a tinge of jealousy at that moment, perhaps envious of the other¡¯s youth or his monumental achievement. He also felt a bit ashamed, but more than that, he felt admiration. Because, after all, the mountain remains. Taking a deep breath, Puba tapped the keyboard, offering the final narration. [During the final ascent from the South Summit, one must traverse a nearly vertical 12-meter-high rock face on the southeast ridge between the South Summit and the highest point, named the ¡°Hillary Step¡± after Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, the first pair to cross it and summit.] [The ¡°Step¡± was destroyed during the 2015 earthquake, leaving behind a ¡°snowy alcove.¡± Nowadays, climbers on the South Col no longer have a ¡°step¡± on their ascent to Everest¡¯s peak, but without question, the name ¡°Hillary Step¡± will be preserved forever.] [Still, the alcove remains narrow, and due to its tightness, it frequently gets congested. Climbers may have to wait quite long because of the bottleneck, and often, people die on Mount Everest due to waiting too long.] With his excellent eyesight, Bi Fang could see from the South Summit that the Hillary Step was extremely narrow, as narrow as the spine of a stegosaurus and barely allowing one person to pass through. Its fame made the Step so intimidating that it could induce a psychological fear. The only certainty was that no rescue attempt above the ¡°Hillary Step¡± had ever been successful. The abyss at his feet lay waiting, eager for the ¡°delicious meal¡± to fall into its mouth. The one-piece suit had become armor of ice and snow. Fortunately, Bi Fang¡¯s hands and feet had not yet frozen stiff from waiting, allowing him to continue climbing along the mountain ridge and snowy slope. The final test, the true final test, lay a mere hundred meters away! Between the South Summit and the peak, there was only the Hillary Step to surmount! A miracle was about to unfold before their eyes! The audience, as if by some unspoken agreement, held their breath, their hearts racing faster and faster. The previously bustling live stream fell silent in an instant, the entire screen filled with the vast expanse of sky. Everyone¡¯s pupils trembled slightly as they watched the summit draw nearer. In the village at the foot of the mountain, Puba and others sat together, holding their breath in deep concentration. Inside Magic City Airport, Huang Tianming¡¯s eyes, bloodshot, were wide-open, his breathing almost synchronized with the action. In the Arctic Circle, ¨¦tienne was so excited he could barely contain himself. ¡°` Ugly Country, Peter excitedly grabbed Tony¡¯s arm. Central Country, Matthew clenched his pen. Audiences worldwide, students on holiday, office workers in companies, housewives shopping in the market, those who stay up late, those who get up early, those who pull all-nighters, millions of people focused their attention here. In their ears was one heavy breath after another, rapid and deep, making one worry whether the person making the sound would collapse then and there. The 12-meter-high rubble steps¡­ If it were a few years ago, this would have been one gigantic rock, smooth on the surface, with no place to grab hold of; now, it was much easier. Bi Fang stepped on the rubble, his brain no longer capable of any thought; if someone were to lift his visor, they would see that his lips had turned slightly purple. The time was 9:14 a.m. The wind swept the clouds smoothly, flowing incessantly. Bi Fang stopped in his tracks and took one last look behind him. He gazed at the long ridge he¡¯d just climbed, its shadow almost encompassing the mountains, as if he were also part of this massive body. This was the final glance, representing all the scenery along the way: rock fields, ice, snow, forests of ice pinnacles, blue sheep, alpine crows, frigid river waters, cliffs, and even calamitous avalanches¡­ All of that, now had their ultimate reward. Bi Fang silently took off his gloves. The next second, a strong hand grabbed onto a crevice on the peak¡¯s edge and pulled the rest of the body through the fissure onto the broad ridge, completely climbing up! In the morning light, Mount Everest glistened like jade. Bi Fang removed his cold-weather mask and just sat stunned on the ground, surprising everyone, but then, he began to laugh, a loud laugh. Looking around, thousands and tens of thousands of miles of sunlight, mountains towering into the clouds, the sky so blue it seemed dyed, countless snowy peaks stirred by the wind, all ¡°surrendering¡± before his feet as the continuous clouds flowed towards the sun, relentless. The laughter grew louder, the intense laughter causing an already oxygen-deprived body to fall into further distress; he began to cough, and while coughing, he started laughing again, in a never-ending cycle. The sound spread out in waves, echoing through the mountains, resounding through the clouds and forests. From Kathmandu Valley to Lukla, from base camp to the Death Zone. Dragging heavy steps through the zone of death, each step excruciatingly painful, yet all of it was worth it. What Bi Fang pursued, risked, and yearned for, lay beneath his feet, before his eyes, right by his side! The true highest peak! There was no higher point on Earth left for him to challenge! Bi Fang¡¯s eyes suddenly reddened as waves of the urge to cry came over him, filling his eyes with hot tears. In either his previous life or this one, Bi Fang had never imagined that he could reach the top of the world solely on his own ability. If someone had told him it was possible, it must have been a dream, an illusion, fleeting as a bubble. Now, reality had happened. It had truly changed. Bi Fang looked up to stop the wetness in his eyes, struggling to stand up from the peak. He put his gloves back on and, the next second, he was holding a metal tube, as thick as a thumb, of unknown origin. Looking through the hole, it seemed to be a telescopic pole. With a light flick, a red flag unfurled. Bi Fang used all his remaining strength to plant the flag into the ice cap, sending ice shards flying. The red flag bearing the five stars fluttered in the strong wind, blowing toward his homeland across the mountains. The clouds dispersed, The sun shone on the golden mountain. May 10th, 9:20 a.m. The first Huaxian, the first to summit Mount Everest solo without supplemental oxygen, is born! Chapter 429 - Chapter 429: Chapter 427 Occupy a Slot Chapter 429: Chapter 427 Occupy a Slot Chapter two is not ready yet¡­ Just marking the spot. Will finish before 00:30 Within the snowy terrain, the owner of a pair of green boots lay curled up and stiff in the snow and solid ice of a rocky cave, as though he were merely taking a short nap. The red climbing suit, blue climbing pants, and green climbing boots¡ªthree vibrant colors made him stand out starkly against the white and gray hues of Mount Everest. The infamous ¡°Green Boots¡±. Puba narrated to the audience that this was one of the three major ¡°Corpse Markers¡± on Mount Everest; beside it lay another equally famous resting climber, maintaining a posture with knees hugged to chest and eyes staring blankly into the distance even in death. It could be said that these bodies served as ¡°signposts¡±. But Bi Fang didn¡¯t dwell, he merely glanced briefly before continuing his ascent towards the summit along the southeast ridge of Mount Everest. Time gradually passed, climbing, resting, passing the third Corpse Marker ¡°Sleeping Beauty¡±, then more climbing, more resting. After two rounds of recuperation, during which Bi Fang ate more than once to replenish his body¡¯s energy, the ascent of Mount Everest was a true ¡°anoxic exercise¡±. Every hundred meters climbed represented an immense expenditure of energy, and this drain only intensified. The higher the altitude, the greater the consumption of water, physical strength, and energy. At an elevation of 8,700 meters, Bi Fang reached the South Summit, facing the last major obstacle to the summit of Mount Everest. [The Hillary Step! The Hillary Step!] Even Puba couldn¡¯t help but repeat it twice, his fingers trembling slightly as he typed. It was too unbelievable. Puba¡¯s feelings towards Bi Fang were complex, even experiencing a hint of disdain hidden deep within when Danzeng had come to find him, before the two had properly met. Perhaps even Puba himself hadn¡¯t been aware of it at that time. It was only considering Danzeng¡¯s request, and Bi Fang¡¯s actions which showed genuine equality and respect for the Sherpa people, as well as his deep yearning for the sacred mountain, that Puba finally decided to lend a hand, out of concern for the younger generation. But now, having witnessed miracles, Puba looked back on everything and had to admit that such emotions had indeed crossed his mind at that time. He himself had summited Mount Everest a record 21 times, and numerous Sherpas and people around the world regarded him as a legend. Yet, even with that, he dared not attempt an unaided, oxygen-free summit. Let alone a solo, oxygen-free ascent. Talent, flair, capability, luck¡ªnone could be lacking. But now, a feat he couldn¡¯t achieve even in his youth was about to be accomplished by a 25-year-old who had never been to Mount Everest before. Puba¡¯s expression was complex; in that moment, he even felt a tinge of envy¡ªperhaps for the other¡¯s youth, or perhaps for his achievements. He now felt some shame, but more than that, he felt respect. Because the mountain was there. Taking a deep breath, Puba typed, providing the final commentary. [In the last push to the summit on the southern slope, climbers must pass through a section between the South Summit and the highest point on the southeast ridge¡ªa nearly vertical rock face about 12 meters high, known as the Hillary Step. Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first team to climb it to the summit, and the climbing community later named it after Hillary.] [This ¡°Step¡± collapsed during the 2015 earthquake, leaving behind just a ¡°snow pit¡±. There is no longer a step on the southern ascent of Mount Everest, but, without question, the name Hillary Step will continue to endure.] [But the snow pit remains narrow, so narrow that congestion often occurs here. There could be extended waits due to the bottleneck, and it¡¯s common for people to die on Mount Everest due to waiting too long.] Bi Fang had exceptionally good vision; standing atop the South Summit, he could see that the Hillary Step was incredibly narrow, as narrow as the spine of a Stegosaurus, allowing passage for only one person at a time. It was too famous, even invoking a psychological fear in climbers. The only certainty was that no rescue attempt above the ¡°Hillary Step¡± had ever succeeded. An abyss lay crawling at his feet, awaiting its ¡°delicious meal¡±. His suit had become an armor of ice and snow. Luckily, Bi Fang¡¯s limbs had not yet frozen stiff from waiting, so he continued his climb up the snowy ridge. The last barrier, the true final barrier, was just a hundred meters away! Between the South Summit and the peak, there was only the Hillary Step to overcome! ¡°` A miracle is about to happen before our eyes! The audience instinctively held their breath, their heartbeats accelerating. The formerly noisy live broadcast room emptied in an instant, and the entire screen was overwhelmed by the vast sky. As the summit neared, pupils trembled slightly. In the village at the foothill, Puba and others sat together, holding their breath in deep concentration. Inside Magic City Airport, Huang Tianming¡¯s bloodshot eyes widened, his breathing almost in sync. Within the Arctic Circle, ¨¦tienne was so excited he nearly jumped up. In Ugly Country, Peter excitedly grabbed Tony¡¯s arm. In Central Country, Matthew clenched his pen tightly. Viewers around the world, students on holiday, office workers in companies, housewives shopping at the market, those staying up late, waking up early, or pulling an all-nighter¡ªall millions of them focused here. In their ears was the sound of heavy breaths, hurried and deep, making one worry if the person making them would collapse then and there. Twelve-meter-high boulders awaited¡­ If it were a few years ago, the spot would have been one gigantic smooth rock with nothing to grasp. Now, it was much easier. Bi Fang stepped on the crumbling stones, his brain devoid of any capacity for thought. If someone were to lift his mask, they would find his lips had already turned slightly purple. The time was 9:14 AM. The wind swept the clouds away in a ceaseless flow. Bi Fang paused his steps, taking one last look behind him at the long mountain ridge he had just ascended, whose shadow almost enveloped the mountains as if he too were part of this massive body. This was the last glance, representing all the scenery along the way¡ªrocky beaches, ice, snow, ice towers, wild goats, highland crows, freezing rivers, cliffs, and even natural disasters like avalanches¡­ All of it finally paid off. Bi Fang silently removed his gloves. The next second, a powerful hand grabbed the crevice at the peak¡¯s edge, pulling the whole body up through the gap onto the expansive ridge, conquering it completely! In the morning light, Mount Everest shimmered like jade. Bi Fang removed his cold-resistant mask and abruptly sat down on the ground, startling everyone. But soon after, he began to laugh, laughing out loud. Looking around, for thousands of miles the sunshine, towering peaks piercing the clouds, the sky so blue as if dyed, countless snow-capped mountains surged, yet all ¡°submitted¡± beneath his feet, the endless clouds racing towards the sun unabated. The laughter grew louder, the intense laughter pushing his already oxygen-starved body further into distress. He started coughing, and in the midst of coughing, he began to laugh again, the cycle repeating itself. The sound reverberated through the mountains, echoing through the clouds and forests. From Kathmandu Valley to Lukla, from base camp to the Death Zone. He had trudged through the zone of death, where each step was agony, yet it was all worth it. What Bi Fang had pursued, risked, and longed for was all underfoot, before his eyes, right beside him! The very summit, the true highest point! There were no greater heights left on Earth for him to challenge! Suddenly, Bi Fang¡¯s eyes reddened, waves of emotion welling up, threatening to overflow. In this life or the last, Bi Fang never imagined he could, by his own ability, ascend the roof of the world. If anyone told him he could, it must have been a dream, a mere illusion, as transient as bubbles and shadows. Now, reality had happened. It truly changed. Bi Fang lifted his head to hold back the moisture in his eyes, struggling to stand up from the summit. He put his gloves back on, and the next second, a metal tube as thick as a thumb, which was nowhere to be seen before, was in his hand. Looking through the hole, it appeared to be a telescopic tube. With a light flick, the red flag fluttered. ¡°` Chapter 430 - Chapter 430: Chapter 428: Descend the Mountain Chapter 430: Chapter 428: Descend the Mountain The flag fluttered in the breeze, its blue cords with attached notes dancing unpredictably on the metal pole. Next to the red flag, a slightly sci-fi-looking black figure stood tall and straight, as rigid as a spear. His storm suit perfectly contoured to his muscular physique, with the orange lines on his back particularly striking. It was hard to imagine such a figure appearing at the summit of Mount Everest where temperatures fell below negative thirty degrees. Even ordinary steel would become brittle in such frigid temperatures. Bi Fang took out his live streaming device and recorded the scenery of the world¡¯s highest peak with a wider angle; he also took a few third-person photos of himself as a keepsake. And it was as he completed all this that, the System¡¯s voice finally sounded. [Congratulations to the host for completing the breakthrough task, evaluation: perfect. The path of advancement is now activated. Task reward: Platinum Body received. Activate now?] In an instant, the System panel unfolded, its pure sky-blue interface borders suddenly sprouted fine gold edges, adding a high-end touch to its sci-fi aura, and the originally gray plus signs after the standard four-dimensional data turned golden once more! Enhanceable Status! YES! Even the now composed Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but feel excited and thrilled by this sight. From his initial high spiritedness, to his self-control after the avalanche, to the forced acceptance when the climbing season was canceled, and finally to the turnaround of regaining what was lost¡ªGod knows what he went through internally! Hadn¡¯t he toiled so hard for this very moment? He played for his dreams, but even more so for a bright future and prospects! Being able to ascend Mount Everest today was not possible without the accumulation from every task he had completed before, which was truly a matter of silent accumulation resulting in a sudden outburst. As long as this wasn¡¯t a dream, even if the so-called System really was a conspiracy aimed solely at him, Bi Fang in this moment would accept it! As for the reward, the Platinum Body. The focus of this task was breakthrough, so the rewards were not plentiful, only the mystifying Platinum Body. Bi Fang thought the name was a bit intimidating, always making him think of a man whose face was etched with invincibility. Would his fists be harder than diamonds after using it? He opened the description of the Platinum Body. After use, you obtain a perfect physique¡ªthat is the so-called Platinum Body. Perfect? What is perfect? Is there really a definition? Bi Fang was puzzled, as everyone¡¯s idea of perfection must be different, right? For example, the perfect body for a bodybuilder is completely different from that for a fitness enthusiast. After delving deep into the details, Bi Fang finally understood that the so-called perfection was just an optimized change to a certain extent. It might make the lines of your abs more defined, smoother, and the muscle coordination better, but if you expect it to turn a fat belly into a ripped eight-pack overnight, you should just wash up and go to bed. Activating the Platinum Body could only make your belly rounder and smoother. What a fine thing! Bi Fang¡¯s eyes lit up. Though it was just icing on the cake, according to the description, it was a perfect skill that could adjust everything from the skin texture to muscle lines, and from the skeletal framework to organ development! Like the varying leg lengths everyone has, the slightly deformed fingers from writing too much for exams since childhood, the receding hairlines of middle-aged men, and the bow legs caused by various reasons¡­ Not to mention anything else, but just by eradicating uneven leg lengths, one might break the curse of veering off course when walking blindfolded! Stow it away, stow it away. Controlling his excitement, Bi Fang remembered that he was still on the highest peak in the world, and the reward was of no use to him at this moment. Already fighting drowsiness due to lack of oxygen, what would he do if he passed out? Bi Fang was happy. After all the hardships, the instant he received his reward made all the toil vanish like smoke and clouds. The journey to Mount Everest was successfully completed. It was time to go home! After repacking his equipment, Bi Fang took one last look at the spectacular view from the summit, which he could enjoy all to himself, a rare benefit of the climbing season¡¯s cancellation. The summit of Mount Everest wasn¡¯t very spacious, barely enough for one person. During the regular climbing season, it would have been like visiting a tourist hotspot during holidays. Imagine a wealthy patron with four guides, each carrying two oxygen tanks ¨C that¡¯s already five people, not to mention the countless other rich climbers who come every year. During the regular season, there¡¯s no time to linger after reaching the summit. A few quick pictures, and then it¡¯s time to start the descent; otherwise, staying a bit longer increases the danger for the people waiting behind you. And who would be held responsible if something were to happen? No one cares how you made it up; whether you blazed a new trail, climbed without oxygen, or raced to the top solo, you still have to eat the dust of those before you and get down quickly after taking your photos. Bi Fang, being alone, could look as long as he wanted, savor the moment for as long as he wished. If he had the physique of a superhero, he could have stayed up there for two days without an issue. Unfortunately, that wasn¡¯t possible. However, it was already 9:40, and Bi Fang had spent twenty minutes on the summit. He had done what needed to be done, seen what needed to be seen. It was a fulfilling life achievement. Time to descend! Meanwhile, the audience in the live stream was still debating over the identity of the wealthy donor who had given so generously to the ¡®ashtray cause,¡¯ arguing vehemently, with the conversation almost turning into a flame war. It was like a festival in full swing, with resounding gongs, whistling fireworks, fluttering red flags, and crowds of people. Some suspected Bi Fang was masquerading and orchestrating the whole thing himself; others thought it might be a secretive corporate CEO, and even more far-fetched was the speculation that it was a rich woman keeping Master Fang as her consort ¨C not only supporting him financially but supposedly paying this much for the hope of having a child. Coveting Master Fang¡¯s superior genes! ??? Bi Fang was left with a figurative question mark over his head, thinking that if such a wealthy patroness really existed, it would truly be a sight for sore eyes. The financial hole in the club wouldn¡¯t need him to fill it then. Lying down! But Bi Fang was indeed curious about who the other person was, having never appeared before, and then vanished without a trace immediately after, without even a bubble left behind. One million is not a small amount by any means, and even for him now, he would be reluctant to tip himself such an amount ¡ª that¡¯s almost half lost to taxes! Of course, Bi Fang was proud to contribute to his country, but this wasn¡¯t exactly the way to do it. It was like buying cement and delivering it wasn¡¯t enough; he had to mix and lay the bricks himself. Bi Fang, carefully climbing down the Hillary Step, finally caught the audience¡¯s attention, and they realized the ascent had come to an end. [Damn, Old Fang, are you descending already? That was quick!] [He stayed for twenty minutes. That¡¯s quite a while.] [What, was he going to live up there?] [Ah, it was thrilling, but now that he¡¯s descending, I can¡¯t help feeling reluctant. All that effort to get up there¡­] [It can¡¯t be helped. You have to be content.] ¡°Although reaching the summit has ended, it does not mean the end of danger.¡± ¡°In fact, most disasters in mountain climbing usually happen on the way back down. This means reaching the summit is only half the success; a safe return is the ultimate triumph.¡± For some reason, after successfully summiting, Bi Fang¡¯s legs no longer ached, his back no longer hurt, and he felt he could talk comfortably even on the Hillary Step. But as soon as he opened his mouth, his breath became disordered, and reality quickly taught him a lesson. Bi Fang, feeling dizzy, shut his mouth and continued to descend in silence. Chapter 431 - Chapter 431: Chapter 429 Welcome Back! Chapter 431: Chapter 429 Welcome Back! Although it was the descent, the lively atmosphere in the live broadcast room continued, and new viewers were even flooding in. By ten in the morning, the number of viewers¡­ had surpassed ten million. Whether it was within Wolf Fang or the always adversarial Tiger Fang and Shark, they all obtained this report through various channels. The number of viewers abroad surpassed four million, while domestic viewers exceeded seven million four hundred thousand and were still increasing, perhaps reaching the threshold of eight million. This figure, before the summit, was merely six million viewers, inclusive of both domestic and international audiences. In just those twenty minutes of summiting, the number more than doubled. Over ten million viewers, nearing twelve million, what kind of concept is that? This was prime time in the Capital! Even on a day off, at this hour many regions overseas were still in the middle of the night, or even early morning, but when they learned that today was the day of the summit, they still stayed up to watch the live broadcast. Almost like devout followers, these die-hard fans came for Master Fang, to see this man of legend. Like the sun at high noon. In the wilderness, Bi Fang was the only sun. ¡°In a personal live broadcast, this is probably the limit,¡± Wang Yongbo mused as he sipped his tea in the village, feeling particularly emotional. How long ago was the first live broadcast? About a year ago, right? Wang Yongbo still remembered every scene from when he invited Bi Fang to join, full of hardships but very real difficulties faced. Back then, Bi Fang was like a mighty tiger stuck in the mud, powerful but hindered by the environment. In one year, many streamers might have just started to make their mark, right? Yet Bi Fang had reached his zenith, creating one breathtaking record after another. It was already rare enough in the live broadcasting industry to have over a million viewers at the same time for a personal streamer, let alone over three million, which was unheard of. Wang Yongbo was certain that before Bi Fang, such a streamer did not exist; only various live sports broadcasts could achieve such numbers. Over ten million, in his memory, seemed to only occur in events like the semi-finals and finals of League of Legends, where the global average online viewership was around twenty million, with peak values over forty million. That is to say, Bi Fang alone had surpassed all the domestic and international streamers and all leagues, with the only thing above him being the global League of Legends tournaments. Of course, compared to such grandeur, the gap was still significant, nearly fourfold, but one must remember, Bi Fang was just one person! ¡°Incredible,¡± Danzeng said, giving a thumbs up. He didn¡¯t understand live broadcasting much, and only after hearing Wang Yongbo¡¯s explanation did he grasp the extraordinary aspect of the numbers. ¡°But it should be irreplicable, and it¡¯s uncertain whether it could be reached again in the future,¡± Wang Yongbo said, happy yet still composed. Mount Everest, it¡¯s just different, representing a passion, a dream, a longing. Plus, there¡¯s the support of patriotic sentiment, which the ratio of viewership shows. In the past, the number of domestic and international viewers was similar. Domestically, the fame was great, but there were more people overseas, and more who liked watching live broadcasts. Now the number of domestic viewers is nearly double that of international viewers, simply because Bi Fang is the first from Huaxia to summit Everest without oxygen and did so solo. Incredibly strong, to an outrageous scale, it¡¯s something anyone would be curious about. The moment the summit was successful, the trending searches nearly burst, as anyone who saw it or was interested would naturally click to watch the broadcast. Even those who didn¡¯t understand live streaming felt compelled to see for themselves. Last time, the peak viewership for the live broadcast was just over four million, and this time it tripled, which goes to show that most were just joining in the excitement, with only a few staying behind. ¡°That¡¯s still very impressive,¡± Danzeng, the professional comic relief, remarked. Indeed. Yao Jun and others nearby nodded in agreement without needing to arrange it; Bi Fang¡¯s income from a single live broadcast was now comparable to that of some small and medium-sized enterprises. Excessively exaggerated. [There are no new heights left on Earth for Master Fang to challenge, thinking of this gets my blood boiling] [The highest point has been flagged, time to go to the lowest point] [Mariana Trench, negative 11,000 meters, charge! Plant the red flag! Blossom everywhere!] [Master Fang: Overwhelmed by idiots] [Old Fang: Might as well kill me] [I remember, isn¡¯t Master Fang a former military officer or something?] In the live stream, someone suddenly brought it up. Many people then recalled. Right, Old Fang was Special Forces! Bi Fang had used an Identity Change Coupon, and he used it on his Special Forces skills, and for various reasons, coupled with support from above, he got promoted. The audience didn¡¯t mention it; he had almost forgotten himself. [Ah, this move, this move is the military¡¯s victory!] [Is this red flag an individual act or some kind of metaphor? (Thinking)] [So, who let him retire in the first place?] [Oh no, oh no, there¡¯s a traitor!] With the added aspect of his identity, the audience reacted even more fiercely, especially many who had never heard of it before, now felt profound admiration. This is an innate trust. A streamer with no background, no matter how strong or impressive, many actions might seem like showboating to a lot of people. Because that¡¯s the impression this profession gives, false and unreal, not even like a serious job. If someone says they make a living from streaming, even the most open-minded parents would think it¡¯s irresponsible. But with a background, it feels completely different. Climbing Mount Everest is proof of strength! It means badass, it¡¯s something that makes everyone exclaim wow! Even a proof with a more intense flavor, a sense of power spontaneously emerges! This is Huaxia, this is us; what others can do, we can do, and what others can¡¯t, we also can do! Thus, once again, howls like those of wolves resounded in the live stream, and a new round of celebration began! Now, there was nothing for the haters to criticize. But Bi Fang didn¡¯t care about these things; his focus was entirely on the mountain path. Despite the fact that going up was easy and coming down was hard, Bi Fang¡¯s speed was still much faster. He enjoyed the relief after pressure, his blood flowing more freely, and even the severe cold seemed not fearsome. Encountering smooth ice and snow, moderate slopes, he almost slid down sideways with his legs together. The audience leaned back forcefully, as if the winds and snow were right in front of them. At such a speed, in just half an hour, Bi Fang had descended three hundred meters, reaching over 8,500 meters, and once again saw ¡°Sleeping Beauty¡±. [Sleeping Beauty was named Frances, and unlike the other two, she became a famous ¡°Corpse Marker¡± because she was the first woman to climb Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen. She died on Mount Everest in 1998, but Frances collapsed due to hypoxia exhaustion while descending the mountain, two hundred and forty-four meters below Everest.] [At that time, people passed by, but not a single one could lend a hand, because once you reached out, the dead might not just be one.] [There were detailed records at that time, and even a gentleman who didn¡¯t reach out suffered long-term conscience and public opinion torment. However, if you check the memoirs of the survivors, you¡¯ll find many of the details don¡¯t match up, because above seven thousand meters, a normal person¡¯s brain already became dull.] The audience was shocked; there was such a story? Fortunately, this did not affect Bi Fang; as the altitude decreased, safety increased. By eleven o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Bi Fang had rapidly withdrawn to eight thousand meters, exited the death zone, and came back to Camp Four to collect his backpack and miscellaneous items left there. Only then could Bi Fang finally breathe a sigh of relief and feel at ease to speak. By noon, he had descended to an altitude of seven thousand meters. Camp Three, down, continue downward. Camp Two, down, continue downward. Camp One, Bi Fang took a glance; it was still very far below. Finally, before the sun had completely set, Bi Fang crossed the Khumbu Glacier and returned to the base camp, completely away from the danger zone. But he didn¡¯t stop; instead, he rushed through the night, making his way back to the original village, but just as he had just descended to four hundred meters, Rows of bonfires lit up, the Sherpa people, Danzeng, Puba, and many friends holding torches, looking at the man coming down from the mountain. They clapped together, ¡°Welcome back!¡± Chapter 432 - Chapter 432: 430 Chapter 432: 430 [User 319211401454 sent a Spaceship*1 to the host] Chaman was driving the car, his dark skin perfectly blending into the night. When he turned his head to look at the co-pilot, almost only his bright white teeth were visible. After seeing the content on the phone, he raised an eyebrow, ¡°You¡¯re actually tipping him.¡± ¡°He really is amazing,¡± Grace said with a grin in the co-pilot seat. ¡°I can kind of understand why my brother messed up.¡± The drones flew in the sky, and in the pitch darkness, rows of torches illuminated the field paths. Smiles radiated from everyone¡¯s faces, and when they looked at the man emerging from the darkness, their eyes shone with respect. The path of torches stretched out for at least a hundred meters, all to welcome one person. It was breathtaking. Even from different standpoints, Grace had to admit that. ¡°Stop staring; you¡¯ll never enjoy this kind of treatment. In the movies, we¡¯re the villains,¡± Chaman said, grabbing the phone and stuffing it into the other¡¯s pocket, then slowly bringing the car to a stop. ¡°Now, it¡¯s your turn to drive.¡± Grace nodded, ¡°Okay, you go to sleep.¡± They switched seats and drove off again. Moments later, the car flew over a small hill. Underneath the tarp in the car, a pair of large antlers was revealed. Bi Fang watched as the young leader, Danzeng, walked at the front, his face also brimming with a smile, hugging each person who came to meet him one by one. Puba was the last to come over, thumping his back hard: ¡°Good lad, you did well!¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t have summited without you,¡± Bi Fang had not forgotten the help the Sherpa people provided. Without them, he wouldn¡¯t even know where he would be squatting right now. For this, Bi Fang gave a deep bow to everyone present. This scene moved countless viewers in the livestream who knew the background story to tears. [So touched, sob sob sob] [This host must be followed!] [Much love for Master Fang!] This is the true essence of human unity, extending a helping hand when there are difficulties, and the beneficiaries also offer their reciprocity. Bi Fang gave respect and support to the Sherpa people, and they were willing to open the only path to the summit for him. Bi Fang would also not forget them, leaving their names at the Summit of Mount Everest. Not all Sherpa people have the ability to reach the summit and enjoy the glory. Despite their racial talents, it¡¯s only that small handful of exceptional individuals who can achieve it. But in Bi Fang¡¯s view, this summit was not about individual heroism; it was about collective teamwork. The glory belongs to everyone. [Effort always pays off! So when is the next live stream?] [Feels like Master Fang has lost weight, you gotta eat well] [Is the previous one a mom fan?] [Generally, climbing doesn¡¯t result in weight loss, but climbing Mount Everest usually does¡­] [Actually, I think, after watching the livestream, why do I feel like if I went, I could do it too? The delusion is real.] [Seriously delusional] Puba was in great spirits, or rather, it was the first time in over a decade since he stopped guiding that he felt this good. The appearance of Bi Fang made him feel sincerely that the effort they put into paving the way and setting up ropes on Mount Everest is still remembered and respected. Especially when Puba saw Bi Fang tying the co-signed letter onto the flagpole, it almost brought tears to this tough guy¡¯s eyes. ¡°We are in desperate need of money, so we lie to ourselves and others, saying that we love to climb¡­¡± Puba still remembers the words once said to him by Danzeng¡¯s father. Upon reflection, he finds himself choked up. After exchanging pleasantries again, Bi Fang was truly weary, so tired he could hardly keep his eyes open. From the sprint at dawn up until now, he had nearly gone twenty-four hours without closing his eyes, on top of the extreme exertion, he felt exceptionally drowsy. Puba keenly noticed Bi Fang¡¯s fatigue and, realizing this, he didn¡¯t say more and waved to the people behind him. ¡°Alright, alright, stop crowding around, he just got back and only wants to take a bath and sleep, go on, everyone go home!¡± The Sherpa people then realized it was indeed late and, after waving their torches a while longer, they left in twos and threes. Danzeng, however, insisted on not letting go of Bi Fang, determined to bring him to his own home to host him as a guest. Unable to resist, Bi Fang agreed, and so a group of them proceeded to Danzeng¡¯s home in the darkness of night. On their way, Bi Fang also prepared to wrap up the live broadcast. Looking at the Sherpa people with torches, turning into small dots of light, Bi Fang felt an indescribable emotion. After summarizing his thoughts, he then spoke up, ¡°At noon when we were descending the mountain, as you saw like I did, above the death zone, there were cold bodies scattered everywhere, some far some near, some perhaps for an age, and some may have still been as living and vibrant as you and me just a few days ago.¡± Puba and Rob nodded silently; many guides would stop for a few minutes near the bodies, in silence, to show respect. ¡°But at that time, I didn¡¯t feel too much because seeing the sight of people before us leaving their bodies on the cold Mount Everest forever due to their dreams, the feeling of death wasn¡¯t very definite; I even felt like they were just resting.¡± ¡°Now that I think about it, perhaps I¡¯m a bit frightened in hindsight, but more than that, I feel an impact, not much of a sad component, because each person came here after careful consideration.¡± ¡°I was more concerned with how to take each step carefully, otherwise lying there would be very cold, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± The audience laughed, but after the laughter, there was a sense of relief. Only by returning alive, that is the true success. ¡°Climbing Mount Everest is an extremely painful affair. In less than a month¡¯s time, what awaited me included various dangers that came unexpectedly and the torment suffered by my body in the harsh environment. But once you reach the summit, all the hardships you¡¯ve experienced become worth it, that unique experience and the resulting pride and sense of achievement are irresistible.¡± Just then, someone asked a question that everyone wanted to know. [Master Fang, have you ever been afraid?] After someone brought it up, instantly, a large number of similar or identical questions appeared in the barrage of comments. Yes, has Master Fang ever been afraid? Watching him on the small screen performing one incredible feat after another, it seemed as if he didn¡¯t know what fear was, with his veins always pulsing with hot blood, and his mind filled with one meticulous and bold plan after another. It¡¯s as if the emotion of fear would never appear in him. Regarding this question, Bi Fang didn¡¯t answer immediately. He countered with, ¡°Do you think I conquered Mount Everest?¡± Isn¡¯t that the case? The audience was taken aback, having reached the summit in front of tens of millions of viewers, with an unprecedented record, what was it if not conquest? But Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°Climbing Mount Everest, death could appear before you at any moment: earthquakes, avalanches, glacier crevasses, vertical cliffs; no one knows at which point they might die. Any of those situations could place me in mortal danger.¡± ¡°In the thin air, climbers¡¯ physical strength is merely enough to sustain themselves. If a teammate dies on the way, we can only say a painful farewell on the spot. The left bodies become monuments, markers.¡± ¡°Yet, to Mount Everest itself, it might be unaware, like a speck of dust settling on its surface. In this context, is reaching the summit really conquering it?¡± The audience pondered in silence. Yao Jun and Wang Yongbo nodded lightly, gaining a measure of understanding. Sir Edinburgh and Puba¡¯s eyes shone brightly, not bothering to hide the admiration in their gaze. ¡°During the climb, the only danger comes from us humans ourselves. It¡¯s a contest between all people and the mountain, but the ultimate power over life and death lies in the hands of the mountain itself. I am merely a lucky one who happened to avoid disaster,¡± he said. ¡°Therefore, the notion that ¡®man has conquered Mount Everest¡¯ is simply not valid, nor will it ever be. The only true conquest a person can achieve is over their own inner fears and anxieties about their insignificance.¡± ¡°I am not a robot, of course I get scared, but what I have conquered is exactly that!¡± [This philosophical depth, I bow down to the master] [Where did Old Fang learn all this?] [Can¡¯t quite describe it, just feels badass] [Man can¡¯t conquer the mountain, we simply climb it, like children climbing onto their mother¡¯s lap. That¡¯s what big brother Puba said, right? (Dog¡¯s head)] ¡°I did say that, but I can¡¯t claim it was original,¡± Puba said with a smile and a shake of his head as he saw the comments. ¡°It was Tenzing who said it.¡± Danzeng looked over, his eyes filled with confusion. Had he said that? ¡°Not little Danzeng.¡± Puba patted his head. ¡°It was Tenzing Norgay who said it.¡± Everyone had a good laugh, and after the laughter died down, Bi Fang gestured, and the drone began to descend. The audience felt a sinking feeling in their hearts, knowing that with Old Fang, this really was the end. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s it for now. This Mount Everest journey is coming to an end. The last thing I want to say to everyone is that not everyone looks up at Mount Everest, nor does everyone wish or is able to climb to the top. Every adventure requires sober awareness and rational assessment,¡± he said. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t prevent you from having the aspiration to stand on top of the world, nor from pursuing that aspiration.¡± ¡°Your personal Everest isn¡¯t limited to the Himalayas.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯m Bi Fang, and I¡¯ll see you next time.¡± [Man, it¡¯s over again] [Waaaah, don¡¯t stop] [Just got hyped up, and it¡¯s over just like that?] [You can drive on this crappy road?] [The rain of donations should start now] [Here comes the big one] [So who is that millionaire? If she¡¯s a rich woman, please give me her contact info!] Fans traditionally tried to hold him back, but Bi Fang didn¡¯t waver in his decision, already unmoved by the torrent of donated gifts. Looking at the darkened live broadcast room, netizens around the world sighed. Many other streamers of the same genre or those who broadcast during the same time slot also breathed a sigh of relief; the metaphorical mountain that had been looming over them had finally left. The high-level executives of Shark and Tiger Fang instructed their wilderness streamers that they no longer needed to lie low, planning was underway. When Bi Fang stopped broadcasting, they started; when Bi Fang broadcasted, they stopped, masterfully adhering to the flexible strategy of retreating when the enemy advanced. Was this not a victory of its own? What do you mean picking up the scraps? It¡¯s clearly about filling market gaps! Enriching the public¡¯s entertainment life! Meanwhile, Bi Fang and his companions had arrived at Danzeng¡¯s house. Danzeng¡¯s mother had already prepared a big table of dishes, evidently well-prepared, and again thanked Bi Fang for his deeds. If not for him, her son might not have survived the avalanche, so she was extremely hospitable. After eating, Bi Fang took the opportunity to have a hot shower, and then he fell into a deep sleep. Not just him, but everyone else was tired too and soon fell asleep. In another room, however, Rob did not rest. He sat at the desk, hesitating for a moment before taking out paper and pen from his backpack, along with several stacks of white paper, and began to write fervently. ¡­ The next day, in order not to be surrounded by fans who came to see him off, Bi Fang bade an early farewell to a very reluctant Danzeng and descended the mountain with Sir and others. ¡°It¡¯s a shame I can¡¯t join you in filming a documentary, Sir. I was truly interested,¡± Bi Fang said regretfully. As they parted ways, Bi Fang felt a tinge of regret¡ªhe had intended to go shoot monkeys in Nepal with Sir Edinburgh after summiting, but plans didn¡¯t keep up with changes. Now he had to hurry to the Arctic Circle. The geese were returning. Though he knew they would come back, Bi Fang wanted to make the trip himself for peace of mind, driven by a sense of responsibility. Sir Edinburgh waved cheerfully, ¡°No problem, if it weren¡¯t for my team¡¯s mission, I¡¯d be more interested in going with you to see the geese.¡± Bi Fang laughed heartily, said farewell once again, and boarded the flight home with Yao Jun and Wang Yongbo. This journey would be an unforgettable one, but the adventure was far from over¡ªthere were more thrills to come! ¡­ A day later, someone suddenly noticed that the official pages of Wolf Fang and even the homepage of B Island had changed their cover photos. This wasn¡¯t just any advertisement or illustration, but a complete skin change! The image was filled with the vivid colors of an oil painting¡ªa red flag flying amidst snow-capped peaks bathed in golden light, beside it stood a young man, his back turned to us, gazing into the distance at the mountain range. In bold calligraphy on the side it read: The first Huaxia person to reach the summit of Mount Everest¡¯s south slope without oxygen! On a plane, a young man wearing headphones looked at the B Island website on his phone, stunned by the sudden change in its appearance, but felt the person seated next to him seemed familiar. He glanced at the figure in the oil painting, and then at the Huaxia person beside him. Finally, he shook his head. He must have been mistaken. With that, he popped in his earphones, giving up on wondering why B Island had suddenly changed its appearance, and opened a funny video, his laughter filling the air. Bi Fang glanced at the young man beside him, noted the content on his phone, and after lamenting the decline of public tastes, he ignored him. In the era of big data, information cocoons are almost unavoidable. If it¡¯s not something of personal interest, many people may not have even heard of it. Therefore, Bi Fang did not expect to be so recognizable that everyone would know him¡ªhe lacked such ability and privilege. He pulled out a newspaper left behind by some traveler from behind his seat ¨C the headline news was about the migration of the geese! There are flights from Kathmandu Valley to Helsinki, but only on Sundays, and Bi Fang returned from the summit on a Sunday, obviously unable to catch the flight. Bi Fang instead decided to return to his home country, rest for a night before catching a flight to Finland. Hence, the newspaper he was reading had also come from there. The Finnish people were obviously very concerned about the follow-up to last year¡¯s sensational goose migration event. Chapter 433 - Chapter 433: Chapter 431 Change chapter 433: chapter 431 change the aftermath of the geese¡¯s journey wasn¡¯t just a simple increase in bi fang¡¯s fame; it had an enormous subsequent impact. half a year had passed, and people still talked enthusiastically about the geese returning to the arctic circle, the news even made the front page of finnish newspapers. scholars in the field of zoology were extremely interested in the pioneering methods of artificial migration, and elvan¡¯s phone was bombarded with calls, earning him considerable fame in academic circles. if it hadn¡¯t been for the live broadcast, bi fang would have probably not escaped, as various people would have called or even asked him for details in person. even now, people wanted to record an interview or conduct a talk with him, or even make a documentary for posterity to watch. however, due to his busy schedule, bi fang turned them all down. there was no need for a documentary; the entire journey had been recorded on the internet. what was there left to film? this was just one side of things, a greater impact came from¡ªanimal protection organizations. to bi fang, it seemed that europeans were too wealthy, with too much free time on their hands, and that¡¯s why these organizations often did unreasonable things. however, when it came to issues like internal corruption colluding with poachers, the animal protectionists¡¯ views were quite clear. especially in the days when the arrests were made, they were practically blocking the courthouse and even the audit bureau¡¯s doors daily. ¨¦tienne joined in the excitement and took a video, which he sent to bi fang. on the streets, everywhere were crowds holding signs and protest banners, fluttering flags, the noise was unbearable, and riot police had to be on the side to watch, preventing any large-scale stampede incidents. speaking of which, wasn¡¯t the poacher and johnny¡¯s sentencing happening these days? bi fang suddenly remembered this and took out his phone to search the keyword, to find out that indeed, the trial was scheduled for may 17th. it seemed that the pressure from the animal protectionists¡¯ protests did weigh heavily on the authorities, coupled with bi fang¡¯s live stream, the evidence was irrefutable and the charges clear, leading to a court verdict in just half a year. while half a year may seem like a long time, in reality, it was a relatively short process. even domestically, regular cases would take over five months and if it was complicated, dragging it out for a year or two was normal, not to mention abroad. calculating the timing, bi fang could still watch the geese and then go to observe the trial. shrimp and pig¡¯s heart.jpg ¡°buzz buzz buzz.¡± just as bi fang had put down the newspaper and was looking at his phone, it began to ring again¡ªhe picked it up to see another unfamiliar number. he could almost guess what the person calling wanted to do; it would be nothing more than business cooperation, various events and advertisement deals. ever since climbing mount everest, bi fang¡¯s followers were ecstatic. nearly ten million viewers had watched, and with word-of-mouth alone, it was a force to be reckoned with, one that showed no signs of stopping and continued to grow. add to that his previous accumulations, bi fang was completely in his heyday in the country, with a level of popularity higher than many top-tier celebrities. it was just unclear when his phone number had been leaked, it was like a barrage of calls. the most impressive advertiser to bi fang was a mobile phone company named 8848, who were desperate to have him as their brand ambassador. they were so persistent, acting as if their brand would lose its soul without him. bi fang decided that once he returned to his country, he would change his phone number. given his special identity, getting an organization to arrange a more secure phone for him wouldn¡¯t be a problem. after the phone rang a couple of times, bi fang hesitated but decided to answer. as expected, it was over the top. this time, it was a chocolate company. they felt that the scene of bi fang eating an energy bar on the mountain peak naturally matched their promotional philosophy. climbing mountains as smooth as silk. bi fang: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°let my assistant talk to you.¡± bi fang said this and then hung up the phone, feeling somewhat fatigued. he never wanted to take on any advertisements, he had no need or interest, but if he refused someone in person, they would stick to him like a plaster. instead, he had his assistant liu qian handle and turn down these business activities on his behalf. this tool person arranged by wolf fang was very handy to use, competently handling everything from scheduling to rejecting various commercial activities. it was time to give her a raise, bi fang thought satisfactorily. ¡°ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard ** airlines. i am the chief flight attendant for this flight¡­¡± the broadcast came on, and bi fang put the newspaper back in its place and opened the virtual panel. the sky-blue, semi-transparent screen swiftly unfolded, listing all the information. after returning home last night, bi fang couldn¡¯t wait to activate platinum body. then, there was no after that. the moment he activated it, bi fang felt a burning sensation throughout his body, and waves of sleepiness overwhelmed him. he didn¡¯t even have time to use the remaining enhancement points, nor did he make it to the bedroom; he fell asleep on the couch. bi fang was only woken up by the ring of his cellphone in the morning, and as soon as he awoke, he felt an uncomfortable churning sensation in his stomach. he was hungry. having no other choice, bi fang hurriedly packed his things, went out to buy seven or eight steamed buns to eat while taking a taxi to catch the plane, and only now, after the plane had taken off smoothly, did he finally have time to check the changes in his panel content. as soon as the panel unfolded, bi fang acutely noticed the changes. [sole binder: bi fang] [grow age: 25] [height: 186.1cm] [mass: 78.1kg] [strength: 15] [body: 15] [agility: 15] [spirit: 15] [platinum body] [status: good] [enhancement points: 1] [wilderness points: 120 (convertible)] orange trunk: wilderness traveler lv1. purple branches: special recon soldier lv2, body tempering lv1 (formed by a combination of yoga, pilates, and calisthenics). blue twigs: high-altitude parachuting lv3, tai chi traveling dragon lv2, archery lv1, rock climbing lv2, biological identification lv3, swimming lv1, first aid lv1. green canopy: cross-country hiking lv5, running lv5. special talent: beastly instinct. trophy skill: wolves king¡¯s sense of smell, king fish¡¯s stomach, biological sensing. he had actually grown taller! his weight had also increased! due to the existence of the panel, bi fang was very sensitive to his own physical fitness. previously, his height had hovered between 183.5 and 184.5 centimeters, but now it had broken through to 186! considering that he had just gotten up from bed in the morning, his current height should be between 185 and 186 centimeters, roughly a centimeter and a bit more, so he didn¡¯t have to worry about being noticed¡ªit¡¯s just a pair of shoes¡¯ difference. the weight change was significant too; after returning from mount everest, his weight had dropped, usually around 77, but now it had reached 78. considering that he had eaten seven or eight steamed buns just an hour ago and now felt nothing, even a bit hungry, there must still be an energy gap to fill. the change was substantial. bi fang sat up straight and looked around. as it was a long-haul flight, many people were already resting with their eye masks on. he got up from his seat and headed straight to the restroom. upon seeing his reflection in the mirror, that skin which appeared fair and smooth under the light, bi fang was stunned. is this me? Chapter 434 - Chapter 434: Chapter 432: Meeting étienne Again After Half a Year. chapter 434: chapter 432: meeting ¨¦tienne again after half a year. platinum body also had a beautifying effect, which bi fang had never anticipated. morning came in time, and after washing up without a thorough look, he now scrutinized himself on the plane, surprised by the significant change. bi fang¡¯s appearance wasn¡¯t bad; on the contrary, it could be described as excellent, with exceptionally handsome features that wouldn¡¯t be out of place as a righteous male lead in last century¡¯s hong kong or taiwanese movies. it was what you¡¯d call a head start. moreover, after experiencing adventure and crises time and again, bi fang exuded a strong sense of confidence and a wild temperament, complete with potent male pheromones. this was normal; it would be abnormal not to have such a presence. humans under constant stress naturally produce testosterone and various hormones, which is good for men, making them appear more mature, more serious, and more charming, like a strong lion with a flowing mane encountered on the savannah. the reason women¡¯s football players often look tougher than male ones is also here: for the sake of glory, they have to make sacrifices much greater than male athletes. and because of frequent exposure to sun and wind, bi fang¡¯s original skin tone was also a bit darker, but now it had lightened again. the temperament wouldn¡¯t change, nor the facial features; instead, they had become even more attractive, with skin becoming extremely smooth, barely showing any pores and looking uniformly sleek and polished. he extended his hand and saw that the conspicuous white calluses had disappeared, but upon feeling around, bi fang realized the roughness was still there ¨C it was just invisible now. that was good news, he sighed with relief. it would have been a loss if ¡°beautification¡± had made him weaker. in the wilderness, one often needed to use hands to deal with all sorts of stones and branches; if the palms were soft and delicate, they¡¯d blister after a day¡¯s work, or even worse, could be worn raw. bi fang took off his shirt, and sure enough, everything had changed; apart from the skin, the muscle definition was also perfectly sculpted, presenting both harmony and strength. the shark muscles on the sides of his waist were also more ferocious, resembling shark gills even more and brimming with explosive power. even a sculpture crafted by michelangelo couldn¡¯t be much better, right? true to its name, platinum body. bi fang thought to himself. but his delight faded the moment he stripped his clothes to his shoulders. it was gone. a man¡¯s badge of honor. bi fang¡¯s right shoulder had been injured in mohe and left a scar, but now there was no trace of the wolf bite on his shoulder. after a long look, bi fang could only reluctantly accept the fact that his scars had truly disappeared. as he thought about putting his shirt back on, the bathroom door suddenly swung open. a well-dressed caucasian woman entered, and when she caught sight of the streamlined muscles in front of the washbasin, her eyes lit up, ending up whistling appreciatively. bi fang nonchalantly got dressed, and as he brushed past her, dodged the hand she extended toward him, leaving the bathroom expressionless. finland time, 2:55 p.m. bi fang, carrying his luggage and ignoring the woman behind him who was still throwing seductive glances, walked straight towards a signboard bearing his name. guided by the greeter, he left the airport in an off-road vehicle, embarking on a long car journey. he was to cross the entirety of finland, heading for the place where he first led the geese into flight. like all migratory creatures, they have a deep memory of their point of departure. fortunately, finland wasn¡¯t very large, and by nightfall, he had finally reached his destination. ¡°hey, here we are!¡± just after getting off the train, a faint yet distant voice came from afar and kept getting closer. bi fang hoisted his backpack and knew without thinking who it was. he had sent a message when he was about to arrive, and he did not expect that elvan and the others would actually hurry over. bi fang laughed heartily, waving towards the distant flashlight: ¡°¨¦tienne!¡± the driver, seizing the chance before bi fang walked away, immediately took out paper and a pen, ¡°mr. bi, could you give me an autograph? my son is also a fan of yours!¡± ¡°of course, i can.¡± bi fang took the pen and briskly signed his name in the notebook, and before leaving, he did not forget to tell the driver, ¡°it would be best not to tell others we¡¯re here, okay?¡± the driver did not understand why, but he nodded and indicated that it was no problem. bi fang turned back, by which time ¨¦tienne had also run up to him, panting heavily, his face displaying an unstoppable smile. bi fang extended his hand to mess up ¨¦tienne¡¯s hair, ¡°you rascal, you¡¯ve grown quite a bit!¡± fourteen or fifteen is the time when teenagers shoot up in height. when they had traveled across europe the year before, bi fang remembered that ¨¦tienne was a whole head shorter than him, but now, he had grown up to his nose. ¨¦tienne chuckled, the distance of not seeing each other for half a year quietly disappeared, and it seemed as though they had returned to the days when they first flew gliders together. the two chatted about the fun things that had happened in their lives recently, reminisced for a while, and then walked side by side toward elvan and the others who were coming over. ¡°how¡¯s school? it¡¯s not summer vacation yet, right? how come you¡¯re already here?¡± ¡°i applied for an early vacation, and elvan agreed.¡± bi fang suspected the kid was pulling his leg, ¡°elvan agreed?¡± ¡°my grades last year were all excellent!¡± ¡°really?¡± ¡°i never lie!¡± ¡°have you started dating yet?¡± ¡°um¡­¡± bi fang laughed, ¡°who is it? your classmate?¡± ¡°sort of.¡± ¨¦tienne felt a bit shy and kicked a pebble by his feet. in foreign countries, fifteen or sixteen years old is not considered too young to date, so bi fang was not too surprised and even teased him, ¡°then why didn¡¯t you bring her along? wow, at fifteen or sixteen, coming to the lakeside, setting up tents, under the possible auroral night sky, watching the geese you helped migrate thousands of kilometers return¡ªhow romantic. you might even teach her how to fly a glider.¡± ¨¦tienne glanced aside, dismissively saying, ¡°though you make it sound nice, bringing along a girl is too much trouble, would you bring a woman to wilderness survivalist?¡± ¡°hahaha! you rascal, how did you manage to start dating?¡± bi fang couldn¡¯t help but ruffle his head again and stopped only when he saw elvan and lenin come over as well. ¡°long time no see, professor elvan and professor lenin. i wonder if you were able to get a permit for the geese¡¯s return this time.¡± bi fang opened his arms and hugged them both. elvan scratched his head, knowing that bi fang was teasing him about the incident when he had been deceived, and smiled helplessly, ¡°actually, i could have obtained the permit, but they had issues, besides, you don¡¯t need a permit to wait for the geese to return.¡± ¡°when did you get here?¡± lenin, happy to see his old friend, joined in. ¡°got here at three in the afternoon, then drove for a few more hours. have you guys had dinner yet? i¡¯m almost starving.¡± ¡°then you¡¯ve come at the perfect time, we¡¯ve just finished cooking the food, i think it¡¯s definitely better than what you ate on mount everest,¡± elvan immediately invited. ¡°ok, i must have a good taste of the food cooked by a french chef. where¡¯s goose now?¡± ¡°according to the display, it¡¯s already at the border of norway, and if nothing goes wrong, it should arrive in two or three days.¡± bi fang followed everyone to a small table by the lake but realized that there were not the tents he had imagined everywhere, nor the throngs of sightseers; he was somewhat surprised. he had thought it would be teeming with people. Chapter 435 - Chapter 435: 433 chapter 435: 433 it seemed that elvan had noticed bi fang¡¯s confusion and thus clarified the reason. unlike the previous migration that received little care, this time the relevant departments were extremely cautious to prevent any accidents. otherwise, the furious conservationists, in a moment of heated frustration, might have dragged them out of their beds and smashed their dog¡¯s heads. they had started planning as early as late april to early may, and an entire area nearby was put under surveillance to keep loiterers and unrelated individuals at bay. if tourists wandered in, they were persuaded to leave, and if persuasion failed, they were forcefully expelled. if bi fang hadn¡¯t sent a message, and elvan hadn¡¯t informed the personnel in advance, they might also have encountered staff blocking their vehicle. ¡°that¡¯s, well, a bit over the top.¡± bi fang smirked, finding finland¡¯s approach a tad overzealous, which in reality wasn¡¯t necessary at all. even if unrelated individuals were around, it wouldn¡¯t have mattered. conservationists were like a sword hanging over everyone¡¯s head, with a fighting power comparable to the ugly country¡¯s irs. from lobsters that shouldn¡¯t be eaten alive to hunting geese, whoever acted wrongly would get their dog¡¯s head smashed. ¡°alright, alright, dinner is served!¡± lenin wrapped a towel around the pot handle to serve the food on the table, distributing cutlery for everyone to start eating. it was just a typical camping meal, which bi fang didn¡¯t mind since he was starving. after dinner, everyone sat by the lake, counting the stars. unfortunately, there were no auroras that night. the sky wasn¡¯t dazzling with stars, but it was still a peaceful scene. the discussion was lively, mostly revolving around bi fang, and without exception, focused on his recent everest challenge. undoubtedly, for any ordinary person, everest represented something extraordinary. otherwise, among the fourteen peaks over 8,000 meters, it wouldn¡¯t be the only one to have achieved commercialization. as the conversation went on, ¨¦tienne even found an exceptional comment, which he saw by accessing the internet beyond the great firewall. amidst the domestic environment full of praises, the report ¨¦tienne deliberately showed to bi fang was evidently not a positive one. ¡°so-called wilderness big brother, in his quest to conquer everest, still damages the environment, doesn¡¯t he? by carving a notch in the rock, has he thought about the consequences?¡± the post was accompanied by an image of bi fang at a smooth rock face where there were no handholds, forcing him to wedge his ice axe in a crack to swing out. the poster was quite knowledgeable, outlining the differences between traditional climbing and sport climbing. in the former, a lead climber sets up protection points and then hangs a rope without leaving a trace, whereas in sport climbing, permanent bolts are placed into the rock face. traditional climbing requires climbers to find cracks and place mechanical anchors with higher risks of failing. simply put, the climber places an object in a rock crack to wedge it in place, hanging on to their own rope attached to the object to prevent a fall. such a practice minimizes damage to the rock face and avoids leaving traces of artificial alterations. the critic believed that if bi fang were true to his word, he shouldn¡¯t have created cracks in the rock and damaged the local ecological environment, asserting that his publicly advocated environmental protection was merely lip service. with sound arguments and accompanying photos, a crowd of onlookers chanted ¡°666¡± in the comments, with likes even surpassing one hundred thousand. however, such opinions merely merited a glance from bi fang, who did not take them to heart. if there were fans, there would inevitably be haters. this seemed like an unavoidable issue for any public figure; even saints couldn¡¯t make everyone like them, how could an ordinary person? both traditional climbing and sport climbing were mentioned; the critic clearly came prepared, intending to take a moral stance, but until now, wolf fang hadn¡¯t informed him, marking it as mere clownish behavior. sure enough, there were comments below. [post a picture but no video? talking nonsense, aren¡¯t you? there are natural cracks on the rock face; using an ice axe is just like what you said about wedging an object into a crack, right?] [that¡¯s hilarious (covering mouth)] [no way, no way, surely no one really thinks they know more about rock climbing than the first huaxian to solo climb everest without oxygen, right?] [streamers are never really the most cultured group, so this kind of person is to be expected] [endorsed by both the youth league and people¡¯s daily, and even the nepal mountaineering association has published an article. not giving up yet? here¡¯s the link: asdfl16hjdgk531431535gl] youth league? an article? bi fang curiously clicked into the official account of the youth organization and found that the most recent update was the climbing video he edited. from avalanche rescue to the final success of reaching the summit, the total duration was nearly two hours. the people¡¯s daily did the same. having two major channels with official tones not only silenced the detractors but also indirectly attracted a wave of attention. as for those who were so delusional to accuse insiders of protecting their own, the reports from nepal could be thrown in their faces. bi fang clicked on the article from the nepal mountaineering association, and after reading just the first chapter, he felt something was amiss. ¡°i conceived this article on the night bi fang descended, but being fully aware of my limited knowledge and naive views, i reserved my thoughts to pen. originally intended as a record of my own thoughts, it was to serve as a document for constant introspection and reflection throughout my rock climbing learning and mountaineering experiences¡­¡± the article was extremely long, as he scrolled down it took quite some time, and more than half of it was about the author¡¯s climbing stories with him. climbing with me? written by a teammate? bi fang scrolled to the end and discovered that the author was rob! ¡°i¡¯ve led many teams and met many people, men and women, of various professions, but bi fang gave me a different impression from everyone else. he seemed to be able to completely blend into any environment and live within it in an extremely natural and harmonious manner, before he arrived at the base camp¡­¡± ¡°honestly, at first, i didn¡¯t think much of him. before meeting him in person, i even considered him just a streamer who liked to boast. i believe any guide picking him up from the airport would have felt the same.¡± rob rambled on about a lot in the middle, from the seven-day trek to base camp, from physical fitness to climbing skills, from everyone¡¯s reactions to the outcome, still facing the despair in the avalanche, to the joy after being saved. the advantage of text over video is the ample blank space it leaves, offering any reader a richer imagination. rob¡¯s writing was not elegant, but it excelled in authenticity and a strong sense of imagery. following rob¡¯s perspective, many of bi fang¡¯s fans felt as if they were getting to know master fang all over again¡ª a more three-dimensional and interesting soul. it also made many realize the difficulty and true value of a no-oxygen solo climb of mount everest. miles away, after reading the entire article once again, rob exhaled softly, a faint smile appeared on his face as he gazed out at the mountains, seemingly still lost in memories of that figure in the wind and snow. he recalled the end of his article. ¡°in my view, maintaining a clear head and rationality is a very important ability for climbing high mountains. this probably applies not only to 8000-meter peak ascents but also to the climb of life. that is the unique aspect of life, isn¡¯t it? risks that come unexpectedly are hidden within calm, and within despair, incredible miracles can be born. many people do things that most others cannot understand, attracted by these unknowns all their lives. some want to experience the adventures that the majority are afraid of and that they themselves are eager to undertake despite the risks, in their otherwise mundane lives. because the essence of life itself is a time-limited experience. and the mountain is always there, with people always wanting to climb it.¡± ¡­ after reading the article in one go, ¨¦tienne looked at bi fang with a bright gaze. his eyes were full of admiration. ¡°there it is, what is that kid plotting in his head now?¡± those embarrassingly adolescent phrases once again surged in bi fang¡¯s mind. Chapter 436 - Chapter 436: Chapter 433 The Goose Returns! chapter 436: chapter 433 the goose returns! even in may, as the enduring frost of the arctic circle began to thaw and seep into the ground, it brought with it endless vitality. bi fang and ¨¦tienne stood by the lake at noon. even in the arctic circle, the weather was not cold, and they both wore only a light shirt, each holding a fishing spear in their hands, scanning the area, clearly in search of today¡¯s lunch. ¡°why do i feel like you¡¯ve changed?¡± ¨¦tienne glanced at bi fang from time to time. he hadn¡¯t noticed anything the night before, but looking at bi fang today, he sensed something was different from the live broadcast two days ago. it was hard to pinpoint exactly what was different¡­ was he¡­ handsomer? ¡°maybe it¡¯s because i¡¯ve come down from mount everest and rested for two days, so i¡¯ve gotten fairer,¡± bi fang didn¡¯t expect ¨¦tienne to be so perceptive, and with a laugh, he quickly changed the subject. ¡°if you are really in the wilderness near a body of water, fishing is an excellent way to obtain high-quality protein, and compared to catching land animals, you have a higher chance of success in the water. just make a spear, and even if you don¡¯t have much experience, you¡¯ll succeed after a few tries.¡± sure enough, as bi fang carefully explained his experience, ¨¦tienne, who had been very concerned about the change, immediately put it out of his mind and listened intently. since there was nothing else to do during the two days of waiting for the geese, bi fang simply took ¨¦tienne nearby for some hunting activities. originally, they were setting traps to catch small animals, but after a busy morning without much success, bi fang turned to try the simpler task of fishing. ¡°you can use nets, hooks, spears, or lassos to catch fish, or even catch them directly with your hands. if you set traps in a stream, you can carry out other work while waiting for the fish to swim into them.¡± ¡°how can you catch fish with your hands?¡± asked ¨¦tienne curiously. fish are strong and slippery. wouldn¡¯t they easily slip away if you tried to catch them by hand? ¡°it depends on the fish. you can use your hands for fish in smaller lakes, or for those that move sluggishly.¡± glancing around, bi fang spotted a palm-sized fish near a stone. to demonstrate, he handed the spear to ¨¦tienne, rolled up his sleeves and approached the fish. bi fang whispered slowly, ¡°first, pinpoint the fish¡¯s location, then gently and smoothly approach it from underneath with both hands, one hand towards the head and the other towards the tail. when you touch the fish¡¯s body, quickly grab it.¡± ¨¦tienne¡¯s eyes widened as he watched bi fang¡¯s hands sink slowly into the water, barely causing a ripple, very steady. the fish exchanging air in the puddle had no idea that a pair of large hands had already approached from behind, moving to encircle it from below. bi fang¡¯s motions were slow yet steady, his chest expansion almost invisible, as if he had stopped breathing. when catching fish by hand, impatience is the last thing you need. your breathing must be slowed down to avoid ripples because fish can detect changes in the water through their lateral lines. usually, the slightest disturbance will send them darting away. when bi fang¡¯s left hand was behind its tail and his right hand was about to touch its head, he struck like lightning less than half a palm¡¯s distance away, grabbing the fish firmly. bi fang scooped the fish out of the water and threw it onto the shore with a moon-in-the-well gesture. without the water environment, the fish could only jump around on the mud, but its fate was no longer in its own fins. ¡°fish are strong, and you can easily let them escape if you¡¯re not careful, so if the water is shallow, you can just flip them onto the shore, or knock them out with a rock or a stick,¡± said bi fang. ¡°some fish like to hide in holes at the bottom, like catfish, for instance. you can reach into the hole to grab them. these fish are more aggressive and have sharp teeth that can bite, so if you¡¯re not sure what¡¯s in the hole, it¡¯s not advisable to take the risk.¡± ¨¦tienne asked, ¡°then how do you determine what kind of fish it is?¡± bi fang straightened up, shook off the water as he moved from the water to the shore, ¡°this really tests your fundamental knowledge. first, you need to know what common species of fish are distributed in the general latitude and longitude areas, and also determine, based on the temperature and the aquatic environment, which fish are active in the current season, as well as what are the habits of many common fish. all these test your basic skills, and you can¡¯t learn them just by watching fishing one or two times.¡± knowledge is power, this saying is applicable everywhere, and often the more skilled a wilderness survival expert is, the wider range of subjects they master, and the deeper their understanding of various species. ¨¦tienne nodded helplessly. bi fang picked up a fish from the shore to look at and chuckled, ¡°hey, it¡¯s a slant-tooth bream, we¡¯re in luck.¡± ¡°lakes in finland are rich in aquatic plants, and slant-tooth bream is the most abundant edible fish in this kind of environment. it¡¯s also one of the easiest fish to catch besides perch. moreover, the end of may and the beginning of june is the spawning period for slant-tooth bream, which makes the meat rich and delicious, and it¡¯s the peak time for shore fishing.¡± ¨¦tienne¡¯s eyes sparkled, rich and delicious meat! with their catch, their hunting enthusiasm quickly soared. they stored the fish in a mesh bag and continued on, successfully catching a total of five slant-tooth bream before dinner. among them, three were caught by ¨¦tienne, of course, part of the reason was bi fang intentionally letting him try his hand at it. for the next two days, bi fang and ¨¦tienne went out hunting whenever they had free time, from making traps to hunting techniques, as well as some common animal knowledge, all of which ¨¦tienne found fascinating. unfortunately, land animals were much harder to catch than aquatic creatures, and despite setting traps with the knowledge taught by bi fang for two consecutive days, he didn¡¯t catch any prey. as for actual hunting, that was utterly useless; rabbits, for instance, weren¡¯t just difficult to approach within a ten-meter radius, even twenty meters was challenging. whenever they spotted a rabbit, the rabbit also noticed him, and what followed was a mutual stare followed by a frantic chase. bi fang laughed heartily, consoling, ¡°don¡¯t lose heart, land animals are not so easy to catch, otherwise skilled hunters would be everywhere, right? you have the knowledge, but it¡¯s very difficult to combine it with practice and use it proficiently.¡± ¨¦tienne sighed but wasn¡¯t too disheartened, ¡°let¡¯s go fishing again this afternoon.¡± ¨¦tienne turned his gaze to the lake, and suddenly his eyes lit up, pointing to a surface of the water shimmering with light, ¡°hey, look!¡± ¨¦tienne rounded a slight angle and indeed saw a large fish beneath the lake¡¯s surface. ¡°it¡¯s a dogfish!¡± bi fang, with sharp eyes, recognized what fish it was immediately and warned ¨¦tienne to be careful, ¡°dogfish are ferocious¡­¡± just as bi fang was about to elaborate, back in the distant rv, elvan opened his computer, ready to monitor the movements of the geese, when suddenly the red dots appeared on the screen, showing they were less than a hundred kilometers away! elvan and lenin were first stunned. the next second, bi fang and the others saw the two of them excitedly run out of the rv, shouting loudly at them. ¡°hey, come quick, the geese are coming!¡± Chapter 437 - Chapter 437: Chapter 435: The Clubs Grand Opening is Imminent Chapter 437: Chapter 435: The Club¡¯s Grand Opening is Imminent ¡°` The flight speed of geese is extremely fast, with the ability to fly seventy to ninety kilometers per hour, and they depart at dusk or night, resting during the day, flying for an entire night. Initially, Bi Fang and ¨¦tienne had spent nearly a month¡¯s time, which was entirely for the geese¡¯s accommodation; otherwise, it would have been faster. One hundred kilometers were but a blink of an eye, perhaps two hours later, the geese might appear here! Elvan and Lenin exchanged glances, their eyes filled with indescribable excitement. Victory was in sight; as long as the geese landed on the surface of this lake, everything they had done, everything they had given, would be valuable, would be meaningful! Recalling everything from the past, it seemed as if it was still before their eyes. This flock of White-fronted Geese had always taken the same route annually, flying from Germany to Sweden and then back from Sweden to Germany. No matter how terrible the weather conditions were during the flight or how arduous the journey, this flock of geese was resolute to follow through the route to the end without regard for turning back. Not only this flock but the other groups of White-fronted Geese, were all stubbornly following this one and only migration route from Germany to Sweden. Elvan, of course, knew that the migratory routes of birds were accumulated over tens of thousands of years through evolution by countless generations of their ancestors. The only problem was that, in the past hundred years, human activities had greatly altered the environment along the migratory routes of the birds, whether it be the terrain, the air, the light, or even the distribution of food. Yet, these brave and tenacious migratory birds still followed the route chosen by their ancestors, migrating the same way year after year. Migrating was also the most difficult and deadliest stage in the life cycle of migratory birds, and as migratory birds stuck to this fixed route, which had become extremely dangerous due to human activities over the past century, even the strongest could not escape the annual demise. From the moment Elvan decided to give his all, he decided that he must find a way to help the migratory birds change their original migration route and open up several new, safer migratory routes! But. It was very difficult. From the repeated setbacks at the start of the plan application, to the blood test report mistakes after the trial was agreed upon, and even to the poachers who later appeared to capture them. Even after everything had ended, some still believed that this was merely an exercise in animal training rather than a true scientific migration experiment and were pessimistic about the outcome of the action. Elvan¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears, and he wiped ceaselessly with both hands while Lenin patted his shoulder, softly comforting his friend. ¨¦tienne also sat quietly, like many children of his age, who before the goose project, always filled with incomprehension and rebellion towards his father¡¯s actions, yet after growing up with the geese and going through a miraculous adventure, he understood the greatness in such acts. They had flown over lakes and seas, leaped over mountains and rivers, Encountered wild beasts, and weathered extremely severe weather, Received help, and also faced pursuit. All to send the geese on their migration. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go out and wait,¡± Bi Fang said with anticipation filling his heart; even he couldn¡¯t help but get excited at this moment. Changing the future of a species! Everyone nodded, and with excitement, they walked out of the RV and came to the lakeside, facing south in unison, gazing, just gazing. One hour. Two hours. Three hours. The geese had still not appeared. Elvan panicked, was there really a problem with the plan? Why hadn¡¯t they appeared yet? Elvan stepped out, frantic, wanting to return to the RV to confirm the geese¡¯s trajectory again, but he was held back firmly by a large hand. Elvan turned back to look at Bi Fang¡¯s smiling face indicating the sky. His heart began to pound violently as he slowly looked up; the sky was clear as wash. A thin black line appeared at the end of the blue and white sky, the geese flapping swiftly, diving toward the surface of the lake. They had flown over lakes and seas, leaped over mountains and rivers, ¡°` They helped each other and faced predators. All for the migration back home. Now, everything had proven that they could migrate back and forth on their own. It was a success. ¡°Splash!¡± ¨¦tienne, barefoot, jumped into the lake and headed toward the direction from which the geese were coming, his eyes taking in the shimmering ripples of light everywhere. ¡°Click!¡± At two in the afternoon, all of Bi Fang¡¯s fans noticed that he had unusually posted an update on his social media. The main content was a photo. Under the clear sky with lush grass gleaming, bending low in the wind, a boy dressed in brown hemp cloth rolled up his pants, stepping into the water. The geese flapped their wings and rushed into the lake, creating ripples that spread out in circles toward the boy. ¡°Three days ago, I was invited by Professor Elvan to wait for the geese to return. Everything went smoothly, and the geese successfully returned. Regrettably, the total number of the flock increased by quite a bit, with a total of twenty-four, as wild solitary geese joined the flock. However, of the original eighteen geese, only fifteen returned, with three encountering mishaps. ¨¦tienne, who was supposed to be elated, ended up crying (big laugh).¡± ¡°In fact, each goose was fitted with a tracker (Johnny had inquired about this before, but Professor Elvan was adamant there weren¡¯t any). When there were only fifteen red dots, everyone was prepared mentally. ¨¦tienne is still too young and unwilling to accept reality. However, we can understand, after all, he raised these geese.¡± ¡°But don¡¯t be disappointed, everyone. Nature is like this. Do you remember the lynxes we encountered during the migration? Such dangers are countless during actual migration. The fact that fifteen returned shows that this group of little guys is indeed quite lucky.¡± ¡°And there is good news. Each year, the geese return to the Arctic Tundra for breeding. Professors Elvan and Lenin will continue to stay here to observe the geese and wait for them to have their goslings and migrate a second time.¡± ¡°Having only a dozen geese is still quite dangerous; a big storm could wipe them all out. But after a few repetitions and the numbers increase, everyone won¡¯t have to worry. Then, this migration route will truly be successfully established.¡± As soon as the update was released, news of the geese¡¯s timely return spread quickly across the globe, from domestic to foreign fans. ¡°The big boss finally remembered his social media platform password! Cry.jpg.¡± ¡°Damn, why didn¡¯t you livestream it!¡± ¡°How come you¡¯re only posting such important news now?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve lost your coin.¡± ¡°I want to see the geese hatching.¡± ¡°As soon as I heard this news, I couldn¡¯t help but run to my friend¡¯s grave to tell him that the geese had finally returned, that his sacrifice was not in vain. Then my friend struggled to stretch his hand out of the soil and liked this update.¡± ¡°Makes you wonder how those ¡®animal training experts¡¯ feel now, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°So, when¡¯s the next livestream?¡± ¡°After climbing Mount Everest, you have to rest. We probably won¡¯t see Old Fang livestreaming in May.¡± ¡°Really blazed a new trail here, huh? Isn¡¯t this better than stopping a truckload of dog meat on the highway? Learn something!¡± It was unknown how many people shared the update after its release. To countless people, Bi Fang was not just a streamer but an animal protector, a dream worshipper, and an incredibly capable adventurer. Especially, Bi Fang¡¯s various experiences added a legendary hue to his life. He was a young, mysterious special forces officer, with a perfect build and handsome looks, idealistic ambitions, cross-disciplinary talents, strong abilities, and a mix of rationality and passion. And most crucially, he was rich! Whilst other streamers were still begging and screaming for tips, Bi Fang had already discovered a species, saved a species, and save hundreds of people! What is a legend? This is a legend! He set off on a path of badassery, never to return, riding alone and unmatched on the road of wandering the ends of the earth. Many romance novels had already featured Bi Fang as the male protagonist, and apparently, they were doing quite well, becoming increasingly popular. However, less than half an hour after this update was posted, the fans noticed that Bi Fang had released a second message. ¡°Wilderness Club will officially launch on June 1st, please look forward to it.¡± Chapter 438 - Chapter 438: Chapter 436: Initial Completion Chapter 438: Chapter 436: Initial Completion ¡°Wow, is this Huaxia?¡± On the plane, ¨¦tienne followed Bi Fang down the aircraft. In the surging crowd, faces filled with Eastern features were everywhere, a sight seldom seen in ¨¦tienne¡¯s life experience. ¨¦tienne had visited many countries in Europe, but everywhere he went, he found similar faces, similar cultures, nothing unusual. Such a stark contrast filled him with curiosity as he looked left and right. ¡°Let¡¯s go, don¡¯t wander off.¡± Bi Fang waved his hand, motioning for ¨¦tienne to follow closely behind. Two days ago, after welcoming the goose, Bi Fang received a notification from Yao Jun that the club was about to open, which is why he hadn¡¯t come to see the goose with the others. Unlike Bi Fang, who was a hands-off boss, Yao Jun and Lin Chang had invested not just money but also much effort into it. Upon hearing the news, how could ¨¦tienne miss out? He insisted on coming, while Elvan and Lenin stayed in the Arctic Tundra to continue observing the geese. So ¨¦tienne came to the Magic Capital with Bi Fang. ¡°Hey, Bi Fang, I want this!¡± ¨¦tienne pointed to a pancake stall on the roadside. Although he had never seen it before, the fragrant aroma successfully attracted the foreign boy. Bi Fang was hailing a cab. Hearing this, he turned his head, pointed at a few ingredients, and shouted, ¡°Boss, add two more eggs.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Minutes later, ¨¦tienne happily held his pancake roll as he got into the car. Surprisingly, just as they got in, the taxi driver shouted out. ¡°Holy crap! Master Fang!¡± ¡°Hey, it¡¯s you again?¡± Bi Fang also recognized the driver at a glance¡ªit was the same one who had agreed to not charge him but ended up with the fare automatically deducted from his phone! Life is truly full of such unexpected encounters. He hadn¡¯t expected to bump into him again so coincidentally. Speaking of which, the taxi driver scratched his head embarrassedly, finding it awkward to face the original passenger: ¡°Haha, who would have thought, right? I was so happy last time that I forgot the charge was automatic. This time, this time it¡¯s definitely on the house! Cancel the ride, I¡¯ll give you a free lift.¡± Bi Fang waved his hand dismissively: ¡°I was just joking. If you really enjoy my content, just watch more videos¡ªthat¡¯s the biggest support for me.¡± It had been a joke before, and Bi Fang wasn¡¯t one to fuss over the hard-earned money of others, right? The taxi driver nodded repeatedly: ¡°Of course, I always donate coins for your videos, not like those freeloaders who just watch without contributing. I even vote when I read novels to support the official release!¡± Bi Fang chuckled and nodded: ¡°Right, support the official release!¡± ¡°Big Boss, I heard your club is opening?¡± On the way, the driver asked curiously. The news that the club would open on Children¡¯s Day had spread across the globe after two days of fermenting. By now, Bi Fang¡¯s global fan base was at least over fifty million, and could possibly have exceeded one hundred million. Many people commented on his updates saying they would definitely return to the Magic Capital on Children¡¯s Day to show their support. Some even from overseas said they were already processing their visas and passports and would fly over as soon as the day came. Though many comments might be jokes, they still attested to the global fan base¡¯s anticipation for the event. It had been over half a year since the news of the club¡¯s preparation began. Even though, from a construction standpoint, that was fast, for the fans, it felt like an eternity. Ordinarily, seeing Bi Fang was impossible; he participated in no events, appeared on no shows, with his only appearance being on a talk show far across the Pacific Ocean. Now, at last, there was a chance to be up close with the big shot¡ªhow could they not be excited? Hearing the driver¡¯s question, Bi Fang nodded: ¡°Yes, make sure to come by to show your support.¡± ¡°Definitely, definitely,¡± the driver nodded, then added with a hint of regret, ¡°It¡¯s a pity my son is already in junior high. They don¡¯t get a holiday for Children¡¯s Day, or else I would definitely take him with me.¡± ¡°Children¡¯s Day this year is on the weekend, and if he¡¯s in junior high¡­ he should get the day off, right?¡± Bi Fang was about to suggest they go together, but he hesitated, remembering the current educational system¡ªjunior high students are so busy even on Saturdays and Sundays that they might not be free. ¡°Oh, really? Then that¡¯s perfect, we can go together!¡± The driver immediately brightened, but then his face fell again, ¡°But the club you¡¯re opening, it¡¯s not going to be expensive, is it?¡± ¡°Hahaha, don¡¯t worry, there¡¯s no need to be concerned about that. Visiting is completely free. You can even sit in on lessons and watch the hunting, but if you want to take real classes and receive training, that will cost money.¡± ¡°Hunting, can you still hunt?¡± the driver pricked up his ears. ¡°Of course¡­¡± Bi Fang chatted with the driver all the way, and although ¨¦tienne had learned a bit of Chinese, he still wasn¡¯t fluent, simply watching silently out the window. Soon, the car arrived at the entrance of the club, and through the car window, the driver¡¯s mouth hung open in surprise. How grand! Once inside the street, the level of greenery around surged up more than just one level; the entrance was a large square with a huge fountain in the center, topped with an enormous circular platform that seemed intended for something, but nothing was placed there yet. Surrounding the square were various sports equipment, many bowl-shaped terrains, and sports fields. From the square¡¯s cameras, a massive domed building, akin to a grand hall, stood with different venues within it, and behind it, you could clearly see a large expanse of ground that almost resembled a plain, with horses galloping across it. The driver and ¨¦tienne swallowed hard, overwhelmed by the grandeur. Even within the urban district, such a large piece of land would definitely cost a staggering sum! The driver hesitated for a moment, then asked subconsciously, ¡°Gosh, how much would this cost?¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t answer; he only knew that because of this club, he had always been a ¡°wealthy pauper.¡± Fortunately, the location was secluded, and the main hunting grounds were almost entirely natural, so there wasn¡¯t too much to worry about. Moreover, as a visible tourism project, the government stepped in with special subsidies, providing many land and construction privileges, which is how this enormous venue was built. After saying goodbye to the driver, Bi Fang and ¨¦tienne entered the venue, led by security. As soon as they went in, ¨¦tienne¡¯s mouth opened wide in amazement. Upon entering the hall, the first thing that did not catch his eye was the interior furnishings but rather the paintings on the high walls around them, reaching up to a dozen meters tall, decorated with one after another of unimaginably enormous, oversized oil paintings. The paintings engulfed ¨¦tienne, making him feel like an ant that had wandered into a classical yet immense European cathedral at night. ¨¦tienne walked around, looking at each painting in turn, the shock in his eyes growing ever more intense. In the first, vast Primeval Forest, Bi Fang gripped a spear, his muscles taut and stretched as if ready to strike, like a gladiator from ancient Rome about to stab at a massive Black Bear lunging towards him. The second depicted a broad expanse of snowfield, with Bi Fang holding high a torch, leading people as tiny as ants through the blizzard, with a fierce and vast pack of wolves following behind. In the third, within a pitch-dark cave, Bi Fang held a torch, cautiously exploring the path ahead, and around the corner, a monstrous creature resembling a Crocodile revealed half its savage face in the dark. The fourth showed a glimmering sea of clouds above, with drones filming the abyss, bursting out of darkness and filled with Purple lightning. On both sides, tired Geese flanked Bi Fang, who had a resolute look on his face, while ¨¦tienne behind him was filled with joy. ¡°I¡¯m there too! Look, there¡¯s me!¡± ¨¦tienne exclaimed excitedly, jumping around when he saw himself in the gigantic paintings. Bi Fang, however, continued walking forward. In the fifth, the perspective zoomed out, looking down upon an endless ocean. Above the azure sea, Bi Fang stood on a tiny raft, with a Shark skeleton arranged on it, covered in fresh blood. Below the raft, a vast Blue Whale, a Behemoth out of legend, revealed most of its body. The sixth portrayed Bi Fang standing on the roof of an abandoned building, looking over a city ablaze like a sea of fire, with disheveled disaster victims by his side. The seventh was a towering snow-capped mountain, Bi Fang stood at its peak, holding the five-starred red flag high in hand, with a golden, boundless sea of clouds before him. The eighth was blank. The ninth was still blank. ¡°Seems like they¡¯re left empty for future exciting scenes,¡± Bi Fang thought to himself. Had he really created so many remarkable moments without realizing? ¨¦tienne ran over too. He looked at the ample space left for more paintings, yet all remained empty. But at the very center, there was a huge black screen, the same size as the enormous oil paintings, and he asked curiously, ¡°What¡¯s that for?¡± ¡°That¡¯s for broadcasting live!¡± Yao Jun came in from the hall entrance, a smile spread across his face. ¡°This screen will show live broadcasts exclusively during Bi Fang¡¯s livestreams. That would be the best and most wonderful painting, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± Chapter 439 - Chapter 439: Chapter 437: The Enormous Venue Chapter 439: Chapter 437: The Enormous Venue ¡°` In the circular hall, a dozen giant oil paintings framed a screen of the same size in the center. Yao Jun turned to his assistant behind him and gave a few instructions; the assistant hurried away. Before long, all the lights in the circular hall suddenly went out, leaving only the spotlights below the oil paintings on, illuminating their content. At the same moment, the dark screen lit up; a magnificent snow-capped mountain descended from above, with a tiny figure moving slowly and steadily upon it. It was Bi Fang climbing Mount Everest¡ª the image was incredibly sharp, even with a naked-eye 3D effect! Just this one screen must have cost a fortune! After a full ten minutes of display, the lights in the entire venue came on again, ¨¦tienne and Bi Fang still somewhat hungry for more. Climbing oneself didn¡¯t feel like much, but watching it was astonishing, especially the stark contrast between the mountain ranges and the silhouette of the person. ¡°Brilliant!¡± Bi Fang gave two thumbs up to them, as the hands-off boss, he had hardly been involved in the construction of the venue and had never imagined that the club could deliver such a big surprise. The mere size of those oil paintings was enough to bring him a tremendous sense of impact and pressure, not to mention the tension filled within the paintings. It had to be said, the artistic conception of ink wash painting is unparalleled, inviting to the spirit, but oil painting¡¯s capacity to convey tension in epic scenes is even more shocking. One could fully imagine what the visitors¡¯ feelings would be when they arrived here. Yao Jun explained, ¡°This is just a rehearsal broadcast, in the future the screen will only light up when you¡¯re live-streaming; at other times, it will remain off.¡± Noticing ¨¦tienne¡¯s presence, Yao Jun made a point of explaining in English. ¨¦tienne¡¯s esteem greatly increased, but he was curious, ¡°Why not broadcast continuously?¡± Lin Chang took over, ¡°This is to ensure it draws attention. If it were broadcasting all the time, wouldn¡¯t it just be like a square¡¯s big screen?¡± This was originally Lin Chang¡¯s idea; broadcasting non-stop 24/7 seemed to him no different from square broadcasts. It was too low-brow. Couldn¡¯t visitors watch Master Fang¡¯s live streams elsewhere? What the people coming here wanted was exclusivity, that personal experience atmosphere, not just a repeating loop on a plaza screen. In a club founded by Master Fang, watching a screen that lights up only for him is the real core attraction; scarcity makes it precious. When the screen lights up, the hall will surely be packed with the crowd. ¡°You must be ¨¦tienne?¡± Yao Jun turned to ¨¦tienne at his side. ¨¦tienne nodded vigorously, excited, ¡°I know, you¡¯re Mr. Yao Jun; I¡¯ve seen you in the Mount Everest live stream.¡± Yao Jun cocked his head toward the inner part of the venue and called out, ¡°Come on, let me show you the interior architecture!¡± ¡°Wu Hu!¡± ¨¦tienne raced to the front excitedly. Yao Jun, Lin Chang, and Bi Fang followed behind, discussing some more specific matters. ¡°Do you plan to put something on that fountain outside?¡± Bi Fang recalled the massive platform on the outside fountain and asked with curiosity. ¡°Your statue!¡± Yao Jun was exuberant. ¡°It¡¯s based on the moment you were reaching the summit of Everest, stepping on the peak, holding the red flag. That scene is simply too cool! Unfortunately, it hasn¡¯t been completed yet, but there¡¯s still half a month till opening; that¡¯s enough time.¡± It had only been a week since the Mount Everest summit, the oil paintings perhaps could be rushed, but clearly not the statue. Bi Fang was stunned, somewhat embarrassed, ¡°Let¡¯s change it; preferably not to include me.¡± Yao Jun was taken aback, ¡°Why?¡± That was the scene he had envisioned, a multi-meter high marble statue, how stunning! How could he just cancel it? ¡°` Lin Chang pondered for a moment before speaking, ¡°Is it too personalized?¡± Bi Fang nodded, ¡°This is a club, not my personal memorial hall. It¡¯s open to all lovers of nature and wilderness, not just my fans. My fans alone cannot sustain it. The oil paintings just now were already quite exaggerated, but they were inside the venue, which is just right. However, placing a sculpture in the plaza is overdoing it.¡± Yao Jun also realized this and nodded. If a stranger interested in nature came here and the first thing they saw was a statue of someone they didn¡¯t recognize or care for, wouldn¡¯t it be off-putting? This is the Wilderness and Nature Club, not the Bi Fang Fan Club. The former is already a niche; if you add an even smaller circle within that, it¡¯s completely self-limiting and pointless. The oil paintings and large screen in the first pavilion are enough to excite the fans, especially since there¡¯s a special exhibition hall behind it containing traps and weapons mentioned by Bi Fang. Visitors can even take away a wolf tooth or shark tooth made of jade or glass when they leave. ¡°What should we erect then? The platform is already built, and the sculpture work has started. Mount Everest¡¯s summit has already been carved halfway. Moreover, if we have to re-carve it, half a month may not be enough time,¡± Yao Jun did not want his hard work to go to waste and still wanted to fight for it. In half a month, the business will open, and having an empty platform above the fountain would look out of place no matter how you look at it. Bi Fang stroked his chin, thinking for a while, ¡°Have them change the plan. Remove me from Mount Everest and carve animals on the mountain instead, in a semi-relief style, bears, wolves, deer, and gharials. If there are better ideas in the future, we can replace them.¡± Yao Jun thought for a moment and nodded. This would also allow for secondary use and wouldn¡¯t be too tight on the schedule. The group followed ¨¦tienne, venue by venue, observing. Since ¨¦tienne did not understand Chinese, he tried each of them under the guidance of the staff. Bi Fang and the others watched with interest, as if they were simulating visitors entering the place. Fighting, archery, swimming, rock climbing¡­ All these were indoor sports venues, but the major attraction was certainly not there. If it solely relied on these, it would become an alternative niche sports hall, and it would have to close in three days. As a wilderness club, these sports venues are indispensable, but when it comes to making money, that¡¯s definitely limited. There are not many people who love sports, let alone those who love these niche sports. To drive consumption, you have to rely on the general public. A single person spending ten million is far less effective than ten thousand people spending a thousand each. This was something learned in middle school business classes, so solutions had to be found in operation. ¡°So we also referred to the youth center model and launched summer and winter courses for young people, similar to Ugly Country¡¯s summer camp training. Train here for a month and you can participate in a week-long outdoor camping activity,¡± Yao Jun explained. It has to be said that the main spending force is still young people and women¡­ But relying solely on operations isn¡¯t enough; there must be core competitiveness. Hence, in addition to sports venues, there were also larger Rainforest Museums, Desert Pavilions, and Ocean Pavilions. ¡°Ocean Pavilion?¡± Bi Fang stopped in his tracks and looked at Yao Jun and Lin Chang, dumbfounded. He knew about the first two; after all, Bi Fang was not completely unaware, owning a large share, so he had some knowledge about them. But what was the deal with the last one? These pavilions covered a very large area, so immense that even Bi Fang felt astonished when he first saw the design plan. If you ignored the roof, you couldn¡¯t tell it was an indoor environment. Inside, the terrain was modeled entirely after the rainforest and desert and hid many environmental creatures. For example, the Rainforest Museum was a complete rainforest. Apart from the plants, there were many special environments simulated with glass tanks containing rainforest creatures, poison dart frogs, snakes, and other animals. They even released harmless creatures, like lizards, for close contact. Of course, these were all managed by professionals to avoid any animal casualties due to trampling. But the Ocean Pavilion, that must be expensive, right? Unlike the rainforest and desert that only needed to be laid out, the construction of the ocean venue was a completely different model. From the water circulation system to the construction of super-large custom aquariums and the development of the ecological environment. And this thing requires animals you don¡¯t normally see, such as sharks, sailfish, and dolphins. Otherwise, it¡¯s no better than going to the local fish market. But these creatures are neither cheap nor easy for ordinary people to acquire, and they are not easy to maintain. They require specialized breeders, very different from the ¡°breeders¡± who could work with minimal training in the Rainforest Museum. Yao Jun and Lin Chang exchanged smiles, ¡°It all comes back to policy support. When the proposal was first submitted, the local government was interested in supporting it. Many concessions were made, and even nearby planning was rearranged. For example, the original Ocean Pavilion that was to be relocated is being moved right here to us.¡± ¡°Considering the timing, it should be almost complete. Do you want to take a look?¡± Chapter 440 - Chapter 440: Chapter 438: On Childrens Day, the Screen Came to Life. Chapter 440: Chapter 438: On Children¡¯s Day, the Screen Came to Life. ¡°` My influence wasn¡¯t quite at this level six months ago, was it? The thought hit Bi Fang first, but glancing at Lin Chang and Yao Jun, he had a sudden realization. He might not have been sufficient back then, but who else was involved in submitting the application! Yao Jun was somewhat capable, but it was his dad who was really influential. Lin Chang was also formidable. With their combined efforts and a seemingly good idea, that was enough. Besides the oceanarium, there was also a hotel nearby, both built after meticulous planning, essentially acting as free complementary facilities¡ªit all came together perfectly. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s check out the Rainforest Museum first.¡± Bi Fang called over ¨¦tienne, who was having a blast at the archery range, and the group headed towards the Rainforest Museum. Upon entering, they were immediately enveloped by a thick, moist air. Bi Fang exclaimed, ¡°How many humidifiers did you guys install?¡± ¨¦tienne¡¯s eyes widened in amazement¡ªit was just so vast, the whole venue was enormous! Stepping further inside, it didn¡¯t feel like being indoors at all. It was as if they were truly walking through a rainforest, and if it weren¡¯t for the occasional exposed support pillar reminding them they were still in the city, it would feel entirely dreamlike. ¡°I feel like just this Rainforest Museum could keep me occupied for a whole day,¡± Bi Fang marveled. Design plans were one thing, but the actual sensory experience was completely different. After all, it¡¯s all about the scale for such venues; grand in every sense. Anything smaller would lack any sense of immersion or experience. It¡¯s like if an aquarium could display a living adult Blue Whale¡ª even if it had nothing else, it would still be packed! Naturally, that¡¯s not really realistic or ethical. But with such a grand Rainforest Museum, it¡¯s no wonder it cost so much. Worth it! Unable to help himself, ¨¦tienne slowed his pace. Just as he looked up briefly, he felt something hard bump into him. Looking down, he found himself staring at a brown-spotted snake. ¡°Snake! Snake! Snake!¡± ¨¦tienne screamed, recoiling in fright and nearly falling over. Bi Fang quickly steadied him, comforting, ¡°OK, OK, don¡¯t be afraid!¡± Lin Chang laughed, ¡°Take a closer look, it¡¯s inside a glass enclosure, no danger at all.¡± ¨¦tienne, heart still racing, took several deep breaths and looked again, realizing it was indeed just an ecological display! Due to the foliage, the glass didn¡¯t reflect, and the edges had been treated to appear nearly invisible. Coupled with an environment that matched the exterior, it was hard to tell that the snake was inside an enclosure, instead of out in the open! Yao Jun couldn¡¯t hide his glee. Crafting the edge of the glass enclosure had been his idea, aiming for this exact effect. When visitors were exploring the rainforest, suddenly finding a venomous snake opening its jaws right in front of them¡­ Still shaken, ¨¦tienne asked, ¡°What kind of snake is this?¡± ¡°A Tricolor lance-headed viper, a deadly snake. It¡¯s considered the primary culprit in local snakebite incidents due to its proximity to human dwellings, earning it the reputation as one of the most dangerous snakes in the area¡ªthe ultimate viper,¡± Bi Fang said, his eyebrows rising as he looked towards Yao Jun and Lin Chang, ¡°How did you get it? It¡¯s quite dangerous.¡± ¡°It¡¯s taken care of,¡± Yao Jun slapped Bi Fang¡¯s shoulder reassuringly. ¡°I know how you are, the Rainforest Museum and Desert Pavilion predominantly feature common snakes, not any rare animals, and there are no animal performances. This wasn¡¯t our doing. Huaxia doesn¡¯t have these anyway; they were provided by the animal protection association after negotiations¡­¡± Lin Chang added, ¡°There¡¯s a dedicated caretaker, the fangs have been removed, and to prevent regrowth, there are regular checks. We¡¯ve also prepared all the necessary antivenom¡ªtriple insurance¡ªto ensure, even if it escapes, there¡¯s no danger. Plus, we have chosen single-sex populations, so even in the event of an earthquake, preventing any chance of an invasive species problem.¡± Bi Fang nodded, reassured that both men had thought of everything. Even if something went wrong, professional teams were there to assist. Upon a cursory glance, Bi Fang also discovered that Yao Jun and Lin Chang had managed to acquire a Golden Python¡­ Through a massive glass window nested in a corner of the rainforest, camouflaged by foliage matching the environment, complete with a small pool. The more Bi Fang looked at it, the more familiar it seemed. Pointing to the large snake within the glass, he questioned, ¡°Have I seen this Golden Python somewhere before?¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± Yao Jun burst into laughter, clapping Bi Fang on the shoulder and giving a thumbs up, ¡°Correct, it¡¯s the same one you caught a long time ago. We contacted the zoo to bring it here. How about that, happy to see an old acquaintance?¡± Bi Fang: ¡°¡­¡± Beyond the rainforest, there was also a three-meter-wide stream in the middle, at the end of which was a waterfall, flanked by rock walls fitted with climbing stones¡ªtruly impressive. After a quick tour of the Rainforest Museum, the group moved on to the Desert Pavilion, which focused more on animals since it lacked the all-encompassing canopy of the rainforest and endless sands didn¡¯t hold much intrigue. ¡°` ¡°` But as soon as they entered, unlike the stuffy rainforest, everyone could feel an obvious burning sensation. Looking around, there were a dozen camels and the same number of ecological cylinders. It wasn¡¯t as breathtaking as the rainforest, but it was still a nice scene. Interestingly, Yao Jun mysteriously pulled Bi Fang aside to a small sand dune, rubbed it several times, and finally swept away the surface sand to reveal a small wooden plank door. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Bi Fang was startled, and a guess formed in his mind, ¡°An underground cave?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, a simple underground maze with an underground river flowing inside, stocked with some small fish. The water flow is recycled from the fountain outside,¡± Yao Jun said proudly. ¡°But of course, it won¡¯t be as complicated as the original. We have to consider safety as well. So, it¡¯s just a simple maze. Generally, it takes two or three tries to get out.¡± Bi Fang nodded, having to admit that he was very satisfied with all the arrangements, especially after taking ¨¦tienne¡¯s advice into account. ¡°This is so cool! Really, this is an entire ecological museum! It has everything! I think it could totally work in Ugly Country or Europe, just like Disneyland!¡± Bi Fang scratched ¨¦tienne¡¯s head; although the guy was a fan of his, and quite an enthusiastic one, his opinions might not be very influential, but they still held some value. As for opening two more, well, maybe not. Just this one almost emptied him out. Opening two more might as well put him in a blender and juice him. Speaking of Disney, he wondered if the project they had agreed upon had started and what the progress was like since there had been no news. He¡¯d have to ask about it later. Bi Fang, who had sold the rights, was quite concerned about it. The Ocean Pavilion that came next was also a nice surprise. Being newly constructed, many parts of it were spectacular, and it already ranked among the top on a national level. Following that was the hunting ground. With the cooperation of the staff, ¨¦tienne learned how to ride a horse, while Bi Fang looked at the rabbits scattered over the hills and felt eager to try his hand at hunting. Everything was ready. Each prey was fitted with an electronic tag. When non-lethal arrows hit within a certain range, the electronic tag would sense it, activate a current, and stun the prey. This effectively lowered the difficulty of hunting. And in case anyone would accuse them of animal cruelty¡­ Even in Europe, don¡¯t pigs still get a jolt before they¡¯re killed? The hunted prey would then be sent to the restaurant to be turned into spicy rabbit head, dry pot rabbit meat, braised rabbit meat, rabbit and radish stew, ginger-scallion spicy rabbit meat, roasted whole rabbit¡­ ¡°Slurp, slurp.¡± ¨¦tienne chewed on the rabbit meat, his mouth dripping with grease. ¡°Eat slower, no one¡¯s competing with you.¡± Bi Fang ordered two more different dishes to let ¨¦tienne enjoy himself. It was a rare visit, and he couldn¡¯t be neglected. Yao Jun, nibbling on a rabbit head, said, ¡°Everything is ready for the preparation. We¡¯re just waiting to open in half a month. By the way, have you hired your instructors yet?¡± ¡°No need to worry about the instructors, I¡¯ve got it all prepared. They are all elite ex-soldiers with special skills. There are no issues whatsoever.¡± Bi Fang explained that this detail was not a problem. Not all special forces were experts at wilderness survival, but some units, like the Northeast Tiger, were definitely up to the task. With so many soldiers retiring each year, resettlement is actually a problem, and Bi Fang provided an excellent outlet, which they were more than eager for. Naturally, the compensation wouldn¡¯t be bad, either. ¡°Then let¡¯s open in half a month!¡± In Bi Fang¡¯s view, the club was already perfect, almost flawless. Just as he was about to add another bowl of rice, the long-missed electronic sound rang out once again. Bi Fang nonchalantly glanced over twice and couldn¡¯t help but smile after seeing the familiar content. He picked up a wet wipe to clean his hands and said with a smile, ¡°Good timing, I also have a new plan recently. On Children¡¯s Day, the big screen will light up.¡± ¡°` Chapter 441 - Chapter 441: Chapter 439: Iron Age Chapter 441: Chapter 439: Iron Age [Ding, a new task has been activated, check the task bar for details.] Task Name: Iron Age Task Location: Yunnan Province, Xishuangbanna Tropical Rainforest Task Mode: Primitive Survival Creature Difficulty: T10 Task Requirements: No equipment may be carried except for necessary clothing. Main Task One: Start a livestream, while maintaining an online audience of over three million for an extended period. Main Task Two: Survive for twenty-one days in good health, while livestreaming. Main Task Three: Make a practical iron weapon by hand. Side Task: Explore on your own. Basic Reward: Joint Strengthening Coupon*1. Time Limit: 40d. Xishuangbanna? It has been a long time since I last livestreamed domestically, Bi Fang thought to himself. While setting sights abroad, one must not forget the scenery under one¡¯s own eaves. Huaxia is vast and rich in resources, with many unique landforms in the world, and also a lot of extremely dangerous maps: Qinling, Shennongjia, Lop Nur No-Man¡¯s Land, Xishuangbanna Tropical Rainforest¡­ Xishuangbanna is a tourist paradise, but without a doubt, that¡¯s just the outer periphery. In Yunnan, the Xishuangbanna Tropical Rainforest is the only well-preserved, large contiguous tropical forest on the northern edge of the tropics in the world, renowned globally. The rainforest, among all terrains, is the densest area for flora and fauna. Due to this density, many species have evolved unimaginable functions and traits. Venomous insects, venomous snakes, venomous fish; the small and weak evolve potent defenses to turn the tables on their predators. The mighty evolve larger body sizes and thicker hides to protect themselves, like elephants, for example. Beyond that, there are all sorts of parasites and germs, which are omnipresent. Any slight wound could get inflamed and rot within a day. The depths of the rainforest are no place for ordinary people. However, this clearly couldn¡¯t stop Bi Fang from moving forward; although this was his first time in a rainforest terrain, it still couldn¡¯t make him fear or retreat. Bi Fang scrutinized the task requirements and found many aspects were different now. Firstly, the difficulty; following the R and S tiers, a new T tier had appeared, and it starts right off at T10. Clearly, within the entire tier there are ten levels. That¡¯s secondary. His own abilities had been growing continuously, and it was foreseeable that the task¡¯s difficulty would increase. Furthermore, since he had managed to complete each task well every time, Bi Fang felt his own ability growth was even outpacing the speed of difficulty increase. This was a very good sign. Another point of focus was the increase in the number of main tasks. Previously, whether it was R or S tier, there were only two main tasks. Perhaps the additional requirement was a reflection of increased difficulty. Main Task Three: Craft a practical iron weapon. This task isn¡¯t about just flattening an iron can and then sharpening it into a blade. It¡¯s about iron smelting, making an iron weapon¡­ Bi Fang considered for a moment. It¡¯s challenging, but not without a solution. The task location is the Banna Rainforest; there¡¯s no doubt about the abundance of resources. Obtaining iron isn¡¯t limited to mining the ore; there are many methods. However, no matter which method, it¡¯s undeniably complicated and will require a significant amount of energy and time. In wilderness survival, nothing is more precious than energy and time. This is creating something from nothing. Even with experience, humans took a full two and a half million years to advance from the Stone Age to the Iron Age! In addition, no equipment may be carried except for necessary clothing. Is this an attempt to emulate Grandpa De? Completely exposed, that¡¯s a bit too much for me. Luckily, the System is lenient, still allowing clothes to cover one¡¯s privacy. ¡°Phew!¡± Bi Fang scratched his eyebrow. Before, I could carry equipment provided by the System, but now I can¡¯t even use the System¡¯s gear. Rainforest, Iron Age, no equipment¡ªput it all together, and the difficulty has risen quite a bit. However, I still have confidence. It¡¯s not an adventure if it isn¡¯t difficult, otherwise, what¡¯s the difference from a vacation? Contrasting with Bi Fang¡¯s surging enthusiasm, Yao Jun, Lin Chang, and ¨¦tienne seemed even more excited. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Won¡¯t the time be too rushed? You just got back to the country today.¡± ¡°Where are we going?¡± Facing three questions, Bi Fang answered them one by one. As for the issue of time. The survival period is twenty days, but the System gave forty days to finish, the extra time is obviously for preparations. Today is the fifteenth, and there are still half a month left until June first. Starting five days earlier is more than enough. Moreover, the System always provides a break between every two missions, which is another period for rest. The Mount Everest trip had already concluded by the tenth, and even though I¡¯ve been flying around the world since then, such intensity doesn¡¯t count for much. Resting for twenty days is completely sufficient. Yao Jun and Lin Chang wanted Bi Fang to be present at the opening of their club, but obviously, rather than having Bi Fang be a wallflower, it¡¯s better to have him active on the big screen inside the first venue. ¡°Do you need any equipment this time? I still have quite a bit,¡± Yao Jun appeared a bit excited. Contrary to Yao Jun¡¯s expectations, Bi Fang flatly refused, ¡°I don¡¯t plan to bring any equipment this time, I won¡¯t even wear basic clothing.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t wear basic clothes?¡± Lin Chang paused, then cautiously asked, ¡°Just wear casual clothes or something?¡± In his mind, ¡®not wearing basic clothes¡¯ meant not wearing professional outdoor gear. Bi Fang laughed, ¡°What¡¯s happened to make you so prudish at the thought of not wearing clothes? Do you think I meant not wearing professional gear?¡± Lin Chang gave an embarrassed smile. He was just an ordinary person who occasionally went to the gym to run to maintain his basic metabolism and stay healthy. If it weren¡¯t for Bi Fang, he would have very limited interest in outdoor sports. Watching livestreams was one thing, but expending energy to learn about it was unlikely. Yao Jun caught on and exclaimed in surprise, ¡°Not wear anything? Will that pass review?¡± Bi Fang: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re too outrageous. You definitely have to wear something for privacy¡­¡± Lin Chang mocked Yao Jun in return, but as he laughed, recalling Bi Fang¡¯s usual style, he slowly lost confidence, his voice growing quieter, until he looked at Bi Fang doubtfully and confirmed, ¡°Right?¡± ¡°Nonsense.¡± Bi Fang rolled his eyes. Everyone at the table laughed heartily. ¡°Over the next two days, I¡¯ll take ¨¦tienne around here to gain some experience and check for any omissions before I go back and contact Yunnan¡¯s nature reserve.¡± ¡°By the way, did you go to see the sentencing of those poachers from last time?¡± Yao Jun suddenly asked as he saw Bi Fang out the door. Bi Fang was taken aback, seeming to drift off into his thoughts until Yao Jun asked again, and then he nodded, ¡°Yes, life imprisonment.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Yao Jun let out a sigh of relief, really fearing that such people could still get out. Lin Chang asked, ¡°Did he say anything to you?¡± Bi Fang was silent for a while, then shook his head again after a moment. ¡°Nothing at all.¡± Chapter 442 - Chapter 442: Chapter 440 Altai Argali Chapter 442: Chapter 440 Altai Argali On the streets, the protesting crowd surged out from every street corner. Various slogan banners explosively entered the brain, as riot police held up shields to prevent the angry crowd from rushing into the courthouse. ¡°Capital punishment should be reinstated!¡± ¡°Such people should be hanged!¡± These were the animal protectionists¡¯ slogans, their rage bursting forth like an erupting volcano, continuously slamming into the shields, drenching the defending police in sweat. ¡°If he is released on bail, then I will definitely question the meaning of the law¡¯s existence!¡± ¡°Everyone should be sentenced to life imprisonment!¡± These were somewhat rational, the public acting in unison to demonstrate against the courthouse, imposing immense psychological pressure. ¡°To protect animals is to protect humans!¡± ¡°We cannot tolerate someone who destroys the future of humanity to stay in society¡ªtheir only place is in prison!¡± These were more objective. They held up signs, chanted slogans, and spread their message to the uninformed public around the streets. All of this came to a halt with the fall of a small gavel. ¡°Life imprisonment!¡± The moment the news broke out, the previously calm sea of people surged like a tsunami. ¡°Good!¡± ¡°It should be like this!¡± ¡°Death penalty, it should be the death penalty!¡± ¡°Let him be skinned like the geese, then he¡¯ll know regret!¡± ¡°He should go straight to Hell!¡± Inside the courthouse, Bi Fang rose from the public gallery. Though not a Frenchman, given his actions and contributions, it was only fitting he was granted the privilege to attend. Bi Fang was also quite satisfied with this outcome. Since France didn¡¯t have the death penalty, life imprisonment was the most severe punishment. As the guards escorted Legoff down the aisle, he suddenly turned his head to look at Bi Fang in the public gallery and stopped in his tracks. The two guards tried to push him forward, but they couldn¡¯t move him! Even after half a year inside, this strong man¡¯s muscles remained robust. He stared intently at Bi Fang, his eyes seemingly filled with endless resentment. Bi Fang did not give him another glance, satisfied with the outcome. He donned his hat and turned to walk outside. ¡°I have a brother!¡± ¡°Take him away! Quick!¡± the judge said, pounding the gavel discontentedly. Bi Fang¡¯s steps faltered for a moment but did not stop. ¡­ In the taxi, Bi Fang stared out the window, lost in thought. What did Legoff mean? Revenge? Or something else? Who was his brother? Another poacher? He knew nothing at all now, and even if he asked, Legoff wouldn¡¯t say more. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± ¨¦tienne asked. ¡°Nothing much,¡± Bi Fang pinched the bridge of his nose, and then suddenly laughed, ¡°Just thinking about what to have for dinner.¡± At the mention of this, ¨¦tienne became interested. Not to mention anything else, Huaxia¡¯s cuisine was indeed a whole new version he had never experienced, distinct in flavor from the overly elaborate French cuisine! ¡°Let¡¯s have hotpot, I¡¯ll take you to try authentic hotpot,¡± Bi Fang said offhandedly. Meet force with force, water with earth. It didn¡¯t matter who Legoff¡¯s brother was; the main deeds were still his own. If the other party was also a poacher, they would probably resolve the issue in the wilderness. Reality is not as exaggerated as in novels. Poachers are like rats in the shadows; if they sought retaliation in the light of day, it would be sheer suicide. After hoodwinking ¨¦tienne, Bi Fang took out his phone and asked Liu Qian to help contact the Xishuangbanna Reserve to discuss live streaming arrangements. Ordinary people definitely couldn¡¯t enter the depths of the rainforest. If found by forest rangers, they might be shot on the spot. There was no doubt that the reserve would agree, given Bi Fang¡¯s background and influence, as well as his consistently good reputation. But there was a process that still had to be followed. How exactly to enter also needed to be discussed. Bi Fang cast aside the pointless thoughts, flipping through recent news. As he browsed, his finger paused. ¡°King of the Nepali Argali killed by poachers!¡± ¡°According to the official report from the Nepal Natural Animal Conservation Association on May 14th, in the Himalayas¡­ A total of seven argalis were victimized, all Altai Argali, the largest sheep in the world. When discovered, all their horns had been cut off, and their pelts were gone. They are also a second-class protected species in our country¡­ According to the traces found at the scene, the poachers¡¯ killing likely took place around May 9th.¡± Beneath the news report, there was an interview clip with reserve staff. In the video, a dark-cheeked worker explained. ¡°We still can¡¯t confirm if only seven argalis were harmed, because we can¡¯t determine if the poachers took any live argalis¡­¡± ¡°Argalis are an endangered species. The very idea of killing them to take parts of their beautiful bodies is abhorrent.¡± ¡°The primary need of life is survival, and every species has the right to ensure its own existence. For every one of us, starting from ourselves, respecting life means respecting humans themselves.¡± May 9th, the Himalayas! He swiftly captured the two key words. Bi Fang¡¯s pupils contracted slightly. Those poachers had been nearby at the time! Below the report, many people had left comments. ¡°Poachers deserve to die!¡± ¡°From an adaptation perspective, the evolution of the argali is actually quite successful. But the problem is that they¡¯re still too big a target and are valuable all over. Thus, with the prolonged hunting by humans, many wild subspecies of argalis have been reduced by more than half. In some areas, regional extinction has even occurred.¡± ¡°Is it necessary? It¡¯s just a sheep, right? People are going nuts over animal protection.¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t you watched Master Fang¡¯s live streams? Do you even understand? You¡¯re like a toilet, protecting animals is protecting ourselves! Think about it, if Artemisia annua had been extinct for a hundred years, where would artemisinin come from?¡± ¡°Live streaming? Never watch it. Not even a dog cares about that.¡± ¡°What, after watching a live stream, you become a high and mighty person?¡± ¡°All life has potential value, the extinction of any species affects the food chain, leading to the extinction of more species. The potential value can quickly disappear, and by the time humans need it, it¡¯s too late.¡± ¡°May 9th, the Himalayas, isn¡¯t that where Master Fang was live streaming? Worlds are colliding!¡± ¡°Damn, if Master Fang was there, would those poachers have the nerve to act so arrogantly? He¡¯d have sent them all packing!¡± ¡°Who is Master Fang? Is he famous? Why is everyone discussing it?¡± ¡°Wild guess¡ªis the avalanche¡­ Dog¡¯s Head Protection.¡± Thanks to the geese expedition, the world had branded Bi Fang as an ¡°anti-poacher,¡± and now the poachers were right under his nose, stirring a buzz among viewers. Some even regretted that the two did not meet face-to-face; otherwise, Bi Fang would surely have prevented their success. But all of these were unrealistic thoughts. Feeling a bit of regret, Bi Fang put down his phone and quietly waited for the Banna Reserve¡¯s response. Chapter 443 - Chapter 443: Chapter 441: Rainforest, lets go! (Extra for the alliance leader) Chapter 443: Chapter 441: Rainforest, let¡¯s go! (Extra for the alliance leader) ¡°The crux of rock climbing lies in the stability of your center of gravity, you must always remember the three-point principle, ensuring that each of your footholds is secure before continuously transitioning. Even the most skilled climbers need to adhere to this iron rule,¡± In front of the rock-climbing wall, ¨¦tienne, fully geared up, listened to the words of the coach beside him. The instructors also arrived successively, just waiting for the day of opening to welcome customers. Since they were all special forces veterans, an ironclad atmosphere seemed to pervade the entire venue, creating a sense of reliability. No country¡¯s soldiers are more reliable than those of Huaxia. Therefore, even with high compensation, Yao Jun and others felt it was worth it. At this time, Bi Fang was sitting on the side, flipping through the wildlife protection manual, carefully identifying the appearance and characteristics of each protected animal depicted. Bi Fang recognized many of them, but there was still a large part that was unfamiliar to him. This booklet, provided by the Xishuangbanna Reserve, was as thick as a dictionary, with full authority. The conservation area staff who provided the booklet told him that if Bi Fang found a rare creature in the wild that was not in the booklet and he had never seen before, he shouldn¡¯t doubt it, it most definitely could be a brand new species that had not been discovered. He should quickly note it down and register it upon return. There was nothing strange about this, as humans have always been committed to discovering and describing the diversity of Earth¡¯s species over the centuries. It was only in modern times that Earth was believed to be home to nearly 10 million (10 to the power of 7) species. Moreover, almost all of them are visible to the naked eye. Including microorganisms, there could be 1 trillion (10 to the power of 12) species on Earth. The species discovered by humans over the millennia only account for one ten-thousandth of all species on Earth. Every year, nearly 20,000 new species of plants and animals are discovered, with 2,400 from within the country last year alone, accounting for one-tenth of the new species discovered globally. Buzzzzz. Bi Fang¡¯s phone rang once more; it was the manager of the reserve, Zhou Weisheng. ¡°Mr. Bi, are you really sure you want to come to our reserve to live stream?¡± Zhou Weisheng¡¯s voice was a bit tense. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve made up my mind. Don¡¯t worry, Director Zhou, unless it¡¯s absolutely unavoidable, I won¡¯t casually harm the plants and animals, and I¡¯ll maintain the surroundings as much as possible to minimize the impact.¡± ¡°No, no, no, that¡¯s not what I mean,¡± Zhou Weisheng was nervous, fearing a misunderstanding that might result in a cancellation. In fact, when Liu Qian called yesterday to say that Bi Fang was coming here to live stream, Zhou Weisheng was somewhat stunned, then ecstatic. It felt like a pie had fallen from the sky. A good thing, a very good thing! With Bi Fang¡¯s soaring fame and global recognition, almost all the places he had live-streamed from saw a surge in popularity! Without going far, just the domestic sites such as Qinling, Mohe, and Qaidam had seen a definite increase in tourism revenue! And the trend hadn¡¯t declined but was rising even more. It was like getting a lifetime¡¯s worth of benefits from a single visit! Because Bi Fang¡¯s videos were there, and his fame continued to grow, more and more people watched his videos, and more and more knew about the scenic spots. Even a minor celebrity¡¯s visit to a small place could generate a surge in traffic, let alone someone like Bi Fang who had a massive fan base worldwide. Moreover, the footage shot by Bi Fang was simply too beautiful. The drone¡¯s image quality was lossless, and with the AI shooting provided by the System, almost every frame could be used as wallpaper. With the legendary allure present in every video, nearly every person who longed to travel wanted to see and witness the birthplace of those miracles with their own eyes. ¡°If it was any other variety show filming in the rainforest, I¡¯d definitely hesitate, but if it¡¯s Master Fang, that¡¯s an entirely different story!¡± Zhou Weisheng, a man in his forties, felt no discord calling him Master Fang. Zhou Weisheng truly meant what he said from the depths of his heart. With other variety shows, he would be grateful if they just didn¡¯t disturb the protected wildlife, reduced their environmental footprint, avoided eating protected animals and plants, and left less trash behind. What¡¯s more exaggerated is the ease with which accidents could occur, leaving him with a bitter taste in his mouth, unable to express his woes, and necessitating organized protection teams. This was especially true for the rainforest, teeming with mimetic flora and fauna. One careless bite, and if rescue was delayed, one might just collapse on the spot. Don¡¯t think it¡¯s an exaggeration; these are real bloody cases. That bunch, they don¡¯t understand anything, just recklessly charging about, and it¡¯s already this dangerous on the outskirts, not to mention deeper into the rainforest. But with Bi Fang involved, it was different. He brought immense traffic, understood environmental protection, and consciously reduced his traces to nearly none. Best of all, there was no need to worry about mishaps. Who could understand the wilderness better than Bi Fang? Although Bi Fang had not live-streamed from the rainforest up to this point, his prior performances were enough to inspire confidence. Agreeing was all that remained! That¡¯s why Zhou Weisheng was so delighted. Usually, he couldn¡¯t even beg for such an opportunity, but unexpectedly, it came without asking! He could just sit in his office, happily sign off on paperwork, and bring significant earnings to the reserve. How wonderful was that? Bi Fang understood the implications in the other party¡¯s tone and laughed, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Director Zhou. At nine o¡¯clock in the morning on the first of June, I¡¯ll start the live stream. It should also drum up some enthusiasm for my club.¡± ¡°Excellent, excellent, excellent.¡± Zhou Weisheng said thrice, then inquired, ¡°I wonder how Mr. Bi plans to enter the rainforest. Do we need to make any preparations?¡± ¡°Hmm, reserve a civilian helicopter for me. I¡¯ll be parachuting directly into the deep rainforest,¡± Bi Fang thought for a moment. According to what Liu Qian had said, Xishuangbanna did offer this service ¨C enjoying the rainforest via helicopter. Parachuting in was also the most convenient and quickest way to reach the deeper parts of the rainforest. ¡°No problem, I will surely reserve one for you,¡± Zhou Weisheng agreed immediately. It was a small matter; how much could a day¡¯s helicopter rental cost? ¡°Any other requests?¡± ¡°Hmm, prepare a changing room for me?¡± Bi Fang thought, he obviously could not be naked all the time, and stripping down upon arriving at the rainforest wouldn¡¯t be appropriate either. ¡°A changing room?¡± Zhou Weisheng was taken aback. ¡°Yes, this live stream will be a bit different. I won¡¯t be wearing clothes,¡± Bi Fang paused, and to prevent the other party from regarding him as some perverted fanatic, he added, ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll wear privacy garments.¡± Zhou Weisheng pondered for a moment, guessing the reason, their phone dropping onto their leg in shock. ¡°Are you going for a truly primitive survival experience?¡± Two days later. Wolf Fang¡¯s official account posted a brand-new poster. It depicted a forest that blotted out the sky, different from Qinling, a denser, more crowded wilderness. There was no sunlight, only quiet darkness. In the center of the forest, Bi Fang, his face painted with bold, dark colors, was dressed in plant skirtings and headgear resembling an Indian from the last century, holding an iron-tipped spear, walking into the black depths of the mysterious woods. Chapter 444 - Chapter 444: Chapter 442: Quick Methods to Increase Redeemable Points Chapter 444: Chapter 442: Quick Methods to Increase Redeemable Points The moment Wolf Fang¡¯s official poster was released, all users watching the live stream on Wolf Fang received a notification. Upon clicking, a healing forest-themed poster in a ghostly green color appeared. In the forest, a light rain drizzled down from the sky. Then, the rain stopped, and the sky cleared to a transparent blue. A line of white text slowly emerged in the center of the screen. ¡°On June 1st, we meet again, Rainforest.¡± June 1st? Rainforest? In the entire Wolf Fang community, and even among live streamers, there¡¯s only one host deserving of a pre-broadcast hype¡­ In an instant, users flooded into the not-yet-live stream room, countless fans sat row upon row in the comment section, one after another starting to build ¡®floors¡¯. In less than a minute, the number of comment ¡®floors¡¯ had already exceeded one hundred, and they kept growing at an unimaginable speed. Wolf Fang¡¯s daily active backend was shooting up like a rocket. Without a doubt, more people were receiving the notification and streaming in. ¡°Something big is coming, something big is coming!¡± ¡°Front row seats for munching on melon seeds, selling melon seeds, drinks, mineral water here. Those in front, make some space, who are you blocking the view for?¡± ¡°Damn it, just seeing June 1st, and there are still ten days to go. Pre-broadcast hype, but considering there haven¡¯t been any league live streams recently, and now seeing Rainforest, I knew right away, it¡¯s Master Fang for sure!¡± ¡°Rainforest, my Rainforest, hehe.¡± ¡°The poster is as cool as ever, freaking awesome! Go for it.¡± ¡°Feels like the last live stream was just the other day, didn¡¯t expect the second one to start so soon.¡± ¡°Not soon at all, June 1st, that¡¯s a whole twenty days away. I¡¯ve already started preparing melon seeds and Fast-acting Heart-saving Pills!¡± Knowing the exact time and place of Bi Fang¡¯s next live stream, the fans were all incredibly excited, this anticipation was no less intense than gamers waiting for the release of ¡°Elder Scrolls¡±! ¡°XSBN Rainforest? What the heck is this? Why is there pinyin?¡± ¡°Shush, best not say, best not say, the mighty River Crab is watching you.¡± ¡°X stands for West, S for Shuang, B for Ban, N for Na, get it?¡± ¡°wr, zgdypb?¡± ¡°Wait, what¡¯s this link below the poster? Club visit application? What does that mean?¡± As the audience excitedly streamed in, they suddenly discovered a new link they¡¯d never seen before, both below the poster and under the live stream room. Curiosity led them to click, and a brand new webpage popped up. A pure silver badge in the center of the screen struck their eyes, reminiscent of a wax seal on an envelope. It depicted a man climbing a mountain peak, wielding a climbing stick, with his left foot on the summit as if gazing into the distance. There were no details, only the outline, yet everyone knew who was depicted there. Clicking the silver badge, the entire page unfolded, revealing various sections neatly categorized. Further down came an introduction of services. The audience browsed through, page by page¡­ Is this Master Fang¡¯s club? ¡°Holy shit, it¡¯s online, it¡¯s really online!¡± ¡°I thought we actually had to wait until June 1st.¡± ¡°Been waiting for the stars, waiting for the moon, and finally, it¡¯s here, boo hoo.¡± ¡°It is indeed June 1st. Look carefully, it¡¯s the presale for tickets right now, there¡¯s also a term activity¡­ The highest-tier package costs a whopping 360,000¡­¡± ¡°360,000? Whoa, excuse me, pardon me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s one-on-one instruction from Northeast Tiger, a retired special forces operative, plus they provide a personal guide, equipment purchases, insurance, and a full set of training courses and travel expenses¡ªit¡¯s like a package deal. It lasts for half a year and costs 360,000. Seems reasonable, doesn¡¯t it? Didn¡¯t you see Old Fang climbing a mountain last time? Just the ticket was over a hundred thousand.¡± ¡°The general admission tickets are just over two hundred, and they¡¯re half-price for students. That should be fine.¡± ¡°I still think over two hundred is expensive, boo-hoo-hoo.¡± ¡°Expensive? I think it¡¯s okay. I heard there¡¯s an aquarium, a rainforest museum, and a desert pavilion inside. You¡¯d have to spend five or six hundred at Disney, and even the Magic Capital Aquarium is over two hundred. Actually, it¡¯s quite worth it. This aquarium is just the old one relocated. The venue is bigger and upgraded.¡± ¡°Now that I think about it, that does seem alright¡­¡± ¡°Hunting grounds are a separate charge¡­ two hundred per person. But the venues have monthly, quarterly, and annual deals, and during certain times, package deals on the number of visits. It feels just like a gym membership.¡± The onlookers buzzed with discussion, mainly focusing on the pricing. Although there are many wealthy people online, in reality, most people are free users who just watch the excitement. If they have to spend money, and it¡¯s several hundred, then they need to think it over. However, there were others who felt that the content on the official website was within acceptable limits. They weren¡¯t sure about the rainforest museum and the desert pavilion, but the aquarium was guaranteed. Many people had visited the Magic Capital Aquarium before, now an upgraded version, so over two hundred still fell within acceptable limits. Even if the other facilities in the club were so-so, at least there was a safety net. Plus, since June 1st was also a weekend, many people who already had travel plans chose to pre-purchase tickets. Cao Lifeng and Wu Gang decided to buy the tickets. Even though exams were approaching, taking two days to visit Magic Capital shouldn¡¯t be an issue. ¡°Bros, let¡¯s do this, hurry and grab tickets! Pre-sale tickets are limited, only half the actual capacity is on sale. Kids, grandkids, no sleeping! In just five minutes, a third has already been sold. If you¡¯re late, it¡¯s too late, don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you!¡± Cao Lifeng woke up his bunkmates one by one, urging them to hurry and buy their tickets. ¡°What¡¯s the noise for? It¡¯s only ten o¡¯clock. Are you going to the library? Remember to bring me some food when you come back.¡± One roommate complained groggily, glancing at Cao Lifeng before preparing to lie down again. ¡°Don¡¯t sleep, don¡¯t sleep, we¡¯re having takeout today, not going to the library.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the commotion?¡± another person from a different bed grumbled. ¡°Master Fang¡¯s club is now open for online booking. Don¡¯t you guys want to go? If we don¡¯t buy now, we¡¯ll have to buy on-site later, and we might not even manage to get in line!¡± ¡°Club? What club? That¡¯s a place for elites, what does it have to do with me?¡± The roommate pulled his blanket over his head and continued to sleep deeply. Three seconds later. The roommate whipped off his blanket, stared blankly at Cao Lifeng, and asked, ¡°Master Fang¡¯s club?¡± Cao Lifeng nodded. ¡°Damn! Why didn¡¯t you wake me up for ticket grabbing earlier!¡± The roommate threw off his blanket and rushed to the computer, ¡°Where is it, where is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s in the link in the live broadcast room! Quick, quick, quick, if you¡¯re late, there¡¯ll be no tickets left!¡± ¡°You guys, stop sleeping! Get up, hurry!¡± ¡°Damn, put on your clothes, you¡¯re grossing me out!¡± ¡­ In half an hour, all twenty thousand tickets were sold out. Inside the club, Bi Fang looked at the final data on the computer and exhaled a long sigh. This day marked a financial comeback in the millions. He finally made it through. Just thinking of the club, this bottomless pit, finally filling up and starting to stack higher, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but cheer. He opened the System panel and watched the redeemable Points climb steadily upward. It was worth it! Chapter 445 - Chapter 445: 443 Chapter 445: 443 The update isn¡¯t ready yet. I¡¯m just staking a claim. I¡¯ll change it before half past midnight. Bi Fang immediately thought of this, but after looking at Lin Chang and Yao Jun, he had an epiphany; his former self wasn¡¯t sufficient, yet who was he to overlook who submitted the application? Yao Jun was somewhat lacking, but his father was generous, and Lin Chang was impressive. Combined, plus a seemingly good idea, it was already enough. Besides the Ocean Pavilion, there was also the nearby hotel, which was built only after planning, essentially a free supporting facility. Everything fell into place. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s first check out the Rainforest Museum.¡± Bi Fang called out to ¨¦tienne, who was having a blast at the archery range, and the group headed towards the Rainforest Museum. As soon as they entered, they could feel a dense humidity pressing in. Bi Fang was astonished, ¡°You guys, how many humidifiers did you put in here?¡± ¨¦tienne¡¯s eyes widened in sheer amazement. The reason was simple; it was huge, the entire pavilion was simply massive! Walking in, it felt nothing like being indoors, as if truly walking in a rainforest. Were it not for the occasional exposed supporting columns reminding them they were still in a city, it would be like a dream. ¡°I feel like you could spend an entire day just in this Rainforest Museum,¡± Bi Fang exclaimed, impressed. The design blueprint was one thing, but the actual sensory experience was completely different. However, building such a place, the key was size, all kinds of size. If it were small, it would completely lack immersion and the experience would suffer. It¡¯s like if an aquarium had a live adult Blue Whale, even if it had nothing else, it would be packed to the brim! Of course, that isn¡¯t very realistic or ethical. But for such a huge Rainforest Museum, no wonder it cost so much. Worth it! Unable to help himself, ¨¦tienne slowed his pace, just raised his head to look around, and immediately felt he had bumped into something hard. When he looked down, a brown-spotted snake came into view. ¡°Snake! Snake! Snake!¡± ¨¦tienne screamed in fright, retreating so hastily that he nearly fell to the ground. Bi Fang quickly steadied him, comforting, ¡°OK, OK, don¡¯t be afraid!¡± Lin Chang laughed too, ¡°Take a closer look, it¡¯s in a glass terrarium, it¡¯s not dangerous.¡± ¨¦tienne, calming his racing heart with a few deep breaths, looked again and realized it was indeed just an ecological container! Because of the foliage, the glass did not reflect light and the edges were so well-blended due to special treatment, they were nearly completely transparent. Together with the inside environment mirroring the outside, it was almost impossible to tell it was inside a container, instead appearing entirely exposed to the elements! Yao Jun revealed a mischievously pleased smile. The specially crafted edges of the glass terrarium were his idea, aimed for precisely this effect. When visitors were exploring the rainforest, to suddenly find a venomous snake right in front of them, mouth agape¡­ ¨¦tienne, still shaken, asked, ¡°What kind of snake is this?¡± ¡°Tricolor lance-headed viper, a highly venomous snake. It¡¯s often found near human dwellings, making it the main culprit in bite cases and therefore considered the most dangerous snake in the area, referred to as ¡®the ultimate viper¡¯,¡± Bi Fang raised an eyebrow, looking at Yao Jun and Lin Chang, ¡°How did you get it? This is very dangerous.¡± ¡°All is well,¡± Yao Jun patted Bi Fang¡¯s shoulder, ¡°I know what you are like. The snakes in both the Rainforest Museum and the Desert Pavilion are common and not endangered species; there are no animal performances involved. We didn¡¯t arrange this, Huaxia doesn¡¯t have them. They were sent here after discussions with the animal protection association¡­¡± Lin Chang also added, ¡°There¡¯s a dedicated caretaker, its fangs have been removed, and to prevent regrowth, it¡¯s checked regularly. Antivenin has also been stocked up, we have triple insurance to ensure that even if it gets out, it won¡¯t be dangerous. Plus, we¡¯ve chosen single-gender specimens, so even in the event of an earthquake and they all escape, they won¡¯t cause an invasive species problem.¡± Bi Fang nodded in relief, it seemed both had thought everything through very thoroughly, and even in case of a mishap, there was a professional team ready to help. After a brief tour, Bi Fang actually discovered that Yao Jun and Lin Chang had brought in a Golden Python¡­ Separated by a giant piece of glass, hidden in a corner of the rainforest, surrounded by similar environmental setups, and with a small pond inside. Bi Fang peered and the more he looked, the more familiar it seemed. He pointed at a large one inside the glass and asked, ¡°Have I seen this Golden Python somewhere before?¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± Yao Jun laughed heartily, slapping Bi Fang¡¯s shoulder, and gave a thumbs up, ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s the very one you caught a long time ago. We got in touch with the zoo and brought it here. How about it, seeing an old acquaintance, doesn¡¯t that make you a little happy?¡± Bi Fang: ¡°¡­¡± Beyond the rainforest, there was a three-meter-wide stream flowing through, ending in a waterfall, with rock climbing walls fitted with climbing stones on both sides. Indeed, it was quite nice. After a brief tour through the Rainforest Museum, the group arrived at the Desert Pavilion. Here, animals were the main focus, as there was neither the canopy-covered sky of the rainforest nor much interest in the endless yellow sand. However, as soon as they entered, unlike the humid rainforest, they immediately felt a distinct burning sensation. Looking around, there were about a dozen camels and the same ecosystem tanks. It wasn¡¯t as stunning as the rainforest, but it was still a nice scene. What was interesting, though, was Yao Jun pulling Bi Fang over to a small sand dune, caressing it several times, before finally sweeping away the surface sand to reveal a small wooden door. ¡°What is this?¡± Bi Fang was startled and already had a hunch, ¡°An underground cave?¡± ¡°Exactly, a simple underground maze. Inside, there¡¯s also an underground river with some small fish in it. The water flow circulates with the fountain outside.¡± Yao Jun said somewhat proudly, ¡°But of course it won¡¯t be as complex as the original version. We had to consider safety, so it¡¯s just a simple maze. Generally speaking, you¡¯d be able to find your way out after walking through it a couple of times.¡± Bi Fang nodded in agreement, he had to admit, he was very satisfied with all the arrangements, especially after taking into account Etienne¡¯s suggestions. ¡°This is so cool! It¡¯s really amazing, this place is a complete ecological exhibit! It¡¯s got everything! I think we could totally open one in Ugly Country or Europe just like Disneyland!¡± Bi Fang scratched Etienne¡¯s head, although the guy was his fan, an overly enthusiastic one at that, so his opinions weren¡¯t highly referenceable, but they were still valuable. As for opening another two, better forget it. This one alone nearly drained him completely. Opening two more would likely put him into a blender, to be ground up and squeezed into juice. Speaking of Disney, he wondered if the project they had talked about had started and what the progress was, as there had been no news at all. He had to ask about it later. Bi Fang cared quite a bit about the rights he had sold. The following Ocean Museum was also a pleasant surprise. Being newly built, many parts of it were quite spectacular, ranking it among the top in the country. After this, it was the hunting ground. With the assistance of the staff, Etienne learned how to ride a horse, while Bi Fang eyed the teeming rabbits with eager anticipation. Everything was ready; each prey animal was fitted with an electronic tag. When struck by a harmless arrow within a certain range, the tag would be triggered, activating a current to stun the prey. Essentially, this lowered the difficulty of hunting. As for whether anyone would accuse them of animal cruelty¡­ Even in Europe, don¡¯t they still electrocute pigs before slaughtering them? The hunted game would then be sent to the restaurant, turned into spicy rabbit heads, dry pot rabbit meat, braised rabbit, rabbit and radish stew, stir-fried spicy rabbit with ginger and spring onion, roasted whole rabbit¡­ ¡°Slurp slurp,¡± Etienne smacked his lips while munching on rabbit meat, grease dripping from his mouth. ¡°Eat slowly, no one¡¯s fighting you for it.¡± Bi Fang ordered two more different dishes, allowing Etienne to enjoy himself. It was a rare visit, and he couldn¡¯t let his guest be disappointed. As he gnawed on a rabbit head, Yao Jun said, ¡°Now that all preparations are complete, we just wait for the opening in half a month. By the way, have you hired the instructors?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the instructors, I¡¯ve got them all ready. They are all elite, specially retired from the military; there won¡¯t be any issues.¡± Bi Fang explained that this minor matter was not a problem. Not every special forces soldier excels in wilderness survival, but there are several units without any issues, with the Northeast Tiger as a prime example. With so many soldiers retiring each year, their resettlement is actually an issue. Bi Fang offered a great opportunity, which they were more than happy to take. Of course, the compensation would not be meager. ¡°Then let¡¯s open in half a month!¡± In Bi Fang¡¯s opinion, the club was already perfect, almost flawless. Just as he was about to order another bowl of rice, the long-lost electronic tone rang out again. Bi Fang glanced around disinterestedly and then chuckled when he saw the familiar content. Wiping his hands with a wet wipe, he smiled and said, ¡°Perfect timing, I also have a new plan lately. On Children¡¯s Day, the big screen can light up again.¡± Chapter 446 - Chapter 446: Chapter 444 Cooperation Chapter 446: Chapter 444 Cooperation ¡°Leonardo DiCaprio.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Leonardo DiCaprio,¡± Liu Qian repeated, believing her boss had certainly heard her, but she added nonetheless, ¡°Domestic movie fans all call him Little Leo.¡± Leonardo in Huaxia, internet users call him ¡°Little Leo,¡± an Ugly Country actor and film producer. He wants to join my live stream? Bi Fang¡¯s smile slowly faded, feeling a sense of novelty, novelty to the extent that it surprised him. ¡°emmm¡­ So the ten million for the ashtray was actually a tip from Leonardo?¡± ¡°It seems that way for now. They say he¡¯s currently preparing a new movie,¡± Liu Qian flipped through her notebook, ¡°The content relates to Wilderness Survivalist and revenge, and there¡¯s even a scene where he stands off with a brown bear, and over the phone, he also expressed his admiration for you. He really respects what you¡¯re doing.¡± Leonardo wants to ¡°guest star¡± in my live stream? On the couch, Bi Fang, having been told everything, was still stunned. Before this, he had considered many possibilities: perhaps some prodigal rich second-generation, or a wealthy person with a specific plea, and he hadn¡¯t ruled out celebrities either. Given Bi Fang¡¯s current influence, ordinary minor stars were simply not on par, let alone Leonardo! This wasn¡¯t just some minor star popping out of nowhere. In his previous life, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t have hoped for Leonardo to come to him; even trying to meet Leonardo himself would have been difficult, and now Leonardo needed something from him? Liu Qian paused, then guessed quietly, ¡°I think Leonardo might really want to be the lead actor in your Disney movie. Of course, this is just my guess. Maybe he does have such a new movie, and I¡¯ve checked¡ªLittle Leo is an environmentalist.¡± That¡¯s right, Leonardo is a member of the Ugly Country¡¯s Democratic Party, and a very active environmentalist at that. If one paid a bit of attention to Leonardo¡¯s social media accounts, they would find that most of his posts are related to the environment. Moreover, more than 20 years ago, he established the ¡°Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation¡± to support environmental projects. In just the eight years from 2008 to 2016, the foundation donated over 59 million Ugly Yuan to charity. He once publicly stated, ¡°If I were not an actor, I would want to be a biologist or an environmental scientist.¡± In 2006, Leonardo funded two short environmental films about ecological issues. The following year, he personally produced an environmental documentary ¡°The Eleventh Hour.¡± It received high ratings. In recognition of Leonardo¡¯s many contributions to ocean conservation, the ocean conservation organization ¡°Oceana¡± awarded him the ¡°Ocean Guardian Award¡± in 2014. Don¡¯t ask why Bi Fang knew so much; he had watched that documentary. Bi Fang¡¯s interests, apart from exploring nature, included watching documentaries. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t regard Edinburgh as an idol. Moreover, he wasn¡¯t cut off from society in his day-to-day life, watching plenty of movies and TV shows, and due to his professional habits, he just knew a bit more. Even in his previous life, in 2016, Leonardo finally won the much-coveted Oscar for Best Actor with ¡°The Revenant,¡± and his acceptance speech still revolved around environmentalism. Besides, probably seven out of ten passersby have seen a Leonardo movie¡­ Wait a minute! Bi Fang suddenly froze. What did Liu Qian say just now? The content is related to Wilderness Survivalist and revenge, with a scene involving a standoff with a brown bear? It couldn¡¯t be ¡°The Revenant,¡± could it? With considerable differences between the two worlds, especially in entertainment, Bi Fang had never thought about this point. He pulled out his phone to search for ¡°The Revenant,¡± only to find his own hunting videos. Bi Fang: ¡°¡­¡± All right, it looks like the movie indeed hasn¡¯t been released yet. Mentioning ¡°The Revenant¡± actually led to himself, and Bi Fang didn¡¯t know whether to cry or laugh at this situation. ¡°Did he say what the name of that movie is?¡± Liu Qian pondered for a moment and flipped through her notebook again, shaking her head subconsciously, ¡°No, he didn¡¯t mention the name of the movie, but the content was indeed about those things.¡± ¡°Alright, did he say when he is coming to Huaxia? I¡¯d like to meet him in person.¡± ¡°Yes, he arrived in the Magic Capital two days ago but has been unable to reach you.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s meet here at the club, no need to go anywhere else.¡± Bi Fang quickly decided, arranged the time and place, and waited for the other party to arrive. After hanging up the phone, Bi Fang still found it amusing. The butterfly effect is indeed miraculous, having managed to lead someone like Leonardo DiCaprio, an international superstar, to reach out to him, and all because of filming ¡°The Revenant¡±. Wilderness Survivalist, Hunter, facing off against large bears and living to tell the tale, there probably isn¡¯t anyone else in the world who could fit such a description and be so famous for it, other than himself. Adding to Leonardo¡¯s usual approach, Bi Fang didn¡¯t find it strange at all that Leonardo would want to meet him. If it really was just for one day as the other party indicated, Bi Fang thought it wouldn¡¯t be a big problem since the chances of encountering uncontrollable dangers were very small. On the other side, Liu Qian, having received instructions, quickly contacted Leonardo¡¯s assistant. Leonardo, upon receiving the message, showed up very quickly, informed in the morning and arriving by the afternoon. In less than two hours, Bi Fang saw a familiar figure, wearing a hat and wrapped up tightly despite the nearly June weather, wobbly riding a shared bike over. The club was not yet open for business, so it was obvious who would come dressed like this. Seeing Bi Fang at the entrance, Leonardo¡¯s eyes lit up. He found a place to park his bike, ran over with quick steps, took off his sunglasses, and with a smile, reached out for a handshake, uttering a slightly muffled but crisp Chinese greeting, ¡°Hello!¡± Bi Fang smiled and shook hands in response, ¡°Hello.¡± The busy staff members curious about their boss Bi Fang coming out took a peek, and when they saw the face under the sunglasses, they all stopped in their tracks. ¡°Who¡¯s that? His face looks so familiar.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that what¡¯s-his-name, the big star? Called¡­ Johnny Depp?¡± ¡°What are you talking about, it¡¯s Leonardo¡­¡± ¡°By golly, it¡¯s Leonardo DiCaprio!¡± ¡°What¡¯s Leonardo DiCaprio doing here?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t they say the boss¡¯s movie got the green light? Maybe Leonardo DiCaprio is the lead actor?¡± The staff were mostly decorators with a generally older average age, not necessarily all of whom recognized Leonardo DiCaprio, but they were quite familiar with the news about their boss. Among the recent news, aside from summiting Mount Everest and the club¡¯s opening, the most eye-catching was undoubtedly the movie that Disney was already preparing to put into production. Director, crew, and screenplay were all ready, just waiting for the casting to start filming. At this critical juncture, Leonardo DiCaprio¡¯s visit to the Magic Capital to see Bi Fang naturally led people to speculate, and in no time, quite a few people took out their phones to sneakily capture the moment of the two meeting and uploaded it online. Bi Fang looked around and invited, ¡°Shall we talk inside?¡± Leonardo nodded, agreeing it was not appropriate to discuss matters in public. As they chatted and walked through the lawns and paths, they quickly arrived at the first gallery, but as soon as Leonardo entered, he came to a halt, his pupils shrinking rapidly. A series of bold ink paintings suddenly filled his vision, especially impacting when combined with the dynamic light and shadow, very striking! The scene before him even gave Leonardo an illusion of having entered the Louvre, yet the two were incomparable. On one hand was classical art, elegant, beautiful, intoxicating, and on the other hand was the ultimate wilderness style, rough, primitive, powerful, astonishing. ¡°OMG, OMG, is this your club? It¡¯s fantastic, this is really fantastic,¡± Leonardo exclaimed as he stood in the center of the hall, rotating and scanning every painting. Bi Fang spread his arms with a broad smile, ¡°Yes, welcome to my club.¡± Leonardo remained in the center for a good while, then hastened to each painting, scrutinizing them closely, until he reached the dark screen at the end and curiously asked, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°This is a display. It broadcasts live when I am streaming, and when I¡¯m not streaming, it stays off like it is right now.¡± ¡°A screen that lights up just for you?¡± Leonardo uttered a ¡®wow¡¯, picturing the scene in his mind, feeling somewhat overwhelmed. ¡°So we¡¯ll both appear on this on June first?¡± Bi Fang paused for a moment. Leonardo shrugged, ¡°Your assistant¡¯s first reaction was to decline, which I assume is your usual stance, but then this position changed. If the negotiations were not going well or if there were no turning point, you wouldn¡¯t have specifically asked me to come over, and I wouldn¡¯t be standing here, right?¡± ¡°Hahaha, yes,¡± Bi Fang laughed loudly. Chapter 447 - Chapter 447: Chapter 445: Heading to the Rainforest Chapter 447: Chapter 445: Heading to the Rainforest Just as Bi Fang and Leonardo were discussing how to spend Children¡¯s Day on June 1st, debating between water gun fights or plans suited for eighteen-year-olds¡­ cough cough, and how to head to the rainforest, photos secretly taken by the staff rapidly spread online. In less than an hour, it had topped the trending searches, sparking widespread discussions about the reason for their meeting. Those guessing were all speaking with confidence. There was no helping it, on May 10th Bi Fang¡¯s summit of Mount Everest had set off an internet explosion as the first person in Huaxia to create such a record at twenty-five, followed by the climactic end to the much-discussed Goose adventure, adding fuel to the fire with its proven significance and history. As the attention hadn¡¯t even subsided by the 20th, a new live-streaming plan was announced straight away, along with the presale of club memberships. Just skim through the news hot searches of the past ten days¡­ Not even a bomber would have this frequency! For those who liked Bi Fang, they were naturally overjoyed, able to see news about their idol every day, but for those who disliked him, these ten days were pure nightmare. Scrolling through Weibo, you¡¯d see Bi Fang. Branch out to B Island, and there¡¯s Bi Fang on the cover; looking for featured stories, and what do you know, it¡¯s all summit climbing videos with a stirring BGM, enough to get even themselves fired up¡­ pah, steaming with rage! Grinding their teeth in jealousy, but alas, they were powerless. No scandals, strong skills, just that capricious. ¡°So, why did Leonardo come?¡± ¡°Hiss, don¡¯t tell me Leonardo is actually going to be the lead in Master Fang¡¯s Goose movie? There¡¯s quite an age difference (covers face), Leonardo¡¯s age is almost twice that of Master Fang, right?¡± ¡°A bit of adaptation is acceptable, and older age actually seems more reliable. A mature leading man isn¡¯t too bad either, especially since both are handsome.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that the difference in physique is quite something, Master Fang¡¯s summit.jpg, Leonardo playing with a water gun.jpg.¡± ¡°Your pictures are quite something. Old Fang on the summit looks more like Spider Batman, with all those muscles, too handsome; the latter, emmm, leaves me at a loss for words, can¡¯t bear to look (covers face)¡± ¡°Looking forward, rubbing hands together.jpg¡± ¡°But, just saying, you know, is there a possibility, could there be a chance, maybe it¡¯s really so, that Leonardo is the big boss behind the ashtray?¡± ¡°It¡¯s one thing to say it¡¯s possible.¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t it be the water gun if it¡¯s Leonardo? Why call it the ashtray, giggling.jpg¡± No matter what, looks like this buzz is set to continue for several more days. Many are green with envy, veins popping out of their necks, but still utterly helpless. A paper car against a steel tank, destined only for a merciless crushing. Meanwhile, Bi Fang and Leonardo had also reached an agreement on related matters, officially deciding to venture deep into the rainforest together for a live broadcast on June 1st. The difference was, Bi Fang¡¯s was a 21-day journey, while Leonardo¡¯s would only last from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., after which he would return by helicopter. During the rainforest adventure, all matters were to be directed by Bi Fang, and the equipment also had to meet Bi Fang¡¯s specifications; it was essential to follow instructions completely, to avoid causing any trouble, with each person being responsible for themselves. Leonardo obviously understood this. Unlike any film or program he had done before, just a glance at Bi Fang¡¯s previous live broadcasts would reveal that they dealt with genuine challenges. In times of danger, rescue would not arrive in time. Without true capability, it could indeed prove fatal. Seeing his objectives achieved, Leonardo was very pleased, and with a grand gesture, spent over a million at the club for a three-year professional membership, enjoying one-on-one guidance. It was also a preparation for the live streaming event the following week, undergoing some basic training. ¡°Have you had dinner? Even though I¡¯ve just arrived in the Magic Capital, I know a few great spots.¡± Once all was discussed, Leonardo extended an invitation for dinner. Bi Fang shook his head and, pointing to the vast hunting grounds behind him, said with a smile, ¡°Ever thought about hunting for yourself?¡± ¡°Hunting?¡± Leonardo was taken aback at first, but after looking at the hunting ground, he quickly understood what Bi Fang meant, showing some excitement mixed with concern, ¡°I¡¯ve never tried that before.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, our rabbits have been bred in captivity for a while, so their wildness has somewhat diminished, and we use an electronic signal to trigger a current. As long as your arrows hit within a certain range, you can successfully capture them.¡± If we did it according to real wild rabbit standards, practically no one could catch one unless they were old hunters, but then the hunting area wouldn¡¯t be fun to play in. What does it feel like not to catch prey? So, in addition to special electronic signal sensing, Bi Fang deliberately set several levels for the rabbits: the first level is real wild rabbits, nimble in shape and hard to capture even with electromagnetic arrows; the second level is wild rabbits that have been domesticated for a month; the third level is those domesticated for three months, with different color tags indicating each level. Long-term domestication makes the rabbits lose their wildness and agility, reducing the difficulty of capture successively. The hunting grounds don¡¯t have any dangerous animals, and living there, it¡¯s hard for the rabbits to regain their wildness. Yao Jun and Lin Chang also had the idea of holding a hunting competition every three months to maintain the club¡¯s popularity, with different scores corresponding to different levels, determining the champion by score, and the winner could also receive a considerable prize money. Perhaps they could even hold youth, young adult, adult competitions¡­ Well, another good way to harvest points, jot it down, jot it down. The store had refreshed its inventory recently, and Bi Fang took a liking to two new drones. Although their configurations were somewhat inferior to his current livestreaming equipment and couldn¡¯t transform, they were smaller and more covert; even if filming each other, it wasn¡¯t necessarily obvious. The whole was painted matte black, not reflecting light, looking somewhat like a shrunken helicopter but without the wheels on the bottom, the whole shape being closed and streamlined, cool to the extreme. It would definitely enrich the perspective of the livestream, allowing for multi-angle filming, a real cinematic treatment. However, after purchasing these two gadgets, Bi Fang used up all his available points, which gave him a sense of urgency. Bi Fang took out his phone and noted this down in his memo to discuss with the others later before he went hunting with Leonardo. Incidentally, Leonardo also referred to Bi Fang¡¯s real reactions and feelings when encountering a bear as preparation for his performance, as well as to consider whether some details of the entire movie were worth scrutinizing. During this period, Bi Fang also confirmed that the movie was indeed ¡°The Revenant¡± which won awards in his previous life in 2016. The two set out just after four and didn¡¯t return until six-thirty. During that time, Leonardo successfully caught a ¡°wild rabbit¡± that had been domesticated for three months, which made him exceedingly happy. This further verified that as long as one persists, it indeed becomes easier to yield results. However, after dinner, Bi Fang felt puzzled as he always felt like he was forgetting something. Meanwhile, inside the Rock Climbing gym. ¨¦tienne was drenched in sweat from his training. Gurgle, gurgle. His stomach suddenly rumbled, and his face fell. Why hadn¡¯t Bi Fang called him for dinner yet? It was already seven o¡¯clock. ¡­ The next day, Bi Fang, along with a grumpy ¨¦tienne and an energetic Leonardo, received training, but not under his personal guidance. It was still provided by retired special forces, with whom they could basically communicate without any barriers. The special forces had over a hundred training programs, with many people even proficient in several languages. English, being more universal, was obviously a prerequisite, and the number of skills they mastered was countless. Bi Fang observed from the side, wanting to check the competency level of the special forces himself before feeling reassured. From rock climbing to archery, from running to swimming, each activity had to be practiced. Bi Fang wasn¡¯t worried about Leonardo exercising too much and suffering muscle soreness; to shoot ¡°The Revenant,¡± he exercised diligently every day. After a full round of observation, except for a slight deficiency in archery, everything else met expectations. Whether coaching a novice or an intermediate, it was sufficient. As for professionals, professionals don¡¯t need coaches. To improve at the professional level, they either need to interact with peers or continuously break their own limits¡ªcoaches serve only as an aid, not the lead. Days passed by, one after another. Time swiftly moved to the end of May. Bi Fang and Leonardo, the focus of external attention, also took a flight to Yunnan. Chapter 448 - Chapter 448: Chapter 446 Grab a Spot to Watch the Live Stream Chapter 448: Chapter 446 Grab a Spot to Watch the Live Stream There were no direct flights to the Magic Capital; after traveling from Podong to Changshui, the two of them took another flight from Changshui to Gasai, and then a car ride to Jinghong, spending two days to finally reach their destination. As soon as he stepped out of the car, Leonardo was blinded by the glaring sun, and the air around him felt like humid cement choking his airways, making it difficult to breathe. Bi Fang took out his phone, opened the weather forecast, switched to the local data, and squinted his eyes, ¡°The weather is nice today, the highest temperature is only thirty-two degrees.¡± At the end of May, nearing June, it¡¯s very common for temperatures in Yunnan to rise above thirty-five degrees. The scorching sun combined with severe humidity can easily cause acclimation issues, and in severe cases, even lead to vomiting and diarrhea. Compared to the dry heat of the desert, the wet heat near the rainforest is obviously more uncomfortable. Moreover, the discomfort from the humid heat is relatively more difficult to overcome than others, requiring prolonged physiological adaptation. If this were ancient times, it might have even cost someone half their life. Not long after walking, Leonardo, laden with big and small bags, started to sweat and kept hydrating himself. Leonardo twisted open a bottle of mineral water and took a sip, ¡°I can finally understand why you would play the role of a primitive man. If I don¡¯t strip, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised to get sunstroke and dehydrate.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re regretting it now, there¡¯s still time. So far, no one besides me knows that you¡¯ve come here and are going to live stream with me. Rest assured, if you give up now, I won¡¯t tell anyone. But once someone picks us up, we won¡¯t be able to keep it a secret anymore.¡± Bi Fang joked while his eyes scanned the surroundings. Director Zhou had said he would send someone to pick them up, but after looking around for a while, Bi Fang did not find anyone who seemed to be there to meet them. Not until the two of them had been sitting at the seats near the bus station for a while did Bi Fang see several people coming towards them at the same time. He poked Leonardo, who was engrossed in his cell phone, ¡°They¡¯re here.¡± Leonardo put away his phone and pulled down his sunglasses. Indeed, upon seeing Leonardo¡¯s half-exposed face, the approaching people quickened their pace, with Director Zhou running over and firmly grasping Bi Fang¡¯s hand, glancing at Leonardo and then turning back, profusely apologizing. ¡°I was looking from the side for a long time, afraid of recognizing the wrong person, I didn¡¯t expect it to really be Mr. Bi. You¡¯re wearing sunglasses and a mask, and if it hadn¡¯t been for a tip from Xiao Wu, I wouldn¡¯t have recognized you. I am very sorry for making you wait for so long; I am Director Zhou from the Rainforest Conservation Area.¡± The people present weren¡¯t strangers to celebrities. They had expected that someone as famous as Bi Fang would cause a sensation the moment he got off the vehicle, accompanied by big and small bags and perhaps dozens of bodyguards. Furthermore, Bi Fang had previously informed them of his train number and arrival time, and Director Zhou had not arranged for anyone to hold a sign, planning to greet them personally instead. It wasn¡¯t expected that the other party would be so low-profile, with sunglasses, a baseball cap, and a mask, all bundled up tightly even in the hot weather. Plus, Bi Fang¡¯s unique demeanor and strong presence made him stand out amidst ordinary people, which finally caught the attention of Director Zhou and the others. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that Director Zhou would personally come to meet us,¡± Bi Fang said in surprise. As the director, Director Zhou¡¯s status in the Conservation Area was like a leader¡¯s, and it was unexpected that he would come to greet them in person. ¡°If it were anyone else, I definitely wouldn¡¯t have come personally, but with Mr. Bi¡¯s arrival, I couldn¡¯t stay away. If due to any negligence on our part you leave with a bad impression, I would be the sinner of the entire Conservation Area.¡± ¡°You are too courteous.¡± Bi Fang felt somewhat embarrassed being addressed so respectfully by a man in his forties, and he thought that such formalities were a waste of time. After some polite conversation, Director Zhou turned to Leonardo beside Bi Fang and asked, ¡°And who might this be?¡± Director Zhou had noticed the man beside Bi Fang earlier, who looked very familiar. It wasn¡¯t until Leonardo removed his mask that Director Zhou was startled, ¡°This¡­ this¡­ is this¡­?¡± Leonardo smiled. Although he didn¡¯t understand Chinese, he could tell from the other person¡¯s reaction that he had been recognized. ¡°Ronaldo?¡± The crowd: ¡°¡­¡± Even though Leonardo didn¡¯t understand Chinese, names are transliterated, and he felt offended. Did he just say Ronaldo? Must be, right? It wasn¡¯t until a young person beside Director Zhou nudged him gently on the arm and whispered a few words that Director Zhou realized the blunder he had made, and he was mortified. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, really sorry, I just can¡¯t remember names as I grow older, especially those of foreigners. But when I was young, I watched ¡®Titanic¡¯ with my wife every year! This can¡¯t be wrong!¡± Bi Fang translated these words for Leonardo, and the atmosphere finally relaxed. Afterwards, the two followed Director Zhou to the hotel he had arranged. In the car, once Director Zhou learned that Leonardo, an international superstar, would also join the live stream, his excitement soared even higher. Great, really great. Could such good fortune be true? He had even started envisioning the bustling scenes at the rainforest tourist areas when the live stream started! At the hotel, they all had a meal together. That night, Leonardo updated a photo of himself with Bi Fang on social media, adding the caption: ¡°Arrived in XSBN, this is my first collaboration with Bi Fang, the adventurer from Huaxia.¡± As a superstar, Leonardo naturally had his own fanbase, and the post instantly attracted massive attention when it was published. ¡°What happened, has Leonardo released a new movie recently?¡± ¡°Bi Fang? GOD FANG? Good heavens, I know him, a magical, powerful Easterner!¡± ¡°Bi Fang? GOD FANG? WTF? How dare this Huaxia person take such a nickname? Has he done anything notable? I¡¯ve never heard of him.¡± ¡°Good heavens, dude, have you never been on the internet? This is the greatest adventurer, explorer in the world, he can even take on four military professionals at the same time, including a special ops soldier!¡± ¡°I remember Leonardo¡¯s upcoming film is called ¡®Wilderness Hunter,¡¯ right? Sounds like it¡¯s describing GOD FANG¡ªlooking forward to it.¡± ¡°Little Leo? Damn, how is he with Master Fang? What cooperation, what¡¯s going on, how come I didn¡¯t know about this?¡± ¡°Bro, you¡¯re also over the wall (dog¡¯s head emoji), why don¡¯t you check out domestic news? It was exposed a few days ago, Master Fang met with Little Leo.¡± ¡°Maybe they¡¯re doing a live broadcast? Didn¡¯t they say Master Fang would livestream on June 1st? Today is already the 30th, it can¡¯t be filming, so it must be a live broadcast. Old Fang didn¡¯t leak any news, such a pitfall.¡± ¡°How come this big news is only being told now?¡± ¡°Damn, damn, damn, Little Leo and Master Fang doing a live broadcast together? My god, what a dream team, adventurer and squirt gun expert?¡± The moment the news was released, it sparked a heated discussion across the internet, and some even took screenshots and transported them to domestic audiences, triggering another round of discussions. ¡°Is this a photoshopped pic? How¡¯s that possible? If it¡¯s a real collaboration, Old Fang didn¡¯t release any information?¡± ¡°It¡¯s true, if you don¡¯t believe it, go check the international internet. It was posted by Leonardo himself, undeniable proof!¡± Suddenly, countless people @¡¯ed Mr. Bi to ask if it was real. There was no helping it; the news was so shocking. Two people, utterly unrelated, were rumored to be collaborating for a live broadcast! Even Bi Fang was getting tired from all the knocking because not only the online fans but also real-life friends were asking. He had no choice but to craft a status update and release it. ¡°June 1st, the double act, stay tuned.¡± Although it wasn¡¯t clear what kind of double act it was, piecing together previous behaviors, It was confirmed! Master Fang and Little Leo were going to do a live broadcast together! In the rainforest! Prior to this, the duo¡¯s photo together indeed led to much speculation. Some guessed Leonardo invited Bi Fang to be a consultant for his new wilderness-themed film, others thought it might be a club advertisement endorsement, or perhaps a club experience. But nobody ever dreamed that it would turn out to be a live broadcast together! ¡°I¡¯m already looking forward to it!¡± ¡°I caught up on GOD FANG¡¯s adventures through videos, and I have to admit, he¡¯s really impressive¡ªafter Bruce Lee, he¡¯s the second Huaxia person I admire.¡± ¡°Ah, June 1st, come quickly! How are there still two days left?¡± ¡°It¡¯s midnight, only one day left.¡± ¡°Heard the broadcast starts at nine, so that¡¯s thirty-three hours to countdown.¡± Inside the hotel, Cao Lifeng and his roommates arrived in the Magic Capital early, the semester had basically ended, all classes had stopped, leaving plenty of time to play¡ªahem, to review. As for their presence in Magic Capital, each holding a club ticket, evidently, it was for a balanced approach to relaxation amid the intense revisions, easing the mind and stress. ¡°Master Fang and Little Leo are doing a live broadcast, damn, I¡¯m so excited!¡± Cao Lifeng was bouncing on the bed with his mobile phone in hand; he couldn¡¯t wait to see the June 1st live broadcast! It¡¯d be best to watch it live at the venue! As the opening time for the club drew nearer, many of the arrangements were ¡°leaked¡± by staff, including the big screen specially set up for Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast! ¡°The club opens at six, Master Fang livestreams at nine; we can swing by earlier, check it out, then grab a good spot for the broadcast,¡± said Ge Liyang, the dorm leader. The excitement ignited among the roommates: ¡°Heard they¡¯re using laser technology for the screen, even got 3D effects without glasses, I¡¯ve never had such luxury even when watching movies.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that six is too early, guess we¡¯ll have to get up at five.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, let¡¯s all go to sleep early, still a day to go, gotta adjust our biological clocks, adjust our biological clocks.¡± ¡°Received, over, received, over.¡± ¡°Charge, charge, charge!¡± Chapter 449 - Chapter 449: Chapter 447 The Shocking First Pavilion Chapter 449: Chapter 447 The Shocking First Pavilion ¡°Damn, there are way too many people¡­¡± At 5:46 a.m., outside the square¡¯s gates, a sea of people extended as far as the eye could see, like surging waves of heads. Cao Lifeng¡¯s mouth hung open, the cone in his hand had been scraped half off by a stranger, he wanted to say something, but in the blink of an eye, the person was swept away into the crowd and disappeared. Cao Lifeng: ¡°¡­¡± This scene exceeded Cao Lifeng¡¯s comprehension, making him truly understand the meaning of ¡°drumming that pierces the sky, firecrackers in unison, red flags waving, a sea of people.¡± Twenty thousand tickets were sold online, and twenty to thirty thousand were available for sale in person. Some people came after learning they could see the 3D naked-eye effect live, while others who had missed out online rose early to buy them. There was no helping it, less than half an hour after the news was released, tickets were sold out. Many people at school or work were clueless until it was too late, full of regret, they had no choice but to arrive early to fight for tickets. The scene was akin to the elderly battling it out for discounted eggs at a supermarket sale, the only difference being that over eighty percent of those present were young people. From this, it¡¯s evident that the frenzy of grabbing bargains knows no age. ¡°Don¡¯t rush, don¡¯t rush, everyone line up! Buddy, don¡¯t climb over the fence! Don¡¯t climb over the fence, hey, be careful!¡± the security guard was shouting himself hoarse. Yao Jun, not far away, swallowed with excitement at the mass of people, so many that he couldn¡¯t even get inside himself. Lin Chang frowned, having set the opening time for six o¡¯clock precisely to avoid this, since most people don¡¯t like getting up early. He never expected that it wouldn¡¯t matter, that those who were meant to come still showed up. He sighed and resignedly said, ¡°Let¡¯s open the gates early, blocking them here is too dangerous, if something happens, it wouldn¡¯t be good, just let them onto the square.¡± In front of the first venue was a large square, and only beyond that the main gates. Currently, thousands were jammed in front of the gates, but by opening up to the square people could spread out, preventing any accidents. Yao Jun nodded, clearly worried about the same issue, knowing that if something happened, not only would the opening be ruined, but the following days would be difficult as well. He immediately pulled out his phone and informed the relevant staff, ¡°When opening the gates, get security to focus and maintain order, we must prevent a stampede.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Across from him, receiving instructions, they immediately began directing security to regulate the crowd¡¯s behavior. ¡°Stop pushing, we¡¯re opening the gates early, opening early!¡± ¡°Opening early?¡± ¡°What? Early?¡± ¡°Hurry up, I¡¯m exhausted!¡± ¡°Let me in to take a look, be good.¡± Upon hearing that the gates were opening, Cao Lifeng and the others became excited, and likewise, the previously ecstatic crowd gradually calmed down and lined up again under the guidance of the staff. When the clock struck 5:50 a.m., the gates clicked. They opened. ¡°Charge!¡± ¡°Brothers, follow me and charge!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t run! Don¡¯t run!¡± ¡°To the ticket check! To the ticket check!¡± ¡°Be safe, be safe!¡± ¡­ Cao Lifeng wiped the sweat from his forehead; it was almost June, and the weather was getting hot in the early morning. The intense jostling only added to the heat, soaking his shirt through: ¡°Phew! Grandma¡¯s legs, we finally got in! That was intense.¡± Ge Liyang adjusted his glasses that had nearly been knocked off, still shaken; he had anticipated it might be a hit, but never to this extent. They had almost lost their lives in the crowd. Fortunately, nothing went wrong. The moment the gates opened, the security guards brought out their shields, which helped control the flow of people. After going through ticket check and entering the square, it wasn¡¯t so crowded anymore. Just to be safe, Lin Chang had called the police ahead of time¡­ Indeed, judging by its size on the ground alone, the club was imposing, having claimed to represent an investment of over ten billion. With many areas still under construction or kept in their natural state, one could only imagine the scale. Cao Lifeng waved from the front: ¡°Stop taking photos, hurry into the first venue! The Rainforest, the desert, and such can wait till tomorrow, the ticket lasts two days anyway.¡± Considering the extensive content, many could spend an entire day just at the Hunting Grounds. Knowing that some might not have enough time to experience it all, Bi Fang had thoughtfully introduced two-day and three-day tickets, with corresponding discounts, embodying the epitome of a conscientious business. ¡°Yes, yes, yes!¡± Only then did everyone react and surged towards the first exhibition hall directly opposite. Some people stopped in the middle of the huge square where a fountain was gushing, gazing up at the immense Mount Everest marble sculpture. Their cameras crazily snapped photos. At the same time, Bi Fang also received a video sent by Yao Jun, and when he opened it, he instantly recognized the familiar square and the massive crowd and knew right away where it was. ¡°So many people, nothing went wrong, did it?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, with me and Lin Chang here watching, everything is fine. Everyone¡¯s gone in now. I can¡¯t wait to see their reactions to the first exhibition hall, arms-akimbo.jpg.¡± The main design of the first exhibition hall was proposed by Yao Jun himself, from the oil paintings to the giant screens, which was why he was so excited. ¡°Just be extra careful, anyway.¡± ¡°OK.jpg¡± ¡°When are you heading out?¡± ¡°Right away, just got up. Gonna wash up, grab Leonardo and head out. There¡¯s not much to prepare this time, except I need to take extra care of Leonardo.¡± ¡°Blush.jpg, think you could take me along next time?¡± ¡°Get lost, unless you also become an international star one day,¡± Bi Fang laughed as he typed the teasing reply. Thinking about it, he had only ever taken someone with him this once. The Edinburgh incident didn¡¯t count; that was commercialized and open to everyone. Leonardo was different. Taking him along was actually for Bi Fang¡¯s own sake. The number of his die-hard fans in the country had basically saturated, and even if he attracted casual fans, they couldn¡¯t possibly wait around for a live stream every day. But abroad was different; there was still a lot of potential territory to develop. Bringing Leonardo along this time was really taking a shortcut. They would mutually benefit each other, and only with safety as assured as possible would Bi Fang have agreed to it. ¡°I¡¯m gonna get my dad to develop a cinema chain, striving.jpg.¡± ¡°Envious of the second-generation rich.¡± ¡°Envious of the first-generation rich.¡± ¡°Get lost.¡± Yao Jun smirked, put away his phone, and made his way into the square. It wasn¡¯t yet six o¡¯clock, so the doors of the first exhibition hall hadn¡¯t opened yet. He slipped in through a side path. The inside of the hall was still pitch black, devoid of any light. He hid in the shadows of the corner, watching as the door quietly opened a crack, then bright specks of light flooded in, illuminating the space in front of the door. Cao Lifeng cautiously peeked out his head. It wasn¡¯t fully light outside yet, and large curtains had been hung around the first exhibition hall. The range illuminated by the doorway light was limited. Darkness. ¡°Is this the first exhibition hall with the screen?¡± The information leaked online was obviously not revealed casually but targeted by Yao Jun and Lin Chang. Therefore, the netizens only knew about some of the content ¨C the first exhibition hall was vast, with a big screen. What it actually looked like inside, nobody knew. Just as Cao Lifeng was carefully taking a step forward, he suddenly felt a force push him from behind. Someone had pushed him hard. Caught off guard, Cao Lifeng staggered into the hall. As he turned around to glare at the person with no manners. Click. The lights turned on in that instant, and huge oil paintings explosively appeared in front of everyone¡¯s pupils. The crowd slowly flowed in, their pupils gradually dilating. Cao Lifeng¡¯s pupils dilated, his mouth slightly open. ¡°This, this is too cool, right?¡± Chapter 450 - Chapter 450: Chapter 448: Live Broadcast, Start! Chapter 450: Chapter 448: Live Broadcast, Start! The interior and exterior of the venue seemed like two different worlds; the clamor was silenced the moment one stepped through the door, much like a tide crashing into the rocks and breaking into spray. Cao Lifeng stood there, dazed, with a tide of people flowing past him. ¡°This is way too awesome.¡± Ge Liyang looked around, and every thickly-painted oil painting brought the most intense, most shocking visual experience, with emotions crashing over the soul like relentless waves. Black Bear, Wolf Fang, Shark, Goose, Shark, Blue Whale, Mount Everest¡ªeach painting delivered a shockingly unimaginable impact; when all these images were displayed together, they created a spectacular scene that left thousands speechless. In a corner, Yao Jun, who was watching secretly, couldn¡¯t help but punch the air in celebration, ¡°We made it!¡± Ten minutes later, images of the gallery began popping up on major social media platforms, with the highest curiosity and attention undoubtedly being on the contents of the first pavilion. Other than that, the Rainforest Museum and the Desert Pavilion were the main attractions; ocean pavilions were nothing new, but the Rainforest Museum and the Desert Pavilion were firsts in the country, and perhaps even in the world. ¡°Damn, aren¡¯t these oil paintings too big? Are you sure they¡¯re not murals?¡± ¡°They really look good, more dynamic than photos. Does anyone have high-resolution scans? I want them as wallpapers.¡± Netizens uniformly expressed their appreciation for the oil paintings, particularly the dedicated fans who wished they could get one for their homes. The reality is¡­ They actually could. In the souvenir shop, aside from replicas of Wolf Fang, Shark Tooth, Q-version figurines, and artistic novelty keepsakes, there were also smaller electronic scan pictures¡ªquite affordable at ten yuan each. However, smaller-scale replicas of the actual oil paintings did exist, albeit at a much heftier price, and generally, people would just look rather than buy. ¡°Have you seen the Rainforest Museum? Good lord, a video of just walking straight for over ten minutes still didn¡¯t cover the whole thing, only halfway through.¡± ¡°The indoor waterfall is a bit over the top, the budget is burning.¡± ¡°You think it¡¯s just indoor scenery? NONONO, it¡¯s actually an indoor ecosystem. It¡¯s open to see what kind of impact human activities have on the environment. Once the experiment is over, we can proceed with the construction of an ecosystem under the atmospheric dome on the moon.¡± ¡°The Security Bureau is online.¡± ¡°Why does that Golden Python look so familiar? Seems like I¡¯ve seen it somewhere before.¡± In the three major pavilions, the ocean pavilion was indeed beautiful, but it still didn¡¯t offer the novelty and interest of the other two, and its popularity was slightly behind. ¡°Damn, kind of regret not going now, especially since it¡¯s Children¡¯s Day, I could have taken my son.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been regretting it since I missed the tickets online, I heard the tickets for the day are almost sold out.¡± ¡°There are too many people, better wait for later. What¡¯s so good about being crammed?¡± ¡°No, they¡¯re controlling the number of visitors. The remaining tickets are decided based on the number of visitors for the day. It just looks crowded, but once you¡¯re divided into the various pavilions, the experience is actually quite pleasant.¡± ¡°There¡¯s also the naked-eye 3D screen exclusive to Master Fang, I really want to see it in person, wuwuwu.¡± ¡°It¡¯s already eight o¡¯clock, can only stay home and watch.¡± As everyone eagerly awaited the live broadcast, Bi Fang also came out of the hotel with Leonardo to make the final preparations. Jinghong City, here lies the largest and most bustling city in all of Greater Xishuangbanna, hence most of the attractions are centered around this city. This city is bisected by a river called the Lancang River, which, outside of Huaxia, is known as the Mekong River, thus Jinghong is divided into two parts, with the term ¡°north of the river¡± referring to the area north of the Lancang River. However, Jinghong City isn¡¯t large; Bi Fang and Leonardo had traveled around in the past two days. The taxi fee starts at 7 yuan during the day and 8 yuan at night, and they couldn¡¯t go beyond that basic fare. However, the supporting facilities were quite impressive. In the city center, there was a free outdoor fountain park called Peacock Lake, with a KFC, a Dicos, and a cinema nearby¡ªnone were lacking. In the car, Leonardo continued to check his pack, from insect repellent to a first aid kit, making sure nothing was missing. Even in the scorching heat, he still wore boots. This was to avoid being bitten by venomous snakes in disguise to the greatest extent possible. In the rainforest, there were many poisonous creatures, and many snakes could easily kill a large elephant with their venom. Even if rescue was provided immediately, there was still a certain chance of death. But the more fully armed Leonardo was, the more he understood how dangerous Bi Fang¡¯s choice to wear no clothing at all was. Especially Zhou Weisheng, as the director of the reserve, he knew better than anyone how dangerous the depths of the rainforest could be, where even a small mosquito could potentially be deadly. That¡¯s why he was so surprised when he first made contact with Bi Fang. The rainforest and the city were completely different environments. Why do so many primitive tribes still exist in the Amazon rainforest? Is it because they can¡¯t access modern civilization? Do they not yearn for a more comfortable and relaxed life? Neither. The evolution of any species only has two purposes: to make life more comfortable and to reproduce offspring. Controlled by DNA, humans are no exception. Whether it¡¯s the Ewenki in the mountains or the Inuit people within the Arctic Circle, their unique civilizations have almost completely disappeared under the impact of modern civilization. So far, globally, only the primitive tribes in the rainforests remain steadfast. Are they unable to assimilate? Too barbaric to fit in with modern society? Too dangerous to be let into society? None of these. Every civilization has gradually evolved from barbarism; the primitive tribes in the rainforest are not incapable of assimilating, it¡¯s just that the cost of assimilation is too high. The fundamental reason is only one, it¡¯s too dangerous. Before the rainforest was massively destroyed, only a few adventurers and research teams could reach them. Without the impact of large-scale social forces, how could they possibly stride into modern society? Even the indigenous people of the rainforest have lived within extremely limited areas for generations. It¡¯s difficult for outsiders to reach them, and it¡¯s equally hard for them to come into contact with the outside world. This phenomenon is unseen in both the Arctic and Antarctic. ¡°The entire Huaxia has only one factory that can produce antivenom, but the good news is that it¡¯s located in Yunnan, so in case of an accident, the chances of being rescued are still pretty high.¡± Leonardo tugged at the corner of his mouth, ¡°That joke isn¡¯t funny at all.¡± Under Zhou Weisheng¡¯s arrangement, the two of them took a small path to a little house in the scenic area, where there were no other people to ensure no fanatical fans would appear. No one knew that the world¡¯s number one adventurer and the international superstar were in this inconspicuous corner. Bi Fang looked at the time, 8:45. It was still fifteen minutes before the start, but he didn¡¯t start the live stream early. If it were a normal day, a few minutes early or late wouldn¡¯t matter, but for the opening day of the club, a sense of ceremony was still necessary. Finally, after Leonardo finished a cup of coffee, the 59 changed to 00. Bi Fang pressed the drone¡¯s power button. The live stream, had begun! Chapter 451 - Chapter 451: Chapter 449: Reserving a Spot Chapter 451: Chapter 449: Reserving a Spot Not finished yet Reserving a spot Will finish editing before 1:30 AM. There were no direct flights to the Magic Capital, so after going from Podong to Changshui, the two of them took another plane from Changshui to Gasai, and then drove to Jinghong. It took two days to finally arrive at their destination. As soon as Little Leo stepped out of the car door, the dazzling sun blinded him, and the air around felt like warm, concrete blocking his windpipe, making it hard to breathe. Bi Fang took out his phone, pulled up the weather forecast, and switched to the local reading, squinting his eyes, ¡°The weather is nice today, with a high of only 32 degrees Celsius.¡± At the end of May, approaching June, temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius were common in Yunnan, and the scorching sun combined with severe humidity often made newcomers ill-adapted to the local climate, sometimes even causing severe vomiting and diarrhea. Clearly, the humid heat near the rainforest was more uncomfortable than the dry heat of the desert. And acclimating to the humid heat was relatively more challenging than other climates, requiring a long period of physiological adaptation. In ancient times, it could even cost one half their life. They hadn¡¯t walked for long when Little Leo, burdened with a large and small pack, began to sweat profusely and kept rehydrating. Little Leo, opening a bottle of mineral water, took a sip, ¡°I can finally understand why you¡¯re playing the role of a primitive man, if you don¡¯t strip, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if you got dehydrated from the heat.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re now regretting coming here, it¡¯s not too late to back out. Except for me, no one knows you¡¯re here, and you¡¯re supposed to livestream with me. Don¡¯t worry, if you give up now, I won¡¯t spill the beans, but once others come to pick us up, we can¡¯t keep it under wraps,¡± Bi Fang said jokingly while scanning the surroundings. Director Zhou had said he would send someone to pick them up, but as Bi Fang looked around, he didn¡¯t see anyone who seemed to be there to meet them. It wasn¡¯t until the two of them had been sitting on the seats near the bus station for a while that Bi Fang saw several people approaching them at the same time. He nudged Little Leo, who was playing with his phone, ¡°They¡¯re coming.¡± Little Leo put away his phone and pulled down his sunglasses. As expected, upon seeing half of Little Leo¡¯s face revealed, the newcomers quickened their pace, with Director Zhou in the lead, who ran over and grabbed Bi Fang¡¯s hand, glanced at Little Leo, then turned back and repeatedly apologized. ¡°I was standing by to avoid any mistakes for quite some time, never expected it to be Mr. Bi himself, with your sunglasses and mask, if it wasn¡¯t for Xiao Wu reminding me, I wouldn¡¯t have recognized you, I¡¯m so sorry for the wait, I¡¯m Zhou Weisheng from the Rainforest Conservation Area.¡± The others present weren¡¯t strangers to celebrities, originally thinking that a big name like Bi Fang would cause a stir as soon as he got off the car, complete with heavy luggage and numerous bodyguards. Furthermore, before coming, Bi Fang had informed them of his train number and arrival time, so Zhou Weisheng didn¡¯t arrange for someone to hold a sign, thinking he¡¯d personally receive them himself. He didn¡¯t expect the other party to be so low-profile, with sunglasses, a baseball cap, and a mask, wrapped up tight despite the hot weather. Besides, Bi Fang¡¯s unique demeanor and strong core presence made him sit up straight among the common folk, standing out like a crane in a flock of chickens, which finally caught the attention of Zhou Weisheng and the others. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Director Zhou to come in person,¡± Bi Fang said, surprised. As the director, Zhou Weisheng¡¯s position in the Conservation Area was equivalent to that of a leader, and it was unexpected that he personally came to welcome them. ¡°I definitely wouldn¡¯t personally come for anyone else, but Mr. Bi¡¯s presence, of course, I had to show up. If my inattentiveness caused you a bad impression, I would be the sinner of the entire Conservation Area,¡± Zhou Weisheng said. ¡°You¡¯re too polite.¡± Bi Fang felt somewhat awkward being addressed so respectfully by a man in his forties, finding such pleasantries a waste of time. After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Zhou Weisheng looked towards Little Leo, who was standing next to Bi Fang, and asked, ¡°And this is?¡± Zhou Weisheng had noticed the man next to Bi Fang, who looked very familiar, but it wasn¡¯t until Little Leo removed his mask that Zhou Weisheng was startled, ¡°This¡­ this¡­ is¡­¡± Little Leo smiled, and even though he didn¡¯t understand Mandarin, he knew from the reaction that he had been recognized. ¡°Ronaldo?¡± Everyone: ¡°¡­¡± Even though he didn¡¯t understand Mandarin, the name was transliterated, and Little Leo felt somewhat offended. Did he just say Ronaldo? It must be this, right? It wasn¡¯t until a young person nudged Zhou Weisheng¡¯s arm and whispered a few words that Zhou Weisheng realized what a blunder he had made, and he couldn¡¯t be more embarrassed. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, truly sorry, I¡¯m getting old and can¡¯t remember names, especially those of foreigners. But in my youth, my wife and I watched your ¡®Titanic!¡¯ This time I can¡¯t be wrong!¡± Zhou Weisheng exclaimed. Bi Fang translated Zhou Weisheng¡¯s words for Little Leo, and the atmosphere eased up. Afterward, they followed Zhou Weisheng to the hotel he had arranged. On the car ride, upon learning that international superstar Little Leo would also join the livestream, Zhou Weisheng¡¯s spirits lifted even higher. Great, really great. Could there be such good luck? He even started imagining the bustling scenes at the rainforest tourism spots once the livestream started! Arriving at the hotel, everyone shared a meal together. That evening, Little Leo updated his social media with a photo of himself and Bi Fang, captioning it, ¡°Arrived at XSBN, this is my first collaboration with the adventurer Bi Fang from Huaxia.¡± Being a superstar, Little Leo naturally had his own fans, and the update immediately garnered a lot of attention. ¡°What¡¯s happening, does Little Leo have a new movie out recently?¡± ¡°Bi Fang? GOD FANG? My god, I know him, a magical, powerful Easterner!¡± ¡°Bi Fang? GOD FANG? WTF? How dare this Huaxia person take such a nickname? Has he done anything? I¡¯ve never heard of him.¡± ¡°My gosh, dude, have you never been online? This is the greatest adventurer, explorer in the world. He can even take on four professional soldiers at once, one of them being a special forces operative!¡± ¡°I remember Leonardo¡¯s latest movie is called ¡®Wilderness Hunter,¡¯ right? Judging by the name, it seems like it could describe GOD FANG. I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡± ¡°Little Leo? Holy shit, what is he doing with Master Fang? What collaboration, what happened that I don¡¯t know about?¡± ¡°Bro, did you climb over the wall (Dog¡¯s head), and not check out domestic news? It was revealed a couple of days ago, Master Fang met with Little Leo.¡± ¡°They¡¯re probably going to livestream together, right? Didn¡¯t they say Master Fang would livestream on June 1st? It¡¯s already the 30th today; it can¡¯t be for a movie, so it must be a joint livestream. Old Fang didn¡¯t release any info, too shady.¡± ¡°How come this news is just coming out now?¡± ¡°Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit, Little Leo and Master Fang livestreaming together? My god, what a dream team ¨C an adventurer and the squirt-gun warrior?¡± As soon as the status was released, it sparked a heated discussion online, and some even took screenshots to spread on domestic websites, sparking yet another round of debate. ¡°This has got to be a photoshopped picture, right? How could it be? Old Fang didn¡¯t release any news about a real collaboration?¡± ¡°It¡¯s true, believe it or not, climb over the wall and see for yourself. Leonardo posted the status himself, the evidence is solid!¡± Before long, countless people were @-ing Mr. Bi, asking if it was really true. There was no way around it, the news was too shocking. Two people, seemingly worlds apart, were actually going to collaborate on a livestream! Even Bi Fang himself got annoyed by the constant inquiries, not just from online fans, but also from real-life friends. Left with no choice, he decided to craft a status update and release it. ¡°June 1st, a duo, stay tuned.¡± Although it was not specified what kind of duo, but piecing together the previous actions. It was confirmed! Master Fang and Little Leo were going to livestream together! In the Rainforest! Prior to this, the joint photo of the two indeed led to much speculation. Some guessed that Leonardo was asking Bi Fang to be a consultant for his new movie, since it was a wilderness-themed one, others guessed advertising endorsements for the club, or maybe just to experience the club. But nobody ever imagined it would actually be the two of them livestreaming together! ¡°I¡¯m already looking forward to it!¡± Since it was wilderness-themed, some still guessed advertising endorsements for the club, or maybe just to experience the club. After catching up on GOD FANG¡¯s experiences through videos, I have to admit, he¡¯s really impressive. After Bruce Lee, he is the second Huaxia person I respect.¡± ¡°Ahhhh, just two more days until June 1st! Why isn¡¯t it here yet? Ahhhh, just two more days until June 1st! Why isn¡¯t it here yet?¡± ¡°It¡¯s past midnight, just one more day.¡± ¡°I heard the livestream starts at 9 AM, so that means there are only thirty-three hours left on the countdown.¡± Inside a hotel, Cao Lifeng and his roommates arrived at the Magic Capital early. Since it was the end of the semester and they had stopped having classes, they had lots of time to play, er, to review. The reason they were in the Magic Capital with club tickets in hand was clearly to mix work with play, ease their minds and relieve the pressure during the intense review period. ¡°Master Fang and Little Leo are livestreaming together, holy shit, I¡¯m so excited!¡± Cao Lifeng, holding his phone and hopping around on the bed, couldn¡¯t wait to see the livestream on June 1st! It would be best to watch it in the first hall! As the club¡¯s opening drew nearer, many of the arrangements were ¡°leaked¡± by the staff, including that big screen dedicated to Bi Fang¡¯s livestream! ¡°The club opens at six, Master Fang livestreams at nine. We can go early, take a tour and then secure a good spot to watch the livestream,¡± said dorm leader Ge Liyang. The roommates all got excited: ¡°I heard the screen is using laser technology, and it even has a naked-eye 3D effect ¨C that¡¯s better treatment than watching a movie!¡± ¡°The only thing is, opening at six is too early. We¡¯ll probably have to get up at five.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, everyone better get some sleep early. We still have one more day to adjust our biological clocks, adjust our biological clocks.¡± ¡°Received, over, received, over.¡± ¡°Charge, charge, charge!¡± ¡°The only thing is, opening at six is too early. We¡¯ll probably have to get up at five.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, everyone better get some sleep early. We still have one more day to adjust our biological clocks, adjust our biological clocks.¡± ¡°Received, over, received, over.¡± ¡°Charge, charge, charge!¡± Chapter 452 - Chapter 452: Chapter 450: Primitive Man, Move Out! Chapter 452: Chapter 450: Primitive Man, Move Out! [From the first sprouting of life under water¡­to the gigantic beasts of the Stone Age¡­to the first time humans walked upright, you have witnessed much. Now, embark upon your greatest exploration yet: from the cradle of early civilizations to the vastness of the cosmos.] [Ahem, brother, you¡¯re on the wrong stage. Civilization players, please turn right and head out the door to start today¡¯s battle!] [Is this skipping the Bronze Age and going straight into the Iron Age?] Netizens in the live stream room were in a heated discussion, without a doubt, all stunned by Bi Fang¡¯s bold plan. How could a person, alone in the wild, forage for iron and craft handy iron weapons? Before, Zhou Weisheng only knew that Bi Fang intended to survive in the primitive way, but he never imagined there was another equally unbelievable goal. However, unlike the shocked audience, as the director of the reserve, Zhou Weisheng was well aware that the rainforest was not lacking in iron; obtaining a small amount of iron was not difficult. But to turn it into a usable weapon? That seemed incredible. At least Zhou Weisheng couldn¡¯t imagine how, without any external assistance, how to gather those pitifully few iron elements and refine them into a weapon? A furnace would at least be needed, right? Not only a furnace, but also charcoal fire, and grinding tools had to be crafted as well. If it wasn¡¯t for casting, it would be even more troublesome. It¡¯s baffling, truly baffling. Zhou Weisheng shook his head, the more he thought about it, the more he realized the complexity of the process, the difficulty of it, not to mention compressing the whole process into twenty days¡ªit seemed utterly impossible. The audience¡¯s reaction was expected by Bi Fang. If it wasn¡¯t for the orange Wilderness Traveler badge, even he himself might not believe it could be done with only the purple Wilderness Survivalist badge. However, there was no need to say more. Actions speak louder than words. If no one believed it, then he would just show it to everyone. Bi Fang looked around, his eyes scanning every plant as he walked slowly past them. The place Zhou Weisheng chose was very secluded; seldom did people pass by. The wooden house was usually occupied by staff, but since the area had changed, even staff rarely visited. Because Bi Fang needed it, Zhou Weisheng had someone clean it up briefly to serve as a dressing room. The helicopter nearby was also ready to go. At this moment, there were as many as eight people present, all watching Bi Fang without blinking, curious about what he was about to do. Finally, Bi Fang stopped in front of a plant: ¡°Since I¡¯m going to partake in real primitive survival, I obviously cannot go wearing just shorts. Not only is it unseemly, but it would also make me quite embarrassed. Therefore, before I set off, I need to weave myself a grass skirt.¡± It was precisely to show the audience the whole process of weaving a grass skirt that Bi Fang did not start broadcasting immediately after the helicopter took off. Had it been before, he would already be jumping out of the helicopter by now. Bi Fang pointed to the plant in front of him and turned his head to Director Zhou: ¡°Director Zhou, may I pluck some of its leaves?¡± ¡°Of course, you can. The Pandanus is an economic crop; it wouldn¡¯t matter even if you stripped it bare,¡± Director Zhou said indifferently. The plant in front of Bi Fang was a Pandanus, common in rainforest areas, most often seen as a shrub or small tree. Due to its high value and aesthetic appeal, it is frequently cultivated as a hedge. This row of plants was used by the reserve as a natural protective barrier. And as an economic crop, it was cultivated by humans for use, so taking a few leaves was not a problem at all. ¡°In the wilderness, when looking to create garments to cover oneself, the top choice is a plant rich in fibers. And to ensure comfort, it needs to be sufficiently soft. Otherwise, if it¡¯s too close to the body, the harsh friction can easily injure the skin, causing blisters.¡± Having received Director Zhou¡¯s permission, Bi Fang didn¡¯t hesitate and began plucking leaves from the Pandanus. The leaves of the Pandanus were thick, each over a meter long. A single Pandanus could bear dozens of leaves, each spreading out like an aloe leaf. Unlike aloe, whose interior is full of gel, the inside of a Pandanus leaf was soft, elongated fibers. ¡°Therefore, the fiber of the Pandanus can be used to weave mats, hats, and other crafts. If you have friends from Yunnan, Fujian, Hainan, and other places, you might have seen them before. However, such artifacts are now rare. One thing to note is that the edges of the Pandanus leaves have small spines, which we need to remove to avoid hand injuries.¡± Tearing off a long leaf, Bi Fang used his fingernail to scrape around the edge of the leaf, tearing off the entire green skin to reveal the greenish-white flesh of the leaf. Bi Fang pinched in front of the drone¡¯s camera, and the audience could clearly see the leaf flesh quickly bouncing back, revealing that it was filled with soft plant fibers. A whole grass skirt definitely couldn¡¯t be made from just one leaf, but Bi Fang didn¡¯t grab a whole Pandanus tree and pull with all his might either. One would be enough, but that could easily strip it bare. So Bi Fang plucked around a dozen, finally gathering enough for a grass skirt. Then, on the ground, he casually pulled out a branch¡ªsoft yet tough¡ªand simply threaded it through the leaf flesh, weaving it into a sturdy grass skirt. The rainforest was good for this, with countless varieties of vines and plants; walk a couple of steps and you¡¯d come across suitable materials. ¡°Making a grass skirt isn¡¯t as hard as you think. You just need to find the right soft materials, and then use a sufficiently strong and slender vine to thread them together,¡± Bi Fang explained. ¡°If you want it to be more secure and the leaves less likely to fall off, you can tear the leaf flesh into several thin fibers at the end you¡¯ve threaded through, twist them into a rope, and tie a knot. It¡¯s more troublesome, but also more durable.¡± In less than ten minutes, a brand-new grass skirt appeared before everyone¡¯s eyes. Three drones filmed from different angles, seamlessly transitioning shots like a master¡¯s technique, capturing every facet of the grass skirt. Bi Fang tried it on and it fit just right. Thanks to the leaves being long enough, they fell down to his knees. Bi Fang took a few steps, and the skirt was both attractive and sturdy¡ªa very practical grass skirt. [Manual dexterity max!] [The show hasn¡¯t even officially started, and I¡¯m already looking forward to it. What should I do?] [Is there something wrong with me for wanting to see a man in a grass skirt? Need advice, quite urgent.] [I want to see it too, lick.jpg] [This is brilliant. I often see this plant by the road and never thought it could be turned into clothing.] [Huh? Did Old Fang¡¯s drones increase by two? Do the angles seem more numerous? Or is it another collaboration with the Discovery Channel?] ¡°The benefits of the Pandanus tree don¡¯t stop there. Its young shoots can be eaten, its roots and fruits can be used as medicine for colds, fevers, nephritis, and more. The flowers can be distilled into fragrant oils,¡± Bi Fang said. ¡°Even the leaf powder can be used as a seasoning for sweet-tasting dishes. Take a sniff.¡± Bi Fang plucked a stalk and handed it to Leonardo. Leonardo took it, brought it close to his nose for a smell, pondered for a moment and said, ¡°It¡¯s somewhat like vanilla with a hint of coconut.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Bi Fang affirmed Leonardo¡¯s comment. ¡°Moreover, the Pandanus fruit is edible too, but only when it¡¯s fresh. Once it ages, it becomes too tough to bite.¡± [My gosh, if these plants are all over the rainforest, then you don¡¯t have to worry about finding food, do you?] [The rainforest is filled with treasures!] The audience was excited, but Bi Fang brutally punctured their fantasy, ¡°Unfortunately, its fruit is in season only in November and December. You won¡¯t see any in June.¡± ¡°Furthermore, the Pandanus fruit is somewhat toxic; it must be soaked in water for over half an hour before eating, and even then, eating it as a staple food might still cause diarrhea. Getting sick in the rainforest is very troublesome, more so than in any other place.¡± ¡°Incredible!¡± Director Zhou Weisheng couldn¡¯t help but exclaim from the side. Bi Fang had a big reputation for a reason; it was well deserved. In just these short ten minutes or so, Bi Fang had explained nearly all of the functions of the Pandanus tree, down to the smallest detail. At least on the surface, this one plant seemed to solve both clothing and food needs. Bi Fang smiled, exchanged pleasantries, and then took the grass skirt into the cabin. Suddenly, the live streaming room erupted. [Here it comes, the big moment is coming!] [The temptation of nudity.jpg] [Primitive man, move out!] Chapter 453 - Chapter 453: Chapter 451 Occupy a Spot Chapter 453: Chapter 451 Occupy a Spot Chapter two isn¡¯t finished yet, taking a placeholder. Will revise it before 1 a.m. ¡°Leonardo DiCaprio.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Leonardo DiCaprio,¡± Liu Qian repeated, convinced that her boss had heard clearly, but she added an extra line, ¡°Domestic movie fans all call him Little Leo.¡± Leonardo, known as ¡°Little Leo¡± among Huaxia netizens, Ugly Country¡¯s male actor and filmmaker. He¡¯s coming to my live stream to co-host? Bi Fang¡¯s smile slowly faded, feeling very novel, so novel that it took him by surprise. ¡°emmm¡­ So, that ten million for the ashtray was actually a reward from Leonardo?¡± ¡°From what we can tell, that seems to be the case. The other party said he¡¯s recently preparing for a new film,¡± Liu Qian flipped through her notebook, ¡°The content is related to Wilderness Survivalist and revenge, it includes a scene where he faces off with a brown bear, and over the phone, he also expressed his admiration for you, he admires what you do very much.¡± Leonardo wants to ¡°guest star¡± in my live stream? On the couch, being informed of everything, Bi Fang was still stunned. Before this, he had considered many possibilities, perhaps a prodigal rich second generation, or a wealthy person with certain demands, and he hadn¡¯t ruled out celebrities. With Bi Fang¡¯s current influence, ordinary little stars were simply no match, but he never imagined it would be Leonardo! This was not some little star that suddenly popped up from nowhere. In his previous life, not to mention having the other party come to him, even trying to meet them would be difficult. And now, Leonardo needed something from him? Liu Qian paused, then guessed softly, ¡°I think Leonardo might really want to be the lead actor in your Disney film. Of course, this is just my guess. Maybe the other party really does have such a new film, and I¡¯ve checked, Little Leo is an environmentalist.¡± Indeed, Leonardo is a member of the Ugly Country¡¯s Democratic Party and a very active environmentalist. If one paid a little attention to Leonardo¡¯s social media accounts, they would discover that most of his posts revolve around the environment. Moreover, more than two decades ago, he established the ¡°Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation¡± to support environmental projects. In just the eight years between 2008 and 2016, the foundation donated over 59 million Ugly Yuan to charity. He once publicly stated, ¡°If I weren¡¯t an actor, I¡¯d like to be a biologist or an environmental scientist.¡± In 2006, Leonardo financed the making of two environmental short films about ecological issues, and the following year, he personally produced an environmental documentary ¡°The Eleventh Hour¡±. The ratings were quite high. In recognition of Leonardo¡¯s many contributions to ocean conservation, the world ocean conservation organization ¡°Oceana¡± awarded him the ¡°14 Years of Ocean Conservation¡± award. Don¡¯t ask Bi Fang why he knew so much, because he¡¯d seen that documentary. Apart from exploring nature, Bi Fang¡¯s hobby was watching documentaries; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have regarded Edinburgh as his idol, and in his daily life, he wasn¡¯t cut off from the world. He watched plenty of movies and TV shows, and because of his professional habits, he knew a bit more. Furthermore, in his previous life in 2016, Leonardo finally won the much-coveted Oscar for Best Actor for ¡°The Revenant¡±, and even his award acceptance speech on stage was inseparable from environmental conservation. Moreover, probably seven out of every ten people have seen a Leonardo movie¡­ Wait a minute! Bi Fang suddenly froze, what had Liu Qian just said? The content is related to Wilderness Survivalist and revenge, and it includes a standoff with a brown bear? It couldn¡¯t be ¡°The Revenant¡±, could it? There are major differences between the two worlds, especially in entertainment. Bi Fang had never thought about this before. He pulled out his phone to search for ¡°The Revenant¡±, but the only result was his own hunting videos. Bi Fang: ¡°¡­¡± Alright, it seems that this film indeed hasn¡¯t been released. Mentioning ¡°The Revenant¡± pointed only to him instead. Bi Fang didn¡¯t know whether to cry or laugh over this situation. ¡°Did he mention what the film is called?¡± Liu Qian thought for a moment, then flipped through her notebook, instinctively shaking her head, ¡°No, he hasn¡¯t mentioned the name of the film, but the content is definitely that.¡± ¡°Okay, did he say when he¡¯s coming to Huaxia? I want to meet with him in person.¡± ¡°Yes, he arrived in Magic Capital two days ago, but he hasn¡¯t been able to contact you.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s meet at the club here, no need to go anywhere else.¡± Bi Fang immediately decided, set a time and place, and waited for the other party to arrive. After hanging up the phone, Bi Fang still found it somewhat amusing. The butterfly effect is indeed marvelous, somehow managing to provoke an international superstar like Leonardo DiCaprio to seek him out for ¡°The Revenant¡±. Wilderness Survivalist, Hunter, confronting and surviving against large bears, there probably isn¡¯t anyone else as famously fitting that description as himself. Plus, given Leonardo¡¯s usual approach, Bi Fang didn¡¯t find it strange at all that he wanted to meet. If the other party was really only planning to follow for a day, Bi Fang thought it wasn¡¯t a big issue, as the likelihood of encountering uncontrollable dangers was extremely low. On the other hand, Liu Qian, having received instructions, also quickly got in touch with the assistant on the other end. Leonardo received the message and came quickly; he was informed in the morning and had rushed over by the afternoon. In less than two hours, Bi Fang saw a very familiar figure, wearing a cap and wrapped up tightly despite the nearly June weather, wobbling over on a shared bicycle. As the club had not yet opened, it was clear who would come dressed like this. When Leonardo saw Bi Fang at the door, his eyes brightened. He found a spot to park his bike, ran over with quick steps, took off his sunglasses, and came forward smiling to shake hands, uttering with a slightly muddled accent but clear pronunciation in Chinese, ¡°Hello!¡± Bi Fang smiled and shook his hand in response, ¡°Hello.¡± The busy workers around, seeing their boss Bi Fang come out personally, all looked on curiously, and when they saw the face beneath those sunglasses, they instinctively stopped in their tracks. ¡°Whose face is that, it looks so familiar.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that what¡¯s his name, that big star¡­ Johnny Depp?¡± ¡°Oh come on, that¡¯s Leonardo¡­¡± ¡°Goodness gracious, it¡¯s Leonardo DiCaprio!¡± ¡°What¡¯s Leonardo doing here?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t they say the boss¡¯s movie project was set up? Could Leonardo possibly be the lead actor?¡± The workers were mostly decorators, generally older, and didn¡¯t necessarily recognize Leonardo DiCaprio, but they were quite familiar with the news about their boss. Apart from conquering Mount Everest and the club¡¯s opening, the most notable recent news was Disney¡¯s already planned and prepared film project. The director, crew, and script had all been readied, just waiting for casting and filming to begin. At such a critical juncture, Leonardo¡¯s visit to Magic Capital to see Bi Fang hardly allowed people to think of anything else, and in a moment, many people secretly snapped photos of the two meeting and posted them online. Bi Fang glanced around and suggested, ¡°Shall we talk inside?¡± Leonardo nodded; it really wasn¡¯t suitable to discuss matters in public. The two chatted as they walked along the path through the lawn, and soon arrived at the first gallery, but as soon as he entered, Leonardo stopped in his tracks, his pupils retracting swiftly. One after another, heavy ink oil paintings filled his vision all at once, especially when paired with the incredibly dynamic light and shadow effects, they were tremendously impactful! The scene before him even gave Leonardo the illusion that he had entered the Louvre, but the two were incomparable. On one hand was classical art, elegant, beautiful, enchanting; on the other was the ultimate wilderness style, rugged, primitive, forceful, and breathtaking. ¡°OMG, OMG, is this your club? It¡¯s amazing, this is really amazing,¡± said Leonardo, stationed at the center of the hall, rotating to take in every painting. Bi Fang spread his arms wide, full of smiles, ¡°Yes, welcome to my club.¡± Leonardo stood still at the center for a while, then briskly moved to examine each painting closely until he reached the darkened giant screen at the end and curiously asked, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°This is a monitor. When I live stream, it will broadcast in sync, and when I¡¯m not live streaming, it remains off like it is now.¡± ¡°A screen that lights up just for you?¡± Leonardo let out a ¡®wow¡¯ considering the scene at the time, feeling somewhat overwhelmed. ¡°So, are we going to appear together on this on June 1st?¡± Bi Fang paused for a second. Leonardo shrugged, ¡°Your assistant¡¯s first reaction was to decline, which I suppose must be your usual stance, but then that attitude changed. I figured if the matter couldn¡¯t be negotiated, or if there was no turnaround, you wouldn¡¯t have invited me here specially, nor would I be standing here now, right?¡± ¡°Hahaha, that¡¯s right,¡± Bi Fang laughed aloud. Chapter 454 - Chapter 454: Chapter 452 Caught Up Chapter 454: Chapter 452 Caught Up ¡°I¡¯m ready!¡± Leonardo took a deep breath and nodded forcefully, but his voice trembled slightly. The cabin door opened, and the hurricane whipped up by the helicopter blades raised his hair, fluttering wildly in the gale. Bi Fang tightened Leonardo¡¯s safety harness to his own body and shouted, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there are over a million trees beneath us in the canopy; there¡¯s simply no open space suitable for landing.¡± ¡°If we¡¯re lucky, our parachutes will get tangled up in the treetops. But don¡¯t worry, knowing how to conduct jungle infiltration missions is a fundamental course for special forces, and I have a certain understanding of it.¡± ¡°What if we¡¯re not lucky? What will happen then?¡± Leonardo looked at the jungle beneath, his legs going soft, and he asked loudly. Bi Fang laughed heartily, ¡°Then we¡¯ll get skewered by the branches!¡± Leonardo thought he must have misheard. But before he could ask any more questions, a tremendous pull came from behind, violently yanking him out of the cabin. Three drones filed out in succession, following closely behind, capturing every angle with their 360-degree, no-blind-spot filming. WHAT? The next second, Leonardo watched in horror as he left the cabin. Then a strong centrifugal force hit him face-on, starting with his nose, then his feet, and finally his thighs. The sky was filled with blue and white, passing through the wind and clouds, with endless roaring in his ears. Freefall! ¡°FCUK! I wasn¡¯t ready yet!¡± Leonardo¡¯s heartbeat accelerated instantly, sweat poured out of his palms, his nerves were on edge, his eyes shut tight, and his voice completely deformed. ¡°What?¡± Bi Fang couldn¡¯t hear clearly because of the loud wind. ¡°I wasn¡¯t ready yet!¡± ¡°But you said you were ready!¡± Bi Fang was taken aback but quickly smiled again, ¡°No matter, it¡¯s all the same now! Don¡¯t be afraid, enjoy it all!¡± ¡°Take deep breaths! Embrace the sky!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s infectious laughter gradually eased Leonardo¡¯s tension. Leonardo wanted to say something else, but Bi Fang adjusted their center of gravity and pushed Leonardo underneath him. The fierce airstream gushed straight into Leonardo¡¯s mouth, sending all his words back. Their position was interesting¡ªnot the traditional way of skydiving, facing the same direction, but back to back, one facing down, the other inevitably up. In that moment, Leonardo had much to say, his ears and nostrils filled with air, making it difficult to breathe. Eventually, all he could say was: ¡°M*******K!¡± [The man with the ultimate freedom on earth!] [Bliss!] [Damn, why am I head down? I can¡¯t even get the grass skirt to flare up.] Their descent was very fast, close to two hundred kilometers per hour, which is about fifty-five meters per second! After a dozen seconds, Leonardo forced his eyes open, his blood coursing faster in his veins, his body growing hot. He finally realized he was flying! And because it was happening at high altitude, everything around seemed stationary, the howling wind aside; it wasn¡¯t as terrifying as he had imagined. Only the blue and white sky remained, and the verdant green earth below. His eyes became greedy, wanting to see more and more, to imprint it all in his mind, to preserve this moment¡¯s emotion, to breathe deeply, to feel the altitude. But in the next moment, Bi Fang adjusted their center of gravity again, turned his head to look at the earth, and after calculating the distance, he yanked the parachute cord hard. A massive pull quickly hoisted their torsos, and Leonardo nearly blacked out. The world became quiet. The roaring sound disappeared completely, and they were suspended above the earth. Carrying a person, obviously, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t perform a low-altitude parachute operation, so he opened the chute at eight hundred meters, gliding smoothly downward. Bi Fang pressed a button and explained, ¡°To land smoothly, we need to give the parachute a certain angle of inclination, giving it a horizontal speed, so the probability of being skewered decreases significantly. We will brush past tree trunks and then hang on a tree.¡± Leonardo clutched the shoulder straps tightly, watching as he constantly hurtled toward the large trees. This wasn¡¯t a movie; it was vivid reality. Appreciation for beauty was completely gone, leaving only fear behind. Leonardo leaned back forcefully and shouted, ¡°Are you really sure you want to crash into it?¡± Bi Fang gave a thumbs up, ¡°Yes, trust me, I¡¯m a professional!¡± [In the field of risking one¡¯s life, I¡¯ve never been outdone!] [Adventure? ¡Á, Risking one¡¯s life? ¡Ì] [Never believe a word that comes out of Master Fang¡¯s mouth] [Leonardo: So why did I even think of coming here in the first place?] The tree canopy grew closer and closer, and Bi Fang shouted, ¡°Be careful, hold on tight!¡± The massive canopy flooded into Leonardo¡¯s field of vision as his pupils constricted, his entire body subconsciously curling up, eyes tightly shut. The next moment, Leonardo was wracked with sharp pain as thin branches scraped viciously against his bare face and arms, and he finally understood why Bi Fang had insisted on wearing jackets in the hot rainforest. Branches snapped incessantly, startling a flock of Asuka that fled toward the sky. Just as Leonardo felt it was all over, the remaining branches cracked loudly, breaking completely and falling to the ground, the sensation of weightlessness returning. ¡°F**K!¡± Leonardo screamed in agony, feeling his thighs tightly constricted. He opened his eyes and, sure enough, found himself hanging from a tree. ¡°Wu Hu!¡± Bi Fang opened his eyes, surveyed the surroundings, and said calmly, ¡°It seems we¡¯re in luck and didn¡¯t get skewered by the branches.¡± Leonardo held his forehead with his hand, ¡°I feel absolutely terrible.¡± He finally understood why, at the last moment before the crash, Bi Fang had adjusted their center of gravity to place him in front. Seeing that there were no scratches on Bi Fang¡¯s body was telling. ¡°Haha, but it was really thrilling, wasn¡¯t it? Did you feel a warmth in your lower abdomen? That¡¯s your adrenaline secreting!¡± Leonardo paused, then couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Okay, a little, but just a little bit.¡± ¡°Trust me, you¡¯ll come to like this feeling.¡± ¡°The urgent matter now is how we¡¯re going to get down.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Bi Fang stopped joking and observed the surroundings. In fact, he had already scanned the area to ensure there was no danger. It would have been troublesome if they encountered a snake on the tree like in his first live broadcast. The giant canopy overhead blocked out the sun; almost all sunlight was obscured, with dense branches all around. Not just above them, but below as well, the ground was invisible. They were awkwardly situated in the middle of the canopy. And had no idea how high up from the ground they were. [It¡¯s so dark, claustrophobia is kicking in] [I feel weirdly safe in this space] [It would be fun if a snake suddenly appeared] [This time Master Fang would really be barbecued!] Leonardo observed the surroundings, swinging his legs: ¡°I feel like we¡¯re going to be hanging here forever.¡± It was impossible to determine how high up they were. If they carelessly descended, Bi Fang might not die; he knew how to protect himself in a fall, and from a height of seven to eight meters, he would be unscathed¡ªbut Leonardo would be done for. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Bi Fang grabbed a nearby branch, pointing to its leaves and to the trunk amid the foliage. ¡°This tree has triangular ovate leaves, the texture is like leather, the surface is a shiny deep green, the reverse is green, and they come to a point at their tips, extending into a tail shape. If I¡¯m not mistaken, this should be a Bodhi Tree. We¡¯re in luck; this is the very tree under which The Buddha attained enlightenment over 2000 years ago.¡± Leonardo said with interest, ¡°Then our luck is really good.¡± ¡°This kind of tree can grow to about fifteen to twenty-five meters high. We can guess how thick the main trunk is by looking through the gaps in the leaves.¡± That high? The audience was surprised. Didn¡¯t that mean Bi Fang and the others were at least ten meters above ground? Leonardo turned his head and pondered for a bit, ¡°Close to twenty inches, right?¡± ¡°Yes, nearly half a meter. This tree is quite thick,¡± Bi Fang felt a sudden surge in his heart. Undoubtedly, the higher a tree grows, the thinner its main trunk becomes, but they were already over ten meters high, and the trunk was still close to half a meter? ¡°Our height might be over twenty meters,¡± Bi Fang looked down and estimated. Chapter 455 - Chapter 455: Chapter 452: Plants Also Compete (Seeking Monthly Tickets) Chapter 455: Chapter 452: Plants Also Compete (Seeking Monthly Tickets) Under the lush canopy of a large tree, two people were hanging back-to-back on the branches. ¡°I¡¯m currently hanging about twenty meters up in the tree, and now we need to descend to the ground. We could use the ropes from the parachute, but that goes against the survival principles I¡¯ve set for this trip,¡± ¡°Although parachutes and ropes would be very useful here, most people lost in the forest have nothing, so I should also go down empty-handed, which will greatly increase the difficulty of this journey. I must think of other ways to get down.¡± Bi Fang looked up at the canopy, carefully unfastened his harness, and then detached himself from it. ¡°When you¡¯re hung up in a tree with a parachute, don¡¯t make any big movements that might shake it. Even though the parachute has a large surface area, it can¡¯t guarantee 100% that you won¡¯t fall straight down, so be careful with any movements you make.¡± Leonardo stayed motionless, watching Bi Fang leave him from behind, suddenly feeling lighter, as if even his position was raised a few notches. ¡°At the same time, we need to be careful of the branches next to us, so they don¡¯t scratch our eyes, and most importantly, we must always observe our surroundings.¡± After detaching from his backpack, Bi Fang grabbed a nearby branch, carefully moved toward the trunk of the tree, and stepped firmly on the branch with his bare feet, toes gripping tightly. The humid environment of the rainforest covered these branches with wet, slippery moss, and before long, the soles of Bi Fang¡¯s feet turned pure green. The branches of the Bodhi Tree have a distinctive feature; once they reach a certain height, they expand horizontally. They don¡¯t grow upwards but spread out like a layer of carpet, with another layer added further up, making it quite convenient to walk on. ¡°As I¡¯ve said before, the ecological chain in the rainforest is very cruel. Many creatures have evolved their own unique survival or predation methods; mimetism is one of them. Sometimes what you think is a branch could possibly be a venomous snake mimicking one.¡± [Eh, stop talking, I¡¯m getting goosebumps on my hands.] [Speaking of which, it feels like it¡¯s been a long time since we saw the divine artifact, dog¡¯s head.jpg] [Come out, divine artifact!] [Stick+9, Attack Power 210+120, no additional effects, Strength: D, Agility: C] [Last time I went to climb Mount Everest, I upgraded to use the Super Divine Climbing Staff. Stick hasn¡¯t made an appearance in an entire instance, losing its status as a divine artifact!] [Just break off the Bodhi Tree, it will make a statement! By the way, isn¡¯t this thing a protected plant?] [If it¡¯s a protected plant, wouldn¡¯t that be awful? Didn¡¯t Old Fang and Little Leo just come down and break quite a few branches? dog¡¯s head.jpg] ¡°How easy do you think it is to come across protected plants?¡± Bi Fang laughed upon seeing the barrage of comments. The reason why protected plants are protected is because they are rare. In such a vast forest, to land directly on protected plants; is it good luck or bad? Stepping on the thick branches, Bi Fang quickly reached the center of the trunk. Looking down, there were visibly fewer leaves, and he could barely make out the ground. A small drone took the opportunity to fly through the gap, filming from the bottom up, and the gloomy forest environment made everyone shiver. Bi Fang was right; the rainforest isn¡¯t as beautiful as people imagine but deep and shadowy. An ill-prepared explorer entering this place would only feel horror and fear, wanting to escape instantly. More than two-thirds of the world¡¯s plant and animal species have been discovered in tropical rainforests. For the wildlife living here, life is undoubtedly cruel. A frog resting might be swallowed by a venomous snake in the next second, and that venomous snake might also become snack food for a mongoose immediately afterwards. Even plants have a desperate struggle for sunlight and dew. ¡°The rainforest has a unique plant canopy structure, composed of vertical layers, including the emergent layer, the canopy layer, the understory layer, the shrub layer, and the forest floor.¡± ¡°Each layer fights fiercely to take up living space, to absorb the little sunlight that filters through the trees¡¯ fingers, with the hierarchy almost fixed. Even the seedlings of new trees hardly ever reach the height of their parents, due to lack of resources.¡± The trees of the tropical rainforest are vertically divided into upper, middle, and lower layers. The canopy of the lower trees is usually below that of the middle trees. If they bear flowers and fruits on branches that last only one or two years, they can easily be overshadowed by the upper and middle layers. Therefore, they can only choose to flower and fruit on older branches or trunks, attracting insects in this space for pollination. Or until the largest tree in the area dies, decays, and collapses, casting sunlight inside, only then might there be a possibility for a new ruler to emerge. ¡°It¡¯s about twenty meters or so,¡± Bi Fang said, looking down to confirm before heading back the same way. He grabbed a tree branch above him and reached out to Leonardo, ¡°Unstrap your backpack and then come over, be careful, it¡¯s very slippery up here.¡± Leonardo nodded, feeling even more stuffy and hot in the rainforest than before, each breath felt like he was inhaling steam into his lungs, sticky and moist. His clothes clung to his skin. He recalled Bi Fang¡¯s earlier movements and cautiously unbuckled his backpack straps, then, with Bi Fang¡¯s support, stepped onto the branch. He had just got up when his feet slipped, and he almost fell. Luckily, Bi Fang was prepared and caught him right away. ¡°The tree trunks in the rainforest are very wet and slippery, covered with a lot of moss. You must be careful when climbing trees. Don¡¯t rush.¡± The two arrived at the tree trunk, and Bi Fang chose a thinner one, hugging it and saying, ¡°The Bodhi Tree¡¯s trunk is quite special; it¡¯s somewhat like many small trunks twisted together, so we just have to slide down one of them. Don¡¯t worry about hurting your hands, it¡¯s really smooth.¡± Saying this, Bi Fang hugged a small trunk, pushed against it with his feet, and, under the influence of his body weight, slid down bit by bit, occasionally resting on some branches. He soon slid down from the twenty meters height. As they descended, the sunlight quickly vanished, and the forest became even more shadowy and secluded. The audience¡¯s mood tensed up along with the descent. [Claustrophobia is really the end here.] [Got a bit of shivers] Just before landing, Bi Fang stopped, broke off a branch full of leaves, and swept it over the ground, ¡°The rainforest is truly rife with danger. You can see a layer of dead leaves under my feet, but hidden inside might be a venomous centipede, difficult to detect in the rainforest and you might get accidentally hurt if you startle it.¡± ¡°There might also be venomous spiders. Banna Rainforest is home to many highly poisonous spiders, but they generally come out at night, rarely during the day. If you¡¯re wearing shoes, of course, there¡¯s nothing to worry about. Regrettably, I am barefoot now, so I have to be extra cautious before I touch the ground.¡± Only after Bi Fang swept the ground to ensure there were no hidden creatures, did he finally land, and signaled to Leonardo, still up in the tree, to come down. With a demonstration to follow, Leonardo was more careful and safely landed as well. Once he reached the ground, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°Phew, you¡¯re overly cautious; that really got me tense.¡± ¡°No choice, I¡¯m not wearing anything, so no amount of caution is too much,¡± Bi Fang shrugged. If he were dressed with boots, he wouldn¡¯t have to be so nervous; he could have jumped straight down from a two or three meters height without any problem. But he didn¡¯t, and although Bi Fang had the experience and abilities bestowed by the system, his body was still normal and he had not developed the adaptability for long-term survival in the rainforest. A significant difference from the original inhabitants. ¡°Right now, the priority is to weave a pair of shoes for my feet so that I can walk freely in the rainforest without being endangered by insects.¡± Bi Fang squatted down and touched the flat ground. ¡°The dead leaves might hide dangers, and these sharp needle grasses can also stick into the sole of your foot. In short bursts, it¡¯s no issue, but over time, the soles of your feet would become very rough, with tiny wounds too numerous and small to see clearly, which can easily be invaded by microbes or even parasites, like sand fleas.¡± ¡°They usually reside in the soil, feeding on the blood of warm-blooded hosts. Many natives in Africa who don¡¯t wear shoes have extremely thick soles with many dense holes, resembling barnacles on a whale. I definitively don¡¯t want that; it¡¯s really disgusting, and I advise you not to search for it.¡± Leonardo shrugged, ¡°The way you put it makes them even more curious. But having seen it myself, it truly is disgusting.¡± ¡°I need to find a plant to protect my feet. Before that, we can use branches full of leaves for a makeshift bandage, just like bandaging a wound.¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t waste the branch he had used to sweep the ground; he wrapped it around the entire sole of his foot and did the same for the other foot. Then, he began exploring the jungle with Leonardo. The ground was covered with a mix of dead leaves and green grass, a unique phenomenon of the rainforest. ¡°This place has an abundance of microbes, so many that a dead body could decompose so thoroughly that in just a week, nothing would be left. In fact, the rainforest¡¯s hot and rainy climate, along with strong surface runoff and leaching, makes the soil very poor, lacking accumulation and replenishment of nutrients.¡± ¡°The towering trees you see are due to the intense decomposition of organic matter and the recycling of nutrients, which also means that once the rainforest is destroyed, it¡¯s very difficult for it to regrow.¡± ¡°Dead leaves and green grass, two phenomena typically of autumn and spring respectively, are able to intermingle together here.¡± Chapter 457 - Chapter 457: Chapter 454: Red Mud (Seeking Monthly Votes) Chapter 457: Chapter 454: Red Mud (Seeking Monthly Votes) ¡°Mud?¡± Leonardo repeated uncertainly. What was this operation with mud? Was it about starting a fire and then turning soil into pottery? And in the end, use sharp fragments as weapons? Leonardo thought about the broken porcelain at home, indeed it was very sharp¡­ [Who said that the next step was to make weapons? Yuyanjia has cut a figure.] [Was it Stone Spear?] [Didn¡¯t you hear Master Fang talk about making iron tools before he came? Just start smelting!] Bi Fang did not respond but flared his nostrils and sniffed gently in midair, smiling, ¡°You¡¯ve applied so much insect repellent, it even stings the nose.¡± Leonardo was somewhat embarrassed, ¡°I can¡¯t help it, the mosquitoes here are too numerous.¡± He suspected that if he were to go completely like Bi Fang, wearing no clothes and using no insect repellent, once he stopped, he would likely be sucked dry by mosquitoes. Even just now, when Bi Fang was sitting on the ground weaving shoes, he was also weaving while fending off mosquitoes. Without this, the speed at which the shoes were made could have been faster. [I remember that Master Fang said a long time ago to look for water sources by observing animals and insects, that heading towards where there are many mosquitoes often leads to rivers.] [That¡¯s right, I remember that too, I think it was mentioned back in Qinling.] [All the veterans showing up in front here.] ¡°Yes, mosquito larvae are entirely aquatic, so even a small puddle, like a flowerpot on a balcony, allows them to breed prolifically.¡± An adult female mosquito lays eggs in stagnant water, at times laying over 300 eggs in one go. If left unchecked and the container remains filled with water, they can breed. Eggs hatch into larvae within 24 to 48 hours in water, then after about 10 days they mature, and about 2 days after reaching maturity, the mosquitoes are adults and soon begin feeding. It could be termed rampant growth. Not to mention in the rainforest, with its abundant moisture, puddles aren¡¯t even needed¡ªmoist soil will do. [For mosquitoes, I¡¯ve always had a deep loathing!] [Why would God create such a devilish creature?] [To fill the gap of no mosquitoes in my country¡¯s winter, some scientist finally developed a cold-resistant mosquito.] [I¡¯ve seen that news, they should be dragged away and cooked!] [Count me in on that feast!] [Actually, filling the gap allows for more food to be available, which helps animals survive the winter; this is really beneficial for ecological protection¡­ I can¡¯t keep making this up.] ¡°It¡¯s because the mosquitoes are so numerous that we need to make weapons to defend against them.¡± Bi Fang, now with shoes on, waved his hand to signal Leonardo to follow. He looked around and indeed found a broken branch. After stripping away all the unnecessary twigs, a decent tree stick appeared. ¡°Because there are so many mimicry animals in the rainforest, and the gloomy environment can easily trick you, a good tree stick becomes especially important at this moment. It helps us ¡®startle the snake in the grass.''¡± ¡°You should prepare one too, as our paths won¡¯t be entirely the same,¡± Bi Fang advised Leonardo seriously, looking back at him. Leonardo smiled and glanced around, picking up a stick as well, although it was not as straight as Bi Fang¡¯s, and it lacked a bit in appearance. [Lalalala, better late than never.] [I just knew it, I just knew it!] [You can always trust a good, straight tree stick!] [If you¡¯re ever lost in the rainforest, don¡¯t panic, calm down and find a straight stick to use as a weapon first!] [You¡¯ve obtained the sacred weapon, now go find a fierce beast and give it a try!] ¡°What was I talking about just now?¡± picking up the tree stick and being sidetracked by the netizens, Bi Fang had forgotten where he was in his narrative. ¡°Mosquitoes, you were talking about making weapons out of mud to fend off mosquitoes,¡± Leonardo added. Connecting it to what Bi Fang had mentioned about mud, Leonardo had an inkling of what was coming. Leonardo was not without experience; he had roamed around and seen many different people, Africa included, ¡°Are you planning to cover yourself in mud?¡± Bi Fang raised an eyebrow but didn¡¯t deny it, ¡°You¡¯ve been to Africa?¡± Leonardo nodded, ¡°Filmed a movie there before, saw locals do it. Honestly, I think it¡¯s quite primitive. They even bathed with mud.¡± Bi Fang remained noncommittal while the netizens scratched their heads, feeling lost in this extraterrestrial exchange. Mosquitoes, mud, Africa? What¡¯s that got to do with anything? ¡°Do you know which animal kills the most people in the world?¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t directly answer but instead asked the audience. What is it? Before the audience could react, Bi Fang had already started listing examples on his own, ¡°Great White Shark? Lion? Tiger? Or venomous snake? Poisonous spider? Actually, it¡¯s none of these; the biggest killer has always been mosquitoes.¡± Mosquitoes? The audience paused, but many people quickly caught on. Disease! Right, no other creature can spread diseases like mosquitoes! ¡°Many might not understand, but the ¡®Life Science¡¯ website once listed the 10 most deadly animals in the world that pose the greatest threat to human life. And strangely enough, the deadliest animal in the world is not the crocodile, the great white shark, or the African lion, but the inconspicuous mosquito. You wouldn¡¯t have thought it, but the most dangerous animal in the world is the mosquito. Apart from Antarctica, there are different types of mosquitoes everywhere on Earth. Most times being bitten by a mosquito just makes you itch, but some mosquitoes carry malaria parasites. This is a parasitic disease caused by Plasmodium. Once Plasmodium enters the human body, it lives in the red blood cells. People infected with malaria experience symptoms of alternating chills and fever, which in many places in Huaxia is called ¡®Shivering Fever¡¯. Every year, more than two million people die from malaria worldwide, and mosquitoes are the main culprits.¡± Therefore, it is well-deserved to call mosquitoes ¡®humanity¡¯s number one killer¡¯. It¡¯s very necessary for us to create ¡®weapons¡¯ to defend against them.¡± Two million deaths! Shit. Startled by this exceedingly exaggerated figure, the audience was shocked¡ªcould a disease really still cause millions of deaths in modern society? ¡°Now, all those who can see my live broadcast are actually very fortunate, because that means you can afford a smartphone, a computer, a television, and society can provide you with a good internet environment. These are things many people can¡¯t afford, or even witness.¡± ¡°In a good economic environment, sanitation conditions are superior, but in many places in Africa, locals don¡¯t have such good conditions. I know of one indigenous tribe that knows how to fend off mosquitoes.¡± ¡°In a nutshell, it¡¯s by applying mud, smearing mud all over your body, using the smell and thickness of the mud to prevent mosquito bites.¡± ¡°In some very backward areas, if even this kind of soil is unavailable, some Africans will directly use animal dung to smear on their bodies. Although it does have some effect, this method is unbearable.¡± When Bi Fang mentioned that people would rather smear themselves with feces to avoid mosquito bites, the audience fully understood the horror of mosquitoes. This was a situation they had never encountered in all their previous adventures. Only in the face of death can people let go of their shame and smear the dirtiest substances on themselves. ¡°Why not look for some mosquito-repelling herbs? With your ability, that shouldn¡¯t be hard, right?¡± Leonardo was curious. He had seen all of Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcasts and as a Huaxia person, finding mosquito-repelling herbs wasn¡¯t hard. Why smear mud? Such a good physique, it¡¯s a pity to cover it with mud. [Yeah, why do you have to smear mud?] The audience was also curious, was it really necessary? ¡°How long does your insect repellent last?¡± Instead of directly answering, Bi Fang turned to ask the audience. [Uh, a few hours?] [I feel like it doesn¡¯t even last a few hours¡­.] [It¡¯s gone once you start sweating.] ¡°Isn¡¯t that the reason?¡± Bi Fang laughed, ¡°Modern industrial products can¡¯t effectively repel mosquitoes; sweating, moving, all reduce their effectiveness; let alone the mosquito-repelling medicine found in the woods. They are not useless, but very limited, and they leave a strong scent on our bodies.¡± Any substance that can be directly used in nature is ninety-nine percent not as effective as industrialized products. There¡¯s a reason why human society has developed for so long. It¡¯s not necessarily better because it¡¯s more primitive. Using herbal repellents is also a very troublesome process, as they have to be reapplied frequently and tools have to be made to crush and extract the juice. It¡¯s more practical to apply a layer of mud, which is not only easier to find but also more effective¡ªit¡¯s a chemical versus physical barrier. ¡°It¡¯s not that there are no plants in Africa with mosquito-repelling properties; people call them ¡®Mosquito-Repellent Trees¡¯. Many indigenous Africans choose to build their homes near these trees or plants.¡± ¡°But in addition to that, Africans will still smear mud on their bodies. This proves many things. Now, what we are going to look for is this kind of mud, red clay.¡± ¡°Red clay is, literally, red mud, mainly composed of terrigenous material carried by rivers. It is rich in iron oxide, and if anyone has ever worked in a ceramic factory, they would know this is a common material for pottery.¡± ¡°So this time, we are not only looking for red clay but also looking for a water source!¡± Chapter 458 - Chapter 458: Chapter 455: Poisonous Wood! (Two in One) Chapter 458: Chapter 455: Poisonous Wood! (Two in One) In the rainforest, Bi Fang leaned on a tree stick, fumbling through the woods at a not-so-fast pace. ¡°Many people think that there¡¯s no lack of water in the rainforest, but that idea is actually wrong. Although the humidity here is high, the temperature is even higher, and the scorching heat causes the body to lose moisture rapidly.¡± Bi Fang pointed at Leonardo nearby, and the audience could easily see that the thin, beige shirt he was wearing had been soaked through. Even Leonardo¡¯s lips had cracked and were peeling, a clear sign of dehydration. Luckily, Leonardo had brought his own water supply, or else he might¡¯ve already been desperately searching for something to drink. For the moment, being used as an example, he couldn¡¯t help but take out his water bottle and take a sip. ¡°All methods of finding a water source never really change; in essence, it¡¯s still about terrain, living creatures, and special landmarks, these three major directions¡­¡± ¡°Terrain is simple, water flows downhill, so we head towards the lowest ground. Yunnan has mountainous plateau terrain with many steep slopes, and by following these slopes¡­¡± Bi Fang led Leonardo to climb atop a huge rock, a high point within their field of vision. Although you need to look for water in the lowest areas, beforehand, you must discern where the true depressions are. Many times, what you think is a low-lying area might not be one at all, especially in the mountains. Therefore, it¡¯s necessary to judge the lay of the land in advance. After taking a sip, Leonardo put his water bottle back into his backpack. He wasn¡¯t sure when Bi Fang would find a water source, and he was somewhat reluctant to drink more. The experience right now was something Leonardo had never encountered in his more than forty years of life. He had acted in many movies, movies with many dangerous scenes, but their realism didn¡¯t come close to the profoundness of these short hours. Keep in mind that there¡¯s a helicopter on standby just above his head, ready to arrive within ten minutes in case of danger. Even so, Leonardo could still feel an unshakable sense of crisis in his heart. ¡°If you¡¯re someone who¡¯s not accustomed to wilderness adventures, when you enter a place like this, you¡¯ll feel extremely terrified, very afraid, and immediately want to run away.¡± Leonardo suddenly remembered the words Bi Fang had said to him before they jumped from the plane. The environment of the rainforest, the green that meets the eye, the towering trees blocking out the sunlight, insects everywhere, and the occasional wild animal¡ªon their way, they had already seen venomous snakes from a distance several times. The complex terrain, steep cliffs, rapid rivers¡ªwell, they hadn¡¯t come across that yet¡ªand the unpredictable weather during the rainy season, everything in reality fulfilled Leonardo¡¯s imagination of the rainforest. And his imagination of danger. One cannot comprehend the feeling of being completely isolated and cut off from human society unless they¡¯re in the midst of it¡ªno amount of imagining can produce it. The scarcity of resources, ever-looming perils, and the foreboding of being lost is no less daunting than knowing you¡¯re slowly dying. People who have lived in the comfortable confines of a city would inevitably have their nerves stretched tight in such an environment, taut to the point where they might snap at any moment. Even the desire to run away is indicative of nimble limbs and a robust psyche; if it were someone who loafed around all day long, they¡¯d probably just collapse and wait for death. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Bi Fang extended a hand and waved it in front of Leonardo. ¡°Nothing.¡± Leonardo gathered his thoughts, ¡°I just feel like I¡¯ve gained a lot. This sensation of danger that could strike at any moment¡ªit¡¯s quite unique.¡± Bi Fang asked curiously, ¡°What kind of gain is that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m an actor,¡± Leonardo said with a smile creeping onto his face, ¡°Many people never experience the real jungle in their lifetimes. How could they know the true sensation of death?¡± Bi Fang too smiled: ¡°How does it feel?¡± Leonardo thought for a moment before speaking, ¡°It¡¯s like walking in a valley, with death blowing against me. Do ordinary people really stand a chance of escaping to heaven in such an environment? Even water here can be deadly.¡± Not to mention, Leonardo himself was so thirsty at the moment. If they couldn¡¯t find a water source soon, would he succumb to the urge to drink from those dark puddles? Even if they reeked awfully. But such water would be teeming with rotting leaves, stinking insects, countless germs, and myriad parasitic eggs waiting to infest. Just one drink, and you wouldn¡¯t ascend to heaven, but you¡¯d come close enough. Even distillation couldn¡¯t guarantee safety. ¡°It¡¯s not that exaggerated. If you really can¡¯t find a water source, collecting dew in the rainforest is still relatively easy. All you need is a large, watertight leaf or a plastic bag to collect it. The water is quite clean, it¡¯s just that the amount you gather totally depends on your skill.¡± Bi Fang thought about it, lacking water was indeed troublesome. The rainforest was filled with danger and ferocious animals; very few dared to wander carelessly. However, dew could only solve an emergency and barely provide sustenance; it was simply not enough to collect a sufficient amount of water. Although people have always found the rainforest to be mysterious, once you¡¯re lost inside, with its complex terrain and waterways, environment fraught with danger, and significant temperature differences between day and night, the average person has very little chance of escaping or waiting for a rescue. ¡°But it¡¯s not completely impossible. Human potential is difficult to define scientifically, and many times, it is the will to survive that is key.¡± Bi Fang cited an example casually. ¡°In 2015, two Dutch girls in their twenties went missing in the jungles of Panama. It was early April, right in the rainy season. They entered the jungle wearing shorts and short sleeves, merely as tourists, not survival experts. They didn¡¯t plan to spend the night in the jungle, they didn¡¯t even have a tent.¡± [As soon as I heard ¡°spend the night,¡± I knew something bad would happen.] [Spending the night without a tent? I knew this was no simple matter.] As expected, Bi Fang¡¯s next words confirmed the audience¡¯s suspicions. ¡°And then there was no ¡®then.¡¯ They strayed into an uninhabited path and got lost in the vast rainforest.¡± [As expected, I knew it. This is a hellish little tale.] ¡°The only useful things in their backpacks were a water bottle, a camera, and a cellphone. In a situation with almost no assistance tools, at least one of them survived for about eleven days.¡± What does it mean that at least one person survived for eleven days? Leonardo, listening on the side, was taken aback and felt a sense of foreboding. Bi Fang continued, ¡°When I saw the news, I looked up some information and read many netizen analyses. It seems that, in this incident, the most likely scenario was that they got lost.¡± The most likely scenario? Not just Leonardo, but the audience also felt a sense of foreboding. If it was reported in the news, especially from 2015, shouldn¡¯t it be established fact? Couldn¡¯t the truth be known from the people involved? Why is there so much uncertainty? ¡°Ever since the two left the continental divide, it¡¯s possible they fell off a cliff from the start and had no chance of climbing back up, only to take an alternative path. The worst part is that one of them broke her leg, with multiple fractures in the foot, making it impossible to walk.¡± ¡°When crossing a river, there was just a rudimentary monkey bridge made of three ropes, which could break at any moment. To return, they had to cross the river, but for someone who could barely walk, this was an almost impossible task, not to mention maintaining balance. You should know, there are crocodiles in the rivers of the Panama jungle!¡± ¡°But in the end, the traces they left showed they had traveled a great distance. It¡¯s guessed that the girl with the broken foot persevered for six days.¡± [Okay, I understand.] [A negative story every day.] [Is this really suitable to be told as an inspiring story? Laugh cry.jpg.] ¡°From the seventh day on, only the other girl remained, carrying the despair of being the only survivor, guarding her companion¡¯s body, with a cellphone running out of battery, lost and clueless, and all the worst situations you can imagine.¡± ¡°Within eleven days, they made a total of 77 emergency calls from their cellphones, but not a single one was connected.¡± In the beginning, netizens could still crack jokes, but by now, they could no longer laugh. Looking at the dark environment surrounding Bi Fang, everyone asked themselves, what would I do if I were trapped here? The grand scene fell completely silent. Cao Lifeng, Ge Liyang, and others were glancing at each other with looks that revealed deep despair. All around you, not a single person can help you, possibly for thousands of kilometers, you¡¯re the only human. Your companion lies silently next to you on the ground. The temperature outside is scorching hot, but your companion¡¯s body grows colder inch by inch. In the rainforest, microbes are exceedingly active, and in just two days, the body¡­ As night fell, you were still dialing the distress number over and over again. You¡¯d lost count of how many times you had tried; perhaps it was hundreds, but not once did you receive a response, leaving you to watch as your phone¡¯s battery slowly drained away. In the darkness, the last glimmer of light vanished, and from not far in the jungle, that strange, rustling sound emerged once again. Perhaps a predator had set its sights on you days ago, ready to savor its treat in these final moments. ¡°[What a pity, such a pity not to have encountered Master Fang.] Some recalled the incident in Mohe. It had been similar: people were in danger, and if not for the fortunate encounter with Master Fang, they might have frozen to death in the blizzard or been torn to pieces by wolves. Just thinking about the despair those two young girls faced when they got lost made the audience feel a twinge of regret. ¡°[Not every time someone is in danger will they be lucky enough to run into Master Fang.] ¡°[Better keep watching Master Fang¡¯s videos; you never know when you might face danger.] ¡°[Master Fang is awesome!]¡± ¡°[Could these become instructional videos in the future?]¡± Leonardo fell silent. He subconsciously touched the phone in his pocket, his last bit of security gone, and let out a bitter laugh, ¡°I was expecting you to tell some kind of inspirational story, but instead¡­¡± ¡°But that¡¯s just how the rainforest is,¡± Bi Fang spread his hands, the odds of getting lost and then rescued in the rainforest were pitifully low, ¡°But this indeed is an inspirational story. Don¡¯t give up, keep going. Staying alive gives you the greatest hope.¡± Leonardo felt helpless but had to accept this reasoning, ¡°Let¡¯s continue talking about searching for water sources, the terrain, and then what?¡± ¡°Then, it¡¯s about the wildlife. Many animals live near water, like frogs, snakes, and finally, there are special cues, such as weather. If it happens to rain, then you¡¯re lucky, and you won¡¯t have to worry about finding water for the next few days. During that time adrift at sea, I put my hope in that,¡± Bi Fang explained. ¡°However, this requires a bit of luck and you can¡¯t blindly depend on the weather. I made that conclusion because I understood the climate of the Atlantic and the frontal systems at that time; in that month and location, there should be a rain within a week. But rain doesn¡¯t always mean good luck,¡± he added. ¡°Besides, there are also certain special terrains to consider, like cracked rock fissures, which are also likely to have water sources.¡± Finding water sources is crucial for wilderness survival. Outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy hiking take potable water on every trip. Especially when traversing the mountains for extended periods. It¡¯s just not realistic to carry over ten liters of water. You¡¯ll either die of thirst or of exhaustion. So it¡¯s important to have some methods for finding water sources. ¡°You carry only a portion of your water, replenishing the rest from the wilderness. Generally speaking, finding springs in the mountains is quite easy¡­¡± Mid-explanation, Bi Fang suddenly stopped, his gaze fixed on a large tree in front of him, his body motionless. ¡°What¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± Leonardo, who was still tense from the frightening story, turned around just in time to hear this command, causing goosebumps to rise on his skin as his sweat-soaked forehead began to cool. What¡¯s happening? Is there danger? Upon hearing Bi Fang¡¯s shout, Leonardo instantly thought of a standoff with a wild beast. Were there wild animals nearby? Or had he unknowingly approached a venomous snake, now within its striking range, which is why he couldn¡¯t move? In an instant, Leonardo¡¯s mind raced with numerous thoughts, even recalling the snake venom serum factory mentioned earlier in Yunnan. Large beads of cold sweat slid continuously down his forehead, but he didn¡¯t dare to so much as swallow. The next moment, Bi Fang himself moved cautiously, even tenderly touching the nearby tree, his eyes filled with astonishment. ¡°This is a Blood-Sealing Throat Tree!¡± Seeing Bi Fang¡¯s reaction, Leonardo also came to understand but still didn¡¯t dare to make a move, asking, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Step back two paces,¡± instructed Bi Fang. Leonardo did as he was told, and only then did Bi Fang pat the tree trunk, his eyes gleaming with joy: ¡°This is an Arrow Poison Wood! This thing is highly toxic; if you accidentally get cut by this in the wild, you might die within half an hour.¡± ¡°Was I that close to it just now?¡± Leonardo looked at Bi Fang continuously slapping the tree trunk, somewhat in a daze. To die within half an hour of being cut? Calculating, it would take at least ten minutes for the helicopter to arrive, and then another half an hour to reach the hospital¡­ What does that mean? Was I on the edge of death just now? Bi Fang glanced at Leonardo and knew what he was thinking, shook his head, and laughed, ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it, there are no branches around here, you couldn¡¯t have been cut.¡± The tree trunk was very smooth, and the tree stood over twenty meters tall, with branches starting ten meters up. ¡°Then what were you doing just now?¡± ¡°Just scaring you a bit.¡± Leonardo: ¡°¡­¡± [This actor can¡¯t take a scare, so funny.] [Arrow Poison Wood, Poison Dart Frog, the names say it all.] [Someone¡¯s always a step ahead of me on Baidu, the world¡¯s most poisonous tree¡­] [Netizens are always faster than me!] ¡°The milky white sap of the Blood-Sealing Throat Tree contains potent poison. Once it comes into contact with wounds on humans or animals, it can cause the victim¡¯s heart to paralyze, blood vessels to close, blood to coagulate, and lead to asphyxiation and death. In Banna, there¡¯s a saying about this, called ¡®seven up, eight down, nine knock to the ground.''¡± Bi Fang had already started looking around the tree trunk for something, speaking as he searched. ¡°Legend has it that in Yunnan Province, Banna area, a Dai ethnic hunter was the first to discover the toxic nature of Arrow Poison Wood sap. Once, while hunting, the hunter was desperately chased by a huge bear and climbed a large tree, yet the bear persisted in pursuit. At the critical moment of life and death, with no way out, the hunter smartly broke off a branch and stabbed it at the bear climbing up the tree. Then, miraculously, the bear immediately fell down dead. Since then, the hunters of Banna learned to apply the sap of the Arrow Poison Wood to their arrowheads for hunting.¡± ¡°America also had this tree. Allegedly, when ancient Indian tribes faced enemy invasions, the women and children would apply the sap of the Blood-Sealing Throat Tree to arrowheads at the back and send them to the front lines for the men to use in battle. Thanks to this, the Indians won battle after battle, leaving the invading enemies lying dead all over, with their souls scattered and courage shattered, fiercely protecting their ancestral homeland. Whether they managed to keep it in the end, well, that¡¯s a matter of opinion.¡± Bi Fang sounded a bit excited. Leonardo, who had been with Bi Fang for four or five days, could distinctly feel it and asked, ¡°You seem very happy? Planning to use it to make weapons?¡± Poison wood, something that could make Bi Fang this happy, must be for making weapons, right? Such a poisonous tree, indeed it would make a fine weapon. ¡°Make weapons? That¡¯s one aspect, yes.¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°Do you still remember what we¡¯re looking for?¡± ¡°Water source and red soil?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I originally thought we would find both the water source and red soil together, but I didn¡¯t expect to find the red soil first.¡± Bi Fang was scraping away the grass and soil on the ground, and after digging through a layer, a striking red soil suddenly came into view for everyone to see. ¡°Hehe, got it!¡± Chapter 459 - Chapter 459: 456 Chapter 459: 456 When the yellow dead leaves, green needle grass, and black soil were peeled back, the exposure of the rich red soil to the air was a delight to behold. Red clay! Bi Fang scooped up a handful of red clay, his face brimming with joy, ¡°Blood-Sealing Throat Trees are often found in tropical monsoon rainforest regions, rooting in acidic bedrocks such as granite, shale, and sandstone, or atop red soil. I guessed there might be red clay underfoot here since I didn¡¯t see any large rocks!¡± Leonardo was somewhat stunned, murmuring, ¡°It¡¯s actually here.¡± At the moment the red clay was revealed before his eyes, Leonardo didn¡¯t feel joy but an indescribable sense of relief. Yes, relief. If one were to say that upon first entering the rainforest, the deep and shadowy environment induced a sense of fear, with the highly repetitive sight of trees enough to make one feel lost and panicky. But watching Bi Fang, who knew everything and worried about nothing, who was neither sad nor anxious, just methodically following a set plan and using any available resources¡ª From parachuting into the rainforest, to descending from the trees, to the systematic search for water sources and red clay to repel mosquitoes¡ª All the apprehensions about the unknown environment were swept away. Bi Fang was like an experienced and savvy native, for whom the rainforest wasn¡¯t a place of peril that ordinary people dreaded, but his home. If a friend invited you to his home, would you feel afraid? If seeing the Arrow Poison Wood told you there was red clay, how was that different from asking for a glass of water at a friend¡¯s house and the host effortlessly fetching a disposable cup from the cabinet? He knew exactly what was where, as clear as if he were back at home. [Amazing!] [Incredible plus!] [This, he knows way too much] [I¡¯m utterly impressed!] The audience in the live broadcast room seeing that patch of red soil on their screens were utterly impressed. ¡°It¡¯s truly awesome!¡± In Pavilion One, the audience felt a sense of excitement returning, that familiar feeling coming back. Watching survival is undeniably tense and thrilling, but watching Bi Fang survive is a time to broaden one¡¯s horizons. ¡°Hurry, come and help. I¡¯ll go find something to put this in, be careful not to dig up its roots,¡± Bi Fang instructed carefully, ¡°The Blood-Sealing Throat Tree is poisonous due to its sap, so we must not scratch its surface. Additionally, it is a Third-Level Protected Plant, so for whatever reason, try not to damage its root system.¡± ¡°If you hadn¡¯t told me it was poisonous, it would have been fine, but now I¡¯m a bit scared,¡± Leonardo said with a wry smile, squatting down to dig out the red clay himself. ¡°Third-Level Protected Plant? Is that a thing?¡± Someone in Pavilion One raised a question. They¡¯d heard of national first and second class protected animals, but never of a third class. This term felt unfamiliar and strange suddenly coming from Bi Fang¡¯s mouth, yet nobody challenged it. If Bi Fang said something existed, it almost certainly did. If they didn¡¯t know or were unclear about it, it was likely their own fault. Why embarrass oneself by questioning someone¡¯s expertise with one¡¯s own layman¡¯s knowledge? ¡°Yes, there is!¡± Someone confirmed after pulling out their phone and checking. But even faster was someone sending a barrage of questions to Bi Fang through the live comments. At this moment, Bi Fang had come to a tree with large fan-shaped leaves, and was removing its leaves to prepare for transporting soil back. Seeing the barrage of comments, he nodded, ¡°Yes, there are first, second, and third levels of protection for plants, but animals indeed only have first and second levels. Below that, we have ¡®San You,¡¯ which isn¡¯t third level, and common animals like frogs and sparrows are among ¡®San You.''¡± ¡°Compared to first and second levels, the protection for ¡®San You¡¯ is much weaker. There¡¯s no problem unless their numbers reach a certain point, so few ordinary people care about it. It¡¯s not like they are specifically targeted for hunting. Moreover, people care less about plants, which is why you¡¯ve probably never heard about it.¡± [So that¡¯s how it is.] [What about third-level plants, though? Didn¡¯t Master Fang just say they could be used for defense? Can we still do that now?] [Should be possible, Old Fang isn¡¯t unaware that it¡¯s a third-level protection plant. He had said earlier that it was doable, so it must be.] Bi Fang chuckled, ¡°Ordinary people might not believe it, but for me, it¡¯s possible. Third-level protected plants can be utilized as long as permission is applied for, and unfortunately for you, I happen to be one of those authorized.¡± Not to mention, a long time ago, Lin Chang¡¯s dad had acquired the relevant certification for him. After some development over time, Bi Fang¡¯s status had become even more extraordinary, and naturally, there were fewer taboos for him. [We¡¯re being shown up. Is this what a true boss looks like?] [After the Hainan Warlord, do we now have a Wilderness Warlord?] [I called the cops, but his phone rang.] [Classic.] Meanwhile, Leonardo was already poking out quite a bit of red clay with tree branches. In the rainforest, the cycle of matter is rapid, so the red soil isn¡¯t on the surface but rather covered under a layer of black soil. Anyone who has ever dug up soil knows that just a bit deeper it becomes tough and hard to dig, forming into solid lumps that are difficult to remove by hand. That¡¯s why Leonardo had to poke at it for a good while with branches to procure a substantial amount of red clay. Bi Fang rolled up the large leaves, forming them into a funnel shape, then found a thick vine and started binding it around from where the break was, wrapping it round and round. After wrapping it, he found another two thin and short morning glory vines and used them to connect and secure the ends to the wrapped vine, completing the funnel-like container. ¡°We could even make a lid for the top that¡¯s connected,¡± Bi Fang said as he wrapped a thin vine around the petiole of the large leaf, with the other end attached to the thick vine. With a pull, the upper half of the leaf covered the funnel. Having made two of these, Bi Fang carried them over to the red clay and put all the red clay that Leonardo had dug up into them. ¡°Aren¡¯t we applying it now?¡± Leonardo asked curiously. ¡°No, we can¡¯t apply it yet. Red clay that has just been dug up cannot be used directly; it requires secondary processing,¡± Bi Fang explained. ¡°Because the soil of red clay contains tons of bacteria, microorganisms, and even small bugs. Look.¡± As Bi Fang stirred the red clay, ants, aphids, and woodlice were scurrying around in an escape frenzy. ¡°If you were to apply such soil directly, it would be okay if you had no tiny wounds, but if you had any cuts, it could be serious trouble. And in the jungle, with sharp branches everywhere, you could have small cuts that you might not even be aware of.¡± ¡°The locals in Africa wouldn¡¯t do this either. They would dry it, then mix in animal fats to increase the stickiness. This way, when applied on the body, it wouldn¡¯t fall off due to drying and cracking.¡± Leonardo looked up at the rainforest, where not a bit of sunlight penetrated, and scratched his head, ¡°So what do we do? We don¡¯t have animal fat, nor do we have sunlight to dry it.¡± ¡°No worries, if we don¡¯t have fats, we just add more water. If we don¡¯t have sunlight, we can bake the soil directly to sterilize it. It¡¯s the same thing,¡± Bi Fang reassured. With the large funnel on his back, Bi Fang took a deep breath and said, ¡°Now it¡¯s time to make fire. Today, I will teach you a third hands-on method of making fire, besides the ¡®Fire-Making by Wood-Drilling¡¯ and pump method.¡± ¡°The Fire Saw Method!¡± Chapter 460 - Chapter 460: Chapter 457 Occupy a Slot Chapter 460: Chapter 457 Occupy a Slot I¡¯ve reserved a spot. The second chapter isn¡¯t ready yet. I¡¯ll make the changes before one o¡¯clock in the morning. When the yellow withered leaves, green needle grass, and black soil were brushed aside, the exposure of the red soil to the air brought joy. Red clay! Bi Fang scooped up a handful of red clay, his face filled with delight, ¡°The Blood-Sealing Throat Tree often grows in tropical monsoon forest regions, rooting in acidic bedrock such as granite, shale, sandstone, or on red soil. Just now, I saw there were no large rocks here, so I guessed there might be red clay underneath!¡± Leonardo seemed stunned, murmuring, ¡°There really is.¡± The moment the red clay was exposed before his eyes, Leonardo didn¡¯t feel joy, but an indescribable sense of relief. Yes, relief. If the deep, mysterious environment of the rainforest initially instilled a sense of fear, the sheer repetition of trees could make one feel frantic and headless. But watching Bi Fang, who recognized everything, knew everything, without worry, without sadness, taking step by step toward a pre-determined plan, making use of all available resources. From landing in the rainforest, to descending from the trees, to methodically searching for water sources and red clay to repel mosquitoes. All the concerns about the unknown environment vanished. Bi Fang was like an experienced and savvy native, the rainforest wasn¡¯t a place of peril for the common folk, but his home. If a friend invites you to their home, would you be afraid? Knowing where to find red clay just by seeing the Arrow Poison Wood, how is that different from asking for a cup of water at a friend¡¯s house, and the host effortlessly taking out a disposable cup from the cupboard? Knowing exactly where everything is, just like at home. [Awesome!] [Awesome plus!] [This guy knows way too much.] [I¡¯m completely convinced!] The viewers in the live broadcast felt completely convinced upon seeing that patch of red clay in their sight. ¡°It¡¯s really awesome!¡± Inside the first venue, the crowd was somewhat excited, that familiar feeling returned. Watching someone survive is undoubtedly tense and thrilling, but watching Bi Fang survive is a time to gain knowledge. ¡°Quick, help me out, I need to find something to hold this in, be careful not to dig up its roots,¡± Bi Fang carefully instructed, ¡°The poisonous part of the Blood-Sealing Throat Tree is its sap, so don¡¯t scratch its surface. Moreover, it¡¯s a Third-Level Protected Plant, so for whatever reason, try not to damage its root system.¡± ¡°If you hadn¡¯t told me it was poisonous, I¡¯d have been fine, but now I¡¯m a bit scared,¡± Leonardo said with a wry smile, squatting down and likewise scraping out the red clay. ¡°Third-Level Protected Plants? There¡¯s such a thing?¡± someone in the first venue raised a question. I¡¯ve heard of national first- and second-level protected animals, but I¡¯ve never heard of the third level, have I? The term felt strange, suddenly coming from Bi Fang¡¯s mouth, making people puzzled, but nobody questioned it. If Bi Fang mentioned something, it was basically true. If one didn¡¯t understand or wasn¡¯t clear about it, it was likely their own fault. Who would be audacious enough to challenge the expertise of another with their own amateur knowledge? ¡°There is, there is!¡± someone said, pulling out their phone and looking it up. But there were people who were quicker, asking Bi Fang through the barrage of comments. At that moment, Bi Fang had come to a tree with large fan-shaped leaves, was removing its leaves, preparing to carry soil back. Seeing the barrage, he nodded, ¡°Yes, plants do have first, second, and third levels of protection, but animals indeed only have first and second levels. Below that is ¡®San You¡¯, not third level, like common frogs and sparrows, they are all ¡®San You¡¯.¡± ¡°Compared to first and second levels, ¡®San You¡¯ has much weaker protection measures. It won¡¯t matter unless the population reaches a certain number, so few ordinary people pay attention to it. And since people care less about plants, that¡¯s why you have never heard of it.¡± [I see] [What about third-level plants, didn¡¯t Master Fang just say they can be used for defense? Can we still do that now?] [It should be possible, Old Fang isn¡¯t unaware that they are Third-Level, he just said we can do it, so it must certainly be doable.] Bi Fang chuckled, ¡°Ordinary people might not believe this, but in my case, I can. Third-level plants can be utilized as long as permission is applied for, and as it happens, I am indeed one of those people.¡± Not to mention, a long time ago, Lin Chang¡¯s father had obtained the necessary certifications for him. As time passed, Bi Fang¡¯s status became even more extraordinary, naturally decreasing the taboos he faced. [Showed off, is this what an ¡®elite¡¯ looks like?] [After the Hainan Warlord, do we have another Wilderness Warlord now?] [I called the police, but his phone rang] [Classic.] Meanwhile, Leonardo had poked out quite a bit of red clay with branches. In the rainforest, the material cycle is fast, so red earth isn¡¯t on the surface, rather it¡¯s covered by a layer of black soil. Anyone who has dug soil knows that even a little deeper, it becomes hard and difficult to dig, clumping together; it¡¯s really hard to dig with hands, so Leonardo had to use branches to poke for a good while to get a considerable amount of red clay. Bi Fang rolled up the large fan-shaped leaf, forming a funnel, then found a thick long vine and started wrapping it around at the break, winding it up in circles. Upon wrapping it up, he found two thin and short morning glory vines, attaching and securing them at each end to the circled vine, completing the funnel-like container. ¡°The top can also act as a lid, connected together.¡± Bi Fang wrapped the thin vine around the stem of the large fan-shaped leaf, attaching the lower end to the thick vine¡¯s body. With a pull, the upper half of the fan leaf covered the funnel completely. After making two, Bi Fang carried them to the red clay, putting all the red clay that Leonardo had dug out into them. ¡°Aren¡¯t we going to apply it now?¡± Leonardo asked curiously. ¡°No, we can¡¯t apply it now; the red clay that¡¯s just been dug up can¡¯t be used immediately, it needs to undergo secondary processing,¡± Bi Fang explained, ¡°Because the soil of the red clay contains a lot of bacteria, microorganisms, and even small insects, look.¡± Bi Fang stirred through the red clay, ants, aphids, and mites were frantically escaping. ¡°If you apply that kind of soil directly onto your body, it¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t have small wounds, but if you do, it could be serious. In the jungle, there are sharp branches everywhere, and you may not even notice many tiny cuts.¡± ¡°The locals in Africa wouldn¡¯t do it this way either; they would dry it out, then mix it with animal fat to increase its viscosity so that when applied to the skin it doesn¡¯t flake and fall off due to drying and cracking.¡± Leonardo looked up at the rainforest where not a bit of sunlight came through, scratching his head, ¡°So what are we going to do? We don¡¯t have animal fat, nor do we have sunlight to dry it.¡± ¡°No worries, if we don¡¯t have fat, we can add more water, and if there¡¯s no sunlight, we can directly bake the soil to sterilize it, it¡¯s the same,¡± he said. Carrying the large funnel on his back, Bi Fang took a breath, ¡°Now, we¡¯re going to make fire. Today, I¡¯ll teach everyone a third method of starting a fire by hand, apart from Fire-Making by Wood-Drilling and pump fire-starting.¡± ¡°Fire Saw Method!¡± Chapter 461 - Chapter 461: Chapter 458: Youre a Bloody Genius Chapter 461: Chapter 458: You¡¯re a Bloody Genius Leonardo stripped all the twigs and leaves off the vine, wrapped both ends around his hands, and secured the center segment into the groove of the sawing board. He took a deep breath and began to rub forcefully¡ª But right from the start, Leonardo realized it was far from as simple as he had imagined, for some reason the rubbing was jerky and uneven, without any feeling of smoothness. At this rate, let alone starting a fire, it was very difficult even to accumulate a bit of heat. ¡°My goodness, this is completely different from what I thought.¡± Leonardo increased the force in his hands, but the situation not only failed to improve, it became even more snagged. Bi Fang reminded from the side, ¡°Don¡¯t tense up completely, you need to pull the vine straight, the force should be applied longitudinally, don¡¯t apply too much pressure at once, the pressure should gradually increase as the heat builds up, imagine it as the blade of a saw, it¡¯s very strong and won¡¯t break.¡± Leonardo wiped the sweat from his forehead, adjusted his posture, and started pulling again, this time it was a lot better, but still snagged occasionally. ¡°Every snag means dissipation of heat.¡± Bi Fang shook his head, acquiring fire wasn¡¯t something one could learn just by watching once or being taught once; it required a large accumulation of experience. Experience had to be built up personally, it couldn¡¯t be learned by studying alone. Regrettably, it seemed that Leonardo didn¡¯t have much talent in wilderness survival skills, after rubbing for over ten minutes, he had only managed to minimize the snags, still far from accumulating the heat necessary to start a fire. People inside the first pavilion were discussing fervently. ¡°Is it really that hard?¡± ¡°Duh, do you think making fire in the wild is easy?¡± ¡°I want to try it too.¡± Some in the crowd were eager to try, after all, fire-making by wood-drilling and the pump method were too cumbersome, but the Fire Saw Method seemed very simple. And the raw materials were easy to find, weren¡¯t bamboos everywhere? Just about any hilltop would have them, right? ¡°Bamboo slices and vines, anyone want to buy them? Fifty Yuan for a set, experience the Fire Saw Method onsite!¡± Just as everyone was thinking about going home to try it out, an untimely shout came from outside the entrance. A staff member, pulling a cart full of bamboo, hollered, ¡°Experience the Fire Saw Method onsite, fifty Yuan for one set of materials!¡± People: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Give me a set!¡± ¡°I want one too!¡± ¡°That was fast, I¡¯m buying!¡± Until his arms ached unbearably, Leonardo hadn¡¯t achieved effective heat accumulation, and had to stop temporarily to rest: ¡°I can¡¯t do it, it¡¯s too difficult.¡± ¡°That¡¯s normal, the first time is always like this, you¡¯ll gain experience after a few successes.¡± Bi Fang flipped the red clay on the stone slab with a bamboo board, more than ten minutes had passed, and the moist red clay had dried and cracked, presumably it wouldn¡¯t take long to turn into red powder. But Leonardo didn¡¯t give up, he shook his hands to loosen the muscles, grasped the vine, and continued to saw! Another ten minutes passed, and finally, white smoke emerged from the bamboo board! Leonardo got instantly excited, ¡°Hey, do you see that? Do you see it? It¡¯s smoking, the sawing board is smoking!¡± ¡°Yes, I see it,¡± Bi Fang nodded encouragingly, ¡°But the hardest step comes after the smoke, what you want to acquire is charcoal, not smoke.¡± After another quarter of an hour passed, the amount of smoke coming from Leonardo¡¯s hands was still pitifully little, barely visible, as if silently telling him to push a bit harder, just one more effort, and the charcoal would soon be there. But reality was always cruel, after spending a full hour, Leonardo still hadn¡¯t started the fire. Thinking about how Bi Fang managed to get a flame going in just two or three minutes, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of defeat. Now, Leonardo¡¯s forearms were sore, swollen, and even slightly trembling. Beside him, Bi Fang had obtained dry, powdered red mud. After moving the slate aside, he waited for the powder to cool. Meanwhile, Bi Fang removed the old palm leaves from the funnel, replaced them with new ones, then poured the red powder into it. ¡°We have the red powder now, after we find a clean water source to mix it with, we can start applying it. Moreover, for better effectiveness, we can also add some strongly scented herbs, which can mask our scent very well and avoid attracting predators.¡± At this moment, a slew of complaining bullet comments caught Bi Fang¡¯s attention. ¡°I failed too, boo-hoo-hoo.¡± ¡°I sawed for more than ten minutes and didn¡¯t even see smoke.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve spent three hundred yuan¡­ and haven¡¯t even seen a spark¡­ ¡± ¡°Apparently someone next door has succeeded¡­ the club¡¯s coach is demonstrating the Fire Saw Method.¡± ¡°Just faint white smoke¡­ I feel like a loser, sawing away with the girl barely acknowledging me¡­¡± ¡°The head of this club is a damn genius, making money off a bunch of bamboo sticks.¡± ¡°Damn, I really want to try it too, regretting not snapping up a ticket.¡± What¡¯s going on? Bi Fang was stunned, scrolling through the comments with an incredulous look. This was too showy, wasn¡¯t it? Could it really work like this? He had never imagined the club could also come up with such a setup. There was no doubt in his mind that this scheme was concocted by Yao Jun. The moment Bi Fang got his hands on the bamboo, Jun had thought of this method to increase visitor engagement. ¡°You¡¯re a damn genius, indeed,¡± Bi Fang thought to himself. ¡°The red mud is ready, do you want to keep trying?¡± Bi Fang, with the funnel strapped to his back, asked Leonardo, who was still struggling with the saw, with a smile. Leonardo let out a long sigh and tossed the vine and bamboo board onto the ground, ¡°I might just not have the talent for this.¡± After restoring the fire pit on the ground to its original state, Bi Fang picked up two pieces of charcoal for next time he needed to light a fire, then gestured, ¡°Let¡¯s go. We need to continue looking for a water source.¡± On their way, Bi Fang was more observant than before, trying to find some mosquito-repellent herbs to mix into the red mud. ¡°There are many common mosquito repellent herbs, such as mugwort, which can be found almost everywhere in Huaxia except for extremely arid and cold regions.¡± Bi Fang prodded a bush with a stick. After a huge centipede awoke and scurried away from the bush, he bent down, plucked a plant, and sniffed it near his nose. The scent was very strong. ¡°In addition to that, there¡¯s honeysuckle and perilla leaves, very common mosquito repellent herbs. Not much is needed, about ten grams would suffice.¡± Bi Fang placed the mugwort into the funnel bag at his waist as he explained. Now, he carried three funnel bags on him ¨C two at the waist and one large one on his back ¨C filled with red mud powder. His overall appearance was blending in more and more with the rainforest. It was around twelve noon when the sound of trickling water began echoing through the forest. Leonardo, whose water bottle was nearly empty, brightened up. Had they found a water source? Just as he was about to step forward to check, Bi Fang suddenly pulled him back, ¡°Wait!¡± Chapter 462 - Chapter 462: Chapter 459 Reserve a Spot Chapter 462: Chapter 459 Reserve a Spot Placeholder, Chapter Two isn¡¯t ready yet Will be finished before 1 a.m. Leonardo stripped the branches and leaves off the rattan and wrapped both ends around his hands, fixing the middle section into the groove of the saw board. Taking a deep breath, he began to rub vigorously. But right from the start, Leonardo realized it was far from as simple as he had thought it might be, for some reason every rub was awkward and stuttered, there was no smooth feeling whatsoever. At this rate, let alone starting a fire, it was difficult to even accumulate a bit of heat. ¡°Oh my god, this is nothing like what I thought¡­¡± Leonardo increased the force in his hands, but the situation didn¡¯t improve, instead, it became even more jerky. Bi Fang reminded from the side, ¡°Don¡¯t apply full force, pull the rattan tight, apply the force longitudinally, don¡¯t put too much pressure initially, the pressure should gradually increase with the accumulation of heat. Think of it like the blade of a saw, it¡¯s firm and won¡¯t break.¡± Leonardo wiped the sweat off his forehead, adjusted his posture, and pulled again. This time it was a lot better, but there were still stutters. ¡°Each stutter means a dissipation of heat,¡± Bi Fang shook his head. Fire-making isn¡¯t something you learn after watching once or being taught once, it requires a wealth of accumulated experiences. Experience needs to be personally accumulated; you can¡¯t learn it just by studying. Regrettably, Leonardo didn¡¯t seem to have much of a knack for wilderness survival skills. After rubbing for over ten minutes, he managed only to minimize stutters, far from building up enough heat to start a fire. People inside the first pavilion were chattering away. ¡°Is it really that hard?¡± ¡°Of course, do you think making a fire outdoors is so easy?¡± ¡°I want to try it, too.¡± The crowd on-site seemed eager to give it a go, considering fire-making by wood-drilling and pump fire-making were too troublesome, the fire saw method seemed very simple. ¡°Of course, do you think making a fire outdoors is so easy?¡± ¡°I want to try it, too.¡± The crowd on-site seemed eager to give it a go, considering fire-making by wood-drilling and pump fire-making were too troublesome, the fire saw method seemed very simple. And raw materials were easy to find, aren¡¯t bamboos everywhere? Wouldn¡¯t almost every hilltop have them? ¡°Bamboo strips and rattan for sale, fifty yuan per set, experience the fire saw method on the spot!¡± Just as people were considering trying it out when they got home, an ill-timed shout rang out from outside the door. A staff member pulled a cart full of bamboo and hollered, ¡°Experience the fire saw method on-site, fifty yuan for one set of materials!¡± Everyone: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Give me a set!¡± ¡°Me too!¡± ¡°That was quick, count me in too!¡± Until his arms were sore and swollen, Leonardo couldn¡¯t manage to accumulate effective heat, and he had to stop for a break, ¡°I can¡¯t anymore, this is too tough.¡± ¡°That¡¯s normal, the first time is always like this. Do it successfully a few times, and you will gain experience,¡± said Bi Fang, flipping over red clay on the stone slab with bamboo strips. After more than ten minutes, the damp red clay had started to crack and dry, indicating that it would soon turn into powder. But Leonardo didn¡¯t give up, he shook his hands to relax his muscles, grabbed the rattan, and continued sawing! Ten more minutes had passed, and at last, white smoke began to rise from the bamboo board! Leonardo instantly became excited, ¡°Hey, did you see that? Did you see that? It¡¯s smoking, the saw board is smoking!¡± ¡°Yeah, I saw it,¡± Bi Fang nodded in encouragement, ¡°But the real challenge begins after the smoke appears. What you need is charcoal embers, not just smoke.¡± Another quarter of an hour went by, and the smoke coming from Leonardo¡¯s hands remained pitifully scant, barely there, as if silently telling him to try a little harder, try a little harder, and soon there would be embers. But reality was always cruel. After spending a full hour, Leonardo had still failed to start a fire. The thought of Bi Fang effortlessly igniting flames within a mere two to three minutes inevitably brought a sense of defeat flooding into his heart. At that moment, Leonardo¡¯s forearms were sore and swollen, even trembling slightly. Meanwhile, Bi Fang had obtained the dry powder state of red clay. He moved the stone slab to the side, waiting for the dry powder to cool. Then he pulled the old fan leaves out of the funnel, replaced them with new ones, and poured the red dry powder inside. ¡°We¡¯ve got the red powder ready. In a moment, we¡¯ll find a clean water source to mix it with before application. Moreover, for better effect, we can add some strongly scented herbs to it. This can effectively mask our scent and prevent us from being targeted by some ferocious beasts,¡± Bi Fang said. It was at this time that a barrage of complaining comments caught Bi Fang¡¯s attention. [I also failed, boohoo.] [I sawed for over ten minutes and didn¡¯t even see any smoke.] [I¡¯ve spent three hundred yuan¡­ and didn¡¯t even see a spark.] [I heard someone next door succeeded¡­ The coach from the club is showing them the fire saw method.] [Just a faint wisp of white smoke¡­ I feel like a loser, while the sawboard is like a girl, leading me on with its elusive hints¡­] [This club¡¯s manager is really a genius, making money off a bunch of bamboo.] [Damn, I really want to try it too, regret not grabbing a ticket now.] What¡¯s going on? Bi Fang was stunned; he scrolled through the comments, looking utterly bemused. This was too showy, wasn¡¯t it? How could this be? He had never anticipated the club could pull off such a stunt. Without a doubt, this scheme was concocted by Yao Jun. The moment Bi Fang acquired the bamboo, Yao Jun had thought of raising participants¡¯ involvement in this way. You¡¯re really a genius. Bi Fang thought to himself. ¡°The red clay is ready. How about it, do you want to keep trying?¡± Bi Fang, carrying the funnel on his back, looked at Leonardo with a smile, who was still diligently pulling the saw. Leonardo sighed deeply and threw the vine and bamboo board onto the ground, ¡°I might not have the talent for this.¡± After restoring the fire pit to its original state, Bi Fang took two pieces of charcoal for easy fire-making next time, then gestured with his hand: ¡°Let¡¯s go, we need to continue searching for a water source.¡± This time along the way, Bi Fang¡¯s gaze became even more meticulous. He was trying to find some herbal medicine that could repel mosquitoes, which could be mixed into the red clay later. ¡°There are many common mosquito-repelling herbs, such as mugwort, which, except for extremely arid and cold regions, is almost ubiquitous in Huaxia,¡± Bi Fang poked around a bush with a stick. After a huge centipede woke up from the shrubbery and scurried away, he bent down to pick a plant and sniffed it near his nose. The fragrance was very strong. ¡°Besides that, there are honeysuckle and perilla leaves, which are also very common mosquito-repelling herbs. You don¡¯t need much; around ten grams is enough.¡± Putting the mugwort into the funnel bag at his waist, Bi Fang explained. He was carrying three funnel bags on him now, two around his waist and a larger one on his back, filled with red clay powder. His overall image blended more and more with the rainforest. Chapter 463 - Chapter 463: Chapter 460 North and South (2 in 1) Chapter 463: Chapter 460 North and South (2 in 1) As Tree Stick probed toward the green snake coiled on the tree branch bit by bit, Leonardo¡¯s footsteps also slowly moved backward. The closer he got, the more he retreated as if Tree Stick was coming toward him. Bi Fang noticed this and gave him a surprised look, to which Leonardo wryly smiled, ¡°I just feel that it¡¯s not safe here at all.¡± [I¡¯m dying of laughter] [If it were me, I¡¯d run too] [Looks scary] [Feels like the snake has already spotted Old Fang, staring straight over here] Hearing Leonardo¡¯s concern, Bi Fang explained very seriously, ¡°Then you¡¯d better back off some more. Bamboo Vipers are very fast, and they can even jump between trees.¡± Being used to going solo, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t realized that he should let Leonardo retreat first. Leonardo was more obedient than he¡¯d ever been, even more so than when he was scolded by his mother during his school days, as he quickly retreated to a distance of ten meters away. Without hesitation, Bi Fang approached the Bamboo Viper again, ¡°Bamboo Vipers have a strong arboreal nature, often hanging or coiling on branches, and are very agile. So, without solid experience, even if you¡¯re trapped in the wild, try not to catch it to stave off hunger. If you need to catch it, first you have to take precautions, second, use a longer stick to knock it down to the ground.¡± ¡°To capture a venomous snake, try to avoid disabling it with your limbs. The moment the Bamboo Viper lands, press its head down with a stick. Bamboo Vipers have large heads and thin necks¡ªmost venomous snakes are like this. Once the head is pressed down, it is very difficult to break free. Of course, snake muscles are quite developed, so you need a fair amount of strength to do this.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re really so hungry that you can¡¯t go on without eating, and you must take the risk of capturing one, but have no experience with venomous snakes, you can try to use a rock to smash it from a distance¡­¡± While he spoke, Bi Fang had already gotten within two meters of the Bamboo Viper, and the Tree Stick in his hand was less than half a meter away. Two small drones silently hovered before and behind the Bamboo Viper, allowing viewers to see the snake¡¯s body contract clearly through the gaps in the leaves. The Bamboo Viper is getting tense! The Bamboo Viper has good vision, especially for moving objects, so Bi Fang¡¯s movements were not fast, but such a large source of heat was approaching¡ªit couldn¡¯t possibly go unnoticed. Under the extreme-resolution camera, the Bamboo Viper¡¯s body coiled tightly; at the bend, its scales all flared open like a tightly compressed spring, ready to burst out at any moment. The two were like predators in a standoff, with neither knowing who would strike first. Bi Fang calmly focused his mind; the greatest difference between humans and animals lies in the humans¡¯ ability to adeptly summarize experience and conduct targeted analysis, whereas animals act purely on instinct. Just as the Bamboo Viper¡¯s body was coiled to the extreme, right before it attacked, Bi Fang made his move! The Tree Stick went straight down from above, chopping toward the venomous snake. The intense heat motion caused the Bamboo Viper to reflexively react, but ultimately it was too late. In the moment it poked its head out, the Tree Stick, cutting through the air, hit it solidly and powerfully! The branch was broken, and the slender green figure was slashed down by the Tree Stick like a ribbon, its head and tail fluttering towards the sky. At that moment, no one knew what the Bamboo Viper was feeling, whether it was pain or confusion. When the green snake landed on the ground, viewers clearly saw it writhing in pain, its scales all flared open, just like those of its parasitized kin. Human strength is inherently immense, and with the whip effect of Bi Fang holding Tree Stick, the snake was nearly broken in two. Having knocked down the Bamboo Viper, Bi Fang quickly pressed Tree Stick onto the snake¡¯s body, then rolled forward onto the snake¡¯s neck, thereafter pressing down firmly, ¡°The snake¡¯s neck is too small a target, and it¡¯s hard to hit precisely amidst violent struggles. We need to first press down on the snake¡¯s body, then twist the stick in our hand to shift it onto the snake¡¯s neck.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s arm muscles slightly bulged, winding together like iron chains, revealing the lines symbolizing strength, pressing down on the snake with a death grip. The neck of the snake was incredibly fragile, and under such immense pressure, the Bamboo Viper thrashed about wildly, but it couldn¡¯t break free. The snake¡¯s head was large because of its skeletal structure, and to escape, it would have to crush its skull, but if it attempted to move forward, the pressure on its neck would prevent it from exerting any strength. Leonardo, who had been watching from behind, saw the Bamboo Viper being subdued and was no longer afraid; he approached excitedly to watch Bi Fang gripping the tree stick, stepping onto one end of it and then placing his feet on both ends. As the full weight of an adult pressed down, almost at the very moment he stepped on it, Leonardo thought he could hear the sound of bones cracking, after which the viper¡¯s writhing slowly ceased. Before long, the viper stopped moving altogether and only twitched occasionally. ¡°I¡¯ve said before that a snake¡¯s head can bite even an hour after death, or even several hours later, so we need to cut off the snake¡¯s head first. Don¡¯t touch it; you can just throw it away.¡± Bi Fang stood on the tree stick, and even though the snake had stopped moving, he did not let his guard down. He retrieved from his knapsack a sharp, flat rock and pressed it firmly against the neck of the snake. Bright red blood splashed out, spraying Leonardo¡¯s face. The ferocious triangular snake head rolled to the side, unconsciously snapping its fearsome jaws. As Leonardo watched, bewildered, he subconsciously licked the warm blood at the corner of his mouth. The pungent smell surged to his brain, and he immediately bent over to retch on the ground, ¡°This¡­isn¡¯t poisonous, is it?¡± Bi Fang let out a laugh, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, snake venom is a substance mysteriously concocted by nature in their bodies. Essentially, it¡¯s still protein and will spoil and deteriorate when exposed to air, losing its toxicity. As long as there are no open wounds, like mouth ulcers or gastritis, it shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡± ¡°Besides, there¡¯s no poison in snake blood. Many snakes would die from their venom, like the Feeding Viper and the Egyptian Horned Cobra. If their blood contained venom, they wouldn¡¯t be able to live.¡± Upon hearing Bi Fang¡¯s explanation, Leonardo breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°However¡­¡± Bi Fang¡¯s tone shifted as he used the stone knife to flip open the snake¡¯s head, ¡°snakes harbor many parasites, and the blood and gallbladders contain a variety of deadly parasites, such as Echinococcus multilocularis and the Tongue Worm, which can infest the brain, internal organs, eyes, chest cavity, spinal cord, skin, and reproductive system, among other parts of the body. They can form honeycomb-like cysts in your body¡ªoh, don¡¯t know what cysts are? Imagine your body developing a honeycomb-like tumor, full of holes. Ever seen tripe? It¡¯s similar, but these are hollow cavities, and currently, there¡¯s no medication that can treat them. They can only be removed surgically.¡± ¡°As for those who drink raw snake blood and eat raw frogs, the latter tend to be infected with just a few parasites and can be treated with surgery, but those who drink raw snake blood can be infected with hundreds of parasites, making surgery almost impossible to eradicate them.¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± Leonardo clutched his neck, his eyes bloodshot with tears streaming, a continuous flow of saliva dripping from his mouth. He stared intensely at Bi Fang, his eyes filled with pain as he rinsed his mouth with water, over and over. Utterly disgusting! Not just Leonardo, but even the audience felt nauseated listening to this. [Holy shit, this is so disgusting!] [Wori, why didn¡¯t Old Fang say this last time?] [I¡¯m eating here, eating!] [I¡¯m dead] [Damn it, refund my money] In the first viewing area, several people were drinking water, and upon hearing these words, they began to retch reflexively. Bi Fang patted Leonardo on the back, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared; it¡¯s just a joke.¡± Leonardo was taken aback and finally began to recover somewhat, his face filled with hope, ¡°Is everything you said a lie?¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°I never tell lies.¡± ¡°¡­¡± After a pause, as if he realized that he had gone a bit too far, Bi Fang added, ¡°Eating snake gallbladder raw poses a high risk of infection, but the probability of getting infected from drinking snake blood raw is only 0.1%. Plus, you just threw up for so long and even rinsed out your mouth, so no worries, you can rest assured!¡± ¡°Ugh~~¡± ¡­ In the jungle, Bi Fang and Leonardo continued on their way, but the difference was that Bi Fang was still optimistic, while Leonardo¡¯s complexion had gotten much worse, completely pale. Even though Bi Fang guaranteed it was safe, he couldn¡¯t help but imagine that scene, and then continue to retch. Leonardo deeply regretted his decision to keep up, and even more so, regretted why he had just gone over to watch. Now, whenever he heard the word ¡°snake,¡± he reflexively felt like vomiting. He didn¡¯t touch the Bamboo Viper at all during the entire process. Watching Bi Fang store the prey in a bag, he really didn¡¯t want to get close unless it was too dangerous in the rainforest. Bi Fang, however, introduced as usual, ¡°Animals like these that capture frogs, tadpoles, lizards, birds, and small mammals have one thing in common: they like to feed by the stream because that¡¯s where small animals are most concentrated. They would dig holes and gather here. Large animals, on the other hand, would not do this, and actually, we had already heard the sound of running water before we encountered the Bamboo Viper.¡± In the deep forest, Bi Fang bypassed one large tree after another, approaching the direction from which the sound of running water came. The audience could clearly hear the water getting louder. Watching Bi Fang¡¯s back, Leonardo looked around at the environment that seemed identical to the starting point and suddenly realized something, ¡°Don¡¯t you distinguish directions?¡± Right. The audience members were also startled; something was off! Normally, Bi Fang would first determine the direction, then make a weapon for self-defense, and afterward, he would look for a water source and obtain game. Why isn¡¯t he checking the direction now? [Dumbass, Old Fang isn¡¯t trying to escape but to live in the rainforest for twenty-one days. How important is direction?] [Ah, I remember now.] [Forgot about that.] [But what happens if you really get lost? You can hardly see the sun here, and climbing trees is very dangerous. If you encounter a snake in a tree like Old Fang, I don¡¯t have the skill to escape¡ªI¡¯d be done for.] [I simply can¡¯t climb trees!] ¡°If you really get lost, even without seeing the sun, there are many ways to determine direction,¡± after looking around and walking for a while, Bi Fang and Leonardo finally stopped beside a dark puddle, with uniform forests all around. Not to mention ordinary people, even experienced hunters could get lost. Without a compass, it¡¯s extremely difficult to figure out direction. ¡°Can you look at the tree rings?¡± Leonardo suggested, a method he had read about in a storybook as a child. To his surprise, Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°That¡¯s really just a scientific phenomenon, good for increasing knowledge, but in practical application, it might be pretty lousy. The first problem is how to find tree rings.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t these all trees?¡± Leonardo pointed to the trees around him, not quite believing. Isn¡¯t it easy to see tree rings? Just cut down any tree, right? ¡°So you mean to tell me that every piece of the way, you¡¯ll have to cut down a tree to determine the direction? Although it¡¯s okay to do so if you¡¯re really lost, the cost is too high; it requires a lot of physical strength and time. Plus, you have to cut down big enough trees to ensure you can see clearly,¡± Bi Fang said bluntly. ¡°If you want to find naturally broken trees, that might be even more disappointing. Unless it¡¯s a commercial forest, in the true wilderness, ninety-nine percent of broken trees have rotted apart, without a complete cross-section, and the heart of the tree is almost always decayed, let alone seeing any rings.¡± Leonardo¡¯s tree ring suggestion was mercilessly passed, which made him feel quite discouraged. He realized he knew absolutely nothing about wilderness survival. Without a compass, or even sunshine, he could not figure out directions at all. As if reading Leonardo¡¯s thoughts, Bi Fang smiled, ¡°Actually, letting plants indicate direction is not a bad idea, as they generally tend to grow towards the sunlight.¡± ¡°Therefore, on the sun-facing side, the plants¡¯ flowers and most of the leaves tend to be more abundant. In the northern hemisphere, they face south, while in the southern hemisphere, they face north.¡± ¡°Additionally, moss growing on the trunk will be greener and more luxuriant on the side facing the sun, while the opposite side may turn yellow or brown.¡± ¡°For trees with branches, the foliage on the south side of the trunk will be denser as well.¡± Bi Fang kicked the moss on the nearby tree, and Leonardo squinted his eyes back and forth, noticing there seemed to be a difference in color? One side was clearly greener, while the other was a pale yellow. But when it comes to whether the leaves are abundant or not, that is hard to tell. No matter how Leonardo looked, he felt they all appeared the same, and he said, perplexed, ¡°Ordinary people can only look at the color of the moss. What if they¡¯re colorblind?¡± Bi Fang rolled his eyes, ¡°You really find problems. Hand over your watch!¡± Leonardo was startled but obediently took off his watch, ¡°Are you going to use the sun and the watch¡¯s hands to find direction? I know this too, but we can¡¯t see the sun, can we?¡± He pointed to the sky, the camera showing it. The dense leaves covered the entire sky, making it impossible to tell where the sun was. ¡°The sun isn¡¯t such an inconvenient thing!¡± Bi Fang flipped the watch, not understanding its value, and asked, ¡°Can I take it apart?¡± ¡°Feel free to dismantle it, I just use it to tell time,¡± Leonardo waved his hand. How could he possibly bring a valuable and meaningful watch to the jungle? If it got scratched, that would be a loss. Once given permission, Bi Fang did not hold back. He checked the watch cover, found it to be cheap street market goods, and pried it open with his fingernail, dumping all the internal parts out. Then, in his palm, he selected the longest second hand. Handing the remaining parts back to Leonardo, Bi Fang rubbed the second hand on his hair, tore off a piece of leaf, knelt beside the dark puddle, and then placed the second hand on top of the leaf, gently letting it into the water. The leaf entered the water, creating ripples, and finally, under the watchful eyes of a million people, it slowly turned, stopping at a certain angle. Looking back and forth, Bi Fang pointed in the direction of the needle, ¡°This is north and south.¡± Chapter 464 - Chapter 464: Chapter 461 It must be because of Lorenz! Chapter 464: Chapter 461 It must be because of Lorenz! ¡°How, how can you tell?¡± Leonardo watched in amazement as Bi Fang removed the second hand from the watch, rubbed it a few times on his hair, placed it on a leaf, and floated it on water, then pointed to the stationary direction that indicated north and south. What north and south? What¡¯s that? [I know, this is Lorenz¡¯s theorem!] [To the one mentioning Lorenz¡¯s theorem, I slowly type out a question mark.] [Isn¡¯t this magnetization? Didn¡¯t you go to school? It should work on the same principle as a compass, though it¡¯s temporary.] ¡°The principle is actually quite simple, it¡¯s the same as how a compass is made, though one is permanent and the other is temporary,¡± Bi Fang explained as he lifted the leaf out of the puddle, drained off the water, and reattached the second hand back onto the watch, securing the dial. ¡°Continuously rubbing a small piece of iron or a sewing needle in the same direction against silk or hair¡ªdid you play with the game in school where you rubbed a plastic ruler on your hair and then picked up bits of paper with it? It¡¯s the same principle; the iron wire will become magnetized and when suspended, it can point to the Arctic. This is akin to placing a bar magnet at the Earth¡¯s center, with the magnetic north pole near the geographic South Pole, and the magnetic south pole near the geographic North Pole. The magnetic poles and geographic poles don¡¯t coincide perfectly¡ªthere¡¯s a magnetic declination¡ªbut for determining direction, it is already completely sufficient. The magnetism this method creates won¡¯t be very strong, so after a while, you will need to rub it again to enhance its magnetism. If you have a battery with a voltage of 2 volts or more, using electicity, you can magnetize metal. You¡¯ll also need a short length of metal wire, preferably insulated on the outside.¡± [I know the game with the bits of paper, I used to play it a lot, dog¡¯s head.jpg] [No way, no way, there can¡¯t actually be people who¡¯ve never played with a plastic ruler to pick up paper scraps, right?] [But what if you don¡¯t have a watch? Not everyone can be expected to carry around a piece of iron wire, can they?] Leonardo raised the same concern. Indeed, what if one doesn¡¯t have a watch? Or what if it¡¯s a digital watch? Such methods do have their limitations. He wished to learn a more universal, more common method from Bi Fang. ¡°If you don¡¯t have a watch¡¯s second hand, you can also use a thin and flat razor blade as a substitute for direction indication because it¡¯s made by bonding two types of metal together. By carefully rubbing the blade in your palm, you can make it magnetic. Then, by suspending it, you can achieve the same effect.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t have any of these and you are genuinely lost, and you can¡¯t get through on your phone, then you can dismantle your phone, there will definitely be something in there you can use. I assume everyone carries a cell phone, right? Or a flashlight, any electronic device will do.¡± Just as Leonardo was about to ask, Bi Fang cut him off, ¡°Forget it, under what circumstances does a person end up without any equipment at all, unable to see plants, the sun, or even the terrain?¡± The audience smiled knowingly. ¡°Besides, sewing needles or paper clips are essentials for outdoor exploration, don¡¯t you have any?¡± Leonardo scratched his head, ¡°I¡¯ve brought a water bottle, flashlight, knife, water purification tablets, and a first aid kit, that¡¯s about it¡­ Is there something else?¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t bother to respond further; after all, the other party was an amateur, perhaps having prepared these items on a hunch, having water purification tablets already demonstrated a decent awareness for outdoor activities. ¡°Among the basic tools for wilderness survival, cutting tools are the most commonly used in critical situations.¡± ¡°Besides that, you also need a small knife, waterproof matches, candles, fishing line, various sizes of fish hooks, two small pieces of bait, wire for making traps, water purification tablets, a whistle, rope, paper clips or sewing needles, medical tape, adhesive bandages, dental floss (sturdy thread), a compass, tweezers, acetaminophen (pain reliever), and isopropyl alcohol.¡± ¡°Put all these items into a small container. This container can also serve as a small pot to boil water in an emergency. Seal it and keep it dry. Before each departure, make sure to put your wilderness survival kit in your backpack or clothing pocket.¡± [Got it, got it, I¡¯m placing the order now, will keep it in my bag for everyday carry.] [You don¡¯t think you¡¯ll ever need to use it, do you?] [What if I get lost in the forest someday, dog¡¯s head.jpg] [Other people go on expeditions with full gear, x, Master Fang goes on an adventure with just a pair of shorts, ¡Ì] This was the first time Bi Fang had ever spoken in so much detail in front of everyone about what to prepare for an expedition, and they all promptly took note. ¡°Basically, I have mentioned all methods of determining direction except for a few with very limited applicability. For instance, ant¡¯s nests always have a north-south orientation. You already have all you need,¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t dwell too much on this and continued on. While walking, he also said, ¡°Having a rough direction isn¡¯t enough. Many times, you could already be lost after a single turn because the surroundings are too similar. Therefore, before you advance any distance, you need to mark your path with some geographic feature along the way.¡± ¡°That is, you must find a geographic feature on the ground, like a tree, line it up with your direction of travel, and walk towards it, then repeat this process over and over until you reach your destination.¡± ¡°Ant¡¯s nests are oriented north-south?¡± Leonardo caught up quickly, asking incredulously. ¡°Yes, this is the structural intelligence of creatures. Both ants and termites build nests that are ¡®mound-shaped¡¯ or ¡®thin blade-shaped¡¯. And they are always oriented north-south with entrances facing south, so they can get sunlight in winter and avoid direct exposure in summer.¡± Leondardo¡¯s eyes revealed his shock, ¡°You know so much!¡± ¡°How could I dare to wander if I knew nothing? When you understand the purpose and names of every plant, the habits and vulnerabilities of every animal, the creation and use of every tool, the formation and trends of every terrain, then you won¡¯t be afraid of the wilderness.¡± ¡°Have you reached that level now?¡± ¡°Me? I¡¯m still far from it.¡± Bi Fang crossed the dense forest and stepped onto a rock, the sound of flowing water suddenly became loud. A stream no more than two or three meters wide appeared in front of everyone. Leonardo¡¯s face lit up with joy, his pale complexion regaining color¡ªhe had found it! He hastily approached the stream, scooping up the water. The source of the stream was unknown, but having filtered through rocks and silt, it showed no impurities and was crystal clear. However, learning from previous experiences, Leonardo did not dare drink it directly from his hands. He took out his canteen, filled it with water, and dropped in two water purification tablets. [Even though I¡¯ve said it many times, I still have to shout out right now, Master Fang is awesome!] [Indeed, impressive!] Every step was made with great care; if he said he would find a water source, he would surely find it. And if he said he could find a direction, he would certainly find it. How could such a person not inspire confidence? Chapter 465 - Chapter 465: Chapter 462: Reserve a Spot Chapter 465: Chapter 462: Reserve a Spot Chapter Two isn¡¯t ready yet, just marking a spot here Will revise before 1 a.m. How, how can you tell? Leonardo watched as Bi Fang removed the second hand from the watch, rubbed it a few times on his hair, and then floated it on a leaf in the water, pointing to the still direction, declaring that it was north-south. What north-south? What thing? [I know, this is the Lorenz theorem!] [The one talking about the Lorenz theorem, I leisurely type out a question mark.] [It¡¯s magnetization, isn¡¯t it? Didn¡¯t you attend school? It should be the same principle as a compass, but this is temporary.] ¡°The principle is actually very simple; it¡¯s the operating principle of a compass, but one is permanent, the other is temporary,¡± explained Bi Fang as he picked up the leaf from the puddle, dried it off, and then put the second hand back onto the watch, securing the dial. ¡°Repeatedly rubbing a piece of iron wire, or a sewing needle, in one direction against silk or hair, do any of you recall playing with a plastic ruler rubbed on hair to pick up paper scraps when you were in school? This is based on the same idea; the wire becomes magnetized and when suspended, it can point towards the Arctic. It¡¯s analogous to placing a magnet bar at the Earth¡¯s center, with the magnetic North Pole near the geographic South Pole, and the magnetic South Pole near the geographic North Pole. The magnetic poles don¡¯t coincide perfectly with the geographic poles, creating a magnetic declination, yet for discerning direction, it¡¯s already sufficient. The magnetism produced this way won¡¯t be very strong; after a while, you¡¯ll need to rub it again to enhance its magnetism. If you have a battery with a voltage of 2 volts or more, you could use electric current to magnetize the metal. You¡¯ll also need a short piece of wire, preferably coated with insulating material.¡± [I know the game with picking up paper scraps, I play with it often, Dog¡¯s head.jpg] [No way, no way, surely everyone has played with a plastic ruler to pick up paper scraps, right?] [But what if you don¡¯t have a watch? Not everyone carries around a piece of iron wire, right?] Leonardo raised the same suspicion. Indeed, what if there is no watch? Or what if it¡¯s a digital watch? This method still has its limitations. He wanted to learn a more universal, widespread method from Bi Fang. ¡°Without a watch¡¯s second hand, you could also use a thin, flat razor blade to indicate direction since it¡¯s composed of two kinds of metals bonded together. By carefully rubbing the blade on the palm of your hand, you can endow it with magnetism, then hang it to achieve the same effect.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t have any of these and you¡¯re truly lost, unable to make a phone call, then you can dismantle your cellphone; surely it must have what you need inside. I assume everyone always carries a cellphone, right? Or a flashlight, any electronic device should work.¡± Leonardo wanted to ask more, but Bi Fang immediately stopped him, ¡°Forget it, under what circumstances would a person have absolutely no equipment on them, be unable to see plants, the sun, or even the terrain?¡± The audience chuckled knowingly. ¡°Moreover, sewing needles or paper clips are essentials for outdoor exploration; do you really not have them?¡± Leonardo scratched his head, ¡°I brought a water bottle, flashlight, knife, water purification tablets, and a first aid kit, that¡¯s about it¡­ Anything else?¡± Bi Fang couldn¡¯t be bothered to say much more; after all, the other party was just an amateur and probably prepared these items based on intuition. Having water purification tablets indicated a decent awareness of the outdoors. ¡°In the basic wilderness survival toolkit, cutting tools are the most frequently used in urgent situations.¡± ¡°Apart from that, you also need a small knife, waterproof matches, candles, fishing line, various types of fish hooks, two small bait items, iron wire for setting traps, water purification tablets, a whistle, rope, paper clips or sewing needles, medical tape, adhesive bandages (band-aids), dental floss (sturdy silk thread), a compass, tweezers, acetaminophen (pain reliever), and disinfectant alcohol.¡± ¡°Put all of these items into a small container. This container can also be used as a small pot to boil water in an emergency. Seal it and keep it dry. Make sure to pack your survival toolkit in your backpack or clothes pocket before setting off every time.¡± [Got it, got it, placing the order now, I¡¯ll keep it in the bag for future use.] [You don¡¯t actually think you¡¯ll have a chance to use it, do you?] [What if one day you get lost in the forest, huh? Dog¡¯s head.jpg] [Others go on expeditions with full gear, ¡Á, Master Fang goes exploring in just a pair of shorts, ¡Ì] This was the first time Bi Fang had spoken so thoroughly in front of everyone about what to prepare for an expedition, and they took note of everything immediately. ¡°Basically, I¡¯ve mentioned all methods for identifying direction, with the exception of a very few, which have very limited applicability, such as ant¡¯s nests always being oriented north-south; what I¡¯ve shared is more than enough.¡± Bi Fang did not dwell too much on this topic and continued forward. As he walked, he said, ¡°Having a rough direction is not enough. Many times, you might already be lost after turning around, because the surroundings are too similar. Therefore, before progressing any distance, you need to identify a geographical feature along the way to use as a marker.¡± ¡°This means you have to find a geographical feature on the ground, like a tree, make sure it aligns with the direction you¡¯re heading, and walk towards it. Then you repeat this process again and again until you reach your destination.¡± ¡°Ant¡¯s nests are always oriented north-south?¡± Leonardo caught up swiftly and asked incredulously. ¡°Yes, this is a testament to biological structural intelligence. Both ant and termite nests have a ¡®mound¡¯ or ¡®thin blade-shaped¡¯ structure, and they are definitely oriented north-south, with the entrance facing south. This way, they get sunlight during winter and avoid direct sunlight in summer.¡± Leonardo looked astonished: ¡°You know so much!¡± ¡°How can you even call yourself competent if you know nothing? Once you understand the purpose and name of every plant, the habits and vulnerabilities of every animal, how to make and use every tool, and the origins and trends of every terrain, you will no longer fear the wilderness.¡± ¡°Have you reached that level now?¡± ¡°Me? I¡¯ve still got a long way to go.¡± Bi Fang crossed through the dense forest and stepped onto a rock, the sound of running water suddenly grew louder. A stream no more than two to three meters wide appeared before everyone¡¯s eyes. Leonardo¡¯s face brightened with joy, his pale complexion regaining some color, they had really found it! He hurried to the stream, scooped up some water eagerly, the stream¡¯s origins unknown as it gathered flowing through rocks and sediment, with no visible impurities, clear and transparent. However, cautious from past experiences, Leonardo didn¡¯t dare drink it right away; he took out his water bottle, filled it, and dropped in a couple of water purification tablets. [Although it¡¯s been said many times before, I still have to shout out now, Master Fang is awesome!] [Truly awesome!] Every step is taken with utmost care; if he says he¡¯ll find a water source, he certainly finds it. If he says he¡¯ll find the direction, he definitely finds it. How could such a man not inspire confidence? Chapter 466 - Chapter 466: Chapter 463: Extreme Joy Turns to Sorrow Chapter 466: Chapter 463: Extreme Joy Turns to Sorrow In the gloomy jungle, two brown figures sat facing each other with a campfire burning between them, sending up wisps of white smoke. Bi Fang found two slender branches, folded the snake meat and threaded it through, propping it over the blazing fire. His face was ¡°scarlet red,¡± looking like an old farmer sunburnt under the sun. After peeling off the skin, the fresh meat with streaks of blood curled and shrank under the flames, oozing droplets of fat. Even without any seasoning, the wafting aroma of the meat was enough to make one¡¯s mouth water; Bi Fang could feel his stomach growling. Leonardo felt the same way, yet as he looked at the patterned snake skin, the temptation was mingled with waves of nausea and a sourness in his throat. These two completely opposite symptoms appeared at the same time, making him feel extremely uncomfortable. [Can we eat it now? It feels done.] [It seems quite good.] [Actually, it¡¯s so-so. Without seasoning and basting, wild game grilled like this would probably be as tough as shoe leather, unless it¡¯s not fully cooked.] [When you¡¯re hungry, everything tastes good, even a shoehorn would taste good.] [Indeed, I think that kind of dry, tough meat is the tastiest.] [Wait, isn¡¯t this burnt now?] While the audience was discussing, they saw that Bi Fang did not stop, but kept roasting. The surface of the snake meat was charred, yet he continued to roast it. Isn¡¯t this burnt? Is it still edible? [Hahaha, all the newcomers up there, right? It has to be burnt to ensure the parasites are killed!] [It¡¯s all protein, treated equally!] [Old Fang used to eat intermediary viper like this, it looked like charcoal too.] Bi Fang explained, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s for safety. The high temperature of an ordinary flame can kill almost all living things in the world, hence parasites are completely out of the question.¡± But just as the snake meat was gradually turning into charcoal, thus safe to eat, a huge figure was slowly approaching from a dark corner unnoticed by anyone. The thick scent of smoke, char, and cooked meat enveloped Bi Fang¡¯s nostrils, preventing him from detecting any anomalies. Large white hoofs tread on the rotten leaves, leaving deep prints, and only when stepping on a dry branch did the keen-sensed Bi Fang notice something was off. ¡°What was that noise?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Leonardo looked around in a daze, but did not spot anything unusual. Bi Fang looked up alertly, not daring to relax for a moment in the tropical rainforest. In the rainforest, anything goes, even tigers¡­ The conversation ceased, the charcoal crackled under the licks of flame, and the vast rainforest quickly fell silent except for distant bird calls that seemed almost inaudible. What¡¯s going on¡­ The previously warm atmosphere suddenly vanished, turning eerily serious, and the audience couldn¡¯t help but tense up. The once natural and harmonious bird calls now sounded like mournful screams. ¡°Crack!¡± Another sound of dry branches breaking¡ªit was completely different from the sound of bamboo charcoal bursting in flames. Something was really coming! Leonardo¡¯s breath hitched. His senses weren¡¯t as sharp as Bi Fang¡¯s, and his vigilance was much lower. He hadn¡¯t even heard the breaking of the dry branches just now and was still pondering whether to try a bite of the wild snake meat. But he was certainly not foolish; that sound was definitely not the noise of burning wood! The primitive rainforest is just too dangerous! It¡¯s been less than half a day since we arrived, and we¡¯ve already encountered so much! Thinking of the Bamboo Viper he had run into not long ago, Leonardo now felt another unidentified creature approaching. Instinctively, he thought to get up, but Bi Fang seemed to have anticipated his move, firmly grabbing his arm. Bi Fang¡¯s smile slowly vanished, and with an extremely serious expression, he warned in a low voice, ¡°Don¡¯t move! Don¡¯t move unless you¡¯re sure of the situation. If it¡¯s a tiger, the moment you move, it¡¯ll more likely target you!¡± A tiger? There are tigers too? The audience was somewhat stunned; if the bystanders were like this, then the person involved was even more so. Leonardo felt all color drain from his face, turning him deathly pale. Bi Fang held onto his arm, clearly feeling the other trembling, so he had no choice but to offer some simple words of comfort. At such a close distance, if it really were a carnivorous beast, it would definitely have already spotted them. Running away would only make the beast feel that they were scared and incite a bold attack. ¡°Don¡¯t panic, humans aren¡¯t on a tiger¡¯s menu. As long as we don¡¯t trigger its hunting instinct, listen to me, we should be fine. Even if it really is a tiger, we can get past this crisis!¡± ¡°The approacher is not hiding its sound, so it¡¯s unlikely to be a predator.¡± Bi Fang analyzed calmly. No predator would deliberately make such a noise; the hearing of forest animals is much more sensitive, so a real tiger would not behave like this. It¡¯s more likely to be a hoofed herbivore! Hearing these words, as if infected by Bi Fang¡¯s calm composure, Leonardo, who had been trembling all over, gradually recovered his senses. In a dangerous situation, a calm, collected, and strong person has a great power of influence. They can completely become a pillar of strength for those who are in utter panic. Besides, at this moment other than trusting Bi Fang, there was no other choice. If they really encountered an uncontrollable force, Leonardo believed that Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t just run off faster than him. Crack, crack. The sound of dry branches and leaves being trampled was getting closer, like the bell tolling for one¡¯s life. The approacher was not swift, and as the sound grew clearer, Bi Fang also determined the direction of the noise. Three cameras simultaneously aimed into the darkness. A huge shadow gradually became distinct, and the audience held their breath. [Holy shit, what the hell is that?] [So big!] [What demon or devil is this!] As the giant creature behind the bushes became clearer, Bi Fang¡¯s pupils shrank sharply, his body tensed as if struck by an electric current, frozen in place. Leonardo¡¯s forehead was slick with cold sweat, and seeing Bi Fang¡¯s state made him even more restless: ¡°What on earth is it?¡± He instinctively wanted to turn back to look but was pulled back by Bi Fang, who whispered furiously, ¡°Don¡¯t look back!¡± ¡°It¡¯s an ox!¡± ¡°An ox?¡± [An ox?] [Can we have it as an extra meal?] [What¡¯s there to fear from an ox?] In the camera¡¯s view, the vast silhouette of the animal became clearer. What appeared first was the highly raised and knotted muscles; the sparse light that fell upon those muscles made them seem like little hillocks! As the creature continued forward, everyone finally saw its full form. That was a gigantic dark buffalo with white ¡°socks¡± on the lower part of its limbs, and a pair of immensely thick white horns that emerged from its wide, pale crown. They stretched outward and then curved upwards, like a pair of huge bugles, filled with a bizarre sense of power. When the audience saw what kind of buffalo it was, they were shocked. ¡°Holy shit, is this a buffalo raised by Schwarzenegger?¡± ¡°Can wild ones even grow like this? Even steroids wouldn¡¯t be enough, right?¡± ¡°They¡¯re not running away?¡± ¡°Run, and die even faster, perhaps?¡± ¡°Looking at the style of this buffalo, did it come from Fist of the North Star?¡± ¡°This buffalo works out, I bet it spent at least ten months of the year in the gym!¡± Everyone was amazed at the size of the buffalo, those tendons and muscles, simply unimaginable to grow naturally. Initially, when they heard Bi Fang mention it was a buffalo, some people were relieved, recalling the docile old yellow bulls they had seen, until this moment, with those huge horns and muscles bulging out, everyone knew this big fellow was not to be provoked. To rush up would mean death! ¡°What on earth is it?¡± Leonardo was getting anxious. He had already made out that the thing was right behind him, but Bi Fang¡¯s warning made him dare not look back; his body hair stood on end, and he got goosebumps all over! Even his breathing turned erratic, thinking if he ever encountered a bear, would he react the same way? Shivering incessantly, as if on the brink of an abyss. They really should have gotten the director on the scene to film this segment; perhaps he could have won an Oscar for it. ¡°It¡¯s a Wild Baizhi Ox.¡± Bi Fang took a deep breath, feeling both tense and a bit relieved. Indeed, it was as he had guessed, a grass-eating hoofed animal. But still terrifying! The distance between them was less than fifteen meters! For the ox, it was just a short sprint; once it charged them, in a matter of seconds, both Bi Fang and Leonardo would lose their lives, easily killed by it. ¡°It¡¯s really a buffalo?¡± Leonardo was stunned, but unlike many domestic viewers, he felt more nervous! Domestic viewers generally perceived buffalo as hard-working, honest, and gentle¡ªfamily members who had accompanied the agricultural civilization for thousands of years. But to Leonardo, the impression was entirely different. All Leonardo could think about now was bullfighting! He had witnessed with his own eyes a matador being skewered by an enraged North African Bull! And then stomped into a bloody mush by massive hooves; it was a tragic accident where the fighter meant to subdue the wild bull stopped breathing within a few short seconds. Leonardo¡¯s voice trembled, ¡°The Wild Baizhi Ox compared to the North African Bull¡­¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t even worthy to carry its shoes.¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°The Wild Baizhi Ox is the world¡¯s largest buffalo, with a shoulder height that can exceed two meters, and a weight that can reach one and a half tons, while the North African Bull is only about half a ton.¡± Leonardo shuddered again, one and a half, half a ton¡­ wasn¡¯t that a threefold difference? Imagining the North African Bull enhanced threefold, his desire to look back grew even stronger; this unknown feeling could drive him mad! ¡°Careful, it¡¯s coming this way!¡± Bi Fang yanked Leonardo¡¯s arm fiercely and pulled him down to the ground. Lying on the ground, Leonardo finally caught a glimpse of what the so-called ¡°buffalo¡± looked like. With just one glance, he almost fainted. Is this really a buffalo? Bi Fang followed Leonardo, hunkering down close to the ground, and whispered, ¡°It might have been attracted by the snake meat.¡± Attracted by snake meat? ¡°Cows eat meat too?¡± Leonardo seemed to have heard something that shook his worldview; aren¡¯t cows herbivores? Is it really a cow from the same planet? The image of the colossal beast baring a row of even teeth and tearing a large chunk of flesh from his back made Leonardo nearly pass out. ¡°Yes,¡± Bi Fang affirmed confidently, but he didn¡¯t explain why. Instead, he took Leonardo¡¯s hand and began to retreat slowly, ¡°Can you crawl? Follow me and crawl backward.¡± ¡°As long as we don¡¯t make an aggressive move or show danger, wild oxen rarely attack animals smaller than themselves. You just need to stay low and slowly back away, and you can generally escape danger.¡± ¡°There have been experiments before where two teams lined up in a bullring and advanced. If they saw a bull charging, they would lie down, and the bull would stop. Both teams safely crossed the field like this.¡± ¡°Keep in mind, those were bulls from bullfights, genuine North African Bulls. Maybe they aren¡¯t as strong as the Wild Baizhi Ox, but they¡¯re definitely among the world¡¯s most aggressive cows.¡± As Bi Fang and Leonardo crawled backward, Bi Fang continued to explain in a low voice, never taking his eyes off the Wild Baizhi Ox. Though he spoke confidently, exceptions always existed, and he couldn¡¯t let down his guard. ¡°North African Bulls are naturally combative and fierce. Plus, with special training grounds responsible for bull breeding, selecting the most ferocious individuals, if they could get by unscathed, other bulls probably had a good chance of escape too.¡± ¡°No way? The matadors were all knocked down, but the wild oxen still didn¡¯t spare them.¡± Watching the growing distance from the Wild Baizhi Ox, which didn¡¯t show much sign of aggression, Leonardo relaxed a bit, but his hesitation grew with this new information. He had witnessed matadors violently dragged under and carpeted by bulls; why would the bull keep attacking? ¡°That¡¯s because the matadors have attracted aggro, you know, from playing video games? If you crouch and walk behind a monster, there¡¯s no problem, but if you slash it, it¡¯ll chase you for five hundred miles.¡± ¡°When you haven¡¯t provoked the wild ox, and as a creature shorter than it, it doesn¡¯t see you as a threat, so it doesn¡¯t attack. But if you¡¯ve already angered it, even if you bury your head in the ground, you can¡¯t shake off the aggro; it¡¯ll make sure to stab your backside thoroughly.¡± As they spoke, the two had crawled more than twenty meters. The wild ox had reached their original campfire, nosed the sand a bit, and the flame quickly went out. It rubbed against the snake meat and began to eat, seemingly ignoring the two large figures lying nearby. Feeling a preliminary sense of safety, Bi Fang, too, breathed a sigh of relief; that was too close. He reached back and touched his own back, all soaked in cold sweat, and the red mud he had put on earlier became sticky again. Crawling along the way, a faint red mark was visible. Bi Fang¡¯s nervousness had been so evident that even the viewers noticed it. [Even Old Fang can have a day when he is scared?] Bi Fang just smiled bitterly; how could he not be scared? ¡°In some countries, the habitat of the Wild Baizhi Ox overlaps with that of the Bengal Tiger, but the victim is often not the Wild Baizhi Ox but the Bengal Tiger. Because the horns of the Wild Baizhi Ox are extremely sharp and exceedingly hard, when they attack, even mighty tigers lose the battle, forced to hunt only the calves.¡± In the wild, this creature is like a Schwarzenegger among humans; it has virtually no natural predators, especially the adult male Wild Baizhi Ox, who can virtually ¡®walk sideways¡¯. The one in front of us is a typical male Wild Baizhi Ox.¡± Now temporarily out of danger, Bi Fang and Leonardo lay not far away, starting to ¡°size up¡± the situation. ¡°How do you know?¡± Leonardo was startled, lying flat on the ground trying to look up, but the light was too dim and they were too far away; he couldn¡¯t see anything. ¡°Because Wild Baizhi Oxen like to live in herds, forming groups, it¡¯s only the males that prefer to go solo and then look for a mate during the rut in November or December.¡± [With an ox that big, how long could you eat it?] ¡°That, I wouldn¡¯t dare; in our country, it¡¯s a top-level protected species.¡± Bi Fang chuckled at the barrage of comments, but the next second, he couldn¡¯t laugh anymore. A huge black centipede slowly climbed onto the webbing between his thumb and forefinger. Chapter 467 - Chapter 467: Chapter 464: Occupy a Slot Chapter 467: Chapter 464: Occupy a Slot I¡¯ve reserved a spot. I¡¯ll have it changed before half past midnight, if there¡¯s no update, just refresh the page. In the gloomy jungle, two brown figures sat facing each other with a campfire burning between them, sending up wisps of white smoke. Bi Fang found two slender branches, folded the snake meat over them, and propped it over the fierce flames. His face glowed ¡°blood-red¡±, resembling an old farmer sunburnt under the intense sun. After peeling off the snake skin, the fresh meat striped with blood shrank and curled under the flame¡¯s scorching heat, oozing traces of fat. Though devoid of any seasoning, the wafting aroma of meat was enough to whet one¡¯s appetite, and Bi Fang could feel his stomach grumbling with hunger. By his side, Leonardo felt the same temptation but viewing the snake¡¯s skin patterns also induced waves of nausea and a sour feeling in his throat. The onset of two completely opposite symptoms simultaneously made him extremely uncomfortable. ¡°Can we eat now? It seems fully cooked.¡± ¡°It feels pretty good.¡± ¡°Actually it¡¯s so-so, without any seasoning, and wild game grilled without oil feels as tough as leather, unless it¡¯s not fully cooked.¡± ¡°When you¡¯re hungry, everything tastes delicious, even shoe horns.¡± ¡°Indeed, I think the dry, tough meat flavor is the best.¡± ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t this burnt?¡± While the viewers were chatting away, they noticed that Bi Fang did not cease his cooking, but kept on grilling. The surface of the snake meat was charred, and he was still grilling. Isn¡¯t that burnt to a crisp? Can we still eat it? ¡°Hahaha, those of you who just joined don¡¯t know, do you? It has to be charred to ensure the parasites are killed!¡± ¡°It¡¯s all protein, treated equally!¡± ¡°When Old Fang ate the intermediary viper in the past, it was the same; it looked like it was grilled into carbon.¡± Bi Fang explained, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s to make eating it safer. The high temperature of normal flames can kill almost every living creature in the world, not to mention mere parasites.¡± But just as the snake meat turned into charcoal and was safe to eat, in a dark corner that no one had noticed, a huge figure was slowly approaching, lured by the scent. The thick aroma of the fire, the char-grilled fragrance, and the scent of meat entwined in Bi Fang¡¯s nostrils, leaving him oblivious to any anomaly. The massive white hooves stepped on the decaying leaves, leaving deep prints, and it wasn¡¯t until they trampled on a dry twig that the keenly alert Bi Fang sensed something odd. ¡°What was that noise?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Leonardo, bewildered, lifted his head to look around, but noticed nothing out of the ordinary. Bi Fang looked up cautiously, knowing that no slackening of vigilance was permissible in the tropical rainforest. In the rainforest, anything can be found, including tigers¡­ The conversation ceased, the charcoal crackled under the caress of fire tongues, and the vast rainforest quickly fell silent, with only the distant, faint chirping of birds remaining. What¡¯s happening¡­ The once lively atmosphere had vanished without a trace, turning eerily serious, causing the viewers to grow tense as well; even the naturally harmonious chirping of birds now seemed like shrill screams. ¡°Crack!¡± It was the sound of another dry twig breaking, entirely distinct from the sound of bamboo charcoal popping in the fire; something was really approaching! Leonardo¡¯s breath caught in his throat. Unlike Bi Fang, his senses were not as sharp and his vigilance was much poorer. He hadn¡¯t even heard the sound of the breaking twig just now and was still struggling with whether to try some wild snake meat. But he was definitely not foolish, the sound just now was certainly not the noise of burning wood! The primeval rainforest was too dangerous! They hadn¡¯t even been there for half a day and had already encountered so many things! Thinking back to the Bamboo Viper he had encountered not long ago, and now another unknown creature was approaching, Leonardo¡¯s instincts were to get up, but Bi Fang seemed to have anticipated his action and grabbed his arm firmly. Bi Fang¡¯s smile slowly faded, and he looked extremely serious as he hissed, ¡°Don¡¯t move! Don¡¯t move until we¡¯re clear about the situation! If it¡¯s a tiger, the more you move, the easier it becomes its target!¡± A tiger? There¡¯s a tiger too? The audience was somewhat bewildered; and if the onlookers felt this way, not to mention the parties involved. Leonardo¡¯s face turned pale instantaneously, utterly drained of color. Bi Fang held his arm, feeling the other trembling distinctly, and could only offer simple words of comfort. At such close range, if it truly was a carnivorous beast, it surely would have already spotted them. Running would only make the beast perceive their fear, prompting it to launch a bold attack. ¡°Don¡¯t panic. Humans aren¡¯t on a tiger¡¯s menu. As long as we don¡¯t trigger its hunting instinct, listen to me, we¡¯ll be mostly fine. Even if it is a tiger, we can get through this crisis!¡± ¡°The comer doesn¡¯t conceal its sound, so it¡¯s unlikely to be a predator,¡± Bi Fang analyzed calmly. No predator would intentionally make such a noise, as the animals in the forest have far too keen a sense of hearing. If it were truly a tiger, it wouldn¡¯t behave like this. It¡¯s more likely to be a herbivorous hoofed animal! Hearing this, as if affected by Bi Fang¡¯s calm composure, Leonardo, who was previously shivering all over, gradually regained his composure. In the face of danger, a calm, cool-headed, and strong person can have a great influence. They can make a panicking person see them as their pillar of strength. Moreover, at this point, aside from trusting Bi Fang, there was no other choice. If they really faced an insurmountable force, Leonardo also believed that Bi Fang would never do something like running away faster than him. Crack, crack. The sound of dry branches and leaves being trampled grew closer, like the tolling of a death knell. The pace of the comer wasn¡¯t fast, but as the sound became increasingly distinct, Bi Fang also determined its direction. Three cameras simultaneously aimed into the darkness. A huge shadow gradually became clear, and the audiences held their breath. ¡°Holy shit, what the hell is that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s huge!¡± ¡°Fiend, demon, devil!¡± As the enormous creature behind the bushes came gradually into focus, Bi Fang¡¯s pupils sharply contracted, his body stiffening as if hit by an electric shock, frozen in place. Leonardo¡¯s forehead was slick with cold sweat, and seeing Bi Fang¡¯s expression made him even more restless. ¡°What on earth is it?¡± He instinctively wanted to look back but was firmly pulled back by Bi Fang, who whispered harshly, ¡°Don¡¯t turn around!¡± ¡°It¡¯s an ox!¡± ¡°An ox?¡± ¡°An ox?¡± ¡°Can we have it as an extra meal?¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to be afraid of with an ox?¡± In the camera¡¯s view, the figure of the beast gradually became clear. First to be revealed were the high, bulging muscles, which under the scarce light looked like small hills! As the beast continued forward, everyone finally got a clear view of the whole creature. ¡°` It was a huge dark wild buffalo, with white ¡°short socks¡± on the lower parts of its legs, and a pair of thick white horns that grew from its wide, light-colored cornual ridge, first stretching outward then curving upward, resembling a pair of enormous horns, filled with a strange sense of power. When the audience saw what kind of bull it was, they were shocked. [Holy crap, is this bull raised by Schwarzenegger?] [Can the wild ones grow like this? Is this what they look like on steroids?] [You¡¯re not running away from that?] [Run, and you die even faster, right?] [Looking at the style of this bull, did it run out of Fist of the North Star?] [This bull works out, I bet. Out of a year, at least ten months were spent in a gym] Everyone was shocked by the size of the wild buffalo and its muscled flesh, it was simply impossible to imagine that it could grow naturally. Initially, when they heard Bi Fang say it was a bull, some people breathed a sigh of relief, thinking of the docile domestic cattle they had seen, until this moment, those enormous horns, the heavily muscled body, everyone knew that this big guy was not to be trifled with. Rush up to it, and you¡¯ll die! ¡°What the hell is it?¡± Leonardo was frantic; he had already heard that the creature was right behind him, but Bi Fang¡¯s warning had made him too scared to turn his head. Every hair on his body stood on end, and he was covered in goosebumps! Even his breathing became erratic as he wondered if this is how he would react if faced with a bear. The trembling was incessant, as if facing the abyss. He really should have had the director come to the scene and shoot this segment, maybe then he could actually win an Oscar. ¡°It¡¯s a Wild Baizhi Ox.¡± Bi Fang took a deep breath, and amidst the nervousness, there was also a hint of relief. As he had guessed, it was indeed a herbivorous hoofed animal. But still terrifying! The distance between the two was less than fifteen meters! For a bull, that was just a short sprint, and if it hit them, Bi Fang and Leonardo would lose their lives within seconds, not even enough for it to kill them properly. ¡°A real bull?¡± Leonardo was stunned, yet unlike many domestic viewers, he grew more nervous! Domestic viewers generally perceive bulls as hardworking, honest, straightforward, and docile; they are the companions of farming civilization that has existed for thousands of years. But for Leonardo, the image was completely different. Right now, all Leonardo could think about was bullfighting! He had seen a bullfighter gored into a skewer by a raging North African Bull! Stomped into a puddle of blood by its gigantic hooves, it was a tragic accident, where the fighter meant to subdue the wild bull stopped breathing in just a few seconds. Leonardo¡¯s voice trembled, ¡°How does the Wild Baizhi Ox compare with the North African Bull¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not even fit to carry its shoes.¡± Bi Fang shook his head. ¡°The Wild Baizhi Ox is the largest ox in the world, standing over two meters at the shoulder and weighing up to one and a half tons, but the North African Bull is only around half a ton.¡± Leonardo trembled again, one and a half, half a ton¡­ Isn¡¯t that a difference of three times? Imagining a three-times enhanced North African Bull, his urge to look back grew even stronger, and the uncertainty could drive him insane! ¡°Be careful, it¡¯s coming this way!¡± Bi Fang yanked Leonardo¡¯s arm and pulled him down to the ground. From his position on the ground, Leonardo finally caught a glimpse of what the ¡°bull¡± actually looked like with his peripheral vision. With just one look, he almost passed out. Is this damn thing a bull? Bi Fang then lay down next to Leonardo, whispering, ¡°It might be attracted to the snake meat.¡± ¡°` Attracted by snake meat? ¡°Cows eating meat?¡± Leonardo seemed to have heard something that shook his worldview; aren¡¯t cows herbivores? Is it really a cow from our planet? The thought of the behemoth before him opening a pair of neat teeth, tearing a large chunk of flesh from his back to chew, nearly caused Leonardo to faint. ¡°Eat!¡± Bi Fang was certain, but he did not explain why. Instead, he grabbed Leonardo¡¯s hand and began to retreat slowly, ¡°Can you crawl? Follow me and crawl back.¡± ¡°As long as you don¡¯t initiate an attack or show danger, wild oxen rarely attack animals smaller than themselves. If you just don¡¯t stand up and slowly back away, you can usually escape from danger.¡± ¡°In the past, someone conducted an experiment: two teams lined up in a bullfighting ring and moved forward. When they saw a bull charging, they lay down, and the bull would stop. Both teams made it across the arena safely that way.¡± ¡°You should know, those were bulls from bullfights, genuine North African Bulls. Perhaps they¡¯re not as strong as the Wild Baizhi Oxen, but they are definitely the most temperamental bulls in the world.¡± While crawling back, Bi Fang explained in a low voice, firmly keeping his eyes on the Wild Baizhi Ox. Although that was what he said, there were always exceptions, and they couldn¡¯t let down their guard. ¡°North African Bulls are inherently combative and fierce by nature. Plus, special breeding grounds that select and breed the most ferocious among them mean that even they could come out unscathed, other oxen too stand a good chance of escape.¡± ¡°No way? Those matadors all got knocked down, and still the ox didn¡¯t spare them.¡± Watching as they put more distance between themselves and the Wild Baizhi Ox, which hadn¡¯t shown much indication of attacking them, Leonardo relaxed a little, but was hesitant upon hearing this. He had personally seen matadors violently rubbed into the ground, practically turned into carpets. Why would the bull keep attacking then? ¡°That was because they drew its aggro. Ever played a game? If you squat and walk behind a monster, you¡¯ll be fine. But if you hit it once, it can chase you for eight hundred miles.¡± ¡°When you haven¡¯t provoked the wild ox, being smaller than it, it perceives you as no threat and so doesn¡¯t attack. But if you¡¯ve already angered it, even if you bury your head in the soil, you can¡¯t shake off that hatred. It will ruthlessly poke a hole in your behind.¡± As they spoke, the two of them had crawled over twenty meters away, while the wild ox reached the site of their original campfire, nudged the sand with its snout, and the flame was quickly extinguished. It rubbed against the snake meat and began to lick it, seemingly oblivious to the two large figures lying nearby on the ground. Feeling tentatively safe, Bi Fang also breathed a sigh of relief; that was too close. He reached back to touch his own back, all covered in cold sweat; the red mud he had applied was sticky once more. All along the path they crawled, a faint red mark could be seen. This showed just how tense Bi Fang had been, even the viewers could see that. [Old Fang was scared for once?] With a wry smile, Bi Fang thought, how could he not be afraid? ¡°In some countries, the habitats of Wild Baizhi Oxen overlap with those of Bengal Tigers, but it is often not the oxen that fall victim, but the tigers. Because the horns of Wild Baizhi Oxen are extremely sharp and also incredibly hard. When the Wild Baizhi Ox attacks, even the formidable tigers have to back down and settle for preying on the calves.¡± ¡°Out in the wild, this thing is like Schwarzenegger among humans; it has virtually no natural predators, especially a mature male Wild Baizhi Ox, which could ¡®walk sideways¡¯. The one we¡¯re dealing with right now is a typical male Baizhi Ox.¡± Now temporarily out of danger, Bi Fang and Leonardo lay not far away and began to ¡°judge and comment¡±. ¡°How do you know?¡± Leonardo said, surprised, trying to look up from the ground. But the light was too dim, and they were too far away, he couldn¡¯t see at all. ¡°Because Wild Baizhi Oxen like to live in herds, forming groups, only the males like to fight alone. Then, during the breeding season in November or December, they look for others of their kind.¡± [How long could we eat from such a big ox?] ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare; this guy is a class-protected animal in our country.¡± Bi Fang smiled at the barrage of comments, but the next second he could no longer smile. A huge black centipede was slowly crawling onto the back of his hand. Bi Fang: ¡°¡­¡± Chapter 468 - Chapter 468: Chapter 465 Fishy Grass Chapter 468: Chapter 465 Fishy Grass The mighty and fierce Wild Baizhi Ox departed. After waiting momentarily for it to be completely out of sight, Bi Fang rushed forward without worrying about the burning heat, pressing the still-smoking charcoal ash onto the wound. Grass and wood ash is, after all, a byproduct of burning and has been sterilized by high temperatures, so there is naturally no need to worry about infection; in fact, rinsing with clean water carries a certain risk. When the black charcoal dust met the swollen wound, Bi Fang felt as if he had plunged into cold water after running a 10,000-meter race, the soreness instantly subsided. The previously unbearable pain in the wound became manageable, similar to the feeling of a common burn. Getting bitten by a large centipede typically results in hours of intense pain, with the pain slowly spreading to the surrounding area, torso, or chest. Fortunately, Bi Fang acted promptly and decisively cut open the wound, squeezing out most of the poison that had not yet spread. Another person would not have been able to make such a decisive decision. As he spread the black charcoal ash over the wound, Bi Fang explained, ¡°The toxicity of many poisonous insects is acidic, like certain ants, centipedes, spiders, and bees, with only a few being alkaline, such as wasps, which are weakly alkaline. So in most cases, grass and wood ash are used, at the very least to alleviate your pain.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s not in the wilderness but at home, then soap water or alcohol can be used to clean the wound, followed by some heat-clearing and detoxifying herbs to treat it.¡± [Wait a minute, centipede venom is acidic and wasp venom is weakly alkaline. Do I have a bold idea?] [Isn¡¯t fighting poison with poison exactly like this? Dog¡¯s head.jpg] [Kennedy making sports cars, what an imagination!] ¡°That won¡¯t work, fighting poison with poison is just a figment of novelists¡¯ imaginations.¡± Bi Fang joked, his pain having subsided considerably, but the soreness in his wound still made the corners of his eyes twitch. ¡°Seems like I¡¯ve gotten into a bit of unwarranted trouble now. Not only did I lose the lunch that was within grasp, but I also got injured for no good reason.¡± After applying the ash on his wound, Bi Fang shook his hand, his voice tinged with complaint, yet he wasn¡¯t too disheartened. The snake meat that was originally there had been completely eaten by the Wild Baizhi Ox, leaving nothing behind, not even the branches used to skewer the snake meat. ¡°The cooked duck has flown away; now, I¡¯ll have to find something else to replace it.¡± Bi Fang wrapped the centipede¡¯s body in leaves and moved next to the fire that had been lit. Even now, the body of the centipede had not stopped twitching, a characteristic shared by all arthropods. ¡°The nervous system of a centipede is similar to that of an earthworm, belonging to a chain-like nervous system, so it can continue to struggle even when chopped into two. I simply removed its head, and look, its abdomen is filled with many small centipedes.¡± Following Bi Fang¡¯s gesturing, the mass of white maggots startled Leonardo, who, having been at a distance with dim lighting, had not seen as clearly as the audience thousands of miles away. Despite the adult centipede being dead, these newly-born little centipedes appeared oblivious, having not yet managed to flee, or perhaps being too young to escape. ¡°Without snake meat, I¡¯ll have to eat this.¡± Bi Fang chuckled coldly, picked up some charcoal from nearby, relit the fire, and shook all the tiny centipedes onto the leaves. Even though his left hand was in pain, he could endure it and still do some work without a problem. However, upon hearing Bi Fang say he was going to eat the centipede, Leonardo stammered, ¡°Wai-wait, can, can this thing be eaten?¡± If it were snake meat, Leonardo could understand, but eating centipedes was beyond his acceptance. Is this something people can eat? Isn¡¯t it incredibly disgusting? [Hahaha, we still have grilled centipedes at our night markets here.] [With so many bug dishes, Little Leo might go crazy.] Bi Fang smiled and turned the centipede with a stick, ¡°Centipedes are really nutritious and can be used in medicine. In many countries, centipede snacks are quite famous. Did we not stroll through the night market a couple of days ago? Did you not see?¡± Hearing Bi Fang say this, Leonardo also remembered. It seemed there was such a thing, but night markets are clearly only at night, and he did not look closely at the time. He thought they were some kind of slender meat skewers, but now that he thought about it, didn¡¯t they resemble centipedes? Is eating this a misunderstanding? Is there nothing else to eat? ¡°Not at all, it¡¯s not due to a lack of food, but rather because centipedes are delicious. They¡¯re crisp and tasty and rich in protein. Chewing raw centipedes is dangerous, as the venom can enter the bloodstream via the upper digestive tract, and the amount is much more than if you are just stung. It¡¯s best to deep fry them. If grilled, there may be a burnt taste, but we don¡¯t have the means to deep fry.¡± While waiting for the barbecue, Bi Fang also took a stick to the spot where he had not been bitten by a centipede, walking back and forth, occasionally prodding with the stick in his hand. ¡°Centipedes have a gregarious nature, are easily startled, and like residing in dark, moist places. We can look for its peers, try to catch more. After all, one is not enough for two people to eat.¡± ¡°Wait, not two people. Just you.¡± Leonardo quickly shook his head, emphasizing repeatedly his aversion to these disgusting creatures. ¡°You¡¯re not even going to try?¡± Bi Fang stood up, holding out the stick, and skewered a centipede he had just dug out, which writhed continuously on the stick. Thinking about swallowing that creature made Leonardo gag. ¡°Hahaha.¡± Bi Fang laughed, not minding, and brought back the two centipedes he just caught. If he was any later, the one that had started cooking might have been charred. The two newly caught ones were also fat and looked good. Many viewers couldn¡¯t accept it just like Leonardo. [It feels too disgusting.] [I¡¯ve tried it, it¡¯s not bad. It doesn¡¯t really have a taste, just a pure crunchy sound!] [I just can¡¯t accept it, I feel a bit sick watching it.] [Come on, if you were in a rainforest and had been hungry for two days, not to mention centipedes, you could eat three big bowls of cow dung.] [Ah, this¡­] ¡°In the tropical rainforest, if there¡¯s no food around, catching insects is also a good method, and we can even dig a pit to trap them. In places where centipedes frequently move, choose a shady and damp spot in the wild before early spring to dig a ¡®plus¡¯ shaped pit. The pit should be one to two meters long, about a half-meter wide, and deeper than the length of a hand, filled with bird droppings and some decaying grass. Cover it with branches, soil chunks, or roof tiles to lure the centipedes into the cracks. Check the next morning, and if there are centipedes in the pit, you can catch them.¡± Bi Fang threw the two newly caught centipedes into the fire pit, then took out the centipede that was just roasted, broke it in two, and put one piece directly into his mouth to chew. The clear crunching sound rose, and a faint bitterness mingled with the unique fragrance of roasted arthropods wafted out. Leonardo sniffed lightly and unexpectedly found the scent not too bad. ¡°Try a bit.¡± Bi Fang licked his lips and passed the other half toward Leonardo. ¡°No, thanks.¡± Bi Fang insisted, offering it again, ¡°Try a bit.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t lose a piece of flesh, give it a try.¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Leonardo originally wanted to refuse again, but he couldn¡¯t hesitate any longer as the centipede nearly touched his face, so he reluctantly took it. Looking at the curled-up half of the centipede in his hand, which was nearly as long as half of his palm and very thick, he looked up at Bi Fang to find him holding a leaf, pouring a freshly roasted pile of small centipedes directly into his mouth, chewing vigorously. ¡°Hmm, the small centipedes taste better, there¡¯s no salt, but they¡¯re sour, probably because the venom is acidic, similar to ants, with a bursting flavor.¡± [How does Old Fang manage to eat this so deliciously¡­] [I saw Hong Qigong pull out a small knife, chop off the head and tail of the centipede, gently squeeze, and the shell fell off easily, revealing the meat, which was white and translucent like a large shrimp, quite appealing. Yang Guo thought to himself, ¡°With such preparation, perhaps it¡¯s actually edible.¡±] [Damn, I¡¯ve also read this part!] [Tasty, but lacks flavor] [Still can¡¯t accept it.] [What do ants taste like?] [Just very sour, and there are canned ones sold online, claiming to be for health purposes. I feel ants taste even sourer than damn lemons, don¡¯t just trust Old Fang¡¯s taste] [If Master Fang says something is delicious, it¡¯s not necessarily true, but if he says it¡¯s bad, then it¡¯s definitely inedible.] [Master Fang really is, emmm, exceptionally experienced] Viewers in the live stream come from all over the world, and not a few have tasted centipedes. After hesitating, Leonardo still stuffed the half centipede into his mouth; as soon as he did, a faint bitterness spread in his mouth. It was the charred shell. With a light press of his tongue, the crispy shell shattered, revealing the softer meat inside, which was still dry. When his teeth bit into it, a mild sour taste came out, mixed with the flavor of protein, like burnt feathers. The taste? It definitely wasn¡¯t great, but it wasn¡¯t too disgusting either. Surprisingly, it¡¯s not bad? Leonardo was somewhat astonished, aside from the off-putting appearance, everything else was completely different from what he expected. ¡°How does it feel?¡± ¡°Not bad, I¡¯ve never eaten this before.¡± ¡°Hey, if you really get lost in the rainforest, centipedes are actually a good source of food. If you can¡¯t even find centipedes, you might have to resort to earthworms or even more disgusting things.¡± By this time, the remaining two big centipedes were also roasted, but they were not as big as the first one, and Bi Fang finished them in two bites, with much less meat. After finishing eating and cleaning up, Bi Fang continued to lead Leonardo along the riverbank. ¡°Because it¡¯s about survival, not just staying alive, I was supposed to find a good place to start setting up a campsite several hundred meters away from the river, but because I just got bitten by a centipede, I now have to find some herbs for topical application.¡± ¡°If bitten by a centipede, you can use Fishy Grass or dandelion crushed for external application, these two traditional Chinese herbs are both heat-clearing and detoxifying, and can usually be found where weeds grow.¡± ¡°Dandelion?¡± Leonardo didn¡¯t know what Fishy Grass was, but he was very familiar with dandelions; they could be found every spring, summer, and autumn, blown away in large clumps by the wind, ¡°Dandelions have this effect, too?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Bi Fang nodded, ¡°Dandelions can also be used medicinally and are quite common in Chinese medicine, clearing heat and detoxifying, useful for colds and fevers.¡± ¡°I know this!¡± Leonardo said, surprisingly familiar with traditional Chinese medicine. Bi Fang raised an eyebrow but didn¡¯t seem surprised. Strangely enough, these days foreigners seem to be more into traditional Chinese medicine than locals. I can¡¯t remember which report I saw, but it¡¯s said that over 60% of Europeans use traditional medicines, and Europe accounts for 44.5% of the global herbal medicine market share. Many countries have even included traditional Chinese medicine into their healthcare systems quite early on. This phenomenon left Bi Fang at a loss for words. Looking around, Leonardo noticed a peculiar phenomenon: ¡°Since arriving just now, it seems I haven¡¯t seen any dandelions?¡± Hmm? The audience was equally startled upon hearing this, realizing indeed that there were no dandelions in sight within the camera¡¯s frame. That¡¯s not right, is it? It¡¯s June; shouldn¡¯t they be everywhere? Bi Fang shook his head: ¡°Although dandelions are widespread, nearly all over the world, they are indeed not found in the rainforest.¡± ¡°If you look at the dandelion¡¯s method of seed dispersion, you¡¯ll understand. Dandelions usually grow in relatively open, windy areas. They¡¯re commonly found on hillsides, beside water bodies, and in open grasslands. Plus, the dandelion is just a delicate herbaceous plant. The vegetation in tropical rainforests is dense, there¡¯s little wind; tall plants heavily shade the area, lacking sunlight; and the rainfall is both copious and irregular. So, dandelions don¡¯t really distribute in tropical rainforests. Therefore, my target is not the dandelion but Fishy Grass.¡± ¡°Fishy Grass might be familiar to many. It¡¯s also called Fish Mint, and while some people love it dearly, others can¡¯t stomach their food at the mere whiff of it.¡± Just hearing Fish Mint¡¯s names in traditional medicine¡ªsuch as dog-fly grass, stinky vegetable, stinky pig nest¡ªgives you an idea of its aroma. Bi Fang was searching for it, partly to find the herb for further treatment and partly for food gathering. [Let¡¯s not even talk about it, I¡¯m starting to feel nauseous.] [I¡¯m from the Northeast, went to school in Guizhou; ever since a roommate invited me to try it once, I¡¯ve never wanted to eat it a second time ¡ª plain fishy taste, and it¡¯s the kind that emerges when a fish dies.] ¡°Exactly, for some people, this fishy smell not only fills their mouth and nose but also irritates the eyes, achieving a trifecta assault on taste, smell, and vision.¡± Bi Fang nodded: ¡°But this is actually an allergic reaction, and the severity varies, mainly because of an allergy to something in Fish Mint called fishy grass essence.¡± Fishy grass essence might not only make food unpalatable for some people, but it may also cause direct allergies. Those with mild allergies might feel like they¡¯re just chewing on traditional medicine with no other significant sensation. But those with severe allergies will first lose all appetite, and those who are seriously uncomfortable might experience symptoms such as nausea, disgust, and dry heaving. ¡°Fishy Grass grows in rather damp areas and spreads widely. It¡¯s often found near lakes and rivers, by soggy roadside patches, in the wild, or in the humid places of mountains. It¡¯s widely distributed in the wild. If we¡¯re patient, we shouldn¡¯t have trouble finding it. The best bet would be downstream, where the likelihood is higher, because the water tends to be slower there.¡± Bi Fang was very focused, leading Leonardo around the riverbank in search. Fishy Grass in the rainforest was as common as reeds by the river, very easy to come by. Therefore, persistent efforts paid off, and in less than half an hour, Bi Fang had his reward. In a waterlogged corner, a spread of green ¡°water grass¡± wound its way through. Chapter 469 - Chapter 469: 466 Chapter 469: 466 ¡°` Not yet finished, will edit before dawn. The powerful and fierce Wild Baizhi Ox left, and after waiting for a moment for it to be completely gone, Bi Fang rushed forward without caring about the heat, pressing the still smoking charcoal ash onto the wound. Plant ash is indeed a product of combustion and has been sterilized by high temperatures, so there is no need to worry about infection. Using clean water to rinse might pose a certain risk. The black charcoal ash fell on the swollen wound, and Bi Fang only felt as if he had plunged into cold water after running a 10,000-meter race, the soreness immediately dissipated. The once unbearable pain of the wound became tolerable, akin to the feeling of a regular burn injury. Being bitten by a large centipede usually causes hours of severe pain, and the pain tends to spread slowly to the surrounding area, torso, or chest. Luckily, Bi Fang had acted promptly, decisively cutting open the wound and squeezing out most of the venom before it could spread. Another person surely couldn¡¯t have been so decisive. As he rubbed the black charcoal ash into the wound, Bi Fang explained, ¡°The venom of many poisonous insects is acidic, like certain ants, centipedes, spiders, bees, with only a few being alkaline, like hornets, which are weakly alkaline. Hence, in most cases, plant ash is used, at least it can relieve your pain.¡± ¡°If we weren¡¯t in the wilderness but at home, we could use soapy water, alcohol to wash the wound, and then some herbs that clear heat and detoxify to clean the wound.¡± [Wait, centipede venom is acidic, and hornet is weakly alkaline, do I have a bold idea?] [Using poison to fight poison, isn¡¯t that how it goes? Dog¡¯s head.jpg] [Kennedy made a sports car, what a flight of fancy!] ¡°That won¡¯t do, using poison to fight poison is just fiction.¡± With much of the pain gone, Bi Fang was also in the mood to joke, but the pain in the wound still made him twitch the corner of his eye. ¡°What a misadventure this has been, not only did my lunch fly away, but I also got injured for no reason.¡± Bi Fang shook off his hand after applying the plant ash on his wound, a tone of complaint in his voice, but not too downhearted. What was once snake meat was now completely devoured by the Wild Baizhi Ox, leaving nothing behind, not even the twig used to skewer the snake meat. ¡°Since the cooked duck has flown away, we¡¯ll have to find something else.¡± Bi Fang wrapped the corpse of the centipede in leaves and approached the fire. The body of the centipede was still twitching, a trait common to all arthropods. ¡°The nervous system of a centipede is similar to that of an earthworm, being a chain-like nervous system, so even if it¡¯s chopped into two pieces, it can still struggle incessantly. I just crushed its head, and as you can see, there are many little centipedes in its belly.¡± Following Bi Fang¡¯s pointing finger, the densely packed white larvae startled Leonardo, who was previously too far away and in dim light to see them as clearly as the viewers thousands of miles away. Even though the large centipede was dead, these newly born little centipedes hadn¡¯t yet realized what had happened; they hadn¡¯t had the chance to escape or, being too young, couldn¡¯t manage to. ¡°Having lost the snake meat, we¡¯ll have to eat this.¡± Bi Fang sneered, picked up some charcoal, rekindled the fire, and shook all the little centipedes onto the leaves. Even with his left hand in pain, enduring it was manageable to do some work. But when Bi Fang suggested eating the centipedes, Leonardo stuttered, saying hesitantly, ¡°Wait, wait a minute, can, can this be eaten?¡± If snake meat was something Leonardo could understand, eating centipedes was beyond his acceptance. Can people eat this? Isn¡¯t that just disgusting? [Hahaha, we still have grilled centipedes in our night market here] [With so many insect dishes, Little Leo is going to lose his mind] ¡°` Bi Fang smiled and used a branch to flip the centipede over, ¡°Centipedes are a great tonic and can be used in medicine. In many countries, centipede snacks are very famous. Didn¡¯t we go to the night market the other day? Didn¡¯t you see?¡± Reminded by Bi Fang, Leonardo also remembered. It seemed there had been something like that, but night markets were clearly a nighttime thing. He hadn¡¯t looked closely and thought they were some slender meat skewers. Now that he thought about it, did they look like centipedes? Could there be some misunderstanding in treating these as food? Was there nothing else to eat? ¡°Not at all, it¡¯s not that there¡¯s nothing else to eat, but rather because centipedes are delicious that people eat them, they are crispy and refreshing, and also rich in protein. Raw chewing of centipedes is very dangerous, as the venom might enter the bloodstream in the upper digestive tract, and the quantity would be much more than a quick sting. Frying in oil is best; if they¡¯re roasted, there might be a burnt taste, but we don¡¯t have the means to fry them.¡± Taking advantage of the time it took to barbecue, Bi Fang also took a stick to the spot where the centipede hadn¡¯t bitten him, walking back and forth, occasionally prodding with the stick in his hand. ¡°Centipedes are gregarious by nature, easily frightened, and prefer to reside in dark and damp places. We can look for its kindred, try to catch more, because one is certainly not enough for two people to eat.¡± ¡°Wait, not two people, just you.¡± Leonardo quickly shook his head, emphasizing repeatedly that he really didn¡¯t have an appetite for these disgusting creatures. ¡°You¡¯re not even going to try it?¡± Bi Fang stood up straight, holding the stick upright, and skewered the newly dug up centipede, which wriggled incessantly on the stick. Just the thought of swallowing that creature made Leonardo retch. ¡°Hahaha,¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t pay him any mind, taking the two freshly caught centipedes back with him, lest the one that started grilling earlier get burnt. The newly caught pair looked decently plump as well. However, many viewers, like Leonardo, simply couldn¡¯t accept it. [That¡¯s so disgusting.] [I¡¯ve tried it, and it wasn¡¯t bad, tasteless, just plain crispy!] [No way I could handle that, just looking at it makes me uncomfortable.] [Come on, if you were in the rainforest, starving for two days, you wouldn¡¯t just eat centipedes, you could eat three big bowls of cow dung.] [Uh¡­] ¡°In the tropical rainforest, if you have no food to eat, catching insects is also a good method, and we could even dig traps for them. At places where centipedes frequent, choose damp areas in the mountains during early spring to dig a ¡®T¡¯-shaped pit. The pit should be one to two meters in length, about half a meter wide, and deeper than the length of a palm. Inside, place bird droppings and some decaying grass, then cover it with branches, clumps of earth, or tile pieces, luring centipedes to crawl into the crevices. The next morning, check the pit. If there are centipedes, you can capture them.¡± Bi Fang placed the two newly caught centipedes into the fire pit and then took the one that had just finished roasting, broke it in two, and popped one half into his mouth to chew. The crisp chewing sound arose, and a faint bitter taste mingled with the unique fragrance that came after roasting arthropods. Leonardo took a light sniff and was surprised to find the smell rather pleasant. ¡°Try it,¡± Bi Fang licked his lips and handed the other half to Leonardo. ¡°No thanks.¡± Bi Fang persisted, ¡°Try it,¡± ¡°You won¡¯t lose a piece of flesh, just give it a try.¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Leonardo had intended to refuse again, but the centipede was almost touching his face. After much hesitation, he still reached out and took it. Looking at the curled half of the centipede in his hand, nearly as long as half of his palm and very thick, he looked up at Bi Fang and saw him holding a leaf, pouring a whole bunch of freshly roasted tiny centipedes directly into his mouth, chewing with relish. ¡°Hmm, the small centipedes are a bit more fragrant, no salt, but they have a sour taste when eaten, probably because the venom is acidic,¡± he mused. ¡°It¡¯s somewhat similar to ants, with a bursting texture.¡± [How does Old Fang manage to eat these so deliciously¡­] [I¡¯ve seen Hong Qigong extract a small knife, chop off the head and tail of the centipede, gently squeeze, and the shell falls off to reveal the meat inside, white and translucent like prawns, very elegant. Yang Guo thought: ¡°With this method, it might indeed be edible.¡±] [Holy crap, I¡¯ve seen this part too!] [Tasty, just lacks flavor] [Still can¡¯t accept it.] [What do ants taste like?] [Anyway, it¡¯s very sour, you can buy it online, a big can, supposedly for health benefits. I think ants taste even sourer than damn lemons, don¡¯t just trust Old Fang¡¯s taste] [Master Fang says if it¡¯s tasty it might not necessarily be, but if he says it¡¯s not tasty, then it¡¯s definitely inedible.] [Master Fang really is, emmm, well-informed and experienced] The viewers in the live stream came from all over the world, and many had tasted centipedes before. After much hesitation, Leonardo stuffed the half centipede into his mouth, and a faint bitterness began to spread in his mouth immediately. It was the charred exterior shell. With a gentle press of the tongue, the crispy shell crumbled, revealing the softer flesh inside, which was still dry. When his teeth bit through, what was exposed was a faintly sour and astringent taste, characteristic of protein, like burnt feathers. The taste? It definitely wasn¡¯t very good, but it wasn¡¯t too disgusting either. Was it actually not bad? Leonardo was somewhat surprised. Apart from its off-putting exterior, everything else was completely different from what he had thought. ¡°How does it feel?¡± ¡°Not bad, I¡¯ve never eaten this before.¡± ¡°Hey, if you really get lost in the rainforest, centipedes are actually a decent source of food. If you can¡¯t even find centipedes, then you¡¯d have to eat earthworms or other even more disgusting things.¡± By this time, the remaining two large centipedes were also roasted, though they were not as big as the first one. Bi Fang finished them in two bites, and there wasn¡¯t much meat on them. After finishing eating and cleaning up, Bi Fang once again took Leonardo to hike along the river. ¡°Because it¡¯s survival, not life-saving, I should be looking for a good place to start building a camp, hundreds of meters away from the river is a good choice. But because I just got bitten by a centipede, I now have to look for some herbs that can be applied externally.¡± ¡°If bitten by a centipede, you can use Fishy Grass or dandelion crushed and applied externally. Both of these traditional Chinese herbs clear heat and detoxify, usually found where weeds grow.¡± ¡°Dandelion?¡± Leonardo didn¡¯t know what Fishy Grass was, but he was very familiar with dandelions, which appear every spring, summer, and autumn, blowing away in large swathes, ¡°Do dandelions also have this effect?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Bi Fang nodded. ¡°In fact, dandelions can also be used in medicine and are a very common traditional Chinese medicine, clearing heat and detoxifying, useful for colds and fevers.¡± ¡°I know this!¡± Leonardo was unexpectedly familiar with traditional Chinese medicine. Bi Fang raised an eyebrow but didn¡¯t seem surprised. Strangely enough, these days foreigners seem to be more into traditional Chinese medicine than the locals. I can¡¯t remember where I read the report, but apparently, over 60% of Europeans use traditional medicines, and Europe accounts for 44.5% of the global herbal medicine market share. Many countries have even incorporated traditional Chinese medicine into their healthcare systems quite early on. This phenomenon left Bi Fang at a loss for words. Looking around, Leonardo noticed a strange phenomenon, ¡°I haven¡¯t seen a dandelion since we got here, have I?¡± Huh? The audience was similarly taken aback upon hearing this, scrutinizing the images on their screens, which indeed seemed to lack any dandelions. That¡¯s not right, isn¡¯t it June? Shouldn¡¯t there be dandelions everywhere? Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°Although dandelions are widespread and found almost all over the world, they actually do not grow in rainforests.¡± ¡°If you look at how dandelions spread their seeds, you¡¯ll understand. They tend to grow in relatively open, windy areas. They are commonly found on slopes, by the water, and other open grasslands. Moreover, the dandelion is just a delicate herbaceous plant. The vegetation is dense in tropical rainforests, with little wind; tall plants block out much of the sunlight; and rainfall is frequent and irregular. Therefore, dandelions basically do not have a presence in tropical rainforests. That¡¯s why my target isn¡¯t the dandelion, it¡¯s Fishy Grass.¡± ¡°Fishy Grass might be familiar to many of you, it has another name called Fish Mint, and while it¡¯s deeply loved by some, others can¡¯t stand its smell and lose their appetite.¡± Just by hearing Fish Mint mentioned as part of Chinese medicine, with names like dog fly grass, stinky vegetable, and pig¡¯s nest, you can imagine the smell. Bi Fang was searching for it both as a medicinal herb for further treatment and also for food collection. [Let¡¯s not talk about it, I¡¯m getting nauseous just thinking about it.] [I¡¯m from the Northeast, studied in Guizhou, and after my roommate treated me to it once, I never wanted to eat it again. It¡¯s just a pure fishy smell, like that of a dead fish.] ¡°That¡¯s right, for some people, this fishy smell not only fills your mouth and nose but stings your eyes, delivering a triple assault on your taste, smell, and sight,¡± he said. Bi Fang nodded, ¡°But this is actually an allergic reaction, and the severity varies. It¡¯s mainly an allergy to a substance in Fish Mint called fishy grass element.¡± Fishy grass element can make certain people not only find it distasteful but also cause direct allergic reactions. For those with a mild allergy, they might feel like they are just chewing on medicinal herbs with no other significant sensation. But for those with a severe allergy, they would have no appetite at all, and the severely discomforted may experience nausea, vomiting, and retching. ¡°Fishy Grass grows in damp places and spreads over large areas. It¡¯s often found beside lakes, rivers, waterlogged roadsides, fields, or damp areas in mountains. It¡¯s widely spread in the wild, so if we¡¯re patient, we should have no trouble finding it. It¡¯s best to search downstream, as there¡¯s a higher chance of encountering slower-flowing sections of the stream,¡± he explained. Bi Fang had a definite purpose, leading Leonardo along the riverbank in their search. In the rainforest, finding Fishy Grass was much like finding reeds by the riverbank¡ªquite easy. Thus, perseverance paid off. In less than half an hour, Bi Fang had succeeded. In a puddle around the corner, spread a green ¡°water grass.¡± Chapter 470 - Chapter 470: Chapter 467: Alone Chapter 470: Chapter 467: Alone From choosing the campsite to constructing the shelter, it didn¡¯t take very long. Since lunch was eaten relatively late and there had been an incident in between, by the time a simple dwelling had been set up, it was already five-thirty in the afternoon. In the somewhat open campsite, Leonardo was making his final farewell to the audience. He didn¡¯t plan to stay over for camping, and had called for a helicopter ten minutes earlier. ¡°Wilderness Survivalist is much harder than I thought. The moment the Wild Baizhi Ox appeared, I was soaked in cold sweat,¡± shouted Leonardo over the loud noise of the helicopter rotors as it hovered above the trees. He still felt shaken by the incident that had happened at noon, but then he burst out laughing, ¡°But it¡¯s also much more interesting than I imagined. I hope to see you again next time!¡± ¡°You will!¡± Bi Fang waved, watching as Leonardo grabbed the rope ladder and climbed into the helicopter, disappearing into the jungle. What followed was the fading sound of the rotors. ¡°Phew, he¡¯s finally gone. Taking someone along is much more tiring than I thought,¡± Old Fang mopped the sweat from his forehead, breathing a sigh of relief. After a busy day, Master Fang was also exhausted, and now his stomach was growling with hunger. Physical exhaustion was one thing, but the mental stress was quite another, especially when having to take responsibility for another person, that pressure was far greater than when being alone. [Little Leo is as handsome as ever] [It seems pretty interesting] [At least he helped Old Fang quite a bit, and he¡¯s pretty good at chopping trees, funny.jpg.] [It¡¯s so dark now, I can¡¯t even see him, it¡¯s time to make a fire] The audience was being noisy; it was now six in the evening, and the already dim forest was getting so dark one could hardly see their hand in front of their face, thanks to the long days of June. Night vision mode simply does not have the same feel as lighting a fire in the dark forest, and the darkness also made the viewers somewhat afraid, so they all urged Bi Fang to start the fire. Bi Fang hastened, for in the tropical rainforest, a campfire was not used for warmth but mainly for keeping wild animals at bay and for illumination. Bi Fang took out the charcoal from his bag. At this point, the charcoal showed no sparks on its surface, but that was not a problem. When he touched it, the charcoal was still hot, which was enough. ¡°For most non-professionals, making fire by hand is a very difficult thing. Even if you are genuinely interested in survival techniques, after one or two failures, that interest is hardly lasting, and you¡¯ll end up only watching instead of doing.¡± [Ah, too real, facepalm.jpg.] [I still remember the first time I watched Master Fang live stream Fire-Making by Wood-Drilling, I was amazed. So amazed that I went downstairs to the garden to break a few branches and try it myself, but after half an hour, not even smoke came out.] [Hahaha, same here, birds of a feather.] [In the residential area? I sense elements¡­ Better not to try in a residential area, it¡¯s a bit dangerous.] ¡°But in the wilderness, we can¡¯t always stay at one campsite; many times, whether by necessity or choice, we¡¯ll face reasons to move, be it the howling of wolves nearby, the discovery of predator tracks, or finding a way out.¡± ¡°In these cases, getting to the next campsite and making a fire all over again can be tricky. If you¡¯re adept at starting fires, it¡¯s fine, but if not, it¡¯s bad. So, we must learn to make fire-starting materials, and charcoal is one of the easiest to prepare.¡± Bi Fang snapped the charcoal in his hand, and in the dim light, crimson sparks fell. This was the fire seed within the charcoal, which could enable people to start a fire quickly. ¡°There are many ways to preserve a fire seed. You can find a dry and relatively thick piece of wood, preferably a tree root, with not too high a density. Sparks from wood that is too dense are easily extinguished. Then, after igniting it, put out the visible flame, leaving only the smoldering sparks. This way, you can carry it over a long distance. When it¡¯s about to burn out, ignite the next piece like this repeatedly, and you can carry it a very long distance. But as you walk, keep an eye on it so the sparks don¡¯t go out. If they¡¯re about to extinguish, blow on them to make them flame up a bit. When you need to ignite something, just place the tinder on top, then blow on it, and you can light the tinder.¡± Gathering the dry leaves together, Bi Fang took a bunch of combustible material and gently pressed it onto the charcoal with drifting sparks. Very quickly, the audience could barely see the dense smoke rising in the darkness. Bi Fang blew several slow, deep breaths, and in less than a dozen seconds, a pale yellow flame lit up in the dark forest. Throwing the flame into a fire pit that had been dug in advance, the small fire instantly lit the branches inside the pit, followed by the larger sticks of the pyramids. Soon, a campfire was ignited within the campsite. ¡°Line the bottom of the fire pit with stones, then place dry twigs and leaves on top, followed by thin sticks, and then construct a pyramid of thicker sticks. This structure allows the flame to burn steadily, soar high, and shine brighter.¡± [Another small detail] The small flames naturally climbed up, like a giant serpent entwined on the pyramid. The campsite, which had been hastily erected due to time constraints, suddenly came into view before everyone, its lush green form casting shadows on the ground in the firelight. Many viewers who had just gotten off work in the evening and finally had time to watch the live stream realized what a hovering shelter was and how it avoided insects and ants. Quite simply, it was a stretcher. Bi Fang tied two bamboo poles to form an A-shaped structure, which he then erected, tying the top of the A to a tree as a fixed support to ensure it wouldn¡¯t fall over. Then, about two or three meters away from the first A-shaped structure, he constructed a second identical A-shaped structure and secured it. He tied a stick across the top ends of the two A-shaped structures to form a crossbeam structure similar to that of a house. Then, about half a meter off the ground at the legs of each A, he tied a stick firmly on each side, and a ¡°stretcher¡± appeared. Naturally, it wouldn¡¯t be suitable to lie down on just yet, so Bi Fang and Leonardo worked together to find a large number of vines and wrapped them around the stretcher, and with that, the task was accomplished. Bi Fang personally secured every knot to ensure sturdiness. The base was also deeply embedded into the soil because this wasn¡¯t just for one or two days of sleep, but at least a week, so it was essential to ensure quality and durability. Even a ring of stones had been piled up around the edges. Although they weren¡¯t very useful, they still created a barrier that could provide a sense of psychological comfort. It was as if in the perilous rainforest, one finally had a place to stand. Of course, it would not have taken Bi Fang and Leonardo three or four hours to construct just one stretcher. ¡°Rain in the rainforest is very frequent, especially in the summer. Banna itself has a tropical monsoon climate with distinct rainy and dry seasons. From late May to late October is the rainy season, and it rains very frequently, possibly every two to three days. So, when we set up the campsite, we have to consider rainfall.¡± ¡°Even though the temperature in the rainforest is high, because you can¡¯t be directly exposed to sunlight, getting wet in the rain can still easily lead to catching a cold. Therefore, it¡¯s necessary to prevent it before it happens.¡± Bi Fang pointed at the ¡°roof¡± over his head. It was a canopy woven from a large number of palm leaves and was not connected to the ¡°stretcher¡±. A total of six three-meter-long wooden sticks supported the canopy structure. Two sticks were vertically hammered into the ground with a distance of two and a half meters between them. ¡°` Another stick was tied to the top of the two nailed sticks, serving as a crossbeam. Bi Fang used vines as ropes for tying, and some bark as well. He leaned the remaining three sticks against the crossbeam at an angle to the ground. For the roof, there was an abundance of palm leaves, all neatly arranged in an overlapping fashion, with all the tips pointing downward. ¡°In a tropical rainforest, what we don¡¯t lack are palm trees. I split them in half and then wove them onto the frame I had built,¡± he explained. ¡°You should start weaving the leaves from the bottom of the frame upwards, ensuring all the leaf tips point down to facilitate the runoff of rainwater. While weaving, it¡¯s important to cross two layers of leaves diagonally; this enhances the waterproof capability.¡± ¡°After weaving a layer, bind it with vine ropes, then continue with the next layer until the whole frame is covered. You can also use this weaving technique to make palm leaf mats or cushions for added comfort.¡± Bi Fang held a torch and stepped outside the shelter to show everyone the palm leaves above, pointing to a clearly defined strip in the middle and saying, ¡°The top row of palm leaves should be complete, providing an ¡®eave¡¯ that directs the rainwater down smoothly.¡± ¡°Of course, if you have tarpaulin or waterproof canvas, it¡¯s much easier. Just stretch it out, and you¡¯re done¡ªno need to go through the trouble like I did.¡± For normal camping, you can spread a waterproof tarp over the entire frame to keep out the rain, then fasten the four corners of the tarp with rope and secure the other ends of the ropes to the surrounding trees. Otherwise, just this roof would take up nearly two hours for both Bi Fang and Leonardo, with most of the time spent on it. ¡°As for the circle of stones around the shelter, it¡¯s not just for peace of mind; they can actually act as a fire break, containing the spread of flames. Of course, it won¡¯t work if the fire is too big. Additionally, it can keep out some small animals.¡± After showing everyone around the perimeter, Bi Fang sat on the ¡°stretcher¡± he had woven from vines, covered with palm leaves, and a soft vine-woven base underneath, which was quite comfortable. The previously oppressive and airless rainforest seemed to make room for breathable space under this cozy shelter, easing the pressure immensely. [Phew, night is falling, hurry back to the camp.] [It¡¯s all in the details.] [No wonder Old Fang is like a fish in water in the rainforest.] Bi Fang looked around, at ease, and took out all the Fishy Grass from a backpack, plucked the leaves, leaving only the stems, which he threaded onto thin branches and lightly toasted over the fire. This was his dinner for the night. After eating and feeling slightly satiated, Bi Fang bid his audience goodnight. Without waiting for them to ask him to stay, he went off-air. At this moment, he was truly alone in the entire rainforest. It was far from silent around him; the fire crackled and popped, and the darkness beyond was filled with the sounds of insects, and even further away, there were the eerie calls of birds or other animals. Nighttime is the peak of activity for many creatures and the most frequent time for predators to emerge. The only thing that could keep them at bay was the burning campfire. The firelight reflected in his pupils, and even Bi Fang felt a touch of unease deep inside. The walls that let in drafts offered no sense of security. Tomorrow, he would try to add a lower wall, and he also needed more tools. Additionally, he had to start planning for iron smelting early, ideally having a preliminary plan by day five. Bi Fang placed the three wooden spears he had made today by his bed, added some more firewood, and then fell into a deep sleep. ¡­ In the early morning rainforest, a faint mist lingered. Compared to the night, it now seemed truly silent. The chorus of insects had ceased, and the growling of beasts had disappeared completely. Within the fire pit, the bonfire had burnt out, leaving only a wisp of white smoke. ¡°` Bi Fang had just woken up when he felt the hunger in his stomach, followed by a chill that spread through his body as moisture clung to the air around him. Yesterday, aside from eating two large centipedes and some Fishy Grass, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t had anything else to eat, which meant there was a deficit in energy compared to what he had expended. Fortunately, the deficit wasn¡¯t too large, but Bi Fang still shivered, goosebumps covering his skin. ¡°It¡¯s a bit cold.¡± With exceedingly high humidity and the absence of direct sunlight, the rainforest exuded an eerie kind of cold, but luckily it was still within a bearable range. As soon as he started the live stream, a large audience flocked in. In the first arena, there were already people waiting. By the time Cao Lifeng arrived with breakfast, there were already people waiting and munching on hand-grabbed pancakes. However, compared to the crowded scenes of yesterday, today was much better. A few roommates, yawning and waving, were lackluster this morning after last night¡¯s bonfire party went late. ¡°Did you bring breakfast?¡± ¡°Here it comes, here it comes,¡± Cao Lifeng said, placing the bags of various sizes on the seat. He served up steamed buns, noodles, eggs, tofu pudding, fried dough sticks, and other breakfast items. ¡°Sweet or savory?¡± asked a roommate who had leaned in at the sight of the tofu pudding. But as soon as Cao Lifeng lifted the lid, his roommate¡¯s expression turned sharp and he rebuked, ¡°You heretic!¡± The white tofu pudding was sprinkled with chopped pickled mustard plant, seaweed, dried shrimps, minced cilantro, and dripped with red oil and sesame oil¡ªit was clearly for the savory crowd! ¡°Heh, it¡¯s the sweet-favoring folks who are the heretics,¡± Cao Lifeng retorted disdainfully, taking a big bite of the oily stick dipped in the spicy tofu pudding. ¡°You!¡± Just as the two were about to argue, the big screen, which had been dark, finally lit up again. ¡°Stop arguing, the live stream is starting.¡± ¡°Here it comes, here it comes. I wonder what we¡¯ll encounter today?¡± ¡°They¡¯re going to start iron smelting, right?¡± ¡°Not necessarily, I think they should still focus on gathering food first. They¡¯ll probably consider smelting iron once they have food security, right?¡± Someone guessed correctly. In the camp, drops of dew were falling from the tips of palm leaves, and then the focus of the camera shifted to Bi Fang, who was roasting the tip of a spear. ¡°The morning in the rainforest is much colder than I imagined. Luckily, I wove a palm leaf blanket last night, otherwise, I might catch a cold today.¡± ¡°Besides being a bit cold, my stomach is still very hungry. Just relying on some plants and two centipedes is nowhere near enough to fill it. Although my plan is to smelt iron, the priority is to find enough food.¡± Chapter 471 - Chapter 471: Chapter 468: Fishing Ground (Two in One) Chapter 471: Chapter 468: Fishing Ground (Two in One) Bi Fang mixed the red clay with some dew, and after turning it into a thin mud, he patched up the areas that were slightly falling off, making it uniformly smooth again. His decision to apply the red mud was indeed the right one. Last night he had slept comfortably, without any incidents, and the mosquitoes hadn¡¯t bothered him at all. ¡°In damp regions, mosquitoes are inherently vicious, and not even floral-scented mosquito repellent works, let alone other herbal remedies. Therefore, physical defenses are the best option.¡± ¡°I slept through the night, and to my surprise, I wasn¡¯t bitten by mosquitoes at all this morning. The only few bites I have were from before I applied the mud yesterday.¡± [Envy. The mosquitoes have increased again these past few days.] [A mosquito flew into my mosquito net last night, and the school doesn¡¯t allow air conditioning, so it was hot and annoying with one buzzing around.] [Gosh, that¡¯s an image. If you don¡¯t cover yourself with a blanket, you get bitten everywhere. If you do, it goes for your face. You end up slapping yourself and still can¡¯t hit it.] Hearing about mosquito bites, a bunch of viewers started to vent their frustrations. Mosquitoes should¡¯ve been wiped out a long time ago! In the woods, Bi Fang covered the fire with damp earth and, holding a straight and sharp wooden spear, made his way through the forest toward the stream he had found the day before. The audience¡¯s guess was right. Today, Bi Fang¡¯s task for himself was to gather as much food as possible and then further improve the shelter. ¡°Shelter, shelter, as the name suggests, to me, it is not just a place to sleep but also a place that provides protection.¡± ¡°Although I haven¡¯t yet started on making iron tools, I may not stay here for a full twenty days, but at the very least I intend to remain here for five days. So, I plan to further perfect it, at least piling up a wall.¡± As he spoke, Bi Fang had already quickly arrived at yesterday¡¯s stream. Last night, as he and Leonardo were setting up camp, they had also explored the nearby terrain, identifying whether it was a hunting ground for large animals and safe routes that could serve as paths. That¡¯s why Bi Fang was able to reach the riverbank so quickly today. ¡°If you get lost in the rainforest or other wild areas, the best way to get food is actually fishing. Any other method is not at all safe.¡± The dappled sunlight shone through the gaps in the leaves, casting reflections on the stone-strewn stream that twinkled in the splash of water from the protruding rocks. ¡°Many wild fruits and plants, without a certain amount of knowledge, you simply cannot determine whether they are poisonous. Of course, we can test for poison.¡± [Test for poison? How do you test?] [Feed it to animals?] [If there were animals to test the poison, would I bother eating unclear fruits?] Some viewers expressed disdain. ¡°Of course not, if people are already struggling to find food and willing to take risks with unknown things, how could there be animals to test the poison for you?¡± Bi Fang explained to the audience while walking along the stream. ¡°Testing for poison is a complex and rigorous process. I¡¯ll show it to you when I have the chance in the future. But first, I¡¯m going to fish now, although, this place isn¡¯t suitable for fish to live.¡± Bi Fang looked at the flowing stream for a moment, then headed downstream: ¡°This stream isn¡¯t very deep, only about half a meter. Although it¡¯s clear and drinkable, it¡¯s not friendly to fish. Generally, too clean a water source is unlikely to have big fish in it.¡± ¡°Clear waters have no fish, and a discerning person has no companions. Although the focus of this saying is on the second half, it does hold some truth.¡± [Master Fang, you¡¯re just taking advantage of the fact foreigners don¡¯t understand Chinese, aren¡¯t you? Dog¡¯s head.jpg] ¡°` A sudden ancient phrase popped up, and although the system¡¯s translation was very powerful, enabling barrier-free communication, it still left many foreign viewers scratching their heads, but they more or less understood its meaning. ¡°So now I need to go downstream to find a spot where the water is slower and murkier, but I don¡¯t want to go too far, within four to five kilometers. Any longer and the cost of energy consumption gets too high.¡± ¡°The rivers in the Banna Rainforest transform entirely between the dry and wet seasons. What we see now is a creek, but come July or August, in the middle of the rainy season, it could be a river five or six meters wide. It¡¯s easy to find downstream pools that have built up.¡± After walking for about half an hour, Bi Fang¡¯s guess wasn¡¯t wrong. The previously rapid riverbed suddenly widened, and the once fast-flowing stream became sluggish. The clear water also turned turbid, and the riverbed was no longer visible. Bi Fang thrust his nearly man-tall spear into the water, and two-thirds of it disappeared instantly. The half-meter-deep stream had doubled in depth at this point, exceeding one meter. And that was just the edge; who knows how deep it got further in. However, the murky river where the bottom couldn¡¯t be seen gave the viewers a sense of unknown terror. [There aren¡¯t crocodiles in this water, right?] [Yeah, I remember that there are crocodiles in tropical rainforests, and also giant pythons. Super scary.] [Darn, Old Fang, stay further away from the water, don¡¯t get dragged down by something, it¡¯s frightening.] Bi Fang laughed: ¡°You¡¯re thinking too much, there may be crocodiles in other rainforests, but I¡¯ve never heard of them in the Banna Rainforest. There might have been hundreds, even thousands of years ago, but definitely not now, or they would have been discovered by now.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know much about history, but before the pre-Qin era, there were a lot of crocodiles, elephants, and even rhinoceroses in the South. Back then, there were poisonous creatures everywhere, making it hardly suitable for living, not to mention many diseases people didn¡¯t understand then.¡± [Damn, rhinoceros? Did we really have those things?] [Yes, there even were rhino horn cups before the pre-Qin period, where do you think they came from?] [There were also armors made of rhino hide that only generals could wear.] Many viewers were learning for the first time that such magnificent scenes had once existed in the lands of Huaxia. Elephants and rhinoceroses used to run through the rainforest, but now, sadly, they can no longer be seen. Rhinoceroses became extinct on this land hundreds of years ago, and even elephants are now few in number. ¡°Also, because the living environment was so harsh, the ancients referred to it as a place with ¡®miasma.¡¯ But miasma doesn¡¯t mean some kind of literal poison fog that one will encounter upon arrival here, rolling in like the mist in movies; it¡¯s not actually like that.¡± Bi Fang explained calmly. The damp and hot conditions in ancient southern regions, swarming with insect poison, created a hotbed for diseases and epidemics, also becoming a historical memory of the resistance in the Lingnan region by the central dynasties. Soldiers from the north, after traveling a great distance, arrived in the far south, unable to adapt to the climate and water and soil there, and suffered from malaria after being bitten by poisonous insects or dysentery from unclean food and drink, plagued with various ailments, many of whom died. Without understanding the true pathological causes, they could only blame these unfortunate experiences on a special and harmful ¡®qi¡¯ derived from the adverse environment so different from their homeland. It might be related to the stagnant and unventilated water and soil in the south, or the geographical isolation between the north and south¡­ In any case, various notions were integrated into one concept named ¡®miasma.¡¯ Almost all unknown diseases in wild lands could be attributed to ¡®miasma,¡¯ which was definitely not the literal ¡®gas¡¯ it seemed to be. Even the Tibetan Plateau was thought to have miasma, but in reality, it was just a respiratory difficulty caused by lack of oxygen¡­ When Bi Fang was in school, he too somewhat took for granted that it was a kind of toxic gas, like marsh gas, but later, he learned more and realized it was not so. ¡°Like schistosomiasis, which plagued our country until the middle of the last century, it was directly called ¡®plague spirit.¡¯ Once infected, patients would rapidly lose weight, becoming just skin and bones. Even their height would seem to shrink, making them look like dwarfs.¡± ¡°` ¡°Meanwhile, their stomachs were swelling up as if they were pregnant, growing so large that their belly buttons turned inside out. At that time, a gentle prick on the abdomen would cause ascitic fluid to leak from the needle hole, which was terribly shocking.¡± Bi Fang remembered clearly because nearly 10 million people suffered from the disease in the mid-20th century, including 600,000 in the late stages, with over 100 million people at risk. How many people were there in the country at that time? Six hundred million. That meant one in six people was threatened by this disease until the instructor issued an urgent order, launching the slogan ¡°Eradicate schistosomiasis completely and thoroughly.¡± Only then did the disease gradually disappear. [Sss¡­ After all that, Old Fang, you still dare to drink raw water?] [Awesome, worthy of being Master Fang!] [You must go to the hospital for a check-up after every live broadcast, right?] [Speaking of which, won¡¯t there be any side effects from Old Fang doing this every time?] Side effects? Bi Fang looked at his system panel and scoffed disdainfully in his mind. Whatever side effects there might be, the system could heal them all. ¡°Regarding drinking raw water, I¡¯ve actually mentioned before that many parasites are found in crustaceans, such as schistosomiasis due to snails. But in places with fast-flowing water, it¡¯s difficult for these animals to survive, and with the filtration of heavy stones, there¡¯s not too much to worry about.¡± Moreover, Bi Fang knew well that his stomach wasn¡¯t like that of an ordinary person; just because he consumed parasites didn¡¯t mean he would get infected. First, they had to pass the test of stomach acid, where Bi Fang had a significant advantage. If vultures can eat carrion without fear, what¡¯s there to fear from drinking a bit of raw water? And after every live broadcast, Bi Fang would indeed go to the hospital for a check-up¡­ Bi Fang looked around and chose a spot where ¡°the stream flows into the river mouth,¡± preparing to catch fish here. But this time, it wasn¡¯t about fishing, nor was it about fish. ¡°Fishing is an excellent way to obtain high-protein foods. Fish can be captured with nets, hooks, harpoons, or lassos, or even caught by hand.¡± ¡°But for me, these aren¡¯t good methods because I have many other tasks to handle. Catching fish by hand is naturally more efficient and likely to catch fish, but it prevents me from doing other things.¡± ¡°Therefore, setting traps in the stream is the skill I want to show this time. While waiting for the fish to swim into the trap, you can work on other tasks.¡± What Bi Fang had to do was build a fishing corral that would allow fish to swim in. Once set up correctly, he could go about setting other traps or return to continue working on the camp. He grasped the spear tightly and found a flat stone, using other rocks to hit and polish it, creating an inwardly concave and outwardly convex shape. He then tied it to the end of the spear with vine, and began to dig into the ground. Bi Fang planned to build a circular corral, with its entrance facing upstream of the stream, and then construct a funnel-shaped corral extending into the entrance. If the stream¡¯s current was strong, this setup could completely capture enough fish; if in a slower flow area, he could weave a curtain from flexible branches along the corral, pointing towards the entrance of the trap. When fish swam into the corral, the curtain would be pushed open, but it would block the fish trying to leave. The size of the fish that could be captured could be adjusted by changing the size of the gaps in the corral. This was a place they could swim into but not out of. It didn¡¯t need to be too deep, thirty centimeters was plenty, and about one to two square meters in size. The soil in the rainforest was moist and loose, often filled with empty spaces, and it didn¡¯t take Bi Fang too long to dig; in just over half an hour, it was almost done. He then gathered plenty of branches and vines to start making the corral. Once everything was ready, Bi Fang dug open the mouth of the trap, and the stream water immediately rushed in, flooding the small pit. He placed the corral, added some mud for reinforcement, and the ¡°fishing ground¡± was thus completed. But even this one trap took Bi Fang over an hour and a great deal of physical effort. Already starving, he let out an even louder cry of hunger on his own. [Isn¡¯t this too labor-intensive?] [Yeah, can it really catch fish?] ¡°Of course, it can, but how much we catch is up to whether Heaven feels like feeding us. The trap I¡¯ve made this time is the same as before; it¡¯s permanent. As long as it exists, it will continuously work.¡± Bi Fang pulled out a handful of Fishy Grass from his waist pouch, crushed it, and scattered it inside. ¡°Fishy Grass can attract fish. We use it as bait and can crush it and sprinkle it in.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go check out other places. We shouldn¡¯t put all our eggs in one basket. To tell you the truth, I¡¯m almost flattened by hunger.¡± Wandering nearby, Bi Fang did find a few small animal paths. Along the way back, he casually made several traps. There were some in the trees too. After observing, Bi Fang believed they were likely made by squirrels. Unfortunately, he had no suitable bait, so he wasn¡¯t very hopeful about the tree traps. By time he returned to camp, Bi Fang found it was already midday. ¡°The traps I¡¯ve set up just now are mostly harmless; they¡¯re meant to trap, not to hurt. Do you know why?¡± After Bi Fang¡¯s reminder, the audience suddenly realized that it was true; the stone slabs and wooden spikes were gone, replaced by traps similar to nooses. They trap without harming. [Why¡¯s that?] ¡°Because there are so many protected animals here.¡± Bi Fang spread his hands helplessly, ¡°For those animal paths earlier, I can¡¯t even be sure what kind of animals they are. I only know they¡¯re small herbivores. If they happen to be under level one or two state protection, I¡¯d be in trouble if they get hurt.¡± What a guy! The audience laughed. [So you do have something to fear after all?] [The outlaw finally met his match.] [The net of Heaven is wide and spares no one. Just surrender, Old Fang.] Back at the camp, Bi Fang began crafting tools for the day¡¯s work. Compared to the fence, Bi Fang felt that creating more containers was the current priority. Backpack, bowls and spoons, baskets, and even pottery. All these were tools necessary for long-term survival. Chapter 472 - Chapter 472: Chapter 469: The Rainy Season (Two in One) Chapter 472: Chapter 469: The Rainy Season (Two in One) The best containers in the wilderness are made from animal skins or stomachs, which have sufficient toughness and elasticity. They are excellent choices for carrying water or anything else. The only problem is that these things are not easy to obtain. At least Bi Fang hadn¡¯t even seen a shadow of a large animal capable of being hunted. In place of that, trees serve as a better material. Bi Fang climbed up a giant tree¡¯s buttress root, chopped off a branch with his Stone Axe, and then slid down along the side, returning to the ground like going down a slide. It just made his butt a bit sore. The height of the entire tree was unknowable, but its underground roots were visibly massive, supporting the colossal canopy like pyramids, amazing many viewers from the north. This is one of the most unique characteristics of tropical rainforest trees¡ªthe buttress roots. ¡°In the rainforest, there is a vast number of species, leading to fierce competition for space and resources. The plant roots, which absorb water and nutrients, are the ¡®main force¡¯ in the competition for resources.¡± ¡°As the soil near the surface is fertile, the competition among plant roots intensifies the closer they are to the ground.¡± Having returned to the ground, Bi Fang picked up the branch he had dropped and carried it back to the camp. ¡°Due to fierce competition, plants¡¯ root systems engage in a form of arms race, with crazed growth¡ªwhichever is bigger, thicker, and can reach deeper into the fertile soil will live better.¡± ¡°Furthermore, the trees in the rainforest are tall and heavy, and to support the canopy and expand their territory, the trees need strong roots.¡± Some of the larger buttress roots of giant trees can reach over ten meters in height and extend more than ten meters in width, forming enormous side flanks that are quite spectacular. The one Bi Fang just climbed was no exception, its side flanks are so big they could be used as a slide. [Following Old Fang, you can learn a lot of things] [Yeah, I¡¯ve grown up without knowing how magnificent and dangerous the rainforest really is] [Ah, it¡¯s a pity I don¡¯t have Old Fang¡¯s skills, can¡¯t learn them] [The club welcomes your registration] [I¡¯m off to throw my money away.] Setting the branch on the ground, Bi Fang twirled the Stone Axe in his hand, gripped it firmly again, and then swung it fiercely at the branch. ¡°When you are chopping, don¡¯t let the force be directed towards your body; try to avoid that. Even those who are skilled with knives can stumble over this.¡± Bi Fang stood with his legs apart, toes pressing against the branch, and swung the Stone Axe towards the area between his legs, ensuring that even if it slipped from his grip, it wouldn¡¯t injure him. A cut in the rainforest can become rank within hours, and rotten within half a day, and could be fatal. Bi Fang chopped the arm-thick branch into several pieces, each as long as a forearm. He picked up one piece and sat beside the burning campfire. ¡°I want to try making a set of bowls and chopsticks out of wood, which would make it convenient for us to eat and allow us to try out a richer variety of cooking methods, like steaming. We can make wooden bowls and spoons quickly with fire, simply by placing charcoal on the wood and controlling the flame well.¡± Bi Fang held a round piece of wood about thirty centimeters long, then stood it upright and split it into two halves with force. Unfortunately, the first attempt resulted in a chip in the Stone Axe, either because it was too brittle or the wood was too hard. This forced Bi Fang to find another method. He picked up a sharp stone flake to use as a wedge, positioning it carefully and then pounding the back of it with a heavy stick, wedging it bit by bit until the wood split into two halves. Using a Tree stick, Bi Fang stirred the campfire, picked out a hot piece of charcoal, and placed it in the center of the flat surface. He carefully blew on the charcoal, allowing it to slowly burn the wood. Soon, charcoal ash was circling down and sinking to the bottom. Bi Fang used small twigs to control the direction of the charcoal fire, and soon it burned into a pit. ¡°If you find the burning too close to the edge or bottom, putting some sand or soil in those areas can stop the charcoal from burning further. If you want to slow down the burning speed, you can scrape off the charred area on the surface of the wood.¡± ¡°If you want to speed up the burning, you can use a hollow stem, such as Ligustrum, reeds, or even bamboo, or an animal¡¯s trachea to blow on the charcoal.¡± Bi Fang held a stone with a pointed end in his hand, aiming to control the direction and to scrape off the top layer. These stone tools weren¡¯t just found by the roadside but were chipped off with other stones, employing the old method: big head striking the small one, which made the work more convenient. In less than ten minutes, most of the log had been burned away. Bi Fang poured the charcoal back into the campfire, used a cone to scrape off the surface, and smoothed it out. A semi-circular bowl appeared. The audience was amazed, but many scratched their heads in confusion. [Why not just use bamboo, scratching_head.jpg] [Ah, right, just split it in half. Wouldn¡¯t it be ready to use then?] [Did Master Fang forget?] [No way, didn¡¯t he use it for building his shelter?] [I think he forgot. After all, there¡¯s no bamboo around here, lol] ¡­ After a brief silence, Bi Fang explained, ¡°I¡¯m just demonstrating a skill. After all, not all rainforests have bamboo. Most primitive rainforests are abroad; I¡¯m seeking a method that has more universal applicability.¡± Oh, so that¡¯s why¡ªit wasn¡¯t because he forgot. The audience suddenly understood and voiced their agreement, finding the explanation reasonable and persuasive. Truly worthy of Master Fang. Forgetting the unpleasant moment just now, Bi Fang showed off the bowl to everyone. A thirty-centimeter log had been hollowed out quite a bit, leaving only about one centimeter of thickness. The capacity was quite large. ¡°After completing the burning process, the bowl is ready for use. If you scrape off all the charred surface and polish the bowl with sand, it will be perfect. The food stored inside will taste better that way, but I don¡¯t have the conditions to do that.¡± ¡°The principle of making a spoon is the same as making a bowl. After completing the burning, trim it until it¡¯s suitable to hold rice. Wooden utensils will have tiny particles enter the wood, so it¡¯s best to roast them over a fire after each use to sterilize them.¡± After finishing these, Bi Fang didn¡¯t stop. He began to make a larger container¡ªa bark container. ¡°Many species are suitable for making bark containers, such as birch, cedar, and elm trees. Try to use bark that has fallen off or is about to fall.¡± ¡°If you must use bark from a living tree, do not cut off more than one-third of its circumference to ensure the tree can continue living.¡± ¡°To achieve the best results, we should soak the bark in water for several hours.¡± Making a bark basket is relatively easy and can hold many things, such as tools or edible plants. Bi Fang had picked up a piece of bark earlier on a whim. The tree was huge, so big that it would take two or three people to encircle it; therefore, even one-third or one-fourth would make a sizeable bark container. The camp wasn¡¯t far from the stream, just a ten-minute walk back and forth. Bi Fang made a hole in the bark and used a vine to hoist it, then submerged it directly into the stream. He then took a detour, relying on his memory of the terrain, and made his way back to the bamboo forest where he had encountered the Bamboo Viper. He found a thick bamboo and chopped it down. Bi Fang followed the bamboo joints and chopped down three sections, then returned to camp and used charcoal fire to burn two small holes, pouring out the water inside the bamboo before stringing it up with rope; now he had a watertight container for holding water. ¡°Many times, people would drink the clear water from inside the bamboo to hydrate themselves. While that¡¯s possible, for those not accustomed to living in the mountains, it¡¯s actually quite easy to get an upset stomach.¡± [Now why is bamboo being used again?] [I still suspect Master Fang simply forgot earlier, the evidence is ironclad] ¡°Earlier was to demonstrate skills, now it¡¯s for convenience,¡± Bi Fang stated righteously. [Ah yes, yes, yes] [Whatever you say, we believe] [Hehe] While waiting for the tree bark to soak, Bi Fang returned to the bamboo forest. ¡°Finding a bamboo forest in the rainforest, the easiest food to look for is bamboo shoots. Now in June, though a bit late, there are not as many bamboo shoots as in May, but it¡¯s still considered spring shoots. If I can find a few, and if the fish traps I set earlier have caught some fish, I¡¯ll be able to feast today.¡± Bi Fang proceeded carefully through the bamboo forest, very much aware of the Bamboo Viper he had encountered before; these creatures tend to live in groups. Finding one on the bamboo often implied a large number were lurking throughout the forest. Moreover, with the surrounding colors being very similar, Bi Fang moved very cautiously, scanning the area multiple times before daring to advance. Even the audience grew quiet, as it was genuinely frightful; given the Bamboo Viper¡¯s mimicry, it was a clear case of visible me, hidden enemy ¨C a single bite would be serious trouble. In the narrow bamboo forest, many shoots were sprouting, towering as they broke through the soil, wantonly displaying their vitality. But could those be eaten? The viewers wondered why Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t dig them up. Unfortunately, they were inedible. ¡°Digging for shoots is actually a skill, not as simple as everyone imagines. The freshest and most tender shoots are those that are newly sprouted or just poking their heads out, approximately two to three centimeters above the ground. Any larger and the shoots become tough and old; those that are clearly visible are completely inedible, so finding spring shoots is not easy.¡± ¡°When digging for shoots, pay attention to the soil. If the soil appears loose and slightly raised, there¡¯s likely a new shoot underneath.¡± Bi Fang, holding the tree stick, poked around: ¡°Those with experience can tell there is a shoot beneath from the cracks in the soil, especially where the cracks are large. One strike and you might not see it, but after two you might just see the tip of it; those are the tastiest shoots.¡± After searching for a while, Bi Fang did indeed find a hidden bamboo shoot in a crack; kneeling down, he began to dig through the soil. ¡°Digging for shoots requires certain experience and skill. Experienced diggers can estimate the size by the tip and know the direction in which to dig, so with one strike, they can pull up the whole shoot.¡± ¡°Inexperienced people might not dig at all and try to pull it out with their hands, but that¡¯s difficult because even the tenderest shoots are quite large and buried deep in the soil. Generally, loamy soil, especially that with a slope, is where you are most likely to find and dig up shoots.¡± Unfortunately, Bi Fang lacked a hoe, so he could only dig around the shoot and then try to pull it out with his hands. ¡°If you see the tip of a shoot that is yellow, it might have just broken through the soil and be very tender. If the top is black, it¡¯s quite old. If only a small part of the top is showing, don¡¯t bother digging; it¡¯s mostly lignified, tough to the bite, and indigestible.¡± After much effort, Bi Fang finally unearthed the bamboo shoot buried deep in the soil, simply tied it up with vines, and carried it on his back. Over the following hours, he continued this process. At one point, he encountered another Bamboo Viper, but unfortunately for Bi Fang, luck was not on his side. It was a particularly timid venomous snake that sped away before Bi Fang could get close, allowing the viewers to finally see the swift leaping speed of the Bamboo Viper in the forest. In the blink of an eye, it was gone, capable of startling anyone who wasn¡¯t paying attention. Luckily by around three or four in the afternoon, Bi Fang had dug up a total of eight large shoots. Even after peeling off the outer layers, there would be enough for several meals. With such a haul, Bi Fang headed back towards the river. By now, the tree bark should have soaked enough. Along the way, he checked the traps but found them empty. That dampened Bi Fang¡¯s joy slightly, leaving him to pin his hopes on the fishing site. At the water¡¯s edge, Bi Fang lifted the tree bark, shook off the moisture, rolled it into a barrel shape as thick as a pure water bucket, and could contain quite a bit, then wrapped the bottom with palm leaves and secured it with rope. ¡°Since it¡¯s tree bark, it would collapse if tied directly with rope. So we use a few branches with particularly good elasticity to prop it up inside, and then we¡¯re done,¡± Bi Fang explained. In just over half an hour, Bi Fang had fashioned a tree bark frame. After tying a few more vines, he even had shoulder straps, turning it into a makeshift backpack. Filling it with the bamboo shoots he had dug up, there was still plenty of room left. The bamboo cylinders hanging at his waist were also filled with water. Seeing Bi Fang seemingly equipped with everything, the audience exclaimed their praise, their comments indicating today had been extremely fruitful with a big pile of shoots, a variety of tools, and even a bowl for meals. [From nothing to something, impressive, things are getting more complete!] [Master Fang, impressive!] [Mountain Stream Little Prince has gifted the streamer with a spaceship*1] Following the stream to the river, Bi Fang located the fishing site he had set up earlier. The water in the fishing area was now murky, filled with brownish muddy water. Bi Fang glanced at the fence and noticed no damage, indicating the fishing area was still effective. He moved closer to check, and the muddy water was calm. Just as Bi Fang was about to insert the tree stick, suddenly, a fish tail leaped from the water, creating ripples. Goods! Bi Fang was overjoyed, but he didn¡¯t act rashly. Instead, he stirred the water with the spear tip: ¡°We need to ensure there are no other dangers in the water, such as water snakes.¡± The water swirled, and as the sharp wooden spear probed the water, it instantly splashed up greatly. Fish! Lots of fish! The audience was astounded; there was certainly more than one that had popped up. At least three of them, and all of a decent size! Bi Fang¡¯s keen eyes spotted a thick catfish, about the size of a forearm. He timed his strike perfectly to match its leap, spearing the catfish straight through. Tucking the sturdily speared fish into the tree bark frame, Bi Fang prepared to catch more, but the rainforest, still bright with daylight moments ago, suddenly darkened. Bi Fang looked up in surprise as a drop of water fell on his face. It started to rain. Chapter 473 - Chapter 473: Chapter 470 Occupy a Slot Chapter 473: Chapter 470 Occupy a Slot I haven¡¯t finished writing yet, brothers, just reserving a spot. I¡¯ll make changes before 1 a.m. The best containers in the wild are animal furs or stomachs, which have ample toughness and elasticity. They are great choices whether for holding water or other things. The only problem is, it¡¯s not easy to obtain these materials¡ªat least Bi Fang hadn¡¯t even seen a shadow of an animal large enough for hunting. Instead, trees turned out to be better materials. Bi Fang climbed up a huge tree by its massive buttress roots, cut off a branch with his Stone Axe, then slid down the flank, returning to the ground as if on a slide. It just made his behind a bit sore. The entire giant tree was of unknown height, but its root system was visibly massive underground, like the Pyramids supporting the enormous canopy. Many viewers from the north were amazed at such giant trees. This is one of the most distinctive characteristics of the tropical rainforest trees¡ªthe buttress roots. ¡°In the tropical rainforest, there is a huge variety of species, so the competition for space and resources is intense. The plant root system plays a role in absorbing water and nutrients and is the ¡®main force¡¯ in the competition for resources.¡± ¡°Because the topsoil is fertile, the competition among plant root systems is more intense the closer to the ground.¡± Bi Fang returned to the ground, picked up the branch he had dropped, and carried it back to the camp. ¡°Due to the fierce competition, plants¡¯ root systems have undergone crazy growth, similar to an arms race. The bigger and thicker that reach deeper into the fertile soil, the better they can live.¡± ¡°Additionally, the trees in the tropical rainforest are tall, and their weight is also significant. To support the canopy and expand their territory, trees rely on strong root systems for support.¡± Some of the larger buttress roots of the gigantic trees could be over ten meters high and extend more than ten meters wide, forming huge flanks that are quite spectacular. The one that Bi Fang had just climbed up to use as a slide was no exception. [Following Old Fang allows us to see so much stuff.] [Yeah, I¡¯ve grown up without knowing the rainforest could be so magnificent and so dangerous.] [Alas, I don¡¯t have the skills like Old Fang, can¡¯t learn it.] [The club welcomes your application.] [Here I go, throwing away money.] Bi Fang placed the branch on the ground, twirled the Stone Axe in his hand, grasped it tightly, and then swung it down hard on the branch. ¡°When chopping, don¡¯t let the force be directed towards your body, try to avoid it. Even a good knife handler could stumble on this.¡± Bi Fang spread his legs apart, with his toes pressing on the branch, and swung the Stone Axe towards the space between his legs so even if it slipped, it wouldn¡¯t hurt him. In the rainforest, a wound could become smelly in hours and rot within half a day, which could be fatal. Bi Fang chopped down several sections of the originally arm-thick branch, each about as long as a forearm. He picked up a piece and sat beside the burning campfire. ¡°I want to try to make a set of wooden bowls and utensils. This should make it convenient for us to eat, and it¡¯ll allow us to try a richer variety of ways of cooking, such as steaming or boiling. We can quickly make wooden bowls and spoons using fire, just by placing charcoal on the wood and controlling the flames.¡± Bi Fang held a log about thirty centimeters long in his hand, stood it upright, and then forcefully split it in two. Unfortunately, either the Stone Axe was too fragile, or the log was too hard¡ªit didn¡¯t miss on its first strike and instead shattered a small piece off of the Stone Axe. This forced Bi Fang to change his approach. He found a sharp stone flake to use as a wedge and hammered its back with a Tree Stick, driving it bit by bit until he successfully split the log in two. Bi Fang stirred the campfire with a tree stick, picked out a glowing piece of charcoal, and placed it in the center of a flat surface. Carefully blowing on the charcoal, he allowed it to slowly burn the wood, quickly creating charcoal dust that sank to the bottom. With twigs, Bi Fang controlled the direction of the burning charcoal, quickly burning a hole into the wood. ¡°If you find the burning too close to the edges or bottom, just place some sand or soil on those areas to stop the charcoal from burning further. If you want to slow down the burn rate, you can scrape off the charred surface of the wood.¡± ¡°If you want to accelerate the burning, you can use hollow stems like Ligustrum, reeds, or bamboo, or even animal tracheas to blow on the charcoal.¡± In his hands, Bi Fang held a pointed stone, used to guide the direction and scrape off the surface layer. These stone tools weren¡¯t just picked up from the roadside, but were chipped away with other stones, using the old method of big hitting small to facilitate work. In less than ten minutes, most of the log had been burned away. Bi Fang dumped the charcoal back into the fire, scraped off the surface with a chisel, and smoothed it out. A semi-circular bowl appeared. The audience was amazed, but many scratched their heads. [Why not just use bamboo, scratching_head.jpg] [Ah, yes, couldn¡¯t you just split it in half and use it directly?] [Did Master Fang forget?] [No, he used it in the shelter he built, didn¡¯t he?] [I feel like he forgot since there¡¯s not a single bamboo stick nearby, lol] ¡­ After a moment of silence, Bi Fang explained, ¡°I¡¯m just demonstrating a technique; after all, not all rainforests have bamboo. Most primeval rainforests are abroad. What I seek is a method with greater universality.¡± Oh, so that was it. Not because he had forgotten. The audience suddenly understood and expressed agreement that the reasoning was sound and convincing, truly worthy of Master Fang. Forgetting the unpleasantness of the moment, Bi Fang showed the bowl to everyone. Thirty centimeters of the round wood had been hollowed out, leaving only about one centimeter of thickness, with a substantial capacity. ¡°After the burning is complete, the bowl can be used directly. If you scrape clean the burnt surface completely and polish the bowl with sand, it will be perfect. The food in it will taste even better. However, I don¡¯t have the conditions for that.¡± ¡°Creating spoons works on the same principle as making bowls; after burning is complete, shape it to a suitable size for holding rice. Woodware tends to absorb small particles, so it¡¯s best to place them over a fire after use to sterilize them.¡± Having done this, Bi Fang didn¡¯t stop. He began crafting a larger container, a bark frame. ¡°Many species are suitable for making bark containers, such as birch, cedar, and elm. Try to use bark that¡¯s already fallen or about to fall off.¡± ¡°If you must use bark from a living tree, don¡¯t cut more than one-third of its circumference to ensure the tree can continue to live.¡± ¡°For best results, we should first soak the bark in water for a few hours.¡± Making a bark basket is relatively easy and can hold many things, such as tools or edible plants. Bi Fang had previously picked off a piece of bark. The tree was so large it would take two or three people to hug it, so even one-third or one-quarter would make a sizable bark frame. The camp wasn¡¯t far from the creek, a round trip taking only about fifteen minutes by foot. Bi Fang made a hole in the bark, threaded it with a vine, and dropped it directly into the stream. Then he took a detour, relied on the direction in his memory, and returned to the bamboo forest where he had encountered the Bamboo Viper. He found a thick bamboo and chopped it down. He cut three sections along the bamboo nodes, went back to the camp, and burnt two small holes with charcoal fire. After emptying the water inside the bamboo, Bi Fang strung it up with a rope. Now, he had a sealed container that could hold water. ¡°Often, people use the clear water inside bamboo to hydrate themselves. Although that is possible, people who are not accustomed to living in the wilderness can easily get stomach upset.¡± [Why is he using bamboo again now?] [I still suspect that Master Fang just forgot, the evidence is ironclad] ¡°Just now, I was demonstrating a skill, now it¡¯s about convenience,¡± Bi Fang stated with conviction. [Ah yes, yes, yes] [We¡¯ll believe whatever you say] [Hehe] While waiting for the bark to soak, Bi Fang returned to the bamboo forest. ¡°Finding a bamboo forest in the rainforest, the easiest food to look for is of course bamboo shoots. It¡¯s June now, a bit late, and there aren¡¯t as many shoots as there were in May, but they can still be considered spring shoots. If I can find a few, and if the traps I set earlier have caught some fish, then we can wrap up today with a feast.¡± Bi Fang carefully proceeded through the bamboo forest, certainly not forgetting his previous encounter with the Bamboo Viper, which tends to live in groups. Finding one on a bamboo means there could be a whole bunch more in this forest. Plus, with the extremely similar coloration all around, Bi Fang moved forward very cautiously, scanning his surroundings several times before daring to proceed. Even the audience was now quiet because it was rather frightening. The mimicry of the Bamboo Viper clearly gave them the disadvantage¡ªbeing bitten would be a serious matter. In the narrow bamboo forest, many shoots had sprouted, towering and breaking through the soil, brazenly displaying their vitality. But could they be eaten? The audience was puzzled as to why Bi Fang wasn¡¯t digging them up. Because, regrettably, they couldn¡¯t be eaten. ¡°Digging for shoots is actually a skillful task and not as simple as everyone imagines. The most tender are the spring shoots that have just peeked out or not surfaced yet, about two to three centimeters above the ground. Any more and the shoots will appear old and hard. Those that are conspicuously visible are completely inedible, so finding spring shoots is not an easy task.¡± ¡°When digging for shoots, pay attention to the soil. If the soil is loose and slightly raised, there¡¯s a good chance that there¡¯s a new shoot underneath.¡± Bi Fang, with his tree stick in hand, prodded around everywhere, ¡°An experienced person can tell from the cracks in the soil if there¡¯s a shoot beneath. Especially if the fissure is large, after digging once and seeing nothing, and only a little of the shoot is visible on the second dig¡ªthat¡¯s when you know it¡¯s the most delicious.¡± After searching for quite a while, Bi Fang indeed found some success in a crack with shoots that had yet to surface. He squatted down and began to pry the soil. ¡°Digging for shoots also requires a certain level of experience. An experienced person can judge by the size of the visible part how big the shoot is, its direction, and where to dig to lift it out with one dig.¡± ¡°Those without experience might not dig at all, attempting to pull it out with their hands, but it¡¯s hard to budge because even the tenderest shoot is actually quite big and deeply buried in the soil. Generally, loess soil, particularly on sloped ground, is the easiest place to find and dig up shoots.¡± Unfortunately, Bi Fang didn¡¯t have a hoe, so he could only dig around the soil and then pull it out with his hands. ¡°See, if you see a shoot that has just penetrated the soil and is yellow, it¡¯s very tender. But if the tip is black, it¡¯s quite old. If only a tiny bit of the tip is sticking out, don¡¯t bother digging; it¡¯s most likely woody already, and you won¡¯t be able to chew or digest it.¡± After much effort, Bi Fang finally unearthed the bamboo shoot buried deep in the soil and simply tied it with a vine, securing it on his back. Over the next few hours, he continued this process, and he really did come across a Bamboo Viper, but unfortunately this time Bi Fang wasn¡¯t so lucky. It was a very timid venomous snake, and it darted away at a great speed before Bi Fang could even get close, allowing the audience to finally see just how fast a Bamboo Viper could move through the trees. With nearly instantaneous flashes, it disappeared from sight, enough to startle anyone if they weren¡¯t paying attention. Luckily, by around three or four in the afternoon, Bi Fang had dug up a total of eight large bamboo shoots, which would last for several meals even after peeling off the outer layers. With such a haul, Bi Fang headed back to the riverbank. By now, the bark should have been properly soaked. Along the way, he checked his traps, which were disappointingly empty. This made Bi Fang¡¯s joy of the spoils slightly diminish, and he could only now pin his hopes on the fishing ground. At the water¡¯s edge, Bi Fang scooped up the tree bark, shook off the water, rolled it into a cylindrical shape as thick as a bucket made of pure water, big enough to hold quite a few goods. He covered the bottom with palm leaves and tied it up with rope. ¡°Because it¡¯s tree bark, if we just tie the rope around it, the bark frame will collapse. So we need to find a few branches with especially good elasticity to prop up on the inside, and then we¡¯ll be all set,¡± Bi Fang explained. In just over half an hour, Bi Fang had crafted a bark basket, secured with several more vines to even include shoulder straps, allowing it to serve as a backpack. He put all the previously gathered bamboo shoots inside, leaving plenty of space to spare, and had also filled several bamboo tubes hanging from his waist with water. Looking at Bi Fang, who now seemingly had everything, the audience exclaimed in awe, praising his full day¡¯s bountiful harvest¡ªloads of shoots and a variety of tools, even managing to procure a bowl. [From nothing to something, amazing, he¡¯s becoming increasingly well-equipped] [Master Fang is amazing!] [Mountain Stream Little Prince has sent a rocket to the host *1] Following the stream to the river, Bi Fang located the spot where he previously set up his fishing ground. The water in the fishing ground was very murky, full of brown muddy water. Bi Fang checked the enclosure and saw that it wasn¡¯t damaged, which indicated that the fishing ground was still effective. As he came closer to examine the water, which looked tranquil, just when Bi Fang was about to insert the Tree Stick, suddenly, a fish tail leapt out of the water, creating ripples. Goods! Bi Fang was overjoyed but didn¡¯t act rashly. Instead, he stirred the water with the point of his spear, ¡°We need to make sure there aren¡¯t any other dangers in the water, like water snakes or such.¡± The water rippled, the sharp point of the wood spear piercing the water, instantly causing a large splash. Fish! So many fish! The audience was amazed; it wasn¡¯t just one that had surfaced. At least three or more! And all of them quite large! Bi Fang, with a keen eye, spotted a thick catfish, about the size of a small arm. He timed its leap and speared it with precision, impaling the catfish straight through. He stuffed the hefty catch into the bark basket, and before Bi Fang could continue fishing, the daylight forest suddenly dimmed in an instant. Bi Fang looked up in surprise as a drop of water fell on his face. It was raining. Chapter 474 - Chapter 474: Chapter 471 Oil Slag Chapter 474: Chapter 471 Oil Slag ¡°What is this thing?¡± ¡°Wait, when did these herbs get put in the bark frame? I don¡¯t remember.¡± ¡°Space-time must¡¯ve shifted.¡± The audience watched cluelessly as Bi Fang pulled out a bunch of weeds, tied them around the fish, and then proceeded to crush them to extract their juice to pour over it. As the rain drizzled down, Bi Fang washed his hands with the water running off the tent top, sat beside the bed waiting for the fish to cook and explained, ¡°This is called lemongrass, a common wild herb in the Banna Rainforest that mainly grows in the subtropics. It has a strong lemon scent to it, which is why it¡¯s also called lemon herb.¡± ¡°I picked it while digging for bamboo shoots in the bamboo forest. I just grabbed a handful and threw it into the bark frame. You guys probably didn¡¯t notice.¡± ¡°Oh, I have an impression of that. Old Fang seemed to be hurrying along and casually picked some when he saw it on the way. I thought it was just weeds he used for cushioning.¡± ¡°Huh, now that you mention it, it does ring a bell.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the use of this thing? It looks just like weeds.¡± ¡°Lemongrass? That name sounds familiar. I think I tried it during a trip to Banna, but I¡¯ve forgotten the taste.¡± ¡°Lemongrass has many uses. At first glance, it appears to grow wildly towards the sky like a big clump of weeds, which can easily be missed by those unfamiliar with it, but it¡¯s also a good find.¡± ¡°Dai people love to use lemongrass as a seasoning. They wrap marinated carp and tilapia with it before slowly roasting them over a charcoal fire until the fish is thoroughly cooked. The taste is remarkably fresh and fragrant.¡± Bi Fang flipped the fish over. Subjected to the intense fire, the fish sizzled as it oozed oil and the skin curled and crisped to a golden brown. The rich aroma of the meat mixed with the subtle lemon fragrance made mouths water with anticipation. ¡°Damn, I want some roasted fish.¡± ¡°Cursing and leaving the live broadcast room.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just dinner time. Good thing I¡¯ve already eaten, heh heh.¡± But the fish was only surface-cooked; its interior was still raw. Bi Fang stuck the fish in the ground nearby and pulled apart a bamboo strip to render fish oil from it. Four fish yielded a total of four chunks of fatty belly, already enough to extract quite a bit of oil. ¡°In the wilderness, fat is actually more important than protein. If you have two equal pieces of pork, one lean and the other fatty, you definitely want to go for the fatty one.¡± Bi Fang stuck two sticks in the ground near the fire, tore them apart at both ends, propped up a curved bamboo strip on them, and then placed the fish bellies on top. ¡°Sugars, fats, proteins are all sources of energy. In the short term, it¡¯s just a matter of how quickly they convert, but that¡¯s not so critical for wilderness survival.¡± ¡°For example, if you¡¯re hungry and you get a bowl of rice that replenishes sugars, or a steak that replenishes proteins, you could have a full meal either way. It¡¯s only in extreme sports like rock climbing or marathons that you¡¯d need the quick energy replenishment from sugars.¡± The fish belly, the fattest part of the fish, started oozing oil as soon as the high heat began to penetrate through the bamboo strip. ¡°1 gram of carbohydrates and 1 gram of protein both provide 4 kcal of energy, but 1 gram of fat can provide 9 kcal of energy, which is more than twice the former!¡± ¡°The energy density of fat is huge. When consumed in the same weight, it¡¯s easier to overshoot the daily energy requirement.¡± While talking, Bi Fang also recalled a survival show he had seen before. It was in the Arctic, where one of the contestants, with just a small knife, hunted down a whole large deer. At the time, it seemed like a sure win. That was hundreds of pounds of meat, enough to last two months. But the next day, all the fatty parts of the deer were stolen by a wolverine, leaving behind only a large amount of lean meat, i.e., protein. The environment was in the Arctic, where fat is the lifeblood of survival. Low temperatures consume a great deal of heat, and without sugars and carbohydrates, one must consume high-calorie foods to resist the cold. Without fat, that contestant had lost a shocking 27 pounds on the 46th day of the physical examination. Fortunately, they found other sources of fat later on, which prevented them from losing the competition. However, Bi Fang was in a different situation, as he was in the rainforest with a higher environmental temperature and his energy expenditure wasn¡¯t too high. Protein alone could maintain his balance, so it was more meaningful to use fats for other things. Like soap. ¡°Food is never the first priority in survival; obtaining water and staying warm are, and in situations where water is scarce, one should try to eat less because eating increases thirst.¡± ¡°If the daily water supply is less than 1 quart, which is 1.1 liters, try to avoid dry, starchy, strongly flavored foods and meats. If available, one can opt for foods with high sugar content.¡± [Then why do I feel like protein is mentioned more frequently?] [Yeah, everyone next door is eating bugs.] [Last time, someone ate something like a white booger that burst, and they grimaced, saying the protein was six times that of beef, and it was a rare delicacy.] The term protein frequently appears before wilderness enthusiasts for two main reasons, Bi Fang believed. ¡°One, without sufficient botanical knowledge, protein is an easier and relatively safer energy source to obtain in the wild.¡± ¡°Second, sugars are generally obtained from plants, and their difficulty and safety in acquisition are poorer compared to proteins.¡± Catching small animals and insects is much safer than consuming unknown berries and mushrooms. Animals are hard to catch, but insects are everywhere. ¡°And protein, compared to fat, doesn¡¯t have a high-cost performance, but at least it can provide energy. The protein content of the average bug is also five times that of beef.¡± Bi Fang flipped the fish bellies on the bamboo board; by now, the pieces of fish had shrunk significantly, surrounded by a large amount of rendered fat. ¡°There are many kinds of insects, they reproduce in large numbers in many parts of the world and are an important food source. Most insects can be easily caught by hand, including large grubs, which are the larvae of insects, locusts, grasshoppers, ants, and termites.¡± ¡°You can find wood grubs in rotting logs, underground, or beneath dead bark. Locusts, grasshoppers, ants live in temperate and tropical regions. Termites usually live in jungles.¡± ¡°In Special Forces wilderness survival training, once lost or without supplies, the priority is to find plentiful and easier-to-catch creatures, such as insects, crustaceans, mollusks, fish, and reptiles.¡± Bi Fang swept away the dead leaves beside him, revealing a teeming mass of ants underneath. He smeared some fish scraps on a stick near the roasting fish, attracting a lot of ants to climb up. ¡°Normal black ants are rich in formic acid and taste very sour, but it¡¯s a good thing. It¡¯s a natural antibiotic with strong antibacterial and disinfectant functions, even exceeding Western medicine in many areas, without resistance or side effects.¡± ¡°The taste isn¡¯t great, first sour then salty, but you can try frying, boiling, or grilling them. Or you might prefer to stew them with other foods, which can improve the taste a bit.¡± ¡°You can even eat them raw.¡± Bi Fang downed the ants on the stick in one gulp, the sour taste exploding in his mouth, causing him to grimace, followed by a mild salty aftertaste. ¡°Except for large insects. Large insects may carry harmful parasites. Their legs also have barbs that could get stuck in your throat.¡± [I was wondering who taught those live streamers to eat bugs, turns out the pioneer is right here.] [They¡¯ve only learned the appearance, not the essence.] ¡°But if you do eat insects, when possible, make sure to process them, which means boiling them to kill any parasites and bacteria they may carry.¡± Bi Fang used the fish scraps to attract more ants, sprinkling them on the roasted fish like seasoning. By now, the fat within the fish bellies had been fully extracted, and the small pieces of flesh floated atop the plentiful oil, sizzling and shrinking into tiny clumps. Chapter 475 - Chapter 475: Chapter 472: Drinking fish soup is mostly a delightful thing. Chapter 475: Chapter 472: Drinking fish soup is mostly a delightful thing. The bamboo board was taken off the bonfire, still giving off billowing hot smoke. Bi Fang used chopsticks made of twigs to pick up the crispy fish belly dregs from the oily surface, popping them into his mouth, exceptionally crispy and slightly bitter. After letting the bamboo board cool down a bit, Bi Fang held it with his bare hands, took out a can of boiling water, and a few pieces of charcoal. ¡°What¡¯s most easily forgotten when traveling far from home or surviving in the wild is soap. Actually, it¡¯s very easy to make soap in the wilderness, and it¡¯s very important for maintaining hygiene, especially in life-or-death situations, where it¡¯s necessary to clean wounds.¡± Previously, Bi Fang had never made soap because it wasn¡¯t very useful to him, and there was no need for social interaction. One could be dirty, as no one would see anyone else. But in the rainforest, personal hygiene becomes crucial, as not being clean can be fatal. ¡°The ingredients required for making soap are just a few: one is alkaline wood ash, two is water, and three is grease from either plants or animals¡ªwhatever flies, swims, or runs. Lastly, if possible, add some antiseptic medicine.¡± ¡°Of course, the last item is not mandatory, but only added to give the soap antiseptic properties and a pleasant smell. In forests, you can find pine needles and resin, but here in the rainforest, I can use lemongrass.¡± ¡°Lemongrass is not just a spice; it contains citral, which has disinfecting and antibacterial properties as well as efficacy in treating neuralgia and muscular pain, hence it¡¯s known as ¡®Pain Relieving Swordsman¡¯. It can be used for stomach aches, colds, and fevers¡ªpretty much a panacea for common ailments, and it can even beautify, being good for the skin.¡± Bi Fang smashed the charcoal into pieces with a rock, then mixed the ash with water, saying, ¡°Be careful not to stir this with your hands, not only because it¡¯s very hot, but also because the alkalinity of the wood ash is very strong and could burn your skin.¡± After thoroughly mixing, he filtered out the particulate ash, pouring the water into a bamboo tube. Then, while the oil had not yet cooled and solidified, he poured it into the bamboo tube that had just been filled with water, placing the tube filled with oil and lye water back into the bonfire to heat up. ¡°Next, we need to boil it again to sterilize it, but there¡¯s a bit of oil left here, which we definitely shouldn¡¯t waste. We can use it to make a pot of bamboo shoot soup.¡± Bi Fang peeled three bamboo shoots that he had collected earlier, revealing their inner parts, which were even dripping with moisture. ¡°Bamboo shoots are fresh and tender food that don¡¯t store well or travel far, so there¡¯s no need to save them¡ªjust eat up.¡± Bi Fang put the bamboo shoots into the semi-circular bamboo tube used for refining oil, added some water, and continued to stew them, with pale golden oil slicks floating on top. He tore up a generous amount of lemongrass, crushed it, and added it directly to the bamboo tube in the fire pit. With this step, the making of the soap was essentially complete. ¡°If you don¡¯t need a soap with strong effects, then there¡¯s no need to worry about the ratio of fat to lye water because we¡¯ll just steam it dry. Once the moisture has completely evaporated and we let it cool, we¡¯ll have a rather nice bar of soap that cleanses and sterilizes.¡± [Hiss, I¡¯ve learned a new trick, only useful if I show it off in front of the natives after a time travel.] [666, what an eye-opener!] ¡°Just time traveling might not be enough; you¡¯d at least have to travel back to before the existence of primitive tribes, because even many primitive tribes know how to make this kind of soap.¡± ¡°This is actually a misconception held by many people who think that people living in primitive tribes must be dirtier than us, but in fact, in some existing primitive tribes today, hygiene is just as important as in modern society.¡± Seeing the barrage, Bi Fang joked with the viewers. ¡°Lastly, I want to remind you that even if you bring biodegradable soap or shampoo, you must understand that they require soil to degrade. Therefore, to avoid pollution, we should dig a pit at least 25 meters away from any water source and pour all the wastewater into it.¡± While waiting for the water to evaporate, the baked fish and bamboo shoot delicacy were finally ready. The originally golden fish skin had turned to a charred yellow. Although it didn¡¯t look as nice as before, it gained a rustic appeal and appetite-inspiring aroma, wrapped by a faint lemon scent. Lifting the bamboo tube lid, steam rose, and the milky-white tender shoots tumbled in the boiling water, accompanied by a faint scent of fish oil. They were also sprinkled with quite a few black ants to add flavor, resembling tiny black sesame seeds. Bi Fang picked up a shoot to taste, his eyes lighting up, as the crisp texture along with the scalding juice burst forth, and he couldn¡¯t help but open his mouth wide to cool down while resisting the urge to spit it out. The faint astringent taste mixed with oily slicks had no strong flavor, yet one could sense the inherent freshness and sweetness. Bi Fang quickly picked up a slice of fish that was sizzling with oil, with the unique aroma of the lemongrass and the distinctive sour and salty taste of formic acid, which enhanced the inherent deliciousness of the baked fish itself. Especially since the catfish had few bones, each bite brought immense satisfaction. Having not eaten all day, Bi Fang now enjoyed the bamboo shoot soup and baked fish, basked by the campfire, listening to the rain patter on the banana leaves, feeling utterly content. Utterly delightful. Below the rainwater, hidden from the mundane world, was a smoke of life that seemed as refreshing as a mint leaf falling into a glass of soda water. Bi Fang sipped the soup with a spoon and said contentedly, ¡°The catfish is fatty and has few bones, perfect for grilling, while the carp can be used for simmering bamboo shoot soup. Tomorrow¡¯s meals are sorted, but it would be better with some oil.¡± ¡°The only downside is that we don¡¯t have salt. If we could sprinkle a little salt on it, the taste would be much better. I¡¯ll think of a way to get some salt tomorrow. Going twenty days without salt is no good; you¡¯ll start feeling weak.¡± [Drooling, hehe] [I¡¯m hungry too, I want to eat, sob sob sob] [It¡¯s already 7 o¡¯clock, the takeout I ordered still hasn¡¯t arrived, I¡¯m starving] [By the way, can you really eat catfish? I saw a video last time that said catfish grow up eating feces and garbage¡­.. Full of heavy metals inside¡­] [Pfft, is that true? I see Master Fang enjoying it a lot] Bi Fang swallowed the bite of fish he had in his mouth, and hearing this while eating did ruin the mood somewhat, so he simply shook his head and replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know where you got that from, but it¡¯s not very reliable and quite biased.¡± ¡°First of all, in terms of diet, catfish are carnivorous. Wild catfish mainly prey on smaller fish, such as crucian carp, common carp, and loach. They use their sense of smell to detect their prey and then trap them with their teeth before swallowing them.¡± ¡°If we¡¯re talking about eating feces, not just catfish, but any fish will eat it. However, feces is not their intended food.¡± ¡°In the countryside, those who raised fish in earlier years should know that many fish ponds, especially the larger ones, would have manure thrown directly into them. This would cause a lot of fish to stir.¡± ¡°That group of fish would eat vigorously, clamoring and jostling each other; and it wasn¡¯t just catfish but also common carp, grass carp, silver carp, all sorts of fish, really.¡± [Ah, I¡¯ve seen this!] [Same here, my grandfather had a small fishpond. Whenever we went fishing, we¡¯d just sprinkle a bunch of dry grass and manure, and all the fish would surge to the top. We¡¯d catch them and eat them at night, just as delicious.] In his past life, Bi Fang once worked in a city where he lived near a big, stinky drainage ditch. That thing was so smelly it could be detected from miles away, no exaggeration, and you could smell it even two miles downwind. If it were just a smelly ditch, the problem wouldn¡¯t be too big, but it was a stagnant water pit ¨C not only was it the designated dump for the nearby residents¡¯ sewage pipes, but many factory wastewaters were also discharged into this pit. The water was extremely viscous, stirring it would hang on a wall like milk. In that pond was not only a mix of manure and industrial wastewater and various kinds of trash, but also all sorts of dead fish and shrimp. Nothing lived in that pond; no plants grew, no creatures survived, except for one mysterious life form. That was it¡ªthe catfish, as well as a few other foreign species of catfish. At the time, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t recognize what types they were, but that stinky ditch was the reason why the nearby houses were priced so low. Once while passing by, Bi Fang saw an old man fishing there. He was shocked and stopped to watch. In just 10 minutes, the man hooked a catfish. Over a meter long, its body color was a mix of dark green and purple that emitted an industrial stench. The whiskers were horribly long, and upon closer inspection, the fish was deformed. Its head was crooked, and its hind part was protruding. What worried him even more was the cluster of unidentifiable growths on the left dorsal side of the fish, unknown substances protruding here and there. As a biology researcher, Bi Fang witnessed for the first time the tenacious vitality of a living being, and also for the first time understood the terror of mutations. ¡°So, catfish are indeed very tenacious, capable of surviving in dirty environments, but that¡¯s an extreme rarity. Moreover, all native Huaxia catfish have one trait in common: they are clean.¡± ¡°For instance, Bighead Catfish in the south demand very high water quality. If the water gets dirty, they¡¯ll turn belly up and die right before your eyes.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s words made the audience laugh but also made them understand a fact, Whether a fish is clean or not depends on its living environment. As for the natural rivers in the rainforest, they naturally won¡¯t be too dirty; they¡¯re just slightly murky, so eating the fish from there is completely worry-free. Species like Bighead Catfish and other wild catfish typically prey on small fish and shrimp as their food source. If you can find them in the wild, whether you grill them or boil them, it¡¯s an absolute delight. Chapter 476 - Chapter 476: Chapter 473: Stomach Pain Chapter 476: Chapter 473: Stomach Pain Banna Rainforest survival, day three. In the early morning, a hazy mist filled the rainforest, bringing a rare chill. The torrential rain had stopped, and life was gradually reviving. Animals that had taken shelter were starting to come out of their dens to forage for food, and not far from the campsite, Bi Fang squatted on the ground, his face pale as a ghost, with sweat pouring down his forehead like rain. Clearly, he was relieving himself. ¡°What¡¯s going on? With a physique of sixteen points, could I still get an upset stomach? Or is it an issue of not being acclimatized?¡± This morning when Bi Fang first opened his eyes, all he felt was intense abdominal pain, followed by an indescribable sense of urgency. He never imagined that even with a physique as high as sixteen points, he would encounter such an issue. Before taking on Mount Everest, Bi Fang had some Enhancement Points left, and after his success, he immediately added them to what he considered the most important aspect of his body: strength, physique, and adaptability. On the panel at this moment: [Exclusive Bind: Bi Fang] [Growth Age: 25] [Height: 186.1cm] [Weight: 78.1KG] [Strength: 15] [Physique: 16] [Agility: 15] [Spirit: 15] [Platinum Body] [Status: Diarrhea] If it weren¡¯t for the clear sixteen points written next to ¡®Physique¡¯, Bi Fang would have wondered if he had dropped to a mere 1.6. After cleaning up, Bi Fang started the live stream, and viewers poured in like a flowing stream. As loyal fans, many immediately noticed something was off with Bi Fang. [Damn, what happened? Why is your face so pale early in the morning?] [My god, take it easy, Old Fang, you can¡¯t squander your energy like that in the wilderness] [Uh, are you serious, bro?] ¡°Obviously, I¡¯m sick,¡± Bi Fang wiped the sweat from his forehead with a leaf, feeling weak in his legs, ¡°I started having stomach pains early this morning. I don¡¯t know the reason, but I¡¯ve just finished using the toilet.¡± [See, I told you not to eat the catfish.] Immediately, some viewers chimed in assertively, claiming the diarrhea was due to eating catfish. But Bi Fang shook his head: ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be a food issue. Compared to being poisoned by catfish, I¡¯m more inclined to believe it¡¯s because I¡¯m not acclimatized. If it was a problem with food, according to digestion time, I would have woken up with pain in the middle of the night, not early in the morning.¡± Looking at the misty rainforest, Bi Fang had another guess: ¡°Perhaps my stomach got cold, too. It just rained last night; it wasn¡¯t stuffy but rather made me feel a bit cold.¡± After all, Bi Fang wore nothing but a grass skirt, and had merely covered himself with a few palm leaves ¨C it was entirely possible that the chill had led to his diarrhea. The more he thought about it, the more Bi Fang felt this was the case. ¡°No worries, I¡¯ll be fine after taking some medicine for the diarrhea. Actually, this gives me a good opportunity to talk about human waste management.¡± Bi Fang shoveled a handful of earth into the toilet pit. Of course, the camera couldn¡¯t be pointed directly at it ¨C that would be too gross. ¡°Nowadays, many people haven¡¯t used a primitive pit toilet. But regardless of how you dispose of feces, there are principles that need to be followed. For example, to avoid contamination, we should ensure that any simple pit toilets are dug at least 25 meters away from any water source. The depth of the pit should be at least 45 centimeters.¡± ¡°After relieving yourself, cover the feces with dirt immediately. If there¡¯s still a smell after covering it, then you must bury it again. Paper should be burned after use, as paper can last a long time before decomposing and would severely damage the environment; it requires manual breakdown.¡± ¡°Also, make sure that nothing from your clothing bag accidentally slides in; dropping any tools in there wouldn¡¯t make for a pleasant experience.¡± Bi Fang held a piece of charcoal ash in his hand, which he crumbled and sprinkled in the pit. ¡°Here¡¯s a tip I can teach you all. To mask the odor, you don¡¯t need to cover it with a thick layer of soil right away. You can spread a layer of charcoal ash first and then cover it with soil, which is more effective.¡± ¡°Alright, now I need to quickly find something to alleviate the pain.¡± Bi Fang held his stomach, still feeling quite uncomfortable with no signs of improvement, which showed that this situation was not as simple as just a typical upset stomach. ¡°There are many ways to treat diarrhea. In fact, lemongrass also has effects on treating diarrhea, but I want to see if there are other materials available. Let¡¯s go and see if there are suitable medicinal plants around. I recall seeing rubber trees when exploring the area earlier.¡± Recalling the directions briefly, Bi Fang walked toward a certain direction. When he originally set up the camp, he had measured the bearings and had marked the northwest, northeast, southwest, and southeast directions with stones nearby to determine his orientation. ¡°Rubber trees can be said to be the most important economic trees in the world, and Yunnan is also a major rubber-producing province. Even though they were all introduced and planted later, in Jinghong, seventy percent of the rainforest has already been replaced by rubber trees.¡± The expressway from Jinghong to Mengla is flanked by rubber forests on both sides. In normal tourism, most of the trees one would see are actually rubber trees, not the real rainforest. Situated in a remote corner of southwestern Yunnan, Mengsa Bazha is a wild and desolate place. Within this flatland, ancient trees reach for the sky, and the roars of tigers and howls of wolves can be heard. Dense reeds fill the network of water channels, and snakes and insects lurk about. Miasma pervades the air, and epidemics are common. Sights like these have completely vanished, of course, some of them were not pleasant, but this also indirectly illustrates the huge changes Jinghong has undergone. ¡°Rubber trees, which look lush and green, have a strong water absorption capacity, and with their tall, dense foliage, they block out sunlight, resulting in no grass growing beneath them, and a reduction in the diversity of life in the forest, or even death. Hence, rubber forests are also known as ¡®green deserts.''¡± ¡°Surveys have shown that, compared to natural forests, the number of birds in man-made rubber forests has decreased by more than 70%, and the number of mammalian animals has decreased by more than 80%. It¡¯s said that the recent migration of elephants was suspected to be related to this.¡± [Ah, I¡¯ve seen this, there were even news reports before, about a dozen elephants, all heading north.] [Wasn¡¯t it said to be due to global warming?] [That¡¯s why they suspect it¡¯s related.] While the ecological degradation caused by the cultivation of rubber trees is indeed distressing, Bi Fang still agreed with the principle. ¡°Protecting the environment is fundamentally about protecting humans, aligning with human interest is essential, and everything we do now ultimately serves development, to be able to eat well, stay warm, and obtain a better life. However, let¡¯s hope we can consider both in the future.¡± The spreading rubber forests, dense and thick through various means, also grow in the most pristine parts of the rainforest, and this is precisely what Bi Fang was looking for. However, where Bi Fang was, had already strayed far from Jinghong, deep into the rainforest, where the primitive landscape still remained, and rubber trees naturally weren¡¯t so easy to find. Even before finding the rubber trees, Bi Fang had come across some other good things, smelly vegetables, and frangipani. ¡°Frangipani, a beautiful little tree with flowers, symbolize hope, resurrection, and rebirth. Their blooming season is from May to October, and we are in luck,¡± said Bi Fang as he picked all the pale yellow flowers from the tree. Despite feeling like there was a fire burning in his stomach, he did not want to miss out. ¡°Locals stir-fry and eat frangipani flowers, we will collect some too, but they belong to the oleander family, and the sap contained in the bark and leaves is poisonous, so be careful not to touch.¡± ¡°Look, there are smelly vegetables here!¡± Bi Fang picked the wild vegetables from the ground and placed the tips into the bark container. ¡°Smelly vegetables are the most characteristic wild vegetable of the area, and smelly vegetables fried with eggs are a traditional delicacy of the D Ethnic Group. I haven¡¯t tried it, but it¡¯s said to taste very good, although it really does smell terrible, my gosh, I feel like throwing up.¡± The smell of smelly vegetables was much more potent than that of stinky tofu, reeking like foul socks, which to Bi Fang, with his sensitive sense of smell, was overwhelming, making his head feel dizzy in an instant. ¡°But smelly vegetables are nutrient-rich. Each hundred grams contain about 10 grams of vitamin B12, and the lack of B12 is one of the causes of brain aging and Alzheimer¡¯s disease. Eating some smelly vegetables benefits the prevention of this condition.¡± [Are we starting to prevent Alzheimer¡¯s so early?] [Master Fang: Take one step and look ten steps ahead.] [Master Fang: Make plans early, make plans early.] Bi Fang, propping up his dizzy head, continued his search and eventually found two large rubber trees that were over ten meters tall on a narrow downslope. ¡°Yes, what I saw at that time was them.¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t say much and tore off a long strip of bark directly. ¡°When cutting the bark, it¡¯s best to cut vertically because the bark is responsible for transporting the tree¡¯s nutrients. If you strip a section from the middle, the whole tree will die, so don¡¯t girdle it, and even if cutting horizontally, don¡¯t peel more than one-third of the circumference, I remember mentioning this when I was making the bark container.¡± The stomach pain persisted, and although the pain wasn¡¯t intense, its continual presence was extremely uncomfortable, even causing Bi Fang to break out in a cold sweat. [Wait, why would the whole tree die if it¡¯s girdled? Shouldn¡¯t only the top half die?] [Yeah, aren¡¯t the nutrients transported to the upper part?] [No, I remember that the bark is for nutrient recirculation, it flows from top to bottom.] ¡°Exactly, the bark is for nutrient recirculation. The growth and development of trees rely on roots absorbing water and nutrients which are then transformed into carbohydrates through the leaves¡¯ photosynthesis, supporting branches, roots, etc., and then the root system develops further to absorb more water and nutrients.¡± ¡°Some trees are already hollow in the middle and yet still full of life, simply because the phloem around the edge exists, capable of transporting nutrients.¡± ¡°If the phloem gets damaged and the bark is stripped off in a wide area without new phloem growing in time, the roots will die due to the lack of organic nutrients. It¡¯s a cycle that cannot be broken.¡± Bi Fang wiped his sweat, stuffed the two large strips of bark into his backpack frame, and then started to make medicine upon returning to the camp. Using charcoal, he reignited the fire, roasted the bark, and then crushed it together with lemongrass, placing it into a wooden bowl. To improve the taste, he also squeezed the remaining sugarcane into juice with a bamboo tube and then poured boiling water over it to stew and boil. ¡°Sugarcane is the raw material for making brown sugar and also has stomach-nourishing effects.¡± The whole process was just like brewing medicine. After allowing it to boil for five to six minutes, Bi Fang took the wooden bowl off the fire to let it cool before consuming. As the warm medicinal liquid entered his aching stomach, Bi Fang¡¯s tightly furrowed brow suddenly relaxed. Chapter 478 - Chapter 478: Chapter 475: The Great Battle Between the Ox and the Snake Chapter 478: Chapter 475: The Great Battle Between the Ox and the Snake Banna Rainforest survival, day five. Bi Fang was still wandering through the dense jungle, following the tracks on the ground in search of his target. The hoofprints of the Wild Baizhi Ox were enormous and deep, creating pits in the moist soil of the rainforest that not even a heavy rain could easily wash away. Inside one deep pit, several insects had drowned, struggling in vain. Bi Fang inserted his finger into it, and the muddy water reached past his second knuckle; a weight of over a ton pressing on the moist soil made such dramatic impressions. ¡°The hoofprints are deep, and generally speaking, the shallower the print, the longer it¡¯s been since the target left. The deeper they are, the closer the quarry is. It looks like we¡¯re about to catch up with the Wild Baizhi Ox.¡± Bi Fang wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling considerably relieved, ¡°Phew, after a day¡¯s chase, we¡¯re finally about to catch up.¡± Since yesterday afternoon, Bi Fang had begun tracking the Wild Baizhi Ox he¡¯d encountered on the first day. Even with several days passed, an experienced hunter could track animals based on traces left even half a month earlier. But by the time Bi Fang finally arrived at the original location, the hoofprints had completely disappeared due to the heavy rain, covered by freshly fallen twigs. He searched in different directions until late afternoon on the fourth day before picking up the trail again, worried that rain might fall again at night and wash away the newly found clues, Bi Fang continued the chase until nightfall before returning. This morning, he set out again, well-supplied with food and tools and having woven a new pair of grass shoes. The grand effort was not just for the sake of hunting the Wild Baizhi Ox; it was also for salt. Large herbivorous animals all have their own ¡°salt mine bases.¡± The pH of all living things is basically the same. Compared to carnivores, herbivores need to consume more salt. They generally lick the walls of caves or visit a salinized patch of land. With patient tracking, sooner or later one would arrive at their salt mine base. Next, all Bi Fang needed to do was to dig up the soil to boil for salt, or he could try licking the cave walls himself, chiseling off a chunk of salt stone. If he could find salt, Bi Fang already had an ample supply of meat, vegetables, and now with salt, a stable life had the foundation to continue, and he could start thinking about iron smelting. With that in mind, Bi Fang continued to follow the hoofprints in front of him. He did not slacken his efforts, not only because snakes and ants were everywhere but also because he was about to confront the Wild Baizhi Ox. ¡°According to the hoofprints, we can see that all along, the Wild Baizhi Ox hardly ever circled around but instead wandered recklessly everywhere. This shows it is very confident because there are no creatures in the entire jungle that can threaten it; it roams confidently in every direction.¡± Even venomous snakes could hardly pierce through that thick, rough skin that was like natural armor. Its sharp horns could penetrate anything that resisted, and its strong muscles could burst forth with the power to uproot large trees. ¡°Other animals could never exhibit such behavior; they live within a fixed, familiar territory, knowing where dangers and predators are, avoiding risks in advance.¡± Pausing, Bi Fang joked, ¡°If there really were an ox talisman, its portrait would definitely be of the Wild Baizhi Ox.¡± By noon, Bi Fang¡¯s stomach began to rumble. He looked up at the sky, obscured by leaves, listened to the chorus of birds from an unknown place within the jungle, and set down the bark frame from his back, pulling out a fish. The fish was the size of a small forearm, its tail bound with a vine, the other end passing through the gills and out of the fish¡¯s lips, bending the whole fish into a bow shape. ¡°Although I can¡¯t see the sun, my stomach and biological clock tell me it should be noon by now. Let¡¯s eat first, then continue after the meal.¡± Bi Fang cleared a patch of ground and took out the Stone Dagger to cut the vine. The moment the vine was cut, the once-restrained fish immediately sprang to life, flopping on the ground, gasping for water, startling the onlookers. The fish had been tied up since early this morning, for six to seven hours now, and it was still alive? It¡¯s summer, can a fish really survive out of water this long? [Have African Lungfish invaded the Banna Rainforest?] [Isn¡¯t this just a common carp?] ¡°Haha, do you think I tied the fish this way for no reason?¡± Bi Fang started digging a pit to make a fire while explaining, ¡°This is the ¡®bowfish¡¯ method. Fish processed using the bowfish technique can survive out of water for 10 days in the winter and at least 1 day during the hot summer days.¡± ¡°The rainforest climate is hot, dead fish spoil quickly, and I¡¯ve been moving, making it inconvenient to smoke the fish. So, I have to keep the fish alive. Don¡¯t think the bowfish technique is just a simple tie-up, it¡¯s actually quite complicated.¡± The bowfish method consists of three steps: initial binding, watering, and final binding. Initial binding uses a grass rope to tie the fish¡¯s head and tail. Watering involves placing the bound fish into a stream of flowing water, allowing it to expel impurities and take in new water. Then, an hour later, the fish¡¯s tail, after it has been watered, is tied again¡ªa final binding just above the fish¡¯s anal opening. Only then is the process complete. Improper execution not only fails to achieve the desired preservation effects but can even affect the quality of the fish¡¯s flesh. ¡°By tying it up in a special way, it reduces the fish¡¯s movements, and during the watering phase, it consumes a lot of fresh water which it can¡¯t expel.¡± ¡°And by keeping the fish¡¯s mouth constantly open, the gills are also forced to remain open, increasing the absorption of oxygen from the humid air, that¡¯s why the fish survives for such a long time.¡± Bi Fang took out the fire starter, and after creating thick smoke and flames, he tossed it into the pit before processing the fish again. The fish, harvested from the fishing ground this morning, still retained its fatty belly but had not had its scales or innards removed. Bi Fang spread out some leaves and gutted the fish completely. ¡°The greatest advantage of the summer bow fishing technique is not only keeping the fish alive and fresh, facilitating transport, but also removing the river fish¡¯s muddy smell. In ¡¯09, the bow fishing technique was even added to the FJ Province¡¯s list of intangible cultural heritage.¡± After skewering the fish on bamboo sticks, Bi Fang set it over the fire to roast and then boiled some wild greens soup in bamboo tubes, sealing the lids tightly and inserting them directly into the campfire. Bi Fang had prepared well in advance for a prolonged outing. When he left early this morning, he had all the basic supplies, three bamboo tubes of water, three large fish, and along the way, he had been collecting edible flowers and wild greens, so there was no worry about lacking food. After eating, Bi Fang cleaned up the site and continued following the increasingly deep buffalo hoofprints. Finally, in the afternoon, the depth of the hoofprints was almost enough to cover an entire finger. Bi Fang poked the soft earth, which had become almost like a slurry due to the heavy rain affecting the entire rainforest floor. To prevent the mud from seeping into his straw sandals and coming into close contact with his skin, Bi Fang wrapped his feet in no fewer than three layers of large leaves to barely keep out the muck. ¡°That Wild Baizhi Ox¡¯s weight is estimated to be between 1,200 to 1,300 kilograms judging by the softness of the soil, and given how deeply it sinks in, it might have left less than half an hour ago. We should be more cautious; the large fellow could be nearby.¡± The hoofprints in front of him were even larger than Bi Fang¡¯s palm. It wasn¡¯t just the threat of being gored by its horns; a single stomp could be lethal to anyone. At this point, Bi Fang no longer dared to march forward boldly, mostly tracking in a half-crouched position: ¡°As I¡¯ve mentioned before, thanks to its extremely sensitive sense of smell and hearing, the Wild Baizhi Ox can detect human activity within a 200-meter radius.¡± ¡°It¡¯s very likely that it has already spotted us before we even see it, so it¡¯s best to stay alert at all times, avoid standing upright carelessly and drawing its attention.¡± [Damn, Master Fang has regressed] [Bravo, young hero, for your strong back!] [Looks like a real back-breaker.] Crouching and bending forward, Bi Fang opened up the nearby underbrush with his spear. In the primeval rainforest, travel was far from easy. Aside from the towering trees, the underbrush was ubiquitous. With no path in sight, sometimes after traversing a distance, one could be lacerated by the underbrush, but thankfully, Bi Fang¡¯s reddish clay not only warded off mosquitoes but also served as a thin layer of physical armor, preventing worry over cuts and scrapes. Bi Fang pressed down the brush in front of him with a tree stick, and momentarily, the branches under the tree stick shuddered and then sprang back into place. Press, and spring back. Hmm? [Is Master Fang¡¯s hand shaking?] [Hahaha, superb elasticity] ¡°It¡¯s not my hand that¡¯s shaking.¡± Bi Fang narrowed his eyes and crouched even lower, pressing into the ground to create a deep hole which quickly filled with water, forming a small yellowish puddle. A moment later, the puddle rippled again and again, endlessly. Bi Fang¡¯s expression grew serious: ¡°It¡¯s the ground that¡¯s shaking.¡± [An earthquake?!] The audience, perplexed yet impressed, thought of an earthquake upon hearing that the ground was shaking and completely lost it. [Should we find an open space to take cover?] [Where can you find an open space here?] [I didn¡¯t hear that Yunnan was on an earthquake belt] ¡°It¡¯s definitely not an earthquake.¡± Recalling the massive size of the Wild Baizhi Ox, Bi Fang¡¯s mouth twitched as he pressed down all the brush in front of him and passed through the underbrush. The next moment, the view opened up, not because of natural landscape but due to the effects of destruction. Everyone was stunned by the sight in front of them. The identical white sharp horns, the colossal size of the behemoth, its over-ton explosive muscles; one could clearly feel the powerful and fierce presence even from tens of meters away. But right now, a huge snakehead was impaled on the ox¡¯s horns, and large pools of red blood dripped down, accumulating in the hoofprints to form blood puddles. The giant python, covered with blood and black spots, was tightly coiled around the Wild Baizhi Ox¡¯s body, constricting inch by inch as the muscles bulged visibly on its thick body. Like a crazed beast, the ox repeatedly rammed into the trees in front of it, knocking down the surrounding underbrush as if it had been bombed. Numerous trees were not spared, one after another, and saplings that had yet to become towering giants all fell, like a battlefield. The frenzied and bloody scene jolted the senses of both Bi Fang and the viewers before their screens, sending chills down their spines as if a wooden plough had repeatedly tilled through their hearts. [My goodness, a battle between the ox and the snake!] Chapter 479 - Chapter 479: Chapter 476: The Pregnant Python Chapter 479: Chapter 476: The Pregnant Python ¡°` Fuck, what¡¯s going on? Bi Fang cursed softly, never seen such a thing in his life. He didn¡¯t know how these two got into a fight, but Bi Fang knew the python was done for. The area under the python¡¯s neck had been completely penetrated by the ox¡¯s horn, the dripping fresh blood and pieces of snake skin falling continuously, almost making one want to vomit. It was only a matter of time before it cooled down. The ground shook incessantly, like a small earthquake, with the area looking as if it had been ravaged by a storm. Trees less than the width of a bowl lay on the ground, and those wider than a bowl had their barks heavily mottled as if violently struck. ¡°An adult Burmese python and an adult wild Baizhi ox, truly a rare sight.¡± [Burmese python? Shouldn¡¯t that thing be in MD?] [There are also some in the Banna Rainforest, it¡¯s a first-class protected animal¡­] [Holy shit, a first-class battling another first-class?] [They¡¯re both heavyweights, so freaking cool] [I¡¯ve been to Banna Rainforest for a trip and saw a Burmese python near the botanical garden in Menglun Town. That one wasn¡¯t as big as this one, but it was also scary] Bi Fang looked around and felt it was still not safe. He took two steps back and hid his body in the bushes. He hoped the other party hadn¡¯t noticed him, or if they had, that they would ignore him. Running was not an option; it would likely attract the attention of the enraged wild Baizhi ox. His only choice was to quietly hide. However, this scene was truly rare. Peering through the gaps in the bushes, Bi Fang clicked his tongue and said, ¡°I¡¯ve only seen adult Burmese pythons eat juvenile calves, never seen one provoke an adult wild ox before.¡± Burmese pythons grow throughout their lives, meaning as long as they live long enough, there¡¯s no limit to how large they can grow. But the problem is, they have a lifespan limit. Therefore, there¡¯s a limit to how big the Burmese python can get. No matter how big it gets, it can¡¯t swallow an adult wild ox, especially a male one with sharp horns that could pierce the python¡¯s belly. In light of this, it would be pointless and potentially fatal for the python to attack the ox. ¡°So was it the wild Baizhi ox that attacked the Burmese python?¡± Bi Fang stroked his chin, pondering, ¡°Was the python merely defending itself and counterattacking?¡± Everyone noticed that there was a muddy river next to the two animals. Perhaps the wild Baizhi ox came over to drink water and happened to encounter the Burmese python in the river? But now wasn¡¯t the time to think about these things. Bi Fang quickly commanded the drone to move forward, ¡°Capture it, capture it, you must capture it. This is a scene worthy of going into zoological research!¡± The drone followed by Bi Fang¡¯s side, two smaller drones flying out of the bushes, capturing this rare lifetime spectacle up close. A battle between two fierce beasts, this was far more real and shocking than any movie since this very moment, in a corner of the Earth, it was happening for real. Staff at the Banna Reserve learned about this event within three short minutes. Although Bi Fang¡¯s professional competence was strong, no matter what, it was necessary to have someone monitoring the situation, just in case something unexpected happened, making it easier to respond. Who would have thought he¡¯d witness such a rare scene in his lifetime? Zhou Weisheng sat in his office, watching the live stream speechless for a long while before he muttered, ¡°I¡¯ve worked here for so long, never seen a wild Baizhi ox and a Burmese python fight.¡± In recent years, the Banna Rainforest had done well in environmental protection, and the number of wild Baizhi oxen had recovered to more than 300. But no matter how much they recovered, they were still a first-class protected animal. The same went for the Burmese python. To visit the rainforest and encounter both at the same time was already tough, let alone seeing them fight. No one knew whether to say Bi Fang was lucky or unlucky, He thought about contacting Bi Fang to see if he could remotely pilot the drone to capture the scene in great detail, as it would be hugely helpful for the study of the animals¡¯ behavior. But Bi Fang, without needing Zhou Weisheng¡¯s reminder, was already keenly aware of its value, making it so that they, the professionals, had no opportunity to interject. As for those viewers saying both animals are first-class and wondering if they should be protected, in their eyes, that¡¯s totally unnecessary. Even the rarest non-captive wild animals should be allowed to meet their natural fate as long as it isn¡¯t due to human intervention. In the rainforest. The wild Baizhi ox continued to charge into the trees, each impact making the earth tremble and making Bi Fang¡¯s teeth feel sore. As for the python, it probably had only a few more minutes before it was truly finished. ¡°With the python completely pierced by the horn, even if it chose to escape now, its chances of survival are slim. Perhaps it¡¯s already dead, merely struggling instinctively, tightening its body.¡± Bi Fang regretfully looked at the snake¡¯s blood on the ground; cooked thoroughly to kill off parasites, it would have been good for replenishing sodium levels. A minute later, the snake¡¯s tail coiled around the ox began to tremble, witnessed by three million viewers. Two minutes later, the snake¡¯s head could no longer be raised, noticed by three million, four hundred forty-six thousand viewers. Three minutes later, the snake¡¯s body completely relaxed and began to droop helplessly, its long tail dragging on the ground, the scene testified by four million viewers. Five minutes later, the ox¡¯s massive hoof stepped on the snake¡¯s body, and the wild Baizhi ox raised its head, tearing off the entire python neck like ripping fabric. The massive python head flew into the jungle, and fortunately, it did not fly towards Bi Fang. It was as if two plumes of white steam burst from the wild Baizhi ox¡¯s nostrils. The victor lifted its head high and walked toward the river, bowing to drink. Nearly five million viewers fell silent, and after a long while, comments began to emerge. [Ox¡­ impressive¡­] ¡°` ¡°This is seriously badass¡­ Long live Brother Ox!¡± ¡°This shouldn¡¯t be called badass, it¡¯s ox*damn awesome!¡± ¡°Why did you get muted? Reflect on yourself!¡± ¡°Spaceship sends 100 ashtrays to the streamer¡ªnow I finally realize how dangerous it is to encounter a Wild Baizhi Ox.¡± ¡°Hahaha, it¡¯s Leo! Leo must be totally bamboozled watching this.¡± Clearly, Leonardo was still in front of the screen, seemingly not yet immersed in work. ¡°I thought the python¡¯s head would get stuck on the ox¡¯s horn, that would have been so cool.¡± ¡°Are you also a Blue Sky Bull Python or what?¡± ¡°Who wouldn¡¯t be bamboozled by this? I¡¯m bamboozled myself. Who knew this fella was so fierce, this snake¡¯s waist is even thicker than mine, it could have swallowed me with ease. Instead, it became strung up like stringed gourds.¡± ¡°Nanshan Traveler sends 6666 fish balls to the streamer¡ªwhat an eye-opener, truly enlightening!¡± ¡°Quickly send this footage to Sir, to be added into the new documentary!¡± From the continuously rising number of viewers, it was clear how shocking this scene was to everyone. Another ¡°never seen before¡± series. ¡°To be honest, that was quite dangerous just now.¡± Watching the Wild Baizhi Ox leave to drink water, Bi Fang sat down on the ground with a flop, touched his chest, and only heaven knew how much cold sweat he had broken into. As a bystander, it was not at all relaxing, it was nerve-wracking, fearing that the fish in the moat might be affected by a fire at the city gate. ¡°The Wild Baizhi Ox might still be very aggressive now, we can¡¯t immediately follow it. If we annoy it, it¡¯s all over.¡± ¡°Hahaha, Mrs. Ox really has a violent temper.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll wait a bit more; once the Wild Baizhi Ox is gone, we¡¯ll follow, but we need to move away from here first¡ªthere¡¯s too much of a stench of blood.¡± Bi Fang sniffed, feeling regretful about the extremely strong smell of blood permeating the air. Of course, even if it hadn¡¯t been dispersed, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t have used it. According to Article 24 of the Wildlife Protection Law, the sale and purchase of state-protected wild animals or their products are prohibited. Although it¡¯s not specified, there¡¯s no doubt this includes animals that have died naturally. Otherwise, there would appear many ¡°naturally dead¡± animals all over the world. Bi Fang remembered a leader visiting Tibet, and a local leader presented a plate of lamb, brazenly stating, ¡°Respected guest, as soon as it heard you were coming, this lamb jumped off a cliff and killed itself.¡± Latter, that leader was put under investigation, and as for who that was, it was the great Director Ke! Indescribable. ¡°Such a pity, python meat, python skin, are all delicacies.¡± ¡°The one before, you¡¯re quite something, your comment is very dangerous.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the big deal, Burmese Pythons may be second-class protected in the country, but they are overrunning the world.¡± After hearing Bi Fang¡¯s explanation, the audience felt somewhat regretful, After waiting a while, guessing that the Wild Baizhi Ox had walked far away, Bi Fang emerged from the bushes and looked down at the python on the ground with some regret. The huge python head was still opening and closing. Upon closer comparison with humans, the size of the python appeared even more massive¡ªit wasn¡¯t as thick as a waist but was indeed thicker than the average person¡¯s thigh. ¡°I heard that although it¡¯s called a Burmese Python, but¡± Bi Fang estimated it to be over six meters long. After his gaze swept from the top to the bottom of the Burmese Python, he suddenly focused on the python¡¯s lower abdomen. It was the lower abdomen of the python that seemed¡­ somewhat swollen. He hadn¡¯t noticed it earlier, but now that he was closer, he realized something was off. Bi Fang felt some surprise. Was this due to constipation or¡ªwas it pregnant? Zhou Weisheng and others also realized there seemed to be something unusual. Burmese Pythons breed from November to April, with the laying period taking four to five months, and now in June counting back, the timing did seem likely! Male Burmese Pythons live to around fifteen years old, while females can live up to twenty-five. Therefore, females are generally larger than males. Recalling the python-ox fight, could it be that a female python was about to lay eggs when the Wild Baizhi Ox trespassed into its territory, and after failing to drive it away¡­ Hiss, the more Bi Fang thought about it, the more he felt he had guessed the truth. Or should he cut it open to take a look? If there were python eggs about to be laid, perhaps it would still be possible to save the lives of the baby snakes. However, he still needed to get permission from the reserve staff, otherwise he could not act hastily. Bi Fang knew that with such a big event unfolding, there were definitely staff members watching his live stream, and he immediately shared his guess with the viewers. As a result¡­ ¡°It¡¯s exactly what I thought! Even if you hadn¡¯t said it, I would have wanted you to cut it open to check.¡± Zhou Weisheng laughed heartily, immediately agreeing to Bi Fang¡¯s request. Time waits for no one, and with such a strong smell of blood here, it could likely attract carnivores. If there really were python eggs, they should be taken away first to prevent them from being eaten. So, a few minutes later, Bi Fang received a request to confirm as soon as possible. He pulled out Stone Dagger from his waist and walked towards the python¡¯s corpse on the ground. Chapter 480 - Chapter 480: Chapter 477: Natural Tree Hollow Chapter 480: Chapter 477: Natural Tree Hollow In the rainforest, Bi Fang¡¯s expression was serious as he knelt beside a python with a swollen abdomen, holding a stone dagger in his hand like a doctor about to perform surgery. He had obtained permission from the conservation area and was preparing to perform a cesarean section on a dead python¡ªof course, that was assuming there really were eggs inside. Otherwise, he might just dig out a pile of fecal matter. Gently pressing on the python¡¯s abdomen, it was the first time Bi Fang felt anxious: ¡°Many pythons suffer from ¡®constipation,¡¯ and I don¡¯t know what I¡¯ll find with this cut. It could be a pile of undigested animal corpses or a shattered snake gallbladder.¡± [Ah, this is going to be a pungent video.] [I¡¯m signing off for now. Let me know later what you find, and then I¡¯ll come back online, dog¡¯s head.jpg] [Add me to that list; I don¡¯t want to see fecal matter.] Aiming at the lower abdomen, the stone dagger made a shallow cut¡­ There was just a faint white mark. Bi Fang increased the pressure of his hand, cutting over and over: ¡°The python¡¯s skin is much thicker than I thought. It¡¯s a pity I don¡¯t have a sharper obsidian or flint stone; that would have made things much simpler.¡± If he applied too much force, the python eggs that hadn¡¯t been crushed by the wild Baizhi ox might instead be crushed by Bi Fang himself, After cutting back and forth over a dozen times, the stone dagger finally made headway by breaking through the snake¡¯s skin. Once he got started, the rest became much simpler; Bi Fang continued to cut along the muscle fibers. The Burmese python, with its muscles cut open, did not bleed much. The surroundings, looking like a battlefield, indicated that the blood had nearly all bled out. Breaking open the lower abdomen, a strong putrid stench emanated out. Bi Fang held his breath and continued cutting. ¡°It¡¯s foul, but that¡¯s normal. The insides of any animal aren¡¯t going to smell good.¡± He enlarged the wound further, cutting the opening more than half a meter at once, then grabbed the edges and pulled them apart, revealing a thin reddish membrane to everyone¡¯s view. ¡°It seems my luck isn¡¯t too bad; I didn¡¯t dig up any fecal matter.¡± Bi Fang grabbed the bottom of the placenta and pulled forcefully outward, releasing a dense cluster of tiny eggs into the air, which even gave off a faint white steam. [Are those snake eggs? There¡¯s so many!] [Damn, there must be dozens, right? How can these things be endangered?] At a glance, there were nearly dozens of snake eggs inside the Burmese python¡¯s belly, though most of them were broken, oozing egg liquid. The intact ones weren¡¯t many, less than one-fifth, but there were also about a dozen or so. Bi Fang had counted them; after all, he had witnessed the entire python-ox showdown, except for the last moment when the python was stepped on, it was slammed into the tree multiple times. ¡°That¡¯s because there are many predators of the Burmese python here, and many large lizards like to eat python eggs. For them, it¡¯s a rare delicacy. Even if they can¡¯t eat them, they wouldn¡¯t crush them, preferring to prevent those eggs from growing up.¡± ¡°In a different place, like Ugly Country¡¯s Frolorida State, because of the lack of natural predators, Burmese pythons run rampant, dominating nature, causing the government to have no choice but to organize a snake-hunting contest with a substantial prize to encourage citizens to actively catch snakes.¡± Different places determine different treatments. [A python-hunting contest? Sounds familiar¡­] [Is it like those pythons in the movies, where they¡¯re secretly fed growth hormones and then grow into huge ones?] Bi Fang collected the broken snake eggs: ¡°Of course, the ultimate goal of the contest is to kill the overpopulated Burmese pythons, so all comers are welcome.¡± [Old Fang should go and not just slaughter, but win that prize money!] [No professional competitors allowed in the contest!] [Honestly, I¡¯m a bit curious to have a look. Take a break and just go for it.] ¡°That depends on whether I¡¯m free or not,¡± Bi Fang replied without directly answering, storing the snake eggs in his bark case. Since he had found snake eggs, of course, he wouldn¡¯t just leave them out in the wild. Otherwise, by the time the rescue team arrived, they would be gone. Bi Fang privately sent his location to Zhou Weisheng. Now all that remained was to wait for the helicopter to come and take the eggs away. As for the remaining python corpse, it was left for Nature to decompose. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. After tidying everything up, Bi Fang quickly followed the hoof prints again: ¡°We¡¯ve already stayed here too long, it¡¯s too dangerous, we must leave quickly.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve caught up with the white-limbed wild ox. Next, we just wait for it to find its salt lick home base.¡± The wild Baizhi ox wasn¡¯t moving fast this time, and it only took Bi Fang ten minutes to see it again without causing any trouble. The Baizhi ox was leisurely grazing on grass, showing no signs of having just been through a battle. A python as thick as a grown man¡¯s leg was like a mere splash of water for it¡ªthis is the true lord of Nature! Moved by the thought, Bi Fang lay flat on the ground, daring not to raise his head. [Those muscles, I really want to take a bite and taste it.] [Try and you¡¯ll be dead.] [If you want to eat lead, just say so. No beating around the bush, we¡¯re all straightforward folks here.] Bi Fang spent the afternoon trailing behind the Baizhi ox, wandering around with it. ¡°What follows is just a matter of patience, but I think it¡¯s almost time for it to replenish its salt. I¡¯ve followed its hoof prints for so long and didn¡¯t see any place rich in salt.¡± ¡°So simply put, it¡¯s been nearly five days without supplementing salt, just like me. Perhaps it¡¯s happening in these next few days, as long as we¡¯re patient enough.¡± And so Bi Fang waited until nightfall, the light dimming around him and the sense of claustrophobia intensifying. ¡°We have to sleep out in the wilderness now. There¡¯s not enough time to get back to camp,¡± Bi Fang said, looking at the once-again forbidding jungle and picking a direction away from the Baizhi ox. He had to find a safe place to spend the night and continue the tracking the next day. Bi Fang had a premonition that he might be on the verge of success. ¡°I had considered the possibility that we might not be able to return tonight before coming, so I prepared plenty of supplies. Now we need to find a suitable spot to camp for the night. My ideal location is a natural tree hollow, which would save a lot of effort and also provide shelter from the rain.¡± Bi Fang glanced around the forest, seeking the ideal environment: ¡°As long as we follow certain patterns and the terrain, we can easily find a tree hollow.¡± [How easy is it to find a tree hollow?] [Ah, a tree hollow. I¡¯ve dreamed of living in a house like that since I was a child.] [Isn¡¯t Old Fang boasting? Tree hollows seem to be one of those things that you might not find even if you search for them.] Some members of the audience were skeptical, thinking that Bi Fang was bluffing since many people have never seen a tree hollow. ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯ve never been to the Banna Rainforest. Here, if you search according to my method, you can easily find one.¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t mind the skepticism, focusing his attention on the trees with very large diameters, searching carefully, but the dim light made it difficult. ¡°Research by the staff of the Banna Science Academy shows that the larger the diameter of a tree, the greater the probability of it having a tree hollow. This is easy to understand because a large diameter generally correlates with the age of the tree. And the older a tree gets, the greater the chance it has been wounded, which increases the likelihood of tree hollows forming.¡± ¡°Moreover, the formation of tree hollows is closely related to the species of the tree. Some species tend to form hollows more easily, such as the jackfruit and ant plant trees. While others aren¡¯t so prone to it. Generally, tree species with hard wood are less likely to develop hollows, whereas those with softer wood are more susceptible.¡± Bi Fang made some marks, then headed down a slope. ¡°Trees that grow on the southern side tend to form hollows more easily. Banna is influenced by the southwest monsoon, so the trees on the southern side are more vulnerable to strong winds and lightning damage, and the same principle applies to places with steeper slopes.¡± ¡°Then, in the karst seasonal rainforest and valley rainforest, the steeper the slope, the more likely the trees are to form hollows. We should now be in a valley rainforest.¡± Based on this theory, as long as Bi Fang moved towards the south and areas with steep slopes, specifically looking for those specific tree species and trees with sufficiently large diameters, the chance of encountering tree hollows would greatly increase! [Wait up, Old Fang, you¡¯re talking too fast!] [What¡¯s a karst seasonal rainforest? And what¡¯s a valley rainforest? Does that have anything to do with the Pythagorean theorem?] The audience was confused. Isn¡¯t a rainforest just a rainforest? Why does it look like there¡¯s so much distinction? [Hand raise emoji!] Before Bi Fang could answer, an employee of the Banna Rainforest Conservation Area eagerly posted the answer in the comments. [In tropical or subtropical regions, some valleys or basins, due to terrain effects, create local low pressure, causing air to rise and precipitate easily.] [And because of the hot climate in the tropical and subtropical regions, this creates a localized rainforest climate, and therefore the vegetation shaped by the terrain is known as a valley rainforest!] ¡°That¡¯s about right,¡± Bi Fang nodded affirmatively in response to the answer, ¡°The Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon has similar climate and vegetation, which is why, despite being on the Tibetan Plateau, it¡¯s also considered a tropical rainforest.¡± The Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon has snowcapped mountains above and a tropical rainforest below, even though it¡¯s on the plateau, which is quite rare worldwide. The deepest part is 6009 meters, with an average depth of 2673 meters, making it the deepest canyon in Huaxia and even the world. It is said that no one dares to enter the deepest part of the canyon to this day, and it is referred to as one of Earth¡¯s last unexplored places. ¡°As for the karst seasonal rainforest, it¡¯s mainly comprised of rainforest in areas of limestone low mountains. This type of rainforest has widespread limestone distribution, abundant karst features, and many sinkholes and underground rivers.¡± [Another day of enlightenment, eating candy.jpg] [Amazing, Master Fang is amazing, just blow me away, waving a glow stick, cheering.] [Wait, how did Old Fang determine this is a valley rainforest? You haven¡¯t told us that yet.] The laid-back employees were also curious. How did Master Fang know this place was a valley rainforest? Wasn¡¯t the helicopter drop-random? This was something almost everyone knew. The helicopter was arranged by the director. Could it be that the director and Bi Fang had already colluded? [Director Zhou: ¡°Not me, I didn¡¯t, stop making stuff up!¡±] ¡°Because the Burmese Python mainly lives in valley rainforests, I reckon there¡¯s a high probability that I¡¯m in one,¡± said Bi Fang, his tone nonchalant yet sufficient to make the employees gasp. Hiss! The devil is in the details! That¡¯s quite something, something of a lot kind! [Is this something humans can know?] [Paths never before considered] [Be confident, no carbon-based life form could possibly know this. Old Fang is purely an alien¡ªI guarantee it! I suggest sending him to my place for a thorough examination.] [Fine, so fine.] [Why is Master Fang so meticulous?] [Screaming 666, you are my big brother.] Compared to the employees, the general audience was even more straightforward, offering unconditional admiration. Bi Fang, who hadn¡¯t seen his fans prostrating themselves, eventually found a suitable place after a serious search. A giant tree hollow formed by a cluster of banyan trees! No, it should be said to be ¡°one¡± banyan tree that formed a giant tree hollow. Chapter 481 - Chapter 481: Chapter 478: The Tree Holes Master, Zhoushan Cobra Chapter 481: Chapter 478: The Tree Hole¡¯s Master, Zhoushan Cobra In front of them was a small grove densely packed with trees, and under a large tree in the middle of the grove, a unique vortex-shaped tree hole had formed. The whole tree looked like several incredibly thick vines had been sucked up by a tornado, and, failing to be uprooted entirely, they left behind distinctive features. Bi Fang exclaimed, ¡°What a huge tree.¡± The audience couldn¡¯t help but nod, the tree was indeed huge. Just looking at the size of the tree hole, it was almost like a small tent, more than enough for a person to live in. Therefore, finding tree holes didn¡¯t require a carpet-style search; just by following the rules Bi Fang had just described, one could easily find them. Master Fang did have some tricks up his sleeve and hadn¡¯t deceived anyone. Bi Fang then continued, ¡°It must cover six to seven hundred square meters, right?¡± Yeah, it¡¯s got to be six to seven¡­ hundred square meters? [Did Old Fang say an extra word?] [Hit the brakes in time, then slowly type out a question mark.] ¡°A forest of one tree, the banyan tree¡¯s classic trick. There¡¯s a large area over here that, in essence, is all one tree,¡± Bi Fang patted the thick trunk of the tree in front of him. Are you kidding me? You¡¯re calling this huge swath of forest a single tree? [Are my eyes deceiving me?] [Calling the tree a forest] [Refraining from commenting to avoid getting slapped in the face, a sly smile] ¡°This whole area is indeed one entire banyan tree,¡± Bi Fang patted the stout trunk. The high temperatures and humidity of the tropical rainforest meant the soil was often saturated with water and low in oxygen content, unable to meet the respiratory requirements of the banyan trees¡¯ root systems in the rainforest. Especially now, in the rainy season, it was too damp. With every step Bi Fang took, he could press out water. Muddiness was Bi Fang¡¯s first impression after arriving in the rainforest. In response, many trees learned to grow ¡°tentacles¡± from their stems and branches¡ª aerial roots, forming a vertical ¡°curtain of roots¡± to absorb oxygen, moisture, and nutrients from the humid air. These ¡°tentacles¡± grew quickly, sometimes sprouting overnight. As the tree grew taller and its branches thrived, countless aerial roots would dangle from the horizontal branches, getting longer and longer. Some aerial roots would penetrate the soil and establish themselves as trees. These root-like aerial roots then make up the ¡°forest of one tree¡± landscape. These supports not only stabilize the tree, but also absorb nutrients. Thus, after the rainy season ended, some aerial roots would gradually fall off, but more often than not, the number and thickness of the pillar roots would keep increasing. Gradually, the surroundings would appear as if many trees were growing and connecting together, forming a dense jungle. ¡°The banyan tree is a classic example of growth multiplication. The ¡®forest of one tree¡¯ is its specialty. Look here, there are some too, probably just grown after the rain the day before yesterday,¡± Bi Fang said. Bi Fang came under a large tree and looked up to barely see something like curtain cloth, fine as thread. A breeze blew by, fluttering and swishing as if it were a duster. ¡°These are the newly grown aerial roots. In fact, many people in the south might have seen them before. Like the willow trees by the river, if the water level rises, when it recedes again, there will be ball-like growths on the tree. Those are also aerial roots,¡± Bi Fang explained. Bi Fang approached the central tree hole. From the outside, the interior space was large, but due to the darkness, one couldn¡¯t see clearly what was inside. ¡°When encountering a tree hollow, don¡¯t rush in. Although this is a natural campsite, we should be cautious and confirm it¡¯s safe before proceeding.¡± The tropical rainforest imposes a tough survival environment and fierce competition; any similar space becomes a refuge and habitat for life. Tree hollows are natural habitats, not just for humans; they are also resting places and sanctuaries for many forms of life, as well as hotbeds for biodiversity. Bi Fang dug a fire pit in the ground, reignited the fire, and then took out a tree stick. He used the Stone Dagger to shave one end continuously, curling up layers of wood shavings, similar to fish scales. ¡°Many tree hollows have original inhabitants; this place might be home to monkeys, birds, or even fish. Now, I¡¯m going to make a torch to explore the path ahead,¡± Bi Fang said. [Wait, did I just hear that? Fish?] [Is today April Fool¡¯s Day?] ¡°There¡¯s nothing strange about that, Nature is vast and contains all sorts of creatures. The fish I¡¯m talking about is the Climbing Perch, which can climb trees. They climb up the riverside palm trees to suck the alcohol-enriched juice of fruits, and during rain, they strenuously trek to water sources, migrating on trees or overland.¡± ¡°It¡¯s also farmed domestically. I¡¯ve heard of a farmer who woke up one morning to find that all the Climbing Perch in his pond had vanished, having all climbed up the mountain during the rainy night,¡± Bi Fang narrated. [Wow, pigs haven¡¯t learned to climb trees yet, but fish have] [Does this thing have hands or something? It can actually climb trees] ¡°That¡¯s because the Climbing Perch¡¯s gill covers are exceptionally hard, acting as ¡®forelimbs¡¯ during climbing.¡± ¡°Using the spikes on their opened gill covers, they can brace themselves against the walls of crevices, wiggle their tails back and forth, push forward with the spines on their anal fins, and then brace themselves once more with the gill covers to move upwards,¡± Bi Fang explained. [Can we eat this thing?] [?] [Another day of gaining knowledge with Old Fang.] ¡°Cutting the stick into a fish-scale pattern increases the surface area contact with air, making it easier to ignite, producing a stronger flame. It¡¯s best to choose a tree stick rich in resin, such as birch, or else, we can use a vine as a substitute,¡± he added. Soaking the stick in fish oil, Bi Fang used tinder to catch a spark from the fire pit, and like that, a makeshift torch was crafted. The pine cone-like wood structure expanded the flames, illuminating the surroundings. Approaching the tree hollow with caution, Bi Fang used the torch to light the area. There were no signs of danger. Pointing the torch towards the ground, many yellow-white droppings caught his attention. ¡°It could be bats, or perhaps birds; I¡¯m hoping for birds. If it¡¯s bats, they carry too many germs, and this tree hollow might not suit us for living. But it looks like whatever was here left a long time ago; it¡¯s all dried up and petrified.¡± Bi Fang examined the stains on the ground with some confusion. He picked up two rocks, holding one and tossing it into the hollow. There was no chirping of birds, nor any bats flying out. Another rock thrown, still no sound. [No animals?] [Empty?] ¡°No, wait, there seems to be a sound,¡± Bi Fang perked up his ears. In the silent rainforest, the sound of scales rubbing against tree bark arose. A long and thick black snake slowly crawled out of the tree hollow, flicking its tongue at the massive heat source in front of it, and suddenly flared the iconic ¡°wings¡± at its neck! A cobra! It¡¯s a cobra! Even those who knew the least about animals understood that only cobras could spread the ribs of their necks to form the signature fake eyes! Bi Fang pursed his lips, ¡°I said this bird droppings seemed very old, turns out the nest had already been taken over.¡± [Is this a King Cobra?] Someone boldly speculated. ¡°No, it¡¯s just a common Zhoushan Cobra.¡± Bi Fang moved the torch closer, waving it in front of the cobra to get a clearer view. The threatened cobra reared up even higher, hissing, trying to drive off this ¡°intruder.¡± ¡°King Cobras are actually not cobras and are much larger in size than this one here; they¡¯re also more temperamental. If it were a King Cobra, it wouldn¡¯t just threaten me, but attack straight away. However, Zhoushan Cobras are also quite aggressive,¡± he said. Bi Fang used the torch to attract the Zhoushan cobra, one of Huaxia¡¯s top ten venomous snakes, and as soon as he finished speaking, the venomous snake lunged violently at him. Luckily, Bi Fang was vigilant the whole time and was ready to retreat as the cobra reared back, avoiding the attack. ¡°Ha, it¡¯s really fierce,¡± Bi Fang stepped back twice but wasn¡¯t too scared. As long as one was familiar with the movement traits of snakes and discovered them early, the danger of venomous snakes would drop significantly. ¡°Zhoushan Cobras are aggressive in nature, have a strong tendency to feed on other snakes, and can prey on any venomous snake smaller than themselves. They¡¯re not fearful of humans. Their bite causes severe damage, second only to that of the Five-Paced Snake in necrosis ability. The disability rate is extremely high, but the mortality rate is only 11.8% due to the low yield of venom.¡± [There are too many snakes in the rainforest, Old Fang has encountered them twice already.] [By the way, how does Old Fang distinguish them? To me, all cobras look identical.] ¡°First, look at the size; second, the pattern on its spread hood,¡± Bi Fang pressed the torch down from over the cobra¡¯s head, and the viewers could vaguely make out the transverse white stripe resembling eyes.Upd@te by novg0.co ¡°Zhoushan¡¯s are small with a double glasses-like pattern, the Bengal ones mostly have a single glasses pattern, while the King Cobra features an inverted V-shape.¡± The great heat source descending from above made the cobra even more irritable, biting at the torch now and then but repelled by the high temperature. [Dinner delivered to the door.] [Keep biting, and its head will be cooked.] ¡°It¡¯s a pity, though, cobras aren¡¯t national-level protected species like Bamboo Vipers, but they are provincially protected¡­ hold on, Yunnan might not be,¡± Bi Fang paused, feeling his memory a bit fuzzy. He could not possibly remember everything clearly, only that Magic Capital and Hainan are protected; he truly forgot about Yunnan. [Quick, where¡¯s the class representative? Go check!] [This is crucial for Old Fang to have dinner or not, can you afford to delay it?] [Here it comes, just checked, it¡¯s not! Limited capture for utilization is allowed!] [Zhoushan Cobra: My fate is sealed! Who on earth air-dropped this guy into the rainforest?] ¡°Hahaha, forget it, I¡¯m not short on food anyway,¡± Bi Fang chuckled, ¡°but I¡¯m moving into this tree hollow tonight, and no one can stop me.¡± Bi Fang stepped back a few paces, and the cobra didn¡¯t follow; he took the chance to dump everything out from the bark frame, then advanced again. As the heat source approached once more, the Zhoushan cobra thought the danger was returning, but little did it know, a massive dark shadow was gradually enveloping it. Three minutes later. ¡°Hahaha, this tree hollow is mine now!¡± After several confrontations and calculations, Bi Fang slammed down the bark frame and successfully trapped the nearly two-meter-long venomous snake. He pressed a boulder on top and surrounded it with soil, sealing it tightly, eliminating any possibility of escape. Now, this tree hollow was his. ¡°I¡¯ll let you out tomorrow,¡± Bi Fang patted the bark cage, feeling somewhat proud. Though the cobra was quite large and strong, his bark cage was not to be trifled with; it was not just a layer of thick bark, but also wrapped inside and out with vines, with several centimeters of thickness at the bottom, making it quite sturdy. Not only the smallest Zhoushan, but even the King Cobra may not be able to escape. After tidying up the inside of the tree hollow and preparing to have dinner, Bi Fang had just sat down when the surrounding leaves suddenly fluttered and fell in large numbers, and a great noise struck from above. Hey, Director Zhou has finally arrived! Chapter 482 - Chapter 482: Chapter 479: Who is the Diner? Chapter 482: Chapter 479: Who is the Diner? The huge searchlight cast its beam into the forest, and the long rope ladder descended from the sky. Two minutes later, one after another, rainforest workers appeared on the self-extending ladder, climbing down bit by bit to arrive near the hollow of the tree. Carrying a thermal box, the workers picked up the snake eggs on the ground, shone their flashlights on them for inspection, and the light reflected a shimmering orange glow off the shells. After confirming there were no mistakes, they placed each egg into the thermal box, and those who followed were even more amazed. The remaining eggs of the wild Burmese Pythons, survivors of the fierce battle between the python and the wild Baizhi Ox, were a rare sight, truly rare. Even in a zoo, they could have a special plaque explaining their significance. On a certain day, of a certain month, of a certain year, the descendants of a wild Baizhi Ox that had miraculously survived the battle with a wild Burmese Python were brought back by the famous explorer, biologist, and geographer Bi Fang. How impressive. On the rope ladder, the last to descend was the reserve¡¯s Director Zhou. Bi Fang had not expected that Zhou Weisheng would come in person; although he was quite old, his agility was still remarkable, and he landed steadily on the ground. The two naturally exchanged pleasantries upon meeting, and Zhou Weisheng also praised Bi Fang¡¯s performance before promoting the scenic area to the viewers. Today was the fifth day of the live broadcast, and the number of visitors to the Banna Scenic Area had visibly increased, which was gratifying. It was like gaining publicity for free; spending ten million on advertising might not have been as effective as one day of Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast. The only problem was¡­ ¡°You didn¡¯t find the body of the Burmese Python?¡± Bi Fang was surprised when he heard Zhou Weisheng¡¯s account of their journey. Could the body of such a large Burmese Python really have disappeared before the staff arrived? Zhou Weisheng nodded, ¡°We searched the coordinates you provided, but didn¡¯t see the body of the Burmese Python. We continued searching along the way and found nothing, but it¡¯s not an issue, it was probably dragged away by a wild animal.¡± ¡°Dragged away by a wild animal?¡± Bi Fang frowned. The python had died in the afternoon; only a few hours had passed¡ªnot too long but not too short¡ªit wasn¡¯t impossible, ¡°Did you find any traces of wild animals nearby?¡± Zhou Weisheng was taken aback and a bit embarrassed, ¡°We didn¡¯t pay attention to that. When we went into the jungle and didn¡¯t discover anything, we left, and we thought it might have been eaten by something.¡± The reserve¡¯s staff often inserted tracking devices on the animals they encountered for protection. Many cases of unexpected deaths followed by consumption by other creatures were common and it wasn¡¯t always possible to retrieve the bodies, so they thought nothing strange of it. Bi Fang¡¯s frown deepened, but after a moment, it relaxed. It might have really been eaten by something; it wasn¡¯t uncommon for various carnivores in the rainforest, Bi Fang thought. ¡°By the way, we also want to take this Zhoushan Cobra,¡± Zhou Weisheng said, squatting down to look at the gently swaying tree bark cage, ¡°The stock of Zhoushan Cobra antivenom serum is running low. Wild Zhoushan Cobras are becoming rarer, and there aren¡¯t enough from breeding. This one will be good for extracting venom to produce the serum.¡± ¡°Take it if you want it. It¡¯s no use leaving it here anyway, and it was going to be released tomorrow,¡± Bi Fang waved his hand, not caring in the slightest. Zhou Weisheng nodded, and immediately a staff member approached to catch the snake. They took out a plastic board, cleaned up the mud around the bark cage, inserted the board at the bottom, then carried the entire bark cage towards the snake bag. After that, they withdrew the plastic board and tipped it inside. The Zhoushan Cobra, jostled about, struggled fiercely and tried to leap out of the bucket, but the next moment, the lid was closed, plunging it once again into darkness. Catching the snake, storing it, and boarding the helicopter¡ªall done in one fluid motion. Without any issue. They were all professionals, so how could an accident happen? As part of the rainforest staff, they saw venomous snakes most often and were all old hands at catching snakes. With the snake catching stick in place, there was no snake that could escape. After all this, Zhou Weisheng and the others didn¡¯t disturb Bi Fang¡¯s continued live-streaming, chatted for a moment, then climbed up the ladder ropes and left together. The roaring sounds gradually faded into the distance, and Bi Fang, with hands on his hips, felt somewhat proud, ¡°Now I¡¯m truly the master of this tree hollow.¡± Unexpectedly, Zhou Weisheng¡¯s visit to take the snake eggs also resulted in the cobra being taken away, which took care of a big problem. [What will happen to that snake after it¡¯s caught?] [It will be locked in a little dark room.] ¡°It will have its venom extracted. The venom of the Zhoushan cobra can be made into freeze-dried products and snake venom enzymes, which can be used to make serum.¡± After a pause, Bi Fang added, ¡°As it¡¯s their breeding season now, they might also be used for breeding purposes as well, and after that, they should be released back into nature.¡± That¡¯s generally the process for capturing wild animals. Extract what can be reused, breed what is cherished and can be bred, and after a cycle, release them back into nature. [Breeding? That¡¯s hilarious. Is it the kind I¡¯m thinking of? After Wanda Mountain No. 1, here comes Zhoushan No. 1!] [A day later, Zhoushan cobra: What the hell is this paradise? A month later, let me go, what the hell is this juice-squeezing hell?] [Ah, drained in all sorts of ways.] Returning to the tree hollow, Bi Fang lifted the torch to light up the surroundings. This tree hollow was not only big but also very high, with the middle almost entirely hollow. Above the light of the fire, there was a space that could never be illuminated. ¡°There must have been another tree here before, a pity it was strangled to death. Now there¡¯s nothing left on top. You think about it, in such a large forest, the banyan trees must have been growing for who knows how long, the plants that were strangled didn¡¯t stand a chance to survive.¡± [Strangled? What is strangling?] [The host is too professional, the netizens can¡¯t keep up.] ¡°The fruits of the banyan tree are often carried by small birds and other animals to the branches or crevices of bark of host plants, where the seeds then germinate, root, and grow.¡± ¡°The growing stems will wrap tighter and tighter around the host tree, weaving into fancifully different natural ¡®flower baskets.¡¯ If you look at this tree hollow, it appears very natural as if there was originally a big tree here, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Bi Fang picked all the dead branches and fallen leaves off the ground and cleared out a space, which would become his bed for the night. From intimacy to betrayal, the host tree eventually died from overload and nutritional deficiency, while these strangling plants ultimately became independent large trees. The banyan tree is one of the most typical ¡®slow killers¡¯ in the plant kingdom, and its effects on the trees it strangles are extremely vicious. Underground, they steal water and nutrients, leaving the strangled trees in a state of thirst and starvation. Above ground, their basket-like root systems tightly clasp the trunk and branches of the strangled trees, inhibiting their thickening and preventing the transport of water and nutrients. In the canopy, the strangler fig grew branches and leaves quickly, competing for space and sunlight with its victim. In the tropical rainforest, the strangled plants almost invariably died, while the strangler thrived, slowly feeding on the remains of its victims as nourishment. ¡°However, this is Nature, where life and death cycle, old wood sprouts anew, and every life form has its own way of living. They need nutrients, we need to eat, so let¡¯s solve the dinner problem first.¡± There¡¯s no need to ponder the cycle of life and death too much. Rather than that, it¡¯s better to think about what to eat for dinner. The time to eat meals each day is the happiest moment of the day. Eating food and feeling the energy from its digestion that sustains life¡ªthis is the most basic and fundamental meaning of existence. After reloading the gear that had fallen to the ground back into the bark frame, Bi Fang looked around and felt relaxed for the first time. ¡°Having the Zhoushan cobra as the owner of the tree hole is actually a good thing. Cobras are fierce in nature, and you hardly see any other small animals near their territory.¡± ¡°Now that the owner is gone, this is a rare safe zone, where no small creatures dare to come for at least a few days.¡± Bi Fang chose to make a fire and cook three meters outside the large tree, still eating fish and vegetables. Although the tree hole was spacious, it was still a hole in a tree, which meant it was destined to not have fires inside¡ªflammable and with poor ventilation, it could easily lead to smoke inhalation. ¡°I¡¯ve been eating fish for four days straight, and now I feel like I reek of fish. But there¡¯s no choice, to ensure energy intake, these are the only things I can eat, and occasionally I can catch some bugs to mix up the flavors.¡± He skewered the cicadas he had previously caught on a stick, a common edible insect¡ªunfortunately, there wasn¡¯t enough oil for frying. A big fish, a few sips of vegetable soup, and some roasted insects made up Bi Fang¡¯s dinner for the day. A primitive yet blissful atmosphere emerged spontaneously. In the savage rainforest, filled with life-or-death dangers, the sense of satisfaction brought by a piece of safe ground was unparalleled. After all, humans are creatures who yearn for stability. Many found it quite romantic¡ªthe primitive jungle, a huge tree hole, digging a firepit for a barbecue, like something out of a fairy tale. They¡¯d be willing to pay any price to experience it just once. But remembering today¡¯s battle between the ox and the python, everyone had to give up the idea. Too dangerous. Even though lying flat on the ground can avoid the attention of the Wild Baizhi Ox, most people would be scared stiff at the first sight of the ox, with no chance to remember these precautions. Safety manuals and various survival tips had been repeatedly emphasized during school terms. Many people were aware of what to do, but when danger truly struck, their minds would still go blank. No matter how much you know, it is often difficult to apply it when it matters most. There were no entertainments at night, and before sleeping, Bi Fang picked several thick vines from the rainforest¡ªthere might be a shortage of other things, but certainly not of lianas. Windmill vines, Shoulder pole vines, Tokyo large leaf vines, Wing nut fruit vines, and so on. Vines twining around trees, trees entangled by vines¡ªbig and small, thick and thin, long and short, they can meet all your needs, from fences to ropes, from weaving to knotting. Wrapping the thick vines around the roots of the banyan tree and smearing them with mud could perfectly isolate the outside world, preventing small animals from accidentally intruding. Just as Bi Fang was filling and packing the earth, a huge white grub suddenly jumped onto his hand. The white grub was as long as two joints of a finger and almost as wide as well. Being suddenly grasped, the white grub wriggled its fat body trying to escape, but in the next moment, it was pinched up, struggling even more vigorously. Bi Fang moved his torch closer, and under the firelight, the white grub looked even fatter. [Oh my, what a fat bug!] [A¡­ a big white grub?] [Has a caterpillar mutated?] ¡°This is a grub,¡± Bi Fang squeezed it, finding it plump, almost as if the grub could burst with sap at any moment, ¡°I think I mentioned this yesterday or the day before. Didn¡¯t expect to encounter one so soon.¡± ¡°These are the larvae of the Scarab family; all scarab larvae are called grubs and look nearly identical. It¡¯s not until they break out of the pupa that you can tell what insect they¡¯ll be¡ªpossibly a Rhinoceros Beetle or a Gold Beetle.¡± Bi Fang wasn¡¯t sure exactly what insect was in his hand. ¡°They lay their eggs in soft, moist soil, and each female can lay around a hundred eggs. When I was digging earlier, I must have hit the spot, causing one to fall out.¡± Bi Fang dug around the spot where he had been digging earlier and, sure enough, found two more, which made him laugh. ¡°Hey, this is a bonus meal for me. This guy¡¯s protein content is six times that of beef; it looks like I¡¯ve got tomorrow¡¯s breakfast sorted.¡± [Whoa, can you actually eat this? Pretty cool.] [What¡¯s the big deal? This is just a large cicada pupa. Haven¡¯t you ever eaten cicada pupae?] [Eating a big white grub is quite a treat.] [Can¡¯t accept this, it¡¯s a bit hardcore for me.] Fortunes always come unexpectedly. This is the rainforest¡ªyou never know what creature you¡¯ll encounter next. It might be a delicious meal, or it might still¡­ be a delicious meal. After completely clearing the surrounding soil, twelve big white grubs were found, a rich bounty. Bi Fang stuffed them all into a bamboo tube, sealed with leaves and mud. Having finished everything, he turned off the livestream. ¡°Time to sleep!¡± ¡­ In the middle of the night, not far from the tree hole, in a bush that no one had noticed, a purple flower quietly blossomed and spread its pollen. The evening breeze blew, and the flower swayed gently. Chapter 483 - Chapter 483: Chapter 480 Chapter 483: Chapter 480 Day six in the Banna Rainforest, early morning. Bi Fang¡¯s head was splitting with pain. He came to a fire pit, poured in some clear water, and in its reflection, his eyes were full of bloodshot strands. ¡°Damn it, it¡¯s a real bloodbath.¡± He had thought he found a good spot, but he hadn¡¯t anticipated this. Exhausted, Bi Fang turned on the live stream and habitually said good morning. On the other side of the ocean, in Ugly Country, Peter was just about to go to sleep when he received Bi Fang¡¯s live stream notification. After hesitating, he withdrew the hand that was about to turn off the light. ¡°Uh, just half an hour, I¡¯ll watch for another half hour and then go to sleep.¡± Pulling over a cushion to sit on the bed, Peter hurriedly opened the APP. Right then, footsteps came from the corridor. Peter shuddered, reaching for the light switch as though he was electrocuted. Click. The room plunged into darkness. After a while, the voice of his aunt came from outside the door, ¡°Peter? Aren¡¯t you going to sleep?¡± Peter was at the height of embarrassment but dared not to reply, instead, he completely covered his head with the blanket. ¡°If you don¡¯t get up for school tomorrow, you¡¯re done for.¡± After waiting for a moment, the footsteps gradually faded away, and in the dark room, only the sound of breathing remained. As Peter caught his breath, he peeked out from under the blanket, grabbed his phone again, and just as he turned it on, a pair of eerie crimson eyes filled the entire large screen in the pitch-black room, staring dead at him. A strange scream sounded, and Peter buried himself in the blanket, yelling once more. ¡°I¡¯ll never stay up late playing on my phone again!¡± ¡­ [Damn, what¡¯s up with Old Fang? Why are his eyes so red?] [What did you do last night? To end up like that?] [Damn it, I just came in and was stared down by a pair of bloody eyes, scared me for a moment, thank goodness it¡¯s broad daylight] The audience was startled, unable to understand how Bi Fang ended up like this overnight. Did he stay up all night? No, people stay up all night on their phones, or work, but what about staying up all night in the rainforest? It¡¯s dark and dangerous. Bi Fang scratched his messy hair and yawned. He hadn¡¯t slept well and was listless. In response to the audience¡¯s questions, he stood up, following the lingering scent in the air, arriving at a spot among the viewers. Among the many dead leaves and creeping vines, a purple plant had fallen and was not getting back up. It seemed to have been ravaged, with its roots repeatedly smashed by something. ¡°There, that¡¯s the culprit that kept me awake all night.¡± Remembering the events of the previous night, Bi Fang was filled with rage. He had been sleeping soundly when suddenly a foul stench woke him up. Oh boy, it wasn¡¯t just a normal stink; it was as if a pile of dead fish had been heaped up and then covered with feces, with a large drying machine constantly toasting underneath. The unique smell was unrelenting. Just waking up, Bi Fang had no idea what was happening, thinking he had encountered something monstrous. With trepidation, he lit a torch and began searching nearby, following the scent to the plant in front of him. Of course, when he first discovered it, it wasn¡¯t like this; it was still intact. How sensitive Bi Fang¡¯s nose was! He could hardly bear it. Overwhelmed with rage, he chopped it to pieces. Unfortunately, the smell had already spread. For the rest of the night, Bi Fang could only struggle, unable to sleep, tormented. At this moment, Bi Fang¡¯s voice was somewhat nasal, ¡°Walking through the rainforest at night is very dangerous, you cannot discern direction and it¡¯s easy to encounter animals out hunting. So, I just had to stay in a tree hole, then scatter some lemongrass fragments around, hoping to alleviate the smell a bit.¡± [Hahaha, sorry, I couldn¡¯t help it] [Ah, this, how bad does it have to stink to keep you from sleeping?] [Wait, I think I¡¯ve seen this thing before, is it a konjac?] Bi Fang nodded, ¡°The Tuberculate Voodoo Lily of the Araceae family, it blooms first and then the leaves come out. The flower is huge, and at night it suddenly heats up and releases a foul smell to attract dung beetles for pollination.¡± To attract dung beetles for pollination? ¡°Pfft.¡± In the subway, an audience member who was watching a live stream suddenly laughed out loud. After noticing the stares from people around, they sheepishly toned down their smile. [We police are professionally trained, no matter how funny it is, we never laugh, unless we can¡¯t help it, hahaha!] [I didn¡¯t think much of the smell of this flower before, but when I heard it attracts dung beetles for pollination, I couldn¡¯t hold it in] [What do you call vivid and lively, tactical retreat!] Bi Fang sighed, feeling utterly drained. He hadn¡¯t anticipated the real danger here wasn¡¯t the Zhoushan cobra, but this tiny konjac flower. ¡°Well, it¡¯s already been chopped down, let¡¯s not waste it.¡± His luck truly wasn¡¯t great, the Tuberculate Voodoo Lily generally entered a rapid growth phase during the rainy season, releasing a rancid, fishy smell. And what¡¯s most peculiar is that the spadix inside the flower would quickly heat up, helping to spread the stored stench to attract flies and beetles that fed on rotting flesh to come and consume the pollen. It literally baked the scent in, and you can imagine how torturous the smell was. The most outrageous part was that a spadix only bloomed for about 3 to 4 days, not earlier, not later, and he just happened to encounter it. Who could he even complain to about this? ¡°Although I suffered throughout the night, there¡¯s good news. Many farmers, when they encounter the Tuberculate Voodoo Lily in the wild, will take it home to use as pig feed, which has the effect of fattening them up. Moreover, its tuber is rich in starch and can also be used industrially as an adhesive.¡± [Ah, pig feed, is this even edible?] [Pigs and humans are omnivores, why wouldn¡¯t it be edible?] [Feels weird, but Master Fang is awesome, able to eat anything!] ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? I haven¡¯t had carbs in a long time, and I¡¯m feeling weak all over. Good thing I can take this with me, as if I¡¯ve found wild sweet potatoes.¡± Bi Fang dug up all the soil at the base of the konjac, revealing a large tuber exposed to the air that indeed resembled buried sweet potatoes. The tuber was also very large, much bigger than the wild sweet potatoes, almost as if it had been grown in a field. After digging up the source of his torment all night, Bi Fang felt much more at ease all over. Using the Stone Dagger, he dug up a piece and stuffed it directly into his mouth. Bi Fang chewed a few times: ¡°Hmm, the texture is nothing like sweet potatoes, very dry and fibrous, with a faint sweetness. It¡¯s edible, but not very tasty.¡± After eating a few pieces as breakfast, Bi Fang tossed the remaining tubers into his backpack and followed the direction he had left from the day before. ¡°I initially planned to solve the basic problems of food and shelter in the first five days to secure a stable living condition and then focus on iron smelting. But it seems that¡¯s not really possible now. No matter, plans can¡¯t keep up with changes. Faced with different situations, we must adapt accordingly.¡± If he could catch some large mammals, then he wouldn¡¯t need to worry about his salt intake, but unfortunately, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t caught any for five consecutive days. It was either bad luck or he hadn¡¯t chosen the right method, but this was the norm in the wilderness. ¡°Even the Bengal tiger only has a hunting success rate of around thirty percent, which means only three out of ten attempts are successful. For wolf packs, it¡¯s even lower, between ten and twenty percent.¡± The audience was stunned. That low? [The hunting success rate for tigers is only that? And wolf packs aren¡¯t any better] [I feel like Old Fang¡¯s success rate is pretty high. He seems to catch whatever he sees, awesome!] [Humans should naturally be higher. We are animals of experience, knowing how to use our brains and patterns to hunt specifically. Though not statistically counted, I think the top hunters are like Old Fang] [Plus one, the human brain is a weapon. I laughed when I saw someone say that humans can¡¯t beat any large animal barehanded. This isn¡¯t a fair fight to begin with. It¡¯s only fair when you have a spear and a shield] [Anyone who talks about strength by fighting wild beasts barehanded is just being ridiculous.] [The evolution of the brain was meant for creating and using tools, just like how beasts evolved sharp teeth and claws. There¡¯s no point in handicapping ourselves in a fistfight. Why evolve a brain then? For fun?] Not allowing the use of brains and tools is like removing a tiger¡¯s fangs and claws. Bi Fang couldn¡¯t agree more. The brain is the advantage of human evolution, muscles, claws, and teeth are the advantages of fierce beasts. If you really want a fair fight, then you should allow individuals to utilize their initiative, not tie down their brains. It makes no sense to give up one¡¯s own advantage to engage in so-called ¡°fair fight¡± with another¡¯s advantage. Of course, firearms don¡¯t count, those are the crystallization of human collective advantage, industrial achievements, considered as cheating, but wooden spears, wooden shields, are all things an individual can create. Pushing aside the bushes in front of him, Bi Fang squatted down and swept away the dead leaves on the ground to reveal the obvious hoof prints of the ox once again. ¡°It seems the Wild Baizhi Ox has been walking along the riverbank all this time.¡± Bi Fang lifted his gaze toward the distance, not far from the trail of prints was a river. Chapter 484 - Chapter 484: Chapter 481: Finding it Nowhere After Searching Everywhere Chapter 484: Chapter 481: Finding it Nowhere After Searching Everywhere Banna Rainforest survival, day seven. Two days had gone by without any gains, and the sunk costs were getting higher. Bi Fang yawned, reached to grasp the edge of the hammock, swung his body to the vines at the edge, and let go to land on the ground. Throughout the entire sixth day, Bi Fang had been following far behind the Wild Baizhi Ox, but unfortunately, it hadn¡¯t headed towards its salt mine base. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be able to last so long, how is it enduring?¡± Bi Fang was puzzled. Having already dealt with two nights in the wilderness, the experience was far from pleasant. Last night he used vines to build a hammock between two trees, two meters off the ground, which was any but comfortable to sleep in, it was not only unyielding but also extremely rigid. It was so hard that his back ached. All the meat he had brought from the camp had been eaten up. However, yesterday he managed to catch a squirrel. Apart from that squirrel, all that remained was half a root tuber of konjac, plus some wild vegetables he had collected along the way. Bi Fang put the basket on his back, took his wooden spear, and cut the vines from the tree before continuing his journey, ¡°Today we will continue tracking, if there is still no gain today, then we will have to find another way.¡± [This ox is pretty tough, a day without salt and I¡¯d be dying.] [How do you live through days without salt, just thinking about it is terrifying.] [No flavor in the mouth, no strength in the body.] [Brave ox, don¡¯t fear difficulty!] Today¡¯s rainforest was just as bustling, with bird calls coming from all directions without any visible source, Bi Fang advanced carefully with each step, leaning on his wooden spear. ¡°There¡¯s a term called sunk cost, a kind of historical cost, it is an uncontrollable cost regarding current decisions, and it can greatly influence a person¡¯s behavior and decision-making,¡± he said. ¡°Like we have been tracking for three days now, yet the acquisition of salt is still in the distant future. I don¡¯t know if I can get it today, or even tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, I¡¯m not certain.¡± Time and energy are the most precious resources in survival. It could have been used to fortify the campsite, build walls, set more traps, capture more game, and find the possibility of iron smelting. But now, all these efforts are wasted on tracking a wild ox, hoping to follow it to a more valuable resource. Bi Fang wiped the sweat from his forehead, ¡°The considerable energy and time I¡¯ve already spent, if abandoned, would mean that these three days are nothing but excrement, worthless, no, even excrement can be used as compost, now it¡¯s nothing.¡± [Wuwuwu, storm crying.] [These days, even dung has its value, only I am useless.] [So sad, I always feel like I¡¯m being scolded.] ¡°Many people at this point don¡¯t want to give up, even if they¡¯re out of ammunitions and rations, they still believe they are about to succeed. This kind of mindset is a big taboo in the wild. Don¡¯t be wishful, if there¡¯s no gain today, I will turn back to where I began.¡± Not all persistence pays off, to stubbornly continue without any sign of success is a rather foolish act. Decisiveness is key. Whether to persist or not is not decided by reading an inspirational essay. Apart from scientific experiments, there is nothing that will produce the same results with mere replication. At least for now, without any meat and only some vegetables left, Bi Fang felt that today was the last deadline he could give himself. ¡°It looks like there might be rain today too.¡± The leaden skies brought endless oppression, and the dense foliage of the rainforest made it even harder to breathe; Bi Fang¡¯s frown grew even deeper. Living within the rainforest doesn¡¯t make one feel close to nature but trapped within a suffocating cage of vines. Many observant viewers watching from beginning to end noticed that these past two days, the frequency with which Bi Fang frowned had obviously increased. Through the gaps in the leaves, today¡¯s forest seemed darker than yesterday; perhaps it was the cloudy weather, overall, not good news. It¡¯s ironic to think about it, no one expected that finding a salt mine would take so long. With thirteen days left, would he even be able to smelt iron? The audience didn¡¯t know; they couldn¡¯t even figure out how to begin the smelting, let alone estimate the time needed. But seeing the halfway mark of the twenty-one days approaching, they were inevitably worried. Stepping unevenly along the edge of the riverbed, Bi Fang looked at the ox tracks that suddenly disappeared at a stretch of river. ¡°Crossed the river?¡± The Wild Baizhi Ox¡¯s tracks vanished there, Bi Fang stooped to look; the river had narrowed and became clearer here, transforming from a small river into a stream, it was crystal clear and didn¡¯t look very deep. It seemed the Wild Baizhi Ox had crossed the river, and Bi Fang could see its tracks on the opposite bank. The riverbanks on both sides were high, with water only flowing at the bottom, and the edges were lined with protruding stones. The curved side was piled with lots of dead branches and leaves, and even decayed trees ¡ª most of which had washed down from upstream. Stepping onto the protruding stones on the bank, Bi Fang jumped across to the other side and pointed to the river underfoot to introduce to the audience. ¡°This kind of riverbed is quite common in the Banna Rainforest. During the rainy and dry seasons each year, the runoff of the surface rivers is completely different. Some may even dry up completely in the dry season. The river before us should have been quite deep, washed continuously by the rain, and then dried up during the dry season, turning¡­¡± While speaking, Bi Fang suddenly stopped. [Eh, where is he?] [Such a big person, where is he?] [My connection¡¯s not good, it¡¯s lagging for you guys?] [Try tapping, it should work after tapping.] [Are you tapping on the TV over there?] Bi Fang returned from the bank to the riverbed, stepped on a stone into the stream, went back to the side before he crossed, and cleared away all the dead branches next to a stone, revealing a dark small hole in front of everyone. At the edge of the small hole, the moist yellowish mud was so abundant it was almost spilling over, distinctly different from the surroundings. Everything around was black, or covered with mossy dark green rocks, only this soft, squishy patch was bright yellow ¡ª hard to miss! Bi Fang poked into the hole with a stick to make sure there was nothing inside, then reached in to smear some of the yellow mud from the entrance; it felt different from ordinary mud and sand, quite hard. [What the heck is this thing, such a weird color.] [Is he just going in barehanded?] [This looks like¡­!] [Yue] [It¡¯s shit, isn¡¯t it? It must be shit, right?] [Is there fish inside? Or something else?] Twiddling the yellow mud in his palm, Bi Fang brought it close to his nose and sniffed. A unique pungent, rusty smell shot aggressively into his nostrils. Then he stuck out his tongue and licked a bit, the unique salty and fishy taste spreading on his tongue, similar to fresh blood. The audience felt nauseated, perfectly interpreting the subway, the elderly, and mobile phones. Bi Fang¡¯s previously furrowed brows suddenly relaxed, and the pressure lingering in his heart completely dissipated. What a great thing, really good stuff! He had been thinking about looking for salt mines, but as it turned out, he hit the jackpot and found what was most critical for survival this time. Iron ore! If he hadn¡¯t turned back to introduce the river, he might have missed it. Bi Fang took out a bamboo tube, swigged some water to rinse his mouth, and happily explained to the audience. After hearing his words, everyone was shocked. This big lump of yellow stuff, you¡¯re telling me it¡¯s ore? [Don¡¯t think you can deceive me just because I¡¯m uneducated, and you tell me this thing is iron ore?] [Ah, I am blind] [Designating shit as ore!] [Please spare the idioms, I beg you!] [I believe in Boss Fang!] [Boss Fang? Since when did Old Fang get this title?] [People started calling him that after the club opened. Boss Fang is awesome!] Boss Fang laughed, a brilliant, sunny smile: ¡°This is iron bacteria, not what you guys think. It was among my initial search targets. I was planning to focus on finding it after locating the salt mines, but as it turns out, ¡®no need to break a sweat to get what comes without effort.''¡± Iron bacteria? [Another unheard term added to my vocabulary.] [Weird knowledge cat enters the scene!] [Explain, please. Forgive my ignorance, and be quick about it.] Bi Fang looked at the sky, which had already darkened considerably, signaling that it might rain soon. He quickly scooped out the ¡®yellow mud¡¯ from the cave and threw it into the frame with a plop. ¡°Iron bacteria, as the name implies, are a type of microorganism that lives in waters like ponds, lakes, and hot springs with high concentrations of divalent iron ions.¡± ¡°They can oxidize divalent iron salts into trivalent iron compounds and utilize the energy produced in this oxidation process to assimilate carbon dioxide for growth.¡± ¡°These microorganisms use organic matter as a nutrient source, requiring organic matter for their growth, with a preference for organic compounds of iron and manganese. Once the organic matter is consumed, iron and manganese are excreted as waste, adhering to the filamentous body of the bacteria.¡± A deluge of biologic and chemical concepts thrown out left many feeling dizzy. [I get it, do you?] [I get it too, it¡¯s quite simple¡ªit¡¯s just a kind of microorganism. Don¡¯t you know that?] [Scratching my head, am I the only one who doesn¡¯t quite understand?] [Were you not paying attention during Teacher Fang¡¯s lessons? I¡¯m assigning you to copy this a hundred times!] [Copying now, copying now.] ¡°It¡¯s getting darker now, and I guess it might start raining soon. I need to scoop them all out now. Otherwise, it would be hard to do so once the river rises, and there¡¯s also the possibility of them being washed away. We should search around here; there should be plenty more.¡± Iron bacteria generally live in oxygen-poor but iron-rich and CO2 -dissolved acidic waters; they do not thrive in alkaline environments, so the surrounding area should all be acidic. After scooping out all the yellow mud, the later part had turned brown and emitted a strange stench, but Bi Fang was undeterred and scooped it all out. The entire bark frame sunk heavily. Having scooped out all the iron bacteria from the small cavity, Bi Fang searched in other directions, leaving no stone unturned, and he found two more spots. Before he finished digging the third one, ripples started to appear on the surface of the water. It began to rain. Bi Fang wiped away the droplet about to fall from his hair and quickened his digging pace. ¡°The rainy season is really annoying, raining every other day. It might be sunny when you go out during the day, but in less than an hour, it could start pouring. Luckily, this rain doesn¡¯t seem too heavy.¡± After digging out all three holes, Bi Fang was soaked through. Fortunately, the bark frame was almost one-third full. The amount collected would be more than enough to smelt a sword. [This seems too risky, can that much really be smelted?] ¡°Enough, you have no idea how heavy they are, and they feel just like iron filings. It should be more than enough.¡± Bi Fang covered the bark frame with leaves to avoid too much rain from getting in and the water from flowing out the seams. Then, with the large frame on his back, he chased after the direction of the Wild Baizhi Ox. Entering the rainforest, the rain became much lighter. ¡°If only I¡¯d known earlier, I should have made a raincoat in advance.¡± Bi Fang scrambled through the woods, looking around. He actually found an arch made entirely of vines. The thick vines curved into growth, leaving a not-so-small space inside. Bi Fang propped it up, quickly covering the top with large leaves and binding them simply. He slipped inside, and immediately, the wind and rain were shut out. ¡°It¡¯s a pity, the situation was a bit urgent, I didn¡¯t bind the leaves properly. If the rain gets heavier, they might be washed away. Let¡¯s hope the rain ends soon.¡± Bi Fang wiped off the mud on his body and let it fall, then grabbed handfuls of palm leaves covered with iron bacteria out of the bark frame and started weaving. ¡°To be on the safe side, we should prepare a raincoat early, so if this temporary shelter is overwhelmed, I won¡¯t have to scramble around.¡± ¡°Many of you must have heard of straw raincoats. ¡®An old man in a straw cape and hat, fishing alone in the snowy river bank.¡¯ Actually, many straw raincoats are made from palm leaves. Of course, they don¡¯t compare to those made with genuine straw, but it¡¯s enough for us.¡± Palm leaves can be woven into a simple straw raincoat quickly but are rather thin, offering subpar shelter from the rain. A raincoat woven from straw is thicker, with sleeves, and provides great protection from the rain as well as warmth. However, at the moment, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t that picky; as long as it was functional, it would do. Chapter 485 - Chapter 485: Chapter 482 Genetic Instinct Chapter 485: Chapter 482 Genetic Instinct As expected, it still came as a surprise. The makeshift rain shelter collapsed under the onslaught of the torrential downpour, sending a deluge of palm leaves crashing down with the rainwater. Fortunately, just as the rain began pouring through the rupture, Bi Fang leaped out in time. Wearing a simple raincoat crafted from green palm leaves, Bi Fang kept the enormous conical hat on his head. In less than half an hour, Bi Fang had successfully made a raincoat and a conical hat, which looked pretty convincing. The colors were just a bit unusual, not the common yellow-brown but a pure green instead. Water flowed down the fresh palm leaves like little columns, dripping onto the straw sandals below. ¡°Actually, making a temporary raincoat isn¡¯t that difficult,¡± said Bi Fang, lifting the brim of his hat to see the path ahead, water sliding off the brim and dripping to the ground along its contours. A temporary raincoat doesn¡¯t need to consider durability or storage; as long as it blocks the rain, that¡¯s all that matters. Bi Fang arranged the palm leaves in a circle, leaving a gap in the middle just big enough to fit his head through. Then, he tied all the leaf stems together with thread spun from palm fiber, roughly covering his entire body. He repeated the process several times, stacking layers upon layers. Several layers of thin raincoat overlapped and added together formed a thick raincoat. By tightly interweaving them and tying off the bindings, patching up any gaps, it became hard for rainwater to penetrate. As for the conical hat, Bi Fang crafted it using a technique similar to basket weaving. First, he collected six flexible branches, made a slit in the middle of three branches, and inserted the other three branches at this point, forming a simple cross. The cross¡¯s four ends were then secured with fine thread, wrapping tightly around each set of three branches, repeating the process for each direction to prevent displacement and breakage. After that, a large amount of vines were used to bind two branches together, extending and evenly spreading out the total of sixteen branches from the cross, thus forming a complete framework. By controlling the distance between branches, a certain curvature was achieved, resulting in a funnel-shaped conical hat. Of course, this still wasn¡¯t enough to secure the hat on the head. Therefore, branches were inserted through the original gaps to create straps that would hang down, so when worn, it could be secured under the chin through these straps. Conical hats commonly seen in rural areas were made this way, and the structure of Bi Fang¡¯s hat was no different from theirs, albeit rougher, but on the surface, it looked the same. When it came to waterproofing, with the framework in place, it became much simpler. The framework itself was woven very densely. After laying a layer of tied palm leaves on top and trimming the edges a bit, it was done. Perfect. ¡°It¡¯s just that it¡¯s very heavy to wear, and it can¡¯t be stored for long, probably rotting in two or three days,¡± he said. To achieve better waterproofing, Bi Fang layered several coats, making it quite thick, which added to its weight. But the effect was very good. At this moment, walking through the rainforest, he was completely isolated from the outside rain. [Get a new skin for just 998, and take the rainforest walker home!] [All in green] [A grass skirt isn¡¯t enough; you need a grass coat and a grass hat!] With a large basket full of iron bacteria, Bi Fang suddenly had plenty of time. The most difficult part of iron smelting, without a doubt, was finding materials. Originally, Bi Fang planned to spend three days gathering materials. Now, with these three days saved, he could do much more. At the very least, he didn¡¯t have to rush to give up the salt mine. He could extend the time a bit more and go back on the ninth or even the tenth day. [Master Fang: Having this kind of mindset in the wilderness is a big taboo. One must not rely on luck. If I don¡¯t find anything today, I will head back to the starting point.] [Hahaha, that¡¯s hilarious] [What do you know? Plans can¡¯t keep up with changes. Making such a decision is perfectly reasonable! Dog¡¯s Head Protection] ¡­ The eighth day. The sky was still overcast. Bi Fang had set up a temporary lean-to shelter. Waking up, he found the rain still falling, with puddles all around. The rain was much lighter than the downpour when he first arrived, but it was more persistent, not stopping even after a night and even showing signs of continuing. Bi Fang patted the conical hat and lowered the bark frame, lifting the cover to find nothing inside but a pile of yellow mud formed by iron bacteria, which was troubling. There was no food left! The grubs he had found were all eaten. Grilled briefly, they had a very strange texture and would burst, but surprisingly, they tasted good. The konjac tubers were gone too. All that was left were a few handfuls of lemongrass he picked along the way, but that could only serve as a herb, not as food! [The landlord¡¯s family has run out of surplus too, huh] [Where to find something to eat in this rainy weather?] Scratching his head, Bi Fang looked around, unsure of when the rain would stop, so he simply sat inside the shelter to minimize energy consumption and chatted with the audience. ¡°Many large animals don¡¯t take shelter from a light rain; they just keep doing what they do, only taking action when it¡¯s pouring.¡± ¡°In situations where there¡¯s no shelter from the downpour, animals like giraffes, elephants, and bison tend to stay put because vigorous movement would lead to a rapid loss of heat.¡± ¡°So, it¡¯s better to do nothing and quietly enjoy the rare peace. In such stormy weather, even carnivores like lions and tigers temporarily give up hunting, and virtually all animals relax their vigilance.¡± [So this is your excuse for loafing around in the shelter?] [No wonder I don¡¯t feel like moving when it rains. I must have the soul of a fierce beast inside me.] [Awooo, awooo, awooo, the wild awakens.] [Is this your excuse for not going to work?] ¡°What I¡¯m saying primarily applies to mammals, not all animals, like how rainy days are actually peak activity periods for many snakes.¡± Bi Fang shifted his position and lay down on the ground. The temperature had risen quite a bit over the past two days; it wasn¡¯t as cold as the first time it rained, and with the straw raincoat adding further warmth, it was bearable. [Why is that?] [Snakes are the bane of my existence! Why do such terrifying creatures exist in the world?] ¡°Because the air pressure is very low before and after the rain, making it stuffy inside burrows, and the rain brings out frogs and mice, making it easier for snakes to fill their stomachs.¡± Bi Fang was afraid of snakes too; they were slimy, covered in parasites, extremely good at camouflage, and many were highly venomous. If you didn¡¯t spot one in time¡­ You¡¯d be typing ¡®gg¡¯ outright. Moreover, fear of snakes is actually an instinctive biological response. ¡°Our ancestors were once prey to carnivorous mammals and birds of prey, of course, this was a very long time ago, so long ago that humans were not yet humans.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s gaze seemed to grow more profound. ¡°Thankfully, at that time we evolved a system to recognize predators, which could quickly locate typical threats and help us escape, but when snakes appeared as one of the first predators, this system was completely ineffective.¡± ¡°Because they completely resemble sticks, unlike other predators, snakes move with the help of their specialized ribs and belly scales, and with a bit of camouflage, they can get very close to unsuspecting prey.¡± [What happened next? Tell me more!] [Afraid of snakes? Impossible, I¡¯ll never be afraid of snakes in my life. Look at this five-paced snake, am I scared? Watch me take it down in minutes.] [My fear of snakes is so intense that even the sight of a turtle scares me, because a turtle¡¯s head and neck resemble a snake. Just picturing a snake makes me shudder and break out in goosebumps.] [Why do we, who are afraid of snakes, click to find out why we are afraid of snakes?] ¡°Fortunately, eventually some primates evolved something akin to snake sensors, specialized neurons to locate snakes, which helped our monkey ancestors quickly avoid the creeping stick-like shapes and escape. Over time, these features were passed down to humans.¡± ¡°Observations of human brainwaves show that when we see an image of a snake, our brain performs significant activity, evaluating the danger. This activity is much greater than when we see images of other predators.¡± Bi Fang still remembered a professor who had discussed this topic. They were shown two sets of images, from blurry to clear; initially almost mosaic-like, and in the end, one was a clear picture of a snake, and the other, a clear image of a feline animal. The moment the images were shown, everyone¡¯s attention was first and foremost on the latter snake picture. ¡°Compared to recognizing other animals, our brains require far less visual information to identify a snake.¡± That¡¯s what the professor had said at the time, and now Bi Fang relayed it to the viewers in front of the screen. ¡°Some researchers even believe that our excellent color vision system evolved, to some extent, to help distinguish snakes.¡± ¡°Additionally, studies suggest that our sensitivity to snakes makes us more prone to fear them, but exactly why is still without a scientific conclusion. There¡¯s no doubt, though, that our brains are very much aware of snakes!¡± Bi Fang tapped his temple with his index finger as if there really was a snake coiled up inside. [Damn, now I know why I get so nervous every time I see Master Fang capture snakes.] [Shocking, due to the rain, the outdoor live streamer transforms into a science broadcaster!] [By that logic, is my fear of long centipedes for the same reason?] ¡°Maybe.¡± Bi Fang responded non-committally, reaching out to check the rain, noting it had decreased significantly. He casually grabbed his conical hat, placing it on his head and stepping towards the rainforest. ¡°Let¡¯s go, the rain has eased up quite a bit. Let¡¯s see if there¡¯s anything we can find to fill our stomachs.¡± Chapter 486 - Chapter 486: Chapter 483: Exploring the Cave Chapter 486: Chapter 483: Exploring the Cave Rainy days are a common holiday for all animals, which explains why many people find the sound of rain soothing, Our ancestors probably rested on rainy days too. Rainy days equal rest days, which might be true for both humans and animals. ¡°It¡¯s a pity, on a rainy day I still have to toil for food, and the iron bacteria at my back are dead heavy, feeling like carrying a huge ingot,¡± Bi Fang gasped after walking a distance. Were it not for the raincoat, my shoulders would have been rubbed raw by the vines. [What a shame, I still have to work on a rainy day] [What a shame, I have to do homework on a rainy day] [What a shame, I still have to order takeout on a rainy day] [Is it raining over there too?] [Yes, Dog¡¯s Head Protection] ¡°The ground was not dry to begin with; now it¡¯s even wetter. When I get back, I¡¯ll have to wrap it with another layer of tree bark,¡± he complained. Bi Fang lifted his foot from the muck, every step like trudging in a swamp, occasionally strange insects crawled out from beneath the ground. The edible ones were captured, washed in clean water, and tossed into the backpack. The inedible ones were thrown back into the mire, their tails wriggling above the mud. In bits and pieces, barely enough for a meal was gathered. Today¡¯s a bug feast! ¡°In the rainforest, if you¡¯re familiar with the flora and fauna and can handle the disgust, food is actually not hard to find,¡± he reflected. Bi Fang felt like an old farmer planting rice in the paddy fields, with swamp under his feet and seedlings in hand, taking a step and making a hole. ¡°Now the Wild Baizhi Ox should be on the move, I wonder if it has headed to its salt mine base. I¡¯ve been waiting for it for three days; a week without salt, and I feel uncomfortable. If I don¡¯t replenish my salt intake soon, I¡¯ll call it the strongest wild ox!¡± [Wild Baizhi Ox: Thank you, Karl, this is the honor of my life] [What¡¯s this Karl meme?] [Master Fang deems you the strongest!] [Wild Baizhi Ox: There¡¯s a human who¡¯s been following me for three days, now I¡¯m really scared] [So scared that the big ox is checking the wildlife protection laws overnight] Noon. Like a ghost, Bi Fang wandered around, looking for anything edible, delving into every hole he encountered, and if he saw fruit, he would undoubtedly pick it. ¡°For small mammals, they aren¡¯t tough enough to withstand the heavy rain directly, animals like foxes, mice, rabbits and other small mammals, usually have their own dens.¡± ¡°Many burrowing animals, like rabbits and mice, will hide in their burrows during heavy rain. Their burrows are built in relatively high locations, less likely to be flooded.¡± ¡°There are always exceptions, though. Squirrels build their nests in dry tree holes, but on rainy days, they use their fluffy tails as umbrellas to brave the rain, so we might not actually find anything. Let¡¯s hope our luck is good.¡± The little squirrels are braver than other animals in the heavy rain. Some seemingly frail animals surprisingly adapt well to heavy rain. Covered in green leaves, Bi Fang climbed a large tree, poked his branches in and gave a prod, and after a moment, a fluffy squirrel jumped out vigorously, trying to escape, but a large hand snatched it out of the air. Fortunately, Bi Fang was merciful and didn¡¯t let it suffer in fear for too long. With a snap, its spine broke, allowing the young squirrel to meet its Nut Paradise early. ¡°Hehe, looks like we¡¯re in luck, lunch is served.¡± This squirrel was surprisingly large, so big that Bi Fang couldn¡¯t fully grasp it with one hand. It was estimated to be nearly a pound and quite plump. It was rare indeed. ¡°Autumn hasn¡¯t even arrived, and it¡¯s already got so much fat. It seems to have been living the good life,¡± Bi Fang said as he wiped the squirrel in front of him and stuffed it into his bag before continuing to search inside. ¡°So fat. I wonder if it¡¯s left any nuts for us. Nuts are great stuff¡ªthe essence of plants, rich in protein, a lot of fats, and vitamins.¡± He searched for a long while, tossing branches and dried leaves to the ground along with some broken shells. ¡°Our luck isn¡¯t very good. It¡¯s not autumn yet, and the squirrel hasn¡¯t hoarded much food.¡± Bi Fang dusted off his hands and quickly climbed down the tree, shaking off the rainwater from his sun hat. ¡°Has the rain stopped?¡± Bi Fang was surprised to discover that no raindrops were falling on his head. He looked up, and the frequency of falling water droplets in the forest was slower than it had been in the morning. After a moment of waiting, the frequency of the raindrops fell even lower. ¡°It really has stopped,¡± Bi Fang said, somewhat surprised. The rain had lasted for over two days before it finally stopped. ¡°Hurry up, it¡¯s time to move on.¡± He quickly picked up the bark basket from the ground and continued to track the Wild Baizhi Ox. ¡°Although it has just rained, like the first time we recalled and followed after several days, the traces left on the ground are still very clear, as long as¡­ wait, what is this¡­¡± Bi Fang suddenly slammed on the brakes, staring in amazement at the small hill in front of him, and at the cavernous black hole beneath it. ¡°A cave?¡± He fiercely looked down at the ox hoof prints going in and coming out of the cave. In front of the pitch-black cave, the path was almost laid bare except for some stubborn weeds. The bushes were noticeably fewer, suggesting that animals of no small size were frequently passing through, causing such a scene. Looking again at the hoof prints, it was clear that the Wild Baizhi Ox had gone in and come out! Why would an ox suddenly enter a cave? Animals don¡¯t have the same curiosity as humans, especially when it comes to dark environments. Bi Fang¡¯s heart pounded violently. He suddenly realized that what he had been looking for might be right in front of him! Many sharp-minded viewers also sensed this. After three days of searching, was there finally a result? [Could it be, could it be that what¡¯s ahead is the salt mine?] [Such a large cave entrance, no wonder the Wild Baizhi Ox could go inside.] [But, but¡­] The audience didn¡¯t quite know what to make of it¡­ Bi Fang¡¯s mind was even more tangled, his emotions experiencing an uncommon fluctuation. From the cave to his lean-to shelter, the entire distance was¡­ less than three hundred meters¡­ Three hundred meters! Less than half a kilometer! ¡°I slept all of last night and searched for food all morning, never thinking to walk a little further to check!¡± Bi Fang held his head, feeling for the first time what it meant to be toyed with by fate. If he had followed the trail a little longer the day before yesterday, wearing his raincoat, he might have already collected salt and returned to his shelter. How could he have waited until now, until now!!! Bi Fang felt dizzy and nauseous. ¡°Anyway, we seem to have found a salt mine now, which is a good thing,¡± Bi Fang said, patting his forehead, which felt somewhat feverish. This is a good thing, a good thing. Repeating to himself that this was a good thing, it took Bi Fang a while to calm down. ¡°In ancient times, both domestically and abroad, the control over salt was at a military level; many commoners who couldn¡¯t get salt would even extract it from the walls of pigsties, or the earthen walls of latrines.¡± ¡°They would crush the soil, soak it, filter out the brine after several days, and then boil it in pottery jars. The crystals left after the water boiled away were saltpeter.¡± ¡°This kind of salt was very bitter, and eating too much of it could lead to poisoning. The only thing it was good for was emergencies, to prevent death from lack of salt.¡± ¡°Some people even mixed soils of different flavors to produce salt, finding that the quality of the salt was better this way¡­¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t even get to the more disgusting ¡®urine salt¡¯ and ¡®feces salt,¡¯ the true depictions of the lower classes in ancient times. [Ah, is that so?] [Is salt really that difficult to obtain?] How much does a bag of salt cost in the supermarket? Many people have never bought this kind of thing, but those who are familiar know it¡¯s about one yuan. One yuan can buy a bag of salt, which if used sparingly, can last nearly two months. But away from industrial society, salt is life. Understanding this shows how difficult it is to obtain salt in the wilderness inland. ¡°Actually, I had considered other methods to find salt. Mineral salt isn¡¯t only found by following animals; it can also be found in seeping rock faces or at non-turbulent riversides where it sometimes deposits.¡± ¡°Even some trees can be a source of salt. For example, the roots of the Summer Cypress when boiled dry will yield black crystals, which is also salt. But as you can see, I didn¡¯t find any.¡± Thinking of this, Bi Fang felt annoyed. After searching the lower reaches of two rivers, he hadn¡¯t found any mineral salt. Then it rained, and the likelihood of finding any became even slimmer. Even if there were any deposits, they would be mostly washed away by the rainwater. As for the Summer Cypress, not even a shadow! ¡°I¡¯ve done many live streams before, some lasted only a week. As long as food intake is maintained, even with an extremely low sodium content, not taking in salt is not much of a problem; at most there¡¯s psychological discomfort, still a bit away from physical discomfort.¡± ¡°Even for live streams that lasted up to twenty days, a month, those were either done by the sea where sodium wasn¡¯t lacking, or involved frequent hunting of large animals, relying on the blood to replenish enough salt.¡± The audience nodded in agreement. Survival at sea was not a time of salt scarcity; the Goose birds often flew over the ocean, and with large animals to catch, there was no shortage of blood. This time was a little more dire. Twenty days without salt is tough. Simply put, why can the human brain control the body? When you want to move your finger, the brain issues an instruction, which is transmitted by nerves. The neural signal causes the finger muscles to contract and stretch, enabling the finger to move. The conduction of the neural signal is determined by the potential difference caused by the entry and exit of sodium and potassium ions into and out of the nerve cells. Without salt and sodium ions, even if your brain wants your finger to move, your finger won¡¯t be able to receive the signal to do so. People will exhibit symptoms such as lethargy and fatigue. More seriously, limbs will start to swell, bodies will weaken, the brain will be suppressed all day, and death will follow soon after. However, the audience was not concerned about this at the moment. [Quickly get inside, hurry up, head to the campsite at full speed, and start iron smelting right away!] ¡°Don¡¯t rush, let¡¯s make a fire first and prepare a torch before we go in. If the Wild Baizhi Ox can get in, it means there¡¯s basically no toxic gas inside, making it suitable for living creatures to reside or survive. That means there¡¯s a good chance that bats are inside.¡± Bi Fang took out the fire source and then pulled out the tinder he had prepared in advance. He kept these items close to his body in a funnel bag to prevent them from getting wet in the rain. In the rainy season of the rainforest, even dry tinder had to be opportunistically obtained. As Bi Fang made the fire, he explained, ¡°Bats are probably the mammals that hate rain the most. On the surface, bats seem to be bald, but they actually have fur.¡± ¡°If a bat¡¯s fur gets wet, its body temperature will drop rapidly, and water will affect their flying ability. Even adult bats need to stay dry at all times. So on rainy days, bats will hide in caves or under trees.¡± ¡°The rain has just stopped for now, and I feel there might be a bunch of bats inside.¡± [Why does it have to be bats? Could there be birds inside?] [Can you eat bats?] [I am Batman!] [The Riddle of the Shadow!] [What if Wayne comes crawling out of there!] ¡°Birds are not likely to be in caves,¡± said Bi Fang, who had already successfully lit a torch and hollowed out a bamboo tube and filled it with sand and soil. ¡°Although birds have feathers, they actually don¡¯t mind the rain much. Most birds have oil glands, and they spend a lot of time each day grooming their feathers, which is to spread the oil onto their feathers, making them practically waterproof.¡± The reason ducks can play in the water without getting wet is the same. ¡°Some birds even take advantage of the rain to bathe and clean their feathers properly. Only fledglings, who have not yet grown waterproof feathers, would find heavy rain a disaster.¡± ¡°Oh, right, owl feathers aren¡¯t waterproof, so they usually don¡¯t hunt in the rain.¡± Bi Fang filled the bamboo tube with materials, following the same process as the gas masks prepared in the wilderness city. It was just that plastic bottles were replaced with bamboo tubes, and the inside was lined with charcoal ash, limestone, and some sawdust. He used the Stone Knife to drill two holes and tied them to his face with hemp rope, and after all preparations were complete, Bi Fang still didn¡¯t crawl into the cave. Viewers who were eager to see Bi Fang explore the cave were getting impatient. ¡°Just go in already. You¡¯ve been dawdling for half an hour!¡± Bi Fang chuckled. Who would take their own life lightly? He promptly grabbed some damp twigs nearby. ¡°We can use salt to try and smoke them out first.¡± [That¡¯s too cautious] [Are you also a master of caution?] [Come on, you¡¯ve been grinding at the cave entrance for half an hour, you¡¯ve practically rubbed yourself raw!] [That was a fast ride] ¡°Different types of wood have different burning properties. If you want to create a lot of smoke, then moist twigs are the best material.¡± Bringing the torch close to a heap of twigs and igniting them, clouds of heavy smoke billowed up, and Bi Fang quickly entered the cave. Once inside, he promptly ran back out. Before he could even get to the entrance, a cacophony of piercing screams echoed inside the cave. A mass of black bats suddenly charged toward Bi Fang! Chapter 487 - Chapter 487: Chapter 484: Return to the Shelter Chapter 487: Chapter 484: Return to the Shelter The piercing screams echoed in Bi Fang¡¯s ears as he closed his eyes, his body pressed tightly against the rock wall. Only the audience could see clearly, within the smoke-filled cave entrance, a swarm of black shadows rushed out swiftly, their shrill shrieks growing closer and closer until they burst out of the cave. Thousands of black bats formed a black storm, whirling and ascending in the dense forest, with a few even landing on the drone, giving the audience a close-up view of these sharp-fanged little creatures. The entire sky seemed to be engulfed by the bat swarm; the black storm circled the forest for a full half minute before gradually dissipating among the trees. Like diluted ink, it seeped into the greenery. With the shrieking no longer by his ear, Bi Fang finally opened his eyes and let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Bats are actually quite timid and generally won¡¯t attack humans,¡± Bi Fang said, holding a torch and entering the cave, ¡°People fear bats mainly because of their appearance and the viruses they carry.¡± ¡°Hendra virus, Marburg virus, SARS-CoV, and rabies¡ªbats are major hosts for all of these.¡± [Aside from rabies, I don¡¯t recognize any of these.] [Isn¡¯t rabies transmitted by dog bites?] [Another day of being uneducated.] ¡°Although rabies is mainly transmitted to humans by domestic dogs, because they are more likely to sink their teeth into human flesh compared to wild animals, bats are also one of the main reservoir hosts for the rabies virus.¡± As Bi Fang walked through the cave, he explained, ¡°And don¡¯t be fooled by the bats¡¯ small size; their teeth are actually very sharp. Although we smoked out most of the bats, it¡¯s still possible that a few are hiding in crannies, so we should take good precautions before entering the cave, and it¡¯s best not to take off our clothes.¡± For this reason, Bi Fang had not taken off his raincoat, to avoid being suddenly bitten by a bat. The entrance to the cave was not small; on the contrary, it was very large, otherwise it wouldn¡¯t have allowed a huge creature like the Wild Baizhi Ox to enter. Perhaps due to consecutive days of rain, the cave was very humid and hot, with puddles everywhere. A few steps in, Bi Fang avoided the puddles, reached out to touch the rock wall, and felt the rough gravelly texture with his fingertips. He rubbed some, and applied it to the tip of his tongue. ¡°Ptooey!¡± Bi Fang quickly spat out the grit from his mouth and rinsed his mouth. The audience watched with eager eyes. [How is it? How is it?] [What does it taste like?] [Is it salt? Is it salt?] [Sweet or salty?] Bi Fang stared at the camera and after a moment of silence, suddenly revealed a big smile. ¡°Salty!¡± [Awesome!!!!] [Master Fang is invincible, invincible!] [Finally, we¡¯ve found salt! Tears in a storm!] [Long-bearded little milk bottle gifts the host Wolf Brush*10000000¡ªCan you bring back more, I want to taste it too.] Light golden wolf brushes fell like rain in the live broadcast room, fluttering down. [Wow, ten million wolf brushes? Ten thousand bucks? Awesome, was this a spontaneous donation or accumulated over time?] [Definitely spontaneous, how could you save up ten thousand for you?] [Lord Mu gifts the host Spaceship*1¡ªBring back more, let¡¯s try and see what it tastes like.] [Catch a big donor on the rebound!] The audience cheered and leaped for joy, seeing Bi Fang go through great lengths and take a full three days to finally find mineral salt following the Wild Baizhi Ox.] [Finding Salt Is Too Difficult] That was the first sensory reaction for everyone, even Bi Fang found the search for salt extremely difficult and fraught with danger, not to mention those ancient people. No wonder salt had to be managed by the officials, seemingly inconsequential yet vital to life. Bi Fang took out two leaves, one to scrape and the other to catch, carefully collecting the salt from the wall. Large chunks fell off, and when the veins of the catching leaf were raised, he poured them into a long, slender bamboo tube. Having found the rare mineral salt, Bi Fang collected a lot, with the thick bamboo joints almost filled halfway. This was far more than enough for consumption. However, Master Fang also saw the bullet comments; he indeed was thinking of bringing more back. After collecting enough, Bi Fang walked a few steps further into the cave. Dozens of steps later, he saw a broken stalactite column that seemed to have been snapped by something. Bi Fang joked, ¡°Could it be the Wild Baizhi Ox, perhaps?¡± The cave was entirely different from the rainforest where countless insects and birds could be heard. In the cave, there was nothing. Utter silence. Darkness surrounded him in every direction, and only the torch in Bi Fang¡¯s hand provided a faint light for his feet. A turn of his body might reveal the slender tail of a lizard vanishing beneath the light of the torch, an utterly terrifying sight. Even Bi Fang did not want to explore further. The firelight was no match for a flashlight, illuminating too small an area to feel any sense of safety. Fortunately, a cliff halted his desire to explore further. After progressing about fifty meters into the cave, Bi Fang encountered an abrupt drop-off. Extending the torch over the edge, he couldn¡¯t see the bottom through the inky darkness that seemed filled with endless rolling mist. [Hidden path ahead] [There¡¯s a trap ahead] [Time to jump] He kicked a pebble off the edge; after a long silence, it hit the ground with a crisp sound echoing through the cave. Bi Fang was surprised, ¡°It took about three seconds to fall; this cliff must be over forty meters high. Let¡¯s leave, we won¡¯t explore this time.¡± Not all caves harbor all sorts of weird creatures. Bi Fang had no desire to explore this dangerously high-risk, low-reward cave. After a brief explanation to the audience, he decided to head back the way he came. [Aren¡¯t we going down? There might be unknown creatures waiting to be discovered] [Do you think unknown creatures are as common as cabbages?] [Have you seen Journey to the Center of the Earth? Not going down? You might find dinosaurs] Once out of the cave, the light welcomed him back vividly. Bi Fang squinted his eyes, quickly adjusting to the brightness. ¡°Now that we have collected a lot of salt, it¡¯s time to return to our original shelter.¡± Although they had traveled far from the shelter, Bi Fang did not want to give it up easily; he and Leonardo had spent a whole afternoon building it together. In terms of both comfort and sturdiness, it was far superior to any makeshift personal shelter. The goal during its construction was to make it habitable for at least a month; if Bi Fang had to do it alone, it would take at least an entire day. Rather than that, it was better to spend a whole day returning. ¡°It¡¯s around two or three in the afternoon; although it took us nearly three days to find the salt deposit due to the rain delay and following the Wild Baizhi Ox, which slowed us down, I also made clear marks along the way. If all goes well, we might be able to get back in a day.¡± Bi Fang found his bark frame at the cave entrance, loosened the vine around his body, added a few more strands to tighten it, and wrapped several more turns at the position of his shoulder blades, padding it with thick leaves before he hoisted it on his back. ¡°Carrying the frame for a day, my shoulders really hurt, it¡¯s so heavy. If it weren¡¯t for the raincoat, I might have blisters on my shoulders.¡± It was understandable, as the vines were inherently tough. Carrying a backpack for a day was exhausting enough, let alone an unlined primitive bark frame. The air was somewhat stuffy and humid after the rain, and each day¡¯s temperature felt noticeably hotter than the last. Bi Fang wiped the sweat from his forehead and, following the markers on the trees, he moved toward the place they had started from. ¡°Hope it doesn¡¯t take too long.¡± Chapter 488 - Chapter 488: Chapter 485 Uninvited Guest Chapter 488: Chapter 485 Uninvited Guest The eighth night. The flickering campfire illuminated Bi Fang¡¯s profile. In a pit next to him, lay the fur of two peeled squirrels. As for the meat¡­ Bi Fang flipped the two spit rods in front of him, one on the left and one on the right, both squirrels plump and sizzling with fat, which he had to keep flipping to prevent the grease from dripping. Animal fat is good stuff, not a drop to be wasted. The squirrels were roasted until crispy on the outside and tender inside, but were not yet cooked through. Beside them was a string of various roasted insects, and before that, there was an essential step. Bi Fang picked up a bamboo tube next to him and carefully moved it off the campfire. The bamboo tube was split in half, filled with water, which was now bubbling merrily, and in the middle of the boiling water, a pale yellow crystalline structure stood like a ¡°small mountain.¡± This was a ¡°salt mountain.¡± The freshly extracted mineral salt could be eaten, but it wasn¡¯t safe primarily because of bacteria¡ªperhaps the part that Bi Fang scraped was just the spot the Wild Baizhi Ox had licked? Even if no Wild Baizhi Ox had licked it, maybe there were other animals? Even if no animal had licked it, the salt from the bat cave wasn¡¯t safe either. Furthermore, mineral salt contains not only salt but also many other impurities. Although eating a small amount is not an issue, it¡¯s definitely not okay to consume a lot. So, Bi Fang demonstrated the simplest way to reduce the risks to the greatest extent. He first dissolved the mineral salt in pure water, heated it with fire until the salt solution boiled, continued to heat it on low flame until a large number of white crystals appeared in the container, and then stopped heating. Boiling the water served a dual purpose: sterilization and taking advantage of the effect temperature has on solubility. ¡°The solubility of sodium chloride is minimally affected by temperature; at a normal temperature of 20 degrees, the saturation solubility is about 36 grams; when heated to 90 degrees, it¡¯s only 39 grams.¡± ¡°Typical impurities, like potassium chloride and magnesium chloride, undergo significant changes in solubility as temperature increases. For example, with magnesium chloride, at a normal temperature of 20 degrees, the saturation solubility is about 55 grams; when heated to 90 degrees, it rises to 70 grams.¡± Bi Fang scooped out all the salt grains with a small spoon; this was the third time he had crystallized the salt. Each time, he would fill the container with water, boil it vigorously, steaming for at least half an hour before enough salt could crystallize. ¡°So when the solubility of sodium chloride in water reaches saturation, magnesium chloride is far from saturated. As the water temperature rises, the difference in their saturation solubility becomes greater and greater.¡± ¡°In the end, as the water solution is heated to a certain high temperature and the water evaporates, sodium chloride begins to crystallize, while magnesium chloride is still completely dissolved in the water. That¡¯s a preliminary purification,¡± he said. After stirring with a stick, Bi Fang set it down and smiled, ¡°This is content from junior high school chemistry; I guess everyone knows about it, right?¡± [Ah yes, we know, Dog¡¯s head] [Did you learn that? It makes my head spin.] [Returned it all to the teacher already.] [I have a vague memory, but I¡¯ve completely forgotten why to do it that way.] [Indeed, if you¡¯re good at math, physics, and chemistry, you can go anywhere in the world without fear. Old Fang¡¯s skill could even let him take the college entrance exam.] [Am I here to learn? Am I here to learn how to cook? What have I learned today? Three questions to ask myself daily.] [Shrimp? And pig heart?] Using a spoon, Bi Fang scraped the salt from the container, dissolved it again in pure water, and finally poured it into a container fitted with activated charcoal. The charcoal was sandwiched between clean large leaves, tied with several small holes at the top. Bi Fang explained, ¡°Since I don¡¯t have gauze, my charcoal particles are quite large, so they won¡¯t come out easily. Of course, there might be some charcoal ash, but that¡¯s not a problem, eating a bit of charcoal is harmless.¡± ¡°This filtration is mainly for adsorbing impurities. After this step, the filtered brine is heated again, and once the salt crystallizes, it¡¯s ready to eat.¡± By the time the salt crystals had precipitated again, the squirrels were roasted just right. This time, Bi Fang did not char them but roasted them to a golden-brown status. He picked up the bamboo tube with the brine, and under the firelight, although not very clear, the viewers could tell that compared to the original mineral salt, this batch of salt was much whiter, though the granules were large and very different from household table salt. In fact, modern saltmaking is a highly industrialized and standardized process. It evolved from the precise understanding of the composition of rock salt, comprehensive research in chemistry, and an industrial basis for saltmaking into the modern industry we see today. To ¡°simply¡± purify fine table salt in the wilderness is extremely difficult. The wasted effort and energy aren¡¯t worth it, and even if Bi Fang knew the process, he wouldn¡¯t do it; obtaining coarse salt suitable for long-term consumption was already enough. Bi Fang carefully pinched a pinch of salt from the tip of the little mountain and sprinkled it evenly on the roasted squirrel. The large salt grains immediately melted into the hot oil and flesh upon contact and disappeared. A stronger fragrance wafted up to his nose, Bi Fang tore the lemongrass into shreds and gently scattered it over the skin, adding a unique lemon scent to the already aromatic smell. Fanning the aroma, Bi Fang took a deep breath, savored it for a long time, then slowly exhaled. ¡°So fragrant!¡± [I¡¯m so hungry] [It¡¯s nine o¡¯clock, time for a late-night snack] [Whoo Whoo Whoo, squirrels are so cute, how can you eat squirrels, whoo whoo whoo] [So tempting, pah, so tempting] [Salt truly is the king of flavors, envious] His stomach had already started growling, and Bi Fang, unable to wait any longer, picked up a stick and bit into the meat along with the bone, chewing heartily. The abundant fat burst in his mouth, accompanied by a salty freshness he hadn¡¯t tasted for a long time. The bones, mixed with the flesh, were chewed into bony pulp, and everything was so delicious that he felt he could even swallow his tongue. The two squirrels were eaten completely clean, not even leaving behind bone scraps; the insect skewers were equally crispy and delicious. After a satisfying meal, Bi Fang, still chewing on the stick, quickly brushed his teeth, then took a warm bath, before crawling into the hammock he had rigged up to sleep. Surviving Day Nine in the Banna Rainforest. Bi Fang got up early and followed the trail markers through the woods towards the campsite. ¡°If we really get lost in the forest, we can leave some clue-like signs for any potential rescuers, indicating you have been to this place and in which direction you¡¯re heading.¡± ¡°A proper sign must let someone know at a glance that it is man-made and contains some information.¡± ¡°There are many ways to do this. If there are stones, you can use them; if not, wood, grass, or leaves can serve as markers. Moreover, it¡¯s best to use more than one method to increase redundancy and avoid destruction by animals or natural factors.¡± Stones, pebbles, sticks, tall grass can all be used as markers. Bi Fang used stones and tall grass together, stacking several fist-sized rocks and adding a knot of tall grass leaning in one direction to indicate distance through the number of tied grass knots. One knot signifies fifty meters, so if there are three knots tied together, that means the next marker is 150 meters ahead. ¡°In the rainforest, it¡¯s better not to use pebbles because heavy rain could wash them away; it¡¯s preferable to use fist-sized stones, stacking them into different shapes to indicate direction, and using trees to indicate distance. Basically, these are the two main elements.¡± ¡°Also, during the day, another effective way to attract rescuers is by burning grass and leaves, as thick smoke can reveal your position well. At night, you can use any resources you have to create a large bonfire. If you have enough fuel, you should set up three fires in a triangle, each about 10 meters apart. Of course, doing this is predicated on ensuring that you won¡¯t start a forest fire, as that would almost certainly lead to a hundred-percent chance of perishing within it.¡± Bi Fang chatted incessantly with the audience as he made his way to the campsite, somehow not encountering any mishaps. By noon, that familiar shelter finally reappeared before everyone¡¯s eyes. ¡°My God, I¡¯ve finally arrived.¡± Bi Fang dropped the heavy bark frame to the ground, stretching his sore shoulders. His forehead was dripping with sweat after running all morning, nearly succumbing to exhaustion as he had run out of water. He had discarded all the tools he could, and now, on his person, all that remained was a grass skirt, a wooden spear, Stone Dagger, red clay powder, some materials, a few bamboo tubes and funnel bags, and lastly the bark frame, which was covering the hard-earned iron bacteria, topped with a conical hat. He had even discarded the raincoat because it was too heavy. ¡°It¡¯s been almost four days since I¡¯ve been home. Let¡¯s not go in just yet. I chose an uphill location so rainwater is less likely to collect here, but that may have attracted a lot of insects to gather. Let¡¯s smoke them out first.¡± Bi Fang pulled up the inconspicuous yellow chrysanthemum at his waist, bundled it with lemongrass, and lit it on the fire. ¡°This is pyrethrum I found on the way this morning. People cultivate it specially for pest control because its flower head contains four insecticidal components, including Pyrethrin I and II and Cinerin I and II. However, they are all easily hydrolyzed and vanish, so keep it away from water.¡± [Wait, isn¡¯t this chrysanthemum used for making tea?] [This thing can kill insects?] [Damn, is it safe for humans to eat it?] [It can¡¯t touch water, so can it touch fire?] ¡°This isn¡¯t Hangbai chrysanthemum used for tea; it just looks similar. You guys wouldn¡¯t usually come across it, it¡¯s grown for industrial pesticides, and it¡¯s rare in the wild.¡± Bi Fang tossed the smoking pyrethrum inside the shelter and waited quietly for the smoke to spread. ¡°Its insecticidal action works by paralyzing the insects¡¯ nervous systems, and it¡¯s quite potent. Generally, after being paralyzed and knocked out, insects can recover within 24 hours; houseflies will be paralyzed within 10 minutes, and the mortality rate is about 60-70%.¡± ¡°It¡¯s also poisonous to arthropods, fish, amphibians, and reptiles; however, it¡¯s not clearly toxic to birds or mammals. So we don¡¯t need to worry too much about it causing harm to humans.¡± The drone approached the ground near the shelter, and the audience could clearly see insignificant little insects struggling to flee outward. Some who were too slow didn¡¯t even make it out of the smoke range before they started to slow down, and soon after, they lay on the ground, motionless. [Holy shit, that¡¯s some potent poison!] [Can it kill mosquitoes? I¡¯ve been nearly eaten alive these past few days] [I want to try this in my house too] About half an hour later, Bi Fang entered the shelter and extinguished the pyrethrum. ¡°Without pyrethrum, we can use pine needles or sage, which have the same effect, but the waiting time will be longer. They work best in a sealed environment; at home, however, this method can be used for insect repellent. Let¡¯s skip pyrethrum, it¡¯s toxic no matter how you look at it.¡± Bi Fang rummaged through the shelter he hadn¡¯t visited in a long time, picking up several stunned stiff insects and tossing them out. He also swept up the leaves blown in by the wind, but no sooner had he cleared a patch than a giant paw print caught everyone¡¯s attention. Chapter 489 - Chapter 489: Chapter 486 Do I Have Some Kind of Unique Physique? Chapter 489: Chapter 486 Do I Have Some Kind of Unique Physique? ¡°` The sudden appearance of footprints surprised everyone. Bi Fang knelt on one knee, picked up the surrounding leaves, followed the footprint in other directions, and found many more, all in various directions. After sweeping all the leaves away, it wasn¡¯t just the number of footprints that was surprising, there were also many signs of activity, like something had been thrashing or dragging. Bi Fang smiled, ¡°It looks like we have an uninvited guest, and it might even have mistaken my campsite for a cave.¡± [666, who dares to take over Old Fang¡¯s spot?] [What kind of animal is this, a paw print?] [Holy crap, is this one animal or a group, I¡¯m kinda scared] [Such big footprints, and Old Fang¡¯s not panicked at all?] [Has Old Fang recognized what animal this is?] Bi Fang nodded, placed his palm next to the paw print to compare the sizes, ¡°You see, this paw print is almost as big as my hand, which indicates that the animal is not small, and judging by the depth of the footprint, it¡¯s at least not some lightweight contestant.¡± Despite two rainfalls, don¡¯t forget that Bi Fang had a shelter with a roof, so the ground inside was drier compared to other places. And the paw prints at hand were still quite distinct, so the animal was definitely not any small creature like a fox. ¡°Many animals¡¯ footprints are actually somewhat similar, so when identifying an animal by its prints, the first thing is to assess the animal¡¯s weight class by the depth of the footprints. This depends on the situation, as moist or dry soil can affect the depth, which requires experience and a high level of observation,¡± he explained. ¡°Next is to look at the size of the footprint and the stride length. For large creatures, the footprints can¡¯t be small, and the stride will be wider due to their body size because animals need a sufficiently large skeleton to support themselves.¡± ¡°Based on the size and depth of the paw prints in front of us, I estimate that this animal weighs around thirty kilograms, give or take no more than five kilograms.¡± As an experienced Wilderness Survivalist expert, Bi Fang was quite confident in his assessment. ¡°From this, it can be deduced that the animal weighs no more than thirty-five kilograms at most, and I am easily more than twice its size, so there is actually nothing to be worried about,¡± he remarked. ¡°Further narrowing down the type of animal based on its size became much easier. Look at those small holes; those are claw marks, which means it cannot be a species of cat because they have retractable claws and seldom leave such marks. This reduces the level of danger once again.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s tone was relaxed, not at all as anxious as the viewers might imagine him to be due to the intrusion of an unknown animal into his shelter. In nature, to be large is to be good, to be large is to be strong. This is a very simple and unadorned notion that may not be 100% accurate but is generally applicable. Even a lion has to hunt in packs when encountering an animal larger than itself. Moreover, humans are intelligent beings who have freed their hands. In the Roman Colosseum, with weapons of iron or bronze and shields, humans could face off against lions and tigers alone. In the primitive tribes of Africa, with a spear in each person¡¯s hand, just ten individuals could collectively hunt down colossal creatures like elephants, hippos, and giraffes, killing them before they even had a chance to fight back. Lions and cheetahs didn¡¯t dare approach indigenous tribes. Under such circumstances, unless the opponent is a group species, with a dozen or so attacking together, each weighing over thirty kilograms, Bi Fang really had no reason to fear it. He wasn¡¯t some frail keyboard warrior; with a spear at hand, and having fought nearly two hundred kilogram black bears and the Northern Desert Wolf Pack, how could he not handle an even smaller animal with one spear thrust? [Wait, what if it¡¯s a group? All those footprints?] [I bet Old Fang definitely has his reasons] [So what exactly is the animal?] ¡°It¡¯s quite simple. Look, if it were a group of animals, the footprints on the ground would be of various sizes, and their depths would differ too. But here, whether in size or depth, they¡¯re almost identical, which means there was only one animal that left these footprints,¡± Bi Fang pointed out the paw prints and explained. It was a very straightforward concept that became clear once pointed out. As for the type of animal in question, ¡°Five claws, so it can¡¯t be a herbivore, nor can it be from the cat or dog families, as both of those species have four symmetrical toe pads, two in the front and two in the back.¡± ¡°Excluding the two most common predatory species, based on the five-claw feature and size, it can¡¯t be an otter, ferret, or rat either, as those animals typically weigh less than ten kilograms. So, since it¡¯s none of the common predators, we can start thinking about the rarer hunters¡­¡± Bi Fang grinned, he might already know what animal he had encountered. His luck was really not bad. ¡°` ¡°I might have encountered another national first-class protected animal.¡± By now, the viewers¡¯ curiosity had been thoroughly piqued, and they were eager to know what animal it was. Another first-class? Is this like wholesale cabbage? [Does Old Fang have some strange physique that attracts animals?] [Add one, I feel the same way] [Such people, we usually call them the protagonists, Dog¡¯s head] Bi Fang swept away the leaves, emptied the bacteria from the bark frame into a hole: ¡°Judging by the footprints and claws, the creature we¡¯ve encountered should be from the lizard family, and the only lizard big enough to leave these marks is the Water Monitor.¡± ¡°Water Monitors have been quite rare over the past ten years, but Director Zhou once mentioned to me that last May, two were spotted in the Yunnan Puer Simao Nuozhadu Nature Reserve, and just earlier this month, one was sighted in Baoshan. Together with the one I¡¯ve encountered today, it shows that they¡¯re still quite active in Yunnan, indicating a sizable population.¡± ¡°The recovery of the Water Monitor population, along with the elephant herds that have been active in the north, suggests that the environmental protection in the Banna Rainforest is doing very well.¡± Bi Fang sincerely praised, making the live broadcast staff quite elated. Wasn¡¯t this a compliment to their achievements? Bi Fang was no longer a fledgling broadcaster but an explorer with a significant influence worldwide. Having climbed Mount Everest with greats like David Attenborough, receiving Bi Fang¡¯s approval undoubtedly proved the effectiveness and clear results of their work. [What is a Water Monitor?] [Never heard of it¡­] [Komodo Dragon? That¡¯s the only large lizard I know.] ¡°Normal, because it¡¯s rarely seen. An adult Water Monitor can grow up to three meters and weigh more than thirty kilograms, making it the largest lizard in our country and the second-largest in the world, second only to the Komodo Dragons.¡± ¡°However, it can¡¯t compare with the Komodo Dragon, whose size is massive, with an average weight of over 80 kilograms. They are the largest venomous creatures in the world and super predators. They often feed on large animals, eat carrion, and are incredibly fierce beasts.¡± ¡°Even though Water Monitors also have a fierce temperament, their diet consists of fish, frogs, snakes, birds, mice, and other such prey, and unlike Komodo Dragons, their mouths lack venom glands; they are non-venomous large lizards.¡± ¡°Interestingly, there have been no reports of Water Monitors attacking humans. They are unexpectedly docile towards humans, and I hope that when I encounter one later, it won¡¯t break this trend.¡± Although the animal he encountered this time, the Water Monitor, wasn¡¯t much of a threat, it still served as a wake-up call for Bi Fang. Who knows what kind of creature might appear next time? It was time to upgrade the refuge. ¡°I¡¯m going to build a sturdy mud-brick wall for the refuge.¡± Bi Fang placed his spear against the wall, set his conical hat on the wicker bed, shouldered the bark frame, took up the stone shovel, and once again left the refuge. ¡°Mud-brick walls are best made with clay, which has few sand grains and is sticky due to its low water permeability, giving it good plasticity. This type of soil is actually easy to find. We just need to patiently search along the banks of lakes or streams, where it¡¯s generally available.¡± ¡°The reason I¡¯m so keen to return to the first refuge isn¡¯t just because it¡¯s sturdy and comfortable, but also because there¡¯s a truly impressive array of resources nearby, including Fishy Grass, wild sugarcane, and clean water sources that are safe to drink. Of course, I also wanted to check if there were any fish caught.¡± Bi Fang arrived at the stream but did not rush to dig the soil. Instead, he went over to the fishpond he dug before leaving. Luckily, perhaps because the fishpond was large enough, it hadn¡¯t been flooded and still served its purpose. However, a few fish were floating belly-up inside the pond, and some small fish at the edge had been half-eaten. ¡°Could this also be the work of a Water Monitor?¡± Bi Fang wondered, comparing the wounds on the fish. It seemed quite likely. His hard-built refuge had not just been taken over, but even the stable fishpond had been discovered, providing ample daily meals. [Wow, this Water Monitor is smart!] But where had it gone now? Bi Fang was puzzled. Logically, with food readily available, there was a small chance it had gone far to hunt. Shaking his head, Bi Fang caught a few fish to put in the bark frame, then took out a stone shovel and started to scrape away the top layer of decayed plants. Digging less than thirty centimeters, the color of the soil below turned red. Bi Fang pinched a clump of soil from the ground, easily rubbing and kneading it between his fingers, the texture very fine. ¡°This is it.¡± Having found what he was looking for, Bi Fang shoveled the clay into the bark frame. Once it was full, he brought it back to camp and emptied it into a large pit he had prepared. After several repetitions, clearing out all the twigs, stones, and leaves, he poured water over the clay, submerging it and stirring continuously. A batch of clay was about to be ready. Chapter 490 - Chapter 490: Chapter 487: A huge tail Chapter 490: Chapter 487: A huge tail Clay was not only used for making the walls, otherwise Bi Fang would not have gone to such lengths. He also used clay to build a blast furnace, for iron smelting, which all required clay material. Bi Fang inserted a stick and started to stir the clay and water, just like mixing cement, and soon a layer of gray water surfaced on top of the clay pit, accompanied by sand and silt. ¡°Has anyone washed gluten before? It¡¯s when you wash the starch off the kneaded dough in water until you¡¯re left with a sticky ball of gluten¡ªour process is similar to washing gluten.¡± After a while, Bi Fang scooped out the washed clay, drained the moisture, and successfully obtained a usable lump of clay. Having removed all the clay, Bi Fang quickly ran into the woods and soon dragged out several thick vines, as thick as wrists, then he dragged the vines in circles around the shelter. He did not connect the ends together, leaving a one-meter gap as an exit. Next, Bi Fang used more vines to wrap around the pillars of the shelter roof, leaving a one-meter gap at the same spot for the entrance; once the vines were piled up to a meter high, a vine wall had formed. But one layer on the outside was not enough. Bi Fang continued to search for vines, adding another layer on the inside of the pillars. A double layer of vine walls, interior and exterior. He tied every two vines tightly together with fine fiber ropes. As viewers watched Bi Fang pull the vines and the whole shelter roof shook, they couldn¡¯t help but worry it might suddenly collapse. ¡°That¡¯s why I need both an inner and outer layer, so later on I can directly encase the support pillars. This way, unless the pillars are directly exercised, it¡¯s impossible for them to fall over.¡± Bi Fang kicked the vines, and the whole house shook, but it remained very sturdy. Once the clay was applied, the walls would be connected to the ground and become even more secure. ¡°Vines alone aren¡¯t enough; I¡¯m using them as a support structure. Next, we¡¯ll apply clay on top. You know about composite materials, right? Reinforced concrete is a classic composite material. The steel reinforcement inside gives the whole structure much greater structural strength. This is similar.¡± Having done all this, Bi Fang shouldered the clay, pouring it on top of the wall and smoothing it out with his hands to form the wall. [Resin concrete, how brilliant!] [Awesome!] [Looks really sturdy.] [Awesome, I¡¯m going to build one in my yard today.] For aesthetic purposes, Bi Fang also used a section of even wooden sticks to roll over the clay wall to level it out and make it smoother, with straight edges and corners. After two full hours, the clay wall was complete, and by then it was about four in the afternoon. Starting from noon, he had been working for several hours to finish the wall; it was certainly no easy task. ¡°Now we just wait for the clay to dry and harden. We could light a bonfire inside to speed up the drying.¡± Bi Fang went inside the shelter, which now was a true refuge. Once the clay dried, it would become a natural rampart, advantageous whether for offense or defense. Unless facing large creatures like the Wild Baizhi Ox or the Indochinese tiger, there should be no problems. Many venomous snakes couldn¡¯t climb the smooth, meter-high wall. This was what made Bi Fang the happiest¡ªhe couldn¡¯t stand the cold, slimy snakes, and the thought of no longer worrying about such creatures sleeping next to him at night brought him genuine joy. Moreover, the pillars supporting the roof had all been sealed up. Unless they were directly crafted, it was almost impossible for the roof to collapse. ¡°It¡¯s good that I had the foresight to build a high roof, otherwise it would have affected the light now,¡± Bi Fang looked around while standing inside. The wall was almost one meter high, but thanks to the combined efforts of Bi Fang and Leonardo in constructing the shelter, the edge of the roof was over two meters high, leaving more than one meter of space for light, feeling like a real ¡°house.¡± ¡°But the interior is too monotonous, just brown earth. However, there¡¯s no helping it. Everyone should also resist unnecessarily covering it with a lot of straw. Not that you can¡¯t do it, but then you¡¯d face two problems.¡± Bi Fang tossed some more wood into the campfire: ¡°First, an excess of dry grass tends to attract a lot of insects, requiring regular pest control. Second, it becomes a fire hazard; within a three-meter radius of the fire, it¡¯s best not to place flammable materials unless you choose to light the bonfire outside the house.¡± ¡°Also, now that we¡¯ve built the wall, let¡¯s not forget to add a drainage ditch; otherwise, once it floods, you¡¯ll be very uncomfortable.¡± Bi Fang pointed to a groove on the ground while explaining, as there are many considerations in designing a shelter. Different numbers of people build shelters of various sizes and shapes. ¡°If you¡¯re just one person, then a three-meter diameter shelter is enough; it provides ample space while being easy to warm up.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t overestimate the space you need; three meters in diameter is more than enough. Even though Leonardo and I built this together, as you can see, it¡¯s just under four meters in diameter.¡± Bi Fang stood up and walked seven steps along a straight line to one side of the wall within the shelter. Normally, a person¡¯s step is between 45cm to 60cm, so it¡¯s evident from what Bi Fang said: the shelter is about four meters in diameter, even a little less. ¡°For a six-person team, constructing a five-meter diameter shelter is sufficient¡ªit can even accommodate up to nine people.¡± ¡°The placement of the fire pit is also crucial. If oxygen can seep in from underneath, the fire will burn more vigorously. We can dig four channels underneath to achieve this, starting from the four walls and digging a channel in each direction towards the fire pit. Of course, I won¡¯t go to the trouble.¡± ¡°Lastly, the exit of the shelter should not face south under normal circumstances. Although that direction receives the most sunlight, we are not in a crowded city. If you want to dry clothes or sunbathe, it¡¯s easy enough to take a few steps outside.¡± ¡°We should have the exit facing the east, where the sun rises,¡± Bi Fang said. He extended his hand, pointing toward the gap he had intentionally left in the wall. The gap wasn¡¯t undefended; instead, a layer of clay shaped like a doorstep had been piled up. It wasn¡¯t tall, just palm height, with several holes dug into it. The holes were for installing a door. Bi Fang had sharpened bamboo into a grid formation, with one long piece and two short ones arranged together. The longer piece could be inserted into the holes, with the sharpened end making it difficult for animals to climb over. The only real gap in the entire wall was the drainage ditch, which could also be blocked with stones if it didn¡¯t rain. The shelter was not only situated on high ground, but also near a stream and in a relatively open area. It was one of the few spots in a several hundred meters radius where one could clearly see the sun, though the view was still narrow. ¡°Having the exit face east means that the sunlight streaming in at morning will wake you up. That will make you feel truly content, both physically and psychologically. Maintaining a cheerful mood is paramount in the wilderness.¡± ¡°Unless you¡¯re in a desert or tundra, we cannot do anything at night; that¡¯s the time when beasts hunt, which doesn¡¯t align with human circadian rhythms.¡± ¡°If you¡¯ve been watching my videos, you¡¯d know that unless I¡¯m making tools at night, I generally end the live stream and go to sleep before nine, adhering to the rule of ¡®out at sunrise, in at sunset.¡¯ In the wilderness, you must utilize the daylight hours as much as possible. There¡¯s no entertainment at night and, given the conditions, you can only engage in simple activities.¡± ¡°If the exit were to face another direction, you would find yourself waking up later because the interior of the shelter would be dimmer. That would be an irrecoverable loss.¡± Across the oceans, Peter nodded vigorously. Many international viewers agreed. The regular schedule Bi Fang followed led them to lead irregular lives themselves. As for the domestic audience, they were experiencing a mix of pain and pleasure. [To watch Old Fang¡¯s live streams, I¡¯ve actually taken on a regular sleeping schedule] [Honestly, sleeping by nine and getting up at six, plus a nap of half an hour to forty-five minutes at noon, really keeps me energized all day] [Me too, I¡¯ve had to go to bed early and rise early just to catch the live streams] [Staying up late really drains your vitality] [It¡¯s not so bad as long as you get enough sleep, it¡¯s not considered staying up late] ¡°No,¡± Bi Fang shook his head. ¡°Many people think that as long as they sleep enough, it doesn¡¯t count as staying up late, but this is also wrong. Even if you sleep enough, but you sleep during the day and play at night, what you¡¯re disrupting is your biological clock.¡± The biological clock may seem mysterious, but it decidedly exists. Disruption not only causes bodily fatigue and mental sluggishness, but more importantly, it endangers one¡¯s health. ¡°Some might say the biological clock can be adjusted, but can you adjust the sunrise and sunset? Humans are diurnal creatures, just as bats are nocturnal. It¡¯s determined by our genes and evolution, and no matter how you adjust, it cannot be changed¡ªunless you stay in a completely sealed room all the time; otherwise, your biological clock will surely be messed up.¡± [Awesome] [Not watching anymore, it¡¯s five-thirty, time for dinner] [That early?] ¡°Is it that late already?¡± Bi Fang looked up and noticed that the sunlight had turned orange-red. He patted the dust off his hands and stood up. ¡°Well then, shall we see how the wall is holding up?¡± He went over to the wall and pinched the surface of the clay. It had started to harden, but given the high humidity of the rainforest, it would probably take some time to dry completely. Fortunately, after checking, Bi Fang found that there were no large cracks in the wall, a sign that he had done a very good job. Essentially, this could be declared a successful wall. ¡°Time for dinner.¡± Bi Fang scooped the fresh fish out of the water pool beside him. Yes, it was a pool. The hole left from dumping clay had been emptied. Bi Fang dug it deeper, filled it with water, and used it as a pool to keep the live fish he had brought back. So long as the basic problem of sustenance is solved, and there is a stable food source, life can get progressively better. After scraping off the fish scales and removing the innards, Bi Fang wrapped the fish in tree leaves. He was about to take two fish into the shelter to cook when suddenly, a rustling noise came from the trees nearby. In the exhibition hall, those who were about to leave now silently stopped in their tracks. ¡°Did you hear that noise just now?¡± ¡°What noise?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t catch it clearly¡­ They all stayed, so I stayed too¡­¡± ¡°It sounds like something¡¯s approaching, listen, it¡¯s getting louder.¡± As the sun neared dusk, Bi Fang silently moved and grabbed the wooden spear leaning against the wall. The swishing of the leaves grew louder until, with a sudden rustle. Out peeked a¡­ no, a large tail revealed itself. Chapter 491 - Chapter 491: Chapter 488 Reluctan Chapter 491: Chapter 488 Reluctant to Part Tail? The people found the notion somewhat absurd. The recent rustling of the leaves had led them to believe it was some giant creature approaching, perhaps about to spring out and startle them. But the result was a long, still swishing tail? Seeing this slender tail, many immediately thought of the footprints that Bi Fang had discovered before. [Is this a Water Monitor?] [It should be¡­ It went out for a day, who knows what it was up to.] [Such a long tail, I hate reptiles the most.] The second largest lizard in the world, second only to the Komodo Dragon, ferocious in nature, except for being slightly smaller, it had made the audience think it was some kind of fierce beast. But looking at it this way, it seems like it isn¡¯t too bright, Yazier? At this moment, the Water Monitor that had just poked out its tail seemed to still be unaware that its backside had already been seen by millions of people, continuing to swish its tail, struggling to drag something through the bushes. Even Bi Fang was curious, judging from the tail, his guess was spot on, this was indeed a lizard, and the only one that could grow so large in the entire Huaxia territory was the Water Monitor. What in the world was it doing? About a dozen seconds later, the answer finally appeared; after a fierce dragging effort, the Water Monitor finally revealed its whole body, almost a miniature version of a Komodo Dragon in appearance. However, unlike the earthy-colored Komodo, this Water Monitor was covered in dust, appearing almost pure black; its sharp five claws easily left holes and footprints in the soft, moist soil. Under the high-definition live drone footage, the audience could clearly see the fine scales on its body, and the texture similar to leather. Indeed, the skin of the Water Monitor could indeed be turned into handbags, shoes, watch straps, etc., and for a long time, people had been paying high prices in the market to buy Water Monitor leather. This also led to many people hunting wild Water Monitors, resulting in a significant decline in their numbers over the past few centuries. [Damn, another top-grade animal, Boss Fang¡¯s live stream is almost becoming a wildlife channel.] [There are so many animals in the rainforest, I¡¯ve never even heard of the ones Old Fang mentioned.] [The only thing missing from the animal world is Boss Fang.] [What is it doing?] When it finally made its way out of the bushes, the Water Monitor shook off the leaves on its head, lowered its head to bite something, and continued dragging; only then, under the sunset light, could Bi Fang finally make out vaguely that it was a round grass nest, within which shimmered several white¡­ Were those¡­ eggs? The audience, through the drone¡¯s perspective, could see even more clearly, the Water Monitor was biting at what looked like a bird¡¯s nest made of grass, and in the middle of the nest, dozens of yellow-white eggs were clustered together, reflecting a unique luster in the sunlight. As if finally realizing something was amiss, the Water Monitor let go of the nest, raised its head, sniffed the air, and turned its head towards the shelter. At that glance, it froze, standing still, occasionally tilting its head as if confused about why its original nest suddenly changed, with an added wall surrounding it. [Hahaha, I¡¯m trying so hard not to laugh out loud.] [Water Monitor: What¡¯s going on, how did a wall suddenly appear? Where¡¯s my home? How did my big home disappear?] [No way, it¡¯s thinking of moving over to Boss Fang¡¯s shelter? It sure knows how to choose.] [If I were it, I¡¯d move too. There¡¯s food and drink and shelter from wind and rain. Isn¡¯t that sweet?] In the office, Zhou Weisheng sighed, ¡°Water Monitors are already rare, I didn¡¯t expect to encounter one laying eggs. Normally we can¡¯t even find them, what luck.¡± Often, the reserve staff would set out with a goal to find a creature, and it might take ten days or half a month without any clues, but sometimes, right around the corner, the long-awaited creature would appear before them. That feeling of happiness was incomparable, and it was moments like this that made this job the most joyful. Bi Fang also laughed, he finally understood why the Water Monitor had been active around here for so long, had plenty to eat and drink, and suddenly disappeared for such a long time. Turns out it was going home to move its nest? And it wanted to bring all the little ones with it? ¡°Water Monitors often lay eggs in burrows on shores or in hollow trees around June to July. It seems we¡¯ve encountered another, but this one has already given birth,¡± said Ben, pinching the bridge of his nose, not quite knowing what to say, as it was his first time encountering such a situation. [Could it be that they realize Boss Fang is a specialist in obstetrics? Hilarious.] [Seriously, another unbelievable sighting to add to the series.] [It¡¯s just that Boss Fang has managed the shelter too well.] [Why always bump into some pregnant animals, huh?] ¡°It¡¯s quite normal; in the summer, when temperatures are high, precipitation is plentiful, and food is abundant, animals generally choose this time to lay eggs. Isn¡¯t there a saying that goes, spring has arrived, it¡¯s time again¡­ cough, cough, right?] Bi Fang coughed twice, indicating something that¡¯s better understood tacitly than expressed in words. Generally, animals look for mates in the spring and lay eggs in the summer, ensuring the survival rate of their offspring. Those with longer gestation periods look for a partner in the winter. Relationships among animals are much simpler ¨C no need for houses or cars, just a dive into a small clump of grass to procreate. ¡°Anyone who has kept pets at home would know that as long as you don¡¯t neuter them and don¡¯t limit their freedom, they¡¯ll definitely bring you a litter of kittens or puppies every year.¡± This is exactly why most female creatures found in the summer are with offspring. Not to mention in places like the rainforest, densely packed with life, Bi Fang just happened to pick the right time to witness this rare spectacle. [Wuwuwu, even animals have partners, and I¡¯m still single] [Keep talking!] [Tear, see this Wolf Brush? Gone!] ¡°But, I definitely won¡¯t let them in. This is my territory,¡± Bi Fang shook his head, carrying two fish into the shelter and placed a bamboo fence at the entrance, blocking the main door. [Boss Fang, you have such a cruel heart, men really do turn bad when they get rich] [To abandon them, mother and child] [Heartless blue person] Bi Fang laughed loudly, ¡°Animals are much better at adapting to the wild than us humans. You don¡¯t believe me, just wait and watch. It might come back later to climb the wall, and once it realizes that this place is no longer its territory, it will definitely dig a hole nearby.¡± Sure enough, in less than three minutes, the viewers saw the Water Monitor¡¯s head poking over the wall. For a creature with sharp claws, a bit of dirt wall was nothing. Unfortunately, as it only poked its head out, it was met with a Tree Stick held by Bi Fang, knocking it down to the ground. ¡°Lizards are tough-skinned and hard-fleshed. However, you all should be careful. Don¡¯t approach them in the wild to avoid trouble. Being bitten is a hassle, although the Water Monitor is the cleanest of all large lizards, that only refers to its exterior, not its mouth.¡± Water Monitors have a unique trait ¨C they are clean. Most large lizards carry a lot of bacteria, but Water Monitors don¡¯t. They are very clean, having the least amount of bacteria on their skin among all lizards ¨C just 30 microbes per square centimeter. As to why this is the case, nobody knows. It could be due to their lower body temperatures than most other large lizards, or some other reason. ¡°Despite the clean exterior, it doesn¡¯t change the fact that Water Monitors are scavengers, so their mouths harbor particularly many bacteria. A bite would definitely cause the wound to rot,¡± Bi Fang said, holding a long stick. Even he wouldn¡¯t dare get too close to a Water Monitor, not because he couldn¡¯t overpower it, but because he didn¡¯t want to be injured. The Water Monitor, having been poked to the ground, shook off the dust and its dizzy head, gave Bi Fang one look, and silently left. Left? Just as the viewers were thinking this, five minutes later, that familiar head poked out again from another direction. Bi Fang poked down again, and dust flew everywhere. Ten minutes later, Bi Fang poked again. After roughly four or five attempts, nearly half an hour later, the Water Monitor finally realized that the shelter in front of it had completely changed from what it had known before. In the sunset, the Water Monitor dragged its long shadow, frequently glancing back at the shelter as it left, eventually disappearing into the bushes with its nest of grass. The viewers were left in a daze. Just like this? Fierce temperament? [Was it here to make a joke?] [I thought it was going to be a formidable character¡­] Water Monitors indeed are fascinating creatures, undoubtedly fierce and aggressive, but they behave entirely differently around humans, especially being exceptionally gentle with children and lacking any aggression. To date, there hasn¡¯t been a single recorded instance of Water Monitors, including wild ones and pet ones, hurting a human. Bi Fang had mentioned this before: ¡°But we shouldn¡¯t let our guard down. It might come back tonight, so I need to set up some simple defenses. But before that, let¡¯s eat.¡± As the grilling of the fish was done amidst his strategic planning with the Water Monitor, it was now perfectly cooked. He sprinkled a handful of salt on it for another delicious meal. By now, Bi Fang¡¯s life had completely stabilized ¨C meat, mineral salts, the occasional gathering of greens for vitamins. Apart from carbohydrates which were harder to come by, one could say he was without worry for food and shelter. Tomorrow, he would start iron smelting. After dinner, Bi Fang brought out a bucket of clay, broke a tree branch into many sharp spikes, mixed them into the clay, and planted them along the wall. ¡°In the countryside, if there¡¯s a concrete wall, you might see it sprinkled with broken glass to prevent climbing. Ours is similar, but that¡¯s not enough.¡± Bi Fang went on to run a thin rope around the perimeter, tying bamboo slats to it, placing them close together. If the main line were pulled, dozens of bamboo boards would collide, creating noise, which was enough to serve as an early warning system. Stream over, time to sleep. Chapter 493 - Chapter 493: Chapter 490: There is only one truth! Chapter 493: Chapter 490: There is only one truth! ¡°The Stone Age began about 2.5 million years ago and lasted until approximately 7000 to 2000 years ago.¡± ¡°From monkeys, we learned to throw stones, and by the time of the apemen, we were already using stone axes.¡± ¡°The Bronze Age first started in the Mesopotamian civilization in the 4th millennium BC.¡± ¡°In Huaxia, the earliest unearthed bronze artifacts are the small bronze knives from the Gan-Su Majiayao culture, which date back to around 2800 BC. My history isn¡¯t great, but that was probably the early Shang Dynasty, right?¡± ¡°In Ancient Egypt, bronze vessels appeared during the Second Dynasty, ushering in the Bronze Age.¡± ¡°The Aegean civilization existed during the same period.¡± ¡°And then, we have the Iron Age, which continues to this day.¡± ¡°The ancient Egyptians and Sumerians were the first known to use iron tools, as early as 4000 BC, but mostly they obtained iron from meteorites rather than extracting it from iron ore, which made it many times more expensive than gold.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t until between 3000 BC and 2000 BC that Anatolia, Egypt, and Mesopotamia increasingly extracted iron from meteoritic iron.¡± ¡°In Huaxia, 5 iron-bladed bronze ¡®ge¡¯ from the Shang Dynasty of the 14th century BC have been excavated, which we call ¡®Sky Metal¡¯.¡± ¡°It was probably the Hittite Empire that first mass-produced iron and applied it, mastering iron smelting technology around 1400 BC. By 1200 BC, iron was widely used in the Middle East, but it hadn¡¯t replaced bronze.¡± ¡°From the Stone Age to the Bronze Age, and now the Iron Age, humans have used millions of years. This represents the progress of civilization and the progress of humanity.¡± ¡°This is the famed Three-Age System, dividing the development of human civilization into three stages based on materials.¡± In Bi Fang¡¯s description, the audience seemed to witness, beneath the long river of history, the piles and piles of burning charcoal, the blocks of black ore being put into the furnace that, under intense heat, transformed into dazzling red molten iron, pouring forth. [Of the Four Ancient Civilizations, only we remain, ah, I¡¯m proud!] [Old Fang has really started to understand history, cover face, the pretentiousness reaches a new level] [The progress of human civilization seems complicated, but in fact, it¡¯s the change of materials. Ah.] [Huaxia, impressive!] Quite a few foreign netizens also expressed their admiration. Ever since the discovery of iron, people began adding different components to it, changing its properties using different temperature processes, and achieving different microstructures through various techniques. This seemingly limitless black metal became the most important pillar supporting the entire planet¡¯s industrial civilization. At the moment, Bi Fang planned to leap across millions of years of history, refining this indefinitely useful black metal in the most primitive wilderness. [If human civilization were lost, Boss Fang¡¯s live stream should be preserved] [You might be able to restart a civilization] [Epic] Seeing such comments, Bi Fang joked while holding clay, ¡°I guess I¡¯m standing on the shoulders of giants now, with enough knowledge in physics, chemistry, biology, and the environment to achieve this goal. It looks like wilderness, but in fact, it¡¯s a representation of the totality of human civilization.¡± After laying a base with clay, Bi Fang applied more clay around the sides, making it look overall like a toilet. The surroundings were all encased in clay, leaving only an opening nearly four square decimeters in size. Once the structure was even with the ground level, Bi Fang added a protruding U-shaped mouth and said, ¡°This is the chimney; it will handle all the gas exchange later.¡± Having created a passageway, the construction now looked even more like a toilet. Not far away, a water monitor that had returned to its cave peeked out its head once again, seemingly puzzled by what the towering creature in front of it was doing. In its mind, hunting, eating, resting, and reproducing were the sole purposes of life. Unable to grasp the situation, the water monitor scratched its skin with its claws, thinking about heading to the dock¡­ to the water hole to catch a fish for lunch. [It¡¯s so similar, really too similar] [Alright, now our dry toilet is completed, come and give it a try] [Use it and burn at the same time] [Others clean with water, Boss Fang¡¯s has a drying function, the boss is just extraordinary] Bi Fang laughed heartily; there was no denying that the stove did have an intriguing shape. Seen from above, it indeed resembled a toilet, a squat one, but with a square fire mouth at the front. After finishing, Bi Fang rolled the clay into long strips and baked them with fire. Once they had slightly dried and hardened, he placed them inside the furnace. There was a slightly protruding platform underneath, left deliberately, perfect for placing the strips on. ¡°This is the furnace bridge. In the past, when burning coal, there was something called a furnace bridge in the stove. There was a saying, ¡®the fire must be hollow,¡¯ meaning coal needs oxygen to burn.¡± ¡°If the coal is tightly packed together without oxygen, it won¡¯t ignite. You need to elevate the coal to facilitate air circulation for combustion, and that¡¯s the job of the furnace bridge.¡± ¡°Normally, the furnace bridge is cast from pig iron, like an iron fence. Placed in the middle of the furnace, coal is put on top, and there¡¯s a furnace door below for adjusting the fire by opening or closing it. We don¡¯t have that feature here; it¡¯s just to help with air circulation.¡± After constructing the furnace bridge, Bi Fang promptly broke small branches, laid them on the ¡°toilet,¡± and plastered them with more clay. ¡°This is the ventilation hole. We can¡¯t let the clay block it. A layer of branches will secure it, preventing collapse. When it dries, it will take shape, and the branches don¡¯t need to be removed; they will burn to ash.¡± [To be honest, this stove is more advanced than those from the Great Leap Forward era.] [High-Temperature Toilet: You can only use the toilet within a certain period of time, otherwise there¡¯s a risk of roasting your behind.] [Capitalist: Install these in my company! Replace all with these!] [That¡¯s impossible. Doesn¡¯t fuel cost money? It might be more reasonable to charge for using slanted and timed toilets.] The section Bi Fang smeared on served to separate the fire mouth from the ¡°toilet¡±, and then he made a stone plate out of clay, based on the size of the fire mouth. ¡°The size of the stone plate must be larger than the fire mouth, to keep the heat away.¡± After finishing the stone plate and letting it dry and harden naturally, Bi Fang patted his black-gray palms and sighed with relief, ¡°Alright, spent the whole morning on this. Let¡¯s have lunch then go to the river for more clay, and continue making chimneys and charcoal.¡± Returning to the shelter, Bi Fang approached the water hole, ready to catch fish, but discovered that the remaining two fish had disappeared. Glancing at the nearby mound, a fish bone was spat out not far away. Bi Fang: ¡°¡­¡± ¡­ At noon, Bi Fang once again reached the stream, and after catching three big fish, he strengthened the fishing grounds, increased their size, and threw the rotting fish guts into them. He also constructed another fishing ground further downstream. ¡°Normally, one fishing ground supplying two or three big fish and four or five small fish each day would be enough, but now that I have a thieving neighbor, one fishing ground just doesn¡¯t suffice. Hence, I need to build another one, and place them far enough apart, preferably over two hundred meters.¡± ¡°Now let¡¯s dig some more clay, pour in some clear water, and while we¡¯re at it, gather some sugarcane and fishy grass.¡± The benefits of returning to the camp site were evident at this moment, not only providing a stable supply of vegetables, but also a fixed supply of sweet fruits, which, though not overly sweet, were a rare delicacy. Bi Fang shoveled clay into the form, it took three trips back and forth to fill the pit, then he lit the wood in the half-completed fire pit to speed up the drying process. To his surprise, he found a paw print in the nearby clay¡­ [Hahaha, I can¡¯t, I¡¯m going to die laughing.] [Can¡¯t hit it, it¡¯s not good to chase it away, what can I do? I can only keep it.] [This is the first time I¡¯ve seen a problem that even Old Fang can¡¯t solve.] Bi Fang massaged his temples. He had wanted to pour some water here to boil it for sterilization, but now it seemed he couldn¡¯t leave it unattended for a second. He sure didn¡¯t want to drink water that water monitors had drunk from. It had not been long since he left, but if he were away longer, wouldn¡¯t he risk losing his spot to an opportunist? [Old Fang: You dare to take over my territory?] [Water Monitors: Clearly, you took over mine first!] The audience burst into a frenzy of mockery. Bi Fang shook his head, cleaned the fish, mixed them with fishy grass for a meal, and then, armed with a large amount of firewood, he went to another clearing. ¡°To smelt iron, even though we have a blast furnace, simply burning wood is not sufficient¡ªwe need a large amount of charcoal.¡± [Honestly, I don¡¯t really understand the difference¡­] [Isn¡¯t charcoal just wood burned? Does charcoal burn hotter than wood?] [Blind spot in knowledge] [It¡¯s actually a physical chemistry fact that¡­] ¡°Indeed, it is a physical chemistry fact, but explaining it in detail would be too complicated, needing a lot of equations. Let me put it in simpler terms.¡± Bi Fang built another suitable small structure on the ground using clay. ¡°Charcoal is a processed product of wood, but not something that you can burn in a regular stove; it¡¯s produced in a high-temperature, oxygen-poor environment. By then, the moisture in the wood has evaporated, and the structure itself has changed, internal combusting to a honeycomb-like structure, which ignites more easily, burns more efficiently, and produces little smoke.¡± ¡°When this honeycomb structure is burned, it generates a more intense combustion reaction, reaching higher temperatures.¡± [I want to see the complicated explanation, haha] ¡°The complicated explanation would be, if we consider wood¡¯s main chemical component ¡®cellulose¡¯ ¨C which is basically composed of glucose, a ¡®carbohydrate¡¯.¡± ¡°Comparing glucose with charcoal you would be using ¡®1mol of C6H12O6¡¯ contrasted with pure carbon consisting of 6mol of carbon atoms.¡± ¡°Thus, the 6 water molecules in ¡®C6H12O6¡¯ remain water after combustion and do not produce much heat. The combustion heat mainly comes from the 6 carbon atoms.¡± With this in mind, the combustion heat of wood and charcoal won¡¯t be much different. You can check chemical handbooks to see the difference in combustion heat between the two.¡± [The combustion heat of glucose is 2800kj/mol, while the equivalent amount of C combustion heat is 2361kj/mol. It¡¯s confusing; the difference isn¡¯t very big indeed.] Bi Fang laughed, ¡°So, after burning wood, you not only produce 6 molecules of carbon dioxide, but also 6 water molecules that need to be heated.¡± ¡°But with charcoal, you only have CO2 molecules!¡± ¡°Charcoal doesn¡¯t have to take into account the heating of water molecules. After combustion, charcoal has fewer types and numbers of substances to heat.¡± ¡°That is the fundamental reason why the highest temperature of charcoal combustion is higher than that of wood!¡± Chapter 494 - Chapter 494: Chapter 491: Taking Shape (Seeking Monthly Tickets and Subscriptions) Chapter 494: Chapter 491: Taking Shape (Seeking Monthly Tickets and Subscriptions) [Wori¡­ Damn it, that¡¯s mind-blowing, a shock that lasts a hundred years for my mom] [My mom asked me why I¡¯m kneeling while watching the live stream] [Is this GOD?] [So glucose is the firewood, and carbon is the charcoal, scratching my head?] [Dude, didn¡¯t you get it? Actually, I didn¡¯t either, shy] [Yes, the glucose is the firewood that we need to burn, and the charcoal is carbon] A simple analysis left the audience in the live stream completely astounded, and the barrage of comments surged. Even more were the generous tips being thrown like thousand of gold pieces. Emperor? Some rare creature? After thanking everyone for their support and tips, Bi Fang continued his work. He piled up the clay, little by little shaping it into a sealed kiln. ¡°There are usually two methods for making charcoal: the pit charcoal method and the dry distillation method.¡± ¡°The former involves building a kiln out of clay, filling it with wood, and then setting it alight to carbonize the wood inside, with volatiles escaping and leaving behind the charcoal.¡± ¡°The dry distillation method involves placing the wood in a dry distillation kiln and heating it in an air-free environment to decompose it into charcoal. This is known as the dry distillation of wood.¡± ¡°According to the method of venting from the kiln, there are generally two kinds of charcoal produced: ¡®black charcoal¡¯ and ¡®white charcoal¡¯. However, we are using the pit charcoal method here, which produces black charcoal.¡± The pile of clay looked like a well, into which Bi Fang dumped a great amount of wood, explaining: ¡°Don¡¯t stack the wood too neatly, because we need it to react and burn. If it¡¯s stacked too tightly, it¡¯s quite possible that charcoal won¡¯t form inside.¡± Then he inserted wooden sticks around the ¡®well¡¯, like tent poles leaning in toward the center, forming a half-dome structure. With the support in place, clay could be smeared on top to create a sealed lid, leaving just a small opening at the very top. Bi Fang lit a torch and used the pre-made small opening to ignite the wood. Once everything inside started burning and thick smoke billowed out, he quickly plastered the final bit of clay on the top, cutting off any contact with the outside world. Under the high heat, the damp clay dried out and changed color quickly, sealing the pit firmly. ¡°Cutting off oxygen creates a high-temperature, oxygen-poor environment inside. Once the temperature subsides, we can harvest the charcoal. If you¡¯re barbecuing in the wild, a metal can with wood inside can be used to produce charcoal too. But since we need a larger quantity, even with the pit method, we may have to do this a couple more times.¡± While the wood was turning into charcoal, Bi Fang returned to the furnace he was building. After drying and baking over noon, the furnace had completely taken shape. The square lid resting on the furnace even made a sound like cement colliding when tapped. ¡°Next, we are going to build a chimney. It will be built over the circular opening at the center here. The taller, the better, but make sure not to build too fast. Wait until the section of the chimney dries before building the next section, or it may all collapse.¡± Bi Fang scooped the large-chunk cement to his side and pushed up clay around the mouth of the opening. The whole process was very simple, and it was no different from playing with clay in a kindergarten craft class, like building castles on the beach. ¡°Chimneys, you might have seen them before, come in square or round shapes, and there¡¯s a difference. Square ones are easier to build, while round ones are more efficient. The smoke is evenly distributed, and there¡¯s less wind resistance, so large factory chimneys are generally round. However, at home, for convenience, they are usually square.¡± For square constructions, all you need is a straightedge ruler, but round ones are far from simple. It requires many things, and a slight asymmetry could lead to an easy collapse. ¡°That¡¯s why I choose to build a square chimney. The iron smelting we¡¯re doing here is far from needing to be that efficient.¡± Bi Fang stacked the clay squarely over the smoke outlet, steadily building upward at a not-too-fast pace, very symmetrical all around. Every ten or so centimeters, Bi Fang would measure with a relatively straight branch. Only after confirming, he continued to stack. Soon, a chimney half the height of a man rose before everyone, though of course, this height was still not enough. ¡°Now let¡¯s go see if the charcoal is ready.¡± Bi Fang wiped the clay from his hands and came to the side of the sealed pit, touching the wall to check its temperature. Not hot. ¡°It¡¯s warm; it should be about ready. Let¡¯s open it up and see.¡± The clay, dried and hardened by high temperatures, felt like cement, rough and hard, not easy to open. Bi Fang picked up a stone hammer beside him and smashed it down hard on the hardened pit, breaking the even surface. Pieces of dry clay fell off, and faint whiffs of white smoke wafted from the cracks. After breaking apart all the solid, cement-like clay pieces, the completely black charcoal was revealed for all to see. Bi Fang didn¡¯t fear the heat and directly reached in to turn over the charcoal, which felt warm to the touch. The wood at the bottom had all turned into black charcoal, and as he turned them over, the pieces of charcoal clinked against each other, making the sound of metal striking. [What the heck, am I hearing this right? Feels like it¡¯s black iron?] [Did Master Fang already produce iron? Did he secretly cast a spell?] [Epic! I¡¯ve been saying Master Fang is an alien, but you wouldn¡¯t believe me] Bi Fang picked up two pieces of elongated charcoal, blowing off the white ash on them: ¡°This is ¡®black charcoal¡¯, commonly known as ¡®pit kiln charcoal¡¯. The surface is either pure black or covered with white ash powder that can be blown away. The charcoal was formed when the fiery wood in the kiln was deprived of air and the flames were extinguished at the end of the carbonization.¡± ¡°Black charcoal is soft and breaks easily. When knocked, it makes a muffled sound, and its texture is loose.¡± Bi Fang took out two pieces of black charcoal and gently struck them together, immediately producing a dull metallic knock. A firm cut would cause them to break, which to many who have never seen it in a big city, was indeed quite magical. The product of wood burning could actually make sounds like metal! Bi Fang collected all the charcoal from the pit into a wooden frame and added more firewood to it. He repeated the same sealing process. ¡°In theory, the charcoal from one pit is enough, but to be on the safe side, I¡¯m going to make another pit of it.¡± After completing that, Bi Fang returned to the furnace to continue building the chimney higher. By five o¡¯clock in the afternoon, the charcoal was ready, and the chimney had also been completed. Bi Fang looked at the chimney that towered over two meters, a good length taller than himself, and felt immensely satisfied. The chimney was squarely and vertically structured, with the topmost segment even built upon clay steps. ¡°I am one meter eighty-five tall, and as you can see, the chimney is a good half taller than me, about two meters, which should be enough,¡± Bi Fang said, dusting off the ash on himself as he descended from the clay steps and started adding more firewood under the furnace. It wasn¡¯t long before white smoke began to rise from the tall chimney. [Ahh that, ahh that, polluting the environment!] [What¡¯s this little bit of smoke, Nature will just break it down¡­] [It¡¯s not even as much as a single car would emit.] [That¡¯s true.] [That chimney is too tall, feels like iron smelting is hopeful.] [The progress is so fast.] The audience teased for a bit, not really minding, as compared to the emissions produced by modern industry, the small amount Bi Fang was releasing would be broken down by a few trees. Under the setting sun, Bi Fang, smeared in red mud and radiating a golden glow all over his body, wearing only a grass skirt and a beast tooth necklace around his neck, exuded a wild charm. Bi Fang wiped the sweat off his forehead, feeling a bit weary. The workload for the day hadn¡¯t been small: not only had he built the blast furnace, but he had also piled up a small mountain of charcoal, and now his stomach was growling with hunger. ¡°Tomorrow we can start processing iron bacteria, and maybe we can begin iron smelting by the afternoon. When I went to pick clay earlier, I also chopped down a couple of nice branches, planning to make a bow and arrows tonight. Let¡¯s see if we can hunt some wild chickens or rabbits tomorrow to improve our meals.¡± Eating fish every day, many of which had bones, Bi Fang was tired of and annoyed with it, especially since he¡¯d had a fish bone stuck in his throat at noon today, which was uncomfortable. Fortunately, there were no serious problems afterward, but he could still feel a sore throat and a foreign body sensation. In the evening, Bi Fang cooked a pot of vegetable and fish soup for dinner. The water monitors, which had basked in the sun on the dirt slope all day, became more lively and briskly went to the water hole. They dragged away a couple of fish, exemplifying quick and decisive action. Bi Fang noticed, but was too lazy to care. Tired, he let it be. Oddly enough, as cold-blooded animals, water monitors shouldn¡¯t need to eat so frequently. Maybe seeing him eating triggered their hunger? Or did they need more food during the breeding season? Animals have a much simpler and cruder way of eating than humans: the water monitors ripped the fish apart and swallowed them whole. Once sated, they spotted a large tree, used their sharp claws to slowly climb up, and then lay motionless on a branch. [By the way, is there any chance we can watch the baby water monitors being born before the livestream ends?] [Not likely, right? Didn¡¯t Old Fang say they lay eggs in June and July? It will take at least a month or two, right? By that time, Master Fang will have long gone.] [I just looked it up, damn, these things can live up to a hundred and fifty years.] [Wori? One hundred fifty? Are you kidding me?] When he saw the audience discussing, Bi Fang thought for a moment and realized it wasn¡¯t impossible. ¡°Laying eggs in June or July is the general pattern, but in reality, water monitors have the ability to lay eggs at any time, which is rather rare among animals. Especially in regions like the Banna Rainforest that lack distinct dry and wet seasons, water monitor egg-laying can occur at any time of the year.¡± ¡°If this particular water monitor is unusual in not laying eggs in June or July, then we might indeed have a chance to witness the birth of baby monitors,¡± he added. Bi Fang¡¯s words gave the audience a huge surprise. [Holy crap, can we really see that?] [That¡¯s so awesome, isn¡¯t it?] [How does Old Fang know everything?] Because I have seen records of water monitor reproduction. Bi Fang internally retorted. Every year, the Forestry Bureau almost always releases water monitors, and they have released over three hundred so far. Although he hadn¡¯t seen it personally, he did have some understanding of it. As the audience imagined, Bi Fang, who was carving the wood to make the bow and arrows, threw cold water on their fantasies. ¡°Don¡¯t get your hopes up too high. The Banna Rainforest¡¯s climate has distinct dry and wet seasons, so the chances of it not laying eggs in June or July are originally low. Besides, the incubation period for the eggs is uncertain.¡± ¡°It could be anywhere from two and a half months to ten months or even longer, usually around six months. Even if there is a chance, it¡¯s close to negligible.¡± [Ahh that.] [This creature is so ugly, how can anyone like it? Scratches head] [Add one, I think it¡¯s hideous. If this thing nests nearby, I wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep at night.] [I think it¡¯s ugly-cute.] [Your taste is too strong!] Bi Fang chuckled, but his hands and the stone knife didn¡¯t stop working; he continued to carve the bow material and arrow shafts. The Stone Dagger was after all not very convenient ¨C if only he had an iron knife. Looking at the sawdust beneath his feet, Bi Fang started to anticipate the results of the upcoming days. Chapter 495 - Chapter 495: Chapter 492: Archer Paradox (Request for Monthly Pass) Chapter 495: Chapter 492: Archer Paradox (Request for Monthly Pass) Bows are a widely used hunting tool; Bi Fang had made one before the geese began their migration. At the same time, I also have a blue ¡°Archery Mastery Skill,¡± not making one would simply feel amiss. The style of the bow and arrow was still the ¡°Father-Son Bow.¡± Behind a larger bow was bound a smaller one. Although it wasn¡¯t as sturdy and durable as those made from a single piece of high-quality wood, its advantages included low material requirements for the wood and ease of production. ¡°It¡¯s rare to find wood suitable for making good bows in the rainforest, since the trees here generally grow very quickly. Those who have studied biology should know that the longer the growth cycle, the higher the quality of the result, and vice versa.¡± The high school geography teacher used to tap on the blackboard every day in class, explaining why rice from Northeast China¡¯s Wuchang was tastier: because of its longer growth cycle and fertile soil¡­ Bi Fang remembered this very clearly. Wood from the north was much better than that from the south, for the same reason. Hundreds of years ago, the wood used to build palaces was basically felled from within the Greater Khingan Range and then floated down the rivers. The Father-Son Bow, with its unique structure, overcame the lack of good wood and was very suitable for such an environment. After busying himself for a few hours, Moyo grew tired around nine o¡¯clock, and Bi Fang felt sleepy too. Waking up early every day and engaging in a lot of physical activity, it was very easy to become sleepy at night. There¡¯s an old saying that rang true: many people nowadays are just too well-fed, and that¡¯s why they have time to worry about this and that; starve them for two meals, and they¡¯ll be fine. Bi Fang yawned, placed the bow, which was eighty percent complete, onto the ground, and muttered sleepily, ¡°I¡¯m dead tired, off to sleep, ending the stream for today.¡± ¡°Fellows, see you.¡± [Boo hoo hoo, no sisters again, my heart is dead, I¡¯m unfollowing] [You¡¯re clearly a dude¡­] [Just because it says I¡¯m a male on my profile, I¡¯m a male? That¡¯s discriminatory! I¡¯m going to sue you] [You guys are really something] [Lots of goofballs here] ¡­ Day 11 of survival in the Banna Rainforest, more than half of the 21-day survival task had passed. Early in the morning, the water monitors crawled out of their cave early. As cold-blooded animals, they needed to bask in the sun every day to raise their body temperature. The terrain surrounding the shelter was relatively open, which perhaps explained why it was so persistent in bringing its family here. Bi Fang ignored the water monitor sunbathing nearby, got up to wash and take care of personal hygiene, then opened the live stream. ¡°I nearly finished making my bow and arrows yesterday. This morning I refined them a bit more, and now I can proceed with shaping and testing.¡± Bi Fang lifted the longbow in his hand, which was very similar to the one he made for the geese hunt, consisting of two branches for the body and some ropes made from tree bark fibers as the bowstring. This wasn¡¯t the final bowstring; it was just for testing the bow¡¯s efficacy by pulling on the string. Bi Fang took out a ¡°test stick¡± less than one meter long, about seventy centimeters, and cut a notch at the top, then measured and cut another notch every twelve centimeters or so. He then placed the grip of the bow at the top of the stick and pulled the string to the position of the first notch. ¡°Each notch represents the degree of bend in the bow. Now I need to check the curve of the bow; if all looks normal, then continue to pull the string to the next notch.¡± ¡°But if you find some parts bending too much, you¡¯ll need to trim both ends to make it bend equally with the rest. The same goes for areas that don¡¯t bend enough.¡± ¡°When making a bow, don¡¯t skip this process. These details will affect the overall balance of the bow, ensuring that the arrows you shoot don¡¯t veer off but fly straight ahead, eventually falling to the ground due to gravity.¡± Bi Fang checked the bow¡¯s curvature step by step using this method until the string reached the last notch on the stick. Next, he shortened the length of the string to test the second smaller bow. After both bows, the large and the small one, had been tested, he combined them and tested them again. After some adjustments, they were both successful; there were no issues with Bi Fang¡¯s craftsmanship. The bow and arrows had been completed the previous night; Bi Fang dried them and took them outside. ¡°If you¡¯re a beginner, don¡¯t expect to immediately succeed in hunting with a bow and arrow. What you need to do first is practice extensively, familiarize yourself with the bow and arrows in your hands, learn how to nock, draw, aim, and shoot at different distances, and only then, when you¡¯re confident, go for the real deal.¡± With his system skills, Bi Fang was naturally experienced, and he always felt that solidifying skills was a significant cheat. Any skill that appears on the panel would not become unfamiliar or clumsy due to the passage of time or a long absence of practice. A piano master ten years ago remains one after ten years without practice. Bi Fang aimed at a large tree, fired a few shots in succession, retrieved the arrows, and then headed into the jungle, following the animal trails. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever talked about archery techniques, have I?¡± [You never did, facepalm] [Right, we just saw arrows whooshing at the poachers] ¡°Have you heard of the Archer¡¯s Paradox?¡± [Oh, I know that one, it¡¯s about how the second arrow will never catch up to the first one!] ¡°???¡± [Ah, is that so?] [Something feels off¡­] [Man, that¡¯s Zeno¡¯s paradox, the one with the turtle¡­] ¡°I¡¯ve never heard anything about the second arrow not catching up to the first one¡­¡± Bi Fang curled his lip, ¡°I think what you¡¯re referring to is the philosophical paradox of Achilles not being able to outrun the tortoise; it has nothing to do with what I¡¯m saying.¡± ¡°The Archer¡¯s Paradox refers to the fact that when you shoot an arrow, if you point it directly at your target when you nock it, it will definitely miss.¡± What the heck? Did I hear that wrong? At this moment, millions of viewers in front of the screen want to dig their ears out, doubting whether they had just misheard. Aiming at the target guarantees a hit, are you kidding me? How many people have experienced professional archery practice? Not even one percent, so the live broadcast room completely blew up, thinking that Bi Fang was talking nonsense. Even¡­ those who have had professional archery experience think it¡¯s nonsensical. [How is that possible? How does the archer aim at the target?] [This is unscientific] [As expected, is it starting to get metaphysical now?] [I just came in and saw the host bragging, and this got onto the cover recommendation? Was it bought with money? It¡¯s all rigged] [???] [Nonsense, I just went to try archery at the club yesterday, and I¡¯ve never heard of such a thing, Old Fang, don¡¯t you know your own club?] Bi Fang spread his hands, ¡°I really wasn¡¯t talking nonsense, I take responsibility for what I say, if you don¡¯t believe it, look it up. Modern archery indeed doesn¡¯t have the archer¡¯s paradox anymore, but you haven¡¯t tried traditional archery.¡± He didn¡¯t expect the audience¡¯s reaction to be so strong, but he could understand it. People who have never used a bow and arrow find it unreliable, and those who have¡­ emmm, they also find it unreliable. Because modern archery has overcome this problem and wouldn¡¯t encounter such a situation. ¡°Has anyone checked it out?¡± The viewers, skeptically, opened up web pages and typed ¡®archer¡¯s paradox¡¯ word for word. Moments later. [Damn, there really is such a thing¡­] [It¡¯s the world that has a problem] [Definitely Master Fang has once again exerted his mighty power, changing the physical rules of this world!] Bi Fang didn¡¯t care, he was often teased by netizens, but he cooperated and said, ¡°If I had that ability, why would I still be live streaming.¡± ¡°Ordinary people naturally assume that one should aim the arrow directly at the target when shooting, but in reality, any arrow nocked onto the bowstring by a traditional archer is off to one side, to the left for right-handed people, and the opposite for left-handed people, which is how you accurately hit the target.¡± Most people in the live broadcast room stopped talking, pricked up their ears and listened, only a small number of people did not search, and blindly judged based on their own feelings. ¡°You¡¯d think that the arrow shoots straight ahead due to the bow and arrow being straight, but in reality, in high-speed photography, the arrow is seen to wiggle like a fish swimming away.¡± Bi Fang pulled out a long arrow, its curvature demonstrating the good elasticity of the bow and arrow. ¡°Due to the limitations of our bow-drawing techniques and the construction of the bow and arrow, whether it¡¯s the Mediterranean or Mongolian bow-drawing method, there¡¯s always some friction, leading to the bowstring rebounding to the left or to the right.¡± Bi Fang draw his bow and nocked an arrow, demonstrating what the Mongolian and Mediterranean styles were. The Mediterranean uses the right hand¡¯s three fingers to pull the string, and the arrow is placed on the left side of the bow handle. Left-handed archers use their left hand¡¯s three fingers to pull the string, and the arrow is on the right side. The Mongolian style of bow-drawing is essentially a mirror image of the Mediterranean style for left-handers. However, with Mongolian style drawing, right-handed archers should place the arrow on the right side of the bow, and they use the right thumb to pull the string. But because of using a single finger to draw the bow, it¡¯s easy for the thumb to get scraped, thus the invention of what¡¯s called a thumb ring, though this has been around since before the Qin Dynasty, when it was known as ¡®sh¨¦¡¯. ¡°I¡¯ve seen many historical dramas, but I¡¯ve never seen anyone draw a bow correctly; there¡¯s even the pinch method of holding the fletching to shoot, which should be ancient human and some tribal techniques, very inaccurate, better suited for shooting balloons on top of your boyfriend¡¯s head at amusement parks.¡± The audience almost laughed out loud. [How can actors compare with Master Fang?] [Boyfriends, beware!] [I¡¯m watching] [Are you also Xiahou Dun?] ¡°However, although the arrow may wiggle its head, there are two points on the arrow that do not sway from side to side¡ªthose are the nodes. The line connecting the nodes points to where the arrow will ultimately land. In other words, you can only hit the target if you align the arrow¡¯s nodes with the target.¡± ¡°The position of the arrow¡¯s nodes depends on the distribution of the arrow¡¯s mass and its flexibility, as well as the bow¡¯s draw weight and draw length.¡± ¡°With the same bow, if you change the arrow, the nodes will shift. So even experienced archers can¡¯t be sure to hit the target with just any arrow they grab.¡± [I¡¯ve wasted my education] [Then why has Old Fang¡¯s archery club never mentioned this?] [Right, I can hit the target even if I shoot directly at it] [Damn, you all have been there?] [Obviously, you¡¯re the only one who hasn¡¯t] [Wait for me, buying a ticket right now!] ¡°Because the issue is known, modern bows have certainly been improved. Those who have played with compound bows should know that the grip of a compound bow protrudes on one side, allowing for direct shots at the target without considering the paradox.¡± ¡°The arrow rest also serves as protection; falling during the moment of release, it minimizes external forces¡¯ effects. Nowadays, arrows don¡¯t swing left and right anymore, but rather up and down.¡± ¡°In short, if you make a bow and arrow with your bare hands in the wild, you must aim off to one side when shooting, or else you¡¯ll absolutely not hit the target.¡± Chapter 496 - Chapter 496: Chapter 493 Welcome to the Worlds Dining Table Chapter 496: Chapter 493 Welcome to the World¡¯s Dining Table So that¡¯s how it is. The audience had an epiphany. The niche development of modern archery ensured that almost no one knew about the intricacies of primitive bows and arrows. If you really ended up in the wilderness, you wouldn¡¯t know how many times you had to experiment to understand this technique. Sometimes you might hit the target directly, but it¡¯s usually because the distance is short and luck plays a part. But once you know this in advance and consciously practice it with a bias, you can quickly get the hang of it. [Learned another trick, now off to the Olympics] [The Olympics are all about modern archery, you wouldn¡¯t get a chance to showcase the archer¡¯s paradox there.] [This is so damn complicated, how much do you have to adjust?] [Still have to practice more.] [Watching Boss Fang¡¯s livestream isn¡¯t for anything else, just for this learning atmosphere. With it, I¡¯ve even passed my postgraduate exams.] ¡°We¡¯re not competing in a match, we just need to hit the target. Understand that, then get familiar with using the bow and arrow, and basically you¡¯ll be fine,¡± Bi Fang said. Bi Fang, with a basket of arrows on his back, was moving briskly through the jungle, dressed in grass skirts and necklaces, a spitting image of a primitive elite. A warrior among primordial humans. [What primitive man? Clearly a prince of elves!] [Won¡¯t watch The Lord of the Rings 4 without you] [Let Master Fang play a Hobbit from the East] [Damn, a Hobbit from the East] Bi Fang patiently searched the ground for animal tracks. ¡°Now it¡¯s early morning, the best time to observe animal footprints. The air is fresh, which makes it easier to observe. Nighttime is also when animals are most active, so the signs are more evident in the morning. The dew on the ground can also reveal some clues,¡± he explained. For this outing, Bi Fang had also put on some camouflage. He draped himself with leafy vines and donned a floral crown, a simple environmental disguise. He kept taking deep breaths, capturing every scent in the air. Soon, under his search, some traces became evident. On the black soil, a pale yellow-white stain stood out conspicuously. He squatted down, closed in to sniff, and a faint stench mixed with the scent of the earth entered his nostrils. Bi Fang confirmed, ¡°Judging from the looks and texture, it¡¯s bird droppings.¡± The dense leaves overhead blocked the sky, but Bi Fang noticed that some areas weren¡¯t covered by dead branches, and the soil underneath had signs of being disturbed. ¡°With such dense leaves, it¡¯s unlikely to be bird droppings. The turned soil suggests it¡¯s probably looking for insects to eat.¡± [Pheasant!] Although not understanding himself, Bi Fang spoke out the analysis process, and the audience quickly guessed it! This joint hunting experience excited everyone, especially when they directly mentioned the prey, it felt as if they had been searching through the woods and found the game themselves. Suddenly, the live broadcast room was scattered with rewards again, urging Bi Fang to catch and stew them into a soup. Bi Fang gave an OK sign with his hand. He didn¡¯t want to miss out on a ground runner that was finally within reach. Now with plenty of clay in hand, a furnace built, and charcoal available, Bi Fang could try making a pottery jar. Sprinkling some vegetable leaves and salt, he could indeed make some soup! Thinking this, Bi Fang¡¯s mouth watered, already hungry early in the morning. Following the strongest scent in the air, the traces where dew was scraped off were very noticeable, and on the ground¡­ footprints! The audience, with their sharp eyes, spotted the three-pronged footprints on the ground! [Go, go, go!] [Kill the pheasant, make chicken soup!] [I¡¯m a double agent! Codename: Pangolin!] Following the footprints and scent, Bi Fang traced his way and soon found two shadows flying at low altitude in the rainforest where the mist was thinning. Bi Fang watched for a while. Pheasants! At this moment, the pheasants seemed to be fighting, fluttering a few times before stopping to peck at food, and after a while, they continued their scuffle. From a distance, the pheasants had no clue about Bi Fang, concealed in his camouflage. A special forces soldier in disguise could outdo mimetic animals; being spotted by two wild pheasants would mean no more living for Bi Fang. [Damn, pheasants can really fly!] [Are these pheasants? They look nothing like chickens.] [Their feathers look so beautiful.] The drone moved closer, with no mist to obstruct the view, giving the audience a clearer view than even Bi Fang. These two pheasants looked vastly different from ordinary chickens, nothing like the shape of a chicken, with brighter plumage. The long feathers on the tail were proudly erected, slightly drooping at the tips, appearing exceptionally beautiful. [Is this a pheasant? Doesn¡¯t seem quite like what I imagined?] Bi Fang observed for a long while before making out the details through the mist. Excitement filled him as he explained in a low voice, ¡°They are pheasants.¡± Finally, he encountered prey he could capture! The previous attempts, whether national first-class or second-class, he could see but not catch, much less eat, had nearly driven Bi Fang to a nervous breakdown. Although pheasants are also somewhat protected, they are just San You. Bi Fang had a hunting permit; he could catch them! [Pheasants, I remember eating them as a child, then we weren¡¯t allowed to catch them anymore¡­] [I¡¯ve eaten it once, wow, the taste, one word, sublime!] [Isn¡¯t this San You? Have you guys eaten it?] [If Old Fang can catch it, then so be it, but the rest of you, stay and have tea with me.] [San You protection levels aren¡¯t high,,, it¡¯s not illegal until a certain number is reached¡­] Pheasants rely on their hearing and vision to evade predators; their sense of smell is just as acute, so Bi Fang moved very slowly, using the camouflage on his body as well as trees and bushes to conceal himself as he stealthily approached. As for scent, Bi Fang covered himself with red mud mixed with mosquito-repellent herbs every day, which only gave off a faint fragrance. Still, he did not take any chances but moved upwind. Viewers held their breaths, watching as Bi Fang inched closer and closer. Fifty meters, forty meters. The pheasants seemed to be arguing; after some flustering, one of them suddenly leaped up and flew towards Bi Fang¡¯s direction. Pheasants have strong legs and are good runners, but not adept fliers, fluttering a few meters before falling down. Bi Fang halted his steps and hid behind a bush, quietly pulling out an arrow from behind and holding it in his hand. Forty meters was too far; even a pistol might not be precise at this distance, and no matter how superior the performance of the bow and arrow, Bi Fang had no confidence in making the shot. Especially when hunting small targets like pheasants, the accuracy of all hunting tools must be halved. The spear required getting within five meters, the blowpipe within ten meters, and the dart within fifteen meters. As for archery, Bi Fang needed to be within twenty meters to have more than a seventy percent chance of hitting with a single shot! To increase his chances of success, he had even applied a small amount of poison from the Blood-Sealing Throat Tree to the arrowhead, ensuring that if he injured a pheasant, it could not escape the jungle. With the help of the bushes, Bi Fang, with leafy vines on his body, blended perfectly with the surroundings; the two pheasants, without any caution, ran toward his direction. Bi Fang¡¯s gaze was fixed on the birds, calculating the distance between them. Thirty meters. It still wasn¡¯t enough. The handmade primitive arrows were simply not reliable at that range. Closer. Thirty-two meters. The pheasants flew away with a flutter. The viewers, who had been holding their breaths, suddenly couldn¡¯t contain themselves. [It¡¯s over, they flew away!] [Damn, they¡¯ve changed direction] [What to do, don¡¯t tell me he¡¯s going to chase them] ¡°Wait a while longer,¡± Bi Fang mouthed without making a sound, remaining motionless behind the bush, but the arrow was already nocked on the bowstring. In the live stream, viewers suddenly realized that the third-person perspective had long since switched to first-person; the view was eerily steady, with no sense of breathing fluctuation. The previously impatient viewers seemed to be calmed by this stability, and the number of bullet comments gradually slowed. The two pheasants continued to leap back and forth, flying between twenty-five to thirty-five meters, appearing to revel in the insects in the soil of this area. As time went by and the sun rose higher, the temperature in the forest climbed again; the air brimmed with dry heat, but none of this affected Bi Fang. He was like a wild grass, firmly rooted in the soil. His sharp gaze was like that of an eagle, and his waiting stance resembled a tiger. Finally. After a scuffle, the two pheasants quietly crossed the line! Nineteen meters! A faint sound of wooden fiber compression rose as immense tension contained within the full draw of the bow slowly aligned with the target. Now everyone saw clearly, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t aiming the arrowhead at the pheasant but at the air slightly above its tail feathers! That area was clearly empty! But Bi Fang felt, now was the moment! His fingers released sharply. The tremendous potential energy was suddenly unleashed, violently propelling the end of the bow and arrow, and the great force deformed and bent the arrow momentarily before it furiously shot forward. But all this happened in a slow-motion world, to the viewers, Bi Fang was holding his breath, and in the blink of an eye, the arrow flashed out like a streak of black lightning! The pheasant in the bushes was struck and flew off by the arrow, oblivious to the fact it had been attacked. Only the second pheasant, upon seeing its kin wounded, opened its wings in shock and took to the air, but Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t miss this chance. He rushed out of the bushes; however, the running speed of the pheasant was too fast. When it fluttered from the bushes and landed again, it nearly became a shadow, with the arrow grazing past its body. By the time Bi Fang had nocked a third arrow, the shadow had darted left and right, vanishing into the jungle. Bi Fang replaced the third arrow into his quiver and jogged to where the first pheasant he had shot lay. The entire arrow had gone through its back, trailing a burst of fresh blood, hitting the bullseye. The toxicity of the arrowhead entered the chicken¡¯s body, causing the whole bird to tremble. Bi Fang pulled the arrow from the ground, placing the chicken into his back basket, and then turned to look for the second arrow. [Can only say got lucky giving the streamer a yacht*1 ¡ª Envious of Boss Fang having chicken soup] [Niu Pi Ke La Si is giving the streamer meatballs*10 ¡ª World¡¯s number one jungler: Master Fang] [Master Fang Master Fang I love you is giving the streamer soda*20 ¡ª Master Fang has devoured his own food demon!] [Yay, hit!] [Now part of KFC¡¯s luxurious lunch!] [Master Fang: Welcome to the world¡¯s dining table] ¡°Haha, thank you for the support, everyone. But please, don¡¯t imitate me; not all wild chickens look like domestic chickens. Many are class I or II protected animals, which ordinary people can hardly recognize.¡± [Everyone, don¡¯t imitate me, referring to shooting a pheasant through with one arrow] [The eternal hunt has begun] Bi Fang came to a tree and pulled an arrowhead from it. Just as he was about to put it back into his bag, he noticed the faint red bloodstains on it. ¡°Hit?¡± Chapter 497 - Chapter 497: 494 Chapter 497: 494 ¡°Envious, so envious.¡± Watching Bi Fang in the live stream following the direction of the fleeing pheasant, many peers left tears of sorrow. Ever since Bi Fang¡¯s Wilderness Survivalist live streaming became popular, whether by choice or by force, those hosts who had previously specialized in outdoors content had to start adding similar offerings. Otherwise, simply traveling and walking had no competitive power at all! It¡¯s not about competing with Bi Fang, but competing with the original peers¡­ While others were eating all kinds of disgusting, exotic food, capturing chickens, and making traps, you sat there, drinking water, chatting, and admiring the distant scenery¡­ No wonder before Wilderness Survivalist emerged, the outdoor section was a niche area, in addition to being a display of wealth. Li Xiuran was one of them; without money to flaunt luxury cars or splash out to attract attention, he had to switch from mountain climbing to adventurous mountain climbing, frequently searching for ¡°wild caves.¡± Unfortunately, even if they really changed their style, all of them together were still no match for Bi Fang alone. While they dug up earthworms to eat raw, swallowing dirt with twisted faces, Bi Fang hunted reindeer with a spear, devouring fresh, bloody hearts¡­ They struggled to catch a domestic chicken that had strayed from the group, eating charred meat from a simple barbecue, while Bi Fang went to sea and wrestled with dozens of sharks, pulling one onto a raft and making a pot of shark fin soup¡­ Dripping with sweat, they climbed mountains thousands of meters high, cheering loudly, while Bi Fang climbed Mount Everest without oxygen, planting the flag and becoming the first one to do so¡­ Them¡­ forget it, I can¡¯t go on, I¡¯m about to cry. We are all on Earth, all humans, all with two eyes and a nose, but Bi Fang is like a high mountain, not just Mount Everest but Mount Olympus. Yes, the one on Mars. Watching the live stream viewers who are chanting ¡°666,¡± Li Xiuran feels indescribably desolate. The pheasant is a protected species, and although it¡¯s not a crime unless in large numbers, seeing Bi Fang hunt openly, while getting berated for accidentally stepping on a toad, Li Xiuran feels particularly aggrieved. But there¡¯s nothing he can do; with a background, strength, and certificates, that¡¯s how arrogant one can be. There was a predecessor called Lu, apparently the first to shift his style and follow the trend, seeming to have some entanglement with Bi Fang, hoping to hitch a ride for some popularity. In the end, he was bashed so badly he couldn¡¯t even muster half a ¡°mom.¡± Not only did he lose almost all his original fan base, but even the newcomers came with a mocking attitude. The guy was quite diligent, often interacting live with other hosts, but alas, some things he did were not quite honorable. Rumor has it he¡¯s now changed his name, and the guild behind him is nearly bankrupt. Pitiful. Don¡¯t think about these anymore. Li Xiuran took out his thick notebook, pulled off the pen cap, and earnestly wrote down the five characters for ¡°Archer¡¯s Paradox¡±, stroke by stroke, with a seriousness resembling a kindergarten child first learning to write. No one is born a wilderness survival expert; everyone has to follow and learn at their own pace. Still have to learn! It¡¯s not embarrassing, everyone is the same. ¡­ Elsewhere, Bi Fang had also successfully found the second trembling pheasant on the road. His arrows were poisoned. ¡°The milky juice of the Blood-Sealing Throat Tree could cause paralysis of the heart, blockage of blood vessels, coagulation of blood, leading to asphyxiation and death upon contact with wounds on humans or livestock.¡± ¡°If it got into the eyes, it would cause blindness; a few milligrams could kill amphibians, and although it was just a graze, and it would not be fatal, the pheasant must have suffered terribly. There, we caught up with it.¡± When the pheasant saw Bi Fang approaching, it tried to flee, but already poisoned, it could not move its limbs and was pinned to the ground with an arrow. Stuffing the still-struggling pheasant into his bag, Bi Fang headed back the way he came. Just as he approached the shelter, Bi Fang saw water monitors perched on the fence, as though inspecting something. But upon turning their heads and seeing Bi Fang return, their bodies trembled, swaying from side to side as they hid inside their cave. [Ah, always ready for a backstab] [Water Monitor: That guy hasn¡¯t come back for a long time today, I feel like I¡¯m in again] Bi Fang had no time to pay attention to them, having a very pressing matter to attend to, even his expressions became somewhat solemn. If he was late with this task, the consequences would be unimaginable, and much effort might be completely wasted. The poison of the Blood-Sealing Throat Tree accelerates the coagulation of the blood. A significant amount of time had passed since the capture until the return, and without bleeding, the chicken¡­ It would not taste good! Viewers: ¡°¡­¡± [When did Master Fang start making jokes?] [Master Fang making jokes is still so handsome] [Ah, he¡¯s so humorous, I¡¯m in love] [Another two have gone mad, get out of here!] Bi Fang quickly set up a flat stone, placed both chickens on it, covered them with leaves, took out a bamboo tube to collect blood, and pulled out two arrows. There was no blood-spraying effect, as the blood had already become somewhat sluggish. Bi Fang hurriedly cut open the throat, squeezing from top to bottom to extract the chicken¡¯s blood. The viscous blood dripped down the bamboo tube. Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°You could have come earlier, but now I even have salt. Still, I can¡¯t waste it. I can make it into blood curd.¡± After all the blood was extracted, Bi Fang picked up the bamboo tube to check¡ªthere wasn¡¯t as much as he had expected; some still remained inside the bodies. ¡°If you¡¯ve cooked at home, you¡¯ll know that if you don¡¯t bleed the meat well, it will taste very fishy. I haven¡¯t eaten pheasant before, so I don¡¯t know what it tastes like.¡± Smacking his lips, Bi Fang put the chickens into boiling water to rinse. After scalding for a while, some blood strands emerged, and Bi Fang started plucking feathers with his bare hands. Pheasants and chickens look very different; the pheasants have incredibly beautiful feathers. Bi Fang didn¡¯t waste any, collecting all the feathers, especially the long ones from the tail. After plucking them, he stuck them on his head, creating the most classic Indian look. [I want those feathers] [Can you send me some?] [The raffle now is so exclusive that ordinary fans can¡¯t even participate, boo hoo hoo] After dealing with two of them, Bi Fang moved over to the enclosure wall. There was a piece of dried clay on the wall that had completely air dried and needed significant force to crush. Bi Fang had placed it there the previous afternoon. He crushed the clay into a powder and mixed it with some fish bone and stone powders. While mixing, Bi Fang explained, ¡°Making pottery is different from making furnaces. Pottery is fragile and thin, so we need to add some harder substances to prevent the pottery from cracking due to excessive shrinking during firing.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯ve added some fish bone and stone powders. Stone powder on its own works fine too, as it¡¯s readily available. If possible, you can also mix in sand, eggshell powder, shell powder, or even broken bits of pottery.¡± [Another little detail] [I learned nothing] [Cook chicken soup, cook chicken soup] [Hehehe, here comes the chicken soup, not too salty or bland, tastes amazing] Once the mixture was ready, Bi Fang added water in the right amount and began kneading the clay on a stone slab, striking it with a stick as one would knead dough. ¡°The clay should be moist and soft, but not sticky to the hands. During kneading, you need to repeatedly slam it down to avoid any air bubbles, or else it might expand during firing and cause the pottery to crack.¡± Once the right consistency of the clay was achieved, Bi Fang used a completely manual hand building technique, sticking his thumb inside and gradually spreading it open. Without pottery wheels, any irregularities in the crafting might directly lead to the object cracking. Even a minor collision might have severe consequences. Gradually opening the clay ensures a symmetrical shape, but unfortunately, it can¡¯t be made too large as that would be hard to control. Stopping once it was the size of a water jug, Bi Fang started on the next one. ¡°I never intended to make them too big anyway; that would be inconvenient. The goal of making these jars is to improve our living conditions. We can cut the pheasants into small pieces and stew them bit by bit, like pot-cooked meat. Just right to cook a meal at a time.¡± [This easy life, I¡¯m so jealous] [Envious. When I was traveling in xj, I had pot-cooked meat with pigeon and mutton stewed inside, incredibly fragrant, drool-worthy.] [I¡¯ve been thinking, if we just gave Master Fang a woman, wouldn¡¯t he be able to create a civilization in the forest?] [Need one? I can sign up, dog¡¯s head] [Are you seriously competing for this?] [You guys can¡¯t reproduce a third generation anyway. According to Old Fang, it¡¯s functionally extinct, so I¡¯ll sign up too. Take me with you] [What is this, a matchmaking event?] [Keep rationalizing, I¡¯m listening] After making a total of five pottery jars the size of water jugs, Bi Fang set them aside on a stone slab to dry. ¡°Don¡¯t fire the freshly made pottery jars right away. Let them dry first, then fire them. They¡¯ll be more durable this way. Now we have a blast furnace. But if we had nothing at all, we could also dig a hole in the ground and fire them that way, a method still widely used in many parts of the world today.¡± ¡°If the temperature of the fire is too low, the pottery might crack. However, we have charcoal from the blast furnace, so we should be able to make good pottery.¡± ¡°Okay, the morning is almost over, and now comes the main event, processing the iron bacteria.¡± Bi Fang rubbed his earth-covered palms and moved over to the second stone slab, on which there was some charcoal that he ground into a black powder with a stone. Just then, a comment in the live stream caught the viewers¡¯ attention. [Someone nearby is smelting iron¡­] [Damn, are they riding the popularity wave?] [They ¡°found¡± iron ore in the mountains and then took it to a factory to smelt it themselves¡­ What¡¯s that about? They didn¡¯t show any skills] [Ah, is that it.] [The other person was born on a mine, but our guy only has iron bacteria] [Master Fang rocks, end of story!] Armed with charcoal powder, Bi Fang went down to the blast furnace, opened the lid, and inside were the white remains of burned ash, which he took some of and put into a bamboo container. Last of all, he took out the iron bacteria. Although it hadn¡¯t rained in the past few days, the iron bacteria in the dirt pit were still moist. But that¡¯s not what Bi Fang needed; instead, he took the pre-dried ones from the bamboo basket. After being exposed to the wind and sun for a long time, the moist iron bacteria had turned into yellow rust soil. And just like that, one yellow, one gray, one black¡ªthree materials combined to form the key to iron preparation. ¡°Wood ash contains sulfur, which helps the iron to liquefy, while the char is used for the reductive smelting of iron oxide.¡± [Wait, iron oxide? Didn¡¯t you say we were using iron hydroxide to make iron before?] [Didn¡¯t pay attention in chemistry class, did you? What do you think Master Fang was doing when he was exposing the iron bacteria to the wind and sun?] [When iron hydroxide is exposed to air, its color changes. 2Fe(OH)3 == Fe2O3 + 3H2O, eventually turning into iron oxide, with the water evaporating. Junior high chemistry¡­] [I¡¯ve forgotten it, got a problem?] Bi Fang was pleased to see the comments; at least some people understood: ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s the equation. So what we have now is iron oxide, not iron hydroxide anymore.¡± ¡°Now, we mix them in a one-to-one ratio, add a little water, and shape them into cakes!¡± Chapter 498 - Chapter 498: Chapter 495 Earth Online: Iron Age Chapter 498: Chapter 495 Earth Online: Iron Age 2Fe2O3 + 3C in a high-temperature environment will produce 4Fe + 3CO2. This equation is the key to Bi Fang¡¯s iron smelting; meanwhile, the sulfur content in the ash can accelerate the liquefaction of metal and lower the temperature required for iron smelting. High heat and charcoal increase the temperature, while ash lowers the required temperature, combining these two tactics to successfully produce quality iron. [WHAT THE **!] [Why can¡¯t I understand a thing?] If domestic audiences can still grasp it, the international audience is completely baffled. These things, how come they¡¯ve never heard of them before? Did they even go to school? [Why do I feel like I¡¯ve never learned this?] [The education in Huaxia is terrifying!] [I remember we also taught this, you guys must not have paid attention in class¡­] [Went off to play basketball.] [I might have been in a relationship then.] Mixing all three kinds of ash together, Bi Fang added water, mixed it, and kneaded it into a flat, round shape. Making a clay cake, Bi Fang said, ¡°We are not conducting experiments, so there¡¯s no need to get the proportions exactly right, just about one to one is fine, creating one piece from the combination of three.¡± [This is Earth OL¡¯s DLC, the Iron Age!] [I¡¯m so excited, we¡¯re getting iron ingots soon, and small iron swords will quickly follow.] [I bet fifty cents, after smelting, some tycoon is definitely going to buy them at a high price!] The audience all fantasized that they were the lucky one, but upon consideration, they knew it was basically impossible. Damn it, they really wanted one too! [Lord Mu is rubbing his hands together in eagerness; this iron cake, I¡¯m taking it!] [What about President Lin, though, looking down on anyone? Let¡¯s start a fight!] [President Lin doesn¡¯t seem to watch live streams much; President Yao has more free time.] [I¡¯ll offer ten million! If Master Fang accepts, pretend I didn¡¯t say anything.] Rolling and kneading, another black cylindrical object appeared. This was already the third piece, and Bi Fang set it aside to dry, as noon arrived. The weather today was hot and humid, and Bi Fang wiped the sweat from his forehead with his arm: ¡°It¡¯s time for lunch, but let¡¯s finish making the pottery first.¡± At this time, the small pot on the ground under the direct sunlight had also dried. Bi Fang moved the stone slab of the hearth away, placed the pot on the furnace bridge, surrounded it with wood, ignited the fire, poured in a large amount of black charcoal, and covered it with a lid. [How long does this need to burn?] [Should be quick, right?] [No, I remember Zisha pots seem to need to be fired for a day, right?] Bi Fang estimated that it would take a relatively long time, but definitely not as long as the Zisha pots. What he made was low-temperature pottery, probably taking around three to four hours to complete. It would definitely be ready before dinner, and he could try making jar meat today. ¡°Now it seems, the two pits of charcoal are still not enough, we¡¯ll need to burn another pit later.¡± Bi Fang looked up at the sky; today¡¯s weather was too hot. The tall trees of the rainforest shielded the sky, not providing a good indication of the weather conditions. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s going to rain again?¡± The drone camera panned upwards, and the audience saw the sky, which had been clear of clouds, once again begin to look overcast. The audience was speechless; does the rain just come whenever it says it will? [No way, it¡¯s raining again?] [Is this a joke, eleven days and it¡¯s rained five or six of them? Half the time it¡¯s raining?] [Will this affect the pottery-making?] Bi Fang nodded, then shook his head, saying, ¡°It will have a bit of an impact, but not a significant one. After all, it is the rainy season, and I took this into account when I built the blast furnace. The entire shelter and blast furnace have been constructed at a higher elevation.¡± The shelter had walls, and although the base of the blast furnace was below, the overall elevation was high. If the rain wasn¡¯t too heavy, the impact of the rain falling in that one square meter area wouldn¡¯t be great. Since the clay pots were not ready, Bi Fang still ate fish and vegetables for lunch, along with two roasted chicken wings. The taste of all wild animals is almost unavoidably tough and dry, and even though Bi Fang had brushed them with fish oil, in the wilderness, this hardly counted as a flaw. Even tough meat was still meat! Especially for Bi Fang, who had been eating fish for ten consecutive days. Delicious! They just tend to get stuck in the teeth, and Bi Fang wondered if the System¡¯s store had any coupons for dental care. If there were, he definitely wanted to get one. Unless professionally corrected by a hospital, human teeth almost always have some issues, and many people don¡¯t even know they have cavities. Bi Fang had never taken care of his, and although his teeth were even, he had two cavities that weren¡¯t obvious and didn¡¯t really affect him much. Only when he had a cold drink immediately after a hot one did he feel a sharp pain, but other than that, there were no problems, so he had never dealt with it. ¡°Wild chicken has 2.5 times the protein of regular chicken and only one-fifth of the fat. Sounds good, but out here in the wild, I¡¯d rather have it the other way around.¡± Bi Fang chewed down the bones along with the meat, continuing to knead the cakes with soil-stained hands as the sound of thunder rumbled. The sky started to rain. It was a light rain, pattering down. All the things drying in the sun were moved inside the walls, and the audience breathed a sigh of relief. All work had paused due to a downpour, leaving behind a rare moment of leisure. Bi Fang moved a stone to sit under the eaves. Water dripped down the lush green palm leaves, falling at his feet, mixing with the soil to form little beads. Not far off, the blast furnace emitted white smoke that mingled with the steam, drifting towards the gray sky. He lifted his head to look at the sky, feeling hemmed in by the towering trees around him¡ªlike a frog in a well. The drone flew out from beneath the eaves, climbing higher until it was above the trees. Suddenly, the world opened up, and all his cares seemed to vanish. The vast mist enshrouded the endless green forest. Birds braved the rain in rapid flight, creating a curtain of raindrops. The last line of black ants marched into their nest, squirrels shielded by their fluffy tails transported nuts to their warm tree hollows amidst the downpour, and big fish in the burrows emerged to blow bubbles at the surface. As a bubble burst, a bird swiftly descended, alighting on the fence, shaking off the rain from its feathers. Bi Fang was pleasantly surprised by this unexpected guest, taking joy in this brief harmony with nature. On the hill behind the shelter, a water monitor looked up at sky, puzzled at what was so interesting, then glanced at the bird on the fence. Birds on the ground were an uncommon sight¡­ The water monitor licked the corner of its mouth, but observing the silhouette by the door, ultimately abandoned the thought running through its mind. Instead, it turned and entered the cave to tend to its eggs, its massive tail sweeping a bit of dust at the entrance. After a short rest, the bird fluttered a few times and then took to the sky once more. Bi Fang watched it take flight into the distance until it was out of sight. ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s also in a hurry to get home, much like the water monitor, with its young waiting,¡± he mused. A faint smile graced Bi Fang¡¯s lips. In the rainforest, there was a small cabin to take shelter from wind and rain, and food was plentiful¡ªthis is perhaps the most basic happiness for humans. ¡°Fly with all your might. Then, when you¡¯re old and listening to the rain under the eaves, those fleeting moments will race through your mind, and you¡¯ll have no regrets.¡± You¡¯d traveled far and wide, heading to a place without a clear destination, but you had to believe it would be beautiful. Fetching a slate, Bi Fang went back to making clay cakes. On rainy days, one revels in silkiness. ¡­ In the afternoon, more than twenty mud cakes of various sizes lay on the ground, with nearly half of the iron bacteria used up. According to the estimate, these twenty cakes should be sufficient. Braving the rain, he came to the furnace. This time, Bi Fang didn¡¯t add coal; he shifted the stone slab to reveal the barely alive flames, belching hot air. He took a stick and poked through the ashes¡ªof the five pottery pieces, one was completely shattered into fragments and another badly cracked on the surface, leaving only three intact. ¡°A sixty percent success rate, we¡¯re quite lucky.¡± Using two branches, Bi Fang extracted the pottery from the furnace. The rain fell on it, quickly evaporating into steam. Touching it, he could still feel the high temperature within. Carrying the three clay pots, Bi Fang immediately brought them into the shelter to prevent them from being shattered by the heavy rain and thermal shock. ¡°Early pottery fired by bonfires was mostly round-bottomed to avoid the likelihood of sharp edges leading to breakage.¡± ¡°The earliest purpose-built kilns were pit or trench kilns, essentially a hole dug in the ground covered with fuel, where the earth itself provided optimal insulation, allowing for better control during the firing process.¡± ¡°Additionally, the fishbone powder and stone powder I added create a more porous body, making it easier for water and other volatile components to exit the clay.¡± ¡°The coarser particles also reduce internal shrinkage during cooling, slowing the entire process and lessening the thermal stress and the likelihood of breakage.¡± ¡°These are the reasons for the extra materials I added, but even so, I originally estimated only one or two might succeed. Having three is quite a surprise.¡± Inside the hut, the three pottery pieces were neatly arranged on the ground. The drone flew close by, its camera capturing every angle without blind spots. The appearance of the clay pots had not changed, but the glaze was different from before they had been fired, the surfaces now clearly smoother and gleaming faintly, making a crisp sound when tapped with a branch. After natural cooling, Bi Fang picked up one of the pots, his finger circling inside, detecting no obvious cracks. He poured water and let it sit, noting no signs of leakage. A resounding success! The crowd was joyful. Bi Fang lit a bonfire, washed the pots, and set them over the flames. He then chopped the parboiled pheasant into small pieces and put them into the pots. Having removed more blood foam from the pheasant through parboiling, Bi Fang felt a boost of confidence and pulled out all the stops to prepare this chicken soup. These days, he had collected quite a few good things nearby, even wild ginger! Ginger, the magic deodorizer! He sliced the ginger and placed it at the bottom, then added the chicken pieces, sprinkled lemongrass on top, and finally covered the pots with lids, three necks all stewing one whole chicken. ¡°Wild pheasant meat is tough and fibrous, so we¡¯ll need to simmer it for at least half an hour before we add other ingredients,¡± said Bi Fang while peeling a newly found bamboo shoot and pulling out another peculiar plant covered in a dense array of green granules. This is¡­ [Holy shit, is that Sichuan pepper?] [Wori, there¡¯s Sichuan pepper in the mountains? Am I seeing things?] [Did you find it in the wild?] [Old Fang found it earlier, how come I don¡¯t remember?] [Indeed it¡¯s from the mountains, just yesterday morning, Old Fang brought back many strange things after his stroll, that¡¯s not Sichuan pepper but Litsea.] ¡°Yes, Litsea, also known as mountain pepper, is a kind of wild produce, usually found in midsummer. But we¡¯re lucky to have come across an early ripening plant,¡± replied Bi Fang. The Litsea fruits looked like smooth, rounded green peppercorns strung along slender stems, with a flavor entirely different¡ªa mix of lemon, lemongrass, and menthol¡­ Perhaps it was a blend of these scents. Chapter 499 - Chapter 499: Chapter 496: Chicken Soup and Rainy Days Are a Perfect Match Chapter 499: Chapter 496: Chicken Soup and Rainy Days Are a Perfect Match Lemongrass, a ruthless character that disregards the scale of flavor, a perfect companion to stewing soup. In the Banna Rainforest, there always seem to be spices with a lemon scent. From lemongrass to eucalyptus, without exception. This subtle fragrance constitutes Bi Fang¡¯s most significant impression of the Banna Rainforest. [Eucalyptus chicken, a unique flavor] [I just saw it at the market a few days ago, there wasn¡¯t much, and Old Fang has already found some] [Eucalyptus made into a dipping sauce, paired with chili, ginger, and stir-fried beef and mutton, is absolutely divine!] Many from Yunnan and Guizhou, Shuiyou, are all too familiar with eucalyptus. The most wonderful mountain goods every summer, it has the function of removing the gamey taste and enhancing the flavor, a taste from memory. Bi Fang used it to replace scallions, opened the pottery jar, added the eucalyptus inside, along with fresh bamboo shoots with morning dew, and continued simmering, then went to the side to make the remaining clay pancakes. The sky gradually darkened, and the drizzle persisted. The remaining bacteria mixed with grass ash and charcoal, made into hundreds of clay pancakes, piled up together, forming almost a wall. But at this moment, the audience had no interest in it, their gazes all tightly fixed on the pottery jar nearby emitting white steam, swallowing saliva like crazy. [I¡¯m so hungry, my takeout hasn¡¯t arrived yet, I¡¯m going to die] [It¡¯s almost six o¡¯clock, I can¡¯t take it anymore] [Good thing I¡¯ve already had my dinner] [Damn it, drinking chicken soup in Wilderness Survivalist, can you believe it?] [The water monitors are going to die too, dying of craving] On top of the wall, the head of a monitor poked out, it too was attracted by the savory aroma, willing to climb the wall even in the rain, but due to the deterrence of a wooden spear nearby, it dared only to look and not to approach. After the last clay pancake was molded and placed on the wall, Bi Fang reached into the basin of clean water to rinse his hands, dried them off, then picked up two short sticks, and gently lifted the pottery jar by its ears and placed it evenly on the stove. He removed the lid on top. The moment the lid was removed, white steam rose vigorously, enveloping Bi Fang¡¯s entire head instantly, as the long-missed fragrance hit from all sides. Bi Fang took a deep breath and felt refreshed and energized, ¡°It smells so good!¡± The water monitor¡¯s eyes turned red, and its claws furiously scraped at the wall. As the steam slowly dissipated, the soup inside the pottery jar was still boiling, with golden oil floating on the clear, hot surface, chunks of tender chicken meat bobbing within. Bi Fang picked up a smoothed bamboo skewer and speared a piece of tender chicken meat, chewing away and puffing out steam. Everyone anxiously awaited the verdict. Gulp. Bi Fang swallowed in one gulp and laughed out loud. ¡°Satisfying!¡± ¡­ Survival in the Banna Rainforest, day fourteen, with only seven days left until the end of the mission, one week. Bi Fang hadn¡¯t expected that the rain would last so long, only stopping late last night, and as the sun rose this morning, the rainforest was shrouded in dense fog. The ground was still soaked with abundant rain, and every step was into sludge. He came to the smelting furnace, under which was all muddy water, dug a trench to drain the water, lit the furnace, and dried the remaining moisture. He turned on the live broadcast, around the world. In Ugly Country, Peter jumped out of bed and quickly started his computer. On a fishing boat above the Atlantic Ocean, a fisherman reeled in the sail, brought out a lounge chair, and, together with a companion, enjoyed the evening breeze as they clicked on the live stream. On the coast of England, Big Beard hugged his daughter and turned on the computer. On the island of Japan, in a certain household, despite the gloom that enveloped the entire team, they still gathered together to enjoy the precious moments. The colleague beside Jerret glanced at the director with a gloomy face. After hesitating for a moment, he spoke up, ¡°Jerret, I¡¯ve heard you¡¯re good friends with GOD FANG, maybe¡­ He has a lot of international influence right now, and he¡¯s so capable, maybe he could help us.¡± Jerret understood his colleague¡¯s meaning, but still hesitated; however, recalling what he had seen and heard the past few days, even his good friend Richard, who was the chief director for this trip, turned his gaze to them. Bi Fang¡¯s fame might not be known to everyone, but within the animal documentary circle. There was already no one who didn¡¯t know, no one who was unaware. After some hesitation, Jerret nodded, ¡°Let¡¯s wait a few more days, after his live stream ends, we¡¯ll extend him an invitation, whether he¡¯ll come or not, I can¡¯t guarantee.¡± The colleague¡¯s neck flushed with excitement, ¡°He will definitely come back, most certainly, these Japanese¡­¡± Richard, with hair graying, lowered his head, ¡°Stop, we can¡¯t guarantee now if anyone is listening¡­¡± Everyone silently bowed their heads. Across the vast Huaxia land, hundreds of thousands of early risers had already clicked on the live stream. Bi Fang glanced at the number of people in the live stream room, which had already surpassed three million! He cheerfully greeted, ¡°Yo, so many people up at just eight in the morning?¡± [Everyone knows Old Fang is about to start formal iron smelting~] [Waiting for that iron ingot] [Let¡¯s go!] [Once I accept my own incompetence, then I become, invincible. Has iron smelting started? Has iron smelting started? Has iron smelting started? Has iron smelting started? Has iron smelting started? Has iron smelting started?] [Transform!! Has iron smelting started? Has iron smelting started? Unleash myself, hmph ahhhhhhhhhhh, let¡¯s get¡údown¡úto¡úbusiness¡ü¡üI¡ýwant¡üto¡ýsmelt¡ýiron~~~~~ Help¡úme~~~~~] [What is this meme¡­ I¡¯m getting old, I don¡¯t understand this stuff¡­] It had been raining these past few days, but everyone was very familiar with Bi Fang¡¯s process and schedule, and they all knew that he was going to start smelting iron today. Last night, when the rain stopped, some people even suggested that Bi Fang work through the night to smelt, but unfortunately, he refused. Today, everyone got up early, not wanting to miss this attention-grabbing moment. The anticipation that had been building up for so long was about to be released today. Bi Fang apologized, ¡°Then you¡¯ll probably have to wait a bit longer, smelting iron might be delayed until the afternoon. It¡¯s been raining for two days, and the charcoal I made is a bit damp, so I need to make two new pits of charcoal this morning.¡± [Ahh that] [Alright, alright] [Hurry up, hurry up, I can¡¯t wait anymore!!!] ¡°It¡¯ll be quick, it¡¯ll be quick.¡± Bi Fang went to the charcoal pit and swiftly poured in the dry firewood. After making two pits of charcoal, the dead branches around the shelter had long been picked clean by Bi Fang. To find high-quality wood, he had to climb trees and chop some branches off. Expertly lighting the pit and sealing it, Bi Fang sat to the side and spread out his clay cakes in a row. There were over a hundred pieces¡­ Bi Fang himself didn¡¯t expect that the iron bacteria he brought back could make so many clay cakes. Roughly twenty pieces of iron content could make a dagger¡­ and he had enough for five of them here. During the several days of cloudy and rainy weather, today¡¯s water monitors had crawled out of the burrow early, basking their bellies in the sun to raise their body temperature. The morning passed, and three pits of charcoal were successfully prepared. More and more viewers eagerly awaited the final outcome, with the audience in the live stream room quickly reaching four million. [Ashtray gives the host a yacht*100¡ªI built this shelter together with Master Fang, and human civilization will also emerge here. I am proud of this.] [Catching a little Leo alive] [Come, bring the water guns, put out Old Fang¡¯s furnace fire!] At noon, after Bi Fang had eaten, he brought the clay cakes to the blast furnace, opened the lid, and saw that the bottom of the furnace bridge was filled with ash. He put five iron cakes inside, surrounded by dead branches. Then he lit the branches and covered them with a board. ¡°We won¡¯t add charcoal just yet; now is just the time to heat up the furnace.¡± [Smoke billowing from the mountaintop, fined three thousand] [A wisp of smoke on the mountain, detained for fifteen days] [Only Old Fang would dare to do this] Bi Fang stuck branches into the ground and watched the shadows, waiting. When the furnace lid was moved, a deep red glow and flames spouted out like a venomous snake licking the air. A large amount of black charcoal poured into the furnace, pushing the fiery serpent back in. After that, he covered the furnace lid again. Some time later, the furnace lid was removed, and the dazzling orange flames stunned everyone. Even through the screen, the audience could feel the intense heat. It was indeed a high-temperature furnace, but unfortunately, Bi Fang¡¯s movements were too fast, and the flames were very bright, so the viewers didn¡¯t get a clear look inside. Bi Fang moved the stones at the bottom aside, the camera angle lowered, and everyone could clearly see a patch of orange-red, an eye-catching red charcoal fall amid the furnace ash. The red charcoal, containing astonishing heat, was squeezed out through the gaps in the furnace bridge, and even at a distance of less than several tens of centimeters, the heatwave could be seen distorting the air. The over two-meter tall chimney belched white smoke, resembling an old smoker¡¯s pipe; the heat surge upward as a large amount of cold air descended, and a massive amount of oxygen was swept into the furnace, further increasing the furnace temperature. The third addition of charcoal turned the color inside the furnace to almost dazzling white, so bright it was difficult to look at. ¡°This is our last time adding charcoal. After this, we wait for the fire to die down a bit,¡± Bi Fang said as he tapped the winnowing basket, shaking out the charcoal dust before covering the furnace again. Time ticked by second by second, with no viewers leaving. Everyone wanted to see the final moment, to see if there would be a miracle. [My, I¡¯m a bit nervous] [Is there really iron?] [So anxious I could die] [Old Fang is truly Awesome, even managing to produce iron] [Iron smelting with bacteria, it¡¯s like a dream¡­ I still feel like I¡¯m dreaming right now] The chimney, once emitting billowing white smoke, now let out wisps of smoke and finally exhaled its last breath, coming to a complete stop. At this moment, everyone¡¯s heart was in their throats. Bi Fang used a branch to move aside the scorching hot stone, and a powerful heatwave burst out, even lifting his hair ends. What no one knew was that Bi Fang was also nervous¡­ Everything he did, in theory, could be successful. The only issue was that Bi Fang had never actually done it before. Viewers might think he had been through hundreds of trials and errors and was full of confidence, but this was his first attempt. Until he saw the results, he was equally on edge. The stick stirred the ashes, and soon, a heavy object blocked the way. Bi Fang saw it very clearly, he cleared away the surrounding ashes little by little to reveal¡­ A black lump emitting white smoke. Chapter 500 - Chapter 500: Chapter 497 Forging Iron Chapter 500: Chapter 497 Forging Iron ¡°Is this iron?¡± ¡°It¡¯s iron!¡± ¡°It¡¯s really iron!¡± ¡°Holy shit, it worked, it really worked! Bi Fang has smelted iron!¡± Cheers erupted from the crowd in the first venue. Some even set off fireworks on the spot, with ribbons falling from the sky and landing on everyone¡¯s heads. ¡°It worked!¡± ¡°Holy shit, where did these fireworks come from?¡± ¡°Thirty-six yuan each, the little shop next door sells them, they call it a physical reward¡­¡± [This is a miracle!] [Iron!!!!] [So much charcoal, that¡¯s a lot of lamb skewers, right?] [The temperature must be ridiculously high!] Bi Fang used a long wooden stick to clamp the ingot of iron, but it seemed to be firmly stuck at the bottom. Left with no choice, he had to take it out along with the furnace bridge. The moment the furnace bridge emerged from the land, the camera zoomed in quickly. On top of the furnace bridge, the black lump of iron was uneven. Many parts were still glowing red, flickering like the metal was breathing. He hit it hard with a stone, and it almost visibly deformed, a sign that it was near melting¡­ Amazing. Audiences both domestic and international were left in awe. Before Bi Fang, no one had been able to venture alone into the jungle and smelt iron from nothing¡­ It was too extravagant. Compared with this, those who found ¡°wild ore¡± and brought it to factories to smelt were undoubtedly crap! This was no longer about teaching wilderness survival or manual skills; it had reached the point of how to rely on wisdom to rebuild civilization entirely without modern amenities! The appearance of iron put Bi Fang¡¯s live stream on an entirely different level from the past. It used to be simple Wilderness Survivalist, but now, it was completely different. From catching fish to chicken soup, from lean-to shelters to fenced ones with roofs, to having raincoats on rainy days. All sorts of stone tools, salt, and now iron. All the essentials of life were there, and even more high-end materials had appeared. No one doubted that if Bi Fang had brought a packet of wheat seeds instead of just shorts and a grass skirt when he got off the plane¡­ No! Maybe just a piece of potato would suffice, or he might not even need that, given more time to search; he could probably find a stable source of carbohydrates to cultivate! [GOD!] [Even God couldn¡¯t conjure a piece of iron in the wilderness.] [This is the birth of civilization] [Messier presents the host with Spaceships*10¡ªIn honor of civilization!] [Fat Cat Pete presents the host with a Yacht*1¡ªIn honor of civilization!] [Pork Heart and Shrimp presents the host with Meatballs*66¡ªIn honor of civilization!] [I have no money, but! In honor of civilization! A small salute to Master Fang!] [What I¡¯m watching isn¡¯t a live stream, it¡¯s the evolution and progress of human civilization] The audience was even more excited, speaking without filter. Anyone who had followed the process for over ten days and witnessed the birth of iron would react the same way. As many as six million viewers witnessed this scene, what civilization is, what wisdom is. Do thoughts come first or physical objects? Huaxia didn¡¯t have tables and chairs in the past not because there weren¡¯t the materials or capability, but because the concept of tables and chairs didn¡¯t exist yet. The most valuable thing in this world isn¡¯t oil or gold mines but human thought. Thought, more precious than gold or diamonds, is the most precious treasure of human civilization, and any attempt to confine human thought is bound to be backfired upon. ¡°You guys are too excited, and of course, I am too.¡± The violent beating of his heart made Bi Fang start to gasp for air. He explained, ¡°But my goal isn¡¯t just iron smelting, remember what I said at the beginning? To make an iron tool, at least a dagger.¡± ¡°I have somewhat overestimated the yield of iron bacteria.¡± Bi Fang placed his hand next to the lump of iron, and only then with a point of reference did the viewers realize how small this red-glowing lump was. It was only as big as a fingernail! This piece was clearly not enough; it was far from the requirements for an iron sword. ¡°I originally thought ten lumps of soil would be enough, but now five are only fingernail-sized. It seems that¡¯s not enough, but there¡¯s no need to worry. Besides the yellow iron bacteria, I also dug up some rusted soil later. The soil cakes made from the rusted soil have a higher iron content, which will be enough to bring us a surprise.¡± Bi Fang took deep breaths repeatedly, calming his excited heart. At this moment, the end was far from near, for after the iron smelting came the iron forging. ¡°The ooze secreted by these iron bacteria is primarily composed of iron hydroxide. I added charcoal as a reducing agent C and ash from vegetation as a fluxing agent K2CO3. The three were mixed into a clay pellet, which was placed in the furnace and fired at high temperature to successfully produce iron.¡± ¡°Under high temperature calcination, the ash decomposes into potassium peroxide and carbon dioxide, which reacts with the carbon dioxide produced by combustion and then with the charcoal to form the gas carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide ultimately reduces the already oxidized clay to obtain elemental iron.¡± ¡°If we smelt all the iron out, it becomes much more difficult to melt it again since it¡¯s already in its elemental form. Although there may still be many impurities inside, it¡¯s incomparable to the earlier powdered iron oxide.¡± The original plant ash was powder, and the iron oxide was also powder; their mutual blending made the reaction naturally simple. Bi Fang smashed the black lumps in front of him with a rock, extracting all the iron bits, a process which to his surprise yielded some bonus finds. The rough iron pieces weren¡¯t just the one on the surface; there were two smaller ones inside, adding up to the size of a knuckle. Aside from these three pieces, there was a myriad of tiny iron grains, but altogether, they weren¡¯t much. Bi Fang immediately took advantage of the heat, placing another five clay pellets inside the furnace, continuing the smelting process. ¡°Don¡¯t put too many clay pellets at once; too many might be counterproductive and fail to burn and react fully.¡± By evening, Bi Fang had smelted twenty clay pellets, obtaining an iron ingot slightly larger than his index finger. He weighed it in his hand, and it felt heavy. ¡°Is it enough? I feel like¡­¡± ¡°Should it be about flat now?¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s not enough. What I can make with this is only a blade. What use do I have for a blade, to shave?¡± Touching the stubble on his face, Bi Fang laughed at his own words. ¡°What I want is a practical knife, at the very least a dagger. Not to mention there are many impurities inside, so the volume will reduce even further during the forging process.¡± In the following two days, Bi Fang continued to smelt iron, and went out hunting with a bow and arrows in the meantime, catching a snake and a wild rabbit, while also netting fish from the fish farm. Day sixteen of surviving in the Banna Rainforest; five days remained until the mission¡¯s end. ¡°Hey!¡± Just as he dumped the fish into the water hole, the water monitors, now accustomed, started to run over, but Bi Fang scared them away with a spear thrust. Having lived together for so long, the water monitors had grown increasingly bold and dared to come over for feeding even when Bi Fang was nearby¡ªhe didn¡¯t mind, he wasn¡¯t blind. After being hit hard last night, grumbling and cursing under their breath, they had been a bit more cautious today. ¡°Sounds good, huh? If it sounds good, it¡¯s a good start.¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± Coming inside the shelter, there were already dozens of iron ingots of various sizes on the ground. Often, a single clay pellet could yield several fragmented ingots, the largest being the size of a knuckle, the second-largest the size of a fingernail, and smaller yet, bits and pieces the size of beans. Bi Fang gathered all the iron in his hands, barely able to hold it all. It was heavy, to speak of weight alone, almost one kilogram! Even accounting for wastage, if reduced by half, it would still weigh half a kilogram, 500 grams. The weight of a tactical knife generally hovers around 400 grams, and that¡¯s the total weight including the handle. The iron at hand, weighing a pound, was more than enough for Bi Fang to forge a dagger. The only issue was forging it; he had no hammer, only a stone one¡­ There are indeed stones harder than iron, quartz, diabase, and such, but they¡¯re only hard, not tough, and can easily break when struck. If he relied on that to hammer, his arm might break, wouldn¡¯t it? He¡¯d try it later; Bi Fang shook his head, wondering if he could first melt these iron chunks and directly cast and forge them; that would be much simpler, at least simpler than forging directly. With just five days remaining, Bi Fang felt an urgency. He had originally thought he had plenty of time after finding the iron bacteria but hadn¡¯t expected that the true challenge lay in crafting the knife! Gathering all the iron, Bi Fang returned to the side of the blast furnace, placing the iron chunks into a ceramic bowl, sprinkling plant ash over them, and surrounding them with kindling wood to ignite. He continued to add charcoal throughout the process without deviation. By now, the audience no longer cared whether an iron knife could be made or not. Without the System¡¯s task assignment or Bi Fang¡¯s sense of urgency, they felt content the moment Master Fang produced iron. The white smoke ceased. Bi Fang lifted the furnace lid and took out the ceramic bowl. Fortunately, the crimson iron showed signs of melting, but just signs. The actual melting began only with the iron grains at the bottom of the bowl. Thousands of grains, each less than a third the size of a rice grain, melted together, clinging to the bottom of the bowl. ¡°To fully melt the large lumps of iron, the conditions are still not quite enough,¡± Bi Fang said, looking up at the over two meters long chimney. The current conditions weren¡¯t sufficient; it needed to be further improved! ¡°The chimney needs to be further lengthened to three meters. We also need to make a bellows so that afterwards, it will be almost enough.¡± Tossing the iron lumps back into the bowl, Bi Fang went straight to work. He went back to the riverside, dug the clay, cleaned it, extended the chimney, and then began to make the bellows. The construction of the bellows was very simple. ¡°The main components are the inner fan and the external housing that restricts the airflow.¡± Bi Fang took two pieces of stiff bark, each twenty centimeters long and five to six centimeters wide. He carved a groove in the middle of each, then fit them together, forming a cross-shaped fan blade. He then took a fine wooden twig, peeled it clean, scored a cross on one end with the Stone Dagger, split it into four flaps, and inserted it into the center of the fan. Both ends of the fan were bound securely with fiber rope to ensure it wouldn¡¯t disintegrate due to material issues. Holding the long stick, Bi Fang rotated it, testing it beside the campfire. The airflow was substantial. Then, using clay, he crafted an external housing around the fan to concentrate the pumped air through a single outlet. Chapter 501 - Chapter 501: Chapter 498 Iron? Steel! Chapter 501: Chapter 498 Iron? Steel! For the entire morning, Bi Fang was busy as a bee. He not only had to lengthen the chimney but also had to make a bellows. The finally completed bellows resembled a large sealed gourd, with the fan blades situated where the gourd would hold water. Only the long rod connected to the fan blades and the very bottom part were left empty. ¡°Leaving the bottom empty allows us to conveniently change the blades if they get damaged. Furthermore, the bellows will ultimately be placed on the ground, effectively using the earth as a seal.¡± Bi Fang brought over three pieces of wood, inserting two in front of the blast furnace and setting the third on top of them, securing it all with hemp ropes. Bi Fang carved a small hole in the middle of the branch that spanned across the top, into which he inserted the long rod attached to the fan blades, allowing it to rotate freely under constraint. ¡°We can smear some animal fat inside the pit to help lubricate it, and next, we¡¯ll make a bowstring, similar to how the Bow Drill Method creates fire.¡± He took out a hemp rope, wrapped it around the long rod, and then tied both ends to another branch. Grasping the branch, Bi Fang pulled it back and forth, and the rope immediately began to rotate the long rod, which in turn stirred the airflow with the fan blades. All the airflow was confined within the bellows, blowing out from the sole outlet and into the interior of the blast furnace, instantly intensifying the blaze even more! [What we¡¯re seeing now is Boss Fang¡¯s personal performance of Moon Reflected on Erquan!] [Old Fang in ancient times must have been a master craftsman!] [Everything¡¯s going smoothly!] [With such skills, if sent back to primitive society, one could absolutely dominate and maybe even open ten harems!] [The power of ten harems? Terrifying indeed!] [At least he¡¯d be a fire worship priest, in charge of fire and the tribe¡¯s goods. ] [It¡¯s a physical turbine!] Bi Fang made a curved spout and fitted it onto the mouth of the bellows, blowing directly onto the burning charcoal. The flames surged out from the top of the furnace mouth, almost half a meter high, and one could feel the intense heat just by looking at it. Looking down from above the furnace cover, the fire¡¯s glow was so dazzling that the eye couldn¡¯t bear it, certainly exceeding one thousand degrees. That afternoon, after eating, Bi Fang placed the previously smelted ingots into a newly made ceramic bowl, sprinkled some wood ash on top, and set it right in the middle of the furnace bridge. Success or failure all depended on this attempt. With a chimney over three meters high, charcoal, and a bellows, even the ancient Iron Smelting process wasn¡¯t more sophisticated than this. A usable Iron Knife? Having reached this point, Bi Fang was no longer satisfied with just making an iron blade; he wanted steel! Steel!? Bi Fang displayed his ambition to his audience. The audience felt a real shock; seeing Bi Fang produce iron had already made him seem godlike, and now he was planning to forge steel? It appeared the pedestal of his deity had just grown higher. In the eyes of ordinary people, iron and steel were almost two different things, with forging difficulty beyond comparison. Of course, it didn¡¯t matter to them since they couldn¡¯t do it anyway. ¡°Is anyone here educated in engineering materials?¡± Bi Fang sat on the ground, pulling the branch in his hand, continuously pumping air. ¡°The iron we come into contact with the most isn¡¯t the industrial pure iron on the left side of the Iron-Carbon Phase Diagram, but rather industrial pig iron, also known as hypoeutectic white cast iron, with a carbon content between 2.1% and 4.3%, while ¡®steel¡¯ refers to an iron-carbon alloy with a carbon content ranging from 0.02% to 2.06%.¡± ¡°Depending on our needs, adding different alloy elements allows us to make alloy steel and stainless steel. So, steelmaking is about letting the excess carbon in pig iron react with oxygen at high temperatures and getting rid of it!¡± Forget industrial pig iron; the piece Bi Fang had was so impure that calling it iron ore wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration. It was iron riddled with impurities. Modern steelmaking methods involve oxidizing pig iron in its liquid state to produce steel, known as liquid steelmaking, which requires temperatures around 1600 degrees Celsius. Such high temperatures were unattainable in ancient times; they could only use lower-temperature techniques, such as carburizing block steel and the Steel Frying Method. ¡°During the Western Han Dynasty, thanks to improvements in bellows technology, flame temperatures could consistently reach over 1200 degrees Celsius, and decarburizing pig iron also needed to occur at such high temperatures.¡± ¡°Although I have a blast furnace, a bellows, and charcoal, they are all quite rudimentary and can¡¯t quite achieve that level of heat. But the temperature definitely exceeds one thousand degrees, so I want to try making Hundred-refined Steel.¡± Hundred-refined Steel wasn¡¯t a mysterious technology; it merely involved repeatedly heating and forging the iron to remove carbon and impurities, eventually producing what is known as Hundred-refined Steel. The simplest method to transform iron into steel, yet it¡¯s also the most physically demanding. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m not sure if it will succeed. We can only leave it to chance.¡± Even if the steel forging fails, it won¡¯t affect Bi Fang¡¯s ability to make an Iron Knife; the process is all about removing impurities to obtain better iron. ¡°It¡¯s a pity we don¡¯t have iron ore, otherwise we could try the Steel Frying Method.¡± The Steel Frying Method, an important technology invented by the Huaxia People. But this technology almost seemed like a cheat for the ancient Huaxia, who monopolized it for over a thousand years. ¡°During the Han Dynasty, the military reversal against the Xiongnu wasn¡¯t just due to the speed gap being closed by superior horses, but more importantly, the weapons were much more advanced than those of the Xiongnu. Steel was far too advanced for that era.¡± For every five Xiongnu soldiers, they matched only one Han soldier. Why? Because their weapons were blunt and their crossbows inferior. Now it¡¯s said that they barely attain the sophistication of the Han, yet still, three of them match only one. These were the original words of Chen Tang recorded in the ¡°Book of Han.¡± It implies that the reason five Xiongnu soldiers were only a match for one Han soldier was due to inferior equipment. Forget copper; even raw iron was nothing but dross compared to Hundred-refined Steel, not to mention that the material largely used by the Xiongnu at the time was understood to be bones of cattle and sheep. How could they possibly compete? There¡¯s a Gundam across the street! ¡°So many experts in the history of chemistry are still very curious why Huaxia, not the first to discover iron and about a thousand years later than the civilizations in the Mesopotamian region in using iron, was able to evolve so much in just two hundred years, and the most fundamental reason is still unclear.¡± [It¡¯s aliens!] [Huaxia is a majestic lion of the East!] [Asian people are really smart, at least when it comes to mathematics] [We are hardworking and brave!] ¡°Hundred-refined steel was a method before the Steel Frying Method, which involves repeatedly heating, folding, and hammering the iron to react with the oxygen in the air, reducing the carbon content and making the composition of the steel more uniform and dense, reducing impurities and thus improving the quality of the steel.¡± Bi Fang switched hands to operate the bellows while stirring the bright orange iron mass in the furnace with a stick, increasing the oxygen contact. ¡°But not all pig iron could ultimately be turned into steel. Besides the smelting skills involved, it also greatly depends on the quality of the iron itself, which could contain a variety of elements, such as sulfur and manganese. With the same skills, the results could be good or not so good.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why when we read stories like those of Gan Jiang and Mo Ye, we often see sword castings fail, which may reflect the reality of ancient metallurgy. But ancient people would interpret it as divine punishment or such.¡± Whether it¡¯s the ancient people or ordinary folks in society, they basically don¡¯t understand the different carbon content in iron and steel, only that they are different to use. Such is empiricism. The audience in front of the screen also seemed greatly enlightened. [I learned this before, but I¡¯ve forgotten all the specifics] [This is legit knowledge, like being back in the classroom] How much steel could Bi Fang make from this bit of iron? The ancients had already given the answer. In the ¡°Weighing Heavy and Light¡± section of the Xiahou Yang¡¯s Mathematical Manual, written during the Jin and Sui dynasties, there are two arithmetic problems. The first question: Now there are 6281 jin of pig iron for refining into yellow iron, with a loss of 5 liang per jin. How much yellow iron can be obtained? Answer: 4318 jin and 3 liang of yellow iron. The second question: Now there are 4318 jin and 3 liang of yellow iron to be refined into steel, with a loss of 3 liang per jin. How much steel can be obtained? Answer: 3508 jin, 8 liang, 10 zhu, and 5 lei of steel. In ancient times 1 jin was 16 liang, and yellow iron meant refined iron. From 6281 jin of pig iron to about 3508.5 jin of steel. More than half is lost. The impurities in the iron Bi Fang was handling were more, so the loss was even greater, but after calculating, it turned out to be just the right weight for a steel dagger! Whether it was fate playing tricks or something else, Bi Fang, who originally thought twenty cakes for a knife was a deal, got reality-checked, and indeed, he could only end up with one steel knife. Of course, that was not certain yet. The work involved in making hundred-refined steel, both its huge volume and its high intensity of labor, might be incomparable to other trades, no? For this purpose, Bi Fang had prepared several stone hammers, all lined up beside him, ready to go all out. If you¡¯re going to do it, you have to do it to the best. Push it to the limit. He removed the furnace cover, clamped out a pottery bowl, and poured the iron mass that had become a solid piece the size of a fist onto a stone slab. Bi Fang hefted a stone hammer. The muscles in his forearm twisted together like steel cables, and transparent sweat squeezed out of his pores, flowing like streams over mountain rocks. Strength traveled from the ground through his thighs to his waist, finally reaching his overhead arm, before coming down hard! Pong! Sparks scattered in all directions. The dazzling flames ejected a blinding light, the high heat distorted the air, and waves of heat billowed out. In the midst of the violent explosion, a fragment of iron whizzed past Richard¡¯s ear, raising white hair and spinning into the wall brick. The explosion turned the surrounding lawn into scorched earth, the broken water pipe spurted out water, and almost immediately the high temperature turned it into steam, the metal casing of the transformer blew apart instantly, and sparks shot up like a fountain to the height of a person. Richard stood stunned at a distance, unclear whether he was more scared or astonished. Jerret, hearing the commotion inside the house, ran out and saw the twisted car blazing like a fireball and also saw Richard standing stiff as wood. He patted Richard up and down, frantically asking what had happened. When Richard was led into the house, he could no longer remember. He lay with wide eyes staring at the newly installed light on the ceiling. The bright white daylight glared painfully, filling the eyes with bloodshot veins, as though the world had turned a crimson red. A young man wearing a mask rubbed his eyes, wondering if he was hallucinating, and walked into the restroom at the station, locking the door behind him. Inside, someone was already waiting for him. Upon seeing the new arrival, he handed over an old leather case. The young man muttered as he took the leather case: ¡°Can¡¯t even afford a proper case?¡± Upon opening the leather case, the dazzling pattern intoxicated him. He touched it with his hand, feeling the fine scales and thin leather, flawless. After making sure there was no issue, the young man closed the lid: ¡°How come there¡¯s new stock all of a sudden? Lucky I didn¡¯t leave.¡± The man who brought the case laughed: ¡°You guys manage that? Take as much as you get, that was the deal you agreed to.¡± The young man tugged at the corners of his mouth, knowing he had said too much but indifferent. He pulled out his phone and swiped a few times: ¡°Look at the number.¡± ¡°One third of the market price?¡± The man was not very satisfied with the number, even for illicit goods that seemed too low. ¡°The python skin has a bit too much damage. Or perhaps you can find someone else. If you agree, I¡¯ll transfer it; if not, take your case and leave.¡± ¡°Fine, it¡¯s yours.¡± Chapter 502 - Chapter 502: Chapter 499: Boss Fang Really Stands Tall and Firm Chapter 502: Chapter 499: Boss Fang Really Stands Tall and Firm Survival in the Banna Rainforest, Day Seventeen. After hammering away for an entire day beside the furnace, the original iron mass had completely been drawn out into a lengthy strip. Two stone hammers had been broken in the process. Choosing to make Hundred-refined Steel was a race against time. From yesterday, Bi Fang had been working until late at night, and he would wake up before dawn to warm up the furnace and melt the iron. He got less than six hours of sleep each day, which was probably good news for the global audience. They no longer had to worry about live streaming time differences. As long as they turned on their phones, they could almost always see Bi Fang either hammering iron or hunting. Survival in the rainforest, Day Eighteen. Perhaps it could no longer be called survival. From the day Bi Fang decided to smelt iron, it had become a way of life rather than mere survival. In the still dark early morning, Bi Fang, like a skilled blacksmith, skillfully got up, washed, and finally fired up the furnace. He continuously fed charcoal into the fierce fire, which meant Bi Fang had to smelt at least a kiln¡¯s worth of charcoal every day to meet his needs. The high heat of the furnace blackened his whole body, and Bi Fang, sweating like rain, gripped the glowing red-hot iron bar and hammered away relentlessly. By noon, the long iron bar was forcefully bent and folded once more. How many times he had folded and hammered, Bi Fang himself had lost count, just vaguely remembering a number and feeling like his arms were about to break off. He continued to heat the iron bar in the furnace. After drinking a few sips of water to rehydrate, Bi Fang stepped aside to wash his face, revealing his wheat-colored skin and gasping for breath. ¡°How does that saying go again? ¡®Laziness is the source of productivity advancements.¡¯ Although it¡¯s a joke, I think there¡¯s a lot of truth in it.¡± During his breaks, Bi Fang chose to chat to keep the live streaming audience engaged. With strong educational content, a fair number of people were willing to stay and listen. After all, the knowledgeable Bi Fang teaching online was indeed attractive. Curiosity, too, is a desire. ¡°We use charcoal as fuel to smelt iron ore into a spongy solid mass in the furnace. This solid mass, when cooled down, is actually called bloom iron. This was likely our method about two thousand five hundred years ago.¡± ¡°Bloom iron has low carbon content, a soft texture, and lots of impurities; it is the wrought iron that humans learned to make in the early days. Using bloom iron as raw material, it¡¯s heated in a carbon fire to absorb carbon and increase its carbon content. Then, through hammering which removes impurities and allows it to absorb more carbon, steel is obtained.¡± ¡°This type of steel is called ¡®bloom steel after carburization.¡¯ But the quality of this steel is still not good enough, with great difficulty in controlling the extent of carbon absorption, the uniformity of distribution, and the degree of impurity removal during the smelting process, and it¡¯s also extremely low in production efficiency.¡± This type of steel is certainly unqualified, no matter what tools it might be used to make. ¡°In order to improve the quality of the steel, during the middle of the Western Han Dynasty, craftsmen invented ¡®Hundred-refined Steel.¡¯ This is what we¡¯re doing now, repeatedly heating, folding, and hammering the bloom iron to make the steel structure compact and even, reduce impurities, and thus improve the steel¡¯s quality.¡± What Bi Fang was continually doing was just that, endlessly hammering the bloom iron he had smelted. At this point, the iron was neither raw nor fully processed and could be described as neither raw nor ripe. Bi Fang referred to it as, the binary nature of raw and ripe iron! ¡°Haha, just kidding,¡± Bi Fang scratched his head. ¡°As the demand for Hundred-refined Steel grew, but the production efficiency of its raw material, bloom iron, was very low and required ¡®annealing¡¯ after smelting to obtain, the development of Hundred-refined Steel faced limitations. The most critical issue was, it¡¯s too exhausting. A single piece of Hundred-refined Steel required a craftsman to hammer it over a hundred times before it took shape, hence the name ¡®Hundred-refined.¡¯ However, back then, people¡¯s nutrition couldn¡¯t keep up, and when weapons were needed for war, it was possible for the craftsmen to work themselves to death.¡± ¡°To break through these limitations, craftsmen invented a new technique for steel-making from pig iron, called ¡®stirring steel,¡¯ which I also mentioned a few days ago. This is one of those milestones.¡± ¡°In the ¡®stirring steel¡¯ process, pig iron is heated to a liquid or semi-liquid state and stirred in the melting furnace. By using a bellows or sprinkling in ore powder and other methods that utilize the oxygen in the air to oxidize silicon, manganese, and carbon, the carbon content can be reduced to obtain steel. Stirring steel was named because of the constant stirring during the smelting process, similar to stir-frying food.¡± China started ¡®stirring steel¡¯ more than 1600 years before the technique began in the United Kingdom in Europe. After chatting casually with the audience for a while, Bi Fang doused his head with the remaining water, moved in front of the blast furnace, removed the furnace lid, and continued hammering. Hundred-refined, Hundred-refined, without a hundred times, how could it ever be sufficient. After doing the math, Bi Fang realized he had hammered for nearly three days and was still short of fifty-five times, far from enough. This was even when the material was softer in the early stages; the further into the process, the harder it became to forge. With just over three days left, he had to work even harder. ¡°Damn, no wonder it could kill the craftsmen, I¡¯m nearly dead myself.¡± Banna, Day Nineteen. Today, Bi Fang went all out, forging for over thirteen hours and folding the steel twenty-one times, bringing the total to seventy-six times. The iron by now was far from as soft as it was at the beginning, becoming tougher, making it even harder to hammer. This forced Bi Fang to find better stone hammers, and he even had to coat their surface with rubber and a layer of wood planks to prevent them from breaking due to low toughness. This was good news. It meant the quality of the iron in Bi Fang¡¯s hand had improved, and it had started to become steel. It is worth mentioning that a water monitor wandered over to the furnace at night but was hit by a piece of glowing charcoal, burning a black scar on its body. Since then, it never dared to approach the blast furnace again. Survival in the Banna Rainforest, Day Twenty. In one full day, Bi Fang only managed to fold the steel bar fifteen times, bringing the total to ninety-one times. Each strike sent a wave of discomfort through his muscles. That night, Bi Fang lay in bed, his right arm sore and swollen, forcing him to soak it entirely in cold water. Over those days, millions of viewers accompanied Bi Fang in the live stream, watching the iron that was originally larger than a fist turn into a bar, bent and folded over and over. The volume shrank more and more. Up to now, the steel bar was already a full size smaller than at the beginning; if hammered out and polished, everyone believed that it would make a decent dagger. [Maybe just give it up, seems too hard anyway.] [Isn¡¯t the iron enough already?] ¡°[If I had to hammer for a day, no, half a day, I¡¯d be dead]¡± ¡°[Old Fang is really a man, he sticks to his word. I feel like I¡¯m steel now.]¡± ¡°[I won¡¯t watch the Broken Sword Competition without you]¡± Bi Fang smiled, a truly happy smile. ¡°If the iron in my hand hadn¡¯t gotten harder and harder, I might have really given up. It would mean there were too many impurities in it, and the chances of becoming steel were very low. But it didn¡¯t happen, so I had to do my best.¡± Steel is made through thousands of hammering and numerous refinements! Without countless hammering and tempering, both workability and usability are subpar! This was not only steelmaking but also self-improvement. Only by doing it to the extreme, to the point where it can no longer be folded, would it be the answer Bi Fang submits. His perfect answer from within. Thinking of this, Bi Fang suddenly rose from the bed, droplets of water trickling down his slightly swollen arm, wrapping vines around his palm again, and he grabbed what must have been the umpteenth stone hammer, stepping outside once more. Tomorrow night, six days from now, he would have to leave this place, so he had to finish forging by tonight, leaving enough time to polish the steel tomorrow. Light the furnace, smelt the iron! Day twenty-one in the Banna Rainforest survival challenge, also the last day. At this time, it was still dark, and the audience hadn¡¯t slept either. They stayed up all night with Bi Fang, watching the red-hot iron bars fold in the darkness, sparks flying, shedding black iron scales. At dawn, with the last strike of the hammer, the stones shattered once again, falling to the ground. Bi Fang felt stars in his vision, the sleepless night reaching the peak of his exhaustion. He had no doubt he could fall asleep instantly if given a soft bed right now. ¡°How many times is that now?¡± ¡°[101! 101 times, Master Fang!]¡± ¡°[It¡¯s Hundred-refined Steel now, it really is Hundred-refined Steel]¡± ¡°[Has the grinding started yet?]¡± Bi Fang shook his head, heated the iron bar again, and turned to fetch another stone hammer from inside. He had said he would hammer until he could hammer no more. At dawn, the sunlight slanted through the tall trees, falling on Bi Fang. He hadn¡¯t bothered to apply insect repellent mud for several days now. The high temperatures here kept even the mosquitoes at bay. A Water Monitor crawled out of its cave, flicking its tail. The limited intelligence of cold-blooded animals didn¡¯t allow it to ponder complex problems, yet the sight of someone staying up all night still deeply astounded it. This creature was terrifying. A full five days¡¯ worth of time. Bi Fang¡¯s skin had changed, turning a healthy wheat color. Every hair on his body glistened with gold in the morning sun, sweat streaming down the crevices of his muscles. The continuous labor had quickly depleted the salt in Bi Fang¡¯s body, and he would not have had enough replenishment from just the blood of animals if it weren¡¯t for salt. The sound of metal clashing rang out again, sparking another burst of fiery splinters. One hundred and two times. Continue heating. One hundred and three times. Bi Fang ate breakfast, saving time by only eating the boneless parts of large fish or the belly of fish with bones, giving the rest to the Water Monitor. Perhaps the wild Water Monitor had never imagined it would get to eat cooked food in its lifetime. The giant hammer fell once again, a huge rebound traveling up his arm, causing Bi Fang to involuntarily drop the hammer. In the forest, the clear, resonant sound of metal vibrating lingered for a long time. This time, the orange steel bar resting on the stone slab showed no reaction at all. Bi Fang collapsed to the ground, his vision darkening in waves, as cold sweat broke out in layers. It was very difficult, incredibly difficult. Nothing felt real anymore. After more than five days of hammering, working for over twelve hours each day and getting less than six hours of sleep, he had finally forged a piece of quality steel! ¡°[Is this¡­ steel?]¡± Looking at the iron bar now standing on the stone plate, no, it should be called a steel bar now, everyone felt a sense of awe. ¡°[Am I really on Earth?]¡± ¡°[So, did Master Fang actually smelt a piece of¡­ steel in the wilderness?]¡± In the arena, the audience stuttered, exchanging looks as if to confirm what they had just seen. But the expressions of utter shock on each person¡¯s face told them all. Yes. This is. Steel! Chapter 503 - Chapter 503: Chapter 500: Steel Dagger Chapter 503: Chapter 500: Steel Dagger ¡°` The last heating. When Bi Fang took the steel bar out of the blast furnace, his entire body was shaking. From exhaustion or excitement? Or both? It was hard to tell. At the moment of harvest, all the hardships turned into the sweetest fruit, a mix of flavors all in one. The dazzling metal before his eyes could no longer be called iron, but steel! Stronger, harder, and sharper!!! Taking a deep breath, Bi Fang steadied himself from the dizziness caused by overexertion. The familiar wooden handle was gripped firmly in his hand, power building from a focal point, dropping from high above, and striking heavily upon the steel bar. No more black iron scales fell off; all impurities had been artificially removed to the utmost limit. Under the forceful hammering, the bright orange steel was gradually compressed, deformed, and stretched into a flat, elongated shape. The embryonic form of a dagger was slowly taking shape. But steel was far more challenging to forge than iron. Whether it was hardness, toughness, or ultimate sharpness, steel far surpassed iron. The same was true for hammering. Bi Fang was very cautious, fearing that a single misstrike would demand starting all over again. There wasn¡¯t enough time for Bi Fang to do that. The sun had risen high, around 9 am Moyo time, out for food and rest, leaving him possibly less than six hours of forging time. It really felt like the tension of participating in a sword-breaking competition. ¡°To make a usable dagger today, I¡¯m not going to sharpen the edge. Without a sharpening machine, I would need to grind it with a whetstone, and hell knows when that would end.¡± ¡°So I plan to make a double-edged dagger, not needing sharpening, but with a pointy tip capable of thrusting, which counts as practical. Moreover, our steel is, after all, the most ordinary steel, with no one knowing how strong it really is; not sharpening it will also allow thickness to make up for strength.¡± Sharpening the edge would inevitably make it thinner, and Bi Fang wasn¡¯t very confident in the strength of the blade he had forged, worrying that it would easily chip. Heating, hammering, heating, hammering. The sun rose from the east, shifted toward the south, and began moving westward. After finishing mushroom and rabbit soup, Bi Fang soaked his hands in a puddle of water for a while, regaining some energy, and took the red-hot dagger out of the forge. Yes, a dagger. After nearly six days of effort, the form of the dagger finally appeared at noon on the last day. The long and narrow iron handle would ultimately be glued to a wooden handle. The slim blade extended over twenty centimeters, resembling a bayonet but too thin¡ªclearly still unrefined with a thick spine. Bi Fang switched the large hammer for a smaller one that was better for controlling the force and started to hammer the steel evenly and meticulously. The brilliant furnace fire made Bi Fang¡¯s face glow red. From the early hours of yesterday until now, the charcoal inside the blast furnace hadn¡¯t stopped burning, adding fervor to the sultry rainforest. [Swordsmith!] [Since when did LOL release an Old Fang hero, Wild Hunter, who moonlights as a swordsmith, best suited for jungle position!] [I think it¡¯s good] [These muscles, I call him the sexiest man¡ªis that okay?] [I also think it¡¯s good] [A petition of ten thousand! If they release a skin, I¡¯ll buy them all!] The hard steel bar was stretched once more, from slender to narrow, extending from the spine to the sides, becoming even sharper at the tip. No one doubted that such a thrust could pierce through an entire human body. This is metal steel! What are wooden spears, bone spears compared to metal steel? They¡¯re nothing! At three in the afternoon, the light was still good, and the dagger had once again transformed, truly taking on the appearance of a blade. Bi Fang held the dagger upright and crouched to examine each side¡¯s lines. The shape wasn¡¯t exaggerated, similar to the double-edged daggers ordinarily seen, but this had been completely hand-forged from nothing! From any angle, Bi Fang had reached the limits of what handcrafting could achieve¡ªthe spine was straight and uniform, the blade edges that fanned outward were even and smooth, the tip sharp and stylish. Anyone seeing it would have to praise it as a sharp blade. [Damn, just two hours away and it¡¯s changed so much] [It feels like I need it, sob sob sob] [Achievement Unlocked: The Hard Way] [Achievement Unlocked: Qilin Arm] [Ah, three hours until the livestream ends, who knows how long we¡¯ll have to wait next time] [It¡¯s mid-June now; it¡¯s got to be at least July, right?] Bi Fang clamped the steel dagger with wooden tongs for the last heating. Meanwhile, he added a large amount of sand under the furnace bridge. This step was so quick that the audience didn¡¯t quite see it clearly, only seeing Bi Fang stuffing some strange grey matter in again. Then came the final step. ¡°` Quenching. This time, Bi Fang removed the blower, otherwise the heating temperature would be too high. ¡°Steel heat treatment generally includes four basic processes: annealing, normalizing, quenching, and tempering. These are also known as the ¡®four fires¡¯ of overall heat treatment. Among them, quenching and tempering are closely related and are often used in conjunction, with neither being dispensable.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t go into detail about annealing and normalizing since we won¡¯t be using them next, mainly tempering and quenching. Many people have probably heard of quenching, which is typically the image of red-hot metal being plunged into water, hissing and steaming.¡± [You often see it on TV] [I¡¯ve seen it] [The tears of engineering materials, this course is too difficult, the Iron-Carbon Phase Diagram and Alloy Phase Diagram] [I can¡¯t listen anymore, I¡¯m going insane] ¡°Hahaha, engineering materials are indeed difficult.¡± Bi Fang had a headache from studying it himself, and not all his knowledge was from the System¡ª many things he had learned on his own. ¡°The heat treatment process of heating metal to austenitize it and then cooling it in an appropriate way to obtain martensite or bainite structure is what we call quenching. The most common methods are water cooling, oil cooling, air cooling, and water cooling is exactly what you just said, a quick plunge into the water for rapid temperature reduction.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have that much oil to choose from, so we are only left with water cooling and air cooling, and different cooling materials can cause different property changes.¡± ¡°To reduce the brittleness of steel, tempered steel is heated to an appropriate temperature above room temperature but below 710¡ãC for a long time, followed by cooling. That process is tempering.¡± Bi Fang opened the lid of the furnace and carefully observed the color of the dagger. ¡°This is the last step in dagger production. First, we need to heat the dagger to redness. Remember, it can only become red. You must not let it turn white, which is the orange-yellow stage. A knife that turns white is very prone to deformation, and it is also too brittle. For the specific temperature, you can look up heat color charts for steel online.¡± Seizing the right moment, Bi Fang clamped the red-hot dagger from the furnace. He held it by the blade, taking it to the water basin. When he dipped the blade, he did not plunge it in fully but let the edge enter the water. The contact between the high temperature and cold water immediately burst into flames. [Holy shit, it can catch fire?] [Can water catch fire?] [Under high temperature, water can decompose into hydrogen and oxygen, and then ignite in high temperatures. That¡¯s why sprinkling water into a well-lit furnace can actually help fuel the fire.] [What nonsense, sprinkling water to fuel the fire? The heat consumed is more than the heat produced, right?] [You¡¯re wrong, delete it. Quenching burns because it¡¯s not water but oil. Water dripped into the furnace burns because water and carbon produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide at high temperatures, known as water gas. Read more books, act less like a fool.] [Which first-rate account is this? Look closely, is this damn thing oil?] [Why not ask the magical Old Fang?] Bi Fang, however, had no time to answer. The timing and rhythm of quenching had to be just right. After immersing the blade edge in water for no more than two or three seconds, he flipped it to another side, causing another burst of flame. Under the drone¡¯s camera, the audience saw a layer of oxide peel off the surface of the blade, it was still a brownish yellow. ¡°Aside from water quenching, you can also use oil cooling, and waste engine oil will do. I don¡¯t think anyone would dare to use diesel or gasoline for quenching, right?¡± ¡°As for the oil quenching process, it¡¯s basically the same as water quenching. Heat to redness and immerse directly. When the waste engine oil stops bubbling, use a stone, or sandpaper to grind off the iron oxide from the quenched knife, and then it¡¯s ready for tempering.¡± Afterward, Bi Fang repeated this process until there was no more discoloration, then he sent the dagger back into the furnace for temporing. It was only then that the audience realized that Bi Fang no longer put the blade into the flames; instead, he opened the fire pit, slid a piece of withered tree leaf into the sand pit, and when it turned brownish without blackening or igniting, he directly buried the dagger in the sand under the furnace bridge. Then, he sprinkled some water on the charcoal fire on the furnace bridge to extinguish it, producing billowing steam. What the hell? Only now did Bi Fang see the audience¡¯s arguments. He scrolled through the barrage of comments and laughed, ¡°The burning is lacquer, not wrong there, but all your explanations are incorrect. It isn¡¯t simply a matter of water decomposing due to high temperatures. It involves high-temperature vaporization of water reacting with the hot iron to form triiron tetraoxide and hydrogen gas. The high-temperature hydrogen reacts with oxygen in the air and ignites immediately.¡± ¡°Did you just see that layer peeling off? That is the triiron tetraoxide.¡± Audience: ¡°¡­¡± So all that arguing was for nothing? [I told you high temperatures couldn¡¯t just decompose water!] [Give it a rest, hindsight hero.] [Bullshit!] [So what was Old Fang just now doing to put out the fire in the furnace?] ¡°Tempering, of course. Regardless of the quenching method used, you must temper afterward to stabilize the steel and enhance its toughness. I used the Sand-roasting Method.¡± Bi Fang sat on the ground and poked the sand under the furnace bridge with a tree stick. ¡°The temperature for tempering doesn¡¯t need to be that high, but it¡¯s hard to determine precisely. The best way is to heat the sand. When you feel it¡¯s about right, throw in a not-so-withered tree leaf, or a piece of paper. When it turns brownish but doesn¡¯t blacken or ignite, that means the temperature is appropriate for tempering.¡± Bi Fang poked out the tree leaf he had just thrown in, and sure enough, it was brownish on the surface but not blackened or burned. ¡°At this point, bury the knife in the sand, let the dummy and the blade edge cool together, and when tempering is done, you have a final dagger. Of course, it still needs a bit of sharpening.¡± After saying this, Bi Fang felt his whole body relax, collapsing on the ground as every muscle cried out. So tired. But finally, it was completed. Steel Dagger! Chapter 504 - Chapter 504: Chapter 501: Dust to dust, earth to earth Chapter 504: Chapter 501: Dust to dust, earth to earth ¡°` Metalworking, an extremely ancient craft, originated even before recorded history. Until thousands of years ago, human knowledge about iron, the most abundant metallic element on Earth, was almost non-existent. The Ancient Egyptians and Sumerians both believed iron could only come from meteorites, a gift from the gods in heaven. Even after civilizations discovered methods of iron-smelting, entering the so-called Iron Age, they still didn¡¯t know how to consistently produce iron that was both strong and not prone to brittleness. Iron tools were too fragile, too soft, and not sharp, far inferior to copper. Until a great nation discovered steel, they swung their hammers again and again, sweating and bleeding as they forged the sufficiently stable Hundred-refined Steel. This piece of black metal finally took center stage as the protagonist. But its production was too expensive, too rare; from mining to transportation, to smelting, to forging, every iron sword took an endless amount of labor and resources. Eventually, during the Industrial Revolution, people finally discovered how to acquire iron that was tough, durable, and even cheap. Now, high-quality steel is commonplace: in skyscrapers, cars and ships, railways and trains, bridges and towers, one could get a pound of iron for less than two Yuan at a scrapyard. The black metal completed its transformation from mystery to mundanity. The sense of mystery surrounding iron long ceased to exist for humans, and the steel industry became a marvel of the new era. Majestic blast furnaces, as tall as several stories, operated non-stop 24 hours a day, with temperatures reaching several thousand degrees Celsius; no living organism or moisture could survive in the scorching molten iron, requiring countless engineers to cooperate closely. The entire steel mill was like a never-satisfied giant monster, devouring ores, coal, and limestone. The products from modern steel mills, with their high quality and consistent standards, would have been considered miracles by ancient people: only with the help of deities could craftsmen occasionally produce such exquisite work. Now, everyone has forgotten the history of this black metal, which even half a century ago was still not easy to come by. Until now, a man, almost entirely naked, has accomplished something phenomenal in the most primitive and savage rainforest using only mud and stone; he made something out of nothing, reminding people once again. Oh, so this is how the very first iron and steel were made. He smelted iron, turned the iron into more stable steel, and finally turned the steel into a blade. He is an adventurer, a nature enthusiast, a man filled with madness in his bones. In front of an audience of over ten million, he condensed the process of human history. At this moment, six million viewers watched and shouted hysterically, responding to this moment with the most intense emotions. [Ao Jing gifts the host a yacht*1¡ªMaster Fang is awesome! Humans are awesome!] [Ashtray gifts the host a spaceship*100¡ªniu~~~bi~~] [Holy crap, since when could Wolf Fang send images?] [No, it¡¯s just your own mind sketching them out, hahaha] [Lord Mu gifts the host a spaceship*10¡ªIt could become a store¡¯s treasure] [It¡¯s you! Yao Jun, you swindler! I spent three hundred Yuan on bamboo and never managed to start a fire once, wuwuwu] [President Yao is really a genius in some regards. Every time I make a purchase, I feel like I¡¯ve been thoroughly scammed, you heartless worm!] [Swindler! Wicked merchant! Charlatan! (Ma Chao triple hit)] What happened to Yao Jun, why such resentment from everyone? Bi Fang looked puzzled, but he trusted Yao Jun wouldn¡¯t mess around at the club. The scorching hot sand twisted with heat. Microscopic changes occurred before the eyes of the audience, the grains becoming finer, denser, and tighter, like twisted muscle fibers. It would be a good knife. Bi Fang collapsed on the ground, closing his eyes to savor the moment. He had finally succeeded. Next, all he needed to do was attach a handle and polish it a bit, and it would be a finished dagger. A steel knife. A blade superior in completion to the Iron Knife required by the System. Gradually, snoring began to rise. The audience was startled at first, thinking it was some strange noise until they realized it was coming from the microphone and saw Bi Fang lying on his back, eyes closed. They then remembered, in his rush to keep pace, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t had proper rest for several days, and last night he didn¡¯t sleep at all, forging through the night in addition to the intense physical exertion; he was so exhausted that he fell asleep as soon as he relaxed a bit. [Damn, is he asleep?] [You can¡¯t sleep now, the helicopter will be here in three to four hours] [My God, get up quick] ¡­ [Old Fang, get up; it¡¯s past five o¡¯clock] ¡°` [It¡¯s six o¡¯clock!] [The helicopter is here] As the sun set, the audience kept shouting, but Bi Fang had already entered his dream. Moments later, the helicopter flew in, and the electronic sound that hadn¡¯t been heard for a month rang out again. [Ding, main quest three failed, completion rate low.] ¡°Hmm?¡± Bi Fang woke up abruptly, sat up in a daze, and then clutched his swollen head. It hurt a lot. It was like magma flowing through the narrow cerebral vessels, scorching fragile veins and into the brain, before finally cracking along the cranial bone¡¯s sutures bit by bit, chafing, and turning into char under the high temperature. Remembering the nightmare he had just had, Bi Fang forced his eyes wide open against the urge to close them and asked the audience how long he had slept. [About half an hour, it¡¯s just past three now, not even four yet.] ¡°Phew, I¡¯m sorry, I was just too exhausted and dozed off the moment I relaxed.¡± Bi Fang pushed himself to stand, took a few deep breaths, and after bending over to touch his toes for about ten seconds, he stood back up; he was clearly more alert upon rising. However, the tiredness still lingered, it just wasn¡¯t as overwhelming. ¡°If you feel sleepy and want to wake up quickly, you can try the movement I just did. When your head goes down, blood will rush to your brain for a short period, providing a lot of oxygen and nutrients, making your brain active and alert again.¡± ¡°Before doing it, you can also take a deep breath to briefly increase the oxygen content in your blood, it¡¯s really effective. When I used to get sleepy during class, I would ¡®accidentally¡¯ drop my pen under the table, then bend to pick it up for ten seconds.¡± [When I got sleepy in class, I just slept, Old Fang got sleepy and he picked up pens, no wonder I understand nothing while watching a stream and Old Fang is getting more and more awesome] [Hahaha, this is so true] [What about in the office?] ¡°There¡¯s a way for the office, too. Sit up straight, lift your legs off the floor, and tense your muscles.¡± Bi Fang sat on a rock, his body in the middle of a sit-up pause, his abdominal muscles tense, his serratus anterior rib muscles undulating like shark gills. ¡°Many people will feel sore after holding the position for just over a dozen seconds, it¡¯s quite tiring. The principle behind this exercise is that muscle activity excites your sympathetic nervous system and activates the ¡®hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenalin¡¯ system to secrete adrenaline, essentially giving your body a shot of energy.¡± Half a minute later, after performing the two sets of exercises, Bi Fang had refreshed his mind and spirit and approached the blast furnace, removing the stones and stirring the hot sand with a branch. After half an hour of cooling, the hot sand was no longer scalding to the touch. [By the way, where did Old Fang get this sand¡­] [Whoa, I also noticed that. Where does sand come from in a rainforest?] ¡°Where there¡¯s soil, getting sand is not that hard. If you understand the principle of soil desertification, you¡¯ll know.¡± Breaking apart the vegetation, dead branches, leaves, and crust that protect the soil¡¯s surface, the exposed soil under the sun and monsoon quickly dries out. The original granular structure is destroyed, losing its adhesive effect. Fine particles and nutrients are carried away by the wind or rain, leaving behind coarse particles without nutrients, resulting in desertification. ¡°What can be done naturally by air drying, can be done faster artificially. Just remove the dead branches, leaves, and stones from the soil, keep heating it, rinsing it, and heating it again, and you¡¯ll get soil that is like crushed sand.¡± Bi Fang poked the mixture with a stick, and after hitting the dagger, he fished it out. After shaking off the sand, the steel dagger finally revealed its true form. But¡­ It wasn¡¯t attractive. It wasn¡¯t the cold, sharp and reflective look the audience imagined, but pitch black, reflecting blue light under the sun¡­ Bi Fang didn¡¯t care; all newly made items looked like this. They would shine after being polished. He took out a polished log, cut it evenly into two halves, and then pressed it against the thin handle of the dagger. After marking it, he picked up the dagger and cut a groove into the wood where the handle could fit, each cut precise enough to include the handle without being too loose. The two pieces of wood were joined together, perfectly sized so they could be inserted without being too loose. He smeared the collected rubber tree resin, or latex, on top. ¡°Natural latex has good stickiness after air drying. If possible, it can also be vulcanized, which would make the stickiness even higher, but I don¡¯t have enough time, I need to install the wooden handle as quickly as possible.¡± He stuck the two semi-circular logs together and waited for them to dry and adhere firmly. Bi Fang then took out the Stone Dagger, quickly carving the handle into an elliptical curve. He got the rough shape, then took out a smooth stone and rubbed it to smooth and even out the wood¡¯s rough spots. For the final step, he wrapped the elongated vine evenly around the wooden handle for secondary reinforcement, dipped it into the latex for the final adhesion. The vines wrapped the wooden handle, towering like a black blade reflecting flecks of cold light at its tip. With that, all the work was finished, and the dagger was fully formed. Bi Fang looked at the shelter and blast furnace behind him, his mind flashing through the tidbits of these twenty-one days. Finally, he held the Stone Hammer carefully and stared at the furnace for a long time. He finally smashed it against the chimney, cracks spreading out like a spider web. The cracks grew and turned into fissures, and with a thunderous crash, the three-meter-high chimney collapsed to the ground, shaking the earth. The Water Monitors shivered slightly, scurried down from the tree, and slipped into the cave, hiding in its deepest part. Ash to ash, dust to dust. Chapter 505 - Chapter 505: Chapter 502: A Long Way to Go (Added Chapter) Chapter 505: Chapter 502: A Long Way to Go (Added Chapter) The massive chimney toppled toward the ground, emitting a sound like bricks and stones, raising dust all around. As the dust settled, the chimney, over three meters tall, had completely fractured into several pieces. Bi Fang used rocks to shatter it entirely, burying it in a large pit he had dug earlier. When he reached the last water hole, the Water Monitors were alerted by the noise. Unfortunately, Bi Fang chased them away, watching as the water hole that produced fresh fish daily was gradually filled with bricks and stones, and by noon, it had transformed into soil that was no different from the rest of the ground. The fish pit was no more. At five-thirty, the sky began to darken, and a reddish sun flooded the entire jungle. Bi Fang sat on the ground, using a smooth whetstone to sharpen the dagger in his hands. The faint glow of the golden sunset bathed him, his eyelashes glistening, as devout as a monk in his asceticism. The metal sang a clear, low hum as it rubbed against the stone. The black blade shed layer after layer of its gray exterior, revealing its shiny, silver essence. The Banna Rainforest live stream was devoid of any intense, thrilling moments, only ordinary forging and polishing, earnestly completing a task. Building a house, setting up a furnace, forging a blade. And then smashing it to pieces, burying it in the ground, waiting for Nature to decompose it. Dust and earth left to their own devices. Bi Fang didn¡¯t mind; he enjoyed the process. The process of forging refined iron was also the process of forging himself. The forest was empty and silent after the great destruction. The calls of birds lessened significantly, and the Water Monitors emerged from their holes, pacing back and forth where the old wall and water holes used to be, as if mourning the loss of an excellent shelter that had vanished. What it didn¡¯t know was that the free lunch was gone forever. Maybe it would be sad if it could understand? Maybe not. How much emotion can you expect from a cold-blooded creature? As long as it¡¯s well-fed, hydrated, and basking in the sun, the Water Monitor is content to laze around all day. But Bi Fang hadn¡¯t dismantled the two fishing spots; instead, he reinforced them again. Perhaps that was the only trace he left behind on this journey. When many people think of the rainforest, their first impression is of murky river water, thick branches or vines hanging haphazardly into the water, and broad, fan-like leaves that blot out the sky, densely packed trees. Crocodiles peek their backs through the water¡¯s surface, massive anacondas glide through the murky depths, strange birds flutter about, locusts hide in the damp grass, and unknown jungle beasts lie in ambush behind some hefty tree trunk, ready to pounce¡­ Unfortunately, this isn¡¯t Africa or South America. Asian things have always seemed somewhat more miniature. Even the Asian Elephant is daintier than the African Elephant by an indescribable degree. It seems that even Nature has been harmonized in a harmonious society, where everything complements each other, quiet and orderly, hardly daring to overstep the boundaries on the surface. But this place has not only murky waters but also clean streams. There are no crocodiles, though pythons do exist; Bi Fang even saw a buffalo, yet there has been no sign of the Asian Elephant. He did encounter many snakes and lizards, large and small, however. Looking around. The trees strive to rise above the dense rainforest, stretching skyward to capture more sunlight, towering into the clouds; lower plants spread their large leaves wide to get more light and moisture; and mosses at the very bottom seize every chance to spread indefinitely into damp spaces. Even if there are breathtaking scenes, they are nothing more than the strangulation or parasitic phenomena between plants, sometimes chaotic, other times gorgeous. ¡°Rustle, rustle.¡± Suddenly a sound like leaves being disturbed arose in the forest, causing Bi Fang to lift his head and gradually grip the dagger in his hand tighter. The audience, enjoying the tranquil atmosphere, snapped back to attention. What¡¯s that sound? Is something approaching? There¡¯s only half an hour left to go back. No mishap now, right? The noise grew louder, and it seemed to be a huge creature making it, but the sound was very intricate. One, or two? Or perhaps even more? Bi Fang¡¯s muscles tensed with a sour stiffness, the soil beneath his feet subtly deforming. The sound drew nearer, and finally, with a whoosh, fallen leaves hit the ground and numerous snorting noises erupted. A little black pig tumbled out of the bushes, snorted a few times at Bi Fang, then seemingly unconcerned, turned around and let out a shrill neigh as several wild boars ran out. It appeared to be a whole family. At the moment the wild boar emerged, Bi Fang¡¯s nerves were almost taut to the limit, but as soon as they all came out, he let out a big sigh of relief. The wild boars of the Banna Rainforest were not quite as he had imagined. [Wild boar?] [Is this motherfucker a wild boar?] The audience¡¯s tense feelings disappeared in an instant, and for no other reason than that these few wild boars looked too naive, even completely different from the bristly, fanged creatures they had imagined, plump and round, and pitifully small, only reaching up to Bi Fang¡¯s knees. Bi Fang burst out laughing, realizing indeed that there was a big difference between one wild boar and another, and the few before him were definitely not something to worry about. Wild boars are gregarious by nature, with groups of 4-10 being fairly common. There were only four in front of him, and they were all small pigs not even knee-high. Additionally, each one was as fat as a little hippo, and he guessed that if these guys kept reproducing for a few more generations, their offspring would end up on the dinner table like domestic pig meat. ¡°Sorry, I have to leave now, if this had been a few days earlier, I might have been interested,¡± he said. [Wild Boar: Did I just feel a chill run through me?] [San You can¡¯t protect me anymore, I¡¯m so scared, wu wu wu] But it seemed that joy turned to sorrow in an extreme, as while Bi Fang was taking an interested observation, a wild boar that was up until then rooting in the ground suddenly charged at him. Bi Fang was startled for a moment, grabbed his dagger, ready to counterattack, but when the wild boar got close, it suddenly stopped, lowered its head, and sniffed. Bi Fang¡¯s movement instead frightened it into stepping back a couple of steps. Bi Fang laughed and cheerfully said, ¡°You know? Pigs have straight necks, so they can¡¯t bend backwards, which is why they can¡¯t look up, and many people say pigs can¡¯t see the sky, but that¡¯s not correct. To be precise, it¡¯s that pigs can¡¯t look up at the sky in a standing posture.¡± ¡°But they can change the position of their limbs, like sitting down on their hindquarters, lifting their front limbs, or lying on something. However, the wild boars in the rainforest probably have never seen the sky, because there are very few open terrains here, all of which are covered by large trees.¡± [This pig is terribly fat, this is a wild boar?] [It¡¯s so fat, no wonder our ancestors domesticated pigs] [It¡¯s a pity, if it was just two days earlier, Old Fang could have told us about the taste of wild boar meat.] [It seems so dumb] ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate it, the role of wild boars in the forest ecosystem is extremely important,¡± he said. Seeing that the wild boar wasn¡¯t posing any threat, Bi Fang sat back down to continue sharpening, explaining with a smile. ¡°Without the activity of wild boars, the thickness of the forest floor herbs, shrubs, and the fallen branches and leaves wouldn¡¯t change much, many herbaceous plants wouldn¡¯t be able to spread over a wide area. If the herbaceous plants don¡¯t spread, it leads to soil compaction, affecting the activity of soil animals, slowing down the natural decomposition rate, affecting soil aeration and humus layer formation, and causing changes in material cycling. Moreover, the wild boars breaking a large number of shrubs for nesting plays a regulatory role in forest density, not affecting the nutrient uptake of other tree species and herbaceous plants. The light conditions in the forest improve, enhancing the soil microenvironment. The reduction of shrubs also facilitates the movement of large animals through the area. It can find nuts buried underground by mice, and the places where wild boars forage by digging up mouse holes account for two-thirds of all foraged areas, playing an important role in preventing forest rodent infestations.¡± Bi Fang casually listed a string of benefits of wild boars, leaving the audience taken aback. [Turns out, I¡¯m the only useless one, wu wu wu] [Wild boars suddenly seem cute now] ¡°But in recent years, wild boars have been a bit too rampant, and in 2006 our country even lifted the absolute ban on hunting wild boars.¡± Each wild boar group stakes out their own territory, they don¡¯t obediently divide the reserve evenly, but capriciously occupy land at will. It¡¯s common for several groups to compete for one area while another area may not have a single wild boar. The wild boar groups that lose out in competition then turn their attention to human territory, and it becomes seemingly reasonable for them to recklessly trample flora and fauna within their dominion. ¡°When wild boars overbreed and encroach on the human living environment, they become ¡®killers¡¯ that harm humans, and we still need to prioritize human protection. I think those who have watched my livestream should understand this principle.¡± The wild boar continued to root in the ground, utterly indifferent to the two-legged ape¡¯s evaluation of it. ¡°The increase in wild boars is due to improved ecology, but it also indicates the imbalance in ecological recovery, suggesting that predators such as tigers and leopards, which are natural enemies of wild boars, have reduced or even become extinct, leading to excessive breeding of wild boars.¡± The responsibility is great and the journey is long. Chapter 506 - Chapter 506: Chapter 503: Goodbye, Rainforest. Chapter 506: Chapter 503: Goodbye, Rainforest. The wild boar kept sniffing at his feet, and after a while, it almost bumped into him before Bi Fang finally reacted and dragged the rock away from the spot. With the obstruction gone, the wild boar immediately buried its head in the soil; its long snout rooted around, and a nut caked in mud was unearthed. Then a hole was revealed, and a large black mouse darted out from inside. But before it could escape the entrance, the boar bit it and crunched it down bones and all. The viewers were all shocked. Bi Fang had been living here for about ten days and had yet to discover a mouse hole nearby? ¡°I almost forgot, the sense of smell of a wild boar is even sharper than that of a dog. Many truffle hunters rely on pigs¡¯ sense of smell to find them,¡± laughed Bi Fang. He had been living here for about ten days and had never discovered the mouse hole underneath the rock he often sat on. The water monitors didn¡¯t react; were they too used to feasting on fish and meat to bother with a mouse? [Pigs are so capable, so why aren¡¯t they used for military purposes?] [Who says they¡¯re not? They¡¯ve been around for a long time, in the cookhouse.] [Cookhouse? Are you trying to kill me with laughter and inherit my wealth?] [Full bellies give strength, and pigs make a great contribution.] ¡°Since pigs are smarter than dogs, they are more likely to exhibit complex emotions like fear and reluctance, making them much less obedient. Additionally, pigs have poor eyesight and are not as agile, so they can¡¯t replace dogs,¡± Bi Fang explained. Seeing one of their companions find food, the other three wild boars joined in; their curled tails stuck up as they overturned the entire soil layer and devoured all the hairless baby mice inside. Bi Fang looked up. The time was almost up, and he spoke with a touch of regret. ¡°Before coming here, the staff told me that there are many wild monkeys and boars in the rainforest valleys, but despite visiting many places, I saw wild Baizhi oxen and wild boars, yet I had no luck encountering any wild monkeys. Perhaps it¡¯s a problem with my appearance,¡± he joked. This remark had the viewers roaring with laughter. These last moments were spent in casual conversation as time quietly drew to a close. The wild boars had departed, and the drone slowly ascended, the wind blowing through the vast hectares of forest, making it look like an ocean from afar. A vast crimson sea. The treetops formed waves upon waves, Countless homing birds turned into dots flying towards the distance or between the thickets, while only one dot grew larger and larger, bringing the roar of an engine. Everything seemed to return to the beginning of the story. ¡°Why do humans need iron?¡± asked Bi Fang unexpectedly. Of course, because iron is useful, the viewers answered without hesitation. ¡°Yes, iron is useful,¡± agreed Bi Fang. He held up the smoothly polished dagger in his hand; its once pitch-black appearance had long vanished, now gleaming silver-white with a dazzling orange glow from the setting sun. Hard, sharp, and with excellent toughness, who could say it wasn¡¯t useful? ¡°Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin and was the first metal to be widely used, its history even tracing back to prehistoric times. Iron, which requires high temperatures for smelting, was developed later, but because it was harder, more wear-resistant, and more readily available, it quickly replaced bronze,¡± he elaborated. ¡°From buildings and transportation to tools and weapons, iron is everywhere. If one wants to understand the importance of a metal to civilization, look no further than iron.¡± ¡°However, wrought iron is too soft, even softer than bronze, limiting its use. In battle, you certainly wouldn¡¯t want your sword to be too soft. That¡¯s when humans needed steel.¡± ¡°Throughout the centuries, blacksmiths have sought various ways to strengthen wrought iron. Without the guidance of chemical science, they could only experiment over and over again. Eventually, they found that heating wrought iron on charcoal made its surface harden, making it suitable for cutting edges. So they speculated that some substance must be penetrating the iron and strengthening it. This was the process of carburization. Gradually, they also discovered the technique called ¡®quenching¡¯, which involved immersing heated iron tools in oil or water for rapid cooling, making them harder than iron that cooled slowly. But while they were harder, they were also too brittle, easily breaking upon impact. Groping in the dark, they found that this drawback could be mitigated by another technique called ¡®tempering¡¯, which involved reheating the tools to a lower temperature and letting them cool slowly, allowing the iron to ¡®relax¡¯¡ªtrading some hardness for toughness.¡± The dagger, polished with a rough stone, was full of scratches, vaguely reflecting Bi Fang¡¯s face. The rumbling in the sky drew nearer, and Bi Fang spoke faster, stirring a sense of loss in the viewers. The time for farewell had come. ¡°Though ancient people developed technology through experience without understanding the principles, every advancement was the result of countless coincidences or trial and error. We, however, have received a good education and understand many basic principles; yet we also cannot easily replicate these technologies.¡± ¡°As of today, steel smelting has become an entire set of closely connected complete industries.¡± ¡°Iron ore and coal mined from all over the world are shipped to large steel mills, where the crushed iron ore is sintered into pellets, while coal is dry-distilled into coke¡ªthen they are stacked in layers inside blast furnaces that reach up to a hundred meters tall.¡± ¡°The processed coke can even burn at temperatures above 1500¡ãC, melting the iron ore directly into molten iron, which is then poured into converters, where pure oxygen is blown in, allowing impurities to oxidize and escape, and different elements are added as needed to produce steel with precise compositions.¡± ¡°Finally, it¡¯s poured into molds to cool, at temperatures around 1100¡ãC, it¡¯s pressed into various shapes and distributed to every field of modern industry, ultimately sustaining the entire modern civilization.¡± ¡°How to develop the most accurate formulas and manufacture the best performing steel is the core competition of modern civilization. Compared to that, the little piece of Hundred-refined Steel I forged in the wilderness pales in significance.¡± Bi Fang said with self-deprecating laughter. The audience suddenly became anxious. [How can that be, absolutely awesome!] [That¡¯s right, knowing the whole process, I can only look up to it] [I don¡¯t care, I don¡¯t care, Master Fang is the best in the world!] Bi Fang smiled, ¡°I know you all like me a lot, but if you are truly interested in iron smelting, then study hard. Maybe one day, you can develop even more useful materials and contribute to the construction of our homeland. That alone would surpass me.¡± The helicopter discovered Bi Fang in the dense forest and quickly lowered a rope ladder. Bi Fang grabbed the rope with ease and climbed swiftly. Halfway up, he made a gesture to the pilot, and the helicopter began to rise slowly. ¡°The density of dangers in the rainforest is very high. In twenty-one days of survival, we saw many beautiful and dangerous creatures coexisting, from the Wild Baizhi Ox to the Burmese Python, from the Water Monitors to the Cobra. Before coming here, I never imagined I would encounter so many national first and second class species.¡± The audience remembered the Cobras, Giant Squirrels, Wild Oxen, Big Pythons, and the companion Water Monitors, and they couldn¡¯t help but nod their heads. ¡°I also built a shelter with Leonardo, made all kinds of tools, but most importantly, I started a furnace for iron smelting and obtained a Steel Dagger!¡± Bi Fang held high the only trophy he brought out of the rainforest. If it hadn¡¯t been witnessed with their own eyes, no one would believe that this dagger was crafted bit by bit in the rainforest. He came with just a grass skirt, and he left with still a grass skirt and a steel dagger. ¡°Now, the time has come for me to leave. I sincerely hope that the skills and stories I¡¯ve shown can bring you knowledge and joy.¡± ¡°So, today¡¯s live broadcast ends here, we¡¯ll see you next time!¡± [Wow, my Master Fang] [Don¡¯t go, please] [Wuuuwuuu, when is the next broadcast?] [I have a feeling, the next broadcast, will be in the next] As the rope ladder swung slightly, Bi Fang hung mid-air, his back to the setting sun, edged in gold, he extended his hand toward the drone in front of him and saluted with two fingers, then he slowly ascended and vanished from sight. The screen went completely dark. Inside the first venue, people facing the now dimmed large screen all exhaled, feeling somewhat unfulfilled. In these twenty-plus days, the shock brought by Bi Fang was by no means inferior to any previous live broadcasts. Although there was no life-or-death crisis, the Steel Dagger alone was enough to command absolute respect. The Master Fang live broadcast room lived up to its name. If one didn¡¯t know where the greatest adventurer of this century was, just open the live broadcast, and he would surely appear. The helicopter rose slowly into the damp night sky, and after a long time, the sky darkened completely. The city, like a glowing body gradually enlarging, then the myriad lights of Banna became clear through the moistened window. In the distance, vast stretches of the rainforest were visibly dark, gradually shrinking to a small patch of rainforest, and finally to a single tree. The flowing air whooshed past the cabin windows, leaving only the darkened heavens and a layered tapestry of grey and white clouds in sight. ¡°Goodbye, rainforest.¡± Chapter 507 - Chapter 507: 504 Chapter 507: 504 ¡°Is this the steel dagger you forged?¡± ¡°Let me have a look, come on, let me see.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t fight over it, what if you break it? Can you afford it? People online are already bidding a million to buy it!¡± ¡°A million? That¡¯s odd, even if you sold me, I wouldn¡¯t be worth that much.¡± As soon as he got off the helicopter, the rainforest staff swarmed around Bi Fang, eager and pushing; even Zhou Weisheng couldn¡¯t squeeze in next to him. Some touched the person, some touched the dagger, all wanting to see the godlike man who had lived for twenty-one days in the rainforest with nothing at all. It made Bi Fang feel like he was a gorilla in a zoo, and what left him speechless was that among the men, there were quite a few women mixing in, muddying the waters and stealthily getting a feel. ¡°Strong and powerful, strong and powerful indeed!¡± ¡°Back off, you damn nanmu!¡± ¡°Wuwuwu, you¡¯re scolding me.¡± ¡°What are you hiding for? What, men can touch but we women can¡¯t? That¡¯s discrimination!¡± ¡°When we touch, it¡¯s appreciation; when you do it, that¡¯s hooliganism! Forty years earlier, it would have been a crime!¡± Of course, more people still wanted to admire the dagger brought out from the rainforest. Apart from the handle wrapped in vines that seemed rather rustic, the rest looked almost like any double-edged fruit knife you could buy outside. These ordinary people couldn¡¯t figure out how on earth steel could be produced from the ordinary soil. The shock was no less than that of ancient people seeing a spaceship crash in their backyard¡ªstrongly incongruous, totally out of sync with the world they knew. Bi Fang didn¡¯t mind, passing around the ¡°million-dollar¡± steel dagger in turn. Only the tip was sharp enough, with both sides simply polished, the black coating removed, without a sharpened edge, so there was no concern for safety. After more than half an hour of commotion, the people gradually returned the dagger, still reluctantly, under Zhou Weisheng¡¯s urging, and Bi Fang put it away again. He had no intention of giving it away, after all, he had worked hard to make it; it was a memento, and he wasn¡¯t short of that million. Once the crowd began to quiet down, Zhou Weisheng finally got a chance to see Bi Fang. He had intended to welcome him and thank him for promoting and contributing to Banna¡¯s tourism. But Bi Fang was too tired, in no mood for celebrations. Right now, all he wanted was to have a comprehensive medical check-up at the hospital and then go back to sleep. Zhou Weisheng slapped his forehead, ¡°Ah, I watched the live broadcast too and almost forgot about this¡ªquickly, send Mr. Bi to our medical room and then arrange a room.¡± Though it was just a staff hospital, it couldn¡¯t be underestimated. After all, it was for employees in the protected area who often went deep into the rainforest for scientific research; it held various common antidotes and many serums as well. After the medical check-up, other than his weight plummeting four kilograms and some muscle strain, many of the test results didn¡¯t show any common issues, but something else caught his attention. ¡°The number of dengue fever cases has reached over five hundred?¡± The nurse beside him nodded, releasing the pulse pressure meter, ¡°Yes, in just twenty days, the number has increased so much.¡± Bi Fang clicked his tongue, remembering more clearly that when he first arrived in Banna, he saw a news report about one case of infection and even mentioned it to the viewers on the first day of the live broadcast. Who would have thought that by the end of the live broadcast, there would be over five hundred more? ¡°` He was somewhat relieved that he had chosen to look for red mud as mosquito repellent as soon as he entered the rainforest. Fortunately, dengue fever was treatable, so there was no need for too much worry. After receiving the report and getting the confirmation, Bi Fang completely relaxed. It was at this moment that the system¡¯s unchanging electronic voice once again transmitted. The bits and pieces of the rainforest condensed into a few seconds of images that flashed by as if traveling through the river of time, finally culminating in a prompt. [Congratulations host, you have completed the task: Iron Age. The reward is being distributed. Would you like to receive it?] Receive! [Detecting¡­] Bi Fang couldn¡¯t remember what reward the system had given afterwards, but what he clearly knew was that right now his eyelids were extremely heavy, and he wished he could fall asleep right there. Following the staff, a groggy Bi Fang returned to the hotel. Without even taking a bath, he fell asleep. When he woke up again, the sky outside the window was bright. He picked up the alarm clock by the bedside and saw that it was already two in the afternoon. He took the helicopter back at six yesterday and finished the hospital check-up at nine in the evening. After that, he returned to the hotel immediately, which meant he had slept for almost sixteen hours? Bi Fang held his forehead, feeling an unusual headache and still very sleepy. He knew he had slept too long. Sleeping for too long sends the wrong signals to the brain, secrete sleep-related hormones, and make one want to sleep more. Waking up would also feel uncomfortable due to abnormal hormone levels. He had no choice but to force himself to get up. ¡°This is too uncomfortable.¡± Bi Fang was surprised by his body¡¯s reaction, feeling an unusual soreness all over. It was the result of a large accumulation of lactic acid. He had forged a steel knife in the wilderness, and now he was exhausted. Now he was sore, sleepy, hungry, and, even worse, had a headache. Getting out of bed, Bi Fang noticed that he was still wearing the thicket outfit from his departure. Now that he thought about it, the looks he had received from passers-by last night indeed seemed a bit strange. Perhaps they mistook him for some kind of ethnic dance performer. There were plenty of grass-skirt performers in the scenic area. Of course, it wasn¡¯t impossible they recognized him; Zhou Weisheng had broadcasted his stream on the big screens of the plaza these days, although the likelihood was small. After living in the wilderness for twenty days, although Bi Fang maintained his cleanliness daily, his hair and beard had grown considerably, and his entire body still had that constricted feeling of being wrapped in red mud. After calling the hotel to arrange for a meal to be delivered around three o¡¯clock, Bi Fang went to the bathroom to freshen up. He sprayed foam and shaved off all the stubble from his face, His formerly stubbly chin was smooth again. After washing his face, the feeling of each pore breathing freely was unforgettable. Turning on the showerhead and adjusting it to hot water, Bi Fang pushed his wet hair back, revealing his bright eyes and clean face. As the hot water washed over him, his whole body relaxed, and every cell seemed to breathe freely, tempting him to fall asleep again. Fighting off the drowsiness, Bi Fang finished his shower and took a bath. Although cold water could help alleviate muscle soreness better, that was for right after intense exercise, and he had already waited for more than a day. It would be fine to just let his body recover slowly. Steam covered the frosted glass in the bathroom. Bi Fang opened the system and quickly found yesterday¡¯s reward, which he hadn¡¯t paid attention to. ¡°` [Detection reveals an extremely high completion rate for the host¡¯s task, your final rewards are: Joint Strengthening Coupon*1, Store Exchange Coupon*1, Skill Can*1, Item Tank*1, Wilderness Points*1840, Enhancement Points*4] A pile of rewards cascaded down, greatly refreshing Bi Fang¡¯s inflating brain. Despite having reaped rewards many times before, Bi Fang always felt a heartfelt excitement every time he saw them, the sense of achievement from effort bearing fruit was unparalleled. ¡°Haven¡¯t seen a Skill Can in a long time.¡± Bi Fang was somewhat surprised by the Skill Can; it was like opening a blind box¡ªthe prices were outrageously high in the store, so he hardly ever bought them. There was also an extra Item Tank, leaving him wondering what it might contain. Without rushing to open the cans, Bi Fang used three of the Enhancement Points first. A warm stream flowed from his spine, reaching his limbs and dissipating through every pore, significantly easing the soreness in his body! He opened his long-missed panel, and a parade of data and solidified skills were fully displayed. [Unique Binder: Bi Fang] [Age: 25] [Height: 186.3cm] [Weight: 74KG] [Strength: 15] [Physique: 18] [Agility: 16] [Spirit: 15] [Platinum Body] [Status: Hungry, Fatigue Damage.] [Enhancement Points: 1] [Wilderness Points: 1960 (convertible)] Orange Core: Wilderness Traveler lv1. Purple Branches: Special Recon Soldier lv2, Body Tempering lv1 (from a combination of Yoga, Pilates, Calisthenics). Blue Boughs: High-altitude Parachuting lv3, Tai Chi Traveling Dragon lv2, Archery lv1, Rock Climbing lv2, Biological Identification lv3, Swimming lv1, First Aid lv1. Green Canopy: Cross-country Hiking lv5, Running lv5. Special Talent: Beastly Instinct. Booty Skills: Wolves King¡¯s Sense of Smell, Fish King¡¯s Stomach, Biological Sensing. Bi Fang saved one Enhancement Point; orange skills now required an Advanced Skill Upgrade Coupon along with Enhancement Points. Although he didn¡¯t have any coupons on hand, it was better to be prepared. The Wilderness Points were not too abundant, likely compensated in the tangible rewards, but Bi Fang didn¡¯t care much for those points earned from tasks anymore. With the Wilderness Club¡¯s daily flow of over a hundred points, he was already a small tycoon with three thousand a month. Right, twenty days had passed, and he wondered just how many convertible points had accumulated, whether they reached the three thousand he¡¯d initially projected. Bi Fang opened the panel¡¯s convertible section, intending to make a mental calculation when the final digit of his points made the bottle of shower gel slip from his hands into the water with a splash. Units, tens, hundreds, thousands¡­ tens of thousands? Convertible Points: 10043¡­ Bi Fang was engulfed in profound shock. The club was only so big, the number of guests it could accommodate each day was limited. After accounting for profit sharing and costs, nearly two hundred points per day was the limit! Moreover, that was for the weekends¡ª even if it was packed every day, that would only total around six thousand a month. Where had this sudden increase of a third, nearly half, of the points come from? The points wouldn¡¯t just appear out of nowhere. The system clearly outlined that this ten thousand points were almost entirely converted from the club¡¯s share. ¡°Damn, how did Yao Jun and Lin Chang manage this?¡± Facing this bizarre surge in points, Bi Fang immediately thought of his two partners; it must be their doing. What exactly had they done? With nearly five thousand extra points for himself, that meant fifty million in twenty-one days, and that was just his share. For the club, it meant a profit increase of several billion¡­ In Magic Capital, at this moment Yao Jun sat in his office laughing maniacally at the sales curve on his computer. ¡°Hahahaha, I¡¯m a goddamn genius!¡± Lin Chang, massaging his brow, sat beside him. In some aspects, Yao Jun was indeed a genius. Bi Fang started a fire with a saw in the wilderness, and in less than an hour, Yao Jun had contacted a wood mill and hauled over loads of inferior bamboo sections. With costs at nine yuan a piece and transportation included, not even ten yuan each, he was selling them for thirty-five yuan per section¡­ The saws were counted separately, fifteen a pop, fifty for a set¡ªigniting a spark on the spot granted one day¡¯s access to the Hunting Park. A day in the Hunting Park wasn¡¯t much, but some people relished spending five hundred yuan for ten sets to laboriously drill fire. Then there was the harder hand drill, the simpler bow drill, with varying rewards, and a profit margin that reached an astonishing¡­ Let¡¯s not talk about it; even Poison Beibei would cry. While Bi Fang was iron smelting in the wilderness, Yao Jun contacted an iron factory overnight to see if they could build a rudimentary furnace on the spot and transport some iron ore over. Eating konjac to sell konjac, eating squirrel¡ªthey captured a large number of squirrels and released them in the Hunting Park, with extra rewards for catching them¡­ And there were all sorts of physical rewards; thirty yuan for a mini firecracker¡­ Physical rewards were much harsher than live stream donations; people who wouldn¡¯t spend a dime on streams might indulge in a firecracker, and they sold out daily, especially during the successful iron smelting days. Now, there were still many people in the Hunting Park buying materials, trying to build their own matching huts. No matter who cursed Yao Jun, calling him a mercenary worm, or even Lin Chang, but as for Bi Fang¡­ ¡°Our Brother Fang is struggling out in the wilderness, unable to eat his fill or stay warm, how could it possibly be him?¡± Lin Chang: ¡°???¡± Chapter 508 - Chapter 508: Chapter 505 Forbidden Zone Hunter Chapter 508: Chapter 505 Forbidden Zone Hunter With over eleven thousand points, no matter how Yao Jun and the others managed to do it, Bi Fang felt quite delighted. What is the cure for worries? Only wealth. There were still three days until the store refreshed, and without any rush to spend, Bi Fang decided to first digest the rewards he had already secured. The Joint Strengthening Coupon, just by its name, one could tell it was fantastic. Bi Fang was very much looking forward to the effect of this guaranteed reward coupon; every mission¡¯s guaranteed reward was quite good, and very impactful. He always thought that the mission¡¯s guaranteed rewards were a baseline, that only by getting them could he barely keep up with the pacing of the mission¡¯s difficulty. Without them, he wouldn¡¯t even meet the pass mark. Clinically, the normal human skeleton, after meticulous counting, has a total of 204 bones, but the human body has many joints, with a total of 78 clearly named ones. However, there are also some small joints that are not named, and thus not within this count. For example, there are many small joints in the spinal region of a patient that are not clearly named, and these are not among the 78. However, the Joint Strengthening Coupon clearly includes all of them, named and unnamed, without exception. Europeans and Americans actually have 206 bones, and some scientists even believe that the two bones Asians are missing compared to Europeans and Americans are located in the toes. Europeans and Americans have larger physiques than Asians, so to maintain body stability, their feet are larger, providing more substantial support. Bi Fang disagreed, as he was also of a tall build and never felt that his body was unstable. He could throw a punch just as powerfully, enough to make someone spit blood. Moreover, those two bones did not disappear, but merged with other bones. Ancestors of humans had over 300 bones initially, which means that, initially, humans had many more bones than they do now. Survival of the fittest, natural selection. Our ancestors, in order to better adapt to the environment and live better, gradually reduced the number of bones to what it is now. Although the number of bones doesn¡¯t necessarily correlate with the level of evolution, and bone quantity doesn¡¯t directly signal the direction of evolution, Bi Fang felt it was a trend toward better environmental adaptation. Certain movements Asians can do, Europeans and Americans cannot, highlighting a difference in flexibility. Therefore, Bi Fang believed more in the second scientific theory that, during the evolutionary process, Asians had merged unnecessary cartilages between pubic bones to reduce the load from friction between skeletal parts. Europeans and Americans did not undergo this evolution, hence, they have two extra small bones compared to Asians, but this does not affect normal life. Clicking use, the golden Joint Strengthening Coupon dissolved into a fine powder, merging into his body. Initially, Bi Fang didn¡¯t feel anything as it entered his body, but gradually, he noticed his knees warming up first. It wasn¡¯t painful but rather itchy, and there was a barely perceptible pleasurable sensation, as if he knew his AE86 was about to be fitted with a racing-grade engine, a very peculiar feeling. As expected. The knees are the largest and most complex joints in the human body, one of the few that can only move in one direction. They are also the body¡¯s largest weight-bearing joints, with an average load capacity of 35 kilograms, part of the hinge joints, but the more weight they bear, the higher the probability of wear and tear on the joint cartilages, and the tendons are more likely to suffer injuries, leading to faster joint degeneration. Moreover, for every 1 kilogram of body weight exceeded, the knee joint has to bear six times the weight. If you are 5 kilograms overweight, then your knees will have to carry an extra 30 kilograms. During squatting, the knee joint bears 3 to 6 times the weight of one¡¯s body weight, not to mention the damage caused to the knees by overloading exercises such as deep squats with heavy weights. 65%-75% of running enthusiasts have experienced more or less damage to their knee joints. 90% of knee injuries are caused by the impact force of instantaneous foot landing. The caused cartilage wear is irreversible, but now, under the effect of the Joint Strengthening Coupon, Bi Fang even felt his knee joints were completely transformed, capable of high-intensity use into the next century. The largest knee joints reacted first, followed closely by the second-largest, the hip joints. Gradually, Bi Fang began to feel a warmth spreading throughout his body, the entire sensation was like having a high fever of forty degrees, as if in a sauna. In the bath, Bi Fang even saw a faint hint of blood diffusing in the water, which scared him enough to almost climb out. ¡°It won¡¯t be like this when I used the Platinum Body, will it?¡± Bi Fang remembered that after using the Platinum Body, he woke up the next day with a faint strange smell on his body, and after taking a shower, he rushed to catch a plane. The state of high fever lasted for a full half hour, and it finally ended just as Bi Fang¡¯s head was about to succumb to the heat. Bi Fang struggled out of the water, gave himself a rinse, and then clenched his fist forcefully. There were many joints in his fingers, and while they looked no different from the outside, when he clenched his fist, an indescribably pleasant sensation emanated from his joints. More flexible and harder? That was Bi Fang¡¯s first impression, then he sat down into a deep squat, and to his surprise, he didn¡¯t feel any heaviness. With a forceful jump and landing, his knee joints hardly felt any recoil, as if a soft sponge had been cushioned at his ankles, nearly dissipating the impact by the time it reached his knees. Bi Fang was dumbfounded¡ªwas the effect really so exaggerated, or was it an illusion created by the strengthening of his mind? Wrapped in a bath towel, Bi Fang kept throwing punches in the bathroom, the sound of the air splitting with the speed of his fists, his finger joints cleaving through the air like arrows, muscles coordinating with bones, twisting joints, all incredibly smooth. His punching speed had increased. Bi Fang was certain he hadn¡¯t misjudged this, and this improvement alone made him feel it was worth it. Awesome! ¡°Phew.¡± The fully warmed-up Bi Fang felt completely revitalized, rolling his shoulders with no trace of soreness, and sat on the bed wrapped in the bath towel¡ªjust in time as room service arrived with his meal. ¡°That was fast?¡± Bi Fang glanced at the time, two fifty, ten minutes early. As he opened the door, the service staff, pushing the cart in, stared at Bi Fang, then looked around the room, spotted the grass skirt on the floor, and was shocked. What in the world? Yesterday he looked like a savage, and today he¡¯s a handsome guy? Could a bath change someone that much? The astonished staff member froze in place until Bi Fang reminded him to proceed, and after briskly setting everything up, he didn¡¯t forget to inform Bi Fang that there was a delivery for him at the front desk and offered to bring it up. ¡°A package?¡± Bi Fang began unwrapping his chopsticks, intending to eat, but was startled by the remark, ¡°Mine?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a backpack, left with the people from the reserve by Mr. Zhou, saying that you entrusted it to him for safekeeping,¡± said the service staff. Bi Fang made a slight gesture with his chopsticks, then remembered he did have something like that. The bag contained his phone, clothes, and such, which he had left in the cabin when changing. He had asked Zhou Weisheng to have someone keep it for him since he didn¡¯t have any spare clothes at hand and was still wearing a bathrobe. ¡°Then please bring it up when you come to clean up later. Thank you.¡± ¡°Sure thing.¡± Preoccupied, Bi Fang devoured his meal. It had been more than twenty days since he had last enjoyed the fragrant, soft, steaming white rice, so appetizing and sweet to the taste. Carbohydrates are indeed the source of life! There was also the fragrant braised pork knuckle, the soy sauce mixed with sugar for an enhanced flavor, a depth of taste not achievable with salt alone in the wilderness. It wasn¡¯t long before a bowl of rice, the pork knuckle, and some greens were all consumed. Bi Fang didn¡¯t leave even the oil behind, and he hadn¡¯t eaten much. Zhou Weisheng had mentioned there was a dinner party tonight, so he saved some room for the good food to come. Half an hour later, as the service staff came to clear the dishes, Bi Fang also received his backpack. He took out fresh clothes to change into and then got ready to open the can. Bi Fang first washed his hands. After a moment¡¯s consideration, he decided to forgo the burning of incense and bathing¡ªa ritual of worship. He opened the System. In mid-air, a can that only he could see appeared, floating idly. At the moment Bi Fang decided to open it, fissures spread across it, and with a loud bang, it burst open. A coupon shimmering with colorful light floated in mid-air, and Bi Fang read it word by word. ¡°Forbidden Zone Hunter Skill Coupon?¡± Upon use, it would replace his Special Forces skills. Oh, no, more precisely, it would override them, eventually becoming a Special Purple Skill, the same level as Youlong Bagua, but the skill level would be reduced to Purple Level One. What¡¯s there to hesitate about, just swap them. Having the mentality that Special Skills were definitely better than ordinary ones, Bi Fang didn¡¯t hesitate to choose to replace them, and the coupon exploded. An uncountable number of professional skills, experiences, and knowledge surged into his brain. Bi Fang quickly assimilated them as he was accustomed to, and as he assimilated more, his expression changed dramatically, eventually his pupils contracted. This thing was much fiercer than the Special Forces skills. Forbidden Zone Hunter. Hunt what humans cannot, gain what humans cannot attain. Everything in the world has a health bar. Doesn¡¯t it? Chapter 509 - Chapter 509: Chapter 506: Forbidden Zone Hunters Tooth Care Manual Chapter 509: Chapter 506: Forbidden Zone Hunter¡¯s Tooth Care Manual ¡°` Special Forces and Forbidden Zone Hunters have commonalities, but at their core, they are completely different! The so-called Special Forces refer to military units tasked with special operations, typical examples include Marine Corps, airborne troops, and armed police special forces. They are special military units in some of the world¡¯s armies, tasked with the mission of destroying significant political, economic, and military targets of the enemy and carrying out other special tasks. Individual combat capabilities are extremely strong, fitting to complete combat missions under various adverse conditions. But fundamentally, they are still soldiers, following orders, carrying out highly targeted tactical tasks, working in teams, using tactical explosives, deciphering, sniping. Forbidden Zone Hunters encompass Special Forces skills, with all the above skills and more, but their unique characteristics and development focuses are completely different. They are no longer soldiers but more like warriors. It¡¯s akin to the difference between ancient Roman soldiers and gladiators in the arena. A thousand elite soldiers arrayed in formation against a thousand fierce gladiators would end with the defeat of the gladiators. However, in a duel between a single elite soldier and a gladiator, the winner will certainly be the gladiator. The mere addition of skills in the mind makes it clear, with proficiency in melee weapons, hand-to-hand combat, handling injuries, pain endurance, knowledge of beast weak points, mastery of firearms¡­ Special Forces may know a bit about melee weapons, but primarily knife training, with the focus still on firearms, far from the use of swords, spears, clubs, staffs. From being one of the wolves or lions, one becomes a solitary tiger. This is how Bi Fang felt, in the absence of firearms, he was fiercer, better in combat, more suited for a loner like himself in the wilderness. He had had Special Forces skills for so long without ever touching a gun, and the best part of the overlapping skills is that the original skills don¡¯t disappear, now Bi Fang can be said to possess the strengths of both. Alone he is the fierce tiger, together they are a pride of lions. He felt that now he could take on ten men! Cough cough, that¡¯s an exaggeration. After all, this is still the real world, not the Ip Man Movie Universe. A Special Forces soldier can handle 3-4 ordinary people at the same time, which is quite impressive, originally against poachers, he had to rely on wilderness skills and the terrain to perform extraordinarily, separating and overcoming them individually. After becoming a Forbidden Zone Hunter, Bi Fang felt that he should now be able to take on about 6-7, or even as exaggerated as 8, being a little superhero, a mini movie-version Ip Man. Don¡¯t find it unbelievable or look down on it, humans after all are composed of bones and muscles, not titanium alloy and hydraulic devices. Even in professional boxing matches, they make a division every three kilograms, which is quite telling. Before the livestream, Bi Fang was still in the light heavyweight category, but after a single livestream session, he lost four kilograms, bypassing the super middleweight and directly dropping to middleweight. And this is a group attack, how many people can surround one person? If they come at him one by one, then the number depends on the stamina. With joint strengthening, plus being a Forbidden Zone Hunter, Bi Fang feels his strength has gone up another level, a qualitative difference, in hand-to-hand combat, few in the Special Forces would be a match for him now. ¡°But what will my identity change to?¡± Bi Fang remembered clearly that he had used an Identity Change Coupon on the Special Forces skill, and it was permanent, changing with skill upgrades; at the blue stage, he was a normal Special Forces soldier, but at the purple stage, he gained the identity of an outstanding graduate of Hunter Academy. An outstanding Hunter Academy graduate was already impressive enough, so what would it be now? Bi Fang was curious, but his attention was soon captured by the remaining Item Tank. The Hunter Coupon and Joint Coupon had already brought enough surprises, he was ready to accept whatever else the Item Tank revealed, but unexpectedly, the System still proved to be amazingly generous. As if hearing his heart¡¯s desire, with the tank cracking open, an Item Coupon he had fantasized about back in the Banna Rainforest appeared. [Tooth Remodeling Coupon (Note: Requires substantial calcium supplementation during use)] ¡­ Eight o¡¯clock in the evening. There was no alcohol, just a regular dinner, with a feast of Banna specialties on the table, many of which Bi Fang had eaten in the wild, such as stinky vegetables, and even porcini mushrooms. ¡°Is this porcini mushroom cooked?¡± Bi Fang, holding the porcini, was hesitant to eat it. This thing is poisonous¡­ If it¡¯s not fully cooked, it can cause hallucinations, making one see little people everywhere, known as ¡®Little People Country Hallucination.¡¯ Every year, a large number of Yunnan people end up in the hospital thinking they can eat this. If Bi Fang had cooked it himself, he¡¯d be a bit more confident, but at a dining spot for the sake of guaranteeing a particular texture, they wouldn¡¯t stew it to mush. Director Zhou laughed heartily: ¡°Master Fang, is there anything you dare not eat? You can eat grubs raw until they burst, what¡¯s a mushroom? Porcini is extremely delicious! Not to be missed, rest assured, it¡¯s been sliced very thinly, look, it¡¯s translucent, just one stir and it¡¯s done!¡± I want to be clear about what I¡¯m eating, that¡¯s why I make sure of it. Bi Fang thought to himself with an internal monologue. But it¡¯s hard to decline such kindness, and indeed, porcini is a rare delicacy. He decided to take the risk! He continued eating until ten o¡¯clock, Bi Fang arrived on an empty stomach and left with a belly full. Fortunately, he ate quickly and digested quickly too, otherwise he really wouldn¡¯t have room for all this food, managing to eat everything clean. Director Zhou and the other colleagues watched with trepidation, after all, they were intellectuals, not used to eating that much grease. Suddenly consuming too much can be risky of bloating to death. Hosting a dinner was a way of expressing the host¡¯s politeness and gratitude, not a plot for murder! But Bi Fang waved his hand, saying it was fine while eagerly continuing to eat and drinking milk on the side. As for why he needed to drink milk. ¡°` ¡°Teeth cleaning?¡± Zhou Weisheng found it rather strange. It wasn¡¯t that Bi Fang¡¯s transformation after a bath was shocking¡ªhe had seen this when Bi Fang first arrived. Besides a darker skin tone, there wasn¡¯t much difference. But something seemed off, and it wasn¡¯t until the end of the meal that he realized what it was. That guy¡¯s teeth are so white! Just like they¡¯re brand new! Did he get his teeth cleaned? Zhou Weisheng picked up a piece of fish, deep in thought. Indeed, he had watched Bi Fang¡¯s wilderness live streams. Brushing teeth involved chewing on twigs and then chewing on some plants with antiseptic properties and the ability to freshen breath. Though effective, it certainly couldn¡¯t compare to modern toothpaste and toothbrushes. A teeth cleaning after a live stream made perfect sense. Yep, that was logical. Seeing how good his teeth whitening results were, Zhou Weisheng was also tempted. He smoked, which left his teeth yellow with black stains, a constant source of complaint from his wife. After dinner, he couldn¡¯t hold back and asked Bi Fang which dental clinic he had visited. ¡°Ah, ah, this, well, this¡­¡± Bi Fang bit on a milk straw, taken aback by Zhou Weisheng¡¯s question. He wondered when he had gotten his teeth cleaned, then suddenly understood and didn¡¯t know how to explain. The Tooth Remodeling Coupon¡ªBi Fang originally thought it was for fixing a few cavities. Who the hell knew it meant replacing them all! When Bi Fang watched in the mirror, his old teeth were pushed out bit by bit by the new growth, slowly falling from the gums, and with a crisp sound, dropped into the sink stained with blood. The scene was incredibly shocking, so much so that it was like something out of a horror movie. And the more calcium he took, the faster they grew¡­ That afternoon, Bi Fang, dreading the thought of attending the evening banquet with a set of baby teeth, spent the entire afternoon in his hotel room, eating calcium tablets like meals with pure milk. Strangely enough, as soon as those things entered his stomach, it seemed they were digested, then continuously supplied to the skull, visibly growing the gums. By the time he was ready for his appointment, except for a few back molars which were a bit short, the rest had grown in perfectly¡ªtwenty-eight in total, all uniform, without any wisdom teeth. Touching his cheek, Bi Fang even felt that the shape of his face had changed, completely eliminating the space for wisdom teeth. Ancient apes and early humans directly acquired their food from nature, unprocessed, and these foods were very tough and coarse, such as branches, plant tubers, and animal muscles and tendons. Chewing required a lot of strength and a larger grinding surface area. In that scenario, large jawbones were necessary to withstand the force of chewing food, and wisdom teeth were present and functional to increase chewing efficiency. If you observe the jawbones of ancient humans or other primates, you¡¯ll find that compared to modern humans, their jawbones are larger, with greater buccal-lingual widths, and increased mesiodistal lengths. Sufficient jaw space is needed to accommodate wisdom teeth, with few instances of the impaction issues commonly seen in modern humans. But as humans began to use fire and developed tools, processed foods, along with developments in farming and husbandry, made food increasingly more refined. Wisdom teeth became unnecessary; three molars were enough, and the fourth was superfluous. In this evolutionary process, humans needed larger brain capacities for more complex thinking, eliminating the need for strong jawbones. Increased brain capacity became the direction of evolution. Generation after generation of natural selection caused human brain capacities to increase while jaw widths decreased, lengths shortened, and overall jaw strength diminished. There was a clear regression in size. To put it figuratively, it¡¯s like a dog¡¯s head growing larger while the snout gets shorter¡­ The lack of space leads to wisdom teeth often having various problems when emerging, such as ectopic growth or impaction, necessitating extraction. In any case, it¡¯s all for the best. Those with perfectly growing wisdom teeth usually have a large face¡­ But where exactly did this third set of teeth come from? Bi Fang was very curious about that. From birth to death, humans only have two sets of teeth¡ªbaby teeth and permanent teeth, and the permanent teeth were there from the start, only emerging later. It¡¯s impossible to get an extra set out of nowhere. Otherwise, under an X-ray, that would drive someone insane on the spot. This, only the System might know, right? Bi Fang was quite satisfied with his new set of teeth, strong enough to break pork bones with a bite. But what should this third set be called? Iron teeth, copper jaw? However, Zhou Weisheng¡¯s question wasn¡¯t easy to answer. If he mentioned a random clinic and Zhou also went, asking around only to discover he had never been there, what then? Bi Fang could only deny it, and as for why they turned white, maybe it¡¯s because he brushed them really clean. Zhou Weisheng¡¯s mouth twitched skeptically. Could brushing really do that? ¡°Director Zhou smokes, right? It would be good to have your teeth cleaned.¡± ¡°I heard that tooth gaps widen and they use steel brushes¡­¡± Zhou Weisheng said, which was why he took an interest after seeing Bi Fang¡¯s teeth. ¡°Who told you that? Tooth gaps only widen from too much tartar blocking the space or from swollen gums, it¡¯s unrelated to the teeth themselves. There are only benefits, and any clinic will do the same.¡± ¡°All right¡­¡± The two engaged in a bizarre conversation about teeth before heading their separate ways. Back at the hotel, Bi Fang picked up his phone, which was now fully charged. It had been over twenty days, and the phone¡¯s battery had completely drained. After plugging it in that afternoon, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t checked it again, as he was busy tallying his gains and¡­ taking calcium. When he turned it back on, the logo lit up, and after a moment¡¯s wait, even before the screen came alive, one black notification bar after another jumped out, filling the entire screen. All missed call alerts! ¡°Jerret? Why is he so eager to contact me?¡± Chapter 510 - Chapter 510: Chapter 507: Culture Shapes the Nation Chapter 510: Chapter 507: Culture Shapes the Nation ¡°` ¡°So you¡¯re leaving so soon? Don¡¯t you want to stay and play for a couple more days? Or have I been a poor host?¡± ¡°` At four in the afternoon, while Zhou Weisheng was still in his office, he received an unexpected call from Bi Fang about his departure. What matter could be so urgent that Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t even meet for a last face-to-face and was hurrying to leave? ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry, Director Zhou, and very grateful for your hospitality, but I really have an emergency,¡± Bi Fang explained while standing at the airport, holding his boarding pass. If it weren¡¯t for the unforeseen, he wouldn¡¯t be leaving so soon but would have stayed in the area for a couple more days. Regrettably, the barrage of missed calls from the previous night mercilessly interrupted his plans. Bi Fang never expected that an event which took place a decade earlier in the original timeline was only just beginning today! The thought made him feel that he could no longer wait and had to rush back to the Magic Capital immediately! Jerret and the others were already there waiting for him. Jerret didn¡¯t give many details, but based on the original timeline¡¯s ordeal and Japan¡¯s notorious behavior, Bi Fang knew they certainly wouldn¡¯t have an easy time, which is why they had to temporarily retreat to the Magic Capital to find him. He didn¡¯t expect Jerret to trust him so much. As a result, Bi Fang had no choice but to leave without saying goodbye, apologizing once again before the announcement for boarding came over the intercom. Zhou Weisheng heard the announcement and his doubts immediately dissipated. With only three flights from Jinghong to the Magic Capital at five in the afternoon, and not being able to wait even a day, it was clear that this was truly an emergency. Without further ado, Zhou Weisheng only asked that Bi Fang make sure to inform him when he comes next time, promising a warm welcome then. ¡°Then I wish Mr. Bi a safe journey and look forward to seeing more of your work.¡± ¡°You definitely will!¡± Bi Fang ended the call, grabbed his luggage, and hurriedly boarded the plane. Ten o¡¯clock at night. The plane had risen above the clouds, the outside was pitch black, and the cabin lights were dimmed. Bi Fang¡¯s pupils dilated slightly to accommodate more light. He opened the notepad on his phone, which was filled with dense text, and racked his brain to transcribe the memories from the original world one by one. It was the same predicament Jerret and his companions were currently facing. Dolphin Bay. ¡°Dolphin Bay? What¡¯s that place? Are there lots of dolphins?¡± The boy in the seat behind was curious, leaning over Bi Fang¡¯s seatback to ask, and Bi Fang closed his phone with a hand, looked up with a smile, and said, ¡°Peeking at someone else¡¯s phone is impolite. Also, keep it down, everyone is sleeping.¡± Surprised, the boy covered his mouth and looked around quietly, then sneakily slipped down from the seatback, squeezing into the gap between the seat and the window, his eyes wide with curiosity. ¡°My mom and dad say you¡¯re a great hero, you¡¯ve saved lots of people and animals, even climbed the highest mountain in the world, and done many amazing things. When I grow up, I want to conquer the tallest mountain too, and be a great hero!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never conquered the highest mountain, nor am I a hero,¡± Bi Fang said with a smile as he patted the boy¡¯s head. ¡°So my mom and dad lied?¡± The little boy seemed a bit angry, but he quickly forgot about it and asked in a low voice, ¡°You haven¡¯t told me what Dolphin Bay is. Are there lots of dolphins? I really like dolphins, I think they¡¯re very smart, even smarter than puppies.¡± ¡°Dolphin Bay.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s gaze drifted toward the window, under the wing, where massive dark clouds surged by. He paused for a moment and nodded, ¡°Yes, there are lots of dolphins.¡± The boy, happy with the news, exclaimed, ¡°Then I¡¯m going to visit next time! Banna is so boring, it¡¯s damp and full of crawly things, surrounded by spiders and snakes, and I hate snakes the most.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a nice place.¡± ¡°Ah? Why not?¡± ¡°Because the dolphins there live in great pain.¡± The beautiful name Dolphin Bay is preceded by an infamous prefix. In Japan, there is a picturesque little fishing village called Taiji. The villagers are hardworking, leading simple lives, creating the impression of a perfect idyllic paradise with its beautiful scenery and slow-paced life. But if you delve deeper, you¡¯d discover that innocence and kindness are nothing but a facade, hiding the bloody carnage and revelry year after year. Every single villager here is a bloody executioner. Every year, tens of thousands of dolphins and even whales passing by Taiji are mercilessly deprived of their right to live by the local villagers wielding rusty spears. Fishermen drive dolphins into a shallow bay near the shore, where dolphin trainers from around the world select the lively, healthy, and smart ones to take away. The remaining large number of dolphins, however, are not released. None that enter Dolphin Bay can return to the ocean unscathed; they are all ruthlessly exterminated without reason. The slaughtered dolphins¡¯ bloody meat is packaged and sold as dolphin and even whale meat, shamelessly appearing on supermarket shelves. Everything that occurs here is concealed by the local government due to a dirty circle of interest. This graveyard for dolphins is known as Dolphin Bay. In marine conventions established by countries around the world today, without exception, all of them prohibit the hunting and killing of dolphins and whales, even if some hunt covertly, it¡¯s impossible to do so in the same way as Japan. The Japanese Government is the only one that allows its fishermen to hunt 20,000 dolphins each year, and in reality, the number of dolphins actually killed by Japan far exceeds this number. They use the excuse that whaling and slaughtering dolphins, and eating whale meat, is part of their culture, and have long refused to sign international marine conventions for the protection of whales that call for an end to whale and dolphin hunting. Thus it became one of the very few countries in the world that openly hunts whales on a large scale, and the only one that brazenly allows the slaughter of dolphins. The explanation offered by the Japanese Government is on point; they claim that hunting the whales and dolphins, which the rest of the world is dedicated to protecting, is¡­ a part of Japanese ¡°culture¡±. Ha. Culture shapes a nation, and a certain type of culture shapes a certain kind of nation. Benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and integrity can shape a great and harmonious nation that never ceases to grow stronger. Murder and bloodlust can also shape a nation that is aggressive by nature and unrepentantly so. In a past life, to expose the slaughter to the world and reveal such atrocities, Louis Psihoyos went to Taiji, risking danger to save the dolphins and filmed a documentary. Midway, there was even a bloody incident, resulting in casualties. Yes, casualties. One of Louis¡¯s colleagues, discovered while secretly filming, was left behind in that place forever, keeping company with the spirits of the dead dolphins. Afterward, not a single person was punished for the murder. All villagers took such acts of violence as normal, from the elderly to the young, from students to parents, as if the one who died was not a person but a stray dog by the roadside. No, they would feel sorrow over the death of a cat or a dog but would not feel guilty over the death of a person. The first filming session ended there, and everyone had to leave Japan, until the second time, when they learned from their mistakes, regrouped, and successfully exposed all the bloody details under the light of day. Now, Jerret and his group must be in the gap between the first and second visits, and they haven¡¯t returned to Ugly Country but have come to Huaxia seeking my help. Bi Fang pinched the bridge of his nose and turned off his nearly dead phone, unaware of how the first filming went. Jerret hadn¡¯t revealed much to him, only hoping that everything was still salvageable. If I knew nothing, it would be fine, but from the moment Jerret made that phone call, Bi Fang knew he couldn¡¯t remain uninvolved. ¡­ It was ten minutes past midnight. Not until the landing gear descended and jolted the plane did Bi Fang wake from his slumber. The brightly lit colossal city appeared beneath the wings, its vast highways woven into a glittering web that shone like a massive candle burning under the night sky. Living in an expensive city is no easy task. If I didn¡¯t have the System and never streamed, maybe I would be just one among the many, working late into the night, hounded by my boss to push the work forward. Standing by the roadside, all I see is the jagged skyline cut out by skyscrapers, so high you can¡¯t even see the sky, everyone like ants in a maze. Such a life can be truly exhausting, to the point where, on weekends, I would lie down quietly by myself, not wanting to do anything, just waiting for the sky outside the window to slowly darken. Until one day, Bi Fang no longer chose such a lifestyle; he put down the reports he was working on and joined CWCA, armed with a salary that wasn¡¯t enough for family living but enough not to starve, in pursuit of freedom. But after making this decision, I found that life was still exhausting. Pressure came from all directions, from parents to friends, from reality to fantasy, with only colleagues who made the same choice possibly understanding me. Life is like a net¡ªeven if you jump out, the threads that cling to your body will forcefully pull you back to face the gory reality. Luckily, in this life and my past one, I had neither wife nor children; otherwise, I might¡¯ve been driven crazy. Fortunately, in this life, I can finally pursue what I want, and pursue it freely. From Mount Everest to ocean trenches, from rainforests to deserts, from the past to the future. There¡¯s no one to scoff at me, no one rushing to scoff. Everyone is envious, everyone admiring, free and unburdened. I, probably, am now living the life I once desired. It is also the life of freedom that countless desk-bound workers dream of. ¡°Huh.¡± Bi Fang exhaled deeply, his bones cracking crisply as he got up from his seat, reinvigorated. After saying goodbye to the little boy, Bi Fang who had gotten off the plane entered a fast-food restaurant and ordered a large amount of high-calorie fried chicken and burgers to take away. Eating as he headed home. Bi Fang, who had lost four kilograms in Banna, needed to regain his original weight as soon as possible. Platinum Body would help him quickly turn the accumulated fat into muscle, ensuring his combat readiness. Bi Fang had the premonition that the upcoming mission to Japan would require him to maintain a high level of combat readiness. Chapter 511 - Chapter 511: Chapter 508 Violent Conflict Incident Chapter 511: Chapter 508 Violent Conflict Incident After wolfing down three double-layer cheese thick fried chicken burgers, Bi Fang finally arrived at his own front door. He took out his phone and checked, but Jerret hadn¡¯t replied to his message about having landed. Looks like he¡¯s asleep. Jerret and his team had evacuated from Japan looking disheveled and utterly exhausted. They had been waiting in the Magic Capital for several days, on one hand to regroup and, on the other, waiting for Bi Fang. Having gotten in touch with Bi Fang, everyone was very happy, and the gloom hanging over their heads lifted somewhat, giving them a chance to breathe. Now, just 24 hours later, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t given them any advance notice about buying his ticket. They didn¡¯t expect Bi Fang to arrive so quickly and had long since gone to rest. ¡°I¡¯ll look at it tomorrow morning.¡± With only five percent battery left on his phone, Bi Fang unlocked the front door, quickly plugged in the charger, and managed to prolong its life just before it shut down. Dawn. When he woke up early, there were more than ten unread messages in his phone, all from Jerret. After sending his location and confirming the number of people, Bi Fang got up to wash and ordered breakfast for fifteen, waiting for Jerret and the others to come over. Bi Fang thought he was mentally prepared, but when the doorbell rang and he saw the people with bruised noses, swollen faces, and bandaged bodies, he was still stunned. Bi Fang exclaimed in shock, ¡°How did you all end up like this?¡± Those injured were wounded, those not injured had faces of sorrow. Jerret sighed but didn¡¯t dwell too much on the sadness. Nearly a week had passed, and everyone had mentally come to terms with it. At that moment, seeing a long-lost friend, they were still very happy and came forward to embrace Bi Fang. ¡°My brother, I¡¯ve finally seen you again. You¡¯ve lost a lot of weight.¡± ¡°Come on in first.¡± The situation seemed more serious than expected, so Bi Fang stepped aside to let everyone in, inviting them to the dining table to try the Chinese breakfast. Seeing the pile of takeaway bags on the table, Jerret was somewhat moved and felt the warmth of human kindness again, ¡°We¡¯re only seven people, we can¡¯t eat that much, you¡¯re too polite.¡± ¡°No,¡± Bi Fang shook his head, moving a third of it towards himself, ¡°These are mine, the rest are for you guys.¡± Jerret was momentarily taken aback. One person eating for five? Could he manage it? Of course, he couldn¡¯t finish them all at once, but Bi Fang¡¯s advantage was that his stomach digested food quickly. As long as he had enough time, he could keep eating. A meal for five would just take about an hour. ¡°I¡¯ve been trying to gain muscle recently, so I need to eat more. I lost four kilograms in the Banna Rainforest, and I want to recover that quickly.¡± Bi Fang gestured for everyone not to be shy and to take a seat quickly. Bi Fang¡¯s dining room was spacious enough to accommodate seven big guys with room to spare. Richard glanced at Jerret, waiting for directions. Of the seven people who entered, only Jerret, his photographic assistant Mond, their safety assistant Pondy, and Bi Fang knew each other; the remaining five were, strictly speaking, strangers. Jerret nodded, pulled out the chairs, and pressed everyone to sit down one by one: ¡°Don¡¯t look at me, go ahead. He¡¯s very easy-going, and Huaxia People are good-looking too. Try the Chinese breakfast. The buns are really tasty; I like the ones with preserved mustard and bamboo shoots.¡± ¡°Haha, I like that kind too,¡± laughed Bi Fang. ¡°Don¡¯t be restrained. I know why you¡¯re here, and I¡¯m happy to help if you¡¯re willing to let me join.¡± ¡°You¡¯re joining us?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that what Jerret meant?¡± ¡°No,¡± Richard stammered, ¡°I just feel, feel it¡¯s unbelievable. Really grateful, truly grateful. For a big shot like you, oh, no, I mean, it¡¯s fantastic that you¡¯d join us.¡± Who knows what these people had gone through, but right now, Richard was nearly incoherent. ¡°First, let¡¯s have breakfast. If there¡¯s anything to talk about, the dining table is the place. It¡¯s a custom of us Huaxia People. But I have no alcohol here, only sweet soy milk.¡± Jerret laughed, ¡°You¡¯re still the same as before.¡± ¡°Come on, it¡¯s only been just over a month since we last met. You climbed Mount Everest with me in April. Go ahead and tell me what happened, and about the injuries on your bodies,¡± Bi Fang was eager to know the full story. Jerret sighed, not immediately starting with the trip to Japan, but first, he introduced everyone present. First was the core member of the team¡ªRichard. He too was a well-known figure. Richard had spent ten years creating Dolphin Kingdom, and he was the world¡¯s leading authority on dolphin acoustics. The dolphin show ¡°Flipper¡±, which he had founded, became widely popular in the Ugly Country, beloved by children there, and when asked about their future aspirations, those kids would invariably answer without any hesitation, ¡°Marine Biologist.¡± Richard brought dolphin shows into the public eye, making more and more people fall in love with these magical and adorable creatures¡ªdolphins. That was until an event that led Richard to undergo a complete transformation. In the ¡°Flipper¡± show, a dolphin named Casey, who had been with him day and night, ultimately chose to commit suicide in his arms. No one loved these dolphins more than Richard, who loved them as Elvan loved geese. Their affection and experiences were almost identical. The death of Casey brought a great shock to Richard, to the extent that he was willing to be arrested in order to release the dolphin Brown, which he had once captured himself, and thereafter dedicated himself to dolphin rescue missions around the world. As aquariums and dolphin shows flourished worldwide, Richard swore to personally destroy this entertainment industry he had helped create, spending the remainder of his days in this quest. When Jerret reached this point, Richard sighed and interjected, ¡°The smile of a dolphin is nature¡¯s greatest deception, giving you the mistaken belief that they are always happy.¡± Richard was not one of those dog lovers who demanded everyone stop eating dog meat simply because they liked dogs; rather, he was quite rational. Are dolphins born more noble than pigs and cows? Of course not. The fundamental reason he went to such lengths is that dolphins are simply not suitable for human consumption. The bodies of these sea spirits are rich in mercury, far exceeding safety standards, and consuming too much dolphin meat can have a significant impact on the human body. The second reason is due to the high intelligence of dolphins. On this planet, their intelligence is second only to humans. Their brain weight is nearly the same as humans, at around 1.5 kilograms. Even the genetic overlap with humans is incredibly high, leading some to speculate that dolphins and humans share a common ancestor. However, because dolphins live in water and cannot evolve hands like humans, they cannot create tools, thus halting their path to a higher level of evolution. To Richard, eating dolphins was no different than eating chimpanzees¡ªit was a matter of form versus essence. Moreover, it¡¯s like a toxic, enhanced version of a chimpanzee. Under these circumstances, Richard simply could not comprehend why those perverted feet basin people were obsessed with this, to the point of committing slaughter. Could it be that after trying it once by accident, their brains became deformed? The unabated massive development of the world¡¯s shipping industry, along with various other marine pollutants, had already threatened the survival of dolphins, and now they faced rampant slaughter. Richard simply could not remain indifferent, especially after discovering the appalling practices at Dolphin Bay. Jerret nodded and then began to introduce the remaining members of the team, nearly all of whom were gathered by Richard, including Jerret himself. When Richard heard that over 20,000 dolphins were slaughtered in Dolphin Bay each year, and after witnessing it personally, he invited his good friend, the world¡¯s top wildlife documentary director and the face of the Discovery Channel, Jerret, to help him shoot a documentary as evidence to expose everything under the sun. Jerret, who had just finished filming Mount Everest with Bi Fang and was also a nature enthusiast, couldn¡¯t remain indifferent to his friend¡¯s righteous request. He packed his gear and, along with his photographer Mond and equipment assistant Hypeck, set off on the journey. Oh, and there was also Pondy, an old acquaintance who played the role of bodyguard. These three people were almost invariably part of Jerret¡¯s preferred team. Due to the nature of the filming environment, it was impossible for Jerret to bring too many people; doing so would have made it too easy to be exposed, so a four-person team plus equipment was enough. Among the remaining four, two divers were responsible for underwater filming: Ganna¡¯s diving champion Mandy Ray Cruickshank and diving instructor Keke Clark, both talented individuals Jerret recruited from the Adventure Channel. Then, there was an electrical expert who provided a high-speed power system to keep the cameras running at maximum capacity; he also created unmanned drone models for the shoot. The last member was Beck, Richard¡¯s own hired bodyguard and assistant, responsible for everyone¡¯s safety, just like Pondy. Richard anticipated that this trip would not go smoothly, but he never imagined it would be such a disaster, nor did he expect the Japanese People¡¯s monstrous cruelty. ¡°So, the nine of you have now become seven? Where are Hypeck and Beck?¡± A sudden concern crossed Bi Fang¡¯s mind. The first seven people Jerret introduced were all accounted for, but the last two were missing. Bi Fang didn¡¯t know Beck, but he was familiar with Hypeck, having seen him several times. He hoped the tragedy of the past life wouldn¡¯t repeat itself. Jerret sighed, but thankfully, his next words put Bi Fang at ease as he learned about the general course of events. Hypeck, who had been filming in secret, was discovered and beaten by local villagers, but fortunately Beck noticed in time to rescue him, charging in and saving his life, though Beck was severely injured in the process. Currently, both men were lying in a hospital in Huaxia¡¯s Magic Capital. Even though they were initially rescued in Japan, Richard did not trust to leave them there. Ignoring the doctors¡¯ advice, he had them transferred to the closer Huaxia. ¡°The ground was covered in blood, Hypeck was struggling and convulsing on the floor, and if not for Beck¡¯s desperate rescue, Hypeck might not have made it back,¡± said Jerret. After obtaining the medical report, Richard nearly collapsed. With multiple fractures and internal bleeding, a slight delay would have meant certain death. Hypeck had not yet regained consciousness but was out of critical condition. Beck was in a similar state. As a retired professional boxer, he knew how to protect his vital areas, but even so, he still suffered multiple fractures and injuries. As for the villagers who beat them. According to the local police, there were no surveillance cameras, no evidence, and the only potential evidence, the camera, was trampled. Such injuries could very well be the result of mutual fighting between two people, unrelated to the local population. ¡°MOTHER*******¡± Uttering this, Jerret¡¯s language was shocking. At that moment, he truly wanted to show the police officer what a real brawl looked like. Even after that, a more terrifying event occurred: Richard¡¯s car was bombed. The flames soared into the sky. Chapter 512 - Chapter 512: Chapter 509: Expert Blame Shifter, Little Myna Chapter 512: Chapter 509: Expert Blame Shifter, Little Myna The day the explosion happened, Bi Fang was still hammering away in the Banna Rainforest, completely unaware of the incident. Fortunately, Richard was not in the car when the bomb went off. The adversary likely just wanted to make a statement, without any intention to kill. The blown-up car was still rented under Richard¡¯s name, and nobody knew when the bomb had been planted. As a result, he had to compensate the rental company with a substantial sum. ¡°It¡¯s good no one died. It¡¯ll be alright,¡± Bi Fang sighed and consoled Jerret, then asked, ¡°What happened to your faces, though?¡± Touching his still-bruised cheek, Jerret recounted with difficulty, ¡°The night we left, a group of residents suddenly burst in and smashed all the filming equipment. We rushed to protect the gear and then got hit, but it was too chaotic in the darkness for them to be sure they weren¡¯t hitting the wrong people, so no major harm was done, just some minor injuries.¡± The equipment for shooting documentaries ranges in price. The cheap stuff could be just a few DVD players, but the expensive gear can be outrageous. Any equipment, once it falls into the hands of enthusiasts, is priced astronomically high, not to mention Jerret had gotten his directly from the Discovery Channel. The studio treated this director very well and trusted him enough to lend the equipment without asking questions. A whole set of photographic equipment, specifically for documentaries, some even more elaborate than what is used for movies, was for rent only, not for sale. Now it was all gone, the money flying away as the tools hit the ground. All the equipment was smashed beyond recognition, irreparable and impossible to put back together. Unbelievably, in a country praised internationally for its advanced economy and educational system, the local villagers could resort to such barbarity! They were even worse than primitive savages! After finishing his story, Jerret took a sip of soy milk to catch his breath. The others remained silent after listening, as if reliving the terror of Dolphin Bay once more. The xenophobic unanimity of the locals turned Dolphin Bay into a dragon¡¯s den, a Bloody Demon Cave. Every single person, driven by self-interest, turned into a demon in human skin, almost causing Jerret, Richard and the rest of their group to never return. Indeed, that was the case. If they hadn¡¯t all been from Ugly Country, including a well-known director and professor, their ¡°accidental deaths¡± would have caused quite an uproar. It¡¯s hard to imagine to what extent those Japanese People would have been audacious. Bi Fang fell silent. This all sounded more exciting than his days in the rainforest. Scanning over the injured crowd, he said, ¡°So what do you plan to do now?¡± Having been introduced by Jerret, the group was gradually getting acquainted and more relaxed, casually discussing their plans over breakfast. ¡°Of course we have to continue. If we don¡¯t, then was I just beaten for nothing?¡± Pondy¡¯s forehead bulged with veins, obviously having suffered greatly as well. As the security assistant tasked with protecting everyone, he naturally took more beatings: ¡°I¡¯ve got to show that bunch of bastards some color!¡± The electrical expert spoke with anger: ¡°I¡¯m going to throw some ashes in that old man¡¯s eyes who hit me! Let him weep in agony! How dare he pull my hair!¡± Upon hearing this, Bi Fang involuntarily glanced at the other¡¯s Mediterranean bald spot and felt a newfound respect. The man¡¯s scholarly achievements must certainly be non-negligible! The two divers looked at each other and said in unison, ¡°All we want to know is what¡¯s really happening in that bay.¡± Any professional diver would have a fondness for the creatures of the sea. They were not fanatic dolphin lovers, yet they were willing to seek the truth for them. The Japanese Government¡¯s unbridled concealment could not continue unchecked, no matter the circumstances. Jerret grew more indignant, slamming his fist on the marble table, nearly splashing his soy milk: ¡°My equipment was all smashed; that¡¯s an astronomical sum! Now I don¡¯t even know how to explain it to the studio. I must expose everything!¡± Thinking of the equipment made him want to vomit blood. If he had to pay for it himself, it would bankrupt him. Luckily, the Adventure Channel let him off the hook considering his hard work without success, but Jerret still felt indebted. He had been helping a friend and the company had suffered a loss as a result. Jerret was determined to make a big splash and recoup the company¡¯s losses! This time, he had come to Bi Fang hoping Bi Fang could lead his ragged crew back into the fray. Raising the issue dearest to him, Richard also spoke up: ¡°The hunting season in Taiji begins every summer, from late July to the following March, nearly a whole year. We must act quickly to expose all their doings!¡± ¡°It¡¯s already the end of June, and in a few days it will be July. We have only a month left, but we definitely need to enter the area early to set up cameras.¡± Bi Fang calculated the time: twenty-one days of survival in the Banna Rainforest, and it¡¯s still the end of June with the hunting season not yet started. Although dolphin killings do occur, such footage would be useless. The local government could easily dismiss the whole incident as accidental bycatch, making it ineffective to address the issue. Only by revealing the most blood-stained truth can the darkness truly be exposed to the light. That meant Bi Fang and the others could only capture the true massacre after the hunting season had started. It might seem callous. If they could film it, why not prevent it and just watch the slaughter happen? Because it was impossible to stop. Bi Fang knew all too well: How many people are in a village? A few thousand or several tens of thousands? It¡¯s called a village, but it¡¯s more appropriate to call it a county; the entire county supports fishing. How could Bi Fang possibly fight this alone? If he had a Superman-like physique, he might have a chance. Even if Bi Fang knew the truth, that every year over twenty-three thousand dolphins are killed in Dolphin Bay, he could stand up and expose it. With his current influence, certainly a lot of people would choose to believe him. But, without evidence, it¡¯s impossible to create a significant impact, and without such impact, it means nothing to the locals. Hasn¡¯t anyone stood up to reveal this over the years? Of course, there have been, but they all vanished without a trace in the end. It¡¯s even possible that the local government might lead the charge to denounce Bi Fang, using the situation to attack him. A small fish can cause a ripple, a whale can cause a wave, but all this is trivial. If tens of millions of big fish stir together, they can create a tsunami! Those little rascals can do anything, especially when it comes to deflecting blame with first-class skill. We must crush them with overwhelming force. Last year, Japan even blamed Huaxia when there wasn¡¯t enough Pacific saury to go around, as the local fishermen didn¡¯t catch anything, and the public, which considers Pacific saury a common delicacy, was enraged. The official explanation had to be given, and they blamed it on global warming, alleging that it hindered fish migration. Global warming is like a brick, it¡¯s always taken wherever it¡¯s needed. The officials are used to shifting blame, and so is the public. A large number of people accused Huaxia of overfishing, causing the little rascals to miss out on Pacific saury. Please, aside from Japan, no country in the world catches Pacific saury on a large scale. Pacific saury costs only about ten yuan each at Huaxia¡¯s small barbecue stands. So cheap, and you tell me we are overfishing? Later, their own people couldn¡¯t stand it. Shengchuan Toshio, a PhD candidate from The University of Tokyo¡¯s Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and an associate professor at Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, presented an abundance of facts and data, proving that Japan¡¯s own fishing limits for Pacific saury were inconsistent with their actual catch, and accused Huaxia¡¯s claims of being utterly ¡°shameless.¡± No country other than Japan fishes for Pacific saury on a large scale. If Japan could lead in establishing a resource management framework, it wouldn¡¯t have come to this point. They only thought to ¡°mend the fold after the sheep are lost¡± and set up rules when the number of Pacific saury sharply decreased. In Bi Fang¡¯s view, Huaxia has long been a leader in environmental and animal protection. Whether it¡¯s a ten-year fishing ban in the Yangtze River, or introducing summer fishing moratoriums, strengthening fishing restrictions, creating strict fishing frameworks in Southeast Asia, or even in land conservation areas and animal protection measures, they are much stronger than those countries that only talk but do no action, including Ugly Country, Japan, and even Europe that even wants to protect shrimp rights. Beyond that, there are many more measures, including vigorously developing new energy sources, all for the sake of protecting the environment. Only Huaxia is truly focused on the future of humanity, sacrificing short-term benefits for the sake of longer-term interests. In such matters, the key is to see who does more, not who shouts the loudest slogans. Whether it¡¯s eating meat that leads to carbon emissions, or anything else, it¡¯s all just propaganda by conspiracists. For those little rascals, it¡¯s extra embarrassing to be slapped in the face on the spot by an associate professor from their own country¡¯s best university. It turns out that I¡¯m the one overfishing? But even so, even with evidence slapped in their own face by their own people, there are still Japanese who refuse to believe, accusing Shengchuan Toshio of taking dirty money, wielding authority, and using false data to mislead the public. Ordinary Pacific saury is one thing, but such accusations are even less welcome when they hint at something as serious as the ¡°mass slaughter of dolphins.¡± For this reason, Richard and others must use the most authentic documentary to become the sharpest nail, nailing these guys down once and for all! The team currently, excluding two who are seriously injured, includes the well-known documentary filmmaker Jerret from the Discovery Channel, dolphin expert and core figure Richard, two world-class divers, an electronics specialist, a photographer, and a safety assistant. And finally, the newest addition, Bi Fang, the greatest adventurer of this century. In total, eight members are about to launch their second assault. ¡°The only problem is, we still need a batch of new equipment, just don¡¯t know where to get it.¡± Jerret was worried; he had no face to ask the Discovery Channel again. This shoot was different; if it were a regular mission, he could borrow from other directors. But what they need is highly concealed functional shooting, which must also have good filming quality. That kind of thing is hard to find. If they opt for regular filming and production, it would be very time-consuming and possibly too late. They need to complete the filming as soon as possible after the start of the Dolphin Bay dolphin hunting season and quickly put an end to everything. A light bulb went off in Bi Fang¡¯s head. ¡°I might have a way.¡± Chapter 513 - Chapter 513: Chapter 510: Stone Camera Chapter 513: Chapter 510: Stone Camera July 1st. Bi Fang opened the system panel to routinely check his weight. [Unique Binder: Bi Fang] [Growth Age: 25] [Height: 185.7cm] [Mass: 78.2KG] After nearly a week of eating, drinking, and exercising, Bi Fang had successfully returned to his pre-rainforest survival condition, and the rapid transformation of Platinum Body had turned nearly all of the eight jin of weight gain into muscle. ¡°It has grown quite a bit, but it¡¯s still not enough.¡± At a height of 183, 78 kilograms of muscle mass just met the basic level of a light heavyweight boxing champion, but since acquiring Platinum Body, the perfectly built Bi Fang had grown by two centimeters. ¡°Eighty kilograms and up would be satisfactory; I need to keep increasing it.¡± Bi Fang took a bite of his burger. These days, his diet¡¯s main theme was high energy and high carbohydrates, followed by a series of fitness plans. Along with using the underground water pressure training device and the transformation of Platinum Body, he could transform fat into muscle strength at an incredibly fast rate. Descending from the bedroom, Jerret and the others were already drawing the map of Dolphin Bay. Upon seeing Bi Fang come downstairs, they greeted him and continued their research. For nearly a week, they had been studying how to film, plan the route, and¡­ physical training. Having learned from the first experience, Bi Fang arranged a specialized physical fitness program for everyone, with the aim of being able to run faster and longer when real danger arrived, to avoid being easily caught and beaten up, or even lose their lives. Even Richard, the oldest of the group, couldn¡¯t escape the training. Fortunately, everyone knew it was for the sake of their own lives, so the training was rather effective, at least they no longer gasped after a few steps. On the other side, Ganna¡¯s diving champion, Mandy Ray Cruickshank, and diving coach Keke Clark emerged from the basement, shaking the water droplets from their hair. The two had just finished using the water pressure training device. As they walked, Mandy marveled, ¡°No matter how many times I use it, I am always amazed. Its pressurization effect is fantastic, making me feel as if I¡¯m dozens of meters underwater, both in sensation and environment. Most importantly, the safety; to get out, I just need to turn off the pressurization and ascend a few meters. I really want to install one in my own home.¡± If Mandy had not experienced it firsthand, she could not have imagined that there was such a useful training device in the world¡ªsafe, reliable, and efficient. The electrical expert scoffed, ¡°Dream on. A perfect pressurization device, realistic vortex simulation, a complete safety system, and such a massive size¡ªwithout a few tens of millions, you simply cannot afford it unless you win a thousand more championships.¡± A look of envy appeared on Mandy¡¯s face. Tens of millions, wow. How long would she have to work as a regional diving champion before she could afford one? A true winner at life. ¡°Just kidding,¡± Keke laughed from the other side, ¡°Just thinking about the cost of this thing tells you it¡¯s an astronomical figure. But it¡¯s so convenient¡ªmassive villas with gardens, perfect diving training facilities; I feel like living here forever.¡± Since Jerret¡¯s visit, Bi Fang had them stay here immediately for convenience in discussion and arrangement¡ªafter all, with just seven people, there was plenty of room. Jerret and others readily agreed. They were strangers in Huaxia, and instead of staying in hotels, they might as well move in altogether. The previously empty house now had some liveliness, a bit more noise on a daily basis, and it took on the look of a real team. Keke had been living here for nearly a week, waking up every day to delicious Chinese cuisine, then going for diving training, and even going out for evening strolls. What could be more like paradise? Bi Fang laughed, ¡°If you want to stay or visit, I¡¯m always welcoming. Such a big house¡ªit often feels too spacious for just me.¡± For a moment, everyone couldn¡¯t tell if Bi Fang was serious or simply wanted to show off his big house. ¡°Hey, today let¡¯s compete again to see who can dive deeper, how about that?¡± Mandy said with a competitive desire. Mandy was an expert at free diving and the diving champion of Ganna, able to dive over eighty meters in one breath. Richard had extended the invitation specifically for this reason, asking for help with installing underwater sonar devices. Seeing the diving data left on the training monitor, despite thinking it was good, Mandy also thought Bi Fang had used equipment. But during one of their joint training sessions, Bi Fang showed her what it meant to be evenly matched. If only Mandy knew how to curse¡­ You solo summited Mount Everest without oxygen, sure, but free diving to seventy meters? What are you implying? Looking down on a professional diver? A diving champion from Ganna? Normally, without the aid of any equipment, a person can dive about 10 meters, and those with poorer physique maybe 5 meters. Professional divers can usually reach 30 meters. The deeper the dive, the greater the water pressure on the body. Around 10 meters depth, the pressure is about 10^5 Pascal, equivalent to one standard atmosphere. Descending another meter adds 0.1 standard atmospheres; it becomes uncomfortable for the human body. Only those who train frequently and are professionals can dive to around 30 meters. As Ganna¡¯s diving champion, Mandy could reach the extreme depth of over eighty meters, but that was in fully prepared and mentally conditioned situations. Could Bi Fang, someone whom nobody had ever heard had any diving records or experience, do the same? ¡°Are you really planning to dive into the Mariana Trench?¡± Mandy joked, draping her arm around Bi Fang¡¯s shoulder. Bi Fang was about to respond when the doorbell rang. ¡°I¡¯ll get it! I¡¯ll get it!¡± Jerret sprang up from the table and opened the door, his excitement palpable as he saw the delivery van. ¡°Is it here? My equipment?¡± he shouted. But the next moment, he saw a long package being carefully unloaded from the truck by several guys and brought into the villa. It was long and thick and didn¡¯t look at all like his photographic equipment. Jerret looked towards Bi Fang, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Ah, I bought a fish tank.¡± Bi Fang scratched his head. Ever since he had mentioned that Sir David Attenborough would take care of the camera equipment problem, just the sight of the list of items sent over had made Jerret very envious. Every day, at the sound of the doorbell, he was the first to answer the door. Who do you think of when it comes to documentaries? Sir, of course! The father of documentaries¡¯ reputation is known far and wide, isn¡¯t it? Although it was through Jerret that Attenborough found Bi Fang, it was just a connection within the industry. It was easy to get in touch through mutual acquaintances, but the two men were not personally familiar with each other. But Bi Fang was familiar! They had experienced an avalanche together, climbed Mount Everest together, laughed over life and death conversations, a friendship forged through life-threatening situations. After the Rainforest expedition, Bi Fang had a chat on the phone with Sir. Unknowingly, Bi Fang had formed his own circle of friends, got to know some extraordinary people in the industry, and even became a benchmark in a certain field himself. Elites tend to have connections with other elites. As a dolphin research expert, Richard knew Jerret, a professional director and nature enthusiast. So, when he thought about making a documentary, his friend was the first person he thought of. Jerret had worked at the exploration channel for many years, visiting most places in the world, and also knew many impressive people. But amongst those he knew, Bi Fang was the most incredible and awesome one. The more influential a person is, the more extraordinary the friends they can connect with, and the greater the forces they can unite. After the first failed expedition to Dolphin Bay, Jerret immediately thought of Bi Fang. This layered relationship is hard to ascribe to mere coincidence; it seems more like fate. When something happens, certain people are bound to be involved and have to face it. In the past, neither Jerret nor Richard, let alone a historical figure like Sir David Attenborough, would ever imagine chatting over a phone call, much less getting an autograph in person. Attenborough, knowing the situation, did not hesitate to leverage his connections and transferred a batch of the most professional equipment over. Of course, Attenborough had his demands, and there was only one. ¡°Whether the equipment is smashed, broken, or even sold, it doesn¡¯t matter, but I want to see your documentary, see it released publicly for all to see.¡± ¡°Fish tank?¡± Jerret, looking dejected and somewhat complaining, said, ¡°Why did you buy a fish tank?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit too empty here?¡± Bi Fang also felt his house was indeed too empty when they first moved in. He rarely lived there, and when he did, it was just for rest; he never really noticed. Now, he realized it was too big, it couldn¡¯t retain a cozy atmosphere. So he thought about raising some small animals at home, starting with fish. It was okay even when he went out to live-stream, as he had a maid to take care of them¡ªjust pay a bit more money, and it would be fine. The maid came back every day; there was no choice, as he would be away for ten days or half a month at a time, and with no one to clean, the house would be full of dust on his return. What many people didn¡¯t know was that aquarium landscaping was one of Bi Fang¡¯s private hobbies. By laying sand and soil in the tank, planting aquatic plants, and then crafting a little world bit by bit, watching the fish swim around provided a sense of immense satisfaction. When Bi Fang first came here, he even thought about earning money by selling landscape tanks. ¡°Mr. Bi, please sign here,¡± said the delivery guy, handing over a receipt and adding, ¡°Oh right, there¡¯s another delivery coming shortly, please also be ready to receive that.¡± ¡°Another one?¡± Jerret paused, looking at Bi Fang. Bi Fang shook his head, indicating he hadn¡¯t gone on another buying spree. Half an hour later. One by one, ¡°Fragile¡± items were delivered. Nearly a week later, the camera equipment promised by Sir finally arrived. Due to the time needed for arranging and international transport, this was already the fastest pace possible, and even Bi Fang had taken advantage of his position a little. ¡°Is this top-notch photography equipment?¡± Mandy picked up a rock, a question mark popping above her head. Isn¡¯t this just a rock? Chapter 514 - Chapter 514: Chapter 511 Dual Mission Mode, Nighttime Batman! Chapter 514: Chapter 511 Dual Mission Mode, Nighttime Batman! ¡°You don¡¯t watch many documentaries?¡± Bi Fang walked over and asked. Mandy shook her head. Bi Fang took the rock from Mandy¡¯s hand, turned it over, and pointing to a small black spot on the stone said, ¡°See this black dot? That¡¯s the hidden camera.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not kidding, are you?¡± Mandy laughed, thinking Bi Fang was bluffing. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m lying to you?¡± Bi Fang rubbed his stomach against the stone, to no avail as he felt for cracks, finally, he gripped at a raised spot with some force and a cover plate was pulled off, revealing the black mechanical device inside. ¡°OH MY GOD!¡± Mandy was stunned, Bi Fang was actually telling the truth, this machine that looked like a worthless rock, was really a camera? Aside from rocks of various sizes, upon closer inspection, there were also rotten tree stumps, broken branches, snails that could move, turtles that could run¡­ If one didn¡¯t look closely, it would be impossible to tell that these items, disguised as inconspicuous natural objects, were top-of-the-line cameras. ¡°If you watched more Animal Planet, you would know that these are essential equipment for top-tier documentaries, waterproof, fireproof, impact-resistant and with excellent camouflage. These guys are exactly what we need, the real deal that can actually help,¡± Jerret couldn¡¯t get enough of the wood and stones, and kept kissing a rock. The rock looked so real that it even had bird droppings on it! Even if you told someone it was a camera, they probably wouldn¡¯t believe it. Bi Fang looked at the excited Jerret and was reluctant to interrupt, but out of a sense of morality, he still said, ¡°Hold on a second.¡± Jerret was startled, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Bi Fang took the stone from his hand and scraped on a yellow-white substance, actually shaving off some powder, ¡°Have you ever thought, if it looks like, smells like, and seems like the real thing¡­ it is the real thing?¡± Everyone: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Ew!¡± Jerret rushed into the bathroom, frantically rinsing his mouth. ¡°WTF! It¡¯s actually real bird poop!¡± ¡°It must be used equipment, probably Edinburgh called for some of his own gear in use,¡± said the electrical expert after an inspection, noticing many of them had signs of use. Richard was elated, ¡°Now we have the equipment, the hardest issue is resolved.¡± If ordinary filming equipment was needed, there were many places to rent it, but the pile of treasures in front of them was owned by very few people in the world, with no place to borrow them. It couldn¡¯t be helped, the demand was too small. Documentaries inherently made little profit, making a hit earned a few awards at best, and documentaries were unlikely to be screened at cinemas, serving mainly for promotion and reputation. Moreover, ordinary documentaries didn¡¯t need these. What Bi Fang and the others were seeing was possessed only by a few documentary giants. For close-up shots of animals, venomous snakes, fierce tigers, wild buffaloes, these extremely dangerous creatures, cameramen couldn¡¯t possibly go into the field themselves, or they¡¯d only leave a hefty insurance payout for their families. But for better filming effects, cameras had to be camouflaged. With modern technology advancing, they could even make a robotic monkey blend into a troop or a robotic land turtle among a group, accepting the robot as one of their own. What¡¯s more amusing, once when a robotic monkey malfunctioned and fell from a tree, the entire troop wailed, expressing grief at the loss of a companion, a rare and typically unseen scene. However, Bi Fang didn¡¯t need those, and Sir hadn¡¯t sent them over. The first Dolphin Bay mission proved one thing, that filming openly or secretly was impossible. Therefore, Jerret and the others had to play some ¡°dirty tricks¡±. ¡°If you can¡¯t tell when it¡¯s in your hands, looks like the equipment¡¯s effect is pretty good,¡± the electrical expert mocked Mandy, but everyone could see that spirits were high. Equipment and manpower were in place, just waiting to finish training before heading to Dolphin Bay. Richard looked toward the Mediterranean, ¡°The equipment still needs further modification and testing, electrical expert, that¡¯s on you. Can you handle it in ten days?¡± The electrical expert looked at the items on the table, estimated the time roughly, and nodded. If they were to be made from scratch, it would take a lot of time and effort, and they might miss the hunting season, but just modifying them, he was confident. ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Seeing everyone¡¯s high morale, Bi Fang clapped his hands to grab their attention, ¡°Alright, since everyone is in good shape, let¡¯s add an extra half hour to today¡¯s workout.¡± ¡°OH!¡± ¡°COME ON!¡± ¡°On such a joyful day, we should have a day off!¡± Pondy seriously suggested. ¡°Oh, are you serious?¡± Bi Fang stood with his legs slightly apart, placing his hands in front of him, ready to strike, ¡°Want to try to last five seconds against me? If you can, you¡¯ll get the day off.¡± ¡°What are you guys doing!¡± Pondy was inexplicably sad, and looking at everyone, his eyes conveyed a message of disappointment, ¡°Sweat more in training, bleed less in battle, don¡¯t you understand that?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take the lead in supporting extra training!¡± ¡­ July 5th. [Ding, new mission activated, please check the mission tab.] ¡°` Quest Name: Ocean Spirit (Hunting Feast) Location: Taiji Town, Wakayama Prefecture, Honshu, Japan (Honshu Volcanic Cluster) Mode: I come, I record, I save (Primitive Hunting) Difficulty: Single T9, Dual T7. Requirements: No equipment other than system equipment may be carried. Main Quest One: Initiate a live stream with a sustained online audience of over 3.5 million. Main Quest Two: Make a complete video record of everything in Dolphin Bay, and disclose it to the public during the International Whaling Association convention on August 23; this process does not need to be livestreamed and may be recorded. (If in good condition, become the number one hunter in the process, which needs to be livestreamed.) Main Quest Three: Before August 26, call off Japan¡¯s annual dolphin hunting season (capture a mature Black Bear). Side Quests: Explore on your own. Basic Reward: Neural Strengthening Coupon*1, Memory Palace Coupon*1 (Choose one upon completion of a single quest) Time limit: 60 days. Bi Fang stopped, panting heavily, wiped the sweat off his forehead, and sat on a wooden seat by the path, carefully and thoroughly reviewing the quest issued by the system. The more he read, the more surprised he became. This time, he hadn¡¯t edited the quest. It was autonomously released by the system! Had it sensed his strong desire? During the journey to Goose, the system had already issued a quest, and it was necessary to modify it when Elvan came knocking. Was it that this time, without even setting a quest, it had perceived reality and thus issued a quest following his direction? It was even a previously unprecedented dual quest mode. For the first time, Bi Fang knew that this mode existed in the system, and it also introduced a brand-new mode he had never seen before, recording! Jerret and the others¡¯ first failed attempt had already alerted the locals. It was virtually impossible for the local government or villagers to allow filming, and even just letting them enter would be very difficult. Under such circumstances, the filming by Bi Fang and others would be ¡°illegal.¡± If they chose to livestream, it would be like giving the Baga an X-ray vision hack, exponentially increasing the difficulty of their operation. It wasn¡¯t impossible that they could be caught right away. The time span was too long, over two months, and the system would definitely issue a task in between. Bi Fang had even considered giving up, but no one expected the system would break through the situation in this way. It helped him solve his biggest problem. The moment he finished reading the quest, Bi Fang thought of a solution, which was to livestream black bear hunting during the day and lead Richard and Jerret to film Dolphin Bay at night. Executing the two quests simultaneously, the former through livestreaming and the latter recorded, would be perfect once everything was over. Bi Fang became more and more delighted as he thought about it, feeling that the system really suited his wishes, though it meant more hard work. ¡°How come this sounds so familiar?¡± Bi Fang stroked his chin. He suddenly felt that this mode of different activities by day and night felt very familiar, like someone had done something like this before. ¡°Oh no, isn¡¯t this Batman?¡± Sitting on the stool and thinking for a long time, Bi Fang slapped his palm with a fist. He wondered why it sounded so familiar; it was just like Batman. By day a playboy billionaire, by night the dark knight ridding the city of crime. ¡°But what am I, the Dolphin Hero?¡± ¡­ ¡°Black Bear Hunting?¡± Jerret and the others looked at each other in confusion, saying they had never heard of it. These days, everyone had been discussing how to get Bi Fang, a public figure, into Taiji Town. It turned out that Bi Fang already had an idea, and it sounded good, but no one knew what Black Bear Hunting was. Bi Fang understood that. He had applied for visas in advance in most countries with protected areas around the world, except for this neighboring country of his own. Why? What was there worth filming in that hidden corner of Japan? Unless Mount Fuji erupted, and the system arranged a post-eruption survival task for him, that might be interesting. Speaking of which, might it actually be about to erupt? Bi Fang pulled out a sheet of white paper and sketched a simplified map of Japan, circling Honshu Island, specifically the area around Taiji Town. ¡°I¡¯ve checked the news about wildlife attacks on humans in Japan over the last few years and found that most of them were caused by Japanese Black Bears, and most of the attacks occurred on Honshu Island.¡± Bi Fang turned on his phone, pulled up the news, and placed it on the table for everyone to see. In ¡¯14, an adult female bear attacked a father and daughter on a trail; the father died on the spot, while the daughter was not in grave danger thanks to the timely rescue by villagers. In ¡¯15, there were two incidents. One involved a young couple playing in the forest; no one died, but there were injuries. The other occurred in a field where an elderly man planting in the spring was attacked by an adult male bear, luckily saved by villagers. In ¡¯17, there were three incidents. After that, attacks were incessant, with almost yearly occurrences leaving people in fear. Many forest trails have been abandoned, all due to fear of encountering such situations. Last year, there was only one incident, but it resulted in three deaths, making it a particularly vicious and significant case! At the same time, Bi Fang highlighted a few places in red. Trails, fields, courtyards. ¡°` Chapter 515 - Chapter 515: Chapter 512: Master Fang Registers Chapter 515: Chapter 512: Master Fang Registers Corridors, farmlands, yards? Gazing at the three words on the paper, Mandy was perplexed by their meaning. Richard understood, ¡°You mean¡­¡± Bi Fang nodded, ¡°Exactly that.¡± Mandy and Keke wore faces full of question marks, as laypeople, they didn¡¯t understand the riddles at all. ¡°Please, what on earth do you mean? I¡¯m just a diver, at most familiar with sharks, dolphins, and marine ecology, how would I know anything about black bears?¡± Mandy was quite dissatisfied. In the end, Jerret explained it once more. Corridors, farmlands, yards, these three places, all within the range of human activity, and many other areas are also fixed ranges of human activity. ¡°And so?¡± ¡°So, this indicates that it is the black bears that have intruded into human activity areas. If it were forests or riverbanks, it would mean humans have trespassed into black bear territory, these are two completely opposite concepts,¡± Jerret finished explaining. ¡°The number of black bears is increasing, to the extent that it¡¯s affecting normal human activities,¡± Bi Fang tapped the pen, summarizing. Mandy objected, ¡°Then why couldn¡¯t it be humans expanding massively, affecting the black bears¡¯ original range of activity?¡± Bi Fang commended, ¡°Not bad, you¡¯re starting to think outside the box.¡± Mandy chuckled, but then felt something was off. ¡°Whether it¡¯s the increase in black bear numbers affecting humans, or human expansion affecting the black bears, we still need to look at the local situation, for instance, the urbanization rate, and the development of the incident¡¯s location.¡± ¡°Japan is a country with a high concentration of population in cities; scarcely anyone invests in developing remote areas, those are agricultural zones, not to mention expansion.¡± Using a red marker, Bi Fang marked all the attack points on a sheet of white paper. After plotting them out, it was clear that these places were all quite remote, wild mountains and old forests, with only tiny villages nearby¡ªwhere¡¯s the expansion? Of course, this alone wasn¡¯t enough. Only after comparing maps of the cities from a few years back could it be confirmed that these areas hadn¡¯t expanded much in the last decade, yet black bear attacks on people had increased. ¡°With this, we can conclude that the number of black bears has increased and they have started to invade the human activity areas, and the reports from Japan also explain it in this way.¡± Japan has a profession dedicated to hunting black bears, called Y¨­ki Hunters, whose origins can be traced back to the 16th century. Every hunter¡¯s settlement in the northern part of Honshu Island has its unique characteristics, but they all consider themselves special protectors of nature¡¯s balance. However, since black bears have been protected, Y¨­ki Hunters can no longer freely hunt them, allowing the black bear population to grow again, now once more becoming rampant. ¡°So, this year the Japanese Government has opened a hunting festival, inviting professional hunters to hunt black bears and also promote the local Y¨­ki Hunter culture, with a total of one hundred bears permitted to be hunted using only cold weapons while banning heavy crossbows and prohibiting the killing of cubs and sub-adult black bears.¡± Japan is quite skilled at promoting its culture, turning even the simple act of killing black bears into a grand festival, stimulating local tourism, and also inviting Oak Tree Story company for live-tracking and filming. Oak Tree Story is a company composed of reporters, photographers, and filmmakers who all share the common trait of focusing on local stories. Anyone qualified to participate in the hunt will be assigned a liaison from the Oak Tree Story company for tracking and filming. Speaking of which, the Japanese Government was actually inspired by Bi Fang¡¯s live streaming. Ever since the concept of live-streaming wilderness survival appeared, it has created quite a frenzy worldwide, with a tremendous affinity and interest for this combination of wildness and intelligence. When Japan¡¯s live-streamed black bear hunting program was released, it also sparked a trend globally, but Jerret and others were too busy with their own work to hear much about it. Bi Fang felt that, regardless of whether Japan¡¯s promotion of culture is correct, the act and method of cultural protection are still worth learning from. ¡°The Japanese black bear is a subspecies of the Asian black bear, mainly dwelling in broadleaf and mixed needle-broadleaf forests, tropical rainforests in the south, and oak forests in the northeast, and they are found in Honshu and Shikoku of Japan.¡± ¡°Taiji Town is also located within the Honshu Volcanic Cluster boundary, with black bears appearing in the vicinity too.¡± Honshu Island is Japan¡¯s largest island, located in the central part of the Japanese archipelago and is the seventh-largest island in the world. It faces Hokkaido Island across the Tsugaru Strait to the north, Shikoku Island across the Seto Inland Sea to the south, and Kyushu Island across the Kanmon Straits and Bungo Channel to the southwest. The island is home to numerous forests and even active volcanoes, the most famous of which is Mount Fuji. The area designated for this hunting event is near the Honshu Volcanic Cluster. ¡°The hunting season starts on July 12 and will end as soon as one hundred black bears are hunted. I¡¯ve already registered online, and during the day, I¡¯ll live-stream the black bear hunt, and at night, I¡¯ll sneak off to Dolphin Bay to finish filming,¡± Bi Fang announced his plan. As for whether the registration would be successful, Bi Fang felt that as long as the organizers had no issues with their thinking, it shouldn¡¯t be a problem. ¡°Although it might sound boastful, I¡¯m already a world-famous figure. Showing up in Taiji Town directly might alert them, so I need to find a plausible excuse, and I think the hunting season is a good opportunity.¡± After hearing the plan, Richard and the others were speechless. This plan sounded rather good. But what¡¯s with this Batman d¨¦j¨¤ vu? ¡°Still, doesn¡¯t this seem too dangerous?¡± the electrical expert fretted a little, hunting black bears during the day and outwitting the locals and their villagers at night. Reality isn¡¯t a movie, playing Batman would take a toll on your body in just a few days. Bi Fang was very confident, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, hunting is fake, filming is real, I am not going for the first place, so I will rest and take control. In the wilderness, I am more cautious and knowledgeable than anyone else.¡± Despise the enemy strategically, but take them seriously tactically. It¡¯s definitely challenging to complete two tasks at the same time, but Bi Fang wasn¡¯t greedy. His ultimate goal was the Dolphin Bay mission; hunting the Black Bear was just incidental, for show. Hunting a hundred Black Bears using traditional methods was challenging. By the time the hunting season was completely over, the Dolphin Bay trip should also be coming to an end. After hearing this, no one had any more objections. ¡°Then we have one more week before we must set out.¡± ¡°Exactly, this time we have to succeed completely!¡± ¡­ Meanwhile, in the registration office for the Honshu Island hunting season in Japan, the employees were working overtime. Black Bear, primitive hunting¡ªjust the name was enough to attract the interest of ninety percent of people and create a sensation worldwide. Despite the high entry barrier for online registration requiring a professional hunter license, there was still an endless stream of applicants. Many traditional hunters signed up to try their luck, hoping to make a name for themselves. The case of Bi Fang was too successful, becoming instantly famous worldwide. From snatching food from a bear¡¯s mouth, being chased by packs of wolves, discovering unknown creatures, to the goose journey, sea drifting, summiting Mount Everest, and wilderness iron forging¡ªachieving any of these feats would be enough to live off fame and fortune for a lifetime. What about when all these achievements are attributed to one person? He would become a legend of the century, a legend that made a fortune. Some calculated that Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcasts could bring in nearly ten million yuan in revenue, and this was just from pure viewer donations, without any advertising. Not to mention the later club, which, although it hadn¡¯t gone public and its specific financials were unknown, could be roughly estimated from ticket sales to be a torrent of income envied by these earthy hunters. There were also many other invisible sources of income, including fame. In the age of the internet, reputation could be cashed in for money! Where there was profit, there were pursuers. Unfortunately, not everyone was capable of handling it, especially in the wilderness. Even Bi Fang initially consciously imitated Bear Grylls, before slowly developing and succeeding with his own style. These hunters had not watched Bear Grylls, and with Bi Fang¡¯s exemplary case before them, they couldn¡¯t make a name for themselves no matter what; they had the skills but lacked the ability to turn those skills into money. Now, Japan¡¯s hunting season was giving them a great opportunity. Each person supplied their resume, hoping to be selected and become famous with a single hunt. Unfortunately, this hunting season aimed to kill a hundred Brown Bears but only thirty-five professional hunters would be chosen, leaving the vast majority without the chance to participate. Furthermore, it was said that of these, five were designated Y¨­ki Hunters, leaving only thirty actual spots available. The staff¡¯s job was to pick the best from the massive pile of ¡°resumes,¡± looking for both strength and image, with a professional hunter certificate being the bare minimum. Some, even if they were strong, wouldn¡¯t be selected if they didn¡¯t look the part because they wouldn¡¯t attract an audience. Without drawing an audience, there would be a loss. ¡°Yawn, so sleepy, who is this jerk, too ugly, pass,¡± Nobita Nobi, with his sleepy eyes, once again passed on a professional hunter eagerly waiting for news. ¡°But his resume is quite good, eh? He killed a 2.4-meter-tall Brown Bear,¡± another colleague drinking coffee laughed. ¡°So what if he¡¯s killed a Brown Bear? I¡¯ve seen it at least thirty times, it¡¯s not with cold weapons, what does it count for killing it with a gun?¡± Nobita was indifferent as he flipped to the next one, suddenly showing some interest, ¡°Eh, this guy killed a 2.3-meter Brown Bear with a spear!¡± ¡°Mugalen, feels a bit familiar,¡± his colleague scratched his head, feeling like he had heard the name somewhere before but couldn¡¯t quite remember at the moment. ¡°The image is also good; he can be added to the alternatives,¡± Nobita clicked his mouse, adding Mugalen to the alternatives, and continued looking through. When he reached the last application of the day, the photo was slow to load, but the resume below came up first. ¡°Let me see if there¡¯s a surprise in the last one, well, it¡¯s another hand-to-hand against a 2.3-meter Black Bear? Hunted a pack of wolves? Discovered prehistoric animals? Encountered a group of sharks, killed a few, and also climbed Mount Everest? Ha? Is this guy bluffing?¡± Nobita laughed heartily. The colleague next to him froze. He nudged Nobita, who was laughing, and reminded him, ¡°Don¡¯t you find these experiences very familiar?¡± ¡°Familiar? It¡¯s obviously Master Fang¡¯s resume; this person has the gall to copy Master Fang¡¯s experiences, and he doesn¡¯t think¡­¡± Nobita laughed and laughed, then suddenly couldn¡¯t laugh anymore. Wait, Master Fang¡¯s resume? At that moment, the photo finished loading bit by bit, revealing a confident and handsome young man with a smile. Two piercing screams erupted from inside the building. Chapter 516 - Chapter 516: Chapter 513: Preparing to Depart Chapter 516: Chapter 513: Preparing to Depart The next morning, a resume as elaborate as a movie script was printed and presented to the highest leader of the online office. Nobita Nobi bowed deeply. Gang Tianwu picked up a cup of coffee, not immediately grabbing the report; he looked at Nobita Nobi, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say to submit them to me at the last minute? There are still two days left. Why have you given it to me now?¡± As the highest leader of the online office, Gang Tianwu was also responsible for this hunting season, and the selection of the thirty hunters had to be reviewed by him. But it wasn¡¯t the deadline yet, so why had it been handed in early? ¡°No, no,¡± said Nobita Nobi, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead. He didn¡¯t know why, but every time he saw the towering figure of the team leader, Gang Tianwu, he instinctively felt fear, ¡°This resume is very special and must be reviewed by you personally.¡± ¡°What¡¯s so special about this resume?¡± Gang Tianwu now curiously picked it up, but upon first glance, he was stunned. While reading, he looked up at Nobita Nobi and couldn¡¯t help but burst out halfway through, ¡°Did you submit a movie script? Or a collection of novel stories?¡± ¡°Team leader, look at his name and photo.¡± ¡°Bi Fang? Hmm, Bi Fang¡­ Bi Fang!¡± Gang Tianwu stood up abruptly, his tone quite urgent, ¡°Is it that adventurer Bi Fang? He also signed up?¡± The team leader¡¯s shocked expression filled Nobita Nobi with a sense of pride ¨C it was nothing more than he¡¯d expected. The reaction was almost the same as his upon seeing it, but he couldn¡¯t show this response. Facing the question, he nodded quickly: ¡°Yes, we have confirmed it repeatedly, it¡¯s that adventurer Bi Fang.¡± ¡°Agreed, of course, I agree!¡± Gang Tianwu appeared very pleased. He couldn¡¯t believe that a small hunting season could snag such a big whale! If Bi Fang came, it would definitely push the hunting season to its peak! ¡°But¡­¡± Nobita Nobi hesitated for a moment, reminding Gang Tianwu, ¡°If he competes, the Y¨­ki Hunters, will they still be able to get¡­¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï Gang Tianwu paused, slowly sitting back down and drawing a cigarette to gather his thoughts. He had nearly forgotten about this. Focusing on the advantages of Bi Fang¡¯s arrival, he overlooked the threat it posed. The essence of this season¡¯s black bear hunting was to combine hunting culture with Y¨­ki culture. The fundamental purpose was to promote their Y¨­ki Hunter culture. The five Y¨­ki Hunters were nearly guaranteed first place; they were the five Great White Sharks among the hunters. But now, a larger, more ferocious whale had appeared. Could the five Great White Sharks still emerge victorious? The movie-script-like report was still fresh in Gang Tianwu¡¯s hands, every event written on it was the most real, witnessed by countless people around the world, beyond disbelief. In comparison, the few Y¨­ki Hunters who had always hunted in the deep forests seemed unlikely to outperform the opposition. The more bustling the hunting season, the greater his merit. However, if all this excitement benefited someone else, the more bustling it became, the worse it was for him. Far away, Bi Fang might never have dreamed that being too strong could also be a problem. If an opponent is too strong, you¡¯re reluctant to invite them over, afraid of losing. What to do? Online now, pretty urgent. ¡°If we lose, what shall we do?¡± Unable to decide on his own, Gang Tianwu waved Nobita Nobi away, then took out his phone to contact the Y¨­ki Hunters, asking them whether they had any assurance against the renowned adventurer Bi Fang. ¡°At a critical moment, we can use some tricks, but not too exaggeratedly,¡± Gang Tianwu hinted. To his surprise, the five Y¨­ki Hunters showed a certain interest in Bi Fang¡¯s participation but were unconcerned, even contemptuous. Gang Tianwu was astonished. Had they been so long in the deep forests that they had never heard of Bi Fang¡¯s fame? The Y¨­ki Hunters, who were together at the moment, burst into laughter after hearing this. ¡°Gang Tianwu is overvaluing others and undervaluing himself. Even if he¡¯s a legendary adventurer, what of it? We Y¨­ki Hunters, our ancestors have all been bear killers, our blades, our blood, have been forged and flow for the hunt of the black bear. If it¡¯s about wilderness survival, we might be inferior to him, but hunting black bears, we are sure to win!¡± one of the Y¨­ki Hunters shouted. ¡°Yeah, didn¡¯t you know about his first live broadcast when he ran into a black bear? He didn¡¯t succeed in killing it but let it escape, proving he doesn¡¯t know how to kill bears,¡± another Y¨­ki Hunter interjected. Gang Tianwu muttered to himself, black bears have been protected for so many years, how many have you killed? But facing his formidable seniors, he couldn¡¯t just say that. Then he had a second thought, suddenly finding their words made sense. It seemed that Bi Fang truly hadn¡¯t killed any bears, his achievements were merely driving them away. If it really came to life and death combat, it was difficult to say who would win or lose. His own side¡¯s Y¨­ki Hunters might not have killed many black bears, but they had slaughtered a few. Comforted by this thought, Gang Tianwu¡¯s mind was much more at ease. The odds of winning were still pretty good. Even if they were outmatched, a little cunning would ensure their victory. After hanging up the phone, Gang Tianwu immediately stamped Bi Fang¡¯s resume with a red seal. Approved! Alas, the clever Gang Tianwu had overlooked something: the black bear Bi Fang encountered was a rare and giant one, over two meters long, and Bi Fang had come across it by chance, armed only with a stone spear. The Y¨­ki Hunters, on the other hand, wore armor, held steel broadswords, tracked and set various traps, and had hunting dogs to help contain. Furthermore, unknown to others, the city white-collar worker with just a blue wilderness survival skill, with average stats under ten, who had gone through countless dangers, had long since grown into a Wilderness Traveler, a Forbidden Zone Hunter¡­ Magic Capital. Bi Fang was not aware that he had just gone through a process of being considered, passed, and accepted. At the moment, he was focused on the third automatic refresh of the System Shop, to see if he could find some good stuff. [Low-level Skill Upgrade Coupon*1 ¡ª¡ª 500 Points] [Strength Attribute Point*1 ¡ª¡ª 1200 Points] [Mammoth Climbing Pants*1 ¡ª¡ª 80 Points] [Weapon Repair Coupon*1 ¡ª¡ª 180 Points] [Ancestor Bird Outdoor Sneakers*1 ¡ª¡ª 100 Points] [Night Owl Whistle*1 ¡ª¡ª 50 Points] [Firesteel*1 ¡ª¡ª 140 Points] [Sudoku Puzzle Book ¡ª¡ª 10 Points] [Survival Album ¡ª 5 Points] When you have provisions in hand, your heart is at ease. Bi Fang scanned with a glance, purchased the Strength attribute points, the Weapon Repair Coupon, and the low-level Skill Coupon. As for the Survival Album that cost 5 points, he had been fooled by the name and bought it once before; it turned out to be a compilation of his most glorious moments edited into a photo album-like item, named the Survival Album¡­ But when he saw the golden light in the last item, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t take his eyes off it. [Advanced Skill Upgrade Coupon*1 ¡ª 3800 Points] An Advanced Skill Upgrade Coupon can be used in conjunction with Enhancement Points to upgrade an orange Skill! Looking at the more than two thousand points he still had left after three rounds of sweeps, Bi Fang quickly redeemed the Points he had accumulated over the past few days and consumed the Advanced Skill Upgrade Coupon. He had saved some Enhancement Points precisely for this moment! No sooner had he redeemed it than Bi Fang immediately clicked to use it. His long-unused Wilderness Traveler lv1 quickly morphed into lv2! In an instant, a massive influx of information flooded his brain, leaving Bi Fang momentarily stunned before he could begin to process it all. Simultaneously, the skill tree on the skill panel grew slightly thicker, bursting with leaves and branches. ¡°Isn¡¯t this cost-performance ratio just too good?¡± After a moment to assimilate, Bi Fang opened his eyes, his gaze filled with wonder. The upgrade from level one to level two of an orange Skill was even more substantial than the previous upgrades! Though it couldn¡¯t compare to the jump from purple to orange, it was still quite exaggerated. He opened the panel again. [Sole Bound User: Bi Fang] [Growth Age: 25] [Height: 186.1cm] [Weight: 80KG] [Strength: 16] [Physique: 18] [Agility: 16] [Wisdom: 15] [Platinum Body, Beastly Instinct] [Status: Healthy.] [Enhancement Points: 0] [Wilderness Points: 27 (convertible)] Orange main trunk: Wilderness Traveler lv2. Purple branch: Forbidden Zone Hunter lv1, Body Tempering lv1. Blue twig: Tai Chi Traveling Dragon lv3. Green canopy: None. Battle spoils skills: Wolves King¡¯s Sense of Smell, King Fish¡¯s Stomach, Biological Sensing. Opening the panel again, Bi Fang found his skill panel greatly simplified. The level 2 Wilderness Traveler and Forbidden Zone Hunter had swallowed up all the previous skills like Archery, Rock Climbing, Swimming, Biological Identification, and High-altitude Parachuting. The robust orange main trunk rooted deep within the earth, thriving and growing, sprouting lush purple branches, sprawling out blue twigs, and finally, a green canopy, verdant and lush. Felt good. Bi Fang felt completely renewed. After each enhancement, he felt like stepping on a cloud, soaring higher and farther; this pleasure was beyond any other experience. System infusion must be the world¡¯s most efficient learning and growing method, right? Bi Fang stood up and went to the now completely transformed aquarium in the living room. Half of it was filled with water, brimming with lush green aquatic plants and driftwood, while the other half was a gradient of land, harboring three small ponds. He sprinkled some feed into the aquarium, and a swarm of small fish floated at the top layer of the water, scrambling for food. In a small nearby pond, two Giant Mandible Larva young responded to the sound, ready for their midday meal. ¡°I really don¡¯t understand why you like keeping these bugs, they look¡­¡± Mandy came over and knocked on the glass, startling the small fish into a frenzy, ¡°They look just too, uh, horrifying, and they¡¯re as wide as my hand.¡± The size of the Giant Mandible Larvae in front of her was hard to believe as ¡°larvae.¡± Two-thirds of their back resembled an extended version of a lobster tail, with many tentacles, somewhat like centipedes, while the front third looked like a regular earth-boring dung beetle, complete with large pincers. According to Bi Fang, these creatures were insects with only six legs. Those tentacles behind weren¡¯t feet, but gill-like organs used for breathing. The larvae in the pond were unaware of Mandy¡¯s assessment and carefree in their play. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t underestimate them. I use them to assess water quality. As long as they are lively, it means the water has a high oxygen content and is very clean, making it a great environment for the fish in the tank,¡± Bi Fang cherished them, not only not finding them ugly but actually thinking they were quite handsome. What boy could resist a cool bug with large pincers? Giant Mandible Larvae are known as indicators of water quality. If they are present, the water quality must be good. Unfortunately, with urban pollution nowadays, they can no longer be found even in ordinary countryside, only in deep mountains and old forests. Many provinces in the country have not observed Giant Mandible Larvae in the wild for many consecutive years. The insect specimen of the Giant Mandible Larva on display at the Yunnan Province Insect Museum was still captured and prepared in 1986. The two specimens in front of him were accidentally discovered by Zhou Weisheng in the Banna Rainforest and given to Bi Fang as a gift. They had just arrived the day before yesterday. Due to the long journey, they were in poor spirits upon arrival, but after resting for a couple of days, they were now full of energy. Every day, Bi Fang would personally catch tadpoles to feed them. So, in this tank of fish, the most precious weren¡¯t the small fish but these two larvae. ¡°If you find them in some pool while surviving in the wild, then the water there is basically safe to drink.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s professional habits came to the fore, as he began to naturally disseminate wilderness survival knowledge. Mandy shrugged indifferently and walked away, shaking her head. After feeding some fish and playing with the two larvae, Bi Fang¡¯s special black phone suddenly buzzed. He pulled it out and saw a few big words that caught his eye. ¡°Application approved.¡± Chapter 517 - Chapter 517: Chapter 514: Descending upon Tokyo Chapter 517: Chapter 514: Descending upon Tokyo The phone in Bi Fang¡¯s hands was encased in a camouflage hard shell, looking incredibly sturdy and reminding one of those early-century Nokias that could be used to crack walnuts. Clearly, it was not a phone one could purchase from a regular store on the street. This time he was to go to Japan, and considering the activities he was about to undertake, his identity, and the historical relations between the two countries, Bi Fang felt he needed to submit a request for this mission. When he made his first request, the other party even misunderstood his intentions, asking if he required armed support, and later explained with difficulty that supplying firearms posed some challenges, and their use might lead to quite severe consequences. There were, however, many melee weapons readily available for supply, and airdropping them was not out of the question¡ªit just required a heads-up about an hour and a half in advance. Bi Fang was puzzled for a while but eventually clarified that he had no intentions of causing destruction¡­ Now, his request had been approved, and following that, a warm invitation from the Japanese side arrived. A man named Gang Tianwu called to introduce himself as the person in charge of this hunting season, expressing immense honor at Bi Fang¡¯s participation and requesting the exact time of arrival to arrange accommodations. After finalizing everything, all eyes on the Japanese official forums noticed immediately that the official poster had changed. Initially, it only featured Black Bear and Y¨­ki Hunter in an adversarial stance, but this time, it also included a young man. In the middle of the large poster, a black bear was roaring skyward, on the left was the Y¨­ki Hunter wielding a naginata, and to the right was the half-portrait of Bi Fang, with eyes full of determination and eyebrows soaring. [Who is this man? Why is he worthy of standing on the other side of Y¨­ki Hunter?] [No way, no way, can anyone really not know Master Fang?] [With regular live streams watched by over six million viewers and a global fan base of nearly a hundred million, aside from the elderly, children, middle-aged men who don¡¯t watch live streams, and people from impoverished regions, even I, from a small Japanese village, recognize this man.] Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? [Is Master Fang here to avenge the first incident with Black Bear?] [Damn, since when was Master Fang participating in Japan¡¯s hunting season? How come I haven¡¯t heard anything? Is this fake news? Are Japanese officials violating portrait rights?] [Japan¡¯s official announcement came a day earlier than Wolf Fang¡¯s, I don¡¯t understand.] The other registered hunters were filled with jealousy. Are we unworthy of being named? Why does he get to be in the center spot? Underneath the massive promotional poster, there was also a video interview with the aged Y¨­ki Hunter. An Oak Tree Company host interviewed an elderly Y¨­ki Hunter, asking for his views on this hunting season. The old Y¨­ki Hunter Endo said, ¡°Japan now has over four million sika deer, yet our wolves have gone extinct, leaving only Black Bear to hold them back, and now, Black Bear¡¯s numbers have also gotten out of control, so we stand up!¡± ¡°The Y¨­ki Hunter has a history of several centuries; my family has passed it down to me, the ninth generation. Every time Black Bear encroaches on humans, we stand up, and this time is no exception. However, I am old now; my disciple, Sato, and his peers from the new generation of young hunters will carry on the legacy!¡± Endo stepped aside, revealing a middle-aged man behind him with a somewhat stable demeanor and bowed legs. Facing his master¡¯s introduction, he nodded calmly. ¡°` Passersby erupted in cheers; this was their culture, their Y¨­ki Hunters! The reporter asked again, ¡°So, what do you think about the Legendary Adventurer Master Fang joining the competition?¡± Endo was clearly of an older generation and not very internet-savvy. Taken aback, he asked, ¡°Master Fang? Is that his name?¡± ¡°No, his name is Bi Fang, but his fans revere him as Master Fang, comparing him to a heavenly god in the wilds. He¡¯s an Adventurer with many legendary experiences.¡± Endo scoffed, ¡°A god? If he¡¯s the god of the wilds, then we Y¨­ki Hunters are the gods of hunting Black Bears. No matter what feats he¡¯s accomplished, the first prize of this hunting competition will surely be ours!¡± Sato, clearly embarrassed by his master¡¯s age and propensity to dwell on past glories, found his master¡¯s words less than courteous. He quickly coughed twice, attempting to draw the Oak Tree Company reporter¡¯s attention. But the reporter didn¡¯t care for politeness; the more intense the conflict, the better. They pursued such stories with gusto, hoping for a face-to-face confrontation to splash across tomorrow¡¯s headlines. Left with no choice as the reporter was about to ask another question, Sato cut in, ¡°I have great respect for Mr. Bi¡¯s actions in the wilderness, and I acknowledge that he is a legendary adventurer. I¡¯ve even watched many of his videos¡ªhe¡¯s a remarkable young man.¡± After lavishing praise on Bi Fang, which didn¡¯t sit well with his master Endo, Sato quickly changed his tune, ¡°However, precisely because he is too young, my master ¡ª a professional Y¨­ki Hunter ¡ª was thirty-six when he first killed a Black Bear on his own.¡± ¡°Thirty-five and ten months!¡± Endo corrected sharply. Sato nodded, ¡°And under my master¡¯s patient guidance, I managed to kill a 1.8-meter Black Bear on my own at thirty-two! I am forty this year and have killed a total of seven large bears! The only reason there aren¡¯t more is that the government¡¯s annual quota is too low. If it were removed, I could kill even more!¡± At this point, Sato appeared somewhat proud, and Endo nodded in satisfaction, pleased that his disciple had surpassed him. ¡°But from what I understand, Bi Fang is only twenty-five this year, right?¡± The reporter nodded, confirming this information. Sato began to speak with authority, ¡°In terms of Black Bear hunting, he is simply too inexperienced. The only Black Bear encounter he had was fraught with danger, and he didn¡¯t even manage to harm the beast; he merely poked it, prompting the not particularly hungry bear to abandon its prey.¡± The reporter was skilled at honing in on the controversy, ¡°So in this competition, Master Fang is truly no match for the Y¨­ki Hunters, is he?¡± Sato was displeased with the reporter¡¯s instigation. Even if Bi Fang was inferior in bear-hunting, he was still a globally recognized figure, and Sato didn¡¯t want to offend him so easily. Yet, deep down, Sato did think just that; he simply let out a slight smile, ¡°I didn¡¯t say that, but for this competition, I still maintain considerable confidence, and I imagine the other Y¨­ki Hunters likely feel the same.¡± Beyond Sato¡¯s interview, the reporter also spoke with other Y¨­ki Hunters participating in the hunt: Tanaka, Okuyama, Fujiwara, and Takahashi, who all displayed their self-confidence and poise. Some hunters went as far as to directly state that Bi Fang was too green and that perhaps in twenty years, when they had grown old and Bi Fang had matured, he might stand a chance of winning. This infuriated Bi Fang¡¯s fans, who lashed out. [Since ancient times, the left side of a ¡®wave¡¯ denotes a loss! You¡¯re on the left side of the poster; you¡¯re doomed to lose!] [The Japanese People have always been so confident; I¡¯m used to it by now.] ¡°` ¡°To be honest, Bi Fang had never actually killed a Black Bear; the only record was a retreat battle¡­¡± ¡°This hunting season, victory will inevitably belong to our Great Korean Empire!¡± ¡°Wow, Little Kimchi is even more confident than Little Yabaga. Let me see, looks like no one from Stick Country is participating huh?¡± ¡°Holy shit, is Mugalen coming too?¡± ¡°Where? Where?¡± ¡°Mugalen?¡± Bi Fang, who had been silently lurking, was somewhat surprised, but he didn¡¯t see the list of participants. Only after scrolling through the other party¡¯s social network did he find out that they had only registered, and it was still unknown whether they had been accepted or not. The complete list would not be confirmed until the day after tomorrow. Bi Fang was an exception; Japan used him as a gimmick, promoting him in advance. After sending out the new posters and promotions, the traffic to the promotional website instantly skyrocketed tenfold! Gang Tianwu was overjoyed; indeed, after Bi Fang joined, it made a huge difference, stirring up the excitement and drawing more and more attention to their hunting season. The event could be considered a great success already; if the Y¨­ki Hunter could take the final championship, it would undoubtedly be the most significant highlight in his record! Before long, Wolf Fang also released posters, but Wolf Fang¡¯s posters were much more straightforward and brutal, featuring only Bear and Bi Fang. Bi Fang, spear in hand, leapt up from behind; the Black Bear roared loudly, trying to turn around, with saliva splattering from its mouth. Wolf Fang¡¯s trailer, once again confirmed that Bi Fang was about to participate in Japan¡¯s Black Bear hunting season. ¡°Get first place, bring home the first place!¡± ¡°What Y¨­ki Hunter, thinking he¡¯s half ghost, top gun? He¡¯s actually neither human nor ghost.¡± ¡°Good joke.¡± ¡°Show those little Yabaga some color.¡± ¡°International friends, let¡¯s all be friendly, okay!¡± ¡°Throw some dirt in their eyes.¡± ¡°My back!!!¡± ¡°Stir it up, the more lively the better.¡± Bi Fang put down his phone, picked up his ticket to Japan. The more attention the hunting season drew, the more convenient his actions would be. Besides the organization and those eight people, probably no one would guess that participating in the hunting season was a sham; the true purpose was to go to Taiji Town to film Dolphin Bay. ¡°Finally, all modifications are complete! Guys, come down and have a look.¡± The voice of the electrical expert came from the living room, and everyone hurried over. Bi Fang jumped onto the stair railing, smoothly slid down to the ground floor, and from three meters high, he jumped down. The living room was already filled with various materials and wires. Bi Fang stepped over a pile of plaster and noticed a stone suddenly slide under his feet. After the modifications, the mobility of these cameras had greatly increased, becoming quieter, more flexible, and their colors and appearance were more like the local vegetation of Taiji Town. The final adjustments were completed, two days ahead of the original plan. The electrical expert wiped the sweat beads from his forehead, manipulated the computer, and the stone camera turned a corner and slid away from Bi Fang¡¯s feet, finally stopping in a corner, motionless, looking just like an ordinary stone. The electrical expert was very satisfied: ¡°Adjustments are all complete; as soon as we get there, we can start using them directly.¡± Equipment was ready, and so¡­ Bi Fang looked at his team. Richard nodded. Jerry spread his hands: ¡°I feel like I can go to the Olympics now.¡± Pondy laughed: ¡°All my injuries are healed.¡± ¡°Ready to dive, sir!¡± Mandy and Keke said aloud. The assistant cameraman was eager to try: ¡°I will do my best.¡± ¡°Then, see you on July 10th, in Taiji Town.¡± ¡°See you in Taiji Town! *7¡± ¡­ The evening of July 8th. The cabin was dark, the plane had descended below the cloud layer, and it was raining outside the window, the worldly lights shining through the veil of rain. Dressed in a rare suit, Bi Fang held a black umbrella, looking out at the huge maze beneath the dark night sky. At this moment, beneath his feet lay Asia¡¯s largest city¡ªTokyo. Chapter 518 - Chapter 518: Chapter 515: Sugar-Coated Cannonball Chapter 518: Chapter 515: Sugar-Coated Cannonball In the middle school geography atlas, there was a satellite map that Bi Fang remembered very clearly. Although he couldn¡¯t recall which volume it was or the specific content, the sprinkling of lights across it was still vivid in his memory. It depicted the night around the world, with lights forming glimmering spiderwebs in the darkness. Many bright spots dotted the spiderweb; each one was a massive human city, some bright, some dim. And in Asia, Tokyo was surrounded by a dazzling white glow. The entire Tokyo Bay at night resembled a giant candle burning fiercely, spreading along the entire coastline. This is one of the world¡¯s four super cities, Japan¡¯s Tokyo, a colossal maze with a population of over thirteen million. The entire Tokyo metropolitan area even boasts a population exceeding thirty-seven million people, more than a quarter of Japan¡¯s entire population¡ªthe world¡¯s record. Bi Fang took a deep breath and headed towards the interior of the airport. The smooth road collected shallow puddles, with warm purple neon light reflecting off them, trembling slightly as cars drove by. Gang Tianwu had been waiting in the lobby for the arrival of the flight, and finally, at the entrance, Nobita Nobi spotted a man in a black suit¡ªBi Fang. Both were surprised to see each other dressed so differently from their usual attire, almost missing each other entirely. Gang Tianwu immediately approached Bi Fang to shake hands, introduced himself, and then said, ¡°Mr. Bi, it¡¯s our honor to have you join the Hunting Season in Tokyo, Japan.¡± Before coming, Bi Fang had researched the organizers of the Hunting Season and seen pictures, so he recognized the burly Gang Tianwu. However, the latter¡¯s heavily accented English was tough to understand, making Bi Fang¡¯s scalp tingle: ¡°You can speak Japanese, I understand it.¡± Having anticipated this possibility, Bi Fang had used a ¡®Language Proficiency Coupon,¡¯ and now he could converse fluently in Japanese. ¡°You can speak Japanese?¡± Gang Tianwu and Nobita Nobi exchanged glances, both displaying genuine astonishment in their eyes. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? This wasn¡¯t just for show, but real surprise from the heart. They both knew that in addition to their native language, the other was also fluent in English, French, and Spanish. Now they could add Japanese to the list? Proficiency in five languages¡ªwithout mentioning anything else, just this alone deserved immense respect from the average person. ¡°This is great, I didn¡¯t expect Mr. Bi to also understand our language, which is truly delightful,¡± Gang Tianwu remarked with even more warmth upon learning of Bi Fang¡¯s ability to speak Japanese. Nobita Nobi was up ahead, helping with the luggage and also leading the way, while Gang Tianwu was in charge of coordinating with Bi Fang. ¡°Honestly, having Bi-sensei come to Japan for the Hunting Season is a huge surprise for us. Initially, when the Hunting Season was being organized, we had thought of inviting you, but since there was no precedent, we felt it was unlikely that you would come, so we abandoned the idea,¡± Gang Tianwu confessed. It felt odd for Bi Fang, who was in his forties, to be called ¡®sensei¡¯ by Gang Tianwu: ¡°Just call me Bi Fang, I¡¯m not worthy of the title ¡®sensei¡¯.¡± ¡°Haha, no worries, it just slipped out since you have taught us so much about wilderness survival!¡± Gang Tianwu laughed heartily before continuing. ¡°So when you registered, I was stunned, thinking someone must have watched your livestream and jokingly filled out an application in your name, right Bear?¡± Nobita Nobi turned around and smiled, ¡°Yes, exactly, it was incredible.¡± ¡°After confirming it was really you, we unanimously agreed right away and posted posters without any hesitation,¡± Gang Tianwu boasted, quite skilled at spinning a good tale. Of course, anyone with sense wouldn¡¯t mention the prior contact with the Ghost Hunter. To welcome Bi Fang, Gang Tianwu even arranged for a dedicated car for Bi Fang, making Nobita Nobi his designated driver for the time being; before the Hunting Season started, he would take him anywhere he wanted to go. There might be some discontentment among the project team, but Gang Tianwu felt it was all worthwhile. The arrival of Bi Fang had increased the popularity of the entire Hunting Season by several folds, and countless commercial advertisements had been sold. This bit of preferential treatment was trivial in comparison, even the hotel they were headed to was the presidential suite of the Imperial Hotel. As for the other hunters, they didn¡¯t receive such treatment at all¡ªgetting their airfare reimbursed at best. Hotel arrangements? Wishful thinking. They could stay wherever they liked, even in a tent in the forest, as nobody would care. But anyone who dared to be late would have their hunting permit canceled on the spot! One wonders what Mugalen¡¯s reaction would be upon seeing such a contrast once he arrived. Nobita Nobi opened the car door, loaded the luggage, and drove Bi Fang towards the Imperial Hotel. After exchanging pleasantries with Gang Tianwu, Bi Fang, led by Nobita Nobi, arrived at the presidential suite. The generosity of Japan amazed him when he saw the inside of the room. It was embarrassing to say, but he wasn¡¯t one for luxuries and had never stayed in such an opulent hotel suite before. When he saw the beautiful attendants uniformed along the corridors, the prepared tea in the room, and the heated bathrobe, he instantly felt the decadence of capitalism. Fallen, so fallen! Gang Tianwu, you villain, with your strong features and warm welcome, are you trying to undermine my will and body through such means, making me forget my true purpose? Ah!? ¡°` Do you think I¡¯m someone who falls from grace that easily? ¡°Ah, this is so relaxing.¡± Bi Fang, with a face slightly flushed with righteousness, lay in a bathtub large enough for three, looking out at the busiest metropolis in all of Asia through the one-way glass. The pitter-patter of light rain on the glass morphed into delicate streams, shrouding the entire city in a mist, with the colorful lights flickering. Indeed, from June to October is Japan¡¯s typhoon season. Japan is characterized by its subtropical monsoon climate and temperate monsoon climate, with the common feature being the influence of the southeast monsoon, leading to high temperatures and heavy rainfall in the summer, and even the possibility of encountering the rainy season. The rainy season is a unique climatic phenomenon in East Asia, found only along the banks of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in Huaxia, in areas between 29 and 33 degrees north latitude, as well as in the southeastern part of Japan and the southernmost part of the Korean Peninsula. Other regions at the same latitude around the world do not experience rainy seasons. It¡¯s hard for those who haven¡¯t lived in Jiangnan to understand what it¡¯s like when a rain can last for an entire month: stuffy and hot, staying at home, one can almost feel their body starting to mold. Choosing to visit this city in July, you¡¯re most likely to encounter rainy weather. Bi Fang stretched and climbed out of the bathtub, his travel fatigue vanishing into thin air. He hadn¡¯t been corrupted by capital; it¡¯s just that the other party had spent money, sending sugar-coated shells his way. Bi Fang, with his immense self-control, of course would eat the candy coating and send the shells right back¡ªno waste allowed. He took out the late-night snack menu that had just been delivered, ordered a few items simply, feeling that only after eating and drinking his fill could he carry on with the upcoming activities. Hunting season starts on the twelfth of July, and today¡¯s the eighth, four more days to go. Richard, Jerret, and others will arrive in Japan again on the tenth of July. Staggering their arrival times was also done to better conceal their connection. Richard and his group were probably already on Taiji Town¡¯s blacklist; it wouldn¡¯t be convenient for them to appear together. After all, given Bi Fang¡¯s past actions, if the two were to appear at the same time, suspicion would easily be aroused. On the twelfth, the hunters will choose their preferred hunting spots in the Honshu Volcanic Belt. At that time, Bi Fang will choose to be in the vicinity of Taiji Town, adding the two together, the degree of suspicion would reach its peak. So Bi Fang chose to come to Tokyo, Japan two days early. July ninth, eight o¡¯clock in the morning, the final list for the hunting season was published, including five Ghost Hunters: Sato, Tanaka, Okuyama, Fujiwara, and Takahashi, with an average age of forty-one. Bi Fang, without a doubt, was also on the list. Scrolling down, when he saw that familiar name, he laughed. Mugalen was selected too. As the most outstanding, and the final champion of the Wilderness Survivalist show, the Hunter Mugalen had long earned a certain degree of fame, and his selection was unquestionable. Scrolling further, the next twenty-eight people were not familiar faces to Bi Fang: they were all strangers, all Professional Hunters, from all over the world, but even the youngest was a full seven years older than Bi Fang, aged thirty-two. Bi Fang¡¯s youthful face stood out among them, yet it was impossible for anyone to overlook. In the minds of the other hunters, the twenty-five-year-old Legendary Adventurer who was proficient in multiple languages, dabbling in mathematics, geography, biology, chemistry, physics, and history, with no small accomplishments in these fields, powerful background, and extremely high physical fitness, Bi Fang was just a damn BUG! Against the heavens! If you were forty-five, that would still be understandable, but twenty-five? Havewe all been living our lives in vain? Since Richard and his team won¡¯t arrive until tomorrow, Bi Fang still had plenty of time today. The Imperial Hotel where he stayed had an excellent location, very close to the renowned shopping district Ginza. It was convenient to tour Asakusa, Akihabara, and Tokyo Disneyland. Thus, Bi Fang had Nobita Nobi take him on a tour of Tokyo. Although he had missed May and June, the two best months to visit Japan, the streets were still teeming with foreigners. Some young girls even recognized Bi Fang and approached him for a photo, to which he graciously agreed. A handsome Asian face coupled with fluent Japanese made it hard to tell he was a foreigner. When they arrived in Akihabara, Bi Fang talked about everything from culture to tourism, from festivals to cuisine, all the way to various customs, and then seemed to casually ask, ¡°By the way, Nobita, do you guys like eating dolphin meat?¡± ¡°Dolphin meat?¡± Nobita Nobi was taken aback, chuckling, ¡°Who would eat that? It¡¯s poisonous, you know.¡± ¡°Then why have I heard that you guys kill tens of thousands of dolphins every year?¡± ¡°Impossible, we Japanese have never slaughtered dolphins¡ªthose are nothing but lies made up by the media!¡± Nobita Nobi¡¯s voice grew louder, seemingly agitated by the fact that even an Adventurer like Bi Fang would believe reports from unscrupulous media. Bi Fang was thoughtful. ¡°` Chapter 519 - Chapter 519: Chapter 516: So Thats What I Meant? Chapter 519: Chapter 516: So That¡¯s What I Meant? Nobita Nobi and his burly boss, Gang Tianwu, were entirely different in appearance. The whole person was very thin and small, highly nearsighted, with glasses thicker than the bottom of a beer bottle, and a large head that made him look very easy to bully. Although he seemed weak and frail, when this kind of person spoke, it gave others a feeling of credibility. You don¡¯t know? Bi Fang pondered thoughtfully, which was exactly what Richard had said. Richard had come to Japan more than once to unveil the truth, and he had been active in Japan for as long as six months. BBC, The Times, Time Magazine¡ªmany people were brought here by him, but they all left empty-handed. In the meantime, Richard kept asking passers-by on the streets, any top-tier professional would learn how to think and distinguish the truth of a matter. ¡°Have you heard about this?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ve never heard of it.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying, right? Do people really eat dolphins? Really?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to believe such a thing.¡± ¡°We prefer to watch dolphins; I¡¯ve never heard of it myself.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã? The answers Richard got from interviews he randomly conducted on the streets of Tokyo were identical to Bi Fang¡¯s responses now. Perhaps those people were all lying, but the likelihood was not high. The media covered up the truth¡ªit was organized, premeditated censorship because dolphin meat contains high concentrations of mercury, several dozen times above the normal level! Compared to that, those who actually slaughtered dolphins were a minority; in those remote mountain villages, most Japanese people didn¡¯t even know what was happening there. The fishermen claimed it was their ¡°tradition,¡± ¡°culture,¡± and outsiders like Richard didn¡¯t understand them¡ªthey ate beef, while the fishermen ate dolphin meat. But in fact, those people were talking nonsense. If even the Japanese themselves didn¡¯t know about it, how could it count as ¡°tradition,¡± ¡°culture¡±? It was just killing for the sake of killing. ¡°All right, all right, it was just a casual question,¡± Bi Fang waved his hand as if he really just mentioned it in passing. Nobita Nobi also calmed down, realizing he had gotten a bit emotional, and quickly apologized to Bi Fang. Bi Fang waved his hand to show he didn¡¯t mind at all, and then spent the whole day being shown around Tokyo by Nobita. They were lucky today; it was just overcast and didn¡¯t rain. It had to be said, in terms of prosperity, Tokyo truly deserved to be one of the top four mega-cities in the world; even Magic Capital had a long way to catch up. Men in suits hurried along, looking at their watches, but more often, it was energetic young people, with streets full of youthful girls, their short skirts revealing their fair thighs, and delicate stockings drawing attractive curves. Summer, ah. Bi Fang sipped on a cold beverage, feeling somewhat sentimental. With each seasonal change, a new sensation arrives, and by the time you realize it, months have passed by. After tossing his trash in the bin, Bi Fang bought some gifts and souvenirs on the recommendation of Nobita Nobi and also got himself a PS5. As night fell, neon lights lit up the long street from east to west in succession, and for dinner, Bi Fang went to meet Gang Tianwu at the Imperial Hotel as arranged. Bi Fang and others sat on the long tatami mat, and a two-hundred-kilogram bluefin tuna was displayed in the center of the restaurant for all to see clearly. An experienced chef, holding an extremely narrow kitchen knife, cut thick slices of fish flesh along the muscle texture of the tuna and served them to the tables of different guests. The pink belly meat shone like exquisite rubies under the orange lighting. There was also broiled pufferfish, charcoal-grilled Pacific saury¡ªoh, Pacific saury? Bi Fang was somewhat surprised to see it, then realized the reason. It turned out that because of overfishing in Huaxia, the price of Pacific saury had skyrocketed; no longer a commoner¡¯s food, it had started to mingle with the likes of the bluefin tuna. If Pacific saury could talk, they would probably have to sigh at their good fortune. Gang Tianwu personally poured a cup of tea for Bi Fang, as Bi Fang did not drink alcohol, tea was used instead of water. Returning to his seat, Gang Tianwu asked with a smile, ¡°Mr. Bi, what method do you plan to use for hunting Black Bear? When I arrived, it seemed you didn¡¯t bring any weapons. Did you have them shipped separately?¡± ¡°Are you trying to gather intelligence, Mr. Gang?¡± ¡°Ahahaha, sorry, sorry, that was thoughtless of me. I didn¡¯t mean that; I was just curious, just curious,¡± Gang Tianwu said with a laugh, rubbing his bald head, ¡°Our competition is absolutely fair, I almost broke the rules myself.¡± Bi Fang smiled slightly and didn¡¯t mind, answering, ¡°As for weapons, probably two daggers.¡± One would be a harpoon, which he hadn¡¯t used for a long time; the second was a Hundred-refined Steel dagger Bi Fang had made himself in the Banna Rainforest. ¡°Really? Two daggers? You think you can take down Black Bear with just two daggers?¡± ¡°You must be kidding, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a Black Bear, isn¡¯t it? I¡¯ve seen them in the zoo; they stand taller than me when up on their hind legs. If I saw one in the wild, I¡¯d probably pee my pants in fright, right?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want to reveal your secret weapon, do you?¡± ¡°Strong and powerful, strong and powerful indeed!¡± The guests around whispered to each other; the recent Black Bear hunting season had sparked a craze worldwide, not to mention in Japan. From the moment Bi Fang stepped in, they had recognized this legendary adventurer. Even those who did not know him soon learned of some of Bi Fang¡¯s past deeds from the conversations of the people around and respected him accordingly. Of course, those dining here were clearly not ordinary people; they didn¡¯t get too excited, instead coming forward to toast in honor. For this reason, the head chef specially presented a piece of the fattiest belly meat from the tuna as a gesture of admiration for the strong. Though a Huaxia person, Bi Fang knew that the Japanese¡¯s reverence for the strong was ingrained in their bones¡ªindeed, all creatures admired the strong. But the Japanese displayed this quite openly, and Bi Fang felt ¡°admiration for the strong¡± and ¡°overcoming superiors¡± were the two most distinct characteristics of this nation. There were many historic and environmental factors that shaped this mindset. Perhaps as an island nation prone to volcanoes, earthquakes, typhoons, and other natural disasters, the natural hardships made the people¡¯s lives extremely unstable. A single storm could leave ordinary people without food, but the strong were far less affected because their homes often had large stores of provisions. For ordinary people to survive, they had no choice but to seek the strong¡¯s help and rely on them, leading over time to a strong sense of crisis that made the Japanese even more inclined to revere the strong. To survive, one must grow stronger and become among the strong. The strong could dominate the weak, and the weak had to obey. However, in the Japanese view, strength and weakness could change, leading to another national characteristic: overcoming one¡¯s superiors. In the eyes of the Japanese, the strong and the weak were distinguished by their abilities, and the weak had to obey the strong. Yet the weak could endure all humiliation with a resilient spirit, learning from the strong. In the process of admiring the strong, they would continually accumulate power and enhance their own strength until they could challenge the strong to prove themselves anew. If successful in defeating the other, their status would thus be reversed. Indeed, Japan had always operated this way. These two basic characteristics are quite common in nature, especially among lion prides that are full of animal instincts and even possess strong vengeful emotions, just like how a new Lion King would kill all the offspring of the old king. Unfortunately, as much as animal instincts can rapidly strengthen a nation and create new Lion Kings, they still can¡¯t overcome a gentle herd of elephants. Bi Fang gathered his thoughts, showing little reaction to the surrounding conversations. He rose slightly, pulling out two daggers from behind his waist and tapping them lightly on the table, then delicately picked up a piece of fatty tuna with his chopsticks, savoring it carefully. Living in the wilderness made him particularly fond of fatty foods like this. The sound of metal colliding with the edge of the table was especially jarring, attracting many eyes. On the table lay a matte Harpoon with a shimmering blade under the light, while the other dagger seemed much more ordinary, but the dry vines on its hilt gave the knife a primitive and wild appearance. The implication was clear: in the upcoming hunting season, Bi Fang¡¯s weapons would be these two daggers, and nothing else. The whispering of the guests around him gave way to a distinct buzz of excitement. Gang Tianwu was just a superficial fan, claiming Teacher Fang had taught him a lot while actually never watching a single episode; but Nobita Nobi, who had watched it, was captivated at the sight of the two daggers on the table. The first was an extremely experienced Harpoon for whaling, with a spine like shark¡¯s teeth, having slaughtered numerous game; the second was even more remarkable, seemingly unremarkable but actually crafted from scratch by Bi Fang himself in the wilderness! Nobita Nobi couldn¡¯t help but want to touch it, but just as his hand was about to make contact, he quickly withdrew it and looked towards Bi Fang, who nodded slightly in assent. With permission, Nobita Nobi carefully picked up the primitive Hunting Knife, his hand trembling slightly as if holding a fragile antique, even though no ordinary antique could match the value of this knife¡ªit was truly unique in the whole world! Countless people had witnessed its creation, from nothing into being, from ancient times to the modern age. Forged by hand by the adventurer Bi Fang with each hammer strike, it was likely that another like it would never exist again. If preserved properly, it would be a priceless antique in a hundred years, with an already existing offer of 1.78 million. The Steel Dagger had been polished and sharpened a second time and coated with an anti-corrosion layer, reflecting Nobita Nobi¡¯s face with its icy gleam. Nobita Nobi was well aware that the value of the knife wasn¡¯t just because it was forged by a broadcaster but because it condensed the historical and technological development of Humans from primitive times to modernity, making it extraordinarily meaningful. Gang Tianwu wondered why this fellow didn¡¯t choose the more impressive-looking Harpoon but didn¡¯t reveal his ignorance, simply continuing his praises. But, can two daggers really kill a bear? Gang Tianwu was doubtful, secretly branding Bi Fang as arrogant. After all, Y¨­ki Hunters typically used large glaives capable of shattering bones with a single strike. From this aspect, Bi Fang was sure to lose. No hunter who came here brought only daggers! After closely examining the weapons, Nobita Nobi reverently replaced the knife in its original spot and asked, ¡°Does this knife have a name?¡± Bi Fang shook his head. ¡°It has no name.¡± Upon hearing this, Nobita Nobi paused, then had a moment of realization. ¡°Nameless? That¡¯s a good name indeed. Thinking it over, it¡¯s truly significant.¡± Bi Fang slowly typed out a question mark? Chapter 520 - Chapter 520: Chapter 517 Wakayama Prefecture Taiji Town Chapter 520: Chapter 517 Wakayama Prefecture Taiji Town A dinner party came to an end in the passing of a dagger. In the end, even the chef took to the stage, holding a steel knife, and after getting Bi Fang¡¯s consent, used the steel knife to cut the tuna and distributed it to everyone present. Everyone unanimously praised, stating that the fish cut with this knife was more delicious, with a primitive wilderness flavor, making it the most incredible meal they had ever had. Quite a few people also took videos and posted them on social media to show off, claiming they had tasted authentic wilderness flavors. In the end, as the tuna was running low, some even offered high prices to buy the last few pieces, which amazed the online audience. [Holy shit, is that a sister pouring wine on the side?] [Damn it, Old Fang has already become corrupt.] [Damn, 70,000 yen for a piece of fish? 4,000 RMB? Why don¡¯t they just rob?] [Can¡¯t even rob it, the hotel bought this knife and made a killing!] [Lord Mu: Damn, the competition has gotten even fiercer.] [Are all hunters who go to Japan treated so well? This hotel looks so upscale, @Mugalen] [Mugalen: There are hotels to stay in too? How come I didn¡¯t know about this?] [I bet fifty cents, only Old Fang has it, hahaha] Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? July 10th. Bi Fang contacted Richard again to confirm that everyone would arrive around one in the afternoon, and then followed Nobita Nobi to a suburban villa. Today, all of the hunters were to meet and get to know each other, after which they would assign the tracking and filming personnel from Oak Tree Company, and finally, they would choose their hunting areas on a huge map. This was also a test of the hunters¡¯ eyesight and strength, whether they could judge the number of black bears in a place based on the conditions at hand. Or, if they were conscious of their limited strength, they would estimate where there was a higher or lower number of black bears, and then choose a safer area according to their own abilities. The whole process started at eight in the morning and ended at ten, with even a male and a female commentator, Kogawa Kobayashi and Shizuka Minamoto, in the middle. Although they didn¡¯t understand hunting or the wilderness, they were both good-looking and good at creating ambiance, starting to interact before the hunters even arrived. From the increase in the number of sika deer to the uncontrolled number of black bears causing harm to humans, they emphasized the legality and justice of black bear hunting, and then introduced the tradition and history of the Y¨­ki Hunters. ¡°The Y¨­ki Hunter is the strongest and most traditional professional hunter in Japan; they are experts in hunting black bears.¡± The introduction was made by Kogawa Kobayashi, indicating that the male was the explainer, while Jingxiang was responsible for assisting. ¡°Before entering the mountains, these hunters pray and then spend several hours listening, waiting, and observing their surroundings. They can detect signs nearly imperceptible to ordinary people¡ªsigns that a black bear is nearby.¡± ¡°They still adhere to traditional hunting methods, and although they wear fashionable clothes, many hunters still use weapons that their ancestors used seven generations ago to hunt.¡± ¡°It is said that regardless of who ultimately shoots and kills the black bear, all members who participated in the hunting have the same rights to divide the animal¡¯s meat and skin.¡± After Kogawa Kobayashi finished his introduction, Jingxiang on the side exclaimed how awesome it was. ¡°By the way, Jingxiang, do you know which hunters are coming this time?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a big shot among them!¡± ¡°Oh, really? Who is it, who is it?¡± ¡°He¡¯s known as the freest man on Earth, able to go to any corner of the world, even Mount Everest is no exception!¡± Bi Fang turned off the live broadcast on his phone; the commentary was so cringe, especially the part about him, the freest man on Earth¡¯s surface, misdirecting the show somehow? Do they have to make a program like this? But netizens seem to love it, cheering loudly. [The freest man on Earth, that title is so cool] [For a moment, I actually can¡¯t refute it] [Shout his name out loud, Bi~~~ Fang!] Since Bi Fang was participating in the hunting season, Wolf Fang and B station jointly purchased the rights to the live broadcast of the Japanese hunting season, with Japan even giving a discount. The difference is, Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast would be separate from the Oak Tree Company¡¯s and his personal broadcast, with only Wolf Fang having the rights to Bi Fang¡¯s personal live broadcast. At the moment, Bi Fang¡¯s personal live broadcasting room was playing back previous live footage, but the live broadcast of the hunting season had already begun, visible to audiences both at home and abroad, making Bi Fang feel embarrassed. Soon, as soon as it was eight o¡¯clock, people began to enter the scene one after another, starting with the five Y¨­ki Hunters from Japan, each wearing a very traditional Matagi vest and shoes, that is, bear skin, looking like traditional defenders. Bi Fang muttered, ¡°Please, it¡¯s summer now, wearing bear skin, aren¡¯t they hot?¡± The Y¨­ki Hunters are also known as winter hunters, and this getup is meant for winter! Tokyo¡¯s July daytime temperatures were all above twenty degrees, and even Bi Fang himself was only wearing a thin shirt. How could these people actually wear bear skins? After the entrance of the five Y¨­ki Hunters, more people appeared, most of them foreigners. Bi Fang didn¡¯t have the habit of grandstanding at the end, so he too opened the car door and headed towards the house. As soon as he entered the gate, he found a huge camera facing him. The live broadcast had already begun. The moment Bi Fang made his entrance, an unprecedented wave of barrage comments erupted in the live room, far surpassing the other hunters. The staff backstage, dazed, watched the active data skyrocket on their screens, the first to feel the weight of the term ¡°Legendary Adventurer.¡± [Holy shit! Master Fang! Master Fang!] [Take them down!] [Charge, charge, charge!] [Take first place, first place, first place!] [After watching Master Fang go without clothes for a month, it¡¯s quite a shock to suddenly see otherwise.] [Add one, I actually got used to the Indigenous Indian look.] Taking advantage of the situation as Bi Fang walked down the corridor, the two hosts introduced Bi Fang¡¯s past achievements, sparking another wave among the unfamiliar viewers. Jingxiang held her heart, her face flushed with excitement, ¡°He¡¯s so handsome, I feel like I¡¯m in love.¡± Kobayashi laughed heartily, ¡°Even as a man, I¡¯d be moved by the sight of Master Fang¡ªstrong and beautiful; he¡¯s like a powerful golden tiger!¡± Passing through the long corridor, Bi Fang arrived inside the hall, where the decor had long been altered. The walls around were lined with a layer of original wood with the bark, and opposite the wall was a stone fireplace that was already extinguished. The room was lit with incandescent bulbs, somewhat dim. The orange light took everyone back decades, with numerous hunters holding spears gathered together, discussing the upcoming hunting event. In the middle of the room, on the table, there lay an enormous map of Kyushu; around the table was a circle of stools, each person taking their seat in turn. After greeting everyone, Bi Fang approached the table and touched it, feeling the texture of leather. It was supposed to be imitation bear skin; Bi Fang concluded after observing the sewing marks on the leather. Then he saw a stone bowl beside the table with several darts in it, each dart marked with different numbers. Glancing over them, he didn¡¯t see any number exceeding thirty-two. One dart per person? In total, thirty-five people, each sticking their own dart into their chosen spot on the map. That¡¯s what Bi Fang thought as he then took his seat, noting the number of people who had arrived; he was probably the seventeenth. Shortly thereafter, Mugalen, as the twenty-third hunter, made his entrance. His image was distinct, carrying a large hunting bow on his back. The moment he saw Bi Fang, his eyes lit up, and after whispering a few words to the person in the eighteenth seat, they exchanged places. ¡°It seems Mr. Mugalen and Mr. Bi are really good friends. If I remember correctly, both of them have interacted before on the Wilderness Survivalist show on the adventure channel,¡± said the live room host, seizing the moment to comment and inform new viewers of their connection. Mugalen dropped down beside Bi Fang, ¡°Hahaha, long time no see.¡± Bi Fang was happy to see an old acquaintance as well, ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s been quite a while. How¡¯s Milani?¡± ¡°Her?¡± Mugalen curled his lip,¡± She¡¯s probably watching your personal live broadcast now.¡± ¡°Hahaha, look above my head; you won¡¯t find a drone; I haven¡¯t started yet.¡± ¡°Sooner or later.¡± ¡°So, are you aiming for the championship this time?¡± Bi Fang chatted idly. ¡°How can I take the championship with you here,¡± said Mugalen disdainfully. He had also watched the interviews and felt those five Y¨­ki Hunters were simply overestimating themselves. Anyone who hadn¡¯t hunted with Bi Fang couldn¡¯t grasp his efficiency and precision, basically a human-shaped, self-walking scanner, otherwise known as a lock-on hanger. Even though there were no records of him hunting large animals, Mugalen instinctively felt it was only a matter of opportunity for Bi Fang. Moreover, he had this strange feeling that Bi Fang seemed even more formidable than before. This feeling of subtle awareness between acquaintances struck Mugalen the moment he walked in and saw Bi Fang. What is this guy, leveling up in an online game? How has he gotten so strong so quickly? The two chatted casually for a bit, sharing their recent experiences. Mugalen asked, ¡°So, you really just brought two daggers? By the way, can I take a look at that steel knife?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t believe me?¡± Bi Fang drew out the dagger and passed it to him. ¡°I do, any outrageous thing happening to you, I believe,¡± Mugalen received the dagger and admired it, clicking his tongue in appreciation, ¡°You can¡¯t tell at all; it feels as though it was made in a factory. By the way, have you chosen your spot? I had my eye on several, but I haven¡¯t actually visited them, so I¡¯m a bit uncertain.¡± ¡°I have, Taiji Town in Wakayama Prefecture.¡± ¡°Taiji Town?¡± Mugalen was taken aback; he had never paid attention to this place. Could it be he had overlooked something? Was it a spot where Black Bears often appeared? Chapter 521 - Chapter 521: Chapter 518 This Isnt To Ward Off Fans Chapter 521: Chapter 518 This Isn¡¯t To Ward Off Fans In front of all the professional hunters, Mugalen, who was plagued by social anxiety, left his seat and walked straight up to the table. Following the marked locations, he found Wakayama Prefecture and realized that this place was far from any spot he had pre-selected. Japan¡¯s regional division has its own unique characteristics, divided into 47 primary administrative regions nationwide: 1 metropolis, Tokyo Metropolis, also commonly known as Tokyo. As for where it is commonly seen, that need not be elaborated¡ªthe knowledgeable will understand. 1 circuit: Hokkaido. 2 prefectures: Osaka Prefecture and Kyoto Prefecture. 43 prefectures. The whole of Japan is divided in this way, and within these 47 primary administrative regions, cities, towns, and villages are established. The reason for this segmentation has much to do with history, ultimately boiling down to Japan not being a unified central state for most of its existence, with the central government only controlling a part of the area around the capital. After the Meiji Restoration, the central government finally became the true ruler, consolidating 274 domains into 47 prefectures and provinces. The metropolis, circuit, and prefectures were economically robust and unique domains, thus each was established independently. In modern times¡ªwell, since there haven¡¯t been any major issues using this system for over a hundred years, there¡¯s no need to change it. Therefore, what corresponds to a prefecture is actually equivalent to a province in Huaxia, so Taiji Town is not small at all. Don¡¯t always be misled by the concept of a tiny country; Japan is small because it has a giant neighbor. By Huaxia¡¯s standards, most countries in the world are small. In the whole of Europe, only six countries are larger than Japan in area, including the Polar Bear. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï If Central Country were halved in size, it would be significantly smaller, and Germany is not as large as Japan. The larger appearance on maps is simply an illusion created by the Earth being opened up and flattened. Typically, a hunter¡¯s range of activity is about the level of a town, and might need to be expanded to a larger level in order to track the prey. But the spot Bi Fang chose, it¡¯s not just Taiji Town¡ªthere weren¡¯t even news reports of Black Bear attacks throughout Wakayama Prefecture. If someone else had chosen this place, Mugalen would have assumed that the person was either unskilled or had noticed something, but with insufficient strength, deliberately ran towards a safer area to avoid attracting more Black Bears with the scent of blood, which could lead to being attacked by two or more bears. But the person choosing now is Bi Fang¡­ Something¡¯s not right, definitely not right. Mugalen¡¯s eyes widened as he stared intently at the marks on the map, trying to find something different. Is it the terrain, the weather, or maybe the migration of the Black Bears? Do Black Bears even migrate? That¡¯s unheard of. Or has some development occurred, something been built, that has driven the Black Bears over there? Seeing Mugalen staring at the map on the table after a brief chat with Bi Fang, the other hunters also became vigilant. Regardless of their opinions of him, Bi Fang¡¯s status required their attention, and some even contemplated choosing the same area as him, wondering if they could outperform him. As if by agreement, more and more people left their seats, approached Mugalen¡¯s side, trying to strike up a conversation and sneakily inquire. Little did they know that the old drunkard¡¯s intent was not the wine. No one would imagine that in Bi Fang¡¯s eyes, this hunting season is just a game, his attention not on the Black Bear at all. Even if there were not a single Black Bear in Taiji Town, he would still choose this place in the end. Soon, all thirty-five hunters had arrived. When someone took a seat in the thirty-fifth chair, a sharp whistle sounded, followed by the fluttering of wings. A pigeon flew through the corridor into the room and alighted on the table. Someone with sharp eyes exclaimed, ¡°There¡¯s a paper attached to the pigeon¡¯s leg!¡± Mugalen, with fast reflexes, grabbed the pigeon and took the paper from its leg, spread it out on the table, and was about to read the competition rules line by line, but then he discovered¡­ Damn it, it¡¯s in Japanese! Most of those present were foreigners; this was clearly picking on them. Would it have killed them to provide a bilingual version?! Sato, with a hearty laugh, took the note and read out the competition rules in English, ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, based on your seat number, please select your dart and insert it into the designated area, in no particular order.¡± In the cabin with its stone fireplace, bear skin map, and dim orange light, a group of cold-armed hunters caught a pigeon to study the hunting rules, marking their chosen territories with their own darts as if setting boundaries. [This is so cool, isn¡¯t it?] [Damn, Little Japan has made it quite interesting!] [I¡¯m feeling it, I¡¯m feeling it. That¡¯s the feel!] [Feels like I¡¯ve traveled back in time, awesome!] Not just the audience, but even Bi Fang and the others were drawn into the scenario as if they had truly returned to decades earlier, when a group of highly skilled and courageous hunters were drawn by a notice about a man-eating bear, sitting together to discuss how to bring peace back to the small town. Which place should I choose? Kogawa Kobayashi energetically hosts in the live broadcast room, judging who will make the first choice, where they might choose, and the basic rules of hunting. Inside the cabin, whispers filled the room. People had already formed small groups discussing whether to cooperate or head to the same area. Cold-weapon hunting, without the use of oversized weapons like heavy crossbows, is extremely dangerous when acting alone. Considering the size differences of the Black Bears, this competition is still point-based; a mature adult Black Bear measuring one meter five in length, with small wounds and an intact body, scores ten points. Points are added or deducted based on various factors. Significant damage, missing limbs, or pre-existing illness result in point deductions, while larger size and higher body integrity lead to bonus points. For each extra length of the body, an extra point is added; for each extra length of a wound, a point is deducted, with the system being very detailed and fixed. Furthermore, the organizing committee does not restrict cooperation, but the points gained through teamwork must be divided equally, with a certain percentage deducted. For a two-person team, the total score is multiplied by 90 percent; for three people, 80 percent, and so on. The maximum is a five-person team, after which the total points are divided equally among each member. It seemed quite fair, even considering the advantage that more people might bring. The incandescent light flickered. The fake bearskin map was marked with numerous little red dots, indicating the locations of attacks in recent years, along with many yellow dots, noting where people had seen Black Bear. At first glance, it looked as if Black Bear was everywhere on Kyushu Island, but this wasn¡¯t the case. Hunters needed to decide where they could hunt more Black Bears based on their own experience. ¡°No one¡¯s choosing?¡± A voice broke the silence. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go first.¡± A large hand reached into the stone bowl, rustled around, and flipped out a wooden dart; before anyone could react, it swiftly landed on the coastal area of Honshu Island, sticking firmly in place, its tail quivering slightly. The light was dim, and everyone¡¯s pupils dilated, trying to make out the number on the wooden dart. Seventeen. Seventeen? Wasn¡¯t that Bi Fang¡¯s seat? Everybody suddenly remembered and looked up in surprise only to see a silhouette slowly disappear into the sunlight of the corridor, waving at them. ¡°I¡¯m good, you all go ahead.¡± The slightly blurred shadow vanished slowly. The crowd turned back to look at the dart on the map, falling into the same deep thought as Mugalen. Wakayama Prefecture, what was the mystery here? ¡­ The moment Bi Fang made his choice, a million netizens went into an uproar, clamoring about why Bi Fang had so quickly chosen Wakayama Prefecture and what the reason could be, speculating endlessly. Bi Fang, who was not broadcasting live, didn¡¯t offer any explanation; he walked out of the hallway, opened the car door, and said to Nobita Nobi, ¡°To Wakayama Prefecture.¡± ¡°Wakayama Prefecture?¡± Nobita Nobi, who was munching on an ice pop, hadn¡¯t expected Bi Fang to emerge so quickly, biting the last chunk of chocolate and hurriedly settling in the driver¡¯s seat to twist the ignition key. ¡°Mr. Bi, have you selected a hunting spot?¡± Hunting season would start in two days; today was just a test broadcast. Nobita Nobi hadn¡¯t expected Bi Fang to come out in just half an hour. If he wasn¡¯t mistaken, Bi Fang was the first to come out, right? As Nobita Nobi pondered, the second hunter also emerged and even headed straight for Bi Fang¡¯s car, familiarly pulling open the door and sitting down. Bi Fang was taken aback, ¡°What are you doing getting in?¡± ¡°Damn it, why do they give you a presidential suite and a chauffeur, and I don¡¯t get anything?¡± Mugalen was angry. Aren¡¯t other hunters people too? ¡°I¡¯m asking you?¡± ¡°Obviously, I chose the same place as you did,¡± was the reply. Bi Fang¡¯s mouth twitched, the same as his? Were they serious? Once an area was chosen, it couldn¡¯t be changed, and the activity range couldn¡¯t exceed three-fifths of a prefecture. That meant besides Wakayama Prefecture, they couldn¡¯t venture more than two-thirds beyond the borders of the neighbouring prefectures, more or less making it an enlarged version of Wakayama Prefecture. Mugalen analyzed earnestly, ¡°Although I can¡¯t guess the reason for now, you definitely wouldn¡¯t have chosen Wakayama Prefecture for no reason, and you¡¯re definitely not going to form a team, but since I¡¯ve chosen it now, why not explain?¡± Bi Fang was silent for a moment, then sighed, ¡°As long as you¡¯re happy.¡± He had already looked over the terrain of Wakayama Prefecture; it was mountainous and also had plenty of forests. It wasn¡¯t that there were no Black Bears, just that the density was a lot less than in other areas. To hunt enough Black Bears and accumulate points would require a lot more effort and be more troublesome. Seeing Bi Fang remain silent, Mugalen felt puzzled. Now that things had come to this, they couldn¡¯t change their decision, yet he still hadn¡¯t explained the reasons. Who was he keeping the secret from? Nobita Nobi sensed that the atmosphere was off and didn¡¯t speak, driving away from Tokyo. Japan, if nothing else, does have convenient transportation; barring traffic jams, just by train and car, one could travel throughout the country. At noon, Nobita Nobi, carrying Bi Fang and Mugalen, had a meal on the government¡¯s dime at a barbecue restaurant he had long had his eye on. Once they entered Wakayama Prefecture, Bi Fang didn¡¯t let Nobita Nobi continue driving, but had him head towards the suburbs instead. ¡°You can go back now, I¡¯m going into the mountains,¡± Bi Fang said, leaning on the car roof. ¡°Do you need me to come and pick you up tonight?¡± ¡°If I need you, I¡¯ll call,¡± Bi Fang replied. Nobita Nobi nodded, ¡°Okay then, goodbye, Mr. Bi.¡± Watching Nobita Nobi drive off, Bi Fang turned and walked into an alley, with Mugalen following closely behind. After scouting the area and confirming there was no surveillance, Bi Fang took out a mask and sunglasses from his bag and put them on; he also handed a mask to Mugalen, too conspicuous in this Asian city as a foreigner. ¡°A mask?¡± Mugalen laughed, as someone who had only participated in the show once and wouldn¡¯t be recognized, ¡°I don¡¯t need it, no one knows me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not for fans.¡± ¡°Not for fans? If not to ward off fans, are we going to use it for burglary?¡± Mugalen laughed heartily, but his laughter faded as he faced Bi Fang¡¯s serious expression and he wondered, ¡°Are you serious?¡± Chapter 522 - Chapter 522: Chapter 519 Storm Chapter 522: Chapter 519 Storm On the electric train, Bi Fang with his mask on and Mugalen, sitting back-to-back, tried hard to look upwards, pretending to be indifferent to the high school girls on board. After getting off the train, Bi Fang noticed that Mugalen¡¯s T-shirt was completely soaked. He asked, puzzled, ¡°Can¡¯t you act more naturally?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my first time being a thief, I¡¯m a bit nervous.¡± Mugalen sneakily looked around, always feeling as if someone was watching him. On the way here, Bi Fang had told Mugalen everything. As a half-friend, Mugalen was trustworthy, and it was better to be clear now; who knew, he might be able to help later. Bi Fang disagreed, ¡°If we¡¯re really talking about it, they are the thieves.¡± Mugalen sighed to the sky, ¡°I never dreamed that you weren¡¯t here to kill Black Bear but to save dolphins. Had I known, I would¡¯ve never followed you here.¡± He thought there was something special about Wakayama Prefecture Taiji Town. Maybe it was a gathering place for black bears that he hadn¡¯t noticed. Only after arriving and hearing about it did he understand. All bullshit! Now that he was on the ¡°thief ship,¡± there was no getting off. Bi Fang walked out of the train station and saw lush forests and mountains. They were standing on a road encircling the mountains, overlooking most of the town from a high vantage point. Taiji Town, an environmentally beautiful bay surrounded by low mountains, the coastal scenery was nothing short of spectacular. Mugalen was initially shocked that such a beautiful place could be the scene of such brutality. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Perhaps the word ¡°hunter¡± often implies hunting, but those with legitimate licenses understood the importance of rare animals even better. This was a tourist spot, not only with conservation parks but also many famous temples that ranked among the best in all of Japan. One temple had a rock garden where the monk had raked the gravel smooth, and in the middle were several boulders for people from around the world to admire. Through his binoculars, Bi Fang saw the temple Richard had pointed out. The temple was not tall but built with a refined elegance, with interconnected tiled roofs that reflected the sunlight like ocean waves. Looking down, the overhanging eaves covered most of the sunlight, making the interior shadowy, but it was clear that many people were moving around inside, possibly tourists. In front of the building was an open area with a dense layer of cobblestones. Monks used rakes to arrange them neatly, and amidst these pebbles, several rocks stood erect in different places, with lush grass growing at their feet. Tourists took pictures of these rocks, and as a breeze blew, the wind chimes under the eaves swayed gently. Even without sound, one could almost hear the tingling and chiming, a true sense of Zen. Bi Fang found it all very interesting. The people there looked at rocks, oblivious to the fact that rocks could ¡°look¡± back at people. ¡°Back in our country, nobody would come here to look at rocks on a Sunday.¡± Mugalen clicked his tongue in wonder, then turned to Bi Fang, ¡°So what are we doing now?¡± ¡°Waiting for Richard and the others,¡± Bi Fang leaned on the railing and continued to survey his surroundings. Reconnaissance is always the first step of any operation. ¡°By the way, since you guys are working both openly and covertly, why do we need to wear masks? Wouldn¡¯t it be better to just be open and aboveboard?¡± Mugalen asked, puzzled. ¡°Richard and his team are also arriving today. Just to be safe, it¡¯s best not to show up in front of everyone on the same day,¡± Bi Fang replied. Bi Fang looked towards the coast where fishing boats had just returned to the harbor. A restaurant owner was loading a crate of fish onto his motorcycle, and even from here, his smile was visible. Many local fishermen kept the phone numbers of local restaurant owners, to sell the freshest big fish for a good price, with the rest going into frozen shipping containers. Most of these catches would enter the Tsukiji market, the largest fish market in all of Japan, and even the entire world. Bi Fang murmured, ¡°It¡¯s going to rain.¡± Mugalen looked up at the clear sky and asked in surprise, ¡°How do you know that?¡± Not all weather can be judged by clouds. For instance, a storm cloud could suddenly appear, and such abrupt weather changes can only be detected by weather satellites, which are beyond human prediction. Did Bi Fang secretly check the weather forecast? ¡°They told me,¡± Bi Fang extended his hand, pointing distantly at the returning fishing boats. ¡°It¡¯s noon, the fishing boats primarily go out based on the wind, and not the time; sometimes they even leave at midnight, and there¡¯s no set time for when they return. But now, more than one boat is coming back to port, some even with hardly any catch.¡± Bi Fang held out his hand by the roadside, letting the wind pass through his fingers and head out to sea: ¡°Look, the wind is behind us. With a favorable wind and tide, it¡¯s easy to leave port and reach the fishing zones. The boats should be heading out, not trickling back in. They must have heard the weather forecast and decided to return early.¡± ¡°A big storm is coming,¡± Bi Fang concluded. Mugalen fell silent for a moment. Though the information was still indirectly from the weather forecast, how come he felt so damn impressive? With the Hunter, why this show? As if to validate Bi Fang¡¯s statement, within half an hour, the sky suddenly turned gloomy. Lead-gray clouds drifted from the land towards the sea, and it took only a few minutes for the day to turn into night once the clouds were spotted. The wind suddenly picked up. White flashes pierced the thick clouds, thunder roaring explosively, and the rain suddenly poured down, rushing towards them with urgency. People on the streets scattered in the narrow alleys, hurrying back to their homes, firmly shutting doors and windows. Mugalen looked bewildered, turning to Bi Fang, who had one foot propped on the railing, ¡°Did you bring an umbrella?¡± Bi Fang fell silent and slowly shook his head. The awkward moment happened; neither of them had brought an umbrella. Fortunately, the awkwardness didn¡¯t last long. As they ran down the hill, the sound of a car horn saved them. Richard and the others had arrived. ¡°Phew, thank you, almost got completely soaked.¡± Bi Fang took the towel Mandy offered and wiped his drenched hair. How embarrassing. The rainy season usually lasts from late June to mid-July. Bi Fang saw the clear skies today and thought the rainy season had passed, not bothering to bring an umbrella¡ªan oversight that taught him a lesson. After introducing Mugalen to everyone, they quickly accepted each other. Whoever came to help was a friend to everyone. Richard and the others had a nine-seater van, just enough to fit everyone comfortably. ¡°Great opportunity, now with the downpour, the roads are almost empty,¡± observed Mugalen, noting the decreased traffic ahead. Bi Fang nodded. Taking advantage of the present moment to make a quick round indeed seemed like a good opportunity. Richard nodded, and they all quickly drove towards the town center. Mugalen rubbed his eyes just after rounding half the mountain, wound down the window, and looking back with confusion, pointed to the dolphin statues, ¡°Am I seeing things, or are they erecting dolphin statues?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not seeing things,¡± Bi Fang pointed ahead. That was what they hadn¡¯t noticed before, the other half of Taiji Town hidden behind the mountain. Dolphin Park. Driving into Taiji Town felt very strange. Dolphin statues were everywhere, the welcome paintings on the walls were filled with dolphins, there was a fountain of a person riding a dolphin in the middle of the park lake, and a giant whale tail seemed to leap from the ground, making Mugalen, a foreigner aware of the truth, feel as though he had entered a ¡°twilight zone.¡± The pedestrian path was tiled with images of welcoming dolphins, and even far out at sea, one could spot a few dolphin-styled boats. Mugalen gave a bitter smile, ¡°If I didn¡¯t know better, I might really think this is a dolphin paradise.¡± Halfway through, Richard pointed to a building in the distance decorated with a huge whale and dolphin motif, ¡°See that building over there? That¡¯s Taiji Town¡¯s Whale Museum, the place I hate most in my life.¡± Richard was very frustrated. They all put on masks, wary of being recognized by the town¡¯s residents. In these Asian territories, Western faces stood out sharply. Unaware, one might think this group was some sort of medical team. ¡°In Taiji Town, at the ¡®Whale Museum,¡¯ you can watch dolphin performances, buy fluffy dolphin toys, and end with a feast made of dolphin meat.¡± Richard¡¯s words made everyone present shudder. To watch a dolphin show and then eat the meat of their kind straight after, what kind of cold-hearted madness was that? ¡°They brazenly sell whale and dolphin meat right there in the dolphin pavilion.¡± This industry chain allowed the massacre to continue year after year, rewarding the fishermen for their atrocious actions. ¡°Each dead dolphin is only worth six hundred dollars, but sold to the Whale Museum, they fetch one hundred fifty thousand dollars. The Taiji Town Whale Museum, acting as a middleman, shares the profits with the town government and the fishermen.¡± ¡°Iki was once a tourist hotspot in Japan. But they too slaughter dolphins, and without exaggeration, thousands could be killed in a single day.¡± ¡°Three years ago, I went again, but there were no dolphins left¡ªtwenty years ago, there were thousands along the coastline. Now, they¡¯re all gone.¡± Richard turned the steering wheel and exited a short tunnel, officially entering Taiji Town. ¡°Every whale known to humans, as soon as it approaches Japan, faces a catastrophe¡­¡± ¡°Wait, the police!¡± Chapter 523 - Chapter 523: Chapter 520: The Three Giants Chapter 523: Chapter 520: The Three Giants As a seaside city, summer storms are quite common. At this moment, a torrential storm raged outside the vehicle, with sheets of rain pelting the slanted windows. The windshield wipers swung back and forth like an out-of-control metronome, clearing away the layers of rainwater. Two policemen clad in raincoats stood by the roadside, with the already closed commercial street behind them, seemingly conducting some checks as they repeatedly stopped passing vehicles. The rain clattered loudly on the roof of the car. Bi Fang said, ¡°Mugalen, switch places with me, quickly.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Bi Fang lowered his backrest, and they swiftly exchanged positions. Then he told Mugalen to take off his face mask and sunglasses. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say¡­¡± ¡°Just do as I say. When they come over to ask, you take the initiative to speak up and say you are a tourist from abroad. No matter what he asks, just say you are Amrican, with an aggressive tone, got it?¡± ¡°I have a good temper¡­¡± ¡°Just imagine your daughter is dating early, and her boyfriend is a tattoo-covered delinquent who smokes, drinks, and has a past in a labor camp, thinking about how to seduce your daughter to a motel.¡± Mugalen¡¯s veins throbbed on the back of his hand. He was getting angry already. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã? Richard, who was driving, hunched over and pulled his cap brim down to lower his presence as much as possible. ¡°It¡¯s such a hassle to check the roads in the rain.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t be helped, I¡¯ve heard that group is back. Better lock on to their vehicle quickly.¡± A policeman shrank his hand in, where the raindrops stung his skin somewhat painfully. He looked towards the road where the visibility was extremely poor, a grey blur, with occasional flashes of light followed by rolling thunder and sharp horn blasts mixed with the sound of rain. The cars slowed down, one after the other passing through, the red light from the brake lamps piercing through the veil of rain. The policeman waved his baton, stopping a business vehicle when he saw a foreign man with a beard leaning out from the passenger side, shouting loudly with a red face and bulging forehead veins, looking extremely angry and yelling, ¡°Amrican.¡± He was dumbstruck on the spot, bowing apologetically by reflex: ¡°Sorry, sorry.¡± The other policeman bowed as well, but still looked up at Mugalen. The beard was too conspicuous. He shouted, ¡°You¡¯re the Hunter here to participate in the hunting season, right?¡± Mugalen was taken aback and could no longer shout about Amrican. He was Angolan, from Northern Europe¡­ He had been recognized. Mugalen dropped the act and said, ¡°I¡¯m here to inspect the environment of Taiji Town, and you dare to stop me? If I lose, you¡¯re taking full responsibility!¡± ¡°No, no,¡± the two policemen rushed to explain that they had no such intention. They then looked at each other and tried to peek inside the car. ¡°Hey!¡± Mugalen shouted. ¡°Do you have any business or not? If not, let me go quickly!¡± Although they often dealt with foreign tourists and spoke decent English, Mugalen¡¯s tone was so aggressive and fast that with the rain so loud, both of them couldn¡¯t hear clearly what he was shouting. Certain that they were dealing with a Hunter here for the Black Bear hunting season, and with the horns blaring from the cars behind, they became nervous, not wanting to offend the guest. They stopped inquiring, waved their fluorescent batons, and let the group leave quickly. Richard floored the gas pedal, and everyone felt a strong pushback, indicating how nervous they all were; the business vehicle quickly left the street in the pouring rain. Only when the figures of the two policemen were completely out of sight did Mugalen let out a sigh of relief. That had been too thrilling. When he turned back, he jumped in fright as he saw Bi Fang staring at him intently. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± ¡°Interested in being my Harvey?¡± ¡°A stand-in? What do you mean?¡± ¡°Nothing, just a reference.¡± Bi Fang pinched the bridge of his nose. Just now, he had a sudden brainwave. Batman has Harvey, who creates scenes with both Batman and Bruce Wayne when in trouble. Could he also have one? But thinking about it, since their appearances were widely different, he abandoned the idea. Having evaded the police search, the group continued the previous conversation. ¡°No aquarium without dolphins. To maintain the chain of interests, Iki could only buy dolphins from Taiji Town.¡± Richard recalled everything he had seen and heard. ¡°I¡¯ve asked Taiji Town¡¯s fishermen if we could subsidize their actions. In other words, if you don¡¯t go out to sea to capture dolphins, we¡¯ll give you an amount equal to what you get from killing them, to be borne by OPS.¡± Mugalen asked, ¡°What is OPS?¡± Bi Fang replied, ¡°It¡¯s a marine conservation association, founded by Richard.¡± Richard nodded, continuing, ¡°The local fishermen said that it¡¯s not a matter of money, but rather to prevent harmful fish.¡± Prevent fish pests? What do you mean? Everyone present was baffled, dolphins are fish pests? It was the first time Bi Fang had heard such a claim; he had only heard of pests, never of fish pests, and found it quite strange. ¡°Yes,¡± Richard confirmed he hadn¡¯t misspoken, ¡°That is to say, the government tells them that dolphins eat too many fish in the sea, which would lead to no fish left to catch, so they are considered fish pests, just like locusts that consume crops.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just the fishermen who are told this; the Japanese delegate Morishita Suji also says the same thing at the IWC conferences.¡± Morishita Suji, a man with handsome features, always dressed in a suit with a pair of black-rimmed glasses, greeted everyone he met with a smile and spoke with polite, refined eloquence. As an official, he was also quite talented; after all, Japan¡¯s participation in the IWC, the International Whaling Commission, was a rather awkward affair, yet he handled it with ease. ¡°His job is tough. Every day he wakes up, he has to convince himself in the mirror first, then go out and explain Japan¡¯s whaling policy to the whole world,¡± Richard quipped with a cold joke. ¡°Since 2003, Japan has been citing ¡®scientific data¡¯ to blame the decrease in the international fishery yield on dolphins and whales.¡± Mugalen cursed loudly, ¡°Shameless!¡± Bi Fang was also very puzzled; he felt he had seen this blame-shifting onto dolphins and whales for the reduction in fish resources before. Oh, isn¡¯t this just like the case with saury? ¡°Japan is truly despicable. We in Northern Europe would never do such a thing,¡± Mugalen said, filled with righteous indignation. However, after Mugalen spoke, everyone present instinctively turned their gaze toward him. Mugalen looked around: ¡°What? Did I say something incorrect? There are many whales where we come from too. Didn¡¯t Bi Fang encounter them on his sea drift last time? But we never sell whale meat.¡± Bi Fang patted Mugalen¡¯s shoulder: ¡°Norway hunts more whales annually than Japan, and then there is Iceland; these three are called ¡®the big three of whale hunting¡¯, with Norway as the Boss, Japan as Second Brother, and Iceland as Third Brother.¡± Mugalen immediately corrected himself: ¡°I¡¯m from Angolan, unrelated to those two; strictly speaking, Angolan actually belongs to Western Europe. Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± Japan is infamous for its whaling activities, but it is certainly not the only country involved. Both of Norway¡¯s Northern European siblings, along with Japan, are engaged in the same practice. In fact, Norway, rather than Japan, has earned the title of global number one ¡°Whale Killer.¡± When it comes to whaling, Norway¡¯s actions are even more astonishing. Norway and Japan differ in their approaches. Since 1982, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) has banned commercial whaling. Afterward, the Japanese continued to exploit loopholes to whale, under the disguise of ¡°scientific research.¡± In contrast, the Norwegians appear more ¡°honest¡±; they couldn¡¯t be bothered to exploit loopholes or find excuses, adhering to the Viking pirates¡¯ way of doing things ¨C you say yours, I catch mine.¡± Every year, the number of whales hunted and killed by Norway even surpasses the combined whaling efforts of Japan and Iceland, making Norway the top ¡°Whale Killer¡± in the world. Their harpoons, the largest of which can weigh up to 45 kilograms, are capable of piercing the belly of a whale at speeds of over 400 kilometers per hour, triggering a mechanism in just milliseconds, rapidly releasing 100 grams of explosives. After the explosion, the harpoon opens up like an umbrella, with 4 hooks wrapping around the whale¡¯s flesh. This type of explosive can destroy the whale¡¯s internal tissue and is far more lethal than black powder. If the whale dies ¡°too slowly,¡± the hunters will shoot it dead with a gun. Moreover, Norwegian whalers prefer to follow female whales¡ªmost of whom are pregnant with baby whales. According to Norwegian whaling documentaries, 90% of the captured whales are pregnant females. Because female whales typically swim slower, making it easier to hit them with hand grenades. If falling into the hands of the Japanese is tantamount to a death sentence for whales, being targeted by Norwegians is like entering hell. As for Iceland, compared to Japan and Norway, it¡¯s like a little brother trailing behind them. These three places are where Richard spends most of his efforts. Dolphins are part of the whale family; whales, dolphins¡ªfrom these three giants, all are hunted. And wherever there is dolphin oppression, there you will find this old man¡¯s presence, including in Ugly Country itself. In Icelandic supermarkets, the price of whale meat is generally around 2,400 Icelandic krona per kilogram, equivalent to about 150 Huaxia currency. Many tourists, curious, try it out. But beyond that, not many people like to eat whale meat, and most of it is exported to Japan. In the end, Japan seems to become the target of criticism once again, like an unlucky devil. Plus, with Ugly Country¡¯s pressure on maritime rights and even more intense propaganda against Japan, few people are aware of the other two giants. Iceland and Norway are both very beautiful places, with Goose¡¯s journey starting from the northernmost part of Norway, but many beautiful things are not necessarily beautiful in every aspect. ¡°Compared to Japan, the crimes of Norway and Iceland are harder to expose because they don¡¯t herd the dolphins together but rather spread out their fishing boats at sea,¡± Regardless, when it comes to whaling, Japan, Iceland, and Norway, these three giants, are completely in cahoots. Richard said gravely, ¡°The claws that stretch out to animals will eventually reach out to ourselves.¡± Chapter 524 - Chapter 524: Chapter 521: Ingenious Chapter 524: Chapter 521: Ingenious Richard¡¯s actions were not directed against Japan. In Florida, Norway, Iceland, his active presence was known, and he was even repeatedly arrested and imprisoned, spending time behind bars almost every year. ¡°A single dolphin placed in the right location can earn them a million a year. If you interfere, they¡¯ll break your hands,¡± he said. ¡°My colleagues, Jane Tipson and Jenny May, were sacrificed because of this. At the time, we were protesting Norway¡¯s dolphin trade with a hunger strike. I fainted on the tenth day and ended up in the hospital. Then Jenny became their target, followed her to the beach, and used her belt to strangle her to death.¡± ¡°My God.¡± Mugalen was speechless and held great respect for the old man in front of him. Just like the previous street interviews, in Richard¡¯s view, Japan¡¯s slaughtering of dolphins was just the action of a few towns and the government. Japan is not always so with wildlife; it¡¯s smaller in size than Sicuan, yet it has 800,000 wild boars, more than 4 million deer, 30,000 bears, and 150,000 monkeys. The numbers might be hard to believe, but it¡¯s the truth. Bi Fang explained to Mugalen, ¡°All of Huaxia doesn¡¯t even have 20,000 black bears, but there are over 30,000 in Japan, an island nation. So many that human intervention is needed for population control. Therefore, Japan¡¯s slaughter of dolphins is motivated by many deeper reasons.¡± So many black bears, that killing a hundred might not even be enough. The dietary habits of the Japanese are a bit distinct among the major developed countries. Most other developed nations are continental and have large pastures, like Central Country, and their meat is mostly from livestock such as beef and pork. With its small territory and numerous volcanoes, it was inevitable for Japan to turn to the sea for food. Even after economic development and an increase in meat imports, the proportion of fish in the Japanese diet has decreased compared to the past. However, it still plays a more significant role than in other countries. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï In such an environment, the Japanese themselves view the act of capturing sea fish and mammals differently from most people. To fish there must be fishermen; to the Japanese, dolphins are like wolves to a hunter. And it¡¯s even somewhat different; hunters killed wolves in the past to protect deer, but now what are the Japanese killing dolphins to protect? To protect the very oceans they over-fished and depleted? Having slaughtered all the deer, they now turn to kill the wolves, claiming it¡¯s because the wolves have depleted the deer population and thus wolves¡¯ numbers must be controlled. Is this not morally questionable? Richard felt that the Japanese did not realize this, much like a child who breaks a vase and stubbornly refuses to admit it, insisting it was the family cat that broke it. ¡°Some say, ¡®If you eat beef or mutton, you have no right to condemn the killing of dolphins or other animals,¡¯ but that¡¯s incorrect. After all, livestock and wildlife are different,¡± he continued. ¡°Humans breed livestock and enter into a covenant with them with feed in exchange for their meat, even to the measurable extent of how much feed equals a pound of meat. It¡¯s a form of cultivation-based equivalence exchange.¡± ¡°But wildlife owes you nothing, and there will always be animals that, for various reasons such as population numbers, are not suitable to eat. Now humans have a responsibility to proactively maintain ecological balance because human capabilities have evolved too rapidly in the past hundred years.¡± Driving into the mountains along a winding mountain road, shooting whatever one sees and dragging it back. Wildlife can no longer protect itself simply through the remoteness and density of the forest. The same applies at sea. If you read ¡°Moby Dick,¡± you know that in the past, whaling was a matter of risking your life¡ªit was an ode to human hunting, a testament to courage, a gamble between creatures. That was the genuine relationship of normal hunting in the food chain. Now, on large ships, they easily catch up, kill with a single shot, and lift the catch with cranes. Don¡¯t even mention the butchering¡ªif necessary, an onboard production line could turn them straight into canned food. The Faroe Islands, Denmark¡¯s largest fishing location, enjoy a comfortable life with an average income of 70,000 Ugly Yuan, thanks to the commercial catch of herring, mackerel, and so on. Yet even so, locals have not given up on the traditional practice of whale hunting. They promote the activity of hunting cetaceans extensively under the guise of training courage for the youth, and much of the meat from the mass slaughter is not even consumed, but rather thrown into the trash. Almost every year, news reports condemn the practice, and the year before last, the noise over whaling was so loud that they retaliated by killing even more dolphins¡­ The reason it¡¯s called retaliatory is that they have prior offenses. In 2012, dissatisfied with the European Union¡¯s mackerel fishing quota, Iceland and the Faroe Islands ignored the advice of ICES and unilaterally increased the mackerel catch from 630,000 tons to 800,000 tons. The same situation occurred this time. The usual few hundred killings suddenly surged to 1,428 dolphins, and many of them ended up being thrown away into the trash, unused. If humans allow themselves to eat whatever they want, they can easily wipe out any species. In the past, having enough to eat was satisfactory, but now, with the average annual income of Japanese at 40,000 Ugly Yuan, they are still demanding too much from cetaceans. The ethical shift regarding food is a long process. Some previously considered normal foods will gradually be eliminated from our diets. Foods not prohibited by law can be chosen based on personal knowledge¡ªit doesn¡¯t have to be a blanket rule, nor is there a need to force others to agree with one¡¯s own views. But as part of humanity, enjoying meat filled by feed and products created by polluting nature, we should be kinder to nature within the realms of what we deem reasonable and what we can achieve. Mugalen seemed to finally understand, ¡°First, greed, second, unwillingness to admit fault, third, destruction of nature, fourth, the bloody slaughter, goodness, they are quite capable.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Richard confirmed. ¡°If it weren¡¯t illegal to kill me, they would certainly do it.¡± Thinking of the two companions still lying in the hospital, everyone couldn¡¯t help nodding. Richard sighed, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s all my fault, because of the program ¡®The Story of Dolphins,¡¯ which created this multi-billion dollar industry. The show sparked people¡¯s desire to swim with the dolphins, touch them, kiss them.¡± ¡°No,¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°Clearly you don¡¯t study Marxist Philosophy. From a materialist historical perspective, as long as dolphins remain intelligent and capable of performing, this industry would have emerged sooner or later. The only difference is the timing.¡± The car quickly passed the town government building, and after confirming that no one was following, they arrived at the foot of a deserted and remote mountain. Mandy opened a black bag, neatly packed with dozens of raincoats in various colors, picked out camouflage raincoats and distributed them to everyone. Taking advantage of the storm, when hardly anyone was going out, they all ascended the mountain. The torrential rain made the mountain path extremely muddy. Jerret almost slipped with a single step, but luckily Mugalen behind him gave him a hand. ¡°You two are too old, you should have stayed in the car,¡± Mugalen pointed at Jerret and Richard. Richard shook his head; how could he possibly miss out? And Jerret as well, ¡°We have limited equipment. I need to observe the entire bay before I can decide where to place the cameras. Otherwise, we can¡¯t shoot a qualified documentary.¡± The mud on their shoes kept piling up, making everyone feel as if their shoes had become more than twice as heavy. Mandy accidentally stepped into a mud puddle and lost her shoes when she pulled her foot out. Bi Fang poked around with a walking stick for a long time before fishing them out. ¡°Good heavens, I don¡¯t even want to wear them anymore,¡± Mandy held up her sport shoes covered in mud. Bi Fang said, ¡°You can go barefoot if you don¡¯t want to wear them, unless you don¡¯t mind getting bitten by some weird bugs, or cut by sharp stones resulting in a lot of bleeding, followed by a bacterial invasion. First the wound would start to fester, then the whole foot would swell, becoming bloated with bruises, and in the end, you might have to amputate not just the lower leg but potentially the thigh¡­¡± ¡°OKOK¡­ please stop talking about it, I still want my legs,¡± Mandy pleaded repeatedly, rinsed the mud out of her shoes with bottled water, put them back on, and continued to help each other move forward. Soon, a yellow metal sign blocked their way. It read: ¡°Beware of falling rocks,¡± and ¡°Wild beasts are lurking.¡± The sign was large, blocking the entire path, with a barbed wire fence on the side, stretching all the way to the edge of a nearby cliff. Richard chuckled bitterly, ¡°If it weren¡¯t raining, there would be fishermen patrolling the mountains here with knives. This is also a national park. Those fishermen told me: ¡®If word of what happens here gets out, we¡¯re finished.¡¯ They said so themselves.¡± Bi Fang touched the barbed wire, then led the group to the edge of the cliff and helped each person get past the barrier. After passing through layers of trees, everyone could finally see the bay surrounded by mountains on three sides through the gaps in the forest. ¡°Is this Dolphin Bay?¡± Bi Fang and Mugalen looked down at the shallow bay below the mountain. The coastline was only a few dozen meters long on either side, with low hills, but it was this narrow strip of shore that was littered with the bodies of thousands of dolphins. Dolphins would always follow their migratory path to Taiji Town. This had not changed for thousands of years, and all the fishermen needed to do was wait for them to walk into the trap. About a dozen fishing boats lined up, inserting long poles into the water with flanges on the ends, then hammered the tops of the poles, creating a sound barrier. They took advantage of the dolphins¡¯ sensitivity to sound, herding hundreds of them towards the shore. They were all fleeing for their lives, away from that wall of sound. Once they entered the bay surrounded by mountains on three sides, all the fishermen had to do was block the last exit with a net, and not a single dolphin could escape. Each year during the dolphin season, the shallow bay turned blood red. It was a real blood-red color without any exaggeration. From above, via satellite, you could even clearly see the bay turning into a red spot. Those dolphins not selected by marine parks, regardless of their size, were all killed. The massacre at Dolphin Bay was an ingenious slaughter because it was one that cut off a lineage. It killed all the dolphins who were frightened and realized the cruelty and evil of humans, so that others continued to naively consider humans their friends, falling into the trap time and time again. Chapter 525 - Chapter 525: Chapter 522: The Hunting Season Begins! Chapter 525: Chapter 522: The Hunting Season Begins! July 12th, 7:00 AM. The much-anticipated Black Bear hunting season would officially start today at 8:00 AM, and everyone was busily preparing for it. From the Oak Tree Company to the Japan Office, to all the hunters and audience watching with bated breath, everyone was looking forward to it. Inside the black sedan beneath the Imperial Hotel, Nobita Nobi raised his wrist and counted down¡ªthe live broadcast was only one hour away. Bi Fang went to the restroom, scooped up a handful of cool water to splash on his face, shook off the excess droplets, and after neatening his hair, he grabbed his backpack, wiped his shoes, and hurried to the elevator. At 7:40, he arrived at the southernmost tip of the Kii Peninsula, Wakayama Prefecture. Four drones hovered around Bi Fang, three of them were under his own control, while the other was operated by the Oak Tree Company. Hunting Black Bears in the wild was an extremely dangerous activity; those reporters who hadn¡¯t undergone professional training wouldn¡¯t dare get close and could only remotely control drones. Bi Fang proceeded alone into the wilderness, and by mid-July, the weather had become scorchingly hot. This hunting season, there were a total of thirty-five Black Bear hunters. According to the registration combinations, there were fifteen teams, with more than four-fifths choosing to form teams. Even the Y¨­ki Hunter was no exception. The Nameless Y¨­ki Hunters were divided into three pairs; Sato was by himself, while the other four split into two teams. The rest of the pairings were even more extensive: thirty-five people formed four two-person teams, four three-person teams, one four-person team, and six individuals. The individuals included Mugalen, Bi Fang, Sato, and the other three. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 It¡¯s the same old saying. Black Bears are risky, hunting requires caution. The Capital is in the East Eighth District, and Japan is in the Eastern Ninth Zone, so Huaxia and Japan are actually only an hour apart. Eight o¡¯clock in the morning in Japan corresponds to seven o¡¯clock on the domestic clock. Although it¡¯s a bit early, for those who enjoy Bi Fang¡¯s live streams, it¡¯s already quite a friendly timeslot. Initially, during the Banna Rainforest, one would have to wake up around 6:00 AM to wait for the broadcast. The sun hasn¡¯t risen, but I¡¯m already up. Oh, June has long days, so that¡¯s fine then. [Front row seats] [Waiting for Old Fang to go godlike in the world] [How long will this live stream last? Is it as long as the last one in Banna?] [Not sure, a hundred bears, thirty-five people, about three bears each, that should take a while, right?] [Not sure, never killed one] [Dare to kill, and I dare to enter] Inside the official live broadcast room, Kogawa Kobayashi and Shizuka Minamoto introduced the contestants one by one. When it came to Bi Fang, the number of viewers surged once more¡ªregrettably not reaching the peak of excitement seen during the initial selection of hunting ground by the hunters. ¡°I have a feeling that Bi Fang¡¯s personal live stream is taking away a large chunk of viewership,¡± complained a staff member wearing a headset. Another staff member disagreed, pointing to the curves on the panel, ¡°But the engagement is several times higher than before Bi Fang announced his participation. The number of viewers has already exceeded our initial best-case scenario predictions, and this is just the beginning¡ªit¡¯s bound to increase.¡± Hearing the two¡¯s discussion, an elder nearby scolded, ¡°Just do your own jobs; these matters are none of your business.¡± ¡°Hey, hey, hey, make sure all departments are in sync. Three minutes left¡ªthe live broadcast is about to start.¡± ¡°Two minutes left¡­¡± ¡°One minute.¡± ¡°It¡¯s starting!¡± As the seconds ticked down to zero, the departments coordinated their operations, and tens of millions of viewers in front of the screen waited eagerly. Nearly one third of the audience had gathered in Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast room. In the first venue, the lights were fully lit, the oil paintings came to life, and the massive black screen lit up once again, illuminating the entire hall. A familiar voice resonated from all directions as the classic opening lines were spoken. ¡°Looking back at the evolutionary journey of humankind, if our ancestors had not ventured and imagined, if they had not been brave to innovate and willing to sacrifice with grandeur and magnificent sentiment, humans would not have taken canoes to surf the seas, to explore the infinite mysteries beyond the ocean.¡± [The man at the top of the food chain!] [A stomach that digests anything and everything!] [The strongest jungle player in history] [The freest man on the planet, dog¡¯s head] ¡°Human curiosity sparks the desire for adventure, human adventure ignites the torch of civilization.¡± ¡°Adventure doesn¡¯t just lie in the oceans and mountains of the great outdoors, the deserts, and swamps; it¡¯s also hidden in the densely populated cities,¡± Bi Fang stepped on a large rock, looked down the mountain, smiled at the drone hovering midair, and gave a two-finger salute. ¡°I am Bi Fang, a professional outdoor explorer. Here, I will show you how to survive in some of the most dangerous places on Earth, where without professional skills, you wouldn¡¯t last even a day, and today, I¡¯m back!¡± [Panda people series, shake the glow sticks!] [Wu Hu, Wu Hu, Wu Hu, Master Fang, my male god, hehe] [Master Fang is about to take his revenge on the Black Bear!] [Isn¡¯t this hunting season too cruel? Why do humans have the right to arbitrarily take animal lives?] [Burning incense in temples is all bullshit, you have to look at the live comments to find the real Bodhisattvas.] [Weird, Old Fang put on clothes, it feels strange] [Add one, I thought I was the only one who felt unaccustomed, I¡¯ve been watching grass skirts for nearly a month, and suddenly it¡¯s a style change] [Where are you now? I heard you were picking a location but didn¡¯t catch the previous live stream of Japan, can Old Fang explain?] Bi Fang pointed to the sea in front of him: ¡°Right now, I am on the Kii Peninsula. A peninsula is a landform, half of which protrudes into the sea or lake, and the other half is connected to the continent, generally surrounded by water on three sides. Look, standing from up high, we can easily see the ocean.¡± The drone flew up, the camera zoomed out, waves undulated in the sea, and it seemed like seagulls were flying and diving into the water, with the forest stretching behind Bi Fang, surrounded by the sea on three sides. Surrounded by the sea on three sides with forests at the back, this is an island of dreams. The rainy season had indeed passed, yesterday¡¯s downpour was an anomaly, but even though the weather was clear today, the ground was still damp, full of muck. Bi Fang scraped a layer of mud off the soles of his shoes and continued: ¡°This is a peninsula that stretches out from the central part of Japan¡¯s Honshu to the Pacific Ocean, and it is also the largest peninsula in Japan. It includes the entire area of Wakayama Prefecture, as well as parts of southern Nara and Mie Prefectures.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if you all saw the hunting rules, but the hunters¡¯ activity area is divided according to the two-thirds principle of the prefectures. Based on this rule, my activity area would be around the entire Kii Peninsula.¡± The two-thirds principle? The audience was confused, indicating they had never heard of it. Fortunately, someone explained it in the live comments, and Bi Fang repeated it once more. Bi Fang braced himself on one foot, stood up on the boulder, made a light jump, and hopped off the boulder. Ever since his joints were enhanced, Bi Fang especially liked doing this movement. It felt effortless and very smooth. ¡°As for the Kii Peninsula, people often mistakenly think that the name comes from Kii Province. In fact, it was a combination of the names of ancient Kii Province and Ise Province, taking half of each. But it seems that Kii Province got the better deal,¡± [Hahaha, it reminds me of the joke about two universities merging.] [Our brothers each contribute a character. Dongnan University provides the ¡®south¡¯ and Nanjing University provides the ¡®capital,¡¯ so neither has the advantage, dog¡¯s head. ] [Kii Peninsula, it sounds so familiar. Wasn¡¯t that where Sadako committed suicide in ¡®The Ring¡¯?] Bi Fang shook his head: ¡°You¡¯ve got it wrong. ¡®The Ring¡¯ is set on the Izu Peninsula. The story in ¡®The Dancing Girl of Izu¡¯ also took place there, not this Kii Peninsula I am currently on. The two are quite different.¡± ¡°The Kii Peninsula is mainly composed of mountains, with peaks stretching to the seaside, steep cliffs dropping straight to the seabed as if cleaved by a sword. Being a mountainous region, there is a vast expanse of primeval forest, which is why quite a few hunters chose this place.¡± The Kii Peninsula is not the same as Wakayama Prefecture. Wakayama Prefecture is closer to the sea, mostly flatlands. Plus, with Dolphin Bay and villagers regularly patrolling the mountains, the Black Bear population is indeed less compared to other prefectures. Quite a few hunters chose other prefectural cities on the Kii Peninsula. The junction where the peninsula connects with the island of Honshu is the best hunting point. That¡¯s why Mugalen was so puzzled to see Bi Fang choose Wakayama Prefecture. Thanks to the vast expanse of primeval forest and the Japanese peoples¡¯ fondness for ¡°creating gods,¡± this place can be said to be the birthplace of Japanese Shintoism. Hidden within the large primeval forest are Japan¡¯s oldest Kumano Sanzan, The First Shrine, and the world¡¯s longest and oldest pilgrimage route¡ªthe Kumano Kodo. There are also little towns with populations of only a few thousand people scattered along the coastline, secret train heavens. However, because the entire peninsula only has one train line, and the dining and commercial businesses are underdeveloped, it¡¯s not well-known to the general public. Bi Fang moved towards the deeper parts of the forest; currently, he was still on the outskirts. To have a greater chance of encountering Black Bears, he needed to venture further inside. ¡°In December 1912, a Japanese brown bear that was 2.7 meters tall and weighed 340 kilograms intruded into Shimamaki Village, Tomamae District, Hokkaido, beginning a hunt that lasted 5 days. In this brown bear incident, a total of 7 people died, and 3 were injured,¡± ¡°Afterward, Japan organized a hunting party of 600 people. By tracking the brown bear¡¯s footprints, they located it and ultimately shot it dead. To date, this is the most serious bear attack incident in Japan and even worldwide.¡± ¡°This incident started Japan¡¯s ¡®Human-Bear War,¡¯ especially since entering the 21st century, Japan¡¯s ¡®Human-Bear Conflict¡¯ has escalated.¡± ¡°According to statistics from Fukui Prefecture in Japan, there were 841 ¡®bear incidents¡¯ within 10 years, which means Black Bears appearing in residential areas. By 2014, the number of bear incidents in the prefecture remained as high as 615 times. This prefecture is also where the most hunters gathered.¡± Fukui Prefecture is located in the central part of Honshu Island and is quite far from Bi Fang¡¯s current location. However, such a high frequency of bear incidents undoubtedly made it a favorite location for hunters during this hunting season. The five Nameless Y¨­ki Hunters, without exception, all chose Fukui Prefecture. As local hunters, they knew best where the Black Bears were most numerous, and they were the quickest to choose their hunting spots after Bi Fang and Mugalen. Clearly, they had made their preparations early on. Chapter 526 - Chapter 526: Chapter 523: Black Bear Disaster Chapter 526: Chapter 523: Black Bear Disaster The Sankebetsu bear incident cannot be said to be the spark that ignited the fire, but it was indeed a significant event, a classic symbol of conflict between bears and humans. In the cold winter, without any food storage, the behemoth barged into the village, killing 7 people and injuring 3. No matter the country, such an event is horrifying and was fully recorded. Due to its infamy, this tragedy was adapted into novels, comics, stage plays, and movies, repeatedly broadcasted and widely known among the Japanese people. After the ferocious predator was eventually hunted down, people discovered that this behemoth stood at 2.7 meters tall and weighed 340 kilograms. [Holy shit, 2.7 meters? Isn¡¯t that a bit exaggerated?] [That¡¯s as tall as a building, just reaching over your fence with a boo!] [Wasn¡¯t the first one Master Fang encountered only 2.2 meters? This one is half a meter longer?] The live broadcast audience had seen the black bear that Bi Fang first encountered live. Among black bears with an average height of 1.8 meters, it was already a colossal type. Just from watching on the computer screen, one could already feel an immensely strong sense of oppression, let alone the fact that Bi Fang was alone at that time, in the deep mountains and forests, with only a stone spear in his palm. If it were them, forget about fighting back, they would wet their pants on the spot, and then be gnawed to nothing¡ª that would be their end. In reality, the Sankebetsu bear incident was even more brutal. The giant beast first appeared in November, near the village of Sankebetsu in the western part of Hokkaido. It quietly sneaked into a house, causing the horses to flee in terror. The owner of the house was Ikeda Tomikura. He discovered that only some corn was lost, but the sight of footprints over 30 centimeters long in the mud was shocking. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Another month passed, and on the morning of December 9, the brown bear snuck into the Ota household, devouring Ota¡¯s child and wife. After that, its man-eating spree was completely triggered, starting a frenzied streak of crimes. On the night of December 10, the brown bear came to the village again. After the slaughter, five women and children were killed by the bear, and three people escaped with severe injuries. On December 11, the villagers were incredibly angry after the tragedy. Women, children, and the elderly were all relocated, while the men voluntarily formed a bear-hunting team to go into the mountains seeking revenge on the bear. On December 12, the malicious bear-attacking incident in the Sankebetsu village was reported to the Hokkaido Prefectural Government. The official bear-hunting team joined the villagers¡¯ bear-hunting team in search of the bear in the mountains. But while no one was in the village, the brown bear sneaked into the settlement again, almost completely consuming several households¡¯ winter reserves and destroyed eight huts. Over the next three days, the Hokkaido Prefectural Government deployed a total of 600 people in the extermination team, with more than 10 Ainu dogs, and used 60 firearms. The village continued to receive reinforcements from the army, soldiers, and police from the Army Seventh Division, all ready for battle and searching everywhere. This was an unprecedented beast-hunting team. However, even 600 people couldn¡¯t find the bear. In the end, it was an old veteran from the Russo-Japanese War, Yamamoto Hyogo, who made the kill. Next to a white oak tree, he shot two bullets at the bear¡¯s heart and head, killing the giant bear. Late, to expunge the memory of the terror, the villagers burnt down the mountain huts and relocated downstream, leaving the place forever. The incident thus came to an end and vanished into history. After hearing Bi Fang¡¯s story, the audience was left speechless. Is this really a bear? This is more like a grizzly bear tank, right? [If Bi Fang were in this situation, could he have defeated this bear?] [I think it¡¯s tough¡­] [It¡¯s clearly fake, so impressive if two shots could kill a brown bear, just scraping some skin at most, how could it die right away] [I saw someone on a forum once, saying that seven hundred AKs couldn¡¯t kill seven hundred tigers; that was you, right? Covering face, isn¡¯t that embarrassing?] [Really, the notion that seven hundred AKs can¡¯t kill seven hundred tigers is bullshit. Humans are so powerful now that we can easily abuse the top of the food chain, tigers? Normally an AK fires seventy or eighty shots without a tiger getting hurt, it would bite off your gun barrel while being hit.] [Tiger: Don¡¯t drag me into your bullshit.] [What, do you think you¡¯re some kind of cosmic storm tiger?] [Seventy or eighty shots, you¡¯d have been killed by the Ground Tiger Hero already!] Bi Fang broke through the brush in front of him and entered the jungle. ¡°Although this is a brown bear, in this hunting season, there¡¯s no strict requirement for it to be a black bear. Brown bears are generally larger, and if you can hunt one, the score will be even higher,¡± he said. In the wilderness of Japan, there are two types of bears: the Asian Black Bear and the Brown Bear. Among them, there are two subspecies of the Brown Bear in Japan: the Ussuri brown bear and the Japanese brown bear. The Ussuri brown bear, also known as the Northeast brown bear, is mainly found in the northern regions of Japan. The Japanese brown bear, also known as the Hokkaido brown bear, is primarily found in northern Japan, around Hokkaido. The black bear, however, is one of the seven subspecies of black bears, the Japanese black bear, with a wider distribution than the brown bear, found throughout Japan¡¯s Shikoku, Honshu, and previously in Kyushu, though now extinct there. ¡°Because of its name, people might mistake the brown bear for having brown fur, but in fact, brown bears also have black fur, only with a shade of brown compared to the black fur of the Asian black bears,¡± he explained. ¡°Long ago, I mentioned that the black bear has a distinctive feature: a crescent-shaped patch of white fur on its chest. That is the fundamental way to distinguish the two species.¡± The habitats of brown bears and black bears cover more than half of Japan¡¯s land area, and Japan¡¯s population totals 127 million people. Clearly, the bears hunted in Japan are a mixture of black bears and brown bears. This hunting season is no different. However, in terms of the number of kills, black bears make up the larger proportion. [Indeed, no reputation is unwarranted. This Huaxia broadcaster is really impressive.] ¡°[It seems the cameras in Japan are all focused on him]¡± ¡°[That¡¯s normal. The other guys just keep their heads down and plough on without any interaction. No fun in watching that]¡± Japanese netizens expressed their admiration. The hunt had just started, and most people had only just entered the peripheries of the forest or jungle; they hadn¡¯t truly begun searching for clues. After a brief introduction, there wasn¡¯t much to watch. Besides, many hunters were so focused, like mute gourds; even if you gave them the camera, they had nothing to say. Who would watch that? Kogawa Kobayashi and Shizuka Minamoto¡¯s attempts at comedy were futile. On the contrary, Bi Fang, with his Asian looks, fit their aesthetic preferences better. Besides, he could keep talking while on the move and occasionally even communicate in Japanese, making the footage much more appealing. Kogawa Kobayashi exclaimed, ¡°Oh, there¡¯s so much stuff even I as a commentator don¡¯t know. I think Master Fang should have been the commentator. He would be more suitable than me.¡± Shizuka Minamoto said, ¡°I heard Master Fang has been a judge and commentator too. And he¡¯s livestreamed more than once. Those who have seen his livestreams say he¡¯s a scholar with extensive knowledge.¡± ¡°Oh, no wonder then.¡± Even more crucially, no matter what language he spoke, it seemed Bi Fang¡¯s livestream could translate it flawlessly. Many stories the Japanese themselves were unclear about were as familiars to Bi Fang as the back of his hand. People grew so engrossed in listening that they found switching screens troublesome. In the end, some even turned off their TVs and searched for Bi Fang¡¯s livestream on their phones. Besides, the only other reasonably competent figure was Mugalen. As one of the only two present who had been on a similar show, he had some insights. Although he wasn¡¯t as familiar with the local history and Japan¡¯s man-bear conflicts like Bi Fang, he still had his own interesting take. For instance, rather than hunting bears, right now Mugalen was trying to catch a wild rabbit. ¡°After the hunting season starts, I don¡¯t plan on returning to town. Running back and forth is just too much hassle, a waste of time. So everything from eating and drinking to relieving oneself must be done in the forest. I think getting today¡¯s lunch sorted out is better. Who knows, maybe like Bi Fang, I¡¯ll catch a Black Bear that walks into my trap all because of a little rabbit?¡± ¡°[You wish]¡± ¡°[This Big Beard alien is kind of interesting]¡± ¡°[Only two contestants worth watching]¡± ¡°[Y¨­ki Hunter is a bit of a letdown, still hasn¡¯t caught any bear]¡± Inside Bi Fang¡¯s livestream, when the Japanese viewers kept flooding in, everyone rushed to express their pride. Y¨­ki Hunter completely defeated in the live broadcast! Bi Fang squatted on the ground, examining the traces left by animals passing by, judging their size. While he wasn¡¯t focused on hunting the Black Bear, he still had to avoid being too obvious, at least not to diverge too markedly from previous livestreams. ¡°The number of bears in Japan is indeed too high. Apart from the several hundred bear sightings a year in Fukui Prefecture, many other places are similarly affected. Since the millennium, Japan started to undertake bear hunting campaigns.¡± ¡°According to the statistics from Japan¡¯s Ministry of Environment, starting from 2000, the number of bears hunted in Japan has been maintained at an average of more than 1000 per year. The year with the most bear hunts was 2019, reaching 5667, followed by 4679 in 2006.¡± And yet this wasn¡¯t enough, the conflict between humans and bears continued to escalate. That¡¯s why Japan established a hunting season this year and even encouraged traditional Y¨­ki hunters to thrive once again. ¡°[Holy shit, thousands of bears? That seems way too exaggerated, right?]¡± ¡°[Just how many bears are there in Japan¡­ They aren¡¯t more than kangaroos in Australia, are they?]¡± ¡°[You know what? The population of the Vatican is only eight hundred, while Japan alone has thirty thousand Black Bears. If the Black Bears decided to invade the Vatican, every Vatican citizen would have to fight off thirty-seven Black Bears. You have no idea because you only care about yourself!]¡± ¡°[The Vatican: Thirty-seven Black Bears? Just kill me already]¡± ¡°[You can even make a meme out of this?]¡± ¡°[So why are there so many bears in Japan? I heard that the number of Black Bears alone is more than our collective total. Is that true?]¡± Bi Fang nodded, ¡°It¡¯s true. The total number of Black Bears in Huaxia is less than twenty thousand, whereas Japan has more than thirty thousand. In fact, worldwide, only Polar Bear and Japan don¡¯t consider the Black Bear a key species for protection.¡± ¡°Japan has always been a natural habitat for both Black Bears and Brown Bears, and they are a type of wildlife that has a very wide distribution.¡± ¡°Secondly, the proliferation of bears in Japan is related to the ¡®Deer Calamity¡¯ of the eighties and nineties of the last century.¡± ¡°As for the Deer Calamity, it¡¯s related to the aging population and the young people moving into the cities for work.¡± Aging population, young people moving into cities for work? The audience slowly typed out question marks. What¡¯s the connection between all these things? Is there a relation? Chapter 527 - Chapter 527: Chapter 524: Boss Yao, One Step Ahead Chapter 527: Chapter 524: Boss Yao, One Step Ahead [Population aging leads to a surge in bear numbers, a path never before envisioned.] [All the young people have gone to work, and now this is my kingdom, Black Bear King, hahahahaha] [Can this black bear steal a cassock?] ¡°If you don¡¯t believe it, that just shows you haven¡¯t grasped the deeper meaning here,¡± Bi Fang said meaningfully. Everything is interconnected, especially humans and nature. Changes in human society have a significant impact on nature. ¡°By the end of the last century, Japan was developing rapidly, and cities were siphoning labor from the surrounding areas like a whale sucking in water, drawing many young people from villages into urban areas, resulting in serious aging in the countryside. As the elderly gradually passed away, many villages even became ¡®ghost villages.''¡± ¡°For instance, in 2015, in Japan, as many as 190 villages ceased to exist.¡± Bi Fang casually mentioned a set of statistics, which left the audience stunned. Had so many villages vanished within a single year? Becoming a ghost village isn¡¯t something that happens overnight, plus with the current economic slump in Japan, wouldn¡¯t there have been even more before? With the disappearance of villages, the habitats for wild animals have effectively increased. A village composed of hundreds of humans has an extremely vast impact on nature. The disappearance of hundreds, even thousands of village-like nails, has opened up a paradise for numerous wild animals, where no overpowering civilization exists anymore. Furthermore, the transition to different energy sources and building materials has reduced the demand for wood, allowing trees to grow lush and strong. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°At this time, the trees around the villages grew thickly, and the ghost villages became a paradise for wild animals. But a problem arose. With the decline in carnivores, mainly wolves ¨C as the Japanese wolf had been extinct for a long time ¨C wild deer started proliferating to the point of being a nuisance.¡± At this, many in the audience had already caught on. Many people learned in elementary school about a lesson where, in an attempt to protect deer, wolves were extensively culled, resulting in an explosion in the deer population that led to the destruction of entire forests. ¡°With the absence of natural predators, the deer¡¯s ability to flee weakened, giving omnivorous bears, which primarily consume a vegetarian diet, a very stable source of meat. And so, by the end of the 20th century, bears discreetly started multiplying across many areas of Japan.¡± ¡°Black bears and brown bears have similar reproductive abilities, gestating for about seven months, and then birthing 1-4 cubs at once.¡± ¡°At that time, there were no natural predators for bears in Japan, so the survival rate for bear cubs was extremely high. Plus, with increasingly fewer people around where bears roamed, by the early 21st century, wild bears began to proliferate.¡± ¡°The significant increase in bear numbers led to an obvious shortage of food within their natural habitats.¡± ¡°At this point, black bears and brown bears started descending from the mountains in search of food near human habitations, increasing the incidence of human-bear conflicts.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve specifically looked this up; according to statistics from Japan¡¯s Ministry of Environment, in the 1990s, there were only about 20-40 bear attacks on humans each year. However, this number began to rise in the 21st century, escalating to an average of 95 bear attacks per year since 2008.¡± Bi Fang explained that the severe incidents he had shown Jerret and the others were just a few out of many bear attacks that happened every year. According to Japanese statistics, there are about 22,000 to 30,000 brown bears and black bears, and considering their reproductive rate, Japan had to establish an annual plan to cull thousands of bears to keep their numbers in a relatively stable state. [Wori, ninety-five attacks a year, that¡¯s too many, right?] [The bears have become a plague] [I want to eat bear paw] [Damn, it just occurred to me, does this mean Old Fang can eat bear paw this time?] Seeing the comments, Bi Fang stopped in his tracks and thought carefully about the rules; it seemed that the Japanese government hadn¡¯t explicitly stated all hunted game must be handed over? ¡°A complete bear paw is worth one point, and it¡¯s not stipulated that one can¡¯t forego this point. Theoretically, it seems possible.¡± Damn, can I actually eat bear paw? Realizing this, Bi Fang himself was stunned. The audience was astonished. [Holy shit, can we actually eat it?] [Send me some, I want to taste that delicacy.] What does bear paw taste like? You can¡¯t have both fish and bear¡¯s paws, and ninety-nine percent of people know what fish tastes like, but bear has never crossed their minds to taste, because after such a meal, one would have to go back to a simple diet of clear broth and rice. In most parts of the world, brown bears and black bears are protected wildlife, especially in Huaxia, where they¡¯re even considered national second-class protected animals. Around the world, only Japan and Russia are the exceptions. The latter has a wide distribution and large number of bears inherently, while the former is due to ecological imbalance. The frequent occurrences of ¡°bear sightings¡± have forced Japan to annually cull thousands of bears, but even so, ¡°human-bear conflicts¡± have not been resolved. Under such circumstances, Bi Fang was fortuitously given the chance to taste bear paw. Rubbing his hands together, Bi Fang rolled up his sleeves. ¡°` The Kii Peninsula is in the subtropics with many mosquitoes, especially in the height of summer. He still vividly remembered how, when he first went to the Banna Rainforest, there was only one reported case of Dengue fever in the news. However, by the end of the live broadcast, there were hundreds more. To avoid being bitten by various insects, despite the hot weather, Bi Fang didn¡¯t wear short sleeves but a thin shirt instead. Now he was genuinely interested. Bear paws, eh? Normally, he wouldn¡¯t even dare to think about it, so shouldn¡¯t he give it a try? ¡°If you want to do something well, you must first sharpen your tools. Human strength is ultimately much weaker than a bear¡¯s. If you want to deal with a bear, you must choose to use long-range or polearm weapons. Although I only brought two daggers, I¡¯m going to use them to make a spear,¡± he said. Bi Fang moved through the forest, selecting the right wood. Regardless of whether it was an iron spear, Stone Spear, or just a simple wood spear, one couldn¡¯t be careless in choosing the trees. ¡°The spear shaft must be tough and at least not break easily under great pressure.¡± ¡°Generally speaking, there are two kinds of wood: softwood and hardwood. Softwoods primarily grow in the north, while hardwoods primarily grow in the south.¡± ¡°Most softwoods have a denser quality and grow slowly, making them excellent materials for wooden spears, such as Northeast China pine, Manchurian ash, and oak.¡± ¡°The quality of hardwoods is more complicated, with some being rather loose, such as fir wood, but others are exceptionally dense, such as camphor wood and rosewood, and so on.¡± [Rosewood for a spear, that¡¯s a bold idea] [The bolder the person, the more expensive the wooden spear] ¡°The Kii Peninsula lies on typhoon paths and climate fronts, making it one of the wettest areas in Japan. It has subtropical plants like banyan and palm trees as well as temperate sweetgum forests. The inland is mountainous, with an abundance of Yezo spruce. This might add some difficulty to our material search. If possible, we should choose camphor wood.¡± ¡°Camphor trees are originally from Japan, the Ryukyu Islands, Huaxia, and Southeast Asia. Camphor wood is fragrant throughout, with dense wood, tenacious texture, and is soft yet tough. It doesn¡¯t break easily and is less likely to crack. It¡¯s my ideal material,¡± he said. Bi Fang¡¯s nostrils flared slightly as he caught the scent molecules in the air. Camphor wood contains a wealth of volatile oils and has a strong unique fragrance, which is one of the high-quality sources of perfume extraction. So, the scent is very intense; if it¡¯s nearby, the aroma is sure to be rich. With Bi Fang¡¯s current sense of smell, as he walked through the forest, he quickly caught a faint fragrance, fresh and pleasant, and he followed the scent. About three hundred meters later, an enormous tree appeared in front of everyone. [Wow, this tree is so tall!] [It¡¯s like thirty or forty meters, right?] [Train your eye, this one¡¯s about twenty-five meters] Bi Fang nodded and said, ¡°Camphor trees are evergreen trees from the laurel family, they can reach up to fifty meters high, and some are hundreds or even thousands of years old, making them true towering ancient trees.¡± ¡°However, such tall camphor trees are rare to see. This one here is over twenty meters. The ones we commonly see are between fifteen and twenty meters tall.¡± The air was so fragrant that it was almost suffocating. Bi Fang rubbed his nose, put down his backpack, and prepared to climb the tree to select a few suitable branches, stepping on the trunk and slowly climbing up. ¡°Camphor is renowned along with nanmu, zelkova, and paulownia as the four famous woods of Jiangnan. It can be said that every part of it is a treasure. Camphor oil extracted from the roots, stems, and leaves can be used to make film rolls and sheets. The leaves can be used to extract camphor for use in agriculture, such as controlling rice borers. Silkworms fed with camphor leaves produce silk that can be used for weaving fishing nets and even as surgical sutures.¡± Having chosen a straight branch, Bi Fang took out his Harpoon, aimed at the base, and chopped down fiercely. ¡°The key point is, we can also use the leaves of the camphor tree for insect repellent.¡± ¡°In the summer, if you go outdoors, you can try picking camphor leaves, crushing them, and applying them to your hands and feet. It has a mosquito-repellent effect. However, camphor trees can also be afflicted by diseases and pests. That¡¯s how Nature is, always one thing countering another.¡± Three straight Tree sticks fell from the leaves and landed on the ground. Bi Fang grabbed a thick branch, jumped down from the air, rolled over, and picked up the Tree sticks from the ground. ¡°A Spear should not be too long, being about your height is enough, too long and it¡¯s not only inconvenient to use, but it also increases the risk of breaking. We can now start a fire and briefly process them.¡± Bi Fang gathered some dry grass nearby, dug a pit, and took out a Firesteel from his bag. With a gentle scrape, a lot of sparks flew, and the flames were quickly ignited. Whether it¡¯s the bow drill, hand drill, or the cord-saw method, none could compare at this moment. ¡°Industrial products make fire starting so much quicker.¡± The firelight illuminated Bi Fang¡¯s face. The moment magnesium rod struck, it was almost like igniting a blaze in his hand. If he didn¡¯t hold on to the handle at the back, he could have burned off a layer of skin from his fingers. [I¡¯ll bet a package of spicy strips that Old Fang¡¯s same model of Firesteel will be on the clubhouse¡¯s mini-mart shelves within half an hour.] [You lose, it was stocked before this live broadcast.]] [Boss Yao is always one step ahead.] Sitting in front of the campfire, Bi Fang took out his Harpoon and silently carved the wooden spear. ¡°` Chapter 528 - Chapter 528: Chapter 525 Hunter and Prey Chapter 528: Chapter 525 Hunter and Prey The fierce fire roasts the camphor wood, and the fine oils slowly seep out from the fibers, filling the air with a rich and pleasant fragrance. After the camphor leaves are picked and placed on a stone slab, they¡¯re ground into a green paste with a smooth stone. Bi Fang applies it to his exposed skin, and the mosquitos around seem to vanish into thin air. Engulfed by flames, the stick gradually turns black. Bi Fang picks up the tree stick and, using a dagger, carves a cross notch at one end. Pressing against it, he takes a round stone and strikes the back of the dagger to split it into a cross slot. He removes the wooden handle of the steel dagger and inserts the slender iron blade into the middle of the cross opening. Aside from accommodating the slender iron handle, Bi Fang also carefully carves a few grooves inside the cross notch to fit about two centimeters of the dagger¡¯s blade length, forming a simple inlay structure. Bringing the cross notch together again, one could not tell that something had been inserted inside. Bi Fang explains, ¡°One side is concave, the other is convex; fitting them together forms the simplest mortise-and-tenon structure. It¡¯s not prone to breaking or falling out. Accommodating part of the dagger¡¯s blade ensures it won¡¯t easily bend.¡± Grasping the fastened break, Bi Fang pulls out a piece of white rope from his bag, wraps it carefully around, and finally ties a tight knot. ¡°This rope is made of Dyneema material ¡ª cut-resistant, wear-resistant, and its strength is more than ten times that of quality steel, second only to top-grade carbon fiber. With a density less than water, it can float on the surface and is very light. If you¡¯ve seen my Mount Everest climbing video, you should know it, and yes, you guessed it right, this is the same piece I used before.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t use all of it after climbing Mount Everest last time. We¡¯ll continue to use it this time. But honestly, its strength is so high, it¡¯s really tough to cut¡­¡± Bi Fang pulls at the excess rope, and with a harpoon, he slowly cuts it off bit by bit. This is a dagger gifted by the System, and even with that, it struggles to cut through the Dyneema rope, showcasing its high material strength. [Damn, Old Fang¡¯s rope that went up Mount Everest, forged in the wilderness, and about to bathe in bear blood. I can¡¯t imagine how much its value could soar.] [A conservative estimate, two million!] Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã? [Awesome, if it was mine, it could become a family heirloom, to be treasured at home.] [White Tassel Spear!] [Back in the day, I wielded the Lance of Glistening Silver, cutting a path seven times in and out at Changban Slope, leaving my enemies riddled with holes, rolling in piss and shit!] Bi Fang wields the approximately 1.8-meter-long spear with its bark peeled off, leaving a white branch with delicate patterns, straight in form, with a six-inch blade and an extra length of rope dangling, swinging in the wind. He stakes it into the ground and steps on it, testing its tenacity; it bends close to sixty degrees without any sign of breaking. After finding a pine tree, he easily stabs into it, and slowly oozing resin, Bi Fang wraps the flowing pine resin around the joint of the spearhead and shaft to reinforce it three times. Mortise-and-tenon, winding rope, resin bonding; after these three steps, the wooden spear has become one, whether chopping or stabbing, making it very difficult to disengage. The sharp spear pierces the sky, emitting a piercing whistle, with the nearby leaves rustling in response. Bi Fang, very satisfied with his work, puts it away and proceeds to make another two wood spears. At the same time, the other hunters are all busily engaged in their activities. Each person chooses their activity area, but the production team didn¡¯t airdrop them into the center of a random forest; instead, they had to make their own way. The radii of human settlements are wide, and most haven¡¯t found much, encountering only some wild chickens and rabbits; the larger animals remain unseen. Only by venturing deeper into the forest does the real test of skills begin. It¡¯s 9:30 in the morning now, and Bi Fang estimates that by afternoon, people will start to make discoveries one after another. Deep in the jungle, fully-armed Sato, wearing cut-resistant clothing, carrying a small bomb-proof shield, and holding a glaive as tall as a person and a crossbow, moves through the bushes, presenting an anachronistic blend of the modern and ancient. Times have changed. Traditional hunters have also learned to protect themselves. The show prohibits the use of heavy crossbows and firearms, but both normal bows and modern equipment don¡¯t fall into these categories. Other hunters participating in the show do not have the benefit of Bi Fang¡¯s System, cannot be precocious in their youth, and don¡¯t have any restrictions on equipment, so they load up with all they can. Besides Sato and Mugalen, who carry weapons and are of an offensive type, there are also those who dig traps and specialize in defensive counterattacks. Primitive hunting, without the restraint of hunting dogs and targeting large predators like the Asian Black Bear, is ultimately very dangerous. The best option is naturally to lure the bear into stepping into a trap. Giant wooden traps and deep pits with wooden spikes are good methods for dealing with large animals. ¡°Seeing a camphor tree taller than twenty-five meters signifies that we have already entered deep into the forest,¡± Bi Fang says, rising from the ground and extinguishing the fire pit. Behind him are two wooden spears, one hand wielding an even sharper and harder steel spear, and on the ground lie five short spears, each about half the height of a person, along with a dart thrower. To deal with thick-skinned creatures like the Black Bear, regular arrows are far from sufficient. One must use a dart with greater penetrating power; only then can it pierce through the thick layer of fat, damaging the organs and muscle tissue. ¡°The founding father of modern forensic science, Edmond Locard, once proposed a law named after him, which states: ¡®Every contact leaves a trace¡¯.¡± ¡°To put it simply, it means ¡®All contact leaves evidence.¡¯ My translation might not be perfect, but that¡¯s the general idea.¡± Bi Fang waved his spear, splitting the obstructive shrubs in his path, and strode forward. With the long shaft weapon, the journey became much easier. ¡°This statement, after being consistently exemplified by Locard, is regarded as an axiom by insiders and has become a cornerstone of courtroom science, especially the study of physical evidence.¡± ¡°Locard¡¯s Law tells us that matter is composed of countless particles. When a suspect enters a scene or commits an act, particles are exchanged between the objects they touch and their body, leaving traces.¡± ¡°At the same time, his body also picks up some traces from these object surfaces; even if the suspect has tried to clean up, it¡¯s very difficult to completely remove these traces.¡± Every corner he stood in, every object he touched, everything he left behind, even unconsciously, became silent witnesses against him. Not just his fingerprints and footprints, but his hair, fibers from his clothes, broken glass he touched, marks left by tools he used, paint he scratched off, and blood or bodily fluids he left behind or collected. All these and more support the silent testimony against him. These evidences do not forget, do not get confused by the heat of the moment, and unlike testimonies from people, they do not disappear. It is evidence that exists as fact. Physical evidence does not make mistakes; it does not perjure, and it does not disappear completely. Only those who cannot find, study, and understand it would diminish its value. ¡°To me, hunting for game and looking for a criminal are the same¡ªif it has ever existed in a place, it must have left traces.¡± ¡°As for what kind of evidence, that depends on the ¡®suspect¡¯s¡¯ physical characteristics and behavioral habits. There are two types in total, tangible and intangible.¡± ¡°The tangible ones are hair, scratch marks, footprints, and damage along the way, while the intangible ones are scents, preferred food, and potential gathering points.¡± ¡°To find a bear, you must be familiar with its behavioral habits.¡± Bi Fang pushed aside some branches, his gaze sweeping over one tree after another. ¡°With the exception of the polar bear, which doesn¡¯t have the conditions, all bears like to rub against trees because they can¡¯t reach their backs with their paws, and long-haired animals easily get infested with lice, so it¡¯s important to look for scratch marks on nearby trees, which will be very obvious. The entire tree can have a hole rubbed into it.¡± ¡°Next is footprints. The weight of a Black Bear can leave deep footprints on the ground very easily.¡± ¡°Then there¡¯s the scent, but without a hunting dog, this can be disregarded.¡± Bi Fang himself could use this technique, and there are indeed people with a super-strong sense of smell, but obviously, most people can¡¯t, so without a hunting dog, this technique isn¡¯t worth considering. ¡°Lastly, there are traces of behavior¡ªfrom eating to walking. Predators at the top of the food chain don¡¯t pay much attention to hiding their tracks. Often, when you see a clear pathway in the wild, you need to be careful¡ªit could be a path used by some large herbivore or predator.¡± This is a form of confidence born from being at the top of the food chain. Rabbits and mice need to look around when eating grass, but elephants never overdo their vigilance since few animals can threaten them. ¡°Pay more attention to fallen hair on the trails. If there¡¯s hair, there¡¯s a ninety percent chance it¡¯s from a fierce predator, so be extremely cautious.¡± ¡°Also consider dietary habits. Look for places where things that should exist are massively disappeared or show signs of damage.¡± ¡°The Asian Black Bear is a typical omnivore, mostly feeding on plant matter. Its diet is varied and includes, but is not limited to, various plant shoots, leaves, stems, roots, fruits, as well as mushrooms, shrimps, crabs, fish, invertebrates, birds, rodents, and carrion. It will also dig up ant nests and bee hives.¡± ¡°We can look for upturned ant nests, fruit nearby gnawed to a mess, or partial bee hives that have been bitten off.¡± ¡°[Ah, I know this, bears love honey.]¡± ¡°[So awesome]¡± ¡°[Details, it¡¯s all in the details]¡± ¡°[Speak slower, I¡¯m taking notes]¡± ¡°[Attention, make sure you remember this everyone!]¡± ¡°[But why do bears like honey?]¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t answer; he grasped the spear and shook it, grabbing the tail end and using the point to lift a drooping branch. As the leaves were turned up and the sunlight shone down, several sharp scratch marks appeared on the tree trunk. Chapter 529 - Chapter 529: Chapter 526 A False Alarm Chapter 529: Chapter 526 A False Alarm The wrinkled bark bore several neat scratch marks. Bi Fang pressed his hand against the large tree, his fingers simulating a grab. The audience could clearly see that a human hand couldn¡¯t encompass such large scratch marks, indicating the owner of these paw prints must be a very large creature. [Bear? Is there a bear nearby?] [Damn, I better check if Old Fang is the first one to find a clue?] [Seems like it.] [Awesome, the hunt is on!] The audience began to jeer, but Bi Fang shook his head and gestured for the drone to come closer. In the play of light and shadow, Bi Fang caressed the scarred bark, then bent down to inspect the nearby soil: ¡°These were left a long time ago, at least a couple of months back. There are no footprints on the ground, so it must¡¯ve been a black bear passing by.¡± ¡°Fresh scratch marks typically cut through the bark to reveal the white wood underneath. Now the trunk has darkened; it has been oxidized for a very long time. It¡¯s impossible to locate the black bear based on this.¡± ¡°Unless its territory is nearby. But that clearly isn¡¯t the case, as apart from this scratch mark, there are very few signs of activity from other large animals nearby.¡± It turned out to be a false alarm! The audience was greatly disappointed. They had thought that Boss Fang would be the first hunter to find information on prey this morning. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï However, the sudden appearance of the black bear¡¯s scratch marks served as a reminder to everyone that indeed, there are many black bears in the forests of Japan. Bi Fang shook his head, pushing aside his thoughts. ¡°Continuing our earlier topic, someone asked why bears like honey. Actually, in a bear¡¯s diet, honey isn¡¯t the main component, but it¡¯s very important to them.¡± Bi Fang continued his walk and chat with the audience, which was his usual style. This tested one¡¯s concentration, requiring simultaneous observation of the surroundings and timely checking of the comments to respond. For most people, this would be too challenging; they might even trip and fall while walking. Bi Fang felt that based on this alone, he should at least manifest a skill that allowed him to multitask. ¡°Bears eat a variety of foods, and some are not easily digestible. Honey aids digestion and absorption, improving the bear¡¯s immunity and quickly replenishing its body energy.¡± ¡°Moreover, when bears enter hibernation, they must rely on body fat converted into energy to maintain their needs.¡± ¡°Among all nutrients, sugars are the easiest to convert into fat. Considering these factors, it¡¯s only natural that bears are particularly fond of honey.¡± ¡°In addition to ant nests and honey, there are many other indicators that are easy to observe, like shrubs with berries that have been trampled on, possibly by the meticulous work of black bears.¡± Bi Fang elaborated on the various possible clues while picking a small red fruit from a nearby branch and popping it into his mouth. ¡°Hmm, not bad, sour and sweet.¡± [Holy shit, what did Boss Fang just put in his mouth?] [What is that thing? Eating it just like that, isn¡¯t he afraid of poisoning?] ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s just Rubus, from the raspberry family. Speaking of which, it can even nourish vitality and energy.¡± Bi Fang vividly remembered following the old professors into the forest for research, with Rubus fruits being among the most eaten wild fruits. Picking the Rubus fruits from the nearby shrubs, Bi Fang said, ¡°In June, July, or even August, if you want to eat something good in the wild, try looking for Rubus. Not only is every species within the genus edible, but most varieties are also delicious.¡± ¡°Most fruits that haven¡¯t been cultivated by humans aren¡¯t tasty, being sour and astringent. Some might even be mildly toxic, so it¡¯s rare to find fruits like Rubus that have evolved to be very delectable.¡± ¡°It¡¯s very easy to remember the characteristics of a Rubus species: they¡¯re either shrubs or woody climbers, with prickly stems and undersides of leaf veins, and the fruit is an aggregate of drupelets that look like a bunch of pomegranate seeds clustered together, which are also quite soft and tender.¡± ¡°As for what the flowers look like, I won¡¯t say, since seeing flowers of a Rubus in the wild means you came two months too early.¡± Bi Fang picked the small fruits from the shrub one by one, some he popped directly into his mouth, while others went into a small bag. The ripe fruits of Rubus are juicy and tasty; the only downside is that some varieties can be too sour, but that¡¯s rare, and certainly not the case with the one before me. Eating them is simple, just pluck and stuff them in your mouth. However, the flesh of wild species is too tender to store or transport; they¡¯d just get crushed if piled up together, so you hardly see them deeply processed. If anyone farms them, they¡¯re usually just harvested and consumed fresh. ¡°However, it¡¯s easy to recognize the Rubus genus and start eating, but figuring out exactly which species you¡¯re eating is very difficult¡ªeven for seasoned botanists; I don¡¯t even know exactly what I just ate.¡± The classification of the Rubus genus is a worldwide problem. Depending on different classification systems, there are estimated to be 250 to 700 species worldwide¡ªjust look at the numbers, and you¡¯ll see how much disagreement there is among taxonomists over this genus. It¡¯s like eating Squid; in a wilderness survival situation, you don¡¯t need to remember all the edible plants, you just need to remember which ones you shouldn¡¯t eat. ¡°Only the Flame Squid is poisonous among Squids, while all species of Rubus are edible, which is an easy way to remember.¡± Once after eating wild Rubus, Bi Fang intended to do some taxonomic work out of habit, but he ran into a significant obstacle. A respected teacher of his suggested, ¡°Why not abandon the existing species classification completely, build up the phylogenetic tree using molecular methods first, and then reclassify the species?¡± But at that time, Bi Fang estimated the difficulty of sampling, counted his modest funds, and quietly gave up the idea. Unexpectedly, he still couldn¡¯t come up with a proper taxonomy now, although his wallet had fattened. As for classifying plants, his interest had waned. ¡°The species I have in my hand right now has singular leaves with few prickles; the fruit is also solitary, and while sweet and tart, there¡¯s an indescribable taste to it. It¡¯s somewhat like a faint pesticide taste, but it doesn¡¯t affect the enjoyment of eating it. Maybe it could be called ¡®Pesticide Rubus¡¯.¡± [Hahaha, isn¡¯t that a bit too casual?] [Pesticide Rubus, never in my life did I think I¡¯d hear such a name] [What was the name of the species that Old Fang discovered last time?] [Bi¡¯s Pseudo-Crocodile.] [Ah right, right, that¡¯s the one, very grand-sounding] ¡°What ¡®grand¡¯ is there in Bi¡¯s Pseudo-Crocodile?¡± Bi Fang asked, puzzled, speaking earnestly, ¡°Lots of organisms have names like that, Bi¡¯s Yeast, Bi¡¯s Ovicorn Ant; the latter doesn¡¯t even have a queen and belongs to a cool species of Army Ant, how cool is that.¡± [Ah, right, right] [When can we see Bi¡¯s Pseudo-Crocodile in the zoo?] [Yeah, does Old Fang know anything? Didn¡¯t you discover it?] ¡°How should I know?¡± Bi Fang shook his head, he was also unclear about the specifics, but it seemed there were no plans for development from those above; instead, the area had been protected. Even Bi Fang had been instructed not to disclose the specific location to others. But it didn¡¯t matter anymore, it had nothing to do with him now. The only news he knew was that the individual brought back, which had shown remarkable vitality, had been kept in a lab with ample space, and was fed at fixed points every day. There were plans, apparently, to bring in a Female Pseudo-Crocodile for breeding purposes, to further observe the behavioral habits of this species. Chapter 530 - Chapter 530: 527 Chapter 530: 527 The Kii Peninsula is a region where temperate vegetation transitions to subtropical vegetation, and with Shepherd¡¯s purse being a representative group of the North Temperate Zone, its diversity here is also quite high. Apart from pesticide-tasted shepherd¡¯s purse, Bi Fang also found a hollow berry, particularly large; at first glance, it resembled a strawberry, but upon closer inspection, it looked somewhat like a plump pink mulberry. ¡°My favorite among all shepherd¡¯s purse species is the hollow berry, also known as rose hips. The fruit is very large, tasty, and most importantly, it doesn¡¯t have a pesticide taste.¡± Bi Fang picked it happily, as if he had come not to hunt Black Bears but to forage for wild fruits and enjoy delicacies. ¡°When hollow berries are ripe, some small berries detach from the receptacle, creating a hollow in the center of the aggregate fruit¡ªthat¡¯s why it¡¯s called hollow berry.¡± ¡°Hey, here¡¯s a shade-loving shepherd¡¯s purse, named for its preference for growing on the shaded side; but it¡¯s also found in abundance on sunny slopes, and in areas where broadleaf forests have been chopped down, acting as a pioneer species.¡± [Dang, if it tastes like pesticide, it¡¯s called pesticide; if it likes the shady side, it¡¯s called shade-loving; now I see why these things aren¡¯t easy to recognize.] [This sketch is so careless.] [Something feels off. What was Old Fang going to do again?] As evening approached, Bi Fang sat on a large rock without continuing to look for the Black Bear¡¯s traces, leisurely chatting with the audience instead. ¡°The fruit of this species turns black when mature and has a moderate sweetness with an advantage in quantity. It¡¯s also an important source of nectar, with numerous flowers, each capable of secreting a lot of nectars with a sugar content over 50%, which bees particularly love.¡± ¡°With flowers and nectar, in theory, there should be Black Bears. Actually, we could look around here.¡± The show usually ends around eight o¡¯clock every night, and it¡¯s almost seven now. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï For the next hour, Bi Fang planned to slack off and wait until the live stream ended before going to find Richard and the others. [Master Fang¡¯s been slacking off all day today.] [Why does it feel like he hasn¡¯t done anything all day, and now it¡¯s over?]> [Just listened to a lecture¡­]> With Bi Fang¡¯s current reserve of knowledge, spinning a few stories to keep the audience entertained wasn¡¯t hard. After all, it was the first day, and no one had gained much; there wouldn¡¯t be any problem with him slacking off, right? Right? [Someone next door has already found bear footprints, are you still slacking off here, Old Fang?] [Falling into decay, why do I feel like Boss Fang has gotten lazy? It must be because he¡¯s made too much money. Just give it to me, dog¡¯s head.] Bi Fang was taken aback, ¡°Ah, someone found bear footprints?¡± That was fast; usually, by noon or afternoon, you¡¯d have entered the heart of the forest and started looking for Black Bear clues, finding traces by evening was pretty quick, actually. [Yeah, that¡¯s right, feeling the pressure now? You better hurry up and go!] ¡°Who found them?¡± [Jupiter¡¯s group, they¡¯re professional hunters from Ugly Country.] [Little Japan isn¡¯t doing too well either.] [That¡¯s not it, I heard a group of Y¨­ki Hunters found a pile of feces, but it was two days old.] ¡°How¡¯d they find it?¡± [They saw a chewed-up thicket, and followed the traces from there, and that was exactly like what Old Fang taught.] [That¡¯s awesome.] [It¡¯s just that Old Fang has slightly worse luck.] That¡¯s true. Hunting really depends on luck. Just like in the Banna Rainforest, if you¡¯re trying to catch a Wild Baizhi Ox, the issue isn¡¯t whether you know what signs it¡¯s left, but whether you¡¯re lucky enough to encounter a place it¡¯s been. With just two hundred heads in the entire rainforest, luck is indeed pretty important. ¡°Actually, some animal carcasses can also offer clues; although meat only constitutes a very small part of the Black Bear¡¯s diet, Asian Black Bears are considered to meat more meat than American Black Bears.¡± ¡°Moreover, due to the significant seasonal changes in many natural foods, the main diet of the black bear often varies with the seasons.¡± ¡°In spring, black bears mainly feed on fresh, juicy young grass, tree buds, and tender leaves. We can focus our search in these areas.¡± ¡°In summer, they eat various fruits rich in carbohydrates, as well as berries, such as shepherd¡¯s purse, loquat, kiwifruit, and the fruits of the laurel family, and insects like ants and bees.¡± ¡°During autumn and winter, black bears turn to fat-rich nuts, such as walnut and acorns from the Fagaceae family.¡± ¡°Different seasons leave behind different traces.¡± Bi Fang took out his water bottle for a drink, having said quite a lot. In the live broadcast, Kogawa Kobayashi was stunned; those unaware would think Bi Fang was a commentator. Eight o¡¯clock in the evening, and no one had made a catch all day. As expected. Though the population of Japanese black bears was so high it was considered a nuisance, it wasn¡¯t at a point where you could encounter one just by entering the forest¡ªthat would not be an overpopulation; it would be an ecological collapse. Moreover, it couldn¡¯t possibly be to that extent. If the numbers grew any further, food would become scarce, and the bears themselves would start to decrease due to intraspecific competition. Or perhaps, Japan would deploy its security forces for a sweeping operation, and every black bear spirit of three thousand years would be gunned down. ¡°It¡¯s eight o¡¯clock. The program team has not specified that hunters can¡¯t return to town to rest during the hunting trip, but I think no hunter will do so tonight and will instead camp on the spot.¡± Bi Fang estimated that no one would return to town within about three days. This was quite normal; ancient hunters might spend ten to fifteen days in the mountains on a single trip. The hunting regimen for the hunting season, if all went well, should be half a day to go deep into the forest, another half to find clues, then one day to make thorough preparations, followed by the hunt in the afternoon or on the third day. The third and fourth days were for organizing, tallying, and returning to town to rest and count scores. The capture cycle for a black bear was roughly four to five days, with a day of rest. Thirty-five hunters, one hundred black bears; if there was no conspicuous slacking, it should end in around twenty days. [Holy moly, you¡¯ve been loafing around the whole day, the whole day!] [Come on, Master Fang, haven¡¯t seen you in a month, and you¡¯ve become so slack?] [No insider sabotage, give us something good to watch.] ¡°Don¡¯t worry, finding black bears comes down to luck, and I feel that my luck is about to come. I¡¯ll just build a temporary shelter and sleep here tonight. I think others are doing the same; they probably have tents, which are more convenient.¡± Bi Fang, with a smile on his face, turned off the live stream amidst the audience¡¯s wails. Nighttime is not the best time to hunt black bears; the night belongs to the animals, and most people choose to rest. A group of men snoring while sleeping isn¡¯t much to see. But if there is a hunting plan, the live stream must be kept on to prevent cheating. Nine ten PM. On the quiet and peaceful small town streets, an unfamiliar young man who nobody had ever seen before appeared. Following the scent in the air for a while, the young man picked a direction and walked into an alley, finding as he had guessed a wooden cart parked inside. The strong aroma was wafting from the cart, which had a rain awning with a red curtain hanging from it, and on the side, there hung a red lantern with the large Chinese character ¡°Noodles¡± on it. Lifting the curtain, the young man¡¯s eyes lit up, and he exclaimed, ¡°This smells so good! Indeed, delicious food is always hidden in alleys like this!¡± Hearing the young man¡¯s fluent Japanese, the patrons assumed he was just a tourist from out of town, though it was rare to see a tourist who looked as handsome as a celebrity. They took a few extra glances at him. Now, with the young man¡¯s praise heard, the regulars began to cheer loudly. ¡°The young man really knows his stuff. The boss¡¯s ramen is definitely the best in town!¡± ¡°A piping hot bowl of soup every day, that¡¯s true delight.¡± The boss wiped his hands and thanked them, ¡°You¡¯re all too kind. What would you like to order, sir?¡± Bi Fang, sitting on a stool and unwrapping his chopsticks, pointed at the menu, ¡°Then I¡¯ll have the specialty! And add an extra serving of meat!¡± Chapter 531 - Chapter 531: 528 Chapter 531: 528 Inside the stainless steel vat, the milky pork bone soup bubbled vigorously, wafting the enticing aroma that had drawn Bi Fang over. Ever since he acquired the Wolves King¡¯s Sense of Smell, Bi Fang had found that discovering delicious food in the streets and alleys was actually a very simple and interesting task. Just take a whiff and you¡¯ll know. The small shop was not big, resembling a modified container. The window splayed open doubled as an awning, with thin red curtains dangling, and a row of wooden stools placed under it, lining up in front of a long counter where customers sat densely packed. The customers sat on the wooden stools eating noodles, while the ramen chef operated inside the vehicle. The place was small but had everything one needed: the soup pot and ingredients were neatly arranged. As the customers sat down, the canvas covers could shield the entire shop along with the patrons, creating a private atmosphere. The cool sea breeze blew in, dispelling some of the heat. The ramen chef was dressed in a unique white linen uniform, with a white towel tied around his forehead that looked like it had seen better days. His movements were skilled and swift as he quickly laid the base in the bottom of the bowls. Then he lifted the boiled buckwheat noodles from the boiling water, ladled a bowl of thick white pork bone soup over them, pouring it along the rim of the bowl into the noodles, mixing it with soy sauce and other seasonings to release a rich, aromatic scent. Steam wafted and filled the whole shop. A soft-boiled egg was evenly cut into two halves, its yellow yolk not fully set and oozing over the white, served with thick slices of pork belly atop the noodle soup, garnished with nori along the edges, sprinkled with sesame seeds, chopped green onions, and cilantro, completing a large bowl of noodles placed in front of Bi Fang. Accompanying the noodles was a stack of iron-plate fried dumplings, the hot oil crackling on the scorching plate with a tempting sizzle. The ramen chef wiped his hands, placed the white towel aside, and with a smile, slid the dish toward the tourist sitting in front of him, ¡°Give it a try, our shop¡¯s signature noodles and fried dumplings.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? Bi Fang couldn¡¯t wait to grab his chopsticks, ¡°Well then, I won¡¯t stand on ceremony.¡± Everything lived up to Bi Fang¡¯s expectations¡ªthe noodles were chewy and smooth, the pork belly was fatty but not greasy, and the soup had a strong, rich bone aroma. Although it was hot, there was nothing more satisfying than a steaming bowl of pork belly noodles after a hard day¡¯s work. Especially at that moment when the carbs hit his stomach, it was all worth it. This was Bi Fang¡¯s first time eating human food on a wilderness live stream, and he found it quite novel. Even the other customers turned their attention this way, and when Bi Fang expressed his admiration, they all started to cheer, affirming the local cuisine, much like recommending a favorite movie to a friend and finding the next day that friend had become a fan too. The joy of a successful endorsement. With that joy, Bi Fang easily mingled with the customers. Observing the patrons closely, he noticed that out of the ten or so customers, seven or eight were fishermen who had just returned from the sea, dressed in work clothes, with a strong smell of fish and salt on them. Two office workers, a young couple with a child, and finally, a high school girl¡­ Wait, a high school girl? Her hair was dyed brown, styled in twin tails, accompanied by knee-high white socks. Bi Fang hesitated for a moment, putting a question mark in his mind. The scent of perfume mixed with cheap alcohol was choking, and it was now half-past nine, or rather, snack time at night. Do Japanese high school students also have night self-study? Bi Fang recalled the few campus anime he had watched, and it seemed that there was never such a thing as night self-study. Even looking over, he found her staring back at him. In the moment their eyes met, she blinked at him. Did she just come from a nightclub!? Being locals, the crowd quickly engaged in conversation with the worldly and eloquent Bi Fang. He subtly gravitated towards the fishermen, avidly sharing tales of the sea. ¡°Your accent¡ªit¡¯s not local, is it?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m here on vacation to Taiji Town. It¡¯s really beautiful, and the aquarium is especially grand. There are Dolphin Island sculptures everywhere.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right,¡± the fishermen replied happily, shouting, ¡°Whales are the pillar of our Taiji Town¡¯s industry!¡± ¡°I heard there¡¯s dolphin meat in Taiji Town, right? I¡¯ve only seen dolphins perform at the marine park, never tried their meat.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s eyes shone with longing, a typical outsider eager to taste whale meat. A fisherman, tilting his head back, eyes slightly squinted, seemed lost in distant memories, drawn out, ¡°Dolphin meat¡­¡± ¡°What are you pretending for, didn¡¯t you have a bad taste just the other day?¡± His buddy knocked on his head and turned to Bi Fang, waving his hand, ¡°Kid, dolphin meat isn¡¯t tasty, it¡¯s sour and fishy, all smashed up and used as feed, sold to outsiders like you who don¡¯t know any better, I¡¯m telling you this out of kindness.¡± Bi Fang nodded in thanks. ¡°But if it¡¯s not tasty, why is there so much dolphin meat in supermarkets? I saw plenty.¡± ¡°Ah, that¡¯s from the hunting season, speaking of which, doesn¡¯t the hunting season start today? It¡¯s July 15th, isn¡¯t it?¡± A fisherman, seemingly drunk, blurted out. ¡°Hunting season?¡± ¡°Yeah, every year they kill a bunch of dolphins, if someone takes a fancy, they sell it at a high price, if not, it¡¯s turned into mince, given to museums, they¡¯ll take as much as you¡¯ve got, though it isn¡¯t much valuable anymore, not as much as selling to trainers.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s not valuable, then why kill them all? The meat isn¡¯t tasty and not worth much, wouldn¡¯t it be better to let them reproduce in the wild?¡± Bi Fang was curious. The fisherman chuckled, looked around, and whispered, ¡°Dolphins, you see, are clever creatures. Sometimes I feel they¡¯re smarter than humans. If we let some go, won¡¯t the others stop coming?¡± ¡°Right, so we have to kill them all, they¡¯re the ones that go back and tip off the others!¡± ¡°I feel they¡¯re quite dumb, they actually approach humans voluntarily, and when you touch one, it doesn¡¯t flee. It seems all whales are like that, really strange.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that, doesn¡¯t it make catching them easier?¡± ¡°Ah, yes, haha!¡± The fishermen laughed heartily. No one around seemed surprised¡ªeverybody, from young couples to children, even to what appeared to be high school girls, were all busily eating their noodles, even the noodle shop owner was saying that this year¡¯s dolphin season would surely bring a good catch. Bi Fang joined in with the laughter, scoffing, ¡°How can there be such stupid fish willing to approach humans? I heard that dolphins would rescue humans when encountering sharks or a disaster at sea, is that true?¡± On hearing this, the fishermen felt a moment of awkwardness, the laughter subsiding, ¡°It¡¯s all made up, how could animals possibly save humans?¡± Bi Fang shook his head, changing the subject, ¡°What about the other kinds of whales, do you kill those too? Dolphin meat isn¡¯t tasty, but what about whale meat?¡± The mention of whales got the fishermen even more excited. Hunting the largest animal in the world, that¡¯s a proof of bravery! They rolled up their sleeves, one after another, each describing their own whale hunting experiences. ¡°At Midway Island in Hawaii, I saw sperm whales appearing near the horizon, just like the dolphins here. There used to be as many sperm whales as dolphins! But now, you can¡¯t see them anymore, whales and dolphins have become more and more scarce.¡± ¡°While I was in Chile, I often saw blue whales at the horizon, like a big mass of bamboo, so we called them ¡®bamboo masses.¡¯ No matter when, the sea was always black, full of blue whales, I chopped until my hand grew tired.¡± ¡°When I went to Chile in South America, that place was truly a whaler¡¯s paradise!¡± ¡°Ye Zhi, you¡¯re exaggerating again, weren¡¯t you just in charge of cutting the meat? The whales were all speared, one shot and you¡¯d haul up even the biggest!¡± ¡°Hey, where did that young guy go?¡± Before anyone noticed, the enthusiastic ramen chef came to his senses only to find that the young man who had occupied the seat had already vanished, leaving behind a slightly swinging cloth curtain and a stack of bills under the empty bowl. ¡°Extra, wow, quite the generous customer,¡± said the owner, counting the money and stuffing it into his pocket before continuing to knead the dough. Who was the young man, did anyone care? Chapter 532 - Chapter 532: 529 Chapter 532: 529 The salty sea breeze wafted by as Bi Fang sat on the rocks, exhaling gently. Many fishermen by the sea call dolphins ¡°sea pigs.¡± They wouldn¡¯t actively catch sea pigs; over ninety percent of fishermen, to a greater or lesser extent, were superstitious. They firmly avoided unfamiliar fish species, believing they would bring calamity. Bi Fang didn¡¯t fully believe what the fishermen said, based on what he knew. In Japan, the regulatory safety limits for mercury content in food are 0.3ppm for methylmercury and a total of no more than 0.4ppm¡ªyet the mercury content in Taiji County dolphins that the National Minamata Disease Research Institute investigated was 2.65ppm, which was 8.8 times over the standard. The mercury content in the large and long-lived pilot whales even reached 11.6ppm, which was 39 times over the limit, something to be avoided at all costs. However, the average mercury content in the bodies of Japanese people was 2ppm, and the World Health Organization defined mercury content exceeding 50ppm as causing mental illness. If Bi Fang remembered correctly, the person with the highest mercury content in Taiji County was 139ppm, with nearly a hundred people exceeding the 50ppm safety threshold. This was even with the fact that the mercury element wouldn¡¯t accumulate indefinitely in the human body, but was being excreted every day. The half-life of mercury metabolism in the human body was a reduction by half every 70 days, 25% left after 140 days, 12.5% after 210 days, and so on¡ªthus, these levels were significantly higher than the Japanese average. Excess mercury content could cause not only mental illness but also physical mutations¡ªMinamata disease. With this disease, the initial symptoms were slurred speech, unsteady walking, and facial dementia. Subsequently, it led to blindness, deafness, whole-body paralysis, and ultimately, abnormal nerve function, fluctuating between deep sleep and extreme agitation. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? The final stage was contorted screaming leading to death. The onset value for Minamata disease wasn¡¯t precise, ranging roughly between 96.8 and 705. If taking the average ppm value of 338 from nine patients, to say those local fishermen with a value exceeding 50 ppm felt absolutely no adverse symptoms was absolutely impossible. Most crucially, mercury¡¯s damage was primarily concentrated in the nervous system, severely affecting the developing nervous system of fetuses, causing serious neural damage and deformities. Even so, the local government still supplied dolphin meat to schools for lunch, whether it was kindergartens or elementary schools, it was everywhere. For profit, some people would really stop at nothing. Ten o¡¯clock. Bi Fang raised his head to look at the building in front of him as flocks of crows flew overhead. He had been waiting by the beach for half an hour, yet there was no sign of Richard and the others, completely unlike what had been initially agreed. ¡°If you all haven¡¯t arrived by ten o¡¯clock, then something has gone wrong, and I¡¯ll come looking for you.¡± In the wilderness, Bi Fang never carried a cell phone, and so he chose the simplest solution¡ªif none of the group appeared within half an hour, he would come looking for them. Jerry and the others had booked three rooms, on the nineteenth floor at about sixty meters in height. The hotel¡¯s total height was seventy-four meters, and the exterior was made of glass structures without the protruding balconies typical of tall buildings, nor were there any obvious points to leverage. This was the rear of the hotel, without security guards or surveillance, only a large bush, an ideal place for scaling walls. Bi Fang took a deep breath, reached out to open the plastic bag, and grabbed a handful of fine sand from the beach. Without magnesium powder, he had to make do. Falling from such a wall was no joke. Certain death! No, that was not right¡ªthere were air conditioning external units. In the darkness, Bi Fang saw the protrusions on the wall. This old-fashioned hotel didn¡¯t use central air conditioning! ¡°` But even following the sporadic air conditioning units, such climbing was extremely dangerous. Imagine Brother Long in ¡°Who Am I?¡± leaping across the sloped glass building, and if it weren¡¯t tilted but vertical to the ground with only a few air conditioning units to step on, how would you climb? Brushing the excess dust from his hands, Bi Fang tied a plastic bag around his waist, leaving an opening for his hand to reach into, and after some warm-up exercises, he began to climb. Now Bi Fang, when it came to climbing, was already at the level of a professional athlete, and his physical condition was no longer a weak office worker but more like a well-rounded professional athlete. This was an incredible feat. Typically, those who could run long distances were not suited for sprints, and those who could jump high were not meant for long jumps¡ªprobably only the System could achieve true all-around development. Bi Fang gripped the slightly protruding frame, stepped on the base of the air conditioner, and pulled himself up, advancing floor by floor, mentally counting the floors as he went. With his body pressed against the building, he couldn¡¯t see how many floors he was above the ground and could only count in his mind. Sometimes, when reaching for the air conditioning brace of the floor above, he would get a handful of rust, making one wonder if it was secure at all, fearing it might give way when pulled. Inside the bathroom, the sound of rushing water was invigorating. Mists wafted out as a young man tried to enter but was violently shoved out, followed by laughter inside the room. The man didn¡¯t mind and sat on the sofa, leisurely lighting a cigarette, inhaling a third of it in one breath, and flicking the ashes into the crystal ashtray. When the cigarette was down to the butt, a large swath of mist poured from the bathroom, and a woman wearing a pink bathrobe appeared, her damp hair wrapped in a towel, and clearly naked otherwise, exposing her long slender legs¡­ The man chuckled and was about to pounce when he suddenly found himself lunging at thin air and stumbled to his knees on the floor. The woman who was drying her hair stepped back in shock, raising her arms and tremblingly pointing behind the man. The man, who had been rejected twice already, was a bit annoyed, looked back following her arm, and just as he was trying to stand up, thumped back to his knees. Outside the window, a large hand full of grit landed on the glass, and a man dressed in black squatted on the air conditioning unit, staring straight at him. Oh, fuck me! The man felt his blood run cold, his goosebumps rose, and his legs turned to jelly. How does it feel to conjure up a mysterious figure clad in black, perched on the exterior of glass walls dozens of meters high in the dead of night? This must be some devil or specter, on the thirteenth floor for crying out loud! Cooled right down, cooled right through! In a flash, the man thought of the ghastly legends from the Kii Peninsula, from eating human hearts to gobbling up brains. His eyes rolled back as he almost passed out, but fortunately, the man outside the window shouted at that moment. ¡°Who are you cussing at, who are you cussing at, I¡¯m just a window cleaner, a cleaner, carry on, carry on.¡± A cleaner? The man, groggily opening his eyes, saw the stranger without any safety measures and, eyes rolling back, passed out completely. Bi Fang scratched his head in embarrassment, apologized loudly, and quickly climbed upwards with a strong grip of his fingers. In fact, he wasn¡¯t attracted by what was happening in the room¡ªsure, the scene was quite interesting, but what surprised him even more was the woman coming out of the bathroom. It was the ¡°high school student¡± from the ramen stall! Such a fluke, as if fate had cracked open a door, too coincidental for words. Japanese high school students sure are wild, not even drawing the curtains. Bi Fang muttered to himself as he looked up into the dark night sky, the smooth glass walls of the building reflecting everything, he discarded distracting thoughts, tensed his muscles, and flipped over to the fourteenth floor. ¡°` Chapter 533 - Chapter 533: 530 Chapter 533: 530 Rooftop terrace. A hand covered in dust grabbed the railing. Bi Fang flexed his muscles, pulling his entire body up and flipping onto the rooftop. ¡°Phew, that was exhausting.¡± Shaking his sore arms, Bi Fang wiped the sweat from his forehead. The process of climbing the building had been simpler than he had imagined, so he went straight to the top in one go, as there wasn¡¯t much difference anyway. He pulled out the Dinima Rope from his backpack, tethered one end to the railing, and the other end to his waist. After securing it tightly, he slowly lowered himself down bit by bit. Richard and the others hadn¡¯t appeared, surely blocked by some external force, so he absolutely couldn¡¯t enter through the main entrance. Descending slowly on the rope, Bi Fang really resembled a window cleaner, too bad cleaners don¡¯t work in the middle of the night, do they? I wonder if those two will call the police. Bi Fang thought, and at the same time, he had reached the window of Richard¡¯s room. Securing the rope, Bi Fang pressed his ear against the wall. No sound. Bi Fang found it troublesome. He stepped on the air conditioning unit and moved to the adjacent room to continue listening. This time there was a sound. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? ¡°You can¡¯t detain us, it¡¯s illegal!¡± ¡°Sorry, SIR, but you can¡¯t leave this room. Sir, no filming, thank you, no filming.¡± ¡°There¡¯s not an ounce of freedom here, you won¡¯t find anything! You are causing trouble, get out, get out!¡± A loud noise came through the glass. Bi Fang gave his ears a quick rub, easily imagining Jerret angrily shutting the door. After waiting quietly for a moment, another room erupted into commotion. Leaning against the wall, Bi Fang waited for about ten minutes, waiting until all the rooms quietened down, then tapped gently on the glass wall. In the room, Jerret, who was fuming, was startled and turned to the photography assistant, asking, ¡°Did you hear that?¡± The assistant looked confused and responded, ¡°Hear what?¡± Jerret got up from his chair, slowly approached the bedside, and cautiously lifted the curtain¡­ ¡°WTF!¡± Jerret¡¯s legs gave way, and he knelt to the floor. The assistant Mond was so startled that he jumped up. Bi Fang calmly tapped on the window and mouthed, ¡°Let me in.¡± By the moonlight, Jerret, whose brain had almost burst from the rush of blood, finally saw who it was. He calmed down quickly, got to his feet, and opened the window. Bi Fang swung inside, rolling on the floor upon landing, leaving only a white rope swaying outside the window and didn¡¯t forget to greet the stunned Mond, ¡°Good evening.¡± With chattering teeth, Mond stuttered, ¡°Good¡­ good evening.¡± When Bi Fang stood in front of Jerret, Jerret was dumbstruck, ¡°How did you get up here? Won¡¯t you be seen entering the hotel? What if they think you¡¯re part of the gang?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Bi Fang shook his hands off, ¡°I climbed up from below.¡± ¡°Climbed up ¡Á2!?¡± Jerret and Mond both rushed to the window, looking down to see the smooth glass facade reflecting the flickering moonlight, with only the slightly raised steel structures between seams of glass. Besides that, there were only rust-stained air conditioner brackets. Jerret sat on the couch, dumbfounded, muttering, ¡°Although it¡¯s unbelievable, if it¡¯s Bi Fang, then it seems normal¡­¡± Mond was young and seemingly hadn¡¯t seen such a scene before, he was shell-shocked, repeating unintelligible words over and over. Bi Fang washed his hands and came out of the restroom, pulling up a stool to sit in front of the two men, ¡°Stop spacing out and talk, what¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°Eh~~¡± ¡°Ah~~¡± Jerret and Mond sighed heavily. Bi Fang found it amusing, ¡°Come on, spit it out, I still need to go back to sleep.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you see¡­?¡± Richard¡¯s group consisted of seven individuals, all with foreign faces, and it was extremely difficult for them to stay in this small Asian town that had already seen them. Not a single hotel was willing to accommodate them; all of them protested. On the second day of driving around, they were followed, and Pondy even noted down a total of seven license plate numbers. No matter where they went, there were always people looking at them, intentionally or not. Even staring straight at them. ¡°If you look back at them, they will gesture across their neck at you,¡± Mond made a chopping motion across his throat from left to right, ¡°I think they¡¯re probably from the Japanese Organization. The last time Richard¡¯s car was bombed, it must have been them.¡± Rage filled Mond¡¯s face but after the anger, there was fear. Those men, covered in tattoos, had gazes so fierce they seemed like wolves¡ªno, even more terrifying than wolves. Wolves would charge at you; you could fight and struggle until the very last moment, but they wouldn¡¯t. You could end up silently packed into an iron barrel, turned into a concrete pile, and sunk deep into the bay, where years or decades later, the green corpse oil would slowly seep out, forming the outline of a person. Life is one¡¯s own, and there¡¯s only one. Mond was beginning to regret setting foot on this land a second time. He had thought that with Bi Fang¡¯s help, it wouldn¡¯t be so dangerous, but now, fear enveloped him once more. Why did I agree? For money? There was no money. For my career? I could have refused; Jerret is a good person. Or was it a spur-of-the-moment decision? Yes, it was a spur-of-the-moment decision. Flames, explosions, shards of metal flying everywhere, the broken eyes of a comrade, twisted joints, the smell of blood that couldn¡¯t be washed away from the ground¡­ The memory of the orange scenes flashed like a runaway film projector until a large hand suddenly cut the film at the very moment it threatened to spill from his eyes. Everything swiftly reverted back to the beginning. ¡°Hey, what are you thinking about?¡± Mond¡¯s shoulder was firmly pressed down; he looked up at Bi Fang, and in a daze, came back to his senses. Bi Fang, unconcerned, turned back to Jerret, ¡°So what happened just now?¡± Jerret looked dejected, ¡°The police came too. From the entrance to the lobby, we were shadowed. Starting tonight, as soon as they see us come out, they¡¯ll confront us and force us back in; they won¡¯t let us out at all.¡± ¡°Pondy tried to break out, but he got beaten up and dragged back. These people just want to wait until our visas expire and then send us back to our countries forcibly, damn it, I wondered why a hotel suddenly agreed to take us in, damn!¡± ¡°But there¡¯s some good news too.¡± All of a sudden, Jerret, who seemed despondent, remembered something. He went to the bedside cabinet, opened the drawer, and pulled out a roll of a map, spreading it on the coffee table. ¡°Yesterday afternoon, Richard and I went to the city hall, and they gave us this map, highlighting these places strictly forbidden for Richard and me to visit. If we do, we¡¯d be trespassing on private property, and they would arrest us and jail us.¡± Jerret pointed to the red circles on the map, his tone odd. ¡°I think they¡¯re making some good points, and actually did us a big favor.¡± He looked up to find Bi Fang looking at him too. The two suddenly shared a knowing smile. Chapter 534 - Chapter 534: Chapter 531: The Suddenly Appearing Birds Nest Chapter 534: Chapter 531: The Suddenly Appearing Bird¡¯s Nest ¡°We brought a total of forty-three large boxes, with dozens of cameras alone. Can you handle it all by yourself?¡± Jerret was leaning on the windowsill, looking at Bi Fang who was tied with ropes and asked. Bi Fang looked up at the moon, guessing that it might already be eleven o¡¯clock. He had to go back to hunting Black Bear during the day, and he would need to return to the forest around one, the time was indeed very tight. With only two days left until the start of the hunting season, installing cameras by himself at different places in Taiji Town over two nights was simply impossible. Jerret pointed to the next room: ¡°Let Mandy and Keke go with you. Three people might stand a chance. They¡¯re right next door.¡± ¡°What if someone notices we¡¯re gone?¡± Bi Fang hesitated for a moment, not immediately rejecting the proposal. One room for two people, if they all disappeared, the quiet rooms would be too conspicuous. Mond volunteered: ¡°I¡¯ll go to the next room with you, make some noise.¡± ¡°You?¡± Jerret looked skeptical. Mond¡¯s performance today made him doubt whether he had brought the right person along. Even when a leopard was unexpectedly found right beside them during filming, Mond had not been so timid. Yet now, he seemed to shrink back in fear. Although he didn¡¯t show it too much, the weakness of a person could be seen in their eyes. Mond gritted his teeth: ¡°I can!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? Bi Fang didn¡¯t say anything, but passed the other end of the rope to Mond and retied it securely. The Dinima Rope was over fifty meters in length, and even after some use, there was still more than forty meters left, which was more than enough for normal use. The two stepped on the glass wall surface and slowly moved to the left before tapping on the glass again. Mandy and Keke opened the window and looked down with the same skepticism, the height of dozens of meters making their legs go soft. Both were experts at diving but had virtually no idea about climbing. Looking at Bi Fang, they thought of him as otherworldly. After sending Mond into the room, Mandy and Keke looked at Bi Fang: ¡°How are we going to get down? Don¡¯t tell me we have to climb down; the rooftop isn¡¯t an option, right? There are people watching everywhere, we¡¯d definitely be recognized.¡± ¡°Not necessary. I¡¯ll figure something out.¡± Bi Fang, with the rope in his mouth, first returned to the rooftop, untied the knot, folded the rope over the railing, and when it reached the window, he let out some slack and pulled the entire length of rope down. The whole process made the palms of the three inside the room sweat. Then Bi Fang, standing on an air conditioning unit nearby, tied the rope to a rust-streaked bracket, and everyone instantly understood his plan. To send them down by constantly changing fixed points. The rope was forty meters long, and the entire building wasn¡¯t eighty meters tall. Making two trips back and forth, four times in total, both of them could get down. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me.¡± Mandy swallowed, her heart pounding. Keke even saw a piece of brown metal fall, his face flushed red: ¡°Is this really secure?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this is how I came up. It¡¯s very stable.¡± Bi Fang stood on the air conditioner unit, tugging hard at it, not moving an inch. Despite looking dangerously rusted, it was indeed reliable. When Bi Fang handed the rope to Mandy, inside she wanted to refuse. ¡°Can you take me down with you?¡± ¡°No,¡± Bi Fang flatly refused, ¡°The air conditioning unit might not be able to bear the weight of two people.¡± Standing on the air conditioning unit with trembling legs, Mandy could clearly hear the whirring of the fan. She couldn¡¯t tell if it was the wind or the sound of the fans anymore. Looking down from the rooftop, the air conditioning units below seemed no bigger than half a palm. Feeling suddenly ill, Mandy¡¯s heart hammered, her temples throbbing like drums. ¡°Hurry up, wrap the rope around your waist, and slowly climb down. With your fitness, you should have no problem,¡± Bi Fang called from the lower air conditioning unit. After all, they were world-class divers. Descending forty meters with the rope, and with other air conditioners to use as stops for rest in between, Bi Fang thought it should be no issue at all. ¡°Are you ready?¡± Bi Fang shouted. Mandy closed his eyes and made a cross over his chest. ¡°Mom, bless me!¡± Mandy grabbed the rope and leaped into the wind. The moment his feet left the air conditioning unit, a large amount of sweat broke out into the palms of his hands, making the rope instantly slick and almost slipping out of his grip. Fortunately, the next moment, a force came from his waist and abdomen, stopping him midair. Mandy felt almost drained, not daring to open his eyes, he could only fumble his way down. A few minutes later, Mandy stood on the ground, dizzy, and turned to look back at the seventy-six-meter-high hotel building. He collapsed to the ground, his T-shirt already drenched with sweat. He took deep breaths, a look of disbelief on his face, ¡°I, I made it down?¡± Bi Fang patted his shoulder and offered him a bottle of mineral water, ¡°Water?¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Mandy took the mineral water and drank it all in one go, belching loudly. Bi Fang gestured from below, urging Keke to hurry down as well. ¡°My god, this is way more thrilling than deep diving.¡± Keke landed with the same airiness, forcibly opened his eyes wide, and staggered around as if he was still floating in the air, completely unable to stand steady. It took him a while to realize, oh, it was because his legs had gone soft. ¡°So, you¡¯re really not Batman? You don¡¯t have some kind of armor that goes ¡®whoosh¡¯ and lets you fly up?¡± Keke gestured on his forearm and squinted at the rooftop, trying to make Bi Fang prove he really didn¡¯t have the ability to shoot grappling hooks from his arm. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it, current technology doesn¡¯t have a motor that¡¯s so small yet so powerful, either your arm would be torn off or you would have to hook something and climb up yourself.¡± Bi Fang reached for the equipment box dangling from above and tossed it to Mandy and Keke standing beside. The three of them, with backpacks of all sizes, retreated from the hotel under the cover of night¡­ The next day. ¡°Good morning, Fujiwara.¡± ¡°Morning!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it a day off today? Why are you up so early?¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s a day off I can¡¯t afford to be lazy, gotta get up and exercise. I¡¯ve been sitting too much lately, feel like my bones are rusting.¡± On the jogging track, several residents passed by. Fujiwara, nearing retirement, smiled and greeted them, then slowly stopped, looking puzzled at a large tree nearby, ¡°Eh, was there a bird¡¯s nest here before?¡± On the tree, a bird¡¯s nest made of straw hung between the branches. Such a huge nest, and he hadn¡¯t noticed it in the past few days of his runs? Just as an old man shuffled past the pathway, Fujiwara called out to him. ¡°Yo, it¡¯s Fujiwara! You¡¯re up early!¡± ¡°Yeah, hey, by the way, Ikeda, was there a bird¡¯s nest here before?¡± ¡°A bird¡¯s nest?¡± Ikeda looked up, following Fujiwara¡¯s arm and expressed his surprise, ¡°Hey, there is a nest, when did it appear? I feel like I¡¯ve never seen it before?¡± ¡°Right? I find it strange too; it seemed like it wasn¡¯t there yesterday, as if it popped up overnight.¡± Ikeda wondered for a while but didn¡¯t pay much attention, instead feeling that Fujiwara was making a fuss over nothing, ¡°A bird¡¯s nest, eh? Birds can build nests really fast, maybe it was too small before and we didn¡¯t notice it.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°There are many such nests around, nothing strange about it.¡± ¡°Right.¡± ¡°Shall we run together?¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Fujiwara and Ikeda set off together, unaware that half a minute later, the bird¡¯s nest hanging in the tree suddenly rotated, aligning with their departing figures. Only when the two had completely disappeared from the pathway did the nest shift direction again, staring straight at the sea. The sea surged with waves, everything as usual. Chapter 535 - Chapter 535: Chapter 531 Black Bear Attack! Chapter 535: Chapter 531 Black Bear Attack! In the hotel¡¯s rest lounge, Richard and the others watched the footage on their computer, all letting out a sigh of relief before breaking out into cheers. They had fooled everyone. The first step had been successful! Mandy and Keke high-fived in celebration. One evening was far from enough to install all the cameras, but last night¡¯s success had given everyone a glimmer of hope. Even though they were all confined to the hotel, there was still a way to break through the blockade and make everything public. Mandy asked, ¡°What about those people? Are they still watching us?¡± Richard shook his head, ¡°They left, gone by six in the morning. They tail us during the day and trap us in the hotel at night, forbidding us to go anywhere.¡± The local societies and residents thought they could cut off Richard and the others¡¯ filming route, but in reality, that was utterly impossible. They never learned a saying. ¡°Make ostensible plans, but accomplish your goals by stealth.¡± ¡°Has Bi Fang started the live broadcast yet?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï ¡°Not yet, it¡¯s only seven now, it starts at eight. But we were busy until after two last night, he probably won¡¯t return to the forest until four.¡± Keke reflected on last night¡¯s events and made an estimate. In reality, it wasn¡¯t that late. If Bi Fang could find his way back to the city from deep in the mountains, he could certainly do the same from a semi-town, semi-forest area. He had returned at around three-thirty and was now still fast asleep. By eight, the Hunters participating in the hunting season had all started their broadcasts one after another, ready and waiting. Only Bi Fang had yet to send any news. A large group of viewers in front of their screens were baffled. [What¡¯s going on, it¡¯s half past eight and still no broadcast?] [Sleeping in?] [You might sleep in, but I absolutely don¡¯t believe Old Fang would.] [Did something happen?] Given Bi Fang¡¯s consistent habit of broadcasting early and his reliable reputation, many viewers couldn¡¯t help but worry. With so many black bears in the Japanese forests, could something have happened last night? With that concern in mind, the viewers didn¡¯t see Bi Fang¡¯s belated apology for oversleeping until nine in the morning. Bi Fang knocked on his neck and took a few deep breaths to energize himself. Six hours of sleep wasn¡¯t little, but it had been a long time since Bi Fang had stayed up late. He had unexpectedly overslept and his head still felt swollen. Fortunately, the discomfort was temporary. After a few deep breaths, Bi Fang quickly recovered. [Damn, Old Fang, what¡¯s up with you, why so late today?] [Were you secretly up to no good without us knowing?] ¡°No particular reason, just overslept,¡± Bi Fang said, touching the back of his head and laughing. [Waited for nothing for an hour] [Hey, just say so earlier and I wouldn¡¯t have gotten up so early] ¡°Sorry, sorry, it won¡¯t happen again. I¡¯ll definitely start the broadcast before eight-thirty next time,¡± Bi Fang apologized to his viewers. Last night was an accident, and the fact that Richard and the others were blocked in the hotel was unexpected by everyone. They were sure they would finish earlier tonight. They would start at ten and should be able to return by two. ¡°Waking up late means I have to work even harder. Has anyone hunted a black bear this morning?¡± [Yes!] ¡°Hmm?¡± Bi Fang, who was stretching, suddenly froze and asked skeptically, ¡°Really?¡± Then a flurry of comments confirmed there had indeed been a bear hunt between eight and nine? [Not between eight and nine, but more like between four and five in the morning, I think.] [Right, it was in the early hours, and it was livestreamed, but it seems not many people watched it.] [It was a trio of hunters from the Ugly Country.] Through the fragmented comments, Bi Fang pieced together the whole event. A trio of Eager Country hunters had perhaps formed a strong team because they came from the same country, or they had known each other in advance. On the very first day, they had luckily located a black bear¡¯s trail. So they decided to play defense and created several large traps, including a pitfall with spikes. They had originally planned to lure the bear the next day and had ended the live broadcast, but unexpectedly, the bear approached on its own. Luckily, they kept watch at night and had set up an alarm line. In a panic, everyone started the live broadcast, ready to hunt the bear. Fortunately, they were well-prepared, and all three were experienced hunters. They didn¡¯t panic but methodically lured the bear into the trap they had prepared. This one-and-a-half-meter-long black bear was knocked senseless by a massive log, fell into the pit, and was impaled by spears at the bottom, dying instantly on the spot. The entire process involved only some scrapes and didn¡¯t result in too many unforeseen incidents. The trio from Ugly Country was also the first group to hunt a Black Bear, which measured one and a half meters in length. Unfortunately, it had been turned into a porcupine with considerable damage, scoring a total of nine points, averaging 2.4 points per person. Although it wasn¡¯t much, at least the three of them were the first to achieve something and were very happy. After the helicopter hauled away the carcass of the Black Bear, they didn¡¯t return to town and didn¡¯t even deal with the bloodstains. Instead, they set up more traps, waiting for Black Bears to come to them. As a group of three, it meant that within one cycle, they needed to hunt at least three Black Bears to match up with individuals hunting alone. However, the benefit was clear, with more people came greater strength, and they could also restrain the ferocious Black Bears together. Armed with a spear and keeping a distance of five to six meters, although the Black Bear was extremely powerful, it was not as agile as felines. As long as they judged the situation the right, two people could restrain an injured Black Bear without much problem. The only regret was that the timing of capturing the Black Bear was not very convenient. It was in the early morning, after the live broadcast had been paused, and without prior notification, only a few spectators, including the duty staff, witnessed it. Bi Fang felt a great sense of crisis when he learned that someone had captured a Black Bear the next morning. Even though he was there to coast, he couldn¡¯t overdo his act. ¡°Time to make an effort!¡± Noon. True to its name, Forbidden Zone Hunter, just one glance from Bi Fang could easily reveal any traces left by animals in their environment. Rabbits, pheasants, snakes, mice, foxes, birds, wild dogs, and¡­ bears! The scraped fur, the broken branches by rubbing, and the smashed fruits beneath those massive footprints. Bi Fang knelt on one knee and placed his palm nearby the deep paw print. As an adult male standing one meter eighty-five tall, and with frequent grasping, his hands were rough, bony, and quite large. But in front of this footprint, it looked delicate like a girl¡¯s hand. The audience didn¡¯t expect Bi Fang to find the trace so quickly, in just two hours, he had located fresh marks. ¡°See how big this footprint is? One slap could shatter my head. In ancient times, people often revered bears for their strength and fierceness, and many indigenous tribes adopted the bear as their totem,¡± he said. ¡°Even now, in many areas, bears are referred to as ¡®Man Bears,¡¯ comparing bears to men, not because they look very similar to humans, but because a bear¡¯s paws and human hands and feet are very similar. Also, bears can walk upright, so they are called Man Bears.¡± ¡°Among all large carnivorous beasts, only bears and humans have five toes on their hands and feet, and when they walk, their entire heel touches the ground.¡± ¡°Those who have seen bear paw prints in zoos definitely know that the way a bear¡¯s front and hind paws touch the ground is completely different. Only the front part of the bear¡¯s front paws touches the ground, while the entire heel and paw of its hind paws touch down. That is why it¡¯s called plantigrade walking, and bear¡¯s hind paw prints are almost identical to human footprints.¡± ¡°On the other hand, felines and canines walk digitigrade style, walking on two toe joints, with only the front part touching the ground.¡± [Wait, what about tigers? I remember Old Fang saying last time that tigers have five fingers, right?] [Eh, did I remember it wrong?] Bi Fang grinned and said, ¡°Didn¡¯t pay attention in class, eh? Was it last time when we encountered Water Monitors? I remember that I clearly stated that having five claws can rule out felines and canines, right?¡±] [Ah, it seems that way¡­] [Oh no, my memory¡¯s getting mixed up.] [Teacher Fang, I admit my mistake, let me join you in the ¡®sin-bin.¡¯] [You¡¯re not making sense.] ¡°Large feline predators, such as tigers, for example, have five toes on their front feet. The four front toes form a semi-crescent, while there¡¯s another toe at the back, entirely different from the five fingers of bears and humans. As I just mentioned, felines only walk with the front half, so the hind toe hardly ever leaves a print.¡± ¡°And they have only four toes on each hind foot, arranged in a straight line on the tiger¡¯s paws,¡± Bi Fang briefly explained why felines generally have four paw prints. ¡°Moreover, like dogs and unlike felines, bears cannot retract their claws, and that¡¯s one of the biggest differences from felines.¡± Removing the spear and Dart from his back, Bi Fang¡¯s steps became cautious and vigilant. ¡°From now on, we have to be extra careful. The Black Bear might be nearby.¡± With paw prints and scent, tracking became vastly straightforward for Bi Fang, and he quickly set off on the trail. Meanwhile, the rest of the Hunters were reaping their rewards, and some had even started to tackle Black Bears! At the same time, Bi Fang also made a new discovery. A steaming pile of dung! Bi Fang knelt down and said, ¡°Black Bears are omnivores and their diet covers a wide range, from prey meat, grass, berries, nuts, fruits, fish, to beetles and more.¡± ¡°The diameter of an adult Black Bear¡¯s dung is around three to five centimeters, often containing undigested or half-digested food.¡± ¡°Now it¡¯s summer, the time when berry plants are fruiting, and Black Bears will consume a large amount of these fruits, sometimes up to more than ten thousand berries a day. Consequently, their dung is usually loose without a fixed shape and mixed with plant seeds.¡± Bi Fang pointed to the dung on the ground, and indeed it was as he described, not in one long piece but segmented, with many granular substances visible. These granules were what prevented the dung from forming a shape. [Damn, I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m seriously watching this?] [My mom¡¯s asking why I¡¯m watching poop.] ¡°Sorry, is this a bit too much for you?¡± [Whimper, you finally noticed.] [I don¡¯t want to watch this.] [I¡¯m happy to learn something new, but there¡¯s a weird smell to it.] Bi Fang placed his hand three inches above the dung, with his breathing subtly restrained. ¡°It¡¯s still warm, it must have been just dropped, it might be nearby¡­ no, it¡¯s right here!¡± As soon as the words fell, a rumbling sound came from the nearby woods, and a large number of leaves began to shake and fall. The ground trembled, and fallen leaves drifted down. A massive creature burst out of the underbrush. Black Bear!!! Chapter 536 - Chapter 536: Chapter 533: One Year of Growth Chapter 536: Chapter 533: One Year of Growth A massive roar erupted in the woods. Branches were snapped in swathes, the scraping noise was incessant. Without a doubt, it was an enraged black bear, charging toward this spot at a terrifying high speed. Run!! In a brief moment of shock, everyone¡¯s minds were pierced by a scream. Run? Running wasn¡¯t even an option in Bi Fang¡¯s mind, the charge speed of an adult black bear could reach forty kilometers per hour, humans simply couldn¡¯t outrun it. Black bears are solitary animals with a strong territorial consciousness, deadly hostile and aggressive to any creature that intrudes on their territory. Moreover¡­ He was here to find it in the first place! Without a second thought, he planted his spear into the ground, knelt on one knee, gathering his strength, he pushed off the ground with his foot, erupted diagonally upwards, stepping on the dust, his broad chest expanded instantly, his right hand grasping the dart, his entire body tensed like a drawn bow. Power rose from the ground, spreading like water through his body, finally surging into his arm. A young tree as thick as a small arm was snapped in two, accompanied by a deafening roar, a huge black bear close to one and a half meters in length burst out from the bushes, thudded heavily onto the ground, kicking up billowing dust, like a dragon exploding from the earth. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï The spectators gasped in shock, their bodies instinctively reacted, quivering in battle, their pupils contracting, restless and uneasy. Under the high-definition camera, every hair on the black bear bristled, fluttering with the flow of muscles, each strand exuded the scent of blood. Under its thick fur was an extremely robust musculature and skeleton, the fluid muscles contorted, driving its entire body¡¯s movement, enough to plunge one into deep terror. But what met it wasn¡¯t a feast, only a sharp short spear! A shadow struck, and the black bear instinctively paused its steps, mounding up dirt on the ground, its long mane fluttering. But a close-range throw made the dart like a crossbow¡¯s iron bolt, heavy and powerful, striking the black bear¡¯s face! The flint stone-headed dart shattered the black bear¡¯s facial bone like rotten wood, spraying out a cloud of fresh blood, then piercing through its shoulder, flesh and bone flying in all directions, the blood rapidly evaporating in the heat, the sullen air filled with the smell of blood. What the fuck!!! At this moment, the spectators¡¯ minds went blank, their astonishment the only thing remaining. Could the dart be that powerful?! Was the dart too mighty, or was Old Fang too strong? Or was it both? This wasn¡¯t the first time Bi Fang had used a dart, back in Mohe, he had used one during a group fight, but back then it was against wolves whose defenses were far from that of black bears, almost all of them were pierced through and nailed to the ground. One dart could take down a ferocious wolf! In reality, even a wooden dart could easily pierce through a metal car engine cover when used by an adult male! The Indian dart could defeat the Spanish spears and guns, and it could lead to the extinction of the large and ferocious beasts like mammoths. The disappearance of the mammoth behemoths was predestined the moment the dart emerged from the streams of history! The power within the dart exploded upon the black bear, like molten steel bringing high temperatures and pain to every corner of its body. Roar!!! The frenzied beastly roar brought everyone back to reality. Yes, the black bear was not dead, the damage only brought pain and greater rage, far from a fatal crisis. The fear of humans in black bears far exceeds that of humans towards them, so black bears usually stay away from humans, but if before it was merely driving them off, now it was a fight to the death! From the black bear¡¯s emergence thirty meters away, the distance between them was now less than twenty. The bear, enraged by pain, charged again, but it was met by a succession of darts. Bi Fang had prepared five darts, each with a flint stone tip. Flint stone is harder and sharper than bone, it could easily break through fur, embed into muscle and bone, blood flowed continuously from the ripped wounds, soaking the black hairs into a flat shape, each hit forcing the black bear to retreat. The black bear roared and charged, the spears flew at it time and again. This was a contest of speed and reaction, the more darts Bi Fang could throw, the greater the advantage he¡¯d have in the upcoming battle! At a distance of twenty meters, with Bi Fang¡¯s current abilities, aiming was unnecessary, his arms widened, chest expanded, back straightened, power flowed like water, like a classical javelin thrower at the sports meet. Dart after dart shot out, in one breath, turning the tables and suppressing the black bear¡¯s rapid attacks, preventing it from advancing an inch. When the five darts had all been thrown, the distance between them hadn¡¯t even closed to within ten meters. Dart after dart stuck in the black bear, making it look like a porcupine pierced through, blood streaming from the gashes. The darts in his hand had already been expended, with the first one hitting the face, causing the black bear¡¯s cheek to suffer a heavy blow, and the shoulder was next in line, with the remaining four darts all embedded in the black bear¡¯s body, firmly lodged and impossible to shake off. Summer was not the season for black bears to accumulate fat, and though it had woken from hibernation for a while, the layer of fat was not its weakest of the year, but it certainly couldn¡¯t compare to autumn¡¯s! The stone deeply embedded between the black bear¡¯s muscles and bones, it could no longer feel pain. Animals had much higher pain tolerance than humans, and when severely injured, they too would secrete hormones for pain relief. In the pitch-black pupils, no trace of blood could be seen, but the audience could clearly feel the madness contained within those beastly eyes. It seemed that upon realizing Bi Fang¡¯s darts had been used up, the black bear roared again, its saliva-covered fangs like hook, charging towards Bi Fang like a tank. Flee? The audience once again questioned internally. At this moment, with the black bear charging, covered in short spears, its blood flowing down its fur onto the ground, forming specks of blood mixed with dust, the heavily injured look not only did not lessen the fear of the viewers but added a touch of bloodthirstiness and horror! Bi Fang crouched low, pulling the spear out of the ground. Dirt flew along the shiny spine of the spear, the sharp blade cutting through the air, lifting a moon-like arc to face the charging black bear. With spear in hand, he started running. There was no retreating, no fleeing, only charging! Bi Fang, already poised for action, pushed off with all his might, leaving inches-deep footprints, moving like a galloping steed, like a swift arrow. To draw the bow without looking back. The viewers were astonished by Bi Fang¡¯s momentum, with the two commentators in the live stream having forgotten their roles, never having seen such a breathtaking scene. There really was someone, who dared to hold a spear, and charge towards one of the planet¡¯s fiercest predators! Had he gone mad or was he extremely arrogant? The fastest speed and the unreserved attacking momentum were keys to Bi Fang¡¯s fearlessness; a distance of ten meters, a mutual charge, all happening in the blink of an eye. Did he want to compete against a black bear in strength, was his brain broken? Bi Fang¡¯s brain wasn¡¯t broken, which is why, at the moment of imminent collision, he violently sidestepped and rolled, clutching the spear, his body rolling out two meters away under the force of inertia! Covered in dust, as Bi Fang brushed past the black bear, the behemoth was too late to turn around. The black bear ran fast and was flexible, but its flexibility was that of the wind, and its speed was for straight-line charges, its massive body brought greater inertia. In other words, it lacked maneuverability! Bi Fang quickly rose to his feet, his sharp spear piercing straight toward the rear flank of the black bear, the sturdy and separating steel blade effortlessly penetrating the bear¡¯s belly, cutting open a huge wound. Reeling from the pain, the black bear turned around, with Bi Fang rolling in the same direction, both moving in circles like Tai Chi. Gripping the spear shaft tightly, with the spear lodged in the bear¡¯s body, he leveraged this to support himself, continuously rotating his wrist step by step, resolutely aiming to deliver a blow that would destroy the black bear¡¯s internals, causing a fatal injury. Perhaps realizing its own folly, the black bear suddenly stood upright, swinging a paw back over its body. Under his beastly instinct, Bi Fang could clearly feel the huge paw of the bear whistling just less than a foot behind his back, and without looking, his intuition enabled him to sidestep in time; a claw grazing his back, seemingly having brushed his clothes. Hunters of the forbidden zone, travelers of the wilderness. Bi Fang was no longer the man who would fight tooth and nail at the sight of a black bear as he had been at the beginning. He was a hunter, an extraordinary hunter. His sense of smell could rival that of a wolf, his hunting instinct equal to a tiger¡¯s, even able to use the moisture in the air to sense the opponent¡¯s movements a step ahead! Wolves King¡¯s Sense of Smell, Beastly Instinct, Biological Sensing. These were the rewards from one adventure after another, from the first live broadcast encounter with a black bear to the arrival of the hunting season, completing the transition from defense to offense. In terms of experience and skill, Bi Fang was a master class hunter. Physically and by talent, Bi Fang was equally world-class. Out of thirty-five hunters, no one was stronger or more uniquely gifted than him! The audience was dumbfounded, observing from a godlike perspective, they saw Bi Fang repeatedly heading into danger, yet time and again escaping perfectly. He was like a dancer on the blade¡¯s edge; this was not a battle, it was a tiger hunting a gazelle, the hunt of the strong upon the weak! Bi Fang dodged the bear¡¯s paw, suddenly withdrawing his spear, his arm whirling, the pole with a tearing sound, striking precisely and forcefully on the bear¡¯s snout, the bear crying out with a wheezing roar in agony. Struck by five darts, with Flint Stone remaining embedded in its muscles and bones, the black bear had already been gravely wounded. Bi Fang did not continue his attack, instead, he swiftly retreated. Chapter 537 - Chapter 537: Chapter 534 Primal Hunting! Chapter 537: Chapter 534 Primal Hunting! Bi Fang slowly exhaled. The Black Bear lay on the ground, its pupils tightly fixed on Bi Fang, the last moment of calm also hiding the fiercest offensive. Bi Fang understood this, much like the quiet before the wolves pounced on the deer coming to drink water, both sides often quietly gazing at each other. In layman¡¯s terms, it¡¯s a cornered beast still fighting. With six holes in its body, one reaching its organs and five nearly reaching the bone, if it were the food-scarce winter or even autumn, then the Black Bear would already be in a fatal situation. At this time, Bi Fang should have turned around and fled. Even in the food-rich spring and summer, the Black Bear would likely die from an infected wound. Bi Fang kept taking deep breaths, increasing the oxygen in his blood, and strived to push his response time to its peak. From the charge to the brief separation, he had been holding his breath, and now the sudden calm made him feel somewhat dizzy. The temporary pause in the attack also allowed the audience to catch their breath, and the sudden realization of oxygen deprivation hit millions of viewers. It turned out that they had been holding their breath the whole time. Glancing at the upper left corner, the popularity value had already doubled. In just a few minutes, Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast room experienced a massive surge in traffic. The staff at Wolf Fang were already accustomed to this and expertly managed the servers to ensure that not a single user felt any lag. Gang Tianwu from Japan smiled so widely he almost burst out laughing, but upon realizing what was happening, he was overcome with deep concern. Bi Fang¡¯s performance was simply too outrageous; how could he dare to engage in such direct combat with a bear? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï By noon the next day, Bi Fang was no longer the second Hunter to track the Black Bear, but he was definitely the Hunter who had brought the greatest shock to the hunt. Traps, ranged attacks, hit and run, draining stamina, and the final blow, without exception, the Spear had been the last resort. Afterwards, upon encountering the Black Bear, Bi Fang actually went straight for it. His Spear and blade were not his last line of defense but the bayonet of his charge! Turning to look at other staff members, their eyes were already devoid of expression, murmuring to themselves. ¡°So amazing.¡± ¡°Really so amazing.¡± ¡°Is this something humans can do?¡± In the picture, Bi Fang stood in the sunlight, his face slightly flushed. Not only that, almost all of his exposed skin turned pink, as if he were intoxicated. His blood raced through veins and capillaries at a tremendous speed to transport the oxygen and provide power to his body. This usually only happened after intense exercise, yet now it had manifested within a few minutes of the confrontation. This indicated just how intense the short conflict was. Sweat poured out from every pore on his body, his shirt was completely soaked through with brown earth, Bi Fang resembled someone who had just run a marathon on the track field, but there was a sense of intoxicating gratification. Every cell awakened, excitedly squeezing out strength. Bi Fang slightly stretched his chest, allowing the sweat to gather into streams along the grooves of his muscles. The sweat-soaked back and the pronounced muscles of his arms tightly gripped the Spear; each line contracted and relaxed, possessing astonishing power. The Black Bear¡¯s mouth and nose were bleeding, it was shocked by the strength of the creature before it. In its memory, it had no natural predators, but now it faced an unimaginable scene. The two stood in silence. In the brief lull, the viewers who had been holding back could finally speak. [Fuck, I¡¯m so nervous] [Old Fang is too brave, there¡¯s no need to push it so hard¡­ I¡¯m scared] [I¡¯m already on oxygen at the hospital, it¡¯s too thrilling, my little heart can¡¯t take it] [I¡¯ve already had my roommate watch CPR videos, just in case I suddenly have a stroke one day.] [A chubby who might eventually get abs is sending the streamer yachts*10¨CBro is really strong, this Black Bear is even heavier than me] [A light boat has traveled over a myriad of mountains is sending the streamer a Spaceship*1¨CIt¡¯s so exhilarating, my nose bleeds.] What seemed like a safe confrontation was actually fraught with lethal danger. The Black Bear had countless opportunities to fail, but Bi Fang had only one. An adult male Black Bear of one meter six in height, weighing over three hundred pounds! A swipe of its paw could almost certainly snap a tree trunk less than six centimeters in diameter. Sweat flowed and pooled. Blood spilled and formed puddles. Bi Fang slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, held the Spear across his front, tensed all the muscles of his body, and concentrated his strength at one point. The roaring of the Black Bear echoed through the forest, startling the birds into flight. Bi Fang gripped the Spear tightly and charged forward. In an instant, something long missing returned once again. Life flowed back into his body, his vigor surging, his presence mighty like a dragon. The Spear itself screamed, not with a metallic resonance but a sharp shriek that pierced the air, as if it could puncture one¡¯s eardrums. Man and bear, large and small, black and white. Two figures full of power and deterrence collided, spreading the smell of blood throughout the woods, detectable from far away. This was the struggle of wild beasts. Bi Fang surrendered everything to instinct; all attacks seemed to miss him, while each of his thrusts, as if guided by fate, struck the Black Bear. Steel cut through flesh, popping blood beads. The Black Bear ultimately was not as intelligent as humans. Its hesitation and standoffishness turned into blood flowing out. The more it waited, the weaker and more sluggish its power became. What it thought was a halftime break, a brief standoff, was actually the hunter draining the prey¡¯s spirit. The flint stone shards lodged between muscle and bone, like screwdrivers jamming gears, made the machine operate with increasing difficulty, moving slower and slower. A bloody storm shrouded the sky. Miles and miles away, millions of viewers held their breath once more, silently waiting for the outcome of the slaughter. No one had ever challenged a black bear with primitive tools before. Perhaps there had been, but never displayed to the public in a live broadcast like today. Man versus Black Bear, spear against claws. It was like a miracle. It was the way for modern humans to peer into primitive society¡¯s hunting ¡ª no, stronger than that. Even the warriors among the primitive humans, the strong ones, couldn¡¯t hunt as precisely as Bi Fang, harvesting prey, maintaining a calm like a finely-tuned clockwork. He could accurately predict every move of the bear, scrutinize every vulnerability with precision, like a time traveler who had seen the future. Rolling on the ground again and again, thrusting the spear time after time ¡ª every creature has its weakness, and the black bear was no exception. Limited mobility was the key to victory. Bi Fang and the black bear, like two dancers performing a face-to-face dance. Unfortunately, the two dancers were not friendly. One with sharp fangs and claws, the other holding a blade. With each closeness, instead of flowers and cheers, they splattered copious amounts of blood and flesh. Time passed, unmeasured, as if breathing had stopped. The fight seemed eternal, like a millennium had passed. Yet it also seemed brief, as if everything happened in an instant. The spear pierced accurately through the heart from the original wound. The massive black figure fell, the body weighing over three hundred pounds hit the ground, unable to stir any dust, for all the dust was shrouded by blood, sticking to the ground, turning into a blood swamp. As the rubber soles lifted from the ground, they left a bloody footprint, Bi Fang pulled out the slippery spear, and with one kick, he sent a short spear embedded in the black bear¡¯s body deep inside, puncturing its organs, but by then, the bear could no longer move. Bi Fang stood in the sunlight with his chest heaving violently; his hair, soaked with sweat, clung to his face; sweat from his palms dripped slowly down the spear, splatting onto his feet. Someone shivered. Bi Fang ran his hand through his hair, pushing it back, smearing it with a blood-red pattern, looking like a demon that had climbed out of the blood rivers of Hell. At some point, his hands were also covered in blood. Bear¡¯s blood. His shirt had torn, exposing his bare back. The mix of sweat and blood spread over his clearly defined back muscles, like rivers of blood shining in the sunlight, seemingly flowing, as if they wanted to break free from the skin and wash over the earth. Blood droplets from the tips of his hair fell, blooming a blood flower on the ground. ¡°Huff~~¡± Bi Fang exhaled deeply. Aside from training, it had been a long time since he felt this exhausted. Faint steam rose from his body, every muscle groaning as if they were a race car that needed to rest after a frantic race, the engine still radiating intense heat. With that breath, the viewers unconsciously relaxed their tense nerves, then felt something absurd. A black bear over 1.6 meters long and weighing more than 300 pounds, just like that, gone? Was it not ridiculous, unbelievable? A human miracle? A human miracle indeed! Unlike any group hunt, long-range attack, or close-quarters finishing move, a real one-on-one, close-range spear hunt of an adult male black bear! His experience far exceeded that of the other thirty-four hunters. Strength, technique, he surpassed them all, and even the method he used to take down the bear was simpler, more brutal, and more heart-stopping! No matter who the ultimate winner was, Bi Fang had already left a mark no one could ignore. One hundred kilometers away, within a trap, two Y¨­ki Hunters cheered as they watched a bear pierced by a short spear, with two drones circling close for the footage. Waiting for the viewers¡¯ compliments and astonishment, the Y¨­ki Hunters waited half a day, but the barrage of comments was sparse, and the few that remained even directed the watching viewers to Bi Fang¡¯s personal live stream. What was going on? Not just the two Y¨­ki Hunters. Ugly Country¡¯s trio had hunted their second black bear only to find, unexpectedly, that hardly any viewers were watching this time too! In Japan¡¯s official live stream room, countless viewers flocked to Bi Fang¡¯s stream. Gang Tianwu had intended to use the videos of other hunters to divert the viewers from Bi Fang, but the current situation made it impossible for him to continue giving orders. He had to reluctantly switch all other channels to Bi Fang¡¯s viewpoint; only by doing so could they retain the viewers. With the support of Japan¡¯s domestic audience, coupled with viewers from all over the world, the number of viewers in Bi Fang¡¯s live room reached a new peak. Sixteen million! Yes, it had multiplied several times over! Several Japanese TV stations broadcasted the event, contributing nearly ten million viewers from Japan, an opportunity rarely seen. If this hunting season were not taking place in Japan, Bi Fang would never have attracted so many Japanese viewers. Even one-tenth would have been very good. And Huaxia, along with the rest of the world, also contributed nearly eight million viewers, bringing the viewership in Bi Fang¡¯s live room to an unprecedented number! Chapter 538 - Chapter 538: Chapter 535: Can One Have Both the Fish and the Bears Paw? Chapter 538: Chapter 535: Can One Have Both the Fish and the Bear¡¯s Paw? The sunlight pierced through the forest canopy to the clearing, where the blood on the ground emitted a faint white smoke as the moisture within was rapidly evaporated by the intense heat. The blood on the ground was so thick and sticky it was like glue, making a tacky noise as shoes tread upon it. While other hunters were puzzled about why they weren¡¯t welcomed, Bi Fang¡¯s live streaming room was already bursting at the seams. [Wild Zhao Xin has just soloed a bear!] [I¡¯m willing to call Bi Fang the Silver Spear Martial God!] [The new era bear-fighting hero!] [I want to send a hundred rockets!!!] [Where did Wolf Fang get the rockets?] [Right, that¡¯s why I can¡¯t send any, it¡¯s the thought that counts, but I¡¯m strapped.] [Lord Mu has sent the streamer *100 Spaceships¡ªThe same model of Bi Fang stepping on a Black Bear plush toy is already in the works, with pre-orders expected in the next two days.] [Holy shit, you profiteer @Lord Mu!!] A 1.6-meter-long Black Bear lay splayed out on the ground, its limbs extended, making it appear even larger overall. Bi Fang circled the Black Bear, admiring his handiwork. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï After a year of growth, he had become strong enough to take on a Black Bear alone. It was the Wilderness Survival version of ¡°Thirty Years a Decade East of the River, Thirty Years a Decade West of the River.¡± Of course, this Black Bear wasn¡¯t comparable to the one Bi Fang had encountered in his first live stream, whether in stature or season¡ªthere was a significant difference in its combat power. ¡°The first live stream was around autumn, during the season when bears bulk up for the winter, with a thicker layer of fat that made piercing attacks far less effective than now, and its size was much larger than this one, even beyond the size of a normal Black Bear, a very rare type,¡± Bi Fang reflected, nostalgia lacing his words. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t fought for my life back then, you probably wouldn¡¯t be able to watch my streams now. Of course, I can¡¯t seek revenge now anyway, since that was in Huaxia where the Black Bears are protected.¡± [Hahaha, let the past be the past.] [Speaking of which, I suddenly get the feeling that Old Fang has grown up. Am I imagining things?] [I have the same impression, it feels like Old Fang¡¯s physique is getting better and better, slurp slurp.] [Scared, the Black Bears break into the Forestry Bureau at night to hug the animal protection handbook and study it daily.] Could I beat that Black Bear now? Bi Fang asked himself. It¡¯s probably a 70¨C30 chance. Well-prepared, the enemy is as good as dead. If caught off-guard, there would be a significant risk, but it would be far less perilous than before. How time flies! Whether it¡¯s experience, skills, or physical fitness, Bi Fang could easily outclass his former self¡ªit¡¯s like attacking from a higher dimension. Looking back now, it all seems like a dream. Away from the blood puddle, the Spear stood upright in the soil; Bi Fang crouched on the ground, not paying attention to the noise and tips in the live streaming room, but reaching out to touch the Black Bear¡¯s fur. The screed filled with barrages of comments and tipping notifications, impossible to see the streaming content without turning them off, and occasionally, a golden banner would float across the screen, indicating someone had subscribed to Emperor status, worth a hundred thousand for a month. Bi Fang didn¡¯t care about these things anymore; to him, they were just numbers now. With his fame and status, earning money had become a very simple process; choosing any endorsement meant over one hundred million in income for the current Bi Fang. Over ten million people were watching the live stream; a single yuan from each meant that Bi Fang¡¯s tips would exceed ten million. For a less popular streamer, that might be the goal of a lifetime career. An ordinary live stream couldn¡¯t achieve a one-to-one tipping ratio. A real ratio of one-tenth would be good, but Bi Fang¡¯s performance greatly increased this ratio. Almost everyone who saw Bi Fang hunting the Black Bear couldn¡¯t contain their excitement and gave away all the fish balls they had saved. There was nothing Bi Fang liked that he couldn¡¯t afford anymore¡ª cars, houses, places he wanted to go, lifestyle, he had everything. Is this what financial freedom feels like? Not bad at all. Even going to space, he could buy a ticket with money. It is said that a commercial rocket is nearing the end of its development and a single ticket costs forty-five million Ugly Gold. The black bear weighed over 300 jin (approx. 150 kg), which isn¡¯t a big issue for groups of several hunters to transport as strong hunters could each carry 100 jin (approx. 50 kg). However, this was much less friendly for solo hunters. Therefore, before filming began, the production team prepared a locator for each hunter. In case of an emergency or when they hunted a black bear and needed to move the carcass, a helicopter would be dispatched for retrieval. ¡°I¡¯m not sure how fast they act, so I haven¡¯t pressed the locator yet. Let¡¯s take this time to cut off the bear¡¯s paw.¡± Bi Fang took out the harpoon, aimed at the first joint of the black bear¡¯s foot, and stabbed viciously into it. The scene was somewhat gory, especially the dismemberment of large prey¡ªthe whitish fascia, the orangish fat, the bloody muscles¡ªit made watchers dizzy, but nobody wanted to miss it. This was a black bear, after all! Apart from in zoos, when had one ever seen a wild black bear? Not to speak of such a bloody and violent scene. The harpoon pierced into the joint, slowly slicing through the thick white fascia and firm muscle, and blood flowed out again along Bi Fang¡¯s fingers. ¡°I feel like I¡¯m cutting through one, oh no, ten layers of old cowhide leather stacked together. These joints are really tough and very resilient.¡± Bi Fang found it tough to cut, and he was already somewhat exhausted from hunting the black bear. Now he was panting from the effort. ¡°See? Just the joint alone is so tough, so if you¡¯re hunting large creatures, don¡¯t use cutting weapons. You must use piercing weapons that apply more pressure, and the blade won¡¯t easily get stuck in fascia, bones, and such.¡± ¡°Especially against large predators; even a horse-slaying saber wouldn¡¯t be very effective. It¡¯s likely to get stuck in the muscles and fat, to say nothing of ordinary blades.¡± [Then why can a horse-slaying saber chop off a horse¡¯s head?] [Yeah, I¡¯ve seen a horse-slaying saber in a museum, they¡¯re huge and seem really sharp] ¡°It¡¯s different. The horse¡¯s head chopped by a horse-slaying saber is long and slender, without much fascia or a thick layer of fat. Its defensive strength isn¡¯t high, but other large animals don¡¯t give you such easy conditions for chopping; they all have means to protect their vitals.¡± ¡°Either they have a thick layer of fur and fat, or they have strong muscles. At the most basic level, they don¡¯t have the long, exposed neck like a horse.¡± Bi Fang briefly explained to clear the viewer¡¯s confusion. ¡°Even so, our attack targets shouldn¡¯t be on the limbs because the fascia and bones are most abundant here and can easily get stuck. We should aim to stab as much as possible at the lower abdomen, the flank, and the throat to attack its organs.¡± ¡°When a wild beast approaches and you don¡¯t have time to retract the spear, you can also use the shaft of the spear or a short stick to hit the animal¡¯s nostrils and eyes to force it back. However, this requires very strong mental and reactive capabilities.¡± ¡°Ordinary people who haven¡¯t been battle-tested would find it hard to achieve this and would only launch haphazard counterattacks.¡± Bi Fang turned his wrist and with a strong pull of the harpoon, he cut the last bit of fascia and removed the bear¡¯s paw. He weighed it in his hand; the paw was even bigger than his head. ¡°Goodness, it¡¯s heavy. This bear paw probably weighs around ten jin (approx. 5 kg). Take a guess, how much do you think this paw is worth?¡± asked Bi Fang with a smile. [Goodness, how would I know? Whoever eats this is asking for a prison sentence.] [Is Old Fang fishing for answers?] ¡°Hahaha, I don¡¯t mean it that way,¡± said Bi Fang as he drained the blood from the bear¡¯s paw, wrapped it in a torn shirt, and stuffed it into his backpack. ¡°In some places, hunters with hunting licenses can legally hunt bear species each year, but it¡¯s usually brown bears or black bears.¡± ¡°However, there¡¯s a quota restriction and also high taxes to pay, which vary from place to place; but a bear fetches at least several tens of thousands. Hunters can sell their game, so sometimes, at some wilderness restaurants, you can find bear meat, although it¡¯s very expensive.¡± ¡°Like this paw that I¡¯m holding, it¡¯s worth at least one to one and a half thousand yuan per jin (approx. 500 to 750 yuan per kilogram), so in my hand is more than ten thousand yuan worth.¡± ¡°And if it¡¯s from a black bear¡¯s dominant hand, for example, the right hand of a right-handed black bear, it might be even more expensive. More frequent use makes the meat juicier and the price could go over two thousand yuan per jin.¡± ¡°This is just the price for a regular bear. If it¡¯s a rare large black bear or brown bear, the price is limitless, and it¡¯s auction-level.¡± The audience was astounded by Bi Fang¡¯s explanation. That¡¯s incredibly pricey. And that¡¯s just for the bear species with relatively abundant worldwide numbers that could be legally hunted in designated areas and times. What about other, rarer, fully protected animals? The potential profit is unimaginable. No wonder poachers are so drawn to wild animals, risking legal consequences. Huge profits drive people mad. During the fight, Bi Fang noticed that this black bear was left-handed, so he only took the left paw and left the rest. After all, he was just satisfying his curiosity. He stood up, walked between the trees, and pressed the locator, waiting for staff to remove the black bear. Chapter 539 - Chapter 539: Chapter 536: Truly a Hero Chapter 539: Chapter 536: Truly a Hero Bi Fang stood on one leg atop the bear carcass, pulled out two darts that hadn¡¯t been shaken off, flung away some bits of flesh and blood that clung to them, and upon inspection, noticed the flint stone at the top of the darts had broken off significantly. Flint Stone is hard and sharp, but it lacks toughness. It easily breaches defenses, but when it collides with bone, it¡¯s liable to cause mutual destruction, resulting in both shattering. However, that doesn¡¯t matter, it can still be used after replacing it. Due to volcanic mountain ranges and the geological background, Taiji Town has an unexpected abundance of Flint Stone, which is easily found. After pressing the locator, the Japanese side responded quickly, and in less than ten minutes, the sound of a helicopter could be heard. Outside the forest, a helicopter painted with the words ¡°Security Team¡± roared into life, its huge rotor blades stirring up a whirlwind that caused the nearby leaves to rustle loudly. Snakes, insects, rodents, and ants scurried away in retreat. It just so happened that this hunting expedition was related to the Security Team; thus, the task of transporting the Black Bear was also undertaken by them. The personnel in the helicopter glanced down and couldn¡¯t help but swallow their saliva. In a surprisingly large clearing among the sparse trees, a young man who appeared unexpectedly young was sitting on a rock, wiping a blood-stained white cloth back and forth across a gleaming silver Spear. The Spear rotated slightly, reflecting the sunlight, creating a bright spot that dazzled onlookers. At the young man¡¯s feet lay an incredibly large Black Bear, with a pool of blood underneath. When leaves drifted onto it, they were stuck, unable to move. With a body length of 1.6 meters¡ªwhich doesn¡¯t sound particularly tall compared to an adult male¡ªit¡¯s only the length from head to torso, essentially not counting an adult male¡¯s legs. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Should it stand upright, this Black Bear¡¯s height would undoubtedly surpass two meters. Just imagine, a Black Bear, taller than you by a whole head, towering over and gazing down at you, exhaling a fierce, bloody breath that ripples across your face. What kind of feeling would that be? Especially considering it could slap your head to smithereens with a single paw¡ªunder its massive force, a human skull is no different than smashing a watermelon. And that is precisely why, at this moment, with the Black Bear sprawling on all fours, lying on the ground, one can truly sense the shock it imparts. A fully spread Black Bear resembled a fallen giant creature, with large pools of blood beneath it, which slowly flowed towards lower terrain and split around rocks on both sides. To those in the helicopter, it seemed as if the blood was parting like a stream around the young man, as if avoiding him. Blood, forest, fallen leaves, the dark green of the forest. The wind grew stronger; the howling within the forest rose and fell in peaks. Everyone seemed to witness a sacred sacrifice, with people in beast hides dancing around a bonfire, singing and chanting. Above the bonfire hung a massive Black Bear, becoming a pile of char under the intense flames, as people offered it to the spirits, celebrating a grand festival. Ancient and mystical. The newcomers shuddered before refocusing their gaze; the forest remained unchanged, everything was as it had been. Perhaps it was their late night causing hallucinations, they thought, bewildered. They stood up, opened the hatch, and kicked down the rope ladder. The entire inspection process was very swift. Three personnel climbed down from the helicopter, but upon entering the jungle, they were greeted with an overpowering smell of blood that whitened their sight. The three exchanged glances, shocked, but they hadn¡¯t forgotten their purpose. They split up: one quickly measured the Black Bear¡¯s body length, another tied the Black Bear with ropes to be hauled away beneath the helicopter, and the third person held a form, apparently registering something. The whole process took less than ten minutes. As for the absence of one bear paw, the three had no comments, obviously accepting this circumstance. After stowing the measuring tape, one worker called out, ¡°163 centimeters.¡± One meter sixty-three! That¡¯s a rare large size among Black Bears. The person holding the form immediately began to register. Bi Fang stowed his Spear and approached the recorder, whose form was filled with various items. Skin damage level: Intact, slight damage, moderate damage, severe damage, no fur. Body integrity level: Intact, slightly injured, moderately injured, severely injured, shattered. Limb integrity level: Intact¡­ At the very top of these items was a table corresponding to the items for deducting and adding points, with the recorder checking off each item on the form. Clearly, there was a strict scoring system in place, ensuring fairness before all spectators. This also relieved the audience, as the Japanese were known for their shortage of judges, resulting in many blind people serving as referees, a well-known fact. Upon completing the tally, the worker tipped their cap and handed the form to Bi Fang, ¡°The total score is 10.2 points, Mr. Bi can take a look to see if there are any issues.¡± Bi Fang scanned the form briefly, shook his head, and indicated there were no problems. Although the body length was significantly over the standard one meter fifty, Bi Fang had not only taken a piece of bear paw, but one limb was also missing, and due to the damage from the darts and Spear, there was significant fur damage¡ª10.2 points was within his expectations. After confirming everything was in order, the three of them flipped the bound black bear onto its back, placed it on a thick cloth resembling a stretcher, and one of them climbed up the rope ladder, attaching it to the helicopter above. Once ready, the helicopter in midair began to ascend, eventually taking the black bear away from the forest. Bi Fang watched the helicopter depart and turned back to the live-streaming camera, ¡°Do we have a ranking with scores now? If there are scores, can you check where I¡¯m ranked?¡± [First place!] As expected. Bi Fang didn¡¯t feel surprised. It goes without saying for the teams; even with good luck, encountering more than two black bears on the second day was possible, but there was an objective score reduction due to being in a group. For solo hunters, there was no reduction, but the fewer the people, the more reliant they were on various ¡°deadly traps¡± to contain the black bear, which made it easier for accidents to happen, thus requiring more preparation and a longer setup time. The bigger the game that a trap was designed to capture, the more difficult it was to make, Rockfalls, heavy traps, log traps, sharp blades, pitfalls, bows and arrows¡ªBi Fang didn¡¯t know how many others knew, but these traps he was aware of were mighty powerful and simultaneously more troublesome to set up. A quality large trap, if made by a single person, would take at least a few hours. For someone like Bi Fang to boldly charge at a bear with just a few darts and two or three spears, and the most outrageous part was actually succeeding; others couldn¡¯t even dare to think of it. It was no wonder other hunters were left in a state of disbelief at such an outrageous feat. Even if your traps were ingeniously laid and your hunting methods brilliant, they still wouldn¡¯t have the shocking impact of Bi Fang¡¯s direct charge! The two were like an art film versus a blockbuster; no matter how deep or impressive the message, once the flashy special effects came out, normal people would be drawn to it, and the box office would not be on the same level. Moreover, whether what you made was actually an art film is another matter. Having sent off the black bear, Bi Fang had no intention to stay longer: ¡°I plan to go back to the town to recuperate for a day, and by the way, see if I can find a good restaurant to have the bear paw cooked.¡± After all, opportunities were rare, and this might be his first and only chance to try it in his life; Bi Fang didn¡¯t want to just roast it simply but hoped to find a skilled chef to prepare it. In the afternoon, the residents of Taiji Town witnessed a bizarre scene: a bare-chested man, covered in blood, carrying three spears, one steel and two wooden, with a backpack hanging on one of the camphor wood spears, sliding down from the mountain all the way to the road, where he stepped on a stone and leaped onto the main street. The smell of sweat mixed with blood wasn¡¯t pleasant, especially after being fermented by the heat, causing passersby to frown, and even some were hesitant about whether they should call the police. Bi Fang looked terrifying, like a maniacal serial killer who had been hiding in the forest for a long time and suddenly ran out. Speaking of which, there seemed to have been a guard team¡¯s helicopter entering the forest just earlier, weren¡¯t they looking for this person? ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Who is that?¡± ¡°Is that blood on him? So scary.¡± ¡°Oh, oh my! That¡¯s a hunter participating in the bear hunting season! Seems like he had a fruitful hunt?¡± ¡°Bear hunting season? What¡¯s that, I¡¯ve never heard of it before?¡± ¡°Madam, do you never go online?¡± ¡°Who are you calling ¡®madam¡¯? The young people these days really have no manners!¡± Whispers arose among the pedestrians as Bi Fang walked by, and even some people leaned out of their windows to catch the commotion, taking out their phones to take pictures and record videos. The viewers in front of their screens laughed heartily at this scene. [They¡¯re all stunned] [It feels like the villagers after Wu Song fought the tiger] [Master Fang is awesome!] [Goodbye, Minasan, I¡¯m off to buy stuffed toys from that unscrupulous businessman Yao Jun, boo hoo] Bi Fang didn¡¯t rush to dine as it was still early: ¡°This is where I¡¯ll sign off for now; it¡¯s too hot, and I need to find a bathhouse to take a bath. I¡¯ll stream again tonight when I¡¯m eating the bear paw, alright, this is it for these few days.¡± Ignoring the wails of his viewers, Bi Fang turned off the live stream and, amid the astonished gazes of the onlookers, ran towards a certain bathhouse in Taiji Town. Don¡¯t ask how he knew the place so well, it¡¯s called looking at the map. When Bi Fang entered the bathhouse covered in blood, he almost alarmed the staff to the point of calling the police on the spot, but fortunately, a waiter recognized him. Obviously, the waiter had been slacking off during work hours and knew about Bi Fang¡¯s hunting exploits from a few hours earlier. The waiter stood in the lobby, passionately recounting the scene he had witnessed at noon, leaving everyone around him shocked and in disbelief, completely oblivious to the increasingly dark expression on the face of his boss standing behind him. But when Bi Fang looked over, the boss immediately put on a bright smile, lavishing praise on Bi Fang as a once-in-a-century warrior who, if he had lived in ancient times, would certainly have been recorded in history as a valiant hero. The boss generously declared that all of Bi Fang¡¯s expenses for the day would be on the house, resulting in cheers from the other customers as well, praising the boss as a hero, even though it was not they who were getting a free pass. It seems heroes don¡¯t cost much after all. Bi Fang thought to himself. Chapter 540 - Chapter 540: Chapter 537: Is Bears Paw Really Delicious? Chapter 540: Chapter 537: Is Bear¡¯s Paw Really Delicious? The night fell, and Bi Fang turned on his live stream. An eager audience swarmed to join. You can¡¯t have your cake and eat it too, a common sense that everyone understands from an early age, and everyone wanted to see what bear paw tasted like. [Waiting for Boss Fang to review the bear paw] [I really want to try it] [Old Fang¡¯s food is getting more high-end] Bi Fang wandered through Taiji Town like a regular tourist, following the path to a small, yet exceedingly popular restaurant. He didn¡¯t seek out a fancy restaurant, but instead followed the bathhouse owner¡¯s recommendation to a small eatery with a great reputation among the locals. The restaurant was full, buzzing with conversation. At the center¡¯s largest table, a few slightly corpulent diners called over a big group of people, with light green tokkuri bottles and ochoko cups covering the table¡ªa common combination for drinking sake and Japan¡¯s most frequently used sake ware. The tokkuri, with its wide body and narrow mouth, resembles a small vase. It¡¯s said that the shape of the tokkuri comes from ancient vessels used to offer liquor to deities, and since the Edo period, drinking from small tokkuri bottles of about 1-2 go became fashionable and has remained popular ever since. Everyone¡¯s cheeks were flushed, tipsy from the alcohol. The waitress with the ponytail watched everything with a smile, ready to serve each customer, and her eyes lit up instantly when she saw Bi Fang walk in through the cotton curtain. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã0 ¡°Mr. Bi, you¡¯re right on time.¡± Bi Fang smiled and said, ¡°If I¡¯m not on time, what if the flavor of the ingredients changes? Many things aren¡¯t tasty once they get cold.¡± The waitress smiled slightly: ¡°Our chef was quite surprised when the ingredients arrived; he said he¡¯d never dealt with this before. Since cooking bear paw takes a lot of time, Bi Fang decided to deliver it to the restaurant in the afternoon and paid a hefty processing fee for it. Having money to earn, although the chef had never cooked bear paw before and felt the task was daunting, he took up the challenge. Bi Fang generously mentioned not to worry too much, just treat it like a thick piece of fatty pork. Those with rich experience in cooking bear paws on Earth were either in the Polar Bear region, behind bars, or so old they had lost all their teeth. The expectations couldn¡¯t be too high, or nobody would dare to try cooking it. The waitress led Bi Fang through the hall to a small private room separated by cotton curtains, confirmed the dishes could be served now, and then stepped back out. The audience was watching in anticipation. A bear paw could be turned into many dishes, and everyone wanted to know what it tasted like. Bi Fang had never imagined that one day he would be eating such a deluxe ingredient. [I want to try it too] [Try it? Try it and go to jail] [Darn it, he¡¯s showing off again] While waiting for the delicious dishes to arrive, Bi Fang also took the time to chat with his audience in the private room. ¡°Before hunting, I mentioned that bears are like humans in that they walk with their whole heel touching the ground, which allows them to support their weight and walk forward.¡± ¡°This is quite different from the walking style of other animals, since horses, sheep, and such hoof-walking animals do not touch the ground with the palm of their extremities, but walk on their ¡®nails¡¯, while cats and dogs have a digitigrade walking style.¡± ¡°From this perspective, humans have a more advanced way of walking than other animals. Six million years ago, Australopithecus gradually descended from the trees to live on the ground and slowly learned to walk upright.¡± ¡°In the course of evolution, humans gradually developed an arch in the foot, which prevents excessive fatigue during long treks.¡± ¡°Bears also evolved toward being omnivorous, as they can eat both meat and plants. Because they often need to travel long distances in search of food, they retained their five toes and a plantigrade way of walking, which makes walking very efficient.¡± Bi Fang used chopsticks dipped in water to draw a simple bear paw on the table. ¡°However, bears did not evolve a human-like arch, so every bear has flat feet; yet this does not affect their speed. Bears in the wild can run as fast as 40 kilometers per hour.¡± ¡°Bears can also walk efficiently on two legs, for instance, when they spot a beehive high up, they will stand on two feet to reach the food.¡± ¡°Because they need to trek for a long time in search of various foods, bears have gradually developed thick pads on their paws and accumulated a lot of fat and connective tissue, which is why many ancients coveted bear paws.¡± Bi Fang brought the discussion full circle. Fat has always been the best part of meat in history, like fish maw, marbled beef, and fatty lamb. It is only where there¡¯s fat that the meat doesn¡¯t feel too dry, as if you¡¯re chewing wax. Lean meat chews like bark residue; it is the fatty meat that has the true taste of eating meat. Especially in ancient times when oil was scarce, fatty meat seemed particularly luscious in the eyes of laborers and commoners. Of course, people who could afford bear paws in ancient times did not face a lack of oils, which indicates that bear paws themselves must have their own unique deliciousness to have made it onto the menu of magnificent Manchu Han Imperial Feasts. ¡°Compared to the hind paw, bear¡¯s front paws are powerful weapons and formidable tools. Like tigers, bears can use paw strikes, standing up to swipe and grab in fights or hunting, their front limbs are incredibly strong.¡± ¡°Many bears rely on the strength of their front paws when fishing, digging potatoes, and sweet potatoes.¡± Chewing on his chopsticks, Bi Fang felt quite expectant as well. Bears are essentially a highly successful evolutionary species, with the combat power of Brown Bears even capable of contending with large felines like the Siberian tiger. They possess very broad shoulder blades, and their humerus, ulna, and radius are all exceptionally thick, able to withstand impact and tearing¡ªand the muscle mass on their body is very considerable, reaching about 80%. The shoulders, waist, and limbs are basically covered with thick muscles. Only someone extraordinary like myself could manage a one-on-one duel; for ordinary Hunters, it¡¯s almost always a life-and-death struggle. Having said all this, a strong scent of sauce suddenly wafted over, and Bi Fang slightly tilted his head back as a large plate was the first to push through the cotton curtains. A multi-tiered wooden tray was filled with steaming chunks of meat. The server placed them one by one in front of Bi Fang¡¯s table, Teriyaki, stew, charcoal grill, tempura, spicy, steamed¡ªfully six styles of dishes. It must be said that Japanese cuisine has many similarities with the culinary system of China. [I don¡¯t quite agree without sashimi (Dog¡¯s head)] [Hungry] [Dinner time!] Bi Fang unwrapped his chopsticks and first dug into the teriyaki. As an expert in Wilderness Survivalist and hunting, Bi Fang was somewhat unfamiliar with cooking. Living in the wilderness, he mostly mastered only boiling and grilling, and, at most, he could toss on a handful of salt¡ªgetting his hands on condiments with richer layers, such as fermented sauces, was out of the question. The chopsticks easily penetrated the meat, and with a gentle tug, the meat strands separated clearly; the meat was cooked very tender, looking very translucent, somewhat like a variant of braised pork. Bi Fang felt that teriyaki and braised both tasted similar, both sweet and salty. Picked up with his chopsticks, the meat quivered like jelly; as soon as he put it into his mouth, it melted instantly, yet unexpectedly carried a stern toughness, but what followed was a very strong gamey taste¡­ ¡°Cough cough,¡± Bi Fang suppressed the urge to spit it out and coughed twice, only swallowing after taking a sip of water. On the barrage, a large crowd was still asking what the taste was really like. Bi Fang wiped his mouth and, after pondering for a moment, said, ¡°The flavor is not bad, but it¡¯s not delicious¡­¡± The audience slowly typed a question mark. Bi Fang organized his language, ¡°The sauce is alright, but the meat itself is gamey and greasy, and very oily.¡± Fat is good, but it¡¯s a bit too greasy, like eating a chunk of pure fat. At this, a commotion ensued. Many viewers weren¡¯t buying it. [Old Fang, you¡¯re not deceiving us, are you?] [Was what Mencius said about the fish and the bear¡¯s paw not being obtainable at the same time false?] The barrage was dense, and suddenly, a long message caught everyone¡¯s attention. Real or not, the professionalism alone was impressive. [Indeed, it¡¯s not delicious. Freshly cut bear paws shouldn¡¯t be eaten immediately; you have to wait until the second year when they are completely dried out before they can be stewed. Moreover, freshly cut bear paws cannot be exposed to water; you need to wipe the blood away with grass paper, then prepare a large porcelain jar, first lining the bottom with lime.] [Then lay down a thick layer of roasted rice, place the bear paw on top, stuff tightly with more roasted rice around the sides, and seal the top with lime. After one or two years, you can then take it out, wash it clean, and cook it.] One or two years, the audience was stunned. Wouldn¡¯t that rot? [After cleaning the bear paw, you must coat it with a thick layer of honey, boil it on a low fire for an hour, then wash off the honey, prepare the seasonings, and stew it on a low fire from the start¡ªit¡¯s best to use charcoal fire, stewing for three hours until it turns to mush the moment you open the pot.] [If you don¡¯t first stew it with honey, you could stew for three days and three nights and still not be able to pick up the chopsticks; the gamey taste is especially strong, and even so, the taste is actually quite ordinary.] Sss. The audience gasped, and the Earth warmed up a few degrees again. Even Bi Fang was surprised. It seemed all sorts of people watched his live streams¡ªthere were even those who knew how to cook bear paw? [May I ask who you are?] [Ah, me? I can¡¯t cook; it¡¯s all what my grandfather told me. He said that bear paw really isn¡¯t tasty, just a piece of meat with a strong gamey taste. And it¡¯s hard to deal with¡ªif not handled properly, it¡¯s not as good as ordinary chicken, duck, fish, and meat.] ¡°Who is your grandfather?¡± Bi Fang was extremely curious. [My grandfather is Zhang Zhengxiong.] [However, there should be very few people who know of him. As for what Mencius said, he wasn¡¯t actually implying that bear paw and fish are delicious, but that bear paw is more rare. Hunting bears was difficult in ancient times, so the bear paw was highly treasured for its rarity.] So, bear paws really aren¡¯t tasty. The ancients liked them, perhaps because¡­ the prestige was high enough? Chapter 541 - Chapter 541: Chapter 538: Sneaking Underwater Chapter 541: Chapter 538: Sneaking Underwater ¡°` During the Spring and Autumn period in Chu State, Prince Shang Chen staged a palace coup and turned against his own father, King Cheng of Chu. On his deathbed, King Cheng strongly requested a bear¡¯s paw dish before he could close his eyes in peace. On reflection, it was perhaps not because of the delicacy¡¯s taste that King Cheng made the request¡ªhe was weak and ineffective. His demand may have been mere mockery, a critique of his son¡¯s actions. Back then, eating bear paws was largely a way to retaliate against the Zhou dynasty¡¯s rule, which at the time was in name a nation but in reality a tribal confederation. Bear, brown bear, panther, chimera, thunder beast, tiger. Six beasts served as totems for the tribes, with the bear symbolizing the ancestors of the Huaxia people. Chu State adopted the bear as its emblem, to showcase its formidable power. However, the people of the Central Plains didn¡¯t see it that way; they always considered Chu State as barbaric. Alas, they couldn¡¯t defeat its strong military, so they resorted to eating bear paws to express their disdain, akin to the modern hierarchy of scorn, to flaunt their sense of superiority. From then on, eating bear paws became fashionable, with everyone deeming it ¡°stylish.¡± But are bear paws really tasty? The answer is not necessarily, or rather, quite unpalatable. If modern seasonings can¡¯t make it palatable, it¡¯s highly improbable that it was prepared perfectly thousands of years ago. At this revelation, the audience was greatly disappointed. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï They had waited so long only to be told that bear paws aren¡¯t delicious? ¡°Other than bear paws, I haven¡¯t heard of anyone enjoying other parts of the bear, so I guess they¡¯re also undesirable because of their taste.¡± Bi Fang rummaged through his memory and found a century-old case that supported his claim. ¡°In the 1980s, natural reserves were already established, and poaching was strictly forbidden. A mountain villager, who originally wanted to hunt some boars and musk deer, accidentally shot a panda wearing a radio collar.¡± A panda? The audience perked up upon hearing this. Given the context¡­ What the fuck, that person didn¡¯t eat the panda, did they? Bi Fang nodded, affirming the audience¡¯s suspicions. Sure enough, such an act, if it happened today, would be incredibly daring. In court. Judge: ¡°Tell us how you found the panda.¡± Resident: ¡°I saw footprints in the snow. At first, I thought they were human¡¯s. Then I discovered the strangled panda. I knew killing it was wrong, and I wanted to hide the matter. I cut off the feet with a knife and then I split open the body to remove the insides. I hid all that in the woods. In the end, I took the skin and the meat.¡± Judge: ¡°What did you do with the meat?¡± Mountain villager: ¡°I took it home, my wife cooked it with radish, we ate some. It didn¡¯t taste good. So we fed it to the pigs. I also gave some to my sister.¡± This was the record on the case file. But Bi Fang could no longer remember clearly, so he recounted the general content to the audience. ¡°The final sentence was two years in prison, and that was in ¡¯83 when wildlife protection laws were not fully established. If it were today, he¡¯d probably serve a much longer sentence.¡± ¡°Pandas are also bear species, so I suppose the taste would be similar. Bear meat is truly unpalatable; there¡¯s no need for anyone to try it, besides wasting money, it serves no purpose.¡± Locals live off the land or water resources nearby. Mountainous areas yield low grain harvests; without hunting to trade for food from outside, life would be very tough. Mountain villagers rely on hunting for extra income, and they¡¯re not choosy¡ªwhatever they catch is what they sell, whatever is trapped, they sell. Even such villagers would feed the bear meat directly to pigs, which speaks volumes about how unappetizing bear meat must be. Perhaps, as some comments suggested, it would take one or two years of preparation and processing to make a barely edible dish. To such an extent, what is eaten is not the ingredient itself but an air of pretense. Look, this dish, it took countless man-hours and resources, can you afford it? [The theme has been elevated.] [Why do I suddenly think of indirect salvation?] [Boohoo, another day of shattered dreams.] The audience howled. ¡°Well, you¡¯ve seen it now; it¡¯s already 8 PM, so that¡¯s all for today¡¯s livestream.¡± Shattering the illusion that bear paws are tasty, Bi Fang delivered a double blow as he ended the livestream. [Damn, just kill the livestream like that!] [Boss Fang, don¡¯t just hide away silently; I know you¡¯re at home. You have the audacity to eat bear paws, why not to stream it?] [Open the door, if you are brave enough to eat bear paws, you should be brave enough to livestream. Livestream, livestream, do it now, Boss Fang, don¡¯t hide away in silence, I know you¡¯re eating.] [Damn, that¡¯s some serious nagging.] Even though bear paws don¡¯t taste good, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t one to waste food. It was suspicious to see someone stuffing down unappetizing bear meat so relentlessly. ¡°` After dinner, around nine o¡¯clock, Richard and his companions were once again blocked at the hotel entrance, with the gangsters even more aggressive than the day before, constantly making provocative remarks. The shadowy figures of society only needed to enrage Richard and company. If Richard and the others couldn¡¯t endure it and struck first, the local police would have a reason and evidence to deport them! At nine in the evening, a few gang members loitered at the entrance. However, they all found it strange that Richard and his associates seemed quite different from yesterday. Instead of coming out and having a big fight with them, they were quiet in their room. They made occasional noises, without which one might have suspected they had vanished from the room. ¡°Have they given up so quickly?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, maybe they¡¯re pretending? They changed their room today, I wonder what it means.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it good if they don¡¯t react? The commotion yesterday gave me a headache, and I¡¯m even a bit sleepy today.¡± ¡°We absolutely can¡¯t let our guard down. If they catch something on camera, the town is done for.¡± ¡°Got a cigarette? Give me one.¡± ¡°Here, the last one. You¡¯re really persistent. With this much effort, why don¡¯t you do something more meaningful?¡± ¡°Who knows¡­¡± In the corridor, several youths dressed in flashy clothes leaned against the wall, casually flicking cigarette ashes onto the carpet as they chatted with each other. Suddenly, one young man seemed to remember something and excitedly looked at his companions. ¡°Hey, did you watch today¡¯s Black Bear Hunting season? Wasn¡¯t it so cool?¡± Another companion didn¡¯t quite understand. ¡°I didn¡¯t watch it. It¡¯s just a TV show. What¡¯s so interesting about it? I never watch those things; they turn you into an idiot.¡± ¡°Who said that? You really missed out then. Today one of the contestants actually defeated a 1.6-meter-tall black bear with a spear. A spear! And that bear, when it stood up, was even taller than me. It was so cool; he was like a superhero!¡± ¡°Hey, hey, are you kidding? Fighting a black bear with a spear? Isn¡¯t that a scene straight out of a TV drama?¡± ¡°It¡¯s true. Live broadcast, just with a spear. He managed to leave the black bear without any strength to fight back. I heard he¡¯s here in Taiji Town; I¡¯d really like to meet him.¡± The few of them talked about today¡¯s hunting season. The one who initiated the conversation about it was especially animated, clearly full of admiration for Bi Fang¡¯s actions. What they didn¡¯t know was that the superhero they talked about had his hands on a handful of fine sand and was preparing to climb the hotel building once more. With the experience from the first time, Bi Fang was now even better prepared. He tied the Prusik knot on his rope, first making a loop with a shoelace using an overhand knot, and then, he wrapped the rope around it, threading it through his own loop and then through the loop formed by the rope twice before pulling tight. The Prusik knot is a safety knot used in rock climbing, serving as an extra lifesaving measure for climbers. Its unique method of tying allows it to move only up the rope; the downward pressure locks it in place. If a Prusik knot is tied on a harness, it activates an automatic braking system that can still hold a falling Bi Fang in case of other equipment failure. In infiltrations or escapes, Bi Fang could take advantage of the knot¡¯s property of moving only up the rope to lock himself in place. Bi Fang tied a total of four Prusik knots to use as loops and footholds when he unsteadily climbed up the rope. In one of the rooms, Mandy and Keke had also opened the windows and saw Bi Fang below the hotel. Having learned from their experiences, this time they chose rooms on the fifth floor, which meant it didn¡¯t take much effort for Bi Fang to reach the windowsill. Bi Fang¡¯s previous advice to Mandy to change rooms was not only to make rock climbing easier but also to avoid certain unique surveillance methods. Hotel rooms are notoriously unsafe. This is particularly true in some developing countries, where even those trusted brand hotels can easily be blamed or monitored, many with official sanction. In this era of global uncertainty, radical governments go to great lengths to gather intelligence on foreigners, from high-ranking diplomats to ordinary businessmen, with none spared, especially someone like Richard who holds a unique position in a certain field. Many ordinary people on their travels are oblivious to these invisible threats, believing that hiding in hotel rooms or rented cars ensures their safety. But Bi Fang was aware of the dangers, particularly as they were already under surveillance. Any hotel under the control of an unknown entity is subject to various threats, and some hotels place foreigners in rooms equipped with hard-wired surveillance. Fortunately, frequently changing rooms and hotels could thwart their plans. Last night, Richard and the others checked into their rooms and settled in without giving anyone else a chance to install surveillance devices, and the same held true for today. Not just today, but every day after, Richard and his companions would have to switch floors and rooms, and in three days, they would have to switch hotels. ¡°Hotels can easily have emergencies; the safest rooms are on the second or third floor, so move to the third floor tomorrow,¡± Bi Fang advised. Most countries¡¯ firefighting equipment doesn¡¯t reach above the third floor, making them vulnerable to the threat of fire. Even if there were other guests, such a move might harm the innocent and could be outrageously callous. But Bi Fang didn¡¯t trust the moral standards of those swayed by profit. Besides, living on the first floor should also be avoided. In case of sudden attacks, being away from the lobby is crucial for one¡¯s safety. Mandy and Keke nodded their heads, signaling they would pass the message to Richard and the others tomorrow, and then began to climb down the rope one by one. If one observed carefully, it wasn¡¯t hard to notice that beneath their clothes, both had donned skintight diving suits. That night the trio wasn¡¯t just there to install cameras; they were undertaking a far more dangerous underwater operation. The sea floor was yet another battlefield for them! Chapter 542 - Chapter 542: Chapter 539: Lurking Underwater Chapter 542: Chapter 539: Lurking Underwater ¡°` The sea left behind white foam as the tide receded. At 10 PM, for this relatively traditional town, few people could be found near the coastline, let alone the rocky area away from the beach. Bi Fang stood atop the towering cliff, looking down at the dark grey sea that undulated rhythmically, masses of water slowly bulging and then receding as if a terrifying sea creature was stirring up the waves beneath the surface. Waves several meters high crashed against the cliffs below his feet while the distant lighthouse monotonously swept its light across the sea surface. With the help of Mandy and Keke, Bi Fang struggled to put on his diving suit and flippers, then took a detour to enter the shallow sea from beneath the cliff. The mission was for Bi Fang and Mandy to set up underwater cameras while Keke kept watch and stood guard onshore. Mandy, donning goggles, joked, ¡°I thought you were going to leap straight down from up there, like a movie protagonist diving into the sea from a cliff and miraculously surviving.¡± ¡°You seem to have some misconceptions about me.¡± Bi Fang rolled his eyes as he bit down on the breathing valve. This was not a live broadcast and the situation was not dire; there was no pursuit of cinematic effects, nor was there a need for it. Only a fool would risk jumping into the sea¡ªwasn¡¯t it more pleasant just to enter the water in the ordinary way? ¡°Sorry, you¡¯ve always struck me that way, like¡­ um, a kind of one-man-hero movie?¡± ¡°Instead of talking about this, save some energy for the dive. We only have two oxygen tanks, and you¡¯re not Bajau,¡± said Bi Fang, no longer engaging in the conversation, as he plunged into the great ocean. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? To facilitate carrying supplies, the two of them didn¡¯t have many oxygen tanks, just two each. This required them to act quickly and decisively. ¡°Bajau people? What is that?¡± Mandy suffered from his lack of knowledge. Bi Fang didn¡¯t explain and simply swam downward. The potential of humans is truly a mystery sometimes. In the classic novel ¡°Water Margin,¡± ¡°White Stripe in the Waves¡± Zhang Shun and ¡°River Overturning Mouse¡± Jiang Ping from ¡°The Three Heroes and Five Gallants¡± were able to lurk underwater for days. Even strong men like Li Kui and Bai Yutang would be pulled underwater by them and, with their bellies full of water, had no choice but to disarm and surrender. Lurking underwater for days and nights was an exaggeration by ancient literati. Without diving equipment, ordinary people couldn¡¯t stay submerged for more than two minutes. Even now, Bi Fang, without any auxiliary equipment, could only move about for about five minutes. However, the Bajau people living in Southeast Asia, wearing just a pair of goggles and without any other apparatus, can dive dozens of meters deep to fish or collect pearls, staying submerged for over five minutes, sometimes even as long as fifteen minutes. With this ability, the Bajau have lived on the sea for a thousand years, using boats as their homes, relying on fishing for a living, and rarely setting foot on land. ¡°Bajau¡± in the Indonesian language means ¡°People of the Sea.¡± If it is nonsense to say that Sherpa people have an extra lobe in their lungs, it is indeed true that the divers among the Bajau are born different, as their spleens are 50% larger compared to other populations. When they dive into the water, their spleens contract, squeezing the oxygen-rich red blood cells into their vessels, increasing their blood¡¯s oxygen content by up to 9%, thereby extending their diving time. Theoretically, the larger the spleen a creature has, the more advantageous it is for diving; deep-diving seals, for instance, have spleens that comprise a larger proportion of their body than other animals. The exceptionally large spleens of the Bajau aren¡¯t the result of training through diving. Even among the Bajau who don¡¯t dive, their spleens are larger than those of other ethnic groups, a characteristic determined by innate genetics. The Bajau have a mutation in their PDE10A gene, which causes an increase in the level of the thyroid hormone T4 in their body. This hormone promotes the growth of the spleen, thus endowing the Bajau with extraordinary diving capabilities. Bi Fang felt that, with the System¡¯s capabilities, perhaps he could also undergo such an enhancement. Maybe he would be the future world diving champion. Seeing that Bi Fang had no intention of explaining, Mandy shrugged, ¡°Ah, sometimes I really envy you natural-born divers. Unlike me¡ªI have to keep working hard to become a world champion.¡± ¡°Get down there,¡± Bi Fang replied. Keke, seeing Mandy was fully geared up, kicked him in the buttocks and forcefully sent him into the water. With a splash, a heavy object entered the water. The cool sea instantly enveloped him. Bi Fang opened his eyes and turned on the headlamp, his vision filled with the silver reflections of bubbles. Bi Fang tightened his core, his body moving up and down like a fish, rapidly diving into the water without even fluttering his flippers. Diving is a feeling hard to describe. What makes people like diving? Each person¡¯s answer might be different. Some are fascinated by the colorful marine life in the ocean. Some enjoy the sensation of weightlessness under neutral buoyancy. Others take pleasure in drift diving, flowing with the currents. Some like the adventure of exploring historical relics on the dark ocean floor. Or perhaps it¡¯s just a simple quest for thrills¡­ But for Bi Fang, while there is plenty of land to travel on Earth, over 70% of the ocean has never been set foot in by many people. Diving gave him a way to explore this new world. ¡°` Perhaps, this one answer was already enough. Underwater was very quiet. The only sound that could be clearly heard was perhaps the bubbles made by one¡¯s own breathing. The ocean at night, without direct sunlight, the flashlight could only illuminate up to six or seven meters, the surroundings were dim. Underwater, all of a person¡¯s sensory abilities were reduced, visibility in the water was very low, the nose was covered by the goggles, unable to speak, hearing almost nothing. As the beam of light swept over, tiny silver fish swiftly swam away, leaving only a trail of bubbles. Mandy had rarely experienced this, or rather had never experienced it, performing some kind of task like a special forces soldier, even though he had dived thousands of times, he still felt an indescribable emotion surfacing in his heart. What surprised him even more was Bi Fang beside him. Even though it was pitch-dark all around, the other person seemed to have grown an extra pair of eyes, even managing to avoid the coral reefs that hadn¡¯t yet appeared in the light! Mandy was very certain that, ten seconds before, Bi Fang had preemptively avoided a coral reef that hadn¡¯t yet appeared! Damn it! Bi Fang didn¡¯t know what Mandy was thinking, but he indeed had an extra pair of ¡°eyes¡±. Shark¡¯s electroreception was too fucking useful in the sea! In the 1960s, scientists tagged sharks with sensors for the first time, letting humans understand information such as the speed and location of sharks. But what surprised the scientists the most, without a doubt, was that many sharks were able to accurately find their way in the deep sea where one couldn¡¯t see their hand in front of their face. The reason was the sharks¡¯ magnetic reception ability. The shark¡¯s head had tiny protrusions that could sense the slightest changes in the underwater electric field. Inside their bodies were small particles of magnetic minerals, very similar to the material of a compass, which could sensitively detect the Earth¡¯s magnetic field. Since a certain ocean survival mission, Bi Fang had also acquired this ability, of course, not as good as the sharks themselves. But no matter how weakened, the strength of this ability could not be denied. However, for Bi Fang on land, it was difficult to feel the help brought by electroreception, only barely using the water molecules in the air to sense the activity of organisms within about half a meter around him. But in the sea, this function surged dozens of times in an instant, Bi Fang was like a radar, able to clearly map everything around in his mind. The light on his head was completely superfluous, he could feel any situation within ten meters! There were many small fish living on the coral reefs at the bottom of the sea, and with these biological magnetic fields, Bi Fang could easily sense the existence of rock walls and reefs in advance, avoiding them. This kind of behavior, in Mandy¡¯s eyes¡­ So you¡¯re not Superman, you¡¯re the fucking Ocean King, huh! As they descended over ten meters, Bi Fang¡¯s body felt a bit cold. Perhaps during the day this place was still warm, but now, the seawater was gradually cooling down. The water resistance was great, but this couldn¡¯t stop Bi Fang and Mandy at all. Both were good swimmers and divers. For most people diving underwater for the first time, this strange environment and sensation indeed made one very nervous. It wasn¡¯t just a psychological factor, but also a physiological reaction. The world¡¯s best divers, like New Zealander William Trubridge, could dive to a depth of 100 meters in one breath. But even in 10-meter-deep water, a person¡¯s lungs would be compressed to half the normal volume, and in 100-meter-deep water, the lungs were no bigger than two baseballs. Athletes like Trubridge were able to dive so deep because humans have an innate ability called the ¡°mammalian dive reflex¡±. This physiological reflex has another more poetic name, known as the ¡°master switch of life¡±. The moment a person¡¯s face is submerged in water, various physiological reflexes that are triggered in the brain, lungs, heart, and other organs. The deeper the dive in water, the more pronounced these reflexes become, ultimately leading to physiological changes. The blood inside the human body will start to flow from the limbs towards the vital organs, and in extremely deep water, the blood can even permeate the organ cell walls to support the organs, protecting them from imploding under great water pressure. Moreover, as soon as one enters the water, the heart rate drops significantly, even if you exert yourself in the water, the heart rate is slower than on land, which means that you consume less oxygen in the water and can stay longer. This is the real reason why humans can dive deeper than 100 meters. Ama divers in places like Japan use the ¡°master switch of life¡± to perform deep dives. At ten meters deep, the first line of photography could be arranged. Bi Fang opened the bag he was carrying, made a gesture to start the operation, and then threw a rock-shaped camera to Mandy. The two began installation, surrounding the rock layer. Chapter 543 - Chapter 543: 340 Chapter 543: 340 Dolphin Bay was surrounded by mountains on three sides and faced the ocean on one, gradually deepening from the shores before appearing like a small lake. Once past the mouth of the bay, the depth of Dolphin Bay would suddenly increase to over a hundred meters. Though dolphins are skilled divers, capable of diving hundreds of meters, their main activity range is concentrated in the shallow seas between thirty and fifty meters. Therefore, the range of Bi Fang and Mandy¡¯s task was set between ten and eighty meters¡ªjust one circle wider and they could essentially capture the full range of the dolphins¡¯ activities. For this, they had to install over twenty cameras. It sounded like not much, but it was far from an easy job. Radio waves suffer extreme loss in the medium, so the signal drops very rapidly. In water, the loss of the medium at frequencies above 30KHz is 7500dB/km; at 20 meters, it can attenuate by 150dB, meaning there would be no signal below 20 meters, even if there were a base station right above the surface. The cameras Bi Fang and the others were using this time were all set to record automatically, and they would be retrieved after everything had ended to extract the footage. Therefore, the underwater installation differed greatly from the previous mountain set-up; there was no way to monitor it in real time, and unlike previously, where they could continuously adjust by remote command, now there was no such opportunity. Considering that the dolphin-hunting season was about to start, the difficulty of underwater installation would increase exponentially. There was no chance for repeated installations and adjustments; they had to succeed in one try. It was necessary for both Bi Fang and Mandy to grasp this measurement on their own. Fortunately, before this, both of them had undergone extensive training in photography under the assistant Mond, and they were now barely considered semi-professional photographers. After finishing installing the three cameras in the shallow sea ten meters deep, Bi Fang and Mandy continued to move closer to the depths. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï At twenty meters, thirty meters, they had reached the limit of active sinking. The world around was pitch black and silent; Bi Fang could hear the beating of his own heart very clearly. In his head, the only sound that automatically emerged was the sound of animal life, perhaps the only sign that he was still alive. Bi Fang silently counted his heartbeats. When he first entered the water, his heart rate was at 60-70 beats per minute; now it had dropped to 30-40, more than half less. A special breathing method allowed Bi Fang¡¯s lungs to fill with ten liters of air, providing a great buoyancy that enabled him to float in the water, doing nothing, thus reducing the amount of muscle movement needed to resist gravity. The deeper one went, the more the water pressure squeezed the lungs. At this point, both Bi Fang and Mandy were floating in the water relying on the air in their lungs. The diving reflex caused the peripheral blood vessels to constrict, and the blood would leave the limbs, flowing towards the most important organs¡ªlungs, heart, and brain. Furthermore, due to the blood rushing to the brain, bringing a large amount of oxygen, as long as nitrogen narcosis did not occur, the diver¡¯s brain would be extremely clear at that time. The clearer the mind, the more one could feel as if they had arrived in another world. Silence, darkness. Some say that our understanding of the ocean is not even half of what we know about the moon. This is not an exaggeration, for even in 1977, astronauts had been sent to the moon, yet people naively believed that there were no active forms of life below 6000 meters in the oceanic abyss. Pressure indescribable from all directions¡ªas one expanded their chest to breathe through the valve, it felt like doing a bench press with oversized weights. As if being firmly grasped and squeezed by a giant. The first batch of equipment had been installed. Bi Fang and Mandy, separated by seven or eight meters, pressed their flashlight switches, flashing them a few times to confirm completion, and prepared to ascend to retrieve the cameras. Mandy nodded his head, kicked his flippers, took a deep breath, and was about to ascend when suddenly, a bright light flickered intensely in front of him. It was Bi Fang rapidly pressing his flashlight¡ªan urgent signal! Mandy¡¯s mind went blank, and with the rigorous training he had received, he almost hesitated not at all, twisting direction based on instinct alone, but it was still a step too late! The intense swirling current, like a water tornado, struck Mandy¡¯s forehead with an irresistible impact. In an instant, Mandy¡¯s eyes rolled back, water rushed in through the gaps in his teeth and nostrils¡ªgenuine seawater, with a bitter, salty taste. Too bad Mandy could no longer feel it; under the violent impact, his consciousness had abruptly halted, and he had drowned! In the exhaustion of his consciousness, he saw only a huge phantom head, with a mouth full of sharp teeth, a bulging forehead, and protruding eyes! No one expected such a sudden disaster. Bi Fang drew the harpoon from his waist and swam rapidly toward Mandy. A huge shadow swam past the two men at a high speed, stirring up the water flow to such an extent that it could move Mandy, who was unconscious and drowning, meters away. Bi Fang¡¯s flashlight couldn¡¯t catch a glimpse of its shadow; it was like a ghost, lingering around the two of them without stopping. The shark¡¯s electroreception was indeed powerful, but it could only identify the basic size and presence of living organisms, not accurately scan their shapes like radar. It was too fast; it had attacked Mandy before Bi Fang could react. Bi Fang arrived next to Mandy and quickly refitted the breathing valve, fastening it tightly. By then, Mandy¡¯s lungs had been filled with seawater. Bi Fang came up behind him and used the Heimlich Maneuver, pressing hard on Mandy¡¯s lungs. Just then, the lurking phantom appeared once again within Bi Fang¡¯s sensory range, attacking swiftly! Unfortunately for it, Bi Fang was not Mandy; even without seeing, he could clearly sense the approaching creature and reacted in advance, Bi Fang, dragging Mandy, kicked against the rock wall and quickly moved away from their original position. The intense water flow brushed past, and the differential pressure almost pulled Bi Fang back to where he had been. He tried to strike with his knife, but the other¡¯s speed was so fast that he couldn¡¯t hit it. Bi Fang bent his head to survey the scene, and with this opportunity, he finally got a clear view of the ¡°ghost¡¯s¡± partial appearance! GT! Also known as Niu Gangjue! A tremendously large Niu Gangjue! Bi Fang¡¯s heart skipped a beat as he gripped the harpoon in his hand. Niu Gangjue is the largest carnivorous fish in the jack family, capable of leaping out of the water to prey on seabirds. This one in front of him was at least 1.6 meters long and weighed over 70 kilograms! A 1.6-meter GT could even prey on sharks! Niu Gangjue, the wild buffalo of the sea, was a powerful aquatic beast with a steep head and a strong tail as its main features. Lurking at depths between 2 and 80 meters, it is a large migratory fish found near the coast, distributed from the western part of South Africa to the east of Hawaii, including northern Japan and southern Australia. It often appears in estuary areas, mainly hunting at night. Greedy and strong, apart from sharks and humans, no other creature posed a threat to it. It boasted a muscular torso and oversized paddle-like pectoral and caudal fins, possessing true strength, explosive power, and astonishing endurance. Its underwater speed could reach up to 60 kilometers per hour, while the human extreme record didn¡¯t even reach 40. Moreover, Niu Gangjue had a ferocious nature, preying on all the small fish it encountered in its territory and even hunting birds and hatchling turtles resting on the water¡¯s surface. When Niu Gangjue spotted prey, it would violently ram them into unconsciousness or swallow them whole. The most terrifying part was that Niu Gangjue often hunted in groups, resulting in extremely fierce competition for food where it wasn¡¯t uncommon for adult Niu Gangjue to accidentally swallow their young. Had this one gone mad? To dare attack a human? True, Niu Gangjue was notoriously ferocious, but surely it wouldn¡¯t go this far? A 70-kilogram Niu Gangjue matched a human in weight class, and it wasn¡¯t common for animals to attack those of a similar size, except due to food scarcity. Wait a second. Was it because of the upcoming dolphin hunting season? Bi Fang guessed this possibility, as the arrival of dolphins left the nearby Niu Gangjue in a temporary state of food shortage. So, it truly was a shortage of food? Bi Fang calmed his heartbeat and tried his best to sense the surrounding environment. Fortunately, there appeared to be only one Niu Gangjue nearby. He didn¡¯t know when he had arrived at Dolphin Bay, colliding with him and Mandy while they were setting up the camera, even initiating an attack! The massive impact knocked Mandy, who was caught off guard, unconscious. It was only because Bi Fang had timely warned her and instinctively twisted his body that the blow had not landed on the vulnerable back of his head but the hard forehead instead. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have been as simple as fainting; she might have died on the spot! No more. Bi Fang stole a glance at Mandy who had fainted, noticing a large wound on her forehead from which blood was elegantly drifting out. Lurking nearby, the bull-headed siblings were ready to launch a deadly attack at any moment. Bi Fang held Mandy tight with both arms, adjusted the oxygen pressure to its maximum, and once again squeezed her lungs. Seawater poured out from Mandy¡¯s mouth, and Bi Fang quickly tightened the breathing valve, releasing a large amount of oxygen that rushed into Mandy¡¯s lungs. The second time, the third time. Mandy probably never imagined in her life that she, a diving champion, would nearly drown and even be rescued from drowning in the sea. On the fourth attempt, the waiting Niu Gangjue launched another attack! Bi Fang quickly dodged to the side, but carrying the heavy Mandy, he was hardly able to move freely. In the brief turn, his arm was still hit. For an instant, Bi Fang felt an illusion that his arm might have been broken by the impact, with blood flow in his arm being abruptly cut off. Swelling, numbness, pain. Wave after wave of foreign sensations flooded over him. Even the harpoon in his hand nearly dropped to the seabed. Bi Fang could keenly sense the numerous capillaries that had burst in his right arm from the impact, quickly accumulating into a bruise under his skin. He tried to grip the dagger again, but it was like when a nap compresses his arm¡ªwaking up in pain and numbness, unable to grasp anything properly. No wonder they call it the wild buffalo of the sea. It indeed possessed incredible strength! On the shore, Keke had no idea about anything that was happening in the water. He hid in the shadows, daring not to emit the slightest sound or light, peering around cautiously, making sure no one discovered what they were doing. The lighthouse in the distance continued to monotonously sweep the sea¡¯s surface. Chapter 544 - Chapter 544: Chapter 541 What a Joke? Chapter 544: Chapter 541 What a Joke? Underwater, bubbles continuously rose to the surface. The seafloor was pitch black; the light from the flashlight could penetrate less than 6 meters in the water, and it was terrifyingly silent, without any sound. No wind, no water sounds, nothing existed except the sound of one¡¯s own heartbeat. Bi Fang clenched his teeth on the breathing valve, elevating his perception to the highest level, extending it to fifteen meters. The Niu Gangjue loomed within the circular domain, their presence occasionally flashing within ten meters, causing Bi Fang to break into a cold sweat each time. Every time Bi Fang tried to pull Mandy to the surface, the Niu Gangjue would attack, slamming Bi Fang and Mandy back toward the seabed. It was an extremely fierce but cunning hunter. Bi Fang slowly exhaled and leaned back against the rock wall, silently undoing the flashlights above his and Mandy¡¯s heads. He cut open the fishing net used for the camera equipment and tied it to himself and Mandy to secure their position. Then he dismantled the oxygen tanks on their backs, took a deep breath of oxygen, tightened the tanks¡¯ valves, and wound the two flashlights together, tying them onto the oxygen tank with the breathing tube. His heart thumped wildly. Bi Fang¡¯s body temperature rose quickly; he no longer felt the chill of the seawater. Holding his breath, he made sure the flashlights were securely fixed before slowly turning the valve open. Slowly stepping on the rock wall, Bi Fang used the leverage to climb up bit by bit. Seeing him attempting to escape, the Niu Gangjue predictably launched another charge. Bi Fang, who had been waiting for just this moment, suddenly yanked the valve open and kicked off the wall, ascending with Mandy! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Stones were dislodged from the wall, and the fragile sandstone was shattered into pieces by the impact of the Niu Gangjue, stirring up clouds of sand in the water. In the midst of the turbidity, the oxygen tank with its open valve rapidly expelled a stream of air, carrying the glowing flashlights, creating a white trail deep in the ocean that rapidly shot away into the distance. Even more incredibly, the moment the flashlights flew out, the Niu Gangjue also turned and charged toward the direction of the flashlights! Without a doubt, this was the perfect opportunity to escape! Bi Fang, holding onto Mandy, took full advantage of the Niu Gangjue¡¯s pursuit of the flashlights to ascend with all his might. A minute later, when the lighthouse beam swept over Dolphin Bay again, Bi Fang burst out of the water, his powerful arms splitting the waves as he swam toward the shore. Keke on the shore noticed the commotion and quickly swam towards Bi Fang. The two met in the water. Keke was shocked at Mandy¡¯s unconsciousness, ¡°What happened?¡± Bi Fang spat out a mouthful of seawater, breathing heavily, his voice hoarse, ¡°Get to shore first.¡± With one more person helping, Bi Fang felt much lighter as they both dragged Mandy towards the shore. Only when he could feel the sand and rocks under his feet did Bi Fang truly breathe a sigh of relief and collapsed face up on the sandy ground, coughing violently. He had gulped down quite a bit of water when he was hit by the Niu Gangjue underwater. Mandy, dragged by Keke, left a long trail in the sand. Keke opened Mandy¡¯s wetsuit and began performing CPR. Being skilled divers, Keke knew all too well how to deal with drowning. With Bi Fang¡¯s help, it took less than half a minute for Mandy to expel a large amount of seawater from his mouth and nose and finally regain consciousness with a jolt. Mandy sat up suddenly, spat out a mouthful of seawater, and began coughing frantically. Keke slumped down on the beach and looked towards Bi Fang, asking with difficulty, ¡°What the hell happened?¡± Mandy, after coughing for a long time, finally regained his senses. He looked around in confusion, feeling a sharp pain in his forehead, and suddenly remembered the last thing before he lost consciousness. A ghastly face rushed out of the darkness towards him, and the next moment, Mandy could no longer remember anything. Bi Fang sat up from the ground, took a long breath, and said, ¡°A Niu Gangjue.¡± ¡°A Niu Gangjue?¡± Mandy and Keke both startled momentarily. The former matched the image of the Niu Gangjue to the ghostly face in his memory and suddenly realized, reaching out to touch his forehead. Pain made him quickly retract his fingers. ¡°Damn, it was a Niu Gangjue! No wonder my head hurts so much!¡± If Mandy knew what an Antarctic Immortal was, he would have found a striking resemblance between himself and the creature at that moment. The Niu Gangjue was not a rare fish. On the contrary, those familiar with diving and sea fishing knew it very well. It is too powerful, immensely strong and ferociously aggressive, often attacking fish that were nearly reeled in. Keke himself had once experienced this; he was about to land a Snapper when suddenly a huge Niu Gangjue rushed out, swallowed the Snapper whole, giving him a fright and nearly falling into the sea. Daring to snatch the prey of humans showed the viciousness of the Niu Gangjue. Because of its immense power, flexibility, and very fast swimming speed, along with formidable fighting capability, the Niu Gangjue was known as the bull of the seas. Catching a Niu Gangjue was a huge honor and gave a sense of great achievement. Thus, within the Sea Fishing Realm, the Niu Gangjue¡¯s reputation soared, becoming the ultimate target for sea fishermen, fueling an inner desire of fishermen to conquer that massive, powerful beast. However, few were successful, while many were dragged underwater. It was the same in the diving community; encountering a Niu Gangjue, many divers were sometimes more scared than they would be upon seeing a shark. Keke hurriedly asked, ¡°So what about it now? Is it dead or what? And your oxygen tank?¡± Bi Fang shook his head. Underwater, he was hindered by carrying Mandy and the fight could last an unpredictable length of time¡ªa prolonged struggle could easily be dangerous for Mandy. At that time, the depth had already surpassed thirty meters, and anyone who frequently dived would know that there¡¯s a critical point for natural buoyancy in diving, which lies between thirty and forty meters underwater. Affected by the pressure, at depths of 30-40 meters, one no longer needs to swim, as the body¡¯s density becomes so high that it allows for natural sinking, and then one enters the ¡°free fall stage¡±. This is also the most marvelous stage of diving, where you don¡¯t have to do anything and just let yourself be pushed deeper into the ocean. But the situation at that time was far from marvelous for Mandy; instead, it was extremely lethal. Once Bi Fang let go, the poor guy would naturally sink to the bottom. Already drowning, no one could guarantee what would happen next. If he and Niu Gangjue were entangled for too long, the guy might not make it. Drowning and suffocation are completely different. The relative time to death would be very quick, usually around 2-3 minutes. In a short time, a large amount of water would enter the lungs and stomach. Pulmonary edema, severe dilution of blood and tissue fluid, lack of oxygen exchange in the body, and the heavy burden on the heart would all lead to various concurrent symptoms and a painful death by drowning. This meant that Bi Fang had less than two minutes to act. He was unable to fight, and he couldn¡¯t afford to fight. So, in his urgency, Bi Fang resorted to a diversion tactic. It was impossible to throw something far in the water, so he tied a flashlight to his breathing tube and then opened the air valve of the oxygen cylinder, using the air pressure to drive the flashlight and create the effect of a moving column of light on the seabed. It wasn¡¯t a panacea, the trick¡¯s effectiveness depended on the fish in question. Using it on another species might not produce the same effect, or it could be completely useless. Mandy and Keke exchanged puzzled looks, clearly not understanding. Bi Fang stood up and explained, ¡°Niu Gangjue have a particular taste for fish from the Parrotfish family¡¯s Snapper genus. As the predators one level up in the food chain, the Snapper genus fish are attracted to light and highly phototactic.¡± ¡°Niu Gangjue usually hunt at night, primarily because the creatures one level below in their preferred food chain are attracted to light, so they gather under light to hunt.¡± ¡°Perhaps Niu Gangjue initially attacked Mandy because it saw the column of light, mistook it for a Snapper, and only realized its mistake upon collision.¡± Listening, Mandy looked speechless. So, it was all just her bad luck? The moving flashlight conveyed a certain level of misinformation to Niu Gangjue, leading them to believe that delicious Snapper genus fish might be there. Given the prospect of tastier food, naturally, Niu Gangjue would stop attacking Bi Fang and choose the easier prey. This was like Bi Fang hunting in the jungle, after several days without a meal, finally finding animal tracks, only to discover they belonged to a wolf. Well, a wolf is a wolf, not inedible ¡ª though tough and gamey and quite dangerous, it¡¯s not impossible to eat. But if you were intent on wolf hunting and suddenly a lame pheasant happened to cross your path, even a fool driven by basic instincts would abandon wolf meat for the tastier, more easily acquired pheasant. Mandy and Keke suddenly comprehended, their eyes filled with amazement as they looked at Bi Fang. In less than two minutes from the incident to reaching shore, while any normal person would be terrified into idiocy, Bi Fang managed to find a solution based on the attacker¡¯s dietary preference. Is this even the work of a human? Bi Fang took off the upper part of his wetsuit and noticed his right upper arm had swelled a bit and the color was darker, obviously bruised from the collision. Mandy and Keke were silent for a moment. Although they were shocked and found it outrageous, considering it was Bi Fang, it seemed normal. The only question was¡­ ¡°So what now? What do we do? Will Niu Gangjue still be down there?¡± The two asked. It was just before eleven, and most of the mission was still incomplete. What were they to do next? Niu Gangjue meat wasn¡¯t tasty, being coarse and fishy, usually used for animal feed. Keke was purely after the thrill of capturing a powerful fish. The more so it was, the more it proved the terror of Niu Gangjue. ¡°Simple,¡± Bi Fang zipped up his wetsuit again, ¡°we just butcher it.¡± ¡°Butcher¡­ butcher it?¡± The expressions on their faces were quite a sight. Bi Fang picked up a spare oxygen cylinder lying nearby, then dashed into the woods, and pulled out a wooden spear. The harpoon, coated with an anti-corrosion metal layer, was not afraid of seawater, but Hundred-refined Steel was not, which is why Bi Fang was initially reluctant to bring it into the water. In sea fishing, the harpoon is the real deal. Using the same setup, Bi Fang secured the harpoon onto the wooden spear. Under Mandy and Keke¡¯s watchful eyes, he once again jumped into the sea and headed towards the depths. ¡°Wait, he didn¡¯t take a flashlight!¡± Keke exclaimed. Mandy just twitched her mouth, looking up at the bright moon in the sky. ¡°I think, he might not need it.¡± ¡°What a joke.¡± ¡°Yeah, what a joke.¡± Chapter 545 - Chapter 545: 542 Three-Way Melee (Two-in-One) Chapter 545: 542 Three-Way Melee (Two-in-One) Bi Fang took a deep breath and plunged into the water. The moment he entered the water, Bi Fang¡¯s heart rate dropped from 60-70 beats per minute to 30-40, and his blood vessels contracted in response to the shock. He could distinctly feel his blood leaving his limbs and flowing towards his heart, lungs, and brain. This sensation was like being lost in a certain space where the direction of the water¡¯s surface was indistinguishable, as if he himself were Armstrong stepping onto the moon. Without the glow of a flashlight or the companionship of fellow divers, the ocean depths seemed even more pitch-black and silent. Dark waters surrounded him on all sides, with no knowledge of what unknowns lurked within, as if wrapped in the solitude that comes with being on an alien planet. This is why most underwater operations are conducted in pairs. Solitude can drive a person mad. As for the eternal solitude, Bi Fang had a relatively high tolerance for it, having experienced many solitary journeys in various kinds of wilderness. Some say that saturation commercial divers have the loneliest job in the world. Their job is simple: to install seabed oil drilling heads in the icy waters hundreds of meters deep. In this pitch-black world, unreachable by sunlight, everything can only be seen with the aid of artificial lighting. At such great depths, divers need an extremely complex and precise set of equipment to maintain life. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Attached to the diving suit is a hose less than the width of a wrist, connected to the diving bell, supplying breathing oxygen, the electric power needed for the expansion diving suit, and the communication line with the surface all through this hose. It is known as the ¡°umbilical.¡± But at this moment, Bi Fang had no ¡°umbilical,¡± no backup, with only the oxygen tank on his back and the sharp harpoon in his hand to aid him. Bi Fang cautiously searched his way down the rock wall, unable to float alone in the water. The Niu Gangjue fish were too fast, so fast that even if Bi Fang could anticipate them, the tremendous water resistance made it hard for him to evade in time, and he had to rely on the reactive force from the rock wall. Ten meters, twenty meters, soon, Bi Fang arrived at the place where he first encountered the Niu Gangjue. Bi Fang could clearly feel the increasing difficulty in his lungs¡¯ effort to expand. An invisible giant hand seemed to be trying to squeeze all the air out of Bi Fang, who resisted the urge to exhale and locked the oxygen tightly within his body. Every act of respiration was a struggle against the invisible giant hand, a battle against the aquatic buffalo, and not a single detail could be neglected. If it were someone else, they might have already been overwhelmed by fear, let alone pick up a weapon to fight. All fear stems from the unknown. When it comes to what is known, you either accept it or resist it. It is only the unknown, especially the unknown that might harm oneself, that causes fear. Don¡¯t hold a heart of fear towards wild beasts; when you confront them, they are observing you. If you show fear, they will know you are vulnerable and will bite you from behind. Beasts can smell your fear; the more afraid you are, the more excited they get. The image of that professor who had once shared this wisdom with Bi Fang, which had served him ever since, reappeared in his mind; but at that time, the professor had also spoken other words, those of deeper contemplation. What is fear? Essentially, isn¡¯t it a form of the unknown? When a person feels fear, it is either because their thinking is not deep enough, so they fail to see through the nature of the thing that is causing their fear, or because they cannot maintain continuous and effective mental activity. The process of seeing through the nature of things is also the process of turning the unknown into the known. For the same thing, one might understand its essence at one moment, but when it comes time to practice, the level of mental activity drops. The thought process that saw through the nature of the thing does not maintain its effectiveness for long, resulting in a feeling of fear during the execution of the predetermined method. There are two kinds of people who rarely feel fear: one is the fool and the other is the doer. The fool¡¯s mind is not cluttered with many thoughts, so they do not feel fear towards most things. The doer bases their actions on themselves, they think and practice to the best of their ability; if there is an unknown, they strive to turn it into the known, immediately coming up with all possible countermeasures, thus they fear nothing. The ones to fear the most are the ordinary people in between these two. They possess a certain level of thinking capacity, yet struggle to think deeply and consistently. Where their thinking falls short, fear takes root. Humans naturally fear the unknown; this may be an animal instinct, or there may be other deeper reasons, but this fear of the unknown severely blocks a person¡¯s executive power, seriously hinders the accumulation of ¡°confidence,¡± and erodes the zeal for progressive thinking. Therefore, there are also two methods to overcome fear. The first is to increase the proportion of active thinking, even if the initial stage is painful. The second, where active thinking has yet to form, is to create as clear an image as possible, possibly with the help of language and writing. For anything in the mind, at the very least, one must be able to make a clear description. While saying this, the professor looked squarely at Bi Fang, who stood slightly immature in the forest, and swatted the venomous snake off the branch with his hand. Despite his old age and weakened strength, when the venomous snake bared its fangs, there was not a trace of fear in his eyes. ¡°I know the venom release mechanism of the venomous snake, I know its inner fears, I know what to do in case of poisoning, I know its behavioral habits, I know at which moment it will strike, what kind of attack it will launch, how to evade it, and I even clearly understand how each of its muscles exerts force,¡± he said. ¡°So, don¡¯t be afraid. There is no need to be afraid. If you are afraid, then it simply means you do not know enough,¡± the professor said as he pinned the neck of the venomous snake and deftly extracted its venom. ¡°What should I do now?¡± Bi Fang asked. ¡°Go look, go learn, go practice, travel the world, understand everything,¡± the professor answered. When any unknown becomes known, fear vanishes without a trace, left only to seek refuge in another unknown. Diligent people are often brave because they continuously do their utmost to understand everything around them, continuously turning the unknown into the known. Bi Fang knew everything in the bay, the creatures that lived there, the terrain, the habits of the Niu Gangjue, its ways of attacking, its weaknesses. At this time, Bi Fang felt no fear. He braced himself against the rock wall and sank again. Within a fifteen-meter radius, Bi Fang could clearly sense everything: the little fish hiding in the crevices of the rock wall, the floating seaweed, the slowly moving crustaceans. But that huge figure did not appear. In the darkness, the Niu Gangjue had not gone far. It swam rapidly through the water, its flat body harboring explosively powerful bundles of muscle, the key to its reaching speeds of sixty kilometers per hour. When it followed the oxygen tank, charging at the flashlight, and launched its attack, the Niu Gangjue¡¯s small brain only then realized it had been deceived. It swam quickly back to the area, but when the Niu Gangjue found its target again, it discovered that he was different than before. It wasn¡¯t about changing from two to one; rather, there was a sense of danger. Animals, fighting daily, have honed a sense of crisis far greater than humans. At first glance, the Niu Gangjue¡¯s battle-hardened consciousness issued a warning: what lay before it was not prey but a fierce beast. On the other hand, its genetic instincts told it to charge, to ram; it was the undisputed ruler of the waters, feared by all creatures¡­ Once the impulse surfaced, it was difficult to contain. The powerful caudal fin stirred the water, and the tremendous reactive force propelled the Niu Gangjue¡¯s body as it suddenly charged at Bi Fang! Here it comes! Almost the instant the Niu Gangjue burst into the fifteen-meter range, Bi Fang immediately sensed its presence. Fast, way too fast. Sixty kilometers per hour meant the Niu Gangjue was moving at over sixteen-point-six meters per second¡ªa fifteen-meter distance would take only 0.9 seconds! A normal person¡¯s reaction time hovers around 300 milliseconds, which starts to decline after the age of 30. Athletes with specific training can reduce their reaction time to particular stimuli, like a starter¡¯s pistol, to between 150-180 milliseconds. The scientific community currently recognizes the human limit of reaction speed to be 100 milliseconds. In a running race, if the reaction to the starting pistol is less than 100ms, or 0.1s, it is judged as a false start! Bi Fang¡¯s reaction was quick, nearly on par with professional athletes, allowing him to keep his reaction time below 200 milliseconds¡ªstill, that left him only seven milliseconds to act! Pinned against the rock wall, Bi Fang propelled himself sideways to dodge, with pebbles splashing everywhere. The seabed¡¯s rock wall was very loose, much like large pieces of stratified sandstone that would shatter on impact, stirring up a lot of silt and sand. However, in the darkness, it hardly mattered whether there was much silt or not. Bi Fang drifted to the side against the flow. In the sea, without solid ground for his legs to push off, Bi Fang twisted his waist. His core strength flowed through muscles and bones to his arms and finally channeled into the spear. A tremendous thrust was applied to the spear, the sharp harpoon penetrating the water, forcing out a multitude of air bubbles and drawing a straight white line as it stabbed at the Niu Gangjue. White waves, gray-black silt, bright red blood. All buried in the pitch black of the ocean floor, unseen in this clear trichromatic display. Having previously carried Mandy, his speed had decreased. Now, without that burden, and with Bi Fang¡¯s skill and timing, the chance of missing was minuscule! Bi Fang gripped the spear firmly with both hands, not spinning or twisting but swiftly pulling it out. With its immense power, if the spear was not withdrawn in time and the Niu Gangjue started to struggle, Bi Fang might be unable to hold onto the spear, potentially even bending or breaking the shaft and injuring himself. A splash of fresh blood followed the harpoon¡¯s withdrawal, an unstoppable flow ¨C the efficacious result of the harpoon¡¯s blood groove. In comparison, the Hundred-refined Steel that Bi Fang had forged in the wilderness paled into insignificance. Not only was it aesthetically inferior, but it also wasn¡¯t resistant to corrosion. If it were tainted with blood, it needed to be swiftly cleaned, let alone being submerged in seawater. The progress of human technology was no joke, and no ancient so-called ¡°divine weapon¡± could compare to a modern industrialized tactical dagger. With that one spear thrust, Bi Fang had almost pierced through the Niu Gangjue¡¯s belly! Having struck successfully, Bi Fang quickly left the scene. As expected, this vicious strike enraged the Niu Gangjue. Hitting the rock wall in its frenzy, it thrashed about, causing a large number of rocks to fall into the unfathomable ocean depths. Without needing to gather much strength, it charged again towards Bi Fang. Without the rock wall to push off from, the Niu Gangjue wasn¡¯t just charging in a straight line. Bi Fang twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the strike, quickly moving closer to the wall. Underwater, human swimming skills could never compare with those of fish, due to the absolute gap created by their physical structure! This guy¡¯s skull was incredibly hard; Bi Fang even doubted whether his harpoon could penetrate it. The strength and curvature of its head and back were formidable, and its head and belly were almost in a straight line. It possessed a linear explosive power that was hard for humans to imagine. Being hit directly would definitely not be pleasant. A fractured rib was not out of the question. Bi Fang had to be extremely cautious. Facing off against the Niu Gangjue, he was like a matador in an arena fighting Spanish bulls. Seizing the brief stagger in timing, Bi Fang pumped his lungs, exhaled the waste gases, took a fierce breath through the mouthpiece, and large bubbles filled with carbon dioxide floated upwards. The Niu Gangjue, which had missed its target several times, was completely overtaken by rage. It traced a huge arc in the sea, coming at Bi Fang once more. The water parted on both sides of its streamlined body, making it resemble a massive underwater crossbow bolt. Bi Fang pressed close to the rock wall, ready to repeat his previous tactic; suddenly, something unexpected happened. Within the huge semi-circular perception circle, a large streamlined creature suddenly burst in! Was it a second Niu Gangjue!? There wasn¡¯t enough time for him to think any further; Bi Fang subconsciously thought it was a Niu Gangjue that liked to hunt in packs. Without bothering to retaliate, he pushed against the rock wall and floated upwards; but in the very next moment, Bi Fang realized he had guessed wrong. The creature that had burst in was heading straight for the round-headed Niu Gangjue! Faster, and more ferocious! The unsuspecting Niu Gangjue was knocked over by this sudden interloper, knocked off its original trajectory, and disappeared straight out of Bi Fang¡¯s sensing circle. What situation is this? Were the Niu Gangjues fighting each other? Bi Fang stopped moving, filled with confusion, and sensed again, discovering that the second streamlined creature¡¯s body shape was completely different from the Niu Gangjue¡¯s; it was longer, sleeker, and had an elongated snout, not a blunt one. Such a familiar form¡­ A dolphin, was it actually a dolphin!? Bi Fang¡¯s eyes, hidden within the goggles, suddenly widened. Could it be that a dolphin had just saved him? Yes, although dolphin hunting season hadn¡¯t started, this didn¡¯t mean dolphins hadn¡¯t come around. These days, they had already been showing up around the bay in succession, just not yet in large groups. The Niu Gangjue that was knocked aside adjusted its body and quickly regained its composure. Far from retreating, it began to fight with the dolphin that had entered the fray. In Bi Fang¡¯s perception, the two swift giants appeared and disappeared, their battle immensely fierce. The dolphin, unlike Bi Fang¡¯s active attack, was on the offensive, just like the Niu Gangjue! Bi Fang was certain that Niu Gangjues were not on the dolphin¡¯s diet. This dolphin was helping him! Can dolphins save people? If someone asked him this question, Bi Fang would not hesitate to give an affirmative answer. Yes! And it was a conscious act of saving someone. Mandy, perhaps still on the shore, was the most qualified to speak about this, as he, too, had been rescued by a dolphin. Precisely for that reason, when invited by Richard, as a diving champion, Mandy did not hesitate to agree. Even if it meant diving into a Dragon¡¯s Den! Chapter 546 - Chapter 546: Chapter 543 I Want to Beat You Chapter 546: Chapter 543 I Want to Beat You ¡°` Thirty meters under the sea, a fierce battle was raging. Bi Fang clung to the rock wall, steadying his form. The two figures had almost vanished from his perception, and when they did appear, it was only in a flash. In ancient Greece, harming a dolphin was punishable by death. The reason for this was because there were no shortage of stories in history about dolphins saving humans. Mandy was one of those who had firsthand experience. Three years ago, he and many friends were surfing on the East Coast of Australia. Just as a second huge wave was about to hit, a tiger shark lay hidden within it. It was one of the most ferocious sharks in the ocean, ranking just below the great white shark in the shark family for fierce and brutal carnivorous behavior. It was also the largest member currently known in its genus. It could grow up to nearly eight meters in length! Eight meters, almost the length of a small box truck. They prey on various marine fish, mammals, seabirds, sea turtles, and even humans, earning them the nickname ¡°tiger of the sea.¡± They are ferocious and gluttonous, equipped with wide snouts like shovels and teeth like steak knives. They were named ¡°tiger shark¡± because of the stripes on their bodies that resemble those of a tiger. The one Mandy encountered was definitely not eight meters, but it surely exceeded five meters, much longer than a normal car. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï At that time, the shark¡¯s stripes blended with the reflected sunlight on the waves, shimmering with a unique glow. It rushed toward Mandy at high speed, quickly entering the attack range. Bi Fang really wanted to know what Mandy was thinking at that moment, perhaps his legs had gone so weak that he was about to fall off the surfboard, With less than two meters between them, Mandy¡¯s fingers brushed the waves, and under the refraction of sunlight, it was almost as if he touched the shark¡¯s skin. He looked down, as if viewing a shark specimen behind glass, and soon, he too would become a part of the collection. Just then, a dolphin leaped out, hitting the tiger shark from the side and driving it away. In that moment, Mandy felt the strongest connection with an animal he had ever experienced, so much so that even three years later, he still eagerly recounted the story to anyone who would listen. That instant was just like the present moment. In Bi Fang¡¯s mind, the outcome of the battle between the Niu Gangjue and the dolphin had always been certain. The dolphin was bound to win. Just by comparing the data, the Niu Gangjue was far from being a match. The Niu Gangjue could reach speeds of sixty kilometers per hour, but dolphins could reach a more terrifying seventy kilometers per hour, approaching twenty meters per second, and at the limit they could even reach eighty kilometers per hour, twenty-two meters per second. That was so fast the Niu Gangjue couldn¡¯t even touch its shadow. Indeed, some scientists once believed that, given the dolphin¡¯s own characteristics and form, it shouldn¡¯t be able to swim faster than 20 kilometers per hour. If a dolphin¡¯s swimming speed surpassed the limits of what its muscles could endure, that could only be achieved under one of two conditions. One was if the dolphin¡¯s muscles had a supernatural efficiency, six times stronger than that of typical mammals. The other was if it used some unique method to reduce resistance. This hypothesis was proposed in 1936 by a Central Country aquatic animal research expert named Jan Gray. The theory was known as ¡°Gray¡¯s Paradox.¡± The dolphin¡¯s muscles didn¡¯t have a special structure, a fact that was soon confirmed. Of course, this meant they did not possess supernatural efficiency. ¡°` ¡°` Therefore, according to existing speculations, it must be the second reason that causes dolphins to move at high speeds. ¡°Is it because of their body shape?¡± someone guessed. Not at all. Scientists created a model dolphin that was identical to a real dolphin in both shape and surface texture, and they even fitted the model with a propulsion device that generated the same thrust as a dolphin¡¯s tail fin. The result of the experiment was a disappointment; it was much slower compared to the speed of a dolphin. It wasn¡¯t until many biophysicists further studied the issue that they discovered the skin of dolphins is divided into two layers, the top layer being the outer layer, which is very elastic, and the bottom layer being the inner layer, which also has good elasticity. When exposed to the pressure of water, the upper layer of skin becomes uneven depending on the degree of water pressure. When dolphins enter high-speed movement, the turbulent flow caused by body vibrations is adjusted in the variations of the skin¡¯s unevenness, thus greatly reducing resistance. It is quite miraculous. Beyond that, dolphins may seem cute but are firmly at the top of the marine food chain, with combat capabilities much stronger than most people would imagine. Sharks are the most ferocious fish in the ocean, known as the ¡°wolves of the sea,¡± living on injured marine mammals, fish, and carrion, weeding out weaker members, and seldom facing competition in the ocean. Yet, these fierce sharks rarely attack dolphins. Fish fear sharks, but sharks fear dolphins. Small dolphins, fast and agile, can easily evade shark attacks. It is difficult for a shark to bite a dolphin, but it is much easier for a dolphin to attack a shark. Large dolphins may not be as nimble, but they can use their strong bodies to knock sharks over. Keep in mind that once sharks are flipped over, they fall into ¡°tonic immobility,¡± slipping into unconsciousness. Moreover, in the classification of biology, sharks fall under the subclass of Elasmobranchii within the class of cartilaginous fish. Their skeletons are made up of cartilage and connective tissue, which, while elastic and tough, are significantly less dense and hard than true bone. And since sharks do not have ribs, their sides and undersides are the most vulnerable parts of their bodies. Dolphins, however, are aquatic mammals with sturdy jawbones and snouts protruding like sharp spears. When it comes down to a real fight to the death, dolphins do not miss the opportunity to exploit sharks¡¯ weaknesses. Like poking a wet piece of paper with a finger¡ªif the speed and force are right, a dolphin¡¯s spear-like snout could even pierce directly through a shark¡¯s body, inflicting lethal damage. Moreover, within the dolphin family, there is a creature that could be called the ¡°King¡± in the shark realm¡ªthe killer whale. The killer whale is to the shark world what China¡¯s table tennis is to the international arena, a presence at the very top of the pyramid, surpassing hellish or even purgatorial levels of difficulty. Megamouth sharks, weasel sharks, mouse sharks, sixgill sharks, when encountering a killer whale, all end up fleeing in utter panic. The Niu Gangjue, though not entirely made of cartilage and connective tissue, still has a soft underbelly, sharp like a spear, and dolphins with high swimming speeds show no fear of it. When the Niu Gangjue appeared again within Bi Fang¡¯s perceptual field, its speed had dropped considerably, as it floated quietly in the water. Bi Fang gripped his spear tightly and approached slowly, the closer he got, the clearer his perception became, and he could detect the pits and dents on the Niu Gangjue¡¯s body, as if it had been repeatedly pierced by a spear. Feeling Bi Fang approaching, the Niu Gangjue attempted to flee, but with a thrust of the spear, it pierces the Niu Gangjue¡¯s eyeball and struck right into its brain. The already severely injured Niu Gangjue died on the spot. After dealing with the Niu Gangjue, the dolphin seemed very happy, swimming around continuously within Bi Fang¡¯s perceptual circle. It was a bottlenose dolphin. Earlier, when the Niu Gangjue was clashing with the dolphin, it was moving too fast for Bi Fang to sense carefully, but now he could finally make out what kind of dolphin it was. ¡°` The most common species found in aquariums is the Bottlenose Dolphin, also known as the Beaked Dolphin or Bottlenose Dolphin, primarily distributed in temperate and tropical oceans around the world, including the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea in Huaxia. With a long rostrum and a short, petite mouth, their external mouth slit appears to be perpetually smiling, and in Huaxia, they are classified as a second-class protected species. Females can live up to about 80 years, whereas males, due to greater life stress, seldom live past 50 years. This type of dolphin possesses an extremely high intelligence, self-awareness, intense emotions, and even strategizing abilities. Some believe that dolphins should rank above chimpanzees in intelligence, second only to humans. The Bottlenose Dolphin before Bi Fang was quite large, over two meters three, and its weight definitely exceeded three hundred kilograms, indicating that it was likely male. Two meters three, three hundred kilograms, compared to the Niu Gangjue, which was merely about one meter six and weighed around seventy kilograms, it was nothing more than a small fish or shrimp. No wonder it was dealt with so effortlessly. Watching the dolphin swim by his side, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help reaching out to touch it. As a professional diver, touching marine life heedlessly should be a basic principle, as even a bit of human skin flake could cause damage to the underwater ecological environment. Bi Fang¡¯s fingers touched the swimming dolphin, and the creature seemed very calm. Pressing firmly, he could feel through his diving suit that the dolphin¡¯s skin was smooth like silk, sponge-like in texture, exceptionally beautiful, and rich in feel. After quietly waiting for a while, another streamlined creature entered Bi Fang¡¯s sensory circle. It was another Bottlenose Dolphin, swimming around him just the same. Male Bottlenose Dolphins usually live alone or form small groups of two to three individuals. They only join larger groups of female Bottlenose Dolphins for short periods. It is worth mentioning that the attachment among members of Bottlenose Dolphin groups is very strong. If one individual is injured, the others do not flee but instead gather around their injured companion, reluctant to abandon it, making them an exceedingly compassionate species, with each one being so. From this aspect, dolphins are much wiser than humans. On this planet, the intelligence level of dolphins is second only to humans. Their brain weight is almost the same as that of humans, at around 1.5 kilograms. Humans have the highest brain-to-body ratio of all animals on Earth, about 2%, while dolphins rank second at about 1.5%. Additionally, dolphins have 18 billion neurons in their brain, more than the 13 billion in humans. Therefore, in terms of comprehensive brain data, dolphins far surpass other animals and are second only to humans. Dolphins can use ultrasonic waves to perceive the skeletal structure of the human body, thus determining whether the other party is human. They frequently rescue humans from drowning, lifting people to the surface for air just as they would save a fellow dolphin, and will even fight sharks to save humans. In order to study dolphins, humans have conducted various experiments, including a secret experiment that was not disclosed until more than fifty years later. In 1963, funded by NASA, an experiment was conducted on a male Bottlenose Dolphin named Peter in the United States Virgin Islands to study whether dolphins could learn human language and successfully communicate with humans. The experiment team set up a room filled with water, allowing a female researcher named Margaret to live with Peter 24 hours a day, inseparable, sharing meals, sleep, learning, and entertainment. This was to enable Margaret to teach Peter to speak English like a mother teaching a child, and to get it to understand and comprehend human language. Although dolphins lack vocal cords, they can use the blowhole on top of their heads to make sounds. Dolphin Peter showed an amazing learning ability, and in less than two weeks, he learned to say numbers like ¡°one, two, three¡± and simple greetings like ¡°hi, hello,¡± eventually mastering over seven hundred English words. Incredibly, Peter was not simply ¡°parroting¡± because when Margaret told him ¡°work, work, work,¡± meaning it was time to learn, he truly understood and responded by saying ¡°play, play, play,¡± telling Margaret he didn¡¯t want to study, he wanted to play. Even when Peter wanted to eat fish, he would say to Margaret, ¡°Fish in bucket,¡± meaning he wanted to eat the fish in the bucket. However, as the experiment progressed, some unexpected things happened. Peter became less and less willing to learn and only wanted to be close to Margaret, using various methods every day to attract her attention. When Margaret left to use the restroom, Peter would become agitated. When Margaret was on the phone with someone else, Peter would yell and scream at the phone. Clearly, he was jealous. Peter had fallen in love with Margaret, and this led the research team to believe the experiment was moving in a direction beyond their control, so the experiment was terminated. They forcibly separated Peter from Margaret, and although she was reluctant to leave Peter, there was nothing she could do. When Peter realized that Margaret was no longer appearing, he started to become extremely angry, swimming back and forth in the pool incessantly, calling Margaret¡¯s name, refusing to eat or drink. One day, several weeks later, Peter submerged himself at the bottom of the pool, refusing to come up for air, and he suffocated himself. The respiratory system of dolphins is completely different from that of other animals. Humans absolutely cannot commit suicide by holding their breath because, after suffocation and losing consciousness, the body¡¯s instincts would take over and resume breathing. But dolphins breathe through the active control of their brain rather than the autonomic nervous system, so each breath requires actively manipulating muscles. This was the past scientific viewpoint, used to explain why dolphins might commit suicide by holding their breath, and it became widely accepted. But Richard told Bi Fang that this was inaccurate. Experiments with complex and complete anesthesia have shown that dolphin breathing could be both ¡°automatic¡± and actively controlled. They could achieve asphyxiation by closing their blowholes. So it all proved one thing. This dolphin died for love. What is suicide? It is a complicated question, and modern science, still so weak, doesn¡¯t fully understand why humans commit suicide, and the risk factors for human suicide have not been determined. The Ugly Country Psychiatric Association lists suicidal behavior as a ¡°disorder requiring further consideration.¡± Even the determinants of human suicide are controversial¡ªit¡¯s both a biological and psychological issue, as well as a philosophical and semantic one. Some point out that even among humans, children before adolescence, or those with developmental delays, are rarely suicidal. Human children are unable to comprehend the concept of suicide; the smartest non-human animals have the intelligence level no higher than human adolescents. It seems even less likely that they could understand their own death and have the capacity to execute suicidal behavior. In Bi Fang¡¯s view, so-called suicide requires the actor to have self-awareness, understand the true meaning of death, and have the ability to execute a series of actions knowing that they would lead to their own demise. Everything proved that dolphins possess a high level of self-awareness. This experiment involved ethical and moral issues, so the data and records were sealed at the time and were not made public. It wasn¡¯t until 2014 that the experiment was finally declassified. Bi Fang slowly exhaled a bubble, looking at the dolphin beside him, slowly clenching his fist as every muscle in his body tensed. He struck the dolphin¡¯s head with a fierce punch. You have helped me, but I¡¯m sorry, I must hurt you. Chapter 547 - Chapter 547: Chapter 544 Technical Diving Chapter 547: Chapter 544 Technical Diving The dark underwater world. Bi Fang adjusted his posture in the water, concentrating his strength in his upper body, and threw a quick punch. His fist powerfully broke through the water, striking hard against the dolphin¡¯s forehead. The dolphin¡¯s skin was very smooth and exceedingly soft. Bi Fang¡¯s punch, like a mighty blow against a carbon fiber plastic board floating on the sea¡¯s surface, swiftly glided off the head. Although the damage was not great, it was still enough to cause the dolphin pain as it flipped over in the water. It was stunned by the punch. This bottlenose dolphin and its companion were dumbfounded, not understanding what Bi Fang was up to, swimming around him and emitting sharp cries in the water. The enormous noise of internal ear circulation mixed with the cries circulated in Bi Fang¡¯s brain, and he could feel that the dolphin before him was questioning him. It was puzzled by Bi Fang¡¯s actions. Unfortunately for the dolphin, its question was not answered but met with more punches and kicks. Minutes later, the dolphin¡¯s tail fin harshly slapped Bi Fang¡¯s chest, and, along with its companion, they quickly swam away, no longer paying any attention to the stranger they had ¡°saved.¡± The immense force of the slap pushed Bi Fang against the rocky wall, crushing many sandstones, but he did not feel discomfort; instead, he started to laugh. However, it sure was painful. Bi Fang helplessly clutched his chest. His lungs, already compressed by the water pressure, were hit by the dolphin¡¯s tail fin as if it were a battering ram, almost making him spit out blood. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? At that moment, Bi Fang felt short of breath, as if he had overexerted himself holding his breath, and he was retching and gasping for air. Animals tend to be stronger the larger they are. The black bear Bi Fang had hunted weighed only three hundred pounds, whereas the bottlenose dolphin he now faced exceeded three hundred kilograms, a whooping six hundred pounds¡ªdouble the weight of the previous black bear! It seems incredible, doesn¡¯t it? That the big, fierce black bear actually weighs only half as much as a dolphin you¡¯d find in the aqua park? Indeed, that¡¯s the case. Male black bears usually weigh between 60 and 200 kilograms while the male bottlenose dolphin can weigh between 300 and 650 kilograms. The black bear only appears larger due to the visual effect created by its fur and spread limbs. In terms of mass, it doesn¡¯t come close to an adult dolphin. In the sea, Bi Fang was not only encumbered in his movements, but also faced a dolphin without the obvious weaknesses of a black bear, more adept at attacking and evading. One-on-one, he didn¡¯t stand much of a chance, let alone against two. Just moments ago, Bi Fang had dared not exert too much strength for fear of really riling up his adversary¡­ He might not be able to beat them¡­ Leaning against the rocky wall, Bi Fang bit on the breathing valve, continuously exchanging breaths, easing the congestion in his chest, while the huge Niu Gangjue still impaled on the spear, its tail fin swaying up and down with the current. Above the sea¡¯s surface, a few boats decorated with colorful lights drifted in the distance, and upon closer look, one could make out the distinctive dolphin shapes on their hulls. Dolphin Bay, being a restricted area, was seldom visited by people, with only the nearby fishermen occasionally patrolling the area, and even pleasure boats would not approach lightly. Keke and Mandy stood in the shadows on the shore, not daring to show themselves. Whenever someone passed by, they quickly hid among the jumbled rocks, staring at each other blankly. Gazing at the calm sea surface, the two of them were fraught with anxiousness. Bi Fang¡¯s strength was well acknowledged, but after all, they were underwater¡ªa place that was never humans¡¯ forte. Even the Monkey King wasn¡¯t adept at swimming, let alone ordinary humans. Moreover, they were up against the notorious bulls of the sea. It was inevitable that there were concerns. Mandy and Keke were both excellent at diving, one a national champion and the other a professional coach, and they both knew a lot about marine life. But that didn¡¯t mean they could fight against those creatures. They were powerless to help Bi Fang in the water; any attempt could result in a situation like Mandy¡¯s encounter with the Niu Gangjue, where a single hit could knock them out, becoming a huge burden instead. ¡°It¡¯s been ten minutes; nothing¡¯s gone wrong, has it?¡± ¡°He¡¯s got oxygen tanks. Let¡¯s wait a bit longer.¡± ¡°Hey, look, here he comes!¡± Mandy pointed towards the sea and suddenly shouted. The calm sea surface burst open with a splash. Bi Fang stood on the shallow shore, the spear resting on his shoulder, a fish nearly as tall as a man dangling from the spear tip, dripping a mixture of blood and seawater below. Bi Fang tore off his goggles, closed the oxygen valve, and took deep breaths of the fresh air on the coast, the thick salty wind filling his lungs and providing the comfortable satisfaction he had long missed. The tail fin of the Niu Gangjue convulsively twitched, and Bi Fang threw it on the ground, delivering another stab. Mandy and Keke hurriedly waded over, their eyes wide with amazement at the sight of the Niu Gangjue, with more than half of its body submerged by the sea. Mandy waved her hands frantically, exclaiming, ¡°WTF, I thought you were going to scare it off, but you actually just killed it outright?¡± Bi Fang waved his hand and found a few key spots on the Niu Gangjue, then thrust his spear down. ¡°What are you doing? Isn¡¯t it already dead?¡± Mandy was astonished, his excitement evident. Watching it on TV is one thing, experiencing it firsthand is another, especially when one has witnessed the power of the Niu Gangjue. With a few stabs from Bi Fang, blood from the Niu Gangjue gushed from those holes. ¡°Niu Gangjue is seldom bought by people, not only because of its poor meat quality but also because it has a lot of toxins in its body.¡± ¡°This guy mainly feeds on crustaceans, arthropods, fish, and water birds, and some of the crabs, shrimps, snails, and fish it likes to eat contain natural biotoxins, which accumulate in the blood of the Niu Gangjue, so it¡¯s essential to bleed out and detoxify quickly after catching it to prevent accidents after consumption.¡± Such key points are only known by seasoned sea anglers, and many novices are completely unaware, even amateurs like Keke are unaware of such things. No wonder, on the last fishing trip, when Keke saw someone puncturing the Niu Gangjue they had caught several times, he thought they were just taking out their frustrations. Bi Fang and Keke, dragging the seventy-kilogram Niu Gangjue, came ashore. ¡°Eat, are you going to eat it?¡± Bi Fang nodded, ¡°I want to try it.¡± Although it is known to not be tasty, that was just what Bi Fang had understood¡ªhe had never tried it himself, and besides, having caught it himself, it seemed unnecessary to just throw it away. ¡°How exactly did you kill it?¡± Mandy and Keke both were curious. Bi Fang shook his head again and recounted the scene from underwater to them. Mandy¡¯s eyes shone with excitement, clearly thrilled to encounter a kindred spirit. ¡°I hope that last strike will disperse the dolphins¡¯ affinity for humans, better if they run far away, stay away from fishing boats, and never return here,¡± Bi Fang sighed. The atmosphere suddenly fell silent. Keke nodded silently, realizing how sad it was to wish for dolphins to avoid humans. ¡°Alright, don¡¯t think too much,¡± Bi Fang placed his hands on their shoulders, looking up at the moon, ¡°It should be around midnight now; we don¡¯t have much time, let¡¯s get to work!¡± ¡°We need to finish all this early and tell the public the whole truth, that¡¯s our purpose for coming here!¡± The hunting season for Black Bear had started on July 12th, and on the first evening, Bi Fang, Mandy, and Keke had set up some of the positions in the jungle. Today is the second day of the hunting season, the 13th night, and they aimed to set up all underwater cameras before the night was over. There were still many places on the mountain that had good angles for shooting, but there hadn¡¯t been enough time to set up everything. To carry all this equipment, Richard and his team had used a total of forty-three large boxes, which indicated how heavy a task Bi Fang and his two companions had undertaken. This wasn¡¯t just a matter of laying things out in order; it involved placing each piece in the right spot with suitable camouflage and at the right angle according to different features and scenarios. Based on information Bi Fang gleaned from the local fishermen on the first night, the dolphin hunting season was set to take place on July 15th, or the day after tomorrow evening. A grand ritual would be held in the evening to declare the annual, half-year-long dolphin hunting season, and on the morning of July 16th, numerous fishing boats would leave the harbor, using sonar devices to herd all nearby dolphins into Dolphin Bay, where they¡¯re surrounded by mountains on three sides. To carry out a mass slaughter. Their time was running short; with tonight, the 14th night, plus another chance on the 15th night, they had three opportunities before the slaughter would commence. Time waits for no one. The trio moved swiftly into action, with Mandy anxiously switching to a spare diving tank and following behind Bi Fang into the water. Ten meters, twenty meters, thirty meters. Bi Fang and Mandy quickly adapted to the process, diving deeper. Passing thirty meters, a starkly different sensation arose spontaneously. The body became different, the massive pressure of the seawater slowly altering their body density until reaching a certain critical point. Bi Fang felt his body sink, buoyancy no longer completely countering gravity, and under gravity¡¯s pull, both of them slowly descended into the depths. This was a tactile sensation that no diving simulator could replicate, magical and wonderful. They were gently pushed toward the deep ocean. Every diver must remember the three most important diving laws, which are: Boyle¡¯s Law. Dalton¡¯s Law. Henry¡¯s Law. Familiar, aren¡¯t they? Yes, these are the three major gas laws. The vast majority of recreational divers use air or enriched air as their primary breathing gas, and these scuba diving gas laws apply to all breathing gases. In more specialized diving domains, such as the technical diving that Bi Fang and Mandy were currently undertaking, they might encounter trimix or pure oxygen. The first iron rule of scuba diving: Never hold your breath! In line with Boyle¡¯s Law: For an ideal gas, when temperature is constant, pressure and volume are inversely proportional. Imagine the lungs as a balloon, we can inhale to inflate it or exhale to release the air and let it shrink. As we dive deeper, pressure increases, the air inside the lungs gets compressed with each breath, but after a full inhale, the lung space is filled again. The deeper we dive, the higher the pressure, thus requiring more air to fill it, and consequently, air consumption increases. The pressure exerted on a diver¡¯s lungs in the depths requires more energy to expand them. When breathing regularly, the ¡°balloon¡± will never over-inflate. The same goes for the other two laws. The reason why deep diving is called technical diving is due to the abundance of technical aspects involved. This is a balancing act between the lungs and the gas. Coincidentally, Bi Fang was well-versed in this. These abyssal worlds seemed to be completely severed from other parts of Earth, waiting there silently for millions of years, until Bi Fang¡¯s flashlight cast the first beam of light. At forty meters, a pressure-resistant infrared detector was installed. This belonged to military equipment, normally not allowed to be taken out of the country. It was only after Bi Fang applied that it was approved. Through infrared, the activities of dolphins could be better detected. Above thirty meters, sunlight could still barely reach, but below thirty meters, even during the day, it would be pitch black, hence further down, what Bi Fang and others needed to install was no longer cameras, but detection devices. While maybe a large part of these devices would be fruitless, they had to be there, just like how a film shoot would have many discarded scenes. Not every device would capture the perfect shot, but it had to be there. After loading was complete, Bi Fang did not rashly dive deeper. He flashed his torchlight, giving Mandy a series of light signals. After Mandy responded, he too sent out flashes, and Bi Fang responded in kind. Confirming neither had issues, Bi Fang adjusted the gas in his oxygen bottle and continued to dive. People generally define diving within 40 meters deep as recreational diving. Why choose the number 40 meters? Two reasons. First, at this depth, divers can surface directly in an emergency without having to worry about serious safety issues. Second, when the air partial pressure at sea level is one atmosphere, then at an oxygen partial pressure of 1.4 atmospheres, oxygen toxicity becomes increasingly dangerous and can affect the diver¡¯s central nervous system, leading to convulsions underwater. This would directly impair the diver¡¯s ability to maintain a grip on the regulator. Similarly, when the partial pressure of nitrogen reaches around 3 atmospheres at about 30 meters, some divers will begin to feel an anesthetic effect, which intensifies as the partial pressure increases. This is known as Henry¡¯s law, which refers to the relationship between the solubility of a gas in a liquid and the surrounding pressure. As diving depth increases, the amount of nitrogen in the human body also accumulates. This nitrogen can induce a state similar to drunkenness, commonly known as ¡°nitrogen narcosis¡±. Below depths of 40 meters, the effects of nitrogen narcosis become so strong that they can impair judgment and responsiveness, leading to safety accidents. Even many individuals are not aware that they are experiencing nitrogen narcosis; they feel perfectly lucid, even euphoric, yet they can¡¯t even answer simple math questions like what is one plus one. Just now, Bi Fang and Mandy were confirming each other¡¯s lucidity by giving each other two-digit arithmetic problems to solve. For this reason, recreational diving limits are set to 40 meters; any deeper and diving enters the realm of technical and industrial diving. Issues such as decompression sickness and nitrogen narcosis are all caused by nitrogen, but we can¡¯t do without it because breathing pure oxygen is toxic. Astronauts can breathe pure oxygen for several hours before a spacewalk without being affected by decompression sickness, but this is because the pressure inside the spacesuit is lower than that inside the space station, creating a decompression environment. Pure oxygen toxicity is conditional¡ªwhen the inhaled oxygen partial pressure exceeds 0.3 atmospheres (30 kilopascals), oxygen starts to become toxic to cells. What astronauts can do in space is not feasible underwater, where breathing pure oxygen in a high-pressure environment can lead to oxygen toxicity. The human body is so fragile. To be even more precise, below depths of 55 meters underwater, breathing air alone can cause oxygen toxicity, let alone breathing pure oxygen. Behind Bi Fang and Mandy now were oxygen tanks containing three different gases: helium, oxygen, and nitrogen. This is what¡¯s known as a trimix; the addition of helium reduces the proportions of oxygen and nitrogen. Just figuring out the right ratio of these gases is enough to give amateurs a headache. Descending is one thing; ascending is an even bigger hassle, requiring stops at different depths for sufficient time to gradually expel the excess nitrogen from the body. The world record for technical diving was once set by a man named Ahmed Gabr, who in 2014 reached a depth of 332 meters. Gabr took only 14 minutes to descend to 332 meters, but it took him 14 hours to surface. Even though Bi Fang now can free dive to a depth of 70 meters in one go, this is on the basis that he doesn¡¯t need to stay there for a long time, and the changes in his body are not too drastic. If he spends too much time at depth, he must also abide by the laws of physics. 50 meters below water. Bi Fang¡¯s body entered the second phase, where the capillaries in his lungs began to congest and harden to protect the chest cavity from the water pressure. Pressure increased, and without any preparation, an ordinary person would surely die if they instantly entered such a pressurized environment. Time passed for what seemed like an eternity until they were 80 meters below water. Eighty meters, a number that makes one feel suffocated, where struggling only leads to greater danger. Here, one can only rely on mental and psychological strength to overcome and tell oneself to go with nature, and only by completely relaxing can harm be transformed into protection. In the pitch-black world, far away from light and humankind, in a place accompanied only by cold isolation, Bi Fang became like a tiny droplet, silently floating in the ocean. With the final piece of equipment installed, a sense of relief washed over Mandy and Bi Fang. Plan accomplished! Chapter 548 - Chapter 548: How to Shake Off a Stalker Chapter 548: How to Shake Off a Stalker July 14, in the morning. Bi Fang didn¡¯t participate in the live streaming of the hunting season, his reason was the same as before. He was resting in town, and needed to wait until the fourth day to return to the forest to live stream. Inside the live stream room, a large number of viewers who saw the leave notice howled in dismay. The barrage of comments stormed in wave after wave, like a tide erupting. The deep resentment contained within made anyone who saw it afraid, especially with the mix of multiple languages, it seemed even more terrifying. [Damn, another leave?] [Old Fang really isn¡¯t worried about others surpassing him, huh?] [Laziness, oh laziness, you¡¯re too lax!] [Lord Fang, give us something, I¡¯m having withdrawals. It¡¯s unbearable day by day. Without something to watch, my heart feels like it¡¯s stuffed with a cat, gasping and scratching, I can¡¯t sleep at night and end up scratching all the good skin off my body] [Just quit, it¡¯s hopeless.] [I know I should quit, but I really can¡¯t take it. Lord Fang, I know you¡¯re soft-hearted, a great kind person, give us something to get through this period, I promise I¡¯ll quit next time, Lord Fang¡ªoops, Lord Fang] Ever since there were comments, Bi Fang gave the viewers¡¯ comments a thumbs up. Bi Fang put the tablet filled with comments aside, picked up his backpack, and walked out of the hotel openly and aboveboard¡ªthis was how he was different from Richard and the others. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã? When Bi Fang went out, nobody tailed him, unless it was a fan, and fans were easy to shake off. To start with, the fan would have to follow a top-special forces soldier; that fan must also have some sort of system. The backpack was stuffed to the brim. Bi Fang held a map in his hand, walked towards the location indicated by the red circles, then set his backpack down, took out the camera equipment, climbed a big tree, and secured it at a high vantage point with an open view. Sitting on a tree branch, Bi Fang looked at the distant bay and squeezed the earpiece, shouting, ¡°How¡¯s the angle? Can you see clearly?¡± ¡°Move up a bit, there¡¯s a branch in the way.¡± With a computer on his lap, Jerret was remotely directing Bi Fang through the screen. Bi Fang readjusted the camera position, ¡°OK, how about now?¡± ¡°Too high now, lower it a bit, yes, that¡¯s right, now that position is good, you can fix it in place.¡± Bi Fang circled around the branch, got behind the tree, tightened the securing bolts, and firmly clamped it onto the trunk. Then he slid down the tree trunk all the way to the ground. Apart from Dolphin Bay, there were many more places where Bi Fang needed to set things up. Dolphin Bay was just the most bloody and notorious slaughter spot; every year during the dolphin hunting season, the water here was blood red. And this was without any exaggeration. Literally blood red. From satellite images, the entire Dolphin Bay looked like a sea of blood. In his past life, when Bi Fang saw it for the first time, he truly understood that expressions like ¡°rivers of blood¡± and ¡°blood flowing into a stream¡± were not just idioms on paper, but scenes that existed in reality. ¡°Phew, another one dealt with.¡± Bi Fang wiped the sweat from his forehead. The weather was really hot today. It was a bit better in the forest with no urban heat island effect and plenty of cool places, but Bi Fang was not idle and, to avoid scratches, he couldn¡¯t wear shorts or short sleeves. ¡°Was anyone following you today?¡± After installing another camera, Bi Fang sat on a stone, took a sip of water to rest, and pressed the earpiece to ask. Since Bi Fang was operating under the cover of darkness, he naturally needed someone to draw the locals¡¯ attention in the open. The more Richard and the others resisted, the more attention they could draw. By contrast, Bi Fang¡¯s operations were much safer and more covert. However, things couldn¡¯t get too intense. Richard¡¯s car had been blown up, and that scene was still vividly etched in everyone¡¯s minds. Everyone was trembling with fear, as if walking on a tightrope, carefully measuring every step. Exposing everything here is everyone¡¯s wish, but that doesn¡¯t mean everyone is ready to make that sacrifice. Whether it¡¯s pickpocketing, other petty crimes, or serious crimes or acts of terrorism, almost all criminals will surveil their targets to some extent before they strike. They focus on observing every move of their targets, but in fact, during this period, the criminals themselves are highly susceptible to exposure¡ªespecially if their targets are always vigilant and extremely sensitive to their surroundings. Richard¡¯s team, upon setting foot in Japan for the second time, couldn¡¯t be clearer about this, knowing how unwelcome they were in Taiji Town. They even felt that every person who sneaked a glance their way was a resident tasked with tailing them, or a member of the Japanese Organization, ready to pull out a switchblade from their pocket and use it on them at any moment. No police would come to their aid, and even after death, the perpetrator could not be found. Being stabbed over twenty times in the back and then ruled as a suicide, such a ludicrous thing was indeed possible. ¡°How could there not be any,¡± Jerret said with a wry smile, pressing down slightly on his computer and opening the car window. Alongside the road, a man dressed in all black and wearing sunglasses held a video camera, squatting on the ground, blatantly turning his head to follow Richard and the others as they drove past. As they passed by each other, the man with the rolled-down window gave Richard and the others the middle finger. The provocation was quite blatant. Looking in the rearview mirror, Richard saw today¡¯s third vehicle that was closely following them, ¡°Just from the license plates, we¡¯ve noted down seven or eight numbers.¡± ¡°When we first arrived, we didn¡¯t know who was tracking us.¡± A few days ago, Richard and his team only knew that they were being watched and followed, but had no idea who was behind it. Whether it was whalers or the Japanese Organization, they had no clue. It wasn¡¯t until this morning that Bi Fang taught Mandy how to locate their tail, and they pinpointed a particular individual. Bi Fang told Mandy that, to ascertain who was following them, they needed to act on multiple fronts while following the TEDD principle. The so-called TEDD principle stands for Time, Environment, Distance, Demeanor. Time: Have you seen the same person or a group of people repeatedly in different environments? To confirm whether this is true, you should pay attention to time the entire day. Environment: Have you noticed people whose dress or body language clashes with the surrounding environment? Distance: Does the same group of people appear at two locations far apart from each other? For example, is this person the same one wearing sunglasses that you saw at the neighborhood convenience store 10 minutes ago, perhaps less suspicious in appearance, or was he there two hours earlier? Behavior: In the field of surveillance, ¡°behavior¡± refers to conduct and appearance. Look for those whose clothing or behavior doesn¡¯t blend in with the environment. Frequently change your daily routine or routes to confirm if you¡¯re being followed. According to these guidelines, look for ¡°coincidences¡± that repeat themselves at different times and places. Meanwhile, be extra cautious in your actions¡ªmake the criminals believe that they have merely lost sight of their target by accident, rather than the target intentionally evading them. The simplest way to do so is to go to a far-off supermarket to shop, eliminating the chance of coincidence, to confirm whether you¡¯re under surveillance¡ªthen head to another area to do some errands, to test your hypothesis. Keeping these rules in mind, Mandy successfully locked onto an individual. They happened to encounter an English-speaking Japanese tourist and asked if he knew the guy standing by the roadside, or if not, could he please ask for them. The tourist wasn¡¯t highly alert and was quite willing to assist Richard and the others. The eventual answer was. That guy was the Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department. ¡°The ones tracking us aren¡¯t from the Organization, nor are they whalers; they¡¯re police,¡± Richard stroked his chin, ¡°They consider us criminals now.¡± ¡°Is there any way to shake these guys off? Old Fang? Any tips? They¡¯re as annoying as rats!¡± Jerret snatched the communicator channel and yelled frantically. He couldn¡¯t stand the atmosphere anymore, there were eyes on him wherever he went. Jerret suspected that even when he was using the bathroom, his photo was taken, possibly to threaten them to leave Japan. Bi Fang pondered for a moment, ¡°There is a way, but it¡¯s not guaranteed to work if you guys do it, and with the police mobilized, their people are everywhere. Even if you shake them off, if you¡¯re not planning to go into hiding, they¡¯ll find you again very quickly.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care, I need to shake them off now, give them a run for their money!¡± Bi Fang nodded, understanding what Jerret meant. Such actions were too stifling, everyone had a fire in their belly, even if they would be caught up with quickly, they wanted to give these guys a hard time. ¡°Then turn off all your cell phones,¡± Bi Fang instructed through the earpiece. Everyone in the car did as they were told. ¡°Set the radio to a frequency that¡¯s outside the receiving range.¡± Mandy twisted the knob, and soon the car radio was hissing without picking up any signals. ¡°How about it? Besides the hissing sound, do you hear any ticking? Listen carefully,¡± Bi Fang turned off the earpiece, temporarily cutting off contact with Richard and the others. After a while, the earpiece reconnected. Richard¡¯s somber voice rang out, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What does this mean?¡± Mandy exclaimed, convinced that Bi Fang wasn¡¯t making unfounded claims; the ticking sound had to mean something. Bi Fang sighed. Entering the era of miniaturization technology, attaching magnetic tracking devices to vehicles had become a piece of cake. Commercially available tracking devices varied in size, with the smallest being the size of a thumb drive, and were capable of being hidden in various environments, tracking the location of mobile phones and rental vehicles by sending back echo signals. To prevent loss, all rented vehicles were pre-installed with tracking devices. However, if the data falls into the hands of those with malicious intent, its use remains unknown. Tracking devices could be permanently installed inside a vehicle or temporarily attached to the car frame, communicating with satellites, cell towers, and servers. To avoid openly inspecting the vehicle, what Bi Fang had done was to make Richard and the others pay attention to whether there were any static interference noises. Bi Fang patiently explained, ¡°If you occasionally hear a ¡®tick¡¯ on top of the ¡®hiss,¡¯ it means there¡¯s some kind of mobile device operating within the car.¡± ¡°This noise comes from the interaction between mobile signals and the radio¡¯s speaker wires and coils. I had you turn off all cell phones and computers to avoid interference.¡± ¡°These signals can¡¯t penetrate metal, so such devices can¡¯t be hidden under the car frame or metal parts¡ªthey can usually be found in specific areas.¡± Following Bi Fang¡¯s guidance, everyone started to search. ¡°Between the window and the hood, under the plastic bumper, beneath the insect screen, on the roof, inside the speaker, under the trunk¡¯s felt board, underneath the front and rear seats¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve found it!¡± Keke, sitting in the back row, fumbled around and grabbed a small electronic device, occasionally flashing with light, in his hand. Everyone was exhilarated, ¡°What¡¯s next? Toss it away?¡± ¡°No!¡± Bi Fang narrowed his eyes. If you¡¯re certain someone has maliciously installed a tracking device against standard protocol, don¡¯t attempt to remove it. Instead, find an excuse to turnover the vehicle. ¡°Switch cars.¡± Find a new rental company, or offer a hefty sum to switch with a resident¡¯s car¡ªas long as the price is right, everything is negotiable. As for who would cover the expenses, Bi Fang, the richest among them, was the obvious choice. The power of money could make even the most staunch locals waver in front of this force. The key to shaking off the surveillance team without escalating the tracking into a full-blown chase was to make the trackers believe they had lost the target, rather than letting them realize they had been exposed. ¡°To get rid of a car surveillance team, avoid those driving techniques that make it obvious that you¡¯re trying to hide.¡± Switching to another vehicle, Mandy, who was driving, nodded earnestly and tried to drive as smoothly as possible. As if it were a normal sightseeing trip. ¡°Create an accordion effect: Draw the surveillance team to areas with traffic lights or many stop signs to break them up.¡± A long line of start-and-stop traffic could both scatter the members of the surveillance team and prevent them from becoming suspicious about Richard and the others¡¯ scheme. Mandy drove onto a congested street which was the main thoroughfare of the town with a high volume of traffic. Many tourists passed through here, honking incessantly, trying to get the cars in front to move faster. The vehicles closest to the target clung tightly, but the other members of the surveillance team eventually got caught several red lights back. ¡°Once there¡¯s no team member to take over, a surveillance operative acting alone will opt to leave to avoid arousing the target¡¯s suspicion.¡± Mandy looked back and saw the originally conspicuous multitude of cars had seemingly dwindled to the last two. ¡°Surveillance teams often lose sight of the target when they park or set off, so increase the frequency of stopping.¡± ¡°Park the car near an exit, make two right turns, then drive out of the parking lot.¡± Mandy drove into the parking lot, paused for a moment, then set off again. The surveillant who parked behind Mandy reacted too slowly, only thinking to start the car as Mandy¡¯s taillights were about to vanish. ¡°There¡¯s one more left.¡± Richard and the others looked back, from the several license plates they had memorized, now only the last one remained. ¡°Get out!¡± ¡°Get out?¡± The group was taken aback. ¡°You¡¯re now very close to a streetcar stop,¡± Bi Fang said calmly, based on the location Richard sent, ¡°I¡¯ve checked the arrival time of the streetcar, you have one minute.¡± ¡°Dash to the platform the moment the streetcar arrives, and leap into the carriage before the surveillant behind you realizes what¡¯s happening.¡± Richard and the others, carrying their things, hurriedly left the car and emerged from the alley just in time to see the streetcar already at the platform. The group rushed over and managed to squeeze into the streetcar just before it started moving. Bi Fang pressed the earpiece, ¡°Is anyone following you?¡± Mandy, gripping the handrail above, involuntarily grinned as he watched the surveillant outside who failed to catch the car. ¡°No more.¡± Chapter 549 - Chapter 549: 546? Chapter 549: 546? ¡°Lost them?¡± ¡°I assigned you seven cars and more than twenty people taking turns tracking, and now, you¡¯re telling me that they¡¯ve been lost!?¡± Inside the police headquarters, the chief clutched the phone, with veins bulging like a grid on his forehead, his voice low and measured as if suppressing the eruption of a volcano. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s¡­¡± The team leader responsible for tailing was drenched in cold sweat as his subordinates all kept as silent as cicadas in winter. As expected, they would soon be facing the chief¡¯s tempestuous rage. Ten minutes later¡­ The team leader scratched his confused ears, feeling like he was hearing things; it seemed as though the chief¡¯s scolding was still echoing in his mind. It was only when his subordinate shouted loudly that he snapped back to attention and asked, ¡°Ah, what did you say? Speak up.¡± ¡°Are we still going after them?¡± ¡°Of course we are chasing them, now, this instant, everyone get moving. As long as they are still in Taiji Town, find them all, even if it means digging three feet into the ground!¡± Unlike the infuriated chief of the police headquarters, Richard and his people all wore smiles of relief, as days of frustration dissolved, leaving everyone in much better spirits. ¡°What do we do next?¡± Mandy asked Bi Fang, excitedly pressing her earpiece. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 ¡°Get off the bus as soon as possible, get off at the next stop, and remember, never talk about sensitive information in an unknown environment; contact me after getting off at the next stop,¡± Bi Fang instructed Mandy before falling silent. Mandy nodded and confirmed this information with the people around her. Whether it was the train or the bus, fixed routes were in place. With a bit of investigation, one could easily figure out Richard and co.¡¯s itinerary, so it was crucial to leave before the followers could set up at the next stop. Bi Fang stood atop a hill, looking down at the road below. This was directly in front of Dolphin Bay. Dolphin Bay was surrounded by mountains on three sides, with sea water spreading across the beach, while a tall wall stood higher up on the shoreline. Above the tall wall was a wide road, with hills at both ends, so this road served as the access to the tunnels at each end. Dolphin Bay was low-lying; beside the road, there was a promenade, and next to it, stairs leading down to the beach of Dolphin Bay, reminiscent of ancient city walls. Bi Fang planned to install a few cameras right above the road. With an unobstructed view from a high vantage point, there was no better observation spot, but there was one problem. Due to the tunnels, surveillance was set up at both ends. To reach the beach of Dolphin Bay, one would have to pass by the road and thus be exposed to the surveillance cameras. Nowadays, surveillance cameras are widespread in major city streets and alleys, at traffic stops, ATMs, jewelry stores, and fast food shops. These places all capture footage of passers-by¡¯s faces. As surveillance equipment is low-cost, those devices can now be found even in the most remote parts of the world. Japan¡¯s surveillance coverage is not as extensive as Huaxia¡¯s, and although Taiji Town is not a major city, crucial road segments might have surveillance; the likelihood of them being out of service is very slim. This was no longer a matter of overt versus covert operations; anyone doing this would appear extremely suspicious. Setting up several high-definition cameras in the most sensitive area of Taiji Town¡¯s residents. What are you trying to do? What¡¯s the purpose of installing these, and who¡¯s directing you? What¡¯s your motive, and have you obtained permission from the relevant authorities? Is Li allowing you to go ahead? Who¡¯s behind you, what are you trying to achieve with these, and what are you trying to overthrow or destroy? Can¡¯t answer? Don¡¯t say we¡¯re arresting you for no reason; we have our grounds. Here in Japan, we can detain you for up to 28 days without evidence! Cough cough¡­ Bi Fang adjusted his baseball cap, reeling in his thoughts. Regrettably, these surveillance cameras were indeed troublesome, but for Bi Fang, they weren¡¯t a problem. To be safe, Bi Fang often assumed he was already within the camera¡¯s range and would use various stealth or interference methods to lessen the chance of being detected. A baseball cap and a mask were usually enough. When out and about, one should avoid wearing masks or adopting bizarre disguises. Hollywood-style disguises can quickly draw the attention of third parties. The truly clever ones are often the simplest; a hat or a hood is usually enough. Bi Fang squatted on the hillside, watching the vehicles appear in the tunnel and then quickly enter another passageway. This place was rarely frequented by people, and soon, Bi Fang found a gap in the traffic. He turned on his flashlight and took advantage of the absence of vehicles to jump off the five-to-six-meter-high hillside. After executing a fall protection maneuver, he quickly brushed the fallen leaves off his body and shone his flashlight on the roadside surveillance. Many cameras with auto-exposure features automatically contract their apertures under bright light¡ªdirecting a flashlight or LED light at the lens can effectively reduce the pixel quality of the images. Bi Fang had already gone through the entire plan on the mountain, calculating the timing of his actions to ensure that whenever he encountered a camera, the sun was always behind him. Seizing the chance to blur the camera¡¯s view, Bi Fang quickly maneuvered along the edge of the roadway, pulling out an extendable ladder and arriving directly beneath the surveillance camera. He slipped the razor blade that had been pressed under his tongue, inserting it into the rubber sleeve behind the surveillance device and twisting it left and right, making it penetrate the braided shielding layer to reach the sturdy metal core. The core signal of surveillance cameras is transmitted by a copper conductor in the middle, which is encased in a protective sleeve woven from metal and rubber. Contacting a steel blade with the copper conductor can cause a short circuit, momentarily interrupting the video transmission. Inserting the blade into the rubber sleeve behind the surveillance camera, penetrating the braided shielding layer, and reaching the sturdy metal core, which is the aluminum foil shielding layer, causes static interference in the monitor, interrupting the image transmission. And restoring normalcy is very simple. Remove the blade, and the signal will return to normal. Steel blades are easy to find. If not in the most ordinary of hotel rooms, then just go and buy a box for a few dollars. Such road surveillance is bound to be monitored, and upon noticing something amiss, someone will definitely come to check. But Bi Fang wasn¡¯t waiting for them to come and inspect. Once the surveillance broke, it wouldn¡¯t be repaired for days; his goal was to keep the problem unnoticed. Five minutes. The time Bi Fang gave himself. From the surveillance staff noticing the problem to calling and logging the incident, it would be around this much time. If the staff were negligent, the timeline could be extended, but Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t count on such luck. As long as he completed his objective within this timeframe, his actions wouldn¡¯t raise any suspicion. After similarly disrupting another tunnel outlet¡¯s surveillance with static interference, Bi Fang quickly took out a ¡°rock¡± from his backpack, placing it under the guardrail on the side of the road. The spot was unassuming. Facing Dolphin Bay, it offered a perfect vantage point for filming; everything anyone did here would be recorded without omission. Just then, the sound of a car roaring through the tunnel echoed once more; Bi Fang quickly scrambled over the guardrail, laying on his hands at the edge of the sidewalk, hanging from the high wall supported only by the strength of his fingers. Waiting for the car to pass and vanish over the road, Bi Fang stepped forward and quickly grabbed the guardrail, flipping back over it and setting up other ¡°stones.¡± These were small stones, inconspicuous, but because of their size, they couldn¡¯t fit large batteries, thus had limited power. Just like installing hidden devices, there are terms ¡°hard installs¡± and ¡°soft installs.¡± The former relies on the parasitic power from sources like televisions or power sockets to temporarily install equipment. The latter could be simple, such as placing the device inside a tissue box. ¡°Hard installs¡± require a lot of time on target but never need to be serviced again. But once a device¡¯s battery runs out or its storage space is insufficient, sometimes the person who placed it might need to take a risk to handle the ¡°soft install¡± device. Choosing which method depends on weighing the available locations, surveillance duration, achievable audio quality, and various other factors. Although a usable surveillance device can be fashioned from just a phone and a pair of headphones, if the installation location is terrible, the results will be poor. Having finished setting up above, Bi Fang jumped onto the beach and quickly dug a hole to bury a ¡°boulder¡± within it, leaving just a small corner protruding, making it look like a normal, albeit partially exposed, rock. Bi Fang then spread some dry, fine sand over it to prevent anyone from noticing the spot had been dug. Time ticked away, second by second. Bi Fang moved swiftly, pulling out the blade from the second surveillance camera. The five-minute alarm went off right on cue. In a room, the dizzying array of surveillance screens, which had been filled with static, returned to normal, showing cars passing without any anomalies. Just as the staff member was about to make a call for repairs, they saw the situation resolve and laid down the phone and logbook, picking up their cellphone again. All was as usual. In the forest, Bi Fang clapped his hands and took a deep breath; the toughest part had been dealt with, and the rest would be easy. But there was a problem. Bi Fang flipped through his backpack, which was now devoid of ¡°rocks¡±: ¡°I¡¯m out of equipment.¡± The backpack could only hold so much, accommodating three ¡°boulders,¡± a handful of smaller stones, and a few branches was about the limit; any more would be cumbersome to carry and inconvenient to move around in the forest. Previously, working with Mandy, Keke, and a group of three, they managed to carry four or five large cases at a time. Making three trips allowed them to bring back a dozen and a half cases, speeding along the work through the night. However, on his own, Bi Fang could only carry one backpack and couldn¡¯t go back for more equipment. Climbing walls at the hotel during the day was too conspicuous and would be easily remembered by people. The city had even more surveillance, and it wasn¡¯t possible to jam them all with blades. Bi Fang needed to avoid any public intersections with Richard and his team as much as possible. ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll have to make some myself.¡± Bi Fang gripped the map, which had many unvisited places on it. As he pondered a solution, Mandy¡¯s call came through again. ¡°We¡¯ve gotten off the car, now what?¡± Bi Fang hesitated for a moment, then tentatively suggested, ¡°Play?¡± ¡°Are you joking?¡± ¡°But that¡¯s all we can do now,¡± Bi Fang said helplessly. He was able to direct Mandy and others to shake off their tail, but he wasn¡¯t a god, unable to turn them invisible under broad daylight. With such a large group of foreigners, the police could quickly pick up their trail through surveillance and find Richard and the others unless they split up and reduced their movements. But that conflicted with the original intent of Richard and his team coming out to attract attention, and Bi Fang didn¡¯t have the capacity to guide every individual. Putting up a show of force once to vent was enough. ¡°After establishing dominance, they will seek revenge on you. I think you should now make some weapons,¡± Bi Fang calmly suggested. Dominance was established, but the memory of Richard and his team¡¯s first visit to Japan was still fresh. If the other party got frustrated, they might lash out and beat them up. ¡°Weapons?¡± ¡°You have a lot of cameras around you, right?¡± ¡°No shit.¡± Let¡¯s not forget what they were there for; how could they not have cameras? ¡°Then you could try modifying the cameras into Tasers.¡± ¡°Tasers? What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Stun guns.¡± Speaking to Mandy, a layman, Bi Fang used a simpler term to convey his meaning. ¡°Camera¡­ stun gun? Are these two words actually homonyms?¡± Mandy looked blankly at a camera on a nearby seat, picked it up, and after scrutinizing it for a while, click-clicked a few photos of the train station. Yep, sharp and pretty. ¡°How do you modify this?¡± Richard and Jerret, two older individuals, were even more perplexed, feeling out of their depth handling the camera. Cameras turned into stun guns. What kind of black technology was this? ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the details, just do as I say,¡± Bi Fang waved his hand, moving onto the streets again; he needed to go to a supermarket to buy some things. Whether for a civilian or a spy, choosing non-lethal means of self-defense is crucial. However, ready-made Taser guns are not easy to come by, let alone for Richard and the others to buy. Even if they tried, no one would sell to them. Converting a camera into a Taser gun actually isn¡¯t difficult. One only needs to rewire the circuit so that the power originally intended for the flash is directed to two protruding screws. This charge is enough to temporarily paralyze an attacker. The struck opponent is likely to fall to the ground and lose the ability to move for several minutes. An electrical current between 120-380 volts can penetrate tissues and nerves, creating static electricity within the body and thus disrupting communication between the brain and muscles. The result is compromised motor function and involuntary muscle contractions, making it an effective form of non-lethal self-defense. Upon hearing this, Mond¡¯s hand trembled. Photography and camera work go hand in hand; as a photography assistant, Mond had never imagined the device in his hands could be so hot to handle. ¡°Now, listen to me. Disassemble the camera¡¯s capacitor, and then remove the battery.¡± Film SLR cameras are outrageously expensive, but when your life is on the line, everything is worth it. After all, you only have one life. Bi Fang began to teach step by step knowledge that laymen could never know. First step, empty the capacitor. Before opening the camera, remove the battery, press the flash button, and deplete all the electricity stored in the capacitor to prevent accidental electrocution during assembly. If the capacitor is not properly discharged, the risk of injury will be very high. Second step, open up the camera. Remove the camera¡¯s casing, dismantling the circuit board, flash unit, and film, breaking apart the flash assembly and circuit board. ¡°Do you have a screwdriver, and wire strippers? Small pliers will do as well.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The electrical expert opened his toolbox and took out the tools. With Bi Fang¡¯s guidance, he now knew what to do. As an electrical expert, he felt that converting a camera into a Taser was a path he had never considered before. Often, it¡¯s not that people can¡¯t do something, but rather they lack inspiration. Without training that laypeople are unaware of, one would never think of this method. Following Bi Fang¡¯s advice, the electrical expert quickly grasped the key points and, as instructed by Bi Fang, left behind a small section of film. He carefully stripped the insulation off both ends of the wires and wrapped the ends around the screw tops. He then screwed the screws into the camera casing from the film canister side. Next, he wrapped the other end of the wires around the terminals of the capacitor and secured them with electrical tape. Thus, the camera¡¯s electrical current was diverted from the battery to flow towards the two screws instead; when pierced into an enemy, it would achieve the same effect as a taser gun. The last step was the reassembly of the camera, restoring the circuit board and stuffing the wires around the edges of the circuit board. ¡°We also need a safety mechanism.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± The electrical expert immediately understood why Bi Fang had asked him to cut off a piece of film. He inserted the cut film between the battery and the capacitor terminals to prevent the modified camera from accidentally discharging. Finally, he reattached the casing, and to the eye, it looked exactly like before! But within, it was completely different. Nobody would suspect that the ¡°camera¡± in a tourist¡¯s hands was actually a Taser gun capable of easily stunning a person! ¡°Bi Fang! You¡¯re a damn genius!¡± the electrical expert exclaimed. ¡°When using it, you can make a stabbing motion to drive the screws into the opponent¡¯s flesh. The collision will produce significant vibrations, triggering a discharge, but even if the device fails to emit a shock, piercing the skin will likely cause enough harm to the attacker for you to escape.¡± ¡°This device is very dangerous,¡± Bi Fang solemnly warned. If it weren¡¯t to prevent unexpected incidents for Richard and the others, he would never teach such a thing. Making a makeshift Taser gun is far more dangerous than it seems; discharging it could cause a severe shock that might incapacitate someone! Chapter 550 - Chapter 550: Chapter 547: Surprise Inspection Chapter 550: Chapter 547: Surprise Inspection ¡°Appreciation of five thousand six hundred yuan, welcome to visit us again!¡± In the supermarket, the sweet-voiced clerk smiled at Bi Fang, who was bagging his items. Bi Fang nodded before hurrying out with two large bags in hand. He was running short of specialized surveillance equipment and needed to craft some himself, leading him to the supermarket to purchase large quantities of milk, vinegar, and some snacks. Something seemed off, didn¡¯t it? If Bi Fang were live streaming at that moment, many viewers would probably be commenting, for a simple reason: The goods he bought seemed just too ordinary. Are you sure you¡¯re not here to shop for daily necessities? Apart from the excessive amount of milk, which looked impossible to finish during a trip, the rest¡ª a bottle of vinegar, hmm, maybe Old Fang has a taste for sourness, and then the chips, soda, biscuits, jelly¡­ Anyone who saw these items wouldn¡¯t think they could be used to make anything special; they were just the essentials for a homebody¡¯s survival. Behind the image of a rugged outdoorsman was actually a happy home dweller!? Of course not. Bi Fang dumped all of his purchases on the hotel sofa, took out a small basin, opened the milk carton, and poured all the milk into it. The real reason for his supermarket visit boiled down to just two items: milk and vinegar. Cameras are everywhere¡ªone must always assume that their actions are being recorded. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï The other snacks were merely a decoy to mask the presence of these two items, to avoid drawing suspicion with an overly obvious purpose. Of course, to most people, milk and vinegar wouldn¡¯t suggest anything out of the ordinary, but for someone like Bi Fang, these items were perfect for creating concealment tools. A white froth formed on the surface as Bi Fang poured about a liter of milk into the container. He tapped the chopstick along the rim to dissipate the foam, then placed the basin in the microwave of his hotel room, checked the power settings, and set the timer for five minutes to start heating. Fancier hotel suites come fully-equipped with furniture and appliances, some even include a private kitchen. After five minutes, Bi Fang took out the hot but not yet boiling milk, now topped with a thin layer of ¡°milk skin.¡± Opening the bottle of vinegar, Bi Fang used a stainless steel soup spoon to add eight spoonfuls of vinegar into the container of milk, piercing the milk skin and stirring continuously. Once mixed, a mass of flocculent sediment entwined around the spoon handle. Fishing out the sediment and holding it level with his eyes, Bi Fang pinched the flocculent substance, which was sticky but intact. Good. That was precisely what Bi Fang wanted. To hide valuable data, keys, or surveillance gadgets like cameras and microphones, one only needs two common kitchen ingredients: milk and vinegar. Heated and filtered, the casein in the milk coagulates into a gel-like, plastic-like substance. Molding this substance allows it to take any shape and dry to a clay-like consistency. This versatile material can be shaped, colored, and made to mimic the appearance of rocks, bricks, logs, or any object, making it an ideal drop point for intelligence and perfect for concealing valuable items or surveillance devices in specific environments. The only thing to be mindful of is not to let the milk boil during heating, or else the result would be a flocculent substance instead of a silky one. Separating DNA proteins in high school biology essentially uses the same method. Bi Fang took out a spare T-shirt, draped it beneath the container, and poured its contents into the sink, filtering out the stringy mixture. In practice, five hundred grams of milk could produce a ¡°milk plastic ball¡± the size of an egg, enough to conceal a miniature camera. Having the disguises wasn¡¯t enough, they also needed cameras and microphones. These were no challenge for Bi Fang either. During the initial execution of the mission, he had considered that they might not be able to bring too much equipment, so he had Richard and the others purchase a considerable number of baby monitors. Any computer city or large supermarket would have them, they just needed to be simply modified to become hidden cameras. Bi Fang needed only the components inside, discarding the bulky casings entirely. He removed the components¡ªtransmitters, battery packs, and camera lenses¡ªbut did not cut the wires connecting the components. Then he inserted a toothpick into the camera lens and glued the newly acquired ¡°special plastic¡± to the lens, molding the surrounding ¡°plastic¡± into the shape of a rock. When the time came, he just needed to pull out the toothpick, which would leave an inconspicuous pinhole in its place, allowing the camera to conduct surveillance through the tiny opening. Bi Fang poured out some vinegar, mixed in a suitable amount of milk and stirred, quickly turning the mixture into a brownish-gray color¡ªhis ¡°paint¡± for dyeing. He painted the rock a neutral color or created special textures mimicking the exterior of the target location, placed the transmitter and battery pack into a waterproof ziplock bag, and then connected it to the ¡°rock.¡± At that time, this part could be buried in the ground, not too deep as that would lead to signal transmission failure, and finally, position the camera to capture the desired footage. To ensure the camera¡¯s ¡°view¡± was at the correct angle, Bi Fang didn¡¯t remove the toothpick until the very last moment, using the angle of the toothpick to measure the field of view. A lens like this had a very small chance of being discovered. Even if discovered and dismantled, and the exposed wires were seen, in the eyes of ordinary people, it was nothing more than a piece of junk that had been blown by the wind and buried by the sun. During installation, additional camouflage could be added by spraying glue on the rock lens and covering it with soil collected from the scene, almost ensuring infallibility. Moreover, a microphone was needed. It was relatively simple to secretly install a voice-activated recording device in the target¡¯s room or vehicle, but without amplification equipment, it was unlikely to gather effective intelligence. A complete surveillance system needed to amplify the sound through a microphone. Lacking specialized tools, one could also transform a cellphone, an audio jack, and headphones into an effective listening device. The difference between the two was incredibly simple as their functions were the exact opposite. Bi Fang disassembled a pair of cheap headphones from a variety store, revealing two conspicuous wires, a red positive wire and a black negative one. By reversing the polarity of the two wires, one could change the device¡¯s function. Microphones and speakers were essentially the same instrument; any speaker¡ªfrom the earbuds on headphones to the stereo systems in televisions¡ªcould be turned into a microphone within a few minutes. Speakers convert electronic signals into sound, while microphones convert sound into processable and amplified electronic signals. Bi Fang cut the output end of the speaker¡¯s wire, connected it to an audio jack, and plugged the audio port into the camera equipment he had just prepared. All small recording devices could essentially be used this way, but phones set to silent mode and configured to auto-answer had two extra advantages. They could intercept information in real-time without risking a return to the target location to retrieve the devices. This eavesdropping device installation technique was highly adaptable. Unfortunately, Bi Fang didn¡¯t have that many phones. He had also taught this trick to Richard and others, advising them to install one in their own cars as well so as not to be caught off guard by someone sneaking in. One only needed to disable any rear speaker in the vehicle, plug its wires into a recorder or phone, and assemble a vehicle surveillance device. In public places, earbuds that can dangle from one¡¯s jacket pocket can serve as a covert intelligence-gathering station. The sound, image, and camouflage were all set; in just one short hour, Bi Fang had once again produced a batch of surveillance equipment ready to use. He hoisted the backpack onto his back; there was still work to be done today. Night. Bi Fang, along with Mandy and Keke, returned to Dolphin Bay once more. Despite switching hotels as instructed by Bi Fang, tracking them down was still no challenge for him; in fact, it was even simpler, because this hotel had balconies instead of floor-to-ceiling glass walls. Right under the watchful eyes of the guards, Bi Fang led the two out with him. Perhaps because the dolphin season was drawing near, there were noticeably more people at Dolphin Bay tonight. Large piles of firewood had accumulated on the beach, suggesting a grand bonfire party was being prepared for the following evening. The mission period was much longer than Bi Fang had anticipated¡ªsurveying the terrain, formulating a plan, and patiently observing, ¡°Just now, two groups of people headed to the tunnel. Did you see them?¡± Bi Fang turned his head to ask Mandy and Keke. The two nodded, indicating that they had also seen them, and that it was a very bad sign. As soon as the two groups descended the mountain, they ran back up, their flashlights swinging hurriedly¡ªactions marked by swiftness. They were eager to get moving and start work. Richard had told Bi Fang that the first time they came to Japan, they also encountered these people who would carefully inspect broken branches. Usually, they would only climb the mountain to check when there were dolphins in Dolphin Bay, and the purpose was to see if anyone was tracking and filming. Bi Fang had already encountered dolphins the previous night, and everything signaled the inevitable. The focus of Dolphin Bay was on its right side, but Bi Fang and his companions had placed the equipment on the left side the previous night, which made it easier to enter the water and observe. Today Bi Fang placed most of the equipment on trees with a clear view, the observation point higher, offering an unobstructed view from top to bottom. Mandy wore an infrared camera on her head, also as a precaution against the sudden appearance of anyone. Moreover, they also had professional underwater divers responsible for underwater inspection, conducting thorough searches of the seabed¡ªBi Fang didn¡¯t want them to discover the equipment. Underwater sonar, underwater cameras, underwater infrared devices¡ªall were the results of their hard work from an all-nighter. Bi Fang and Richard needed to understand everything that happened here, to experience it in an all-encompassing, three-dimensional way. They wanted to hear every sound the dolphins made as well as every word spoken by the fishermen. Bi Fang¡¯s efforts were not solely for exposing the slaughter but to also document something that might change hearts. Last weekend, the long and mournful cries of the humpback whale resounded across London¡¯s Trafalgar Square; an overwhelming sadness burst forth like a cold, inundating flow of water that covered every person in the square. Thousands of demonstrators demanded a halt to the hunting of whales. In the 1960s, the IWC did nothing about the whale slaughter. Until one man appeared¡ªRoger Payne. Not a character from an anime, but a real hero. He initiated the whale rescue movement by revealing their songs to the world, an influence so profound and terrifying. Anyone who had heard the cries of the whales could feel the tumultuous sorrow within, as explosive as a volcanic eruption. Now, the protests had started again, and those involved were determined to change the status quo as the numbers of whale slaughter were on the rise again, and it was time for a new leader to take charge. Roger Payne was already over seventy years old, and there were only a few like him. This night was bound to be difficult to endure. ¡°Take this.¡± Bi Fang handed each of them a slip of paper with a series of numbers on it. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°The phone number for the Huaxia Embassy. Keep it saved and the paper with you. If you run into danger, or get captured, apart from contacting me, the second option is to contact this number.¡± ¡°Oh, no need, we have Ugly Country¡­¡± ¡°Trust me, take it. It¡¯s more reliable, just in case. Remember to keep your phone in your sock, and, have you each prepared more than two phones as I told you?¡± Bi Fang folded the slip of paper and stuffed it into their collars. All these precautions were taken to avoid unforeseen problems. If they were caught, they would certainly be searched. One phone was to be left in a conspicuous place, intended for their captors to ¡°find¡±. The other was to be hidden on their person, so having more than two phones was essential. Sometimes, mere hiding isn¡¯t enough; the enemy must be made to believe their goal is achieved¡ªthat¡¯s the real art of concealment. Creating a diversion, luring the tiger away from the mountain, the same principle. ¡°Oh, alright, I hope I never have to use it.¡± The two earnestly accepted the slips of paper. Having finished this, the three of them turned and entered the forest, completely disregarding the no-entry signs. Regrettably, Bi Fang¡¯s learning was inadequate; he believed the yellow sign simply read, ¡°Welcome to Taiji Town.¡± ¡­ In the early hours of the morning, the three evaded the searching villagers, but just as they thought to head down the mountain, suddenly, a flash of lightning blinded Keke¡¯s eyes. Fortunately, Bi Fang was quick to react, pulling Keke back and using a large tree to obscure their figures. ¡°Is someone there? Who¡¯s there?¡± Apparently detecting something amiss, the villager shouted. Keke swallowed hard, his heart pounding, his temples throbbing intensely. ¡°It¡¯s over, I didn¡¯t see.¡± Mandy said quietly, licking his lips. Just as the villager ran out, Mandy happened to look away, and the infrared vision didn¡¯t catch anything. Bi Fang crouched down, picked up a rock from the ground, weighed it, and then hurled it powerfully to the other side. The rock whistled through the air, making a noise and swiftly drawing the villager¡¯s attention, with shouting voices, the flashlight quickly disappeared. ¡°Is he gone?¡± Keke swallowed, his forehead already drenched with sweat, looking as if he had been fished out of water. The patrolling villagers, each with a machete at their waist¡ªone could imagine what would happen if they were caught. After about five or six minutes, Bi Fang nodded, ¡°He should be gone.¡± Just when the three thought it was all over and they reached the foot of the mountain, The people in the hotel, including Richard, were facing a sudden attack. Chapter 551 - Chapter 551: Chapter 548 Plan Chapter 551: Chapter 548 Plan In the hotel, after adjusting all the equipment and confirming there were no problems, Richard and the others, who were preparing to rest, suddenly heard an urgent knocking at the door. The people sitting around inside the room felt their hearts skip a beat as they exchanged glances, wondering what the situation might be, when the urgent knocking emphasized the unkind intentions of the visitor. The visitor shouted in broken English, ¡°Open up, police! Search!¡± ¡°Police?¡± Upon hearing this word, everyone felt a pang of panic in the depths of their hearts. Richard gestured with his hand to calm everyone down, stood up from the tatami, walked to the door, and peered through the peephole to see the uniformed Japanese police; he asked, ¡°Please show your identification, and also, do you have a search warrant?¡± ¡°Open up!¡± The other side didn¡¯t answer, only repeating the demand, with the knocking growing louder and louder. ¡°No search warrant, I can¡¯t open the door, understand?¡± Seeing that the other side didn¡¯t have a search warrant, Richard felt somewhat emboldened. The authority of Japanese police is slightly greater than in other countries, as they can perform searches at will, a practice known as ¡°shokumu shitsumon,¡± but this requires the person to be outdoors. Once they enter a private residence, whether it¡¯s one¡¯s own home, a rental, or a hotel, having a rental agreement means they must have a search warrant, otherwise it is illegal. The knocking continued, and the other party even threatened to break down the door. ¡°What do we do if they decide to force their way in?¡± Mond asked the group. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Conducting a search by force without a warrant is already illegal. The only problem is the proverbial dragon can¡¯t suppress the local snakes. If these people really barged in, even if it were against regulations, Richard and the others could do nothing about them. Mandy and Keke had not returned yet, and once intruders came in, the fact that the two of them had been sneaking out would certainly be discovered. Once discovered, the opposition would definitely intensify their search efforts. Seeing that the other party was becoming more and more irritable, Richard urgently reminded everyone, ¡°They¡¯re about to come in, remember to protest, make sure not to get into a conflict, don¡¯t curse, don¡¯t fight, and don¡¯t even touch!¡± Richard was well aware that once a physical altercation occurred, even if the police were at fault first, they could be charged with obstructing official business, providing the police with a sufficient reason to detain them, an eventuality he needed to prevent at all costs. Outside the room, the hotel owner reluctantly persuaded but gave up and handed over the room key. ¡°Mond, record a video!¡± Richard shouted as the electronic sound signaled the door opening. Bang! The door flew open. Three uniformed men disregarded Richard¡¯s attempts to block them and barged into the room, counting heads and quickly realizing that the numbers did not add up! ¡°Two people short?¡± ¡°Where are they?¡± ¡°Where are they?¡± The three police officers immediately turned to Richard and demanded an explanation. Jerry shrugged, ¡°What, officer, don¡¯t you have the power to restrict our freedom? Is it wrong for the two of them to go watch the night view on the beach now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s three in the morning, watching the night view? Are you joking?¡± the leading officer shouted, ¡°We now suspect you have intrusion¡­¡± ¡°Got a sudden urge, officer. Is there a problem with that?¡± A voice suddenly interrupted the uniformed man¡¯s words, as Mandy and Keke, with their arms around each other¡¯s shoulders and panting heavily, stood at the doorway, their bodies covered in sweat. ¡°Just went to use the restroom, is there a problem with that?¡± ¡°Restroom? Doesn¡¯t the hotel have one?¡± ¡°We prefer public toilets, is there a problem with that?¡± ¡°Officer, please show us the search warrant. If not, then please leave immediately, otherwise this video will soon be uploaded online!¡± Jerry snatched Mond¡¯s phone, which was recording, and shook the camera in front of the uniformed men. The uniformed men instinctively reached out to grab it, but the electrical expert and others quickly stepped in front of Jerry, preventing them. ¡°Got that on video too!¡± Jerry yelled. The scene was chaotic. Three policemen were surrounded by seven or eight people, unable to reach Jerret. Helplessly, after uttering a few harsh words, the three could only skulk away dejectedly. Had they failed? Had Richard and the others succeeded? Neither. After the uniformed men left, silence once again descended upon the scene. Why had the police suddenly come? Without a doubt, Bi Fang and his two companions hadn¡¯t completely concealed themselves. The villagers had been drawn to the anomaly and reported it, thus prompting the police¡¯s surprise inspection. Was the police¡¯s purpose to take them away? No, that might have been one of their objectives, but they had already confirmed who it was that had or hadn¡¯t left. Mandy, gasping for breath, scratched her head, ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t make it in time.¡± Real life, after all, cannot be like a movie with a perfectly timed rescue. If the two of them could have returned just five minutes earlier, perhaps none of this would have happened. Richard shook his head, ¡°Let¡¯s go to sleep early. We¡¯ll talk about this tomorrow.¡± The next day. As expected, someone came looking for them. It was a few minor officials from Taiji Town, holding something that looked like record sheets, stopping Richard and indicating they had some questions to ask. Inside the camera lens, Jerret and the others recorded everything. In the dim footage, only the faint sounds of the conversation between the two could be heard. A skinny, middle-aged man with glasses smiled, ¡°A very strange phenomenon, in the dead of night, around dawn, three people in black¡­ I think they must be¡­ ¡± ¡°Those were members of OPS, OPS members, the Ocean Protection Association, and we have nothing to do with them.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not me, I was asleep in the middle of the night.¡± ¡°He says he doesn¡¯t know, he was sleeping at that time.¡± The interrogator relayed the conversation to the other two in Japanese. The other two displayed awkward, not polite, smiles. ¡°Then your two¡­ ¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, I can¡¯t speak for OPS, I can only represent Richard, no one but myself¡­ ¡± ¡°I was asleep at night, I¡¯m not a member of OPS, whenever someone wants to talk to me, I talk, like about mercury poisoning.¡± ¡°He¡¯s talking about mercury poisoning again¡­¡± An ineffective conversation. No matter the question, Richard knew nothing. The officials left. Jerret took off his headset and threw it on the table, pinching the bridge of his nose, ¡°They¡¯re trying to divert attention.¡± The situation was more difficult than he had imagined. This morning, Richard and his group discovered that, in addition to recorded broadcasts, three or four live transmission devices were missing their feed. While not many, the message conveyed was decidedly bad. The opposition was already checking, and all they could hope for was that the electrical expert and Bi Fang¡¯s camouflage was strong enough to convincingly muddle the truth. ¡°Where¡¯s Bi Fang?¡± ¡°He¡¯s already started a live broadcast. Today is the fourth day of the Hunting Season, and his rank has slipped to third place.¡± Mond opened Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast video on the side, where an official real-time ranking was marked clearly. Bi Fang¡¯s rank had dropped from first place the day before yesterday to third place. No one was idle during rest time. Amidst the jungle, a somewhat tired Bi Fang yawned and, reinvigorating his spirit, headed deeper into the forest. Chapter 552 - Chapter 552: Chapter 549: Competing for Ranking Chapter 552: Chapter 549: Competing for Ranking Bi Fang wandered through the forest with a spear on his shoulder, the beast tooth necklace around his neck clinking with a metallic sound. He scratched the slightly turned-up tips of his hair, looking somewhat listless, opened his mouth wide, and let out a deep yawn. He didn¡¯t get back until the early hours of yesterday, and today, he started live streaming at 8:30 in the morning. All in all, he hadn¡¯t had a full six hours of sleep and was feeling drowsy. [Dude, did Old Fang secretly treat himself on his day off yesterday?] [You need to show some restraint!] [I heard Japan has official pleasure districts (smirk)] [Old Fang is young and strong; he must not have been able to control himself] [Handsome Fang: Just hunted down a bear, I¡¯m fuming mad] ¡°Cough cough.¡± Bi Fang coughed into his fist, took out his water bottle for a drink, and after taking a few deep breaths, his spirits lifted, and he quickly recovered. Being Batman is really not easy, not even enough rest time, I could barely get up this morning. ¡°When I woke up this morning and checked the rankings, I found that I had fallen to third place. It seems the others are really making an effort.¡± The current first place belonged to a pair of Y¨­ki Hunters. Although they hadn¡¯t made any significant gains in the first few days, they rose through the ranks by skillfully using traps and large knives to hunt three Black Bears in just three days. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Both hunters have 13.2 points each now; the scores for the three bears are all around ten. The second-place contestant was quite unexpected. Turns out it was an old man from Ugly Country named Gary Benson. Well¡­ Calling him old might not be entirely accurate, but he indeed was the oldest among the competitors, at fifty-two years old. Amongst a crowd of competing hunters, he was at a significant physical disadvantage. What¡¯s key is that, after learning about this guy¡¯s background, I couldn¡¯t help but admire him. What a wild imagination. Because this old hunter assembled a contraption akin to a heavy crossbow. Cheating? Hard to say. The show doesn¡¯t allow hunting with heavy crossbows because that would be too much of an unfair advantage. The earliest crossbows emerged more than two thousand years ago in Huaxia. In the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, a large number of bronze crossbow bolts and bronze parts of crossbows were unearthed. From that time, the might of the crossbow began to show, gradually becoming the true king of cold weapons. If that was the case in antiquity, modern times with advanced material science are a whole different story. Compared to ancient crossbows, modern crossbows are basically a different thing altogether. Modern crossbows use synthetic materials; the bow of the crossbow is usually made of carbon fiber or polymer composites. These materials are lighter and have a stronger energy capacity than the bamboo, wood, or steel used in the past, and they are far ahead in terms of strength and durability. Especially, modern crossbows incorporate a pulley system. The eccentric wheel design makes it easier to draw the string, and, on the other hand, the rebound speed of the bowstring is faster. Many crossbows have an initial speed that exceeds 100 meters per second, which is unimaginable for traditional crossbows. Take medieval steel crossbows as an example, a 740-pound pull crossbow only had a bolt speed of about 42 meters per second, because the elastic quality of the crossbow arms was poor, they couldn¡¯t be drawn too tightly, and the bowstring provided a very short acceleration distance to the bolt. Under the action of the pulley system, modern crossbow limbs can undergo significant deformation, giving a longer acceleration distance to the bolt and therefore a much higher final velocity. Further, at closer ranges, the accuracy of modern crossbows with sniper scopes is even comparable to that of sniper rifles. An international weapons blogger once demonstrated the shooting accuracy of a modern crossbow at a range of 25 yards. How precise was it? Almost every arrow stuck close to the previous one, and arrows fired later repeatedly hit the same hole as the arrow before. The overall margin of error was less than the size of a coin; using a rifle without a scope at that distance would be very difficult to achieve such precision. And arrows, needless to say, the mass production lines of modern industry ensure that nearly every arrow is completely identical, something unimaginable in ancient times. Being identical means that there¡¯s almost no significant errors due to differences in the quality of the arrows. With so many advantages, it¡¯s no wonder that modern special forces and some armed police units, both domestic and international, still reserve a place for crossbows in their arsenal. In the People¡¯s Armed Police sequence of Huaxia, many special forces teams are equipped with crossbows, a type of cold weapon. The reason for choosing it is simple, crossbows launch silently, completely without smoke or light, and produce extremely little noise, making them a naturally sound-suppressing weapon. Of course, when compared to firearms, there is still a huge gap in terms of power, range, and rate of fire, with the best crossbows being no match for an old-fashioned rifle. However, crossbows still pack a very considerable punch. Although their initial velocity is merely around 100 meters per second, let¡¯s not forget that arrows are much heavier than bullets. A 24-gram carbon arrow can reach a kinetic energy of 120 joules, and with a high-damage hunting head, it can easily hunt large animals like deer and bears and penetrate standard soft body armor. No matter how much fat a bear accumulates, its defense can¡¯t possibly be better than that of body armor. Therefore, modern crossbows are strictly prohibited in the competition; bringing a modern crossbow is almost the same as carrying a rifle. It isn¡¯t just plain cheating, it¡¯s like using a cheat code. The only problem is, this hunter didn¡¯t bring a crossbow directly but brought a whole set of carpentry tools instead¡­ Apart from some key components that need to be made from alloy due to load-bearing requirements and all other reasons, the rest of the crossbow was painstakingly carved out of the wilderness using his carpentry tools¡­ Does this really break the rules? Not to mention the judges, the audience was also confused. If you say it¡¯s against the rules, it doesn¡¯t seem quite fitting, because except for some small components that wood can¡¯t handle, the rest, including the entire large structure of the wrapped crossbow, was slowly chiseled out by this guy in the forest with a plane. Otherwise, a pile of small parts is nothing. If you want to say it¡¯s breaking the rules. There isn¡¯t a clear regulation on how much less a heavy crossbow should weigh. The judges tested Bosen¡¯s crossbow and found that it could easily penetrate a large tree within twenty steps and embed halfway into the tree at thirty steps. The power was astonishing, almost no different from that of a Dart. Modern science structures, combined with the amazing load-bearing alloy parts, just need a decent frame, and the crossbow can perform with astounding power. In the end, the judges gave Bosen a break, and the audience, quite accustomed to this old man, didn¡¯t rule it as cheating. After all, Bosen had clearly stated that he would bring these items with him and didn¡¯t hide anything, and being able to craft a crossbow with these initially was his ingenuity. Bosen took more than two days to make the entire crossbow, and on the third day, with his weapon in hand, he hunted a huge Black Bear almost 1.7 meters in length with only ten arrows by the evening. The wound caused by the crossbow was small, but the damage was significant, resulting in the high completeness of the hunted Black Bear. His score jumped to 13.1 points, and Bosen, in his fifties, surpassed Bi Fang¡¯s 10.2 points to become the second-ranked contestant. He even earned the title of the powerful crossbowman Bosen. Although Bosen¡¯s performance in both the hunting scene and the level of excitement was not as good as Bi Fang¡¯s, he used experience and methods unique to his age group. Years taught this old man that a strong body will inevitably decline one day. Only wisdom is something that can be used for a lifetime. When facing a desired goal, he wouldn¡¯t hunt in the most primitive way like the brave Bi Fang, engaged in a hearty battle of blood and fire; instead he would hide in the shadows, aiming a lethal shot at the prey¡¯s weak spot. [I feel the judges must have undermarked, otherwise the current top ranker should be Bosen, not those two Y¨­ki Hunters] [Old Fang, I told you to rest, and look what¡¯s happened now, you¡¯ve fallen to third place!] [Stop rewarding yourself and get up and at ¡¯em!] ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll strive to hunt another one today,¡± Bi Fang replied in quick succession. After three days of competition, the rankings have once again changed. Y¨­ki Hunter duo in first place, 13.2 points. Powerful crossbowman Old Bosen in second, 13.1 points. Forbidden Zone Hunter Bi Fang in third, 10.2 points. General Sato with his Naginata in fourth, 9.8 points. ¡­ Hunter of deers Mugalen in sixth place, 9.4 points. Chapter 553 - Chapter 553: Chapter 550 Excited Black Bear Chapter 553: Chapter 550 Excited Black Bear The open hunting quota for Black Bears is one hundred. Once that number is reached, the rankings will be set in stone. It¡¯s the morning of the fourth day. More than sixteen Black Bears have been killed in total, with everyone fully energized, preparing to go all out in the days to come. Some hunters even carried a large pack of supplies and lived in the forest, planning not to return to town for repairs after hunting a Black Bear, but to pitch a tent and continue hunting. Fortunately, they are not here, or one would definitely smell the strong odor of sweat. Many even have a thick smell of blood on them, and they simply don¡¯t care that their scent could be picked up by large carnivores and attract them. Japan has no packs of wolves, no tigers, and no super predators as agile and menacing as lions, with only Black Bears and Brown Bears being the large predators present. It¡¯s fine if they don¡¯t come, but if they do, it would be perfect; the hunters with their sharpened knives are looking forward to it. The succession of sunny days has made today¡¯s weather even hotter than the previous two days. The topsoil exposed to the sunlight can be crumbled into powder with a grab, slipping through one¡¯s fingertips. Bi Fang picked up a handful of soil from the ground and went to higher ground, standing on a huge rock looking down at the forest at the foot of the mountain, slowly squeezing the fine sand out of his hand. Watching it drift towards a certain direction before dissipating in mid-air. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°Southeast wind, and it¡¯s a light one,¡± Bi Fang commented, squinting at the sun. His body felt as if it was about to burst into flames, with every skin cell screaming in the high temperature. He opened his water bottle and poured all the water over his head, the breeze passing by taking some of the heat away. Bi Fang wiped his face and said, ¡°Most wild animals are far more afraid of humans than humans are of them, even large animals, so Black Bears generally stay away from humans.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve mentioned before that Black Bears have a very keen sense of smell and hearing. Downwind, they can smell scents from half a kilometer away and hear footsteps from 300 steps away, so if you want to approach them, it¡¯s best to move upwind rather than downwind.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s downwind, your scent will reach the Black Bear before you do, and out of caution, it might leave early, adding difficulty to our hunt.¡± Waiting in one spot is not advisable, and neither is killing a Black Bear in a certain place. This stems from Black Bears¡¯ strong territorial instinct. In the entire animal kingdom, virtually all carnivores of medium size or larger have been known to attack humans, but their attacks are rarely for food. Carnivores in nature all have a relatively fixed diet, and they seldom feed on things outside of it. For instance, although lions might kill predators like leopards and hyenas, they won¡¯t eat these animals unless they are starving. Black Bears are the same; they are also afraid of unfamiliar things and will actively avoid them under the instinct to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages. However, Black Bears are solitary animals with a very strong sense of territory. Usually, animals with territorial instincts are full of hostility and aggression towards those who intrude into their territory. ¡°I mentioned this the day before yesterday as well,¡± Bi Fang said, pursing his lips, and began to climb the slope. After a period of exercise, his spirit was fully awake, and his muscles began to regain strength. After waking up, humans often experience muscle weakness, but this can be relieved after a short period of activity. This is because the muscle nerves are not fully awake; the better one sleeps at night, the more obvious the lack of strength in the morning. After about fifteen minutes of hiking, which was akin to a warm-up exercise, Bi Fang had returned to normal physiological status, eager to get started. Five hours of sleep wasn¡¯t inadequate; if necessary, Bi Fang could keep his physical energy above a certain level even after staying awake for three days and nights. This was almost a basic quality required of every special forces soldier. Moreover, after training, most elites could enter deep sleep in seconds, using the least amount of sleep time for maximal rest. However, that was under special circumstances, with nerves constantly taut, they would let their brains empty after extreme fatigue, quickly like water. Generally, they would sleep in multiples of a sleep cycle. For example, one and a half hours, three hours, four and a half hours, and so on to schedule shifts. Bi Fang currently didn¡¯t need to do that, waking up in the morning still feeling tired like a normal person. It seemed there was even a more advanced method of polyphasic sleep which involved sleeping for 30 minutes every four hours, a total of three hours of sleep in 24 hours, which improved cognitive function more than sleeping for three hours at once. It¡¯s said that (Leonardo) Da Vinci¡¯s sleep method was even more outrageous, sleeping for 15 minutes every four hours of work, which meant that in 24 hours a day, one could sleep six 15-minute sessions, adding up to an hour and a half, and save more time. But Bi Fang had never tried it himself. That kind of sleep pattern seemed like a fast track to meeting Yama, oh, in Da Vinci¡¯s case, was it God? Bi Fang, also somewhat of a health guru, believed that persisting in polyphasic sleep would only disrupt the human body¡¯s circadian rhythm, leading to fatigue, anxiety, reduced immunity, and other adverse reactions. As a normal way of life, a person¡¯s performance in this state would be much worse than usual. Beyond that, there wasn¡¯t much else it was good for. If you¡¯re a student cramming in homework in the last two days of summer or winter break, it might be worth a try; create a miracle in one night. After stretching his shoulders, Bi Fang maintained a fairly quick speed as he tread over the rocks, moving through the forest; only after crossing the hill in front of him did he continue speaking. ¡°Generally, the territory of an adult Black Bear ranges from 10 to 40 square kilometers.¡± ¡°Most people probably don¡¯t have a clear concept of this data, but all you need to know is that 10 square kilometers is equivalent to 1,400 standard soccer fields.¡± [Holy crap, that big?] [LOL, I have an idea of one standard soccer field, but I have no concept of 1,400 soccer fields] Bi Fang shifted his tone, ¡°However, there are so many Japanese Black Bears, and with humans occupying most of the territory, a Black Bear¡¯s territory might not be that large under the pressure from both its own species and humans.¡± [Have Black Bears started to compete internally now too? (Amused)] [Compete, everybody compete!] ¡°Aside from accidentally entering their territory, there¡¯s another situation where Black Bears will initiate an attack, and that¡¯s when female black bears are with their cubs.¡± ¡°Female black bears with cubs are extremely ¡®maternal,¡¯ so if you encounter them at this time, once the black bear feels its cubs are threatened, it will initiate an attack.¡± Generally, these are the two situations when Black Bears will actively attack humans; and in such moments, the bears are extremely dangerous, entering the scene in a state of fury. This is quite unfriendly for hunters. Having the initiative in an attack is quite important during hunting. ¡°Of course, seemingly for no reason, at least that¡¯s how humans view it, there have been incidents of Black Bears attacking humans.¡± ¡°However, most such attacks occur in the summer, around the mating season, when animals in love, driven by hormones, are like humans, very excited and passionate, and see the world around them differently.¡± ¡°One thing to note is that the mating season for Black Bears varies by region.¡± Bi Fang bent down to part the brush, revealing a steaming pile of dung in front of everyone. Chapter 554 - Chapter 554: Chapter 551: The Strong Crossbowman Bosen Chapter 554: Chapter 551: The Strong Crossbowman Bosen Covering his nose, he pushed aside the underbrush. Bi Fang promptly entered a code in the live stream room to avoid causing discomfort, and prodded with a stick. It wasn¡¯t dry, quite fresh. [Is this¡­ bear poop?] [It¡¯s much smaller, could it be wolf¡¯s?] [Didn¡¯t Master Fang say there are no wolves in Japan? Must be dog¡¯s then.] [Feels like it¡¯s from a deer¡­] Seeing the barrage of comments, Bi Fang almost rolled his eyes. So all his previous teachings had been in vain. Stabbing the ground with his spear, Bi Fang yelled, ¡°People! This is human feces! Don¡¯t you even know what your own usually looks like?¡±] [Ah, this¡­] [Scratches head¡­] [Awkward¡­] Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï [Teacher Fang, I was wrong, please punish me harshly (taking off shirt)] [Nantong, roll away] Most of the audience in the live stream room fell silent, only a small part mocked the ¡°Fang scholars¡± who had been seriously analyzing earlier. Even though it was July, the postgraduate entrance exam students had chosen to stay at school. In the dormitory, Wu Gang lowered his head in shame. Because he had really thought it was dog feces, he even bet a pack of spicy strips with his roommate. As a result, not only did he lose the spicy strips, but he also faced the relentless ridicule of his roommate: ¡°And you study biology? You¡¯re always the most active in watching the live stream, but you don¡¯t even know what your own looks like, haha!¡±] Bi Fang held his head, feeling like he had encountered a group of students who endlessly analyze and calculate even something as simple as one plus one. He had to patiently explain again. ¡°I¡¯ve told you, black bears are omnivores. In this season, their feces are often loose, without a fixed shape, and mixed with seeds from plants.¡± ¡°Deer feces are generally oval in shape, often around 1.5 cm in diameter¡ªthe larger the pellets, the larger the deer.¡± ¡°Normally, deer feces appear as black scattered pellets. However, in the summer and autumn seasons when food is aplenty, they consume a large amount of high-moisture food such as apples, berries, carrots, etc., which causes the feces pellets to stick together.¡± ¡°During the winter when food is scarce, they feed on high-fiber foods like branches and bark, making their feces scattered in pellets, hard in texture, and lighter in color.¡± Bi Fang scrolled through the comments and explained all the controversial points one by one. The bigger the capacity, the bigger the tasks one can handle. Similarly, the larger the size, the more feces one produces. The principle is the same, simple and easy to understand. ¡°As for dogs, dogs and coyotes are similar, also omnivores. The shape and color of their feces are greatly influenced by their diet. Wild dogs and coyotes prey on animals that are sized between wolves and foxes, primarily feeding on rodents, rabbits, or smaller deer.¡± ¡°Their feces are generally less than 2.5 cm in diameter and no longer than 10 cm in length. Due to their diet, they consume more moisture, which makes the surface of their feces smoother and more rounded compared to wolves¡¯, with a tapered end and a little pointed tip.¡± ¡°They often contain animal hair, bone fragments, undigested seeds of fruits or berries, or remnants of fruits. Dry feces usually turn white.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve also talked about wolves before. Their feces are generally larger, with similar characteristics to dogs, but tend to be darker in color, mainly due to consuming fresh blood from the meat of their prey.¡± ¡°As for human¡¯s¡­¡± Bi Fang sighed. He didn¡¯t want to explain much anymore: ¡°Please do me a favor and take a good look next time before you flush. Note down the characteristics. Next time, share them in the comments to see what¡¯s different from others.¡± [Got it, Teacher Fang!] [Is this homework for after class? Wuu wuu wuu] [I¡¯m just squatting in the pit right now] [What a stinky barrage, I can¡¯t accept it] [Why are there people here, are they other hunters?] An audience member expressed doubt, as this place was deep within the forest, where human footprints were rare, and with black bears rampant, locals hardly dared to enter. Just as Bi Fang had said, black bears have a strong sense of territory, and it might still be their mating and breeding season, where their desire to attack is particularly strong. Even professional hunters usually avoid such black bears, let alone ordinary people. ¡°Black bears are basically solitary animals, only meeting with the opposite sex during mating season, and they may search for food together, so, during the mating season, hunters are very cautious, because it¡¯s very possible to provoke more than two large black bears at once.¡± If armed and prepared in advance, one bear could still be considered huntable. But if two black bears attack at the same time, one should think about how to escape quickly. Because at that time, the hunted wouldn¡¯t be the black bears, but you. And this is true even if you¡¯re armed with a gun! ¡°Black bear mating seasons vary by region, with those living in Polar Bear Country typically mating in June to July each year, and the young are usually born from December to the following March.¡± ¡°Those living in Bayastan generally mate in October, with cubs typically born around February of the following year.¡± ¡°This situation is mainly due to latitude reasons, with sunlight and food being the key factors in black bears deciding whether to breed.¡± ¡°In Japan, it¡¯s roughly every summer, so the Japanese Government increases its publicity efforts during this time every year, to prevent villagers near forests from entering the mountains, as the black bears are very dangerous at that time.¡± Just think about those teenage boys who start flexing in their youth, behaving very emotionally to show off in front of girls they like. They like to show off their strength, and the simplest way is through displays of power. Therefore, they may quarrel over trivial matters and even escalate to fighting. This is actually a biological instinct, during the spirited, *enlightenment stage, controlled by hormones within the body, deliberately displayed as a means. And this is with teachers and school rules holding them down. Lacking rational thought, driven purely by instinct, and with no legal constraints, black bears behave even more so, and anyone daring to disturb their mating¡­ Who would dare enter deep into the forest at such times? Those encountered now are mostly with the same purpose in mind. ¡°Other hunters maybe?¡± Bi Fang stood up, looking around. The stench in the air was too overpowering, so strong that it concealed the scent of the visitors. Although the feces were relatively fresh, they had not just appeared, and time had allowed their odor to spread continuously. This made it somewhat difficult for Bi Fang to search. He couldn¡¯t tell if the individual who left these traces had gone far or not. [Come to think of it, haven¡¯t really seen anyone live streaming this, have I?] [Isn¡¯t that obvious?] [I¡¯ll ban them if they dare to stream] [Anyone here in the same area as Old Fang, let¡¯s all think about it] [Damn, haven¡¯t really watched other people¡¯s live streams, I¡¯ve spent so much time watching Old Fang] [Mugalen, eh? Is this Mugalen¡¯s doing? No, that doesn¡¯t seem right, it doesn¡¯t feel like him, and his location seems quite far from Old Fang¡¯s, wait, isn¡¯t Bosen also here?] [Holy shit. That second-ranked guy?] The audience suddenly remembered a formidable person who had killed a black bear even larger than the one Old Fang faced. ¡°The second-ranked Bosen?¡± Bi Fang¡¯s ears perked up. He hadn¡¯t paid attention to the movements of other hunters; had Bosen chosen the same spot as him? While he was puzzled, a figure carrying a large crossbow appeared behind some nearby trees, muttering as he walked, ¡°I really wonder if your soul is as big as mine, when I was twenty-five, I still didn¡¯t know which farm I was feeding horses on!¡± Chapter 555 - Chapter 555: 552 Chapter 555: 552 In the forest, Bosen turned from behind a huge fir tree and, as soon as he appeared, he noticed a pair of bright eyes staring straight at him, causing the hair on his body to involuntarily stand on end. The feeling of being watched was so obvious that Bosen¡¯s body instinctively reacted. It was like writing math equations on the blackboard, you can¡¯t see, but you can definitely feel the entire class watching you, dozens of pairs of eyes staring at your back, slightly warming. Obviously, Bi Fang had already spotted Bosen hidden behind the fir tree and was even somewhat vigilant. Perhaps it was because of a hunter¡¯s weather-beaten nature, fifty-two-year-old Bosen¡¯s face was full of wrinkles, with a big nose and a chin that wore a mournful tuft of gray and white beard, making him look very old. But on closer inspection, it wasn¡¯t hard to see that his back was straight as an arrow, and the eyes hidden beneath thick eyebrows and eyelids were sharp like those of a hawk, his hands were knobby, but very broad and covered with thick calluses. Especially the base of the thumbs and the pads of the fingers, where the calluses had turned brownish yellow, some of them had even dried and cracked open, revealing the whitish, about-to-peel stratum corneum. Always cocking a crossbow or¡­ always shooting a gun? Bi Fang reminded himself in his mind. The grip of a crossbow also has a handle, but nearly no recoil¡ªyet long-term holding and friction could also result in thick calluses. Either this old man was a master crossbowman, or he was someone who frequently held a gun. An experienced and frighteningly formidable old hunter. The profession of a hunter, unlike a warrior, does not grow weaker with the passing of time and the loss of a strong body, on the contrary. An elderly hunter of fifty could even be significantly stronger than a twenty-year-old young hunter. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? Bosen was in turn sizing up Bi Fang between the trees. Young. This first impression was so strong and distinctive it was as though it had been plastered on Bosen¡¯s forehead, as if someone was gripping his collar and telling him that this guy was only this old but could stand on equal footing with you, and had even risen to fame in the world, a renowned explorer, an adventurer. The second overpowering perception was wildness, Bosen felt as if he was looking at a wild American Lion in the jungle that he had just trespassed into its territory and was about to face a fatal attack. And those muscles, they could compete in a bodybuilding contest, almost like a tiger¡¯s. Under a prestigious name lives a worthy person. If Bosen knew Chinese, this was undoubtedly the thought that would be crossing his mind at that moment. Sometimes, through a screen, many perceptions can be inaccurate, only face-to-face, looking directly at each other, can one understand what a person is really like. Seeing Bi Fang gripping his spear tightly, Bosen voluntarily put down the large crossbow that was on his shoulder, not holding the handle but the body of the crossbow, signaling that he had no ill intentions. ¡°Such acute observational skills, youngsters nowadays are getting more and more impressive, when I was twenty-five, I was still working on a farm for someone else.¡± Bosen repeated the words he had just said, slowly approaching Bi Fang. Bi Fang, who had been crouching on the ground, stood up with the help of his spear, and also put away his hostility, which was a completely subconscious reaction. Anyone you meet in the forest calls for caution, it¡¯s a professional hunter¡¯s instinct. ¡°Hello,¡± Bi Fang nodded, as a form of greeting. Bosen smiled, pointing at the three drones above Bi Fang¡¯s head, then gestured towards his own rear: ¡°No need to be so cautious.¡± Two tigers cannot share the same mountain, the relationship between the strong and the strong is generally one of competition. Therefore, Bi Fang did not act too cordially. Bosen untied a half-drained rabbit from his waist and threw it in front of Bi Fang, ¡°Caught it last night, thought it might attract the Black Bear. I was planning it for today¡¯s lunch, but since I ran into you, I¡¯ll give it to you as a welcome gift.¡± There were hardly any wounds on the rabbit in front of him, just two red marks on its chest, one in the front and one in the back, which made it clear when combined with the object in Bosen¡¯s hand that it had been pierced by an arrow. Bi Fang was stunned, clearly not expecting the other to come up with such a move. Bosen smiled, ¡°Take it, and to tell the truth, I should thank you. If it weren¡¯t for your emergence, I don¡¯t think the Japanese Government would have organized something like this, let alone given me the chance to compete for prize money.¡± These words from Bosen were heartfelt. Before Bi Fang¡¯s livestream emerged from nowhere, no one could have imagined that something as inconspicuous as ¡®Wilderness Survivalist¡¯ could make such a big splash. With people¡¯s lives becoming stable and affluent, such unique and curiosity-piquing performances attracted many viewers and brought fame and profit to many hunters who had previously remained obscure. As a typical example, Mugalen gained not just a hefty sum of prize money from his participation in the Discovery Channel¡¯s program, but also invisible assets like fame and status. While many hunters were drawn to the hunting season in Japan, many believed that even without monetary rewards, there would still be plenty who would participate. But from the viewers¡¯ perspective, the existence of prize money was essential. It allowed them, as a third party, to feel the fierce atmosphere driven by financial incentives. The distribution of prize money was straightforward; one point equaled one hundred thousand Yen. Converted, that¡¯s about five thousand Huaxia currency. Five thousand per point, ten points meant fifty thousand; killing a Black Bear of normal size, one could receive a cash prize of fifty thousand after hunting it. Of course, the value of a Black Bear is much more than this ¨C bear gallbladders, bear meat, bear paws, bear skins, and bear bones could all be sold for a total value that is definitely over fifty thousand. However, considering the issue of personal selling qualifications and channels, as well as the government¡¯s rapid recovery, getting fifty thousand without having to worry about transport or dissection was not too low. Bi Fang now had 10.2 points, meaning he had already earned one hundred and two thousand Yen. ¡°Are you lacking money?¡± Bi Fang picked up the rabbit from the ground and did not refuse it, instead, he struck up a casual conversation with Bosen. Instinctively, Bi Fang found the old man in front of him interesting. Bosen sighed, ¡°Yes, you¡¯ll understand when you reach my age. Ordinary people find it very difficult to adequately prepare for old age, whether it¡¯s financially or health-wise.¡± ¡°When I was young, I had quite arty imaginings, thinking I¡¯ll regret not accomplishing many dreams when I¡¯m old. But believe me, that won¡¯t trouble you. What will trouble you are the medical bills, retirement accounts, pains all over your body, and your vision of the world growing dimmer every day.¡± As humans expanded, animals found it increasingly hard to survive. Many conservation areas were established, and one after another, species were added to the protection list, with limited hunting allowed by schedule, period, and quota. Traditional hunters found it very difficult to maintain their livelihood under such circumstances; anything of value was protected and only a tiny number of animals, such as wild boars, hares, and pheasants, became the main source of income for hunters. These animals had only one thing of value¡ªtheir meat, which could perhaps keep one fed and warm. But once faced with children¡¯s education fees, high housing costs, and other expenses, it undoubtedly became quite difficult to make ends meet. Traditional hunters are vanishing. The truly active and skilled ones are either those who have inherited the trade or are relics of the previous century like Bosen, or¡­ poachers. If it weren¡¯t for Bi Fang revitalizing this field, it might be even more desolate. [Fuck, damn it, I¡¯m getting emotional.] [I watch live broadcasts to entertain myself, not to face reality, boo hoo hoo.] [I¡¯ll give you 4000 bucks to decrease your lifespan by a month, would you take it?] [What kind of shitty question is that? No one would want that, who would agree? Nobody, that¡¯s who. 4000 is too little, it¡¯s not worth it.] [How much is your salary a month now?] [¡­4000?] The audience in the live broadcast couldn¡¯t help but sigh when they saw an aged Bosen express such sentiments. [Did your initial wish come true? Or is it just time to pay respects now? As the years dry up ideals, I can no longer find the real me.] [I envy Old Fang for being able to adventure everywhere and achieve financial freedom. That¡¯s the life I¡¯ve been dreaming of.] [I¡¯ve been watching Old Fang¡¯s videos too much recently and thought about taking my family on a Sichuan-Tibet Road self-driving tour, only to find out after doing some research that fuck me, just the fuel cost is gonna be nearly ten thousand. I almost spat blood.] [Don¡¯t even mention it, fuel prices went up again.] ¡°So I really thank you, at least now, I have nearly ten thousand I can take.¡± ¡°Alright, I get chatty when I¡¯m old, I can¡¯t help but talk when I meet someone. Let¡¯s call it a day, I¡¯m currently second place after all. Go for it, young man.¡± Bosen winked playfully at Bi Fang, picked up the big crossbow beside him, and without looking back, walked into the forest. Bi Fang watched Bosen walk away, then looked up at the drone. He always felt something was off. He picked up the rabbit in his hand. After being exposed to the sun and bled out, this half-rabbit had shriveled and seemed to have little meat left. Bosen showed a lot of goodwill toward Bi Fang. But Bi Fang felt things were not that simple; the other party¡­ seemed to harbor animosity toward him? Nevertheless, under the camera, Bosen was very good at hiding it, even giving off the impression of a cheerful and optimistic old hunter with a strong sense of the sun setting. Maybe it was just his own misperception. Unless it was a life-threatening danger, the instincts Beastly Instinct gave Bi Fang were not necessarily accurate. Maybe it was just the animosity born from competitive relations; it didn¡¯t explain much. Besides, there was the drone. If an enemy comes, meet them head on; if a flood comes, counter it with earth. Putting aside his uneasiness, Bi Fang didn¡¯t waste this half-rabbit. As Bosen said, it could actually be used to attract a black bear. However, finding a black bear clearly was not that easy. Before finding a black bear, Bi Fang instead came across a sika deer. Perhaps due to the lack of natural predators, the deer did not exhibit much alertness and didn¡¯t notice Bi Fang even when he got within thirty-five meters. Bi Fang tiptoed, moving with a Fox Step, and even managed to chat with his audience while doing so. ¡°For the island nation of Japan, there¡¯s hardly a place for sika deer in their homeland anymore. Animals like tigers have been extinct since prehistoric times, and after the Japanese Government hunted the Japanese dwarf and Honshu wolves to extinction, bears are the only creatures left in Japan that can be called mighty predators.¡± ¡°Both brown bears and black bears can hunt sika deer, but they aren¡¯t strictly carnivorous, and they don¡¯t hunt sika deer often. Bears also hibernate during winter, so they have a shorter timeframe to prey on sika deer.¡± ¡°Relatively speaking, these large, fierce animals are quite clumsy, making it difficult for them to catch the agile Sika Deer. The number of Sika Deer they can kill is not that high.¡± For multiple reasons, the native Sika Deer of Japan have completely lost their natural predators and are growing almost savagely¡ªit¡¯s like the scene from elementary school textbooks where, without wolves, the deer ate up the forest. The Japanese Wolf Association even suggested that Japan could import wolves from other countries to help control the Sika Deer population from a biosphere perspective and reduce the damage caused by their overpopulation. However, the public felt that comparing wolves to Sika Deer, introducing wolves was more dangerous since Sika Deer are typically docile animals. Occasionally, they can even bring in tourism revenue for the locals, so from this point of view, it¡¯s better not to introduce them. As for letting hunters hunt, that¡¯s nothing more than a pipe dream, as previously mentioned, due to various reasons, traditional hunters are dwindling, almost to the point of extinction. In recent years, Japan¡¯s serious aging population problem has reduced the number of registered hunters from 500,000 to the current 100,000, of which over 60% are elderly with limited mobility, and there are more than 1,200 women. The actual number of able-bodied young hunters is only about 10,000, which means each person would have to catch 300 deer! Even catching one a day would take a whole year! It is said that by the year 2025, the number may surge to 5 million, by then each hunter will have to deal with 500 deer, not even one person with an AK could finish them all. The decreasing number of hunters each year is no threat to the rapidly increasing Sika Deer population, unable to curb the deer numbers¡¯ upward trend. Surprise echoed throughout the Japanese government¡¯s official live broadcast room. Jingxiang, who heard Bi Fang speak, was very surprised, ¡°Has the Sika Deer population really grown to this extent?¡± No one expected that such a seemingly cute animal could cause so much trouble for everyone. The commentator Xiao Fu nodded in agreement, ¡°The Japanese Government has decided to introduce a ¡®Wildlife Hunting Course¡¯ in schools from next year, which involves teaching related laws and hunting knowledge through the school system to help students obtain trapping and shotgun hunting permits, increasing the number of domestic hunters.¡± Black Bears still have a quota, but the Japanese Government is encouraging an open season on Sika Deer. Bi Fang had already seen many Sika Deer in the woods, but he never felt like catching them because deer are indeed not easy to catch. Not only are they incredibly fast, exceeding speeds of 90 kilometers per hour, but their field of vision is wide as well, making the success rate of catching them extremely low. Bi Fang tried once the day before yesterday, but sadly, it ended in failure. This did break the audience¡¯s perception that Bi Fang had a 100% success rate in hunting, but it¡¯s quite normal; even in nature, the hunting success rate of tigers is only 30%, and among the feline family, the highest is the Black-footed Cat at 60%. Conversely, the African Hyena has the highest success rate at 85%, but even that¡¯s not 100%. But the alertness of the deer he encountered today was so poor. What a golden opportunity. Bi Fang squatted in the bushes, rubbing his hands together with excitement. ¡°Normally, deer look up to survey their surroundings almost every time they take a bite. Look at this one, it has only lifted its head twice in ten minutes, which clearly indicates very poor vigilance. Let¡¯s try and see if we can catch it. If we do, we¡¯ll have venison for lunch today.¡± ¡°However, the wind direction is not quite right; it¡¯s neither downwind nor upwind. Sika Deer have a very sensitive sense of smell, so I need to be careful, especially since I¡¯ve been running all day and my body odor is quite strong.¡± Bi Fang tore open a small cloth bag filled with powdered wood ash, which is charcoal ash. He applied all the charcoal ash to his face and crushed some local plants, smearing their juice on his body to better conceal his scent. ¡°If conditions allowed, actually rolling in thin mud would be best, but we don¡¯t have that opportunity now. All right, now let¡¯s see if we can get a little closer.¡± Having said that, Bi Fang stopped talking to the audience, because with the hearing of the Sika Deer, getting any closer would risk being exposed. Chapter 556 - Chapter 556: Chapter 553: Pulsing Blood Pool Chapter 556: Chapter 553: Pulsing Blood Pool The forest was a tranquil expanse of lush green. The air was oppressively heavy and humid, as if one were inhaling not gas but boiling water. Too hot, too vast. The vast monsoon from the Western Pacific carried copious amounts of moisture from the ocean toward the land, washing over the forest time and again. Tens of millions of tons of the Tsushima Warm Current formed a colossal python deep in the ocean, surging northward with great momentum. It separated from the Kuroshio, joined the Sea of Japan after passing through the Tsushima Strait, and entwined with the dormant cold python of the Sea of Japan, lifting dense fog. Where the monsoon and the warm and cold currents met, a massive amount of moisture accumulated over Honshu Island of Japan, elevating the humidity to its peak. Here, the seasons were always distinct, the rainfall always plentiful; even if the trees were all cut down, within a decade, another verdant grove would grow upon this land once more. The white sweatshirt was soaked, indistinguishable if by sweat or the damp air, clinging tightly to well-defined muscles, revealing the beast tooth necklace beneath the fabric. Bi Fang crouched behind a cedar tree, breathing the somewhat moist and stuffy air, about to go hunting, he tuned his body to its optimal state. Like a tiger ready to pounce, coordinating every muscle, he stared intently at his prey up ahead. The audience held their breath, having watched Bi Fang hunt countless times, yet they never grew tired of it. So thrilling! Every time, the fusion of strength and skill was a textbook example of hunting, perfect, powerful, the wisdom of humans. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï Once, someone edited together all of Bi Fang¡¯s combat scenes with the hunting of all feline animals, set to rousing music. In less than a day, it dominated the top spot in B Island¡¯s daily views. The stout roots, covered in mossy patterns, were exposed to the air, crawling out of the dark brown soil, drawing moisture from the atmosphere. Within low shrubs, a chestnut-colored sika deer with white spots was nibbling on leaves. The tall antlers indicated a mature male sika deer, stunningly beautiful. The antlers arched to either side, with brow tines stretching forward, curving slightly inward, like smoothly rounded tree branches. Bi Fang counted; the antler had four branches, which made him feel somewhat disappointed. In zoos, it¡¯s hard to see sika deer with complete antlers, because every year around mid-April, their old antlers fall off, and new ones start to grow. The new antlers, fragile and not yet ossified, are covered in a layer of deep red velvet, with blood vessels in the underlying tissue arranged sparsely. This is what is commonly known as velvet antler. By August, the velvet antler gradually ossifies, the velvet skin sheds off, and the deer¡¯s antlers become hard and smooth. Come next spring, the antlers will fall off again, and new velvet antler will grow out. The young male deer harvest their antler velvet around mid-June. For adult males over two years old, it¡¯s best to harvest when the velvet has grown into a second beam, the tips are concave, and the third branch has not emerged. At this time, the velvet¡¯s quality is high, and its value is great. Generally, the first cut is in late June, and the second in late August. Now, mid-July, neither here nor there, perfectly in the middle, it meant nothing but the meat was worth taking. Gripping the dart in hand, Bi Fang felt the ground, stood up from behind the cedar tree and inched closer; his movement was even slower, so slow that it was almost imperceptible. The average time spent per step was about one minute. This was a great test of strength, endurance, and patience, due to the slow movement, the muscles had to stay tensed, exhausting a lot of energy. Bi Fang moved his hands in front of his body, breaking away as much as possible from the familiar human form, which not only helped him wield his weapon but also assisted in lifting his legs. The difference in silhouette also made him less likely to alert his prey. When an unfamiliar object appears, an animal¡¯s first reaction is curiosity, not like when they see humans, where their first response is to run away. The leaves rustled in the wind, masking the soft sound of Bi Fang¡¯s movements well. The sika deer was quite sensitive by nature, perhaps a bit clumsy, but that didn¡¯t hinder its agile movements, sharp hearing, keen sense of smell, and its rather poor vision. With its delicate hoofs and quick speed, it was exceptionally skilled in climbing steeps and leaping with great bounds nimbly. Bi Fang had to seize the opportunity for a fatal strike. More than ten minutes had passed, and Bi Fang, who moved slowly, finally crept within twenty meters of the Sika Deer¡ªa distance he deemed worthy of a try with the Dart in hand. If lucky, the deer might be taken down with one strike. Just as Bi Fang was about to raise the Dart in his hand, the slow-witted Sika Deer seemed to suddenly sense something amiss, lifted its head, and looked around. At this moment, the audience appeared even more nervous than Bi Fang, with barrage after barrage of comments flooding in. [Damn, is it going to be discovered?] [Just rush up and do it!] [Is it over, are we going to lose this chance?] In the commentary room, Kogawa Kobayashi and Shizuka Minamoto¡¯s hearts skipped a beat as well; the situation where success or failure rested on a single move was too thrilling. Missing the shot, humans, with their speed, would have no chance of catching this creature again. ¡°Are we going to fail?¡± ¡°No, we have to succeed!¡± Surprisingly, as the Sika Deer looked over, Bi Fang did not seize the moment to launch an attack, but instead lowered his body and head, watching the deer only with his peripheral vision. What was astonishing was that after briefly scanning the area, the Sika Deer actually failed to notice Bi Fang! After it turned its head back, Bi Fang seemed to confirm the temperament of the deer before him and tried to get closer once more. The closer he got, the higher the chance of success. There was no doubt about it. He lay on his stomach, placing his hands beside his shoulders, using his hands and toes to support his body, lifting himself about ten centimeters off the ground, moving forward, and then returning to the ground, shifting his hands and feet forward again, and lifting his body once more. The repetition made Bi Fang look like a comical inchworm. But this was the best method to avoid alarming the animals and to reduce the sound of his own movements, a fairly flexible type of creeping. Gradually, the distance closed to under twenty meters, and by the time he approached fifteen meters, the Sika Deer clearly sensed something, lifting its head more frequently and for longer. Yet by the time it realized what was happening, it was already too late. Bi Fang, his body fully bent like a bow, released the bowstring, and sprang from the ground as if shot out of a sprint, creating deep impressions in the soil from the great force. The moment his front foot touched the ground, his body stretched out, and the Dart was drawn back to its limit. From still to dynamic, the deer instinctively leaped away in an attempt to escape, quickly covering three meters and pulling the distance back to twenty meters. However, even before it could land, the Dart, under tremendous torque, had already been launched with an unmatched force. The sharp Flint Stone Spear pierced the air, emitting a piercing whistling sound. Bi Fang had anticipated the escape route of the Sika Deer in advance. Deer generally are timid, and leaping is their subconscious reaction when attacked or startled, often not forward but to the sides, and towards terrains that are more open¡ªa decision dictated by biological instincts! Therefore, the moment the deer leaped, Bi Fang had already targeted the brushless soil on its right side. The Dart, carrying blood, passed through the neck of the freshly landed Sika Deer. Its immense force brought the deer, which was over one meter long, to its knees upon impact. It was knocked down by the colossal force and lay directly on the ground. But it did not die; the Sika Deer¡¯s major arteries and nerves were not pierced, just its windpipe was ruptured. It struggled to get up, but the second Dart quickly followed. This one was more accurate, faster, and mercilessly aimed at the Sika Deer¡¯s abdomen, thoroughly dyeing the chestnut red into a bloody red. ¡°Huh.¡± Bi Fang let out a long sigh of relief; hitting the abdomen and damaging the vital trachea, he could essentially declare victory. Grasping the Spear behind him in his hands, Bi Fang approached the fallen Sika Deer. The audience once again realized the terror of the Darts. Two Darts, effortlessly taking down an adult male deer. A Sika Deer¡¯s body length is generally between 125 and 145 centimeters, shoulder height between 70 and 95 centimeters, and weight between 70 and 100 kilograms; this one was about one meter thirty in length and likely weighed around eighty kilograms? Eighty kilograms, that¡¯s already more than what most ordinary people weigh, some might not even reach that much. If two spears can kill a deer, it indicates they could also kill a human with two spears, or maybe even one if aimed precisely. No wonder even the Black Bear gives way to the sharp edge of the Dart. This is practically an ancient machine gun! [Awesome!] [No matter when or where, watching Old Fang hunt is always thrilling, truly satisfying!] [I¡¯ve tipped! All the Wolf Brush I earned this month, I¡¯m giving it all to you, sob sob sob] [Pizza Hut from Nanshan is gifting the host 1 Spaceship*] Bi Fang squatted on the ground, the Sika Deer¡¯s limbs still twitching. He took out a Harpoon and stabbed it toward the back of the deer¡¯s head: ¡°We can insert a dagger into the gap in the back of its head, destroying its brain, and that¡¯s the fastest way to end its pain.¡± The moment its brain was destroyed, the Sika Deer instantly stopped twitching, and blood slowly spread on the ground. Catching the Sika Deer, Bi Fang didn¡¯t rush to process it but went to the place where it had been grazing earlier. He dug through the soil and found a section of black root in the area the deer had disturbed. Pulling hard, he brought the black root out of the soil, and on the rough vine, there were several large spherical objects attached. [Wow, what is this, potatoes?] [Do potatoes in your home look like this?] ¡°It¡¯s kudzu root, one of the Sika Deer¡¯s favorite foods.¡± Bi Fang poured water onto the spherical object, revealing the black kudzu root. He sliced open the part that had been nibbled on by the deer, revealing the pale yellow interior with a texture similar to taro. ¡°During summer and autumn, Sika Deer will migrate to the shady slopes at the edge of forests, mainly feeding on vines and herbaceous plants such as kudzu vines, Chinese knotweed, Codonopsis, strawberries, and so on, all of which are their favorites.¡± ¡°We can eat these things too. So if you get lost in the wilderness and see a deer, but unfortunately, you don¡¯t catch it, you can check the area where it was for anything edible.¡± He cut off a piece with his knife and stuffed it directly into his mouth, muttering, ¡°Kudzu root can be eaten raw like taro, it¡¯s quite astringent, juicy, and has a faint sweetness to it. If you¡¯re hungry, it can make for a decent meal.¡± After a taste, Bi Fang put the rest of the kudzu root into his backpack and took out a piece of rope, winding it around the antlers of the Sika Deer. He looked at the surrounding environment and, dragging the deer, arrived in front of a large tree, throwing the rope over a tree branch. Pulling the rope, the entire deer was hoisted onto the branch. For large animals, hanging and cutting is the best and quickest method, but it¡¯s often difficult to handle alone because they¡¯re too heavy. This Sika Deer, weighing as much as a person, was just right for one person to handle, both in size and weight. ¡°Next, we¡¯re going to hang it up, skin it, and remove the innards. These parts are edible, but we have enough food, and there¡¯s really no need for that. Besides, dealing with the innards is such a hassle, and they smell strong. Out in the wilderness, I often choose to leave them behind.¡± With the Sika Deer hanging, blood dripped down from its head, merging with the wound on its abdomen, and slowly dripping off its hooves. Bi Fang, holding the Harpoon, sharpened it and began to skin the deer from the head. As the bloody scene was about to be revealed, a massive blur of mosaic covered the viewers¡¯ screens. [olst] [To be honest, I¡¯ve actually turned eighteen years old and want to see the infantry (sly)] [Mosaic is the stupidest invention in human history!] Among the barrage of comments cursing their own mosaics, some recalled the moment of the hunt. [I almost forgot, why didn¡¯t the Sika Deer see Old Fang at that time?] At that moment, the Sika Deer was practically looking straight at Bi Fang, but somehow it failed to notice him, which is really unscientific. It wasn¡¯t like this when catching rabbits before. As Bi Fang pulled on the deer skin, he explained with difficulty: ¡°It¡¯s simple because the Sika Deer is, is colorblind.¡± Pulling off a swath of skin from one leg, Bi Fang caught his breath, his energy sapping due to the rising temperature. Colorblind? The audience paused, clearly not expecting this answer. ¡°Many times, a tiger is right in front of a deer, and it can¡¯t tell, precisely because of this reason.¡± Because of color blindness, in the eyes of a deer, a yellow tiger and the surrounding green leaves have no color difference, and the stripes greatly confuse the deer¡¯s ability to distinguish them, just like camouflage. ¡°In fact, not only sika deer, but the majority of mammals are colorblind.¡± ¡°Cows, sheep, horses, dogs, cats, and others, can¡¯t distinguish colors; reflected in their eyes are only black, white, and gray. Dogs can¡¯t distinguish colors, so what they see is similar to looking at a black and white photograph.¡± [Holy crap, is that true?] [Learned something new today.] Many viewers began to realize for the first time that their pets at home are colorblind? ¡°Most mammals can¡¯t discern colors, so even without camouflage, as long as they haven¡¯t smelled you, you can get close enough to them to hunt.¡± ¡°Additionally, pay attention to birds; birds can differentiate colors, and they are often the natural sentinels for wild animals.¡± ¡°This is mainly due to evolution.¡± Two hundred million years ago, during the Mesozoic era, the dominant creatures on Earth were reptiles like dinosaurs, crocodiles, snakes, and lizards. They are cold-blooded, and when the temperature drops at night, they need to hide and sleep, so they usually are active during the daytime. On the other hand, most mammals are viviparous, and giving birth to a single offspring is very taxing. They cannot compete in numbers with reptiles, and it¡¯s too dangerous to go out during daytime. But since mammals are warm-blooded, lower temperatures at night don¡¯t affect them much, so they choose to be active at night, grab some midnight snacks, and live the nightlife. Daytime belonged to the reptiles, but nighttime was the domain of mammals; it became an unwritten rule. For mammals active at night, discerning the brightness of objects in the dark is much more important than seeing their color clearly. What followed could be anticipated. Over long evolutionary periods, most mammals lost the green and blue vision proteins and can only see a world similar to black, white, and gray, but they are able to spot prey under very dim light. They also became more sensitive to moving objects, while their sense of smell developed further, and frequently processing a large amount of olfactory signals also made their brains more developed. Coupled with certain changes in their teeth and bones, their brain size increased, creating a unique set of survival advantages for mammals. Later on, when dinosaurs became extinct, daytime also became the world of mammals. But the fact that most are colorblind remained unchanged. [Wait a minute, then why aren¡¯t we colorblind?] The audience was confused. So why are humans so unique? ¡°Because primates need to discriminate which fruits are unripe and which are mature when they eat wild fruit. Mature fruits are generally red or orange-yellow, containing more sugar, providing more energy, and they taste better.¡± ¡°Being able to distinguish between red and green fruits is a significant survival advantage. In the subsequent long process of evolution, primates regained color vision.¡± ¡°Therefore, not only humans but also orangutans, monkeys, and baboons can see many colors just like we do.¡± The audience suddenly understood. Awesome! ¡°So, our ability to see a colorful world today, we owe it to the food-loving nature of humans.¡± Bi Fang joked with the audience and redirected their attention back to the large deer in front of them. As its artery had been punctured, more blood flowed down the deer¡¯s hoof onto the ground, accumulating into a small pool of blood. But aside from Bi Fang who occasionally looked down, no one else noticed that this pool of blood¡­ Was slowly pulsating. Chapter 557 - Chapter 557: Chapter 554 Sika Deer Blood Wine, Taste the Flavor of Masculinity Chapter 557: Chapter 554 Sika Deer Blood Wine, Taste the Flavor of Masculinity In the forest, the tall trees spread their branches in all directions toward the west. A dusty white rope was wrapped around one of the branches, and beneath it, a pair of antlers was tightly entwined. A large deer weighing eighty kilograms hung in mid-air, half of its short fur had been skinned off, revealing the bright red muscles. Many capillaries had ruptured, and the severed artery had stopped bleeding, beginning to dry out and dripping blood into a puddle below its hooves. Ripples spread out from the center of the blood pool, one layer after another. Bi Fang squatted down and stared intently. The audience in the live broadcast room was still making noise and had not noticed this scene. A bear? Such a massive tremor, could a huge creature be approaching? No, it couldn¡¯t be possible. Bi Fang shook his head. Given the frequency, the scent, and the distance that could cause such a tremor, if it were a bear, it would not still be out of sight; it would be visible by now. Remembering the region in which he was located, Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Bi Fang¡¯s pupils shrank instantly, and he blurted out, ¡°Fuck, an earthquake?¡± The sudden shout confused the noisy audience, and more than ninety percent of ordinary people had never experienced an earthquake in their lives. It was a term that only appeared during occasional school drills. The word that finally came out abruptly from Bi Fang caught them off-guard. An earthquake? Fuck, an earthquake! At this moment, the camera in the Japanese live broadcast room just switched back to Bi Fang, where two commentators¡¯ brains crashed, and they instinctively crawled under the desk. When the audience came to their senses and looked back at the broadcast, the blood pool on the screen was almost jumping! In just a few seconds, an incredibly intense vibration traveled from the soles of Bi Fang¡¯s feet to his whole body. The blood pit in front of him, which had been rippling, was almost splattering blood droplets from its center! In the eyes of millions of viewers, the entire screen was trembling slightly. It wasn¡¯t the drone that was moving, but the earth itself. With thunderous roars like a dragon turning over, countless small stones scattered, a multitude of leaves fell from the air, and the hanging sika deer began to shake violently. This feeling was exceedingly frightening, the true majestic might of nature. Bi Fang steadied himself against a tree. At that moment, he felt very strange, as though his legs were tied to a large vibrating machine. Fortunately, the intense shaking stopped after seven or eight seconds. Numerous viewers swallowed, wanting to comment but found their fingers trembling too. [Is it¡­ over?] [That was fast] [Was that really an earthquake just now?] [I actually witnessed an earthquake?] Many viewers found the experience both shocking and surprising. So rare. To watch a live broadcast and see an earthquake? Humans, so far, have no means of predicting earthquakes in advance; therefore, a live broadcast of one is simply unheard of. Even if one does occur, it¡¯s usually indoors with some small-scale broadcasters. Like today, with hundreds of people watching at the same time. Unprecedented. Bi Fang swallowed, his forehead breaking into a sweat, he was also somewhat shaken. In his past and current life combined, he had only seen earthquakes on the news, let alone experienced one personally. Just now was the first time in his life he had felt an earthquake, and he was quite taken aback. Bi Fang looked around and saw that no large swaths of trees had collapsed, nor were there landslides, and based on his immediate feeling, ¡°The earthquake just now must not have been high in magnitude, but it was indeed very nerve-racking, especially in the mountains where landslides can easily occur¡ªonce you encounter a landslide, there¡¯s basically no chance of survival.¡± [Awesome, I¡¯ve never experienced an earthquake in my life.] [Better if you never do.] [I give to the host not out of concern for people but for the event, Big Bone*66¡ªdamn, that¡¯s seriously extreme.] [The user who will no longer change their name is an idiot gives to the host yacht*1¡ªSuch an eye-opener, really an eye-opener! I¡¯ve grown so much, and this is the first time I¡¯ve encountered an earthquake.] After waiting for a moment and not experiencing any aftershocks, Bi Fang relaxed, ¡°Good, there¡¯s no danger, but capturing this moment is indeed very rare. Still, to be safe, we should start moving towards flat, open areas. It¡¯s best not to stay here.¡± Inside the Japan livestream room, a large number of viewers exclaimed in surprise. The camera focused on the other hunters. The range of an earthquake is often vast, and not just Bi Fang, but many other hunters had also felt this tremor a few minutes ago. Mugalen leaned against a tree, slowly sitting down, his chest heaving wildly; although it didn¡¯t use up much physical strength, he couldn¡¯t help but gasp for air. Scared the shit out of me, the earthquake came out of nowhere. Bosen, carrying a crossbow, ducked and covered his head, only daring to peek out after everything ended, then he released a deep sigh of relief. ¡°Almost lost my life there.¡± It wasn¡¯t only Taiji Town, but the entire Wakayama Prefecture, and even most of Honshu Island, felt this intense earthquake. Every hunter, no matter how big or small, felt it. A few Y¨­ki Hunters, accustomed to it, quickly moved away from tall trees and ducked down, standing back up after it was over. Fortunately, no one was hunting Black Bear at the time of the earthquake, or else accidents would have surely occurred. Sato opened his water bottle to take a sip, telling the audience not to worry, ¡°Our Japan is a country prone to many earthquakes and volcanoes; it also has the highest frequency of earthquakes in the world.¡± There are three major seismic belts on Earth: the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Mediterranean-Indonesian Seismic Belt, and the Oceanic Ridge Seismic Belt. These are all unstable regions formed by tectonic collisions, and the countries located on these seismic belts frequently experience earthquakes. Among them, the places with frequent earthquakes are Fukushima in Japan, San Francisco in Ugly Country, the Andaman Sea in the Indian Ocean, and La¡¯Aquila in Italy. Especially Japan, it¡¯s the most noteworthy among them. Its geographical location on the map is between the Eurasian Plate and the Pacific Plate, with the Pacific Plate subducting under the Eurasian Plate, causing intense collisions and compression. This type of collision, on one hand, formed the Japanese archipelago; on the other hand, it also brought an endless series of earthquake disasters. It¡¯s a bit like two plastic plates floating in a basin, from collision to separation, merely in an instant. But in Earth¡¯s ¡°big basin¡±, this process is slowed down countless times. The moment of collision and deformation is happening, and it¡¯s also slowed down countless times. The collision continues even today, and Japan experiences continuous volcanic eruptions and earthquakes every year. There are over 200 volcanoes here, about 45 of which are active, and earthquakes are so frequent they are like eating and drinking, averaging over 1500 times a year, with an average daily earthquake frequency of more than four times. You only eat meals three times a day, but here, earthquakes can occur four times a day; you¡¯d have to include late-night snacks to draw even. Of course, that¡¯s a bit exaggerated, because this includes all of Japan, counting the seabed too. If it¡¯s just in a certain area, it wouldn¡¯t be quite so exaggerated. ¡°We have earthquakes almost every day throughout the year. Most of them are just small, non-destructive ones, the kind that causes a slight ripple in the water. But, sometimes we encounter more powerful ones, which is why our houses are primarily made of wood to reduce the casualty rate.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been used to this kind of life since I was a child, so there¡¯s no need for anyone to be scared, it¡¯ll pass soon.¡± Picking up the naginata lying on the ground, Sato waved it off, signaling that the earthquake was nothing to worry about, categorized as frightening but without any real danger. [You¡¯re number one!] ¡°` [Been through a big scene now] [Other hunters must be scared out of their wits, hahaha] In the forest, Bi Fang said the same thing, explaining why earthquakes are so frequent in Japan. Many netizens were deeply moved. [Huaxia is still the best, safe] ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily true,¡± Bi Fang thought about it and denied it. ¡°Although Japan has many earthquakes, Huaxia is the country that ultimately suffers from the most severe earthquake disasters. Our earthquakes are powerful, shallow, and widespread. Either they don¡¯t happen, or once they do, it¡¯s generally inescapable.¡± Since the founding of the country, Huaxia has experienced over 100 destructive earthquakes, with disaster areas reaching over 300,000 square kilometers and 7 million houses collapsing. Huaxia¡¯s land area accounts for one-fifteenth of the global total, but its land earthquakes make up one-third of the global total. The illusion that earthquakes rarely occur is entirely because most of the population is concentrated in the plains. ¡°7% of Huaxia¡¯s territory bears 33% of the world¡¯s continental strong earthquakes, making it the country with the most strong continental earthquakes in the world.¡± ¡°Damn, is that so?¡± Inside the first exhibition hall, many spectators looked at each other in dismay. Many nodded their heads, the people in the hall murmuring, coming from all over the country, and even from abroad. At this moment, they clearly recalled many unbearable memories. ¡°However, we should now focus on dealing with the sika deer, and then quickly descend to a flatter area. I¡¯m worried about aftershocks, especially since we¡¯re on a mountain, and whether there will be landslides doesn¡¯t necessarily depend on the intensity of the quake.¡± After skinning and removing the innards, the weight of the deer was significantly reduced. Bi Fang looked at the pair of majestic antlers, which were almost fully calcified and no longer covered in velvet. ¡°Antlers without velvet are basically useless,¡± Bi Fang still felt it was a pity. ¡°Cervids can be said to be nature¡¯s Deadpool, with extremely strong regenerative abilities. For example, this sika deer we see here, if its leg bone were fractured, it could stand within three days, run again in ten days, and completely recover in twenty days.¡± ¡°Deer velvet is the same. It¡¯s actually the regenerative tissue of the sika deer, and it can be called a miracle in the animal kingdom. Biologists still can¡¯t understand why mammals can regenerate such a large organ.¡± ¡°Notice that I said organ, not our nails or hair, which, if cut, grow back as keratinous protein proliferation, commonly known as dead skin. But deer velvet is a living organ of the deer.¡± Bi Fang tapped on the antlers with the back of his knife, producing a dull sound. The antler velvet of sika deer grows at about 1.5 centimeters a day. The antler velvet of moose grows at an astonishing rate of 2.5 centimeters a day, one of the fastest growing organs in nature, and the largest regenerative organ in nature, bar none. ¡°Antlers are a pair of fully calcified bones. During the process from velvet to antlers, the fine hair on their surface falls off, revealing a bright red color. Then, various birds would come and help clean off the velvet. Deer will also eat the velvet off each other. In fact, the supposed medicinal benefits of deer velvet chiefly come from the biochemical substances found in this layer of velvet.¡± ¡°Shame, it¡¯s all gone now.¡± The audience was amazed to hear this. So deer are that awesome? [Deer blood is the real pity, I¡¯d rather not have the velvet but have the blood, wuwuwu, Old Fang, if you don¡¯t want it you can give it to me] ¡°Oh, someone understands deer blood?¡± Bi Fang was surprised. [My great-uncle breeds them, deer blood is great stuff, hehe, those who know, know] [? What kind of riddle man?] [What does it mean, I don¡¯t get it] [Can¡¯t say, can¡¯t say, it¡¯s ineffably wonderful] Bi Fang laughed loudly, ¡°It¡¯s simple, do you know that a stag typically has a harem of a dozen or twenty does, and these harems are not just for show, nor is it like lions that only mate a few times; they have to be serviced several times a day. And it goes on for several months.¡± The audience: ¡°???¡± [A dozen or twenty harems, several times a day, let¡¯s say a hundred times, for several months¡­ damn, that¡¯s like a pile driver, isn¡¯t it?] [This¡­ is a bit outrageous] ¡°` [Really, I don¡¯t believe it] ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to deer blood. Deer blood has an extremely high oxygen content and contains a vast amount of immunoglobulins, roughly three times that of human blood. The SOD antioxidants are even up to seven times higher than in humans, completely fearless of viruses and bacteria.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why a lot of men adore deer blood wine, but I didn¡¯t have a container to collect it, and it felt quite heavy, so I couldn¡¯t be bothered to gather any.¡± [What a waste, what a waste!] [Quick, Boss Fang, send the coordinates. While it¡¯s still fresh, I¡¯ll come over and lick it up] [Lord Mu has sent the host 10 Spacecrafts¡ªAh-fang, we¡¯ve been friends for so long, wouldn¡¯t it be unspeakable for you not to bring back a jar as a gift?] [Wow, a jar? Aren¡¯t you afraid of dropping dead from greed, you black-hearted merchant?] Kicking aside the useless parts, Bi Fang lifted it and felt much lighter, at least a third of the weight was gone, and the extra forty kilograms he could now carry was more than enough for him. He took the deer down from the tree, slung it over his back, and rested it on his shoulder, near his neck. [By the way, what would Old Fang do if he runs out of energy halfway and encounters a Black Bear?] ¡°That¡¯s actually possible, but since we¡¯re running downhill, it¡¯s not very likely. We¡¯ve discussed the combat power of bears and tigers before. One thing I didn¡¯t mention is that the chances of Black Bears ¡®meeting¡¯ tigers are actually not as high as we think.¡± Their selection of microhabitats is totally different. ¡°On a horizontal level, tigers and bears share the same habitat, like a place where there are both bears and tigers, but vertically, their chosen living spaces are quite different.¡± ¡°Black Bears prefer higher elevation mountain areas, usually in the mountains within a habitat, whereas tigers prefer the lower altitudes of valleys or dense forests, similar to the microhabitats of Brown Bears. ¡°They share a ¡®bunk-bed¡¯ relationship.¡± Oh. So that¡¯s how it is. Once Bi Fang explained, everyone understood. Black Bears live at higher altitudes, and now, by running downhill, one is leaving their habitat. Furthermore, the lower mountain areas are generally human settlements, so the likelihood of encountering Black Bears is even lower. Bi Fang quickened his pace down the mountain, leaping over trees with ease. With his joints reinforced, Bi Fang could move up and down without feeling any pressure on his knees, making it quite effortless. This easy and carefree movement made many outdoors enthusiasts watching envious. Let alone carrying a load nearly the weight of a person, one wouldn¡¯t dare to jump off a rock more than a meter high with just a slight bend of the knees! Wouldn¡¯t one dare to jump like that if their knee joints were made of titanium alloy? Jumping onto a mound of earth, a dark brown patch of soil caught his attention and made him stop. In the summer after the harsh sun, the top layer of soil should be light grey. But here, all of it was the moist deep soil, obviously turned over not long ago. A small landslide? Bi Fang took note of the slope¡¯s gradient and shape. About fifty degrees, clearly very prone to landslides. The unique U-shape mouth confirmed this as well. The recent earthquake wasn¡¯t without its effects. But this wasn¡¯t what drew Bi Fang¡¯s attention. In the brown soil, a large piece of pale green stone was particularly eye-catching. This is¡­Bi Fang moved closer. Under the sunlight, the pale green stone shone brightly. ¡°Jade?¡± Chapter 558 - Chapter 558: Chapter 555: Found a Treasure Chapter 558: Chapter 555: Found a Treasure Bi Fang stood in the sunlight and blurted out after a long time, ¡°Jadeite!¡± Jadeite? What jadeite, where¡¯s the jadeite? As Bi Fang pointed toward the edge of the forest, millions of viewers¡¯ gazes also shifted in that direction. Kogawa Kobayashi and Shizuka Minamoto both widened their eyes, too shocked to speak. The drone had flown earlier, through the sparse trees, until it arrived at a steep slope and looked down from top to bottom. Atop a hill a few hundred meters high, a huge brown landslide, like a scab being peeled away, revealed grayish-white limestone, damp earth, fallen trees, and in the middle, an enormously large stone with a green fracture face. Between the brown and gray, this touch of green was quite eye-catching. It was dotted as if it were a dormant Mangshan pit viper that, due to rainfall, had some of its soil washed away, exposing parts of its body to the air. If this were a snake, it would definitely qualify to appear in Ugly Country¡¯s sci-fi flicks like ¡°Python vs Crocodile¡± or ¡°Python vs Spider.¡± Not only the Huaxia audience, but also the Japanese netizens were boiling over. Jadeite, that¡¯s their ¡°national stone¡± in Japan! Not just in Huaxia, Japan is also extremely enthusiastic about jade. In 2016, they even designated jadeite as their national ¡°national stone,¡± which speaks volumes. Seeing Bi Fang uncovering jadeite out in the open now was enough to make anyone green with envy. This is like walking down the street and suddenly finding a lottery ticket worth a billion! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.?¦Ï What is this? This is what? I¡¯m envious. I¡¯m jealous. My heart is tired. No matter how much the viewers howled inside, they had to offer up their congratulations with their barrage of comments, secretly indicating their envy. [Jadeite, it¡¯s really jadeite, I¡¯m not mistaken!] [Such a huge piece, it¡¯s massive!] [Damn, hitting the jackpot here!] ¡°Is it really jadeite? Could there be a mistake?¡± the female commentator still couldn¡¯t believe it, ¡°How much would such a big piece cost?¡± Kogawa Kobayashi made an estimate, ¡°About a cubic meter, judging by the cross-section?¡± ¡°It¡¯s amazing, this earthquake actually shook a piece of jadeite out of the ground. Is there a jadeite mine here?¡± If it truly was jadeite, and so immense at that, there couldn¡¯t just be this one piece, right? Thinking this, the audience became even more excited. A mine, how much would that cost? Most of the audience were ordinary people; they might not understand the exact value of a mine, but they clearly knew it would be an astronomical figure. After all, anything that can be associated with a ¡°mountain¡± is never simple. [Boss Fang is rich again, hey, why do I say ¡®again¡¯?] [Fast forward to leasing the whole hill and starting mining] Bi Fang was also a bit nervous, the feeling of discovering unanticipated wealth was too abrupt, so sudden that it could make one¡¯s heart skip a beat. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, let¡¯s go down there and take a look, I just feel like it¡¯s jadeite, it might not be real, maybe I¡¯m mistaken, it might just be a piece of serpentine, they¡¯re both green.¡± Jadeite is formed under geological processes and reaches the quality of jade as a crystalline aggregate, while serpentine is mostly the product of alteration of pyroxene and amphibole crystals. The only difference is that the former is a gem¡ªjade and the latter is simply igneous rock, that is, magmatic rock, a worthless thing. The two can easily be discerned at a glance, and Bi Fang¡¯s eyesight isn¡¯t that bad. ¡°Saying this, the greater intention was still to calm down the excited emotions, whether it was my own or the audience¡¯s, we were all somewhat excited.¡± After taking a few breaths, Bi Fang, who had regained his composure, came to the slope and looked down. Fortunately, the forest lay below the slope, not some residential town, so no casualties had occurred. Without any trees here, Bi Fang tied the rope around a large tree nearby that showed no risk of sliding and then proceeded down the slope, stepping on the boulders and moving towards the center of the landslide scar. [Old Fang, are you sure this is jadeite?] [Why do I feel like it looks like green marble (amused icon)] [It doesn¡¯t look quite the same as the ones I¡¯ve seen before.] [What is jadeite?] [A kind of stone.] Asian viewers were very familiar with the term jadeite, but foreign ones not so much, and some had never even heard of it. ¡°It¡¯s a very beautiful kind of stone, similar to diamonds, but personally, I think jade is much more valuable than diamonds,¡± Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but say. Simply put, gemstones are beautiful and rare stones that are loved for their beauty and valued for their scarcity. Jadeite is even more so, as jade itself is very rare, let alone the king of jade¡ªjadeite. This is even more the case with the cultural enhancement of Huaxia over thousands of years. As for diamonds, in Bi Fang¡¯s eyes, they really aren¡¯t worth much. If you¡¯ve seen Little Leo¡¯s movie ¡°Blood Diamond,¡± you¡¯d understand that this stuff is mined in such large quantities it¡¯s staggering, Africa is replete with veins of it, and it can form under high temperature and pressure; ¡°scarcity¡± is entirely due to monopolization. Before artificial synthesis was possible, they hyped up its perpetuity; once artificial synthesis was achieved, they praised the natural, the cutting techniques, the certifications. Bi Fang once saved a chieftain who gave him a small bag of them, along with a thick stack of certificates. Now, the technology of the Hua Science Academy has made another breakthrough; they can even grow diamonds, truly natural ones. It remains to be seen how diamond merchants will spin that. Jadeite, however, is different. The conditions required for its formation begin with regional metamorphism, where native sodium feldspar loses silica to form jadeite rock, followed by plate collision, creating conditions of low temperature and ultra-high pressure. Low temperature and ultra-high pressure¡ªif you hear this, you know how preposterous it is, as it is a contradiction in terms. In physics, the deeper into the mantle, the greater the pressure and the higher the temperature will be. But jadeite requires low temperature and high pressure, and it also needs sustained ultra-high pressures. Low temperatures indicate shallow earth, while high pressures suggest deep layers. So, theoretically, such conditions do not exist. Many viewers were hearing this explanation for the first time. [Wow, how does this stuff even form then?] ¡°This has to do with the plate tectonic theory in geology. The mine site is located near the intersection of the Eurasian Plate and the Indian Ocean Plate, and millions of years ago, the collision between the Indian Ocean Plate and the Eurasian Plate provided the low temperature and ultra-high pressure conditions necessary for the formation of jadeite.¡± ¡°The northern part of the surface site, particularly the Meng Gong area in Mizhina, has been ¡®favored by the heavens.¡¯ Its location just happens to meet the geological environment requirements for jadeite ore formation. Such demanding conditions are one in a million, and this place is almost the only source for gemstone-grade jadeite.¡± It can be said that the entire world¡¯s gem-grade jadeite is only found in a strip about 200 kilometers long and 15 kilometers wide, and even on that strip, most of the jadeite mined is of extremely poor quality, with only a few pieces qualifying as gemstones. As for synthetic versions, what is produced is dross¡­ Outrageous, isn¡¯t it? It¡¯s not that other places don¡¯t have jadeite at all, apart from the site, there is jadeite in Guatemala, Japan¡¯s Honshu Island, Colombia, Old Zealand, California in the Ugly Country, and Polar Bear, but these can¡¯t really be called gemstones. The quality is embarrassingly low, and there¡¯s no top-grade jadeite. They are just greener, smoother large rocks. The most typical case is Yunnan in Huaxia; not to mention the poorer quality, there isn¡¯t any at all, even though it¡¯s in the same region and less than 150 kilometers away from the Meng Gong area. Because Yunnan and the Meng Gong area in Myanmar both belong to the plate junction zone, but on the Huaxia side, it¡¯s part of the rising zone under compression, whereas the surface site belongs to a subduction boundary, which is also a mountain building area. In the collision mountain system, the area with the greatest force is the subduction boundary mountain building region. The force in the rising zone is used to arch up the mountain ranges, so only at this spot is there the low temperature and ultra-high pressure environment needed to form jadeite. The location of this point is precisely where the Meng Gong area is situated. It¡¯s that surprising, the geological environments on both sides are completely different. Given its rarity, jadeite mining has also become the pillar industry for the surface site. ¡°` ¡°Gawazi doesn¡¯t count.¡± Bi Fang said, ¡°So don¡¯t get too excited. Even if it really is jade, the quality can¡¯t be that high since it¡¯s ¡®mountain material¡¯, which is even worse.¡± Many viewers didn¡¯t understand the term and asked what ¡®mountain material¡¯ meant. ¡°Mountain material refers to jade found in the mountains. Besides that, there¡¯s ¡®seed material¡¯, which falls into rivers by various accidents. After being washed for countless years and undergoing material exchange, it forms a layer of stone skin, making the jade inside smoother.¡± ¡°Mountain material doesn¡¯t have that, so we can see it exposed directly. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t recognize it and might think it¡¯s just an ordinary rock.¡± The jade in a mine is in a static environment, hidden deep within the rock from start to finish, lacking the polishing of external forces, leading to incomplete or non-existent skin, with clear, unrounded edges. Bi Fang tightened the rope, confirming it was secure, then approached the steep slope¡¯s edge. Standing on a rock, he steadied himself before lightly jumping to the next one. The rocks here were only partially lodged in the mountainside, exposed by the landslide, and not necessarily stable, so Bi Fang moved very cautiously with minor adjustments. The drone flew over Bi Fang¡¯s head, casting him in the light of a stunt performer treading on invisible stairs as it filmed from above. With a crash, a semi-protruding boulder broke away from the mountain wall. Bi Fang¡¯s foot found empty air, so he jumped off the nearby cliff face, landing on another big rock, which also wobbled and soon broke off and fell. Damn! Cold sweat covered Bi Fang¡¯s body as all his pores expanded. He quickly grabbed the rope at his waist and continued stepping on the cliff face, using the reaction force to move forward and land on another small rock. Unfortunately, the smaller rocks were even less reliable, continuously breaking and falling as soon as he landed, forcing him to jump again. A mass of rubble tumbled down the steep slope, the smaller pieces flying out mid-air into the forest, while the larger ones rolled down, smashing directly into the trees, kicking up a cloud of dust. No birds were startled. Long before the earthquake arrived, all the birds had flown away. The entire forest now lay eerily silent, even the insect noise had quieted down significantly. Even the viewers, under the drone¡¯s surveillance, could see snakes crawling down from the trees, heading downhill at this moment. In just a few minutes, six or seven made a chilling sight. Bi Fang was like a wilderness version of Supermarket Warrior, jumping over a dozen rocks before he finally stabilized himself and leaned against the cliff wall, gasping for air. Even though his sweatshirt was quick-dry, at this moment sweat stains were still visible. The viewers silently sweated for Bi Fang, thankful for the rope; otherwise, it would have been too thrilling, and their hearts couldn¡¯t take it. After descending about twenty meters more, Bi Fang finally neared the green boulder he had spotted earlier. Upon closer inspection, Bi Fang confirmed thoroughly. This motherfucker is a piece of jade! And it¡¯s huge! The surface area exposed above ground alone was over half a square meter, and the whole rock was estimated to be around half a cubic meter! Kogawa Kobayashi and Shizuka Minamoto looked at each other in shock. The next moment, they clasped their fingers tightly, screaming. ¡°Ah!!!¡± Gang Tianwu crossed his arms, looking at the soaring popularity figures on his computer with a look of life¡¯s disbelief. An earthquake had revealed a huge piece of jade. How come such good fortune never fell upon him? Nobita Nobi envied even more, his face full of yearning. The last time he felt such an obvious earthquake, all he got was a big bump on his head from a falling fan, which cost him a good sum of money to treat at the hospital, and nothing else. Despite always doing good deeds, helping grandmas across the street, feeding stray cats and dogs. Sigh. There¡¯s really a big difference between people. [It really is jade!] ¡°` [Awesome!!!] [Lord Mu sent the anchor 66 yachts¡ª¡ª Handsome guy, bring it over and have some fun] [Gross!] [Isn¡¯t this embarrassing?] [So cool, following Old Fang one really gets to see a wide array of things, encountering all sorts of situations] [Nonsense, hasn¡¯t Old Fang nearly traveled all over Earth by now?] [Ashtray sent the anchor 10 Spaceships¡ª¡ªPretty good-looking, wonder if there¡¯s a part for me (smirk)] [Aren¡¯t you filming, or are you watching the live broadcast? Is the new movie out yet?] Bi Fang clutched the rope tightly, his body firmly pressed against the slope. Due to the landslide, the slope had exceeded seventy degrees. At thirty degrees, it¡¯s already difficult to stand steady; at seventy to eighty degrees, it¡¯s virtually indistinguishable from being completely vertical¡ªno way to stand at all. After some friction and kicking loose stones, Bi Fang reached the edge of the jade. He gently tapped it with his foot, and seeing that it was stable, he kicked harder, eliciting a wail from the viewers. [Oh no, stop kicking, what if you break it?] [If it falls, it¡¯ll shatter. Think thrice, Boss Fang, think thrice!] [Stop it, I don¡¯t allow you to do that!] [Jade, my jade, hehe] [How about knocking off a piece to give away to everyone?] After a few forceful kicks, confirming its sturdiness, the audience screamed in dismay. Because Bi Fang stood directly on top of this huge rock, he stomped forcefully, finding it very solid: ¡°It seems there¡¯s still a large part inside the mountain; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be this solid. It¡¯s really big, but the quality indeed is average.¡± He squatted down, brought the camera closer, and now everything became clear. It wasn¡¯t the all-encompassing emerald green that the viewers had imagined, it was more like¡­ A very green, very large rock? [Some look like this before they¡¯re polished. Some become much prettier after polishing.] Bi Fang touched with his fingers, wiping away as he went, revealing many fine cracks. ¡°Mountain material, as the name suggests, is found in mountain ranges, not having been soaked and washed by river water. It¡¯s characterized by generally large sizes. This one in front of me is conservatively estimated to be half a cubic meter. They mostly have an unremarkable appearance, with edges and angles, and the surface is quite rough with obvious cracks and fissures.¡± ¡°The more famous mountain jade deposits are known for producing large pieces, mostly without a complete outer crust or mist layer, and they are huge blocks of jade weighing tons, tens of tons, and even hundreds of tons for the really big ones¡ªfrighteningly large.¡± ¡°However, mountain materials generally have poor water, which can also be understood as immature jade raw stones.¡± ¡°Because of the poor quality and large size, they are mainly used to manufacture fake jade or make low-end bracelets and large ornaments. It¡¯s difficult to make into the fine jade pendants or bracelets we commonly see.¡± ¡°The quality of this piece we have here is considered good.¡± This piece before him couldn¡¯t be called good, nor could it be called bad. How much it was worth, Bi Fang didn¡¯t know, being a complete layman. But it must be worth quite a bit of money, right? The only issue was how to take it away. Due to its formation under extremely high pressure, the jade was very dense, much denser than ordinary rocks. A half cubic meter, the weight was close to two tons. Even injecting Bi Fang with Supermarket Warrior serum might not be enough for him to handle it. [No problem, just tell me the address, I¡¯ll go dig it out right away!] [Boss Fang must have too much money, let me do it, let me show you what the human limit is, a super warrior.] After thinking for a while, Bi Fang said, ¡°I¡¯d better go down the mountain and find someone to help.¡± Chapter 559 - Chapter 559: Chapter 556: Persuasion is Futile for a Stubborn Ghost Chapter 559: Chapter 556: Persuasion is Futile for a Stubborn Ghost ¡°` Between the trees, two grown men were pulling a thick rope, bare-chested, moving forward bit by bit, like boat trackers on the Volga River. ¡°Why did you come to find me for this kind of thing?¡± ¡°You were the closest, and we¡¯re about even. After it¡¯s done, I¡¯ll split it in half with you. You pick first, how about that?¡± The man with the beard felt somewhat unsure, always feeling that he had been tricked into doing hard labor for nothing. He asked again, ¡°Is this thing valuable? I have never seen it before; it just looks like a piece of green stone to me?¡± ¡°Trust me, even if I split it in half, there¡¯s still a hundred thousand dollars in it.¡± Bi Fang revealed a confident smile, his shining white teeth so dazzling that the man couldn¡¯t keep his eyes open. Could that be¡­ youth? Cough cough. Misjudgment. Mugalen rubbed his eyes, always feeling that smile was up to no good. The shirts of the two men were completely taken off and thrown on the rocks beside them; their wheat-colored skin glistened with sweat as their high-thigh muscles bulged and relaxed, transferring strength to the emerald boulder beneath the cliff, with the high-fiber rope leaving a red mark on their shoulders. A Beast Tooth Necklace clung to the neck, as Bi Fang¡¯s muscles were as solid as if cast in steel. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Mugalen wasn¡¯t too shabby either, but perhaps starting to experience a midlife crisis, his build was slightly more robust. Inside the livestream, the audience was enthusiastically cheering them on. Approaching two tons in weight, the emerald boulder was something Bi Fang couldn¡¯t lift on his own. If he just excavated it and let it roll down the cliff, it was likely to shatter into pieces. One of the values of such mountain material is being large enough to make substantial displayed pieces. If it broke, its value would diminish greatly. It just so happened that Mugalen was nearby Taiji Town too, so Bi Fang called out in the livestream, asking the audience to shout out when the camera switched to Mugalen, to see if he was interested in coming over to this mountain to make a fortune. Aside from Bi Fang, who could broadcast independently, other Hunters had to have the production team switch the camera over so that the audience could send bullet comments for the corresponding Hunters to see. This was also a way to remind Hunters to ¡°perform well¡±. Gang Tianwu and the others were very sensible, hearing what Bi Fang meant, they immediately switched the camera over and got in touch with Mugalen. When Mugalen heard that it was Bi Fang calling him to make money, although he was puzzled, he was happy to come over, only to be roped up upon arrival. He was like a wild donkey that had been caught. Since the earthquake, the number of viewers in the livestream had been skyrocketing, especially after Bi Fang quickly found the huge emerald gemstone, the growth rate surged once again. Aside from Mugalen¡¯s journey over, more than ninety percent of the time, the camera was on Bi Fang. Before Mugalen arrived, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t idle either. He took advantage of the time to make a simple pulley set out of wood. Even if the two men were strong, they couldn¡¯t possibly lift the boulder that conservatively weighed one and a half, nearly two tons. One ton per person, that would be superhuman. Using the pulley set could effectively reduce the pulling force, which is a basic lesson from junior high physics. Bi Fang used a large tree as a fulcrum, with several pulleys in place, to easily reduce the force to a level that two strong men could handle. However, though they reduced the force, it demanded more from the rope¡¯s length; forty meters was plainly not enough. Fortunately, Mugalen also had a length of rope, and combined, they were just about sufficient. Hearing Bi Fang¡¯s promise of a hundred thousand dollars, Mugalen, who had been feeling somewhat weak, straightened his back, invigorated once more. Amidst the chants of the audience, they both stepped forward in unison, leaving an inch-deep footprint; then pushed off the ground again, advancing another step! Beneath the cliff, the massive green emerald they had unearthed, half a cubic meter in size, rose by ten centimeters. Unavoidably, the consequence of reducing the force was a minimal height gain for each forward step. Now, the emerald was ten meters away from reaching the top of the mountain. After pulling for another half hour, Mugalen¡¯s face was flushed, his body drenched in sweat that soaked most of his pants, looking as if he had just been fished out of water, with his legs trembling slightly. ¡°I¡¯m so tired, I can¡¯t do it anymore, I feel like I¡¯ve pulled about three hundred kilograms.¡± ¡°How can a man say he can¡¯t do it? Push harder, a hundred thousand dollars! Just think about it, a hundred thousand dollars! Just a few more pulls and a box of Ugly Money will be in our hands!¡± ¡°Damn, a hundred thousand dollars, a hundred thousand dollars! Wait, what if it¡¯s not there?¡± ¡°Damn, don¡¯t lose heart. If it¡¯s not there, I¡¯ll compensate you, I¡¯ll give you one hundred and fifty thousand!¡± ¡°You said it!¡± ¡°` ¡°` The donkey perked up when Bi Fang replaced the carrots it had dropped with a fresh basket of water radishes. With their last ounce of strength, the two men finally managed to haul the massive jadeite boulder up before three o¡¯clock in the afternoon. The hefty stone crossed over the cliff, rolling onto the ground with the help of the tree trunks, and the moment it landed, a slight tremor passed through the feet of both men. At that moment, as if their souls had been sucked out, their legs gave in, and they both collapsed on the ground, panting heavily, their throats as though riddled with gaping holes, constantly leaking air and dry to the point of feeling clogged with thick phlegm. [This is exhausting just to watch] [Awesome, feels just like that time in middle school after running a kilometer, hahaha] [I can¡¯t believe I cheered for an hour straight] [Those tendons, so badass] [They pulled up a two-ton guy, that¡¯s tough as nails, truly awesome] [The rope¡¯s quality is really good.] Mugalen felt like he could breathe fire, his throat smoking, he hoarsely shouted, ¡°FUCK, I can¡¯t do this anymore, I¡¯m really done for, so tired, I¡¯m dead, water, I need water.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t climb anymore either.¡± Bi Fang lay on the ground, the water bag just beside him, but he couldn¡¯t muster the energy to move even the short distance to it. Too freaking tired. If a black bear appeared now, it might complete a double kill and, with that achievement, become the king of the bears and reach the summit of bear life. He just hoped the jade was worth the effort and would give him a surprise big enough to match. After all, he was an amateur, only knowing a bit about geography and mineralogy; what the stone was really worth was a professional¡¯s concern, and he needed someone to take a look. Meanwhile, the other hunters gradually realized something was amiss, as even when the camera was on them, the number of comments in the live stream was inexplicably low. Where did all the viewers go? Only a few kind-hearted viewers explained what had happened, but 99% of them were captivated by the discovery of the huge jadeite by Bi Fang. ¡°Bi Fang, Bi Fang, Bi Fang, why is it always him? Don¡¯t you leave any room for the rest of us to live?¡± Dozens of hunters wailed, each like a magnet using their skills to attract an audience, but¡­ Why are you like a neodymium magnet? Sato punched a tree trunk in anger, and a few leaves fell. His limelight had been completely stolen, which went completely against the original intention of the live stream. It was supposed to promote Y¨­ki culture, but instead, the spotlight was hijacked by an outsider, which was hard to swallow. Why was he so lucky, and why did I get nothing? Even when the camera turned to Sato, he had to put on a smile and offer his congratulations. Bosen, carrying a large crossbow, sat on a rock and scratched his head, chuckling, ¡°Too bad, I was on the mountain too, even met them this morning, why didn¡¯t they ask for my help? I did give them half a rabbit, but man, what luck! You don¡¯t see this sort of thing often.¡± [Hahaha, uncle, Old Fang and Old Mugalen have known each other for a long time, of course they wouldn¡¯t share the good fortune] Despite being over fifty, Bosen was still agile, and the viewers affectionately called him Hunter Uncle. [If we really call Uncle Bosen, then wouldn¡¯t it be half a rabbit exchanged for a large chunk of jade? The most expensive rabbit in history!] [Uncle, hurry and catch up, maybe you can still get a share, finders keepers, finders keepers, if you disagree just shoot Old Fang in the butt] Bosen waved his hand, ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s continue hunting for black bears, they fetch a few tens of thousands each, much simpler.¡± With that, he got up from the rock, dusted off his pants, and leisurely followed the tracks through the forest. Apart from Bi Fang, the audience also loved this older hunter, who had an air of a sunset warrior but was remarkably skilled at tracking black bears. He was even better than the Y¨­ki Hunters in Japan, where one could hunt black bears openly and without shame. Compared to Bosen, they seemed more like master and apprentice; the difference was significant. Indeed, the older hunters get stronger and stronger! Elsewhere, after resting, Bi Fang and Mugalen sat on large rocks, one hand propped on their thighs, the other holding a cup of water, sipping slowly like two exhausted old men in a park. Having replenished their fluids and regained some strength, the two men looked at the huge stone on the ground and exchanged glances. ¡°` Mugalen twitched the corner of his mouth, ¡°We¡¯re not going to move it down, are we?¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°It can¡¯t be moved.¡± Mugalen breathed a sigh of relief, but soon his expression froze. ¡°Do you know how the Egyptians built the Pyramids? They were able to move huge stones weighing tens of tons from the bottom of the mountain to the top.¡± ¡°FUCK, I¡¯d rather not take this hundred thousand!¡± ¡­ The sun was about to set. The afterglow of the setting sun pierced through the now sparse forest, falling on two bare-chested men, making their sweaty sheen glisten under the sunlight. After placing the last wooden rod under the boulder, Mugalen pushed with all his might, and the jade began to roll toward the foot of the mountain. They were now close to where humans lived, not far from a village and houses, ¡°This is the hardest I¡¯ve ever worked for a hundred thousand bucks. If I had known it¡¯d be like this, I¡¯d rather go hunt a couple of black bears to get a thrill,¡± Mugalen said through gritted teeth, his words laced with murderous intent. In the forest, several black bears looked around, not knowing why they suddenly felt a chill down their spines. Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter, almost choking. The laughter spread over the open ground, attracting a few old farmers who had just returned from the vegetable garden. Seeing two muscular men, one a foreigner and the other an Asian, they couldn¡¯t help but become curious. Just as they were about to go over and take a look, their gaze fell on the huge stone at Bi Fang¡¯s feet, shimmering green in the sunset, and their eyes slowly widened, their pupils dilating. Clang, clang clang. One after another, hoes dropped to the ground. An old farmer wiped the sweat from his forehead with a towel, then rubbed his eyes, only to be stung into tears; even so, he dared not blink, afraid that he had seen wrong, ¡°Is it real? Is it? Am I mistaken? Is that jade? Jade?!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no mistake, it¡¯s jade! That¡¯s jade!¡± Another farmer pointed his trembling finger at the large jade stone, his voice shaking as he repeated himself, as if trying to convince himself. Once confirmed, the group exploded into a frenzy of discussion. Even from dozens of meters away, it was as if one could hear their arguing. The drone quickly flew in close, capturing their words without missing a single one. ¡°Such a huge jade!¡± ¡°How could they carry something so big?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, but they must be rich now, right?¡± ¡°Where did the jade come from? Did they dig it out of the mountain?¡± ¡°It looks like these two guys carried it down from the mountain.¡± The audience burst into laughter. [Hahaha, they¡¯re all stunned by the huge piece of jade] [The foot basin is only so big; they probably have never seen such a large piece of raw jade in their lives] [If it were me, I¡¯d be shocked, too] [What¡¯s under Boss Fang¡¯s feet isn¡¯t just a rock, it¡¯s money, money that can set a person financially free!] Like the old farmers, the audience went wild, especially with the thought that this ¡°rock¡± could turn into cash, they grew even more envious. Many international viewers didn¡¯t quite understand the value of jade, but they heard about the hundred and fifty thousand dollars Bi Fang had promised Mugalen. Hundred thousand dollars, that¡¯s over seven hundred thousand! That¡¯s just for half, wouldn¡¯t it be over a million for the whole thing? [I could carry these two tons directly!] [I am Superman!] [Hmph, I won¡¯t hide it from you guys any longer, I am the legendary Poor Superman! The poorer I am, the stronger I become! Right now, I¡¯m invincible!] The old farmers made a fuss for a while and seemed to push one of their own to the front, who approached Bi Fang and Mugalen. Seeing the muscles on their bodies, he felt scared and asked tentatively, ¡°Can you understand Japanese?¡± Mugalen waved his hand and pointed at Bi Fang, indicating he should talk since he didn¡¯t understand the language. Bi Fang nodded his head. The old farmer was very happy, ¡°Are you Japanese?¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m from Huaxia, but I understand what you¡¯re saying.¡± Upon hearing that the other party could communicate, the old farmer danced with joy, his voice filled with excitement, spittle flying everywhere, ¡°Jadeite, is this jadeite? Where did you find this jadeite, is it on the mountain? Is it on the mountain?¡± Seeing how excited the man was, especially the way his eyes were fixed on the jadeite, glistening with an unmistakable greed, it went without saying. Bi Fang worried that if it weren¡¯t for the unmanned aerial vehicle flying above, and his and Mugalen¡¯s visibly strong physique, these farmers might have come at them with hoes in hand to rob them. You can¡¯t overestimate human nature in the face of interests, but fortunately, education in Japan is more widespread, they knew what a drone was, and they saw the comments streaming above. Seeing the farmer¡¯s urgency, Bi Fang nodded, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s jadeite, found in the mountain in the back, although it¡¯s quite far.¡± Upon getting a positive response, the old farmer shouted excitedly to the people behind him. ¡°It¡¯s jadeite, right there in the mountain behind us!¡± ¡°A vein, there must be a jadeite vein!¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to be rich, we¡¯re all going to be rich!¡± ¡°Quick, let¡¯s go dig now, right now!¡± The group picked up their hoes noisily and ran straight toward the mountain behind Bi Fang; even though night was falling, they couldn¡¯t care less at that moment. ¡°There are bears on the mountain!¡± Bi Fang warned sternly, yelling, ¡°Bear hunting season has already started, don¡¯t you know? Your government should have told you by now, it¡¯s prohibited to enter the mountain!¡± ¡°Prohibited to enter the mountain!?¡± The leader of the group turned around, his eyes showing a fierce light, but quickly softened when he saw the unmanned aerial vehicle overhead. Mugalen snorted with a smirk, ¡°They won¡¯t listen to you, you don¡¯t need to bother that much.¡± Bi Fang shook his head, turning back to continue, ¡°There are many bears on the mountain, aren¡¯t you afraid of dying? Plus it¡¯s getting dark now, it¡¯s the time when black bears come out!¡± As he said this, Bi Fang happened to see a yellow sign warning of wild beasts nearby, pointing at it with a very serious tone. Everyone wants to make money, even himself when he had first come to this world might have been tempted. A bucket of cold water sobered everyone up real quick. The men exchanged glances and seemed to come to a sober realization after some discussion. The leader of the group sighed, ¡°Maybe you¡¯re right.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go back.¡± ¡°Yeah, we can¡¯t deal with bears.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t even brought in today¡¯s laundry, and it looks like it¡¯s going to rain.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go, I¡¯m getting old, my mind isn¡¯t clear anymore. I even saw a bear recently, my head must be really clouded, haha, sorry about that, sorry for troubling you with our flight.¡± Having said that, the group thanked him and then returned the way they had come. Watching their retreating figures, Mugalen was unconvinced, ¡°You think they¡¯ll listen to you?¡± ¡°Definitely not.¡± Bi Fang had the drone move a bit farther away, and said in a voice so low that no one could hear. ¡°But at least they can¡¯t go while we¡¯re here, a kind word doesn¡¯t persuade the dead, and if they¡¯re still determined to go into the mountains tonight, there¡¯s nothing I can do.¡± No matter what, with millions of viewers watching, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t let them get hurt. He had a basic sense of morality, and he needed to make the situation clear, but whether they listened was not up to him, but up to them. He had given his warning. Whether they listened or not, He couldn¡¯t control it and couldn¡¯t manage it. In the face of interests, others would just think you had ulterior motives, not that you were sincerely advising them. Chapter 560 - Chapter 560: Chapter 557 Reactions from All Sides Chapter 560: Chapter 557 Reactions from All Sides The transportation of the emerald original stone to the village made everything much simpler. Bi Fang found several strong men nearby, paid them a labor fee, and had them carry the rock onto a small truck to be delivered to the town center. Japan wasn¡¯t large, but it was impossible for Bi Fang to run the market himself to find buyers, so upon arriving in town, he entrusted an agency to handle it. They were to contact buyers and negotiate for the highest possible price, taking a commission afterward. Bi Fang and Mugalen found a small eatery by the road to address their dinner needs when, to their surprise, the agency staff proved rather efficient. Before seven p.m., even before they had finished eating, news was brought to them. Bi Fang gestured for the waiter to bring an extra set of chopsticks and invited the man to sit down, ¡°That was fast?¡± Yehara Hiroshi nodded and placed a document in front of them with proper posture, ¡°Yes, and we have Mr. Bi to thank for the swift location of a buyer.¡± Yehara Hiroshi was the agent Bi Fang had selected, noted for his excellent performance and high efficiency. ¡°Me?¡± Bi Fang flipped through the document and struggled to make sense of it for a while. Aside from the basic data, it was filled with professional terminology that he didn¡¯t quite grasp. Reading a few lines, he discovered that his earlier introduction was somewhat incorrect, Hetian jade is the one divided into mountain material and seed material, while it turns out that emerald is categorized into mountain material, water stone, and half-mountain-half-water material. He was an amateur indeed. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Yehara Hiroshi nodded, ¡°Your live-streaming was watched by many across Japan, and, frankly, my son has always been enamored with your hunting stories and incessantly begs to meet you, Mr. Fang. The discovery of the emerald has even made the news, and once word got out that Mr. Fang was looking to sell, many jewelry dealers started waving their checkbooks and contacted us proactively.¡± [Hahaha, Boss Fang, don¡¯t forget that we helped to get this sold!] Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?0 [You can¡¯t be ungrateful] [If it were me, I¡¯d definitely have to give one piece to each person here; otherwise, I¡¯d feel awful about it.] Mugalen sipped water from his cup and glanced at the document, which detailed nothing but the weight, size, skin shell, type, color, and such¡ªmost of it incomprehensible to him. He tossed it onto the table, leaned back in his chair, propped it up, and said, ¡°What¡¯s the highest bid?¡± The water content and color of emerald can greatly affect the price; such differentiation cannot be determined by a single standard assessment. Jewelry diamonds, on the other hand, are much simpler¡ªsize makes the value clear. Foreigners love precision; without a square standard for emeralds, how could one easily discern their worth? Just look at diamonds¡ªso straightforward, the bigger they are, the more valuable, signaling one¡¯s wealth for all to see at a glance. Additionally, for more profound reasons, emeralds are not very popular abroad. Mugalen was unclear about their value and held little expectation. After all, the raw stone was uncarved and unpolished, indeed not very appealing to the eye, and lacked aesthetic beauty. If they didn¡¯t make at least a hundred thousand Ugly Yuan, Bi Fang would have to make up the shortfall; after putting in so much effort, he couldn¡¯t afford to have toiled for nothing, especially with his legs still sore and his shoulders sporting red marks that had been rubbed raw. When the topic of price came up, Yehara Hiroshi sat up stiffly. ¡°The current highest bid comes from a Hokkaido gemstone merchant, who has offered 134 million.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± A mist of water sprayed all over Yehara Hiroshi¡¯s face. Mugalen nearly lost his balance and fell off his chair; he quickly sat upright and frantically began to wipe down Yehara Hiroshi with a napkin he grabbed from the side. His face sprayed with water, Yehara Hiroshi, instead of getting angry, seemed rather pleased; after all, he too would receive a substantial commission, equivalent to a year or two of his salary. He couldn¡¯t suppress a grin, ¡°But it¡¯s only been two hours, so I think there¡¯s still room to negotiate the price further. The final transaction price should be able to reach between 160 to 180 million.¡± ¡°An almost two-ton block of emerald original stone naturally commands an impressive price. Although the quality of the piece Mr. Bi extracted is average, it¡¯s considered superior compared to regular Japanese materials.¡± ¡°Furthermore, its emergence is also extraordinary, witnessed by millions of nationals and tens of millions of viewers. Many now see it as ¡®Earth¡¯s emerald¡¯ with considerable collector¡¯s value.¡± Yehara Hiroshi briefly explained the reasons. In Japan, jade is revered as the national stone, and the ¡°Yata no Kagami,¡± a sacred treasure from Shinto legend, is made from jade. However, this doesn¡¯t mean that all jade is the coveted national stone, but only jade that originates from within Japan itself. Unfortunately, as Bi Fang had mentioned earlier, the only region capable of producing gem-quality jade is Huaxia; over ninety percent of Japan¡¯s jade is inferior in quality, making it very difficult to find any decent pieces. The majority are small in size and of poor quality; strictly speaking, these should only be called nephrite. Given the quality of this rough stone, if they tried to sell it somewhere else, they probably wouldn¡¯t get even close to the price it fetched now, possibly as little as half. But in Japan, this place foretold their fortune. Sitting opposite, Bi Fang seemed to hear the sound of a slot machine cashing out, turned his head, and suddenly noticed that Mugalen¡¯s eyes had turned into the symbol of Ugly Gold. Crab, Crab boss? After blinking again, Bi Fang realized he had been seeing things, but there was no doubt that the trembling cup in Mugalen¡¯s hand betrayed his true thoughts, as he murmured nonstop, ¡°One hundred and eighty million, one hundred and eighty million.¡± Bi Fang stepped forward to take the cup from his hand, worried that the guy¡¯s hand was unsteady and might break the cup, and he reminded, ¡°It¡¯s in yen, it won¡¯t be that much if you convert it to Ugly Gold.¡± Realizing that he had lost his composure, Mugalen gave an embarrassed smile, ¡°I¡¯m just too tired today, my muscles haven¡¯t recovered yet, I¡¯m a bit shaky, haha, a bit shaky.¡± The audience burst into laughter, then looked on with envy. Such wealth, damn that¡¯s awesome! [Old Mu¡¯s really something; if it were me, my cup would¡¯ve already shattered.] [One hundred and eighty million, holy smokes!] [Does anyone know the current exchange rate between Huaxia currency and yen?] [Don¡¯t ask, I¡¯ve calculated it: 9.3 million Huaxia currency, 1.38 million Ugly Gold.] [Quick, I need oxygen, I need to breathe!] [If you see it, you¡¯ve got a share! If you see it, you¡¯ve got a share!!!] At that moment, Mugalen also took out his phone and worked out how much Ugly Gold it totaled to, deducting the commission and splitting it with Old Fang fifty-fifty. At least five hundred thousand¡­ Mugalen suddenly grabbed Bi Fang¡¯s hand, raised his arm, and flexed the large muscles on his biceps, ¡°Brother, my dear brother, next time you have this kind of grunt work, remember to call me, I¡¯m strong and vigorous! Strong and vigorous indeed!¡± ¡°Asking for fifty percent, what a loss. I¡¯d rather find someone else.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be like that, my brother, thirty, no, ten is fine too, just call me and I¡¯ll be there, I can do the work of three men on my own!¡± Mugalen was now over the moon. Just a bit of effort on his end, and he¡¯d netted five hundred thousand Ugly Gold just like that? Please let these kinds of opportunities come more often; he had plenty of strength to spare. Look at this, what does it mean to be a professional explorer? This is professionalism. If it had been him, how could he possibly have known that was a rock of invaluable worth, instead of just some green tuff? Bear hunting? Screw hunting! Thinking about his shopping cart, Mugalen realized he could empty it again, he could finally afford the fishing gear he¡¯d been longing for. The remaining mortgage on the large villa he¡¯d put down using his show¡¯s prize money could also be paid off in one go, utterly delightful. Back to the days without financial pressure. The other diners around them all cheered loudly, their envy unmistakable. Bi Fang stood up, placing one foot on the slanting rod of the stool, and called out, ¡°Today¡¯s expenses at this restaurant are on me!¡± ¡°` A single stone stirred up ripples, inciting a loud cheer from the diners in the shop, and even the owner¡¯s face blossomed with a smile. It was unexpected fortune, and true happiness was only real when shared by all. Unlike the joyous Bi Fang and his companions, other hunters, hearing the figure of 180 million yen through the audience, were also secretly amazed. They had come to Japan and could not avoid exchanging currency, so they naturally understood how much that was, especially for the native Y¨­ki Hunters, whose feelings were even deeper. 180 million¡­ Which hunter¡¯s prey could earn so much money in a lifetime? Afraid not even the change, and the ancestral grave would be emitting green smoke, right? One hundred thousand per point, ten points for one bear, how many points is 180 million divided by one hundred thousand? Eighteen hundred points? An adult Black Bear with a body length of 1.5 meters, intact and with small wounds, was worth ten points. Would I have to kill one hundred and eighty bears myself? Sato and others had returned to town to regroup because of the earthquake, and for the first time since the hunting season started, they gathered together, finding the calculations somewhat dizzying. Okuyama, with a hand on his forehead, said, ¡°I have to hunt one hundred and eighty bears to catch up with that guy.¡± Tanaka agreed, ¡°This is an unexpected windfall.¡± ¡°You guys still have a chance, now ranking first. Takahashi and I have only caught one bear, and it¡¯s already the fourth day,¡± Fujiwara sighed. ¡°This guy, he¡¯s too prominent.¡± The five of them watched Bi Fang on the television, their eyes filled with envy. The hunting season was supposed to be their stage, so thought Gang Tianwu. But ever since it started, from Bi Fang¡¯s building momentum, to his bear hunting, to discovering jade after the earthquake, Bi Fang brought tremendous traffic to the entire program, but it seemed like no one else was really enjoying the benefits that came along. Especially the scene of the bear hunting, which stunned the native Y¨­ki Hunters. They too held naginatas, but those were for delivering the final blow. When the Black Bear was on its last breath, that was the time to go in with a naginata for the last harvest. Who would rush in holding a long spear? It¡¯s like a man with a death wish¡ªlooking to hasten his demise? This guy was really impressive. Beyond the envy, the hunters couldn¡¯t help but reflect; out of thirty-five hunters, aside from the protagonist, nearly every one of them watched Bi Fang hunting the bear again and again. Putting themselves in his shoes, they wouldn¡¯t have dared do such a thing; it was completely risking life and death. They didn¡¯t have the Wolves King¡¯s Sense of Smell or the Beastly Instinct, and seeing Bi Fang, they felt as if they were watching a sci-fi movie. It¡¯s not scientific. Lack of science doesn¡¯t mean it can¡¯t be done; perhaps at the brink of life and death, the few sitting here could gamble with their lives as well, but hunting in the usual way was never this thrilling. To dare to do this, you would need at least an 80% certainty, right? If it were them, they probably had¡­ Thirty percent? With this thought, those present exchanged glances, filled with empathy. They couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit sheepish and avoided each other¡¯s eyes. Do not underestimate this extra fifty percent; this represents one being a fight for one¡¯s life, and the other being totally in control. The realms were worlds apart, more than double. Sato, clutching his hair, felt a twinge of irritation. ¡­ ¡°` Within the Police Department, a police officer walked out of the office, his head hung in dejection. Through the still-open crack of the door, one could see Police Chief Matsumoto Kiyotaka grabbing at his thinning hair, his chest heaving with breaths, as his recent tirade had left him somewhat winded. Picking up his teacup, he took a sip, then turned on the television next to him to watch the evening¡¯s bear hunting season broadcast. The bear hunting season would broadcast a two-hour edited program every night at eight o¡¯clock, providing some consolation to the many office workers. Seeing his country¡¯s hunters ranked first, Matsumoto Kiyotaka¡¯s knotted frustration eased considerably, and even the irritation from his employees¡¯ ineptitude dissipated a great deal. Upon learning that Bi Fang had found an emerald worth over a hundred million Yen because of an earthquake, the chief fantasized about how wonderful it would be if he were so lucky. Then he wouldn¡¯t have to work anymore, nor deal with pressure from his superiors, and could fully achieve financial freedom, doing whatever he pleased. He could divorce his shrewish wife, visit any pleasure district he wished, go sea fishing in Hokkaido, and indulge in high-end spending in Ginza. Unfortunately, he was still stuck in the small town of Taiji, plagued by a bunch of dolphin enthusiasts. The Police Department and the local government were one and the same; if they allowed the other party to expose everything, especially control over financial powers, the Police Department could not sit idly by and watch those rascals run amok. Tonight, the dolphin hunting season was about to begin. Matsumoto Kiyotaka casually picked up the camera from the desk, which had been dismantled and lay in pieces, revealing its red and green wires inside, along with four others just like it. After spending days, they had only located these four cameras, causing the chief to doubt if his subordinates were nothing but a bunch of good-for-nothings. ¡°How on earth did they install these?¡± They were under surveillance during the day, and their nights were spent in hotels. How did that group manage to set up the cameras over several evenings? Was someone helping them? Matsumoto Kiyotaka believed he had them under constant surveillance, yet things were still subtly slipping out of his control, especially since Richard and his group had suddenly lost their tail during the day. Were these few people really that formidable? This wasn¡¯t Matsumoto Kiyotaka¡¯s first encounter with this team. Strictly speaking, he had met Richard many times, with their standoff beginning half a year ago. The previous month had been the most tense, with a blood incident occurring. Matsumoto Kiyotaka had helped cover it up, only to find that instead of backing down, their opposition had intensified. Even with a reduced number, they still had the audacity to come here. But with fewer people, it was the same few individuals. How did the same team become even more daunting? He was itching for an opportunity to catch them all. Unfortunately, that was not possible. Richard and the others had just put diplomatic pressure on him through their embassy yesterday. After some thought, Matsumoto Kiyotaka pressed the telephone button, calling back the previously dispatched officers, ¡°Tonight there¡¯s a festival, and they¡¯re sure to appear. We need to find out who¡¯s helping them. Don¡¯t go back yet. Work overtime tonight, and we must catch them red-handed!¡± The officers, who had just returned to their seats, had their faces fall immediately upon hearing this. That evening, Mugalen stood alone by Dolphin Bay, his pupils reflecting the high flames held by villagers. In a deep part of the forest, Bi Fang took out the rabbit given to him by Bosen earlier. Having thought about it all day, Bi Fang still felt something was amiss, that sense of hostility did not seem like an illusion. Hopefully, there really was no problem. Gazing at the somewhat shriveled half rabbit, Bi Fang¡¯s eyes were somber. Chapter 561 - Chapter 561: Chapter 558 Long-Lost Spot Reservation Segment Chapter 561: Chapter 558 Long-Lost Spot Reservation Segment As the title suggests, the new chapter isn¡¯t ready yet; I¡¯m just staking a claim. I¡¯ll have it corrected by 00:30. ¡°Thank you for your purchase of 5,600 yuan, welcome back next time!¡± In the supermarket, the sweet-voiced cashier smiled with squinted eyes at Bi Fang who was bagging his items. Bi Fang nodded and rushed out with two large bags in hand. Since he didn¡¯t have enough specialized surveillance equipment, Bi Fang needed to make a batch himself and therefore came to the supermarket to buy a large amount of milk and vinegar, as well as some snacks. Does something feel off? If Bi Fang was live streaming at the moment, surely a lot of viewers would have commented just like this, simply because what Bi Fang bought was too ordinary. Are you sure you¡¯re not just stocking up on daily necessities? Except for the excessive quantity of milk, which didn¡¯t seem like something one could finish during a trip, the rest of it¡ªa bottle of vinegar, well, perhaps Old Fang liked sour flavors, and the remaining items like chips, soda, biscuits, jelly¡­ Anyone seeing these goods wouldn¡¯t think they could be used to make anything special; they completely looked like the survival essentials of a home-bound comfort-lover. Could it be that the rugged outdoorsman was actually a happy homebody? Of course not. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Bi Fang dumped all the items he had bought onto the hotel sofa, took out a small basin, and poured all the milk into it after opening the lid. He had only two targets for his supermarket trip. Milk and vinegar. Cameras are everywhere¡ªone must always assume that one¡¯s actions are being recorded. Bi Fang remembered this rule of conduct and normalized all his behavior. The rest of the snacks were merely to hide the existence of these two items to avoid arousing suspicion due to their evident purpose. Of course, to the average person, milk and vinegar wouldn¡¯t suggest anything, but for someone like Bi Fang, exercising caution was paramount. To his eyes, they were the best materials for making disguise tools. Milky white foam rose slightly on the surface of the milk as Bi Fang poured about a litre of it into the container. He tapped the edge of the container with chopsticks to disperse the foam, then brought it to the microwave in the room. After flipping through the microwave power instruction table and making adjustments, he set the timer for five minutes of heating. In higher-end hotel suites, furniture and appliances are all readily available, and some even have private kitchens. Five minutes later, Bi Fang took out the warm but not yet boiling milk, which had already formed a thin layer of ¡°milk skin¡± on top. Opening the bottle of vinegar, Bi Fang grabbed a stainless steel soup spoon and began adding eight spoonfuls of vinegar into the container of milk while puncturing the milk skin and continuously stirring. After the mixture was complete, a large amount of flocculent sediment twisted around the handle of the spoon. He scooped up the sediment, lifted it to eye level with the spoon handle, and pinched the flocculent matter¡ªit was tacky but didn¡¯t break. Just right. This was what Bi Fang was looking for. Protein. To conceal valuable data, keys, or surveillance equipment like cameras and microphones, one only needed two common kitchen ingredients: milk and vinegar. After heating and filtering, the casein in milk would solidify into a gel-like plastic substance, which, when mixed, could be shaped into any form and, after drying, could achieve a clay-like consistency. This versatile substance could be molded, colored, and made to imitate the shape of rocks, bricks, logs, or anything else, making it an ideal choice for intelligence drop points and highly suitable for disguising valuable items or surveillance equipment in specific environments. The only point to note is that during the heating of the milk, it must not be brought to a boil, otherwise, what¡¯s obtained is not filamentous matter, but flocculent matter. In high school biology, isolating DNA proteins essentially uses the same method. Bi Fang took out a spare short-sleeve shirt, placed it beneath the container, and poured into the sink, filtering out the filamentous mixture. In actual operation, five hundred grams, a jin of milk, could be used to make a ¡°milk plastic ball¡± the size of an egg, capable of hiding a miniature camera. Having the camouflage was not enough; a camera and microphone were also needed. These also presented no difficulty to Bi Fang. When he was on a mission before, he had considered the possibility of not being able to carry too much equipment, so he had Richard and the others buy a considerable number of baby monitors. Any computer mall or large supermarket would have them, needing only simple modifications to become covert cameras. Bi Fang just needed the components inside, the not-small casings were all discarded. He dismantled the components¡ªthe transmitter, battery pack, and camera lens, but did not cut the wires connecting the components. He then inserted a toothpick into the camera lens, stuck the freshly obtained ¡°special plastic¡± onto the lens, and molded the ¡°plastic¡± around the lens into the shape of a rock. At the time, one would simply pull out the toothpick, the original position of the toothpick would leave behind a pinhole that¡¯s not easily detectable, and the camera would be able to monitor through the small hole. Bi Fang poured out some vinegar, mixed in the right amount of milk and stirred, the color quickly turned to brownish grey; this was the ¡°paint¡± for dyeing. Painting the rock a neutral color or depicting the unique textures of the landscape outside the target house, placing the transmitter and battery pack into a waterproof sealed bag, and then connecting it up with the ¡°rock¡±. At the time, this part would be buried in the ground, it didn¡¯t need to be too deep, too deep would lead to signal transmission failure, finally setting up the camera to capture the desired image. To ensure that the camera¡¯s ¡°view¡± was in the right position, Bi Fang did not remove the toothpick until the very last moment, and used the angle of the toothpick to measure the field of view. A lens like this had a very small chance of being discovered. Even if it were discovered, if it was dismantled, the exposed wires, in the eyes of ordinary people, were nothing more than a discarded item, blown and weathered and buried. During installation, one could also spray adhesive on the rocky lens and cover it with soil collected from the scene as another layer of camouflage, it was almost foolproof. Besides, a microphone was still needed. Hiding a sound-activated recording device in the target room or car was relatively simple, but without amplification equipment, it¡¯s unlikely to gather effective intelligence. A complete surveillance system needed a microphone to amplify the sound. Lacking specialized tools, one could also convert a cellphone, audio jack, and headphones into an effective listening device. The difference between the two is extremely simple, their functions are exactly opposite. Bi Fang took apart headphones bought from a cheap general store, exposing two conspicuous wires, one red positive wire, and another black negative wire. Simply reversing the polarity of the two wires could change the function of the device. A microphone and a speaker are essentially the same instrument; any speaker¡ªfrom the earbuds on headphones to the stereo system in a TV¡ªcould be turned into a microphone within minutes. The speaker converts electronic signals into sound, whereas the microphone turns sound into electronical signals that can be processed and amplified. Bi Fang cut off the output end of the speaker wire, connected it to an audio jack, and plugged the audio port into the camera equipment he had just made. All small recording devices could essentially be used this way, but a cell phone set to silent and programmed to auto-answer had two additional advantages. It could capture intelligence in real-time and did not require taking the risk of returning to the target¡¯s location to retrieve the device. Such eavesdropping device installation techniques were highly versatile. It¡¯s a pity Bi Fang didn¡¯t have that many cell phones. Bi Fang had also taught Richard and the others to fit one to their own cars, so they wouldn¡¯t be unaware if someone sneaked in. It only required disabling any one of the car¡¯s rear speakers and plugging its wires into a recorder or phone to assemble vehicle surveillance equipment. In public places, the earbuds hanging and swaying from the pocket of an overcoat could serve as a clandestine intelligence-gathering station. Sound, image, disguise¡ªall in place, and in just one hour, Bi Fang had once again produced a batch of surveillance equipment ready for use. He shouldered his backpack, for there was more work to be done today. Night. Bi Fang, along with Mandy and Keke, once again came to Dolphin Bay. Though they had followed Bi Fang¡¯s advice and changed hotels, it was still no challenge for Bi Fang, even easier this time, because the new hotel had balconies instead of glass curtain walls. Right under the watchful eyes of the guards, Bi Fang led the two of them out. Perhaps it was because the dolphin season was nearing, Dolphin Bay was more crowded tonight. There were also large piles of firewood on the beach, looking like there would be a grand bonfire celebration the following night. The mission duration was much longer than Bi Fang had anticipated; surveying the terrain, planning, patient observation, ¡°Did you see the two groups that just came through the tunnel?¡± Bi Fang asked Mandy and Keke, tilting his head. The two nodded, indicating they too had seen them, and it was a very bad sign. As soon as those two groups had come down the mountain, they ran back up, constantly shaking their flashlights, moving rapidly and scouring the entire forest. They wanted to set off early and get to work. Richard told Bi Fang that when they first came to Japan, they had also encountered these people; they would carefully examine broken branches. Usually, they would go up the mountain to inspect only when there were dolphins in Dolphin Bay, aiming to find out if anyone was tracking and filming. Bi Fang had already encountered dolphins the previous night; everything was inevitable. The focus of Dolphin Bay was on its right side, but Bi Fang and his team had placed their equipment on the left side the previous night, which was easier for entering the water and observing. Today, Bi Fang had placed most of the equipment in the open view of the trees, the observation point was higher, and everything was in clear sight from top to bottom. Mandy was wearing an infrared camera on her head as well, to brace for someone suddenly appearing. Not only that, but they also had professional underwater divers responsible for underwater inspections, making a carpet-like search beneath the water; Bi Fang didn¡¯t want them to discover those devices. Underwater sound detection equipment, underwater cameras, underwater infrared devices¡ªthese were all the result of their hard work over an entire night; Bi Fang and Richard needed to understand everything that happened here, they needed a full-spectrum, three-dimensional experience. They wanted to hear every sound made by the dolphins as well as every word spoken by the fishermen; Bi Fang¡¯s efforts were not solely to expose the slaughter but also to document something that could change people¡¯s hearts. Last weekend, the long and sorrowful moans of the humpback whales echoed through London¡¯s Trafalgar Square, a great sadness burst forth, pouring out like cold torrents, overwhelming the square, covering everyone present. Thousands of protesters demanded a halt to the killing of whale species. In the 1960s, the IWC Organization turned a blind eye to the slaughter of whales. Until one man appeared¡ªRoger Payne. Not some character from an anime, but a real-life hero. He started this whale rescue campaign, the method was to make public the songs of these animals to the whole world, the impact was profound and terrifying. Anyone who had heard the sorrowful cries of the whales could deeply feel the violent sorrow contained within them, like a volcanic eruption. Now, this protest movement had begun again, and the participants were determined to change the status quo, because the number of whale slaughters was rising again, and a new leader had to take charge. Roger Payne was already over seventy years old, yet people like him. Were few and far between. Tonight was destined to be a tough night. ¡°Take this.¡± Bi Fang handed each person a note with a string of numbers. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°The Huaxia Embassy¡¯s phone number, save it, and keep the note on you too. If you encounter any danger or get caught, contact me first, the second is this number.¡± ¡°Oh, there¡¯s no need, we have Ugly Country¡­¡± ¡°Trust me, take it. It¡¯s more reliable. Just in case, remember to stuff the phone in your sock. And, I told you to prepare more than two phones each, did you?¡± Bi Fang folded the slip of paper and tucked it into their collars. All these precautions were to prevent potential troubles. If they were captured, they would certainly be searched. One phone was to be placed conspicuously for the ¡°discovery.¡± Another phone had to be hidden close to the body, so two or more were necessary. Sometimes sheer concealment is ineffective; you must make the enemy believe they have achieved their goal. That¡¯s the best form of hiding. Lure the enemy in the wrong direction, misdirect their focus, it¡¯s all the same idea. ¡°Oh, alright, I hope I¡¯ll never have to use it.¡± They sincerely accepted the notes. Having done all this, the three turned and entered the forest, completely ignoring the no trespassing sign. Regrettably, Bi Fang¡¯s knowledge was lacking, and he thought the yellow sign simply said. ¡°Welcome to Taiji Town.¡± ¡­ In the early hours, the three evaded the searching villagers, and just as they were heading down the mountain, a beam of bright light suddenly flashed in Keke¡¯s eyes. His pupils contracted sharply, and he froze as if he were a frog. Bi Fang reacted swiftly, grabbing Keke by the collar and yanking him back, hiding his silhouette against a tree. ¡°Is someone there? Who¡¯s there?¡± Seeming to sense something amiss, the villager shouted. Keke swallowed hard, his heart pounding fiercely, temples throbbing. ¡°It¡¯s over, I didn¡¯t see it.¡± Mandy muttered quietly, licking her lips. The moment the villager ran out, she happened to be looking elsewhere; the infrared vision missed it completely. Bi Fang crouched down, picked up a stone from the ground, and after weighing it, hurled it to the other side. The stone flew across their line of sight, striking leaves and making a noise, quickly attracting the other party¡¯s attention, followed by shouting, the light dissipated. ¡°Are they gone?¡± Keke swallowed, his forehead wet with sweat, looking as if he had been pulled out of water. The patrolling villagers all had sickles at their waists. What they¡¯d face if caught by them goes without saying. After about five or six minutes, Bi Fang nodded: ¡°They should be gone.¡± But just as the three thought everything was over. Back at the hotel, Richard and the others faced a sudden attack. Chapter 562 - Chapter 562: Chapter 559: Red Blood and Black Waves Chapter 562: Chapter 559: Red Blood and Black Waves The giant dolphin sculpture pointed towards the sea from afar, and at this time, the sea was calm, with only the foghorns of the fishing boats preparing to set out. At sea, a bird takes a long time to completely disappear from your view, and you can watch it unobstructed for quite a while. The sun had just risen, and it wasn¡¯t even half past five in the morning. Bi Fang stood on the mountain peak, gazing into the distance. There were still nearly three hours left until the live broadcast would start, providing him with ample time for observation and recording. Dozens of fishing boats, big and small, were lined up in a row within Dolphin Bay, with banners and flags hanging from their gunwales and masts, and decks piled with chickens, ducks, fish, and meat for the sacrifice. It was an offering to the ocean, but also an unconventional kind of bait. Bi Fang didn¡¯t have a watch, and the fishing boats in the harbor hadn¡¯t yet moved, but he felt that the time was coming close, perhaps it was 5:38 AM. Fishermen often believe in superstitions even more than farmers do. The unpredictable and unfathomable sea is far more elusive than the solid ground underfoot. When faced with uncertainty, superstitious thinking emerges. In 1948, an English anthropologist studied a primitive tribe near Papua New Guinea that lived off fishing. Their island had an inland lake with very stable resources ¨C you could always find fish there, but the quantity and quality were mediocre. The inland lake¡¯s offerings were insufficient, so sometimes the fishermen had to venture out to sea, an endeavor full of uncertainties¡ªsometimes they could catch lots of big fish, other times they would return empty-handed, and it might even be dangerous. Before heading out to sea, the fishermen would perform a primitive religious ritual, willing to believe in supernatural powers. However, the anthropologist noticed that the fishermen were not always superstitious. They only engaged in religious rituals before sea fishing; if they were going to the inland lake for fish, they wouldn¡¯t carry out any superstitious practices. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? Then the question arose¡ªif you truly believed in gods, wouldn¡¯t you need to thank them for the bounty of the inland lake too? It seems that the fishermen didn¡¯t care much about how the gods felt¡­ They just wanted to do something to intervene in the uncertainty. Athletes do the same, as good scores or goals aren¡¯t always guaranteed. Why did I hit the mark last time but not this time? It must be something I didn¡¯t do right. So, they start with small actions, like licking the bat, tapping it on the ground twice, or making the sign of the cross over their chest. This phenomenon exists not only in humans but also in the animal kingdom. In 1948, psychologist B.F. Skinner from the Ugly Country conducted an experiment with pigeons. He first put the pigeons in a cage with a lever inside. Initially, whenever the pigeons touched the lever, they received food, and their behavior was normal¡ªthey would touch the lever whenever they wanted to eat. Then Skinner changed the rules of the game. The lever-touching now resulted in food randomly. Sometimes they would get it after just one touch, other times they would touch several times and get nothing. The pigeons didn¡¯t understand randomness; they pondered what they had done right last time to receive food. Skinner noticed a change in the pigeons¡¯ behavior. Now before each touch of the lever, the pigeons would perform some unnecessary actions. Sometimes it was shaking their head, at other times it was turning around twice¡­ The pigeons had become superstitious. Fishermen conducting sacrificial rituals, athletes seeking good luck, pigeons performing extra movements¡ªsome rely on gods, some on themselves, but fundamentally, they all reflect the same thinking¡ªthat in the face of uncertainty, people want to do something to intervene. We know it might not work, but we still have to do it, because without it, we feel uneasy¡ªthat is superstition. As for what the ocean thinks, these people subconsciously don¡¯t care at all. 7, 5, 3, 8 are numbers beloved by the Japanese, and there¡¯s even a festival called the 753 Festival, which is a day to bless children. Aside from nine and thirteen, the Japanese prefer odd numbers. Although it was hard to make out the specifics of what those guys were up to, over a dozen fishing boats lined up in front of Dolphin Bay seemed poised to set off soon. The mist over the sea slowly dissipated, and it was already past five thirty, maybe just a few minutes shy of 5:38. Bi Fang squinted his eyes in vain; the distance was too great, and he couldn¡¯t make anything out. He could only watch through the distant drones. On the fishing boats, the captains offered incense and kneeled in prayer as gongs, drums, and firecrackers sounded in unison. Among the dozens of fishing boats, there was one new vessel, its deck very clean, not yet covered in bird droppings. The air was thick with the pungent smell of fresh paint, which was somewhat irritating. Some crew members stood at the bow, one of them constantly sniffing, slightly uncomfortable, a young lad wearing waders probably handed down from his father, old and large. This was a hunting tradition passed down through generations. He stretched out his arms, able to feel, as if he were a petrel soaring in the wind above the sea, except it seemed like one of the petrels was black, standing out awkwardly. But before the young man could get a closer look, the black petrel had disappeared. Everything started with amiable pleasantries, with just a few common topics, occasionally interspersed with boasts of the amorous escapades from the night before setting off. Soon, 5:38 arrived, as expected. All the fishing boats sounded their horns, white foam spreading from both sides of the hulls, pushing the waves forward as they departed. The departure ceremony started right on time, neither a minute early nor a minute late. Just heading out to sea, the young man, Tobi, did not feel unwell; on the contrary, he was quite excited. As a child, Tobi was used to watching dolphin shows at the aquarium; those intelligent creatures were really adorable. His room was plastered with dolphin posters and small toys. But people can¡¯t remain the same forever. As he grew older, Tobi¡¯s interests multiplied: the latest gaming console, VCDs, the cute girl next door. After starting university, his desires only grew: the best computer, a comfortable environment, food for his pet, a place to live, a cool bike, an ergonomic chair¡­ And all of these required money. A single qualified dolphin could fetch several hundreds of thousands of Ugly Gold, and even if he couldn¡¯t get it all, it would cover most of his desires. It was summer break, and the girl next door wanted the latest makeup, sadly costing tens of thousands of Yen. Tobi felt it was necessary to fulfill her wish. Compared to money, cute dolphins didn¡¯t count for much. An older crew member saw Tobi daydreaming and scolded him sternly, ¡°Tobi, is this the time to be daydreaming?¡± Tobi jolted and hurried over, ¡°I¡¯m here, I¡¯m here, senior. What do I need to do?¡± ¡°Take this!¡± The older crew member handed over a long pole to Tobi. Tobi took it with both hands, surprised to find it very heavy. The pole was nearly as long as the entire fishing boat. There was a bulge at the end of the pole, heavy enough to bend the whole thing, yet he had no idea what it was used for. But soon, Tobi found out. The older crew member, holding a cigarette in his mouth, passed a hammer to Tobi, not even bothering to explain, propped the pole against the railing, and immersed it in the seawater, then began hammering at the top of the pole. Tobi looked on, utterly confused. What were they doing? Blowing out a puff of smoke, the old sailor cursed, ¡°What are you dazed for? Can¡¯t you just do as you¡¯re told?¡± The Asuka who had barely started was already scolded for a good opportunity, and the youthful and energetic him was somewhat resentful, but thinking of today¡¯s bonus, he still endured it, imitating the movements of the old sailors and inserting the long pole into the water, hammering it with a hammer. At first, he thought it was an easy job, but after hammering for a few minutes, he felt his left hand that gripped the pole go numb and painful; upon opening it, it had already become red and swollen. The long pole vibrated continuously under the hammer¡¯s strikes, the fine, dense vibrations turning his hand bright red. The old sailor glanced at him twice, spat the cigarette butt into the sea, and snorted coldly. Only the more experienced sailors knew that gloves were essential for this work. As for this brash young man who didn¡¯t know how to respect his elders and was full of thorns, teaching him a lesson was quite necessary. Asuka clearly heard the sneer, gritted his teeth, took off his clothes, and held them in his hands, not only undiscouraged but even hammering more vigorously. But very soon, the captain noticed Asuka; he and Asuka¡¯s father were good friends, so he took off his right glove and threw it to Asuka. When Asuka turned around and saw this, he exclaimed happily, ¡°Captain!¡± The captain patted Asuka on the shoulder and encouraged him, ¡°Work hard. The dolphins always follow their migration routes to Taiji Town. This has not changed for thousands of years. We just need to wait for them to fall into our nets.¡± ¡°Aye!¡± Bi Fang stood on the mountaintop, arms crossed, watching all of this unfold without a hint of concern. Stopping them now would only prevent this once, but there would be tomorrow, the day after, next week, next month, year after year. Looking down from his high vantage point at Dolphin Bay, Bi Fang could clearly see about a dozen fishing boats lined up, the crew members placing some long poles into the water, the ends of the poles equipped with flanges, then hitting the tops of the poles with hammers. Because of the whip effect, applying a small force at the top of the pole was sufficient to generate a large vibration at the tail, transmitting sound and creating a sound barrier. Dolphins are extremely sensitive to sound, so sensitive that it astonishes many people. According to Richard, the nerve center of all dolphin enclosures is the ¡°fish house,¡± and no matter which ¡°fish house¡± you go to, you would find boxes and boxes of Maalox and Tagamet, both of which are drugs to reduce stomach acid secretion. The reason for their presence was that all dolphins had developed stomach ulcers. They were under too much stress, to the breaking point. This was almost the same as with humans. Only when you see them in the ocean do you understand that this kind of confinement doesn¡¯t work. Dolphins are auditory animals, with hearing being their primary sense. Human¡¯s most advanced sonar, when compared to dolphins¡¯ abilities, is like a mere amateur facing a great master. They can easily ¡°hear through¡± humans in the ocean, hearing your anxious heartbeat due to falling into the water, your bones, whether you are pregnant or not. Just by sound, dolphins can acquire a wealth of information. After being captured, dolphins were placed into a pool made of concrete, surrounded by rings of screaming spectators, and at night after the enclosure closed, they also had to endure the non-stop operation of all kinds of machinery. It was like humans being forced to keep their eyelids open with a twenty-four-hour non-extinguishing bright light in front of them. When the Baltimore National Aquarium first started operations, dolphins kept dying one after another, and the staff tried everything but could not keep them alive. In the end, they discovered that it was the noise from the filtration system that was too loud; the non-stop noise stress had taken the lives of the dolphins. Hearing was the primary lifeline of the dolphins, but it also became their most fatal weakness in Taiji Town. The fishermen capitalized on dolphins¡¯ sensitivity to noise, driving more than a dozen boats to the mouth of the bay where the dolphins gathered, artificially creating noise in the sea, placing a long pole from the ship into the water, continuously hammering it to create a series of sound waves, forming a sound barrier with the purpose of frightening the dolphins¡ªbeings primarily reliant on keen hearing for survival¡ªand driving hundreds of them to shore. The dolphins were fleeing for their lives, escaping from the sonic wall. Eventually, the fishermen would drive the dolphins into a reef lagoon that was barricaded with fishing nets and begin slaughtering the tormented, panic-stricken dolphins who were in immense pain. With each tap, Asuka quickly noticed something was different; the originally tranquil sea seemed to become restless. As the fishing boats lined up and formed a semi-encirclement towards Dolphin Bay, suddenly dolphins leaped out of the water, but unlike the graceful dives Asuka used to see on the beach, they heavily smashed onto the sea surface, stirring up waves. For some reason, Asuka felt afraid, and his actions slowed down. ¡°Hey! Kid, don¡¯t stop!¡± The old crew member next to him kicked Asuka in the armpit, knocking him to his knees on the deck, and shouted loudly, ¡°This is a critical time, don¡¯t let any dolphin escape! They can send signals to each other!¡± As Asuka¡¯s kneecap collided with the deck, the intense pain brought him quickly back to his senses. Thinking of the money that was nearly within reach, he struggled to stand up and continued tapping. After the first one, more and more dolphins began jumping out of the water, breaking the surface and plunging back in. They used to be the spirits of the sea, but now, they seemed to have forgotten how to swim. The blue sea was soon crowded with white foam, looking everywhere, all was white froth. Before long, the encirclement had halved in size, slowly moving towards Dolphin Bay. The sonic wall, like a huge net, captured all the dolphins and dragged them towards the narrow Dolphin Bay. Dolphins had already entered Dolphin Bay, and the fishermen on the shore cheered loudly, with some even eagerly sliding their small boats into the water, holding the long hook knives in their hands, approaching the dolphins that were swimming towards the shallows. The long hook knife glistened with a menacing light in the sunlight; it was a tool originally used in ancient naval warfare to damage the enemy¡¯s ship equipment. It consisted of a long pole with a loop at the end and a sharp hook-shaped knife attached. When approaching an enemy ship, the sailor would extend the hook knife and tear at the ropes of the enemy¡¯s masts, causing the sails to fall and lose wind power, making it easier to board the ship for combat. The fishermen who jumped into the sea did not stab wildly but specifically sought out dolphins of poor appearance, which were deemed of no value and merely as feed. Suddenly, a fisherman spotted an injured dolphin swimming towards him as if it were seeking help. Seeing this, the fisherman clenched the long hook knife and thrust it into the dolphin¡¯s spine, hooking it like a rope, and without even the blood dispersing, the dolphin was pulled onto the small boat by the fisherman and his companions. The nerves in the dolphin¡¯s spine grated against the metal, causing severe pain. Piercing screams echoed throughout Dolphin Bay. The screams of comrades, the piercing sonic wall from all directions. The frightened dolphins darted around the bay, their surroundings turning red with the blood of their companions. The mother dolphin tried to inform the young ones of the danger and emitted excruciating cries in an attempt to protect them. With the heavy loss of blood and unbearable pain, the injured dolphins had no strength left to resist. More and more fishermen joined in, and the blood spread. The fishermen¡¯s faces beamed with the smiles of a bountiful harvest, and given the abundance of the first catch, it promised to be a fruitful year. They pulled the dolphins onto the fishing boats, cut their throats, chopped through their spines, left them on the boats, and let them die naturally. One after another. The sea churned with red blood and black waves. Chapter 563 - Chapter 563: Chapter 560: The Blood-red Dolphin Bay Chapter 563: Chapter 560: The Blood-red Dolphin Bay The fishing boats on the sea drew closer and closer, the invisible net tightening steadily. The dolphins were trapped by wave after wave of noise, pinned by the clanging of long poles, sounds like countless silkworms gnawing on mulberry leaves. The sounds they could hear grew louder and more rapid, repeating monotonously, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t bear it any longer, his brain felt like it was about to explode, the noise seemed to come from within his own cranial pulp, as if his skull was slowly cracking along its sutures, chafing against each other. He turned off the drone¡¯s sound system. But the dolphins couldn¡¯t turn it off; they could only suffer helplessly and passively, colliding with each other in the shallow waters, emitting piercing and mournful screeches. The sharp long hook knife easily tore through their smooth, plastic-like skin, slicing muscles and bones and deftly hooking the spine, pulling them aboard as if dragging a rope. Giraffes, humans, and dolphins, are the only three creatures in nature with seven cervical vertebrae, Blood splashed onto the fisherman¡¯s face, full of smiles, and he licked the blood by his mouth, wiped it with his hand, and turned to his companion on the boat with a big laugh, ¡°So many dolphins on the first round, this year is bound to be a bountiful harvest.¡± His companion nodded, while warning, ¡°Be careful, don¡¯t slaughter the pretty ones; those are the ones that are really worth money.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve been doing this for so many years, I can tell at a glance which dolphins qualify and which don¡¯t!¡± As he spoke, the fisherman sank the dolphin beneath his knife, then swiftly lifted it, using buoyancy and momentum to drag the several-hundred-pound dolphin onto the small boat with force. An adult dolphin weighs nearly as much as five adults, impossible for a novice to haul aboard single-handedly; only a seasoned hand could accomplish this. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï One by one, heavy dolphins were dragged up onto the small wooden boat, pressing it down into the water, almost level with the surface, as bloody water still poured in. The onlookers on the shore cheered and, once the small boat was full, it returned to the shore, dragging the dolphins out and swapping in another crew, while the rest began to process the dolphins. Dozens of dolphins were lined up, the fisherman walking back and forth atop the dolphin carcasses, some of which were not quite dead yet, still crying out in agony until someone stepped on them, causing their tails to reflexively flick up. ¡°Wow, look, the trainers have arrived!¡± someone shouted. At the announcement of the trainers¡¯ arrival, a dozen fishermen turned around, their faces filled with anticipation. A few trainers in wetsuits descended from the road to the beach, greeted several familiar fishermen. When they saw the pool full of blood, they frowned. Normally, trainers should have the first pick, and only after they selected would the fishermen slaughter the unwanted dolphins. Seeing this, a fisherman who was processing a dolphin immediately led the trainers over to a corner enclosed by nets. The trainers¡¯ frowns vanished upon seeing the dolphins in the nets; the quality of these dolphins was quite good. ¡°These smart, clever ones with good appearances, we picked them out early, just waiting for you all,¡± boasted the fisherman, seasoned with handling dolphins and observing trainers pick, they already knew what to look for. Looking at the dolphins within the wire net, soaking in the bloody water of their companions, listless, the trainers patted the fisherman¡¯s shoulder, then entered the water to choose their own preferred dolphins. Seeing the trainers enter the water, an old sailor slapped Asuka on the shoulder and laughed, extracting a pack of cigarettes from his chest, clamping a cigarette between his lips to light it: ¡°Hahaha, kid, we¡¯re in for a windfall. This is where the real money¡¯s at, at least a hundred thousand dollars a piece!¡± ¡°A hundred, hundred thousand¡­¡± Asuka, who had been mechanically striking the long pole, had become numb; he felt something might be wrong with his eyes, as everything he looked at was stained with blood. The entire world spun. The air was filled with dolphin¡¯s cries, the clanging of poles, over and over, ringing from inside the skull, pounding heavily. The beach was covered with the thwarted attempts of dolphins, adult female dolphins trying to let their young escape, only to have their bodies cut open by long knives the next second, the young following suit, blood filling up Dolphin Bay. Seabirds that had been circling high above seized the opportunity, diving down to snatch a piece of flesh and promptly flew away, tilting their heads to swallow the dolphin meat. Laughter from the fishermen was everywhere. The laughter and screams mixed together, indistinguishable whether it was joy or terror, everything becoming a blur assaulting the senses. ¡°Hey, kid, you¡¯re dazed, aren¡¯t you? Don¡¯t stop now,¡± the old sailor spat a puff of smoke into Asuka¡¯s face, pushed him when he didn¡¯t respond, and slapped the back of his head, clearly displeased. Asuka¡¯s head hung lower with each hit, the dizziness intensifying, he looked at the sea, the frothy waves no longer white but a deep, dark color, darkness and blood mingling, completely engulfing him. ¡°Hey, hey, hey! Damn it, Captain, this kid has passed out!¡± ¡­. ¡°Huff!¡± Bi Fang exhaled for a full half a minute before feeling that the stuffiness and waste gases in his chest had been emptied out. When his senses returned, he was shocked to realize he had been standing here for a solid two hours, his legs slightly swollen from the strain. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, feeling his head was heavy and groggy. The drones, mixed in among the seagulls, overlooked a scene where Dolphin Bay, once azure, had turned a blood red, and even the beach above was all sand mingled with blood. When it comes to a vast fortune, the greed of humans flows like poison in their blood. After thousands of years within the civilized world, these people still haven¡¯t learned to love the world. Inside the hotel, Richard and others had also experienced all this, even more so. In the ocean, innumerable dolphin shadows darted about, repeatedly knocking into each other like humans in a stampede, their clear view turning to blood red in less than an hour. Through infrared, one could only glimpse their panic and tension as if watching a blood storm from the sea bottom, with orange-red figures everywhere. When they approached the fishing boats, the orange hue would suddenly expand, staining everything around it. There was no doubt that this was the result of blood spreading in the sea water. The encirclement tightened rapidly, and in less than two hours, about a dozen fishing boats had once again completely surrounded Dolphin Bay. Now, the frenzy that belonged to everyone truly began, as more and more people entered Dolphin Bay, humans wielding slaughtering knives and dripping with blood, alongside the dolphins that surfaced. The whole capture process was very quick; by eight o¡¯clock, the first round of capture had finished. But the blood-stained bay remained colored for a long time. Bi Fang didn¡¯t know how long it would take for the blood-red to turn back to blue again, but considering the geography of Dolphin Bay, it was difficult for the water here to mix with the open sea, suggesting it would take quite a while. He didn¡¯t know when the next hunt would be. The hunting schedule in Taiji Town wasn¡¯t daily, but depended on whether dolphin pods arrived here each day. If there were only a few small groups sporadically, then it wouldn¡¯t be possible to do this every day. As for the next time, no one knew. Taking a moment to steady his mind, Bi Fang rubbed his face, moving his stiff expression around, as he still had other tasks waiting for him that day. It was already the fifth day of Black Bear hunting season; the rankings had changed once again, and Bi Fang had slipped from third to fifth place. The Y¨­ki Hunter duo had now surged ahead of him. They were said to have been caught overnight. ¡°No matter,¡± he muttered. Bi Fang took out his water bottle, moistened his throat, then warmed up before turning on the live stream, greeting the surrounding forest with practiced ease. In the live stream room, Kogawa Kobayashi shouted with excitement, ¡°Everyone, look! Master Fang has also started live streaming. Seems like he didn¡¯t choose to sleep in today but got up early! That¡¯s not easy for him at all.¡± [Good morning.] [So tired, just got up.] [Emmm, didn¡¯t Old Fang treat himself again last night? He still looks listless.] [By the way, has the jade been sold yet?] Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°Not yet, but Yehara Hiroshi told me the price has been negotiated up to 150 million yen. It probably won¡¯t be long before it¡¯s sold. Then I¡¯ll be able to send everyone a big red envelope. If you¡¯re interested, you can join a group; there¡¯s something for everyone.¡± [The group is full.] [How many groups have you made? I can never get in; it always shows full.] [Everyone gets a share, meaning everyone in the Emperor¡¯s group gets a share.] [Hurry up and go hunt the bear, you¡¯re so far behind! Even if you dig up gold today, it¡¯s no use unless you give it to me (dog¡¯s head).] Bi Fang readily agreed, ¡°All right, all right. I found some traces yesterday, and today, I¡¯ll strive to return to the top. This time for bear hunting, let¡¯s try using poison.¡± Chapter 564 - Chapter 564: Chapter 561 Poisoning Chapter 564: Chapter 561 Poisoning A rather novel combination came from Bi Fang¡¯s mouth. Poisoning a black bear? [What the hell is this about poisoning?] [Can we no longer hide the fact that Boss Fang is an alien?] [To be honest, compared to being an alien, I¡¯m more convinced that Old Fang underwent some surgery to implant poison glands (jokingly)] [I know, got bitten by a spider and turned into a four hundred-pound lady!] [I don¡¯t want to ask anything else, I just want to know one thing, where does this poison come from, I¡¯m quite curious (dog¡¯s head)] ¡°How could I possibly produce poison? Of course, I¡¯m using what¡¯s available.¡± Bi Fang was briefly taken aback by the barrage of comments, but this improved Yuyu¡¯s mood significantly. Silly netizens always bring joy. Survival in the wilderness with an audience is a completely different ballgame compared to without. At the very least, one doesn¡¯t feel lonely when alone in the forest, and it can even bring a little happiness. Once Wilderness Survival Skill reaches a certain level, what one is often combating is not so much survival issues as it is oneself. Heading deeper into the forest, Bi Fang continued, ¡°In nature, to survive, various animals have evolved different survival strategies, whether for hunting or for self-defense, especially venomous snakes. With their venom, they can often punch above their weight.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï In nature, body size is almost akin to a hierarchical relationship, but venom can overturn this rule, enabling animals to surpass their superiors. ¡°However, the most fearful things for humans are probably those poisonous species, because most venoms are not only excruciatingly painful, but our understanding of them is also very limited, which brings a sense of unknown fear.¡± All the behaviors of animals and plants on Earth can be attributed to: survival and reproduction. The reason why flora and fauna evolve toxins is actually to better survive and reproduce. ¡°According to the second law of thermodynamics, in an isolated system, the system tends to go from order to disorder, which is the process of entropy increase. For example: an apple falls to the ground and will gradually rot.¡± ¡°If organisms want to survive, they first need to combat entropy increase, and ingestion of energy can maintain their original low entropy state, like: eating.¡± ¡°All creatures on Earth must rely on energy to survive, but different organisms have different methods of utilizing energy. Plants use solar energy, herbivores consume plants, and carnivores consume the meat of herbivores.¡± Energy flows along the chain of solar energy-plants-herbivores-carnivores, and it is precisely because of this that Earth has such a complex food web. But in practice, every creature is reluctant to give up the energy it has worked so hard to acquire. ¡°For plants, because of the limitations of the cell wall which impedes their movement, and since plants can¡¯t retaliate against attackers, they can only evolve things like thorns and toxins to evade herbivorous animals¡¯ attacks.¡± ¡°Herbivorous animals have various ways to avoid attacks from carnivores. They can evolve to run faster, have sharper monocular vision, or have thicker skin to escape predators, but some herbivores also develop toxicity to defend against their natural enemies.¡± ¡°There are also animals that evolve toxicity for hunting purposes, like venomous snakes. When they hunt, they first spray venom on their prey, wait for it to succumb to the poison, and then come to eat it.¡± It is precisely because plants and animals need better ways to avoid predators and improve their hunting that there are so many poisonous species in nature. If we think of predators and prey as hunters and their quarry, then there is always an arms race between hunter and hunted. Both sides are constantly adapting to each other. At this point, Bi Fang¡¯s meaning was quite clear. [Are we looking for a plant or an animal?] [Isn¡¯t it hard to find poisonous plants here? Are there Blood-Sealing Throat Trees here too?] ¡°Japan has many poisonous plants, but when it comes to hunting, plant toxins are often not as useful as biological toxins, like the Sago Palm,¡± explained Bi Fang. The Sago Palm is a highly toxic plant commonly found in the southern part of Japan; it¡¯s actually not rare and is what many people have seen as the ¡°iron tree.¡± What many people don¡¯t know is that this plant contains deadly poison. It is one of the oldest seed plants still existing on Earth, known as a ¡°living fossil¡± plant. Its origins can be traced back to about 300 million years ago, and it reached its zenith during the Jurassic period, when it dominated the planet alongside the dinosaurs. ¡°Cattle that eat the seeds of the Sago Palm can be paralyzed, as it contains neurotoxins. Consuming too much can even lead to death, but it¡¯s not enough to deal with a black bear.¡± Using toxins is mostly done by application followed by an attack to enter the opponent¡¯s bloodstream. The key feature is that the toxicity needs to be strong and fast-acting and able to cause maximum damage with the smallest quantity. Talking about toxins without mentioning dosage is irresponsible; a few wounds infected with Sago Palm toxin are basically useless, and the effect is too slow. By the time it takes effect, the bear would have finished its last burp. ¡°As with the Blood-Sealing Throat Tree, there are only a few, but most toxic animals can instantly kill prey of the same size. The useful plants that can be found here in Japan are probably only castor beans and water hemlock. The former is somewhat lacking, while the latter, being considered the most toxic plant in North America, can serve as a backup option.¡± The toxin of water hemlock is very strong; the entire plant contains hemlock toxin, which can disrupt the central nervous system, causing those who mistakenly ingest it to have epileptic seizures and ultimately die. And since coniine works similarly to arrow poison, it can paralyze motor nerves and inhibit the medulla oblongata. It has a rapid effect and has been listed by Bi Fang as an alternative. However, what he wanted to find more was snakes. Plant toxins are for defense, to deter herbivores, but snake venom is for offense, evolving in the direction of Bi Fang¡¯s needs. After all, both involve hunting, with exactly the same requirements. ¡°Japan¡¯s humid climate provides habitats for as many as 47 species of snakes, but only eight of them live on the four islands of Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu, with just two being venomous snakes.¡± ¡°One is the Mamushi, and the other, the Tiger Keelback. Considering the size of the black bear, we don¡¯t need a toxin that can kill it outright. As long as it has a significant paralytic effect, it¡¯s effective. The one I want to find most is the Tiger Keelback,¡± he said. The venom yield of Tiger Keelback is low, averaging 11.8mg, with components such as metalloproteinase and coagulases. But its intravenous toxicity is very high, with an LD50 of 0.265mg/kg, exceeding the venom of most vipers. Vipers, with just their names, most people would associate them with deadly poison, which shows the potency of the Tiger Keelback¡¯s venom. However, because the Tiger Keelback has posterior fangs and it has been the subject of much debate whether it¡¯s a venomous snake. Because its fangs and venom glands are not connected by ducts, making venom injection difficult, and its venom delivery system can be quite wasteful. Coupled with its docile nature, most people who are bitten suffer only mild symptoms, which was quite an oddity. Before 2008, it wasn¡¯t even considered a venomous snake in Huaxia. But even so, there have been several cases of death by Tiger Keelback bites in Japan. ¡°But no matter, I¡¯m manually extracting it, there won¡¯t be any waste. Moreover, during yesterday¡¯s earthquake, many venomous snakes actually came down from the mountain. I saw one that looked very much like a Tiger Keelback, but at that time I discovered jade and didn¡¯t have time to catch it,¡± he said. Reptiles are very sensitive to earthquakes, and at least a dozen snakes shot past Bi Fang¡¯s line of sight at that time, but they were too concerned with escaping to pose any threat. ¡°Now let¡¯s go over there and see if we can find it. It mainly preys on small vertebrates, such as frogs and toads, and likes to dwell in areas with lush aquatic vegetation, the same kind of place as water hemlock. We¡¯re actually looking for two things,¡± he said. Following the direction he remembered, Bi Fang quickly found a stream in a valley and began to search along its banks. While he hadn¡¯t found the Tiger Keelback yet, he did discover two Banded Kraits intertwined together, a non-venomous species. Without wasting them, Bi Fang captured the loving couple to prepare for lunch, and continued his search. Eventually, Bi Fang located the target amid a small clump of aquatic vegetation. Chapter 565 - Chapter 565: Chapter 562: The Doomed Poison Master Chapter 565: Chapter 562: The Doomed Poison Master ¡°` ¡°Heh heh heh, see that? It¡¯s right there.¡± Bi Fang squatted down, didn¡¯t rashly approach, and used the tree stick in his hand, the seasoned actor, to point at a clump of grass not far away. Because it was near the stream, the grass grew very lush, all higher than the knees, and if you didn¡¯t look carefully, you really couldn¡¯t spot it. ¡°The color of this creature varies greatly depending on the region. Generally speaking, the southern Banded Kraits are lighter in color and green, blending in with the grass and difficult to distinguish. Those in the north have darker colors with more black spots.¡± Many viewers felt scared, as stepping on it without noticing could lead to a serious injury, couldn¡¯t it? [Damn, it¡¯s so well hidden?] [So bright and colorful!] In the grass, the Banded Krait was also entirely green with black spots, hidden among the lush aquatic plants, scarcely noticeable at a cursory glance. However, its neck was a bright orange-red color, very vivid and adding an element of danger. At the moment, this deadly snake hadn¡¯t noticed Bi Fang, lying motionless in the grass. Bi Fang lowered his voice, ¡°Although it¡¯s not the most lethal snake, the strength of the Banded Krait shouldn¡¯t be underestimated. It has a record of human fatalities in both Huaxia and Japan.¡± [The Banded Krait has one of the lowest fatality rates among deadly snakes, where did this ¡®most lethal¡¯ talk come from?] [Just joined the live stream? Didn¡¯t they say earlier that the effectiveness of its fangs is hit or miss, so whether the injection is successful is a matter of chance.] [You wouldn¡¯t dare to risk it, the thing is quite toxic. If bitten, you can¡¯t be sure if it¡¯s a dry bite or it injected a small amount of venom. So if you see it, keep your distance.] Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã? [Someone said mildly toxic [smile] when I was a kid, a neighbor got bitten and ruined a leg, the necrotic flesh was horrifying.] [If you encounter either the Tiger-striped Neck Groove Snake or the Red-necked Groove Snake, I advise you to run. It doesn¡¯t have commercial serum, meaning there is no antivenom available if you get bitten by it (Dog¡¯s head).] ¡°The venom delivery of the Banded Krait is very poor, as it uses rear fangs to inject the venom, which is quite difficult, and sometimes there are no symptoms after being bitten, making it easy to mistake it for a nonvenomous snake.¡± ¡°A few years ago, this snake was universally considered mildly venomous, but recent research has confirmed it to be highly venomous. However, it is always right for the average person to see it and walk away.¡± Many viewers nodded, as many had seen them in the countryside. Unfortunately, they didn¡¯t know at the time that it was a venomous snake; they only understood after Bi Fang¡¯s explanation. It¡¯s not nonvenomous, but rather highly venomous; it just doesn¡¯t manage to inject it. Such a waste of a potent tool. Bi Fang observed his surroundings and slowly approached the Banded Krait. Before he made a move, his eyes lit up, and he stopped, pointing the tree stick across the stream: ¡°Hey, look over there, there¡¯s another one over there!¡± Following the direction of the tree stick, the drone quickly approached the opposite bank, revealing another flash of bright orange. Ha! A second Banded Krait! Well, look at that, two for two! Not only that, Bi Fang pointed to a small clump of grass beside the opposite bank: ¡°Lucky day, got both at once, and there¡¯s Water Hemlock here too.¡± The Water Hemlock swayed gently by the side of the stream and, at first glance, looked quite similar to dandelions, both with long stems and then a tuft of white flowers, only flatter. ¡°Water Hemlock is toxic to various livestock and humans alike, and the symptoms are similar. The toxin acts directly on the central nervous system, causing severe convulsions and death from respiratory failure. The tuberous dose required to kill is 0.2-0.5% of the body weight for sheep, 0.1% for cattle, and 0.5% for horses.¡± [Wait a minute, a cow weighs hundreds of pounds. Even one-thousandth of that is still a lot, right?] [One pound is five hundred grams, so it needs fifty grams?] ¡°` [An egg weighs 50 grams? Insert an egg on top of an arrow?] ¡°Yes, although it¡¯s one-thousandth, it¡¯s still quite a lot, so I prefer biological toxins, but paralysis is sufficient, and plant toxins have a feature, which is that they can be refined,¡± ¡°Animal venom is very intense, but it¡¯s often protein, synthesized within the body, and it denatures upon heating. You could eat it and it would be fine, but most plant toxins are molecular, not proteins, and they don¡¯t easily change their chemical properties when heated, so they can be refined.¡± As Bi Fang explained, he edged closer to the banded krait. Snakes are actually not hard to catch, especially for experienced people like him. To someone with rich experience, this creature is completely considered to be on the level of a spicy snack. Most snakes are actually very afraid of humans; Bi Fang¡¯s first concern when encountering one was whether it might escape, rather than being bitten. Bi Fang, adept at catching snakes, smoothly captured one of them, though unfortunately, the other seemed to sense danger and quickly vanished into the bushes before Bi Fang could get to it. Bi Fang shrugged indifferently, ¡°It looks like one male and one female. The breeding season for tiger-striped neck groove snakes is in May and June. It¡¯s a bit late now.¡± The tiger-striped neck groove snake, gripped by the throat, coiled around Bi Fang¡¯s forearm, with the tip of its tail constantly twitching as if expressing discontent. None of these fidgets could change reality, though. Bi Fang bent down and progressed, holding the tree stick, ¡°The best way to obtain venom from a venomous snake is to catch it alive, although dead ones could work, but not for the banded krait.¡± ¡°One, these guys aren¡¯t particularly rare; in Huaxia, it is one of the most numerous and widely distributed snake species, second only to the viper. Two, as I mentioned before, it has no venom glands, which makes it hard to extract venom directly.¡± [Banded Krait: Are you being polite?] [Thank you.] [Hahaha, Old Fang saying this is really funny.] [Boss Fang: Since we already have a banded krait, for now¡­ oh, sorry, I still need your life.] ¡°The banded krait¡¯s venom glands are not connected to the fangs with a duct. However, if you look here, there is a protruding neck gland on the back of the snake¡¯s neck, and the venom is stored there,¡± Bi Fang pressed the banded krait against a rock with the back of his dagger, firmly holding down its head. The snake¡¯s body twisted even more violently, and the audience could clearly see the protrusion on the neck confirmed by Bi Fang¡¯s fingers. But it was not noticeable unless it was struggling. Having identified the target, Bi Fang deftly used his knife to cut off the snake¡¯s head and then sliced along the raised neckline little by little. ¡°The venom sacs of venomous snakes are quite fragile, so be careful when you cut. Don¡¯t injure your own hand, or it would be troublesome if the venom entered the bloodstream,¡± Although the snake¡¯s head had been cut off, its body continued to twitch reflexively, adding some difficulty to Bi Fang¡¯s task. But it was no big deal. He sliced open the snake skin and muscle layer, and a thin layer of membrane appeared. Bi Fang extended his finger, stained with snake blood, to hook it out, carefully pulling it back until he eventually extracted a small pouch. An expression of delight appeared on Bi Fang¡¯s face, ¡°Look, this is the venom sac. Its tenacity is quite strong. I used to discard it, but this is the first time I need it.¡± The venom sac was not a small pouch in the conventional sense, but rather elongated and looked¡­ [Why does it feel like a shrunken¡­ cover (Dog¡¯s head)?] [+1] Bi Fang paused, momentarily at a loss for words. He looked at the white venom sac in his hand and suddenly felt a chill, cleared his throat awkwardly, ¡°Cough cough, it¡¯s all in the mind. Don¡¯t think about it too much; we run a civilized live stream.¡± Cutting off the audience¡¯s imagination, Bi Fang tied a knot in the venom sac and placed it directly into his water bottle before running to the other side of the stream to gather water hemlock. Upon approaching, the audience realized that from afar, the plant resembled a dandelion, but up close it was more akin to common celery¡ªalmost identical! [Isn¡¯t this water celery?] [OMG, I eat this stuff often, am I going to die? Wuuu.] [If you can comment here, it means you¡¯re fine¡­] Bi Fang said, ¡°Water celery and water hemlock do look very similar, even their names are almost identical, but the difference is that the stem of the poison one is covered with a fine layer of white fuzz, and it looks fluffier and feels prickly to the touch, whereas the stem of water celery is fuzz-free and very smooth. This is also the most obvious distinction between the two.¡± When he swiped along the stem of the water hemlock, the tiny barbs accumulated, becoming somewhat more noticeable. ¡°Now that it¡¯s this season, many wild vegetables are growing, and there are quite a few incidents of poisoning due to mistaken ingestion,¡± Bi Fang crushed the barbs in his hand. ¡°Last year in Guangdong, an accident happened during training activities organized by Zhang Chunliang, the team captain of the Qianzhen Mountain Rescue Team¡¯s search and rescue squad. Three members were poisoned by eating wild vegetables, and as the team captain, Zhang Chunliang perished, while the other two members were out of danger after being treated in the hospital upon descending the mountain.¡± ¡°This was not just any ordinary hiking enthusiast, but the captain of a search and rescue squad, who had encountered many complex outdoor sports accidents and was one of the main founders of the Qianzhen Mountain Rescue Team. He could definitely be called an experienced old mountaineer, and still, he fell victim.¡± ¡°According to the investigation by local authorities, Zhang Chunliang¡¯s death was caused by accidental consumption of water hemlock.¡± ¡°After Zhang Chunliang showed signs of poisoning, he still attempted to aid two other poisoned team members, which accelerated the onset of the poison and caused him to miss the best opportunity for his own rescue.¡± Hiss. The audience gasped in shock. If even the rescue team captain could be fooled, how similar must they be? [For the sake of outdoor survival, it led to¡­ an indescribably bizarre outcome.] [He tried to rescue others while being poisoned himself, he did his duty.] [Rest in peace.] [Old Fang should lead the team for this kind of thing (dog¡¯s head).] ¡°Wild vegetables can have different characteristics in various areas. Before consuming any wild vegetables that have been foraged, one should conduct extensive research into the local conditions and always consult with experienced locals,¡± Bi Fang said. The water hemlock in Dalian was uprooted. Although it appeared there was only a small patch, a few square meters filled with various other weeds, at least several kilograms could be collected. After gathering a bundle, Bi Fang began the extraction process. ¡°Extracting hemlock toxin isn¡¯t difficult. If you find it troublesome, you can directly pluck a section and apply the juice to a weapon, as the whole plant of water hemlock is poisonous, so any part will do. The flowers have the highest toxicity, but I recommend using the tubers and stems since these parts are juicier and easier to apply.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t mind the extra trouble, you can collect more, then crush them all, add water and start boiling. Remove the remains, and just keep steaming until you can separate out crystals.¡± Having gathered a small clump of water hemlock nearby, Bi Fang set up distilling apparatus right next to the river. It was simple, just a plastic bottle and a fire could do the job, and it could even take care of lunch. Bi Fang skewered the snake meat on a tree stick and found a flat stone to lay some of the collected water hemlock on it. He then used another stone to grind it down before stuffing it into the cut-open mineral water bottle and poured a ladle of stream water in, starting to heat it up. ¡°Most mineral water bottles have a melting point higher than the boiling point of water, so you don¡¯t have to worry about the bottle melting.¡± Once the stream water boiled, Bi Fang ladled out the residue and added in another part of the water hemlock. ¡°Be careful, the water is already toxic at this stage! Don¡¯t treat it as pure water to drink! And don¡¯t let it come into contact with any wounds on your body!¡± Bi Fang issued a stern warning¡ªit wasn¡¯t a matter to be taken lightly. ¡°It can paralyze the motor neurons, suppress the medullary center. The toxic dose for humans is 30¨C60 milligrams, while the lethal dose is 120¨C150 milligrams, capable of causing death within minutes.¡± ¡°Heating can reduce the toxicity to some extent, but it¡¯s very limited, and the loss is within the tolerable range for our distillation.¡± Right now, it¡¯s equivalent to concentrating a portion, but there will be losses in the process of concentrating the poison. However, when compared to the whole, the toxicity is still stronger, so extra caution is needed. This is the biggest difference between plant toxins and animal toxins, as they do not easily become denatured and inactivated when exposed to high temperatures. By the time everything was refined, Bi Fang had also finished lunch. He now possessed two major toxins, concentrated hemlock toxin and the venom of the banded krait, both deadly! He also crafted two wooden darts. ¡°The flint stone dart can only be coated with a limited amount of venom, so we can choose the wooden ones. Afterward, we carve some small grooves at the tip of the spear. Although not as sharp and hard as flint stone, it can retain more venom, becoming a poison spear!¡± Unlike flint stone, a poison spear doesn¡¯t chase after killing power; as long as it can break skin, it¡¯s successful! The millions of viewers in the livestream were excited, finally it was completed. [Congratulations to Master Fang for unlocking the achievement: Master of Deadly Poisons] [Awesome, really awesome, go get ¡¯em killer] [Feels like the Indian blowgun made with poison dart frog toxin] [Shocking, tens of millions watch the poison-making scene live, is this a distortion of humanity or a decline in morality?] [iWitness sends a rocket*1 to the host¡ª¡ªCome on, hurry up, grab that number one spot] A murderous intent rises with a blade in hand. Bi Fang was eager to try, doing his best to search for Black Bear¡¯s trail. 2:38 in the afternoon. A brown shadow appeared in front of everyone, immensely large, startling the Shuiyous. [Damn, that¡¯s a huge Black Bear] [That¡¯s at least two meters, right? Lengthwise?] [Who¡¯s in first place now? How many points?] [That Y¨­ki Hunter called Sato, he got a 1.2 meters one last night, just matured, 19.7 points!] [Can Black Bears grow this big?] The enormous body moved on the ground, seemingly digging at something. This large bear didn¡¯t appear to have noticed the approaching Bi Fang, but when it raised its head, the Shuiyous were surprised to find that there was no white patch on the bear¡¯s chest. ¡°The body color of Brown Bears and Black Bears is generally not too different; Brown Bears aren¡¯t necessarily brown. To differentiate between the two, don¡¯t look at the fur color; instead, notice if there¡¯s a white crescent patch on their chest.¡± The words that Bi Fang had said earlier echoed in the ears of the Shuiyous, who suddenly realized. This wasn¡¯t a Black Bear at all. It was a Brown Bear! Chapter 566 - Chapter 566: Chapter 563 Two Bears and a Pig Chapter 566: Chapter 563 Two Bears and a Pig In the vast forest, the enormous bear¡¯s rear was turned towards the gathered onlookers. As the drone took off, what could be seen was the brown bear digging and foraging on the ground, oblivious to the danger approaching from behind. The hunting season had been in full swing for two days, with a total of thirty-five hunters. Though not everyone bagged a black bear, at the very least, every two hunters had one between them. However, not a single brown bear had been taken. The audience, having witnessed nearly twenty black bears killed, had formed a set impression of their size. Having seen so many, they had a clear understanding of the approximate size of a black bear. But seeing a brown bear now, their fixed impression was greatly shaken, an inner shock that went without saying. It was damn huge. Not even in the same category as the black bear. Adult black bears are relatively small among bears, with females measuring less than 1.5 meters in length and weighing under 140 kilograms, while males typically around 1.5 meters long and approximately 150 kilograms in weight. Also known as grizzly bears, brown bears are even larger than black bears, and are among the largest land carnivores. Female brown bears alone weigh between eighty and two hundred and fifty kilograms, making an adult female larger than an adult male black bear. The weight of an adult male is even more exaggerated, ranging between one hundred and forty to five hundred and fifty kilograms. Bi Fang took a deep breath and slowly retreated, avoiding early detection by the brown bear, ¡°The largest brown bear hunted in the world to date measured almost 4 meters long and weighed nearly 600 kilograms!¡± Don¡¯t be fooled by the brown bear¡¯s bumbling appearance as it digs in the soil, looking clumsy and lumbering when it walks. Its sense of smell and hearing are highly developed, and it possesses tremendous strength, capable of running at a top speed of 56 kilometers per hour! It wasn¡¯t until he had moved back fifty meters that Bi Fang finally let out a sigh of relief. ¡°It is said that bears have poor eyesight, earning them the nickname ¡®blind bear,¡¯ but that¡¯s only true for the Asian black bear. Other species have quite keen eyesight. In front of an adult brown bear, unarmed humans are just like helpless chickens.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°A brown bear can reach speeds of fifty-six kilometers per hour, comparable to a small car, but this speed can¡¯t be maintained for long; it¡¯s more of a short-term burst.¡± ¡°Moreover, in the forest, mass equals inertia; a brown bear can¡¯t just charge around recklessly. So, a distance of fifty meters, in my opinion, is safe. Even if the brown bear were to suddenly charge at me now, I¡¯m eighty percent confident I could escape.¡± It was summer, and the quantity of plants and animals around was substantial. Brown bears are omnivores and unlikely to chase an animal to the death when food is plentiful, especially in the hot weather, as their thick fur makes them even hotter. It¡¯s not worth the effort, unless you provoke them. [It¡¯s ridiculously huge, at least twice the size of a black bear!] [Take it down, and Old Fang would be the man. This one¡¯s at least two meters long. I bet it¡¯s definitely two meters three!] [Is this the first brown bear?] [No, a two-person team spotted one the other day, but they didn¡¯t dare to act because it was too big. Let Old Fang give it a try (dog¡¯s head).] In Japan, there are fewer brown bears than black bears, so the chances of encountering one are somewhat less. The rear end of that brown bear just now was twice as large as the one Bi Fang hunted on the third day! This guy, he¡¯s not seriously thinking about hunting the brown bear, is he? Bi Fang had performed remarkable feats before, but still, many people showed their fear when faced with such a massive brown bear. Even though they weren¡¯t the ones going in, the audience still felt frightened. Man hunting bear, if the attempt failed, it was highly likely to end with being killed in return, a dangerous ¡°heroic action.¡± This was not like the time with Mugalen; at least there were two people then, having at least some degree of coordination, along with a host of prepared traps, and they had severely wounded the brown bear beforehand, enabling them to land the fatal shot. Bi Fang nodded without hesitation. Of course, he couldn¡¯t miss this opportunity. A single brown bear could score higher than two black bears put together, and he had two great tools at his disposal. Hemlock toxin and the banded krait¡¯s venom, either of these, if applied to the brown bear, would give it a hard time. In the restaurant, Tanaka and Okuyama watched the small television mounted on the wall, their hearts sinking a bit. The two had already hunted three bears and were ranked first the previous night, but today they had slipped to second place. It was a period of rest, so they returned to town, taking the opportunity to address their dining needs, and just happened to witness this scene. In these two days, the black bear hunting season had become immensely popular in the streets and alleyways of Japan; no matter where one went, they could see live or recorded broadcasts of the hunting season. Even the small restaurant at this moment was no exception¡ªthe volume of the television had been turned up to the maximum. The once lively restaurant quieted down suddenly, with several waiters sneaking glances at Tanaka and Okuyama while quietly discussing. ¡°Brown bear, it¡¯s huge.¡± ¡°I saw one from a distance once, when it stood up, it was at least as tall as two people!¡± ¡°As tall as two people? Nonsense, that¡¯d be over three meters; you think it¡¯s a myth?¡± ¡°This guy, he¡¯s got a lot of nerve, it¡¯s like the legend has come back!¡± ¡°Truly amazing!¡± It wasn¡¯t noon yet, so there weren¡¯t many people in the restaurant, just a few waiters and drinkers, but Tanaka and Okuyama heard every word clearly and felt a bit put out. Okuyama straightened up, turned around to look at the few people behind him, and raised his voice a few decibels, ¡°That guy is just bragging, a brown bear and a black bear are not on the same level of prey! How could one person possibly succeed in hunting it alone?¡± Tanaka nodded in agreement, adding, ¡°Even a hunting rifle would have a hard time killing a brown bear, let alone primitive hunting. One person dealing with an adult male brown bear is simply impossible.¡± From the live broadcast, the brown bear¡¯s body length was at least 2.2 meters, so the two easily judged this was an adult male black bear. A few drunks who had been there since noon, hearing this, suddenly became interested and egged Tanaka on, asking why. ¡°Nowadays firearms can blow a person to pieces with a single shot, how could they not deal with a bear?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s all muscle and bones anyway, what¡¯s the difference?¡± Given such layman answers, Tanaka scoffed, ¡°The brown bear is bulky, with a tough and thick skull, and its face is long and narrow, offering a small target area for head-on shots. Humans might not die immediately even if a bullet lifts their skull cap and the brainstem isn¡¯t damaged, let alone a bear.¡± ¡°308 Win caliber, that is, the 7.62X51mm bullet is somewhat strenuous; bear bodies are much sturdier than humans. You need at least a .30-06 caliber, that is, the ammunition used in Springfield and M1 Garand rifles, to be sufficient.¡± When hunting bears, bison, and other large animals, in order to avoid alarming the prey, it¡¯s necessary to shoot from a safe distance, and rifles are definitely the weapon of choice. ¡°300 Winchester Magnum bullets, although also 7.62 caliber, have over 40% more power than standard 308 bullets.¡± Tanaka had military experience, and his family owned a hunting rifle license; he was well-versed in these matters. A few years ago, he had even hunted a brown bear using a rifle, which was completely different from this hunting season, but it was enough to give him something to boast about. Even Y¨­ki Hunters rarely hunted brown bears. Seeing the few drunks at a loss, Tanaka became more enthusiastic, ¡°Hornady¡¯s new .300 PRC ¡®Precision Rifle Cartridge¡¯ bullets use a long, low-drag bullet and are currently the best-performing .30 caliber ammunition on the market.¡± ¡°Modern high-speed rifle bullets, although fast, far-reaching, and accurate, tend to tumble and fragment upon hitting the prey, which is downright wasteful for hunters wanting fresh meat.¡± Okuyama was somewhat surprised at this, as he wasn¡¯t too clear on these details¡­ He suddenly felt that his teacher was somewhat out of date, still using traditional firearms. ¡°The 45-70 caliber Marlin M1895SBL lever-action rifle easily shatters large rocks.¡± ¡°Large caliber bullets have high kinetic energy and strong stopping power, able to quickly bring down large game, and also cause less damage to the muscle tissue of the prey.¡± ¡°The 45-70 rifle bullet is quite famous; it is a low-velocity, heavy bullet that relies on its large caliber and significant heft to kill prey, penetrates deeply, and the bullet is less likely to over-expand and fragment, reducing the pain of the prey after being hit, making it an excellent choice for hunting with the intent of consuming the meat.¡± The drunks were completely silenced. Tanaka, looking pleased, picked up a cup from the table, took a sip of water, and said calmly, ¡°Only these heavy-powered firearms pose a threat to brown bears; the rest are inadequate. Aiming head-on for a kill shot is not the best strategy; targeting the softer heart and lung area from the side is the best tactic. In primitive hunting, it would be even less possible for one person alone.¡± A few drunken men had casually asked a question, but were intimidated by the earnest response, exchanging uneasy glances. They seemed to have encountered someone formidable? Squinting their eyes toward Tanaka and Okuyama, the more they looked, the more familiar they appeared, exclaiming in shock. ¡°Hiss, you guys, you are¡­¡± ¡°So familiar, I feel like I¡¯ve seen you somewhere before.¡± Hearing this, Tanaka and Okuyama stood even straighter. One lives to impress. Both in their forties, they couldn¡¯t help feeling proud, especially at a moment like this. Having killed bears for half their lives, they had never been as renowned as they were today, worshipped and respected by others. What a great new era. Finally, one of the drunken men had a sudden realization and slammed the table: ¡°It¡¯s Fujiwara and Takahashi, the Y¨­ki Hunter duo!¡± ¡°Oh, oh, oh, I remember now, it¡¯s them!¡± ¡°Truly an honor for our Japan! Come on, take a drink!¡± ¡°Tsk!¡± A snicker came from nearby. Tanaka and Okuyama turned stiffly to see a waiter nearby, suddenly sitting up straight with a smile he couldn¡¯t contain. ¡°¡­¡± On the other side, Bi Fang was applying a second layer of poison to the darts and spear. He submerged the entire wooden dart head in the thickened poison of water hemlock, left it to soak thoroughly, then lifted it out and spun it around a few times to prevent dripping, waiting for it to air-dry on the surface. Then, he took another dart and applied the venom of the banded krait. Bi Fang did not create a mixed poison to avoid unexpected reactions; instead, he produced them separately. The process seemed complicated, but it was actually very quick since it was a second application of poison, not the initial one. At this moment, the brown bear did not stay in place to forage; after a quick dig in the soil and finishing off the last of the plant roots, it set off. Bi Fang did not immediately follow, and with the existing traces in the forest, he could quickly catch up. After eating the roots, the brown bear lifted its head to catch scent molecules in the air. Seeing this, the audience tensed up. [Has it been discovered?] [You¡¯re kidding, right?] [Downwind or upwind?] ¡°Upwind, it must have detected other prey,¡± said Bi Fang, pressing himself even lower. Dealing with olfactory animals like bears, he dared not be careless. Not only upwind, but he also rubbed his body with ashes from plants, mixing it with mud and leaves, as well as some pine needle juice, to completely cover his scent. Even for a brown bear, the chance of detecting him was slim. The subsequent behavior of the brown bear unquestionably proved Bi Fang right; after sniffing for a while, the massive creature suddenly moved purposefully in the direction slightly ahead of Bi Fang. Just as Bi Fang finished applying the poison, he silently trailed behind the brown bear, curious to see what it was up to. The chase lasted for more than a mile! During this time, the brown bear frequently stood up to look around, while the drone flying overhead undoubtedly had a further view. Wild boar! A wild boar was in the thicket eating potatoes, oblivious to the approaching danger. Clearly, the brown bear¡¯s target was the wild boar. [Shit, he tracked it for over a mile, he could smell that?] [How sensitive is that nose?] But Bi Fang narrowed his eyes, sensing that things were not as simple as they seemed, and without waiting for the audience to catch on, he quickly retreated to a distance of about sixty meters. [What¡¯s up?] ¡°Look at the tree,¡± he said. The drone¡¯s camera casually panned and soon locked onto what Bi Fang was pointing out, instantly shocking the viewers. There was another bear in the tree, an Asian black bear! Bears actually climb trees? The black bear in view was not small, about 1.1 to 1.2 meters long, and even so, that was quite large ¨C and it managed to climb such a tall tree? But what was the situation here? The wild boar was stealing food beneath the black bear? ¡°In fact, evidence suggests that the relationship between the black bear and the wild boar is more of a symbiosis, particularly when food is abundant, and in many areas, the two have formed a close mutualistic relationship,¡± Bi Fang explained rapidly, as this phenomenon was not uncommon. ¡°When black bears climb trees to eat fruit, wild boars quickly gather beneath, or wait for the black bear to leave and then come to this spot.¡± People didn¡¯t understand this connection before, thinking it was miraculous, but after detailed studies, it was revealed that, unlike black bears, wild boars cannot climb trees, and the vibrations and branch breaking caused by the black bear¡¯s climbing would lead to fruits or branches falling to the ground, allowing wild boars to pick up the leftovers.¡± The scene in front of him made Bi Fang reconsider his initial plan of action. He wanted to see if he could benefit as the third party. If he could be successful, he might be able to obtain both a black bear and a brown bear, possibly breaking a score of thirty and leaving everyone else far behind. Would the brown bear hunt the black bear? Audience members had their doubts, but Bi Fang had no time to explain now; his focus was entirely on the three animals before him. The Shuiyous were also watching intently, putting their discussions on hold for the moment. The black bear in the tree had obviously noticed the brown bear and was roaring continuously, soon alerting the wild boar below, which had been eating heartily. Due to their lack of flexible spines, the wild boar couldn¡¯t see the brown bear behind the bushes, but it had already caught the scent of impending doom. In the blink of an eye, the wild boar took off running! But the brown bear was faster, its myriad of muscles flexing in unison, unleashing incomparable strength that thundered forth! Chapter 568 - Chapter 568 Chapter 565 How Much Is a Brown Bear Worth ?Chapter 568: Chapter 565 How Much Is a Brown Bear Worth? Chapter 568: Chapter 565 How Much Is a Brown Bear Worth? The short spear, a meter in length, pierced through the bear hide, firmly stabbing into the brown bear¡¯s body, fresh blood gushing down the shaft, soaking the fur, turning the already deep brown hairs completely black. The fierce sun blazed like a furnace, rapidly clotting the blood into chunks, but the blood inside the skin didn¡¯t stop flowing; in fact, it speeded up towards the heart due to the violent movement. The heart, nearly the size of a human head, pulsated violently, circulating blood throughout the brown bear¡¯s body like a sixteen-cylinder engine at full throttle, providing ample power. Only now, the gasoline in the tank was mixed with water, and before long, the whole truck would start to smoke. In the woods, the ground trembled slightly as Bi Fang hurdled over the bushes, running non-stop downhill, silently counting down in his heart, praying for the poison to take effect quickly. Hemlock toxin and banded krait venom were both deadly poisons. By normal reason, the brown bear should have shown some reaction within three minutes. But this bear, with its fur and a layer of fat that was at least ten centimeters thick even in summer, What did that mean? If you tried to stab it with a dagger, more than eighty percent of the dagger would be buried in the layer of fat, not touching any vital blood vessels, muscles or internal organs. For the brown bear, having a dagger inserted or pulled out of its body was akin to a human getting an IV a€¡° just a momentary sting, with no impact on fighting power. In other words, even with a hundred stings from a little dagger, the bear would still be at full health. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 The most desperate part was that this creature ran faster than humans, could climb trees, could swim, had extremely fast reactions, could hit fish leaping out of the water, and probably could break large stones with its whole body¡¯s hard kung fu. Fortunately, being in the jungle, Bi Fang was able to run, relying on the complex terrain and the energy the brown bear had previously expended. The drone raced past, filming from multiple angles with no dead spots a€¡° from the diagonal side, directly above, directly in front, and directly behind. The brown bear came close to capturing Bi Fang time and again but was repeatedly thwarted by large trees or shifts in the slope. Bi Fang dove into the most complex terrains, thrilling the Shuiyou with excitement. [Lord Mu sent a gift to the host: 66 Yachts a€¡± Tough as nails, truly a divine deer of the east!] [Licking Duck¡¯s Moon Reflection sent a gift to the host: 666 Meatballs a€¡± Charge, start the charge!] Boom. A golden banner floated out. [Congratulations to Bo Mengzhe for becoming the Emperor of Master Fang¡¯s live broadcast room.] [666, another big shot, I¡¯m envious] [Damn!!!] Bi Fang was almost sticking out his tongue, but now was not the time to stop and catch his breath, as his opponent was a customs official who could take direct gunfire without issue. It was uncertain whether all three darts had penetrated the fat layer. Hefty trudging footsteps approached rapidly from behind, and a low growl echoed in his mind, sounding as though an evil spirit was drooling over him. Bi Fang charged up a small hill, tore through the bushes, and plummeted downwards as the ground gave way. Countless fallen leaves were dragged down with him as his body instinctively curled up, rolled, and finally landed steadily. A heavy thud fell behind him, the ground shook slightly, the trudging ceased, turning into growls instead. Clutching the spear in hand, Bi Fang turned around and swiftly leaped backward, increasing the distance once more. The brown bear following Bi Fang down the slope suddenly weakened in its paws and tumbled to the ground, shaking its head, somewhat dizzy. Bi Fang¡¯s chest heaved dramatically; he dared not be careless. Hemlock toxin and banded krait venom both had paralytic effects on the nerves. The symptoms should resemble an inability to control one¡¯s body. The poison had finally taken effect. A small slope of four meters was nothing for a tough brown bear that measured two meters and thirty centimeters in length. The beast swayed and struggled to stand; Bi Fang continued to retreat. The water-diluted engine was already smoking; it was just a matter of time until it blew. The standing brown bear shook its dizzy head, apparently still unclear about what was happening. [Damn, it can still stand up] [How is this possible, so resistant?] [It weighs several hundred pounds, after all, it¡¯s not the same as a human] Bi Fang gripped the spear in his hand tightly, not daring to be careless, ¡°The toxin has just started to take effect. To have the Brown Bear unable to stand up, we¡¯ll still need to wait at least half a minute to a minute.¡± The Brown Bear took a tumble mainly because a slight paralysis made its feet give way, which was far from being completely immobilized. At this moment, its brain, which was comparable in size to a yoga ball, also realized that it was the creature in front of it that had caused these symptoms. With a roar, the bear shook off the spear still stuck in its body and charged at Bi Fang. Bi Fang had no intention of facing the onslaught head-on and urgently dodged the Brown Bear¡¯s charge. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï The scales of victory were already tipping in his favor; there was no need to add complications. It seemed thrilling and dangerous, but actually, after a few charges, more than half a minute had passed. The toxin had spread throughout the Brown Bear¡¯s body, and with its last sprint, it toppled over onto the ground, gasping for air, unable to stand up again. Bi Fang didn¡¯t dare to approach rashly. From fifteen meters away, he shot two more darts, also poisoned, but the Brown Bear showed no reaction. It seemed the opponent was truly completely paralyzed and no longer had any strength to resist. ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by its bulky appearance; Brown Bears are much smarter than you think. Or rather, no Predator is stupid. When it comes to Hunting, they are more cunning than the average person. We don¡¯t need to be in a hurry; we can just wait it out. The toxin won¡¯t be neutralized just because it¡¯s been in the system for a long time.¡± While saying this, Bi Fang walked to a nearby wall and leaned against it. He didn¡¯t sit, in case the creature suddenly lashed out, so he could still take action. But at a distance of twenty meters, it¡¯s doubtful the Brown Bear could do anything even if it did lash out. [The Hunter is overly cautious] As it turned out, caution was warranted. In less than thirty seconds, the Brown Bear, which had just been struggling on the ground, suddenly stood up, startling the Shuiyou. In the end, it didn¡¯t even get close to Bi Fang before collapsing on the ground once again. This time, it was truly at the end of its rope. The Shuiyou who had just commented on being overly cautious promptly gave their 666s. Who could have thought a bear could play dead better than a human? ¡°Never underestimate the intelligence of wild animals.¡± Bi Fang, holding the spear, came to the side of the Brown Bear and noticed it was still glaring with eyes as big as fists, still showing unwillingness. Seeing this, Bi Fang thrust the spear into the bear¡¯s abdomen, using a lot of effort to penetrate the thick fur and tough muscles, directly damaging the heart and killing it. No matter how tough it is, the heart and the brain are fatal weaknesses. Once the heart was pierced, the light gradually faded from the Brown Bear¡¯s eyes, and it could no longer let out a roar. At the moment of death, the Shuiyou in the live stream let out a collective sigh of relief. It had not been easy. The sun was scorching, and Bi Fang was drenched in sweat, leaning on the spear, he realized he was soaked through with perspiration. In the eyes of the audience in the live stream, everything seemed very simplea€¡±it was just about launching the poison spear and then a desperate flight. But to the experts, it was not so simple; this was the expenditure of mental energy. The timing, the physical demands, the control of the terrain, the understanding of the animal¡¯s habitsa€¡±all these required extremely high standards. Especially when fleeing, identifying advantageous terrain in a critical moment is not something ordinary people can accomplish, particularly when falling down slopes and dodging during the Brown Bear¡¯s charges. Tanaka and Okuyama looked at each other, wide-eyed. They both felt such reaction speed was almost unbelievable. ¡°But, it¡¯s finally done.¡± Struggling with such a top Predator, you can¡¯t relax for even a second. A single misstep could be disastrous, with no place even to cry. All the effort was worth it. Bi Fang pressed the program team¡¯s positioning button with joy. A Brown Bear over two meters tall, how many Points would it bring? Chapter 569 - Chapter 569 Chapter 566 Still Trying to Scheme Against Me ?Chapter 569: Chapter 566: Still Trying to Scheme Against Me? Chapter 569: Chapter 566: Still Trying to Scheme Against Me? The work crew, who had been ready for quite some time, quickly mobilized and arrived at the scene within ten minutes, and they were the same three people from last time. Bi Fang was sitting on the bear¡¯s head with a spear in his hand and greeted them skillfully, ¡°I¡¯ve kept the bear¡¯s paw for myself, but this time make sure to score me a bit higher.¡± All three exchanged glances and nodded with smiles. However, when they saw the bear¡¯s head where Bi Fang was sitting, they were still shocked by the massive size of the creature. Encountering a bear, no one could remain unfazed, even if it was dead. Its imposing presence lingered, keeping people at bay. Having seen Black Bear numerous times in the past few days, they had adapted somewhat, but they hadn¡¯t encountered a Brown Bear of such a significant size before. The suppressed fear resurfaced once again. That day, humans finally remembered the terror they were once dominated by, and that feeling of being caged within a birdcage¡­ Cough cough. Wrong script. Gazing at the behemoth at their feet, they looked at each other, no one daring to make a move, especially because it appeared almost unharmed, as if it was just quietly sleeping and might lash out at any moment. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï ¡°Hahaha, don¡¯t worry, look, it¡¯s dead for sure, can¡¯t move.¡± Bi Fang stabbed his spear into the dead Brown Bear¡¯s head, eliciting no reaction. With repeated encouragement, the three slowly approached and tried poking it with a stick. The online friends burst into laughter at the scene. [Stop laughing, if it were me, I wouldn¡¯t dare to get close either] [Seriously, with just a few small wounds from darts, hardly any blood spilled, it looks like it¡¯s just sleeping. I wouldn¡¯t dare get close either] [Sob sob sob, Old Fang¡¯s list of trophies is getting longer and longer] [Bringing a bear¡¯s head home would be incredibly prestigious] [Does Old Fang live in a log cabin, with a stove, a stove with spears hanging above it, and all around him are specimens of animal heads, Brown Bear, Black Bear, deer, prehistoric creatures, wolves, sharks¡­] [Covered in glory he is] After poking with sticks for a while, Bi Fang urged them, ¡°Hurry it up, there¡¯s still a Black Bear in that forest. We need to measure that one after this.¡± ¡°What are you whispering about!¡± Finally snapping out of it, the three apologized loudly, with one pulling out a tape measure and another starting the calculations. The scorer checked off each item on the list. Fur damage: only three small wounds, about the size of a dart shaft, barely noticeable once the fur covered them up. Should have been rated as minor damage. Hesitating for a moment, the worker stole a glance at Bi Fang, saw he wasn¡¯t looking, and with a trembling hand, marked it as slight damage. Corporeal integrity: intact¡­ Body length¡­ The person responsible for measuring glanced at the two meters thirty-six on their tape measure, stretched it a little tighter, adding two centimeters, and proclaimed without a blush, ¡°Body length two meters thirty-four!¡± The scorer and the measurer exchanged a look, breathed a sigh of relief, and checked the box for two meters thirty to two meters thirty-five. In the body length category, below two meters, every ten centimeters was a scoring bracket, but beyond two meters, it was a bracket for every five centimeters. Once all the measurements were taken, they began to announce the score. ¡°Total score, 20.3 points!¡± Bi Fang frowned, this didn¡¯t seem right. ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 An extra ten centimeters above one meter fifty should be an extra point, and beyond two meters, every additional five centimeters should mean another point. Just based on size, he should have scored twenty-two points. For fur being slightly damaged, that could be argued either way, but the points deducted seemed overly harsh, didn¡¯t they? Losing 1.7 points? That was even more severe than the last time when he got a bear¡¯s paw. What was going on? Bi Fang didn¡¯t hold back, directly asking the work crew, ¡°Why do I feel like the points deducted are harsher than last time?¡± Facing Bi Fang¡¯s question, the staff member tensed up for a moment but quickly thought of the right words to say, ¡°Mr. Bi, although the Brown Bear¡¯s carcass is intact, we watched the entire live broadcast and you used poison, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Is there a problem? There¡¯s no rule against it, is there?¡± ¡°Of course, there¡¯s no problem, but we¡¯d like Mr. Bi to understand that we still need to process the final bear carcass, to be used as medicine or some other materials.¡± The staff member¡¯s tone was extremely respectful, to the point of being unavoidably so. So respectful that they didn¡¯t dare look up into Bi Fang¡¯s eyes. Having just killed a bear weighing hundreds of kilograms, Bi Fang was still emanating a formidable aura. ¡°There¡¯s no issue with your hunting, but the poison has significantly damaged the economic value of the bear carcass, and directly affected the medicinal materials, such as the bear bile. For this reason, we¡¯ve deducted one and a half points. Can you accept that?¡± The rather sheepish staff member¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, he swallowed, and timidly raised his eyes to glance at Bi Fang, who was casually stroking his chin and waved his hand dismissively. ¡°Fine, fine, that¡¯s okay. Just one and a half points. I¡¯ll go look for another one now.¡± Bi Fang couldn¡¯t be bothered to quibble over a point or two; it didn¡¯t matter to him. Seeing that Bi Fang seemed relatively easygoing, the staff member grew bolder and continued, ¡°Old Fang, there¡¯s actually another matter.¡± ¡°Yeah, what is it?¡± ¡°The bear has to be hunted by oneself for it to count.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Bi Fang¡¯s brows furrowed, his gaze suddenly sharp, causing Ikeda to press down on his cap, his psychological pressure skyrocketing in an instant. Damn it, that look is too intimidating. Somebody save me. I knew I should have let Chaki Shintaro and Ida Kou be in charge of scoring. Internally wailing, Ikeda, pressured by his superiors, still mustered the courage to explain: ¡°This is a hunting competition, and theoretically, any means are permissible, but there¡¯s one thing a€¡± the hunter must be the one to end the bear¡¯s life for it to count towards the score.¡± Seeing Bi Fang¡¯s brow furrow deeper, Ikeda hurriedly added, ¡°Otherwise, if one is lucky enough to come across a dead Black Bear, wouldn¡¯t that be somewhat unfair to the other competitors? It¡¯s not personal against you. Before this, nobody anticipated such a situation, but we still believe that the Black Bear died accidentally.¡± Ikeda mentally commended himself for his quick thinking. ¡°No, it¡¯s not dead yet.¡± Ikeda¡¯s face stiffened: ¡°Wha¡­ what do you mean?¡± ¡°Come with me.¡± Chaki Shintaro secured the ropes and the helicopter towed the Brown Bear, flying low along with the four people on the ground. Although the live broadcast showed them running for just over a minute, it took nearly ten minutes for the four to return. Various bushes impeded their way, causing the three of them to be somewhat astonished. When the three reached the tree and saw the Black Bear still struggling to move forward, they were all shocked. ¡°It¡¯s alive, alive!¡± ¡°Run for it!¡± Chaki Shintaro and Ida Kou, upon seeing the living Black Bear, cried out in alarm and tried to run away, only to be firmly caught by Bi Fang¡¯s grip. One man held both firmly in place: ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, it¡¯s already severely injured, can¡¯t even stand up, it¡¯s no threat.¡± The two stopped and observed the Black Bear from a distance, realising that it truly was as described. The Black Bear had several limbs broken and couldn¡¯t possibly walk. Ikeda finally understood the meaning behind Bi Fang¡¯s statement that it wasn¡¯t dead yet. The Black Bear was indeed not dead! Without hesitation, Bi Fang went ahead to deliver the coup de gr?¡éce: ¡°After falling from the tree and being attacked by the Brown Bear, but Black Bears are equally resilient, and it didn¡¯t suffer a fatal wound, how could it die that easily, right?¡± As the spear pierced the heart, Bi Fang smiled at Ikeda, ¡°Now it counts as a kill by me, right? According to your rules, any method is acceptable.¡± ¡°I drove the Brown Bear over so that they would fight each other, that should count, right?¡± Whether the Brown Bear found this place itself or not, Bi Fang was now insistent that he ¡°drove¡± it here. Ikeda was momentarily dumbfounded but nodded helplessly. There were no excuses left. Chapter 570 - Chapter 570 Chapter 567 One Incident After Another ?Chapter 570: Chapter 567: One Incident After Another Chapter 570: Chapter 567: One Incident After Another ¡°How many points?¡± Bi Fang, with a stalk of reed in his mouth, cradled his spear and leaned against a tree, his gaze fixed intently on the scoring official. The reed in his mouth kept waving as if it was about to shoot out and stick into someone¡¯s neck. March was the best season to eat reed stalks, by July they were too hard and prickly to eat, they would make your nose bleed. Ikeda marked off the score with trembling hands, large beads of sweat dropping from the temples. He felt as if there was a sharp blade hanging over his neck, its edge menacing. ¡°Is it that hot?¡± Ikeda forced a smile, ¡°No, not at all.¡± Bi Fang looked up at the sun. Although it was midsummer, he was under the shade of a tree, so it really shouldn¡¯t be sweaty enough to soak through your shirt, right? The young people nowadays really are becoming weaker. ¡°So, how many points?¡± From the side, Chaki Shintaro shouted, ¡°One hundred and nineteen centimeters!¡± Ikeda¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.?¦Ï One nineteen, such a precise number! Yet, as Bi Fang continued to inquire, he hastily calculated until his scalp tingled, hesitantly saying, ¡°Seven, seven point four points?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the scorekeeper, why are you asking me?¡± Bi Fang countered, feeling that the guy in front of him was awfully nervous. Did he steal my points? Eh, let it go. If it¡¯s stolen, so be it. Quibbling over a minute or two really wasn¡¯t something in his nature to do. What a hassle. After confirmation, Bi Fang, who had already had ten point two points, gained another twenty-seven point seven points. Totaling 37.2 points! The hunting ranking board quickly updated, and the name that had slipped to seventh leapt up, reclaiming first place! He pulled ahead of the second place, Sato, by nearly twenty points, with a margin of 19.7 points! Twenty points, that¡¯s the score of two adult black bears. If one couldn¡¯t get as lucky as Bi Fang to encounter a brown bear or even a brown bear in hunting mode, it would normally take at least a week to catch up! [Daytime Fireworks gifted the main character Wolf Brush*100a€¡±¡±Rub away Little Japan¡¯s edge!¡±] [Thirty-five hunters, a hundred black bears, on average it¡¯s not even three bears per person. If we go by an average of ten points per bear, Old Fang has already surpassed this average.] [And he¡¯s the first one to do it too, the second place only has nineteen points, which is roughly two black bears!] [Red Palms Stirring the Clear Waves gifted the host a yacht*1] [So many big spenders, looking to cling onto someone¡¯s coattails!!! Come check out my stream.] Once the scoring was done, Bi Fang certainly didn¡¯t forget about the dead wild boar lying nearbya€¡±he picked up a bit of extra luck. Speaking of which, there had been a lot of game these past couple of days. The sika deer from a few days back wasn¡¯t even finished yet, stored in the freezer of a restaurant, and now there was another wild boar. A bountiful harvest. Inside the pub. ¡°Forty points? How can we catch up to that?¡± Inside the restaurant, Tanaka and Okuyama were both stunned. They considered themselves lucky, the two of them had hunted three bears, climbing to second¡­ oh, now they were third. ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï For the span of five days, their efficiency was high, normally they would each have one by now. But how could one person end up with four when it was one per person? ¡°Damn it! We¡¯ve lost the entire Yamato nationality¡¯s face!¡± The cup was slammed down on the table and Okuyama let out a growl as he picked up a nearby backpack and stormed out. Now was not the time to rest; it was crucial to make up for lost time! Over the next few days, the rankings kept changing time and again. Dolphin Bay remained as usual, only the blood from that day had disappeared, and now every day, boats patrolled to check for any new groups of dolphins. Finally, on the eighth day, a hunter was forced to withdraw due to an injury, not from a bear, but from another hunter¡¯s trap. A leg was pierced by a crossbow trap on the spot and nailed to the ground, rendering him immobile. The scene was extremely bloody at first, but eventually, staff arrived and carried him away on a stretcher. Luckily, those who could come here were all experienced old hunters who knew a bit of first aid, so no serious issues arose. The hunter who had set the trap also received a punishment, deducted two points, and slipped one rank for not having a conspicuous marker on the trap. Coincidentally, the person who had points deducted was none other than Bosen. What on earth was this old man up to? Each day, Bi Fang had to deal not only with the night patrols but also be wary of this old scorpion lurking in the dark. The audience was unaware of Bosen¡¯s previous actions and felt that the old man was just unlucky; to lose two points just like thata€¡±he was losing money. There went ten thousand bucks. [This is ridiculous, stepping on it yourself, how could you blame someone else?] [Supporting the old man, huh?] ¡°No, Bosen does have to bear some responsibility,¡± Bi Fang shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve watched the replay. A normal hunter wouldn¡¯t dig a trap in that kind of place because it¡¯s not a game trail; putting it there is just relying on luck, and usually, no animals would pass by. It¡¯s a waste of time.¡± ¡°Plus, there were no obvious hidden marks around the trap, so that was why the other hunter stepped on it.¡± [Hidden marks? What¡¯s that?] [Signs? But wouldn¡¯t animals notice them?] The audience was somewhat confused. Bi Fang shook his head: ¡°Hunters are much like animals, they are very particular about their own territory. They usually only operate within their familiar areas. Hunters like me who run around the world are a minority.¡± ¡°Back in the mountains, hunters had their own activity ranges to avoid accidentally hurting others. Near traps they set up, snare ropes, or hidden traps, they would make rather distinct signs that animals wouldn¡¯t understand but hunters could recognize at a glance, like flattening a certain number of weeds, and so on.¡± The average person, being careless, lacks this awareness and might still fall for a trap even with hidden markers. How could someone who had obtained a professional hunter¡¯s license and could still hunt black bears using traditional methods possibly not know this? Most hunters were already in their physical decline; they didn¡¯t have the strong physique like Bi Fang did and almost all relied on traps. It was just bad luck for a trap setter to get caught in the trap, but Bosen didn¡¯t do anything at all, and he even made the trap exceptionally concealed. What kind of person would take the trouble to create a trap in a completely useless place, aside from the fact it¡¯s not on a game trail and without any hidden marks? Using bamboo slats to make a flexible bamboo crossbow trap is a technique usually only used by good hunters to capture aggressive beasts. Sharpened wooden stakes are more common; bamboo slats are used when pressed for time. A trap that can catch animals can also catch humans. In Bi Fang¡¯s eyes, Bosen¡¯s actions were against the rules. Even in North America, according to development, such logic should not be absent. Unless¡­ In Bi Fang¡¯s mind emerged the map of Honshu Island, and above the Kii Peninsula, there were several prefectures next to Wakayama Prefecture, but only six hunters were active near Wakayama Prefecture. Bi Fang himself, counting Bosen and Mugalen, and this hunter who withdrew due to injury, as well as two other team hunters whom Bi Fang had not met and could barely remember the names of. Only these six. Bosen, could it have been deliberate? Bi Fang was startled. One day later. As expected, an accident happened again, involving the two hunters Bi Fang had not yet met. This time it was even worse; they made a mistake and encountered an attack by more than two brown bears. These were the second and third brown bears to appear since the start of the hunting season, and the two hunters were petrified upon seeing them. The situation was so dire that even the viewers of Bi Fang¡¯s live stream had all left. In the blink of an eye, without any hesitation, the two hunters had only one thought. Run! Escape as far as possible. The two turned and fled. If the brown bears had been fighting each other, it would have been one thing, but unfortunately, the bears were only in a standoff. When they encountered the two intruders on their battlefield, they furiously gave chase. The two hunters, not well acquainted, were simply teaming up because they both came from the Ugly Country. Faced with such peril, they each ran for their lives. It was as if the two brown bears had a mutual understanding, with each bear chasing one hunter. Tens of millions of viewers, sweating in the palms of their hands, watched as if it were a movie, helpless as the entire ordeal unfurled thirteen kilometers away from Bi Fang¡¯s location. They were two adult male brown bears, both roughly 2.3 meters in size, comparable to the one Bi Fang had encountered. Perhaps even more so. Because in the world of brown bears, battles are often between challengers and the reigning king, meaning one of them had to be the Bear King. The size of brown bears ranges from 1.5 to 2.8 meters; however, due to the lower latitude of Japan, the size of the bears there usually does not exceed 2.4 meters. This was not a movie, where Little Leo still had a musket; these two had nothing. Their only lifesaver was the alarm device. After the incident, the Japanese Government was bewildered, dispatching the ever-ready guard teams and helicopters as swiftly as possible. The viewers learned for the first time that not all humans are alike. Bi Fang¡¯s ability to wrestle with a brown bear was not luck but strength, and he also had the assurance of waiting for the poison to take effect. The two hunters weren¡¯t bad; they fired their bullets at the moment the brown bear pounced. After that, the live stream was cut. [Reminder, you can breathe now] [I¡¯m a bit afraid, these two won¡¯t be in trouble, right?] [Hope the people are okay] The comments were full of prayers. The online friends finally understood what a brown bear meant to humans. It¡¯s a terrifying monster. With such an incident, all the hunters lost their mood to continue. In less than three days, three hunters had accidents, effectively eliminating them. Waiting until night, Bi Fang sat by the campfire, roasting wild boar meat, chewing laboriously, and just then he received a notification from the Japanese Government. One was a medical examination report, the second was a statement about the live stream, and the third was about the identity of the two brown bears. After carefully reading the first two, Bi Fang said to the audience, ¡°Fortunately, there¡¯s no life-threatening danger, only fractures, mostly in the limbs, and there are no disabling injuries. The live stream can continue, no problem there.¡± Hearing Bi Fang admit it himself, the Shuiyous all let out a sigh of relief before they started to discuss the day¡¯s thrilling events. It was terrifying. And when you think about the life-or-death crises Bi Fang has encountered before, it¡¯s even more fucking terrifying. Bi Fang gnawed on the pork, his mood gloomy. Anyone would be unhappy in such a situation, and now, in Wakayama Prefecture, only Bosen, Mugalen, and Bi Fang himself were left. That old scruff had racked up twenty-three points and was now in third place. While reading the third report, Bi Fang struggled to chew on wild boar meat. His jaw muscles were aching as if he were chewing on dried beef jerky. The texture of this stuff was unbelievably coarse! It was tough to cut and even tougher to chew! Without the godsend of a pressure cooker, dealing with wild boar meat was indeed challenging. Moreover, the wild boar hadn¡¯t been castrated, and the foul odor was incredibly strong. If it hadn¡¯t been for his upgraded set of teeth, his mouth would have been filled with meat fibers now. [These two are so unlucky, to have encountered something like this.] [Old Fang encountered a brown bear killing a black bear, which was rough enough, but these two pure dimwits ran into a brown bear fighting another brown bear.] [And they were in the midst of a standoff, how eight lifetimes of bad luck!]a€? By this time, Bi Fang had also finished reading the third bulletin, and sure enough, one of them was the Bear King, which Japan had even given a specific name to, calling it Matsutaro. A name from an ancient and fairly well-known Japanese sumo wrestler. This fellow had an astonishing body length of 2.47 meters, just over 2.4 and nearing 2.5 meters, which is quite rare in Japan. As for the other bear, it clearly was the one who initiated the challenge to the brown bear. [Ah, didn¡¯t Old Fang say that brown bears don¡¯t have a strong territorial consciousness? Why would they still fight?]a€? Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s different, having a weak sense of territory doesn¡¯t conflict with becoming the king of the group, monopolizing mating rights and food.¡± As long as you become the king, you can rightfully snatch away food, and if there¡¯s resistance, it will be seen as a challenge. ¡°There is a vast difference between people, and the same is true among animals. The strength of a Bear King is often much greater than that of its type. Among the two people on hand, it was the one who encountered the Bear King that was the most unlucky, receiving a serious injury. When the helicopter arrived, it took a good fifteen shots.¡± ¡°The other bear was taken down with just five shots. Even if I encountered it, it would be dicey; I¡¯d likely get knocked down too.¡± ¡°In fact, the fame of some animal kings can spread across the world, like the brown bear king Tuyuk of Katmai National Park in Alaska. Tuyuk reigned as the king of the Katmai region for over ten years. Thousands of brown bears lived in its habitat, all competing for the same food.¡± ¡°But Bear King Tuyuk always managed to control the largest of several brown bear territories in the Katmai region and faced several challenges from other male bears over the years. The main goal was to seize the territory, secure mating rights, and compete for a unique food sourcea€¡±salmon. It wasn¡¯t until it aged and was eventually dethroned and driven away.¡± ¡°Another is the Peninsula Giant Bear King of Alaskaa€¡±Carter. This guy was even more impressive, weighing over six hundred eighty kilograms at his peak and having a massive skeleton.¡± The researchers who discovered him were fascinated. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen a bear with such an overwhelming presence. Other bears wouldn¡¯t dare make any moves, such as trying to intimidate or challenge it. They just obediently left, or even turned tail and fled.¡± ¡°There¡¯s also Piro, the Brown Bear King of the Pyrenees Mountains. His reign lasted even longer, over twenty years, and he was incredibly tyrannical, with a strong possessive desire over female bears, especially liking to slaughter cubs, to such a severity that it affected the local brown bear population.¡±a€? Piro¡¯s behavior was such that it was like a bear killing to the point of a species crisis. ¡°These guys are equivalent to the human King of Chu, L?? Fengxian, and the Western Hannibala€¡±dominant figures with overwhelming control over regular bears.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s tone revealed admiration. Now he might be able to handle some ordinary bears, attack their weak points, but against such individuals, he would have no chance of winning. They were on another level; maybe his double orange maxed-out Skill might stand a chance? Or even higher? Chapter 571 - Chapter 571 Chapter 568 Reserve a Spot ?Chapter 571: Chapter 568: Reserve a Spot Chapter 571: Chapter 568: Reserve a Spot ¡°` Still not completed, but following the old rules, I¡¯ll stake a claim. I¡¯ll finish editing it before half-past midnight. In the forest, tall trees were spreading their branches in all eight directions. A length of white rope covered with dust was wrapped around one section of a branch, and beneath it, a pair of antlers was tightly entangled. The eighty-kilogram sika deer hung mid-air, half of its short fur had been skinned, revealing the blood-red muscles underneath. A multitude of capillaries had ruptured, and the severed arteries no longer bled but were drying gradually, dripping into a puddle of blood beneath the hooves. Ripples spread out from the center of the blood puddle, layer upon layer. Bi Fang squatted down and stared intently. The audience in the live broadcast were still clamoring, not having noticed this scene. Bear? Such a massive vibration, was it caused by some gigantic creature attacking? No, impossible. Bi Fang shook his head. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.?¦Ï According to the frequency, the scent, and the distance of the vibration source, with such a disturbance, it would have been in sight by now, not still hidden from view. He thought about the region he was in. Bi Fang¡¯s pupils shrank instantly, and he blurted out, ¡°Fuck, an earthquake?¡± The sudden shout confused the noisy viewers for a moment. Over ninety percent of ordinary people have never experienced an earthquake in their lives, a term only encountered during occasional school drills, which unexpectedly burst forth from Bi Fang, leaving many unable to react at first. An earthquake? Fuck, an earthquake! At that moment, the camera in the Japanese live broadcast room switched back to Bi Fang. The two commentators¡¯ brains froze, and they almost instinctively crawled under the table. When the audience looked back at the live broadcast, the puddle of blood on the screen seemed almost ready to leap into the air! In just a matter of seconds, an intense shaking sensation transmitted from Bi Fang¡¯s feet to his whole body. The blood pit in front of him, which had been rippling, now had blood drops almost splashing from its center! In the eyes of millions of viewers, the entire screen was trembling slightly. It wasn¡¯t the drone that was moving, it was the earth. Amidst the rolling thunder like a dragon turning over, tiny stones scattered about, a multitude of leaves fell from mid-air, and the suspended sika deer shook violently. This feeling was extremely terrifying, truly nature¡¯s mighty wrath. Bi Fang leaned against a tree for support. At that moment, he felt extremely strange, as if each of his legs were tied to a large vibrating device. Fortunately, after just seven or eight seconds, the intense shaking had stopped. Countless viewers swallowed and tried to send a barrage of chat messages, only to find their own fingers were trembling as well. [Is it¡­over?] [That was quick] [Was that really an earthquake just now?] [I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m witnessing an earthquake] Many viewers were surprised by the experience. It was so rare. To see an earthquake during a live broadcast? Humans have had no means of detecting earthquakes in advance, so live broadcasting it is simply impossible. Even if occasionally caught, it is mostly indoors with some small streamers broadcasting. ¡°` Such as the magnificent scene witnessed by millions of people today. Unprecedented. Bi Fang swallowed hard, sweat beading on his temples, he was a bit slow to recover. In both his past life and this one, he had only seen earthquakes on the news, let alone experienced one personally. The earthquake just now was Bi Fang¡¯s first personal experience, and he was quite shocked by it. He looked around and saw no widespread tree collapse or landslides, and considering his immediate feeling, ¡°The earthquake just now must not have been high in magnitude, but it indeed made one anxious, especially on the mountain where landslides can easily occur. Once caught in a landslide, there¡¯s hardly any chance of survival.¡± [Awesome, I¡¯ve never experienced an earthquake in all my years.] [Better if you never have to.] [I freely give to the host Big Bone*66 for keeping it reala€¡±he¡¯s damn impressive.] [The user who stops changing names is a fool gives the host a yacht*1a€¡±Eye-opening, truly eye-opening! I¡¯ve grown so much, and this is the first time experiencing an earthquake.] After waiting for a moment and not feeling any aftershocks, Bi Fang began to relax, ¡°Good, there¡¯s no danger. But capturing this moment is indeed rare. However, for safety¡¯s sake, we¡¯d better start moving towards flat and open ground. It¡¯s best not to stay here any longer.¡± In the Japan live stream room, a huge number of viewers expressed their amazement. The camera moves to the other hunters. The range of an earthquake is often vast, not just Bi Fang; many other hunters had also felt this shake a few minutes ago. Mugalen leaned against a tree, slowly sitting down with his chest heaving violently. Although it was not that physically exhausting, he couldn¡¯t help but gasp for air. That was damn scary, an earthquake out of nowhere. Bosen, with a crossbow on his shoulder, hugged his head and squatted on the ground, only daring to look up after everything had ended, and he let out a huge sigh of relief. ¡°Almost lost my life there.¡± Not only in Taiji Town, but the whole of Wakayama Prefecture and even most of Honshu Island felt this strong earthquake. Every hunter, big or small, experienced it. Several Y??ki Hunters were used to it and quickly left the tall trees to crouch with their heads covered, standing up again after it was over. Fortunately, there was nobody hunting Black Bear when the earthquake happened; otherwise, accidents would have been inevitable. Sato opened his water bottle for a drink and asked the audience not to worry, ¡°Our Japan is a country with many earthquakes and volcanoes and is also the country with the highest frequency of earthquakes in the world.¡± There are three major seismic belts on Earth: the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Mediterranean-Indonesian Seismic Belt, and the Oceanic Ridge Seismic Belt. These are unstable regions formed by tectonic plate collisions, and countries located on these seismic belts often experience frequent earthquakes. Among the places notorious for frequent earthquakes are Fukushima in Japan, San Francisco in Ugly Country, the Andaman Sea in the Indian Ocean, and La¡¯Aquila in Italy. Especially Japan, which is the foremost among them. Its location on the map is between the Eurasian Plate and the Pacific Plate, with the Pacific Plate subducting under the Eurasian Plate, causing intense collision and compression. This collision not only formed the Japanese archipelago but also brought endless earthquake disasters. It¡¯s a bit like two plastic plates floating in a basin of water, colliding and separating in an instant. But on Earth¡¯s ¡°large basin¡±, the process is slowed down by countless times, and so is the deformation at the moment of impact. The collision continues to this day, and every year Japan experiences a succession of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. There are over 200 volcanoes here, about 45 of which are active. Earthquakes are so frequent it¡¯s like eating and drinking, with an average of over 1,500 earthquakes per year, and a daily earthquake occurrence rate of more than four times. We only eat three meals a day, but there can be four earthquakes here in a day, making it even with night snacks. Of course, that¡¯s a bit exaggerated because this includes the entire territory of Japan, including the seabed. In specific areas, it¡¯s not that dramatic. ¡°We have earthquakes almost every day of the year here. Most of them are small and non-destructive, like ripples barely disturbing the water. However, sometimes there are more powerful ones, so our houses are mostly made of wood to reduce casualties.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been accustomed to this life since I was young, so there¡¯s no need to be afraid; it will pass in a moment.¡± Picking up a naginata lying nearby, Sato waved his hand, indicating that the earthquake was minor, scary but of no real harm. [Like a boss!] [Seen bigger scenes than this] [Other hunters must have been scared shitless, hahaha] In the forest, Bi Fang said the same, explaining why Japan has so many earthquakes. Many netizens were quite moved. [Still, Huaxia is better, safe] ¡°That¡¯s not exactly true,¡± Bi Fang thought for a moment and then denied it. ¡°Our country¡¯s 7% of land bears over 33% of the world¡¯s strong continental earthquakes, which is an alarming ratio; it¡¯s considered safe because most of the population is concentrated in the plains.¡± ¡°Holy shit, really?¡± Many viewers looked at each other in disbelief. The first venue was packed with people nodding their heads from all over the country and even from abroad, obviously recalling many traumatic past experiences. ¡°Let¡¯s hurry and deal with the Sika Deer, then head down the mountain to flatter ground, in case there are aftershocks. After all, it¡¯s the mountain slope we¡¯re on that matters, not just the intensity of the earthquake.¡± After skinning the deer and removing its innards, the whole deer¡¯s weight was significantly lighter. Bi Fang looked at the pair of majestic antlers, which were almost completely calcified, and had no velvet left. ¡°Antlers without velvet are pretty much useless.¡± Bi Fang still felt regretful. ¡°Deer can be called the Deadpools of nature due to their incredibly strong healing abilities. For example, this Sika Deer here, if it fractured a leg bone, it would be able to walk in three days, run again in ten days, and fully recover in twenty days.¡± ¡°The same goes for the velvet; it¡¯s actually the regenerative tissue of the Sika Deer and can be described as a biological wonder in the animal kingdom. Biologists still can¡¯t understand why mammals can regenerate such large organs.¡± ¡°Note that it¡¯s an organ, not our nails or hair which regrow after being cut, referred to as keratin protein hyperplasia, commonly known as dead skin. In contrast, the deer velvet is a living organ of the deer.¡± Bi Fang tapped the antlers with the back of his knife, producing a dull sound. The growth rate of Sika Deer¡¯s velvet is about 1.5 centimeters per day. The velvet of Moose grows at an astonishing rate of 2.5 centimeters per day, making it one of the fastest-growing organs in nature, and also the biggest regenerative organ in the animal kingdom; there are none others like it. ¡°Antlers are completely calcified bones, and during the transition from velvet to antlers, the furry surface sheds, revealing a raw, red color. Then various small birds come to help them clean it off. Deer also eat the layer of velvet from each other. The so-called medicinal value of deer velvet mainly comes from the biochemical substances in this layer of fur,¡± ¡°Too bad it¡¯s all gone now.¡± The audience was equally astonished hearing this. So deer are that badass? [The deer blood is the real pity here, I¡¯d rather have deer blood than velvet, wuuu, Old Fang if you don¡¯t want it you can give it to me] ¡°Oh, someone knows about deer blood?¡± Bi Fang was surprised. [My great uncle breeds them, deer blood is some good stuff, hehe, those who know, know.] [? What kind of cryptic person?] [What does that mean, I don¡¯t get it] [Can¡¯t say, can¡¯t say, words fail to describe it] Bi Fang laughed heartily: ¡°It¡¯s simple, do you know, a male deer usually has over a dozen or so harems, and these are not just for show, nor is it like a lion which mates only a few times, but they must serve them well several times a day. And this goes on for several months.¡± Audience: ¡°???¡± [Over a dozen harems, several times a day, let¡¯s say a hundred times, continuously for several months¡­ holy fuck, this is no less than a piling machine, right?] [¡­ That¡¯s a bit outrageous] [Really? I don¡¯t believe it] ¡°The reason I could do this is the deer blood. Deer blood has an extremely high oxygen content and contains a large amount of immune globulina€¡±about three times that of human blood. Its SOD antioxidant molecules are even as much as seven times higher than those found in humans, making it completely unafraid of viruses and bacteria.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why many men admire deer blood wine. However, I don¡¯t have a container, and it feels pretty heavy. I was too lazy to collect it.¡± [Such a waste, such a waste!] [Quick, Boss Fang, send your coordinates. While it¡¯s still fresh, I want to go there and lick it up] [Lord Mu has sent the streamer Spaceships*10a€¡±Ah-fang, we¡¯ve been friends for so long. Wouldn¡¯t it be inappropriate not to bring back a barrel as a gift?] [Wow, a whole barrel, aren¡¯t you afraid that corrupt merchants will die of a sudden heart attack?] Cutting away the useless parts, Bi Fang lifted the load. It was much lighter now. At least a third of the weight was gone, and the extra forty kilograms of weight was more than manageable for him at this point. Bi Fang took the deer down from the tree, carried it on his back, and hoisted it onto his shoulders, around his neck. [By the way, what if Old Fang runs out of strength halfway and encounters a black bear?] ¡°That¡¯s possible, but we¡¯re heading downhill. It¡¯s not very likely. We¡¯ve discussed the combat abilities of bears and tigers before. There¡¯s one thing I didn¡¯t mention: the chances of black bears and tigers ¡®meeting¡¯ each other are not as high as we think.¡± Their choices in microhabitats are completely different. ¡°On a horizontal distribution level, tigers and bears can be in the same habitat, like a place that has both bears and tigers, but vertically, their preferred spaces are quite different.¡± ¡°Black bears prefer higher altitudes in the mountains, usually at the top of a habitat¡¯s high mountains, whereas tigers prefer lower altitudes in valleys or dense forests, similar to the microhabitats of brown bears. ¡°It¡¯s like they have a ¡®bunk bed¡¯ relationship.¡± Oh. So that¡¯s how it is. Once Bi Fang explained, everyone understood. Black bears live at higher altitudes; now that we are running downhill, we are leaving their habitat. Plus, the foothills are usually human settlements, so the likelihood of encountering a black bear is even smaller. Bi Fang raced down the hill, stepping on rocks, and quickly leaping over the trees. With his enhanced joints, Bi Fang felt no stress on his knees when rising and falling, making it all very effortless. This ease and comfort made many viewers who love outdoor sports downright envious. Not to mention carrying a load almost as heavy as a person, even just dropping down from a huge rock over a meter high, they wouldn¡¯t dare to do it by just bending their knees slightly! Who would dare to jump like that unless their knee joints were made of titanium alloy? Jumping onto a dirt mound, a dark brown soil patch nearby made him stop in his tracks. After a hot summer, the surface soil should be light grey. But this area was all damp subsoil, clearly freshly dug up. A small landslide? Bi Fang took notice of the slope¡¯s gradient and shape. About fifty degrees, which is extremely prone to landslides. The unique U-shaped mouth also proved this point. The recent earthquake was not without impact. But that wasn¡¯t what attracted Bi Fang. Among the brown soil, a large chunk of cyan-green stone stood out markedly. Could this be¡­ ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?0 Bi Fang stepped closer. Under the sunlight, the cyan-green stone glittered brilliantly. ¡°Jade?¡± Chapter 572 - Chapter 572 Chapter 569 Reserve a Spot ?Chapter 572: Chapter 569: Reserve a Spot Chapter 572: Chapter 569: Reserve a Spot Today was incredibly busy. Still reserving a spot. Regular updates will resume tomorrow¡­ July 14th morning. Bi Fang did not participate in the live broadcast of the hunting season, giving the same reason as before. He was staying in town for repairs and would not return to the forest for live streaming until the fourth day. In the live streaming room, a large number of viewers who saw the leave announcement howled with dismay, and the barrage of comments surged like tidal waves. The deep resentment contained within those comments frightened everyone who saw them, especially with the mix of multiple languages, which made it even more terrifying. [Damn, another leave?] [Old Fang really isn¡¯t worried about others surpassing him, is he?] [Laziness, oh laziness, you are too slothful!] [Lord Fang, give us something, I¡¯m in withdrawal here, it¡¯s unbearable day by day, without your stream my heart feels like it¡¯s stuffed with a cat, panting and scratching, I can¡¯t sleep at night, I¡¯m scratched all over my body] [Just quit it, it¡¯s not possible.] [I know I should quit, but it¡¯s truly unbearable, Lord Fang, I know you have a soft heart, you are a good person, give me something to get through this period, next time I will definitely quit, Lord Fang~~sorry, Lord Fang] Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï After placing the tablet with the barrage of comments to one side, Bi Fang picked up his backpack and walked out of the hotel without hiding anything, which distinguished him from Richard and the others. When Bi Fang left the hotel, no one was tailing him unless it was fans. But fans were easy to shake off, and to follow a top-tier special forces soldier, the fan would probably need a System of their own. The backpack was packed to the brim, and Bi Fang held a map in his hand. He walked to the corresponding location marked by a red circle, then set down his backpack and took out the photography equipment he had brought along. Climbing up a tall tree, he fixed the gear at the highest point with a clear view. Sitting on a tree branch, Bi Fang looked towards the distant bay and grabbed his earpiece to shout, ¡°How about it, the angle? Can you see clearly?¡± ¡°A little higher, there¡¯s a branch blocking the way.¡± With the computer resting on Jerret¡¯s thighs, he was remotely directing Bi Fang through the screen. Bi Fang readjusted the camera¡¯s position, ¡°OK, how about now?¡± ¡°Too high now, a little lower, yes, that¡¯s it, it¡¯s good now, you can fix it there.¡± Bi Fang navigated around branches to the back of the tree, tightened the securing bolts firmly onto the trunk, then slid down the tree trunk and quickly reached the ground. Besides Dolphin Bay, there were many other places that needed Bi Fang¡¯s attention to set up. Dolphin Bay was just the most notorious and bloodiest slaughter location. During the dolphin hunting season, the waters here turned blood red every year. Without any exaggeration. Genuinely, blood red. From the satellite maps, the entire Dolphin Bay looked like a sea of blood. When Bi Fang first saw it in his previous life, he truly understood that ¡®rivers of blood¡¯ and ¡®blood floating the pestles¡¯ were not just idioms on a piece of paper, but a scenario that existed in reality. ¡°Phew, that¡¯s another one taken care of.¡± Bi Fang wiped the sweat off his forehead; the weather today was really hot. It was somewhat cooler in the forest, without the urban heat island effect and with plenty of cool spots, but Bi Fang was quite active and, to avoid scrapes and cuts, he couldn¡¯t wear shorts or short sleeves. ¡°Did anyone follow you guys today?¡± After setting up another camera, Bi Fang sat on a rock, took a sip of water to rest, and pressed his earpiece to ask. Bi Fang operated from the shadows; naturally, he needed someone in the spotlight to draw the attention of the local residents. The more Richard and his team resisted, the more attention they attracted. In contrast, Bi Fang¡¯s operations became increasingly safe and concealed. However, they couldn¡¯t be too aggressive. The explosion of Richard¡¯s car was still fresh in everyone¡¯s minds; all were terrified, like walking on a tightrope, cautiously gauging each step. Exposing everything here was everyone¡¯s wish, but that didn¡¯t mean they were psychologically prepared for sacrifice. Whether it¡¯s pickpocketing, other minor crimes, or more severe crimes or terrorist acts, nearly all criminals will surveil their targets to some extent before striking. They focus on observing their target¡¯s every move, but in fact, during this time, criminals themselves are at great risk of exposurea€¡±if their targets are always vigilant and extremely sensitive to their surroundings, then this is especially true. On their second visit to Japan, Richard¡¯s team knew all too well how unwelcome they were in Taiji Town. They even felt that every person who sneakily glanced at them could be a resident tasked with stalking them, or a member of the Japanese Organization, ready to pull out a switchblade from their pocket and strike at them at any moment. No police would come to their aid; even after death, the criminals might not be found. Being stabbed over twenty times in the back and then ruled a suicidea€¡±that absurdity could indeed happen. ¡°How could there be none.¡± Jerret let out a wry smile, pushed down his laptop slightly, and opened the car window. By the roadside, a man dressed in black and wearing sunglasses held a video camera, squatting on the ground, staring straight at Richard and his team as they drove by, turning his head without any attempt at concealment. As they brushed past each other, he gestured a middle finger at Richard and the others through the rolled-down window. The provocation was intense. Richard glanced at the rearview mirror; it was already the third car that had been closely following them today: ¡°Just the license plate numbers, we¡¯ve already noted down seven or eight.¡± ¡°When we first arrived, we didn¡¯t know who was tracking us.¡± A few days ago, Richard and his team only knew they were being watched and followed, but had no idea who was doing it. Were they whalers or the Japanese Organization? They were completely clueless. It wasn¡¯t until this morning that Bi Fang taught Mandy how to find their trackers, and they locked onto a particular individual. Bi Fang told Mandy that in order to confirm who was following her, it was necessary to act on multiple fronts while adhering to the TEDD principle. The so-called TEDD principle is Time, Environment, Distance, and Demeanor. Time: Do you repeatedly see the same person or group of people in various settings? One must keep an eye on the time throughout the day to verify whether it¡¯s true. Environment: Have you noticed individuals whose clothing or body language is out of place in their surroundings? Distance: Do the same people appear in two locations that are far apart? For example, is this the person wearing sunglasses who appeared at the community store 10 minutes ago? He might look less suspicious, or perhaps, he showed up two hours earlier. Demeanor: In the realm of surveillance, ¡°demeanor¡± refers to behavior and appearance. Look for people whose attire or behavior doesn¡¯t blend in with their environment. Change your schedule or your route frequently to verify whether you¡¯re being followed. Based on these, look for ¡°coincidences¡± that occur at different times and places. At the same time, act with extra cautiona€¡±to convince criminals that they¡¯ve merely lost sight of their target by accident, not that the target is intentionally evading them. The simplest way is to shop at a faraway supermarket, ruling out coincidences to confirm whether you¡¯re under surveillancea€¡±then carry out some errands in another area, to test your hypothesis. Keeping these rules in mind, Mandy successfully locked onto someone. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï They also happened to meet an English-speaking Japanese tourist and asked him if he recognized the fellow standing by the roadside, to ask for them if he didn¡¯t know. The tourist wasn¡¯t very wary; on the contrary, he was very willing to help Richard and others. The answer they finally got was this. The guy was the Chief of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. ¡°It¡¯s not the organization or the whalers that are tracking us, it¡¯s the police,¡± Richard stroked his chin, ¡°They have already branded us as criminals.¡± ¡°Is there a way to shake these guys off? Old Fang? Any ideas? They¡¯re as annoying as rats!¡± Jerret rudely grabbed the communication channel and yelled. He couldn¡¯t stand the atmosphere anymore, being watched wherever he went. Jerret had suspected that even when he went to the toilet, he might have been photographed as a threat to make them leave Japan. Bi Fang pondered for a moment, ¡°There is a way, but it¡¯s not guaranteed to succeed if you do it, and with the police mobilized, their people are everywhere. Even if you manage to shake them off, unless you plan to go into hiding right after, you¡¯ll quickly be found again.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care, I must shake them off now and show them a lesson!¡± Bi Fang nodded, understanding Jerret¡¯s intention. Such an action was too frustrating; everyone was angry, and even if they would be caught again soon, they wanted to give these people a lesson. ¡°Then turn off all your phones,¡± Bi Fang instructed through the headset. Everyone in the car complied. ¡°Set the radio to a station outside the reception frequency.¡± Mandy turned the knob, and the car radio quickly turned to static, with no reception. ¡°How about it? Apart from the static, do you hear a ticking sound? Listen carefully,¡± Bi Fang turned off his headset and temporarily lost contact with Richard and the others. After a while, the headset reconnected. Richard¡¯s deep voice sounded, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± Mandy exclaimed, convinced that Bi Fang was not making pointless remarks; the ticking sound must have some significance. Bi Fang sighed. Since entering the era of miniaturized technology, attaching a magnetic tracking device to a vehicle had become a piece of cake. Market-available tracker sizes varied; the small ones were only the size of thumb drives and could be pre-installed in various settings, tracking the location of mobile phones and rental vehicles through echo signals. To avoid losing track, all rented vehicles were already fitted with tracking devices internally. But if someone with malicious intent got hold of this information, its use was unknown. Tracking devices could be permanently installed in the vehicles or temporarily attached to the frame, communicating with satellites, cellular towers, and servers. To avoid publicly checking the vehicle, what Bi Fang had done was to make Richard and the others listen for static interference noise. Bi Fang explained patiently, ¡°If there¡¯s an occasional ¡®ticking¡¯ sound besides the ¡®static,¡¯ it means there is some kind of mobile device operating inside the vehicle.¡± ¡°This sound comes from the interaction between the mobile signal and the radio speaker wires and coils. I had you all turn off your phones and computers to eliminate interference.¡± ¡°These signals can¡¯t penetrate metal, so these devices can¡¯t be hidden under the frame or metal partsa€¡±usually, they can be found in specific areas.¡± Following Bi Fang¡¯s instructions, the group began to search. ¡°Between the car windows and the hood, under the plastic bumpers, beneath the insect shields, the roof, inside the speakers, under the rear trunk fabric panel, the bottoms of the front and back seats¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve found it!¡± Keke, sitting in the back, fumbled around and grabbed a small device, twinkling intermittently, in his hand. Everyone¡¯s spirits were lifted, ¡°What do we do next? Throw it away?¡± ¡°No!¡± Bi Fang squinted his eyes. ¡°If you¡¯re certain that someone with ill intent, rather than following standard protocol, has installed a tracking device, do not attempt to remove the device.¡± Instead, find an excuse to transfer the vehicle. ¡°Swap for another car.¡± Find another rental company or shell out a significant amount of cash for a resident¡¯s vehicle; as long as the money is sufficient, everything is negotiable. As for the funding, the wealthiest Bi Fang naturally took the initiative. The power of money can sway even the most steadfast locals in its presence. The key to shaking off the surveillance team without escalating the tracking to a full-blown chase is to make the followers believe they¡¯ve lost the target rather than realizing they¡¯ve been exposed. ¡°To get rid of the driving surveillance team, avoid using driving techniques that obviously look like evasive maneuvers.¡± Having switched vehicles, Mandy, who was driving, nodded seriously and tried to steer as smoothly as possible. Just like a normal tourist. ¡°Create an accordion effect: lead the surveillance team into areas with a lot of traffic signals or stop signs to split up the members.¡± The stop-and-go traffic can not only disperse the surveillance team members but also avoids raising their suspicion about Richard and the others¡¯ plans. Mandy drove into a congested street, the town¡¯s main thoroughfare with a heavy volume of traffic. Many tourists passed through here, constantly honking in hopes the vehicles in front would move faster. The vehicle closest to the target still maintained its proximity, but the rest of the surveillance team eventually got stuck several red lights back. ¡°Once a team member doesn¡¯t take over, a lone tracker might leave for fear of alerting the target.¡± Mandy looked back and saw that the obviously numerous vehicles seemed to be reduced to the last two. ¡°Surveillance teams often lose sight of the target when it stops and starts, so increase the frequency of stopping.¡± ¡°Park the vehicle near an exit, turn right twice, then drive out of the parking lot.¡± Mandy drove into the parking lot, paused for a moment, then started off again. The tracker who had parked behind Mandy was clearly a beat too slow to react, only thinking to start the engine as Mandy¡¯s taillights nearly vanished. ¡°Only one left.¡± Richard and the others looked back, now only remembering the last of the few license plates they had seen initially. ¡°Get out!¡± ¡°Get out?¡± Everyone was startled. ¡°You¡¯re now very close to an electric tram station,¡± Bi Fang calmly relayed, based on the location Richard had sent. ¡°I¡¯ve checked the tram¡¯s arrival time, one minute.¡± ¡°Rush to the platform at the moment the tram arrives, and leap aboard while the follower is still regaining their bearings.¡± Richard and the others, carrying their belongings, quickly got out of the car and, upon exiting the alley, they saw the tram already at the station. The group hurriedly rushed over and managed to squeeze into the tram before it departed. Bi Fang held the earpiece: ¡°Is anyone following you?¡± Mandy, gripping the handrail above and unable to stop a smirk from spreading across her face as she looked at the trailing pursuer who did not make it onto the tram, replied, ¡°No more.¡± Chapter 573 - Chapter 573 Chapter 570 Suspicion ?Chapter 573: Chapter 570 Suspicion Chapter 573: Chapter 570 Suspicion Seeing the visitor, Matsumoto Kiyonaga was filled with trepidation and bowed deeply in apology, ¡°Lord Morishita, I never expected you would personally come to Taiji Town so late. I hadn¡¯t heard any news of your visit and fear that our reception was inadequate. Please, you must forgive us.¡± The administrative structure of Japan is divided into one cabinet office and twelve ministries. The cabinet office is like the cabinet itself, and the ministries are similar to the General Affairs Ministry, Justice Ministry, Foreign Affairs Ministry, Finance Ministry, etc., which are equivalent to Huaxia¡¯s ministries. Owing to the unique structure of Japan¡¯s fisheries, instead of an agriculture ministry, there is a Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in Japan. The man before him, Morishita Suji, was a high-ranking official in Japan¡¯s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the vice chairman of the Japan Whaling Association. In terms of rank, he was more than a notch above Matsumoto Kiyonaga, the mere provincial director. Even though they were not from the same ministry, Matsumoto Kiyonaga still felt nervous and unsteady. Was he here to hold me accountable? Thinking of all the days he had been busy without catching the culprit and having been slipped by the other party time and again, Matsumoto Kiyonaga couldn¡¯t help but break out in a cold sweat, so much so that he didn¡¯t dare to lift his head, with his entire back gradually drenched with sweat. It was already the wee hours of the morning, yet even then Matsumoto Kiyonaga had to take personal action, which could only mean how great the pressure was. Morishita Suji extended his hand in a feigned support, ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so formal, Chief Matsumoto. You don¡¯t need to be nervous, I¡¯m not here to hold you accountable. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï My visit is due to an urgent matter, and I didn¡¯t notify you in advance.¡± ¡°Yes, yes!¡± Matsumoto Kiyonaga nodded in agreement, but he didn¡¯t believe a punctuation mark of those words. This guy was notoriously two-faced, disguising a hungry tiger under a refined appearance. Trusting his words was just asking for trouble. As expected, after helping Matsumoto Kiyonaga to his feet, Morishita Suji started by praising his decades of daily work attitude, expressing strong approval of Matsumoto Kiyonaga¡¯s work in Taiji Town. He fully demonstrated the responsibility and resolve of an exemplary Liberal Democratic Party member, ready to face challenges and head into adversity¡­ Morishita Suji spoke for a good ten minutes, during which Matsumoto Kiyonaga, who was initially quite nervous, almost fell asleep; it was like standing in the scorching sun on a primary school playground, listening to a headmaster drone on and on during the opening school speech. ¡°But recently, the situation in Taiji Town has us very worried, Chief Matsumoto. As a worker in the Fisheries Ministry, every time I stand in front of the Whaling Commission fighting for our fishermen¡¯s interests, making explanations has been difficult. If those with malicious intentions make misleading videos, my job becomes even harder.¡± ¡°The Whaling Commission¡¯s annual meeting is about to be convened. It doesn¡¯t matter if my job is difficult, but what about the many fishermen of Taiji Town? What will they eat and use throughout the year? This is our pillar industry! Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga, please take it to heart.¡± Finally, it had come! Matsumoto Kiyonaga, previously on the brink of dozing off, was instantly alert and vocally assured that he would certainly catch the culprits and secure evidence, promising they would pay for their actions. ¡°Any results tonight?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ none. We had a lead from the police dogs, but they seemed to have been prepared for us, and we caught no one,¡± Matsumoto Kiyonaga said, embarrassed for a few seconds, but still stated firmly. ¡°Prepared¡­¡± The smile on Morishita Suji¡¯s face slowly faded, and his eyebrows began to knit together. If anyone didn¡¯t want Dolphin Bay¡¯s affairs to come into the public eye, aside from the fishermen of Taiji, it might be Morishita Suji. Relying on dolphins, Taiji Town had already developed rapidly from this income source. It was a well-known and prosperous tourist town. Public exposure would deal a massive blow to the local economy. Even if people continued to trade and slaughter dolphins regardless, no one would think of coming here to travel. Moreover, as someone who annually promotes and explains the rationale of Japan¡¯s whaling to the outside world at the Whaling Commission, he couldn¡¯t possibly cope with the fallout. A career dead end was nearly a given, not to mention the possibility of resigning to take responsibility, and furthermore facing the public¡¯s anger and condemnation. That could mean being pelted with rotten eggs whenever he was out and about. Those guys, they weren¡¯t trying to save any dolphins, they were clearly after his life! Morishita Suji came to the blackboard in the office, where several photos pinned with thumbtacks were displayed, all of Richard and his crew. Next to each photo was a wealth of personal information. Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga was not without his achievements. At the very least, the true identities of Richard and his people, what they had done, their backgrounds, ages, genders, and experiences had all been thoroughly investigated. ¡°To be so proficient at dealing with police dogs, to install cameras right under the noses of the police, to know the jungle, to understand tracking, to love Nature¡­¡± Morishita Suji¡¯s gaze swept over each of the individuals in the photos, who were either photographers or scientists, with the only notable figure being Pondy. But even then, he was just a retired military man, skilled in combat, and his execution ability was slightly stronger than others on the blackboard, but that just made him bodyguard material. With such a background, it was hard to believe that he was the doer, especially when comparing the poor execution of Richard and his group¡¯s first operation with this next one, which was clearly much more sophisticated. The only possibility was that someone was helping them, and what Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga needed to do was find this person and then slap any charge on him, lock him up in prison, and eventually deport him. Whoever could accomplish these feats certainly couldn¡¯t be a nobody. Looking at the map of Taiji Town. Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga slowed his breath, not daring to be careless. ¡°Eh.¡± Morishita Suji let out a soft murmur, bringing the deeply focused Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga back to reality, who quickly asked, ¡°Lord Morishita, have you discovered something?¡± ¡°Not a discovery, but, there have been hunters around Taiji Town recently for the hunting season, haven¡¯t there?¡± The bustling of the hunting season was well known, like the town was emptying out, even Morishita Suji, who was busy preparing this year¡¯s report for the Whaling Commission, had caught wind of it. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? ¡°Yes, not only that, but there are several, and many of our mountain ranges are national protected areas with a lot of wildlife, bears included. A few days ago, as I drove through the tunnel, I even saw one, but what you¡¯re implying is¡­¡± said Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga, who was no fool. ¡°Is it possible these hunters are helping them?¡± Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga hesitated: ¡°That¡¯s not very likely¡­¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Because every day at eight o¡¯clock in the morning, the hunters have to start live streaming until eight o¡¯clock at night, a twelve-hour stretch. If a hunter is helping them, what is he, a robot?¡± To be busy in the forest all day and then continue through the night? Aren¡¯t they afraid of dropping dead? Moreover, dealing with bears is not an easy task. ¡°Check it out anyway, keep a close eye on them, just in case,¡± Morishita Suji didn¡¯t believe it but still instructed Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga to be vigilant. ¡°Understood!¡± Chapter 574 - Chapter 574 Chapter 571 Tiangella ?Chapter 574: Chapter 571 Tiangella Chapter 574: Chapter 571 Tiangella Early the next morning. Police officers from the Security Bureau carried a stack of documents as they knocked on the door of the chief¡¯s office. Upon entering, they were assailed by an unpleasant odor a€¡° indefinable, but certainly enough to furrow one¡¯s brow. The inside was a mess, with balls of wastepaper strewn everywhere, and a half-rolled sleeping bag visible under the desk. The new officer couldn¡¯t help admiring their superior¡¯s dedication and reverently placed the document bag on the desk, ¡°Chief Matsumoto, here are the materials you asked me to get from the Tokyo Hunting Season Security Bureau. They¡¯re all here.¡± ¡°Leave them there, and go get me a cup of coffee.¡± Matsumoto Kiyotaka, who had just climbed out of the sleeping bag, yawned and checked his reflection on his phone, noticing his dark circles were more pronounced than ever. ?¦Ï??0.§ã0 ¡°Really, to think I¡¯m over forty and still have to work overtime every day, yawning~¡± To protect Taiji Town, Chief Matsumoto had no choice but to stay overnight in the office with his sleeping bag, hoping that in case things couldn¡¯t be resolved, his dedication might at least preserve his position. A steaming cup of coffee was placed on the desk. Chief Matsumoto opened the document bag with one hand and took a sip of the coffee with the other, the heat scalding his mouth, jolting him alert. ¡°Indeed, coffee must be piping hot.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï His aging bones creaked softly, but at least he hadn¡¯t twisted his back. He pulled out the documents from the bag, flipping to the Kii Peninsula section and taking out all the materials therein. The Hunting Season was organized by the Tokyo Police Department. Although Japan has no designated capital, it is, after all, Tokyo, which is a step above in ranking, directly overseen by the National Police Agency. Matsumoto Kiyotaka had pulled some strings to get these documents in less than a day; normally, such a request would take days to process. Taking out all the files, he began checking them. First, those not from Kii Peninsula could wait till later. Although Japan isn¡¯t large, it¡¯s still over three thousand kilometers from south to north. One couldn¡¯t reach it by car in a day, and getting to Dolphin Bay from outside Kii Peninsula would take hours at the least. If that were the case, there¡¯d be no chance to sleep. People could be worked to death. Looking at the Kii Peninsula, there were six hunters. Six hunters and¡­ huh? Matsumoto Kiyotaka paused, quickly flipping through pages, his pupils dilating. Six hunters, and three accidents? These days, Matsumoto had no time to watch such entertainment programs. Though thrilling, he had passed the age for seeking excitement and passion. Such live broadcasts were of no interest to him. Only now, when he received the materials, did he realize the coincidence. How many had accidents? Being a police officer, he immediately sensed that something wasn¡¯t right. Three out of six hunters had accidents; the incident rate was fifty percent. If it were really that dangerous, the show would definitely not be able to continue. He checked online on his phone; not wanting to check but needing to, the discovery worsened the matter. Only three hunters had accidents, all on Kii Peninsula! Something was off, definitely off! There was a problem. Pages flipped. Bi Fang, Mujialun, Bosen. On Kii Peninsula, the three remaining made Chief Matsumoto¡¯s brow furrow deeply. At first glance, he thought Bi Fang was Japanese, but then he realized he was Huaxia, and upon reflection, he seemed familiar. It seemed he had been promoted a few days ago as an expert bear hunter. All foreigners? He examined the rankings. Bi Fang was in first place, Bosen in second. Even Mujialun ranked fifth. What was going on with these guys? Now, Chief Matsumoto could be certain that there was an issue with the competitors; their presence was too concentrated. Out of thirty-five hunters, a single peninsula held three of the top five, and all the accidents involved hunters, the incident rate reaching fifty percent. So only you are special? Chief Matsumoto realized in a flash that the breakthrough was right in front of him. Who could it be!? The three people on the Kii Peninsula still didn¡¯t know they were being watched by a certain Security Bureau Chief and were still performing. Each performing their own roles. Bi Fang was playing Taiji Town, the audience, and the organizer. Bosen was playing an old Hunter at the end of his life, valiant in his declining years, an aged steed resting in his stall. As for Mujialun¡­ it was unclear what he was playing, perhaps the frightened competitor vying for first place? But there were still many in the audience with a keen intuition who vaguely sensed that Bi Fang seemed to be hiding something from them. There was no other explanation, his relaxation was too obvious, the rhythm was off. Loosening and tightening intermittently, the audience would just start to get excited, and then things would relax. When they were cursing and complaining, it would suddenly tighten up again, back and forth. The erratic rhythm was very uncomfortable, like a giant and a dwarf dancing the rumba. At first, not much was felt, but after more than a week of the same, many old fans began to notice. After all, they had been watching his live streams so many times, there was bound to be some understanding. Less than a month left. Though it was the midst of a scorching summer, Bi Fang managed to lean against a tree with a calm and composed air. Today was another day of going easy. It couldn¡¯t be helped, busy at night meant lowering physical activity during the day, only this way could he show no clear signs of fatigue. Fatigue is difficult to camouflage, anyone could tell you¡¯ve been up to no good the night before. Even so, Bi Fang didn¡¯t know how much longer he could keep up the act. The world is full of ordinary people, but ordinary doesn¡¯t mean stupid. Sooner or later, someone would notice something was off, and all Bi Fang could do was race against time. In a corner of the mountains. Bosen was indeed becoming more accustomed to life in front of the camera, even beginning to blend in with the audience. ¡°Being young is great. I never imagined that a Hunter like me could have fans, and so many at that.¡± Bosen was very happy, especially when watching the gifts on the screena€¡± he even felt he was making more than in his old line of work. Being able to hunt Black Bears openly and receive effortless wealth made him wonder if his old profession would still have any takers. ¡°I¡¯m a bit tired today.¡± Mujialun sat on the grounda€¡±as after eating grilled meat at noon, his blood had surged to his stomach from his brain, making him increasingly want to sleep. He couldn¡¯t comprehend how Bi Fang managed to do this every single day. No matter, no matter. Hunting while dragging a weary body could lead to accidents, better take a rest first. Matsumoto Kiyotaka yawned and rubbed his eyes; this was yet another all-nighter in his busy schedule, surviving on short naps each afternoon. After nearly half a week of busyness, Matsumoto Kiyotaka finally had some clues. Among the three men, the backgrounds of two were easy to research, laid out in the open, but one remained a mystery. ¡°Bosen, once served in Tiangella.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this company?¡± Matsumoto Kiyotaka was confuseda€¡±he had never heard of such a large multinational corporation. Chapter 575 - Chapter 575 572 ?Chapter 575: 572 Chapter 575: 572 Cicadas were crying for their lives, and the world outside was filled with the blinding sunlight, the shadow of the eaves on the ground sharp as knives. Gang Tianwu stood by the window and tugged at his collar, the air conditioning repairman had yet to arrive, and in just over ten minutes, he was feeling unbearably hot, his saliva sticky like glue in his throat, the office stuffy as if it were the steamer where monsters in ¡°Journey to the West¡± cooked the fat monk. There was a knock at the door, and a team member stood at the entrance, saying, ¡°Group Leader Gang Tianwu, someone wants to see you.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga from Taiji Town.¡± ¡°Do I know him?¡± ¡°Chief Matsumoto asked us for the hunters¡¯ information from the hunting season a couple of days ago.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Once the team member mentioned it, Gang Tianwu recalled some memories, strode back to his seat, tidied up his desk briefly, wiped off the sweat, and nodded, ¡°Invite Chief Matsumoto in, please.¡± A moment later, Gang Tianwu stood up to greet him, ¡°Ah, Chief Matsumoto¡¯s visit is a surprise, you should have said something in advance. How was it, have you checked the previous information? Any issues? Nagano, pour Chief Matsumoto a cup of tea.¡± Matsumoto had come straight from the subway station without a moment¡¯s rest to see Gang Tianwu, not even having time for a drink, drenched in sweat. He thanked Nagano as he poured the tea, and after gulping down an entire cup, he finally caught his breath, ¡°I apologize, Group Leader Gang, I¡¯ll skip the pleasantries. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 There was nothing wrong with the information, but how much do you know about Bertrand Guy?¡± ¡°Oh, you mean the hunter ranked second? Do you remember him?¡± ¡°I do.¡± Gang Tianwu nodded, as he was the one who ultimately confirmed the participants¡¯ list, of course he remembered, especially the second-ranked, almost knowing it by heart. ¡°Bertrand Guy, born in Ugly Country Minnesota State, has held a professional hunter¡¯s license for over thirty years, enlisted when he was young and performed excellently, and after ten years of service, he retired. He has been a truck driver, hunter, archer, actor, singer, sailor, engineer, farmer, with a total of more than fifteen black and brown bears hunted, which is quite an impressive resume.¡± Bertrand¡¯s career was so diversified and spanned such a broad range that one might wonder if it was fabricated. This man in his fifties had an extremely rich life experience. His application quickly caught the attention of the reviewers, who placed him on the list, and Gang Tianwu also readily agreed upon seeing it. Connecting this to Matsumoto¡¯s previous actions and his haste in coming here definitely wouldn¡¯t be without reason, Gang Tianwu thought for a moment, ¡°Is there a problem with him?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t be sure, but there is a good chance.¡± Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga didn¡¯t dare to confirm it outright, then he asked Gang Tianwu, ¡°Are you familiar with Tiangella?¡± ¡°Tiangella? What is that?¡± Gang Tianwu was confused. Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga let out a long sigh of relief, as expected, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department was also unaware of it, and he explained with slight pride, ¡°It is an international company¡­¡± At that moment, Nagano brought a second cup of water, and Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga received it with a smile. This time he didn¡¯t gulp it down but held it in his hand, sipping slowly. Without utilization, there is no protection. That was Tiangella¡¯s company philosophy, and also what they had always professed externally. In this regard, it was almost identical to what Bi Fang had said in an interview program half a year ago. Commercial hunting protects wildlife animals. This viewpoint had been briefly explained by Bi Fang, supported by a systematic chain of relationships. Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga took out his phone, opened a video, and showed it to Gang Tianwu. In the Old Stone Age, when the human species had just been born, agriculture was yet to appear. As omnivores at the top of the food chain, humans relied on a combination of hunting and gathering to survive and develop, mere parts of nature like any other dominant species at the top of the food chain. During the process of hunting, clever humans invented spears and bows and arrows, and with them came the habit of collaborative survival, which laid the foundation for modern civilization. At this point, humans thoroughly established themselves as the sovereigns of the natural world, the relationship with wild animals being a very direct food chain dynamic. The upper-level species depended on preying on lower-level species to survive and continue their existence. In the Old Stone Age, humans definitely did not have the concept of wildlife conservation. However, through repeated trial and error, humans instinctively understood not to over-hunt or over-gather. ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï One reason was the lack of good storage conditions to save any surplus harvest, and the second was to avoid unnecessary trouble for the next hunt. On this point, there are two most direct pieces of evidence. First, we can see species like pigs, horses, cattle, and sheep that have been domesticated today. They were formed during the Old Stone Age, and this process of domestication was a way of ¡°protecting¡± animals. Domestic animals like pigs, horses, cattle, and sheep have become the mammals with the most abundant numbers in the world, the reason being their value, which leads humans to want to breed them. Second, studies on primitive Old Stone Age tribal civilizations that still exist in contemporary society have shown that they consciously protect the healthy breeding and continuation of populations in their habitats. This awareness of not exploiting excessively is the bud of the animal conservation mindset, a practice that creates conditions for better sustainable use in the future. ¡°If farming is not done at the right season, the grains will be inedible; if fishing nets are not used thoughtfully in the Tamaki Pool, fish and turtles will be inedible; if axes and saws are used responsibly in the forests, timber will not be overly consumed.¡± The point of the grains and fish and turtles being inedible, and the timber being overly consumed, is to let the people live and die without regrets. Living and dying without regrets is the beginning of the king¡¯s way. Mencius explained this principle thousands of years ago. After that, a series of even more complex changes took place, as the agricultural-pastoral model replaced the hunting-gathering model, and human survival no longer relied directly on the use of wild animals, loosening the direct food chain link between them. Thereafter, the emergence of metallurgy enabled the large-scale use of metal farm tools, leading to a qualitative change in the efficiency of farming, and increasingly more human groups began to completely break away from the direct use of wild animals. Humans became the single species at the very top of the food chain, with no wild animals they couldn¡¯t hunt down. Humans started focusing on the efficiency of obtaining meat, with large-scale animal husbandry replacing hunting, the main purpose of which was no longer just for food. As the wheels of history continued to turn, the Age of Discovery dawned between the 15th and 17th centuries, giving rise to significant geographical discoveries and the great exchange of species. Crops like potatoes and sweet potatoes appeared, with more efficient agricultural-pastoral models further squeezing out the residual hunting-gathering model, blurring humanity¡¯s bond with nature. Humans began to isolate themselves from wild animals, inhabiting towns and cities, while wildlife took to the jungles. The food chain relationship between them almost completely disappeared, and they ceased to coexist in the same area; the boundaries between their territories became clear, and their paths no longer crossed. The wheel stopped in the modern era. Humans have become a species that can only survive and develop by relying on an economic society. With modern agriculture and animal husbandry increasingly developed, ordinary people no longer need to utilize wild animals, so their value has plummeted, reducing them to nothing more than objects for the rich to pursue for excitement and aesthetic pleasure. Ordinary people might take real action over the price of pork going up, but they wouldn¡¯t give a second thought to something that only the rich care about. The words in the video abruptly stopped, and Gang Tianwu pressed the pause button. He had been very patient: ¡°What is Chief Matsumoto trying to say?¡± Sitting upright, Matsumoto Kiyonaga said, ¡°I would like you to agree to suspend the hunting season and allow me to arrest Bertrand Guy!¡± Chapter 576 - Chapter 576 Chapter 573 This is not a rescue operation, its a struggle for interests! ?Chapter 576: Chapter 573: This is not a rescue operation, it¡¯s a struggle for interests! Chapter 576: Chapter 573: This is not a rescue operation, it¡¯s a struggle for interests! ¡°Are you insane?¡± Gang Tianwu didn¡¯t even use honorifics, directly using ¡°you¡±, ¡°You expect me to suspend the hunting season and arrest the second-ranked contestant just because you gave me a spiel about the reasons and principles of animal protection?¡± ¡°Does Chief Matsumoto not realize how popular this show has become lately? Over a hundred million people worldwide are following it, and tens of millions know about it in our country alone, with over ten million viewers sitting in front of their TVs or smartphones every day!¡± ¡°This is no longer a small entertainment program led by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department! It¡¯s our reputation at stake, we cannot proceed, not even with solid evidence, let¡¯s forget mere suspicion!¡± ¡°That is not the case, Mr. Gang,¡± Matsumoto Kiyotaka¡¯s tone was very serious, ¡°The words I just spoke are exactly Tiangella¡¯s publicly stated principles.¡± The scale of this company is so large it¡¯s almost unbelievable, from America to Europe, then to Asia; except for Antarctica, it¡¯s practically all over the world. They operate on the principle that business is protection, purchasing hunting licenses across the world to carry out a series of legal activities. ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï It¡¯s not that wildlife cannot be bought and sold, but it must be done legally and compliantly. However, legal trade faces two major practical issues: one, the taxes are high, and two, the quantities are limited. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Driven by huge profits, these people do not care about sustainable development. Even this hunting season, Japan¡¯s official agencies had dealings with Tiangella. ¡°Dealings? How come I wasn¡¯t aware?¡± Gang Tianwu was stunned. ¡°This is unrelated to the police department; it¡¯s an event organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. They sold all the Black Bear carcasses hunted this time to Tiangella. It¡¯s quite normal that Group Leader Gang isn¡¯t aware,¡± Matsumoto Kiyotaka explained, ¡°But that¡¯s not important.¡± ¡°Tiangella has many clubs under their banner and several auctions where they maintain friendly relations with TNC (The Nature Conservation Association), organizing multiple events and claiming that hunting is also a method of ecological conservation.¡± The only problem is. ¡°Now look at this,¡± Matsumoto Kiyotaka handed Gang Tianwu a second video. The content of this video was relatively straightforward. Tiangella had been exposed. An undercover agent participated in the annual meeting of an international hunting club in Reno, Nevada State, featuring a competitive hunting event with trophies for killing large game like elephants, lions, leopards, or rhinoceroses, which many wealthy individuals could purchase the opportunity to slaughter. Once the news broke, it caused an enormous scandal. That year, Tiangella suffered a major blow. Even though they quickly disassociated themselves from their subsidiary clubs, fired a mass of employees, and claimed they were ¡°outsourced,¡± ¡°uninformed,¡± and ¡°lacked supervision,¡± they still took a heavy hit to their vitality. ¡°Now look at this list.¡± Gang Tianwu had a premonition and, sure enough, he saw Bertrand Guy¡¯s name on it. ¡°According to what I have found so far, Bertrand Guy joined Tiangella before the incident, but only briefly, less than a mere half a year, before being pushed out because of the scandal, and later sentenced to ten months of imprisonment,¡± Matsumoto Kiyotaka continued. ¡°But it¡¯s been said that Bertrand was spotted three months after the incident, though Tiangella explained it as a similar appearance, which led to another wave of public outcry, believing that it was a bail provided by Tiangella.¡± Gang Tianwu was speechless; he had never imagined that the seemingly amiable old man had such a rich background. There are three major illegal trades in the world: the first is drug smuggling, the second is arms smuggling, and the third is trafficking of wildlife. According to data disclosed by the Ugoku State Department, wildlife smuggling is second only to drugs and arms, with annual transactions ranging from 10 to 20 billion Ugoku Yuan. Reportedly, every year around the world, there are illegal transactions involving 50,000 primates, 140,000 African elephant tusks, 10 million reptile skins, 15 million mammals, 350 million tropical fish, and over 100,000 tons of rhino horns, generating profits as high as 10 billion Ugoku Yuan annually. Among them, the annual transaction volume of endangered species smuggling is at least estimated to be between 2 and 3 billion US Dollars. The former Secretary-General of CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) at the United Nations, Johan Scanlon, provided data showing that the illegal trade of species listed by CITES is valued at approximately 20 billion Ugly Yuan annually, but the total value of all illegal wildlife trade can reach around 200 billion Ugly Yuan each year. The sheer amount of it is astounding. These figures undoubtedly prove one thing: the wildlife smuggling trade has formed a complete industrial chain, connecting people of different skin colors and cultures from around the globe as simply as if they were trading ordinary products. Yet Bertrand Guy was one of them, and even after several decades, he had changed his appearance and emerged in a way that no one could have anticipated. Tiangella¡¯s incident had happened more than a decade ago, and no one remembered Bertrand Guy anymore, and even if they did, the changes over a decade would make it difficult to recognize the once spirited Hunter, who had become an old man in his fifties. Whether Tiangella was innocent or had indeed been negligent in its supervision, Chief Matsumoto didn¡¯t know, but Bertrand Guy was definitely not a good person! Chief Matsumoto even suspected that Tiangella itself wasn¡¯t clean, and perhaps that amputation was just a way to move a group of subordinates from the public eye to the shadows. However, without evidence, these were just thoughts that crossed Chief Matsumoto¡¯s mind. Unfortunately, Chief Matsumoto and Gang Tianwu ultimately lacked some insight; if they had only thought to read the name tianusGra backwardsa€¡±Gratianus. Gratianus, the elder son of Valentinian I, Emperor of the Western Roman Empire, was made Augustus by his father at age eight, with the poet Decimus Magnus Ausonius as his tutor. He had a lifelong passion for hunting, which was not only his hobby but also became his life, and he ultimately lost his Empire because of it. ¡°But what does this have to do with Dolphin Bay?¡± Gang Tianwu still didn¡¯t understand after all this time. Even if Bertrand did have a lot of dirt, why arrest him? Why not turn a blind eye? Leaving the role of the bringers of justice to others had nothing to do with them. Chief Matsumoto clenched his teeth in anger, ¡°It¡¯s because these people are helping Richard! We¡¯ve always been unable to catch them!¡± Chief Matsumoto finally realized it. Clearly, this was the doing of Bertrand and the gang behind him. A guy who started with wildlife, how could he possibly forget the taste of success? ¡°Their ultimate goal is to put us under international condemnation, to force us, under public pressure, to give up dolphin hunting. With no one capturing the wild dolphins, they would eventually belong to them!¡± Chief Matsumoto spoke emphatically, realizing that he had been in the dark, and Richard had been deceived as well. Interests are a matter of supply and demand. Does demand disappear if no one is hunting? Impossible, demand would only become stronger, and the price of dolphins would skyrocket! These animal traffickers had their sights set on this fact, much like businesses smear their competitors¡¯ product quality, aiming to monopolize the market! What Taiji Town was facing was not a rescue operation at all but a group of sharks that had smelled blood, a bunch of even more greedy monsters. This was clearly a struggle for interests! ¡°We have to protect the interests of Taiji Town, and we can¡¯t let them succeed!¡± ¡°Gang Tianwu, I beg you, even if we don¡¯t halt the hunting season, we must arrest Bertrand and expose everyone behind them!¡± Chapter 577 - Chapter 577 Chapter 574 We Must Protect Batman ?Chapter 577: Chapter 574 We Must Protect Batman Chapter 577: Chapter 574 We Must Protect Batman Matsumoto Kiyotaka and others¡¯ analysis was unknown to everyone else. The hunting season continued unabated. A group of people continued to play their parts. Scores kept rising, rankings kept changing, everything was like a fog, with no one knowing who the final victor would be. The lush willow trees seemed as if they could exude oil under the scorching sun, and dozens of cicadas perched on the trees, continuously vibrating their drum-like tympana located at their abdomens to emit a sharp and loud sound. Each year in June and July, these common insects transformed from pupae to adults and then laid eggs within a matter of days. From the egg stage to the nymphs living underground and until their final transformation into adults loud and proud upon the trees, this process usually took one to two years. If one were to occasionally enjoy a walk in the woods, then the sound of cicadas would undoubtedly be the concerto of high summer, bringing joy to one¡¯s body and soul, but for hunters who were on a twenty-four-hour stakeout in the woods, it was piercingly painful to the eardrums. The mass of noise could interfere with a hunter¡¯s hearing, easily causing them to miss crucial information. Many times, this meant barely missing prey or being completely oblivious to impending dangers. Bi Fang squatted beside a stream, scooping up a handful of clear water to wash his face, cooling down his heat-filled irritability. At his feet was a small bamboo basket, similar to an ancient wealthy young master¡¯s one for holding crickets, but inside there were not crickets but rather a crowded nest of cicadas. As the person involved, Bi Fang was completely unaware that someone had already impersonated his act of ¡°Batman.¡± Maybe even if he knew, he wouldn¡¯t be upset. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï On the contrary, he would be more pleased. Everything was proceeding in an orderly and busy manner, Matsumoto Kiyotaka and Gang Tianwu worked together to clarify the whole situation, and reported to Morishita Suji, preparing for the final action. Only¡­ ¡°You guys, are you joking?¡± When Gang Tianwu and Matsumoto Kiyotaka reached a consensus, Morishita Suji¡¯s facial expression almost lost its composure as he expressed serious doubts about their analysis. How could an animal welfare activist¡¯s work get involved with a wildlife smuggling organization? Are you sure these two are the same thing? A protector and a poacher, two fundamentally opposed entities, appeared at the same time, and the nature of the case shifted from one extreme to the other¡­ Is the world really this complex? To say that Gang Tianwu, as a member of the Eastern Capital¡¯s Metropolitan Police Department, did not understand how this hunting season was related to Tiangella was somewhat understandable. But as a high-ranking official at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Morishita Suji could not possibly be unaware, especially since, in many cases, most of the leftovers from the whaling plans, aside from the necessary key parts, were sold to them. However, Morishita Suji was also not well-informed about that dark piece of history from more than a decade ago. For him, the events of so many years past were too distant. Back then, Morishita Suji might have been just a junior employee, not at all concerned with such matters and even less aware of the existence of such conditions. At this moment, Matsumoto Kiyotaka and Gang Tianwu exchanged glances and nodded affirmatively. After Matsumoto Kiyotaka had sought out Gang Tianwu the day before, Gang Tianwu swiftly utilized his position to investigate the identity and background of Bertrand Guy, uncovering Bertrand¡¯s blemish from many years ago. Everything was as Matsumoto Kiyotaka had described. Taking into account the abnormal withdrawal of the three other hunters on the Kii Peninsula, Brown Bear had no direct evidence but the one whose thigh was pierced by a trap surely had something to say. So, analyzing what comes next is simple, and the answer becomes quite clear. Gang Tianwu took the initiative to explain to Morishita Suji, starting with the identity of Bosen. ¡°Bertrand Guy, an experienced old hunter, yet all of us were deceived. He concealed the fact that fourteen years ago, he was involved in the club poaching scandal, was expelled by Tiangella, and sentenced to ten months of imprisonment.¡± ¡°Back then, it was so long ago that everyone had forgotten about it. His appearance had also greatly changed, allowing him to brazenly participate in this hunting season.¡± Matsumoto Kiyotaka added from the side, ¡°We have reason to suspect that Tiangella actually did a cover-up job on Bertrand Guy, moving him from the open to the shadows, but this is without proof and merely our conjecture.¡± After all, ¡°unaware¡± and ¡°lax in supervision¡± were excuses they were all too familiar with, clear signs of passing the buck. But speaking of facts and reason, Matsumoto Kiyotaka was merely stating a possibility, ¡°It cannot be taken as evidence.¡± ¡°This time, Bertrand Guy had his sights set on our dolphin industry, a highly profitable industrya€¡±a single dolphin is worth a whopping one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. They took action, but there had been no breakthrough until now.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, this has always been our base. The organization versus the state is, relatively speaking, still too insignificant. Hence, they reached out to Richard and others, showing their strength as a means to help, and to avoid drawing our attention, they chose to register for the hunting season competition.¡± What a clever tactic. Such individuals entering customs would certainly attract attention, but once cloaked as participants in the hunting season, everything seemed reasonable, so much so that it took half a month for Taiji Town to catch on. Matsumoto Kiyotaka could not help but admire the ingenuity of these people. Unable to confront the nation, they would draw the attention of the whole world, using the world¡¯s power to destroy the whaling industry of Taiji Town. The industry¡¯s Boss would be finished, and wouldn¡¯t the remaining orders then belong to them? Richard thought he was protecting the dolphins, not realizing they had become a mere facade, a protective cloak. Taiji Town believed they were being attacked by a group of protectors, little did they know it was a group of poachers! Morishita Suji pushed up his glasses, appearing calm on the surface but with tumultuous waves churning inside. The analysis seemed quite logical¡­ Could the true nature of the matter be this complicated? ¡°It seems I thought too simply,¡± Morishita Suji sighed deeply. Matsumoto Kiyotaka and Gang Tianwu exchanged a glance, their faces showing delight. Clearly, their analysis was correct, ¡°But even if that¡¯s the case,¡± Morishita Suji had another question, ¡°then why would they want to eliminate the other hunters on the island?¡± ¡°Thata€|¡± Matsumoto Kiyotaka hesitated for a moment. This was also where he was puzzled, but there were two explanations, ¡°One is that those hunters might have discovered something, and to prevent leaks, Bosen took preemptive action. The second possibility is an issue with Bosen himself.¡± ¡°Look at this.¡± Gang Tianwu presented a document detailing Bosen¡¯s military service from over twenty years ago. Although he had an outstanding performance, the double-digit number of brawls suggested that the amiable old man was not so friendly in his youth. ¡°Perhaps Bosen himself prefers such a brutal method to eliminate his competition, a downright dangerous person!¡± The two spoke with conviction. Having been soldiers themselves, they were even indignant about the temper of such military troublemakers. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Their assuredness dispelled Morishita Suji¡¯s last shred of doubt. ¡°So, what¡¯s your plan going forward?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t tip them off; we must catch them all in one swoop!¡± ¡°The hunting season cannot be stopped, as it generates substantial revenue.¡± ¡°Currently on the Kii Peninsula, apart from Bosen, there are two other hunters. We must protect them!¡± Chapter 578 - Chapter 578 Chapter 575 Delicate Atmosphere ?Chapter 578: Chapter 575: Delicate Atmosphere Chapter 578: Chapter 575: Delicate Atmosphere The cicada pupae in the bamboo basket were still squirming, densely packed enough to drive an entomophobe insane. These were all caught by Bi Fang to prepare for lunch. These guys, solid high protein. ¡°Cicadas are rich in nutrients, with dry base protein content over 70%, fat around 7%, vitamins, and various beneficial trace elements all higher than those of general meat products, earning them the title of the ¡®protein king¡¯ in today¡¯s food.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to be afraid. Has anyone tried eating this? It¡¯s quite delicious.¡± [I¡¯ve eaten it!] [Get that away from me, I¡¯m going to go crazy!] [If you show me that again, I¡¯m unfollowing you! You¡¯ve been warned!] [Crunchy and fragrant!] ¡°Hahaha,¡± Bi Fang laughed heartily, ¡°Humans have an innate fear of insects, just like with snakes, coded into our genes, along with lions and tigers, too.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that lions and tigers are rarely seen now, our instincts have all but forgotten, and we may even find their cubs cute. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï However, without protection, in a face-to-face encounter, many would probably urinate out of fear.¡± ¡°Who knows, maybe thousands of years from now, insects won¡¯t be so common, and we¡¯ll forget our fear of them, even finding them cute.¡± [Don¡¯t go carving every weird thing into our genes!] [Let me see what¡¯s in your genes¡­ oh, my God, it¡¯s so weird, I have to look again.] Digging out a fire pit, Bi Fang sat on a stone, skewered the cicada pupae onto a small wooden stick, and stuck it into the mud next to the fire. Under the high temperature, one could clearly see the cicada pupae slowly changing color from pale brown to a metallic bronze. Many people can¡¯t stomach the idea of eating bugs, but there are some who relish it. And judging by the delectable aroma wafting through the air at that moment, Bi Fang was undoubtedly of the latter camp. ¡°These juvenile cicadas are also known as ¡®nymphs¡¯, and male cicadas make sounds to attract females for mating. It uses its sharp ovipositor to lay eggs inside the tree. It isn¡¯t until the following year that the larvae hatch and live underground for several years or even over a decade before they emerge from the soil.¡± ¡°During their lengthy life underground, they molt many times, with the final molt marking their transformation into adults.¡± ¡°Once they become adults, they start singing, and the male cicadas produce sound at high frequencies of hundreds of times per second, which helps female cicadas pinpoint the location of a suitable mate for coupling. Just like now, wherever we go, we can hear the cicadas; sometimes I find it so noisy that I can¡¯t hear anything but their chorus, wishing I could wipe them all out in one swoop.¡± [Wipe them all out: meaning to gobble up everything in sight.] [I¡¯ve never been keen on insects in this lifetimea€¡±exhausting.] [Ah, how tasty cicada pupae are! Surely no one hasn¡¯t tried them yet, right?] ¡°However, certain silkworm pupae inherently carry diseases caused by amoeba, transmitted through silkworm eggs and feces. Consuming these inherently defective silkworm pupae can easily result in poisoning. Some silkworm pupae already have well-developed molds, bacteria, and parasites within them. Despite processing, they¡¯re not completely killed, and these toxins cause the pupae¡¯s protein to denature and produce poisons. Some people are sensitive to these toxins; eating silkworm pupae on an empty stomach before meals leads to excess absorption of toxins, resulting in poisoning. If you eat silkworm pupae and drink alcohol at the same time, the poisoning can be even more severe. So when you eat them, be very careful, look closely, and avoid those with strange shapes or hairy ones.¡± Insect grilling is much simpler than cooking meat; they can be thoroughly cooked in no time. ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Bi Fang picked up a skewer, bit into it with a crunch, and the sound resonated in his mouth. Indeed, it was not bad. ¡°I think it tastes much better than the meat of wild animals,¡± Bi Fang mused, chewing and nodding in agreement. Most wild animal meats are gamey and tough; before Bi Fang changed teeth, they would often get stuck in his teeth. Many people love the legs of animalsa€¡±chicken legs, lamb legs, pork legsa€¡±all delicious. Yet in the wild, the legs of animals are difficult to eat: too tough and pitifully low in fat. That¡¯s why belly meat is the first choice in the wilda€¡±it may be gamey too, but at least it¡¯s not tough. ¡°However, food is always an issue in the wild. When there¡¯s something to eat, everything is delicious, and we shouldn¡¯t expect too much.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, how come I haven¡¯t seen Bosen today?¡± ¡°Bosen? Who¡¯s Bosen?¡± ¡°No way, dude, you haven¡¯t just been watching Old Fang¡¯s live stream, have you?¡± ¡°Yes, I cough when I watch someone else¡¯s stream¡± ¡°Now that you mention it, it does seem so. Japan¡¯s official live stream went straight from Sato to Boss Fang here.¡± As soon as someone mentioned it in the comments, it quickly resonated with the audience. Japan¡¯s live stream room starts off every day by broadcasting from the last ranked and counts up to the first, taking a look through the rankings. But today, it seemed to have jumped from the third-ranked Sato, skipping Bosen, and went directly to the first-ranked Bi Fang. ¡°Hahaha, could it be that Old Fang¡¯s ranking has dropped again, overtaken by Bosen?¡± ¡°Boss Fang is getting lazy again, he has made his fortune and no longer cares about this small change, jealous much.¡± ¡°Boss Fang, take me with you in making money. Joining your livestream is like having an extra leg!¡± ¡°A hind leg?¡± Not only other Hunters but Bosen himself also sensed that something was off. Although he didn¡¯t have his own live stream room like the other Hunters, with such a huge privilege, there still should¡¯ve been viewers commenting and mocking every so often. Today wasn¡¯t entirely without comments, but they were all from the same few people, many of them meaningless repetitive praises. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Bosen was somewhat confused. Was there a bug? A subtle atmosphere began to spread gradually. Bosen felt a twinge of nervousness, but his rich experiences and background allowed him to quickly calm down and carefully think about whether there were any slips on his part. Participating in the competition was a spur of the moment decision that he hadn¡¯t told anyone about. Aside from that time with the crossbow trap, he had been very secretive with his other moves, confident that he could even deceive Bi Fang. With that thought, Bosen steadied himself without the slightest panic, everything as usual. Until the afternoon. Bi Fang and Mugalen suddenly received a message from the production team. At first glance, they were so shocked they almost jumped, thinking all their actions of the past few days had been exposed; but then they reconsidered, it couldn¡¯t be, if that were the case, the police should be inviting them for a ¡°tea talk,¡± not a text notification from the production team. After reading the entire message, they could only deduce one sentence. There is an issue with Bertrand Guy, they were to proceed with caution, and if necessary, press the rescue buttona€¡±the guard team was on standby ready to provide all-around protection. ??? Mujialun¡¯s reaction to the message was unknown to Bi Fang, but he was somewhat bewildered. He wondered if the production team had set a trap for him, fishing for something with an unknown method on their part. But after pondering for a long while, he couldn¡¯t figure it out, because Bosen definitely had an issue, which seemed perfectly reasonable from that point of view¡­ However, was this the issue he was thinking of? Bi Fang was lost in thought. Who exactly is the undercover? Chapter 579 - Chapter 579 Chapter 576 Damn it! ?Chapter 579: Chapter 576: Damn it! Chapter 579: Chapter 576: Damn it! The situation wasn¡¯t right. Bi Fang¡¯s mind was somewhat muddled at the moment, he felt confused about the current state of affairs, yet not so confused, caught in a duality of understanding and not understanding. Bertrand Guy didn¡¯t seem like a good person, so it made sense to catch him. But who he really was, and why he should be caught, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t very clear about, and for some reason, he vaguely felt that Bertrand Guy being targeted had something to do with him¡­ The message from the program group specifically advised Bi Fang not to act abnormally, to carry on as usual, only that they would discreetly send someone to protect him. They told him to broadcast live and compete boldly, as the Japanese Government welcomed his arrival, and once again expressed their honor in having him choose to participate. Between the lines, they were saying: I¡¯m very happy and honored that you could come. Now, a small mishap has occurred, there¡¯s a bad guy, but don¡¯t worry, we¡¯re already dealing with it. After contemplating for a while, Bi Fang bit into a cicada and three words popped out between his teeth, ¡°Pretty good.¡± On the other side, Bertrand Guy received a notice from the program group, and his uneasiness dissipated instantly: ¡°A BUG? So that¡¯s what¡¯s happening.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Guy, I am terribly sorry, it¡¯s a problem on our side, we have caused you a loss, we truly apologize,¡± the program group liaison nervously explained on the other end of the call. ¡°You seem very tense?¡± Bertrand Guy looked up at the blazing sun hanging in the sky and squinted his eyes. The liaison nervously denied it. Standing by his side, high officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Morishita Suji, leader of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Hunting Season Program Group Gang Tianwu, and Taiji Town Police Department Chief Matsumoto Kiyotaka all stood in a row behind him, making it clear as day that there was an issue, even to a fool. ¡°But your voice is trembling.¡± Gang Tianwu shot a glance at the Oak Tree Company¡¯s liaison, he originally wanted to simply employ some internet trolls to bluff his way through, but Morishita Suji thought it wouldn¡¯t do, so they switched to another person, trying to get by with the BUG excuse, not expecting the other party to have such poor nerve. ¡°No, no, no, it¡¯s just that the air conditioning is set too low, I¡¯m a bit cold.¡± The liaison babbled excuses as the pressure behind him grew heavier and heavier, finally hanging up the phone before it could reach freezing point. A moment of silence filled the room. In the end, the three of them turned and left. ¡°What do we do now?¡± Matsumoto Kiyotaka looked towards Morishita Suji, who in turn looked at Gang Tianwu, ¡°Mr. Gang, this is your field of expertise, what should we do next?¡± Let Taiji Town deal with Taiji Town¡¯s problems. Gang Tianwu felt it was troublesome and had some complaints in his heart. Although the Dolphin Bay¡¯s interest chain was huge, the one reaping the most benefits was still Taiji Town. Paying attention to it should be Morishita Suji¡¯s and Matsumoto Kiyotaka¡¯s concern, it had nothing to do with him. It was purely because Bertrand Guy participated in the hunting season and used it as a front that Gang Tianwu got dragged into this mess. He really didn¡¯t want to get involved with Poachers! Poaching, arms, smuggling, the reason they are the world¡¯s three major smugglings isn¡¯t just because of the huge profits, but also because each of these guys is hard to mess with. All dangerous people. If you block their path, your entire family might face misfortune. Gang Tianwu had some connections at home, and when he started as a policeman, he was already working in Tokyo, so he had never seen Poachers, nor been to the front lines. Usually, it was just petty thieves, fraud gangs, at worst impulsive murderers. Murder, that was serious business. But to these ruthless people, murder was as commonplace as a meal, even a side dish to their rice, the thought alone was intimidating. Morishita Suji was at a much higher level than himself, and he couldn¡¯t afford to offend him. Matsumoto Kiyotaka was an old fox too, seeking Morishita Suji¡¯s support in the first instance, effectively silencing Gang Tianwu. Thinking of this, Gang Tianwu felt even more resentment towards Bertrand Guy and was determined to increase his workload. Damn! Frustrated inside, Gang Tianwu took a few deep breaths, lowered his head and pondered for a moment, ¡°Let¡¯s first try to lure Bertrand Guy out. If we can avoid a direct confrontation, we will, as he is a professional hunter armed with a crossbow nearly as powerful as a heavy crossbow. A direct outbreak of conflict could lead to casualties.¡± Although Bertrand was not a good person, his strength had been clear to everyone over these days. The man who could easily hunt a black bear and whose second place rank in the hunting season carried significant weight. ¡°If we can¡¯t trick him, then we¡¯ll proceed with violent arrest.¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s leave it to you, Mr. Gang Tianwu!¡± ¡°The capabilities of Group Leader Gang Tianwu are so outstanding, I truly feel inferior. Indeed, the glory of the Empire of Japan relies on Group Leader Gang Tianwu!¡± Gang Tianwu: ¡°¡­¡± Nightfall. Bertrand sat on a rock grilling meat, filled with doubt as he spoke to the suddenly appearing liaison officer, ¡°Broadcast suspension? A three-day break?¡± The liaison officer nodded helplessly, ¡°That¡¯s the situation. After the brown bear attack incident, we thought it wasn¡¯t a big deal, but public opinion fermented more and more fiercely; many people are saying our show is too violent and bloody, and shouldn¡¯t be broadcasted.¡± Despite being a bit flustered, the liaison officer was clueless about what had actually happened, merely relaying Gang Tianwu¡¯s message word for word to Bertrand Guy. If the liaison officer had known that he was dealing not just with a professional hunter, but an extremely vicious poacher, he probably would have wet himself in fear. ¡°Is the public opinion that serious?¡± Bertrand cut off a strip of wild boar belly with his dagger and stuffed it into his mouth, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ve been busy all day, I¡¯m so hungry. Forgive me for eating while talking to you, would you like some?¡± ¡°Oh no, I¡¯m fine.¡± Watching Bertrand¡¯s kindly and aged appearance, the liaison officer gradually let down his guard, not as tense as before, and even boldly sat down on another rock. Bertrand¡¯s gaze flashed, forming a guess in his mind. This kid seems to know nothing. ¡°We¡¯re already trying to control public opinion. This time we plan to take a three-day break, and perhaps after three days, it will have blown over,¡± the liaison officer explained everything in detail. Actually, what he said was true. The incident did spark some discussion in the days that followed, but it wasn¡¯t nearly as severe. ¡°Why will it be okay after three days?¡± ¡°Our show is organized by the Eastern Capital¡¯s Metropolitan Police Department, it¡¯s not going to be directly banned. By then, it might just be reclassified. Once it¡¯s reclassified, things will be much simpler.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Bertrand Guy nodded, swallowed the last piece of wild boar meat, wiped the grease from his beard, stood up, and patted the dust off his clothes, ¡°Alright then, let¡¯s get going.¡± The liaison officer, as if granted a pardon, hurriedly stood up with an apologetic smile, ¡°Right this way.¡± Ten minutes later. With a calm expression, Bertrand Guy raised the silver bracelet in his hand, looking at Gang Tianwu, who wore a smug expression, ¡°Mr. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 Police Officer, have you made some mistake? Why are you suddenly arresting me?¡± Chapter 580 - Chapter 580 Chapter 577 Why Are You Arbitrarily Labelling People ?Chapter 580: Chapter 577: Why Are You Arbitrarily Labelling People? Chapter 580: Chapter 577: Why Are You Arbitrarily Labelling People? The development of the situation was unexpectedly smooth. In the middle of the night, Bi Fang received a greeting message from Gang Tianwu. The message indicated that under the action of the Japanese Government, Bertrand Guy had been arrested, all thanks to the outstanding work of the Eastern Capital¡¯s Metropolitan Police Department, and it said that everything was now under control, there would be no problems with the show, and that Bi Fang could rest assured and participate in the competition. The rest was a series of superfluous literary niceties, basically just polite words and some expressions of gratitude. In any case, the Japanese side was indeed very concerned about Bi Fang¡¯s feelings, for he was a veritable god of wealth. A single person could double the heat of the show, they were afraid that this matter would affect his mood, so speaking nicely was surely no mistake. Mugalen glanced at Bi Fang¡¯s text message and pointed at the long lines of text with surprise, ¡°Why is your message so long?¡± ¡°Is it?¡± Bi Fang looked at Mugalen¡¯s message. The texter seemed to be just a staff member, the content was very simple: Everything is under control, the show will go on as usual. Was there a different treatment even when sending a text message? Although Mugalen could not understand Japanese, he knew the difference between long and short! ¡°Japanese is like that, not as concise as English, but the content is the same.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? Mugalen grumbled unhappily for a while, but still got drawn in by the content of the message. Bertrand had actually been arrested? Having lived for more than thirty years, Mugalen had seen all sorts of situations, but what was happening now, he had never seen before. ¡°What exactly is going on? Why do I feel like an outsider, was the incident at Dolphin Bay really our doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to know that myself,¡± Bi Fang shrugged, tossing a backpack to Mugalen, ¡°We have to continue working tonight. I¡¯ve checked, and there are far fewer patrollers on the mountain.¡± Mugalen smirked, ¡°That¡¯s indeed good news.¡± Normally, the Japanese police can legally detain a suspect for 48 hours, and within these 48 hours, if the police have sufficient evidence, they can start a formal detention. Detention in Japan lasts 10 days, then can be extended once, for a total of not more than 23 days for one crimea€¡±this includes the initial 48-hour detention, one day to inform the court of the detention, and 20 days of the detention itself. If the conditions for prosecution of a crime are not met within these 23 days, the suspect must be released, but if they are met, prosecution follows, and the person is sent to a detention center. No matter what, even if Bertrand had many issues, at least for these few days, there was no need to worry about him. ¡­ The room was very narrow, filled around with materials resembling the dark blue sea, oppressive and terrifying. The dim yellow headlight shone down from above, casting the light that made Bertrand¡¯s face appear half-lit and half-shadowed, completely obscuring his expression; but judging by his steady breathing, he seemed very calm, as if he had long expected this scene. ¡°Damn it, just as I thought.¡± Gang Tianwu cursed softly behind the one-way glass, thinking that if it was a common person in here, they¡¯d be panicking by now. But it¡¯s only these poachers who are bold as brass, utterly fearless, commonly known as old hands. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï They might have killed more people than he had dealt with in death cases! Taking a few deep breaths, Gang Tianwu pushed open the door; inside the room, an officer was bowing his head taking notes, while Okada sat nearby, instructing his subordinate to start the recorder before asking. ¡°Bertrand Guy, do you have nothing to explain?¡± Bertrand Guy smiled, ¡°Explain what? I haven¡¯t done anything, and you arrested me, even lied to me by saying the program was just paused. I want to ask, exactly which law did I break? If I did make a mistake, then I¡¯m very sorry because it¡¯s my first time in Japan and I¡¯m not quite familiar with everything here.¡± ¡°Stop hiding it. We have already found out, Bertrand Guy¡­¡± An officer read out the prior findings of Bertrand¡¯s past and then stared into his eyes, confidently accusing, ¡°You are a poacher!¡± Unexpectedly, Bertrand didn¡¯t show any anomaly; instead, he nodded calmly, ¡°Yes, you are right. If it is because I failed to report this situation before participating in the contest, then I am very sorry. However, I don¡¯t think this violates the law, does it?¡± Then he lifted his head slightly, his tone filled with regret, ¡°That was more than ten years ago. I was not even forty yet, impulsive and blinded by money, and made some wrong decisions. Afterwards, I received the punishment I deserved and have reformed.¡± ¡°Am I to be tried a second time in Japan? I don¡¯t think that¡¯s reasonable, officer, is it?¡± ¡°Indeed, but speaking of reform, I highly doubt it,¡± Gang Tianwu said with a snort. Bertrand Guy¡¯s face remained indifferent, as if he didn¡¯t quite understand what Gang Tianwu was talking about, which only made him more composed because they had not grasped the real issue of him hurting someone. Reform aside, it was indeed Bertrand¡¯s first time in Japan, and aside from injuring someone, he really hadn¡¯t done anything else. On this land, he was truly innocent. Early in the morning, Bertrand had realized there was an issue. Considering his own identity, he likely knew some of it, and when the liaison found him, he didn¡¯t resist at all. Not resisting was the only way there was no issue. Gang Tianwu took the initiative, ¡°Does Richard know your true identity?¡± ¡°Richard? Who might that be?¡± Bertrand was taken aback and began to think carefully about his colleagues. There was no one by that name, was there? ¡°You¡¯re still pretending!¡± Gang Tianwu roared with anger, ¡°Tell me, how long have you been coveting the dolphin trade?¡± ¡°Dolphins?¡± Bertrand¡¯s brow furrowed. What did this have to do with dolphins? He was genuinely shocked, his pupils suddenly dilated, and his complexion slightly changed. I¡¯ve pulled ivory, skinned bears, chopped off lion heads, but I¡¯ve never laid my hands on dolphins before. How could this person be framing him out of the blue? His mother¡¯s, is this a case of a corrupt cop? Bertrand Guy had been wandering around for so long, and these kinds of situations were everywhere in Africa, with corruption and bribery being common. Dragging them out to be shot might wrong some innocents, but skipping every other for execution would surely leave some culprits behind. But to think that even the police in major cities of developed countries would act like this? Seeing Bertrand¡¯s sudden change in expression, Gang Tianwu felt as if he had caught evidence. There certainly was a problem! Why else would there be such a strong reaction? His own reasoning surely was correct. At this moment, Gang Tianwu had full confidence, slamming the table and shouting, ¡°I advise you to admit it early! We already have ample evidence to prove everything you¡¯ve done in Dolphin Bay!¡± Bertrand Guy¡¯s gaze gradually became vacant. Evidence, what evidence? And, could someone please tell him where Dolphin Bay is? Chapter 581 - Chapter 581 Chapter 578 Provocation ?Chapter 581: Chapter 578: Provocation Chapter 581: Chapter 578: Provocation A certain guesthouse in Taiji Town. Richard and his team were tensely working on post-production video in the cramped room, the atmosphere was quite gloomy, even though they had confirmed in advance that no one was eavesdropping, they couldn¡¯t help but lower their voices. All was silenced except for the clicking sounds of mouse and keyboard strokes. Both inns and hotels had stopped admitting them, not even for thrice, five times the price. Perhaps the hoteliers wanted to make money, but earning this money might mean they could never set foot in Taiji Town again. Seventy percent of the villagers here were fishermen who got rich by selling dolphins, and their anger could drown the whole of Taiji Town. The entire world was targeting them. Richard couldn¡¯t help but worry about Jerret and Mond, who had worked through the night again: ¡°There¡¯s no need to rush like this, take a rest.¡± ¡°Rest? If I rest any more, I¡¯ll produce the worst documentary of my career!¡± Jerret was unusually irritable, which was how he got when immersed in work, especially under such high-pressure conditions; but most people tolerated him well because Jerret truly was capable. The biggest problem with covert filming was the inability to precisely capture the desired shots. Most documentaries face this issue, with cameras fixed in the mountains, it might take a full month to get a shot of a tiger, which might only appear for three seconds in the documentary. One might even end up wasting a month because the camera wasn¡¯t set up properly. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï For sufficient viewing appeal, Jerret had Bi Fang set up as many cameras as possible. Richard and his team had brought a total of forty-three equipment boxes, far more than what was needed for a typical documentary. If someone in Taiji Town took one down, Bi Fang would go set up three more. If it wasn¡¯t enough, they¡¯d adjust; after adjusting, they¡¯d install; once installed, they¡¯d slip away. Out of the hundreds of captured shots, Jerret displayed tremendous control, observing multiple screens at once within minutes and connecting them together. Being capable and irritable was just part of his personality. ¡°Okay, don¡¯t rush, I¡¯ll go make you a cup of coffee,¡± Richard raised his hands, complying with Jerret¡¯s wish, letting him focus on his work. It¡¯s already July 30th, less than twenty-five days until the Whaling Commission meeting on August 23rd. The citizens of Taiji Town were becoming less and less welcoming towards them, and it seemed like their tolerance was reaching a breaking point, pushing further could start to sting the nerves of the fishermen. Silently, Jerret and Mond each poured themselves a cup of coffee. Richard quietly stepped out the door, followed by Mandy and Keke. Avoiding going out alone had almost become the rule. The three of them jogged towards the harbor for their morning exercise along the path, each passerby watching them as if monitoring a prisoner. After so many days of receiving such gazes, Keke and Mandy felt uncomfortable, with Mandy even glaring back fiercely at times. Richard seemed indifferent to it, having long grown accustomed to such looks. Admiration, envy, contempt, anger, or disdain; Richard, who had experienced it all in his extensive career, was untroubled. From Europe to America and then to Japan, no matter who he faced, or what kind of gaze he met, Richard had long been able to remain calm and composed. Richard knew he was not a ¡°thin-skinned¡± person. Arriving at the port, Richard leaned on the railing, and after a brief warm-up, he was slightly out of breath, raising his hand to check the time. 7:00 AM sharp. At that time, the earth wasn¡¯t yet scorching hot; the air carried a hint of a cool sea breeze, making one irresistibly spread their arms to embrace the ocean. The Kii Peninsula was surrounded by mountains, with sunlight sprinkling over the sea surface and seagulls gathering in low flight; they circled in the air, waiting for the small fish to appear amidst the waves, plunging down the moment they leaped out of the water. A clear morning by the sea was a seagull¡¯s bountiful feast. Richard squinted his eyes, and while looking at the flock of seagulls, suddenly revealed a slight smile, pointing towards the sky he said to Mandy and Jerret, ¡°Look, a sea eagle, a Tiger-headed Sea Eagle!¡± Mandy and Jerret looked up, the morning sun somewhat dazzling. They squinted their eyes and indeed among the seagulls, spotted an exceptionally large sea eagle. The Tiger-headed Sea Eagle! The black and white Tiger-headed Sea Eagle mixed in with the seagulls, charging recklessly, its call deep and hoarse. By its behavior, this was an extremely dominant raptor. Unlike those seagulls targeting small fish and shrimp, it waited for the occasional large fish that surfaced, for this purpose it soared, hovering. Whenever a seagull carelessly approached, it would mercilessly drive it away with its sharp claws, leaving a few pure white feathers to drift down from the sky. This was the largest sea eagle in the world, with adults weighing over 5 kilograms and a wingspan reaching 2.5 meters. Its sharp eyes, strong and accurate claws, and its majestic and powerful beak were all a vibrant orange-yellow, whether soaring high or perched on a branch, or the seashore, always displaying the extraordinary aura and spirit of a ruler. Normally it mainly feeds on fish such as salmon and trout, and it will also hunt larger birds like geese and swans, as well as medium-sized mammals, and even seals pups. In Sir¡¯s documentary ¡°Blue Planet¡±, there were shots of the Tiger-headed Sea Eagle hunting seagulls in midair. Mandy and Jerret also broadened their horizons, they had never seen such a majestic sea eagle before, its size a notch above other species of its kind. Compared to it, those seagulls seemed like fools. ¡°To think that one could still see the Tiger-headed Sea Eagle in Japan,¡± Richard exclaimed softly. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Jerret felt there was some implication in his words. ¡°This is the largest sea eagle in the world, and also the heaviest eagle on Earth on average. Now the global population of the Tiger-headed Sea Eagle is approximately 4,600-5,100 individuals, including 1,830-1,900 breeding pairs. They are monogamous, which roughly equates to only 3,600-3,800 mature individuals.¡± ¡°They are only found near the coastlines of Huaxia, Japan, and the Russian Federation. They were already very rare, and lately, their presence in Japan has almost vanished.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because of death caused by lead poisoning inland in Japan, the number of Tiger-headed Sea Eagles here has dropped by nearly half.¡± Constant consumption of seafood, coupled with environmental pollution, has led to unexpectedly high lead content in the land of Japan. Moreover, with the Tiger-headed Sea Eagle¡¯s monogamous mating system, breeding only once a year, laying two eggs at a time, and usually only one surviving, seeing them in Japan is truly difficult. ¡°¡­¡± Lead poisoning again? Is this a lead poison area? Mandy and Jerret heaved a sigh, looking at the Tiger-headed Sea Eagle, they couldn¡¯t help but feel some pity and sorrow. This beautiful species was also perilously on the brink of danger. ¡°But being able to see it is still something to be happy about, no need to look so down,¡± Richard said upliftingly, ¡°It¡¯s still here isn¡¯t it?¡± Mandy and Jerret looked towards the sea, nodding involuntarily. Below the undulating water, a vague shadow became clearer, something was rising from the seabed, and it was definitely not small. The Tiger-headed Sea Eagle perked up, drew in its wings, extended its sharp claws, and like a dive bomber, struck directly towards the water surface. Roar! It was a big trout! ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Before Mandy and Jerret could take pictures, a sharp whistle interrupted their joy. ¡°Hey, over there, look at this!¡± The fishermen on the boat laughed loudly at the three of them, their faces brimming with enthusiasm, as if they were very welcoming of their visit. ¡°Doesn¡¯t he recognize us? To think he¡¯s still waving at us¡­¡± Mandy laughed, but he soon couldn¡¯t laugh anymore. The fisherman on the boat suddenly lifted a black cloth and turned a hinge. A young dolphin was hoisted up. Chapter 582 - Chapter 582 Chapter 579 Reserve a Spot ?Chapter 582: Chapter 579: Reserve a Spot Chapter 582: Chapter 579: Reserve a Spot Chapter two is not finished yet, just staking a spot. Will finish before one. Cicadas cried out desperately, and the world outside was filled with blinding sunlight, with the shadow of the roof as sharp as a knife upon the ground. Standing by the window, Gang Tianwu pulled at his collar. The technician to fix the air conditioning hadn¡¯t arrived yet, and within just ten minutes, the heat had become nearly unbearable for him, his saliva thick and sticky like glue in his throat. The office felt as stifling as the steamer basket where demons in ¡°Journey to the West¡± steamed the plump monk. There was a knock at the door, and a team member stood at the entrance saying, ¡°Group Leader Gang Tianwu, someone wants to see you.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga from Taiji Town.¡± ¡°Do I know them?¡± ¡°Two days ago, Chief Matsumoto asked us for the hunter data of the hunting season.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± As soon as the team member mentioned this, part of the memory sparked in Gang Tianwu, who quickly returned to his seat, tidied up his desk in the office, wiped off his sweat, and nodded, ¡°Please, let Chief Matsumoto in.¡± Moments later, Gang Tianwu rose to greet him, ¡°My, Chief Matsumoto honors us with a visit, why didn¡¯t you say something in advance? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 How about it, did you go over the data from last time? Is there any problem? Nagano, pour a cup of tea for Chief Matsumoto.¡± Matsumoto had rushed over from the subway station without a break and headed straight for Gang Tianwu¡¯s location without even a sip of water, drenched in sweat. He thanked Nagano and drank down a whole cup, his vigor returning, ¡°Sorry to trouble you, Group Leader Gang, I¡¯ll spare the niceties. There¡¯s no issue with the data, but how much do you know about Bertrand Guy?¡± ¡°Oh, the hunter ranked second. Do you recall?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Gang Tianwu nodded. He had the final confirmation on the participant list, so of course, he remembered, especially the second-ranked onea€¡±it was almost memorized by heart. ¡°Bertrand Guy, born in Ugly Country, Minnesota State, has had a Professional Hunter¡¯s license for over thirty years, enlisted in the military in his youth with outstanding performance, discharged after ten years, then worked as a truck driver, hunter, archer, actor, singer, sailor, engineer, farmer, the total number of Black Bears and Brown Bears he has hunted exceeds fifteen, quite an impressive resume.¡± Bertrand Guy had a career so varied it almost invited suspicion of fabrication. This man in his fifties boasted an exceedingly rich tapestry of life experiences. Following his registration, he quickly caught the attention of the verifying staff, and they added him to the list. Gang Tianwu saw it and agreed without hesitation. Linking it to Matsumoto¡¯s prior actions and his hurried visit, it definitely wouldn¡¯t be without purpose. Gang Tianwu pondered for a moment, ¡°Is there an issue with him?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t be sure, but there¡¯s a high likelihood,¡± Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga didn¡¯t dare to be absolute. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? He countered Gang Tianwu¡¯s question, ¡°Do you know about Tiangella?¡± ¡°Tiangella? What¡¯s that?¡± Gang Tianwu was confused. Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga breathed a sigh of relief. As expected, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department didn¡¯t know about it. He explained with slight pride, ¡°It¡¯s a cross-national company¡­ ¡± At that moment, Nagano brought a second cup of water. Chief Matsumoto took it with a smile, this time not gulping it down but holding it in his hand, sipping little by little. Without utilization, there is no protection. That was Tiangella¡¯s company mission, and also their continuous public declaration. In this aspect, it even echoed what Bi Fang had said in an interview show six months ago. Commercial hunting is protecting wildlife. This view had been briefly expounded by Bi Fang, backed by a systematic network of relationships. Matsumoto Kiyonaga pulled out his phone, opened a video, and showed it to Gang Tianwu. In the Old Stone Age, when the human species had just emerged and agriculture had not yet appeared, humans, as omnivorous species at the top of the food chain, depended on a combination of hunting and gathering for survival and development, just like other dominant species at the top of the food chain, they were merely a part of Nature. During the process of hunting, clever humans invented spears and bows and arrows, leading to the emergence of cooperative group living habits, which laid the foundation for modern civilization. It was at this juncture that humans truly became the rulers of the natural world, with a very direct food chain relationship with wildlife. The higher species depended on preying on lower species for their survival and continuity. In the Old Stone Age, humans absolutely had no concept of wildlife conservation. However, through repeated trial and error, humans instinctively understood not to over-hunt or over-gather. The first reason was the lack of good storage conditions to preserve the excess harvest, and the second was that it would bring unnecessary trouble for the next hunting expedition. There are two most direct pieces of evidence for this. First, today humans can see domesticated species like pigs, horses, cattle, and sheep, which originated during the Old Stone Age period. This process of domestication was, in a way, a form of ¡°protection¡± for animals. Livestock such as pigs, horses, cattle, and sheep have become the most numerous mammals in the world, simply because their value makes humans willing to raise them. Second, after researching the civilizations of Old Stone Age tribes that still exist in contemporary society, it was discovered that they consciously protect the healthy reproduction and continuation of populations in their habitat. This awareness of not over-exploiting is the budding of animal conservation awareness, a practice that creates conditions for better sustainable use in the future. If one does not go against the farming seasons, the grains will be more than enough to eat; if one does not over-fish with nets in the fisheries, there will be more than enough fish and turtles to eat; if one cuts timber at the right times, there will be more than enough wood to use. Having more than enough grains to eat and wood to use enables the people to live and die without regrets. Living and dying without regrets is the beginning of the Way of the King. Mencius explained this principle thousands of years ago. Following that, a series of even more complex developments occurred. The pastoral-agricultural model replaced the hunting-gathering model, and human survival no longer depended on the direct use of wildlife. The direct food chain relationship between them began to loosen. Later, the advent of metallurgy technology led to the large-scale use of metal farming tools, greatly changing the efficiency of agriculture, and more and more human groups began to completely break away from the direct use of wildlife. Humans definitively became the only species at the very top of the food chain, with no wild animals they could not hunt down. Humans began to focus on the efficiency of obtaining meat, and large-scale livestock farming replaced hunting. The main purpose of hunting was no longer just for food consumption. As history rolled on, the 15th to 17th centuries brought the Age of Discovery, spurring the Great Geographical Discoveries and the Great Exchange of species. Potatoes and sweet potatoes arrived, and a more efficient livestock-agriculture model further squeezed out the remaining hunting-gathering model. The bond between humans and nature became blurred. Humans began to segregate from wildlife, living in towns and cities while wildlife occupied the jungles. The food chain relationship between them almost completely vanished, and they no longer reproduced in the same area. The boundaries between their territories became clear, with no overlap occurring. The wheel of history stops at the present day. Humans have become a species that can only survive and develop fully depending on economic and social structures. With the increasing development of modern agriculture and animal husbandry, ordinary people no longer need to utilize wildlife, so the value of wildlife has plummeted, reducing it to a pursuit of stimulation and aesthetic pleasure for the wealthy. Ordinary people might take concrete action for the price increase of pork, but they wouldn¡¯t pay half as much attention to what rich people like. The words in the video abruptly ended, and Gang Tianwu pressed the pause button. He had been patient, ¡°What is Chief Matsumoto trying to say?¡± Chapter 583 - Chapter 583 Chapter 580 Fanatics ?Chapter 583: Chapter 580: Fanatics Chapter 583: Chapter 580: Fanatics ¡°` In the cramped room, beds were neatly stacked, the dim yellow light swinging back and forth, emitting a sour creaking noise. On the faded yellow walls, shadows were heavy, and outside the room, rain poured down in torrents. ¡°Click.¡± The metal spring lock snapped into the ratchet, completely locking in place. Bi Fang closed the door, leaving everyone inside looking at each other with a mix of expressions. Richard fell silent for a moment, then drew in a deep breath, only to choke on the dust that filled the room, breaking the heavy atmosphere. Everyone laughed. Richard clapped his hands, ¡°Alright, don¡¯t just sit here, get back to work!¡± Jerret muttered, ¡°Should¡¯ve said so earlier.¡± ¡°Sitting cross-legged really is uncomfortable, my legs are getting stiff,¡± Mandy complained, patting her thigh. ¡°Exactly, and we are running out of equipment again. I better get on with my own tasks. Oh, by the way, Mandy, have you seen my needle-nose pliers?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Give them back to me.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t, no, I didn¡¯t, stop talking nonsense!¡± The floorboards in the hallway creaked mightily, their noise cutting through even the sound of the rain and thunder. Walking on it, Bi Fang had the illusion of being a medieval ninja moving silently across a nightingale floor, a type of flooring designed to alert occupants to an enemy¡¯s intrusion. The founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate, Tokugawa Ieyasu, once ordered carpenters to install a ¡°nightingale floor¡± in the corridors of Nijo City as an alarm system. They nailed extra metal clips between the joists that support the corridor flooring, and each clip had two nail holes. Inside the holes were iron nails, and when someone walked over them, the nails would rub against the clips, producing a sharp noise. Walking on such noisy flooring, one might worry whether a group of samurai with Shimada-style hair would rush in and chop him to pieces at any moment. Unfortunately, this was simply due to a lack of maintenance. Outside, there were no patrolling samurai, just a group of idle ¡°vagrants.¡± The town¡¯s hotels and inns were unwelcoming, so the only option was to spend a fortune staying in these private lodgings. The walls were covered with mold spots, the air reeked of sewage, and a casual swipe of the finger left a thick layer of dust. Staying here could make a person¡¯s stomach turn enough to vomit their last meal. ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? This place was definitely not designed for living, nor was it any kind of guesthouse. Perhaps it was just a rundown cabin turned over by some money-hungry, lame old man looking for a bargain. Even the wilderness was much cleaner than this place, and Bi Fang had indeed considered whether he should take Richard and the others to build a simple wooden hut on the mountain. It would certainly be cleaner and more comfortable than here, although there might be a few more mosquitoes. Bi Fang clearly understood Richard¡¯s concerns, and it wasn¡¯t that he wanted to give up. How could a man who wasn¡¯t caught even once a year be so vulnerable? He was just beginning to doubt whether what he was doing was worthwhile, whether the great cost of making a documentary would indeed yield an equivalent return. Richard lowered his expectations; he began to feel that he might not be able to awaken the public with just one documentary and stop Japan¡¯s actions. Just like with whaling. But Bi Fang was full of confidence. Because the impact that the documentary ¡°Dolphin Bay¡± had was far greater than Richard and others could imagine, it was unprecedented. Even though it didn¡¯t completely eliminate the existence of Dolphin Bay, it still caused a massive obstruction to the captures, and that was enough. Besides, Bi Fang believed that with his help this time, the footage they captured would be even more authentic. At least he knew that those first slaughter scenes transmitted from the fishing boats were never seen in his former life: they couldn¡¯t get close enough, nor did they have the capability to set up the equipment. However, with Bi Fang¡¯s help, Richard and his team gained that capability. And with the influence he had attained so far, the sensation it created would undoubtedly be even greater. No one can be perfect, but as long as we do our best, we can live without regrets. Thinking of this, Bi Fang suddenly remembered something, took out his phone, and dialed ?¡ëtienne¡¯s number. It was now 10:30 p.m. in Japan, but in France, it was just around 3 p.m., broad daylight, with ?¡ëtienne grinding his teeth as he played a video game. Accompanied by the sound of GAME OVER, ?¡ëtienne despondently tossed aside his controller, which coincidentally lit up the screen of a nearby phone. ¡°ohshit!¡± ?¡ëtienne slapped his forehead, ¡°Could it be Elvan calling?¡± Every day around this time, Elvan would call to urge ?¡ëtienne to study diligently during the summer break instead of immersing himself in video games. Well, what could he do when his old man was a university professor? Alas, he had already caught up with his studies. ?¡ëtienne was quite disappointed, but when he picked up his mobile phone, he was surprised to find that it wasn¡¯t his dad calling! ¡°Hey, Fang, what made you think to call me? Is there a new adventure waiting for me?¡± ¡°Yes, there is a new adventure waiting for you.¡± Bi Fang carefully leaned out the window and inched along the eaves, avoiding the downpour from the gutters while smiling in response, slowly making his way in a certain direction toward Taiji Town. ¡°Cool!¡± ?¡ëtienne¡¯s eyes lit up, he was just making a joke, but could it really be true!? ¡°Is it the African Savanna or the Congo Basin Rainforest, the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon is fine too, I heard no one has ever set foot there, is that true? Fang, you¡¯re a Huaxia person, wait, aren¡¯t you in Japan now?¡± ¡°You sure do ask a lot of questions.¡± Bi Fang was somewhat exasperated, ¡°First of all, although I am a Huaxia person, I haven¡¯t been to the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon either. Secondly, I¡¯m calling you because I need your help.¡± ¡°Hey, even you need help sometimes?¡± ¡°Of course, do you want to keep listening or not?¡± ¡°OK, but you have to help me write a report as my summer practice!¡± Bi Fang nodded calmly, ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll make sure to tell your teacher about how you¡¯re blackmailing me for a report.¡± ¡°Forget it, I was just joking.¡± ?¡ëtienne flopped on the couch, a look of misery on his face. ¡°Just a joke, no big deal.¡± Bi Fang laughed softly and nonchalantly agreed. A good practice report can serve as a key to admission to university, especially if it¡¯s written by famous people, similar to a letter of recommendation. Even though Bi Fang is a Huaxia person, Europe and America have never really cared much, but Bi Fang¡¯s actions precisely hit some people¡¯s fervor for ¡°environmental protection,¡± which made him quite popular. Even ?¡ëtienne¡¯s friends have been asking on the down low if they could get an experience similar to the Goose journey from Bi Fang, simply because it¡¯s too glamorous and full of value. Such students are highly sought after by many schools as a form of honor and proof of value. To this, ?¡ëtienne could only say heh. After that, he never associated with that friend again. Even Bi Fang himself has received many offers, but not to be a student, rather as an honorary professor. ¡°Alright, no more jokes, you have a Goose fan group, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°Elvan told me.¡± ¡°¡­Alright.¡± ¡°Pay close attention recently and look for anyone who posts overly zealous comments, keep an eye on them for me, and then tell them¡­ this and that¡­¡± Chapter 584 - Chapter 584 Chapter 581 Defeat Magic with Magic (Reserve a Spot) ?Chapter 584: Chapter 581: Defeat Magic with Magic (Reserve a Spot) Chapter 584: Chapter 581: Defeat Magic with Magic (Reserve a Spot) Reserving a spot; will finish revising before dawn. The cicadas were screaming for their lives, the world outside was flooded with burning sunlight, and the shadows of the eaves on the ground were as sharp as knives. Standing by the window, Gang Tianwu adjusted his collar. The air conditioning repairman hadn¡¯t arrived yet, and in just over ten minutes he began to feel unbearably hot. Saliva was sticky as glue in his throat, and the office was stuffy like the steamer where monsters cooked fat monks in ¡°Journey to the West¡±. A knock on the door sounded, and a team member stood at the entrance and said, ¡°Group Leader Gang Tianwu, someone wants to see you.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga from Taiji Town.¡± ¡°Do I know him?¡± ¡°Chief Matsumoto asked us for the hunter information from hunting season a few days ago.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Once reminded by the team member, memories flooded back to Gang Tianwu. He hurried back to his desk, quickly tidied up the office table, wiped off his sweat, and nodded, ¡°Please, let Chief Matsumoto in.¡± Moments later, Gang Tianwu rose to welcome him. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 ¡°Ah, Chief Matsumoto, your visit is an honor. Why didn¡¯t you say so in advance? How was it, did you review the materials from last time? Any issues? Nagano, pour Chief Matsumoto a cup of tea.¡± Matsumoto had rushed all the way from the subway station without a break, heading straight over to Gang Tianwu¡¯s place without even time for a drink, drenched in sweat. He thanked Nagano for the drink and drank down a whole cup of water in one go, finally catching his breath, ¡°I apologize for the bluntness, Group Leader Gang, I will spare you the courtesiesa€¡±there was no issue with the information, but how much do you know about Bertrand Guy?¡± ¡°Oh, that hunter ranked second? Do you remember him?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Gang Tianwu nodded. He had personally confirmed the final participant list, so of course, he remembered, especially the one ranked second, almost by heart. ¡°Bertrand Guy, born in Minnesota State of Ugly Country, has held a Professional Hunter¡¯s license for over thirty years, enlisted in his youth, served with distinction, retired after ten years, has been a truck driver, hunter, archer, actor, singer, sailor, engineer, farmer, and the total number of Black Bears and Brown Bears he has hunted exceeds fifteen. A very impressive record.¡± Bertrand¡¯s career was incredibly diverse, with such a broad range that it made one wonder if it was fabricated. This man in his fifties had an extremely rich life experience. He quickly drew the attention of the vetting personnel after registering and was placed on the list. Gang Tianwu had also agreed readily upon seeing it. Linking Matsumoto¡¯s previous behavior and his hasty visit now, there must be a good reason. After some thought, Gang Tianwu pondered, ¡°Is there a problem with him?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t be certain, but there¡¯s a good chance.¡± Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga didn¡¯t dare make a definitive statement and instead asked Gang Tianwu, ¡°Do you know about Tiangella?¡± ¡°Tiangella? What is that?¡± Gang Tianwu was puzzled. Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga took a deep breath, relieved. As expected, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department was also unaware of this. He explained with a hint of pride, ¡°It¡¯s a multinational corporation¡­¡± Just then, Nagano arrived with a second cup of water. Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga received it with a smile but didn¡¯t gulp it down this time. Instead, he held it in his hand, sipping it slowly. Without utilization, there is no protection. This was the corporate motto of Tiangella and their longstanding public declaration. In this aspect, it almost matched what Bi Fang had said in an interview program six months earlier. Commercial hunting is the protection of wildlife. This viewpoint was briefly explained by Bi Fang, underpinning it with a systematic chain of relationships. Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga took out his phone, opened a video, and showed it to Gang Tianwu. In the Old Stone Age, when the species of humans had just been born, agriculture did not exist. As omnivores at the top of the food chain, humans relied on a combination of hunting and gathering to survive and evolve. Like other dominant species at the top of the food chain, they were merely a part of Nature. In the process of hunting, intelligent humans invented spears and bows and arrows, and with these tools, they developed cooperative group survival habits, laying the foundation for modern civilization. At this juncture, humans completely became the dominators of Nature, with a very direct food chain relationship with wild animals. The upper-level species depended on preying on the lower-level species for survival and continuity. In the Old Stone Age, there was absolutely no concept of wildlife protection in humans. However, through repeated trial and error, humans instinctively understood that they should not over-hunt or forage excessively. First, there were no proper storage conditions to preserve surplus harvest, and second, it would cause unnecessary trouble for the next hunting expedition. There are two most direct pieces of evidence for this point. First, today we can see domesticated species such as pigs, horses, cattle, and sheep that were formed during the Old Stone Age. The process of domestication is itself a form of ¡°protection¡± of animals. Livestock such as pigs, horses, cattle, and sheep have become the most numerous mammals in the world because their value makes humans willing to keep them in enclosures. Second, research on the still-existing Old Stone Age tribal civilizations reveals that they consciously protected the healthy breeding and continuation of the species in their habitats. This notion of not overusing resources is the sprout of animal protection awareness, a practice that creates conditions for better and sustainable utilization in the future. By not going against the agricultural seasons, grains will be abundant beyond consumption; by not over-fishing with nets in the pool of spawning fish, fish and turtles will be plentiful beyond consumption; by cutting wood only at the right times, the forest resources remain inexhaustible. Grains and fish are abundant, wood is inexhaustible; these practices ensure that people can live and die without regret. To live and die without regret is the beginning of the Way of the King. Mencius explained this truth thousands of years ago. The subsequent series of developments became even more complex, as the pastoral-agricultural model replaced the hunting-gathering model. Human survival no longer relied on the direct use of wild animals, and the direct food chain relationship between the two began to relax. Later, the emergence of metallurgy meant that metal farming tools began to be used on a large scale, farming efficiency underwent a qualitative change, and more and more human groups began to completely free themselves from the direct use of wild animals. Humans had truly become the only species at the very top of the food chain; there were no wild animals that humans could not hunt. Humans began to focus on the efficiency of obtaining meat, with large-scale livestock farming replacing hunting, and the main purpose of hunting was no longer just for consumption. As the wheels of history continued to roll, in the 15th to 17th centuries, the Age of Discovery dawned, giving rise to geographical discoveries and the great exchange of species. Potatoes and sweet potatoes appeared, and a more efficient system of pastoral-agriculture further squeezed the remaining hunting-gathering model. The connection between humans and nature became vague. Humans began to segregate themselves from wild animals, living in towns and cities, while wildlife occupied the jungles. The food chain relationship between the two disappeared almost entirely. They no longer reproduced in the same area, their territories clearly demarcated, without overlapping. The wheel stops at modern times. Humans have become a species that can only survive and develop by relying on the economic society. As modern agriculture and animal husbandry become more developed, ordinary people no longer need to use wild animals, and their value plummets, becoming merely the thrill pursuit and aesthetic pastime of the wealthy. Ordinary people might take action over the price of pork rising, but they wouldn¡¯t pay any attention to things the rich enjoy. ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? The speech in the video came to an abrupt halt. Gang Tianwu pressed the pause button; he had been patient enough: ¡°What does Chief Matsumoto wish to say?¡± Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga sat with a straight, serious posture: ¡°I would like to ask you to agree to suspend the hunting season and permit me to arrest Bertrand Guy!¡± Chapter 585 - Chapter 585 Chapter 582 Log Out ?Chapter 585: Chapter 582 Log Out Chapter 585: Chapter 582 Log Out Bosen had been captured for three days, during which there had been no news. Even when Bi Fang actively inquired about it, Gang Tianwu, who was always ingratiating, did not reveal any information. However, from the tone of their chat, it was evident that he seemed very annoyed and hadn¡¯t found the mastermind behind the incidents. In response to Bi Fang¡¯s initiative to chat, Gang Tianwu appeared even happier, pouring out a wealth of complaints and talking about his series of workplace experiences. He criticized his superiors for being incompetent, yet capable of throwing their weight around due to their seniority, claiming that this was why Japanese society remained stagnant and failed to develop. To someone like Bi Fang, a Huaxia person, such workplace pressures in Japan were very hard to understand, and so on and so forth. Many times, The lines seemed to treat Bi Fang as a friend, but Gang Tianwu¡¯s professional ethics were exceptionally high, and even so, he did not reveal any news. At the end of the conversation, he expressed how much he enjoyed talking to Bi Fang, saying Bi Fang was a friend worth confiding in and that he would invite him for a meal next time. After that, there was no more communication. After hanging up the phone, Mugalen grew anxious and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the situation? What exactly is going on?¡± This feeling of not knowing what was happening was unbearable. Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t knowa€¡±he wouldn¡¯t say, but it seems he hasn¡¯t discovered what we¡¯re doing. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? His attitude towards me is still the same.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Having been captured for three days, the first thing Gang Tianwu had to face was how to explain it to the audience. How to explain? There was no explanation. All suspicions were under investigation, including the issue of hunter traps. They could only post an announcement saying Bosen was unwell and that the live stream would be temporarily suspended. The audience naturally was not satisfied, without any prior indication. You say he¡¯s unwell, but where is he himself? Why doesn¡¯t he come out and explain? Some even suspected a conspiracy theory, doubting that the Japanese program tampered with something to make their own hunter look better in the rankings. ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï They wouldn¡¯t dare to meddle with Bi Fang, a Huaxia person, because he carried too much weight, and any interference with him might lead to trouble. But the second-place old man¡­ This theory actually gained considerable acceptance and recently seemed to be intensifying, causing Gang Tianwu, who was also a team leader, to feel annoyed every time he saw Chief Matsumoto. When people can¡¯t solve a problem, they often start blaming the person who posed the problem. Morishita Suji had even issued an order that, within a week before the 23rd gathering, they must pry the guy¡¯s mouth open. Ginza, Tokyo¡¯s busiest commercial district, known as ¡°the most expensive place in Asia,¡± symbolizes Japan¡¯s prosperity. Every weekend, vehicular traffic here is prohibited, turning it into a pedestrian commercial street crowded with people. Inside a certain Japanese-style restaurant on the street side, ¡°Damn it!¡± The bottle of liquor slammed onto the table with a loud bang, startling the surrounding waitstaff. Matsumoto Kiyotaka quickly apologized with a smile, pulling at Gang Tianwu to lower his voice: ¡°Team leader Gang Tianwu, you¡¯re drunk, don¡¯t make such loud declarations here!¡± Gang Tianwu¡¯s face was slightly flushed, his voice suppressing anger. Fortunately, he was conscious enough to lower his volume, still discontent: ¡°This guy¡¯s mouth is just too tough. Three whole daysa€¡±no, an entire three daysa€¡±and he hasn¡¯t said a thing. He even claims that he doesn¡¯t know about Dolphin Bay! Ridiculous!¡± They had interrogated Bosen for a full three days. He knew nothing about everything; always asking for a lawyer. He even claimed he didn¡¯t know about Dolphin Bay, unfamiliar with dolphin migration patterns, nor aware of the recent installation of cameras. Three denials. Could that be believed?!! ¡°Does he think he can fool me? A seasoned veteran of twenty years¡­erm¡­¡± Matsumoto Kiyotaka covered Gang Tianwu¡¯s mouth, ¡°Group Leader Gang, don¡¯t talk anymore. What can we do? This guy has probably killed more people than we¡¯ve ever seen, too mentally strong.¡± Matsumoto Kiyotaka felt like the person across from him was treating him like a fool, and it annoyed him to the extreme. ¡°Has there been any movement from that group?¡± ¡°After being provoked that day, they have been very well-behaved these past few days, hardly even leaving their rooms.¡± Matsumoto Kiyotaka knew who Gang Tianwu was asking about; it was none other than Richard and his people. ¡°They really are in contact!!!¡± Gang Tianwu was energetically assured. If there wasn¡¯t a secret connection, why would Richard and the others suddenly settle down a lot right after Bosen was captured? It was nothing but the disappearance of their outside support. ¡°Yes, yes, Group Leader Gang is truly insightful, with brilliant strategies,¡± Matsumoto Kiyotaka showered him with compliments, as he could feel Gang Tianwu¡¯s dislike for him and tried his best to please. After all, he was a ¡°Capital Official.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Gang Tianwu snorted out a breath of alcohol, feeling a little proud; even his ill feelings towards Matsumoto had somewhat dissipated. He patted Matsumoto Kiyotaka on the shoulder, ¡°Chief Matsumoto, watch closely. This time, we¡¯re not facing ordinary criminals, but a gang, a vicious and ruthless gang.¡± ¡°Ah right, right, right.¡± Matsumoto Kiyotaka nodded eagerly. ¡°Hahaha!¡± The memory of the internet always fades quickly. Three days ago, the disappearance of Bosen left the audience unsatisfied, with a great impact. But by the fourth day, the trend started to slow down, and by the fifth day, it faded gradually just like colors washing out. A week later, even if Gang Tianwu had not managed to pry anything open, he still sighed in relief. August 10th. Less than two weeks remained before the annual meeting of the Whaling Commission was convened. ?¡ëtienne opened WhatsApp on his phone, feeling a bit clumsy with it as a Frenchman, he usually used FB Messenger. After about ten days and paying an extortionate fee for the aquarium admission, under Bi Fang¡¯s guidance, ?¡ëtienne had finally recruited a significant number of followers¡­ cough, cough¡­ friends. The cost: emptying his entire year¡¯s allowance. But for the noble cause of saving dolphins, it was all worth it! Among these friends were many Frenchmen, but also a good number from other parts of Europe; to cater to them, ?¡ëtienne had to give up FBM and switch to WA. Initially, he just thought some of his Goose fans were a bit radical, and some constantly contacted him privately, trying to pull him into some embracing organization, to become a formidable pair with some girl, and fiercely advocate for environmentalism together. Fortunately, ?¡ëtienne had some brains; he could never agree to such a thing, that would make him a fool. Imagine for a moment. ¡°How dare you!¡± On some podium, ?¡ëtienne, in a suit and tie, holding a microphone, shouting that phrase to the crowd below. The image was too beautiful; he dared not envision it. Opening the patchwork group chat he had assembled, ?¡ëtienne recalled the words Bi Fang cautioned him with the night before. After pondering for a moment, he wrote an email to each group member. ¡°Dear friends, my friend, yes, the famous Adventurer, is currently in Japan participating in the hunting season. Unfortunately, he has stumbled upon a secret in Taiji Town¡­¡± He wrote nearly two pages of content, and after confirming everything was correct, ?¡ëtienne clicked send to the whole group. ¡°Phew, now it¡¯s time to wait and see it ferment.¡± Bi Fang, who received ?¡ëtienne¡¯s message, nodded, then thought about his own social contacts. ¡°I wonder if I can get the airlines to give a discount on the tickets?¡± Chapter 586 - Chapter 586 Chapter 583 Reserve a Spot ?Chapter 586: Chapter 583: Reserve a Spot Chapter 586: Chapter 583: Reserve a Spot Cicadas called desperately, the world outside was full of blinding sunlight, and the shadows of the eaves fell on the ground as sharply as knives. Gang Tianwu stood by the window and tugged at his collar; the air conditioning repairman had not arrived yet. In just about ten minutes, he was already feeling unbearably hot, his saliva as sticky as glue in his throat, the office stuffy as if it was the steamer where demons cooked the fat monk in ¡°Journey to the West.¡± There was a knock at the door, and a team member stood at the entrance and said, ¡°Team Leader Gang Tianwu, someone wishes to see you.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga from Taiji Town.¡± ¡°Do I know him?¡± ¡°The day before yesterday, Chief Matsumoto asked us for hunter information for the hunting season.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± As soon as the team member mentioned it, Gang Tianwu recalled some memories, quickly walked back to his seat, tidied up the desk in the office, then wiped his sweat and nodded, ¡°Please invite Chief Matsumoto in.¡± A moment later, Gang Tianwu stood up to welcome him, ¡°Ah, Chief Matsumoto graces us with your presence; why didn¡¯t you say something in advance? How was it, did you look over the data from last time? Any issues? Nagano, pour a cup of tea for Chief Matsumoto.¡± Matsumoto had rushed over all the way from the subway station without a moment to rest, heading straight for Gang Tianwu¡¯s place without even time for a drink, his whole body covered in sweat. He thanked Nagano with a nod, gulped down a whole cup of water, then finally got his breath back, ¡°Sorry Team Leader Gang, I¡¯ll skip the formalities. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï There were no issues with the data, but how much do you know about Bertrand?¡± ¡°Oh, the hunter ranked number two? Do you remember him?¡± ¡°I do.¡± Gang Tianwu nodded. He had confirmed the final participant list himself, so of course he remembered, especially the second-ranked one, almost reciting it by heart. ¡°Bertrand Guy, born in Ugly Country Minnesota State, has held a Professional Hunter¡¯s license for over thirty years. Joined the military in his youth and performed excellently. After ten years, he retired, was a truck driver, hunter, archer, actor, singer, sailor, engineer, farmer, and has hunted down a total of over fifteen Black Bears and Brown Bears, a rather impressive resume.¡± Bertrand¡¯s career was extremely diversified, with such a wide range that it even made one suspect it was fabricated. This man in his fifties had an extraordinarily rich life experience. He quickly caught the attention of the reviewers after registration and was added to the list. Gang Tianwu also agreed quite readily when he saw it. Taking into account Matsumoto¡¯s previous actions and his hasty visit, it certainly wouldn¡¯t be without a reason. Gang Tianwu pondered for a while, ¡°Is there a problem with him?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t be certain, but there¡¯s a high probability.¡± Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga did not dare to be too definitive. He counter-questioned Gang Tianwu, ¡°Do you know about Tiangella?¡± ¡°Tiangella? What¡¯s that?¡± Gang Tianwu was puzzled. Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga breathed a sigh of relief, as expected, even the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department didn¡¯t know about it. He explained with a slight sense of pride, ¡°It¡¯s a transnational companya€|¡± Just then, Nagano brought a second cup of water. Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga accepted it with a smile, this time not drinking it all in one go but holding it in his hand and sipping it gradually. Without utilization, there is no conservation. That was Tiangella¡¯s company motto, as well as their longstanding public statement. From this point of view, it was almost identical to what Ben had said in an interview program six months ago. Commercial hunting is conserving wildlife. This was a point that Bi Fang had elaborated on briefly, behind which was a systemic relationship chain. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga took out his phone, opened a certain video, and showed it to Gang Tianwu for him to watch. In the Old Stone Age, when the species of humans had just emerged, agriculture had not yet appeared. As an omnivorous species at the top of the food chain, humans relied on a combination of hunting and gathering for survival and development and were, like other dominant species at the apex of the food chain, simply a part of Nature. During the process of hunting, the intelligent humans invented spears and bows and arrows, which led to the emergence of collaborative group livinga€¡±an important foundation for modern civilization. At this juncture, humans completely became the overlord of Nature, with a very direct food chain relationship with wild animals. The upper-tier species depended on preying upon those below for survival and propagation. In the Old Stone Age, humans absolutely lacked the concept of wildlife conservation. However, through repeated trial and error, humans instinctively learned not to overhunt or overgather. First, because there were no good storage conditions to preserve excess harvest, and second, because it would create unnecessary difficulties for the next hunt. There are two most direct pieces of evidence for this point. First, the domesticated species we see today, such as pigs, horses, cattle, and sheep, came into being during the Old Stone Age; the process of domestication was a way of ¡°protecting¡± animals. Livestock such as pigs, horses, cattle, and sheep have become the most numerous mammals in the world, largely because their value made humans willing to keep them. Second, studies of still-existing Old Stone Age tribal civilizations have found that they consciously protect the population health and breeding continuity of the species within their habitat. This awareness of not overexploiting is the germ of the concept of animal protection, a practice that creates conditions for better sustainable use in the future. ¡°If one follows the proper agricultural seasons, the harvest of grain will be more than one can eat; if one does not overfish with nets, the fish and turtles will be more than one can eat; if one cuts timber only at the right times, the wood will be more than one can use. Having more grain and fish than one can eat, and more wood than one can use, ensures that people can live and die without regret.¡± ¡°Living and dying without regreta€¡±the beginning of the Royal Way.¡± Mencius stated this principle thousands of years ago. Subsequent developments brought more complex changes: the pastoral-agricultural model replaced the hunting-gathering model, and humans¡¯ survival no longer depended directly on wild animals. The direct food chain relationship between them began to loosen. Later on, the advent of metallurgy led to the large-scale use of metal agricultural toolsa€¡±which fundamentally changed farming efficiency. More and more human groups began to completely break free from direct dependence on wild animals. Humans definitely became the only species at the very top of the food chain, with no wild animals they couldn¡¯t hunt. Humans began to focus on the efficiency of obtaining meat; large-scale animal husbandry replaced hunting, and the primary purpose of hunting was no longer just for food. As the wheels of history kept turning, the 15th to the 17th centuries ushered in the Age of Exploration, which led to the great geographical discoveries and the great exchange of species. Potatoes and sweet potatoes appeared, and a more efficient pastoral-agricultural model further squeezed out the remaining hunting-gathering model, blurring the bond between humans and nature. Humans began to separate themselves from wild animals, with humans living in towns and wild animals occupying the jungles. The food chain relationship between the two all but disappeared, and they no longer propagated and thrived in the same areaa€¡±their territories clearly delineated and non-intersecting. The wheel of history stops in modern times. Humans have completely become a species that can only survive and develop by relying on the economic society. With modern agriculture and animal husbandry becoming more and more developed, ordinary people no longer need to utilize wild animals. Thus, their value has fallen again and again, rendering them merely a pursuit of stimulation and aesthetic interest for the wealthy. Ordinary people might take concrete action over the price increase of pork, but they won¡¯t spare half a thought over what the rich like. The words in the video abruptly stopped as Gang Tianwu pressed the pause button. He was already being very patient, ¡°What does Chief Matsumoto wish to say?¡± Sitting upright and proper, Matsumoto Kiyonaga said, ¡°I would like to ask for your approval to suspend the hunting season, and to permit me to arrest Bertrand Guy!¡± Chapter 587 - Chapter 587 Chapter 584 Capture Alive ?Chapter 587: Chapter 584: Capture Alive Chapter 587: Chapter 584: Capture Alive The situation in Taiji Town was somewhat too complex, and Bi Fang could no longer pay attention to the specifics of Bosen. He was more focused on the completion of the majority of the Dolphin Bay documentary, which had already entered its final stages. At this moment, Bi Fang was more interested in accomplishing another task assigned by the Systema€¡±capturing a mature Black Bear alive. How to capture a mature Black Bear alive? Ninety-nine percent of people faced with this question would clearly be at a loss, but there might be that one percent who could have a solution. Bi Fang stepped on a tree root, pulling up the bark in his hand, taut as a bowstring. ¡°In wilderness survival, the role of rope is obvious. It can be used to make escape tools, hammocks, self-defense weapons, bamboo rafts, hunting traps, and so on. It¡¯s safe to say that wilderness survival is impossible without rope.¡± ¡°If you find yourself in the wilderness without ready-made rope, then you should learn how to make one from suitable plants.¡± ¡°Some tree barks with high-quality fibers are the best choices for making ropes. Especially willow bark, which contains very high-quality fibers. We usually take bark from newly grown young willows.¡± ¡°Inner bark from dead willows and inside the branches are also good choices, but if the willow has been dead for a long time, most of its bark may have rotted. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Therefore, you should test the strength of its fibers before using it.¡± Bi Fang straightened the bark in his hand, and with all his might, he pulled on it. The bark performed exceptionally well, showing no signs of breaking. ¡°Apart from strength, we also look at whether the fibers are rough. We can tie a clove hitch, joining two long fibers together. When pulling apart, the force should be just right. If the fibers suddenly break, it indicates that they are too brittle; if they slide apart, the fibers are too slippery. Suitable fibers will twine together.¡± After another pull, it met expectations. ¡°Looks pretty good,¡± Bi Fang let out his breath, slightly out of puff, ¡°If the tree is alive, you must never ring bark it, as this would prevent the tree from transporting nutrients and cause it to die. However, there¡¯s no such problem with a tree that¡¯s already dead.¡± Bi Fang climbed the tree, broke off a few branches, and showed them to the camera for the audience to see. He noted that the buds had already shrunk and withered, and after scraping the bark, he found it was totally discolored and devoid of moisture. ¡°The buds have shrunk and dried up, and there is no green in the barka€¡±there¡¯s an eighty percent chance that it¡¯s dead. Let¡¯s check its roots¡­¡± Bi Fang pulled out a harpoon from his waist and plunged it into the soil, rocking it back and forth to unearth a large clump of dirt, revealing the willow¡¯s roots. They were just as dry, without a hint of moisture. ¡°The roots look the same; it¡¯s practically a hundred percent dead.¡± ¡°It is relatively rare to see willows die, considering they seem to be a staple in the Jiangnan Water Towns. However, willows can even grow on the Tibetan Plateau, showing their incredible vitality.¡± ¡°This is because willow bark sap contains salicylic acid, which is the main ingredient in aspirin, and is also a kind of aggressive chemical weapon for willows. It allows them to seize the moisture and nutrients they need. Therefore, under the same conditions, willows are more tenacious than other plants.¡± [It seems that Lightning-Struck Wood is usually willow, right?] [What¡¯s Old Fang doing with so many ropes? Has he invented a new tactic?] These days, Bi Fang¡¯s bear-hunting tactics have been diverse, from face-to-face combat to poisoning, then to traps; almost every time, his method was different, offering quite a spectacle. Seeing Bi Fang making so many ropes, many viewers were looking forward to what method he would use to hunt bears this time. Bi Fang smiled but did not speak. In a hunt that was attempting to capture a Black Bear alive, Bi Fang¡¯s efforts seemed a bit too outstanding. The task specified to find an adult black bear, but it did not specify the gender, Bi Fang¡¯s plan was to ideally find a smaller female bear with a body length between one meter one and one meter two. Black bears of this size, when standing, would even be half a head shorter than Bi Fang, which meant the danger to him had been minimized. Afterward, he would make some traps with rope to further restrict movement, there should be no problem then, as long as he could loop around one of the limbs. Confirming that the willow tree in front of him was indeed dead, Bi Fang did not hold back, he climbed the willow, inserted the knife into the bark, and scraped off a piece. With a downward slice, the whole strip of bark was peeled off vertically. ¡°Apart from willow bark, nettles, bamboo, palm plants, spruce roots, and lampwick grass are all good materials for making rope.¡± ¡°Find some nettles that have grown for a long time and have long stalks, soak them in water for a period, then lay them on a smooth stone slab, and strike with a smooth-surfaced stone club. This tears the outer surface, revealing the fiber-rich interior, then carefully comb through, remove the flesh, and hang to dry before it can be used for making rope.¡± ¡°Roots that grow underground or even those that surface are usually soft and strong, spruce roots are particularly strong, and the Native Americans in North America would often sew birch bark together with rope made from spruce roots to create canoes.¡± ¡°Today I will demonstrate the wrapping method of rope making.¡± Bi Fang took out a bunch of bark and rubbed it against rocks until it all turned into fine fiber bundles. After that, he placed some plant fibers together and rotated them clockwise. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter which direction you rotate, the main thing is to keep the direction consistent. When you need to add more fibers, offset their ends.¡± Bi Fang, who had already made three fibers, secured them together and continued to twist each fiber until it was tight enough. Then he tied a hitching tie at the end of each fiber, which was made of small twigs, making the rotation even more convenient. Placing the three strands together, Bi Fang began to twist in the opposite direction. He continued to add and twist until he reached the number of ropes he believed were necessary. ¡°When making it, sometimes you feel like you are in a difficult position and it doesn¡¯t go smoothly. At this time, you can fix the completed part; keep each strand tight. You can wrap the finished part around a trunk, making the rotating length shorter.¡± ¡°Finally, the ends of the rope need to be secured in some way to prevent them from fraying. Then wrap and tie the rope tightly to avoid abrasion.¡± A hemp rope as thick as a finger was made, and although it didn¡¯t seem very thick, its strength was actually quite astonishing, and definitely two adults could not break it. Even the rope Bi Fang made could support a tug-of-war contest of about ten people, so it was more than enough to restrain a black bear. After bundling the rope over his shoulder, Bi Fang began to look for suitable places to set traps. And it was different this time. When Bi Fang hunted, he always tried to find the biggest target, and often the larger the bear, the more aggressive and domineering its personality, but smaller ones were different. From this perspective, animals did not differ much from humans. Those with weaker bodies usually had introverted, insecure personalities, while those who were physically robust tended to be more confident. If not properly guided, such confidence could even turn into domination, which was especially common in kindergartens and elementary schools where moral values are still immature. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? Small black bears would flee upon seeing humans. Chapter 588 - Chapter 588 Chapter 585 Reserve a Spot ?Chapter 588: Chapter 585: Reserve a Spot Chapter 588: Chapter 585: Reserve a Spot It might be a bit late. Try to get it done before one o¡¯clock. The cicada pupae in the bamboo basket were still squirming, dense and numerous, enough to drive someone with a fear of insects insane. All of these were caught by Bi Fang to prepare for lunch. These guys are a solid source of high protein. ¡°Cicadas are rich in nutrients, with a dry protein content of over 70%, about 7% fat, vitamins, and various beneficial trace elements that are higher than those found in general meat products, hence they can be dubbed the protein kings of today¡¯s food.¡± ¡°You guys don¡¯t need to be scared. Has anyone ever eaten this? It¡¯s quite delicious.¡± [I¡¯ve eaten it!] [Get it away, get it away now, I¡¯m going crazy!] [If I see it again, I¡¯m unfollowing, you see what you¡¯re doing!] [Crunchy and oh so delicious!] ¡°Hahaha.¡± Bi Fang laughed heartily, ¡°The fear of insects in humans, much like with snakes, is something etched into our genes; aside from insects and snakes, lions and tigers are the same.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã0 But if we were face to face without protection, many people would probably pee their pants from fear.¡± ¡°Perhaps a few thousand years from now, when insects are rarely seen, we¡¯ll forget our fear of them and might even find them cute.¡± [Don¡¯t just etch any bizarre thing into our genes!] [Let me take a look at what¡¯s in your genes. Oh, God, it¡¯s so weird, let me take another look.] Digging a pit, Bi Fang sat on a rock, skewering the cicada pupae on a small stick and sticking it into the mud beside the fire, clearly seeing the pupae slowly change color under the high temperature, turning from light brown to an ancient bronze with a metallic sheen. Many people might not be able to stomach the idea of eating bugs, but there are those who relish the thought. From the appetizing aroma wafting through the air at this moment, it was clear that Bi Fang was among the latter. ¡°These juvenile cicadas are also known as ¡®nymphs.¡¯ The male cicada makes a sound to attract the female to mate with it, using its sharp ovipositor to penetrate the tree and lay eggs until the nymphs hatch the following year and live underground for several or even more than ten years before emerging. Throughout their long life, they must undergo many molts, with the final molt marking their transformation into adults.¡± ¡°When they become adults, they make sounds, and the male cicada¡¯s is a high-frequency noise at hundreds of times per second, which helps the female locates a suitable mate. It¡¯s like now, anywhere we go we can hear cicadas. Sometimes I find it annoying, not able to hear anything but their calls, wishing I could catch them all in one fell swoop.¡± [Catch them all in one fell swoop: refers to eating everything you see.] [I respectfully decline (it¡¯s tiring) a lifetime of insects.] [Ah, how delicious cicada pupae are! Surely, no one hasn¡¯t tried them?] ¡°However, some silkworms inherently carry amoebas spread through eggs and feces, which can cause toxic reactions after eating these inherently deficient pupae. Moreover, molds, bacteria, and parasites in some silkworm pupae have flourished after processing and ¡®surviving the great difficulties,¡¯ these toxins cause the pupae¡¯s proteins to denature and decompose, producing toxins. If some people are sensitive to toxins, consuming silkworm pupae on an empty stomach before a meal increases toxin absorption, causing poisoning. Eating silkworm pupae while drinking alcohol can worsen the poisoning. So, when you eat them, you need to be cautious, look carefully; avoid the weirdly shaped ones and those grown with hair.¡± Grilling insects is much simpler than cooking meat; it doesn¡¯t take long for them to be thoroughly cooked. Bi Fang picked up a skewer and, like nibbling on kebabs, bit into it, the crunch resonating in his mouth. Indeed, it was good. ¡°I think it tastes much better than wild animal meat,¡± Bi Fang said, chewing and nodding. Most wild animal meats were gamey and tough; even the pre-tooth change Bi Fang would find it easy to get food stuck in his teeth. Many people love to eat the legs of animals, chicken legs, lamb legs, pork legs, they¡¯re all delicious, but in the wild, animal legs are hard to eat, too tough and pitifully low in fat. Thus, belly meat becomes the choice in the wild; though still gamey, at least it isn¡¯t tough. ¡°But in wilderness survival, food is always a problem. When you have something to eat, anything tastes good. Don¡¯t be too picky.¡± [By the way, why does it seem like we didn¡¯t see Bosen today?] [Bosen? Who is Bosen?] [No way, dude, you didn¡¯t just watch Old Fang¡¯s livestream, did you?] [Yes, I cough when I watch other people¡¯s livestreams] [Now that you mention it, it really seems like it. The Japan official livestream room, after showing Sato, jumped directly to Boss Fang here.] Once someone mentioned it in the barrage of comments, it quickly resonated with others. Every day, the Japan livestream room starts from the last place and plays until the first place, going through the rankings in reverse order. But today, it seems that they jumped from the third-placed Sato, skipping Bosen, and went directly to the first-placed Bi Fang. ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï [Hahaha, could it be that Boss Fang has dropped in rankings again, overtaken by Bosen?] [Boss Fang has gotten lazy again; he¡¯s made his fortune and doesn¡¯t care about this small change anymore. I¡¯m so jealous.] [Boss Fang, take me with you to make money. If you bring me in your livestream, it¡¯s like having an extra leg!] [A hind leg?] Not only other Hunters, but Bosen himself also noticed that something was off. Although he didn¡¯t enjoy the huge privilege of having his own livestream room like other Hunters, there should still be viewers mocking and commenting in barrages from time to time. Today wasn¡¯t any different in that respect, but they all seemed to be the same few people over and over again, with many meaningless repetitive flatteries. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Bosen was somewhat confused. Was this a bug? A subtle atmosphere began to spread gradually. Bosen was somewhat nervous, but his rich experience helped him quickly regain his composure as he carefully considered whether he had slipped up anywhere. His decision to participate in the competition had been spontaneous, and he hadn¡¯t told anyone. Apart from that one time with the crossbow trap, all his other moves had been very covert, even confident enough to deceive Bi Fang. With that in mind, Bosen calmed down, showing no sign of panic, everything as usual. Then, in the afternoon. Bi Fang and Mugalen suddenly received a message from the program organizers. At first glance, both of them were so shocked they almost jumped, thinking that everything they had done these days had been exposed. But on second thought, it shouldn¡¯t be; if that were the case, they should be invited by the police for a conversation, not receiving a text notification from the program organizers. After reading the whole message, they could only make out one sentence. Bertrand Guy had an issue, and they needed to be cautious. If necessary, they should press the rescue button, and the security team was on standby, ready to provide all-angle protection. ??? Mujialun¡¯s reaction to the message was something Bi Fang didn¡¯t know, but he was puzzled. He suspected that the program organizers might be setting a trap for him, trying to fish for something through an unknown method on their end. But after thinking it over for a while, he couldn¡¯t make sense of it, because Bosen did indeed have an issue, and just looking at that point, it seemed reasonable¡­ However, was the problem what he thought it was? Bi Fang fell into deep thought. Who was the undercover? Chapter 589 - Chapter 589 Chapter 586 Here it comes ?Chapter 589: Chapter 586: Here it comes Chapter 589: Chapter 586: Here it comes ¡°There are many ways to restrict the movements of prey without harming their lives; the simplest is to dig a pit, a deep pit.¡± Bi Fang scattered fallen leaves and soil over the ground to conceal the traces of the trap. Often, animals aren¡¯t aware of traps because they¡¯re smart, but merely because they tend to stay away from unfamiliar objects. ¡°Before you learn to set animal traps, you must understand that in many places around the world, it¡¯s illegal to do so unless you have to for survival.¡± ¡°Traps can kill endangered species, and not only that, they can cause injuries to large animals and even humans.¡± [Master Fang: It¡¯s illegal to do this, so don¡¯t you guys learn it.] [Although I¡¯m teaching, that doesn¡¯t mean you should do it (Dog¡¯s head)] Bi Fang saw the barrage of comments and couldn¡¯t help laughing, ¡°This is just in case, to broaden your knowledge. What if you need it one day? Besides, I got permission from the forestry bureau the first time I live streamed, and every time thereafter it¡¯s been with consent. I¡¯m a law-abiding citizen.¡± [Law-abiding Boss Fang] [Epic scene] ¡°This time, I¡¯ve set mainly snares, probably the simplest and most primitive trap in the world, commonly known as the neck noose. Despite its simplicity, it has a wide range of prey; just adjust the size of the loop and the thickness of the rope, and it can catch anything from squirrels, wild rabbits, to wolves and wild boars, and even black bears.¡± ¡°However, if you are living in a certain place, settling down, then you need to be careful not to disturb other animals in the area when setting traps to prevent them from becoming aware of the traps you¡¯ve set.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? Waiting for prey is undoubtedly a very patience-consuming task. In the bushes, mosquitoes buzzed around. To avoid his scent being exposed by sudden wind direction changes, Bi Fang covered himself with mud that had been boiled and sterilized, into which he had mixed a considerable amount of willow sap, and finally coated with ash from plants and grasses. Even if approached within three meters, Black Bear would probably mistake Bi Fang for a lush willow tree. Bi Fang sat on the ground, leaning a vine-wrapped spear against his shoulder, constantly adjusting his breathing and lowering his heart rate, making him seem like a boulder covered in moss. Bi Fang¡¯s lips moved slightly, but viewers could still hear clearly what he was saying. ¡°As long as the camouflage is appropriate and the right approach is used, we can get within the effective hunting range of almost any animal. This is the wisdom humanity has gathered over tens of thousands of years.¡± Most predators have their own fixed hunting ranges. But humans, with their strong bodies and brains, have conquered almost the entire world, even the cold Arctic with its Inuit inhabitants. Every form of prey exists in humans¡¯ diet, their weaknesses, their habits, all systematically summarized and experienced. This is the most valuable treasure of humans when hunting primitive style, coupled with an utterly terrifying learning capability. Unfailingly successful. ¡°When you approach prey, you must remain calm.¡± Bi Fang glanced down and to the side, spotting a small bug with a swollen belly, a deep blackish-red under the sunlight, on his arm. A blood-sucking louse. Bi Fang hadn¡¯t even noticed when it had jumped on him; such small insects were easy to overlook, a common part of life in the forest. Bi Fang directly pinched it and tore it out from the flesh, bursting out a disgusting mixture of blood and white pus, causing the audience in front of the screen to feel nauseated. [Damn, that¡¯s disgusting] [Got used to it¡­ Master Fang¡¯s livestream is incredibly clear, sometimes the scenery is truly beautiful, but one has to endure the disgusting parts (Dog¡¯s head)] [A double-edged sword of clarity (facetious)] However, Bi Fang was very calm, as in the rainforest such situations were more common, with leeches, blood-sucking lice, bats, venomous snakes, mosquitoesa€¡±the mosquitoes in the rainforest were not like the ones seen in the city, they were a completely different matter, both poisonous and fierce. In the subtropical regions of Japan, these cases were already fewer. ¡°When you discover lice on your body, you must remove them immediately, and not wait for them to leave on their own.¡± ¡°In areas with many insects, check every one to two hours for lice on your body, and don¡¯t use cigarettes or burning plants to smoke them out, as that only causes them to release a lot of venom. ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Instead, you should use tweezers to grab and directly pull them out from your skin.¡± Bi Fang glanced at his body and found two more lice-infested spots, which he promptly removed. ¡°Insects are very harmful, especially in tropical regions, where they are the main vectors for disease transmission. The most common and often ignored are lice, which can carry many viruses.¡± ¡°For example, Lyme disease, after infection you get fever, headache, and in severe cases it affects the heart and the nervous system, and can even be fatal, and there is no vaccine for the virus, only antibiotics can be used.¡± [Strange cases are increasing] [The world is so dangerous] [Why are there so many disgusting things in the world, viruses, parasites, I¡¯m gonna throw up] ¡°Fortunately, in the vast majority of regions, this risk is relatively low, only people in Ugly Country need to be careful, as about one third of the lice there carry this bacteria.¡± ¡°Once lice land on the body, they will bite into the skin to suck blood, and after about twelve hours, they will release their barbs and inject saliva to destroy the surrounding tissue of the wound, and it is this saliva that may contain bacteria or viruses.¡± ¡°Alright, now we wait for the Black Bear to show up. I have observed the surroundings, and there are many claw marks left on the tree trunks nearby, you see over there.¡± Bi Fang pointed to a nearby tree, half of its bark was rubbed off, and sawdust covered the ground, a sign of the Black Bear frequently scratching itself against the tree. The Black Bear liked this tree very much, perhaps because of its nice smell, getting a fragrant rub every time, or perhaps because the hardness of the wood was just right, excellent for relieving the itch. ¡°It might be an hour, or it might be half a day, in any case, we have time to wait.¡± This approach, essentially, still relied on luck, no one could provide an accurate estimate of when the Black Bear would come, but experienced hunters could usually use the footprints and traces on the ground to calculate how long the bear had been gone and whether it favored this particular area. Bi Fang sat with the audience, and the wait went from morning until afternoon, and all the way to evening, but the Black Bear did not appear. The audience was getting impatient, after all, waiting for a bear was quite tedious and boring. [What¡¯s going on, is it there or not?] [The day lily has gotten cold] Yet Bi Fang remained in good spirits; he did not think his judgment was wrong, on the contrary, the longer the wait, the closer the time of the Black Bear¡¯s arrival. Indeed, the moment the sun set, an unusual noise came from the forest. Bi Fang was instantly alert. ¡°It¡¯s here.¡± Chapter 590 - Chapter 590 Chapter 587 Successful Capture! ?Chapter 590: Chapter 587: Successful Capture! (Placeholder) Chapter 590: Chapter 587: Successful Capture! (Placeholder) This week has been too overwhelming, with experiments and the completion of electives. Once I messed up my routine, I couldn¡¯t get it back on track (covers face) Something about the way things are developing feels off. Right now, Bi Fang¡¯s mind is a bit of a mess. He¡¯s feeling lost about the current situation yet not entirely lost, caught between understanding and not understanding. Bosen didn¡¯t seem like a good person, so it made sense to arrest him. But who he really is and why he should be arrested isn¡¯t very clear to Bi Fang. And for some reason, he has a nagging feeling that Bosen being targeted might be connected to him somehow¡­ The message from the program team instructed Bi Fang to act as usual, that he should keep doing what he¡¯s doing, but they would secretly provide protection and let him live stream and compete boldly. The Japanese Government welcomed Bi Fang¡¯s participation and once again expressed its honor that he had chosen to compete. Between the lines, it all meant: I¡¯m very happy and honored that you can come. There has been a slight mishap with a bad person, but don¡¯t worry, we are already dealing with it. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï After pondering for a while, Bi Fang bit into a cicada and three words popped out between his teeth: ¡°Pretty good.¡± On the other side, Bosen received a notification from the program team, and the unease instantly dissipated: ¡°A bug? So that¡¯s what this is.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Bosen, I¡¯m so sorry. It¡¯s our program team¡¯s mistake, and we have caused you loss, truly sorry,¡± explained the liaison from the program team, trembling. ¡°You seem very nervous?¡± Bosen looked up at the scorching sun in the sky, squinting his eyes. The liaison stuttered out a denial, still trembling. Beside him stood high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Morishita Suji, the person in charge of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Hunting Season Program Group, Gang Tianwu, and the Taiji Town Police Department Chief, Matsumoto Kiyotaka. Even if one didn¡¯t know what had happened, it was clear to any fool that there was an issue. ¡°But your voice is trembling.¡± Gang Tianwu glared at the Oak Tree Company¡¯s liaison officer. He had originally planned to use some internet water army to fool them, but Morishita Suji didn¡¯t agree with that plan, so they changed people, attempting to use the excuse of a bug, not expecting the other party to have such poor psychological quality. ¡°No, no, no, it¡¯s just that the air conditioning is set too low, I¡¯m a bit cold.¡± The liaison made up excuses, with the pressure behind him growing heavier and heavier, until it reached freezing point and he hung up the phone. The room fell into silence. Eventually, the three men turned and left. ¡°What should we do now?¡± Matsumoto Kiyotaka asked Morishita Suji. Morishita Suji then turned to Gang Tianwu, ¡°Gang Tianwu-kun, you are the professional in these matters. What should we do next?¡± Let Taiji Town take care of Taiji Town¡¯s problems. Gang Tianwu felt it was a hassle and rather displeased within. Although the interest chain of Dolphin Bay was huge, the greatest benefits still went to Taiji Town. It was Morishita Suji and Matsumoto Kiyotaka¡¯s concern, not his. He was only dragged into this mess because Bosen participated in the Hunting Season and used it as a front. He really didn¡¯t want to get involved with Poachers! Poaching, arms, traffickinga€¡±these being the three major smuggling activities in the worlda€¡±are not only hugely profitable but also notoriously dangerous to cross. All were vicious people. Get in their way, and your entire family could face misfortune. Gang Tianwu had some connections, and since becoming a police officer, he had always worked in Tokyo and had never encountered Poachers himself, nor had he been to the frontlines. Usually dealing with small thefts, fraud gangs, and impulsive killings at most, murdera€¡±such a serious matter. ¡°` But for these ruthless people, killing was as common as eating dinner, and it could even whet their appetite. Just thinking about it was enough to make someone feel afraid. Morishita Suji¡¯s rank was much higher than his own, so he couldn¡¯t afford to offend him. Matsumoto Kiyotaka was an old hand at this, and he immediately sought Morishita¡¯s protection, effectively shutting Gang Tianwu¡¯s mouth. With this in mind, Gang Tianwu felt an even deeper resentment toward Bertrand Guy, determined to add to his workload. Damn! Gang Tianwu, feeling agitated inside, took a few deep breaths and lowered his head to ponder for a moment, ¡°First, let¡¯s try to lure Bertrand Guy out. If we can avoid a head-on conflict, let¡¯s do so. The guy is a professional hunter and he even has a crossbow that¡¯s nearly as powerful as a heavy crossbow. A direct confrontation could lead to casualties.¡± Although Bertrand was not a good person, his strength had been widely acknowledged over these days. A man who could easily kill a Black Bear, ranked second in the hunting season, carried a lot of weight. ¡°If we can¡¯t trick him, then we¡¯ll move on to violent capture.¡± ¡°Okay, then it¡¯s up to you, Gang Tian-kun!¡± ¡°The capabilities of Squad Leader Gang Tian are truly outstanding, I must admit I¡¯m outmatched. Indeed, the Japanese Empire can only thrive under the leadership of Squad Leader Gang Tian!¡± Gang Tianwu: ¡°¡­¡± Night. Bertrand sat on a rock, grilling meat, and looked at the suddenly appearing contact person with suspicion in his voice, ¡°Pause the broadcast? Rest for three days?¡± The contact person nodded helplessly, ¡°That¡¯s the situation. After the Brown Bear attack happened, we thought it wasn¡¯t a big deal, but the public outcry has been getting worse and worse, with many saying our show is too bloody and violent and shouldn¡¯t be aired.¡± Although a bit flustered, the contact person didn¡¯t know what exactly had happened and just relayed to Bertrand Guy what Gang Tianwu had told him. If he knew that he wasn¡¯t just dealing with a professional hunter but an extremely vicious Poacher, the contact person might have pissed his pants in fear. ¡°Is the public opinion that severe?¡± Bertrand cut off a strip of wild boar belly with his dagger and stuffed it into his mouth, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ve been busy all day, I¡¯m very hungry, forgive me for eating while talking to you. Would you like some?¡± ¡°Oh no, no need.¡± Seeing Bertrand¡¯s aged and kind demeanor, the contact person gradually let down his guard, wasn¡¯t as tense as at the beginning, and even dared to sit down on another rock. ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?0 Bertrand¡¯s eyes flickered, and he made a guess. This guy seems to know nothing. ¡°We are trying our best to control the public opinion. We¡¯re preparing to pause for three days, and maybe after three days, it might be okay,¡± the contact person said straightforwardly. In truth, he was being honest; there had indeed been some discussion following the incident, just not as serious as suggested. ¡°Why would it be okay after three days?¡± ¡°Our program is run by the Eastern Capital¡¯s Metropolitan Police Department, so it won¡¯t be directly banned. By that time, it might simply be reclassified, and once it¡¯s reclassified, things become much simpler.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Bertrand Guy nodded, swallowed the last piece of wild boar meat, wiped the grease from his beard, and stood up to dust off his clothes, ¡°Alright then, let¡¯s get going.¡± The contact person, as if receiving a pardon, hurriedly stood up and said apologetically, ¡°Yes, yes, right this way.¡± Ten minutes later. Bertrand Guy calmly raised the silver bracelet in his hand and looked at the smug Gang Tianwu, ¡°Excuse me, Mr. Policeman, have you made some mistake? Why are you suddenly arresting me?¡± ¡°` Chapter 591 - Chapter 591 Chapter 588 Anomaly ?Chapter 591: Chapter 588: Anomaly Chapter 591: Chapter 588: Anomaly In the dense woods, the sad howls of a Black Bear caused the surrounding animals to scatter and flee. But quickly, the bear¡¯s mouth was circled by hemp ropes, silencing it from making any further noise, Bi Fang held the rope in his hand, circling around the Black Bear, looking for the proper point to start. ¡°The more crucial the moment, the less one can afford to be careless. Under the influence of hormones, many mammals facing dire situations often have an explosive burst of power, especially bears with their inherently great strength.¡± The hemp rope, as thick as a finger, hung from a large tree as broad as the mouth of a bowl, shaking and shedding leaves as the Black Bear tugged at it, appearing quite dangerous. The most difficult part was binding the Black Bear¡¯s hands and feet together, as the trap caused the bear to be restricted in a spread-eagled position, except that one of its rear legs continued to furiously kick against the ground. Bi Fang first encircled this leg, pulling it together with the other hind leg, and after exerting herculean effort, finally wound the hemp rope around them and then secured it tight. The entire backside of the Black Bear collapsed onto the ground, and after Bi Fang fixed its lower half in place, he then dealt with the front half in the same method. By the time he finished these tasks, he was dripping with sweat, exhausted. The Black Bear seemed to have an endless supply of energy. In the countryside, it would take several grown men to hold down a pig for slaughter, let alone a Black Bear. Finally, Bi Fang inserted a thick tree stick between the Black Bear¡¯s front and back limbs and tightened it, completely cutting off the bear¡¯s mobility, leaving it only able to roll on the ground, unable to run or cry out. Just as the Black Bear lost all ability to move, the unchanging electronic tone of the System announced a prompt. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? [Ding! Congratulations to the Host for completing the main task one of the Hunting Feast, the rewards will be settled after all tasks are complete!] ¡°Phew, finally done,¡± Bi Fang sighed in relief upon hearing the completion of the task, knowing that his efforts today were not in vain. He put his spear in the ground and wiped the sweat from his forehead. His arm muscles were sore and tender, clearly from overexertion. Catching a bear wasn¡¯t hard, the difficulty was in how to secure and bind it. The strength of a live bear was tremendous. On the drone¡¯s small screen, the shocked audience also started to express the praise they had been preparing. [Holy shit, a total eye-openera€¡± a live capture of a Black Bear, I¡¯m damn impressed!] [Before I came in, I wondered who could be so badass, but if it¡¯s Master Fang, it¡¯s actually normal (dog emoji)] [666666] [Master Fang is awesome!] [Sniff sniff, I¡¯m giving you my breakfast money as a tip, truly incredible] This is, after all, a live Black Bear, and although the one at hand is somewhat small, it doesn¡¯t change the fact that this is an adult Black Bear. How many people can manage to weave ropes, set a trap, and capture a live Black Bear from scratch in the wilderness? Killing a large wild animal is not difficult; many people exaggerate the physical advantages of ferocious beasts but are utterly ignorant of the power of weapons. The flesh and blood of animals stand no chance against human weaponry. With weapons, humans possess the potential for level-jumping challenges, and even the land dominants such as the African Elephant cannot escape their fate. Don¡¯t assume humans are weak; humans are actually a very belligerent and capable species. Humans became the rulers of Earth, eradicating countless creatures along the way, not by hiding and dodging but with relentless assaults, ¡°Terrifying Upright Ape¡± is a title earned through combat. Although the physical capacity and willpower of most people have been weakened by modern lifestyles, humans have not regressed at a genetic level to the point of no return, the mighty instinct for battle still lurks within everyone¡¯s blood. But what if the hunt changed to capture alive? Without lethal weapons, the difficulty increases by more than a level, which is precisely why the audience was shocked. It¡¯s been a full year since Bi Fang first encountered a Black Bear. The dangerous situation from that meeting remains fresh in the minds of many. People were dumbfounded back then, just like watching ordinary people encounter dangerous beasts on the news, only they never imagined it would actually happen in reality. Of the thousands of viewers at that time, more than half started to follow the daily updates, becoming the most loyal fans and witnesses to the birth of a miracle. A journey from nothing to something. [It¡¯s like another world¡­] [Unknowingly, I¡¯ve been watching Old Fang for a year now] [Wuwuwu, I¡¯m really a fan for a year now. There were only a few fans of Old Fang at the beginning, but now there are over a hundred million globally, damn, it¡¯s glorious!] [Feeling of achievement maxed out!!!] [We used to be beaten by Black Bear to run for our lives, and now we¡¯re capturing it alive!! Awesome!!] [What¡¯s the value of being a pioneer (tactically lean back!)?] The old fans found themselves immersed in a celebration that belonged only to them at that moment. [Envious, I only started watching this year] [I started with the migratory birds] [I¡¯m French, I started watching with the goose] [Humans are the mightiest beasts, wild boars and bears are quite good among animals, but to humans, they¡¯re just prey, especially for hunters, it¡¯s really like that] [@Bi Fang, I hunted a black bear in Ganna, how do I bring it back to my country in the most maximized way? Including its gallbladder, skin, paws, and bones, other organs or whatever are not necessary, if it¡¯s not possible then I can only go shopping] [Holy shit, bro is awesome?!] [Damn, there are amazing people among the fans] [Bear hunting? For real?] [Isn¡¯t bear hunting illegal out there? I¡¯ll report you with a backhand, cyber police, go catch him.] Bi Fang was truly happy, but upon seeing this comment, his brow furrowed suddenly. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï After some thought, he still gave an honest answer. ¡°Other people, don¡¯t listen to someone saying it¡¯s illegal, in fact, if you bring it back yourself, it counts as smuggling. Smuggling is naturally illegal, but if you really want to bring it back, you can hire a specialized import-export company, and they can help you bring the hunting trophies back legally.¡± To bring back trophies, it¡¯s simple; first, you need a company with import and export rights, and then, the black bear locally in Ganna needs to have animal health inspection certificates and reports arranged. Then, arrange for temperature-controlled air transport back to the country, and get a customs broker to handle the customs procedures into Huaxia. When Bi Fang went on his goose hunt, the deer head and deer skin were brought back in this way and were later given to Lord Mu. ¡°However, I want to say that in most cases fur is legal, and many provinces have specific regulations about wildlife organs. If you hunted in British Columbia Province, I would be very suspicious you were poaching, because at least the bear gallbladder must be destroyed on site, and many people overhunt for the bile and discard the meat.¡± ¡°So if your hunting trophy is illegal, I¡¯m sorry, but that¡¯s completely illegal. Also, for the legal route, you will have to pay a hefty fee, which you can¡¯t avoid. Don¡¯t think about sneaking it back because customs truly aren¡¯t vegetarians.¡± British Columbia Province, one of Canada¡¯s four major provinces, has a mild climate and most of its area is forested, making it a haven for black bears. However, hunting there is illegal. Do I have such a capable person among my fans? Unfortunately, when Bi Fang inquired again about the specifics of where this person was, they had already disappeared. [Holy shit, playing disappearing acts?] [Did he vanish because what Bi Fang said hit the nail on the head?] [I mean, just guessing, but could this person have only realized that they were breaking the law after hearing what Old Fang said?] [Sss¡­] Mulling over in his heart, Bi Fang then contacted the staff in Japan. Government workers who usually needed at least ten minutes to arrive after the button was pressed were unexpectedly efficient this time. Almost as soon as Bi Fang pressed the button, not much later, they were already on top of it. So quick? Bi Fang was puzzled. Chapter 592 - Chapter 592 Chapter 589 Taking the Blame ?Chapter 592: Chapter 589: Taking the Blame Chapter 592: Chapter 589: Taking the Blame The arrival of the helicopter was unexpectedly efficient, as if it had been waiting on standby, just waiting for everything to conclude before stepping into the limelight. The heat churned, and its texture was disrupted by the wind. Bi Fang squinted up at the helicopter hovering in mid-air, his hair tips quivering slightly under the rotor wash. His pupils trembled for a full half minute, but he eventually calmed down. Perhaps he had surmised as much all along. No matter how perfectly one covers their tracks, with modern investigative techniques, it is only possible to delay the inevitable. If one wishes to leave no trace, they must do nothing at all. This wasn¡¯t a matter of capability but a facta€¡±the adage ¡°without action, there is no consequence¡± holds true. Bi Fang once told his audience about the golden rule proposed by the father of forensic science, Edmond Locard: ¡°Every contact leaves a trace,¡± which is used to track prey. ?¦Ï??0.§ã0 This applied to himself just as well. Bi Fang didn¡¯t know why these people wanted to capture Bosen. Maybe he was indeed a poacher, or perhaps it was some other misunderstanding, but the Japanese People weren¡¯t fools. Unless someone suddenly came forward to take on all the blame, that could bring the matter to a conclusion. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Is filming outdoors without permission a crime? Yes, and no. If taken seriously, it could be construed as investigating enemy intelligence or surveying terrain. Would Japan deliberately overlook it? Clearly impossible. Bi Fang thought he was ready, but when the moment came, he still felt a tinge of unease. Fortunately, he had made up his mind long ago. He sighed softly and stood in the wind, waiting for the helicopter to descend. The audience was completely unaware of the background, and even less why the helicopter arrived so early. They took it as a coincidence or a testament to the crew¡¯s high efficiency, and they even had the mood for jokes. [666, Japan¡¯s pretty fast with this] [It¡¯s not Japan, it¡¯s Y??ki] [Everyone, mind your manners, use civilized language, what¡¯s wrong with Y??ki? How can you be so discriminatory? Can¡¯t you share a little of the love you have for little flies and mosquitoes with them?] [Who the hell loves little flies and mosquitoes¡­] [So there¡¯s nothing to share lol (Dog¡¯s head)] [666, I was strongly against Teacher Wen leaving the literary world] [Stop bluffing, you were the one who voted in favor] In a burst of laughter, a long comment streaked across the screen. [The smell of tobacco in the air, the hum of air conditioners nearby. Mr. Bi¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t loud, but it was immensely powerful: ¡°I am leaving the literary world.¡± The once noisy hall was now dead silent.] [A young reporter shot up, trembling as he spoke: ¡°Are you really going to leave¡­ to leave the literary¡­¡± ¡°My mind is made up, no need¡­ to say¡­ more.¡±] [Mr. Bi¡¯s voice choked up, tears moistened his eyes, and with a sigh, he turned and left, leaving behind the literary world he dearly loved¡­ ¡°I disagree!¡± that statement echoed throughout the hall.] [That¡¯s right, I was the one who said it. Because the teacher wanted to leave the literary world, I was strongly against it. But he was as stubborn as a mule. The more I opposed him, the more he wanted to leave. Even though I yelled till I was hoarse, urging him not to be rash, my hoarseness couldn¡¯t bring back his receding figure. He was leaving not just this hall, but the entire literary world.] ¡°Hahaha!¡± Seeing the comments, even the somewhat melancholic Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but laugh. His mood suddenly improved, no longer anxious, waiting only for the final outcome to arrive. The helicopter let down its ladder, and the people descending were indeed not the original three crew members, but one by one, police officers in uniform, with batons at their waists, and bulging waist packs, stuffed with suspicious items. The bustling live chat room saw a significant drop in comments, as many viewers realized that something was amiss. What¡¯s this all about, why have the police arrived? Bi Fang laughed, he serenely prepared to face everything¡­ ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Mr. Bi, there was an incident on the road, and coincidentally, we received your request, so we came right over. I deeply apologize that this time we will be taking over Ikeda¡¯s calculations,¡± the lead officer bowed and, disregarding Bi Fang¡¯s surprised reaction, began working with the two people behind him. Afterward, the three of them simply left Bi Fang aside and went straight to the Black Bear. Their eyes and tone were filled with surprise, yet much less fearful than Ikeda¡¯s trio and even non-existent. After all, they were armed, a far cry from the three ordinary people with Ikeda, and two of them had even hunted black bears before. During the bear infestations, it was mainly the police who hunted using firearms in hand. However, faced with a live, bound Black Bear, they were still quite curious, and one even reached out to touch it, jumping back in fright when the bear twitched. ¡°Oh ho ho, it¡¯s really a live bear, eh? Ma Sheng, come and feel this, the texture is quite something!¡± ¡°This is amazing, the first black bear to be captured alive, right?¡± ¡°This is incredible, well-deserved for the man with the utmost freedom on this planet, the strongest in this hunting season; even the Y??ki Hunter is no match!¡± In the trio¡¯s tone, there was not the slightest bit of caution or guard against Bi Fang, only admiration and reverence. The audience also relaxed. [Hahaha, were they so scared of a live bear that they sent the police?] [I always thought that Ikeda was a scaredy-cat] [What a disgrace to us Japanese People!] ¡°How are we going to measure this? Take it back alive, just like that? Seems a bit troublesome.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s the only way, isn¡¯t it? I can¡¯t believe I don¡¯t know how to handle this, hahaha.¡± ¡°Mr. Bi has already tied it up for us, what a thoughtful gesture!¡± Bi Fang was puzzled¡­ and shocked. What¡­ what¡¯s going on? Bi Fang was slightly astonished in his heart, yet he maintained his composure, pacing around a bit closer, and testing the waters, he asked those taking record, ¡°What happened?¡± The previously jovial officers exchanged glances, their expressions became a bit more solemn, and they answered earnestly, ¡°We are truly sorry, Mr. Bi. I know you might have several doubts, but trust me, none of this will interfere with your hunting. On the bright side, there¡¯s good news: you¡¯re the only hunter left on the Kii Peninsula now.¡± ¡°What happened to Mugalen?¡± Bi Fang¡¯s heart tightened. That guy hadn¡¯t gotten into trouble, had he? Bi Fang had a connection with Mugalen; anyone who had watched the past shows would understand, so the three showed no suspicion in their reaction to Bi Fang but still shook their heads. ¡°Sorry, Mr. Bi, we can¡¯t disclose the specifics. Please, go on with your hunting,¡± they said. After that, the three no longer engaged in conversation with Bi Fang and simply carried out their tasks at hand. At last, they reported the score to the dazed Bi Fang and left with the live bear in tow. It wasn¡¯t until nightfall that Bi Fang finally learned everything from Richard and fell into silence. He had never expected such a turn of events. Mugalen had been arrested. The big man from England had voluntarily taken the fall. Chapter 593 - Chapter 593 Chapter 590 The Cause ?Chapter 593: Chapter 590 The Cause Chapter 593: Chapter 590 The Cause Nightfall descended on the Kii Peninsula, and bright sparks flew from the high railway as the train passed by, with pedestrians hurrying by and neon lights shimmering diffusely through the rain. But that was in the Kii Peninsula¡¯s busiest metropolis, and in the more remote Taiji Town, there were no colorful signs and advertisements, just the undisturbed black sea. After pouring rain for more than ten hours straight, all one could see under the round streetlights was a uniform grey expanse, with no clear distinctions. No sooner had the door¡¯s lock snapped shut than a window on the other side opened, and a man with a burlap hood leaped into the room. Richard and the others tensed at once, but relaxed their stiff postures once they made out who the newcomer was. The hood soaked through to the hair beneath, giving off a strong scent of earth; the short-sleeved shirt was wrung out, releasing a stream of brown muddy water and then shaken clean. ¡°Phew, fell over on the way here, covered in mud. Where¡¯s Bi Fang? Isn¡¯t he here yet, or am I late? Oh, thanks.¡± Mugalen scratched his wet hair, the rainwater gathering along his thick, bushy eyebrows and dripping down his jawline to splatter on the floor. He thanked Mond, took the dry towel that was handed to him, wiped off the mix of sweat and rainwater, then casually hung it on the rack, only for the rusty hanger to unexpectedly break off and crash to the ground. The edge of the tube, corroded into a hollow pattern, shattered, spilling a pile of red-brown rust debris all over. Mugalen lifted his hands, ¡°Oh, sorry about that; I didn¡¯t mean to.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Mugalen glanced around the narrow room, finding nowhere suitable for him to sit. No wonder Japanese people have such stocky legs, kneeling all day long, doesn¡¯t that get tiring? The people beside him shuffled over, revealing once again the spot where Bi Fang had been sitting, and Mugalen took his seat: ¡°So, where is he?¡± Mugalen¡¯s build was even larger than Bi Fang¡¯s, and his arrival made the already cramped space feel even tighter, almost creating an illusion that breathing had become difficult. ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Richard glanced toward the door not far away, ¡°He¡¯s already left.¡± ¡°So, the counseling session is over, and there¡¯s nothing else?¡± Regret tinged Richard¡¯s voice, ¡°Yes, sorry about that, for making you come here for nothing.¡± Mugalen chuckled, ¡°Well, that¡¯s not entirely true. It¡¯s actually convenient without him here. Otherwise, it would be a bit awkward; cough cough, I do have something I wanted to discuss with everyone.¡± Everyone leaned forward attentively, ready to listen. Just as Mugalen was about to speak, he suddenly stood upright and sniffed, ¡°Wait, what¡¯s that smell?¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Mond had an epiphany, ¡°just a second.¡± He stood up and opened the bathroom door, and a more intense stench wafted out. The city¡¯s sewers, already in disrepair and gradually clogged, couldn¡¯t withstand the downpour¡¯s strain, often burbling with dark water, spread a faint toilet odor through the cramped housing. Mond, adept at dealing with this, took out a few plastic bags, crumpled them up, and stuffed them into the drain to block the flow of black water. The stench in the air dissipated significantly. Mugalen looked around in surprise, ¡°You guys are living here now?¡± Keke managed a wry smile, ¡°What can we do? It¡¯s already good enough to have a place to stay. At least we don¡¯t have to sleep in the park and avoid being chased away by the police.¡± Mugalen took a deep breath, finding his visit to Japan to be fraught with challenges. People were filming everywhere; a single mistake could get you arrested and deported, and now there wasn¡¯t even a place to stay, forcing them to rent abandoned houses from a lame old man, and even then, they faced intermittent extortion. Sighs filled the room as everyone pondered their situation. After a moment of silence, Mugalen spoke up, ¡°Well, we can only make do for now. Let¡¯s continue talking¡­¡± In the cramped room, everyone listened intently, and as they did, their expressions grew increasingly animated, filled with astonishment as they looked at Mugalen. ¡°We started at the beginning of July, and now it¡¯s mid-August. Almost a month has passed, and as time goes on, the risk of Bi Fang helping you all being exposed grows greater.¡± ¡°The Japanese are very stubborn. We can¡¯t even understand their thought processes, but one thing is cleara€¡±they are not fools. No matter how well we do, we must also consider the day Bi Fang is exposed. Ladies and gentlemen, have you thought about the aftermath when you asked Bi Fang for help?¡± The air grew even more silent. ¡°Deportation back to his country?¡± Mond asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Mugalen shook his head, his gaze fixed firmly on everyone, his tone resolute, ¡°But it¡¯s precisely because we don¡¯t know that we cannot take this risk!¡± ¡°What¡¯s your plan?¡± Jerret spoke up. Mugalen was here to discuss this matter; he surely had a well-thought-out solution. Mugalen nodded, ¡°Yes, I have an ideaa€¡±that in a few days, I¡¯ll turn myself in!¡± The electrical expert was confused, ¡°Turn yourself in? What do you mean?¡± ¡°In the next few days, I will intentionally expose some flaws. When they come looking for me, I will take full responsibility for all the consequences and duties. As long as someone admits to everything, it can significantly shift their focus.¡± ¡°Even if they still sense something is off, we can at least buy another month. By then, Bi Fang will definitely no longer be in Japan, and if anything happens, the danger won¡¯t be too great.¡± ¡°But what about you? As you said, no one knows how the Japanese government will react in desperation. What if they insist that you¡¯ve stolen secrets?¡± ¡°That¡¯s even more reason for me to go in,¡± Mugalen said calmly, ¡°I¡¯m just a small fry who likes to hunt in the mountains, with little influence. But Bi Fang is different; he¡¯s a big shot. The people he knows, the influence he can wield, it¡¯s all much greater than mine.¡± ¡°If I go in, he has the capacity to get me out. But if he goes in, I don¡¯t have the power to do the same for him. So, I¡¯ll go.¡± A bolt of lightning split the sky in half, and in the room briefly illuminated by its flash, the listeners¡¯ faces revealed a look of shock. Mugalen¡¯s participation was an unexpected development. Who Bi Fang was and what he had done were well known to everyone present, and they had almost all seen his broadcasts. But aside from Jerret and Mond, the others were quite unfamiliar with Mugalen. If not for Bi Fang¡¯s invitation, they wouldn¡¯t be sitting in the same room at this moment. ¡°You¡­¡± Mandy tried to say something but hesitated for a long time, ¡°Ah, alright then.¡± This was the optimal solution. If someone had to be discovered, it was better that it wasn¡¯t Bi Fang. The most capable should not be confined to a small cage. A wild tiger is truly a tiger only in the wild. ¡°That day, there was a torrential rain, and those were his exact words,¡± Richard¡¯s blue eyes stared intensely at Bi Fang, his tone sorrowful. ¡°Bosen¡¯s arrest was an accident, but it¡¯s unlikely he¡¯ll admit to having anything to do with Dolphin Bay, so Mugalen proceeded with the plan. He told us not to tell you beforehand because you would not agree.¡± The two were silent for several minutes. A moment later. ¡°I¡¯ll get him out.¡± Bi Fang said. Chapter 594 - Chapter 594 Chapter 591 Reserve a Spot ?Chapter 594: Chapter 591: Reserve a Spot Chapter 594: Chapter 591: Reserve a Spot Typing furiously to keep up with the fast pace¡­ Will change back before 1 AM. Not spending a penny more. ¡°There are many ways to restrict an animal¡¯s movement without harming its life; the simplest is digging a pit, a deep pit.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s undoubtedly too laborious. To catch a Black Bear, the pit must be at least one and a half meters deep and over a meter in diameter, otherwise, it¡¯s unlikely to be effective.¡± Bi Fang scattered leaves and dirt on the ground to conceal any trace of the trap. Often, animals aren¡¯t able to spot traps because they¡¯re smart, but merely because they steer clear of unfamiliar objects. ¡°Before you learn how to set animal traps, you must understand that in many parts of the world, doing so is illegal unless you¡¯re in a life-or-death situation.¡± ¡°Traps can kill endangered species, and not only that, they can inflict harm on large animals and even humans.¡± [Master Fang: This is illegal, so don¡¯t you guys learn it.] [Although I¡¯m teaching, you better not do this (Dog¡¯s head)] Bi Fang, amused by the comments, said, ¡°This is just in case, to broaden your knowledge. Who knows when you might need it? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? Besides, I obtained permission from the forestry bureau the first time I live-streamed, and have always had their approval since then. I¡¯m a law-abiding citizen.¡± [Law-abiding Boss Fang.] [Classic scene.] ¡°The main trap I¡¯m setting this time is a snare trap, probably the simplest and most primitive trap in the world, commonly known as a neck-hanging snare. Despite its simplicity, it has a wide range of application, just by adjusting the size of the loop and the thickness of the rope, it can catch everything from squirrels, hares, to wolves, wild boar, and even Black Bears.¡± ¡°However, if you are living and staying in a certain area, one thing to remember is to set your traps without disturbing other local animals, lest they become aware of the traps already set.¡± After concealing the trap¡¯s traces, Bi Fang hid within dense shrubbery. Waiting for the prey undoubtedly requires immense patience. In the bushes, mosquitoes buzzed around. To prevent a sudden change in wind direction from blowing his scent to the prey, Bi Fang covered himself with mud, which had been boiled and sanitized, then mixed with a large amount of willow sap, and finally coated with grass ash. Even if approached within a three-meter range, Black Bear would probably mistake Bi Fang for a robust willow. Bi Fang sat cross-legged on the ground, resting his shoulder against a spear wrapped in vines, constantly regulating his breathing and lowering his heart rate, becoming like a rock covered in moss. Bi Fang¡¯s lips moved slightly, but the audience could still hear clearly what he was saying. ¡°As long as the camouflage is right and the correct approach is used, we can get close to nearly any animal¡¯s effective kill zone. This is the wisdom that humans have accumulated over tens of thousands of years.¡± Most predators have their own fixed hunting ranges. Only humans, with their powerful bodies and brains, have conquered almost the entire world, even the cold Arctic, where the Eskimo live. No matter the prey, it is part of the human diet, and there is a systematic summarization and experience of their weaknesses and behavioral habits. This is the most precious asset humans have when hunting in the wild, paired with an incredibly terrifying learning ability. Unstoppable. ¡°When approaching prey, you must remain calm.¡± Bi Fang glanced down and noticed a small, distended insect on his arm, showing a deep black-red color in the sunlight. A bloodsucking louse. Bi Fang hadn¡¯t noticed when it had jumped on him; such tiny insects were too inconspicuous, and this was a common issue to face in the forest. Bi Fang simply pinched it, pulled it out from his flesh, and burst out a disgusting mix of blood and white fluid, causing the audience in front of the screen to feel nauseous. [My God, that¡¯s disgusting.] [I¡¯m used to it¡­ Master Fang¡¯s live stream is so clear it¡¯s ridiculous, sometimes the scenery is really beautiful, but you also have to endure the disgusting parts (Dog¡¯s head)] [A double-edged sword of clarity (funny)] However, Bi Fang was quite composed, as there were even more such cases in the rainforest, with leeches, bloodsucking lice, bats, venomous snakes, and mosquitoes. The mosquitoes in the rainforest were not like the ones seen in the cities; they were a completely different matter, both toxic and fierce. Here in the subtropical region of Japan, the situation was already less severe. ¡°When you discover parasitic lice on your body, you must remove them immediately, don¡¯t wait for them to wander off by themselves.¡± ¡°In areas infested with insects, check your body every one to two hours for lice. Do not use cigarettes or burning plants to fumigate them, as that will only cause them to release a lot of venom. Instead, use tweezers to grasp them and pull them straight out of the skin.¡± Bi Fang then checked his body and found two more lice, plucking them off directly. ¡°The harm caused by insects is significant. In tropical regions, they are the primary vectors of disease transmission. The most common and most easily overlooked are lice-borne diseases; they can spread many viruses.¡± ¡°For instance, Lyme disease, which after an infection can cause fever, headaches, and, in severe cases, affect the heart and nervous system, and might even lead to death. Moreover, there is no vaccine for this virus; antibiotics are the only treatment.¡± [Strange cases are on the rise.] [The world is so dangerous.] [Why are there so many disgusting things in the world, viruses, parasites, I¡¯m gonna puke.] ¡°Fortunately, in most areas, this risk is relatively low. Only the people of Ugly Country need to be carefula€¡±about one-third of the lice there carry this kind of bacteria.¡± ¡°Once lice land on the body, they will bite into the skin to suck blood. About twelve hours later, they will release their barbs and inject saliva to disrupt the tissue near the wound. It is this saliva that may contain bacteria or viruses.¡± ¡°Alright, now we wait, wait for the Black Bear to appear. I¡¯ve observed the surroundings, and nearby many tree trunks are marked with claw prints. Look over there.¡± Bi Fang pointed to a nearby tree whose bark was half rubbed off, and sawdust covered the ground. These were traces left by the Black Bear frequently rubbing against the tree. The Black Bear liked this tree, perhaps because of its pleasant smell; after rubbing against it, it would smell nice, or maybe because the hardness of the wood was just right for relieving itchiness. ¡°It could be an hour, or it might take half a day. In any case, we have some waiting to do.¡± This approach was essentially reliant on luck; nobody could predict exactly when the Black Bear would arrive. However, experienced hunters can often estimate how long it had been since it left and whether it¡¯s particularly fond of this area based on the footprints and traces on the ground. ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï As a member of the audience, Bi Fang had been waiting from morning until afternoon, and even all the way until evening, but the Black Bear had not shown up. The audience was getting restless, after all, waiting for bears was quite a dull and boring task. [What¡¯s happening, is there a bear or not?] [The day lilies are getting cold.] Yet Bi Fang¡¯s mood was good; he didn¡¯t feel that his judgment was wrong. On the contrary, the longer the wait, the closer the time of the Black Bear¡¯s arrival. Indeed, at the moment the sun set, an unusual noise came from the woods. Bi Fang perked up. ¡°It¡¯s here.¡± Chapter 595 - Chapter 595 Chapter 592 All of Them ?Chapter 595: Chapter 592 All of Them Chapter 595: Chapter 592 All of Them ¡°First, contact the Master¡¯s Lodge in England and inform them Mugalen has been arrested. I¡¯m not in a position to get involved now, so let them negotiate on our behalf. Delay things as long as possible,¡± ¡°Will they help us?¡± the electrical expert asked doubtfully. Many people think too highly of the Master¡¯s Lodge, but the electrical expert knew better, as he had studied abroad when he was younger. Visa and passport renewal a€¡° such tasks were to be handled by the Master¡¯s Lodge, but the staff were often uncooperative. If you run into illness or an accident overseas, seeking help from the Master¡¯s Lodge is difficult, let alone if you happen to break local laws. Embassies will first ask if your visa or residence permit is valid. If it isn¡¯t, sorry, they¡¯ll say you¡¯re no longer a national, or at least you¡¯re not their problem. If it is valid, they might refer you to an association or a lawyer, maybe even reject you outright, but often not without a scolding first: ¡°How could you be so careless? Didn¡¯t you know this? What were you doing back home?¡± In any case, you might end up humiliated whether you get help or not. The Ugly Country¡¯s Master¡¯s Lodge was so eager to help Richard and the others that they¡¯re now safe here, mainly because Richard had pulled some strings and made arrangements in advance. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï University students from prestigious schools always have various fraternities to reach out to a€¡° there¡¯s so much help available. Richard had his own network, which he¡¯d prepared beforehand, and perhaps Ugly Country also had a reason to pressure its underlings, so they went the extra mile. But Mugalen¡¯s involvement was unexpected, and since he was from Central Country, the situation was somewhat awkward. Would Central Country¡¯s Master¡¯s Lodge be willing to get involved in this mess? Bi Fang looked at the electrical expert with surprise. It occurred to him that despite calling the expert Daokete all this time, he still didn¡¯t know his actual name. But it felt awkward to ask after all this time they had spent together, so he had no choice but to carry on as it was. Who would have thought Daokete had such a rich experience? Indeed, many embassy staff aren¡¯t part of the regular diplomatic corps and are used to acting like big shots at home, behaving the same way everywhere. Luckily, Bi Fang had anticipated this and knew that to get the other side to exert effort, he would need to engage in a trade of interests: ¡°Go find a consul or master, the higher rank the better, and tell them that if they¡¯re willing to help, I can go to Central Country to make a special live broadcast of at least thirty days, and I¡¯m willing to put forth a positive portrayal.¡± Daokete nodded, indicating he had no further objections. Bi Fang then turned to the director duo: ¡°Jerret, Mond, how much longer do we have?¡± Mond looked at Jerret, and Jerret frowned, deliberating for nearly three minutes before answering, ¡°By the 22nd.¡± ¡°Can we speed it up?¡± Bi Fang did the math and felt uneasy. The conference was on the 23rd, leaving just one day of leeway? Wasn¡¯t the schedule a bit too tight? This documentary was the trump card produced from the trip to Japan. Without it, everything done beforehand would be meaningless and ineffective. Jerret lowered his head, gritting his teeth. But no matter how much he clenched his jaw, the 22nd was already the limit a€¡° they were pushing themselves to the brink of exhaustion. This was a full-fledged documentary, not some film school¡¯s end-of-term project. Even with a lot of preliminary work, it simply couldn¡¯t be completed in the short term. Any further compression of time would compromise quality. Bi Fang sighed, ¡°Make sure to rest.¡± ¡°Richard, have you contacted everyone on the list I gave you?¡± Richard shook his head, ¡°I¡¯ve talked to half of them already, and I can finish today.¡± Bi Fang had handed over the list of animal rights activists ?¡ëtienne had contacted to Richard. For attracting attention, ?¡ëtienne could take over, as it was hard to suspect a minor, and he could more easily arouse compassion. At this point, persuasion would be most effective. But for the subsequent arrangements, it was safer to let mature Richard take over. Confident, Richard accepted the task. For years, he had been in touch with protection organizations everywhere and believed he could proficiently manage these affairs. But after a brief communication with them, Richard suddenly realized a€¡° he had oversimplified things. These people were very different from those he had dealt with before¡­ Their thoughts and actions were entirely different from the organizations he had collaborated with before. It wasn¡¯t that he had a problem; they were just very¡­ special. They knew nothing about dolphins¡¯ habits, their distribution and types, not to mention the dynamic data on population numbers and the chain reaction after extinction. When Richard inquired why they wanted to participate, even willing to pay for expensive plane tickets, the answers were nearly all ¡°They¡¯re very smart,¡± ¡°They¡¯re cute,¡± ¡°They seem pitiful,¡± and so on. For a moment, Richard was at a loss for words. Okay, he had miscalculated. But when Richard asked Bi Fang why he had involved these people, he only got one answer: they were more useful than genuine animal rights activists. Richard, not entirely clueless, twitched his mouth at the time, but now he was beginning to understand somewhat. The more fanatical the person, the more likely they were to take actions that were more disruptive. After making three arrangements, Bi Fang heaved a sigh of relief. ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï With the 23rd approaching, it was time to start rallying support. ¡°Are you still leading in the Hunting season?¡± Mandy asked suddenly. With the preliminary work completed, Mandy and Keke had quite a bit of free time. Cameras on land were easy to dismantle, and with crowds plus metal detectors, checking and replacing them was a slow process. It was not so easy in the sea. Professional diving teams were needed, and the dim environment made working difficult, even hazardous, so the two didn¡¯t have much remedial work to do, and Bi Fang could usually handle it alone. Bi Fang nodded, ¡°Yes, but the others are closing in. Black Bear¡¯s total hunting count has reached ninety, with just the last ten remaining. Theoretically, any group could pass me.¡± These past days, between wrapping things up and the less frequent Hunting season¡¯s tasks, there had been some slack. ¡°I don¡¯t think any group could possibly do it!¡± Pondy laughed heartily, stepping forward to pat Bi Fang¡¯s shoulder. The first time Pondy had met Bi Fang, he was already well-known, but compared to now, the difference was immense. Almost every live stream elevated Bi Fang, and it was hard to believe that one could achieve such success. Pondy extended his right hand, clasping it firmly, ¡°Keep it up, our Adventurer, we all must!¡± Bi Fang smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll make it.¡± Chapter 596 - Chapter 596 Chapter 593 Taking a Spot ?Chapter 596: Chapter 593: Taking a Spot Chapter 596: Chapter 593: Taking a Spot I¡¯ll reserve a spot to maintain full attendance, best to go to sleep early. Will finish editing before 2 AM. In the dense forest, the black bear¡¯s wails rang out, startling the surrounding animals into scattering and fleeing. But soon, a hemp rope looped around the bear¡¯s mouth, silencing its cries, ¡°The more critical the moment, the less one can afford to be careless. Under the influence of adrenaline, many mammals display incredibly strong burst capabilities when facing adversity, especially the innately strong bear species.¡± The hemp rope, as thick as a finger, hung on a tree trunk as wide as a bowl, swaying and dropping leaves as the black bear struggled against it, looking dangerously precarious. Binding the black bear¡¯s arms and legs together was the most challenging part. Because of the trap, the immobilized black bear was essentially in a ¡°big¡± shape. Only, unlike the three secured limbs, its one remaining hind leg continued to kick fiercely against the ground. Bi Fang first circled this leg, then pulled it together with the other hind leg. It took the strength of nine bulls and two tigers to wrap it with hemp rope and then tie it tight. The black bear collapsed onto its backside. Bi Fang secured its lower body before moving on to fix the front half in the same manner. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã0 By then, he was drenched in sweat and utterly exhausted. It seemed like the black bear had limitless strength. It is hard enough to kill a pig in the countryside, requiring several grown men to hold it down, let alone a black bear. Finally, Bi Fang inserted a thick tree stick between the black bear¡¯s fore and hind limbs and tightened it, completely restricting the bear¡¯s ability to move. It could only roll on the ground, unable to run or call out. It was at the very moment the black bear lost all ability to move that the System, with its eternally unchanging electronic voice, issued a prompt. [Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the first main task of the Hunting Feast. Rewards will be tallied after all tasks are finished!] ¡°Phew, finally took care of it.¡± At the sound of the task completion, Bi Fang let out a sigh of relief, knowing his efforts today hadn¡¯t been in vain. He stuck the spear into the ground and wiped the sweat from his forehead. Now his arm muscles felt sore and tender, clearly overexerted. Catching a bear wasn¡¯t difficult, but securing and binding it was. The strength of a live bear was simply too much. On the drone¡¯s small screen, the stunned audience also let loose their long-prepared words of admiration. [Damn, a real eye-openera€¡±capturing a black bear alive, you¡¯ve got me soaking wet!] [Before entering, I was wondering who could be so badass. But if it¡¯s Master Fang, then that makes sense (dog pal).] [666666] [Master Fang is awesome!] [Wuu wuu wuu, I donated my breakfast money to you, truly badass.] This was a living black bear we¡¯re talking about, and although this one was somewhat small, it didn¡¯t change the fact that it was an adult black bear. How many people could, in a wilderness with nothing at their disposal, make a braid, set up a trap, and catch a black bear alive? Killing a massive wild beast is not difficult. Many people greatly exaggerate the physical advantage of fierce animals, yet have no knowledge about the power of weapons. The flesh and blood of animals are no match for human weaponry. Once humans have weapons, they are capable of challenging those higher up the food chain. Not even the African Elephant, the lord of the land, can escape their grasp. Do not think humans are weak; in fact, humans are a species that is both warlike and proficient in combat. Humans became the rulers of Earth, exterminating countless species along their path, not by cowering or hiding but with sticks raining like a downpour and blades and spears like forests. The title ¡°Terrifying Upright Ape¡± was hard-fought and won through bloodshed. Although the physical capabilities and willpower of most people have been weakened by modern lifestyles, on the genetic level humans have not degenerated into a hopeless state. The powerful instinct for combat still lurks in the veins of every person. But what if the hunt became a capture? Without the use of lethal weapons, the difficulty increases by more than just one level. This was the reason for the audience¡¯s shock. A full year had passed since Bi Fang first encountered the black bear. ¡°` The close brushes with danger from that one encounter are still fresh in many people¡¯s memories; everyone was dumbfounded at the time, no different from watching ordinary people face life-threatening encounters with wild beasts in the news, except that no one expected it to actually happen in reality. Of the thousand-plus viewers at that time, more than half had turned on daily updates, becoming the most loyal fans and witnesses to the birth of a miracle. The process of coming into existence from nothing. [It feels like a different world¡­] [Unknowingly, I¡¯ve watched Old Fang for a year now.] [Wuwuwu, I¡¯m really a year-long fan now. At the beginning, there were only a few Old Fang fans, and now there are over a hundred million worldwide. It¡¯s truly glorious!] [The sense of accomplishment is maxed out!!!] [Before, we were chased by Black Bear, running for our lives. Now we¡¯re catching it alive!! Amazing!!] [How is being called a pioneer not prestigious (tactical lean back)?] Old fans were in the throes of a frenzy that belonged uniquely to them at this moment. [Envious, I only started watching this year.] [I started with the migratory birds.] [I¡¯m French, started watching with the Goose.] [Humans are the most ferocious beasts of all. Wild boars and bears are pretty good in the animal world, but they¡¯re just prey when it comes to humans, especially for hunters, it¡¯s just like that.] [@Bi Fang, I hunted a Black Bear in Ganna. How can I maximize the return to my country? Including bear gall, bear skin, bear paws, and bear bones. Other organs or something else aren¡¯t necessary. If it¡¯s not possible, I might just have to go sightseeing instead.] [Holy shit, bro¡¯s awesome!] [Damn, even the fans are amazing.] [Bear hunting? For real?] [Isn¡¯t bear hunting illegal out there? ?¦Ï??0.§ã? I¡¯m going to report you with a flip of my hand. Cyber police, go arrest him.] Bi Fang was truly happy, but when he saw this barrage comment, his brows suddenly furrowed, he pondered for a moment and then decided to answer truthfully. ¡°Other people should not listen to someone saying it¡¯s illegal, the truth is if you bring it back on your own it¡¯s considered smuggling. Smuggling is naturally illegal, but if you really want to bring it back, you can hire a specialized import and export company. They can help you transport the hunting trophies back to your home country legally.¡± If you want to bring your trophies back to your country, it¡¯s quite simple. First, you need a company with import-export rights, then you must secure an animal inspection and quarantine certification and report for the Black Bear in Ganna. Then arrange for temperature-controlled air transport to your country, and get a customs broker to handle the customs declaration and entry into Huaxia. When Bi Fang went on his Goose hunting trip, the deer heads and hides were brought back this way, and he ended up giving them to Lord Mu. ¡°However, what I want to say is, most fur trade is legal, and many provinces have specific regulations for the organs of wild animals. But if you hunted in British Columbia Province, I would be quite doubtful you¡¯re poaching. Because at least the bear bile must be destroyed on the spot, and many people poach and discard the meat just for the bile.¡± ¡°So if your hunting trophies are illegal, sorry, but that¡¯s completely illegal. Also, with legal channels, you need to pay a hefty fee, and there¡¯s no escaping that. Don¡¯t even think about smuggling them back, because customs officers are not to be messed with.¡± British Columbia Province is one of the four major provinces in Ganna, with a mild climate and forests covering most of the area; it is a gathering place for Black Bears in Ganna. However, hunting here is illegal. Do we really have such capable people among our fans? Unfortunately, when Bi Fang inquired again about the specific location, the person had already vanished. [Damn, playing the disappearing act?] [Could it be that what Bi Fang said hit home?] [I mean, it¡¯s just a speculation, but is there someone who realized they were breaking the law only after hearing what Old Fang said?] [Hiss¡­] Mentally taking note, Bi Fang then contacted the staff in Japan. ¡°` Chapter 597 - Chapter 597 Chapter 594 Occupying a Big Pit ?Chapter 597: Chapter 594: Occupying a Big Pit Chapter 597: Chapter 594: Occupying a Big Pit ¡°` I¡¯ll take a two-in-one spot. Finish editing before 2 a.m. Can go to bed early. ¡°Hehehe, see, it¡¯s right here.¡± Bi Fang crouched down, not approaching rashly, and pointed with the tree stick in his hand at a patch of grass not far away. Being close to the creek, the grass was growing very lush, all taller than the knees, and if you didn¡¯t look carefully, it would be hard to spot indeed. ¡°The color of this critter can vary greatly depending on the region. Generally speaking, those found in the south have lighter green colors that blend well with the grass, making them difficult to distinguish. The ones found in the north are darker with more black spots.¡± Many viewers felt scared. If they hadn¡¯t noticed it and stepped on it, wouldn¡¯t they be done for? [Holy cow, that¡¯s so hidden?] [So bright though] Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï A casual glance wouldn¡¯t reveal it, but the orange-red color of its neck was exceptionally vivid, adding an element of danger. At the moment, the venomous snake hadn¡¯t noticed Bi Fang and lay motionless in the grass. Bi Fang lowered his voice, ¡°Although it¡¯s not the deadliest snake, the power of the Tiger-striped Neck Groove Snake is not to be underestimated. It has a record of killing people in Huaxia and Japan.¡± [The Banded krait is known to have the lowest fatality rate of venomous snakes; where did you get that ¡®most deadly¡¯ notion?] [Just got into the live stream? Didn¡¯t we talk about this earlier? Because its fangs don¡¯t work well, whether the injection is successful is a matter of chance] [You wouldn¡¯t dare bet; this thing¡¯s venom is quite potent. If bitten, you can¡¯t be sure if it¡¯s a dry bite or if less venom was injected. So when you see it, keep your distance] [Someone says it¡¯s mildly poisonous [smile] I remember a neighbor got bitten as a child, and one of his legs was so badly damaged it was scary] [If you encounter the Tiger-striped Neck Groove or the Red-necked Groove, I advise you to run fast. Its antivenom has no commercial value, which means it¡¯s not available on the market. ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï In other words, if you¡¯re bitten and poisoned, there¡¯s no antivenom you can take (dog¡¯s head)] ¡°The venom delivery efficiency of the Tiger-striped Neck Groove Snake is very poor; it bites and injects venom through grooved rear fangs, which is quite difficult. Sometimes there are no symptoms after a bite, so it¡¯s easy to mistake it for a non-venomous snake.¡± ¡°A few years ago, this snake was universally considered to be only mildly poisonous. It was only determined to be highly venomous in recent years. However, it¡¯s still a good idea for most people to give it a wide berth.¡± Many viewers nodded their heads, as many of them had seen these snakes in rural areas. Unfortunately, at the time, they didn¡¯t know these were highly venomous snakes, and only now, after listening to Bi Fang¡¯s explanation, did they have their aha moment. It¡¯s not that it¡¯s non-poisonous; it¡¯s highly poisonous, just unable to deliver its venom efficiently. What a waste of such a deadly weapon. Bi Fang observed his surroundings and slowly approached the Banded krait. Before he even took action, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he stopped in his tracks, pointing his stick toward the other side of the creek, ¡°Hey, look over there, there¡¯s another one!¡± Following the tree stick, the drone quickly moved closer to the opposite bank, revealing another flash of vivid orange. Aha! The second Tiger-striped Neck Groove! Alright then, two active ones! Not only that, but Bi Fang also pointed to a small clump of grass next to the opposite bank, ¡°Lucky day, a double find, Water Hemlock is here too.¡± Water Hemlock swayed slowly beside the creek. At first glance, it looked rather similar to a dandelion, with a long stem and a puff of white flowers, only flatter. ¡°` ¡°Water Hemlock is poisonous to all kinds of livestock and humans alike, with similar symptoms. The toxin acts directly on the central nervous system, causing severe convulsions, respiratory failure, and eventually death. A dose of 0.2~0.5% of body weight for sheep, 0.1% for cattle, and 0.5% for horses can be lethal.¡± [Wait a minute, a cow weighs hundreds of pounds, so one-thousandth of that is still quite a lot, right?] [One pound is five hundred grams, so fifty grams?] [An egg weighs about fifty grams? Put an egg on the arrowhead?] ¡°Yes, although it¡¯s only one-thousandth, it¡¯s still a considerable amount, which is why I prefer biological toxins. However, the paralytic effect is sufficient, and plant toxins have one advantagea€¡±they can be extracted.¡± ¡°Animal venom is very potent, but it¡¯s often made up of proteins, which are synthesized in the body and denature when heated. You can ingest them without any effect, but most plant toxins are molecular, not protein-based, so their chemical properties don¡¯t change easily with heat, making them extractable.¡± As Bi Fang explained, he approached the Banded Krait. Snakes are actually not difficult to catch, especially for veterans. To an experienced person, they are essentially nothing more than spicy strips. Most snakes are even afraid of humans. When Bi Fang encountered them, his first concern was whether they would escape, not whether he would be bitten. Master Fang skillfully caught one of the snakes without much trouble, but unfortunately, the other seemed to sense danger and disappeared into the underbrush before Bi Fang could get to it. Bi Fang shrugged and didn¡¯t mind, ¡°It seems they might be a male and a female. The breeding season for the Tiger-striped Neck Groove Snake is in May and June. Now it¡¯s a bit late.¡± The Tiger-striped Neck Groove Snake, with its throat grasped, coiled around Bi Fang¡¯s forearm, its tail tip quivering incessantly as if to vent its dissatisfaction, but this didn¡¯t change the reality. Bi Fang bent forward, holding the Tree Stick in hand, ¡°Ideally, to obtain venom from a venomous snake, it¡¯s best to catch it alive. Dead ones work too, but not for the Banded Krait.¡± ¡°First, this guy¡¯s population isn¡¯t exactly rare; it¡¯s one of the most numerous and widely distributed snake species in Huaxia, second only to the Viper. Second, as I¡¯ve mentioned before, they lack venom glands, so it¡¯s not easy to squeeze out the venom directly.¡± [Banded Krait: Are you being polite?] [Thank you very much.] [Hahaha, Old Fang saying that is too funny.] [Boss Fang: Because I already have a Banded Krait, for the time being¡­ oh, sorry, I still want your life.] ¡°The Banded Krait¡¯s venom gland is not connected to the fangs through a duct, but look, there is a raised neck gland on the back of the snake¡¯s neck where the venom is stored.¡± Bi Fang pressed the Banded Krait against a stone, firmly holding the snake¡¯s head down with the back of a dagger. The snake¡¯s body twisted even more violently, and the audience could clearly see a bump on the snake¡¯s neck through his fingers, clearly visible only when it struggled. Having identified the target, Bi Fang made his cut, removing the snake¡¯s head and then slicing along the raised line on the neck. ¡°The venom sacs of snakes are quite fragile, so be careful when cutting. Make sure you don¡¯t cut your own hand; otherwise, it could be troublesome if the venom gets into your bloodstream.¡± Although the snake¡¯s head had been cut off, its body still twitched reflexively, making Bi Fang¡¯s task somewhat more difficult. However, it didn¡¯t hinder him. He cut through the snake¡¯s skin and muscle layers, and a thin white membrane appeared. Bi Fang, his finger covered in snake blood, hooked it out and carefully peeled it back, ultimately pulling out a small pouch. Bi Fang¡¯s face showed delight, ¡°Look, this is the venom sac. It¡¯s actually quite resilient. I used to just throw it away, but now it¡¯s the first time I¡¯m going to use it.¡± The venom sac wasn¡¯t a small pouch in the conventional sense but rather flat and elongated, almost looking¡­ [Why does it feel like a miniaturized sheath (Dog¡¯s head)?] [+1] Bi Fang paused, suddenly at a loss for words. He looked at the white venom sac in his hand and suddenly felt a chill, coughing twice, ¡°Cough, cough, it¡¯s all psychological, don¡¯t think too much, we are a civilized live broadcast room.¡± Interrupting the audience¡¯s speculation, Bi Fang clamped the venom sac and placed it directly into the water bottle before rushing to the other side of the stream to collect water hemlock. It was only upon closer inspection that everyone realized, this plant, from afar resembled a dandelion, but up close it was more akin to water celery, almost identical! ¡°Isn¡¯t this water celery?¡± ¡°Damn, I eat this often, am I going to die, wuu wuu wuu¡± ¡°If you can comment here, it means you¡¯re fine¡­¡± Bi Fang said, ¡°Water celery and water hemlock do look very similar, even their names are almost identical, but the difference is that the stems of hemlock are covered with a fine layer of white fuzz, making them look fluffy and feel prickly to the touch, while the stems of water celery are fuzz-free and smooth, which is the most obvious distinction between the two.¡± Gently brushing along the stem of the water hemlock, the tiny barbs became more noticeable as they piled up. ¡°During this season, a lot of wild plants grow, leading to numerous cases of poisoning due to mistaken plant ingestion,¡± Bi Fang crushed the fuzz in his hand. ¡°Last year in Guangdong, Zhang Chunliang, the captain of the Qianzhen Mountain Rescue Team¡¯s search and rescue squad, organized a training event that met with an accident, where 3 team members were poisoned by eating wild plants. Although Zhang Chunliang, as the captain, sadly died, the other two were fine after being treated at the hospital post descent.¡± ¡°This was no ordinary hiker, but the captain of the search and rescue squad, who had faced many complex outdoor accidents and was one of the main founders of the Qianzhen Mountain Rescue Team, truly an experienced veteran of the mountains, yet he was victimized by the same mistake.¡± ¡°According to the investigation by local police, it was believed that Zhang Chunliang¡¯s death was caused by mistakenly consuming water hemlock.¡± ¡°After showing symptoms of poisoning himself, Zhang Chunliang still tried to aid the other two poisoned team members, which accelerated the onset of toxicity and missed the optimal window for treatment.¡± Hiss. The audience drew in a sharp breath of air. If even a rescue team captain could be fooled, how similar could they be? ¡°To end up¡­ tragically like this while striving for wilderness survival¡­ it¡¯s indescribably bizarre.¡± ¡°He was still trying to save others even though he was poisoned, that¡¯s very dedicated of him.¡± ¡°Rest in peace.¡± ¡°Old Fang should be the one to lead the team (Dog¡¯s head).¡± ¡°Wild plants can have different characteristics in different regions. Before consuming and harvesting wild plants, one should conduct a lot of research concerning the particular area and definitely consult local people with rich experience.¡± A large quantity of water hemlock was uprooted. Though it only seemed like a small patch of a few square meters, mixed with various other weeds, at least several kilograms could be collected. After gathering a bundle, Bi Fang began the extraction process. ¡°Extracting hemlock toxin isn¡¯t difficult. If you find it bothersome, you can just pick a piece off, then smear the juice onto a weapon. The whole plant of water hemlock is poisonous, so you can use any part, although the flowers are the most toxic. However, I recommend using the tuber and stems, as they have more liquid and are easier to apply.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t mind the extra effort, you can collect more, crush it all, add water, and start boiling. Skim off the waste material and keep steaming until it crystallizes.¡± Gathering a small bunch of water hemlock around him, Bi Fang set up distilling equipment right there on the riverbank. It was simplea€¡±a plastic bottle and a fire were all that was needed, which also conveniently served to solve the issue of lunch. Skewering snake meat with sticks, Bi Fang found a flat stone, placed some of the collected water hemlock on it, and then crushed it with a rock. He then stuffed the crushed plant into a cut-open mineral water bottle, scooped some stream water into it, and began heating it up. ¡°Most mineral water bottles have a melting point that is higher than the boiling point of water, so you don¡¯t need to worry about the bottle melting.¡± Once the stream water boiled, Bi Fang removed the residue and then added another batch of water hemlock. ¡°Be careful, the water¡¯s poisoned now! Don¡¯t drink it thinking it¡¯s pure water! If you have any wounds on your body, don¡¯t let this water touch them!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s words were stern; this was no laughing matter. ¡°It can paralyze the motor nerves and suppress the medullary centers. The toxic dose for humans is 30 to 60 milligrams, while the lethal dose is 120 to 150 milligrams, capable of causing death within minutes.¡± ¡°Heating can reduce the toxicity to some extent, but only slightly, and the loss during our distillation process is within an acceptable range.¡± At the moment, it¡¯s about concentrating a part of it, but there will be some loss in the process of concentrating the toxicity. However, compared to the overall amount, the toxicity is still stronger, so we must be extremely careful.¡± This is the biggest difference between plant toxins and animal toxins; they are not easily denatured and deactivated by high temperatures. By the time everything had been refined, Bi Fang had also finished his lunch. Now, he had acquired two potent toxins: concentrated hemlock toxin and the venom of the Banded krait, both highly toxic! He had also crafted two wooden darts. ¡°The Flint Stone darts coated with a limited amount of venom are one option, but we can choose the wooden ones, and later carve small notches in the spearhead. Although not as sharp and sturdy as Flint Stone, they can retain more venom and become a poison spear!¡± Unlike Flint Stone, a poison spear does not pursue lethality; as long as it can break the skin, it is successful! The tens of millions of viewers in the live broadcast became excited, as everything was finally completed. [Congratulations Master Fang on unlocking the achievement: The Deadly Poison Master] [Awesome, really awesome, go and wreak havoc now] [Feels like the Indian people using poison dart frogs to make blow darts] [Shocking, tens of millions witnessing the making of poison live, is this a twist of humanity or the degeneration of morality?] [iWitness gifted the host a spacecraft *1 a€¡±a€¡± Go for it, hurry, snatch the first place throne] With a sharp blade in hand, a killing intent arose within him. Bi Fang was eager to try and spared no effort in searching for the tracks of the Black Bear. Two thirty-eight in the afternoon. A brown shadow appeared before everyone, enormously large, startling the Shuiyou. [Damn, that¡¯s a big Black Bear] [It¡¯s at least two meters, right? Body length?] [Who¡¯s in first place now? How many points?] [That Y??ki Hunter called Sato, he took down a 1.2-meter just matured one last night, 19.7 points!] [Can a Black Bear grow that big?] The massive body loomed on the ground, seemingly digging at something. The large bear didn¡¯t seem to notice Bi Fang approaching, but when it lifted its head, the Shuiyou were surprised to find that there were no white patches on its chest. ¡°The body colors of Brown Bears and Black Bears differ only slightly; it¡¯s not that Brown Bears are necessarily brown. The way to tell the difference between the two is not by the color of the fur, but by checking for the presence of a white crescent stripe on the chest.¡± The words previously spoken by Bi Fang echoed in their ears, and the Shuiyou suddenly realized. This was not a Black Bear at all. It was a Brown Bear! Chapter 598 - Chapter 598 Chapter 595 Occupying a Big Pit ?Chapter 598: Chapter 595: Occupying a Big Pit Chapter 598: Chapter 595: Occupying a Big Pit Brothers, go to sleep early. I don¡¯t know when I¡¯ll finish the edits either. The last three Black Bears. Today may become the last day of the hunting season. The show started broadcasting early, with the two hosts already warming up. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s six o¡¯clock now. I thought I got up early enough, but viewers are still flooding in! There are four million viewers, it¡¯s unbelievable.¡± ¡°Let me sneak a peek at Master Fang¡¯s live stream.¡± Kogawa Kobayashi exaggeratedly pulled out his phone and placed it on his thigh, ¡°Roar! Six million! It¡¯s already reached six million, two million more than us! That¡¯s outrageous!¡± ¡°I so wish I could adventure with Master Fang. Then maybe I¡¯d also have a million fans?¡± Shizuka Minamoto said while resting her chin in her hands, her expression exuding envy. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï [Master Fang is awesome!] [Do you understand the value of being the world¡¯s number one host? (Strategically leans back)] [This is a god! The god of adventure!] [I¡¯ve made up my mind, Master Fang, quick, use Water Shuriken!] At six in the morning, aside from high school students and city sanitation workers, even most white-collar workers are probably still in their dreams. For an ordinary host, this would be a deadly time to broadcast, a time zone deserted by viewers. Yet, Bi Fang was able to extract a staggering six million viewers from this desert, which was absolutely outrageous. Just like what we often fantasized as kids, with so many people in the country, if each person gave a dime, one could become a billionaire. Of course, this is impossible and also illegal, as it¡¯s considered illegal fundraising. But now there was a successful case, six million real viewers; even if it was a dollar per person, that¡¯s also six million. An instant millionaire. Probable even Bi Fang himself doesn¡¯t know how much money he makes from a day¡¯s stream, as every time he cashes out, he sees a long string of numbers. Including the fixed donations, he gets over ten million in hand. Compared to the members of the small organization from his last life, it¡¯s like a huge leap in class, and the most direct manifestation is that he no longer has to consider whether his wallet is fat enough when he wants to buy something. After marveling at the exaggerated number of viewers in Bi Fang¡¯s live stream for a while, Kogawa Kobayashi emphasized once again the points of the remaining hunters. ¡°First place is, of course, our indisputable Master Fang, with a total score of 90.3!¡± The live broadcast room rang with the audience¡¯s astonished noises just in time. Kogawa Kobayashi paused for a full half minute before beginning, ¡°An adult Black Bear typically measures between one point three and one point eight meters in length, with our scoring standard at one point five, which generally only male Black Bears can achieve. And now, ninety points!¡± ¡°If we analyze it just from the points and not the performance, it¡¯s like nine adult male Black Bears! My goodness, how long has the hunting season been going on? Less than forty days, nine bears, Master Bi Fang has almost done one every four days.¡± ¡°An average of four days to catch one Black Bear, this efficiency is simply too terrifying, he¡¯s like a merciless bear hunting machine!¡± Influenced by 19th-century new-wave drama, Japanese people often like to express emotions in an exaggerated manner. At this moment, Kogawa Kobayashi¡¯s tone was extremely fluctuating. Many people experiencing it for the first time might find it awkward, but the Japanese are collectively thrilled. ¡°Next up is Mr. Sato, with 79.8 points! Oh dear, nearly 10.5 points behind!¡± Kogawa Kobayashi¡¯s voice came through to Sato¡¯s earpiece, darkening his face. Damn, can¡¯t you speak properly? ¡°Moving on to the third place, it¡¯s Okuyama, who was originally paired with Tanaka. Unfortunately, Tanaka withdrew due to injury. The current score is 67.2 points.¡± Sato was stunned; was that all for his introduction? ¡°And in fourth place is the Takahashi Combination, with 62.7 points. Aside from Master Fang, among the top four, three are Y??ki Hunters. There¡¯s a saying that the hunting abilities of the Y??ki Hunters are more formidable than ghosts, hence they are called ¡®Y??ki Matagi¡¯.¡± ¡°The Y??ki Hunters of Akita mainly hunt wild bears, wild boars, and deer, making a living by selling bear skins, bear livers, bear gall, and bear paws. They believe that the mountains and forests are ruled by the Mountain God, and that any game they catch is a gift from the Mountain God. Therefore, Y??ki Hunters do their utmost not to defy the Mountain God, but sadly, they are not the first rank.¡± ¡°Is it because they are about to disappear that no formidable character could be selected? Or does it prove that Bi Fang is more powerful than our traditional, local Black Bear hunters?¡± ¡°When you think about it, Master Fang seems even more remarkable.¡± Not just Sato, but also Okuyama and the others pulled a face, what do you mean by that? Are you even Japanese? Weren¡¯t you bragging a lot just a few days ago? Why has the tone changed today? The truth was only known to Gang Tianwu himself. If it had not been for secretive thefts, Bi Fang¡¯s Points might have broken a hundred by now, silently deducting an extra point or two for every Black Bear. Yet the Y??ki Hunters still couldn¡¯t pull themselves together. With only the last three Black Bears left, there seemed to be no way they could turn the tables. To lose more gracefully, they could only try to shift the public opinion. Even the audience showed the same sentiment, and aside from a few older ones cursing loudly, most young people laughed heartily. Bi Fang¡¯s behavior pattern was rather odd, seemingly indifferent to hunting, often displaying noticeable slacking after some time. But people like Sato never stopped for a moment, and even so, they couldn¡¯t catch up to their opponent. The difference in skill was clear. Additionally, with Bi Fang¡¯s Asian features contrasting sharply with the forty-something-year-olds like Sato in terms of looks, how could the young people support a bunch of old men? Kogawa Kobayashi then read out the remaining people¡¯s scores before starting the recording. Sato rubbed his fingertip against the blade, feeling its sharpness. The tip of this knife was sharp as a sword, the blade length reaching up to 8 inches, and the front end of the single-edged knife had reinforcements, slightly curving upward in shape. Tilting the knife caught the metallic sheen, exuding the imposing force of a sword. This was a mountain knife called a ¡°Pocket Knife.¡± The hollow handle could be fitted with a long wooden shaft to quickly turn into a spear. For hunters attacked by wounded Brown Bears or wild boars, the spear was their ultimate weapon, second in importance only to their lives for the Japanese Hunters. Not everyone could engage in close combat with bears as confidently as Bi Fang, which was highly dangerous and usually a last resort. For the Y??ki Hunters, the Y??ki Mountain Knife was not just a simple knife; it was a reward for the brave spirit of the hunters who dared to confront bears face-to-face and survived. Sato¡¯s master passed it down to him, and although many hunters dressed in trendy clothes, they still used the weapons their ancestors wielded seven generations ago for hunting. The first time he used it was during a duck hunt when a shot duck fell into dense shrubbery, and tough, spiky vines created a wall that was difficult to cut through. Swinging the Y??ki Mountain Knife, accompanied by the rustling sound, the vines scattered on the ground, and after three swings, he cleared a path. Not only for clearing paths in the bush, but it also made the task of cutting up the caught ducks quite easy. It was his first kill. At this moment, Sato¡¯s eyes, reflecting in the blade, looked tired. Sato had been tracking game all of last night, only managing to get a little sleep in the early hours of the morning. In recent years, indeed, the hunting activities of the Y??ki Hunters had been significantly restricted; making a living through animal conservation was already hard enough. After the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, the Japanese Government, concerned about contamination, decreed that many Y??ki Hunter communities were not allowed to trade in bear meat for six years. Even Sato¡¯s master was forced to find other means to sustain himself. Furthermore, there were numerous bureaucratic restrictions placed on hunting activities. The process to obtain a license to hunt Black Bears was exceedingly cumbersome and costly. Even those not directly involved in the killing had to renew it every three years. Events like the hunting season were few and far between. More and more of the younger generation are choosing to leave, and just like many of the indigenous people, the cultural practices of the Y??ki Hunters are under severe threat. ¡°If one day the Japanese Black Bears really go extinct, then it should have nothing to do with the Y??ki Hunters,¡± an old Y??ki man mocked, ¡°I think the Y??ki Hunters will disappear before the Black Bears do.¡± But Sato believed that those who stayed were the real elites, and those who left were just looking for excuses to cover their weakness. Sato stood up and fixed the mountain knife onto the wooden pole. At some point, it had become impossible for the Y??ki Hunters to turn back and use any other knife. The Y??ki Mountain Knife was not just a high-quality survival tool. It gave them courage to cut through brambles and branches and carve a path for themselves, even in the worst conditions. ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? ¡°Wish me luck, old pal.¡± ¡°For the last time, who wins and who loses, it¡¯s all up in the air.¡± If his movement hadn¡¯t been restricted, Sato would have gone to the Kii Peninsula to try his luck. ¡­ At three o¡¯clock and sixty-four minutes, the North American Hunter Group killed the first Black Bear, bringing the score to 50.7 points. No impact on the overall situation. The production team sent a notification to everyone, and the buzzing of mobile phones reminded everyone to race against time. Sato clenched his teeth, and his tired body was once again filled with strength. He took off his shirt, revealing his lean and muscular torso, then tore it into long strips and tied them around his legs to improve blood circulation. Only the last two quotas remained. Bi Fang was not to be outdone, searching high and low across the mountains. As long as he hunted one more, his score was likely to break a hundred. The gap from him to the second place would stretch to twenty points. Unless someone killed a 2.3-meter Brown Bear, it would be impossible to surpass him; the title of first place in the hunting season was within easy reach. The System task could also be completed. At this thought, the audience couldn¡¯t help but feel tense. It¡¯s just that¡­ Crushing the remnants of a campfire on the ground, Bi Fang stood up and looked around. [Are there people in the mountains?] Bi Fang nodded, ¡°Yeah, there are people in the mountains, just don¡¯t know what kind of people they are.¡± Bi Fang took out his water bottle and poured water into the pit, ¡°The campfire is still smoking, but the people have already left. This could easily cause a fire, very amateurish. They didn¡¯t go far.¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s campers.¡± [They have a death wish, camping here?] [Didn¡¯t see a Single Black Bear warning sign.] [Aren¡¯t you going to check it out?] [Know why my grandpa lived to a hundred? Because he never meddled in other people¡¯s business.] ¡°Don¡¯t meddle, let¡¯s move on,¡± Bi Fang crushed the charcoal in his hand. Meanwhile. The Japan Office suddenly discovered a recent surge in visa applications. At numerous international airports, many ticket counters also noticed that tickets to Japan were becoming increasingly popular, even to the point of selling out. That day, a young man wearing a duckbill cap arrived at the airport early and, after the broadcast announcement, picked up his suitcase and embarked on a journey to a foreign land. Exactly how many people followed him there, nobody knew. Inside a dimly lit room, Jerret and Mond had pale faces and bloodshot eyes, with deep eye bags. The thick smoke filled the room, and as soon as Mandy walked in, she couldn¡¯t help coughing, but seeing both of them so focused, she forced herself to hold back. Jerret and Mond had reached the point where they had to rely on excessive smoking to stay alert. Mandy stealthily opened a crack in the window and, holding the tape that Bi Fang had returned the night before, played it one by one. What followed was another long process of selection, editing, and viewing. This was the final wrap up. Inside the Taiji Town police station, the British Consul argued forcefully, causing Matsumoto Kiyotaka to feel overwhelmed. Mugalen had already overcome the initial panic, the boy insisting he was asleep and hadn¡¯t seen any suspicious individuals. It made Matsumoto Kiyotaka want to give him a kick. In another room out of sight, an officer unlocked the cuffs of an elderly man with a white beard, grudgingly escorting him out. Outside, a well-dressed, refined lawyer had been waiting for a while. The old man glanced back at the police station and then at the nearby mountains, declining the lawyer¡¯s offer to get into the car. He suddenly became curious about that place mentioned by the station chief. He truly didn¡¯t know, so why was the other party so sure? What exactly was hidden there that required the whole of Taiji Town to cover up? Looking at the giant Killer Whale sculpture by the roadside, the old man pondered thoughtfully. In the bay surrounded by mountains on three sides, seagulls soared in the sky, while the majestic Tiger-headed Sea Eagle mingled among them, emitting a deep eagle¡¯s cry. It dove down at high speed, grabbed a large fat fish, causing the fishermen on the boat to shout loudly. The horn sounded, issuing orders, and the fishing boats moored at the shore set out again. They lined up and converged towards the center. Before long, hundreds of dolphins leaped out of the water. The intense stench of blood spread through the happy town with the sea breeze. The piercing cries seemed to wail in agony. Thousands of miles away, an airplane landed in Alaska of the Ugly Country. On the runway, Morishita Suji, dressed sharply, adjusted his glasses as he descended from the stairs, breathing in the air of this land and finding it sweet; his face beamed with a consistent smile. Less than a week remained until the committee meeting here. Morishita Suji pulled out a list from his chest, containing many government names that he needed to visit. This committee meeting was extraordinary, and Morishita Suji needed to find more allies to support the event¡¯s progress and declare to the world Japan¡¯s upcoming whaling plan. It was a busy and essential errand. But Morishita Suji was full of confidence. So, who to visit first? Chapter 599 - Chapter 599 596 ?Chapter 599: 596 Chapter 599: 596 . Still occupying the seat, maintaining perfect attendance¡­ Under the moonlight, the sea waves twinkled. The air was filled with the salty tang of the sea, along with a strong smell of paint. Bi Fang reached out to grab the railing on the boat, slowly pulling himself up, the droplets of water on the tips of his hair falling in a chain into the sea, making a faint sound. The tides continued unabated, everything concealed by the sounds of the waves. The night and the sound of the tide became the best protectors for the two individuals. Once on deck, stepping over the long pole at their feet, Bi Fang took off his shirt, wrung it out by the side, put it back on, then headed to the front of the driving gear. Under the moonlight, one could clearly see that it was a very ordinary old lock. It was normal; coastal fishing boats were not like ocean-going vessels. With only one driving gear, there weren¡¯t too many security measures in place, and the locks they used were old, even becoming rusty from constant exposure to wind and rain. Only some of the newer boats would use more complex locking mechanisms, which was why Bi Fang had not chosen the new boat closer to the cliff. You could smell that pungent paint odor from afar, not even the sea breeze could mask it. Bi Fang took a piece of wire from his pocket, folded it to make one end longer than the other, straightened both ends, and bent the longer end at about one centimeter to a ninety-degree angle to form a torsion wrench. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï He inserted it into the lock core and began to manipulate the interior tumblers. Mugalen casually looked around and said in a low voice, ¡°How are you so skilled at this?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you learn this when you were with Deer Hunter?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Mugalen fell silent for a moment, then answered truthfully, ¡°Anyway, I never learned it.¡± ¡°Then you were really unlucky.¡± Mugalen¡¯s facial muscles twitched, and he turned to face outward, focusing on keeping watch. Bi Fang inserted the bent torsion wrench into the bottom of the keyhole, applying a gentle turning force to one side. He did not know which way the key would turn, so he had to try clockwise and counterclockwise, each with a 50% chance, carefully feeling for the resistance. The resistance would be a little less if he turned it in the correct direction. While maintaining pressure on the wrench, Bi Fang inserted the lock-picking paperclip into the top of the keyhole and started ¡°searching for the sweet spot.¡± Most American locks have at least five pins that need to be set before the lock can open. Keeping the pressure on the wrench, Bi Fang pushed each pin to its unlocking position, starting from the inside one by one, feeling a slight springiness until he heard a faint click. Although he knew the technique, Bi Fang was still a beginner and could only try them one by one. It was said that experts could succeed all at once. The pressure on the wire increased, and each time he encountered a pin, Bi Fang would wiggle the lock-picking needle. Five minutes later, Mugalen heard a click. Everything went smoothly. The moon was very round tonight, and even inside the driving gear room, visibility was clear. The driving gear room was cramped, filled with electronic equipment, a helm, and a small bed, the air saturated with the lingering smells of sweat, smoke, and fish from the day. ¡°Did you bring the phone?¡± ¡°I did.¡± Mugalen handed over a packet made of aluminum foil that was unmistakably shaped like a phone. The packaging was very secure, comprising four layers of foil paper. No matter the environment, the most dangerous factor might just be the device found in the pockets of people from most countries. In certain areas, communication companies are state-owned enterprises. If one finds themselves in these regions, information security becomes especially important. All foreign mobile phones appearing in the cellular network are external devices, thus more easily tracked. Bi Fang was worried that the Japanese People might exploit this fact; whenever they moved at night, he would either shield these devices or completely disable them, or place them inside a bag made of four layers of aluminum foil to block incoming and outgoing signals. Smart devices would redirect all battery power to search for a signal, so single or double layers of aluminum foil could not shield them, and the foil must wrap tightly around the device, leaving no gaps. Mugalen clearly followed Bi Fang¡¯s instructions to the letter. Using the previous method, Bi Fang quickly installed the devices in inconspicuous places. After completing everything, the two left the cockpit and relocked it. Everything was as it had been before. ¡°Wait,¡± Bi Fang called to Mugalen, who was about to go to sea, and cast his gaze towards the deck on the side. The long pole on the deck was very noticeable; everyone knew it was the lethal weapon used for killing dolphins. ¡°We should also set one up on this pole.¡± The pole was hollow, which gave it better elasticity and made it lighter. Not only did it produce louder sounds, it was also easier to use, but this also provided an excellent hiding place for crucial equipment. ¡°The paint smell is too strong.¡± Bi Fang suppressed the urge to sneeze, fixed the camera inside the hollow pole at a certain position, and followed Mugalen, moving silently like water. The people on the mountain had no idea that someone had completed this task right under their noses. In the night, Asuka stared blankly as two dark figures climbed up the cliff and gradually vanished into the woods. He looked up at the moon, finding it somewhat glaring, not because he was still half asleep. Somehow, Asuka chose not to shout but instead his intuition told him that ordinary petty thieves wouldn¡¯t possess such agility, nor would they target a small fishing boat that had nothing of value. The only thing of value on the fishing boat was probably the boat itself, right? But that would be hard to sell since it couldn¡¯t be taken to a place where nobody recognized it to be bought and sold. Who exactly were they? The young Asuka sat on the edge of the bed, and as he saw the figures, he became anxious, held his breath, and dared not breathe heavily, fearing they might be dangerous criminals. But those two men seemed not to notice him at all. Until they left, they never realized that not far from them, on a new fishing boat, a young man was hiding, with only his eyes revealed, watching them through the window. It wasn¡¯t until they had left that Asuka gasped for air, realizing he had been holding his breath all along. After calming down for quite a while, Asuka¡¯s first reaction was to call the police. Those two were definitely not good people! Yet this thought had barely materialized when Asuka dismissed it. Even if they were not good people, what could they be doing here? Stealing money? There was no money on the fishing boat. Asuka furrowed his brows, thinking hard. Suddenly, he recalled something his father had said when he was drunk during the day. ¡°These dolphin protectors, really have nothing better to do. Just yesterday, we discovered two cameras. What are they trying to do? What do they want? Destroy the foundation handed down by our ancestors? Ah!¡± ¡°Asuka, if you see them, tell me. We need to catch them all and lock them up in jail. Only then will they stop meddling!¡± ¡°Dolphin Bay is our place, it has nothing to do with them, nothing!¡± With that in mind, Nasunobu Asuka took a deep breath. ¡°No way, what a coincidence that I would encounter this?¡± What should I do? Should I tell my father and the others? Although the dolphin hunting season had started as scheduled, Asuka could sense that this year, people weren¡¯t as happy as expected. Indeed, there was joy when they caught dolphins and received their money during the day, but that joy quickly turned into worry. It was not because there was less money, but because someone was trying to destroy this joy that might still exist in the future. But¡­ Thinking of the bloodiness during the day, the screams of those dolphins, the dolphin shows witnessed in his childhood, and the 396,000 yen that were now in his possession. It wasn¡¯t three thousand, six thousand, but a full 396,000! Yes, Asuka had also received some money. He had only tapped the pole during the day, and even though his hands were still sore, he had earned over three thousand dollars, close to four hundred thousand yen. When the captain took the money from the trainer and distributed it among the crew, Asuka was shocked; joy flooded his mind, and he was dazed, finding it hard to believe. Such a thick stack of banknotes was now his. Even though he was the youngest, the least experienced, and had received the least amount of money, it was still over 270,000 yen, enough to buy a top-configured computer. With that, he could play any game he wanted with perfect performance. The scent of blood in the air had turned into the aroma of the finest tuna sushi. It was the smell of luxury, the scent of indulgence. Even his sense of guilt had lessened a great deal. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 Even if the captain made him sleep in this freshly painted, new ship to get accustomed to ¡°sea sickness,¡± he had no complaints at all. But now, Asuka recalled that feeling of guilt. The moonlight shone brightly. After much contemplation, Asuka took a deep breath, lay back on the bed with a sudden movement, and buried his head in the pillow. Forget about it, forget about it. He didn¡¯t see anything! Sleep! Up in the mountains, several people were being scolded by their leader. They had patrolled for so long and hadn¡¯t found a single trace of the other party. ¡°You¡¯re all worthless, pigs, dogs, idiots, fools!¡± Matsumoto roared, holding a long leash in his hand, at the end of which was a Black Back German Shepherd wagging its tail. This was a police dog. Matsumoto was going all-out to find someone. While he was scolding them, the calm German Shepherd sitting on the ground suddenly stopped wagging its tail, stood up abruptly, and barked towards the trees. ¡°Taro, stop barking, Taro!¡± Matsumoto called out the Black Back¡¯s name but with no effect. Then, suddenly thinking of something, he exclaimed with surprise, ¡°Did you find a clue?¡± All that answered Matsumoto were a few shouts. Matsumoto immediately let go of the leash, and the German Shepherd darted off into the forest. Matsumoto kicked a dumbstruck policeman forcefully and shouted angrily, ¡°What are you dazed for, hurry up, go chase!¡± Only then did the others snap out of it, and they scrambled after the German Shepherd. Unfortunately, it was too dark among the trees; not far into the run, the fastest runner suddenly tripped over a stone and fell to the ground. The rest, caught off guard, tumbled over each other like dominoes. ¡°Useless, useless, useless!¡± Matsumoto, middle-aged and slower, kept kicking the fallen men furiously, one by one forcing them to get up. In the forest, Bi Fang and Mugalen were on a mission and preparing to return, when suddenly Bi Fang stopped, his ears twitching, ¡°What¡¯s that sound?¡± ¡°Sound?¡± Mugalen held his breath and listened. The sea breeze blew across the mountains, stirring the leaves of the whole forest. In July, the most abundant sounds were the chirping of crickets, with fireflies fluttering and dancing around them. After listening for a moment, both of them opened their eyes and exchanged glances. ¡°Police dog!¡± ¡°Run!¡± ¡°No need,¡± Bi Fang grabbed Mujialun, who had turned to flee. How could humans possibly outrun dogs? The running speed of medium to large dogs is around fifty kilometers per hour, almost twice that of a human. ¡°What should we do then, kill it?¡± Mujialun hesitated. ¡°That¡¯s unnecessary,¡± Bi Fang shook his head. To them, a police dog wasn¡¯t much of a threat, just an annoyance, but no matter how troublesome, there was no need to kill a police dog over it. While speaking, Bi Fang pulled out a small plastic bottle from his bag and sprinkled the liquid inside on the ground. ¡°What is this?¡± Mujialun was startled. ¡°Female dog urine,¡± Bi Fang said calmly. Mujialun: ¡°???¡± He was not so much shocked by Bi Fang¡¯s action, but rathera€| ¡°How did you get this stuff?¡± ¡°Family secret recipe, not to be shared. Alright, let¡¯s go,¡± Bi Fang only poured out a third and then capped the bottle. Gathering that much urine had not been easy for Bi Fang. Minutes later, a robust dog burst out of the bushes, instantly distracted by an odd scent and promptly forgot its mission. By the time Matsumoto and the others arrived, what they saw was a German Shepherd digging incessantly at the ground. ¡°What happened?¡± Matsumoto was flabbergasted. Apparently hearing Matsumoto¡¯s voice, Taro suddenly came to his senses, realizing his mistake. He lay on the ground, covering his nose with his paws, and whimpered, trying to avoid eye contact. ¡°Ah!!!¡± Roars echoed through the forest, startling the sleeping birds. By this time, Mujialun and Bi Fang had already walked far away, unable to hear Matsumoto¡¯s shouts. Mujialun¡¯s expression was complex: ¡°You were prepared for this weren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yeah, I gathered most of the bottle a few days ago.¡± The deployment of police dogs was almost a certainty, and in terms of searching, humans were no match for these born hunters. Unfortunately for them, they were up against Bi Fang. Police dogs have a characteristic, which can also be seen as a weakness: the vast majority are males. The nature of males is more suitable for training. Canines have a social hierarchy, just like wolves, with males in a leadership position. They possess a stronger desire to own, greater confidence, and all of these are essential for training. It¡¯s not that there are no females, but the ratio is like that of male to female soldiersa€¡±a considerable disparity, with male dogs always being the main force. Based on this, although it could sometimes be difficult to obtain female dog urine, it was one of the most effective tools for diverting a police dog¡¯s attention. Bi Fang had prepared early, and every time he returned to town, the street¡¯s female dogs would walk with their tails tucked at the sight of him. Just spray it where the males can smell it clearly, and even well-trained police dogs can¡¯t resist the temptation of this scent. ¡°Maybe next time they¡¯ll consider changing the gender of the police dogs.¡± ¡°Hahaha.¡± a€| The next day, within the police headquarters, someone showed up unexpectedly, causing a big surprise to Matsumoto. ¡°Mr. Morishita Suji, what brings you here?¡± Chapter 600 - Chapter 600 Chapter 597 Hold a Spot, Will Be Ready Soon ?Chapter 600: Chapter 597: Hold a Spot, Will Be Ready Soon Chapter 600: Chapter 597: Hold a Spot, Will Be Ready Soon Just a little bit more, finish revising before one o¡¯clock ¡°How many points?¡± Bi Fang, with a thatch needle in his mouth, leaned on a spear cradled in his arms against a tree, fixing his gaze on the scoring official. The thatch needle in his mouth swayed back and forth as if it was about to shoot out and pierce someone¡¯s neck. March is the season for eating thatch needles, but by July, they are too tough and pricklya€¡±eating them would cause nosebleeds. Ikeda marked off checkboxes on paper with trembling hands, as large beads of sweat fell from beside his temples. He only felt as if a sharp blade hung over his neck, its edge menacingly close. ¡°Is it that hot?¡± Ikeda forced a smile, ¡°No, not at all.¡± Bi Fang looked up at the sun. Although it was midsummer, they were in the shade of the treesa€¡±it shouldn¡¯t be sweaty enough to soak through one¡¯s back, right? The young people these days seem to be getting weaker and weaker. ¡°So, how many points?¡± Chaki Shintaro shouted from the side, ¡°One hundred and nineteen!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï One nine, such a coincidental number! Yet, with Bi Fang inquiring again on the other side, Ikeda quickly did the math, his scalp prickling with anxiety. Hesitantly, he said, ¡°Seven¡­ seven point four points?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the scorer, so why are you asking me?¡± Bi Fang retorted, always feeling that the guy in front of him seemed nervously guilty. Did he steal my points? Ah, whatever. If they¡¯re stolen, they¡¯re stolen. Quibbling over a minute or two is certainly not something within my character to do. What a hassle. After confirmation, Bi Fang, who already had ten point two points, gained another twenty-seven point seven points. Total 37.2 points! ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï The hunting leaderboard rapidly updated, and his name, which had slipped to seventh place, swiftly climbed, once again taking the top spot! He pulled ahead of the second place Sato by nearly twenty points, 19.7 to be exact! Twenty points, that¡¯s the equivalent of two grown black bears. Unless one could be as lucky as Bi Fang, encountering a brown bear, or even a brown bear in a hunting state, under normal circumstances, it would take at least a week to catch up! [Daytime Fireworks donated 100 Wolf Brushes to the protagonista€¡±Rubbing down Little Japan¡¯s sharp edge!] [Thirty-five hunters, a hundred black bears, averaging less than three bears per person. If we calculate an average of ten points per bear, Old Fang has already surpassed this average number] [And he¡¯s the first one to do so, while the second place only has nineteen points, which is roughly two black bears!] [Red Palms Stirring the Clear Waves donated 1 yacht to the host] [So many tycoons, I¡¯m begging to tag along!!! Come check out my live stream.] Once the scoring was done, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t forgotten about the dead wild pig nearbya€¡±he¡¯d found an oversight. Speaking of which, there¡¯s been quite a lot of game these past two days. The sika deer from a few days ago is still not finished eating; they stored it in a restaurant freezer, and now they¡¯ve got another wild pig today. The harvest is plentiful. In the izakaya. ¡°Forty points? How can we catch up to that?¡± In the restaurant, both Tanaka and Okuyama were dumbfounded. They were also quite lucky, the two of them had killed three bears and moved up to the second¡­ oh, it¡¯s the third place now. The efficiency within five days was already considered high; normally, around now, it would be time for each person to have bagged one. But at one per person, someone actually had four? ¡°Damn it! We¡¯re losing face for the entire Yamato nationality!¡± A cup was slammed onto the table, and Okuyama let out a growl as he picked up a backpack next to him and headed outside. Now was not the time to rest; they had to seize every moment to catch up! Over the next few days, the rankings changed time and again. Dolphin Bay remained as usual, albeit the bloodshed from that day was gone. Each day, boats patrolled the area, checking for any new groups of dolphins. Finally, on the eighth day, a hunter had to withdraw due to injurya€¡±not from a bear, but from another hunter¡¯s trap. A thigh was pierced on the spot by a crossbow trap, pinning the victim firmly to the ground, unable to move. The scene was extremely gory for a while until staff arrived and carried the victim away on a stretcher. Luckily, those who came here were all experienced old hunters who knew some first aid, so no serious trouble arose. The hunter who had set the trap was also punished, with two points deducted from his score, causing his ranking to drop by one; the reason was that the trap wasn¡¯t clearly marked. Ironically, the person who lost points was Bosen. What on earth was this old man trying to do? Every day, not only did Bi Fang have to deal with patrolling at night, but he also had to be wary of this old scorpion lurking in the shadows. The audience wasn¡¯t aware of what Bosen had done before and simply felt sorry for the old man. Just like that, he lost two pointsa€¡±that¡¯s money! There went ten thousand bucks. [That¡¯s ridiculous. If you step into it yourself, how can you blame someone else?] [Are they bullying an old man?] ¡°No, Bosen does have to take some responsibility,¡± Bi Fang shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve reviewed the playback. A normal hunter wouldn¡¯t have dug a trap there because it¡¯s not a beast path. Putting it there was pure luck; typically, no beast would pass by. It¡¯s a waste of time.¡± ¡°Moreover, there weren¡¯t obvious signs around the trap, so that¡¯s why the other hunter got caught in it.¡± [Signs? What¡¯s that?] [Like a marker? But wouldn¡¯t animals notice that?] The audience was confused. Bi Fang shook his head: ¡°Hunters, like animals, care a lot about their territory. They usually only operate within areas they are familiar with. Globetrotters like me are the exception.¡± ¡°Back in the mountains, hunters had their own range of activity to prevent accidentally harming someone. Near traps they set, nets, or hidden snares, they would place clear markers. Animals can¡¯t understand them, but hunters get it right away, like pressing down a fixed number of weeds, etc.¡± Ordinary people, being careless, have no awareness of this and might still fall for marked traps. How could someone capable of obtaining a professional hunter¡¯s license, and still use primitive methods to hunt black bears, not know this? The physical condition of most hunters was already on the decline. Unlike Bi Fang, with his strong and powerful body, almost all of them relied on traps. For a trapper to fall into his own trap, it only indicates that Bosen did nothing and even made the trap very concealed. What kind of person would expend such effort to make a trap in a completely useless place, not on a beast¡¯s trail, and without leaving any signs? Using bamboo strips to create a flexible bamboo crossbow trap is something skilled hunters would use to catch fierce beasts. Sharp wooden stakes are more commonly used, and bamboo is only employed when there is a rush. A trap can capture animals, and can equally ensnare humans. Such behavior, in Bi Fang¡¯s eyes, was against the rules. Even in North America, based on development principles, this kind of rationale shouldn¡¯t be lost. Unless¡­ Bi Fang¡¯s mind conjured a map of the whole Honshu Island, and above the Kii Peninsula, aside from Wakayama Prefecture, there were a few other prefectures. However, in the vicinity of Wakayama Prefecture, there were only six hunters active. Bi Fang himself, including Bosen, Mugalen, this one injured in retirement, plus another two hunters whom he had never met and whose names he barely remembered. Just the six of them. Bosen, could it be intentional? Bi Fang was suddenly shocked. One day later. The accident indeed occurred again, involving the two hunters whom Bi Fang hadn¡¯t met before. This time it was more tragic, a direct mishap, and they encountered attacks from more than two brown bears. These were the second and third brown bears appearing since the start of the hunting season. When the two hunters saw them, they were scared stiff. The situation was so urgent that all viewers from Bi Fang¡¯s live stream escaped. Almost in the blink of an encounter, with no hesitation left in their minds, they had one thought. Run! Escape as far as you can. The two turned and ran. If the brown bears had been fighting each other, that would have been one thing, but unfortunately, these two bears were only posturing when they happened upon the intruders, and in a fury, they gave chase. The two hunters were not familiar with each other; they had merely teamed up because they both came from the Ugly Country. And when disaster struck, it was every man for himself. The two brown bears might as well have planned it; each bear pursued one hunter. Tens of millions of viewers watched as if they were watching a movie, their palms sweaty. The whole scene unfolded just thirteen kilometers away from Bi Fang¡¯s mountain head, yet he was powerless to intervene. These were two adult male brown bears, both about two meters three in size, no less formidable than the one Bi Fang had encountered. Perhaps even more so. Because battles among brown bears often involve newcomers challenging the king, it meant that one of the bears was the bear king. The length of brown bears ranges from one meter five to two meters eight, but given the lower latitude of Japan, their size generally does not exceed two meters four. This was no movie shoot; Little Leo had a musket, but these two had none. The only thing that could save their lives was an alarm. After the incident, the Japanese Government was dumbfounded and dispatched a standby guard team and helicopter at top speed. The audience too learned for the first time that not all people are alike; Bi Fang¡¯s ability to wrangle under a brown bear¡¯s grasp wasn¡¯t due to luck, but strength and the confidence to wait for the poison to take effect. The two couldn¡¯t be said to be lacking, as they fired their bullets at the very moment the brown bear pounced. After that, the live broadcast was cut off. [Reminder: You can breathe] [A bit scared, these two won¡¯t be in trouble, right?] [Hope they are alright] The barrage of comments was filled with prayers. The Shuiyou finally understood what a single brown bear means to humans. It¡¯s a terrible monster. With such an incident, none of the hunters were in the mood anymore. In less than three days, three hunters had accidents, and this situation doomed them to be eliminated. When night fell, Bi Fang sat beside the campfire, grilling wild boar meat, chewing with difficulty, just as he received a notice issued by the Japanese Government. One was a medical report, the second a declaration regarding the live broadcast, and the third pertained to the identities of the two brown bears. Bi Fang carefully reviewed the first two reports and said to the audience, ¡°It¡¯s not bad, there¡¯s no life-threatening danger. It¡¯s just fractures, mostly on limbs, and there are no disabilities. The live-stream can continue; there¡¯s no problem.¡± Hearing Bi Fang¡¯s personal confirmation, the Shuiyou all breathed a sigh of relief, and then they began to discuss the day¡¯s harrowing experiences. That was terrifying. And when I think about the life-and-death crises Bi Fang has faced before, it¡¯s even more fucking terrifying. Bi Fang, gnawing on pork, felt gloomy. No one could be happy after such an incident. Now, in Wakayama Prefecture, only Bosen, Mugalen, and Bi Fang himself were left. That old rascal now had twenty-three points, ranking third. While looking at the third report, Bi Fang bit into the wild boar meat, his cheeks aching as if chewing dried beef strips. This thing¡¯s texture is so rough! It¡¯s tough to cut, and even tougher to chew! Without the miracle of a pressure cooker, dealing with wild boar meat is really troublesome. And the boar wasn¡¯t castrated, so it has an extremely strong stench. If it weren¡¯t for getting a better set of teeth, I would surely have bits of meat stuck in my teeth now. ¡°These two were really unlucky to come across something like this.¡± ¡°Old Fang encountered a brown bear killing a black bear, which was crude, but these two pure unlucky fellows encountered a brown bear fighting another brown bear.¡± ¡°And they were still in a standoff, such cursed luck.¡± By the time Bi Fang finished reading the third notice, it turned out that one of them was indeed the Bear King. Japan had even given it a special name, calling it Matsutaro. A sumo wrestler from ancient Japan who was rather famous. This guy¡¯s body length reached an impressive 2.47 meters, over 2.4 and close to 2.5 meters, which is quite rare in Japan. As for the other bear, clearly, it was the one that had challenged the brown bear. ¡°Ah, didn¡¯t Old Fang say that brown bears don¡¯t have a strong sense of territory? Then why did they fight?¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s different. Having a weak sense of territory doesn¡¯t conflict with becoming the king of a group, monopolizing mating rights, and food.¡± Once you are king, you can rightfully steal food, and if there is resistance, it¡¯s seen as a challenge. ¡°The gap between humans is big, and it¡¯s the same between animals. The Bear King¡¯s strength often far exceeds other bears of the same species. Among the two injured, the one who encountered the Bear King had the worst luck; he was seriously injured and it took the helicopter more than a dozen shots when they arrived.¡± ¡°While for the other one, it only took five shots to deal with. Even if it were me, it would be a close call, and I¡¯d probably be knocked down too.¡± ¡°Some animal kings¡¯ fame can even spread across the world, like the Brown Bear King of Katmai National Park in Alaska, Tuyuk. He became the king of the Katmai area for over 10 years. Several thousand brown bears live in his territory, all competing for the same food.¡± ¡°But Bear King Tuyuk always controlled the largest of several brown bear territories in the Katmai area and faced challenges from other male bears, mainly aiming to take over the territory and compete for a unique fooda€¡±salmon. It wasn¡¯t until he got old that he was dethroned and driven away.¡± ¡°Besides, there¡¯s Carter, the Peninsula Giant Bear King of Alaska. That guy is even more formidable, weighing over 680 kilograms at his peak, with a huge skeleton to match.¡± The research institute that found him was fascinated. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen a bear so confidently dominant. The other bears didn¡¯t even dare to act, like trying to intimidate or challenge it. They just quietly left or even turned tail and fled.¡± ¡°There¡¯s also Piro, the Bear King of the Pyrenees Mountains, whose reign was even longer, over twenty years, and he was extremely tyrannical, with a strong desire to control female bears, especially keen on killing cubs, so much so that it affected the local brown bear population.¡± Piro¡¯s actions were tantamount to causing a bear population to face the threat of extinction. ¡°These guys are like the King of Chu, L?? Fengxian, and the Western Hannibal among humans, having an overwhelming dominance over ordinary bears.¡± Bi Fang spoke with envy in his tone. Currently, he might be able to deal with some ordinary bears by exploiting their weaknesses, but against such individuals, he had no chance of winning. It was a different level, maybe trying with dual orange max level skills? Or even higher? Chapter 601 - Chapter 601 Chapter 598 (Placeholder Post) Stirring Up Trouble ?Chapter 601: Chapter 598 (Placeholder Post) Stirring Up Trouble Chapter 601: Chapter 598 (Placeholder Post) Stirring Up Trouble ¡°` He finished making adjustments at half past one. ¡°How many points?¡± Bi Fang bit down on a straw needle, holding the spear and leaning against a tree, his eyes fixed intently on the scoring official. The straw needle in his mouth kept swaying as if it might shoot out any moment and stick into someone¡¯s neck. March was the proper season for eating straw needles; by July, they were no longer edible due to their hardened and prickly nature, which could cause nosebleeds if consumed. Ikeda ticked off something on the paper with trembling hands, large beads of sweat falling by his temples; he felt as though he was wearing a sharp blade around his neck, its edge threatening. ¡°Is it that hot?¡± Ikeda forced a smile, ¡°No, not at all.¡± Bi Fang looked up at the sun. Although it was the height of summer, they were in the shade of the trees. Surely it wasn¡¯t sweaty enough to warrant this reaction? The youth of today are really becoming more fragile. ¡°So, how many points?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 One-nine? What an unlikely number! Yet Bi Fang was asking again and he quickly did the math, his scalp going numb before hesitantly responding, ¡°Sevena€| seven point four points?¡± ¡°Why are you asking me when you¡¯re the scorekeeper?¡± Bi Fang retorted, he always felt like the guy in front of him was nervous about something. Has he stolen my points? Well, whatever, if he stole them, so be it. Fussing over a minute or two wasn¡¯t something in his character. What a hassle. After confirmation, Bi Fang, who already had ten point two points, earned another twenty-seven point seven points. That made a total of 37.2 points! The hunting leaderboard quickly updated and his name, which had dropped to seventh place, jumped up rapidly, returning him to the top spot! He was now a considerable nineteen point seven points ahead of the second place, Satoa€¡±nearly twenty points! Twenty points, which would equate to two adult black bears¡¯ worth of points. Unless someone had the good fortune to encounter a brown bear, or even a brown bear in hunting mode like Bi Fang did, it would take at least a week to catch up under normal circumstances! [Daytime Fireworks gifted the host Wolf Brush *100a€¡±dampen the spirits of little Japan!] [Thirty-five hunters, one hundred black bears-really, that averages out to less than three per person. If we go by the average of ten points per bear, Old Fang has already surpassed this average.] [And he¡¯s the first one to do so; the second place only has nineteen points, which is roughly equivalent to two black bears!] [Red Palms Stirring the Clear Waves gifted the host a yacht *1.] [So many tycoons, looking for a leg up!!! ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï Come check out my stream.] After the scoring was finished, Bi Fang didn¡¯t forget about the wild boar that lay dead beside him, seemingly a bonus. Speaking of which, there were plenty of game animals these past two days; he hadn¡¯t even finished the sika deer meat from a few days ago, which he stored in the freezer of a restaurant, and now there was this wild boar. Quite a bountiful harvest. Inside the izakaya, ¡°Forty points? How are we supposed to catch up?¡± In the restaurant, Tanaka and Okuyama were flabbergasted. They too were lucky; together, the pairs had hunted down three bears, ranking them at seconda€| oh, they were now third. ¡°` Five days was quite efficient, normally now it should be one person per catch. But at one person per catch, is there actually someone with four? ¡°Damn! We¡¯re dishonoring the entire Yamato nationality!¡± The cup was slammed down on the table as Okuyama let out a low growl and picked up a nearby backpack to leave. It wasn¡¯t time to rest now; they needed to make the most of every moment to catch up! In the following several days, the rankings changed repeatedly. Dolphin Bay remained the same as always, only the blood from that day had vanished. Now there were boats patrolling every day, checking for new groups of dolphins. Finally, on the eighth day, a hunter was eliminated due to an injurya€¡±but not from a bear. Instead, he fell victim to another hunter¡¯s trap. His thigh was pierced by a crossbow trap on the spot, pinning him to the ground, immobilized. The scene was gruesomely bloody for a time until the staff members arrived and carried him off on a stretcher. Luckily, those who came here were seasoned hunters, more or less familiar with some first aid, so no serious issues arose. The hunter who had set the trap also received a penalty: two points were deducted, and his ranking dropped one place, the reason being that the trap had not been clearly marked. Ironically, the person who was penalized was none other than Bosen. What on earth was this old man up to? Every day, Bi Fang not only had to deal with the nighttime patrols but also be wary of this old scorpion lurking in the shadows. The audience didn¡¯t know what Bosen had done before and just felt that the old man was somewhat unlucky. Just like that, two pointsa€¡±equivalent to moneya€¡±were gone. That¡¯s ten thousand bucks gone. [This is just too outrageous, stepping into it oneself, how can it be someone else¡¯s fault?] [Are they bullying an old man?] ¡°No, Bosen does bear some responsibility,¡± Bi Fang shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve reviewed the footage. A normal hunter wouldn¡¯t dig a trap in that kind of place, because it¡¯s not an animal path. Putting it there is just a matter of luck; generally, no animal would pass bya€¡±it¡¯s a waste of time.¡± ¡°Moreover, there were no clear stealth marks around the trap, which is why the hunter stepped into it.¡± [Stealth marks? What is that?] [Signals? But wouldn¡¯t that be detected by the animals?] The audience was somewhat puzzled. Bi Fang shook his head: ¡°Hunters, like animals, take great care of their territory. They usually only move within familiar ranges, like myself traveling around the world is rare.¡± ¡°In the past when in the mountains, hunters had their own zones to avoid misfiring at others. Near their own set traps, snares, or hidden traps, they would mark it with something quite noticeable. Animals don¡¯t understand, but hunters see it clearly, like pressing down a fixed amount of underbrush and so on.¡± An average person is careless and wouldn¡¯t normally be aware of this, and even if they made the stealth marks, they might still fall victim. How could someone eligible for a Professional Hunter¡¯s license, capable of hunting black bears using primitive methods, possibly not know this? Most hunters were already experiencing a decline in physical fitness; they didn¡¯t have the robust and powerful bodies like Bi Fang, and almost all of them relied on traps. Bosen, who played with traps, fell for onea€¡±it only means he didn¡¯t do anything, and he even made the trap extremely concealed. What kind of person would bother with setting up a trap in such a useless place, not only away from any animal paths, but also without leaving any stealth marks? Using bamboo strips to make a spring-loaded bamboo crossbow trap is a technique typically used by good hunters to catch fierce beasts. However, sharpened wooden stakes are used more often. Bamboo strips are used when time is short. A trap can catch an animal, and it can also catch a person. In Bi Fang¡¯s eyes, Bosen¡¯s actions were against the rules. Even in North America, considering its development, this sort of principle shouldn¡¯t be unknown. Unless¡­ ¡°` Bi Fang¡¯s mind conjured up the entire map of Honshu Island. Above the Kii Peninsula, besides Wakayama Prefecture, there were several other prefectures, but only six hunters were active near Wakayama Prefecture. Bi Fang himself, including Bosen and Mugalen, this hunter who retired due to injury, and two other team hunters whom he had not yet met and whose names Bi Fang could not quite remember. Only these six. Bosen, could it be intentional? Bi Fang was suddenly startled. One day later. The accident indeed happened again. It was the two hunters whom he had not yet met. This time it was worse, they made a mistake and encountered an attack by more than two brown bears. These were the second and third brown bears that had appeared since the start of the hunting season. The hunters were petrified at the sight of them. The situation was so urgent that all the viewers from Bi Fang¡¯s live stream had left. Almost the instant they came face to face, the two men had no hesitation, with only one thought in mind. Run! Run as far as they could. The two turned and fled. If the brown bears had been fighting, it might have been different, but unfortunately, the two bears were only in a standoff. When they encountered the two intruders, they chased after them furiously. The two men were not familiar with each other; they had teamed up simply because they both came from the Ugly Country. When disaster struck, each ran for his life. It was as if the two brown bears had conspired together, with one bear chasing each man. Tens of millions of viewers watched as if it were a movie, their palms sweaty with tension. The whole incident was happening just thirteen kilometers away from Bi Fang¡¯s hilltop, and he was powerless to do anything about it. These were two adult male brown bears, both about 2.3 meters in size, on par with the one Bi Fang had encountered. Perhaps even exceeding it. Because among brown bears, a struggle usually meant a challenger taking on the king, this meant that one of them could be the bear king. The length of a brown bear ranges from 1.5 to 2.8 meters, but given the lower latitude of Japan, the size of the brown bears normally does not exceed 2.4 meters. This was not a movie. Little Leo still had a musket, but these two men had none, their only lifesaver being an alarm device. After the incident, the Japanese Government was bewildered and dispatched an always-ready guard team and helicopter at top speed. The audience was seeing for the first time that not all people were the same; Bi Fang¡¯s ability to escape the clutches of a brown bear was not due to luck, but to strength, and also the confidence of waiting for the toxin to take effect. The two hunters were not bad; the moment the brown bear pounced, they fired their bullets. After that, the live stream was cut off. [Just a reminder, you can breathe] [I¡¯m kind of scared, I hope nothing happens to these two] [I hope they¡¯re okay] The barrage was full of prayers. The Shuiyou finally understood what a single brown bear meant for humans. It was a terrifying beast. With such an incident, none of the hunters were in the mood anymore. Within three days, three hunters had accidents; under such circumstances, they were destined to be eliminated. By evening, Bi Fang sat beside the campfire, roasting wild boar meat, struggling to chew when he received a notice from the Japanese Government. One was a medical examination report, the second was a statement about the live stream, and the third concerned the identity of the two brown bears. ¡°` Bi Fang carefully reviewed the first two reports and said to the audience, ¡°It¡¯s alright, there¡¯s no life-threatening danger, just fractures, mostly on the limbs, and no debilitating injuries. The livestream can continue without any problems.¡± Relieved by Bi Fang¡¯s own admission, Shuiyou all let out a sigh of relief and then began to chatter endlessly about the day¡¯s adventures. That was terrifying. And thinking back on the life-and-death crises Bi Fang had faced before, it was even more damn frightening. Bi Fang gnawed on pork, his mood gloomy. Nobody could be happy in such a situation. Now in Wakayama Prefecture, only Bosen, Mugalen, and Bi Fang himself were left. That old coot currently holds twenty-three points, ranking third. While looking at the third report, Bi Fang struggled to bite into the wild boar meat, his cheeks aching as if gnawing on jerky. The texture of this thing was incredibly rough! Hard to cut, even harder to chew! Without the magic of a pressure cooker, dealing with wild boar meat is truly a challenge. And since the boar wasn¡¯t castrated, the gamey smell was especially intense. Had it not been for a good set of teeth, there would be meat stuck between every tooth by now. [These two are so unlucky to have encountered such an incident.] [Old Fang faced a brown bear killing a black bear, that was crude. These two pure lads, they met brown bear fighting brown bear.] [And it was a standoff, cursed for eight generations.] By then, Bi Fang had also finished reading the third notice. As expected, one of the bears was the Bear King, and Japan had even given it a special name called Matsutaro. An ancient and fairly famous sumo wrestler in Japan. This guy had an impressive body length of two meters forty-seven, exceeding two meters forty and close to two meters fifty, which is quite rare in Japan. As for the other bear, obviously, it was challenging the brown bear. [Ah, didn¡¯t Old Fang say that brown bears don¡¯t have strong territorial consciousness? Then why were they fighting?] Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s different, having a weak territorial consciousness doesn¡¯t conflict with becoming king of the group, monopolizing breeding rights and food.¡± As long as one becomes king, one can rightfully steal food, and if resisted, it will be regarded as a challenge. ¡°The gap between people is great, and it¡¯s the same between animals. The strength of a bear king often far exceeds that of its own kind. Of the two injured, the one that met the bear king was the unluckiest, suffering severe injuries. When the helicopter arrived, it took more than a dozen shots.¡± ¡°As for the other one, it took only five shots to handle. Even if I encountered it, it would be dicey, probably would have taken me down too.¡± ¡°Sometimes the reputation of some animal kings spreads across the world, like the brown bear king Tuyuk of Katmai National Park in Alaska, reigning over the Katmai area for over 10 years. Its domain was home to thousands of brown bears, all competing for the same food source.¡± ¡°But bear king Tuyuk always controlled the largest territory among several brown bear domains in Katmai and faced challenges from other male bears, mainly intending to take over the territory, gain breeding rights and compete for a unique food sourcea€¡±salmon. He was only driven away after he grew old and stepped down.¡± ¡°Then there¡¯s Carter, the Peninsula Giant Bear King of Alaskaa€¡±this guy is even more powerful, at his peak, he weighed over six hundred and eighty kilograms, his skeletal frame massively large.¡± The research institutes that discovered him were fascinated. ¡°I have never seen a bear so domineering that other bears wouldn¡¯t even dare to act, like trying to intimidate or challenge it. They simply left or turned tail to flee.¡± ¡°There¡¯s also Piro, the bear king of the Pyrenees Mountains. He reigned for an even longer period, over twenty years, and was extremely tyrannical, especially domineering towards female bears, fond of slaughtering cubs to such a degree that it affected the local brown bear population severely.¡± Piro¡¯s actions were equivalent to a bear pushing its own species towards the brink of extinction. ¡°These guys are like the King of Chu, L?? Fengxian, Hannibal of the West to ordinary bears, they wield overwhelming power.¡± Admiration tinged Bi Fang¡¯s voice. Now he might be able to handle ordinary bears by exploiting weaknesses, but against the likes of these, there was no chance of victory. It was a different level altogether. Perhaps full-level orange skills could give it a try? Or even higher? Chapter 602 - Chapter 602 Chapter 599 Extreme Diving ?Chapter 602: Chapter 599: Extreme Diving Chapter 602: Chapter 599: Extreme Diving In the dense forest, several figures were running hastily, their faces and necks covered with bloodstains from being scraped by branches. ¡°Ha, heh, haha.¡± Matsumoto Kiyotaka was panting heavily, his windpipe felt like it was being scorched by fire, and the saliva he secreted was like glue, clogging his throat and nearly making him gag; his legs shook uncontrollably and he almost fell to the ground. The mountain path was too difficult to run on, with bushes and pebbles everywhere, making it easy to sprain an ankle with a single misstep. The poise he had during the 5-kilometer run in police academy had long been worn away by the years. Several younger ones beside him were equally exhausted, hardly able to speak. They looked towards Matsumoto Kiyotaka, waiting for instructions. The hills on either side of Dolphin Bay rose over forty meters high, with the cliff face below roared with waves, the cliffs sharp like the cut of a knife. The hill wasn¡¯t big, and the summit was even narrower. Constantly eroded by the sea breeze, this small expanse was only filled with rugged boulders, without a single tree in sight, the area clear for all to see. Matsumoto Kiyotaka lifted his hand to shield his eyes from the sun, his pupils violently constricted, struggling to adjust to the brightness. The eight o¡¯clock sunlight was a radiant white-gold, the entire ocean sparkling with phosphorescence. A light gold hue framed the boundary between the cliff and the sky, dazzlingly bright. But within this brilliance, there was an extremely conspicuous spot. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? A dark, elongated shadow stood upright at the summit, its edges iron-blue amidst the interplay of light and shadow, like a freshly sharpened steel sword. ¡°General Bi Fang! You have nowhere to run!¡± Matsumoto Kiyotaka shouted. The height of the small mountain exceeded forty metersa€¡±a fall from this height into the water would mean certain death. Matsumoto Kiyotaka didn¡¯t know what the world record for the highest dive was, but he remembered that in his youth he had jumped from a bridge over twenty meters high to save a woman who had fallen into the river, and ended up with a broken leg; if it hadn¡¯t been for the two colleagues with him, he probably would have sunk to the depths alongside the woman. That girl was even unluckiera€¡±without a basic understanding of how to fall into water and lacking the robust physique of an adult male, she suffered five broken ribs that pierced her lung, and injuries to her esophagus and trachea, along with bruises and abrasions all over her body. The doctor said she was lucky she didn¡¯t break her neck upon impact; otherwise, she would have died on the spot. That incident was the most terrifying scene of Matsumoto Kiyotaka¡¯s career, and since then, his official career had gone quite smoothly. The height now was double that, and there was no way the other party could escape. Matsumoto Kiyotaka didn¡¯t want to take a life unnecessarily, especially since the other party was a celebrity, and right now they were live broadcasting. He was gasping for breath, trying to squeeze out a few words. But in the next moment, Matsumoto Kiyotaka¡¯s pupils shrank to the size of pinpoints. He lost his voice and couldn¡¯t scream out loud. The iron-blue longsword suddenly extended into a hilt, and finally, the hilt became extremely elongated, as if it had turned from a steel sword into a Judgement Cross. But then, the cross seemed to shorten abruptly. No! It didn¡¯t shorten. The man was leaning backa€¡±he was going to jump into the sea! Matsumoto Kiyotaka¡¯s mind froze for an instant. Bravely facing death! The idiom suddenly popped into his head and, mouth agape, he yelled: ¡°Shoot!¡± Everyone was startled by this command. The target was a world-famous adventurer, and he was currently broadcasting livea€¡±were they really supposed to shoot? ¡°Shoot!!!¡± Matsumoto Kiyotaka roared again. The young graduates from the police academy, reactively pulled out their P230s from their waists. But before they could aim, the pitch-black cross had already disappeared from their sight. Everyone ran frantically toward the cliff edge, as their legs, once weak and rubbery, propelled forward, nearly causing them to fall to the ground. For Bi Fang, each free fall was a way to feel the true existence of Earth. That sensation of being pulled was incomparable. The moist, salty sea breeze lifted his hair as Bi Fang stood with his back to the sea and leaned back, entering free fall under the force of gravity. The air was not only tinged with the smell of fish but also carried an extremely thick, rich scent of blood that was getting denser. Forty meters, almost forty-five meters high. Diving as a sport is more difficult and dangerous than most people think. The official world diving record is 59 meters, while ordinary people wouldn¡¯t stand a chance of surviving at 30 meters. Even a fall from around 10 meters, landing on one¡¯s back, abdomen, or head in a seated position, would subject a person to a force of 60g, causing death or disability. In June 2009, around the 14th, at the Beirut Seaside of Lebanon, a boy dived from a 10-meter board, followed by a scream, as the swimming pool quickly reddened. Late, he managed to struggle towards the shore, and the people onshore screamed in horror. Because the boy¡¯s face had split into two halves. His face was longitudinally bisected, everything between his mouth and his eyes completely gone, his tongue and teeth exposed. His teeth were all cracked into segments, visible amidst the bloody mess. Amidst the blood red, they were starkly white. Even professional special forces soldiers often only undertake diving missions of up to twenty-five meters, any higher, and there would be a significant risk of accidents. Was Bi Fang prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice? Of course¡­ not. Bi Fang¡¯s morals weren¡¯t so noble, he was just an ordinary person, albeit more capable, hoping to be of some help. A forty-meter free fall takes only two seconds. The impact of the water on the body falling at high speed is the main difficulty in extreme diving. ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï In professional high-altitude diving, the men¡¯s diving height is 23 to 28 meters, the women¡¯s is 18 to 23 meters, and athletes enter the water at speeds of around 78 to 100 kilometers per hour. The moment a person enters the water, the impact is like driving into a wall at 100 kilometers per hour, which is why divers must enter the water feet first after completing their maneuvers. Only by assuming a standing soldier¡¯s posture is there a slim chance of survival. And there can¡¯t be any rocks underwater. Bi Fang was not one to shoot blindly; he had thoroughly scoped out the underwater terrain during his first diving operation. In midair, Bi Fang twisted his waist and abdomen to quickly adjust his posture. His entire body tensed like a straight and rigid javelin. The waves below the cliff broke one after another, already having disrupted the surface tension. Bi Fang, like a shooting star, glided across the sky and gracefully entered the water. Accompanied by a splash drowned out by the wind, the police who arrived at the cliff saw only the undulating waves. Many young officers widened their eyes in disbelief at the sight of the waveless sea. Dead? ¡°Had he planned to jump all along?¡± ¡°At this height¡­ wouldn¡¯t he die?¡± Forty meters down, just the thought made the officers¡¯ legs go weak. But the next second, one officer gasped, his eyes bulging as he collapsed to the ground, shakily pointing toward the sea surface. Everyone looked down, and their expressions instantly froze. Beneath the waves, a dark, long shadow, swift as a sword, raced toward the fishing boat! Chapter 603 - Chapter 603 Chapter 600 Occupy a Spot ?Chapter 603: Chapter 600 Occupy a Spot Chapter 603: Chapter 600 Occupy a Spot Before two o¡¯clock in the morning, he finished revising. Bi Fang struggled to pull the spear from the Black Bear¡¯s body, collapsing onto the ground, gasping for air as he looked up at the twinkling stars above. After three hours of tracking and searching, he was now completely drained. Most Black Bears are still afraid of humans, just like the one before him. This Black Bear was exceptionally good at running, having run from dusk to starry night; it had taken Bi Fang nearly four hours to finally catch and kill it. With this, only five Black Bear quotas remained for the entire hunting season. The hunting season was drawing to a close, from July 12 to today¡¯s August 18, thirty-seven days had passed. However, the more this was the case, the less one could lower their guard. Tonight might be many hunters¡¯ last chance and a sleepless night, which was very dangerous. Animals are more adapted to being active at night than humans. But that had nothing to do with Bi Fang; he was already very tired. Having just killed a Black Bear, he preferred to sleep rather than stay awake all night; he planned to continue tomorrow. He pressed the positioning button, and Bi Fang began to set up a simple shelter. He looked for dry branches and vines on the ground, rolled them crudely into a bird¡¯s nest shape, spread dry leaves over it, and lit camphor tree leaves and ¡°y??ki medicine,¡± which was Japanese anthurium, and smoked the area. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? Mosquitoes and ants don¡¯t like pungent smells. Then he stuffed the ashes into a water bottle, shook it, and poured it on the ground; he had finished these simple tasks before the staff even arrived. Proving that all this was done within a quarter of an hour. ¡°Even if you¡¯re exhausted, don¡¯t joke with your life. The nights by the sea are still quite cool. Cold-blooded animals like snakes enjoy getting close to heat sources, and no one wants to wake up to find a long snake lying on their chest.¡± Bi Fang mustered his last bit of energy to explain, and then waved his hands, ¡°No more, no more, I¡¯m truly too tired and sleepy. When the staff arrives, you can talk to them. Don¡¯t even tell me how many points, I¡¯m going to sleep first.¡± [Don¡¯t worry, Brother Fang, I¡¯ll take care of it for you. If it can be one point, definitely not two.] [???] [Goodnight, Ah-fang.] [Alright, let¡¯s invite the next contestant with a round of applause!] [Others are overtaking on the curve. Just a little more, just a little more.] [So has no one noticed Bosen¡¯s absence? How has he disappeared, it¡¯s been more than a week.] [By the way, why has old Mu also vanished, what¡¯s going on herea€|] Perhaps as the competition was nearing its end, more and more hunters were getting anxious, and the more anxious they grew, the more accidents happened. In the last two days, quite a few hunters had been injured and dropped out of the race. There was even a hunter named Tanaka who had switched from a duo to a solo player. Japan hasn¡¯t issued any announcements, they don¡¯t want public attention shifted to Dolphin Bay. Therefore, many spectators were worried whether Mugalen had been injured, but Bi Fang did not directly respond. So far, only twenty-four hunters were left to compete in the final round. Theoretically, even if the currently last-ranked hunter spent it all on killing five Black Bears, overtaking Bi Fang¡¯s score of seventy-nine points was not impossible. Nevertheless, the possibility was as slim as winning a lottery. But for the top five, there was still hope with just a bit of luck. Like Sato. Suppressed by Bi Fang¡¯s prominence through an entire hunting season, this Y??ki Hunter was filled with indignation, swearing to show Bi Fang the true art of bear hunting. While most hunters dared not act at night, he was already making his last desperate efforts. On the other side, at Ichi-bancho No. 1, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, a consulate located 4 minutes east of Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Station, on Uchikudari Street near the western side of the Imperial Palace. The British Consul, upon learning the truth, was clearly livid and vowed to fight for Mugalen¡¯s ¡°safety and welfare.¡± Everything was as the electrician had said. The Consul originally heard about Mugalen¡¯s incident and, regardless of his modest fame as a hunter, didn¡¯t want to deal with it and was about to send Richard away. It wasn¡¯t until Richard took him into a small room and, ten minutes later, the Consul came out adjusting his collar, all smiles. Then, after a moment¡¯s thought, he felt it was inappropriate, so he toned it down, becoming serious. ¡°Rest assured, for the sake of justice, we will not let any British citizen lose his backing!¡± ¡°Japan has no right to judge our citizens, don¡¯t worry. I understand the urgency, we must not delay, I will leave at once!¡± Richard nearly rolled his eyes upon hearing this. Arrogant at first, then obsequious; the thought was almost laughable. The Consul left in high spirits, his expression grave but his step light. Years ago, Bi Fang had drifted to the coast near England, ending his ocean survival journey. At that time, no one could have expected that in just half a month, the originally desolate coastline had become a must-visit spot. From desolation to a site filled with camping tents and snack stalls at the foot of the mountain, it only took Bi Fang a few hours of live broadcasting. Now the place still attracts a significant number of visitors daily, truly astonishing. The clarity of Bi Fang¡¯s live stream was off the charts, and the natural scenery captivated everyone who saw it. If a few hours¡¯ footage could have such impact, what would happen if he broadcasted for a month in England? Securing such a person in exchange for such a return was indeed a stroke of luck, and it was not just a noteworthy achievement, but two. Swearing to defend the liberty of Daiyo Empire citizens and inviting the renowned Adventurer, Mr. Bi Fang, to activities in England, weren¡¯t there two? The Consul was already considering where in Daiyo would be suitable for activities. The Tristan da Cunha Islands? Strid Killing Creek? The Consul was torn internally because he seemed unable to find any well-known wilderness areasa€| Back at the police headquarters in Taiji Town, Nasunobu Asuka had gone home. Matsumoto Kiyotaka couldn¡¯t get anything out of him; he felt regretful that he was living in a modern country. If he could resort to some harsh measures, he was sure to make these people tell the truth. The Chief of the Metropolitan Police had an intuition that the big boy was definitely hiding something from him. The same was true for Mugalen, who even had a higher mental resilience. After guessing that witness testimonies were useless, he became nearly fearless, saying nothing, much like Bosen. These people who licked blood off the blade¡¯s edge were one tougher than the other. Speaking of which, they would soon have to let Bosen go, too, as there was no substantial evidence to hold them any longer. Matsumoto Kiyotaka was very angry, but when he learned of the arrival of the Central Country Consul, his expression grew even darker. Early morning. Dewdrops from the treetops fell from the sky, splashing onto Bi Fang¡¯s forehead. Bi Fang opened his eyes, got up and stretched his muscles, feeling refreshed. By five in the midsummer morning, the sun had already begun to rise, with a moist mist filling the forest and a refreshingly cool temperature. Bi Fang started the live stream; it was too early, and there weren¡¯t many viewers at this time, so he scrolled through the rankings. Overnight, the hunting roster was short by two more Bears. Only the last three Black Bears remained. Early morning. Dewdrops from the treetops fell from the sky, splashing onto Bi Fang¡¯s forehead. Bi Fang opened his eyes, got up and stretched his muscles, feeling refreshed. By five in the midsummer morning, the sun had already begun to rise, with a moist mist filling the forest and a refreshingly cool temperature. Bi Fang started the live stream; it was too early, and there weren¡¯t many viewers at this time, so he scrolled through the rankings. Overnight, the hunting roster was short by two more Bears. Matsumoto Kiyotaka was very angry, but when he learned of the arrival of the Central Country Consul, his expression grew even darker. Early morning. Dewdrops from the treetops fell from the sky, splashing onto Bi Fang¡¯s forehead. Bi Fang opened his eyes, got up and stretched his muscles, feeling refreshed. By five in the midsummer morning, the sun had already begun to rise, with a moist mist filling the forest and a refreshingly cool temperature. Bi Fang started the live stream; it was too early, and there weren¡¯t many viewers at this time, so he scrolled through the rankings. Overnight, the hunting roster was short by two more Bears. Only the last three Black Bears remained. Early morning. ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? Dewdrops from the treetops fell from the sky, splashing onto Bi Fang¡¯s forehead. Bi Fang opened his eyes, got up and stretched his muscles, feeling refreshed. By five in the midsummer morning, the sun had already begun to rise, with a moist mist filling the forest and a refreshingly cool temperature. Bi Fang started the live stream; it was too early, and there weren¡¯t many viewers at this time, so he scrolled through the rankings. Overnight, the hunting roster was short by two more Bears. Matsumoto Kiyotaka was very angry, but when he learned of the arrival of the Central Country Consul, his expression grew even darker. Early morning. Dewdrops from the treetops fell from the sky, splashing onto Bi Fang¡¯s forehead. Bi Fang opened his eyes, got up and stretched his muscles, feeling refreshed. By five in the midsummer morning, the sun had already begun to rise, with a moist mist filling the forest and a refreshingly cool temperature. Bi Fang started the live stream; it was too early, and there weren¡¯t many viewers at this time, so he scrolled through the rankings. Overnight, the hunting roster was short by two more Bears. Only the last three Black Bears remained. Early morning. Dewdrops from the treetops fell from the sky, splashing onto Bi Fang¡¯s forehead. Bi Fang opened his eyes, got up and stretched his muscles, feeling refreshed. By five in the midsummer morning, the sun had already begun to rise, with a moist mist filling the forest and a refreshingly cool temperature. Bi Fang started the live stream; it was too early, and there weren¡¯t many viewers at this time, so he scrolled through the rankings. Overnight, the hunting roster was short by two more Bears. Only the last three Black Bears remained. Early morning. Dewdrops from the treetops fell from the sky, splashing onto Bi Fang¡¯s forehead. Bi Fang opened his eyes, got up and stretched his muscles, feeling refreshed. By five in the midsummer morning, the sun had already begun to rise, with a moist mist filling the forest and a refreshingly cool temperature. Bi Fang started the live stream; it was too early, and there weren¡¯t many viewers at this time, so he scrolled through the rankings. Overnight, the hunting roster was short by two more Bears. Only the last three Black Bears remained. Early morning. Dewdrops from the treetops fell from the sky, splashing onto Bi Fang¡¯s forehead. Bi Fang opened his eyes, got up and stretched his muscles, feeling refreshed. By five in the midsummer morning, the sun had already begun to rise, with a moist mist filling the forest and a refreshingly cool temperature. Bi Fang started the live stream; it was too early, and there weren¡¯t many viewers at this time, so he scrolled through the rankings. Overnight, the hunting roster was short by two more Bears. Chapter 604 - Chapter 604 Chapter 601 Sunken Ship ?Chapter 604: Chapter 601 Sunken Ship Chapter 604: Chapter 601 Sunken Ship Bloodied hands suddenly burst out of the water, droplets falling from the palms, the outstretched hands with clearly defined joints firmly grasping the wooden pole, squeezing and pulling with force, the long pole knife writhing like a serpent, slipping from the fisherman¡¯s grasp. But the purpose of the bloodied hand went beyond that, the scythe in his grasp now wielded with a different flair, no longer a tool for killing fish but more like a spear dancing about, its body cutting through the air, smashing directly into the fisherman¡¯s waist, before finally pressing down hard. ¡°Splash!¡± The loud sound of something hitting the water frightened everyone senseless. ¡°Ghosts!¡± One fisherman, having seen the bloodied hand, screamed in terror, shouting that there were mountain ghosts; after a few steps, he stumbled and fell off the boat, plunging into the water as well. Bloodied spray scattered everywhere. With two people falling into the water one after the other, the rest began to panic, not even understanding what was happening. Mountain ghosts? Who would believe in ghost stories meant to lull children to sleep? But no one could make sense of the current situation. First, the sound of gunfire was terrifying enough, followed by the sight of bloody hands, and now people were falling into the water; the fishermen still casting nets were overcome with fear, not daring to move, as if beneath the bloody waters lurked a Great White Shark waiting to choose its prey. Bi Fang stood on his feet beneath the fishing boat, crouching as if seated, then he grabbed the edge of the boat and pushed hard with his legs, shooting through the water like an arrow released from its bow, heading towards the depths. The other fishermen could only see a dark shadow moving under the bloody water, like a large fish, but when they rubbed their eyes and looked again, the shadow had disappeared. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? ¡°What, what was that?¡± ¡°A shark?¡± ¡°No, not a shark.¡± ¡°Thud!¡± An eerie knocking sound came from beneath the wooden boat, causing a slight tremor on the surface of the water. The fishermen shouted, ¡°What¡¯s that noise?¡± ¡°Thud! Thud! Thud!¡± A series of rhythmic knocking sounds emanated from below the boat, and the fishermen on board, in a state of chaos, thrust their long knives into the sea with all their might. The waters of Dolphin Bay were shallow, and the fishing boats here were different from the ones outside that beat on poles; these were large, wooden flatboats. Bi Fang arrived under one of the fishing boats and raised the long-handled knife he had just seized, flexing his muscles and stabbing forcefully at the bottom of the boat. Perhaps it was because he had killed too many dolphins, but the wooden spear in his hand was unexpectedly blunt; when it struck the bottom of the boat, it made a sound similar to that of the fishermen beating on their poles. Matsumoto Kiyotaka¡¯s handgun hadn¡¯t hit him at all, leaving Bi Fang still in top form. Ordinary people with a gun have less than a 10% accuracy rate beyond fifteen meters; even for professionally trained personnel, accuracy is below 30%. Key to this is that the resistance in water is eight hundred times that of air; an AK47 bullet fired into the water can only travel one and a half meters. What Matsumoto Kiyotaka and his men were using were P230s, standard issue for Japanese police, which Japan had also modified somewhat, generally speaking, a handgun only slightly more powerful than a revolver. With limited firepower, hoping to hit a target that¡¯s already off-angle due to refraction and impeded by water resistance is practically a pipe dream. Accompanied by mysterious knocking sounds, the fishermen dared not move recklessly, and the dolphins, which had been pushed to Dolphin Bay, finally got a chance to catch their breath and began to struggle mightily, splashing huge waves of blood onto everyone. ¡°Dolphins! Catch the dolphins! They¡¯re escaping! Pull the net, pull the net quickly!¡± A fisherman with a beard, clearly older, dove into the sea with a lunge, pulling up the fishing net that was nearly breached by the dolphins. The special anatomy of the dolphins prevents them from moving backward, allowing them only to move forward, so once entangled in the fishing nets, they¡¯re almost certainly doomed to be unable to escape. Underwater, Bi Fang clenched his teeth, still feeling exhausted. Since diving in and working on the boat, he hadn¡¯t gone to the surface for air, and the wooden planks at the bottom of the boat had turned into sawdust, with just a bit left to go. Stirring his lungs, Bi Fang exhaled a breath of spent air. It was hard to push against anything in the water; he could only rely on the strength of his waist and abdomen. To facilitate swimming, he had already removed his upper garment. The muscles on his upper body surged as the serratus muscles along his ribs undulated like the gills of a shark, accumulating an invisible force that finally transferred to his arms. Bang! A silver blade, spotted with rust, stabbed through the bottom of the boat, and blood-red water gushed out through the hole. With the breach in the fishing boat, the spectators felt as if a hole had been opened in their own lungs, gasping for fresh air. From the moment of jumping into the sea, every frame was a climax. The fishermen on the boat looked on in terror: ¡°Ah!! The boat is broken! The boat is broken!¡± Bi Fang pried forcefully, and the entire wooden plank was pried open, the gushing water instantly turning into a spray. Grabbing the broken edge, he widened the hole in the boat, and soon it was submerged by more than half, forcing the fishermen on board to jump into the sea. Bi Fang grabbed onto the sinking plank and rose from the water, rapidly expelling the spent air and taking deep breaths, his tired muscles swiftly regaining vigor. Then he sank again. ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? Soon, another fishing boat began to sound with those mysterious knocks, and then, a second boat started to sink. The fishermen shouted about a mountain demon and leaped into the water, scrambling toward the shore to escape. More dolphins slipped from the nets¡¯ control, and as the fishermen tried to hold onto the fleeing dolphins, they were turned over in the water. Just then, a third boat was drilled with holes. A burly fisherman, hardened in his resolve, clenched his spear and lunged at the dark shadows underwater, causing the audience to scream. Although the bloody water obscured his view, Bi Fang had been attentively observing and, following the direction from which the spear was coming, rolled in the water, agilely avoiding the spear thrusting into the water. As the fisherman tried to withdraw it, Bi Fang grabbed onto the pole, braced against the side of the boat, and pulled hard, causing the spear-wielding fisherman to fall into the water unintentionally. Another tried to escape, but the next moment felt a sharp pain in his abdomen. A round, wooden pole jabbed quickly and precisely at his spleen. Even without a spearhead, the sheer force was enough to cause so much pain that he lost the ability to even cry out, kneeling on the boat, drenched in cold sweat. A lithe and stretched arm wrapped around a fisherman¡¯s head, flipping him over into the seawater, and waves of blood bloomed again, like roses blossoming on the sea bed. All the fishermen screamed, waving their spears chaotically. If they occasionally struck a dolphin, they¡¯d excitedly shout that they had subdued a mountain demon, only to be turned over into the sea by a ¡°blood man¡± who suddenly appeared. In just ten short minutes, Dolphin Bay was thrown into chaos, and the trainers on the shore waiting for the goods took advantage of the chaos to flee, while the fishermen¡¯s families were too afraid to approach because of the previous gunfire and talk of ¡°mountain demons.¡± In such a situation, Bi Fang was surprisingly left to play his role, with more than six fishing boats within Dolphin Bay and over three sinking beneath the surface. Those banging on poles outside Dolphin Bay looked towards the chaotic scenea€¡±a sight of bodies covered in blood, like a demonic dancea€¡±and they all forgot their actions for a moment. The sound barrier broke, and dozens of dolphins took the opportunity to rush past the fishing boats. The older captain grabbed the pole, shouting at them to pick up the hammers, pick up the hammers. Asuka dumbfoundedly watched the scene before her, and for some reason, felt a sense of relief and satisfaction in her heart. Chapter 605 - Chapter 605 602 ?Chapter 605: 602 Chapter 605: 602 ¡°Was he really alone that night?¡± Matsumoto Kiyotaka stared intently at the young man in front of him, issuing a warning, ¡°I advise you to tell the truth, Asuka. You¡¯ve just graduated from school and you wouldn¡¯t want the villagers to look down on you, right? Speak, as long as you tell me, you can go home now.¡± Asuka lifted his head shakily, his legs trembling nonstop, his heart filled with immense fear, his eyes constantly drifting towards the recorder behind Matsumoto, trying to find some sense of security. Having just graduated from high school, not even twenty years old, having never dealt with the police in his life, how had he suddenly found himself in a police station, interrogated personally by the chief? This young man, who hadn¡¯t even completed two months since his graduation, was now drenched in cold sweat. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but it was as though an invisible sponge blocked his throat, absorbing all the sounds he tried to make. Asuka¡¯s lips turned paler and paler, chapped with large flakes of dead skin. Dry, thirsty, cold. These were Asuka¡¯s only sensations, as under the high temperature of thirty-seven degrees, his whole body felt chilled from head to toe. While Matsumoto Kiyotaka was questioning Asuka, in another room, Mugalen sat on the interrogation chair, his pupils trembling nonstop. To intimidate Mugalen into confessing, Matsumoto Kiyotaka told him of the existence of an eyewitness. Damn it. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Why was there someone else there that night!? Mugalen¡¯s heart was in turmoil. All the plans had gone smoothly; on that night, during the operation with Bi Fang, he deliberately hadn¡¯t dried himself off, leaving footprints to attract the attention of the police, but Bi Fang hadn¡¯t noticed at the time. Indeed, the police had taken note of it, even identifying Mugalen as a suspect the very next day, but due to his status, they had to go through proper procedures before arresting him today. But who could have anticipated that there would be someone on that other new boat at the time? The new boat with the strong smell of fresh paint, even now Mugalen remembered it vividly. He too was feeling freezing cold. All his efforts were in vain, even a terrible misstep. If everything had gone according to plan, he should have been the one to draw the police¡¯s attention, granting Bi Fang a longer period of safety. When Mugalen was ¡°forced¡± to the police station and saw the clues and evidence Matsumoto Kiyotaka presented to incriminate him, he knew that if it wasn¡¯t for him, Bi Fang¡¯s discovery was imminent. Mugalen¡¯s decision and actions were also correct, but who could have foreseen¡­ who could have foreseen. It was all over, completely over. If the other party mentioned there were two people that night, all his efforts would be completely wasted. Mugalen banged his head against the table. Next door, Matsumoto Kiyotaka was startled by the noise, hurriedly checking what happened, and only after finding everything was alright did he calm down. The man was a professional ex-special forces Deer Hunter who had even hunted Black Bear, a true beast at heart, not easily restrained even with chains, always a source of unease. Seeing Mugalen¡¯s behavior, Matsumoto felt a sense of triumph inside. Indeed, his assumption was right. All of this was done by Mugalen! But this raised another problem. Where on earth did Bosen come from? As he pondered this, Mugalen in front of Matsumoto Kiyotaka suddenly lunged forward, glaring at Matsumoto fiercely, scaring him into retreating three steps. Matsumoto barked, ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing? Attacking? What are you all standing around for? Hold him down!¡± The police officers on either side quickly moved to restrain Mugalen, only to find that the man in front of them was not humanly strong, built like a bull calf, impossible to hold down. It took the third and fourth person joining in to push him back into the interrogation chair and handcuff him. Mugalen breathed heavily, glaring at Matsumoto, yet he said nothing. The more one speaks, the more mistakes one makes; one lie had to be covered up with yet more lies. Therefore, Mugalen never actively admitted to anything he had done, and even now, Matsumoto Kiyotaka still believed that Mugalen¡¯s behavior threatened Asuka not to reveal his visit to Dolphin Bay; it wasn¡¯t about concealing the fact that there were actually two participants involved. He only hoped that the young witness Matsumoto mentioned could understand right from wrong. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï However, in Japan, it was astonishing that children had to learn to discern right from wrong better than adults. What a strange phenomenon. Asuka next door heard the loud noise and cold sweat dripped down his forehead. He wanted to speak, but he dared not. If he admitted that he had seen two people go to Dolphin Bay that night, why hadn¡¯t he called the police then? Why wait until now to talk? What to do, what to do, what to do! Somebody save me. Asuka was a mess of anxiety at this moment, his mind went blank, and his vision darkened and swam before his eyes. If he had known it would come to this, he should not have concealed the truth. Why not call the police, why not call the police, getting the money would have been fine, let others seek the limelight! Asuka, oh Asuka, do you think you¡¯re an osprey? You¡¯re just an ordinary seagull, why try to be the standout? In fact, Asuka could have simply lied and said he thought those two people were crew members who had forgotten something, but now his mind had entered a dead end, only obsessively fantasizing what would happen if he came clean. Matsumoto Kiyotaka thought the child was just scared and even began to comfort Asuka. ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± Asuka faltered. Matsumoto Kiyotaka pressed impatiently, ¡°You what? Speak up!¡± Seeing the young man in front of him faltering, Matsumoto Kiyotaka was so anxious he felt like slapping someone. Knowing that there had been others on the boat that night, he had rushed to have Asuka brought over, yet half an hour had passed and not a single word had been spoken. Asuka¡¯s lips trembled slightly, his heart beating faster and faster, and he could distinctly feel his face swelling with the rush of blood to his forehead, every capillary expanding with the flow, his face surely beet-red and frightening in appearance. Perhaps Asuka a few days ago, with a smidgeon of conscience left in his heart, had chosen to be an ostrich, but now what influenced his decision was no longer that bit of pity but worry and fear. He didn¡¯t want to offend the big man not far from him, nor did he dare to face the consequences of his failure to report. Wave after wave of dizziness hit his brain. Unable to help himself, Matsumoto Kiyotaka shook Asuka, ¡°Hey, speak, speak! Did you see him that night or not, did you!¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± The red Dolphin Bay appeared before Asuka, changing from red to brown, from brown to dark red. Asuka closed his eyes tightly and, overcome with tension, fainted. Matsumoto Kiyotaka gently shook Asuka, his expression stunned, and in shock, he pulled his hands back and raised them high, looking around, ¡°You all see it clearly, I didn¡¯t touch him, he fainted on his own! It has nothing to do with me.¡± His subordinates quickly nodded. Mmm-hmm, you¡¯re the director, what you say goes. You didn¡¯t shake him, we all didn¡¯t see it. Matsumoto Kiyotaka, looking at his subordinates¡¯ gazes, knew they were of no use, felt out of luck, and wondered how poor the psyche of recent Japanese graduates was. Or was it because he looked very intimidating? ¡°Take Mr. Asuka down, he might have heatstroke, why hasn¡¯t this damn air conditioner been fixed yet?¡± Matsumoto Kiyotaka, with a grim look on his face, re-entered the interrogation room, and Mugalen, who had been extremely tense until then, immediately relaxed, letting out a sigh of relief as his entire body slackened. If the other party really had something to ask, his expression certainly wouldn¡¯t be like this. Mugalen rested his head on the table, gasping for breath, his pores opening up and releasing a torrent of sweat. Nobody knew how tense he had been in those few minutes. Chapter 606 - Chapter 606 Chapter 603 Taking Up a Big Pit ?Chapter 606: Chapter 603: Taking Up a Big Pit Chapter 606: Chapter 603: Taking Up a Big Pit ¡°` It¡¯s over, trapped in an endless loop¡­ Never able to finish writing, then I occupy the spot¡­ Must finish before three in the morning¡­ In the vast conference room, a massive curtain over fifteen meters in length suddenly dropped. The green light of the projector silently turned on, and the sound of the machine operating began. The next moment, a rainbow light illuminated the entire white curtain, which abruptly turned into a dazzling blood-red color, reflecting light that tinged every delegate¡¯s face red. Bloody waves with dark red foam rose, such a bizarre sight provoked whispers among the crowd. ¡°What¡­ what is this?¡± ¡°A procedure?¡± ¡°Who started it?¡± An electrical expert monitoring remotely through a micro-camera pushed the controller and abruptly turned the volume to maximum. A screeching, ear-piercing scream suddenly echoed in the empty hall, as if scraping eardrums with a small knife, no, it was more like cleaving the head in two with an axe right next to one¡¯s ear! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? Li Zhe was so discomforted that he covered his ears and couldn¡¯t even hear what the people around him were saying. But soon, the volume returned to normal. The scene just now seemed like nothing more than an accidental equipment malfunction. The abrupt incident startled everyone. For a time, no one stepped forward to stop it. After a full ten seconds, a person in charge hurriedly jumped up, demanding, ¡°Who did this, who is responsible for this, turn it off, turn it off quickly!¡± The screen was full of blood-red seas and piercing screams, and one could even faintly hear rhythmic beats of long poles. The eerie tones and monotonous blood-red sea were chilling to the bone. The projected images looked as if a horror movie was being played, so much so that the person in charge thought someone was playing a prank, deliberately sabotaging the order of the conference. Morishita Suji clenched the speech resuming the whaling plan and felt a trace of unease. Not until the image began to ascend, flying higher and higher, did that unease explode in an instant. Morishita Suji¡¯s face turned deathly pale in an instant, he sprung up, flipped over the table, squeezed past the Japanese spokesperson, made his way through the crowd, and shouted at the chairman on stage, ¡°Turn it off, turn it off now!¡± Such an unseemly act caused a small commotion. Reporters with keen senses immediately smelled the scent of a big news story, raising their cameras and snapping away. The flashes caused Morishita Suji to scowl, he kept charging towards the outside ranks. A dozen delegates were violently pushed aside, their faces showing dissatisfaction, and even a few imposing figures deliberately straightened up, blocking Morishita Suji¡¯s path. Another spokesperson saw Morishita Suji still hadn¡¯t realized what was happening, but by the time the familiar three-sided sea, the familiar tunnel, and familiar fishermen gradually appeared, his head spun. Done for. It¡¯s Dolphin Bay! A torrential downpour descended upon the bustling Ginza streets, yet it did nothing to dampen people¡¯s enthusiasm for walking. The sidewalks of Ginza on both sides were spacious. Every weekend, vehicles were barred from the streets, turning it into a bustling pedestrian mall. Today was Sunday. Black umbrellas blocked the rain, falling along the edges forming a curtain of water, and through the blurry water curtain, one could see a faint purple light emitted by neon lights on tall buildings. The shadows of fluorescent lights reflected on the marble floors as Richard heard the downpour hitting the roof, the surrounding flow of people was ceaseless, like a stream. In front of Richard was a backpack, and it was clear to anyone that there was a display screen between the backpack and his chest. Nobody paid attention to the old man who suddenly appeared under the eave of the building, assuming he was someone who, after purchasing electronics and caught off guard by the sudden downpour, was blocked from going home by the rain. A street vendor saw a business opportunity, quickly approached Richard, and asked if he needed an umbrella. Richard smiled and politely declined the vendor, then glanced at his watch. As the hour struck, he no longer waited and stepped into the rain. The rejected vendor was momentarily surprised, scoffing inside, ¡°Stingy old man, aren¡¯t you worried about your display getting wet?¡± But in the next moment, the vendor was rendered speechless because he saw the elderly man, over sixty years old, boldly walking toward the crossroads, finally standing silently in the middle. The man with a stern face set down the backpack in front of him, strapped it to his back, and revealed the display screen on his chest. ¡°` The passersby on the street gave a sidelong glance but did not stop. Performance art was not common on the streets of Tokyo. The heavy rain soaked Richard¡¯s grizzled hair, yet he did not leave, standing straight in the middle of the intersection, as newcomers brushed past him. The screen on Richard¡¯s chest suddenly lit up. The same blood light, the same piercing scream. Some passersby glancing sideways halted, showing a hint of interest in the old man¡¯s performance. Such performance art was quite rare on the streets of Tokyo. ¡°A sea of blood,¡± huh? What is he trying to express?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°The rain is getting heavier, let¡¯s go.¡± Richard remained silent, while the screen display reduced the scale of the image, revealing more and more contenta€¡±ocean, mountain, people¡­ dolphins. ¡°Oh, those are dolphins, dolphins?¡± ¡°Yes, dolphins, what¡¯s happening here?¡± ¡°Is this Japan? Is this Japan?¡± The fishermen stood on small boats, wielding long-handled knives, as a dolphin suddenly turned around, diving swiftly into the water. The photography seamlessly transitioned from the sea surface to the seafloor, crystal clear. Onlookers saw the dolphin attempting to enter a crevice beneath the mountain range, but it was quickly driven out by unseen sonar waves. A mechanical imitation fish, fitted with a camera, swam over the surface, and from below, it captured the long knife piercing down through the water, then the screen abruptly went black. The scene returned to the air above, the red mist of blood billowing from the azure sea and gradually spreading, turning into a faint pink. But before the ocean currents could sweep it away, more and more blood gushed out, the pink turning to blood-red, and finally to dark red. More and more onlookers stopped, young girls covered their mouths, boys had their eyes shielded by their parents, and office workers stood in astonishment at a distance. More and more gathered, more and more. Where is this place? More and more onlookers wanted to know where this was, was it a documentary or a video produced with special effects? ¡°This is Taiji Town! This is Taiji Town!¡± A passerby shouted, ¡°I¡¯ve been there, I rode on a cruise in that place, I¡¯ve seen this bay!¡± ¡°Taiji Town?¡± ¡°The Taiji Town in Wakayama Prefecture, a truly beautiful place, does something like this really happen there?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fake, it¡¯s fake. It¡¯s just a produced video, stop watching!¡± A man pulled his own girlfriend, with red-rimmed eyes, away. The heavy rain continued. ¡°Is this Taiji Town?¡± Someone in the crowd asked. ¡°Yes, this is Taiji Town, Dolphin Bay.¡± It was a heavy rain in Ginza, and a fine drizzle began in Taiji Town as well. Bi Fang arrived on the mountainside, stepping onto a large boulder, with hundreds of hectares of green forest behind him. High up on the mountain, the horizon opened up with the turbulent tide, and through the high-definition drone, one could clearly see everything inside the bay below the mountain. The fishermen excitedly captured dolphins, not noticing that on the right side of the shorter mountain, a young man stood. It was nine o¡¯clock in the evening in Alaska, nine in the morning in Tokyo, eight o¡¯clock Huaxia time. Tens of millions of viewers poured into the live stream, stunned. Many were still groggy, waking up early in the morning to such a bloody scene, which was indeed stomach-churning. [What¡¯s happening?] [I¡¯m confused.] [Why would you show me such a bloody thing this early in the morning?] [A missing person returning?] [What¡¯s the situation, what¡¯s the situation, Master Fang why aren¡¯t you explaining? I nearly threw up my breakfast] [I forgot, I¡¯m kind of bewildered right now.] Bi Fang began walking towards the top of the mountain. The fishermen, losing themselves in their actions, were swinging their long knives with smiles plastered across their faces, which, combined with the sea of blood, created an unspeakably eerie atmosphere. Were these fishermen mentally disturbed? No, they were only after profit¡­ Wait, even Bi Fang wasn¡¯t sure whether these Japanese were mentally disturbed or not, but their primary objective was indeed money. As he walked, Bi Fang started to describe the dolphin activities in Taiji Town, pointing towards the other side of the ocean where several tour boats were docked, their massive bulks adorned with huge dolphin cartoons, even the bows had dolphin sculptures. ¡°See those tour boats over there? They¡¯re Taiji Town¡¯s famous tourist attraction.¡± Bi Fang said nothing, everything was left unsaid. The higher you stand, the further you see. Unfortunately, no matter how far one could see from here, it was still not possible to spot the Whale Museum in town. ¡°There¡¯s a Whale Museum in the town as well, with a huge sculpture at the door. When you walk down the street, even the floor tiles are decorated with dolphin cartoons.¡± However, that didn¡¯t matter. In Bi Fang¡¯s description, the audience had already been sent shivers down their spines. ¡°Many people are conflicted about eating dog meat, often you can see the supporters and opponents clashing. But this is personal preference. What kind of sight is it when someone who loves dogs is petting their beloved pet one moment and ordering a spicy dog meat hotpot the next?¡± ¡°I know many of you have been asking why I ended the stream without a closing remark a couple of days ago and then disappeared for two days. The chief of Taiji Town Police Department probably has the most say in this mattera€¡±as he¡¯s likely been searching for me in the forest for a good two days now.¡± Matsumoto Kiyotaka, listening to Bi Fang¡¯s words, shivered all over, ¡°Shut him up, make him shut up! Technician, cut the signal, can you cut the signal?¡± ¡°No, they¡¯re using satellite signals!¡± ¡°Then forget the stream, just catch him, go catch him now!¡± The officers filed out, but Matsumoto Kiyotaka called them back. ¡°Wait,¡± Matsumoto Kiyotaka¡¯s expression changed for a moment as he made up his mind, ¡°arm yourselves, arm everyone!¡± ¡°Move out now, immediately!¡± ¡­ ¡°Why can¡¯t it be turned off, how can it not be turned off?¡± ¡°Our system has been hacked, we don¡¯t control it anymore.¡± A whaling conference, how could it attract a hacker attack? They were just ordinary staff, and even half-experts in electronics were enough to throw them into chaos. ¡°Then pull the plug, pull the damn plug!¡± Someone yelled. A few people moved their stools frantically trying to unplug the power. Morishita Suji finally burst out of the delegation seats and approached the projector to try and unplug it. But the ceiling was simply too high, and hopelessly out of reach, they stood on tiptoe like clowns performing a farce. The noise in the conference room grew louder with each image that played on the screen. ¡°This is a massacre, a naked massacre!¡± ¡°Taiji Town, Japan, it¡¯s real, it¡¯s all real!¡± ¡°Japan must give an explanation, explain this clip, explain their deception!¡± Just as the incident was escalating, the screen suddenly went pitch black, returning to the original blank screen. Morishita Suji was panting heavily by the electrical switch, his forehead covered in cold sweat, his heart in utter chaos. He pulled out a tissue to wipe his forehead, wanting to say something, but his mind was going blank. Someone stood up and shouted, ¡°Why turn it off, feeling guilty?¡± ¡°We have the right to know the truth!¡± ¡°Why keep denying it? This is deceit, what exactly is the purpose of your deception?¡± The Japanese delegation, which had initially enjoyed popular support, suddenly found themselves the target of everyone¡¯s condemnation. Morishita Suji licked his lips and opened his mouth slightly: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, everyone, but I must tell you, you¡¯ve all been deceived¡­¡± ¡°Do you think we¡¯re blind?¡± ¡°Of course not, but oftentimes, there¡¯s a tendency to see issues from one side only.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s one-sided, why can¡¯t we watch it to the end? ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Isn¡¯t that even more one-sided of you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, put it back on, we want to see everything!¡± The countless flashing cameras almost turned the conference room into daylight. On the streets of Ginza, the bustling intersection was completely blocked by pedestrians. The crowd, driven by curiosity and excitement, was growing, and everyone wanted to ask the old man what was going on. But Richard stood silently in the rain, quietly playing the video. The rain drenched his entire body, yet Richard couldn¡¯t feel the cold; a passion was stirring within his chest. Seeing more and more people sheltering him with umbrellas, Richard knew he had succeeded. ¡°Do you see it clearly? This is Taiji Town.¡± At that moment, Bi Fang had already reached the mountaintop; his right elbow rested on his knee, his left hand pointing at the increasingly blood-red sea water below. ¡°In June, before I had returned from the Rainforest, Richard had already come here to secretly film, but the result was that all the equipment was destroyed, and two of our members are still in the hospital recuperating.¡± ¡°At the end of June, after returning from the Rainforest, Jerret approached me, asking for my help to expose all this. I didn¡¯t refuse. Until today, the truth is right before your eyes.¡± ¡°Every year, more than ten thousand dolphins are slaughtered here, without the knowledge of the outside world. They¡¯ve always hidden it very well.¡± [This is terrifying¡­] [Wait, where did Master Fang find the time to help?] [The unsung hero indeed.] Under the drone¡¯s camera, fishermen drive away dolphin calves, some of which were only as big as Bi Fang¡¯s arm. Yet they still proceeded with the slaughter of these dolphins. A chaotic chorus of shouts came from behind Bi Fang, and when he looked back, he saw several panting officers. They were shouting loudly, telling Bi Fang to surrender, and some even drew their guns in threat. But Bi Fang¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change in the slightest, he continued walking towards the edge of the cliff. ¡°Stop right there!¡± The officers behind him yelled. Bi Fang looked down at the sea waves below the cliff, the stones tumbling into the sea. This cliff was forty meters high; a fall would mean certain death. ¡°Richard advised me to leave Japan early, as it would be dangerous, but after much thought, I could not bear to. I didn¡¯t leave; I waited in the forest for two whole days, just for today¡­¡± Bi Fang turned to look at the officers, yet his tone remained unchanged Chapter 607 - Chapter 607 Chapter 604 Full of Flaws ?Chapter 607: Chapter 604 Full of Flaws Chapter 607: Chapter 604 Full of Flaws Accompanied by Matsumoto Kiyotaka¡¯s roar, like a sumo wrestler displaying his powerful stomp to drive away evil spirits, the wavering in the fishermen¡¯s hearts was shattered, replaced by a surge of hot blood, commonly known as getting pumped up. Splash, splash, splash. One after another, the fishermen, eager to be the first, leaped into the sea, like dumplings being dropped into boiling water, en massea€¡±even those who had initially fled far away rejoined, swelling their numbers. Shameless!!! Matsumoto Kiyotaka thought that the roaring sea wind would block and conceal his speech, that his words would not be captured by the drone, but he underestimated its recording capabilities. Except for Bi Fang, who was furiously swimming, everyone heard it loud and clear, their expressions filled with outrage. Everyone knew that Bi Fang could do anything but kill; once he committed murder, no matter how many identities he assumed, he wouldn¡¯t be able to continue live streaming, even if the victim was the most vile criminal. No country in the world would allow an executioner to livestream in front of tens of millions of people. Besides, although the fishermen were detestable, they were fundamentally just greedy, not evil to the core. This made the situation even more challenging to handle. If it were on land, the worst-case scenario would be a beating, but at sea, any serious injury would inevitably force Bi Fang to save them instead. As long as they needed saving, Matsumoto Kiyotaka¡¯s goal would be achieved. What would Bi Fang do once the fishermen clung to him? Knock them unconscious and they drown; break their limbs and they drown; incapacitate them and they still drown. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï But without taking such measures, minor wounds and pains mean nothing compared to the immense profit dolphins bring, and the fishermen simply didn¡¯t care. Take a punch, bleed from the nose, and in return get ten thousand dollarsa€¡±who wouldn¡¯t be pleased? Needless to say, there were plenty of takers; some even felt uneasy about the money unless they took an additional punch. Bi Fang couldn¡¯t escape whether underwater or above. If he reached land, the situation would be even easier to deal witha€¡±so many people could easily take control. But the fishermen weren¡¯t so polite when it came to dealing with Bi Fang. If they all rushed at him and an accident happened, who would take the blame? Especially with the chief of the Metropolitan Police Department right by their side, there was nothing to fear about losing the moral high ground. This was the best solution Matsumoto came up with in a short time, minimizing the impact of the situation. From the drone¡¯s perspective, an incredibly spectacular scene unfolded on the sea surface. Bi Fang took the lead, outdistancing everyone by dozens of meters, his strong arms slapping the water forcefully, creating a clear wake as he moved from the crimson-tinted waters into the blue. Behind him followed dozens of fishermen, some armed with long spears and long hook knives, resembling a moba€¡±or perhaps they were indeed a mob. The fishermen couldn¡¯t swim as fast as Bi Fang, but their sheer numbers were overwhelming, swarming over the sea like locusts, creating a unique wave of blood that alarmed the onlookers. Even Yamamoto, who was the first to cough up water, caught on, wiped his nosebleed, and charged forward with howls. This time he had learned his lesson and didn¡¯t rush to the very front but remained behind everyone else. The hot-blooded fishermen didn¡¯t find this odd, assuming that Yamamoto was injured and could only move with difficulty. Around this triangular charge, dolphins still capable of resistance leaped and swam, but they were again and again blocked by sound walls coming from all directions. The audience in the live streaming room had already erupted in curses, but Matsumoto Kiyoshi could no longer care about that. This plan was the best solution at the moment! [Isn¡¯t this just bullying the honest people?] [Good people have to let others point guns at them?] [Damn it, why didn¡¯t Old Fang say something earlier? If he had said something sooner, I would¡¯ve booked two plane tickets to beat the crap out of those damn Japanese fishermen!] Shuiyou (Online Friends) were filled with righteous indignation, clamoring to fly to Japan and teach those fishermen a lesson. On the surface of the sea, the fishermen who saw Bi Fang approaching grew increasingly panicked. ¡°Damn it, the killing god is coming, what do we do?¡± They weren¡¯t in the sea; their fishing boats weren¡¯t made of wood but of steel underneath, impervious to breaching unless blasted with a rocket launcher. Without any geographical advantage, if the adversary boarded, wouldn¡¯t it be a massacre? ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï Someone was already at the edge of the ship, ready to jump into the ocean at any moment. Seeing the growing panic, the experienced captain shouted, ¡°Don¡¯t panic, don¡¯t panic!¡± He had seen it all before. In his youth during long voyages, he had even slaughtered humpback whales, impaling and hoisting them with whaling harpoons while sharks starving below circleda€¡±a scene no less terrifying than this. Even the largest fishing boat is but a leaf on the vast ocean. Outside lies tumultuous waves and fierce creatures; inside, a uniform crew of mena€¡±a single accidental weapon discharge could spark a war. Besides, the opponent wasn¡¯t a shark; it wouldn¡¯t kill people. The experienced captain, who had seen big scenes, yelled again, ¡°Don¡¯t panic, there¡¯s only one person against us. We have our brothers behind us. Everyone line up, put away the long poles and switch to long hook knives. Be ready, and don¡¯t let him board!¡± The other fishing boats at a greater distance did not move since maintaining the sound wall meant they couldn¡¯t disrupt the semi-circular formation, or else they¡¯d risk creating a breach. Furthermore, everyone could see that their fishing boats were like individual islands, with the surrounding sea serving as a moat that often should not be bridged. If bridged, it would be like chaining the boats together, potentially leading to a fiery defeat! Bi Fang¡¯s powerful arms stretched behind him, propelling him hundreds of meters in a single go. Even he was exhausted by now, not to mention the fishermen left far behind. Watching the fishermen on the boats, armed with long hook knives and standing guard like soldiers on a fortress wall, Bi Fang rotated his arms, took a deep breath, and swiftly dove underwater. ¡°He¡¯s dived! He¡¯s gone under!¡± ¡°Be careful, keep watch! Keep watch!¡± With the target vanishing suddenly, the fishermen fell into a fluster, but the captain calmed them and loudly declared, ¡°What are you afraid of, you bunch of wimps? Haven¡¯t you caught fish before? Just spear him like a fish!¡± The captain demonstrated a spearing motion, helping the somewhat panicked crew regain composure. Yes, wasn¡¯t it just like spearing fish? They might not be good at fighting people, but when it came to spearing fish, they were quite skilled! ¡°Ahh!!!¡± Just as the crew regained their confidence, a scream echoed from the rear deck. When they turned to look, their souls nearly left their bodies. There stood the drenched Bi Fang on the deck, casually wiping his hair, and with a cold glance at the crowd, his right hand held a fisherman¡¯s long hook knife. Clearly, one unlucky individual had not only failed to pierce him but had his weapon snatched away instead. As for where that fisherman had gone, the continuous splashing behind them spoke volumes. When had he come aboard? The seasoned captain was stunned but quickly called his crew to try driving the intruder back to sea. Yet the surrounding crew hesitated, unsure and afraid to approach. Bi Fang scoffed, noting that compared to professional hunters, these crew members were practically full of openings in their reactions and movements. ¡°If no one will come, I guess I¡¯ll have to come over there!¡± Chapter 608 - Chapter 608 605 ?Chapter 608: 605 Chapter 608: 605 ¡°` Before 1 a.m., the revisions need to be complete. There¡¯s been so much going on latelya€| There¡¯s also the final exam to prepare for, which will take up a week¡¯s time. There won¡¯t be any issues tomorrow, and I surely won¡¯t hold things up. Everyone just consider it an anti-theft measure¡­ In the dense forest, several figures hurried along, their faces and necks covered with bloodstains from the scratches of tree branches. ¡°Ha, huh, hah-heh.¡± Matsumoto Kiyotaka panted heavily, his trachea burning as if touched by fire, his saliva thick as glue blocking his throat, almost making him retch, while his legs shook uncontrollably, nearly bringing him to his knees on the ground. The mountain route was too difficult to run on, with bushes and stones everywhere, making it easy to twist an ankle. The performance of a 5-kilometer run back in the police academy had long been worn away by the years. The younger ones, just as exhausted, could barely speak and looked to Matsumoto Kiyotaka for an order. The hillocks on either side of Dolphin Bay stood over forty meters tall, with waves crashing against the rocks below and sheer cliffs as if cut by a knife. The mountain was small, and the summit even narrower. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Exposed to the sea breeze all year round, the small patch of land boasted only jagged boulders with not a single tree in sight, laying everything bare to both sides. Matsumoto Kiyotaka raised his hand, shielding his eyes from the sun as his pupils contracted, struggling to adapt to the brightness. The 8 o¡¯clock sun was a spilling golden light, the entire ocean glinting with phosphorescence, a pale gold edging the line where the cliff met the sky, so bright it was almost blinding. Yet in this flood of light, one particular shape stood out starkly. A black silhouette stood erect on the mountain peak, its edges iron-blue in the interplay of light and shadow, like a freshly forged sword. ¡°General Bi Fang! You¡¯ve got nowhere left to run!¡± Matsumoto Kiyotaka yelled. From the height of the hillock, over forty meters, a fall into the water would be nothing but a shattered body. Matsumoto Kiyotaka didn¡¯t know the world record for the highest dive, but he remembered clearly: In his youth, he had jumped from a bridge over twenty meters high into a river to save a drowning woman, breaking his shin on impact. Had it not been for two colleagues on hand, he might have ended up at the bottom of the sea with the woman. The girl was even unluckier, lacking basic diving posture and the sturdy build of an adult male. She suffered 5 broken ribs that punctured her lung; her esophagus and trachea were damaged, and her body was bruised and abraded everywhere. The doctor said she was fortunate her neck hadn¡¯t snapped upon hitting the water; otherwise, she would have been killed instantly. That incident was the most terrifying moment of Matsumoto Kiyotaka¡¯s career, and from then on, his official journey was smooth sailing. Now the height was double that, and the person on the other side could not possibly escape. Matsumoto Kiyotaka did not wish to cause a fatality, especially since the person in question was a celebrity. He gasped for breath, trying to force out a few words. But in the next moment, Matsumoto Kiyotaka¡¯s pupils shrunk to the size of pinpoints; his voice was hoarse, and he couldn¡¯t shout. The iron-blue longsword suddenly extended a hilt, which eventually elongated so much that it seemed to turn from a sword into the Judgement Cross. Then, suddenly, the cross shortened. No! It wasn¡¯t shortening. The man was falling backward, about to leap into the sea! Matsumoto Kiyotaka¡¯s mind froze for an instant. To die for a just cause! The phrase burst into his mind. ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? He opened his mouth and bellowed: ¡°Fire!¡± Everyone was startled by the command. The target was a world-famous adventurer, even live streaming at the moment. Should they really fire? ¡°Fire!!!¡± Matsumoto Kiyotaka roared again. ¡°` These young graduates from the police academy reflexively drew their P230s from their waists. But before they could aim, the pitch-black cross had already disappeared from their sight. Everyone panicked and ran towards the edge of the cliff, their weak legs starting up again and nearly causing them to fall to the ground. For Bi Fang, every free fall was a feeling of Earth¡¯s true presence. That sense of being pulled, unparalleled. The humid, salty sea breeze lifted his hair as Bi Fang turned his back to the ocean, falling backward into a free fall under the force of gravity. The air was filled not only with the smell of fish but also with an extremely heavy and rich scent of blood that was getting thicker and thicker. Forty meters, almost forty-five meters in height. Diving, the sport, is more difficult and dangerous than most people imagine. The world diving official record is 59 meters; ordinary people have no chance of surviving from 30 meters. Even a fall from about 10 meters, whether on the back, stomach, or head, or in a seated position, would result in a 60g load that could cause death or crippling injuries. Around June 14th, 2009, at the Beirut Seaside of Lebanon, a boy jumped from a ten-meter diving board. Right after, a scream was heard, and the water in the swimming pool quickly turned red. Later, he struggled to swim close to the shore, and the people on the shore screamed in horror. Because the boy¡¯s face was split in half. His face was longitudinally bisected; everything from his mouth to his eyes disappeared, leaving his tongue and teeth exposed. All the teeth were clearly broken into segments amongst the bloody flesh. In the midst of the blood-red, it was strikingly white. Even professional special forces soldiers are often only assigned diving missions of twenty-five meters or less; anything higher poses a significant risk of accident. Was Bi Fang ready to sacrifice himself? Of course¡­ not. Bi Fang¡¯s morality was not that noble. He was just an ordinary person with above-average ability, hoping to make a little difference. A free fall from forty meters only takes two seconds. The impact of the water surface on a body in high-speed free fall is the main difficulty in extreme diving. In professional high-altitude sports, the men¡¯s diving height is 23 to 28 meters and the women¡¯s is 18 to 23 meters, with athletes entering the water at speeds of about 78 to 100 kilometers per hour. At the moment of entering the water, the impact on the body is likened to crashing into a wall at 100 kilometers per hour, which is why divers must enter the water feet first after completing their maneuvers. Only in a standing soldier¡¯s position, may there be a slim chance of survival. And there can be no reefs underwater. Bi Fang never took aimless risks; he had thoroughly assessed the specific underwater conditions on his first diving operation. In mid-air, Bi Fang twisted his waist and abdomen to quickly adjust his posture. His entire body was tense like a straight javelin. Beneath the cliff, the waves crashed one after the other, breaking the surface tension. Like a shooting star, Bi Fang gracefully dived into the water. Accompanied by a splash drowned out by the wind, the police officers who reached the edge of the cliff only saw the undulating waves. A few young officers widened their eyes in disbelief at the wave that had not even stirred. Dead? ¡°Had he been planning to jump all along?!¡± ¡°At this height¡­ he¡¯ll die, right?¡± At forty meters, just looking down made the officers¡¯ legs go weak. But the next second, an officer¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment, and he fell seated onto the ground, pointing shakily at the sea as if he had seen a ghost. Everyone looked down, and their expressions instantly became stiff. Beneath the glittering light, a pitch-black shadow streaked under the sea like a sword, speeding towards the fishing boat! Chapter 609 - Chapter 609 Chapter 606 Confrontation ?Chapter 609: Chapter 606 Confrontation Chapter 609: Chapter 606 Confrontation Kii Peninsula, Wakayama Prefecture, Taiji Town Dolphin Bay. The sight of the crimson sea water was startling as it spread from the bay to the open sea, where the blood red gradually turned into sea blue. What was even more alarming was that at this moment, hundreds of people had gathered in this not-so-large bay. The sounds of arguing and cursing were incessant, and even though these people hadn¡¯t done anything yet, the tense atmosphere they created was frightening enough to make one afraid that they might suddenly draw weapons and start a conflict. Bi Fang had three drones, one hovering above the bay, with a view that belittled the surrounding hills. Another followed closely behind Bi Fang, providing a third-person perspective. The last one expanded the frame, adding supplementary views and offering multiple angles. Besides, there was the more amazing first-person perspective, thrilling and immersive, a combination of the four sure to be the work of the strongest equipment master broadcaster, offering screen shots and cuts no different from a movie. In just one hour, it provided an audience of over ten million with a rousing spectacle comparable to watching a film in the theater, especially when they saw Bi Fang steering the fishing boat, tearing through the protective lines and nets, the exhilaration reached its peak. Even students and working-class viewers, caught up in the excitement, contributed their share to the live broadcast, pushing its popularity to another peak. Wolf Fang spared no effort in arranging promotions, sending notifications to every user who downloaded the Wolf Fang live streaming app. On B Island, a Huaxia tourist who happened to be traveling in Ginza, Japan, captured a video of Richard presenting a documentary in the pouring rain. The handheld recording made the frame slightly shaky, but the image was very clear, even the drifting rain could be seen, evidently not just shot with a mobile phone. Everyone could see clearly under the lens the bustling scene of Ginza, bathed in neon lights, and Richard braving the heavy rain, his graying hair completely wet and dripping with rainwater down his forehead, while the giant screen on his chest played the footage they had captured. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Without creating a fuss or disturbance, occupying only a small patch of the pedestrian street, he drew a large crowd. This uploader, a wild boar claimed to be holding an umbrella over Richard to shield him from the rain, while recording the first half of the documentary with his other hand. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Due to time constraints, just as wild boar, who was a fan of Bi Fang, learned that Bi Fang was live streaming, he immediately released the video he had filmed, which lasted for a quarter of an hour. Though not complete, the content it included was enough to provoke righteous indignation. In less than half an hour, the video surpassed a million views, topped the popularity charts, and spread rapidly across various social media platforms. At that moment in Taiji Town, buses were lined up one after another, and a flamboyant Caucasian tycoon spared no expense to rent five buses, bringing along all the like-minded organization members, only then was such a sensational effect possible. If groups of four or five people had come, they would have likely attracted police attention first, and it would have been difficult to create a scene like the current one. Viewers who saw ?¡ëtienne appear were exceptionally excited. [Holy shit, it¡¯s ?¡ëtienne!] [Wori, the old heroes return for the new season!] [Is there a reward for recharging?] [Sorry, we operate on a gacha system] [Drawing cards is the stupidest game mode in the world, bar none.] Considering Goose¡¯s journey, the audience in front of the screen had not seen ?¡ëtienne for almost half a year, and they greatly missed him now that he was on screen again. Originally, ?¡ëtienne attracted many fans, his popularity not at all inferior to that of Mugalen, who had already been active twice, and might even have surpassed him. Many viewers had even requested that Bi Fang could shoot more entertainment-oriented videos, featuring ?¡ëtienne, too; unfortunately, Bi Fang did not have much time or opportunity for that. Inside Dolphin Bay, over a hundred fishermen, along with hundreds of residents of Taiji Town and hundreds of foreign tourists holding up banners in protest, gathered in the small Dolphin Bay, numbering nearly five hundred people, almost equivalent to the student population of a local middle school. At this moment, they all congregated because of one team. Viewers looked down from the drones overhead, and many domestic viewers were momentarily reminded of the bustling Shanghai Bund, with a similarly bustling atmosphere, but even more explosive, as if a fight would break out at any disagreement. Standing in the front row, apart from ?¡ëtienne, were several burly men, all sporting big beards and looking like they could give a biker gang a thorough beating. European Caucasians, generally taller than the Japanese, made the residents and fishermen of Taiji Town hesitate to act, allowing Bi Fang to speed around the sea in a boat with the dolphins, breaking through the blockade to swim in the ocean. Through the live stream, everyone in the Taiji Town Government Department became exceptionally nervous. At 8:30, even before office hours began, leaders of various departments received an urgent notice from their superiors and left their homes to drive toward Dolphin Bay. The situation had escalated to such an extent that it was beyond the capacity of the police department to resolve, with every moment a potential disaster if not handled carefully. The higher-ups were anxious, not to mention the small Taiji Town Government Department. Some officials from the Taiji Town Fisheries Department even felt the urge to turn the steering wheel and flee towards the airport. Compared to Huaxia, where the full details of what occurred in Ginza could not be known, these officials had been following the developments closely. Although the documentary had not been entirely released, it had already mentioned the ¡°good deeds¡± of the Fisheries Department. Selling toxic Dolphin Bay meat as part of school lunches, packaging dolphin meat as whale meat, and unscrupulously selling it in supermarkets for unsuspecting citizens to buy had led to many tragedies. Now, with only a mention in the first half of the documentary, a large number of Japanese netizens had already started to react strongly, and it was uncertain whether the second half would provide concrete evidence. If the truth came to light, would there be any way out? Perhaps¡­ a deep bow and an apology? However, when they drove to Dolphin Bay, they found the situation was worse than they expected: five buses completely blocked the entire tunnel, with a stream of residents from Taiji Town and tourists following behind and private cars everywhere, making it impossible for the officials to squeeze through. Expecting traffic to resume was futile, so they had to get out and walk. What was worse, with Dolphin Bay being remote and except for this tunnel road, nearly all surrounded by deep forests and mountains, the only way to get through the crowded crowd was to rush into the mountains and make a big detour to get there. By the time the officials arrived, they were drenched in sweat, their white shirts covered in leaves and brambles, and some even had faces full of mosquito bites, swollen red from the toxic and large insects of the forest, a truly painful experience. It¡¯s a wonder how those hunters have endured it. Seeing the hundreds of people inside the bay, the officials were dumbfounded. The only piece of good news was that Bi Fang had already sailed back to shore and was surrounded by members of environmental protection groups, both sides in a standoff. Chapter 610 - Chapter 610 607 Complete Documentary ?Chapter 610: 607 Complete Documentary Chapter 610: 607 Complete Documentary Bi Fang had never imagined that one day he would be protected by others. With the arrival of the most ¡°powerful¡± foreign aid, Bi Fang breathed a sigh of relief. With this large group of people coming to stand off, his safety was basically assured. It was like choosing between tearing off the roof or simply opening a window, if the Japanese Government still wanted to calm things down, they would definitely choose to compromise. It might sound shameless, but it was also a fact that a large part of these fervent activists were here because of Bi Fang himselfa€¡±he was the ¡°head¡± of this group. As long as no one was seriously injured and only property damage occurred, unless the Japanese Government wanted to arrest hundreds of people at once, it wouldn¡¯t be possible to forcibly arrest Bi Fang. Japan might be shameless, but it still followed the basic laws. Make a big issue smaller, and a small issue disappear. The incident had already occurred, the only thing to do was to try to control the situation as much as possible. Feeling untouchable was unexpectedly pleasing. Having achieved his goals, Bi Fang silently stepped back, blending in with the crowd. The ensuing wrangling would be handled by ?¡ëtienne¡¯s people. When it came to arguing and protesting, these people were experts. As expected, Japanese officials, who had come over hills and dales, were sweating profusely as if the droplets of sweat were like raindrops falling. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 With the magnitude of the incident, and over tens of millions of people worldwide paying attention, it was imperative to calm things down as quickly as possible. The leader from Taiji Town was easy to finda€¡±Matsumoto Kiyotaka, the Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department who had been in power for over a decade. The locals all knew him, and he had considerable prestige. Matsumoto Kiyotaka was in a tight spot, standing off with over a hundred people. His superiors could skin him alive for this, and right now Matsumoto would have been grateful for someone to give him an out. However, on the other side, the officials looking for the leader were bamboozled once more. Once Bi Fang retreated into the crowd, he unexpectedly vanished. Where is he??? How could such a big guy just disappear? An Asian man, blending in so perfectly among Europeans? When the higher-ups heard the news, they cursed out the communication personnel, clearly disbelieving it, especially when there were drones hanging in the sky. There were even suggestions to snipe down the drones, but these were promptly rejected. If things hadn¡¯t escalated to this point, the plan might have been acceptable. But to snipe now could likely become a fuse. Opening a can of worms could lead to an outcry, let alone shooting in public. Isn¡¯t that asking for trouble? Who could bear that responsibility? With hundreds of people crammed into such a tight corner, what would happen if a stampede occurred? It was only minor injuries now, and those were caused by an individual, plus there was some property damage. But if it turned into a brawl or even death, Japan¡¯s face would be utterly lost. Or perhaps it was already lost. We are now in the age of information, where any shameful deeds are quickly spread by netizens who come to mock. The disgrace of Dolphin Bay is known to the world. Trying to cover it up now is utterly impossible. When Morishita Suji of the Whaling Commission turned off the power and learned that Bi Fang was livestreaming, in a fit of rage, he swept the documents from his desk onto the floor, emanating an aura that warned others to keep their distance. It was irrecoverable. Perhaps Morishita Suji knew it was irrecoverable from the moment the convention was unexpectedly disrupted, but deep down he still harbored a hope that even though the other side had a documentary, there was still a chance to turn things around by destroying the original with a certain price paid. Now, that chance was completely gone. On B Island, as a wild boar posted a video every quarter-hour, the entire documentary gradually unfolded before everyone¡¯s eyes. Since Richard and the others¡¯ first livestreaming failure, with two members still lying in Magic Capital¡¯s hospital, the audience seethed with anger. [They¡¯re shameless!] [Bullying the few with numbers, right?] [If Old Fang were here, would they dare to act so arrogant? Isn¡¯t it just a disorganized mess?] Further down, there was the story of how Jerret suggested finding Bi Fang and inviting him to join the journey. At that time, Bi Fang had just finished his rainforest expedition, and Mond had also selected a lot of material in Bi Fang¡¯s house to cut into the documentary. The audience finally understood why Bi Fang joined Richard¡¯s team. After that, the narrative returned to its normal course, with a large portion dedicated to Bi Fang and Mugalen¡¯s contributions. Hiss. There was something about Mugalen too? The audience was shocked, finally realizing why the Englishman had suddenly disappeared in the second half of the hunting season. Could there be more to the story? Mugalen¡¯s willingness to put his life on the line for his friends won over a large number of viewers. [This guy, such loyalty!] [I¡¯m a fan now] [No wonder they never said why he disappeared and didn¡¯t look for him. Wasn¡¯t that just giving themselves away? Still, they kept it tightly under wraps.] [Wait, what about Bosen?] Having discovered the reason for Mugalen¡¯s mysterious disappearance, many viewers now remembered another person. This hunting season, both Mugalen and Bosen dropped out midway. Could it be for the same reason? Unfortunately, after watching for a long time, the audience did not see Bosen make an appearance¡­ Why Bosen disappeared will likely remain an unsolved mystery. Besides Mugalen¡¯s heroic sacrifice, there was also Bi Fang¡¯s impressively wide reach. The audience finally understood why Bi Fang often chose to ¡®sandbag¡¯ during the day; turns out he was off being Batman at night. Could that not be exhausting? Although Bi Fang¡¯s fans already had high expectations of his abilities, this move still shocked them to the core. Fighting wit and might against people at night, struggling for survival with Bear during the day, and still managing to slash his way to first place with scores hitting triple digits, [Damn, movies wouldn¡¯t even dare to pull this off] [Tai Chi is the real deal] [My idol, my idol!] [Furious Thunder Tao is opening the ¡®Emperor¡¯ in the live streama€¡±what does it mean to be the world¡¯s number one (tactical lean back)] [Big shot, another big shot, I¡¯m in awe] What followed was an underwater shooting segment showing an intense confrontation between Bi Fang and Niu Gangjue, which was an eye-opener for the audience. He had used various methods to avoid being tracked, even resorting to blackout filming, leaving the online friends thoroughly impressed. [Can they really release this kind of footage?] [Is Old Fang some sort of special forces? This is spy-level, isn¡¯t it? He knows everything?!] Moving on, the content revealed was even more shocking. Jerret¡¯s narrative was very clear, exposing the stark reality of the entire dolphin meat interest chain in Taiji Town, and only then did people realize that poisonous dolphin meat was actually being delivered to schools and blatantly sold in supermarkets. Japanese netizens were incredulously surprised, with some even revealing whale meat from their own refrigerators. [The stuff I bought before, could it actually be dolphin meat?] [Elementary school students? Are you kidding me, supplying to elementary schools?] [Heartless maggots!] [It¡¯s okay, just bow deeply, just bow deeply.] Officials at Dolphin Bay who were unable to locate Bi Fang were sweating profusely and, with no other choice, made a ninety-degree deep bow toward the people and shouted. ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï ¡°We deeply apologize, it¡¯s all our responsibility. Please go back, everyone, we implore you!¡± Chapter 611 - Chapter 611 Chapter 608 Planting Trees ?Chapter 611: Chapter 608 Planting Trees Chapter 611: Chapter 608 Planting Trees ¡°` August 25th. The uproar over Dolphin Bay had passed two days ago. Amidst public fervor, and with the help of the British Consul, Mugalen was unsurprisingly releaseda€¡±safely out of harm¡¯s way. On the day he left the police station, hundreds of tourists and residents who heard the news came to watch, giving Mugalen his moment in the spotlight. He even flexed his muscular biceps for the cameras, showing he was in good spiritsa€¡±this strongman had been living comfortably these days. Yet, what captured everyone¡¯s attention the most wasn¡¯t Bi Fang¡¯s shocking act, nor the hundreds gathered in protest, but ¡°Dolphin Bay,¡± the unexpected debut of this epoch-making documentary. At noon on the 23rd, before it was officially released, various segments of the documentary were already spreading like wildfire, catching the attention of tens of millions. It finally premiered on major platforms, with the Discovery Channel broadcasting it on schedule. Lord Adenborg promptly promoted the documentary on social media. Through the complete version of the documentary, audiences finally learned that Lord Adenborg had been involved; without his generous provision of equipment, the film could not have achieved such a breakthrough. A true collaborative effort. Although many video bloggers had released bits and pieces of the documentary before its broadcast, and the content was patchy, when the full version arrived, the blood-drenched waves revealed what a massacre in the ocean was like. [Awesome, truly a collection of talents.] Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? High EQ: This is Taiji Town Dolphin Bay, right?] [Some people are just demons! Thank you to the brave creators of this documentary!!!] [Setting aside words like cruelty and hatred, killing is always brutal. What I really want to know from this film is, after picking out the valuable dolphins, and considering dolphin meat is so cheap it¡¯s fed to children and contains heavy metals, why the locals still insist on killing these dolphins.] With such a tremendous response, the Japanese Government finally couldn¡¯t sit still any longer, and on the 25th, they called an emergency press conference. At nine in the morning, the meeting commenced as planned. A middle-aged man with a receding hairline hurried through the side door, and the other officials immediately stood up. The sounds of chairs being moved were monotonous and grating beneath the dull snaps of cameras. Once the last person took their place, they didn¡¯t sit, but instead stood with hands naturally clasped in front, slightly bowed their heads, their faces showing grief as they mourned deeply. ¡°For everything that has happened in Dolphin Bay, my department expresses its profound sorrow and regret.¡± The official who arrived last and stood up first looked the most grieved, as if he were about to shed tears. Facing the flashes from the reporters¡¯ cameras, he made a show of wiping his eyes and bowed deeply. ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 In a moment, a row of officials, as if they had rehearsed many times, bent down simultaneously, bowing deeply. Their timing was impeccable. Audience: ¡°¡­¡± For some reason, this emergency PR was conducted live, seemingly in response to someone¡¯s actions. [At that glance, the streets teemed like the sea, and as you passed by, somewhat dazed, I kept looking back.] [I feel like I¡¯ve seen this scene so many times in my memory, have I time-traveled, brothers?] [It¡¯s the Mandela Effect! I put the Mandela Effect in there!] It wasn¡¯t until three minutes later that the officials stood up, sat back down, and began reading from their reports. The first step was a sincere apology and expression of mourning. For the slaughter of dolphins at Dolphin Bay and the supply of toxic dolphin meat to schools and supermarkets, the government felt deeply sorry and also burdened with guilt. ¡°` The second step, completely unaware, began to shift the blame. Every action taken was solely the local government¡¯s behavior; the higher authorities knew nothing about it and expressed strong condemnation and indignation. The third step was to strengthen management, strictly supervise, and¡­ announce the punishment for Bi Fang. Huh? The punishment for Bi Fang? The million viewers watching what they thought was a farce were taken aback, thinking they had heard wrong, but then realized there was no mistake. After stating that they would strengthen supervision over Taiji Town, and strictly monitor to absolutely prevent incidents like dolphin meat being passed off and supplied to schools, they announced the punishment for Bi Fang. ¡°In light of Mr. Bi Fang¡¯s actions of assaulting Hirotai Yamamoto, deliberately damaging public property, trespassing on private land, and orchestrating a mass protest, as well as Richard and others disrupting public order, after careful deliberation, we have decided on the following punishments, which include but are not limited to¡­¡± The announcement was quite convoluted and formal, but it could be summarized into four key points. First, he was to compensate residents for property and emotional damages in the amount of one hundred and thirty million yen, to provide financial reparations. Second, all earnings from this trip to Japan were to be confiscated, and he was stripped of the title and rewards of the first place in the hunting season, denying Bi Fang¡¯s achievements during the hunting season. Third, a complete prohibition of Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcasts within Japan, banning any related activities, effectively blacklisting Bi Fang. The fourth point was a ten-year ban on entering Japan, to be officially enforced starting from the first of September, 202*. In other words, in just six days, Bi Fang would be forcibly expelled from the country. Wow! The reporters below burst into uproar; although Bi Fang¡¯s punishment could be anticipated, its severity still shocked everyone. The audience was even more stunned. Where do you get the face to do this? [Did anyone notice that Japan only mentioned they would supervise the supply and sale of dolphin meat, but did not say they would prohibit or even limit the capture of dolphins?] [What the heck, so they don¡¯t mention a word about the key issue?] [Confiscate the gains? Does that include the jade piece as well?] [Jesus, that¡¯s nearly three hundred million yen, isn¡¯t it? How much money is that?] [Don¡¯t know, there¡¯s also the earnings from the traffic Bi Fang brought to the hunting season, gone too. That might total up to four hundred million yen.] [How much money is that?] [Roughly twenty million¡­] Twenty million¡­ Many people had never seen that much money in their lifetime and were dazzled by the amount. Just because of a documentary, one has to face such an exorbitant fine; it¡¯s truly infuriating. It wasn¡¯t just the domestic netizens who were angry, Japanese locals were outraged too. Blacklisting Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcasts? How would they watch them in the future? Use foreign networks? As neighbors, many Japanese were also fans of Bi Fang, and quite a few had been aware of him, watched, and became fans long before this hunting season. [Blacklisting Bi Fang? Have they asked for the opinion of us, the Japanese public?] [Does this mean we won¡¯t be able to watch Master Fang¡¯s live broadcasts ever again?] [Aside from bowing, is that all our officials are capable of achieving?] However, as the party concerned, Bi Fang himself didn¡¯t react much to this. Chapter 612 - Chapter 612 Chapter 609 Neural Enhancement ?Chapter 612: Chapter 609: Neural Enhancement Chapter 612: Chapter 609: Neural Enhancement Under the sunset, Bi Fang sat atop a hill in Dolphin Bay, watching the undulating waves before him. The sun touched the ocean¡¯s surface, its orange-yellow light spilling over the world like a flood, elongating the shadows of the people on the hill. Another, broader shadow staggered over to Bi Fang, plonked down beside him, and placed a can of beer between them before pulling one out with a pop. He pulled the tab, and foam gushed out, spilling over Mugalen¡¯s hand as he quickly stretched out his arm, watching the golden liquid leap over forty meters into the ocean and vanish. After taking a sip of the chilled beer, Mugalen let out a satisfied noise. Midsummer should always be accompanied by cold beer! Dangling their legs over the cliff¡¯s edge, Mugalen joked, ¡°I¡¯ve been all over Taiji Town, and you know what happened?¡± ¡°Not a single supermarket would sell you beer?¡± ¡°Hahaha, did you try to buy some too?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t drink, just guessed.¡± ¡°Tsk tsk tsk, these people are really stingy.¡± ¡°It¡¯s already a restraint that they didn¡¯t beat you up.¡± The two men looked at each other and burst into laughter, drawing the attention of the tourists camped out on the beaches of Dolphin Bay. To protect the dolphins, these conservation groups had set up tents here, and it was evident that this strategy was highly effective. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Today, there were no fishing boats on the sea, and nearby, dolphins leapt out of the water, creating golden, glittering sprays of water, incredibly brilliant. After their laughter subsided, Mugalen seemed a bit puzzled, scratching his head. ¡°You don¡¯t seem worried at all. That¡¯s four hundred million Yen we¡¯re talking about. I even thought I might have to console you.¡± ¡°Console me about what? You don¡¯t think I¡¯d be upset, do you?¡± Bi Fang laughed heartily and picked up a backpack beside him, pulling out a fist-sized, emerald green stone, ¡°Take a look at this.¡± ¡°Is this¡­ the jade you mined?¡± Bi Fang nodded, ¡°Remember that agent?¡± ¡°Yehara Hiroshi?¡± Mugalen had some recollection. It was he who had helped Bi Fang carry the raw jade stone down the mountain, and the weight of that stone was deeply etched in his memory. When Yehara Hiroshi came to take over, Mugalen was also present. ¡°Yes, he came to give this to me at noon today, chiseled off from that huge raw jade, the best quality piece.¡± The raw jade stone was, in accordance with the Japanese government¡¯s penalty provisions, confiscated. The buyers and sellers have naturally scattered to the winds. So, seizing the opportunity before the officials arrived to confiscate it, Yehara Hiroshi secretly left a small piece for Bi Fang, a move steeped in risk. Mugalen remarked, ¡°That guy is not bad.¡± ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s a good person,¡± agreed Bi Fang. He said he had lost four hundred million Yen, but in reality, the loss pertained mostly to that jade stone which he was to pay for; his actual loss was about two hundred million Yen, roughly ten million Huaxia currency. ¡°Two hundred million is not a small amount either.¡± ¡°But during my live stream at noon, my followers have already helped me raise it,¡± Bi Fang winked. At the noon press conference, Bi Fang also hosted a private live stream, and the two hundred million Yen contributed towards the fine was an unexpected gain. Mugalen was stunned and suddenly fell silent. After a moment, he gritted his teeth and said, ¡°You think it¡¯s great having fans?¡± ¡°Haha, but that means you won¡¯t get the half of the money I promised you. How about I give you half of this stone instead?¡± ¡°S**T!¡± It was only now that Mugalen suddenly remembered he had a share in that raw jade stone! Thinking of all the hard work he had put into moving it, Mugalen felt like crying without tears. ¡°Don¡¯t be sad now, do you want this half or not? ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? If you don¡¯t, then it¡¯s all mine.¡± Mugalen¡¯s voice was filled with bitterness and determination, ¡°Yes!¡± Bi Fang patted his butt and got up, ¡°Actually, being deported isn¡¯t so bad, it even saves me a plane ticket.¡± ¡°A plane ticket worth two hundred million Yen?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t planning on coming back here anyway.¡± Bi Fang was indifferent. Unless Mount Fuji erupted in a volcanic explosion leading to another volcanic survival mission, as far as Japan was concerned, there were no more thrilling places left to visit, and based on the difficulty of the tasks arranged by the system, it was unlikely he would come here again. ¡°Where are you planning to go next?¡± ¡°To your hometown.¡± ¡°My hometown? What¡¯s there to visit?¡± ¡°To take a vacation.¡± Bi Fang stretched out his arms, flexing all the muscles in his body. Mugalen had a very bad premonition, and sure enough, once Bi Fang had fully stretched his muscles, he looked down at the ocean and held his breath. As for who else was breathless, aside from Bi Fang, it was also Mugalen. In that moment, the sun sank below the horizon, and the thick black night slowly enveloped Taiji Town. Accompanied by a barely detectable splash, the journey in Japan came to an end. [Ding, congratulations to the host for completing the task: Ocean Spirit] [Would you like to claim your rewards?] ¡­. On September 1st, escorted by the police, Bi Fang and Richard¡¯s team boarded the plane back to Huaxia. At the airport, ?¡ëtienne waved to Bi Fang before also boarding another flight. The pleasant summer vacation had come to an end, and the kid had to return to school. ¡°I¡¯m envious of him, if I¡¯d had such rich experiences at his age, I definitely would¡¯ve been the dream lover of all the girls in school,¡± Mugalen said with a tone that was like he had just eaten a sour plum. ¡°Wake up, you¡¯re already married.¡± Bi Fang settled in his seat, let out a deep sigh, and finally, he was able to head back home. Next to him sat Richard, Mandike¡¯s Science, and the others, all of whom, without exception, were being deported. The rows in front and behind were all their own people. A whole airplane of deporteesa€¡±when you think about it, it¡¯s pretty funny. Wearing his eye mask, Bi Fang opened the long-awaited system panela€¡±there had been no change in the data. With Bi Fang¡¯s current physical condition, it was extremely difficult to make further progress through normal training. He skillfully opened the task template and claimed two task rewards. The two-month-long task flickered by in a flash, and the moment it stopped twinkling, it was as if it had extracted all the matches, bringing with it all the honors. [Detecting host¡¯s task completion. Final base reward: Neural Strengthening Coupon *1, Memory Palace Coupon *1, Task Rewards: Item Tank *3, Skill Can *2, Store Refresh Coupon *1, Product Exchange Coupon *1, Wilderness Points *4017, Enhancement Points *5] Bi Fang lifted his eye mask to find the plane had already taken off, and Richard and the others had all fallen into a deep sleep. Seeing this, he did not hesitate to use the base rewards for completing the task. The Neural Strengthening Coupon and the Memory Palace Coupon. The effect of the former was self-explanatory, it was simply¡­ Hiss! The moment the Neural Strengthening Coupon took effect, it interrupted Bi Fang¡¯s train of thought. He felt a chill he had never experienced before, spreading from the back of his head down his spine, and eventually throughout his whole body. Bi Fang even felt as if, for a moment, he had been transported to Antarctica, yet the sensation was strikingly different from the coldness of temperature; it was more as if every nerve was licking a blast of cool mint, his whole body shivering uncontrollably, even each muscle quivering slightly! Chapter 613 - Chapter 613 Chapter 610 Forest of Thought ?Chapter 613: Chapter 610: Forest of Thought Chapter 613: Chapter 610: Forest of Thought ¡°` ¡°Hoo! Ha!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s whole body clung to the seat, feeling the strong sensation of shivering steadily intensifying. Each muscle was slowly writhing, as though it had come to life. This sensation was not pain, it was very strange. Cold, numb, sour, swollen. It was like digging away the pain from the common sensation of a toothache and spreading it to every cell in the body. Even without the pain, it was still unbearably uncomfortable, as if undergoing severe torture. Big beads of cold sweat slid from the brow, drawn by gravity into the corners of the eyes. The salty, burning sensation spread, and Bi Fang wanted to wipe it away, but his whole body was stiff, completely unable to move an inch. Fortunately, the whole process was very brief, lasting only ten minutes. Cold, numb, sour, swollen sensations vanished, but before Bi Fang could take a breather, he felt his body start to heat up. It¡¯s over. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Bi Fang howled inwardly. At first, it was just the warmth of a complete run, but soon it turned into burning pain. The next ten minutes were another kind of utterly different torture. By the time it was completely over, a half hour had passed. Like he¡¯d just been fished out of water, Bi Fang¡¯s quick-dry T-shirt was visibly sweat-stained. Adjusting his breathing, Bi Fang took out a bottle of mineral water and drank it in one go to replenish some fluids. He then glanced at the others still in their dream states and went to the washroom to wash his face, wiping off the salt particles that had precipitated from sweating profusely with a towel. Afterward, he took off the T-shirt, soaked it in the sink, washed away the salt stains, wrung it dry, and put it back on. The T-shirt was from Polartec¡¯s Power Dry, the best quick-drying fabric on the market, even if it was a bit on the expensive side. In less than five minutes, it had evaporated to the point where no water stains were visible. In ten minutes, it was almost completely dry. From the outside, Bi Fang looked no different from before he boarded the plane. But the feeling¡­ Bi Fang stretched out his hand and squeezed his fist. After the torture, his body didn¡¯t seem to feel noticeably different. ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Bi Fang had always been very concerned about the state of his body. Wilderness Survivalist is foremost about knowledge and the body. Therefore, he had become sensitive to the point where every training session was accompanied by a very complete scientific plan and statistics. The improvements brought by the earlier Skill coupons were incredibly strong, but this time the sensation was a little off. Back in his seat, Bi Fang continued to use the Mind Palace Coupon. The Palace of Mind, also known as a memory palace or the Method of Loci, Mental walking, is an ancient mnemonic device. The essence is to establish a virtual spatial scene in the mind and link various pieces of information to the space. Compared to the earlier visual enhancements, trapezoid muscle, bullet muscle, joints, and nerves, this Skill coupon was not essentially an enhancement of the body but rather a form of mental training and change. This method is most famously used by Sherlock Holmes and he was quite skilled at it. In ¡°A Study in Scarlet,¡± Sherlock Holmes said something. ¡°You see,¡± he explained, ¡°I consider that a man¡¯s brain originally is like a little empty attic, and you have to stock it with such furniture as you choose. A fool takes in all the lumber of every sort that he comes across, so that the knowledge which might be useful to him gets crowded out, or at most, is jumbled up with a lot of other things, so that he has a difficulty in laying his hands upon it.¡± ¡°` Apart from Sherlock Holmes, another famous figure is probably Dr. Hannibal Lecter. In his palace, he stores the vivid medical records of patients over the years, and perhaps his unique meat recipes as well. As for its documented appearances, they go even further back, according to the ancient Roman philosopher Cicero, the creator of the memory palace was the poet Simonides of Ceos. Legend has it that in 447 BC, Simonides was attending a court banquet when suddenly two young men came looking for him outside the banquet hall. When he stepped out of the hall, the young men were nowhere to be seen, but the roof of the banquet hall suddenly collapsed, killing all the guests inside. Since the bodies were mangled beyond recognition, he could only revisit the banquet scene in his memory, recalling the names of guests in different positions. After this event, Simonides realized that he could memorize all events by associating conscious images with spatial information. It was also the origin of the birth of the word ¡°palace¡±. But for Bi Fang right now, this coupon seems to be of little use. The two main functions of the Palace of Mind are, one, an extraordinary memory a€¡° a blessing to the student party, and two, a unique way of association that allows thinking to operate more rapidly. However, the Skills given by the System are inherently panel-based; unless Bi Fang deletes a Skill, it¡¯s basically impossible to forget it. Moreover, due to the existence of the Skill tree, each Skill can interact perfectly with each other, not just operating independently. Each Skill can coordinate and evolve with the others. But, since it has been received, it¡¯s a freebie nonetheless. The rewards from this trip to Japan are beginning to stack up, close to the quantity normally obtained from two regular missions; it can definitely be called a windfall. Additionally, building the palace itself is far less simple than it appears; it requires a very powerful spatial imagination and concentration. With the coupon, it can help Bi Fang skip this step entirely. And though the Palace of Mind may be constructed, the quality between individuals can vary greatly. Produced by the System, it must at least reach the upper levels of the Pyramids if not up to the level of Sherlock Holmes and Hannibal, right? It¡¯s just unknown what his own palace will look like, a room, a palace, or something else? Soon, Bi Fang understood; his ¡°palace¡± was neither a room nor a palace¡­ The moment the golden coupon turned to powder, the lush Skill tree in his mind abruptly grew taller, then numerous branches drooped down, similar to the aerial roots Bi Fang saw in the Banna Rainforest. The branches touched down and rapidly took root in the vast expanse of his mind. Then, one after another, towering trees sprung from the ground, encircling the central mother tree. The endless forest rose and fell, growing dense and interwoven like a sea of green. Bi Fang teleported into the midst of the forest, arriving beneath a giant tree, to find each tree had a wooden drawer. Pulling one open, inside were scrolls of parchment. Unrolling a scroll, without needing to read, a flood of information naturally poured into his brain. Looking up towards the center of the forest, without needing to think, a thought sparked, and countless leaves danced. Fire. Dozens of fire-making methods naturally emerged in his brain, and on this basis, even more methods evolved. Bi Fang opened his eyes, rubbed the bridge of his nose, and a smile crept across his lips. Not bad at all. Chapter 614 - Chapter 614 Chapter 611 Its All Prediction ?Chapter 614: Chapter 611: It¡¯s All Prediction Chapter 614: Chapter 611: It¡¯s All Prediction The plane landed gracefully at Magic City Airport, trembling slightly as it faced the strong wind and the setting sun. ¡°Hmm, have we arrived?¡± Mugalen lifted his eye mask, feeling somewhat tired from sleep. It only takes two to three hours to fly from Japan to Magic City. He had boarded the plane at around four in the afternoon, and now it was already six o¡¯clock, leaving him feeling groggy. Mugalen glanced over at Bi Fang, who was next to him playing on his phone. Mugalen thought Bi Fang was gaming, but on closer inspection, he saw a green button on the screen. In the blink of an eye, the green button instantly turned red, and almost at the same time it changed color, Bi Fang pressed the button. A number popped up from the top. 87ms. Suddenly curious, Mugalen asked, ¡°What is this?¡± Bi Fang replied, ¡°A rudimentary software for measuring neural response.¡± ¡°Can I give it a try?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Bi Fang handed him the phone and explained, ¡°The button will turn from green to red, and you hit it as soon as it turns red to check your reaction speed.¡± Mugalen nodded. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï The rules were quite simple. He quickly understood after restarting it. After a series of actions, a number jumped out. Mugalen¡¯s eyebrows twitched: ¡°268ms? Why is there such a big difference from yours?¡± If Mugalen hadn¡¯t seen it wrong, Bi Fang scored 87ms, right? Although he wasn¡¯t sure what the standard for good was, Mugalen had the feeling that his number seemed pretty weak. Just as Bi Fang was about to take his phone back, Mugalen pushed him away: ¡°No, no, no, I wasn¡¯t ready. Let¡¯s do it again, one more time.¡± Watching an eager Mugalen, Bi Fang sighed and stood up to gather his luggage. By the time they disembarked from the plane, Mugalen was still focused on the test. Bi Fang ignored the protests and snatched the phone back. He opened the average value and saw 156ms. Covering the data from the first half, the average value fluctuated again, becoming 237ms. ¡°What counts as a good score?¡± Mugalen asked from behind. Bi Fang didn¡¯t reply but just nodded: ¡°Not bad, it¡¯s above average.¡± The average person¡¯s reaction speed is usually around 250ms, which can reach 200ms with focused attention. Typically, with regular training, one¡¯s response speed can get down to around 150ms. The physiological limit of human response speed will not be lower than 100msa€¡±that¡¯s the biological limit. Modern medical science, following further research into nerve conduction velocities, has shown that the speed at which nerve fibers conduct is related to their diameter; the larger the diameter of the nerve fibers, the faster they conduct. For example, the diameter of the main nerve fibers of humans or mammals ranges from 1 to 22 micrometers, and their conduction speed can reach 5 to 120 meters per second; the diameter of the branching nerves and visceral nerves of the main nerve is less than 3 micrometers, with a conduction speed of 3 to 15 meters per second; while the diameter of peripheral nerves ranges from 0.3 to 1.3 micrometers, with a conduction speed roughly of 0.6 to 2.3 meters per second. Physiologists also discovered that there¡¯s a linear relationship between the diameter of the main nerve fibers of mammals and their conduction speed: for every 1 micrometer increase in the nerve fiber¡¯s outer diameter, the conduction speed increases by 6 meters per second. Theoretically, human reflexes should be at the speed of light, as nerve reflexes are biologically electrical. The fundamental reason is that the transmission within neurons is at the speed of light, but the transmission between neurons is not; it¡¯s a matter of substance transmission instead. Moreover, the electrical signals are generated by the difference in ion concentration on the inside and outside of the nerve ending cell membranes, resulting in a potential difference. The conduction of the potential difference is at the speed of light, but the speed of the variation in ion concentration is much slower than that of light. Crude nerves modify this process. So what people often call rough nerves should not actually be regarded as slowness but as sensitivity far beyond that of an ordinary person. This should be considered a compliment. Saying someone is slow should be putting it as having delicate nerves. Based on this threshold, pressure sensors were installed on the starting blocks. If a runner starts, they will exert pressure on the block, which in turn will sense the start. The shortest human reaction time is 0.1 seconds; anything within 0.1 seconds is considered a false start. The International Association of Athletics Federations has rules for this: if someone starts with a reaction time of 0.09 seconds, it¡¯s definitely an attempt to jump the gun rather than following it, so it can only be ruled as a foul. As for the peak period, it¡¯s basically the age range of eSports competitors. For Mugalen, the average is 237ms, which is indeed quite good. He was quite the hero in his youth. Mugalen scratched his head, puzzled. The human limit is 100ms, and if he hadn¡¯t seen wrong just now, Bi Fang¡¯s test was definitely below triple digits. He asked curiously, ¡°How did you manage to get 87ms just now?¡± Humans do have their limits, so does that mean Bi Fang is no longer human? Bi Fang replied calmly, ¡°I just blindly anticipated it.¡± Testing reaction speed, of course, can¡¯t be done with just one try. You need at least five attempts to calculate an average. Mugalen suddenly realized, ¡°Ah, I see, but now I¡¯m curious: ¡®Let me see your average.''¡± ¡°Forget it, it¡¯s at an ordinary person¡¯s level.¡± Bi Fang turned off his phone and ran towards the hall. ¡°Hey, you can¡¯t do that,¡± Mugalen said anxiously, carrying luggage and chasing after Bi Fang. The two weaved through the bustling crowd in the hall, while Richard and the others were leisurely following behind. As Bi Fang passed through the crowd, he also caused a stir; more people recognized them because both of their appearances and auras were too eye-catching. It¡¯s like going to a zoo where you¡¯re more captivated by the animal that has just been captured from the forest than by one that was born and raised there. As they chased each other, just as Mugalen was about to catch Bi Fang¡¯s shoulder, a scream came from beside him. Mugalen turned around and saw an orange tray flying into the air, with the burgers, chicken nuggets, and fries also taking flight. ¡°Oh no, I¡¯ve hit someone!¡± Mugalen suddenly realized, but it was too late. Watching as the food was about to scatter all over the floor, he thought of apologizing to people. At the last possible moment, a hand with distinct knuckles reached through from between them, swiftly supporting the bottom of the tray. To everyone¡¯s amazement, it caught each piece of the airborne food one by one. With the last chicken nugget landing securely back in its box. ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï ¡°Plop.¡± Someone¡¯s phone fell to the ground; they turned to their companion and exclaimed, ¡°Is this them filming ¡®Spider-Man 4¡¯?¡± The companion looked around and shook their head, ¡°I don¡¯t see any cameras.¡± ¡°Sorry, my friend bumped into you. Are you okay?¡± Bi Fang tipped his cap and sincerely apologized. ¡°No, no, no, it¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine,¡± the girl whose tray was knocked over hurriedly gestured. She adjusted her glasses and studied Bi Fang¡¯s face for a while before exclaiming again, ¡°Ah, you are¡­ ¡± ¡°Shh!¡± Bi Fang raised a finger to his lips. As expected, what followed was another fan meet-and-greet. Mugalen stood awkwardly to one side; once the photo op was over, he immediately grabbed Bi Fang, ¡°How did you just do that?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°That thing, with the whoosh whoosh whoosh, the Spider-Man thing,¡± Mugalen explained, making swooping gestures in the air with his hands. Bi Fang tugged down his cap, ¡°I just blindly caught it.¡± Chapter 615 - Chapter 615 Chapter 612 TIME Magazines Cover Person ?Chapter 615: Chapter 612 TIME Magazine¡¯s Cover Person Chapter 615: Chapter 612 TIME Magazine¡¯s Cover Person Mugalen was no longer asking about Bi Fang¡¯s test results after leaving the airport, still grappling with life¡¯s uncertainties from the recently witnessed scenes, muttering to himself as he trailed behind Bi Fang. ¡°Anticipation¡­ How can one anticipate¡­¡± Gazing at the wide avenue, Bi Fang didn¡¯t head home, but went to the hospital with Richard and the others to visit the two teammates who were initially injured. After two months of recovery and treatment, the two were almost completely out of danger, though they still needed close observation. They were very happy to see everyone come to visit. Once it was confirmed that the two were much better and could be discharged in a few days, the group did not linger longer and found a restaurant near the hospital to deal with dinner. After a whole day of rushing about, everyone was famished. ¡°I¡¯m going to use the restroom,¡± Mandy said, standing up from her seat while waiting for the meal. ¡°If not for the injuries, they would have shared this honor with us,¡± Bi Fang thought of the two in their hospital beds as he watched Mandy¡¯s departing figure, feeling somewhat melancholic. The exposure of Dolphin Bay was life-threatening, and although the fundamental purpose of the group was not to profit from the documentary, the arrival of benefits after it was released was an undeniable reality. What those present cared about was the distribution; hence, the entire Dolphin Bay was given out for free to major video websites and allowed to be shared on social platforms. The total number of views across the web had surpassed two billion, with over 360 million on MeTube and more than 21 million on B Island. Though these numbers might seem small compared to the top ten historical records, the essential point is that it is a two-hour documentary, and only a week had passed. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? Those that boast billions of views were exceptions, all being short videos of less than ten minutes, and those figures were based on the number of views within a month. Two billion views didn¡¯t mean that over two-sevenths of the world had seen Dolphin Baya€¡±perhaps less than one-tenth hada€¡±but it was still an exhilarating statistic. It looked like Dolphin Bay was going to be the highest-viewed video among all of Bi Fang¡¯s independent edits. Although there were no official global figures, Bi Fang had four videos on B Island with over a hundred million views, with Goose¡¯s Journey being the highest, firmly in the lead with over 140 million. The view count on B Island was calculated based on IDs, not replayed views, and with a total of only 300 million registered users on the island, 140 million viewsa€¡±and still increasinga€¡±meant that approximately every two users had watched it, a miraculous achievement. There was a joke on B Island that the only one who could beat Bi Fang¡¯s viewer count was Bi Fang himself. Originally thought to be just a playful meme, it now seemed to be a proverb. On the total historical view ranking, Bi Fang himself had surpassed seven within the top ten, all of which were long videos over ninety minutes. Putting other things aside, the few people present, even the electrical engineer who worked behind the scenes, had gained a significant following on Twitter thanks to Dolphin Bay. But because of their injuries, those two missed out on all this, becoming ¡°sacrifices¡± in the process of exposure. Bi Fang only felt regret on their behalf; it was sad that they got nothing out of it. Richard and Jerret had not forgotten them; they both appeared in the edits but inevitably ended up being relegated to the backdrop. Richard twirled his fork in the spaghetti, chewing and swallowing, ¡°They won¡¯t care about that.¡± ¡°Before you helped us, we never imagined we¡¯d succeed,¡± Jerret said, picking up a steak with his chopsticks, tearing into it and swallowing. Contrary to what many imagine, most Westerners can in fact use chopsticks, and use them quite well. This steak was the best meal Jerret had had in two months. In Japan, he had been eating instant meals every day, and it was even more embarrassing in the later stages, as no one was willing to sell them even instant foods. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? The venison and boar meat that Bi Fang couldn¡¯t finish were all secretly given to them; tough and stringy, they couldn¡¯t compare to the taste of farmed beef. Enjoying the rare delicacy made Jerret forget how to use a knife and fork; he simply picked up chopsticks. ¡°Don¡¯t be too sad,¡± Richard patted Bi Fang on the shoulder, ¡°Both of them are members of the Ocean Organization, I know their character. The documentary¡¯s release is already the best reward for them.¡± As someone who had been there, Richard knew what Bi Fang was thinking. In the eyes of the world, it seems heroes only appear great when they offer selfless devotion. Selfless devotion is indeed great, but only when one receives the due reward will more and more people dare to devote themselves. Bi Fang himself didn¡¯t care about the benefits, but the two lying in the hospital bed were just ordinary people, with wives and children, needing bread and milk. ¡°Hey, look what I¡¯ve found?¡± Mandy returned from the restroom, threw something on the table, and her surprised voice interrupted everyone¡¯s thoughts. Everyone looked towards the shadow that flew in and discovered it was a magazine. TIME Under the large black title, a very familiar and handsome face came into view. Keke picked up the magazine, marveled at Bi Fang under the light, then looked back at the cover and realized that the real person and the photograph were almost identical. Mandy also leaned in, her mouth forming an O-shape, ¡°Wow, Bi Fang, isn¡¯t this you? You made it onto the cover of TIME magazine!¡± ¡°That¡¯s really amazing!¡± One after another, the people offered their praises. Bi Fang took the magazine and was also very surprised. He had actually become the cover person of TIME magazine? TIME, one of the most famous magazines in the world. With great authority, a long history, and having witnessed nearly a hundred years of changes in the world, the magazine is very well-made. The cover design may seem simple, but the level of photography and design details are handled by masters, making it a very influential magazine. However, TIME can¡¯t strictly be classified as a weekly, as there are times when it publishes every two weeks. The 23rd was a Sunday, and obviously, after the event occurred, TIME quickly made Bi Fang its cover, and the timing was very tight; they didn¡¯t even have a proper photo shoot, merely taking a still of Bi Fang from a certain scene. Backlit by the sun, the shadowy figure added a touch of mystery. Which specific scene was taken, with the background removed, not even Bi Fang himself recognized it. As a streamer, to be on such an authoritative magazine was a surprise, even if it was just an ordinary issue. This was an honor Bear Grylls and Grandpa De had not achieved, and now, Bi Fang had it. ¡°I think you should also have a place as Person of the Year!¡± Jerret went so far as to declare boldly. The Person of the Year was even more prestigious than appearing in a weekly issue. This tradition started in 1927 when TIME magazine¡¯s editor was pondering what to cover in a week with no significant news. Since Charles Lindbergh had flown across the Atlantic Ocean for the first time that year, but TIME magazine hadn¡¯t featured him on the cover, the editor at the end of the year thought of a way to remedy this embarrassment by putting Lindbergh on the cover and naming him Person of the Year. From the perspective of an Adventurer, Jerret felt that Bi Fang was even more outstanding and had a greater impact, and he deserved to be on the annual cover! Hearing this, Bi Fang laughed heartily as if he didn¡¯t take it too seriously, taking it as a friend¡¯s blessing. Yet, it also planted a seed of hope in his heart. Could he really make the cover? Many people have appeared in regular issues, from entrepreneurs to stars, but the Person of the Year carries undoubtedly a higher value and represents the true movers and shakers. ¡°Damn, it¡¯s finally over! I just want to go home now.¡± Having bitten off the last piece of beef, Jerret raised his beer, ¡°come, Cheers!¡± ¡°Cheers!!!¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± Chapter 617 - Chapter 617 Chapter 614 Legends of the Martial World (Two in One) ?Chapter 617: Chapter 614: Legends of the Martial World (Two in One) Chapter 617: Chapter 614: Legends of the Martial World (Two in One) ¡°` I¡¯m invincible! That was the only thought in Bi Fang¡¯s mind at the moment. Indeed, after undergoing various enhancements and skills, Bi Fang had become very confident, feeling he could take on ten opponents at once. The sixth Ip Man film should be starring him! What¡¯s most important in combat? Strength? Agility? Stamina? Or is it resistance to blows? Bi Fang believed none of these were the most important. That is to say, despite their significance, these four attributes were not decisive factors. Distance perception. In other wordsa€¡±dynamic vision. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.?¦Ï A kind of dynamic vision. Bi Fang personally thought that this was the most crucial. The most common modern standard combat is boxing, and an essential quality for a boxer is the sense of distance. Take for example, the boxing prince Naseem Hamed. Many people may find his matches somewhat strange yet overlook his astonishing sense of distance. Naseem Hamed¡¯s sense of distance was so good he could dance around the ring. A boxer with a strong sense of distance comes across as flamboyant or could be said to be relaxed. Because they know the distance between themselves and their opponent, and how to dodge their punches, they can afford not to be tense and defensive, and can lower their hands, taunting their opponent, using their rich facial expressions and arrogant body movements to lure the opponent into attacking, revealing their weaknesses and thus countering and retaliating. How wonderful it is to achieve the desired effect without having to feint, just by taunting. Excellent distance perception allows you to attack when you want to and relax when you don¡¯t, easily leading the opponent into your rhythm and gradually breaking them down. Standing in front of your opponent, you know how to control the entire rhythm of the battle. Those adept at observing and questioning will definitely notice that the eyes of herbivores and carnivores are markedly different, with herbivores having eyes on the sides of their heads, as they need a wider field of vision to watch out for predators. But the eyes of carnivores are always located at the front, because this allows both eyes to focus on the same object. They obtain a three-dimensional image and accurately target the location and distance of their prey. When you have that ability, resistance to blows? The opponent can hardly land a hit, or rather, they think they can, but every time they throw a punch, they find they are just two centimeters short, allowing you to seize the opportunity to strike back effectively. Not only that, but a strong sense of distance also plays a crucial role in many other areas, such as low-altitude parachuting, needing to master the distance, and in many other dangerous sports. The enhancement of dynamic vision greatly improved Bi Fang¡¯s sense of distance. Strength? Unless it¡¯s a child against an adult, it can always cause damage. Agility, well, that¡¯s indeed important, but for Bi Fang¡­ Do you want to compare reflexes with me or dynamic visual motion capture? Building the four dimensions around sense of distance ensures an undefeated stance in fighting. With his remarkable dynamic capture, extraordinary sense of distance, combined with the acquired nerve reflex and Palace of Mind, the synergy of these four elements can be described as extremely terrifying. The true process of combat is incredibly fast, so quick that when you get close and grapple with the opponent, you can¡¯t even think about your next move, because it¡¯s too rapid. By the time you¡¯ve figured out how to respond, the enemy has already knocked you to the ground. ¡°` Life-and-death fights are exactly like this, with the brain controlled by rage, and everything is a matter of instinctive reaction. Daily practice serves to engrain movements into instinct. When physical fitness is comparable, the one whose instincts are more deeply embedded and who responds more adeptly will emerge victorious. But now, super-quick neural transmission, along with the Palace of Mind¡¯s coordination of movement and reaction. A person in the midst of a fight with a strong sense of distance, whose thoughts are so quick that they can clearly decide how to respond¡­ Inside Dolphin Bay, Bi Fang once encountered Niu Gangjue under water. At the time, he could only shorten his reaction to 200 milliseconds, with action time less than ten milliseconds. But now, the time Bi Fang has for action will reach a horrific 150 milliseconds! Not only can he dodge moves, but he can even take the opportunity to strike another blow. To say his combat power has doubled would be an understatement. Accompanied by such an expansion of confidence, Bi Fang exerted himself to use up all the remaining Enhancement Points, only this time the distribution was different from usual. Four major attributes: Strength, Physique, Agility, Spirit. These four are not merely as straightforward as their names suggest, and they even vary in meaning; for instance, Agility does not refer to nimbleness but specifically to burst speed. Physique then is the combination of endurance and physical constitution. Add enough points and you might even extend your lifespana€¡±it¡¯s the overall ability of the body system to manage external environments, like resisting temperature changes, and combating foreign bacteria and parasites. In comparison, the meaning of Strength is simpler: muscle density, hardness, and mitochondrial function, among others. Spirit refers to coordination, sixth sense, and the like. The properties of these four attributes have highly integrated Bi Fang¡¯s bodily reactions to harsh environments, leaving nothing out. It can be said that if one could strengthen each of these attributes to hundreds of points or more, there wouldn¡¯t even be a need for Wilderness Survival skillsa€¡±you could bulldoze through the entire Amazon rainforest. Any viruses or parasites would be shredded to nothing by the immune system upon entry, and a bite of ten roots could be dissolved by stomach acid, extracting energy even from cellulose. Of course, all of the above were Bi Fang¡¯s own wild guesses, assuming there were enough Enhancement Points available, and that the effects of the points would not diminish. After exceeding fifteen points in any single attribute, the effectiveness of the Enhancement Points became less pronounced than at the beginning, with a discount nearing fifty percent. Perhaps after thirty points in a single line, there would be no effect left? Looking at the effects of the four attributes, it¡¯s certain that they would overlap with the effects offered by the System¡¯s enhancement vouchers. However, the vouchers offer more meticulous upgrades, affecting even individual muscles, bringing benefits far beyond what a single Enhancement Point could compare with. Combining the enhancements he had just received, Bi Fang decided to undertake targeted strengthening, no longer following a balanced path. Five Enhancement Pointsa€¡±he invested three in Agility and two in Physique. He quickly browsed through the store after that, using a refresh coupon. Sure enough, an attribute point appeared, but it wasn¡¯t for Agility or Physique; it was for Spirit. Add it on. He wanted to be an agility-based burst warrior! With the addition of points complete, a unique warm stream rose from his lower abdomen, circling the limbs and bones of his body like soaking in a hot spring, making him sleepy. Bi Fang stretched out his hand, acutely aware that his body was undergoing metamorphosis. Lifting his arm, the muscles wrapping around his bones intertwined and writhed, binding and linking together like steel, tightening bit by bit. When he stood up again, Bi Fang¡¯s skin was smooth, with beads of sweat and natural oils glistening in the light, almost metallic under the illusion. A sense of ruggedness arose spontaneously. If he were to stand before others, it would seem as though Bi Fang¡¯s entire being was like a steel whiplash, ready at any moment to be swung and emit a piercing sound through the air. Having fully absorbed the rewards from his trip to Dolphin Bay, Bi Fang took a deep breath and lightly jumped. Although he had just finished a journey, he was brimming with energy that had nowhere to be released. He suddenly thought about getting a girlfriend, but then Bi Fang dismissed the dangerous thought. He was simply unable to vent his temporary energy. Instead of finding a female companion, it was better to seize the time and embark on the next adventure. While Bi Fang was not some paragon of virtue, he did have his principlesa€¡±once involved, he would take responsibility. Adventuring almost every day was inherently dangerous. In case¡­ cough, just in case. Those on Mount Liang with wives, like short-legged tiger Wang Ying, were rather common. True heroes spent all day honing their martial virtues. Even those who were married, like Lin Chong and Song Jiang, had to face family ruin before they could sever all ties and expose no weaknesses. Moreover, at the age of twenty-five, many people still might be pursuing their studies or researching. Bi Fang cut off his train of thought and opened his panel. A series of data was pleasing to the eye. [Sole Binder: Bi Fang] [Age: 25] [Height: 185.8cm] [Weight: 80KG] [Strength: 16] [Physique: 20] [Agility: 19] [Spirit: 16] [Platinum Body, Beastly Instinct] [Status: Healthy.] [Enhancement Points: 0] [Wilderness Points: 1234 (convertible)] Orange Main Skill: Wilderness Traveler Lv2. Purple Branch Skill: Forbidden Zone Hunter Lv1, Body Tempering Lv1. Blue Twig Skill: Tai Chi Traveling Dragon Lv3. Green Canopy Skill: Cooking Mastery Lv3. Spoils Skill: Wolves King¡¯s Sense of Smell, King Fish¡¯s Stomach, Biological Sensing. After using the recently acquired five skill points, Bi Fang finally reached a stat value of twenty points, nearing the level of top athletes. However, accordingly, the strength of enhancements after twenty points would be discounted. Feeling the intensity, Bi Fang guessed that twenty-five points might be the level of world-class athletes. ¡°Sleep time, sleep time.¡± The combined mission proved to be powerful indeed, with generous rewards, and Bi Fang even wished for it to happen a couple more times. Unfortunately, it was probably a one-time opportunity. To avoid being too energetic and unable to sleep at night, Bi Fang took a hot bath in the bathroom, waiting for his muscles to fully relax before lying down to rest. ¡­ In the following few days, Bi Fang found himself with nothing to do and spent time getting used to his body, even buying food to try out his Cooking Mastery level. After tasting it a few times, it actually felt like he was a hotel chef. From then on, Bi Fang grew fond of cooking every day, to the point that the housekeeping auntie thought she was going to lose her job, but eventually realized she wouldn¡¯t. Bi Fang only enjoyed the process of cooking, leaving the dishwashing and preparation to the auntie. With the remainder of his time, he tended to his insect and fish tanks, attempting to establish a pseudo self-sustaining ecosystem, or went out for leisure and entertainment with Richard and the others as his friend was about to be discharged from the hospital, and they would all be returning to Ugly Country in a few days. Sometimes, he would log on to play a few rounds of FPS games with ?¡ëtienne after school, partly to test his own reaction capabilities and partly for relaxation and fun. As a resulta€¡±victory in every match. Dominating every game, his impressive skills left the opponents feeling like they would die as soon as they peeked out, crying out accusations of cheating, and even shocked ?¡ëtienne who begged Bi Fang to teach him his skills. Basically, unless his teammates were really dragging him down, whichever side had Bi Fang would always win. There was even a match where they were reported successfully by the opposing side, resulting in a permanent ban, forcing Bi Fang to re-register an account. Gradually, a terrifying nightmare began to circulate in the FPS gaming community, known as the number one instant sniper in FPS. The evil joy of life. While Bi Fang was enjoying his life, the outside noise did not quiet downa€¡±in fact, it was getting louder, with reporters trying to interview everyone, only to be rejected by Bi Fang every time. He had completed what he set out to do, and now it was time to enjoy his life. As for interpreting the meaning and impact of his actions, Richard and the others were more than capable. Also gaining infamy was the iconic scene of Bi Fang catching a hamburger with his bare hands at the airport. The busy airport scene was witnessed by many and even captured on videoa€¡±ending with a phone falling and the world spinning, vividly expressing what the person filming must have felt. Now, just open any short video site, scroll a few times, and you¡¯re almost bound to come across it. Some even compared footage of Bi Fang with Spider-Man, concluding that there was a ¡°99% synchronicity rate¡±. The video even spread abroad, eliciting a response from the actor Toby. ¡°I think GOD?¡¤FANG is a real superhero, both in his actions and his spirit. I deeply respect everything he did at Dolphin Bay, which sounds like something out of a story or a movie. I¡¯m looking forward to going on an adventure with GOD?¡¤FANG like Leonardo one day.¡± It¡¯s said that Leonardo and Toby are good friendsa€¡±looks like it¡¯s true. [Old Fang, that reaction speed is off the charts] [If I had that reaction, wouldn¡¯t I be victorious in every game I play?] [Enough with your low aspirationsa€¡±look what Master Fang is using his talents for, and compare that to your ambitions. There¡¯s just no comparison] [Stop, stop, stop the hate. I admit I lack grand aspirations. I¡¯m not successful] [I think only the Rubik¡¯s genius in the gaming world can match Master Fang in terms of reaction speed] [Damn, you¡¯ve encountered it too? ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? I got my ass kicked last time I faced him. It was like facing a machine gun] [Hehehe, I¡¯ve encountered him too, but as a teammate. Easy win] [Daily question: have you spoken up for Dolphin Bay today?] [It¡¯s too high, I¡¯m getting oxygen-deficient] [When is the next livestream, @Bi Fang] [Will go to the United Kingdom] Bi Fang, having nothing better to do, casually responded to the comments under the video. Soon, his backend was flooded with a dense array of likes and comments. Turning off his phone, Bi Fang took out a map and began to prepare for finding a suitable live broadcast location. The last time, in order to persuade the consulate to save Mugalen, Bi Fang made a commitment to go to the United Kingdom to record an episode. Bi Fang planned to go a bit earlier, to settle this matter once and for all, the only problem being the lack of good places¡­ Honestly, given the level of development in the United Kingdom, there are no truly dangerous wilderness areas left. Perhaps he should just swing by a few nearby islands? But that didn¡¯t feel quite sincere, which is why Bi Fang was so troubled. If all else failed, he might as well treat it as a vacation. By then, ?¡ëtienne and Mugalen were close by and could be invited to join the shoot, turning it into a fun event. Ever since the System¡¯s last evolution, Bi Fang had a lot more freedom. He could afford to play around for half a year with no issue; the one who really couldn¡¯t wait, however, was Bi Fang himself. Chapter 618 - Chapter 618 Chapter 615 The Accidental Visitor ?Chapter 618: Chapter 615: The Accidental Visitor Chapter 618: Chapter 615: The Accidental Visitor In the dim light in front of the screen, Bi Fang was fully engrossed, skillfully clicking the mouse and pressing keys on his keyboard. Before long, the golden symbol of victory appeared on the big screen, and ?¡ëtienne¡¯s cheers could be heard through the headphones. After a pinch and a power boost, Bi Fang¡¯s eSports skills had indeed risen like the tide in these days, and his ¡°Magic Cube¡± nickname had made quite a splash in the FPS world. It wasn¡¯t until yesterday when he received a message from an overseas eSports club inviting him to join their training and offering a salary that Bi Fang realized how incredible his feat was. On the other end, ?¡ëtienne, still whooping, clamored, ¡°Let¡¯s go another round, one more time!¡± ¡°No more, no more, it¡¯s not interesting.¡± Bi Fang declined, unless he was going to play professionally, wreaking havoc among regular players had lost its appeal; it was too easy, like slicing through melons and vegetables. ¡°Ah, okay.¡± ?¡ëtienne was still smacking his lips, not quite satisfied. Playing games with Bi Fang was indeed exhilarating, a feeling of unmatched momentum. France and Huaxia were six hours apart time-wise, which meant that ?¡ëtienne could only play on the weekends. Otherwise, it would¡¯ve been difficult for them to get together and play a few rounds. ¡°It¡¯s been two weeks since Dolphin Bay, Fang. What are your plans for the next adventure?¡± ?¡ëtienne shifted the topic. ¡°Hmm,¡± Bi Fang pondered. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï It had been nearly half a month since the Dolphin Bay, and the System hadn¡¯t released any missions. He had thought about going straight to the United Kingdom to take care of the promised task, but then he thought there weren¡¯t any particularly famous wilds in the UK, so he tossed the question back to them. You guys pick a place, it doesn¡¯t matter which. Once it¡¯s decided, I¡¯ll head over by myself. A week went by, and yesterday Bi Fang had called the consulate, only to find out that they hadn¡¯t decided either¡­ It wasn¡¯t because there were no good places to choose from, they surely wanted Bi Fang to tackle a challenge, but Bi Fang was just too in demand, everyone wanted him for themselves. The British Overseas Territories had no complaints; they knew such good fortune would never come their way. But England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, the four regions themselves were one thing, even the more detailed counties below them started arguing. And then¡­ Bi Fang looked helplessly at the hot potato kicked back to him, truly at a loss for words. He had wanted them to decide, but they ended up quarreling, and ultimately, unwillingly, they all said they would listen to Bi Fang¡­ ¡°In the end, I¡¯ve decided to go to the Gower Peninsula.¡± ¡°The Gower Peninsula?¡± ?¡ëtienne paused, minimized the game interface, and started searching it up on the browser. The Gower Peninsula, as the name suggests, like the Kii Peninsula, is a geographical feature that juts into a sea or lake, surrounded by water on three sides and connected to the mainland or a larger island on the other. Europe¡¯s coastline is intricate with many peninsulas, known as the ¡°continent of peninsulas,¡± and the Gower Peninsula is one of them. This peninsula is located in the southern part of Wales, bordered by Bristol Bay to the south, Carmarthen Bay to the west, and the Loughor Estuary to the north at Barry Bay. The terrain mostly consists of plateaus at an altitude of 45a€¡°140 meters, with the plateau deeply dissected by short, rapid streams forming narrow and steep valleys. The southern coast features magnificent limestone cliffs, while the northern shore is mostly marshland. Humans have inhabited the Gower Peninsula since the Old Stone Age, and in 1823, a human skeleton dating back to the Old Stone Age was discovered in a cave there. In Oystermouth, there were also the ruins of an ancient Roman villa and a small monastery established by Celtic Monks in the early Middle Ages. During the Norman conquest of Wales, a large number of Flemish and other people came to settle in the southern part of the peninsula. It was the United Kingdom¡¯s first designated area of outstanding natural beauty. There are a total of six castles on the peninsula, which not only add a lot of scenic charm but also enrich the history and culture of the area. However, since entering the modern era, compared to other big cities, it seems not to have developed, so much that many places are still wilderness. It¡¯s still a nice place to visit. ?¡ëtienne nodded his head, and after listening to Bi Fang¡¯s explanation, it seemed indeed quite good. Although it lacked a bit of the danger of rainforests, it also had its unique scenery. Having roughly confirmed the location, Bi Fang prepared to depart on the 19th, start live broadcasting on the 20th, and aim to finish before the end of November. With a few days to spare, Bi Fang visited the club again and found that the paintings in the hall were, as expected, one more in number. This time the painting was extremely realistic, and it was from a bird¡¯s-eye view, looking down upon the entire Dolphin Bay. Within the bay was a deep crimson color, and on the cliff next to it, a faint cross, which was Bi Fang free-falling with arms outstretched. Compared to the previous paintings, Bi Fang appeared ¡°tiny¡± in this one, but under the unique lighting, he was very conspicuous, hard to overlook. To get such a painting done within two weeks, one has to say that Yao Jun really put in the effort. In all the major venues, the flow of people never decreased, and to this day, the entire complex was still expanding. According to Yao Jun, they had even connected with a zoo, which intended to merge. They asked Bi Fang for his opinion. Bi Fang had no objections. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï As it appeared, as long as Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcasts could continue, the club¡¯s prosperity would never fade, and its profits would only get better. Because with the appearance of the club, nearby development had already begun, gradually becoming bustling. Perhaps in another six months, a year, the place would be completely transformed. To avoid future land price increases, Yao Jun and the others had already purchased a large tract of nearby land in advance, waiting for the club¡¯s cash flow to become healthy before starting to expand again. It looked like getting money from the club was still a long way off¡­ But no matter, at least the Points were in hand. The money earned was going to further expand the club, and increasing its fame was rather a good thing. On the 15th, Richard and others formally bid farewell to Bi Fang and left Huaxia. Bi Fang could rest, but Richard could not. For him, there were many more dolphins in the world that needed his help. His next stop would be Denmark. After wishing him a smooth journey, the plane gradually disappeared into the skyline. On the 18th, after completing a set of training, Bi Fang was slightly short of breath, his wheat-colored skin glistening faintly, looking as robust as if cast from steel. Now, Bi Fang felt his body was somehow lighter. After finishing the last set, Bi Fang started to pack his luggage and plane ticket, but at that moment, a tourism department official he was in contact with suddenly sent him a message that shocked him. A high-profile individual wanted to join Bi Fang for the live broadcast and inquired if he could agree to it. Bi Fang had thought it might be a member of the royal family, but it turned out not to be the case¡­ Chapter 619 - Chapter 619 Chapter 616 Im Convinced ?Chapter 619: Chapter 616 I¡¯m Convinced Chapter 619: Chapter 616 I¡¯m Convinced ¡°` On the evening of the 18th, Wolf Fang¡¯s official account and the Discovery Channel¡¯s official account jointly released a post on their social media platforms. This post was quite intriguing. Because the content of the post suggested something very obvious, this live broadcast would be different from any before, and it would also be a unique duo venture, one that no one could have imagined. They also launched a guessing game event, where anyone could win a series of prizes if they guessed who it was before 6 p.m. the next day. Many fans following the accounts were utterly confused. [Huh? Which tycoon has thrown a fortune again?] As everyone knows, if the mortality rate is less than eighty percent, Bi Fang doesn¡¯t bother with it. That¡¯s why, with the exception of that time in the rainforest, Bi Fang had never brought any guests before, simply because he couldn¡¯t guarantee their safety. Leonardo was the only exception; the man shelled out ten million and stayed for just one day, not even daring to stay overnight. Ten million for a day¡¯s appearance, that¡¯s an exorbitant fee. To participate in Bi Fang¡¯s show, one needs not only money but also courage, and even then, there are time constraints. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Which poor¡­ cough cough, enthusiast has decided to join this time? [Is this one also ten million?] [Could it be Toby?] [Possible] [I want to go too, wuwuwu, take me with you @Bi Fang] [Are you going there to be emergency rations?] The more secretive the production team was, the more curious the viewers became. This situation continued until 6 p.m. on the 19th. The previously silent Wolf Lord and the Discovery Channel finally made a move and published another post, with two photos, one on the left showing Bi Fang in the jungle, pointing ahead as if he had discovered something, and the other on the right was a photo of another man. Blonde hair, a tall figure, and¡­ rather sullen features. Some fans were clueless. They seemed to have never seen this person before, he wasn¡¯t any big star from the industry, and some even joked that Bi Fang was lowering his standards. But the next moment, the comment section was indeed flooded with a uniform reaction of astonishment. Only by scrolling down did people begin to understand. [Holy shit, the Prime Minister of Central Country???] [Can someone tell me if this is real or fake] [The official?] [@Bi Fang, aren¡¯t you going to come out and explain this, you¡¯ve hit the big time huh] [In Central Country without Master Fang, a helicopter brought in those seeking good fortune. Arriving with nothing to eat, they perched in the trees. The tiger saw them, such huge beasts, and thought them gods, hiding in the forest and spying on them. Gradually it approached, staring intently, not recognizing each other. When Master Fang awoke, the tiger was terrified and fled far away, fearing it was about to be devoured, very scared. But back and forth it went, looking again, approaching nearer the front and back, yet it never dared to pounce. Master Fang, delighted, thought to himself, ¡®This is nothing but a trick!¡¯ And with a leap, he mocked it greatly, crushing its throat, consuming its flesh, and then he left.] [Turns out it¡¯s Wilson¡­ This sounds more like something the President of the Ugly Country would do.] Some people were excited; after all, this was a country¡¯s Prime Minister about to go on a wilderness live broadcast with Bi Fang. ¡°` But there were also people who felt angered, most of whom were the youth of Central Country, thinking it was all a show and mocked the event. However, Wilson¡¯s arrival had become a certainty. Because of the arrival of this high-profile visitor, Bi Fang, who had initially planned to start the live broadcast on the 20th, had to push it back by a day, to the 21st. Bi Fang sat in the helicopter, marking the first time he was doing a live broadcast not tied to any mission, in a location that was far from dangerous, almost a tourist spot. He had thought it would be a fairly easy task. What he hadn¡¯t anticipated was that the Prime Minister of Central Country would join the fray, suddenly increasing the pressure. Live streaming with the head of a state wasn¡¯t merely about being dangerous or not¡­ ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï It was entirely different from that time with Leonardo; even Bi Fang felt a bit nervous. But at this moment, looking at one of the bright spots of the Gower Peninsulaa€¡±Rossilli Beacha€¡±through the helicopter¡¯s window, he began to feel a bit more at peace. Engaging with a national Prime Minister, even if Boris agreed, was not something Bi Fang could undertake rashly, especially given his identity; he had to be particularly mindful of this. Fortuitously, his superiors had agreed and even encouraged him. From the initial few hundred viewers to the current tens of millions, or even hundreds of millions of fans, Bi Fang was no longer the novice he used to be; he had implicitly become a kind of image ambassador. And they were all positive imagesa€¡±tough, brave, powerful, and responsible. At this very moment, the participation of Central Country¡¯s Prime Minister testified to that fact even more clearly. Previously always weak in cultural output, from movies to music, which others would barely take seriously, a sudden emergence of an anomaly like this, one that forcefully captured the attention of the whole world, was bound to turn heads, wasn¡¯t it? The benefit of this was that Bi Fang¡¯s freedom and support were growing stronger and stronger. This time, the other side even hinted at something upon his return, they would promote his rank again. Bi Fang hadn¡¯t expected to have grown to the point where the head of a state wanted to participate in his program. Regardless of the motive, thinking back to when he dared to come to this world, struggling to even secure food and shelter, felt like a lifetime ago. This helicopter was not just something that could be found easily. Every country has specialized security agencies responsible for the protection of national leaders. The safety of the Ugly Country President, Vice President, and other officials is handled by the Secret Service, while the security for Central Country¡¯s Prime Minister is mainly managed by the Metropolitan Police Service¡¯s Royalty and Specialist Protection. Boris¡¯s travels were undoubtedly protected by a team of professional agents. The helicopter Bi Fang was riding in was arranged by the Metropolitan Police Service, taking him directly to Rossilli Beach, which is recognized as one of the best beaches in Central Country, Europe, and even the world. This three-mile-long beach is simple and majestic, complemented by blue skies and the sea. The pale sands and cliffs brimming with the vitality of greenery. Taking a deep breath, Bi Fang started the live stream, and the audience, which had been waiting for a long time, poured in explosively. On the one hand, they hadn¡¯t seen Master Fang for a long time; on the other, they had been hooked by the news of Boris¡¯s arrival. Upon entering, the fans quickly noticed the difference. Aside from the very first live broadcast, where ¡°due to insufficient funds,¡± Bi Fang had to ask a grandpa from a nearby village to ferry him on an electric cart, every other time he had used a helicopter. Convenient and fast. But usually, it was just two or three people: a small helicopter with two people, one pilot and Bi Fang himself, and a medium one with three people, adding a co-pilot. Now, however, there were six people in total: the pilot, co-pilot, Bi Fang as usual, plus three fully armed soldiers. [Where is he, where is he?] [Let me check out the Central Country Prime Minister¡¯s sandbox] [I thought the current Prime Minister was that May something, didn¡¯t expect it to have changed to the third one already] ¡°When 10 Downing Street gave me a call, I actually thought it was a scam call,¡± Bi Fang admitted to the camera. ¡°They said Boris was a loyal fan of mine and was very eager to appear on the show.¡± In front of hundreds of thousands of viewers, Bi Fang paused, then joked, ¡°Whether you believe it or not, I do.¡± Chapter 620 - Chapter 620 Chapter 617 The Prime Minister Arrives (Two in One) ?Chapter 620: Chapter 617: The Prime Minister Arrives (Two in One) Chapter 620: Chapter 617: The Prime Minister Arrives (Two in One) The words, tinged with either jest or self-deprecation, drew laughter from the audience yet piqued the curiosity of many about what kind of person the Prime Minister of the Central Country would actually be. For the general public, the deepest impressions of foreign leaders were likely of Polar Bear and Eagle, followed by the Central Country. However, compared to the former two, the Central Country¡¯s presence had diminished several times compared to a hundred years ago, and many people who didn¡¯t pay attention to international politics couldn¡¯t even recall what the Prime Minister looked like. But what was even more surprising was¡­ [Damn, Old Fang started without his usual opening line, what a legendary fail] Audience members with quick reactions finally remembered that Bi Fang hadn¡¯t said his usual opening speech this time! As someone mentioned it, the barrage of comments exploded, and comments about the legendary fail floated across. ¡°Ahem.¡± Bi Fang coughed twice into his fist. Distracted by the audience¡¯s interruption, he also remembered he¡¯d forgotten his opening line, but it wasn¡¯t a big deal. He paused for a moment, then explained, ¡°Actually, this time I wouldn¡¯t really call it an adventure.¡± ¡°Even though it lasts for thirty days, the main goal is to show some common wilderness survival techniquesa€¡±I can build a little cabin, go fishing, and sucha€¡±it¡¯s mostly about showing a relaxed way of life.¡± [Speaking of which, we haven¡¯t seen Old Fang since Dolphin Bay. He hasn¡¯t wrapped up yet.] [Yeah, yeah, without the wrap-up, it feels like something is missing, like the live stream is incomplete.] Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? Bi Fang was taken aback; he hadn¡¯t expected the audience to actually care about that. The live stream at Dolphin Bay had ended with a bunch of police dispersing protesters and didn¡¯t include any grand closing remarks. After that was the release of the documentary. Unlike before when there was always a long speech to wrap things up, the silent and quiet ending made viewers feel as if that live stream hadn¡¯t really finished. As for Bi Fang, the main character of the event, he seemed to have hidden his light under a bushel and hadn¡¯t appeared in the public eye since then. Many people, before Wolf Fang announced the upcoming live stream two days ago, even thought Bi Fang had been arrested by Japan. Bi Fang pondered for a moment, just about to say something, when the soldier beside him coughed, signaling that he had something to say. Bi Fang nodded his head in assent. With permission, the soldier spoke up, ¡°Actually, our Prime Minister is also quite interested in the topic of Dolphin Bay. If Mr. Bi Fang is willing, many things can be discussed when we meet; we¡¯re almost there.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Bi Fang agreed readily. Although he was dealing with the Prime Minister, the other party evidently showed him great respect. Whether he spoke now or later made no difference; Bi Fang curbed his words and turned to introduce the remaining beaches instead. ¡°The Central Country is surrounded by the sea on all sides, yet it¡¯s not famous for its beaches.¡± Bi Fang looked down at the cliff full of rocks. Clearly, the area was very dangerous, completely unlike the sunny beaches and naturally had few visitors, making it look desolate. In contrast, Hawaii in Ugly Country, Los Angeles, and France are known for extensive sunny beaches where one can see sexy beauties in bikinis strolling around. ¡°The main reason is that the western parts of Europe border the Atlantic Ocean. There¡¯s a large continental shelf between the continent and the deep ocean basins; the British Isles and the North Sea are located right above it.¡± ¡°This area used to be part of the European mainland. The British Isles formed after the sea level rose post the ice ages of the Fourth Epoch, which then led to the appearance of the North Sea.¡± Bi Fang pointed at the cliffs below while explaining, and all the soldiers beside him perked up their ears. These soldiers were all born and raised in the Central Country. They liked to go to the coast during their holidays, but they had never thought about this matter. Now that it was suddenly brought up, their curiosity was piqued. ¡°In other words, before the Fourth Epoch, the British Isles were the western mountains of Europe, so after the sea level rose, many cliffs like these appeared.¡± In plain terms, the Central Country was once connected to the European mainland. But as the sea levels rose, the land between them was completely submerged, leaving only the towering mountain parts visible, which naturally resulted in many cliffs and steep bluffs. Few soldiers standing nearby, evidently hearing this for the first time, had never considered this aspect before and now wore expressions of sudden realization. No wonder why the coastline of Central Country is so long, yet the number of scenic beaches is only a handful. Even in the episode of Wilderness Survival, Bi Fang had drifted to the edge of a cliff. He climbed up overnight before he was truly rescued. ¡°Besides this reason, it also has to do with the geological composition. The coasts of Central Country are mostly characterized by white cliffs, which are extremely susceptible to erosion by seawater, leading to the collapse of entire stretches of land.¡± ¡°What are white cliffs?¡± A soldier beside couldn¡¯t help asking. Bi Fang smiled and said, ¡°The so-called white cliffs are actually rocks formed by the deposition of tiny marine microorganisms at a rate of 0.015 millimeters per year, mainly consisting of calcareous micro-fossils called coccoliths and planktonic foraminifera fossils.¡± ¡°It started in the Cretaceous period, lasting till now for 130 million years. If you dig into them, you often find fossils of sea urchins, arrow stones, ammonites, as well as marine reptiles like the ichthyosaurs.¡± ¡°For instance, the famous Dover Cliffs are a straight vertical expanse of white cliffs, located at the English Channel of Central Country, with a length of about 5 kilometers, facing the continent of Europe.¡± ¡°There¡¯s another interesting thing, at St. Margaret¡¯s Cliff of Kent County in Central Country and the people of St. Margaret¡¯s Bay, a popular coastal site with white cliffs visible upon looking up. ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Visitors often receive a ¡®Welcome to France¡¯ message on their phones, which results in roaming charges after use.¡± ¡°Later investigations revealed that because the area is close to France, locals¡¯ mobile phones occasionally enter the network of French mobile operators, and the ¡®culprit¡¯ blocking the signals from Central Country turned out to be the beautiful white cliffs.¡± Having live-streamed so many times, once Bi Fang started talking, he couldn¡¯t stop, quickly getting into the flow and casually mentioning all sorts of interesting things. Especially after acquiring the Palace of Mind, Bi Fang found these activities even simpler to do. [Amazing, it¡¯s time for Teacher Fang¡¯s lecture again] [I don¡¯t understand, but I¡¯m deeply impressed] Apart from the thrilling action content, Bi Fang¡¯s vast knowledge is also a major highlight of his live streams, which ordinary imitation broadcasters simply can¡¯t emulate. This requires a massive accumulation of knowledge and the flexible means to apply it; many types of knowledge aren¡¯t readily usable after learning them. ¡°However, as I¡¯ve said, Central Country is surrounded by the sea on all sides, but the country itself is not small, so the coastline is extremely long. This even led to an interesting joke that the coastline of Central Country is infinitely long.¡± ¡°In 1967, a groundbreaking paper was published in the internationally authoritative ¡®Science¡¯ magazine from Ugly Country. Its title was ¡®How Long Is the Coastline of Central Country? Statistical Self-Similarity and Fractal Dimension¡¯.¡± ¡°Mainly, it discussed that coastlines, as a type of curve, are characterized by being highly irregular and extremely rough, displaying complex and sinuous changes. We can¡¯t distinguish any essential differences between one part of the coast and another based on shape and structure. This nearly uniform degree of irregularity and complexity indicates that the coastline is self-similar in morphology, meaning local shapes are similar to the overall shape.¡± ¡°Without a reference object, scale, or measuring unit, people cannot tell by eye whether a certain section of the coastline captured by a camera is 100 km, 10 km, or 1 m.¡± ¡°This type of self-similarity is common in nature, such as the rolling mountains, fractured strata, patterns of tree bark, falling snowflakes, and so on.¡± The audience listened, awestruck and full of admiration. [Impressive, though I don¡¯t understand] [Off-topic, off-topic] ¡°Ahem.¡± Bi Fang realized he had gone a bit too far and hurriedly got back on track, ¡°With such a long coastline, there are bound to be a few spectacular beach scenes. The one beneath our feet right now isa€¡±Rossilli Beach.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go down now.¡± Upon receiving the instruction, the pilot nodded, and the helicopter slowly approached the beach below. With the longest coastline in Wales to its back, at a glance, Rossilli Bay seemed to hang upside down on the sea like a crescent moon. The elongated coastline drew a perfect arc against the horizon. The water was clear to the bottom and, under the sunlight, it complemented the three miles of golden sandy beach, with the sea and sky blending into an incomparable hue. Apart from the emerald sea, blue sky, and golden sands, the beach was surrounded by dark cliffs with multicolored wildflowers squeezed onto the rocks, boldly displaying their beauty. When the helicopter reached directly above the beach, descending to about ten meters, Bi Fang signaled the pilot to stop. ¡°Alright, this is the spot.¡± ¡°Here?¡± The pilot confirmed once again. ¡°Yes.¡± Bi Fang had already opened the hatch and tossed his backpack down. ¡°The rope ladder is under the seat, you can¡­¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t need that thing.¡± Bi Fang shook his head, loosening his muscles in the cramped seat. Not using the rope ladder? ¡°Oh, are you planning to rappel down? We have a fast rope as well, it¡¯s right¡­¡± ¡°No, no, no, I am going to jump straight down.¡± The soldiers in the back row cocked their heads in unison, staring at Bi Fang¡¯s silhouette, and a unanimous ¡°???¡± popped up above their heads. The pilot let out a shriek of astonishment, triple-checking, ¡°WH*******! Are you serious? It¡¯s ten meters high!?¡± Ten meters high, no rope ladder, not rappelling, are you going to protect your fall? The audience was shocked, ten meters? In the past, the highest Bi Fang performed fall protection was six meters, right? Now, he¡¯s just added four meters? Before anyone could think further, Bi Fang had already jumped out of the hatch. Soldiers: ¡°!!!!¡± The very moment he leaped out of the aircraft, Bi Fang¡¯s adrenaline soared. Ten meters! It wasn¡¯t four meters, it wasn¡¯t six meters, it was ten meters! Even divers can have shaky legs, let alone jumping towards the ground! The audience gasped, the soldiers on the helicopter raced to peer down from the door, Bi Fang visibly shrank to the eye, and in a matter of seconds, he was almost touching the ground. Bi Fang adjusted his posture mid-air to face downwards, and the moment he made contact with the ground, his brain reacted, 50ms of response time allowed him nearly three times more adjustment time than the average person! The balls of his feet touched the soft sand, compressing like a springboard, and after his whole foot settled evenly, he instinctively squatted, leaning the body¡¯s center of gravity forward. Ankle, knee, and hip joints, all three joints dissipated the force simultaneously. Quicker reflexes, greater shock resistance! Next, Bi Fang¡¯s hands thrust slightly upward, executing a small amplitude dolphin dive, and as he threw his hands out, his legs pushed off the ground, propelling his body into a parabolic arc. The viewers¡¯ eyes followed the trajectory of the arc, After diving a short distance, Bi Fang touched down and rolled forward, finally standing up ready to sprint as if nothing had affected him. A perfect display of fall protection. ¡°Did this guy really just pull it off??¡± Even with the sand, a ten-meter drop is terrifying, the soldiers aboard the helicopter exchanged glances, not daring to believe it, even suspecting their eyes were playing tricks on them. The audience watching the livestream were stupefied as well, he just jumped like that? ¡°Haha, that felt pretty good.¡± Bi Fang bounced on the sand, sensing that this wasn¡¯t his limit, he could still push the height further. Next time, maybe try twelve meters? ¡°But everyone, don¡¯t try this lightly, anything above three meters is dangerous, and if you really want to practice, you must do it over a sponge mat.¡± In the end, Bi Fang didn¡¯t forget to offer a word of caution, after all, many of the youths watching his livestream might get the urge to imitate him. [It¡¯s so high, I¡¯m short of breath] [My legs have gone soft already] [Can we agree this is the most hardcore livestream, no objections right?] [Master Fang, teach me to show off like this!] [Coach, I want to learn this!] [Try and you¡¯ll die] The ten-meter fall protection set off a small wave of excitement in the livestream, with gifts and comments flooding in. Bi Fang picked up the backpack lying on the ground and began to stroll along the beach. If the Prime Minister was coming to join his live broadcast, naturally it wouldn¡¯t be him waiting for Bi Fang. ¡°Do you see the drone over there?¡± Bi Fang pointed at the drone in the sky not far away. Apart from the three drones filming him, there were many small black dots in the sky, conservatively estimated to be over ten, with helicopters hovering in the distance as well. ¡°The Protection Bureau has deployed a large number of drones, sealed off the nearby airspace, and I could only leave the plane early, then walk to the agreed location, let¡¯s see, someone should come to guide me.¡± No sooner had Bi Fang finished speaking than a drone flew towards him, circling in front of him a few times; clearly, this was the ¡°guide¡±. Bi Fang followed the airborne drone, starting to head eastward. On the other side, Boris made his way to the beach, but obviously in a more pedestrian manner, with the helicopter descending to the ground, a more grounded approach. There was also a livestream on Boris¡¯s side, running concurrently with Bi Fang¡¯s, split into two vertical screens. The moment he appeared, it sparked cheers from the audience, and it was only then that they fully believed that this was indeed the Prime Minister of Central Country. [Awesome, awesome, awesome, it¡¯s really the Prime Minister of Central Country!] [Master Fang is moving up in the world, from international superstar to a national leader] [Glorious!] [The most badass host, in terms of content and status!] Boris was clearly well-prepared for this livestream, trading his usual suit and tie for professional sports attire, looking genuinely ready for more than just a walk-on role. Despite this, his hair still flowed freely. Boris, facing the camera, began to exchange pleasantries with the audience smoothly. Accustomed to politicians in suits and ties, the audience found the sight of the Prime Minister in sportswear refreshingly different. Compared to other countries¡¯ leaders, the barely over fifty Boris looked significantly more vibrant and energetic. Chapter 621 - Chapter 621 Chapter 618 Awkward Chat Mode ?Chapter 621: Chapter 618 Awkward Chat Mode Chapter 621: Chapter 618 Awkward Chat Mode ¡°After I became Prime Minister, I often lived in a bubble, constantly surrounded by special agents to ensure I wouldn¡¯t be in danger. I appreciate everything they did, but many times it also caused me trouble.¡± ¡°Whenever I strayed from the norm and did something unexpected, they would steer me back on track, into 10 Downing Street. Along with the power it gave me, it also made me responsible for many more people.¡± ¡°So I¡¯m really happy to be able to follow GOD?¡¤FANG into the wilderness; it¡¯s easy to experience this outdoor adventure together with GOD?¡¤FANG.¡± With a backpack on his shoulders, Baus headed toward the beach alone after disembarking from the helicopter, stepping on rocks with his blonde hair tips fluttering attractively. The former Mayor of London, former Foreign Secretary of Central Country, a contender for Prime Minister of Central Countrya€¡±oh, and now he is. These are Johnson¡¯s most conspicuous tags. And the most memorable tag isa€¡±the Central Country version of Mr. Unpredictable. His messy blonde hair and overly animated demeanor have provided citizens with a wealth of expressive memes, making Baus one of the two highly talked-about leaders. Perhaps their similarities are due to the common ¡°political persona¡± they have either intentionally or unintentionally crafteda€¡±approachability. From talk shows to cycling to work, the Baus we see on our screens undoubtedly makes him seem more relatable to the average person, and it is precisely because of this image that Baus has become one of the most popular and approachable politicians in Central Country and even the world. In just a few words, he would already be interacting normally with the audience. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã0 As a bay that¡¯s constantly eroded by the sea wind, there are no trees here. All that can be seen are black or white rocks, with hardy weeds growing in the crevices between them. The damp air has covered the rocks with moss, forcing Baus to move cautiously. As a leader of a nation, he is quite young; but as an adventurer, he seemed a bit out of his element. ¡°I don¡¯t aspire to learn cool survival skills, but I¡¯m looking forward to GOD?¡¤FANG. I believe he can teach me some little tricks, setting up a shaky tent would be great, and it would be even better to manage a fire.¡± [Clearly a fake fan, Old Fang never brings tents when he¡¯s in the wilderness] [Correct, and straight to the point] [Wait ¡¯til you see what it means to build a house with bare hands, a wild hunting fiend] Meanwhile, the helicopter had also landed on another stretch of beach, and after Bi Fang caught up, it took off and disappeared from view. ¡°It seems this is the rendezvous point.¡± Bi Fang looked around; the curving coastline stretched for about 5 kilometers, covered with fine sand, with a cliff several tens of meters high and green hills behind him forming a circular enclosure. Extremely beautiful. ¡°Generally, plants like to grow in soil, where they can absorb the moisture and nutrients they need for growth. The beaches are full of sand, which lacks nutrients and can¡¯t retain moisture. When the wind blows or the tide comes in, plants can easily be knocked down or washed away by the surging waters.¡± ¡°Besides, the salt content in seawater is very high, and if sea water is used to irrigate plants, most of them would wilt due to their inability to withstand the salinity; even coastal plants like palm trees can only grow on beaches with fresh water.¡± ¡°Ordinary plants can¡¯t survive such harsh environments, which is why there are so few plants on the coast.¡± Compared to the lush giant trees of rainforests and forests, the environment here is wide open, just rocks and the endless sea and sky, making one feel open-hearted and broad-minded. ¡°Reading and traveling are the best ways to broaden one¡¯s horizons and mind.¡± Bi Fang stood beside the seawater, his mood cheerful. ¡°Now that modern people are affluent, they like to travel. My advice is, if you really want to see different scenery, then you might go to the grasslands, deserts, the Yangtze River Three Gorges, to see these places, instead of going from one city to another.¡± ¡°Take a good look at plateaus, lakes, snow-covered mountains, grasslands, Gobi, deserts. In the face of nature¡¯s grandeur, some of life¡¯s minor dissatisfactions don¡¯t seem to matter at all.¡± [Next time for sure] [I¡¯ll go when I have money] [Alas, traveling is luxury indeed, domestically you could spend a few thousand at most, but buying stuff can go over ten thousand, yet it¡¯s hard to let go. You throw in two months of pure income, and the enjoyment of just two or three days is gone] [Add one, it¡¯s kind of a luxury, affordable but doesn¡¯t feel worth it] The audience chuckled. Is it really a choice that¡¯s preventing them from seeing natural landscapes? No, it¡¯s lack of money. [So much to say, but it all comes down to tears] [Another day, another no-money] [Wait until I¡¯m financially free, I¡¯ll visit every place Master Fang has been!!!] [Go to the Atlantic to see whales, go to Qaidam to see the desert, go to Mohe to see the snow-capped mountains, go to Denmark to see the aurora¡­.and now add one more, go to Central Country to see the beaches] Bi Fang stood still, chatting with the audience for a while and waiting for Moyo for about ten minutes, as viewers reminded him. [He¡¯s coming, he¡¯s coming] [Old Fang, look behind you, the big shot¡¯s arrived] Bi Fang turned around, and sure enough, on the beach hundreds of meters away, a man was walking towards him. With his enhanced vision, Bi Fang recognized the man from hundreds of meters away. The messy and unrestrained blond hair billowed in the sea breeze. It was the Prime Minister of Central Country that he had been waiting for. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? Bi Fang immediately jogged over, waving at the other man, while running and laughing, ¡°A leader of a major country asking to participate honestly, I never imagined it could happen, I just hope I don¡¯t get tongue-tied.¡± Baus was the biggest ¡°celebrity¡± Bi Fang had ever met in this and his past life, and as he ran over, he couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit nervous. Because of this, when he nearly reached the man, Bi Fang slowed his pace, changing from running to walking. ¡°Hey, Fang!¡± Baus called out and waved from ten meters away. ¡°Hello, Mr. Prime Minister.¡± ¡°How are you?¡± ¡°Very well, sir.¡± Baus smiled, walked up to Bi Fang, and held out his hand: ¡°Pleased to meet you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Bi Fang, pleased to meet you.¡± ¡°This is a great place for a meeting,¡± Baus patted Bi Fang on the arm. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s quite spectacular.¡± Bi Fang nodded. For Central Country, today was an unusually sunny day. The conversation between the two left the audience stunned, and they couldn¡¯t help but start to comment. [Feels like I¡¯m back in third grade just learning English] [Is Master Fang nervous? (funny)] [Awkward chat mode activated] [I¡¯m an English noob; turn off the visuals, and I can actually understand what they¡¯re saying, hahahaha] [Got it, I¡¯m gonna use this in my English exam] Bi Fang scratched his eyebrow, seeing the bullet comments, he paused: ¡°It¡¯s an honor to have an adventure with the Prime Minister.¡± Baus laughed: ¡°I think this will also be my first chance to truly travel in these past few years.¡± Chapter 622 - Chapter 622 Chapter 619 The Poisoning Incident of the Deputy Minister of the Ocean ?Chapter 622: Chapter 619: The Poisoning Incident of the Deputy Minister of the Ocean Chapter 622: Chapter 619: The Poisoning Incident of the Deputy Minister of the Ocean The audience laughed at Bi Fang¡¯s awkwardness in conversation, and he too felt helpless. Streaming live with a stranger was inherently awkward, but Bi Fang had an easier time with Leonardo, as there wasn¡¯t a big gap in their statuses, and being a film enthusiast himself, he easily found common ground through movies. With Baus, it was entirely different; not only was there a large gap in statuses, but finding topics of conversation was also challenging. Could he possibly talk about¡­ Even if he wanted to talk, the River Crab God loomed over Bi Fang¡¯s head, watching him at all times. Dare to speak? If you dare, I dare to ban. ¡°This is actually my first time stepping onto Rossilli Beach, I¡¯ve always heard about it but never had the chance to come here. It¡¯s definitely the best day of my life, not being stuck in a dull officea€¡±I really enjoy sports, it¡¯s the essence of life, isn¡¯t it?¡± Baus joked, but in truth, it reflected some of his genuine inner thoughts. When he was the Mayor of London, he used to cycle to work every day, believing that cycling could alleviate London¡¯s traffic congestion. Afterwards, as he hoped to continue his cycling lifestyle when he became Foreign Secretary, the London police told Baus that his status had changed and it was too risky for a Foreign Secretary to do the same, insisting that Baus should only use official government vehicles. Later on, Baus¡¯s bicycle was stolen, and it was said that he had cried over it since it had been with him for 8 years, a gift from an Olympic athlete. As the two walked and talked, Bi Fang quickly got back into his rhythm. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï ¡°By the way, congratulations are in ordera€¡±I saw you on the cover of Times Magazine. We could say we¡¯re ¡®cover mates¡¯ now.¡± ¡°Cover mates?¡± Bi Fang was momentarily startled, as he had never heard this term before. Baus blinked, ¡°I too made it onto the cover about a decade ago.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s mouth twitched; he couldn¡¯t possibly have seen every issue of Times Magazine, and it had never crossed his mind. [Wow, didn¡¯t know that was a thing] [Classmates, roommates, drinking buddies, and now ¡®cover mates¡¯ too] [I found it, back in ¡¯09, he was selected as one of the top 100 global figures of the year by Times Magazine!] [I remember Hitler was on it too¡­] [Gosh, that¡¯s terrifying] But at least there was now a common characteristic: once people share something in common, it becomes easier to locate themselves, and with a location comes a topic of conversation. After a brief introduction, Boris quickly moved the conversation from Times Magazine to Dolphin Bay, considering it was the reason Bi Fang had been featured. ¡°I¡¯ve seen the entire documentary; it¡¯s really incredible and has made me aware of many animal protection issues,¡± Baus expressed his sincere admiration. ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? The editing of the documentary was highly dramatic. In the dolphin pavilion, a little boy curiously looked around at a shelf where dolphin meat was being sold, while a little girl was holding onto a plush dolphin toy with affection. When Richard cried over the death of a little dolphin, the fishermen who were watching them jeered and mocked them with numbed taunting and provocation. The ocean, stained red with dolphin blood, and the injured dolphins struggling frantically, with a small dolphin dragging its bloodied body toward the camera, desperately seeking rescue, yet ultimately sinking hopelessly to the bottom of the sea. All the footage was shot by masters, and some angles even make one wonder if they were really captured secretly. Just as that soldier mentioned, Baus was also very interested in the Dolphin Bay incident. The audience also perked up, finally, here it camea€¡±the complete version¡¯s ending! ¡°Our efforts are not to expose the slaughter, but rather to document something that can change hearts.¡± ¡°The original intention of making this documentary wasn¡¯t to overly condemn Japanese fishermen, but to understand the issue, to reflect, and then to change.¡± This was Bi Fang¡¯s first public response after the incident ended. It was also a good topic to open up a channel for communication. ¡°I have paid attention to the subsequent reactions of Taiji Town, Japan, but they disappointed me,¡± Bi Fang sighed. He hadn¡¯t been idly lazing around at home these days; he had followed the aftermath, and quite a lot had happened over half a month. The local fisheries association executives still refused to accept interviews, stating, ¡°These are grave distortions of the truth. We are outraged.¡± The mayor of Taiji Town, Sanguan Yigao, still emphasized, ¡°The killing of dolphins does not violate any laws, and it is necessary to respect dietary cultures based on an understanding of local traditions and the actual situation.¡± Regarding the dolphin slaughter by the fishermen of Taiji Town, the Japanese Government still insists that hunting dolphins and whales is an important cultural tradition of Japan. Because of the opposition from the residents of Taiji Town, Japanese theaters dared not show the film. However, there was a piece of good news. The Japanese distributor clearly stated that regardless of whether the Taiji Town Government agreed or not, the documentary would be released in either October or November, and an independent cinema in the center of Tokyo had already agreed to screen the film. In his previous life, Jerret, the director of this documentary, was arrested by the Japanese authorities, but this time, with the help of Bi Fang, he avoided this trouble. Hundreds of European tourists were watching eagerly. Although many had left Dolphin Bay over the half month, more and more people were arriving. The total number of people not only didn¡¯t diminish but had actually increased instead. ¡°Japan, as an island nation with a high population density and scarce resources, has been plagued by natural and man-made disasters throughout its history. Due to a severe lack of security, a desire for resources has been formed over a long period and a collective unconscious dependence on and possession of marine resources.¡± I think this documentary shows how, under the trend of interests, human desires are magnified without limit, and the ethics of the animal kingdom, including humans themselves, are ignored. ¡°When dolphin shows develop into an industry with an annual output of tens of billions, there is a frenzy to catch dolphins. People can even supply non-edible dolphin meat to schools for profit, turning a blind eye to children¡¯s health.¡± ¡°Not just about dolphins, tragedies of depleting resources and destroying habitats are enacted every day on this earth. Most people fight and revel in various interests every day, having no time to consider whether their actions contravene the natural order. While satisfying ever-expanding desires, they overlook harmony with nature, the environment, and the Earth.¡± Returning to his field, Bi Fang opened the conversation again and paused at the end of his speech. ¡°I think, until humans completely break away from the natural environment to explore the stars and the sea, we have a long way to go. Until then, nature remains inviolable to us.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ that¡¯s about it, the summary you wanted.¡± ¡°Well said,¡± Baus clapped his hands, and just as he was about to segue into something else, he realized they had reached the end of the beach. After thinking it over, he said directly, ¡°There¡¯s something else you might not know about.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°The Japanese Deputy Minister of Marine Affairs got mercury poisoning.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Bi Fang was stunned, ¡°When did that happen?¡± ¡°This morning.¡± Chapter 623 - Chapter 623 Chapter 620 Residence ?Chapter 623: Chapter 620 Residence Chapter 623: Chapter 620 Residence Baus¡¯s words were like a bolt from the blue, and the live room fell silent for a moment, Japan¡¯s Deputy Minister of the Sea poisoned with mercury!? Suddenly, Bi Fang felt this news sounded familiar; a spark ignited in the Palace of Mind within his brain, and he remembered a€¡± something similar had happened in his past life! It was shortly after the disclosure of Dolphin Bay that the Deputy Minister of the Sea had an incident a€¡± mercury poisoning. While the details of the poisoning were unknown, one could imagine it was not an easy ordeal. Heavy metal poisoning, even with modern technology available for treatment, still posed a significant chance of leaving behind complications, especially with mercury. Did it happen this morning? Bi Fang was secretly astonished; he hadn¡¯t been online since his arrival here, and was unaware of such an incident. In his previous life, the incident at Dolphin Bay occurred in 2009, when online media was far less developed than now, so only a minority were aware of it. But today is different; Japan¡¯s Ministry of the Sea¡¯s every move was evidently scrutinized by a plethora of media outlets, who were quick to broadcast and write extensively about such incidents, with an unmistakably mocking tone when paired with the ¡°whale meat¡± in supermarkets. Compared with Bi Fang¡¯s calm exterior, the audience was much more direct, flooding the chat with congratulatory messages. Many immediately went online to search, and indeed found it to be true. When they learned that Japan¡¯s Deputy Minister of the Sea himself suffered from mercury poisoning, a feeling of schadenfreude surged from within them a€¡± the wrongdoer had received Nature¡¯s retribution. Japan is a maritime nation, and now with the ocean¡¯s overfishing, it¡¯s evident that these island nations would be the first to suffer the damage, as can be seen with the case of the saury fish. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Saury fish spawn in the spring, autumn, and winter, have short lifespans, and their population recovery is extremely resilient; they are abundant worldwide, yet such a fish, upon reaching Japan¡¯s waters, can be fished to a point of sharp decline, after which, blame is conveniently shifted onto other countries. Such shortsightedness is lamentable. But that¡¯s a story for another time. With that, the Dolphin Bay incident came to a complete close. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Bi Fang snapped back to reality, thankful to Baus for sharing this news with him, and steered everything back on track. ¡°It¡¯s not easy to find such good weather in the Central Country, what are we going to do today? I¡¯ve set aside the whole day,¡± Baus said, not without anticipation in his voice. Like Leonardo, Baus was also staying for only one day but for a different reason. Leonardo¡¯s stay was brief due to the perilous environmenta€¡±he feared an accident if he stayed longer, while Baus was simply too busy. After all, taking a day off was quite difficult for a prime minister. Bi Fang looked up at the sun and nodded, beginning to explain to his viewers. ¡°The Central Country is situated in the mid to high latitudes, belonging to the typical temperate maritime climate zone. Compared to other countries at the same latitude, the Central Country also has the North Atlantic, which constantly ¡®supplies¡¯ additional warmth and moisture; and secondly, due to the influence of the mid-latitude westerlies, rain in the Central Country is always ¡®out of control.¡¯ ¡°Because of such environmental factors, winter temperatures in the Central Country seldom drop below -3 to 10 degrees Celsius, and moreover, with central heating as a standard feature in homes, winters here are quite comfortable.¡± ¡°Similarly, the summer isn¡¯t too hot, usually between 15 and 22 degrees Celsius. Days above 30 degrees are so rare you could count them on your fingers.¡± ¡°To my knowledge, in most European countries, high temperature warnings start at thirty degrees, while in Huaxia, it begins at thirty-five degrees and has to persist for several days before alerts are issued.¡± For these reasons, even in the September heat, Bi Fang didn¡¯t feel any discomfort; rather, the sea breeze brought a gentle coolness. It¡¯s a completely different situation compared to taking a few steps in Japan and breaking into a sweat; it¡¯s much more comfortable. Baus listened silently on the side, nodding constantly, agreeing with Bi Fang¡¯s statement, especially in London. Overcast days, occasionally accompanied by showers, day after day, seemed endless. Many foreigners who live there for two to three years only realize when they look back that London indeed has no clear skies; dark buildings against grey skies, and thick fog are the true visage of London. Here, air conditioning is even a rarity. As for being warm in winter and cool in summer, reflecting on this, Baus laughed and said, ¡°Fang, you haven¡¯t lived in Central Country. Nowadays, in Central Country except for the suburbs, it also gets very hot in summer, especially inside the subway carriages, where the temperature can even exceed 35a??. In London¡¯s oldest subway line, the temperature inside the carriages can even surpass 40a??!¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the budget constraints, I would definitely install air conditioning in the subways!¡± With several hundred years of industrial development, the heat island effect is significant; now London is cold in the winter and scorching in the summer, a big difference from the past. Bi Fang just smiled and didn¡¯t say anything, actually, in his view, it wasn¡¯t even considered hot. Europeans typically handle cold well but not heat; they have quite different definitions of hot. At least Bi Fang didn¡¯t find it hard to bear the thirty-five-degree subway. When Bi Fang arrived in Central Country that day, he went to London and took the subway, without feeling uncomfortably hot, but the smell was unforgettable. The people of Central Country have a severe body odor, and on the subway, within the confined carriages, Bi Fang had to endure the ¡°long-marinated¡± smell of sweat and stinky feet. Having an acute sense of smell, coupled with cheap ¡°Cologne Perfume,¡± the odor was indeed ¡°unique¡±! Discussing this, Bi Fang and Baus seemed to suddenly have a common topic and started to banter, continuing until they stopped at the edge of the black cliff. This scene somewhat resembled Bi Fang¡¯s experience of seeing land while adrift at sea; looking at Baus beside him, he had a plan in mind. ¡°We have to climb up now, once we get up, we¡¯ll look for a suitable spot to camp, then make a fire and build a simple safety house, though it might involve a lot of walking.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have a problem with that,¡± Baus said confidently, believing himself to still be strong enough. Seeing this, Bi Fang nodded, took out a length of rope from his backpack, and tied one end to Baus, explaining, ¡°To prevent accidents, it¡¯s best to take safety measures, otherwise, I¡¯m very likely not to make it out of Central Country alive.¡± [The closest I¡¯ve ever been to death] [Unmanned drone: I am watching you at all times.] [Could there be a sniper rifle aimed at Bi Fang (dog¡¯s head)] ¡°There probably isn¡¯t a sniper rifle at least.¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t sense any danger, nor did he notice any reflection, ¡°Central Country is actually quite safe.¡± There were no people nearby, and there were no large predatory animals native to Central Country; even wolves had been extinct since the eighteenth century. The only remaining threat was perhaps snakes? Having tied the rope, Bi Fang began to climb the cliff. A dozen meters high, it was not difficult for him, merely requiring finding footholds in advance, a matter of a few minutes. Once up, Bi Fang pulled on the rope, letting Baus give it a try. To his surprise, Baus indeed had some outdoor experience and quickly made it up with Bi Fang¡¯s help. After that, the two set out on foot to look for a suitable place to stay. Chapter 624 - Chapter 624 Chapter 621 The Cave ?Chapter 624: Chapter 621: The Cave Chapter 624: Chapter 621: The Cave The tide ebbed and flowed. Upon the black rock face, a white slender rope rubbed against the stone, scattering a bit of limestone dust. The rope, seemingly delicate, was as tough as steel wire. A pair of large hands grasped the long rope, finally reaching the top. Gasping for air, Baus reached the top of the cliff. Although he was secured by safety equipment, he was still exhausted. In contrast to Bi Fang¡¯s effortless ease, Baus labored like an old ox plowing a field. ¡°Phew, it¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve had such intense exercise. Sorry, I¡¯m a bit out of breath,¡± Baus raised his hand as a gesture. Bi Fang handed him a bottle of mineral water, smiling, while internally making a preliminary assessment of Baus¡¯s physical condition. The drone rose into the sky, capturing the endless plains in its view. At first glance, the peninsula seemed to invoke the sensation of a grassland. The only difference was, compared to the lush pasture grass of grasslands, the grass here was denser and shorter, appearing at first glance like a layer of green carpet with a fluffy texture, stretching endlessly to the horizon and composing a vast expanse with no visible end. On the carpet of grass, rocks the size of human heads were often visible, and occasionally a small flower bed could be seen. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï The wind skimmed over the earth, causing thousands of blossoms to sway, concealing the brown soil peeking through. Boundless and immense, the land was like it was covered with a layer of golden sunlight, shedding the gloom from one¡¯s heart. Upon this colossal green carpet, two tiny figures progressed toward a direction, gradually moving away from the seaside. During this time, Bi Fang maintained a steady pace, allowing Baus to walk at a pace in between hiking and strolling, so he would not feel too strained and could still have enough energy to interact with the audience. This time, it was Bi Fang who mostly listened, nodding now and then. As they interacted, the initial awkwardness from when they first met gradually dissolved. It had to be said, Baus was truly skilled at communicating, without any arrogance, and occasionally he would even catch a popular youth expression or two. Without trying to dominate the conversation, Baus actively asked about Bi Fang¡¯s survival experiences. Bi Fang was not stingy with his advice, speaking as they walked, ¡°The key to outdoor survival is to have certain skills, a resourceful mind, and the ability to make quick decisions.¡± ¡°You must strive to control the environment you are in, not sit around waiting for the end. It¡¯s important to keep a clear mind, and being proactive means taking action. If you don¡¯t do anything, there will be no results.¡± ¡°Shelters don¡¯t build themselves, and survival plans don¡¯t create themselves. Sitting down and doing nothing won¡¯t generate heat or warmth.¡± ¡°Do you think you are a born adventurer, or have you ever felt scared?¡± ¡°Yes, definitely, even now sometimes. In a dangerous environment, fear and anxiety are initial mental states, which are difficult to avoid, but these are just mental states.¡± ¡°Staying proactive can turn fear into a blade for survival, while proper fear can be transformed into a heightened concentration of energy.¡± ¡°What does it mean to stay proactive?¡± ¡°Staying proactive doesn¡¯t mean running around aimlessly. What you need to do is to focus your intelligence and fully utilize the advantageous conditions in the environment, that¡¯s what it means to stay proactive.¡± As they conversed with each question and answer, the audience found it captivating. Many viewers were increasingly surprised that this man, with hair messier than a bird¡¯s nest and a mouth more exaggerated than a comedian¡¯s, was actually esteemed as a leader of a nation. Baus also had a nickname, known as the world¡¯s funniest internet celebrity prime minister. He was phoned up for complaints 500 times a day by the people, yet he still merrily made jokes. When playing games with kids, he¡¯d vigorously knock them over; while stuck hanging from a zip line, he stubbornly claimed it was the Olympic spirit; and when he finally ran for prime minister in earnest, he entertained everyone on stage with a salted fish. Throughout Baus¡¯s life of power, many people might think he¡¯s quite the comedian and doesn¡¯t quite fit the mold of traditional leaders. Now, it seems that he is indeed a very capable person, at least one who is extremely good at packaging himself. Ordinarily, the public image of a national leader is that of a serious and imposing figure, which can result in a lack of approachability. While Baus¡¯s actions might not make everyone love him, they at least make him likable to the majority. Therefore, regardless of whether the public image is real or fake, at least at this moment, Bi Fang¡¯s pressure began to fade. The conversation and the dispersal made the live stream room appear somewhat monotonous, but the number of viewers kept increasing without any signs of decline, almost all of them there for Baus. The head of a country participating in a wilderness live stream was truly incongruous. And there was a string of hosts trying to connect with Bi Fang, a golden opportunity though slim in hope. All their messages sank like stones in the sea, but many hosts still persisted. What if they succeeded? By that time, they would make a fortune. It wasn¡¯t until 9:30 that Bi Fang, having walked the entire way, climbed up a slope. His gaze swept downward, offering an unobstructed view of the entire land, remarkably clear, and further away, another cliff was in sight. But this time Bi Fang made a discoverya€¡±he spotted a cave on a dirt slope below the cliff. ¡°We¡¯ve found the place we were looking for,¡± Bi Fang said, standing beside Baus and pointing at the cave more than a kilometer away with a smile. At these words, Baus looked stunned, followed Bi Fang¡¯s pointing finger and squinted hard for a long time, but couldn¡¯t spot the cave Bi Fang was talking about. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 [Where¡¯s the cave?] [I¡¯m done for, I¡¯ve gone blind] [Old Fang¡¯s eyesight is too good, isn¡¯t it?] It took almost ten minutes of walking before Baus could see it with his own eyes. In fifteen minutes, the two arrived in front of the cave. This was a cave formed by two huge rocks standing atop a slope. Inside, it appeared somewhat damp, with corners covered in green moss, Baus looked incredulously at the narrow cave, less than two square meters at the entrance, then turned back to look at the slope they had come from, astonished: ¡°How far did we walk, fifteen hundred meters? You saw this cave from one thousand five hundred meters away?¡± If that was true, then Bi Fang¡¯s vision was nothing short of astonishing. ¡°I¡¯m not nearsighted, but it took me ten minutes to notice it. You must have the eyes of an eagle!¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Bi Fang said politely, then habitually scanned the surrounding environment and nodded, ¡°This is a very good shelter location.¡± ¡°Central Country has a lot of rain, so we need to choose a shelter location as high up as possible. Look here, it¡¯s not at the top of the slope, but it isn¡¯t on a slope either. If it rains, the likelihood of being submerged is very small. Plus, it¡¯s sheltered from the wind, so it won¡¯t become a wind tunnel at night.¡± ¡°Come to think of it, this is my first time living in a cave during a live stream. I¡¯ve never tried it before.¡± Chapter 625 - Chapter 625 Chapter 622 Unable to Bow and Bend the Knee to the Powerful (Two-in-One) ?Chapter 625: Chapter 622 Unable to Bow and Bend the Knee to the Powerful (Two-in-One) Chapter 625: Chapter 622 Unable to Bow and Bend the Knee to the Powerful (Two-in-One) The cave was a natural shelter, and Bi Fang felt lucky to have found such a place. It meant he could save a lot of effort. As he and Baus cleaned up the rubble in the cave, Bi Fang shared his past experiences. ¡°I always remember the first night I spent in the jungle, it was truly unforgettable. Now, I¡¯ve slept in windy mountains many times, from snow forests to deserts, from underground caverns toa€¡±but recalling that first night in the jungle still feels so different.¡± ¡°Back then, I didn¡¯t have any knowledge about surviving in the jungle; all I could think about were snakes, spiders, ants, mosquitoes, and other wild crawling animals that might bite.¡± ¡°For me, that night, my nervous system was working overtime, and on a simply constructed hammock, I couldn¡¯t sleep at all.¡± [Ah, why didn¡¯t I notice?] [When I watched the first live broadcast, I thought Master Fang slept pretty soundly] [Surely it wasn¡¯t the first live broadcasting of Wilderness Survival¡­ First time broadcasting Wilderness Survivalist and the first time surviving in the wilderness are not the same concept, what are you guys thinking] [Oh, I get it, it¡¯s pre-level experience!] [Let me jot this down in my little notebook.] ¡°But my outdoor instructor looked so comfortable and didn¡¯t seem to mind stopping ants from crawling into his hammock, I asked him how he could be so carefree in the jungle.¡± Baus, carrying a rock the size of a head out of the cave, placed it on the ground and asked curiously, ¡°What did he say?¡± The cave was small, only large enough for one person to enter and exit. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Once Baus came out, Bi Fang went in to remove the remaining rocks and continued talking. ¡°He said, ¡®If you get bitten by any poisonous or large animal, you¡¯re actually quite lucky! There¡¯s only a 10% chance to see some impressively dangerous animals around here.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Baus laughed, ¡°So we¡¯re pretty safe?¡± ¡°Wild and crawling animals only act when they feel threatened or cornered, so we don¡¯t usually have to worry. As long as we don¡¯t move recklessly, enter the territories of large animals, or deliberately track them, the wilderness will threaten life mostly through the environment itself.¡± ¡°In the jungle, there are far more eyes watching us than we can see. The more nervous you are, the more challenging the environment will seem.¡± No one is born adapted to the wild, especially people from the city. Past life¡¯s Bi Fang also took a long time to adapt. For nearly a week, he could only fall asleep in the middle of the night when he was too exhausted to stay awake, and then he would wake up early to shake the ants out of his hair. ¡°Of course, now I can sleep peacefully in the jungle.¡± Speaking of this, Bi Fang felt a bit proud. To achieve this, most people would already have a chance to survive. [Here¡¯s a little red flower for you] Hearing Bi Fang¡¯s words, Baus breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°I was worried at first about whether there would be a black bear or something living in the cave, it seems we are not likely to encounter one.¡± Bi Fang paused, looking at Baus in surprise. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Baus felt a bit self-conscious being stared at. ¡°Nothing,¡± Bi Fang laughed, ¡°But, I think it¡¯s necessary to remind you that Central Country is in a high-latitude area, so theoretically, huge brown bears could live in the forests of Central Country. The only regret is that there are no more wild bear populations in Central Country now, only a few zoos where you can see brown bears.¡± ¡°If it were the early 20th century, you might still see the now-extinct English bear. Before that, bear hunting was a popular sport among the nobility, and circuses often used ¡®Dancing bear¡¯ to attract crowds eager to see something rare.¡± Baus was amazed at Bi Fang¡¯s erudition. He himself was seen as a polymath by his teachers in school, but compared to Bi Fang, his talent seemed trivial. Not only was the other party a master of Wilderness Survival, but he was also clear about such folk customs? ¡°Up to now, there won¡¯t be any large animals on the Central Country¡¯s land that can threaten human life, unless it¡¯s one from a zoo that has escaped or a pack of feral dogs.¡± ¡°That¡¯s really too bad, just a hundred years since the early twentieth century.¡± Baus sighed. ¡°Then Paddington Bear wouldn¡¯t exist either.¡± Baus made a playful joke, then sighed again. ¡°It seems we won¡¯t be able to see bears in the wild anymore.¡± But what Bi Fang said next turned Baus¡¯s slight melancholy into embarrassment. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the Central Country government has projects with non-governmental organizations for ¡®rewilding,¡¯ starting from next year Central Country plans to introduce wild Brown Bears from Ganna into the forests of Gasdah County. Sir, didn¡¯t you know?¡± Baus: ¡°¡­¡± [Hahaha, what Master Fang said] [Give our Prime Minister some face] [Baus: That¡¯s a thing? How come I didn¡¯t know?] Bi Fang was only joking slightly, with no intention of ridicule. In fact, it¡¯s impossible for a national Prime Minister to know everything, while he might recognize the importance of environmental protection and promote a series of measures, he wouldn¡¯t go into detail to understand the actual number range of a certain species, whether it is endangered or not. Baus was an old hand, and he quickly recovered from the embarrassment and continued to clean the cave. After moving out the last large stone, Baus wiped the slight sweat on his forehead, looking at the now clean interior of the cave. ¡°Is this good enough?¡± ¡°No, of course not,¡± Bi Fang shook his head. ¡°If you are a confident Explorer, traversing the entire wilderness, finding a spot to get by for one night is naturally enough, but to be on the safe side, we need to make it safer and more comfortable.¡± Comfortable? Baus looked around the cave, which was filled with green moss. To him, the first impression was only moist, hard, and cramped. How could such a place be considered comfortable? ¡°Of course, it¡¯s up to our brains and hands. Come on, let¡¯s go to the cliff over there and collect some materials.¡± Bi Fang led Baus towards a cliff not too far away. ¡°Cliffs are generally composed of metamorphic rock or volcanic rock. In the case of the former, it is very easy to form slate on cliffs. Let¡¯s go and see if we can find some slabs.¡± Slabs? The audience was taken aback. This word, it just doesn¡¯t seem to fit with wilderness. But when the two reached the foot of the cliff, and Bi Fang inserted a dagger into a laminated rock and levered it, a piece of slate of several square decimeters fell off. Is it really slate!? ¡°Haha, sure enough, it¡¯s slate. This kind of rock has basically no recrystallization, it¡¯s a type of metamorphic rock, originally mudstone, silty or neutral tuff, which can be peeled off along the cleavage plane into thin sheets. We can lay them inside the cave to make a hard plank bed.¡± Bi Fang pulled out another dagger and handed it to Baus, urging him to try peeling off a few pieces as well. [It¡¯s hard enough¡­] [Wait, does Old Fang have a new knife?] [Damn, new knife, so cool!] Only then did some keen viewers realize that the knife Bi Fang had used to peel rocks was a new one they had never seen before, and its unique design immediately caught everyone¡¯s attention. Many viewers immediately asked what kind of knife it was, but some military enthusiasts recognized it right away. [Damn, modmkvi stinger! Nice knife!] [Envious, I want one too] [So cool] [Not something ordinary people can afford.] Given Bi Fang¡¯s current following, there were all sorts of people in the audience, so there was no need for him to do the explaining himself, saving him the effort. By the time the two had pried off the stone slabs, Baus was already drenched in sweat. The slabs were thin, but they were indeed heavy, especially when carrying a dozen or so. ¡°Phew, it¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve had this much exercise.¡± But looking over at Bi Fang, he seemed not to have broken a sweat, not even gasping for air, which was quite enviable. ¡°This is another key point for outdoor activities, to have an objective assessment of your own physical condition. A robust physique allows you to challenge greater limits in far-off places and for longer periods of time.¡± Bi Fang glanced at the backpack and equipment behind Baus, all of which were from quite professional brands and configurations. Obviously, as the Prime Minister, even if he wasn¡¯t adept at wilderness activities, someone would have prepared everything for him. ¡°Equipment is important, but even if you¡¯re physically strong and experienced in outdoor activities, don¡¯t blindly carry too much gear.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen friends who, because they carried too much equipment and moved too quickly, ended up in great misery.¡± [No insider here, this friend, I guess¡­] [Dog¡¯s head to save my life] Bi Fang just smiled, ¡°If you make this mistake in the Arctic, you¡¯ll sweat. Sweating too much in a cold environment will quickly take away your body heat and can lead to hypothermia if severe.¡± ¡°Our ancestors survived in extremely harsh environments not by relying on the equipment we have now, but on natural materials obtained from farming or hunting.¡± ¡°Today, outdoor equipment is designed to be very diverse, to suit a variety of specific and special environments. Pure natural fibers are rarely used now; more often, synthetic fibers are employed, making gear more functional and lighter.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s not to say that when preparing your outdoor gear, you should disregard equipment that isn¡¯t made from the latest materials. Modern equipment isn¡¯t always effective, and sometimes what our ancestors used can be more useful.¡± Inside the live stream, some viewers strongly agreed. [I¡¯ve spent three months in Antarctica. Our team wore the same era clothing as Captain Scott, slept in tents from that era, and ate food from that era. Our boots, sleeping bags, and gloves were all made from reindeer fur.] [We wore tweed trousers, slept in canvas tents, and used bamboo poles to support them, and with this, we withstood months of bitter cold and blizzards.] [The documentary crew had the most modern equipment and food. We got trapped in a 3-day storm in Greenland and almost had to abandon our canvas tents.] [But when the storm stopped, we found that the green canvas tent had just a small tear, whereas our crew¡¯s modern tents had turned into a pile of junk. Just like that, even in minus 50 degrees Celsius, we didn¡¯t get frostbite.] [Ah, it¡¯s Sir!] [Caught a big shot live] [Sir has been slacking off, and he even has time to watch live broadcasts] Bi Fang took a closer look at the person who posted in the chat, and sure enough, it was Edinburgh. One could only say that this historical figure¡¯s claim of nearly stepping foot in every corner of the earth was no exaggeration. After placing the stone slab in front of the cave, Bi Fang, along with Baus, made two stone axes and cut down a tree, mainly using its branches, as well as some bark. Although shrubs were abundant in this land, there were sparse trees as well. With the materials prepared, he then began to work. Bi Fang made a stone shovel and dug a pit at the entrance of the cave, removing a good amount of soil, and then set up a bowstring and some deadwood, carving a small hole in the wood to align it with the drill shaft. ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï He placed a large amount of dry grass inside the cave and then invited Baus to start a fire. For beginners, crafting the Bow Drill Method could be difficult, but once completed, the moment of igniting the fire turned out to be the simplest part. Baus took over with great enthusiasm, appearing very excited. After a few brief attempts, he got the hang of the bow drill technique quickly, holding the drill shaft in place and moving the bow back and forth continuously; soon, white smoke began to rise from the dry tree trunk. Seeing this, Baus grew even more excited and sped up his movements. Bi Fang quickly squatted down and piled some tinder next to the drilling hole. Unfortunately, after the following ten minutes, there was only white smoke. Baus was taken aback, ¡°Did it fail?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, let¡¯s try again.¡± Bi Fang was not discouraged, and he dug a new small hole on the side, then held down the drill shaft himself, allowing Baus to just pull the bowstring. Indeed, this time it went much smoother; after the white smoke followed quickly by black wood dust appearing inside the hole. Seeing this, Bi Fang quickly piled tinder on top, then asked Baus to stop moving the bowstring and start blowing on the tinder. ¡°Blow gently and slowly, take a deep breath and then exhale, somewhere between exhaling and blowing,¡± Bi Fang instructed Baus patiently. Soon, more and more white smoke emerged from the tinder, with sparks scattering intermittently. A minute later, a small flame licked the tinder, turning it into black ash. Success! Baus couldn¡¯t contain the joy inside; it was almost evident on his face. Although all the tools were made by Bi Fang, and even the pressure on the drill shaft was controlled by him, in the end, the fire was indeed blown out by Baus himself! Looking at Baus, who was almost dancing with joy, Bi Fang smiled. It seemed that even a prime minister could not refuse the feeling of accomplishment that came from personally creating fire in the wilderness with primitive tools. [Master Fang, you¡¯ve changed; I still hope for your former unrestrained self] [How can I bow and scrape to those in power!] [When I make it big, I also want Master Fang to prepare the tools for me, and then hold the drill shaft!] Bi Fang sighed helplessly, merely tossing the burning tinder into the cave filled with dry grass. ¡°Central Country is humid, especially now in September, the hottest season, swarming with mosquitoes. By burning the cave, not only can we disinfect and kill bacteria, but we can also eradicate all the mosquitoes inside.¡± Chapter 626 - Chapter 626 Chapter 623 Ones Own Happiness ?Chapter 626: Chapter 623: One¡¯s Own Happiness Chapter 626: Chapter 623: One¡¯s Own Happiness In the narrow, huge stone cave, flames licked at every corner, spreading a distinct smoky scent from the burning plants all around. Inside were the dry branches that Bi Fang had specifically collected from the trees, which produced little smoke. ¡°The drier the material for making a fire, the better. The simplest way is to pick up dead branches. Those that fall to the ground are usually damp, especially in inherently moist areas. But the dead branches still hanging on the trees in the air are drier. Use a wooden stick to knock the lower branches, and the ones that break off naturally are the dead ones.¡± To prevent the flames inside from leaping out and causing a fire, Bi Fang dug a ditch around the area. There was no water in it, but all the plants that could easily ignite were removed, leaving only the moist soil at the bottom. While using the fire to disinfect and kill insects, Bi Fang started the long process of rubbing down tree joints with Bear Grylls. ¡°Stone and wood are the easiest materials to obtain in wilderness survival and can provide great assistance. The former is hard and can be made into weapons, while the latter is adaptable and can be made into various tools.¡± The two of them carried stone axes and set up a large tree stump vertically, preparing to split it open. ¡°When using a stone axe, be careful not to swing it down in a direction that points at any part of your body,¡± Bi Fang instructed Bear Grylls on the correct posture to use the axe. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°First, spread your legs apart, then place the object you want to chop directly in front of you.¡± Positioning the large tree stump in front, Bi Fang lifted the stone axe and swung it straight down from top to bottom. ¡°The force must be directed in a straight line. Assume there¡¯s no object in front of you, then the axe swung down will circle around your shoulder and arrive exactly at the gap between your legs.¡± ¡°Many people, because of muscle groups and lack of strength, as well as not mastering the technique, can easily deflect the direction. But the less strength you have, the more you need to do as I said.¡± Bear Grylls asked, ¡°So, if I don¡¯t have enough strength, it makes it easier to lose control and hurt myself, right?¡± Bi Fang nodded. The correct direction for applying force should start with the legs, where the force is gathered, then it moves to the waist as the core explosion zone, rather than simply using arm strength. ¡°And generally, people do not know how to exert force properly and, due to the difference in hand dominance, tend to turn a straight chop into a diagonal one. If the stance is also incorrect, once it deviates, it¡¯s very easy to chop into one¡¯s own shin or even thigh. The former could lead to a fracture, and the latter could sever a major artery.¡± Bear Grylls¡¯ hand trembled. But Bi Fang had already raised the axe in his hand, standing straight, legs spread apart, then he chopped downward, his entire body like a released bowstring, releasing after the force had built up to a certain level. Bi Fang didn¡¯t use his full strength, just as he himself had saida€¡±going all out made it very easy to lose control and accidently injure oneself. The sharp stone axe sliced through the air, directly entering the grain of the tree stump. The stone rubbed against the wood, forcefully wedging itself inside. Crack. Accompanied by a clear sound of splitting wood, the audience¡¯s eyes widened as they watched the entire tree stump split cleanly in two! [High-end player!] [Damn, awesome, 666, a triple peerless!] [I want to learn this!] Bi Fang laughed, ¡°This is a pine tree, the most common tree in the wild in Central Country. Its wood isn¡¯t very good, quite soft and known as one of the poorest solid woods. If you split it along its grain, with enough strength and the right technique, it¡¯s not difficult to split it in one go. Many experienced workers at lumber mills can do this.¡± Moreover, the stump itself isn¡¯t that thick. Given my current explosive power, it would be odd not to split it in one go. Even so, it¡¯s still surprising enough for Bear Grylls. Experienced workers at lumber mills? They all use sharp iron axes! Letting Bear Grylls try splitting wood, Bi Fang then laid the split log on the ground and began crafting a groove with his dagger and stones. ¡°Actually, in many cases, a handsaw is a very useful tool in wilderness survival and can completely replace an axe.¡± ¡°An axe is used for chopping down trees but is less efficient than a handsaw and requires more effort. Axes can be used as hammers, but saws cannot. However, a hammer¡¯s function is easy to replace; you can simply use a thick stick or a stone, since using a hammer isn¡¯t a common scenario. For splitting firewood, a knife can replace the axe.¡± ¡°The disadvantages of axes are, first, they¡¯re heavy, with most weighing 1500 grams, while a handsaw only weighs three to four hundred grams. Second, they¡¯re more dangerous and more likely to cause self-injury; even many experts can slip up.¡± [Then why does Old Fang still use an axe?] ¡°Because I can¡¯t make a saw in the wilderness,¡± Bi Fang said with a smile. However, after pausing, he negated, ¡°Well, not really. Just like how I previously forged the dagger, I could refine steel and craft a rough saw blade, but that would be too costly.¡± It isn¡¯t feasible to spend ten or twenty days just for one saw blade. With that time, an axe can finish the work much sooner. ¡°For gardening, Japanese saws like the Red Fox and Okada are rather famous. Domestic ones are fine too. If they¡¯re more expensive, they¡¯re sharper, but the gap isn¡¯t that big; it saves maybe ten to twenty percent of time, and the saw teeth hardness doesn¡¯t differ mucha€¡±if you hit a stone, it¡¯s done for either way.¡± ¡°Some saw blades are more flexible and elastic, they might bend if they get jammed when pushing hard, but they won¡¯t break. Saw teeth come in different sizes; if you only carry one, naturally you would buy a medium size. As for blade length, around twenty centimeters is suitable.¡± ¡°You can grind the back of the handsaw blade in advance to form a cutting edge, making it a tool that serves as both a saw and a knife.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think about sawing trees that are too thick; ones as thick as your arm are sufficient. You need to first saw the tree into sections, then split them finer. For each log section, just use a knife and a wooden stick to split it.¡± Although he had never used it and might never have the opportunity to do so, Bi Fang still educated the viewers on the usage and function of a saw. After all, my survival skills are closer to extreme survival, yet actually, carrying a few tools can make survival a whole lot easier. He struck the handle of his dagger with a rock, gradually hollowing out a semi-circular wooden stump to create a large wooden trough. Then, on both sides of the trough, he painstakingly carved out small holes with a small knife, threading through a thick rope woven from tree bark for easy dragging. Bear Grylls, imitating Bi Fang, also made a wooden trough, but his progress was much slower. By the time Bi Fang had finished, Bear Grylls had hollowed out less than half. Utilizing the time, Bi Fang went to a small river near the cave and filled it with water, then poured it into the wooden trough. He picked several rocks blackened by fire, using branches to throw them into the water. In Central Country, not to mention anything else, there were also plenty of rivers, almost always within a few kilometers of a lake or a river. With a hiss, large amounts of white steam billowed up. After the stones cooled down, Bi Fang used branches to pick them out and repeat the process three times; the water in the wooden trough was nearly boiling. At this point, the flames inside the cave were also nearing extinguishment, and the accumulated ash from the plants had not been cleaned up and collected. Bi Fang simply spread it out evenly. Then, using small stones, he filled in the cracks in the bottom of the cave. The cracks were quite large, about half the width of a palm, perfectly suited for small insects to thrive. If not sealed, in no more than two days, mosquitoes and bugs would start to gather here again. Once the rocks had been packed in sufficiently, he piled the plant ash into the gaps, completely sealing the tiny crevices. The floor of the cave now appeared very smooth. Bi Fang then began to stack stones on the other side, using the large rocks he had previously moved outside, one by one, carefully selecting them by size and shape, stacking them evenly, similar to playing Tetris. ¡°You must be good at Tetris,¡± Baus commented, squatting down to admire the perfectly fitted stones, issuing a word of praise. Despite being the most ordinary rocks, uncut by any tool, it seemed as if Bi Fang could remember their shapes at a glance, then naturally knew how to arrange them, leaving no significant gaps, all kept within finger¡¯s breadth. The stones were only piled up on one half of the cave, making it obvious that Bi Fang intended to construct a ¡°stone bed.¡± ¡°Next, we need to use clay.¡± Bi Fang walked out of the cave, poured the clay he had previously excavated directly into another wooden trough without boiling water, then poured a small amount of the boiling water from another trough, and began to stir it thoroughly. Then it was a handful of clay, one rock after another, stacking the stone bed high like laying bricks, leaving no gaps. But soon Baus noticed that Bi Fang had left a trench about twenty centimeters wide in the middle of the stone bed. Bi Fang, seeing Baus¡¯s expression, explained, ¡°This is a heat-retention trench. We can light a fire in it, and the residual heat will spread throughout the stone bed, which will also serve a structural function later. In our Huaxia, this is a very common architectural feature, especially in high-latitude areas.¡± Although he called it a heat-retention trench, it was essentially the traditional heated bed of Northeast China. Bi Fang simply explained it again in a more accessible waya€¡±as the electric blanket of the wilderness. [I understand, stone slab barbecue] [Regarding Bi Fang¡¯s trip to the north] [Master craftsmanship, exquisite] Baus wiped off the sweat from his forehead. Though he had worked up a sweat, it was due to the activity, and the air was still cool, far from colda€¡±surely there was no need for heating? ¡°Of course, there¡¯s no need,¡± said Bi Fang, ¡°but what I¡¯m showing off is more about skill.¡± Baus suddenly understood. ¡°Our lives may seem very calm and peaceful, and many accidents seem far away from us, but in reality, everyone is exposed to certain safety risks. In real life, accidents can happen at any time, and various natural and man-made disasters constantly threaten our safety.¡± ¡°Earthquakes, floods, fires, car accidents, and other emergencies occur frequently. Life¡¯s small hardships are also endless: elevators malfunction, buildings catch fire, airplanes have faults, cars face dangers, accidental injuries, sudden illnesses, food poisoning, and so on¡­¡± ¡°In the face of unforeseen circumstances, we cannot afford to gamble with luck for survival. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?0 Instead, we need to acquire essential knowledge. Knowing how to administer first aid, learning some self-defense skills, understanding wilderness survivala€¡±these can help us live safely in a variety of situations.¡± ¡°The unpredictable and irreversible nature of these sudden dangers, and the variety of situations, all require timely medical treatment. In the face of disaster, many people panic due to a lack of self-rescue and first aid knowledge, missing the golden opportunity for rescue, leading to tragic outcomes.¡± ¡°So, we need to have enough ability to protect ourselves and to provide aid, as the correct handling and treatment will play a very important role.¡± ¡°With so many accidents, it¡¯s impossible for me to demonstrate every single one, I can only show a variety of methods as conveniently as possible.¡± ¡°We won¡¯t keep the insulation tank this time, which live session will it be needed for next? I don¡¯t know, so that¡¯s why it has to be made in advance and demonstrated once, even if it seems like a wasted effort under the current circumstances.¡± Bi Fang felt this was something he also needed to do in his livestreams. The wilderness survival videos by Bear Grylls and Grandpa De are indeed entertaining to watch, yet they imperceptibly spread a lot of knowledge that many have never seen before, which might be used by someone one day, right? As the times progress, humans¡¯ range of activities has become broader than before, and the frequency of travel has greatly increased. No one can guarantee that they will not find themselves in distress in the wilderness, isolated and without help. If this situation arises, how should you face ita€¡±are you going to wait in despair for a miracle to happen or use your mind and hands to carve out a path of survival for yourself? Any smart person would not choose to sit and wait for death; survival is always the top priority for humans and is most crucial. [May peace and safety be with you.] [I hope you never have to use what you¡¯ve learned.] ¡°The psychological foundation of survival is very simple: don¡¯t panic. If you suddenly find yourself in a dangerous situation, you will have chaotic thoughts and feelings, and you must try your best to prevent this from happening.¡± ¡°Find a well-sheltered place, sit down and think carefully about how to survive. Being well-prepared and having a plan can help you overcome difficulties and dangers and enable you to survive.¡± ¡°Everyone hopes to live a peaceful, happy life; this beautiful wish is just an ideal state.¡± ¡°The journey of life is always full of unexpected events, whether they are minor accidents or major disasters. People will always face various crisis situations, and if you have the ability to save yourself and help others, if you have a determined and calm attitude, if you have the essential wilderness survival skills, you can survive dangerous and chaotic situations.¡± ¡°Whether now or in the future, the healthier a person¡¯s body and the richer their knowledge, the greater their chances of survival.¡± While speaking, the stone trough had already been set aside; Bi Fang continued to lay clay on both ends, covered it with the stone slabs he had collected from the cliff earlier, and spread more clay on top. A stone bed suddenly appeared, curving into a segment near the back of the cave, and after laying stone slabs on it, it became a stone table that could hold items. Inside this cubic cave formed by several huge rocks, there now appeared a stone bed and stone table, bringing a hint of domestic warmth. Just the sight of it could greatly enhance one¡¯s sense of security! Bi Fang looked at his handiwork with satisfaction. Baus was also happy, and although he hadn¡¯t done much work, his sense of accomplishment was undiminished, just like when he built a small castle with blocks as a child. That was a joy uniquely his own. Bi Fang clapped his hands and said, ¡°Now that we have a place to live, it¡¯s time to look for food.¡± Baus perked up upon hearing this. What will they eat? Chapter 627 - Chapter 627 Chapter 624 Glacier ?Chapter 627: Chapter 624: Glacier Chapter 627: Chapter 624: Glacier ¡°What are we going to eat?¡± ¡°Although I¡¯m prepared, I still hope to get some normal food.¡± At this moment, Baus was both nervous and expectant. Participating in the show was, of course, for some unspoken yet widely understood purposes, and also carried some personal interests. He had a general understanding of Bi Fang¡¯s show and even made a summary table of what they might eat, ranging from normal food to exotic dishes. Eating raw earthworms, grilled grubs, roasted elk meat, boiled chickena€¡±it seemed as if anything edible was on Bi Fang¡¯s menu. [You can always trust Master Fang¡¯s hunting skills] [And you can believe in his seasoning] [But never trust his taste buds (Dog¡¯s head)] ¡°Certainly,¡± Bi Fang said with a smile. He pointed to the field in front of them, sporadically dotted with a few large trees, but mostly covered with clumps of shrubs and the herbaceous plants beneath, ¡°Actually, at a glance, I can see many edible herbaceous plants.¡± ¡°Ferns?¡± Baus recognized what Bi Fang was pointing at. Bi Fang nodded: ¡°In the outskirts of Central Country, the most common wild plants are ferns, they¡¯re everywhere. From London to the northernmost tip of Scotland, it¡¯s all this kind of plant.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? Long before the dinosaurs, they filled the steamy primeval swamps along with club mosses and horsetails.¡± ¡°Wow,¡± Baus exclaimed. ¡°Central Country women once had a crazed obsession with ferns. I don¡¯t know if that¡¯s the reason why there are so many ferns here, but you could say that most of the wild weeds in Central Country are ferns,¡± Bi Fang squatted down and flipped through the herbaceous plants in front of him. ¡°However, some ferns have become very rare, and others, due to limited suitable habitats, have a very restricted distribution. The reason might date back to the Victorian era when it was very fashionable to collect ferns and grow them indoors.¡± ¡°Collectors searched the countryside for ferns, transported them to town streets, and sold them from door to door. Naturally, the rarer the ferns they sold, the higher their price. Before long, due to continual picking, certain species of ferns became extremely rare.¡± ¡°What we have here is the broom fern. ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï Its tender stems and leaves are edible, and it¡¯s a semi-wild vegetable high in carotenoids and rich in potassium and copper. The mature plants can be used to make brooms, which is how it got its name.¡± Bi Fang poked around, found some tender leaves, pinched them off with his nails, handed some to Baus, and then chewed on some himself. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Baus also popped it into his mouth. ¡°How does it feel?¡± ¡°A bit dry,¡± Baus chewed a few times, ¡°The fibers are quite prominent, is it too old?¡± Bi Fang nodded, it was a bit old, but still edible. ¡°Not all ferns are edible. Some young fern leaves contain tannins and typically need to be soaked in cold water overnight before they can be eaten. Usually, they¡¯re thermally processed. Blanching and rinsing can significantly reduce their original glycosides content and lower the risk of cancer.¡± ¡°Can this be eaten raw?¡± Baus asked, pointing at the broom fern. Bi Fang shook his head: ¡°No, according to traditional Chinese medicine, broom fern is cool in nature and can have an adverse effect on the human digestive system. Eating it raw can lead to diarrhea.¡± Baus: ¡°¡­¡± He looked at the half-eaten piece of fern in his hand and the dry plant taste in his mouth, uncertain of what to do next. Bi Fang chuckled: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s just a bit of tender leaves, it won¡¯t do much harm.¡± ¡°Alright then.¡± If it¡¯s edible, there¡¯s no reason to miss out. Bi Fang searched around and picked everything edible, as it was summer, there were fewer tender leaves, but not none. After spending about fifteen minutes, he had gathered almost half a plate¡¯s worth, but it was far from enough for two people, and plants are hardly sufficient in providing enough energy. Meat would be best after all. Hence, the two of them continued walking, coming to the small river where they had fetched water, looking for a slow-flowing bend where fish might be found. ¡°We¡¯re already quite a distance from the coast, the wind has died down a lot; you can see the trees are much more robust here, and it¡¯s a marsh forest on one side.¡± Bi Fang pointed to the dense forest upstream of the river, which, though still sparse, could now be referred to as a forest. ¡°From wilderness to forest, the change is very distinct in vertical zones, so there¡¯s a significant increase in biodiversity. The animal density here will be higher, and we¡¯ll have a better chance of encountering prey, especially in the marsh forest.¡± ¡°What¡¯s with the marsh forest?¡± ¡°The fish resources in the marsh forest are incredibly rich.¡± ¡°One typical example is the mangrove forest, which is also a marsh forest, growing in coastal intertidal zones. It¡¯s one of the most productive marine ecosystems at the land-sea interface, with nearly 80% of the global fish catch coming directly or indirectly from mangrove forests.¡± ¡°However, mangrove forests only exist in subtropical and tropical regions; Central Country doesn¡¯t have them, only common marsh forests, but that¡¯s sufficient. The forest roots in the swamp intertwine, providing habitats for many animals.¡± Walking into the marsh forest, Baus felt it was noticeably harder to move. The moist soil stuck to the soles of his shoes, and it took much more effort to pull his feet free. Bi Fang perked up, reminding him, ¡°Follow me, don¡¯t get stuck in the mud, that would be troublesome.¡± [I feel like there could be snakes.] [Indeed, with crocodiles and pythons in the swamp, are we really okay?] Bi Fang shook his head: ¡°Central Country doesn¡¯t have either of those, you could even say it has no reptiles at all.¡± In terms of wilderness survival, the island nation of Central Country could truly be considered a heaven on Earth. In the Middle Ages, fierce animals like brown bears and wolves had nearly vanished from England, and in the modern era, they are completely extinct, only seen in zoos. The remaining elks and wild boars are considered top hunting targets, followed by hares, pheasants, and waterfowls. With the large animals gone, surely there must still be small venomous creatures? What about venomous snakes? It¡¯s not that there are none, that would be too absolute, given the presence of various invasive species and the phenomenon of pet releases, but it¡¯s fair to say they are scarce. Nevertheless, it has nothing to do with Saint Patrick. ¡°In Central Country, there¡¯s a holiday called Saint Patrick¡¯s Day, commemorating Saint Patrick, the patron of Ireland.¡± ¡°One of the legends about Saint Patrick is that he drove all the snakes out of Ireland, and it is one of the most famous stories in Irish mythology.¡± This is telling in its own way. ¡°But at the end of the day, it¡¯s just a legend. The scientific explanation is that during the Ice Age, the temperatures in Ireland and Central Country were too low, unsuitable for the survival of cold-blooded animals like snakes. The cold-blooded nature of snakes requires them to absorb heat from their surroundings to maintain normal bodily functions.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t until 10,000 years ago that glacial changes connected Central Country, Ireland, and the European continent, creating a land bridge that led to species migration. Some species then migrated to Central Country.¡± ¡°But there was little time, not many made it, and by the time the glaciers melted and they wanted to cross, there was already a sea in between.¡± Chapter 628 - Chapter 628 625 Full meal ?Chapter 628: 625 Full meal Chapter 628: 625 Full meal There were no large predators, nor were there any sly venomous snakes or crocodiles, the most deadly thing was the mild climate, not too cold or too hot, just comfortablea€¡±in fact, if there was nothing else to do, one could even go to the beach for a surf, which was why Bi Fang considered this livestream to be more like a vacation. He even had the confidence that he could live for a month with Baus without any pressure. ¡°Nowadays in Central Country, there might be more snakes in the cities than in the wild, because pet snakes were a symbol of social status during the economic boom of the late ¡¯90s, but after the economic recession in 2008, people struggling with life set their pet snakes free.¡± ¡°So if you are in the city, you may still encounter them, but in the wilderness, you don¡¯t really need to worry about this problem.¡± In the mud, Bi Fang used a stone shovel to dig up quite a few crustaceans; perhaps it was because he was too close to the seaside, the haul contained many seafood items, possibly washed into the river during high tide. After a round¡­ ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? cough, after circling the marshland, the catch was quite bountiful. Among them were even Chinese mitten crabs, a good seven of them, a mix of river and sea delicacies. Many viewers were stunned. Central Country actually had Chinese mitten crabs? The scientific name for the Chinese mitten crab is ¡°Chinese Mitten Crab,¡± and since they have furry patches on their claws that look like they¡¯re wearing mittens, hence the English name ¡°Chinese Mitten Crab.¡± From the name you can tell where the specialty comes from. ¡°These creatures are overrunning the Thames River,¡± Baus said with a wry smile. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï The Chinese mitten crab is a typical invasive species, and he never expected to see them even in such a small river. Their main habitat is from the Korean Peninsula to the coastal river estuaries of Huaxia, even the Natural History Museum London has a credible explanation for the Chinese mitten craba€¡±¡±originating from Asia, but the Chinese mitten crab has already landed on the European continent a century ago.¡± Bi Fang explained, ¡°There are records of Chinese mitten crab sightings in the Thames River dating back to 1953. They¡¯re said to have brought great trouble to the people of Central Country because its survival and reproduction abilities are just too strong. The Chinese mitten crab not only posed a serious threat to ¡®their own crab species¡¯ but also damaged the riverbed, so the people of Central Country even refer to the Chinese mitten crab as ¡®Alien Crab,¡¯ that is, an extraterrestrial crab.¡± Saying this, Bi Fang glanced at Baus, asking the ¡°local,¡± and received an affirmative response. ¡°But we¡¯re in luck now. It¡¯s a shame we don¡¯t have scallions, ginger, garlic, or cooking wine; boiling them may result in a fishy taste,¡± Bi Fang said happily, putting another crab into his vine basket. ¡°On the way back, let¡¯s see if we can find some wild sage or rosemary or something like that.¡± Apart from crustaceans, Bi Fang also caught a few little barracudas in the river bend. With fish and vegetables, life was rich indeed. After pulling his feet out of the mud, he washed off in the river, let himself dry, then put his socks and shoes back on. The two gutted and scaled the barracudas right there; the small river was quite convenient for washing them. After processing the fish, they headed towards the direction of the cave. After being busy all morning, both of them were famished. Baus checked his phone. It was already three in the afternoon, ¡°Hard to believe I haven¡¯t eaten all day and am heading straight to afternoon tea.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have any sweet treats or tea here, just some fish that might taste a bit fishy.¡± ¡°Right now, I feel like I could eat anything.¡± Along the way, Bi Fang kept an eye out for wild spices and actually managed to find some, a few mint plants, which he joyously pocketed. Back at the cave, Bi Fang dumped the crustaceans into a tank of water: ¡°Shellfish need to spit out sand, we can¡¯t eat them right now, we can only eat grilled fish for now. In a moment, we¡¯ll drop the oil from the grilled fish into the water, forming a layer of oil on the surface to separate the water from the air, making these guys oxygen-deprived in the water and speeding up their breathing, and thus speeding up the sand expulsion process.¡± ¡°If we¡¯re quick, we might even get to eat tonight.¡± Bi Fang built a simple stove by stacking stones around the fire, plastering them with clay, and finally topping it with a washed clean stone slab. With the stone slab, it was possible to switch from roasting fish to searing fish, allowing the fat and meat to react more thoroughly, creating an even more delicious aroma in the absence of seasonings. The mint leaves were torn and sprinkled in, and their fragrant scent wafted through the air. The belly meat of the fish contracted under the high heat, and the cellular fat turned into a thick oil, sizzling in the fire¡¯s lick and interacting with the flesh of the fish itself, the enticing aroma spreading all around. Baus sat aside, holding rough chopsticks whittled from a hunting knife, his stomach growling loudly. It had been a long time since he had felt such hunger, and the fried fish before him was unexpectedly tempting. Even though there were no seasonings and the only herb was mint, Baus still found it quite satisfactory; after all, a cook from Central Country might perhaps just sprinkle on a bit of salt? The cuisine of Central Country had always faced criticism, with fish and chips or speculative ¡®starry sky¡¯ dishes being the well-known options. Fish and chips weren¡¯t bad, but they were far too greasy, and after eating them for a week, one would likely not want to touch them again for a month. Bi Fang had always thought that culinary skills and fine food should develop alongside the evolution of civilization, but Central Country could prove to you: No, that¡¯s wrong. [If there were ¡°Culinary Reflections of Central Country,¡± it might be written: The people of Angolan choose fine cod, wash it, coat it in batter, and fry it in oil until golden brown, served with freshly fried chips.] [The people of Scotland go for fine rayfish, wash it, coat it in batter, and fry it in oil until golden brown, served with freshly fried chips.] [The Welsh opt for fine flounder, washed and enrobed in batter, then deep-fried to a golden crisp, accompanied by fresh chips.] [¡°What is heaven? Heaven is chefs from France, laborers from De Country, and police from Central Country. What is hell? Hell is chefs from Central Country, laborers from France, and police from De Country.¡± a€¡± Johnson Khan Jr.] In fact, this island nation could hardly grow anything other than potatoes and rapeseed; its pursuit of a natural style was really limited by its natural resources. [In the canteens of Central Country¡¯s schools: Steamed mega potatoes, big potatoes, small potatoesa€¡±all unpeeled. Baked mega potatoes, big potatoes, small potatoesa€¡±all unpeeled. Rough-cut fries, fine fries, mashed potatoes, thick potato slices, thin potato slices.] When the barracuda was finally cooked through, Baus couldn¡¯t wait to pick it up with chopsticks, hissing from the heat, but still too impatient to let the fish cool and eagerly stuffing it into his mouth. The mint¡¯s crisp fragrance alone couldn¡¯t completely suppress the fishy taste of the barracuda, but after being seared and fried, that taste was almost non-existent. Even without salt, the aromatic hit was so overwhelming that Baus completely forgot about it, joyfully eating away. Plus, since the caught barracuda was from seawater, there were fewer bones, mostly just a few large ones, making the eating all the more enjoyable. Bi Fang waited for the stone slab to cool down a bit before submerging it in a wooden trough, letting the oil float on the surface. The crustaceans, already nearly fully open, began to expel sand before long. Good, there was now a late-night snack too. Chapter 629 - Chapter 629 Chapter 626 Are Sea Fish Salty ?Chapter 629: Chapter 626: Are Sea Fish Salty? {Seeking Monthly Pass} Chapter 629: Chapter 626: Are Sea Fish Salty? {Seeking Monthly Pass} The golden, crispy flesh of the fish easily parted with the chopsticks, and the texture transmitted through them clearly conveyed the crunchiness of the fish skin. As the crispy layer was torn open, one could feel the tenderness of the fish flesh, with the fat streaming between the flesh and skin, the high heat coaxing out a fragrance that made the two hungry people eager to eat, as they started their meal with the sea breeze blowing. After cutting off the head of the barracuda, Bi Fang continued to fry it. He took a bite of the fish body, and the freshness burst across his taste buds. The sea barracuda didn¡¯t have as many bones as the river barracuda, so Bi Fang wasn¡¯t afraid of choking. He slurped down more than half of it, then licked his glossy, oily lips. ¡°Barracuda is rich in nutrients, with a tender and delicious flesh. It¡¯s high in protein content and is a delicacy on exquisite banquet tables, especially the spring sea barracuda, which is the most precious. Although it¡¯s September now, and not the season when the barracuda is fattest, it is still delicious.¡± Having eaten the whole barracuda, with only its head left, which wasn¡¯t thrown away, Bi Fang picked up the slightly charred head and crunched through the bones and flesh together, the crispness complemented by the smoothness of the fish brain, adding an even richer layer of texture, leaving Baus looking constipated. ¡°Can you eat the fish head, too?¡± ¡°Give it a try,¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t just say it outright but encouraged Baus to try it himself. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï After some hesitation, Baus, who had slurped up a whole barracuda, flipped the fish bone over and positioned the head in front of himself, staring it down. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t eat fish heads, one could tell from looking at the night sky filled with stars, where fish heads were all turned skyward. But Baus himself wasn¡¯t keen on it. However, due to Bi Fang¡¯s enthusiastic invitation, he still carefully opened his mouth and bit into half of it. The moment it entered his mouth, Baus¡¯s eyes lit up. The outside of the fish head, having been barbecued for a long time, had become as crispy as a potato chip, this crunchiness distinguishing it from the backbone and even more fragrant. In the end, he could feel the fish brain burst, bringing with it a strong salty taste. Seeing Baus enjoy it so much, Bi Fang smiled with satisfaction, ¡°When cooking barracuda, the head is the most fragrant part. There¡¯s a folk saying that goes, ¡®Lose the cart and ox, but don¡¯t lose the barracuda head.¡¯ The fish brain inside the head is a roughly transparent and gelatinous liquid, which when cooked has a very fragrant and concentrated taste of bone marrow collagen, delicious and can be considered a top delicacy within the fish head. ¡°Furthermore, it contains a small portion of seawater, hence the distinct saltiness. Although the flesh of the fish is fragrant, it lacks saltiness and is rather bland when eaten on its own.¡± [Eh, shouldn¡¯t sea fish be saltier?] [Sea fish are naturally salty. Some cooking methods don¡¯t require any salt at all; they¡¯re already salty (smile)] [¡­Are sea fish salted through curing?] Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°Firstly, one has to acknowledge the fact that the body fluid salinity concentration of marine fish is higher than that of freshwater fish, but in bony fish, this difference is not significant, hence seasoning with external salt is still necessary when cooking fish.¡± The audience pulled up their stools, perking up their ears. ¡°The body fluid salinity concentration of marine bony fish is lower than the salinity of the surrounding seawater, so they autonomously regulate their osmotic pressure.¡± ¡°The primary pathways for marine bony fish to regulate osmotic pressure are twofold. ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï On one hand, they drink a lot of water, in addition to the water they get from their diet, marine bony fish directly consume a considerable amount of water.¡± ¡°On the other hand, the gills of marine bony fish have special salt-secreting cells. The seawater ingested and absorbed into the blood through the intestines retains the water, but the excess salt is expelled through the salt-secreting cells on the gills. A certain amount of other salts are also expelled through the urine, though the kidneys of marine bony fish are very degenerate, and they produce very little urine.¡± As Bi Fang explained, he gesticulated at his neck as if he had fish gills there. ¡°The salt-secreting cells on the gills are the main pathway for marine bony fish to expel salt from their bodies, mainly excreting sodium chloride, while divalent ions like calcium, magnesium, and sulfate are excreted through urine.¡± ¡°This ensures a low osmotic pressure environment within the bodies of marine bony fish. That¡¯s why salt still needs to be added when cooking marine bony fish.¡± The audience had an epiphany. That¡¯s why sea fish and river fish are pretty much the same without salt; they lack flavor. Baus listened intently as well. One had to admit, the charm of being able to answer any question was truly powerful. This kind of erudition in the wilderness gave a strong sense of security; when you didn¡¯t know whether the creature before you was poisonous or dangerous, he could easily provide an accurate answer, lessening much of your concerns and fears. ¡°Cartilaginous fish are an exception,¡± Bi Fang added and then the audience saw him appear to think of something, his face showing disgust. Cartilaginous fish¡­ typical examples being sharks. That taste¡­ Bi Fang remembered the white-fin shark he had eaten before; the shark meat had a strong ammonia smell, which was how cartilaginous fish regulated their osmotic pressure, through the concentration of urea in their blood. ¡°The method of osmotic regulation in marine cartilaginous fish is completely different; the osmotic pressure in marine cartilaginous fish is higher than that of marine bony fish, sometimes even higher than seawater.¡± ¡°They regulate their osmotic pressure by varying the concentration of urea in their blood; when urea content is high, water intake increases, diluting the concentration of urea, leading to increased urination and the reduction in urea.¡± ¡°When the urea content decreases to a certain level, water intake reduces, urination decreases, and the urea concentration increases. The cycle repeats.¡± ¡°Because of this bizarre method, if you really want to eat them, you actually have to add a lot of salt when cooking cartilaginous fish to suppress the strange taste of the meat.¡± [Weird knowledge has been gained] [So shark meat is very salty, huh (dog¡¯s head)] [Not just salty, but also cheesy (funny face)] Meanwhile, the crabs that were simmered in fresh water were ready, bright red and apparently because no one had come to eat them yet, quite large in size, with bodies as big as a palm. They were indeed delicious, Bi Fang opened the shell of one crab and found abundant and full crab roe inside. The two of them ate a total of six fish and six crabs before they stopped. Bi Fang ate quite cleanly, Baus gobbled down the crabs, making it a painful sight to watch. After burping contentedly, Baus patted his stomach and exclaimed, ¡°Although there aren¡¯t many seasonings, this is still an unforgettable meal in my life, surrounded by the sea, the wind, and the endless wilderness, making me feel like I¡¯ve tasted the most primal flavors of nature.¡± After eating their fill, Bi Fang rested only briefly before looking up at the sky. In Central Country, the nights in September come late, not until nine o¡¯clock. It was only four o¡¯clock now, and they had plenty of time. ¡°Our cave still needs some fixing up, adding a roof and as well as a wooden door that can bring a sense of security.¡± Chapter 630 - Chapter 630 Chapter 627 Separation ?Chapter 630: Chapter 627: Separation Chapter 630: Chapter 627: Separation The drone flew high above, looking down on the wilderness where two tiny figures busied themselves repairing a rocky cave entrance. They stripped the bark from tree trunks, fashioned them into threshold-like long strips, and placed them at the very bottom of the cave entrance, digging out the mud from beneath the boulders and wedging small stones into the gaps to secure them firmly in place. Stones were used to fill the bottom layer, with long wooden strips stacked on top, and Bi Fang had even carved many small grooves into the timber to add texture to the wall surface. The wooden strips were connected using mortise and tenon joints, a simple yet practical solution. Once stacked, the construction resembled a solid layer of wooden wall, leaving only two openings: one was a stone flue leading outside for smoke, and the other, smaller than the original cave entrance, would be fitted with a wooden door. Wooden boards were joined using wooden pegs, and the final piece, with two protruding cylinders, would be fitted into recessed pits in the wooden wall to form a hinged door. Finally, a roof needed to be installed. ¡°The original cave might leak water through the gaps between the boulders, so we need to construct a tiled roof. It doesn¡¯t have to be too complicated; we just chop the trees into circular slices.¡± With just a segment of a tree, Bi Fang and Baus managed to split many circular slices. Although not pretty and uneven in thickness, they were adequate for use. Laid out neatly on the roof, the slices overlapped like tiles, and with appropriate waterproofing at the very top, rainwater would simply flow down the ¡°tiles.¡± The solution was straightforward: placing a straight stick at the very top, covering it with clay, and baking it with fire until it was dry and fixed in place. After these efforts, the cave no longer resembled a rocky structure; instead, it looked more like a wooden hut. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 The fans expressed their envious admiration. [A Hobbit¡¯s abode] [So cool] [The secret base of my dreams] [Such efficiency! It¡¯s only eight o¡¯clock, and a wooden hut has been built in less than a day?] [That¡¯s not all, they even foraged for food and sun-dried saltwater in the meantime.] At eight o¡¯clock, Bi Fang looked up at the twilight sky, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and headed to the pit where he had been making salt earlier, with a concave stone slab in the middle. Inside it was the yellow crystalline substance that had precipitated from the roasting flames. After washing his hands, Bi Fang tasted some of the grains, and the salty flavor mixed with a faint bitterness spread through his mouth. Salt could be extracted from a mixture of wood ash and seawater filtered through clothing. After several rounds of boiling the filtrate to dryness, coarse salt was produced. Despite not completely filtering out impurities, such salt from the ocean was enough to fulfill the short-term sodium needs; at the very least, it would greatly enhance the flavor of the food. Salt truly is the foremost of all flavors! Estimating the time left until nightfall, Bi Fang said, ¡°There¡¯s about an hour left before it gets dark. Let¡¯s go out into the wild and see if we can find more spices.¡± Spices often had distinct and strong flavors, and with his keen sense of smell, Bi Fang actually found two additional spices: sage and dill, both found near the river. They looked indistinguishable from the weeds, yet they were excellent for preparing meat. The aroma of sage was intense, a common ingredient in men¡¯s fragrances. Dill was less familiar to many people. ¡°This herb is native to Western Asia but is now mainly produced in the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe. It looks similar to fennel but has a more pungent scent. It¡¯s particularly suitable for cooking fish as it helps remove the fishy smell, and the dill leaves can be eaten directly or dried for a fragrant seasoning,¡± explained Bi Fang, inhaling deeply and looking blissful. With salt and three kinds of spices, tonight¡¯s dinner was destined to be a feast. Baus could hardly wait, ¡°Can we head back now?¡± ¡°Wait a second,¡± Bi Fang glanced at the swaying reeds by the river, ¡°We¡¯ve come across some reeds; we can harvest some to make a mattress.¡± ¡°A mattress?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Bi Fang handed the knife to Baus, and together they cut a large bundle of reeds. This plant can be seen by nearly every river around the world. ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï After cutting the reed rhizomes to the same length, Bi Fang tied them into small bundles using tree rope, and soon the audience understood that he was actually making a mattress. The reed stalks were very elastic and tied up quite thick, making them soft and comfortable to lie on, almost as good as modern mattresses, though the noise could be a bit loud. Whenever one turned over, a loud friction sound could be heard. Baus lay down to try it and exclaimed, ¡°You¡¯ve really changed my perception. I¡¯ve never seen anyone make wilderness survival so enjoyablea€¡±houses, soft mattresses, delicious spices and food.¡± [Is this what a big shot looks like?] [To me, other people¡¯s survival looks just like being in prison] [Being in prison, haha] ¡°It¡¯s time for dinner.¡± Bi Fang carried the mattress on his back and brought a handful of spices back to the shelter, where he started a fire and began cooking. He crushed the spices and spread them evenly on the remaining barracuda, tossing all the shellfish into a wooden trough and stewing them in brine, also sprinkling in the crushed spices. Finally, there was the fern he hadn¡¯t eaten at noon, which he also stewed in clean water. Soon, two meat dishes and one vegetable dish were served on the table. One plate held tender boiled fern leaves, one a messy stew of shellfish, and the last smoked barracuda, sprinkled with crisp spice leaves, fragrant and rich. By then, the sky had completely darkened, and the bonfire roared into life, the wood cracking and popping, sending out sparks. A faint scent of fireworks spread into the air. Both of them dragged a rock over to sit opposite each other. It didn¡¯t look like wilderness survival at all but more like a holiday getaway. Baus gazed at the three dishes in front of him, reluctant to eat, and excitedly took out his phone to take a selfie with the two of them. With the click of the camera, the moment was captured forever. Under the starry night sky, Baus had his arm around Bi Fang¡¯s shoulder, both smiling broadly. In front of them, the bonfire blazed, scattering sparks, with the vast wilderness behind them and a wooden hut with patterns. The fern was crispy and delicious, several times better than eating it raw, and the salt-soaked fish also brought out a richer flavor, with the fishy taste barely detectable. For a moment, everyone forgot that this trip was fundamentally about survival. After dinner, the two-person journey came to an end. As the helicopter¡¯s rotors spun, Baus had to shout to be heard. ¡°This will be the most special trip of my life; it was beautiful, and though very tiringa€¡±I can even feel my thigh muscles trembling nowa€¡±but the knowledge you shared, your experiences, oh, and your fish, were all great. I feel they were even tastier than what I¡¯ve had in most restaurants.¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re fully capable of opening a restaurant in Central Country.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll consider it.¡± Bi Fang waved to Baus with a smile. ¡°Well, it was a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Fang. Goodbye!¡± ¡°Goodbye!¡± Chapter 631 - Chapter 631 Chapter 628 Check-In Holy Land ?Chapter 631: Chapter 628: Check-In Holy Land Chapter 631: Chapter 628: Check-In Holy Land At night, Bi Fang extinguished the campfire, closed the wooden door, and released the edited video of the day. The ripples in the outside world were far from stopping, continuously expanding under the influence of the wind, and summoning a colossal tidal wave. The arrival of Baus caused an earthquake of sorts across the globe. Tell me, which livestreamer has ever been able to invite a prime minister to participate in a broadcast for an entire day? Before Bi Fang, none had done so. This explorer Mister created a precedent. The following morning, a plethora of articles appeared on the front pages and headlines of various newspapers in the Central Country. ¡°Baus joins Huaxia program ¡®Wilderness Survivalist¡¯; netizens: Master Fang is pleased to have prime minister-level ingredients with Baus.¡± ¡°Host Bi Fang, who once served in the Huaxia Special Forces, became globally famous for his strong survival skills shown in his livestreams. Due to his incredible and perilous adventures, he is called ¡®The world¡¯s number one adventurer.¡¯ ¡°¡®World¡¯s number one¡¯ in value, recognized by foreign prime ministers.¡± ¡°How terrifying is the 25-year-old survival expert? This is what the Prime Minister of the Central Country said¡­¡± ¡°Famed adventurer Bi Fang encountered the biggest celebrity ever this weeka€¡±Central Country Prime Minister Baus, participating in a thirty-day Central Country wilderness survival challenge. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï Readers who want to watch Master Fang¡¯s ¡®Exploration Collection¡¯ can find the ultra-clear complete set download on Qiandu Cloud at the end of the article. Most files are in mp4 and mkv formats.¡± Under each report, numerous viewers flocked to leave comments. It even brought positive renown to Bi Fang himself, such as attracting serious-politics-oriented audiences. In the digital age, getting information is very simple. It is equally challenging to passively receive news that doesn¡¯t interest you. The ¡°filter bubbles¡± created by big data have a direct impact, resulting in a narrow range of personal knowledge and a skewed information structure. When people only receive what they¡¯re interested in and refuse information from other fields, it undoubtedly hinders comprehensive personal development. Just as people like to hear praise, groups, like individuals, prefer to hear opinions that echo their own. The internet, while providing a wealth of information, does not necessarily create an infinitely open social platform, but rather a closed-off space. A serious-minded person is unlikely to come across room choreography when browsing videos. A person indulging in low-brow tastes is likewise unlikely to encounter serious political and historical subjects. Bi Fang¡¯s actions are undoubtedly all about breaking down these barriers, from being an ordinary survival livestreamer to hunting at the brink of death, leading others through breakthroughs, and discovering unknown creatures. Entertainment, education, hardcore, strong, thrilling, greata€¡±more and more labels are being affixed to Bi Fang, attracting people from one circle after another. [A maxed-out deity bringing along a newbie with Level One Divine Equipment (dog¡¯s head)] [You¡¯ve really made something of yourself] [Watching Old Fang step by step until today has not been easy]} [Gold will always shine] [When will you lead the Ugly Country President (joking)] [Honestly, as compared to the environments Bi Fang¡¯s been to before, Central Country is practically easy mode] [There¡¯s even two dishes and a soup, compared to adventure, I think this is more like a rural retreat, Master Fang please take me!] [Oh, the life of my dreams] [Life of your dreams? Pfft, cut your WiFi for a month and you¡¯d be dying to get it back] Comments of all sorts came in a motley array. Some even started a search party, trying to locate Bi Fang through satellite positioning. Unlike before, the rainforest, forests, and tundras were difficult to find, and even if found, people dared not venture there, but this time was different. An open wilderness, a distinctive cabin, plus the clarity of the bone hook map, it wasn¡¯t impossible to find. Moreover, the area where Bi Fang was located actually belonged to a nature scenic area. Although it was vast and seldom saw visitors, tourists did indeed exist there. Thus began a nationwide game of spot-the-difference, especially with fans nearby Central Kingdom. A few days later, Central Kingdom Airline Company also unexpectedly found that the throughput at Cardiff International Airport in Wales had surged nearly one-fifth in just a few days! Upon asking around, many were there for the Gower Peninsula, and given who was on the peninsula at the time, their purpose was self-evident. Some were there to try their luck after watching Bi Fang¡¯s travel livestream, while others were simply star-chasing. An international airport¡¯s throughput increased by nearly one-fifth because of one persona€¡±such an astonishing pull! The Central Kingdom embassy in Ugly Country was extremely pleased upon hearing the news, indeed, their choice had been so wise and correct. Just a few days of effort had brought in quite impressive tourist revenue, a lucrative business indeed! It was the first time Bi Fang encountered such a situation, where sending Baus away instead brought an endless stream of fans, encountering several every day. When these fans found Bi Fang¡¯s cabin, they excitedly circled it taking photos as if they had found long-lost relatives. But Bi Fang didn¡¯t mind; after all, this livestream was partly a playful endeavor, with entertainment as its main feature, and one of its purposes was to increase the locality¡¯s popularity, a sign that his work was effective. The fans were quite considerate, knowing they were appearing in front of millions of viewers, and they didn¡¯t want to overdo it. The only problem that bothered Bi Fang was that fans often ran into him while he was eating, their desire to dine apparent on their faces, and of course, it was hard to refuse them. As a result, Bi Fang had to prepare meals for three or four people every day to have enough to eat, or else he might go hungry. This situation continued until mid-September when Bi Fang couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. As more and more people came looking for him, and more posted their locations, three or four portions were not enough; he had to waste a lot of time looking for food. Out of necessity, Bi Fang decided to give up the cabin and started wandering the wilderness. Under these circumstances, an even bigger frenzy began¡­ The number of people trekking on the peninsula suddenly multiplied, and the original cabin became a check-in holy place for all tourists visiting the Gower Peninsula. ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï It was as if by taking photos there, they too participated in Wilderness Survival. The local tourism department smartly cordoned off the surrounding area to prevent excessive damage, because what would they do if no one visited in the future? Pannad Castle was a warning from history. This city¡¯s ruins were located not far behind the cliffs of Bi Fang¡¯s cave, atop a limestone hill above Sanya Bay. As the dunes grew higher, the castle gradually became submerged and fell into decline. Now, only a few walls were left. In the meantime, Bi Fang shouldered his backpack again, running from the southern tip of the peninsula to its northern end, across towns, villages, armed with a cast iron pot gifted by a fan, and ate his way through most of Wales¡­ Chapter 632 - Chapter 632 629th Next Live Broadcast ?Chapter 632: 629th Next Live Broadcast Chapter 632: 629th Next Live Broadcast ¡°` On an open grassland, Bi Fang dragged a stag with mighty antlers and with a sudden force, flipped it onto the ground. Tony, excited, stepped forward wanting to help hold down its thrashing hind legs, but had only taken a step when Bi Fang shouted at him to back off. Bi Fang sternly said, ¡°Don¡¯t come near it. If it kicks you, breaking a bone is a very simple matter for it.¡± The tone was so serious that Tony, startled, raised his hands and retreated two steps. Peter, who stood by his side, grabbed him and explained how dangerous his actions had been just now. The stag on the ground kicked wildly at the dirt, and once it struck a slightly sharp stone, it flew out instantly and embedded itself into a tree behind them. Tony, who had been scolded, was initially a bit resistant, knowing perhaps that what Bi Fang said was right, yet still carried some youthful stubbornness. But upon seeing this scene, his eyes widened, and he suddenly felt scared. Even a kicked stone had the force of a bullet; if it had hit a person, the consequences would have been unimaginable! This was an elk, much larger than the sika deer Bi Fang had hunted before. An adult male elk could stand 1.1 to 1.3 meters at the shoulder and weigh over 200 kilogramsa€¡±nearly three times the weight of an adult malea€¡±its strength can well be imagined. But now, it was merely a lamb to the slaughter. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï This elk had been caught by Bi Fang through a trap, its legs entangled, hence it was still very fresh. Bi Fang swiftly drew his Hunting Knife and with one blow to the back of the elk¡¯s head, it was dead. He then cut open its throat, severed the main artery, and bled it to remove the gamey smell. Charles and Eric had brought a large plastic bucket to catch the deer blood, wasting none of it. Behind them, Tony and the rest, who served as a backdrop, cheered them on. There were both males and females, none of them old, all vibrant high school students. One of them, named Peter, had left an impression on Bi Fang, as he met him at the entrance during a talk show Bi Fang had participated in and even received his autograph. Since he had the Palace of Mind, Bi Fang could easily recall many people he had only met once. Besides these five student guests, Charles and Eric were also acquaintances. When Bi Fang had first drifted to the Central Country, it was these two who had pulled him up from the fishing boat. Hearing that Bi Fang was in Wales, they came with a hope of catching him by chance, and indeed they did. Just as Bi Fang had secured some big game, and his thirty-day trip to the Central Country was nearing its end, he invited the seven of them to dine together on roasted whole elk. ¡°On the Central Country Queen¡¯s banquet menu, there¡¯s a main dish called ¡®Balmoral Roasted Venison¡¯. In Central Country tradition, deer meat has a more prestigious status than beef, as deer have been the exclusive food of the nobility throughout Central Country and even Europe for a long time.¡± ¡°The elk has traditionally been the most prestigious game animal in Europe, and when European literature refers to ¡®deer¡¯, it¡¯s mainly them. The male elk are large and majestic, symbols of strength and power. Although elks are also found in Huaxia, they are mainly in remote areas of the northeast and northwest. The main deer bred and hunted are the smaller sika deer.¡± ¡°Actually, elk provide more meat than sika deer, but to Huaxia People the quality of the velvet antlers is not good, so they are less farmed. Europeans don¡¯t recognize the value of deer velvet and want to wait until they grow a pair of splendid antlers, which can then serve as hunting trophies.¡± ¡°This guy is a second-level protected animal in Huaxia, so you¡¯d have to come abroad to eat it.¡± Bi Fang scalded the entire body of the elk with 80-90?¡ãC boiling water, shaved off the hair while it was still hot, removed the innards, and cleaned it before making several small cuts in the thick parts of the belly and inner thighs of the elk. He then placed mint leaves, sage, basil, star anise, and ground fennel seed among other spices in the elk¡¯s belly, rubbed the meat with sea salt to flavor it, and seasoned and salted the slits in the inside of the elk¡¯s legs. The sea salt was no longer the coarse yellow grains of the first day but closer to creamy yellow, indicating Bi Fang had further refined it. The deer¡¯s tail was tied with a wooden stick to the belly, breast-up, with limbs hanging off the skin side, brushed with saltwater, then brushed with a layer of animal fat, and finally, its legs were tied to a branch and hung over the fire to roast. As they waited for the meat to roast, everyone sat around together, and Bi Fang, as he re-brushed the dripping fat back onto the elk, also shared historical anecdotes with them. ¡°Large wild animals like elks become scarce resources wherever there are crowds of people. If everyone hunted them, they would soon be extinct.¡± ¡°And so, whether in ancient Huaxia, the Middle East, or Europe, emperors and kings would often designate certain forests as royal hunting grounds, forbidding commoners to hunt there, reserving the animals exclusively for themselves.¡± ¡°Even nations with deep agricultural traditions like Huaxia didn¡¯t completely forget the ancient practice of hunting throughout their imperial era, let alone the hunting-enthusiastic Europeans. It was the best entertainment for medieval European monarchs who took pride in leading their armies to war personally.¡± ¡°In ancient times and the early Middle Ages, the Central Country didn¡¯t have a particularly strong royal power, that changed with the ¡®Norman Conquest¡¯ of 1066. The monarch who started the Norman dynastya€¡±William the Conquerora€¡±after his accession, created 21 royal forest areas across England.¡± ¡°` ¡°By the end of the 12th century, in the reign of Henry II, the royal forests had increased to about 80, covering a quarter to a third of the area of all England! Basically, wherever there were wild animals, the king would enclose the land, and he would hunt wherever he desired.¡± ¡°From the Middle Ages to the early modern period, the hunting of deer was exclusively a royal privilege in Central Country.¡± Elvan asked with a smile, ¡°So you¡¯re saying we¡¯re now experiencing the life of the Central Country royalty?¡± Bi Fang brushed the deer oil on and nodded, ¡°You could say that.¡± ¡°In the Middle Ages, to prevent commoners and even local nobility from hunting deer on their own, the royalty enacted strict laws. That lasted until the Central Country Revolution in the 17th century, when a king was beheaded; afterwards, the Central Country royalty didn¡¯t have as many privileges, and everyone could hunt at will on their own land.¡± In the vast forest, breathing fresh air, listening to the pleasant chirping of birds, surrounded by groups of fine horses, hunting dogs, and companions, searching and chasing game was the most noble of activities. Apart from the occasional misfortune of falling off a horse or eating something dirty, the likelihood of an aristocratic hunter getting hurt while hunting was extremely low. Later, with the advent of accurately shooting repeating rifles, it was even safer. Speaking of this, though, there was a sad fact. However, having just recently co-hosted a live broadcast with the prime minister of Central Country, Bi Fang refrained from speaking too frankly in front of the audience. There is a very famous Central Country documentary called ¡°Seven Up!¡± The director reflects on the social mobility between different classes in Central Country by following the life trajectories of 14 children from different social strata, checking in on these 14 kids every seven years. From age seven, fourteen, twenty-one, twenty-eight, thirty-five, forty-two, forty-nine, all the way to last year¡¯s fifty-six. This documentary realistically portrays the rigidity of Central Country¡¯s social classes. Indeed, one doesn¡¯t need this documentary to understand. Looking at Central Country¡¯s history, it¡¯s evident that their classes have been solidified for a thousand years. This place has always been a country ruled by an alliance of kings and nobility; commoners have no place in it, and there are no peasant revolts to speak of. The only conflicts that arise are occasional disputes between the king and the nobility, who then fight one another. Even the Scottish hero William Wallace, depicted in Braveheart, ultimately was betrayed by Scottish Nobility. And whether it¡¯s Scottish Nobility or English Nobility, they might endure an incompetent king, but generally would not tolerate a peasants¡¯ revolt. Motorcycle gangs and parliamentarians are entirely different groups, after all. They live in the same country but may have almost no intersection, including their descendants. So the joy of activities like deer hunting was never something peasants could enjoy. Amidst the conversation, the deer meat was finally cooked. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï Bi Fang pulled out the Hunting Knife and sliced the deer meat from the leg, distributing it to everyone. They all couldn¡¯t wait to try it; the finished product was yellow-red and shiny, the skin crisp and the flesh tender, fatty without being greasy, flaky and delicious, with a unique flavor. It must be said that after eating a lot, Bi Fang had gained some understanding; not all wild meats are dry and tough. The trick lies in the technique used and the origin of the meat. For example, the deer in Central Country have no natural predators and are practically in a state of free-range. With little exercise needed and their numbers becoming a menace a€¡± there are over one and a half million in Central Country alone a€¡± they are fat with a rich, oily taste that¡¯s tender and succulent. But the deer in Japan are tough because they contend with a large number of Black Bears and Brown Bears, resulting in a body full of muscle that tastes leaner when eaten. The audience in front of the screen envied them. [Now I finally understand why they always seek out Boss Fang, it¡¯s clear they¡¯re just there to freeload and drink.] [I¡¯m so envious, wuu wuu wuu] [I¡¯m so hungry, showing this in the middle of the night is just cruel, I¡¯m impressed.] [Darn this time difference, it¡¯s one in the morning here, while Old Fang has just had dinner.] ¡°Do you have plans for the next adventure?¡± Charles, who was thoroughly enjoying the meal, suddenly lifted his head, remembering a key question. Now that it was almost the last few days of Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast in Central Country, and soon to be October, everyone was very curious about where the next broadcast would be. In Central Country, it was virtually a vacation, a rest for nearly two months. Isn¡¯t it time to get moving? Bi Fang readily admitted. ¡°Yes, I have plans already.¡± Chapter 633 - Chapter 633 Chapter 630 Flames and Solid Ice ?Chapter 633: Chapter 630: Flames and Solid Ice Chapter 633: Chapter 630: Flames and Solid Ice The rich fat dripped down the venison, emitting an extremely enticing aroma. Everyone who had been hungry all day felt their stomach acids churning, but upon hearing Bi Fang¡¯s plan, without exception, all stopped what they were doing and pricked up their ears. Where would the next adventure be? This matter was far more important than eating. Bi Fang, holding a whole deer leg, tore off a chunk of fatty sinew and chewed it. After a long moment, he swallowed and faced the crowd¡¯s gaze, uttering a single word. ¡°Arctic.¡± ¡°I will go to the Arctic.¡± A gust of night wind blew by, and the fear of coldness etched into their genes made everyone shiver in unison. The Arctic? Bi Fang closed his eyes in contemplation, and within the system panel, a new mission glimmered with a faint blue light. [Mission Name: Icy Tundra] [Mission Location: Greenland] [Mission Mode: Survival] Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Especially since the location was the Arctic, Greenland. The two poles, north and south, the coldest points on Earth. Greenland, located within the Arctic, is one of the coldest places there. The Arctic is different from Antarctica. Antarctica is a continent, boasting the only Antarctic region in the world without human habitation, while the Arctic¡¯s center is not the samea€¡±it¡¯s not a continent but a seaa€¡±the Arctic Ocean. The island closest to the North Pole is actually not Greenland but the Svalbard Archipelago, meaning Cold Coast, which is a Polar Region natural archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, under the sovereignty of Norway. One of Huaxia¡¯s Arctic research stations, the Yellow River Station, is located here. Even though the Svalbard Archipelago is closest to the North Pole, the environment there is not the most extreme due to a nearby warm current. The entire Svalbard Archipelago is under the influence of the North Atlantic warm current, characterized by polar maritime climate. Average summer temperatures are above zero, and January winter temperatures range between a?¡¯16?¡ãC and a?¡¯12?¡ãC, which clearly shows that the influence of the warm current is more apparent in the winter, being nearly 20?¡ãC higher than other regions at the same latitude! Judging by the temperature, it¡¯s not as cold as Mohe, which Bi Fang had visited before, and even most of the northeastern region is colder than it. Therefore, Greenland is theoretically the closest to the North Pole and has an extremely harsh environment. As for how harsh it is, the temperature says it all. On December 22, 1991, a record low temperature of a?¡¯69.6?¡ãC was recorded in Denmark¡¯s Greenland, the lowest recorded temperature in the Northern Hemisphere, a record previously held by Polar Bear Country. Exposed to such temperatures, if one did not take any measures, they would die within a minute. Steel in the natural environment becomes more brittle than glass. When Bi Fang conveyed this information with his calm demeanor to the crowd¡­ Elvan shivered, and in a moment of haze, he seemed to see the sky filled with flying snow, as well as himself frozen stiff in the snow due to the extremely low temperature. His soul took a closer look, only to discover icicles still hanging from his snot. ¡°A hundred days!? The Arctic? Are you insane?¡± ¡°Charles, is something wrong with my ears?¡± ¡°No, nothing is wrong. They are just fine. You heard correctly.¡± The audience in front of the screen also gasped in shock, that was the Arctic after all. Surviving there for three months, who could endure that? Moreover, it was wilderness survival, without any sort of accumulated preparations or resources, once there, one would face the might of nature. Even if one went in mid-October and stayed for a hundred days, they would return in early January, which meant enduring the whole winter and only finishing after the coldest month had passed. And it was worth noting, the coldest temperatures were recorded in December. [God Fang is not being human again] [This is great, even though it¡¯s almost October, I¡¯m already feeling cold] [The hot sweat that just broke out has been scared back in] [I hate the cold the most, wuwuwu] [There¡¯s a kind of cold that feels chilly just by watching] Bi Fang also found this mission daunting. In his previous life, there was a wilderness show where someone did indeed survive a hundred days in the Arctic. However, the conditions Bi Fang faced were completely different. At least those contestants could still encounter trees, shrubs, and even a fair number of land creatures since they were just within the Arctic Circle. But Bi Fang was at the northernmost tip of Greenland. There were no trees, no shrubs, just snow, an endless expanse of snowfields. Even Viking pirates would have fled in panic, because after the onset of the Little Ice Age, there were no trees to build ships with, and staying there meant starving to death. ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? Compared to animals, the majestic wrath of heaven and earth was the most unfathomable and the most challenging aspect of survival. Throughout Earth¡¯s history, there have been several ice ages, with the most recent one being the Quaternary Ice Age. It lasted at least several million years and is commonly referred to as the Great Ice Age. Typically, during the Great Ice Age, global temperatures would drop significantly, forming large ice caps and glaciers in higher altitude areas. The ocean would also freeze over extensively, and the climate would turn dry and cold, directly affecting the growth of animals and plants. At the time of the Great Ice Age, humans had not yet appeared on Earth, and during the entire human society period, there had been no incidences of a Great Ice Age. However, some periods have had climate characteristics similar to those of the Great Ice Age, but not as severe. These periods are referred to as Little Ice Ages, More than three hundred years ago, during the ¡°Little Ice Age¡± at the end of the Ming Dynasty, the population decreased by half due to the cold. Of course, this wasn¡¯t because they were all frozen to death, but rather because crops had difficulty growing, which led to a sharp decline in food production and more people actually died of starvation. But at the end of the day, it was still essentially a result of temperature changes. The Ming Dynasty was a glorious era, and many time-travel novels yearn to go back to the past to change everything. But the biggest problem wasn¡¯t Wei Zhongxian or foreign enemies, it was the temperature, it was nature. Bi Fang stretched out his hand, feeling the searing heat from the fire, and then looked up at the gradually sinking sun. The fundamental reason Earth can foster life is because of the sun. Adequate temperatures ensured that water was neither the stubborn glaciers on Europa nor the sulfuric acid rain that falls on Mars, igniting wildfires. The just-right temperature turned the water into flowing primordial oceans, where countless molecules collided billions of times, giving birth to the first primitive life form. The root of all these coincidences is the giant fireball in the sky. Bi Fang lifted his hand, and the setting sun shone obliquely through his fingers, casting several shadows on his face. Warm and cozy. Chapter 634 - Chapter 634 Chapter 631 Polar Region (Placeholder) ?Chapter 634: Chapter 631: Polar Region (Placeholder) Chapter 634: Chapter 631: Polar Region (Placeholder) Reserving a spot, not ready yet, I¡¯ll return before 1 am. Baus¡¯s words were like a thunderclap on a clear day, and the live broadcast room fell silent for a moment, Japan¡¯s Ocean Deputy Minister poisoned by mercury!? Bi Fang suddenly felt this incident somewhat familiar. A spark flickered in the palace of his mind, and he suddenly remembered something similar from a previous life! It was shortly after Dolphin Bay was announced that the Ocean Deputy Minister had an incidenta€¡±mercury poisoning. Although the details of the poisoning were unknown, it was imaginable that it was not easy to bear. Metal poisoning, even if treatable with modern technology, still had a significant chance of leaving sequelae, especially mercury. Did it happen this morning? Bi Fang was secretly surprised. He hadn¡¯t been online since coming here, and he was unaware of what had happened. In his former life, the time of the Dolphin Bay incident was in ¡¯09 when online media was far less developed than now, so those who knew were few. But things are different nowadays. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Every move of Japan¡¯s Ocean Department was clearly being watched by a plethora of media, and when something like this happened, it was immediately highlighted with big stories, coupled with ¡°whale meat¡± in supermarkets, the scoffing was very obvious. Compared with Bi Fang¡¯s outward calm, the audience was much more direct, sending a barrage of congratulatory messages. Many immediately went online to search and indeed found that it was true. When people learned that Japan¡¯s Ocean Deputy Minister had mercury poisoning, a feeling of satisfaction arose in their hearts, as the evildoer had received nature¡¯s retribution. Japan is a maritime nation, and now the excessive overfishing of the ocean will definitely first hurt these island nations. This was evident from the situation with saury. Saury can lay eggs in spring, autumn, and winter, has a short lifespan, strong resource recovery capabilities, and is in great abundance worldwide. Yet, such a fish could be overfished to the point of sharp population decline after migrating to Japan, and then other countries are blamed, which reveals a lot about the situation. It¡¯s sad to see such shortsightedness. But that¡¯s a story for another time. The Dolphin Bay saga has thus come to a complete close. Bi Fang snapped back to reality, thanked Baus for informing him of the news, and brought everything back to proper order. ¡°It¡¯s not easy to find such good weather in the Central Country. What do we have planned for today? I¡¯ve cleared my whole day,¡± Baus said, his tone full of anticipation. Just like Leonardo, Baus only had one day, but for a different reason. Leonardo¡¯s was due to the environment being too dangerous to stay for long for fear of accidents, while Baus was simply extremely busy. After all, being a nation¡¯s prime minister, taking a day off was quite difficult. Bi Fang looked up at the sun and nodded, explaining to the audience. ¡°The location of the Central Country is mid to high latitude, classified as typical temperate maritime climate. In comparison to other countries of the same latitude, the Central Country also has the North Atlantic, which constantly ¡®supplies¡¯ it with increased temperature and humidity; secondly, due to the influence of mid-latitude westerly winds, the rainfall in the Central Country is always in a ¡®state of excess¡¯.¡± ¡°Because of such conditions, winters in the Central Country never drop below -3 to 10 degrees Celsius, and furthermore, heating is standard in homes, so winters are quite comfortable here.¡± ¡°Similarly, summers are also not too hot, typically between 15 and 22 degrees Celsius. Days exceeding 30 degrees can be counted on one¡¯s fingers.¡± ¡°To my knowledge, most countries in Europe start their heatwave warnings from 30 degrees, while in Huaxia, it starts from 35 degrees and must continue for several days before a warning is issued.¡± Because of this, even in the scorching heat of September, Bi Fang didn¡¯t feel any warmth, instead, the sea breeze brought a faint coolness. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Compared to walking a few steps in Japan and immediately sweating bullets, this was a completely different situation, much more comfortable. Baus listened silently on the side, nodding continuously in agreement with Bi Fang¡¯s statement, especially in London. Overcast days, occasionally accompanied by rain showers, day after day, seemed endless. Many foreigners who lived there were startled to realize after a few years that London indeed lacked sunny days; the dark-hued old buildings matched with the gray sky and dense fog were the true visage of London. Air conditioning was rarely seen here. As for the weather being warm in winter and cool in summer, thinking of this, Baus laughed, ¡°Fang, you haven¡¯t lived in the Central Country, but nowadays, apart from the suburban areas, it¡¯s also very hot in summer there, especially in the subway carriages, where temperatures can even exceed 35a??. The oldest subway line in London has carriages that can reach over 40a??!¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for budget constraints, I would definitely install air conditioning in the subways!¡± With hundreds of years of industrial development, the heat island effect has become pronounced, and London now experiences cold winters and scorching summers, a significant change from the past. Bi Fang smiled but said nothing; in his opinion, this couldn¡¯t really be considered hot. Europeans typically handle cold better than heat and have a very different definition of what constitutes heat; at least Bi Fang didn¡¯t find the thirty-five-degree subways difficult to endure. When Bi Fang arrived in the Central Country, he had been to London and taken the subway without feeling uncomfortably hot, but the smell was unforgettable. The body odor of the people of the Central Country was too severe; while riding the subway, Bi Fang had to endure the ¡°long-marinated¡± smell of sweat and stinky feet in the closed carriages. With his keen sense of smell, coupled with the cheap ¡°Cologne Perfume,¡± that scent was truly ¡°unparalleled¡±! Talking about this, Bi Fang and Baus seemed to find a common topic all of a sudden and began to rant, not stopping until they reached the edge of the black cliffs. The scene was somewhat similar to when Bi Fang had sighted land while adrift at sea, and looking at Baus by his side, his mind started to make plans. ¡°We need to climb up first, and after we get up, we¡¯ll find a suitable spot to camp, then make a fire, and build a simple safety house, although it might mean a lot of walking.¡± ¡°I have no problem with that.¡± Baus seemed very confident, believing he was still strong enough. Seeing this, Bi Fang nodded. He took out a length of rope from his backpack, tied one end to Baus, and explained, ¡°To prevent any accidents, we should take safety precautions, otherwise, it¡¯s very likely that I won¡¯t be able to walk out of the Central Country alive.¡± [The Closest I¡¯ve Ever Been to Death] [Drone: I¡¯m watching over you all the time.] [Could there be a sniper rifle aimed at Bi Fang (Dog¡¯s head)] ¡°It¡¯s not as bad as a sniper rifle.¡± Bi Fang sensed no danger and didn¡¯t spot any reflective objects, ¡°The homeland security in the Central Country is quite high.¡± There was no one around, and the Central Country didn¡¯t have any large predators; even wolves had been extinct since the 18th century. The only possible threat was snakes, perhaps? Bi Fang, having secured the rope, began to climb the cliff. The ten or so meters did not pose much of a challenge to him; all he needed was to find good footholds in advance, a matter of mere minutes. After climbing up, Bi Fang pulled on the rope, helping Baus to give it a try. Surprisingly, Baus indeed had some outdoor experience and quickly made it up with Bi Fang¡¯s assistance. The two of them then started looking for a suitable place to stay on foot. Chapter 635 - Chapter 635 Chapter 632 Doomsday Seed Vault ?Chapter 635: Chapter 632: Doomsday Seed Vault Chapter 635: Chapter 632: Doomsday Seed Vault Langyel City lacked some of the bustle of human civilization, but it had an extra dose of stunning beauty enveloped in silver and white. From the drone¡¯s overhead view, aside from the endless white, one could also spot a hint of green, the vegetation persevering through the snow. Contrary to what the audience might imagine, the Svalbard Archipelago wasn¡¯t entirely covered in snow and ice, and there was the rare sight of ¡°vegetation¡± as far as the eye could see. In low-lying and moist areas, plants of various colors could always be seen. There were flowers and grasses, and even a special planta€¡±the Edelweiss. This flower, shaped like cotton, blossomed in white tufts across hills and fields. There were no towering trees or dense jungles here, this touch of green was the Svalbard Archipelago¡¯s summer ¡°swan song.¡± Year after year, the tenacious vegetation of summer could be seen. Walking along the road, warning signs were everywhere, not saying ¡°Beware of Vehicles,¡± but ¡°Beware of Polar Bears.¡± Such a scene seemed absurd, as if one hadn¡¯t arrived in the real world but had ventured into the kingdom of polar bears from ¡°The Golden Compass.¡± Bi Fang pointed to the sign and laughed, ¡°It¡¯s only in the roads of Langyel City in Svalbard that signs like this are written, because there are nearly 5,000 polar bears in the region, while the resident population is less than two thousand.¡± That¡¯s right, there were more polar bears here than local residents. Although it was habitable, the year-round low temperatures and vast snowy plains deterred many. As mineral resources were depleted, the various scattered points of human settlement had also disappeared, leaving only Langyel City. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï A little over two thousand people lived here all year round. Among them, Norwegians and Polar Bear People were the majority, and the rest were scientists from around the world. Of course, there were also some people living scattered around the Svalbard Archipelago, most of them clustered together, worried about attacks from polar bears. This situation reminded Bi Fang of the joke about kangaroos invading Uruguay. ¡°So, if the polar bears were to revolt in an organized manner, it would mean that on average, a person would have to deal with more than two bears,¡± he said. ¡°These are the largest carnivorous animals in the world, with a body length between two to three meters, and adult males often weigh over half a ton.¡± As the northernmost city on Earth, it was only 1,300 kilometers from the North Pole and, apart from Greenland, was one of the last major land masses, serving as one of the strongholds for polar bears. Strolling down the path, Bi Fang even saw a polar bear cast a distant glance at him; but as soon as their eyes met, it fled in a hurry, its fur flapping in the wind. [Hahaha, it¡¯s running away] [Polar Bear: That look in the eyes, he¡¯s someone I can¡¯t afford to mess with] [Polar Bear feels a chill down its spine] Where people live, there will be infrastructure. Hotels, churches, post offices, and even pedestrian streetsa€¡±this place wasn¡¯t much different from any ordinary city. The only difference was that there was a scarcity of amenities for entertainment, transportation, financial services, and educational facilities. But this was an inevitable predicament for the Svalbard Archipelago. The roads were also mostly empty, lending a particularly quiet atmosphere. ¡°The city itself isn¡¯t big, so there¡¯s no need to drive. Usually, it¡¯s only at birth and death that people take a car to the coast to board a ship or plane and leave.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t there a hospital on the island?¡± ¡°There is, but people still prefer to go elsewhere. On one hand, because the local medical facilities are lacking, and on the other hand, to protect the environment.¡± [???] [What does that have to do with protecting the environment?] The audience was somewhat puzzled. ¡°You see, you didn¡¯t pay attention to the prohibitions just now. There¡¯s another rule that says, ¡®No burials allowed.''¡± ¡°The Svalbard Archipelago is the only place in the world where births and deaths are prohibited.¡± The audience was astonished. What was the reasoning behind this? Bi Fang explained, ¡°This is actually due to safety considerations. Since the area is perennially cold and the ground is mostly permafrost, viruses from corpses can easily be preserved by the ice. If the permafrost melts, the viruses could start to spread, leading to unimaginable disasters.¡± ¡°There is also just a small graveyard in Langyel City, and it stopped accepting new bodies 70 years ago.¡± ¡°Due to the poor local medical facilities, pregnant women close to childbirth and those with serious illnesses are taken away from this place to other cities in Norway for childbirth or burial. So, unless it¡¯s a sudden death, you have no right to die here.¡± ¡°Of course, there are no explicit regulations prohibiting birth and death; everything is done to protect this pristine land as much as possible.¡± In the Svalbard Archipelago, everyone is a guest. In addition to polar bears, you can also see whales, Arctic foxes, walruses, and arctic reindeers along the shore. Creatures of the snow, rarely seen elsewhere, are commonplace here. The group even saw a polar bear feasting. But these were not the true purpose of Bi Fang¡¯s visit. ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 As a survival expert, there was a certain place in the Svalbard Archipelago that Bi Fang had been curious about for a long time, and he could not miss it on this trip. The Doomsday Seed Vault. Also known as the Global Doomsday Seed Vault. A thick sense of the apocalypse made many viewers feel absurd; they were hearing about such a place for the first time. What was it used for? ¡°This Doomsday Seed Vault is built deep underground in the Svalbard Archipelago and serves as the last line of defense for global food security,¡± he explained. ¡°The seed vault can store 2.25 billion seeds for up to a thousand years, aiming to preserve crop diversity and prepare for disasters such as asteroid impacts on Earth or nuclear wars. The Norwegians have even given it a resounding namea€¡±Doomsday Dome.¡± ¡°Currently, about 100 million seeds from agricultural crops around the world are stored at minus 18 degrees Celsius in the vault.¡± [Hiss, why do I feel a bit anxious?] [Don¡¯t say that, I¡¯m starting to feel nervous already.] [This feeling that everyone¡¯s preparing for the apocalypse behind my back while I live in ignorancea€¡±is it just me?] [I¡¯m already watching Master Fang¡¯s videos to learn about survival.] [Master Fang! Save me!] [Hugging legs tight.] [Wait, is this kind of place open to the public?] ¡°Of course not,¡± Bi Fang said as he reached into the inner pocket of his jacket, searching for something. ¡°This vault has had a very low profile since its establishment, with almost no news reports about it.¡± ¡°The only internal filming occurred back in September and October of 2008, when the French photographer Caroline Boulen captured the entire process of transporting plant seeds from a farm in India to the seed vault, and there has been nothing since then.¡± ¡°Luckily, I got a pass.¡± Bi Fang finally took out his hand from the pocket, holding a stamped document and a magnetic card. He unfolded the document; it contained just a few simple sentences, but the stamp on it clearly had a high level of authoritative force. This was something Bi Fang had acquired from the Norwegian government two days in advance. The Norwegian side agreed very readily, and the respective documents were mailed directly to him. ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll take you to see the modern-day Noah¡¯s Ark!¡± Chapter 636 - Chapter 636 Chapter 633 Whats Called Privilege ?Chapter 636: Chapter 633 What¡¯s Called Privilege Chapter 636: Chapter 633 What¡¯s Called Privilege ¡°We need to hurry, we still have to catch a cruise ship in-between, and I hope we can make it before it gets dark.¡± Bi Fang stuffed the documents and magnetic card back into his inner pocket, zipped it up, and started jogging toward the direction of the seed vault. [Before it gets dark? Is it far away?] [We just got off the plane and it was just getting light, right? Is Old Fang planning to run the whole day?] [Master Fang: I can keep going for a whole day] [Really? I don¡¯t believe it, let¡¯s see (lifting the skirt)] [Are you guys stupid? This is the Arctic, there are polar days and nights, and it¡¯s October now, we¡¯re about to enter the polar night, the daytime is very short! I estimate only a few hours!] ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Bi Fang said with a smile, ¡°From November to February every year, within the Arctic Circle, we enter the polar night, there¡¯s no daytime, and this is also the most difficult part of my survival challenge two days from now.¡± Bi Fang planned to start his live-streamed survival on October 15th. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? According to the meteorological bureau, this year¡¯s polar night would begin on November 2nd. That meant Bi Fang had less than eighteen days to establish a safe house that could sustain life, after which he would welcome eternal night. Until February 13th, there would not be a single ray of sunlight within the entire Arctic Circle. Humans are diurnal animals. Without the sun, the difficulty of finding resources in the darkness is imaginable! Moreover, due to the absence of the largest source of thermal radiation, the overall temperature of the Arctic would continue to decrease. Shh! The audience gasped at the chilling reality, is it really that terrifying? [I always thought that polar night was 24 hours of total darkness, and that the sun appears for a few hours¡­] [Eternal night sounds like the end of the world from a novel.] [So scary, months of darkness? Can people really survive a hundred days in such an environment? Even the Inuit can¡¯t manage that, right?] The audience found it difficult to imagine how to endure a hundred days of darkness. The path became more and more remote, and less than half an hour into the walk, there was no one in sight. Leaving the human city, the temperature kept dropping. After getting off the cruise ship, Bi Fang had to put on a hat to resist the wind and snow to advance, each step leaving deep footprints. All around was a pure white snowfield, and if it weren¡¯t for the footprints left along the way, some viewers might even doubt whether Bi Fang had gotten lost. Only when the sun was about to set, a rectangular concrete wedge appeared at the end of the snowfield, in stark contrast to the snow-covered scenery, its shadow casting long on the white snow, resembling a huge battleship with only its mast above the surface. Bi Fang took off his hat, rubbed his hands together, and pulled out the thermometer. Negative sixteen degrees. All around was desolate, with a piercing cold wind. ¡°Not too bad, it¡¯s not particularly cold, I¡¯ve managed to catch up before sunset,¡± Bi Fang breathed a sigh of relief. Actually, it had only been five hours since departure. In early October, the daylight hours had become very brief. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we should hurry over.¡± Bi Fang pulled his feet out of the snow and ran towards the seed vault. Only on approach did the audience realise the futuristic feel of this fortress, the square and straight wedge-shaped exterior that looked like an alien spaceship buried under a snowy mountain. At the very front, a layer covered with irregular reflective panes, resembling glass, reflected a faint blue light. On the snowy mountain slopes behind, several polar bears wandered, looking down from above at Bi Fang, the outsider, like guardians protecting the seed vault. If it weren¡¯t for a distance of more than three hundred meters between them, Bi Fang would definitely run away in respect. Bi Fang stepped onto a short bridge made of wire mesh, arriving at the door of the Doomsday Seed Vault. Before he could swipe the card, he heard the sound of mechanisms moving. The door opened automatically, and a curly-haired man with glasses walked out, saw Bi Fang, and shook his cellphone with a beaming smile, taking off his gloves, ¡°Welcome, I¡¯ve been waiting for you for a long time.¡± ¡°Hello.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s eyes were sharp, and he noticed that his own live feed was playing on the man¡¯s phone, showing that the man was indeed waiting for him. The man stepped aside, making room for one person to pass. Bi Fang entered, curiously looking around. It was also his first time seeing the inside of the seed vault. What came into view was a small room resembling a tunnel, filled with the sounds of electrical and cooling equipment running, and at the very end was another door with a passcode lock on it. The man led Bi Fang to the door, introducing himself along the way with familiar ease. Cooper Barritt, a scholarly-looking man with black-rimmed glasses, which gave him an air of erudition. ¡°So you¡¯re the guardian of this place?¡± ¡°Guardian? Oh, no.¡± Barrett shook his head, ¡°The Seed Vault doesn¡¯t need a guardian. I¡¯m just doing the ¡®tour guide¡¯ job. To tell you the truth, I only arrived here one day before you.¡± Bi Fang was astonished. Barrett said, ¡°Since its completion, only a few hundred people have been here, as there¡¯s no one on duty. Everything operates automatically. In fact, if it truly needed someone to guard it to ensure stable function, then we¡¯d have to doubt whether it could really operate automatically in a doomsday crisis.¡± [Wow, that sounds so cool] [Truly awesome] [That¡¯s the spirit.] The two quickly arrived in front of the door, and as Barrett was about to enter the passcode, Bi Fang quickly covered the drone¡¯s camera. Barrett smiled, ¡°Actually, it doesn¡¯t matter if you see it. We change the password periodically.¡± [Exactly, can¡¯t we have a little more trust between people?] [Damn it, Old Fang, you don¡¯t trust us!] Bi Fang helplessly shrugged and dropped his right hand that was covering the camera. Accompanied by the sound of air valves releasing, the door slowly opened. Strip lights slowly lit up, and the viewers couldn¡¯t wait to see insidea€¡±there was a long concrete tunnel. Barrett led the way, ¡°When it was built, the workers carved out a 120-meter long tunnel into the permafrost layer inside the mountain, which is the one we are walking through now.¡± The sound of Barrett¡¯s voice echoed down the long tunnel, empty and distant. ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï The two of them walked side by side, the drone following behind, capturing everything, providing the audience with a feast for their eyes. This kind of futuristic technological scene, they had only seen in movies, never expecting it to be real. ¡°This Seed Vault is indeed a frequent guest in movies; it even made an appearance in ¡®The Wandering Earth,''¡± Barrett replied jokingly to the comments he saw on the live feed. [Damn, no wonder it looked so familiar, it¡¯s actually real!] [Truly awesome] [Not talking anymore, I¡¯ve started building a bunker in the yard to prepare for doomsday] [You have a yard? Show-off dog, drop dead!] ¡°Mr. Fang is actually the first visitor of the Seed Vault this year,¡± Barrett walked with Bi Fang down the long tunnel, revealing a surprise to everyone. ¡°The first one?¡± ¡°The sample vault isn¡¯t manned; it only opens 2-3 times a year for sample deposits and to allow important guests to visit. So far, only a few hundred have visited.¡± ¡°Crown Prince Magnus of Norway visited the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. During his visit, he requested to see the ¡®core area¡¯a€¡±the storage rooma€¡±and was denied entry.¡± ¡°Former President Carter of Ugly Country came here with the Save the World Foundation¡¯s staff, and they too weren¡¯t granted entry to the ¡®heart¡¯ of the Seed Vault.¡± The audience was stunned. Old Fang just brought them in like this? [What do you mean by important guests (tactical leaning back)?!] After passing through the 100+ meter-long cylindrical passageway, they finally reached a slightly more spacious room. In front of them was a huge iron door covered in ice, and behind that door was the seed storage warehouse. As the door opened with a thunderous roar, Barrett¡¯s voice became solemn. ¡°Welcome to ¡®Noah¡¯s Ark,¡¯ Mr. Fang.¡± Chapter 637 - Chapter 637 Chapter 634 Doomsday Vault ?Chapter 637: Chapter 634: Doomsday Vault Chapter 637: Chapter 634: Doomsday Vault Snow. Thick snow. Ice frost covered the vault door at the end of the corridor, and Bi Fang reached out to touch the wall, feeling the snowflakes that had crystallized into ice. An astonishing chill traveled from his fingertips to the palm of his hand as if it intended to freeze his blood. When Bi Fang pulled his hand away, his fingertips had frozen to the frost, leaving behind remnants of fractured ice crystals, a layer of white cold frost. The temperature here was even lower than the outside. Behind this frost-covered iron door lay the real seed warehouse. A series of checkpoints had made everyone realize what true layered defense was. The iron door swung open, and visible cold frost drifted out. The cold wind poured into the tunnel, causing Bi Fang to squint his eyes. After a moment, when the light and shadows became clear, he could finally see the true scene within this Noah¡¯s Ark. Vast. Incredibly vast. Like a giant warehouse. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? A room the size of a huge conference hall was filled with supermarket-like shelves, each shelf with boxes holding seed samples from various countries. Bi Fang walked past row after row, from Europe to Asia, from Norway to Huaxia, each seed packet filled with information. ¡°Each country¡¯s seeds are distributed in a few large boxes. International seed samples are flown to the island, some in wooden boxes, some in cardboard, and upon arrival, the box samples are examined with X-ray. They are not opened.¡± Barrett, guiding Bi Fang, weaved among the ¡°shelves,¡± introducing each one. ¡°Most of the sample packaging is made of tin foil bags, each containing 200-300 seeds.¡± ¡°The seed vault stores backup samples. Each institution has physical samples preserved locally, these institutions are seed vaults constructed by various nations. However, due to natural disasters and man-made calamities, backups are needed in the Doomsday Seed Vault.¡± [Have these seeds ever been used?] [Are you stupid? This is the Doomsday Seed Vault. When have you encountered the apocalypse?] An audience member raised a doubt, but was immediately contradicted by others. Bi Fang relayed this question to Barrett, who surprisingly confirmed it. The seeds had been used once since the vault was established. The audience fell silent for a while. [Damn, is the incident of ¡¯99 no longer a secret?] [Stop the broadcast, hurry up!! Do you want to become a criminal against humanity?] [Forget it, the meme contamination is about to start] [Shut up, you signed a confidentiality agreement, don¡¯t talk anymore!] ¡°This Doomsday Vault only began construction in 2005 and wasn¡¯t completed and in operation until 2008. It definitely wasn¡¯t used in the year ¡¯99,¡± Bi Fang said soberly. Barrett was a bit bewildered; he looked at the streaming comments, which were in both Chinese and English, but even in English, he didn¡¯t recognize the combination of words. What happened in ¡¯99? Wasn¡¯t he just nine years old at the time? ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Just a joke,¡± Bi Fang said, quite embarrassed. ¡°Alright,¡± Barrett shrugged, unconcerned, and continued, ¡°The seeds that were taken were from Ruyuliqa, which was still in the midst of a civil war.¡± ¡°During the civil war in Ruyuliqa in September 2015, hundreds of thousands died and about 11 million were forced to become refugees; amidst the war, the main seed vault located in Aleppo in the Middle Eastern region was destroyed and rendered unusable.¡± ¡°The war forced Aqionghan to withdraw seeds from the ¡®Doomsday Seed Vault¡¯ for the first time. Their researchers applied to us, requesting to retrieve nearly 130 boxes out of the 325 boxes, a total of 116,000 agricultural crop seed ¡®backups¡¯ stored here, for planting and agricultural restoration,¡± he said. ¡°It was the first and, so far, the only time since the establishment of the world seed bank.¡± The online audience was shocked, Aqionghan, of all places? ¡°This seed vault holds varieties from the 2,000-year history of human agricultural civilization, the hard-earned results and crystallization of the labor of farmers over several millennia, linking our past and future agricultural development.¡± The situation in Aqionghan made everyone realize the necessity of establishing a seed vault. ¡°Each vault can store 1.5 million samples. Currently, only one vault is open for use while the rest remain sealed.¡± ¡°In addition to food crops, there are also backups of many rare plant seeds,¡± ¡°Our goal is to provide a safety net to prevent the accidental loss of species diversity in the event of major global or regional incidents.¡± ¡°Its function is like a safe deposit box in a bank, allowing specific organizations or governments to ¡®deposit¡¯ seeds for preservation, and only they have the right to access them.¡± ¡°So, in theory, this place is off-limits to any visitors, and historically, only one journalist has ever been allowed to tour here. Mr. Fang can be considered the second,¡± Barrett looked up at the drone in mid-air, smiling as he spoke. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 [Boss Fang sure has a lot of clout!] [Envious. When can I get this kind of treatment¡­] [First, you have to have some universally recognized, meaningful, and widely known ¡®world¡¯s first¡¯ title, then hold a significant political status, and also have symbolic significance in some way, having made several groundbreaking actions that shocked the world. That should do it.] [Damn¡­] [Slowly typing out a question mark.] [What political position does Master Fang hold?] [Old Fang is a military school officer!] As time went by, even though Bi Fang had never deliberately exploited this for publicity, his status in this regard had long since become known. By going through security checks for boarding, gradually, everyone knew about it, and it was clear that things were such. [Almost forgot, Old Fang is a military officer¡­] [Damn it, look at his twenty-five years, and then look at mine. No more talk, time to sleep some more. Dreams have it all.] The entire vault was huge and very cold. Almost ten degrees colder than outside. The seed bank was also equipped with various sensors and cameras for remote real-time monitoring. Bi Fang saw a camera closely following their movement. ¡°In fact, there are over 1,700 gene banks worldwide, but many have safety concerns. For instance, the seed banks in Aqionghan and Iraq were completely destroyed, and Feral Ice was damaged by natural disasters like typhoons,¡± he said. ¡°Natural and man-made disasters can all lead to the destruction of rare collections, akin to the extinction of dinosaursa€¡±once gone, they are gone forever. It is due to the recognition of the vulnerability of gene banks around the world that we had the idea to create the Svalbard Global Seed Vault.¡± Confidence was evident in Barrett¡¯s words. Despite the naturally low indoor temperature, the ¡®Doomsday Seed Vault¡¯ is still equipped with cooling systems, ensuring the seed vault¡¯s temperature remains at minus 18 degrees Celsius so the seeds can be preserved for the long term, theoretically for thousands of years. ¡°From a functional design perspective, the seed vault can withstand most natural and man-made disasters, including the impact of asteroid collisions or nuclear war.¡± ¡°Also, its remote location contributes significantly to its safety. It¡¯s the closest archipelago to the Arctic, with no place more desolate and isolated than this,¡± As Barrett walked and talked, the audience in the live broadcast had their horizons broadened. Chapter 639 - Chapter 639 Chapter 636 Midnight Visitor ?Chapter 639: Chapter 636: Midnight Visitor Chapter 639: Chapter 636: Midnight Visitor Under the starry sky, the snowfield was not dim and lightless. Snowflakes are crystal structures, and the snow on the ground is like a layer of mirrors, capable of reflecting all the surrounding light. In the starlight, every rising snow mountain glowed with a faint dark light, and occasionally a huge figure could be seen running on ita€¡±that was a polar bear out hunting at night. Entering autumn in October, polar bears needed to forage extensively in order to survive the entire winter, which was also their most active time. The Doomsday Seed Vault emitted a faint green glow in the darkness, The engine rumbled deeply, and the heat from burning fuel rapidly spread throughout the off-road vehicle¡¯s body, slowly melting the prisms on the exhaust pipe, as clear droplets of water fell and froze again upon hitting the ground. Seemingly hearing the roar of the car, the polar bear that had been running across the snowfield suddenly stopped and turned its head toward Bi Fang. Bi Fang, upon seeing this, subconsciously reached for the hunting knife on his thigh. Having killed too many bears, the sight of them approaching triggered an instinctive urge to draw the knife. ¡°NO, NO, NO!¡± Barrett quickly explained. ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous, it¡¯s a normal reaction.¡± Bi Fang was stunned, ¡°Normal reaction?¡± How was this any kind of normal? Bi Fang had witnessed polar bears changing from a trot to a sprint, their fur flying, obviously showing signs of extreme excitement. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï This was normal? Up to this point, the most ferocious animals Bi Fang had dealt with were bears. Although he had never directly confronted a polar bear, as members of the same subfamily, they weren¡¯t much different, especially the brown bear and the polar bear, which had diverged not more than six hundred thousand years after their geographical isolation, without reproductive isolation. They both had exceptionally developed shoulder humps, a structural feature formed by the attachment of shoulder muscles, giving them powerful forelimb swings. The claws of a polar bear were more than 5 centimeters long, shorter than those of a brown bear but slightly longer than those of a black bear, and sharper. The claws of brown and black bears were quite blunt, while those of polar bears were extremely sharp, an evolutionary adaptation for walking through snow and ice. Strong and sharp, polar bears could easily tear through armor plates over 5mm thick, which meant that the two people in the off-road vehicle were not safe at the moment, in fact, they were in great danger! Bi Fang could tell that Barrett, too, was very nervous, his little finger trembling slightly as he gripped the steering wheel. But since Barrett had said so, Bi Fang didn¡¯t take any further action. Compared to himself, a visitor, Barrett must be more familiar with the local area. Barrett took several deep breaths, lowered his seat back, climbed into the back of the car, pressed the shoulder switch, pulled back the seat, and dragged out an object wrapped in greaseproof paper that was quite large. Barrett slowly unwrapped the greaseproof paper. A strong scent of grease wafted out. This was¡­ ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï The greaseproof paper was wrapped so tightly that Bi Fang hadn¡¯t smelled anything unusual after getting into the car. Barrett used a knife to cut it open, and only then did everyone see that it was actually meat! It was pork belly. Bi Fang had deduced the type of meat based on the smell. This bag was not lacking in quantity, there must be the amount of several pigs inside, all selected from the fattest parts of pork belly, usually the trimmings that no one ate. At first glance, there wasn¡¯t even any red lean meat visible, just pure fat. Although not many people eat it, for polar bears, there is nothing better than fatty oils, which are the only thing that can make them comfortably get through the entire polar night. Carrying the heavy butter bag, Barrett quickly opened the car door, lifted his legs, and took the fats out from the seat, then picked up the yellow paper, swiftly shut the car door, returned to his position and with one press of the gas pedal, sped away. The whole process was very quick, it looked as if he had done it more than once. ¡°Phew, every time I do this kind of thing, I get particularly nervous. This is the fourth time, and my palms still sweat,¡± Barrett let out a long breath as if completing a difficult task, Well, feeding polar bears in the wild is indeed a challenging task. After all, no one can guarantee that the last thing the polar bear will eat is not a sheep. ¡°Every time we come here, we feed the polar bears some food so that we can coexist peacefully,¡± Barrett explained as he drove. It was a combination of sternness and clemency, holding a rifle for authority, and periodic feeding as kindness. With the melting ice caps, polar bears that can catch seals are becoming increasingly rare, and each year a significant number of polar bears do not survive. According to ecological data projections, perhaps by 2100, polar bears might go extinct. ¡°We don¡¯t overfeed on each visit; we feed them just once to make sure they don¡¯t attack us due to extreme hunger.¡± The law that has always existed in nature is survival of the fittest, and most polar bears are able to catch enough food to get them through their difficulties. Only a small portion of weaker polar bears struggle to survive due to environmental changes. If humans continuously provide them with food, they would lose their hunting instincts. Therefore, Barrett and others have always maintained a rather fragile balance with the polar bears. Overall, this journey was an eye-opener for the viewers. It was like experiencing magical future technology in the real world, and also the first time they realized that humans are truly making practical plans for the future. Many people couldn¡¯t help but remember the words Bi Fang spoke long ago. The history of life is a story of massive selection, followed by the speciation of a few survivors. Earth has witnessed 5 major extinction events, with each event leading to the extinction of 70%-85% of species. During the Permian, more than 95% of animals disappeared from the stage and never returned. Humans have survived time and time again over nearly three and a half billion years. So what about the hundreds, thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of years into the future? Will we be voyaging through the stars, or become part of some fossil? Having traveled back to the city, Bi Fang bid farewell to Barrett, ended the livestream, and walked alone through the streets of the city. It was quite desolate¡­ After all, it was a place where polar bears outnumbered people. There were no street vendors, no stalls, only orange-yellow street lamps, and the occasional passing car. Warning signs painted in black with a white polar bear and a red outline also informed passersby of the potential dangers outside. The majority of polar bear attacks on humans occur at night. In fact, it was just a regular six o¡¯clock in the afternoon, which in any other low-latitude city would still be dusk, but here, it was as deep into the night as midnight. Back at his lodging, Bi Fang had nothing to do and was about to pull out his phone to play some games before sleeping when suddenly the phone rang; the hotel¡¯s front desk informed him someone was looking for him downstairs. Someone looking for me? Bi Fang was startled. He had many friends, but surely none that extended to the most remote city in the world? Carrying a sense of curiosity, Bi Fang went downstairs, only to find a completely unknown stranger, a man he had never met before. Chapter 640 - Chapter 640 637 ?Chapter 640: 637 Chapter 640: 637 Even the largest ocean liner is but a tiny boat on the vast sea. Bi Fang tightened his clothes and exhaled a breath of warm air, which was almost invisible as mist. He took out his thermometer. Indeed, the temperature had dropped to negative nineteen degrees Celsius. Once below twenty degrees, the mist from one¡¯s breath would instantly become ice crystals, a temperature nearly impossible to reach in the Svalbard Archipelago, due to the millions of tons of warm currents from the North Atlantic surging through the ocean, bringing astonishing amounts of heat. The Westerlies Drift, the most powerful warm current in the northern part of the Atlantic, is also an extension of the Gulf Stream from the Gulf of Mexico. But with half a day¡¯s navigation, Bi Fang had gradually left the range of the warm current and arrived at Fram Strait, distinctly feeling the heat escaping from his body. ¡°The strait is located between Greenland and the Svalbard Archipelago, with a width of 450 kilometers. It serves as a passage from the Greenland Sea of the Arctic Ocean to the Norwegian Sea, between Greenland and the Spitsbergen group of islands.¡± ¡°It is named after the Norwegian ship Fram, which was constructed by the Danes, and the Norwegians aboard it became the first people in the world to reach the Antarctic.¡± ¡°The ship could accommodate a six-person exploration team, had once sunk into the sea, but was salvaged in 1936, and now remains intact in a museum.¡± Bi Fang, holding a map in his hand, was giving a simple lecture to the audience in the live broadcast room. And by his side, other tourists and sailors had also gathered, clustering around him like students, as he spoke about the Arctic Ocean. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? Compared to the previous several hours, the number of people surrounding Bi Fang had already decreased by more than half. Most had returned to their rooms to rest, partly because it was too cold outside, and partly because a€¡± seasickness. This was a long-distance fishing boat converted into a cruise ship. Initially, every tourist was excited without exception, and everything started with friendly greetings. The primary topics were threefold: ¡°What is your name?¡± ¡°Where are you from?¡± ¡°What did you do before?¡± Occasionally, one could hear someone bragging about the romantic escapades had the night before departure. And then, just a few hours later, the atmosphere on the ship had changed entirely; almost everyone was knocked down. Just as they sailed into the open sea, people started vomiting bile, the plastic bags beside them were already empty, with nothing left in their stomachs to throw up. Unlike the climax of a roller-coaster ride, which ends within 10 seconds or a few minutes, an ocean-going ship is like a 24-hour roller-coaster. Swaying left and right is tolerable, but what¡¯s fearsome are the pitch and heave, like being forced to bungee jump or ride a drop tower non-stop. The most uncomfortable is the irregular tossing, with people on board becoming like dice in a casino, placed in a jar and shaken aimlessly in all directions. Tables and chairs in the rooms slid from one corner to another and back again. ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? Plus, the noise from the engines roaring non-stop, 24 hours a day, left no chance for peace. Only an experienced captain would, through personal example, tell newcomers: perseverance is the only remedy for seasickness. Eat something. If you throw up, eat again. As the ship tossed in the big waves, the rolling angle almost reached 30 degrees. Walking on the deck was extremely difficult. The group clustered around Bi Fang had changed over and over again. The Arctic Ocean is filled with icebergs floating on its surface, and to navigate flexibly around these ice caps, the ship was only about 70 meters long; the slightest wind and waves made it shake violently, making moving about on board like walking on a tightrope. At least a few people could remain composed, apart from the sailors, and the only person unaffected appeared to be Bi Fang himself. Outstanding core strength and balance allowed him to walk as if on flat ground, even outperforming many of the sailors as if the waves had no effect on him at all. ¡°What an odd relationship, Danes built it, Norwegians captained it?¡± a sailor raised a question nearby. ¡°Yes,¡± Bi Fang nodded with a smile, ¡°For thousands of years, humans have been trying to extend the footprint of exploration and discovery to every corner of the Earth. Among all, the most enchanting and coveted destinations for explorers are the mysterious icy realms of the Arctic and Antarctic.¡± ¡°In the late 15th century, European explorers sought to discover a route to Asia by sailing northwest or northeast. At that time, people already knew that the northern parts of Norway were not frozen, so the explorers began their Arctic expeditions in search of the Northwest Passage, and they would continue this struggle for several centuries to follow.¡± ¡°In 1845, the government of the Central Country decided to establish two grand prizes: 20,000 British Pounds to reward the first person to navigate the Northwest Passage and 5,000 British Pounds to reward the first ship to reach 89 degrees North latitude.¡± ¡°That was a substantial amount of money, and we have to thank Mr. Newton for that.¡± A little girl nearby raised her hand and asked, ¡°Newton? What does this have to do with Newton?¡± ¡°Because it was this physicist who, while working at the Mint, established the Central Country¡¯s gold standard. In 1717, Newton set the price of gold at 3 Pounds 17 Shillings and 10 Pence per troy ounce.¡± ¡°The British Pound¡¯s value was fixed to gold in 1717, a price that lasted until 1931, interrupted only twice, but was not affected in 1845.¡± ¡°To put it simply: in the 19th century, 1 Pound contained 7.32238 grams of pure gold. Today, the Huaxia currency¡¯s stated gold price is about 330 yuan/gram. In other words, 1 Pound was equivalent to more than 2,400 yuan in Huaxia currency, and given that gold mining was far less developed back then, the value would have been even higher.¡± ¡°In ¡®Around the World in 80 Days,¡¯ the wager between the protagonist and his friends was 20,000 Pounds, and the cost of circumnavigating the globe was also about 20,000. Judging by their lavish spending along the way, 20 million Huaxia currency might not have been enough.¡± Huaxia currency is now one of the world¡¯s universal currencies. With Bi Fang¡¯s conversion, those present could roughly understand its value. ¡°Such a vast fortune naturally stirred people¡¯s hearts, and nearly every explorer in Europe was mobilized, including those from Norway and Denmark.¡± [Holy moly, more than ten million?] [Not just that, it¡¯s immeasurable] [So much money] ¡°You truly are a learned man, knowledgeable in history, geography, and climate. To call you an all-rounder would not be an overstatement.¡± A gentleman tipped his hat in respect, having listened for several hours. He watched as the young man confidently held forth, completely engrossed. ¡°You flatter me,¡± Bi Fang replied with a polite smile before shifting the subject, ¡°But it was precisely this grand prize that led to the greatest tragedy in the history of Arctic exploration.¡± ¡°At that time, the Central Country¡¯s exploration ships HMS Erebus and HMS Terror were equipped with the most advanced steam engine propellers and also had heating systems to withstand the extreme cold of the Polar Regions.¡± ¡°The expedition was led by the renowned polar explorer John Franklin. But in July of that year, both ships mysteriously vanished in the Arctic seas under the leadership of Sir John Franklin, and the 129 elite crew members, including Franklin himself, disappeared without a trace.¡± Whispers of shock spread among a few of the listeners. The disappearance of over a hundred crew members was no small matter. The crew members, looking around at the icy sea, even felt a shiver of fear. Even though they had been here a dozen times, the chill down their backs was like the gaze of invisible ghosts watching over them. ¡°It was not until 1903 that Captain Amundsen appeared out of nowhere, landing on the Antarctic Continent with the Fram, becoming the first explorer to set foot on the Antarctic Continent,¡± Bi Fang brought the topic back full circle. The crowd nearby let out exclamations of appreciation for Amundsen¡¯s deed, in light of the previous example. Yet Bi Fang¡¯s tone had not risen for long before it once again became somber. ¡°The fact is, there was another captain as famous as Amundsen at that time, that was Scott. Just over a month after Amundsen landed, on January 18, 1912, Scott also reached the South Pole.¡± ¡°Regrettably, due to their physical exhaustion and an early storm, Scott and his team fell one by one on their way back.¡± ¡°Six months later, the rescue team found their bodies along with Scott¡¯s diary, which detailed his last expedition, as the diary continued until the final day. The rescuers buried them on the spot, and today they rest deep beneath the Antarctic ice.¡± ¡°The competition for the South Pole between Amundsen and Scott became an epic in the history of world exploration.¡± Scott and his team remained forever in that little cabin, while Amundsen became the first person in human history to reach the South Pole. ¡°And the tragic end of this hero is inseparably linked to the Arctic we see before us.¡± Bi Fang pointed to the sea in front of them, stirring a ripple of curiosity in the somber atmosphere. Chapter 641 - Chapter 641 Chapter 638 Polar Region Ah ?Chapter 641: Chapter 638: Polar Region Ah¡­¡­ Chapter 641: Chapter 638: Polar Region Ah¡­¡­ ¡°You¡¯re a great storyteller.¡± In the ship¡¯s corridor, Bi Fang was just about to return to his room when he ran into the captain, complete with a full beard. Leaning next to a seat with a cup of steaming coffee, the captain raised his cup in a toast, the faint mist emanating from it brought a touch of warmth amidst the cold of the Arctic Ocean. Bi Fang smiled, ¡°Actually, a good half of my livestream is storytelling, which I¡¯ve gotten better at over time.¡± Having just come down from the deck, many of the listening tourists were somewhat reluctant to leave. Human knowledge comes from three levels: experience, understanding, and epiphany. Experience is undoubtedly the most direct way to acquire knowledge, and for a lazy cognitive system, acquiring knowledge through experience is both natural and unquestionablea€¡±humans are born with a love for visual thinking. This is also Bi Fang¡¯s greatest strength; his audience never feels bored during his livestreams. Other people need to edit a day¡¯s worth of ¡®Wilderness Survivalist¡¯ content down to an hour, or even half an hour, to ensure enough attractiveness, but Bi Fang can keep his viewers intensely online, thanks to his strong storytelling ability. ¡°So you haven¡¯t told the end of the story yet? That explorer, called¡­ Mon¡­ Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Mon¡­¡± The captain handed over a cup of hot cocoa. He had listened in for a while and enjoyed it, but had to return midway to the captain¡¯s quarters for some tasks, and now he was curious about the ending. ¡°It was Roald Amundsen,¡± Bi Fang took the hot cocoa and took a small sip, praised it, ¡°Nice drink, but next time you could add a few more cubes of sugar.¡± The captain had his own charm. Bi Fang was on his way to Greenland, but he was headed somewhere further, more remote, where large cruise ships with set routes couldn¡¯t possibly change course just for one person. In the end, Bi Fang found this small cruise ship, originally converted from a deep-sea fishing vessel. Although its facilities were definitely not as luxurious as the ¡®Titanic¡¯, and comfort was somewhat lacking, the captain had very readily agreed to Bi Fang¡¯s request without any additional charges. He even mentioned he had been watching Bi Fang¡¯s livestream for a long time. ¡°According to your request, I have already added three sugar cubes and plenty of chocolate,¡± the captain said, at a loss for words. ¡°Hm, is that so,¡± Bi Fang shrugged, ¡°Do you have donuts on board? I¡¯ll have them for dinner tonight.¡± The captain spoke seriously, ¡°If you keep this up, you¡¯ll get diabetes by your mid-thirties.¡± ¡°Ah, it¡¯s just for this period of time.¡± These days, Bi Fang had been trying to gain weight, eating several meals a day, mostly sweets, to store as much fat in his body as possible to cope with the potential drastic weight loss during his Arctic survival. Thanks to the strong digestive capability of the ¡®King Fish¡¯s Stomach¡¯, Bi Fang¡¯s weight had already broken through the eighty-five kilogram mark, reaching 170 pounds. It is for this reason that Bi Fang had been livestreaming all these days. Because of the gradual change, it seemed not too noticeable; if there had been an interruption, the weight gain would feel much more obvious. ¡°So you haven¡¯t finished the story yet,¡± the captain reminded him. Even though he had sailed this route for more than a decade, the captain still didn¡¯t know there was such a legendary explorer, nor did he know the origin of the Strait¡¯s name. He had always thought Fram Strait was always called Fram Strait, just like how Angola was always called Angola, since time immemorial. ¡°The ending is that the explorer¡¯s glory was in Antarctica, but the curtain fell in the Arctic. The fireworks faded, and everything returned to Nature,¡± Bi Fang explained. Hearing this ending, the captain felt a moment of astonishment. ¡°After returning from Antarctica, Amundsen did not bask in the glory of plucking the crown jewel of the exploration world. He proposed early on to use aerial transportation to investigate the Arctic and made several attempts.¡± ¡°In 1915, he obtained Norway¡¯s first civilian pilot license. The following May, he flew with the Ugly Country People¡¯s Ehrlich and the Italian Nobile, taking a dirigible from Spitsbergen and traversing the North Pole to Alaska, a journey of 4,000 kilometers in total.¡± ¡°That was humanity¡¯s first flight across the Arctic. Previously, it was rumored that a vast land existed between the North Pole and Alaska. This flight proved those rumors wrong.¡± ¡°But on May 23, 1928, Nobile flew a dirigible to the North Pole for an exploration, and on the return journey, the airship crashed, leaving nine people stranded on the ice, with six unaccounted for. Upon receiving this news, Amundsen departed on June 18 to rescue his former exploration companions by plane, only to then be involved in an aviation accident.¡± ¡°An aviation accident?¡± ¡°Yes, on June 18, 1928, Amundsen took the French aircraft ¡®Latham Aircraft¡¯ to the Arctic in an attempt to rescue the missing Italian exploration team. On the way, the plane crashed, and Amundsen never returned.¡± December 14, 1928, was designated by the Norwegian government as Antarctica Day to commemorate Amundsen. At noon on that day, church bells across Norway would ring, and people would remember this great explorer with two minutes of silence. The spirit of Amundsen, who was resolutely committed to his ideals, dared to challenge himself, feared no difficulty, and was unwavering in his pursuit, will forever inspire future generations to explore the unknown world. After musing for a moment, Bi Fang began to recite. ¡°After completing his part of the work, he returned to the wilderness of the Arctic, the place where he vacationed. ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Under the pure sky of the world of ice and snow, he found an unknown eternal resting place, permeated with everlasting music. His name, like the splendid Northern Lights, shall forever illuminate Norway¡¯s young generation.¡± ¡°That¡¯s really nice.¡± ¡°That wasn¡¯t me who said that.¡± ¡°Then who did?¡± ¡°Fridtjof Nansen, a sailor, Arctic explorer, zoologist, and politician, was also a predecessor and idol of Amundsen.¡± ¡°He became famous in the science world for his expedition across the Greenland ice cap in 1888 and for sailing the ¡®Fram¡¯ across the Arctic Ocean from 1893 to 1896. He also received the Nobel Peace Prize for his work repatriating 500,000 prisoners of war and directly aiding the starving people of Polar Bear Country.¡± ¡°Wait a minute? The Fram again? Didn¡¯t you just say that Amundsen took it to Antarctica?¡± The captain questioned his own ears, wondering how this ship could be so prominent. ¡°Yes, but who told you a ship could only undertake one expedition or go to a single pole?¡± Bi Fang said with a twinkling, mischievous smile. The Fram, a legendary polar exploration ship that became famous twice over. Apart from this ship, no other vessel in the world had ever been to both the Arctic and Antarctica. Having drained the last of the hot cocoa from the mug, Bi Fang handed the cup back to the captain and turned to leave. Watching Bi Fang¡¯s departing figure, the captain reflected thoughtfully. The name of Amundsen, like the dazzling Northern Lights, will forever shine upon the younger generation. The Polar Region¡­ Here I come. Chapter 642 - Chapter 642 Chapter 639 Arriving at Greenland ?Chapter 642: Chapter 639: Arriving at Greenland Chapter 642: Chapter 639: Arriving at Greenland In order to save space, the staircases on board are generally very steep, and the clearance height of the rooms is only two meters, with pipelines, cables, and insulation materials laid across the top. Once the bed, cabinets, table, and chairs are arranged, the room is basically crammed full. Bi Fang made his way between the seats and wooden table and sat on the edge of the bed, which was a standard single bed and yet a bit narrower. The narrowness of the bed wasn¡¯t without reason; at sea, it¡¯s best for the bed to be just narrow enough to snugly encase one¡¯s body. Experienced sailors would stuff pillows and blankets at the head of the bed early on, so that when a storm hits, they could grasp the sides of the bed with their hands and push against the wall at the foot of the bed with their feet, to avoid being thrown onto the floor. Outside the room, the corridor on the ship barely met the international convention¡¯s minimum standarda€¡±0.7 meters. When two people met in the corridor, one had to turn sideways and press against the wall for the other to pass. As for entertainment, there were practically no public spaces other than the dining room. No wonder the fare for a cruise ship like this was so cheap. Bi Fang sighed inwardly, a fishing boat turned cruise ship could only offer such conditions. If it were before, the crew would have to spend a whole two or three-year stint in such an environment, but turning into a cruise was much simpler, and it offered a relatively more stable income. Most people¡¯s idea of life at sea is a lengthy holiday: eating sashimi, feeling the sea breeze, sunbathing, as if they¡¯re in Hawaii every day. The first few points were indeed true and also the biggest selling point of this ¡°cruise,¡± as it retained some of the fishing functions from its conversion. In the Arctic Ocean, with virtually no industrial pollution, you could catch fresh seafood and taste the finest sashimi without any seasoning, which felt tender and sweet. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? Not long after boarding, Bi Fang experienced an unprecedentedly huge haula€¡±a 120-pound catch. He had never eaten such delicious Arctic shrimp sashimi that simply melted in his mouth with a sweet and chewy texture. ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï But once all your meals every day become like this and continue for years¡­ Thinking about it that way, the captain who had decided to convert the ship really had courage; as a cruise, all that¡¯s left to enjoy are the good things. Bi Fang took his backpack out, pulled out two documents from the innermost compartment, and looked them over again and again. He had taken out two documents. One was allotment proof for hunting polar bears, and the other was a permit for seal hunting. It was given to him by the research staff at Yellow River Station. Bi Fang recalled the previous night when the hotel¡¯s front desk suddenly called him, saying someone was looking for him, and he had been curious about who would come to such a remote city to find him. It turned out to be a compatriot from Yellow River Station. The purpose of their visit was to deliver the two permits he was now examining. At face value, the meaning is very straightforward; Bi Fang could now hunt polar bears and seals, and it was through a legitimate, legal way. Greenland is also one of the polar bear¡¯s bases, and it¡¯s highly possible for Bi Fang to encounter them. They are animals with a quite strong curiosity, especially in autumn when they try to accumulate fat. Nobody can predict how a conflict would turn out once it erupts. The same goes for seals; at a critical moment, a seal might save a person¡¯s life. Whether it¡¯s their warm fur or the fat-filled seal meat, the heat and aid they provide are immensely substantial. Don¡¯t underestimate the determination of humans to protect both poles; it is so firm that it even shocks people. There¡¯s such a regulation in the Antarctic Treaty. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t obtained a ¡®seal hunting permit¡¯ before heading to Antarctica and you were about to starve to death after a disaster, would you be allowed to kill a seal to stave off hunger?¡± The answera€¡±sure to surprise everyonea€¡±was, ¡°You cannot kill a seal to stave off hunger.¡± Incredible, isn¡¯t it? Yes, anyone would find it unbelievable. Are the regulations so meticulous that one could still think that human commitment to protecting the Antarctic ecosystem is a joke? If you find these concepts as vacuous as advice from a distant planet, maybe it¡¯s because your world hasn¡¯t expanded to the ends of the Earth. Of course, that¡¯s the Antarctic Treaty, and Bi Fang was headed to the Arctic, where, even though an Arctic Treaty was in the works, there weren¡¯t such strict regulations yeta€¡±only prohibitions against ordinary people hunting. Apart from Canada, the only ones who could obtain hunting permits were various research centers and the local indigenous Inuit people. Hunting polar bears and seals is a means of survival for the Inuit people, a natural part of the food chain, just as it is natural for a polar bear to hunt seals. No one would stop them, and even so, the quota for each year was fixed. No matter how the polar bear died, it would count against the quota. This time, it was Yellow River Station that donated a quota of one polar bear and three seals to Bi Fang, giving him a helping hand. All in all, it was a huge favor. Bi Fang solemnly placed the two permit certificates into a compartment in his backpack. It was a major favor, and although he might not need to use it, he remembered it gratefully. Indeed, when you¡¯re out in the world, it¡¯s still best to rely on your own people. Over the next few days, Bi Fang remained on the ship, getting closer to Greenland. After the initial excitement wore off, the tourists on the ship began to treat Bi Fang¡¯s few hours of live broadcasting each day as a regular entertainment program. As the time approached, they would all appear on deck together, listening to Bi Fang explain cultural history and share intriguing anecdotes about past Arctic explorers. Everybody felt as though they were back in a classroom from their youth, only this lesson was more interesting and more beautiful. On the ship, what affected Bi Fang the most was probably going to the bathroom. Walking into the restroom, a sway of the ship made it impossible to squat steadily. In the end, Bi Fang concluded that one should choose calm days to use the restroom, or else they might very well end up constipated. Passing through the Fram Strait, the warming effects of the North Atlantic current were almost negligible, with temperatures dropping every daya€¡±not because winter was approaching, but simply due to the change in geographical location. From around zero degrees on Svalbard to minus twenty degrees in the strait, and now down to minus thirty degrees. Bi Fang had no doubt that, upon landing, the temperature could drop below minus thirty-five degrees, and during the period of polar night, it could even potentially reach sub-sixty-degree frigid temperatures. After several days of sailing, that morning, the captain sent a sailor to knock on Bi Fang¡¯s door to inform him. The northernmost tip of Greenland had been reached. Bi Fang stood up and looked out at the pitch-black porthole. Although it was technically morning, the sky was still dark, dotted with a mysterious ribbon of aquamarine light that drifted slowly, like the shimmer of a soap bubble. It was the aurora borealis. Today was a great day for the aurora to appear. It would be another two hours before dawn, but the silent icebergs of the night had already welcomed the first touch of natural light, turning the entire sky into an indissoluble hue of aquamarine. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s a good day to land on the island.¡± Chapter 643 - Chapter 643 Chapter 640 Arrival at the Arctic ?Chapter 643: Chapter 640: Arrival at the Arctic Chapter 643: Chapter 640: Arrival at the Arctic On the deck, a group of people stood, each one of them wrapped up in thick coats, bundled up like penguins. On a normal day, it still wouldn¡¯t be light out and everyone would be sleeping, but now quite a few people had actually shown up. Obviously, everyone had woken up early to see the aurora. The huge cruise ship slid through the sea filled with floating ice, shattering pieces of thin ice and leaving behind a clear trail of water. The Arctic Ocean is a sea covered in sea ice, with about two-thirds of its surface area made up of perennially frozen seawater; the remaining surface is also thick with floating ice and icebergs. About half of this water remains frozen year-round, the rest melts in spring and refreezes in winter. The ice in the central area has even been there for 3 million years, belonging to the category of permanent sea ice. As for the climate, it can be summed up in one word: cold. ¡°Whew, it¡¯s so cold.¡± ¡°Too cold, what¡¯s the temperature now?¡± ¡°Negative thirty.¡± ¡°Only thirty? Why do I feel it¡¯s colder than yesterday?¡± The person asking about the temperature was puzzled because it had been thirty for the past few days. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Today felt colder; why was it still thirty? ¡°That guy is from Ugly Country; he¡¯s talking in Fahrenheit. The temperature in Celsius is almost negative thirty-five degrees. Damn it, my nose is about to freeze off. When I get back, Stephen is definitely going to mock me.¡± ¡°Damn, my thermometer isn¡¯t moving!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± On the deck, a man tapped his thermometer against the railing, producing a metallic clinking sound. The temperature on the thermometer didn¡¯t budge, which was making the man quite frustrated. ¡°Kerosene¡¯s freezing point is negative thirty degrees Celsius. If it¡¯s frozen solid, of course, it won¡¯t move.¡± The voice came from the direction of the cabin. Everyone looked up and saw Bi Fang closing the door and walking out onto the deck. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Mr. Bi.¡± ¡°Mr. Bi, are you up to watch the aurora too?¡± ¡°Do you have any stories for us today?¡± ¡°I caught up with the videos last night, absolutely amazing. I regret not getting to know you earlier.¡± Everyone greeted him one after another; less than a week aboard, and everyone, from the captain to the chef to the tourists, knew this young man. Bi Fang nodded with a smile and approached the man who was complaining about his broken thermometer, leaning against the railing: ¡°Thermometers are typically made from three substances, kerosene, mercury, and alcohol.¡± ¡°Kerosene has a freezing point of just negative thirty degrees, below which it solidifies and naturally won¡¯t move. Or more precisely, the thermal contraction is so slight, it¡¯s almost imperceptible to the naked eye. Mercury has a freezing point of negative 38.87 degrees Celsius, so it¡¯s not an option either.¡± ¡°In the Arctic, you can only bring alcohol thermometers because only they have a freezing point of negative 117 degrees Celsius, suitable for all the low-temperature natural environments on Earth. Fortunately, you¡¯re not using mercury because if it explodes, it¡¯s very dangerous. However, it¡¯s rare for thermometers to use mercury anyway.¡± There are many types of thermometers, with clinical thermometers and atmospheric thermometers being the most common. Clinical thermometers are usually mercury, while atmospheric thermometers are kerosene or alcohol, and from their names alone, it¡¯s clear what they measure. ¡°Why is that?¡± Someone called out from behind. Bi Fang looked up: ¡°Because mercury expands slowly when heated and doesn¡¯t cool down quickly when taken out of the body. It needs to be shaken down to return to zero. Using it to measure temperature is simple and direct, and it also avoids errors caused by external temperature transfer.¡± ¡°Kerosene and alcohol thermometers expand quite noticeably with heat, changing very rapidly, heating and cooling will make them rise and fall quickly, so they¡¯re generally not used to measure body temperature, they¡¯re made red and hung indoors, to roughly monitor the weather temperature.¡± Everyone had a sudden realization. ¡°Everyone¡¯s up so early today?¡± Bi Fang glanced at the time; it wasn¡¯t even time for breakfast yet. Even though the real polar night had not yet arrived, the abnormally short day still reminded people to be mindful of the time. ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Most people probably don¡¯t have the experience of surviving through polar nights, but it¡¯s imaginable that it¡¯s not easy, with many issues, such as a disruption to humans¡¯ biological clocks. A large part of the human biological clock relies on natural light. So an important way to adjust their rhythm is to eat meals, and the meal times on the cruise ship are fixed, with only three meals free of charge. If you want an extra meal, sorry, you have to pay extra. ¡°We¡¯re all here to see the Northern Lights.¡± ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s almost dawn, can we still see them?¡± ¡°We can see them during the daytime here, of course we can.¡± ¡°Mr. Bi, you¡¯re up early too.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Bi Fang nodded, pointing towards the ice floes not far away, ¡°As soon as it gets light, I¡¯ll be getting off the ship to find a good spot.¡± He was getting off the ship! People were somewhat surprised but not too shocked; everyone knew that Bi Fang¡¯s purpose for joining this trip was to reach the northernmost point of Greenland. They just didn¡¯t expect it to come so soon. Half an hour later, the green bands in the sky persisted, the second hint of natural light slowly appeared on the horizon, lifting the deep black curtain a notch, with the pallor of dawn spreading. A century ago, on the other end of the Earth, on the Antarctic Continent, the bravest of people embarked on an uncertain voyage of exploration and adventure. On the left was flame, on the right was seawater, and ahead was the dream and glory they desperately sought in their hearts. A century later, a young man arrived at another node on Earth, carrying no supplies, ready to challenge himself to survive a hundred days here. The cold wind howled. The colossal cruise ship, over seventy meters long, once again shattered a piece of ice floe, with the sun dangling obliquely at the position of the ship¡¯s figurehead. The figurehead scattered the most glaring of the giant sun¡¯s rays, leaving splayed white light, spreading in all directions. The shivering tourists squinted and looked up, and before them lay a vast expanse of white voida€¡±not just blocks of white ice floes but a continent, an immense and unbroken pure white continent. There were no trees, no grass, no life. Just an endless cold wind, like blades of steel slashing across faces without any bloodshed, as all the blood froze into crimson icicles the instant it was about to spatter. Many spectators couldn¡¯t help but touch their own faces, their facial skin almost frozen numb until the warmth of their fingers touched what seemed to be icy cold skin did they realize, their faces had not been cut by the icy blade; it was all just an illusion. A familiar voice, mixing with the wind, reached their ears, and as people looked towards the sound, they noticed that the seemingly indestructible drone had already taken its position overhead. ¡°Looking back on the course of human evolution and change, if our ancestors hadn¡¯t taken risks and imagined, hadn¡¯t dared to innovate and have the courage to sacrifice with their broad and grand spirit, humans would not have used canoes to surf the oceans and explore the endless mysteries beyond the opposite shore.¡± ¡°Humans are curious, yielding the impulse for adventure; humans take risks, igniting the torch of civilization.¡± ¡°Adventure is not only about nature¡¯s oceans and mountains, deserts and swamps, but also lies within densely populated cities.¡± ¡°I am Bi Fang, a professional outdoor explorer, and this time, we¡¯ve come to the Arctic.¡± Chapter 644 - Chapter 644 Chapter 641 Occupy a Pit ?Chapter 644: Chapter 641 Occupy a Pit Chapter 644: Chapter 641 Occupy a Pit Familiar territory claiming segment. Will be done revising before 1am. Under the starry sky, the snowfield was far from dim and lightless. Snowflakes are crystalline structures, and the snow on the ground acts like a mirror, reflecting the surrounding light. In the starlight, each rising snow mound glistened with a faint dark glow, and occasionally, one could spot a huge figure running on topa€¡±it was the polar bear out hunting at night. October marks the beginning of autumn, and polar bears needed to feed extensively to survive the entire winter; this was also their most active period. The faint emerald glow from the Doomsday Seed Vault diffused into the night. The engine rumbled deeply, and heat from the burning fuel quickly spread throughout the off-road vehicle¡¯s body. The icicles on the exhaust pipe slowly melted, and clear droplets fell, freezing again upon touching the ground. The polar bear, which had been running across the snowfield, suddenly stopped at the sound of the vehicle¡¯s rumble and turned to approach Bi Fang. ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Bi Fang, upon seeing this, instinctively reached for the hunting knife on his thigh. Having killed too many bears, the sight of them approaching triggered an instinctual urge to draw the knife. ¡°NONONO!¡± Barrett quickly explained. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous, this is a normal reaction.¡± Bi Fang was taken aback, ¡°Normal reaction?¡± What kind of normal was this? Bi Fang witnessed the polar bear accelerate from a trot to a sprint, its fur bristling in what was clearly an extremely excited state. This was considered normal? So far, the most dangerous beasts Bi Fang had dealt with were bears. Although he had never faced off against a polar bear head-on, they belonged to the same subfamily, so they were not very different. In particular, the brown bear and the polar bear had diverged less than 600,000 years ago after being geographically separated, with no reproductive isolation between them. Both had abnormally developed shoulder humps, a structural feature formed by the attachment of shoulder muscles, which when developed, could powerfully drive their forelimbs in a swing. The claws of a polar bear were over 5 centimeters long, shorter than those of a brown bear, but slightly longer than those of a black bear, and their advantage lay in their sharpness. The claws of the brown bear and the black bear were quite blunt, whereas the polar bear¡¯s claws were extremely sharp, an adaptive evolution for walking in ice and snow. Strong and sharp, polar bears could easily tear through armor plates over 5mm thick. This meant that the two people inside the off-road vehicle were far from safe and, in fact, were in great danger! Bi Fang could tell that Barrett was also quite tense, his little finger clutching the steering wheel trembling slightly. But since Barrett had said so, Bi Fang refrained from taking any further action. Compared to himself, a visitor, Barrett likely had a deeper familiarity with the local area. Barrett took several deep breaths, laid back his seat, climbed into the back, and pressed a button on the shoulder, pulling down the seatback to drag out a fairly large object wrapped in greaseproof paper. Barrett slowly unwrapped the paper. A rich smell of fat wafted out. What was this¡­ The greaseproof paper had been wrapped so tightly that Bi Fang hadn¡¯t smelled anything unusual after getting in the car. Barrett cut it open with a knife, and everyone could finally seea€¡±it was meat! Pork belly. Based on the smell, Bi Fang had identified the type of meat. There¡¯s still quite a bit in this bag, enough for several pigs at least, all selected from the fattiest parts of pork bellya€¡±those edge pieces no one typically eats. At first glance, one might not even see any red lean meat, just pure fat. Though not many people eat this, for polar bears, there is no better food than pure fat. It¡¯s only fat that can allow them to comfortably get through the entire polar night. Holding the heavy bag of lard, Barrett quickly opened the car door, lifted his legs, and pulled the fat out from the seat. He then picked up the yellow paper, swiftly closed the car door, and returned to his spot, slamming on the accelerator to speed away. The entire process was done very quickly, suggesting it wasn¡¯t his first time doing this. ¡°Phew, every time I do this kind of thing I get particularly nervous. This is the fourth time, but my palms still sweat,¡± Barrett sighed with relief, as if he had completed some arduous task. Indeed, feeding polar bears in the wild is a formidable task. After all, no one can guarantee that the polar bears will end up feasting on sheep. ¡°Each time we come, we feed the polar bears a bit of food, so that we can coexist peacefully,¡± Barrett explained, driving the car. It was a mix of both carrot and sticka€¡±the rifle served as the stick, and the regular feeding was the carrot. As the glaciers melt, polar bears that can catch seals become fewer each year, and many don¡¯t survive. According to ecological data projections, perhaps by 2100, polar bears will be extinct. ¡°We don¡¯t overfeed them during our visits; we just feed them enough to ensure they aren¡¯t so hungry they might attack us.¡± The rule that always existed in nature, survival of the fittest, meant most polar bears could still catch enough food to get through their hardships. Only a small portion of weaker bears struggle to survive due to environmental changes. If humans continuously provide them with food, they could lose their hunting instincts. Therefore, Barrett and others have always maintained a rather fragile balance with the polar bears. Overall, this trip opened the eyes of the audience. It was like witnessing future technology in the real world and realizing for the first time that humans have indeed made practical plans for the future. Many were reminded of the words Bi Fang said a long time ago. The history of life is a story of mass extinction, followed by the diversification of the few survivors. Earth has witnessed five major extinction events, with 70%-85% of species dying out each time. During the Permian period, more than 95% of animals were wiped out, never to return. Humans have survived over and over again throughout nearly three and a half billion years. Would we be swimming in the cosmic ocean hundreds, thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of years from now, or become part of a fossil? After making his way back to the city, Bi Fang bid farewell to Barrett, ended the live broadcast, and walked alone slowly through the city streets. Quite desolate¡­ After all, this was a place where polar bears outnumbered people. There were no street vendors or stalls, only orange streetlights and the occasional passing vehicle. Warning signs, black with images of white polar bears and red outlines, also informed pedestrians of the potential dangers outside. Most polar bear attacks on humans occur at night. In fact, it was only six in the evening now, which would have been merely dusk in any low-latitude city, but here the night seemed as deep as midnight. Returning to his lodgings, with nothing better to do, Bi Fang was about to pull out his phone to play a few games before sleeping when suddenly the phone rang. The hotel¡¯s front desk notified him that someone was looking for him downstairs. Someone looking for me? Bi Fang was surprised; he had many friends, but none that he knew of in the world¡¯s most remote cities. With curiosity, Bi Fang went downstairs, only to find a completely unfamiliar man waiting for him. Chapter 645 - Chapter 645 I understand all the logic, but when is the game coming out ?Chapter 645: I understand all the logic, but when is the game coming out? Chapter 645: I understand all the logic, but when is the game coming out? Only the sound of wind remained between heaven and earth, and everyone momentarily held their breath. Scattered snowflakes drifted onto faces, but they couldn¡¯t stay put, as if crashing into a cold stone, they quickly departed. It wasn¡¯t snowing; these snowflakes were lifted from the ice surface, whirling at low altitude, creating one short-lived vortex after another, which could only last for a few seconds before being dispersed by the fierce wind, then gathering again after a while. The cruise ship, less than eighty meters long, seemed significantly smaller compared to the hundreds of meters long cargo ships. Yet, standing up close, it was still unimaginably massive to ordinary people. But this huge vessel, compared to the coastal line stretching hundreds of kilometers, became unremarkable again. The drone rose a hundred meters into the air, looking down from the web, the huge cruise ship moved sluggishly, its deck crowded with passengers on one side. Standing on the vertical ladder in the exact center of the ship¡¯s route was a tiny figure. Bi Fang squinted against the wind and snow, his heart beating thumpingly, pumping blood throughout his body to provide enough heat to sustain his movements. Standing alone in the wind was even colder than staying within a crowd. Bi Fang thought to himself. He climbed down the iron ladder slowly to the shore, the massive body of the ship bobbing on the waves, barely touching the sea ice, it was hard to tell which one was undulating. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? Bi Fang let go, The audience gasped. Bi Fang kicked off the ladder with his legs, The people¡¯s pupils contracted. At last, He landed gently. Bi Fang stood up from the ice floe, brushed the snowflakes off his pants, and waved to the captain on the deck to thank him for the send-off. ¡°Goodbye!¡± ¡°Goodbye!¡± The captain¡¯s beard quivered slightly, waving fervently at the departing Bi Fang. The two said farewell like the most normal of friends, showing no sign that the one stepping onto the floating ice was about to undertake a challenge of surviving a hundred days in the coldest place of the Arctic. When the captain turned back, he jumped in shock, realizing that all the passengers on board were staring at him, their gazes filled with inexplicable meaning. The captain felt confused, he touched his own beard and tentatively asked, ¡°Are you all expecting something?¡± The passengers looked at each other; one of them, a man with a hat, stepped forward. He had been a faithful listener to Bi Fang¡¯s stories aboard the ship, and whenever he heard something astonishing, he would take off his cap as a sign of respect. The man, faced with the expectant eyes of the crowd, hesitated for a moment. Then, with his right hand flat and his left hand¡¯s index and middle fingers extended, he simulated a miniature human figure, which walked across the palm of his right hand toward the edge and then, with a sudden leap, dove off. After signaling in this manner, the man seemed to solidify his conviction and stated confidently, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t Mr. Fang have jumped down like this?¡± Captain: ¡°¡­¡± Inside the cabin, Guoba scratched his head. He had been holding his breath just now, and after waiting so long, Bi Fang just went on the ice floe as if he were simply going downstairs, and nothing happened. He almost choked on his anticipation. Compared with the previous falls with protection, diving into the sea, and rapid descent, it was as ordinary as an old man doing Tai Chi in the park after sunrise. ¡°Many people get off the ship this way; what else do you expect?¡± The captain was frustrated. There was nothing flashy about jumping down; the thickness of the Arctic Ocean ice was reliable, but the section where it meets the waves is usually thin. Even if not thin, the incessant lashing of seawater makes it very slippery, with a watery film on its surface. If one were really to jump down, they¡¯d likely end up in the sea. Bi Fang didn¡¯t want to lose a significant amount of heat right from the start; that would be a pretty bad beginning. [So it¡¯s just me who¡¯s anxious enough to hold my breath, huh?] [You¡¯re not alone.] [You¡¯re not human.] [Exhausted. Got excited for nothing.] [What do we do next?] Bi Fang looked at this question and couldn¡¯t help but look up at the sun, surveying his surroundings, a vast expanse of white. For the survival task, determining direction wasn¡¯t that important, as he was going to stay here rather than searching for an escape route. Turning around, the cruise ship was already far away, a loud whistle sounded, and the white smoke melded with the snow and wind, slowly disappearing into the distance. Now, Bi Fang was truly alone in the world, not even a sea bird in sight. The young explorer was left in a snowy wilderness, watching the cruise ship disappear beyond the horizon. After the cruise ship disappeared, the world almost quieted down. A faint feeling of loneliness wound through everyone¡¯s hearts, slowing the typists¡¯ hands involuntarily. How was he to survive? All around, there was nothing but ice. What would he eat? And there were endless bitter winds, squeezing into every inch of his body as if in a mortal struggle, determined to strip away his warmth, even the slightest bit. Bi Fang crouched down and swiped the ground, brushing away the thin layer of frost crystals to reveal the smooth, polished ice underneath, reflecting his face. Drawing his Hunting Knife, Bi Fang began smashing it into the ice, chipping away with the sharp and sturdy tip. At negative forty degrees, the special steel hadn¡¯t reached the temperature where it would become brittle. ¡°Survival essentially revolves around water, fire, food; this is also one of the basic sequences of survival. ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï In the vast majority of cases, this order doesn¡¯t change, whether in rainforests, forests, wetlands, mountains, oceans, grasslands, or deserts. Only in some extreme situations does the order change.¡± ¡°For example, deep in the Arctic, fire, water, then food is the correct sequence for survival.¡± Bi Fang took out a water bottle from inside his clothes, filled it with the chipped ice he had just carved out, and then tucked it close to his body, using his dissipated body heat to melt it. Bi Fang had discussed this in Mohe before, but he summarized the reasons again simply. ¡°Fire is, in essence, temperature, which is heat, the most fundamental energy required for biological activities.¡± ¡°Due to temperature differences, the inevitable loss of our body heat is happening. Heating the water bottle with our dissipating body warmth is about not letting this heat go to waste.¡± ¡°If survival were a game, and we were to concretize our total heat value, let¡¯s say it is a hundred. Then one could say that we have a DEBUFF causing our heat to continuously decline.¡± ¡°And the colder the external environment, the more pronounced this negative effect becomes. In a forest, you might lose 0.1 point per hour, while here it could be one point per hour. Once it reaches zero, our lives are over.¡± ¡°Furthermore, any action we take can exacerbate this process, such as walking, getting injured, or constructing tools.¡± ¡°Some measures can lessen the impact of the debuff, such as wearing thick clothes, sleeping, making a fire, drinking hot water, or living within a house.¡± ¡°Then there are measures not just to lessen the debuff¡¯s impact, but to increase our own heat storage, like eating meals.¡± ¡°The key to polar survival is to reach a dynamic equilibrium of heat before this hundred-point value zeroes out, either by reducing the debuff, increasing heat gain, to the point where the output exceeds the input.¡± [I get the principle, I just want to know, when does the game come out?] Chapter 646 - Chapter 646 Chapter 643 Taking a Slot ?Chapter 646: Chapter 643 Taking a Slot Chapter 646: Chapter 643 Taking a Slot The placeholder session soon ended. I changed it back before one-thirty in the morning. Love you all. The cold wind cut across the face. Bi Fang stepped out of the cabin, exhaled a breath of cold mist, and shivered all over. Suddenly entering the bitter winter from the height of summer, even those with strong physiques felt the bone-chilling cold. By then, Bi Fang had already donned his storm jacket. This place wasn¡¯t Greenland, but Langyel City in the Svalbard Archipelago. Located at 78 degrees 13 minutes north latitude and 15 degrees 33 minutes east longitude, it is the northernmost city in the world. Its approximately 1,800 residents are mostly Norwegian, making it the most populous city at the northern tip of the world. The town also boasts a newspapera€¡± ¡°Svalbard Post¡±, the world¡¯s northernmost post office. Here, Bi Fang was quite close to the northernmost point of Greenland that he intended to visit, only separated by a stretch of the Greenland Sea. Travelling by ferry, passing through the Fram Strait, he would cover several hundred nautical miles in less than two days to reach his destination. In fact, Bi Fang could have taken a direct flight to Greenland, but he chose to first visit the Svalbard Archipelago and then take a cruise to Greenland. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã? One reason was to see the beautiful Svalbard Archipelago. The scope of the Arctic is vast, referring both to the vicinity of the Arctic Circle and to the North Pole at 90 degrees north latitude. As a traveler here, one should of course visit the homeland of the polar bear, the Svalbard Archipelago. The place is cold, yet not excessively so; a thick down jacket is more than enough. Here one could see the aurora during daylight, free-roaming polar bears, Greenland whales, and houses nestled in the snowfields. With no skyscrapers, this tourist destination is not as crowded as others, conveying a sense of peace. The reason he didn¡¯t wait until after survival was¡­ Bi Fang suspected that after a hundred days in his current state, he would have no interest in tourism at all. It was better to create some beautiful memories for himself in advance. The second reason was to give his body a period to adapt. Going from a hot area with temperatures over thirty degrees to a cold area with temperatures below minus thirty or forty degreesa€¡±a temperature difference of over sixty degreesa€¡±was a stern test for the body. Bi Fang had no desire to fall ill right after getting off the plane. Visiting Svalbard as a buffer, with one day of sightseeing and two days on a cruise ship, was enough. He took out his phone to check the current temperature: minus three degrees. Walking inside the airport, one could even spot young and beautiful girls exposing their smooth ankles. He hoped they wouldn¡¯t suffer from rheumatism or arthritis in their thirties or forties. Bi Fang sent them his best wishes. In coastal areas, the high humidity and low temperature made it easy for the cold to penetrate the body, causing significant harm. ¡°Everyone should keep warm in winter,¡± Bi Fang made a point of advising the audience in the livestream. Having just disembarked from the plane, Bi Fang had started his livestream, also wanting the viewers to enjoy the natural scenery together. Perhaps the allure of the Arctic was too strong. It wasn¡¯t long before hundreds of thousands of viewers gathered in the livestream. It¡¯s funny; these days have been all about traveling, but the audience in the livestream room has indeed had their fill of excitement, with live broadcasts to watch nearly every day. And now, less than two days after returning from the Central Country, he was broadcasting again, presenting a completely different scene from the sunny beaches of the Central Country. It was as if summer had suddenly turned into winter. ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Everyone¡¯s clothes had become bulkier, especially for the majority of the audience who were still in the midst of the summer season. This feeling was very peculiar, as if they had entered a fairy-tale world. Stepping out of the airport at Langyel City, the capital of the Svalbard Archipelago, Bi Fang immediately spotted a striking ¡°Tourists Notice.¡± It was covered with a dense array of prohibitions. One must not litter, hunt or disturb birds and animals, transplant trees, pick flowers, or damage artifacts herea€| [Damn, isn¡¯t this a bit too strict?] [What do you mean by strict¡­? Shouldn¡¯t civilized tourists be doing this anyway?] So in the audience¡¯s mind, shouldn¡¯t a tourism city feature a welcoming slogan? Instead, you are greeted with a list of don¡¯ts, which can be slightly off-putting. Bi Fang smiled but did not respond; instead, he started telling a story. ¡°On June 17, 1596, a Dutch exploration fleet caught sight of an island almost entirely covered by ice and snow on the vast sea. Sheer mountain peaks stood out against the snow. In that moment, the whole fleet nearly went mad with excitement. This was definitely a new continent, a new land never before discovered by humanity. And this was the first time the Svalbard Archipelago was revealed to the world.¡± ¡°The adventurer was the Dutch explorer Willem Barentsz.¡± ¡°Willem found a significant number of Greenland Whale pods in nearby waters at that time, and thus began a three hundred years¡¯ history of European nations plundering the whale resources of this ownerless land.¡± ¡°After that, more and more adventurers arrived here. Especially as the rich mineral resources of the area were discovered, it attracted even more fervent adventurers.¡± The audience had a faint guess about the following part of the story. Bi Fang sighed and talked as he walked along the road. ¡°The universe is vast, and humans have never stopped exploring. Because of their special geographic locations, places like the Arctic, Antarctica, and the Tibetan Plateau have always drawn people to set foot on those unique lands. As the most habitable region near the North Pole, the Svalbard Archipelago undoubtedly provides conditions for Arctic exploration.¡± ¡°In the museum here, there¡¯s an engraving created in 1791 that vividly reenacts the scene from that time.¡± Bi Fang, following the travel guidebook, looked at the engraving. On the sea, dozens of fishing boats drifted, with whalers thrusting harpoons viciously into whales spouting huge jets of water; ashore, hunters fired their repeater rifles at polar bears and seals. The gifts of Nature, under human greed, appeared extremely fragile. All this caused a vast reduction and even near extinction of many local species. Not until the ¡°Svalbard Treaty¡± was signed, confirming Norwegian sovereignty, did the local area gradually establish a more complete ecological conservation law, and the environment began to improve. Destruction is easy, but recovery is extremely difficult. And it was not something one person could accomplish to restore the Svalbard Archipelago to its original state; it required the collective effort of everyone who came here. This nearly stringent ¡°Environmental Protection Regulation¡± is one such effort, and the self-discipline of tourists, residents, and researchers is a major force contributing to environmental change. Since then, the Archipelago¡¯s environment began to be effectively protected. Only because of this, did Bi Fang see prohibitions instead of a welcoming greeting upon stepping out. ¡°However, there is actually good news for us Huaxia tourists,¡± Bi Fang said. Rolling up the travel guide, Bi Fang explained, ¡°On February 9, 1920, Huaxia was among the nations that signed the treaty, which means we have the right to develop this land.¡± ¡°We can engage in any non-military activities on this land, and citizens can freely enter and leave the Svalbard Archipelago.¡± ¡°The only problem is that there are only flights from SAS and Norwegian Air from Oslo and Troms?? in Norway, so a Schengen visa is still required.¡± Chapter 647 - Chapter 647 Chapter 644 A Lot of Snowstorms at the Border of Cold and Warm ?Chapter 647: Chapter 644: A Lot of Snowstorms at the Border of Cold and Warm Chapter 647: Chapter 644: A Lot of Snowstorms at the Border of Cold and Warm ¡°Actually, some people say that Red-Haired Shanks from One Piece is modeled after Red-Haired Erik, but I¡¯m not sure about that, it¡¯s all hearsay. Just take it as a story to listen to.¡± Bi Fang took a breath. Walking on the ice field was incredibly tiring, and for safety, he couldn¡¯t walk too fast, or else the likelihood of falling would greatly increase. Standing on the unprotected ice field, one could clearly feel body heat being taken away, even though there wasn¡¯t much physical activity, the energy consumption was nevertheless significant. ¡°In the Polar Regions, you must cover your entire body to resist the low temperatures and strong winds, especially your head and feet, and you must not stop.¡± ¡°Our bodies have reserved energy, which is fat. By burning fat, we can also generate heat. That¡¯s why these past few days I¡¯ve been eating high-calorie food a€¡± drinking milk tea like water, eating donuts like meals, using cheese as a seasoning a€¡± it¡¯s all to gain weight.¡± [Sss, that explains it, I dimly felt that Old Fang had gained quite a bit of weight] [Dude, that diet¡­ gaining ten pounds in one meal] Bi Fang exhaled, unable to feel any warmth on his face. Sunlight had made the temperature rise quite a bit, at least above minus thirty-five degrees, but it was still very cold. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? The huge temperature difference was like a giant pump, sucking away all heat with great force. ¡°The best method is to keep moving. It ensures blood circulation in the body and also prevents sweating from too much activity.¡± ¡°If you start to sweat, you must loosen your clothes to ventilate promptly. Being wet with sweat will reduce the insulating effect. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 Also, you need to keep your clothes clean; dust and grease can clog the pores in the fabric, decreasing its effectiveness against the cold air.¡± After walking for almost four hours, the surroundings were still vast and empty. Bi Fang stopped in his tracks. He looked around; the sun had already reached its highest point but still seemed quite low, as if it couldn¡¯t rise any higher, giving the impression that even thirty degrees would be tough to achieve. ¡°I can¡¯t go any further. The ice field is even larger than I expected; it might take more than two days, maybe even three, to cross. We need to stop now, while the temperature is relatively high, and prepare for overnight stay.¡± The expanse of the ice field was larger than Bi Fang had imagined. Every summer was a time for sea ice to melt, and it wouldn¡¯t start to form again until autumn. But it seemed the sea ice had frozen very quickly this year, which may indicate a colder winter ahead. ¡°The weather is actually quite nice today. Look, the visibility is high,¡± Bi Fang pointed around. Indeed, the air was terrifyingly clean here. Aside from being as sharp as knives, the sea ice stretched as far as the eye could see, extending into pale blue and pure white, under the warm yellow sunlight. The world was elegantly simple. ¡°If you are forced into a situation like mine, say a plane crash or some other reason, now would be the best time to signal for help, and the techniques are similar to those used in mountain rescue.¡± ¡°Vibrant colors and linear shapes are easier to spot from above. Even a piece of black clothing, spread on the barren snow, can be seen from far away.¡± ¡°Burning animal fat can create smoke. You can also use ashes and burnt debris to make marks on the snow and ice, so don¡¯t be stingy with your expensive calf-leather belt at this time.¡± ¡°Search and rescue flights can only be conducted under certain good weather conditions, so be prepared. It¡¯s unlikely that a helicopter will come to rescue you in a blizzard unless there¡¯s a daughter of a Fortune 500 businessman in your group.¡± Bi Fang made a joke, still remembering the second time he live-streamed when someone questioned the implausibility of the rescue speed, calling it a director¡¯s drama. In fact, these people just don¡¯t understand the wilderness and human capabilities. ¡°For snow rescues, it¡¯s most likely that an aircraft equipped with skis will be used. There are not many pilots globally skilled in operating these aircraft, so you¡¯ll need to find a place to use as a landing strip. This place doesn¡¯t have to be perfectly flat, but it certainly shouldn¡¯t have obvious, plane-damaging objects.¡± ¡°Snowdrifts formed by the wind, known as ¡®sastrugi,¡¯ are impossible for landings. About 100 meters of flat ground covered with a thin layer of snow would be the ideal landing spot, and it¡¯s also a great place for us to stay, as it will allow us to spot approaching polar bears at a glance.¡± Bi Fang squatted down, began to chip at the ice with a knife, and said, ¡°Contrary to what many people think, polar bears¡¯ fur is not actually white; their skin is even black. The reason they appear white is that they have two layers of fur, with the outer layer about 5-15 centimeters long, composed of a protein called keratin, and the middle is hollow, not solid.¡± ¡°This unique structure, while absorbing sunlight, can trap it in the hollow fur and, after being refracted at certain angles, makes the polar bear¡¯s fur appear pure white, blending it almost perfectly with the snowy surroundings and making it very hard to detect.¡± Therefore, having a flat and open area all around is very necessary to spot the presence of such large creatures at a glance. ¡°This is because the hollow fur is waterproof and insulates like the Onion Clothing Method we use; it meets the needs of camouflage and also provides warmth.¡± Bi Fang had likewise spoken about the Onion Clothing Method before, which is the principle that, compared to one thick layer, multiple thin layers of clothes of the same combined thickness keep you warmer. These layers of clothes form a thin layer of air between them, helping to prevent the loss of heat. It is also convenient for dressing and undressing, adapting to the needs of different environments. For example, Bi Fang is about to build a shelter and the physical activity will increase a bit, so he can take off one layer to avoid sweating. As Bi Fang advanced, the snow on the ground had started piling up, a good indication that he was getting close to land. ¡°I¡¯ve always said, one of the keys to survival is knowing where you are. As long as you know your location, you can be prepared for many things.¡± ¡°Greenland has high latitude and average elevation, coupled with glacial coverage, which results in a persistent cold high-pressure system over the island. This high-pressure system, due to its coldness, lowers temperatures, exacerbated by several cold currents that further enhance the cooling effect around Greenland.¡± ¡°But do you remember Svalbard Island, despite its even higher latitude, the climate is quite warm, due to the strong Atlantic warm and humid air currents bringing abundant precipitation to the coast. In winter, the Atlantic warm and humid air currents peak and are extremely powerful.¡± ¡°When the two meet, it creates the classic cold and warm front system often mentioned in geography textbooks, only instead of rain, it snows, hence Greenland has many blizzards.¡± ¡°However, Greenland itself is surrounded by cold currents, and also due to its topography, they can¡¯t penetrate deep into the island but only snow on the peripheral areas during autumn and winter, which somewhat replenishes the ice cap. During this time, the sea surface starts to freeze and continues spreading outward.¡± Chapter 648 - Chapter 648 Chapter 645 Cough Cough ?Chapter 648: Chapter 645 Cough Cough Chapter 648: Chapter 645 Cough Cough Familiar pit-stop segment, guys. Ahem. I will finish the changes by one o¡¯clock. ¡°You are quite the storyteller,¡± the captain said. Inside the ship¡¯s corridor, just as Bi Fang was about to return to his room, he bumped into the captain with his full beard. The captain leaned against the seat holding a cup of hot coffee, raising it in greeting as the faint steam rose, bringing a hint of warmth to the cold Arctic Ocean. Bi Fang smiled, ¡°Actually, a large part of my livestream is dedicated to storytelling; I¡¯ve gotten good at it over time.¡± Having just come down from the deck, many of the eavesdropping tourists were reluctant to leave. Human knowledge comes from three levels: experience, comprehension, and insight. Experience is undoubtedly the most direct way of acquisition. Compared to the lazy cognitive system, gaining knowledge through experience is both natural and unquestionablea€¡±humans are born to favor visual thinking. This is also Bi Fang¡¯s greatest strength; his audience never feels bored during his livestreams. Others have to edit a day¡¯s worth of Wilderness Survival footage down to an hour or even half an hour to ensure it¡¯s engaging; yet Bi Fang can keep his viewers intensely engaged online just by relying on his great storytelling ability. ¡°So you haven¡¯t mentioned the ending yet? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? That explorer, called Mon¡­ ?¦Ï???.?¦Ï Mon¡­,¡± the captain offered a cup of hot cocoa. He had been listening and enjoying it, but had to return to his captain¡¯s quarters for some reason and was now curious about the ending. ¡°It¡¯s Roald Amundsen,¡± Bi Fang took the hot cocoa, sipped, and praised, ¡°Not a bad drink, but next time you could add a few more sugar cubes.¡± This captain was quite the character. Bi Fang was headed to Greenland, but his destination was even further, more remote. Large cruise ships have fixed tourist routes and wouldn¡¯t change their course for one person alone. Eventually, Bi Fang found this small cruise ship, repurposed from a long-distance fishing vessel. Although it obviously paled in comparison to the Titanic in terms of facilities and comfort, to meet Bi Fang¡¯s requirements, the captain before him very gladly agreed, even without any extra charge. He even expressed that he had been watching Bi Fang¡¯s livestreams for quite a while. ¡°According to your request, I¡¯ve added three sugar cubes and a generous amount of chocolate,¡± the captain replied, voice flat. ¡°Hmm, is that so.¡± Bi Fang shrugged, ¡°Do you have doughnuts on board? I¡¯ll have those for dinner tonight.¡± The captain spoke seriously, ¡°You¡¯ll get diabetes by the time you¡¯re around thirty if you keep this up.¡± ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s just for this period of time,¡± Bi Fang replied. These days Bi Fang had been constantly increasing his body weight, eating several meals a day, mostly sweets, to store up fat in his body as much as possible, preparing for the potential drastic weight loss during the upcoming Arctic survival. Thanks to the powerful digestive ability of the Fish King¡¯s stomach, Bi Fang¡¯s weight had already broken the 85 kg mark, reaching 170 pounds. And since Bi Fang had been livestreaming continuously during this period, this gradual change didn¡¯t seem obvious. If there had been interruptions, the weight gain would have been more noticeable. ¡°So you haven¡¯t finished the story yet,¡± the captain reminded him. Even though he had been sailing along this route for over a decade, the captain still did not know about such a legendary explorer, nor the origin of the sea channel¡¯s name. He had always thought the Fram Strait was always called the Fram Strait, just as Angolan was always called Angolan, since ancient times. ¡°The ending is that this explorer shone in Antarctica, but his curtain call was in the Arctic, with the fireworks gone, all returning to Nature,¡± Bi Fang concluded. Hearing this conclusion, the captain felt a trace of astonishment. ¡°After returning from Antarctica, Amundsen didn¡¯t bask in the glory of plucking the jewel from the crown of the exploration community. He proposed early on to use aircraft to explore the Arctic and made several attempts.¡± ¡°In 1915, he obtained the first Norwegian civilian pilot license. The following May, he and Ugly Country People Ellsworth and Italian Nobile took off in an airship from Spitsbergen, flew over the North Pole and onto Alaska, covering a total distance of 4000 kilometers.¡± ¡°It was the first human flight across the Arctic. Prior legends suggested that there was a vast land between the North Pole and Alaska, and this flight proved those legends wrong.¡± ¡°But on May 23, 1928, Nobile flew an airship to the North Pole for an expedition. On the return flight, the airship crashed, leaving nine people on the ice and six missing. On hearing this news, Amundsen left on June 18 in an airplane to rescue his former exploration companion, and then the air crash happened.¡± ¡°Air crash?¡± ¡°Yes, on June 18, 1928, Amundsen took the French plane ¡®Latham Aircraft¡¯ to the Arctic in an attempt to rescue the missing Italian exploration team who had crashed in an airship. Along the way, the plane went down, and Amundsen never returned.¡± December 14, 1928, was designated by the Norwegian government as Antarctica Day to commemorate Amundsen. At noon on this day, the church bells rang out across Norway, and people commemorated the great explorer with two minutes of silence. Amundsen¡¯s unyielding spirit, his courage to challenge himself, his fearlessness of difficulties, and his relentless determination always inspire future generations to explore the unknown world. After musing for a moment, Bi Fang intoned leisurely, ¡°After he completed his assigned tasks, he returned to the Arctic wilderness, his place of vacation. Under the pure skies of the icy world, he found an unknown place for eternal rest, imbued with endless music. His name shines upon the youth of Norway like the dazzling Northern Lights, forever.¡± ¡°Not bad.¡± ¡°Those aren¡¯t my words.¡± ¡°Then whose are they?¡± ¡°Fridtjof Nansen, a sailor, polar explorer, zoologist, and politician; he was Amundsen¡¯s predecessor and idol.¡± ¡°He became famous in the scientific community for his trek across the Greenland ice sheet in 1888 and his journey across the Arctic Ocean aboard the ¡®Fram¡¯ between 1893 and 1896. He also received the Nobel Peace Prize for his work repatriating half a million prisoners of war and for his direct relief work for the starving people of Polar Bear Country.¡± ¡°Wait a minute? The Fram again? Didn¡¯t you just say that it was Amundsen that took her to Antarctica?¡± The captain doubted his ears; how could this ship have such a high profile? ¡°Yes, but who told you a ship could only embark on a single adventure, to one pole?¡± Bi Fang replied with a mischievous wink. The Fram, an exploration ship that twice made history in the polar regions. Apart from this ship, there is no other in the world that has been both to the Arctic and Antarctica. Having drunk the last of the hot cocoa from his mug, Bi Fang returned the cup to the captain and turned to leave. Watching Bi Fang¡¯s departing figure, the captain pondered deeply. The name of Amundsen shines like the splendid Northern Lights over the younger generation. The polar region¡­ Here I come. Chapter 649 - Chapter 649 Chapter 646 Preparation for Eternal Night ?Chapter 649: Chapter 646 Preparation for Eternal Night Chapter 649: Chapter 646 Preparation for Eternal Night It wasn¡¯t light yet; the land was shrouded in grey. The vast ice field was all-encompassing, devoid of any sign of life. A pair of gloved hands suddenly burst forth from the ground, brushing the accumulated snow to one side. Bi Fang panted heavily as he labored to push the snow aside. A night of furious winds had completely sealed off the entrance to his dugout, with at least thirty centimeters of thickness. Leaning on the exit, Bi Fang took a breath, grabbed the icy sides, and propped his entire body up, then began to gather his rope. The freeze overnight had solidified the rope thoroughly, a few drops of water that froze last night had now formed several centimeters of ice. The thickness of the ice was increasing. After tying up the rope and putting it in his backpack, Bi Fang started his live broadcast and greeted his viewers. ¡°Today is my second day of Arctic survival, feeling pretty good although a bit hungry but after all, there are only ninety-nine days left, aren¡¯t there?¡± [I just have to give a thumbs up, 666] [I give full marks to this challenge. Don¡¯t ask why I don¡¯t keep points for encouragement; he deserves it.] [Waking up in the middle of the night just to watch the live stream, the ¡®mom caught me¡¯ series] Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Although Bi Fang¡¯s broadcasts had already gone global, domestic viewers were still the main audience. [Is it already daylight in the Arctic?] Viewers in the live stream noticed that the sun hadn¡¯t risen yet, but it seemed not as dark as they imagined. The drone¡¯s night mode wasn¡¯t even activated. ¡°Because the snowflakes reflect the white light. The complex structure of the snow can¡¯t absorb light. A beam that enters a snowdrift is quickly scattered by billions of Ice Crystals and air voids, with most of the light reflecting back out of the snowdrift.¡± ¡°Therefore, as long as there¡¯s some daylight, places with snowflakes will appear brighter, though it¡¯s just a dim brightness.¡± Bi Fang pointed to the stars in the night sky, clearly indicating the source of the light. Most people who live in cities can hardly imagine a night sky full of stars anymore, even after sunset, it¡¯s never pitch dark. During a full moon, the illumination is surprisingly bright, as if streetlights are shining down. Today, the moon in the night sky wasn¡¯t full, but there was still plenty of light. Additionally, the strong winds blew up snowflakes, creating a twinkling effect on the ground below four or five meters, which actually made it fairly bright. However, brightness aside, the flurry of snowflakes made it almost impossible to see the path clearly, but, fortunately, Polaris was faintly visible, giving Bi Fang a direction to move towards. ¡°Now there are more than a dozen hours each night, and we shouldn¡¯t waste this time. We can get up three hours before sunrise.¡± ¡°When surviving in the Arctic, whenever entering a period of polar day or polar night, it¡¯s critical to set your biological clock. Otherwise, inverted routines will leave you feeling lethargic and often with a headache.¡± ¡°Sleeping too much or too little will both cause headaches, leaving you without sufficient energy to face upcoming challenges. So, if possible, definitely set an alarm. If not, you can only rely on your body¡¯s internal biological clock, which can be quite difficult.¡± ¡°How many of you like to stay up late? How often do you do it?¡± In the midst of his trek, Bi Fang suddenly asked a question. [Ah, this, well] [Be confident, everyday] [Hey, actually, it¡¯s not so bad studying and working until midnight, but after a whole day of that, I always end up wanting to scroll through my phone for a few hours to relax, and before I know it, it¡¯s already late] [Plus one, every morning when I wake up my head just hurts] [Working until eleven or twelve at night, how could I possibly directly go to bed to sleep? My life needs entertainment, of course I have to relax, and then I fall into a vicious cycle (covers face)] Work eight hours, entertain eight hours, sleep eight hours. That was the product of a long struggle, but now working hours often exceed ten, some even twelve. The majority work for a better life, and entertainment time can¡¯t be shortchanged, so naturally sleep time gets invaded; otherwise, life would have no meaning. Those with financial freedom are few and far between, and life gets incessantly swept up in the wheel of progress. Sometimes, when they see Bi Fang effortlessly traveling all over the world, many can¡¯t help but feel a touch of envy. Even though a lot of his actions might stir up controversy, Bi Fang doesn¡¯t care, considering those are just a minority compared to his supporters. ¡°Actually, for many people, their circadian rhythm isn¡¯t exactly twenty-four hours but has a certain discrepancy, usually within two hours. For instance, it might be twenty-six hours or even twenty-two hours, but most would be slightly longer than twenty-four hours.¡± ¡°This is a common phenomenon; most diurnal animals have a biological clock slightly longer than 24 hours, and most nocturnal animals have one that is slightly shorter than 24 hours. Humans are diurnal creatures, so they fall into the former category, although there are exceptions. This isn¡¯t a theorem but a general rule.¡± ¡°The reason for this is still unknown, but one plausible hypothesis suggests that when humans first appeared, the Earth¡¯s rotation period might not have been 24 hours. After all, the Earth¡¯s rotation speed has changed several times over the past few billion years.¡± At this point, the audience in front of the screen felt as though a door had swung open, awakening them with a start. [No wonder I keep staying up late, and it gets later and later, damn it, so that¡¯s what¡¯s happening!] [Every time I stay up an extra hour, after twenty-four days, I return perfectly to a normal state] ¡°Take light exposure as an example; most human biological clocks are slightly longer than 24 hours. ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? So, in a light-dark cycle that¡¯s only slightly longer, humans would be the most comfortable because it matches their innate circadian rhythm exactly.¡± ¡°And we can also adapt to a 24-hour light-dark cycle on Earth. The difference is not that significant. If the light-dark cycle were 50 hours, typically that would be unadaptable.¡± ¡°In other words, the human biological clock can be adjusted to adapt to external environments, but this adjustment has its limits.¡± ¡°In other mammals, light can regulate the biological clock via the phototransduction pathway through the suprachiasmatic nucleus in the hypothalamus. But once you¡¯re in complete darkness, you can only rely on the habits you¡¯ve developed.¡± ¡°Once these cyclical biological habits are disrupted, consequences include decreased memory, lack of vitality, a tendency to headaches, and in severe cases, chronic diarrhea or vomiting.¡± ¡°So, self-discipline is really important.¡± Bi Fang continued to advance, guided by his own biological clock, ensuring he could wake up on time and not let sleep disrupt his forward motion. He pressed on until the pre-dawn light began to break, the snow gradually ceased, and the snowflakes on the ground started to settle down. With the sunlight¡¯s glow, the distant undulating mountains finally came into view for everyone. ¡°We¡¯ve finally arrived.¡± Bi Fang breathed a sigh of relief, changes in elevation meant mountains. Where there are mountains, there are rocks, soil, plants, animals. They say ¡®you¡¯ll wear out your horse trying to reach the mountain¡¯, but in any case, it¡¯s still better than not seeing the mountain at all. Chapter 650 - Chapter 650 Chapter 647 Cough Cough ?Chapter 650: Chapter 647 Cough Cough Chapter 650: Chapter 647 Cough Cough Before two o¡¯clock in the morning, they finished. On the deck, a group of people stood, each one without exception wearing a thick coat, wrapped up like penguins. If it were normal times, it wouldn¡¯t even be daylight yet, and everyone would still be asleep, but now quite a few people had come. Clearly, everyone had gotten up to watch the aurora. The huge cruise ship glided through the sea filled with floating ice, smashing pieces of thin ice, leaving behind a clear trail in the water. The Arctic Ocean is a sea covered with sea ice, three-quarters of which is perennially not melting, with a large amount of floating ice and icebergs on the rest of the sea surface. About half of the seawater here will be frozen all year round; the rest will melt in spring and freeze up again in winter, The central region¡¯s sea ice has even existed for three million years, belonging to the permanent ice cover. The climate type is even more singular, which can be simply summarized in one word: cold. ¡°Huh, so cold.¡± ¡°It¡¯s really cold, what¡¯s the temperature now?¡± ¡°Minus thirty.¡± ¡°Only thirty? Why do I feel colder than yesterday?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï ¡°That guy is from Ugly Country, he¡¯s talking about Fahrenheit, the Celsius temperature is near minus thirty-five degrees already, damn, my nose is about to freeze off, Steven will definitely mock me once I¡¯m back.¡± ¡°Damn, my thermometer isn¡¯t moving!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± On the deck, a man tapped his thermometer against the railing, making a metallic clanking sound. The temperature on the thermometer wouldn¡¯t budge, which irritated the man. ¡°The freezing point of kerosene is minus 30?¡ãC, it¡¯s frozen, of course, it won¡¯t move.¡± The voice came from the direction of the cabin, everyone looked up, just in time to see Bi Fang close the door and step out onto the deck. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s Mr. Bi.¡± ¡°Mr. Bi, you got up to watch the aurora too?¡± ¡°Do you have any stories to tell us today?¡± ¡°I caught up on the videos last night, truly amazing, I regret not getting to know about it sooner.¡± The people greeted him one after another; in less than a week, everyone on the ship had gotten to know this young man, from the captain to the chef and the tourists. ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Bi Fang smiled and nodded, walking over to the man who was complaining about the broken thermometer, leaning against the railing: ¡°The materials for thermometers generally come in three types: kerosene, mercury, and alcohol.¡± ¡°Kerosene¡¯s freezing point is only minus thirty, below this temperature, it solidifies, naturally, it won¡¯t move, or to be precise, the effect of thermal contraction is very small, almost imperceptible to the naked eye, and mercury¡¯s freezing point is minus 38.87?¡ãC, so it can¡¯t be used either.¡± ¡°Coming to the Arctic, you can only bring alcohol thermometers because only their freezing point is at minus 117?¡ãC, suitable for all the low-temperature environments on Earth. You¡¯re lucky you¡¯re not using mercury, otherwise, if an explosion happened, it would be very dangerous. Though generally, thermometers rarely use mercury.¡± There are many differences in thermometers, with the most common ones being clinical thermometers and atmospheric thermometers. Clinical thermometers usually use mercury, while atmospheric thermometers use kerosene and alcohol; what they measure can be understood just from the literal meaning. ¡°Why?¡± Someone in the back shouted. Bi Fang lifted his head: ¡°Because mercury expands slowly when heated, and when taken out from the body, it doesn¡¯t cool down rapidly and fall, it needs to be shaken down to return to zero. Using it to measure temperature is simpler and more direct, and it can also avoid errors caused by external temperature transmission.¡± ¡°Kerosene and alcohol thermometers expand significantly when heated, and react very rapidly, rising and falling swiftly with changes in temperature, which is why they¡¯re generally not used for measuring body temperature. They¡¯re often made red and hung indoors, roughly monitoring the ambient weather and temperature.¡± Everyone suddenly understood. ¡°Is everyone up so early today?¡± Bi Fang checked the time; it wasn¡¯t even breakfast yet. Although the true polar night hadn¡¯t arrived yet, the exceptionally short daytime still reminded everyone to be mindful of time. Most people probably wouldn¡¯t have experience with polar nights, but it¡¯s imaginable that polar nights are not easy to get through; they pose many problems, such as disruptions to a person¡¯s circadian rhythm. A significant part of the human biological clock depends on natural light. Therefore, one very important way of maintaining a schedule is through meal times. The meals on the ship are served at fixed times, with only three meals free of charge. If you want extra meals, sorry, you need to pay. ¡°We all came to see the aurora.¡± ¡°It¡¯s really beautiful.¡± ¡°Yeah, but it¡¯s almost daylight, can we still see it?¡± ¡°Here you can see it even during the day, of course.¡± ¡°Mr. Bi, you¡¯re up early, too.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Bi Fang nodded, pointing at the ice floes not far away, ¡°As soon as it gets light, I¡¯m going to get off the ship once I find a good spot.¡± Getting off the ship! Although the crowd was somewhat surprised, they weren¡¯t too shocked; everyone knew that Bi Fang¡¯s purpose for joining this trip was to reach the northernmost point of Greenland. They just didn¡¯t expect it to come so soon. Half an hour later, the green bands in the sky remained, while the second streak of natural light slowly emerged from the horizon, lifting the dark veil, and a glimpse of dawn appeared. A century ago, on the other side of Earth, on the Antarctic Continent, the bravest group of people embarked on an unpredictable path of exploration that teetered between life and death. On the left was fire, on the right the sea, and ahead lay the dreams and glory they ardently pursued. A century later, a young man arrived at another point on Earth, carrying no supplies, to challenge himself to survive a hundred days here. The cold wind howled. This giant cruise ship, over seventy meters in length, once again shattered an ice floe as the sun hung obliquely at the position of the ship¡¯s figurehead. The figurehead shattered the most glaring rays of the sun, leaving scattered white light to spread in all directions. The freezing tourists shivered and squinted, raising their heads only to see a vast expanse of white. It wasn¡¯t just ice floes, but a continent, an extensive and continuous expanse of pure white land. No trees, no grass, no life. Only the endless cold wind, like knives slicing across faces without blood. Any blood about to spill instantly froze into crimson icicles. Many onlookers couldn¡¯t help touching their own faces, their skin almost numbed by the cold, not realizing there were no cuts from ice knives until their warm fingers touched skin that felt like blocks of ice. A familiar voice mixed with the sound of the wind and reached their ears. When they looked, they noticed that the sturdy drone, which seemed like it would never break, was already hovering overhead. ¡°Looking back at the course of human evolution and change, if our ancestors hadn¡¯t risked and imagined, if they hadn¡¯t dared to innovate and bravely sacrifice with their magnanimous spirit and magnificent sentiment, humans wouldn¡¯t have taken canoes to surf the oceans, exploring the infinite mysteries beyond the shores.¡± ¡°Human curiosity sparks the impulse for adventure, and human adventure ignites the torch of civilization.¡± ¡°Adventure is not only contained within Nature¡¯s oceans and mountains, deserts, and marshes, but is also hidden within densely populated cities.¡± ¡°I am Bi Fang, a professional outdoor explorer. This time, we have come to the Arctic.¡± Chapter 651 - Chapter 651 Chapter 648 Even Soil Can Be Eaten ?Chapter 651: Chapter 648: Even Soil Can Be Eaten Chapter 651: Chapter 648: Even Soil Can Be Eaten After crossing countless glaciers and trekking through dozens of kilometers of the ice cap, they finally arrived at the true Greenland. The rocks were as hard as icebergs, and the light grey soil beneath the thick snow was so familiar it made one want to kneel and kiss the ground. The earth is the true destination of humans. Bi Fang leaned against a rock, feeling a slight dizziness, a symptom of low blood sugar. ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten for three days.¡± In front of the camera, Bi Fang said this calmly, accompanied by a burning pain in his stomach. He leaned against the rock, closed his eyes to rest, and took a brief respite, looking quite fatigued. This was his longest recorded period without food during his many live streams. The excessive secretion of gastric acid that wasn¡¯t neutralized made his stomach feel as though it was stuffed with a fiery ball, burning and piercing. ¡°How long humans can survive without food doesn¡¯t have a definitive answer. In 2006, a Japanese hiker, Mitsutaka Uchikoshi, unfortunately fell down a mountain. Immobilized, he survived 24 days just by drinking rainwater.¡± ¡°In 2011, a Swedish man, Peter Kjellberg, was caught in an avalanche while driving. He survived for two months in a car completely buried in snow by eating nothing but the snow.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï He was live-streamed 24 hours a day, drinking only water and not eating anything, lasting 44 days before he emerged, having lost about 20 pounds, but his other bodily indicators were mostly fine.¡± ¡°This shows that the human body can survive a long time on just water without food, but it will definitely become very weak.¡± [Stop talking, I¡¯m starting to feel hungry] [I was so scared I hurriedly wolfed down three bowls of rice] [Three bowls? That¡¯s going to bloat you to death] [I tried it when I was dieting before. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï The first day I was very hungry but could bear it, on the second day I started to lose control, and my body easily felt cold. On the third day, I suddenly wasn¡¯t hungry anymore, but my body was clearly weak, without any strength, and it was amazing how my body would automatically wake up early, without needing an alarm clock, and I could fall asleep easily.] [Haha, it¡¯s so easy to fall asleep, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t wake up] [Low blood sugar is very dangerous, if you don¡¯t replenish it in time, you could easily pass out] ¡°Dieting by not eating isn¡¯t good,¡± Bi Fang opened his eyes and glanced at the comment stream to remind them, ¡°Not eating or eating too little will put the body into a low metabolic state, which is the ¡®getting by with minimal¡¯ state.¡± ¡°In 1944, Ancel Keys from the University of Minnesota in Ugly Country conducted a starvation experiment, which was quite an inhumane study with a complex process. I won¡¯t go into detail, but there was a control experiment that could be thought of as eating normally first, then starving, then eating normally againa€¡±doesn¡¯t that sound like the typical dieting pattern for losing weight?¡± Many viewers nodded without thinking. After all, you can¡¯t diet forever; eventually, you would return to a normal diet. ¡°Dizziness, hair loss, edema, cold intolerance, photophobia, phonophobia, blurred vision, persistent tinnitus, sluggish reactions¡­¡± Suddenly, a string of words burst from Bi Fang¡¯s mouth, and he concluded, ¡°These were all side effects after the experiment, and there were no exceptions among the participants.¡± [???] [What the hell, that serious?] ¡°The experiment was extreme, and of course, our everyday dieting isn¡¯t that severe, but we still need to be cautious. The calorie formula we have always known is actually wrong. Many believe that reducing caloric intake equates to losing weight, but this is a mistake because intake and consumption can never be considered equal.¡± ¡°Everyone has a balance system inside their body. When we eat less, the body enters a low-energy mode, reducing consumption, which means lowering body temperature, strength, and the brain¡¯s regulatory abilities. You will feel weak, irritable, and depressed.¡± ¡°And while it¡¯s easy for consumption to drop, it¡¯s hard to raise it again. Once the body adapts to a low-consumption mode, even if you eat the same amount of food as before, you won¡¯t be able to increase your metabolism back unless you engage in heavy exercise over a short period.¡± ¡°So when you start eating normally again, you consume the same energy as before dieting, but your consumption does not increase accordingly. Instead, your body starts to store more energy, that is, fat. This is the rebound phenomenon many people experience.¡± [Damn, it suddenly makes sense.] [No wonder my sister gets fat again within a month after dieting, and even more so, in an endless cycle.] [I¡¯ll show this to my girlfriend (dog¡¯s head).] ¡°For weight loss, it¡¯s better to exercise more. By increasing metabolism and maintaining a normal diet, you don¡¯t need to change your food structure drastically, and it¡¯s best to chew slowly.¡± ¡°Many times, the reactions of the stomach and the brain are inconsistent. The stomach is full, but the brain doesn¡¯t realize you¡¯ve had enough, and keeps sending hunger signals.¡± [The real trick is to eat before the brain catches on.] Bi Fang, who had rest for a while, stood up again and stomped his feet, feeling a sense of fulfillment that filled his entire body with a trace of pride. ¡°This is indeed the world¡¯s largest island. It bridges the Arctic Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, facing North America across the strait to the west, bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the south, and looking at Iceland in Europe across the Denmark Strait to the east.¡± ¡°The severe cold of Greenland, where snowflakes dance all year round. Even in the height of summer, the weak sunshine can¡¯t melt all the snow on the ground, not to mention during the long polar nights when the sun hides below the horizon, refusing to show its face, making the climate even colder and the snow even thicker.¡± ¡°For hundreds of years, the cold of Greenland hasn¡¯t changed significantly. The accumulation of ice and snow can¡¯t withstand great pressure, turning gradually into translucent, pale blue ice blocks, covering the entire land of Greenland, with a thickness of over 1500 meters and up to 3000 meters at its thickest.¡± Bi Fang stretched his hand out to point at the nearby mountain range, covered in thick white snow. He didn¡¯t know if it was a rocky mountain or a glacier; from their appearances, they were indistinguishable. These massive glaciers slide down the tilted mountain terrain toward the vast ocean, and over time, due to the combined effects of sea currents, tides, waves, and sunshine, they gradually break apart with thunderous crashes, fragmenting into huge chunks that drift with the currents. Along their journey, sunlight, wind, and waves carve them into various shapes reminiscent of glorious pyramids, mountain ranges, and arches, creating a spectacular and endless display of wonders. Some of these icebergs are kilometers long and hundreds of meters high, essentially floating islands. Yet, what one sees above the water¡¯s surface is only a fraction of their true size. With seventy to eighty percent of their bulk hidden underwater, their enormity can only be imagined. ¡°These icebergs of the Arctic drift independently away from the glaciers, able to last two years, traveling a distance of 3000 kilometers across the oceans.¡± ¡°When they reach warmer waters, they ultimately can¡¯t survive and melt away, vanishing without a trace.¡± ¡°However, in the Baffin Bay area, when icebergs are at their most imposing, they often bring endless disasters to ships of polar explorers.¡± ¡°But that has nothing to do with us.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s grandiose tone suddenly lightened. ¡°I¡¯m so hungry right now that I could eat anything, even dirt.¡± Chapter 652 - Chapter 652 Chapter 649 Graze Voraciously ?Chapter 652: Chapter 649: Graze Voraciously Chapter 652: Chapter 649: Graze Voraciously It was already very late, so late that most would hesitate whether to starve another night, waiting for daylight before setting out again. Originally, Bi Fang should have prepared a shelter within two hours before dark, but when he saw the mountain range within reach, he acted impulsively. He was too hungry; even in the wilderness, he had never felt such hunger. People under extreme hunger don¡¯t tend to be very rational. Having not eaten for three days, and with the cold sapping his warmth, Bi Fang¡¯s hunger was undoubtedly more intense compared to normal temperatures. His shriveled stomach had taken command of his intelligence. Of course, it hadn¡¯t completely taken over; Bi Fang was still quite rational. His exceptional vision allowed him to see clearer and further, and his sense of distance was also more accurate. He had a feeling he could reach his destination before dark. Fortunately, Bi Fang¡¯s bet paid off. Now, less than half an hour remained before darkness fella€¡±indeed, even a quarter of an hour was doubtful! To ninety-nine percent of the world, the Arctic Ocean conjures images of a monochromatic world of ice and snow. Indeed, due to its harsh climate, the Arctic Ocean region is indeed unwelcoming to plants, and it¡¯s rare to see the trace of colorful flowers and green trees. The vegetation on the islands consists mainly of mosses and lichens. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 Some southern islands have cold-resistant herbaceous plants and small shrubs, but this doesn¡¯t mean that the area is bleak and barren. On the contrary, the Arctic Ocean is a paradise for many animals, such as the famous polar bear, as well as seals, Arctic foxes, reindeer, hares, whales, herring, cod, and in the summer, many birds visit the Siberian coast. In fact, the potential of life is enormous. No matter how harsh the environment of the poles is, living creatures always manage to claim their place and survive. Even though Bi Fang had traversed nearly three thousand miles of vast ice plains, in essence, there would be Arctic foxes and polar bears, but because there was no bottom of the food chain, the already sparse numbers of these animals meant that Bi Fang hadn¡¯t seen a single one. ¡°It might seem like there¡¯s no food in the Polar Regions, but as long as you look carefully¡­¡± ¡°In these remote areas, animals are rarely disturbed by humans, so sometimes catching them is not too difficult.¡± ¡°For example, penguins. Of course, these creatures are only found near the Antarctic Circlea€¡±I¡¯m just giving an example. Many early explorers used them for food. I heard penguin meat tastes somewhat between beef and mutton, with clear layers of fat and lean meat.¡± ¡°There are also rabbits and voles, foxes and wolves, reindeer, musk oxen, arctic reindeer, elk, and moose, sealsa€¡±seals have a lot of fat, but they¡¯re quite large and can sometimes be aggressive. Finally, there¡¯s the polar bear, which you¡¯d best not encountera€¡± they¡¯re very large and usually aggressive.¡± [I feel like if I were in the Arctic, even if I really had to take emergency shelter, it¡¯s very unlikely I could defeat one¡­] [Polar Bear: Thanks bro for the winter warmth. Just worrying about running out of food, and I¡¯ve got three bear cubs to feed at home. A debt of gratitude is inexpressible!] [Be confident, normal people wouldn¡¯t even attempt that icy expanse, completely unaware of directions. If I were out on the ice plains for tens of kilometers, I¡¯d just be spinning like a headless fly, and would have frozen to death early on] But in the current situation, it was impossible for him to catch animals. There wasn¡¯t enough time, and it was impossible for Bi Fang to find animal trails, to construct traps in just ten minutes. Hunting was even less likelya€¡±unless he was waiting for hares to run into his lap. It would be good enough if he could eat some grass. Bi Fang¡¯s target was indeed some plants. ¡°Most plants in the Polar Regions are edible. They can usually be peeled, dried, and boiled, or added to brewed tea. Some can be eaten raw, and some are rich in trace elements, which can supplement the body¡¯s needs.¡± ¡°For example, willows in the Polar Regiona€¡±the bark, tender shoots, and newly grown roots are all edible and rich in vitamin C.¡± ¡°Litmus can be used for boiling or soaking. Most of the lichens and mosses on rocks are also edible. Lichens and mosses are good sources of food but not abundant in quantity. They must be cooked or roasted before eating, and one should not consume too much at a time. Rock tripe is the best ingredient and can be eaten raw.¡± ¡°Spruce and pine needles, the young shoots and bark can be boiled and eaten. Back then, the Huaxia Volunteer Army used to make tea with pine needles to solve the problem of night blindness, enabling them to fight beautiful battles at night.¡± ¡°In addition, there are bilberries, these red berries are rich in nutrients, and their leaves can be boiled or roasted. Wild lingonberriesa€¡±the golden berries are very high in vitamin C, and their leaves can be used to make tea.¡± ¡°If you have the materials for making a fire, like wood, plants, or animal fats, then you can start a fire and thus cook food. However, it¡¯s difficult; without ample time and luck, you hardly need to consider it. Don¡¯t expect that you can easily find branches for kindling, as you might in lower-latitude regions.¡± ¡°Still, exposed rocks with lichens and mosses on them are easy to find. Reindeer, for instance, survive on them. On Greenland, there have been records of 300 kinds of lichens and 600 kinds of mosses. In 1954, people even discovered bacteria and fungal spores at a depth of 3400 meters under the Arctic Ocean.¡± Bi Fang knelt on one knee in the snow, scraping away at the rock in front of him with both hands, sweeping the snow clean to reveal the cold and smooth surface of the stone that seemed to lack the moss and lichen he mentioned. ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï But Bi Fang did not give up. He scraped the snow clean from between the stones and the frozen earth, and finally, a faint green color appeared before everyone¡¯s eyes. There really were plants! The audience¡¯s eyes showed shock. Greenland is primitive. Here, every mountain the people see dates back hundreds of millions of years, and the icebergs thousands upon thousands of years. Since ancient times, it has been the realm of myths, this remote island becoming the fountainhead of all fantasies and mysteries. The dazzling auroras, the boundless tundra, the shimmering ice columns, the peculiar icebergs, and the nearly extreme cold combined with the almost silent Inuit people create a world as pure as a fairy tale. But that¡¯s for travelers. For those seeking to survive, this place is simply the arctic Hell. Yet even in a world blanketed in snow, there are stubborn green plants that grow in the crevices. What do they live on? In temperatures dozens of degrees below zero, wouldn¡¯t the cell fluid freeze? [By the way, why are polar plants mostly evergreen? It seems like they¡¯re mostly green.] [Holy crap, now that you mention it, yeah, shouldn¡¯t the high latitudes have seasonal changes?] ¡°Because the base is made of moss plants, also known as tundra, which is a biological community that grows on cold permafrost, an extreme environmental community. It has many special adaptations to the harsh polar conditions.¡± ¡°For instance, the stems and leaves of these plants are tightly pressed against the ground to withstand the pressure of the snow. As long as there is a short warm spell each year, the plants immediately sprout, completing the process of growth, flowering, and fruiting within two months.¡± ¡°And they remain evergreen to better absorb sunlight. There¡¯s no seasonal change here, just half a year of daylight and half a year of night. It¡¯s already good enough that evergreen plants can survive, let alone undergo seasonal changes.¡± ¡°The shedding and growth of tree leaves are for better energy storage. For polar plants, just surviving is difficult enough, to say nothing of storing energy, and for that reason, they grow very slowly.¡± Bi Fang directly picked a tender leaf and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing it like an ice cube, without any taste or sensation, and it quickly entered his stomach. Although it¡¯s best to boil moss before eating, Bi Fang currently didn¡¯t have the conditions to do so; being able to fill his stomach was already a luxury. Bi Fang was confident in his digestive capabilities. Chapter 653 - Chapter 653 Chapter 650 Encountering a Blizzard ?Chapter 653: Chapter 650: Encountering a Blizzard Chapter 653: Chapter 650: Encountering a Blizzard Sitting on the ground, he gnawed some moss to neutralize the surging stomach acid, and the discomfort in his stomach finally subsided a lot. By this time, the weather had also completely darkened; pitch black surrounded him. Bi Fang decided not to look for another place and simply leaned against the rock to start pushing snow. Using the rock as a windbreak, he blocked off the other sides with snow, eventually forming a narrow snow burrow to crawl into. ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï It was quite snug, and most importantly, it was convenient and fast, much quicker than huffing and puffing to dig a hole. Especially since the ground beneath him was frozen, which was no easier to dig than ice blocks. The only advantage was that it was more likely to shatter, similar to brittle sugar cookies. This permafrost in Greenland had been frozen for who knows how many years, like ice granules, a pity they were inediblea€¡±if eaten, they would cause diarrhea and easily block the intestines. After the exterior wall was built to block the cold wind, Bi Fang used a dagger to fashion a small fork shovel and dug out a pit just large enough for one person, with steps like tiers: one layer a bit higher, the next layer deeper. In time, the slightly higher layer would be used to rest his legs, making the sleeping posture similar to lying down while sitting on a stool. ¡°This is a very efficient sleeping posture often seen in the military. Elevating the feet allows blood from the legs and feet to return more quickly to the lungs and heart, providing them with ample oxygen, helping with sleep initiation, and also activating venous circulation in the legs and feet to prevent varicose veins.¡± ¡°Well-trained soldiers can even fall asleep within one hundred and twenty seconds.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 In less than ten minutes, the whole cave began to warm up. Moreover, he had just eaten some moss, and though it was cold at first, once melted by body heat, his long-parched body crazily absorbed the nutrients, which spread as warmth throughout his limbs and body. Combining both effects, Bi Fang found himself surprisingly comfortable, turning over contentedly in the pitch-black cave. ¡°Today, I finally arrived on permafrost, and although the surroundings are still rather bleak, at least we have an environment suitable for long-term survival. Here we have moss and lichen; they can keep me going at least half a month, giving us enough time to build a main base and prepare for the polar night.¡± ¡°If I could find a river or even the edge of the frozen sea, that would be even better. Dig a hole, and maybe I could enjoy some seafood.¡± Bi Fang was already daydreaming about a wonderful life ahead. The ice sheet of Greenland does not spread in all directions due to latitude and ocean currents; on the map, it presents a triangular shape. The section where the cruise ship dropped Bi Fang off was precisely at the sharpest point of this triangle, the furthest from the permafrost. If he headed towards either side, perhaps he could find a coastline with soil. Of course, the best scenario would be to find a frozen inland river because the coastlines of the Arctic are often tumultuous and frequented by polar bears. ¡°Time to sleep, there¡¯s no need to hurry tomorrow. We¡¯ll explore the surrounding environment and look for materials to see if we can make a fire. Alright, goodbye.¡± Using his backpack to block the drafty entrance, amongst the usual reluctance of the massive online audience, Bi Fang decisively turned off the live stream. The live room went dark for several minutes, afterward replaying the day¡¯s broadcast. [Off I go, will watch tomorrow] [Work tomorrow, will watch in the evening] [Party tonight, will watch during the day] With an audience numbering in the millions chatting idly for a while, they started leaving the live room one by one. And then, at this moment. [Damn, I just casually checked Greenland¡¯s weather forecast, and it says there might be a blizzard after 6 am tomorrow!] Suddenly, a comment in the chat made many of the viewers who were trying to leave stick around. A blizzard? That word reminded everyone of some rather unpleasant memories. The last time Bi Fang encountered a blizzard was in Mohe, where he also came across a group of people from a geographical magazine who had been in a car accident due to the storm. It was a stroke of luck that he was able to rescue them and prevent the loss of lives. As fans of Bi Fang, most people have watched the Mohe special edition, whether at the time or later on. Looking back now, the Mohe episode was indeed tense and thrilling, leaving a lasting impression. But at the time, no one knew what the outcome would be. Viewers were anxious and on edge every day, their palms drenched with cold sweat after watching. [blizzard, there shouldn¡¯t be any problem, right¡­?] [Suddenly feeling a bit nervous] [I¡¯d like to call it blizzard phobia.] [Does Old Fang know about it?] [How would he know, Old Fang isn¡¯t a god, can he predict the weather ten hours from now?] Weather is unpredictable; unless satellite monitoring of cloud movements is utilized, signs that can be directly observed are difficult to come by more than three hours in advance. At sea, a sailor who can predict weather changes an hour in advance with over fifty percent accuracy is a VIP wherever they go, a boss among bosses. The advent of natural weather satellites is a powerful tool for humans to avoid natural dangers, an advantage unmatched even by the most experienced survival experts, allowing for accurate weather predictions days or even half a month in advance, something impossible for humans alone. With no sign of trouble, it was impossible to foresee Nature¡¯s plans; at this moment, Bi Fang had ended his live stream and was blissfully asleep, completely unaware of what he would face when he woke up. The audience also became anxious, but unfortunately, their concern was of no help. Exhausted, Bi Fang fell asleep quickly, a skill honed over time, completely unaware of the barrage of messages from his online friends. But he was soon to feel it. That piercing cold wind. ¡­ When Bi Fang opened his eyes again, what he felt was not the refreshment after a good night¡¯s sleep, but uncontrollable shivering, his limbs stiff as if numb, and chillingly cold. He was hypothermic. Bi Fang quickly realized this. Generally, hypothermia in the wilderness is divided into three stages: mild hypothermia is characterized by constant shivering and chills, with core body temperature dropping to around 35 degrees Celsius. With moderate hypothermia, one has ¡°no energy left to shiver,¡± thinking becomes confused, and emotions turn apathetic. When the core temperature drops below 32 degrees, that¡¯s severe hypothermia, where one¡¯s thinking is totally confused and the ability to move is lost. Fortunately, Bi Fang was only mildly hypothermic at the moment. He was essentially woken up by the cold. It was then that Bi Fang glanced at the chat in his live stream room. Even though he hadn¡¯t started broadcasting yet, people had already been waiting and discussing the blizzard they¡¯d noticed the night before. A blizzard? Bi Fang was startled, then his nose tingled, and he couldn¡¯t help but sneeze. No wonder it was so cold. Chapter 654 - Chapter 654 Chapter 651 Reserve a Spot ?Chapter 654: Chapter 651 Reserve a Spot Chapter 654: Chapter 651 Reserve a Spot Rushing a draft Finished revising before one in the morning To save space, the stairs on the ship are generally very steep, and the height of the rooms is only about two meters, with piping, cables, and insulation materials laid on top. Once beds, closets, desks, and chairs are in place, the room is essentially filled. Bi Fang maneuvered between the seats and the wooden table to sit on the edge of the bed, which was a standard single but even narrower. There¡¯s a good reason for the cramped bed space. At sea, it¡¯s best to have a bed so narrow that it snugly fits your body. Experienced sailors often stuff pillows and blankets at the head of the bed in advance so that when a storm hits, they can grasp the edges of the bed with their hands and brace their feet against the wall at the bed¡¯s end to avoid being thrown to the floor. Outside the room, the ship¡¯s corridors barely meet the minimum international convention standarda€¡±0.7 meters. When two people meet in the corridor, one must turn sideways and press against the wall for the other to pass. As for entertainment, there¡¯s hardly any public space besides the dining room. No wonder tickets for such a cruise are so cheap. Bi Fang sighed in his heart. A fishing vessel turned into a cruise ship could only offer these conditions. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? If it were before, the crew would have had to spend whole two to three-year fishing periods in such an environment, but converting to a cruise ship made things much simpler and the income a bit more stable. Most people imagine life at sea as a long vacation: eating sashimi, feeling the ocean breeze, sunbathing, each day like in Hawaii. The first few aspects are indeed true and are also the biggest selling points of this ¡°cruise ship,¡± which, as a converted fishing vessel, has retained some fishing capabilities. In the Arctic Ocean, almost free from industrial pollution, you can catch seafood and enjoy the finest sashimi without any condimentsa€¡±tender, sweet, and rich. Not long after boarding, Bi Fang witnessed an unprecedented catcha€¡±120 pounds of fish. He had never before tasted such delicious Arctic shrimp sashimi, which melted in the mouth with a sweet and glutinous texture. But once your three meals a day become just that, continuing for years¡­ Thinking this way, the captain who decided on the conversion was indeed quite bold; by turning it into a cruise ship, only the good was retained. Bi Fang took out his backpack and, from the innermost compartment, retrieved two documents, inspecting them back and forth. What he had taken out were two certifications. One was a hunting quota allocation for polar bears, and another was a hunting permit for seals. They were given to him by the scientists at Yellow River Station. Bi Fang remembered the night before last when the hotel front desk suddenly called him, saying someone was looking for him. At that time, he was curious about who would come to such a remote city to find him. It turned out to be a compatriot from Yellow River Station. The purpose of their visit was to bring him the two permits he was now examining. At face value, it¡¯s very simple: Bi Fang could now hunt polar bears and seals, and it would be through regular, legal means. Greenland is also a stronghold for polar bears, and it¡¯s very likely that Bi Fang could encounter them. They are animals with a very keen curiosity, especially in the fall when they try to accumulate fat. Once a conflict arises, the outcome is unpredictable. The same goes for seals, a single seal could save a life at a critical moment, whether it¡¯s with its warm fur or the fatty seal meat, providing immense heat and assistance. Never underestimate the determination of humans to protect the polar regions; their resolve is so firm that it¡¯s even shocking. There¡¯s a regulation in the Antarctic Treaty. ¡°If you have not obtained ¡®permission to kill a seal¡¯ before heading to Antarctica, in the event of a disaster where you¡¯re about to starve to death, are you allowed to kill a seal to stave off hunger?¡± The answera€¡±unexpected by everyone: ¡°You may not kill a seal to stave off hunger.¡± Incredible? Yes, it seems incredible to anyone. When regulations are this detailed, can anyone still think that the commitment to protecting the Antarctic ecosystem is a joke? If these contents seem as empty as advice from a distant planet, it might be because your world hasn¡¯t expanded to the ends of the Earth. Of course, that¡¯s the Antarctic Treaty, while Bi Fang is now heading to the Arctic, and even though an Arctic Treaty is being drafted, currently there are no such strict regulations in place, except for a ban on hunting by ordinary people. Apart from Canada, only various research centers and the local indigenous Inuit people are able to obtain hunting permits. Hunting polar bears and seals is a means of survival for the Inuit people, a natural part of the food chain, much like polar bears hunting seals. It¡¯s a given, nobody will stop them, and even then, there¡¯s a fixed quota each year. No matter how a polar bear dies, it counts against the quota. This time, Yellow River Station gave Bi Fang the quota for one polar bear and three seals, lending a helping hand. It was a huge favor, to say the least. Bi Fang solemnly placed the two permits into the compartment of his backpack, considering it a significant favor. Although he might not need it, he would never forget it. Indeed, when you¡¯re away from home, it¡¯s always best to rely on your own people. In the following days, Bi Fang stayed aboard the ship, approaching Greenland. After the initial novelty wore off for the passengers, they started treating Bi Fang¡¯s several hours of live broadcasting each day as a fixed program activity. When it was about time every day, they would gather on the deck, listening to Bi Fang explain cultural history and the strange tales of past Arctic explorers. Everyone felt as if they had returned to their school days, except that this lesson was more interesting and more beautiful. During his days on the ship, what affected Bi Fang the most was probably using the toilet. Entering the restroom, the ship would sway, making it hard to squat steadily. In the end, Bi Fang concluded that one should choose a calm day to use the toilet; otherwise, constipation was highly likely. Having passed through Fram Strait, the warming effect of the North Atlantic current was negligible. Almost every day, the temperature was dropping, not because it was approaching winter, but simply due to geographic changes. From around zero degrees at Svalbard to minus twenty in the strait, the temperature had now dropped to minus thirty degrees. Bi Fang had no doubts that, upon landing on the island, the temperature would drop below minus thirty-five degrees, and at the end of the polar night, it could even hit an extremely low temperature below minus sixty degrees. After several days of sailing, that morning, the captain sent a sailor to knock on Bi Fang¡¯s door to notify him. The northernmost point of Greenland had been reached. Bi Fang stood up and looked out the pitch-black porthole. Although it was just a regular morning, the sky was still dark, painted with a faint, deep aquamarine ribbon, slowly drifting like a dreamy bubble. It was the aurora borealis. ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Today was a good day for the aurora borealis to appear, and in two more hours it would be dawn, but the silent icebergs of the night had already welcomed the first touch of natural light, turning the whole sky into an indelible aquamarine hue. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s a good day to land,¡± he said. Chapter 655 - Chapter 655 Chapter 652 Coach Fang in the Snowstorm of Greenland ?Chapter 655: Chapter 652: Coach Fang in the Snowstorm of Greenland Chapter 655: Chapter 652: Coach Fang in the Snowstorm of Greenland In the darkness of the cave, Bi Fang¡¯s face was half visible and half shrouded, yet even though separated by more than a meter of snow, the audience in front of the screen could still hear the clear howling of the wind, quite eerie. This didn¡¯t seem like taking shelter in a snow cave, it felt more like being buried alive. If one¡¯s psychological endurance was slightly weaker, they wouldn¡¯t be able to stay in such an environment. But going out would most likely mean death, the environment was already cold, and the blizzard was like a giant heat extraction machine, not leaving a trace of warmth in the earth. The blinding snowstorm also blocked out the sunshine, completely cutting off any warmth from solar radiation. [In such a scene, it kind of feels like being buried alive] [Today¡¯s wind is particularly raucous] Bi Fang, back against the snow, was slowly taking apart the thin rope that had been used to block the snow. He had now constructed the entire ceiling of the cave into a semi-circle, the strongest structure, so those ropes were no longer necessary. To build the entire ceiling of the snow cave into a semi-circle took both time and effort. Not knowing the blizzard was coming, Bi Fang¡¯s initially dug snow trench was very rough. The ropes served the purpose of branches, supporting the upper ¡°snow blanket¡±, but now that it was arched, they were no longer needed. But just to complete this one snow cave, Bi Fang had dug for a good half of the day, which shows that compared to a simple snow trench that only needs a hole, building a snow cave is indeed more laborious. After all this work, Bi Fang planted the shovel in the ground and lay down in the snow to rest, although he had tried his best to avoid sweating, sudden cessation of activity still brought beads of sweat on his forehead. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï The entire cave had a diameter of about 1.6 meters, just right for a single-person snow house. It didn¡¯t need to be too big, as too much space couldn¡¯t accumulate heat, and this size was just right. However, in a cave that was 1.6 meters, Bi Fang, being over 1.8 meters tall, couldn¡¯t lie flat; there wasn¡¯t space for him to lie down, and forcing it would make the cave too cramped for him. Luckily, with an extra step to place his lower legs, he managed to fit in somewhat comfortably in a decent posture. Inside the cave, it wasn¡¯t completely dark but rather, with the help of a 10-centimeter diameter air hole in the ceiling, there was a very dim white light filtering through. It was so faint that Bi Fang could barely make out his surroundings, whereas the drone had to activate night mode to operate properly. This ventilation hole was completely parallel to the direction of the wind, almost preventing any cold air from pouring in while ensuring air exchange under the pressure difference, maintaining air quality within the cave. ¡°When camping in the snow, wind protection is the most important. It¡¯s the most dangerous thing in a blizzard and can easily cause death. So, when building shelter in a snow-covered wilderness, always remember that digging down is much easier than building up. Find places around large trees or areas with lots of snow accumulation to dig.¡± ¡°The three main types of snow shelters are adapted for different conditions. Dome snow houses are suitable for hard, heavy snow, just like now, where the blizzard has pressed the snow on the ground to be hard and thick.¡± ¡°Snow mounds are appropriate for building in powdery snow, which was the case before it snowed, and snow caves are more for use in emergencies.¡± Bi Fang, leaning in the snow, as if lying on a soft sofa, intermittently shared some key points with the audience. ¡°And you must ensure air circulation because once the body heats the shelter, the surface of the snow will slightly melt, creating a good seal. Therefore, it¡¯s essential to maintain a ventilation hole or check regularly to prevent carbon dioxide build-up from reaching dangerous levels and causing poisoning.¡± Although dry powdered snow can¡¯t be gripped, when under sufficient pressure, or when its surface slightly melts from heat, it will crystallize and turn into a state of half snow, half ice. Many people have seen this situation before, but never paid it any mind. That is, often after a heavy snowfall, clear skies would follow. Yet stepping onto the snow then, one would feel something completely different. At that moment, walking on it would produce a crisp, crackling sound, in stark contrast to the utter silence during the snowfall itself. In fact, it¡¯s because the top layer of snow slightly melts upon receiving sunlight, then recrystallizes under low temperatures, forming a thin layer of ice crystals. It¡¯s just extremely thin, so stepping on it causes the crunching, collapsing sound. ¡°Hah~~~¡± Bi Fang removed his gloves, breathed out a breath of warm air, and finally felt a bit of warmth. Due to the recent activity, the entire cave had filled up with heat, and the temperature inside was between negative ten and negative five degrees Celsius. But after another half an hour, it would probably stabilize at around negative ten degrees Celsius. Although that might still sound very cold, at least compared to the potential negative fifty degrees Celsius outside in the ¡°hell¡± of frigid weather, it was already a warm paradise. [Do we just wait it out now?] [I think we should do something] [Perhaps we could have done something initially, but now with the blizzard raging, it¡¯s completely too late.] The online friends¡¯ conversation in the style of Great Britain was so on point it was laughable. Bi Fang held the rope in his hand and shook off the ice flakes, feeling his growling stomach and exhaling deeply. If the blizzard really persists for three days, if he just waited, he might end up losing ten pounds in weight. Holing up in the cave for food and drink was one thing, but dealing with bowel movements was truly torturous. Wilderness survival wasn¡¯t just about having robust survival skills; these small details were equally important. Although he didn¡¯t have much to eat these past days and thus had no need for major bathroom breaks, the minor ones were inevitable, as he had been continuously drinking. ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Bi Fang had tried to take care of these needs all at once during the daytime when the sun was beaming, to avoid the extreme cold at night which could freeze things up. This was not impossible; at temperatures below minus thirty degrees, it was perfectly possible to throw water and see it turn into ice. That would be really bad; even skin exposed to the air would quickly suffer from frostbite, let alone more sensitive parts of the body. But there was no solution for this; he could only endure it. With such external weather conditions, waiting was out of the question. If he actually starved for a week, Bi Fang feared he¡¯d be so weak he wouldn¡¯t even be able to walk, undoubtedly leading to a vicious cycle. His only option now was to brave the blizzard and see if he could find anything to eat nearby. ¡°I must go out and look, see if I can find food. Otherwise, all we can do here is wait to die.¡± The audience was shocked by Bi Fang¡¯s decision, yet some found it completely logical. Bi Fang stabbed his dagger into the ground, tied one end of the long rope around his ankle, and wrapped the other end securely around the knife handle. ¡°The storm outside is too fierce, the visibility is less than five meters. Once I go out, it¡¯s very possible to get lost in the blizzard. In this situation, making marks is useless because the traces will quickly be erased by the snowstorm. I must use this rope to find my way back, but it also limits my movement.¡± ¡°Wish me luck.¡± Chapter 656 - Chapter 656 Finish before 253 ?Chapter 656: Finish before 2:53 Chapter 656: Finish before 2:53 Cough cough, finish before two o¡¯clock, an error margin of no more than an hour is acceptable. Having crossed countless glaciers and trekked across dozens of kilometers of ice fields, he finally arrived at the real Greenland. The ice-cold, hard rocks, the pale grey soil beneath the thick snow, were so inviting that one couldn¡¯t resist kneeling and kissing them. The earth is the true destination of humans. Leaning against a rock, Bi Fang felt a slight dizziness in his head, a symptom of hypoglycemia. ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten for three days,¡± he calmly said to the camera. Accompanying this statement was a burning pain in his stomach, and the visibly exhausted man leaned on a rock to close his eyes and rest for a bit. He had live-streamed many times before, but this was the longest he had gone without food. The excessive production of stomach acids without neutralization made his stomach feel like it was stuffed with a fireball, hot and aching. ¡°There isn¡¯t a definitive answer to how long a person can live without food. In 2006, a Japanese hiker named Mitsutaka Uchikoshi unfortunately fell down a mountain during a trek. Unable to move, he survived 24 days by just drinking rainwater.¡± ¡°In 2011, a Swedish man named Peter Kjellberg was caught in an avalanche while driving. Stuck in his car, completely buried in snow, he survived for two months by eating snow.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï He managed for 44 days before coming out, losing about 20 pounds, but other health indicators were largely intact.¡± ¡°This shows that the human body can survive a long time just by drinking water without food, but it will definitely become very weak.¡± [Stop talking, I¡¯m feeling hungry already.] [I got so startled, I hastily wolfed down three bowls of rice.] [Three bowls? Hope you don¡¯t burst.] [I tried fasting when I was dieting before. The first day I was very hungry but could bear it. By the second day, I couldn¡¯t control myself anymore, and I was feeling colder. By the third day, I was suddenly not hungry, but I was clearly weaker, with no strength, and amazingly my body would wake up on its own, without needing an alarm clock, and I would fall asleep easily.] [Haha, falling asleep easily, I¡¯m afraid I might never wake up.] [Hypoglycemia is dangerous; if you don¡¯t address it promptly, it can pass you by quite easily.] ¡°Dieting by not eating is not good,¡± Bi Fang opened his eyes and glanced at the barrage of comments, reminding, ¡°Not eating, or eating too little, will cause the body to automatically enter a state of low metabolism, which is like being in a ¡®make-do and still survive¡¯ condition.¡± ¡°In 1944, Ancel Keys from the University of Minnesota in Ugly Country conducted a starvation experiment. It was quite an inhumane experiment, and it¡¯s somewhat complex, so I won¡¯t go into details, but there was a control experiment: normal eating, then starvation, followed by normal eating again. Doesn¡¯t that sound like the usual routine of dieting?¡± Many viewers nodded subconsciously. After all, one can¡¯t diet forever; eventually, normal eating habits will resume. ¡°Dizziness, hair loss, edema, feeling cold, being light-sensitive, sound-sensitive, blurred vision, continuous tinnitus, slow reactions¡­¡± Suddenly, a string of words tumbled out of Bi Fang¡¯s mouth, and he finally added, ¡°These were all the sequelae after the experiment. Not one of the participants was an exception.¡± [???] [What the hell, that serious?] ¡°The experiment was extreme, and we would never diet this severely in our everyday lives, but we still need to be cautious. The calorie formula that we¡¯ve always known is actually wrong. ?¦Ï???.§ã0 Many people believe that reducing calorie intake equals weight loss, which is a mistake because intake and expenditure are never equal.¡± ¡°Everyone has a balance system within their body. When we eat less, our body enters a low-energy mode, reducing consumption. This means lowering body temperature, strength, and the brain¡¯s regulatory abilities. You will feel weak, irritable, and depressed.¡± ¡°While it¡¯s easy for consumption to decrease, it is hard to increase. Once you adapt to a low consumption mode, even if you return to your previous diet, you cannot raise your metabolism back up unless you engage in large amounts of exercise over a short period.¡± ¡°So when you start eating normally again, you¡¯re taking in the same amount of energy as before the diet, but your consumption hasn¡¯t increased. This actually leads to your body storing more energy, in the form of fat, which is what many people experience as weight rebound.¡± [Damn, it suddenly makes sense.] [No wonder my sister gets even fatter within a month after losing weight, and it¡¯s a never-ending cycle.] [Gotta show this to my girlfriend (Dog¡¯s head)] ¡°For weight loss, you should exercise more. As you increase your metabolism, maintaining a normal diet should be enough. There¡¯s no need to specifically change your food structure, and it¡¯s best to chew slowly.¡± ¡°Often, the stomach and the brain don¡¯t sync up. Even when the stomach is full, the brain might not realize you¡¯ve already eaten enough and keeps sending hunger signals.¡± [Real?¡¤Taking advantage before the brain catches on] After taking a brief rest, Bi Fang stood up again, stepping on the ground, a sense of fulfillment turned into a trace of heroic spirit filling his entire body. ¡°This is the true world¡¯s largest island. It connects the Arctic Ocean with the Atlantic, faces North America across the strait to the west, borders the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic to the south, and looks out at Europe¡¯s Iceland across the Denmark Strait to the east.¡± ¡°On the extremely cold Greenland, snowflakes dance all year round. Even in the peak of summer, the weak sunlight can¡¯t melt the snow on the ground, let alone during the long polar nights, when the sun always hides below the horizon, unwilling to show its face, and the weather gets even colder, adding to the thickening snow.¡± ¡°For hundreds of years, Greenland¡¯s cold climate has shown no significant change. The mountainous snow, unable to withstand the immense pressure, gradually turns into pale blue transparent ice blocks that cover all of Greenland¡¯s land, with depths reaching over 1500 meters, and in some places, more than 3000 meters.¡± Bi Fang pointed at a mountain range not far away, covered by thick snow. He couldn¡¯t tell whether they were rock mountains or glaciers; they were indistinguishable from their appearance alone. These massive glaciers would slide down sloped terrain towards the vast ocean. They gradually break apart into huge chunks due to the combined action of currents, tides, waves, and sunlight, bobbing along with the waves, creating loud cracking sounds. Along the way, sunlight, wind, and waves shape them into various forms, like magnificent pyramids, like mountains, like arches a€¡° a sight filled with wonders and of extreme grandeur. Some of these icebergs are kilometers long and hundreds of meters high, comparable to a floating island. However, what people see is only the height above water. Below the surface, the iceberg has seven to eight times that size hidden, and its enormity is unimaginable. ¡°Each of these Arctic icebergs breaks away from the glacier and drifts independently, lasting up to two years, traveling over a distance of 3000 kilometers across the ocean.¡± ¡°When it reaches the warmer waters and can no longer survive, it melts and disappears without a trace.¡± ¡°But along the Baffin Bay, the icebergs are at their most daunting, often bringing endless disasters to the ships of polar explorers.¡± ¡°However, that has nothing to do with us.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s grandiose tone suddenly lightened. ¡°I¡¯m starving to death right now, I just want to eat something, even dirt would do.¡± Chapter 657 - Chapter 657 Chapter 654 What a Coincidence ?Chapter 657: Chapter 654 What a Coincidence Chapter 657: Chapter 654 What a Coincidence Those who wonder why the inside of an ice hut does not melt when you make a fire fundamentally lack understanding of the concept of cold. Most people find it hard to comprehend how one can still freeze to death indoors in winter even when the air conditioner is set to maximum heat and full power. But many people from the north can understand. If modern heating with air conditioning can¡¯t achieve it, how could a fire meant to warm just one person possibly do so? ¡°Ice has excellent insulation properties. The outside and inside are two completely different temperatures, so the inner layer of ice and snow will indeed melt a layer. But with the subsequent rush of cold air, it will refreeze, turning into ice blocks. That¡¯s why lighting a bonfire in a cave will not only not melt the snow house, but it will actually make it harder,¡± Bi Fang shivered and briefly explained before continuing to dig out snow. In the dim environment, although he couldn¡¯t see the sky, he could still tell it was nighttime. Bi Fang needed to be extra careful to avoid snowflakes falling into his shoesa€¡±in such extreme cold, wetting one¡¯s shoes could be fatal. It was easy to find fire-making bushes, but food was not so easy to find. The bushes, exposed on the surface before the blizzards arrived, were easily visible. Just a quick look yesterday and Bi Fang had used his excellent memory to record the location of all the bushes. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã? Now, he just had to follow those memories. Although the heavy snow obscured distances, with more searching, he could always find them. But things like moss and lichen were already buried under the snow layers before the blizzard, leaving no trace for Bi Fang to remember; he could only rely on luck to search. He searched for nearly twenty minutes. In the blizzard, even staying for one minute was a huge test of physical strength. Bi Fang¡¯s limbs were beginning to stiffen. If he hadn¡¯t kept moving, he probably would have become immobile by now. Luckily, after digging for nearly five to six meters, a hint of green finally appeared on the screen. The tundra vegetation consists mostly of perennial evergreens that can make full use of the brief nutritional period without having to waste time growing new leaves and completing their entire life cycle, but the short nutritional period means that tundra plants grow very slowly. Although there wasn¡¯t much moss and lichen in sight, Bi Fang treasured them as if they were precious gems. They were lifesaving resources, after all. Reinvigorated, Bi Fang dug them all up, not worrying about whether the leaves were tender or not. He¡¯d take them back to figure it out; if they weren¡¯t edible, they could still be used for making fire. In a world of ice and snow, plants are the most valuable resource. The solitary figure of Bi Fang trudged through the icy wilderness, cold and hungry, his hands and feet nearly numb. Fortunately, his mind was still clear, and he didn¡¯t succumb to hallucinations. After an hour of leaving the cave and digging up the second batch of lichen, Bi Fang could no longer continue. Lifting his legs that were as cold as ice pops, he crawled back into the burrow along the rope. ¡°Hiss.¡± Bi Fang shook off all the snow from his body, every muscle crying out in bitter cold, accompanied by shivering. Stored fat had been rapidly depleted, and though he didn¡¯t appear noticeably thinner, Bi Fang could still feel the change in his body weight. Ordinary people wouldn¡¯t noticeably lose weight after not eating for three days, but in the Arctic, it was a different story. Under Nature¡¯s brutal test of minus fifty degrees, Bi Fang¡¯s life hinged on his body fat. His previous weight gain had not been in vain. In the cave, Bi Fang took off his shoes. Although he had been very careful, the blizzard¡¯s snowflakes were pervasive. Although his toes were completely frozen stiff, he could still see that parts of his socks were wet from the melted snow. If he had continued to dig earlier, he might have faced the risk of tissue necrosis. In extreme cold, tissue necrosis, especially in the toes, is a very common occurrence, even in modern times. ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Food could wait, but Bi Fang had to start a campfire to dry his shoes, or else his feet would completely freeze. He took all the dry branches and grass out of his backpack, selecting suitable materials for a simple Fire-Making by Wood-Drilling. ¡°Fuel is not scarce in this kind of environment. Greenland actually has vast forests, but we don¡¯t have them here. We only have shrubs, but they¡¯re also good materials. And they¡¯re very dry.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think these dead branches and leaves buried in the snow will become very moist, but in fact, they contain very little water.¡± ¡°This is a simple physical phenomenon. When it snows, the temperature is low, and when the temperature is low, the air¡¯s saturation vapor pressure is low, so the air can carry very little water vapor. When dry air comes into contact with a moist object, it causes more water from inside the object to evaporate, thereby becoming dry.¡± [No wonder my skin always feels so dry in the winter.] [Aside from SpongeBob, nothing else can stay moist when it encounters water.] [Dry climate in autumn and winter is the mainstream of the global climate.] Bi Fang took off his gloves, unzipped his jacket to take out matches. He had to succeed on the first try, as his hands had already frozen stiff in just that short time. He didn¡¯t have any fire-making materials on him, so he had to resort to the most primitive way of making fire, and due to limited materials, he could only use Fire-Making by Wood-Drilling. Using a knife, he shaved a branch into a velvet-like texture, quickly fashioning a tool. With Bi Fang¡¯s master-level experience, although his fingers were somewhat stiff, Wood-Drilling relies more on palm friction and arm strength. He managed to create black smoke on his first attempt. The campfire was lit, and as Bi Fang brought his hands close to the flames, his blood began to circulate once more. After toasting his shoes slightly over the fire, Bi Fang put them back on, and an indescribable sense of comfort rushed up his spine to the Heavenly Spirit Cover, making one unable to resist the urge to stretch. Bi Fang wanted to shift to a more comfortable position, so he leaned against the wall of the cave. Instantly, the accumulated snow fell. The fire was extinguished. Hm? Bi Fang looked up in surprise, only to find that a thick slab of snow had dislodged from the originally arched snow roof of his shelter, like a piece of white plaster falling from an old, decrepit ceiling. The sudden accident stunned everyone. Even after a full minute of silence, Bi Fang¡¯s voice rose again. ¡°This must be the consequence of digging first and building later.¡± If it were a properly built snow house, one would naturally use snow bricks, stacking the solid blocks piece by piece. But Bi Fang¡¯s method had been to dig a large hole and then form an arch on top. Such construction is naturally not as sturdy or stable as one built block by block, and it¡¯s normal for a piece or two to fall off occasionally. Maybe just now, with the change in temperature, it had already experienced a slight deformation and loosening, coupled with a minor vibration, coincidentally extinguishing the fire that had just been lit. Bi Fang had to start the fire again; this was his last chance, because his hands were no longer responding, and his toes even started to feel a sharp pain. He put on his gloves, desperately hitting his own thighs, until his hands felt again. Chapter 658 - Chapter 658 Chapter 655 Two Hours Later ?Chapter 658: Chapter 655 Two Hours Later Chapter 658: Chapter 655 Two Hours Later I¡¯m staking a claim, time to rest early. I¡¯ll change it back before two in the morning. The sun rose, and I was full of energy. Feeling the temperature rise, Bi Fang felt all the cells in his body stretch out. Far away was a series of white undulations, indicating he was going in the right direction, headed towards the interior of Greenland. Because there could not be any undulating terrain on the ice field, they had to be mountain ranges. ¡°If you set a goal to direct your travel, after reaching it, you need to establish a new goal,¡± he said. ¡°In polar conditions, it is extremely vast and there are nearly no distinguishable features, so remember to fixate on a feature you can see on the horizon, but this doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯ll reach that place quickly.¡± The old saying ¡®watching a mountain run won¡¯t make it come any closer¡¯ warns of this very thing. You see the mountain, but even if the horse dies running, you still might not reach it. ¡°It could be as far as 100 kilometers away. The captain on the cruise ship shared his experience with me. Once, he was walking on the ice cap of Greenland when he spotted a black object on the horizon. During the weeks of travel through icebergs and coastlines without seeing anything else, it was the first time they saw a small black dot.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 Two days passed, and it was still there!¡± he laughed. [Let¡¯s not disclose such embarrassing stories, shall we?] [Ah, the captain!] [Is the captain watching the live stream too?] [Aren¡¯t you afraid of hitting an iceberg if you¡¯re not watching the ship?] [Darling, I have a first mate and a second mate. They are the real workers.] [What a guy.] [The polite first mate.] Bi Fang finished his last sip of water and squatted down to start drilling ice. ¡°These past days I drank a total of four pots of water, roughly two pots a day, without drinking excessively. Drinking water is a part of metabolism, which does take away some of your body¡¯s energy, so under non-extreme conditions, maintaining just the necessary amount of hydration is sufficient,¡± he explained. ¡°One thing I¡¯ve noticed distinctly is that the taste of salt in the water has become less and less apparent, and now here¡­¡± Bi Fang chipped off a piece of ice, put it in his mouth, then spat it out, laughing, ¡°There¡¯s practically no saltiness left, indicating the ice here is quite ancient.¡± The audience was surprised. What was the reason for this? [I always thought ice was fresh water, how come there¡¯s salty ice?] [Indeed, I remember learning that both polar ice caps are fresh water, and there¡¯s a lot of it.] The glaciers at the Arctic and Antarctic are the world¡¯s largest reservoirs of fresh water, with 70% of the world¡¯s fresh water stored within them. This is probably everyone¡¯s impression, but is fresh water salty? ¡°You haven¡¯t understood the real reason why glaciers are freshwater. It¡¯s true that the icebergs at both poles are freshwater, but the reasons for their formation are different, leading to some other differences,¡± ¡°The Antarctic region is a large continent, and the heat capacity of land is much lower than that of water, which makes its ability to store heat relatively weak. ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï The heat gained in the summer is quickly radiated away.¡± Bi Fang poured the crushed ice into the kettle as he explained. ¡°The average annual temperature there is around -56a??. In such low temperatures, the water produced by the water cycle mainly exists in the form of rain or snow, and water freezes at 0a??, ensuring that the snow doesn¡¯t melt throughout the year.¡± ¡°Even during the summer, some of the snow that melts soon freezes into ice. Therefore, around the seas of the Antarctic Continent, there are large quantities of ice blocks floating, forming immense icebergs.¡± This was easy for the audience to understand. The freshwater in Antarctica becomes snow after natural evaporation, and then melts into ice; the entire process doesn¡¯t contact any salts and, as a result, naturally becomes freshwater icebergs. ¡°By contrast, the Arctic region has less land area, mostly consisting of the Arctic Ocean. Since sea water has a high heat capacity, it can absorb more heat, and the heat dissipates slowly, so the average annual temperature there is higher than in Antarctica, sitting at around 8a??, also influenced by warm currents,¡± ¡°The freezing point of sea water lowers due to the presence of various salts. Also, at low temperatures, the solubility of sea water decreases. Warmer seawater has a higher salt content, and as the water freezes, the salt is transferred to the relatively warm sea water. This is why after the seawater freezes, it turns into ¡®freshwater¡¯; the salts crystallize out, causing a decrease in salinity in the formed glaciers.¡± ¡°Therefore, there are fewer glaciers in the Arctic than in Antarctica, and the vast majority are accumulated on Greenland.¡± ¡°The former is direct transformation into freshwater by natural distillation, but the latter is due to the crystallization of salts caused by various factors, which is a change in quantity leading to a change in quality. Since it¡¯s a matter of quantity, there naturally is a process. Walking here from the seashore is to experience this process of change in quantity,¡± ¡°The Eskimos living in the Arctic Ice Field rely on such methods to obtain a certain amount of freshwater resources. This also causes the sea areas where ice forms or the nearby sea ice to have a higher salinity.¡± ¡°Under my feet now lies true freshwater, with all the salt completely crystallized out. The water I drank earlier could be considered saltwater with a pinch of salt. Although it is saltwater, the salinity is much lower than that of sea water and is completely suitable for hydration,¡± [Strange knowledge has increased.] [Feels like I¡¯ve learned something amazing again] [Geography is really fascinating] ¡°In fact, when sea water freezes, an interesting phenomenon occurs, which is the ¡®brinicle¡¯ or ¡®ice stalactite¡¯.¡± ¡°The temperatures at both poles are very low, sometimes dropping to tens of degrees below zeroa?? at sea level. At this point, the surface of the sea begins to freeze, and as the surface temperature drops, the salt expelled increases the density of the water below, resulting in an ice stalactite extending downwards, while the surrounding seawater, upon reaching the freezing point, doesn¡¯t freeze due to the change in density.¡± ¡°Thus, the ¡®brinicle¡¯ is born. If you observe from below, you can see an ice stalactite extending from the surface down below. Under the extreme low temperatures, freezing occurs in an extremely short amount of time. Marine life touched by the brinicle is instantly frozen, which is why this phenomenon is called a ¡®brinicle¡¯ or ¡®ice stalactite¡¯.¡± [What kind of sorcery is this?] [Master Fang, I want to learn this!] [Master Fang: If I could do this, I¡¯d have gone exploring space ages ago] ¡°Right now, we¡¯re walking on Greenland¡¯s ice cap, where the thickness can even reach several kilometers. It¡¯s impossible for human strength alone to drill through, with the known average thickness being more than two thousand meters, and in some places, it even exceeds three thousand four hundred meters.¡± Bi Fang dropped one astonishing fact after another, shocking the audience. Who has ever seen ice layers thousands of meters thick? Amidst such astonishment, Bi Fang had yet to reach the mountain range in front of him, and so, out of necessity, he dug another snow trench to spend the night. It wasn¡¯t until the evening of the third day that Bi Fang finally touched the first rock he had come upon since arriving on the island. By that time, he hadn¡¯t eaten anything for three days. Chapter 659 - Chapter 659 Chapter 656 Neither of the two chapters are ready today ?Chapter 659: Chapter 656: Neither of the two chapters are ready today¡­ Chapter 659: Chapter 656: Neither of the two chapters are ready today¡­ Finish the edits by two o¡¯clock. Hunters in the hunting season, fishermen in the pork season, ?¡ëtienne flying to Tokyo, Morishita Suji arriving in Alaska, Bosen walking out of Taiji Town Police Department, and Jerret busily producing the final cut of the film. Everyone was headed towards their goals. Huge footprints were imprinted in the deep furrows of the track, fresh enough to suggest the Black Bear must be nearby. Sato¡¯s muscles bulged as he ran through the woods, giving it everything he had, fighting for every breath. The forty-something Sato felt a resurgence of youthful vigor, even as his lungs burned like they were on fire, he was determined to get ahead. Sato leaped onto a large rock, rolling as he landed. The surrounding leaves rustled in the breeze. Bi Fang released his grip, and the scattered Black Bear fur floated away with the wind; he had memorized the scent. That Black Bear had to be nearby. ¡°Clearly, when it comes to the topic of whaling, it¡¯s easy for everyone to get emotional. We have never been given a compelling reason to prove that these species are in any way special.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï A few reporters trotted alongside, mics in hand, questioning as they ran, ¡°Do you mean¡­ Is that true?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s true.¡± ¡°Mr. Morishita, I hear that this year Japan plans to resume its Antarctic whaling program. Is this true? Does Japan really kill far more whales than its quota each year for scientific research? Can you explain the abundance of whale meat in Japanese supermarkets?¡± Morishita Suji abruptly stopped, staring at the questioning reporter for several seconds before responding, ¡°Regarding that, I will provide an explanation at the conference in a few days.¡± ¡°I heard that Mr. Richard has gone to Taiji Town, intending to reveal the truth about Taiji driving dolphins into a cove and slaughtering them. Could Mr. Morishita address whether this description is accurate?¡± Though slightly surprised, Morishita Suji, experienced in handling such matters, retorted, ¡°This is nothing but the hysterical behavior of animal rights activists, a highly unethical defamation, and an individual attempt to garner attention for personal gain.¡± ¡°Are you suggesting that Richard is deliberately slandering for money?¡± ¡°I did not say that,¡± Morishita Suji shook his head, then continued without waiting for the reporters to speak, ¡°Alright, such questions will also be addressed at the conference. That¡¯s it for now. If you have any more questions, gentlemen of the press can wait until the conference on the twenty-third. As for me, I¡¯m going to rest at the hotel now.¡± Morishita Suji pushed past the encircling reporters and entered the hotel. The reporters wanted to follow but were stopped by the security at the door, left to watch Morishita¡¯s retreating figure. In the dim room, the door lock clicked shut. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Richard slung his backpack over his shoulder, exchanged a look with the electrical expert, and without further disturbing Jerret, they left the creaking house. They needed to get to Alaska ahead of time, in case they missed the completion of the documentary film. Community members, blatantly shadowing them outside, watched Richard disappear down the alley, then made a call. After several relayed messages, the information finally arrived at the office of the police department. ¡°They¡¯re leaving?¡± Matsumoto Kiyotaka was surprised. ¡°Yes, they took their luggage and went to the airport by taxi.¡± ¡°What about the others?¡± ¡°Still here, only Richard has left. It seems he was picked up by the Ugly Country¡¯s embassy car.¡± To let him go or not, in that moment, Matsumoto Kiyotaka considered quite a lot. ¡°Chief, they¡¯re on their way to the airport!¡± ¡°Forget it, let them go.¡± Matsumoto Kiyotaka sighed; directly detaining someone would still be Taiji Town¡¯s affair, but arresting a person sent by the Ugly Country¡¯s embassy could lead to an international dispute. The interests of a regional government could never compare to the entire nation of Japan. Matsumoto Kiyotaka, after all, was the chief of the department. He knew the severity of situations and how to downplay major issues instead of exacerbating minor ones. If the other party really did record a video, with the internet being so developed, there was no way he could keep it under wraps. In the forest. Sato lay prone in the bushes, his chest heaving violently. He hadn¡¯t exercised this strenuously in a long time, and now he even felt a bit dizzy from lack of oxygen to his brain. But as expected, about thirty meters in front of him, a black bear lay on the ground, resting and leisurely nibbling on the small flowers. In this moment, Sato truly felt what aging had brought him: he had gained experience and cunning, but lost his once robust body. Twenty years earlier, he could have crossed three mountains in one go, but now, climbing half a mountain nearly cost him his life. Thinking of Bi Fang, who was still a pressure on him, jealousy flashed again in Sato¡¯s eyes. If he could have his current experience with the body he had at twenty, he might not be inferior to that young man, perhaps even better. Unfortunately¡­ That guy was really a freak! Sato couldn¡¯t help but curse internally when he thought of Bi Fang¡¯s youth and skill level. If that guy were Japanese, his own master would probably praise him as a rare talent of a millennium. Alas. Casting aside the stray thoughts in his mind, Sato wanted to retreat and set up traps. He knocked his head on the ground, panting heavily, and a bout of dry heaving surged up his throat. This is bad, the physical exertion was too great. Meanwhile, the black bear that was nibbling on flowers suddenly lifted its head and looked in Sato¡¯s direction. Sato¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°Run!¡± ¡­ ¡°Last one.¡± Bi Fang scratched his head, looking at the little black bear in front of him that was just over a meter tall, without any fear. The audience even wondered if the black bear weighed as much as Bi Fang. Now, Bi Fang was in first place, with no need to take risks. Just one more kill and a mere five points would make it almost impossible for anyone else to surpass him. The black bear in front of him didn¡¯t seem to have fully grown yet. Given its size, it could be considered an adolescent. Faced with the 185 cm tall and physically fit Bi Fang, the black bear kept backing up on its hind legs, growling fiercely. Bi Fang gripped the spear tightly, inching closer. Just as he was about to make his move, a wail of agony echoed throughout the forest. Even the audience was taken aback. The cunning black bear had taken advantage of Bi Fang¡¯s distraction, slinking into the undergrowth with a swift motion, and soon, thanks to its small size, it had disappeared without a trace. [Why does it feel like someone¡¯s calling out?] [It does sound like a person, ¡°ao¡± that shout, scared me so much my hand shook] Bi Fang held his breath and listened intently. Before long, screams of agony rang out again. The audience was stunned. What had happened? When Bi Fang followed the sounds to the place of incident, the air was thick with a smell of blood that was enough to make one sick. A huge adult brown bear stood with its back to Bi Fang, tearing at the carcass lying on the ground. Is¡­ is that a person? The audience, apprehensive, almost didn¡¯t dare to watch, afraid of witnessing a scene against humanity. But Bi Fang saw clearly a€¡° the brown bear wasn¡¯t biting a person, but a still twitching sika deer. Was that not a human scream just now? Bi Fang pondered for a while, the brown bear nearby still feasted happily, unfazed by the newcomer. But when Bi Fang stood up, he suddenly noticed specks of blood on the branch next to him. Bi Fang reached out and measured the height, finding it at the level of his waist. Upon closer inspection, there weren¡¯t just bits of flesh but also extremely fine strands of fiber. Clearly, they had been scraped off a person. It was certain that someone had encountered something here, and in their panic, had been cut by the sharp branches, leaving behind deep bloody traces. It was just unknown what the situation had become. However, having come all this way. Bi Fang narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixing on the brown bear not far away. The black bear from before had run away, it¡¯s your turn to be the offering. The viewers watched as Bi Fang crouched down, the contours of his muscled back visible through his thin shirt. He was like a tiger, fully prepped for the attack, his back muscles spread out like a net, encompassing his entire skeleton. The familiar silhouette carried a spear horizontally, body pressed to the ground, yet his head was held high, staring straight ahead. He was lean and powerful, like an unshakable ancient tree. Distantly, a snake lay coiled, its sinuous muscles tense, ready to unleash its most formidable strength, like a spring compressed to the limit. The rat, blissfully unaware of the impending danger, nibbled on a corn kernel with its tiny fingers, savoring every bite. Opportunity was fleeting, the snake sprung forward, its mouth gaping wide as it lunged at the rat! Pebbles were scattered by the flick of the snake¡¯s tail. The rat¡¯s natural instincts made it drop the corn kernel, instinctively jumping away, its slender tail waving in mid-air, trying to dodge the snake¡¯s attack, but it was too late. The snake opened its maw, its huge fangs bloody and ferocious, it missed the rat¡¯s soft belly and only bit its rear, but in the next instant, the snake¡¯s body recoiled like a released spring, twirling like a whirlwind, engulfing the rat entirely, tightening inch by inch. The rat struggled with all its might, its beady eyes flashing in terror, but that light was quickly swallowed by the dark scales. The battle had been decided. After some time. Sato checked his equipment one last time: armor, rope, machete, the dagger in his boots, the fire kindling sealed in a copper tube. He touched the spear on his back, tied with a rope, ever ready to be drawn, just like the two knives at his waist. So all the traps for the black bear were set. Suddenly, he stepped forward, pivoting his body, drawing his sword with the rotational force of his waist. Once he burst forth, all the soreness in his body disappeared, as if he were back to his younger days. Sato bellowed, like a warrior clad in armor, unstoppable. Evening. When Bi Fang emerged from the woods with his spear, the setting sun draped over his shoulders. Without a doubt, Bi Fang had won. After he had successfully hunted the brown bear that was enjoying its feast, the outcome of the entire competition was no longer in question. Even though Sato had lost an arm, he still lost. All one hundred quotas were used up, and in this hunt, Bi Fang¡¯s total score was one hundred and three point seven, crushing everyone with a three-digit lead. ¡°Sigh.¡± Having won first place in the competition, Bi Fang felt no joy in his heart, only a deep fatigue. It was finally over, thankfully over. He declined the staff¡¯s offer to escort him back to town and instead walked alone through the forest until he finally emerged from the mountains. The setting sun cast oblique rays, and there were few pedestrians on the road, which was shrouded in a dark gold hue, the long shadows blending indistinctly with the earth. Streetlights lit up one by one, wrapped in a grey mist, looking like pearls floating in a grey sea, each pearl imprisoning a sea nymph. Bi Fang found a public bench and plopped down on it. At this moment, he didn¡¯t want to say anything, nor did he wish to. The water was crimson, boundless, slowly rolling its waves. Richard had told Bi Fang that he often had a dream where he waded through water. The water was the same crimson color, but where Bi Fang saw red-gold, Richard described it as red-blood. Richard told Bi Fang that he couldn¡¯t remember when he started his treacherous journey, nor how long he had been wandering. It seemed endless, with nowhere to rest, not even a single rock in sight. A faint firelight appeared ahead as if from a lighthouse. Accompanying the firelight was the sound of water, the gentle lapping of the waves interspersed with the splashes of frolicking dolphins. When Richard reached the source of the light, he found no island or lighthouse, only a burning cross in the water, with rusty chains binding a man to it. ¡°Who¡¯s on top?¡± Richard¡¯s gaze was distant as if he saw that scene once again, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± The dying sun blazed like fire. [So beautiful!] [First place!] [Master Fang has always been amazing.] [I feel like Master Fang has gotten stronger.] The number of bullet comments in the livestream had lessened, as though many viewers were likewise immersed in the scenery. [Taiji Town has issued a notice.] [Hahaha, it must be those few people.] [Old Fang warned them already, but they¡¯re lucky it only happened now.] The screams and bloodshed had already made the viewers aware of the cause and effect. Speaking of which, it was related to Bi Fang as well. Before leaving, the staff told Bi Fang that the previous screams had come from a group of mountain people, the same ones who had seen Bi Fang and Mugalen carrying the jade down the mountain. ?¦Ï??0.?¦Ï They entered the great mountains seeking a chance to strike it rich overnight but didn¡¯t expect to find a brown bear feasting instead of jade. Had the bear not been well-fed, the situation might have been worse. It seems they still didn¡¯t heed Bi Fang¡¯s advice. Such is human nature. Bi Fang sat on the bench, letting the sea breeze blow over him. Half an hour passed without him saying a word. Impressively, millions of viewers actually accompanied him watching the sunset for half an hour until the sky turned completely dark. If he followed the plan, Bi Fang should be buying a ticket to leave immediately. Otherwise, a few days later at the Whaling Commission, the exposure of the Dolphin Bay documentary would put him in a highly disadvantageous position. But looking at the pitch-black sea, Bi Fang suddenly changed his mind. He was never one to play by the rules. He wanted to stay, to do one last thing. Chapter 660 - Chapter 660 Chapter 657 Frozen River ?Chapter 660: Chapter 657: Frozen River Chapter 660: Chapter 657: Frozen River With a tree stick, survival is half guaranteed! That was, of course, a joke among the online friends. But for Bi Fang, a straight tree stick was indeed an unexpected delight, as its help in probing the snow-covered ground was quite significant. It protected his joints, maintained his balance, and even made walking up slopes more effortless, effectively increasing his average speed. Studies have proven that a walking stick of the right length can reduce the impact on the knees by more than 40%, especially when going downhill. Bi Fang¡¯s joints were naturally strong enough to withstand the impact, but the stick¡¯s help in maintaining balance and speeding up his progress was truly appreciated. The tree branch itself had not dried out to the point of snapping easily; on the contrary, it retained a fair degree of toughness and could serve as a perfect probing stick. And its length was just adequate to double as a makeshift weapon. The reason it was just makeshift was that the Arctic was indeed too dry; although the tree stick still had toughness, using it as a spear was somewhat of a stretch. As for brushing aside undergrowth, startling snakes in the grass, clearing thorny vines from the path, or webs along the waya€¡±these functions were utterly useless in the Arctic. There were no trees nearby, so it was clear that the stick had broken off from some tree and been blown here by the wind, with many branches still attached. Selecting a segment of the right length and straightness, Bi Fang whittled away all the excess parts with a knife. Larger branches were collected for making snowshoes; smaller ones, though less useful, served as fuela€¡±nothing wasted. ¡°I¡¯m not new to making snowshoes. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï Sometimes, in treacherous, snow-covered terrain, you find that your boots always sink into the snow. In such conditions, snowshoes are very necessary.¡± ¡°Sinking into the snow is like sinking into mud while planting rice in the South, draining much more energy when walking. Energy is precious; we must save it. Homemade snowshoes distribute your weight over a larger area, making it easier to walk on snow.¡± ¡°This branch is from a pine tree, the most common tree in the Polar Region. Even without leaves, its dense branches make excellent material.¡± Bi Fang cut 5 to 10 branches about half a meter long, tied the bottoms together, and gathered the branch shafts loosely around a central point. Next, he tied his foot to the front third of the makeshift snowshoe with a strap. ¡°If you have ample time, you could make a more complex trail snowshoe with saplings and thin ropes, but that¡¯s not necessary for us on the vast expanse of Greenland.¡± Greenland is essentially composed of towering mountain ranges, massive blue-green icebergs, magnificent fjords, and barren, exposed rock. From the air, however, it looks like a vast, open wilderness dotted with uneven black peaks occasionally piercing the blindingly white and endlessly extending ice fields. Overall, Greenland is an island of great contrasts: in summer, meadows near the coast bloom with Purple Edelweiss and yellow poppies, along with shrubby arctic willows and birches. However, central and northern Greenland are locked under massive ice caps, with no grasslands or flowers for hundreds of kilometersa€¡±a vast expanse reminiscent of a white desert. ¡°If you don¡¯t plan to walk on flat terrain with your snowshoes but need to climb or descend mountains, or cross slopes, then your snowshoes need a certain level of adherence to the ground. Therefore, your snowshoes should have fittings like splints or hooks at the toes, heels, and sides to grip the terrain.¡± After a brief overview of other conditions, Bi Fang continued to move forward. With the aid of snowshoes, Bi Fang¡¯s walking speed visibly reached a new level. Looking at the sun overhead, the weather today was also quite nice, with intense sunlight melting and refreezing the surface of the snow, crunching beneath his feet. Furthermore, during autumn and winter, temperate cyclones frequently invaded Greenland, causing dramatic temperature fluctuations, sometimes -50?¡ãC, other times -30?¡ãC. Bi Fang suspected that today¡¯s temperature might only be in the low twenties below zero, far less oppressive than the scorching cold of the previous days. The howling winds, like frosty blades, seemed intent on dismembering a person, and the cuts made by them might be more appealing than the ice-fresh danxia produced by the Polar Celestial Wolf¡¯s blade. With unrealistic fantasies roaming his mind, Bi Fang felt he might be too hungry, as his thoughts began to drift away. Normally, he was a person with a very strong sense of purpose, which allowed him to gradually establish stable living conditions in the wilderness without getting sidetracked with haphazard ideas. Bi Fang felt that this was caused by a lack of energy in his brain, with his willpower being continually eroded in this harsh environment. Many people would think that willpower is a psychological topic, without realizing that it should actually be categorized as a physiological one. This thing is a consumable, each struggle against instinct causing internal consumption, and it¡¯s also a main factor in supporting efficient work. When willpower is insufficient, it¡¯s easy to fantasize, to let one¡¯s mind wander. ¡°Huff!¡± Bi Fang pulled down the cover over his mouth and nose, exposed his face to the cold wind, and rubbed it, took a deep breath to maximize his blood oxygen content, and only then did he feel rejuvenated. It was time to quicken the pace. An unprecedented hunger pangs unleashed Bi Fang¡¯s potential, and with the help of snowshoes, he even ran faster than when he first arrived in Greenland. Bi Fang crouched down, knocked off a piece of light blue ice with rounded edges, and shoved it into his dry water bottle. ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï ¡°The older the sea ice, the less salt it contains. Aged sea ice breaks off with rounded edges, and its surface is often pitted; the part submerged in water appears light blue. Fresh sea ice is milky white like cow¡¯s milk, with sharp angles when broken.¡± [What¡¯s the rationale behind that?] ¡°It¡¯s due to different microstructures, ice varies from ice.¡± Bi Fang pointed to the ice beneath his feet, next to which was a thick layer of snow that had been shoveled and piled up. After a blizzard, the ice surface exposed on the ground could hardly be seen, and snow had to be shoveled to fetch water. ¡°Freshly formed sea ice is made up of needle-like or flake-like tiny ice crystals; a mass of ice crystals coalesce and gather to form a sticky or spongy ice, which upon snowing at a temperature near freezing point on the sea surface, does not melt and directly forms a sticky ice.¡± ¡°Ice skin is formed directly by the freezing of a calm sea surface, or by the continued freezing of newly formed ice. Its thickness is about 5 centimeters, quite brittle, and easily broken into rectangular thin ice pieces by the wind on the sea surface or the currents of the water.¡± ¡°If the newly formed ice continues to grow, freezing into a flexible thin ice layer of about 10cm thick, it will bend easily and break into rectangular ice pieces under external forces. And the breaking of pancake ice into thin pieces, under external forces, will collide with and compress against each other, causing edges to rise and form.¡± ¡°Eventually, it transforms into circular ice disks of about 30cm to 3m in diameter, with a thickness of around 10cm; this degree of ice is known as old ice. New ice doesn¡¯t freeze like this, it seems the river section under our feet must have been frozen for a long time.¡± Shuiyou were still listening to Bi Fang¡¯s scientific explanation, but when they heard the last sentence, they paused, and then suddenly realized what it meant. A river? Did they find a river!? Chapter 661 - Chapter 661 658 Chapter Completed Before 2 a.m ?Chapter 661: 658 Chapter Completed Before 2 a.m. Chapter 661: 658 Chapter Completed Before 2 a.m. Finish on time, complete changes before two o¡¯clock. Shivering from the cold, Bi Fang felt quite lucky because he had not yet shown signs of a fever. Having added so much to his physique, it proved to be quite useful. Although he had caught a cold, at least he would not easily develop the severe symptoms of a fever, which would be the real trouble. Once he developed a fever, he would lose nearly ninety percent of his mobility. If it was just a common cold, Bi Fang would probably recover on his own within a week. ¡°Blizzard¡­¡± After understanding the situation, Bi Fang sighed, and like the viewers, couldn¡¯t help but recall the scene in Mohe. That was only his second adventure, which resulted in an unforgettable life-and-death crisis that still felt fresh and chilling. But the temperature then was only around minus twenty or thirty degrees Celsius, which could almost be considered ¡°warm¡± compared to now. What worried him most now was how long the blizzard would last. One day would be manageable, but if it were two days, three days, four days¡­ Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï The blizzard would bring not only low temperatures but also intense physical constraints on activity. Mohe was still okay; there were undulating mountains and sprawling forests, with many snowdrifts that allowed for some traversal, but not far ahead here was a vast plain, where the wild wind blew fiercely like unleashed stallions, strong enough to batter a person to death. Even if he were burly enough for the wind not to move him, the blowing snow would obscure his vision, making the search for supplies even harder. He had only eaten some moss the night before to stave off hunger. If he had to wait a few more days, he might not starve to death, but his body would become completely debilitated. However, overthinking was pointless, as even contemplating consumed energy. Every decision made was a significant drain on one¡¯s energy, even eating and drinking. When thirsty and reaching for water subconsciously, you inadvertently used up the energy for decision-making. Often, it is essential to develop physical habits for such menial tasks. Most modern people are short on energy, feeling exhausted doing nothing all day. Actually, it is like this, from the moment you wake up in the morning, hesitating on whether or not to get out of bed, to deciding whether to brush your teeth or eat breakfast first, you¡¯re consuming your limited energy for the day. Better to save some effort to accomplish more tasks. Bi Fang turned on the live stream, and the bullet chat that had been discussing the blizzard immediately turned into neat greetings, followed by a variety of questions about whether a blizzard had hit. Facing this question, Bi Fang took the backpack that had been blocking the cave entrance down, expecting the howling wind to rush in¡­ No, that didn¡¯t happen. The snow had completely buried Bi Fang¡¯s cave, and the backpack that was blocking the wind at the entrance was buried underneath as well. Removing it had no effect at all. Bi Fang had to dig upwards laboriously. It had to be said, the snow was quite solidly packed; after digging for nearly half an hour, Bi Fang finally made a breach, and the howling wind instantly gusted in, stirring up a cloud of snowdust. After coughing twice, Bi Fang wrapped his clothes tightly around himself and crawled out from the ground. Wow! The viewers were immediately startled as soon as he emerged; the visibility was so poor that beyond three meters everything was obscured, worse than the night time visibility. The mountains that could be seen before had vanished, the view was hazy and grey all over. ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï The large rock he had relied on was already half-buried in snow, only a bare top exposed. Bi Fang was nearly blown away, his face quickly covered in frost, forcing him to retreat back into the cave. ¡°The blizzard really comes out of nowhere. Just as life was looking a bit brighter, it all gets destroyed by it,¡± Bi Fang said to the camera with a wry smile. [Looks like this is targeted at Old Fang (dog head)] [This might be the toughest one for Old Fang yet, right?] [Indeed, when has Master Fang ever suffered such an indignity? Sooner or later, he¡¯ll storm the Celestial Court, slaughter those ungrateful Thunder Deity and Lightning Goddess! Pin them to the ground, skin and debone them, pluck those bird wings, and make some outdoor BBQ!] [Do they also control the blizzard? (scratching head)] [Who cares if they do or don¡¯t, let¡¯s just assign the blame first (joking)] [I saw on the weather forecast that this blizzard seems like it will last three days] [Wow, three days?] Three days! Bi Fang felt a sudden shock in his heart, but he wasn¡¯t too disappointeda€¡±blizzards in Greenland are like this; once they start, it¡¯s hard for them to stop, and it¡¯s impossible for them to disappear without causing trouble for a few days. He had mentally prepared for this very scenario, but upon hearing the facts, Bi Fang still felt somewhat despondent. [For three days, can you go out hunting in this weather?] Indeed, everyone just saw the scene; nothing visible beyond three meters, let alone hunting, it¡¯d be difficult enough to just keep oneself safea€¡±go out for half an hour and you might freeze into an icicle. At that point, don¡¯t bother with rewards, let¡¯s just collectively mourn. Just as the viewers were unsure of what to do, Bi Fang had already made a decision. ¡°Can¡¯t just sit here waiting to die.¡± Bi Fang rolled over, took out the little shovel he hadn¡¯t yet unpacked, and started digging downward again, tossing the frosted soil that he dug up towards the only entrance. The cave that was originally meant to protect him from the blizzard was clearly not enough; it needed to be modified. ¡°Snow is a very good insulator. If you can dig a snow cave to take shelter from the blizzard, your chances of survival will greatly increase.¡± ¡°Winds at a speed of 160 kilometres per hour will lower the surrounding temperature to minus 60 degrees Celsius, and the blizzard brought by these fierce winds will stop your progress and pack the snow very hard.¡± ¡°At this time, snow will accumulate on the leeward side of the slope. The depth of the shelter you can dig can exceed 2.5 meters, but it depends on how compacted the snow is.¡± ¡°Safety must always be kept in mind. Steep slopes are best because on steep slopes, the snow you dig can be directly thrown out of the entrance. This reduces the physical effort required to clear the entrance, especially when you dig deeper.¡± After digging about 0.5 meters, Bi Fang made a turn to one side. He worked hard and quickly but tried as much as possible not to sweat. Otherwise, once he stopped working, the sweat would quickly cool his body down. ¡°The entrance should be located a bit lower than the cave, because cold air sinks, and this way, the cave can expel the colder air, and the entrance should be small, making it easier to close. If you¡¯re on the ground, use a canvas backpack as thermal insulation for the floor.¡± ¡°Block the entrance as much as possible, but leave a hole about the size of your head for ventilation and observation. On the leeward side of the slope, the wind gradually decreases and the snow accumulates; you might already be very tired, but you must maintain a vent to prevent suffocation. Two hours of snowfall is roughly equivalent to the amount of snow removed in two hours of digging.¡± After digging to a certain depth for half of the day, Bi Fang then started digging upwards to create a ventilation hole to avoid suffocation. Having done all this, Bi Fang curled up like a ball, wrapping his toes and fingers well, his mood wasn¡¯t downcast though. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s tough to spend a night in such a makeshift shelter with not much in the way of insulation, but compared to being outside, your chances of survival are still much greater.¡± ¡°What comes next, can only wait.¡± Chapter 662 - Chapter 662 Chapter 659 The Person Who Eats Raw Meat ?Chapter 662: Chapter 659: The Person Who Eats Raw Meat Chapter 662: Chapter 659: The Person Who Eats Raw Meat Accompanied by the clear sound of splashing water, the spotted fish was flung onto the ice surface. The big fish, intending to surface for air, finally realized what had happened and struggled desperately, its splashed droplets quickly freezing into beads. The fish was more than forty centimeters long, longer than an adult¡¯s forearm, covered with many spots, with a white belly and a brown back, and sporting a striking red line between its waist and abdomen. Without a doubt, it was a trout, a plump and delicious trout. Seeing the lively trout slowly stiffen in the cold weather, Bi Fang, who hadn¡¯t tasted meat for a whole week and survived on bark, felt his eyes turning red. Meat! Fatty fish meat! The mucus on the fish¡¯s body gradually turned into ice shavings, the air filled with a faint fishy smell. The superior position in the food chain triggered an incessant secretion of saliva in Bi Fang¡¯s mouth, making him almost wish he could pounce on it and devour its flesh raw, but in the end, Bi Fang held back, refocusing his attention on the ice hole once more. Another fish swam by, and Bi Fang gripped his spear tightly, stabbing down once again. Under the sunset¡¯s glow, one fish after another was flung from the hole, with hardly any misses. The river swelled with an intoxicating blue micro light, its waters clear as crystal; a scene not normally seen. ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Even northerners accustomed to winter fishing saw mostly dark green river water that, when surged onto the ice, left a thin layer of dirt. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï [It¡¯s so beautiful, just like a wonderland.] [I¡¯ve never seen such clean river water in my life.] [The fish in here could be eaten raw, right? It seems completely unpolluted.] Such a beautiful river left an extremely deep impression on the audience watching the screen. The fourth fish was tossed ashore, leaving Bi Fang slightly gasping for breath, reminding him of his first venture into Qinling. He felt perhaps weaker now than he did back then, catching just a few fish had left him feeling very exhausted, his aim was off, having stabbed twice to catch that fourth fish. Taking a few breaths, Bi Fang sat down on the ground. Having caught four in a row, the first batch of fish that could be caught had been snared, and those that could escape had fled, creating a brief lull, waiting for the second batch. Seeing the audience¡¯s astonishment, Bi Fang took the opportunity to explain. ¡°Ordinary ice directly formed from water contains a large number of air bubbles. The light entering will reflect off the interfaces of the ice and the air bubbles, as well as the grain boundaries between ice crystals, making the ice appear white.¡± ¡°But a lot of the ice in the Arctic is formed when snowflakes are gradually compressed under pressure, turning into granular snow, and the final form of the snow at the bottom is also ice. This kind of ice has very few air bubbles, and the pores between the grains keep shrinking, becoming denser, and turning into perfect ice crystals.¡± ¡°Perfect ice crystals absorb very little of the visible light spectrum and appear transparent. However, they absorb red light more than blue light, an absorption caused by the vibration of the O-H bond in water molecules.¡± ¡°At this time, when light passes through very pure water or ice, more red light is absorbed. When the water body and ice layer are thicker, they will appear blue. The river beneath our feet, at least this section of it, has definitely not melted this summer, which is why we are seeing this situation.¡± Ice emitting blue light is generally from icebergs, while blue light from rivers is quite rare. The blue cold light brings a sense of tranquility to one¡¯s heart. Time was brief, and by the time the sun had set, Bi Fang had caught a total of seven fish, including four trout, two salmon, and one cod. The catch wasn¡¯t just good, it was a bounty. Without even digging a shelter, Bi Fang started preparing the fish, slicing open the trout¡¯s belly, emptying the guts, and washing it clean by the river. He then used the Hunting Knife to directly cut off the fattest part of the belly, which had the most fat. While Bi Fang was processing the fish, the audience noticed a problema€¡±there didn¡¯t seem to be any material to start a fire, did there? The tree sticks I had seen before were mostly used to make snowshoes; the leftovers were just scraps. There were a few small branches left, but the idea of using them to start a fire and roast fish was completely absurd. [No fuel] [Yeah, seems too late to collect any now] Just when everyone was doubting whether Bi Fang would have anything to eat and might have to go out to gather materials, they were astonished to find Bi Fang actually picking up a slice of fish belly and stuffing it directly into his mouth! Wow, freshwater fish, eating it raw! The audience was in an uproar. In this age of abundant information, almost everyone who has watched videos online has a basic understanding of the issues with raw fish consumption. Some of it is wrong, like the belief that seafood has fewer parasites or that seafood parasites can¡¯t survive in the human bodya€¡±this is an extremely one-sided understanding. Others are correct, like the fact that due to osmotic pressure, most seafood parasites can¡¯t survive in the human body, and freshwater fish often can¡¯t be eaten raw due to a high probability of parasitic infection, especially with crustaceans where the chances are outrageous. But right or wrong, it¡¯s generally known that freshwater fish can¡¯t be eaten raw. [666, such vigor in eating raw freshwater fish] [Damn, Old Fang is seriously brave, not afraid of parasites?] [Sea fish is one thing, but eating river fish raw?] [Has he gone crazy from hunger?] [What¡¯s this streamer doing, gnawing on raw fish?] [Philips Fish gifts Wolf Brush*666 to the streamer] Trout typically begin spawning in November, and experienced anglers start looking for them in October. One could say that now is the season when trout are at their fattest and most delicious. Even the belly meat of the fish had an oily sheen to it, which, after being frozen, didn¡¯t feel greasy at all but was instead very smooth and tender, almost like slurping noodles. Actually, greasiness wouldn¡¯t be a problem at all; in fact, the greasier, the better. What Bi Fang needed most at this moment was exactly thisa€¡±lots of fat. After devouring several pieces of fish belly, the bellies of the two trout had vanished without a trace. Only after he had some solid food in his stomach did Bi Fang temporarily stop his frenzied eating. His stomach began to digest the fish meat with all its might, emanating a warmth from the inside out, making one feel so comfortable they wanted to stretch lazily. It was only then that Bi Fang noticed the chaotic mess in the comments. ¡°Ah, this, indeed there are certain risks, but they are not that great. Parasites are really afraid of the cold. In fact, truly safe raw fish has a freezing stage, which is to keep it in an environment of minus twenty degrees for twenty-four hours to kill parasites to the greatest extent,¡± Bi Fang explained while chewing. ¡°However, eating raw meat in the Arctic isn¡¯t just about safety, it¡¯s also a necessity.¡± ¡°Although I have been eating grass skin for the past few days, there¡¯s a terrifying disease that could threaten us at any moment, and to prevent it, eating raw meat is an essential method.¡± Disease? The audience perked up at this, scrutinizing Bi Fang¡¯s appearance closely. Apart from looking a bit pale and weak, they didn¡¯t see any sign of illness. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m not sick, just a little hungry¡­¡± ¡°And I said it¡¯s just a precaution. This disease is actually something you may have all heard about, quite famous during the Age of Exploration.¡± ¡°Scurvy.¡± Chapter 663 - Chapter 663 Chapter 660 Change before one oclock ?Chapter 663: Chapter 660: Change before one o¡¯clock Chapter 663: Chapter 660: Change before one o¡¯clock Switched back before one o¡¯clock. It was still dark, the earth a uniform grey. The vast expanse of the ice field was visible in its entirety, showing no signs of life. A pair of gloved hands suddenly burst out from the ground, sweeping the accumulated snow to one side. Bi Fang gasped for breath, struggling to push the snow aside, as the overnight blizzard had completely sealed the entrance to the trench, with at least thirty centimeters thick. Leaning at the exit, Bi Fang took a breath, grabbed the icy sides, and propped himself up, then he began to gather the rope. The overnight freeze had solidified the rope, and a few drops of water from last night were now encased in several centimeters of ice. The thickness of the ice was increasing. After bundling the rope and putting it in his backpack, Bi Fang started the live stream and greeted his audience. ¡°Today is my second day of Arctic survival. I¡¯m feeling pretty good although a bit hungry, but after all, there are only ninety-nine days left, right?¡± [I simply hail 666] [Full marks for this guy, don¡¯t ask why not keep some for encouragement, he deserves it] [Up in the middle of the night for the live stream, mom-sees-I¡¯m-hit series] Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã? Although Bi Fang¡¯s live stream had already gone global, domestic viewers were still the main force. [Is it already daylight in the Arctic?] Inside the live stream¡¯s screen, the audience noticed the sun hadn¡¯t risen yet, but it didn¡¯t seem as dark as they had imagined; even the drone¡¯s night mode hadn¡¯t been activated. ¡°Because snowflakes reflect white light. The complex structure of snow can¡¯t absorb light. A beam that enters a pile of snow will be rapidly scattered by billions of Ice Crystals and air pockets, with most of the light reflecting back out of the snow. ¡°So as long as there¡¯s a little bit of light, places with snowflakes will seem brighter, but it¡¯s just a dim brightness.¡± Bi Fang pointed to the stars in the night sky, clearly indicating the source of the light. The vast majority of people living in cities can hardly imagine a night sky full of stars anymore; even after the sun sets, the night is never completely dark. During a full moon, it¡¯s amazingly bright, almost as if there were streetlights shining. Today, the moon in the night sky wasn¡¯t full, but there was still plenty of light. Furthermore, the strong wind was blowing the snowflakes around, creating a flurry of snow at about four or five meters above the ground, which actually made it fairly bright. However, as bright as it was, the blizzard made it impossible to see the path clearly. Fortunately, Bi Fang could indistinctly make out Polaris, which gave him a direction to proceed in. ¡°Now we have over a dozen hours each night, and we can¡¯t waste this time. We can get up within the three hours before sunrise.¡± ¡°To survive in the Arctic, whenever entering a period of polar day or polar night, it is essential to set your biological clock; otherwise, an inverted routine will leave you feeling lethargic and often with a headache.¡± ¡°If you sleep too much or too little, you¡¯ll get headaches, and you won¡¯t have enough energy to face upcoming challenges. So, if possible, definitely set an alarm clock. If not, you¡¯ll have to rely on your body¡¯s biological clock, which is quite difficult.¡± ¡°How many of you like to stay up late? How often do you do it?¡± As Bi Fang trekked onwards, he suddenly asked a question. ¡°Ah, this,¡± ¡°Be more confident, every day,¡± ¡°Hey, actually, I don¡¯t absolutely have to study and work until midnight, but after a whole day at it, I always end up wanting to scroll through my phone for a few hours to relax. Before I know it, it¡¯s really late.¡± ¡°Add to that, every morning I wake up with such a headache.¡± ¡°Work until eleven or twelve at night, how could I possibly go straight to bed satisfied? My life needs some entertainment, of course, I need to unwind. Then, I fall into a vicious cycle (covering face).¡± Work eight hours, play eight hours, sleep eight hours. This schedule is a hard-fought achievement, but now the working hours usually exceed ten hours, or even worse, twelve hours. Most people work for a better life, and entertainment time is indispensable, so naturally, they encroach on their sleeping hours. Otherwise, life would have no meaning. There are few who are financially free, and the rest of the lives just get swept up in the relentless march of time. When they see Bi Fang gallivanting around the world, many can¡¯t help but feel a tinge of envy. Although many of his actions sometimes stir controversy, Bi Fang doesn¡¯t care. Compared to the people who support him, the critics are the minority. ¡°Actually, many people¡¯s biological clocks are not exactly twenty-four hours but have a certain margin of error, usually within two hours. For example, one¡¯s cycle may be twenty-six hours, or even twenty-two hours, though most are slightly longer than twenty-four hours.¡± ¡°This is a common phenomenon, most diurnal animals have a circadian rhythm slightly longer than 24 hours, and most nocturnal animals¡¯ rhythms are slightly shorter than 24 hours. Humans are diurnal, so we belong to the former category. Of course, there are exceptions, this isn¡¯t a theorem but a general rule.¡± ¡°The reason for this isn¡¯t yet known, but one plausible hypothesis suggests that when humans first appeared, the Earth didn¡¯t rotate every 24 hours. After all, Earth¡¯s rotation speed has changed several times over the past few billion years.¡± Upon hearing this, the viewers in front of the screen felt as if a door had been flung open, struck by a sudden realization. ¡°No wonder I keep staying up later and later every night, damn it, so that¡¯s why!¡± ¡°Every time I stay up an extra hour, after twenty-four days, I¡¯m back to normal.¡± ¡°Taking light as an example, most human circadian rhythms are slightly longer than 24 hours. So, humans are most comfortable living in a light-dark cycle that¡¯s a bit longer than 24 hours, because it¡¯s completely in sync with our natural rhythm.¡± ¡°And while we can also adapt to Earth¡¯s 24-hour light-dark cycle, the difference is not huge. However, if the light-dark cycle were 50 hours, it generally wouldn¡¯t be adaptable.¡± ¡°In other words, the human biological clock can adjust to the external environment, but this adjustment has its limits.¡± ¡°In other mammals, light can regulate the biological clock through phototransduction pathways that involve the suprachiasmatic nucleus in the hypothalamus. But without light, you can only rely on the habits you usually develop.¡± ¡°Once you destroy this cyclical biological habit, the consequences include decreased memory, lethargy, headaches, and in severe cases, frequent diarrhea and vomiting.¡± ¡°So, self-discipline is very important.¡± Bi Fang continued on, relying on his biological clock; he was always able to wake up on time, and it never disrupted his advance. He kept moving until the sky began to lighten, and the snowstorm slowly abated. The snowflakes on the ground gradually settled, and as they were bathed in sunlight, the continuous range of mountains finally appeared in everyone¡¯s sight. ¡°We¡¯ve finally arrived.¡± Bi Fang let out a sigh of reliefa€¡±at last, the sight of undulating terrain meant there were mountains. Where there are mountains, there are rocks, soil, plants, and animals. Though there¡¯s a saying, ¡®hopes in the distant mountains can kill a horse with exhaustion¡¯, seeing those mountains is still much better than not seeing them at all. Chapter 664 - Chapter 664 Chapter 661 Fierce Pickled Puffin ?Chapter 664: Chapter 661: Fierce Pickled Puffin Chapter 664: Chapter 661: Fierce Pickled Puffin Why does eating staple foods reduce the demand for vitamin C? In fact, this has to do with a certain type of ¡°lousy receptor.¡± Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and an essential substance for the formation of collagen. Collagen, in turn, is the main component of the body¡¯s connective tissue, which is indispensable for the structure and support within the body, including blood vessels. Therefore, when there is a lack of vitamin C, just a little external pressure can cause blood to seep out of the blood vessel walls, resulting in bleeding, which is scurvy. Once scurvy is contracted, one may experience symptoms such as bleeding gums, loose teeth, wounds that are difficult to heal, and joint pain. The absorption of glucose and vitamin C actually has a ¡°competitive relationship.¡± In the 1970s, Professor John T., an honorary professor at the University of Washington, put forward his glucose-ascorbic acid antagonism theory, also known as the GAA theory. This theory suggests that increased blood glucose levels can hinder vitamin C from entering cells and exerting its effects. This is because glucose and vitamin C share similar chemical components, and they enter cells through the same ¡°Glut-1 receptor.¡± Compared to vitamin C, the Glut-1 receptor prefers glucose, which means that, given the opportunity to ¡°compete,¡± it will choose sugar over vitamin C. Bi Fang explained at length and finally put it in layman¡¯s terms, ¡°In other words, this receptor is quite vain, it¡¯ll kick the less attractive option to the curb if something better comes along.¡± [Got it, lousy receptor!] [Putting facts aside, isn¡¯t there anything wrong with vitamin C?] Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? Seafarers are prone to scurvy, primarily because they eat too much black bread. With this in mind, Bi Fang took another big bite of fish meat, savored it, and spat out a fishbone. The taste of turf had long been pushed out of Bi Fang¡¯s memory, like something removed from the palace of memories, frozen with liquid nitrogen, and turned into a fine powder with a blowtorch. That stuff was truly a painful memory, the taste of earthy dirt mixed with the dryness of dead grass, and the texture like chunks of ice were far from the current greasy deliciousness, invigorating every cell in the body in a moment of low metabolism, and getting them back to work. River delicacies tend to have a muddy fishy taste, especially when eaten raw, but in Bi Fang¡¯s mouth at that moment, it became an exceptionally rare treat. At least, it was much better than the Inuit people¡¯s traditional food, kiviak. With that thought, Bi Fang added a clarification. ¡°Actually, what I just described wasn¡¯t entirely accurate; the Inuit don¡¯t just eat raw meat, they eat more of a fermented raw meat without any treatment, which is a natural fermented food called kiviak, also known as ¡®pickled puffin.''¡± ¡°High-latitude ethnic groups, due to the scarcity of food, particularly the lack of vitamin sources like green vegetables, have a similar custom of eating raw meat. One reason is the shortage of fuel, and the other is to supplement vitamins. But raw meat is not easy to preserve, especially in summer, so more often, they eat fermented raw meat.¡± For the Inuit people, living on Greenland isn¡¯t easy; otherwise, there wouldn¡¯t be cases of people being frozen to death inside ice houses. Therefore, every spring and summer, they go out hunting to collect enough food to last the entire winter. This is a necessary process; without it, one is very likely to freeze to death during winter. No one will come to help you, because most people are struggling just to maintain their own survival. They are not unwilling, but rather they lack the spare capacity to help. ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Even if they do have the capacity, how long can they provide help? Greenland¡¯s icy and snowy conditions are indeed conducive to food preservation, but in summer, temperatures can sometimes rise above freezing. It¡¯s okay to leave food out for a week, but any longer and it will inevitably rot, hence the need for artificial fermentation. Fermentation and rotting are two distinct processes. The former is the process where beneficial bacteria utilize organic matter, which when consumed, is beneficial to the human body, and can even make the food more nutritious. The latter, however, is when harmful bacteria proliferate, rendering the food inedible. ¡°Take, for example, the renowned traditional Swedish delicacy of surstr??mming. It is made from lightly rotten and fermented herring,¡± he said. ¡°The Inuit people¡¯s kiviak is a bit more rugged. The method to prepare this food is very complex and takes a long time to complete. Definitely not something I could produce within the span of one hundred days I am spending on survival,¡± Bi Fang explained. ¡°To put it simply, the method involves not processing the puffin¡¯s body at all. You don¡¯t pluck the feathers or remove the innards. The carcasses are placed directly into the seal¡¯s body, submerged in the digestive fluids of the seal¡¯s stomach, and after being sewn up, sealed with the seal¡¯s blubber,¡± he continued. ¡°Then the seal is buried in the permafrost layer, left to ferment for two to three years before being dug up. After cutting open the seal¡¯s belly, the puffins are retrieved and can be directly consumed.¡± From a preparation perspective, it is still raw meat because it has not been subjected to any high heat to cause protein denaturation. ¡°As feathers do not ferment, they still maintain the original shape of the puffin, and one can hardly see any change. One can only imagine what the final product is like. [Holy shit, is this something that people eat?] [That¡¯s so hardcore¡­] [Bought a can of surstr??mming once, that flavor, unforgettable to this day] Seeing the barrage of comments in the live stream, Bi Fang chuckled. ¡°There are actually two ways to eat it. The first one involves pulling off the bird¡¯s tail and sucking out the fermented and decomposed innards through the bird¡¯s anal opening, which is said to taste similar to bran and natto, along with the taste of the combined fermented mixture,¡± he said. ¡°The second method is to spread the contents from the bird¡¯s stomach onto grilled meat and eat it that way.¡± With the development of human history, the custom of eating cooked meat has taken root among the Inuit people, and they also now have sources of fresh vegetables. Thus, opportunities to get vitamins from raw meat have lessened, and they use kiviak as a seasoning spread on grilled meat. At this point, everyone was astonished. They thought that surstr??mming was already the ultimate, but who knew there was even more extreme food out there? And the eating methods are so bold! [Unprocessed, that means there¡¯s feces¡­] [Birds have a different digestive system from other animals; they defecate as soon as they have to, so it might not be too bad] [That¡¯s too much for me, I feel like vomiting already] [I¡¯m also eating right now, wuwuwu] Shuiyou found it hard to believe that humans would eat such food, but for the Inuit people, this was a rare delicacy that could provide the severely lacking vitamins in the Arctic region. It was a forced adaptation of humans to their living environment, and expecting it to be tasty was indeed impossible. Bi Fang hadn¡¯t tried surstr??mming before and imagined that it definitely wouldn¡¯t taste good. He wasn¡¯t daring enough to try it either. His sense of smell was far more sensitive than the average person¡¯s, and he feared that he might pass out if he caught a whiff of it. Chapter 665 - Chapter 665 Chapter 662 Preparedness Competition ?Chapter 665: Chapter 662: Preparedness Competition Chapter 665: Chapter 662: Preparedness Competition One of the necessary principles for the emergence of a rich variety of cuisines is the abundance of produce, which essentially depends on the richness of species. Just as a Huaxia person would find it hard to comprehend how to cook without scallions, ginger, and garlic. Therefore, it can almost be seen that the closer to the low latitudes, the more diverse the culinary possibilities become, even presenting many unheard-of spices. Besides latitude, there also needs to be a sufficient platform to facilitate the convergence of ingredients from all corners of the world. Adhering strictly to one place, indeed, could yield exquisite food, but it usually tends to be rather monotonous, becoming a ¡°local flavor.¡± Just like the sour and spicy flavors of Southeast Asia, they are quite good, but apart from this cuisine, there doesn¡¯t seem to be another more profound impression. It¡¯s not that the produce isn¡¯t rich, but rather a lack of exchange, fundamentally due to national borders and transportation limitations. Thirdly, there needs to be a prosperous period; people need to be safe and content to ponder over their culinary desires. And looking at the global map, only Huaxia meets these three conditions. Its vastness is matched by the richness of its produce, and although it hasn¡¯t always been peaceful and prosperous, every dynasty had at least such a time. Then, looking at Polar Bear, the latitude is too high, largely consisting of Siberia, and Canada similarly. As for Ugly Country, with its latitude nearly twenty degrees higher than Huaxia, it barely meets the first condition, but it has a brief history and certainly can¡¯t satisfy the third condition. Moreover, due to its colonial nature, the tastes of Ugly Country are essentially transferred from the high latitudes of Europe. Moving on, no one else meets the third condition. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Therefore, Huaxia is unique, where every region has its distinctive cuisines, but Huaxia¡¯s vast boundaries themselves present endless possibilities for these culinary arts, an extensive variety. Bi Fang took a sip of water, contentedly lying on the ground, with half-eaten big fish scattered around, seemingly the leftovers of an Alaskan Brown Bear¡¯s feast. Only they would indulge in eating the high-fat belly meat and disregard the rest. Bi Fang had cleaned out all the fish bellies, leaving only the less fatty partsa€¡±no need to worry about them spoiling within a day or two in the current Arctic weather. If the bountiful harvest continues tomorrow, these remains would be preserved, as the limited stomach space should be reserved for high-calorie foods. Glancing at the live stream¡¯s chat, Bi Fang noticed many viewers were still discussing the strong taste of pickled puffin, and he couldn¡¯t help but smile with a sense of mischief accomplished. Considering humans¡¯ history of venturing into the polar regions, we naturally haven¡¯t evolved taste bud genes that accommodate this ¡°delicacy,¡± only those who have grown up eating it might potentially develop a customary adaptation. But as living standards improve, the number willing to accept it will only decrease. Even with surstr??mming, as economic conditions improve, many locals actually find it hard to stomach. ¡°The Inuit people still eat puffin, but one type of puffin, the great auk, has already gone extinct. The last specimen of the great auk existed in the form of pickled puffin, it¡¯s like a witness to human history, I guess.¡± Bi Fang got up, dusted the snow off himself, and prepared to dig tonight¡¯s shelter. The night was quite favorable; the temperature dropped only to negative thirty degrees, not too extreme, and even the aurora appeared. Pale green ribbons floated in the night sky, providing a good view. A rather strong display of the aurora borealis, the snowfield was cold, but the hearts of the viewers were boiling, watching the sky full of Northern Lights fluttering, as if the souls of angels were swaying. In history, people have been very afraid of the aurora borealis. Especially for the local Sami people of Northern Europe, their legends about the aurora are often stories of terror. For example, there¡¯s a legend that children should not look at the aurora because it will take away their souls. There¡¯s also a belief that the aurora carries an axe as it flies across the sky, killing anyone who mocks it. Therefore, under the bright aurora, sleds in motion are not allowed to use bells, in order to avoid startling the aurora and encountering misfortune. But in modern times, aside from possible solar storms causing changes in the magnetic field, affecting mobile phone signals, the aurora has become a beautiful scene. ¡°I feel like I¡¯m filled with strength right now, the feeling after a full meal is just different,¡± said Ben as he shoveled a block of frozen earth from the pit, his face reflecting the shimmering green light, huffing and puffing as he worked. If the weather is also good tomorrow, Ben felt he might even take a bath. On the vast snowy plain, digging the foundation caused Ben¡¯s heart to continuously supply blood to the skin¡¯s surface and limbs. The temperature was still a biting minus thirty degrees. The moment Ben stopped moving, the blood supply would immediately slow, and the warmth from the food gradually faded away. The cold attacked from all directions, launching a full-on assault against Ben, the tiny being on the snowy plain. Blood is alive, and when faced with a sudden assault of cold, it will fight back. But if it exceeds the threshold, it will retreat and seek cover, staying away from the terrible chill. The dug-out pit that took quite some time to complete acted as a barrier, ultimately not letting the blood recoil in fear. Ben huddled in the pit, took out a few finger-thick branches left over from before, used the remaining charcoal from last night, and quickly lit a fire once again, speeding up the warming of the cold pit. Feeling the pleasant warmth around him, Ben grew drowsy. He buried the water bottle beneath thirty centimeters of snow. ¡°In the polar region, I recommend using a wide-mouth container because narrow-mouthed flasks can freeze shut more easily and take longer to melt,¡± he advised. ¡°The insulating properties of snow are really good. Put a pot of water under thirty centimeters of snow even if the temperature drops to minus 40a??, most of the water in the pot will still remain liquid.¡± Ben carefully sealed the pit with snow, keeping the cold air on the outside, and placed the water bottle upside down. This way, even if a little water at the top a€¡± which now was the bottom a€¡± froze, it won¡¯t prevent the lid from opening. After completing the last task, Ben turned off the live broadcast. Tomorrow would be very busy. He needed to gather more food for the winter and a secure enough shelter to welcome the polar night. The four-day storm had greatly reduced the daytime activities for Ben. What followed was a life-or-death race against time. So, the next morning, armed with a Hunting Knife, Ben set off, not to go ice fishing right away. Frequently fishing in the same cave might alert even the most indifferent fish, so he decided to save it for the evening. Today, Ben wanted to follow the river downstream to see if he could find a coniferous forest, gather enough firewood, or perhaps encounter larger game. Chapter 666 - Chapter 666 Chapter 663 Catching Puffins ?Chapter 666: Chapter 663: Catching Puffins Chapter 666: Chapter 663: Catching Puffins Most people directly assume that the climate of Greenland is a polar ice cap climate, but in actuality, the area around Nuuk in the southern part of the island exhibits a polar tundra climate, while the northern uninhabited regions are characterized by a polar ice cap climate. The tundra climate is mainly distributed along the northern edges of the North American Continent and the Eurasian Continent, parts of the coastline of Greenland, and several islands in the Arctic Ocean. The ice cap climate, on the other hand, is found in polar regions and their nearby areas, including Greenland, several islands in the Arctic Ocean, and the ice cap plateaus of Antarctica. These are the places where the Arctic and Antarctic air masses originate, with perpetual night throughout the winter and perpetual daylight in the summer half of the year; however, the sunlight is slanted, and the heat it provides is feeble, resulting in a cold climate all year round, with temperatures below 0?¡ãC every month. Most Inuit people live in a tundra climate, where from springtime the snow on the ground gradually melts, revealing green lichen or moss, and rivers aren¡¯t always frozen, allowing at least a window of time when they¡¯re unfrozen. However, Bi Fang¡¯s current location boasts an ice cap climate that is even more severe than the tundra. Otherwise, lichens and moss wouldn¡¯t be so scarce that one might have to search for half a day, and if one comes across some that are inedible, it¡¯s easy to become frustrated. The fact that Bi Fang had traveled so far and never encountered any Inuit people was due to this reason. But life is tenacious, and even in the ice cap, it is still possible to find plants. Especially near rivers. Wherever there is liquid water, it¡¯s likely one might find forests nearby. Conifers, birches, and willow trees, these hardy plants and trees can endure astonishingly cold temperatures. Bi Fang used a homemade shovel to dig through the snow, occasionally finding leaves, twigs, and remnants of plants, which confirmed there was indeed a plant zone nearby. And a forest signifies a more advanced ecosystem, where one might find substantial game, such as Arctic musk oxen and reindeer. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.?¦Ï After the blizzard strikes, many animals would seek shelter within the forest, making the next couple of days an excellent opportunity for trapping them. ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Perhaps it was the effect of Bi Fang¡¯s mention of traditional Inuit cuisine yesterday, for as he walked along the riverbank, he did indeed spot some small black animals. Even though the reflected light on the snowy plains was so intense that it was difficult to keep one¡¯s eyes open, Bi Fang still spotted them from a hundred meters away, a small flock of puffins. [Puffins? Where?] [Didn¡¯t they say they¡¯re extinct?] [Clearly you weren¡¯t listening yesterday, what¡¯s extinct is the great auk, not puffins.] [Isn¡¯t a great auk still a puffin?] [A great auk is a puffin, but a puffin isn¡¯t necessarily a great auk!] [a€|] A group of online friends, for some inexplicable reason, started arguing in the live stream chat, seemingly about to initiate an accumulated debate over the classification of puffins. From Bi Fang¡¯s perspective, the viewers couldn¡¯t spot the puffins at all, even though their color starkly contrasted with the snowy plains. After all, these creatures are birds, not large carnivorous species like geese or falcons, and are relatively small in size. Even the extinct great auk, the largest of all puffins, only had an average body length of 75 to 80 centimeters and weighed 5 kilograms, whereas regular puffins are less than half the size of the great auk. Moreover, the viewers didn¡¯t possess the strong visual perception of Bi Fang, who could make out the craters on the moon with his naked eye. Fortunately, there was more than one drone; a smaller drone quietly approached, finally giving everyone a clear view of the puffin. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a penguin?¡± Guoba, the class representative in Bi Fang¡¯s livestream, widened his eyes in surprise upon seeing the puffin on the screen. It wasn¡¯t just the class representative; many people thought the samea€¡±it looked exactly like a penguin, right? Its head sides, chin, throat, and wings were blackish-brown, while its belly was pure white, except it had odd body proportions, with a protruding and longer neck, and its belly wasn¡¯t as big compared to a penguin¡¯s. But compared to the birds one usually sees, it indeed looked plump and not adept at flying. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s plump; otherwise, the Inuit people wouldn¡¯t consider it a delicacy. Animals that can survive in the Arctic all have a good layer of blubber,¡± Bi Fang chuckled. In the Arctic, the more fat an animal has, the better the ingredient it is. ¡°But you¡¯re wrong if you think it can¡¯t fly. Puffins not only can fly, but they are also all-rounders.¡± When it comes to the animals in nature, God is very fair, always giving you at least one skill sufficient for survival. For example, birds excel at flying, fish at swimming, cheetahs possess incredible running speeds, and pandas are born to be adorable¡­ However, not all animals are content with just one skill; some in the natural world possess multiple abilities, like the puffin, which is a special species of the bird class. Bi Fang lay on the ground and slowly approached, and since the distance was still quite far, he took the opportunity to explain: ¡°According to biological classification, puffins belong to the bird class, Charadriiformes. They are special because they not only can fly but also have strong swimming and diving skills.¡± ¡°They can dive into the sea like penguins to catch small fish, and almost never fail at their hunting attempts. On land, unlike many birds that can only hop and skip, puffins can also walk, taking what looks like a comical swagger. It appears quite funny,¡± he explained. ¡°So their build is between a penguin and a regular bird, combining the strengths of both, making them the ¡®penguins¡¯ of the Arctic ice cap.¡± As he was speaking, the drone had already captured the walking behavior of the puffins. The puffins, resembling penguins, spread their wings and then raised them high, as though putting hands in their pockets, and began striding across the snow. Their gait was completely different from the hopping of normal birds and was amusing to watch. Puffins are innately happy-go-lucky; they are animals that love to socialize, often gathering in large groups to play and rest. And the places where they congregate vary; sometimes they gather along the coast, other times they drift in groups on the sea surface or in the snow. This was why Bi Fang had encountered them here. But because of a lack of materials, Bi Fang didn¡¯t have a net cage or any other kind of rope to catch birds with. He could only tie a shovel to a tree stick, making it into a sharp weapon, hoping to get lucky and knock out a puffin, and of course, catching more would be even better. By now, Bi Fang had stealthily advanced within ten meters, and the puffins were still none the wiser. In terms of sheer survival skills, puffins were quite adept; they could fly, swim, dive, catch fish, even strut with a swaggering gait. As a result, there weren¡¯t many predators in the Arctic that could threaten them, leaving them without much vigilance, which gave Bi Fang his opportunity. With that thought, Bi Fang suddenly charged out! Chapter 667 - Chapter 667 Chapter 664 Accumulate Food ?Chapter 667: Chapter 664: Accumulate Food Chapter 667: Chapter 664: Accumulate Food The puffin, basking leisurely on the snow and enjoying the sunlight, was suddenly startled. Just as it was about to spread its wings and flee, the merciless shovel had already descended. There were both big and small puffins, and Bi Fang naturally targeted the fattest one. After all, as a species between penguins and normal birds, even though they can fly, their take-off is actually slower than that of regular birds by a beat, and given their large size, it¡¯s slower by two beats. This group of puffins had seen humans before, but they had never seen a reaction speed as fast as 50ms. Bi Fang had been hungry for a long time, and although he had eaten a lot yesterday, it wasn¡¯t easy to recover his status in an instant; but no matter how difficult, it couldn¡¯t withstand his terrifying foundation, which was definitely three times faster than an ordinary person. The iron shovel, fashioned from a dagger, whistled through the air, making a sharp screech, and almost at the moment the fattest puffin was about to open its wings, it had already descended upon its head, smashing down fiercely. Red snowflakes scattered across the snow, as the dagger cut straight through the puffin¡¯s body. Seeing that his strike was successful, Bi Fang didn¡¯t show any delight, because the other puffins hadn¡¯t managed to take off yet! Bi Fang immediately grabbed the tree stick at his waist, turned around, and swung the ¡°shovel¡± in a semicircle. Benefiting from his various acquired skills, Bi Fang, with an extremely smooth posture, swatted down a second puffin that was just a dozen or so centimeters off the ground. It even made a crisp clanging sound. With one hit and one flick, he caught two puffins on the spot, but by the time the third one came along, Bi Fang was powerless because all the other puffins were already in the air, out of his attack range. Having captured two puffins, Bi Fang finally had time to show his delight. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï He happily picked up the two bloody puffins from the ground and exclaimed, ¡°So fat! Feels almost as big as an old hen.¡± Audience: ¡°¡­¡± Fast, way too fast. Millions of viewers had almost failed to grasp exactly what had happened. In less than two seconds, Bi Fang had already taken down two puffins. It was as if he had rehearsed it countless times beforehand, but everyone knew that was impossible. The puffin¡¯s takeoff speed is indeed a beat slower than that of normal birds, but to ordinary people, it still looks almost the same, falling within the range of not being able to see clearly or catch. But Bi Fang managed to kill two in an instant! The first one might be explained away, as he had predetermined its location and struck it down in a swift motion, but what about the second one? It was already off the ground! The iron shovel in Bi Fang¡¯s hand even managed to round a curve for an immediate hit; ordinary people couldn¡¯t even see it clearly, yet Bi Fang hit his target with pinpoint accuracy. Whether it¡¯s reaction speed or dynamic vision, it all seemed somewhat terrifying to the audience, especially considering Bi Fang¡¯s own subpar status. [Chang Wei! And you said you don¡¯t know martial arts!] [As soon as I went in, I saw Master Fang beating puffins.] [Awesome, capital A awesome, with such skills, it¡¯s a waste not to box.] [How brazen, demon! Reveal your true form!] ¡°How did he do that? Luck?¡± Vazili took a heavy drag on his cigarette, consuming a third of it instantly. It must be said that among Bi Fang¡¯s multitude of fans, some were not ordinary people, such as Vazili, a professional boxer with an extremely high stature worldwide. His footwork was elegant and agile, his offenses and defenses comprehensive, with both speed and defense regarded as world-class. On the offensive end, he was more coherent and aggressive than the Black Sea Boxing King, and he took the initiative more actively, fighting in a more aggressive manner. He was a boxing prodigy, hailed as the fastest boxer in history. A short while ago, the most authoritative social media in the boxing worlda€¡±World Boxing Newsa€¡±released the latest P4P rankings, and Vazili, was ranked second. He had created a brand-new technical system, which shattered people¡¯s inherent understanding of boxing and was known as black technology. However, at this moment, Vazili was at the lowest point of his life, immersed in deep depression, because he had unexpectedly lost to the young fighter Teofimo Lopez in the undisputed lightweight championship more than two months ago. Since then, Vazili had fallen from his pedestal, and there was a lot of speculation; some called it the depletion of his talent, while others believed that the real reason for his defeat was his shoulder injury. But no matter what, he had lost. Vazili was very clear about this, and the defeat had caused him to enter an unusual state of decay, so much so that during the day, instead of training, he was watching a live broadcast rather than taking the time to watch an edited version. Vazili was a fan of Bi Fang, but not an obsessive fan; he just found Wilderness Survivalist extremely interesting. Among all those who did Wilderness Survivalist, whether it was live or recorded, there was no doubt that Bi Fang was the most impressive of them all. Specialization is key, he was a boxing champion in boxing, just an ordinary viewer in Wilderness Survivalist. However, what caught Vazili¡¯s attention at that moment were Bi Fang¡¯s movements. Fast, incredibly fast. Even being hailed as the fastest boxer in history, Vazili had to admit that Bi Fang¡¯s movements, in terms of both continuity and reaction, were astonishingly swift. Could he do the same? Having been defeated by a youngster recently, Vazili was no longer the high-spirited boxing champion he used to be, and he began to doubt himself. He knew that Bi Fang was also very strong in fighting, but he had not expected his physical condition to be so exceptional; if Bi Fang could enter the boxing world, he would certainly make a great name for himself. Enter the boxing world¡­ Vazili paused, then stared intently at the large screen after a moment. After quickly cleaning two puffins, Bi Fang stuffed them into his backpack. Combined, the two puffins weighed almost ten poundsa€¡±a substantial amount, considering a single great auk. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect to come across a catch just by heading out in the morning; looks like I¡¯m quite lucky today.¡± Bi Fang put away his shovel and looked around nearby to see if the puffins had laid any eggs. ¡°Puffins may be very capable, but they¡¯re not all-powerful when it comes to building nests. None of the puffin species build nests, they either have to rest out in the open or occupy the nests of other animals.¡± ¡°Even if female puffins are about to lay eggs, they won¡¯t prepare a nest for their offspring, instead laying their eggs in the open air to incubate them.¡± ¡°Furthermore, puffins may be strong, but their adaptability to their environment is quite average. Marine pollution and changes in their living environment can lead to the death of puffins, which is why they¡¯re listed as vulnerable in the international Red Book. So, the birth rate of puffins is quite low, and chick mortality is a frequent occurrence.¡± [Vulnerable, does that mean they¡¯re a protected species?] [No, it¡¯s not the same concept. Just because a species is listed as vulnerable doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯re few in number, but it means there are factors threatening their population.] [If a meteorite were about to hit the Earth right now, humans would also be ¡®vulnerable¡¯ (dog¡¯s head), because there are threatening factors.] ¡°Alright, none here.¡± Bi Fang searched the snowy ground for a long time without finding a single egg, it seems like the puffins had merely thrown a party here. ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?0 ¡°Although these two puffins are quite fatty, our plan must continue; they alone aren¡¯t enough to get us through the winter.¡± ¡°Most Inuit people start consciously gathering food from summer, or even spring, until the end of fall. We¡¯re still far behind; we need to hunt more than twenty kilograms of food each day at least to get through the winter.¡± Chapter 668 - Chapter 668 Chapter 665 Snow Bath ?Chapter 668: Chapter 665 Snow Bath Chapter 668: Chapter 665 Snow Bath To smoothly get through the later stages, 20 kilograms of game per day was the target Bi Fang set. There was less than half a month until the perpetual darkness descended, roughly fifteen days, and during that time there could be another blizzard, combined with other unforeseen events, plus building a shelter; the actual days that one could go out hunting and gain a yield might only be about a week. A healthy adult male typically consumes about three jin of food a day, which adds up to forty-five kilograms a month, and for three months, that would require at least one hundred thirty-five kilograms. In the Arctic, this amount needed is even greater. About one hundred fifty kilograms of food reserves would be relatively safe. ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Two puffins, plucked of feathers, might not even amount to eight jin, or four kilograms, meaning today¡¯s task was completed by less than one-quarter. [Isn¡¯t this too difficult? Twenty kilograms, I couldn¡¯t finish that much meat in a month] [But you don¡¯t eat meat as your staple food] [Not all of it can be eaten, like bones with attached meat, and lean meat, eating lean meat in the Arctic is definitely a losing business, right?] [I finally understand why Master Fang didn¡¯t get bitten by sharks when he was surviving at sea, it¡¯s because he had too much lean meat, eating more of it and you could starve to death (jokingly)] Continuing along the riverbank, Bi Fang frequently dug through the snow to check the conditions underneath. When the frequency of moss on the ground noticeably increased, Bi Fang knew he was not heading in the wrong direction. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã? ¡°Under the influence of Earth¡¯s rotation, the entire world has a dominant wind pattern, meaning that most of the time, the wind is blowing in one direction.¡± ¡°On Greenland, under the influence of air pressure belts and prevailing wind belts, the wind direction is from west to east. Isn¡¯t someone checking the weather forecast? You can look at the weather forecast for the past week, see if it¡¯s all westerly winds; even if not, they are mostly southwest or northwest winds.¡± Some of the more curious Shuiyou immediately left the live broadcast and searched for the weather forecast in Greenland, finding it to be true indeed. Over the past week, and the coming one, more than half of the winds were westerly, with the remainder being southwest winds and a small portion of northwest winds; the main wind direction is westerly. [Amazing] [Impressive] [What if you don¡¯t know the wind direction?] ¡°If you can¡¯t determine the wind direction based on geography and climate, that¡¯s fine, look at the snow ridges.¡± Bi Fang pointed at the high snow ridges on the distant snowfield. Snow is stickier than sand grains, but under the action of the wind, it also forms dune-like snow mounds. Under the force of prevailing winds, the ridges on the snow mounds, without exception, are neatly facing towards Bi Fang; this also means that Bi Fang is now in the leeward. ¡°The direction I¡¯m walking in isn¡¯t chosen at random; it¡¯s partly following the river and partly following the direction of the wind.¡± Being leeward is disadvantageous for capturing animals, but it¡¯s incredibly helpful for finding a forest. ¡°Do you remember what I said before? On the sea, small islands below a certain area are unlikely to grow trees, mostly shrubs, because the wind on the sea is too strong, and the saplings might get broken by the wind before they can grow.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the same in the Arctic, if a place wants to grow a forest, it must be a valley; only with mountain ranges to block the airflow can the trees grow normally.¡± ¡°Following the wind direction, if there are even shorter ridges to block the fierce wind, plus a stream, flipping over, it¡¯s very likely to be a forest.¡± [Couldn¡¯t you go against the wind, in theory?] [If you go upstream, the river and wind directions are inconsistent, reducing the criteria by one.] [Oh, I remember now.] ¡°In fact, I saw a rising hill here before I set out this morning, and now we¡¯re heading in its direction, not sure if we can reach it before dark.¡± Half an hour later, the appearance of a low hill confirmed that Bi Fang¡¯s choice was very correct, and it was closer than he had previously estimated. Bi Fang prepared to climb over the low hill with an excited heart, thinking that there must be a forest on the other side. The wildlife management system in Greenland is outstanding; every year, people who get hunting licenses come here through various channels to hunt reindeer and Arctic musk oxen, which are also the main targets for hunters here. All signs indicate that there is no shortage of large animals in the Arctic; if that were the case, they wouldn¡¯t be able to sustain giant carnivores like polar bears. ¡°But before we climb over, we have one more thing we need to do.¡± Bi Fang looked at the obliquely setting sun in the distance. It was not at the highest point it had reached today, but had moved further on, coinciding with the peak of the day¡¯s temperature, which was warmer than the day before, possibly above minus twenty degrees Celsius. He began to strip off his clothes, removing his coat one piece at a time and then throwing it onto the snowy ground. ¡°Since we¡¯re going against the wind, if we climb over, my scent might alert the animals. So, I need to take a bath before that, a snow bath.¡± ¡°Trust me, the effect of a snow bath is quite remarkable. The porous structure of the snowflakes makes it a very absorbent material, effectively removing any odors.¡± Having said that, Bi Fang was now shirtless, proceeding to unbuckle his pants. The skin was fully exposed to the cold air, and under the intense stimulation, capillaries began to flow more rapidly. Soon Bi Fang¡¯s upper body turned a slight red, much like the flush one gets from drinking. [Hiss, a bath?] [Speaking of which, Old Fang indeed hasn¡¯t bathed for a week (dog head).] [Seems his body¡¯s marinated at this point.] [Bathing once a week in winter is normal, right? Not to mention in the Arctic (sweat).] ¡°Cherish this moment. Once the polar night arrives, the temperatures will drop even lower, making it even more challenging to find a suitable moment to bathe.¡± ¡°Even though it¡¯s the Arctic, when the temperature and weather allow, it¡¯s still good to take a bath, and then bask in the sunlight. Ultraviolet rays and clean air have miraculous effects on the skin, body, and spirit.¡± Bi Fang took off the last piece of clothing, burying it in the snow, and with only shorts remaining, he dived directly into the snow, crawling and rolling around. In the face of the cold environment, the human body produces heat in a short time by consuming glycogen through expanded capillaries. During this process, brief exposure to the cold not only doesn¡¯t feel cold but instead gives a sense of exhilaration. Bi Fang grabbed a handful of snow, carefully scrubbing his body, making his skin turn red, feeling as refreshing as after a bath. At this moment, exposed to sunlight and with no wind, Bi Fang could even feel a trace of warmth. Ten minutes later, his body began to feel the cold. Bi Fang immediately climbed out of the snow, scattered the clinging snowflakes from his body, dug out the clothes he had buried earlier, and dressed from inside out, one piece at a time. ¡°Feels as if I¡¯ve washed away the fatigue, feeling light.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s eyebrows rose with joy. Chapter 669 - Chapter 669 Chapter 666 The Forest ?Chapter 669: Chapter 666: The Forest Chapter 669: Chapter 666: The Forest ¡°Clothing is your first and best line of defense against harsh environments. Wear the right clothes, and you can keep your body temperature above 36 degrees Celsius. ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? If you wear too little, your body temperature will drop below this number, and you¡¯ll quickly experience hypothermia.¡± Bi Fang zipped up his clothes and tightened them again. Initially, because the temperature of the clothes was very low, he felt cold, but he quickly warmed up. ¡°Most survival experts will tell you that the best garments for sub-zero temperatures are Gortex outdoor jackets, wool socks, wool clothing, and wool gloves. That¡¯s true, but in extreme survival situations, what you carry with you determines what you can wear.¡± ¡°To maximize their effectiveness, remember the acronym COLD, which stands for clean, avoid overheating, loose, and dry.¡± ¡°Cleanliness of clothing is important. In the wilderness, this won¡¯t be easy. But if clothes are dirty or greasy, they lose some of their insulating properties. If possible, wash them in a stream or lake, but make sure you have a fire to dry them afterward.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve talked many times about avoiding overheating. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Loose means dressing in layers like an onion, allowing air to insulate, and lastly, wet clothes will absorb heat from your body, and they do it much faster than almost anything else.¡± ¡°Especially wet socks, which can be life-threatening. In such environments, moisture means death. You can dry your clothes by the fire, or wring them out. During the day, you can tuck your socks under your arms to dry them.¡± [Ew, that¡¯s a strong smell.] [There¡¯s that smell.] [I feel a bit nauseous.] [Come on, your life¡¯s at stake, and you¡¯re worried about a little stench?] Bi Fang, free of any unusual smells, finally felt at ease to move forward, heading into the winding mountain ranges along the river. Viewers in front of the screen could clearly see that the dead branches on the ground had visibly increased. Everything was indicative of a good direction. In the forest, Bi Fang would undoubtedly have more survival options. There, he would find materials for shelter and firemaking, as well as plants and animals to replenish energy. But in the snowfields and deserts, these necessities for survival would be absent. Hence, Bi Fang always hoped to stay in places covered with vegetation. ¡°However, if you¡¯re just an ordinary person, with no confidence in your survival skills, then in the harsh Polar Regions, you should only move if there¡¯s immediate danger where you are, you¡¯re close to a populated area, or rescue is imminent.¡± ¡°While moving, be careful not to carry unnecessary items, as carrying too much equipment not only consumes heat but also causes you to sweat and lose water.¡± ¡°If you¡¯ve decided to abandon a camp, be sure to leave long-lasting markings to show your direction of travel to rescue teams.¡± ¡°The best method in the snow is to pile up snow to show your direction, choosing open areas for large piles, clearly indicating the direction you¡¯re going, and continuously leaving markers along the way.¡± ¡°Compasses are not usable in the Polar Regions, so you must learn to recognize directions by the stars at night and by using a stick to measure shadows during the day.¡± ¡°Every day before setting out, choose your route carefully. Your area might not be on a large-scale map, so try to travel along creeks, rivers, and other waterways, as this lets you replenish water or catch fish and hunt for food.¡± As Bi Fang mentioned some common precautions, he noticed that the path ahead was blocked. The river was wedged between two mountains, extremely narrow, and even frozen at the bottom. A large amount of water vapor had evaporated from the river, and over time, thick frost had condensed on the mountain walls and even joined together. The river seemed to flow underground as well. With no other choice, Bi Fang could only grasp the rocks to climb up, keeping the dagger nestled in his hand to stab into the crevices to stabilize his body at any moment. ¡°The rock faces in the cold regions are all coated with a layer of frost, very slippery, so you must be careful. If you don¡¯t have a base in rock climbing, you should detour instead of doing what I did, safety comes first,¡± he said. ¡°The same height would be far more dangerous if you fall in a valley, with hard stones everywhere. Your body is definitely not as hard as they are.¡± [Master Fang: I¡¯m not an ordinary person, so I can climb, but you can¡¯t.] [That¡¯s pretty blatant.] The valley path was narrow, but after climbing only about five or six meters, the space in front of Bi Fang widened, and reaching out, he began to try moving forward. Halfway through, the drone made its way through the gap between the valleys and captured everything on the opposite side. In the seemingly boundless snowy plain, a hint of gray-brown suddenly mingled with the pure white. Upon the frozen ground stood tall coniferous forests, heavy snow blanketed the treetops, pressing them to the brink of breaking, making one worry if they would suddenly collapse. [Damn, trees!] [There are actually trees!] [Master Fang is awesome!] [Seriously awesome, that prediction was too accurate, saying there are trees and then there are.] [You think it¡¯s Old Fang¡¯s accurate judgment, but in fact, it¡¯s ¡®his word becomes reality,¡¯ you¡¯re still green.]] The crevice wasn¡¯t long, and Bi Fang stabbed the dagger into the rock fissure, crossing the mountain face nervously but without incident, finally landing smoothly on the snow. This was a valley, with the mountain rocks on both sides keeping out all the wind and snow; without the wind and snow, the temperature in the valley seemed higher, and the frozen river split the place in two through the only gap, bringing ample moisture to the land beneath the snow. The forest wasn¡¯t large, as Bi Fang looked over from halfway up the mountainside, noticing the strip of woodland was narrow and rapidly diminishing in size once out of the valley, stretching less than a kilometer along the river before disappearing; it looked like a drop of Luporte¡¯s Tear had fallen on this frigid land. Bi Fang turned to look at the two low mountains and sighed, ¡°Even two mountains aren¡¯t tall enough, they can only be considered hills. If these were a mountain range, then there would be a vast forest.¡± It is difficult for forests to grow in polar regions, but in all kinds of special terrain, it¡¯s still possible for small, unique biological communities to flourish. Though small, the forest had all the necessary components; Bi Fang saw a puffin standing among the distant trees, but it quickly flew away as he looked on. With rivers, there¡¯s a steady catch of fish, with forests, there are small animals, and the hills on both sides can block the wind and snow. After traveling so much, he had finally found a reliable place. Bi Fang was in a pleasant mood, ¡°This is an excellent spot to build a shelter!¡± If all goes well, he would spend the upcoming eternal night right here. Chapter 670 - Chapter 670 Chapter 667 Musk Oxen ?Chapter 670: Chapter 667: Musk Oxen Chapter 670: Chapter 667: Musk Oxen Bi Fang walked between the trees, took off his gloves, and touched one icy tree after another, with a hundred-meter-high cliff towering behind hima€¡±a natural city wall. Nature was so vast, yet the terrain was exceedingly cruel, no hint of green could be seen on the ground, as it was all concealed under a thick layer of snow. Standing in the forest located in the Arctic, Bi Fang, as a human, inevitably felt a hint of insignificance. Looking back, the cliff bore a massive inland ice face forming ice tongues that could break away at any moment during a storm and plummet from the heights, smashing everything to dust. In Greenland, as far as the eye could see, there lay endless wild lands. ¡°The Arctic region, in all aspects, is pretty extreme; only those species that can successfully adapt to the harsh climate conditions here, and the huge differences from summer to winter, can survive. There are no fallen leaves here; nearly all trees are green, striving to absorb sunlight and perform photosynthesis to the fullest extent possible.¡± Bi Fang caressed the tree trunks, where visible scrapes were left all over them. He squatted down, shoveled away the snow on the ground, and uncovered a patch of moss that had been nibbled. The edges of this moss bore clear bite marks; it was obvious that some herbivorous animal had visited this place and left traces behind. Clearing more snow away, soon enough, more tracks were revealeda€¡±not just bulky footprints, but also strands of long brown hairs. Looking at the hoof prints on the ground, the viewers felt they looked somewhat familiar. [What¡¯s this? A reindeer?] Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï These are the footprints left by musk oxen.¡± [What kind of ox is a musk ox?] [Blind guess, it¡¯s a really big ox] [Can it be eaten?] ¡°Musk oxen are representative animals of the Arctic Tundra and are the northernmost hoofed mammals on Earth. Among hoofed mammals, none live further north than the musk ox, not even reindeer.¡± ¡°It¡¯s said that the underfur shed by musk oxen during their molting period is eight times warmer than sheep¡¯s wool, and their protective outer hairs are among the longest in the animal kingdom, reaching up to 60 centimeters, perfectly withstanding temperatures as low as minus forty degrees.¡± Bi Fang briefly introduced, then pointed at the footprints on the ground. ¡°The reason you find their footprints similar is that both musk oxen and reindeer belong to the order Artiodactyla, and they are both part of the suborder Ruminantia. It¡¯s not until you get to the family level that they differ, which is why their footprints might look similar at a glance. But the two are very different in size.¡± ¡°Musk oxen typically weigh over three hundred kilograms. Reindeer weigh less than half of that. It is precisely because of the musk oxen¡¯s massive size, and their preference to move in herds, which leaves them with hardly any natural enemies and makes their walk rather domineering, that they often scrape against trees, whereas reindeer rarely do so.¡± [Ss, three hundred kilograms?] [Dang, catching one should be enough, right?] [Suddenly the twenty-kilogram goal Old Fang set doesn¡¯t seem so outrageous now, right? One of these should be enough.] [Herds? My DNA is twitching.] The soil here was permafrost; stepping on it would leave marks that were hard to erase, which made it difficult for Bi Fang to determine how long ago the prey had left. Bi Fang closed his eyes, his nostrils flared slightly as he tried to catch the musk oxen¡¯s lingering scent in the air. ¡°Musk oxen are so named because both males and females exude a scent similar to musk, particularly prominent in males during the mating season.¡± ¡°However, this scent does not come from a specialized gland but from their urine, and it is from this ¡®body odor¡¯ that musk oxen get their name.¡± In the air, a faint peculiar fragrance quickly entered his nostrils with the airflow, but it was not pronounced. Bi Fang had to lie down on the ground and discern it once again. [The taste just got stronger.] [Damn, isn¡¯t that the smell of urine?] [Musk-scented pee (dog¡¯s head)] [What¡¯s that? Diluted a thousand times, poop still smells like jasmine.] [Ah, I know this one. A certain chemistry teacher never gifts his girlfriend jasmine perfume, and every time he sees someone using jasmine perfume, he just smiles and says nothing (dog¡¯s head).] ¡°That¡¯s incorrect.¡± Bi Fang opened his eyes and shook his head after reading the barrage. ¡°Feces, when diluted, is still the smell of feces, just not as stinky. Jasmine, when concentrated, is still the smell of jasmine, just not as pleasant.¡± ¡°This claim originates from ¡®indole¡¯, which indeed is a scent component found both in feces and jasmine. The former Herm?¡§s head perfumer, Jean-Claude Ellena, described the smell of concentrated indole as the stench of corpses, which I think is similar to the smell of sun-baked cow dung in the countryside.¡± ¡°But when indole is diluted to 0.1% or lower, it¡¯s not exactly the complete aroma of jasmine, not even the main component of the jasmine scent.¡± ¡°Take grandiflorum jasmine absolute as an example, its scent components from highest to lowest concentration are a sweet fruity fragrance, a gentle sweetness, a dry tea leaf smell, a mix of grass and floral scent, a refreshing floral aroma, a kind of hay smell, and then comes indole at about 0.16%, plus about twenty other scent components.¡± [???] [Can humans really smell this?] [Damn, that¡¯s seriously impressive.] Bi Fang shrugged. These were scents identified by professional perfumers; he personally couldn¡¯t do it. Distinguishing scents requires a lot of training, and it¡¯s not just about having a good sense of smell. Someone who has never smelled jasmine wouldn¡¯t recognize its scent on the first encounter. ?¦Ï??0.§ã? Having a strong sense of smell mainly helped Bi Fang in tracking and locating enemies. ¡°The same goes for feces; it is not composed entirely of indole.¡± ¡°If they really are chemistry teachers, they ought to know that the smell of natural substances is complex by nature. It is a common phenomenon for vastly different things to share the same or similar scent components. Cheese, beef, pork, shrimp, eggs, strawberries, cherries, peaches, they all contain traces of indole.¡± ¡°Can you admit that you actually eat, uh¡­¡± Bi Fang scratched his cheek and smiled, ¡°that stuff?¡± [Holy crap, I¡¯ve been confused for so long, and finally I see an authoritative explanation.] [Awesome, the truth has to come from Old Fang.] [So, did you smell it? Are the musk oxen still around?] Bi Fang nodded and picked up a tree stick lying nearby. ¡°As I said before, the scent of musk oxen is stronger during the mating season, which is from mid-September to October. After a summer of rest and recuperation, musk oxen have accumulated a great deal of energy. The females are primarily concerned with breeding, while the males also fight for the right to reproduce during the autumnal mating season.¡± ¡°At this time, the male musk oxen¡¯s facial musk glands secrete a strong smelling secretion, which gets transferred onto plants on the ground via their legs, marking out their territory. The female musk oxen are then corralled within and strictly guarded and protected to prevent other males from encroaching.¡± ¡°As a result, the scent on the ground is much stronger, which is also why we had to lie down on the ground earlier.¡± ¡°However¡­¡± Bi Fang looked up at the sky. It was getting dark. Chapter 671 - Chapter 671 Chapter 668 Tracking ?Chapter 671: Chapter 668: Tracking Chapter 671: Chapter 668: Tracking Bi Fang gave up the pursuit. By the time he crossed the valley, it was already afternoon, and darkness would fall again in about an hour. If he started chasing now, even if he caught up within an hour, he wouldn¡¯t be able to bring the wild ox back. Moreover, the food reserves were not abundant. If it dragged on for two days, the situation would deteriorate. He might as well set out tomorrow morning and ice fish again today. After carefully searching the icy surface, Bi Fang found a good spot, broke through the ice, sat on a dry log, and used fish bones to make a fish hook, baiting it with the fish guts left over from yesterday. Before darkness set in, he caught eight fish of various sizes. The largest one weighed more than fifteen pounds and had to be held firmly to control it; Bi Fang speared it with a fish spear. However, the most exciting part was having charcoal at last and finally being able to eat some cooked food. After crudely building a snow hut, Bi Fang lit a campfire, and the environment quickly warmed up, making him feel sleepy after a day of fatigue. ¡°Tomorrow we¡¯ll go hunting Musk Oxen. We don¡¯t need to save food. Eat as much as we can and replenish our strength as much as possible.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï He cut all the fish bellies out and swallowed them raw, chewing vigorously to add calories and vitamins. After half-sating his hunger, he sliced the remaining fish meat and stewed it in a wooden pot. Bi Fang chose to sustain himself through active efforts rather than scrimping resources to barely survive. In his previous life, many survival experts had participated in Arctic survival challenges, but they were all too cautious, or rather, not confident enough. As a result, they dared not consume the resources they had painstakingly hunted, so even if they won, they would lose a significant amount of weight, and their condition would degrade day by day to the point where they could no longer catch prey in the later stages, relying solely on endurance. The root of this lack of confidence was, fundamentally, a deficiency in ability. The fish meat curled in the boiling water, changing color from pink to white, which tremendously whetted the appetite. At that moment, Bi Fang finished carving the last bit of wood shavings, and a pair of chopsticks was also completed. He scooped up the fish meat and took big bites. The long-missed sensation of heat almost brought tears to his eyes. Nothing beats the flavor of cooked food! Without minding the heat, Bi Fang grabbed a large mouthful with his chopsticks. The scalding broth wasn¡¯t even dripping off when he stuffed it into his moutha€¡±he craved that burning sensation. His mouth felt spicy hot, but it made him feel incredibly alive. In the cold and icy world, experiencing such warmth was indeed rare and precious. It was at that moment that the texture and flavor of the Arctic fish fully burst forth. There was a fishy smell, yes, but after boiling, it was almost negligible compared to the fish Bi Fang had eaten before. Exceptionally sweet and clean, the fish meat was very elastic. ¡°The water quality where fish grow has a huge impact on the taste of the fish. The better the environment, the more the fish can truly showcase its deliciousness. Fish from different water qualities have distinct flavors. Fish that grow in high-quality water sources are often very tender, vibrant, and, there¡¯s no better water environment in the world than the Arctic Ocean.¡± ¡°Trust me, even without any seasoning, the fish here is unimaginably delicious.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s feast made the audience envious. [I want to eat it too, but I don¡¯t have the money] [I¡¯ve been to Iceland once. It¡¯s impossible to fly there directly. You have to transfer in continental Europe. The cheapest return ticket I¡¯ve seen is 5000 yuan, but if you book during the peak season or book late, it could even cost 12,000. Greenland is at a higher latitude, farther away, and it seems airplanes can¡¯t pass over it, so it might be even more expensive.] [Excluding the cost of the flight, if you go for 7 to 8 days, including all accommodations in Iceland, tour groups, and airport shuttle, the total comes to about 15,000 yuan] [Whew, the dream of the poor.] [Greenland must be prettier than Iceland, which is now full of people anyway.] [I just went to check the hunting club¡¯s information and found that the top three rewards for this period are a ten-day trip to Greenland for five people, and you can even take the same cruise as Old Fang¡­ Plus, besides the reward, you can pay your way for 18,000 yuan per person¡­] [That¡¯s so you, Ah-Yao!] [I¡¯m not even a bit surprised (Dog¡¯s head)] After a satisfying meal, Bi Fang exhaled a pleased breath of warm air, feeling toasty all over, and while chatting with the audience, he also spoke of some dangers associated with musk oxen. Although musk oxen were not as robust as the Wild Baizhi Oxen Bi Fang had encountered earlier, they were still more dangerous. ¡°Musk oxen are gregarious animals with a high degree of organization. When facing natural predators, they don¡¯t panic and scatter like ordinary oxen, but instead form a unique defensive circle. A dozen or so bull and cow oxen charge uphill, and standing shoulder to shoulder, they protect the calves in the middle by facing outward, heads lowered, eyeing the enemy with vigilance.¡± ¡°In the Arctic, only wolf packs and polar bears threaten them, but faced with the huge bodies weighing three to four hundred kilograms and the tough horns of the musk oxen, wolves and polar bears often find themselves at a loss and sometimes the infuriated musk oxen break out of their defensive formation to launch an attack.¡± The audience was startled by this. Everyone had seen wildlife documentaries, and the iconic scene of galloping wildebeests on the savannah was deeply ingrained, not something humans could contend with; even lions had to weigh their options. Could one man really catch such an animal? [Brave oxen!] [Unafraid of difficulties!] [So badass, how is Old Fang going to catch one tomorrow?] [Such a fierce ox] ¡°However, once Europeans, armed with guns, entered the Polar Regions to make war on the musk oxen for their hides, meat, and horns, the musk oxen¡¯s defense systems became not only useless but worse than scattering in panic.¡± ¡°Hunters first released hunting dogs to chase the musk oxen, and when the musk oxen angrily formed their defense circle in preparation for a decisive battle, they were shot one after another. This method of slaughter was incredibly efficient.¡± ¡°Around 1865, the last musk ox in Alaska was shot dead. By the early 20th century, the musk oxen in Canada and Greenland were on the brink of extinction.¡± ¡°Between 1902-1909, an explorer and Rear Admiral from Ugly Country, led several expeditions north into the Arctic, killing about 600 musk oxen for food and funding their activities by selling musk ox hides.¡± ¡°Had the Canadian Government not passed legislation in 1917 banning the hunting of musk oxen, they might well have become extinct. Under subsequent protection, the musk ox population recovered quickly. There are now about 3,000 musk oxen in Alaska and about 80,000 worldwide; they are no longer considered endangered, and in some areas, limited hunting is even permitted.¡± ¡°So there¡¯s a tough fight ahead of me tomorrow, and I¡¯ll be turning in early tonight.¡± With that, Bi Fang switched off the live stream. The drone quietly settled onto the ground, Bi Fang extinguished the fire, blocked the entrance, leaving only a vent, and then began to rest. Seeing this, the audience lingered in the live stream room as they usually would, chatted for a bit, and then left the live stream room in small groups. ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï Early the following day, before it was fully light, Bi Fang dug open the entrance and jumped out of the snow house, heading to the spot where he had found the musk oxen the day before. Bi Fang sniffed the ground, relieved that the scent was still there. Chapter 672 - Chapter 672 Chapter 669 Pursuit ?Chapter 672: Chapter 669 Pursuit Chapter 672: Chapter 669 Pursuit In the Arctic summer, there¡¯s 24 hours of daylight, while in the Arctic winter, it¡¯s 24 hours of darkness. Any perception of time here is not accurate, and the circadian rhythm becomes blurred under the night sky¡¯s aurora. Spring and autumn usually mean more unpredictable weather, accompanied by storms and various cloud conditions. Fortunately, over the past ten days, Bi Fang encountered only one blizzard that lasted four days. At 7 a.m., most regions are already bright with daylight, yet the Arctic sky is still dotted with stars. Today, the starry sky did not show the aurora; amid the deep forest, Bi Fang gathered dry twigs into a pyramid shape, stuffed a smoky tuft of dry grass in the middle, blew on it, and soon sparks floated out from the grass, producing a small flame. The tiny flame climbed along the fibers, spreading and growing, igniting the entire pyramid of dry wood. Starting a simple bonfire, Bi Fang placed a pot of ice water above it, tearing the lichen he had collected the day before into small pieces, soaked them, and waited for it to boil. ¡°This lichen is called Reindeer Moss because it¡¯s an important food for reindeer, it¡¯s also known as Reindeer Lichen, mainly found in the alpine permafrost regions, extremely cold-resistant.¡± ¡°Reindeer Moss is an ancestral secret recipe of the Menba people in the high mountain regions of the Eastern Himalayas for removing kidney stones. The inland Tanana people crush the dried Reindeer Moss and boil it in hot water until soft to use as food. They also make a soup with Reindeer Moss as a diarrheal medication.¡± [Can this thing really treat kidney stones?] [Damn, I think I got this last time I went to gather herbs.] Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 ¡°Reindeer Moss grows very slowly; when it gets overgrazed, burned, trampled, or depleted, it usually takes decades to recover, so if you find it, don¡¯t pull it out by the roots. It¡¯s better to cut a part of it.¡± Bi Fang stood up, plunged a thick stick into the bonfire, and tied one end with a rope made from tree fibersa€¡±a loose structure that would allow the torch to burn longer. If he could coat it with animal fat, it would burn even better, but for Bi Fang, who was still in a state of basic survival, that was luxury. After waiting for the torch to burn properly, Bi Fang lifted it and walked into the forest. Before preparing for hunting, Bi Fang had a lot of preparation work to do, like making weapons, ropes, sleds, and so forth. [A sled, Wu Hu, getting ready to ski?] [Can you even ski on these snowfields?] Bi Fang shook his head: ¡°I¡¯m not preparing a sled for skiing, but for dragging the game easily later on.¡± Having found such a good valley, he would definitely make it his basea€¡±the most critical thing was the availability of combustible material. ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï If he hunted a musk oxen, he¡¯d naturally want to bring it back here; but with an average one weighing three hundred kilograms and after removing the bones and unnecessary fat, there¡¯d still be at least two hundred kilograms. Two hundred kilograms, the weight of three adults, was too much for Bi Fang to carry a€¡° he would have to drag it, and a sled would save some effort. Bi Fang, holding the torch, picked his way through the forest for a while until he had collected enough materials, then returned to the side of the bonfire and began to carve with a knife. Quickly, Darts, Short Spears, and Bi Fang fitted his favorite weapons with sharpened stones, and finally, three long sled boards. ¡°For the sled boards, we don¡¯t need them to be too well-made; just having a rough prototype is sufficient for use,¡± he said. ¡°` Although he lacked a plane, Bi Fang had gained a fair bit of experience in how to carve hardwood with a dagger, and he had completed all the preparations before the sun rose. By now, the reindeer moss in the pot was fully cooked. Bi Fang, along with some fish, simply filled his stomach and then erased any traces of having made fire. Bi Fang wrapped all the short spears with a few turns of rope over his shoulder, tying them to his back, then put on his backpack, took less than his supply of rations, managed a kettle of boiling water, and set off following the initial tracks of the musk oxen. The sun had just risen and the temperature of the earth had not yet increased; the scalding boiling water brought a bit of warmth through the kettle and his clothes, dispelling a little coldness. Following the remaining traces and scents on the ground, Bi Fang gradually moved toward a direction away from the forest. The deep gouges on the trees also allowed the audience, who had yet to see a musk ox, to envision its massive and fearsome form in their minds. However¡­ Almost all the tracks seemed not to exceed the height of Bi Fang¡¯s waist, and the highest was just up to his chest; in comparison to its weight, it seemed unexpectedly short? [It seems like this ox has kind of short legs.] [Three hundred kilograms of short legs, isn¡¯t that a potato?] [Bulldozer!] ¡°Musk oxen do have somewhat short legs, and when it comes to the morphology of endothermic animals, there¡¯s something in zoology called Allen¡¯s rule. It suggests that among members of the same species or closely related species, those living in cold regions, as compared to those living in warm regions, have a tendency for shorter extremities, which is an adaptation to reduce heat loss,¡± Bi Fang explained as he looked at the comments. ¡°In comparison with serows, which belong to the same family, musk oxen with their short tails, short legs, and small ears are indeed a confirmation of Allen¡¯s rule,¡± he continued. ¡°Additionally, there¡¯s Bergmann¡¯s rule, which states that among members of the same species or closely related species, those living in colder environments tend to have a relatively larger body size. And indeed, musk oxen are substantially larger compared to serows,¡± Bi Fang explained in detail. [Note-taking intensifies.] [I always learn something new each time.] [The most knowledgeable and hardcore in Wilderness Survivalist.] [I remember Old Fang once said that the higher the latitude, the larger the size of wolves becomes. So, are Arctic wolves particularly big?] Bi Fang nodded, ¡°Yes, the Arctic wolf is the largest member of the wild canine family in the world, with adults weighing over forty kilograms. There was once an adult male specimen that weighed up to 68 kilograms, which is significantly larger than all other wolf species I¡¯ve encountered before.¡± It was only on a Discovery Channel program that Bi Fang had once faced a pack of wolves alone, but those were timber wolves, with a median latitude, and much smaller than Arctic wolves. Facing a pack of Arctic wolves alone, with a body size close to that of humans, would still be quite dangerous for Bi Fang, as Arctic wolves typically form packs of 5a€¡°10 individuals, and each family has about 20a€¡°30 members. If the pack encountered a famine, it was possible for the whole clan to be on the move, just as it had happened in Mohe. [Yikes, that number is a bit terrifying.] [That many?] [Wouldn¡¯t a person be devoured alone?] ¡°But there¡¯s no need to fear, it¡¯s not a wise choice to stop moving forward just because we haven¡¯t come across them yet. Let¡¯s think about how to deal with the musk oxen instead,¡± Bi Fang said. Bi Fang, wearing his brand-new snowshoes, walked into the flying snow. ¡°` Chapter 673 - Chapter 673 Chapter 670 The Holistic Nature of Evolution ?Chapter 673: Chapter 670: The Holistic Nature of Evolution Chapter 673: Chapter 670: The Holistic Nature of Evolution Musk oxen are a species unique to the Arctic tundra. In summer, they prefer the shelter of moist lowlands, such as river valleys and lakesides; in winter they move to higher slopes, plateaus, and areas with deep snow accumulation, which facilitates foraging. Under normal circumstances, musk oxen seem exceptionally docile, stopping to eat some food, then lying flat on the ground to chew their cud slowly, and soon nodding off to sleep. When they are slightly more awake, they continue to walk a distance, and then repeat the same routine, eating, ruminating, and dozing off. ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Though it seems like a lazy behavior, it actually contains the survival wisdom of polar creatures. This not only reduces energy consumption but also lowers food demands. Because musk oxen are extremely efficient at conserving energy, the food they need is only 1/6th of what an equally sized cow would require. It is precisely for this reason that Bi Fang could afford to wait a whole day in pursuit. Even when walking naturally, he was confident he could catch up to the musk oxen. Add to that the rich scent on the grassland, proving that the herd of musk oxen had not left long ago, definitely not more than five days. Of course, moving slowly doesn¡¯t mean musk oxen can¡¯t run fast; during the breeding season, these behemoths weighing over 350 kilograms can reach speeds close to 50 kilometers per hour. With their terrifying mass and speed comes an immense momentum; these furry behemoths of the Arctic Circle colliding head-on uses their sharp, massive horns against opponents, shaking the earth at the moment of impact. What¡¯s more fatal is that, over a lifespan of 10 to 12 years, a male musk ox¡¯s head might endure more than 2100 impacts. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 The audience, hearing this frightening number, almost jumped out of their seats. [2100 times???] [Momentum of 5000¡­] [Can someone calculate how much kinetic energy that is in joules?] [I did the math, a momentum of 5000 is about 35,000 joules of kinetic energy¡­] [The muzzle energy of an AK47 is around 2000 joules (covering face)] [Wouldn¡¯t getting hit by this thing be like getting shot by an anti-aircraft gun?] How do musk oxen survive these attacks without their brains turning to mush? This is the question that lingered in everyone¡¯s mind, unable to be shaken off. As if seeing the mythical oxen that create mountains. ¡°People have always believed that animals like musk oxen and bighorn sheep, which use their heads to attack, are somewhat immune to head injuries. It¡¯s as if they possess magical horns.¡± ¡°But in reality, these impacts do cause damage, not only are they not immune, but the impacts can also cause chronic damage to the musk oxen¡¯s brains, similar to dementia in humans.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s statement is based on scientific evidence; musk oxen¡¯s behavior is also humanity¡¯s first foray into detecting whether this kind of collision causes damage to animals. ¡°Within a creature¡¯s brain, there¡¯s a type of protein called tau. Whether due to aging, genetic issues, or mechanical influences, when neurons are damaged, they are torn apart, tau proteins break down and form clumps.¡± ¡°And when detected with fluorescent markers, the tau proteins in the brains of musk oxen shine like a lit Christmas tree.¡± ¡°Evolution can lead a species down the astonishing path of self-destruction.¡± Bi Fang revealed a shocking truth. All evolution, in essence, is for the better reproduction of species. The survival of the individual, in fact, is inconsequential. This was also the cruelest scene in the evolution. As for whether musk oxen are really suffering from dementia or similar diseases, who would know? Musk oxen do not have behavioral scales, and humans do not know whether they feel forgetful. One thing is beyond doubt; their brains are damaged. ¡°Every year, musk oxen engage in many fights, but if they want to successfully reproduce even once, they have to ram, catalyzing chronic death to the brain. From an evolutionary perspective, as long as musk oxen ¡®do not die,¡¯ it¡¯s fine.¡± Viewer: ¡°???¡± ¡°For example, the antechinus is a small carnivorous animal native to the Australian Mainland and Tasmania, and they have a feature, which is ¡®once in a lifetime birth.¡¯ ¡°Meaning they reproduce once and then die. Female antechinus can live for 2 to 3 years, or even longer. Males rarely live past 11 months.¡± ¡°They have a frenzied mating season, where males can mate for 12 to 14 hours during their reproductive period, then each male will mate with as many females as possiblea€¡±leading to their death.¡± ¡°This is somewhat like a beehive, where worker bees do not reproduce themselves to successfully pass on genes, but rather help their mother, the queen bee of the colony, reproduce offspring.¡± ¡°An ant colony or a beehive is more like a large animal, where the queen ant or queen bee represents the reproductive organs. These numerous worker bees require only a small amount of resources to raise, so in some ways, they are similar to human body cells.¡± ¡°So, musk oxen are actually the same. As long as they can promote reproduction, the individual¡¯s survival situation is, in fact, trivial compared to the entire population.¡± ¡°This also leads to the fact that male musk oxen do not live past 15 years, while female musk oxen can live 15 to 23 years.¡± ¡°Their lives are not that complicated. So, they may only live to do what needs to be done and that¡¯s it.¡± Newly made snowshoes were constructed from planks, which offered at least several times better effectiveness than the initial simplistic branch version. They sank mere centimeters into the snow, stopping there and reducing the resistance to the minimum. Bi Fang moved towards the distance, while the viewers were still caught up in the ¡°harsh truth¡± they had just heard, unable to pull themselves out of it. [Do humans have such individual reproductive defects?] A viewer asked. ¡°Not clear for the time being,¡± Bi Fang shook his head. This was an area of knowledge he was not familiar with, or perhaps nobody had studied this aspect, but without a doubt, they indeed exist. But he couldn¡¯t go into detail. Bi Fang was afraid the livestream would be banned, cough cough. Though the probability is low, it¡¯s still better to speak less about it. [I have been hurt by wine and lust, to the point of looking haggard! From today onwards, I quit drinking!] [You don¡¯t even mention it] [Can¡¯t be lewd] [By the heavens above, I shall not coexist with gambling and drugs!] After chasing for an entire day, Bi Fang had no luck. Watching the sun set again, Bi Fang sat down on the ground. Compared with when he first arrived, where daylight could last over six hours, now it didn¡¯t even reach six hours, the time press was horrifying. However, it was still too early in the day. After just a short contemplation, Bi Fang decided to continue traveling through the night. Two consecutive days of clear weather, and the night was not so cold as to be intolerable; it would be a pity not to take advantage of it. After a day¡¯s chase, the best news was that signs of musk oxen finally appeared on the snow layer, visible to the naked eye, meaning that Bi Fang was only two days behind the musk oxen after the blizzard ended. Bi Fang was confident he would catch up to them by the next morning. Chapter 674 - Chapter 674 Chapter 671 Wangcai, Fugui, and Goudan ?Chapter 674: Chapter 671 Wangcai, Fugui, and Goudan Chapter 674: Chapter 671 Wangcai, Fugui, and Goudan A cluster of musk oxen, leisurely and intermittently stopping, how far could they have traveled in two days? He would definitely catch up to them tomorrow. Holding onto that thought, Bi Fang fell asleep, not even bothering to dig a snow ditch today; he simply erected a windbreak wall. He merged the sleds together and laid on what was left to minimize the loss of body heat to the ground, and before long, Bi Fang drifted off into a drowsy sleep. By dawn, the sun hung brightly in the sky, and for some reason, it radiated a searing heat. Strange. Bi Fang thought. Due to latitude, even on the summer solstice at noon, the sun is only 23?¡ã26a€2 high at the North Pole; now, in autumn, the angle is even lower, making it feel as if the sun can hardly rise, resulting in a paltry amount of heat. Yet today, for some reason, it gave Bi Fang the false impression of facing the warming sun of spring, and the temperature kept rising. A few consecutive days of clear skies couldn¡¯t explain it, could they? ¡°It¡¯s so hot.¡± To prevent sweating and consequent loss of heat, Bi Fang unzipped his jacket, dug out the sled from the snow, took his equipment, and continued on his way. The goods were heavy and drained his strength. Outer jacket, lining, one garment after another was shed by Bi Fang, and soon he was down to his last two undergarments; to take off any more would almost mean facing the cold wind directly. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï Yet, even so, beads of sweat formed on Bi Fang¡¯s forehead, and he began to gasp for air as if his chest was being weighed down by something. But he was as healthy as could be, so why the sudden breathlessness? Something was definitely amiss. Bi Fang looked up directly at the sun, and for some reason, he felt as if he were hallucinating from the heat. The once orb-like sun seemed to distort under the heat, sprouting something on top, and ultimately stretched out in shape. That clear outline, those wise-looking eyes. It resembled¡­ A dog¡¯s head? Bi Fang was stunned. As he was caught off guard, that huge dog¡¯s head suddenly approached, its thick tongue lolling out and heavily licking Bi Fang¡¯s face. ¡°Fuck!¡± Bi Fang startled awake in the snow, pushing away the enormous dog¡¯s head in front of him. He took off his gloves and felt with his hand; there was sticky mucus that had almost frozen into chunks in his palm. When Bi Fang woke up, the ¡°culprit¡± leaped joyfully, retreating a few steps before giving a bark, standing on its toes with its long hair trembling. ¡°Woof!¡± Bi Fang: ¡°???¡± It was still night time, and upon hearing the dog bark, Bi Fang sat up in confusion. But before he could fully rise, he felt as if someone kicked him in the chest. With his breath knocked out by the kick, Bi Fang rubbed his chest, then looked up to meet a pair of deep blue eyes. The owner of the blue eyes tilted its head in puzzlement for a moment, then leaped up, landing with its head held high. Under the moonlight, a large canine, resembling a wild wolf, cast a dark shadow and opened its wide mouth. ¡°Howl~~~!!!¡± ¡­ In the snow, Sanshao, finally seeing humans, joyfully ran about, plowing up mounds of dry snow like a wild boar, stubbornly playful. Dawn had not yet broken, but the moon was full and shone upon the snowfield with unexpected clarity. Especially the one dog that most resembled a wolf ran the fastest and would occasionally nudge the butts of the other two fools, speeding away before they could react, looking mischievously playful. As the show began, the audience saw such a ¡°harmonious¡± scene and couldn¡¯t help but wander. Did I tune into the wrong channel? Videos featuring one¡¯s own pets were not unusual, but they were relatively scarce in number, and they were generally recorded, edited, and then posted, with live streaming being quite rare. It wasn¡¯t until Bi Fang yawned on screen that the audience confirmed they hadn¡¯t entered the wrong live stream room, this was indeed Master Fang. [Are these the sled dog Three Fools? (Dog¡¯s head)] [OMG, that husky looks so sly, kind of like the one I have at home] [Smart intelligence takes the high ground again] [Master Fang, where did you find these dogs?] ¡°I have no idea where they came from, I¡¯m really vexed.¡± Facing the audience¡¯s curiosity, Bi Fang said, holding his forehead in distress. God knows why he woke up to find three sled dogs beside him, and they were just the three most common breeds all at once, a Samoyed, an Alaska, and finally a husky. The one that licked his face last night was the Alaska, and the one that kicked his chest was the husky¡­ No wonder he felt so hot in his dream. Bi Fang was exasperated, how could it not be hot with three fluffy big dogs clustering around him to sleep? He woke up with his forehead slick with sweat; a blast of cold air nearly chilled him to the bone, and only after eating some food did he manage to barely recover. However, with a keen observation, one could clearly see the worn and aged buckles on their collars; obviously, they were not wild dogs but probably working dogs that somehow escaped. Looking at the wear on the buckles, it seemed they had been out for a while. The behavior of the three big dogs was indeed consistent with the image Bi Fang remembered: the Samoyed dumb, the Alaska na?¡¥ve, and the husky crafty. They¡¯re so robust, they would be really good for hauling goods. ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï With such boundless energy, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help thinking this about the Three Fools. A sled, a backpack, water, food supplies, and weapons ¨C the weight was indeed not light, and the Three Fools could be used like strong laborers. ¡°I don¡¯t know where they¡¯ve run away from, but it seems like they¡¯ve been out for a while. I have no way to send them back, so I might as well put them to use.¡± Since they¡¯ve come, he might as well accept them. If Bi Fang had run into them, there was no reason to let the three dogs go. As working dogs, it would be quite difficult for them to survive on their own without humans, even wolf packs cannot live peacefully within the Arctic Circle, let alone dogs. Bi Fang stood up and tried whistling. The Three Fools immediately stopped their frolicking and turned to look at him. Another whistle, and the Three Fools rushed over instantly. ¡°Hey, they really respond; they must have received good training, which is quite convenient for me.¡± Bi Fang chuckled, unclear on how the original owners of these sled dogs gave orders, but a whistle was indeed the most common means, clear, loud, and straightforward. The Three Fools quickly gathered around, and Bi Fang patted each of their heads in turn, then decided to give them names. After a pause, Bi Fang pointed at the Samoyed, the Alaska, and lastly the husky and said, ¡°Let¡¯s call you Wangcai, Fugui, and Goudan respectively!¡± Audience: ¡°¡­¡± The first two didn¡¯t react much and just tilted their heads, while the husky, seeming to catch something in the tone, barked once. However, it was just seemingly so, as its tail continued to wag happily. Bi Fang didn¡¯t expect the three dogs to remember their names in such a short time, but it didn¡¯t matter, they would understand after a few days. Compared to Old Fang¡¯s perfunctory naming method, the audience had a lot of pent-up complaints they needed to express. [Old Fang, your naming really takes me back to the countryside] [The first two names are far-fetched but passable, but the last one, Old Fang, to be honest, do you have some personal vendetta against the husky? Tell us about it] [These names are too down-to-earth; since I left my village at three years old, I¡¯ve never heard names that feel this grounded.] ¡°There¡¯s no vendetta.¡± Bi Fang unbuckled the gear and loaded everything onto the husky. Since they were working dogs, they obviously needed to work more. Chapter 675 - Chapter 675 Chapter 672 Glory and Dreams ?Chapter 675: Chapter 672: Glory and Dreams Chapter 675: Chapter 672: Glory and Dreams The Three Fools of the sled are three types of working dogs that are quite excellent in extremely cold areas. This is mainly because the extremely harsh local natural environment is not suitable for other animals that can serve as labor, nor is it suitable for wheeled vehicles. Using sled dogs as a means of transportation can be seen as adapting to local conditions as well as a last resort. The dog breeds mainly include Siberian Dogs (Huskies), Alaskan Dogs, Greenland Dogs, Samoyeds, Norwegian Elkhounds, etc. These sled dogs all share one common featurea€¡±they have double-layered coats, which allows them to maintain their body temperature in the snowy, cold weather. However, Bi Fang also loved to exploit; he generously took out his own food reservesa€¡±a few frozen fish and two plump puffins. Almost as soon as Bi Fang had unzipped his bag, the Three Fools caught the scent of blood, leaped excitedly, and threw themselves onto Bi Fang, nearly knocking the burly man down. Bi Fang was so excited that he couldn¡¯t make cooked food, so he had to feed the Three Fools raw. As soon as he tossed it down, the Three Fools leaped into the air and caught all the fish in their mouths, enjoying their meal, which showed how long they had been hungry. After gathering some dry grass nearby for firewood, Bi Fang kept half a puffin and after stewing it, it became his breakfast for today. Well, even though it was still dark, it was indeed breakfast. After the meal, Bi Fang packed up his things, checked the belt buckles of the Three Fools, and after confirming that although they were a bit worn, they were still usable, he tied the three together with a rope. After that, he tied the supplies to the three dogs separately, giving the restless Husky the backpack, the Short Spear to the Alaska, and the remaining sundries and sled to the Samoyed; Bi Fang only kept a Spear and a dagger on himself for emergencies. The Three Fools, well-fed and watered, had no aversion to doing some work; they were work dogs who loved to be busy, and with a carefree demeanor, they seemed to regard Bi Fang as their new master. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï Having shed his burden, Bi Fang felt much lighter; he grabbed the lead rope in one hand and hit the road with the Three Fools. Bi Fang originally wanted to use the Three Fools to pull the sled, but then he thought better of it; he was now hunting, and if he used the dogs to pull the sled, the speed might be too fast and he could easily miss a lot of hunting information, so he decided to walk instead. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Once they got into the rhythm, the Three Fools were actually quite well-behaved, holding back their frolicsome nature and not running wild; if they did, Bi Fang might not have been able to hold them on his own. On the snowy ground, Bi Fang was in a good mood; after all, he had gained three free working dogs. It¡¯s just that they eat a bit much; however, as long as he could catch musk oxen, none of that would be a problem. ¡°Do you guys still remember the story I mentioned at the beginning, about the two adventurers who had vowed to see who would conquer Antarctica first?¡± [Oh, I remember, Amundsen and Scott!] [Who won in the end?] [I know, it was Scott!] [¡­.You must have listened in solitude; it was clearly Amundsen, Scott froze into an old ice lolly and is still buried in Antarctica] ¡°That¡¯s right, it was Amundsen, and one of the very significant reasons for the difference in their fortunes was actually caused by these guys behind us.¡± The audience glanced skeptically at the Three Fools in front of Bi Fanga€¡±how could these three critters be of any use? The drone flew next to Goudan, who had never seen such a thing before and was somewhat surprised, his pale blue eyes staring intently. Er¡­ Quite spirited. Guoba woke up early to watch the live broadcast and twitched the corner of his mouth. ¡°Back then, Scott and Amundsen chose two completely different types of work animals; the former used ponies, while the latter used Eskimo dogs, which are a type of sled dog.¡± ¡°Compared with sled dogs, ponies were completely outmatched under extreme conditions. Ponies required fodder and their cold resistance had not been proven in polar conditions. In the later stages, Scott¡¯s team could only rely on manpower to move forward, which undoubtedly set the stage for tragedy in the harsh environment of nature.¡± ¡°The blizzards they later encountered and the kerosene leak were just adding insult to injury. Additionally, the number of frostbite cases were severe in Scott¡¯s team, as they had not used traditional fur for warmth in large quantitiesa€¡±their preparation for insulation was inadequate.¡± ¡°Moreover, after Scott failed to become the first person to reach the South Pole, his mental blow, combined with injuries and illness on the return journey, also lowered their will to survive. Even if they had managed to return alive, most would have been permanently disabled; such is the cruelty of polar exploration.¡± ¡°In contrast, Amundsen brought a far greater number of Eskimo dogs than he actually needed. Excess dogs were continuously replaced to conserve the strength of the pack, and those that could not keep up were killed for food for the people and other dogs.¡± [Eh, as food?] [Wouldn¡¯t cannibalism lead to gastric virus infections¡­] [They¡¯re really going all out, huh.] [They are working dogs¡­ It can only be this way.] [Just because the wrong draft animals were chosen, the final outcomes were worlds apart.] ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Bi Fang gave an affirmative answer. It was an aspect no one had anticipated that had decided the two men¡¯s fates. Ponies or Eskimo dogs? For explorers, in the vast expanse of the Antarctic Continent, survival elements such as food, temperature, and supplies all hinged on one thinga€¡±the choice of transportation method. Given that other conditions and the competition were not much different, what should have been a fair fight turned into a cruel joke played on Scott by fate. Eight years prior, Scott had actually been to Antarctica, where he likewise used Eskimo dogs to pull sleds for exploration. However, he believed that on the extremely food-scarce Antarctic Continent, the high activity level of the Eskimo dogs and their corresponding high food demands were unsustainable. Therefore, in the choice of transportation, he virtually ruled out Eskimo dogs and instead brought a large number of sturdy and drought-resistant purebred Siberian ponies, three fuel-supplying crawler tractors, and his superstitious secret weapon: man-hauled sledges. For Amundsen, an expert dog trainer himself, his knowledge of and affection for dogs were unparalleled. In his previous polar explorations, Eskimo dogs had almost been like a wall that he relied on for offense and defense. For the expedition towards the South Pole, he brought nearly 100 well-trained sled-pulling Eskimo dogs. As the most important means of transportation for residents living in the polar regions before mechanization, the dogs¡¯ dense fur, remarkable cold resistance, loyal and strong demeanor, and reliable working capabilities were, in Amundsen¡¯s view, undoubtedly reliable companions. This was true even when compared with sturdy ponies. Within a similar timeframe, Amundsen and Scott set off one after the other. The two expeditions set off across the icy, snowy landscape of the Antarctic Continent in a competition for honor that allowed no turning back. No one knew what lay ahead, and on the unforgiving Antarctic Continent, life and death were the norms. Ice and fire, glory, and dreams. But in the end, Scott lost everything. Chapter 676 - Chapter 676 Chapter 673 Hunger ?Chapter 676: Chapter 673: Hunger Chapter 676: Chapter 673: Hunger The audience could guess the outcome already, after all, they knew the mystery¡¯s solution, so reasoning backward wasn¡¯t difficult. On the fourth day of departure, Scott¡¯s track tractors were already badly damaged. In the severe cold, the oiling system completely seized up. It was unrepairable and unable to be refueled, turning the tractors into heaps of scrap metal. Subsequently, the supplies from the tractor were transferred to the backs of the Siberian ponies. In the extreme cold, the Siberian ponies¡¯ poor resistance to cold struggled to adapt to the harsh conditions of the Antarctic plateau. Even with sufficient food and drinking water, their strength was insufficient to cope with the continuous low temperatures and the high loads they had to carry. One by one, the Siberian ponies collapsed. With no other options, the members of Scott¡¯s expedition were forced to drag the supplies themselves, struggling forward through the blizzard-covered ice fields. Meanwhile, Amundsen¡¯s expedition team, who had departed from Whale Bay two months after Scott, had already far surpassed them, and they were advancing towards the South Pole at a speed that the former could hardly imagine. [Damn, there¡¯s such detail.] [I had only heard about it before, never realized it was so complex.] The audience listening to this already had a foreboding feeling. Bi Fang tugged at Goudan, who was trying to jump out, and continued to speak along his train of thought. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Nature treated everyone equally; the challenges and hardships faced by Amundsen¡¯s expedition team were not much less than those faced by Scott¡¯s team. Frostbitten skin and feet, diminishing supplies, and the polar reflection of sunlight off the snow even made it impossible to open one¡¯s eyes during the journey. These were difficulties Bi Fang had encountered himself, but because he took better protective measures, besides long-term fasting that caused physical weakness, he didn¡¯t suffer too much damage. However, it was different for Amundsen a hundred years ago. Their less advanced production capabilities meant less advanced protective measures. And though they were called adventurers, in terms of the technological level at the time, most of it was still empirical. In terms of survival skills, they were far inferior to Bi Fang. But the cold resistance and endurance of the Eskimo dogs ensured that Amundsen¡¯s daily travels could continue, and the team still maintained a high speed of 30 kilometers a day without slowing down. For the first half of the roughly 700 kilometers, Amundsen¡¯s team wore Eskimo fur coats and advanced using dog sleds and skis. The latter part of the journey was mainly ascending and crossing ridges. Despite encountering numerous mountains, valleys, and crevasses, the team still did not face fatal obstacles due to thorough preparation and the abilities of the Eskimo dogs. [Impressive.] [The Paw Patrol did a great job!] [I didn¡¯t see that coming, my Erha only knows how to wreck the house] [An Erha that doesn¡¯t wreck the house is not a good Erha] After nearly two months of marching across the ice fields, the weather turned foul again, and a blizzard blew for five days and nights. To get to the South Pole first, Amundsen continued to move forward, carrying his skis and guiding the dog sleds. When Amundsen was only 25 kilometers from the Pole, Scott¡¯s team had already been struck by a combination of foul weather and inadequate preparations. All of their Siberian ponies had frozen to death in the bitter cold. With the tractors broken down and the ponies dead, Scott¡¯s team had lost all forms of transportation. Dragging supplies non-stop in the extreme cold had caused their feet to become frostbitten, and their faces were covered in frostbite, a stabbing pain with the slightest touch. Under such circumstances, defeat was certain. Bi Fang patted the dog head of Fugui, feeling the warm temperature through the fur transfer into his palm. Previously, the audience only knew about a rough outcome but had no idea about the details of the adventure. Now, after listening to Bi Fang¡¯s more detailed recap, they were quite emotional. [Awesome, this is what an explorer is really about] [A spirit worth studying] Polar expeditions are like that, often leaving a big pit where nobody pays attention. One would have turned into an icicle a long time ago if they thought they could ignore the natural environment and carelessly mess around just because they have good equipment. ¡°Actually, before coming here, the captain of the cruise ship told me an interesting story that happened not long ago, just last year.¡± Bi Fang remembered some fresh stories the old captain had shared with him during their conversation. ¡°Two-thirds of the Arctic Ocean is covered with ice and snow that does not melt all year round. For tourists who come here, it naturally feels novel and fun. But for the crew, who often have lived on a ship for a long time, the scenery they see every day is the same.¡± ¡°Apart from the ice layer, there¡¯s only ice. Wherever the ship goes, there¡¯s a vast expanse of whiteness, and the landscape is so monotonous that people grow tired of looking at it. The only people they can talk to are a few familiar faces, so the extremely bored crew members can only stare at the ice and daydream in their idle time.¡± ¡°As a result, while one crew member was gazing into the distance again, he suddenly saw something move. At first, he thought he¡¯d encountered a polar bear, which is common enough, so he didn¡¯t pay much attention. But as the ship approached, he realized that it was much smaller than a polar bear.¡± ¡°Eventually, after getting the binoculars, he discovered that it was actually a dog.¡± The crew members at the time couldn¡¯t believe their eyes, but upon closer inspection, even though its fur almost blended into the background, it was indeed a dog! That lonely dog wandered on the bumpy ice surface, stopping now and then, and unconsciously wagging its tail as it came under the cruise ship, looking both eager to approach and a little fearful. ¡°At that time, the captain ordered the boarding ladder to be lowered and used food as bait. The dog immediately came aboard, and later, the crew recorded a video of the dog, trying to see if any locals recognized her. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï They actually found the original owner.¡± [Damn, can I also pick up a dog if I go to the Arctic now?] [Is it like an Arctic adoption center?] [Do these three dogs have owners too?] ¡°Perhaps,¡± Bi Fang said noncommittally. Even large sheep farmers lose a number of sheep that sneak away every year, not to mention dogs. But seeing the way the three dogs approached willingly, Bi Fang suspected that they might not have run away on their own initiative. Just as he had initially told the audience, even in modern times, there were instances of Inuit people being found frozen to death inside their homes. Just as there are still people living in primeval forests today, some Inuit people have not been able to integrate into modern life and still maintain their original way of living. Without enough food stored, they can face life-threatening risks. Even those who have adapted still need to save enough money to survive. Thanks to some people, Inuits entering modern society no longer needed to store large amounts of food. Instead, they converted their reserves into money. They made money through legal hunting qualifications for polar bears and other animals, selling fur, and accruing enough funds to support the purchase of supplies when the supply ships arrived in winter. If there¡¯s not enough food, one would starve to death. And if there¡¯s not enough money, one would still starve to death. There seems to be no fundamental difference between the two, and the latter is even more stark. Chapter 677 - Chapter 677 674 tracking ?Chapter 677: 674 tracking Chapter 677: 674 tracking Having three free laborers, Bi Fang¡¯s pace had undoubtedly quickened a lot. By the end of the morning, they had successfully located their targets. The unique scent on the ground had intensified by more than a notch, and the quantity of feces visible on the ground had gradually increased. The three sled fools did not cause any trouble either, carrying Bi Fang¡¯s goods without complaint, even Goudan was very well-behaved, only he liked to look around curiously. Although people often tease Huskies for having an ¡°inspiring¡± intelligence, according to professional intelligence tests, Huskies rank moderately high among various breeds of dogs; their brains work just fine. The reason why Huskies are deemed ¡°unteachable,¡± love to destroy households, and engage in various perplexing behaviors, is mainly due to their excessive energy and poor obedience. Originally bred for long-distance sledding, they have abundant energy and stamina. If you keep them as pets, the dog¡¯s boundless energy has nowhere to be released, so they end up dismantling the household instead. As for how vigorous their energy is¡­ A dog sled team can carry 300 to 400 kilograms each time; they can travel forty kilometers per day, with a speed comparable to a light tank of the time. And this only requires seven to nine dogs. In fact, there was a Husky that set a record by running 452 kilometers in minus 30 degrees Celsius with winds above force seven. This distance is roughly equivalent to the distance from the Capital of Huaxia to Hujang Haote. Moreover, when people say Huskies are silly, they often refer to their ¡°disobedience,¡± also known as ¡°poor obedience.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï Before they became household pets, when they were pulling sleds in the freezing cold, they needed to work in teams, usually, a sled team would have at least four Huskies, one of which would be the lead dog. Even among these three by Bi Fang¡¯s side, one could see that the expression in the Huskies¡¯ eyes was distinctly different from that of the larger dogs in the Alaska region. More spirited and more alert, with a strong desire to perform. This position of ¡°dog leader¡± had the same status as the owner and was called the ¡°Lead Dog,¡± responsible for identifying the road conditions and eliminating dangers. ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï In the actual working process, because the person driving the sled is at the back, they might not perceive certain things accurately and could make wrong judgments. Therefore, the ¡°Lead Dog¡± can refuse to follow the owner¡¯s commands and can find its own direction if it deems necessary. In some extreme environments, when even the owner cannot judge the situation, the ¡°Lead Dog¡± might even lead the team forward in place of the owner. In the city, however, most Huskies are kept as pets, with only one of their kind around them. As a result, they inevitably consider themselves as the ¡°Lead Dog,¡± bravely expressing their own thoughts and unwilling to obediently follow the owner¡¯s instructions. ¡°You and I are equal, so why should I listen to you?¡± This is probably the dog¡¯s true thought. So Bi Fang had it carry the heaviest load, not out of any personal vendetta, but he also provided compensation. A whole puffin and several river fish. It was undoubtedly the most lavish meal it had had in a long time. For a sled dog with black fur, hunting in the Polar Region is quite challenging, even polar bears and wolf packs have to use camouflage; sled dogs, unless they want to survive by hunting less agile creatures, are left with their only option: seals. But seals are actually one of the animals most misunderstood by humans. Wild seals are not like the ones in zoos that clap their bellies and bark. Despite its adorable appearance, it is actually a formidable predator on the food chain, armed with very sharp little teeth that can be deadly with just one bite, and there are even records of humans being bitten to death. Humans can effectively suppress these creatures mainly because of their slender limbs and long-handled weapons, which have proven to be invincible. ¡°Found the musk oxen herd, and there are more than I expected.¡± In the icy and snowy environment, Bi Fang pulled back Goudan, who still wanted to move forward, and pointed towards the specks in the distance. The audience widened their eyes, struggling to discern what they were seeing. It looked as if someone had dotted two black points onto a white paper fan with a water pena€¡±trying to see it clearly was virtually impossible. [Master Fang¡¯s eyesight must be at least 5.2, right?] [Feels like even pilots are no match¡­] The audience was once again astounded by Bi Fang¡¯s remarkable vision. Bi Fang also became cautious because there were more specks than he had anticipated. He removed the weapons from Fugui¡¯s back and, fully armed, began to stealthily approach little by little. ¡°Musk oxen like to live in herds. In summer, they form smaller groups to feed on the leaves of the stunted willows. In winter, they gather in large herds, sometimes numbering over a hundred.¡± ¡°In autumn, which is now, they begin to gather in scattered groups. Encountering separate groups, they merge together. It seems that the herd we¡¯ve come across has already combined at least three or four groups.¡± After approaching within two hundred meters, the audience could finally see clearly the number of musk oxen, which was indeed quite largea€¡±roughly counting, there appeared to be nearly thirty animals. If faced with a confrontation, it would be a tough situation for Bi Fang, who was alone. Musk oxen are intelligent. When in a group, they almost become an impenetrable shield. By the time he got within one hundred and fifty meters, the drone had reached right above the musk oxen herd, giving the audience a clearer view. Unlike the cows we usually see, the base of the musk oxen¡¯s horns is especially large, covering almost the entire top of their heads. The horns curve after branching out from the head, with the males¡¯ being thicker than the females¡¯. The most terrifying part is that every ox seemed to have large horns atop their heads, which is similar to reindeer in that both males and females grow horns. The limbs of the musk oxen, just as Bi Fang mentioned, were indeed short; their hooves were like those of cows but appeared broader. Additionally, their tails were extremely short, entirely hidden within their long fur and hard to see, detectable only when they occasionally flicked them. Bi Fang pointed to a few musk oxen and said, ¡°Usually the young and female musk oxen are positioned in the middle of the herd, with the strong and powerful males stationed around the perimeter serving as scouts and protectors. Moreover, the males form their own unique groups, each with their own ¡®group leader,¡¯ all under the command of an elder musk ox, often a pregnant female.¡± ¡°Whenever the herd moves, there is also an astute and capable male leading the way, followed by a grand procession of musk oxen.¡± As he spoke, the musk oxen that had been resting suddenly stood up in twos and threes. Bi Fang was startled, thinking he had been discovered, and quickly buried his body deeper into the snow, ready to flee at any moment. But unexpectedly, the musk oxen did not look in Bi Fang¡¯s direction; instead, they began to move on. ¡°Whew, seems like it was just a coincidence.¡± Bi Fang held down the eager head of the husky to prevent the animal from barking and drawing attention accidentally. As for Wangcai and Fugui, they had already hidden beside Bi Fang, desperately burrowing under him. Faced with the group of enormous creatures before them, they were terrified. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s follow them and see if we can find any straggling musk oxen.¡± Chapter 678 - Chapter 678 Chapter 675 Victory or Defeat ?Chapter 678: Chapter 675: Victory or Defeat Chapter 678: Chapter 675: Victory or Defeat Hunting is a game of patience. All afternoon, Bi Fang lay in the snow waiting for an opportunity, but fortune did not favor him, and no good chance presented itself. Yet Bi Fang was not discouraged, for compared to the ultimate catch, spending a few days was completely worthwhile. Hunting large animals belongs to the type where if you don¡¯t open for half a year, you feast for half a year when you do. The audience, however, appeared somewhat restless. Nearly two days had passed since they spotted the musk oxen, but they still had nothing to show for it. On the contrary, they gained three big eaters instead of profits, a clear loss-making business. It was particularly worrying that they might fall into a vicious cycle once again. This type of resource scarcity was something the Scoia¡¯tael could not accept. Bi Fang¡¯s livestream was known for its immersive experience. The greatest characteristic of live broadcasting is the uncertainty of the future; no one knows what will happen next. Maybe you¡¯re enjoying hot pot and singing, then suddenly you¡¯re¡­ well, there won¡¯t be any bandits in the deserted wilderness, and if there were, they¡¯d starve to death and couldn¡¯t rob anyone, but accidents would certainly not be few. So whenever they watched Bi Fang¡¯s livestream, whether it was a deep forest, a barren desert, or the vast snowy plains he was on now, the sense of insecurity about the environment always lingered around the audience. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Bi Fang himself was very brave and skilled. He used to share the same apprehensions, but after many experiences, he no longer found it as frightening. However, the audience found it thrilling, hence any change in the environment was particularly sensitive to them. They finally understood why Scott had given up his sled dogs and opted to bring ponies insteada€¡±there was no other reason; they just ate too much. And most crucially, they didn¡¯t graze! All the supplies Bi Fang had prepared before departure were gone, and along the way, he could only gather some lichens left over from the musk oxen. Anyone who has raised a dog knows that the appetite of a large dog is much greater than that of a human, even though they may weigh less than a person, they still eat more. ¡°This is mainly because dogs have a faster metabolism than humans. Canines have body temperatures around thirty-eight or even thirty-nine degrees Celsius. Just maintaining this temperature requires a lot of food. Moreover, a dog¡¯s stomach is different from that of other animals, it has strong digestive capabilities, which is another main reason why they eat so much.¡± Bi Fang patted Fugui on the head. This Alaskan¡¯s fur was extremely lush, making it feel great to the touch. Its eyes slightly squinted, it rubbed Bi Fang¡¯s palm and licked it with its tongue. At first, Fugui and Wangcai were quite scared of the huge creatures on the snowfield, but after half a day of adaptation, they grew accustomed to following this herd of fierce beasts. [Too small-minded, you¡¯re thinking too small. You think Master Fang is making a losing deal, but in fact, he has gained three reserve sources of food.] [Hiss, so that¡¯s the case.] [Is Master Fang out of food now?] Bi Fang leaned against a snowdrift, took out his dagger, and dug up the lichen on the ground. ?¦Ï??0.?¦Ï The place they were in was precisely where the musk oxen had just fed. Bi Fang picked some intact ones and simply boiled them before considering it his dinner for the day. These half-eaten lichens and moss could serve as food, but obviously, the calories they provided were pitifully low. The only advantage was probably the convenience of collection, sparing Bi Fang the trouble of digging through snow layers in search of his own. The herd¡¯s walking pace was outrageously slow; they moved so little that Bi Fang wondered if they had covered five kilometers all afternoon, walking a bit, feeding a bit, then sleeping a bit, which even made him somewhat lax. Seeing Bi Fang eating, Goudan immediately perked up and squeezed in front of him, pushing away Bi Fang¡¯s arm. But after smelling for a while and realizing it was just weeds, it barked discontentedly and ended up being hit on the head twice with a tree stick by Bi Fang. ¡°` Erha, having been reprimanded, ran to one side and buried its head in the snow in a sulk. After waiting until dark and ¡°wasting¡± a day, Bi Fang finally saw the opportunity he had been waiting for. Bang! The loud impact echoed and reverberated across the vast snowy plain, abruptly awakening Bi Fang, who instinctively rolled to the side and grasped the spear behind him, but after scanning the area, he noticed nothing unusual. The sound of the collision came again, and this time Bi Fang heard it more clearly; it was like two enormous rocks smashing into each other, producing a dull yet powerful noise. [Damn, they¡¯ve started fighting!] [There are two musk oxen fighting.] [Shit, they¡¯ve left the group. Isn¡¯t this a good opportunity?] [Old Fang, go for it! The chance for a lavish meal is today!] The audience, who had the perspective of an unmanned drone, could undoubtedly see the situation much clearer. Sensing the content of the messages, Bi Fang used his hands and feet to slowly climb up the snowbank, his view transitioning from pure white to half black and half white. Luckily, there were Northern Lights in the sky today. In the darkness, the reflected light from the snow-covered ground brought unexpected brightness and caused the sky to display distinct layers of rose pink and light blue, sparingly dotted with golden evening stars. Before arriving in Greenland, many viewers had longed to see the Northern Lights, but after finding out that they appeared here every other day, their enthusiasm waned slightly; still, a night scene as beautiful as today¡¯s was rare. Pleased with this, the drone didn¡¯t even need to activate night mode, offering a very clear view. The two musk oxen clashing against each other were obviously males. ¡°Although both female and male musk oxen have horns, there is a difference. The horns of musk oxen are bulbous at the base, but it¡¯s particularly pronounced in males, almost covering the entire head, and overall, they are thicker and stronger than those of the females.¡± At this moment, Bi Fang was very close to the herd of musk oxen, merely fifty meters away, hidden behind a snowbank and pointing at the fighting musk oxen. Though both female and male musk oxen, like reindeer, have antlers, males in musk oxen differ even more, being typically a quarter larger in size and weight than females. The two musk oxen in the fight, compared to those in the nearby herd, were also larger, and Bi Fang suspected their weight neared four hundred kilograms. [Four hundred kilograms, holy crap, that¡¯s eight times my weight.] [Why are some females bigger and some males bigger?] ¡°Well, that¡¯s a bit complicated to explain, but all questions about living organisms can be traced back to evolution, and in the end, you¡¯ll find that production capacity determines production relationships.¡± ¡°There are three common physical dimensions between males and females in the animal kingdom: one where they are the same size, one where the female is larger, and one where the female is smaller and the male is larger, and the fundamental reason has to do with the environment and competition.¡± ¡°As species competitiveness continues to rise, the male evolves from a simple ¡®seed provider¡¯ to a ¡®selective seed provider.¡¯ In this transformation, size increasingly becomes an advantage.¡± ¡°The explanation is a bit complex, and I¡¯ll talk more about it later. They are close to deciding a victor, and once that¡¯s done, we can make our move.¡± ¡°` Chapter 679 - Chapter 679 676 bleeding damage ?Chapter 679: 676 bleeding damage Chapter 679: 676 bleeding damage The current time period, for the breeding season of the musk oxen, is considered somewhat late, but not too late; a transitional period. For the herds of musk oxen, this is undoubtedly very challenging because they will form a formation. Under normal circumstances, musk oxen seem very docile; to conserve energy, they move particularly slowly, always appearing lazy. But when a herd of musk oxen feels threatened, they will circle up facing the enemy, hiding the calves in the middle. If the enemy is a wolf pacing around the herd, the herd will rotate with it, positioning the strongest oxen directly in front of it, with others as support. To the musk oxen, Bi Fang was that wolf. In such a situation, trying to tackle it alone was almost equivalent to a death wish. Bi Fang had hoped to catch a moment when the musk oxen herd was off-guard, such as when they were lying down to sleep, when there would always be one or two straying far from the rest of the group, presenting him an opportunity to strike. Unexpectedly, he now found musk oxen engaging in fierce battles for the sake of reproducing. This opportunity was much better than waiting for the musk oxen to be careless. For if a challenger failed, it would be driven out of the herd and left to roam the wilderness for the entire year that followed. In this respect, it was not much different from the wolf packs. ¡°Perhaps they have just finished regrouping,¡± Bi Fang speculated. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Musk oxen are herd animals; typically, each large herd has a leader. But every large herd is divided into many smaller groups. Each small group consists of a bull, several cows, and calves. In the summer, musk oxen act in these small groups, but come winter, they regroup again. However, when recombining, they might not rejoin the same small group as before. In such cases, a new leader must be chosen, and with the restlessness of the breeding season, the males always seem a bit agitated. The rest and recuperation in summer allow these musk oxen to accumulate a lot of energy, full of vigour. The bulls will mark their own territories, enclosing the cows within and protecting them rigorously; no other ox may invade, or else, both sides will engage in a breathtaking battle for dominion. Perhaps this was one such moment. The sound of their repeated colliding, even from such a distance, was crystal clear, making many in the audience¡¯s scalp tingle. After another round of charging, both oxen shook their heads, and one of them, taking the lead, accelerated once more and launched into a fierce rush. The two nearly half-ton musk oxen slammed into each other with a fearsome force. This level of ferocity was alarming, and watching, Bi Fang genuinely felt headache on their behalf. And as for their battle, the cows didn¡¯t pay too much attention, the herd still leisurely grazing beside. Finally, the ox that initiated the charge sustained some minor injuries and began to lose ground, pushed back step by step. The audience couldn¡¯t help but feel anxious for it. Bi Fang indeed showed a look of delight; although it might seem like he was picking on the weaker one, the loser was simply the perfect hunting target. As a male, not only was it fat and strong, but it had also just gone through a life and death struggle, its head still in disarraya€¡±who else if not it? In such a duel, the loser would lose everything. The outcome of the fight was determined quickly; even the musk oxen themselves would struggle to withstand such charges, buckling after just a few rounds. With a final clash, one of the musk oxen was chased off, the victor chasing it for a few steps, bellowing a few times at the escapee, before returning to the midst of the herd. The loser seemed rather disheveled by now, looking at its herd with its head wobbling as if filled with paste. Bi Fang felt that even if it wasn¡¯t actually the case, it was nearly so. The defeated Musk Ox knew that in the coming year, it would have to wander alone. ?¦Ï¦Í¨À?.§ã¦Ï But the females didn¡¯t care about this, they didn¡¯t even give the loser a second glance, continuing to nibble at the moss, and eventually, the loser left in solitude. ¡°Their life isn¡¯t that complicated, all they need to do is survive long enough to do what needs to be done.¡± For some reason, the viewers all remembered what Bi Fang had said earlier. ¡°Let¡¯s hurry and follow, what a golden opportunity!¡± Unlike the sentimental viewers, Bi Fang, who had been gnawing on random weeds all day and was starving, felt a surge of excitement and, grabbing the leash, took Sanshao in the direction of the loser to track it. However, considering that the herd of Musk Oxen was still nearby, Bi Fang didn¡¯t launch an attack right away, since nobody knew whether the herd would stay put and just watch if he made a move on the loser. Once they were far enough apart, Bi Fang didn¡¯t hesitate; he leaped out from the snow and chased after the Musk Ox¡¯s back. The defeated Musk Ox, either stunned from the recent fight or simply unaware, didn¡¯t react at all to Bi Fang charging towards it from behind. Only when Bi Fang got within ten meters and a Dart struck it did the Musk Ox realize danger had arrived. But as it turned its head, the second Dart was already coming straight at it. Two Short Spears comically stuck in the Musk Ox, and Bi Fang, having achieved his goal, didn¡¯t linger for a moment and turned to run. Sanshao, watching from a distance, jumped for joy at Bi Fang¡¯s success, seemingly anticipating that tonight¡¯s dinner would be exceptionally sumptuous. But they couldn¡¯t help feeling disappointed when they saw Bi Fang running back. ¡°Hah, did it catch up?¡± After running dozens of meters, Bi Fang finally turned back to look and saw that the Musk Ox hadn¡¯t caught up. [Holy shit, did it get knocked silly?] [Is there a possibility, and I mean just a possibility, that it didn¡¯t feel like it was attacked (Dog¡¯s Head)?] Bi Fang panted heavily, surprised by the Musk Ox¡¯s patience and unaware of how much damage his Dart had caused. Normally, a Musk Ox¡¯s fur was over thirty centimeters long, like armor, and given their huge size, the two Short Spears sticking out of it looked rather comedic, like toothpicks. ¡°It must be wounded.¡± Bi Fang still had some confidence in his Dart throwing technique; even though Musk Oxen had long fur, the power of a Dart shouldn¡¯t be underestimated. ¡°I sharpened a blood groove on the tip of the Dart; as long as the Musk Ox is wounded, it will continue to bleed.¡± The Musk Ox didn¡¯t chase after him, perhaps it didn¡¯t realize this fact and just felt a slight pain in its body. On top of that, the recent fight had drained so much of its energy, it didn¡¯t show a tendency to fight. ¡°This Musk Ox is very old, their trunk back grows saddle-shaped light-colored hair, and the older they get, the more prominent the white area becomes. This one¡¯s white is very clear, clearly old, there¡¯s no need for us to take risks. Just wait and see, wait a few more hours, it will become weak.¡± To prevent a cornered beast from fighting back, Bi Fang withdrew from the area, moving out of the Musk Ox¡¯s line of sight. Minutes later, Bi Fang reached the area where the Musk Ox had just been, the air was tinged with a faint smell of blood. Indeed, the Musk Ox was wounded. Blood continuously oozed out of the Short Spears on the Musk Ox¡¯s body, staining the nearby fur into black clumps. Bi Fang confirmed his assumption, but he didn¡¯t rush forward, waiting for the opponent to be completely powerless was the best moment. Chapter 680 - Chapter 680 Chapter 677 Harvesting the Spoils of War ?Chapter 680: Chapter 677: Harvesting the Spoils of War Chapter 680: Chapter 677: Harvesting the Spoils of War As an experienced veteran hunter, Bi Fang clearly possessed a great deal of patience. Accompanied by Sanshao (Three Fools), he followed the musk ox at a leisurely pace, maintaining a distance that ensured he would not be discovered, so as to avoid a desperate struggle. On the snowy plains, the musk ox¡¯s massive body comically sported a ¡°toothpick,¡± which was actually the short spear that Bi Fang, named Dart, had thrown. Originally there were two, but as the musk ox entered a narrow thicket, it brushed against a tree, and one of the spears broke off and fell to the ground. ¡°I can feel its status getting worse and worse, its moving speed is changing, and the resting periods are getting longer.¡± Bi Fang picked up the broken short spear from the ground, which had obvious blood stains on it, the fresh blood from the musk ox¡¯s wound had dripped down along the shaft. For this moment, he had waited a full three hours, but it was all worth it. Spending a few more hours to minimize the risk was a most cost-effective deal. ¡°Now we need an appropriate terrain to make our move, ideally a depression, which could greatly weaken the musk ox¡¯s attacking power.¡± The most significant threat from the musk ox was its unparalleled charge, and if they could force it into a depression, it would be like a big target, unable to launch an attack. Huge prey animals could hardly make use of their advantages in confined spaces other than trampling. ¡°There¡¯s a rocky pit up ahead, we can try to see if we can drive it into it.¡± Bi Fang, lying behind a rock, watched for a long time and finally decided to make a move ahead of time. For a better hunt, Bi Fang had already surveyed the terrain near the musk ox, and the area ahead not only had woods but many jumbled rocks, which was the perfect location. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? But just as Bi Fang led Sanshao out from behind the rocks and was about to move forward, he experienced a tremendous resistance from the dog leash. Turning back, he realized Fugui and Wangcai had already lay down on the ground and no matter how Bi Fang pulled on the leash, they simply wouldn¡¯t budge. ¡°Useless things!¡± Bi Fang was somewhat annoyed, but then looking at Goudan to the side, it was clearly much braver, even appearing eager to try, truly deserving of being the dog closest to a wolf. Seeing this, Bi Fang kicked Fugui and Wangcai¡¯s butts, untethered Goudan¡¯s leash, and leaped out from behind the pile of rocks with it. ¡°Goudan, let¡¯s go!¡± Again aiming for a stealth attack from behind the musk ox, but the animal, having learned from its previous experience, became much more alert. As soon as Bi Fang emerged, the musk ox reacted, swiftly turning its huge body and letting out a low growl. Bi Fang did not recklessly approach, but instead dashed to the other side, with Goudan running excitedly in front of him. A hunting instinct, a gene named ¡°Hunting,¡± was awakening within Goudan¡­ ?¦Ï¦Í¨À¦Ï.§ã¦Ï ¡°Ao!¡± Erha suddenly fell onto the ground and, due to its momentum, was flung out, tumbling across the snowy land, its black fur soon blanketed with white snow. Bi Fang glanced at the stone buried in the snow layer from the corner of his eye, twitched the corner of his mouth in annoyance, but did not stop his footsteps. In the musk ox¡¯s line of sight, he arrived at the other side of the rocky pit. Goudan, embarrassed by its fall and biting the rock, saw Bi Fang running away and hurriedly trotted after him with the rock still in its mouth. Bi Fang casually took the rock from Goudan¡¯s mouth and threw it at the musk ox. He did not use a spear, as the musk ox had weakened to a certain extent by now, and showing too much strength might cause it to flee, rather than being provoked and charging. The fist-sized rock accurately struck the musk ox on its horn. Bi Fang¡¯s strategy was undoubtedly effective. Despite the musk ox being so weak that it could hardly stand, when its pride and strong skills were challenged by the stones thrown at it, the beast was still enraged. ¡°It¡¯s much easier to provoke the emotions of animals than of humans.¡± Bi Fang remarked, before quickly retreating with Goudan, hitting the musk ox with one accurate stone after another. Soon, the extremely weak musk ox stepped across the grass, preparing to charge once again. Noticing this detail, Bi Fang pulled out a rope, and the alert audience immediately noticed the knots on it. Indeed, it was the lasso commonly seen in Western cowboy movies, which tightens more the more you pull once it¡¯s looped. The snow on the ground was scattered by the stout hooves, and the pebbles on the rocky ground began to tremble as the musk ox launched its charge. But in the focused eyes of Bi Fang, the beast¡¯s speed was more than a notch slower, as if it were a roadside bicycle, the kind that¡¯s shared. Seizing the right moment, Bi Fang threw the rope, looping it flawlessly around the musk ox¡¯s horns, and then quickly wrapped it around a nearby tree. Under the immense pull, even the musk ox stumbled. From a third-person perspective, the audience clearly saw the musk ox¡¯s head bend alarmingly, as if it was about to be pulled off from its neck. The rope was stretched taut, digging deep into the tree bark. Under the massive pulling force, the entire musk ox fell to the ground. This charge had drained all its strength, and the beast, already exhausted from bleeding, found standing to be a very difficult task. Bi Fang simply tied a knot on the tree, took out his spear, and charged towards the musk ox. He stabbed viciously into its abdomen, then quickly opened a gash. Once the musk ox struggled to turn, Bi Fang charged a second time. This musk ox was at its limit, both physically and mentally. Unable to respond in time to Bi Fang¡¯s attack, it could only watch as more and more holes were poked in its body, hastening its blood loss and bringing it closer to death. Even Goudan bravely stepped forward, distracting the musk ox to create opportunities for Bi Fang¡¯s attacks. Stab and runa€¡±it was truly thrilling! Bi Fang, holding the spear, felt his heart surge with excitement. No matter how long the musk ox¡¯s fur was, it was no match for the sharp blade, which easily sliced through the hide, causing large gashes. After several rounds, the musk ox, riddled with wounds, finally collapsed to the ground, its loss of blood so severe it couldn¡¯t lift its head anymore. Bi Fang didn¡¯t approach carelessly, for the musk ox was not yet completely dead. Its chest was still heaving, and the hot breath from its nostrils melted half the snow around it. A pair of huge eyes glared at Bi Fang, seemingly filled with endless resentment, causing many in the audience to feel somewhat distressed. ¡°This is how survival in nature is.¡± Bi Fang took out his dagger and approached the back of the musk ox¡¯s head, inserting it at the juncture of the skull and spine, killing it instantly. This beast, nearly half a ton in weight, had completely lost its life. ¡°Whew.¡± Bi Fang slowly exhaled, feeling the sweat on his body. The whole process seemed simple but was still mentally draining. Fortunately, it was all worth it. Now was the time to harvest the spoils of the hunt. Chapter 681 - Chapter 681: Chapter 678: Reserve a Spot Chapter 681: Chapter 678: Reserve a Spot I¡¯ve got something on today, so I¡¯m just marking my territory here, and I¡¯ll change it before 2 a.m. The Sled Dog Three Fools are three types of working dogs that are quite excellent in extremely cold regions. The primary reason is that the extremely harsh natural environment of the area is not suitable for other animals capable of labor, nor is it suitable for wheeled vehicles. Using sled dogs as a means of transport can be seen as making do with what¡¯s available, or as a method born out of necessity. The dog breeds mainly include Siberian Dogs (Huskies), Alaskan Dogs, Greenland Dogs, Samoyeds, Norwegian Elkhounds, etc. These sled dogs all share a common feature¡ªthey have double coats, which allows them to maintain their body temperature in cold weather with heavy snowfall. However, Bi Fang is also fond of exploitation; he generously brought out his own food reserves¡ªa few frozen fish and two fat puffins. Almost as soon as Bi Fang unzipped his bag, Sanshao (Three Fools) smelled the blood and became excitedly jumpy, pouncing on Bi Fang, nearly knocking this strong man to the ground. Bi Fang couldn¡¯t prepare mature food because of their overexcited state, so he had to give Sanshao (Three Fools) raw food. As soon as he tossed it over, Sanshao (Three Fools) leaped in the air and caught all the fish in their mouths, devouring them eagerly, showing how long they had been hungry. After collecting some dry grass nearby for firewood, Bi Fang kept half a puffin, stewing it to serve as his breakfast for the day. Well, although it¡¯s not yet dawn, it¡¯s indeed breakfast. After eating, Bi Fang packed up his things and checked Sanshao¡¯s (Three Fools¡¯) harness buckles to ensure they were somewhat worn but still usable, then he used ropes to secure the three together. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï He then tied the supplies onto each of the dogs, giving the backpack to the hyperactive Husky, the short spear to the Alaskan, and the remaining miscellaneous items and the sled to the Samoyed. Bi Fang only kept a spear and a dagger on his person for emergencies. Fed and watered, Sanshao (Three Fools) had no aversion to doing some work. Being industrious working dogs and with their carefree demeanor, they seemed to have fully accepted Bi Fang as their new master. Relieved of his burden, Bi Fang felt much lighter. He took the lead rope in one hand and set off on the road with Sanshao (Three Fools). Bi Fang had originally planned to use Sanshao (Three Fools) to pull the sled, but upon consideration, he decided against it. He was now on a hunt, and if he used dogs to pull the sled, the speed might be too fast, and he could miss too much game information. He opted to walk instead. Once in working mode, Sanshao (Three Fools) was quite well-behaved, holding back their playful nature, without running around wildly; otherwise, Bi Fang might not be able to hold them back by himself. In the snowy landscape, Bi Fang¡¯s mood was good, after all, he had acquired three free working dogs. It¡¯s just that their appetite was a bit large, but as long as he could catch a musk ox, everything would be fine. ¡°Do you guys still remember the story I told at the beginning, about the two adventurers who agreed to see who would conquer Antarctica first?¡± [Oh, I remember, Amundsen and Scott!] [Who won?] [I know, it was Scott!] [¡­.You listened to your own little world. It was clearly Amundsen. Scott turned into an old popsicle, and he¡¯s still buried in Antarctica.] ¡°That¡¯s right, it was Amundsen. A large part of the reason for the difference in their fates actually has to do with these guys behind us.¡± The audience looked skeptically at Sanshao (Three Fools) in front of Bi Fang, wondering how these three fools could be of any use. The drone flew over to Goudan, who had never seen such a thing and was somewhat astonished for a moment, watching it with a pair of bright blue eyes, full of spirit. Uh¡­ Quite spirited. Guoba, who had woken up early to watch the live broadcast, twitched the corners of his mouth. ¡°At the time, Scott and Amundsen chose two vastly different types of work animals, with the former using ponies and the latter Eskimo dogs, also a type of sled dog.¡± ¡°Compared to sled dogs, ponies were completely outclassed under extreme conditions. Ponies required fodder and their cold resistance had not been tested in polar environments, leading to Scott¡¯s team having to rely on manpower later in the expedition. In the harsh conditions of nature, this undoubtedly laid the groundwork for tragedy.¡± ¡°The blizzard they later encountered and the kerosene leak were just adding insult to injury. Moreover, frostbite was a severe issue among Scott¡¯s team because they did not make extensive use of traditional furs for warmth, leaving their preparations for insulation lacking.¡± ¡°Moreover, after Scott could no longer become the first man to reach the Antarctic, the psychological blow on the way back, combined with injuries and illness, caused their will to survive to plummet. Even if they had made it back alive, most of them would have been disabled for life. Polar exploration is that brutal.¡± ¡°In contrast, Amundsen brought a far greater number of Eskimo dogs than he actually needed. The surplus Eskimo dogs were continuously replaced to preserve the strength of the pack, and those that could not keep up were killed to provide food for the people and other dogs.¡± [Ah, used as food?] [Wouldn¡¯t cannibalism result in weasel disease¡­] [That¡¯s quite extreme.] [Well, they are tool dogs¡­ It can only be like this.] [Just because of the wrong choice of working animal, the final outcome is worlds apart.] ¡°Yes.¡± Bi Fang gave an affirmative answer. It¡¯s truly an aspect no one would think of, yet it had already determined the success or failure of the two men. Ponies or Eskimo dogs? For explorers, on the vast expanse of the Antarctic Continent, survival components like food, temperature, and supplies all depended on one thing¡ªthe choice of transportation. With all other factors and competitors being nearly equal, what was supposed to be a neck-and-neck contest turned into a cruel joke played on Scott by fate. Eight years earlier, Scott had actually been to Antarctica, using Eskimo dogs to pull sleds for his expedition at that time. However, in his view, the high amount of food required by the highly active Eskimo dogs was unbearable on the food-scarce Antarctic Continent. Therefore, in the choice of transportation, he largely avoided using Eskimo dogs and instead brought a significant number of robust ponies, which can endure hunger and thirst, Siberian ponies, three fuel-supplying caterpillar tractors, and his superstitious secret weapon: man-powered sleds. For Amundsen, being a dog training expert, his understanding of and affection for dogs was incomparable to that of ordinary people. In his past polar explorations, Eskimo dogs were almost like a fortress he relied upon for both offense and defense. On his expedition reaching for the endpoint of Antarctica ¡°Q,¡± he brought nearly 100 sled-pulling Eskimo dogs. As the most important mode of transportation for residents of the Polar Regions before the age of mechanization, Eskimo dogs with their thick fur, astonishing cold resistance, loyal and resolute nature, and reliable working abilities were seen by Amundsen as dependable partners, even when compared to the sturdy ponies. Within a similar timeframe, Amundsen and Scott set off one after the other. The two expeditions unfolded a contest of honor in the icy and snowy Antarctic Continent where they could only advance and not retreat. No one knew what waited ahead of them; on the unforgiving Antarctic Continent, life and death were the norm. Ice and fire, glory and dreams. But in the end, Scott lost everything. Chapter 682 - Chapter 682: Chapter 679: The Return Journey Chapter 682: Chapter 679: The Return Journey In the rock pit, the huge semi-circular wooden basin bubbled with boiling water, within which chunks of fatty intestines bobbed up and down, and a thick layer of golden fat floated on the surface of the water. The unique terrain formed a natural heat gathering area, and outside the rock pit, Bi Fang peeled off the entire piece of musk ox skin, tilting the hunting knife, carefully scraping off the fat and the innermost layer of the skin. ¡°This is the subcutaneous tissue, a layer composed of fat and connective tissue that accommodates blood vessels and nerves. Don¡¯t waste it; we can also use it to render oil,¡± Bi Fang said. Bi Fang threw the hanging, greasy cheese-like layer into the pot, where it continuously tumbled with the boiling water. Once the inner layer was cleaned, Bi Fang turned the musk ox skin over to clean the outer surface, scraping off the knotted hair and then rinsing it several times with boiling water. Unfortunately, although this place was also a forest, there was no river, so the skin couldn¡¯t be soaked. Bi Fang had to make do with what he could, unable to clean it thoroughly. While waiting for the animal skin to dry completely, Bi Fang moved over to the skinned musk oxen. Deprived of its furry coat, the musk ox¡¯s naked red muscles were exposed, looking quite shocking. Although Sanshao (Three Fools) had eaten a lot already, there were still many internal organs left inside. ¡°Every part of a prey theoretically has its use. For instance, the intestines, stomach, and bladder, once cleaned, even if not eaten, serve as bags with excellent expansibility and strong sealing effects, useful for carrying water,¡± he noted. ¡°The same is true for an animal¡¯s head. The fluid inside the eyes mixed with twigs can be used to make strong glue, and the fresh brain matter will later be used for tanning the animal skin.¡± Bi Fang separated the remaining viscera to avoid cross-contamination. ¡°Especially when cutting the liver, one must be careful not to rupture the gallbladder, as anything that comes into contact with bile will be contaminated,¡± he advised. Bi Fang carefully extracted a long, dark object that was almost inky green in color and looked very suspicious in shape. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 ¡°Many people have a misconception that bile is secreted by the gallbladder, but in reality, bile is primarily secreted by the liver, and the gallbladder serves to concentrate and store it. When bile is initially secreted by the liver, it¡¯s quite thin, but through concentration in the gallbladder, it becomes much thicker,¡± he explained. ¡°Believe me, you wouldn¡¯t want to taste it, or you¡¯d regret many things in life,¡± he warned. [I know this. If the fish¡¯s gallbladder is punctured, none of the surrounding flesh can be eaten.] [Just thinking about it makes me frown.] [It¡¯s bitterly disgusting.] Anatomizing an animal is harder than most people imagine, especially an oversized one. It¡¯s a test of both physical strength and technique. But Bi Fang¡¯s technique was extremely proficient; nearly all of his movements were fluid and seamless. Many viewers who had seen the butchering in slaughterhouses felt that even the masters who had done this kind of work their whole lives were about this skilled. In fact, experts can tell just by the way one starts with the guts, professionals can determine skill level from that very first step. Following the incision along the breastbone area, all the way to the unmentionable parts, this is a quite difficult task. The location is near the posterior, and if one carelessly cuts the tube connecting to the unmentionable parts, the surrounding meat will be contaminated. Who knows how many apprentices have paid their dues learning the proper technique and strength required. But clearly, Bi Fang didn¡¯t waste an inch of material. ¡°In theory, regardless of whether the environment is cold enough or not, we should always wear gloves when handling dead animals, to avoid cuts that can lead to bacterial infections. If conditions don¡¯t allow, we must ensure not to get injured and wash hands regularly.¡± Bi Fang skillfully used the Hunting Knife to carve up the Musk Oxen. All ungulates share similar body fat and muscle distribution, so the skills involved are largely the same. ¡°As we can see, there is a thin layer of filmy substance on much of the meat. This is the normal fascia, and there is no need to remove it, in fact, it¡¯s best preserved as it helps keep the meat.¡± A considerable amount of greasy, white fat fell onto the snow, quickly freezing like stones. After trimming off all the visible chunks of fat, Bi Fang packed them into the prepared stomach sacks, filling two of them. Musk Oxen are not entirely bovines; essentially, they are transitional animals between cattle and sheep, having basic characteristics of both. Like cows or sheep, they also have four stomachs, and Musk Oxen are no exception. With intestines and bladders, Bi Fang was able to craft quite a few storage pouches at once. That¡¯s why he doubled up, to prevent the fat from leaking out, cramming everything into the backpack until it was bulging. This was probably the highest energy part of all the edible sections of the Musk Oxen. Separating them in advance was a precaution, in case they encountered insurmountable events, such as other Predators or blizzards, during the Musk Oxen transport where they might have to abandon their spoils. ¡°As long as we have this fat, our Hunting won¡¯t be considered a loss,¡± Bi Fang was very satisfied. Rendering fat, curing skins, and cutting up meat, even all done simultaneously, require loads of time. As time went by, they gradually completed these tasks. The fats rapidly solidified into a pale yellow color in the low temperatures, emitting an incredible aroma. With so much of it, Bi Fang collected all into the intestinal bags, rolling them into a bundle shape for convenient transport. The entire Musk Oxen was thoroughly dismembered, with the useless rib, tail, and spine bones discarded for Sanshao to gnaw at leisure, while all the useful parts were kept. However, Bi Fang did reserve the leg bones for himself. While heavy, they indeed provided great material for making weapons and tools. Bi Fang kept two and after stewing the rest, crushed them open and sucked out the bone marrow. Meanwhile, Bi Fang and Sanshao were feasting on some of the less cost-effective lean meat. With their strong digestive capacities, he could eat again every two hours. With the continuous supply of energy, Bi Fang could feel his physical strength rapidly returning to its peak Status, despite the continuing drop in external temperature. By the time he finished all this, it was already the next day. The animal skin stretched tight on the wooden framework snapped crisply when tapped, the frost falling off in a shower. Bi Fang applied the mix of hot water and brain matter to the Musk Ox Skin to prevent the fibers from binding back into rawhide, and continued to work the still stiff areas until he had cured the entire hide. With that, everything was accomplished. The symbolic white Musk Ox horn helmet was mounted on Goudan¡¯s head, and Bi Fang, now down to only the two-hundred-kilogram carcass, loaded it onto the sled. With one man and three animals as the primeval driving force, they set off back in the direction they came from. Chapter 683 - Chapter 683: Chapter 680 Sandstorm Chapter 683: Chapter 680 Sandstorm On the snowfields, Erha with a Horn Helmet hopped and skipped playfully. The massive Horn Helmet covered Goudan¡¯s entire head with even extra space to spare, wobbling as he walked, but Goudan wasn¡¯t bothered and seemed very happy, feeling it was his trophy. Sticking out his tongue, he licked the Horn Helmet, feeling contentment inside. Life these days had been truly wonderful. Goudan could no longer remember when he had set out, for the concept of time wasn¡¯t something that occupied his mind, but he knew it had been a very, very long time since he last had a full meal. In the vast, uninhabited and snow-covered Greenland, the three sled dogs were undoubtedly tiny. Looking around, all they could see was snow, where could they find any food? Occasionally with good luck, they might catch a clumsy Asuka, but they weren¡¯t always successful. A few days ago, the icily fierce snowstorm had come again, and, driven by hunger and cold, they had to keep moving, fending for themselves. They didn¡¯t expect that under their own ¡°lead,¡± they actually found humans. I am surely a born Lead Dog! ¡°Slacking off again,¡± complained Bi Fang. With a kick, Bi Fang hit Goudan¡¯s behind, almost knocking the Horn Helmet off Erha¡¯s head. After being kicked, Goudan resumed his hard labor obediently, donning the helmet and braving the wind and snow alongside the other two dogs. The Horn Helmet was enormous, looking from the front it was almost the size of an adult man¡¯s chest, thus it was still quite comical to see it on Erha¡¯s head. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.?¦Ï Ordinarily, Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t want to carry something so heavy, but thinking it seemed almost a pity to discard it, as it was a rather rare trophy, and with the intention of collecting it for decoration, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to throw it away. ¡°Phew, let¡¯s rest a bit,¡± he said. He had spent almost the entire night preparing the hunting rewards and had hardly slept. Now, exhaustion was taking over. Bi Fang sat down and called a halt to the Three Fools¡¯ sledding. It had to be said, they were indeed skilled at pulling sleds, their strength extraordinary. If Bi Fang had been alone, he would have had to give up more items, limiting the weight to under a hundred kilograms. It was impossible to bring as much as he currently had without their help. The tired Three Fools stuck out their tongues, not even huddling together for warmth, clearly exhausted to their limits. They drank some water and ate some meat. Bi Fang turned to check the sled, which he had hastily made using just ropes for securing. The base comprised six sled boards, paired and tied together at the end, not necessarily sturdy. On top of the makeshift sled boards, there lay butchered Musk Ox meat, rigid from freezing. It looked less bloody, especially since a square piece of Musk Ox Skin was neatly tied over it with ropes, concealing the contents underneath. Although it would inevitably end up smelling of blood, once tanned successfully, the skin could be cleaned and would not revert to its original state. The Musk Ox Skin itself wasn¡¯t rectangular, and Bi Fang had cut the excess parts to make a small vest for the Three Fools. The hem was threaded with a rope and tied tight. Although it wasn¡¯t pretty, it was quite secure. Seemingly feeling the warmth of the Musk Ox Skin, the Three Fools didn¡¯t resist wearing clothes much. After resting for a while, Bi Fang whistled, and the man with the three dogs resumed their arduous task. [It has the feel of labor workers] [Coolies of Greenland] [Although, the combination feels a bit over the top] ¡°Today¡¯s wind is strong; we need to be careful with our direction. Fortunately, because Musk Oxen run slowly, we actually haven¡¯t strayed too far from the valley. I estimate we can return by tomorrow afternoon or the next morning,¡± Bi Fang predicted. Bi Fang estimated the situation and felt it should be about right. The group activities of the musk oxen were too erratic; if it weren¡¯t for the need to pull the sled, he might have been able to return today. Thinking of this, Bi Fang grew somewhat impatient. This two hundred kilogram musk ox had alleviated most of the winter crisis in one fell swoop. As long as he stored this food properly, he wouldn¡¯t have to worry too much about the calorie intake for at least the first two months. In addition to the musk ox skin measuring over one meter nine in length, it could almost be made into a sleeping bag. Just thinking about sleeping in a warm blanket, not having to worry about food, made Bi Fang a little excited. ¡°Phew, the weather is getting colder by the minute, even at noon the temperature could be minus thirty degrees.¡± Bi Fang pulled the rising long rope and was about to take out his thermometer to check the temperature, but unexpectedly, something smacked him in the mouth. At first, he thought it was dry snow, but the substance in his mouth showed no sign of melting. It felt more like sand. ¡°Ptooey, what¡¯s this stuff?¡± The wind suddenly increased in strength, and the fine sand, coarser than snowflakes, blew against Bi Fang¡¯s face in the violent wind, chafing his skin raw. ¡°Where is this sand coming from?¡± Bi Fang spat out saliva but found he couldn¡¯t clear it completely¡ªevery time he opened his mouth, sand plastered onto him the next second. He struggled to open his eyes in the raging wind, only to find that the moderately obstructive snowstorm had suddenly become thick and heavy. The sky darkened abruptly. And in the distance, a distinctly dark long dragon was rolling its way toward him. Another blizzard? Bi Fang was baffled by the sudden darkness of the sky, but the next moment he sharply realized something was wrong. If it was a blizzard, then what was in his mouth? Sand, fierce wind, rolling dragon¡­ Bi Fang shivered and was so startled he nearly jumped up: ¡°Damn, a sandstorm!¡± [A sandstorm? How is that possible?] [Old Fang, you¡¯re not joking with me, are you? There are sandstorms here?] The audience was left surprised and puzzled by his outburst, and many were skeptical. To any rational person, how could there be a sandstorm on Greenland? In his more than ten days on the island, aside from snow, was there anything else? But as the audience looked into the distance, their doubt turned to shock, as the might of nature once again made itself visible. The previously clear view was as if veiled by a layer of gauze; the entire sky was dark and dreary, shaded with grey, and accompanied by an extremely pungent dust smell. Bi Fang was certain that this was no snow but sand, this was a sandstorm! No, this was even more absurd than a sandstorm. Bi Fang looked up at the pitch-black sky and swallowed hard. It was a blizzard and a sandstorm combined! Ink-black clouds rolled in from the north. In these high latitudes, precipitation was even less than that of the Sahara Desert, but once black cumulonimbus clouds appeared, the weather would change instantly, and the snow would bury everything. Sand mixed with dry snow roared like a dragon, rolling in, the leading edge towering tens of meters high, the regions covered by clouds jet-black, the other half pure white, the division line as sharp as a blade¡¯s edge. Chapter 684 - Chapter 684: Chapter 681: Please Respond Chapter 684: Chapter 681: Please Respond ¡°` A sandstorm combined with a blizzard, what kind of devilish combination is this!? Even Bi Fang was somewhat hopping mad and feeling pins and needles on his scalp at this moment. Any one of these disasters was enough for him to endure, yet they were happening simultaneously? Though sandstorms and blizzards seemed like two completely unrelated natural disasters, they actually had something in common. The former only requires three elements ¡ª sand source, unstable atmospheric circulation, and strong winds. Once these three elements are present, strong winds will lift massive amounts of sand and dust from the ground. As the sand and dust pass through, the air becomes polluted, and visibility is noticeably reduced. Skin, eyes, nose, and lungs are the first to come into contact with the sand and dust and are very prone to harm, especially the lungs, where the effects are more severe and widespread. A moment of carelessness could lead to a risk of suffocation. At the same time, the large amounts of sand and dust carried by the sandstorm obscure the light, making the weather gloomy and causing solar radiation to decrease, further cooling the already cold Arctic. As for blizzards, needless to say, their cause is even simpler and to some extent drives the sandstorms, resulting in the terrible disaster at this moment. Both are among the most common types of natural disasters. Last year, Mengxin Country experienced a simultaneous outbreak of sandstorms and blizzards, with the number of casualties exceeding double digits. Three drones quickly descended, following closely beside Bi Fang. Watching the earthen dragon rolling towards them, Sanshao all involuntarily let out anxious whimpers, jumping around, clearly terrified to the extreme. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 ¡°Come here!¡± Bi Fang quickly grabbed the leash to prevent them from running off in fright. They had been together for less than two days, trust was not that high, and in the face of disaster, it was very likely they would break free and escape. As a means of transportation, these three sled dogs were each about the size of an Arctic Wolf, especially the largest one, Alaska, who stood as tall as a person and weighed over 90 pounds. If he hadn¡¯t been starved, he might have reached 100 pounds. It took quite an effort for Bi Fang to pull these three panicked giants. The wind speed of the sandstorm definitely exceeded twenty meters per second. From the moment he saw it, escape was definitely not an option. An earthen dragon composed of yellow sand and ice was sweeping in from the horizon. It didn¡¯t take long for the sandstorm to cover half of the sky and then obscure the entire canopy. With the earth dragon drawing nearer, more and more fine sand desperately tried to burrow into Bi Fang¡¯s nostrils, making it almost impossible for him to breathe. The sky was full of sand and dust; it was clearly daytime, yet the sky was dark and gray. Bi Fang, holding onto the leash, came beside the sled. Although he had cut a lot of meat from the musk ox¡¯s body at the last moment, it was not exactly dismembered, and the overall shape of the ox was still intact. After pulling apart the ropes, Bi Fang opened the musk ox along the cut near the breastbone and, to the surprise of the viewers, directly crawled inside. The space inside was so large that it even felt a bit spacious, but trying to fit Sanshao in there too was obviously a bit of a stretch, at most half another one could fit. Having no choice, Bi Fang had to come out again, pull the musk ox open from the breastbone, lay it flat on the ground, cover it with fur, tighten the ropes, and quickly herd Sanshao inside. When Fugui and Wangcai were all inside, Goudan, who was by the side, tried to take the Horn Helmet in with him, but Bi Fang slapped it away and stuffed Goudan in by the neck, then crawled in himself. So cramped. Bi Fang¡¯s first reaction was that it was crowded, but there was nothing he could do. To fit Sanshao inside, he had to expand the coverage area of the musk ox. The only problem was that the seal was much poorer. Originally leaving just one gap, now there were gaps all around; fine sand could penetrate through these gaps, leaving nothing impenetrable. ¡°` Due to time constraints, Bi Fang could barely manage to tie up the musk oxen and the furs, and didn¡¯t have time to tie a proper knot; he could only grip the end of the rope in his hand. Just a few seconds later, Bi Fang felt the pull in his hand increase rapidly to a nearly unmanageable and terrifying extent. The howling wind swept over his head, and the fiber rope in Bi Fang¡¯s hand jerked violently, cutting a bloody gash in the palm of his hand. Fortunately, Bi Fang wound the rope around quickly, avoiding the chance of the obstacles above his head being blown away. Accompanying the howling wind was a terrifying shrieking sound that seemed to meld thousands of aggrieved souls into one, causing the three dogs to shiver uncontrollably and whimper without ceasing. Thankfully, the situation had temporarily stabilized. Bi Fang wound the rope around his hand a few more times and breathed a sigh of relief. The combination of a sandstorm and blizzard was indeed fearsome, but the threat was more about persistence, like the previous blizzard that lasted four days. Suddenly exposed to it, one wouldn¡¯t die instantly as if bitten in the throat by a lion or tiger, but given slightly more time, irreversible damage would ensue. Sandstorms cause suffocation; the omnipresent sand clogs your organs, ultimately leading to asphyxiation. Blizzards bring hypothermia; the fierce wind with its chilling effect rapidly strips away any shred of warmth from the body, and reaching a critical point, one would freeze to death in the storm. After the fierce wind, Bi Fang could already feel the temperature dropping around him, but thankfully it wasn¡¯t significant, because they had fur over their heads and a musk oxen frame, and most crucially, they were accompanied by three large sources of warmth. Bi Fang exhaled lightly, not daring to relax his grip, but he knew he couldn¡¯t hold out for long. He looked around at his environment and pulled on the rope with effort, feeling an increased pressure above his body. He then wrapped the rope around the sled¡¯s baseline and tied a knot, securing it firmly. After doing all this, Bi Fang finally took a moment to glance at the barrage of comments, which were already crowded on the screen, making it difficult to discern the content. The viewers in the live broadcast room couldn¡¯t see anything either, not only because there was no light source¡ªeven though there was a night mode available¡ªthe camera was pointed at the ground. All three drones were pressed under Bi Fang, completely obscuring any view. [It¡¯s really a sandstorm.] [Is Old Fang alright?] [Old Fang, Old Fang, if you receive this, please respond, please respond.] ¡°Received, received, this is Old Fang, speak quickly if there¡¯s something,¡± Bi Fang joked upon finally making out a comment. [Whew, we thought something had happened to you.] ¡°Not at all, in fact, as long as things are handled properly and supplies are ample, weather disasters are not that scary,¡± Bi Fang replied. Bi Fang turned over in the extremely cramped space, laying on his side to make the tight space a bit more bearable. ¡°There¡¯s no need to panic when encountering a sandstorm either; just hide in an enclosed space and cover your mouth and nose, and you¡¯ll be fine. As for blizzards, this isn¡¯t our first encounter, is it?¡± By now, this was already the third blizzard Bi Fang had encountered. Blizzards are different from downpours; a torrential rain usually lasts just a few hours, but blizzards are often counted in days, and it¡¯s not unusual for them to last two or three days, or even a week. Chapter 685 - Chapter 685: Chapter 682: Losing More Than Just Freedom Chapter 685: Chapter 682: Losing More Than Just Freedom Now that they had confirmed Bi Fang was temporarily unharmed, the audience naturally asked the question they cared about most. Why would there be a sandstorm in Greenland? And was this really a sandstorm? Could they have seen it wrong? A flurry of questions flooded the live stream, which was normal because in most people¡¯s minds, sandstorms were either associated with deserts or at the very least, with grasslands; how could there be one in Greenland? Seeing this, Bi Fang immediately reached his hand out of his fur coat, and after a moment, retracted it, baffling everyone. It was only after Bi Fang opened his hand and fished out the drone to activate its night mode that people could see clearly that what was in his palm wasn¡¯t entirely made up of snowflakes. Bi Fang rubbed it slightly, breathed out a warm breath, and part of the snowflake gradually melted, but in the end, there was still some solid matter left, it looked as if it was still white, and sparkled under the night vision mode. ¡°See, it is indeed sand,¡± he said. ¡°Although sandstorms are usually associated with deserts, major sand-dust phenomena also occur frequently in high-latitude regions where the wind can be strong enough to blow underground sediments along the coast.¡± ¡°Greenland is one of the places with the highest latitude, so it¡¯s no exception; hence, this phenomenon is often observed here. The sand-dust in the wind is mainly glacial dust, a fine-grained silt formed by glaciers grinding rocks.¡± ¡°This kind of sand-dust is extremely light, allowing the wind to easily blow it into the air. It is most common during the transition from summer to winter, erm, that is, autumn. Our timing really couldn¡¯t be worse, we¡¯ve encountered everything.¡± Bi Fang said with self-deprecation. Although the task of surviving one hundred days started in the autumn, before entering the perpetual night, each daytime was a high-efficiency period for accumulating survival resources, but autumn is also a very unstable point in time. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï The dynamic change from summer to winter is very unstable, and this instability is the fundamental cause of frequent sandstorms and blizzards. ¡°During summer, high temperatures cause fast-flowing streams and rivers to carry meltdown water away from the ice cap and towards the ocean, but once autumn arrives, the colder temperatures slow down the melting, the rivers gradually recede, revealing large expanses of glacial mud.¡± ¡°This mud, just like the sand we see in deserts, provides a critical condition for the three main causes of sandstorms.¡± The audience suddenly understood. ¡°To put it simply, glacial dust is created by several glaciers above the valleys, and the wind is triggered by a combination of the low-pressure system that crosses the Greenland ice cap and the subsequent high-pressure ridge. As the water level of autumn streams falls, the floodplains dry up revealing mud that is easily eroded by the wind.¡± ¡°Mud exposed on the surface prevents the wind from picking up more dust when it snows, but since the summer has melted a large area of snow and hasn¡¯t accumulated a thick enough layer of snow, when strong winds blow, sandstorms naturally occur.¡± [So much for ¡°to put it simply¡±!] [Can you please explain it again in terms simple enough for an idiot to understand?] [I suspect Old Fang might have misunderstood the meaning of the word ¡°simple¡± (dog¡¯s head)] In the transition from melting to freezing, autumn becomes such a tumultuous time. Bi Fang was somewhat puzzled; they were supposed to have daylight for twenty days, but most of that time had to be spent in this awful weather, making the mission harder than he had anticipated. ¡°However, everyone shouldn¡¯t worry too much. The sandstorms on Greenland aren¡¯t as severe, and the main concern should be blizzards,¡± he said. ¡°Comparing it with the Sahara Desert, the wind direction there can toss dust high into the atmosphere, but the height of the dust in Greenland is quite low, no more than one to two kilometers,¡± he explained. The difference in dust height ultimately meant that the sandstorms in Greenland were entirely different from the vast dust clouds that could linger for days over the Sahara Desert. This critical point meant that the possibility of Bi Fang being completely buried was not so great; there was no need to worry excessively about being buried alive while sheltering in a sealed space. The differing amounts of sand meant that the power of sandstorms varied greatly; in cities, the volume of sand wasn¡¯t usually that significant ¨C it was the gales and the respiratory diseases caused by the sand that were the main concerns. ¡°The Sahara¡¯s sandstorms are truly terrifying,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s not unusual for them to change the landscape. Often, travelers will drive through in an off-road vehicle, and then, after a single sandstorm, they¡¯re completely buried alive with no one able to locate them.¡± ¡°Though not high, the advantage of Greenland is the strong winds, which sometimes are powerful enough to blow sediments in one go from dried-up lakes, river valleys, and erosion plains straight to the coastline,¡± he added. ¡°In a single day, this dust can race hundreds of kilometers, and it might even reach areas far from the coast. The upside is that it can transport nutrient-rich dust to regions that are typically nutrient-poor, serving as an alternative form of redistribution,¡± he noted. Due to the sparse human population, the dust storms in Greenland not only don¡¯t pose much harm, but they actually have quite a few benefits. In high-latitude regions, atmospheric dust affects the formation of ice nuclei, while surface dust decreases the surface albedo and accelerates subsequent ice melt. Dust can also serve as atmospheric ice nuclei particles, influencing cloud formation and thus affecting the solar radiation process. The transportation of airborne dust provides a mechanism for transferring sediments and nutrients between unconnected locations in the arid Arctic, and dust deposition affects soil formation on the island, replenishing nutrients for both land and marine life, thereby benefiting nearby organisms. It can even assist scientific research, as aeolian mineral dust on the ice cap can provide crucial information about climate change. Geologists can investigate the global climate of various periods by studying ice cores and dust. Past records of core dust reveal the concentration, composition, granularity, and morphology of minerals during glacial formation, much like the growth rings of a tree, aiding in the study of glacial formation as well as significant climatic and geological changes that may have occurred in the meantime. However, for Bi Fang at the moment, this knowledge was not so comforting. After he had explained so much, the audience finally understood why there were sandstorms in Greenland. They marveled at the wonders of nature and thought it was a place where anything could happen. ¡°Let¡¯s hope it ends soon,¡± he sighed. Bi Fang exhaled deeply, unable to do much in his current situation except to quietly wait for the disaster to pass. The good news was that food was within view, and there was plenty of it, enough to last until after the disaster was over. ¡°Wu wu,¡± whined Goudan. To him, the loss was not just freedom but also his dashing Horn Helmet. He wondered if he would be able to find it again once everything was over. Chapter 686 - Chapter 686: Chapter 683: Flammable Soil Chapter 686: Chapter 683: Flammable Soil The vast expanse of land was enveloped by a grey blizzard, obscuring everything. Black felt strips danced in the fierce wind, as snow in large clumps buried the felt only to be quickly swept away by the subsequent gales, again and again. What was even worse, among the wind and snow, were sharp sandstones mixed in. In the grip of winds exceeding thirty meters per second, the sandstones unleashed an unbelievable force, easily slicing through delicate skin and leaving behind wounds¡ªshallow yet white-marked gashes by the thousands. Bi Fang retracted his hand back into the felt, and just for an instant, he felt as if his skin had been peeled off, leaving numerous white marks on it. A hundred years ago, bands of brave men stepped foot on this land, only to fall one by one. Packs of wild wolves, fierce land bears, and hidden crevasses in the glaciers beneath the snow¡ªall counted for nothing. The harsh climate. That was the true danger. Here, no one could save another; surviving on one¡¯s own was already no easy feat. It was so cold that blood could freeze into ice chunks, and survival depended solely on the heat of flowing blood and courage in one¡¯s heart. Without courage, an adventurer¡¯s blood would flow slower and slower; nothing could keep the body warm any longer, and death was just a matter of time. Whoosh. Bi Fang didn¡¯t know how many times he had adjusted his breathing now, but his muscles were indeed beginning to ache, and his body was starting to sweat. That¡¯s right, in the forty degrees below zero temperatures, Bi Fang was actually feeling warm. Both the musk ox skin and the heat naturally emitted by the sled dogs made the insulation effect of this enclosed space excellent, not to mention that he was constantly moving. Another scoop of dry snow was shoveled out; no need to shake it off, it was quickly dispersed by the violent wind as soon as it was thrown out. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï A hemispherical pit gradually appeared beneath Bi Fang, significantly expanding the space, enough so as not to be crushed to death by the three silly dogs. It was clear that under the atrocious weather of the blizzard and dust storm, Bi Fang was not sitting idly by to meet his fate. He had moved several sled boards aside to expose the ground beneath and then started to dig a pit, attempting to carve out a shelter once again and to expand the cramped space. Each dog had nearly the size of an adult human. Although musk oxen are indeed large, trying to fit four people was too much of a stretch. Not long after, Bi Fang started feeling a bit short of breath and thus had to begin digging. After ten some minutes, he finally managed to create a space where he could sit cross-legged and breathe freely. Both Fugui and Wangcai were smart; given a bit of space to maneuver, they both busied themselves helping Bi Fang dig. It must be said that, as dogs, their talent for digging was extraordinary. They soon enlarged the space, which could barely fit a person sitting cross-legged, to a point where one could kneel on one knee. Only Goudan had no awareness of digging. Perhaps as the ¡°Lead Dog,¡± it felt that such labor was beneath it. It buried its head downward, peering through a slim gap to the outside world, longing for its lost Horn Helmet. Before long, it seemed to feel a bit embarrassed about doing nothing. Goudan squatted in the pit, lifted its right leg to its neck, kicked vigorously, and after sniffing its underside, it looked around. Then it stood up, paced back and forth as if finally making up its mind, and suddenly crouched down. Bi Fang¡¯s face darkened in an instant; he knew exactly what this creature was about to do. [Damn, is this¡­] [My God, it¡¯s starting already?] [Looks like it really ate too much.] Sure enough, after a bit of straining, a lump of black something dropped from underneath Goudan¡¯s rear¡ªquite a large lump. A faint stench began to spread in the confined space, and both Fugui and Wangcai immediately stopped what they were doing and covered their noses. Bi Fang: ¡°¡­¡± Blizzards last for days on end, and even though he knew such situations were inevitable, Bi Fang was still very annoyed. After eating so much, and considering that a dog¡¯s esophagus is short and digestion is quick, it wouldn¡¯t be long before it had to defecate. Bi Fang pinched the nape of Goudan¡¯s neck, curled his middle finger, flicked it hard on the forehead, and then pinched his nose to cover the big clump with snow. Dry snow could act like coal dust, covering the smell and clinging to form clumps, making it less disgusting to shovel and more convenient. [Raising a dog is like this, you¡¯ll get used to it (dog¡¯s head)] [Old shoveling officer.] [You¡¯ll get the hang of it gradually] The audience unleashed relentless mockery, Bi Fang slapped his forehead, thinking it¡¯s okay to do this now, just as long as it¡¯s not in the middle of the night when he had to wake up to do it. Nevertheless, going to the toilet is indeed a problem. Everyone has physiological needs like eating, drinking, and excreting. Under normal circumstances, these are relatively easy to deal with, but in such extreme environments, physiological needs like going to the toilet can be much more difficult. ¡°In Inuit people¡¯s homes, there usually aren¡¯t any toilets, so they have to go outside to take care of business. And the temperature outside compared to inside the house can be a lot lower. If it¡¯s summer, it¡¯s not too bad since the temperatures are relatively mild. But in winter, the temperature can drop very low. Therefore, when they go to the toilet, they must be as quick as possible, otherwise they might get frostbite from the cold.¡± ¡°This must be one of the hardest things about polar survival, right?¡± As Bi Fang continued shoveling snow and chatting, after digging nearly a meter and a half, the thick layer of snow was finally broken through, exposing the frozen ground beneath. But even after reaching the ground, the space started to get a bit tight. Thinking about spending the next few days here, Bi Fang continued digging downward. Wangcai and Fugui worked hard as well, but after digging through half a meter of soil, the color of the frozen earth suddenly changed. Bi Fang stopped his motion, picked up a handful of frozen earth, and began to carefully rub it between his fingers. The dirt, which looked like tan-colored ice granules, slipped from his fingertips, and Bi Fang¡¯s face showed a look of shock. This color and texture, and even the smell¡­ ¡°Is this¡­ peat soil!?¡± [Peat mud?] [What¡¯s the difference?] Most of the audience had never heard of it and didn¡¯t know what it was. ¡°Haha, luck turns at last!¡± The audience was clueless, but Bi Fang knew very well and was visibly excited. He quickly took out wood and fire-starting tools from his backpack, and while starting the fire, he also offered a simple explanation. ¡°Peat soil refers to soil that forms a peat layer in certain river and lake sediments, low-lying plains, and mountain valleys where, due to long-term waterlogging and dense aquatic vegetation, a large amount of incompletely decomposed plant debris accumulates under anaerobic conditions.¡± Bi Fang gave a lengthy explanation, but the audience did not understand it very well, and they still did not know what it was good for. [Uh, can you eat it?] ¡°Of course, you can¡¯t eat it; it¡¯s just soil.¡± [Then what¡¯s it good for?] [Is it fertile? Can it be used to grow vegetables?] [Surviving a hundred days in the Arctic by farming, I think it¡¯s doable (funny)] ¡°As long as you dry this kind of mud, it can be burned directly.¡± Chapter 687 - Chapter 687: Chapter 684: Eternal Night Approaches Chapter 687: Chapter 684: Eternal Night Approaches Combustion!!! The audience¡¯s eyes widened in unison as they let out cries of surprise. Can soil also burn? ¡°Of course, and the combustion effect is very good. You can simply think of it as charcoal-like soil; it has other names, such as peat and lignite, which is coal with the lowest degree of coalification.¡± This comparison made the audience instantaneously understand the combustion ability of peat soil. So it¡¯s coal! Sparks ignited on the charcoal he held, and Bi Fang blew deliberately into it. Soon, a small flame sprinted up on the tinder, and seeing this, he didn¡¯t hurry to insert the peat but instead grabbed a handful of loose peat soil. ¡°When the organic matter content in clay exceeds 10% but is less than 60%, it is called peaty soil, and only when it surpasses 60% can it become peat. This kind of soil mostly has a calorific value of 9.50 to 15.0 megajoules per kilogram and burns very easily.¡± ¡°This is a type of soil formed in a moist and hypoxic environment from the accumulation of undecomposed plant remains. Its appearance is usually dark grey or black with a foul smell, showing incompletely decomposed plant structures, swelling and easy crumbing upon soaking in water, with plant residues floating above the water, and evident shrinkage when dried.¡± The audience moved closer, and indeed, they could see structures resembling plant roots in the soil. ¡°Apart from the characteristics of peaty soil, peat also has a loose structure, light soil quality, and a dull, lackluster appearance.¡± With so many features, identifying peat soil was not difficult. Coupled with the faint foul odor, Bi Fang recognized it at a glance. [However, does peat soil also exist in the Arctic?] Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 [There aren¡¯t many plants in the Arctic, are there? How come there are so many plant remains?] The audience was somewhat puzzled because, according to Bi Fang, such a thing should be common in places like rainforests, where countless plant remains can be found. ¡°So you didn¡¯t listen to the preconditions, did you?¡± Bi Fang chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s completely different from what you guys are guessing. In places like rainforests, where microbes are too developed, plant remains hardly get left behind, so seventy percent of the world¡¯s peat bogs are located in the Arctic region, predominantly in high latitude areas. Low latitude regions with more peat soil¡­ let me think¡­¡± ¡°Oh, the Indonesian Forest is covered in peat bogs.¡± ¡°However, when we use peat soil, we must be very careful and take all necessary precautions. Since peat soil burns very easily and has properties close to coal, you can imagine the scenario of starting a fire on a coal pile.¡± [Holy shit, is it that dangerous?] [I¡¯m gonna die, I¡¯m gonna die] [Old Fang has really got guts] The audience drew in a sharp breath of cold air; this was too scary. ¡°Haha, actually, it¡¯s not that exaggerated. After all, the degree of coalification is very low, and it has to be dried before it can burn. Plus, we¡¯re surrounded by snow and ice; a little caution is all we need. I just wanted to make you aware of its potential danger,¡± he explained. Just as he had said, Bi Fang didn¡¯t choose to start the fire inside the remaining peat pits but laid a considerable amount of snow beside them. Then, he added ordinary permafrost, creating a concave shape, and tossed the peat soil and the flame into it. In no time at all, the flames blazed fiercely, emitting astounding heat that quickly warmed up the dugout. Removing his coat, Bi Fang looked up at the musk oxen above his head and felt that this was a kind of unconventional smoking process, even though the smoke was a bit thick. It wasn¡¯t working, Bi Fang picked up a shovel and began digging to the side. He had to move the fire; he didn¡¯t want his musk ox meat to taste like the unpleasant dryness of smoke. ¡°In many places, when forest fires occur in the summer, they are likely to spread to the peat bogs where forests grow. It doesn¡¯t only intensify the fires, but they also act as potential climate bombs.¡± ¡°When peat bogs burn, they release carbon dioxide that has been stored for several geological eras. As the soil begins to burn, it lets off choking thick smoke, and only with the help of bulldozers can this process be stopped. The fire can last for months or even years, so the loss of peat is extremely significant.¡± ¡°The carbon content in the atmosphere is 7,500 tons, while the peat bogs in the Arctic might contain 250 to 450 billion tons. If it¡¯s all released, it will increase the carbon content in the atmosphere by 50%.¡± Bi Fang articulated a terrifying conclusion. ¡°I don¡¯t know if everyone remembers the huge wildfires that erupted in the forests of Australia and California, Ugly Country, the year before last, causing Earth to lose hundreds of millions of wild animals and many species to become endangered. In fact, at that time, the Arctic also saw multiple wildfires, it¡¯s just that they weren¡¯t as widely reported.¡± ¡°At that time, the smoke from the wildfires rising from the ground in the Arctic created enormous columns of smoke in the stratosphere, which could be clearly seen from satellites.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t until the next day, after months of cold weather, that the above-ground wildfires in the Arctic were completely extinguished, but the fires underground were still burning.¡± ¡°Even near Seydi Village, about 400 kilometers northeast of Yakutsk in the Arctic, the underground fire continued to burn at temperatures of -50¡æ, spreading from Udarnik to Seydi, and all important resources were burned up.¡± The audience was stunned. Burned for a year? Wasn¡¯t that an exaggeration? ¡°Peat fires are different from the forest fires we typically see. Because they burn quietly underground, they are incredibly difficult to put out, even if heavy snow falls above, the peat fires still blaze beneath.¡± ¡°Burning underground, with no flames visible and very little smoke, these fires are hard to detect unless satellite detects an abnormal temperature.¡± ¡°Especially since such fires can keep burning until they reach the mineral layer and the upper portion of the groundwater. Although they spread slowly, at a rate of 4-5 meters per hour, and can only spread a few dozen meters in a day and night, they are difficult to extinguish and can burn for days, months, or even longer.¡± ¡°Fires that occur underground in the fall can usually overwinter, continuing to burn until the next spring, which is why they are also called overwintering fires.¡± Once again, the audience was shocked by the power of nature and heard for the first time of flames that could burn underground. [If the underground fire keeps spreading to coal deposits, what would happen?] [Wouldn¡¯t that just cause an explosion?] Amidst the audience¡¯s discussions, Bi Fang started to dig horizontally, planning to build a greenhouse next door and release as much smoke as possible. With the effort of one man and three dogs, progress was swift. By the afternoon, the dig was complete. Bi Fang also transferred the fire. Although the likelihood of humanly igniting a layer of peat on fire was meager here with much snow cover and the temperature melting the snow into water to extinguish the flame, it was still better to be cautious and convey the right knowledge and methods to the audience as much as possible. With flames and food present, Bi Fang and Sanshao hunkered down for three days, as the outside world¡¯s snowstorms and sandstorms finally showed signs of abating. And the polar night was now less than five days away. Chapter 688 - Chapter 688: Chapter 685: Lost and Found Chapter 688: Chapter 685: Lost and Found The blizzard gradually subsided, and the black felt had long been completely covered by snow and gravel, blending with the ground as one. After a sound of rustling, a small patch of snow suddenly collapsed, and gradually, a hole emerged on the ground, from which a dog¡¯s head popped up abruptly. Goudan stuck out its tongue, and the shockingly low temperature instantly froze the saliva on its tongue, scaring it into quickly closing its mouth. After confirming that there were no abnormalities, Goudan howled, and its two companions immediately began to dig; soon, a large patch of snow around the hole started to collapse. Bi Fang employed all his skills and forcefully lifted the musk oxen off him; the snow slipped off with a swoosh, raising a large cloud of snow dust. Finally dug out, Master Fang relaxed and said, ¡°Phew, I almost got buried alive.¡± The thickness of the snow increased at an astonishing rate every day. If it weren¡¯t for the air vent above their heads that remained clear, Bi Fang and Sanshao might have been buried alive and suffocated long ago. Waking up today was even more exaggerated; it was completely dark inside the hole, completely buried alive. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that Master Fang and Sanshao had dug out a large enough space within three days, and there was sufficient oxygen reserved, who knows if they could have held on until they got out. [Mom, are the blizzards in Greenland always this terrifying, more than three days this time.] [Been here for more than half a month, and it¡¯s blizzard one week after another (laugh cry).] [Finally out.] [Why is it so dark? Is it early morning or dusk?] Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?0 [Although there¡¯s a time difference, but I checked, and it seems to be midday right now in Greenland¡­] [Midday? F*ck, are you kidding? The sun can¡¯t even come out halfway at noon?] Bi Fang looked around and indeed, just as the viewers had said, the sky was dim and lightless, but it was twelve o¡¯clock at midday. He turned his head, and finally saw the sun of noon, revealing only half a circle, no, not even half a circle, as if it was fleeting. ¡°The polar night is coming within these two days, it could be tomorrow or the day after.¡± Master Fang¡¯s expression was serious. Time didn¡¯t allow for any more delay, he pulled out the sled and the musk oxen, quickly finished packing, and blew a whistle to call back Sanshao, who was still frolicking. Fugui and Wangcai immediately came trotting over, Master Fang harnessed them back up, and shouted towards Goudan, who was about to run a hundred meters away. ¡°Goudan, come here!¡± But Goudan didn¡¯t move an inch, running into the snow and sniffing at something everywhere. Old Fang found this strange; large dogs are generally intelligent, and he¡¯d been training for so many days, in theory, this guy should know his own name. Old Fang thought that maybe he didn¡¯t call out loudly enough, or perhaps Erha¡¯s ¡°Lead Dog¡± mindset was getting in the way. Just as he was about to walk over, he noticed that Goudan suddenly stopped, and then started digging ferociously. [What is Goudan doing?] [Did it find something to eat?] [Rather than finding food, I¡¯m more inclined to believe it¡¯s marking its territory.] Old Fang, driven by curiosity, walked over to Goudan. By this point, the fellow had already dug a hole nearly half a meter deep. After watching for about fifteen minutes, the original half-meter deep hole was fast approaching one meter. Just as Old Fang¡¯s patience was about to run out and he was preparing to forcibly drag Goudan away, Goudan suddenly barked, and then dragged something out. A huge skull with a pair of large and sharp horns was pulled out of the deep hole by Goudan. It was actually a Horn Helmet that had been discarded after the blizzard hit. ¡°Woof!¡± Erha barked excitedly, stuck its head into the snow, and then pushed forward with all its strength, successfully putting on the Horn Helmet on its own head. It spun around, its tail creating a blur. Bi Fang looked back at the dugout he had excavated as a refuge and then glanced down at the nearly one-meter-deep pit, the distance between the two was nearly a hundred meters apart. How could this be found? Bi Fang gave a wry smile. The Horn Helmet was heavy and not easily blown away, but under the power of the blizzard, he hadn¡¯t harbored any hope of finding it again. ¡°You¡¯re really something.¡± Bi Fang slapped the Helm on Goudan¡¯s head, then grabbed the rope around Goudan¡¯s neck and ran quickly toward the musk oxen. ¡°Goudan, get ready to work!¡± ¡­ An hour later, the sun had fully set, and darkness fell. The short day, lasting less than three hours, was an eye-opener for everyone, a natural occurrence that most people would never witness in their lifetimes. Before long, before spring arrived, the sun would sink into perpetual silence, never to rise again. As complete darkness approached, Bi Fang shivered, his biological clock already somewhat disrupted even now. This was all foreseeable, starting with the inability to eat meals regularly, the tendency for the biological clock to be disrupted came naturally. Most people are unlikely to experience polar night, and it¡¯s indeed difficult to endure. One important way to adjust the rhythm disrupted by polar night is to eat meals. Researchers at Yellow River Station have a schedule for meals. All national expedition teams must go to the canteen to eat, ensuring that they meet and communicate daily, fostering regular habits. So during those few days when food was scarce, Bi Fang had anticipated today. Now, he himself couldn¡¯t confirm whether he was indeed following a normal daily routine or not. ¡°It¡¯s my first time encountering such a situation, which inevitably makes me a bit nervous,¡± said Bi Fang as he dragged the musk oxen, feeling somewhat unaccustomed to the disruption of his usual perceptions. [Master Fang gets nervous too?] [A rare experience] [Note down Old Fang¡¯s embarrassing moment.] ¡°Enough talk, I need to conserve some energy and strive to get back today.¡± [But why stick to that valley?] [Yeah, isn¡¯t there a forest where Old Fang is catching the musk oxen?] ¡°Forests are good for making tools and serving as fuel, but the key is still the river in the valley.¡± ¡°With the river, it means a stable and straightforward food source. Catching animals in the forest is not that easy.¡± Bi Fang changed his tone and answered the audience¡¯s questions. Trees are certainly important, but food is still the key, even though Bi Fang now had musk oxen to eat for at least a month. But what if an accident happened? For example, meeting a wolverine, an Arctic Wolf, or a polar bear¡ªsuch scenarios are not impossible, and then everything would be lost. Therefore, there must be a fail-safe option, a Plan B that allows Bi Fang to bounce back quickly without affecting the overall situation even after losing everything. Changing his tone, Bi Fang moved quickly with the help of Sanshao. Perhaps because the blizzard hadn¡¯t completely ceased, snowflakes still fluttered in the air, but the wind was not strong and did not hinder Bi Fang¡¯s progress much. Despite the snow blinding him, he arrived at the valley once again before the sun rose. Chapter 689 - Chapter 689: Chapter 686: Bathing in the Glacier Chapter 689: Chapter 686: Bathing in the Glacier At last, he saw the valley. [Wu Hu, finally there] [Finally feeling a bit relieved] [Nobody sleep tonight, the big one is coming!] [Lonely Xiao Wen gifted Master Fang a Spaceship *1¡ªNot easy, Master Fang rocks!] [Speed 18000 gifted the streamer a Yacht *1¡ªWhat is called the world¡¯s number one jungler (tactically leaning back)] The target achieved, Bi Fang felt his muscles begin to ache, realizing only now the sheer volume of physical activity he had undergone over the past two days, feeling the impulse to collapse and sleep. But now wasn¡¯t the time, at least not until after crossing the river. Reinvigorating himself, Bi Fang pulled the sled to the riverbank, kicked away the snow on the ground, and revealed the inelegant ice surface beneath, which wasn¡¯t transparent due to its thickness, resembling a dense layer of frost. The river wasn¡¯t wide, only about four to five meters across, therefore for safety¡¯s sake, Bi Fang planned to take Sanshao across first, later bringing the musk oxen over from the other bank to avoid having both on the ice at the same time, preventing the pressure from becoming too great and breaking the ice. ¡°We need to be careful. Even though the temperature has been quite low these past few days, we can¡¯t rule out the possibility that these naturally formed rivers might have really thin ice in some places due to geological reasons¡ªespecially when we¡¯re carrying heavy loads.¡± Unfortunately, Bi Fang¡¯s plan fell apart at the first hurdle, as the sled dogs stood on the bank, stubbornly refusing to cross. After pulling Goudan for a long while, it seemed to ponder for half a second, then ran to the riverbank. It turned in circles on the spot, finally cracking a smile and lifting its hind leg to release a stream of pale yellow urine, squinting slightly in evident enjoyment, having clearly been holding it for some time. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? [233333, Goudan really knows how to show off] [Erha basic operation, sit, no panic] [Goudan: Just peeing, you all look so anxious] Bi Fang held his breath, somewhat helpless but not overly disappointed, ¡°No way around it, we haven¡¯t spent enough time together. These guys might not understand my commands, especially since their previous owners were probably not Huaxia people, so it¡¯s even harder for them to understand spoken Chinese commands.¡± ¡°Moreover, animals are actually very afraid of frozen lake surfaces, because they fear water. Dogs don¡¯t know how thick the ice needs to be to stably support a person, so they subconsciously feel it¡¯s unsafe. I better go across by myself.¡± Bi Fang stepped on the ice, holding a rope in his hand, walking at a pace that was neither fast nor slow. Regrettably, when luck is sour, even drinking water can get stuck between your teeth. Not even halfway across, a muffled cracking sound erupted beneath Bi Fang¡¯s feet, triggering the viewers¡¯ fear. Bi Fang¡¯s brow raised, but as the second muffled crack sounded, the corner of his mouth twitched. What the heck, why is the ice here so thin? Or is it just my bad luck? If the first sound was not clear to many viewers, with focused attention, the second sound was like a thunderclap on a clear day. [Damn, damn, did I just hear a cracking sound?] [It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over, is it going to blow up?] [Don¡¯t panic when facing trouble, light a cigarette and act cool] ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, and don¡¯t panic, there¡¯s no problem. In these situations, it¡¯s essential to stay calm, don¡¯t try to escape by running fast¡ªthat will only speed up the extensive collapse of the ice.¡± ¡°What you need to do now is lie flat on the ice and then crawl towards the bank, or slowly roll towards the bank.¡± ¡°If the crack in the ice is still expanding and you have no conditions to move, then spread your limbs as much as possible, lie flat on the ice without moving, call out, and wait for rescue on the spot.¡± Bi Fang quickly took off his coat and gently placed it on the ground; with this cushioning, the time the force acts could be extended, reducing the magnitude in the momentum and avoiding multiple fractures in the ice as much as possible. Carefully lying on the ice, Bi Fang inched his way toward the shore, and surprisingly, he actually made it across. It was merely a harrowing but ultimately safe crossing of the river. Bi Fang looked at the ice with visible white cracks with lingering fear, ¡°It seems that for some reason, this part of the ice cannot be walked on. We¡¯ll have to try somewhere else.¡± Walking along the riverbank, Bi Fang found a slightly further spot and tried to cross the river again. This time, there were no problems. Once safety was assured, Bi Fang immediately led the Three Fools and the musk oxen across the river from that unproblematic part of the ice. After a combination of coaxing and pulling, he led the Three Fools back to the other side, and then they all together dragged the musk oxen across, successfully crossing the river to reach safety. Within the valley, dense forests and the mountain at its back with rivers encircling it¡ªit was simply the perfect terrain. This was precisely why Bi Fang insisted on bringing the musk ox back here. There¡¯s no other reason; the place was just too good. Even if it took a bit more time and pulling a two-hundred-kilogram musk ox all day, it would be worth it. Entering the forest, the Three Fools immediately scattered, but Bi Fang didn¡¯t mind. The valley was encircled by rivers and wasn¡¯t very large, so there wasn¡¯t much danger and no worry of them getting lost. Walking among the trees, Bi Fang found a few pines and picked a few pine needles. Then he returned to the riverbank, started a fire with dry wood, and obtained some wood ash. The audience could then see that Bi Fang was gathering materials, though they didn¡¯t know what for. But when Bi Fang pulled out tallow, everyone understood. He was making soap. With water, the alkaline wood ash, and musk oxen tallow, Bi Fang began boiling water in a wooden bowl, preparing to make a bar of soap with a faint plant fragrance, similar to how he did it in the rainforest. After a brief explanation, he started the practical operation. ¡°Oh right, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever talked about sanitary pads,¡± Bi Fang said, slapping his forehead as he boiled the water. Being a man, he had never considered this necessity. [Ah, what¡¯s there to talk about] [Goodness, really?] [Why shouldn¡¯t it be discussed? Why do you think there¡¯s nothing to talk about? Are you underestimating Master Fang¡¯s female fans?] [Goodness, my right fist opens the sky, and I transform into a dragon] ¡°Don¡¯t be like that. I just happened to think of it, so I thought I¡¯d mention it in passing. It¡¯s actually quite simple. The majority of indigenous residents use dried moss to make sanitary pads. Additionally, very soft and specially treated animal leather is often used to make sanitary pads and baby diapers,¡± he said. ¡°This is a serious topic. The hygiene of women on their period is actually very important in the wilderness; you shouldn¡¯t underestimate it.¡± [I¡¯ve heard that they might get attacked by bears and sharks] [Damn, really?] ¡°That should be a myth,¡± Bi Fang said, shaking his head upon seeing the barrage of comments. ¡°In 1967, two menstruating women were attacked and killed by a grizzly bear in Montana¡¯s Glacier National Park, which probably started that myth.¡± ¡°After a series of research and experiments, bear experts confirmed that grizzly bears and black bears are actually not that interested in menstruating women, unless they come face-to-face and the bear is extremely hungry. But in such a case, scent or no scent doesn¡¯t really make a difference, and as for sharks, that¡¯s even less likely.¡± Bi Fang smiled, ¡°I can speak from personal experience. Sharks are not at all interested in human blood.¡± [Another day of learning] The soap-making process didn¡¯t take long, especially in the Arctic where cooling happens very quickly. In a short span of time, Bi Fang had a solid bar of soap, which he then brought back to the initial location where the ice had cracked. What¡¯s Old Fang doing here? The audience all had their doubts. Bi Fang lifted the soap and smiled, ¡°Taking a bath, and at the same time, I¡¯ll give you a demonstration of ice river survival.¡± Chapter 690 - Chapter 690: Chapter 687: Winter Swimming Chapter 690: Chapter 687: Winter Swimming The clear ice surface still proudly displayed the white cracks spreading like a spiderweb, and the river, completely sealed by ice, exuded an astonishing chill. Bi Fang had always been somebody who dared to think and act, and to the surprise of the audience, he stripped off all his clothes, leaving nothing but a pair of shorts. The cold wind was still biting, and as it blew, capillaries naturally had a physiological reaction, contracting quickly to reduce the heat flowing out. Bi Fang felt as if he were wrapped in a blanket of ice, each needle-like prick biting into his skin. Not to mention swimming, it would take great courage for a normal person just to get into the water. Every breath was uncomfortable, with the icy chill pouring down the throat straight into the lungs, as if each alveolus was forming a layer of frost in the low temperatures. But this, compared to being exposed to the cold wind, was less bone-chilling than what was to come next. Having been in the Arctic for more than two weeks, the time had moved from mid-October to November. For most people, this time of year is not too cold, but when it rains, a shirt is not enough to keep out the creeping coolness. Seeing what Bi Fang was doing, many people subconsciously hunched their shoulders and broke out in goosebumps, as if they were the ones being blown by the cold wind on the screen. Especially from a first-person perspective, when looking at the whitened ice surface, that coldness seemed almost to spill out, leaving you breathless. [Damn, I feel my teeth chattering.] [Every time I see that group of winter swimmers, I suspect they are aliens.] [Can you really not freeze to death?] Light rain was drizzling outside the window, and the slightly chilly cold wind blew into the office. Even wearing a coat, Yao Jun couldn¡¯t help but shiver and put down his cold drink. You¡¯re really something. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? Yao Jun wrapped his coat tighter around him and couldn¡¯t help but take out his phone and scroll through his contacts list. The night was particularly cold; he needed a big sister with a broad heart and a warm soul to watch the live stream with him. Ordinary viewers could only bear it alone with tears. [Amazing, Master Fang is tops!] [What defines a true man? (tactically leans back)] [Let me use my sincere heart to warm up the cold ice!] Bi Fang held his breath, choosing not to jump directly onto the ice from the shore but to walk onto it barefoot instead. No one knew how strong the ice was. The cracks had formed, but if it had not broken through, rashly jumping on it could lead to a nasty slip and a bruised backside. His feet, exposed to the low temperature, quickly turned red. Bi Fang shivered and then started walking lightly. When he reached the center of the river, the sound of the ice cracking echoed again, like a thin, crisp cookie. Small fragments of ice burst from the huge crack, and as it neared its limit, Bi Fang tiptoed slightly, then stomped firmly, and the entire ice sheet shattered. ¡°Splash.¡± The clear river water surged up and down, splashing onto the ice surface, quickly forming a layer of frost. Silver bubbles filled the entire world as Bi Fang fought the urge to close his eyes. Ice seemed to flow through his veins, further freezing, expanding, puncturing the elastic blood vessels under the extreme cold. A cold venomous snake wound its way up his coccyx, climbing the spine at a swift pace, coiling deep within his brain. Like an electric current passing through, his body instinctively wanted to open his mouth to breathe but was forcibly held shut. Yet, ultimately, he inevitably swallowed a mouthful of river water. The thermal conductivity of water is 30 times greater than air, meaning a person loses heat in water 30 times faster than they would in air at the same temperature. In 14-degrees Celsius cold water, the perceived temperature is already zero degrees. Water at ten degrees Celsius, feels like negative four degrees Celsius to the body. Eight degrees Celsius is the cold sensation temperature for winter swimming; strangely, it feels like negative eight degrees Celsius, providing an extreme sensation of intense cold, stinging, pain, and numbness. The vast majority of natural water bodies begin to freeze at four degrees Celsius, which feels like negative sixteen degrees to the body. At 3¡ãC water temperature, it feels like -20¡ãC. At 2¡ãC water temperature, it feels like -24¡ãC. At 1¡ãC water temperature, it feels like -28¡ãC. At 0¡ãC, it feels below -30¡ãC. In the Arctic, the freezing rivers are undoubtedly in the last category under the air temperatures of tens of degrees below zero. The bone-chilling cold almost split Bi Fang¡¯s mouth, but the icy water flowing down his throat calmed him. Normally, winter swimming would undoubtedly involve a warm-up, exposing one¡¯s body from a comfortable temperature, awakening each cell and pore to adapt to the cold, but Bi Fang did not because he had to demonstrate survival after falling into water at the same time. Without any rash actions, Bi Fang just stayed still underwater, watching as the silver bubbles before his eyes slowly disappeared. [Why isn¡¯t he moving?] [Could something have happened?] [I¡¯ve heard that when someone falls into cold water, they may experience a gasp reflex due to the cold water stimulus, causing you to hyperventilate uncontrollably, leading to an accelerated heart rate, and possibly even a temporary shock. Could it be that Old Fang is in shock?] [Master Fang, Master Fang, are you still there, Master Fang? If you can see this, blink your eyes.] You wouldn¡¯t be able to see me blink anyway. Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but muse sarcastically to himself. The first-person camera had an intelligent recognition function, and could fill in the visuals on its own, blinking did not affect the audience¡¯s viewing angle at all, unless one closed their eyes completely. But faced with the audience¡¯s concern, Bi Fang still stretched out his fingers, grabbed, and gestured an OK sign, indicating that he was fine and still conscious. This relieved many in the audience, and it was good to know that he was okay, but Bi Fang¡¯s motionless posture still caused confusion among the people. Why isn¡¯t he acting? However, Bi Fang didn¡¯t keep the audience waiting too long. The very moment he entered the water was without a doubt bone-chillingly cold, followed by an instinctual desire to breathe. Hence, a person who has fallen into water must control their breathing and avoid gasping. After the brief cold, one must face the danger of hypothermia. Once hypothermia sets in excessively, it can pose a risk to one¡¯s life. After the initial cold, the blood has to recirculate and expand, continuously delivering heat, while glycogen begins to break down in the body, consuming a large amount of oxygen simultaneously. But Bi Fang felt okay at the moment. While he remained completely still, Bi Fang could endure for more than eight minutes underwater, which for a normal person is already a terrifying figure, and on the other hand, it was the result of Bi Fang¡¯s continuously improving physique and endurance training that led to his exceptionally high maximum oxygen uptake. However, in cold water, with blood flowing rapidly to provide warmth, the time undeniably had to be discounted, but three to four minutes were still very easy. Yet, after feeling that his body was no longer that chilling, Bi Fang began to move. He first looked up, only to find that the hole through which he had fallen had disappeared at some point. The audience felt a sudden chill on their scalp. Bi Fang had been swept away by the river! Chapter 691 - Chapter 691: Chapter 618: Confidence Chapter 691: Chapter 618: Confidence As expected. Compared to the panic of his Shuiyou, Bi Fang seemed much calmer and did not show signs of desperately struggling; instead, he turned around and swam deeper. The disappearance of Luoshui Dongku was within Bi Fang¡¯s expectations. Most victims of glacial plunges, stimulated by the cold water, tend to thrash wildly, and due to the influence of the currents, it is easy for them to move away from the point of entry. Underwater, regardless of how strong a victim is, it¡¯s very difficult to break through the ice above, especially in high-latitude regions. Trying to pry open ice layers tens of centimeters thick is totally impossible, which makes escaping even more difficult when the time comes. The river itself was not wide, and its depth was quite limited; it didn¡¯t take long for Bi Fang to nearly reach the bottom. After moving a distance away, Bi Fang looked up, gaining a broader view of the ice surface, and also made a directional gesture to the audience. Seeing Bi Fang so calm, the previously somewhat panicked online friends quickly calmed down as well, remembering Bi Fang¡¯s usual live streaming style and thinking that he would not act without reason, clearly having considerable confidence. [Master Fang¡¯s actions always bring such ¡°surprises¡±.] [Tell me, what is a surprise?] [So what does Master Fang mean, is there any great explanation?] [Great Bird Meng Mei has arrived uninvited] [See through the light, distinguishing the location of the plunge through the strength of light transmission.] [You can distinguish the location of the plunge by the strength of the light passing through the ice layer, the place where the light is stronger is where the plunge occurred.] Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï [Regardless of whether the cave has frozen or not, the thickness can¡¯t be the same as before, so the light transmission definitely will be stronger] The live broadcast room had millions of viewers, and among them were always some capable people, plus Bi Fang¡¯s strong display of knowledge, someone quickly explained it. Bi Fang nodded his head, with a somewhat exaggerated motion so that viewers might notice it from the first-person perspective. In the more spacious view, everyone quickly found a spot where the light was noticeably stronger, which clearly was the place where it had cracked open originally. Once the viewers understood this, he lowered his head again, allowing everyone to clearly see his movements. The viewers saw Bi Fang moving his legs as if he was riding a bicycle, after which his body began to rapidly ascend. [If you can¡¯t swim, imagine you¡¯re riding a bicycle, it can also provide buoyancy to help you float up.] [This is the most convenient option for those who can¡¯t swim] The same people who had provided explanations earlier once again started the barrage, explaining the meaning behind Bi Fang¡¯s actions. [What if you can¡¯t ride a bicycle either?] [Sharp observation, you¡¯ve grasped the crux of the matter] [Wow, this question really hits the nail on the head, spot-on, gets straight to the point, piercing to the core, with words that always hold substance.] [¡­] A few experienced online friends let out a string of ellipses, at last understanding why Bi Fang sometimes found himself choked up and speechless in response. After confirming the target and the correct way to proceed, Bi Fang quickly arrived at the entrance of the cave and found a spot where the ice was thicker and had fewer cracks. He punched through the thin ice and grabbed the edge of the hole, not forcefully pulling himself up but continuing to tread water to ¡°float¡± himself up. ¡°Pfft.¡± Bi Fang spat out a mouthful of water, his arms supporting him on the ice as the cold wind blew, chilling him to the bone and making him shiver involuntarily. After remaining still for a while and catching his breath, Bi Fang finally felt a bit warmer. He smiled and pointed at the ice beneath his arms. ¡°Did you see my movement just now? When coming up, you should find the right spot, with fewer cracks and thicker ice. Of course, it¡¯s already good enough if a person who falls in can remember what to do, and not necessarily have to find the perfect spot to climb out. Anyway, make sure to stabilize yourself first before rescuing yourself.¡± ¡°If you truly have the ability to observe the ice, then you can judge the strength of the ice layer by its appearance. Generally, a clear and thick ice layer has a stronger load-bearing capacity, while turbid and white ice layers with many impurities and air have a weaker load-bearing capacity.¡± ¡°Near the edge of the ice layer, don¡¯t press down too hard, which can cause the cracks to widen. The right way is to place your hands on the ice and tread water with your feet to float your body.¡± ¡°Once your upper body is on the ice layer, wait in place for a few seconds to drain as much water as possible from your clothes, which lightens your weight and reduces the risk of falling back into the water. Then you can move slowly forward by crawling until you¡¯re far away from the hole.¡± Bi Fang stepped up his treading, and as soon as his entire upper body was above water, he quickly leaned forward, lightly pressing his abdomen on the ice before moving forward in a crawl. ¡°After leaving the ice hole, don¡¯t stand up immediately, as the ice surface may break again, causing you to fall back in. Continue to stay low to the ground and move toward the shore with slow rolls or crawling motions.¡± As his thighs also came onto the ice, Bi Fang rolled over, finally leaving the river entirely and lying on the ice layer. Even a slight breeze made him feel dizzy at this point, as his brief immersion had caused him to lose a substantial amount of body heat. His skin turned a deep red from the cold¡¯s sting, as if he¡¯d run a grueling marathon, his large frame and every muscle quivered slightly as they generated heat. Bi Fang neatly combed his hair back to wring out as much water as possible, then took the soap he had found on the riverbank, wet it in the icy river water for a moment, and quickly started scrubbing himself, while the camera panned to the sky, so viewers could only hear Bi Fang¡¯s voice. ¡°When the body temperature drops to 35¡ãC, one starts to shiver and the consciousness begins to blur.¡± ¡°When it falls to 32¡ãC, the shivering stops, but mental confusion worsens. If it goes down to 28¡ãC, brain activity slows down significantly, putting one¡¯s life at risk.¡± ¡°So you¡¯ve got to get out of the cold water fast.¡± [Wow, he¡¯s scrubbing with soap and we don¡¯t get to watch, I want a refund!] [I want to see blood everywhere!] [Not an insider, bring on the thrills] [Master Fang¡¯s No-Code High Definition Bath.avi] After his whole body was covered in foam, the camera turned back to him, and Bi Fang dived into the water, quickly shaking his hair and washing off the soap. Once completely clean, he used the same method to climb ashore, rolled in the snow to dry off, and then dressed. ¡°So comfy!¡± Bi Fang used snowballs to rub his hair dry, slapped off the remaining snow after, and joined the fire draped in Musk Ox Skin, warming himself and casually slicing some musk ox meat for a quick meal. The sensation of cleanliness and the ensuing comfort were indescribable, bringing not just physical relaxation but also much mental relief. Having established the basic conditions for survival, he looked toward the distant snowfields, finally having the confidence to enjoy the view with peace of mind. Chapter 692 - Chapter 692: Chapter 689 Hot Pot Meat Chapter 692: Chapter 689 Hot Pot Meat In the icy Arctic Circle, Bi Fang wrapped in musk oxen fur, sat in front of the campfire, feeling the warmth that the flames brought, melting every frozen cell back into vitality. ¡°Campfires are one of the charms of outdoor activities. If constructed with the best wood, one can barbecue food over a forest campfire.¡± ¡°Many lumberjacks prefer to build a second, smaller campfire for barbecuing, but I don¡¯t think it¡¯s necessary unless you are in a large campsite where you need to prepare a large amount of food. Ordinary campers should decide based on their own needs. After all, various attempts are an important part of the fun of living in the woods.¡± With a joyful expression and lively eyebrows, all of the audience could tell that Master Fang was very happy at the moment, having left the survival crisis far behind him. After roughly flattening both sides of two pieces of firewood, Bi Fang placed them on the ground with one end a palm¡¯s width apart and the other half a meter apart, creating a trapezoidal shape, making for a satisfactory outdoor cooking space. For safety, Bi Fang also placed a few stones on the wider end and laid some hardwood rods on them as a barrier. ¡°If possible, you can place a heat reflector on the wider side, so you can make full use of the heat instead of watching it be wasted in the air.¡± ¡°It also makes the barbecuing very even and usable in any weather. Bread, fish, game, or other meats can be cooked very well, and the operation is very convenient, small enough equipment to serve two or three people.¡± Even though he had nothing, Bi Fang did not hesitate to introduce these things to the audience. The campfire was just between the two logs, and barbecuing and frying were very convenient at the narrow end of the opening. ¡°If you have richer resources, you can use slow-burning green trees as base logs or end logs, using chestnut, red oak, ash hickory, red maple, persimmon, etc.¡± ¡°These are all hardwoods and are the best for cooking and heating because they burn slowly and produce a lot of heat, and they will burn into a pile of hot charcoal.¡± Bi Fang picked through the flames, finding a large piece of black charcoal to prove his point. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? ¡°On the other hand, softwood catches fire easily and though it burns quickly and fiercely, it leaves nothing but ash afterward.¡± [What is hardwood, and what is softwood?] [Ah, isn¡¯t it just the literal meaning?] [What if there¡¯s some hidden meaning?] ¡°No hidden meaning, it¡¯s just as the word suggests. The woods that are hard, generally those that can¡¯t be scraped by a small knife, are hardwoods. Those that can be easily cut through, are softwoods.¡± Bi Fang explained simply while crafting a wooden basin and introduced the relevant wood material. ¡°Hickory is the best firewood in the north so far; it burns fiercely, lasts a long time, and forms large pieces of charcoal, maintaining a consistent high heat over a longer period.¡± ¡°Second to hickory is chestnut; lumberjacks also like to use basket oak, hornbeam, cornelian cherry, white wax tree, and others.¡± ¡°Among these trees, those that split easily include red oak, basket oak, white oak, white wax tree, and white birch. Some woods split easier when they are not dry, such as hickory, cornelian cherry, beech, sugar maple, white birch, and elm.¡± ¡°The hardest woods to split are Ligustrum, Bluebeech, cherry tree, sour gum, hemlock, sweet gum, and ginkgo. Among the softer woods, Birch is the best fuel, especially black birch, which is one of the few woods that burn well even when not dry.¡± ¡°Ironwood bark catches fire easily and burns fiercely, while birch wood can ignite quickly even when damp. Driftwood makes excellent kindling, and pine cones are superb for lighting fires.¡± ¡°Of course, in winter when there is less sap in the trees, even wood that isn¡¯t dry burns rather well. Trees on high ground burn better than those in damp, low-lying areas. Hardwoods are more abundant on high ground, whereas softwoods are more plentiful along riverbanks.¡± For the most part, many viewers had never heard of these types of wood, but Bi Fang spoke about them with such knowledge and ease¡ªbe it their pros and cons or how to find them¡ªthat even those with relevant experience were left speechless. From south to north, from soft to hard, from texture to utility, it seemed there was nothing Bi Fang didn¡¯t know; he looked like he could easily apply for a job as a professional lumberjack. [Master Fang is still that same Master Fang, not a bit has changed] [Another day of not paying attention to the lesson] [My learning is wasted, wasted] [To share something embarrassing, I have never distinguished any kind of tree by myself, let alone know their uses. Just the thought of it gives me a headache, not to mention distinguishing them] [Add one, I probably recognize a ginkgo?] [If it¡¯s planted by the roadside as a landscape tree, I recognize it, but if it¡¯s in the forest, I¡¯m not so sure (funny)] Bi Fang set up two sticks as a stand, then perched a wooden basin on top. With a small knife, he sliced the frozen-hard musk ox meat into rolls and submerged them in boiling water. This was the belly meat layered with snowflake-like fat, unlike most wild animals whose bodies mostly consist of lean meat; whether roasting or boiling, it¡¯s hard to avoid ending up with something as dry as tinder. But the less-active, high-fat musk oxen were different. Even the loin, which has the least amount of fat, was streaked with oil, not to mention the belly of a fatty¡ªit was enough to make your mouth water just by looking. ¡°If it were a normal lunch, a low heat would suffice to provide enough heat for the soup and for pan-frying food.¡± ¡°If there were an iron pot, you could just insert a branched stick into the ground, place a green twig at the split, with the other end held down by a stone, and hang the pot over the protruding stick.¡± ¡°But our conditions are limited, we don¡¯t have ironware, so we can only cook with the method of setting up branches as a frame.¡± The sharp dagger carved off a whole strip of meat. Inside the wooden basin, the pinkish beef bobbed up and down in the boiling water, intertwining, inseparable, emitting steady streams of steam. Seemingly drawn by the delicious smell, Erha dashed ahead through the woods, racing towards Bi Fang, followed by his younger brothers, with their long fur swaying. Bi Fang hurriedly protected the campfire to prevent the Three Fools from knocking it over; he then couldn¡¯t help but slice up more musk oxen meat so that the three clowns could also get a taste. Once the meat was cooked, Bi Fang picked up a big chopstick-full. There was no need to blow on it, just exposing it to the air for a moment cooled it to the deliciously warm yet non-scalding point. He stuffed it into his mouth, utterly satisfied! The Three Fools also whined eagerly, so Bi Fang laid out three pieces of bark on the ground and fished out the meat onto them so the trio of big guys could enjoy the deliciousness together. Viewers watched with envy at this method of eating meat akin to swishing slices in a hot pot. Chapter 693 - Chapter 693: Chapter 690: Building a Wooden Cabin Chapter 693: Chapter 690: Building a Wooden Cabin The musk ox is a transitional species between cattle and sheep, and its meat surprisingly combines similar flavors of both, making it a rare culinary adventure in Bi Fang¡¯s life experience. It just lacked some seasoning, and the taste was a bit bland, but it was not bad. After all, it was hotpot-style meat, seeking the original, fresh taste. An Arctic journey, not in vain at all. Bi Fang let out a satisfied belch, leaning against the snow slope, watching the polar ice plain under the night sky. Almost twenty days had passed since the hundred-day survival task began. With the musk oxen and the environment being favorable, the pressure of survival in the vast Arctic Plain had lessened by more than half, making everything seem more pleasurable. The sky was speckled with twinkling stars, scattering starlight that, blended with the mist emanating from the vast white land, turned into a hazy pale purple that spanned across the sky. This kind of nightscape was not to be seen anywhere else. Now is the era of camping, Bi Fang thought. People are tired of the concrete jungle, the nine to nine, six days a week grind. They want to leave behind the clamor between people to interact with insects and other animals. More and more people aim to cultivate such a culture of camping. Although not everyone wants to be as stripped down and in complete zero-distance contact with nature as himself, even if separated by some modern technology, the aspiration is undoubtedly there. However, they often have to reconsider because of the thickness of their wallets. Ordinary people¡¯s lifetimes have too many demands, often lacking the power and ability to choose the life they want. Even if one really goes through hardships, scrimping on food and clothes, clutching one¡¯s teeth tightly to carve out a little time, a pile of money, all the energy, the lack of experience could lead to a total mess¡ªfrom living to eating to using the bathroom¡ªthe first time is often chaotic. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï [I¡¯ve tried camping, but it wasn¡¯t as fun as I imagined. It¡¯s not nature¡¯s fault, it¡¯s my own] A middle-aged man, moved by the beautiful view before him, couldn¡¯t help but send such a comment. The city¡¯s hustle and bustle have steeped so deeply that even the topics of conversation revolve around the life people want to escape. [Unable to not chat, but what we talk about is so meaningless. Topics include but are not limited to what to do if children¡¯s cram school is canceled, who can possibly repay XXX¡¯s two trillion, and when will the car chip shortage end (facepalm)] [Damn, too real] People¡¯s conversation topics inevitably revolve around their own lives, similar to how classmates can talk about everything. But after going to schools in different places, just after one semester, there¡¯s 90% less to talk about. Any conversation, to enjoy it, must be about shared experiences. Engulfed in the shade of greenery, listening to babbling brooks, but depleting topics ultimately force you to dream of CBD office buildings, hearing the music of the fountains at the entrance of office towers. [Tears just by talking about it] [Yet another tearful day] [Envious of Old Fang¡¯s life¡­ thrilling and free] [But it might lead to death (dog¡¯s head)] ¡°Don¡¯t be sad; it¡¯s already late. Although I¡¯ve secured a safe environment, I can still further optimize, so there¡¯s a bunch of tasks waiting for me tomorrow. That¡¯s it for today¡¯s live broadcast; we¡¯ll continue the rest tomorrow.¡± Bi Fang said with a smile, patting his butt as he stood up. The drone flew to the front, and as his voice faded, the live broadcast screen was instantly cut off. The next day at eight in the morning, the sun showed no signs of rising; the sky remained dark. Emerging from a warm pile of dogs, Bi Fang shook off the dog hair from his body, turned on the live broadcast on time, prepared his tools, and started his day of optimization. But first, he went to check on the buried musk ox; it was well-preserved, with no irregularities. To effectively freeze and kill parasites at low temperatures, Bi Fang dismembered the musk ox and buried the pieces in the snow, packing and compressing them securely. After a week, the meat could mostly be eaten raw¡ªan easy and convenient method, mainly aimed at supplementing vitamins and achieving a fuller nutritional intake. Cooked food in the Arctic can only serve as a variation in taste. Then came the construction of a shelter, which was the task Bi Fang had set for himself for both today and tomorrow. ¡°This time it¡¯s not a snow or ice house. Although the insulating properties of ice and snow are good, there is one fatal flaw¡ªif the room temperature is above zero degrees, it will inevitably melt. Therefore, the indoor temperature can only be raised to a point close to zero degrees, achieving a relatively warm, passable shelter,¡± he explained. ¡°But for better living, snow and ice houses are definitely not sufficient, so I plan to build a wooden cabin. For this, I have no choice but to fell trees.¡± Bi Fang lifted the tools in his hands, showing that he had prepared a stone hammer and chisels. Stone axes tend to shatter, so chopping must be done with a chisel and hammer. ¡°A wooden cabin can be a long-term shelter, most commonly used in cold and temperate climates. Wood is not only safe, stable, and warm, but it can also effectively withstand inclement weather.¡± Bi Fang went into the forest, found a few good trees, and collected the wood he needed. ¡°To build a wooden cabin, you can use an ¡®A¡¯ frame or a lean-to roof. If there¡¯s only one person, or materials are limited, then I recommend the lean-to roof.¡± ¡°Choose woods that are manageable in weight. The tools are sharp. If you chop down a tree with a half-meter diameter, believe me, it¡¯s useless for you because you can¡¯t even move it, and don¡¯t choose trees that require all your strength to lift¡ªthat will be too tiring for construction.¡± ¡°My recommendation is to use timber no more than six inches in diameter¡ªabout fifteen centimeters. The length of each piece of wood depends on the size of the shelter and the walls built with these woods.¡± ¡°Of course, this diameter is not absolute; it¡¯s a general choice. If you¡¯re a woman, then you can appropriately reduce the size. And if you find yourself in an area with only hardwood trees, the diameter can be smaller. They have a higher density, and the same size means greater weight.¡± With the final strike, a six-meter tall pine tree fell with a crash. Having stripped off the excess branches and leaves, it was dragged to the riverbank, followed by the second tree, then the third. Soon, a stack of low wood began to accumulate, but it was clearly not enough. This was a long process of gathering. At noon, having removed his coat, Bi Fang rested the hammer on his shoulder and looked up at the sky. It was still pitch black, radiating faint purple light, but on the distant horizon, there was a faint glow of gold. That was a sliver of the sun¡ªor perhaps not even a sliver, just a touch of sunlight. And that was the limit of the sun¡¯s rise. Chapter 694 - Chapter 694: Chapter 691: Labor Chapter 694: Chapter 691: Labor The tranquil forest was punctuated by a monotonous chopping noise, occasionally mixed with the barking of dogs. Bi Fang, who had shed his coat, brought the sledgehammer down, driving the wooden wedge further into the tree with fiery zeal. Flakes of accumulated snow fell onto his shoulders, quickly melting into damp spots under the warmth of his body. Despite the cold, Bi Fang, having eaten breakfast, felt an abundance of strength surge within him, emitting warmth that dispelled the severe chill. After dozens of strikes, the fourth wedge was inserted into the tree, almost completely severing it, but it still didn¡¯t fall, just lacking that final bit. Coarse hands tightly grasped the smoothly polished wooden handle of the hammer, and his robust forearm muscles tautly contracted and relaxed, escalating force upon force with the support of sturdy bones. The sledgehammer was raised to its highest point and, guided by the large arm muscles, carved out a semi-circular arc to hit the wedge precisely. Crack. The crack pierced through the bark, emitting a crisp sound, the tree bark, lacking moisture in the bitterly cold region, dry and brittle, snapped like a piece of deep-fried crispy pork skin. After a moment of swaying, the completely severed giant pine tree slowly toppled to one side, its branches shedding the last bits of snow. Like falling on a cotton field, a great deal of snow whirled up, stirring a choking cloud of dust that, being snowflakes, wasn¡¯t at all unpleasant. A moment later, Bi Fang emerged from the forest, carrying a log on his shoulder and dropping it onto the snowy ground, his cheeks slightly flushed, whether from the cold or from excessive physical exertion. Bi Fang did not choose to build his cabin near the river; instead, he chose a spot about thirty meters from the river bend, in a relatively open area. The ground¡¯s snow had been cleared away early, revealing the grayish-white soil underneath, which was heaped with trees Bi Fang had chopped down, and next to it was a two-meter-deep pit that he and the three fools had dug together. The deep pit didn¡¯t serve any special purpose for the trees but was a sudden inspiration from Bi Fang after he dug out peat soil, curious to see if there was any beneath this valley, and to his surprise, there was. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï However, unlike the one he dug during the blizzard, the peat soil here was buried deep, having dug more than a meter, nearly two meters before finding it¡ªdeeper than normal peat soil. Nice, no more worries about fuel in the future. Bi Fang set the log down from his shoulder and brushed the sawdust off his hands; to him, this peat soil was an inexhaustible resource. The large and small logs, stripped of their excess twigs, were neatly stacked together, but this was only a beginning. They still needed further trimming, cutting, and fashioning into the appropriate mortise and tenon joints. Without the right tools, and only using a dagger, the process could undoubtedly be done, but was unquestionably going to be much more cumbersome, a lengthy, complex process that even the viewers felt fatigued watching. ¡°Because the wood doesn¡¯t have any slots, we need to build a framework to prop it up,¡± Bi Fang explained. Bi Fang selected suitable timber and buried it into the soil, tamping it down firmly. ¡°First, we need to collect 14 sturdy poles between two and a half and three meters long. At each of the four corners, we bury three poles, which adds up to 12 poles in total.¡± ¡°Bury the poles twenty to thirty centimeters into the ground, compact the soil all around to secure them. Then, a half-meter plus to the left of the front right corner, insert another two poles. This area will serve as the entrance. Make sure all the supporting poles are secure so they can hold the horizontal poles and form the walls of the shelter.¡± Bi Fang did his work meticulously, sharpening the base of the wood and driving it deep into the ground; after giving it a shake, it was very stable. Yet another exceedingly exhausting process. [Master Fang, the woodworker, has come online] [Just Learned Another Craft] [Can you really learn it? I feel like you¡¯re deceiving me] [You caught me (Dog¡¯s head)] From chopping down trees to clearing the land, and then to driving in all the stakes, a day just passed like that. ¡°I¡¯m too tired, that¡¯s it for today, time to rest.¡± The exhausted Bi Fang turned off the livestream. ¡­ Today, not even a sliver of the sun showed up; at noon Bi Fang looked out at the distant horizon. Yesterday the sun wavered between peeking out and merely shining, but today there was only light. Sighing, Bi Fang pushed against the stakes he had fixed into the ground; they were very sturdy, not budging even when he ran up and collided with them. ¡°Once all the support poles are in place, you can start stacking the logs horizontally between them. Use an adequate amount of grass and mud to make ¡®plaster¡¯ to reinforce the logs and seal the gaps.¡± Although Bi Fang didn¡¯t chop many trees, each one yielded several segments, enough for his use. ¡°To make mud plaster, just mix equal parts of mud and fibrous material, like dry grass, straw, or fern plants thoroughly together. Once it dries, this mixture works like strong glue.¡± Bi Fang dug a small pit in the snow nearby, pouring river water, the mud from the river, some fern plants, and strips of tree bark into it. ¡°The back wall of the wood house should be over one and a half meters high, and the front wall should be over two meters. A significant height difference can prevent it from being crushed by snowfall, ultimately leading to collapse.¡± Bi Fang placed a log horizontally above the front wall and the entrance, supported by the side walls. In the end, he spread a generous amount of prepared plaster on both the inside and outside of the walls, which quickly set in the cold wind, turning a faint grayish-white color. Bi Fang placed the logs in parallel across the top of the shelter, at a right angle to the entrance, until it was completely enclosed. Afterward, he used mud plaster to seal all the gaps, and then covered it with sod and leaves cut from the logs. ¡°If you¡¯re planning to light a fire inside the wood house, make sure the ventilation holes are large enough and can be opened and closed. You can use any suitable material to make a door; you might also choose to fashion a wooden door from available materials.¡± ¡°But most of the time it¡¯s necessary, as the shelter you¡¯ve built will become your home, so it¡¯s vital to set aside an area for making a fire.¡± ¡°With fire comes light, warmth, cooking, and entertainment. But if used incorrectly, it could cause a fire disaster, and one might even perish in the flames.¡± ¡°Before starting a fire in the shelter, ensure that the ventilation holes are operable and can vent smoke, to prevent suffocation and carbon monoxide poisoning.¡± ¡°A good fire pit is often located between the door and the center of the shelter, not affecting the use of the area at the back. For optimal effect, dig a circular fire pit with a diameter of less than half a meter, but go a bit deeper, preferably over two meters, then line the bottom and sides with stones.¡± When Bi Fang was building the wood house, he left a hole in the outer wall, constructing a protruding outlet with rocks mixed with plaster, all to create a fire pit at this moment. Chapter 695 - Chapter 695: Chapter 692: Reserve a Spot, Will Be Updated Before 1 AM Chapter 695: Chapter 692: Reserve a Spot, Will Be Updated Before 1 AM I haven¡¯t finished yet. I¡¯m just staking a spot first. I¡¯ll change it back before 1 PM. The cleaned ice surface still clearly showed the white cracks spreading like a spider web, this completely ice-sealed river exuding an astonishing chill. Bi Fang had always been a daring man. Amidst the audience¡¯s surprise, he took off all his clothes, leaving only his shorts. The cold wind was still biting. With the chill blowing over him, capillaries naturally reacted by constricting quickly, reducing the heat leaking out. Bi Fang felt as though he was wrapped in a blanket of ice needles. Not to mention swimming, it takes a great deal of courage for a normal person to enter the water. Every breath was uncomfortable, the icy cold air pouring straight into the lungs from the throat, as if each alveolus was frosting over in the low temperature. But compared to being exposed to the cold wind, what came next would be even more bone-chilling. Having been in the Arctic for more than two weeks, the time had moved from mid-October into November. For most areas, this time wouldn¡¯t be considered too cold, but once it rained, even wearing a shirt wasn¡¯t enough to ward off the hint of chilliness. Seeing Bi Fang¡¯s actions, many subconsciously shrugged their shoulders, their bodies breaking out in goosebumps, as if they were the ones standing on the screen being buffeted by the cold wind. Especially from a first-person perspective, when looking at the whitening ice surface, the coldness seemed to almost seep out, suffocatingly chilling. [Damn, I feel like my teeth are chattering.] [Every time I see those winter swimmers, I suspect they are aliens] [Can they really not freeze to death?] Rain drizzled outside the window, and a cold wind with a slight chill blew into the office. Even with a coat on, Yao Jun couldn¡¯t help shivering and put down his cold drink. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Impressive. Yao Jun wrapped his coat tighter, and involuntarily took out his phone, scrolling through his list of contacts. The night was exceptionally cold; he needed a big sister with a broad heart to warm his own and watch the live stream together. Regular viewers could only cry and bear it alone. [Amazing, Master Fang rocks!] [This is what a tough guy is (tactically leans back)] [Let me warm the ice with my heartfelt sincerity!] Bi Fang held his breath, opting not to jump straight into the ice from the shore but walked up barefoot instead. Nobody knew for sure how strong the ice was. Even though it was cracked, if it didn¡¯t break, a rash jump could mean slipping and bruising badly. His feet turned rapidly red in the low temperature. Bi Fang shivered, then started to walk lightly, and when he reached the center of the river, the sound of cracking ice resumed, like a thin crisp biscuit. Tiny chips of ice burst out along the huge crack, and just as it reached its limit, Bi Fang tiptoed slightly and with a forceful pause, the entire ice sheet shattered. ¡°Whoosh.¡± Clear river water surged up and down, splashing onto the ice, quickly forming a layer of frost. Silver bubbles filled the entire world, and Bi Fang resisted the urge to close his eyes. It was as if ice spikes were flowing through his veins, further crystallizing in the cold, expanding, piercing through the elastic blood vessels. A cold venomous snake coiled up the tailbone, shooting up the spine at an incredibly fast speed and resting deep in the brain. It was like electricity flowing through, his body almost instinctively wanting to open its mouth to breathe but forcibly covering it up, and inevitably he began to swallow a mouthful of river water. Water conducts heat 30 times better than air, meaning a person loses heat 30 times faster in the water than in the air at the same temperature. The thermal sensation in 14-degree Celsius cold water was already at zero degrees. The water at ten degrees Celsius feels like minus four degrees Celsius. Eight degrees Celsius is considered the cold threshold for winter swimming, producing a sensation equivalent to minus eight degrees Celsius, resulting in an extreme feeling of intense coldness, stinging, pain, and numbness. Most natural bodies of water begin to freeze at four degrees Celsius, which feels like minus sixteen degrees. At 3¡ãC water temperature, it feels like -20¡ãC. At 2¡ãC water temperature, it feels like -24¡ãC. At 1¡ãC water temperature, it feels like -28¡ãC. At 0¡ãC water temperature, it feels below -30¡ãC. In the Arctic, under air temperatures of tens of degrees below zero, frozen rivers undoubtedly match the last category mentioned. The bone-chilling cold was almost enough to crack Bi Fang¡¯s mouth, but the icy water flowing down his throat calmed him. Normally, winter swimming undeniably requires warming up to expose oneself from a comfortable temperature, awakening every cell and pore in the body to adapt to the coldness. But Bi Fang didn¡¯t warm up, because he was simultaneously demonstrating how to survive falling into the water. Without any rash movements, Bi Fang just sank quietly in the water, watching the silver bubbles slowly disappear. [Why isn¡¯t he moving?] [There isn¡¯t an accident, right?] [I heard that when someone falls into cold water, they might undergo a cold shock response, leading to hyperventilation, rapid heart rate increase, and possibly brief shock. Old Fang hasn¡¯t gone into shock, has he?] [Master Fang, Master Fang, are you there? If you can see us, blink your eyes.] You wouldn¡¯t be able to see me blink. Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but critique in his mind. The first-person camera had an intelligent recognition function and could complete the image on its own. Constant blinking didn¡¯t affect the viewer¡¯s perspective unless one closed their eyes completely. However, Bi Fang still made an OK sign with his fingers to appease the viewers¡¯ worries, signaling that he was alright and still conscious. This relieved many viewers, thankful that he was fine, but Bi Fang¡¯s motionless stance still raised confusion among them. Why isn¡¯t he moving? But Bi Fang didn¡¯t leave the audience waiting for too long. The moment he entered the water was without a doubt piercing cold, followed by the instinctive urge to breathe. Therefore, anyone who falls into the water must control their breathing and avoid gasping. After the initial cold exposure, the danger of hypothermia looms. When body temperatures drop too much, it also poses a risk to life. After the initial coldness subsides, blood returns and dilates to continuously release heat while large amounts of glycogen break down, consuming substantial oxygen. But Bi Fang felt relatively fine at that moment. In complete stillness, Bi Fang could last more than eight minutes underwater, a terrifying number for an average person. Correspondingly, it was the result of his continuously improving physique and rigorous training that led to a remarkably high maximum oxygen uptake. Yet in cold water, the fast blood flow for warmth meant a discounted time frame; still, easily managing three to four minutes was not a problem. However, when he no longer felt so piercingly cold, Bi Fang began to move. He looked up only to find that the cave he had fallen into had vanished without a trace. The viewers felt a sudden tingling in their scalps. Bi Fang had been swept away by the river! Chapter 696 03-25 - Chapter 696: Chapter 693: Glue Chapter 696: Chapter 693: Glue The open space was filled with the incessant sound of knocking and hammering. Bi Fang sat on a small stool, inserting a palm-sized wooden wedge into a groove, using a forearm-length stone hammer to knock and drive it in place. With the wooden slats stacking up, piece by piece, and being secured, the shape of the sled had essentially taken form; by its appearance alone, one could tell this was going to be a highly functional dog sled. Not far away in the forest, the Three Fools sat in a row, occasionally lying on the ground emitting sorrowful whimpers; they watched the sled taking shape yet dared not approach, sensing an immense terror that was about to befall their dog minds, which had been thoroughly overexcited in the past week. Bi Fang was unaware that the three foolish dogs had been sitting out there since the early morning watching him, but that didn¡¯t interfere with his work. As he chewed on a tooth-cleaning stick, he struck powerfully with the stone hammer, continuing with the task at hand. Though some roughness remained, the wooden wedges weren¡¯t exactly the right size, but they did secure the two long, curved pieces of wood firmly together. Unless the wedges were pulled out or the material itself broke, they would not come apart. Only the size was a bit off; the width was just right, but the length was slightly short, leaving a bit of slack. Bi Fang inserted another piece of wood to compensate and then brushed on resin glue. Resin glue is a type of waterproof glue with excellent effectiveness, mainly extracted from coniferous trees such as pines and spruces, which are precisely the types of trees found in cold regions. There were plenty in the forest. ¡°Resin seeps out of ¡®wounds¡¯ on the tree trunk or is stored in protrusions under the bark; in such cases, you can simply use a stick to remove the resin directly,¡± Bi Fang had explained the process of harvesting resin yesterday, but to avoid leaving uninformed viewers in the dark, he repeated it again. The live broadcast audience hailed from all across the country, and due to time differences, coupled with Bi Fang¡¯s disrupted biological clock, it was inevitable that some viewers would miss parts of the content. Considering a twelve-hour boundary, only ten percent of the audience in the live stream overlapped, meaning the remaining ninety percent likely hadn¡¯t heard the earlier content and could only catch up through the chat messages. Major events were still fine, as they could be revisited through replays, but not necessarily the smaller informational tidbits. This was perfect for Bi Fang, who could also use it to fill time and add some interest. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Just in time, the batch of resin glue he had collected and made the day before yesterday was almost used up, so he had made a new batch. ¡°We place the collected resin in a container, and then heat it over the fire.¡± A small fire pit was slowly heating up the resin glue. ¡°When the resin begins to melt, you¡¯ll smell a strong pine scent; that¡¯s normal¡ªno need to worry. What you need to pay attention to is ensuring the heat is not too high to avoid boiling the resin, which would diminish the adhesive properties of the glue.¡± ¡°Also, make sure you have a cover at hand because resin can easily catch fire. In case it ignites, you must cover the container with the lid right away to prevent the resin from burning. If¡­ Huo!¡± Just as Bi Fang was about to finish his sentence, he noticed out of the corner of his eye a piece of wood crackling and breaking apart, sending a spark flying into the container, followed by a burst of flame shooting out from the wooden bowl. Fortunately, he was quick to react, and he immediately covered it with a lid, otherwise he nearly singed his own eyebrows. [Geez, it¡¯s on fire as soon as you say it!] [That¡¯s too hot, a blazing fire!] [Be careful, man.] After covering it with the wooden lid to cut off the oxygen for a minute, Bi Fang removed it and continued speaking. ¡°What was I saying? Right, if you have a large quantity of resin and you need very pure resin glue, then you should filter the liquid glue quickly, or it might solidify.¡± ¡°Once the resin cools down, it will return to its natural state. Thus, to make the glue harder and stronger, you need to add a ¡®hardening agent¡¯ to it.¡± ¡°Typically, there are 3 readily available additives in nature, each with its own advantages. Crushed charcoal, being the easiest to procure, is a commonly used additive. In most cases, it¡¯s alright to add charcoal, although the resin tends to be more brittle once dry.¡± ¡°Next is beeswax, which makes the resin glue more flexible. However, this type of resin glue isn¡¯t very sturdy, feels greasier to the touch, and tends to be softer once it sets.¡± ¡°Finally, there¡¯s dung, and it must be from herbivores like rabbits and deer. Their dried dung is the best additive. This resin glue is the most durable and sturdy, but it isn¡¯t very hygienic, so don¡¯t use it to glue cups or other utensils.¡± Bi Fang chose to add charcoal. He stirred the resin continuously as he mixed in the pulverized charcoal, ensuring it was well-blended. [Wow, even dung works?] [That¡¯s a bit outrageous] [I guess it¡¯s a mix of fibers, plus some other special components, right?] ¡°Determining the right amount of binder for making resin glue is tricky. Usually, you start with a 1:10 ratio, then test a little bit to see if it sets. If it hardens after setting, it means that¡¯s enough.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s still soft and sticky, continue adding binder. After adding the binder, the resin glue must be used immediately while hot, because once it cools, it will set.¡± ¡°It¡¯s best to divide the resin glue into portions, using only a part of it each time, as resin glue becomes less sturdy the more it¡¯s reheated.¡± ¡°Dividing it into small portions is also simple. Just stick a little onto a stick and then cool it in water to peel off. Of course, in the Arctic, air cooling is usually sufficient.¡± Bi Fang rolled the sticky resin glue out and directly applied it to the joints of the sled. After smoothing it with tree bark, he immediately wrapped it with long cords made from soaked and rubbed tree bark, reinforcing it three times. ¡°I was actually thinking of using leather glue, which is the best for bonding organic materials, even though it has its drawbacks. It expands when wet, can¡¯t be subjected to heat, and can¡¯t bond materials like stone, but for wood, the effect is truly good. It¡¯s just that leather glue, well¡­¡± Bi Fang scratched his head and spread his hands, ¡°Just by the name, you know that this stuff needs to be made from rawhide, but I don¡¯t have any left, only a piece of tanned musk ox skin. And even if it were raw, I wouldn¡¯t give up my furry sleeping bag.¡± [No, actually Master Fang, you do have rawhide, and plenty of it] ¡°Huh?¡± Bi Fang was taken aback. He had rawhide? [Old Fang, look to your left, and you¡¯ll understand] Bi Fang looked to his left with confusion, just in time to see the Three Fools sitting in a row. ¡­ [Holy shit, you¡¯ve got quite the imagination!] [Three Fools: What did we ever do to you?] [I¡¯m convinced by nothing but you] ¡°Ahem, after all, they still need to pull the sled, so let¡¯s be a little more forgiving.¡± Chapter 698 03-25 - Chapter 698: Chapter 695: Bring It Back Chapter 698: Chapter 695: Bring It Back Eskimo structure? A novel term emerged from Bi Fang¡¯s mouth, and as he explained, the audience gradually understood. Making use of animals¡¯ exclusivity, Eskimos divided the sled-pulling dogs into two tiers: the lead dog and the sled dogs. The lead dog ran at the front, enjoying various privileges in its everyday life: it ate alone, feasted on good meat in large quantities, had the best doghouse to itself, and was never beaten. The sled dogs would pull the sled behind the lead dog: they did not eat or live well, scrambling for food together, sharing cramped living spaces, and often getting whipped. Bi Fang¡¯s live streams always brought a variety of novel knowledge to viewers, and this time was no exception, but the audience was once again greatly impacted. Such stark behavior made them deeply uncomfortable, as if they were seeing themselves in their own reality. [Damn, what kind of scheming BOY?] [Using exclusivity to maximize the exploitation of the animals¡¯ potential is highly practical, but it feels quite offensive.] [Wait a minute, are you sure this isn¡¯t just internal competition?] Shuiyou had not expected that Bi Fang¡¯s specific act of giving Goudan a fish in the morning would carry such profound significance, bordering on the horrific, and it was somewhat shocking. [Even dogs are manipulated, you¡¯re truly a dog, I misjudged you, Master Fang.] [So Goudan is just a bought-over scab!] Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 [Suggest a lamppost!! Hang him!] [The stakes, he must be put to the stakes, this is a disgrace] ¡°Cough cough, it¡¯s not like that, I haven¡¯t implemented the true Eskimo structure. Fugui and Wangcai did not eat less, in fact, Fugui ate even more.¡± Bi Fang coughed awkwardly, offering an explanation. The traditional Eskimo structure undoubtedly had a huge gap between the treatment of the lead dog and sled dogs, which was quite extreme, but Bi Fang would not go to such lengths; it was just too cruel. With only three dogs to begin with, it would not be fun if they were subjected to such treatment, nor was it suitable. ¡°The traditional Eskimo composite method does increase efficiency to a certain extent, but it also puts the lead dog in constant danger of being torn apart.¡± Bi Fang pointed out a possibility that the audience hadn¡¯t considered. Indeed, viewers couldn¡¯t help but wonder, would the sled dogs pounce on and bite the lead dog when they reached their destination and the sled needed to stop? If left unchecked, this phenomenon would naturally occur, so human intervention was needed. For humans, the simplest way to deal with a dogfight was undoubtedly the ¡°whip.¡± Beat them, the simplest and most effective method. [Sounds a bit pitiful] [Ah, feels just like me] ¡°Yes, the dogs¡¯ psychological capacity is limited, and when their rage surpasses the fear of their master¡¯s whip, they will bite the lead dog without hesitation as soon as the sled stops.¡± ¡°It shows that such means are still low-level psychological tactics, though they might seem ¡®merciful¡¯ compared to the excessive use of a whip.¡± While the Eskimo structure was effective, whether one should employ it was a matter of conscience for the user. If like Bi Fang, one triggered the spirit of competition through rewards, the approach was fairly innocuous. Sleeping was still done together in the wooden hut around the stove, meals were still eaten together, there was no whipping, although in a fit of anger, Goudan¡¯s head might be knocked, but that was human nature. Who could remain calm in the face of a home-wrecking Erha? Bi Fang had simply made some distinctions in the richness of the food. He had replaced some of the musk oxen meat with salmon. However, when one exhausts efficiency and thoroughly applies the Eskimo structure, turning the simple companionship among dogs into a relationship of enemies, that would be going too far. ¡°Even though the Eskimo structure belongs to a relatively lower-level psychological tactic, the shadow of this fishing and hunting era management model is still seen everywhere in today¡¯s global industrial age.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s thoughts couldn¡¯t help but scatter; many relationships among animals can be seen in humans too. In fact, the so-called ¡°tree-typing¡± approach also reflects the shadow of the Eskimo structure to a certain extent. ¡°Einstein said the universe should be harmonious. If the pursuit of rapid development relies on the motivation of creating hostility and uses the elimination system for the least efficient, then it seems to contradict the original purpose of societal development¡ªcreating happiness.¡± The audience couldn¡¯t help but shiver. [We really shouldn¡¯t dwell on this.] [Stop right there, Master Fang, you¡¯re surrounded by entrepreneurs.] [I get it now, my boss really does treat me like a dog.] [You beast, what do you understand??] [That¡¯s not true, that¡¯s not true.] [The good days are still to come.] [Ahem] The odd barrage of comments brought Bi Fang¡¯s thoughts back; at heart, he was still someone who loved animals. In his previous life, he didn¡¯t have the means, but in this life, with money, he always wanted to keep some pets. However, because he often had to venture into the wilderness, and each trip could last a month or two, it was hard to take good care of them, so naturally, he abandoned the idea. ¡°If I can¡¯t find the owner of the Three Fools this time, I¡¯ll take them home after the livestream ends,¡± he said, sounding like he was setting a flag for himself, and declared confidently. [Man, flying that flag high, I bet 50 cents something¡¯s gonna go wrong this time.] [Bro, I¡¯m in for a dime!] [Gathering to gamble is illegal; I suggest we all bet on spicy strips instead.] [What? Spicy strips? My DNA is stirring.] This was already the second time Bi Fang encountered animals in the wilderness that willingly showed him kindness. The first time was in the desert, when he met a camel that was still willing to help him despite being throttled, but that one had an owner and went home with its owner afterwards. The second time was this current journey in the Arctic, when he was awoken by Goudan with a kick after a night. It was truly a coincidence, once in the desert, once in the snowfield, in two drastically different environments, he encountered completely different kinds of kind creatures. Life is wondrous, isn¡¯t it? If he had stayed home, working 9-9-6 for a living, he would never have encountered so many novel and beautiful things, would he? He¡¯d traversed mountains and rivers, witnessed various miracles. On the snowfield, the Three Fools ran like the wind, carrying the sled behind them and leaving a trail in the snow; the flurry of snow kicked up behind them as they moved towards the seashore. Bi Fang held the reins, becoming more and more skillful, following Polaris in the night sky, racing towards the destination in his heart. Even though the sun was gone, Polaris was omnipresent, the best marker above his head. Once again, the Northern Lights appeared in the night sky, faint green ribbons waving in the sky, a luminescent phenomenon caused by the collision of countless atoms. ¡°Oh-ho!¡± Facing the fierce wind, Bi Fang exclaimed excitedly. The Arctic journey had just begun. Chapter 699 03-25 - Chapter 699: Chapter 696: Star Clock Chapter 699: Chapter 696: Star Clock The aurora made everyone¡¯s vision much clearer and accelerated the Three Fools¡¯ progress. The stamina of sled dogs is exceptionally good, and if they run excitedly, it¡¯s fine for them to run for most of the day. Considering the load and number of dogs, two hours later, Bi Fang pulled the Three Fools to a stop and prepared to take a break. ¡°Two hours, we¡¯ve run at least twenty-five kilometers. That¡¯s much faster than when I walk.¡± Humans¡¯ normal walking speed in the snow is only about three kilometers per hour. In other words, if it wasn¡¯t for the help of the sled dogs, Bi Fang would have to walk for at least an entire day, and even that wouldn¡¯t be enough. But these three managed to cover the distance in just two hours. ¡°Of course, that was the speed when we started with full energy. It will slow down after this. The speed might drop by half, but it¡¯s still much faster than if I were walking alone. Perhaps we¡¯ll reach the coast by tonight.¡± Bi Fang patted the heavily panting Goudan, took out dog bowls, and poured some drinking water and food for each of the Three Fools. Then he sat down nearby himself, admiring the beautiful night scene while chatting with the audience. Half an hour later, the rested Bi Fang advanced again. It was not until the third rest break that viewers began to question how regular Bi Fang¡¯s rest times were¡ªhe ran for two hours, then rested for half an hour. If it were usual times, it would be fine, but how did Bi Fang determine the time? ¡°Ah, that¡¯s actually quite simple,¡± Bi Fang pointed to the sky. Even without a watch or the sun, Bi Fang still had many ways to determine the time, which wouldn¡¯t affect his actions due to timing issues. For instance, by looking at the moon in the sky, or by directly asking the audience in the live broadcast. Cough cough, of course, the last method might seem like cheating unless it was an emergency. Generally speaking, Bi Fang would still opt to determine the time in his own way. ¡°In the wilderness, determining time usually isn¡¯t that important, because most of the time you actually don¡¯t need it.¡± Survival in the wilderness is not like in the city; there¡¯s no one to dictate what you must do at certain times, everything is up to you. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? To survive, you just need food, water, and fire. The acquisition of these three essentials is tied to time only slightly when hunting for food. But even then, it¡¯s not that significant; just avoid the times dusk and night when predators are most active. Before now, Bi Fang had never encountered the polar night phenomenon, living a routine based on sunrise and sunset. But now, since he was using dogs to pull the sled, he needed to determine regular rest times through timing to increase efficiency. ¡°That¡¯s also why I never talked about how to tell time; it¡¯s actually quite simple.¡± ¡°Sun, moon, stars¡ªrising in the east and setting in the west without cease. The ascension and descent of celestial bodies act like a natural clock showing the time. In astronomy, by using precise instruments to observe stars, one can determine the exact time.¡± ¡°But by observing the stars with a simple method, we can also approximate the time. Although the precise process is different, the basic principle is the same. Usually, you wouldn¡¯t need this in the wilderness, but it can be quite useful for those who travel at night.¡± [Eh, the stars can determine time?] [I can understand using the sun, and even the moon, but aren¡¯t stars a bit of an exaggeration?] [I always thought stars were only used for navigation. Old Fang, are you sure you¡¯re not confused or frostbitten?] [Experience proves that all those who doubted Old Fang ultimately ended up with egg on their faces. Just humbly take out your notebook and start learning!] Some people expressed skepticism about Bi Fang¡¯s statements. The sun and moon¡ªa person can easily determine time by the former, and it¡¯s doable with the latter, although harder. But stars? That¡¯s preposterous! [By the way, why isn¡¯t there a moon today? Isn¡¯t it a clear sky?] Speaking of the moon, many viewers suddenly noticed that despite a sky filled with twinkling stars, there was actually no moon? ¡°Of course not, when the ¡®polar night¡¯ arrives. For half a month, we can see the moon, whether full or in phases, revolving around the sky all day. For the other half of the month, the moon is not visible at all. Obviously, now is the half-month when the moon cannot be seen. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t need to use the stars to determine the time.¡± [I really want to learn] Bi Fang freed up a hand to point at the sky, ¡°Do you see the Big Dipper Seven Stars above?¡± From the first-person perspective, the audience easily found the Big Dipper Seven Stars that Bi Fang was pointing at and responded in agreement. ¡°As I said before, we face north, and then we imagine extending the line from the two stars that form the outer part of the Dipper¡¯s bowl five times longer to find Polaris.¡± ¡°Now we use Polaris as the center of the clock face, and the line connecting it with the pointer stars as the hour hand. On the clock face, we divide it into twelve equal parts: 12 is at the top, 3 is on the right, 6 is at the bottom, 9 is on the left, and this is the Big Dipper Clock.¡± Since the audience¡¯s perspective was aligned with Bi Fang¡¯s, there was no chance of misunderstanding, so with his hands-on guidance, the audience easily visualized a large clock. [The Big Dipper Clock, what a cool name] ¡°Since the stars rise in the east and set in the west, the hour hand of the Big Dipper Clock moves in the opposite direction to that of a regular clock. After 12 o¡¯clock, it points to 11 o¡¯clock, then subsequently to 10, 9, 8, 7¡­ and so on. Although the movement of the clock¡¯s hour hand is different from that of a common clock, one can still determine a time that is almost identical to a standard clock.¡± ¡°When observing, just remember the local longitude. Remember, here we express longitude in terms of time because the Earth rotates 360¡ã in 24 hours; therefore, we can divide the local longitude by 15 to find it, recognize the ¡®hour¡¯ number indicated by the star clock¡¯s hour hand, as well as the month and date of the observation, and then subtract a constant, and you¡¯ll immediately get the time you need.¡± ¡°This method can be written down in a simple formula, which is Capital time = 36.4 ¨C longitude ¨C 2(hour number + M).¡± ¡°M represents the number of months since January 1st up to the time of observation. If the result is a negative number, just add 24 hours. As for the origin of the 36.4-hour constant, it can be simply understood as a constant in the formula, you don¡¯t need to understand it.¡± [Impressive, though I don¡¯t quite grasp it] [I get that Master Fang is awesome, just not how to tell time (dog head)] ¡°Actually, it¡¯s quite simple,¡± Bi Fang said with a smile, ¡°For instance, on the evening of June 1st of a certain year, at the Capital Astronomical Observatory, the longitude equals 7 hours and 45 minutes; when you see the hour hand of the Big Dipper Clock at 10, calculate what the current Capital time would be?¡± Bi Fang waited for a while, but seeing that only a few in the discussion had come up with the answer, he didn¡¯t keep them in suspense. He used a tree branch to draw it directly in the snow. ¡°This kind of thing can actually be calculated in your head. Now we know that June 1st is 5 months from January 1st, so M is 5. The Capital time at that moment is¡­¡± A simple formula appeared in the snow, and the audience suddenly understood. 36.4 hours ¨C 7.8 hours ¨C 2(10 + 5) hours = -1.4 hours. -1.4 + 24 = 22.6 hours. Which is 10:36 in the evening. ¡°Sometimes, the Big Dipper Seven Stars are not visible, but when Beta Cassiopeiae in the constellation opposite to it rises, we can also use that. We can take the line connecting Beta Cassiopeiae and Polaris as the ¡®hour hand.¡¯ The division of the clock face and the direction of the hour hand movement are the same as with the Big Dipper Clock.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that, in calculations, the 36.4 constant is changed to 25.5.¡± ¡°Of course, if you have a ¡®Star Indicator Dial,¡¯ you can almost avoid calculations, just adjust the disc, and you will immediately know the time. This is more complicated; if we have time, we can make one by hand when we get back to the cabin.¡± ¡°How about that, pretty simple, right?¡± Bi Fang clapped his hands cheerfully and said. Chapter 700 03-25 - Chapter 700: Chapter 697: Water Flow Chapter 700: Chapter 697: Water Flow ¡°Come back!¡± Bi Fang pulled on the reins, stopping Sanshao in mid-sprint, but due to inertia, the snow sled still slid forward several tens of meters. The undulating sea nearby was now visible to the naked eye; after a day¡¯s travel, they had finally returned to the Greenland seas once more, a far swifter journey than on foot. Bi Fang took the already prepared tools from the snow sled and unfastened Sanshao¡¯s reins, walking to the seaside to begin the now-familiar process of salt extraction. ¡°I¡¯ve refined salt several times before, it¡¯s still the same old method: filter, evaporate, precipitate, dissolve¡­¡± It was deep into the night when Bi Fang finally collected over half a pot of sea salt after several hours of extraction, sufficient for survival purposes. Having secured this essential for survival, Bi Fang, exhausted from a day¡¯s labor, set about constructing a temporary dwelling to rest in. By the time they reached the coast it was around seven in the evening, and if they were to travel back overnight, that would mean staying up all night; Bi Fang had no such plans. Moreover, obtaining salt was the main, yet not the sole, purpose of this trip; Bi Fang also wanted to look around to see if he could catch more game, like reindeer, musk oxen, or even puffins. ¡°But whatever you do, never rest on the coastline¡ªit¡¯s extremely dangerous, as you may well encounter seals, walruses, or even polar bears coming ashore.¡± ¡°The west coast of Greenland is home to about six species of seals, and if you¡¯re sailing through the fjords, they¡¯re easy to spot. The weight of these seals ranges from 100 to 300 kilograms depending on the species.¡± ¡°Besides, the walruses of Greenland are enormous creatures, unlike the seals, and they are often found on the east coast of Greenland Island, near the seabed or the coastline.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by how chubby and cute they all look on wildlife shows; in reality, a walrus¡¯s tusks can be several meters long and are used for defense, and the males are all over three meters in length and weigh between 1200 and 3000 kilograms.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï ¡°Though these creatures move slowly, believe me, an encounter while you are sound asleep is an absolute disaster waiting to happen.¡± Bi Fang said gravely. Whether an animal is formidable or not, its weight is an extremely important reference point; all the fierce beasts he mentioned were many times larger than humans. Perhaps, due to their body structure, they¡¯re not too dangerous for a prepared person, but one must still never let their guard down. [Oh my, are walruses really that chubby? From one to three tons?] [Well, boy, isn¡¯t that heavier than a musk ox?] [One of those could feed you for quite some time, right?] [Eat, eat, eat, that¡¯s all you think about. Can¡¯t you consider their tusks for once (Dog¡¯s head)] [After all, it¡¯s the elephant of the sea; outrageous, but not entirely unbelievable.] Leaving the coastline about a kilometer behind, Bi Fang set up camp on the spot, digging a ¡°top-side excavated snow cave¡± with Sanshao. ¡°Top-side excavated snow cave sounds fancy, but it¡¯s really just what it says: a hole that can be dug from both the top and side.¡± ¡°And the final result is all the same: a tunnel leading to an arched chamber. The depth of the snow required for the cave should be the same as that needed for the snow cave, at least one and a half meters deep, with more than three meters being ideal.¡± ¡°The disadvantage is that you need to cover the hole on top with snow blocks, which is a more complex process than just digging a snow cave.¡± ¡°However, the main advantage of a top-side excavated snow cave is that two people can dig simultaneously, which speeds up construction, and you don¡¯t need to dig snow inside and then carry it out through the passage.¡± Even though Bi Fang was alone, it was not a problem; he had three dogs! Given a direction, a mere three-meter-long tunnel was a piece of cake for them, and in the end, a space of just about one meter eight squared was enough to house two people. Bi Fang found a suitable patch of snow with enough depth and compacted the snow overhead with his skis. ¡°The chamber for sleeping should be located beneath this compacted area, and the compacted snow provides a base for sealing snow blocks. If the compacted snow is relatively shallow, snow from elsewhere should be shoveled on top of it to increase the depth, but we¡¯re in the Arctic, where snow is plentiful; other places might require creating a spot to gather snow blocks.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re bringing snow from elsewhere, you don¡¯t need to compact it with boots, but you should still use a shovel to press the snow down. As soon as you find the right spot, compact the snow. You¡¯ll need to build other parts too, and the compacted snow needs some time to freeze together solidly. Only then can you dig a sturdy snow cave.¡± ¡°Once you flatten the area, avoid walking on it so you don¡¯t create cracks in the snow. This is another task that should be done as soon as possible because the snow blocks become more solid after freezing.¡± ¡°For example, if you walk a path leading to the snow structure the day before you move camp, you could cut thick, durable snow blocks from this path.¡± ¡°Wait until the compacted snow has solidified, then dig a hole in the center of the compacted area above the future snow cave. Don¡¯t make the hole too wide; it should only allow a person to stand in it and shovel out the snow. The smaller the entrance, the easier it is to plug it with snow blocks.¡± ¡°Be careful not to immediately stand on the hard snow surface around the entrance. If you do fall into the snow, fill the accidental hole with compacted snow and try to avoid placing snow blocks over this fragile area later on. If the snow is too dry to compact and fill the hole, you can quickly make ¡®epoxy resin¡¯ with water and snow.¡± ¡°Dig down a few feet, then start digging sideways¡­¡± Bi Fang, while pointing out things to be cautious about, drew a circle and had Sanshao start vigorously digging downward. From start to finish, it took less than an hour to create a shelter that could accommodate one man and three dogs. The following day, Bi Fang, with the refined sea salt in tow, boarded the snow sled and took a winding route home, attempting to find more traces of animals. He even saw a polar bear lying on the sea ice; the moment it saw Bi Fang, the bear didn¡¯t react at all, perhaps deeming him too far away to catch up with, so it just lay there unconcernedly, much to Bi Fang¡¯s relief. Perhaps that polar bear was eyeing an ice den somewhere close, Bi Fang reflected on the bear¡¯s lazy demeanor. ¡°Shh!¡± A huge surge of water suddenly exploded from the ground, shooting high into the sky. Bi Fang, standing on the snow sled, pulled the reins and couldn¡¯t help but gaze in amazement. Chapter 701 03-25 - 698: Trapping the Whale Chapter 701: Chapter 698: Trapping the Whale The immense jet noise erupted over the vast ice plain, and Bi Fang pulled the reins, stopping Sanshao from continuing their advance. The audience too was startled by the sudden sound, asking what it was. [What is that sound?] [What is that?] [Did something explode?] Bi Fang rolled up the musk ox skin and stepped down from the sled, standing on the ice, gazing into the distance. Under the faint starlight, watching the water spout jet again, he felt as if something was undulating repeatedly, and he began to suspect what it might be. ¡°It looks like a whale.¡± A whale!? The Shuiyou were shocked. The drone was flying much higher than Bi Fang, and theoretically, they could see farther than Bi Fang, but looking into the distance, they could only see glaciers everywhere. How could there be a whale appearing and spouting a column of water? How had it managed to spout? ¡°Let¡¯s go and see,¡± Bi Fang said as he stepped back onto the sled and tugged the reins, directing it toward the direction of the water spout. As they got closer, the audience, through the aerial drone, finally saw that on the vast ice plain, there was a huge ice cave that had, at some unknown time, appeared. The sea water was churning inside, and in the cave, a behemoth was undulating continuously, bursting with water spouts. [It¡¯s really a whale!!!] Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? [How did the whale get here?] [There are whales in Greenland, what did you think?] [Wait, there seems to be more than one whale!] [Two! There are two of them!] ¡°No, there are three,¡± Bi Fang said. Bi Fang drove the sled to the side of the cave and finally could see clearly what the huge creatures undulating under the water were. They were over ten meters in length, with gray bodies covered in white spots, and their rough skin looked mottled and uneven. [What kind of whale is this? A blue whale?] [Doesn¡¯t seem like it, Old Fang has encountered one before, and it feels different from a blue whale] ¡°These are three gray whales, they look like a family,¡± Bi Fang, squatting beside the ice cave, immediately provided the answer, leaving the audience astonished. [A family?] [I can¡¯t even recognize what kind of whale this is] [So big, it¡¯s enormous] For those who are not familiar, every large whale species seems to look somewhat alike, but to those who are a bit more knowledgeable, each species of whale has significant differences. ¡°Gray whales are between 10-15 meters in length and weigh over 30 tons. They are gray, dark gray, or blue-gray with white spots, and their undersides are lighter in color,¡± Bi Fang explained. ¡°Do you see the uneven surface on their backs?¡± Bi Fang pointed to the back of the gray whale that had surfaced the water and said, ¡°Those are mainly caused by scrapes from rocks or gravel, and scars left by parasitic life forms like barnacles that have attached themselves to their thickened skin. That¡¯s why some people call it the ¡®gray rock swimmer.''¡± The mottled skin wasn¡¯t visually appealing, and the majority of the audience felt more or less a wave of goosebumps. Bi Fang then continued to point out some unique characteristics of the gray whale. ¡°Besides these, the gray whale has many features that are not unique, but when all present together, create a distinct profile. For example, its eyes are oval-shaped, located behind the corners of the mouth and positioned higher than those of other baleen whales; the upper eyelid is slightly longer.¡± ¡°The ear openings are large enough to insert a pencil, located between the eyes and base of the flippers.¡± ¡°The baleen is pale yellow with roughly 140-180 plates on each side, each 40-50 centimeters long. The plates are thick, the bristles coarse, giving the whole baleen a heavy feel.¡± ¡°And then there¡¯s the bulky body, particularly thick near the flippers. Although they lack a dorsal fin, you can still see the spine with 8 to 15 small hump-like protrusions towards the tail.¡± ¡°Moreover, gray whales lack throat grooves, emmm, everyone knows Thanos, right?¡± Bi Fang stroked his chin, suddenly saying. [Yeah, we know, the purple sweet potato essence] [How does that relate to Thanos?] ¡°Exactly, Thanos¡¯ chin looks a bit like a whale¡¯s throat grooves, which gray whales don¡¯t have. Some believe that the function of throat grooves is to assist in the expansion and contraction of the chest cavity when the animal breathes, and to increase the capacity of the mouth when feeding. Gray whales are the most primitive type of shallow water baleen whale, so their throat grooves are not as developed as those of other baleen whales.¡± As if sensing Bi Fang¡¯s presence, the gray whale that surfaced to breathe emitted a mournful sound, akin to a crying sigh, much like that of humans. The sound spread continuously across the ice field, and it sprayed a column of water towards the ice cave, which looked more like an ice column. The mist-like water vapor instantly turned into frost upon contact with the freezing Arctic temperatures. Some of it dissolved back into the ocean, while the rest piled up on the ice surface. Bi Fang wiped it with his hand and already it was an inch thick, indicating that the gray whale had been trapped here for a long time. ¡°Gray whales have two blowholes located slightly behind the highest point on the snout. The distance between the front ends of the holes is close, about 7 centimeters, and the distance at the back is slightly further, about 21 centimeters. What we have just seen and heard is it exhaling.¡± ¡°Also, because there are two, the spray from a gray whale is shorter and thicker, flat at the top, and the columns are very close to each other. So from behind, it looks like two closely situated columns of mist, but from the side, it appears as one. This combination gives the appearance of a distinct water column, which makes it easily visible to us.¡± Without such a thick column of spray, even with Bi Fang¡¯s vision, it would be hard to spot in the Arctic night. [I see] [Isn¡¯t it dangerous to stand so close?] [I feel the whale¡¯s call is so sorrowful] At this time, the audience was filled with puzzlement, especially upon seeing the scars on the top of the gray whale¡¯s head. The whale seemed to be self-harming. ¡°There¡¯s no danger. I¡¯ve encountered a blue whale while surviving in the ocean before. Not sure if you all remember what I¡¯ve said before about whales being divided into two major categories.¡± ¡°One is the baleen whale, which doesn¡¯t have teeth and primarily eats crustaceans like krill; they are quite gentle towards humans in terms of disposition. The other is the toothed whale, which has sharp teeth and prefers to eat large squid, octopus, and fish, and are relatively more aggressive in nature. Gray whales, like blue whales, are a type of baleen whale.¡± But this did not resolve the audience¡¯s confusion about why the gray whales were here and kept surfacing. Although Bi Fang had said that the skin on the heads of the gray whales was roughened by scrapes from rocks and such, there were clearly many fresh wounds on the whale¡¯s head now. It was obvious to anyone that Master Fang must have known as well. ¡°It¡¯s simple, they are trapped.¡± Trapped? What does that mean? The audience grew more perplexed. Bi Fang stood up, looked out over the vast ice field, and narrowed his eyes: ¡°There are ice fields for miles around. Gray whales cannot break through the ice like bowhead whales to breathe through holes and swim to the sea. They can only guard this one opening, continuously breathing.¡± Chapter 1 - 1 The Beginning of Legend Chapter 1 The Beginning of Legend Translator: 549690339 ¡°Old Qin, yes, it¡¯s me, no big deal, just wanted to borrow two hundred bucks from you. I just resigned, right? Once I get through this tough spot¡­ Ah? Your wife¡¯s in the hospital? Never mind, never mind then¡­¡± ¡°Hello? Brother Xu? There¡¯s something I need¡­¡± ¡°Fatty, it¡¯s me. Didn¡¯t I just give you two thousand? No, why would I¡­ It¡¯s just that I need you to return two hundred, I¡¯m in an urgent situation¡­ Hello? Hello!¡± The rain had been falling for four hours with no sign of stopping. The cramped rented room was filled with the smell of mold; the only piece of furniture, a termite-eaten desk, was against the wall, and the young man sitting beside it once again deleted a contact from his phone before setting the phone down on the desk. The transaction record of six hundred yuan illuminated the black screen of the phone. Only three people were willing to lend him money. And he was only left with three contacts in his phone book. Though determining the quality of the relationships was the main reason, the so-called ¡°friends¡± of the original owner of this life really were lousy. In the length of the contact list he inherited, only three people were worth befriending? Forget it, that¡¯s just as well, there¡¯s no emotional burden in deleting them all. Having many close friends would actually be an inconvenience. As for those who were willing to lend him money, he would surely repay their kindness tenfold in the future! Just as the young man was firmly resolving to do this, a series of electronic tones suddenly rang by his ear. [Ding! Wilderness Live Broadcast System load complete, personal panel fully loaded, data coordination complete!] The young man stared blankly for a moment, then heaved a sigh of relief. At last, after a week of waiting, the system finally kicked in! [Sole binder: Bi Fang] [Age: 24] [Height: 183.6cm] [Weight: 68KG] [Strength: 7] [Physique: 8] [Agility: 8] [Spirit: 9] [Status: Hungry, Exhausted] [These values are based on the average data of a healthy adult male, standard constant: 10] [Enhancement Points: 0] [Occupational Skills: Foot Orienteering lv3, Rock Climbing lv1, Swimming lv2, First Aid lv3, Biological Identification lv2] ¡°Damn, such low stats, am I suffering from kidney deficiency?¡± Has he been drained by a ghost? Bi Fang looked at the panel and scoffed inwardly, even though just a week ago he was a core member of the National Wildlife Conservation Association. What rotten luck! If it weren¡¯t for trying to protect the golden cat, how could he have led the poachers away, and then fallen off a cliff in the struggle! Damn poachers! Luckily, fortune favored him, and he didn¡¯t end up in a never-ending sleep but instead arrived in another world, also named Bi Fang, a recently fired white-collar worker. No house, no car, no bad habits, nothing at all. He was done for! But since he had crossed over, as an adult, Bi Fang grudgingly accepted reality. At least his looks were still on point, not a bad deal, and he had carefully studied this world over the past week to see if there were any opportunities for¡­ pushing societal progress, shall we say. While casually waiting for his metaphoric golden finger¡­ After all, that¡¯s what they all say in the books. And then! Heaven does not forsake those who cross over! His golden finger arrived on the second day, and it was among the cr¨¨me de la cr¨¨me, a system that was still loading! Then it loaded, all the way to today¡­ He was almost unable to afford food, but finally! ¡­ Accompanied by the appearance of a pale blue panel with a technological flair, a deluge of information poured into his mind¡ªsystem explanations, mission objectives, various data¡­ Bi Fang felt dizzy for a moment, closed his eyes to ponder for a while, and eventually summarized three points: First: the essence of the system is repetitive¡­ it¡¯s wilderness broadcasting, with a variety of content mainly centered around the wilderness; Second: the system is invisible to others and relies entirely on thought for communication; Third: the system will issue missions and rewards, with the degree of compulsion unknown. Sounds decent enough¡­ Bi Fang rubbed his chin, recalling his past passion for nature and adventure which had led him to join the CWCA. If he couldn¡¯t fulfill his dream in the original world, doing it in another world wasn¡¯t a bad option. Although the memories left by the original owner weren¡¯t many, and he had made those phone calls to clear up interpersonal relationships. It could only be said that some people had really narrowed their own paths. But few as they may be, Bi Fang knew one thing for certain¡ªthe new world was almost no different from the original. The historical process was almost identical, technology was advanced, and customs were similar. Except for the cultural industry! This world had no Bear Grylls, no Grandpa De, not even similar shows! Since he couldn¡¯t sing, dance, or rap, he might as well embark on some wilderness adventures to make ends meet. As for why the system chose him, Bi Fang didn¡¯t care, nor did he dwell on it. Maybe it happened while eating, brushing his teeth, or even while wiping his butt. Anyway, when he woke up, the system was there. Perhaps it¡¯s standard equipment for a transmigrator? These days, without a golden finger, you¡¯d be embarrassed to call yourself a transmigrator! In any case, he would claim all the benefits first! [Ding! Wilderness Live Broadcast System successfully activated, beginner¡¯s gift package now issued, please check your item inventory at your leisure.] Oho? There¡¯s even a gift package? Startled, Bi Fang followed the guidance and opened the gift pack, accompanied by an effect of gold coins cascading down. [TOREAD Pathfinder trekking shoes*1, Ancestor Bird Sportswear*1, Backpack*1] [Visual Restoration Coupon*1] [Live Broadcast Device*1] [First-Person Invisible Camera*1] [Skill Can*3] Wow! Right off the bat, it was hardcore outdoor live broadcast equipment¡ªjust the timely rain for someone as poor as him! But Bi Fang knew that the most valuable items here were that coupon and the skill cans! The coupon was one of the System¡¯s rewards, and its effect was just what the name implied! And he was a bit nearsighted! Without hesitation, Bi Fang immediately focused his thoughts on the gold coupon in the item slot. Bang! The coupon turned into golden dust and scattered. Instantly, an intense sensation of coolness and sourness surged like an electric shock almost causing him to moan out loud. The horrifying amount of tears gushed out like a waterfall, quickly forming a puddle on the table¡¯s edge¡ªhe could practically dehydrate from this amount! Unheard of! Ten minutes later, as the sourness in his eyes lifted, Bi Fang slowly opened them; his stiff eyes became surprisingly lively. ¡°Wow, is it so clear?!¡± Bi Fang was startled by the sight in front of him¡ªan influx of bright light from the outside world as if a thick film had been peeled from the world. The heavy rain poured outside, slightly dim, yet he could still make out the advertisement boards several streets away, and it wasn¡¯t just the distant and near vision. The trajectory of the raindrops in the air was crystal clear¡ªthis was exceptional dynamic vision! If the coupon was this powerful, what about the skill cans? Thinking this, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t wait to use his thoughts to open one, along with the shattering effect of the can, a burst of blue light flashed. Blue Skill! Bi Fang held his breath. Was this his lucky day? Green-Blue-Purple-Orange-Red are the five levels of skills. In his past life, he had professional training, but even so, he didn¡¯t have a single blue skill! [Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining a blue top-tier skill¡ªWilderness Survivalist lv5] In an instant, a flash seemed to pass through Bi Fang¡¯s brain, and fragmented information awakened from the depths of his memory¡ªtracking prey, identifying directions, rudimentary recognition of flora and fauna, making traps, and even¡­ fighting techniques! If someone were beside him at this moment, they would undoubtedly notice Bi Fang¡¯s aura had completely changed from just a moment ago! Just a moment ago he was a timid rabbit, the next a hungry wolf¡ªnot just a hungry wolf, but a ferocious tiger! Bi Fang snapped open his eyes, and even though he was simply sitting there, his eyes shimmered with the gleam of a leopard¡ªnot only the ferocity of a wild beast but also an uncontrollable hunger within. Everyone has a beast inside; the key is how to let that beast out! ¡°Ha ha!¡± Bi Fang panted heavily, his chest heaving violently. After taking several deep breaths, he managed to suppress the restlessness within his heart. Looking at the moldy walls around him, they seemed more suffocating than ever, making him want to break through the walls and escape into the heavy rain, to run freely under the heavens and upon the earth. ¡°Is this just a max-level blue skill?¡± Bi Fang looked at his hands¡ªalien yet familiar. Everything seemed innate, fitting like a glove, a satisfaction like never before filled his heart. He looked towards the two remaining cans with an even fiercer gaze. ¡°Let¡¯s see what other good stuff is left.¡± Bang! The can shattered, revealing a purple light! Purple Skill! [Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining a purple skill¡ªAdvanced Yoga lv1] This, this, what the hell is Advanced Yoga? Seeing this, Bi Fang nearly spurted a mouthful of blood to the ceiling. He was going for wilderness streaming, not to open a yoga class! But it wasn¡¯t over yet; another electronic sound rang out. [Ding, you have received the gift pack, now initiating your first rookie mission!] Bi Fang¡¯s face showed sorrow, but his spirits lifted, understanding that after receiving benefits, it¡¯s time to work. Even a three-year-old knows this logic. And there it is¡ªthe mission! Mission Name: The First Glimmer of Sharpness Mission Location: Xiaxi Qinling Mountain Mission Mode: Wilderness Forest Survival Mission Difficulty: R3 Mission Requirements: Cannot carry any tools other than those provided by the System. Main Mission One: Set up a live broadcast, with a sustained online audience of over 500+. Main Mission Two: Survive successfully within seven days while in good condition. Side Mission: Please explore freely Completion Reward: Unknown Time Limit: 15d Ah, Qinling? Bi Fang¡¯s body trembled. He had been to Qinling in his past life, but that was with a full team and complete preparation. Now, he, a poor sickly person, was asked to survive in the wilderness without any tools¡­ He loved nature and adventure, not suicide! Ignoring the difficulty of Wilderness Survival itself, as one of China¡¯s best-preserved primeval forests, Qinling was home to many dangerous creatures. Not only did black bears often appear, but also countless venomous insects, snakes, and ants¡­ Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ordinary people would perish if they mistakenly wandered in! Chapter 2: Live Streaming, Starts! Chapter 2: Live Streaming, Starts! Translator: 549690339 Bi Fang¡¯s expression was serious, and things were indeed not as simple as he had thought. Even the narrowly defined Qinling stretched over four hundred kilometers from east to west, and was more than one hundred and fifty kilometers wide from north to south. It would take half a day by car, let alone walking out on foot. There were news about tourists going missing every year, which was extremely dangerous. ¡°However, the System has given me a Blue Skill: Wilderness Survival lv5. In this area, I¡¯m an expert,¡± he said. After calming down, Bi Fang recalled the various skills in his mind and steadied himself once more. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ordinary people entering would indeed have no chance of survival. But at this moment, Bi Fang, with his professional skills, had already transcended this category; besides, he wouldn¡¯t rely solely on the System. If the first mission was this dangerous, it was foreseeable that future ones would only get more difficult. Relying solely on the System was not advisable. There were still a few days left before the mission started, and Bi Fang was going to prepare thoroughly, gather professional information, and then train his body methodically. This body was too weak, not nearly enough capital for the revolution, so he had to train! Bi Fang loved life, loved adventure, but he also hoped to have the opportunity to continue adventuring indefinitely. Why did it seem that the more we grew up, the faster time passed? Because as children we are discovering and exploring, whereas as adults we are constantly repeating. As children, we live each year as 365 days, but as adults, we live each year as 365 repetitions. He was never one for routine! The difficulties before him were not enough to scare him, and wasn¡¯t this what life was about? Fuck the office, fuck the 996 work culture, I just want to be the god of the Wilderness! With a plan in place, Bi Fang immediately took action, ready to buy tickets online for his departure. However, before that, he hadn¡¯t forgotten¡­ ¡­ There was still one unopened Skill Can¡­ ¡­ The cool mountain breeze blew in his face, causing his hair to flutter lightly in the wind ¨C the youth Bi Fang had left behind¡­ Bang! Accompanied by a bout of violent shaking, the tricycle squeaked alarmingly, on the verge of falling apart. The previously composed Bi Fang instantly broke his poise, deftly adjusting his center of gravity to stabilize his shape, yet his butt was still numb, making him wonder if he might end prematurely in his mission, suffering a coccyx fracture as soon as he made an appearance, having to let his live stream audience call for help. ¡°Old man, go a bit slower, please!¡± ¡°Alrighty!¡± The old man responded and skillfully shifted gears, making the tricycle less bumpy. Bi Fang held the handlebar with his left hand and his forehead with his right. The application at the Forestry Bureau had gone unexpectedly smoothly, but the journey there had been a real trek, transferring from high-speed train to coach, then to a minibus, and finally to a tricycle. He had made it into Qinling after much effort. To scrape together the fare, he had sold off a complete set of Ancestor Birds produced by the System¡­ Embarrassingly, Bi Fang had even considered joining the Digital Monster World to form the Dark Masters with Machinedramon, Puppetmon, and Metal Seadramon. Fortunately, wearing his own clothes didn¡¯t trigger a warning from the System, which he could still tolerate; otherwise, he might have had to practice true ¡°natural¡± survival like Grandpa De. However, when he stuffed a third jacket into his bag, he was warned by the System, quashing the little schemes in Bi Fang¡¯s mind and he stopped thinking about these unorthodox methods. With a sigh, Bi Fang started fiddling with his gear. The task had a time limit of fifteen days, with seven days for survival, two days for travel and rest, leaving him less than a week for learning and training. The results were quite significant; his strength attribute improved a bit, especially after getting a haircut, making him look much more energetic, like a completely different person from before. On the skill panel: [Green Skill: Foot Orienteering lv3, Rock Climbing lv5, Swimming lv2, First Aid lv3, Flora and Fauna Identification lv2] [Blue Skill: Wilderness Survivalist lv5] [Purple Skill: Advanced Yoga lv1] The last Skill Can he opened contained Rock Climbing, but at a higher level, refreshing the skill, which wasn¡¯t too bad. The most useful was Wilderness Survival lv5; he was relying on it primarily for survival in Qinling. As for Advanced Yoga, at first glance it seemed useless, but after practicing it a couple of times, Bi Fang found it was indeed valuable. Through various postures, it greatly improved his body¡¯s flexibility and balance, and allowed him to quickly adjust his breathing and maintain emotional stability. With a calm heart, he could understand a deeper world in any environment. This taught Bi Fang a lesson¡ªskills only provide knowledge; what effect one can achieve still depends on personal application. Like now, sitting on the tricycle with a coordinated posture, solid and steady. Pulling out the live-streaming device disguised as a drone, Bi Fang thought, and it automatically connected to the network. ¡°` I have no idea where the internet comes from in this godforsaken place, but I can only say the peripherals provided by the system are truly powerful. Not only can the live broadcasting device transform and disguise itself, it also delivers lossless image quality, operates almost silently, and is incredibly durable ¡ª not even a bullet can scratch it. It¡¯s simply perfect. The first-person invisible camera is pure sci-fi. You can wear it right in your eye. The viewpoint is clear, it can display comments, and it doesn¡¯t flicker when you blink. It connects automatically and maintains the coherence of the video, without all the usual hassles of regular contact lenses. It¡¯s just that the explanation is a bit of a hassle, but it can be managed by saying it¡¯s a highly concealed mini camera, with image quality as a result of computational optimization. Only a few smart viewers might guess the truth, but there¡¯s no way to verify it. Who would believe that a live streamer has technology that¡¯s way ahead of its time? If they were that capable, why would they bother with live streaming? Those who truly suspect would be considered fools. Now, Bi Fang really had the best hardware among all the streamers! He turned on Shark Live Streaming and went directly into the backend. Due to the participant requirement of the mission, Bi Fang chose Shark, one of the hottest platforms. He entered the live room he had previously registered and began setting the title: [Master Fang Live: Real Wilderness Survival, Experience the Charm of Qinling¡¯s Nature!] The title was a bit exaggerated and somewhat raw; it might turn some people away just by seeing it, but it was sure to pique the curiosity of many more and grab attention. After all, even the finest liquor goes unnoticed if tucked away in a remote alley. The afternoon wasn¡¯t peak streaming time, and there were few viewers. As a ¡®three-no¡¯ newbie¡ªno fans, no recommendation, no popularity¡ªhe had to have a title catchy enough to draw people in. When the viewers come in and discover this hidden gem of a boy¡ªhaha¡­ ¡°It¡¯s finally starting.¡± Bi Fang took a deep breath and hit the live button. A faint blue light flashed across the surface of the drone, and the next second, the drone took off silently and hovered behind the tricycle. The view switched to the live room¡¯s footage within his vision. In the lossless quality from above, nature seemed even more magnificent, with the leaves of tall trees in the valleys undulating in the wind like waves of ink. Impressive! Impressive enough to intoxicate and even excite! The road ahead was unknown. It was a challenge, the most thrilling adventure! Bi Fang was full of excitement, but the next moment he snapped back to reality¡ªsomeone had come in! [Wori, this image quality, is this Shark¡¯s work? Or is it a drone? What¡¯s this high-end livestream about?] [This clarity? We¡¯ve got Blu-ray quality live streams now?] The viewers who just joined were taken aback by the flawless image quality of the live broadcaster. [I have to give this picture and this face a 94. Don¡¯t ask me why, because I¡¯m watching this on the highway and got docked 6 points.] [Good image quality, thumbs up, but the streamer¡¯s looks¡­ is this another outdoor girl-chasing session? I¡¯m outta here.] ¡°Hi everyone, I¡¯m¡­¡± Just as Bi Fang was about to greet them, he realized that a third of the audience that had just come in had already left. This wouldn¡¯t do! Each viewer was a precious¡­ treasure, not to be lost so easily! However, it¡¯s no wonder the viewers reacted this way. Nowadays, most outdoor live streams are misleading; you click on one and it¡¯s all handsome guys in fancy cars trying to pick up girls outdoors. For the first time, Bi Fang felt somewhat annoyed that his face was a blend of Andy Lau on the left, Louis Koo on the right, Zunlong in front, Tin Lok behind, Tony Leung above, and Edison Chen below. Hide his face and he could pass as a fighter. But these days, everything¡¯s so competitive, even transmigration. Ugly people don¡¯t even transmigrate anymore. After all, it can affect the readers¡¯ ability to empathize. Alas, it was all his own fault. Bi Fang felt his conscience had been condemned. So he decided to be a pioneer and break this pattern! Bi Fang immediately shouted, ¡°Don¡¯t go just yet!¡± Screech. The tricycle came to a screeching halt. Under the massive inertia, Bi Fang, sitting in the tricycle, was almost thrown out, but his Advanced Yoga wasn¡¯t for nothing. With a twist of his waist and a flick of his hips, he still managed to land gracefully. ¡°Hey, I didn¡¯t tell you to stop!¡± Bi Fang said, unable to help but laugh and cry. Chapter 3 - 3 Like raindrops merging into the sea Chapter 3 Like raindrops merging into the sea Translator: 549690339 ¡°Ah?¡± The old man was confused and then looked around, shaking his head, ¡°Then I can¡¯t take you further. If we go deeper, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll get lost myself, and it¡¯s not safe!¡± Bi Fang paused upon hearing this and looked around, only then realizing that he had ventured deep into the Qinling. ¡°That¡¯s fine, let¡¯s stop here, and you should hurry back too before it gets dark.¡± ¡°Hey, you¡¯re going to stay here alone?¡± The old man was startled and couldn¡¯t fathom what the young man was thinking. He spoke earnestly, ¡°Young man, it¡¯s okay to have fun and play around, but don¡¯t joke with your life. It¡¯s already deep here. If you don¡¯t follow me, how will you get back on your own?¡± ¡°In these deep mountains and old forests, there are jackals and leopards, not one fewer. Just look at this scar.¡± The elderly man rolled up his trouser leg with a serious expression, revealing the crosshatched bite marks on his calf. Even with the undamaged image quality, the intertwined scars looked ferocious, exuding an ominous aura that startled the viewers. [Holy shit, what bit you?] [In these deep mountains and old forests, it must be a wolf, right?] [666, are there really wolves in the mountains? What is the host planning to live stream?] Bi Fang looked at the shape of the wound and also felt it was very similar to the bite marks of a canine. Wolves prefer to bite the neck, but it¡¯s not a certainty. For a moment, he regarded the man with a mix of astonishment and suspicion. Unexpectedly, the old man he had casually encountered also had a heroic tale of fighting fierce wolves. ¡°Was this¡­ bitten by a wolf?¡± ¡°How could that be!¡± The old man¡¯s yellowing eyes glared at Bi Fang, with an expression that said ¡®what are you thinking¡¯. ¡°I was bitten by a dog. If it had been a wolf, do you think I¡¯d still be standing here talking to you?¡± Bi Fang: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Young man, I¡¯m telling you this because dogs are already this dangerous, let alone wolves. You¡¯d better hurry back, and I won¡¯t charge you for the ride,¡± the old man said with sincere earnestness. Bi Fang was touched. Since his journey began, this was the first time someone had shown concern for him. But he couldn¡¯t explain it clearly, and after much persuasion, the old man reluctantly agreed, riding away on his dark green, canopy-equipped tricycle with a putt-putt sound. His silhouette was as upright as a marshal mounted on a donkey heading for the battlefield. ¡°Phew!¡± Not until the old man¡¯s figure disappeared did Bi Fang sigh with relief. It was a good thing he hadn¡¯t mentioned he was here for Wilderness Survivalist; otherwise, the old man might have tied him up and dragged him back on the spot. However¡­ He glanced at the rising popularity of his live stream and couldn¡¯t help but beam with joy; the interaction with the old man had brought significant rewards. Facing the drone camera, Bi Fang began to introduce, ¡°Alright, now that the old man has left, I didn¡¯t want to scare him. Now I can tell you, I am currently in the Primeval Forest of Xiaxi Qinling Mountain, and I will bring you a highly dangerous outdoor live stream¡ªWilderness Survivalist!¡± ¡°As the name suggests, this time, relying solely on myself, I will delve into Xiaxi Qinling Mountain, find a way to survive in this deadly wilderness, and return to civilized society!¡± ¡°In the process of outdoor travel, no matter how well-planned, things can still go wrong. You can get trapped, lost, or even fall into deadly peril.¡± ¡°So in these situations, how do we escape from difficulties? How do we stay alive? Today, I will act as a lost traveler and show you how to escape the siege of nature and find a way out!¡± While explaining, Bi Fang opened his backpack and showed its empty interior to everyone, ¡°You can see that I didn¡¯t bring any equipment, no food, and no water!¡± ¡°This is a true survival challenge against nature, a journey to the extreme!¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Bi Fang walked toward the interior of the forest, stepping on the thick turf, advancing into the silent forest that underscored the tense atmosphere! Just a few opening remarks had the audience¡¯s hair standing on end! No matter how much they imagined, they couldn¡¯t fathom how to survive in a dangerous primeval forest without any supplies! Eat dirt? Gnaw on tree bark? Beyond the necessities of survival, the forest was also fraught with danger; enemies lurked everywhere, ready to strike at any moment. Beasts, venomous snakes, viruses, parasites, natural disasters¡­ In such a deadly environment, what else could humans do apart from resign to fate? [He¡¯s crazy, truly crazy!] [Without water and food, what will you eat and drink?] [Oh my God, so scary, isn¡¯t this basically a death live stream?] [Too fake, surely no one thinks this isn¡¯t a forest park, right? No way, no way, right?] [No deception here, this really is a primeval forest. Whether it¡¯s the density of the undergrowth or the diversity of the trees, man-made forests can¡¯t achieve this. I¡¯m a graduate student in college, majoring in horticulture.] [But that doesn¡¯t prove anything. I bet the host won¡¯t last a day.] [Exactly, the dude earlier was saying there are jackals and leopards around, encountering them would be game over!] [All shills, whoever believes it is an idiot.] No matter the quality of the comments, there weren¡¯t many people in the live broadcast room, but there were quite a few sending bullet comments. In some live broadcasts, there might only be one or two people sending bullet comments out of a hundred viewers. Of course, some of these viewer counts might have been fabricated. It wasn¡¯t unusual for platforms to use bots to manipulate data. Indeed, in the field of Wilderness Survivalist broadcasting, Bi Fang, as the first one to break new ground, caused an unparalleled sensation! ¡°I won¡¯t deceive anyone. You can judge for yourselves whether it¡¯s true or not. But please don¡¯t try to imitate me. After all, I¡¯ve had professional training and a wealth of experience,¡± [Despite that, I still want to say, it¡¯s crazy.] [My goodness, you¡¯re hogging all the swagger for yourself.] [When it comes to bragging, I bow down to you as the strongest.] Indeed, nobody believed him, but Bi Fang wasn¡¯t bragging. In his past life at CWCA, he had wandered around, genuinely having seen all sorts of extraordinary things. But it¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t believe it. Just don¡¯t rush off. Seeing two more people leave, Bi Fang became anxious and immediately decided to do something. He walked straight to a tree, snapped off a straight branch, then moved to an area where sunlight was shining, and spoke to the camera. ¡°As a traveler lost in a primeval forest, the first thing we need to figure out is the direction, and then make a plan accordingly.¡± ¡°There¡¯s an old saying: During the day look at the sun, at night the stars, and on cloudy days the plants. During daylight, the sun is undoubtedly one of the most important cues for determining direction.¡± [The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Can¡¯t you just use your hands to tell the direction?] [666, just use your hands, really? Without knowing the time, how would you know where the sun is currently positioned? xswl] [Don¡¯t you have a cellphone? Or a watch?] [And phones and watches, why don¡¯t you ask if there¡¯s champagne steak available?] ¡°If you think the sun surely rises in the east and sets in the west, then you¡¯re mistaken,¡± Bi Fang said, shaking his head as he read the bullet comments. ¡°In the summer, above the Tropic of Cancer and excluding the Arctic Circle, the sun rises from the northeast in the morning and sets in the northwest in the afternoon. It¡¯s not absolutely east to west. In winter, it¡¯s the opposite. The higher the latitude, the more pronounced this phenomenon is.¡± ¡°One summer, I went to Jiamusi. The sun rose from the northeast direction at a little past three in the morning, and it didn¡¯t set in the northwest until almost eight at night. So, we can¡¯t simply use time to determine the sun¡¯s direction. The deviation can be quite significant, let alone that we don¡¯t have watches on us.¡± The audience was bewildered. If this doesn¡¯t work and that doesn¡¯t work, then how do we determine direction? ¡°Here I¡¯ll teach you all, the easiest method is still the shadow-stick method, not only convenient but also with a fixed direction.¡± As he said this, Bi Fang stabbed the snapped-off branch into the ground, then used his finger to trace the shadow of the stick on the dirt, drawing a straight line and making a mark at the end point, A. A few minutes later, to the confused audience, some of whom had even left, Bi Fang drew another line along the shadow and marked the end point B. Then he drew a straight line going through the two shadow end points. ¡°You see, the direction of this straight line is the precise east-west line. The end of the first shadow, point A, is west, while the end of the second shadow, point B, is east. The line perpendicular to the east-west line is the north-south line,¡± Gesturing with his hands, Bi Fang said with a grin, ¡°What do you think, pretty simple, right? The astronomer from the Yuan dynasty, Guo Shoujing, once used this method. No need to overthink it, just remember it directly.¡± The audience watching the screen was dumbfounded. How could two lines just drawn out of nowhere determine direction? [Eh¡­] [I know this, because¡­ so¡­ That¡¯s right, it¡¯s like this!] [You didn¡¯t say anything though] [Any genius want to explain?] [Damn, I finally get it! It¡¯s because no matter whether the sun rises strictly in the east or sets in the west, it¡¯s always symmetrical around north and south. Accordingly, the shadows also reflect this. The two shadows are like an abridged version of the east-west axis, and by selecting their perpendicular bisector, the accurate east-west axis emerges!] ¡°That¡¯s correct, this is actually a simple physics problem, and that¡¯s the gist of it!¡± Bi Fang nodded in agreement, thankful that someone else had explained it, saving him the trouble. The concept itself wasn¡¯t hard to understand; it¡¯s just something most people wouldn¡¯t think of. [666, incomprehensible but awe-inspiring] [Boss, you¡¯re awesome!] [Blue Seaweed sends the host fish balls*100¡ªImpressive!] Seeing the audience captivated, Bi Fang felt inwardly thrilled but held back his excitement, clearing his throat. ¡°Oh right, seems like I forgot to introduce myself earlier? Let¡¯s get acquainted again.¡± ¡°My name is Bi Fang, a professional explorer. I¡¯ve witnessed blue whales struggle to death under the attack of orcas and seen black panthers.n I¡¯ve crossed the Amazon rainforest and visited the land of the most mysterious miracles.n But all these moments, all these fragments of time, have become a piece of the puzzle in my exciting life, just like raindrops merging into the ocean.n This forest is the same.¡± S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Today marks the first live broadcast of my adventure journeys, we will begin, right here, together!¡± Chapter 4 - 4 Professional Skill max Chapter 4 Professional Skill max Translator: 549690339 ¡°Looking back at the evolution of humanity, if our ancestors hadn¡¯t possessed the courage for adventure and imagination, the willingness to innovate, and the grandeur of spirit and magnificent sentiment to make sacrifices, humans would never have surfed the seas in canoes, exploring the infinite mysteries of the oceans beyond.¡± Curiosity sparked the impulse for adventure, and adventure ignited the torch of civilization. Adventure isn¡¯t just about the natural world¡¯s oceans and mountains, deserts and swamps; it also lies within densely populated cities.¡± ¡°My name is Bi Fang, a professional outdoor explorer. Here, I¡¯ll show you how to survive in some of the most dangerous places on Earth, where without professional skills, you wouldn¡¯t last even a day.¡± ¡°This time, I¡¯ve come to Qinling, and I¡¯ll find a way to survive on foot in this well-preserved primeval forest!¡± The drone flew rapidly, with the black mountains and forests coming into view, covering everything beneath its lens. The wind blew across millions of hectares of forest¡ªit was an ocean, a vast green sea, with thousands upon thousands of tree crowns swaying in the wind, forming wave upon wave of foliage. The light of the sky cast tree shadows on Bi Fang; his tall and slender figure seemed so small and unreachable under the giant trees of the mountains, but the confidence in his speech gave an overwhelmingly strong impact. By foot alone? Is it possible? The audience felt their legs go weak. [Damn, this visual, this rhetoric, it¡¯s fire.] [So thrilling, this is my first time watching this, should I prepare some tissues? (joking)] [Isn¡¯t this more hype than ¡®Boruto¡¯?] Looking at the camera, Bi Fang pulled the stunned audience back to reality. ¡°Since we have already figured out the direction, it¡¯s time to plan our survival route.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t return the way Grandpa De sent me; that would be boring. Therefore, choosing the right direction to move forward is crucial.¡± ¡°In Qinling, I choose to head south because south of Qinling is a subtropical climate, warm and humid, with richer natural resources, which is more suitable for our survival.¡± With top wilderness survival skills, coupled with experiences from a past life, Bi Fang was confident, with a clear thought process, and as he walked, he explained his survival plan to the audience. ¡°Next, the task is to find a river. On one hand, we need water; on the other hand¡­¡± ¡°Looking at history, we can see that rivers are the cradle of civilizations, and one of the most vital conditions for the survival of living beings. As long as you follow a river, you can usually find populated areas.¡± ¡°And once we find people, our survival is considered a success.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s tone was steady, which, in the eerie primeval forest, made him seem even more composed and calm. Finding a river meant finding hope for survival. Because a river brings not only water but also the key to survival, a compass to civilization! [Though the host is young, look at this analysis¡ªjust one word, professional!] [Convincing evidence.jpg] [Kanagawa?Maple Maple has sent the host a membership card*1¡ªfollowing the wave] [But now that the old man has left, leaving only the host, why does it feel so creepy?] [Yeah, I didn¡¯t feel it at first, but now with only the host left, in the deep forest and thickets, it¡¯s like watching a horror movie¡­] ¡°It¡¯s perfectly normal.¡± As for the audience¡¯s reaction, Bi Fang was quite unconcerned; he had felt the same way during his first entry into the primeval forest: the claustrophobic environment, isolated from the outside world, dangerous flora and fauna¡­ ¡°Feeling uncomfortable in an unfamiliar environment is a very important aspect of wilderness survival. Maintaining an optimistic mindset is crucial; only with a positive attitude can you have the confidence to overcome difficulties. Now that difficulties have arisen, there¡¯s no need to make the situation worse.¡± A coin has two sides, and so do situations; you can¡¯t just focus on the negative and ignore the positive. As an expert in wilderness survival, keeping optimistic is how you ensure your body and mind stay in good condition. This not only cultivates one¡¯s character but also helps to tap into one¡¯s potential. But it¡¯s clear that mindset alone isn¡¯t enough; skill is equally important. Even basic walking requires attention to detail. ¡°During our journey, we must be careful not to take large strides. Instead, keep your steps moderate, light, and relaxed. Also, don¡¯t lift your feet too high; drag them. This can relieve leg muscles and conserve energy without affecting your speed.¡± ¡°Additionally, make your walk as natural and smooth as possible, not causing fatigue and strain to the body.¡± ¡°To achieve this, you need to control your limb movements, avoid excessive fatigue in your legs, and distribute the pressure that occurs during walking across your feet and arms.¡± Bi Fang, while ascending the slope, hunched his body low, relaxed his back and leaned forward slightly, his legs a bit bent, his head and arms lowered, stabilizing his entire center of gravity on his lower body. He coordinated his breathing with his steps, making his walk steady and energy-efficient. Even though taking long strides often feels powerful, endurance is more important for wilderness treks. Ample physical strength is the foundation of all activities. [So handsome, it shocked the Central Committee, has sent a Plane*1 to the streamer¡ªSeeing that posture, you know he¡¯s a veteran of uphill streaming.] [That goodnight w has sent 100 Fish Balls to the streamer¡ªIt¡¯s all in the details.] sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Feels like the streamer knows so much, even walking has so many particulars.] ¡°It¡¯s not that I know a lot, I just knew it before you all did; now you know too, right?¡± Bi Fang laughed in the face of the audience¡¯s compliments, completely unfazed. [Damn, with just that saying from the streamer, I¡¯m a fan.] [Blue Seaweed has sent 300 Fish Balls to the streamer¡ªFor knowing beforehand, I¡¯m in love.] [Kanagawa?Maple Maple has sent a Shark Fin*1 to the streamer] [Sending over a small gray plane] ¡°Thank you, thanks everyone for your support!¡± Bi Fang was somewhat delighted, thanking each of his fans who sent gifts. This was the first time he had received so many gifts, which held special meaning. The gifts on Shark Live Stream are divided into several tiers, with a Super Rocket costing 2000, a Yacht 1314, a Rocket 500, a Plane 100, a Membership Card 6, a Weak Chicken 0.2, and a Thumbs Up 0.1. Additionally, there are Fish Balls, gifted in units of 100, with 100 Fish Balls equaling 0.1 yuan. A Shark Fin costs 1 yuan each, and sending a certain number per month in a room can lead to a level-up. Among these, the Plane is special; the streamer gets an 80% commission from this gift, rather than 50% In other words, with just that wave of gifts, Bi Fang had earned almost two hundred! You could throw an extra sausage into your instant noodles now! The situation was looking great! This made Bi Fang breathe a sigh of relief, as he had managed to keep the audience interested. Actually, before this live stream, he did not have much confidence. Although a theme like Wilderness Survival Skill is always popular as it¡¯s full of useful information, no matter the world, live streaming and edited videos are fundamentally different formats. Videos from Bear Grylls and Grandpa De are like a proper meal, nutritionally balanced, orderly, from appetizers to soup, to the final dessert and drink, even the plating is immaculate, dense with information, leaving the audience satisfied and full. Live streaming is more like snacks; as long as it¡¯s not too horrible, most people don¡¯t care about the nutrition and just want something to keep their mouths busy. For example, the boring trekking that Bi Fang was doing would definitely be cut from a video, but not from a live stream, so the density of information is lower. Therefore, interaction with and involvement of the audience is extremely important, which is also the most appealing aspect of live streaming. At this moment, the audience¡¯s sense of participation was very strong! The temperature of the live broadcast room gradually rose, and the number of viewers steadily increased, lifting Bi Fang¡¯s spirits. His legs no longer ached, his back no longer felt sore, and he traversed the forest as if it were flat ground, covering several hundred meters in a single breath. ¡°However, even though our plan is simple, carrying it out is not easy.¡± ¡°In November 2019, during a mountain climbing trip organized by an outdoor club in Xiaxi, one person went missing. At the time, there were no less than seven professional rescue teams, including the local villagers; over 150 people searched, finding the swollen, dehydrated, and unconscious climber only after five days.¡± ¡°The trapped climber related that he just wanted to take photos at the top of the mountain, but the fog was too dense to take pictures. Just as he decided to return, he found himself lost, all in less than ten minutes.¡± ¡°Even when I travel, I never change my route on a whim, and always prepare all kinds of supplies and tools just in case.¡± As he walked, Bi Fang tried to make the process of trekking more interesting while cautioning the viewers not to recklessly imitate him. These examples are all real, information he had gathered and noted down a few days ago. At the same time, this was also the speaking style of Bear Grylls from his past life, which he was deliberately emulating. Every successful project has its merits worth adopting. Bear Grylls was so popular in his previous life¡ªit would be a waste not to copy¡­ahem, not to learn from him. Surely Bear Grylls couldn¡¯t cross worlds just to hit him, right? It¡¯s just unreasonable. And looking at the rising popularity of this live stream room, Bear Grylls, forever a legend! Chapter 5 - 5 The Wilderness of Lurking Crisis 4 Chapter 5 The Wilderness of Lurking Crisis 4 Translator: 549690339 [Swollen all over¡­sounds terribly painful.] [Lost within ten minutes of leaving the group? Just like that?] [Everyone agreed to bring enough equipment, and you only brought a bag (funny).] [I¡¯m dying, it¡¯s just like agreeing with friends to prepare ingredients for hotpot, and only bringing a pair of chopsticks.] [Startled into gifting the host a membership card*1¡ªlooks like the host is the real deal!] [iMuji gifts the host fishballs*200¡ªstill, safety first.] There were a few bullet screen comments, dozens of viewers, and hundreds of degrees of heat! Bi Fang appeared calm on the surface, but his heart was surging. The real number of viewers must have already exceeded thirty by now, and it¡¯s been less than an hour, it looks like the mission requirement is just around the corner! ¡°Thank you, thank you iMuji for your concern, but don¡¯t be skeptical, folks.¡± Bi Fang faced the drone, pretending to read the comments on it, playing his part to the hilt. Although he could have the bullet screen comments displayed directly in his line of sight, he couldn¡¯t show it. As far as he knew, this world hadn¡¯t yet developed equipment at the system¡¯s level. ¡°Even experienced climbers will plan their route before a climb. If they change the route on the fly, along with poor time management, they are very likely to get lost, which can be dangerous.¡± ¡°And once you are lost and trapped, you need to stay calm, call for help, and after making contact, wait patiently in the same place or somewhere with clear signs. You must not attempt to rescue yourself blindly, hoping for the best.¡± [What if there¡¯s no signal?] [Yeah, after all, this is the Primeval Forest.] [Speaking of which, how come the host¡¯s drone has a signal? It feels so powerful, the signal is strong, and the picture quality seems better than Blu-ray.] ¡°Everyone stop guessing. This drone is custom-made for a hefty price, even better than some military ones,¡± Bi Fang casually explained. Bi Fang then rested his chin on his hands and chuckled: ¡°If there¡¯s no signal¡­ wouldn¡¯t that be the reason you all watch my live stream?¡± [666, got shown up by the host.] [What logical reasoning, Yazier.] [Just joined. What does this host do? Can someone with clout explain?] Among a bunch of joking bullet screen comments, one with a different tone slipped in, but before Bi Fang could explain, the enthusiastic audience had already explained everything. Having fans is just awesome! ¡°Welcome new viewers, but, as the saying goes, it¡¯s best to prevent problems before they arise. If there really are people wanting to venture into the wild, they should consider getting an emergency GPS beacon, which has satellite positioning. Unless you run off to the Mariana Trench, you¡¯ll have a signal.¡± After joking with the viewers, Bi Fang noticed a steep slope ahead, overgrown with bushes, and he prepared to find a suitable stick to use as a walking stick. The forest is different from the rainforest; if it¡¯s not raining, the ground is mostly dry. The main challenges in traveling are the low shrubs, and the venomous creatures hidden under the weeds and dead leaves. For this reason, a suitable stick can save a lot of unnecessary trouble. It¡¯s not only energy-saving, but it also helps to scare away snakes and insects and to make sure of the footing. Scanning the surroundings, Bi Fang easily found a reasonably straight stick and continued on his way. But after not walking far, he suddenly stopped, like a robot that had lost power. Just now¡­ something seemed off. Bi Fang tried to recall the patch of grass where he had picked up the stick. After mentally picturing the look of the grass, his pupils instantly shrank, and he quickly hurried back. [Huh? Why is he going back?] [Something¡¯s up (shh)] [Definitely found something~!] [What happened?] Yes, something big had happened. Bi Fang reached the grass patch he had been at before, crouched down, and stared intently at a small clump of grass as if there were some man-eating beast there. He had never expected to encounter such an incident just upon entering the forest; not even novels would dare to be so coincidental! He had nearly ignored it! Not far away was a clump of grass that was a distinctly different color from the surrounding environment, darker yellow, as if it were about to wither. It was scat! Some wild animal had excreted here! Almost in an instant, Bi Fang, with his top-level wilderness skills, analyzed everything. He had been too careless not to notice earlier! He thought he could rest easy with his system-acquired skills, but reality had taught him a harsh lesson. If it weren¡¯t for the subconscious warning, he wouldn¡¯t have noticed at all! Being alone in the wilderness and yet so lacking in vigilance! Bi Fang cursed himself internally, then immediately lay down on the ground, his nose close to the spot, and sniffed lightly, a strong ammonia smell wafted. Indeed! ¡°There has been a wild animal around here!¡± Boom! The viewers in the live stream exploded into a frenzy upon hearing these words. [There¡¯s a wild animal? What is it? Can you eat it?] [How does the host know?] ¡°[Whoa, isn¡¯t that very dangerous?]¡± ¡°[The host is so handsome!]¡± ¡°[Infatuated one, scram, this is a stream of true skills]¡± ¡°Everyone, take a look at these weeds. The style is clearly different from the other weeds. All the other grasses are green, so why is this one yellow and wilted?¡± Before the audience could answer, Bi Fang gave the answer, ¡°It¡¯s a burn from young plants, these are symptoms only found in burns!¡± ¡°There are no pesticides in the primeval forest, so the only possibility for sudden plant burns is being urinated on. The large amounts of inorganic salts in urine cause a change in osmotic pressure, making the soil solution¡¯s concentration higher than that of the root hair cells¡¯ fluid. Thus, the root hair cells can¡¯t absorb water and instead lose water, causing the plants to wilt!¡± ¡°[Darn, it¡¯s just pee, I got nervous over nothing!]¡± ¡°[Art Style: Feels offended]¡± S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°[It¡¯s getting smelly already.]¡± ¡°[This urine frost is almost sticking to my face, take it away for me!]¡± ¡°[It¡¯s just some urine, right? There are so many animals in the forest, isn¡¯t that normal?]¡± ¡°[You can¡¯t talk like that. Better safe than sorry, what if it¡¯s from some fierce beast?]¡± ¡°The only good news now is that the ammonia smell on these grasses is strong, indicating that the wild animal urinated some time ago, likely over an hour, so we¡¯re relatively safe, but we still can¡¯t stay for long!¡± Burned plants need over a day to show symptoms, indicating that this wild animal frequently excretes here. This isn¡¯t the first time it has urinated here. It¡¯s likely a habitual behavior for marking territory. Bi Fang stood up, picked up a long branch, and started clearing the nearby weed bushes while paying attention to the surroundings. The originally beautiful forest became fraught with danger, as if a ferocious beast could charge out at any moment! ¡°Judging from the amount of urine, this animal is not small. It¡¯s at least bigger than a common wild dog or a deer. But to make a clearer judgment, we need to check if there¡¯s any of its feces nearby.¡± ¡°[Darn, Master Fang is ruthless!]¡± ¡°[Looking for poop, are you serious?]¡± ¡°[Didn¡¯t expect this to be a live stream with such heavy taste!]¡± ¡°[Go eat shit.]¡± Bi Fang focused on clearing the weeds, and finally found a few dark brown elongated objects beside a shrub less than three meters away. He didn¡¯t mind the dirt, directly picked them up, crumbled them, and even sniffed at them, frowning, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s feces!¡± Heavens! What is this operation? Many viewers were stunned, completely shocked by the scene. ¡°[Don¡¯t come closer!]¡± ¡°[Old Eight¡¯s secret recipe hamburger, tastes amazing]¡± ¡°[There you go, brothers, just do it!]¡± But Bi Fang ignored the audience¡¯s intense reaction, continued to knead, and then spread the crumbs in the palm of his hand. After thoroughly identifying it, Bi Fang sighed deeply, ¡°Guys, it seems our luck isn¡¯t good.¡± ¡°[What¡¯s wrong? Is there poison in the feces?]¡± ¡°[The one upstairs is toxic¡­]¡± ¡°[What happened again? Stop startling me, my blood pressure is going up.]¡± ¡°[What animal¡¯s feces are they?]¡± Looking at the feces in his hand, Bi Fang said with a grave tone, ¡°This feces is from a wolf. We may already be in its territory!¡± ¡°[Scared me to death, it¡¯s just a wolf, I thought the host was going to eat it.]¡± ¡°[Are you serious upstairs¡­]¡± ¡°[Crap, there it is, a wolf!]¡± ¡°[Should we retreat?]¡± ¡°[You kidding? Brother Fang looks like an old hunter, scared?]¡± ¡°[That¡¯s right, what¡¯s there to be afraid of? Today the host will perform ¡®Master Fang Fights the Wolf¡¯!]¡± Bi Fang¡¯s face twitched. The online friends really thought highly of him. He could handle a lone wolf using his system skills, but if there was a pack, he¡¯d have no doubt he would die. He wasn¡¯t willing to take such a gamble. ¡°Whether it¡¯s a lone wolf or a pack, these urines and feces could likely be their territorial markers. If that¡¯s the case, then we¡¯ve already stepped into their territory. We must leave quickly.¡± ¡°[That¡¯s right, safety first, live streaming second.]¡± ¡°[I can¡¯t help but support that.]¡± ¡°[Go go go! The Wild Wolf Great Escape!]¡± ¡°[Wilderness Trouble #1, Beast Attack!]¡± Tossing the feces aside, Bi Fang picked up the branch and advanced deeper into the forest. From a distance, the serene forest was no longer grand and beautiful but had become a terrifying and gloomy hazard¡­ Chapter 6: Bird’s Egg? Chapter 6: Bird¡¯s Egg? Translator: 549690339 [Why does the host know it¡¯s wolf dung just by glancing at it?] [Yeah, how did you figure that out?] [Coach, I want to learn this!] The audience was very curious about Bi Fang¡¯s judgment. Could he really tell so much from just a pile of dung? ¡°Because there are several very obvious characteristics,¡± Bi Fang wove through the forest, sharing his analysis. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you noticed before, but the dung has a diameter between 3 to 5 centimeters and contains a large amount of hair and bone fragments.¡± ¡°The color of the hair varies from light to dark. This is rabbit or deer hair, and the color that¡¯s darker, almost black, is because the predator consumed a lot of fresh, blood-rich meat, which, combined with the size of the dung, indicates the predator¡¯s size, while the hair reveals its dietary habits.¡± ¡°And the medium-sized carnivores that can catch rabbits and deer are wolves.¡± [Learned something new, time to confront the wolves!] [I just checked mine¡­] [Upstairs, gross!] [Aren¡¯t you guys scared¡­] [Scared +1.] [+2.] The discovery of wolf feces made many viewers anxious. In order to stay away from a possible encounter with wolves, Bi Fang didn¡¯t stop for a moment, fearing that if he slowed down, he might be followed by a pack of wolves. Fortunately, what he had sold before was the Ancestor Bird Suit, not explorer hiking boots. In the Primeval Forest, the road was rugged, and dense thickets concealed many sharp stones. Without a good pair of shoes, it would be impossible to move even an inch! However, as he hurried on, Bi Fang¡¯s condition gradually worsened, with a burning pain accompanying the emptiness in his stomach. ¡°I can¡¯t go on, I¡¯m very hungry now. For today¡¯s live stream, I didn¡¯t even eat lunch, so before we continue on, we need to find some food first.¡± After saying this, Bi Fang jumped off a boulder and wiped his sweat. This body¡¯s fitness was truly lacking. Just an hour of walking had already left him gasping for breath, and his legs started to feel weak and numb. But Bi Fang did his best to moderate his breathing and didn¡¯t show his struggle in front of the audience. [My heart goes out to Brother Fang. Wilderness live streaming is really not that easy.] [Yeah, it¡¯s already tough without food, but just the thought of wolves possibly chasing behind chills me to the bone.] [In face of beauty, loyalty steps aside. Gift to the host Shark Fins*10 ¡ªServing some shark fins to tide over the hunger for the host.] [+1, I¡¯ll send some fish balls.] [Shark fins received.] ¡°Thank you all for your concern. You don¡¯t have to worry too much; these are all normal Wilderness Survivalist operations, and I¡¯m already used to them after training,¡± Bi Fang reassured the audience. Seeing the gifts pour in, despite his urgency, Bi Fang still gave a big smile to the audience in the sunlight. [Brother Fang has such a nice smile] [I believe in love again] [Floating Life Is but a Dream gifts the host a Plane*1¡ªGo for it, Master Fang, I love you!] [Whoa, is that a female fan?] [Shocking, female fan appears during outdoor live stream, and the reason is him!] [What¡¯s so shocking? With Master Fang being so handsome, is it strange to have female fans?] An hour passed, and the popularity of the live stream continued to rise, with the number of online viewers reaching over eighty! And this wasn¡¯t even the peak time for evening live streaming yet! Lavish with instant noodles, sausages, and eggs today! But Bi Fang didn¡¯t let it get to his head and remained focused on searching for food, when suddenly, a pile of fresh weeds appeared in his view. Bi Fang¡¯s eyes shone green as he began tearing at it like a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey. [Is he going to eat grass?] [Has it become so difficult that he¡¯s starting to eat grass and chew on bark?] [The almighty Master Fang, not so impressive after all (facetious)] S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang¡¯s face darkened; he wasn¡¯t about to eat grass; he quickly explained. ¡°This pile of grass has clearly been foraged through, and since there are no people in the Primeval Forest, it was most likely deer or some other herbivore that rummaged for food here!¡± ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, we can find some leftovers, be it earthworms or whatever insects, they are all high in protein, and can really help replenish our strength.¡± Over here, Bi Fang had been digging for a while when he indeed saw several purplish-red worms writhing and entangling, looking like red silk threads. They were earthworms. Great stuff! Bi Fang excitedly said, ¡°Look! There indeed are a few earthworms left, the protein content of these creatures is nearly four times that of beef, making them an excellent source of energy.¡± ¡°A gift from nature!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s words hit the audience like a depth charge, shocking and stirring them inside out! To eat earthworms? What a joke? Utterly insane! [That¡¯s so bloody disgusting!] [It¡¯s over, the streamer has gone mad with hunger!] [Earthworms? Are those things even edible?] [Spare me, I¡¯m still eating potato chips here.] Bi Fang chuckled, reached out to pinch an earthworm, and pulled it out whole, bringing it under the camera for everyone to take a good look. ¡°To you, it¡¯s just a worm, but for me, it¡¯s a precious source of protein.¡± ¡°With my height and weight, even if I lay still all day, I¡¯d consume over eighteen hundred calories, not to mention that I¡¯ve been on the move since noon and have already expended a tremendous amount of energy.¡± ¡°So, I must do whatever it takes to replenish energy. In such extreme and harsh environments, as long as you can maintain bodily functions, no matter how disgusting the thing is, you¡¯ve got to overcome it.¡± ¡°Staying alive is the foundation of everything!¡± Having said that, he stripped the earthworm of the mud on its body, holding the squirming and twisting worm, he prepared to eat it raw by tilting his head back. [I¡¯m gonna puke] [Please, no more, sob sob sob!] [My mom¡¯s asking why I¡¯m watching the livestream on my knees] [No, no, Brother Fang, don¡¯t eat. Look at the tree in front of you, there¡¯s a bird nest!] [Right, there seems to be a bird nest on the tree ahead!] [Brother Fang, stop eating, there¡¯s good stuff!] [There are bird eggs, why eat earthworms?] Hm? A bird nest? Bi Fang, upon seeing the comments, paused and lifted his head, indeed spotting a bird nest on a large tree ahead. And the seasons of summer and autumn happen to be when birds breed¡­ Bi Fang¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up, but before he took any action, he frowned again. If he weren¡¯t so hungry, no one could accept eating earthworms raw, but there might not be any goods in the bird nest, and it would be a waste of energy to check, and what if it¡¯s a protected animal¡­ Live broadcasting Wilderness Survivalist isn¡¯t that easy; one must always be cautious of every word and action. If you eat any protected animals, the state would surely ban you without a doubt. For a moment, Bi Fang hesitated. [He¡¯s reluctant, isn¡¯t he? He must be reluctant, right?] [Great Sage, put away your magical powers. The earthworms won¡¯t run away; if all else fails, just come back and eat them!] Hey, that makes sense. Enlightened by the comment, Bi Fang realized indeed, whether or not he went up to check, he could eat if there was something, and if not, he could always return to continue digging earthworms. With that in mind, he stopped hesitating, stuffed the earthworm into his pocket, and began to size up the large tree in front of him. [I love this pocket-stuffing detail.] [Frugal Master Fang.jpg] [But this tree is really tall, didn¡¯t notice it just now.] [Dang, that¡¯s got to be over ten meters tall, right? Who can even reach that!] [So we can¡¯t avoid eating earthworms, huh¡­] As the drone rose, everyone then realized just how high the bird nest was, even more than ten meters off the ground, completely out of reach! Chapter 7 - 7 Don’t Reach Out! Chapter 7 Don¡¯t Reach Out! Translator: 549690339 The towering tree that blotted out the sun was estimated to be over fifteen meters tall, and the nest situated at a height of over ten meters¡ªnearly the equivalent to a four-story building. Everyone was troubled. But Bi Fang was not worried, for when he set his sight on the tree, the route planning, points of leverage, climbing motions¡­ ¡­many details instinctively came to mind, and on the spot, no less than three possible routes appeared in his mind! Among countless branches, each pathway was exceptionally clear, unobstructed! Climbing Lv5! What high tree of over ten meters? It¡¯s clearly nothing but a simple ladder! Earthworms? Decent people have eggs, who would eat earthworms! Thinking this, Bi Fang rubbed his hands together, somewhat excitedly saying, ¡°This is a Metasequoia, characteristic of having numerous branches, which start dividing from a lower point, all of which are excellent footholds, so climbing it will not be hard!¡± [???] [Is Old Fang going to climb the tree?] [How do you climb such a tall tree?] [Safety first, guys. Play it smart, don¡¯t take risks!] [Is this the end just as it began?] The number of viewers in the livestream increased gradually, and many who just joined found Bi Fang about to take the risk of climbing a tree, rushing to dissuade him. ¡°You really don¡¯t need to worry, climbing this tree isn¡¯t as difficult as you think!¡± Bi Fang was preparing to explain in detail when a long comment suddenly caught everyone¡¯s attention. [The host is right, I¡¯ve been into rock climbing for three or four years, and there are actually a lot of holds on this tree, but that¡¯s assuming you have a safety rope. The host is climbing barehanded, right?] [Without a rope, one mistake and it¡¯s goodbye. Emmm¡­ I for one wouldn¡¯t dare do that¡­] Well now, the viewers were even more concerned. After all, this was in the outdoor live broadcasting section, and it wasn¡¯t unusual to encounter viewers who really knew their stuff about rock climbing while browsing here. Seeing this, Bi Fang scratched his head, feeling that the situation was developing differently from what he had expected. This tree, to him, was indeed not challenging, with a diameter far exceeding the safety threshold of 15 centimeters. With that in mind, Bi Fang decided to let the facts speak for themselves. ¡°For trees with many branches, we can use the swing leg method, which means grabbing a branch with both hands, swinging the legs to put one leg up on the branch, and then leveraging that to climb.¡± After rubbing his palms, to the astonishment of the viewers, Bi Fang took a running start and leaped, stepping onto the trunk. The rough bark provided enough friction that, with this brief lift, Bi Fang jumped and grasped a branch with both hands. ¡°The key to the swing leg method is to swing the legs and drape one over the branch. With both arms wrapping around the branch, your biceps are then positioned on the top side of the trunk. Next, you swing the other leg that¡¯s hanging in the air, flex the biceps, and flip your body over. That way, you¡¯ll make it onto the branch.¡± After explaining, Bi Fang began to sway his body and, with a push, stepped on the trunk again, walking as if he were moonwalking, before finally using his arms and legs together to straddle the branch! The whole process was smooth and done in one go! His upper body strength may indeed have been insufficient, but his technique was top-notch! With the right technique, climbing a tree is definitely not difficult! [What just happened?] [My god, if you say the host isn¡¯t a special forces soldier, I won¡¯t believe it.] [Throwback primate.jpg] [Damn, with that skill alone, Master Fang definitely hasn¡¯t been slacking! I¡¯ve been rock climbing for almost three to four years and still am not as proficient as the host!] [Is he really that strong?] [Absolutely. The way he grabbed the branch at the beginning shows how solid Master Fang¡¯s basics are. And the fact that he dared to climb so quickly without safety ropes and without any hesitation clearly shows he often practices. I misspoke earlier; even with a rope, I wouldn¡¯t dare climb like that. He¡¯s certainly a master of barehanded climbing!] [666, here we go again, it¡¯s starting again!] Above, amidst the dense branches, Bi Fang adeptly continued to ascend, leaping directly whenever he encountered displaced branches, which was extremely risky. ¡°Whew, you see, its branches are really abundant, and all perfect footholds. It¡¯s truly not difficult, and if you, mastering some techniques, were to try a few times, you could do it too.¡± Sitting on a branch, Bi Fang looked into the camera, panting, ¡°Tree climbing is much about technique. First is clothing¡ªit shouldn¡¯t be so tight that it restricts movement, nor so loose that it might catch on branches.¡± ¡°Next, your body should be somewhat relaxed, and remember the three-point rule. Three out of your four limbs should be firmly attached to the tree at three distinct points, forming a triangulated base.¡± ¡°The triangle is a very stable structure. With three points of support, our center of gravity is easier to control and shift. Also, if one point fails, the other two can provide timely support.¡± Bi Fang paused, deciding to explain two scenarios, ¡°However, if both feet are placed on the same branch, it can only be considered one point of support. Sitting or leaning against the tree doesn¡¯t count as a support point, as it can¡¯t provide any when the other points fail.¡± Once again climbing onto a branch, Bi Fang took a break, as climbing trees was indeed very draining. ¡°Try to grab the tree branch as close to the trunk as possible, and remember, branches less than 7.5cm in diameter should only bear the weight of one hand. If stepping on it, the sole of your foot should be perpendicular to the branch and placed where it connects to the trunk. And never, ever grab a branch that is cracked as it¡¯s extremely dangerous.¡± As if to prove this point, just as Bi Fang finished resting and reached for a branch to continue his ascent¡­ Crack! Rustle¡­ The branch he had grabbed suddenly broke off and fell! Bi Fang lost his balance, his heart pounding as he quickly grabbed a nearby thinner branch and steadied his feet, barely avoiding a fall. [Damn, that scared me] [Holy shit, is his mouth blessed? Whatever he says happens!] [That reaction was too quick, right?] [666, literally dropped into hell] [Master Fang: Basic operations, don¡¯t overreact] [Everyone sit down, don¡¯t kneel] [True¡¤Preach by example] Regaining his senses, Bi Fang felt his entire body soaked in cold sweat, he calmed himself down and said seriously, ¡°Did you all see how important the three-point rule is? That branch just now was clearly eaten by insects, that¡¯s why it wasn¡¯t stable, and the crack was on top, so I didn¡¯t notice it. It seems this tree is not healthy, we need to be even more careful.¡± [Going for more?] [Bird: Chose this tree for nothing but the abundant food!] [My palms are sweating just watching this!] [I can¡¯t even watch¡­] [The host is truly strong!] [Go Master Fang!] Looking at the audience¡¯s encouragement, Bi Fang¡¯s racing heart gradually calmed down, and he wiped the sweat from his hands on his clothes. ¡°When climbing trees or rock-climbing, we must be careful not to slip, which is why many climbers carry a bag of magnesium powder with them. A single slip, and what awaits you might not be failure, but death.¡± Having said that, Bi Fang took a deep breath, climbed back onto the branch, and as he kept climbing, the overall height increased, causing the audience in the live stream to sweat even more. [That¡¯s too f*cking thrilling.] [Please don¡¯t point the camera down.] [Master Fang: That¡¯s it? These viewers are not up to it.] [It¡¯s just ten meters, the height of a four-story building.] [Here it comes, the typical ¡®I could do that too¡¯.] Luckily, no issues arose after that, and in about ten minutes, Bi Fang reached the branch where the nest was located, and he peered inside. [Finally got up there, hard work pays off.] [There are eggs, there are eggs!] S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Not a wasted trip.] [Earthworm: Dodged a bullet.] ¡°Hey, they¡¯re sparrow eggs, not a protected species.¡± Bi Fang, seeing the pattern of the eggs, breathed a sigh of relief. In this world, sparrows are not one of the protected, and they¡¯re everywhere. ¡°These days, birds that are not protected are rarer than those that are.¡± [Is it that exaggerated?] [Indeed, even crows are protected now.] [Didn¡¯t expect a positive energy host, definitely going to follow!] Due to extreme hunger, Bi Fang straddling the branch couldn¡¯t wait to reach out and take all the eggs from the nest, but before he could stretch out his hand, suddenly from underneath the nest, a ¡°hiss hiss¡± sound was heard. The next second, a huge vicious brown snake head wound its way up from under the branch. Fuck! Bi Fang, who had relaxed, felt his arm tremble, and his pupils contracted sharply. Motherfucker, a Short-tailed Viper! Bi Fang had learned about some of Qinling¡¯s dangerous creatures before he came! Short-tailed Viper, also known as Flying over Grass, Ground Flattened Snake, highly poisonous, lethal! If he got bitten here, he was certain not to see tomorrow¡¯s sun! And now the distance between them was less than a meter! Practically face-to-face! [Fuck, I¡¯m scared to death, there¡¯s a hidden boss?] [What do we do, the host can¡¯t escape in the tree.] [Damn, we finally got up here, and now this happens?] [High energy!!!] [Damn, it¡¯s all because I ran my mouth, this is worse than eating earthworms. If something happens, isn¡¯t it on me for the rest of my life?] Some of the viewers who had encouraged Bi Fang to climb the tree were now full of regret and awoke all the other viewers. Indeed, because the branch was too narrow, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t move his body to dodge, and with the ground ten meters below, if he encountered an attack¡­ This was a checkmate! Chapter 8 - 8 Extremely Toxic Short-tailed Viper Chapter 8 Extremely Toxic Short-tailed Viper Translator: 549690339 The wind rustled the oily green leaves, creating a whispering sound, while sunlight pierced through from behind the leaves, illuminating Bi Fang¡¯s slightly constricted chestnut pupils, with his chest barely rising and falling. A man and snake faced off on the branch, silent like two boulders in a flowing stream. Bi Fang eyed the brown venomous snake, scanning the surroundings with his peripheral vision, his thoughts racing like lightning. Retreat? Behind him lay the end of the branch, and a nearly ten-meter drop that he couldn¡¯t safely land from. Escape? The distance was less than a meter; snakes, being among the fastest-striking creatures, wouldn¡¯t give him much chance to react with his agility at only eight! ¡°Whew! Today is really my unlucky day,¡± Bi Fang said to the camera, mocking himself. [My god, the host can still smile in this situation?] [The video quality is so strong, I can see every scale on the snake¡¯s body clearly, and I¡¯m going crazy just watching it through the screen¡ªI¡¯m most afraid of snakes] [Does anyone know what kind of snake this is?] [Don¡¯t know, but with a triangular head, it¡¯s definitely venomous!] This was not necessarily the case; Bi Fang wanted to correct the last comment, but the situation didn¡¯t allow for extended explanations, so he had to focus on what mattered. ¡°This is a Short-tailed Viper, also known as the Flying over Grass or Ground Flattened Snake, highly venomous. A bite could easily kill an adult,¡± he said. Seeing that many people did not recognize it, Bi Fang whispered some facts, ¡°And this one in front of us is over half a meter long, definitely a standout among its kind, with a venom yield several times that of smaller specimens.¡± S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Doesn¡¯t this make it even more dangerous?] [The more you talk, the more scared I get. I¡¯ll never dare to disturb a nest again in my life] As the live stream¡¯s excitement grew, the scene suddenly split into two screens: one from the drone¡¯s perspective, and the other from the first-person viewpoint. Selecting either one allowed for full-screen display, stunning all viewers. [Damn, there¡¯s a first-person view too?] [Why does it feel even more advanced than other equipment, there¡¯s no warping, it looks just like being there in person!] [This gear, it¡¯s unbeatable, isn¡¯t it?] [Does Master Fang think we¡¯re not scared enough?] Even Bi Fang was surprised for a moment, not expecting the System¡¯s accessory to be so intelligent as to automatically activate another perspective. In the tension of the moment, he hadn¡¯t even remembered the first-person view, but reality didn¡¯t give him the luxury to think about it, as dealing with the Short-tailed Viper was more pressing. [Speaking of which, isn¡¯t Master Fang explaining so much risky? Could it startle the snake?] [Yeah, isn¡¯t that very dangerous?] Some viewers began to worry whether Bi Fang speaking could alert the Short-tailed Viper, potentially causing it to attack prematurely. ¡°That¡¯s not a problem,¡± Bi Fang assured them, ¡°Snakes have a very simple ear structure with only an inner ear and no outer ear or eardrum, so their hearing is quite dull and basically has no perception of sound transmitted through air.¡± ¡°However, because of this, snakes are extremely sensitive to vibrations, which puts me in an awkward situation where I can hardly move.¡± [So what do we do, just wait for it to leave on its own?] [Do we have to rely on luck now?] [How unreliable is that? Isn¡¯t this supposed to be about survival? Isn¡¯t there anything that can be done?] After hearing Bi Fang¡¯s explanation, the live stream audience grew even more tense, with the barrage of messages visibly increasing. ¡°Don¡¯t panic, everyone. The time it takes to blink once is enough for a snake to strike four times, and I¡¯m already within its striking range, so panicking is useless,¡± Bi Fang said, mildly comforting the audience. However, even though he was the one in danger, why did it seem like the viewers were even more nervous than he was? These viewers weren¡¯t cutting it. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, everyone,¡± Bi Fang continued, keeping his eyes on the Short-tailed Viper, his tone calm, as if he wasn¡¯t the one facing the snake, ¡°An old professor once taught me something that I¡¯ve always believed. When a wild beast confronts you, never run. It¡¯s actually observing you. If you run, it knows you¡¯re afraid and will chase and bite you.¡± ¡°Wild animals can smell your fear. The more afraid you are, the more excited they become.¡± The first-person perspective intensified the audience¡¯s sense of immersion, especially as they listened to Bi Fang¡¯s soft gasping, watching the Short-tailed Viper flick its tongue, their own breathing grew more rapid. Many people were still frantically asking in the barrage what to do, whether to flee or stay! ¡°Damn it, it¡¯s coming!¡± Just as Bi Fang contemplated a breakout strategy, the Short-tailed Viper began to coil around the branch, lifting its triangular head and slowly gliding toward him! The distance was swiftly closing in! From the first-person view, the audience felt as though the Short-tailed Viper was slithering toward them, and combined with the restrictive feeling of being on a branch, the sight of the snake¡¯s flickering tongue seemed to bring a fishy scent straight to their face. [My god, I can¡¯t watch, boo-hoo-hoo!] [I¡¯ve peed my pants!] Seeing this, Bi Fang felt he couldn¡¯t just sit and wait for death; he quickly spoke, ¡°Keep calm, you have to stay calm. Snakes generally don¡¯t attack humans proactively. It might just be curious about me. Whatever you do, don¡¯t startle it now or it¡¯s all over.¡± [But if you don¡¯t dodge, it¡¯ll be right in your face!] Bi Fang took a deep breath and said, ¡°I¡¯ve said before, snakes are very sensitive to vibrations, but minor movements won¡¯t provoke them, and unprovoked, a snake won¡¯t attack. What we need to do now is to move away slowly, using slight vibrations to make it hesitate.¡± After speaking, he lowered his body, gently rubbed his legs together, and began to move backward little by little. This branch was thick and sturdy; otherwise, birds wouldn¡¯t build nests on it, hence these slight movements barely caused any sway. But Bi Fang was still somewhat terrified because snake behaviors were general rules, but individuals differed¡ªone never knew if this particular snake would be aggressive or extremely timid, possibly snapping when the slightest scare occurs. For this reason, with every slight move, Bi Fang had to take deep breaths to calm himself. Feeling the minor vibrations, the Short-tailed Viper also stopped moving, fixating on the large heat source in front of it, ¡°hiss hiss,¡± flickering its tongue. Being a type of snake, the Short-tailed Viper wasn¡¯t large in size; it was short and bulky, which granted it incomparable burst strength and attack speed. When attacking, its triangular head would dart out like an arrowhead, fiercely piercing the prey¡¯s body! ¡°Heh¡­¡± Bi Fang, who had been moving for a quite a while, took a breath of relief watching the momentarily still Short-tailed Viper. Indeed, the slight tremor hadn¡¯t alarmed it, but instead, caused it to hesitate and back off. The viewers too were relieved, partially letting out a sigh, which indicated that Master Fang¡¯s method was effective. [666, worthy of Master Fang] [Forever Godlike] [Gift for you] Instantly, the live chat bursted with flattery, but Bi Fang did not let his guard down, as he wasn¡¯t yet completely out of the Short-tailed Viper¡¯s striking range. Moreover, a new problem arose; he had backed up to the limits of the branch¡¯s thickness that could support his weight. Any further, and the shaking would not only increase but might also snap outright. He had come up from a branch on the left, but now straddling the branch, he couldn¡¯t possibly leap across, and the nearest branch below him was nearly five meters in vertical height. Bi Fang pinched his palm, soaked with sweaty hands, and gazed at the fierce snakehead not far away, his mind already made up. Then, he slowly lifted his left leg, carefully stepping over the branch, transitioning from straddling to sitting sideways. Unexpectedly, this movement made the retreating Venomous Snake advance again! Although much slower, the distance shrank once more! The tension spiked again! Bi Fang swallowed and said, ¡°Not good, it might feel threatened now, considering me an enemy, which is why it¡¯s keeping its eyes on me.¡± ¡°This is tricky, I don¡¯t know how much longer I can bluff it.¡± The chatroom erupted into chaos, with a myriad of suggestions. But Bi Fang had neither the attention nor the time to look; with each delay, the distance to the snake closed by another fraction, and the peril increased by a percentile! No, if this continued, it would definitely strike! Bi Fang, with keen awareness, noted that the Short-tailed Viper was flicking its tongue more rapidly, a signal of warning as well as a collection of enemy information, deciding whether to attack or flee! Chapter 9 - 9 Such a Poor Broadcaster Chapter 9 Such a Poor Broadcaster Translator: 549690339 S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang felt he had been incredibly unlucky all day. It was his first day of livestreaming, yet it seemed like he ran into every possible problem, even encountering a venomous snake while trying to collect bird eggs. Looking at the venomous snake continuously flickering its tongue, Bi Fang had a curse on the tip of his tongue that he wasn¡¯t sure he should utter, but then he remembered that he was a public figure now and decided to let it go. Now, the only way out left for him was the last one remaining. He glanced at the tree branch below with the corner of his eye. The next moment, Bi Fang did not hesitate to hook his hand onto the branch, and his seated body slid down, hanging himself from the branch. Under the techniques of advanced yoga, this whole set of limb movements used very little energy and was extremely stable. As he moved, the short-tailed viper indeed followed up. It wrapped tightly around the branch, its hard scales scraping against the mossy bark, making a faint sound. One wave had barely settled before another arose. The continuous excitement was so intense that the audience couldn¡¯t relax, clutching at their sweat. In an instant, the entire chat was flooding with messages of ¡°Master Fang, run fast¡±. But it was already too late. Bi Fang¡¯s heart was pounding violently, and the short-tailed viper spiraled closer and closer. The sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a shimmer on the densely packed brown scales. The yellow-green eyes glimmered faintly. Under the drone¡¯s dark lens, they were particularly conspicuous. Bi Fang¡¯s expression changed. His heart was thumping wildly in his chest as if it would burst out at any second, and at the moment the short-tailed viper lunged, he sensed danger. The short-tailed viper, quickly closing in on him, compressed its body like a spring. Under its short and thick physique, its muscles contracted rhythmically, each of its scales slightly flaired out. Before Bi Fang could react, the short-tailed viper shot out fiercely! Inside the livestream. The viewers couldn¡¯t help but shiver, gripped by terror! ¡°Swoosh!¡± Quick as a bolt, it cut through the air! With superb dynamic vision, Bi Fang¡¯s breathing slowed by half a beat, as if he could already smell the stench wafting from the snake¡¯s open maw. At this moment, it was too late to do anything! So, he left everything to gravity! He casually let go. His fingers brushed over the moss, and a light breeze passed by his ears. Bi Fang¡¯s entire body plummeted freely. He could feel the open scales of the short-tailed viper, its exaggerated snake¡¯s mouth, and the sharp fangs. The fetid maw gaped open to 180 degrees, then snapped shut viciously! But it caught nothing! A lunge into thin air! In the livestream, sunlight scattered, and the shadows of the leaves flickered, dark and light interlacing, framing the man and the snake. The viper, having failed its strike, coiled back around the branch, flicking its tongue as if in anger. Feeling his body¡¯s weightlessness, the falling Bi Fang blinked, leaving everything to instinct. The five-meter drop was over in a flash, and deep within his mind, Wilderness Survival Skills suddenly awoke. The moment his foot touched the branch, Bi Fang bent his knees, taking off some of the impact first. But the branch was full of moss, narrow and slippery. It was impossible to land steadily from a five-meter drop, but Bi Fang had anticipated this. Under the astonished gaze of the livestream audience. Bi Fang leaned back, using an inclined angle to let his back friction against the trunk, taking off more of the impact, but it still wasn¡¯t enough! Bi Fang, leaning against the branch, couldn¡¯t grab hold; he was still falling! But¡­ Thinking ten steps ahead, Bi Fang knew he couldn¡¯t grab onto the branch, so his initial goal wasn¡¯t to land on it in the first place! He wanted to go straight down! Below this branch was another one, only two meters away. Just one more impact reduction, and he would be less than three meters from the ground, low enough for him to land safely with the backflip skills from Wilderness Survivalist! Having already taken off a majority of the impact, Bi Fang collided with the branch again! Inside the livestream, many people covered their eyes, unable to watch any longer. A massive jolt of pain transmitted from his back, overwhelming his mind. Bi Fang plummeted straight toward the ground, but he could feel that his falling speed had already decreased to a bearable range! Looking at the ground close at hand, Bi Fang¡¯s muscles all tensed up and, at the moment of landing, he bent his knees, simultaneously shifted his weight to one side, then used his shoulder to absorb the impact, rolling out fiercely. He rolled several times before he could barely stop. Bi Fang lay on the ground, coughing a few times, feeling the world spinning around him; he hurriedly got up to check and only after confirming that he had landed successfully did he collapse powerlessly back onto the ground. But¡­ An intense pain transmitted from his buttocks and back, making Bi Fang somewhat uncomfortable. The two instances of using branches to absorb the fall had largely relied on his tough skin and flesh, and even his face was scratched painfully by various stones and weeds. It took several minutes for him to recover before he took a few deep breaths like someone who had narrowly escaped death, struggled to his feet, spat out the grass and mud from his mouth, and grinned at the camera, ¡°It seems I¡¯ve made my escape!¡± [That¡¯s incredible!] [You¡¯re okay after such a high fall?] [Was that a tactical roll?] [It¡¯s a basic fall-breaking technique in the military, but the anchor¡¯s moves are too practiced, aren¡¯t they? Without falling a thousand times, you simply can¡¯t achieve this level. Which military unit has so much training? The anchor is definitely no ordinary person] [Must be a special forces member, right? Definitely special forces, right? With wilderness survival, climbing, and now these fall-breaking moves, it¡¯s confirmed!] [Shocking, special forces right beside us?] [Little Fish Little Shrimp sends the anchor an airplane*1¡ªI¡¯m convinced, jumping from ten meters high, even Uncle Long wouldn¡¯t dare to do that] [Daycare Center Barbell sends the anchor fish balls*9999] [Lord Mu sends the anchor a Super Rocket*1¡ªI just followed, Master Fang is awesome!] Myriad gifts immediately flooded the live broadcast room, from a few dozens to a few hundreds, and they kept coming non-stop. As the audience was extremely excited, there came a ¡°boom¡±, and across all the live broadcasting rooms on Shark TV, a golden banner appeared. ¡°Lord Mu sends the anchor Bi Fang a Super Rocket, everyone, come and get your treasure box!¡± [My God, a tycoon has appeared!] [This fall wasn¡¯t a loss for the anchor at all!] [Not necessarily, right? Looking at the anchor¡¯s gear, he doesn¡¯t look like someone short of cash] Even Bi Fang was startled when he saw the Super Rocket, as it was worth a good two thousand in cash. He had only ever seen others send such gifts in live streams and never imagined that one day he would receive such a valuable gift himself. However, this was also an acknowledgment of his broadcast¡¯s content, and Bi Fang hurriedly thanked: ¡°Thank you, Brother Mu, for the Super Rocket, I really appreciate it.¡± The Super Rocket is the most expensive gift on Shark TV, worth two thousand each, and after being sent, the entire platform can see it, and there will be a treasure box for everyone to grab. This is undoubtedly a good way to attract new viewers, so Bi Fang was truly very grateful. As expected, as soon as the gift was sent out, the number of people in the live broadcast room quickly began to grow, surpassing a thousand in no time. Although many were just grabbing and running, so long as a portion could be kept, it was a gain. Taking advantage of the audience still grabbing the gift bags, Bi Fang hastily reintroduced the content of his live broadcast and said, ¡°Actually, the fact that I escaped safely just now also involved a bit of luck, having two branches for cushioning and solid fall-breaking Skill.¡± ¡°Essentially, the Short-tailed Viper is also a rather tame reptile that will maintain a ¡®do not attack if not attacked¡¯ attitude as long as it is not provoked. If you really encounter one, you generally just need to back away to avoid getting into trouble.¡± ¡°Just now, it appeared I just barged in while it was hunting and it mistook me for an enemy. Unfortunately, we lost our bird eggs.¡± Bi Fang looked up at the Short-tailed Viper still on the tree and shook his head. [I don¡¯t care, awesome is the final word] [Luck is also a part of strength, whether it¡¯s the understanding of snakes, enough Skill in cushioning the fall, or a calm attitude, could a normal person do this?] [Exactly, Master Fang is too strong. If it were me, no matter what kind of snake it was, I would definitely have fled immediately!] [Fled? I¡¯d have been frozen stiff with fear!] [What snake? Just came in, what happened?] The newly arrived viewers were baffled, but soon enough, a fan provided an explanation. Hearing that Bi Fang had just narrowly escaped from the mouth of a snake and then fallen safely from a ten-meter-high tree, they were all dumbstruck. It was also lucky that the System¡¯s granted skills were powerful, with various knowledge and techniques coming naturally, utterly without training; otherwise, that fall just now would have been fatal, or at the very least resulted in missing limbs and broken bones. [Fat Cat Pete sends the anchor a rocket*1¡ªMaster Fang, look at me!] [Master Fang, I¡¯m a professional photographer, and the scene of Master Fang dancing with the snake just now truly stunned me, may I screenshot it and post it online? I won¡¯t use it for commercial purposes, just want everyone to see, it¡¯s really shocking!] Oh? Is that so? Upon seeing the message, Bi Fang considered it briefly and realized he had no reason to refuse. This was a great opportunity to expand his influence. Chapter 10: Every Frame a Wallpaper Chapter 10: Every Frame a Wallpaper Translator: 549690339 Ma Huayi was a photography enthusiast. Though not a professional, he was quite talented and had made a name for himself within the circle. He also loved nature, and human interaction with nature was his favorite subject to capture. Usually, Ma Huayi loved traveling and then documenting the local natural scenery through photography. Whenever he ran out of materials, he would check out the live outdoor section. Many streamers liked to broadcast their hikes and travels; sometimes, when Ma Huayi saw a good landscape in a live stream, he would pack his bags, fill up his car with gas, and head west to capture a satisfying photo, facing the sunset or the boundless sea. These past few days, Ma Huayi had run out of material, so he opened a live stream and found a room with decent popularity. Out of curiosity, he clicked in, and the rest was history; from the moment Bi Fang climbed the tree, the confrontation with the Short-tailed Viper gave him an intense visual shock! The standoff, the ambush, the fall. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Through the first-person perspective, every move Bi Fang made was as thrilling to Ma Huayi as a roller coaster ride, igniting his creativity like a gushing spring! Especially during Bi Fang¡¯s upside-down confrontation with the Short-tailed Viper. Dappled patches of light. A person hanging upside down on a tree. A deadly Short-tailed Viper hissing. The content was top-notch, and the photographer was quite skilled; he must be a professional. All these elements combined, conflict and harmony, color and composition, just like a balanced Tai Chi, perfectly encapsulating human interaction with nature! Between the thick leaves, a man, a snake, a tree ¨C could there be a more beautiful picture? This was exactly what he had been searching for! Ma Huayi even came up with a name for the piece, ¡°Dangerous Contact,¡± all that was left was Bi Fang¡¯s authorization. ¡°Of course, you can use it as long as it¡¯s not for commercial purposes, however you want.¡± With a moment¡¯s thought, Bi Fang agreed, partly because he was sent a rocket, no small gift, and partly because it would help to extend his own reach. [Yes, I want to use that scene as my wallpaper!] [Damn, I was so nervous just now I didn¡¯t think to take a screenshot] [Thinking about it now, every frame was a work of art!] [Handsome Master Fang, the dangerous venomous snake, the beautiful nature, I¡¯m convinced.] [Does Master Fang have a recorded video? Other devices or repostings just don¡¯t have this quality] ¡°Yes, I do. When this live stream ends, I¡¯ll post the recorded video in my column, and anyone can watch it anytime they want.¡± Bi Fang nodded; the System¡¯s equipment could not only live stream but also record, though editing was a bit of a hassle. [Fat Cat Pete gave the streamer 3 rockets¡ªthank you Master Fang for your approval] ¡°Alright, everyone, no need for that.¡± The successive rockets made Bi Fang feel overwhelmed, so he hurriedly steered the conversation back on track. He was well aware that his popularity was due to the excellent content of his live streams. If he started groveling for gifts like some of the other little hosts, that would be putting the cart before the horse. ¡°Now, let¡¯s go see if the earthworms are still there. After all that commotion, we didn¡¯t catch anything and nearly lost our lives. Such a loss.¡± Just thinking about it, Bi Fang felt the pain; those were four eggs, high in protein and energy, far better than a few worms, right? And now they were all gone. [Earthworm: Am I destined to die?] [What is meant to come will come] [I¡¯m out, let me know when he¡¯s done eating and I¡¯ll come back] [He¡¯s done] Watching the audience joke around in the barrage of comments, Bi Fang¡¯s mood improved somewhat, and he returned to the pile of weeds, finding the earthworms that had not escaped far. At that moment, the earthworms that were dragged out started ¡°panicking¡± again as they twisted. He chuckled, grabbed one end of an earthworm with his bare hands, gave it a squeeze to clear out the dirt inside, and, in front of all the viewers, tossed it into his mouth and slurped it down like a noodle. ¡°Ugh essential oil¡«¡± After chewing a few times, Bi Fang¡¯s face instantly turned green. He had overestimated himself; this stuff was not meant for human consumption! The bursting sensation, the pieces still squirming in his mouth, the bitter taste mixed with the earthy flavor; each aspect made him want to vomit. Be it in his past life or in this one, this was Bi Fang¡¯s first attempt at consuming such bizarre things. Even during his days with the Wilderness Survivalist team, field research was commonplace, but he¡¯d always eaten rations, never having to endure such ordeal. [Ew, I saw the earthworm burst¡­] [I thought I was the only one who saw that.] [I threw up.] [Earthworm: Although I¡¯m not human, you¡¯re the real dog.] [As a female fan of Master Fang, I feel I¡¯ve become a fan too early.] [Hahaha, Master Fang¡¯s face has turned green.] [Aren¡¯t they worried about parasites or bacterial infections?] The audience in the live stream was bombarded once again, with those who were eating unanimously putting down their food. At the same time, gifts in the live stream also followed with a wave of amenities, including fishballs and shark fins, dedicated to treating Master Fang to something good. ¡°Phew¡­¡± ¡°To tell the truth, this thing tasted worse than I imagined, not only does it have a strong earthy smell, but it¡¯s also quite bitter.¡± Bi Fang furrowed his brows tightly, took out the earthworm from his pant pocket, hesitating whether to throw it away or not, but after thinking for a moment, he put it back in: ¡°It seems I¡¯m not starving to the point yet. I¡¯ll keep it for now, maybe we¡¯ll come across a river and can use it to fish.¡± It takes time for protein to convert to energy, about an hour. Now that there was something in his stomach, Bi Fang felt much more comfortable. ¡°Indeed, by eating an earthworm to ambush the stomach acid, drawing its attention, my stomach doesn¡¯t feel so bad anymore.¡± [God damn ambushing the stomach acid¡­] [Why not eat them all? Direct full-scale invasion!] [Why not wait until ten o¡¯clock to eat? Maybe pull a Trojan horse?] [Why not eat dirt first? Logistics come first?] [Why not drink more hot water first, wait for the stomach acid to be worn out, then launch a major attack?] Bi Fang: ¡°¡­¡± He was just trying to liven up the atmosphere. [But eating them like that, aren¡¯t you afraid of parasite or bacterial infections?] [Right, this seems really unsanitary.] Wow! Finally, some normal bullet comments! After pondering for a while, Bi Fang spoke: ¡°Regarding the risk of infection, I can only say two things. First, don¡¯t underestimate our stomach acid, and second¡­¡± ¡°Only the living are qualified to get infected.¡± Bi Fang looked at the drone, speaking in an extremely calm tone, yet it sent shivers down everyone¡¯s spine! ¡°In the wilderness, everything is based on survival. If you can¡¯t make it, everything else is irrelevant.¡± [Yeah, survival in the wilderness is no child¡¯s play. Without true skills, you simply can¡¯t make it.] [After all is said and done, there is only one word: Master Fang is awesome!] [That¡¯s one word?] [I seriously suspect Master Fang is a special forces soldier.] Special forces? He wished. Bi Fang watched the comments in silence. Having the identity of a special forces soldier would be incredibly convenient; it could endorse his expertise and effortlessly build a strong persona. Previous survival experts like Bear Grylls and Grandpa De did just that, but he had no such opportunity. ¡°Of course, if possible, it¡¯s better for everyone to cook their food when in the wild. In a moment, I¡¯ll teach you how to start a fire.¡± After a bit of trouble, it got late. If they moved on, they wouldn¡¯t be able to set up camp before dark. After one last look at the bird¡¯s nest, Bi Fang noticed that the Short-tailed Viper had disappeared. Of course, it could also be hiding too well; a Short-tailed Viper with brown spots is not so easy to find once it¡¯s hidden. He shook his head and stopped thinking about it. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get back on topic, let¡¯s determine the time again.¡± Bi Fang interrupted the conversation, squinting at the sun: ¡°Look at its altitude, it¡¯s clearly slanting westward. It¡¯s about five in the afternoon now. I mentioned before that it gets dark quickly in the mountains, and the temperature varies greatly. So although it¡¯s late September, we need to start building a shelter quickly.¡± [Let¡¯s watch the host conjure a tent out of thin air.] [You got nothing, how are you gonna set up a tent?] [Ding, please check your airdropped tent.] [Did the host forget to bring a tent?] Seeing the audience¡¯s puzzled faces, Bi Fang pretended to be mysterious. ¡°Just watch closely, everyone.¡± Chapter 11 - 11 Building a Shelter Chapter 11 Building a Shelter S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Translator: 549690339 In search of a suitable camping spot, Bi Fang continued to make his way deep into the forest. [Is this some sort of magic trick?] [Surely he¡¯s not going to chop wood to build a cabin, right? How could that be done in time?] [Give it up, live streamer, while it¡¯s still light out, just go home.] Inside the live stream, there wasn¡¯t a single voice of encouragement, all held a skeptical attitude. However, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t bothered by this and seriously started looking for a suitable location. ¡°There¡¯s a lot to consider when setting up a camping site, and first and foremost is the safety of the environment. Depending on the environment there are different requirements, which I¡¯ll explain in detail when we come across them.¡± ¡°As I mentioned earlier, the temperature difference between day and night in Qinling is significant, with night temperatures generally not exceeding ten degrees. I¡¯ve only brought one jacket, so we need to pay attention to warmth and dryness to prevent rapid heat loss and a decrease in our physical condition.¡± After searching in the forest for a while, Bi Fang finally stopped in a relatively open wooded area. He rummaged around on the ground for a bit, then nodded, ¡°This place is pretty good, the ground is dry, and there are no anthills, so we won¡¯t have to worry about bugs biting us while we sleep.¡± ¡°Just now, many people were asking me what I am going to use to set up the shelter. It may seem as though I have no rice to cook a meal, but actually, we¡¯ve been overlooking a lot of things.¡± Bi Fang sent the drone up higher and a large expanse of forest appeared in the camera view: ¡°Don¡¯t forget, we¡¯re in Qinling! One of the top three forest regions in our country, you could say the ground here is littered with gold!¡± ¡°Today, I¡¯ll show you a simple method for constructing a shelter¡ªthe pointed-top shelter! This is a very common type of pointed structure, and the Ewenki Ethnic Group in our country builds them in the forest.¡± After finishing his speech, Bi Fang began looking for materials to build the shelter. As he had yet to find a water source, he only needed a temporary residence to shelter from the cold, so the material selection was quite straightforward. [Shenfeng Qingyin sends 1 veil card to the host¡ªImpressive even if I don¡¯t understand it.] [I¡¯ve realized not only do I not know what a pointed-top shelter is, I also didn¡¯t know there was an Ewenki Ethnic Group in our country¡­] [Shocked that I¡¯m learning on Shark TV, is this the corruption of morality or the distortion of humanity?] [666, just get it done.] Bi Fang looked around and spotted a fallen dead tree not too far away. He quickly walked over and started kicking it ferociously. While kicking, he explained, ¡°You see, this dead tree here is perfect for the main body of our shelter, but you have to be careful when moving it. Many venomous insects and venomous snakes like to hide under such dead trees, so give it a few kicks beforehand to scare them away.¡± Sure enough, as soon as Bi Fang¡¯s words ended, a dark shadow flickered across the camera, curling into a ball. ¡°Hey, look, there¡¯s a centipede right here! Just as I said!¡± The centipede under the dead tree coiled into a ball, its body pitch black, like a warrior clad in black armor. Bi Fang grabbed it directly in front of the camera, poking and prodding it in his palm for the viewers to get a closer look. [Not this again, right?] [Oh my, I almost threw up again, wait, why do I say ¡®again¡¯?] [Streamer, you owe me for the goosebumps!] [Why do I feel like I can ¡®sympathize¡¯ out of nowhere?] Bi Fang chuckled, his frequent field research meant he wasn¡¯t afraid of touching various insects, but most people would find it difficult, though it was all necessary for the effect of the show, and not because of any ill taste he might have. ¡°However, it¡¯s a pity that these creatures are not edible.¡± He stretched out the centipede, held it under his nose and took a deep breath, with the long insect at his fingertips looking somewhat like sniffing a cigar! ¡°If it gives off an almond scent, it means that the centipede feels threatened and is secreting substances that contain cyanide. Therefore, don¡¯t eat it.¡± Bi Fang was a bit disappointed, but chose to release the centipede and watched it stretch out and quickly crawl away. [The host doesn¡¯t really need to persuade us so earnestly¡­ really¡­] [Centipede: I actually survived from Master Fang¡¯s hands, I could brag about this for a lifetime.] [Humans should not, at least cannot¡­] Bi Fang stood up and kicked the tree trunk a couple more times, but no other creatures came out this time. ¡°It looks like there are no other creatures here besides that centipede, and as the light is fading, we need to speed up now.¡± It was getting dark, and without any more time to chat with his audience, Bi Fang dragged the dead tree toward the selected campsite. The audience in the live stream watched as the light inside the forest dimmed, growing anxious for Bi Fang, fearing that he would not be able to finish the shelter before it was too dark to even have a place to sleep. ¡°As I said before when I was climbing the tree, a triangle is a very stable structure. So, a simple pointed-top shelter can also make use of this principle.¡± Bi Fang lifted up the dead wood and placed it across the fork of a pine tree, forming a right-angled triangle with the ground. ¡°Look, this is the main structure of a solid shelter. As long as we prop up another side, we¡¯ll have a three-dimensional triangle!¡± A large branch was fixed to one side of the triangle, firmly supporting it. ¡°Next is the roof.¡± Leaves, dirt, and moss were collected and spread over the dead wood full of forked branches. ¡°Finally, let¡¯s perfect it.¡± Almost visibly, a simple shelter had been constructed by Bi Fang. Job well done! ¡°Alright, what do you all think?¡± Gazing at the complete shelter, Bi Fang dusted off his hands. Although very simple, this was his first time building a shelter with his bare hands, and his heart was filled with a sense of achievement; such an experience was not present in his previous life. [Damn, that¡¯s strong. How long was that?] [Half an hour?] [Pilili Aino has sent the host fishballs*999¡ªprofessional, bold.] [iMuji has gifted the host shark fins*10¡ªfor basic construction, I hail you as the strongest!] [Lord Mu has sent the host a rocket*1¡ªI¡¯ve watched many outdoor live streams, Master Fang is the toughest one!] [Awesome (voice cracks)!] ¡°Haha, Lord Mu, that¡¯s a bit of an overstatement, let¡¯s keep it low-key, shall we?¡± Bi Fang pressed down with his hands, signaling everyone to keep it cool. [Say Master Fang is fat and he starts panting.] [But Master Fang is really awesome, first stream and such high popularity, since encountering that snake until now, got a few thousand viewers, right?] [No wonder these days everyone wants to be an internet celebrity and do the same.] [Doing is the main point.] [But there aren¡¯t many with real skills. When it comes to live streaming, I only admire Old Fang.] ¡°Now, let¡¯s go inside and take a look.¡± With the shelter completed, Bi Fang crawled into it, and the camera switched to a first-person perspective. From the first-person POV, Bi Fang pointed to a layer of branches and dry ferns on the ground, ¡°Due to the large temperature difference, in order to keep warm, we can lay some branches and ferns on the ground for insulation and moisture protection.¡± As he spoke, he lay down in the shelter, rolled around a bit, pressed down to test it, and found it to be decent, not too uncomfortable. Despite its small size, the shelter gave him a strong sense of security in the wilderness. This was his domain, a ¡°home¡±. Bi Fang lay in the shelter and began to discuss some key points about selecting a campsite. ¡°The nights in Qinling are cold, so the chosen campsite should be dry and sheltered from wind, especially not in valleys and caves, as such terrains become wind traps at night.¡± ¡°Judging the wind direction is quite complicated, and I¡¯ll explain it in detail later. Right now, I have something more important to do, and that is to make a fire!¡± Fire is one of the greatest discoveries of humans, especially when alone against a strange, hostile wilderness. At such times, fire is indeed a gift from the heavens. The flickering flames that represent hope could even shake one¡¯s faith; they can change not only the survivalist¡¯s condition but also give the survivalist hope. Bi Fang crawled out of the shelter, the drone gradually rose, capturing most of the sky in its lens, while the sun¡¯s light gathered bit by bit, turning the clouds a lush red, a sight of extraordinary beauty. Bi Fang was engulfed in the red sun¡¯s light, like a surging tide. Regrettably, he didn¡¯t have much time to enjoy the scenery. ¡°For this survival trip, I only brought one jacket, so a shelter is not enough on this cold night. We must start a fire before dark to keep warm; otherwise, if we catch a cold, our deteriorated condition could very well cost us the chance to walk out of Qinling.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think I¡¯m exaggerating. In fact, in the wilderness, even a minor cold can be extremely fatal!¡± Chapter 12 - 12 The Legendary Fire-Making by Wood-Drilling Chapter 12 The Legendary Fire-Making by Wood-Drilling Translator: 549690339 [¡°Are you kidding? How can a cold be fatal?¡±] [¡°Right, can¡¯t you get better without medicine in a week or two?¡±] [¡°Even for the sake of the show, you can¡¯t exaggerate that much!¡±] ¡°I¡¯m not deceiving you,¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°You all lack outdoor experience. In fact, with a little thought, it¡¯s clear that the wilderness is not like the city. Any unexpected situation here can lead to a series of severe consequences.¡± ¡°Diarrhea, a common cold¡ªthese seemingly minor illnesses can become significantly more dangerous.¡± ¡°A minor cold can lead to hypothermia, weakness, muscle fatigue¡ªin this state, it will be very difficult for you to find water and food. With no replenishment, you will become even weaker. At that point, your disadvantages will snowball until all your hopes of survival are left to fate.¡± [¡°Okay, you¡¯ve convinced me.¡±] [¡°I admit I was being superficial.¡±] ¡°Remember this, should you ever find yourself in the wilderness, never overlook any condition.¡± As Bi Fang spoke, he picked up a sharp stone and started digging a small pit a meter away from the shelter: ¡°To start a fire, the first step is choosing the right location.¡± He measured the distance from the pit to the shelter. ¡°This distance is just right. The heat can get into the shelter without the smoke disturbing sleep or causing poisoning due to proximity, and most importantly, it can keep wild animals at bay!¡± ¡°Night is when wild animals are most active. With a fire, we can spend a sufficiently safe night without worrying about being bitten by venomous snakes or eaten by bears.¡± [¡°emmm, scaring the audience, a tradition of Master Fang.¡±] [¡°It¡¯s true, before in our village, a guy got drunk and slept directly in the field. That very night a snake coiled on his chest for warmth. The next day, as soon as the guy woke up, he startled the snake and got bitten on the face. Thankfully it wasn¡¯t poisonous, or that would have been the end of him!¡±] [¡°Can you not scare us like that?¡±] Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [¡°But the question is, how do you make a fire? Master Fang hasn¡¯t brought anything.¡±] Yeah, with nothing, how to make a fire? Many viewers were curious as to what method Bi Fang would use to start a fire. From the beginning of the broadcast, Bi Fang¡¯s series of actions had won over the audience. Now, they were all looking forward with anticipation, not wanting to miss this opportunity. ¡°True, I didn¡¯t bring a lighter or flint, but even so, I have many ways to start a fire, such as fire-making by wood-drilling!¡± [¡°Fire-Making by Wood-Drilling? I always thought it was fake!¡±] [¡°I thought it was just a legend!¡±] [¡°It¡¯s like a miracle!¡±] [¡°Waiting for Master Fang to make fire, and once it¡¯s lit, rockets to send!¡±] [¡°There are so many big spenders today!¡±] As the sun was about to set, Bi Fang no longer paid attention to the barrage. An instructor once said, treat your enemies with strategic contempt but tactical focus. Although it sounded simple, the technical complexity of fire-making by wood-drilling was quite high; it had to be taken seriously. Bi Fang scanned his surroundings and chose a few branches from a deadwood being used as a support, then found some burdock nearby and broke one. ¡°There are three types of fire-making by wood-drilling: the bow drill method, the hand drill method, and the pump drill method. Today, I¡¯ll demonstrate the hand drill method, which is the version most people have heard of.¡± ¡°The forest here is different from swamps and rainforests. The deadwood is mostly quite dry and can be directly used. And the most important thing for fire-making by wood-drilling is to have a sufficiently dry fireboard, a harder drill, and tinder.¡± Placing a thicker piece of wood on the ground, Bi Fang carefully started a hole with a sharp stone, though it was not very round. ¡°Fire-making by wood-drilling has many details, it¡¯s not just about rubbing to generate heat. You have to start with a hole on the fireboard; the shape doesn¡¯t matter as long as the drill fits¡ªotherwise, it¡¯ll be difficult to generate heat.¡± ¡°The drill needs to be hard and smooth. In the wild, we can use our nails to test the hardness¡ªif it doesn¡¯t mark easily, it¡¯s good to go. That¡¯s why I chose this burdock stick in my hand. It has a hard, woody stem that¡¯s very smooth after peeling, so it won¡¯t easily blister the palm.¡± ¡°Lastly, we need tinder. Tinder is the most important thing; it¡¯s key to whether or not a fire can be lit. Without it, unless you were born with a Qilin Arm, it would be very difficult to ignite a fire.¡± As he spoke, Bi Fang rubbed the surface of a thin dry piece of wood and one end of the burdock with a stone. Very quickly, fine wood fibers fell from both, and one end of the burdock became sharpened. His expression was serious and reverent, like an old master carving jade. Although his Wilderness Survival Skill was powerful, this was his first time attempting fire-making by wood-drilling. Failing would be a huge embarrassment. Not to mention losing viewers; the persona he had built as a wilderness expert would largely be ruined. Therefore, to ensure success, the preparation had to be complete. Bi Fang gathered the tinder into a bird¡¯s nest shape, piled it at the hole of the hearth board, then stepped on the board to keep it from wobbling. He inserted the peeled and smoothed burdock stalk, took a deep breath, and with both hands gripping the stalk, began to rotate it back and forth at high speed. ¡°Hiss hiss hiss!¡± The friction sound of the rotating burdock was exceptionally clear. ¡°As long as I can create embers through wood drilling and ignite the tinder, the fire will quickly take hold.¡± Bi Fang rubbed forcefully, the veins on his hands standing out prominently. From an initial awkwardness, he quickly became proficient, and the rough hole in the board became substantially smoother, establishing a positive feedback loop. ¡°Hiss hiss hiss!¡± The sound of friction was unending, but as time ticked by, not even a single spark appeared, making the audience grow impatient. [It seems so strenuous, it¡¯s been over ten minutes, and he is sweating. Is it all a scam?] [Master Fang living in the wilderness isn¡¯t in a hurry, so why are you?] [Go Master Fang!] Bi Fang was as focused as a meditating monk, paying no heed to the mocking viewers, his attention fully on the drill wood before him. Another ten minutes quickly passed, leaving many viewers with sore eyes. Finally, a faint, almost imperceptible burnt smell began to rise, then gradually grew more intense until billowing up as a wisp of blue smoke! Instantly, the spirit of the audience was lifted. [Damn, it¡¯s smoking!] [What are you waiting for, let the gifts flow!] [Guys, charge!] [All my fish balls go to you] Seeing the thick smoke rising, Bi Fang¡¯s eyes were filled with joy. He sped up again, applying greater pressure ¨C with smoke already emerging, could the sparks be far behind? The very next second, a few red glimmers flicked into existence. Sparks! Indeed! His heart swelled with immense excitement, Bi Fang quickly lay down, gathered the tinder, and blew gently but robustly, speeding up the airflow and increasing the oxygen contact. The blue smoke turned into thick smoke, growing denser and more voluminous, causing tears to stream down his face, yet he did not back away. It was a race against time, success or exhaust, failure now would only make the next attempt harder. The huge sun was about to sink beneath the forest sea, its last rays turning the clouds in the sky a fiery red, as if ablaze. In just a few more minutes, the place would be plunged into complete darkness. In the live stream, all that could be heard was the sound of Bi Fang slowly exhaling. Everyone¡¯s eyes were fixed on the billowing smoke, on the gathered tinder. One second. Two seconds. ¡­ The thick smoke engulfed everything, a flash of red glimmered momentarily. [Damn, it flashed, it flashed!] [The goods have arrived!] Bi Fang quickly gathered together the dry leaves, watching as a small flame spread and grew larger until¡­ Boom! The flame ignited. It was at that moment, as the sun set, that an overwhelming darkness swept over the entire world, but it seemed as if in the handover of light, there was always a flame somewhere, illuminating the joyous face of Bi Fang. [¨CYou have obtained a Fire Rack] Chapter 13 - 13 Skill Upgrade Chapter 13 Skill Upgrade Translator: 549690339 [¨CYou¡¯ve received a campfire rack!] [Fire Pile *1] [Now it¡¯s got that game vibe!] [Success!] [Master Fang rules (voice crack)!] [I got so scared, I hurriedly grabbed the lighter next to me and lit a cigarette to calm my nerves, (¤Å£þ 3£þ)y~~.] [Master Fang: Ni Zuokai] As the flames successfully ignited, another wave of bullet comments and gifts streamed across the screen in celebration; Bi Fang glanced at the backstage analytics and saw that the viewer count had stabilized at over two hundred! Awesome! Bi Fang excitedly clenched his fist, his palms aching from being rubbed raw, but it was all worth it. [Followed, the streamer is a hidden gem] [Idiot, didn¡¯t even bring a lighter, what¡¯s the point of social progress then? Just showing off!] [Caught a dumb dog live] [Ever heard of wilderness survival?] [You again? You got roasted and still haven¡¯t left? Shocking, my true fans are right beside me?] That Heifeng again? Bi Fang paused upon seeing the argument in the comments, recalling that it was the same person who had been trolling before, claiming they wouldn¡¯t watch, yet they were the most frequent commenter. Is this what they call a ¡®hate watcher¡¯? Love it. ¡°Thank you for your support, everyone, but the Hand Drill Method for starting a fire is quite challenging for beginners, it¡¯s tough to get a fire started, and it can easily cause blisters. Next time, I will teach you easier methods like the bow drill and the pump drill.¡± Bi Fang picked up some of the prepared branches, broke them into smaller pieces, and tossed them into the fire, enjoying the spread of warmth over his body and the sensation of the cold being driven away. ¡°However, although we¡¯ve got the fire going, we haven¡¯t prepared enough firewood, so I¡¯ll go gather some more from nearby soon.¡± [Why use damp wood?] ¡°Ah, this viewer is very astute,¡± Bi Fang noted the question, ¡°That¡¯s because damp wood burns longer, which ensures that the fire won¡¯t go out overnight.¡± ¡°But before I leave, we need to make sure the fire pit is far from any other flammable materials to prevent forest fires, which is also why I dug the pit in advance.¡± ¡°Also, I want to remind everyone that unless tree cutting is allowed in this area, you can only pick up dead branches from the ground for the fire.¡± ¡°The conflict between human survival and environmental conservation actually doesn¡¯t exist, as long as one is willing.¡± Bi Fang stood up and offered one last earnest piece of advice towards the camera. [Streamers who protect the environment are so cool! Instant fan] [Civilization starts with each of us; safety relies on everyone!] [Master Fang is so meticulous, he even thinks about protecting the environment while surviving in the wild, quality streamer, deserves a like] [First time seeing such a positive streamer.] ¡°Haha, you flatter me, truly,¡± Bi Fang, feeling embarrassed, touched the back of his head and chuckled. ¡°The best material for damp wood is fresh branches from trees like oak that have hard wood.¡± Large pieces of damp wood were still easy to find in the forest and almost without wandering away from sight of the fire¡¯s light, Bi Fang managed to collect enough large pieces of wood to last the night. ¡°As the fire pit is outdoors, it¡¯s easily affected by the wind, so after we add the damp wood, we can cover the burning coals with a layer of dry soil to prevent too much oxygen from entering and causing the coals to burn too fast.¡± ¡°During this process, make sure that the soil doesn¡¯t contain any dry leaves, grass, or other flammable materials to avoid accidents.¡± After adding the damp wood, the fire pit crackled loudly. The warm glow of the fire dissipated the chill of the mountains and made one drowsy. Perhaps due to being busy all day, Bi Fang, having finished setting up the camp, was still hungry but definitely felt tired; he crawled into the shelter, used his backpack as a pillow, and prepared to rest. He placed the drone in front of him, agreed to several generous fans¡¯ friend requests, then waved his hand to indicate that he was about to end the live stream. ¡°` ¡°It¡¯s getting late; I need to rest. If you like my show, please follow me. I¡¯ll continue the live broadcast tomorrow morning. Welcome to tune in,¡± [Hey, it¡¯s just past eight, isn¡¯t it a bit early?] [Yeah, keep streaming for a bit more; other hosts are just starting.] ¡°I really can¡¯t keep going. I¡¯ve been on the road all day, and I¡¯m genuinely exhausted,¡± Bi Fang said with difficulty. [Alright then, have an early rest, host. I¡¯ll definitely be here tomorrow!] [Okay then.] [Forgive the host.] Although many viewers indeed didn¡¯t want to part, they could still empathize with Bi Fang; after all, live streaming as a Wilderness Survivalist is different from playing games all night without trouble. Watching his viewers send another wave of gifts, Bi Fang expressed his gratitude and then, amidst their reluctant farewells, turned off the live stream. From the backend, he could see that his channel¡¯s following had already exceeded five hundred. During the broadcast hours, the number kept rising, peaking at nearly seven hundred viewers, with the gifts amounting to an impressive total of nearly ten thousand in revenue. One day¡¯s live stream was equivalent to the original owner¡¯s monthly salary! However, Bi Fang didn¡¯t let it get to his head; he alone knew how tough today had been. His physical foundation was too poor, and although he had gone through a crash training course for a week, due to poverty, there was no dietary support, no proper protein intake, so the exercise effects weren¡¯t good. Even with his extensive Foot Orienteering experience, he frequently ran out of breath not long into his treks, and now his legs were also incredibly sore and weak. But he never showed any of this to his audience, even pretending to be at ease. All of this was to create a persona. From the beginning, Bi Fang aimed to build his image as a wilderness expert, from his tone to his actions, all portraying the demeanor of someone who¡¯d fought many battles. He knew that with a theme like wilderness live streaming, once there is a precedent, there will be imitators, just like the myriad of Wilderness Survival shows that emerged in his previous life. With a professional persona, when people see the same kind of program next time, they will inherently think of Bi Fang as the first in the field, and they will compare, then the old fans will stick around and new fans will be attracted, creating a virtuous cycle. It¡¯s like how people always comment that someone in a new Wilderness Survival show is nowhere near as good as Bear Grylls or Grandpa De. People like to see the strong conquering nature, not the weak struggling within it. And how could a ¡°Wilderness Expert¡± possibly look frail? That wouldn¡¯t make sense. Bi Fang lay on the dry leaves, gazing up at the stars beyond his shelter, unattainable constellations, reflecting on his performance and areas to improve while thinking about how to do better tomorrow. The stars are so bright. Bi Fang squinted his eyes, stretching away all of his fatigue. The night in the Qinling Mountains was far more beautiful than in the city, lying between heaven and earth, breathing seemed to fall into rhythm with the flickering stars. Lonely yet free. Carrying a whirl of thoughts, Bi Fang slipped deeply into sleep. The next day. As the early morning sun rose, Bi Fang opened his eyes, stretched his body, and with a series of cracking sounds, felt a wave of refreshing comfort. Perhaps because he had just woken up, his mind was still a bit foggy, until the sound of the Cuckoo¡¯s courting coos outside his shelter made him realize he was still in the wilderness, his pupils instantly focused. ¡°Phew¨C¡± I really don¡¯t know if I¡¯m just thick-skinned or naturally suited for the wild, but I was able to sleep so soundly outdoors all alone. Bi Fang rubbed his face and walked out of the shelter. The morning in the Qinling Mountains was still a bit chilly; he tightened his coat. The fire in front of the shelter had died out, emitting wisps of dry smoke. Picking up a stick and stirring it, the charred wood at the bottom instantly snapped in two, sending up a flurry of sparks and charcoal dust. Bi Fang nodded to himself; it was good that there were still embers left, and with a bit of tinder, he could quickly start a fire again. Picking up the drone, he started another live stream. Just as he was about to greet the audience, a sudden electronic tone sounded. [Ding, congratulations to the host, the Skill of Foot Orienteering has been upgraded, current level: Foot Orienteering lv4] sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°` Chapter 14 - 14 Making Hunting Weapons Chapter 14 Making Hunting Weapons Translator: 549690339 ¡°` Skill upgrade? How come it¡¯s so fast? Bi Fang was startled, not because he was surprised that his skill upgraded on its own, but because of how quickly it had happened. Skills are based on the host¡¯s capabilities, and as the host¡¯s abilities improve, so naturally do their levels. Otherwise, where would those innate skills come from? They all came from his previous life. But why did it upgrade so fast? Green Skills aren¡¯t so easy to upgrade, and he had only hiked for one day yesterday. After pondering for quite a while, Bi Fang vaguely guessed the answer. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It must be thanks to the Blue Skill ¡°Wilderness Survivalist¡± and the Purple Skill ¡°Advanced Yoga¡±! ¡°Wilderness Survivalist¡± itself comes with certain hiking techniques, which might not be as comprehensive as the standalone ¡°Foot Orienteering,¡± but it could very well surpass it in some technical aspects and experience. And ¡°Advanced Yoga¡± is excellent for adjusting body balance; combining the two allowed ¡°Foot Orienteering¡± to upgrade so quickly. No wonder, Bi Fang nodded to himself. Having realized this, he stopped being hung up on it and returned his attention to greeting his live audience. Counting the days, today should be Saturday, and it¡¯s around seven or eight o¡¯clock, so there shouldn¡¯t be many people, but in just a short while, the number of viewers had already broken into double digits. While packing up his stuff, Bi Fang greeted everyone. ¡°Good morning!¡± [Good morning!] [Old Fang, did you just get up?] [Wow, from nine last night to eight this morning? Slept that well? I¡¯m starting to wonder if Master Fang is actually in the wilderness] [I saw Shark¡¯s notification early in the morning and thought the lady was up and dancing already, but it turned out to be Old Fang, what bad luck] ¡°Haha, that¡¯s really too bad,¡± Bi Fang said, pretending to be very sorry. ¡°But back to the point, today is my second day of wilderness survival. After a whole night¡¯s rest, I feel like my energy has returned, but I¡¯m still feeling physically hungry, and I haven¡¯t had a drop of water since yesterday. It¡¯ll be trouble if I can¡¯t find a river today.¡± [Wilderness survival seems so hard] [What is this, my empathy is so strong I¡¯m biting into a piece of crispy biscuit with tears, mmm, the same old taste, delicious!] [Enough, can¡¯t you have some sympathy?] [Sending some fish balls, it¡¯s the thought that counts] ¡°Thank you all for your concerns, but the situation isn¡¯t that severe yet, and I¡¯m confident I¡¯ll find a water source today!¡± ¡°However, before we go, there are some things we haven¡¯t dealt with yet.¡± Bi Fang squatted next to the extinguished campfire, felt with his hands that it had cooled down a bit, and picked a few pieces of charcoal to put into his backpack. ¡°Without matches or flint, it¡¯s actually quite necessary to move the fire we start, so when the burnt charcoal cools down sufficiently, we can collect some of it. This makes it convenient to light a fire at the next location.¡± ¡°Then, we need to check for any remaining embers and extinguish them thoroughly to prevent wildfires. If we had water, it would be best to douse it until no smoke rises, but we don¡¯t, so we¡¯ll use soil to cover it.¡± ¡°` Bi Fang covered the spot where he had made the fire with earth, then scattered fallen leaves over it to blend in with the surrounding environment. After some simple arrangements, the traces of the original fire were nearly eliminated. ¡°Maintaining the integrity of the natural beauty of the place when leaving is very important. It also means that we should erase any visible traces after we¡¯re done with the fire pit.¡± ¡°This way, when future travelers come to this place, it will be primitive again.¡± [Master Fang truly loves nature.] [Right, other outdoor streamers leave trash even when just climbing a mountain. Compared to Master Fang, there is a clear difference.] Seeing the multitude of praises in the live chat, Bi Fang was momentarily stunned, then warned, ¡°Don¡¯t stir up hatred for me, everyone. I am a quality broadcaster, and my viewers are quality viewers.¡± He couldn¡¯t stop fans from stirring up animosity, but Bi Fang still wanted to do his best to minimize this phenomenon ¨C nip it in the bud. [Pfft, haha, why does it sound so funny when Master Fang says this?] [Understood, understood.] Bi Fang¡¯s face showed visible frustration, knowing he couldn¡¯t bring the conversation back on track, so he simply let it go, determined the right direction, and shouldered his pack to set off. As the saying goes, water flows downhill; in a forest environment, if you walk downhill following the overall terrain, you are very likely to find a water source. ¡°Water, fire, and shelter are the three essentials of wilderness survival. Water, especially, on average, a group can survive about three days without it. This situation is further affected by internal factors such as temperature, humidity, and the group¡¯s health. For example, a person could die from dehydration within hours if they¡¯re engaged in intense activity in a dry, hot environment.¡± [Coach, I know this!] [So that means Master Fang hasn¡¯t had water for over a day, right?] ¡°Yes, since noon yesterday,¡± Bi Fang nodded, not denying it, ¡°That¡¯s why I need to set off early in the morning to find a water source, and, we can try making some weapons now.¡± [Weapons?] [Wow! Are we talking about hunting bows and spears?] [How can we make those?] When Bi Fang mentioned making weapons, the audience lit up with excitement, barraging the chat with messages. ¡°Both humans and animals need water, and the chance of encountering animals near a water source is greater. Having a weapon, whether for self-defense or hunting, is very convenient. If we¡¯re lucky, perhaps this time we¡¯ll not only find a water source but also catch some prey.¡± ¡°When it comes to making weapons in the wild, you¡¯d certainly shift your thoughts from the 21st century to primitive times. Think of cavemen. For thousands of years, people have used weapons and tools they made by hand with natural resources to protect themselves and satisfy their hunger. If you¡¯re trapped in the wilderness with nothing, wearing only your shirt, you would also need to make weapons with materials from the wilderness.¡± ¡°In the wild, especially in forests, the best material for making weapons is undoubtedly flint! It is a type of extremely hard siliceous rock, and its fractured edges are sharp enough to rival a knife blade.¡± [Really? Sharper than a knife?] [I seem to have heard that flint can be used to start fires, right?] ¡°Yes, it¡¯s because flint is so hard that when struck against each other, it can produce sparks and can be used to start fires. And because flint is resistant to weathering and chemicals, we just need to search around freshwater coasts, riverbeds, or other rocky areas.¡± Bi Fang walked, stopping intermittently, then suddenly quickened his pace and picked up a few stones that were darker in color from among a pile of gray boulders, lifting them high. ¡°Haha, look everyone, this is Flint Stone; flint is usually black or dark grey. This is the only physical distinction of flint from other rocks. Flint doesn¡¯t have a specific identification color, but it often combines into different colors depending on the other minerals it contains.¡± Having found flint, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t wait to start making weapons. Having a good weapon is really too important in the process of wilderness survival. Though he spoke impressively, many viewers still couldn¡¯t see what was so special about these few broken stones. Chapter 15: Weapon Master Online Chapter 15: Weapon Master Online Translator: 549690339 Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°To kickstart your armory, there¡¯s one indispensable tool¡ªa knife. The uses for a knife are numerous, and its role becomes priceless when it¡¯s a matter of life and death.¡± ¡°Therefore, we can¡¯t just use any stone; choose the wrong material, and it¡¯s not only wasted effort, but it could also fail you at a crucial moment. Look at this piece of shale.¡± Having said that, Bi Fang picked up a piece of limestone from the pile of rocks, merely tapping it against a large boulder, which caused it to peel off in layers, shattering like an eggshell. ¡°This kind of shale is too loose and simply cannot be fixed together, which is why we need to choose flint. It is not only hard but also has sharp fractures.¡± [MMO feeling, earning tools step by step, eventually building a fortress!] [Dreaming Back to the Stone Age!] [Wood plank + Stone block + Vine = Stone Axe!] ¡°Generally speaking, what is hard, is often also brittle. To get a sharp edge on flint, we can break it directly with a heavy object, then shape the rough outline using another stone or a sharp bone.¡± Bi Fang knelt on the ground, placed the flint on a massive rock beside him, gripped it with one hand, and found a slightly larger rock to repeatedly strike the edge of the flint. ¡°We aim to create a cutting tool, not just to get a cutting object, so we must use a striking method. It¡¯s like playing chess; you have to understand each move and then think holistically about which parts to remove. For beginners, this process requires repeated trials to get the strength right.¡± In front of the massive rock, Bi Fang worked the flint like an experienced blacksmith, feeling the familiarity surge through him the moment he gripped the flint, as if he knew exactly how much force to use, and from which angle to apply it. The fact that the system skills could even directly impart a sense of touch struck Bi Fang with amazement, yet his hands moved faster and faster. Within hardly ten minutes, a sharp-edged bar was gradually taking shape. Bi Fang carefully picked it up and displayed the rough stone dagger to the audience, its fractured edge glinting coldly under the sunlight, indeed very sharp. Then, he picked up a slightly smaller piece of greenstone and continued to strike it, smoothing it down on the massive rock. Tiny chips of stone fell away, and quickly one side of the bar flattened. The whole process was short, taking no more than about ten minutes. A dagger closely resembling those of traditional terms emerged. Rip! Bi Fang tore a long strip from the hem of his shirt, carefully wrapping the tail of the dagger to form a handle, then held the stone dagger and slashed at a stick beside him. Like a pencil sharpener, a thick layer of wood peel was easily sliced off. [Holy shit, doesn¡¯t that look amazing? It¡¯s practically an art piece!] [But is good looks the point? Isn¡¯t this thing sharper than an actual knife?] [If I had this knife back in the day, there wouldn¡¯t be a single intact rapeseed flower within ten miles!] [666, show off!] [Sauce-burst fish gifts the broadcaster card*10¡ªOld Weapon Master!] [15 cm not including the head, gifts the broadcaster a rocket*1¡ªMaster Fang, can you give it to me after the live broadcast ends?] A stone dagger as a gift? Bi Fang was stunned; the idea hadn¡¯t crossed his mind at all. Considering that the thing was of no use once it left him, he had no objections. ¡°Of course, there¡¯s no problem. If you guys want it, I¡¯ll draw a viewer to give it away right after the live broadcast is over.¡± [Ah, isn¡¯t that chance too small though, one in a few hundred?] ¡°That¡¯s not the case,¡± Bi Fang shook his head. ¡°One dagger is not enough; we also need to make a few more stone spears.¡± [But that¡¯s still not a lot!] [Yeah, it¡¯s a shame!] Seeing disappointment in the live broadcast room, Bi Fang shrugged his shoulders ¡ª there was nothing he could do about it and turned his attention to making stone spears. ¡°Making a stone spear is much quicker than making a stone dagger because all we need is a pointed end on the flint, and then fixing the spearhead onto the shaft.¡± Looking around, Bi Fang found several branches of suitable thickness, over one meter in length, and fairly straight. Using the stone dagger, he trimmed the branches straight and smooth, then split one end of each branch to act as a fixing point. It must be said, having the stone dagger made everything a lot easier. Next was making the spearhead, similar to before, continuously striking the flint to sharpen one end, then inserting the blunt part into the split end of the branch. ¡°Just relying on the groove formed by the fork of a branch isn¡¯t secure enough, so we need to use an adhesive to stick it on, then tie it with a rope, and that should pretty much do it,¡± Master Fang explained. ¡°Vines are easy to find, and so is the adhesive. In the wilderness, there is nothing more suitable for an adhesive than pine resin. It¡¯s not only extremely sticky, but once it solidifies, it¡¯s incredibly strong. As everyone knows, amber is formed from pine resin.¡± As he explained, Bi Fang found several pine trees, cut a slit in them, and, after a good amount of pine resin oozed out, he quickly attached the Stone Spear to it, allowing the resin to flow over the spearhead like honey. Finally, while the resin was not yet fully solidified, Bi Fang found some vines and tied the spearhead in an X shape. Thus, a handy Stone Spear was crafted. Had it not been for the live stream¡¯s viewers who watched the whole process, it would be hard to imagine someone making such lethal weapons as spears and Stone Daggers by hand in the wilderness. [Simply divine!] [Who else is there! Who else!] [Master Fang yyds!] [Weapon Master online!] The chat erupted in celebration while Bi Fang concentrated on making the remaining Spears. Before long, a total of three Spears were completed and bundled together, carried on his back as he continued forward. In the wilderness of the jungle, Bi Fang, with a Stone Dagger in hand and Stone Spears on his back, looked incredibly dominant and wild as he moved forward, scanning his surroundings. [So cool!] [This vibe is wild, so manly, completely different from other streamers.] [Feels just like a vengeful Hunter from the movies!] [Time to drool over the screen again] As he headed up the southern slope, Bi Fang felt a noticeable improvement from the Skill upgrade. When he ran, not only could he control his breathing rhythm more easily, his body coordination and flexibility improved, with various techniques coming to him effortlessly. ¡°There are many tips to hiking in the wilderness. Mastering them can make trekking much more relaxed, and also significantly faster. Otherwise, after a whole day, not only will our feet be unbearably sore, we will be more prone to injuries and move at a very low efficiency,¡± Master Fang said. ¡°For example, right now, when going downhill, we should lean slightly backwards, look ahead, land on the full sole of the foot, and walk with legs in a bow stance, using our arms to maintain balance. Keep the pace steady, not too fast, to avoid losing control and danger. Never stop with feet together, or you may fall.¡± [Master Fang is so meticulous] [Really, he¡¯s very meticulous] [15 centimeters not including the head to the live stream airplane*1¡ªCheers to Master Fang¡¯s meticulousness!] [Fat Cat Pete gives 10 membership cards to the streamer¡ªHaha, Master Fang¡¯s face is all black] Slap! Bi Fang slapped a mosquito to death, his face full of black lines, attempting to suck his blood. You¡¯re the one that¡¯s meticulous, your whole family is meticulous! He was kindly imparting knowledge, so why was he being teased for being too detailed? Heaven and earth are my witness; I¡¯m quite robust! [Eh! Why does it seem like there are more and more mosquitoes now?] [Yeah, there weren¡¯t any before, how come there are so many now?] [Just in this short time, hasn¡¯t Master Fang killed like seven or eight mosquitoes?] Seeing Bi Fang constantly slapping at mosquitoes, many viewers noticed something was unusual. There weren¡¯t that many mosquitoes before. But Bi Fang, who had just killed another mosquito, took it in stride and even expressed joy, ¡°This is normal, it means we are on the right path.¡± ¡°Many insects prefer damp, dark environments with standing water and abundant plants, and mosquitoes are one of them. Now that the mosquitoes are getting more numerous¡­¡± Bi Fang squinted his eyes. ¡°It means a water source is nearby!¡± Chapter 16: An Invitation from the Guild Chapter 16: An Invitation from the Guild Translator: 549690339 ¡°One of the six essential skills for wilderness survival is finding water sources, and one must master the ability to find water by observing animals,¡± Bi Fang climbed over a ridge, listening intently to the various sounds of the forest, hoping to hear the sound of flowing water, while simultaneously sharing some of his experience with the audience. ¡°Places where cattails, willows, water lilies, daylilies, and mustard plants grow usually have high water tables and good water quality; in the woods, if a particular area¡¯s trees sprout early or yellow late, it suggests there is groundwater; and there are some plants that only grow where there is water, like willows and Chinese parasol trees, which usually have groundwater beneath them.¡± ¡°In summer, areas where mosquitoes gather, frogs, large ants, and snails live usually have water¡ªthese are all cues I use to make a judgment.¡± [It turns out that wilderness survival is not about having a strong body, but rich knowledge!] [Yeah, Master Fang¡¯s knowledge base is terrifying.] [It¡¯s not all about knowledge, though. If you replaced him with an equally knowledgeable old professor, could he do as much? I suspect they¡¯d be exhausted after just sitting for a while.] [Yes, I want to know.] When Bi Fang mentioned the concept of the six skills, the viewers¡¯ thirst for knowledge was immediately triggered. ¡°Of course, no problem.¡± Bi Fang nodded, another purpose of his livestream being to teach everyone the essential knowledge for wilderness survival: ¡°First of the six skills, don¡¯t fight battles you aren¡¯t sure about, prepare thoroughly before going into the wilderness.¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Second, learn to identify directions, so you don¡¯t get lost.¡± ¡°Third, learn to find water sources.¡± ¡°Fourth, learn to send distress signals.¡± ¡°Fifth, recognize food, learn to hunt.¡± ¡°Sixth, learn to rescue yourself, don¡¯t panic when things happen.¡± ¡°With most of these six points, we can handle most situations with ease.¡± [6, concise summary.] [Master Fang¡¯s experience is so extensive, he must have been to many places, right?] [How to survive in the wilderness scientifically (dog¡¯s head).] [Knowledge is power!] The path in the mountains became gentler, indicating that Bi Fang was nearing the bottom of the incline, and the diversity of plants around him had noticeably increased. Bi Fang took a deep breath, the moist air rushing into his chest along the respiratory tract, finally carrying away the waste gases. He wasn¡¯t wrong, the water source was nearby! Thirsty, Bi Fang quickened his pace and climbed over another mound of earth¡­ ¡°Whoosh whoosh, whoosh whoosh¡­¡± The sound of a small stream suddenly came through. Bi Fang turned his head, laughing at the camera: ¡°Did you hear that? The sound of running water.¡± [Clear as a bell (applause).] [Just hearing this sound, I feel thirsty even if I¡¯m not.] [Wu Hu, we¡¯ve got water to drink!] Bi Fang took big strides, quickly passing several large trees and bursting out of the woods, the view, previously obscured, suddenly opened up. Just as expected! A small stream, three to four meters wide, was flowing leisurely from west to east. The water hitting the rocks in the streambed sent up clear splashes, and the stones below had been polished smooth and fine by years of water flow. The dense forest canopy blocked out the sunlight, casting only scattered patches of light and shadow that flickered in the wind. It was a season of lush vegetation, and the wild grass on the ground grew in thick batches, like a heavy blanket. It wasn¡¯t easy. Bi Fang looked across to the other side of the stream, his heart filled with joy. [So beautiful, this mountain stream is so clear!] [This makes me want to go on a trip to Qinling.] ¡°Dream on! You can¡¯t see such scenes at tourist spots, where it¡¯s packed with people and garbage. Only in true unpopulated wilderness like this can you come across it. But without Master Fang¡¯s abilities, you can¡¯t even get there.¡± ¡°We can only satisfy ourselves by watching the live stream.¡± Bi Fang could no longer hold back. He squatted down, stretched his hand into the stream, and the cool water flowed over his fingertips, taking away the noise and fatigue from his whole body. He washed his hands, brought his fingers together, cupped some water from the stream, and drank it eagerly. But after a few sips, still not quenched, he plunged his head into the stream and began to gulp! ¡°Gurgle, gurgle¡­¡± ¡°Ahh, refreshing!¡± After drinking several mouthfuls, Bi Fang straightened up, took a deep breath, and felt much of his strength return. ¡°It tastes so sweet!¡± ¡°Seeing Master Fang like this makes me thirsty too.¡± ¡°There it is, the dragon¡¯s drink!¡± ¡°Drinking raw water directly? Isn¡¯t that unclean?¡± ¡°But this is mountain spring water¡ªhow could it be unclean? Isn¡¯t the bottled mineral water you drink proud to come from a mountain spring?¡± ¡°Cough, well, you can¡¯t really say that.¡± Bi Fang coughed once and wiped his mouth before explaining, ¡°Due to increasing pollution, authentic mountain spring water is actually quite rare nowadays, and even if it¡¯s real, it¡¯s still processed. Most factories use groundwater, which truly can be drunk directly.¡± ¡°But I was really too thirsty. This creek is very active, and its self-purification ability is not bad, so I drank some. However, if possible, it¡¯s still better to boil the water. Many common diseases, including cholera, hepatitis A, and giardiasis, are caused by drinking unclean water.¡± ¡°And here¡¯s another tip for everyone¡ªif you¡¯ve been really thirsty for a while, don¡¯t drink water in large gulps. You need to sip slowly, otherwise, it can cause severe vomiting, and the body won¡¯t effectively absorb the water!¡± As he spoke, Bi Fang drank a few more mouthfuls, this time his actions noticeably gentle, sipping slowly. ¡°We¡¯ve already mentioned it¡¯s a tip¡ªaren¡¯t you writing it down, class rep?¡± ¡°Stop scolding, I¡¯m writing it down, I¡¯m writing it down.¡± ¡°Is it going to be on the test (joking)?¡± ¡°Maltose donated 10 VIP cards to the host¡ª I don¡¯t recognize any of these diseases.¡± ¡°That¡¯s All for Tonight donated an airplane to the host¡ªWe said it was an easy point, how could you get it wrong?¡± As time passed, the number of viewers in the live stream grew quickly, easily surpassing one hundred. It was clear that Bi Fang¡¯s performance yesterday had attracted a large number of fans. Most of those present today had also been there yesterday. Lu Junming was no exception. As an employee of an internet celebrity agency, his job was to scout for quality hosts to sign contracts with. In the meantime, he boosted the popularity of the agency¡¯s current hosts. Basically, he flitted around with a high-level account, draining cups, and boosting the achievements of his agency¡¯s talent. Yesterday, he had been browsing live streams on his phone and casually opened the outdoor section, just in time to enter this Master Fang live broadcast. He saw the host fighting snakes, building shelters, and even fire-making by wood-drilling, and he was astounded! Who wasn¡¯t afraid of death to broadcast like this? Definitely staged! Seasoned pros like Lu Junming wouldn¡¯t be easily convinced. He was sure that there must be a whole team behind this host; otherwise, who would dare to risk so much? He had seen this type of gimmick before¡ªappear to suffer on the surface, but as soon as the live broadcast ends at night, enjoy the good life. However, this form of live streaming was truly captivating; it could be said to have created a new genre in outdoor live broadcasts with very high popularity. If he could sign it for his agency, it would be a great achievement! Promotion and a raise were just around the corner! Nevertheless, Lu Junming didn¡¯t make contact right away but logged in with his alternate account early today to continue watching. After all, the other party was a newcomer. If he was too eager to sign a contract, it could inflate their ego, so he needed to play it cool. That¡¯s also why he dared to do this; the other party hadn¡¯t been promoted, the traffic wasn¡¯t big, and it was in the rather niche outdoor section. Finding it was a complete fluke, so he wasn¡¯t worried about other guilds snatching it away! After hanging on for a day yesterday, that should be sufficient. If he waited any longer, the choice piece of meat might end up in someone else¡¯s mouth. After observing for a long while, Lu Junming logged out of his alternate account, ready to switch to his Emperor¡¯s Vest to show off! With his Emperor¡¯s account, signing contracts was as good as done, wasn¡¯t it? Chapter 17 - 17 Tracing and Distinguishing Tracks Chapter 17 Tracing and Distinguishing Tracks Translator: 549690339 Just as Lu Junming dreamed of promotion and a salary raise, Bi Fang on the other side was not idle, making some unexpected discoveries as he moved along the creek. Bi Fang pushed aside a clump of weeds with the stick in his hand and discovered small footprints on the ground, exclaiming excitedly. ¡°Hey! Look what we¡¯ve found?¡± [What?] [Feels like an animal passed by here?] [What is it, a mouse?] In the weedy area that Bi Fang had cleared with the stick, there were small brown granules piled together, and a series of footprints leading deep into the forest, it was clear that some animal had been there not long ago, and more than once. The mud by the creek was softer, and the animal tracks were very distinct and would not disappear for a long time. If it were some other creature, Bi Fang might not have been so excited. But¡­ ¡°These are rabbit tracks!¡± Bi Fang was thrilled, if he was lucky, he might even get to eat meat today! He squatted on the ground, with the corner of his eye scanning the surroundings for movement in the forest, pressing down the weeds with the stick in his hand to give viewers a clearer view, while picking up some of the brown granules with his fingers. These granules were round and very small, with a diameter of about eight millimeters, and they easily crumbled into pieces when he pinched them. [Here we go again, Master Fang, the old poop expert!] [I¡¯ve never seen such a heavy-taste livestream] [Feels like it¡¯s a rat?] [Your rat¡¯s footprints are that big?] [Brother, you must be from the north, you¡¯ve never seen the rats from the south, have you?] ¡°No, it¡¯s not that.¡± Bi Fang shook his head and pointed at the footprints and droppings on the ground, saying, ¡°Whether it¡¯s the shape or the size, these are definitely not from a rodent, this is for sure rabbit droppings!¡± ¡°Firstly, a rat¡¯s toes are clearly forked and they have five of them, but rabbits only have four fingers, and they do not fork; secondly, look at the droppings.¡± ¡°Look, the surface of the dung is rough, indicating it¡¯s not from ruminants like deer, and the shape is rounder, if it were from a rodent, their shape would be oval or elongated!¡± [My useless knowledge has increased again!] [Rabbit: I had no idea I¡¯d still be caught, since that¡¯s the case ¡­ tell me, what exactly gave away my trail? What ¡­ what? It¡¯s the poop I left? How outrageous!] [Rabbit thief and the Terrifying Upright Ape!] [Great, if you¡¯re not on the monthly ticket rankings, I¡¯m not watching, I¡¯ll subscribe to everything once it¡¯s up! Write quickly.] [Ah, creating the document now, remember to vote a lot.] [Go ahead, don¡¯t worry!] Bi Fang: ¡°¡­¡± Indeed, such joyful foolishness among the netizens. [But aren¡¯t rabbits hard to catch? I¡¯ve seen wild rabbits in the mountains before; those guys are lightning fast! You can¡¯t even see the tail lights.] [Really? I feel like my rabbit can barely run ¡­] [Can a domestic one be the same as a wild one? Besides, is that a rabbit you have? Yours is clearly a pig!] Indeed. Seeing the barrage of comments, Bi Fang had to admit, wild rabbits were indeed hard to catch, not only were they naturally cautious, with keen hearing and vision, but they also ran fast and hid well. Despite the numerous predators, few animals could catch them; it was almost impossible without a trap. Bi Fang couldn¡¯t afford to waste a lot of time on this, as the System required him to survive within seven days. A day or two wouldn¡¯t be nearly enough to see any yield from the traps he made. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But such animals had a fatal weakness! ¡°Wild rabbits have a quirk where they love to take the same old paths. As long as they¡¯re not disturbed or frightened, they will go in and out of their burrows through the same route every day, and over time, they¡¯ll wear a faintly distinguishable trail in the grass. Moreover, since they are nocturnal, we can now follow the traces they¡¯ve left behind and essentially find their burrow!¡± [Rabbit: My fate is sealed!] [Think you can escape when Master Fang has set his sights on you?] [Charge!] [Is it even possible to raid their homes?] [985. Journey Pot has gifted the host 10 shark fins] [Comment message: Gifting the host 10 food tickets¡ªIs this what they call hunting?] Having explained this, Bi Fang picked up a stick and followed the tracks, and if all went well, perhaps in an hour or two, he¡¯d be able to eat rabbit meat! Who had ever seen such a thing as hunting in the deep forests for the notoriously cunning wild rabbit? Young people who had lived easy lives in the city were all drawn in, watching Bi Fang tracking and identifying traces in the eerie forest, they felt the tension and excitement, calling their friends over to watch, with the viewer count rising almost continually! Effortlessly, they broke through the two hundred viewer mark! ¡°Wild rabbits like to live in mixed forests near water sources. The soil in such areas is generally soft, making their footprints easy to spot. Moreover, when foraging in the wild, rabbits nibble here and there, which is another easy point of identification.¡± ¡°Moreover, in the forest there are usually higher mounds of earth, and ninety percent of the time they have rabbit tracks, because rabbits like to walk on elevated areas for a better view to spot predators!¡± Leaning on the walking stick, Bi Fang easily found the trail through the dense weeds. Just a bit further away, one could see a sparser line, which is the trail where the rabbit had passed. Following bits and pieces of clues, Bi Fang tracked his way. Time slowly passed, and soon it was past noon. The temperature in the forest was rising rapidly, and combined with the constant activity, Bi Fang could only unzip his jacket, but his forehead was still layered with sweat. Yet the rabbit¡¯s burrow was still nowhere in sight. If he couldn¡¯t find it, it would mean a great waste of time and energy, which could be a fatal blow to Bi Fang, who had not eaten for a long time! In fact, this was a gamble, and even the most experienced hunters would not dare say that they could definitely catch a wild rabbit. But faced with several hundred viewers, Bi Fang dared to bet, he even had to! Boldly enterprising and full of adventurous spirit, he was a born Explorer. This was how the old professor from the CWCA Adventure Team had once described him. Seconds and minutes ticked by. The viewers in the live stream became more and more numerous, but the recognizable tracks in the forest grew fewer and fewer. ¡°It seems we¡¯re getting close.¡± Bi Fang took a breath, trying to steady his breathing, ¡°As the saying goes, ¡®A rabbit doesn¡¯t eat the grass by its own burrow.¡¯ This is because it needs enough grass to conceal its nest, and wild rabbits don¡¯t dig holes, they only nest in pre-existing pits. Now, we need to keep an eye out for such pits!¡± [That¡¯s not right, what about the idiom, ¡®A sly rabbit has three burrows¡¯?] [Yeah, I¡¯m puzzled] Many viewers were confused. If rabbits don¡¯t dig holes, is the saying about the sly rabbit having three burrows false? ¡°The idiom, ¡®A sly rabbit has three burrows,¡¯ actually refers to burrowing rabbits, which are quite different from the wild rabbits I¡¯m talking about. Burrowing rabbits live in groups, while wild rabbits are solitary. Burrowing rabbits generally live in grasslands, while wild rabbits live in forests.¡± ¡°Burrowing rabbits have a narrow range of activity centered around their burrows, whereas the range of activity for wild rabbits is much broader than that of burrowing rabbits. And we¡¯re looking for a wild rabbit, which is why we¡¯ve come such a long way,¡± Bi Fang explained and then wiped his sweat. At that moment. An earth mound in front, bald on the top and overgrown with weeds underneath, caught his attention. Chapter 18 - 18 Don’t Shoot Chapter 18 Don¡¯t Shoot Translator: 549690339 The earth mound was about the height of a man, bare at the top, but from the midsection down, it began to sprout a profusion of weeds, which, at first glance, looked like the troubled expression of a middle-aged man¡­ It was absolutely an ideal habitat for wild rabbits! Bi Fang commanded the drone to come closer, whispering. ¡°Take a look at that earth mound¡ªthe view is unobstructed at the top, which is convenient for observation, and the bottom is thick with weeds, perfect for hiding. This is an excellent spot for rabbits to conceal themselves.¡± [Have we found it already?] [This mound of soil¡­ feels like it¡¯s been offended] [Are you a programmer? (joking)] [This slope, it¡¯s very smooth.] [Brilliant, it¡¯s like a Bulbasaur eating Bugles in Mickey Miao Miaohu, perfectly amazing] ¡°To catch animals, you must not overlook any detail, otherwise, all your effort will be for naught, especially with regards to sound, scent, and wind direction¡ªthese are all critical factors.¡± Bi Fang stretched out his hand, sensed for a moment, and nodded, ¡°It¡¯s a downhill wind, the direction is favorable; this wind won¡¯t carry our scent to the mound. You know, rabbits not only have an acute sense of hearing, but their sense of smell is equally strong.¡± ¡°Moreover, herbivores have a field of vision of up to 280 degrees, with only blind spots of 80 degrees on the front and back, so we must not enter their field of vision. It¡¯s best to approach from behind or directly from the front; otherwise, we will have wasted the entire half-day, and I can¡¯t afford that.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go over there and take a look, maybe the rabbit is right there!¡± Having said that, he started taking small steps towards the mound. But he hadn¡¯t walked two meters. Suddenly, a sporadic rustling noise came from the direction of the mound! Something was moving! Regardless of whether it was a rabbit or not, there was definitely a creature stirring by the mound! This wasn¡¯t the sound of wind rustling the grass; the noise was localized at that point¡ªit had to be a living creature! Bi Fang closed his mouth, his breathing gradually slowed, his chest rising and falling smoothly and powerfully, and his whole body¡¯s movements became soft. His right hand unconsciously touched the Stone Spear on his back, his muscles tensed, appearing relaxed but in reality, taut as a full moon bow! The wind carrying the sound brushed past his ear, like skimming over a still stone statue. Rustle rustle rustle. It moved again! And this time, it was even closer! Ten meters? Or eight? Bi Fang¡¯s ears twitched as he tried desperately to discern the distance while signaling with two hand gestures to the drone. These were tactical hand signals he¡¯d learned from a retired veteran in his previous exploration team In this situation, it wasn¡¯t convenient for him to speak, so he could only hope that there were viewers in the live stream who understood these signals. [What¡¯s with Master Fang, why has he suddenly become so tense?] Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Idiot, didn¡¯t you hear something moving?] [I recognize that hand signal, it¡¯s used in special forces combat, indicating something ahead, Master Fang must have spotted something. If I¡¯m not mistaken, there was a rustling noise just now.] [Ah, is this confirmation that he¡¯s a special forces soldier?] [666, you¡¯re all so skilled, even the audience is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers.] [I dare not claim that, I¡¯m just an ordinary military enthusiast.] Suddenly, hundreds of viewers became excited, many switching to a first-person perspective, watching the almost motionless image as if they were the ones hunting, instinctively holding their breath as if a breath in front of the screen would startle the creature millions of miles away. Master Fang had not eaten much for two whole days, and the thought alone made many viewers¡¯ stomachs ache. If he failed now, who knew when the next opportunity would be. So it was natural for everyone to feel anxious for Bi Fang. And Bi Fang felt it more acutely; no one knew what might spring out before seeing the creature with his own eyes. A rabbit? A snake? Or even a wolf? Anything was possible. All fear comes from the unknown. At that moment, as if the other side had discovered something, the rustling sound suddenly disappeared. A silence as still as death. The wind blew, the trees swayed, the grass moved, insects chirped, all these sounds seemed amplified, so loud as if they were exploding right by your ear! ¡°Whew¡­¡± Bi Fang exhaled deeply, trying to stabilize his fluctuating emotions. His strong and forceful heart thumped violently, pumping scalding blood throughout his body. The veins on his forearm bulged as the muscles rose, the Short Spear in his hand creaking from his grip. ¡°Eh? Is he hunting something?¡± Lu Junming logged into his Emperor account only to find that the streamer he was optimistic about didn¡¯t seem to warmly welcome him, but was intently staring at a small mound in front of him. It was well known that even if an Emperor account did nothing but stay in the live stream room, it could boost the heat by tens of thousands! Yet, ten seconds, twenty seconds passed and not a single person showed shock or welcome at his arrival, not even a bird turned by the streamer towards him. That didn¡¯t make any sense, had the Emperor lost all presence these days? What could be more important than welcoming his arrival? To treat an Emperor account this way in a live stream room, you¡¯re the first! Lu Junming, who was used to being fawned over as a wealthy benefactor and thus satisfying his vanity, was very dissatisfied. Just before, Lu Junming was about to switch accounts to log in when he was suddenly notified of a meeting, which caused him to be over an hour late, and in that short period, things had taken a turn he couldn¡¯t comprehend. [What¡¯s he doing?] Lu Junming tapped on the keyboard and sent this comment. A gleaming golden comment floated past everyone¡¯s eyes. This was the exclusive comment feature for Emperors who spend over one hundred thousand a month! But Lu Junming waited a moment and found that the streamer still didn¡¯t move, as if he hadn¡¯t seen it, with only a few viewers slightly surprised, welcoming this unfamiliar Emperor. Ah, this¡­ What is with these people, is the streamer blind? Pretending to hunt, and taking it seriously? Lu Junming was deflated, feeling very frustrated. In fact, Bi Fang really hadn¡¯t seen it, as he was completely focused on hunting right now, where would he find the time to check the live stream room? Seeing that there was no movement on the other side for a long time, Bi Fang decided to make his move! He took out the Stone Dagger with his left hand and gripped it tightly, adjusted the weight of the Stone Spear in his right hand, and after making sure it felt right, he found a spot without fallen leaves and weeds to lightly place his foot. Bi Fang loosened his toes, cautiously stepped forward, and seeing no reaction from the other side, he started to move closer step by step. Ten meters. Nine meters. Eight meters. The distance was shrinking, but just as he moved. Suddenly. A furry brown head, facing away from Bi Fang, poked out from the bushes. Clank! The hearts of all the viewers trembled in unison. Bi Fang included ¨C he abruptly stopped his movements, freezed on the spot. It really was a rabbit! But before the audience could even catch their breath, the tension ramped up again. That wild rabbit actually turned its head! Damn, it seemed like the rabbit had noticed something! At this moment, Bi Fang, with most of his body exposed outside the bushes and only the front of his foot peeking out, had most of his body weight pressed on it. So tiring! Bi Fang felt an unbearable soreness in his toes, with a rush of blood flowing back up, turning his face beet red. This distance was way too close, and for someone who was one meter eighty tall like him, it was not about hiding; even a slight movement of his toes could give him away. Given the rabbit¡¯s speed, he had no chance of catching up if it noticed him! Chapter 19 - 19 Is that you, Leap Soil? Chapter 19 Is that you, Leap Soil? Translator: 549690339 This is it, there¡¯s no more hope. Many viewers sighed, feeling that this miss was especially regrettable. Even Bi Fang was about to give up, ready to step out when the unexpected happened The rabbit that had just turned its head halfway suddenly stopped moving! It just stared quietly at the diagonal front as if it had noticed nothing. Bi Fang, who was about to relax, was shocked again, and his body posture became even more uncomfortable and bizarre, as if each second were lasting an eternity! I can¡¯t take it anymore¡­ Bi Fang felt his calves trembling, and beads of sweat slid down his forehead, spreading a salty taste around his lips. How much longer must he endure? A second, ten seconds, or a minute? He wanted to give up, but each time he considered it, a strong reluctance surged in his heart. The craving for his prey made Bi Fang lie in wait like a fierce tiger; he licked his teeth and claws, waiting only for the prey to turn back so he could snap its throat with his sharp teeth. Time dragged on until Bi Fang¡¯s patience was nearly worn thin, and just as he was about to strike! The rabbit turned its head towards somewhere else. ¡°Ha~¡± The tightly wound Bi Fang suddenly relaxed and took a half-step forward, moving behind the bushes to the right. Blood circulated swiftly, soothing his aching calves. Just as relaxed were the several hundred viewers in front of the screens, whose spirits could hardly be at ease with all the recent twists and turns. Rubbing his calves, Bi Fang crept forward again, but with even more subtle and careful movements. The distance was now very close, making it easier to startle the rabbit. But that wasn¡¯t enough. Bi Fang knew very well that this hunt must not fail; he had to get within five, or even four meters! Seven meters, six meters, five meters. Bi Fang finally got within about four meters. He raised his Short Spear, aiming at the rabbit¡¯s body, but he didn¡¯t move. By now, even Bi Fang¡¯s slightest movements completely alerted the rabbit. The wind direction somewhat carried away his scent, and the sounds had completely vanished. The rabbit sniffed around, found nothing, rubbed its head, and stood upright. Yes! Stand up, stand up a bit more¡­ Bi Fang silently chanted in his heart. At that moment, the rabbit¡¯s body was fully upright. Now! Bi Fang¡¯s legs pushed off, and in the blink of an eye, he burst out of the bushes! The forest breeze bore down, the weeds rustled, and under the sunlight, his agile figure stretched out long, like a tiger pouncing on its prey! Bi Fang gritted his teeth hard, his muscles exerting force without cost, power silently flowing through muscles and meridians, as if the long breath went from his lungs straight to the tips of his fingers, driving his arms to hurl the Short Spear! In a flash, a spark of cold light arrived first! Whiz! Thud! Blood, dyed the land red. The rabbit, just about to run, was firmly nailed to the ground, its legs thrashing twice but unable to budge the Short Spear, and gradually, it lay still. It was dead. [Aahhhhhhh!!] [It hit! The spear hit!] [Damn, I¡¯ve never been so excited about a World Cup goal! All rise!] [Lord Mu sent the host a Super Rocket*1¡ªImpressive! I¡¯ve been watching outdoors for so many years, Old Fang is the best!] S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Fat Cat Pete sent the host a Rocket*1¡ªAwesome!!!] [Awesome plus] [This posture, these skills; it reminds me of Leap Soil from my childhood¡­] [666, is that you, Leap Soil?] [All my fish balls are yours!] ¡­ For a moment, the live-streaming room was nearly overwhelmed by the audience¡¯s enthusiasm, showered with various praises and gifts sent out like money didn¡¯t matter. There was no denying that Bi Fang¡¯s effort that morning was very much worthwhile. Not only had he gained more fans, but he had also secured his meals for the day. ¡°Heh-ha!¡± Bi Fang gasped for breath; this fully-focused hunt had drained much of his energy, but seeing the audience¡¯s teasing, he couldn¡¯t help but smile happily. He pulled out the Short Spear and used some dirt not stained with blood to wipe off the bloodstain, then picked up the rabbit. But just as he reached out, a dark shadow suddenly darted out from his right! Bi Fang¡¯s pupils dilated, instinctively thinking it was some venomous snake, and before he could retract his hand, he saw the shadow graze past his fingertips and flee towards the distance, and then¡­ Bang! The sound of flesh and trees colliding violently was clearly audible. [Damn, that scared the crap out of me, what just flew by?] [Me too, but seeing Old Fang also got scared, I¡¯m relieved. ¡­] [Was that a rabbit just now?] [The second one?] [Master Fang, go take a look, it seems to have hit a tree?] Bi Fang, still shaken, looked at the barrage of comments and carried the rabbit to the base of a nearby tree. A rabbit with a bleeding head was shockingly lying motionless under the tree! Holy crap, this is bloody gold! [Motherf*cker, guarding a stump waiting for rabbits really paid off!] [My God, is that really a rabbit?] [A free rabbit, is that even possible?] The vast audience of Shuiyou (Online Friends / Audience) were stunned by the scene, never expecting that the old proverb would come to life before their eyes! Lu Junming was so surprised that his mouth hung open. He really couldn¡¯t imagine how they pulled off this effect in the show. Placing an immobile rabbit can explain hunting, but how could they possibly control a rabbit to crash into a tree? Did they get it drunk? This team is incredible! Sign, definitely need to sign. It¡¯s their first live broadcast, and they¡¯ve already attracted this many viewers; the content quality is good too, if they could be poached to our platform, the bonus would be substantial! A brimming-with-confidence Lu Junming immediately sent over a Super Rocket. [Streamer, come to our guild, we¡¯ll welcome you with open arms. Without saying anything else, if you signed with our guild, we¡¯d definitely promote you big time, your current results could at least double!] But just as Lu Junming fantasized about promotion, salary raise, and financial freedom, the mind of Bi Fang, who was standing by, was not on this at all. He picked up the rabbit, stuffed it into his bag, and hurriedly left. The smell of blood was too strong here, which could easily attract ferocious animals. Even so, Bi Fang still expressed his thanks to some of the Shuiyou, but the outdoors was not like indoors, and not seeing the barrage of comments was often the norm. Just like that, Lu Junming was ignored twice in a row. Of course, even if Bi Fang had known, he wouldn¡¯t have agreed. Being a streamer on the platform was a partnership, but joining a guild would mean becoming a worker. Not only would he face restrictions everywhere, but he would even be micromanaged on the content of the live broadcast, wouldn¡¯t that be embarrassing Grandpa De and Bear Grylls? Ultimately, Bi Fang was confident in his own live broadcast content! ¡°Damn, does this streamer really think he¡¯s a hotshot?¡± Lu Junming, ignored once again, was immediately indignant. The guild¡¯s rewards were meticulously planned, and he couldn¡¯t misappropriate them, so the Super Rocket he just sent was out of his own pocket, and the streamer didn¡¯t even care. You new streamer, what the hell are you playing at? Without the support of a guild, which streamer could possibly make it big? And how would you win the monthly rankings without us? Seeing his own 500 bucks go down the drain, Lu Junming instantly panicked and furiously pounded on his keyboard. [If you don¡¯t join a guild and lose during a competition against our people, don¡¯t blame us!] [Now, which streamer doesn¡¯t join a guild?] [Young man, don¡¯t aim too high; the world of streaming is deep and complex, you won¡¯t grasp it!] [Having good content doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯ll become famous!] Lu Junming sent barrage after barrage of comments, but instead of stirring anything up, they only annoyed the viewers. [Alright, cut it out with the guild talk, can¡¯t you see the streamer doesn¡¯t want to deal with you?] [Thought there was a big spender at first, but turned out to be just a guild rep, bad luck!] [Wielding a guild account to throw your weight around, who the hell do you think you are?] [It was just one Super Rocket, right?] Hey! Just one Super Rocket? Why don¡¯t you send one if you¡¯re so capable? Lu Junming, who was usually hailed as boss, was not used to being treated this way. Just as he was about to snap back, a series of dazzling fireworks blinded him for a moment. [Lord Mu gifted the streamer 10 Super Rockets*¡ªGet lost fast!] [Fat Cat Pete gifted the streamer 5 Super Rockets*¡ªDisappear smoothly!] [So Handsome It Alarms the Party Central Committee gifted the streamer 1 Super Rocket*¡ªRoll out quickly!] Sixteen treasure chests appeared at once, the onslaught of gifts leaving everyone dazed. ??? Lu Junming, sitting in front of the screen, jumped up like a startled rabbit. He pinched himself hard on the thigh, instantly feeling a painful sting. Who exactly has the problem? Him, or the world? Chapter 20 - 20 Is the Clown Actually Me? Chapter 20 Is the Clown Actually Me? Translator: 549690339 What kind of people are these? Throwing tens of thousands of yuan around like it¡¯s nothing? Do they think it¡¯s toilet paper? Lu Junming, bombarded by a succession of Super Rockets, went from shock to anger. He was about to spew rage when a shiver ran down his spine and a question emerged in his mind. How could a newbie streamer possibly have so many wealthy patrons? ¡°Damn, this isn¡¯t about ignoring me, this is about having already signed with a guild!¡± Upon realizing this, Lu Junming trembled with fury, his body drenched in cold sweat despite the scorching summer heat, his hands and feet icy cold. Was society still bearable? It had always been him who donated first, then led the public to donate, splitting the proceeds seventy-thirty afterward. He had never anticipated being outplayed by a peer today. Damn it, he should¡¯ve guessed earlier. That streamer¡¯s broadcasting equipment clearly wasn¡¯t cheap; it couldn¡¯t be gotten for less than a couple hundred thousand. It was obviously backed and prominently promoted by a big guild. As for the idea of a second-generation rich kid live streaming, Lu Junming never considered it. Give me a break, since when do rich kids live stream to the point of exhaustion? Lu Junming who considered himself savvy was filled with shock and anger. He had thought he found an easy target, but instead ended up shorn bare. Who could tolerate this? [***, you wait and see, you won¡¯t win next time we compete on the leaderboard!] [Trash!] After hurling these two insults, Lu Junming clicked the close button on the page. Out of sight, out of mind! ¡°Eh, what¡¯s this?¡± Bi Fang, just noticing the unusual commotion in his live stream room, scratched his head, not understanding why he was suddenly being cursed at. From beginning to end, the two of them never had a direct encounter. [Streamer, don¡¯t bother with that joker, just a guild account trying to gain visibility. But they got scared away by the big patrons.] [Right, never seen a patron this charismatic before.] [What a sight, magnificent!] [Lord Mu must be the alt of some tycoon, right?] Just as people were curious whether Lord Mu was an alt, a cool entrance effect appeared, followed by yet another ten Super Rockets. [Luo Chongyang gifts the streamer Super Rocket*10¨CEh, what happened to that guild account just now? I just changed accounts; how come it vanished?] [Haha, that familiar feeling, confirmed it¡¯s an alt!] [Lord Mu, is that you? I¡¯m Xia Yuhe from the shores of Lake Ming, remember me?] [Already starting to suck up? Not going to earn money together?] [Damn, a real tycoon for sure!] Recognizing audience members were immediately astounded. Brother Chongyang was well-known among several streamers as a VIP, having spent so much it was uncountable. Someone once noted that at his most extravagant, he had gifted several hundred thousand yuan to different streamers in a single day! No wonder he was so bold¡ªhe was the real deal! Meanwhile, Bi Fang, after reviewing the barrage of messages, finally understood what had happened and immediately thanked the wealthy patrons for their gifts. ¡°Thank you, thank you all for your support. But I won¡¯t join a guild, rest assured.¡± [That¡¯s right, don¡¯t worry about the leaderboard, Old Fang. Just stick to your own streaming style. If you lose, I¡¯ll write my name Shennong backwards!] [Count me in, Fat Cat at your service! I¡¯ll be at the top of the leaderboard!] [Then I¡¯ll be the tonsils!] Once again, the originally serious atmosphere of the live stream room turned into a fest of ridiculousness¡­ Bi Fang shook his head, somewhat at a loss. But that wave of gifts he just received really shocked him¡ªit was over fifty thousand RMB! Just his share alone was several tens of thousands. Although Bi Fang had known for a long time that with the System, fame and fortune would come his way, he couldn¡¯t help but feel his blood boil with excitement when he saw a glimpse of what was to come! A true man should be like this! However, the top priority was still to fill his stomach. Bi Fang weighed his backpack, which had gotten significantly heavier, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face. He took a glance at the live stream comments and suddenly noticed that the barrage of messages was getting more and more outrageous, even including composition of ¡°***,¡± so he quickly steered the topic back on track. ¡°Although we¡¯ve caught prey in the wild, we must never let our guard down because the scent of blood could attract vicious predators. Luckily, my backpack isolates scents well, which is why I could leave the hunting site immediately,¡± he said. ¡°But today was indeed a stroke of luck because wild rabbits usually live alone. I didn¡¯t expect to stumble upon a pair this time. Perhaps they were siblings which allowed them to coexist peacefully, or maybe they were in the midst of courtship when we encountered them.¡± [What a coincidence, a pair!] [Courtship? Traveled thousands of miles to deliver a double kill?] [Rabbits: We can only be husband and wife in the next life!] [But why did the other one hit the tree?] S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Just joined, don¡¯t know why everyone is so excited, I think it¡¯s so fake¡­] Bi Fang read through the comments one by one, and when he got to the last one, he didn¡¯t explain. Even though the whole process was indeed very coincidental. But that¡¯s the truth! How could he explain that? ¡°As for the rabbit hitting the tree, it¡¯s related to the rabbit¡¯s escape habits,¡± he said. ¡°We can notice that the path a rabbit takes when fleeing is not straight but zigzags. Do you remember what I said earlier about the rabbit¡¯s vision?¡± ¡°Rabbits have high nasal bones, and each eye can only see clearly in front of that side, creating a blind spot, so it might run headlong into danger without choosing its path due to panic. Moreover, the rabbit¡¯s skull isn¡¯t very thick, so a collision can easily knock it unconscious or even cause death.¡± [Oh dear! Wouldn¡¯t you be frightened? Was just getting cozy, and suddenly comes a flying spear, skewering my mate.] [666, munching on grass, getting intimate, and suddenly the streamer swoops in for the kill!] [Watching live streams are nothing compared to reading comments.] Who would have thought ¨C being alone in the wilderness, seeing these silly comments from online friends actually significantly reduced mental stress. After returning to the creek, Bi Fang reflected on this for a moment, drank a few mouthfuls of water, cleaned his Stone Spear and hands to remove any scents, and then continued on his way. In the afternoon, just like the day before, Bi Fang found a relatively open spot, built a new shelter, and prepared to start a fire again. ¡°This time, starting a fire will be much easier. Just by using charcoal and a Flint Stone, we can get a flame very quickly!¡± Bi Fang took out some charcoal, broke it into long strip-like pieces with a stone, and arranged the charcoal sticks in a crisscross pattern, two layers worth. Then he shaved some dry wood into fine fuzz to serve as tinder and placed it in the center of the charcoal arrangement. ¡°Pay attention, everyone. When placing the tinder, ensure it¡¯s at a distance from the charcoal. If it¡¯s placed right under the charcoal, the flames from the tinder can easily be smothered,¡± he instructed. With that, Bi Fang took out two pieces of Flint Stone and started striking them over the tinder. After just a few strikes, sparks flew out and landed on the tinder, starting to smoke. It wasn¡¯t long before tiny flames sprouted, and Bi Fang quickly piled charcoal on top of the growing fire. ¡°After igniting the tinder, you can do as I did, choose long strips or pieces of charcoal to cover the tinder like a lid, which concentrates the heat. Remember to leave gaps between the pieces of charcoal to allow air to circulate,¡± he explained. In just two or three minutes, the small flame leaped up and turned the charcoal red hot. Watching the roaring flames, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t wait to unzip his backpack. All the hard work. Finally, it was time to eat meat! Chapter 21 - 21 Swallowing a Big Mouthful with Tears Chapter 21 Swallowing a Big Mouthful with Tears Translator: 549690339 ¡°` He adjusted his backpack, and that hefty weight made his stomach churn even more violently. He couldn¡¯t wait to unzip it, but as soon as he pulled it open a bit, a brown head smeared with blood tried to bite him, too bad Bi Fang dodged and avoided it. ¡°Huh? Is this rabbit still not dead?¡± Bi Fang looked at the rabbit that had knocked itself unconscious against a tree in surprise. He had only thought about leaving before and hadn¡¯t observed carefully ¨C he didn¡¯t expect that the collision hadn¡¯t killed it outright. Unfortunately, the zipper was not wide enough, and the rabbit couldn¡¯t squeeze out no matter how hard it tried; only its legs flailed inside the backpack, and it even began to scream. [Damn, it¡¯s still alive?] [So tenacious.] [Too bad, it still can¡¯t escape from Master Fang¡¯s grasp.] [Rabbits can scream? Creepy¡­] [Why has my rabbit never cried?] [They do, when rabbits are scared they will scream¡­] [It feels so pitiful, why doesn¡¯t Master Fang let it go?] Many of the live-streaming audience felt compassion upon seeing the resilience of the rabbit, but unfortunately, Bi Fang was not swayed in the slightest. Why should he let go of a rabbit he caught fair and square? Before his journey had begun, there was one term Bi Fang was particularly fond of. Nature. Yan Fu translated ¡°On the Origin of Species¡± as ¡°The Evolution of Heaven,¡± exactly to explain the ¡°survival of the fittest, natural selection.¡± The law of the jungle is the most fundamental rule of nature; to survive, the least he could do was to grant the rabbit a more peaceful departure. ¡°It¡¯s impossible to let it go; these two rabbits are enough to sustain me for the next two days. What I can do is to show enough respect to my prey ¨C no torture, no wanton killing, revere life, revere nature.¡± [So touching, grilling rabbit meat with tears.] [Such positive energy.] But Bi Fang wasn¡¯t joking. He closed his eyes silently and when he opened them again, he hesitated no longer; with a push and twist of the rabbit¡¯s head, the once wriggling rabbit stopped breathing altogether. He took out the Stone Dagger, ready to do some basic processing, but before that, there was something else he needed to do. ¡°Because the next thing I¡¯m going to do is rather bloody, and not suitable for broadcast, I will avoid showing it to everyone.¡± Not sure about the tolerance for live-stream content in this world, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t foolish enough to test the waters. Getting his account banned would be a real headache. He simply turned his back to the drone and set about processing the two dead rabbits. ¡°When consuming animals in the wild, it¡¯s essential to clean their blood and entrails thoroughly, as these are places where parasites and bacteria are most likely to be found. If not handled properly, it¡¯s very easy to get infected, which can be fatal in the wild.¡± ¡°Many common parasites, such as Liver Flukes, Capillaria, and Tapeworms, are extremely harmful to the human body. Some can even burrow out from inside you!¡± [Burrow out? From where¡­ No way¡­] [Be confident, that¡¯s exactly what it is.] ¡°Anywhere with an opening, even eye sockets are not exempt.¡± Facing the inquiries, Bi Fang¡¯s expression remained calm, and then he looked at the rabbit in front of him with a hint of regret. ¡°Unfortunately, we didn¡¯t bleed the rabbit immediately after killing it at that time; the blood in the one that died first has already coagulated extensively and can¡¯t be let out now.¡± [Damn! Stop it, I¡¯m getting goosebumps!] [The fried chicken in my hand suddenly doesn¡¯t taste so good anymore.] [What if you can¡¯t bleed it?] [Isn¡¯t that a disaster?] The audience became anxious at this, wondering if the rabbit they had caught was inedible after all? ¡°` ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so frightened, from a biological standpoint, most parasites and microorganisms can be killed through high-temperature treatment. Generally, cooking thoroughly at a temperature above 80¡ãC will prevent infection.¡± ¡°Plus, rabbits are less likely to harbor parasites unless they come into contact with a source of infection, as rabbits have a higher body temperature, around 38 to 39 degrees Celsius. They would only have a fever if it goes above 40 degrees, so lice and fleas don¡¯t fancy rabbits. I just wanted to tell you that you should generally avoid eating raw food.¡± Whew! At this, the Shuiyou collectively sighed in relief, thinking that not letting the blood out was a serious issue, but it turned out to be a false alarm. Master Fang scaring people is an old tradition. While chatting and bantering with the Shuiyou, Bi Fang¡¯s hands moved efficiently, the sharp Stone Dagger easily slicing open the rabbit¡¯s soft belly, then he used the tip of the knife to scoop out all the organs and scrape the blood vessels clean. Because he was facing away from the audience, they could only see Bi Fang¡¯s arms moving constantly, and then he set a pile of something soft and limp to one side. The soft organs, steaming hot, were piled onto reed leaves just picked from the stream bank like a pile of mushy mud. The memory of the various techniques for processing game was extensive ¡ª flying in the sky, walking on the ground, swimming in the water, none were lacking, and dealing with a rabbit was well within his means. After cleaning the organs, Bi Fang also removed the brain, which had a separate use, and then he cut off the rabbit¡¯s limbs and made two cuts in the back legs to begin skinning. ¡°The nights in Qinling are still a bit chilly, so I plan to skin them and make rabbit fur hats.¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s difficult to show you, I¡¯ll just narrate it simply. First, use the knife to make circular cuts about 1-2 inches away from the feet on the back legs; then slit open from each cut towards the groin and join them together; at this point, the rabbit skin becomes like a tube, ready to be peeled off, but when peeling, don¡¯t use too much force, and if necessary, use the knife to trim it open; when you reach the front legs, cut open the skin and then pull it out.¡± Soon enough, Bi Fang had obtained a bloody rabbit skin, which he showed to everyone. [Wow, a master artisan indeed.] [I¡¯ve wasted my studies, wasted them!] S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [I showed Master Fang¡¯s live stream to my pet rabbit, and it was so scared it shed all its fur overnight (jokingly)] After processing the other rabbit as well, Bi Fang wiped it down with some leaves and then found some twigs and vines to tie the two pieces of rabbit fur open and briefly smoked them over the fire. ¡°Alright, all that¡¯s left now is to deal with the organs.¡± ¡°They have a very strong odor, so I wrapped them with aquatic plant leaves early on, and now, what we need to do is to bury them far away from the camp.¡± Picking up the innards wrapped in reed leaves, Bi Fang dug a hole a few hundred meters away and buried them. After finishing all the work, he returned to the camp and began roasting the meat. Bi Fang skewered the cleanly processed whole rabbit and placed it over the fire to roast. The firewood crackled as it burned, and the moment the high heat touched the skin, the fascia began to contract, with the vivid red rabbit meat starting to turn slightly yellow. Under the starry sky, Bi Fang sniffed, already smelling the warm, charred aroma of the roasting rabbit. ¡°Wild rabbits are very agile and robust, almost entirely muscular, with strong bones and low fat content, so even without any seasonings, the taste is excellent¡ªtender yet chewy.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how much longer I¡¯ll need to make it out of Qinling, but having roasted rabbit on an unknown journey is quite a treat.¡± [Damn, you¡¯re making me drool.] [Tomorrow I¡¯ll sacrifice my fat pet rabbit to the gods!] [The rabbit that lost its fur in fright: I feel persecuted.] [Doesn¡¯t the one you didn¡¯t bleed taste gamey?] [After being hungry for two days, you¡¯d think it smelled delicious no matter how gamey it was!] Chatting away, more than ten minutes passed quickly, and the golden, fatty rabbit meat began to exude an aromatic scent. Bi Fang, starved for two days, couldn¡¯t care about the heat and directly tore off a leg to start eating. ¡°Hiss! Hot, hot, hot!¡± The roasted rabbit was very hot, but the irresistible sweet taste conquered his taste buds, making it difficult for him to let go. Because it was roasted long enough, the rabbit bones were crispy, and though the meat was slightly dry, it was charred and fragrant, satisfying the most fundamental human desires. Delicious! Chapter 22: Data Brushed in the Background? Chapter 22: Data Brushed in the Background? Translator: 549690339 ¡°Oh my god, the oil¡¯s oozing out¡­¡± ¡°I was thinking about sending some shark fin and fish balls, but now, emmm, forget it, not worth it.¡± ¡°Suddenly reminded of how my dog looks at me every time I eat¡­¡± ¡°Burp!¡± After finishing off a whole rabbit, Bi Fang let out a satisfied belch. At the same time, another rabbit was almost done smoking. Bi Fang wrapped the smoked rabbit in reed leaves, picked it up, and walked towards the forest: ¡°Although my backpack can block out scents, I still don¡¯t feel safe. Just like when we buried the entrails before, we can¡¯t leave leftovers near us.¡± ¡°But we can¡¯t simply bury leftover food like entrails because it will likely spoil and go bad by the next day, so we can choose a tree to hang the food from. This way, it can be kept safe from carnivores and also prevent spoilage effectively.¡± As Bi Fang moved on, he casually found a few thin vines. That¡¯s the beauty of the forest; even without a rope, you can use readily available vines instead. He secured the reed-wrapped rabbit meat with several vines, passed a sturdy one through it, tying it tight, and a Meteor Hammer-style meat package was ready. He gave it a gentle swing, and it was quite firm. Bi Fang looked up, found a tree of the right height, held one end of the vine, and threw the meat package over a branch, where it dangled down. Hit on the first try. After tying the other end to the meat package as well, Bi Fang wiped the sweat off his forehead: ¡°There we go, now my rabbit meat is secure.¡± The live stream audience looked at the meat package swaying on the tree and fell speechless. ¡°This the hell isn¡¯t about preventing carnivores, it¡¯s more like fishing, right?¡± ¡°What we¡¯re fishing is fish, but what we got is¡­¡± ¡°Hey, watch your language up there!¡± sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Ah this, it slipped out. Sorry, I went too far with the joke.¡± ¡°Alright, that¡¯s it for today¡¯s livestream. It¡¯s getting dark, and I should go to sleep.¡± Returning to the camp, Bi Fang crawled into his shelter, getting ready to end the stream. ¡°Ending so soon?¡± ¡°Newcomers need to get used to it. After all, the wilderness isn¡¯t like the city; you can¡¯t just stay up all night.¡± ¡°Just to watch Master Fang¡¯s livestream every day, I¡¯ve even changed my daily routine. Went to bed early yesterday, got up early today. My parents are starting to doubt if I¡¯m really theirs.¡± ¡°Haha, same here.¡± ¡°Haha, thanks for your love, guys. But seriously, it¡¯s important to go to bed early and get up early. Staying up late can be very harmful.¡± Bi Fang cracked a few jokes with them, chatted a bit more, but eventually, he bid farewell to the drone and shut off the livestream. Before bed, he checked today¡¯s active viewer numbers and saw that it had broken through six hundred, stabilizing at eight hundred, which was beyond the System¡¯s requirement of five hundred visits. He just didn¡¯t know why the task hadn¡¯t shown as completed. Perhaps it had to wait until after the survival challenge was over? Feeling drowsy after being well fed and watered, Bi Fang didn¡¯t think much of it. He lay down inside his shelter and quickly fell asleep. That night, at the Shark Tech Department¡­ Knock knock knock, a series of knocks sounded at the door. ¡°Come in!¡± Manager Wang Weifeng closed a file and called out to the entrance. As the door opened, an employee who had been granted permission walked in, holding a report straight up to Wang Weifeng: ¡°Manager, there¡¯s a data report that needs your attention.¡± ¡°Hmm? What is it, another streamer manipulating data? Just issue a warning, and if that doesn¡¯t work, ban them. Do you really need to come to me with this?¡± Wang Weifeng took the document but didn¡¯t open it. Instead, he pressed it onto the desk and asked a question, his tone slightly dissatisfied. He had glanced at the first page of the document, which was a line chart showing rising popularity, along with related analysis. Generally, when such a situation arises, it is due to a host violating regulations, artificially inflating data and popularity, or even tampering with the backend. These cases are handled with a warning followed by account suspension, without any need to consult him as the supervisor. ¡°That¡¯s not the case here, Supervisor. This time, the situation is a bit special.¡± The staff member noticed that Wang Weifeng was showing signs of displeasure and hurriedly explained, ¡°It¡¯s because this host has become too popular. In just two days, he has gathered an audience of over a thousand, with an average of nearly five hundred online viewers, and the momentum is getting stronger. However, we haven¡¯t detected any data manipulation, and he hasn¡¯t even advertised, so we came to consult with you.¡± ¡°Oh? Is it some new method of vote rigging?¡± But the staff member shook his head: ¡°No, that¡¯s not it. We haven¡¯t detected any anomalies. The real active engagement in the live stream is also very high.¡± Hearing this from his subordinate, Wang Weifeng became curious and began to browse the document, and he was immediately taken aback. The line on the chart was shooting upwards sharply as if it was about to pierce the sky. If the rise in popularity was over two weeks, then Wang Weifeng could understand. But such traffic in just two days seemed a bit too exaggerated, didn¡¯t it? Wang Weifeng knitted his brows in thought, then suddenly considered a possibility. ¡°What is this Bi Fang broadcasting? It¡¯s not prohibited content, is it?¡± ¡°Of course not, and we¡¯ve watched this Bi Fang¡¯s broadcast. It¡¯s an outdoor survival show, and indeed very engaging.¡± How could such an outrageous mistake occur? The young staff member wiped the sweat from his forehead. If it had been prohibited content and they had allowed it to broadcast for two days, then he might as well pack up his belongings and go home. ¡°Fine then, I will personally take a look tomorrow. If he really is a high-quality host, you¡¯ll have earned your merit!¡± Wang Weifeng tossed a ballpoint pen onto the document and waved the young man away. Filled with joy, the staff member showed a bright smile. He had delivered this report late precisely to hear these words. He had not thought about getting credit for discovering a big host, but making an impression on the leader was worth the trip! Once the staff member closed the door, Wang Weifeng picked up the report once more, muttering to himself. ¡°Wilderness Survival? What¡¯s that? Can it be that interesting? Tomorrow I¡¯ll have to see¡­¡± Meanwhile, after resting for a night, Bi Fang got up early the next day. He extinguished and buried the fire just as before, cleaned up the site, and then checked the two rabbit skins that had been smoked overnight. The rabbit skins had dried thoroughly, and their originally pale red flesh turned waxy yellow, almost fully smoked. Bi Fang nodded in approval and started the live broadcast. Almost as soon as he went live, dozens of people joined in. In the following minutes, the number continued to rise until it stabilized at around two hundred viewers. [Here it comes, got the sofa!] [Front row is mine!] [Good morning, Master Fang!] [Master Fang looks very energetic!] Looking at the barrage of messages from the audience vying with each other, Bi Fang felt a bit moved. Just the day before yesterday, he had been worried about whether his broadcast would be successful; now it seemed he had worried unnecessarily. It was astonishing that so many viewers would wake up early just to watch his stream, especially on a Sunday! Indeed, wilderness survival shows were popular everywhere. Seeing the increased viewership, Bi Fang didn¡¯t keep the audience in suspense and said outright. ¡°After a night of smoking, the moisture in the rabbit skins has been dried out, and now we have some excellent raw hides. However, this isn¡¯t enough because we are going to make a fur hat. Raw hides can easily rot when wet and become rather hard and prone to bugs, mold, and bad smell when dry. So, we need to tan them!¡± [Doesn¡¯t tanning require chemicals?] [Yeah, my family works in this field, and all the materials are very particular. How can you tan in the wilderness?] Many viewers were puzzled, wondering if Bi Fang could really accomplish a process that seemed to require modern industrial methods. ¡°Of course, I can!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s voice was filled with confidence and certainty. ¡°Nature is full of wonders, and we must always remain humble. Many times, the things you think are impossible are only so because you don¡¯t know the methods.¡± Chapter 23: Take a gamble, a bicycle turns into a motorcycle. Chapter 23: Take a gamble, a bicycle turns into a motorcycle. Translator: 549690339 Tanning leather in the wilderness? Many viewers¡¯ first thought upon hearing this was disbelief, but Bi Fang was brimming with confidence. ¡°In essence, tanning is about turning raw hides into leather, creating cross-links between the collagen peptide chains, thereby stabilizing the collagen structure and increasing the hide¡¯s resistance to various environments. The key to this process lies in the tanning agent!¡± [Yeah, isn¡¯t a tanning agent a chemical? How are you going to manage that?] [Indeed, it¡¯s hard to cook without rice!] ¡°Who says tanning agents have to be complex chemicals?¡± Bi Fang shook his head, disagreeing with the Shuiyou¡¯s comments. ¡°On the contrary, brain matter can serve as a direct tanning agent! Brain matter prevents the fibers from reconstituting into rawhide. As long as the hide fibers remain stretched and separated after drying, it¡¯s no longer rawhide.¡± ¡°Does anyone remember? The rabbit I roasted yesterday had no brain matter in it.¡± [Ah, how could I remember that¡­] [I thought Master Fang simply didn¡¯t like eating rabbit brains. I was curious; such a delicious thing¡­] [666, I¡¯ve learned something new. I always thought that mastering math and science meant fearlessly traveling the world was just boasting, but today, watching Master Fang, I realize I was careless!] [I got so scared I went and finished my chemistry homework.] ¡°In fact, egg yolk works too. But regardless of what you use, as long as the entire hide fully absorbs this mixture, that¡¯s enough.¡± While explaining, Bi Fang restored the surrounding environment to prevent forest fires and leave no traces. He then geared up and headed towards the place where he hung the meat yesterday, where he had placed the brain matter. But after only a few dozen meters, the viewers saw Bi Fang suddenly stiffen, then reflexively draw out the Short Spear from his back! The viewers were startled by Bi Fang¡¯s reaction and had no idea what had happened. At that moment, the drone from behind caught up and captured the scene in front of Bi Fang. Some people then saw, just a few meters away, the distinct imprint of a huge footprint! There was a beast with a considerable size! [Holy shit, what kind of footprint is that, so big?] [Is that a bear?] [So huge!] The Shuiyou who reacted finally understood why Bi Fang had that reaction just now. Waking up in the early morning to find that a ferocious creature had passed close by where you were sleeping would startle anyone. ¡°Exactly, it¡¯s a Black Bear!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s expression turned grave; he truly hadn¡¯t expected a huge terror to brush past him while he was sound asleep. He looked around for safety, and only after making sure it was safe did he cautiously approach and point at the footprint, saying. ¡°From the shape, we can easily tell these are bear footprints, as Black Bears have five toes on both front and hind limbs, with sharp claws at the toe tips that do not retract, and both front and rear paws have large, thick pads, which are very distinctive. This footprint is very fresh, even just stepped on not long ago, which is why I was so tense just now.¡± Bi Fang examined the size of the footprint closely, then stretched out his hand to compare, and couldn¡¯t help exclaiming, ¡°This guy is huge, just the length of the footprint is over twenty centimeters. I reckon it¡¯s an adult male Black Bear, weighing at least over two hundred kilograms, almost equivalent to three of me!¡± Hearing Bi Fang¡¯s description, the Shuiyou were all taken aback. A two hundred kilogram Black Bear, how big is that? Couldn¡¯t it kill a person with just a slap? Thinking this, many viewers shuddered. Who could imagine that while Bi Fang was fast asleep, such a colossal Black Bear had passed by! Even at a distance less than a hundred meters away! Realizing the danger, Bi Fang was sweating profusely. It¡¯s like you¡¯re fast asleep at midnight, and a murderer once stood close by your bed with a knife, staring at you! Bi Fang, who nearly suffered a heart attack first thing in the morning, worked hard to calm himself. Panicking now was useless; first, he needed to assess the situation, determine which direction the Black Bear went, figure out its intentions, and then try to avoid it as much as possible. The footprints left by the Black Bear were very fresh, indicating that it hadn¡¯t left long ago. Surely, he couldn¡¯t follow its tracks¡ªdoing so was practically asking for trouble. He had to think of a way to escape! [Don¡¯t just stand there, run!] [Exactly, while the bear hasn¡¯t noticed you.] [I heard that playing dead works when you encounter a bear?] [Damn, I¡¯m scared.] ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t panic. The bear has definitely noticed me by now, so we absolutely can¡¯t just run blindly, and playing dead is useless¡­¡± Bi Fang was somewhat speechless at the chaos in the live stream from his online friends. ¡°First of all, the Black Bear has definitely noticed me, because its sense of smell is extremely keen, even seven times that of an excellent hunting dog. It can smell unfamiliar scents within a kilometer range, and the shortest distance between us wasn¡¯t even a hundred meters. It¡¯s impossible that it didn¡¯t notice.¡± ¡°The reason it didn¡¯t attack us then, I guess, is twofold. Either it was already full, or there was something much more attractive than my hundred-plus pounds!¡± Bi Fang held up two fingers and started to analyze further. ¡°The likelihood of it being full is not very high because Black Bears prefer to sleep during the day and forage at night. If it was full, then it shouldn¡¯t have come out so early in the morning. The only possibility is that something nearby is attracting it!¡± It was last night¡¯s smoked rabbit meat and the innards! As Bi Fang was analyzing, many online friends had already typed the answer on the public screen. [Must be the meat buns!] [Innards would rot, wouldn¡¯t the Black Bear ignore them? It has to be the smoked rabbit meat!] [Damn, even the bear is drawn to rabbit meat, now I¡¯m even more craving it¡­] S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But Bi Fang shook his head, rejecting the online friends¡¯s guesses. ¡°I have a friend in Alaska who told me a few words: ¡®If you encounter a Black Bear, fight back. If it¡¯s a Brown Bear, lie down. If you see a white Polar Bear, then I wish you goodnight.''¡± ¡°In the case of a Brown Bear, playing dead might be useful, but not with a Black Bear, which is an omnivore and doesn¡¯t refuse carrion. Even if you play dead convincingly, since there¡¯s no rotting smell, the Black Bear will simply be glad to open up your body cavity to see if your innards are edible!¡± ¡°Moreover, I hung the meat so high last night, it probably couldn¡¯t reach. We can almost be sure then that it has gone to the spot where we buried the innards!¡± [F***, Black Bears eat carrion! Misled by those internet rumors!] [My God, so what do we do now?] Upon hearing this, many online friends became anxious. If this won¡¯t work, and that won¡¯t work, are they supposed to just wait for death? Of course not. Sitting and waiting for death was never Bi Fang¡¯s style! A few pieces of viscera, no matter how tender and delicious, could not fill a Black Bear¡¯s stomach. Once it finished eating and came back to its senses, it would definitely return to find him! And Bi Fang had not caught that rabbit yesterday just to hand it over to that beast on a silver platter. Bi Fang was not willing to give up! He was going to take back the smoked meat! Last night, when burying the innards and hanging the rabbit meat, Bi Fang had been thoughtful¡ªboth actions took on a Y-shaped path. You should know that the Black Bear is also known as a ¡°blind bear,¡± not because of poor eyesight, but because Black Bears mostly live in mountainous forest areas where trees are plentiful. If he used the trees as cover, as long as he kept the bear¡¯s keen sense of smell from locking on to him, the bear would have a hard time spotting him. As long as he could find a downwind hiding spot and then judge his position to avoid detection based on wind direction, the plan was entirely feasible! As thoughts rushed through his head like lightning, Bi Fang already had a plan. He was ready to take a gamble! A gamble on who had the better skills, him or the Black Bear! Chapter 24 - 24 Confrontation Chapter 24 Confrontation Translator: 549690339 ¡°Encountered a black bear?¡± As soon as Wang Weifeng opened the backend of the Shark live streaming platform, he saw this scene and was instantly intrigued. He had been unable to stop thinking about this anchor since one of his subordinates mentioned him yesterday, and first thing this morning, he came in to join the crowd of onlookers. Now it seemed, this newcomer was indeed quite interesting. Even to the point of bringing him a great surprise. Last night, Wang Weifeng wasn¡¯t idle; he had rewatched some of Bi Fang¡¯s footage from the past couple of days, which indeed gave him a lot of inspiration. As a supervisor, Wang Weifeng saw not only a host with great potential but also a path, a new way of outdoor live broadcasting! Outdoor live broadcasting had always been a weak point for Shark live streaming, or rather for all live streaming platforms. It was not as popular as other categories and lacked enough engaging content. If he could get other outdoor streamers to lean in this direction¡­ Wang Weifeng got excited as he thought about it, his heart fluttering, sitting motionless in his chair and suddenly calling out to someone beyond the door. ¡°Supervisor, did you call for me?¡± A young man pushed open the door; it was the staff member who had reported to him yesterday. Wang Weifeng stood up and patted the young man¡¯s shoulder in praise, ¡°Xiao Li, your report yesterday was spot on; you¡¯ve really done a great job this time!¡± ¡°Ahahaha!¡± Xiao Li scratched his head, beaming with happiness. However, he didn¡¯t think Wang Weifeng called him in just to praise him, so he quickly asked, ¡°Should I continue to follow up on it?¡± ¡°Of course, follow up, you must!¡± Wang Weifeng said earnestly, ¡°Not just that, contact Ling Xuefeng as well, have him check out the stream!¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Xiao Li paused momentarily but quickly regained composure, promptly promising to complete the task, before heading out. Without a doubt, this was the supervisor showing goodwill towards the new host. He couldn¡¯t offer a featured spot without a contract; that was the rule. So Wang Weifeng arranged for a big gamer streamer to raid the channel to help Bi Fang gain some popularity, which would make negotiations easier when it came to signing a contract. Meanwhile, Bi Fang in the wilderness was restless, his fingers constantly tightening and loosening around the wooden handle of the short spear. As that bold and terrifying plan took shape in his mind, it simply wouldn¡¯t go away. But as the balance wavered, a series of electronic tones sounded, becoming the final weight that completely solidified Bi Fang¡¯s resolve! ¡°Ding, congratulations to the host for triggering a side mission!¡± Mission Name: Snatching Food from a Bear¡¯s Mouth! Mission Reward: Skill Advancement Ticket Accept the mission? A side mission triggered? With a reward? Upon hearing the prompt, Bi Fang was initially stunned, then overjoyed. Why wouldn¡¯t he take the reward? Especially a Skill Advancement Ticket, with it, Bi Fang could easily upgrade his Wilderness Survival Skill to purple! If a blue skill allowed him to survive in the primeval forest, how powerful would purple be? ¡°Yes!¡± Without hesitation, Bi Fang chose to accept the mission. He was inclined to action in the first place, and now the system mission only reinforced his ideas! Moreover, the main quest series hadn¡¯t shown any progress yet, and Bi Fang couldn¡¯t figure out what the system¡¯s criteria were. If he went to retrieve the rabbit meat now, he might very well create a new live streaming sensation, and maybe then the completion of the main quest wouldn¡¯t be a problem. Bi Fang hated failure, and since he felt he had a good chance now, he was willing to take the gamble! After taking several deep breaths, Bi Fang shared his plan with the audience, and needless to say, everyone thought he was crazy. ¡°A 200-kilogram black bear could slap me dead with one paw¡­¡±] [¡°Master Fang, everyone knows you¡¯re amazing, but you really don¡¯t have to take such risks.¡±] [¡°It¡¯s fine, worst case scenario, can¡¯t he just climb a tree?¡±] [¡°Stop dreaming. I study biology, and I can tell you definitively, almost all bears can climb trees. It¡¯s not as simple as you think!¡±] [¡°Damn, can¡¯t even trust the books?¡±] [¡°Who said everything in books is correct? They also say playing dead works!¡±] So what did Bi Fang have now? Just a few handmade short spears and a stone dagger to take on a black bear weighing over 200 kilograms? Watching the endless arguments in the bullet comments, Bi Fang was not irritated, knowing that his online friends were just showing concern for him. But he was confident in his plan! S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ignoring the viewers¡¯ admonitions, Bi Fang stretched out his right hand to sense the direction of the wind with his fingertips. The gentle breeze of the forest caressed the pads of his fingers, slipping through the gaps of his bones. East, south, west, north. An entire flat map emerged clearly in Bi Fang¡¯s mind, the location where food and innards were buried and his own position were clearly marked on this map. At the tail end of the vertical line of a Y-shaped orientation, if the Black Bear was at the left side of the Y where the innards were buried, as long as the wind blew in his direction¡­ Yes, the wind was blowing downward! After sensing the wind direction, Bi Fang clenched his fist fiercely; his plan was completely feasible! Without delay, once he confirmed his plan was workable, Bi Fang immediately ran towards the location where he hung the meat. However, he did not head over directly, but approached from a farther distance. After all, no one knew exactly where the Black Bear was¡ªit was only Bi Fang¡¯s speculation all along, and it was always best to err on the side of caution. ¡°Black Bears may look clumsy when they walk, and seem a bit unsteady on their feet, but in fact, they move quite agilely. Moreover, Black Bears walk with their full foot, which is called ¡®plantigrade¡¯, making very little noise in the forest and can run quickly, so we need to be cautious and observe our surroundings as much as possible.¡± Taking a long detour, Bi Fang began to stealthily approach the hanging point of the rabbit meat. In the live broadcast room, ominous and terrifying background music started to play, startling all the focused viewers. ¡°[Damn, this BGM, trying to scare the hell out of me?]¡± ¡°[Crap, almost pissed myself]¡± ¡°[It¡¯s got that horror movie vibe]¡± Bi Fang did not expect this, but his attention was not on it now, because even before getting close, he had already spotted several traces of the Black Bear¡¯s presence. In the Qinling mountains, not everywhere was muddy ground that left footprints easily, there were more abundant grasslands. These types of grounds did not keep footprints well, thereby making other methods of detection crucial. ¡°Look at that tree, there are distinct rub marks on the trunk, and Black Bears often like to rub against trees. Its paws cannot reach its own back, so when it feels itchy, it uses this motion to scratch itself, indicating this Black Bear has already been here!¡± The girth of the large tree was such that it could only be embraced by one person, and the bark at the bottom had been almost entirely rubbed off, indicating the staggering size of this Black Bear. Just imagine how massive the size and strength of this Black Bear must be; this was not a force humans could recklessly confront. Bi Fang was not foolish enough to engage directly. Humans, as the most intelligent of beings, do not rely on sharp teeth, claws, or explosive strength, but rather their unparalleled intelligence. Moving against the wind direction, Bi Fang bent over as he walked, continuously looking for cover. Although he had not yet seen the Black Bear, it was better to be safe than sorry. When he was less than ten meters away from the hanging smoked rabbit meat, Bi Fang even resorted to crawling. Once he could clearly see the tree holding the meat, Bi Fang, lying on the ground, looked up and, sure enough, saw the smoked rabbit meat, tied up securely with reeds and vines, hanging intact on the tree. Beneath the tree, however, were plenty of black hairs and footprints, and claw marks riddled the tree trunk. ¡°It seems my guess was correct; the Black Bear really came here, but it did not reach the smoked rabbit meat!¡± Seeing the situation was as he had analyzed, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit smug. ¡°This aligns with my initial speculation. Between me, the innards, and the smoked rabbit meat is a gradation, with each step being more enticing to the hungry Black Bear. If it couldn¡¯t reach the smoked meat, it would settle for the innards, and then finally come after me!¡± But the more Bi Fang¡¯s analysis was heard by the online friends, the more anxious they became. However, at this point, they could do nothing to help. Since they could not dissuade Master Fang, all they could do was pray that his actions would go smoothly. However, in Bi Fang¡¯s plan, nearly every move relied on timing the Black Bear¡¯s actions perfectly, and a single error in analysis could cost him his life! On one side was a dominant predator of the jungle, on the other, an exceptionally experienced wilderness explorer¡ª which of them would have the upper hand? Who is the mantis, and who is the oriole? With such questions in mind, every viewer was on edge, as if watching a performance danced on the edge of a knife. One misstep¡­ Everyone shivered! Chapter 25: High Attack from Thick Blood (Extra) Chapter 25: High Attack from Thick Blood (Extra) Translator: 549690339 [Can they really win?J [I don¡¯t think so, the Black Bear on the other side is too strong, the host is definitely going to lose.] [The Black Bear has too much health, the host¡¯s equipment is not up to par, only a Stone Spear, there, he¡¯s about to die.] [Sigh, today is just too unlucky, went out and bumped into the Black Bear Boss, how can he possibly win against that!] [In the end, it¡¯s still because the host isn¡¯t good enough.] Hey, what are you saying? How can a man ever admit defeat?¡± Seeing fans say he wasn¡¯t up to par, Ling Xuefeng instantly got anxious, but the more anxious he became, the more mistakes he made. Facing the attack from the Black Bear Boss, his character¡¯s already unhealthy health bar rapidly depleted, and finally, accompanied by a scream, a big ¡°noob¡± appeared on the screen. Damn it! I¡¯m done, I¡¯m done playing, I¡¯ve been tormented all day today, you guys keep recommending these broken games just to watch me suffer, games like this with pure data piling up have no soul at all!¡± Ling Xuefeng was so pissed that he slammed down his controller, his lips spewing sweet venom. [Hahaha, he¡¯s getting anxious, old Ling is getting anxious.] [It¡¯s normal, Ling Xuefeng being agitated and upset.] Seeing the host¡¯s flustered and exasperated demeanor, all the viewers mercilessly teased him, but Ling Xuefeng wasn¡¯t annoyed at all; it seemed like everyone was used to it. Don¡¯t be fooled by the name Ling Xuefeng, it sounds like he might be a cool male god, but in reality, he¡¯s a total clown. Thanks to his funny live-streaming style and decent looks, he attracted quite a few fans. He ranked as one of the major hosts on the Shark platform, amassing over a hundred thousand followers, with viewership numbering in the tens of thousands each time he went live. God knows how many small-time casters were hoping to catch a break by connecting with him and becoming famous overnight. ¡°What to do next?¡± Having been thrashed all day, Ling Xuefeng was somewhat exhausted. He clicked open the game interface again but didn¡¯t feel like starting over, so he decided to do something else on the live stream. Having just received a notification, Ling Xuefeng also intended to steer the conversation in that direction. ¡°How about we do a channel inspection?¡± The moment he said that, the term ¡°channel inspection¡± exploded in the live chat! [Yes, channel inspection! We want to see the action!] [What? If you¡¯re talking about that, then I¡¯m not sleepy anymore!] [That¡¯s right, show us the action, show us the action!] [Request Master Ling for a face-reveal!] The mass of viewers flooded the chat with barrages of messages, a spectacle so impressive the refresh rate made it almost impossible to see what everyone was saying. This was the scene everyone enjoyed the most. Goodness knows how many female casters were willing to broadcast increasingly sensational content in front of the major hosts, even if it meant risking account suspension. After all, even if only a small portion of fans from a host who streams to tens of thousands of followers in real-time were to stay, that would still be thousands of followers. Ling Xuefeng, watching the barrage on the screen, narrowed his eyes and said with a roguish smile, ¡°Alright, today I¡¯ll take you all to see something good! Channel inspection!¡± Having said that, Ling Xuefeng, in front of everyone, started browsing through the Shark live streaming platform. He had already made his choice, but still pretended to ponder, ¡°Which one to watch?¡± [This one, this one, this one¡¯s got bounce!] [No, the one below looks like she can really dance.] [Crap, who watches dancing seriously? Damn, this dance is so vanilla, my bad for being blunt.] ¡°What¡¯s so great about these.¡± Ling Xuefeng glanced disdainfully at the hosts recommended by fans. ¡°Just looking at these covers, you can tell they¡¯re Photoshopped, who knows how ugly they are in real life, you¡¯ll probably get eye infections, and then you¡¯ll blame me.¡± [Damn, then, Master Ling, tell us where to find the good-looking girls!] [Yeah, yeah, if only your skills were half as hard as your mouth.] ¡°Hey! Today I¡¯m going to tell you which section has the hottest girls! Anyone with real taste knows, to see girls, you¡¯ve got to check out the outdoor section! I don¡¯t usually tell this to just anyone!¡± ¡°That¡¯s where the top-shelf beauties are, those who exercise regularly, they¡¯ve got the bodies and the looks, all leggy and tall, only a veteran like me knows how to spot them!¡± The chat immediately flooded with a stream of 666s, agreeing with the host¡¯s words. Ling Xuefeng, seeing the conversation develop as expected, grinned and opened the outdoor section, pretending to pick out girls while actually searching for the objective Wang Weifeng had set up for him. There was no way around it, they had promised to feature him next time, and he wasn¡¯t going to pass up a freebie, especially since there was nothing to lose. Getting a recommendation wasn¡¯t shameful at all. But after scrolling for a while, he just couldn¡¯t find it, and only after scrolling down a long time did he finally find the target in the uncontracted broadcaster section. Damn! Still not contracted? Do they promote new broadcasters like this? What¡¯s this kid¡¯s relationship with Wang Weifeng? Ling Xuefeng felt a sour taste in his mouth¡­ However, after his private grumblings, he still pretended as if nothing was wrong and said, ¡°Eh, this live stream seems quite interesting, the title looks pretty impressive!¡± Master Fang¡¯s live broadcast, experiencing the Qinling scenery? The other viewers were startled for a moment, expecting to see a girl, but why was it a man? They instantly began to protest, but Ling Xuefeng started to push back strongly and led them into the stream. Sorry, I¡¯m going to monopolize this feature! But as soon as he entered, the exceptionally clear camera work and the crawling Bi Fang gave him a shock. What the hell, is this a movie shoot? And the tens of thousands of viewers who followed Ling Xuefeng into the stream were also taken aback by the fully equipped Bi Fang on the live broadcast. Looking at the deep scratch marks on the big tree, Bi Fang spoke earnestly to the camera, ¡°Although Asian Black Bears are quite large, they¡¯re actually not ¡® tall.¡¯ Even if the Black Bear we encountered has a large body, its body length would not exceed 1.8 meters, and its limbs are not nearly as long as those of primates, making it hard for them to reach above their heads.¡± ¡°Black Bears can walk upright on their hind legs, and this Black Bear Boss stood nearly 2.3 meters tall, which might be less than a hand¡¯s breadth from the height I hung the meat.¡± Looking at the highest scratch marks left on the tree trunk, Bi Fang made some estimations about the Black Bear Boss¡¯s size while he was standing upright and seemed quite puzzled. Bi Fang stood over 1.8 meters tall, and last night, he had tied the vines on his tiptoes without a doubt, the height of the smoked rabbit meat should¡¯ve been between 2.3 and 2.4 meters. And the Black Bear Boss stood up to a little over two meters¡­ S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Looking at the complex footprints on the ground and the claw marks on the tree, Bi Fang could even imagine the scene of the Black Bear Boss stretching up its claws desperately underneath the tree. [Man, is it really just a few centimeters off?] [Just a little bit short, but couldn¡¯t reach no matter what.] [Black Bear: It¡¯s infuriating when you can¡¯t reach.] [Seems like a silly bear] [Silly? If it bites you, you wouldn¡¯t think it¡¯s silly.] Alright, since the Black Bear isn¡¯t here anymore, let¡¯s hurry up and take the rabbit meat down. We have to be quick in this process!¡± ¡°A larger bear can reach an astonishing speed of 60 kilometers per hour when running, and the burial site for the entrails is only two hundred meters away from here. One charge from the Black Bear and it would take only ten seconds to arrive!¡± [Damn, it can run that fast? That¡¯s like sixteen or seventeen meters per second, right?] [Isn t that faster than a world champion?] [I¡¯ve seen on Animal Planet, it seems that predators in nature all run faster than humans¡­] [Master Fang really has guts!] Ling Xuefeng was surprised when he saw the barrage of comments in Bi Fang¡¯s live stream room: ¡°Woah, this bro¡¯s really in the Primeval Forest! And he¡¯s competing with a bear for food?¡± [Man, this is like a real-life human versus bear battle!] [He¡¯s got the same gear as old Ling, this is like a real-life reenactment!] [Aren¡¯t we going over to support the live stream room?] [Damn Black Bear, let¡¯s go!] The fans who followed Ling Xuefeng and saw Bi Fang competing with the bear for food were instantly thrilled and began searching for Bi Fang¡¯s live stream Chapter 26 - 26 Go Big Brother! Chapter 26: Go Big Brother! Translator: 549690339 | Surviving in the wilderness of the Primeval Forest and snatching food from the mouth of a giant Black Bear are just two factors that are enough to attract attention. A plethora of experienced viewers have parachuted directly into Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast room. Watching the number of viewers in his own live broadcast room dwindling, Ling Xuefeng felt his heart racing with fear and even regret. Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t a permanent loss, otherwise the promotion wouldn¡¯t be worth it. ¡°No wonder Old Ghost Wang was sucking up so much, this host really has some skill.¡± It wasn¡¯t just the viewers in Ling Xuefeng¡¯s broadcast room who were captivated by the host called Bi Fang, but Ling Xuefeng himself was attracted too. Not only was the content novel, but it was also thrilling, and the host¡¯s image was quite good, just a tiny bit handsomer than him. Really, just a tiny bit, the difference of a fingertip at most, not a fraction more. In an era where androgynous streamer stars are the trend and masculinity is lacking, the debut of a host who had both good looks and manliness was like a breath of fresh air. In the jungle, Bi Fang took out the Stone Dagger and looked around to make sure it was safe before he quickly stood up, ready to pack up the smoked rabbit meat. This action was indeed risky, equating to exposing himself voluntarily, but it was something he had to do. Snatching Food from a Bear¡¯s Mouth is essentially about quantifying the cost, the comparison between the benefits and the expenses. It¡¯s like everyone knows that stock trading is risky, but they can¡¯t help but get involved, firmly believing they won¡¯t get cut as a sucker. If successful, not only could it save Bi Fang time looking for food, but he would also gain two rabbit skin hats, maintaining ample physical energy and warmth. Moreover, the System had issued a mission, giving him another reason to snatch. No, this was reclaiming what was his! Quickly arriving at the base of the tree, Bi Fang was slightly out of breath, daring not to make a sound. After ensuring his safety, he went on tiptoe and began cutting. The spot where the entrails were buried was less than two hundred meters away. If this had been an open plain, a man and a bear could have even made eye contact! The vines were somewhat sturdy, and it took Bi Fang a while to cut them with his Stone Dagger before he could take down the meat bundle and prepare to leave quickly. But as soon as his rear foot touched the ground, ¡°Crack!¡± A clear sound of a tree branch breaking rang out. But the solid sensation of the earth beneath his feet told Bi Fang that he hadn¡¯t stepped on any branches! There was something behind him, and it was very close! The Shuiyou in the live broadcast room instantly felt their hairs stand on end, and the chat exploded in chaos. In just a few seconds, the barrage of comments completely flooded the live broadcast room. [Whoa, Old Fang, behind you!] [Behind you, look behind!] [Mommy, that¡¯s a huge Black Bear!] [Ah! It¡¯s charging over! I can¡¯t watch!] [Call for help, someone call for help!] [It¡¯s no use, too late!] In Ling Xuefeng¡¯s broadcast room, the host Ling Xuefeng himself widened his eyes, his expression was just like the other viewers, even more astonished, as he exclaimed directly, ¡°Bear! Bear! Bear!¡± It was like the code used by the Fusang people when attacking Pearl Harbor, ¡°Tora! Tora! Tora!¡± That black, majestic creature sprinted through the woods, using the bushes for cover, and the occasional patches of light illuminated its glossy black fur, as its sturdy limbs trampled the ground. In an instant, Bi Fang¡¯s hair stood on end, and his body¡¯s muscles constricted in response, his thighs readying a powerful leap in a very short amount of time. He was like a spring, tumbling forward and falling over. Bi Fang only felt a chill running up his back, and in this life or death moment, he suddenly remembered someone. ¡°Brother Lu, what happened to your hand?¡± ¡°Alt, when I was young, I ran into a crazed Black Bear that bit it off.¡± By the campfire, Bi Fang sat to one side, curiously examining the middle-aged man in front of him who had lost half of his palm, the local guide hired by the expedition team. ¡°Such a big wound, that bear must have been huge, right?¡± ¡°It was!¡± As though reliving the glory days of the past, the thirty-something man from Shandong couldn¡¯t hide his pride, ¡°It was 1.8 meters long and had to weigh at least over two hundred kilos!¡± ¡°That big?¡± Bi Fang was shocked because a bear¡¯s fat layer is exceptionally thick, making it difficult to kill even with a hunting rifle unless you aim for the head. How did this unremarkable-looking tough guy manage to survive? ¡°Fighting desperately,¡± Brother Lu replied when he heard Bi Fang¡¯s question, his eyes narrowing as though he was still shaken by the memory, ¡°It bit off my hand, so I poked out its eyes. But maybe it got scared, and also people were coming, so it just gave up completely.¡± As Bi Fang looked on thoughtfully, Brother Lu joked, ¡°What? You ask so much, you want to hunt bears?¡± ¡°How could that be, it¡¯s illegal to hunt bears in the wild. I just want to learn a thing or two; after all, doing our job, who knows when we might face danger,¡± Bi Fang shook his head, he was genuinely eager to learn. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°What kind of techniques can I teach you?¡± Brother Lu shook his head and sighed, ¡°When encountering wild beasts, humans really have no way out. Without a gun or a knife, you can only fight desperately, but you can¡¯t fight to the death!¡± ¡°Fight desperately, but not fight to the death?¡± The scraping of branches on the ground made Bi Fang¡¯s face sting painfully as he rolled and scrambled up from the ground, breaking out in a cold sweat as this phrase suddenly flashed through his mind. Massive claws struck the tree trunk, shredding large chunks of bark and wood; one could only imagine the kind of disaster it would spell if it hit a person! It seemed the black bear hadn¡¯t expected its prey¡¯s reaction to be so swift. The charging black bear, staring at Bi Fang who was holding a short spear, growled lowly, not rushing forward rashly again. Only now did Bi Fang have the chance to clearly see the black bear¡¯s appearance, its size not different from his previous estimate, but the visual impact was much more striking than the concept! What kind of black bear was this? It was over 1.7 meters long, with extremely thick limbs, and its sharp claws left clear holes in the ground. The bear¡¯s fur was glossy, black as ink, dense and rough, especially the hair on both sides of its neck and shoulders, which was longer. Beneath its neck, on its chest, there was a distinct white crescent-shaped pattern, adding a touch of brightness to the solid color fur. But this was the wilderness, not a circus! No one would think this black bear was cute, with its mouth full of sharp teeth still stained with blood and reeds! Indeed, just as Master Fang had guessed. The audience in the livestream couldn¡¯t help but admire upon seeing the black bear¡¯s form, but no matter how admirable, it did nothing to improve the current situation! You should know, just ten minutes earlier, Bi Fang had said that his appeal to the bear was incremental compared to that of the raw rabbit meat, not to mention he had now taken down the rabbit meat! [Go for it, host! I came from Ling Dog¡¯s to support you, hang in there!] [Big brother, go for it, don¡¯t give up!] [Reporting in from the Ling Family Army!] [Ling Xuefeng is checking in, come and greet him quickly! ] In that moment, countless fans of Ling Xuefeng swarmed into Bi Fang¡¯s livestream. In just a few seconds, the popularity of his livestream skyrocketed; two thousand, five thousand, seven thousand¡­ ten thousand! Though popularity doesn¡¯t represent the number of people, it was still terrifying enough! Ten thousand, a milestone many streamers cannot beg for, was achieved by a broadcaster who had only been livestreaming for two days and had no fame beforehand! This was a miracle! [Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing Main Mission One. The rewards will be tallied after all missions are completed! ] Chapter 27: The more you fear, the more excited it gets. Chapter 27: The more you fear, the more excited it gets. Translator: 549690339 The unchanging electronic voice of the System rang out, but Bi Fang hadn¡¯t caught what it said, nor did he dare to divert his attention to check. Cold sweat seeped from his forehead, yet he didn¡¯t break into a wild sprint; running was impossible, not even a world champion could manage it! Fight desperately, but not to the death! This piece of advice from another world was seared into his mind like a brand. Combining his own Wilderness Survival skills, Bi Fang gradually understood the meaning of these words as he faced off against the black bear before him. This was his only chance! Inside the live streaming room, it was also far from calm; there was a tumultuous buzz with all sorts of comments¡ªteasing ones, fearful ones, and mostly, panic-stricken ones, afraid that they were about to witness a one-sided slaughter. It¡¯s no surprise; through the first-person camera, many viewers felt as if they were the ones facing the black bear, and some couldn¡¯t take it anymore, even leaving the room to lean against a wall and visit the restroom. Ma Huayi, too, watching the live stream, stared with bated breath, feeling that his photography work over the years hadn¡¯t produced as much material as the past few days had. ¡°How are we going to handle this now?¡± S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°We¡¯re done for, there¡¯s been a live broadcast accident.¡± ¡°Damn, Old Demon Ling¡¯s choice of live broadcast is so freakin¡¯ thrilling!¡± ¡°Hahaha, I saw Old Demon Ling looking stunned.¡± ¡°Fuck, can the fans of Old Demon Ling calm the hell down? Can¡¯t you bloody see what¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°Exactly, with the broadcaster in this state, who¡¯s in the mood to joke around?¡± ¡°Holy shit, who forced the broadcaster to go to the Primeval Forest? He chose it himself, so who¡¯s to blame? A bunch of idiots!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s his own doing, idiot broadcaster, idiot fans!¡± ¡°Old Demon Ling has sent the broadcaster a Super Rocket *1¡ªlet¡¯s show some respect and stop the bashing, the Ling Family Army needs to calm down too, this is your fault this time, everyone needs to be rational. The broadcaster is a real man!¡± Another Super Rocket soared into the sky, unexpectedly sent by Ling Xuefeng himself as an apology. He had not anticipated his fans stirring up trouble and quickly tried to quell the situation. Even a fool could see the broadcaster¡¯s potential; he shouldn¡¯t be offended. Seeing the broadcaster speaking up, Ling Xuefeng¡¯s fans also quieted down. But Bi Fang paid no attention to these things. The black bear with bloodstains at the corners of its mouth lowered its head, shaking it rapidly from side to side, slightly opening its mouth to reveal four iron hook-like black and yellow canines, looking extremely sharp. This was the prelude to an attack! ¡°Everyone, please don¡¯t panic at this time, the more you panic, the easier it is to make mistakes. Do you remember what I¡¯ve said?¡± ¡°A wild beast can smell your fear. The more afraid you are, the more excited it gets.¡± Bi Fang clenched his Stone Spear tightly, staring intently at the black bear¡¯s limbs. While observing its movements, he avoided making eye contact with the bear. The distance between them was only four or five meters¡ªit would be lying to say he wasn¡¯t afraid. In his previous life, he had his robust physique and full gear for exploration, but now his physical condition was not up to par, and the only weapon he had was a rather rough handmade Stone Spear, which was far less reliable than modern industrial-manufactured knives. But Bi Fang would not let fear dominate his brain! The standoff lasted a while, maybe stimulated by the scent of blood and deeming the bipedal creature before it not a threat, or perhaps lured by the smell of the smoked rabbit meat and no longer wanting to test its patience, the black bear licked its nose and, with a sudden flurry of its paws digging into the ground, charged at Bi Fang. Its massive body moved with such ferocious speed that the ground itself trembled. This was no mere black bear¡ªit was more like a rampaging panzer tank! At this critical juncture, Bi Fang¡¯s left leg muscles tensed, and he forcefully pushed off the ground with his left foot, rolling to the side. As he rolled, both hands gripping the Stone Spear, he thrust fiercely at the black bear¡¯s head! Snap! But having barely pierced the black bear¡¯s cheek, the pained bear shook its head. The massive force broke the Spear¡¯s shaft and it again opened its mouth to bite at Bi Fang! The distance was only the length of one¡¯s body, and as the gaping maw with its gleaming teeth bore down, Bi Fang could even smell the stench of recently- eaten animal guts! He didn¡¯t hesitate, once more pulling out a Stone Spear from behind him and plunging it forcefully into the black bear¡¯s mouth! The Black Bear was equally fearless, charging towards Bi Fang with its front limbs raised to slash violently at his head! Such ferocity! Bi Fang¡¯s heart skipped a beat, astonished that the beast was entirely unafraid of the stone spear. As the claw came at him, he, still on the ground, could only slightly shift to the side. Rip! Thud! The sharp stone spear struck directly at the Black Bear¡¯s nose, and then was blocked by its hard skull. But at the same time, the Black Bear¡¯s claw also struck Bi Fang¡¯s left shoulder. The sharp curved hooks tore through Bi Fang¡¯s clothes and backpack effortlessly, nearly grazing his scalp as they slapped past. Crack! The backpack strap provided by the System snapped instantly, causing Bi Fang¡¯s pupils to dilate¡ªthis wasn¡¯t just any ordinary backpack, but a specialized outdoor bag, far more durable and wear-resistant than normal, a bag that couldn¡¯t even be cut by ordinary knives, yet it was severed by the Black Bear¡¯s claw! All the viewers inhaled sharply, their hearts racing with fear! The Black Bear¡¯s claws were that sharp! The intense pain in his shoulder blade and the scent of blood triggered Bi Fang¡¯s fighting spirit. His eyes bloodshot, he gripped the stone spear with his right hand with all his might. The spear that had been stopped by the skull now slid further, scraping the Black Bear¡¯s cheek and left eye, opening a large gash. The nerve endings at the tip of the Black Bear¡¯s nose were the most sensitive. Now, having been pierced by the spear and also suffering a gash across the cheek and eye, the bear was in agony, as if its life was at stake! The Black Bear yowled in pain and stepped back, giving Bi Fang a chance to catch his breath. Bi Fang struggled to his feet, tossed aside the backpack with one strap broken, and pulled out another stone spear, rushing towards the Black Bear¡¯s left side. He had just injured the Black Bear¡¯s left eye¡ªnow that side would be its blind spot! This was his chance! With a few quick strides, Bi Fang reached the Black Bear¡¯s left side, holding the stone spear with both hands, plunging it fiercely into its flank! ¡°Roar!¡± The Black Bear roared, just as it tried to turn to attack, but Bi Fang immediately knelt on one knee, using all the tricks up his sleeve to hold the spear firm. As the Black Bear turned, the spear would only go deeper! Watching the screaming Black Bear, and remembering how he had struggled the day before to catch rabbits, only for the beast to eat the innards and still vie for the meat, Bi Fang was so enraged he twisted the stone spear fiercely! ¡°I¡¯m going to butcher you!¡± ¡°Roar!¡± The Black Bear let out another scream of pain, less ferocious now, and more pitiful. Bi Fang seized the opportunity and quickly stood up. He dodged the Black Bear¡¯s counterattack, clutching the stone spear tightly with his left hand, leaning in with his upper body, and thrusting with all the strength of his waist and abdomen. With his right hand, he drew the stone dagger from his waist and stabbed down rapidly! One slash, two slashes¡­ He slashed countless times, the Black Bear¡¯s side and back almost entirely soaked in blood! Under the camera, the primal beauty of raw violence burst forth like thousands of horses charging into battle. In the dappled light of the jungle, the ferocious predator launched its assault, but was made to look utterly pathetic by a few short spears. Its massive head attempted to open its jaws to bite, but it couldn¡¯t turn around to do so. In the sunlight, Bi Fang bit down hard, his left shoulder swollen and unbearable, as bear blood from his right hand flowed down his palm. [Damn, that¡¯s so freaking cool!] [I¡¯m freaking blown away by Master Fang! Total badassery!] [This is what primal is!] [Kill it! Bear paws for dinner tonight!] This is so explosive! The viewers in the live broadcast were nearly in collective ecstasy, the barrage of comments flying across the screen so thick it almost crashed the broadcast! Chapter 28 - 28 The Supernova of the Live Streaming World Chapter 28: The Supernova of the Live Streaming World Translator: 549690339 Ling Xuefeng felt as though he had witnessed the rise of a superstar in the world of live streaming, no, in the entire entertainment industry! Wang Weifeng is quite something, isn¡¯t he? This isn¡¯t just a featured promotion, he¡¯s handing me a golden ticket! At that moment, seeing his fans switching sides non-stop, Ling Xuefeng wasn¡¯t angry, but rather chuckled happily. It¡¯s not like they won¡¯t come back, and besides, isn¡¯t a timely help in the snow much weightier than adding flowers to brocade? just as Ling Xuefeng fantasized about the future when Bi Fang would become the number one in the live streaming world and bring him along to soar into the top 10, a roar came from the live stream. ¡°All!¡± With a roar, Bi Fang spat and directly pulled out the Stone Spear. Once free, the Black Bear went mad with ferocity, its muscles flexed, propelling its massive body forward with incredible speed! Unfortunately for the bear, Bi Fang had anticipated this, and with a step back, he continued to stay in the Black Bear¡¯s blind spot, avoiding its biting and swiping, and he smacked the wound on the bear¡¯s nose with his Stone Spear as if it were a stick! Crack! The powerful blow made the Black Bear yelp in pain, and although its right paw kept swinging towards Bi Fang, he slid away like an eel, the breeze from the bear¡¯s paw grazing his collar, and Bi Fang swung another blow with his stick. The Black Bear was strong and fierce, but its movements were limited to just a few, and once seen through, they seemed incredibly clumsy. Not to mention, Bi Fang, standing in the bear¡¯s blind spot, had virtually all the advantage! After dodging away, Bi Fang struck hard again! This time, the Black Bear was thoroughly smacked and hurt, holding its nose, it stopped attacking. [Hahaha, it feels like I¡¯m training my dog!] [I¡¯in convinced, a big Black Bear gets beaten like a large dog!] [Master Fang is awesome!!!!!] [Master Fang is awesome plus!!!!!] [Old Demon Ling sent 3 Super Rockets to the host-Damn, I just came in and watched for a bit, truly awesome! Followed you, you¡¯re a future streaming mogul!] [Lord Mu sent 10 Super Rockets to the host-You¡¯ll get used to it, Old Fang is just that awesome!] Seeing that Bi Fang had taken control of the situation, the Shuiyou stopped worrying and began to wildly praise him, sending out gifts without a second thought. Meanwhile, on the other side, as Bi Fang was preparing to continue his whacking, the Black Bear suddenly took a step back! This Black Bear was afraid! [I, Ling Xuefeng, acknowledge the host as the strongest in the outdoors!] [Old Demon Ling, take a look at others, then at yourself. You can¡¯t even beat a black bear in games, and someone¡¯s already tackling one in real life!] [Truly, a real-life encounter!] The Black Bear whimpered, covering its nose, blood dripping through its paw crevices. Apparently out of fear, it did not continue the attack. On the other side, Bi Fang with Stone Spear in hand stayed on high alert, not letting his guard down. No one could tell if the Black Bear was genuinely frightened; it might just be feigning weakness! Never underestimate the wits of a wild beast; in hunting, they are often smarter than humans! At this moment, the Black Bear seemed to have serious wounds, but Bi Fang knew well that they were mostly superficial. It was the end of September, nearing autumn, and coupled with the low temperatures in the mountains, many black bears had already started to store fat. Therefore, the Black Bear¡¯s fur was extremely thick at this time of the year, with a fat layer nearly ten centimeters thick, making it difficult for cold weapons to cause severe damage. At this point, the two were only two or three meters apart; a single leap from the Black Bear could knock him down. Must be on guard! While Bi Fang was pondering, the Black Bear suddenly leaned forward! The audience, who thought the bear had been scared off and wouldn¡¯t attack again, were startled. Bi Fang also tensed up, gripping the Stone Spear, ready to strike once more. The next second, the huge male Black Bear turned tail and fled! Watching the black bear quickly disappear into the bushes, the audience, tense with nerves, stared at each other with wide eyes. Once they came to their senses, cheers erupted instantly. [Master Fang: That¡¯s it? A 200-kilogram blackbear just like that?] [BlackBear? Tag it and sell it off to Seoul!] [Why let it go? That was a huge chunk of meat, feels like it could feed you for quite a while!] [Isn¡¯t bear hunting illegal?] [How is this bear hunting? Didn¡¯t you see it was the one that came knocking? This is self-defense!] [No, the bear didn¡¯t study law, so it doesn¡¯t count as self-defense, a law student passing through¡­] Meanwhile, Bi Fang watched the black bear completely disappear into the jungle, and a hint of color finally returned to his pale face, though he almost collapsed from exhaustion, feeling immensely relieved in his heart. Only he himself knew how dangerous that moment had been. The only reason he survived this time was by causing the black bear enough pain. When Bi Fang came to his senses and saw the fans boasting in the live stream, he was speechless. Did they think he didn¡¯t die with enough dignity? ¡°What are you thinking? I don¡¯t know how long a black bear can provide meat, but I¡¯m sure my hundred plus pounds of flesh would¡¯ve satiated it!¡¯ This remark left everyone stunned. [Ah¡­] [This is not what I had in mind¡­] [But we already chased it away, didn¡¯t we¡­] Bi Fang shook his head. He didn¡¯t kill the bear not because bear hunting was illegal, nor was he trying to establish an image of an animal protector; he simply had no other choice. The black bear let him go not because it was scared, but because it couldn¡¯t stand the pain, not because it was injured. If it had been hungrier, he might not have survived this encounter. ¡°Bear hunting isn¡¯t as simple as you think. It seemed like I had the upper hand just now, but the situation was actually very critical.¡± Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Now that autumn has arrived, black bears are fattening up. The thickness of their fat layer alone can reach nearly ten centimeters, and their fur becomes thicker, greatly enhancing their defensive power. Whether it¡¯s a stone spear or a stone dagger, I¡¯ve only caused superficial wounds to the black bear. Even the scratched eye might heal quickly. Look at this stone spear¡­ Bi Fang lifted the stone spear that had pierced the black bear¡¯s flank. The entire stone spearhead was covered with blood, silently informing everyone that it was a bona fide deadly weapon. ¡°Perhaps many of you would ask why I didn¡¯t push harder when I stabbed it in the abdomen to inflict severe damage to its organs, but instead, I pulled out the stone spear?¡± [Yeah, it feels like if you had stabbed deeper, damaging its heart or lungs, wouldn¡¯t that be an easy victory?] [Yes, I wanted to ask the same thing.] As Bi Fang brought up this point, the online friends started to get lively. This wasn¡¯t just some keyboard warriors boasting online; they were listening to Master Fang explain his firsthand experience. ¡°Because I couldn¡¯t, and I dared not,¡± said Bi Fang, shaking his head as he bluntly stated his reasons. ¡°The two main reasons I won were, first, the advantage of a blind spot, and second, the black bear¡¯s aversion to pain, a common trait among all mammals.¡± The stone spears made in the wilderness were questionable in terms of their durability-the first one that broke was a perfect example. To have penetrated the bear¡¯s fat layer and genuinely injure it was already lucky. Pushing the spear further might have resulted in the shaft breaking due to the muscle¡¯s strength. If I had lost this long-range weapon, the situation would have rapidly deteriorated. A life-threatened black bear might lose its sense and, ignoring the spear in its body, would do everything to turn and kill Bi Fang. just now, a mere graze from its paw caused the backpack strap, which a knife couldn¡¯t have cut through, to snap. My left shoulder turned red from the tightening and was nearly bruised. Imagine if I had been bitten. Fighting like a trapped beast is a phrase many have heard but few have experienced. Yet, it is true! After hearing Bi Fang¡¯s explanation, many people suddenly realized why he had given up on a seemingly excellent opportunity-it wasn¡¯t an opportunity but a trap! [Damn, this is a conscientious live streamer, anyone else would have exaggerated a lot already!] [That¡¯s right, Master Fang is truly the conscience of the industry!] [If you don¡¯t support this kind of streamer, what are you waiting for?] Bi Fang could only smile wryly; no matter what he said, the audience seemed to shower him with rainbow farts, making it seem as though they were paid supporters. ¡°Facing a predator, what you need is to fight with all your might, show your strength, let it know you¡¯re not to be messed with, that the cost and reward don¡¯t align for it, naturally, it won¡¯t bother you anymore. But you can¡¯t be too desperate either. Once the black bear feels it¡¯s a fight to the death, then, most likely, you would no longer be seeing me now.¡± Bi Fang knew in his heart that surviving this time was pure luck, nothing more to hope for. Chapter 29: The Advance of the Black Bear Spirit Chapter 29: The Advance of the Black Bear Spirit Translator: 549690339 The crisis was temporarily resolved. As Bi Fang let out a sigh of relief, he finally noticed the system notification. Indeed, his earlier guess wasn¡¯t wrong, the livestream had won a round of explosive attention, and the main quest had been completed just like that. Although the process was perilous, the outcome was not bad¡ªrabbit meat was retrieved, and half of the main quest was completed, that was enough! However, why was Quest 1 completed now? Bi Fang found this a little strange, as there had been many times before when the number of viewers had exceeded five hundred, yet the system had shown no response. Now he suspected that perhaps the requirement of five hundred meant an average number of viewers, not just a peak moment. Just like the audience on the first day was merely a couple of hundred people, it definitely required a spread of more viewers later on, with merely breaking the peak not counting as meeting the standard. With this in mind, Bi Fang glanced at the popularity index of the livestream and was surprised to see it approaching twenty thousand. Incredible! He hurriedly browsed through the barrage of comments and realized that a big streamer had raided his room, bringing in a large surge of viewers. So, he quickly said a few words of thanks. Ling Xuefeng waved his hand, indicating that it was no big deal, not worth mentioning, as he only wanted to be an attachment on the leg of a big boss. The atmosphere on site was very congenial, but Ling Xuefeng knew, this was in the bag! One promotion plus a big supporter, a huge profit! [Master Fang is truly Master Fang, not like us plebs, even in life-and-death moments, he still thinks of so much¡­] [Exactly, I almost pissed myself¡­] [Yysy, no shame in that.] [That Black Bear is seriously fierce!] [Yeah, it¡¯s like night and day compared to the ones in zoos, bigger in size, and with a nastier temper.] Bi Fang nodded, indeed this Black Bear was excessively fierce. As humans had become the undisputed boss of nature, almost all animals feared humans, but this Black Bear wasn¡¯t afraid at all and even proactively considered Bi Fang as its prey. ¡°Yes, as the saying goes, pigs first, bears second, and tigers third, this Black Bear must have never encountered humans before. It¡¯s used to ruling the forest, so it dared to treat me as prey.¡± [My name is Bear Black Black, I live in the Qinling Residential District, Mountain Range No. 48, and I¡¯m the school bully at the Wild Animal Kindergarten. Today I met a two-legged beast and was ready to feast on it, but in the next second, it pulled out something long and black and thrust it into my body. Suddenly, I lost the ability to resist. It was only later I found out that the thing was a Terrifying Upright Ape, and moreover, one with two red sticks¡­] [666, you¡¯ve got a way with words¡ªI¡¯m with you!] [Upright Ape, terrifying indeed!] [Eh? Is that you again? The one who wrote about the rabbit thief last time, wasn¡¯t it? Have you published a book yet?] [It¡¯s in progress, it¡¯s in progress, don¡¯t rush!] [How far have you got? Just created a document, right? (joking)] Seeing the livestream room get lively again, Bi Fang¡¯s mood improved. Just then, a strong sense of weakness hit him, making him feel dizzy. But Bi Fang didn¡¯t panic, he knew this was a consequence of the large amount of adrenaline that had been secreted. The situation was still quite bad, he hadn¡¯t left danger behind, and the smell of blood could also attract unnecessary trouble, he needed to leave quickly. Bi Fang took a few deep breaths to relieve the dizziness and picked up his backpack, stuffing the smoked rabbit meat into it, and then picked up his Stone Spear that had fallen on the ground. There were a total of three Stone Spears, one had broken during the fight but the other two were still usable. Unfortunately, the strap of the system-provided backpack had broken, so he could only carry it over one shoulder. That was fine anyway, as his left shoulder was badly swollen and he couldn¡¯t carry anything on it. [Almost forgot, Master Fang just got injured!] [Master Fang is a real man, doesn¡¯t even frown despite such a serious injury.] [This man is too strong, that¡¯s the title of his new book.] [Really hyping up the unusual, isn¡¯t it just human nature? With the Stone Spear, isn¡¯t it just surprising to drive back a bear?] Bi Fang had just seen this comment and almost laughed out loud, then he ignored it. The internet argument multiplier theory: If there is a disagreement between the two sides, then after each argument, the divergence will double. But the fans couldn¡¯t stand by and directly shot back in support of Bi Fang. [The guy above just made me laugh. So you think having hands is enough? Just say whatever comes to your mouth?] [May I ask who you are, sir? Are you the General of Slide Tackles?] sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [With your attitude, Old Fang could stab you dead with one spear!] [Master Fang: Exaggerated, exaggerated! How could a jab kill? It takes two jabs, and not a single one more!] Just as everyone was fervently discussing, a burst of golden light suddenly exploded in the live stream room, shooting straight up to the heavens. [Congratulations to Lord Mu for becoming an Emperor in Master Fang¡¯s live room!] [Lord Mu gifts the host shark fins *100000¡ªI bow down to no one but Old Fang! A token of my respect with some shark fins!] An Emperor!? The dazzling special effects stunned everyone, and Bi Fang was no exception. Are there so many tycoons nowadays? Just casually subscribing for twelve thousand a month? Forgive Bi Fang for his lack of exposure, he really couldn¡¯t understand why someone would drop tens of thousands on their favorite streamer, just to hear the streamer call them ¡®big brother1 or ¡®big sister¡¯. With that money, isn¡¯t it better spent on novels or something? A Silver Alliance membership is only ten thousand, and you can get the author to come out and grovel in all manner of ways. Huh? What? You say it¡¯s donated to me? And it¡¯s Lord Mu? Well, that¡¯s different then. Upon seeing the familiar nickname, Bi Fang breathed a sigh of relief, he was already used to such surprises. Although Lord Mu had revealed his main account last time, he seemed to still like using his alternate account to watch the live stream. Perhaps this is the world of the rich. But it didn¡¯t end there. Just as the Emperor tier had been initiated, other tycoons like Fat Cat Pete and Ling Xuefeng started sending Super Rockets one after another. A flood of treasure chests burst forth, and suddenly, the atmosphere in the stream became incredibly lively. The popularity shot up like a rocket, quickly surpassing twenty thousand! While popularity does not equate to viewer count, for a new streamer, reaching a popularity of twenty thousand is an incredible figure! It even set a historical record for unsigned new streamers! Even Wang Weifeng, who had been paying close attention from backstage, was dumbfounded. In all his years in the industry, he had never seen such outrageous figures, at least not for new streamers who were completely unknown before broadcasting. That does not include professional gamers turned streamers, who already have a substantial fan base, and their stats can¡¯t be measured the same way. Bi Fang wasn¡¯t signed yet, and no matter how high his popularity, he wouldn¡¯t appear in a prominent position on the platform¡¯s homepage. He was almost entirely relying on the treasure chests brought by the donated Super Rockets for traffic. This kind of talent must be kept at Shark! Thinking this, Wang Weifeng waved to his subordinate: ¡°Have you made contact yet?¡± The subordinate replied with a wry smile, ¡°Not yet, the phone number left on the registration page for the streaming room is unreachable.¡± Logically, those who dare to stream like this usually have dedicated logistical teams, so they shouldn¡¯t be unreachable. Strange, indeed. Wang Weifeng shook his head, decided not to dwell on it, and gestured for his subordinate to keep trying. If it¡¯s unreachable, keep calling! ¡°Thank you, thank you everyone for your support!¡± Bi Fang was very excited to receive such generous rewards; after all, as much as the Shuiyou (audience) flattered him, nothing beats cold hard cash! ¡°However, we really should hurry and leave now, not just because of the bloody scent everywhere, but also because of the possible retaliation from the Black Bear!¡± [Did I hear that right? Retaliation from the Black Bear?] [How is it like a person?] [Are Black Bears that smart?] Upon hearing that the Black Bear might come back for revenge, many viewers¡¯ first reaction was disbelief, but they were still nervous inside. ¡°Of course,¡± Bi Fang explained while hurrying along, ¡°for some more fully evolved animals, the more complex their brain structure, the better their memory. Accordingly, they also become more ¡®vengeful.''¡± ¡°Especially large animals like Black Bears, their intelligence is comparable to a 3-5-year-old human. A few, through special post-natal training, can even reach the intelligence of 6-7-year-olds. It¡¯s not surprising for them to hold grudges.¡± A few minutes later, Bi Fang finally reached the stream and began washing off the bloodstains on his body and the bloodied Stone Spear, then scooped up some stream water in his right hand to wash his face. ¡°The Black Bear¡¯s nose is too sensitive, so we can cross the river to allow the water to mask my scent.¡± Bi Fang briefly explained and then stripped off his shirt, pants, and shoes, leaving only his shorts, ready to enter the water and cross the river. It was precisely when he took his clothes off that viewers suddenly noticed Bi Fang¡¯s somewhat swollen left shoulder and were shocked once again at the ruthlessness of the Black Bear. ¡°Hiss!¡± The moment he stepped into the water, Bi Fang felt a chill that ran up his spine to the back of his head; it was still morning, and the sun hadn¡¯t warmed the stream water yet, which remained icy cold to the bone. As his blood circulated rapidly, his skin quickly turned a reddish hue. Chapter 30: Hope of Rescue Chapter 30: Hope of Rescue Translator: 549690339 | Bi Fang lifted his sore left arm, supporting the backpack while swimming across the river with his right hand, and quickly reached the opposite bank. Just as he climbed ashore, the electronic voice rang out. [Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the task, you have received a Skill Advancement Ticket*i] [The System prompts the host that if the novice task is completed, a reward upgrade opportunity can be obtained. Would you like to claim your side quest reward now?] A task completed? Reward upgrade? Bi Fang was startled by the two prompts. He could understand completing the task¡ªcrossing the river must have eliminated his scent, temporarily evading the black bear¡¯s pursuit, and thus completing ¡°Snatching Food from a Bear¡¯s Mouth¡±. But what was a reward upgrade? To this, the System replied: a reward upgrade is a unique reward for novice tasks, and upon consolidated upgrade, makes the original reward better. For a moment, Bi Fang hesitated. If he claimed it now, he would undoubtedly be able to upgrade his blue ¡°Wilderness Survivalist¡± skill to purple, making the upcoming adventures much more manageable. However, this would certainly mean losing some benefits. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A gust of cold wind blew past, making him shiver involuntarily, and he eventually decided not to claim it. It¡¯s tougher, so be it. Having come this far, he didn¡¯t care for these small benefits and preferred to save for a better reward. Snapping back to reality, Bi Fang immediately began to move his body, starting a set of push-ups on the ground to raise his body temperature. ¡°This stream is very cold, I estimate its temperature to be only around seven or eight degrees, which has caused my body to stiffen up. So, I must warm up quickly to avoid catching a cold.¡± ¡°You have to know, hypothermia in the wild is extremely dangerous. The well- known Devil¡¯s Three Formula states¡ªdie of hypoxia in three minutes, die of hypothermia in three hours, die of dehydration in three days, and die of starvation in three weeks.¡± ¡°These illustrate just how vital it is to maintain your body heat!¡± [Drenched Benefit!] [Old Fang is handsome no matter what he¡¯s up to! ] [Old Ling! Look at him, then look at yourself! Your belly is hanging out!] Ling Xuefeng, who was named unexpectedly, felt aggrieved. Was this really his fault? After taking a few deep breaths and feeling sufficiently warmed up, Bi Fang began to sweat and then took out clothes from his backpack to put on. The backpack was waterproof, the clothes inside naturally still dry, a System product, reliable! Having dressed, Bi Fang continued along the riverbank. Just following a small stream would not be enough to find a way out, but Bi Fang wanted to try and see if he could follow it to a lake or a larger river, which would truly be places likely to attract people. Meanwhile, Ling Xuefeng watched Bi Fang travel for a while, then returned to his room, after all, he was there to check rooms, not really to watch the live broadcast. Even so, he left behind several thousand fans who were unwilling to leave, choosing to stay and continue watching Bi Fang¡¯s live streaming. This newbie is fierce. Seeing the lost viewers, Ling Xuefeng had to admit the host was indeed impressive, even he was captivated. Unfortunately, he hadn¡¯t completed his own monthly live streaming tasks, which were part of a signed contract. He gritted his teeth and finally decided he could continue watching tomorrow morning! Alas, it was tough being a game broadcaster. Now it was the third day, with four days left in the System¡¯s seven-day task timeline. Bi Fang was slightly anxious. Although there was still a good amount of time left, he wanted to see what would happen if he left the Qinling early, and whether there would be extra rewards? It¡¯s not surprising that Bi Fang had such thoughts. With time travel and a system already in hand, what¡¯s so odd about an extra reward? Soon, the sun had gradually risen overhead. The continuous journey and exposure to the sun made Bi Fang feel somewhat hot and stuffy, so he went to the stream again to wash his face. He immediately felt reinvigorated. He hadn¡¯t had a proper rest since early morning, and the progress made throughout the morning had also depleted much of his strength. Therefore, Bi Fang took off his backpack, and from it, he took out smoked rabbit meat, unwrapped the reed leaves, and started to eat directly. [This is the ration snatched back from the mouth of a black bear!] [So much trouble, just for you.] [True ¡®Snatching Food from a Bear¡¯s Mouth¡¯!] [You can¡¯t say that, though. This was originally caught by Old Fang¡­] Among the barrages of comments, Bi Fang quickly finished half of the rabbit, then wrapped it up again and tucked it back into his backpack¡ªresources were scarce, so it was better to save what he had. In this way, Bi Fang pressed on for several more hours until finally, in the evening, he heard an even louder sound of rushing water! ¡°Hey! Do you hear that? It seems my gamble paid off; this stream really does feed into a main river!¡± Bi Fang was extremely joyful and quickened his pace. After a few hundred meters, he indeed saw a cliff ahead. The cliff wasn¡¯t high, only six or seven meters, and below it was a raging river. The setting sun surged into his field of view, like a tidal wave. The massive sun was already touching the earth, and the wind brushed across tens of thousands of hectares of forest. From afar, the evening woodland looked like a sea¡ªa crimson ocean with myriad treetops swaying in the wind, forming layer upon layer of waves. The stream that had been flowing alongside him transformed into a small waterfall here, plunging into a spray of white foam, with the noise it stirred like a continuous thunder. [So beautiful. Is this what a real primeval forest looks like?] [It¡¯s so pretty. Even if the host only filmed these, a lot of people would watch, right?] [I want to go too¡­] [I want to go +1] [Can Master Fang bring people next time? I¡¯m willing to pay! ] [Bring people? With the kind of thing Master Fang is doing, not to mention whether you can keep up, can you endure the hardship?] ¡°Do you see that? This forest is very beautiful and dense but without much variation in terrain, which indicates that we have left the mountainous area! And this part is very likely a conservation area. If it¡¯s a conservation area, then there must be human activity! Our chances of being rescued are quite high!¡± Bi Fang was glowing with vitality and was extremely excited. He hadn¡¯t expected to find a way out in just three days! For a time, the live stream room was flooded with gifts again. Countless shark fins, planes, and fishballs came pouring in to celebrate Bi Fang¡¯s newfound hope for survival. Bi Fang approached the edge of the cliff, peered at the river¡¯s surface, and said, ¡°The river¡¯s current is very strong. It would be too dangerous to jump in rashly. Let¡¯s look for another route.¡± Next, Bi Fang searched for a suitable path along the cliff. Before long, he found a wall filled with protruding rocks. To call it a wall was not accurate; it was more like a steep slope of rock. With a bit of care, one could easily descend. With little trouble, Bi Fang successfully reached the riverbank. He dusted off his clothes and, seeing that it was getting late, started to look for materials to build a shelter, planning to rest for the night and search for a way out the next day. After lighting a fire, Bi Fang heated the smoked rabbit meat to solve the dinner issue and then took out the two rabbit hides, preparing to tan them. ¡°The brain can prevent the fibers from reagglomerating to form rawhide, so we just apply it directly. However, for the hide to fully absorb it, we can mix it with water and then heat it up.¡± Bi Fang dismantled the reed used to wrap the rabbit meat, skillfully shaping the reed leaves into a funnel that, unexpectedly, did not leak a drop of water! Chapter 31: Eat My Dust! Chapter 31: Eat My Dust! Translator: 549690339 I Bi Fang added the brain matter to the mixture and then gently stirred it with a small twig, allowing the brain matter to fully integrate with the water before placing it directly into the fire to heat. ¡°Heating allows the raw hide to fully absorb the brain matter. If necessary, you can also immerse the animal hide directly in this mixture, but we don¡¯t have a container to do that with.¡± [Wow, can you really do that?] [An old craftsman here, suggest applying for Intangible Cultural Heritage.] [Won¡¯t this burn through¡­ I [The person above, please redo middle school physics.] After heating it up a bit, Bi Fang smeared the mixture of brain matter and water onto the rabbit hide. Once it was fully absorbed, he fashioned the animal hide into a pouch shape and tied it to a branch, continuing to smoke it over the fire. ¡°It¡¯s best to add smoke-producing materials such as pine needles to the charcoal fire, then wait for several hours, making sure that no flames come off the charcoal fire, otherwise, the animal hide might get burned. After that, the hide becomes tanned and is ready to be made into clothing.¡± Bi Fang planted the stick in the ground at just the right distance and, after saying goodbye to the audience, crawled into his shelter to sleep. He had a premonition that whether or not he could survive might depend on the next day! Wisps of grey smoke rose from the ashen fire pit, as clumps of earth were tossed into the fire. ¡°Hi everyone, I¡¯m Bi Fang, a professional outdoor explorer¡­¡± In the morning, wearing the rabbit fur hat, Bi Fang cleaned up the fire pit and started the live broadcast, intending to do his usual self-introduction, when the audience interrupted him. On the screen, line by line, was precisely the self-introduction he¡¯d prepared to say, word for word. Bi Fang chuckled awkwardly, took off the rabbit fur hat from his head, and showed it to the audience: ¡°After smoking it all night, the rabbit fur is now usable. I¡¯ve fashioned it into a simple hat shape. I tried it on just now, and the effect is quite good. It¡¯s much warmer, especially on a cold morning.¡± Bi Fang then put the rabbit fur hat back on his head: ¡°Generally, about 20% of a human¡¯s body heat is lost through the head. So, if you are unbearably cold and you have an animal fur, making it into a hat is the right move!¡± ¡°This is my fourth day of survival. The first three days were like a roller coaster ride, thrilling but safe. I¡¯ve encountered attacks from venomous snakes, eaten rabbit meat, and even faced an attack from a black bear on the third day, but I¡¯ve come through it all.¡± ¡°I believe the journey ahead will be much simpler. As you¡¯ve all seen, the terrain ahead is less variable, so I suspect this could very well be a conservation area!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s drone soared high, capturing the entire forest, then he pointed to the trees around him. ¡°Have you noticed that this forest is quite different from the ones we¡¯ve passed through before, in terms of the selection of tree species and the spatial arrangement!¡± ¡°First off, it¡¯s the size of the trees. The diameter of the trees here are all quite similar, and they are arranged in an orderly fashion, clearly planted around the same time, and of the same species ¨C the yew, which is a common tree species in man-made conservation forests.¡± Many viewers only realized the differences in this forest region after hearing Bi Fang point it out and couldn¡¯t help but exclaim with admiration. The light danced through the trees, and the path was much easier to walk than before. Bi Fang continued on deeper into the forest when suddenly, a roaring sound arose, cutting through the layers of leaves and tree trunks to reach his ears. The drone captured the sound waves, and everyone heard it, loud and clear, so familiar! The noise came so suddenly and was so timely. A car engine! It was a car engine! It was the sound of machinery, humans, civilization! My God! The heart thumped in his chest, pumping blood to his limbs. Who knew how thrilled Bi Fang was in the desolate primeval forest, having finally heard the sound of human civilization after a full four days! Without hesitation, Bi Fang broke into a full sprint, running desperately towards the direction of the engine noise! [Damn, car noises!] [There are people!] [Is he saved?!] [Damn, why am I so excited, I feel like crying.] [Don¡¯t say that, me too. 1 feel so heartbroken for Master Fang, it¡¯s like I¡¯m experiencing it myself. I [Lord Mu gifted the host 10 Super Rockets¡ªCongratulations to the host!] [Old Demon Ling gifted the host 5 Super Rockets¡ªCongratulations to the host!] A barrage of rockets was launched, some from familiar tycoons and others from tycoons who had just appeared, and at this moment they all genuinely felt happy for Bi Fang! Passing one redwood after another, the brightness ahead grew stronger and stronger, until he burst out of the woods! Bi Fang looked at the large road beneath his feet, then at the departing big rig, feeling anxious in his heart, he shouted vigorously but received no response. He could only watch as the truck got further and further away. At this time, not only Bi Fang but also the viewers in the live stream felt particularly sorry, it was so close! Ah. Bi Fang shook his head, he had succeeded in surviving but had not completely succeeded. [It¡¯s such a pity, just missed it by that little bit] [Damn, is that driver deaf?I [Can¡¯t say that, maybe he just didn¡¯t hear.] ¡°Yes, don¡¯t say that about him,¡± Bi Fang quickly intervened when he saw someone cursing the driver, then smiled to show he wasn¡¯t disappointed, ¡°Anyway, we¡¯ve found the road, and getting out is just a matter of time. As long as we follow the road, we will eventually encounter a car.¡± And sure enough, before long, another truck loaded with logs came driving by, and Bi Fang immediately rushed forward to wave his hands. [Quick, Host, charge! I [Success or failure in one fell swoop!] [Return to civilization!] The audience became extremely excited upon seeing the truck. The truck driver also saw Bi Fang and slowly brought the truck to a halt. However, he didn¡¯t get out rashly but sat in the truck, looking wary. In these remote mountains, suddenly a person blocking the way could be a robber, or maybe a poacher or a wood thief? This is the stuff of TV dramas. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± [Haha, that uncle definitely thinks the host is a thief!] [Such a funny expression, that chubby uncle is so adorable.] [Normal, you¡¯ve got to be careful with strangers hitchhiking on the road; you never know who they might be! ] [Right, better safe than sorry!] Bi Fang could see that the other party didn¡¯t trust him, so he raised his hands to show he wasn¡¯t a threat, and shouted loudly, ¡°Brother, I¡¯m a tourist. I got lost in the Qinling and ended up here. Could you give me a ride out?¡± ¡°Lost?¡± The chubby uncle was taken aback, looked at Bi Fang¡¯s dust-covered face, his ragged clothes, and the rabbit hat on his head. Somewhat believing his story, his expression softened, ¡°What¡¯s that on top of your head?¡± ¡°This is a drone! Flave you seen one before, brother?¡± Bi Fang directed the drone to descend to let the truck driver have a clearer look. ¡°Is this a drone?¡± The chubby uncle looked carefully and realized it truly was, his curiosity was piqued about why Bi Fang would have a drone, but he didn¡¯t doubt any further. ¡°Alright then, get in the truck.¡± ¡°Sure thing!¡± sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang, having received the driver¡¯s permission, immediately ran over, opened the passenger door, and sat inside. The driver, seeing Bi Fang¡¯s dusty and weary appearance, handed him a bottle of water. After traveling the whole morning, Bi Fang was indeed quite thirsty. He quickly thanked the driver, took over the water, and drank it all in big gulps, finishing the entire bottle. ¡°You¡¯re also lucky to have gotten lost here. If you had gone deeper into the mountains, you might have ended up being eaten by wolves and bears!¡± ¡°Haha, brother, I ran out from the deep mountains!¡± Bi Fang exclaimed with relief after drinking water, pointing to the rabbit hat on his head, ¡°Look at this hat, I caught this rabbit the day before yesterday!¡± ¡°What!¡± The chubby driver¡¯s eyes widened, looking at Bi Fang in amazement.. Chapter 32 - 32 Daily Settlement Dishwasher Chapter 32: Daily Settlement Dishwasher Translator: 549690339 On the road through the forest. The portly uncle stared at Bi Fang in utter shock, his driving speed involuntarily slowing down. Yet, Bi Fang nodded and said in all seriousness, ¡°I¡¯m a travel streamer, who got lost in Qinling. It took me four days to finally find my way out, then 1 ran into you, brother.¡± Got lost in Qinling? And hunted a rabbit? The portly uncle¡¯s brain buzzed as he heard this, initially horrified, but then he felt something was off. He glanced at the calm-faced Bi Fang with disdain. This kid is really boasting without blushing. Lying through his teeth. He was a local, having hauled wood on this road for several years. While driving at night, almost every month he heard the howling of wolves, and sometimes, if he was lucky, he could see a blind bear casually passing by on the road. These were things visible to the naked eye, not to mention the venomous insects and snakes in the forest. Even professional exploration teams, when they came, had to hire locals as guides and make thorough preparations. And here was this greenhorn daring to just carry a bag and go in? The most outrageous part was that he came out alive? Do you think this is some novel or movie? Or perhaps the kind of protagonist who can¡¯t die no matter what? Despite his scorn, the driver doubted the veracity of the story, as it was simply too incredible. [Hahaha, uncle doesn¡¯t believe it, eh?] [That¡¯s normal, with all this talk of fighting bears and venomous snakes. If it hadn¡¯t happened before my own eyes, I wouldn¡¯t have believed it either.] [Can¡¯t blame the uncle, it¡¯s just that the streamer is too impressive! ] [ Master Fang yyds! ] [yyds? Forever single?] Seeing that the portly uncle didn¡¯t believe him, Bi Fang took down the drone in front, spoke a few words to the audience, and then started looking for the clips he filmed in the forest. ¡°Who were you just talking to?¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m still live streaming. There are a few thousand people watching right now, through this drone.¡± Bi Fang shook the drone in his hand and pulled up the video of his struggle with the bear to show the uncle. Upon hearing that there were really thousands of people watching him, the uncle beside him got nervous subconsciously, his expression somewhat awkward. After watching the video on the drone, his awkwardness reached its peak. ¡°My dear mother! That bear! This person! This! This! This!¡± The portly uncle¡¯s face turned red as he looked back and forth between Bi Fang and the video, finally sputtering out, ¡°This isn¡¯t a movie, is it?¡± ¡°Of course not, now do you believe me, brother?¡± Bi Fang said with a smile as he took the drone back from the driver to avoid distracting him while driving. The uncle nodded vigorously: ¡°I can¡¯t tell, you young man are quite remarkable, daring to mess with a black bear and also, damn, you survived!¡± Utterly convinced, the uncle¡¯s demeanor instantly warmed, and he handed Bi Fang a bag from the side, containing two super-sized steamed buns and a bag of pickled vegetables. ¡°You must be starving after all that running. This is my lunch take it and fill your stomach a bit.¡± ¡°Ah, well, I couldn¡¯t possibly accept¡­¡± Bi Fang scratched his head, wanting to decline, but the aroma of the steamed buns had already found its way to his nose, making his mouth water uncontrollably. The uncle chuckled heartily, ¡°No worries, go ahead and eat. It¡¯s just two buns, I can go buy more later.¡± With the conversation turning in this direction, Bi Fang no longer declined. He took the bag with eyes shining green, tore into a bun, and started to eat. At the first bite, the richness of the flavor, the salty-savory taste, exploded on his tongue, almost moving enough to bring tears to his eyes. ¡°Mm, this is¡­ the best steamed bun¡­ I¡¯ve ever had.¡± With his mouth full, Bi Fang¡¯s cheeks puffed out, making his words barely intelligible. The uncle next to him, seeing Bi Fang gobble with the ferocity of a starving ghost, couldn¡¯t help but laugh out, handing him a bottle of water, ¡°Hahaha, take it easy, slow down, there¡¯s no bear to fight you for it this time!¡± ¡°Mm, yeah!¡± Bi Fang stuffed his mouth while responding, as if he knew he was in the wrong but had no intention of correcting it. [Master Fang finally gets to eat a proper meal!) [Those buns smell so good, I¡¯m getting hungry just watching.] [Master Fang: No more worms for me.] sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [1 want some too QAQ] [Master Fang¡¯s mukbang, showcasing the allure of buns!] In less than two minutes, Bi Fang had finished off two plate-sized buns along with a package of pickled vegetables. He took a sip of water, burped contentedly, and praised again, ¡°That was really delicious!¡± Although after a long period without food, one¡¯s stomach and spleen become weak and one shouldn¡¯t overeat, Bi Fang had after all eaten two rabbits, so he felt pretty good about himself. On the way, Bi Fang chatted and shot the breeze with the driver, sharing his survival experiences and earning more astonished looks from the uncle, until Bi Fang started to feel embarrassed. Moyo arrived at a small town around two or three in the afternoon. After giving the driver uncle a rabbit fur hat, Bi Fang got off the truck and said his final goodbyes. Watching the truck grow distant, Bi Fang entered the town, and at the same time gave his final summary to the drone: ¡°It¡¯s time to say goodbye to everyone again, but this time, it¡¯s for real.¡± ¡°This trip, 1 did a lot of crazy things and had an adventure exciting enough to satisfy me, but all of it was essentially for the sake of surviving better.¡± ¡°In fact, the Primeval Forest is not a dead end, nor is it as terrifying as we imagine. As long as we stay calm and devise a comprehensive survival plan with the right skills, there¡¯s always hope of survival!¡± ¡°Lastly, if you encounter a road, there¡¯s only one thing to do: tidy yourself up, and then give a thumbs up.¡± ¡°Friends, please remember me, I am Bi Fang, a professional explorer, looking forward to our next encounter!¡± After Bi Fang finished speaking, he saluted with two fingers, and the entire live stream room erupted in a barrage of comments, filled with reluctant and pleading words, and the wave of gifts brought a climax. Numerous fish balls fell like rain, and several dozen or hundreds of Shark Fin Planes were common sights. [8888888888] [Sigh, although 1 knew this day would come eventually, 1 still feel reluctant to let go.] [Exactly, isn¡¯t this drone rented or what?] [Petition for another broadcast, else I¡¯ll unfollow as a threat!] [It¡¯s not enough, when will Master Fang live stream again, I must watch! ] [Right, right, when will the next live stream be, still with sharks?] Glancing at the comments, Bi Fang scratched his head. He didn¡¯t know when he would live stream next either, it depended on when the System issued a mission. So he could only prevaricate, ¡°If nothing goes wrong, I will always be on SharkTV. As for the next live stream, I can only say it should happen within a month, and I will definitely notify everyone in advance.¡± In the end, without saying much more, he simply turned off the drone. Yet even so, many viewers remained in the live stream room, chatting with each other. [How can this work, Master Fang didn¡¯t leave anything behind, no QQ, no Weibo¡­] [Don¡¯t know, 1 guess we ll just have to wait, following is all we can do.] [Does Lord Mu know?] [Not sure about that either¡­] Seeing someone ask, Lord Mu spread his hands to show that he didn¡¯t know anything either. With no other choice, everyone reluctantly began to disperse in small groups. Meanwhile, Bi Fang was lost in thought, standing still, not sure what to do next because he suddenly realized he had neither a phone nor any cash on him¡­ Just as Bi Fang was considering whether to find a day job washing dishes in town, the familiar electronic tone sounded again. [Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the novice reward, now proceeding to reward settlement..] Chapter 33 - 33 Qigong Master Chapter 33: Qigong Master Translator: 549690339 | [Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the novice task! Checking task completion rate¡­] The next second. Facing off against a snake, hunting wild rabbits, snatching food from a bear¡¯s mouth¡­ Bi Fang stood in the rapidly changing light, watching scenes flash by like frames in an out-of-control movie projector. Emptiness, loneliness, fear, joy¡ªall these emotions piled up in seconds, then erupted like a volcano. An unprecedented mixture of sorrow and joy spread throughout him; he stood there dumbfounded, as if he could hear the whole world shouting in his ears. Not until the images finished playing did the system¡¯s electronic voice ring out again. In an instant, Bi Fang¡¯s mind cleared. He looked up at the sun and silently smiled. The fatigue of the journey suddenly dissipated by a large extent, as if he had crossed the ocean and finally sighted land. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Ding! Check complete.] [Main missions one and two complete, side mission Snatching Food from a Bear¡¯s Mouth complete, total time 4d, reward bonus 40%] Seeing the final reward bonus, Bi Fang knew his efforts were not in vain, and that there indeed were rewards for completing missions ahead of schedule! To get better rewards, he must give it his all! Adding onto the previous novice task reward promotions, his gains this time were sure to be extraordinarily rich! [Detected novice task with reward promotions, your final rewards are: Skill Upgrade Coupon*i, Skill Can*2, Enhancement Points*6, Wilderness Points* 1200] [Ding! Novice task complete, system permanently activated. Shopping and skill tree functions unlocked.] Shop? Skill tree? A series of system notification sounds left Bi Fang momentarily confused, and he quickly opened the system panel and scrolled down. [Sole Binder: Bi Fang] [Age: 24] [Height: 183.1cm] [Weight: 67KG] [Strength: 8] [Physique: 8] [Agility: 8] [Spirit: 9] [Status: Fatigued] [Enhancement Points: 6] [Wilderness Points: 1200] The original skill bar had disappeared, replaced by a glowing blue tree. The once isolated skills were now branches on this tree, with the thickest one being the Purple Advanced Yoga. Bi Fang touched the tree with his mind, and information about it flooded into his brain. He closed his eyes to digest the information for a moment before he roughly understood the function of the skill tree. In simple terms, it meant a tighter connection between skills, allowing for more integrated utilization. Take the Wilderness Survival Skill, for instance; it already includes knowledge like First Aid and Swimming, but the coverage definitely isn¡¯t as extensive as that of the individual First Aid or Swimming skills. On the flip side, the individual skills lack the specificity of the Wilderness Survivalist Skill. For example, suturing a wound in First Aid¡ªwhat use is that in the wild with no thread to suture with? So the specificity falls short. The function of the skill tree is to allow these skills to interlink, influence each other, enhance applicability, and even promote mutual growth like a tree. Further down, there¡¯s a simple ten-tiered counter and a lucky draw wheel, which must be the so-called shop, mainly for purchasing and lottery drawing. Bi Fang quickly scanned the shop, where each shelf had an item: Progenitor Bird Charge Clothes, Mammoth Mountain Boots, Calisthenics (Green) Level 3¡­ There were skills and equipment, with purchases using Wilderness Points and refresh every 5 days. There was also lottery drawing, a single draw for 50, ten draws for 480, but whether there¡¯s a guaranteed drop for ten draws wasn¡¯t apparent at the moment. However, this ten draws for 480¡­ Bi Fang¡¯s eyes twitched at the corner. He had this uncanny feeling that something was amiss, a sense of deja vu from being fleeced by game vendors! He shook his head, banishing the absurd thought from his mind and turned his attention back to the system rewards. Enhancement Points, used to improve one¡¯s four-dimensional attributes, are the most tangible and realistic rewards. Six points could nearly lift Bi Fang¡¯s physical condition to a significantly higher level. Of course, this improvement isn¡¯t endless. The further one goes, the lower the cost-effectiveness. Otherwise, if one became a superhuman, what wilderness survival would that be? If it were so, Bi Fang could have knocked that Black Bear out cold with a single punch. But even so, the fact that enhancement points are a good thing can¡¯t be denied! Bi Fang looked at his ¡°feeble¡± stats and didn¡¯t rush to allocate points. After all, he was still standing outside¡ªwho knew what surprises might arise after adding points? Similarly, the remaining rewards could wait to be checked once he was back home. With that in mind, Bi Fang, standing at the crossroads, gazed at the unfamiliar small town and eventually abandoned the idea of a day job as a dish washer. He decided to seek help from the police first. When in trouble, go to the police¡ªeveryone agrees that¡¯s the best call. In the hotel room, after taking a good bath, Bi Fang poured himself a glass of water and reopened the system panel. Although he had found a police officer, the train tickets to Xicheng City were sold out, so he had to make do with staying in the hotel for one night and depart the next day. Instead of adding points first, Bi Fang decided to advance his Wilderness Survival skill, as that was his profession, and it needed to be prioritized for upgrading. The coupon turned it into golden powder. In an instant, more comprehensive outdoor wilderness knowledge and more tracking, hunting experience, and trap-making techniques popped into his mind. Such a bargain! After a while, once he had digested the information, Bi Fang praised inwardly. The difference between blue and purple skills was simply too great. He felt that if he had possessed the purple Wilderness Survival Skill before going to Qinling, he wouldn¡¯t have been as ragged. Bi Fang, feeling mentally enriched, looked at the six enhancement points with great anticipation. Six points¡ªa considerable sum¡ªbut definitely not to be used carelessly. They needed to be allocated with purpose. So, which one should he choose? The four basic attributes¡ªstrength, physique, agility, spirit¡ªmight seem simple, yet each had a wide-ranging impact. Strength wasn¡¯t just about arm strength or bench presses but a combination of muscle density and mitochondrial energy provision. Physique covered stamina, constitution, and physical robustness, with potential life-extending benefits if increased significantly. Agility included limb explosiveness and dynamic vision. Spirit involved coordination, sixth sense, and nerve reflexes. The four basic attributes complemented and overlapped each other, and none could be overlooked. After much thought, Bi Fang added 3 points to physique, 2 to spirit, and 1 to agility. Physique strengthened his survival capabilities, making him less prone to sickness or weakness. Spirit and agility could play a critical role during dangerous moments. As for strength, it wasn¡¯t that it wasn¡¯t important, but rather it didn¡¯t offer a good return on investment. How could his strength ever match that of a bear? Against the beasts of nature, being a warrior or a tank was impractical. It would be better to be an assassin, agile and hunting on the move. Moreover, strength, compared to the other attributes, was easier to train. Using enhancement points on it just wasn¡¯t cost-effective. After allocating the points, Bi Fang didn¡¯t experience the bone-cracking and power-surge often written in novels. Instead, he soon felt his eyelids grow heavy, and his body warmed up. He turned off the light and fell straight into sleep. This sleep lasted straight through to the next morning! When Bi Fang opened his eyes again, the world seemed new! Each breath carried an exhilarating sensation! The blisters on his palms, the soreness in his shoulder blades¡ªall disappeared. Even his skin seemed to have become somewhat smoother. Well done, System! Bi Fang swung his arms and felt much lighter throughout his body. The effects were immediate and remarkable! Especially the fact that he could improve without any exercise was downright addictive. There¡¯s nothing more worry-free and satisfying than getting stronger overnight! Bi Fang, feeling refreshed in both body and mind, turned his attention to the remaining two skill cans. The previous three cans had revealed quite a few treasures. What surprises would these two bring? Thinking this, Bi Fang could hardly wait. [Ding! Congratulations to the host on obtaining a green skill¡ªField Army Level 5, and a blue skill¡ªPilates Level 3!] Pilates? After seeing Field Army, Bi Fang was just about to rejoice when he saw Pilates and was momentarily taken aback. This felt oddly familiar¡­ He knew Pilates was a full-body conditioning exercise. It primarily focused on strengthening the body¡¯s deep muscle groups to maintain and improve one¡¯s posture during normal activities, emphasizing control over the body and breath cultivation. But the problem was, it seemed somewhat similar to yoga¡­ Bi Fang felt a headache coming on. He didn¡¯t believe the skills drawn from the system were random. What exactly was this system trying to shape him into? A Qigong Master? Chapter 34 - 34 Bright Shark TV Chapter 34: Bright Shark TV Translator: 549690339 | At noon, Bi Fang arrived at the police station and enthusiastically greeted Officer Zhao, who had helped him the previous day. Engrossed in his official duties, Officer Zhao was stunned for a moment as he looked at the unfamiliar young man in front of him. He racked his brains but couldn¡¯t remember ever having met him before, until he noticed the backpack with a broken strap behind Bi Fang and asked with some doubt, ¡°Are you Bi Fang?¡± ¡°Yes, don¡¯t you recognize me anymore?¡± Bi Fang found it somewhat amusing and did a spin in front of Officer Zhao, then spread his hands to show he was the real deal. ¡°Goodness, I completely didn¡¯t recognize you!¡± Officer Zhao stood up and looked at the young man in front of him with a face full of surprise. Yesterday, he was a disheveled refugee with a woebegone look. After just one night¡¯s rest, he seemed like a completely different person, not only with sharp and confident brows but also exuding a distinctive jungle wildness. This aura, coupled with that face, tsk tsk tsk! Incredible, this young man has the same charm he had back in the day. And¡­ ¡°Were you in the military before?¡± Officer Zhao, an experienced police officer, was very sensitive to people¡¯s auras and suddenly asked Bi Fang. Bi Fang just smiled and did not deny it. If he had only acquired the Field Army skill yesterday, he wouldn¡¯t have admitted it, knowing that whether he had served in the military could be verified through records. But today, he readily admitted it. Identity Integration Coupon! Who can resist the allure of a ten consecutive draw? Bi Fang had won this coupon in a ten-draw lottery this morning; after all, with 1,200 Points, he couldn¡¯t resist the temptation to try his luck once. The effect was incredibly powerful, so much so that it could even change the laws of cause and effect. As long as the Identity Integration Coupon was used on the corresponding skill, one would obtain the appropriate occupational credentials, perfectly conceived and without any flaws. Awesome! Bi Fang was flabbergasted when he received the coupon. Even historical records could be fabricated. Truly worthy of the System, was there anything it couldn¡¯t do? Without a doubt, Bi Fang used it on the newly acquired Field Army skill. From now on, when meeting others, he could freely admit that he had been in the service, and all of his skills were officially backed by the state. Why did so many people admire Bear Grylls and Grandpa De in his previous life? Wasn¡¯t it because one was a special forces soldier and the other was an officer? Although Bi Fang¡¯s current skills weren¡¯t of a special forces soldier, the Field Army itself was mighty. Moreover, as the skills upgraded, the occupational certification would evolve accordingly, a one-time fix. All he had to do was to not overpromise to his fans. Now, here¡¯s Bi Fang¡¯s status panel. [Unique Binder: Bi Fang] [Age: 24] [Height: 183.9cm] [Weight: 68KG] [Strength: 8] [Stamina: 11] [Agility: 9] [Spirit: 11] [Status: Good] S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Enhancement Points: 0] [Wilderness Points: 420] On the skill tree, Purple Tree Trunk: Wilderness Survival M, Advanced Yoga Ivi. Blue Tree Trunk: Pilates lv3- Green Tree Trunk: Cross-country Hiking lv5, Rock Climbing lv5, Swimming 1V2, First Aid lv5, Biological Identification lv2, Calisthenics lv3, Field Army Level 5. Among them, Calisthenics was a purchase from the store for three hundred Points. It¡¯s a great deal, relying on nothing but one¡¯s own body for resistance in exercise routines, allowing practice anytime, anywhere-very helpful for training core and endurance strength. A well-known exercise like the human flagpole is part of calisthenics. And for 300 Points, it was quite a bargain. Additionally, Bi Fang¡¯s Cross-country Hiking and First Aid were upgraded with Skill Upgrade Coupons that he won in the lottery, which could only affect blue and green skills. Apart from three upgrade coupons, he also received a special enhancement coupon which he hasn¡¯t used yet, and the rest are some outdoor gear still in his inventory. All in all, this adventure not only compensated for his physical attributes but also significantly enhanced his professional skills¡ªa great return on investment! ¡°All, why didn¡¯t you say earlier? No wonder you could make it out of Qinling alive!¡± Seeing Bi Fang admit it, Officer Zhao patted his shoulder with more warmth, and after a good chat, they headed to the station together. As they parted, they even exchanged phone numbers. The ticket and hotel expenses were all advanced by Officer Zhao, who was still waiting for Bi Fang to repay him. After all, he wasn¡¯t truly short on money. Just from live streaming these past few days, he had earned over a hundred thousand in income, an amount that even exceeded many families¡¯ annual earnings. What he really lacked was just an opportunity to get his hands on the money. Once on the bus, Bi Fang yawned, facing yet another long journey ahead. He needed to catch some sleep. On the other hand, completely unlike the carefree Bi Fang, Wang Weifeng was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. On one hand, recent events by competing platforms had taken away many users from Shark, keeping him terribly busy. On the other hand, it was Bi Fang going silent. Wang Weifeng had been set on signing Bi Fang, who in four days had gone from no inquiries to a popularity between twenty and thirty thousand-a first in his many years in the industry. He was determined to sign him no matter what. Therefore, Wang Weifeng went to great lengths to send big streamers to check on Bi Fang¡¯s room and even sent over his share of the gifts immediately after Bi Fang¡¯s live stream ended, showing how much he valued him. But having been unable to contact him for several days, Wang Weifeng couldn¡¯t help feeling uneasy. If the money hadn¡¯t gone through successfully, he would¡¯ve even suspected that Bi Fang provided fake information when applying for his streaming channel. ¡°Ding-ling-ling.¡± The phone on the office desk suddenly rang. ¡°Who is it?¡± An annoyed Wang Weifeng picked up the phone and asked. ¡°Manager Wang, there¡¯s someone downstairs who wants to see you, named Lu Junming, who¡¯s also brought a streamer from our platform with him. Should I turn them away?¡± Lu Junming? What¡¯s he doing here? Wang Weifeng¡¯s brow furrowed. He had heard the name before-a big spender on the Shark platform. Of course, the real situation was clear to everyone. Given the power of major guilds, even Wang Weifeng couldn¡¯t easily refuse. ¡°Let them come up.¡± ¡°Alright, Manager Wang.¡± Back at his rented room, Bi Fang finally took a breather. But when he remembered the money he still owed to others, he immediately took out his phone, opened the back end of his streaming platform to see if he could withdraw the earnings from the gifts. Soon after, he found that his phone was flooded with missed calls and many texts, one of which was a payment notification for a whopping 112,456 yuan! Shark platform is so generous! Bi Fang counted the six-figure sum over and over, silently giving a thumbs-up in his mind. After so long in this world, he had finally solved his urgent financial crisis! Without hesitation, Bi Fang immediately repaid the six hundred yuan he had borrowed when he first arrived in this world, fulfilling his original promise to repay tenfold¡ªtwo thousand to each person¡ªleaving the three lenders dumbfounded. Honestly, when they lent him the money, they never expected Bi Fang to repay it. On one hand, the amount was indeed trivial. On the other, they had all benefited from Bi Fang before, so two hundred was nothing at all. But to their surprise, in just a few days, Bi Fang had repaid them, and ten times over at that! What kind of lucrative deal was he doing without including his brothers? Would they lend again? No need for tenfold, just threefold or fivefold would do as a kind gesture. But Bi Fang¡¯s reply was vague, and he didn¡¯t explain much, just reassured them. Then, he transferred three thousand yuan to Officer Zhao, only to receive a refund notification soon after. Officer Zhao refused to accept the extra. After some back and forth, Bi Fang had no choice but to pay exactly what he owed. Such a good man! Bi Fang quietly marveled. After finishing all this, he finally had time to check the deluge of private messages in the backend. Typically only higher-level accounts could send private messages. Thinking of the amount of money these people had sent him, Bi Fang felt compelled to attend to them, deciding to respond to some of the more important ones. He carefully looked through them, replied to those he could, and even thanked some of the more enthusiastic female fans, before noticing a few crucial messages towards the end. Several of them, undoubtedly, were from Shark platform, inviting him to sign a contract. On average, they sent two a day, with different content every time. Was Shark TV not working, just busy sending him invitations? Bi Fang continued scrolling. He noticed one was from Lord Mu, mostly asking Bi Fang to get together for a meal when free, and throughout there was an expression of wanting to become friends, including mentioning his own identity. The CEO of a public company. Bi Fang casually checked, and found that this CEO was quite young, just over thirty, with quite a fortune. Moreover, his father was even wealthier, a major director of a group, with a net worth¡­ So many zeros that even Bi Fang¡¯s system-enhanced vision was dazzled. The last were from individuals like Fat Cat Pete, who said they had set up a fan group, which Bi Fang joined at a glance, waiting quietly for approval. After dealing with these, he finally began replying to the official messages from Shark. Chapter 35: Is this rolling up now? Chapter 35: Is this rolling up now? Translator: 549690339 | Following the backstage information, Bi Fang added the in-charge person named Li Liming. Within a few minutes, the other party agreed, and the message was sent as if it had been prepared in advance, ¡°May I ask if this is the anchor Mr. Bi Fang?¡± Li Liming couldn¡¯t afford to delay; his boss had issued a strict order to sign Bi Fang at all costs, and Li Liming didn¡¯t doubt the possibility of losing his job if he failed. When he received a positive response, Li Liming immediately sent over the terms and perks he had prepared in advance. ¡°Hello, Mr. Bi, our platform is very optimistic about your potential and has drafted a special contract for you, with an annual salary of six million yuan, and a gift revenue split of sixty-forty, with you taking sixty percent and the platform forty percent.¡± ¡°Moreover, considering that your content might not support high-frequency streaming, we only require that you stream for more than a thousand hours a year. This contract, with a term of three years, is extremely generous for a new anchor.¡± Li Liming spoke earnestly, and he also believed that the other party would surely agree. In his years of work, he had never seen a newcomer get such a contract, especially one with an annual salary of six million yuan, which was very generous. But what he didn¡¯t anticipate was that the other party didn¡¯t agree at all and instead sent over their demands directly. ¡°Gift revenue split of seventy-thirty, image rights are mine, I can only sign for six months with an annual salary of six million yuan. For a three-year contract, the annual salary must exceed ten million yuan.¡± ¡°Hiss!¡± Li Liming inhaled sharply; these demands were totally different from the ones his supervisor had laid out! And you, a completely new anchor, even if you have potential, haven¡¯t realized it yet, right? He decided to negotiate further right away, typing, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Bi, but that¡¯s simply impossible. First of all, a six-month term is too short. Given the nature of your streaming content, it¡¯s unlikely to support frequent streaming, right? In such a case, if you jump ship, our investment in resources would be completely unrecoverable!¡± But Bi Fang didn¡¯t budge at all; he knew the other side was playing dumb. They were all adults here, surely they had some judgment. Even if the people of this world didn¡¯t know Bear Grylls or Grandpa De, based solely on the last few days of streaming, his prospects were absolutely vast, and becoming the top broadcaster wasn¡¯t out of the question, as long as one had a bit of vision. Even if the person on the other end was just a manager and hadn¡¯t seen his streams, his leaders should be well aware. Currently, the top 10 on Shark TV all have annual salaries well above thirty million yuan, and the gift revenue split was twenty-eighty. His ten million was merely a third of what others were making. As for the image rights, selling those was out of the question, since Bi Fang was planning to earn money through endorsements! The reason he had quoted so low initially was simply to push him down a bit; it was like how the older generation would start by slashing prices in half when shopping for groceries, even though both parties knew it was impossible, but that was the process. After that, they would negotiate slowly, waiting for one side to reach their psychological threshold before relenting. ¡°This is my bottom line. If you agree, we can sign the contract now.¡± Seeing the other party hesitating, Bi Fang didn¡¯t beat around the bush. Li Liming had no choice but to inform his supervisor of the negotiation situation and ask if they should proceed with the contract. However, upon hearing the news, Wang Weifeng furrowed his brows, not because Bi Fang had made such ambitious demands. On the contrary, the offer hadn¡¯t even reached the limit he had mentally prepared for. As a supervisor, Wang Weifeng was very sensitive to the quality of the streams. He could see the potential in this path and had prepared for the other party to quote a high price; his real expectation was an annual salary of thirty million yuan, immediately positioning Bi Fang at top broadcaster status. But that was before Lu Junming arrived¡­ Three hours ago. ¡°Manager Wang, how about it? An annual salary of three million yuan, a gift revenue split of sixty-forty, we could sign for three years to start with, and also, we can do even better than him! Lu Wentao himself already has a sizeable fan base, and his regular streaming audience has about thirty thousand¡ªway more than that kid. The starting point is completely different. With the power of our guild behind it, we¡¯ve got the resources. Are you still hesitating?¡± Lu Junming sat on the sofa, exuding confidence. When he saw the other party frown and ponder, he knew he had it in the bag. He wasn¡¯t afraid of the other side weighing pros and cons; he was afraid that they would dig their heels in. Being repeatedly ignored in Bi Fang¡¯s live streaming room, and later getting pushed out by his fans, was a thorn in Lu Junming¡¯s side. Ever since that day, he had been looking for ways to retaliate, and he had found one. If you¡¯re doing Wilderness Survivalist, then we¡¯ll do it too, and we¡¯ll do it better than you. How can you compete then? In his guild, there were plenty of outdoor anchors¡ªis there none who can excel at Wilderness Survivalist? When someone else has a guild backing them, it¡¯s all about competition. His own guild had been deeply cultivating the outdoor section for so long; a single mountain can¡¯t harbor two tigers, so Lu Junming managed to persuade his superiors quite easily. The resources at Shark TV were limited; it wasn¡¯t possible to promote two same-genre live streams at once. Doing that would be too unseemly and turn off the audience. Thus, the key to choosing between them came down to who could bring in more profit. Their own guild was stronger and more experienced, and they practically owned all the well-known outdoor live streamers on the block. This time, their newly promoted streamer already had a solid fan base¡­ Sure enough, the next second, Wang Weifeng stood up and extended his hand towards Lu Junming. ¡°Pleasure doing business with you.¡± ¡°Pleasure doing business with you!¡± Resources were limited and could only lean towards one side; there was no doubt about that. One side would get the lion¡¯s share, while the other would only get the crumbs. Although Wang Weifeng was just a director, he understood a principle: to the capitalists, a good recommendation slot that couldn¡¯t bring in enough profit was a loss. And to whom the resources should be provided first was actually a simple question of profitability. Perhaps Bi Fang could make a hundred, but he would ask for sixty, while Lu Wentao could only make seventy but would only ask for twenty. Who to choose was a no-brainer. Moreover, Lu Wentao might not even be worse off; as Lu Junming had said, their conditions were actually better, and they understood live streaming more. However, one should not put all their eggs in one basket; it was better to wait and see the reaction first. It would be even better if they could benefit from both sides. Thinking this, Wang Weifeng said to Li Liming, ¡°No worries, just agree to it first to reassure him, but drafting the new contract will take some time; it may be delayed by a few days.¡± Li Liming was taken aback, and without much thought, relayed the message to Bi Fang respectively. Seeing the agreement from the other party, Bi Fang also breathed a sigh of relief; Shark TV was his ideal platform, where his benefits could be maximized. Although he loved adventure and freedom and liked to share these experiences with others, he ultimately had worldly desires. Waiting a few days was fine; after all, there was still time before the next mission, and there was no hurry. However, before that, he needed to register his own studio. It wasn¡¯t expensive, and with Bi Fang¡¯s current wealth, it was completely affordable. With a studio in place, it would be much more convenient to negotiate with Shark, offering a bigger advantage than personal signing. With this in mind, Bi Fang immediately contacted an agent, ready to get things done as soon as possible. Now registering a studio wasn¡¯t complicated, mainly involving a nominal fee and some taxes, and the whole process would only cost a few thousand yuan. Once the registration was completed in the evening, Bi Fang opened QQ, planning to check if he had joined the fan group, only to find dozens of new friend requests on his phone. Bi Fang didn¡¯t accept any of them but instead entered the fan group to check the situation. He soon discovered that this large group of two thousand people was nearly full! The chat history was filled with all kinds of topics from all over the world, occasionally mentioning him, mostly asking when the next live stream would be, and whether the edited video was ready and where to watch it. Seeing all this, Bi Fang remembered that he hadn¡¯t edited his video yet. He immediately took out his drone, transferred the videos to his computer, and was about to start editing himself when he suddenly remembered the handy System. If it could take a video, could it edit one too? Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang immediately inquired with the System using his thoughts and found out that it indeed could! And not just editing; the System could also handle post-production voice-overs and subtitles! [Ding! Automatic editing with post-production voice-over and subtitles, to Points per use, would you like to use it?] Without any hesitation, Bi Fang clicked yes. to Points was not expensive, and rather than wasting a lot of effort to produce a mediocre product, it made more sense to outsource it to the System. After he confirmed the System¡¯ s editing work, it took less than ten minutes for the System to prompt him again, saying the editing was completed and the video had been imported back into the drone. Chapter 36: Bi Fang’s Ambition Chapter 36: Bi Fang¡¯s Ambition Translator: 549690339 | The edited video was nearly an hour long, retaining almost all of the exciting moments. Especially the ¡°Snatching Food from a Bear¡¯s Mouth¡± segment, with the System¡¯s BGM accompanying it, would get anyone¡¯s blood pumping. After watching it, Bi Fang nodded in satisfaction and uploaded the video to B Island, then shared the generated link in a chat group. ¡°The video edit is done, I¡¯ve posted it on B Island. If you want to watch it, just search ¡®Master Fang Wilderness¡¯.¡± The moment the message was sent, it caused a huge stir in the fan group chat. If Bi Fang hadn¡¯t had good dynamic eyesight, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to keep up with the constantly refreshing messages. ¡°Wow, captured Master Fang alive!¡± ¡°Master Fang actually joined the group?¡± ¡°Master Fang, please notice me and add me as a friend! ¡°Will the next livestream still be on Shark? When is it? ¡® The incessant message notifications made Bi Fang¡¯s palms and scalp tingle, having no choice, he sent out a message to announce, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I won¡¯t just add friends randomly. It really affects my normal life.¡± At that moment, the group admin, Lord Mu, also sent a message, ¡°Exactly, let¡¯s not disturb Master Fang anymore, it¡¯s clear this is his personal account, and him joining the fan group is already a big favor.¡± Strikingly handsome to the point of alarming the Central Party: ¡°Yes, yes, it¡¯s better not to disturb him!¡± Now that both the group owner and admins had spoken up, the others felt it wouldn¡¯t be proper to keep asking Bi Fang to add them as friends. Indeed, using a personal QQto join a fan group was already very sincere. Unlike other streamers, who are represented by studio accounts that appear active, but in reality, the streamers themselves don¡¯t even know how many people are in their fan groups. ¡°As for the next livestream, it can almost certainly be confirmed that it will be on Shark again. The conditions have been settled; we¡¯re just waiting for the contract signing. As for the next livestream, I will definitely notify you when the time comes,¡± Bi Fang said. Upon hearing this news, the fans in the group cheered jubilantly. Seeing his fans so happy made Bi Fang feel pleased as well, as his livestreaming was receiving recognition. Everyone wants to engage in challenging endeavors, achieve excellent results, and outperform others. Being able to stay on the Shark platform was also something Bi Fang was happy about. Currently, the situation on various livestreaming platforms was similar, amidst their competition, the offers they could provide were more or less the same. The main reason was that despite Bi Fang¡¯s potential, he hadn¡¯t cashed in on it yet, which left him lacking bargaining power. So going to another livestreaming TV might not yield better treatment. Worse, he could run into a myriad of troubles that would disrupt his success, so it might be better to stay put, especially since he already had some momentum here. After chatting with the fans for a while, Bi Fang selected two clips from the edited video, the encounters with the Short-tailed Viper and ¡°Snatching Food from a Bear¡¯s Mouth,¡± and posted them on some well-known short video platforms. He also shared them in the group chat, asking fans to help spread them around. This was to prevent any potential traffic requirements that the System might impose in future missions. Completing the mission this time didn¡¯t mean he wouldn¡¯t have to worry the next time. Popularity and traffic couldn¡¯t solely rely on platform recommendations. Any work that aimed to go viral needed to break out of its circle; simply circulating within the livestreaming circle was not enough. The most classic examples are Bear Grylls and Grandpa De from the past life, as well as Ray Mears. Many are familiar with the first two but not the latter. In fact, Ray Mears is a well-known British outdoor survival expert and Bushcraft expert, affectionately called ¡°Ray Fatty¡± by Chinese netizens. Although his many television programs in cooperation with the BBC have become world-famous, his popularity in China isn¡¯t very high. The underlying reason for this is that his programs aren¡¯t as thrilling as Bear Grylls¡¯s, lacking the basis for breaking out of the circle. That basis is to have content that everyone enjoys. Wilderness survival is about being thrilling enough to attract viewers, which was exactly what Bi Fang¡¯s recent livestream perfectly delivered. In Ray Mears¡¯s shows, he mainly maintained a calm demeanor, which, despite the relaxation, required immense expertise and experience, along with a rich theoretical foundation. But the result was that Ray Fatty could only be accepted by mainstream survival enthusiasts. Bi Fang knew exactly what he wanted and what he needed to do. Next, all he had to do was wait for the heat to ferment slowly. Having done all this, Bi Fang opened the System again and found the item bar. He hadn¡¯t forgotten that there was still an enhancement ticket left unused. It wasn¡¯t because he didn¡¯t have time to use it, but because this ticket was too special. Golden Trapezius Strengthening Ticket. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The trapezius muscle is located subcutaneously in the neck and back, triangular on one side, and together with the other, it forms a trapezoid shape. It connects the shoulder girdle to the base of the skull and the vertebrae, serving to suspend the shoulder girdle. Moreover, this muscle significantly protects the neck. Many professional fighters specifically train this muscle because without it, any encounter with a chokehold or being slammed could easily break one¡¯s neck. If it¡¯s a woman, having this muscle too strong is quite unsightly, creating a bulky and bearish appearance, a real killer of grace. But for a man, if this muscle is well-developed with the right proportions, it can make the shoulders look broader and more powerful, greatly helping with overall physique. Captain America is a prime example. Bi Fang hadn¡¯t used it before out of concern that a noticeable change in his physique might be directly spotted by Officer Zhao, which is why he¡¯d saved it until now. But now, after Bi Fang used it, he immediately felt a tingling itch in his shoulders. This sensation lasted for about fifteen minutes before stopping. He squeezed his shoulders and found that the muscle had become quite swollen but was soft to the touch, yet it became extremely hard when he flexed. It was indeed the Golden Trapezius, and the proportion was perfect. Standing in front of the mirror and taking off his shirt, Bi Fang reflected inwardly. The trapezius muscles on both sides highlighted his figure well, making his shoulders look much broader but not exaggerated-just the type that looked good no matter how one viewed it. Bi Fang turned his neck and discovered that both strength and flexibility were far greater than before. This lottery draw was worth it! Too bad he didn¡¯t have enough Points for another ten consecutive draws. Bi Fang looked at the remaining 410 Points with some regret, deciding to wait and see if the shop would refresh with something good before the next task. However, even with the System that could be called almighty, he couldn¡¯t afford to be lazy and shirk hard work. At present, his physical fitness was just on the level of an ordinary person. He still needed to train diligently and improve himself¡ªthat was the real deal. Moreover, he now had the Skills of Calisthenics, Advanced Yoga, and Pilates, which were very comprehensive. Combined with a proper diet, perhaps he could improve his overall physical fitness even more before the next task! Bi Fang, with a plan in mind, immediately changed his clothes and prepared to go out for a run. Why did Bi Fang feel such regret when he first transmigrated? Because he had patience, he was willing to learn and endure hardships, and he was serious about his work. Even without transmigrating, he was confident that he wouldn¡¯t lose to most people. In the evening, after a day full of exercises, Bi Fang finished dinner and then went to the pet store, bought a bunch of cat cans, and with them, headed to a coffee shop at the street corner. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you!¡± In the shop, a short-haired girl saw Bi Fang and waved at him, looking very surprised. But then she shook her head with a hint of apology, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but all the bread has been sold out today. I don¡¯t have any extra for you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not here for the bread today,¡± replied Bi Fang with a smile, taking three cans of cat food out of the bag. Chapter 37 - 37 Shark TV Wide Open? Chapter 37: Shark TV Wide Open? Translator: 549690339 | Many coffee shops sell bread or cakes, and if they don¡¯t sell out by the end of the day, they discount them in the evening. When Bi Fang first came to this world, the original owner¡¯s parents had gone bankrupt due to a failed investment, leaving three generations of savings reduced to nothing, and they chose to leave this world. The original owner was also unable to recover, sold everything that could be sold at home, and even moved into a small, broken-down rental house. This meant that when Bi Fang first arrived, his pockets were cleaner than his face, so he thought of this and decided to try his luck at a nearby coffee shop. Surprisingly, the staff was exceptionally polite, and almost gave him the unsold items at a half-price deal. Now that he was making money, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t the sort to forget kindness, so he remembered the three little cats in the coffee shop-one tabby, one ragdoll, and one big orange cat-and thought about bringing them some cat food. It was definitely not because the cafe owner was beautiful. ¡°It looks like business is good today?¡± Bi Fang opened all three cans and set them down on the ground. ¡°indeed, did the boss come by today?¡± Bao Xuan sneakily pointed at the figure standing in front of the counter. Bi Fang followed her gesture and, seeing that tall silhouette, couldn¡¯t help feeling astonished once again that someone could be so attractive in this world. This was actually his second encounter. The first time was when he¡¯d just come to the shop. She was dressed in white like a bundle of light snow, her eyes as cool and clear as gemstones, an otherworldly beauty. Let¡¯s put it this way-the cakes and bread in the shop always have leftovers when the boss isn¡¯t there, but whenever she comes in, even double the usual amount of freshly baked cakes isn¡¯t enough. Bao Xuan picked up a box of cat food and looked it over. Noticing the high- quality brands, she expressed her astonishment, ¡°Did you find a job?¡± ¡°Yes, and I didn¡¯t earn too little.¡± Bi Fang lowered his head again, petting the delighted orange cat and the ragdoll, then looked over at the distant tabby that was gazing at him but refused to come closer. ¡°Why isn¡¯t this tabby coming over?¡± Bao Xuan, concerned as she saw Little Flower not responding to her calls, asked, ¡°Hey, is it sick?¡± ¡°It¡¯s afraid of you,¡± came a voice as smooth as jade beads. Bi Fang turned his head and met those bright and exquisite eyes. Ning Zhiyun crouched down, stroked the tabby, and smoothed its arched back. ¡°This cat¡¯s fur is about to puff up from your staring,¡± Ning Zhiyun, with her hair wrapped in a white towel and locks hanging beside her temples, presented an image of soft grace. At the moment, she was looking at Bi Fang with curiosity. His transformation in just one week was astounding. ¡°Really, if you hadn¡¯t pointed it out, I wouldn¡¯t have noticed,¡± Bao Xuan said upon hearing Ning Zhiyun¡¯s remark. She took a closer look at Bi Fang and realized he did feel significantly different from their last meeting. When they first met, they¡¯d thought Bi Fang looked quite decent with a focused gaze that seemed all on you. Despite appearing down on his luck, he gave them a feeling that he would surely rise again. But today, that impression had completely changed; he exuded a sense of concealed sharpness. ¡°Really?¡± Bi Fang scratched his head and chuckled, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s related to the new job I found?¡± Bi Fang was aware he had changed a lot, but didn¡¯t expect it to be to such an extent. He looked at the wary tabby, and then at the orange cat and ragdoll engrossed in their food, noting the stark difference between them. All he could say was that the Chinese Pastoral Cat really lived up to its hunting prowess with its incredibly sharp senses. On the other side, Ning Zhiyun and Bao Xuan, hearing that it was related to his new job, became immediately curious, but Bi Fang just wouldn¡¯t divulge any more. They had no choice but to let it go. In the end, Ning Zhiyun prepared a Fragrant Mint Drink for Bi Fang as a reciprocal gesture. It was a unique beverage of the shop-cooling and heat-dispelling, with a decent taste. After receiving it and expressing his gratitude, Bi Fang left. After all, he wasn¡¯t there to curry favor. In the following days, Bi Fang either went out for a run or stayed at home practicing calisthenics, yoga, and Pilates. His balance and flexibility improved greatly, especially his breathing, which became calm and deep, hardly ever disturbed. On B Island, Bi Fang¡¯s video views were steadily rising, his likes had surpassed thirty thousand, and he had received a substantial recommendation. Many viewers on the live stream asked if this was a movie, and after finding out it was a live stream, they said they had hit follow and would definitely watch next time. The trend was becoming more intense. It seemed that breaking out of the circle was imminent. Bi Fang lay on the chair, watching the continuous rise in the number of fans backstage, feeling rather like a rider galloping triumphantly in the spring breeze. Less than a month since his arrival, he had already found his footing, not only escaping his impoverished life but also about to become the star presenter for Shark TV. He could already predict that the number of viewers for his next live broadcast would definitely break through to a terrifying figure! S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That would mark the beginning of a new journey, as well as his start to becoming the number one Wilderness Survivalist. Everyone has ambition, everyone yearns to achieve a level of success in some field that others cannot reach, and Bi Fang was no exception. He loved Nature and adventure, but if he could livestream his experiences to even more people, he would be even happier. At that moment, another new message came from backstage ¨C it was from Shark TV, a new contract document. A bit slow, aren¡¯t they? Bi Fang saw the message and wondered. Shark had mentioned waiting for a custom contract, originally he thought it would take at most a couple of days, but it had already been five days. Was Shark TV always this slow? Upon opening the file, Bi Fang didn¡¯t rush to print it out, but browsed through it first. When he came to the benefits and compensation section, his brow suddenly furrowed. What the heck? Why is it completely different from what was agreed? A 40-60 split for gifts, an annual salary of six million, and broadcast rights belonging to Shark TV ¨C it was exactly the same as the original terms! Nothing had changed, so what on earth had Shark been doing these five days? Were they stringing him along? Feeling somewhat angry, Bi Fang was about to call Li Liming when he saw that Lord Mu had sent him a message on QQ. ¡°Master Fang, have you seen Shark TV?¡± Bi Fang suddenly had an ominous premonition, ¡°No, what¡¯s up?¡± ¡°You need to take a look, on Shark¡¯s homepage, that big banner push!¡± Lord Mu typed hurriedly, his words conveying a sense of urgency. Seeing this, Bi Fang also logged into his Shark account on his phone, ready to see exactly what it was. These past few days, he had only been paying attention to the backend and hadn¡¯t really checked out Shark¡¯s live streams. The page had just loaded when a huge poster popped up. In the image, a man dressed in camouflage with his face covered in war paint was holding a Spear, standing resolute on a cliff, with a dense Primeval Forest below. Lu Wentao? Bi Fang¡¯s brows furrowed tighter as he searched his memory, but with no recollection at all. Who is this guy? At that moment, Lord Mu directly made a QQcall. Bi Fang didn¡¯t decline, and as soon as the call connected, he heard an anxious voice, ¡°Master Fang, did you see it?¡± ¡°Yeah, I saw it.¡± ¡°This is blatant plagiarism! I¡¯ve seen this Lu Wentao¡¯s broadcasts before; they were all about mountain climbing and such. Then suddenly, he started Wilderness Survivalist yesterday. It¡¯s obviously copying!¡± From the other end of the phone, Lord Mu also sounded very indignant. Hearing Lord Mu¡¯s words, Bi Fang fell silent and then his expression turned cold. Although Wilderness Survivalist wasn¡¯t patented and people seeing pi of it potential would inevitably follow suit, the fact that Shark had given the newcomer a major banner promotion was quite abnormal! The other party hadn¡¯t broadcasted Wilderness Survivalist before, but his first broadcast was given the best resources, and a dedicated poster at that-no one would believe that Shark wasn¡¯t doing this on purpose. Talk of needing time for a custom contract ¨C Shark was clearly just dangling him! Chapter 38: The Relationship Between Chapter 38: The Relationship Between Platforms and Broadcasters Translator: 549690339 I After discussing the contract issue, Lord Mu was extremely furious and immediately declared his intentions to find out what the deal with Shark was! Even Bi Fang hadn¡¯t expected such a strong reaction from the other party. He hung up the call without delay, and immediately phoned Li Liming, only to find that the latter seemed to have anticipated this and was also very polite in tone. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°The thing is, Mr. Bi, regarding your live streaming content, our leadership is actually very optimistic about it. Not only is it innovative, but your performance has been very good. We indeed agreed to your previous terms, and the platform even planned to promote you as the top streamer.¡± On the phone, Li Liming spoke with humility, and Bi Fang could only suppress his irritation and continue listening to him. ¡°But who could have expected Cheng Yaojin to emerge halfway through? Mr. Lu not only stated that he too could do ¡®Wilderness Survivalist¡¯, but also offered terms far lower than what you proposed. Mr. Bi knows, as platform operators we are essentially businessmen; if the leadership thinks it¡¯s a good deal, then we can only put you out.¡± Bullshit! Bi Fang¡¯s expression turned unpleasant. Naturally, he couldn¡¯t believe such a one-sided argument. ¡°So you just went ahead and did it without prior notification? Now that the data is out, you send over the contract, isn¡¯t double-dealing a bit too ugly?¡± That his ¡®Wilderness Survivalist¡¯ had achieved great success and attracted others to this lucrative opportunity was normal, but during these five days, there hadn¡¯t been any notification from Shark TV, which clearly indicated some trickery. Bi Fang wasn¡¯t foolish. In his previous life, he hadn¡¯t been involved in the corporate world, but that didn¡¯t mean he was completely inexperienced with society. He quickly understood the situation. Shark was clearly looking to play both sides, unable to estimate who brought more value and thus wanting to compare the two. The live stream by that Lu Wentao had already started yesterday; surely the first day¡¯s data met the expectations. After comparing, they must have concluded that the returns were more favorable with the other party, and that¡¯s why they sent the contract to Bi Fang today. On the other end of the call, Li Liming didn¡¯t expect Bi Fang to speak so frankly and directly; this caught him somewhat by surprise. Li Liming paused for a few seconds before laughing, ¡°Mr. Bi, you jest. There¡¯s no double-dealing, just a consideration of interests, we absolutely had no intention of deceiving you¡­¡± ¡°Cut the crap.¡± Bi Fang wasn¡¯t receptive to his explanation. These kinds of words were idiotic, and he seriously asked, ¡°Have you considered the consequences?¡± If the terms of the agreement failed to be reached, they could be discussed. But to easily go back on a deal that had been firmly agreed upon showed a complete lack of sincerity! Yes, he wanted traffic, fame, and more recognition from the public, but Shark TV¡¯s two-faced behavior made him feel disgusted. What a bunch of crap! As Bi Fang grew serious, for some reason Li Liming felt nervous, as if the person on the other end wasn¡¯t just a promising newcomer to the streaming scene, but some high-profile figure. But he quickly regained his senses, chiding himself for being absurd. It was just a streamer, right? What was there to be nervous about, staking a claim with unique content? Inside the office, Li Liming shifted in his chair and fell silent for a while before speaking with implied meaning, ¡°Mr. Bi, this is the decision of our leadership, and it is irreversible. If you agree, you can sign right now¡ªwe will not favor one over the other, the resources we provide to you will surely be the most appropriate. You might not be aware of Ling Xuefeng¡¯s room inspection, but that was actually arranged by us. CEO-level streamer room visits are not something every platform can offer.¡± After a pause, he wasn¡¯t in the mood for niceties anymore, ¡°Lu Wentao¡¯s team is stronger, and they will definitely make the ¡®Wilderness Survivalist¡¯ theme go viral. When that happens, it will be beneficial for both you and our platform.¡± ¡°Mr. Bi, you¡¯re still young, you shouldn¡¯t act rashly. It¡¯s really about making the pie bigger together. If you sign the contract, I can assure you that your recommendations will never stop, and we can even pay you an advance salary for a quarter, which is one and a half million! With your current situation, you surely need this money, right?¡± Li Liming was experienced with these matters, having seen them frequently. Some streamers, despite appearing successful and having a fully equipped team, were in fact penniless. Regardless of the other party¡¯s use of drones and first-person views, if they were truly wealthy, why would they undertake such dangerous live streaming? By the end of his speech, he almost convinced himself with his own sincerity, ¡°With these conditions, even if someone competes with you, what¡¯s there to worry about? We will not easily give up on anyone, and after all, resources are something you have to compete for yourself. As long as your program is more exciting than Mr. Lu¡¯s, you will definitely have more resources than him.¡± Li Liming spoke the absolute truth, his confidence in persuading Bi Fang started right there. Here were fame and prospects. Now that his streaming content wasn¡¯t unique, and with Shark TV having the highest traffic, even the dividends would be incomparable to any ordinary Joe. What reason did the other party have to refuse? Bi Fang listened quietly, but didn¡¯t rush to speak. What was he so angry about really? The sudden competition? Of course not! You support other Wilderness Survivalist streamers, fine, that¡¯s acceptable, Bi Fang has never been afraid of competition, no real sword is without nicks, only after countless clashes with other weapons can it be considered a genuine sword. It¡¯s betrayal! That is what he cannot tolerate! Promises easily broken, not only asking for outrageous prices but also deceiving the streamers, and even planning to deceive others with lies afterwards! He chose the live streaming platform because it represented a trustworthy partner, but now this partner showed not a shred of sincerity and even rolled out his replacement! Bi Fang wanted money and fame, wanted to achieve the goal of being the number one Wilderness Survivalist, that¡¯s why he came to the most popular streaming platform, but that does not mean he would grovel like a dog, indifferent to deception and concealment! He possessed a normal human¡¯s sensibility, dignity, his own principles and bottom line! The platform is not above all! Bi Fang¡¯s voice was calm and resolute, ¡°No, Mr. Li Liming, you know full well what the situation is, want to sign a contract? Fine, but the terms should be as I previously stated, and you have to remove Lu Wentao¡¯s major feature. Then I¡¯ll agree!¡± Li Liming was stunned, his smile fading quickly, his confidence vanishing. He struggled to understand Bi Fang¡¯s way of thinking, blurting out, ¡°Mr. Bi, do you realize what you¡¯re saying? You¡¯re openly opposing Shark¡¯s top management¡¯s decision, you¡¯re ruining your streaming career!¡± What is Shark TV? One of the top three live streaming platforms! More than five thousand streamers signed under its banner, not counting the small streamers who haven¡¯t signed! Countless people and tasks, beyond imagination, each promotional spot fiercely contested with people going to great lengths to grab it, and various forms of bribery rampant, a power institution! In such a scenario, withdraw a major promotion because of a demand from one streamer? Impossible! Even if you have a live audience of one million, it won¡¯t work! This is a precedent, once set, it would destroy Shark TV¡¯s credibility! Bi Fang nodded lightly, and after speaking, he felt less tense. He leaned back in the chair, laughed directly into the phone, ¡°Mr. Li Liming, I know what I am saying. If you didn¡¯t hear me clearly, I can repeat it. I¡ªBi Fang, find your underhanded, double-dealing behavior disgusting! Want to sign me? Fine, but you¡¯ll have to apologize to me, and remove Lu Wentao¡¯s major feature!¡± Bi Fang found Li Liming¡¯s remarks laughable. Resisting Shark meant ruin? Who the hell does Shark think they are? As someone who¡¯s already faced death once, would he fear this? Really think being the head honcho of streaming platforms means you can do whatever you want? Boss my ass. What if I switch platforms, what then? Are you going to ban me from the whole network? Li Liming fell silent, turning his head to look at Wang Weifeng, who had been standing by the whole time. The phone had been on speaker from the start, and all conversations were conducted under Wang Weifeng¡¯s supervision. But things had developed to a point where they were beyond his ability to resolve. Originally, Li Liming thought this was just a normal contract discussion; little did he expect to encounter a stubborn greenhorn. So the first broadcast was too successful, leading to an inflated ego? Can¡¯t gauge the relationship between himself and the platform? Wang Weifeng gestured with his hand and said, ¡°You go out first, I want to have a talk with Mr. Bi.¡± Li Liming immediately understood, quickly retreated, and only after pushing open the door did he shake his head. What an idiot to not accept such good terms. For what? Pride? Is that more important than real gold and silver, than fame? Looks quite young, seems to be just stepping into society, real damn foolhardy, every year there are plenty, but this year especially so, such a waste of my emotions! Chapter 39 - 39 Suddenly Broke Chapter 39 Suddenly Broke Translator: 549690339 | ¡°Mr. Bi Fang, our platform actually values you very much, or rather, your future, but this isn¡¯t capital for you to provoke the higher-ups. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± Hearing the voice on the other end suddenly change, Bi Fang asked curiously. ¡°Wang Weifeng, the head of Shark TV.¡± ¡°Oh, the head, huh!¡± Bi Fang was a bit surprised, he raised an eyebrow, but his thoughts didn¡¯t shift in the slightest, ¡°I stand by my choice, even if it were your chairman here, it would be the same!¡± With his subordinates gone, Wang Weifeng¡¯s expression turned colder, and he no longer minced his words, stating bluntly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Bi, you may be young, with little work experience, but I have to tell you that no one in this world is irreplaceable, even if we think highly of you. Overconfidence in one¡¯s talent often doesn¡¯t lead to a good end.¡± ¡°Is that the knife at the end of the road?¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t care, and he laughed directly, ¡°You can¡¯t replace me. This, what¡¯s-his-name, this host, oh, right, Lu Wentao, does he really know how to survive in the wilderness? Can he really win the audience¡¯s favor?¡± ¡°They have a professional team, and Lu Wentao has also served!¡± ¡°Ha? Special forces? Or has he undergone some professional training? Do you really think by setting up some half-dead animals, you can pretend it¡¯s real hunting?¡± Bi Fang casually picked up a small ornament on the table and examined it. The reason Bi Fang could say these things wasn¡¯t just because of his experience in a past life, nor was it the lesson learned from predecessors like Bear Grylls and Grandpa De. What was more important, he had the System! Haven¡¯t you heard a saying? Don¡¯t mess with a person who has traveled through time. As long as he kept training relentlessly, and with the rewards from completing missions, it wouldn¡¯t be long before even a professional special forces soldier in jungle warfare couldn¡¯t catch up with him. Lu Wentao? Never heard of him. Better he sticks to his mountaineering streams! Wang Weifeng was taken aback, not understanding what Bi Fang meant, but after pondering for a moment, softened his tone again, ¡°Really, it¡¯s unnecessary, Mr. Bi. Who would have issues with making money¡­¡± But before he could finish, Bi Fang cut him off directly. ¡°If you can¡¯t remove the recommendation ban, then I need to switch platforms. Shark TV isn¡¯t worthy of my livestream.¡± ¡°Mr. Bi, where can you go? To Tiger Fang, which promotes softcore content? Or to Wolf Fang, which is on the decline? Or is it some other small platform? And even if you leave, the fact won¡¯t change. Mr. Lu has a fan base and a strong team behind him. He will only be more successful on your foundation. Are you really content with that?¡± Wang Weifeng still wouldn¡¯t give up, ¡°By then, even if you gain a bit of fame on another platform, what will others think? What are you, leaving Shark TV? A loser who couldn¡¯t beat someone else?¡± ¡°What you¡¯re thinking, I understand very well, but I also want to remind you, surviving in the wilderness isn¡¯t as easy as you imagine. Good luck with that!¡± With complete disregard for the other party¡¯s threat, Bi Fang said to Wang Weifeng before hanging up, ¡°By the way, do me a favor and pass a message to Lu Wentao. Since he wants to replace me, he should be prepared to pay the price!¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t¡­¡± Wang Weifeng was about to say something, but all he heard was a dial tone, leaving him with a look of astonishment. In his rental room, Bi Fang hung up and immediately sent a private message to all his fans on the backend, stating that he would no longer be streaming on Shark TV. He didn¡¯t choose to stream an explanation; he couldn¡¯t stand to show his face for another second on this disgusting platform! What a joke! Bi Fang felt seething frustration inside; Shark TV¡¯s series of moves had caused a major setback in his plans, resulting in the loss of his fan base on Shark. If there was an opportunity in the future, he would never let it go! Even without considering their behavior of poaching talent, Bi Fang didn¡¯t like the attitude of Shark TV. As a streamer seeking cooperation with their platform, he wasn¡¯t there to be their subordinate. What gave them the right to be so high and mighty? The good old times are gone! It¡¯s an era where the people are in charge. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Luckily, the efforts on Shark¡¯s platform weren¡¯t in vain this time. I¡¯ve gained some notoriety, made a decent amount of money, and solved the urgent financial issues. Most importantly, I¡¯ve seen Shark TV¡¯s true colors. If this hadn¡¯t happened and I¡¯d signed with them directly, who knows what kind of crap I¡¯d have to put up with later on. It¡¯s just that I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll be able to meet the System¡¯s user requirements next time. On the other hand, my fans on Shark TV who had followed me started to read the notice I posted, one after another, all shocked, and so my phone began to ring incessantly again. Lord Mu, who was somewhat aware of the situation, guessed a few things and gave the fans a rough explanation before he reached out to me privately. While I was negotiating with Shark, Lord Mu wasn¡¯t just sitting around idle; he mobilized his connections to investigate the reasons behind Shark¡¯s change of heart and even figured out the whole story. I hadn¡¯t expected Lord Mu to take it so seriously; I thought his promise to thoroughly investigate was just a polite gesture. Decisive and direct action always proves more genuine than words¡ªit¡¯s a sign of true goodwill. ¡°Master Fang, do you remember the guild member we dismissed during the live stream? That Lu Wentao is part of that guild, and he specializes in the outdoor section. Way before your first call with Shark, that guild had made contact with a Shark TV executive, Wang Weifeng. In other words, they had already planned to string you along during your first conversation with them.¡± After reading the message from Lord Mu, it was pretty much what I had speculated. However, it took me some serious thinking to remember which guild member Lord Mu was talking about. At that time, I think I was catching rabbits and didn¡¯t pay much attention to that guild member. Then I got a good scolding and vaguely remembered it, but I didn¡¯t take it to heart at the moment. I never imagined it would cause such a huge mess now. ¡°How do you know all this so clearly?¡± ¡°Hehe, this might seem difficult to outsiders, but it¡¯s easy to find out with a bit of networking. I only understood everything after I learned about the guild that Lu Wentao belongs to.¡± Although Lord Mu made light of his explanation, I knew it wasn¡¯t that easy. However, I didn¡¯t show it; I just kept this act of kindness in mind, waiting for an opportunity to repay him in the future. ¡°Master Fang, where do you plan to stream now?¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t decided yet, but definitely not on Shark.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do at all. Shark is just unscrupulous.¡± Lord Mu agreed fervently, adding seriously, ¡°If I could convince my dad to start a streaming company, that would be great. I¡¯d make sure to give you, Master Fang, the best treatment possible, promoting you heavily every day!¡± Seeing this message made my eyelid twitch¡ªthis is a true tycoon. We chatted a bit more before ending the conversation. Lord Mu said that if I decided on a streaming platform, I must tell him immediately so he could come and support the show. Lord Mu genuinely wanted to be friends with me, not because of potential value, but out of genuine admiration for me as a person. In my rental room, I took out a ballpoint pen and began to consider which streaming TV to focus on. Since Shark was definitely out of the question, I had to find another large platform. Each platform has its specific conditions, making the real choice quite a headache. Excluding Shark, there really are only two other big platforms left¡ªTiger Fang and Wolf Fang. Frankly speaking, neither situation is good. The atmosphere on Tiger Fang¡¯s platform is poor. Their issue isn¡¯t about being deceitful like Shark; rather, they are very fond of ¡°soft¡± content. The big broadcasters are either gamers or dancing girls. For them, the outdoor section is just a category to show diversity. If I went there, I¡¯d be totally out of place. As for Wolf Fang, it¡¯s actually on the decline, falling quite far behind Shark and Tiger Fang. Ah, what a headache! Chapter 40: An Unexpected Visit (Extended Chapter Bonus) Chapter 40: An Unexpected Visit (Extended Chapter Bonus) Translator: 549690339 | Shark, Tiger Fang, and Wolf Fang all emerged around the same time, but their development has varied greatly. Tiger Fang profited the most among the three major platforms by operating hs, Shark had comprehensive growth with the most traffic, while Wolf Fang¡­ This platform is somewhat too ¡°high-minded¡±, unlike the pandering Tiger Fang. Wolf Fang has strict control over its content, which resulted in it having the third-highest traffic. Honest people tend to lose out, and that saying isn¡¯t wrong. As for the rest of the platforms, they indeed come up like mushrooms after rain, but they lack the support of major capital. Without someone to take over their operations later, most are just a flash in the pan. Bi Fang was organizing the strengths and weaknesses of the major platforms on paper, but just after writing a few lines, he suddenly heard his phone ring. Picking it up, he saw it was an unknown number. When he answered the call, it turned out to be an employee from Tiger Fang¡¯s platform. The caller was very polite and direct in expressing their admiration for him, also severely criticizing Shark¡¯s unethical behavior, and then mentioned that a leader wanted to have a detailed talk with him, inquiring when he would be available, offering to reimburse the ticket cost. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang was startled, having not expected the other party to react so quickly. Although he must have gained some fame in the live streaming world by now, not to mention the heat on B Island, it would be strange if other platforms did not know about this talent. But how long had it been since he rejected Shark? They already found out his number? There must be a mole¡­ However, what happens to Shark TV now has nothing to do with him. Bi Fang naturally could not refuse, but he didn¡¯t show too much eagerness either. Instantly agreeing to the other party over a single phone call would only put himself at a disadvantage, surrendering his bargaining power for nothing. Eventually, they set the meeting for the afternoon of the third day in Magic Capital. After hanging up the phone, Bi Fang stood and pondered for a while; it seemed the other party had done thorough research. They knew not only his phone number but also his address. Xicheng City is very close to Magic Capital, just over a hundred kilometers away. Taking the highway, it¡¯s only a bit over an hour¡¯s drive, so that¡¯s why the other party set such a tight schedule. However, the first call coming from Tiger Fang was unexpected for Bi Fang. He thought Wolf Fang would be the one, considering the situation of the three, they would be the ones who needed quality hosts the most to increase their traffic. No wonder they struggle against the other two platforms¡ªthey¡¯re really¡­ No, that metaphor isn¡¯t quite right. Bi Fang shook his head, casting the thought out of his mind. Then he remembered Tiger Fang¡¯s live-streaming performance; although the platform was pandering, its traffic was undeniably top-notch. Even if his style didn¡¯t quite fit in, he was confident he could carve out a niche for himself there. But he still needed to prepare thoroughly. Choosing a platform was a major decision; the more thorough his research, the more assured he could be. Yet before he could start, the phone rang again. Not knowing who it was, Bi Fang directly picked it up. As he expected, as a new host with great potential, he had already attracted plenty of attention. Now two more platforms had called to invite him, both smaller but sizable live streaming platforms inviting him to discuss in Magic Capital. Bi Fang agreed to meet with these platforms as well, also scheduling for the third day. He calculated the timing; it was tight but doable. The headquarters of these live TV platforms, no matter their size, were all clustered in Magic Capital, which was indeed convenient. In the following two days, Bi Fang holed up in his rented room. Different platforms would have varying degrees of acceptance, and while attracting their interest, he also needed to think in advance about which terms to propose, which could be negotiated, and which were non-negotiable. Interests are the essential issue. When dealing with interests, one cannot play the saint. You respect your own interests, and others will respect you. Time quickly reached evening, and aside from some nuisance calls, Bi Fang had received invitations from a total of four platforms. However, there was still no call from Wolf Fang TV. It seems the live streaming platforms have very acute senses; sensing any movements from competitors, they immediately take action. As for Wolf Fang TV, do they feel they can¡¯t compete with Tiger Fang, so they¡¯re not even trying to poach? Not even being proactive in grabbing opportunities¡­ there really is a reason why they¡¯re falling behind. Hopefully, the negotiations after tomorrow will go smoothly. Bi Fang thought he had some fame now and expected finding a new platform to go smoothly, but the actual events of the third day surprised him. Although Tiger Fang was very interested in him, the conditions they offered were not that great. The salary was high, more than ten million, but they were stingy about giving traffic resources. Even when Bi Fang asked what kind of promotion he would receive during the visit, the other party sounded evasive. Bi Fang still remembered clearly what the person in charge said. ¡°I¡¯m very sorry, Mr. Bi, but as the outdoor section is not our main focus, giving you too many resources might seem misplaced. Our users also wouldn¡¯t agree to it.¡± What a freaking joke! So making money from Isp is so easy that you¡¯re addicted and don¡¯t plan to stop, huh? Can¡¯t you be a little ambitious? As for the other three smaller platforms, Bi Fang met with them out of courtesy, but the offers they made were poor. They even asked him to do live broadcasts for two rounds first to see the response on their platform before improving his compensation and resources. Bi Fang passed on these conditions straight away. Future improvement in terms wasn¡¯t the issue, but the System¡¯s tasks had a number requirement that he couldn¡¯t wait for two whole rounds. What if he failed the task? Who knew what would happen? So even when one company insinuated that they had found major capital backing, Bi Fang immediately declined. Who knew if it was true or not. Regardless of the truth, they put the offer out there first. Bi Fang had seen too many tricks like this before; they weren¡¯t going to fool him. This left Bi Fang once mired in self-doubt, wondering if he really should go to Tiger Fang TV? Become a breath of fresh air in a sea of pandering otakus? Bi Fang sighed deeply in his rented room. Smooth sailing after transmigration, all of that is just a lie. He only had one live streaming experience so far, and it still wasn¡¯t enough. It¡¯s not that it wasn¡¯t possible, but after finally proving his potential, was he really supposed to just wait for it to slowly manifest? Without sufficient resources, he would never be able to truly make a splash. Bi Fang always considered himself to be someone with a pioneering spirit, a sense of vigor coursing through his veins, always eager to challenge the heaviest dumbbells at the gym and longing for a broader sky. But now, the situation had suddenly become rigid. As a child, Bi Fang loved to fantasize about grasslands, deserts, oceans, starry skies, and dreams of a miraculous journey. When he first climbed out of the cradle, the living room at home seemed as vast as the whole world. When he was panting from crawling from one end of the living room to the door at the other, he cheered jubilantly, feeling that his enthusiasm and ambition could face any challenge, he could go anywhere. But when he quietly pushed open the door, an overwhelming sense of dread still enveloped him. It turned out the outside world could be so big, so much so that even the yard at home was not a barrier he could break through. If he couldn¡¯t cross such a broad lawn or climb over his father¡¯s car, how could he possibly leap to the distant stars? But his enthusiasm and ambition did not wane; being different didn¡¯t require being able to do everything. As long as he lived up to his own life, there would surely be glory waiting ahead. So after graduation, Bi Fang joined CWCA just as he wished. He had a venue for his passion and ambition, and his dreams came true. He traveled far and wide on his own feet, shouting with the morning sun, drinking silently by the still waters late at night, diving in and swimming head- down to the opposite shore, seeing whales and encountering panthers, and then one evening, he sat by the bonfire and wrote these experiences into letters to send to a friend. But the current difficulties truly stumped him; his passion and ambition found no outlet, leaving him to make choices passively. The outside world is so vast, yet life is not unlimited. There are always places he cannot go to, things he cannot do. It seemed, this was it¡­ At dusk, Bi Fang left his rented room. He had come to a decision; Tiger Fang TV it was. He would try his best, and with some luck, he could sign the contract before the next task, and it would be even better if he could take advantage of the schedule to get one over on Lu Wentao. As he approached the door, he hadn¡¯t even prepared to pull out his keys when he looked up and saw a middle- aged man standing at the doorway. He asked curiously, ¡°May I help you?¡± The middle-aged man was looking at his phone by his door. At the sound of Bi Fang¡¯s voice, he looked up startled, scrutinized Bi Fang, and immediately smiled amicably, ¡°Mr. Bi, I¡¯m looking for you!¡± ¡°Looking for me?¡± Bi Fang was startled and took a closer look at the middle-aged man; quite ordinary, barely over one meter sixty, slightly chubby, impeccably dressed in a suit, hair slicked and shiny, but lacking any vitality¡ªbalding, yellow teeth, as if going through a midlife crisis. A relative of the original owner of the body? After recognizing him, Bi Fang struggled to remember but just couldn¡¯t recall meeting such a relative. He had combed through the original owner¡¯s memories and hadn¡¯t come across any relatives like this man. At that moment, the middle-aged man straightforwardly produced a business card and handed it over with both hands: ¡°Hello, I am Wang Yongbo, the Vice President of Wolf Fang TV. I¡¯ve long admired Mr. Bi Fang¡¯s reputation. My apologies for the intrusion.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of his head. Wolf Fang TV might be on the decline, but it was still one of the top three live-streaming platforms with thousands of signed hosts. It¡¯s an existence an ordinary person has to look up to. And the Vice President, definitely one of the key executives of the platform. No matter what, he was one of the big shots in the industry, certainly not someone a mere manager like Wang Weifeng could compare to! Now that Bi Fang was also mixing in the live-streaming circle, he didn¡¯t dare to be negligent. He accepted the business card politely with both hands and couldn¡¯t help but take another glance at Wang Yongbo, ¡°I apologize, I don¡¯t have a business card at the moment. May I ask what brings CEO Wang here?¡± Signing a host shouldn¡¯t require someone of this caliber to make a move, right? Even though Bi Fang had gained some fame, it was already quite impressive for other live-streaming platforms to send a manager to negotiate. This was actually a rare gesture of sincerity, so even if the platform was small, Bi Fang would agree to meet with them. That¡¯s how society works¡ªyou scratch my back, I scratch yours. It¡¯s basic courtesy. But Wolf Fang, on the other hand, led with a big move? So it wasn¡¯t that they hadn¡¯t made a move, they were just waiting for him? As shocked as Bi Fang was inside, he didn¡¯t fall over himself in gratitude. After all, people are creatures of interest. ¡°No problem, no problem,¡± Wang Yongbo was easy to talk to. After handing over the business card, he looked sincerely into Bi Fang¡¯s eyes, ¡°What else would I be here for at this time other than that Wolf Fang is eagerly seeking talents! Please, Mr. Bi Fang, I implore you, join us at Wolf Fang TV!¡± Wang Yongbo stepped forward and firmly grasped Bi Fang¡¯s hand, the expression on his face extremely earnest, leaving Bi Fang dumbfounded. He instinctively tried to withdraw his hand but couldn¡¯t move it! Chapter 41 - 41 A BMW Paired with a Hero Chapter 41 A BMW Paired with a Hero Translator: 549690339 | Wang Yongbo was holding Bi Fang¡¯s hand tightly, with deep affection in his gaze. If the two of them didn¡¯t look completely different, Bi Fang might have suspected that this was his long-lost biological father. Are you sure you¡¯re here to recruit talent and not to recognize your kin? Bi Fang¡¯s initial impression of Wolf Fang TV was completely overturned. Had they not missed the opportunity, but were here casting a big spell instead? Though the big move was powerful, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t fresh to society; he wouldn¡¯t be immediately crippled. Half a year¡¯s worth of tender venison is tasty but doesn¡¯t hold a candle to solid gold and silver, right? ¡°I¡¯m truly flattered by CEO Wang¡¯s fondness. You must have waited for a long time, please, come in!¡± Bi Fang was stunned for a moment but then quickly reacted, opened the door, invited Wang Yongbo into the apartment, and offered him the only chair. Wang Yongbo looked around the rental apartment with a bit of surprise in his heart, but his face remained unchanged. Then Bi Fang found a glass, poured a cup of water for Wang Yongbo, and said with some apology, ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect to have President Wang come all this way. I have nothing to offer here and hope you don¡¯t mind.¡± Wang Yongbo appeared very honest as he took the cup of water and waved his hand, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. A talent like Mr. Bi deserves our respect; this treatment is only what you should expect.¡± As he spoke, Wang Yongbo took a sip from the cup, adding rather regretfully, ¡°About the unfair treatment you received at Shark TV, we have heard of it too. We originally wanted to invite you earlier, but after careful consideration, we feared that our limited capabilities at Wolf Fang might affect your future, so we didn¡¯t make a move. It wasn¡¯t until we didn¡¯t hear about you signing with anyone for such a long time that we gathered our courage to invite you.¡± Bi Fang nodded as he sat on the bed. Now he understood why so many platforms had approached him, except for Wolf Fang. It wasn¡¯t a lack of information but self-awareness. Now in the streaming business, any broadcaster with ambition aims for Shark, even if the terms are a bit less favorable, just to be there. As a result, Wolf Fang, already at a disadvantage, is doing worse and worse, now with traffic nearly a third of Shark TV¡¯s! But don¡¯t underestimate this one third. If converted into specific numbers, that¡¯s tens of millions of viewers! Seeing Bi Fang lost in thought, Wang Yongbo couldn¡¯t help but worry, ¡°You haven¡¯t already¡­?¡± ¡°No, I haven¡¯t.¡± Bi Fang came back to his senses and told the truth. ¡°That¡¯s a relief!¡± At this moment, Wang Yongbo didn¡¯t resemble a savvy business elite but rather a street vendor who burst out laughing and slapped his thigh, saying directly, ¡°Then, Mr. Bi, could you consider joining Wolf Fang? I admit, our traffic isn¡¯t as big as Tiger Fang or Shark, but our sincerity is definitely greater than theirs!¡± Bi Fang knew the main event was finally here and listened carefully. ¡°Because our contract terms are based on the number of your broadcasts!¡± ¡°Cough, cough.¡± At this point, Bi Fang choked on his water, grabbed a tissue to wipe his mouth, and looked at Wang Yongbo with skepticism, ¡°Based on the number of broadcasts?¡± ¡°Absolutely!¡± Wang Yongbo seemed to anticipate Bi Fang¡¯s surprise and stated bluntly, ¡°Our executives specifically decided this, considering your broadcasting style, it¡¯s impossible for you to do high-intensity streaming. Hence, we decided to improve your terms based on the number of broadcasts¡ª once your traffic hits a certain level, our contract upgrades to match it! We won¡¯t let you suffer a loss!¡± Bi Fang was astonished by Wolf Fang¡¯s boldness; a contract based on the number of broadcasts was something he had never even heard of. The sincerity was extremely high. After pondering for a moment, Bi Fang probed, ¡°What about resources?¡± ¡°Not to mention other resources, you¡¯ll have the right to decide on three major promotional campaigns! Whenever you want it, it¡¯s yours. Even if it means cutting a recommended slot from another broadcaster during their promotional cycle, I¡¯ll do it for you!¡± ¡°Image rights¡­¡± ¡°All yours, take any endorsements or advertisements you like! If we intervene even once, you can terminate our cooperation unilaterally!¡± ¡°Salary¡­¡± ¡°An annual salary of ten million, only going up, never down, and we can pay a quarter in advance! Regarding gifts, split 30/70¡ª30 for us! If you become a top broadcaster, it¡¯ll be 20/80; and if you become the number one on Wolf Fang, then 10/90! If you become the top in the streaming world, we won¡¯t even take a share!¡± ¡°Sss!¡± Bi Fang took a sharp breath, stunned by Wang Yongbo¡¯s terms. It wasn¡¯t just half a year¡¯s worth of venison¡ªhe was being offered Red Hare and even the legendary beauty Diao Chan! After pondering for a while and finding no reason to refuse, Bi Fang still had one question that he couldn¡¯t hold back, ¡°CEO Wang, with such terms, do you trust me that much?¡± Wang Yongbo, however, burst into laughter, ¡°So what? Even though our Wolf Fang is on the decline, we can still afford this loss. How much worse can it get? Since we¡¯ve been losing for so long, we don¡¯t care about one more loss!¡± After he finished laughing, his expression became serious again, ¡°Mr. Bi, don¡¯t think we¡¯re fools. In fact, I¡¯ve been paying attention to you for a while. I¡¯ve watched your videos on B Island at least three times and learned about the difficulty of being a Wilderness Survivalist. I am very confident that you are truly capable, not someone who could achieve this by being pushed like Shark does.¡± ¡°Shark and Tiger Fang have massive enterprises; they don¡¯t care about a single streamer like you, but we do. We¡¯re lacking someone who can carry the banner of live streaming, so we¡¯re willing to believe in you and pin our hopes on you. This is our sincerity. Please do consider joining Wolf Fang TV!¡± Wang Yongbo once again grabbed Bi Fang¡¯s hand, his eyes full of sincerity. This time, Bi Fang didn¡¯t try to pull away, he fell silent. Wang Yongbo wasn¡¯t the least bit impatient either, quietly waiting, or rather, anticipating, the answer he desired. Bi Fang had to admit, he was tempted; everyone hopes to achieve outstanding results in challenging endeavors and to surpass others. This was a need for self-fulfillment. Wang Yongbo¡¯s offer was undoubtedly the greatest recognition for him. Bi Fang liked adventure and sharing it with others; perhaps this was the fundamental reason why the System had chosen him. And now, Wang Yongbo was undoubtedly offering him an excellent opportunity. While Wolf Fang TV¡¯s traffic couldn¡¯t compare to Shark¡¯s, it was definitely much better than the other platforms, and compared to Shark¡¯s offer, which was a joke, it was not just better but ancestral treatment! A full ten minutes passed, the two men just holding hands like this, one gazing into the eyes of the other with deep feeling. Ultimately, it was Bi Fang who couldn¡¯t stand it anymore; the offer was too generous, he couldn¡¯t refuse. He gripped back firmly and smiled, ¡°Then I will definitely try my best and not disappoint Wolf Fang TV!¡± Wang Yongbo¡¯s face lit up with surprise, ¡°Mr. Bi, you¡¯ve made a wise choice. I assure you here and now, Wolf Fang TV will never let you down!¡± Afterwards, Wang Yongbo immediately pulled Bi Fang to print out the contract as if he was afraid Bi Fang might run away. After confirming there was nothing wrong with the contract, Bi Fang didn¡¯t hesitate, signed his name, and handed it directly to Wang Yongbo, who carefully smoothed out the corners of the contract and then stuffed it into his briefcase, satisfied. With the live streaming platform issue resolved, Bi Fang breathed a sigh of relief and shared the news in the fan group. Many people said they would definitely go to support him on Wolf Fang, and some even said they had uninstalled Shark and from now on were lifelong fans of Wolf Fang. In the following days, Bi Fang finally returned to a normal life trajectory. Before the next task arrived, he managed to increase his strength by a point. This was a pleasing progress, for in terms of total value, he was now at a normal level. His next live stream would certainly not be as difficult as the last one. It was on this day that the long-missed voice of the System finally rang out again. [Ding! New task activated. You can check it in the task bar.] S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Twelve days. It had been twelve days since the last task until this one. Bi Fang silently took note of this time. If the third task also had the same interval, then he could determine the cycle of the System¡¯s task releases. He opened the task bar. Task Name: Small Test of Skill Task Location: Mohe Task Mode: Wilderness Cold Forest Survival Task Difficulty: R2 Task Requirements: No tools may be carried except for those provided by the System, clothing may be brought for this task. Main Task One: Start a live stream with a long-term online audience of over fifty thousand. Main Task Two: Survive successfully within five days while maintaining good physical condition. Side Task: Please explore on your own Completion Reward: Unknown Time Limit: 8d Chapter 42: 30 Times the Popularity Chapter 42: 30 Times the Popularity Translator: 549690339 | Mohe? Bi Fang suddenly shivered, not out of fear, but because it was his subconscious reaction to hearing about Mohe. It was extremely cold there! How cold exactly? Well, Mohe is located at the northern foothills of the Greater Khingan Range, in the northwest of Heilonghe Province. If you wish to witness the Northern Lights without leaving the country, that¡¯s the place to be. The very fact that you can observe the Northern Lights there says it all about how high the latitude of Mohe is; it¡¯s almost at the very northern tip of the country. If Bi Fang didn¡¯t head in the right direction for survival, he reckoned he might end up crossing the border by accident. Assuming he wasn¡¯t shot in the head by a border guard first¡­ It seemed he would be facing severe cold this time, so his preliminary preparations had to be even more thorough. The System had indicated that he could bring his own clothing, which meant there was quite a bit of wiggle room there. He could pack several items, sterilize and seal them so that, in case of an emergency, they could be used as bandages or torn into strips to make rope. Although the clothing Bi Fang wore last time wasn¡¯t provided by the System, he hadn¡¯t dared to take any extras. When he tried to pack a second jacket, the System had immediately warned him. This served as a reminder to Bi Fang that the System¡¯s requirements weren¡¯t set in stone. The mission duration also differed greatly from the last time; previously it was 15 days of preparation, 7 days of survival, this time it was 8 days of preparation, 5 days of survival. Both the preparation time and the survival duration had been significantly reduced, indicating that the beginner¡¯s mission was indeed for beginners. Bi Fang sat back down at the only desk in his room and began planning once more. Despite having over a hundred thousand in his account, he had not rushed to get a new house because outdoor activities were actually quite expensive. To truly engage in them, that sum of money could vanish in the blink of an eye. A regular outdoor jacket alone would cost around ten thousand, not to mention the branded ones. During his previous lottery draw, Bi Fang had won some outdoor gear, but that was pretty much limited to a water bottle, a pair of breathable sweat-wicking pants, a firesteel, a plain white T-shirt, and two orange-flavored hard candies. Aside from the water bottle and the pants, the rest were of little use; he had to buy everything else, including the jacket. Oh, and the candy tasted pretty good. After completing his planning, Bi Fang notified his fans in a group chat and then called Wang Yongbo to inform him of his next live streaming location. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Wang Yongbo was also very courteous, stating that the recommendation would be arranged quickly, and that the poster would be rushed and hopefully be featured at the top of the homepage for early morning promotion. For him, signing Bi Fang was a very lucrative deal. Bi Fang was skilled, and his live streaming content was almost guaranteed to be a hit, something that Wolf Fang TV desperately needed. They invested with wholehearted willingness, now only concerned that they lacked a leading figurehead and were not competitive in the live streaming market. Of the top 10 live streamers, Wolf Fang TV only had one, and that was barely hanging on, often at risk of falling off. Moreover, the actual cost of the contract was not high; all they really had to offer was an annual salary of ten million. Even if Bi Fang¡¯s potential was limited, they wouldn¡¯t really incur any losses; at most, it would just be a wasted sentiment. They could afford such a loss. As a major live streaming platform, ten million was nothing to them, hardly a scratch, and even if it turned out that way, it was like they had spent a fortune to discover a potential talent. In the end, Wang Yongbo made a few more polite remarks, mentioned that he had arranged an assistant for Bi Fang for any upcoming matters, and then hung up. Not long after, Bi Fang received a friend request from the assistant Wang Yongbo had arranged, Liu Qian. They discussed the details of the promotion briefly and then made the arrangements. In the evening, after completing his shopping at the mall, Bi Fang received a promotional poster. The poster was predominantly white, showing a lonely expanse of snowfield with towering mountains in the distance. The blizzard was like a white sandstorm, and a tiny figure was braving the snowflakes, making his way toward the mountains. The poster had artistic appeal, and Bi Fang was very satisfied with Wolf Fang TV¡¯s efficiency. This was the first time he was receiving treatment reserved for a top streamer. Having received a response, Liu Qian immediately replied to the tech department, and soon after, the recommendation was approved¡ª it was a major homepage feature. When Bi Fang opened Wolf Fang TV¡¯s APP and refreshed it again, the poster had already appeared at the very top of the APP¡¯s homepage. By clicking on it, one could enter his live stream. However, because the live stream hadn¡¯t started yet, the screen was still black. But the fan group had received the news early and had already begun to ¡°build floors¡± in the comments section. [Front row seat!] [A new journey!] [Is this trip headed to the Arctic?] [Who is this? I haven¡¯t seen him on Wolf Fang before. New host?] [Dumb, how could a new host get a major feature straightaway? Plus, there¡¯s a pre-announcement, this guy must have been poached from another site, right?] [What¡¯s the use though, Wolf Fang has been on a decline, what good would poaching one or two big hosts do? Isn¡¯t this just a desperate measure? In my opinion, they should loosen up the censorship, nowadays he who has the Isp (likes, shares, and posts) rules the world!] [Forget it, I think Wolf Fang TV is quite refreshing, not like Tiger Fang, I don¡¯t even want to watch when I go there.] [It¡¯s not about not wanting to watch, it¡¯s about not being able to handle it (jokingly)] [Isn¡¯t this copying Shark Lu Wentao¡¯s Wilderness Survival?] [Nonsense, it¡¯s clearly Lu Wentao who copied Master Fang!] Amidst a flood of comments, Bi Fang saw one with many replies. It was a debate about who started doing wilderness survival first and who copied whom. Bi Fang didn¡¯t pay attention to this argument because he knew he was also copying, and if he were to stand on the moral high ground and accuse others while being fully aware of this fact, it would be shamelessly hypocritical. Moreover, something like wilderness survival relies on one¡¯s own skills. Yesterday, Bi Fang had also watched Lu Wentao¡¯s live stream. The first map was the same as his, the Qinling Mountains, and he was also dropped randomly by a helicopter, which looked much fancier than what he had done. However, Bi Fang only watched for a little over half an hour before he turned it off and didn¡¯t give it another thought. If he were to make a judgement, It was terrible. Awfully terrible. Any discerning viewer could tell that Lu Wentao didn¡¯t really understand wilderness survival, simply reciting information about certain animals or plants in a rigid manner. Often, he couldn¡¯t answer the audience¡¯s questions and pretended not to see them, leading to low interaction. And unlike Bi Fang, who only brought a pack, Lu Wentao was thoroughly prepared, which put him at an immediate disadvantage. The signs of scripting were also very apparent, almost every line seemed rehearsed, and whether hunting or making tools, he appeared clumsy, with the animals he caught looking lethargic and weak before they even died. Sometimes, Lu Wentao would even start making certain tools right before ending the stream at night, and by the next day, when the viewers tuned in again, they would find the tools already made, with the excuse that he got up early to finish them. Who would believe that? Not to mention whether the tools were really made by getting up early, at least wipe off the grease by your mouth! If it were a recorded show, this would have been fine, even showing a strong sense of professionalism because many survival points were verified, but this was a live stream! Daring to stream live without true skills? For now, it was just that Lu Wentao¡¯s content seemed fresh, catching snakes and making rafts, and many new viewers found it exciting. Unfortunately, after witnessing real wilderness survival, the fans in Bi Fang¡¯s fan group didn¡¯t buy what Lu Wentao was selling at all! However, the guy¡¯s popularity was indeed high, surpassing 800,000. If Shark TV wasn¡¯t faking these numbers, then based on Lu Wentao¡¯s original 30,000 popularity, it had almost multiplied by thirty times! Chapter 43: A Ten-Year Old Fan Shows Up Uninvited! Chapter 43: A Ten-Year Old Fan Shows Up Uninvited! Translator: 549690339 | The popularity value reached more than eight hundred thousand, and this was just the first workday¡¯s live stream. The numbers were bound to grow, perhaps even breaking a million. This is the advantage of staying on a big platform; as long as the platform genuinely wants to channel traffic your way, hundreds of thousands of followers is not difficult to achieve. It all depends on whether the streamer can keep the audience. Unfortunately, Bi Fang didn¡¯t like it. Instead of worrying every day about partners stabbing you in the back, it was much better to stay steady at Wolf Fang and work together to grow and strengthen the platform. What¡¯s fake can¡¯t be real, and what¡¯s real can¡¯t be fake. Did they really think that without some real skills, they could survive in the wilderness? Bi Fang felt somewhat sorry for Lu Wentao. The association he had signed with was too greedy for quick returns, rushing to have their streamers imitate whatever was trending without considering their personal capabilities. It was only because Lu Wentao was lucky that nothing went wrong this time. If he encountered a wild Black Bear during his first survival attempt, no one knew what would happen. Hopefully, the blood wouldn¡¯t splatter on him. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang shook his head and stopped thinking about it, beginning his preliminary preparations for survival. These days, a nice item appeared in the shop¡ªa Small Hunter Combat Knife. It was very well-balanced, suitable not only for throwing but also exceptionally safe and stable in the hand, and its tip was extremely sharp. Such a good knife for only 410 Points¡ªBi Fang did not hesitate to buy it. These days, Bi Fang became obsessed with this hunting knife, and now he could use it in combination with the Field Army¡¯s skills for some good practice. Meanwhile, fans who received the news were causing an uproar in the fan group. Some were dissatisfied with Lu Wentao¡¯s shamelessness, while others were passionately discussing Mohe. It was clear that they all had confidence in Bi Fang and genuinely liked his live streams. Shark TV Headquarters. ¡°How¡¯s the situation?¡± Wang Weifeng, with his assertive manner, arrived at the tech room and asked while observing Lu Wentao on the large screen. ¡°Just as the data analysts predicted, the current figures are very good. Even without the support from the Tami Association to boost the rankings, Lu Wentao¡¯s trend is still positive. The only thing is¡­¡± ¡°The only thing is what?¡± Wang Weifeng frowned as he looked at the hesitant technician. ¡°There¡¯s a group of people crazily spamming the chat, saying he¡¯s not as good as Master Fang, and directly, the live stream quality is also a notch worse,¡± said the technician, growing quieter as he watched Wang Weifeng¡¯s expression change. ¡°Cyber soldiers?¡± ¡°No, they¡¯re all active users.¡± The tech was truly amazed by this, which caused him to hedge a bit earlier. It was unbelievable that a streamer who had only broadcast once could swiftly build up a base of loyal fans¡ªit was simply unscientific! ¡°Then set up keyword filters, one for one. Delete all mentions, and if anyone really keeps posting, ban them outright!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The technician jumped at the command but immediately agreed and started the appropriate backend operations. This Bi Fang, his presence was truly lingering like a ghost! Watching the technician working in the backend, Wang Weifeng¡¯s face darkened, and the disrespectful words of the other party seemed to echo in his ears. However, it appeared the opponent¡¯s live stream was also scheduled for these few days. As a competitor, he always kept an eye on Wolf Fang TV¡¯s every move, and so he had a crystal-clear understanding of their high-priced invitation to Bi Fang. He just didn¡¯t know if it would impact Lu Wentao¡­ Maybe he could send someone to ¡°show support¡±¡­ Wang Weifeng, in just a moment, had come up with a plan. They were competitors after all¡ªthere was nothing to feel uneasy about. Business is business, without any embarrassment. Just wondering what brand of drone the other party had that could produce such clear footage? Drones worth tens of thousands seemed like nothing compared to theirs. Three days later, Bi Fang officially set off! This time, he was far from the disheveled state of his first departure. He didn¡¯t have to sell system items for a plane ticket, not because he was suddenly rich, but because Wolf Fang TV had arranged everything thoroughly without a single worry. Without spending a cent, they randomly dropped Bi Fang into the depths of the Mohe forest by helicopter! Mohe, part of the Heilonghe Province in the Greater Khingan Range, which is the largest mountain range in northern China. Beyond it lies the Outer Khingan Ridge, already outside national borders. But long ago, that area had also been a part of China¡¯s territory¡­ Snap back to reality, Bi Fang watched the snow-covered forest through the helicopter window. Undulating hillocks drift by, the forest sea vast and indistinct. The vegetation in Mohe consists of coniferous forests, now completely blanketed in white snow. The snow dust atop the snowy woods is stirred by the wind, resembling a white sandstorm, with sharp peaks rising more than a dozen meters high, the ghastly white turning the world into a monotonous expanse. Bi Fang touched the icy, bone-chilling window glass, yet his blood surged with excitement in his heart, the fear of the severe cold vanished without a trace! Meanwhile, on Wolf Fang TV¡¯s website and app, there had already been a notification about his upcoming live stream. At Wolf Fang Headquarters, Wang Yongbo stared at the viewer count in Bi Fang¡¯s live room, clenching his fists as he saw that over five thousand people were already waiting in the room even before the stream had started, at nine o¡¯clock in the morning. These were all real viewers! Not just online popularity or heat! This investment was a surefire profit! Above the snowy plains, a helicopter painted in red and white roared, skimming the snow-covered woods like a giant bird, its massive rotors kicking up fierce winds and swirling snow in every direction. Bi Fang sat inside the helicopter, performing a final check on his equipment. After confirming everything was correct, he launched the drone with the same title as always: ¡°Master Fang Live Stream: Survival in the Bitter Cold!¡± Woosh! A blue luminescence flashed across the surface of the drone, and the next second, it silently hovered, stopping in front of Bi Fang. The home page¡¯s main feature recommendation had also officially started streaming. This was the best kind of recommendation, and also the most valuable. As soon as one entered Wolf Fang TV, everyone could see this live stream. Almost instantly, tens of thousands of viewers poured into the live room like a tidal wave, and the screen even temporarily experienced some lag. Ten thousand, fifteen thousand, twenty thousand¡­ Within ten minutes, the number of viewers was fast approaching thirty thousand! A full thirty thousand plus people were watching the live stream, and this was merely the beginning! ¡°Looking back at the course of human evolution and change, if our ancestors hadn¡¯t dared to imagine and venture, hadn¡¯t been brave enough to innovate and willing to sacrifice with their grand courage and magnificent spirit, humans would not have taken canoes to surf the seas, to explore the infinite mysteries of the other side of the ocean. Human curiosity leads to the impulse to adventure, and human adventures light the torch of civilization. Adventure lies not just in nature¡¯s seas and mountains, deserts and swamps, but also in the densely populated cities.¡± Inside the helicopter, Bi Fang exhaled a puff of white breath and smiled at the camera, ¡°I¡¯m Bi Fang, a professional explorer. This time, I meet you on the snowy plains!¡± ¡°Master Fang! We¡¯ve finally waited for you!¡± ¡°Wuwuwu, we¡¯ve waited for you so hard!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been staring at this feature recommendation for three days now, and this is the first time I¡¯ve seen a preview for a live stream. It¡¯s really tantalizing, and now we finally get to see it.¡± ¡°Is this an upgrade from a musket to a cannon? You¡¯ve even got a helicopter now?¡± ¡°B Island Field Army has come to watch the battle!¡± ¡°Wang Malu, are you there? Come out and watch Master Fang show off!¡± ¡°I¡¯m watching, I¡¯m watching, I am Wang Malu, stop calling!¡± ¡°11111111¡± ¡°23333333¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this a rip-off of that Shark platform¡¯s Lu Wentao? Has Wolf Fang TV really sunk this low? Although the host is better looking than those on Shark¡¯s platform.¡± ¡°Bullshit! It¡¯s that Lu who has no shame, ripping off Master Fang! The video dates on B Island are proof, it¡¯s certainly earlier than any Lu Wentao¡¯s live streaming sessions!¡± ¡°Exactly! Master Fang is the true pioneer of Wilderness Survival live streaming! Lu Wentao is just a pretender!¡± Bi Fang hadn¡¯t expected that the moment he started broadcasting, people would be arguing about this. He swiftly urged, ¡°Alright, alright, there¡¯s no such thing as plagiarism in Wilderness Survival, everyone has their own skills, right?¡± But before he could finish speaking, a flurry of dazzling special effects illuminated the entire live room. Bi Fang squinted and caught sight of a familiar title in his view. ¡°Congratulations to Lord Mu for becoming an Emperor in Master Fang¡¯s live room!¡± ¡°Lord Mu has gifted 100000 Wolf Fangs to the host¡ªhuh, a decade-long fan has arrived uninvited; did I miss the front row? If I did, please make some room, everyone..¡± Chapter 44: This person is not to be feared Chapter 44: This person is not to be feared Translator: 549690339 I Such arrogant talk! Many viewers were seeing such an extravagant tycoon for the first time, but before they could gather around, there was another wave of special effects explosions. [Fat Cat Pete gifted the host a Spaceship*!- Agh, still a step too late.] [Handsome enough to cause a stir gifts the host a Spaceship*!¡ªLord Mu is indeed Lord Mu, still as strong as ever! ] [Fifteen Centimeters Not Including Hair gifts the host a Flying Yacht*l¡ªI can¡¯t compare to the big shots, wuwuwu] The stream had barely started, and a barrage of extravagant gifts immediately left the new viewers dumbstruck. Where did this new host come from, he¡¯s so fierce? In Wolf Fang TV, a Spaceship costs two thousand each, and it comes with a treasure chest, followed by yachts at 1314, spaceships at 500, Big Bones at 100, meatballs at 6, likes at 0.1. Besides, there¡¯s also Wolf Brush, one hair per hundred. And the gifts these people just sent added up to tens of thousands! Not to mention there was an Emperor! In an instant, the number of viewers in the stream skyrocketed once more, easily surpassing thirty thousand this time! [Damn, which guild¡¯s crown prince is this?] [666, worshipping the big shot, getting a pile of spaceships without even streaming anything] [Master Fang isn¡¯t in a guild, these are all ten-year-old fans (funny)] [Ten-year-old fans? Then how come I¡¯ve never heard of this host before?] ¡°Don¡¯t listen to their nonsense, this is only my second broadcast, where would 1 get ten-year-old fans from?¡± Seeing some old fans tricking the Wolf Fang TV viewers, Bi Fang laughed and cursed, while also expressing his utmost gratitude to the fans who had specifically come to Wolf Fang TV to support him. These people had their old accounts on Shark TV, yet they still turned around to support him on Wolf Fang TV, and they hadn¡¯t even changed their nicknames, which was truly touching. But as moved as he was, he couldn¡¯t forget his main job. ¡°I survived four days in the Qinling before successfully escaping, and now, I¡¯m at the northernmost part of China: the Greater Khingan Range, above Mohe!¡± ¡°Many may have heard of the Greater Khingan Range but not Mohe. In fact, Mohe is located at the northern foot of the Greater Khingan Range, where the latitude is quite high. You can even observe the Northern Lights here, and similarly, we will face a fearsome opponent: the extreme cold!¡± Bi Fang had the drone fly further away, showing his thickly padded jacket in the shot. [Damn, the Northern Lights? For real?] [Just hearing Arctic¡¯ makes me feel cold¡­] [Mutedly turned down the air conditioning two degrees.] [6 my brother, where are you from? We re already wearing jackets here and still using air conditioning?] [Hainan¡­] Bi Fang opened the helicopter¡¯s cabin door, and the biting cold wind immediately sliced through, stinging the face like a bone-scraping steel knife. The white snowflakes competed to squeeze into the helicopter, and Bi Fang, squinting, shouted loudly. ¡°We¡¯re about six meters above the ground right now, but helicopter landings and takeoffs are quite complicated, so 1 don¡¯t want to bother the pilot. Do you remember how we escaped from the snake¡¯s mouth last time? Today I¡¯m going to teach you how to jump directly from a high place and land safely!¡± What? Jump down from over six meters in height? That¡¯s at least the height of two floors! Many new viewers didn¡¯t believe it when they heard this, but seeing Bi Fang eager to try, they were instantly horrified. This is way too dangerous! [666, Master Fang starts off so thrilling?] [Jump directly? So fierce? Is this a death-defying live stream?] [What death-defying, this is Master Fang¡¯s basic drill] [Isn¡¯t it different? Last time there were branches to break the fall¡­] [Damn, aren¡¯t you guys scared?] [Last time Master Fang fell from a ten-meter-high tree and was unharmed, this is just six meters, a piece of cake! Damn! Someone hold me!] Six meters might not sound like much, but when Bi Fang switched to the first-person view, many viewers went weak at the knees. ¡°Don¡¯t worry everyone, if there wasn¡¯t any difficulty, would we need to learn any skills?¡± Bi Fang smiled at the screen, ¡°Five to six meters, this height is actually totally manageable, as long as you master one skill, Fall Protection!¡± ¡®¡±Fall Protection¡¯ originally came from judo terminology, referring to the technique of adjusting posture to diffuse impact when falling. Later, this concept was militarized and became a training module in the military, aimed at helping people better protect themselves when falling or when faced with a great force of impact.¡± ¡°Today, I¡¯m going to take this opportunity to teach everyone this skill I learned in the military.¡± [Damn, learned this from the military? Has Master Fang finally admitted he¡¯s special forces?] [He kept silent before, but now it¡¯s set in stone!) [666, which elite unit are you from, Master Fang? Share with us and broaden our horizons?] [Kept it quite deep, huh!] ¡°That¡¯s not okay, that¡¯s classified information, I can¡¯t just talk about it.¡± Bi Fang laughed it off, which only made the viewers more curious. Little did they know, this was exactly the effect he wanted. Having a military background as an endorsement gave his professionalism a sort of certification, an easily convincing reason for many. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, whether in movies or books, the impression soldiers often leave is that of professionalism and strength, creating a sense of security. But Bi Fang didn¡¯t specify his actual service unit because even though the System had provided him with the corresponding documents, things could change in the future, so what would he do if he disclosed it now? ¡°Before landing, we must ensure the ground status. Hence, I had the helicopter stop on this snow-free hillside so we could clearly see the ground conditions. Otherwise, if there was a stone buried under the snow, that could be quite dangerous for us.¡± Bi Fang looked down at the ground, stretching his stiff muscles, awakening every part of his body from the dread of the harsh cold. Ever since acquiring the Advanced Yoga and Pilates skills and practicing them diligently, his flexibility and coordination had improved greatly. Movements that used to be difficult for him were now a piece of cake, and a mere six-meter height certainly couldn¡¯t stop him. As Bi Fang knew, the safe fall height for a free fall in his previous life was 15 meters, held by Russia¡¯s Alexei-Kens! Such a fantastical figure! Unfortunately, he had met with an accident during a training session and had died after falling from the fifth floor. Although it was just a legend, it also proved that human potential was limitless. ¡°Fall protection is a process of gradually buffering and discharging force. The scientific explanation involves action and reaction forces, as well as the conservation of momentum and the impulse-momentum theorem, which prolong the duration of force application, thus reducing the reaction force.¡± ¡°When we jump from a high place, our toes touch the ground first, and our legs prepare to roll by squatting down for the first stage of buffering. Then our hands touch the ground for the second stage of buffering. Finally, tuck in your left or right shoulder and roll to that side, completing the fall protection.¡± ¡°Of course, this process requires long-term training until it becomes instinctive to be effective.¡± ¡°Just like this!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, a dark figure leapt out from the helicopter, startling everyone! In mid-air, Bi Fang crouched like an agile leopard, a rush of oxygen flooding his limbs with every breath, providing unending strength. From his feet to his arms, the rebound force transmitted from the ground. Bi Fang bent his legs in response and rolled outward, tumbling several times on the ground before standing up and brushing off the dirt from his body. As if a breeze had just passed through the clouds. [Damn, damn, damn, I was still thinking about what Master Fang just said, and there he goes jumping?] [Give me a mental prep next time; a bottle of Fast-acting Heart-saving Pills isn¡¯t enough after watching Master Fang¡¯s stream!] [Isn¡¯t this too skilled? Feels like Master Fang could do it with his eyes closed.] [Me, silently taking the pill with a snort, just this?] [Person in the hospital, just out of the emergency room.] [Brother Ox-head, how did 1 die? What? Scared to death? No, absolutely impossible! Let me go! Wah wah wah] [A struggling art student gives the host Big Bone*l¡ª666, real skill!] [Plant a big tree gives the host Wolf Fang*100¡ªIsn¡¯t this even cooler than that thing with Shark?] With some people leading the way, there was suddenly a frenzy of gift-giving. Bi Fang glanced at the back end, his heart excited; a big success! Just ten minutes into the broadcast, the number of viewers was nearly forty thousand, the barrage surpassed a thousand messages, and even! The first gift rain appeared! A perfect start! Wang Yongbo, who was silently watching from the backstage, was also shocked by the leap. If there was an accident on the live stream, he would be responsible. But when he saw Bi Fang land safely, he clenched his fist hard. As he watched the audience numbers soar like rockets, his heart thrilled, and he couldn¡¯t help but send a Spaceship himself. At this moment, he didn¡¯t consider Shark TV¡¯s Lu Wentao a concern at all. Could a logistics team pull off that jump just now? Wang Weifeng had completely missed the point! Such a shortsighted person was not to be feared.. Chapter 45: Extreme Cold of 50 Degrees Chapter 45: Extreme Cold of 50 Degrees Translator: 549690339 S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Shark TV. Wang Weifeng¡¯s heart skipped a beat when he saw this scene. He turned to look at Lu Wentao, who had just returned from surviving in the wilderness, only to find him stunned as well. He asked directly, ¡°Can you do this?¡± ¡°Air!?¡± Lu Wentao snapped back to reality, and upon seeing Wang Weifeng¡¯s displeasure, he faltered. ¡°This, it should be possible,¡± he said. ¡°Should?¡± Wang Weifeng frowned, realizing that the matter was not simple. The most shocking performance from Bi Fang before was ¡®Snatching Food from a Bear¡¯s Mouth,¡¯ but he didn¡¯t care much about it. Because if that feat was true, Bi Fang¡¯s survival would certainly be a fluke, but if it was staged, then the Black Bear must be an old drama king from a zoo. If Bi Fang could get the bear to put on a performance, then so could anyone else. Wang Weifeng agreed to work with the Tami Association because Lu Wentao had trained in Sanda and learned Karate ¨C he had some skills, and Wang Weifeng believed the gap between them wouldn¡¯t be too significant. But now, it seemed, the gap was quite apparent. Lu Junming, sensing the tension, quickly tried to smooth things over, ¡°Of course he can! Didn¡¯t this guy say it was a Judo move? Brother Lu definitely knows it too; he¡¯s a trained fighter after all. He just didn¡¯t have the chance to show his skills, right, Brother Lu?¡± Distracted by this, Lu Wentao quickly nodded, ¡°Right, right, right. I can do it, too, it¡¯s just that I¡¯m a bit rusty because I haven¡¯t practiced it in a long time! Seeing Wang Weifeng¡¯s continued frown, Lu Wentao gritted his teeth and declared, ¡°It¡¯s just that I wasn¡¯t expecting it to be broadcasted like this. Next time, next time I¡¯ll jump from a helicopter, not from two thousand meters, no, but three thousand meters!¡± As a host who could be recommended by the Tami Association to livestream Wilderness Survivalist, Lu Wentao definitely had talent ¨C he held a professional skydiving certification. Now that a great opportunity for widespread fame was within reach, Lu Wentao truly did not want to let it go. Having experienced the popularity of 800,000 viewers and been pursued by thousands of fans, he really didn¡¯t want to go back to being the small-time streamer who had to be overly grateful for receiving a rocket donation. Only then did Wang Weifeng¡¯s frown ease, and he looked somewhat more favorably upon the two in front of him. ¡°Good!¡± After completing the Fall Protection, Bi Fang patted off the dirt from his body, tightened his collar, took a deep breath, and felt an unrivaled sense of freshness. [Master Fang has successfully landed. Beware, the cuties of Mohe!) [Beep! Beep! Beep! Destroyer Number has completed its drop, now detecting all mobile life forms to use as its energy source!] [Wow, you guys really have some nerve.] [Why do I feel like Master Fang is suddenly enjoying just breathing?] [I¡¯ve been doing Wilderness Survivalist all my life. Can¡¯t I enjoy it a bit?] [I feel like this survival challenge will be even more difficult, especially with the icy snow everywhere; there will definitely be less food.] ¡°Of course I¡¯m enjoying it!¡± Bi Fang took a few more deep breaths. ¡°Mohe is one of the natural sanctuaries with no pollution in our country. It has over 350 days of ¡®excellent¡¯ air quality yearly, with 50,000 negative oxygen 10ns per cubic centimeter in the air and an annual average PM2.5 concentration of less than 10 micrograms. You people breathe smog every day in the city, but if you were to suddenly come to a place like this, it would be as refreshing as a fish returning to water.¡± [Damn, trying to lure me into Wilderness Survivalist again?] [Master Fang has such a dark, big heart!] [I really do want to go out and take a walk.] Bi Fang laughed, ¡°Alright, since I am now playing the role of a stranded traveler, I must look the part. Just like before, we need to first observe our surroundings, then determine our direction and devise a survival plan.¡± ¡°Mohe is located in the Greater Khingan Range, and the Greater Khingan Range is the western part of the Khingan Range, a massive mountain chain stretching over 1200 kilometers. If you get lost, there¡¯s no way you can walk out on foot. Hence, determining the direction is extremely important.¡± ¡°In the snow, we have a very good method to determine north and south, which is to look at the snow accumulation!¡± Bi Fang walked through the snow, his boots squeaking crisply against it. ¡°The snow on the southern side, facing the sun, melts faster, while on the northern side, shielded from the sun, it melts slower. We can just see which side of the hilltop exposes more soil to know where the south is. If the soil is not exposed, we can also judge by the thickness of the snow,¡± he explained. ¡°The weather is good today. Look at this hilltop; it¡¯s an irregular circle. This part stands out clearly, so we¡¯ll head in this direction, southward!¡± Bi Fang pointed at the irregular oval beneath his feet and then pointed forward. Considering that Mohe is at the northernmost edge, if one doesn¡¯t want to go to Russia in search of a populated area, naturally, one must head south in search of life. This time, his target was Mohe City. The drone soared high, and in the lonely expanse of the snowy forest, Bi Fang¡¯s figure looked exceptionally tiny but also extraordinarily resilient, as if no environment could bring him down. [Every time I watch Old Fang¡¯s live stream it¡¯s so amazing, it¡¯s a pity I¡¯m not well-educated, I can only shout ¡®awesome¡¯¡­] [Same here, almost every time I can sense the vastness and boundlessness of nature, as well as the insignificance of humans. I really feel like Master Fang is no ordinary person.] [A lone figure strides against the blizzard, and there¡¯s another screensaver.] [Isn¡¯t Mohe located in the Greater Khingan Range? What happened to the range? Why does it feel like there aren¡¯t many mountains?] As Bi Fang made his way through the forest, the audience failed to feel the imposing presence of a massive mountain range that spans 1200 kilometers in total length. Unlike Qinling, known for its lush and tall trees, the vegetation of Mohe consists of coniferous forests with sparse canopies. The trees aren¡¯t densely packed, avoiding excessive obstruction of one¡¯s line of sight. Many viewers, looking into the distance, felt as if they were looking at a snowfield rather than a massive mountain range. ¡°Ha!¡± Bi Fang breathed out a cloud of warm air and chuckled, ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re mistaken. The term ¡®Khingan¡¯ is actually in Manchu; in Chinese, it means either ¡®hili¡¯ or ¡®extremely cold place1 and, of course, some also think it signifies ¡®gold mountain¡¯. But no matter which meaning you take, it accurately highlights the characteristics of the Greater Khingan Range. The uniqueness of the Greater Khingan Range lies in its span across two countries, with an average elevation of just about 1000 meters. There are only a few hills over 1500 meters, and the highest peak, Huanggangliang, reaches 2029 meters in height. Even from the summit, one might not feel the commanding view one expects from a mountain. Moreover, Heilonghe Province Mohe County Arctic Village had recorded the lowest temperature in existing meteorological records-a chilling negative 52.3¡ãC, a record that held for forty years until the early morning of December 31, 2009, when a new extreme low of -58¡ãC was measured in Genhe, officially becoming the new ¡°cold pole.¡± The ¡®gold mountain¡¯ refers to the abundant resources in the Khingan Range, ranging from rich mineral resources to diverse surface vegetation and countless rare animals. And after listening to Bi Fang¡¯s introduction, the audience finally understood just how cold the snowy Mohe could be. [My god, below fifty degrees? Wouldn¡¯t people freeze to death?] [No wonder Old Fang is dressed in so many layers this time.] [I remember the Arctic being just around negative forty or fifty degrees, right?] ¡°Haha, it¡¯s not as exaggerated as that; after all, it¡¯s just a historical record. Moreover, it¡¯s morning now, and I feel it¡¯s just about negative seven or eight degrees,¡± Bi Fang said as he exhaled steam, then pointed at the condensing vapor, ¡°Let me share a piece of knowledge-when the temperature drops below negative twenty degrees, you generally don¡¯t see any mist when speaking, so this can be a crucial indicator to assess the severity of the situation.¡± ¡°It¡¯s also due to the low temperatures that the survival environment in polar regions is extremely harsh. Even though Mohe is abundant in resources, we still have to be cautious of the deadly dangers that the cold brings! ¡°In 2017, a mountaineering team in the Rocky Mountains encountered a sudden cold wave. Because the climb caused their bodies to sweat, increasing the moisture on their bodies, out of 23 people, a full 17 showed symptoms of hypothermia. Among them, 14 suffered from severe hypothermia and died before the rescue team could even arrive!¡± Chapter 46 - 46 Glacier Spider Web Chapter 46 Glacier Spider Web Translator: 549690339 14 people died instantly! Upon hearing this figure, the audience involuntarily shivered, as if they could already see the valley strewn with corpses, their lips cyanotic and bodies stiff from the cold. ¡°Therefore, staying warm is of utmost importance for survival in severe cold conditions! And the Onion Clothing Method is the best approach to dressing for extreme cold!¡± Spread across thousands of miles, the mountain ranges with their everlasting snow-capped peaks displayed glaciers in myriad forms, while crystal-clear snowflakes drifted onto Bi Fang¡¯s cheeks, taking a long time to melt into droplets. Bi Fang wiped his cheeks and took a deep breath, saying, ¡°The Onion Clothing Method, as the name suggests, is about layering like an onion. The inner layer should be made of good sweat-wicking material, the middle layer should insulate warmth, and the outermost layer should be waterproof and windproof to cope with weather changes.¡± ¡°Several lighter layers of clothing are far superior to one layer of the same thickness, as gaps containing large amounts of air between the layers enhance the insulation of the clothes. Also, you can add or remove layers to avoid overheating or getting too cold.¡± Bi Fang unzipped his coat to show the audience the layers beneath¡ªfive in total. Each layer wasn¡¯t very thick but provided very good insulation. After demonstrating, Bi Fang did not zip up his coat again. Having walked that bit, his body was warmed up, and heat was beginning to surge. If he bundled up too tightly, he was likely to sweat. ¡°While paying attention to keeping warm, we must also be careful not to overheat our bodies. If you overheat, you will definitely sweat.¡± ¡°In cold climates, if you sweat, the inner layer of your clothing will get wet, and if your outer layer isn¡¯t waterproof, the snow on your body will melt from your body heat and also dampen the outer clothing. So if possible, you should wear waterproof outerwear to prevent snow or mist from settling on you and soaking through the fabric, which is why I¡¯ve chosen to wear this shell jacket.¡± [I¡¯m not interested in the live stream; I just want to learn something (dog¡¯s head)] [Yysy, Master Fang is the real Wilderness Survivalist! He knows everything!] [Shouldn¡¯t you tell us the brand of what you¡¯re wearing?] [Exactly, we want the same kind as Master Fang!] ¡°That¡¯s not possible.¡± When faced with the audience¡¯s requests, Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°They haven¡¯t paid me for advertising. If I just went ahead and mentioned it, wouldn¡¯t I be at a loss?¡± [666, not taking advantage of any small benefits!] [A true business sage.] [A genius of commerce!] ¡°Nevertheless, although staying warm is not a problem for us, food and water are still crucial for our survival. I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll find anything to eat today, but we don¡¯t have to worry about water because snow is everywhere here, and once melted, it is a decent source.¡± ¡°But in cold regions, we must never eat snow directly, as doing so will consume a lot of our body heat, which is very uneconomical! Moreover, eating ice on an empty stomach can easily lead to diarrhea.¡± Upon hearing this, many viewers were immediately perplexed. Just a moment ago, he had said that there was snow everywhere and not to worry about drinking water, and now he was saying not to eat it. So how could they get water? ¡°Use body heat! We can melt the snow using our body heat!¡± As he said this, Bi Fang took a water bottle out of his backpack, looked around, finally choosing a tree with low branches and knocked all the snow from it into the bottle. ¡°Just by putting snow into the bottle and then keeping it close to our body, we can melt the snow with the escaping body heat, since heat loss from the outside is always slower than from inside the body. I prefer snow from tree branches rather than from the ground because it¡¯s cleaner and less likely to have debris mixed in.¡± ¡°Make sure to find white, pure ice or snow to melt for drinking water. If you have both ice and snow available, melt ice, as it melts faster and you get more water from the same volume of ice than snow; if there¡¯s no ice, choose denser snow as your water source.¡± After he filled the water bottle and tightened the cap, Bi Fang tucked it inside his clothing layers, and with the insulation of his clothes, he hardly felt the cold. Wilderness survival is essentially a math problem. Those who master more convenient calculation methods can thrive even in harsh environments. Otherwise, one can only be incessantly eroded by nature, eventually becoming the null value of zero. Having secured the water bottle, Bi Fang continued to advance through the forest. Before long, he arrived at a very steep slope, thick snow blanketing the ground, the unknown beneath making one wary of potential dangers. ¡°In such situations, one must never proceed without caution, for beneath the thick snow, you can¡¯t know whether the path is solid or a precipice, so a probe pole is quite important.¡± Bi Fang looked around but couldn¡¯t find a ready-made stick. With no other choice, he reluctantly broke off a relatively long and straight stick from a tree to use as a walking staff. Although he was playing Wilderness Survivalist, he was fundamentally there of his own will, not by force. So, when possible, he didn¡¯t want to actively harm the environment. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [666, here it comes again, the walking staff! ] [Artifact Exploration Staff: Capable of detecting the surroundings within a certain range, identifying potential dangers, providing support, and a level of protection to the user. When necessary, it can also serve as a weapon.] [Why do you guys say ¡°again¡±?] [Are you new here? Old Fang liked to use a stick as a cane in his previous Qinling livestreams, and he was quite loyal to it¡ªusing the same stick from start to finish without replacing it.] [Bro, do you have the video from before?] [It¡¯s on B Island. Just search for Master Fang Wilderness Survivalist, where he goes head-to-head with a bear. The view count is insanely high, have you guys really not watched it?] [Damn, fighting a bear! I remember now, I thought it was a movie at the time, it was actually real?] [Of course, it was real. Do you think Wilderness Survivalist is easy? Without a wealth of knowledge and strong initiative, you might not last a day.] [666, genuine material host, followed!] [Found it! Here¡¯s the B Island link!] [Hero above! You are the real MVP!] Seeing the shock from everyone, Bi Fang scratched his head. He hadn¡¯t expected that just holding a stick would cause such a big stir, with the full screen of bullet comments discussing the incident of Snatching Food from a Bear¡¯s Mouth. Bi Fang coughed twice, ¡°Alright, alright, if you want to watch you can follow me on B Island, but right now we need to focus on our journey.¡± Minimizing the bullet comment section to a corner of the screen so it wouldn¡¯t obstruct his view, Bi Fang continued to use the stick to probe the ground ahead of him. He only moved forward after confirming that the snow was firm, making sure each step was on solid ground. ¡°In these areas of perennial snow and severe cold, there are many glacial valleys formed by glacial erosion. Some are exposed on the surface, and others are buried under the snow.¡± ¡°Similarly, some glaciers are very narrow, while others are practically abyssal. Mount Everest is among the most famous; every year, challengers fall into these glacial valleys and become a part of Nature. Due to the extreme cold and the scarcity of microorganisms, their remains can go decades without decomposing, left exposed to the wilderness.¡± Bi Fang cautiously tested the ground, only moving forward after ensuring safety. What was merely a few dozen meters felt to him like a march of a thousand miles. But just as he stabbed the stick into a patch of snow that looked no different from the previous ones¡ª Boom! A large chunk of snow in front of him collapsed instantly, revealing a deep yet narrow glacial valley before everyone. [Scary, it¡¯s right at our feet!] [Whew! That startled me, I thought Master Fang stepped into it.] [That¡¯s terrifying, to just suddenly appear like that.] Looking at the glacial valley less than ten centimeters away, Bi Fang, having had a false alarm, was about to find a detour. Crack, crack. Bi Fang¡¯s pupils dilated suddenly, and the hand he had raised stopped midway. He slowly looked down¡­ A dense network of cracks, spreading along the edge of the valley like a spider¡¯s web entrapping its prey, was creeping towards his feet! Chapter 47: No One Can Steal It! Chapter 47: No One Can Steal It! Translator: 549690339 | The thick snowpack suddenly collapsed. In the direct sunlight, the deep Glacier Valley reflected a flickering blue light at its edges. White cracks spread like lightning, as if a massive spiderweb was enveloping Bi Fang, his pupils slightly trembling, filled with the crisp sound of the ice layer breaking. Bi Fang slowly lowered his head, the ice beneath his feet clear and transparent. His vision was excellent, yet he couldn¡¯t penetrate the deadly darkness. He had the illusion of standing in the empty expanse of the sky, with nothing in the world left but him and the abyss locked in a gaze. Nowhere to run¡­ Everyone was stunned by this sudden scene, and the previously continuous barrage of comments came to an abrupt halt. Bi Fang didn¡¯t dare to make any rash movements; instead, he silently drew the Small Hunting Knife strapped to his thigh. ¡°At a time like this, everyone mustn¡¯t make any rash movements, and definitely not run; the ice here is already extremely fragile, and running will only speed up the expansion of the ice cracks, so the more you run, the quicker you die!¡± ¡°We must lie down to reduce the pressure on the ice surface and increase the area of force. However, this is not a lake but Glacier Valley. If there¡¯s nothing else to do, you could also stick something like an Ice Axe into the ground to catch yourself. But I don¡¯t have one, so I¡¯ll use a knife instead!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s voice was very soft, as if speaking any louder would cause some kind of change, which made the viewers in the livestream even more tense, not even daring to breathe heavily. At the same time, quite a few people noticed the Small Hunter Combat Knife in his hand. [Master Fang brought a knife this time?] [Feels like he came well-prepared.] [Damn, that¡¯s a cool knife!] [I want one too, what to do? Looking for the same model on TB!] After drawing the knife, Bi Fang took several deep breaths and was just about to kneel and lie down when he suddenly felt his weight lighten! The ice beneath his feet was even more fragile than he had estimated, the already fine cracks spreading like lightning, and the icy walls at the edges breaking apart directly! In the drone¡¯s camera view, the huge block of ice beneath Bi Fang shattered into pieces, his body rapidly sinking, as if he was about to plunge into an endless abyss the next instant. But at that moment, Bi Fang, hanging momentarily in the air, used all his strength to flip backwards; his upper body smashed directly onto the ice surface, then he thrust the Hunting Knife fiercely into the ice! Crack! The sharp tip of the Hunting Knife plunged straight into the thick ice layer, the blade edge squeezing into the ice and cutting a long, narrow scratch on the surface. The shards flying off the ice pelted Bi Fang¡¯s face like bullets, painfully stinging him, but Bi Fang firmly gripped the handle of the knife-it was a life-or-death struggle! As the shattered ice flew, fortunately, the Hunting Knife was sharp enough. It cut deeper into the ice as it sliced through the surface, significantly slowing Bi Fang¡¯s descent. The drone slid swiftly, moving to Bi Fang¡¯s side, capturing a clear shot of him clutching the handle, his upper body lying on the ice surface and his lower body hanging in mid-air. All the viewers¡¯ eyes widened, their palms sweaty with cold, their minds filled with a single sensation. Incredibly perilous! Thankfully, it stopped. The long, narrow scratch extended over half a meter, but it was within this distance that the Hunting Knife caught and stopped sliding. An unknown number of viewers found themselves dry-mouthed, stealthily swallowing saliva, subconsciously seeking a cup of water to drink. This was just too thrilling, the heart couldn¡¯t take it! S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. WangXiaocong opened his mouth wide, his fruit dropping unknowingly from his hand as he watched Bi Fang hanging off the cliff edge; even when friends called his name, he didn¡¯t hear, not until someone patted his shoulder did he come back to his senses. ¡°What are you looking at that¡¯s got you so engrossed?¡± Kong Chao opened a bottle of soda, sat down beside Wang Xiaocong with a plop, glanced at the phone in his hand, and just happened to see Bi Fang struggling while clinging to the knife handle on the edge of Glacier Valley. ¡°What movie is this? Made in China? The special effects are pretty good. I¡¯m free anyway, why don¡¯t you connect it to the TV so we can watch together?¡± Wang Xiaocong, who was standing by, heard this and glanced at Kong Chao with a complex and excited tone, ¡°It¡¯s not a movie, it¡¯s a live stream, a freakin¡¯ awesome live stream!¡± ¡°Pfft! Cough, cough!¡± Soda squirted out of Kong Chao¡¯s nostrils, and he quickly grabbed a few tissues to wipe his face before snatching Wang Xiaocong¡¯s phone, his eyes instantly falling on the Wolf Fang TV logo. ¡°Damn! Is this really a live stream?¡± ¡°Why would I lie to you?¡± Wang Xiaocong, clearly annoyed at having his phone suddenly snatched away, took it back, ¡°Can¡¯t you just download the app yourself?¡± Just as he was getting engrossed, Kong Chao¡¯s phone was taken from his grasp. He smacked his lips in frustration and immediately took out his phone, downloaded the Wolf Fang TV app, and found Master Fang¡¯s live stream. Watching Bi Fang hanging on the edge of a cliff, their expressions gradually turned to shock. [Master Fang¡¯s reaction is epic!] [Take my bow!] [American blockbusters bow down, when it comes to stunts, Master Fang is the one!] [Pierce has sent the Spaceship*! to the host-Go for it, Master Fang!] [Green Onion has sent Wolf Fang*666 to the host¡ªTake care, bro!] Bi Fang lay on the ice, swallowed his saliva, the direct fall onto the ice having stunned his chest, almost leaving him breathless. His right arm was sore and painful now, as his hand grasping the knife handle suddenly had to support his entire body weight, bringing a significant burden to his not overly muscular muscles. He tried to lift his left arm and support himself on the ice to climb up, but the ice was too slippery, providing no traction at all. Bi Fang had to stop trying, caught his breath, and attempted a few more times but still failed. Helplessly, he gripped the Hunting Knife with both hands, preparing to use this point of leverage to pull himself up. Bi Fang held the knife handle firmly with both hands, his arm muscles taut, his legs sliding on the slippery ice wall, unable to help. He could only rely on the strength of his upper body. Thankfully, his past Calisthenics training had paid off, pulling himself up wasn¡¯t too difficult. The only concern was whether, during this process, the Hunting Knife could stay securely embedded in the ice without loosening again. Slowly, Bi Fang pulled himself up bit by bit out of the crevice, but just as he was about to get halfway up, the Hunting Knife began to slide again! This sudden mishap nearly caused Bi Fang to let go! Fortunately, this time the Hunting Knife only slid about ten centimeters before it got stuck again, but even so, the viewers felt a surge of urine rushing to their bladder. [I can¡¯t take it, I need to use the restroom¡­] [Together? Help me out?] [ Look at you guys, all scared, is it really necessary?] [Put on a diaper, then talk tough!] Seeing Bi Fang seemingly trapped in a desperate situation, some viewers spontaneously sent danmakus and gifted items to cheer him on. Bi Fang looked down at the bottomless Glacier Valley, took a deep breath to calm his rapidly beating heart, and once again exerted strength in his arms. This time, he moved more slowly and began to twist his body, utilizing the insignificant friction between himself and the entire ice wall. Crack. Several pieces of ice broke off due to the friction and fell into Glacier Valley, not to be heard from again for quite some time. After several tries and repeated occurrences like this, fortunately, the Hunting Knife didn¡¯t slide any further, and Bi Fang finally got more than half of his body onto the ice. With one last heave, he rolled completely onto the ice. Not daring to linger, Bi Fang moved further out until he was well away from Glacier Valley, then finally relaxed completely. He lay on his back, gasping for air, white breaths spewing out like columns. In the live stream room, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Wang Xiaocong and Kong Chao¡¯s mouths hung open wide enough to fit a duck egg. They looked at each other and, without agreement, both opened the recharge interface of Wolf Fang. The top spot, it was decided¡ªHe¡¯d claim it! Chapter 48 - 48 Poverty Limits Imagination Chapter 48 Poverty Limits Imagination Translator: 549690339 | Following Bi Fang¡¯s successful escape from Glacier Valley, the bullet chats were filled with congratulations, full of admiration and praise for him. Occasionally, a few Spaceships would drift by, making others green with envy. At this moment, several virtual gifts caught everyone¡¯s attention. [Pete Not Peeling gifted the streamer a Spaceship*i-Holy crap! Master Fang, you¡¯re freaking awesome! You are my big bro!) [Jun Not Seen gifted the streamer a Spaceship*2-Xiaocong¡¯s too stingy, when it comes to rewarding the streamer, watch how I do it.] [Pete Not Peeling gifted the streamer a Spaceship*-Are you talking money with me?] [Jun Not Seen gifted the streamer a Spaceship*10-No, I¡¯m just stating the facts.] Holy shit, are these rich folks who know each other in real life trying to compete? The audience was dumbfounded as they watched one Spaceship after another fly by. Meanwhile, Wang Xiaocong and Kong Chao had gotten all riled up, each round more intense than the last. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the living room, Kong Chao, using his height and build, pinned down Wang Xiaocong¡¯s head and laughed boisterously, ¡°Pete Not Peeling? More like you¡¯re very ¡®peeling.¡¯ Give up, you¡¯ve already spent all your pocket money for the month, where do you get the money to reward? First place is mine!¡± ¡°Inyour dreams!¡± Wang Xiaocong, refusing to concede, shrugged his shoulders and slipped out from under Kong Chao¡¯s grip, continuing to top up his phone, ¡°I still have plenty of New Year¡¯s money, so don¡¯t delude yourself about surpassing me! ¡± ¡°What!¡± Kong Chao gasped in shock and quickly glanced at his phone. Sure enough, with another refresh, first place on the reward leaderboard had changed hands. ¡°That¡¯s outrageous, just you wait! I¡¯m going to call in reinforcements!¡± ¡°You think I don¡¯t have brothers? Who¡¯s afraid of who!¡± Wang Xiaocong and Kong Chao glared at each other and each grabbed their phones to start making calls. With the two of them leading the charge in gifting Spaceships, the live stream¡¯s activity soared even higher. With viewership already surpassing three hundred thousand, people were exclaiming in disbelief. In the back end, Wang Yongbo, who had been monitoring the data, was so ecstatic he could hardly contain himself. It had been so long since Wolf Fang had seen such a hot live streaming event! Outsiders thought Wolf Fang TV was pretty chill, but in reality, every year Wang Yongbo watched Wolf Fang TV¡¯s traffic decline steadily, feeling more anxious than anyone. Yet he was powerless to stop it, and the lower the traffic, the less new streamers wanted to join, not to mention the famous ones. This vicious cycle worsened Wolf Fang¡¯s situation year after year. Now that there was finally a glimmer of hope, how could he not be thrilled! Bi Fang, you truly are my lucky star! Lying on the ground for a while, Bi Fang got up again and looked at the fissure nearby. He said with a sense of relief, ¡°That was really dangerous just now. If I had fallen, the chances of surviving would have been slim, so remember, when you¡¯re trying to survive in snow-covered areas, always watch your step because dangers may be lurking under the snow.¡± Bi Fang looked around and noticed that the glacier valley was very long. After circling for a while, he found a narrow spot that was less than a meter wide and not too deep. He took a brisk step and leaped over the glacier valley. ¡°As you¡¯ve just seen, the edges of the glacier valley are not stable, so if you want to leap across, never choose a channel that¡¯s barely jumpable. Make sure its width is within one meter. Of course, if you can take a detour, you should. I took the risk because I was in a hurry, so my actions just now are not commendable.¡± [Not commendable¡­] [Says no, but the body is honest (smirk)] [Eh, I see a path but won¡¯t take it, just jump, just for fun.] After the shock, the Shuiyou (Online Friends/Audience) reverted to their silly selves. Bi Fang shook his head and glanced at the live stream chatroom, suddenly noticing the changes on the reward leaderboard. It used to be Lord Mu¡¯s throne at the top, but now it had slipped to third! This is indeed a rare occurrence. Before, the situation was too critical, and Bi Fang didn¡¯t notice, but now, looking back through the records, he realized it was two students who hid rewarded him. Are there really so many rich second generations these days? Bi Fang shook his head, and just as he was about to move forward, he suddenly recalled some news from his past life and quickly asked the top two on the leaderboard, ¡°When it comes to rewards, just do what you can afford. Please never do anything illegal to give rewards!¡± [Rest assured, Master Fang, this is just my weekly pocket money, it¡¯s not a big deal.] [Exactly, once my dad is back next week, I¡¯ll be fully back to life! Then, number one on the leaderboard will definitely be no match for me!] [Don¡¯t dream! It¡¯s not like you¡¯re the only one with parents!] Damn! Is it poverty that has limited my imagination? Bi Fang was speechless, this week¡¯s pocket money was almost catching up to what he earned from one live broadcast. Don¡¯t think about it, can¡¯t think about it. After chatting just a bit, he felt weak all over, and demons of the heart kept emerging, fearing that if this continued, his life wouldn¡¯t last long. Having gotten the answers, Bi Fang stopped talking and silently continued on his way. At first glance, the world cloaked in white was very beautiful, but as time passed, it inevitably seemed a bit monotonous and boring. Moreover, as the sun rose higher, the reflection from the snow became stronger, and many viewers even felt dizzy just by looking at the snowy fields. ¡°You guys are getting snowblindness.¡± Bi Fang quickly dimmed the light from the drone a bit, since he hadn¡¯t felt it himself before and thought the viewers would be fine too, so he hadn¡¯t taken any precautions. Now that he saw many viewers commenting that their eyes felt uncomfortable, he realized what was happening. Snow blindness is an inflammation caused by ultraviolet light damaging the eyes. Because the reflectivity of white snow to sunlight is extremely high, nearly 95%, under such conditions, facing the snowy fields is almost no ¡¯ different from staring directly at the sun. After a while, the eyes damaged by ultraviolet light will start to tear and redden. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t feel anything unusual myself earlier, so I didn¡¯t think about this,¡± Bi Fang first apologized to the viewers, then continued, ¡°Fortunately, you¡¯re watching through a drone, so the reaction won¡¯t be very severe. Just look out the window for a while and you ¡®ll be fine.¡± ¡°Once you really get snow blindness, it takes three to five days to recover. In Wilderness Survivalist, this is undoubtedly very fatal. So on the snowy fields, to prevent snow blindness, we can use sunglasses or a dark strip of cloth to cover up a bit, which can effectively weaken the strong light.¡± ¡°Of course, if you really don¡¯t have any resources at hand, you can also use coal apply it under the eyelids, and this can also effectively reduce the irritation of the bright light.¡± Bi Fang said this as he took out a dark-colored T-shirt from his backpack, tore off a strip of cloth, made cuts in it, and tied it over his eyes. The dark cloth absorbed light, and just by tying it near the eyes, it could reduce the amount of light entering the eyes. [So cool, it¡¯s got that assassin vibe.] [I¡¯ll make one too] [Don¡¯t even think about it. You think it¡¯s cool because Master Fang is already handsome. If you did it, it wouldn¡¯t work out.] [Well said, when someone is good-looking, even when they pick at their feet, you find it charming.] ¡°Alright, that should do it.¡± Bi Fang tested the snugness of the cloth strip to make sure it wouldn¡¯t fall off easily, nodded his head, and then took out a water bottle from his chest to take a couple of sips. After a few hours of body heat transfer, the water in the bottle had all melted, and it even had a bit of warmth to it. It was pleasant to drink without irritating the stomach, perfect for quenching thirst. Chapter 49 - 49 Freeloading Food and Drinks Chapter 49 Freeloading Food and Drinks Translator: 549690339 | After taking a few sips of water, Bi Fang stuffed some snow into his water bottle and continued to tuck it into his coat. He glanced at the sun¡¯s direction and made a rough estimate. ¡°In cold regions, we burn more calories, which means we need more food. If we can¡¯t find food in time, it could be very dangerous.¡± ¡°It¡¯s about two o¡¯clock in the afternoon now. I set out at nine in the morning and have been walking for nearly five hours, so I want to try to look for some food.¡± Seeing Bi Fang on the hunt for food, many long-term fans got excited. Last time, they had seen him catch a rabbit. What would he catch this time? [But I only see snow. Forget rabbits, I can¡¯t even see insects.] [Didn¡¯t you say before that the Khingan Range is rich in resources?] [But isn¡¯t that in the summer? It¡¯s all snow now, where can you find food? Are you going to eat tree bark?] ¡°Not necessarily. The potential of life is infinite. Even in the colder Arctic, there is still a robust food chain that supports top predators like polar bears, let alone the Khingan Range, which at least is still a forest.¡± Gasping for breath, Bi Fang climbed to the top of a hill, looking into the distance. Finally, after searching, he saw some unusual colors in the white world. It was an enticing cluster of bright colors, nestled on the branches of uneven shrubs, wrapped and pressed by thick snow, but always managing to stubbornly lift a corner of the snowy blanket, using the bitter cold and the snow as a foil to highlight the translucent beauty of their red agate-like berries. Bi Fang strode forward, kicking up puffs of white snow as he went. He ran straight to the shrub and plucked a handful to stuff into his mouth. The viewers in front of the screen couldn¡¯t make it out and thought Bi Fang was eating leaves, which gave them a fright. [Damn, what¡¯s that? Just eating it directly, aren¡¯t you afraid it¡¯s poisonous?] [Has Master Fang become so desperate that he¡¯s started eating grass?] [Seriously, what if he gets sick?] [I feel for Master Fang, it always seems so heartbreaking watching the live streams. Sending some meatballs to the streamer.] [Valley of a Thousand Flowers presents the streamer with meatballs*ioo¡ªWhy not send some takeout?] [Lord Mu presents the streamer with Big Bone*100¡ªEvery time it gets to this, I know it¡¯s time to send gifts again.) [I see what¡¯s going on here, the streamer just wants to scam us for some free eats and drinks (sarcastic)!] On the other side, Bi Fang, who was mistaken for eating grass, had only chewed a few bites before donning a mask of pain, his features wrinkling together. ¡°Huo, this is way too sour!¡± Enduring the sour bitterness, Bi Fang swallowed all the berries in his mouth. Fighting the urge to vomit, he pulled out the item he was eating from the shrub and showed it to everyone. ¡°I¡¯m not crazy with hunger eating grass. What I¡¯m eating is the fruit of this plant, North Country red beans.¡± Under the camera, Bi Fang pulled a cluster of berries from the shrub, cleared them in his hand, and showed them in his palm. These berries were no larger than soybeans, bright red, and looked like a red version of blueberries. ¡°These berries, known to the local Oroqen people as Yagda, are reddened en masse and very plentiful when ripe. Yagda has a strong vitality, tolerates poor soil, and is suitable for growth in cold regions.¡± ¡°Yagda contains a large amount of vitamins, amino acids, and plant alkaloids. It¡¯s highly nutritious and has a clear health effect. Consuming it regularly can also alleviate neural fatigue.¡± ¡°However, I only found this small cluster here, and the quantity isn¡¯t much. Moreover, the taste is terrible, extremely sour, but I still need to pick them all. Remember, in Wilderness Survivalist, taste is a luxury. Surviving is our only goal!¡± As Bi Fang spoke, he picked the red berries and put them into his backpack. [Feels like this streamer is more professional than the Shark guy.] [You¡¯re just realizing this? Master Fang is absolutely master class in Wilderness Survivalist!] ¡°Exactly, Lu Wentao is just a plagiarizing clown. There can¡¯t really be people watching his live stream, right? It looks so fake.¡± ¡°Some people were shouting about how awesome Lu Wentao was just a moment ago. Where have they all gone now?¡± ¡°All hired fans, but Master Fang¡¯s strength was too overwhelming, just washing them away.¡± ¡°Oroqen, why does it feel like Master Fang mentioned that before?¡± ¡°It seems some viewers have a good memory, but last time I mentioned the Ewenki, not the Oroqen. Although these two ethnic groups are quite similar, they are different. The Oroqen are a hunting people, while the Ewenki mainly transitioned from nomadic to settled life and are engaged in pastoralism.¡± ¡°Both are indigenous residents living in the Khingan Range, but nowadays, they are rarely seen, as they¡¯ve mostly moved out of the mountains to live in towns.¡± ¡°It feels like Master Fang really knows a lot, knowledgeable about everything.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not exactly true,¡± Bi Fang scratched his head, ¡°Everyone has their own field of expertise. If you ask me about programming architecture, then I would be totally clueless.¡± The shrubbery was not large, and all the fruit that was picked was not even enough to fill a water bottle, but it was enough to last a day. After replenishing his food supply and having traveled a bit more, Bi Fang suddenly stopped, covered his forehead with his hand, and looked up at the sun, noticing it had already started to shift westward. ¡°It¡¯s getting late, I estimate that in another two hours it might get dark, and just like I said in Qinling, darkness falls very quickly in the mountains.¡± ¡°It¡¯s mid-October now, and even at the warmest part of the day, Mohe¡¯s temperature is below zero degrees. Once it gets dark and we lose the sunlight, I estimate the temperature might drop to minus fifteen or even minus twenty degrees! Therefore, building a campsite is an extremely challenging task.¡± ¡°Wow, it hardly ever goes below ten degrees below zero all year round here¡­¡± ¡°Minus twenty degrees? Is that even a place for humans to stay?¡± ¡°Bro, have you never been to Heilonghe? It¡¯s very common for us to have minus twenty degrees in the winter here, but we have central heating. I don¡¯t know what the host is going to do. At minus twenty degrees, you could freeze your ears off.¡± ¡°Does the host have a tent?¡± ¡°No, but I¡¯ve seen videos from B Island. Is he going to build a lean-to?¡± ¡°I doubt a lean-to is going to be any good. It¡¯s so cold, could it be effective?¡± ¡°No use, and at this temperature, it¡¯s very easy for body tissues to get freeze-damaged.¡± Through the drone, viewers could only see a world wrapped in white, completely unable to imagine how to survive the upcoming bitterly cold night. They all felt anxious for Bi Fang. Confronted with the viewers¡¯ doubts, Bi Fang shook his head. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If it were in a forest or rainforest, building a lean-to would naturally be more than adequate, but this is Mohe, and a small lean-to simply cannot withstand the bitter cold. ¡°Does anyone know about the Eskimo? Eskimos live in the Arctic, facing even more severe cold than in Mohe. Even though their bodies and metabolism have adapted to such extreme conditions, their way of life is still very worth learning from, namely igloo construction!¡± ¡°This is a kind of shelter built out of snow, with excellent windproofing and ability to keep out the cold.¡± ¡°To build an igloo, you need to find the right place. Not only does the snow need to be firm, but it must also be at least six feet deep, and ideally, there should be a steep slope, like a snowdrift. Of course, this is provided there is no danger of an avalanche.¡± ¡°The reason I stopped here is because this spot meets our requirements perfectly.¡± Bi Fang pointed at the snow in front of him and gave it a pat. The snow didn¡¯t budge an inch. This was an excellent place to build an igloo! Chapter 50 - 50 A Place to Stay Chapter 50 A Place to Stay Translator: 549690339 Bi Fang took out a piece of clothing from his backpack, tore it into two halves, and slipped them onto his hands as a makeshift pair of gloves. ¡°Because I need to dig a hole soon, I have to make some preparations and create a pair of gloves. Otherwise, my hands might freeze. Don¡¯t underestimate frostbite. If it persists for a prolonged period, our muscles can die, and then we¡¯re looking at amputation.¡± The audience was startled when they heard ¡°amputation.¡± Just the thought of their fingers being severed was enough to send shivers down their spines. [Stop it, it¡¯s too real, my fingers are starting to hurt.] [Here we go, the classic Master Fang move.] [Why do I feel like Master Fang brought a lot of clothes this time?] [Cotton blend gift to the host, flying ship*i¡ªanother fine detail.] ¡°Now that I have found a good location, next I will dig an entrance on this steep slope. The slope needs to be deep enough to carve out a tunnel, and the width must allow for easy entry and exit.¡± With that, Bi Fang began to excavate the cave, tossing out handfuls of snow. The process, though seemingly simple, was incredibly time-consuming and physically demanding. This task went on for a good half-hour before he had dug out a rough tunnel. ¡°Since cold air sinks, I¡¯ll build a snow platform half a meter to a meter above the entrance. The platform should be flat and large enough for someone to sleep on it comfortably, and considering that it might shrink due to the snow setting, I need to allow enough extra space in advance.¡± As Bi Fang dug, he smoothed and flattened the ceiling, shaping it into an arch. This not only optimized the structural integrity, preventing the snow cave from collapsing, but it also prevented dripping water. ¡°When using a snow cave as a shelter, you must follow the cold principle. The outside temperature must be below freezing, so the snow cave remains sturdy and the snow does not melt. Otherwise, the people inside would get wet from the melting snow.¡± ¡°For this reason, snow caves are not suitable for multiple occupants, as more people means more heat emission, causing the temperature to rise above zero degrees Celsius, putting everyone in danger.¡± ¡°Generally speaking, if you can¡¯t see your breath anymore, it means the shelter is too warm.¡± The arch-shaped area of the dwelling was approximately three times the volume of Bi Fang¡¯s body, a ratio which was ideal for easy heating and avoiding cramped conditions. [It feels like Master Fang is indeed experienced; many nuggets of knowledge seem to come naturally to him.] [Master Fang: Basic operations, don¡¯t fuss.] [I respect no one but Master Fang!] As the netizens were snacking on popcorn, gradually, a cave took shape under Bi Fang¡¯s hands, and he finally carved a ventilation hole at the top of the cave to prevent suffocation. ¡°If you ever truly get stranded, and also need to set up a clear mark outside, it helps potential rescuers to possibly find you. But survival by this method relies on luck and isn¡¯t something you can learn from, so I¡¯m not going to do that right now.¡± After everything was finished, Bi Fang crawled into the snow cave and used his backpack as a pillow. ¡°Phew, I can finally rest today. This is my first day surviving in Mohe, and I¡¯ve built a snow cave as a temporary shelter. Lying here now, I feel pretty good. If the temperature drops to minus twenty degrees tonight, then inside the snow cave it should stay around zero.¡± sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Work of a genius!] [Brother Fang is incredible!] [It still seems a bit cramped, can¡¯t really make any big movements.] [I feel secure now.] [Secure? This tiny space is triggering my claustrophobia.] ¡°Haha, if you really have claustrophobia, then you¡¯ll just have to endure it. In the harsh cold, having a place to stay is already the greatest luxury. Unfortunately, there aren¡¯t many branches or fallen leaves here to lie on; otherwise, it would be even warmer.¡± Bi Fang took out the Yagda berries he had picked earlier from his bag and started to eat them, as he had not consumed any substantial food for the whole day and was now feeling a bit hungry. Although each bite was very sour, it at least ensured a basic energy intake, and whenever he came across one that was less sour or even sweet, Bi Fang became very happy. After finishing all the berries, Bi Fang prepared to end the live stream; there was no helping it, he had been too tired today. Walking in the snow without snowshoes was difficult, as each step into the snow and then pulling his foot out took a lot of effort, and after that, the digging of the snow cave had left him with very little energy. After slightly concealing the entrance to the snow cave, Bi Fang turned off the live stream amid the reluctance of his viewers, but not before he took a last look at the backstage data. The peak number of viewers was fifty-six thousand, the popularity had exceeded four hundred thousand, and his followers had reached seventy-eight thousand. All these were real platform metrics, without any inflation. In terms of gifts, he had received several tens of thousands just in donations, and many viewers, even though they didn¡¯t have much money, had given their long-treasured Wolf Brushes, with the gift-to-viewer ratio nearly reaching one to ten! Which meant that for every ten viewers, there was one donation, far exceeding ordinary broadcasters, and now the zeros in Bi Fang¡¯s account balance were a sight for sore eyes. No wonder it was a featured recommendation; the first day had already been explosive. Considering it was the weekend, this was only his debut on Wolf Fang TV, and the time slot was during the day, far from the bustling evening hours for live streams, there was still a lot of potential to be tapped. With this, there was no need to worry about completing the task anymore. For Bi Fang and Wolf Fang TV, today was destined to be a day worth celebrating, but for Shark TV, they didn¡¯t feel the same at all. In fact, the atmosphere over there was quite oppressive. Although Bi Fang¡¯s popularity of four hundred thousand was far from Lu Wentao¡¯s peak of eight hundred thousand, there were many implications in between. On one hand, this growth momentum was too fast; on the other, this was four hundred thousand on Wolf Fang TV. What if it were on Shark TV? How much would it be? Five hundred thousand or six hundred thousand? And how long would it take to reach eight hundred thousand in popularity? What was even more infuriating was that there were already messages in the live chat saying that Lu Wentao was not as good as Bi Fang on Wolf Fang TV! These issues deeply troubled Wang Weifeng, who then transferred the conflict onto the Tami Association. The Tami Association had been cultivating the outdoor scene for so long that the ground was practically tilled to death, yet they still couldn¡¯t compare to a new broadcaster? What about the promises made at the beginning? Is this it? As a result, the Tami Association pushed the pressure downstream, spreading it to Lu Junming and Lu Wentao, who now had panic written all over their faces. The two of them could see that Bi Fang was genuinely remarkable. Daring to dodge death once could be explained by luck, but what about twice? And these were things they couldn¡¯t pull off. Could they really let Lu Wentao go head-to-head with a Black Bear? Or hang in Glacier Valley struggling for survival? This Bi Fang, why push so hard? Did he have to drive his peers to death? Could society no longer be kind? Lu Junming and Lu Wentao now saw Bi Fang as a thorn in their side, a pain in their flesh! It was another sleepless night for them as they had to urgently come up with the content and location for their next live broadcast. It was no longer enough to just imitate; they had to have their own unique features! The next day, after resting for the night, Bi Fang opened his eyes, yawned, and was about to crawl out, but the moment he poked his head out, he was driven back by the cold air and retracted back into the cave. It seemed that it was still quite early, the sun had just risen, and the snow had yet to fully absorb the heat, resulting in very low outside temperatures. It would be best to wait a bit longer to avoid the risk of frostbite. But he could start warming up the live stream in advance. Chapter 51 - 51 It’s getting hectic now 51 It¡¯s getting hectic now Translator: 549690339 | This promotion failed¡­ But fortunately, the editor said they could give me another chance. If I can get 450 subscribers within a week, it will meet the minimum requirements for a push. If not, then it will be cut, and you guys will probably only be able to read it for another one or two weeks, roughly until the Mohe plot comes to an end. Seems reasonable, doesn¡¯t it? I¡¯m so tired. Give me one more chance, and I¡¯d never sign an exclusive contract again, even if it kills me. The quality of this book should be okay; I haven¡¯t seen anyone say it¡¯s not good. I believe that if I persist, it will definitely take off, but capital won¡¯t wait; it only looks at the returns. I hope you guys won¡¯t blame me for signing the exclusive. Actually, my initial thought was very simple. I¡¯m just a sophomore. Writing books is born out of a hobby and a dream. If I want to continue writing, I must achieve some success before graduation to prove that I can support myself. Otherwise, if the performance is poor, my family would never agree. But after signing the exclusive, this dream suddenly turned into a job. Not only is it respectable, but it also comes with a guaranteed income. Four or five thousand a month is possible, which became acceptable to me. Those were my thoughts, but I never expected realizing them to be so difficult. Moreover, this book is harder to write than I thought. Unlike other authors in this genre, I didn¡¯t just copy Bear Grylls for the plot content, saving time and effort. That would have been meaningless. So not only do I have to think of the plot, but the plot in Wilderness Survivalist is different from that in fantasy urban fiction, where you can just follow character conflicts. In survival stories, there¡¯s no necessary connection between events. If I write that the protagonist is digging a hole in the morning, I have to think about what he¡¯s going to do in the afternoon, what he can do, what¡¯s interesting, and what can attract readers. And there¡¯s basically no connection between these activities. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And I also have to look up all kinds of information, go online, read books, ask experienced people, from local topography to environmental climate, the unique flora and fauna, things that can be eaten and drunk, and repeatedly validate information to present the most accurate survival content to everyone. This consumes a lot of energy and time. Plus, some information is still not available; believe me, I¡¯ve truly tried my best with the speed. Additionally, it¡¯s exam month, and updating twice a day is my limit. Occasionally adding an extra chapter even means writing until midnight. Thank you again for your support. As I said before, if we can get through this, I will increase the updates. Chapter 55 - 54 The Bleak Universe, Furious Snowfall (Added Chapter) Chapter 54 The Bleak Universe, Furious Snowfall (Added Chapter) Translator: 549690339 When all the signs appeared consecutively, the vertical smoke, like a streak of ink, connected everything together. Bi Fang suddenly stood up, looking at the increasingly dark sky, his heart pounding wildly. In the wilderness, the most frightening thing, without a doubt, is natural disasters, which, in his opinion, rank first, even more terrifying than the attack of a ferocious beast. The so-called ¡°man conquers nature¡± is nothing but a joke in the face of real natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, and hurricanes; humans and ants at the roadside are no different fundamentally. The audience in front of the screen also jumped with fright when Bi Fang suddenly stood up, thinking something had happened. [What¡¯s going on, why did he suddenly stand up?] [Hahaha, could it be a bear is coming again? But are there bears in Mohe?] [He looks very serious, did something happen?] There were all sorts of guesses in the live stream room, but none hit the nail on the head. Without hesitation, Bi Fang immediately buried the fire with snow to prevent forest fires and to conceal his tracks while telling everyone his guesses. ¡°At first, I thought it was just because the air was more turbid today that the sky seemed dark, but did you notice that the smoke from the fire just now was totally vertical! And occasionally when the wind direction changes, it still veers to the northeast! All these factors are just too coincidental.¡± ¡°As we have been traveling, we can also clearly notice that today¡¯s temperature is much higher than yesterday¡¯s.¡± At this point, the audience was becoming more confused as they listened. Although these phenomena were strange, what exactly did they entail? ¡°Mohe is the coldest place in our country. Due to the alternating influence of continental and oceanic monsoons, the microclimate is highly variable, with significant local climate differences. In spring and autumn, due to the interchange of winter and summer monsoons, the climate is changeable, and many times, a rainstorm or snowstorm can come very suddenly.¡± ¡°If my analysis is correct, there¡¯s likely to be a snowstorm coming up!¡± A snowstorm!!! The audience in the live stream was genuinely startled upon hearing this news. Even Wang Yongbo was taken aback when he heard this. He was uncertain whether to continue the broadcast, as a snowstorm would make it impossible for the helicopter to reach them, and in the event of an emergency, they couldn¡¯t count on the rescue team. But seeing Bi Fang on the screen remaining calm, he composed himself again, ready to see how things would unfold. If Bi Fang signalled to stop, he would immediately send help. ¡°That¡¯s right, the key to the formation of a snowstorm is temperature and moisture. If there¡¯s severe convective weather, meaning a rapid temperature rise and intense air movement with strong uplifting forces, it will keep pulling up a lot of water vapor.¡± ¡°In Mohe, because the temperature is low enough, the water vapor will only condense in the air, resulting in snowfall!¡± ¡°Plus, high temperature and low pressure are like twins; an increase in temperature brings low pressure, and snowstorms are caused by low-pressure weather systems. At this time, the low pressure and strong convection result in smoke that drifts straight up, even if there¡¯s a crosswind, it¡¯s often a southwesterly wind.¡± ¡°All these signs have appeared, so I conclude there will be a snowstorm coming!¡± With this analysis, not only the audience but also Lu Wentao was dumbfounded. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Adhering to the strategic principle of despising the enemy overall but taking them seriously tactically, Lu Wentao had been studying stealthily at home these two days, seeking to learn Master Fang¡¯s skills to best him. But Bi Fang¡¯s recent analysis genuinely gave him a start. Brother, aren¡¯t you a wilderness survival expert? How did you become a climate expert all of a sudden? And this string of professional analyses might even be daunting for a real meteorologist, might it not? But for Bi Fang, it was nothing out of the ordinary; after all, practice makes perfect. The purple ¡°Wilderness Survivalist¡± Skill not only granted him powerful knowledge and abilities but also a wealth of experience in the wilderness, which made his perception of changes in the outdoor environment extremely sharp, even surpassing some professionals! ¡°Wilderness survival, in essence, is about humans striving to live in a natural environment, and climate is a part of nature, so isn¡¯t it reasonable for me to understand it?¡± ¡°The power of nature is overwhelming. Even though humans have emphasized dominating nature since the Industrial Revolution, the fact remains that, even today, humans are still extremely weak before nature. Earthquakes, tsunamis ¡ªin the face of these major disasters, we humans have virtually no capacity to resist. Even in recent years, the discourse on conquering nature has lessened, gradually shifting towards a reverence for nature.¡± [Master Fang, please begin your lecture!] [This act is big enough, good enough, strong enough! I admire it! I appreciate it! I envy it! When can I also be this strong?] [It¡¯s probably impossible. Master Fang¡¯s awesome is based on real strength, whereas your awesome is based on the keyboard.] [That hurts, bro, boo hoo hoo¡­] In the live broadcast room, the teasing gradually subsided, and the content of the bullet comments began to unify around one question: what should be done next? ¡°When a blizzard strikes, heavy snow will be accompanied by strong winds, and in extremely harsh conditions, the flying snow will fill the sky, reducing visibility to less than one meter. In such an environment, we might not even be able to determine if it is snowing and can easily lose our sense of direction, which could lead to getting lost and freezing to death in the wilderness.¡± ¡°Moreover, the snow accumulation from the blizzard can form massive snowdrifts that block roads and even bury tents and houses, so if you encounter a blizzard, you must find a place to take shelter and then wait for it to end.¡± As Bi Fang spoke, he continued on his way, but within minutes, the sky, which had been somewhat sunny, rapidly darkened, and the howling wind began to whip up vast swathes of snowflakes into a flurry. This was too sudden. Such an exaggerated scene made the audience in the live broadcast room unable to discern whether it had started to snow, and everyone began to worry about Bi Fang. The world became bleak, with the snow falling wildly. With each step Bi Fang took, the howling snowflakes would immediately bury his footprints, and the strong wind made it difficult for him to keep his balance, each step requiring a great deal of effort. Finally, after advancing another hundred meters, Bi Fang found a suitable leeward slope. He leaned against the snow, holding onto the unmanned drone, which was shaking violently in the wind, and shouted, ¡°Now, we need a shelter to help us get through this, just like before, we¡¯ll dig a snow cave.¡± ¡°First, we need to find a leeward slope, like this one here, where a lot of powdery snow has been blown over by the wind. And if you dig here, due to the slope, gravity will help you move the snow down, which can save us a lot of energy.¡± Due to the blizzard, Bi Fang had to shout very loudly as he vigorously dug through the snow so that the viewers in front of the screen could hear him clearly. The wind grew stronger, and soon, a thick layer of snow accumulated on Bi Fang¡¯s head and shoulders. The sudden drop in temperature began to stiffen his limbs. He didn¡¯t dig the hole downwards because that would create a well, and all the cold air would settle on top, which would only result in being buried alive. Watching such a shocking scene, many viewers stopped typing and silently cheered him on. [Pete the Unflinching sends the host a Spaceship*!¡ªKeep it up!] [Unseen Ji sends the host a Yacht*i¡ªDig faster! ] [Lord Mu sends the host a Spaceship*!] [Grand Commander Wolf Fang sends the host a Spaceship*!- -Your salary is still waiting for you to come back and collect! ] Chapter 56 - 55: Offer gifts and kneel to the host! Chapter 55: Offer gifts and kneel to the host! Translator: 549690339 | Grand Commander Wolf Fang? Many viewers were stunned for a moment by this specially colored nickname that clearly seemed out of the ordinary, then they noticed the exclusive administrative badge that followed it. Damn, it¡¯s actually an official personnel! Before, Wang Yongbo had sent some Wolf Fangs and meatballs, and nobody noticed him; now, he sent a spaceship, instantly causing a sensation. [666, even the officials have entered the fray, who¡¯s this big shot?] [Grand Commander? If I remember correctly, that¡¯s the president, right?] [No, I know the rank of that badge, a grand general is the president, the Grand Commander is the vice president!] [Oh, I know now, it must be the big shot that Brother Fang mentioned who came to poach him!] [Awesome, the boss himself coming out to tip, what a show of status!] [What¡¯s called status? This is status!] [Master Fang: Who else, who else!] The appearance of the platform president instantly took the live broadcast¡¯s popularity to a new height, breaking through the half-million mark and setting a new record for Bi Fang. This was only the second day, and numerous smaller streamers peeking at the screen, witnessing the meteoric rise in popularity, felt a pang of jealousy. Yao Lina was one of them. She was a music streamer on Tiger Fang TV, who, despite her beautiful looks and sweet singing, wasn¡¯t doing well there due to the platform¡¯s boundaries. Moreover, because of her high attractiveness, no top streamer was willing to promote her, checking her room and such, afraid their own fans might be poached. That¡¯s the limitation of Tiger Fang¡¯s fans, and also why Tiger Fang TV had the highest revenue flowing in¡ªit had a way with emptying fans¡¯ wallets. There, many fans were not particularly wealthy, but still willingly ate plain steamed buns and pickles all day to support their favorite streamers to buy luxury bags and dine at upscale restaurants, and they were incredibly loyal, latching onto a single streamer and unabashedly fawning over them¡ªof course, it could also be because their wallets couldn¡¯t support branching out. In the end, for various reasons, Yao Lina resolutely switched to Wolf Fang TV with better terms offered, and it turned out many fans liked her here. In less than a month, she had already become a core force of Wolf Fang TV. However, upon hearing her person in charge say that Wolf Fang TV had spent a great deal to poach an outdoor streamer and even took away the promotion slot originally reserved for her next month, Yao Lina was indignant and decided to see what this streamer was made of. And now, after watching Bi Fang¡¯s escape in Glacier Valley, fishing by the stream, and now battling a blizzard, she was completely convinced and even felt like throwing herself down in admiration! Where the hell did this god come from! Not to mention the motion picture-quality of the video, even the content is as badass as a movie! No, movie protagonists aren¡¯t even as cool as you! Are you the reincarnation of Rambo or a disciple of Jason Statham? With skills like these, who would still be live streaming? sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So even live streaming is competitive now? She, a mere music streamer, what merits does she have to compete against him? Yao Lina silently shed tears while sending her own spaceship and kneel down in respect, not for any reason other than seeing the streamer strive so hard, it reminded her of her own difficult times struggling in the quagmire at Tiger Fang TV, and it had nothing to do with being smitten by him. [Nanana is the one gifting the streamer a Spaceship*!¡ªA gift to this beautiful yet cruel world!] [Holy crap! Is that Sister Lina watching Master Fang¡¯s broadcast too?] [Is this¡­ a pig courting a cabbage?] [No choice, Master Fang¡¯s charm is too great, the boss and the goddess both showed up.] [Wait, the pig you¡¯re talking about is Goddess Lina?] [Who else could it be? Compared to how handsome and manly Master Fang is, of course Lina is the pig. ] The north wind whirled snow, swathes of white blowing across the sky. The sky was a gloomy iron grey, the snow deep enough to bury a man, and the cold wind whirled and whimpered past Bi Fang¡¯s ears, sounding like someone playing a flute in the deep of the night, or perhaps just a hallucination brought on by the intense cold. His hands never stopped, tossing out loads of white snow, and quickly he dug out a snow cave large enough to take shelter in. Without hesitation, Bi Fang lay down inside and pointed the drone at himself. Only then did the viewers get a clear view of Bi Fang¡¯s appearance, his face pallid with cold, his eyebrows whitened by the snow, and because the hot air he breathed out melted the snowflakes, thin icicles formed at his lips, making him look extremely haggard. [Ha, it looks so cold!] [Blizzards usually bring a drop in temperature, right? Master Fang doesn¡¯t even have fog when he breathes out, is it already minus twenty degrees?] [Brother, you¡¯re well learned, Master Fang¡¯s top disciple!] ¡°Ha, I just dug less than half a meter into the snow slope, and I¡¯m already out of the wind.¡± Bi Fang lay in the snow cave, gasping for air, all the while rubbing his arms nonstop, trying to warm himself up. ¡°In this kind of environment, we must avoid facing the wind directly, because that can easily cause your body to lose heat. Right now, I feel like I¡¯in in the first stage of hypothermia, but it¡¯s still controllable. Don¡¯t let your hypothermia progress to the third or even the fourth stage.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s voice trembled as he explained to the audience what hypothermia is. Simply put, hypothermia is when the body¡¯s ability to produce and retain heat is less than its ability to lose heat over a long period, resulting in a gradual decrease in body temperature. This can be divided into four stages: mild, moderate, severe, and critical, each more dangerous than the last. In mild hypothermia, the body feels cold, shivers uncontrollably, and hands and feet become stiff and numb. Many people have experienced this, especially students who find their hands are too stiff to write when it¡¯s cold; they are in this stage. Once it progresses to moderate hypothermia, a person becomes weak and drowsy, with slower reflexes. The hands can¡¯t perform some of the most basic movements or tasks, walking can become clumsy, and speech unclear and slurred. Severe hypothermia is very dangerous. Consciousness begins to blur, and, paradoxically, there¡¯s a delayed response to cold, even to the point of not feeling cold at all. Motor skills are lost, standing and walking become difficult, speech is affected, the body shivers intermittently and, over time, shivering may stop altogether. The critical stage is self-explanatory; one is not likely to survive, not everyone is Captain America. ¡°To avoid further heat loss, we have to ensure our clothing is dry, and it helps to eat some food to replenish energy. Luckily, I ate a whole fish earlier. If you had a hot water bottle, you¡¯d place it under your armpits, around your neck, or on your stomach. Unfortunately, I have nothing of the sort, so I have to rely on shaking to stay warm.¡± Despite the situation, Bi Fang even managed to make a joke at the end of his talk. [A true warrior faces the bleak blizzard head-on!] [Plus one to the true warrior! ] [I could learn from Master Fang¡¯s mindset for a lifetime.] [Not necessary, not necessary, all thanks to my peers for making me look good.] [Lu Wentao: Stop freaking unlocking your phone with my face!] Waving his hand, Bi Fang extended his arm out of the cave to gauge the wind speed, shouting at the camera. ¡°I estimate the winds outside are at least over eighty kilometers per hour, but inside the cave, it¡¯s probably only ten kilometers per hour. The difference isn¡¯t slight because wind speed affects the wind chill temperature. Up there, it¡¯s definitely below minus thirty degrees, but inside the cave, it¡¯s definitely a lot warmer, so we need to dig the cave even deeper.¡± As he said this, he continued to toss the snow outside the cave. The snow in Mohe was dry and powdery, with no stickiness, and as Bi Fang flung it, it billowed like sand. [666, that posture reminds me of a cat covering up after pooping.] [Ha ha, great minds think alike!] [I¡¯m relieved that I¡¯m not the only one who thought that (funny)] [Clean and healthy after you bury it, post poop.] Soon, Bi Fang carved out a triangular snow cave on the slope. He curled up his limbs to reduce surface contact, huddled inside, and watched the snowstorm rage outside. ¡°This time we can¡¯t make the entrance too tight because a blizzard could cover your hole in seconds, which is extremely dangerous. Once buried, you won¡¯t be able to tell where the ground is. It is possible to dig down by mistake, which can lead to excessive exhaustion and ultimately result in being buried alive until suffocation!¡± Chapter 57 - 56: It’s Over There Chapter 56: It¡¯s Over There Translator: 549690339 | If you are in the city and encounter a blizzard, you can simply take shelter in your home, warm and comfortable, but in the wilderness, facing fierce winds, heavy snow, and low temperatures, it is undoubtedly fatal. The howling wind, the cold climate, the heavy snowfall, and even the potential avalanche¡ªall these threaten Bi Fang¡¯s life at every moment. Watching Bi Fang, who was huddled in a snow cave and still persisting with his live broadcast, the audience in front of the screen felt their hands and feet turn icy, as if the storm was beating against their own faces. ¡°If a blizzard hits while you¡¯re in a tent, we must shake the tent to prevent it from collapsing under the snow, and also ensure the snow does not block the ventilation. There have been incidents where people suffocated and died in tents or snow caves when the entrances and vents were clogged by snow.¡± ¡°And once you¡¯re buried alive, remember to keep calm, because the more you panic, the faster your heart beats, which only increases your oxygen consumption, so you must not rush.¡± Bi Fang, holding the drone, lay in the snow cave and shouted at the trembling camera. The wind outside was too strong, and although the drone provided by the System was supposed to withstand it, this was undoubtedly unfathomable¡ª who designs drones that can withstand hurricane-force winds above 80 kilometers an hour? ¡°Now, I¡¯ll show you howto survive and self-rescue when you¡¯re buried alive in snow!¡± Crazy! The audience in the live stream all shared the same thought upon hearing Bi Fang¡¯s words. It wasn¡¯t that they didn¡¯t believe in Bi Fang, but being buried alive was just too terrifying; many people just hearing the word felt it difficult to breathe. [Holy shit, is being buried by snow really that scary?] [Should be, right? I¡¯ve often heard news about avalanches, and not many survive.] [Don¡¯t go down there, Master Fang, it¡¯s so dangerous you could lose your life.] [Master Fang talks about a minor incident in every live broadcast, how come he hasn¡¯t learned his lesson?] As the audience in the live stream worried, Bi Fang had already shoveled snow around him, completely covering his body. The swirling snowflakes swiftly accumulated, burying him completely in just a moment. Suddenly, there was complete darkness all around, and the drone automatically switched to night mode for filming. [It¡¯s so claustrophobic, I¡¯m already finding it hard to breathe (angry).] [Suddenly feeling really anxious.] [Everything looks exactly the same around, how do you crawl out?] [Damn it, always challenging the limits of the audience¡¯s hearts and blood vessels, might not be illegal, but it¡¯s immoral!] Under the layer of snow, Bi Fang also struggled to breathe, weighed down by the snow. The blizzard was constantly thickening the snow on top of him, like layers and layers of heavy blankets that were warm but suffocating. Before long, breathing became difficult. Whispering to the camera, Bi Fang said, ¡°You see, after being buried alive, we can¡¯t even tell which way is up or down, and it¡¯s even harder if you¡¯re buried head-down due to blood rushing to your brain, so to figure out which way is up, we must rely on something, and that is gravity!¡± ¡°Gravity always pulls us straight down, and that¡¯s the key to our escape. When we can¡¯t tell up from down, we can use the direction of our saliva dripping to guide us.¡± ¡°Normally, if you¡¯re buried, it¡¯s pitch black, and you can¡¯t see anything, so a compass is useless. In that case, you just need to open your mouth, wait for your saliva to flow, if it does, that means the direction in front of you is down towards the ground, and vice versa.¡± Saying that, Bi Fang opened his mouth, but after a while, when he didn¡¯t feel any liquid dripping, he knew he was facing the correct direction. Bi Fang¡¯s face began to turn red from the pressure, but without hesitation, he started digging in front of him. ¡°Since the space is confined, we can¡¯t stretch out our body. At this time, digging snow is like swimming, moving the snow from in front of us to behind, which requires a lot of skill.¡± Bi Fang slowly moved the snow bit by bit. The intense effort began to increase his consumption of oxygen, causing his breathing to become heavy, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t get enough air. ¡°Usually, if a person buried in snow is found within fifteen minutes, the survival rate can reach 90%. This is the golden window.¡± ¡°After 45 minutes, the survival rate drops to 20-30%, and since we¡¯re actively trying to survive, the exhaustion is faster, so we must be quick, otherwise we may run out of oxygen. Once we pass out from lack of oxygen, we¡¯ll have no chance to climb out to the surface.¡± In the dark surroundings, the audience could only see Bi Fang throwing snow in a very strange position, twisting from time to time to shove the snow behind him. Fortunately, although the snow covered him quickly, because the hole Bi Fang had dug wasn¡¯t deep, after only digging a bit over a meter, he felt it became much easier in front of him. Not long after, his two hands, one after the other, broke through to the surface. Then slowly, like pulling out a radish, he completely emerged from the ground, successfully escaping! [Awesome! That¡¯s really freaking badass!] [Nothing can trap Master Fang. That¡¯s a true master of survival!] [The title of master is well deserved!] [Truly mind-blowing! ] [Lord Mu gifted the host 3 yachts¡ªCan we go skiing in the Alps Mountains together next time?] [Pete the Undemanding gifted the host 66 Big Bones¡ªMaster Fang, from now on, you are my big brother, dear big brother! ] [Nanana is me gifted the host 1 Spaceship¡ªI never thought that one day I would actually donate to another streamer, and twice at that!] Bi Fang returned to the ground, took deep breaths, shook off the snow on his legs, and laid down again, looking at the sky ravaged by the blizzard and laughed. ¡°This snow is really heavy, I estimate it will still take several hours to completely stop, so we have to lie down for a while, I guess what follows will be a rather boring time. Maybe you can leave to do something else first.¡± [Suddenly became a salted fish¡­] [Such a sudden change in style.] [In front of nature, humans really seem so tiny.] [When the snow stops, kick me.] [First time seeing a streamer encouraging people to leave, a fresh breeze in the streaming world! ] ¡°However, air is a convective medium. Although we have temporarily taken refuge in a snow pit, cutting off most of the convective heat and slowing down the rapid loss of heat, so we don¡¯t feel cold.¡± ¡°But staying inside for a long time without the addition of heat is very dangerous. It¡¯s the same principle as boiling a frog in warm water, creating a sensation illusion. By the time you actually start to feel cold, often your physical energy is no longer sufficient to maintain your normal physiological and metabolic functions, and you might not even be able to walk out of the snow pit.¡± ¡± So we must do some activities to get our bodies burning.¡± S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Inside the snow pit, Bi Fang propped himself up with his hands and started doing push-ups as a way to generate heat by burning calories. Wind whipped up the heavy snow, howling low, under the dark sky a tiny figure was doing push-ups, trying to warm up. [Feels so creepy.] [Yeah, this environment looks scary. Isn¡¯t Master Fang afraid, being alone out there?] ¡°Haha, of course I¡¯m afraid,¡± Bi Fang said, panting and laughing. ¡°After all, humans are social animals. Being alone in the wilderness is inconvenient for anything, and one is sure to worry about accidents of this kind or that, so I emphasized from the first live stream that a positive attitude is very important in survival.¡± ¡°If you get scared, just think about your friends, your family, imagine a delicious feast and the new games after successfully surviving. Luckily, I have you guys to chat with, so it¡¯s not too lonely.¡± [Now I feel bad for leaving¡­] [Hahaha, me too. Thinking that Master Fang needs me, I can¡¯t bear to leave.] [You call that need? You just crave Master Fang¡¯s live streams!] [A feast and games? One can tell Master Fang doesn¡¯t have a girlfriend (jokingly)] Just as everyone was joking around, Bi Fang suddenly stopped his actions, sat up in the snow pit, and pricked up his ears. Just now, it seemed like there were some different sounds mixed in with the wailing winds. Bi Fang wondered if he was tricked by his own ears. He turned his head to look at the drone, ¡°Did you guys hear anything?¡± [Nope, didn¡¯t hear a thing.] [With the wind this strong, how could you hear anything?] [Don¡¯t scare me, Master Fang, this wind sounds like a ghost wailing. Am I too cowardly?] [Impossible, after all, since the founding of the nation, we¡¯ve not allowed such spirits, and we¡¯re successors to Marxism, so we don¡¯t believe in those things.] ¡°But it really seemed like sounds were coming from over there.¡± Bi Fang turned to look to one side, pointing with his hand. The piercing wind swept across the snow, blowing furiously. In the pitch-black forest, only the mourning sound of the wind brushing past remained, as if the sound heard before never existed, a mere auditory illusion created by the wind. Chapter 58 - 57: The Blood Seeping through the Door Crack Chapter 57: The Blood Seeping through the Door Crack Translator: 549690339 | Bi Fang removed his hat, trying to listen more clearly. Snowflakes rushed in, squinting his eyes. Bi Fang briefly closed his eyes, then opened them to silently watch the distant woods with a serious expression. The audience felt a chilling desolation as they listened to the wind, as if grass were growing in their hearts. [It feels¡­ like it¡¯s real.] [Could the blizzard have caused Master Fang to hallucinate? I heard that people on the verge of freezing to death start to see things.] [How could that be? Didn¡¯t he just do some push-ups? Isn¡¯t it just that the sound of the wind is too unnerving?] [Exactly, the sound of the wind alone is scary.] Bi Fang looked at the barrage of comments, unconcerned. He was sure he had not misheard ¡ª there had indeed been an unusual noise, and it sounded very much like a car horn. And only a horn could have such penetrating power to cut through the storm and reach his ears. There could be people up ahead! ¡°No, I must check it out whether it¡¯s real or not,¡± he said. Bi Fang trusted his judgment. He stood up from his snow burrow, put his hat back on, and, bracing against the snowstorm, staggered in the direction from which the sound had come. Seeing the streamer so resolute, the audience in front of the screen began to feel uncertain, as if there really were people on the other side. They started sending a barrage of messages to dissuade him. Because among them were many fans who had been waiting for this live stream for half a month. Even the least concerning ones had seen Wolf Fang TV¡¯s cover preview for a full three days before this broadcast. And now it was going to end in less than two days? The foreplay was so long, yet the process so short, how could anyone bear it! [Might he be rescued so soon?] [Why so fast this time? If this were a novel, it¡¯d be just over ten chapters, right? Where¡¯s the climax? You¡¯re going to flop like this! No one will follow your next series!] [Yeah, I¡¯m not yet satisfied! This is too hasty, isn¡¯t it?] [Wouldn¡¯t it be great if Master Fang had heard wrong?] [Exactly, it¡¯s better for him to be wrong.] How come these people aren¡¯t hoping for his well-being? Bi Fang felt somewhat depressed, but still spoke up to explain, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, even if I do meet someone, it¡¯s very likely to be someone else in distress. It¡¯s not even clear who is rescuring whom.¡± He pointed at the sky and said, ¡°Look at the weather. Who would come out in weather like this? And trying to emit a sound at fixed intervals? If this isn¡¯t distress, what is it?¡± When the audience heard Bi Fang explain this, they suddenly understood. It seemed to make sense! Apart from someone as skilled and daring as Bi Fang, who else would dare to come out at this time? That was just asking for death! [666, he comes out to survive in the wilderness and ends up rescuing others on top of that?] [This wave, this wave is about being rescued and instead rescuing others!] [If he rescues someone, won¡¯t he become thoroughly famous? The news would report it, right?] [Look at the live stream¡¯s popularity, it¡¯s reached half a million. Isn¡¯t that famous enough?] [That¡¯s different. Right now, he¡¯s only famous in the live streaming circles. If he makes it into the news for a rescue, the whole country would know. That¡¯s a whole other level!] After descending the snowy slope, Bi Fang entered the forest. He tightened his hat brim and continued in the direction he remembered from before. ¡°The wind is so strong, yet I could still hear the sound. So, they can¡¯t be too far from us. Probably only two or three hundred meters, or even less,¡± he said. Trudging through the thick snow, Bi Fang leaned forward against the storm. His front footprints were instantly filled by the snow chasing from behind. In the face of nature¡¯s power, no trace could be left behind. As he closed the distance, a clear sound of a car horn suddenly pierced through the snowy forest. This time, everyone heard it. [Holy shit, there really is a car!] [My god, Master Fang¡¯s ears are too keen, right?] [With such thick snow, how can a car drive? Never mind the tires, wouldn¡¯t the gasoline be frozen?] ¡°If it were an ordinary car, then surely it wouldn¡¯t work. But I think this car might be equipped with triangle tracks to progress over such thick snow. And gasoline actually has a very low freezing point, it ordinarily solidifies at minus thirty-five degrees Celsius. Diesel freezes more easily. Perhaps they also added antifreeze,¡± he explained. ¡°However, since the other party is so equippped, it¡¯s very likely a local or a ranger. But no matter what, we must go and check,¡± Bi Fang added. After another hundred meters, a beam of light lit up in the forest, piercing through the heavy snowfall. It¡¯s right ahead! The viewers were immediately electrified, and Bi Fang quickened his pace, soon reaching a snow slope. But as they barely poked their heads out and saw the situation, the viewers were stunned, the scene was indeed just as Bi Fang had predicted. It was a badly damaged off-road vehicle, with its body beaten and battered to the extent that one could hardly doubt it had been tossed around in a washing machine. A tree over thirty centimeters in diameter had fallen directly onto the roof, collapsing the sturdy frame, and two of the four doors were now missing, with thick black smoke billowing from the front engine hood of the car. [Damn, that¡¯s intense! Is the car totally wrecked? Could the people inside still be alive?] [It certainly is a tracked vehicle.] [There¡¯s a blizzard, what are these people even doing out here? Isn¡¯t this just seeking death?] [You can¡¯t say that, if it weren¡¯t for Master Fang¡¯s experience, who could have expected a blizzard? And it came without any warning at all.] Bi Fang hurried over the dirt slope to the front of the car, and as he approached, he heard screams. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Not far off in the snow, a middle-aged man was pinned under a car door, wailing in agony. When he saw Bi Fang, he seemed to see a savior and desperately reached out. ¡°Quick, save me, please save me!¡± Immediately, Bi Fang set his drone aside and stepped forward to lift the already shattered car door off, while the man kept screaming. After a quick glance, he spotted a huge gash on the man¡¯s right leg, from which blood was continually flowing down the pant leg. Viewers in the live broadcast saw the gruesome wound through the first- person perspective, as if facing it themselves, and could hardly bear to look directly at it. [This is too tragic¡­] [It looks so painful.] [No kidding, can¡¯t you see he¡¯s in so much pain he¡¯s crying out?] [How pitiful.] Seeing that the wound was still bleeding, Bi Fang hastily pulled out his belt, ready to tie off the blood vessel to stop bleeding, but just touching the wound made the man scream in torturous agony. ¡°Hey! Look at me, look at me, don¡¯t look down!¡± Bi Fang stared into the man¡¯s eyes, shouting over and over until the man¡¯s focus shifted from the wound, and then he tightened the belt with a powerful tug! A scream pierced through the blizzard, echoing throughout the entire forest. The man¡¯s face streamed with tears, but in the low temperature, they quickly froze into frost, caking his face, and the intense pain twisted his features beyond recognition: ¡°I can¡¯t move, I can¡¯t move my leg, my hands neither, ah!¡± As Bi Fang secured the belt, he looked into the man¡¯s eyes and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, feeling pain is a good sign, it means your thigh nerve isn¡¯t damaged, you can still use your leg!¡± ¡°Is¡­ that a good thing?¡± ¡°Yes, are there any other places where you¡¯re bleeding?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, I can¡¯t feel anything.¡± Seeing that the man¡¯s bleeding had temporarily stopped, Bi Fang dragged him over to lean against a tree. But no sooner had he left than the man, mustering all his strength, grabbed hold of his clothes. ¡°Don¡¯t leave, don¡¯t leave me behind!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be right back, stay calm, okay?¡± After reassuring the man by holding his hand, Bi Fang trudged through the snow to the front of the driver¡¯s cab. Inside the cab, the safety airbag was already deflated, a young man was trapped against the steering wheel by the twisted car body, unable to move. When he saw Bi Fang, a frost-covered face managed a wry smile. ¡°I can¡¯t believe someone actually came; I thought I was really going to die this time.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t die, not on my watch.¡± The car door wasn¡¯t completely crushed, Bi Fang gritted his teeth and pulled it open with difficulty, then yanked the young man out from the side, his hand on the steering wheel causing Bi Fang to startle. The young man¡¯s fingers were hooked and couldn¡¯t straighten, almost deformed; it was likely the result of holding the steering wheel continuously in the severe cold, he must have been the one sounding the horn earlier. ¡°Your hand is already frozen stiff, if you continue like this, I¡¯m afraid it¡¯ll begin to necrose,¡± Bi Fang said. But instead of worrying about himself upon hearing this, the young man shivered and lifted his arm, pointing towards the passenger seat, which was the most heavily damaged part of the vehicle. ¡°No, check on the person next to me first, I saw him bleed a lot, please save him first!¡± Following the young man¡¯s arm, Bi Fang looked over, but his view was obstructed by the airbag on the passenger side. However, under the car, he could see very clearly. It was a large pool of thick, dark blood, dripping down through the door crack, and the snow beneath the car had already turned a dark crimson. Chapter 59 - 58 Withering Chapter 58 Withering Translator: 549690339 Blood had actually flowed so much, the person inside¡­ Seeing the blood dripping down from the seams of the car, everyone had a very bad feeling. A dark cloud appeared in people¡¯s hearts. Bi Fang looked at the young man with a certain gaze, then approached the front passenger seat. The door of the front passenger seat had completely vanished, and a man was lying across the seat, struggling to suppress his own screams, his breath sounding as if squeezed out through clenched teeth. Seeing Bi Fang, he immediately cried out for help. As soon as Bi Fang¡¯s gaze moved downward, the drone automatically blurred the image, and the live audience only saw a big lump of crimson. Many people, imagining the scene, vomited on the spot. Large stains of blood overwhelmed the entire car floor, too much for even a blanket to absorb. [What can we do, Master Fang, please save him! It looks so painful!] [Is he completely gone?] [Is there any hope? Does Master Fang have a way?] Almost everyone was asking if there was a way to save the person, but Bi Fang remained silent throughout, without even moving. He could see very clearly that the man¡¯s legs were completely destroyed, with chunks of bone protruding fiercely, and even the blood was barely flowing out, almost drained. Now, it wasn¡¯t a matter of whether the rescue team could arrive in time, even if they could, it was already too late. The man was merely at death¡¯s door, hanging on to his last breath. Bi Fang pulled over a towel and pressed it against the man¡¯s relatively intact thigh, as if this could save a little blood. He looked into the man¡¯s eyes, speaking as gently as possible. ¡°You¡¯ve lost too much blood, so much blood¡­ ¡°Save him, please, save him!¡± Bi Fang turned his head, looking at the young man pleading next to him, but still he shook his head gently. He was human, not a god. ¡°No more bleeding is possible, too much blood has been lost, there¡¯s blood everywhere, I¡¯m so cold.¡± The man was hallucinating from the loss of blood, muttering and grasping Bi Fang¡¯s hand, his eyes brimming with plea, ¡°Save me, please.¡± ¡°Have I been hurt? Is it serious? I don¡¯t feel good. I feel¡­I feel¡­¡± As Bi Fang pressed on the man¡¯s wound, blood filled his entire palm. He looked into the man¡¯s eyes and said in a low but serious voice. ¡°Listen to me¡­¡± ¡°Where am I hurt? I feel so cold, ah!¡± The man screeched again, ¡°Something¡¯s not right!¡± ¡°Listen, listen to me!¡± Bi Fang held the man¡¯s forehead, his eyes reflecting unprecedented seriousness, ¡°You¡¯re going to die, that¡¯s the reality¡­¡± The man froze. He slightly turned his head, looked at the young man crymg beside him, then at Bi Fang, his eyes vacant, as if he couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°No, no, no, it can¡¯t be, how could this be¡­¡± The man¡¯s emotions surged suddenly. He seemed choked up, gasping for air, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t breathe, as if his lungs were leaking and unable to hold any air. Bi Fang gripped the man¡¯s hand tightly and pulled over another blanket, as if it might warm him up. ¡°Look at me, keep looking at me, don¡¯t be afraid, don¡¯t panic¡­ Bi Fang¡¯s voice was soothing as he tried to calm the man with his words. ¡°Think about spring, think about the sun, you¡¯ll be bathed in sunlight, feeling warm, comfortable, and warm, it will be okay, everything will be okay, don¡¯t be scared.¡± ¡°Think about all the beautiful things, those that have crossed your mind, all the people you love, the people who love you¡­¡± The man¡¯s pupils trembled slightly, as if Bi Fang¡¯s words were truly helping. He wanted to cry, but tears wouldn¡¯t come, as if all the fluids in his body had run out. Think about beautiful things? What¡¯s beautiful? The whole day had been terrible, he had never regretted so much. He wanted a promotion, a raise in salary, but his stingy boss would never agree. He also hadn¡¯t bought the sneakers he promised his son, and the leak in the house his wife complained about hadn¡¯t been fixed¡­ He longed to go back and have a drink with friends, just a little bit, he¡¯d survived death, surely his wife would agree¡­ Suddenly, lush and vibrant green hues flooded his vision as if an endless forest stretched before him, sunlight piercing through the leaves, brightening his eyes. He saw the old house from his childhood once more, with newly sprouted ivy covering the windows, the sunlight filtered green before being allowed into the room, so warm, so gentle¡­ Memories became jumbled, he seemed to be that small child again, waiting for his parents to come home from work, and yet at the same time he was a father himself, looking at that rebellious little brat asking for this and that¡­ The man¡¯s pupils dilated, his body trembled slightly as if electrified, and tears suddenly flowed, without knowing why. It was heartbreaking, as if his soul was weeping out. ¡°Who do you love?¡± Bi Fang asked the question again, but no one answered him¡­ The man¡¯s mouth opened, his face gradually turning gray. The wind howled solemnly, as if mourning in a low voice. ¡°We¡­we shouldn¡¯t have come here, damn it, damn it, damn it!¡± A quiet sobbing came from a distance, the man who¡¯d been leaning against the tree with an injured thigh had tears frozen into icicles on his face, but after crying for a while, he began to laugh, as if it all were a nightmare. The nearest young man also pounded his head with stiff hands. The man had died. Bi Fang stood up quietly, suddenly unsure what to do. Was it to offer comfort? He wasn¡¯t a linguist; he couldn¡¯t possibly alleviate these people¡¯s pain and despair with a few words. The live streaming room was quieter than it had ever been. No one posted comments or sent gifts, but everyone was shaken to their core. They had never seen such a live stream, they had just watched a living person die, right before their eyes, hearing the man¡¯s delirium, watching his pupils dilate¡­ But this wasn¡¯t Bi Fang¡¯s first time witnessing such a thing. A long time ago, like the viewers, he watched a teammate pass away, frozen and unsure what to do, but he had survived all that. He didn¡¯t know why his live stream hadn¡¯t been shut down, maybe Wang Yongbo had resisted the pressure, or maybe it was something else. Bi Fang wrapped the man¡¯s body tighter in the blanket, then moved to the back seat and found a man and a woman unconscious. The man in his thirties, with a big beard, the woman probably just over twenty, very young, looking like she was of college age. After making sure that the two were only unconscious without serious harm, he turned to the young man. ¡°Is everyone here?¡± ¡°Everyone¡¯s here,¡± the young man replied, shivering. Four, there are four people still alive, Bi Fang counted, and immediately sprang to action; these people had been in the snow for too long and were beginning to suffer from hypothermia. The dead were gone, the living must struggle harder to survive! Bi Fang used his Hunting Knife to slit open the seat cushions, pulling out large pieces of fiber fabric, then swept away the snow from the ground, and took out his Firesteel. ¡°We need fire, so everything that¡¯s available must be used: seats, luggage, wood, now is not the time to worry about environmental protection, even if you are next to the Wuyi Mountain Mother Tea Tree, you can chop it down for firewood!¡± Bi Fang spoke quickly, with urgency, directly breaking off some wood and bark from the trees, gathering them with the cotton fluff, and rubbing the Firesteel, sparking a shower of sparks. ¡°The Firesteel was meant for emergencies and I didn¡¯t expect to use it so soon.¡± ¡°Compared to traditional flint fire starting tools, the main components of Firesteel are magnesium alloy and rare-earth metals, giving it superior performance. When rapidly rubbed against a knife or saw, it sheds numerous flakes of metal at thousands of degrees Celsius that can instantly ignite dry grass, dead leaves, sawdust, and other natural kindling. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Did that person really die?] As the flame lit, finally a viewer snapped back to reality, but they still seemed to find it hard to believe what had just happened. Bi Fang suddenly fell silent, adding more wood to the fire. ¡°Yes, he¡¯s dead. I really wanted to save him, but there was no way. He lost too much blood; even stopping it wouldn¡¯t have helped¡­¡± [It¡¯s okay, Master Fang, you did your best, don¡¯t blame yourself.] [Yeah, Master Fang don¡¯t blame yourself, we all know you tried hard.] [I thought it was tough before, but this is the first time I feel it¡¯s so dangerous¡­ Has anyone called the police?] [It¡¯s no use, this is a blizzard, they can¡¯t make it.] This time, viewers could truly sense the cruelty of the wilderness. Life here was as cheap as ants¡¯. Although the wilderness had always seemed dangerous and resource-scarce, as Bi Fang always managed to turn danger into safety, they gradually forgot the ruthlessness of the wild, until this moment¡­ Seeing the fire rise, the young man finally snapped out of it, he brought his hands closer to the flames, and under the light of the fire, they felt itchy ¨C not a skin itch, but a deep, flesh itch. ¡°just warming up isn¡¯t enough, if you don¡¯t want your hands to be useless, you have to endure the pain and pry them apart.¡± Bi Fang cleared the surrounding snow. ¡°I¡¯ll leave it to you!¡± The young man was decisive, and immediately stretched out his hands. ¡°Do you have frostbite cream?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s in the glove compartment of the car.¡± Bi Fang dove inside the car, found the frostbite cream and seeing the young man had crawled to the fire to warm up, immediately pulled him away from it. ¡°If you have frostbite, especially on your hands, never go warming them by the fire, this will only cause your tissues to heat up too quickly and rot away.¡± ¡°Because once frozen stiff, most of the cells in that area are already iced over, but they haven¡¯t burst yet. If they warm up too quickly, it¡¯s like putting an egg in a microwave; it will only cause the cells to explode!¡± The young man, just yanked away from the fire, thought to resist, but upon hearing this, he stopped moving. Chapter 60 - 59: Mohe Special Edition Chapter 59: Mohe Special Edition Translator: 549690339 | ¡°Many people think that after getting frostbite, they can warm up by sitting near a fire. In movies and TV shows, you often see rescuers rubbing snow on the body of someone with frostbite. But these methods are all wrong.¡± ¡°When frostbite is severe, you can¡¯t rub it with snow, vigorously massage it with a towel, or warm it by fire¡ªdoing so will cause the wounds to fester, part of the tissues to get damaged, and they will be difficult to heal.¡± ¡°To treat frostbite, you first have to get out of the cold environment as quickly as possible and then immerse the person in water that is between 40 to 42 degrees Celsius, making sure to keep adding water to maintain the temperature during the soak.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have those conditions here, so I can only use frostbite ointment for rubbing and rewarming. If that weren¡¯t available, oil would also work; both are smooth enough not to cause secondary injury from rough rubbing.¡± As Bi Fang explained, he unwrapped the frostbite ointment and squeezed a bunch onto his hand, at the same time turning to the young man. ¡® ¡®What¡¯ s your name?¡± ¡°Tianfang, Zheng Tianfang.¡± The young man¡¯s voice trembled. He found Bi Fang¡¯s way of speaking, with his instructional explanations, a bit odd. It couldn¡¯t help but remind him of his teachers back when he was in school. ¡°And you?¡± ¡°Bi Fang, the Bi Fang from the mythical bird ¡®Bi Fang¡¯.¡± Bi Fang said as he spread the silky frostbite ointment on his hand and then grabbed the young man¡¯s hand. Zheng Tianfang¡¯s hands were totally devoid of warmth and felt stone-like to the touch. Bi Fang rubbed vigorously, allowing the ointment to slowly seep in, and gradually the surface of the skin began to warm. Bi Fang slowed his movements and took hold of one of Zheng Tianfang¡¯s fingers before suddenly stretching it out forcefully. Zheng Tianfang drew in a breath and his face flushed red, his legs involuntarily stretched out straight, but he held back from crying out in pain. The audience in the live stream unconsciously gripped their phones or mice tighter, as if the intense pain had occurred on them. [My God, that looks so painful.] [It¡¯s a necessary evil, Master Fang is obviously doing it for his good.] [Ah man, that¡¯s so unlucky. I was just thinking about traveling to Mohe, but now I don¡¯t want to at all.] [Mohe City: This is a devastating blow to the tourism industry!] [It¡¯s fine, they¡¯re lucky to have Master Fang there, otherwise all five of them would probably have been done for in this weather.] [Yeah, they are really lucky to bump into Master Fang in weather like this.] The pain subsided, and that rigid finger could now be bent slightly. ¡°Hang in there, we¡¯ve only fixed one finger, there are nine more to go. If we don¡¯t loosen these joints, you¡¯ll spend the rest of your life stuck holding a steering wheel pose.¡± At that moment, Zheng Tianfang suddenly laughed. He looked at Bi Fang and poked out his tongue, ¡°Then Mr. Bi, can you tell if my tongue is frostbitten?¡± Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang didn¡¯t understand what he meant by that. Seeing Zheng Tianfang¡¯s mischievous expression and taking advantage of his lack of attention on his hand, Bi Fang stretched out another finger and frowned, ¡°Of course it¡¯s not, if you can still talk.¡± Hit by the intense pain again, Zheng Tianfang¡¯s face turned red as he restrained himself, ¡°If my fingers end up disabled¡­ that¡¯s fine. I¡¯m a tour guide; I earn my living with my mouth.¡± ¡°Are you guys here for tourism? How did you end up in this situation?¡± Bi Fang laughed at Zheng Tianfang¡¯s words. He rarely met someone so optimistic, especially at his age, who could still crack jokes despite being in such a dire situation. When talking turned back to serious matters, Zheng Tianfang sighed. He looked at the body of the man and sadness clouded his face, ¡°Not tourism. In our car, except for me, the four others were with National Geographic. They wanted to do a special on Mohe and hired me, the local guide, to lead them.¡± ¡°No one expected a snowstorm to hit suddenly. On our way down a slope in the car, we weren¡¯t paying attention, flipped the vehicle, and hit a tree. The one who just passed away was the photographer.¡± [That¡¯s too extreme, right? A tree that thick just snapped on impact?] [Maybe it was already weak? It¡¯s probably a dead tree since most of the branches on it seemed dried out.] [What¡¯s next for them, this group of people?] Bi Fang was also thinking about this. He stared at the flames, frowning in contemplation while methodically straightening out Zheng Tianfang¡¯s fingers, one by one. Every time he straightened a finger, the joints made a cracking sound as if breaking, and the intense pain twisted the face of the naturally optimistic young man. At this point, staying out of the situation was impossible. From the moment Bi Fang set out for this place, he had made his mental preparations. Gradually, Zheng Tianfang¡¯s fingers became movable, and the other two people who were unconscious started to wake up, although it appeared they still hadn¡¯t accepted reality and kept muttering incoherently. The previous man with the injured leg hobbled around trying to find a signal for his shattered screen phone, but all attempts were futile. Gathering everyone around the fire, Bi Fang looked at the young man next to him; he was the only one who seemed able to be of some help. ¡°Does the car have a GPS?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Zheng Tianfang nodded, but then pointed at the completely deflated bumper with a bitter smile, ¡°It¡¯s installed inside the bumper.¡± Bi Fang held his forehead in his hand, speechless for a moment. Without GPS, the rescue team simply couldn¡¯t locate them, let alone now that a blizzard was still raging, preventing the rescue team from moving out. As for determining their location based on the drone¡¯s footage, that was as difficult as finding a specific sand dune in the desert from a single photograph! [Master Fang is speechless.] [Why would you install the GPS inside the bumper? Won¡¯t it be ruined in a collision?] [Isn¡¯t the GPS supposed to be installed ourselves?] [No, it seems that car companies do install the GPS units inside the front and rear bumpers, I remember.] [Doesn¡¯t Master Fang¡¯s drone have a signal? Can¡¯t it be located?] ¡°It won¡¯t work. My drone is custom-made. It has a signal, but it can¡¯t be located. This is to provide you with the most authentic survival experience,¡± Bi Fang said. Bi Fang indicated that this was not a feasible solution; the drone was provided by the System, with no loopholes to exploit. The signal mode of the live-streaming device was not what everyone assumed. It was highly encrypted and then transferred externally, relaying the data via external networks. Firstly, cracking it was an issue, and even if it could be located, the location wouldn¡¯t be here¡ªit might as well be his own home. The drone couldn¡¯t even fly high enough to perform satellite-based terrain location, and with the blizzard, nothing could be clearly captured even at a short distance, making it problematic to even identify heat sources. ¡°Who are you talking to?¡± Big Beard, who had been murmuring all along, finally came to his senses after a great effort. Hearing Bi Fang¡¯s words, he tensed up again. He looked around, eventually focusing on Bi Fang with an anxious expression. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s a live broadcast. I¡¯m streaming live,¡± Bi Fang said as he took out the drone to calm the man¡¯s nerves. ¡°Live broadcast?!¡± Four exclamations of surprise echoed in unison, and everyone looked at Bi Fang with incredulous stares. It was hard for them to imagine what kind of person would live stream in the deep forests with temperatures below minus ten degrees, especially during a blizzard. What are they thinking, chasing fame to the point of risking their lives? ¡°You were also out on a trip and ended up trapped?¡± Zheng Tianfang couldn¡¯t help but ask. He had thought Bi Fang was someone like a ranger, given his extensive knowledge, but a streamer? Maybe a travel streamer, who also got trapped by the sudden blizzard? ¡°No.¡± Facing four pairs of widened eyes, Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°My live stream is about teaching people how to survive in the wilderness. Encountering a blizzard is normal, it¡¯s nothing to me.¡± [I¡¯m flabbergasted, utterly flabbergasted.] [Their eyes are as wide as brass bells ~ ~ ] [Haha, that look on their faces is just like when I first saw Master Fang do a fall protection move, adoring the great talent.] [Basic operation, don¡¯t freak out, everyone just sit down.] [Zheng bro: Such a sturdy thigh to cling on to, if not now, then when?] ¡°Are we all caught on camera?¡± Big Beard looked at the drone, finding it hard to come to terms with it. He was mildly resistant to the idea of broadcasting his hardship, but considering they all had been saved by Bi Fang, he didn¡¯t feel it right to complain. Besides, although the chances were slim, what if there really was a genius who could pinpoint their location just by the footage? Zheng Tianfang swallowed hard, his eyes filled with terror. Glancing at the relentless storm around them, he suddenly realized that their only chance for survival lay with the man before him who considered the blizzard insignificant! Otherwise, left to their own devices, how would they ever escape the howling cold winds? Wait to become frozen stiff? Or to be gnawed to bones by wolves? With these thoughts, Zheng Tianfang immediately knelt in the snow, his tone pleading, ¡°Can you help us?¡± This sudden act of kneeling startled everyone. Bi Fang hurriedly helped Zheng Tianfang to his feet, but just then, the familiar electronic tone sounded once more. [Ding, congratulations to the Host for activating a side quest!] Chapter 61 - 60 Something went wrong! Chapter 60 Something went wrong! Translator: 549690339 | Accompanied by the familiar electronic tone, a brand-new mission instruction appeared before Bi Fang. ¡°Ding! Congratulations to the host for triggering a side mission!¡± Mission Name: Blizzard Rescue! Mission Content: In this frosty wilderness, can the trapped four people escape alive with your help? Mission Reward: Determined by the number of survivors. Current Survivor Count: 4 Accept the mission? Accept! Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Bi Fang accepted the mission. Even if there weren¡¯t any system commands, he couldn¡¯t leave these four people alone in this situation. Moreover, rescuing people meant true survival. Many things that couldn¡¯t be done before could now be done, which undoubtedly unshackled the constraints on his main skill, Wilderness Survivalist! The sky was pitch black, indistinguishable whether it was due to the thick clouds or the sun setting. The firewood crackled as the five of them sat around it again, seeking the only sliver of warmth in the biting cold. For some reason, after being helped up by Bi Fang, Zheng Tianfang was full of confidence in the man before him, as if the other party would surely agree and lead them out of the wilderness! The other three felt the same. If someone dared to walk alone in the wilderness, he must be stronger than a few geography magazine writers. If he could take them with him, they might survive! They didn¡¯t want to die! With this thought, everyone looked eagerly at Bi Fang, the implication clear without words. Even the audience in front of the screens felt tense, afraid that Bi Fang might refuse, leaving these four people to fend for themselves in the severe cold ¨C a nearly hopeless scenario! If even the professional survivor, Master Fang, found it so difficult, what chance did ordinary people have? Seeing the four shivering people, Bi Fang smiled and bowed his head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t leave you behind. Plus, surviving with four people might even be easier.¡± [Damn, I just knew Master Fang wouldn¡¯t abandon them!] [Best broadcaster! Strongest broadcaster! Forever idolized, I¡¯m a fan of Master Fang for life!] [With such responsibility, Master Fang is definitely a real man! True manliness!] Upon hearing Bi Fang¡¯s promise, all Shuiyou were extremely excited, feeling as if these words meant that escaping to safety was no longer an issue. Even the most indifferent person, seeing life perish before their eyes, couldn¡¯t remain unmoved by the remaining four¡¯s plea. From Qinling to Mohe, Bi Fang had proven his strength and instilled confidence in the audience, who believed that Bi Fang would create a miracle and bring the four back unharmed. Once a promise is made, nothing can stand in the way! Amidst the barrage of comments, a heap of gifts started to flood in. [Pete Not Skinned gifted the broadcaster with a Spaceship*!-After a quick search and sizing up, another spaceship is sent. Master Fang, you are always the god!] [ Lord Mu gifted the broadcaster with Spaceship*io-You¡¯re really impressive, big bro. I respect you so much, wish I could buy you a drink right now if you weren¡¯t so far away!] [Nanana, that¡¯s ma, gifted the broadcaster with a Yacht-1 -The broadcaster is a real man! So manly! I¡¯m in love!] [ pfft! You actually gifted a yacht! My goddess, how did you become someone else¡¯s fawning dog?] [My Lina, my heart is broken! Although Master Fang is handsome and manly, how could you do this to us?] [Why do you say that surviving with four people will be easier?] ¡°Because from now on, my Wilderness Survival isn¡¯t just a live stream show, it¡¯s a real situation!¡± ¡°Previously, I said we couldn¡¯t catch a roe deer because it¡¯s a San You protected animal, but now, if necessary, we can consider it.¡± Actually, even though he said that, the pressure on Bi Fang who had agreed, was still quite big. After all, he couldn¡¯t ensure that he would definitely survive, but at this point, there was no other choice. If these people were left to survive alone in Mohe, it would be no different from murder! Just that thought was something he couldn¡¯t reconcile with his conscience. [666, are we allowed to eat protected animals now?] [Lucky us, tasting a delicacy!] [This is a ¡®get out of death free¡¯ card! ] [This has unbound Master Fang! The most authentic and wildest Wilderness Survival on the internet, the beast unleashed!] Damn it! Go to hell, ¡°The most realistic on the entire network¡±! The shattered phone was emitting sparks and crackling noises. Lu Wentao punched the sandbag, venting all his energy onto the punching bag in front of him as if it were his father¡¯s murderer. With the intention of mastering Master Fang¡¯s skills to surpass him, Lu Wentao had been watching Bi Fang¡¯s live streams for the past two days. Until this moment, he suddenly felt as though the more he chased, the farther away he got, especially after that recent breakthrough to over six hundred thousand viewers, which deeply stung Lu Wentao. His opponent¡¯s dust-eating stance infuriated him to no end. What should he do? If he really did save someone and made the news, how could he compete with that? He had originally thought that his financial interest was better, as if he earned a hundred and had to give away sixty, while he earned seventy and only had to give twenty, but Lu Wentao never expected his opponent to have such huge potential, so massive that it was unreachable for him! Damn it! If he could start over, Lu Wentao would rather he had never live-streamed Wilderness Survival, never knowing what it felt like to be in the spotlight. But now, it¡¯s impossible to go back. How could a frog that has seen the sky be willing to return to the pond? Even if the outside world wasn¡¯t right for him. With Bi Fang¡¯s promise secured, the four of them suddenly had a backbone. Big Beard, who had been shivering all along, directly asked what to do next. As employees of a geography magazine, setting up tents and such wasn¡¯t difficult for them, but when it came to wilderness survival, they were completely clueless. Bi Fang glanced at the trembling four: ¡°First, eat something, then build a snow shelter. When daylight comes, we¡¯ll figure out which way is south and set off. Nobody can find us here; we can only rely on ourselves to get out.¡± ¡°Someone will launch a search, right? Why don¡¯t we stay put?¡± The man with the injured leg disagreed somewhat, ¡°Since you¡¯re live streaming, someone must have called the police. Why not wait for rescue?¡± ¡°Because your GPS is broken, no one knows where this is. Can you identify the exact corner of a forest from just one picture? Moreover, with the blizzard ongoing, no plane can be sent out to search. If you don¡¯t want to freeze or starve to death, we can only rely on ourselves! And I, or rather, you, don¡¯t have time to wait for rescue!¡± Upon hearing Bi Fang¡¯s explanation, everyone fell silent, as the situation seemed to have gotten worse. [Why not just listen to Master Fang? Does this guy think he has a better plan?] [You can¡¯t say that. After all, they don¡¯t understand Master Fang¡¯s capabilities. I reckon Master Fang alone is worth a whole rescue team.] [Exactly, these people have no idea how awesome Master Fang is without watching the live stream. He¡¯s definitely a professional survivalist!] [ No doubt, I feel like he¡¯s even more formidable than special forces, with rock climbing, river crossing, not to mention, he knows all about plants and animals, the breadth of his knowledge is extensive!] | You¡¯re right, knowledge is power, and that¡¯s absolutely true. ] Seeing that no one spoke up, Bi Fang looked towards Zheng Tianfang. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Do you have any supplies left?¡± Upon hearing this, Zheng Tianfang stood up, rummaged through the trunk for a while, then came to Bi Fang with a gloomy expression and put a black bag on the ground: ¡°That¡¯s all we have.¡± Bi Fang took the backpack and searched through it, finding a compass, several compressed biscuits, frostbite ointment, and a first aid kit. He immediately took out alcohol and bandages and looked at the others: ¡°Can anyone disinfect and bandage wounds?¡± ¡°I can!¡± The woman in the group raised her hand. Bi Fang handed her the medical supplies and instructed her to re-treat the man¡¯s leg wound properly. Alongside gasps of pain, Bi Fang took out the few clothes he had left and had the man, dripping in cold sweat, change his inner lining to prevent sweating and loss of body heat. ¡°Alright, next we need to hurry up and build a snow shelter. If you don¡¯t want to freeze to death, start piling snow quickly. Remember, the diameter of the ground should be at least four meters and the height above two meters!¡± As Bi Fang issued orders, the four instinctively started moving. People in a state of panic always prefer to follow others¡¯ suggestions. The four of them, who were like headless flies, were no exception. ¡°There are five of us this time; I can¡¯t dig out five snow caves. So the snow cave I made yesterday is no longer sufficient. This time, 1¡¯11 teach you how to build a snow shelter that can accommodate multiple people to rest!¡± Seeing everyone getting to work, Bi Fang explained why he had them pile the snow. ¡°First, we need to pack the snow on the ground firmly; that¡¯s essentially the foundation. And we can start by piling up backpacks or other large materials on top, so we can reduce the work needed to dig out the inner space.¡± Bi Fang watched the others pile snow as if they were making snowballs, while he stomped on the spot himself, ensuring the ground snow was compact. But just when he was halfway through, a scream came from the nearby woods! Someone was in trouble! Chapter 62 - 61: Dragged Down Chapter 61: Dragged Down Translator: 549690339 | In the gloomy forest, Hu Hao leaned against a tree, clutching his forehead. He breathed deeply, trying to increase his blood oxygen level, but he still felt dizzy. He hadn¡¯t yet recovered from the events of the day, especially after seeing an old friend of many years frozen solid, which left him feeling the world spin. Hu Hao thought it all might be a dream, hoping to wake up to see his wife and children on the warm kang, instead of this goddamn snow, snow, and more fucking snow! This snow, it rendered him helpless. Hu Hao shivered and glanced at the orange glow of the fire not far away. He found a secluded corner, ready to relieve himself to relax his tense bladder, but suddenly saw a dark figure standing outside the passenger side, moving occasionally. ¡°Fuck! What is that thing?¡± The snowstorm was so heavy that Hu Hao couldn¡¯t make out what the devil was squatting next to the passenger side. He quickly buckled his belt, starting with small steps and then breaking into a jog. But when he was less than five meters from the vehicle, bathed in the faint firelight, Hu Hao saw what it was and halted in his tracks. Seemly sensing the arrival of a human, a pair of green eyes suddenly lit up in the darkness, and erect black fur fluttered in the snowy wind. Dammit! It really was a ¡°dog thing¡±! A gray wolf! Hu Hao felt his bladder clench, the urge to urinate he hadn¡¯t managed to satisfy now felt uncontrollably imperative! Fuck! Hu Hao wanted to run, but to his surprise, after the wolf glanced at him, it continued to squat by the passenger side, its head pulling and stretching. Instantly, a scorching heat rose like steam from a furnace, rushing to Hu Hao¡¯s forehead. His face flushed, he stood there dumbstruck, not thinking of anything, and charged forward. How dare this beast, how dare it! ¡°Motherfucker, get the hell out of here!¡± Hu Hao¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, but before he could reach it, the wolf reacted swiftly, pouncing straight at Big Beard, opening its maw, dripping with flesh and blood, and biting onto his arm. ¡°Ah!¡± A scream echoed through the entire forest. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing the scream, Bi Fang hurried over, but by the time he arrived, he only saw a large black shadow disappearing swiftly into the snowstorm. The live stream audience was scared by the huge shadow, and they bombarded the chat with questions. [Holy shit, what was that? It was huge! ] [A wolf, right? It must have been a wolf?] [Damn, a wolf that big? That¡¯s way larger than a dog, isn¡¯t it?] [No shit, you really think wolves and dogs are about the same size? They¡¯re not even in the same league!] [What do we do now?] On the other side, Zheng Tianfang and the middle-aged man who had arrived earlier dropped their sticks and helped the gasping Hu Hao to his feet. If they hadn¡¯t come soon enough to scare off the gray wolf, Hu Hao might have been a goner. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Bi Fang asked Big Beard. With his soul barely returned to his body, Hu Hao gasped for cold air, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and despite his lips trembling with pallor, he checked his hand and was surprised to find it was only his clothes that had been bitten. He shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m okay, my clothes are thick, it only bit the clothing.¡± Relieved, Bi Fang knew well that a wolf¡¯s bite force was nearly 300 kg; if it had bitten down on the arm, a fracture was almost certain, unless you were Wolverine; moreover, a serious infection would surely follow, and Hu Hao would likely not make it out of this snowy forest. Wu Mingtao, limping, threw his stick to the ground, deeply shaken by everything that had occurred that day. He looked at Bi Fang in despair, ¡°What was that? A coyote? Why¡­ why was it so big?¡± Zheng Tianfang also stared at Bi Fang, as though hoping for a different answer, even willing to believe it was a dog if that had been the claim, and he would believe it without doubt. Bi Fang looked at the two men but gave no answer. Fearing their emotions might collapse, he pointed to the campfire not far away. ¡°Let¡¯s head back and discuss there.¡± Soon, the five sat together. Bi Fang handed a towel to Hu Hao, telling him to wipe his sweat, and glanced at the four panicked men before jokingly saying to Hu Hao, ¡°It¡¯s good you weren¡¯t bitten, or it¡¯d be trouble if you turned into a werewolf.¡± They looked at each other, but no one laughed, and the atmosphere once again fell silent. Bi Fang: ¡°¡­¡± He saw how everyone was so dejected, he wanted to liven up the mood. [Four people: Suddenly it¡¯s even colder, do you have to freeze us to death to be satisfied?] [Laughing to death, but not completely dead yet.] [You can tell, Master Fang wants them not to be too tense, unfortunately, things backfired, and the situation got worse.] Seeing the barrage, Bi Fang coughed twice. ¡± Are there a lot of those things?¡± Zheng Tianfang asked. ¡°What?¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t hear clearly. ¡°Wolves!¡± Zheng Tianfang hugged his head, even his naturally optimistic nature was almost stressed to the point of losing hair, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that wolf packs always move together¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, maybe it¡¯s just a lone wolf¡­¡± Bi Fang hadn¡¯t finished speaking when he was interrupted by a sharp voice. ¡± Aren¡¯t you a professional Wilderness Survivalist? You don¡¯t even know this?¡± Bi Fang glanced at the man with a limp who had spoken and didn¡¯t reply, ¡± what¡¯s most important now is finding food, maybe the wolf was just passing by¡­¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Big Beard interrupted Bi Fang¡¯s words, ¡°What do you mean ¡®maybe passing by¡¯? What if it¡¯s not? What¡¯s the worst that could happen?¡± Seeing Big Beard¡¯s tense expression, Bi Fang knew he might have realized something, after all, he was from a geographical magazine and knew more than the average person. He looked down and added some firewood, ¡°Living here, hunting in this area.¡± ¡°A wolf pack¡¯s territory is about eight square kilometers, and their hunting range is no less than eighty square kilometers. If we get close to their den, entering their activity radius, they will follow us.¡± The audience was completely dumbfounded when they heard this, and they started sending a barrage of comments like crazy. [Eighty square kilometers? That big? How long would we have to walk?] [Damn, isn¡¯t this game over? If that¡¯s the case, won¡¯t Master Fang encounter the wolf pack even if he doesn¡¯t save these people?] [Wolf pack? Can humans even deal with that? Even lions and tigers wouldn t dare to take on a wolf pack, right?] [Isn¡¯t this over? This is even more dangerous than the last time we encountered Black Bear!] Many viewers recalled the previous scene of Snatching Food from a Bear¡¯s Mouth, and after comparing, they found the difficulty level wasn¡¯t even close! And the four people who heard this were also stunned. An entire wolf pack targeting them? Is there enough to eat? Zheng Tianfang found the thought absurd, and when it came to him, his subconscious reaction was not whether he could fight back or not, but whether there would be enough to eat. He looked at Bi Fang, who had a calm expression, and suddenly felt a flicker of luck. He quickly asked, ¡°How do we know if they are targeting us or not?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way to know,¡± Bi Fang looked at the burning fire, They might be here looking for food and just happened upon us.¡± ¡°And the activity radius? If we entered it, what would happen? Would they attack us?¡± Wu Mingtao was very nervous. Bi Fang didn¡¯t answer, because the answer to this question was obvious. ¡°Wolf packs are afraid of nothing.¡± As Bi Fang finished explaining, the live-streaming room exploded with reactions; everyone had seen that big wolf earlier, and now they couldn¡¯t even imagine what kind of scene it would be if such ferocious carnivores gathered together. Some people even began to think that Bi Fang shouldn¡¯t have come to rescue these people. [It feels like Master Fang could have escaped on his own, but now he is completely bogged down.] [Wasn¡¯t that person bleeding a lot just now? Maybe it¡¯s the blood scent that attracted them?] [Master Fang, just ignore them and leave, four burdens, and one of them is injured. With such teammates, no matter how awesome you are, you can¡¯t make it.] [Damn, aren¡¯t you a bit too heartless upstairs? They are in such dire straits, if even Master Fang ignores them, wouldn¡¯t that be awaiting death?] [Exactly, how can one just watch and not help?] Seeing all kinds of comments in the barrage, Bi Fang hurriedly intervened. ¡°It¡¯s not because of the blood scent. The blizzard is so huge that even with wolves¡¯ keen noses they can¡¯t smell it. Encountering one this time is purely a coincidence, which means that even if I didn¡¯t come to rescue them, I would have already entered the territory of the wolves. Once the blizzard stops, they would likely follow the scent to find me.¡± Chapter 63 - 62 A Blaze Reduced to Ashes Chapter 63: Chapter 62 A Blaze Reduced to Ashes Translator: 549690339 | Being able to know about the wolf presence in advance was arguably a good thing for Bi Fang, after all, being prepared and being completely unaware are two different concepts. [So, whether we save them or not, we¡¯re going to run into them, right?] [Thinking about it that way, I can accept it¡­] [Having more people is also a deterrent to the wolf pack, isn¡¯t it?] [Let¡¯s just go with Master Fang¡¯s idea, even if Master Fang is unwilling, we absolutely won¡¯t impose moral coercion!] [Right, it¡¯s too dangerous, Master Fang, just do what you think is best! We all support you!] Alright, stop hanging your heads, if you don¡¯t want to freeze to death, then keep piling up snow and quickly build the camp, Tianfang, you come with me to handle the corpse.¡± Bi Fang picked up a stick and then patted Zheng Tianfang¡¯s shoulder to signal him to follow. This young man was the only one with relatively stable emotions; Bi Fang planned to go with him to deal with the man¡¯s corpse first. Even though his group was set to depart early the next morning, they couldn¡¯t just let the man¡¯s body be exposed in the wilderness. ¡°Wait, how do you plan to handle it?¡± Hu Hao suddenly stopped Bi Fang, wanting to know how the other intended to deal with the corpse when they didn¡¯t have any shovels to bury it. And if it was buried, that would be fine, they could return later to find it and take the ashes back, but if¡­ ¡°Burn it.¡± Bi Fang could tell from Hu Hao¡¯s expression what his calculations were, essentially wanting to give the family of the deceased some closure. He ¡¯ understood but didn¡¯t agree, because this was the wilderness. Forgive my bluntness, if you don¡¯t want your companion to be dug up and eaten by wolves or something else, then just burn the body. It¡¯s fortunate that I checked, and there¡¯s still plenty of fuel left in your tank, enough for our purposes.¡± After hearing what Bi Fang said, Hu Hao fell silent and, after hesitating for a moment, silently went to pile up snow. Seeing that the rest had no objections, Bi Fang found a few relatively thick sticks, took the blankets and some spare clothes from the car, and went to the back where the fuel tank was. He planned to make several torches for protection first; wolves are very cunning animals and even understand the concepts of cover and feint attacks. ¡°Many people think that wild animals are afraid of fire; actually, that¡¯s not the case. The type of fire animals fear is the kind that has a large spreading range and rapidly intensifying flames, not small fires like torches.¡± ¡°If the animals are determined to attack you, a torch is useless. Sometimes it can even provoke the animal to take retaliatory actions. For example, walking at night with a torch makes it easy to be attacked by a venomous snake lurking in the underbrush.¡± ¡°But this doesn¡¯t mean torches are useless, because wild animals are accustomed to using the cover of darkness for their hunting activities. The light exposes them, and without sufficient security, they are less likely to undertake hunting activities they are not sure about. This is the real reason wild animals won¡¯t easily attack humans with torches!¡± Zheng Tianfang listened quietly by the side, knowing the explanation was for both the audience and himself. ¡°Are you a zoologist?¡± ¡°No, but in Wilderness Survivalist, dealing with fierce animals is inevitable.¡± Bi Fang found a hose in the trunk. [Last time it was a Bear, this time it¡¯s wolves, I feel like every live stream of Master Fang is so popular.] [Is this Tang Sanzang¡¯s flesh? (joking)] [Last time he was alone, at least now there¡¯s a team] (Last time it was one bear, so Master Fang went solo, now it¡¯s a pack of wolves, thus he got teammates?] (Toxic Sorcerer gifted the host 66 meatballs-fair competition this round, eh!] [Give it a rest, fair competition, they¡¯re all old, sick, and weak, not dragging the team down is already good, didn¡¯t you see the one with the injured leg just now? He nearly cried when he heard about the wolves.] Because of the wolf presence, the group chat was much more active, and the popularity of the live stream began a new surge, which surprised and delighted Wang Yongbo. He was excited about the high number of viewers, close to Shark Lu Wentao¡¯s eight hundred thousand, yet he worried whether Bi Fang could really be in danger. Originally just monitoring the backend data, he was now utterly captivated by this unprecedented live stream. Bi Fang also felt that his luck was exploding, thinking that maybe next time he might try buying a lottery ticket. As time passed, the blizzard slowly diminished a lot, and perhaps it wouldn¡¯t be much longer before the storm stopped. He trudged through the snow, found a stone of suitable size, and then fixed the sticks upright. ¡°If conditions allow, we should choose materials that burn slowly to make torches, and we can dip them a bit in oil. Luckily, this car¡¯s fuel tank isn¡¯t leaking, so we can make use of it.¡± ¡°Hold the drone for me.¡± Bi Fang had Zheng Tianfang hold the drone while he placed the hunting knife against one end of a wooden stick and struck the back of the knife with a found stone, splitting one end of the stick into four sections about 30 centimeters long. This allowed the torch head to fully interact with the air. ¡°A stick around the size of mine is just right, about 1.5 meters long and 6 centimeters in diameter. Actually, the best material for torches is bamboo. You split it into four equal parts up to the first node; you can pack a lot of combustible material inside, but obviously we can¡¯t get that here.¡± Watching Bi Fang skillfully making a torch, Zheng Tianfang couldn¡¯t help feeling more confident. Although he didn¡¯t know if the knowledge was correct, the other party clearly knew a lot, and was decisive in action. ¡°Remember, don¡¯t use wood that¡¯s too dry, so it won¡¯t burn too quickly. Add some oil-rich pine nuts or oil, and that will make the torch burn slower.¡± ¡°Be sure not to use materials that easily drip combustibles, like plastic. It¡¯s very unsafe, and don¡¯t use materials that produce a lot of dense smoke, as they will generate too much carbon monoxide.¡± Bi Fang opened the car¡¯s fuel cap, inserted a hose, took a sip, then pulled it out, using the siphoning principle to extract the gasoline. He drenched pieces of cloth and clothing with it and then wrapped the flammable items tightly around the head of a stick. They were going to leave tomorrow and didn¡¯t want to waste gasoline, so they made more torches and wouldn¡¯t be delayed on the road because of it. When they lit the finished torches, the surroundings immediately brightened. Bi Fang and Zheng Tianfang wrapped the body in blankets and poured gasoline on it. After making sure there was nothing around that could catch fire and that the flames wouldn¡¯t spread, Bi Fang lit the fire pit. The cremation of an adult typically requires around 21 liters of fuel and takes about an hour. To make it faster, Bi Fang poured the rest of the gasoline they couldn¡¯t carry onto it. The flames spread like serpents, thick black smoke billowed into the air, and then the wind scattered it in all directions. Bi Fang and Zheng Tianfang took two steps back, standing silently, like statues. The smell of burning a body was unbearably foul, but no one moved. That life had just vanished before their eyes, and now it was going to embrace the vast open sky. As they watched the billowing black smoke rise, the audience felt a sense of sorrow. [Life is so fleeting.] [This is the most fucking awesome live stream I¡¯ve ever seen. If I hadn¡¯t seen it with my own eyes, I would have thought it was a movie.] [I feel like with some good editing, this could totally be released in theaters.] [Lord Mu has sent a yacht to the streamer ¡ª Master Fang¡¯s broadcasts are getting more and more impressive. Every time I watch, it¡¯s a new experience.] [Nanana sending a yacht to the streamer *1 ¡ª I¡¯m about to cry.] ¡°You have a lot of fans,¡± Zheng Tianfang said, a touch of envy in his voice as he watched the barrage of comments on the drone¡¯s monitor. If he hadn¡¯t been mistaken, at least a few spaceships had flown by while they were making the torches. He was a young man who liked watching live streams and knew exactly how much a spaceship was worth. Even at a basic 50/50 profit split, he¡¯d have a few thousand in hand. ¡°All earned with my life on the line. Nothing to be envious about. Do you know what I encountered during my last live stream?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Abear, a 200-kilogram black bear!¡± As the two of them walked together, Bi Fang shared with Zheng Tianfang his glorious feat from half a month ago. But as soon as they approached the fire, a series of low growls began to sound off in the darkness beyond. Bi Fang¡¯s expression changed. He quickly shouted to the three people stacking snow to come closer. The relaxed atmosphere from the subsiding blizzard abruptly vanished, and the situation tensed up in an instant. Hu Hao and the others, who were piling up snow, panicked and stumbled over to Bi Fang. Wu Mingtao, who was injured, even took a fall, grimacing from the pam of his wound. Yet, he still crawled and rolled over to join them. In the distance, through the dark, there was a thick, inescapable scent of blood in the air, turning everyone¡¯s complexion ghostly white. It was a wolf pack! A huge pack of wolves, numbering in the tens if not hundreds! Even though they were modern people who had been exposed to the internet, familiar with data and videos on wild beasts, even the audience had never seen so many wolves gathered together. Those green eyes shimmered in unison under the cover of night, eerily glowing, causing a chill to run down everyone¡¯s spine. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 64 - 63: Need to Prepare 1800 Diapers Big wolves! Big wolves of the same kind! Such agile creatures appearing all at once in such a large group! It was almost like a miracle, stirring an urge to worship. To say there were hundreds of wolves would definitely be an exaggeration, but dozens, for sure! Everyone was intimidated by those dozens of green eyes, trembling with fear and dripping with cold sweat. If they hadn¡¯t been seated on stools or lying in bed, some viewers might have collapsed to the ground. Many people left the screen. They didn¡¯t dare to watch anymore. The pressure was palpable even through the screen; what about in reality? They were terrified that in the next second they would witness the pack of wolves pouncing and shredding the five people on the scene into bits of flesh and bone. ¡°Everyone, stay calm, don¡¯t move!¡± Bi Fang held up a torch and stepped forward to stand in front, simultaneously stretching out his hand to protect the four people gathered behind him. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zheng Tianfang, beside him, hurriedly grabbed a torch like Bi Fang, but his trembling torch betrayed his innermost thoughts. The woman and Big Beard clutched the back of Bi Fang¡¯s clothes as if to derive some sense of security. In fact, in the event of an accident, Bi Fang himself wouldn¡¯t be safe. Nobody could face a pack of wolves without fear, including him. Fear is the protective mechanism of humans, helping people seek benefits and avoid dangers to protect themselves from harm, so it doesn¡¯t disappear; but truly strong people can overcome fear, conquer it, not letting it take control over their bodies, allowing reason to take the high ground, and looking for better ways to protect themselves and others. Bi Fang kept his cool and took another half step forward. The torch, soaked in gasoline, blazed fiercely, casting a halo of light that dispelled the darkness ahead, unveiling a wolf¡¯s snarling mouth in front of everyone. Suddenly illuminated by the firelight, the big wolf at the forefront lowered its head and took a half step back, receding into the darkness, but its eerie growl raised everyone¡¯s hackles. A faint stench of blood and filth drifted in the wind, and everyone smelled it, their faces going deathly pale as if dancing face-to-face with the wolves. Wu Mingtao¡¯s legs turned to jelly, and he uncontrollably collapsed to the ground. His pupils shrunk to the size of pinholes; he gaped, voiceless as if his vocal cords had vanished, and could only emit a harsh, breathy hiss. Having glanced at Wu Mingtao who had fallen to the ground, Bi Fang was immediately alerted by the reappearance of the wolves¡¯ muzzles and hastily returned his attention to the confrontation with the wolves. Watching the wolves on the verge of action, Bi Fang shouted loudly, ¡°Keep staring back at them!¡± But Wu Mingtao seemed to have not heard and remained seated, his hands on the ground, even trying to retreat. Bi Fang caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye and became furious. ¡°Zheng Tianfang! If you don¡¯t want to die, pull him up, quick!¡± Zheng Tianfang, taken aback when suddenly called upon, quickly came to his senses. For some reason, he felt unusually strong; turning around, he grabbed Wu Mingtao¡¯s arm and yanked him up from the ground. As another pair of watching eyes vanished, the pack of wolves grew more restless, but Bi Fang took another step forward and managed to force the wolves back into the darkness. The woman behind him grabbed Bi Fang¡¯s arm tightly, causing him pain. ¡°Wait¡­ why aren¡¯t they coming over?¡± Big Beard stared back at the wolf pack, sweat pouring down; he wanted to retreat to the safety of the car, but it was strange why the wolves didn¡¯t attack. ¡°It¡¯s the light; it makes them feel insecure. And with five of us here, as long as we show our strength and courage, they¡¯ll think they can¡¯t take us down without getting hurt!¡± [My god, do wolves even consider combat losses? Aim to take us down unharmed?] [After forming a pack, their intelligence must increase, right?] [These wolves are practically supernatural; if it were me, not only would I not be able to stare them down, I¡¯d probably pee myself out of fear.] [Don¡¯t even say it. Who watches a Master Fang live stream without prepping a few hundred diapers?] [And add a dozen bottles of Fast-acting Heart-saving Pills¡­] [With my medicine, I¡¯m back in the game!] ¡°Don¡¯t let the wolves see your fear. Make them think you¡¯re a tough nut to crack! Once you avert your gaze, they¡¯ll know you¡¯re scared and will charge at you to bite!¡± Beasts can smell your fear; the more scared you are, the more excited they become. In an instant, these words appeared in many viewers¡¯ minds, as if every time they faced mortal danger, this concept would be mentioned. This made all the long-time fans remember it well, even considering it an absolute truth. On the other side, Zheng Tianfang had also pulled Wu Mingtao up, and now all five of them were staring back at the green eyes in the darkness. As time passed, the wolves stopped moving, and Zheng Tianfang and the others gradually gained confidence. ¡°Roar!¡± A sudden roar exploded beside Bi Fang¡¯s ear, nearly making him jump. Annoyed, he blindly kicked Hu Hao beside him. ¡°What the hell are you doing!?¡± Hu Hao, who had been kicked, was stunned for a moment. Realizing his mistake, he sheepishly said, ¡°Didn¡¯t we say we had to show strength, to make them think we¡¯re not to be messed with¡­¡± ¡°You motherfucker, doing that will only enrage the wolf pack! Don¡¯t fucking take matters into your own hands!¡± Bi Fang was so angry he let out two curse words in a row. He was really fed up with this blockhead taking initiatives on his own. A moment ago, he truly thought the wolves were charging at them, and he almost drew his knife. [Damn, that scream almost made me piss myself!] [What the hell is wrong with this pig-headed teammate?] [Big Beard is too brave; this is simply blind recklessness!] [Big Beard does have guts.] [Bullshit, he¡¯s just brainless! Only knows how to drag us down, such a noob!] Luckily, the wolf pack was not provoked by Big Beard¡¯s roar into taking further action and gradually disappeared into the darkness under the watchful eyes of Bi Fang and others. As pair after pair of green eyes vanished into the darkness, everyone felt a sense of relief wash over them. The audience in front of their screens collapsed in awe, with gifts and bullet comments being spammed like a raging tsunami, as the popularity soared past six hundred thousand and was fast approaching seven hundred thousand! This was a direct soar from obscurity to fame in just two days! Many streamers had their fan count steadily increase after rounds of recommendations, but even being featured didn¡¯t have such a powerful effect. Wang Yongbo never dreamed that such a miraculous figure would appear under his own name. Miracle! He even began to imagine that the future king of the live streaming industry was about to be born on Wolf Fang TV! What¡¯s Shark TV? I, Wang Yongbo, will sweep the entire live streaming industry, from Shark to Tiger Fang, and then shit on their heads! [Prostrating in admiration!] [Prostrating in admiration +1!] [Pete not-so-Tough gifted the host a Spaceship*!¡ªMaster Fang is truly awesome] [Lord Mu gifted the host a Spaceship*!¡ªRespect, true respect, facing the wolf pack without changing expression! ] [Grandpa, Master Fang is my own grandpa. Freaking amazing!] [Roll the hell away, don¡¯t climb the family tree randomly. Does Master Fang have a grandson as old as you?] [Can¡¯t I just have claimed him?] [Where¡¯s your dignity? Can¡¯t you show a bit of shame?] [Face got snatched by a wolf¡­] [Last time battled Black Bear, this time bravely repelled a pack of wolves, I¡¯ll say this, the strongest in the live streaming world. Any objections from you all here? Who agrees, who disagrees?] Seeing the situation had temporarily settled down, Bi Fang began to assign tasks again: ¡°Once the camp is built, we¡¯ll rotate rest shifts every three hours. I¡¯ll take the first shift.¡± Having said that, Bi Fang ran over to where the snow was piled up and hurried to set up camp, while Big Beard ran over to offer a sincere apology. ¡°No harm done, just do as I say next time, and don¡¯t ever take initiative on your own,¡± Bi Fang said. Although he had been angry at the time, with the danger past, he was calm. ¡°Absolutely, absolutely!¡± Having witnessed Bi Fang lead them in repelling the wolf pack, Hu Hao was thoroughly convinced of the young man¡¯s ability and nodded and bowed. Seeing this, Bi Fang had no heart to continue to be harsh. Since the other party¡¯s intentions were also good, he shook his head and then looked at Wu Mingtao, who had collapsed on the ground with a vacant look in his eyes. He was really worried about this man¡¯s condition going forward. In wilderness survival, mental state is extremely important. Once the mind snaps, no matter how advanced your survival skills are, they¡¯re of no use. But Bi Fang wasn¡¯t a psychologist, so he could only hope that Wu Mingtao would hold on until they successfully made it through. Approaching the well-piled heap of snow, the crystallized and hardened mound was now a meter thick and very sturdy. Bi Fang began to remove items like backpacks that he¡¯d placed inside earlier to reduce the amount of work needed for digging the shelter, and then he started to reshape the interior. ¡°Be careful not to dig out too much and weaken the walls, which can easily cause a collapse. To avoid this, we can insert branches evenly into the pile, with these branches being over thirty centimeters long. Once we hit a branch while digging, that means we should stop,¡± he instructed. While explaining some tips to Zheng Tianfang, who was holding a drone, Bi Fang¡¯s hands did not stop moving, continuously throwing snow out. The entrance of the snow shelter was small, allowing only one person to pass through, and the shock-stricken Hu Hao and the others couldn¡¯t help but watch Bi Fang work on his own. Soon, as another handful of snow was thrown out, the main body of the snow den was completed. In the vast snowy woods, gazing at the snow den that blended seamlessly into its surroundings, the onlooking Hu Hao and others were left with their mouths agape, wide enough to swallow an egg! This guy was truly a genius! Chapter 65 - 64 Really Professional The main structure was completed, and Bi Fang made some minor repairs, digging a tunnel as an entrance and exit so that the cold air would sink below the lying position. ¡°The entrance and exit must be as small as possible, just enough to crawl through. You can also use the snow dug out from inside the shelter to build a windbreak wall at the exit, which will minimize the drafts coming in through the entrance.¡± ¡°Big brother, that¡¯s freaking awesome!¡± Hu Hao was somewhat excited; he had heard of the Inuit people constructing similar buildings but had never seen it with his own eyes, let alone lived in one. He immediately couldn¡¯t wait to crawl in. [Hahaha, Big Beard is really curious.] [Normal, whenever it snows here, I also want to try making one; it feels more thrilling than pitching a tent in the wild.] [Watching Master Fang¡¯s live streams, I always learn so much. It seems useful not just for wilderness survival but also for trying out with friends for fun.] [Do you want to do it with friends? You just want to show off! You¡¯re shameless!] [I admit it, I just want to perform miracles in front of others, am I proud of that?] [Speaking of which, four men, one woman, are you all going to sleep together?] [The sister looks pretty; Master Fang struck it big this time!] [Damn, can you still joke about this when life is on the line? You¡¯re thinking about this now? You¡¯ve definitely overeaten.] Watching Bi Fang build a warm place to shelter from the severe cold, the audience diverted their attention from the previous sadness and tension, and the serious barrage of comments took a lighter turn again. ¡°Alright, you guys go to sleep inside; there¡¯s enough room. I¡¯ll take the first watch, then Zheng Tianfang will take over, followed by Hu Hao. You two, just have a good rest for the night.¡± Bi Fang patted the snow off himself and simply arranged the night watch tasks, taking care of the injured Wu Mingtao and the female comrade, leaving the rest to Zheng Tianfang and the others without any objections. After all, the three of them were in the best condition and could still hold on. Just as Bi Fang was about to end the live stream, he faced stronger opposition from the audience than ever before. [Don¡¯t, don¡¯t; just keep it on. If something happens, maybe we¡¯ll notice and warn you first!] [Damn, what kind of doom and gloom talk is that from the guy above? Spit it out!] [That¡¯s so ominous, just like my grandma.] [I really don¡¯t want to miss out on this live stream, even if it just stays on with no one around. We still want to keep an eye on it.] [Lord Mu donates a Spaceship*! to the streamer¡ªseriously, big brother, I really don¡¯t want to miss a single second this time!] Seeing that even Lord Mu had spoken up, Bi Fang really couldn¡¯t refuse anymore. The other party had been following his stream since his first live broadcast, never missing a day. Lord Mu wasn¡¯t just some idle rich second-generation but a bona fide company CEO. For such a person to take time out every day to watch his live streams, and to be so generous, was quite rare. It was evident that the other party truly wanted to be his friend, and this was the first time he had requested not to end the stream. ¡°Alright, in light of Lord Mu¡¯s regard, I won¡¯t end the stream this time. But first, I need to switch out the battery to prevent the drone from running out of power.¡± Bi Fang turned the drone¡¯s camera away from himself and briefly ended the live stream, reopening it very quickly. The need to change the drone¡¯s battery was a ruse; since obtaining the drone, Bi Fang had never seen it require any replenishment of energy, but he certainly couldn¡¯t let the audience know that. In the past, he could claim he changed it at night, but that excuse wouldn¡¯t work with a continuous stream. Bi Fang was a man who paid attention to detail. With the live stream back on, Bi Fang placed it in a suitable corner outside the snow shelter, so it could record throughout the night. Seeing this, the audience was finally satisfied. Today¡¯s live stream was unprecedented, and they didn¡¯t want to miss a moment of it. However, this put Wang Yongbo in a tough spot. When the platform had to shut down a streamer, it would first perform an internal review which, if the issue escalated, could lead to police intervention. As vice president, he had managed to block the initial attempt, and was currently striving hard against the second. The live stream was special this time around; it wasn¡¯t deliberately gruesome, and the purpose was positively charged, involving rescue efforts. No one could argue against its merit, especially since there was a slim chance that one could ascertain the location through the live footage. Although this probability was slim, it could not be denied as a possibility. Eventually, through persuasive efforts and with a little help from an expert, he managed to halt the second wave of shutdowns, ensuring the preservation of Bi Fang¡¯s live stream. Slumped on the couch, Wang Yongbo glanced at the blizzard-ravaged live broadcast and silently prayed for Bi Fang¡¯s safe return. All he could do was to make sure she had nothing to worry about back home¡­ Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the middle of the night, when Bi Fang was halfway through her watch, she approached the snow-covered shelter and suddenly realized that none of the people inside were asleep. They were all just sitting there, quietly enduring. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you sleeping?¡± Bi Fang was somewhat displeased. A person¡¯s energy is limited, and proper rest is necessary. Without it, surviving the following days would be much more difficult. ¡°How could anyone sleep?¡± Zheng Tianfang smiled wryly. Now, when he closed his eyes, he could almost see his companions¡¯ lifeless pupils, as if silently narrating some unspeakable tale. Bi Fang sighed. Indeed, for someone¡¯s first time experiencing such a situation, insomnia was quite normal. In fact, most of the time, people¡¯s worries stem from overthinking and negative speculation about a situation, rather than being trapped by the facts. You are trapped by ¡°your own thoughts.¡± Like now, Zheng Tianfang was undoubtedly troubled by the possibility of a wolf attack, by the thought that they might not be able to make it out, but, in reality, none of these things had happened yet. ¡°Stop imagining, live in the moment, believe in the positive, and you will be freed from most of your troubles.¡± Hearing this advice, Zheng Tianfang seemed contemplative. Finally, Bi Fang patted his shoulder, encouraging him to rest some more. ¡°Try to get some rest soon. It will be your turn to keep watch before long, and you cannot afford to be sleepy. Plus, we need to set off early tomorrow, so don¡¯t hold us back.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Seeing him nod and return to lie down in the shelter, Bi Fang then continued to warm herself by the fire. Another hour passed before Zheng Tianfang came out on his own. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, you couldn¡¯t rest?¡± ¡°No, I slept for a while.¡± Zheng Tianfang shook his head. ¡°You go rest. I¡¯ll take over from here.¡± Bi Fang watched him for a moment before nodding in agreement. ¡°Remember not to stray too far, not even beyond five meters for a bathroom break! And definitely don¡¯t get distracted!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t fall asleep,¡± assured Zheng Tianfang, patting Bi Fang¡¯s arm to put her at ease. Bi Fang then crawled into the tunnel, felt the warmth of the shelter, and soon fell into a deep slumber. In the brightly lit living room, Lin Zhengnan paced back and forth. The empty living room echoed with the sound of dress shoes tapping against the floor, while the largest television in the center played Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast! This scene had been going on for half an hour. Lin Zhengnan had put in a lot of effort to ensure the broadcast remained uninterrupted. ¡°I knew it, I just knew it! 1 shouldn¡¯t have let her go for an internship at some geography magazine, dreams my ass! Now look, she¡¯s nearly lost her life!¡± Lin Zhengnan was getting angrier by the second, his heart filled with intense worry, he felt faint. On the other side, his oldest daughter, Lin Zhou, tried to comfort her father. Although she was also very worried about her youngest sister, there was little she could do at the moment. Lin Zhengnan, looking at Zheng Tianfang on the screen keeping watch, suppressed his anxiety and asked, ¡°How is it going? Is everything in order?¡± ¡°Checked out; this Wilderness Survivalist streamer is indeed impressive. Last broadcast, he even fought a bear and not only survived but was virtually unharmed. He also has military experience, although his records are classified at a very high level. From what we¡¯ve seen, he¡¯s a very reliable person.¡± Hurriedly arriving, Lin Chang handed a file to the old man. Lin Zhengnan flipped through the file, then closed it, pinching the bridge of his nose, feeling an intense throbbing in his temples. Outside, he was a giant in the domestic communication industry, but now he was just a helpless, anxious father. ¡°Is there any way to contact them?¡± ¡°No, they are really professional at survival¡­¡± Lin Chang gave a bitter smile, which was a source of his headache too; all three watched the live broadcast in the living room, each massaging their temples.. Chapter 66 - 65: Million-Dollar Reward Chapter 66: Chapter 65: Million-Dollar Reward Translator: 549690339 | The night passed without incident. When Bi Fang woke up the next day, he stopped Big Beard Hu Hao just as he was about to add more wood to the fire, ¡°That¡¯s enough, we¡¯re about to hit the road.¡± Hu Hao nodded and extinguished the significantly smaller fire with snow. Bi Fang looked up at the sky. The wind wasn¡¯t cutting like knives anymore, the blizzard had greatly subsided, and the snowflakes scattering in the sky were sparse. The drone took off, and the live broadcast for the third day began. [So sleepy, has Master Fang not woken up yet?] [He should be up soon, it¡¯s 8 am already, usually Master Fang starts around this time.] [My goodness, have you all not slept the entire night?] [Yeah, just afraid of missing any unexpected developments and losing out on the big scene. I¡¯m a die-hard fan of Master Fang; I¡¯ve been following since the first live broadcast. But Master Fang is truly awesome, no appearance overnight and the viewership is still above fifty thousand, another streamer not showing up for five minutes would see their audience disappear, seriously badass.] [I also went to B Island for the first live broadcast, it was genuinely amazing, holy shit, the drone is moving!] [It¡¯s moving, it¡¯s moving! Waking up! The live broadcast has started!] Many of the viewers chatting and goofing off in the live broadcast room were thrilled to see the drone take off. After waiting all night, they finally got what they were waiting for! However, perhaps because there was no live stream notification, the number of viewers did not spike suddenly. Wang Yongbo, monitoring the data in the background, got anxious and hurriedly shouted at the staff. ¡°Quick, push out a live stream notification!¡± ¡°Ah, but that doesn¡¯t really follow the rules¡­¡± the staff member hesitated, having never heard of a broadcaster who was already live streaming needing to send out a ¡®going live¡¯ notification. ¡°Who pays your salary?¡± ¡°The finance department¡­¡± the staff member replied meekly. Wang Yongbo slapped his own face and glared at him: ¡°Just do it when I tell you to! Rules are made by humans, why are you fretting about it?¡± The staff member shrank his neck, grabbed the mouse and clicked away furiously, sending out the notification. Suddenly, the steadily growing number of people in the live broadcast room shot up at a right angle, breaking through sixty thousand! [Good morning Master Fang, did you sleep with a girl last night? (joking)] [Serious¡­ Be serious, we¡¯re trying to survive here! Stop laughing!] [Wearing so many clothes, you wouldn¡¯t feel a thing, I can tell you¡¯re all pure- hearted young men.] [Exactly, it¡¯s so cold, none of those worldly desires matter.] [But why hasn¡¯t there been any news yet? It should have been out last night, reporters have better noses than dogs!] [Yeah, I was wondering too, it feels like it¡¯s been suppressed.] The drone flew in front of Bi Fang, and seeing the comments, a twinge went through the corner of his eye, thankful that Zheng Tianfang and the others hadn¡¯t seen the comments, or it would be social death on the spot. However, he was also curious about the lack of news, but didn¡¯t dwell on it much, perhaps there was some reason. After coughing twice, Bi Fang pointed towards the blindingly white surroundings, ¡°The arrival of the wolf pack last night was no coincidence. It¡¯s difficult for wolves to track the scent of blood in a blizzard, so we¡¯ve likely entered their activity radius. Despite nothing happening last night, that doesn¡¯t mean we¡¯re safe.¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Wolves are cunning and patient creatures, and this cunning is even more pronounced in a pack. So we must be cautious. Let¡¯s take advantage of the lighter snow today and try to get as far away from this area as possible.¡± Wolf packs are extremely dangerous, and if Bi Fang had a choice, he would rather face a Black Bear again than confront wolves. You can¡¯t fight those creatures unless you have a hunting rifle or weapons made of iron. These predators are not only highly intelligent but extremely fierce; once they gather in a pack, even lions and tigers are no match for them. Last night, Bi Fang saw that there might have even been twenty wolves in the pack! This is quite a large pack already, as the typical number in a wolf pack is about seven, the so-called ¡®seven wolves,¡¯ and odd numbers change slightly around that figure. Moreover, because of their very strict hierarchy and territorial range, it¡¯s impossible for wolf packs to collaborate with other packs, nor would there be a superpack of wolves consisting of several packs amounting to a hundred or so, as seen in novels. Therefore, a pack that exceeds twenty wolves is very rare. As for encountering thirty or more, you¡¯d only see that in a documentary. If one does encounter them, it could only mean that human activities haven¡¯t affected that area yet. Or it could be¡­ survivorship bias. [Isn¡¯t that too dangerous? Are those real wolves chasing behind?] [Master Fang is truly brave, having fought a bear and fended off wolves. Will he be fighting tigers in the future?] [The modern Wu Song.jpg] [Ling Xuefeng should really come and see this. I¡¯m making the same face as his monkey again.] [Wow, brother upstairs, were you also the one who followed from the room check last time?] [Isn¡¯t it a coincidence? Too bad Master Fang switched platforms. I bet Shark is regretting it now; he must be green with envy. Wolf Fang¡¯s stream is hitting over 600,000 in popularity. Would Shark not have reached a million?] [Shh, be cautious! Have you forgotten that Wolf Fang¡¯s boss also watches Master Fang¡¯s streams?] [Ah, right, right. Almost forgot. Congratulations to Wolf Fang for gaining a mighty warrior. Henceforth, we pass through Tiger Fang and tread on Shark, number one in the world. Boss, could you please upgrade my account level? Thanks!] The online friends in the live stream were joking around, as usual. Bi Fang once again confirmed the direction, then said to Zheng Tianfang and others who were emerging from the snow cave, ¡°We need to dig some snow pits or something. Although they won¡¯t hold off much¡­¡± But before he could finish, he was interrupted by Wu Mingtao, who had a limp. Remembering those dense, cruel green eyes from the night before, he became incoherent. ¡°Wait! What do you mean, snow pits? Do you want to fight these wolves? Have you gone mad? Didn¡¯t you say yesterday not to provoke them? We¡¯re not a threat to them.¡± ¡°Because they¡¯re likely to attack us next time¡­¡± Seeing people opposing Bi Fang¡¯s decision, the online audience immediately felt dissatisfied with Wu Mingtao. He had been the one holding everyone back from the start, and he had wanted to run away when the wolves came last night, but was caught by Zheng Tianfang. [Not even wolves are as united as humans. If you don¡¯t have the ability, just follow orders; no need to overthink!] [To be fair, this guy is indeed troublesome. Seems like he¡¯s scared out of his wits.] [This person has no will to survive; no spirit of resistance.] [Ah, if it were me, I¡¯d probably react the same way¡­] ¡°Why?¡± Hu Hao also didn¡¯t understand. They hadn¡¯t attacked the pack of wolves. ¡°Because we are a threat,¡± Bi Fang explained patiently to the crowd, each of whose fear was evident in their eyes. ¡°Wild animals test you step by step. Last night was the first time. If we don¡¯t counter their probing at the right time, they¡¯ll only grow bolder. Next time, just confronting them probably won¡¯t be enough to scare them off.¡± After listening to Bi Fang¡¯s explanation, everyone was silent for a while before Zheng Tianfang, without a word, began to dig snow pits. Once someone took the lead, soon everyone else began to move as well. Looking at the surroundings, Bi Fang decided to head deeper into the southeastern snow forest. The trees there were denser, providing more cover to avoid a wolf pack¡¯s charge. As he was packing up, the number of messages, usually limited, suddenly surged like a tsunami of comments in his field of vision! Startled by the flood of comments, Bi Fang didn¡¯t have time to examine them closely and instinctively drew his knife, on alert, looking around. But after scanning the area, he saw nothing out of the ordinary. Strange, there¡¯s no danger. Why did the netizens suddenly send so many messages? Scratching his head, Bi Fang finally focused on the content of the messages. But as soon as he read one, his pupils shrank abruptly. [Congratulations to Lin Chang for becoming an Emperor in Master Fang¡¯s live streaming room!] [Congratulations to Lin Zhizhou for becoming an Emperor in Master Fang¡¯s live streaming room!] [Lin Chang sends 100 Spaceships to the streamer¡ªMaster Fang, can you see this?] [Lin Chang sends 100 Spaceships to the streamer¡ªPlease, Master Fang, look at the comments! I am Lin Chang from Shenhua Group!] [Lin Chang sends 100 Spaceships to the streamer¡ªThe girl Master Fang saved yesterday is my sister, Lin Xue. Please make sure to bring her back safely. We¡¯re truly grateful!] [Lin Chang sends 100 Spaceships to the streamer¡ªMaster Fang, please look!] Chapter 68 - 67: Nightmare Chapter 68: Chapter 67: Nightmare Translator: 549690339 | A line of people spread out like geese in flight, with Bi Fang leading the way at the front. The piercing wind felt as if knives were slicing through the skin, and whenever one wiped their face, they could always brush off a thick layer of snowflakes. Although the blizzard had died down considerably, it was now confirmed that this was wolf territory. Even though the car was larger and more likely to be spotted by a helicopter, they couldn¡¯t stay any longer. Bi Fang didn¡¯t want the helicopter to discover just a pack of well-fed wolves. After walking for a while, he took out his water bottle to quench everyone¡¯s thirst. Everyone had brought insulated cups, and melting snow with their body heat was out of the question; besides, they were now far from any stream, so any water saved was a boon. However, Zheng Tianfang and the others only took a few sips, leaving most of the water for Lin Xue. Ever since they found out who she was, everyone took good care of her, not letting her carry her backpack, although she wanted to share the load. Bi Fang was also finding out for the first time that even Lin Xue¡¯s colleagues did not know she was with Shenhua Group. The confidentiality was well- maintained. She appeared to be a strong and decisive woman. If this were decades ago, she would definitely be recognized as an advanced member of society. [The wind seems still so strong, everything is a blur of white, it looks so dangerous.] [Ah, I wonder if we can escape this time.] [What kind of live stream is this, in the Arctic? Are streamers really going to such lengths to get views now?] New viewers who joined were quickly enlightened with answers to their questions. [Damn, are there wolves chasing them from behind? Isn¡¯t that a bit too outrageous? Shouldn¡¯t this be on the news?] [Not yet, but it¡¯s true. Tens of thousands of eyes were watching last night, could that be fake?] Seeing so many people speak with such certainty, many new viewers stayed after collecting their treasure chests. The stream had a very high stickiness rate. If it weren¡¯t for the average number of online viewers being dragged down by last night¡¯s constant streaming, Bi Fang estimated that he would have completed his mission by now. In the thinly dispersed snow forest, the group trudged on with difficulty. Wu Mingtao, battling against the strong wind, began to shiver all over. He didn¡¯t know how much further they had to go, but his steps grew more labored as he watched the main group pull ahead, feeling panic rise within him. He shouted, but his voice was drowned out by the wind. He tried to get up, but he didn¡¯t have the strength. Just as Wu Mingtao watched his teammates¡¯ figures growing smaller and smaller, with anxiety gnawing at him, three shadows suddenly charged toward him from the snowy wind not far away. Wolves! Three wolves! Wu Mingtao was terrified. He wanted to get back to the team, but he was too weak and couldn¡¯t outrun the nimble wolves. He fell to the ground again. Blood splattered on Wu Mingtao¡¯s face, and he clearly saw the white bone on his forearm¡ªso fragile, like thin, brittle cookies. He even heard the crisp sound of it breaking. Another wolf latched onto his lower leg, and as the agonizing pain shot through him, Wu Mingtao saw a blur before his eyes, feeling like a balloon deflating as all the air escaped with the bite. Was he going to be reduced to a skeleton? Curse words, regret, resentment¡ªall these emotions climbed like venomous snakes onto Wu Mingtao¡¯s heart, but it was all in vain. The agile wolves left clear footprints in the snow, the prey¡¯s blood spreading out, staining the wolf paw prints red on the snow. The nauseating stench of decay emanating from the wolves¡¯ snouts was like dead fish from a seafood market. Wu Mingtao¡¯s pupils dilated, and he felt extremely weary, wishing only for a good sleep. He thought he would never leave this snow forest again. Bones of the ages, forests of a thousand years, glaciers of ten thousand years. Everything felt like a terrible dream. He tried hard to close his eyes and then open them, hoping to see the familiar room and his family, but all that met his gaze was a sea of red, and his wounds no longer hurt. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The cold gradually crept into his body. He knew he couldn¡¯t sleep, but his eyes wouldn¡¯t obey. Too tired, just too tired. He couldn¡¯t¡­ walk any further¡­ Smack! A loud slap rang out. ¡°Hey!¡± ¡°Wake up, quick!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t sleep, don¡¯t you dare sleep!¡± Shouts erupted. Bi Fang slapped Wu Mingtao¡¯s face hard, hoping to awaken him from his unconscious state. Fortunately, the situation wasn¡¯t serious, and in no time, Wu Mingtao slowly regained consciousness. He looked at the four people who had gathered around him and felt instinctively for his forearm and thigh, only to find both were unharmed. ¡°What happened to me?¡± ¡°You were too tired and fainted!¡± Bi Fang said, having been startled when the man suddenly collapsed. It was indeed all just a nightmare. How wonderful would it be if it were all just a dream? Wu Mingtao thought. ¡°Haha, you were scared silly, weren¡¯t you?¡± Big Beard laughed heartily as he watched Wu Mingtao feel his leg and face. He reached out, helped him up from the snow, and brushed off the snow that had piled up on his back. [I was so scared, I thought something else happened. Thankfully, it was just a fainting spell.] [Yeah, you gave me a fright, just collapsing so suddenly and stiffly.] [Definitely too tired, suffering injuries without being able to get proper rest, on top of trekking so far. Not to mention the wolves chasing us¡ªthere¡¯s no way I could endure that.] [Right, I used to look down on them, but thinking about it now, the man with the limp¡¯s reaction was the normal one. These people are very strong, all excellent comrades!] The drone trailed at the back, capturing all of the members; this was Bi Fang¡¯s measure to prevent anyone from getting left behind. So many viewers saw quite clearly that Wu Mingtao had suddenly fallen. Bi Fang looked at the snowy forest that was still some distance away, then at Wu Mingtao¡¯s pale face, and decided they should find a wind-sheltered slope to rest and have something to eat first. In the backpack were some scavenged compressed biscuits and five lampreys, one for each person. At the wind-sheltered slope, Bi Fang restarted the fire and took out the lampreys to distribute them. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Big Beard took the frozen and stiff lamprey, examined it, and was immediately startled by its head, almost throwing it away. ¡°This is a delicacy!¡± On the other side, Zheng Tianfang was quite pleased. He recognized the creature; lampreys often appeared at the fish market in Mohe. Whether steamed, fried, or grilled, they were delicious, and there was also the belief in ¡°like cures like.¡± [Like cures like? Now that you mention this, I¡¯m not sleepy anymore (jokingly)!] [Good lord, wish you¡¯d told me sooner. Suddenly, it¡¯s starting to look cute to me.] [What does ¡°like cures like¡± mean?] [Young man, you wouldn¡¯t understand, there¡¯s deep meaning in it. Let go and let me get my fix! ] [Seeing it makes me feel like I¡¯m losing sanity again. If I become a believer, none of you can avoid the blame! ] Seeing that no one else had eaten it before, ¡°local tour guide¡± Zheng Tianfang took the initiative to explain. ¡°Lampreys are easy to prepare, just cut off the entire gill part, and the body is like an empty tube, different from regular fish. It tastes great when grilled. These have already been processed, so you can skewer and eat them straight away!¡± Zheng Tianfang skewered the lampreys and set them over the fire to grill, inviting the others to try it: ¡°Everyone should try it, it¡¯s really good!¡± Perhaps driven by hunger, the others also grabbed branches and prepared to take a taste. Since the lampreys were rigid from freezing, and it was impossible to skewer through their bodies, everyone pierced from the head through to the stomach. Watching them slowly soften over the fire and start to ooze fine oils was quite a sight. Zheng Tianfang, who had started ahead of the others, was very experienced with this. During the season of crisp autumn weather, a great time for fresh seafood, he would often try the freshest grilled lampreys at the night markets, which were very tasty. Without salt, he sprinkled on some compressed biscuit crumbs flavored with green onion, which added a unique taste. Once one person started, the rest followed suit, and they found that, just as Zheng Tianfang had said, it was delicious, and hunger further enhanced the flavor. Bi Fang took a bite. Due to being frozen, the texture wasn¡¯t great, neither like meat nor fish but it was a ¡°pleasurable delight.¡± Paired with compressed biscuits, it turned out to be a nice lunch after all. Seeing how everyone was enjoying their meal, the audience on the screen also felt a craving. [It¡¯s making me want to try it now, it¡¯s mid-October, the perfect season for freshwater delicacies.] [Is there any of this at the night market in Heilonghe?] [Not sure, I live in Heilonghe, but I¡¯ve never seen it¡­] [You probably have to go further north, right? Mohe is the northernmost part of Heilonghe.] After everyone had replenished their fluids, Bi Fang and the rest continued their journey. They had to reach the denser snowy forest before nightfall at all costs. The previous snowy forest was too sparse to stop the wolf pack effectively. That¡¯s why Zheng Tianfang and others had decided to drive into it rather than take a longer route to avoid it, but that decision had led to a big problem. However, before continuing the trek, Bi Fang had climbed to a higher ground to take a look and saw that there was a bare, treeless area between the two snowy forests, which was truly troubling. Terrains like this were ideal for a wolf pack¡¯s encirclement¡­ Chapter 69 - 68: Run!!! Chapter 69: Chapter 68: Run!!! Translator: 549690339 | No! We must take action! Bi Fang looked out over the clearing with deep concern. When wolves chase their prey, they can cover dozens of kilometers, only attacking when the prey is exhausted. Such open terrain undoubtedly favors their pursuit. Moreover, the eighty-kilometer hunting range he mentioned before is just an average. Sometimes this hunting corridor can be up to a hundred kilometers long. ¡°Normally, a person¡¯s average walking speed is five kilometers per hour, but clearly, that speed is not feasible for us,¡± Bi Fang said, scanning the area before and after him and taking a breath. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Because not only do we have the wounded with us, we are also walking on snow, which is more exhausting and makes it easy to lose direction. We often have to stop and reassess our direction, so managing to walk two or three kilometers in an hour is already quite an achievement. After half a day like this, we¡¯ve probably covered just over ten kilometers, which isn¡¯t even outside their hunting grounds!¡± Upon hearing these words, the four people behind Bi Fang were all stunned. They had walked for the better part of the day, drained to their core. They had presumed they had covered a good distance, yet now they realized they had only traveled around ten kilometers? When could they possibly get out of the wolves¡¯ hunting grounds? Or is there even a chance? Wu Mingtao felt a hint of despair, the nightmare of just a while ago flashing before his eyes again. It seemed as if, at any moment within the vast expanse of white snow, wolves might burst forth and bite through his throat. That was what Bi Fang had told him after seeing him wake up and feel his thigh and arm. Wolves, like all predators, prefer attacking vital areas and only turn to the limbs if there¡¯s no other opportunity. He even got it wrong in his dream¡­ ¡°The wind has died down a lot, which might not be good news for us. Although the smaller the wind, the more likely helicopters are to be deployed, and the more likely they are to find us, it also means the wolves¡¯ sense of smell will be more reliable. We must mask our scent!¡± What was puzzling, was that right after saying this, Bi Fang threw himself into the snow, rolling back and forth, coating his entire body with snowflakes, becoming like a snowman. Creak! Creak! Due to the frigid temperatures of the blizzard, a thin layer of ice crystals had formed over the snow. As his full body weight pressed down, the ice crystals shattered, emitting a muffled sound similar to that of a foam board breaking. In the live stream, viewers slowly typed out a question mark. What was this behavior? Has he given up and resorted to throwing a tantrum? [???] [What¡¯s gotten into Old Fang? Has he had a mental breakdown?] [Is the pressure too great?] [Being stuck with pig teammates and facing godlike adversaries, Old Fang is struggling to hold up alone!] [Don¡¯t stop, Captain!] Many viewers were worried, thinking that Bi Fang was under too much pressure and was mentally disturbed, which was normal given the harsh environment, the need to rescue people, and the need to guard against wolves, all while being completely isolated. Even Lin Chang was taken aback, worried that something unexpected might happen, and hastily sent a hundred more spaceships, hoping Bi Fang would revive his spirits. As the spaceships flew by, the Shuiyou (online friends/audience) looked up in unison, pretending to gaze upward. Even Lord Mu felt moved as he seldom encountered a richer tycoon than himself, but he also had no interest in competing for the top spot. For one, the other¡¯s donations were for the sake of saving lives, with a much more serious purpose than his own, and secondly, Shenhua Group was indeed formidable; even his own father¡¯s company couldn¡¯t match in scale. After rolling in the snow, Bi Fang sat up from the snow and looked at the bullet screen feeling somewhat embarrassed: ¡°I¡¯m not having a mental breakdown, I¡¯m using the snowflakes to eliminate the scent from my body.¡± ¡°The snowflakes themselves are loose and porous, similar to activated charcoal, which functions well in absorbing odors and particulate matter. Moreover, Mohe¡¯s snow is dry, similar to a powder, and doesn¡¯t melt easily upon brief contact, making it suitable for eliminating scent and reducing the likelihood of being tracked by the wolves!¡± After finishing speaking, Bi Fang also had the remaining people roll around in the snow just like he did, in order to eliminate their scent. Upon hearing this explanation, Zheng Tianfang and the others had no objections, and were even eager to get away from the wolf pack, so they imitated Bi Fang, rolling around on the ground. In the following period of time, Bi Fang and his companions would stop to remove their scent after traveling every stretch of the way, trying to minimize the chance of being tracked by the wolves. Quickly, several hours passed. It¡¯s like chasing the mountains to find them further, like longing for the deep sea that¡¯s beyond reach. It was the same with the forest; when the dense snow forest actually appeared before their eyes, it was also nearing nightfall. Seeing the snow forest not far away, everyone became excited, since according to Bi Fang, once they reached the dense snow forest, it would be difficult for the wolf pack to launch a large-scale charge, and with the trees for cover, the danger would be much reduced. [Damn, finally there, it took a whole day just to see us hurrying! Who would believe that?] [Only a bigshot like Master Fang could make people want to watch a live broadcast of traveling¡­] [It really feels like watching a movie, even though the movie is a bit boring] [Indeed, others use special effects for snowstorms, but this is all real, even the wounds are real!] [Bald Uncle: I feel offended (funny)] [I get tired enough walking for a few hours on flat ground, let alone in the snow. Didn¡¯t Master Fang say before that traveling in the snow is many times more difficult?] ¡°That¡¯s right, the forest looks close, but it¡¯s actually much further than I estimated. I thought we would arrive by this afternoon, but now it¡¯s almost evening,¡± Bi Fang said, propping himself up on his thigh with some difficulty. Although his physical fitness had reached the average adult standard, and even stood out a bit in terms of stamina, it didn¡¯t make up for the day¡¯s journey, and he also had to take care of the injured Wu Mingtao, occasionally carrying him on his back, which was very taxing. After glancing at the few people who had kept up, he continued to explain, ¡°Now we¡¯re in an open area; we must hurry, otherwise, if the wolf pack starts to encircle us, we may be completely wiped out!¡± After calling everyone together, they all quickened their steps, straining their heavy legs to move forward. The sky was dim, and with the falling snowflakes, the visibility became very short; beyond a hundred meters, it all became hazy. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Lin Xue, who had been mostly quiet, suddenly asked. Upon hearing this, the group halted. Bi Fang strained his eyes to see more clearly amidst the undulating landscape. Under the impending night, the mountains were dark and the rolling snow slopes took on a gray hue; on this thick gray, however, one could faintly perceive black spots moving swiftly. They charged forward, as fast as a streak of black lightning, the high-pitched and even shrill howling of wolves piercing the night sky, echoing endlessly! ¡°Run!¡± A roar like thunder exploded as though in their very souls. Bi Fang suddenly shouted, startling the audience in front of the screens to cover their ears. Without explanation or hesitation, he grabbed the hands of Wu Mingtao and Lin Xue and sprinted towards the snow forest! It was the wolf pack! The attacking wolf pack! The audience, who had relaxed as they neared the snow forest, had their hearts lifted high once again, as no one expected the wolves to launch their assault at this moment! Without standoff, without warning, unguarded! The snowshoes tied to their feet broke and shattered from the frantic running, but no one dared to stop; everyone tapped into the fastest speed of their lives! Chapter 70 - 69: Kill Them! (Extra) Chapter 70: Chapter 69: Kill Them! (Extra) Translator: 549690339 Lin Chang and Lin Zhou both stared at the large screen, lips tightly clenched without daring to space out for even a second. They didn¡¯t go to inform the old man because he hadn¡¯t slept at all last night, and had only managed to rest a little today. If they were to wake him now, and then have him witness such a thrilling scene, the siblings might very well be inheriting the family fortune. ¡°Come on!¡± No matter who it was, at this moment they all silently prayed for the people running. The intense running caused Bi Fang¡¯s brain to lack oxygen, which suddenly reminded him of an article he had read in his previous life. The athlete¡¯s usual performance was not great, but in the end, it had earned him a world championship. The reason turned out to be that one morning, while rushing to training, the athlete was chased by a wolf, which led him to run a time he never thought possible. From that day on his ¡°governor and conception vessels¡± were unblocked, unleashing all his potential. Bi Fang had originally thought this was just a load of nonsense, but now he found out it was true! What the hell was this if not total immersion? This was fucking total immersion! Bi Fang had never felt his body so heavy, as if lead was poured into each of his legs, making it impossible to lift them higher or faster. Right now, he wished he had four legs. Faster! Faster! Even faster! Bi Fang¡¯s temples throbbed with snake-like veins, and it seemed as if a blood vessel in his head was pounding. He roared as he ran wildly, while the howls of the chasing wolf pack became more urgent and louder. Not because they were howling more fiercely, but because they were closing in on Bi Fang and the others at an incredibly fast speed! A wolf¡¯s running speed is extremely fast, up to fifty-five kilometers per hour, and they have great stamina. Unless it¡¯s an ultra-endurance race, humans cannot outrun them. But Bi Fang didn¡¯t need to outrun them; he just needed to get into the woods! ¡°Don¡¯t look back!¡± Bi Fang saw Hu Hao glance backwards and immediately shouted at him, while also catching a glimpse of wolves attacking from both sides. Through the drone¡¯s wide-angle lens, the audience could clearly see the wolf pack taking a crescent shape and flanking from both sides. They were like a huge net attempting to ensnare everyone at once. It was getting closer and closer, both the wolf pack and the forest. Seeing the shrubs just a few meters away, Bi Fang felt a surge of excitement. But just as he entered, he slipped, bringing down Lin Xue, Wu Mingtao, and the others with him. Behind them was a steep slope! One after another, Hu Hao and Zheng Tianfang were also knocked down by the charging Bi Fang, and a series of screams rang out. The five of them tumbled down the slope like bowling balls, covered in white snow. Zheng Tianfang, cushioned at the very bottom, felt pain as if his body was falling apart. Bi Fang, having a bit of cushioning, wasn¡¯t feeling as bad, but he heard the howling of the wolves on the surrounding slopes and, disregarding the pain in his back, quickly pushed the others off him. ¡°Quick, quick, quick! Light a fire! Light a fire! Light a fire!¡± Bi Fang shouted while opening his backpack and searching for the Firesteel. The others quickly got up and placed the torches, previously soaked in gasoline, in front of Bi Fang, also frantically gathering branches from around. The weather was too cold. Bi Fang felt his hands were like blocks of ice. In his urgency, he didn¡¯t hold the Firesteel¡¯s handle but instead directly rubbed the magnesium rod. ¡°Hurry up and fucking light it!¡± Feeling the approach of the wolf pack, Bi Fang¡¯s eyes reddened. Sparks of intense heat sprayed out, burning and cracking the skin on his fingers. The sparks fell on the gasoline, quickly igniting a large fire. Seeing the flames rise, everyone finally felt a bit of safety and scrambled to pile on more small branches. The wolves were still howling, but the noise had begun to diminish. Hu Hao looked around to discover the wolves hadn¡¯t charged down, feeling a bit of joy. ¡°The fire is working,¡± Bi Fang also looked around, but without relaxing, he frowned tightly, continuously recalling the various behaviors of wolves in his mind. The situation was not as optimistic as Hu Hao thought. The wolf pack had already charged; they wouldn¡¯t be scared off that easily¡­ The howling became softer and eventually stopped, as if the wolves had retreated. The fire worked?¡± Zheng Tianfang asked, looking at the serious Bi Fang. Hu Hao, seeing how useful the fire was, immediately made a suggestion-he felt uneasy without sight of it: ¡°If we light a circle of fire, the wolves won¡¯t dare to come close, and we will also be able to detect their movements in advance¡­¡± But before Hu Hao could finish his words, a piercing wolf howl interrupted him. That howl, utterly different from the previous ones, was filled with¡­ agony? Everyone instantly fell silent, listening to the growls and screams coming from the wolf pack. There was a pause for a while, but soon it started again. At last, everything returned to calmness. But the live streaming room exploded with activity; nobody had witnessed such an unusual scene before, and everyone wanted to know what exactly was going on! [What¡¯s happening?] S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Why are they screaming?] [Does Master Fang know? It feels so creepy!] [Is there a rebellion in the wolf pack?] [Two packs of wolves?] ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Hu Hao¡¯s forehead was covered in cold sweat. ¡°The alpha wolf! They are attacking the alpha wolf!¡± Bi Fang was certain, a rebellion had arisen within the wolf pack, and that¡¯s why they had temporarily stopped their assault on them, not because of the flames, just as he had said before. This level of flame was far from enough to make the wolf pack feel scared. ¡°No matter the reason the pack is attacking the alpha wolf, the alpha must have taken care of it.¡± Bi Fang looked into the pitch-black darkness, which was eerily silent, like a deep, bottomless pool of still water, betraying no signs that it hid an entire wolf pack, over twenty wolves. ¡°Inside a wolf pack, there are three primary ranks: the alpha wolf, the Subordinate Wolves, and the fringe wolves, with the pups not included. Just now, it might have been a Subordinate Wolf challenging the alpha, but it failed.¡± ¡°Wait, why are you so sure?¡± Wu Mingtao didn¡¯t understand why Bi Fang was certain that the alpha wolf had won. Indeed, why? Many readers also didn¡¯t understand why it had to be the alpha that was victorious. Were they underestimating the Subordinate Wolves? An attack on the alpha at this time only happens because it is old and can¡¯t control the pack, but old wolves have an advantage. They are craftier, smarter, and more patient than the young ones.¡± ¡°If the young wolves had won just now, they would have already launched an attack on us to lead the pack to food and prove their status, instead of hiding again. This is the old wolf considering that now is not a good time to attack.¡± Hearing this explanation, everyone felt a chill down their spines. By that logic, if the Subordinate Wolves had won just now¡­ [Wow, isn¡¯t the pressure a bit too much?] [This is like a trip through the gates of hell! ] [Isn¡¯t that too scary?] [These wolves are too clever, right? They seem almost human!] [Don¡¯tyou think Master Fang is more incredible? He can guess everything that the wolf pack is up to, totally nailing it.] [Add one. I¡¯m a graduate student in biology, and I didn¡¯t realize this until the host explained it and I understood that it was the alpha that won. I only figured out that there was a rebellion in the pack, never thinking that it was possible to dissect the situation to predict the winner. His level, I feel, is fiercer than our professors.] [Right? I really want Master Fang to give a public lecture at our school. With that level, he¡¯d be way better than the armchair strategists.] [Are you from the same dorm as above?] [Yeah, ever since I discovered Master Fang¡¯s live streams, all four of us in the dorm have become fans.] ¡°What should we do next?¡± asked Hu Hao. ¡°Kill them!¡± Under the blazing firelight, Bi Fang¡¯s eyes shone with a fierce light. Now, with the pack in turmoil, it was undoubtedly the best opportunity! Chapter 71 - 70: No Way Out Chapter 71: Chapter 70: No Way Out Translator: 549690339 | The situation was obvious, the wolf pack wouldn¡¯t let them off easily. Large wolf packs usually appeared during the scarce winters to collectively hunt larger prey to survive the harsh season. Moreover, this also resulted in a lower hunting success rate. Most people believed that the larger the number of individuals in a wolf pack, the easier it should be to hunt, but in fact, when wolves operated alone or in pairs, the prey they hunted was mainly smaller animals and their success rate was higher. But to reduce hunting frequency and to meet survival needs, large wolf packs often preyed on big game like musk oxen and moose, which actually lowered their success rate. In nature, a predator failing once may not be impactful, but after several failures, death was what awaited them. The most direct example was the cheetah, which only had five chances¡ªfive failures, and it faced starvation! Thus, a lower success rate meant the wolf pack would prepare more thoroughly, not striking rashly. This was why the wolf pack had let Bi Fang and the others go twice. The first time was the initial encounter, uncertain of the situation, both sides sizing each other up; the second time was when there was internal strife, and the alpha wolf considered the best hunting opportunity lost. Bi Fang even felt fortunate that he had saved these people. Given how close they were at that time, it showed that he had also entered the territory of the wolf pack. If left alone, the wolf pack would never have been as cautious as they were now. These were indeed ordinary people who were a hindrance, but it was precisely because of these five individuals that he had the means to confront them, affording him two chances to survive. But there would not be a third time! Bi Fang disliked being passive; he preferred to take the initiative. Humans were much larger than wolves, and apart from biting strength, there was a significant gap in power. The reason why wolves appeared so frightening was entirely due to humans1 long-term pampering and extreme fear of pain. Humans were afraid of getting hurt, but to take down a wolf unharmed with bare hands was virtually impossible, which was the root of the grave misjudgment people had about wolves. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In nature, size dominance was a significant advantage. As long as one could wield a spear or similar long weapons to prevent the wolf from closing in, humans could very well handle one-on-one or even one-on-two situations against wolves. ¡°We have to kill them,¡± Bi Fang looked up at the shocked people and repeated. ¡°One at a time, target those that are alone. Traps, spears, get everything ready. As long as we can reduce the number of the wolf pack to less than ten, they will no longer be a threat, and I am confident I can lead all of you to escape!¡± The online friends felt as if struck by thunder; they had all seen the wolf pack that had just encircled them, finding it hard to imagine how to fend them off. However, some longtime fans were excited. Watching Bi Fang and others running away all day, they had grown weary; the online friends were looking forward to Bi Fang scaring off the opponent like he had with the bear last time! ¡°But they will do the same to us!¡± Zheng Tianfang was very serious. He grew up in Mohe and, since childhood, had heard from the elders how terrifying packs of wolves could be. He also knew that their group couldn¡¯t keep fleeing indefinitely, as that was just a slow death. Hu Hao and the others were also extremely surprised, utterly at a loss how to counter a whole pack of wolves! ¡°Then we shouldn¡¯t give them the chance!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s words were decisive. He didn¡¯t wait any longer and began looking for straight branches nearby. Using the hunting knife, he chopped them down, intending to turn these branches into weapons to fend off the wolf pack. One, two, three¡­ Under the dark night, the clouds dispersed, and a bright full moon rose. Sparks flew as the wood burned, crackling in the fire. The five of them sat around the campfire, four shaking with cold while only one young man stood upright; the light elongated his shadow, giving his face an interplay of light and dark with the flickering flames. He threw the long poles on the ground as if bringing spears to warriors ready for battle. [Damn, this composition, that¡¯s another wallpaper-quality image] [What a stunning view!] [So tough! Master Fang is truly strong!] [Aren¡¯t wolves protected animals? Is this okay?] [At a time like this, you¡¯re still worried about protected animals? Are you okay?] [Start a forest fire! Animals can¡¯t communicate with humans, and I think the government would understand.] [ What a bad idea from the guy above, you think burning the wolf means humans will be fine? Besides, if we¡¯re not in the forest anymore, wolves won¡¯t stay here either!] [Ruo Zhuxun sent the host too Wolf Fangs¡ªThe host is so cool this round!] [Plant a Big Tree sent the host a Spaceship*!¡ªStill, better to be careful, right? We can just drag it out, right? Just wait for the rescue team to arrive.] [Lord Mu sent the host a Spaceship*!¡ªThough it¡¯s better to rely on oneself than to ask for help, it really feels dangerous¡­ but it is cool¡­] ¡°Holy shit, hurry, come look!¡± In the dormitory, Cao Lifeng shouted excitedly, but the other roommates were somewhat bewildered. ¡°What¡¯s got into him these past two days, always shouting and yelling at his phone.¡± The dorm leader pushed his reflective glasses up, bewildered. Turns out the other roommates were also clueless. ¡°Watching a live stream!¡± Seeing his roommates gather around, Cao Lifeng excitedly showed them his phone, wanting to get them to acknowledge how awesome Master Fang was, ¡°This host is just insanely cool, I couldn¡¯t help but tip him a few dozen bucks!¡± ¡°Are you insane? You can¡¯t even afford your meals, and you¡¯re tipping?¡± The dorm leader was shocked¡ªthis guy was still asking his family for money yesterday, and now he¡¯s in the mood to tip a host? ¡°Really, you don¡¯t understand, you¡¯d know if you watched.¡± Cao Lifeng shoved his phone into the hands of the dorm leader, and the other guys couldn¡¯t help but crowd around out of curiosity. ¡°Wolf Fang TV? You¡¯re still using this for streaming?¡± The dorm leader, taking the phone, was surprised to see the little logo in the top-right corner of the live stream. It was a platform that had become outdated¡ªwith its former glory days behind it, the younger generation had gradually been lured away by Shark and Tiger Fang. Were people still using this? And even if it once was a big platform, it was now on the decline, so what kind of impressive host could they have? If they were really that impressive, why not go to Shark or Tiger Fang instead of Wolf Fang? Wasn¡¯t that just ruining your own prospects? Thinking this to himself, the dorm leader couldn¡¯t resist Cao Lifeng¡¯s enthusiasm and took a look at the content, but as soon as he saw Bi Fang throw the spear to the ground, his curiosity was piqued. Huh, this frame¡­ feels even better than a movie. This host is quite interesting. Seeing the dorm leader¡¯s expression, Cao Lifeng immediately knew he had hooked him. It was the unique quality of the stream that had first drawn him in, and after learning more about the content, he was so engrossed that he skipped meals just to save money to tip. He didn¡¯t believe the dorm leader wouldn¡¯t be attracted. And this scene was being repeated in many places across the country, with more and more people being recommended by those around them to watch Bi Fang¡¯s live stream. Perhaps with just one look, their curiosity was captured. After understanding more, they were so hooked they didn¡¯t want to let go¡ª those without Wolf Fang TV even downloaded it. This is the ultimate collision between man and wolf, a confrontation between lives. Is it intelligence that has the upper hand, or is it the claws that tear everything apart? Both sides are seasoned hunters with plenty of experience, but who will prove to be more skilled? Everyone watched, utterly riveted and highly excited, as a true showdown was about to begin! In such a situation, even though Bi Fang had a low-profile live stream the previous night, he still received a notification from the system. [Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the main task one. Rewards will be calculated after all tasks are completed!] Chapter 72 - 71: Decision Chapter 72: Chapter 71: Decision Translator: 549690339 | Indeed! Seeing that Bi Fang had completed the task did not surprise him. The number of real viewers watching his live stream had reached a staggering one hundred thousand, with popularity approaching three million, most of which were attracted by the thousand spaceships sent by Lin Chang previously. This data had no water content, far surpassing Lu Wentao of Shark TV, and could even be said to be incomparable. Presumably, the other party should be whining in bed by now. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even just looking at the average viewing segment for the mainline mission, so far, it was more than enough. But he wondered what would happen if the viewership dropped below fifty thousand later on, lowering the average? Withdraw the completion notice? Unfortunately, rewards could only be settled after the entire task was completed. It would have been great if he could receive the rewards in advance. Bi Fang really needed the support of the System now. Dealing with the wolf pack was a necessity. If he could receive part of the rewards in advance, even if it was just a boost in physical fitness, it would greatly enhance his chances of victory¡­ [Ding, do you wish to receive part of the rewards in advance? Note: Final settlement will be deducted accordingly.] Bi Fang was whittling a wooden stick, and upon hearing this, his hands didn¡¯t stop as he continued to explain to his Shuiyou. ¡°People call the Birch Forest the ¡®Family Forest¡¯ because birch wood is firm, symbolizing the stability and harmony of a home, making it an excellent material for crafting wooden spears.¡± ¡°Making a wooden spear is quite simple. Just make sure the spearhead isn¡¯t too thin or elongated, otherwise, it¡¯s prone to break, and then roast it in the embers of a campfire.¡± ¡°Be careful not to set it aflame. Keep an eye on it at all times. When the color turns black but it hasn¡¯t ignited or started to shine, then it¡¯s ready. Wolves and bears differ; wolves don¡¯t have thick hide, so this hardness is sufficient.¡± ¡± when wolves come close, you stab them,¡± Bi Fang said as he forcefully stripped off a piece of bark, ¡°Stab hard. Mind the distance-not too far, and not too close. Too far and you¡¯ll miss; they¡¯ll have enough time to attackbefore you can reposition. Too close and you won¡¯t be able to react.¡± [Can you make one that¡¯s ten meters long, just thrust it from a distance!] [What are you thinking? Why not prepare a forty-meter sword?] [But why not climb a tree? Could wolves climb trees like bears do?] [Right, wolves can¡¯t climb trees, can they?] [Useless. As a graduate student in biology, I can responsibly tell you that wolves are very patient. They¡¯ll just wait for you to run out of strength and fall, not leaving. Even if you endure long enough, they¡¯ll take turns standing guard.] [Ah, that so¡­] ¡°That¡¯s right. In fact, climbing trees is useless against most predators. Those that can climb aside, those that can¡¯t are patient enough to wait for you to fall, and by then you won¡¯t have the strength to resist¡ªyou¡¯ll be at their mercy! Bi Fang spoke in an even tone, but the information he conveyed made the fear of wolf packs even greater. Although birch wood was hard, the hunting knife was obviously sharper, and soon, a wooden spear was crafted. ¡°Here you go!¡± Bi Fang handed the sharpened spear to Zheng Tianfang for him to roast over the fire. But Zheng Tianfang didn¡¯t take it and just looked over at him. Bi Fang looked around and saw that everyone was watching him. He couldn¡¯t help but smile and said, ¡°It¡¯s useful. At least you¡¯ll have something sharp in your hands to defend yourself.¡± After a moment of silence, Zheng Tianfang eventually said nothing, took the wooden spear, and inserted it into the campfire, roasting it as Bi Fang had instructed. Just now, Bi Fang had given him a misconception. But after thinking about it, he figured it was likely the illusion was a result of excessive stress, so he said nothing in the end. Seeing that Zheng Tianfang had no reaction, Bi Fang continued to whittle wood. At that moment, he had taken the System¡¯s advance on the rewards, receiving one Skill Advancement Ticket and one Enhancement Point. The Skill Advancement Ticket was used by Bi Fang on Field Army Level 5> without a doubt, it was the skill that could most enhance his combat capability in a short time. Now he was Special Forces Level 1! His body¡¯s capabilities had been completely transformed, his memory of various combat skills was much stronger than before, as well as various reconnaissance and anti-reconnaissance abilities, combat skills across different terrains, the overall level had been raised by more than a level! The Enhancement Points were also added to his Precision, reaching twelve points. Now his coordination and reflexes, as well as his Sixth Sense, were stronger than an average person! A world of difference from before! Although it might affect the reward settlement, this was the optimal solution at the moment. Just when Bi Fang thought everyone agreed with his idea, Wu Mingtao suddenly stood up shakily and, looking at the silent crowd, pointed at Bi Fang. ¡°Wait¡­ you guys, are you really going to listen to him? All that bullshit? Hu Hao noticed something was off with Wu Mingtao. The continuous mental shocks had already brought him to the edge of a breakdown. He got up, intending to restrain Wu Mingtao but was thrown off instead. ¡°Why do you all trust him so much? Did he lead us out? No! Look around, it¡¯s all wolves! They can see us clearly in the night, while we can¡¯t see anything! Wu Mingtao turned and pointed toward the snowy slope, pitch black to the point that no one knew what was out there. ¡°Can you talk about something else?¡± Zheng Tianfang hugged his head. ¡°I have to say it, I must! Look around, this is a damned place! By what right does he lead us out? We¡¯re five people now, and it keeps decreasing!¡± ¡°Three days, or two days? It hasn¡¯t been many days combined, so why listen to anyone now? An internet celebrity? And his crudely made wooden spears?¡± Wu Mingtao picked up a wooden stick from his side, weighed it for a moment, and then threw it away. Little did he know that this act antagonized all the audience, who began to curse him out in a frenzy. [What¡¯s up with this guy?] [An idiot, definitely. If it weren¡¯t for Master Fang just now, he would have been dead already. Does he even have the right to whine now?] [If not listening to Master Fang, then whom? His mother? I¡¯ve been annoyed by his stupidity for so long, always dragging everyone down, spreading negativity all day long, and now he even questions Master Fang?] ¡°Why are you babbling on and on?¡± Hu Hao was a bit angry, feeling that Wu Mingtao had completely lost his head, lacking any rationale, and completely forgetting who it was that had been leading them out of trouble all this time. ¡°Because I want to survive, I don¡¯t want to be eaten by those wolves!¡± Wu Mingtao¡¯s eyes were bloodshot. ¡°You¡¯re scared.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s words sharply interrupted Wu Mingtao¡¯s agitation. He turned to look at Bi Fang, slightly stunned, as the words pierced like a needle, deflating his bluster like a balloon. ¡°You don¡¯t need to speak those grandiose, empty words. What¡¯s wrong with being scared?¡± Bi Fang looked at Wu Mingtao¡¯s evasive gaze, his tone serious. ¡°Me? Scared? I¡¯m not scared at all!¡± ¡°Not scared?¡± Bi Fang repeated. ¡°Not scared!¡± ¡°I¡¯m terribly scared,¡± Bi Fang shook his head slightly. ¡°Shows clearly,¡± Wu Mingtao was still pretending to be strong. ¡°I¡¯m not ashamed to admit it, I¡¯m scared to death,¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°What good are tough words going to do?¡± ¡°Cut the crap!¡± Wu Mingtao, feeling exposed, flew into a rage. Hu Hao, seeing that the situation was getting out of hand, stood up intending to restrain Wu Mingtao again, but was pushed away and fell onto the snow. With that push, Hu Hao also lost his temper. Just as he was about to retort, he suddenly saw the flash of green light behind Wu Mingtao. He was about to warn him, but it was already too late. The flash of green leaped forward, pouncing on Wu Mingtao¡¯s back, ferociously biting and forcing all his unspoken words back down his throat! Wu Mingtao screamed in terror as Zheng Tianfang immediately grabbed a wooden spear and stabbed it into the wolf! Chapter 73 - 72 All is Ready Chapter 73: Chapter 72 All is Ready Translator: 549690339 | The burning bonfire illuminated the green pupils of the gray wolf. The sudden attack of the malevolent wolf startled everyone. Bi Fang reached for a burning piece of firewood and smashed it down onto the body of the wolf, a shower of sparks fell onto the snowy ground, and the piece of wood was actually snapped in two. On the other side, Zheng Tianfang also thrust his spear at the wolf, and with the combined efforts of the two, the wolf collapsed to the ground in less than a minute into its entrance. The toppled Wu Mingtao had yet to come to his senses, still smashing at the wolf repeatedly with rocks he found who knows where. ¡°Grass! Grass! Grass!¡± Seeing that Wu Mingtao could still fight and roar, with only his clothes torn at the back, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and then burst into laughter at his loss of composure. ¡°Hey, that¡¯s enough, it¡¯s already dead!¡± Zheng Tianfang laughed and shouted. Wu Mingtao let go of the bloodied rock and collapsed to the ground, his eyes empty. ¡°Is this a Wolf King?¡± Hu Hao asked, feeling that this lone wolf coming over definitely wasn¡¯t simple. Its entrance just now was as frightening as the ghosts in horror movies. ¡°It¡¯s not the Wolf King, but a Subordinate Wolf, probably one that failed during the previous turmoil,¡± Bi Fang examined the wounds on the wolf¡¯s carcass. Although the fur was somewhat charred, one could still vaguely make out bite marks and traces of blood. ¡°The Wolf King didn¡¯t kill it, instead, it used it as cannon fodder to test us. It saw the discord among us and found a weak spot, hoping to trade one for one.¡± ¡°If the probing had been successful, it would have been the perfect time for the Wolf King to attack. Even if it wasn¡¯t successful, it still conveniently eliminated a competitor.¡± Hearing this, Wu Mingtao kicked the wolf¡¯s carcass a few times with his uninjured leg, enraged. [Damn, they can even perceive that?] [Is this really a wolf? It¡¯s smarter than people! ] [Wolf King delivering meat?] [We¡¯re having meat tonight.] While the Shuiyou reveled joyfully, undulating wolf howls suddenly arose. The wailing wind carried the deep howls that seemed to cover the entire snow forest, a display of intimidation by the wolf pack. Such an audacious pack of wolves. Did they really think they had them nailed down? Bi Fang narrowed his eyes, ¡°Let¡¯s find a big tree stick, sharpen it, and stick it up its ass. Roast this beast until it¡¯s well done¡­¡± Bi Fang then turned to look at the others, who were huddling like quails, and said calmly, ¡°And then eat it!¡± On the campfire, a large skinned and bled wolf was being slowly roasted over the flames. Hu Hao, meanwhile, turned it from time to time to ensure even cooking. Bi Fang was also making weapons and traps, while explaining to Lin Xue and Zheng Tianfang beside him. After all, he couldn¡¯t rely on himself alone to make traps and weapons. ¡°To deal with wolves, just having spears is not enough, we also need to make traps and prepare remote attacking methods.¡± ¡°As a medium-sized predator, many ranged weapons are actually not very effective. Here I will teach you about a throwing weapon called the Dart, which is very powerful.¡± ¡°When the Spanish conquerors invaded the Aztec Empire in 1519, they found that Darts launched from a thrower could even penetrate their armor!¡± That powerful? Many viewers subconsciously recalled the heavy and sturdy plate armor of the Middle Ages. What kind of weapon could actually penetrate armor? And if it hit the flesh¡­ [That powerful? Does everyone have a Qilin Arm?] [Must be some principle of physics, right? Otherwise, how could it be so strong; the maximum throwing distance of a wooden javelin is only about thirty meters] [Could this even take down an elephant?] ¡°Hey, a viewer guessed it right!¡± Seeing the barrage, Bi Fang smiled. ¡°In primitive societies, people would use Darts to hunt bison and mammoths. Even in the early stages of the resistance war, given the objective environment and the near absence of our own military industry, our weapons mostly depended on battlefield captures. Due to their unstable sourcing and insufficient numbers, we also made extensive use of primitive cold weapons such as broadswords and Darts as a supplement.¡± ¡°How do you know so much?¡± Lin Xue, who was bending over to listen carefully, flicked her hair. She was curious; not only was the other party an excellent Wilderness Survivalist, but he was also well-versed in many historical details. ¡°Live streaming, huh? How can one get by without some skills?¡± Faced with questions, Bi Fang smiled. He had made a special effort to understand this knowledge so that he could converse with his audience during many of the journeys, to avoid dull moments. Making a dart wasn¡¯t difficult, otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have been widely used by humans in primitive societies. Its main shape is a wooden base with a raised front end to support the dart, and a hook at the bottom that can temporarily clip to the tail of the dart. These could all be carved out with a knife. As he explained, Bi Fang had already created a rough model. He held the front end of the tree stick, mounted the short spear on top, and a usable dart was completed. ¡°As I throw with my hand, the launcher will be subjected to the torque from swinging my arm. While rotating in a vertical plane, it will also propel the dart itself, allowing it to launch with a higher initial kinetic energy, just like more effective long-distance shooting with a sling.¡± Bi Fang gripped the base and with a forceful swing, the dart mounted on top soared out with a piercing scream, cutting through the air and driving straight into the mud ten meters away, nearly burying itself completely! Feeling the power of the dart, Zheng Tianfang and the others were shocked, then thrilled. The more powerful the weapon, the greater their chances of survival, right? [Damn, Old Fang is really awesome. He seems to know everything, even the physical principles!] [Fake Wilderness Survivalist: Sleep one night, and the tool is made. Real Wilderness Survivalist: Makes it live and even explains the theory!] [Lu Wentao: Achoo! Who¡¯s talking about me?] [Master Fang is about content streaming. Do you think live streaming is easy nowadays?] [Ah, isn¡¯t it easy? Is it not good to be just a super streamer?] sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Upstairs, I have a friend¡­] Bi Fang picked up the short spear from the ground and handed it to Zheng Tianfang, asking him to practice aiming. ¡°Now the wolf pack is eyeing us greedily, so don¡¯t throw it far off. Otherwise, we¡¯re likely not to be able to find it again. Do it like I just did, aim at the ground, draw a circle about ten meters away, and throw it into the circle.¡± ¡°A skilled dart thrower can almost achieve a hit rate of one hundred percent within thirty meters, but you can¡¯t reach that level overnight. I just need you to be able to throw twice when the wolf pack gets within fifty meters.¡± Faced with Bi Fang¡¯s instructions, Zheng Tianfang nodded, taking the dart and began to practice intently. Bi Fang continued to make a few more darts. He wanted to ensure that each person had at least two, as there would be no time to change darts when the wolf pack charged. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Hearing this, Bi Fang was taken aback, turning to look at Wu Mingtao seated beside him. ¡°I, I¡¯m injured and I can¡¯t run.¡± Wu Mingtao spoke hesitantly, deflated like a dried cucumber, ¡°I just, I¡¯m just afraid you would leave me behind¡­¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Bi Fang cut him off, smiling. Clearly, he didn¡¯t take the previous incident to heart. The hardest thing for a person to face is their own fears. There was no need to be too harsh on someone who was simply afraid. Wu Mingtao was just plain scared, much like a hedgehog curls up into a ball when in danger, a means of self-protection. Bi Fang, showing magnanimity, extended his hand for a handshake to make peace with Wu Mingtao. Wu Mingtao, looking into Bi Fang¡¯s eyes, finally gripped his hand tightly after a long pause. ¡°Let¡¯s get to know each other again, Bi Fang!¡± ¡°Wu Mingtao!¡± [Damn, is this what male friendship is like?] [Such an easy forgiveness, feels a bit perfunctory] [What else can you do, fight to the death? In face of a common enemy, unity is the only option, right?] [In my entire life, I¡¯ve never watched such a thrilling live stream. It¡¯s like a rollercoaster ride!] After the handshake, Wu Mingtao seemed to have let go of a massive burden, but soon sighed again, looking at the bandages on his leg with a complicated expression. ¡°If tomorrow, if the wolves come again tomorrow, and if we can¡¯t escape, you can leave me behind. I think I can at least hold them off for a while for you¡­¡± ¡°Cut it out!¡± Bi Fang stopped Wu Mingtao¡¯s defeatist talk, ¡°I will get all of you out of here, don¡¯t think too much about it.¡± No matter what the future held, his task was to do his utmost to get everyone out. Not for the system rewards, but because this was not where they were meant to end up! Chapter 74 - 73: Fight Until Dawn Chapter 74: Chapter 73: Fight Until Dawn Translator: 549690339 I ¡°Will this even work?¡± Hu Hao looked at Bi Fang setting up the trap, somewhat skeptical. ¡°Maybe it will, maybe it won¡¯t, but if it does, we¡¯re in the money,¡± replied Bi Fang. Bi Fang secured the bow made from bark ropes to the stump, set the arrows in place, pulled it taut, and hooked it to the catch tied to the trip line behind it. ¡°All set, let¡¯s keep moving.¡± Bi Fang, torch in hand, moved on after ensuring everything was correct. They chose not to rest that night and continued their journey. Sleeping was definitely not the right move with the wolf pack watching them at all times. Along the way, Bi Fang had already set up a total of seven large traps: two log traps, one spear trap, one pitfail, and three crossbow traps. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Three were placed near their previous campsite, and the rest were set up along the way. Now it was up to see how many wolves in the pack would fall for them. The log traps were the simplest, but the materials were hard to come by, requiring large logs that were time-consuming and laborious to prepare, and difficult to procure, either buried deep in the snow or too heavy. These were pretty much all the trap methods Bi Fang could think of to deal with large animals at present; he wondered if he could unlock more after leveling up. But this was the limit of his abilities for now. And seven traps should be enough; any more would be a waste of time and energy. The wolves weren¡¯t that stupid. ¡°This meat¡¯s so tough, tastes like dog shit,¡± Hu Hao mumbled with a mouthful of wolf leg. They had brought the wolf meat on purpose to ensure the pack followed the path lined with their traps. ¡°You¡¯ve eaten dog shit?¡± Zheng Tianfang asked. ¡°Damn!¡± Hu Hao cursed. ¡°Hahaha!¡± Boom! ¡°Awooo!¡± Accompanied by a scream, a large expanse of snow was dislodged nearby. The viewers were startled by the noise, but the sound made Bi Fang excitedly swing his fist in the air. ¡°The log trap worked!¡± Just seeing how the snow was shaken off, he knew the nearby log trap had been triggered. But he didn¡¯t know if it killed one wolf or two. Following the scream, a cacophony of howls rang out. The air was filled with the smell of blood and char. A large wolf sniffed the body of its fallen comrade, letting out a low growl. This was the third time. The wolf pack hadn¡¯t caught any prey for several days, but this time the enemy was unprecedentedly tough. The Wolf King had never thought there could be a hunter better than itself. The losses were significant, and discontent was growing among its members, but it had no choice. ¡°Did you hear that?¡± Zheng Tianfang was excited. Their resistance was working; the pack had sustained damage! ¡°You¡¯re no predators! We are the predators!¡± Zheng Tianfang pointed to himself and took an aggressive bite of the wolf meat, shouting out as he vented clouds of pent-up frustration. By now, each person was armed with two spears, two darts, and with all the traps set up along the way, everyone was feeling a bit inflated. [Feels like there¡¯s hope!] [Don¡¯t jinx us, bro!] [Are the wolves going nuts yet? They aren¡¯t going to freak out, are they?] [Did the rescue team ever get moving? It¡¯s been almost a whole day, right?] [Yeah, the snowstorm was less intense this morning¡ªin fact, much less. But now it¡¯s picking up again. Is there another blizzard?] [Seems like it. I checked the weather forecast for Mohe, and it did mention snow.] Many viewers were stimulated by the invisible clash between Bi Fang¡¯s group and the wolf pack, but they still hoped for a swift rescue. The snowstorm wasn¡¯t too severe that morning; helicopters should have been able to fly. But the reality was they still hadn¡¯t found them. ¡°Damn it! Where are the helicopters? Move out, move out! All of them!¡± In fact, the rescue center had been established early on, and the person in charge was inside, bellowing. A whole day had gone by, an entire day, and they still hadn¡¯t found anyone. The phone lines to their superiors were bombarded, but all to no avail. They had asked Wolf Fang TV, hoping to find out Bi Fang¡¯s landing location to start a circular search from there, but what they found out was. The helicopter pilot had flown randomly according to Bi Fang¡¯s instructions, and even the landing was random. The most fucking unbelievable thing was, there was no black box on the helicopter! No flight record! Just like the helicopter crash 15 years ago in Mohe, there was nothing! Damn it! Of all the things to learn from, why imitate Kobe? Even the pilot didn¡¯t know, and car GPS was no use either, so everyone had no choice but to honestly expand the search area. Satellite photography and thermal positioning were also useless, everything was blizzard, a vast expanse of white, and it was impossible to make out a human figure. The screen showed the person there, but just a curtain away, it felt like a world apart. ¡°Captain, all our helicopters have been deployed, and those from the nearby city have been mobilized too, but we still can¡¯t find him,¡± a team member said weakly, wiping his face from the spittle from Boss¡¯s rant. By noon, the blizzard had lessened a little, enough to allow planes to fly, but visibility was far too low, the helicopters could only fly low and search, limiting the range. Even dispatching all the helicopters, efficiency remained low. As for mobilizing civilian resources, that was even less reliable, it may well happen that they lose connection while others are still not found. ¡°Captain Chen, there¡¯s a call from the higher-ups!¡± In a corner, a young man suddenly brought over a telephone. Captain Chen was startled, and hastily picked up the call, after which a few team members heard muffled voices from the phone as their boss kept agreeing. It was a while before he put down the phone, his tone reflective. ¡°How is it, Captain Chen, what did the higher-ups say?¡± a few of the young men asked worriedly. Ever since they received the search and rescue order, Captain Chen had been under immense pressure, not having slept since the operation started. Captain Chen pursed his lips, ¡°The military¡­ they¡¯ve been mobilized¡­¡± That phone call had actually been a notification asking for their coordination. To save Bi Fang and the others, even the military had been deployed, and to guard against the wolf pack, they were even equipped with guns and ammunition. On the big screen, Bi Fang was still leading everyone along, completely unaware of this. Wu Mingtao coughed twice, a whole night of traveling had left everyone exhausted. Although they were tired, the thought of the wolf pack following them forced them to rally their spirits again. ¡°Can we¡­ rest for a bit?¡± Lin Xue leaned against a tree, resting her head against it. She was close to her limit as the day¡¯s travel had truly been exhausting for her as a woman. [Indeed, I¡¯m tired just looking at them.] [They haven¡¯t stopped all day, I would have given up long ago.] Many viewers felt the same upon hearing this, and they left messages saying it was okay to rest a while. Bi Fang wiped the sweat off his face, also feeling a great depletion of energy, he looked behind him, where it was pitch-black. He then looked ahead at the bushes and noticed a large fallen tree. Truth be told, he was very worried that the wolf pack would pounce on them the moment they stopped. But excessive physical exhaustion wasn¡¯t good either; it would make fighting off the wolf pack very difficult. Moreover, nighttime was a prime opportunity for hunting, and with daylight approaching, missing this chance might mean the wolf pack would have to wait another day, which would be a grueling test for both sides. If he were the Wolf King, he would certainly attack before dawn because his subordinates had suffered casualties, and delaying further was not a good option. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s do this; we can rest for a bit,¡± Bi Fang said. Bi Fang patted the fallen giant tree, which seemed like a suitable shelter; if the wolf pack attacked from this side, they could only jump up and become easy targets, reducing the pressure considerably. He had everyone hold their Spears and Darts in hand, prepared while taking a brief rest. ¡°What time is it?¡± Hu Hao asked after sitting down. ¡°It¡¯s almost six o¡¯clock, almost daylight,¡± Zheng Tianfang checked his watch and pointed to the sky. Bi Fang also looked up at the sky, noticing it was slightly brighter than before, and seeing everyone exhausted, he cautioned them, ¡°Don¡¯t let your guard down. The more tired we are, the more likely the wolf pack will attack.¡± ¡°Damn, don¡¯t these beasts ever rest!¡± Hu Hao cursed and threw a large rock, stirring a faint growl. Extremely close! Bi Fang was startled, instantly shaking off his lethargy as if he were a bug escaping from a spider¡¯s web. He raised his eyes and only then noticed on a nearby snowy slope stood a Gray Wolf of an unusual color. The chilling green eyes fixed on them, and the long fur around the neck splayed out like the mane of a noble steed. As soon as Bi Fang noticed it, under the dim light of dawn, the Gray Wolf howled at the sky, its cry like a distant bugle. Following that bugle sounded the trembling earth, and an entire host of Gray Wolves raced down from the snowy slope! Chapter 75: Don’t wait anymore Chapter 75: Don¡¯t wait anymore Translator: 549690339 | The early morning update is gone. Some readers said it was too creepy, so I changed it to morning. In the future, updates will be at eight in the morning and at one in the afternoon. Also, I saw someone saying that it was a bug that the rescue team couldn¡¯t find them. Let me explain here. First, the GPS in the car was broken, so the position couldn¡¯t be determined, and I have mentioned this before. Second, drones do have a signal, but they have anti-tracking and anti-positioning capabilities. I¡¯ve said this too, so don¡¯t ask me why they¡¯re so awesome. It¡¯s produced by the System. It¡¯s just like asking me why cultivating requires spiritual energy. Third, because of the blizzard, the rescue team actually only searched for half a day, and because of the poor visibility, helicopters could only fly low, which reduced efficiency. Fourth, the protagonist jumps randomly, so it¡¯s impossible to use this as a center to conduct a search. Fifth, black boxes are required by regulation, but not all of them have one. Kobe¡¯s helicopter didn¡¯t have one, and a helicopter that crashed in Chongqing years ago didn¡¯t have one either! Have I made myself clear? If there are still bugs, you¡¯re welcome to correct me, and I will change them. But for those who say it¡¯s a bug without looking carefully, I don¡¯t accept that. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Again, another thing. Someone just said that although my book is doing pretty well, I¡¯m obsessed with making a single book my claim to fame. If I want to cut it, I should just do it directly and not fill the end of each chapter with negative comments, making people feel sick. I apologize for the negative language, and I¡¯m very sorry for disrupting your reading enjoyment. I won¡¯t do it again in the future. But! I really can¡¯t understand the accusation that I¡¯m trying to make a single book a big hit! Decent book performance my ass; are you the author or am I the author? You think you understand the situation better than I do? Do you think I enjoy this? Every time I get promoted, I¡¯m at the bottom of the list, and I¡¯ve said before that this book is a buyout! For Zhi Huang, getting promoted and ranking at the bottom means the promotion will be stopped and the book could get canceled, understand? Even if I want to write, I can¡¯t! Do you know what I rely on to get through each bottom ranking? I spend money to hire people to help me promote! Douyin, WeChat official accounts, chapter promotion, book drought groups asking for help¡ªI¡¯ve tried everything thinkable, I¡¯ve done six rounds of chapter promotion! How many of you came here from a promotion of another book? Code Farmer Cultivation, Chapter Three Hundred and Fifty-Seven The Infinite Journey of Killing Prototype, Chapter Two Hundred and Two Rebirth of a Financial Magnate, Chapter Three Hundred and Twenty-Three I Became an Emperor and Then the Golden Finger Arrived, Chapter Five Hundred and Sixty-Four I Really Am a Flying Henanese, Chapter Two Hundred and Ninety-Five The Years I Spent Storytelling in Teahouses and Taverns, Chapter Fifty-Seven All the books that went live here are quality products, and the only one who didn¡¯t go live is the storyteller, who also exceeds thirty thousand subscriptions! I would really like to thank the big shots for their chapter promotions. For all this stuff, I haven¡¯t made a penny now, and I¡¯ve put in nearly two thousand out of pocket! Only thus have I survived to the division strength, and even then, I¡¯m just on the pass line. In the same batch of recommendations, everyone is a new book with the same amount of updates, but I just lag behind; I¡¯m just not good enough. So, where is this performance considered good? Who¡¯s going to tell me? To tell the truth, I should actually have been canceled a long time ago. I survived not because my book is good, but because I¡¯ve spent more money. Others get one promotion; mine is equivalent to two. If someone doesn¡¯t believe me, they can download the Chenggua APP and look at the previous promotion data, and you¡¯ll discover that my subscriptions are always at the bottom the first day I get promoted! I want a single book to make it big? I just fucking want to be able to keep writing this book! I originally had twenty chapters saved up, but in order to avoid getting canceled, I¡¯ve been trying to find promotional channels every day, and I can¡¯t keep up with the pace of updates¡ªit¡¯s all gone! Now what you see is me coding on the spot! And it¡¯s the end of June again, and there are final exams. I have an engine origin exam this Saturday. I¡¯m majoring in engineering, and the exam is a nightmare, but I haven¡¯t even started reviewing yet; I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m doing. Of course, I won¡¯t speak negatively anymore in the future, and I¡¯m very grateful for everyone¡¯s continuous support and encouragement. Get to bed early, as tomorrow¡¯s two chapters are going to be climactic scenes. Mohe is about to end, and I still don¡¯t know what to write for the next copy. If you have any ideas, you can comment below. Actually, I originally wanted to write about Rob¡¯s scientific research, postpone the incident from those years a bit, and turn it into a case where the research team asks the protagonist for help. But after thinking about it, I figured some readers might not like that kind of drag-along character, so I gave up on it. This time in Mohe, some people were really annoyed with the drag-along characters, saying that I was poisoning the story. Taking that as a lesson, I will try to write less of this sort of content from now on. This chapter will be deleted tomorrow. Chapter 76 - 74: The Left Hand is Useless! Chapter 76: Chapter 74: The Left Hand is Useless! Translator: 549690339 | The wolf pack charged! Under the night vision mode of the drone, the grayish-black snowy slope was completely covered by the patchy gray and white of the wolves. Running with their bodies low to the ground, they looked like the gray and white ground itself was writhing from a distance. Seventeen, a full seventeen large wolves! Audience members with sharp eyes counted the number of wolves in the pack, almost screaming out loud. Seventeen! Even if it were divided evenly, each person would have to deal with three to four large wolves, not to mention there were women and the wounded in the group! Could they survive? Bi Fang was sweating profusely. The sky was just beginning to lighten, and with his first-person camera, he could see much more clearly than those around him, and was even more shocked. Just as he had thought, the wolves had not waited another night but had launched their attack before dawn! The beasts had even erupted into a riot out of hunger the night before, giving the Wolf King a sense of urgency; it needed to lead its pack to find food quickly! The Wolf King was clever; the snow slope was more than a hundred meters away and the terrain was higher¡ªperfect for a charge. But the scattered trees and shrubs hindered their momentum, continuously causing wolves to be blocked in the charge, gradually creating a lead and follow order. A great opportunity! Bi Fang was delighted to see the Wolf King slowed down by the trees. Though having the wolves close together would increase the hit rate of the darts, given the choice, he would absolutely prefer the current situation. The wolf pack was frightening because of its numbers; without that advantage, their threat was greatly reduced! Zheng Tianfang and the others were even more shocked, busily trying to throw their darts, but Bi Fang blocked them, even as the wolves continued to advance. ¡°Stay calm!¡± Bi Fang yelled to the flustered crowd. Now was not the best time to throw. They had to wait for the wolves to get even closer. Even closer! In just a moment, the vanguard of the wolf pack had advanced another several tens of feet, their sharp claws digging into the snowy ground. In the middle of their charge, a weak resistance suddenly tugged at them, but quickly disappeared. The trip lines broke, the twang of bowstrings erupted, and three wooden arrows shot toward the vanguard of the wolves. The force behind the arrows was fierce, their howling in the air as shrill as the wail of a ghost. A trap! The last crossbow arrow trap! The audience was overjoyed, recalling the crossbow arrow trap Bi Fang had just finished setting up. If these were normal arrows shooting out unexpectedly, even with the lead wolf moving at high speed, it would certainly hit its mark! Unfortunately, these were just three hastily-made wooden arrows, with poor accuracy. As they shot out, two veered off course, with only one arrow flying straight toward its target, piercing through its hind leg! The lead wolf howled in agony, toppled by the kinetic energy of the arrow, while the large wolves beside it hesitated for a moment but then immediately leapt over it. If they didn¡¯t catch their prey now, they would all die! Only sixteen left! Seeing the trap work, Hu Hao and the others suddenly gained confidence, as if the wolf pack in front of them was not invincible! There had already been one wolf downed here; perhaps more had fallen before this, but it was enough to prove that the wolf pack was not invincible! As long as it was flesh and blood, they could win! On the other side, Bi Fang gripped his dart, silently waiting for the wolf pack to reach within a fifty-meter range. Seventy! Sixty! Fifty! Already two ferocious wolves had charged within fifty meters, but Bi Fang did not move, nor did the trembling Zheng Tianfang and the others. Even the viewers behind the screens temporarily held their breaths. Until more than seven wolves entered the fifty-meter range. ¡°Throw the darts!¡± Bi Fang ordered decisively. A total of five short darts were thrown, covering the advancing wolves. Now the wolves were even closer, dense, and the group¡¯s darts were more accurate. In just a moment, two wolves were brought down. The dart thrown by Bi Fang himself even pierced through a wolf¡¯s body, nailing it dead to the ground! Only fourteen left! Blood turned the gray snowy slope completely black, but the wolf pack did not stop their attack, they kept coming! ¡°Again!¡± Bi Fang roared. Another round of projectiles followed, this time the wolf pack was even closer, only less than twenty meters away, with even better accuracy than before! These were weapons capable of hunting mammoths! The darts whistled through the air, like black thunderbolts from Zeus punishing the gods, and in almost an instant, they pierced through the fragile bodies of the wolves. Three more large wolves fell, struggling in the snow, howling in pain, their black blood staining the white snow red. Three! A full three! Only eleven wolves remained in the pack! Even the seven that charged earlier had mostly perished, leaving only two! [Damn, damn, he¡¯s going to kill them all!] [I¡¯m freaking dying right here! This host is even more ruthless than the wolves!] [It¡¯s a ranged battle against warriors, aren¡¯t they gonna be kited to death?] [Cool, cool, cool! Master Fang forever the god! All my pocket money for the month goes to you! ] Everyone cheered and jumped for joy, with a smile even appearing on Hu Hao¡¯s face, but Bi Fang knew the real battle was just beginning. Now, they had to engage in close combat with the wolves. One false move could mean total defeat! The two wolves that arrived first charged the fastest, and the deterrence of the darts had put them quite a distance ahead of the rest of the pack. Their green pupils gleamed like awls, fiercely drilling into the hearts of humans. Hu Hao¡¯s courage, just ignited, was doused in cold water again, causing him to hesitate. ¡°Good beasts!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s gaze was fiery as he stood at the very front of everyone. The wolf pack that launched their charge wouldn¡¯t back down. Neither would he! But he was going to hurt the wolves! Hurt them until they were afraid! Hurt them to the marrow! Hurt them so they wouldn¡¯t dare to mess with humans again! Ever since acquiring Special Forces skills, Bi Fang¡¯s abilities had greatly improved, and he was no longer afraid like before, but filled with boundless courage instead. If he could get through this, a smooth path lay ahead! But first, he would make these beasts pay a heavy price! He would instill in them a profound fear of humans! The two malicious wolves had already reached the massive tree and leapt into the air, aiming for Bi Fang¡¯s throat. However, he was fearless and let out a mighty yell as he thrust his spear, with the hunting and Special Forces combat experience merging perfectly at this moment. A glint of cold light flashed, and the sharp spear went straight into one evil wolf¡¯s throat, skewering it and tossing it into the air, then slamming into another malicious wolf mid-air! The collision of flesh produced a muffled thud, and the flimsy wooden spear broke upon impact! But this single spear strike had everyone¡¯s spirits surging, for itwasn¡¯t just a spear; it was like an enraged dragon, dancing wildly with ferocity and precision! Bi Fang heaved through the tough fight, ready to fling the wolf carcass on the ground when a blurry shadow leapt from beneath it. The evil wolf that was knocked down wasn¡¯t injured at all; it flipped over and charged once again. On the side, Zheng Tianfang and the others hesitated out of fear for a moment and didn¡¯t move forward immediately. By the time they wanted to block, it was already too late. The Gray Wolf s pounce was a brilliant move for a wild beast. Just after Bi Fang had slain one, his wooden spear had broken, and the other lay out of reach. The Gray Wolf seized this gap to launch another attack. That¡¯s how vicious wolves are; once their fangs are bared, blood must be spilled! Bi Fang only saw a black blur and smelled the pungent scent; he knew the Gray Wolf was upon him. Unfortunately, after that powerful thrust, he was struggling to recover in time. At a critical moment, he could only let go of the wooden spear and raise his left hand to block. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Gray Wolf bit into Bi Fang¡¯s left hand and jerked its head fiercely, trying to rip the hand off. ¡°Bi Fang!¡± Zheng Tianfang exclaimed in alarm. The viewers in the live stream were collectively silenced. In that brief moment, not a single comment could be made. The world seemed to freeze all at once, everyone saw the Gray Wolf biting Bi Fang, yet they were powerless to help. Back at the rescue camp, Captain Chen¡¯s eyes were filled with fury. This was their failure! Everyone remembered clearly what Bi Fang had said, that the bite force of a Gray Wolf was close to three hundred kilograms; a bite would certainly break bones, not to mention an unprotected palm! This left hand was ruined! Chapter 77 - 75: The Great Terror Between Life and Chapter 77: Chapter 75: The Great Terror Between Life and Death Translator: 549690339 The air seemed to congeal. Everyone¡¯s heartbeat missed a beat. Zheng Tianfang even wondered, if he hadn¡¯t been scared, hadn¡¯t hesitated, but had stepped forward to block the other wolf, could Bi Fang¡¯s hand have been saved? ¡°Beast, you want a clean death? You¡¯ll get a quick end!¡± But to everyone¡¯s surprise, faced with the vicious wolf¡¯s biting, Bi Fang didn¡¯t even furrow his brow. He coldly stared into the wolf¡¯s eyes, chuckled, and with his right hand, drew out his Hunting Knife, flicking it upward and casting a spray of bloody filth. The entire knife plunged straight into the wolf¡¯s skull, dragging out a spurt of blood mixed with brain matter. The giant wolf instantly collapsed onto the ground, lifeless. Seventeen wolves had already been reduced by more than half! Now only nine remained! Flinging aside the wolf¡¯s carcass, Bi Fang, bathed in blood, was like a fierce dragon. He picked up a Spear and shouted to the dumbstruck Zheng Tianfang and others, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, after all, they are just beasts.¡± Zheng Tianfang and the others looked at the wolf¡¯s carcass and then realized that its head was still biting something. But the two sharp fangs had already snapped off. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a steel water bottle! Bi Fang had dared to use his left hand to cover the wolf¡¯s mouth because he had a plan in mind. Before the two wolves attacked, he had wrapped the watei bottle¡¯s strap around his hand. After all, wolves can¡¯t compare to humans¡¯ wits! Everyone drew in a cold breath, and the temperature around them seemed to rise several degrees. Between life and death lies great terror, but Bi Fang managed to keep his cool under such circumstances and used a steel water bottle to precisely block the wolf¡¯s maw¡ªa miracle! How much terrifying combat experience would this require? How much immense mental fortitude and reflexes? Could this really be done by a human? However, the audience, uneducated in such matters, could only respond to such feats with a screen full of comments like ¡°Awesome¡±, ¡°Big boss¡±, ¡°666¡±. ¡°Don¡¯t let your guard down!¡± Bi Fang yelled at the dumbfounded Hu Hao and the others. Bi Fang¡¯s courage in slaying the wolf had subdued everyone present, including many viewers behind their screens, who were also impressed. Some even felt a sense of security upon seeing him, a feeling that actually had no basis. ¡°Bi Fang!¡± Zheng Tianfang¡¯s voice was hoarse, filled with terror, ¡°The wolf pack is coming again!¡± ¡°I know!¡± Bi Fang wasn¡¯t panicked; panic wouldn¡¯t solve anything. He knew that the wolf pack wouldn¡¯t turn back, especially now that so many of them had been killed; it was a fight to the death. Just before, Bi Fang had used the terrain to split up the wolf pack, then caught them off guard with a Dart to inflict heavy losses. Now, the chances of repeating such an opportunity were impossible. Still nine wolves left! Even with only nine remaining, such a wolf pack was among the apex predators on land, a force that would make Brown Bears and the Northeast Tiger feel uncertain. Bi Fang¡¯s only advantage lay with the Spear in his hands! As long as he didn¡¯t let the wolves get close, there was still a chance! But to disable their claws and teeth wasn¡¯t as effective as beheading the snake, and Bi Fang¡¯s gaze was firmly locked on the Wolf King charging among them, the strongest and most intelligent wolf in the pack. If the Wolf King were killed, the pack would be headless and should immediately retreat, only to regroup after recovering and fighting a vicious battle until a new Wolf King emerged and the pack could unite once more. And even if the wolf pack didn¡¯t retreat, a pack without its leader was disorganized and sandbags, which would greatly benefit the situation. Before Bi Fang killed the second wolf with his hunting knife, a second wave of wolves had already charged within thirty meters. That brief interlude was but a few seconds; reloading the dart was no longer possible. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fangwas drenched in blood, his face filled with unrestrained killing intent. He fiercely watched the approaching wolves, and as the animals almost reached him, he suddenly raised his hand, ¡°Throw all the torches out!¡± At that moment, nobody dared to disobey Bi Fang¡¯s command; five torches fell among the wolves, the gasoline on the torches sticking to their fur. The wolves that caught fire emitted a scorched smell, jumping and dodging, their formation once again disrupted. A clear path suddenly opened up between Bi Fang and the Wolf King. Only four wolves remained unharmed. They charged straight at the five humans. Zheng Tianfang watched the Wolf King and its minions attack, gripped by an overwhelming fear. The stench of wolves was everywhere, and he was exposed before the pack, facing their drooling jaws. ¡± Die, beast!¡± A sudden bellow came from beside him. Zheng Tianfang thought it was Bi Fang coming to his rescue, but as soon as that thought crossed his mind, to his astonishment, he discovered it was the normally timid Wu Mingtao who, holding a spear, had charged forward! How could this be! It wasn¡¯t just him, even the audience watching through the screen were shocked, unable to believe that Wu Mingtao, who had been the most conflict- ridden throughout the journey, dared to take such action at this moment! A large wolf leapt over a log but dodged the threatening spear. With its opponent¡¯s guard wide open, the ferocious wolf went straight for Wu Mingtao¡¯s thigh. ¡°Ah!¡± A piercing scream resounded; the nightmare turned real as the wolf¡¯s sharp teeth sank into the flesh, the wound exposing bone immediately. Wu Mingtao¡¯s thigh was bitten, but he didn¡¯t fall. Under the influence of adrenaline, he once again stabbed the spear toward the wolf¡¯s waist. The preoccupied Lin Xue and Hu Hao, seeing this, hurriedly went to help. The three of them managed to restrain another wolf, but it seemed they were still not strong enough; the cunning wolf dodged them each time. But there were still three left! If you were to ask who the pack hated the most, without a doubt it was Bi Fang. As leaders sense each other, it knew Bi Fang was the ¡°Wolf King¡± among these five humans! Without him, its pack wouldn¡¯t have dwindled to this! With a hatred as fiery as blazing flames, three large wolves lunged straight at Bi Fang. They were so massive, so fearsome, and yet they attacked as silently as shadows. The Wolf King¡¯s eyes were blood red. Bi Fang seemed to see a ¡°Spirit-in them that only humans possess. Their gray manes wildly danced in the wind; these three large wolves resembled spirits walking out of the ice and snow, noble and robust, bloodthirsty and brutal. In the first-person perspective, the audience felt a pressure like a mountain collapsing or a tsunami, the stench as if piercing through the screen into their nostrils, forcing them to retreat until they realized, leaning against their chairs, that it was just a live broadcast. It wasn¡¯t them facing the large wolves, but Bi Fang, alone! Bi Fang¡¯s pupils constricted, his screams hoarse and fierce, like the roar of an ancient god from within a bronze bell. In this instant, all victories and losses, all life and death, would be decided. Bi Fang, like a tiger launching an attack, threw off his storm jacket that he had already removed, casting it directly over the head of a large wolf. The sudden darkness took the wolf by surprise, and it tumbled to the ground. Bi Fang¡¯s left arm twisted like a snake, unequaled terrifying strength gathering in his hand, and with a powerful throw, he struck another large wolf in the shoulder, sending it flying away. Thus, two wolves were felled, one to the left, one to the right, by his hand, but he had no recourse left for the final Wolf King; he was at his wit¡¯s end! Seizing the opportunity, the Wolf King no longer hesitated and pounced, bringing him down! Chapter 78 - 76: The Pack Retreats! Chapter 78: Chapter 76: The Pack Retreats! Translator 549690339 | The Wolf King was so massive and formidable that it was as big as a small horse, its body covered with knotted muscles, and its wolf teeth like white thorns, carrying a chilling, bloody stench. Its pounce was so swift and fierce, as venomous as a snake and as powerful as a lion or tiger. Bi Fang wanted to dodge, but there was nowhere to hide; he could only make a desperate sidestep. A sharp pain shot through his shoulder as if his bones were about to split apart. Screams erupted from Lin Xue¡¯s mouth, and many more such incidents unfolded in front of the screens of those watching the live stream! Over a hundred thousand viewers, with only a small portion being old fans¡ª the majority were witnessing such a live broadcast for the first time, and it was violent, bloody, thrilling, and even terrifying! While many people covered their eyes, capable of avoiding the sight, Bi Fang had no such option! But faced with such a fierce attack, Bi Fang only felt a colossal force slamming into him, as if his internal organs were about to be expelled. But Bi Fang didn¡¯t fall; he stood his ground! He knew that with such a gigantic wolf, the moment it hit the ground and gained leverage, just a twist of its head and a burst of strength could tear off his entire shoulder blade. There was no one to rescue him. In this instant, he had to fight for every chance to live by himself! Bi Fang hugged the Wolf King tight, lifting his leg and kneeing it like a fierce tiger, striking hard against the Wolf King¡¯s belly! His violent force penetrated the Wolf King¡¯s body, and a crisp sound echoed from its bones. But it wasn¡¯t over yet! Bi Fang went straight forward, crashing heavily against the large tree in front of him! The hard tree caused the wolf¡¯s spine to crackle, and the horse-sized wolf reeled backward, dazed, releasing Bi Fang¡¯s shoulder. Bi Fang didn¡¯t know the state of his shoulder; after the initial sharp pain, he hardly felt it anymore, as the adrenaline secreted vigorously helped suppress the pain. The bite force of a wolf was over 300 kilograms, and with fangs almost 4 centimeters long, such a level of biting could¡¯ve shattered his shoulder blade, but Bi Fang preferred to think it hadn¡¯t since he could still use his right hand, and that was enough! He saw the large wolf slowly standing up, its green eyes shining brighter, like gems endowed with evil power. The Wolf King¡¯s injury was merely an oversight of its prey¡¯s ability to attack. The Wolf King seemed to hesitate; it dared not approach, and the other two wolves that had been held off were only lingering nearby. Once the momentum and courage were lost after the initial rush, the Wolf King and the scout wolves lost the courage to advance. Bi Fang drew his Hunting Knife. In this life-or-death moment, he hardly felt any pain or fatigue; all he felt was a terrifying throb, as if he was sinking into endless darkness. His heart pounded violently, like beating a drum, and a dreadful power flowed through his body like flames. The Hunting Knife in his hand felt light, the wolf¡¯s stench was no longer detectable, and he seemed to be back in the moment when he grappled with Bear. A warm liquid splattered on his face, and the iron color of the blade shimmered with traces of blood as the sharp tip of the Spear penetrated through the thick fur. He had to survive! Survive! The firelight cast upon Bi Fang¡¯s ferocious face, shifting like a specter. To defeat the wolf, one had to be fiercer, more vicious, more brutal, and tear it¡­ into a thousand pieces! Everyone heard his roaring voice explode in the morning light and amidst the wolf howls¡ª it was the roar of a tiger, shocking the entire pack. Bi Fang¡¯s body trembled tremendously, as divine violence infused the blade, and his hand gripped the knife as hard as iron. Almost at the same moment, both he and the Wolf King charged, the wolf racing like a galloping horse, Bi Fang¡¯s assault like that of a savage tiger. ¡°Be careful!¡± Zheng Tianfang pointed at the two large wolves charging at Bi Fang from behind, suddenly yelling out in alarm. But no one was paying attention to his shouting. In the dawn light, Bi Fang, clutching the Hunting Knife, conjured a tapestry of memories and experiences into being¡ª an unbelievable swiftness, like an eagle swooping from the sky! The Hunting Knife, along with the arm that wielded it, became indistinguishable, and that was due to the even faster speed, which rendered his knife virtually invisible! This was a fatal stab, one that was meant to draw blood, harsh, sudden, with the howl of a tiger! The galloping Wolf King suddenly felt an immense fear; it leapt into the air but could not escape. The blade light, like a long river or vast ocean, swept over the vile wolf, and a severe pain suddenly emanated from the Wolf King¡¯s jaw, followed by an immense force that turned the world pitch black. Bi Fang didn¡¯t stop his charge, feeling the deadly threat behind him. With the momentum of his charge, he dodged the Wolf King, clutching the Hunting Knife and throwing the large wolf off! The jaw of the Wolf King was completely penetrated, and under the leverage of the Hunting Knife, it was briefly suspended in the air before being thrown, slamming hard onto the two large wolves behind it. Bi Fang, using his last bit of strength, kicked the Wolf King, sending it flying along with the two subordinates behind it. With the Hunting Knife pulled out, a splash of blood surged from the ground, spattering into the air to form a mist of blood. No one had ever seen such a scene. In just an instant of confrontation, the Wolf King was dead. This was the grandeur of the bloody desolation only found in the barbaric era! ¡°Bi Fang!¡± Wu Mingtao exclaimed in shock. Behind Bi Fang, another large wolf pounced down, its body bearing singed fur emitting a faint burnt odor. That was one of the less injured Gray Wolves! But Bi Fang had already exhausted all his strength, his head spinning in dizziness, a side effect of the temporary outburst. He had neither the strength nor the reaction to turn and defend, so weak that he seemed about to fall completely. Everyone was frantically agitated, but helpless. At this moment, no one was sending bullet comments or tips, because all their attention was captivated by this unparalleled live broadcast. Suddenly, a Spear thrust out of nowhere, blocking the attacking large wolf and sending it crashing to the ground. Zheng Tianfang! The man who had initially been petrified with fear finally stood up! sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zheng Tianfang struck the large wolf like a madman, completely piercing through the soft belly of the Gray Wolf, its intestines and viscera spilling out onto the ground. ¡°All!¡± On the other side, Wu Mingtao and the others finally killed the vicious wolf that wouldn¡¯t let go of his leg. Hu Hao and Lin Xue quickly regrouped with Bi Fang, Spears out, forming a defensive formation again. Hu Hao lifted Bi Fang¡¯s uninjured arm, propping him up so he wouldn¡¯t fall. He carefully touched Bi Fang and saw him wave his hand, reassuring him. Bi Fang swayed a bit but regained some strength. Gripping the Hunting Knife again, the wolf blood not yet congealed ran down, dropping onto the snowy ground and quickly forming blood-colored Ice Crystals. The two wolves that had been kicked away stood up again, like indestructible cockroaches, while the large wolves previously hit by torches also gradually recovered. Circling Bi Fang and the others, they hesitated to launch another attack. Bi Fang stepped away from Hu Hao¡¯s shoulder, staggered a step, but quickly regained his balance under everyone¡¯s worried gaze. He stepped out from the crowd, and with every step, he caused the audience¡¯s hearts to tremble mightily, scattering the once arrogant pack of wolves. Those slow and leisurely steps, like a fierce tiger patrolling its territory. Invincible! The word appeared in everyone¡¯s hearts at the same time. Even Lu Wentao and Lu Junming had to admit at this moment that they had lost, completely lost. Who could defeat the true ¡°Wolf King¡±? When Bi Fang approached the corpse of the large wolf, the surrounding wolves had already pushed back a distance of three to five steps. They stared at Bi Fang but dared not come forward. Bi Fang carefully counted and found there were still five wolves standing. Wolves terrified out of their wits. Watching the growling pack, Bi Fang knelt on one knee, using the Hunting Knife to slowly sever the Wolf King¡¯s head. A large expanse of blood spread along the snow, forming Ice Crystals. Such a brutal scene made everyone¡¯s eyelids twitch, skipping a breath. No wolf dared growl anymore, all reverting to a low wail. And when Bi Fang completely cut off the Wolf King¡¯s head, these wails reached their peak. Looking at the wailing wolves, Bi Fang laughed heartily. With his remaining strength, he hurled the Wolf King¡¯s head fiercely at the pack! With several screams, all the large wolves fled with their tails between their legs. The pack of wolves receded! Chapter 79 - 77 They Won! Chapter 79: Chapter 77 They Won! Translator: 549690339 I The moment the Wolf King died. All around was silent. Only the occasional howling wind blew across the sky. Wolf corpses lay everywhere, and the smell of scorching permeated the air, like a crematorium that had been at work for a long time. The Wolf King¡¯s head was thrown high in the air, causing the pack to scatter and flee. The sun had already risen, and the snowy forest was vast, covered in a layer of golden sunlight. The temperature rose gradually, and the huge ice armor cracked, with blood seeping through the fissures. Watching the fleeing wolves, Bi Fang looked up into the dawn and casually wiped his cheek, leaving a long streak of wolf blood across his face. Wildness, arrogance. He was like the most valiant warrior of a primitive tribe, using the blood of his prey to record glory and feats of valor. Shrouded in mist, a mountain connecting to the sky loomed behind him, its summit bathed in a sunlight that shimmered golden, with clouds wandering near the top. Zheng Tianfang and the others had braved the wind and snow for so long, never imagining they were brushing past this majestic and solemn mountain. Suddenly seeing it felt like witnessing a miracle, inspiring awe and admiration. ¡°Hahaha!¡± It was unclear who started laughing, but gradually, everyone began to laugh. Their voices weren¡¯t loud, but they reached the sky, cutting through clouds and shattering stones, echoing between heaven and earth. The aftermath of a catastrophe, nothing could be more so. This battle. They had won! S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Suddenly. An Emperor Effect of golden light rose from the screen, in sync with the live stream, as if another sun had exploded atop the mountain, and an eye-catching banner appeared along with it. [Congratulations to the Joyful Pigskin for becoming an Emperor!] [Joyful Pigskin sends 10 Spaceships to the host¡ªEven in the face of death one can intimidate tigers and leopards, and one need not fear bears even in perilous life. This is the most amazing live stream I¡¯ve ever seen, without a doubt, and there will never be another!] The Emperor Effect, coupled with ten Spaceships, instantly woke all the Shuiyou. But it wasn¡¯t over yet! [Congratulations to Tonight¡¯s Moonlight Charm for becoming an Emperor!] [Tonight¡¯s Moonlight Charm sends 10 Spaceships to the host¡ªI don¡¯t have the culture that the guy upstairs does, but I know that becoming an Emperor in Master Fang¡¯s live room is definitely the right move!] Seemingly inspired by the first two, the Emperor Effects followed one after the other, never ceasing. [Holy shit! Master Fang is too awesome!] [I¡¯m ashamed to say, I¡¯ve watched sports all my life, but I¡¯ve never seen a live stream like this, absolutely brilliant!] [So immersive, I¡¯ve already slapped my dog five times¡ªI¡¯m a wolf-fighting hero too!] [Though I¡¯m not human, the guy above is definitely a dog.] [Wolf-fighting hero? Are you sure you didn¡¯t hit your own brother?] [I¡¯m not talking anymore, already started wrecking the house.] [I say Master Fang is the number one streamer, who agrees, who opposes?] [Only Master Fang could draw this many rich guys, right? That¡¯s five Emperors already, who else?!] [Lin Chang sends too Spaceships to the host¡ªI¡¯m convinced, truly convinced. Lin Xue is so lucky to have met you this time!] [The real big spender has started firing rockets again, awesome, truly awesome, a sight rarely seen in a lifetime!] In the live stream room, gifts and ¡°awesome¡± bullet comments were everywhere. Occasionally, when a cultured person popped up, they would throw in a few lines of ancient poetry. The activation of two new Emperors, coupled with Lin Chang and his sister, Lord Mu, and the five natural Emperors of Bi Fang¡¯s live room, and not one of them from a guild¡ªthat was a straight up $500,000! Add to that the continuous Spaceships from various rich guys, and that¡¯s another million in revenue. Such a scene is rarely seen in years, and this time, it happened! Which streamers can achieve such results? Very few, but now Bi Fang is one of them! And this is far from his limit, he can be even stronger! Whether they were big streamers or small ones, at this moment, none of them felt any competitive spirit. These were achievements they could only look up to, touch them and you die! ¡°Hehehe.¡± The staff silently watched Wang Yongbo, who had been grinning foolishly since a moment ago, wanting to remind him that his drool was leaking out, but after thinking it over for a moment, they decided to let it be. After all, he was the boss. ¡°Though facing death one may still challenge tigers and leopards, in life¡¯s peril, one need not fear bear or boar.¡± Master Fang, a female tycoon in the business world, couldn¡¯t help but be emotionally stirred as she recited this line of poetry. Even though the verse described a pack of wolves, she felt its use here was not at all an exaggeration, and actually quite fitting. At this moment, Bi Fang¡¯s performance was akin to another ¡°Wolf King¡±! ¡°Holy shit, isn¡¯t this just too awesome?¡± Lin Chang had watched for quite some time before managing to blurt out only this much; it wasn¡¯t that he was uncultured, but rather the shock was too intense, leaving him unable to muster any eloquence, just as one might instinctively scream when startled. Swearing was much the same. Seeing Bi Fang¡¯s stellar performance, Lin Chang was even contemplating starting his own live streaming company, not for any other reason but to sign Bi Fang, and he believed that with Shenhua¡¯s strength, they could definitely grow the platform to great heights. At this moment, he had seemingly forgotten even about his sister¡¯s safety. With such a powerful figure leading the way, what was there to worry about? If even Bi Fang couldn¡¯t handle it, then nobody else could be of use. If they could even confront a pack of wolves, what difficulty could possibly stop them? This was Lin Chang¡¯s most sincere thought at the moment. ¡°Do you have a classmate who works at the Old Wave News Department?¡± Lin Zhou suddenly asked. ¡°Yeah, what about it?¡± Lin Chang was taken aback by the question, but he quickly understood, ¡°Sis, are you thinking of¡­¡¯1 ¡°Yes!¡± Lin Zhou confirmed decisively. Now that the blizzard had stopped, the rescue team should be able to find Lin Xue and the others soon. With even the pack of wolves defeated, Lin Zhou did not believe there would be any more significant dangers, so there was no need to keep suppressing the incident. As a reward, Lin Zhou wanted to give Bi Fang a boost in popularity. Although the incident itself was bound to attract attention, with Shenhua¡¯s help, Lin Zhou and Lin Chang were confident they could make the event universally known, and they believed Lin Xue wouldn¡¯t mind either. Needless to say, after this live stream, Bi Fang¡¯s following would see a tremendous surge. ¡°Is everyone alright?¡± After the last wolf had vanished from sight, Bi Fang finally relaxed, but the wound on his shoulder began to ache. ¡°I¡¯m good,¡± Hu Hao said with a grimace. His right hand was covered in fresh blood, not from a wolf bite, but from a splinter he had forcefully driven under his fingernail. Now, the fingernail on his right hand¡¯s ring finger was completely gone. On the other side, Wu Mingtao was also groaning. He had been bitten on his thigh, but fortunately it was just the thigh, and thanks to the timely rescue by Hu Hao and the others, his bone wasn¡¯t broken, and he had even luckily avoided the arteries and veins; it just looked very bloody. The only bad thing was that both of his legs were now injured, and he couldn¡¯t walk at all. ¡°But what about you? Are you alright?¡± Seeing that Bi Fang still had the capacity to care for others, Zheng Tianfang was the first to ask. The audience also remembered this concern. They had seen it clearly just now¡ªthe Wolf King had indeed bitten down hard on Bi Fang¡¯s shoulder, and that bite looked painful. Bi Fang also looked at his shoulder, but there appeared to be no sign of injury on the surface, not even a tear in his clothes. This was the advantage of buying a brand-name jacket¡ªthe fabric had not even torn under the fierce mauling of the Wolf King, which directly helped him avoid the most troublesome risk of bacterial infection. But as he unzipped and peeled away the layers of clothing on his shoulder, streaks of fresh blood began to seep through, and by the time he reached the last two layers, they were a sticky mess. Cold sweat seeped from his forehead, and Bi Fang, enduring the pain, tore open the last piece of clothing to reveal a wound with thick blood congealed in it, making everyone wince in sympathy. [Master Fang is a real man, not even a frown on his brow.] [Wasn¡¯t it the shoulder that got hurt last time too?] [During the Bear event, it was just a scratch, but this time he¡¯s actually been bitten!] [It looks like just a flesh wound, right?] Hu Hao and Zheng Tianfang were both wincing as if they felt the pain themselves. Now they were genuinely convinced; the man seemed young, but he was so much stronger than they were. Hu Hao even felt a bit regretful, if his own daughter hadn¡¯t just started middle school, he would¡¯ve considered introducing her. An absolutely outstanding young talent. ¡°It is indeed just a superficial wound.¡± After a close examination of the wound, Bi Fang¡¯s gaze flickered. To be honest, this was beyond his expectations.. Chapter 80 - 78 Tears Well Up in Mv Eves Chapter 80: Chapter 78 Tears Well Up in Mv Eves Translator: 549690339?????????? 3 3 Bi bang¡¯s right shoulder looked a bloody mess, but upon examination, they found that it was indeed just a superficial skin injury, and his bones and such were essentially unharmed. This situation definitely wasn¡¯t right; even with thick clothing as protection, that was still a wolf, even the Wolf King at that. It couldn¡¯t possibly be just a superficial skin injury. However, Bi Fang had a hunch in his heart, guessing that the Trapezius Muscle Enhancement Coupon he had obtained last time might be much more powerful than he had thought. Not only was its shaping perfect, but its defensive capabilities were also outstanding, even capable of withstanding the bites of the Wolf King. ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s good that nothing serious happened,¡± Hu Hao took out a medical kit from his bag, ready to give Bi Fang and Wu Mingtao a simple disinfection and bandaging. ¡°Should we hurry and leave? With so much blood around, won¡¯t it attract other animals?¡± Zheng Tianfang leaned against a huge tree, panting. Now that the danger of the wolf pack was gone, everyone felt somewhat relieved, but he was still a bit worried. ¡°No need,¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°The hunting grounds of a wolf pack are fixed, and might even be passed down from generation to generation. Under these circumstances, it s rare for other predators to be active in this area. We re temporarily safe. Everyone can take a rest first before we resume our journey.¡± Hu Hao and the others nodded. As employees of a geography magazine, they were somewhat familiar with these facts, and now that they had Bi Fang¡¯s confirmation, they felt greatly assured and almost all slumped to the ground. They were too tired, thoroughly drained of strength, with their hearts barely beating, caught between fatigue and pain, a terrible feeling enveloping their whole bodies. Actually, the audience in front of the screen was also quite perplexed before; being from National Geographic, shouldn¡¯t they have some knowledge of survival or about animals? But when faced with a wolf pack, they were all at their wits¡¯ end, and some were even dragging their feet. When confronted with this question, Bi Fang just laughed it off without minding the embarrassed Wu Mingtao, as he explained. ¡°Actually, it¡¯s completely different. Sometimes, knowing is one thing, but doing is another.¡± ¡°It¡¯s like someone telling you that Brown Bears don¡¯t scavenger and that playing dead is effective, but most people seeing a bear still turn and run. They don¡¯t think of that; it¡¯s an instinctive reaction.¡± But Bi Fang himself was different, the skills given by the System were not just knowledge but also an abundance of integrated experience. In terms of knowledge, he might not be as broad as those magazine editors, but when it comes to real survival, all the people from National Geographic put together probably couldn¡¯t beat him alone. All of them are just juniors. Confidence.jpg 1666, In the end, it¡¯s just Master Fang showing off his prowess!] [Suddenly I remember when I was in school: I knew the formulas and principles but just couldn¡¯t solve the problems¡­] I The analogy from the commenter above speaks to my soul.] [This is the difference between the practical-doers and the theorists!] (Now I get why Lina would become Master Fang¡¯s fawning admirer. If I were a girl, I¡¯d like to fawn over him too.] I Lina Goddess: Damn! I¡¯m not a fawning admirer! ] I Hahaha, that¡¯s the spirit! Using the meme right there!) ¡°What should we do next?¡± Wu Mingtao gritted his teeth. Although the injury wasn¡¯t severe, it was genuinely excruciating, especially when they used alcohol for disinfection¡ªit felt like there were broken blades cutting through his body. ¡°Wait.¡± Bi Fang looked up at the sky. The snowstorm had almost completely stopped by now, and there were wolf corpses scattered all around, not lacking food. All they needed to do was to wait quietly for the helicopter¡¯s arrival. He had asked the System before, and for this rescue mission, as long as they waited for the rescue team, it would count as a successful survival. ¡°By the way, thanks for earlier,¡± Bi Fang looked at Wu Mingtao and sincerely expressed his gratitude. Just earlier, there had been four wolves charging at him. If not for Wu Mingtao suddenly rushing out to intercept one, he might have been done for. Thinking about it now was quite surprising; the audience watching the screen hadn¡¯t expected Wu Mingtao to be the first one to step up. The one who was initially the most terrified turned out to be the one who burst forth first. [Yeah, Brother Wu is a true man.] [They are all impressive.] [In any case, if you¡¯re awesome, that¡¯s all that matters. Awesome on the live stream, awesome in person.] ¡°No, not at all, I was just doing what needed to be done.¡± Wu Mingtao repeatedly waved his hand, dismissing the praise. In fact, they all benefited from each other¡¯s success. If it weren¡¯t for Bi Fang taking down the Wolf King, they wouldn¡¯t have escaped the wolf pack¡¯s encirclement, and by now they would have been nothing but bones; helping him was really helping themselves. But Bi Fang didn¡¯t see it that way; Wu Mingtao indeed had been terrified at the time, yet he still stood up. Standing up when confident, that¡¯s not called being a warrior; it¡¯s just a choice made after weighing the benefits and risks. A man who stands up unprepared, risking his life, is a true warrior. After the wounds were bandaged, Bi Fang put his clothes back on, cut off several wolf legs to keep as emergency rations, collected some trophies, and then led the group back on their way. This place is only temporarily safe, not absolutely. Moreover, the dense forest is another reason. Times have changed. Previously, they had to hide from the wolf pack by entering the dense forest. Now, to allow the rescue team to find them in time, they need to move through open ground. Making the right decisions based on different situations is key to survival. This time they moved even slower. Wu Mingtao could no longer walk on his own and needed to be carried. Neither Lin Xue nor Bi Fang could possibly take on this task -one lacked the physical strength and the other had an injured shoulder and couldn¡¯t carry him. It wasn¡¯t until twelve noon that Bi Fang suddenly made a new discovery. A wooden stake! ¡°Quick, look!¡± Bi Fang, struggling through the deep snow, crouched in front of the wooden stake and cleaned off the snow, visibly excited. ¡°Saw marks!¡± Bi Fang pointed at the rough bristles on the cut surface of the stake, tone excited. ¡°There are people!¡± I he rest weren¡¯t fools either; they all became excited. Saw marks meant that the tree had been cut down by someone! ¡°And there¡¯s the sound of water!¡± Lin Xue suddenly exclaimed. Everyone paused. Bi Fang also perked up his ears. Indeed! It was faint, but it was definitely the sound of flowing water! Everyone¡¯s hearts ignited with passion, they hastened their pace over the snow, and before long, a river appeared before everyone¡¯s eyes. The online friends were stunned. The rescue team hadn¡¯t found them yet, but they were about to succeed in survival on their own? I Damn, they¡¯ve found a river and saw marks; could Master Fang succeed in survival before the rescue team shows up?] I Ah, this is too embarrassing, right? The rescue team is just filling soy sauce¡­] I lhey haven¡¯t even made an appearance, it¡¯s not even soy sauce-filling! ] It wasn¡¯t just the audience who thought this. Captain Chen thought the same. So, they were of no use at all? He solved the wolf problem, and now he found hope for survival. How can such an awesome person exist? Wasn¡¯t this smashing other people¡¯s rice bowls? That¡¯s outrageous! But as he thought, Captain Chen still reported the situation to his superiors Now that the survivors had found a river, as long as they sent the helicopter to find the river recorded on the map and search along the river, the process would be very fast. They must find them before Bi Fang and the others encounter someone, or else they would lose face big time. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He, Captain Chen of the rescue command, did not allow such an awesome person to exist! ¡°It¡¯s a pity not to have discovered this big river earlier,¡± Bi Fang said with regret. The vast river in front of them was nearly ten meters wide, more than enough to build a raft and drift down the river to survival. Then, even if the wolf pack was fierce, they couldn¡¯t pose a threat to them, there¡¯d be no need to fight desperately as they had just done. ¡°Luckily, everyone is still alive,¡± Zheng Tianfang said with much emotion. This experience was definitely the most thrilling and unforgettable one in his career as a tour guide. Perhaps in several decades, he could sit by the stove and tell this story to his grandchildren. Afterward, Bi Fang and the others continued along the river¡¯s edge until evening when the roar of a helicopter suddenly came from behind them. The snow dust was churned into a twister by the helicopter¡¯s rotors, a white tornado with a glint of Red Five-Star. My God! They were finally coming to rescue! Who knew how excited Hu Hao was. Upon seeing the helicopter¡¯s arrival, he threw Wu Mingtao off his back and, despite his curses, Hu Hao ran and jumped, waving his hands. The helicopter¡¯s arrival was so sudden and so timely, stirring everyone¡¯s emotions. He called out loudly for help, tears brimming in his eyes. Chapter 81 - 79: The Shark That Smelled Blood Chapter 81: Chapter 79: The Shark That Smelled Blood Translator: 549690339 | In the setting sun, a line of people limped along, injured, yet filled with the joy of having narrowly escaped death. The helicopter, like a giant bird among the fleeting clouds, descended in a whirlwind onto the icy, snow-covered ground. Seeing the helicopter, Hu Hao got so excited that he couldn¡¯t contain himself, dropped his crutch, and flung the injured Wu Mingtao onto the ground as he ran towards the helicopter. ¡°Fuck! This Hu guy is not fucking human!¡± Wu Mingtao, who was suddenly abandoned, cursed loudly. Big Beard had no loyalty at all, casting aside the injured without a second thought. Friendship, gone! Zheng Tianfang picked up Wu Mingtao again, smiling as he walked toward the helicopter. ¡°(It¡¯s over, the rescue team has arrived, no chance of inheriting Master Fang s Ant Financial¡¯s Huabei debt now.) ¡°[Yeah, another missed opportunity to inherit a fortune, such a pity.] ¡°[You guys are something else, he¡¯s still alive and you¡¯re already thinking about inheritance? Isn¡¯t that shameless, not even considering me?] -[My brothers and 1 were so ambitious, yet in the end, we couldn¡¯t inherit anything.] ¡°[It¡¯s not satisfying at all, big brother!] ¡°[+1] The arrival of the helicopter stirred up extreme excitement among the online friends, and many had already started to spam the chat with messages and gifts asking them to stay. Now that the rescue team has arrived, could the end of the livestream be far? -[But the efficiency of the rescue is really poor, if it were a novel, readers would criticize it for being unreasonable.] ¡°[Are you dumb, upstairs? How else would the story develop? What kind of livestream are you watching?] ¡°[Besides, 1 feel like it¡¯s been quick, without a GPS, Master Fang¡¯s random jumping is basically like being missing, it¡¯s just that we can see him.]¡± ¡°[Exactly, don¡¯t those missing in the news take several days to find? Didn¡¯t Master Fang just give an example the other day, hundreds of hikers going missing and taking five days to search, not to mention now there¡¯s a blizzard, have you forgotten so quickly?] ¡°There¡¯s no way around it; our country has a huge gap in the number of helicopters available for emergency rescue. Back in 2008, there were only 294 civil helicopters that could be used for emergency rescue in the whole country, averaging only 3 per 100,000 square kilometers. This one isn¡¯t even specifically for rescue.¡± Seeing some viewers in the livestream confused and even angry, Bi Fang had no choice but to explain. This efficiency of the rescue team was within his expectations. Though it¡¯s a waste of resources, the country still chose to do it. No matter what, the safety of citizens is always the top priority. No sooner had the plane landed than Captain Chen jumped down from it, unable to wait. Having not found anyone in two days, his heart was in turmoil, and now that he finally saw them, he was understandably emotional. Behind Captain Chen, two young men carrying a stretcher followed; they came to Wu Mingtao and carefully lifted him onto the stretcher. ¡°Fuck, you guys are too slow!¡± Zheng Tianfang complained non-stop as he let go of Wu. He was exhausted from carrying him all this way, and now that everything was settled, the rescue team arrived, inevitably disappointing. If they had appeared earlier, they wouldn¡¯t have had to go through such a dangerous day. Hearing this, Captain Chen was taken aback, not sure what to say. ¡°All right, it¡¯s good enough to be alive, do you think it¡¯s easy to rescue people in a blizzard? Plus, without GPS, you expect them to find you like this? This one¡¯s on you!¡± Bi Fang saw the mood was off and kicked Zheng Tianfang. The odds of finding someone lost in the wilderness are already slim, with environment, terrain, and weather all being crucial factors. Even with a search team of over three hundred, there are very few instances where missing individuals are found within three days. It usually takes more than five days, around ten or so. In other countries, it might be ten days to half a month just to organize a search team. Now, having found them in just over two days, the time was already very short. ¡°No, it¡¯s our fault!¡± Captain Chen suddenly bowed to Zheng Tianfang to apologize, indeed, they didn¡¯t act efficiently enough, taking two whole days to find them a fact everyone was well aware of. ¡°And a big thank you to Mr. Bi for his courageous action.¡± After apologizing, Captain Chen turned to Bi Fang to express his serious thanks. If it weren¡¯t for Bi Fang this time, perhaps none of them would have survived. ¡°No, the hard work is on you guys, and we even trouble you to come out here.¡± Bi Fang scratched his head, feeling somewhat embarrassed. Seeing that Captain Chen had more to say, he quickly said, ¡°Let¡¯s get on the helicopter first and talk about it when we¡¯re up. I really don¡¯t want to stay here any longer.¡¯ ¡°Right! Hurry and take him to the hospital!¡± Hearing Bi Fang¡¯s suggestion, Captain Chen also realized that there was no time to waste and immediately led everyone onto the helicopter. And the originally not-so-large helicopter suddenly became crowded with so many people squeezing in. Especially Wu Mingtao, who couldn¡¯t stand or lie down, could only curl up, quivering lips and eyes brimming with red, overcome with excitement. This cramped space brought unparalleled comfort to them they were finally returning to human society. Touching the airframe was like touching civilization itself. The helicopter roared intensely, soaring towards the horizon like a giant bird. Outside the window, the setting sun gilded the clouds with a pale golden hue, and beams of light burst forth from between them like threads of gold. The wind came suddenly, the clouds scattering and changing, revealing lions, tigers, and dragons within, followed by herds of burning horses racing across the vast sky, chased by bands of crimson clouds. Finally, the sun set, and the snowy plains grew dim. Outside was the vast plateau under a star-studded sky, the darkness so profound. Surviving after a catastrophe and witnessing such a magnificent scene, that indeed was a great fortune for anyone. in the cramped cabin, everyone huddled together, and hearts quieted down, allowing both pain and joy to flow freely. A warm atmosphere draped everything with a tint of nostalgia. Bi Fang saw Lin Xue across him crying, so he turned to look out the window. This survival challenge had been extremely dangerous, yet the feeling of fulfillment swelled within him; this moment was his cultivation and aspiration. Like an elderly stonemason smoothing and carving a stone block with rough hands, Bi Fang also used his limited time to polish the stone, layering his past, even if his hands and body ached, without regret, stacking his exhilaration, his audacity, his life without remorse. Though brave and strong, that was the path. Dare to act on anything, dare to be courageous. Dare to have no regrets about your future. -Too bad, if you hadn¡¯t retired, this rescue could have earned you at least a second-class merit!¡± Captain Chen broke the silence on the helicopter. It was by chance they learned that Bi Fang was a retired special forces soldier. No wonder his survival skills were so strong, able to survive the pursuit of a wolf pack. If he were an ordinary person, then that would be questionable! However, this statement took the others by surprise, all turning their gaze toward Bi Fang, especially Hu Hao, who directly asked, ¡°Retired?¡± ¡°Yes, retired from the special forces, didn¡¯t you know?¡± Captain Chen appeared perplexed, thinking that they were all aware. Bi Fang¡¯s eyes flickered; he only knew that the System had arranged an identity for him, and he had memorized the file entirely, but he lacked specific experiential details. At that moment, being questioned, he felt somewhat flustered¡­ Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He wouldn¡¯t suddenly encounter a former teammate, would he? But on second thought, Bi Fang felt relieved, as he believed the System¡¯s arrangement would not have such a major oversight. The Special Forces skills granted to him were not solely knowledge but also included ample experience. Now, Bi Fang even possessed the fiery spirit and demeanor of a soldier, and being seen through was impossible. If he encountered a real special forces member, it was basically a professional recognizing another, no problem at all. As expected, the next second Captain Chen shook his head. He himself only had a limited understanding, aware that Bi Fang had retired from the special forces, but clueless about his unit number or any specifics. Captain Chen had inquired at the time, only to receive an answer involving confidential documents. It wasn¡¯t said for the sake of hyping the live broadcast deliberately. And thinking about it made sense; if someone dared to do that, the trouble from Shenhua Group alone would be substantial, not to mention from official sources. [ Damn, he really is special forces, I knew it, no wonder he¡¯s so badass! ] [Finally confirmed, compared to this, Lu Wentao is just a clown] [ Special forces, man, this is my first time seeing one alive.] (Confidential documents? That sounds so freaking cool] | But Master Fang is so young, I heard that special forces retire around thirty, how did Master Fang manage that?] [ Being young is what makes him so badass! This is the real deal! I The online audience, Shuiyou, reacted especially enthusiastically upon hearing this, particularly the fact it was confidential; it just sounded more high-profile, and after all, he needed to remain confidential despite retirement, definitely not your average person. Adding to that Bi Fang¡¯s impressive survival skills and his superb physical abilities, many netizens fantasized about an incredible drama, linking it to movies they had seen. Films like Rambo, Special Forces, the more they thought about it, the more it elevated the image of Bi Fang, evoking admiration. The barrage of comments and gifts just wouldn¡¯t stop, considering special forces were somewhat distant from ordinary people, most having only seen them on television and in movies, where they were often synonymous with strength and steely resolve. Bi Fang, reassured by Captain Chen¡¯s mention of a confidential document, chuckled at the drone: ¡°I already said it¡¯s confidential, no use guessing, and as for being young, I suppose it¡¯s just my exceptional talent.¡± This explanation was best, the more one said, the more one errored, just leave the audience with a mysterious impression, that was enough. Shrouded in mystery, to inspire awe. [666, naturally gifted, is this the world of the strong?] [Special forces saving people, isn¡¯t that just too cool?] [Turns out all the handsome ones have been handed over to the country, the strongest host!) ¡°Yeah, I should¡¯ve realized this sooner, if not for being special forces, how could he be this impressive!¡± Hu Hao slapped his forehead, regretting, When I get back, 1 must write about this experience, and if I could get a photo for the cover! Absolutely legendary!¡± -I¡¯ll write it, my skill is better than yours!¡± Wu Mingtao immediately raised his hand to express his eagerness, indirectly one-upping Big Beard in the process. Bi Fang naturally wouldn¡¯t mind such free publicity, the more the merrier. However, what he hadn¡¯t anticipated was that upon their helicopter landing in Mohe City and just stepping off the aircraft, a sudden barrage of camera flashes nearly blinded them all. Reporters swarmed like sharks smelling blood, enclosing them so tightly that there was no escape. More¡­. beneficial? Chapter 82 - 80 End of Broadcast Chapter 82: Chapter 80 End of Broadcast Translator: 549690339 I The incessant snap of flashbulbs was so painful to Bi Fang¡¯s eyes that he almost cried. He hadn¡¯t suffered from snow blindness during the day in Mohe, but now the bright lights made his eyes turn bloodshot. Moreover, everywhere he looked, there were swarms of people, so packed it was suffocating. The journalists engulfed everyone like a tidal wave, eager to start asking questions. ¡°Mr. Bi, I¡¯m a reporter from XXX. Can you talk about your experience saving people this time?¡± ¡°Mr. Bi, I heard you¡¯re a retired soldier¡­¡± ¡°Miss Lin¡­¡± ¡°Come on, make way, everybody make way, we have injured people here!¡± Captain Chen felt his anger rising when he saw so many reporters crowding together, just like dogs, acting as if they didn¡¯t even notice the obviously injured. [Wow, so many reporters?] [Master Fang is going to be famous now, marrying a rich and pretty girl, and reaching the pinnacle of life!] [He¡¯s already famous, okay? With just this livestream, I bet Master Fang made at least a million!] [That¡¯s true. Young Master Lin alone tipped no less than three million. Really a tycoon. ] I Now Master Fang is a tycoon too. One livestream and he¡¯s got it made.] S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [No comparison, this is what Master Fang deserves.] I Right, no comparison, add one to that.] Faced with so many reporters, the online friends were stunned; the livestream room suddenly became extraordinarily lively. Even smaller stars might not have this kind of scene! Doesn¡¯t that mean Bi Fang is pretty much a star now? Correct! However, Bi Fang was in no mood to idle chat with reporters, not to mention Wu Mingtao, as he was suffering from his own injuries. Bi Fang simply pushed through the crowd, letting Captain Chen lead them to the hospital. But it wasn¡¯t over yet. Even as they boarded the ambulance, the reporters still pursued them relentlessly, and at the hospital entrance, many still followed. Captain Chen and the others promptly issued a dismissal order at the entrance to stop the reporters. The several others who hadn¡¯t been injured also needed to be checked. They had narrowly escaped death and needed rest ¨C they just wanted to lie down and sleep, even if it had to be on a hospital bed. The sound of screeching brakes, gasps, and hurried footsteps suddenly filled the hall. Captain Chen glanced at the entrance and was startled. A dozen black Mercedes-Benz cars drove into the hospital and came to a neat stop in front of the entrance. Men in black suits flooded into the lobby, all well-built, with bulges at their waists, possibly hiding batons or something. These men shoulder to shoulder formed a human wall, effectively separating all the reporters. Those trying to push through were deterred by their intimidating gazes. Captain Chen understood. With such a grand entrance, there was only one possibility. At the end of the human wall, a man and a woman were escorted over, followed by a dozen black-clad men spreading out like the wings of a black hawk, with the couple serving as the ¡°eyes¡± of this spreading wing. Everyone in the lobby was taken aback, the previously noisy environment suddenly dropped by several dozen decibels, filled with whispers all around. Lin Chang and Lin Zhou strode into the hospital and walked straight towards Bi Fang. Just as the onlookers thought some gang rivalry was unfolding, the two gave Bi Fang a deep bow. The reporters all reached a collective climax, the flashbulbs firing even faster, almost turning night into day! These were business tycoons, coming forward and bowing like that ¨C the reporters had never seen anything like it and were ecstatic. Just the image of them bowing was worth the top spot on the trending search list. Bi Fang too was startled by this and quickly helped the two of them up. As soon as Lin Chang stood up, he tightly grasped Bi Fang¡¯s hand with an emotional tone, ¡°Mr. Bi, thank you very much. Without you, Lin Xue and the others would never have been able to come back. I¡¯m truly, deeply grateful!¡± These past few days, the affair with his sister had left their whole family anxious and sleepless, especially at the sight of the wolf pack charging. No one could understand the despair they felt in their hearts. But when they saw Bi Fang turn the tide and bring everyone to safety, that despair turned into profound gratitude. Lin Zhengnan was so moved that he nearly needed oxygen at the hospital. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t just have been the two siblings visiting ¨C it would have been the entire family coming en masse. ¡°My father is getting on in years and can¡¯t thank you in person, but he said that once Mr. Bi recovers from his injuries, he will definitely thank you in person and prepare a generous gift!¡± Lin Zhou also promptly added. ¡°No, please, just call me by my name. Besides, Lin Ge, you¡¯ve already donated millions in my livestream. There¡¯s really no need for this.¡± Bi Fang repeatedly shook his head, vividly recalling the scene of Lin Chang¡¯s lavish tipping. In both his past life and this one, he had never earned so much money in one go, suddenly becoming a millionaire was still something he couldn¡¯t quite accept; asking for more made him feel embarrassed. And with Shenhua Group mentioning it as a generous gift, the value must be considerable, and Bi Fang felt it was too much for him to accept. ¡°How could that be acceptable!¡± Lin Chang¡¯s face changed instantly, ¡°If my dad finds out, he¡¯ll have my hide.¡± ¡°Cough cough.¡± Lin Zhou coughed twice to cut Lin Chang off, her brother was good in all aspects, except sometimes his speech was a bit too unhinged. She brushed her hair back and bowed again, ¡°No matter what, our whole family is very grateful, and when Mr. Bi is discharged, we will definitely be ready to welcome you.¡± In the end, since Bi Fang still needed treatment, they didn¡¯t stay long. Besides, blocking the hospital entrance was not a good look. They simply exchanged phone numbers and scheduled a time to have a meal together before leaving. Before leaving, Lin Xue gave Bi Fang a hug to express her gratitude once again. [Holy crap, I feel like this is gearing up to a long-term thing! ] [Isn¡¯t this normal? Master Fang is so handsome, and he¡¯s so awesome. If I were a woman, I¡¯d be smitten too.] [Is Master Fang¡¯s blissful life about to start?) [My heart is shattered] [Hahaha, Sister Na is depressed] [Master Fang: I am the man you can¡¯t have] [He¡¯s really made it this time, but I don¡¯t feel envious at all] [Nonsense, Old Fang got there by real skills. If you have the guts to risk your life, you¡¯d also deserve Shenhua Group¡¯s gratitude!] (Speaking of which, now that Master Fang is famous, don¡¯t forget to livestream!] ¡°Don¡¯t worry, no matter what, Wilderness Survivalist livestreaming is my day job, how could I possibly forget?¡± Bi Fang shook his head, indicating that the concerns of his online friends were unwarranted, but this did remind him that the livestream was nearing its end. ¡°Now that we¡¯ve fully returned to human civilization, it¡¯s time to say goodbye to everyone. To be honest, this livestream was far more thrilling than my last one, completely off plan, and could even be called one of the few unforgettable experiences in my life.¡± ¡°These four days, I¡¯ve faced severe cold, hunger, natural disasters, and even being pursued by wolves, but I¡¯ve also demonstrated how to survive in extreme conditions.¡± Moreover, if you were to ask what the greatest accomplishment of this journey is, without a doubt, it¡¯s bringing the victims out safely. This is undoubtedly the greatest fortune. However, this incident also demonstrates the dangers of wilderness survival, and I sincerely hope everyone will pay attention to safety when venturing out and try to avoid similar incidents. Nature, although beautiful, still deserves our respect.¡± ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t say much else. Partings are always sad, but today¡¯s farewell is for a better reunion. Please remember me. I am Bi Fang, a professional explorer. See you in the next livestream!¡± [No, don¡¯t go! It¡¯s not satisfying at all!] [Don¡¯t leave! Stream for a bit longer! You don¡¯t even have to say anything!] [I gave you my treasured meatballs, please don¡¯t leave.] Inside the livestream, the online friends collectively tried to convince him to stay, but it didn¡¯t change Bi Fang¡¯s decision at all. If every time he ended the livestream, he did so because of fans¡¯ requests for an encore, wouldn¡¯t that be chaos? So Bi Fang was accustomed to it, and couldn¡¯t indulge it. One could never be truly satisfied; things we love can never be too much, just like when reading a favorite novel, there¡¯s always someone feeling the author updates too slowly, a cliffhanger fiend. But how could I be a cliffhanger fiend? It¡¯s impossible to have every update be a complete story arc! Looking at the now darkened livestream room, the four roommates in Cao Lifeng¡¯s dormitory sighed in unison. Ever since they started watching Master Fang¡¯s livestream, they were hooked, not even willing to miss it for a trip to the bathroom, feeling lost with the screen now black. ¡°Sigh, now we¡¯ve got to wait another ten days or so.¡± The same sentiment resonated with many others just like Cao Lifeng. It couldn¡¯t be helped, the livestream was too awesome. You couldn¡¯t find a second one like it, not in the whole of Wolf Fang, not even in the entire world. Forget about the Lu Wentaos, but to the audience who had watched both, they all saw him now as nothing but a clown mimicking others! Chapter 83 - 81 Ineffectual Rage.jpg Chapter 83: Chapter 81 Ineffectual Rage.jpg Translator: 549690339 I ¡°What! You want me to collaborate with Bi Fang!?¡± Lu Wentao wondered if he hadn¡¯t cleaned his ears out lately because he couldn¡¯t seem to hear clearly anymore. He quickly asked again to be sure. But the answer he received was still a firm one from Lu Junming. Due to Bi Fang¡¯s standout performances and explosive popularity, Wang Weifeng planned to have the two collaborate to expand the ¡°Wilderness Survivalist¡± market. Basically, he wanted to take advantage of the situation to ride the wave of popularity. It sounded shameless, but hey, that¡¯s business for you, no shame in it. Lu Wentao¡¯s face twisted with anger. Just thinking about having to ask Bi Fang for help, and imagining the latter¡¯s arrogant smirk, made the savagery and rage on his face grow by a fraction, until a handsome face was completely overtaken by the tempest of his fury. Although Lu Junming was also displeased, the sight of Lu Wentao¡¯s contorted expression frightened him too much to dare to approach and offer consolation. Meanwhile, Lu Wentao grew angrier and angrier until, finally, his anger dissipated¡­ He realized that no matter how angry he got, it wouldn¡¯t change his situation with Bi Fang, let alone with Shark TV, who had set these tasks. Lu Junming watched as Lu Wentao inflated with anger like a balloon, nearing the point of explosion, only to deflate on his own, and he couldn¡¯t help but want to laugh. Powerless rage.JPG Luckily, Lu Junming managed to hold it in, because, after all, it was his suggestion to begin with. He was afraid that if he laughed out loud, he might get hit. And thinking about the tasks set by Shark TV, he also began to frown with worry. ¡°Wait a second! Bi Fang is with Wolf Fang, and I¡¯m with Shark. We¡¯re both under contract. How can we possibly stream together?¡± Having regained his composure, Lu Wentao momentarily had an intelligent insight, pinpointing the crux of the issue. This kind of thing would violate their contracts; there was simply no condition for them to interact! ¡°It¡¯s not about streaming ¡®Wilderness Survivalist.¡¯ It¡¯s just about starting a stream, chatting together. Shark received information that the contract Bi Fang signed is very loose. Apart from ¡®Wilderness Survivalist,¡¯ he¡¯s basically free to do as he pleases,¡± explained Lu Junming with a sigh. When he first learned some of the contents of Bi Fang¡¯s contract, he was green with envy. Jealousy twisted his features¡ªa breaking point of matter, a quantum entanglement, a theory of black holes. Wolf Fang is treating Bi Fang like a god! They offer him light restrictions and high benefits; why don¡¯t such things ever happen to them? Now, not only have they not made much money, but they¡¯re also at the beck and call of Wang Weifeng. ¡°Damn it!¡± Lu Wentao slammed his mug down so hard it shattered. He had never felt so stifled in his life. His boss and rival were like two mountains pressing down on him, and he was just a tiny balloon. No matter how much he inflated, it would still burst in the end. The shards of the cup scattered near Lu Junming¡¯s feet, startling him, but he quickly regained his composure. Getting angry now wouldn¡¯t solve anything. Thinking of ways to keep their jobs was what truly mattered. Although they certainly didn¡¯t earn as much as Bi Fang from their ¡®Wilderness Survivalist¡¯ streams, they still had full pots and bowls, which was far more respectable than before by countless times. ¡°Actually, the ¡®Wilderness Survivalist¡¯ pie is quite large. Bi Fang can only stream for four to five days at most, and there¡¯s a nearly twenty-day gap in between. We can totally compete with staggered timings. Our threat to him is minimal, which gives us a foundation for collaboration,¡± Lu Junming tried to rationalize Wang Weifeng¡¯s thinking. At the end of the day, a businessman prioritizes profit. If there¡¯s money to be made, everything else can be put aside, and conflicts can be resolved. The so-called dignity and face are just another form of capital and cost. If enough money is made, even an apology is not out of the question. Right now, there are only two names in the wilderness streaming market. Filling the market is more than manageable, and it¡¯s certainly not a cutthroat competition. And Bi Fang could even be considered a pioneer. As long as they put on a reconciliatory front in front of the audience, Lu Wentao would be seen as receiving an unofficial endorsement. Even if his performance was slightly lacking, the audience would tolerate it. Every time after Bi Fang finished streaming and left the audience longing for more, his fans could divert their enthusiasm toward them, potentially earning even more. By next year, they could be lounging in clubs, villas, and rolling in velvet. But now, the issue lay with Bi Fang. Wang Weifeng still vividly remembered the words Bi Fang said when he left Shark, and knew that Bi Fang would not soften easily. ¡°So he wants us to apologize?¡± Lu Wentao glared, struggling to accept it. He felt like a puppet manipulated by capital, with no freedom of his own. ¡°Brother, it¡¯s the only way now,¡± sighed Lu Junming, understanding and even sympathizing with Lu Wentao¡¯s feelings. Ever since Lu Wentao knew the gap between him and Bi Fang, he had been striving to close it. Now, his study was filled with books on botany, primitive survival skills, and he had almost turned into a bookworm¡ªjust to be able to answer the barrage of questions from the audience and avoid lacking interaction during the streams. But as the saying goes, you can forgo pride, but you still have to make money. ¡°Why would he agree?¡± ¡°Who doesn¡¯t love money?¡± Lu Junming appeared very confident, raising his right hand and extending one finger. Seeing this gesture, Lu Wentao was shocked, ¡°One million?¡± sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Ten million!¡± ¡°Whew, that was terrifying.¡± In the hospital room, Wu Mingtao recalled the reporters¡¯ frenzied behavior, still feeling uneasy. ¡°Can¡¯t help it, who would have thought the incident would get so big, especially with Lin Xue being one of the rescued, the princess of Shenhua Group. It¡¯s impossible for the media not to go crazy.¡± Zheng Tianfang seemed to understand, reporters were more persistent than flies, always flocking to the hotspots. For a behemoth like Shenhua Group, even a casual remark from the president could trend on search engines, let alone his daughter being trapped. Normally speaking, it would definitely rank number one on trending searches. ¡°Speaking of which, why didn¡¯t anyone come to pick you up?¡± Wu Mingtao tilted his head, looking over at Zheng Tianfang, who was sitting beside him. ¡°Me? I¡¯m all alone in this world, no wife, and my aging parents don¡¯t really follow the news. They probably don¡¯t even know I was in an accident,¡± Zheng Tianfang spread his hands and pointed at Bi Fang, whispering, ¡°What¡¯s up with Brother Fang? He fell asleep as soon as he lay down?¡± ¡°Probably too tired?¡± Wu Mingtao guessed. On the way here, if anyone was the most exhausted, it was certainly Bi Fang, who was busy crafting tools and traps, and leading everyone against wolf packs. Now that he hit the bed, it was normal for him to fall asleep immediately. In fact, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t asleep at all. The moment he entered the hospital, the long-missed electronic voice sounded again. [Ding, congratulations to the host for completing the task: Small Test of Skill! Calculating task completion¡­] Similar to before. His mind began replaying the past few days of survival experiences. Escaping Glacier Valley, blizzard rescue, wolf pack assault, traps, darts, hunting knife, blood sprayed¡­ In the rapidly shifting lights and shadows, the originally sad, struggling, and subdued emotions seemed to evaporate, leaving behind only the sense of achievement and joy from a successful survival. [Ding! Calculation completed.] [Main tasks one and two completed, side task: Blizzard Rescue completed 80%, total time 4 days, no bonus rewards.] 80%? Why isn¡¯t it one hundred percent? Weren¡¯t all four people saved? Bi Fang was startled by this data, but he quickly realized the system must have included all five people, but the situation at that time simply didn¡¯t allow for saving everyone, right? It wasn¡¯t a fault of war, could that really be counted? Could it be that there actually was a way to save them? Bi Fang furrowed his brows, pondering carefully, but even after thinking for a long time, he couldn¡¯t come up with any good methods. The bleeding was simply too severe at the time, unless he had equipment and matching blood bags for on-site transfusions, there was only a slim chance of survival. And even then, the odds weren¡¯t good, how could you save someone who had lost their legs? It would have required not only specialized equipment but also superior medical skills to possibly grab a chance at life, but that was the wilderness, not a hospital! Even in a hospital, such severe injuries might not be survivable, let alone in the wild mountains. Unsolvable. Although he felt some regret, Bi Fang had to admit that he had done his best. Losing points was just losing points, it wasn¡¯t a loss. With that thought, he directly checked the rewards for this mission. [Detection of no reward upgrade, your final rewards are: Skill Upgrade Coupon*2, Enhancement Points*3, Wilderness Points*i6oo] [Ding! The shop has been unlocked and refreshed.] [Ding! Detecting that you have engaged in hunting wolves, would you like to generate the spoils of war?] Chapter 84 - 82: Fire Them, Fire Them All! Chapter 84: Chapter 82: Fire Them, Fire Them All! Translator: 549690339 | No! Bi Fang didn¡¯t hesitate and immediately hit the reject button. He was still in the hospital. If he generated something strange, wouldn¡¯t he be dissected on the spot? The rewards for this task weren¡¯t as abundant as the first time, but they were still quite decent. After all, the novice task came with a double bonus, whereas this time it didn¡¯t, plus he had claimed the rewards for the main quest early on. He was already quite satisfied with the current situation. As for the shop, it was grayed out during the survival process, which was to prevent any sort of cheating. Now that the task was completed, it was accessible. Bi Fang took a look, and it was all equipment and food, nothing of immediate interest; the next refresh would be in 14 hours, so he¡¯d check back then. Both upgrade coupons were of a lower tier, only applicable to green and blue skills. Bi Fang used them all on Special Forces Ivi. This experience had made him realize the importance of combat abilities, so upgrading the Special Forces skill was necessary. Up two levels in succession, and a flood of memories emerged. More close combat experience, handling of unexpected events, demolitions and disarming, vehicle proficiency, standard firearm construction analysis and mastery, and tactical planning and execution. Even though his skills hadn¡¯t advanced, the abilities he gained from the two extra levels were undoubtedly stronger. This feeling of getting stronger without effort was incredibly exhilarating. To make it even more thrilling, Bi Fang used all the remaining three enhancement points as well: one in agility and two in physique. Explosiveness and physique were of utmost importance in wilderness survival; Bi Fang was truly sleepy this time. He now felt warm all over, almost as if he was back in the womb, developing. Becoming stronger felt amazing; it was even slightly too thrilling, like floating on a cloud, not wanting to come down. Compared to enhancing, working out and such seemed utterly lame! But he still needed to train. As a successor of socialism, Bi Fang had to engage in all activities and excel in them! He wanted it all! Finally, before going to sleep, Bi Fang took one last look at his panel. Content with the now much richer panel, he happily drifted off to sleep. [Sole Bound User: Bi Fang] [Age: 24] Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Height: 183.1cm] [Weight: 70.5KG] [Strength: 9] [Physique: 13] [Agility: 10] (Spirit: 12] [Status: Right shoulder injury (Accelerated Healing)] [Enhancement Points: 0] [Wilderness Points: 1600] Purple Tree Trunk: Wilderness Survival Ivi, Advanced Yoga Ivi. Blue Tree Trunk: Pilates lv3, Special Forces lv3 Green Tree Trunk: Cross-country Hiking lv5, Rock Climbing lv5, Swimming lv2, First Aid lv5, Biological Identification lv2, Calisthenics lv3. ¡°Ah! That feels great!¡± The next morning, Bi Fang, waking up in the hospital bed, yawned and was about to open his eyes when he saw a huge face filling his entire field of vision, startling him almost to the point of throwing a punch. Fortunately, his spirit was now at twelve, and his neural reactions were much faster than the average person¡¯s. He stopped himself just in time once he recognized the person. ¡°President Wang? What¡­ What are you doing here? Is there some matter?¡± Bi Fang looked at the large face that was too close for comfort, instinctively shrinking back, pressing himself against the wall, and pulling up the bedsheet a bit. The visitor was none other than the Wolf Fang CEO, Wang Yongbo! Wang Yongbo grinned, his eyes nearly squished out of sight by his cheeks, prompting Bi Fang to involuntarily glance at Wu Mingtao on the next bed, hoping for some hint. Wu Mingtao caught the look and spoke bluntly, ¡°This gentleman arrived early this morning. Seeing you were asleep, he didn¡¯t disturb you. He has been waiting for more than an hour now!¡± Bi Fang was taken aback when he heard this. More than an hour? That idle¡­ ah, no, that concerned about him? ¡°Didn¡¯t want to disturb you, that¡¯s all,¡± Wang Yongbo waved his hand, indicating it was nothing. He didn¡¯t deny it; after all, they were adults here, and this was precisely the effect he wanted. Many things lose their charm if stated bluntly. ¡°How come you, President Wang, thought to visit me, given how busy you are?¡± Bi Fang was curious. Although touched by Wang Yongbo¡¯s special visit, he knew there was more to it than simple concern. After all, as a vice president of a publicly listed company, traveling a long distance to visit him wasn¡¯t just about sharing a few caring words¡ªonly a fool would believe that. ¡°Of course, I came to discuss the upcoming live stream with you.¡± Wang Yongbo¡¯s face burst into a smile, blooming like an old chrysanthemum. In fact, Bi Fang really misunderstood this time. Ever since Wang Yongbo signed Bi Fang, the pleasant surprises hadn¡¯t stopped coming. Although his original plan was for Bi Fang to become the frontrunner for Wolf Fang Live Streaming, he thought that would happen after several live streams, right? But he never imagined that just one live stream would bring such a great surprise. The news about the recent event was all over the trending searches, with people all over commenting and sharing. The first survival video Bi Fang posted had seen a surge in views¡ªdominated B Island, you could say he was breaking into new circles. It¡¯s no small feat for a streamer to trend¡ªShark and Tiger Fang had done it before, but Wolf Fang¡¯s occasions were pitifully few. This not only publicized Bi Fang but also promoted Wolf Fang indirectly! Even the shares of Wolf Fang TV had gone up a bit¡ªit was like mana from heaven! Shark TV must be full of regret by now, huh? Therefore, Wang Yongbo couldn¡¯t sit still and asked his assistant to book a flight immediately. He had to play ¡°Big Ears Liu¡± again¡ªa great strategy with Red Hare by his side, moving faster than a Bugatti, he needed to hurry and extend his warm regards! He rushed all the way from the Magic Capital by plane, arriving alone in Mohe, like he was conducting a surprise inspection. Then, he appeared before Bi Fang, to his astonishment. Bi Fang could understand Wang Yongbo¡¯s feelings, but though he understood, why did he always have to grab his hand? Bi Fang tried subtlely to withdraw his hand but failed. How could this bald middle-aged man have such strong grip? ¡°Mr. Bi, are you settling in well with Wolf Fang Live Streaming?¡± Wang Yongbo asked with a hearty laugh. Bi Fang began to understand¡ªthis was ¡°humanistic care.¡± After all, Wolf Fang had invested so much and provided him with many resources; it was only natural to come and check on him. ¡°Very well! Wolf Fang TV is definitely a platform with potential!¡± Bi Fang praised, though implying that the potential had not yet been realized. But after this live stream, Bi Fang indeed realized that although Wolf Fang TV was on the decline, it still had a solid foundation. The user base was not small, with the viewership for this live stream exceeding one hundred thousand. ¡°President Wang, taking time out of your busy schedule to visit, is there anything you require? Is it about the next live stream? Don¡¯t worry, my injury isn¡¯t severe. There won¡¯t be any delays,¡± Bi Fang suggested, thinking that his injury might have caused Wang Yongbo to worry about problems in the next live stream. But Wang Yongbo quickly said, ¡°Mr. Bi, please don¡¯t get me wrong. I had no such intention. You should focus on recovering. It doesn¡¯t matter how long it takes; you must ensure your safety. The next live stream can happen anytime. Honestly, I¡¯m just here to congratulate you. You¡¯ve brought hope to Wolf Fang TV!¡± Bi Fang was utterly confused. How did this one live stream bring hope to Wolf Fang? Was it just because the viewership broke one hundred thousand? What¡¯s there to congratulate? He couldn¡¯t understand at the moment; having known the popularity of Bear Grylls and Grandpa De in his previous life, he didn¡¯t regard such achievements as anything special. His ambition was not just to be the number one live streamer but to become a legendary figure like the world¡¯s number one survivalist, the world¡¯s top explorer. Wouldn¡¯t it be a waste of his skills to aim for anything less? He had reached this point all by himself. After all, humans, being the most intelligent creatures, are stronger than animals because they can use tools, and the System was such a tool. Using the System was no different from using any tool; it was still all about his effort and struggle. Suddenly, Bi Fang began to wonder if Wang Yongbo was being sarcastic. Leaders generally act in such a manner¡ªcould it be that he was dissatisfied because the live stream¡¯s performance was not up to expectations and because Bi Fang¡¯s injury might delay the next broadcast? This bald guy was getting a bit greedy. Especially when the results were actually good. Bi Fang pondered for a moment and decided to take a stance first. If he left Wolf Fang now, it would be quite troublesome. He admitted guilt, ¡°The results this time weren¡¯t ideal, but the rate of improvement is actually quite fast. A sudden surge is difficult in the short term, but the news coverage this time will surely trigger a qualitative change in the next live stream.¡± And Wang Yongbo was also baffled¡ªwhy are you blaming yourself? You¡¯ve only streamed for a few days, and Wolf Fang TV¡¯s market value has started to rise. Didn¡¯t you see how we were previously on a steady decline? Your first live stream reached over one hundred thousand viewers; the best in the same period! If you¡¯re feeling guilty about that, should I fire most of the streamers in Wolf Fang TV? Chapter 85 - 83: It’s too small, the pattern is too small. Chapter 85: Chapter 83: It¡¯s too small, the pattern is too small. Translator: 549690339 Seeing Bi Fang¡¯s self-reproachful expression which didn¡¯t seem feigned, Wang Yongbo was immediately filled with doubt and suspicion. Was this a mockery of himself? That shouldn¡¯t be the case! When they first met, Wang Yongbo had a good impression of Bi Fang, a modest and handsome young man, not someone who displayed arrogance because of his talents. Could it be¡­ That he truly believes these achievements aren¡¯t good? Wang Yongbo couldn¡¯t understand what kind of bizarre thought process was going on in Bi Fang¡¯s mind, but it also made him shiver inside, with a touch of emotion. Is this the world of a genius? He had to admit, the gap between a genius and ordinary people is indeed visible to the naked eye. While he himself was still complacent about a minor success, had the other party already set off toward a higher peak? My thinking is too small, my vision too narrow. So what if the stock price rose, and the company made a few billion? The future of Wolf Fang is to aim for the top platform in the livestreaming industry! Bi Fang had no idea that his few words had such a huge impact on Wang Yongbo, causing him to redefine his life goals. At that moment, he was still trying hard to pull his hand out of Wang Yongbo¡¯s grasp. ¡°Ah, indeed, listening to your words is better than studying for ten years, Mr. Bi. Your ambition is lofty¡ªit is my vision that is limited,¡± Wang Yongbo said with continuous sighs, holding on even tighter. Bi Fang:¡±¡­¡± What did I say that you equated with studying for ten years? You were just calling me Mr. Bi, and now you¡¯ve changed to calling me Teacher Bi? Wang Yongbo¡¯s peculiar thought process also suddenly made Bi Fang feel awkward. Was what this balding middle-aged man saying sincere, or was it actually sarcasm? Was it not to express dissatisfaction? Thinking this, Bi Fang didn¡¯t know whether to withdraw his hand or to keep it there, so he could only smile gracefully as if nothing mattered. Seeing Bi Fang¡¯s smile, Wang Yongbo knew he had secured his position; he had guessed right. Teacher Bi had deep aspirations and had long stopped caring about such minor successes. Wang Yongbo felt that when dealing with a genius, it was most important to understand their real thoughts and to go along with their desires. Ever since Bi Fang¡¯s first livestream was a huge hit, affecting Wolf Fang¡¯s market value positively, Wang Yongbo no longer saw Bi Fang as just a potential talent. How does the saying go, cutting off a man¡¯s fortune is like killing his parents, so offering a path to wealth is akin to having a second birth from one¡¯s parents, isn¡¯t it? If the parents are injured, as children, it¡¯s only right to show concern. It¡¯s not embarrassing. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That¡¯s why Wang Yongbo made a special trip to Mohe, simply to win over people¡¯s hearts. After all, besides treating people sincerely and binding them with emotion, at Wolf Fang, they had no better way to retain top talent. Anything they could offer, Sharks and Tiger Fang could also offer, and only better. Working in the industry for many years, only Bi Fang could make Wang Yongbo act this way. After all, he was also busy with work, being the vice president of a publicly listed company. Even so, he still felt some regret that he hadn¡¯t paid regular attention to Bi Fang after signing him. If Bi Fang were lured away by Sharks or Tiger Fang, Wang Yongbo would be so frustrated he might spit blood. Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t too late. Apart from showing concern, Wang Yongbo also brought good news. ¡°Teacher Bi, considering the uniqueness of this livestream and also to promote your righteous and courageous spirit, our platform has made a decision. The income from this event¡¯s gifts will not be split according to the typical seventy-thirty, it will all go to you, even taxes, we will cover for you!¡± Wang Yongbo patted his chest with an air of integrity. Bi Fang was stunned, not taking a penny and covering the taxes? Although he hadn¡¯t calculated exactly, the income from the gifts received during this livestream was at least three million or more. Even if it was just thirty percent, that would still be close to one million. Wolf Fang was willing to give all that up? And to cover the costs additionally? The tax rate on livestream gifts is not low, and Bi Fang was clear about that. In this deal, Wolf Fang not only earned nothing but was also losing a significant amount. Considering that Wang Yongbo had hurried over this morning, he must have discussed it with the directors last night, and Wang Yongbo had surely exerted a great effort in this matter. Wolf Fang is really something! Bi Fang felt his judgment was really not off. Wolf Fang TV has the right idea; it seemed he really thought wrong before. He also politely replied, ¡°I still have to thank you, President Wang.¡± Who would think they have too much money? He was easy to talk to; as long as others were courteous, he was willing to return the favor. ¡°I should be thanking you. This small amount of money is nothing compared to the increase in market value you brought to Wolf Fang. I just never expected the first live broadcast to be such a success,¡± he said. ¡°Increase in market value?¡± Bi Fang couldn¡¯t believe his ears and pointed at himself, ¡°Because of me?¡± Of course, it¡¯s because of Mr. Bi. Could there be any other reason?¡± Wang Yongbo replied. Wang Yongbo was also amazed. A single live broadcast could stimulate company market value¡ªwho would believe that? But it was the truth. This wasn¡¯t just a talented steed; this was a Bugatti Veyron! Single-handedly boosting Wolf Fang¡¯s market cap! Impressive! Truly impressive! ¡°Since yesterday, your video has been spreading like wildfire online. Since you¡¯ve been sleeping, you have no idea about any of it,¡± Wu Mingtao suddenly chimed in- he knew the whole story. Ever since they had returned to civilization and finally had a phone signal, Bi Fang¡¯s heroic act had been dominating the screens. ¡°Mr. Bi is unaware?¡± Wang Yongbo was taken aback. ¡°How could I know without a phone?¡± Bi Fang spread his hands out; he never carried a phone with him during Wilderness Survivalist activities because that was professional. ¡°Well, that¡¯s true. After all, Mr. Bis survival skills are genuine and countless times stronger than those imitators!¡± Wang Yongbo flattered him effortlessly. Flattery never goes out of style. Then, he pulled out his phone, opened Weibo, and showed Bi Fang the top trending topic, ¡°Mr. Bi, you¡¯ve truly broken out of the circle this time. The next live broadcast will definitely be an even bigger hit!¡± Faced with Wang Yongbo¡¯s attitude, Bi Fang was somewhat at a loss for words. There he was, a CEO of a public company, acting like a sycophant straight out of a novel, with absolutely no airs. In fact, Bi Fang was really misjudging Wang Yongbo. Acting lofty was all about who you were dealing with. Had he asked the office staff at Wolf Fang Headquarters, the description of Wang Yongbo would have been quite different. One could say that anyone who could hold such a position was astute, being flexible was basic practice, and in Wang Yongbo¡¯s case, he didn¡¯t consider it acting inferior¡ªit was ¡°being approachable.¡± Meanwhile, Bi Fang was browsing Weibo and noticed that several of the trending topics were related to him. Shock! A man does this to a woman in the wilderness!¡± ¡°Daughter of Shenhua Group¡¯s CEO in wilderness peril!¡± ¡°Host of Wilderness Survivalist encounters a pack of wolves!¡± ¡°The reason behind Wolf Fang¡¯s rise in market value turns out to be him!¡± Bi Fang raised an eyebrow. Had the world of UC Shock Department merged with Weibo? ¡°And there¡¯s more from B Island!¡± Wang Yongbo showed Bi Fang B Island, where one video thumbnail depicted the moment after Bi Fang had defeated the wolf pack, with the wolves retreating and the sunrise over the mountain top. It was like something out of a movie, and it had over a million views. And that wasn¡¯t even the hottest video. It appeared to be a clip recorded by an audience member from the live room. Bi Fang clicked to watch and found the editing to be rather good. You have to admit, it looked quite cool. It was indeed him, any other person wouldn¡¯t have had the same effect. Bi Fang wasn¡¯t boasting without reason; he was as handsome in this life as he had been in his previous one. If he had gone into the entertainment industry, there would be no room for other stars. Including major forums, it¡¯s all about your recent broadcast and the previous one¡¯s edited videos, especially on Douyin. I don¡¯t know about others, but whenever I scroll through a dozen videos or so, your live broadcast cuts are bound to be there.¡± ¡°This time, it¡¯s super viral!¡± Wang Yongbo¡¯s tone contained uncontrollable joy.. Chapter 86 - 84 They Understand Chapter 86: Chapter 84 They Understand Translator: 549690339 1 This is truly shocking. There are only a few live streamers in the entire industry who can reach this level, and now Bi Fang, the newcomer, has actually joined their ranks¡ªit¡¯s simply unbelievable. Currently, in the live streaming world, who hasn¡¯t been building their presence for a long time to become famous? Either naturally beautiful, skilled in a unique talent, or full of witty banter. And now, Bi Fang¡¯s popularity is exploding at a terrifying rate; his videos are spreading like a virus throughout Huaxia, north to south. Bi Fang is like a knight who suddenly charged into the fray, stirring up the calm scene into chaos, and then disappearing as quickly as he appeared. ¡°Wow! This live streamer is so handsome, especially the scene with blood on his face. I¡¯m blown away; suddenly 1 really want to watch his live streams!¡± ¡®Yeah, I never watch live streams but now I even want to check out Wolf Fang and see what¡¯s so special about Master Fang!¡± ¡°Speaking of which, the princess of Shenhua Group is so pretty, I¡¯m in love.¡± ¡°Come on, be honest, how many have you fallen for this week?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just hungry for his body, I¡¯m shameless!¡± ¡°His?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a woman, what¡¯s the problem?¡± ¡°You¡¯re awesome!¡± Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but want to laugh as he watched the netizens build thread upon thread. He turned to Wang Yongbo and asked, ¡°By the way, what about the reporters downstairs? Have they all left?¡± ¡°How could they!¡± Wang Yongbo shook his head, ¡°When I came up, there was still a bunch of them blocked at the door, all stopped by the security guards left by Shenhua Group. They said it was by Mr. Lin¡¯s orders, not to disturb your rest. Why? Do you want to see them? Should I call them up?¡± Actually, Wang Yongbo also wanted Bi Fang to accept interviews, as it would further boost his popularity, but if Bi Fang wasn¡¯t willing, he wouldn¡¯t insist. Their contract didn¡¯t impose much obligation and couldn¡¯t be overstepped. ¡°Forget it, 1 don¡¯t want to deal with reporters; too much trouble,¡± Bi Fang shook his head. There were many ways to increase his popularity, but dealing with reporters definitely wasn¡¯t one he liked. Those people always like to quote out of context, very troublesome. Lin Chang and Lin Zhou, however, were quite considerate, even leaving behind bodyguards intentionally. It seems inviting him to meals and giving gifts wasn¡¯t just being polite, but they really intended to do so. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s up to you,¡± Wang Yongbo nodded, ¡°Actually, there¡¯s another matter I came to discuss.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Endorsements!¡± ¡°Endorsements?¡± Bi Fang was taken aback, ¡°Are you looking for me to do endorsements?¡± ¡°Yes, but they are all with some smaller sports brands. So far, I haven¡¯t noticed any movement from the big brands,¡± Wang Yongbo confirmed, mentioning this since he was here anyway. Bi Fang knew that he might get endorsement offers from sports brands after becoming famous, especially since outdoor activities always require some professional gear, but he didn¡¯t expect to be approached so soon. ¡°We have no say in this matter, but since the brands couldn¡¯t reach you, they all came to us.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Bi Fang pondered for a moment, then said to Wang Yongbo, ¡°Then please, President Wang, decline them all for me!¡± ¡°Decline them all?¡± Wang Yongbo exclaimed. He had been to Bi Fang¡¯s house before, and to put it impolitely, it was quite worn down. It seemed Bi Fang¡¯s life before live streaming hadn¡¯t been easy, yet he rejected the offers so easily? ¡°Yes!¡± Bi Fang nodded. Although he wasn¡¯t exactly wealthy, well, compared to his fellow transmigrators that was the case, but he really didn¡¯t care for small brand endorsements. Bi Fang was very clear about why he had become so popular this time; it wasn¡¯t just because he saved someone, but more importantly, amongst those he saved was the princess of Shenhua Group. That was the key point. So it wasn¡¯t yet certain how much of this popularity would last. The businesses that approached him now mostly wanted to ride the wave, and their offers couldn¡¯t be too high. If he accepted any endorsement that came his way, and the products turned out subpar, it would only lower his own standing. That was not desirable. ¡°Alright,¡± Wang Yongbo nodded. Apart from that, there wasn¡¯t much else he could say, and he asked again, ¡°Is Teacher Bi¡¯s injury really not serious?¡± ¡°It¡¯s really not serious, just some superficial wounds. I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll heal before the next live stream,¡± Bi Fang was certain. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± Wang Yongbo knew Bi Fang had misunderstood him, ¡°You probably haven¡¯t eaten since last night, right? How about we go out for a meal? My treat.¡± To build a relationship, of course, you have to sit down at the dining table. Wang Yongbo was quite skilled at this. Bi Fang was indeed getting hungry. He hadn¡¯t eaten anything decent since he slept through the night. Fortunately, his leg wasn¡¯t injured, so it didn¡¯t affect his mobility; otherwise, he would end up like Wu Mingtao, lying obediently in bed. So, the two of them slipped out of the hospital under the envious gaze of Wu Mingtao. Mohe, as a tourist haven boasting multiple scenic areas, naturally wasn¡¯t lacking in grand hotels. Wang Yongbo was generous and directly booked a table at one. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Of course, while they ate, they also engaged in plenty of conversation. Wang Yongbo praised Bi Fang¡¯s live stream immensely, expressed high hopes for his future achievements, and promised that the next live stream would also be heavily promoted. He assured Bi Fang that Wolf Fang would fully support whatever resources were needed, striving to achieve even greater success in the next broadcast. Coming out to bond was precisely for these discussions. After all, Wolf Fang was really struggling without any breakout streamers, which made them particularly value Bi Fang, who showed unlimited potential¡ªthey hoped that in addition to live streaming Wilderness Survivalist, Bi Fang could also stream other content, even just chatting, to minimize the long gaps between streams. Bi Fang nodded. Wolf Fang was showing him great sincerity, and he wouldn¡¯t let them down in return. He promised not to waste the resources provided by the platform and planned to start another live stream in a few days. The popularity he had gained this time shouldn¡¯t go to waste; it was best to retain some of it. It would be foolish to wait another half a month for the next live stream as he did before. Indeed, this was the right way to express leader¡¯s care! As Bi Fang ate, he also felt at ease. If Wang Yongbo had really taken the trouble to visit just to check on him, that would have been strange. Thinking back to their previous meeting, he even wondered if there was something wrong with Wang Yongbo. Being a big shot, after all, his interests were a bit unique, but that was understandable. Humans, such creatures, become fond of playing with frills once they have money. The meal lasted a full two hours. Not only did they talk extensively about Wolf Fang¡¯s prospects for the future, but Wang Yongbo also took the opportunity to drop some hints about Shark and Tiger Fang, recounting some of the sleazy things they¡¯d done and their dark histories. Wang Yongbo felt no burden speaking about such matters. If anyone were to be considered the cleanest in the live streaming industry, Wolf Fang TV would definitely rank first. It would not be that straightforward for others to claim such integrity. The positive atmosphere at Wolf Fang was something everyone agreed on, no explanation needed. It was perhaps because of that integrity that they hit a low point, but fortunately, the downward trend had stopped for now, and there was even a slight upward movement. In the end, Wang Yongbo shared his grand visions for the future with Bi Fang, even subtly expressing the ambition to one day surpass Shark and Tiger Fang to become the leader of the live streaming world. It was apparent that Wang Yongbo was worried about losing Bi Fang. He spoke with great effort to enhance Bi Fang¡¯s sense of belonging and his expectation for the future. In essence, the message was clear: As long as Bi Fang stayed, Wolf Fang wouldn¡¯t let him down, and it would be better than going to Shark or Tiger Fang. If they ever harbored ill intentions towards him, he must firmly reject them because Wolf Fang was the platform he could truly trust to collaborate with. Always a strong and steadfast supporter! The talk was good, but paired with the image of Wang Yongbo, it was hard to feel passionate. It was more like a street vendor promoting his goods. After the meal, Bi Fang and Wang Yongbo were ready to leave. Bi Fang packed some food to take back for his sick friend Wu Mingtao to try. But just as they left the hotel, they encountered two men in black. They were bodyguards left by Lin Chang and his people. Bi Fang and Wang Yongbo had sneaked out secretly; they could fool reporters but not them. They immediately followed to provide protection. Don¡¯t worry, they¡¯re professionals. If the boss says to protect someone well, then they must do so. Who knows, one day he might become Shenhua Group¡¯s son-in-law. That¡¯s how it¡¯s written in the novels, after all. In this regard, they understood.. Chapter 87 - 85 Wolves King’s Sense of Smell Chapter 87: Chapter 85 Wolves King¡¯s Sense of Smell Translator: 549690339 ¡°Wow, it¡¯s like monitoring a prisoner,¡± remarked Bi Fang as he patted one of the bodyguards on the shoulder with a jesting tone. ¡°Mr. Bi, you¡¯ve got it all wrong. If it bothers you, well disappear right away,¡± the leader of the men shook his head like a rattle-drum, terrified of being misunderstood by Bi Fang. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°No worries, it was just a joke. In fact, 1 should be thanking you for blocking those journalists for me,¡± seeing the man¡¯s serious expression, Bi Fang felt embarrassed to continue joking and asked directly, ¡°So, had dinner yet?¡± ¡°Mr. Bi, it¡¯s already one in the afternoon,¡± the man reminded him. ¡°Oh, I totally forgot.¡± Only now did Bi Fang remember. He had such a great time chatting with Wang Yongbo that lunch had carried on for two hours, long past the usual mealtime. With that, Bi Fang didn¡¯t stand on ceremony and headed straight back to the hospital. Poor Wu Mingtao, who had been hungry for quite a while, finally got to have his meal. Meanwhile, Bi Fang pretended to fiddle with the drone on the side, instructing the system to edit the video footage and send it out through Wu Mingtao¡¯s phone. As for how the editing was done, he could easily say that he sent it to a friend first, who edited it before sending it back to him. The drone¡¯s overly smart tracking had led many viewers to believe that he actually had a secret partner controlling it. This mysterious partner wasn¡¯t just a brilliant shooter but also exceptionally good at video editing, and his live broadcast music was top-notch. He was Master Fang¡¯s good brother, a perfect partner; together, they were a golden duo! Bi l ang didn¡¯t bother correcting this misunderstanding; instead, he felt it was better to have more people think this way. Such clever netizens. At midnight¡­ Bi Fang glanced at the soundly sleeping Wu Mingtao and quietly sat up, calling out to the system in his mind, and the tech-sawy pale blue interface appeared. He hadn¡¯t forgotten that there was a system reward from the previous day¡¯s hunt that he hadn¡¯t yet claimed. Now, with the night deep and silent and no doctors or nurses coming to check up, the time was right. (Ding! Activated by your hunting of the wolf pack, would you like to generate loot?] ¡°Yes!¡± Bi Fang quickly scanned through and confirmed with a thought. The next second, perhaps it was an illusion, but Bi Fang felt his strength surge slightly. It was very subtle, not as pronounced as when he upgraded his physique. Then, he felt a cool foreign object sensation around his neck. Pulling at his collar and reaching down, he suddenly pulled out a knotted necklace. Taking a closer look, he saw that it had a large fang, about four centimeters long, hanging from it. He drew the curtains slightly and by the dim moonlight, Bi Fang saw the full appearance of the necklace-a wolf fang. Under the moonlight¡¯s glow, the wolf fang shone like jade-not only in color but also in texture, which felt like jade to the touch, vastly different from the yellow-tinged teeth he had collected before. After defeating the wolf pack, Bi Fang had pulled the largest two canines from the dead wolves, intending as gifts for the viewers. Surely, this wasn¡¯t one of them? With this thought, Bi Fang quietly pulled his backpack beside the bed and counted the teeth inside. None were missing, so this clearly wasn¡¯t one of those; this wolf fang was a system-made item. The material of the cord was also peculiar, like leather yet sinew, with remarkable tenacity. When he tried to cut it with a knife, not a mark was left behind. I Ding! You¡¯ve triggered the loot reward passive skill: Wolves King¡¯s Sense of Smell.] (Wolves King¡¯s Sense of Smell] Skill introduction: Your sense of smell and ability to differentiate scents will far exceed that of the average person. Bi Fang was taken aback by this introduction. What did it mean to exceed the average person by far? The sparse introduction also filled Bi Fang with confusion, but in the next second, a potent smell of ointment rushed into his nostrils, his mucous membranes instantly assaulted by the strong stimulus. It was like eating a huge spoonful of wasabi -the kind you eat by the bowlful -an electric shock of intense sensation piercing through his entire head. The feeling could be summed up in one word. Clear! ¡°Damn!¡± Bi Fang swore under his breath, unable to help it. ¡°Hm?¡± Wu Mingtao turned over, his eyes half-open, murmuring, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did something happen?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, go back to sleep,¡± Bi Fang said, while holding back tears and covering his nose, pretending nothing had happened. ¡°Oh.¡± Seeing Wu Mingtao lie back down, Bi Fang finally caught his breath. This was just too damn overwhelming. Tears brimmed in Bi Fang¡¯s eyes and snot ran uncontrollably down his face, one might think he loves this land deeply. It took quite an effort to recover a bit, but then even more scents rushed into his nostrils, disregarding whether the channels were willing or not; they barged in first and would deal with the rest later. The strongest scent was the ointment on his shoulder, followed by the smell of alcohol and disinfectant. Bi Fang even smelled the odor of sweat on Wu Mingtao. My God, so overwhelming, too damn overwhelming. Bi Fang kept grabbing tissues, one handful for snot, another for tears; it took him a whole half hour and a full trash can before he could barely stop. Tearing the tissue in half, Bi Fang plugged his nostrils before daring to enter the bathroom. Trembling, he turned on the light and saw himself in the mirror, noticing no difference from before; his nose was still the same, not having morphed into the straight nose of a dog. It seemed the so-called Wolves King¡¯s Sense of Smell was merely a name for the skill, a description, and not an indication that his sense of smell was literally as strong as a wolf¡¯s. Because whether or not the sense of smell is strong is directly linked to the number of olfactory cells and nerves; although this comparison isn¡¯t accurate, the construction of the human nose means it¡¯s impossible to have a sense of smell like that of a dog¡¯s. Otherwise, the smell just now might¡¯ve made him faint on the spot. Even so, Bi Fang would dare to say that his sense of smell is definitely more than ten times that of an average person, based on his comparison with his former self. Moreover, in the wild, this ability would be extremely useful, enabling him to avoid areas with the scent of blood, so as not to attract the attention of carnivorous animals on the prowl, or even hunt directly by following scents! In conclusion. This ability might not skyrocket Bi Fang to the top, but it¡¯s certainly very helpful. Facing off against that pack of wolves to save people was a huge gain! The only issue is that his suddenly enhanced sense of smell will need some time to get used to. Otherwise, he might end up tear-filled and with a runny nose from pungent odors just like he did today. The next day. Hey? What happened to you? Why is your nose so red?¡± Wu Mingtao asked early in the morning, noticing Bi Fang¡¯s distinctly red and slightly swollen nose. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, might be just a cold,¡± Bi Fang said with a chuckle, his voice nasal. ¡°If you have a cold, drink more hot water,¡± Wu Mingtao offered some soul-stirring concern. Bi Fang nodded, and just then, the doctor came in to check their wounds. After all, they¡¯d been bitten by wolves, and one couldn¡¯t be too careful with the possibility of serious infection from the wounds. However, as a female nurse was about to come over and remove the bandages, Bi Fang instinctively ducked out of the way. This surprised everyone. Bi Fang¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment; his avoidance had been a reflexive reaction because the nurse¡¯s perfume was so strong it choked him. ¡°Sorry about that, just got back from the wilderness, kind of a conditioned reflex.¡± Bi Fang laughed it off in the face of everyone¡¯s puzzled looks, before sitting back down and holding his nose for the nurse to remove the bandage. Is she disgusted by my smell? The female nurse seemed a bit miffed at Bi Fang covering his nose and was rougher in her movements. Ouch! Bi Fang felt pain in his shoulder and inhaled sharply. This woman¡¯s being way too petty. After inspecting Wu Mingtao¡¯s condition, the doctor came over to check Bi Fang¡¯s wounds. ¡°Huh, it seems to be healing quite nicely?¡± The doctor expressed his surprise after the examination, noting that not only was the wound not infected or pus-filled, but it was also healing remarkably well. ¡°It¡¯s the doctor¡¯s great skill,¡± Bi Fang said with a smile. But the doctor shook his head: ¡°No, it¡¯s your physique that¡¯s good. The amount you¡¯ve healed in one day is what would take others three days.¡± ¡°Still, that¡¯s a good thing. If there are no issues, you can be discharged today. Just make sure you apply medication on time, and don¡¯t forget to get vaccinated.¡± ¡°Alright, thank you, doctor.¡± The doctor nodded and left with the female nurse. On the other side, Wu Mingtao sent an envious glance his way.. Chapter 88 - 86: The Boss Treats Chapter 88: Chapter 86: The Boss Treats Translator: 549690339 ¡°All, youth is wonderful,¡± Wu Mingtao, lying in the bed next to him, sighed as the doctor left. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, old Wu, you really think you¡¯re old now?¡± Bi Fang dressed himself, chuckling. Having been hospital mates for two days, their relationship had developed nicely, free of the tension that existed when they faced off against the wolf pack. Friendship between men can sometimes be that simple and direct. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°How could that be, I have nearly thirty years till retirement,¡± Wu Mingtao denied vehemently, then turned to ask, ¡°Are you leaving?¡± ¡°Yes, since there¡¯s no issue with my wound, I don¡¯t want to stay in the hospital, and since I can get vaccinated anywhere, going back works too.¡± Bi Fang was already packing his things. Wu Mingtao nodded; that made sense. ¡°Then you can rest easy. Once my injury heals, I¡¯ll start writing straightaway and publish your experience. It¡¯s guaranteed to go viral!¡± ¡°Remember to make the pictures look cool.¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Wu Mingtao laughed heartily. After stepping out of the sickroom, Bi Fang greeted the two bodyguards waiting by the door. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Journalists hadn¡¯t been able to find Bi Fang for two consecutive days and had already left. These two bodyguards were left to escort Bi Fang to his appointment in the Magic Capital. The afternoon before, Lin Chang had made contact with him and discussed having a meal together. Bi Fang didn¡¯t refuse. The other party was clearly serious, and Bi Fang thought it was good to have one more friend, one more path, so he agreed right away. Although Shenhua¡¯s headquarters was in Shenchuan, they also had a substantial branch in the Magic Capital. On the airplane, Bi Fang used a bodyguard¡¯s phone to check his B Island page and found that the video he had edited and posted with the System the day before had already reached over three hundred million views; even his follower count had soared to nearly three hundred thousand. And this wasn¡¯t even the premiere! Bi Fang was thrilled; more fans meant more people loved Wilderness Survivalist. It seemed that despite some cultural and entertainment differences between the two worlds, the love for survival programs was the same. After getting off the plane, Bi Fang saw that the entourage that came to pick him up was not small. He could tell from those cars¡¯ license plates alone that it was something impressive; a crowd gathered around, pointing and discussing, assuming some big shot had arrived. They had only seen such plate numbers on television. But when Bi Fang thought of Lin Chang¡¯s identity, he understood. Even though Shenhua wasn¡¯t publicly traded, there had always been rumors that Shenhua Group was actually a special ¡°state-owned enterprise. A military-industrial enterprise with a solid lineage. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t always be private. At that moment, Lin Chang and Lin Xue also got out of the car, which shocked the onlookers gathered around the vehicles. They hadn¡¯t expected such imposing cars to be carrying two young people; they thought they were some sort of leaders. Many people took out their phones to take pictures, and they were even more stunned by the next scene because the people being greeted were even younger. ¡°Who is that? A celebrity?¡± ¡°Seems like it, pretty handsome.¡± ¡°Could be some rich second generation, perhaps?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so, it¡¯s probably a celebrity. He looks somewhat familiar.¡± ¡°Then he must be a celebrity, right? Otherwise, we wouldn¡¯t recognize him.¡± The crowd buzzed with speculation, but no one could pin down Bi Fang¡¯s identity. As soon as Lin Chang got out of the car, he headed straight for Bi Fang with a bear hug. This enthusiastic attitude caught Bi Fang by surprise. ¡°Finally, we meet again, Bi Fang.¡± ¡°Come on, didn¡¯t we just meet a few days ago?¡± Bi Fang said with a laugh. ¡°Brother Fang, you don¡¯t know, right after my brother went back the day before yesterday, he watched your last Wilderness Survivalist video and immediately became a fan,¡± Lin Xue laughed, covering her mouth. ¡°Really? Are you just saying that to be nice?¡± Bi Fang raised an eyebrow, somewhat disbelieving. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s true.¡± Seeing Bi Fang¡¯s disbelief, Lin Chang put on a serious face and immediately reached for his phone to prove it, ¡°I¡¯ve followed all your accounts, Weibo, Douyin, and even B Island, not a single one missed! ¡°Alright, alright, I believe you!¡± Bi Fang stopped Lin Chang, who was still trying to show evidence, feeling somewhat moved, ¡°I never expected people like you to enjoy scrolling through these things.¡± ¡°What do you mean ¡®people like us¡¯? We¡¯re ordinary people, alright? We have our own personal hobbies. Otherwise, my sister wouldn¡¯t have gone to work for National Geographic.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then I¡¯ll give you a little fan benefit.¡± Seeing that Lin Chang seemed to be serious, Bi Fang opened his backpack, picked out two of the larger Wolf Fang teeth, and handed them to Lin Chang. ¡°Hey, weren¡¯t you saying in your live stream that you were going to have a giveaway? Isn¡¯t this like a backdoor deal?¡± Lin Chang¡¯s face lit up as he accepted the two big Wolf Fang teeth. ¡°What? You don¡¯t like it? If you don¡¯t like it, then give them back to me, whether you¡¯ll win in the giveaway later will depend on your luck,¡± Bi Fang pretended to take back the wolf teeth, but Lin Chang quickly blocked him. ¡°No, no, no, of course I¡¯m happy,¡± Lin Chang said, while slipping the Wolf Fang teeth into his pocket. One thing¡¯s for sure, whether Lin Chang was being genuine or putting on an act, he had absolutely none of that airs of a rich heir, making him feel just like a normal friend. And Lin Xue wasn¡¯t bad either, she was very beautiful and strong. It seems Lin Zhengnan really knew how to educate his children, otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t all be so outstanding. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s talk in the car; dad has been waiting for a while,¡± Lin Xue said. Hearing this, Bi Fang and Lin Chang stopped chatting and got into the car directly. They were then escorted away, surrounded by the rest of the motorcade. Normally, for a business tycoon like Lin Zhengnan, many people would queue up hoping to pay for the chance to have a meal with him, with no path to do so. Now that Bi Fang had this opportunity, no doubt countless people would be green with envy. But he himself didn¡¯t feel that way at all. In the first place, their industries were so different that unless he offended Lin Zhengnan, they would never cross paths. Bi Fang also didn¡¯t think he needed anything from Lin Zhengnan; he genuinely considered the meal as nothing more than a thank-you dinner. That¡¯s why Lin Zhengnan was quite surprised when they first met, as very few young people could face him with such calm composure. Even the executives of his company were very restrained around him, but Bi Fang seemed to treat their status as equal right from the start. Of course, Lin Zhengnan didn¡¯t really think he was superior to others, but that¡¯s just the way things were. ¡°Truly a young talent!¡± Lin Zhengnan came forward, shaking Bi Fang¡¯s hand, feeling emotional, ¡°No wonder you were so calm and composed in such a critical moment. It¡¯s really all thanks to Mr. Bi that Xue survived.¡± ¡°No, please, just call me Bi Fang,¡± Bi Fang waved his hand. While he wasn¡¯t intimidated by Lin Zhengnan, respect was another matter entirely. After all, the man was an elder; being called ¡®Mister¡¯ was too much for him to accept. Seeing this, Lin Zhengnan was even more pleased and promptly invited Bi Fang to take a seat. The dishes were served one after another. Lin Zhengnan called out, ¡°Come on, Bi Fang, see how our chef does. Let¡¯s see if it¡¯s as delicious as the food you eat in the wilderness. Bi Fang didn¡¯t stand on ceremony and began eating with everyone else. At the dinner table, Lin Zhengnan and Bi Fang talked happily until Lin Zhengnan mentioned the recent state of his company, which made him even more interested in Bi Fang.. Chapter 89 - 87 Special Live Broadcasting License Chapter 89: Chapter 87 Special Live Broadcasting License Translator: 549690339 I ¡°I don¡¯t understand business, and I¡¯m not interested in it,¡± facing Lin Zhengnan¡¯s curious gaze, Bi Fang admitted candidly. Upon hearing this, Lin Zhengnan was even more surprised. It was rare for young people to be so direct about their shortcomings, especially in front of him. Now, there are still many young people sending emails to his inbox, evaluating the company¡¯s system or issuing grand visions about the future of business that are completely detached from reality. Reading them was like eating dog shit, their sole purpose being to gain his favor, but Bi Fang had no such intention. ¡°But what you just said was quite accurate, your judgment of the market was spot on,¡± Lin Zhengnan may have aged, but his brain hadn¡¯t deteriorated with his age, and when it came to seizing business opportunities and judging the market, he was absolutely admired by others. Thus, Lin Chang and Lin Zhou both secretly marveled, had Bi Fang actually received such high praise from Dad? I was just babbling. Bi Fang mumbled to himself. He truly didn¡¯t understand business and had never considered engaging in it. Although many aspects of this world were the same as in his previous life, there were differences still. Like how some business models hadn¡¯t developed to the stage they had in his former life. Using his foresight to spout some nonsense was harmless, but if Lin Zhengnan were to delve deep into it, he would be exposed as a paper tiger. Anyone who could master capital wasn¡¯t a fool, and even if they were, they¡¯d have a strong team behind them to help avoid mistakes. If Bi Fang really tried to get involved, he¡¯d certainly be swallowed whole, leaving nothing behind, not even bones. He couldn¡¯t fathom how his predecessors managed to thrive in business after transmigrating to this world. So it was better to be honest. The only field he could really handle was Wilderness Survival, in which he was an expert. He enjoyed and was skilled at Wilderness Survival; if doomsday ever came, he would surely be the last one to die. ¡°I have a high school classmate whose college professor analyzed this, and he told me I could make some money off it,¡± Bi Fang casually made someone up. ¡°I see,¡± Lin Zhengnan nodded. He believed it, but not entirely. If college professors were that amazing, why be a professor at all? Wouldn¡¯t being a consultative expert be much better, and more profitable than teaching? But since Bi Fang put it that way, Lin Zhengnan took it as the truth. Moreover, after their conversation, Lin Zhengnan looked at Bi Fang with even more pleasure. Neither servile nor overbearing, his composure came from the heart. This was something not just anyone could achieve. Usually, only those who have reached the pinnacle in a certain field have the confidence and mindset to face leading figures in other areas. Because such people are sufficiently confident and powerful, often it is others who need them, not they who need others. Just as Lin Zhengnan had reached the pinnacle in business, many sought to curry favor with him. Bi Fang was strong enough in the realm of Wilderness Survival that he wasn¡¯t intimidated by him at all. Important figures tend to have this problem: seeing so many who kowtow to them, they feel intrigued when encountering someone different. Lin Xue, Lin Chang, and Lin Zhou on the side were taken aback; they didn¡¯t believe what Bi Fang said and thought he was just making excuses, but their dad didn¡¯t seem to mind at all? Lin Xue was even more starstruck, for even though Lin Zhengnan was her father, she never dared to speak to him that way, and just his sternness could make her nervous. As the CEO of a company valued at over a trillion Ugly Yuan, assessed by academicians, Lin Zhengnan really hated when people were insincere or went against his will. Of course, Lin Zhengnan had the confidence to back this up. Otherwise, Lin Xue wouldn¡¯t have concealed her work at the National Geographic from Lin Zhengnan, nor would she have gone almost a year without contacting her family. It was only after her life was in danger and with the persuasion of Lin Chang and Lin Zhou that their relationship began to thaw. Brother Fang is so impressive! Bi Fang also noticed Lin Xue¡¯s gaze, and he was momentarily taken aback. What¡¯s this about? Has she taken a liking to me? Although I¡¯m quite handsome, and played the hero to save the damsel once, her eyes shouldn¡¯t be sparkling when she looks at me, right? Wait, it actually seems quite possible! Bi Fang¡¯s expression became stern, although he liked to work hard. But freeloading¡­ is not something I can¡¯t consider¡­ While Bi Fang was internally conflicted, Lin Zhengnan interrupted his thoughts. ¡°Lin Chang, go get the things,¡± he said. ¡°Alright.¡± Lin Chang nodded and immediately left his seat to fetch the ¡°things¡± Lin Zhengnan had mentioned. The main event is coming! Seeing this, Bi Fang also put down his chopsticks. He certainly hadn¡¯t forgotten the words the Lin siblings had said when they had first met, about giving him a big gift. Soon enough, Lin Chang came back with two stacks of documents, placing them in front of Bi Fang. Bi Fang picked up one and read aloud, ¡°Special Broadcast Permit? What¡¯s this?¡± Bi Fang, do you have to apply with the local forestry bureau for your livestreams now?¡± Lin Zhengnan didn¡¯t answer but responded with a question instead. ¡°Of course, I do.¡± Bi Fang nodded. He was a law-abiding citizen; both of his livestreams had been approved, and although the process was smooth, it certainly required these steps. ¡°With this, you don¡¯t need to apply anymore, just report and you¡¯re set,¡± Lin Chang explained the purpose of the document from the side. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°And you can push the envelope even further with your broadcasts. Like that first livestream of yours when you skinned the rabbit, there¡¯s no need for any cover-up. For many non-protected animals, even the Third-category, Second-class ones, as long as you explain the situation during the livestream, you can capture them. Just don¡¯t catch too many,¡± he added. ¡°That powerful?¡± Bi Fang was surprised. Such a document could be procured? It wasn¡¯t just about the scale of the broadcasts; what was more critical was the latter part about capturing non-protected animals, which was awesome! Aside from ¡°protected animals,¡± there are many other categories, such as the Third-category, Second-class and so on. The common toad, for instance, is one of them ¨C many people don¡¯t know that catching these is actually illegal. When Bi Fang first livestreamed the collection of sparrow eggs, he had thought about this issue. Back then, there were quite a few online friends challenging him, insisting that sparrows were second-class protected animals¡ªtypical examples of feigning knowledge. Even in his original world, sparrows were only Third-category, Second-class, not second-class! In this world, they weren¡¯t even classified as San You, something he had made sure to look up. Who knew better than these amateurs? ¡°How did you get this thing?¡± Bi Fang was very curious. ¡°I pulled some strings,¡± Lin Zhengnan said indifferently from the side. Some ¡°strings¡±? Bi Fang¡¯s eye twitched, finding it hard to imagine what ¡°a little string-pulling¡± meant for the CEO of a company that seemed private on the surface but was essentially a state-owned enterprise behind the scenes. ¡°Of course, the main reason is that your livestream content is positive; otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t be able to do anything. Plus, our country provides preferential treatment for veterans, especially for those taking on high-risk jobs like yours,¡± Lin Zhengnan added. Bi Fang nodded; he understood that the identity arranged by the System was quite powerful! But it was definitely Lin Zhengnan who played the decisive role. Anyway, this document was of great help to his livestreaming career; indeed, it was a surprising and generous gift. ¡°What do you think of this house?¡± Lin Chang suddenly interjected. ¡°It¡¯s great.¡± Bi Fang looked up and assessed. The house was indeed nice; he liked it a lot. Nice lighting, large space, a touch of history, grand and bright, and it looked very expensive. ¡°It¡¯s yours now.¡± Lin Chang pointed to the second document. On the document were several bold characters. Property Transfer Agreement! Chapter 90 - 88: Sly and Shifty Chapter 90: Chapter 88: Sly and Shifty Translator: 549690339 | The spacious living room was now empty except for one person. Bi Fang stood on the glossy elm wood floor, slightly emotional. The house, complete with a garden, now belonged to him. ¡°This building was a French businessman¡¯s mansion before the liberation. My father bought it and had it renovated. Now, he has given it to you,¡± Lin Chang¡¯s voice seemed to echo in his ears. The renovated mansion still retained the old elm wood flooring, but all four walls had been knocked down and replaced with floor-to-ceiling windows. Rooms were combined by removing the walls between them, and the floors above had been taken out as well. When he looked up, he saw a dome eight meters high, with a massive branched chandelier hanging from the century-old wooden beams. Right now, the chandelier was unlit. The only light in the vast space came from the candles on the antique table where they had just had dinner. Bi Fang didn¡¯t know how much the house was worth, but it must be an astronomical figure. Typical of the CEO of Shenhua Group, always acting generously. The most critical part was the special live streaming license. From now on, Bi Fang could do as he pleased! Sitting on the sofa, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t in a hurry to go home. He took out his newly bought phone, started a live broadcast, and prepared for a giveaway event. As soon as the notification went out, a large number of Shuiyou flooded in. The number of viewers broke five thousand instantly! And it kept rising! Unbelievable! [Here he is, Old Fang has arrived!) [Finally showed up, haven¡¯t seen you for several days.) [Damn, what a huge house, is Old Fang really a second-generation rich?] [No shit, just look at all that streaming gear, it¡¯s not cheap. Can an average person afford that?) [Awesome, a special forces soldier and a rich kid. That¡¯s real positivity!] I Are you giving away Wolf Fang items? 1 want one(OcuO)] [+1 want!] [Is Old Fang¡¯s injury healed? Will it delay the next live stream?] [Exactly, when is the next live stream? Even the farm¡¯s donkey wouldn¡¯t get this much rest!] Man, they¡¯re going to work him to death, already pushing for more? Bi Fang looked at the comments, raised an eyebrow, and said bluntly, ¡°Forget it, there¡¯s no way I¡¯m going back to Wilderness Survivalist this week. Do you really think it¡¯s that simple to survive out there?¡± As soon as he said that, quite a few Shuiyou started to threaten to unfollow. ¡°If you unfollow, you¡¯ll miss out on the draw,¡± Bi Fang said indifferently. Sure enough, the Shuiyou who were just about to unfollow came scrambling back the very next second. [Forget it, I¡¯ll unfollow after the draw, unfollow after the draw.] [The guy above is so shameless, but I¡¯m really unfollowing.] [Is it worth it¡­] [He just wants others to unfollow to increase his own chances of winning¡­] [Realized the truth, I¡¯m still too naive.] [Can I buy a Wolf Fang? I¡¯ll pay for it! A thousand for one!] [The guy above wants one? I have some, inherited from my grandfather, want to buy it?] [Don¡¯t joke, can yours be the same as Master Fang¡¯s?] A bunch of Shuiyou were sending barrage comments, and Bi Fang didn¡¯t waste any time, directly holding a fan giveaway in the live stream. He sent out several dozen Wolf Fangs. He also previewed the next day¡¯s stream, which was not ¡°Wilderness Survivalist¡± but just a regular training stream, serving as a transition to keep the current hype going. ¡°Surviving in the wilderness is actually not as simple as you all think. Tomorrow afternoon, I¡¯ll teach everyone how to do some training, including auditory training, visual training, training to sense the environment, and physical training. Those interested can check it out then,¡± he explained. After saying that, Bi Fang ended the live stream once again. The viewers in the live stream room were totally baffled. That was too fast, wasn¡¯t it? They hadn¡¯t even had time to react before it was over. I Auditory training? Is that even a thing? Can it improve my English listening scores?] [You¡¯re overthinking it upstairs, it¡¯s probably to help you hear more clearly after training, right?] [You can train for that?] ¡°Didn¡¯t you say he lives here? What the hell kind of place is this?¡± Lu Wentao tugged at his collar, looking at the live stream backdrop on Bi Fang¡¯s phone, feeling very irritated inside. He suddenly felt like ten million might not be enough to handle this guy. The chandelier on the screen, no matter how you looked at it, didn¡¯t seem like a cheap item. This made Lu Wentao feel as though he was being crushed by the social hierarchy. I hat can¡¯t be right; he listed this address when he registered his live streaming room with Shark. It was here that the vice president of Wolf Fang found him. Our information can¡¯t be wrong!¡± Lu Junming was also confused, but he still insisted on his own judgment. Ever since they heard that Bi Fang had left the hospital, the two had rushed to Bi Fang¡¯s home, only to be greeted by a closed door. Despite knocking for a long time, there was no response. It was only after the old man across the hall said no one had come back that they gave up. But the two hadn¡¯t left yet because they thought that Bi Fang might have been delayed by something and hadn¡¯t returned home. So, they sat in a nearby cafe for a good half of the day, all the way until they saw this live stream. ¡°I told you! His equipment is all high-end, how could he possibly live in such a rundown place? Didn¡¯t you think a little when investigating? Do you believe everything?¡± Lu Wentao got more convinced as he thought about it, his spit flying into Lu Junming¡¯s coffee. Lu Junming silently moved his cup away, speechless. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Could his information really be wrong? Did the other party provide a fake address? Was he that cunning? Wasn¡¯t this tactic a bit too sophisticated? Lu Junming couldn¡¯t help but think back to his hometown, where people were simple and guileless, and the roads not slippery. ¡°Hey! Sister Ning, don¡¯t you think that guy looks really familiar?¡± Bao Xuan whispered to Ning Zhiyun while leaning on the counter. Two men had been sitting there for most of the day, and they had only ordered two cups of coffee but refilled them three times and gone to the bathroom twice. They just wouldn¡¯t leave. Even though the coffee refills were free, wasn¡¯t this taking too much advantage? Bao Xuan despised people who took advantage like this, so she had been paying attention for a long time. But as she watched, she felt something was off, because one of them looked strangely familiar to her. ¡°Indeed.¡± Ning Zhiyun looked over and felt the same way. After all, it was only recently that they had read the news about Bi Fang, which mentioned the sole other ¡°Wilderness¡± streamer at present, Lu Wentao, leaving them with some impression. ¡°Could they be wanted criminals?¡± Bao Xuan¡¯s voice went even softer, feeling this was more likely. The two men were sneaking around, clearly not up to any good. What! Ning Zhiyun exclaimed but immediately covered her mouth, afraid of alerting Lu Wentao. ¡°Should we call the police?¡± Bao Xuan suggested again. It was getting darker outside, yet the two men showed no signs of leaving. When night falls and the cafe is only left with two pretty young girls, how dangerous would that be? ¡°All? But what if it¡¯s a misunderstanding?¡± Ning Zhiyun was inclined to consider it, yet she feared misunderstanding someone. ¡°How could it be? Look at those two, sneaky and rat-like, obviously up to no good. If it gets later and there is no one else in the shop, what if they get ideas?¡± Bao Xuan was genuinely concerned. Ning Zhiyun looked at Bao Xuan with a complicated expression. Though she thought it unlikely the two men had any designs on Bao Xuan, just to be safe¡­ Well, if it comes to it¡­ she¡¯ll just have Bao Xuan apologize later! Chapter 91 - 89 Wilderness Survival Skills Training (Two in One) Chapter 91: Chapter 89 Wilderness Survival Skills Training (Two in One) Translator: 549690339 Early in the morning, after Bi Fang took his bath and put on all his gear, he grabbed the new water bottle he¡¯d bought and set off for his destination. The place wasn¡¯t far; a little over an hour¡¯s drive took him to a rarely frequented small mountain. The area was quite large and well conserved ecologically; it was said that wild rabbits were often caught at the foot of the mountain. This live broadcast wasn¡¯t a System task, and Bi Fang didn¡¯t plan to stay overnight there. He¡¯d likely return in the evening, with the broadcast focusing on survival skills training. If we didn¡¯t count the preparation period, there had been a twelve-day interval between the System tasks. If he did nothing during those twelve days and let his popularity evaporate, that would be truly foolish. Many people had seen the news and might still be interested within two or three days, but if it went beyond a week, the matter would quickly be forgotten. This broadcast was to maximize retention of the news heat and strengthen the memory of passersby, yet it couldn¡¯t take up too much time, or it would affect his training and recovery, which would be counterproductive. Even so, Wolf Fang, as a platform, still gave it a homepage recommendation, full of sincerity. Now, Wolf Fang really treated Bi Fang as if he could do no wrong, pampering him as if he were a Buddha, fearing that he¡¯d become unhappy and leave the platform. Bi Fang felt that as long as he was willing to speak up, getting a top promotion would be no problem, but there was no need for that. People came directly to his live broadcasts by searching for him, not through Wolf Fang TV¡¯s recommendation, so the connection wasn¡¯t significant. Pulling out his phone, Bi Fang saw that it was only eight fifty in the morning, not yet the official start time of nine o¡¯clock, but there were already over forty thousand people waiting in the dark screen of the live broadcast room. Among them were quite a few other streamers, such as Yao Lina. Of course, more streamers had heard of Bi Fang, the great Buddha, and wanted to come over to learn something, to see if there was anything they could emulate to boost their own popularity. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Blind support for Old Fang!] [Old Fang is awesome! ] [Damn, there are so many people, Master Fang is really considered a top streamer now.] [No kidding, you think the trending search was for nothing?] [But this time it¡¯s really fierce, last time he wasn¡¯t broadcasting and only a few thousand people were waiting, this time a zero has been added, will another zero be added when the broadcast starts?] [Adding another zero might not be possible, but doubling the numbers is absolutely easy.] [Saw on Weibo that the tough streamer who battled with a pack of wolves is broadcasting again, is it this live room?] [You¡¯re in the right place, upstairs!] Here, Bi Fang entered the backend of the live broadcast room and changed the room title to: [Master Fang¡¯s Survival: Techniques and Training for Wilderness Survival!] Then he started the drone. The next second, the eager audience felt the room stutter for a moment before a stretch of lush, bluish-green mountains appeared before them. And Bi Fang was standing at the foot of the mountain. At the same time, throughout Huaxia, all fans who had subscribed to Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast room received the broadcast notification immediately. The number of viewers surged like a tidal wave; just a moment ago there were forty thousand, but in a matter of seconds, it had doubled! Eighty thousand! In the top right corner of the room, the popularity skyrocketed, and within less than ten minutes, it broke through to five hundred thousand, no, it was already six hundred thousand! And these numbers were still climbing! Back at Wolf Fang TV headquarters, Wang Yongbo watched the rapid rise in Bi Fang¡¯s popularity with uncontrollable excitement, his thick eyebrows dancing along with the numbers. As expected, the dividends from trending searches had arrived! His investment was beginning to pay off; this was definitely a golden stock! Shark TV was bleeding so much money that not even its own mother would recognize it anymore, hahaha! ¡°Boss, it¡¯s lagging!¡± The technician next to him watched the stuttering live room and said, directly interrupting Wang Yongbo¡¯s good mood. ¡°Add more bandwidth, do I really need to say that?¡± Wang Yongbo snapped. This guy really had no initiative. If it weren¡¯t for his poor aunt begging on his behalf and the fact that the young man had decent technical skills, he would have fired him long ago! The worker who had been glared at shrank his neck once again. Wait, why did he think ¡®once again¡¯? The worker was confused and felt this was a bad habit, but soon his attention was brought back by the thumping sound on the desk, and he quickly got to work. The importance of bandwidth to a live stream was unquestionable; more bandwidth meant more internet capacity and servers, which in turn allowed more viewers in the live room, preventing lag and ensuring a good experience. Wang Yongbo hadn¡¯t seen many streamers who needed to add bandwidth urgently due to rapid audience growth in all his years. Other popular streamers either came with a fanbase that required ample bandwidth from the start or grew slowly, gradually becoming a big player, gradually increasing their bandwidth. But Bi Fang? Before joining Wolf Fang, he virtually had no base but with just two streams, the number of viewers had skyrocketed past one hundred thousand, and now it was steady at one hundred thousand! He was truly an oddity in the streaming industry! ¡°Hello everyone, I¡¯m Bi Fang, a professional explorer!¡± Facing his fans¡¯ soaring enthusiasm, Bi Fang cracked a slight smile: ¡°Since my injury hasn¡¯t fully healed, I can¡¯t do some of the more dangerous live activities. So, I¡¯ve chosen a location just a hundred kilometers away from the Magic Capital, a small mountain. Compared to my last two streaming spots, it¡¯s a bit humble but also sparsely populated.¡± Bi Fang turned the camera toward the small mountain in front of him. The mountain wasn¡¯t very tall, it couldn¡¯t even really be called a mountain, but it was extensive and filled with a primeval atmosphere. However, as Bi Fang entered the forest, many old viewers immediately noticed the difference. [The trees here are so short, completely different from before.] [Of course, this isn¡¯t the Primeval Forest. Many of these trees must have been planted later, right?] [How could there be ancient tall trees near humans?] [Eh¡­ a pedestrian street?] [Speaking of which, being so close to the Magic Capital, how can there still be such deserted places?] [Definitely, aren¡¯t they all by the highway? It¡¯s not hard to find a place with few people, but it¡¯s not easy to find one without anyone at all.] [Is it okay for Old Fang to do this with his injury not fully healed? We could actually wait (insincere.jpg).] [Didn¡¯t he say he was going to teach us survival skills? Bring on the main event!] Many viewers had been attracted by Bi Fang¡¯s deeds of fighting black bears and wolves and were now eager to see some actual content. Not wanting to keep everyone in suspense, Bi Fang walked into the woods and said. ¡°Since this isn¡¯t really a primeval forest, there¡¯s nothing much to introduce. Let¡¯s get right to the point. It¡¯s nine in the morning, and I plan to go hunting first. Last time, the rabbit catch was quite sudden, and I didn¡¯t go over some of the details. This time, I¡¯ll teach you all together.¡± Upon hearing this, many viewers got excited¡ªhunting! What man doesn¡¯t admire this primitive and charming sport? Otherwise, the ancient emperors and nobles wouldn¡¯t have considered hunting such a recreational activity. The sense of achievement that comes with capturing prey through one¡¯s own abilities is immense! [Yes, coach, I want to learn this!] [Indeed, last time with the rabbit, it just felt like Master Fang was so fierce, I didn¡¯t really pay attention to the methods.] [Even if the methods come out, you still don¡¯t have the problem-solving approach, you¡¯ll only learn to fail!] [Pete not peeling sends Master Fang Wolf Fang *1000¡ªI want to learn!] [Ju Not Seen donated a spaceship*! to the streamer¡ªNo one else coming to snatch the top spot this time, right? (Stay alert!)] ¡°How come it¡¯s you two again? Have you finished your homework? It¡¯s Monday today, aren¡¯t you supposed to be at school instead of watching the live stream? Should I buy you two a hundred sets of Huanggang Secret Papers to work on? Don¡¯t worry, this is a fan benefit, it¡¯s free of charge.¡± Bi Fang said with a somewhat inexplicable smile as he looked at the two familiar nicknames. Last time, it was these two rich second-generation students who had sworn to take the top spot on the leaderboard, only to be utterly defeated when Lin Chang, Young Master Lin, made a surprise appearance and outdid them both. However, Bi Fang didn¡¯t advocate for students to spend money tipping him, even if they were rich second-generation. It just wasn¡¯t worth it. Live streaming is entertainment. If you like it, you support; if you don¡¯t, you leave¡ªjust don¡¯t ruin others¡¯ enjoyment, that¡¯s all. Most importantly, don¡¯t neglect your real responsibilities. [Ah, is this really a fan benefit?] [This benefit is a bit terrifying.] [Stop it, Master Fang, I¡¯m scared! I¡¯m gonna start studying right now.] [Hahaha, studying now, studying now.] Seeing that the two of them stopped flooding the chat with gifts, Bi Fang returned to the main topic. ¡°In order to approach the prey and hunt them, we need to learn some techniques that allow us to catch them unawares. You might not have powerful firearms but only homemade bows and throwing sticks instead.¡± Bi Fang casually picked up a tree branch, made a throwing gesture, and pointed into the distance: ¡°To get close enough to the prey to make an accurate kill, you need to move within 10 to 15 meters of the animal. This means you have to move silently and undetected towards the prey.¡± If you aren¡¯t trained, this is actually quite hard to achieve. Like last time, when Bi Fang approached a wild rabbit and got within five meters¡ªa distance that¡¯s very easy to be detected because the human body is simply not easy to hide. That hunt mainly relied on the blind spot in the rabbit¡¯s vision and the cover of a hillock that blocked some of its line of sight, allowing for a lucky success. ¡°And the Fox Step is one of the outstanding techniques for approaching prey silently!¡± While explaining, Bi Fang observed the surrounding area, looking for any animals. A wild chicken or rabbit would do¡ªit¡¯s somewhat boring to just talk dryly. Unfortunately, the only scents in the air were of damp earth and the fragrance of leaves; there were no other smells for the time being. After two days of adjusting, Bi Fang had learned to use his sense of smell for some basic searching and identification and could do so without easily being overwhelmed, unless the smell was truly overpowering, such as an unattended toilet or cheap, pungent perfume. His abilities still weren¡¯t on par with those of a hunting dog, but if an animal had been in the vicinity and relieved itself, he would most likely take notice of the smell. ¡°The Fox Step is a slow-moving technique, and it¡¯s a way our ancestors used to approach prey. The principle is to move one step at a time, transferring your weight onto the stationary leg, letting the moving foot ¡®feel¡¯ the ground. That is to say, you gradually place your foot from the outside edge to the inside edge on the ground, exploring for anything on the surface.¡± The drone¡¯s camera automatically tilted down, focusing on Bi Fang¡¯s feet and magnifying them to capture every single movement clearly. Bi Fang pushed aside the ground foliage and carefully lifted the foot he was about to move while maintaining balance on his weight-bearing leg. Then, he extended the lifted foot forward, cautiously touching the ground from the outside edge to the inside edge. ¡°The key here is to always use the outside edge of the foot to touch down first¡ª never plant your whole foot. Only after ensuring it¡¯s safe can you fully place your foot down and then repeat this action.¡± ¡°The essence of the Fox Step is that once you¡¯re sure there¡¯s nothing sharp underneath your foot or that it won¡¯t make a sound, you can fully plant it, shifting your weight forward.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s something poking the bottom of your foot or there¡¯s noise from the ground, lift your foot again, and find a different place. Whether you are lifting or placing your foot, be careful to avoid making noise by bumping into branches or rocks.¡± Bi Fang demonstrated this slow, careful method of moving forward without making a single sound, although the pace was very slow. [Did he turn down the volume, or is the drone not picking it up?] [Master Fang¡¯s drone not picking up the volume? That¡¯s the funniest joke of the year.] [Master Fang¡¯s drone is officially badass, plus you can hear the rustling leaves and his breathing, right? If we can hear that, how could the volume be turned down?] [Alright then.] The viewer count had now exceeded one hundred thousand, which meant that more new viewers had joined and inevitably had a lot of questions. But luckily, Bi Fang had plenty of fans, so he didn¡¯t even need to explain himself ¨C a bunch of people replied for him. ¡°But isn¡¯t this way too slow? Yeah, yeah, have the daylilies gone cold? ¡°You might find this pace incredibly slow, but its main advantage lies precisely in its leisureliness,¡± Bi Fang said. He saw the barrage of comments: ¡°Because you don¡¯t need to take your eyes off the surroundings to watch the ground. Traveling this way is also very quiet, and because you¡¯re moving so slowly, many animals won¡¯t see you as a threat.¡± The moment he said this, many viewers started to reflect on their experiences, recalling similar situations they had encountered in the past. It reminds me that moving slowly seems to make many animals less vigilant. There¡¯s a stray dog downstairs of my building; it¡¯s not afraid if I walk by it slowly every day, but if you run towards it, it scoots off super fast. Bi Fang used a stick to part the underbrush, making sure there were no venomous insects, snakes, or ants before stepping forward. In these smaller mountains, there wouldn¡¯t be large predators because the food chain couldn¡¯t sustain their appetites, but there would still be plenty of venomous snakes. And now that it¡¯s October, most snakes begin hibernating in December. This is their active period, where they hunt and stockpile food for the winter. Sure enough, just as Bi Fang pushed aside some brush, a black shadow suddenly darted out. Most viewers didn¡¯t get a clear view, and the shadow shot down the mountain, startling everyone. Watching the grass still shaking not far away, the Shuiyou started commenting. Whoa, that¡¯s a long tail! Was that a snake? Such a dark snake, so slick and sly! It moved with such force, swinging the grass intensely, it must have covered dozens of meters in those few seconds. It just ran away, didn¡¯t it? This snake is too weak-spirited! If it had spirit, brother, you¡¯d be out of breath! Bi Fang was also startled, but not as much as the audience since he had recognized the snake. ¡°That¡¯s a Black-striped Snake, non-venomous. They¡¯re also found in the Magic Capital, a rather common species. They are large and move very fast. However, Black-striped Snakes are more sensitive to environmental changes than other snakes; they prefer warmth over cold and hibernate for up to six months,¡± he explained. ¡°We¡¯re getting close to their hibernation period, so this one was probably out to make one last score.¡± Bi Fang actually felt a bit of pity. Black-striped Snakes are very nutritious but grow very slowly. The market price can reach a hundred to a hundred and twenty yuan per jin in many places, even higher in some regions. You can imagine how popular they are. They are so desired that laws had to be enacted stipulating that they can¡¯t be captured at will, which stopped them from becoming a protected species. We¡¯re done for, cursed by Master Fang¡¯s bad luck. Black-striped Snake: After this score, I¡¯m off to hibernate. This is the last heist, I swear. But Master Fang really knows a lot, every time he educates us I feel like he¡¯s super cool. Add one point for coolness. ¡°You guys are poisoned.¡± Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but laugh and cry ¨C how did this turn into cursing himself? He was just speaking the truth. But there was no denying that his lunch was truly gone. He had to look for other prey now.. Chapter 92 - 90: Beyond All Expectations (Three in One) Chapter 92: Chapter 90: Beyond All Expectations (Three in One) Translator: 549690339 The appearance of the Black-striped Snake was just a minor incident; Bi Fang didn¡¯t dwell on it after missing the opportunity. It wasn¡¯t even ten in the morning yet, plenty of time before lunch, and in such a vast mountainous area, he was bound to find some living creatures. However, the snake¡¯s appearance served as a ready-made example, which Bi Fang promptly used as a teaching moment. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He raised the wooden stick in his hand, drawing more viewers¡¯ attention to it. ¡°See? The encounter just now proved how important it is to have a stick for probing the path while on the move. Not only can it help us distribute our body weight, reducing physical exertion, but it can also detect dangers lurking in the underbrush ahead of time, especially venomous snakes! Once bitten by a venomous snake in the wilderness, you can pretty much declare yourself dead!¡± [666, this artifact really lives up to its name, a skill that detects threats all around and reduces energy consumption, truly awesome!] [I¡¯m deeply in love with this broken stick!] [Why is it all over if you get bitten, aren¡¯t there ways to suck out the poison? I often read about how to deal with snake bites in books?] [Yeah, the books all say it¡¯s treatable, so why is it a no-go with the streamer?] ¡°Did you pay attention to one sentence that¡¯s written in all of those pamphlets?¡± Bi Fang, seeing the last comment, smiled with a hint of wry amusement. What sentence? The audience grew curious, having not really noticed any common thread in the content of those pamphlets. ¡°Seek immediate medical attention!¡± Ah, that. Quite a few viewers were speechless, having thought that Bi Fang was about to share some profound insight. That¡¯s it? Everyone knows to go to the hospital after a snake bite, isn¡¯t that obvious? ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate this sentence. No matter how nicely everything else is put or how much sense it makes, it all pales in comparison to the importance of this one sentence.¡± Seeing many viewers express confusion with question marks, Bi Fang laughed and lifted three fingers. ¡°After being bitten by a snake, you need to do just three things: first, slow down the blood flow from the bite as much as possible, second, take a photo of the snake, and third, hurry to the hospital to see a doctor. Don¡¯t believe in sucking out snake venom, especially in the wild, that¡¯s nonsense! Unless you have a professional negative pressure suction device.¡± ¡°Like my last two survival experiences, where I could barely satisfy my hunger, let alone take in a balanced diet, it¡¯s almost inevitable to have bleeding gums in such situations. If you try sucking out snake venom, it¡¯s akin to just giving the poison another place to spread¡ªand this new location is even closer to your brain! It¡¯s an utterly suffocating move!¡± ¡°So overall, even I would not take venomous snakes lightly in the wild, which is why I always find a probe stick first each time I¡¯m out there. You¡¯re right, it¡¯s truly an artifact.¡± [Damn, movies have deceived me, I always thought you could suck out snake venom.] [Bullshit, I feel like I was scammed too¡­] [Speaking of which, I have that kind of persistent bleeding gums¡­] [Normal, a lot of people have bleeding gums, you¡¯re not alone!] [Why do I feel like you¡¯re cursing me?] [But that snake was so quick, zipping around faster than any person could!] [Indeed, it darted out before I could even react.] ¡°This leads me to the second point I want to make.¡± Bi Fang gave a thumbs-up to the audience members sending messages; he needed viewers who were eager to play along. That¡¯s what keeps the chat going and prevents the live stream from becoming dull. ¡°Animals often notice us before we notice them, their alertness is extremely high. This is because, unlike us who live in cities, these animals face the threat of death practically every day. The scene just now was a prime example.¡± Even the top predators have to face many dangers in the wild. Lack of food, resistance from prey, and even a fight for a mate can be fatal for them. As for the weaker ones, they have it even worse. Every morning, they need to search for food to fill their stomachs, and they have to be vigilant for possible threats from higher up on the food chain. Compared to them, humans living in cities can almost say they¡¯re in heaven. No worries about food and clothing, and no fear of not seeing the next day¡¯s sun when going to bed. ¡°The main reasons animals can detect us are two: One is that we move too quickly or make too much noise, which can be addressed with the Fox Step I just taught you.¡± ¡°The other reason is that animals observe their surroundings in a way that is completely different from ours!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s voice was modulated in such a way that it captivated his audience easily. Another important point is that humans are inherently curious creatures. Most people¡¯s dislike of learning is primarily because the learning in schools often comes with rigid testing requirements, focusing too much on efficiency and opting for the most efficient yet boring methods of teaching. But Bi Fang didn¡¯t have that problem with the way he spoke, his content was simple enough to understand, and his style more approachable, avoiding viewer frustration. Bear Grylls of his previous world was a standout example of this; his way of educating was satisfactory, never tedious like force-feeding. ¡°Animals use wide-angle vision, this method allows them to notice everything around them, and it¡¯s one of the techniques I¡¯m going to teach you this time.¡± To catch prey, the most important are sight, hearing, and movement¡ªBi Fang has already covered movement, and now he¡¯s about to discuss sight and hearing. This doesn¡¯t mean improving visual and auditory acuity, but rather altering the way one observes objects and receives information. This is a necessary adjustment in facing the wilderness, enabling one to adapt better to survive in the wilderness. However, after acquiring his Wilderness Survival Skill, Bi Fang had automatically mastered these things, turning them into instincts. He didn¡¯t need any training, but the full training methods were also present in his memories, so he decided to teach them to his audience, while also inadvertently establishing his professional image. Just as Bi Fang was about to explain, several bullet comments suddenly appeared, forcing him to interrupt his livestream. [Lord Mu sent a Spaceship*! to the host¡ªThese past few days I¡¯ve been busy with company affairs, and Master Fang has started livestreaming? If I hadn¡¯t checked Wolf Fang TV this afternoon, I wouldn¡¯t have known about it!] [Lord Mu sent a Spaceship*! to the host¡ªAnd why didn¡¯t you call me? It¡¯s fine usually, but how could you not call me to this kind of place with no dangers? Several of my friends have been watching your livestream for a while and also like Wilderness Survival, Old Fang you¡¯re not being fair!] [Lin Chang sent a Spaceship*! to the host¡ªActually, I wanted to come too¡­ but I was too shy to say it¡­] Seeing these two comments, Bi Fang was also stunned for a moment. He had been livestreaming for so long, but it had never crossed his mind to bring anyone with him, since he couldn¡¯t even guarantee his own safety; bringing someone else would be like seeking death, wouldn¡¯t it? The missions issued by the System for his livestreams weren¡¯t possible to do with others, and he wouldn¡¯t bring anyone either, as that would be irresponsible towards others¡¯ lives. This was a matter of principle; he wouldn¡¯t now, nor in the future. However, the current situation was somewhat different. This livestream was essentially a picnic, and this small mountain clearly posed no danger, so bringing someone along wouldn¡¯t be a big issue. The greatest danger would be encountering wild dogs, and if Bi Fang, with his Special Forces lv3 Skills, couldn¡¯t handle that, he might as well go home early and sleep. Like this, he could give everyone a taste of semi-real Wilderness Survival, expand his influence, and truly interact with the public about Wilderness Survival, killing two birds with one stone. ¡°Sorry, I really didn¡¯t think of this before. How about next time? After I return from the next livestream, I¡¯ll pick a not too dangerous hilltop, and then I can take you all to experience Wilderness Survival?¡± Hearing this, Lord Mu and Lin Chang were overjoyed beyond belief. They had just casually made a comment, teasing a bit, and had not expected to actually gain such an unexpected reward! [But you have to keep your word! I have a few good friends here too, and they all want to come!] ¡°My word is good; bring them all,¡± said Bi Fang with a smile. But by agreeing, a sensation arose¡ªit wasn¡¯t just Lord Mu and Lin Chang, even the other two Emperors expressed their interest, and even the Shuiyou started to make a fuss. [Wait, what about us? We want to go too!] [To get up close and personal with Master Fang, I want in too!] [Darn, I want to go too, boo hoo hoo!] [Having lived in the city all my life, can¡¯t I enjoy a little Wilderness Survival?] So many people want to come? Seeing such an enthusiastic response, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t anticipated this. He always thought that people would only watch Wilderness Survival and that would be the end of it; did so many really want to experience it themselves? Bi Fang immediately reminded, ¡°This isn¡¯t some vacation, survival is really exhausting, don¡¯t just rush into it because you¡¯re excited.¡± [Tired is tired, but it¡¯s Wilderness Survival, okay? I might only get to experience this once in my life; it¡¯s definitely thrilling!] [Exactly, we¡¯re not afraid of being tired!] [Whoever says it¡¯s too tiring is a dog!] [Bark bark bark!] Is the market really this big? Should I start a club or something? The idea suddenly crossed Bi Fang¡¯s mind, and it wasn¡¯t just a whim. Among the numerous comments, there were not a few who were just stirring things up, but Lord Mu and Lin Chang were likely serious, and they were not short on cash; if he could really set up a high-end club¡­ Looking at the chat room, Bi Fang tentatively said, ¡°How about I create a Wilderness Survival club after I return? If you really want to experience it, you can sign up, and there will be people arranged to train you?¡± [That¡¯s great, I¡¯ll provide the location; Shenhua is never short on real estate!] That was Lin Chang speaking. [Then I¡¯ll handle the decoration! It¡¯ll be totally high-end and classy!] That was Lord Mu speaking. [emmmm, what can I do, invite my classmates to experience Wilderness Survival?] [We want to join during the summer vacation too! ] That was Wang Xiaocong and Kong Chao speaking. ¡°This is just an idea for now, the specifics haven¡¯t been decided yet.¡± Seeing everyone so serious, Bi Fang felt a bit embarrassed to put them off anymore. ¡°I¡¯ll discuss it in detail when I get back, and I definitely won¡¯t disappoint you then.¡± [Are you really starting a club? Sounds expensive.] [emmm, if it¡¯s not too pricey, I want to join too! ] [I¡¯m booking it, no one else better try to snatch it from me! ] (Crap, after watching two livestreams, I¡¯ve been wanting to go out into the Wilderness and check it out, but without Master Fang¡¯s abilities, I¡¯ve never dared. Now I finally have the chance!] [Plus one here, I¡¯ve actually wanted to go for a long time too.] [Are you starting to cash in on this already? It¡¯s only been two broadcasts, right?] [Where did this hater come from? We¡¯re doing this willingly; who do you think you are?] [Exactly, haters can roll out!] Starting a club isn¡¯t out of the question. Bi Fang didn¡¯t check the comments; with more fame comes more trouble. He already had several hundred thousand followers, so having some haters was normal, wasn¡¯t it? In the past life, there were people who accused Bear Grylls of plagiarism, and Bi Fang was no longer surprised by such things. But a club sounds vexing, who would train these people when the time comes? I certainly can¡¯t. Bi Fang doesn¡¯t have the time, energy, or interest. Mainly because it¡¯s hard to refuse everyone¡¯s enthusiastic requests. Rather than letting them mull over it, learn a move or two, watch his videos, and then hot-headedly run off into the wilderness, it¡¯s better to establish a formal channel for them to vent their energy and impulses. But that¡¯s a conversation for later. Right now, Bi Fang still needs to make sure this live broadcast goes well. The rest can wait until he gets back tonight. Lord Mu and Lin Chang both have a good relationship with him, he¡¯ll let them come up with strategies. If he really wants to turn it into a business model, he¡¯d still need to rely on professionals. ¡°Alright, back to the main point, I¡¯m here today to teach everyone survival skills, not to discuss starting a club. I¡¯m about to talk about training methods!¡± Bi Fang shouted to the drone, and instantly, the previously noisy live broadcast room quieted down a lot, everyone perking up their ears to learn some real skills. Seeing that no one in the live broadcast room was making noise anymore, Bi Fang resumed talking about the practice methods for peripheral vision. ¡°Normally, the way we look at the world involves using a series of focused lines of sight, creating separate images of our surroundings.¡± ¡°This means we only focus on certain objects, and as a result, there are many things around us that we simply don¡¯t see or notice. However, we also have the capability to use our eyes the way animals do, with less focus.¡± ¡°After practice, we can perceive all the movements of everything around us, though each thing we see will be relatively blurry.¡± Bi Fang walked down a dirt slope and found the area rather open and clear, just right for teaching everyone the training method. However, he made some unexpected discoveries on the flat ground. ¡°A little trap.¡± Bi Fang crouched down, picked up a small branch in front of him, which had a little noose attached to it. Many viewers became excited at this scene; they had never seen any other hunters besides Bi Fang. In modern society, true hunters have become increasingly scarce. Suddenly encountering a strange trap is indeed thrilling. Could this be a meeting with a peer, who¡¯s stronger? [Is this someone else¡¯s doing?] [A fellow professional?] [The trap seems a bit shoddy, doesn¡¯t look as impressive as the one Master Fang made last time.] [Nonsense, last time Master Fang was hunting wolves, what can this do? Catch mice?] ¡°It is pretty rudimentary. It¡¯s a double-hook noose trap, made of two sticks. Both sticks should have notches, allowing them to hook together. One stick is driven into the ground, while the other is tied to a sturdy, flexible small tree or branch with a length of rope.¡± Bi Fang stood up, followed the rope, and found the small tree hooked to the side, exactly as he had described. Many new viewers were wowed, commenting ¡®666¡¯, as just by glancing at the trap, he could analyze it, which proved Bi Fang¡¯s strength. ¡°The existence of this small tree ensures that the notches on the two sticks can hook together. One would place a running noose on the movable stick¡¯s hook and position the noose in an area where animals are active. Once an animal steps into the noose, the trap is triggered, and the animal is hoisted by the branch, swiftly breaking its neck!¡± At the choppy cadence of Bi Fang¡¯s voice, many viewers shivered subconsciously at the mention of breaking necks, but in the next moment, he changed the subject. ¡°But this trap isn¡¯t very professional, it¡¯s too loose. It wouldn¡¯t have a high success rate for catching rabbits.¡± Bi Fang shook his head, picking up a piece of dried, shriveled carrot from the ground. This was bait, and it had dehydrated, indicating that the trap had been set for a long time but hadn¡¯t yielded much. The person who set the trap lacked skill, not as skilled as him at the very least. ¡°Before coming here, I had looked up this place, and they say that people often catch wild rabbits here; the ecological protection is very good, it seems to be true.¡± Bi Fang threw the carrot piece back, sidestepping the topic, and stood up to teach everyone how to practice peripheral vision. He raised his arms, holding them out in front of his body, fingers facing inward, with a distance of about thirty centimeters between his hands. ¡°To practice peripheral vision, find an open area. If you have the opportunity, you can follow along with what I do.¡± ¡°First, look at everything between and including your hands. Then, slowly move both hands to the sides of the body, continuing to keep your sight between the hands. Finally, when your hands are by the sides of the body, wiggle your fingers. At this point, you should be able to see your hands again. Maintain this ¡®view¡¯ and slowly lower your arms.¡± Afterwards, Bi Fang went on to repeat this training method, this time for the vertical perspective. By maintaining this perspective and practicing, you could become proficient and use it successfully. ¡°Have you got it?¡± Out on the sports field, Wang Xiaocong lifted his arms, his eyes filled with doubt about life. This was his third attempt, and it felt no different from before. ¡°It¡¯s evident, you¡¯re perplexed,¡± Kong Chao patted his shoulder sympathetically. ¡°Perplexed, extremely perplexed,¡± Wang Xiaocong nodded involuntarily, but quickly realized what was happening, shook off Kong Chao¡¯s hand, and said incredulously, ¡°Did you actually get it?¡± Kong Chao spread his hands, his tone wistful but his expression immensely smug, ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? Being inherently talented is indeed troubling, always standing out from the crowd, I can¡¯t truly blend in with you guys.¡± ¡°Damn it, hurry up and teach me!¡± Wang Xiaocong didn¡¯t doubt him at all; despite Kong Chao¡¯s carefree demeanor, the guy actually was a genius. He¡¯d hang out with him playing games all day, and in the end, he¡¯d still be among the top ten in the exams, unbelievable! ¡°Call me daddy!¡± ¡°Buzz off!¡± Meanwhile, in a corner of the sports field, a group of girls gathered together watching Kong Chao and Wang Xiaocong lift their arms under the sun. When Wang Xiaocong suddenly staggered and flailed like a reanimated corpse, they were surprised. ¡°What are those two doing?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Having another episode?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it normal for them? Last time, Wang Xiaocong even yelled in the middle of class, scared the math teacher so much she almost dropped her chalk.¡± ¡°What? I didn¡¯t know about that.¡± ¡°You were in the bathroom, missed the whole thing.¡± ¡°What are you shouting?¡± ¡°It seems like, uh, let me think, it was¡­ ¡®Master Fang is awesome?¡±¡® ¡°It¡¯s very hard to practice wide-angle vision; it¡¯s like changing the habits you¡¯ve had for a long time, which can be very uncomfortable. Many people, while practicing wide-angle vision, find it so strenuous that they end up staggering around like reanimated corpses.¡± Bi Fang looked at the fans claiming the barrage was useless and offered a reminder. [No more talking, the camera is already shaking.] [I¡¯m feeling nauseous, everything I¡¯m looking at now has a double image!] [Stop kidding, that¡¯s astigmatism. Try it again with glasses on.] [Hey, it actually worked, that¡¯s amazing.] ¡°While practicing, everyone should remember to move their heads; this can greatly expand your field of vision, achieving 360¡ã, so you won¡¯t miss anything. Once you detect suspicious activity, immediately focus your observation on it; if nothing unusual is found, return to the wide-angle vision and continue observing.¡± ¡°On the move, if you observe in this way, you will find more wildlife in the wilderness because no small movement will escape your eyes.¡± This was also the method Bi Fang always used. With this method, not only was it beneficial for spotting prey, but he could also observe potential dangers, such as venomous snakes coiled on trees. Because of their camouflage colors, if you¡¯re not using wide-angle vision, it¡¯s easy to overlook them and bump into them directly. In addition to this, there were also auditory training exercises. Just like visual skills, your hearing can be trained as well. Following the steps of practicing wide-angle vision, try to listen to all sounds with your ears, not just the most obvious ones. And finally, feeling the environment. The Skills Bi Fang mentioned before made people¡¯s awareness of the environment clearer and made it easier to detect wildlife in the area. But in addition to that, there¡¯s a very important sense to incorporate into these skills, which is feeling, a kind of wild intuition. Feel the wind blowing across your body, your leg muscles moving, raindrops falling on your skin and clothes. This level sounds rather idealistic, but those who have survived in the wild for a long time do indeed have a clearer sense of danger. If you can master this feeling, you will become more alert and thrive in a dangerous environment, but if you can¡¯t handle it well, to others, you might seem irritable and overreact to every little disturbance.¡± ¡°When you successfully combine all these skills together, you will be more familiar with your environment. It¡¯s not just about understanding the environment; you will become part of it, enabling you to sense the presence of animals before you see them.¡± ¡°Such activities in the wilderness will allow you to get closer to local animals. When you are close enough, you can then hunt them. However, you still need more skills, such as how to approach animals and how to disguise yourself, but these situations are complex and I will explain them when we encounter specific scenarios.¡± [Awesome, this live broadcast is full of valuable content, I feel like I¡¯m a hunting expert now, I¡¯m going to confront the wild dogs on the mountain behind, and tonight I will eat meat from the hunt!] [Is the guy above serious? I feel really uneasy about this, Yazier¡­] [Take care, if you succeed, remember to send back some dog stew, if not, I won¡¯t show up for the banquet.] [I think it¡¯s just okay, not that interesting, just listening to the host babbling away, only the encounter with the snake earlier was a bit thrilling.] [By the way, did any of you see that thing behind Master Fang, what is that¡­] [What thing?] [That golden lump, it¡¯s a bit far away, in the upper left corner.] [There does seem to be a lump, holy cow, why does it feel like it¡¯s moving?] In the upper left corner, Bi Fang also saw many viewers arguing about this, and he turned to look back, but he discovered nothing. However, a few netizens swore that they had indeed seen a lump of golden something that was moving, which had suddenly disappeared. A golden lump that moves? Bi Fang was becoming more and more baffled. Is it an animal? But what animal is golden? This color is very conspicuous; it doesn¡¯t make for good camouflage. A golden tiger? Could there be a golden tiger in this crappy mountain? Bi Fang felt it necessary to say, if this crappy mountain had golden tigers, he would dare to perform a slide tackle and serve food on the spot. Let¡¯s not even talk about its distribution being impossible, it¡¯s not viable ecologically, either. A small hill like this couldn¡¯t support such top-tier predators. A few wild dogs would be about the limit. Convinced of his own judgment, Bi Fang moved forward in the direction indicated by his online friends in the live broadcast. After a few tens of meters, Bi Fang indeed caught a glimpse of gold behind a large tree! There really was something! A chill went through Bi Fang¡¯s heart as he quickened his pace, circled behind a large tree, and was suddenly confronted by a vast expanse of gold that stunned everyone. Countless comments instantly flooded the live chat. Bi Fang¡¯s pupils dilated sharply. Damn! A Golden Python! How could there be a Golden Python here? Chapter 93 - 91: Catch It! Chapter 93: Chapter 91: Catch It! Translator: 549690339 I The mountain wind blew across the entire forest, flowing like a river of gold. This was a python, a golden python¡ªits massive body could easily strangle an adult to death. The red pupils burned with flames, and its scales shone brilliantly like gold under the sunlight. Thousands of golden scales opened and closed, making a rustling sound as they rubbed against the grass, playing a magnificent and savage melody in the wind. Bi Fang felt a chill in his heart, and while the golden python hadn¡¯t noticed him yet, he quietly stepped back. What the heck! How could there be a python here? And an extremely rare golden python at that? Not just the audience, but Bi Fang himself was baffled. Previously, he had only smelled a faint stench, completely unaware of any creature¡¯s presence. The reason being, Bi Fang had yet to adapt to this new skill, using smell to gauge his surroundings, so when a sudden stench wafted by, it was hard to make the connection. He had thought it was just a nearby chemical plant discharging waste. Moreover, golden pythons prefer a high-temperature environment and typically live in monsoon forests, dry forests, and sparse tree grasslands, and they even like soaking in water occasionally. Without human-induced temperature changes, Treasure Island in Huaxia would be the only suitable place for them to thrive. They surely would not appear here naturally. [Damn, am I seeing this right? Is that a python?] [I was so scared I rubbed my eyes.] [A golden python?] [Awesome, awesome, who would have thought this small hill could harbor a rarity like a golden python! There must be a dragon¡¯s vein here!] [Dragon¡¯s vein? Where is this dragon¡¯s vein? I¡¯m on the verge of a breakthrough; I need places like this to aid my cultivation! I A flood of comments burst forth, all the online friends were excited¡ªthey were actually seeing a golden python in the live broadcast! However, some viewers expressed their doubts. [Does anyone really think this is real? It¡¯s so obviously staged by the show¡¯s crew, completely fake, this sort of live broadcast is hyped up for no reason?] [No way, no way, someone really thinks only you can see through it, and the rest of us are fools?] [Is your IQ.limited, so you think everyone else is as dumb as you? If you can think it¡¯s fake, wouldn¡¯t Master Fang think so?] [Maybe Master Fang anticipated you¡¯d think it¡¯s too fake to be fake, playing the reverse psychology game¡­] [Damn, this play of Master Fang is out of this world!] ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it, I haven¡¯t arranged for anyone to release a golden python here,¡± Bi Fang shook his head. He would never stoop to such fraud, nor did he have any desire to engage in it. Those who doubted him were mostly newcomers. Old fans wouldn¡¯t question him -not after the last two live streams where he¡¯d driven off Black Bear and confronted a pack of wolves. Using a staged python to create an explosive moment would be far too lowbrow. As for Lu Wentao, perhaps that might be a possibility¡­ But if the python wasn¡¯t released deliberately, then had it escaped from a zoo? Many viewers recalled the recent news and naturally made the connection. ¡°Impossible, this golden python did not escape from a zoo,¡± Bi Fang shook his head again while continuing to step backward. So far, the python hadn¡¯t noticed him, or perhaps it had, but it hadn¡¯t made a move yet. Either way, it was still better to keep a greater distance. Though golden pythons are famously docile, even a meek person, when cornered, might grab a knife in retaliation, let alone a wild beast with lesser intelligence. Who knows if the Golden Python is hungry? ¡°There are only ten zoos in Huaxia that have Golden Pythons, and the closest one to here is the Kunshan Zoo, but that¡¯s also over a hundred kilometers away. Do you guys think a python could crawl that far?¡± This explanation made everyone pause in surprise. How could he be so sure about how many zoos have them? Isn¡¯t that a bit too impressive? Who would remember such a thing? In fact, Bi Fang knew about this by coincidence. In his previous life, he had a friend from Ugly Country who kept a Golden Python at home; their research topic was even related to it, so that¡¯s why he knew the details so well. And the zoos in both worlds were basically the same, something he had understood long ago. ¡°So, I suspect that this Golden Python was likely abandoned by someone, and not too long ago, because Golden Pythons struggle to survive in the wild.¡± The very existence of Golden Pythons is a kind of unhealthy mutation; they lack melanin, have low immunity and are prone to various diseases. They can no longer hide from predators due to the loss of their protective coloring and may even die from absorbing too much ultraviolet light. Under such conditions, it¡¯s destined to be unable to survive in the wild. ¡°Keeping Golden Pythons is popular abroad, but not in our country. All Burmese Pythons are classified as first-level protected animals here, and private ownership is not allowed.¡± Bi Fang had retreated more than thirty meters away from the pit where the Golden Python was before he continued to explain. ¡°But there¡¯s always someone who wants to be different, especially some wealthy people who think Golden Pythons are cool. Without thinking, they illegally keep them as pets. When the snake grows to five or six meters long, it either becomes too large for their home, or they find it bothersome and not worth the trouble, so they just abandon it in some desolate place.¡± ¡°Many people do not know that keeping Golden Pythons is very troublesome and expensive. The annual cost of feeding an adult Golden Python can exceed six figures, which is unaffordable for an average family. Moreover, due to their frail physique, their care is extremely demanding, and owners quickly tire of them.¡± The drone took off, clearly revealing the curled-up Golden Python in the pit¡ªa very large mass. However, its exceptionally high aesthetic appeal made it less ferocious-looking than ordinary pythons, eliciting sympathy from many viewers. [Ah, is this Golden Python doomed?] [I seem to see a lot of videos of people keeping Golden Pythons¡­ 1 never thought it was illegal.] [Six figures, my God, that¡¯s more than I earn in a year.] [Can¡¯t Master Fang think of something?] [What can be done? Do you expect Master Fang to take it home and keep it?] ¡°Nope, I have no interest in this thing!¡± Bi Fang repeatedly refused; he certainly didn¡¯t like the idea of having such a large creature at home, even if it were allowed by policy. However, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t about to let it perish on its own. After all, it was a first-level protected animal, and his sense of duty from a previous life wouldn¡¯t allow him to ignore it. And the solution to the problem was quite simple. ¡°Just send it to a zoo.¡± After all, it was a first-level protected animal, which did have its status. As soon as the message went out, surely a zoo would eagerly want it. And with professionals to take care of it, it would be much better off than as a pet. [Then why don¡¯t those wealthy people who don¡¯t want to keep it just send it to a zoo?] [What¡¯s that earlier comment? Sending it to a zoo would just expose that they were illegally keeping a protected animal, wouldn¡¯t it?] [Damn, so they just dump it outside? What if it hurts someone?] Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Wealthy people, you know, they¡¯re all like that. I Lin Chang was watching the live stream when he suddenly saw this comment, causing him to cough. What the heck, how could he get hit by such a sweeping statement just by watching a live stream? He would never keep those odd things. However, when it came to contacting the zoo, Lin Chang felt he might be able to help. If he remembered correctly, his dad had a friend who was a shareholder of a large zoo. Just as Lin Chang was about to comment about this, Bi Fang on the other side, never one to shy away from dramatic statements, dropped a bombshell. ¡°Perhaps we could try to capture it before the police arrive!¡± Chapter 94 - 92: Seize the Throat of Fate! (Major Chapter Update) Chapter 94: Chapter 92: Seize the Throat of Fate! (Major Chapter Update) Translator: 549690339 | Are you kidding me? Catching a python? Many new viewers were stunned and immediately the chat exploded, that was a python! Everyone had just seen it clearly; it was a six-meter-long giant python! Just by visual estimation, its weight was over forty kilograms, and just by constriction alone, it could strangle an adult to death! It¡¯s like setting off firecrackers! However, many of the regular viewers weren¡¯t so surprised, and they expressed that Master Fang was putting on a show! [Awesome, I knew Master Fang wouldn¡¯t take the ordinary path, always wanting to stir up something.] [Although this livestream is quite short, seeing that Master Fang is risking his life to catch the snake, I¡¯ll forgive you.] [Lin Chang donated a Spaceship*! to the host¡ªah, although I really want to watch, I can call the zoo people to come and catch it, they have the full set of tools¡­] ¡°No need!¡± Bi Fang waved his hand, ¡°I¡¯m not going to be so foolish as to try catching it with my bare hands. I will definitely use the right methods and techniques. As long as we use the right approach, pythons are not as terrifying as you think.¡± Bi Fang stood up and eyed the Golden Python not far from him, formulating a plan in his mind. He first took out his phone and dialed no, clearly explained the situation to the police and urged them to come quickly, then he started to collect some tree sticks as thick as fingers, about the length of a forearm. If there were several people, they could directly tackle a big python by avoiding being bitten and the others could hold down the python¡¯s body. But since he was alone, it became more difficult. He needed to create some small tools and traps; otherwise, the danger was too great. Bi Fang merely wanted to demonstrate how to catch a python in the wild, not how to escape after being constricted by a python. ¡°The key to catching a python is never to allow it space to twist. If it wraps around you, you¡¯ll be in mortal danger!¡± Pythons move slowly; they can only lunge within a certain range, bursting out with astonishing speed, but the idea of chasing prey is utterly a fantasy. And because they don¡¯t chase prey, pythons and boa constrictors are opportunistic predators, which means they wait for the prey to come close to them. They are not hunters; their very bodies are traps! To make this trap more effective, they have focused all their talents on constricting, determined to ensure that any animal bumping into them has no return! ¡°The Gebayas Tribe in Africa are adept at catching pythons. To get python skins, they would directly enter caves to capture pythons, and many have died doing so. By now, few people in the Gebayas still do this, the young people in the tribe refuse to enter the caves and fight with the pythons.¡± [Holy shit, that brave? Going straight into the cave to catch them?] [Obviously, no one is willing to do it; a single slip-up and you¡¯re dead.] [That¡¯s insane, just imagining that scene scares me, in the pitch-black cave, the python coiled up, you¡¯re face to face with it¡­] [Stop talking, I¡¯m already scared.] ¡°Yes, that¡¯s how bold they are. They would carve out a path that is tens of meters long leading to the python¡¯s cave, then carrying torches, they would crawl into the narrow python cave until they found the python.¡± ¡°When they reach the bottom of the cave where the mother python is incubating eggs, the Gebayas¡¯ people would place the torch beside the python¡¯s head, using the flame to cover its eyes, while grabbing the python¡¯s neck with the other hand.¡± ¡°Because the python cannot see clearly, it allows the hunters to grasp it. If the python tries to bite, the hunter will extend a hand wrapped in animal skin for the python to bite. This gives the hunter a chance to drag the python out of the cave. Also, the narrow cave maximizes the prevention of the python¡¯s twisting and constricting.¡± Bi Fang bent two pliable sticks into hoops, then tied them tightly with thin rope, and wrapped the remaining sticks around these two hoops, fixing them with the rope as well. This formed a simple snare. Bi Fang¡¯s approach was similar to that of the Gebayas¡¯ people, using fire to attract the Golden Python into this simple snare, and then seizing the opportunity to catch its head. ¡°Since this Golden Python was abandoned, I don¡¯t think its owner would have fed it well before discarding it, which is why we¡¯re dealing with a long-starved large python. That¡¯s also why I didn¡¯t want to approach it carelessly at first, even though it might be quite tame.¡± ¡°Under such circumstances, a small piece of charcoal fire with a bit of meat smell is enough to pique its interest.¡± Like snakes, pythons rely on sensing temperature and smell to capture prey. A piece of charcoal that¡¯s not completely smothered and has a meat scent may be mistaken for small prey like a rabbit. Even if it doesn¡¯t mistake it, the charcoal pile with a temperature clearly higher than the surrounding environment is extremely attractive to the python. It¡¯s close to the end of October now, so the temperature isn¡¯t high, not within the python¡¯s active temperature range, and it badly needs the heat. Meanwhile, Bi Fang, who had finished explaining his plan, had already started making fire, using the firesteel to easily ignite the dry wood. Carrying the snare, Bi Fang went close to the Golden Python, dug a cylindrical pit on the ground just big enough to secure the snare in place. Then, he dug another, deeper pit at the end far away from the python, using a hunting knife since he didn¡¯t have a shovel. He snuffed out the fire that was burning for a short while, chose a piece of wood the size of an arm, and placed it into the pit, then opened one of the canned foods he had brought and poured it in. [Rest in green, Master Fang actually brought food.] [What an easy survival.] [The purpose isn¡¯t survival, it¡¯s skill training, I can understand.] It turns out I still have loyal fans. Bi Fang felt quite gratified; indeed, this was the most well-prepared he had ever been for an outing, and he didn¡¯t plan on being overly serious: if he couldn¡¯t capture any prey, he would just make do with the canned food. It all made sense. Once everything was set up, Bi Fang hid behind a large tree and quietly waited for the Golden Python to take the bait. Counting the time, it had been almost half an hour since he started preparing, and by the time he captured the python, the police would be about to arrive. Everything was going according to plan! The drone quietly settled on a tree, capturing every single movement of the Golden Python. Soon, the darting tongue of the Golden Python detected unusually dense ¡°odor particles¡± in the air, exciting it instantly as it had not eaten for a long time. It had been a while since it had last eaten; even though it had found a wild rabbit before, it had been discovered before it could get close. Now, it seemed to have another chance! Through the live footage from the drone, Bi Fang saw clearly that the Golden Python started to move again, twisting its thick body as it crawled out of its burrow. [Damn, it¡¯s moving, it¡¯s really moving!] [Predicting this spot, the streamer has complete control of it!] [Awesome, this move, this is a top-level prediction!] [Lord Mu gifted the streamer a Spaceship*!¡ªamazing, Master Fang is indeed Master Fang!] As the python slithered, the viewer count in Bi Fang¡¯s live room also began to twist upwards. The trend line that had already broken a hundred thousand soared again and shortly reached the level of one hundred and thirty thousand! Impressive, many other streamers were privately shocked. Last time, battling the wolf pack and breaking a hundred thousand viewers was one thing, as the content was amazing and unique across Huaxia, no, the entire world. Plus, with Lin Chang¡¯s thousands of rockets, it was akin to broadcasting thousands of times throughout the platform. Now, without as many rockets, how come the viewer count is even higher? And from the beginning, these numbers have been incredibly stable. Many could imagine that even if the next live stream¡¯s content was mediocre, Bi Fang¡¯s viewer numbers would remain above one hundred thousand¡ªthat now defined him as a top streamer! ¡°Eh, I didn¡¯t expect to change the revenue-sharing model so quickly,¡± Wang Yongbo remarked with some emotion backstage. According to the agreement in their previous contract, as long as Bi Fang¡¯s live viewer count could hold steady above one hundred thousand, and there was no data falsification, the partnership would automatically upgrade to a star-level contract, with a gift revenue split changing to twenty-eighty. But last time, during the live stream, Wolf Fang didn¡¯t ask for this revenue sharing. He gave it all to Bi Fang, even at a loss. It was as if they had never engaged in the previous thirty-seventy revenue sharing at all, right? The growth was too quick, wasn¡¯t it? The speed of contract modification couldn¡¯t keep up with the rise in popularity; where did that leave any room for argument? Fortunately, Wang Yongbo wasn¡¯t dwelling on it since the stock price had soared by several hundred million. Fussing over such matters would be missing the big picture. Overall, their partnership was very pleasant. Everybody wins. The only one who probably didn¡¯t¡ªwas Shark? On the large screen, the Golden Python continued to crawl slowly, its path aligning perfectly with the one Bi Fang had planned! It went straight into the ditch Bi Fang had dug earlier! ¡°As expected, this snake isn¡¯t too bright, Yazier,¡± Bi Fang chuckled, pleased that the situation was unfolding just as he had planned. This pet snake was nowhere near as alert as those in the wild, completely overlooking his presence. Bi Fang didn¡¯t believe the big python hadn¡¯t noticed him; that was impossible with the python¡¯s highly developed sense of smell. It just didn¡¯t care. [The snake is really crawling so slowly.] [Normal, being fast would be strange. Snakes are ectothermic animals. Now that autumn is here and temperatures are lower, they can¡¯t move fast, and they get slower the colder it gets, until they hibernate.] As Bi Fang¡¯s fan base expanded, many basic facts no longer needed his explanation. The Shuiyou (Online Friends/Audience) would answer automatically. Just wait a little longer. A little longer. The Golden Python had crawled into the ditch, but Bi Fang did not rush out; it hadn¡¯t entered the sleeve yet. However, when the big python arrived at the sleeve, it suddenly stopped. The hearts of the Shuiyou were instantly strung up. [Has it sensed something?] [Could it fail?] [It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over. Is it hopeless? Old Fang, tell us honestly.] ¡°No, it¡¯s just observing,¡± Bi Fang shookhis head. He didn¡¯t think the Golden Python had noticed the trap. How could a pet be so alert? Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The frequency of the big python¡¯s tongue flicks noticeably increased, proving it was only trying to gather more information, just like how people like to sniff their food before eating. Sure enough, the next second, the Golden Python slithered into the sleeve! That¡¯s it! Bi Fang clenched his fists excitedly, waiting until the big python emerged from the other end of the sleeve. Then, he lunged forward in one swift motion! The Golden Python¡¯s attention was wholly focused on the ¡°lunch¡± in front of it, completely oblivious to Bi Fang¡¯s approach, or rather, as a pet kept in captivity, it had no sense of danger at all! Until it felt its neck being seized by a large pair of hands! Chapter 95 - 93: Turns out to be my fan? Chapter 95: Chapter 93: Turns out to be my fan? Translator: 549690339 | The Golden Python, ravenous, was wholly oblivious to the peril behind it; its focus was entirely on the feast before it. But a pair of iron pincer-like hands descended from the sky mercilessly severing all of the python¡¯s thoughts. The instant Bi Fang clasped the snake¡¯s head with his hands, he felt an icy slickness in his palms, followed by a colossal force transmitting through his hands and into his entire body, nearly toppling him! What serpent was this? It was clearly a great dragon! A cold sweat instantly soaked Bi Fang¡¯s back; the situation was about to spin out of control! Even though the sleeve he had made was very narrow, directly clamping onto the python¡¯s neck and preventing it from coiling and exerting force, it was, Still not enough! In dire straits, Bi Fang clenched his teeth, and, with a powerful heave, his hands grasped the python¡¯s head and lifted high, vaulting its upper body into the air, not only preventing the python from gaining leverage but also leaping astride, mounting the Golden Python himself! Over a hundred pounds of weight bore down directly on the python, and the Golden Python, previously just a pet, had never encountered such a scene. It felt its body sink, breathing becoming difficult. Indeed, Bi Fang was sitting right on its lungs! Once the Golden Python¡¯s breathing was interrupted, it became completely disoriented, lacking any way to cope with the situation, simply writhing instinctively. To domesticate and wild were entirely different matters, this was where Bi Fang¡¯s confidence in capturing pythons alone stemmed from! A pet python was far less fierce than a wild one and sorely lacking in experience, facing such a scenario, it would only panic and attempt to flee. Moreover, it was all too familiar with the scent of humans; as long as he could restrain it, the chance it would keep resisting wouldn¡¯t be too high. The situation, nearly out of control, was finally stabilizing once again. But the Golden Python¡¯s lower half remained struggling, its sturdy body feeling like a rubber product. The python tried to wrap around Bi Fang¡¯s body but failed repeatedly. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Its head, held captive, couldn¡¯t find the target, and its lower half only twisted wildly, like a frenzied, enraged dragon. ¡°Goodness! So much strength despite being so hungry!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s veins stood out on his hands, now quite red, clearly exerting a great deal of effort. Minutes later, the Golden Python seemed to give up, struggling far less violently. At the sight, the audience virtually exploded, with gifts and barrages flying! [Damn, so awesome, Wolf King lives up to his reputation!] [Wolf Lord is the boss!] [What¡¯s with Wolf King and Wolf Lord? Where did those nicknames come from?] [Those are nicknames from another place, seems like those who¡¯ve seen Master Fang¡¯s wolf-fighting videos showed up. Master Fang led a few people to defeat a pack of wolves, almost like a Wolf King commanding the wolves. So on B Island, Master Fang¡¯s nickname is Wolf Lord,] [This snake is lucky, had it not encountered Master Fang, it would have been doomed.] [Happy Yang Pigskin gifts 1000 Wolf Fangs to the host¡ªTruly Master Fang! Even a training live broadcast is this explosive!] [Tonight¡¯s Moonlight Enchants gifts the host 666 Meatballs¡ªThe snake must be utterly stupefied!] ¡°Don¡¯t misuse words,¡± laughed Bi Fang, but his movements did not relax in the slightest. The scales of the Golden Python were smooth and delicate, and very cool to the touch. It could easily slip away if one wasn¡¯t careful. It seemed its former owner had taken good care of it. ¡± When capturing a python, you have to be most wary of its front half because it relies on this portion to coil around its prey,¡± he said. ¡°The muscles along its ribs here are not only powerful but also easily perform a constricting motion. They¡¯re highly sensitive to the prey¡¯s breathing and heartbeat. With every breath the prey exhales, the python tightens its coils, squeezing tighter until the prey suffocates.¡± The front half of the python is its most flexible part, and it¡¯s with this that it can move its entire body to constrict. Outside of this section, its flexibility greatly decreases. But that doesn¡¯t mean there¡¯s no danger¡ªit¡¯s just harder to get coiled upon; the compressive force it can exert is still incredibly strong. ¡°That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t make my sleeve too big. On the one hand, it wouldn¡¯t easily slither into something too big, and on the other, it¡¯s about targeting its weakness. The key is to clamp down on a crucial point.¡± ¡°But don¡¯t underestimate the lower half of a python, either. Unlike other snakes that slither, real pythons move by using their muscles to push their bodies forward. The ability to move this way indicates that their muscles are very well-developed. By contracting their abdomens they can continuously propel their bodies forward, which can weigh from a few dozen to a hundred kilograms, hence their incredibly strong constriction!¡± Humans walk on two feet, but the structure of our feet incorporates the principle of a lever. Without levers and relying solely on our muscles, we wouldn¡¯t be able to walk. A 70-kilogram body cannot be moved by muscles alone without the structural support of feet ¡ª the same goes for a 70-kilogram animal; that small amount of muscle wouldn¡¯t be enough. Only pythons can do it! This is sufficient to prove the might of pythons, as they have developed all their flesh into muscle! No sooner had these words been spoken than the Golden Python began to struggle violently once more. It seemed it hadn¡¯t completely given up, but it was all in vain. Bi Fang was no novice and wouldn¡¯t make such an oversight. In the face of survival, no animal is less intelligent than humans¡ªsome are even smarter. Cautiously, Bi Fang loosened one hand and switched to holding the python¡¯s head with just one hand, while positioning his walking stick against the Golden Python¡¯s body and pulling out a bundle of hemp rope from around his waist. Just as he was about to tie it up, the big python began to struggle again, and Bi Fang hurriedly switched back to using both hands. It took a while before the python stopped struggling again. Placing the stick near the large python, Bi Fang began to wrap the rope around it, loop after loop, finally tying it tightly, ensuring the python couldn¡¯t struggle free. He then did the same to its lower half. The Golden Python continued to roll, but to no avail; no matter how strong it was, without space, it had no opportunity to use its power. With everything secure, Bi Fang stood up and wiped the sweat from his forehead. He appeared unharmed, but his slightly shaking hands silently testified to how perilous the recent ordeal had been. At that moment, people at last emerged from the nearby woods. They were police officers! Five in total, led by a male officer in uniform around thirty years old, wearing glasses, with a leather case in hand, followed by several others carrying long restraining forks, looking fully armed. In contrast, Bi Fang, who had brought nothing, seemed to have said something and yet nothing at all. All was understood without words. Under these circumstances, the online friends could only flood the public chat with ¡®666¡¯. Just as Bi Fang was about to greet them, the leading officer approached and shook his hand, laughing, ¡°Impressive, really impressive! You¡¯re truly Master Fang, catching such a huge Golden Python all by yourself. Your reputation is well-earned!¡± ¡°You know me?¡± Bi Fang was taken aback. Had his stories already started spreading in the world of martial arts? ¡°Of course I know you, I watch the news. My daughter and I are both fans of yours. I¡¯ve watched your video fighting the wolf pack at least a dozen times. We started watching your live stream as soon as we got the call. Just one word for it ¡ªawesome!¡± The officer¡¯s tone was excited, clearly having watched Bi Fang¡¯s videos, and he even joked, ¡°Since I¡¯ve finally met you, you¡¯ve got to give me an autograph. I¡¯ve brought paper and pen and everything. You¡¯ve got to sign, or else you¡¯ll have to come to the police station with me to give a statement!¡± As soon as he said this, the younger officers who¡¯d come with him began to egg him on. ¡°Come on, Brother Liu, that¡¯s not fair! We want autographs too!¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, I want one as well!¡± ¡°I want three¡ªone for me and two for my friends who are also your fans!¡± Am I really this famous? I can run into fans just by making a police report? Bi Fang was puzzled; he had never experienced anything like this before. Chapter 96 - 94: 5 People Need 17 Signatures Chapter 96: Chapter 94: 5 People Need 17 Signatures Translator: 549690339 | Bi Fang had underestimated his own fame. Saying that he was recognized on the street after trending on hot search all day long was no exaggeration. After all, most people had only seen a clip of him, found it astonishing at the moment, but didn¡¯t retain a deep impression afterward. But if they had watched his live broadcast, it would be strange if they didn¡¯t recognize him. Now, Bi Fang had hundreds of thousands of fans, so it was quite normal for him to encounter them while out and about. Bi Fang was also quite generous about his fans asking for autographs, and he agreed graciously. (Awesome, even police have become Old Fang¡¯s fans, that¡¯s just incredible.] [No words needed, just one word, respect!] [I also want Master Fang¡¯s autograph. When will Master Fang give some fan benefits?] ¡°Huo, it¡¯s so heavy!¡± Two young officers lifted the tightly bound Golden Python, almost failing to hold on to it. ¡°Five meters six!¡± Another officer retracted the tape measure, equally shocked. They had caught snakes on duty before, but it was their first time catching a python, especially one as big as this Golden Python. ¡°It¡¯s about over seventy kilograms,¡± Bi Fang nodded. ¡°A domestically-raised Golden Python hardly grows beyond six meters, so five meters six is considered quite large. I wonder how Officer Liu plans to deal with it?¡± ¡°Releasing it into the wild is out of the question. I watched the broadcast: a Golden Python wouldn¡¯t survive if released, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct, so I hope you can contact a zoo, preferably a larger one, otherwise a small zoo might struggle to care for a Golden Python, as it¡¯s quite troublesome to maintain,¡± Bi Fang nodded, suggesting that finding a zoo to take it in would be the best solution. ¡°Then we¡¯ll do as you say. We¡¯ll take it back first, keep it contained, and then get in touch with a zoo,¡± Officer Liu nodded. Since it couldn¡¯t be released and still needed protection, the only option was to send it to a zoo. After a pause, he looked at Bi Fang, ¡°What about you? Are you going to come back with us?¡± As soon as these words were spoken, the Shuiyou showed their dissatisfaction. How could someone speak like that? Could they be a fake fan? The bullet screen was immediately flooded with pleas for him to stay. Bi Fang thought it over and agreed. Although the live broadcast was short this time, almost everything that needed to be done had been done, and the educational part was also complete. He had even caught a python and successfully made an impression in front of his Shuiyou; his goal had been achieved. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go back with you.¡± ¡°The content of today¡¯s live broadcast is basically over, it¡¯s about time to head back. But don¡¯t worry, the next broadcast won¡¯t be too far off. Let¡¯s not miss it!¡± Upon hearing the closing remarks, the audience immediately launched a screen full of comments like ¡°No, don¡¯t go!¡±, ¡°Keep streaming a little longer!¡±, ¡°Not satisfied yet!¡± along with a shower of virtual gifts. But Bi Fang still chose to ¡°mercilessly¡± end the live stream. In the police car, Bi Fang and the Golden Python sat in the back seat. Nobody wanted to sit next to the huge creature, so the back seat naturally belonged to Bi Fang. The Golden Python, now with its mouth bound too, glared with red eyes, looking despondent. Its body, tightly wrapped up, couldn¡¯t move at all. ¡°Brother Fang, you¡¯re too amazing. How could you dare to catch such a big python by yourself?¡± In the car, the two young officers were quite excited. They had been restrained when Officer Liu was around, but now that Liu was in another vehicle, they felt more at ease. ¡°Mainly because this is a pet snake. Its muscle mass and wildness are nothing compared to the wild ones, otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t dare to mess with it alone,¡± Bi Fang replied while signing autographs. In total, there were only five officers, but they asked for a combined total of seventeen autographs, claiming they were for friends. This was a bit extreme! As a pet snake, they are fed dead prey, so over time their wildness and aggressiveness greatly diminish, and how can flowers raised in a greenhouse be wild anyway? S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Without natural enemies, without the need to hunt prey, without harsh environments, even the fiercest of beasts become docile, and even lions and tigers would fear dogs. If one wants a python to be fierce, the simplest method is to feed it live prey over a long period of time and gradually increase the size of the food according to its body size until it grows to five to seven meters, at which point it can be fed large meals like sheep and pigs. However, Bi Fang didn¡¯t think that the kind of person who would casually abandon a pet python would have the guts to raise it that way. That¡¯s courting death! ¡°That¡¯s still pretty impressive,¡± said the officer in the passenger seat, his heart still racing from the sight of the Golden Python folded into three sections. When they had first helped to move the python, they had all touched its muscles, which were as hard as stone; let alone catch it alone, they wouldn¡¯t even dare to sit near it. Soon after, Bi Fang returned to the county town and, after saying goodbye to Officer Liu and others, he hailed a car and went back to the Magic Capital. By the time he arrived at the Magic Capital, it was just after four in the afternoon. While it was still early, Bi Fang called Lin Chang. ¡°Manager Lin, do you know any reliable outdoor brand stores or shopping malls? I want to buy some equipment.¡± Even though he couldn¡¯t bring any professional equipment from outside the System for his missions, Bi Fang had previously promised everyone that he would set up a club, so he definitely needed to get the equipment as well. ¡°You want to buy equipment?¡± Lin Chang was surprised by the call. ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask Yao Jun? Isn¡¯t that what his family does? And he lives right in the Magic Capital.¡± ¡°Yao Jun?¡± Hearing this name, Bi Fang was startled, feeling it was familiar. It took him a while to remember that this was Lord Mu¡¯s real name. Last time he had quickly looked it up and only found a group name without looking into the details. He had no idea Lord Mu was in this business. ¡°Yeah, if you come to me, I only know where to buy. But if you go to Yao Jun, you¡¯ll get the professional stuff. He loves outdoor sports, so he opened his own outdoor sports clothing brand. He does everything: sports drinks, sports clothing, even knives,¡± Lin Chang explained. He loves outdoor sports so much that he opened his own brand store? That thought made Bi Fang feel cliched, but he couldn¡¯t help it. No wonder he had run into Lord Mu during his first livestream; it was true love! With that conversation, Bi Fang didn¡¯t bother Lin Chang any further and directly reached out to Yao Jun on QQand made a voice call. ¡°Master Fang wants new equipment?¡± Yao Jun sounded pleasantly surprised. He had been wanting to help Bi Fang with new equipment for a while, as he felt Bi Fang¡¯s sportswear during the past livestreams wasn¡¯t up to par. But he had felt too awkward to bring it up proactively. It seemed like he was trying to sell his own products, and it could come off as a bit condescending. How could an outdoor streamer not afford decent equipment? Now that Bi Fang had mentioned it himself, Yao Jun was overjoyed. ¡°Not me¡­ well, kind of,¡± Bi Fang started to deny it but then considered that he might use it himself later, so he admitted it. ¡°That¡¯s great! Master Fang, just wait for me. I¡¯ll come to you right now and take you to pick some out! It¡¯s all from my private collection! Absolutely all treasures!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Yao Jun hung up. Wait, did I mention my address? Bi Fang was taken aback, looking at the disconnected call and silently sent his location. It didn¡¯t take long for Yao Jun to send a scratching-head emoji. Good lord, he really was coming. Bi Fang was speechless at the enthusiasm. Half an hour later, Yao Jun arrived. Chapter 97 - 95: Just Give it a Try Chapter 97: Chapter 95: Just Give it a Try Translator: 54^90339 Within half an hour of hanging up the phone, Yao Jun galloped over to Bi Fang. This was the first time the two had met in person, and Yao Jun was thrilled. Right after getting out of the car, he grasped Bi Fang¡¯s hand and laughed aloud. ¡°Finally, I get to see you in the flesh, Master Fang!¡± Bi Fang also reciprocated the handshake politely while taking the opportunity to size up Yao Jun. An impressively built person, not the bodybuilder type of strong but solidly put together. It was clear that Yao Jun worked out regularly and genuinely loved outdoor sports. After exchanging pleasantries, Bi Fang asked curiously, ¡°Did you come over as soon as you got the call?¡± Even though Magic Capital had well-developed transport systems, traffic jams were unavoidable. Considering that only half an hour had passed since the phone call, it was evident how eagerly Yao Jun had rushed over. ¡°Hey, not at all, Master Fang. I just happened to be nearby and didn¡¯t have anything else going on, so I got here so quickly,¡± Yao Jun lied without batting an eyelid or changing his expression. The reality was that he had been shopping with his girlfriend. But upon receiving Bi Fang¡¯s call, Yao Jun made it clear. Women only slowed down his pace in star-chasing! ¡°Just call me by my name.¡± Being constantly called Master Fang was a bit embarrassing for Bi Fang. It was one thing in the barrage of live chats, but it felt a bit too adolescent saying it in person. ¡°Sure, Master Fang,¡± Yao Jun agreed amicably. He then jogged to the other side of the car, opened the door, and the pure white leather racing seats welcomed the honored guest. They had their chat, but now it was time to get down to business. The thought of exchanging his treasured collection for Bi Fang¡¯s equipment sent Yao Jun into an uncontrollable excitement. His biggest hobby had always been seeking adventure and feeling the pulsation of life within it! A month ago, the first time he saw Bi Fang live streaming, he felt they were kindred spirits, like two wild animals encountering each other in the jungle and recognizing each other¡¯s presence. The only difference was that Bi Fang was capable of pursuing adventure, while Yao Jun could only watch enviously from behind a screen. That¡¯s why he was so exhilarated to learn about Bi Fang¡¯s plan to set up a club. Bi Fang nodded. Yao Jun¡¯s unexpected enthusiasm was difficult to decline. The car Yao Jun drove over was a Porsche Panamera. Compared to his net worth, it was quite modest. The dark blue car body was sleek and low. Upon ignition, the 4.8-liter V8 engine roared defiantly. The 7-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission engaged smoothly, distributing power evenly to all four wheels. The wide tires clung to the ground like the coiled claws of a beast about to pounce. The setting sun poured over the windshield like a waterfall. Yao Jun released the brake, floored the accelerator, and the Porsche pierced through the grand curtain of light like an arrow released from its string! Humans are such creatures, relying on very few things to live¡ªand those must be tightly held onto! The Porsche merged into the flowing traffic, and Yao Jun talked with Bi Fang in the car. ¡°What sort of gear are you planning to equip, Master Fang?¡± ¡°What do you have?¡± Bi Fang asked in return. ¡°Everything!¡± Yao Jun boasted confidently. In this area, he was a true professional, much like how some people collect sneakers, his hobby was collecting sports equipment. Yao Jun had even bought a villa specifically to display his collection! Even Bi Fang was taken aback when he saw it! He wasn¡¯t new to equipment; in his previous life, he had often ventured into the wild on missions and was familiar with many major brands. And now, all around the walls hung various types of charge clothes. Ancestor Bird, Mammoth, Groundhog, both limited and unlimited editions. There was also a whole cabinet of hiking boots, trail shoes, and so on. Pushing open another room, there were neatly arranged glass showcases, inside which customized knives glittered under the light. The entire villa had no space to even step in! ¡°Are these all your collection?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. If you see anything you like, just say the word, and I¡¯ll give it to you!¡± Yao Jun was generous, all too aware of one thing. The most valuable thing about an item is when it¡¯s being used. Red Hare became world-famous because it was ridden by Lii Bu! Since Yao Jun himself couldn¡¯t make full use of this equipment, he might as well change its owner! ¡°Pretty impressive, huh!¡± Bi Fang was stroking a Progenitor Bird Charge Clothes. A month ago, he had a jacket from the same brand, but he sold it for a low price to scrape together some travel money. Now, he couldn¡¯t help feeling sentimental. ¡°Speaking of Progenitor Bird, I actually picked one up online recently. I couldn¡¯t tell what style it was, but the craftsmanship was definitely Progenitor Bird¡¯s, and the quality was very good!¡± Seeing Bi Fang¡¯s apparent fondness for Progenitor Bird, Yao Jun brought up the topic. Upon hearing this, Bi Fang nearly lost control of his expression, ¡°Picked it up recently? Can you show it to me?¡± ¡°Yeah, about a month ago, I saw it on my old flea market account. It was surprising because I had never seen that design before. And since it wasn¡¯t expensive, I bought it. But when it arrived, I found out it was definitely genuine ¡ªprobably some limited edition or custom-made that I¡¯m unaware of. The seller must¡¯ve been in a hurry to get some cash to put the price so low.¡± As Yao Jun explained, he led Bi Fang to the Progenitor Bird Charge Clothes in question. Upon seeing it clearly, Bi Fang¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of his head. Damn! This texture, this style, wasn¡¯t it the very one he¡¯d sold? The light grey exterior, the soft lining, the quick-drying fabric¡ªeverything was the same! ¡°This is too much of a coincidence!¡± ¡°What coincidence?¡± Yao Jun didn¡¯t catch on. After Bi Fang explained the whole situation and showed the sales record on his phone, Yao Jun was also stunned and blurted out, ¡°Can it even happen like that?¡± Who would have thought a jacket could make its way back to Bi Fang after all that? ¡°So our destiny began long ago, huh!¡± Yao Jun remarked, sounding inexplicably emotional. Although not many people could afford outdoor gear, and the base was small, the probability of encountering such an incident in this vast sea of people was extremely slim. Bi Fang: ¡°¡­¡± Why does that sound so weird? Yao Jun, on the other hand, felt nothing amiss and directly handed over the Charge Clothes to Bi Fang, ¡°But since it belongs to Master Fang, it should return to its original owner!¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°How can that be okay? I should buy it back at the original price.¡± Bi Fang wasn¡¯t one to take advantage of others. He had sold it reluctantly before, but now that he had money, he shouldn¡¯t be stingy. Besides, once sold, it belonged to someone else, and in essence, it had nothing to do with him anymore. But how could Yao Jun agree, ¡°Master Fang, what do you mean by that, are you looking down on me?¡± ¡°Where did that come from?¡± ¡°Then just accept it, the rest is the same¡ªtake whatever you like! If you say ¡®no,¡¯ I will no longer bear the name Yao!¡± Yao Jun spoke earnestly, ¡°I thought we were already friends!¡± Bi Fang still wanted to refuse, but after hearing Yao Jun¡¯s last words, he hesitated, then decided not to fuss, ¡°Alright then.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more like it!¡± Yao Jun said gleefully, pulling Bi Fang into another room, which was also filled with Charge Clothes, ¡°Since Master Fang likes Charge Clothes so much, take a look at these.¡± Yao Jun then picked up a jacket and began to explain, ¡°Patagonia! It embodies the rich natural environment of California: surfing, diving, fishing, mountain biking¡ªit can handle them all, extremely durable. Master Fang, you should give it a try. It¡¯s made of an abrasion-resistant material that even a Hunting Knife can¡¯t cut through, and the style is vibrant, free and easy, with an American ruggedness¡­¡± Rip! Yao Jun¡¯s words were interrupted by a grating tearing noise. He stared in shock at the gash on the sleeve of the jacket, speechless like a chicken choked by the neck. Bi Fang¡¯s face turned red as he sheepishly pulled back his Hunting Knife. He hadn¡¯t expected the jacket to be all show and no substance. It was Yao Jun who had said to give it a try¡­ Chapter 98 - 96: Please be sure to interrogate thoroughly! Chapter 98: Chapter 96: Please be sure to interrogate thoroughly! Translator: 549690339 ¡°I¡¯m really sorry; I didn¡¯t do it on purpose.¡± Bi Fang looked embarrassed, just now when Yao Jun claimed the hunting knife couldn¡¯t cut through, he couldn¡¯t resist trying himself, only to find out how easily it¡­ Looking at the slit in the jacket, Yao Jun barely squeezed out a smile. ¡°No problem, it seems I bought a dud. Lucky for me, Master Fang helped me find out; I¡¯m very grateful.¡± It was he who said that not even a hunting knife could cut through it; he had to keep up the act, even if it meant doing so in tears. Without delay, Yao Jun led Bi Fang to another jacket. ¡°Let¡¯s take a look at this one, the Mammoth limited edition, a Swiss brand, designed for high latitudes and cold, rainy, snowy weather, which I think reflects the natural characteristics of its region well. It has personality, youth, and flashiness; for someone with an inverted triangle figure like Master Fang, it would definitely be very flattering, and this one is absolutely cut-resistant! Master Fang, you try again!¡± ¡°Ah, this¡­ wouldn¡¯t be good, right?¡± Bi Fang hesitated, worried that this one would get cut as well. ¡°No, this one is absolutely cut-resistant!¡± Yao Jun insisted, and Bi Fang had no choice but to test it with the knife. ¡°It¡¯s impossible for me to have two duds at the same time¡­¡± Sssshhh! Another grating noise of tearing fabric. Yao Jun fell silent. He turned and left the room, then returned with another piece of equipment. ¡°This one! This Ancestor Bird! It¡¯s also for high latitudes and snowy mountains, and personally, I think it¡¯s the best outdoor brand out there. It¡¯s stylish and fairly restrained. The cut-resistance coefficient of this jacket is very high! I¡¯ve tested it myself; it¡¯s absolutely cut-resistant. Master Fang, you try!¡± But this time, Bi Fang flat-out refused to try again. Having sliced two jackets, he had begun to understand: surely, the clothes were supposed to be cut-resistant. It¡¯s not that the enemy is weak; instead, the System possesses a Gundam. Compared to industrial assembly line products, the quality of items from the System was absolutely miles better. Just now, he had stealthily tried cutting an Ancestor Bird issued by the System and hadn¡¯t made a scratch¡­ His hunting knife was not quite the same as Yao Jun¡¯s¡­ However, this time Yao Jun would not take no for an answer; he insisted that Bi Fang must try, and refusing was not an option. But Bi Fang simply refused to agree. In the end, Yao Jun grabbed a knife and slashed fiercely at the jacket himself, not once but twice, clearly exerting a lot of force. Sure enough, this time the jacket didn¡¯t rip! ¡°Haha, look, it didn¡¯t tear! It really didn¡¯t tear! It¡¯s truly cut-resistant!¡± Yao Jun lifted the jacket and shouted excitedly. He hadn¡¯t lied! The jacket really was cut-resistant! Bi Fang nodded again and again. Right, right, right; everything you said is right, just put the knife down. ¡°I knew it, you can¡¯t trust the quality of products from Ugly Country, so many duds, I don¡¯t understand how they got so famous!¡± Yao Jun put down the knife, indignant. He swore that in the future, buying anything from Mammoth would be a fool¡¯s errand! Bi Fang joined in criticizing with Yao Jun, and then tried to change the subject. ¡°Don¡¯t you have your own sports brand? How come I¡¯ve never seen it?¡¯ ¡°Er.¡± Yao Jun scratched his forehead, suddenly a bit embarrassed, ¡°Actually, it can¡¯t compare with these big international brands, after all, they¡¯ve been developing for so many years. If it were anyone else, I would definitely recommend my own products, but since it¡¯s Master Fang, I can¡¯t just give you any old thing.¡± ¡°Back when Master Fang became popular on the trending searches, I actually thought about asking you for an endorsement, but then I thought better of it.¡± Yao Jun¡¯s meaning was clear; he knew Bi Fang would inevitably become a world-class survival master. If he endorsed an outdoor product that wasn¡¯t top quality, it could damage his image. Simply put, it wasn¡¯t swanky enough. In Yao Jun¡¯s heart, only a top-tier brand like Ancestor Bird was worthy of Master Fang¡¯s endorsement. His own brand was just minor league stuff. ¡°Then why don¡¯t you acquire Ancestor Bird?¡± Bi Fang suddenly asked. ¡°What?¡± Yao Jun was startled; he had never dared to consider such a thing, stammering, ¡°How could that be possible?¡± ¡°How is it not possible?¡± Bi Fang retorted, ¡°Although Ancestor Bird is a high- end brand, its sales have always been lackluster. It has a good reputation but doesn¡¯t make much profit. Your brand caters to the mass market, with thin margins but higher sales volumes, and is valued much higher, so why not?¡± His words were not without basis. Bi Fang remembered clearly that in his previous life, Ancestor Bird had been acquired by Anta. Why couldn¡¯t Yao Jun do it? Even if he couldn¡¯t, didn¡¯t he still have a father? Bi Fang¡¯s prompt seemed to open a door for Yao Jun. He had never considered this before, but now, it seemed feasible? Bi Fang struck while the iron was hot, ¡°If you can acquire Ancestor Bird, I¡¯ll personally endorse you!¡± ¡°Really?¡± Yao Jun asked instinctively, and for a moment, he was tempted. ¡°Why would I lie to you?¡± ¡°I need to think about it, need to think.¡± Although Yao Jun was excited, he hadn¡¯t lost his senses. ¡°Alright, then take your time thinking about it.¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t want to hustle Yao Jun; the guy wasn¡¯t a fool, and he didn¡¯t intend to trick him. Moreover, if the deal succeeded, Yao Jun might see his fortune soar. Yao Jun felt the same way. Just thinking about everyone wearing domestic brands from underwear to outer shells when they went outdoors filled him with energy, his blood pumping with excitement, his metabolism speeding up, and before he even took the first step to conquer the mountains, he urinated. But it was no matter, as the Hermes of domestic outdoor brands, everything from the inside to the outside was quick to dry. Alright, enough dreaming. I actually came here for another purpose, to select universal equipment for the club,¡± Bi Fang woke Yao Jun from his daydream. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They returned to discussing serious business. At eight o¡¯clock in the evening, Bi Fang and Yao Jun finished dinner and each went home. On the way, Bi Fang suddenly received a call. ¡°Hello, is this Bi Fang, Mr. Bi? This is the Xicheng City Public Security Bureau. We have a few questions for you. Are you available?¡± The police? Bi Fang was confused upon receiving the call. What did the police want with him? ¡°I¡¯m available, go ahead and ask,¡± he said. ¡°Do you know Lu Wentao and Lu Junming?¡± Is something the matter?¡± Bi Fang frowned; he certainly knew of them, but he had never met them face to face. He left Shark precisely because of their scheming. But thanks to them, Bi Fang had seen Shark¡¯s true colors. ¡°Well, we received a report and apprehended two individuals. Surveillance confirms that they were acting suspiciously. They clearly don¡¯t live nearby, yet they lingered in front of your house for quite a while. However, they produced their IDs, admitted they were there to see you, and claimed you would not fail to recognise them, so we called to verify,¡± the officer said. ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t know them,¡± Bi Fang said, almost squinting with a big smile, as he spoke into the phone with conviction. Please, officer, make sure to ask them why they were lingering in front of my house. As a good citizen, I¡¯m very scared,¡± he said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we won¡¯t wrong a good person, nor will we let any bad person go! We will get to the bottom of their intentions,¡± the officer assured. The policeman on the other end was instantly alarmed at the response. What¡¯s going on here? Those two shifty-looking characters were indeed up to no good, daring to lie to the righteous people¡¯s police! No, it seemed that they couldn¡¯t be released so easily! They needed to be interrogated! Chapter 99 - 97: Qaidam Desert! Chapter 99: Chapter 97: Qaidam Desert! Translator: 549690339 Bi Fang didn¡¯t know the follow-up of the call. He only knew one thing, the guy who had been trailing behind him and eating his dust, LuWentao, disappeared! The last time at Qinling he hadn¡¯t even finished his live stream before Lu Wentao took over, and now it had been several days since his second broadcast, yet Lu Wentao still hadn¡¯t scheduled his second streaming. What a shame, he was quite a funny guy. Bi Fang felt regretful. Even a beautiful flower needs green leaves for contrast, but why had the leaves fallen before the flower even bloomed? Stepping onto the running machine, Bi Fang prepared to start his physical workout for the evening. He didn¡¯t go back to that old shabby house; there was no need to live in hardship now that he had money. Bi Fang was no longer the unlucky chap who had nothing when he first arrived. This villa had comprehensive facilities, including its own fitness equipment, which was very convenient. It was just a bit too spacious, he could generate an echo with a shout, and he wasn¡¯t used to living alone. Bi Fang still planned to find time to look for a high-end apartment, that would have the feeling of a real home. Setting the speed to 16 kilometers per hour, Bi Fang started the running machine. Ten minutes later, just as he was preparing to adjust the speed down to a jog, Bi Fang suddenly heard a familiar electronic sound. [Ding! New task activated, please check the task bar.] This soon? Bi Fang was startled, nearly falling off the running machine ¡ª it had only been a few days, and his injuries hadn¡¯t fully healed yet! S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The interval between the last tasks was clearly twelve days, why was this one so short? With an uneasy heart, Bi Fang slowed down the running machine and walked as he opened the task bar. Task Name: The Edge Gradually Reveals Task Location: Qaidam Desert Task Mode: Desert Survival Task Difficulty: R1 Task Requirements: No tools apart from system-issued items can be carried. Main Task One: Start a live stream with a sustained online audience exceeding 120,000. Main Task Two: Survive successfully within five days while maintaining good physical condition. Sub-task: Please explore on your own Completion Reward: Unknown Time Limit: 15 days ¡°Phew!¡± ¡°A 15-day limit, huh? I really thought I was running out of time.¡± Bi Fang exhaled in relief, having thought the deadline was near, only to find that the timeline was about the same as last time; it was just the notice that came earlier. ¡°Difficulty Ri, huh?¡± Bi Fang stroked his chin, not quite understanding this difficulty mode, but it seemed clear from the previous two tasks that it was going up in levels. From R3 to Ri. What would be next? RST¡­ Is it S-level? Bi Fang speculated silently but didn¡¯t overthink it. No matter the difficulty, he had to face it alone. This time¡¯s survival type was not easy to handle. ¡°Qaidam Desert, is it really the desert? Another tough nut to crack.¡± If you asked Bi Fang which kind of wilderness he feared the most, it would undoubtedly be those with extreme climates and treacherous terrains, such as Mohe or the desert; nature would become the greatest adversary. In such wild environments, resources are extremely scarce. Last time in Mohe, it was still ok since it was situated by the Khingan Range with unbelievably fertile soil, trees, bushes, and occasionally some fruit could be found. But this time in the desert, that scarcity would be even more pronounced. Bi Fang opened the store, deciding to buy equipment. The store had refreshed the day before yesterday, but he hadn¡¯t made a move yet, just for this moment. He chose appropriate equipment based on the information from the tasks. From underwear to jackets, he selected everything to be breathable and quick-drying; otherwise, sweating alone could kill him. Two missions had helped Bi Fang grasp the boundaries of the system. Unless specified by the mission, only ordinary clothing could be carried, and not too much of it; professional-level equipment was not allowed at all. This time, he had also switched to a new backpack. The previous backpack had been a patch-up job, with stitched-up shoulder straps; having a new one, of course he switched to the new one. There was also a weapon refresh coupon, which Bi Fang used on his hunting knife. Even golden properties have their limits, and in the modern world, one can only continuously pursue the limits in various scenarios. No matter how good the material used to make knives and swords, they can¡¯t cleave through iron as if it were mud, except on a lathe; no matter how hard or tough the material is, cutting into stone would still chip the blade, and after too many uses, it would need sharpening. The quality of the hunting knife was only green. Unless in the future he could draw something purple or orange from the system, it might be possible to break this theory. So far, the knife had been quite handy, and Bi Fang didn¡¯t want it to wear out too soon; he didn¡¯t wait for it to dull before using the coupon¡ªthat would be foolish. And he had actually come across this coupon in the shop last time; given its refresh rate wasn¡¯t low, there was no need to save it. Up to this point, he still had 960 points left, just enough for two ten- consecutive draws; it was all about the luck now! Bi Fang rubbed his hands together and clicked the spinner wheel with his thoughts. [Low-level skill upgrade coupon*2] [Strength attribute point*i] [Orange-flavored candy*i] [Perpetual athlete¡¯s foot-free coupon*i] [Quick-dry trousers*!] [Quick-dry lining*!] [High-altitude parachuting LV2] Wait a minute, did something strange slip in there? Bi Fang caught sight of that somewhat oddly purposed coupon and silently clicked ¡®use¡¯¡­ Even though he didn¡¯t have it now, it was only a matter of time. Surving in the wilderness for four to five days, on the move every day without changing shoes or a chance to clean, it was bound to cause issues in the long run. It would be abnormal not to have any smell! The remaining two skill upgrade coupons were added to Special Forces LV3, upgrading it to LV5 by Bi Fang. What a grand harvest! Having obtained three coupons, a blue skill, and an attribute point, Bi Fang was delighted; he didn¡¯t expect he had the potential to be a Lucky Emperor. Deliciously content. The ability of high-altitude parachuting was also within the Special Forces, but obviously not as strong, lacking in variety, and not as appealing. With it, while not very practical for survival, for livestreaming, it was a gimmick! High-altitude parachuting, just the sound of it made one eager to watch. As for the strength attribute point, Bi Fang had not yet used it, planning to do so right before setting off to maximize the benefit. Stopping the treadmill, Bi Fang walked into the shower, turned on the hot water, squeezed out the excess sweat from his body, and then switched to warm water to relax his muscles. With multiple points added, his physique had begun to develop; combined with muscle growth, his weight had increased significantly. Clearwater rinsed over his bulging muscles, like streams flowing through rocky mountains, and the over-heated muscles from exercise slowly returned to normal. Bi Fang practiced regular breathing exercises, slowing his heartbeat and blood flow. This breathing technique came from the Advanced Yoga he practiced. The upcoming training regimen needed to be more targeted; heat endurance training and thirst endurance training were all on the list. It was bound to be a tough battle, and he needed to be fully prepared for it. After the shower, Bi Fang dried the water drops from his hair, changed the dressing on the wound on his shoulder, and then made a call to Liu Qian. This was the assistant Wang Yongbo paired him with last time, telling him to contact her if there was anything he needed. ¡°The next livestream location is set, in ten days at the Qaidam Desert. Same as last time, I¡¯ll be taken there by helicopter, but it can¡¯t be the same one as before; it doesn¡¯t fly high enough,¡± Bi Fang stated. Liu Qian was taking notes with a pen, and she was startled by his words¡ªnot high enough? Civilian helicopters can fly two kilometers high; how was that not enough? What was he planning? ¡°This time, I¡¯m planning on high-altitude parachuting,¡± Bi Fang stated calmly. ¡°Five thousand meters!¡± Chapter 100 - 98: Dragons and Snakes Arise from Land, Sand Refinement Pours River! Chapter 100: Chapter 98: Dragons and Snakes Arise from Land, Sand Refinement Pours River! Translator: 549690339 Ten days later. Wolf Fang TV had already hung up the show¡¯s banner on the homepage early. The solitary smoke in the vast desert straightens, the long river sets with a round sun. In the midst of the whirling yellow sand, there is only a black smudge, not a person, but a shadow. As the wind and sand pass by, the dunes shift, their lines twisting like serpents. The words ¡°Wilderness Survivalist¡± float on the surface as if they were grains of sand about to be scattered by the wind, seemingly ready to disperse with a mere puff. The desolate scent of the wilderness hits you in the face, captivating the viewer¡¯s eyes with just one glance. The artists at Wolf Fang have some serious skills. Bi Fang nodded in satisfaction; the production of this cover and the last one were both exceptionally good, reflecting the great effort put into them. ¡°Quite nice!¡± ¡°As long as you¡¯re pleased,¡± said Liu Qian with a smile all over her face. Bi Fang was now an honored guest at Wolf Fang, one who must be well tended to, otherwise, she feared Wang Yongbo would skin her alive! The distance from the Magic Capital to Qinghai was significant, and Bi Fang still opted to take a plane to get there, while Liu Qian had already arranged for a helicopter and accommodations well in advance. There was still a full day before the live broadcast would begin, but in the black-screened live room, skyscrapers of comments had already sprung up, with countless people expressing their anticipation for the stream. The first time was a forest, the second time a snow forest, and the third time a desert! Bi Fang always managed to surprise people; he never settled for complacency but rather brought viewers the most thrilling live broadcasts time after time from extreme environments! As time fermented, the number of comments and shares across social platforms like Weibo, Douyin, and B Island had surpassed a million! This trip to Qaidam was already popular before it had even been broadcast! That evening, while resting in the hotel. ¡°How¡¯s it going, did you get it?¡± A group of people gathered together, discussing in hushed tones. One tall and one short, one fat and another wearing glasses. ¡°Got it, got it, the staff at Wolf Fang aren¡¯t that tight-lipped after all,¡± chuckled the short one who had rushed over, flashing his yellow teeth. ¡°Where exactly is the location for this live broadcast?¡± The man with glasses couldn¡¯t wait any longer. Contrary to everyone¡¯s expectations, the short man shook his head, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°What the hell? Are you messing with me?¡± The tall one got angry, grabbing the short one¡¯s collar and actually lifting him off the ground! The shorty was frightened, he weighed over one hundred thirty catties after all! Pan Wei tried to struggle out, but the other man¡¯s strength was too great, and he could only plead repeatedly, ¡°No, it¡¯s true, I really don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Then what did you claim you got?¡± The man with glasses adjusted his glasses, looking displeased. ¡°What I got is that I don¡¯t know!¡± Pan Wei became frantic, exclaiming, ¡°This time it¡¯s a parachute jump, completely random, nobody knows, not even the Wolf King himself knows where he will land!¡± ¡°That crazy?¡± The fat one was shocked, ¡°This is real survival.¡± ¡°Nonsense, how do you think the Wolf King got his nickname?¡± The man with glasses believed it now; the other party had a history, after all. A man whom even the search and rescue team couldn¡¯t locate, how could he leave a way out for himself? He thought for a moment, then decided, ¡°Looks like we¡¯ll have to get up early tomorrow, we¡¯ll have to follow the Wolf King¡¯s helicopter.¡± ¡°Can we keep up?¡± The tall one was skeptical, a Jeep chasing after a helicopter didn¡¯t seem reliable at all. ¡°Just need to confirm the general direction of the helicopter, then adjust according to the live broadcast. If you keep moving, you¡¯ll eventually run into it. If it doesn¡¯t work out, there¡¯s always next time. We¡¯re bound to cash in on someone like that eventually. Even a little spill from him is enough to sustain us.¡± S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Pan Wei said with envious eyes. The last broadcast earned millions, even if the platform took half, it would still be worth getting bitten by a wolf. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get some sleep, we¡¯ll all meet at the hotel entrance before dawn, and we must stake out!¡± the man with glasses clapped his hands. He was the organizer of this operation, astute enough to command everyone¡¯s respect. ¡°Okay!¡± ¡°No problem!¡± ¡°I¡¯m already envisioning my own riches, hehehe!¡± The next day, Bi Fang arrived by car at the helicopter prepared by Wolf Fang. MI5800, a model unique to this world, was something that Wang Yongbo had gone to great lengths to secure. Its maximum stable altitude was five thousand six hundred meters, nearing that of military-grade. Overall, just flying the MI5800 shipped from afar this once would cost at least a hundred thousand plus, but Wolf Fang TV said nothing and took on the expense directly. On the helicopter, Bi Fang took out his phone and started watching the live stream. Still Lu Wentao¡¯s. After a long silence, Lu Wentao finally made a comeback, with the same recommended spot as last time, and even higher popularity. After three days of broadcasting, his popularity had reached three million. Bi Fang felt it might be Shark faking the numbers, to create the illusion that their popularity was nearly equal. There was reason to suspect this, as Lu Wentao¡¯s bullet screen comments were obviously fewer than his own. But it was just suspicion, with no evidence. Perhaps the last trending search had simply made the ¡°Wilderness Survivalist¡± pie bigger. ¡°Quick progress.¡± Watching the live stream, Bi Fang keenly noticed that Lu Wentao¡¯s broadcast seemed smoother, and he could now answer many of the audience¡¯s questions. He even attempted a three-thousand-meter parachute jump, which, although perilous, was successful. Was this due to experience, or had he put in a lot of hard work? Forget it, it had nothing to do with him anymore. Bi Fang turned off his phone. He was no longer concerned with Lu Wentao; his attention to the situation was only because his opponent was Shark TV, and he always had a feeling that they would not give up so easily. But everyone was mistaken about one thing. Bi Fang¡¯s only opponent had always been himself! ¡°Buddy, this trip might make us a neat sum of over a hundred thousand. Can streaming one session make that much?¡± the pilot asked, glancing at Bi Fang sitting behind him, out of curiosity. He was usually busy with his work, but he had heard that he was taking a prominent streamer this time, a very famous one. Bi Fang just smiled: ¡°Should be about right.¡± ¡°Impressive. Could you give me an autograph?¡± the pilot asked, thumbs up, handing over a cardboard piece. Bi Fang took it and swiftly signed it, then began checking his parachute. A five-thousand-meter jump was not to be taken lightly. One bit of carelessness could cost a life. After confirming everything was in order, Bi Fang took out his drone and changed the room title: (Master Fang Survival: Gazing upon the boundless desert, the most desperate struggle!] The pilot, catching a glimpse, exclaimed in surprise, ¡°Big brother, that won¡¯t do, the drone can¡¯t withstand the wind at this altitude!¡± The helicopter had not yet started to ascend, but they were already at a height of three thousand meters. Some helicopters might struggle at this height, let alone a drone. Unless it was military grade, but the pilot didn¡¯t think a streamer could get his hands on a drone of that level. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have it secured,¡± Bi Fang said with a smile, fastening the drone to his chest and patting it to reassure the pilot. He didn¡¯t boast about how powerful his drone was; there was no need for that. Seeing this, the pilot nodded his head. Secured was okay. Otherwise, at this height, the drone would just be free-falling. Huaxia time, nine fifty AM. The broadcast that hadn¡¯t even started had already gathered an audience of fifty thousand! It even included big players like Lin Chang, Yao Jun, Wang Yongbo, among others! [I¡¯ve been so anxious waiting.] [So many people.] [I wonder if this stream will be as thrilling as the last one?] [How could it be? That¡¯s the kind of situation you encounter by chance. Plus, if it happens too often, you might not see Master Fang ever again.] [Ah, well, it¡¯s most important that Master Fang is safe.] [Hey, Lu Wentao is streaming too.] [Just came back from there, it¡¯s just for killing boredom. When it comes to survival, you¡¯ve got to watch Master Fang¡¯s!] At ten o¡¯clock sharp, Bi Fang turned on the drone. The next second, the audience in the livestream felt a momentary lag, and then, appearing in front of their eyes, was Bi Fang! At the same time, across the country, tens of thousands of viewers received the notification and swarmed in at this very moment. Ten thousand, one million, three million¡­ In just a few seconds, the livestream¡¯s popularity soared past three million! At this moment, Bi Fang was like a Blue Whale opening its gargantuan mouth in the heart of the ocean, and the viewers were like Krill, being voraciously devoured! Even the streamers broadcasting at the same time felt as if their popularity had dropped slightly! Under the vast heavens and above the great earth, with tens of thousands watching eagerly, Bi Fang stood up. Thousands of meters below, the ground was covered with yellow sand, and under the strong wind, the lines of the dunes meandered like snakes. From afar, it looked like dragons and serpents rising from the ground, the earth rupturing and soaring skyward! A river of sand spilled over! A new adventure begins here! Chapter 101: Putting on the Shelf Speech (Crying and Begging for First Subscriptions) Chapter 101: Putting on the Shelf Speech (Crying and Begging for First Subscriptions) Translator: 549690339 Today, the book is officially online. Honestly, I¡¯m really scared, because the performance of this book has always been so-so, just barely in the middle tier among its contemporaries. I¡¯m afraid that the subscription results won¡¯t be ideal, which would mean another struggle. I hope everyone can support me by subscribing, and now that it¡¯s online, the performance mainly depends on the subscriptions. Continue reading isn¡¯t as important as subscribing now. So, if you friends want to nurture the book, you could set up an automatic subscription, which is good for you, good for me, and good for everyone, providing some insurance for this book. Thanks again for the support of my readers. Without you, this book could not have made it this far¡ª that¡¯s the honest truth. Without any one of you, this book would already be gone. That we¡¯ve gotten to this point is a collective effort. Next, I want to thank my editor YY. You¡¯re amazing. You tirelessly help me review the drafts and confirm the direction of the plot. I¡¯ve really learned a lot. Thinking back, I really knew nothing at the beginning. Writing web novels is far from as simple as I thought it would be. About the rules for adding extra chapters, many people have asked me, but I¡¯ve never dared to set them because I¡¯m also unsure about the actual performance of this book, whether it¡¯s real or not. Setting the bar too high would be just indulgent, and setting it too low would be a number I couldn¡¯t reach even if it killed me. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As you may know, I¡¯m now a sophomore, soon to be a junior. Although my schedule is relatively light, I¡¯m not full-time. Updating twice a day is already quite busy for me. I won¡¯t be increasing the minimum number of updates during the summer vacation because I need to build up my stockpile of drafts. Writing and coding everything daily makes it hard to organize the plot. Maybe I can do it in August. But for now, if I reach three hundred first-time subscriptions, I¡¯ll add an extra chapter. If it reaches six hundred, I¡¯ll add another, and so on. One alliance leader equals two chapters. Silver Alliance equals five chapters. YY¡¯s requirement for me is to reach twelve hundred. This means this goal is possible. I hope we can all work together. How much I¡¯ll be able to burst out depends on the confidence you give me. Just a reminder, the first-time subscription is counted within the first twenty-four hours; anything beyond that time doesn¡¯t count. Updates start at nine o¡¯clock tonight. Last but not least, I have something I really want to say about this book. Sometimes it¡¯s hard to imagine how nasty comments can get, and the quality truly is terrible. I¡¯m a new author, and I didn¡¯t want to delete comments because it seemed like I couldn¡¯t take criticism. But sometimes, I literally explode, fuming in front of the computer for half a day. But in the last two days, I started deleting comments, and suddenly, it felt so refreshing. Turns out, silencing other people¡¯s nasty mouths is this satisfying without even having to fight back. It¡¯s like reaching a higher state of mind. Also, I¡¯m just someone who writes novels. I know jack about Wilderness Survivalist. The content you see is all organized and written after I¡¯ve researched the material. I can only guarantee that I¡¯ve checked every point, but I can¡¯t ensure absolute accuracy, even though I really take great care with my work¡ªerrors don¡¯t happen often, and I¡¯m very mindful of many details. For example, how many people noticed that the protagonist¡¯s height has been changing? That¡¯s because a person¡¯s height is not entirely precise, and it can even differ by up to one centimeter between morning and night. So if you want to refute it, at least do some research first, right? Wild rabbits don¡¯t burrow; it¡¯s the burrowing rabbits that do. Short-tailed Vipers can climb trees, and they¡¯re even quite skilled at it¡ªdon¡¯t pigeonhole them because they look short and stout. And sparrows are categorized as Third-category, Second-class, not second-class. The number of wolves in a pack can reach twenty, thirty is not unheard of, and their weight can be more than twenty or thirty kilograms¡ªdoubling it wouldn¡¯t be a problem. There are numerous such examples. But it¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t know. These are not common knowledge. But could you please not make your comments so offensive? Must you add a ¡°heh,¡± ¡°just kidding,¡± or that kind of sarcasm that implies whether you even understand? I¡¯m speechless. Without those words, it would be bad enough, but when you add them, it just shows ignorance, you know? Finally, I want to thank you, the readers, for your continuous support of Zhi Huang. Thank you! I hope this book can continue to accompany you all! Chapter 102 - 99: Blood Pressure Skyrockets! (Please subscribe first!) Chapter 102: Chapter 99: Blood Pressure Skyrockets! (Please subscribe first!) Translator: 549690339 | Dragons arise, sand flies across the desert! This is a new journey! Looking back at the evolutionary journey of humanity, if our ancestors had not possessed the courage to take risks and imagine, the broad-mindedness and magnificent sentiments to innovate and sacrifice, humans would not have used canoes to surf the vast oceans and explore the endless mysteries of the lands beyond them. Human curiosity births the impulse to adventure, and human adventure ignites the torch of civilization. Adventure is not just found in the natural world of oceans and mountains, deserts and swamps, but also thrives amidst the densely populated cities.¡± Inside the helicopter. What echoed was Bi Fang¡¯s timeless opening address, and yet none who heard it felt the slightest boredom, instead, they could hardly contain their excitement! ¡°I¡¯m Bi Fang, a professional explorer, and this time, I¡¯ve met you in the desert!¡± [Master Fang, my god, has finally appeared!] [Fifteen days, a full fifteen days, do you know how I¡¯ve spent these days? Playing Greedy Blue Moon every day!] [Without Old Fang¡¯s live streams, I couldn¡¯t eat, or sleep; I¡¯ve lost weight.] [Newbies, do you need to exaggerate that much?] [Why are you flying so high this time? Are you doing a three-kilometer Fall Protection?] [You¡¯re playing that big? I¡¯ve got to see this!] Seeing the barrage of comments, Bi Fang¡¯s breath hitched. Three kilometers? He could be smashed into paste and eaten with onions! ¡°What kind of dream are you having? Three-kilometer Fall Protection? I can¡¯t believe you said that! Do you want to have a meal on my account?¡± Bi Fang pretended to be sorrowful, ¡°Poor me, I don¡¯t even have a girlfriend, you guys won¡¯t be able to sit at the widow¡¯s table!¡± [Hahaha, I¡¯m numb, it¡¯s hilarious!] [Then I¡¯ll sit at the kids¡¯ table!] [Old Fang doesn¡¯t have a girlfriend? How about considering me? (joking)] [Shock, gay men were beside me?] [Sharp swords, sharp eyes, I yearn for a worthy opponent! ] After enlivening the atmosphere, Bi Fang took a deep breath and turned to the drone. ¡°Getting back to the point, this time you won¡¯t be seeing a Fall Protection, you¡¯ll witness high-altitude parachuting!¡± ¡°An altitude of five thousand meters!¡± High-altitude parachuting? An altitude of five thousand meters? Many viewers had never parachuted, nor sought out information about it, this figure seems abstract at first, but considering Bi Fang¡¯s usual style¡­ his penchant for pushing limits, it was undoubtedly a dangerous figure! [Standard parachute jumps vary in height from around 700 meters to 3000 meters, only extreme parachuting exceeds five thousand meters!] [Just a few days ago, Lu Wentao did a three-kilometer jump, but that¡¯s nothing compared to Master Fang¡¯s.] [Awesome, Master Fang is still the greatest!] ¡°That¡¯s right, the higher the jump, the greater the risk!¡± ¡°At this distance, even in the military, it¡¯s a considerably dangerous figure, because I¡¯ll have to deal with threats from all sides!¡± ¡°The low temperature at high altitudes causing bodily stiffness! High-speed airflows leading to changes in the fall path! Insufficient oxygen leading to dizziness! And the impact of landing!¡± Inside the cabin, Bi Fang shouted loudly. He only cited a few obvious examples, but the audience was already sensing the risk of this endeavor! The previous world record for extreme parachuting was set by Austrian extreme athlete Felix Baumgartner. In 2012, he ascended to approximately 39,000 meters in a helium balloon, parachuted from that height, and successfully landed, breaking three world records including the highest altitude free fall. One of those records, the highest altitude for a human parachuting, was later broken by Google Senior Vice President Alan Eustace, with a figure of 41,419 meters. Of course, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t compare with them, but a height of five thousand meters was definitely not something the average person could handle! As expected of Master Fang, what he plays at is thrilling! I want to watch.jpg This was the sentiment of all viewers at the moment. They were afraid, anxious, but most of all, they were filled with anticipation! Unconsciously, Bi Fang had already erected in the audience¡¯s hearts an image of unparalleled strength. There was nothing he couldn¡¯t do! ¡°Climb, Master,¡± Bi Fang turned his head to look at the pilot. The pilot gave a thumbs up and manipulated the helicopter to ascend. ¡°The altitude of the Qaidam Desert ranges between two thousand five hundred and three thousand meters, the current helicopter height isn¡¯t enough, we need to ascend about another two thousand five hundred meters.¡± As Bi Fang¡¯s voice fell, the audience could clearly see through the cabin windows that the desert was rapidly shrinking; the dunes that were visible before became blurred and disappeared, leaving only a yellow haze. ¡°I wonder if anyone, after knowing my survival location, took the trouble to learn about the Qaidam beforehand?¡± Bi Fang looked down at the ground and asked loudly. From the ascent of the helicopter, he had been estimating the ground altitude, which is very important in the process of parachuting. Because he didn¡¯t have an altimeter, he could only rely on visual estimation and air conditions to accurately gauge distance. Nearly all special forces personnel undergo specific training for this. Only when the helicopter stabilized again did Bi Fang answer his own question, ¡°If you¡¯ve looked it up, you¡¯ll discover that the Qaidam Desert has an extensive development of aeolian landforms, accounting for 67% of the desert area in the basin! Do you know what that means? Does anyone know?¡± What does it mean? The audience was puzzled, failing to understand. Does it mean it¡¯s windy? Wait, windy? The audience¡¯s eyes widened, wasn¡¯t it just mentioned that strong winds are very dangerous? ¡°Yes, it¡¯s the strong wind! Hahaha!¡± Bi Fang laughed wildly, forcefully pushing open the cabin door and leaping out with the suddenly rising background music! The intense airflow instantly blurred all other sounds, only the whistling wind remained! Wind! Strong wind! Between heaven and earth, everything had turned to wind! In the thousands of meters high, a dark figure plummeted straight down, like an eagle swooping from the sky! The world was a sheer red, the sky so low it seemed as if one could reach out and grab the clouds! Through the drone that fell freely alongside him, everyone witnessed this breathtaking moment with all its details! The instant his body fell, Bi Fang felt as if a pair of large hands were supporting him, but they were not soft at all, all cold and sharp as if sliced by the wind! S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang laughed loudly with his head thrown back, the entire sky reflected in his pupils. From this view, it seemed as if all the clouds were sprinkling from the center of the sky, all falling into his eyes. As if a god floated in the air observing the world, which became exceptionally clear. Blood raced through his veins like a river thawing from the ice, every cell sprouted wildly, breathing with all their might. As if an endless strength was silently transferring along his muscles and meridians. Bi Fang had ¡°gone all out!¡± The violently secreted adrenaline was addictive, Bi Fang put his hands together, turned upside down in the air, this wasn¡¯t enough, he could go even faster! If there truly were gods overlooking the world, would they fixate their gaze on him? Goggles shielded the dazzling sunlight and intense airflow, Bi Fang stared at the ground, silently estimating the altitude. Accompanied by the beat of the BGM and the additional first-person perspective, all the audience felt their hearts race, their blood pressure shooting up! Three thousand meters! Two thousand meters! One thousand meters! Bi Fang¡¯s speed became faster and faster, so fast that it left everyone terrified! Wow! Pong! Blood pressure went off the charts! Chapter 103 - 100: 350 Meter Extreme Parachute Opening! (Seeking first subscription!) Chapter 103: Chapter 100: 350 Meter Extreme Parachute Opening! (Seeking first subscription!) Translator: 549690339 [In the hospital, suturing blood vessels!] [Blood vessel burst, I suspect it¡¯s fake blood pressure medicine!] [Already watching the live stream with Yama, he¡¯s asking me for blood pressure medicine! ] (This music is too fitting, getting hyped, my head is buzzing.] [Pete not being mischievous donated a yacht to the host*i¡ªeven if the host is going to pack up review materials for me, I have to shout out loud, this live stream¡¯s tips are set in stone! No one can stop me! My word!] [Lord Mu donated a Spaceship to the host¡ªI¡¯m going to skydive first, I¡¯ve never tried from five kilometers before.] [Lin Chang donated a Spaceship*! to the host¡ªI saw the whole world.] In the live stream room, countless gifts scrolled continuously, with several of the most expensive Spaceships appearing, and the broadcast had only just begun! Many small-time streamers were secretly jealous, usually begging their audience for a common spaceship and still having to be grateful afterwards. It¡¯s not as effortless for them as it is for Bi Fang, who gets showered with gifts without saying anything. They too wanted to earn money just by standing there! ¡°Let¡¯s go skydiving as well?¡± Wang Xiaocong was boiling with passion, turning to Kong Chao beside him. Just thinking about skydiving himself, he couldn¡¯t contain his excitement and wished he could jump off a building right then and there. ¡°Do you know how to skydive?¡± Kong Chao raised his eyebrows. ¡°No,¡± Wang Xiaocong shook his head. ¡°But we could have someone guide us, right? Can¡¯t instructors take you along?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not as thrilling as solo jumping, it¡¯s a totally different experience,¡± Kong Chao shook his head. Skydiving is all about the unfettered sensation of freedom; having someone strapped to your back, not being able to move at will, just doesn¡¯t seem fun at all. ¡°Oh, that.¡± Hearing the explanation, Wang Xiaocong felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him, leaving him utterly uninspired. Indeed, better to just watch Master Fang¡¯s videos. ¡°Holy shit, awesome!¡± Pan Wei watched as Bi Fang took the plunge, feeling as though he was soaring in the sky himself, uncontrollably slapping his thigh and startling the chubby driver next to him. Yell all you want, but slap your own thigh, man, why mine? ¡°God damn, what are you doing? Scaring me with your sudden outburst?¡± sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Cough cough.¡± Pan Wei awkwardly retracted his left hand, chuckling embarrassedly, ¡°I got excited, too excited.¡± ¡°But this new phone from Shenhua is indeed freaking amazing, it¡¯s drop-resistant, and the signal is super strong, it¡¯s not using satellite signal, is it?¡± Pan Wei was enamored with his phone. ¡°Who knows, it¡¯s bloody expensive though,¡± the chubby man commented. Ever since the princess of Shenhua Group got stranded in the wilderness, Shenhua Group has been equipping this smartphone, extremely strong signal, not easy to break, and hasn¡¯t even been released yet; who knows where the guy with glasses got his from. ¡°It¡¯s expensive, but if we can make this deal work, then we¡¯ll make back the cost and the profit¡ªwhat¡¯s that to worry about?¡± the tall man didn¡¯t care at all. Pan Wei nodded but still felt apprehensive, ¡°But if we keep doing this, won¡¯t the Wolf King beat us up? He¡¯s a special forces soldier, you know.¡± ¡°How could he? We film our stuff, and he streams his. What right does he have to hit us?¡± the chubby man dismissed the thought, ¡°If he dares to hit people on live stream, he can kiss his career goodbye. If he isn¡¯t banned, I¡¯m Fat Zhou, and I¡¯ll do a handstand and eat shit!¡± ¡°Fair point,¡± Pan Wei found it hard not to agree. ¡°Can you keep up?¡± The man with glasses interrupted the discussion, as the other party had already started skydiving, and time was of the essence. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already located that helicopter this morning and fitted a tracker on it!¡± the chubby man smirked, followed promptly by a throbbing pain in his thigh. ¡°Fuck, why are you hitting me again?¡± ¡°He hasn¡¯t pulled the chute!¡± Pan Wei exclaimed! Three thousand meters! Two thousand meters! One thousand meters! Eight hundred meters! The moisture froze into white frost on Bi Fang¡¯s clothes, then quickly dispersed. Bi Fang felt the rhythm of the wind, but he hadn¡¯t pulled the chute yet! In the live stream room, many knowledgeable viewers were starting to panic. [Why hasn¡¯t he opened his parachute yet?] [Shit! Has he fallen below five hundred meters yet?] Based on Bi Fang¡¯s jumping altitude, the minimum safe parachute deployment height should be five hundred meters unless using a military paratrooper¡¯s parachute, the limit would be at three hundred meters! But that¡¯s the design height! One in a thousand could achieve it! And Bi Fang had already fallen below five hundred meters! No turning back now! ¡°Can you get your hands on a military parachute pack?¡± ¡°What are you planning to do?¡± ¡°Next live stream, I want to skydive. I don¡¯t trust regular parachute packs.¡± ¡°Got it! Leave it to me!¡± Yao Jun¡¯s palms were sweaty in front of the screen, three hundred meters, Bi Fang planned to skydive at three hundred meters! Insane, truly insane! If he had known it would be like this, he never would have agreed to Bi Fang! It was supposed to be for quality assurance, right? Damn it! Trust him to be a big fat liar! He just knows how to play with his feelings! Five hundred! Four hundred! The audience could only feel as if they were arrows released from the bowstring, falling faster and faster, with the ground¡¯s sand dunes and rocks becoming clearer and clearer, like an ever-enlarging image. We¡¯re about to hit the ground! Yao Jun¡¯s eyes were split with fury, and everyone was sweating profusely! Three hundred eighty, three hundred sixty¡­ Three hundred fifty! The moment they reached three hundred fifty meters, Bi Fang immediately pulled open the parachute. Bang! A sound of air collision erupted, and in an instant, Bi Fang felt as if his whole back and waist had been yanked by a car. The parachute successfully deployed! ¡°Oh ho!¡± Bi Fang bellowed! But the next second, a strong crosswind suddenly blew, messing up his falling trajectory and sending him drifting towards the side! That was a huge rock wall! This is bad! The audience, who had just begun to breathe a sigh of relief, almost choked! Bi Fang hurriedly grabbed the parachute cords, swinging side to side trying to adjust, but to no avail, he had opened his chute too low! With his initial speed too high, even if he started slowing down now, the speed was still too great; there was no time left for adjustments! [It¡¯s over, we¡¯re going to crash!] [Smack!] [Old Fang has crashed!] [End of the broadcast already?!] Seeing that the distance was only a dozen meters, Bi Fang decided not to adjust anymore, took a deep breath, remembered his body status, and at the moment of the impending crash, he adjusted his center of gravity and was suddenly swung sideways. His feet directly hit the rock wall, then he used it to flip out! Fall Protection! Over ten thousand viewers saw Bi Fang¡¯s movements and their mouths dropped in unison. Could Fall Protection be used like that? Unfortunately, due to the entangled parachute lines, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t roll on the rock wall; he could only use his hands, feet, and back for buffering, but it was enough! His back slammed into the rock wall, Bi Fang felt as if his spine was about to break. Then he fell along the wall, but it wasn¡¯t over yet! After hitting the rock wall, the parachute lost area quickly, and Bi Fang accelerated in his fall once more! Luckily, the ground wasn¡¯t far, less than four meters when in front of more than a hundred thousand viewers, Bi Fang pulled together his energy, executing another landing roll! At that moment, everything slowed down, the scorching desert, the hard rock walls. Bi Fang¡¯s feet were the first to make contact with the ground, everything was so natural! Every bone in his body shifted slightly, his muscles made optimal adjustments imperceptibly, and the rebound force spread through his limbs to his entire body! Then, he collapsed to the side, somersaulted! All in one go! Bi Fang collapsed onto the scorching sand dune, taking deep breaths! He had succeeded! High-altitude parachuting from five thousand meters! Opening the chute at three hundred fifty meters! Landing successfully! The live broadcast room erupted completely! Barrages of comments and gifts were sent out along with the screams of the Shuiyou! A grand slam, starting with a grand slam! Half a month after his last broadcast in the wilderness, Bi Fang was live again, and he did not disappoint! Yao Jun clenched his fist excitedly! Who else!! Chapter 104 - 101: Black or White? (Please Subscribe!) Chapter 104: Chapter 101: Black or White? (Please Subscribe!) Translator: 549690339 On the scorching sand dunes, Bi Fang lay on his back, his chest heaving violently. His back was still aching faintly. That was really close! It was a good thing he opened his chute at three hundred and fifty meters, otherwise he would¡¯ve been totally screwed! But Bi Fang wasn¡¯t afraid, he was prepared for the possibility of mishaps. What kind of adventure would it be without any surprises? Sand and dust filled the sky. Bi Fang lay on the ground for a solid three minutes until a gust of wind blew sand into his mouth. ¡°Ugh!¡± ¡°Ptooey!¡± Bi Fang suddenly sat up, coughing a couple of times to spit out the sand in his mouth. [Back from the dead!] [Respawned with full health!] [The quality of these clothes is pretty good, not even a tear.] [Professional equipment, you think this is a joke?] [Master Fang is eternal!] ¡°What the hell? Cursing me to be single forever again? I¡¯m a steel and straight man. No matter how much you curse, those who can¡¯t have me will never get a girlfriend,¡± Bi Fang joked after spitting out the sand. He knew it meant ¡®eternal god,¡¯ but every time he saw it, it felt like a curse on his single status. After resting, Bi Fang stood up, stripped off his goggles and the parachute pack. These weren¡¯t system equipment and couldn¡¯t be carried around, plus they were too heavy. In the desert terrain, every bit of weight had to be calculated with the utmost precision. ¡°I won¡¯t be using these pieces of equipment. After all, a parachute has too many uses, so I¡¯ll leave them all here. The guy piloting the helicopter will come down and collect them later.¡± [Another small detail for environmental protection] [Positive energy, bro!] [Dressed in professional outdoor gear: I won¡¯t use the parachute pack, it has too many functions (funny)] [Feels like this survival challenge is tougher, it¡¯s the desert after all, nothing but sand.] [Stop talking, I¡¯m already thirsty] The drone that fell freely with Bi Fang had been hovering earlier; now it ascended, capturing the endless expanse of the Qaidam Desert. Like Mohe, it was a monotony of color to the horizon¡ªa blanket of white snow there, and here a sky of yellow sand. The dry and ancient wind swept across the vast desert, with huge tawny rocks exposed on the surface. Red gravel and yellowish-green desolation were already considered exotic colors in this barren landscape. It had been like this for thousands of years: flat, vast, dry, desolate, silent, barren¡­ It had never changed. In the distance, the heatwaves were visible to the naked eye, declaring the passion of this land. Just landed from the cold high sky, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t yet felt the heat. He looked up at the sky and took off his jacket and inner lining. Different from before, instead of choosing to determine his direction first, Bi Fang went to the shadow of a large rock and plonked himself down. Under the broken rocks, a shiny black scorpion moved its stinger cautiously, creeping close to the insects in a tuft of grass. Startled by the sudden appearance of this massive object, it quickly scuttled into a crevice to escape. [???] [Why¡¯s he sitting down now? Isn¡¯t he going to survive?] [Feels like the style of this survival challenge is different this time?] [You¡¯ve changed, Master Fang!] ¡°What¡¯s the rush?¡± Bi Fang, quite relaxed, looked up towards the distant sun and said slowly, ¡°Look at the sun, does it look like a good time to travel?¡± The drone lifted its camera, and the dazzling sunlight immediately made the audience squint. Wow, what a huge sun! ¡°Making a survival plan according to different environments is key to survival. The desert is different from forests and snowy regions. Here, daytime is not a good time to travel; we should move at dusk or dawn.¡± ¡°The cool air at night allows you to move more quickly with minimal risk of heatstroke. In hot climate conditions, this decision alone can save your body three liters of water every day.¡± ¡°In the desert, survival is not our primary objective because escaping this vast expanse won¡¯t be a short-term task. More importantly, we need to find the source of life, water!¡± ¡°So are we just going to sit here?¡± sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°This is getting a bit boring.¡± Many in the audience were confused. Even though the skydiving had been thrilling, they couldn¡¯t just stay put right after the start. ¡°Of course not. It¡¯s only ten in the morning. We should avoid traveling from eleven to four in the afternoon. I¡¯m here to make some preparations!¡± In the desert, temperature is undoubtedly the most dangerous enemy. It can lead to dehydration, heatstroke, and a serious of other serious problems, especially dehydration. If you get dehydrated in the desert, you wouldn¡¯t last many days before being turned into a dried-out husk! ¡°Most of our body¡¯s water loss occurs through sweating. We should cover as much skin as possible with loose, lightweight clothing. This will ensure you sweat and slow down evaporation, thus reducing water loss.¡± ¡°For this reason, it¡¯s better to wear a cotton sweatshirt instead of moisture-wicking fabric, and then cover it with a light windbreaker. As for the color¡­¡± Bi Fang hadn¡¯t finished speaking when he was interrupted by the barrage of comments on the screen. ¡°I know this one, we should wear light-colored clothes, right? ¡°Isn¡¯t that obvious? Light colors reflect light, they aren¡¯t hot!¡± ¡°Why do I remember people in the desert wearing black clothes?¡¯ ¡°You remembered wrong, Arabs all wear white!¡± ¡°You¡¯re all not wrong,¡± Bi Fang, seeing the commotion in the comments, was somewhat speechless. Why couldn¡¯t they just listen to him finish? ¡°Actually, what I wanted to say is, if you don¡¯t have specialized equipment, the color doesn¡¯t really matter!¡± How could that be possible? Not only were the audience stunned, but even Yao Jun, who always enjoyed outdoor activities, was puzzled. How could it not matter? Don¡¯t Arabs all wear white robes? If it¡¯s all the same, why don¡¯t they wear black? And black absorbs heat, isn¡¯t that basic physics? Facing such skepticism, Bi Fang actually nodded. ¡°Who said it doesn¡¯t matter? In reality, if you observe more closely, you would find that residents of the Sinai Desert wear black robes!¡± ¡°Back in 1980, the journal Nature published a study on this topic titled ¡®Why do Bedouins wear black robes in hot deserts?''¡± ¡°The result of the study found that the difference between the two was virtually zero!¡± Ah, this. The previously arguing Shuiyou (online friends/audience) went silent; many viewers were old friends and had no doubts about Bi Fang¡¯s knowledge. Hearing this conclusion, they were already half convinced. So they¡¯d been arguing all this time for nothing? Bi Fang paused, seeing that everyone had quieted down, and continued. ¡°The study found that black clothes indeed absorbed more heat, but it stopped there.¡± ¡°In other words, black clothes absorbed extra heat, but by the time it actually came into contact with the skin, that extra heat had dissipated because the robes are loose and easy to move, allowing for air circulation, dispersing the heat.¡± -Of course, there¡¯s also a view that the ¡®light-colored clothing¡¯ theory ignores a key factor.¡± Bi Fang raised a finger, speaking mysteriously, ¡°The heat radiated by the human body!¡± ¡°They believe that the heat radiated from the body can also be reflected by light-colored clothing back onto yourself, making you feel hotter. I think this theory is quite good, but it hasn¡¯t been verified on humans, so I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s true or not.¡± However, as for head coverings, I still recommend white because they fit closely to the head, unlike clothes which have gaps for air to flow, so the heat truly does accumulate.¡± ¡°Also, if possible, find clothing labeled with UPF, which stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor, of 30+ in white. This will help prevent sunburn.¡± After speaking, Bi Fang took out a thin windbreaker from his bag, put it on, and then took out a cotton T-shirt, also draping it over his face. He stood up, scouted the distance to determine the direction, and was just about to set off when suddenly, a sound unlike the wind caught everyone¡¯s attention. What¡¯s that¡­ The sound of an engine? Wait, a car engine? Who would be driving in the desert? Have I encountered someone so soon? Bi Fang was a bit stunned. He had only just begun his survival quest! Chapter 105 - 102 Bi Fang smiles, life and death unpredictable. (First subscription plea!) Chapter 105: Chapter 102 Bi Fang smiles, life and death unpredictable. (First subscription plea!) Translator: 549690339 I In the scorching sun, Bi Fang walked along the lee side of a sand dune, discerning his direction while sharing his survival plan with his audience. ¡°In the desert, the key to survival is a water source.¡± [I know this one! Find the girls first!] [Girls my foot, wasn¡¯t it mentioned that we need to find a water source first?] [The guy above is thinking too small.] [Ah, I don¡¯t understand anything, I¡¯m still just a child!] [How do you determine direction? It feels like all the tricks Master Fang taught us earlier can¡¯t be used now.] [No, the stick-planting method is still usable, you just haven¡¯t watched Master Fang¡¯s first live broadcast, right?] ¡°No, in this kind of weather, making you stand under the sun for over ten minutes just to discern the direction is totally not worth it,¡± Bi Fang shook his head. ¡°There are various types of desert terrain, including sandy, rocky, muddy, gravelly, saline, water, and ice deserts, and all these terrains have many things that can tell us direction. In the Qaidam Desert, there is an even simpler method¡ªlook at the sand dunes!¡± ¡°Each type of desert terrain has its own methods of determining direction, and Qaidam Desert¡¯s sand dunes are the most typical crescent-shaped dunes!¡± In windy areas, snow sometimes accumulates on the ground and forms mounds up to 1 meter high. The windward side will be cut from the bottom, while the leeward side will be bucket-shaped. This phenomenon is called ¡°snow cornices¡± and often occurs in permafrost, the Arctic, and Antarctica. ¡°Sand behaves in the same way, these features are called ¡®crescent-shaped dunes.¡¯ They give a great indication for judging the wind direction, which helps with navigation. Snow cornices may be compacted tightly, but crescent-shaped dunes in the desert are usually much wider. We can easily determine it!¡± ¡°As long as we figure out our latitude and the terrain, determining the prevailing wind direction can indicate the direction.¡± Just when Bi Fang was about to tell everyone about the wind direction in the Qaidam Desert, an abrupt roar of an engine interrupted his explanation. It sounded like the noise of a car engine¡­ Bi Fang squinted his eyes, watching a plume of sand rising in the distance, like a sand serpent rolling toward him, its lead in vibrant red, showing off the driver¡¯s flamboyance. How can there be a car? [Holy cow! Why are there people here?] [What the hell? You encounter people on the first day of survival?] [Is it going to end already? Is the Qaidam Desert that pathetic? So easy to run into people?] [Old Fang is really slacking off this time. The first two times were real wilderness, what¡¯s going on this time?] The arrival of someone did not excite the audience at all; instead, their interest was completely lost. Meeting people so easily meant this place wasn¡¯t dangerous at all, right? What kind of survival is this? Bi Fang scratched his head, also puzzled. The Qaidam Basin is not uninhabited; it¡¯s even a tourist spot. But the Qaidam Desert is indeed rarely visited¡ªhow could there be people here? This isn¡¯t scientific. However, as the jeep drew closer, the raucous voices from the vehicle instantly made everything clear to him. ¡°Brothers, double-tap for a 666, do you want to watch Wolf King live? Send a rocket to your brother!¡± ¡°Master Fang¡¯s live broadcast, how many family members want to watch?¡± ¡°Real wilderness survival? No, no, no, I don¡¯t have the skill for that, but I can live stream someone else¡¯s real wilderness survival for you!¡± [Wow amazing, did the streamer find Wolf King¡¯s live location? I¡¯ve got to send a rocket to support this, right?] [Damn, isn¡¯t this a bit too disgusting, riding on the hype like that?] [You¡¯re not only ugly, streamer, but you also stink like crap!] [Shut it down quickly; I¡¯m afraid Master Fang might punch you to death, you stinking dog!] In Pan Wei¡¯s live chat, there were definitely those who were cursing, but there were also people tipping. In just a moment, the income had already exceeded 30,000! That¡¯s just how people are, flocking to the action. Live streaming another person¡¯s broadcast, who could have thought of that? No one had done it before¡ªit was a business opportunity! The shameless make money. Pan Wei wasn¡¯t afraid of being cursed. If being cursed brought in money, then please, curse more fiercely! And now, the viewers in Bi Fang¡¯s live-streaming room had also realized that this wasn¡¯t a chance encounter at all¡ªit was clearly a planned ambush! The popularity they were leeching off was utterly nauseating. Everyone was whipped into a frenzy. [Damn, I feel sick, what kind of rat turd is this?] [That¡¯s it, there goes my good mood for the day.] [Emmm, why do I find this kind of interesting¡­] [Are you sick in the head, upstairs?] [This is interesting? You find a turd interesting?] Even Bi Fang had never considered this point. Fame brought disputes, but he always thought it would, at most, be the mania of fan idolatry; maybe he would encounter such fans in the future while trying to survive. But Bi Fang never expected that a fellow live-streamer would come and ride on his coattails! As the heat rose, Bi Fang stood at the base of the sand dune, quietly watching the few people acting outrageously for attention. Veins on his hands popped with anger! The chattering noise from the people in the car was like the buzz of a fly¡ªno, sorry, not one fly, but a swarm of flies buzzing around Bi Fang. He really wanted to snatch one of the flies, squeeze its belly until it burst, pull out its intestines, and then use them to strangle it by pulling hard on its neck! ¡°He¡¯s getting anxious, he¡¯s getting anxious,¡± Pan Wei said as he observed Bi Fang¡¯s furrowed brows and burst into shameless laughter. ¡°Hahaha,¡± the chubby man also clutched his belly, laughing so hard he was gasping for air. [I can¡¯t control my ¡®Qilin Arm¡¯ any longer, I really want to beat them to death¡­] [Now I¡¯ve truly seen how disgusting a person can get!] [Damn, how can you bear this? Master Fang, go fuck them up! Aren¡¯t you a special forces soldier? Isn¡¯t dealing with these guys a piece of cake?] [Can¡¯t you think for Master Fang upstairs? If he starts a fight, what will he do later? Do you not want to watch his live streams anymore?] [Damn, then what do we do, just watch them shit on our heads?] At the Wolf Fang TV headquarters. ¡°What the hell is going on? Is Shark screwing with me again?¡± In the control room, Wang Yongbo was also fuming with anger. He had just heard that the other party was asking viewers to send rockets, a feature exclusive to Shark TV! He had seen shameless people before, but never this shameless¡ªwhat kind of bitch gave birth to these animals? In fact, this time Shark TV was really an innocent victim¡­ Plagiarism, ousting people, exploitation¡ªthey had done all that, but they really hadn¡¯t thought of such a shameless tactic. It could turn off the audience, and the other party was obviously targeting Shark TV¡¯s audience. ¡°Do it! Go after him! Gather all live-streamers who are still broadcasting on our platform! I want his infamy to be the top news headline by tomorrow! Quick!¡± At the Shenhua Group headquarters. ¡°Three minutes, I want all the information on these people in three minutes!¡± Behind the screen, Lin Chang pointed at Pan Wei, his tone very calm. ¡°Yes!¡± The secretary was startled and promptly left the room. Having followed Lin Chang for so many years, he had never seen Lin Chang with such an expression before! Someone was in for some serious trouble! Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At a division of the Dingjin Group. Yao Jun picked up his broken phone, pulled out the SIM card, inserted it into a new phone, and dialed a number silently. ¡°Brother Long? Can you bring some brothers to teach someone a lesson for me? Right now, I can send you there in my dad¡¯s private plane! The place is a bit remote, the Qaidam Desert!¡± In the desert, Pan Wei was still joking and singing with the others. The glasses-wearing man inside the car watched as the viewership and gifts increased on the backend with a big smile on his face, but suddenly, he caught sight of Bi Fang¡¯s expression and he couldn¡¯t smile anymore. The face of Bi Fang, which had been filled with rage, suddenly became calm, and he even smiled faintly at him. For some reason. He felt a chill run through his body.. Chapter 106 - 103 What Does Professional Mean? (Seeking First Subscription!) Chapter 106: Chapter 103 What Does Professional Mean? (Seeking First Subscription!) Translator: 549690339 Du Chuan turned his head away from Bi Fang¡¯s gaze, took off his glasses, and rubbed his face before picking up a bottle of mineral water and pouring it over his head. The cool sensation brought him back to reality. In the moment he had locked eyes with Bi Fang, a spear-like fierce aura had silently spread. Looking into the other¡¯s eyes was like having a gun, safety off, pressed between his brows. The subsequent smile sent chills down his spine. But how could this be? This wasn¡¯t a novel, where a mere glance could send bone-chilling cold through someone¡­ Wasn¡¯t that a bit too exaggerated? Du Chuan felt he might have been hallucinating from the sun. What a fierce sun! Du Chuan looked up, the dazzling sunlight causing his eyes to sting with pain. Even with the air conditioning on in the car, Du Chuan could still feel a burning pain on his skin. He gulped down an entire bottle of water and casually threw the empty bottle out of the window. ¡°Boss, drink sparingly; we¡¯re going through water too quickly,¡± Pan Wei reminded in a low voice, careful not to be heard on the live stream. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Hmm?¡± Du Chuan, after hearing this, was taken aback and asked reflexively, ¡°Didn¡¯t we prepare five cases? Why be frugal?¡± Du Chuan wasn¡¯t entirely unprepared before coming; he knew that Bi Fang¡¯s survival challenge had a time limit¡ªfive days. With five cases, that should be more than enough¡ªone case with sixteen large bottles, four bottles per person per day. And now he was being told it might not be enough? ¡°It¡¯s five cases, but more than half of the one we opened first is gone.¡± The fatty gestured towards the trunk. He hadn¡¯t expected water to deplete so quickly. It had been less than three hours since they set off, and there were only six bottles left from one case. This wouldn¡¯t do. ¡°Alright, everyone just drink a little less,¡± Du Chuan frowned and waved his hand dismissively. They¡¯d just have to make do with less; there were still four whole cases left, after all. ¡°It¡¯s moving, it¡¯s moving!¡± Pan Wei slapped the fatty¡¯s thigh, urging him to drive faster to keep up, then shouted at the camera again, ¡°Wolf King is back to survival mode, brothers. Send rockets for support! The more you send, the more motivated we¡¯ll be to follow!¡± [Charge, it¡¯s too interesting to watch someone else¡¯s stream!] [Can¡¯t afford to send rockets, do you want a thousand fish balls instead?] [Iron Egg gives the host a rocket*i¡ªdouble the happiness!] [Is managing the comments fun? There was a lot of insults just now, all gone now, right?] ¡°Ban them again¡ªyou count one, ban every single one of them!¡± Du Chuan looked towards the tall guy. ¡°Okay!¡± The tall guy nodded and continued muting every abusive account. ¡°How come he seems not to care at all?¡± The tall guy looked over at Bi Fang, curious. He thought the other man, even if he didn¡¯t dare to fight, would at least come over and argue a bit, right? But this was the outcome? Not daring to even let out a fart? Still Wolf King? More like Dog King, huh? The audience in Bi Fang¡¯s own live stream also grew puzzled upon seeing him continue on his way. Why doesn¡¯t he say anything? [Why is Master Fang chickening out? Can¡¯t he at least, um, teach them a lesson?] [Master Fang, my Master Fang, sob sob sob.] [Bring out the same spirit you had against the wolf pack. You made wolves retreat just by scolding them; what are you afraid of a few nobodies?] [To clowns, I bow and scrape; against wolf packs, I strike with heavy blows!] [Boring, if this is what the Wolf King is, I¡¯m outta here.] [Don¡¯t be like that, Master Fang is a public figure and he¡¯s live streaming. Whatever he does will be criticized, think about his position too!] [Yeah, do you really think it¡¯s easy being Master Fang?] [Emmmm, although I understand, this adventure doesn¡¯t seem too interesting. Just seeing those guys makes me feel sick, I¡¯ll come support next time when they¡¯re gone!] The live stream¡¯s viewer ship suddenly dropped by over a hundred thousand, plummeting below three million. And it continued to fall! Wang Yongbo watched with anxiety written all over his face. Yet Bi Fang remained unfazed and unhurried, unaffected even as thousands of viewers left the stream. His live streams often ran long, sometimes exceeding twelve hours. Viewers couldn¡¯t be expected to stay in front of the screen the entire time. Seeing mundane tasks like traveling or digging wasn¡¯t interesting, and it was normal for some to leave; they would come back next time. It was just a few troublemakers spoiling the broth, not a complete loss of viewership. And actually, Bi Fang was initially very angry. But he quickly realized that being angry was useless and would only make the other side more outrageous, using it as a selling point for their own streams. But that didn¡¯t mean Bi Fang was out of options. This was the wilderness, his home turf! ¡°Just wait and see, these guys are going to end up in the hospital today.¡± No sooner had Bi Fang finished speaking than Pan Wei responded, rolling down the car window and yelling at his phone. ¡°Oh my, the Wolf King is talking tough! My iron buddies, I¡¯m so scared. This is the man who single-handedly took on Black Bear and even had a go at the Wolf King. If no one sends rockets to support me, I really won¡¯t dare to chase him anymore!¡± ¡°One rocket and I¡¯ll follow for ten minutes! If you all send more, maybe you¡¯ll get to see the Wolf King sleep tonight! Don¡¯t you want to see if anyone sends him supplies?¡± Pan Wei and the others became even more reckless, not taking Bi Fang¡¯s words to heart at all. It¡¯s funny, if the other side can handle Black Bear, what can a pack of wolves do? Can they come and beat him up? If things really got desperate and they came to fight, as long as they stayed in the car and didn¡¯t go out, what could be done? Besides, there were four of them. With this in mind, Pan Wei felt he was standing on invincible ground. What was there to fear? [666, is the Wolf King going to make a move?] [Hit hard!] [Ah, what if I suddenly want to watch?] [Disgusting faces, silencing them doesn¡¯t work! My alt account can keep creating! ] Fortunately, as soon as Bi Fang¡¯s comments came out, the popularity of the live broadcast stabilized. Some people were excited, but many were worried. Hearing such words, they were all fuming. Bi Fang, please don¡¯t lose your patience first! [Old Fang, stay calm! Don¡¯t act rashly and gamble with the future of your live broadcast career!] [Exactly, stay cool. Don¡¯t stoop to their level!] [Why argue with dogs?] Seeing Bi Fang¡¯s status wasn¡¯t right, many online friends hurriedly tried to stop him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m very calm.¡± Under the scorching sun, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t be calmer. However. How to break the siege? Taking several deep breaths, Bi Fang suppressed all the frustration in his heart. The live broadcast had just started. There was plenty of time to deal with those people, so for now, he continued the broadcast. He climbed over a sand dune and came to a huge boulder, pointing to the sand that had accumulated at its base. ¡°Rocks and the landscape might also appear smoother on the windward side compared to the leeward side. You¡¯ll see that rocks on sand dunes and slopes have a polished effect on the side facing the wind due to the abrasive action of the wind, while the leeward side accumulates a lot of sand.¡± ¡°In the Qaidam Desert, the prevailing wind direction is the northwest wind. Based on this, we can determine our direction; the side with less sand is the northwest, and the side with more is the southeast.¡± ¡°Additionally, the south of the Qaidam Desert is the Kunlun Mountains, which has more moisture and a higher probability of encountering people, so we should head south if we want to survive!¡± Under the harsh sun, Bi Fang stopped to catch his breath after a lengthy explanation, as he was feeling quite thirsty. The desert was too hot, and the distant sea of sand was completely distorted by heatwaves. [666,1 learned another way to determine wind direction!] [But doesn¡¯t this method of determining wind direction require you to memorize the wind direction of every place?] ¡°Of course not, survival isn¡¯t about rote memorization, because you can¡¯t possibly know the landscape and wind direction of a place like the back of your hand every time. What we need to do is analyze!¡± Bi Fang shook his head; his approach to survival wasn¡¯t that superficial but was based on logic and rules. Even if he went to a place he had never learned about beforehand, as long as he could figure out the latitude and longitude, he could still learn a lot. And even if he didn¡¯t have the exact coordinates, no problem, how about making a sextant with his bare hands? ¡°The latitude of Qaidam is above 30 degrees north, this area is under the influence of the westerlies, but the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau changes this, blocking the moisture from the Indian Ocean from entering the basin, altering the atmospheric circulation pattern of the Qaidam Basin and resulting in the strengthening of the Asian monsoon system.¡± ¡°This desert is affected by the Asian summer monsoon in spring, with less wind and lower wind speeds; in autumn, it¡¯s influenced by the Asian winter monsoon, with more wind and higher speeds. This shapes the landscape of the Qaidam Desert with the form of winter winds, and the winter monsoon from Asia comes from the north.¡± ¡°Moreover, between the Kunlun Mountains and the Qilian Mountains, in the canyon zones, due to the Venturi effect, strong winds are easily generated, as seen in the frequent severe windy weather in Mangya to the northwest and Chaka to the east, both of which are comparable.¡± ¡°Based on these factors, we can determine that the prevailing wind direction in the Qaidam Desert is from the north-west to the south-east!¡± Wow, amazing! Not only the audience but even Pan Wei and his crew were dumbfounded upon hearing this analysis. Many people thought Bi Fang¡¯s storm analysis last time was his limit, but today his words once again redefined their understanding of awesomeness! Could he be any more incredible? Chapter 107 - 104: A Billion Years Ago Chapter 107: Chapter 104: A Billion Years Ago Translator: 549690339 Which university¡¯s geography department did Old Fang escape from? Can the president get him to come back?] [I have to give this wave a 94> don¡¯t ask why, because I was watching the live broadcast on the highway and got docked 6 points!] (Too strong, too strong, I¡¯m willing to call this analysis the strongest!] [Old Fang really knows a lot.] ¡°It¡¯s not that I know a lot, it¡¯s just that I knew it before you all did,¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°Now you know too.¡± [Ah, high EQ!] [Why does it feel like I¡¯ve heard this before?] [Old Fang said it in his first live stream, I remember it very clearly! Just for that phrase, I became a fan of this person!] Bi Fang¡¯s analysis was stunning, and once again the bullet comments and gifts surged through the chat. Pan Wei watched with envy and hawked even more energetically, sweat streaming down his face. ¡°Turn the air conditioning down a bit more!¡± he said, turning to the fat man. ¡°It¡¯s already at the lowest,¡± the fat man said, turning the dial all the way. The feeling of heat now was all due to the sun; the temperature itself wasn¡¯t very high, but the faces of the four people inside the vehicle were already beginning to redden. Bi Fang was able to walk in the shadows of the sand dunes because he was alone and had a smaller figure, but the jeep couldn¡¯t go there. It would be prone to tipping over if it did, so they had no choice but to follow under the sun. Sunburns. Sunburns are caused by excessive exposure of the skin to ultraviolet rays, with symptoms and signs appearing within one to twenty-four hours. Skin changes range from mild erythema with flaky scaling to pain, edema, tenderness of the skin, and blisters. In severe cases, there may be accompanying symptoms such as fever, headache, palpitations, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. Bi Fang looked at the few people in the car with their reddened faces and tightened the white head cover on his head as he walked toward a huge rock in the distance. It was already eleven o¡¯clock, but Bi Fang did not stop and continued to walk. He said he had to get these people to a hospital within a day, and not a minute late! As they hurried along, Bi Fang also kept sharing experiences and stories to fill the boring time. ¡°Humans have a rather long history of surviving in the harsh environment of the desert, but have never conquered it, only facing it,¡± he said. The person who taught me this lesson was a Keriya friend I met when I went to Xinjiang.¡± [Wait, Keriya people? Do we have this ethnic group in our country?] [Sounds like a foreigner¡¯s name? Is Master Fang¡¯s circle of friends that wide?] [Really?] ¡°Of course not, where would I get foreign friends from?¡± Bi Fang shook his head; it was during his research trip to the desert to count the number of red foxes that he stumbled upon that community. ¡°The Keriya people belong to the Uyghur ethnic group. They are a quite legendary local nomadic group, but not many people know about them.¡± ¡°In January 1896, the Swedish explorer Sven Hedin followed the river of the Keriya people in the Tarim Basin to the end of the desert. He wanted to know where the last few drops of water struggled to reach¡­¡± ¡± ¡°He continued deep into the Taklamakan Desert along the riverbanks where ancient trees reached for the sky. He found not only herds of wild camels running around but also a haven for numerous wild boars.¡± ¡°What surprised him even more was that there was a community of herders there!¡± ¡°This picturesque, isolated desert oasis is called ¡®Dariyabuyi¡¯ in Uyghur, which translates to ¡®on the riverside¡¯ in Chinese. Those living there are the Keriya people.¡± ¡°It is said that the Keriya people are a branch of the Ancient Loulan people from two thousand years ago, who have lived in the desert ever since. Of course, there¡¯s no basis for this claim, and it¡¯s just something to listen to.¡± Bi Fang swallowed his saliva and returned to the main topic. ¡°That person had been living in the desert since they were a child, and he said something to me that left a deep impression, ¡®Why struggle and spend energy fighting against things you cannot change?''¡± ¡°From that moment, I knew that to survive in the desert, we must adapt our bodies to its harsh conditions, instead of trying to find water and chase game. Here, conserving is much more important than sourcing.¡± Bi Fang stretched out his hand toward the vast expanse of desert before him, declaring grandly, ¡°Do you see this desert? It¡¯s our country¡¯s fifth-largest desert! Do you know when it started to form?¡± ¡°50 million years ago! The Indian plate collided with the Eurasian continental plate! The rise of the Tibetan Plateau created this vast expanse of desert!¡± The northwest wind swept the ground, and yellow sand flew. ¡°Here, mountains and basins alternate, with the Kunlun Mountains, Altyn-Tagh, and Qilian Mountains to the south, the Pamir Plateau to the west, and Tian Mountain and Altai Mountains to the north, ¡°The Helan Mountains and Yin Mountains to the east have it all enclosed!¡± Bi Fang stretched out his palm and suddenly clenched it. In front of all the viewers, the scene from thousands of years ago where the mountains rose up appeared, as if gods descended, transformed into an impassable barrier, turning this place into an eternally desolate land! This place is far from the ocean. Warm and moist air currents travel long distances to get here. Most of the moisture has already dissipated. It encounters the barrier of the mountains and the plateau. When the air currents climb over the high mountains, they further accelerate the loss of moisture. By the time they reach here, they are already exceptionally dry. It¡¯s arid and seldom rains. However, aridity alone is certainly not enough. Where does such an expanse of sand come from? sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. On the mountains surrounding the basin. There once were glaciers larger than those of today! As the ice and snow gradually melted, massive amounts of water converged along the foothills toward the basin, forming numerous rivers and lakes. The flowing water carried sand and gravel ¡°scoured¡± from the mountains, either creating vast alluvial fans, or gradually depositing at the bottom of lakes. In the end, within the basin, layers of sediment hundreds of meters thick were formed! After Bi Fang finished his description, everyone was shaken. Could such a monotonous desert really have such a magnificent history? ¡°Even the modem Hotan River carries about six million cubic meters of silt per year, which means that in a million years, the river basin will have a layer of sand roughly 120 meters thick, the equivalent of a 40-story building!¡± ¡°And in fact, the sediment in the Tarim Basin even farther away is even deeper! These sediments also became the main source of sand for our country¡¯s deserts!¡± ¡°Conquering such a desert is not something you can do just by relying on some jeeps and bringing a few extra boxes of water,¡± Bi Fang said lightly, but everyone knew he was alluding to something. ¡°[Strange, he started reciting the ID card!]¡± ¡°[I feel that those few people are not in as good shape as Master Fang.]¡± ¡°(Based on my clinical medical experience from my bachelor¡¯s, master¡¯s, and doctoral studies, they¡¯ve gotten sunburned!]¡± ¡°[By the way, it¡¯s already twelve o¡¯clock. Didn¡¯t Master Fang say he was going to avoid this time?]¡± ¡°Ah, is it twelve o¡¯clock?¡± Bi Fang pretended to realize, ¡°I felt fine, so I just kept going. Looks like I need to find a place to rest now!¡± Upon hearing this, Du Chuan and the others¡¯ faces turned exceptionally sour. They thought the other party was doing it on purpose. How could a Wilderness Master possibly misjudge the time? But finally, it was time to rest. They also wanted to hurry and drive to a shady place, as it was really too hot here. Pan Wei rubbed his face, and fine flakes of skin fell like fish scales, startling him so much that he quickly took out a bottle of water and wiped his face with it. ¡°That¡¯s the second box, use less,¡± the voice of the fatty came from the side. ¡°I know, I know,¡± Pan Wei replied impatiently. But when they saw Bi Fang crawl into a spot where a car couldn¡¯t possibly enter and there was no shade anywhere else, they were dumbfounded. I finally found such a spot. If I don¡¯t bake you alive, my name isn¡¯t Bi. Just wait, this is just the beginning. Cradling the drone, Bi Fang crawled into the narrow crevice beneath the huge rock and sneered at the few people outside the cave. If you¡¯re not staying for three months, can that even be called an inpatient stay? Chapter 108 - 105: We’ve Got Your Back! Chapter 108: Chapter 105: We¡¯ve Got Your Back! Translator: 549690339 | Shenhua Group. ¡°To rely on such meager connections and dare to stir up trouble?¡± Lin Chang closed the folder handed to him by his secretary, puzzled. The information made it clear that among these people, except for Du Chuan who had some abilities, the rest were what, misfits? Ensuring the Eve broadcast wasn¡¯t shut down was all Du Chuan could muster? Didn¡¯t he consider the subsequent impact? ¡°If they really had strong connections, why would they resort to such despicable tactics? They¡¯re clearly desperate,¡± the secretary pondered seriously. ¡°Indeed,¡± Lin Chang nodded, then asked, ¡°Can we get them imprisoned for infringing portrait rights?¡± ¡°Wen¡­¡± The secretary found himself in a difficult position. He understood what Lin Chang implied but explained anyway, ¡°Imprisonment usually results from criminal offenses. Infringing portrait rights is a general illegal act that can be settled privately or through filing a lawsuit, demanding an apology and compensation for losses, but the odds of imprisonment¡­ not high.¡± ¡°Not high?¡± Lin Chang raised an eyebrow and spoke leisurely, ¡°What if it caused a terrible social impact?¡± ¡°Willful destruction of the environment?¡± ¡°Indiscriminately amassing wealth and disturbing the industry norms? ¡°Intentionally insulting veterans?¡± ¡°Stealing military enterprise trade secrets?¡± With each statement Lin Chang made, the secretary¡¯s eyelid twitched. He got it, he understood everything! Especially the last point, it was lethal! This time, Shenhua¡¯s prototype was merely an assembly model; at most, it sacrificed comfort and aesthetics for strength and toughness, and it only used civilian satellite signals. There wasn¡¯t any special information technology in essence, and to maintain the signal, some other functions were even compromised. It wasn¡¯t prepared for commercialization, thus unguarded, and leaking it wasn¡¯t a big deal; the incident itself was not an issue. But whose hands it fell into was a problem! ¡°Do you think this is serious?¡± ¡°Serious, very serious!¡± the secretary declared earnestly, ¡°Just the act of insulting and cursing at veterans is unlawful, up to three years¡­¡± ¡°Ten years!¡± Lin Chang interjected directly, ¡°At the very least, ten years! Moreover, take care of the ring leader yourself!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The secretary nodded, slowly backed away, then closed the office door and strode towards the company¡¯s legal department. As a Fortune 500 company, they had an entire team of lawyers, all elite fighters! To kill a chicken, one must use a butcher¡¯s knife! And finely chop it to mincemeat! Lin Chang turned to look out the floor-to-ceiling window. From the top floor, he overlooked the smaller buildings. Rest assured, Bi Fang, I¡¯ve got your back! Wolf Fang TV. ¡°Are all the press releases ready?¡± At Wolf Fang TV, Wang Yongbo looked at the staff. ¡°Yes, we¡¯ve contacted everyone we could, this incident will surely explode! ¡°Good!¡± Wang Yongbo patted the staff member on the shoulder, very satisfied, ¡°Give everyone a day off tomorrow; work hard today. The bigger the fuss, the better. I want to make them suffer an everlasting infamy!¡± ¡°Understood, President Wang!¡± Wang Yongbo nodded contentedly. Rest assured, Bi Fang, I¡¯ve got your back! Airport. ¡°Brother Long, I¡¯m counting on you this time!¡± Yao Jun said earnestly. ¡°Leave it to me. We¡¯ll dig three feet into the ground if necessary to bring them back and break every single one of their legs!¡± A middle-aged man and several others in black clothing nodded in unison. In this line of work, they were professionals. ¡°When you handle things, I¡¯m at ease!¡± Yao Jun nodded, watched the group board the plane, and then lowered his head to look at the live broadcast. Rest assured, Bi Fang, I¡¯ve got your back! Meanwhile, Bi Fang, who was being protected by three men, still knew nothing. He was staring at the people constantly rehydrating, silently counting the number of water bottles and then shaking his head with a smile. What a bunch of fools. Water intoxication. Drinking too much water increases the water content in the blood, which lowers sodium levels, leading to an imbalance between salts and fluids. In severe cases of imbalance, ¡°hyponatremia¡± can occur, causing the patient to experience brain swelling, headaches, and even seizures, shock, and death. In the desert, people only hydrate despite sweating profusely. Watching the group continually rehydrate, Bi Fang took out his water bottle. Before coming to the desert, he had prepared just this one bottle of water, and no more. Unscrewing the cap, Bi Fang took a sip of water, then started to dig a hole underneath him, as the sand on the surface was too hot to lie down on. Holding a mouthful of water prevents dehydration. It not only forces him to breathe through his nose but also moistens the air he inhales, providing moisture for his body. After digging through a layer of scorching hot sand, Bi Fang sat down on the ground, looking at the people scratching their heads frantically inside the car, and then swallowed the water in his mouth. ¡°During the daytime in the desert, you must remove the first layer of sand from your shelter; otherwise, it will feel unbearably hot and increase your rate of sweating,¡± he said. ¡°Moreover, if you can¡¯t find a cave like I did, you can look for or create a shaded area and bury yourself in the sand to protect yourself from the sunlight.¡± ¡°Here, I must give everyone a piece of advice,¡± Bi Fang continued. ¡°When trying to survive, you must stay calm, don¡¯t panic, because that will only accelerate your energy consumption. Buried in the sand, you will just feel hotter and hotter, and these techniques will be of no use.¡± [Everyone knows that, but when the time comes, things will be as they are regardless of whether you panic or not.] [Not everyone is Master Fang; it¡¯s like knowing there are no ghosts in the world but still shivering when watching horror movies.] [The comment above is so spot on, it¡¯s hard not to agree.] [Just look at those guys over there; the contrast is clear. I think they¡¯re starting to panic.] [They¡¯re seeking their own death. Who can they blame? Trying to gain popularity by riding on Old Fang¡¯s coat-tails without any real talent?] Watching the live chat in Bi Fang¡¯s streaming room, Du Chuan touched the fine flakes of skin on his own face and remained silent. It¡¯s just that his heart was beating a bit fast. ¡°If you¡¯re really panicking, then think of your family, friends, draw strength from memories and dreams for the future, and above all, never give up-never underestimate humans¡¯ will to survive!¡± Seeing everyone¡¯s pessimism, Bi Fang felt it was justified. The desert is nothing like a forest or a snowy landscape; here, there really seems to be no hope for life, with every minute the sun squeezing out your vitality. After some thought, Bi Fang decided to inspire everyone with the story of a legendary figure. ¡°Moro Prosperi, an ultramarathon runner, and a top athlete, a reserve member of Italy¡¯s modern pentathlon team who won the championship at the 1984. Olympics.¡± ¡°During a super marathon in the Sahara Desert, he was caught in a sudden sandstorm and got trapped in the Sahara.¡± ¡°Conditions there were even harsher, but despite this, without food, water, and unable to send a distress signal, he was found after a remarkable nine days missing. Yet, thanks to his strong survival instincts and willpower, he was still alive!¡± ¡°When they found Moro, his body was shrunken and wrinkled like a turtle. His digestive system had long stopped working. People tried to feed him, but his body couldn¡¯t digest the food.¡± ¡°It was only after doctors injected more than 16 liters of IV nutrition that he gradually began to recover.¡± [Damn, that¡¯s hardcore!]> [Strong, really strong!] [Is this the equivalent of a cow doing a handstand, incredible to the skies?] [More like a cow basking in the sun, impressively powerful.] [Grass, only people from your village know how to show off with such idioms.] ¡°That¡¯s not even the most extraordinary part,¡± Bi Fang said, looking at the comments on the screen and shaking his head. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The miracles of human life go far beyond just this. ¡°You might find it hard to believe, but it is a fact that on the seventh day of being missing, Moro tried to commit suicide by cutting his wrists. Yet, miraculously, he woke up the next morning.¡± ¡°Doctors later analyzed that Moro was dehydrated from being lost in the desert. Due to the lack of fluid, his blood couldn¡¯t flow into the finer vessels.¡± ¡°So when Moro tried to end his life, his blood was as thick as tar, moving very slowly and quickly clotting. This condition saved his life.¡± ¡°Can you imagine?¡± Chapter 109 - 106 A Different Kind of Desert Chapter 109: Chapter 106 A Different Kind of Desert Translator: 549690339 | Nine days? The Sahara Desert? Blood as thick as asphalt? Thinking of these points, Yao Lina subconsciously wanted to reach for her water cup to drink. Even though it was November and the weather was getting cooler, she still felt as uncomfortable as if she were standing under the summer sun. Pan Wei and the others were even more horrified, subconsciously touching their wrists, only to realize it was a false alarm after a moment. Felt like their heads were getting dizzy from the sun. Pan Wei mocked his own overreaction, then pushed his seat further back, trying to avoid the sunlight coming from the front of the car, but was kicked hard in the back of his seat by a tall guy behind him. ¡°Don¡¯t fucking squeeze!¡± the tall guy said irritably. Even though the Jeep had a lot of space, it was not meant to be squeezed like this, ¡°If you want to avoid the sun, why don¡¯t you just block it with your clothes?¡± How could they film if they blocked it? Their viewer count had just broken thirty thousand; blocking the view could lose them more than half their audience, a wasteful loss indeed. Pan Wei was speechless too; his skin had peeled from the sun, and how could he be content if he didn¡¯t earn more? Just peeling skin, right? Not a big problem, could still continue! After that, Pan Wei worked even harder. They had been hawking for less than half a day and their earnings had already surpassed six figures, a bloody fortune. Wasn¡¯t this faster than working a regular job? There was no chance he would work a regular job; only by riding on the wave of fame could he sustain his life like this. ¡°Guys, the sun is really too harsh. As Wolf King said earlier, he might have to stay here until four in the afternoon before he can leave. All of us will suffer the sun¡¯s heat without any motivation. Look at me, my skin is peeling off from the sun.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t reward me, where will the gas money for the Jeep come from? The money for our treatment? The money to charge our phones?¡± [Awesome, this move, I¡¯m willing to call it a legit reason!] [Iron Egg gifts the host a rocket*l¡ªHere¡¯s your gas money!] [Yay!] [Lol, you really know how to ask for gifts.] [Pete the Non-Sticky gifts the host membership cards*10¡ªI want to curse! Give gifts and curse! Dare to silence me and I¡¯ll stop giving!] [Kid, you¡¯re too young, don¡¯t do this; it¡¯s too cheap for this bunch of dogs] Watching from the back seat, Du Chuan nodded. He had chosen Pan Wei from among the myriad of hosts because he was shameless enough. Shameless enough, good at asking for gifts, and afterward acting as if nothing had happened. This was by no means derogatory; it was an outright compliment. To do this job, one needed that kind of brazenness¡ªthe more shameless, the more one would earn. Many viewers are like this; they need a bit of begging. Otherwise, there wouldn¡¯t be so many authors on the Chinese web constantly begging¡ªit¡¯s because begging really works! If you don¡¯t push them, you¡¯ll never know how many tickets and savings readers have! ¡°Alright, I need to sleep for the next few hours to recharge and continue the journey; I will have to pause the live stream for a few hours.¡± Bi Fang paid no attention to the noisy group; instead, he turned off the live stream amidst the reluctance of the viewers and lay down in the sandy pit. Great opportunity! The previously woozy Du Chuan and others instantly revived at full health; their moves began to shine, rising a few degrees in the scorching desert. They had been waiting for this moment! The tall guy kicked Pan Wei¡¯s seat back, and Pan Wei screamed with a voice that was about to smoke. ¡°Don¡¯t miss out as you pass by! Master Fang¡¯s live room is closed, but Brother Pan¡¯s live room is still open! You all can come over here! Don¡¯t you want to see if anyone will come to send supplies? Don¡¯t the female fans want to see Master Fang¡¯s sleeping posture? You¡¯ll find everything here!¡± As expected, the next moment, the popularity of their live rooms surged again, quickly breaking through the one million mark! Rockets, fish balls pouring in; it was all so captivating. [Wow, impressive, a different perspective.] [Not for anything else, but to come in and curse you guys!] [I¡¯ll watch quietly, won¡¯t say a word.] [Gifting a rocket.] [I don¡¯t care if I get banned; I still want to loudly curse your shamelessness!] In the Jeep, Du Chuan and the others exchanged joyful glances, all breaking into smiles, with the tall guy even starting to moderate the comments. Even though they were dizzy from the sun and starting to peel, at this moment. It was worth it! As for negative reviews. Who cares about negative reviews when you¡¯re serious? In the afternoon, Bi Fang slowly awoke, he turned his head towards the cave entrance, only to see several blood-red figures staring intently at him from outside the cave. Blood corpses? Just awakened and still groggy, Bi Fang was startled by the sight, thinking some creature from a novel had found its way to the desert, almost plastering himself to the rock wall. What the hell? But once Bi Fang gathered his wits, he finally realized what those blood corpse-like things were, he rubbed his face, and after confirming he wasn¡¯t dreaming, couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud. A few meters away in the jeep, Du Chuan and the others were staring at Bi Fang without blinking. No one was shouting anymore, and the only noise left was the howling of the wind whipping up the sand inside and outside the vehicle. The air was filled with a deathly silence. Their skin was blood-red and swollen. Pan Wei and the fat man in the front had dense white blisters like clustered grapes on their foreheads, and large flakes of white dead skin peeling off from both sides of their cheeks. They looked exactly like blood corpses from a movie whose skin had been peeled off! ¡°Damn it!¡± The fat man hammered the steering wheel hard, and the wail of the car horn carried far through the sand. To have gotten sunburned like this, won¡¯t it ruin my face? Although I wasn¡¯t much to look at to begin with, but¡­ Shit! If it weren¡¯t for the gifts already amounting to several hundred thousand, and I could get several tens of thousands afterwards, I wouldn¡¯t be suffering like this for anything! Even my wife won¡¯t recognize me! ¡°Be patient, you can get it treated when we return, and furthermore, it will cool down when it gets dark. You all know that evening is prime time for live streaming, and the revenue could easily double,¡± Du Chuan tried to calm the restless spirits with a shot of encouragement. On the other side, Bi Fang had started live streaming and heard what Du Chuan had said. Evening? Do I really have that opportunity? Having started the live stream, Bi Fang narrowed his eyes, greeted his audience with a quick hello, and without further ado, got up and left the cave, climbing up to stand on the highest sand dune with sand slipping under his feet. Atop the dune, Bi Fang gazed into the distance. The sun was setting in the west, turning the earth fiery red. The sandy ground was barren, with nothing but endless sand dunes and scorching air. There was no water, no shade of trees, only the sweeping sandstorms that provided temporary relief from the blazing sun. The ferocious sandstorm enveloped everything, burying everything in its path. It was as if the whole world was a furnace. This time Bi Fang wasn¡¯t trying to find his way; he was searching, determined to find a piece of the ¡°desert¡± that was different. Finally, within his field of vision, a patch of noticeably darker sand stood out. It was a bit far, but worth it. Bi Fang quickly slid down the dune and headed in that direction without explanation or conversation. [Why isn¡¯t Master Fang talking?] [Yeah, didn¡¯t he used to tell stories when traveling before¡­] [It¡¯s so serious, feels like Master Fang is getting down to business.] [A serious Master Fang is also handsome!] [emmm¡­] As evening approached, Pan Wei and the others finally felt a bit better, they rolled down the windows; the air was still hot but no longer scorching their nostrils and throat. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, Bi Fang¡¯s silence was causing them some worry. ¡°Hey, hey! Don¡¯t fall asleep!¡± Pan Wei initially wanted to ask the fat man, but when he turned his head, he saw the fat man constantly ¡°nodding off¡± and quickly shook him awake. ¡°Hmm? Huh!¡± The fat man wiped the sweat from his forehead and regained consciousness, seeing Pan Wei calling him, he shook his head, ¡°No problem, I¡¯m fine, just a bit tired.¡± ¡°Have some water and take a moment, we¡¯ll switch soon,¡± Du Chuan also noticed the fat man was off. ¡°Okay, okay!¡± The fat man took the water and nodded repeatedly. Better switch soon. For some reason, he felt like vomiting, and his head was spinning. Could it be carsickness? I¡¯ve been driving for so many years, an old hand behind the wheel, how could I get carsick? Trying to suppress the rising acid, the fat man took another sip of water.. Chapter 110 - 107: What do you mean impossible? Chapter 110: Chapter 107: What do you mean impossible? Translator 549690339 The fatty rubbed his face, and his fingernail accidentally burst a blister on his forehead, causing a searing pain once again. Clear, whitish fluid flowed down, directly mixing with the sweat and seeping into his eyes. The fatty quickly pulled out a tissue to wipe it off, but the car suddenly veered to one side, startling everyone. Fortunately, the fatty quickly steered the wheel back, steadying the jeep once again. ¡°Maybe I should drive?¡± the tall guy looked a bit panicked and nudged the fatty¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Let¡¯s switch after we get to the area up ahead; it¡¯s easy to get stuck if we stop here,¡± Du Chuan also began to worry. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll look for a flat area to switch,¡± the fatty nodded repeatedly. The sand in the Qaidam Desert was too loose, creating a lot of resistance against the vehicle¡¯s tires. Stopping carelessly could likely cause the vehicle to sink, leading to undesirable outcomes such as the engine stalling. The fatty, who had been driving in the desert for most of the day, had also gathered some experience. It felt as if the steering wheel had become much heavier, difficult to turn, like an old machine that had run out of lubricating oil. Perhaps it was because he was too tired and had no strength left. That¡¯s what the fatty thought with a heavy head. What nobody noticed was that, accompanying the gradual drop in temperature, a teeth-gritting metallic deformation sound was quietly occurring in an unknown place. Faint black smoke was drifting out from around the radiator, and the fresh green drops that seeped out didn¡¯t even get a chance to fall before quickly evaporating into the air. An hour later, Bi Fang slowly approached the darker seas of sand. The increasingly sinking sun cast all the colors in a gloomy shade, and nobody could tefl the difference between this part of the desert and the previous one, not even Bi Fang himself. But Bi Fang was not panicked at all; as he slowed down his pace, he finally started to talk. Since he had been silent before, there were now only about eighty thousand people in the livestream, with many having temporarily left the stream. And just when everyone thought Bi Fang was about to share some more survival tips, to everyone¡¯s surprise, the content he elaborated on this time was very similar to what he had started with. And his tone lacked any fluctuations, calm as if he was an outstanding student reciting a text. The Qaidam Desert, officially called the Qaidam Basin Desert, ranks fifth among the eight major deserts in China and covers an area of 34,900 square kilometers. The Qaidam Desert is located in the hinterlands of the vast inland Qaidam Basin in the northeastern part of the Tibetan Plateau. Standing at an elevation of 2,500 to 3,000 meters, it is the highest desert in China.¡± [Looks like Master Fang is getting confused; hasn¡¯t he already talked about this before?] [Is Old Fang running out of stories? Before, while traveling, he used to talk so much more¡ªalmost like a chatty host. ] [Probably too tired to talk, look, the others aren¡¯t jumping around anymore. ] [A piece of trivia: The energy expended when a person speaks is very minimal, such that even if you talked continuously without stopping for a year, you wouldn¡¯t release enough energy to boil a cup of water. ] [This is the desert, have you not considered the moisture lost from speaking? ] [The energy expenditure from talking is already small, nitpicker (pus-filled soybean). ] [Damn it! I¡¯m talking about the loss of water, who¡¯s arguing energy with you? ] The quarrel among the Shuiyou did not affect Bi Fang, who crossed a sand dune and continued. ¡°The Qaidam Desert, with its interlacing sand dunes, Gobi, salt lakes, and saline plains, has a desert and wind-eroded surface area of 35,000 square kilometers, where moving sands account for approximately 70%, mainly composed of crescent-shaped dune chains. However, the moving sands here are not the same as the moving sands I am about to talk about.¡± ¡°What I am going to discuss is nature¡¯s most ingeniously designed mechanism, which could be hidden on riverbanks, coastal regions, or even in a neighbor¡¯s ¡¯ backyard, and could turn a large area of soil into a semi-fluid state due to the arrival of an earthquake.¡± In 1692, Port Royal in Jamaica experienced soil liquefaction caused by an earthquake that turned the ground into quicksand, resulting in the disappearance of one-third of the city and the deaths of two thousand people.¡± Hearing about one-third of a city disappearing made everyone¡¯s eyelids twitch. That sounded too exaggerated¡ªone-third of a city? How could that be possible? Following closely behind Bi Fang, Du Chuan heard, and a buzzing rose in his head, suddenly filled with an ominous premonition that ¡°something bad is about to happen.¡± He glanced at the pale-faced fatty, whose ghastly white face no longer resembled that of a living person, and, startled, suddenly shouted, ¡°Stop right now!¡± The fatty, jolted by the shout, felt his heart contract violently, and the intense pressure made it impossible for him to hold back anymore¡­ ¡°Ugh!¡± The vomit, reeking of a foul stench, came hurtling towards Pan Wei, who instinctively closed his eyes, only to taste bitterness in his mouth. Realizing what was happening, he immediately felt his stomach convulse. The strong sensation of nausea surged up, and Pan Wei, already feeling unwell, began to vomit as well. The entire cabin was instantly filled with the stench of vomit, the tall man¡¯s lips turning pale, feeling equally nauseated. The online friends in the live broadcast were all stunned, having never witnessed such a gross live stream before. Witnessing this scene, Du Chuan suddenly felt a fear arise, his temples throbbing madly, as if centipedes were crawling across his forehead. The sudden sense of crisis exploded like a fiery phoenix in Du Chuan¡¯s mind, violently colliding as if to burst his skull open! Once again, he thought of that eye contact. A spear-like vicious aura rushed at him, the unsecured gun once again pressed against his forehead. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A massive fear, as deep as an abyss, struck him. The next moment, Du Chuan lunged forward, pressing down on the vomiting fatty, trying to turn the steering wheel. It was too late! The Jeep, with the accelerator floored by the fatty, sped up, crossing over the sand dune! ¡°This is a black hole hell, swallowing up all life that steps onto this land.¡± Bi Fang turned around; the quicksand made his body slowly sink as he watched the Jeep surge over the sand dune, his tone still as unhurried as ever. ¡°Welcome, to hell.¡± Boom! The towering sand dune collapsed in an instant, thousands of tons of sand poured down, lifting the Jeep like a tsunami, carrying it into the basin surrounded by sand dunes. All the viewers were shocked by this sudden turn of events, and for a moment, the live stream was devoid of any comments! Du Chuan and the tall man were the first to open the car doors in an attempt to escape but fell into the sand with one step. Pan Wei and the fatty also opened their doors, trying to struggle and flee, but they sank like stones in mud, utterly ineffective. Quicksand! The immense fear seized the hearts of Du Chuan and his companions, their faces drained of blood, frantically trying to escape but invariably sinking deeper. Soon, the sand had risen above their waists! ¡°Hey, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± the tall man slapped the fatty, only to find no response. The fatty had actually fainted! As the weather cooled down, it was precisely the time for the sand to release heat, scorching everyone like grains of fire, causing the already nearly exhausted fatty to lose consciousness instantly! How could this be? Du Chuan couldn¡¯t understand why Bi Fang would lead them to quicksand, was he not afraid of dying- just as Du Chuan felt that Bi Fang wanted to drag them to their deaths and turned to scold him furiously, his pupils shrank to the size of needle points the moment he saw Bi Fang. ¡°How is this possible!¡± Anger surged in Du Chuan¡¯s chest, almost bursting from his throat. Bi Fang braced himself with his hands, shakily stood up, and leisurely patted himself off.. With a puzzled expression, he said, ¡°Hm? What did you say? Impossible?¡± Chapter 111 - 108 I’m Not a Demon Either Chapter 111: Chapter 108 I¡¯m Not a Demon Either Translator: 549690339 Du Chuan felt that Bi Fang¡¯s gaze was regarding him as if he were a fool, his face was stiff as ice. Dense blood vessels threaded through the whites of his eyes, and it felt like there was blood dripping down his own heart. ¡°This is murder!¡± ¡°Nonsense! How can you smear someone¡¯s reputation like that?¡± Bi Fang was furious, pointing at the expanse of quicksand before him, angrily saying, ¡°Do you think I knew in advance that this was quicksand? Didn¡¯t I fall in just a moment ago as well?¡± ¡°Can you tell the difference between this patch of desert and the ones before? Huh? Speak up!¡± The questioning left Du Chuan momentarily breathless. Yes, even if the other party did it intentionally, what evidence did he have to prove it? Under the dim sky, all the desert was the same shade of grayish-black. Where was the difference? Du Chuan tried desperately to recall, when suddenly, a jolt, like an electric current, went through him¡ªhe remembered the last thing Bi Fang had said and immediately pointed at Bi Fang¡¯s nose and cursed furiously. ¡°Then why did you say ¡®welcome to Hell¡¯?¡± ¡°I meant to scare the audience, but who would have thought this place really was quicksand.¡± Bi Fang, looking at the steadily sinking Du Chuan, was still calm and composed. Bi Fang¡¯s acting was so convincing that Du Chuan for a moment couldn¡¯t discern the truth, and just as he was about to speak again, Pan Wei beside him couldn¡¯t hold on any longer. ¡°Master Fang, save me! Please, I beg you, save me! I don¡¯t want to die, I really don¡¯t want to die!¡± ¡°I swear, I swear I¡¯ll stop leeching off your popularity from now on, please, I¡¯m begging you!¡± ¡°I have an old parent above me, a young child below me, I can¡¯t die yet, it¡¯s all him! He led this, I was just confused!¡± Under the huge shock, Pan Wei cried as if blood were bursting, mucus mixed with vomit sliding down the corners of his mouth. His breath was like that of someone about to freeze to death in the deep cold of the night, exhaling feeble white air, yet he did not forget to point his finger at Du Chuan to lay blame. Severe sunburn combined with water intoxication, wet sand compressing the chest and squeezing the lungs, causing breathing difficulties, it was already a testament to his survival instinct that he hadn¡¯t fainted from such a significant shock. Old Fang had saved so many people last time, so he would come to save him this time too, right? Pan Wei naively thought. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to, but you¡¯re so far away, how can I save you?¡± Bi Fang spread his hands, indicating he really was powerless. The other was sent directly over by the collapse of the dune, at least tens of meters away from him; there were no trees, no ropes, how to save? What? Use torn clothes as a rope to throw? He, a frail man, who couldn¡¯t even pluck a chicken, how was he supposed to tear clothes? It¡¯s no use. Bi Fang shook his head in disappointment. He too wanted to save them, but he really was powerless! Du Chuan was left to rely on himself. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Meanwhile, the online friends who had been watching were already dumbstruck. Since the collapse of the dune, they could no longer understand how events were unfolding. Is someone going to die here? Is there any way to save them? Many people¡¯s impressions of quicksand came entirely from various films; in their minds, quicksand was a monstrous creature that could suck people into a bottomless hole. Once trapped in it, one couldn¡¯t extricate themselves, and could only watch helplessly as the victim was swallowed by the sand in a mere moment. [This is a bit too much¡­] [What¡¯s too much? Master Fang didn¡¯t do it on purpose, didn¡¯t you see he just fell in as well? Can¡¯t you think a bit?] [They got what they deserved, they chose to follow; if they lose their lives, who¡¯s to blame? Better to die early and be reincarnated earlier.] [The above is over the line.] [Stop playing the saint, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s too much, no one¡¯s dead yet, right? This is instant karma!] [Won¡¯t Old Fang get into trouble? For not assisting someone in danger?] [If he¡¯s not capable of saving, how can he save? Didn¡¯t you see how far away it is? Swim over to save? I think that¡¯s doable.] As the online friends argued, Du Chuan and the others had already sunk to their chests, and breathing was becoming difficult. Pan Wei was crying his eyes out, fear gripping his heart like a claw, scraping deep bloody marks upon it. He felt a warmth in his crotch. The moisture in the surrounding sand had increased. In the midst of his panic, Du Chuan could no longer afford to consider whether Bi Fang¡¯s actions were intentional or not; Pan Wei turning against him wasn¡¯t on his mind either, he just wanted to survive! Grasping at the nearby car, Du Chuan tried to pull himself up by the counterforce, but it was no use at all¡ªthe horrifying suction coming from his lower body was relentless! Why isn¡¯t it working? Du Chuan panicked, truly panicked. He had never imagined that he would risk his life just trying to catch on to some popularity. Wrapped in burning hot quicksand, Du Chuan felt like he was being cooked alive as large droplets of sweat fell from his body. ¡°You must remember that the more you struggle in quicksand, the faster you sink. If you stay still, the sinking will be very slow. Moreover, this is wet sand. Just be honest and you won¡¯t sink,¡± Bi Fang pointed to the unconscious fatty with a look of concern. Indeed, among the four people, only the fatty who had hardly moved was decently stuck in the sand, with the sand only up to his buttocks, and he had barely sunk at all. Seeing this, Du Chuan and the others dared not move, fearful that sinking further might truly mean the end for them. ¡°You¡¯re lucky it¡¯s wet sand, not dry sand. Theoretically, wet sand is just sand permeated with water. The friction between the grains decreases, creating a semi-liquid, weight-bearing difficult mixture of sand and water.¡± Bi Fang scooped up some quicksand, clutched it in his hand, and squeezed tightly¡ªhis online friends could clearly see that the sand stuck together like putty. Just like the watered-down mud we played with as children. The danger of wet sand isn¡¯t very high, nor is it as dangerous as everyone thinks. As long as one masters certain techniques, survival is quite simple, which is why Bi Fang dared to do so. ¡°In this type of quicksand, if you think that by shaking you can loosen the sand around your body, making it easier to pull out your limbs, you¡¯re terribly mistaken. Such movement will only speed up the sedimentation of the clay, increasing the viscosity of the quicksand, causing you to sink deeper the more you struggle.¡± ¡°To escape quicksand like this, the trapped person must gently move their feet, allowing water and sand to seep into the vacuum created to alleviate the pressure on their body while gradually letting the sand loosen.¡± ¡°Additionally, one must strive to spread their limbs apart as widely as possible, because the greater the surface area of the body that touches the sand, the greater the buoyancy obtained. Provided the trapped person has enough patience and moves gently enough, they can slowly extricate themselves.¡± Bi Fang spoke earnestly, and Du Chuan and the others listened intently, wishing they could glue their ears to his face. The distance, however, made some words unclear. But they all caught the key points. Move gently, slowly extract oneself. ¡°In fluid mechanics, quicksand is classified as a dilatant fluid, meaning the greater the shear, the more resistance the quicksand has to shearing motion. Researchers have calculated that to pull out one foot of a person trapped at the rate of one centimeter per second would require about 100,000 Newtons of force, roughly the equivalent of lifting a medium-sized car.¡± ¡°Therefore, unless there¡¯s a crane to help, it¡¯s tough to pull someone out of quicksand all at once. Besides, based on this calculation, if one was to pull forcefully, the person¡¯s body would likely be torn apart before the quicksand ¡®let go¡¯.¡± Torn apart? Many viewers were startled by the word. [Holy shit, is it that terrifying?] [Hand-tearing devils?] [Now we¡¯re getting into fluid mechanics, take a look. What doesn¡¯t Master Fang know? Meteorology, geography, biology¡­ emmm] [So terrifying! Surprised to find out Master Fang really knows everything!] [But Master Fang climbed up so quickly, I didn¡¯t see clearly, how did he manage that?] ¡°Because 1 react quickly. Wet sand is slow quicksand; as long as you don¡¯t sink too deep, with swift movements and accurate direction, you can escape it,¡± Bi Fang explained. Knowing that he was dealing with quicksand, Bi Fang had been prepared all along¡ªnow his response level was a high 12, significantly surpassing that of ordinary people. ¡°However, many people were not focusing on my side at that time. If you missed it, you can wait for my survival success and then check the edited video I¡¯ll post on B Island.¡± Bi Fang was both speaking to his online friends and teaching Du Chuan and the others survival techniques. Severe sunburn, water intoxication¡­ Bi Fang touched the scorching sand, hmm, now he had to add low temperature burns, breathing difficulties, wound infection, and dehydration to the list. With this entire process, the chances of dying weren¡¯t high, they¡¯d just lose some skin at worst. After all, he wasn¡¯t a demon and was relatively magnanimous. They didn¡¯t have any serious feud to die for, just a bunch of shameless people looking to catch on to some popularity. It wasn¡¯t worth making a deadly enemy of them. Make a show of punishing one to warn the others. To let those who wanted to buzz off his popularity next time weigh up if they could handle another encounter like this. Whether they were up to the challenge.. Chapter 112 - 109: The Gap Between People Chapter 112: Chapter 109: The Gap Between People Translator: 549690339 ¡°Don¡¯t struggle, because the more you struggle, the faster you sink.¡± Bi Fang kindly reminded the panicked individuals. Paralyzed in the quicksand, Du Chuan didn¡¯t dare to move; looking at Bi Fang¡¯s well-intentioned face, he felt a chill. He wanted to curse out loud, but feared that the rising and falling of his chest would hasten his sinking. The suppressed anger made Du Chuan¡¯s face turn bright red. Du Chuan couldn¡¯t understand how Bi Fang dared to do such a thing during a live stream. Wasn¡¯t he afraid of dying? Many discerning viewers also began to worry. Even if wet quicksand wasn¡¯t lethal, if word got out, it would surely strike a blow to Bi Fang¡¯s reputation. Although their fans were aware of what happened, the masses didn¡¯t care about the truth; they only believed what they wanted to see. Bi Fang knew this, but he didn¡¯t care. For him, the greater loss would be letting such clout-chasing antics occur rather than losing some favor with the general public. They had to be nipped in the bud! The previous sunburn and water intoxication had been their own doing; now, it was Bi Fang¡¯s real counterattack! In the future, those who sought to leech off his popularity would definitely think twice because of this incident¡ªthey wouldn¡¯t dare to bet whether Bi Fang would lend a hand should they find themselves in peril. However, Bi Fang had no intentions of killing anyone. The danger of wet quicksand was actually not very high. It was more about psychological intimidation. Dutch scientists had conducted several experiments and found that while one would sink to an extent in wet quicksand, it wouldn¡¯t result in complete submersion. Most deaths were caused by other factors, such as being at the seaside where, failing to be rescued in time, one would drown when the tide came in¡­ The real danger lay in dry quicksand. Being trapped in a silo full of grain, that was the truly fatal risk. Even now, Bi Fang was not sure he could escape on his own. So, he dared to lead these people here, confident that it wouldn¡¯t result in any fatalities. As a public figure, Bi Fang was aware that his actions were scrutinized and magnified. While punishing the offenders, he still had to avoid casting a negative shadow; that was his true consideration. In the desert, one doesn¡¯t just stumble upon a patch of sand that¡¯s a vastly different color for no reason. The only possibility for such a scenario is the presence of wet quicksand. Because the sand is soaked with liquid, the air bubbles in its internal structure are displaced by water. When light travels through air and water to hit the sand¡¯s surface, its path changes, creating total internal reflection. The light trapped by the water can¡¯t escape, hence the color looks darker. By the same logic, there must be an underground river beneath this patch of quicksand. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be possible for so much water vapor to seep through. Too bad it¡¯s unusable. He couldn¡¯t dig a well in the midst of quicksand. Bi Fang sighed, but he did everything he was supposed to on the surface. In order to avoid criticism, he had to personally demonstrate how to survive when deeply submerged in quicksand. ¡°Everyone thinks quicksand is frightening simply because it¡¯s been demonized by movies and TV shows. In fact, if they didn¡¯t jump out of the car, they¡¯d be safe. They just need to stay inside the car and wait for rescue.¡± Bi Fang jumped into the quicksand and, gasping for breath, he shuffled slightly to sink faster. ¡°A car with its doors closed has a lower density than the human body. As long as they stay inside and open a window, they¡¯re not in any danger.¡± Shuiyou watching saw the jeep Bi Fang was pointing at. It was only partially sunk with its hood still visible, stuck in the quicksand without sinking any further. So all the panic from those people earlier was for nothing? Du Chuan and the others subconsciously clenched their fists, feeling embarrassed. Although they couldn¡¯t see the comments, they could imagine how the viewers would mock them; it felt as if they were being stripped and tortured in front of everyone. It was more unbearable than being sunburned into stupidity. What? They were already foolish? Then never mind. [Advanced Mockery, this is definitely Advanced Mockery! ] [At the end of the day, they have no real skill. Dare to come to the desert for clout, isn¡¯t that just courting death?] [The contrast is clear. Initially, there wasn¡¯t much of a highlight in this livestream, but as soon as these people showed up, they handed Master Fang another hot search!] [Why is no one concerned about Master Fang jumping into the quicksand¡­] [You newbies don¡¯t understand. The ones above clearly haven¡¯t seen Old Fang self-buried in a blizzard. We old fans are used to this. You newcomers need to adapt!] [Now I just feel that Old Fang is showing off, I don¡¯t sense any danger at all.] [Majestic arrogance for thirty thousand miles! One show dazzles the nineteen provinces!] [Glasses Man: Thank you, I¡¯ve been packed in.] [Those of you over there, watch closely and learn well! Master Fang is doing this for you, repaying evil with kindness. I¡¯m moved to tears, uuu.] As the audience sent a barrage of messages, Bi Fang, trapped in quicksand, felt his lower body heavy as iron, sinking desperately and tightly gripped by the quicksand. The pressure in the quicksand was much greater than in water. When it rose to his chest, Bi Fang found it hard to breathe, each inhalation and exhalation requiring much effort. The immense pressure squeezed his lungs, trying to force all the air out. Even so, Bi Fang waited until the quicksand had covered half his chest, leaving only his shoulders exposed¡ªwhile the audience watched in horror¡ªbefore he began demonstrating how to survive. ¡°I said it before, when you fall into quicksand, never panic and struggle. That will only make your situation more dangerous,¡± he explained. Bi Fang took a deep breath, but even the slightest movement seemed to cause him to sink deeper. This depth was already extremely dangerous. His body was almost entirely submerged, and even the smallest movement could cause changes in the surrounding environment, making it very difficult to exert any force. ¡°Heartbeats, breathing¡ªthe slightest tremors actually change the structure of the quicksand around us, causing us to sink deeper. It¡¯s like triggering an avalanche just because a leading icicle fell, which then leads to a natural disaster.¡± ¡°This is also why I hoped they would stay in the car and not come out, because a car is inanimate; it doesn¡¯t move.¡± Du Chuan and the others felt their hearts stabbed once more, each stab deadly. Is shrimp gentler than a pig¡¯s heart? It¡¯s so terrifying. I don¡¯t even want to live broadcast anymore. Amid Pan Wei¡¯s sobbing, Bi Fang handled the situation with ease. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°The first step to surviving quicksand is to shed everything you¡¯re carrying.¡± Bi Fang took off his backpack and dropped it onto the sandy ground, a step that required no explanation and was easily understood. ¡°If possible, you should also remove your shoes. They create a lot of resistance when you try to pull your feet out, especially those kinds of boots with flat, hard soles. But I¡¯m sunk too deep; in this situation, it¡¯s best not to force it.¡± ¡°Next, you need to increase the surface area in contact with the quicksand. Just like I¡¯m doing, you slowly shift your body. Remember, you must move slowly¡ª don¡¯t hurry, because hurrying won¡¯t help with such a big problem.¡± The audience was really paying attention, but they almost laughed out loud at his last sentence. [666, such a big problem, and the host has got it under control.] [Give up struggling.] [The one opposite seems to be learning seriously. It looks like they were paying attention.] [Can they afford not to be serious? Not listening is a death sentence] [Little Sunflower Father Fang¡¯s class is now in session!] [Planting a big tree for the host, sending a rocket*l¡ªgo for it! All the best!] ¡°Has anyone learned to swim backstroke? The process is similar to that, but the speed needs to be many times slower to avoid intense environmental changes.¡± ¡°Quicksand¡¯s reactions to external forces are unpredictable, which means every movement you make must be slowed down so you can catch any harmful changes in the quicksand.¡± As Bi Fang leaned back slowly, the audience could clearly see his back sinking, but soon the large part of his chest emerged. ¡°Whew, it¡¯s much easier to breathe now, not as difficult as before.¡± Bi Fang gasped a few breaths and continued to explain, ¡°Lying back increases the surface area under pressure, distributing the upper body¡¯s pressure over the quicksand, reducing the pressure on your feet so they slowly come to the surface. During this process, there may be brief sinking, but don¡¯t be afraid. It¡¯s necessary.¡± Bi Fang looked down, watching his belly slowly rise as he gently began to rock from side to side. ¡°Once you feel your feet loosening, you should immediately roll onto your side and free them. This may dirty your clothes, but it is the quickest and safest way to escape.¡± The quicksand had now turned thick and sticky, like mud, with Bi Fang¡¯s face smeared with quite a bit of it. That¡¯s another characteristic of quicksand. As soon as the surface of the sand is disturbed by movement, it rapidly ¡°liquefies.¡± The surface sand becomes loose, and the shallower layers start to run down quickly; they become thicker and thicker as more moisture seeps in. When Bi Fang¡¯s legs had fully emerged from the mud-like quicksand, he started to use a swimming-like motion, inching and struggling to the edge of the quicksand. Quickly resting his head on the dry sand, Bi Fang gritted his teeth and propped his upper body onto the ground. This process was extremely draining, and after having ¡°swum¡± in such resistant quicksand, he was already beginning to tire. His arm muscles were slightly sore, but Bi Fang didn¡¯t rest. Taking a break would let the energy dissipate, and it would take more energy to get going again. He clenched his teeth and with a roll, he finally got ashore! Du Chuan and the others were stunned. Could the gap between people be this wide? Covered in mud and after rolling in dry sand, Bi Fang took deep breaths, then sat up, turning to give a thumbs-up to the drone. He had succeeded! Chapter 113 - 110: Traffic Light Chapter 113: Chapter 110: Traffic Light Translator: 549690339 When Bi Fang crawled out of the quicksand, he looked up at the sky, took deep breaths, and each breath went deep into his lungs. Oxygen traveled through his blood into his whole body, quickly relieving his fatigue and soreness. A refreshing vigor surged up, as if a martial arts master had just unleashed the power in his lower abdomen, or as if he had just devoured a bowl of piping hot tofu pudding. Unobstructed and exhilarating! In the live-streaming room, needless to say, another barrage of gifts rained down. This also set Bi Fang apart from other streamers. While other streamers danced energetically, many viewers remained free-riders, sneering at the streamers¡¯ pleas for gifts, but what they saw from Bi Fang genuinely impressed them. Capable people always find it easier to earn respect from others. He deserved it! ¡°Did you get it?¡± Stiff-necked and within the quicksand, Du Chuan asked. ¡°Probably¡­ I guess?¡± Du Chuan hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded. He looked up at the edge, a dozen meters away, then at the car beside him. He felt a direct escape was unrealistic; it might be better to get onto the roof of the car and wait for rescue. Ten minutes later. The sky had turned a dark red hue. The evening breeze brought a chill. With sweat pouring down like rain, Du Chuan gently pulled on the car door, trying to pull himself out of the quicksand. When he finally managed to get more than half of his body onto the hood, he pushed hard against it, hoping to break free entirely, only to slip due to the great resistance from the quicksand on his legs, and he slid back into it. Bi Fang watched the others still floundering and smiled, occasionally providing commentary. Seeing that Du Chuan had squandered his previous effort, he certainly wasn¡¯t going to let this opportunity pass. ¡°You see, actually, Glasses Guy was too hasty there. Just now, he should have stepped up with one foot first, but he wanted to get up all at once, too eager for quick success. As a result, he didn¡¯t hold on and fell back in, all effort wasted.¡± [Hahaha, it¡¯s like a pig rolling in a mud pit.] [The difference is clear, all thumbs.] [Ultimate effort!] [He¡¯s getting anxious, he¡¯s really anxious now.] [Nice, so satisfying, suddenly they don¡¯t seem that annoying anymore.] ¡°Actually, the best method of escape is still to be preventive and avoid getting into dangerous situations. When we feel our feet starting to stick, we should immediately move back a few steps to avoid falling into quicksand.¡± ¡°Generally, the transformation of sand and soil into a liquid mixture of water and particles takes about a minute, so escaping promptly before then is the best strategy to evade quicksand.¡± ¡°That¡¯s also why I like to have a walking stick prepared. You see, a stick is very useful even in quicksand.¡± Observing the disheveled few, Bi Fang decided to explain a few more points to his audience. ¡°If I had had a stick just now, I could¡¯ve laid it across the quicksand, then used the stick as a support under my back.¡± ¡°After doing that, within a minute or two, our body would achieve balance and stop sinking. Then, you place the stick under your buttocks, stopping them from sinking too. Next, gently pull out one leg, and then the other.¡± ¡°This method of escape would save a lot more energy than what I did just now. Unfortunately, this place is too barren, and there isn¡¯t even a tree to be found, so I can¡¯t demonstrate it to everyone.¡± S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang¡¯s voice carried a hint of regret. The importance of a handy tree stick was hard for someone who hadn¡¯t experienced the outdoors to imagine, and he had turned the tree stick into a recurring joke, always needing to remind people of its presence. Having lived through the previous era when online traffic was king, Bi Fang was well aware of the power of memes, so he kept fostering this concept. From the tree stick to the fixed few words he always said at the start of each stream, to his advice on not running away in fear when facing wild animals, all of this would become significant personal trademarks, ones that people would remember for a lifetime. Years later, when he¡¯s old and grey, the younger generation will repeatedly attempt to conquer the wilderness, and the audience in front of the screen will naturally recall these lines, and thus think of him, the pioneering Wilderness Survivalist. These were indelible memories. [Amazing, the essential tool might be late, but it never disappears!] [Tree stick: Who would¡¯ve thought that in almost ten chapters, I¡¯d still have a chance to make an appearance?] The Shuiyou audience thought the desert tree stick joke wouldn¡¯t show up this time, but it still made an appearance. They launched into a barrage of danmaku, teasing the streamer. When it comes to playing with memes, they were professionals. But soon, a dense torrent of danmaku obscured Bi Fang¡¯s view. [Wait, damn, isn¡¯t that one climbing up over there?] [Damn, he actually is. Tall Guy is tough!] The Shuiyou danmaku alerted Bi Fang, and when he looked up again, he saw that one of the four, the tall one, had already climbed out of the quicksand and was standing on the car roof. With one person out, it meant they could help each other. Du Chuan and Pan Wei felt much lighter, reaching out for the tall one to pull them up. But a single comment from Bi Fang made the tall one freeze. ¡°Everyone should take note that it¡¯s actually very dangerous to rashly reach out to pull someone out of quicksand. As I said earlier, quicksand has great suction power. Unless there is a crane, it¡¯s absolutely impossible to pull someone out with human strength, and it¡¯s easy to be dragged down as well.¡± The tall one¡¯s hand, which he had just reached out, spun naturally in the air, and without any obvious flaws, he scratched his head and muttered an apology. Damn it! Green with frustration, Du Chuan had no choice but to continue struggling in the sandy sea with Pan Wei. Finally, after another dozen or so minutes, the two managed to stand on top of the car roof. The moment they escaped, Du Chuan looked up and took deep breaths, his smile returning, but then Bi Fang¡¯s voice rang out again, nearly breaking his composure. Damn, that guy was nothing but trouble. The jeep was rented, and now it¡¯s all gone. The money we made today will probably have to cover the loss. What a waste of time. Damn it! ¡°Consider yourselves lucky, because of last time, I made sure to have the helicopter record the landing position. If someone in your live stream calls for help, and there isn¡¯t a sandstorm, they might arrive within an hour or two.¡± ¡°Of course, if not, then you¡¯re on your own. You should know, it gets very cold here at night.¡± Seeing that they were safe, Bi Fang turned around, waved his hand at them without looking back, and climbed up the sand dune to leave. He might have felt relieved, but his seemingly mocking words echoed incessantly in Du Chuan and the others¡¯ ears. They were completely trapped in the quicksand and couldn¡¯t possibly get out on their own. [That¡¯s so badass, Master Fang that move, Shrimp and Pig¡¯s Heart!] [I can¡¯t wait either.] (Pete not so tough gifted the host a Rocket*l¡ªI feel like Brother Fang let them off too easy] [Lin Chang gifted the host Spaceship*io¡ªLittle brother, you¡¯re still too young, you don¡¯t understand the intricacies here, this is on camera.] ¡°Little brother¡­¡± Hearing this nickname made Wang Xiaocong gloomy, though still quite angry, ¡°I always feel like it¡¯s letting those bastards off too cheap.¡± ¡°No choice, this is the limit of what can be done on a live stream.¡± Kong Chao was very calm, ¡°Brother Fang is pretty smart, understands the game rules very well, almost a top-tier player. He has control over the situation, unlike you with your simple mind, a total noob.¡± ¡°???¡± Even though Wang Xiaocong was used to Kong Chao¡¯s daily mockery, he still responded with three question marks. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Literal meaning.¡± ¡°Damn! In the quicksand. On the hood of the jeep. ¡°Want a smoke, Brother Du?¡± Pan Wei offered a mud-covered cigarette, cautiously. ¡°You can¡¯t keep a damn phone secure but can hold onto a pack of cigarettes that tightly?¡± Seeing Pan Wei, Du Chuan was nearly driven to fury. That last wave, if the phone hadn¡¯t fallen into the quicksand, they could¡¯ve made at least tens of thousands! Now look, no phone and no way to make a distress call! After getting scolded, Pan Wei¡¯s hand trembled and he almost dropped the cigarette; Du Chuan rolled his eyes and snatched away both the cigarette and lighter. ¡°Alright, alright, get lost, I get angry just looking at you! Always causing more trouble than you¡¯re worth.¡± Pan Wei nodded repeatedly and ran to the top of the jeep. ¡°Not going to save the fatso?¡± The tall guy glanced at the fatso still stuck in the quicksand and mentioned. ¡°Save what, with his big ass he can¡¯t sink even if he tried, what¡¯s there to save?¡± Du Chuan lit the cigarette and waved his hand impatiently. Seeing this, the tall guy didn¡¯t bring it up again. The cold wind blew as he shrank his body, still uncertain about how to endure what was coming. But no one noticed that the fatty, who had been unconscious for a while, blinked his eyelids. Hmm¡­ Where am I? Damn. My head hurts, and it¡¯s so tiring to breathe. My face hurts too, is it swollen? Did someone hit me? The fatty slowly opened his eyes in pain and then felt a heavy sensation below him. Where is this? Right, there was an accident. The fatty, still groggy, finally began to remember some things, but the slippery feeling underneath him was uncomfortable. He strained to pull out a hand and grabbed something at random, putting it to his nose to smell. A nasty odor hit him in the face. Such a strong smell of gasoline, is there a leak in the tank? This is, is¡­ Quicksand! Finally recalling what happened, the fatty jerked suddenly, his entire body struggling violently, but the quicksand soaked in gasoline was even stickier than before. As he moved, the surrounding sand ¡°liquefied,¡± and the jeep also started to become unstable. This big commotion caught Du Chuan¡¯s attention. He casually flicked away the burning cigarette and was about to tell the fatty to stop moving. Unexpectedly, this motion was clearly seen by the fatty, who turned around to call for help. His pupils shrank sharply, and his heart pounded like it was going to explode! An endless sea of sand with silhouettes swaying on the jeep, and above was the Milky Way spanning across the sky. In the distance on the horizon of the sea of sand, a huge white moon was slowly rising behind the jeep, the craters on its surface distinctly visible. Moonlight spilled down like an approaching tide along the coast. The sound of the tide swept in, and that pinpoint of red light under the veil of sand was exceptionally clear, like¡­ The signal light of the Grim Reaper. Chapter 114 - 111 The Smell of Burning Trash Chapter 114: Chapter 111 The Smell of Burning Trash Translator: 549690339??????? ¡ã Bi Fang opened his backpack, took off his mud-stained windbreaker, shook off the sand, and put on his storm jacket again to ward off the cold wind. The drone soared high, and the frequency of comments suddenly decreased. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Wang Yongbo, the person behind the scenes, was puzzled. It was 8 o¡¯clock in the evening, which should be the peak time for user activity. Why did the activity drop so much while they were on the move? But when he looked at the live broadcast screen, he was stunned. Under the night sky. Bi Fang walked on the cooling sands, with the Milky Way sprawling across the sky above him, and black shadows meandering across the land¡ªclouds blocking the moonlight. The wind sang in a low voice, like an ancient and mysterious song, reminiscent of the totemic characters on old stone pillars, inscribed there long before the world was born. That was the language used by the god of nature when creating the world, singing alone. He was omnipresent, the shifting sand dunes, the wind-eroded boulders, all quietly telling His stories. The vastness of the universe made the audience unable to discern where the wind was coming from; it seemed omnipresent, as if innumerable people from all directions were blowing xuns (ancient wind instruments), humming ancient and mysterious tunes. The clouds parted and the moon emerged, a perfect circle hanging in the sky, unveiling the stars above. A clean light filled the heavens, and on the boundless desert sands, each grain reflected the cold light of the stars and the moon. The boundless desert¡­ Yilihamu had lived amongst the dunes all his life but it was the first time he felt the desert to be so¡­ so grand, instilling awe in him. How beautiful. Many were at a loss for words, unable to find any terms to describe such a scene, and tacitly stopped sending comments. In that moment, their thoughts converged, their souls vibrated. Without the chatter of fools asking for gifts on the side, this clarity of the soul became even more pronounced. ¡°Beautiful, isn¡¯t it?¡± Bi Fang guessed what was on everyone¡¯s minds and voiced it. He stood still as the drone captured a 360-degree view of the entire desert and starry sky. The beauty that attracts you is the one that ensnares you without your notice. And how true this was. A beam of light piercing the night, a seed in the dirt just beginning to sprout green, a flower with a strange fragrance, a lazy cloud, a line of poetry that strikes the soul, a painting that captivates the heart, a sincere and touching melody. A vast and boundless starry sky and desert. [Suddenly feel like going for a Wilderness Survivalist experience, but what if I¡¯m not strong enough? Waiting online, urgent!] [Go for it, I¡¯ll sit at your wife¡¯s table, you don¡¯t have to worry] [Saved a screenshot for wallpaper, thrilled!] [I feel like all these years of traveling were wasted. I shouldn¡¯t have gone to cities; I should have gone to forests and deserts!] [Me too. Visiting other cities is just the same old thing, and crowded to boot.] [Watching Old Fang¡¯s live broadcast, my soul has been cleansed, oh Lord, I have sinned, I shouldn¡¯t have been born this handsome]} [Someone called me handsome, and I thought all night-who let the cat out of the bag?] As Bi Fang¡¯s fan base grew, the audience became more familiar with him, and many started to change the way they addressed him. From the original ¡°streamer¡± to ¡°Master Fang,¡± and now to ¡°Old Fang¡± as many people called him, it was evident in their address. It was a good thing; in fact, Bi Fang also felt this nickname was quite rustic, but many people liked it. After all, uniqueness could pique curiosity, curiosity brought clicks, and clicks brought traffic. Even if it was uniquely rustic. With the departure of Du Chuan and those few troublemakers, Bi Fang¡¯s live stream¡¯s popularity began to surge again. Back at the quicksand incident, there had already been a spike in interest, with the number of viewers exceeding one hundred and fifty thousand. The more passive Bi Fang had been, the more oppressive people felt; now, the more miserable Du Chuan and his crew were, the more exhilarating it was for the audience. The moment Du Chuan and the others got trapped in the quicksand, the online friends collectively reached a climax, ecstatic beyond measure. The gifts rolled in, taking Bi Fang to the top of the Wolf Fang TV gift rankings! Unrivaled! Moreover, Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast times were different from before, starting around eight or nine o¡¯clock when people¡¯s nightlife was just beginning. The online friends¡¯ activity level was incredibly high, and the popularity soared like a rocket. Gifts never stopped coming, to the point where even if Bi Fang sneezed, someone would send a gift praising the technical skill of the sneeze, making others green with envy. In such circumstances, the popularity quickly climbed to a staggering five million, rightfully earning him the title of a major broadcaster! Countless smaller broadcasters watched with eyes red with envy. Looking at Bi Fang¡¯s broadcasting experience, each live stream signified a new level, and to date, he had achieved a triple jump. What about next time? Is the top spot in Wolf Fang secure just like that? Mo Xiaoxian watched Bi Fang¡¯s meteoric rise and couldn¡¯t help but reveal a wry smile; who sat on the throne of the ¡°big brother¡± wasn¡¯t for him to decide. Perhaps in no more than two more sessions, he would have to step down and hand over his position as the lead of Wolf Fang. There was absolutely no comparison. This was the trend of the times; anyone with discernment could see that now, if anyone dared to challenge Bi Fang, they would be digging their own grave! Bi Fang had already become the uncrowned king of Wolf Fang¡¯s live broadcasts! Meanwhile, the drone was still soaring through the night sky. At the strong request of the audience, the drone flew high and filmed for a good ten minutes before returning to Bi Fang to continue the live broadcast. After coughing twice, Bi Fang began to explain the next objective. ¡°During the day in the desert, the heat and lack of water can quickly deplete your energy, so I chose to move at night. Because of the heat capacity of sand, the temperature at night in the desert is significantly lower, even cold, so I put on a windbreaker. The temperature now is about¡­¡± Bi Fang brought the topic back but suddenly sniffed, slightly puzzled. ¡°Strange, what¡¯s that burnt smell? What¡¯s burning?¡± Desert scents are monotonous, just a common bitter burnt smell, but just now, this burnt smell suddenly became much denser, like the scent of garbage being incinerated. It reminded him of the time not long ago when he had burnt bodies; the smell wasn¡¯t as complex, but there was a resemblance. [??? A burnt smell?] [Is someone coming? Or is there a fire nearby?] The live broadcast audience could only watch and listen, but not smell, so at this moment, they didn¡¯t notice anything special. However, some other comments in the chat caught Bi Fang¡¯s attention. [Say, why are Young Master Lin and Lord Mu missing?] [And that high school student too?] [Right, I wouldn¡¯t have realized if you hadn¡¯t mentioned it.] [Could it be that Old Fang, under oppressive power, would rather die than submit, so the big shots lost interest?] [Rather die than submit? Sounds interesting, tell me more!] Seeing the comments, Bi Fang realized that ever since a while back, Yao Jun and Lin Chang seemed to have stopped appearing in the chat. Logically, after driving away Du Chuan, shouldn¡¯t they have started showing off their Spaceships to blind his ¡°dog eyes¡±? Why have they all disappeared? But then, considering it again, Bi Fang let it go. ¡°After all, they are big bosses and students in real life; how could they possibly watch live broadcasts all the time? It¡¯s normal for them to leave for a while.¡± It would be really strange if they hung out in his live broadcast room every day. So, Bi Fang didn¡¯t think too much of it, and the viewers, having digressed, made him forget about the burnt smell. After all, this was the desert; there wouldn¡¯t be any forest fires. It didn¡¯t matter; perhaps some trash was really burning after all? Chapter 115 - 112: The Valley Chapter 115: Chapter 112: The Valley Translator: 549690339 | Bi Fang zipped up his windbreaker and raised the collar to block the cold wind. The current temperature is probably between five and ten degrees Celsius, which is quite cold, but during the day, the desert reached an astonishing high temperature of around forty-five degrees Celsius. The temperature difference is over thirty degrees, which demonstrates the unique climate of the desert. So, if you want to go on a desert tour, you must prepare the necessary cold protection equipment.¡± ¡°Moreover, due to the scorching weather during the day, the pot of water I brought is almost finished, so I want to find a place to replenish my water supply before midnight.¡± [How do you find water in this place? Rely on an oasis?] [I always feel that oases are rare in the desert, usually only in novels] [Add one] [I¡¯m already looking forward to Master Fang¡¯s display of divine power] [That¡¯s right, Master Fang certainly has a way!] The audience can hardly imagine how to find a water source in such a barren desert. Yet they instinctively believe that Bi Fang can find it, which is a trust built up over a long time. To achieve this, the difficulty is comparable to a company trying to establish a good reputation; every single thing must be done correctly and with precision like a wristwatch. Precious. ¡°Don¡¯t pin your hopes on the existence of an oasis, they do exist but are hard to form, requiring a combination of many coincidental factors, which makes the probability of encountering one very small. My plan is to extract enough water from plants, like cactuses, for example.¡± To pin hopes on an elusive oasis is completely wrong; that is a miracle that only happens in movies and TV shows. Bi Fang had a clear goal. He didn¡¯t indulge in thoughts of finding an oasis, but finding plants in the desert was relatively simple. He opened his water bottle and drank the last sip of water, as if it were a do-or-die situation. His cracked lips moistened, regaining a bit of color. The task of finding water became more urgent. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. To find plants, of course, could not rely on luck. ¡°Survival is all about purposefulness. We have limited physical strength, so we must use our limited strength to achieve as much as possible. That¡¯s how we can significantly increase our chance of survival.¡± ¡°The wet quicksand we just encountered is an important clue. There¡¯s a complete and enormous underground river here; otherwise, we wouldn¡¯t have seen such an expanse of wet quicksand.¡± ¡°The conditions nearby shouldn¡¯t be as bad as before, all covered in dunes. If we can find a Gobi-like valley nearby, there will likely be green vegetation.¡± Bi Fang swallowed his saliva. Generally speaking, in places with lots of giant rocks, desertification isn¡¯t so severe¡ªit¡¯s mostly Gobi terrain. ¡°During times of war in the past, people fighting in the desert faced the biggest challenge of water scarcity.¡± ¡°To solve the water issue, scientists from Ugly Country came up with a method. It was to gradually reduce soldiers¡¯ water supply. If they didn¡¯t feel dehydrated, they could survive under water scarcity and develop physiological adaptation. ¡±But as you might guess, this method was not viable. A lack of water would only lead to a threat of death.¡± As he walked, Bi Fang casually mentioned another example. He was never a person who relied solely on the System. Instead, he actively learned and strived to improve the quality of his live broadcasts. After scouring through a vast array of materials and learning, he was now able to recount such stories effortlessly. Many long-time viewers from the beginning could clearly feel this. Even as Bi Fang was on the move, very few left; who doesn¡¯t love to hear a good story? [Awesome, Master Fang¡¯s time for a science lesson] [If I knew this much back in my day, I wouldn¡¯t be single now!] [You being single is because of this? Not because you¡¯re ugly?] [Don¡¯t expose people¡¯s shortcomings! Leave some leeway for others, so we can meet again in the future!] Quite interesting, huh. Bi Fang chuckled as he watched the barrage of comments from his online friends, and didn¡¯t feel as exhausted anymore. With company, one seldom feels lonely. ¡°To survive in the desert, the most important thing is to maintain a balance between physical activity, ambient temperature, and water consumption. To function normally at different temperatures, one must consume varying amounts of water.¡± ¡°Research indicates that under high temperatures or when performing strenuous labor, the average person needs to intake at least 3 liters of water per day. Without enough water, this advanced animal cannot make correct judgments or handle problems normally.¡± The human body needs to maintain a temperature around 37¡ãC. When we are active or in a hot environment, we easily sweat, and the amount of sweat is directly proportional to the temperature because we must perspire to dissipate heat in order to maintain body temperature balance. Otherwise, we can easily get sick.¡± Once we understand the relationship between activity, temperature, and the body¡¯s water content, we will know how to better reduce water consumption. Here, I have three ways to slow down the rate of dehydration.¡± Everyone perked up their ears. The connection between activity, temperature, and body hydration is very tight; a change in one often disrupts the balance of the others. Therefore, there are traces to follow to reduce water consumption. Expand sources, save expenses. ¡°First, reduce activity in high temperatures, which is why I avoid the sun during the day.¡± Second, make use of the sweat on our bodies. When we move, we must be fully equipped, using our clothes to preserve the sweat, keeping it on the skin. As it evaporates, we will feel cool. If exposed directly to the air, the sweat will evaporate in no time, serving no purpose.¡± ¡°The last point is, do not eat food that cannot rehydrate you when you are thirsty and lacking sufficient water supply!¡± Many viewers were listening attentively, but the last point puzzled them. Why shouldn¡¯t they eat? Doesn¡¯t eating provide energy? How can one escape the desert without strength? You are right, but before I came here, I also said something that you seem to have forgotten,¡± Bi Fang addressed the comments, explaining, ¡°At that time, I said, in the desert, survival is not the most important thing anymore, because this is not a short-term task. What¡¯s truly important is finding a water source!¡± ¡°Any food entering the body requires water to digest, so if you are very thirsty and do not have an ample water supply, and the food itself doesn¡¯t provide hydration, then definitely do not eat it!¡± Bi Fang slid down the dune, spat the sand from his mouth, and kicked a stone at his feet, feeling a slight joy. Deep in the desert, the presence of stones means getting closer to soil, even if it¡¯s just a Gobi, it¡¯s much better than a desert full of dunes. Because stones are heavy, even strong winds can hardly lift them, and under the cover of sandstorms year after year, except for real boulders, they would generally be buried under the sea of sand. Sure enough, after Bi Fang climbed over another dune, a sandstone terrain appeared before everyone. Every rock was bizarrely shaped, their jagged figures standing under the silvery white moonlight added an eerie look As Bi Fang stepped into this stretch of sandstone terrain alone, this sense of eeriness intensified. [It feels like a scene from a horror movie.] [I¡¯m a bit scared to watch, what do I do?] [Demons and devils, leave quickly, demons and devils, leave quickly!] [I¡¯ve already warned you, if you don¡¯t listen, that¡¯s on you!] [Silent Ridge 3 shooting in progress] ¡°What¡¯s there to be afraid of?¡± Bi Fang said with a smile as he caressed a rock, ¡°This is the result of thousands of years of wind erosion. It¡¯s full of historical weight, not horror.¡± Bi Fang crossed over the rocks and continued on his way. After jumping over several cracks, a canyon suddenly appeared before everyone. Here it comes! All spectators perked up at the sight of the valley. Could there be greenery here? Chapter 116 - 113: Don’t Miss It When You Encounter It (Makeup Update) Chapter 116: Chapter 113: Don¡¯t Miss It When You Encounter It (Makeup Update) Translator: 549690339 Under the night sky, the mountains resembled a serpentine form. The stars were clear and bright, shining upon a flat expanse nestled within the valley. From the surrounding area, this valley floor looked like a giant pot. It also appeared as a gaping maw to the viewers, many of whom suddenly felt a shiver of malevolence rising from the depths of their hearts. Beneath them was pitch darkness, making it impossible to discern whether there were any plants or animals. [It¡¯s a bit like the mouth of the abyss.] [Are there plants below? It looks so eerie.] [Is this night mode or normal light?] [I can¡¯t tell anymore, it seems like normal light, otherwise it wouldn¡¯t be this dark, right? But it also has a cinematic feel, normal light wouldn¡¯t be this bright, would it?] ¡°No, you¡¯re underestimating the night sky of the Qaidam Desert,¡± Bi Fang shook his head. The light-capture capability of the live broadcaster was indeed strong, but that was only part of the reason. The desert sat at high altitude, and nearly devoid of human settlement, let alone industrial development, the nighttime sky was exceptionally beautiful. Moonlight poured down, and even without torches or flashlight, Bi Fang could still see quite clearly, which was why he could travel so fast. ¡°It¡¯s rare to find such a large valley in the desert; its formation is mostly due to tectonic activity. If we¡¯re lucky, we might come across groundwater surging to the surface and find a water source right below us.¡± ¡°Even if that¡¯s not the case, the huge cliffs on either side of the valley provide shade, making the valley floor very cool. Even during the day, the temperature at the bottom of the valley can be many degrees lower, maybe even by ten! So I must go down there.¡± The factors limiting the growth of desert plants are two: temperature and water source. Now both might be found in one place, how could Bi Fang pass up this opportunity? [Wow! Is this rock climbing again?] [Rock climbing in the dark? No way, officer, isn¡¯t that going too far?] [So impressive, I¡¯ve been rock climbing for three or four years now and I wouldn¡¯t dare climb blind!] [Hey, your ID looks familiar, haven¡¯t I seen it before?] [Isn¡¯t that the same guy who left a long comment to show off during Old Fang¡¯s first tree climb? I thought it was a scam for donations!] [666, also a ten-year-old fan!] ¡°You¡¯re making it sound more dramatic than it is. This mountain face has a slope, and a significant one at that, not a sheer cliff,¡± Bi Fang shook his head and began searching the edge of the valley. He needed to find a gentler slope, the gentler the better. Soon, Bi Fang found a gentle slope at a relatively narrow spot, with large rocks placed every few meters as footholds. Under the viewers¡¯ anxious gaze, Bi Fang turned his back to the canyon, didn¡¯t hesitate too much, took a deep breath, and slowly extended his foot below the cliff¡¯s edge. [Damn, that step, definitely professional, both the force and the angle were just right. Without twenty years of skill, you couldn¡¯t make that step!] [Wow, is that step really so particular?] [Upstairs, you¡¯re blowing smoke, and you believe that?] S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [So thrilling, props to everyone, I¡¯m thankful.] Bi Fang: Just as he extended one foot and saw this barrage, he nearly developed a heart demon and quickly focused, fearful of falling into the valley to his death. [The joyful Yang Pigskin has gifted the host a spaceship*!¡ªBe careful, host! What is everyone waiting for, Master Fang is working so hard, why not send some gifts?] [Here it comes, here it comes, these are my twenty-year-old meatballs, all for you.] [Twenty years? They must be rotten by now?] This guy is playing into my hands! He deserved to be an admin. Bi Fang glanced at the live chat barrage and noticed the message from the joyful Yang Pigskin, delighted inside but remained expressionless. Please step up the effort! Until now, Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast had quite a few admins, including Fat Cat Pete, Lord Mu, Lin Chang, among others, as well as some who didn¡¯t gift much but frequently sent friendly messages, to whom Bi Fang also granted admin privileges. Wilderness survival was an activity where one could easily encounter danger, and Bi Fang couldn¡¯t always pay attention to the live broadcast, making the presence of admins quite necessary. With that thought in mind, Bi Fang stepped on a protruding rock on the rock face with his left foot and confirmed its stability before shifting his weight onto it. The skill given by the System is good in this regard; even without practice for a month, I still got the hang of it quickly and didn¡¯t feel rusty. The sky was very dark, but with Bi Fang¡¯s current rock climbing level, handling a more than twenty-meter-high cliff with a not inconsiderable slope was still not difficult. Over ten minutes later, after descending more than ten meters, Bi Fang looked at the pitch-dark ground below; he didn¡¯t dare to jump straight down. Since it was a valley, the moonlight couldn¡¯t reach it, and everything below became pitch black, making it impossible to tell if the ground was flat or littered with broken rocks. Better to climb down honestly. Bi Fang dismissed the idea of courting death and three minutes later, he landed on the ground without incident. ¡°Phew, finally down,¡± Bi Fang shook his sore arms and then looked toward the dark valley. It was too dark; he could only vaguely make out some upright shadows. But the UAV, which had already switched to night mode, captured everything clearly, and the online friends were excitedly posting barrage comments. [Grass, there¡¯s really grass!] [That¡¯s a shrub, idiot!] [Is there water to drink now?] [Not necessarily, what hydration can these shrubs provide? Shouldn¡¯t we be looking for cacti?] ¡°It seems there really are green plants here,¡± Bi Fang saw the barrage comments and sighed in relief, then added a reminder. ¡°But you all must not take it lightly, if there¡¯s green flora, it means there¡¯s a lot more moisture here, which can attract us, and naturally, it can attract other animals, especially venomous snakes! So, absolutely do not recklessly approach those shrubs.¡± ¡°It¡¯s very possible that in a corner you can¡¯t see, there¡¯s a camouflaged venomous snake waiting to strike!¡± [So sneaky?] [It¡¯s the survival of the fittest in nature! What¡¯s sneaky about it] ¡°Yes, this is the survival of the fittest in nature,¡± Bi Fang nodded in agreement and then carefully avoided those shrubs, heading to the other side of the valley where the moonlight was much brighter and some plants could be simply identified. As soon as he saw a shrub come into his view. ¡°Hey, look what I¡¯ve found, it¡¯s a ¡®flower rod¡¯!¡± Bi Fang went over joyfully, making sure there were no creatures nearby, then directly grabbed a handful and started tying it up. [Why isn¡¯t Old Fang protecting the environment anymore?] [No choice, there¡¯s really nothing here, Old Fang has to use what¡¯s available right now, it shouldn¡¯t be a protected plant] [¡®Flower rod,¡¯ that name sounds familiar] [Wait, don¡¯t tell me I planted it when I was planting trees in the Carapace Ant Forest?] [Damn, now that you mention it, I remember too!] Seeing this, Bi Fang chuckled. ¡°It looks like someone knows what it is. ¡®Flower rod,¡¯ also known as Sister Hua, flower hat, and bull tail, is drought-resistant, wind erosion-resistant, and is a pioneer plant for sand fixation in our country, mainly used for sand-fixing forests, desert highway shelterbelts, etc., often planted in the Carapace Ant Forest!¡± ¡°Most importantly, this plant is high in oil content, which makes it very suitable as a fuel for fires; I plan to make a simple torch with it.¡± Bi Fang bundled up the ¡®flower rod,¡¯ took out his flint, and lit one end. The flame burst into life, driving away both the darkness and the chill. Bi Fang picked up the torch, about to move forward, when a dry branch a meter away caught his attention. Crouching down with the torch in hand, he took a closer look and soon revealed a smile. ¡°Many desert snakes like to stay close to dry branches because they serve as perfect camouflage. Then, they wait for prey to come close and strike a fatal blow.¡± ¡°It seems we¡¯re in luck this time, we¡¯ve encountered one.¡± Chapter 117 - 114 Spicy Strips Chapter 117: Chapter 114 Spicy Strips Translator: 549690339 Under the flickering firelight, a pile of dry weeds appeared before everyone. Due to the light, many couldn¡¯t make out what it was at first, not until Bi Fang brought the torch closer and a stir among the viewers revealed the deadly killer hidden in the desiccated foliage. It was a snake with a slender body, grayish-yellow back, and white horizontal stripes. At that moment, it lay concealed in the dead grass, blending in perfectly with its surroundings. If it hadn¡¯t been provoked by the torch, even if it was in front of the viewers, they wouldn¡¯t have been able to identify it immediately. It wasn¡¯t that Bi Fang saw it, but he ¡°smelled¡± it. He had caught a faint stench in the area, which made him realize there could be a creature nearby. It was with purposeful searching that he found the snake. [Dang, is that really a snake?] [The camouflage is off the charts; how can you tell normally? Kinda scary.] [There are snakes in the desert?] [Be careful! It¡¯s coiling up! Does this mean it¡¯s going to attack?] [This one¡¯s got guts, eh? Last time Master Fang encountered a Black-striped Snake, it didn¡¯t even look back; just ran away!] [Enough said, our snake family doesn¡¯t have such a disgraceful snake!] Bi Fang watched the venomous snake intently as its neck contracted and its tail shook violently, quietly explaining. ¡°This is the subtle difference between venomous and nonvenomous snakes. Typically, snakes that flee upon seeing humans are nonvenomous, while those that coil and prepare to strike are venomous. Of course, this isn¡¯t a rule but a simple judgment, similar to the triangular head¡ªit¡¯s not accurate, but it has certain applicability.¡± ¡°Especially this one in front of me, the Intermediate Viper!¡± ¡°The Intermediate Viper has an extremely fierce nature. Snakes from the Colubridae family normally flee quickly upon encountering humans, but this one never actively avoids conflict. Instead, it would contract its neck and shake its tail, entering an attack stance!¡± [? Isn¡¯t this like the flat-headed bro? Fight to death, clash to the end!] [Intermediate Viper? Did I hear that name right? Is it the intermediary I¡¯m thinking of?] [Zong Jie? This is Ponyo, Zong Jie!] [Attack mode, huh! Aren¡¯t you guys afraid?] [Afraid of what? Encountering Master Fang means it¡¯s nothing but a spicy snack!] [Viper? Is it venomous?] ¡°The ¡®Intermediate¡¯ here is exactly what you think¡ªlike the middleman who makes a profit off the margin.¡± Without looking at the barrage, Bi Fang could more or less guess what the Online Friends were talking about. This was his second encounter with a venomous snake; unlike the first time when he came face to face with one in a tree, this time the terrain was open and he had discovered the snake early on. The danger was greatly reduced. ¡°Snakes mainly rely on scent and infrared vision to capture prey. Does anyone remember what I said about the Gebayas¡¯ people before? They use flames to confuse the python¡¯s target. I¡¯m doing the same here; as long as we keep shaking the torch, it can¡¯t determine the target quickly.¡± Bi Fang shook the torch, disorienting the venomous snake while pretending to glance at the drone¡¯s screen showing the barrage. ¡°Yes, and it is highly venomous. The Intermediate Viper is the most widespread, most numerous, and most poisonous snake in the northern parts of my country. They are found in forests and the Gobi, but hardly ever in the desert. The fact that this Intermediate Viper can live here shows that this place is indeed not barren and might even be ¡®richer¡¯ than I thought!¡± Bi Fang used a somewhat inappropriate term, but compared with the previous barren desert, the gravel and rocky Gobi was indeed ¡®richer¡¯. ¡°Moreover, I can clearly tell you all one thing¡ªif it¡¯s a Viper, then it is definitely venomous, because the scientific name ¡®Agkistrodon¡¯ comes from Greek, where ¡®Ancistro¡¯ means ¡°hook,¡± and ¡®odon¡¯ stands for ¡°tooth.¡±¡± ¡°Combined, they refer to the well-known hooked fangs of the Viper. It¡¯s not a name that originated from our country¡¯s custom. Our country¡¯s research on snakes started quite late, and most of the names come from foreign journals.¡± ¡°Whenyou see a snake name that contains ¡®viper,¡¯ you can simply understand it as a snake with venomous fangs.¡± In his past life as a biological surveyor, Bi Fang was very familiar with these terms and vocabulary. Looking at the coiled venomous snake in front of him, Bi Fang narrowed his eyes. With the viper¡¯s widespread distribution and abundant numbers, it certainly couldn¡¯t be a protected animal. As long as he could catch it, wouldn¡¯t he have his meal for the night? There was still a long way to go, and the chances of encountering wildlife were slim. Moreover, most encounters would likely be with protected animals, so this was a rare opportunity. The audience became even more thrilled when they heard Bi Fang was going to catch the snake. A venomous snake! Many say they¡¯ve memorized how to catch snakes, but seeing someone catch a venomous snake with their own eyes is a first! ¡°The temperature is very low right now, which will greatly reduce the mobility of this viper. And it¡¯s naturally quite slow, but we can¡¯t take it lightly. If it bites me, this live broadcast will come to an abrupt end,¡± Bi Fang said. [Awesome, I¡¯m used to Old Fang¡¯s show-off rhythm already] [This isn¡¯t showing off, it¡¯s clearly performing miracles in front of people! (Funny)] [Viper: I can fail countless times, but you only have one chance!] [This is Old Fang¡¯s first time catching a snake!] [Nonsense! Does my Golden Python have no face?] [So thrilling, is he going to eat the snake?] Meanwhile, Bi Fang, holding a torch, took a step back, just looking for a stone, when unexpectedly, the viper followed him! Many viewers had just brushed off Bi Fang¡¯s description of the viper¡¯s ferocity, but seeing this scene, they were instantly startled. So fierce! In just a few seconds, the viper moved its significant length from the bushes. Under the firelight, its snake eyes reflected a cold glare, its tongue flicked out, and its long curved fangs were exposed to the air. Bi Fang waved the torch in front of the viper again, but this time the viper went straight for the flame! Bi Fang reacted quickly. The moment the viper bit, he swept the torch sideways, diverting the snake¡¯s head, forgoing the stone on the ground and reaching directly for the viper¡¯s tail! Damn! Many viewers broke out in a cold sweat at the sight, thinking how bold he was! When the viper bit into the torch, it immediately felt something wrong. The sensation was different from anything it had bitten before, a piercing pain shot through its fangs. Just as it planned to let go, it felt the world spin. It was being lifted! As soon as Bi Fang grabbed the tail, he stood up quickly, extending his left arm away from his trunk and shaking it rapidly. Since snake muscles are generally developed, if he didn¡¯t do this, it could quickly wind up his arm and bite him. As expected, as the viper recovered, it tried to raise its head to bite Bi Fang¡¯s arm. But with a shake, just when it got close to his arm, it was thrown down again. Holding the viper by its tail, Bi Fang slammed it against the rocky wall nearby, like cracking a whip. Just one hit left the viper dazed. Then Bi Fang stepped on the snake¡¯s head with one foot and took out his hunting knife, carefully severing its head. But at the moment the head fell, the body of the snake coiled around Bi Fang¡¯s leg! [!] sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [!] [!] In the heat of the moment, many viewers could only let out an exclamation, wanting to warn Bi Fang. Unfortunately, how could Bi Fang, who was not looking at the comments, notice in time? Chapter 118 - 115 Side Quest? Chapter 118: Chapter 115 Side Quest? Translator: 549690339 | On this side, Bi Fang stepped on the snake¡¯s body and used the tip of the knife to slice off the snake¡¯s head, carefully flipping it away with the knife, only then noticing the barrage of comments. Seeing the screen full of exclamation points, Bi Fang was confused. What¡¯s the danger here? He looked around, in the pitch-dark environment, all was silent, nothing there at all, right? sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It wasn¡¯t until someone pointed out that the snake had wrapped around his calf that Bi Fang finally realized what was happening. ¡°Ah, this, I forgot to mention it just now.¡± Bi Fang casually took the snake off his leg, went back to where he had flipped the severed head, and placed the hunting knife under the snake¡¯s jaws, almost instantly, the severed head bit the hunting knife! Withdrawing the hunting knife from the firmly clamped jaws, Bi Fang showed it to the camera, then moved closer to the light, and the audience was startled to see two drops of something like water beads on the blade. ¡°This is venom,¡± Bi Fang explained. ¡°Snakes are different from humans. Their nerve centers are spread throughout their bodies, unlike humans, whose nerve centers are in the brain. Humans stop moving when their heads are gone, but a snake can still have nerve consciousness even after being cut into pieces. At this time, there¡¯s still venom in the fangs, and it¡¯s lethal. ¡°That¡¯s also why, just now, when I was cutting off the snake¡¯s head, I didn¡¯t touch it with my hands from start to finish. Even if the snake¡¯s head is severed, it can still survive for a dozen minutes to several tens of minutes, and in cold weather, this time can extend to three to four hours until the nerves die. ¡°There was a very popular news story before. It was about a restaurant employee in Guangdong who slaughtered a Thai King Cobra for a customer. After chopping off the head and putting it aside, he got bitten on the finger when he went to throw the head into the trash more than ten minutes later. He died on the spot from the poison!¡± [Fingers subconsciously tighten.] [The poisoning has already begun.] [Here it comes, Old Fang¡¯s collection of little stories.] [Before each departure, how many news stories does Old Fang check? I just searched, and it¡¯s true, unbelievable.] ¡°Nonsense, you think I¡¯m making it up?¡± Bi Fang rolled his eyes, his online friends actually didn¡¯t trust him! Next time, he¡¯d exclude him from the lottery draw! After tossing the snake carcass into his backpack, Bi Fang continued on his way. This was reserved food; Bi Fang didn¡¯t plan to eat it without having found a water source yet. Along the way, Bi Fang, carrying a torch, continued to navigate through the valley, occasionally collecting some kindling to put in his backpack; once he left this place, he didn¡¯t know if he would encounter this kind of fire-friendly plant again. This valley was unexpectedly long. Bi Fang walked for over an hour and still hadn¡¯t reached the end; he even caught a Sparganas along the way, which he killed directly with a rock. ¡°The valley has two Sparganas; it¡¯s richer than I thought,¡± Bi Fang said while holding the snake carcass, which was bigger than the previous one. Without enough geckos or lizards, this kind of food chain wouldn¡¯t hold up here. It¡¯s very likely that this leads directly to an underground river! ¡°I thought it would be good just to find some plants, but the harvest is much bigger than I expected. These two snakes are enough for me to eat for two days.¡± After stuffing the snakes into his backpack once again, Bi Fang looked up at the moon. From the direction it had risen at the beginning to now shifting significantly, he estimated the time to be just past eleven o¡¯clock at night. Though it was not so hot now, having been on the move for so long, Bi Fang s tongue felt as if it was about to crack, and his voice began to grow hoarse, speaking much less than before. He struggled to swallow a mouthful of saliva, sticky as glue. [Weird, is there really water here? There aren¡¯t even any cacti.] [There must be, with all these plants, right?] [Maybe it¡¯s precisely because there¡¯s so much underground water that there aren¡¯t any cacti.] [Makes sense!] After about another half hour of walking, Bi Fang changed to a new torch and leaned on a rock face, feeling unexpectedly slippery and wet. He withdrew his hand, pinched his fingers, and lifted the torch to examine the rock wall beside him. An entire face of the huge rock was covered in water droplets! ¡°There must be a water source nearby!¡± Bi Fang was certain, or else there wouldn¡¯t be so many water droplets here. He resisted the urge to lick the rock wall and quickly walked forward. Many viewers who were about to turn off the stream and go to sleep became excited at this sight and decided to wait until Bi Fang found the water source before sleeping. Just a little longer, then sleep right after. Sure enough, around the next bend, less than ten meters away, a small pool appeared before everyone¡¯s eyes! The pool was not small, about six square meters in area, enclosed by the mountain wall. Extending the torch out, Bi Fang could see that the pool was very clear, with ripples occasionally moving across the water¡¯s surface. [Oh ho! Found a water source!] [We¡¯ve got water!] [Watching this makes me chug a big gulp of Coke] [The guy drinking Coke, aren¡¯t you afraid of cavities.] ¡°It really is a flowing source of water!¡± Bi Fang was excited. The surface of the pond had no streams flowing into it, yet under the light of the fire, one could still see it was very clear, which was impossible! Unless it was connected to an underground water source, becoming a flowing body of water! Without a doubt, underground water is the cleanest source of replenishment in the wild. With that thought, Bi Fang immediately lay by the edge of the pond and began to fill his water bottle. But before it was full, he couldn¡¯t wait any longer and started to take small sips from it. His glue-like saliva diluted, no longer blocking his cracked throat, the crisp water slid down his smoking esophagus and into his stomach, as cracked as the earth itself. Glug glug, glug glug. This jug of water washed away ah the pent-up gloom blocking his vitality. Bi Fang did not stop there. He refilled his water twice in succession and drank nearly a jug and a half before finally wiping his mouth and letting out a series of burps. ¡°Ah, that was so satisfying.¡± ¡°However, one must drink water in moderation because we lose a lot of electrolytes through sweating. If we only drink water without replenishing salt and other essential elements, we can get water intoxication.¡± Bi Fang had never mentioned this to his audience before; he feared that those capitalizing on the situation would be prepared, reducing the effect of debuffs stacked upon them. Then his quicksand ultimate move wouldn¡¯t be as effective. [Damn, I wondered why those guys seemed to get more and more off the more they drank. So that¡¯s why!] [I always thought Master Fang was eyeing them drinking water because he was jealous, never thought it was for this reason.] [I like this, hehehe] [The wilderness is really dangerous, not knowing anything and diving headfirst is like courting death!] Bi Fang refilled his jug with water, then took out a snake corpse from his bag, set up a firewood pile, and prepared to roast and eat it right there. Now that he had found a water source, it was time to replenish his strength. He hadn¡¯t eaten anything for a day. ¡°Intermediate vipers, like this small snake, survive by preying on mice, lizards, and other small creatures, so they have a lot of parasites on their bodies, and many small bugs also live under their scales. That¡¯s why people said 1 should skin the snake.¡± Bi Fang used his Hunting Knife to separate the snake skin from the meat, prepared to strip off the entire skin. But as soon as he started to tear a small part away, the sharply focused camera allowed viewers to see white larvae falling like raindrops, dropping to the ground like granulation tissue, making their skin itch, as if they too had countless tiny bugs burrowing inside! ¡°Fuck! Sparganosis!¡± Even Bi Fang almost threw the snake away, a wave of physical discomfort spread from his scalp to his heels. If it was that rough on him, let alone the live stream viewers, many eating their late-night snacks nearly threw up. Enduring the discomfort, Bi Fang completely skinned the snake, impaled it on a stick, and started roasting it. When subjected to the high heat, the Sparganas in the snake¡¯s body immediately reacted. They frantically tried to escape the flesh, but were quickly killed by the intense heat. ¡°Phew!¡± Bi Fang sighed in relief upon seeing the Sparganas dead, and then began explaining what those parasites were, ¡°Those were Sparganosis parasites¡­¡± No one noticed. in the adjacent pond, the original gentle ripples suddenly grew much larger. A fin with spikes flashed in the light of the fire, appearing on the surface of the water, but quickly submerged once again. As if it had never appeared. It was the emergence of this unknown creature that made Bi Fang pause. The familiar System voice sounded again. [Ding! Congratulations, host, for triggering the side quest: Underground Cave. Would you like to accept it?] Chapter 119 - 116: The Horse-Taming Man Chapter 119: Chapter 116: The Horse-Taming Man Translator: 549690339 Underground Cave? Where? The sudden appearance of the mission confused Bi Fang, who stopped explaining the Sparganas, looked up, and scanned his surroundings. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Apart from the rock walls, it was pitch black. Could it be¡­ Bi Fang¡¯s gaze shifted to the nearby dark pond, forgetting to flip the snake meat in his hand. Is the cave in the pond? [This snake is so disgusting, you¡¯re actually going to eat it?] [Can¡¯t accept it.] [Once it¡¯s cooked, it should be fine to eat, right? Parasites are just bugs after all; they must be high in protein!] [The meat we usually eat basically has parasites too, it¡¯s just that they¡¯re all cooked well enough to prevent infection.] ¡°Yes, to kill the Sparganas, you need at least 100 degrees Celsius for 2 minutes. Even though I¡¯m grilling here, and the temperature¡¯s higher, it still needs over a minute,¡± Bi Fang regained his focus and started to respond to the comments. The viewers hadn¡¯t noticed anything unusual either. The current turn of events was somewhat unexpected for Bi Fang. If it was an ordinary hole, that would be one thing, but this one was in a pond. It was too dangerous. Unknown gases and environments, and there might even be unidentified creatures. What¡¯s more, it was specifically highlighted by the System! [Would you like to take on the side mission? Note: This mission entails a certain level of danger.] Bi Fang had never encountered such a situation before! So if there was a hole, it definitely wouldn¡¯t just be any ordinary cave, but very likely an entire complex cave system! As intricate and maze-like as a labyrinth! The critical point now was how to explain to the viewers that he wanted to check out the pond¡­ It was true, the appearance of this mission had completely captivated Bi Fang. ¡°To better get rid of parasites, when we eat anything in the wild, it¡¯s best to grill it until the surface is charred black. Although this might affect the taste somewhat, it guarantees enough safety,¡± Bi Fang said. Bi Fang flipped the slightly charred snake meat, picked a piece off the stick carelessly, and stuffed it into his mouth without minding the heat. ¡°Phew!¡± A puff of hot air burst from Bi Fang¡¯s mouth. Without any seasonings, a burnt bitterness spread on the surface of the meat. Bi Fang chewed twice, finding the meat tough and chewy, but for someone who hadn¡¯t eaten all day, it was still a rare delicacy. ¡°Without oil, this piece of snake meat is too dry, a bit stuck in the teeth, but the inside is quite good, with a texture similar to that of an eel, fishy but very fresh and sweet.¡± After chewing a few more times, Bi Fang swallowed it down. ¡°Many people say snake skin is also a delicious food, but it¡¯s too much trouble to prepare. Not only do you have to boil it in hot water first, you also have to scrape off the scales. Such effort just to eat snake skin doesn¡¯t seem worth it for someone who is struggling to survive,¡± he said. Bi Fang pointed at the snake skin next to the pond, bunched up with blobs of blood still sticking to it. ¡°If I could, 1 would take it back¡­¡± ¡°Splash!¡± A sound of water suddenly broke the silence of the night, startling everyone. Bi Fang quickly stood up, stepped back several paces, and stared intently at the pond. ¡°There¡¯s something in the pond!¡± There was no need for Bi Fang to say if, the viewers had also come to this realization, although it was incredibly unbelievable. [Damn, there are fish in such a small pond?] [From the sound of it, that fish doesn¡¯t seem small.] [Master Fang didn¡¯t say that this place is connected to an underground river with flowing water, right? Otherwise it would have dried and stank long ago.] [Are there living creatures in the underground river?] The sound of splashing water came again, as if a large fish had flipped and churned up the surface. Bi Fang gripped the Hunting Knife, not daring to be careless. Even though common sense told him that there were few large fish in the underground river, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t afford to relax. The System had already issued a warning, this creature was not to be underestimated! The only source of light was the pile of firewood, but the range of the firelight was not extensive. The brightness on the lake surface was exceedingly dim, and on the quiet water¡¯s surface, there was only a small ripple slowly spreading out. Bi Fang¡¯s nameless unease crept up on him; he stared intently at that unusually calm patch of water, but after more than ten minutes, nothing appeared. He let out a low breath, sheathed the Hunting Knife between his thighs, and turned around to pick up the snake meat. However, that calm ripple had silently reappeared, silently, like a snake gliding beneath the water. The thin line of water slowly traced a circle before disappearing again, with the water¡¯s surface returning to calm. This time, it truly disappeared. ¡°Phew, it looks like it¡¯s left,¡± Bi Fang wiped the sweat from his forehead and casually bent down to pick up the snake meat from the ground. In the silent night, nothing happened. Indeed, aquatic animals living in desert conditions is a surprising notion. But on the flip side, such an environment imposes massive constraints on the evolution of creatures. ¡°Having survived in the wild often, I¡¯ve become a bit too sensitive. Generally speaking, unless it¡¯s a crocodile, there are few aquatic creatures that dare to come ashore, let alone attack someone of my size like a¡­¡± Mid-sentence, Bi Fang felt an instant stab of pain between his brows. The water suddenly burst into a splash! In the same instant, Bi Fang leaped up, a sound like tearing silk filled the air, and the movement caused the flames to waver. A massive black shadow leaped out from the burst of water, pouncing towards Bi Fang¡ªmissed him! ¡°Fish!¡± Wu Gang couldn¡¯t help but cry out in shock. But he couldn¡¯t be sure if that was indeed a fish. Not just Wu Gang, even Bi Fang couldn¡¯t recognize what exactly it was. He searched through his memory and found no trace of such a creature! The large fish had fierce bone spikes on its head, sharp like teeth, piercing through the dark leather skin, reflecting a metallic sheen, the hard skeleton covered its entire head. The monster seemed to lack eyes; its whole head was just a gaping maw, filled with venomous snake-like barbed teeth! Its tongue was a dark brown color, adorned with what appeared to be poisonous blue nodules. Half of the creature¡¯s body was thrown onto the shore by the force of the current, its tail hard as wrought iron, desperately lashing against the rocks. It reared its head to bite at Bi Fang once more, its attention fixed on Bi Fang¡¯s legs! Bi Fang, looking at the eyeless monster, then noticing the bloodied snake skin beneath it, had an epiphany. This thing had been drawn by the scent of blood. The creature crouched, muscles tense and charged with energy. Bi Fang leaped to dodge, but the monster¡¯s massive body contained astonishing strength; it caught up to him in the blink of an eye! With excellent dynamic vision, Bi Fang stared at the gaping maw, his pupils contracted sharply. A fearsome stench emerged, and under the firelight, the dagger-like teeth dimmed and brightened. In desperation, Bi Fang didn¡¯t have time to back away. Knowing he couldn¡¯t outmaneuver his opponent and that being pounced upon would be extremely dangerous, he steeled himself and, surprisingly, extended his hands in mid-air, moving to meet the creature head-on! The firelight was dim, and no one could see clearly what he was doing with his hands, feeling only that Bi Fang was brazen to the point of near madness! Planning to lose your hands? Just when everyone thought Bi Fang¡¯s hands would be bitten off by the monster, in the next moment, Bi Fang landed abruptly, tugging at something as he hastily retreated. The entire valley was filled with the creature¡¯s cries, its efforts to roar and scream sounded like the cries of an infant. Bi Fang had actually grabbed hold of the monster¡¯s tongue! The part of the creature¡¯s body which couldn¡¯t be attacked due to its external skeleton was, in fact, its patched and vulnerable tongue. By grabbing the tongue, Bi Fang had effectively lassoed the monster like a wild horse! Chapter 120 - 117: A New Species? Chapter 120: Chapter 117: A New Species? The howling echoed incessantly in the pitch-black valley, as mournful as the souls of ghosts and spirits. The cold wind blew, making the flames flicker continuously. The light, now bright, now dim, cast the confronting sides in a savage and bloody relief. The creature clearly sensed its disadvantage and wanted to retreat back into the water, so it twisted its body frantically to move backward. Bi Fang even saw that it had webbed limbs, and it was shaking them as it moved back! What on earth was this thing! An indescribable shock filled Bi Fang¡¯s mind; in just a split second, the creature violently surged, nearly dragging him into the water, but Bi Fang¡¯s nails dug into the creature¡¯s tongue, like iron hooks piercing into soft flesh. A liquid of an indiscernible color flowed over his hands, and the monster¡¯s howling became exceptionally shrill as its mouth suddenly clamped shut! Bi Fang stumbled back several steps, fell to the ground, and his hands were empty. At that moment, the monster had attempted to sever Bi Fang¡¯s hand along with its tongue, but fortunately, at the last moment, Bi Fang let go. ¡°Splash!¡± A huge splash of water erupted, and the monster disappeared. Bi Fang lay on the ground, his heart hammering wildly in his chest, his grappling hands still trembling. After this confrontation of less than a few dozen seconds, he felt exhausted. At that moment, the live stream room exploded with comments! In the early hours, when audiences should have been leaving, Bi Fang¡¯s live stream room experienced another explosive surge in viewer numbers! The popularity quickly returned to five million! Countless people were discussing what that thing was just now, eagerly @Bi Fang, hoping to get an answer from him. [That head kinda feels like a Scavenger, looks damn hard][Add one, especially since there are spines behind the head, and the body HIA looks a bit like a catfish] [Pete generously gifts the host a Spaceship*!- -Damn it, I was almost scared to death just now, what the hell, Master Fang is too cool, that pull on the tongue, one word, handsome!] [Are there really such big fish in the desert?] [It even wanted to eat people¡­] [Suddenly reminded me of the prehistoric tyrant salamander.] [What is that thing? Master Fang, stop lying there and tell us!] [Supreme Law gifts the host a Yacht*i- ¨C Add one, Master Fang, please respond if you receive this, respond please! Over!] With his eyes closed, Bi Fang regulated his breathing before sitting up again, leaning against the rock wall with a headache from straining too hard, resulting in insufficient blood supply to his brain. Especially facing so many questions made his headache even worse. Even Wu Gang was all ears, having watched Bi Fang¡¯s live stream since his second broadcast. Although he hated to admit it, as a graduate student specializing in biological evolution, he didn¡¯t recognize many animals and plants that Bi Fang could list off as if they were common knowledge¡­ Unfortunately, to everyone¡¯s surprise, the much-anticipated Bi Fang shook his head! ¡°I don¡¯t know either; I¡¯ve never seen it before.¡± At these words, the online friends were stunned. [Holy crap, is this thing so awesome?] [There¡¯s an animal Master Fang doesn¡¯t know?] [That¡¯s outrageous, right?] [A new species? This is unknown evolution!] S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Don¡¯t think too highly of me,¡± Bi Fang shook his head, mercilessly shattering the audience¡¯s perfect illusions about him. ¡°Researchers in the field of biology discover about 15,000 new species every year, and this rate of discovery shows no sign of slowing down. It¡¯s normal to come across an unknown species.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a computer that can instantly store a new species in my brain and retain it forever, or be able to find any information about any creature at any time.¡± Wilderness Survivalist isn¡¯t the same as a biologist. If it were about Purple Biological Identification, there might be a chance, but right now, Bi Fang really has no clue whatsoever. Especially the monster¡¯s strange fin-like limbs¡­ Shaking these thoughts from his mind, Bi Fang continued. ¡°It¡¯s almost dawn now, and I need to set up camp and rest because the temperature has been dropping more and more severely. Moreover, having traveled all day, I am very tired. Traveling in this state is very dangerous, especially in the dark, as many hazards can be overlooked.¡± Bi Fang stood up, packed up the fire and snake meat. This place was no longer safe¡ªhe needed to move further away. Two hundred meters away. Bi Fang found a large rock that was illuminated by the moonlight. He touched it with his hand, and the warmth spread from his fingertips throughout his body, making the fatigue seem to disappear. He began to dig the sand beneath the boulder, preparing to excavate a cave to shelter in. ¡°In the desert, the best way to survive a cold night is to find a sun-facing slope with plenty of rocks, and then build a wall with the rocks to ensure safety.¡± ¡°These rocks have been baked by the sun during the day and are very hot. They will continue to emit heat throughout the night, so we make sure to use the sun-warmed side as the inner side of the wall. These rocks will serve as a heat source and make it quite comfortable during the cold night.¡± ¡°But make sure not to dig the cave too big. Remember the principle of ¡®small and beautiful.¡¯ Avoid expending extra energy to create unnecessary space, no matter how much you might want to, and ensure it¡¯s sealed because if you like crawling in, so will other small animals, hence a wall is absolutely necessary.¡± As Bi Fang was digging, he explained, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t want to wake up to find yourself surrounded by venomous snakes and scorpions.¡± Soon, a very narrow cave appeared before everyone. Bi Fang then searched around for some rocks to place around it. After squeezing his body inside, he began to build a wall. ¡°The downside of such a cave is that it will be destroyed when you come out in the morning, and you¡¯ll have to rebuild it. But trust me, as a short-term shelter, it¡¯s fantastic!¡± Soon, a wall enclosing the entrance of the cave was erected. Bi Fang yawned, explained a few more points to the audience, and then switched off the drone. ¡°What the hell is this thing!¡± In the dormitory building, Wu Gang pressed his head, reexamining the screenshot of the monster, but he didn¡¯t have a clue. He had never seen such a creature before and had asked many senior students, all of whom didn¡¯t recognize it either! ¡°Could it really be a new species?¡± Wu Gang found it hard to believe. He couldn¡¯t imagine the discovery of a new species happening in a broadcaster¡¯s outdoor livestream! ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask Professor Gu?¡± a senior suddenly suggested via message. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit inappropriate? It¡¯s so late,¡± Wu Gang hesitated, though he was tempted. Professor Gu was his professor, extremely knowledgeable. Unless it was really a new species, he would certainly know! But it was already after midnight. Even if he asked, it should be the next day. ¡°No, I just got out of the lab. Professor Gu is still experimenting. He hasn¡¯t rested at all. If you are really eager to know, ask him now,¡± the senior replied. On hearing this, Wu Gang got excited. He thanked his senior and hurriedly sent the picture to Professor Gu. Meanwhile, Professor Gu, who was just about to tidy up and leave the laboratory, had also just turned on his phone. Ignoring a few unimportant calls, Professor Gu noticed Wu Gang¡¯s message. ¡°Oh? Could this be a new species?¡± Professor Gu saw the floating message and shook his head with a smile. His students rarely ventured out; where would they get the chance to discover a new species? Most likely, they had identified some rare animal incorrectly without proper study. But as he opened the conversation and saw that photo, he paused for a moment, a strange sense of familiarity washing over him, prompting thought as he walked. Even as colleagues bid him farewell, he didn¡¯t react. It wasn¡¯t until the door to the lab closed and Professor Gu stepped into the corridor that he suddenly slapped his thigh. ¡°DamnlTiktaalik!¡± Chapter 121 - 118: Joy is Futile Chapter 121: Chapter 118: Joy is Futile ¡°Where did you get this picture from? Is it from a movie or a TV show? Is it made with special effects? Tell me quickly!¡± In the hallway, Gu Qingyuan strode forward, immediately calling Wu Gang, bombarding him with questions. A security guard carrying a flashlight and checking the lab greeted Gu Qingyuan warmly, ¡°Yo, Mr. Gu, working late again today, huh?¡± But what he didn¡¯t expect was that Gu Qingyuan didn¡¯t even respond and just breezed past him. And in the blink of an eye, he was gone. ¡°Huh¡­¡± The security guard was stunned, but not angry. Professor Gu was like that; as soon as something crossed his mind, he became completely focused. External matters couldn¡¯t disturb him; he could even forget to eat. People familiar with him were used to this. It looked like today¡¯s research had made some progress. The security guard shook his head and, while feeling happy for Professor Gu, continued his own work, checking if the lab doors were locked properly. ¡°Tell me, where did this picture come from? Is it real? Isn¡¯t it a screenshot from a movie?¡± Gu Qingyuan was very excited. This was a living Tiktaalik, the most powerful supporter of the theory of biological evolution. If one could be found alive, it would definitely be the most significant discovery in evolutionary biology this year¡ªno, not just this year. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was the most significant discovery in the past decade! Wu Gang, who was just about to wash up and go to bed, was startled by the excited voice of Gu Qingyuan on the phone, and hurriedly said, ¡°I saw it during a live broadcast.¡± ¡°Live broadcast?¡± Gu Qingyuan frowned, and his excitement instantly evaporated considerably. Gu Qingyuan wasn¡¯t the kind of old man out of touch with the times. On the contrary, he enjoyed surfing the internet and interacting with young people. He knew that live broadcasting was a new form of entertainment. But it had very low standards, the kind that would stoop to anything. Discovering a new species during a live broadcast? Gu Qingyuan shook his head, was the likelihood of such an event comparable to the actual existence of Aotuman? Probably just some internet celebrity looking to get famous, who randomly found a rare creature online, crafted a model, then took a few blurry pictures and claimed to have discovered a new species. If handled well, it could create a sensation like the Loch Ness Monster¡ªan even bigger phenomenon. Technology was advancing, and it was not like the old days when information was spread through newspapers and television. He had a clever mind, a different way to get famous than others, but it was utterly unethical, a deception against a septuagenarian comrade. Poor Gang Zi was deceived. Gu Qingyuan looked at the partly bright, partly dim, and somewhat blurry photo on his phone, and the more he thought, the more disappointed he became. Yet, he didn¡¯t vent his roller-coaster emotions on his student. It was normal for young people to be deceived due to a lack of social experience. As a teacher, his job was to educate him so he wouldn¡¯t make the same mistake again. ¡°Although the photo is quite blurry, and it looks a bit different from records, this creature does resemble a Tiktaalik.¡± ¡°Tiktaalik?¡± Wu Gang got excited on the other end of the line. Was there really such a creature? ¡°Yes, it looks very similar, from the fin limbs to the head, almost identical. This creature is older than sturgeon, almost from the same era as the lamprey,¡± said Gu Qingyuan, nodding. He wouldn¡¯t mistake it; from its form to its appearance, it was almost identical to the fossils they had excavated before, but sadly¡­ ¡°This creature has been extinct for over 300 million years. You¡¯ve been fooled, GangZi.¡± ¡°No, teacher! It¡¯s real,¡± Wu Gang hurriedly contested upon hearing Gu Qingyuan¡¯s words. ¡°Mm-hmm, I know it¡¯s tough to realize you¡¯ve been tricked, but that¡¯s the reality¡­¡± Gu Qingyuan thought it was necessary to console his student, but who would have thought that the other party would just hang up the phone! Gu Qingyuan couldn¡¯t help but be dumbfounded, even a little angry. This kid, not only did he refuse to listen, but why did he hang up on him? Just as Gu Qingyuan was about to call back, a video suddenly popped up from their chat box; its thumbnail was the monster from the screenshot sent by Wu Gang. Is it the live streamer who discovered the organism in the video? Out of curiosity, Professor Gu Qingyuan downloaded the video. Three minutes later. Professor Gu Qingyuan¡¯s roar shook the entire building. ¡°Wu Gang, where is this live stream? Tell me! Now! Quick!¡± The sudden shout startled the security guards into thinking someone was in danger, and they rushed out of the building in a panic, only to see Gu Qingyuan riding a shared bike towards the graduate dormitories. Swift as the wind, fierce as electricity. This night was destined to be restless. At Shenhua Group, Lin Chang was also talking with Wang Yongbo and Yao Jun. At the same time, the secretary pushed open the door and whispered something into Lin Chang¡¯s ear. On the other end, Yao Jun also received a message from Brother Long almost simultaneously. Only Wang Yongbo, who had no other sources, was nervously listening to the phone. ¡°How is it, did anyone die?¡± ¡°No,¡± Yao Jun was the first to reply. Although those people were in bad shape, no one died. ¡°Phew! Good, good, if nobody¡¯s dead, that¡¯s a relief!¡± Hearing this, Wang Yongbo breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his forehead with a tissue. But today really scared the life out of him; despite it being autumn, Wang Yongbo, sitting in his office, was sweating more than Bi Fang who was out in the desert, fearful that one wrong move could end his newly acquired cash cow. It was one thing for someone to lose followers, but he never expected Bi Fang¡¯s counterattack to be so fierce, to actually lead people into quicksand! Fortunately, the groundwork was well laid; there was no loss of face, and if a battle of public opinion broke out, both sides could argue back and forth, losing at most some popularity with bystanders. If the behavior of riding on others¡¯ popularity weren¡¯t stopped, the losses would have been greater; overall, they still came out ahead. But the question remained, how could a perfectly good jeep suddenly catch fire and explode? Thankfully, thankfully, no lives were lost¡ªthe problem wasn¡¯t too big, after all, there were two big shots here. For them, as long as no one died, everything else was trivial. ¡°They got off easy,¡± Yao Jun¡¯s face showed dissatisfaction. Things came to a head, and Brother Long, who originally intended to teach a few people a lesson, ended up becoming a firefighter! Who could¡¯ve expected that? Rushing over in a hurry, instead of breaking his legs, he only encountered a raging fire! Uncle Long, who understood the bigger picture, of course knew what was more urgent, and led a few people down to fight the fire. More crucially, the dashcam was saved as well. It just so happened that Du Chuan was sitting on the hood of the car when the incident unfolded, capturing everything clearly! ¡°Alright, we also owe you one this time, Yao Jun. If not for the fact you had people there just in time, a death would have been difficult to handle; we would have had to go to some trouble,¡± Lin Chang said with a chuckle, shaking his head. He and Yao Jun had known each other since they were kids and was well aware of his character; he was someone who wasn¡¯t afraid of trouble. Of course, Lin Chang wasn¡¯t scared either; he just found it bothersome. This time, they reaped all the benefits of the good news; the audience didn¡¯t see anything and only knew that Du Chuan and the others were trapped in quicksand but safely waiting for rescue. As for what happened later, Lin Chang had more than enough to handle it smoothly. Not to mention, an even more powerful player had entered the game. The real boss. With him involved, there was no way this incident could make it online. Even if the families made a big fuss, it would be futile. Chapter 122 - 1191 say, I promised. Chapter 122: Chapter 1191 say, I promised. ¡°Has he started broadcasting yet?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Has he started yet?¡± ¡°No¡­¡± ¡°Has he started?¡± ¡°No¡­¡± ¡°Why hasn¡¯t he started yet?¡± ¡°It¡¯s only six o¡¯clock now, Professor¡­¡± Wu Gang was speechless. Since Professor Gu found out about this last night, he rushed over right away, and it had taken a lot of effort to convince him to go back. Wu had thought that the matter was settled until the knocking at the door woke him up this morning¡­ ¡°Actually, you could contact him yourself, Professor¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how to do live streaming,¡± Professor Gu Qingyuan replied, effectively shutting Wu Gang down with a single sentence. ¡°Actually, I can¡¯t guarantee I¡¯ll be able to contact him either, but I will do my best.¡± Wu Gang said, tapping away at the keyboard. From earlier on, Wu Gang had been building a wall in the blackened live stream room, hoping to catch Bi Fang¡¯s attention. Neither he nor the professor had much money; they couldn¡¯t rely on giving a large amount of donations to attract the other party¡¯s attention. As the number of Bi Fang¡¯s fans steadily grew, even with restrictions on the number and frequency of comments, there were still over dozens of bullet-screen comments shooting across every second. It wasn¡¯t certain whether they would notice Wu¡¯s efforts. ¡°I¡¯ve got six thousand yuan left. If we really can¡¯t get in touch later, you¡¯ll go and donate a¡­ boat or something¡­¡± Professor Gu Qingyuan was about to transfer the money, frightening Wu Gang nearly to the point of jumping up. ¡°No, Professor, please don¡¯t. I will be able to contact him, definitely! ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say it was very difficult¡­¡± ¡°I will be able to get through to him if I just work hard enough!¡± Wu Gang insisted that he couldn¡¯t take the professor¡¯s money, and sat back down in front of the computer, working even harder to build up the comments. Seeing how the professor was behaving, he realized just how important this was to him. Professor Gu had always treated him well; how could he let him down like this? Please see it, Master Fang! Wu silently prayed, all the while growing more curious about what kind of magic this creature possessed that had even the weathered old professor this excited? Fortunately, his prayers were not in vain. When Bi Fang woke up and started his live stream, the first thing he saw was that long string of comments. ¡°Wow, someone¡¯s been building up comments early in the morning. Bi Fang didn¡¯t look closely, smiled, and pushed aside the stone-built wall, crawling out from the cave. It was early morning, and the temperature hadn¡¯t risen too high yet. Bi Fang moved his body a bit, then greeted the audience. But he noticed that the bullet-screen comments were repeating the content of the comments! [Master Fang! I¡¯m Wu Gang from Handong University, and my professor, Gu Qingyuan, would like to talk to you about the creature you encountered yesterday, the Tiktaalik!] [It¡¯s very important, Master Fang!] [It¡¯s a creature that could make history in the study of biological evolution!] [Who is this, waking up early to spam comments? A scammer?] [Don¡¯t overdo it] [Seems serious, not like a scam¡­ I just googled, that professor is real, and he s a big name¡­] ¡°Oh, Tiktaalik?¡± Bi Fang glanced at the bullet-screen comments twice. When he heard the name, he was startled, it sounded familiar, but he couldn¡¯t recall where he had heard it. ¡°Could you explain in more detail? This Tiktaalik,¡± Bi Fang asked people to slow down the comments because he wanted to see what the other person would say. Hearing Bi Fang notice him, Wu Gang was thrilled and turned to Professor Gu, ¡°Professor, I¡¯ve made contact! He¡¯s asking what the Tiktaalik is.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Professor Gu Qingyuan¡¯s eyes lit up, and he immediately pulled Wu Gang away from the computer and started typing bullet-screen comments himself. [The Tiktaalik is a fish fossil from three hundred million years ago, discovered by a research team from Ugly Country in the Canadian Arctic.] [The fossil skeleton had fins, scales, and other characteristics of large fish, with sharp teeth and a flat body, measuring about 1.2 to 2.75 meters.] [Although still a fish, it already had key changes for transitioning to land life, a forerunner of amphibians!] [After carefully reviewing the video from yesterday, despite many changes in appearance, overall, it should beTiktaalik!] Professor Gu Qingyuan became increasingly excited as he typed. He was absolutely certain that it was a living Tiktaalik! Although the passage of long time has brought many changes, such as the sharp spikes behind its head and the overly large tongue, its overall features haven¡¯t changed a bit. It¡¯s a living fossil, just like sturgeons! A precursor? Hearing this, Bi Fang supported his chin and began to ponder deeply. However, the audience found such statements to be incredibly far-fetched. [The Arctic? That¡¯s preposterous! This is a desert!] [If you¡¯re going to lie, at least come up with something credible. Three hundred million years ago? What could possibly live that long?] [Although I don¡¯t believe it either, the comment above¡­] [It¡¯s not about living for three hundred million years¡­] ¡°No, it is possible!¡± Bi Fang refuted the audience¡¯s view, and thanks to Professor Gu¡¯s reminder, he roughly understood what kind of creature Tiktaalik was. The monster from last night did indeed look bizarre, with limbs that were part claw, part fin, and yet it had the head of a crocodile. It possessed features of both fish and tetrapods. ¡°If it truly is a creature that has survived since three hundred million years ago, then finding fossils in the Arctic is not inconsistent with it residing in the Qaidam Basin!¡± ¡°Three hundred million years ago, the Earth was in a primordial era. According to the theory of continental drift, all the land was still connected as Pangea, and the ocean was the vast Panthalassic Ocean, with no split like we see today. The distribution of species can¡¯t be viewed through the lens of current continental layouts.¡± ¡°Moreover, many scholars believe that Qaidam was actually an ancient sea a long time ago because here they not only found fossils of Wu¡¯s Fish Offering dating back three million years ago but also discovered shell layers of lamellibranchiata and gastropoda.¡± ¡°If you were to search online, you¡¯d find out that Qaidam has a very developed underground water system, with springs in some areas.¡± ¡°As for three hundred million years, that time span is actually not exaggerated. I know of several species that are even older and are still living today. Even the lamprey I ate last time appeared 360 million years ago, which is older than Tiktaalik.¡± [! I have nothing to say, just a big exclamation mark for Old Fang.] [This analysis¡­ is just outrageously implausible] [Now even continental drift is in the mix. What exactly is your background, and how do you know so much?] [Following geographers and meteorologists, do we now have a paleobiologist?] [You know too much.] [So Master Fang has feasted on such incredible creatures¡­] An expert is revealed by their handiwork. Even Professor Gu Qingyuan was startled by this analysis, many parts of which even he himself was unaware of. He pondered the entire last night and reviewed copious materials to obtain a slight idea. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But now, listening to Bi Fang, everything was interlinked! A modest live-streaming platform also shelters hidden dragons and crouching tigers? If it wasn¡¯t for the thousands of miles separating them, Professor Gu Qingyuan would really like to have a thorough discussion with Bi Fang right now. ¡°So Professor Gu, was there something specific you wanted to contact me about?¡± Having grasped some of the situation, Bi Fang wanted to know why the other party had contacted him, what was the matter at hand. Professor Gu Qingyuan hesitated for quite a while upon hearing this question. He initially hoped Bi Fang would stay put or send coordinates so that he could lead a team to explore the area. But now, having truly recognized Bi Fang¡¯s extraordinary nature, and his exceptional abilities from last night¡­ As Bi Fang said, the underground water system in Qaidam is indeed very developed. One moment¡¯s hesitation or delay could mean missmg out on an excellent opportunity. As a biologist, he really didn¡¯t want to miss this chance, and the benefits a species¡¯ genetics could bring might be beyond anyone¡¯s expectations. But Tiktaalik is extremely dangerous; as everyone witnessed last night, it¡¯s not inferior to a crocodile! Professor Gu Qingyuan gritted his teeth and sent out a request he himself considered excessive. Whether agreed to or not, he wanted to give it a shot! [I want to ask you to capture a live Tiktaalik.] ¡°Alright!¡± [I know this is asking too much, but this chance is really¡ª] Professor Gu Qingyuan, who was in the midst of typing, paused, deleted the ongoing barrage, and began to edit a new one. [What did you say?] ¡°I said, I agree,¡± Bi Fang nodded. Chapter 123 - 120 A Penetrating Analysis Just like that, you agreed? Chapter 123: Chapter 120 A Penetrating Analysis Just like that, you agreed? Gu Qingyuan felt that despite his age, his ears were by no means deaf, and he still moved swiftly. But at this moment, Gu Qingyuan really started to doubt whether he was getting old; he turned his head to look at the dazed Wu Gang and repeated himself. ¡°He agreed?¡± Wu Gang swallowed a mouthful of saliva and nodded. It was too unexpected. Their answer came without even a hint of hesitation, as casual and easy as when one¡¯s mother asks what they¡¯d like to eat for dinner. Are there really such people? Bom with a love for adventure, not fearing death at all? [Wait! Just wait a bit longer!] [There are too many uncertainties about this matter; we have too little information on this creature.] [I think we should discuss this some more¡­] Gu Qingyuan hurriedly sent out the message; he had acted on impulse just now, not expecting the other party to agree so easily. Now that he had cooled down, it made him feeling conflicted. This matter was truly too dangerous, as difficult as capturing a wild crocodile, no, even more so! Our current research on crocodiles is very mature, their weaknesses and habits are crystal clear, but this creature is a complete unknown! We are all blind here! You have no idea how fast it can run, how strong its biting force is, whether it¡¯s nocturnal, where its weaknesses lie, how defensible it is, or if it hunts in packs. The only bit of information we have is that short video from last night, less than three minutes long ¨C that is simply not enough! ¡°It¡¯s enough,¡± Bi Fang took off his storm jacket, smiling, his voice filled with excitement, ¡°I chased it away last night, that¡¯s enough, isn¡¯t it?¡± Gu Qingyuan was stunned. Such words were brash and spirited, like the morning sun of early spring. The natural and friendly smile carried a confidence that seemed to grip everything firmly in hand, enough to influence everyone. Seeing Bi Fang on the screen, Gu Qingyuan felt as if the young man was a tiger in the wilderness, possessing an irresistible urge to bow one¡¯s head to him! Even living fossils that existed millions of years ago would be no exception! He trembled his fingers, deleted the message he had been about to send, changing from dissuading to one of caution. [Be extremely careful!] Bi Fang nodded; confident yet not arrogant, he was very aware of the dangers involved. But, that¡¯s what adventure is all about, isn¡¯t it? Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Last night he was still wondering how to concoct a reason to go underwater, and today someone offered him a divine assist! Moreover, the emergence of this professor had also stirred a lot of memories for Bi Fang. Although they had never met face to face, just a few exchanges were enough to remind Bi Fang of his old professor from his previous life. With the same incomprehensible dedication to academic research, strict with himself, yet tolerant and kind to colleagues and teammates. Having returned to the pool, Bi Fang did not rush to enter the water. A lot of preparations still needed to be made; the possibility of the underground cave having plants was slim, so if it was pitch-black, a torch would be crucial. At the very least, his backpack needed to be packed to the brim with glow sticks and some flammable plants to ensure that he would have a light source in the cave. Nobody knew the situation inside the cave; it¡¯s always better to err on the side of caution. And he had many questions in need of answers, even for a creature that had not appeared before, sometimes one could infer a lot of information from its evolutionary chain. Bi Fang rummaged through his own brain and finally posed a question. ¡°Professor Gu, can you tell me about the relationship between Tiktaalik, Coelacanths, and Lungfish?¡± Brilliant! On hearing that question, Gu Qingyuan almost applauded with admiration; the other party was clearly not just an ordinary retired special forces soldier who was adept at Wilderness Survivalist! Even many of his specialized students, after understanding the special nature of Tiktaalik, could not so quickly and incisively pinpoint this question. ¡°Is it that exaggerated?¡± Wu Gang scratched his head, not quite understanding why his teacher was so excited. The speed of his typing almost matched the furious speed of his hands when he vented at his teammates while playing games. ¡°If you read more like I told you to, you wouldn¡¯t be ignorant now, would you? I bet if I made you take a test, you wouldn¡¯t score as high as this young man!¡± Gu Qingyuan was frustrated with Wu Gang¡¯s lack of progress. ¡°How is that possible!¡± Wu Gang was incredulous, recognizing flora and fauna was one thing, but evolutionary biology was not simply about recognizing different species. ¡°How is it not possible? Not to mention asking, you can¡¯t even see the key point of this question! Haven¡¯t you noticed that these two creatures have one thing in common?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ they¡¯re both lobe-finned fish?¡± Wu Gang scratched his head again, coming to this conclusion after recalling what his teacher had mentioned about evolutionary relationships. Lobe-finned fish are a superclass of osteichthyans, most of whose members are extinct. The characteristic feature of these fish is a central bone in their fins. That is evidence of biological evolution onto land! ¡°Exactly! In the long history of biological evolution, whatever creatures we see now, close or distant, connected or separate, there is always an invisible bridge linking all life together!¡± ¡°And it is the lobe-finned fish that ties together all the terrestrial vertebrates and aquatic fish of today! The two fish he just mentioned are the only two living species of lobe-finned fish!¡± Gu Qingyuan was not only responding to Wu Gang, but also typing these explanations in the chat to answer the audience¡¯s questions. [So impressive?] [I checked, and the only living Coelacanth is the West Indian Ocean Coelacanth!] [Why does my research show that it appeared between two hundred million to three hundred million years ago, which is later than that Tiktaalik thing?] ¡°Evolutionary biology should not be understood that way. Creatures moving onto land were an evolutionary trend, not an inevitability; otherwise, we wouldn¡¯t have so many fish still happily living in the sea. The two are just evidence along the evolutionary chain, with different species showing varying tendencies towards land habitation.¡± ¡°And from the point of view of emerging onto land, Tiktaalik¡¯s evolution is indeed superior because it is both a fish and a tetrapod! Compared to the signs from lobe-finned fish, it is direct evidence! It is the missing link in biological evolution!¡± Gu Qingyuan briefly addressed the netizens¡¯ queries before continuing to answer Bi Fang¡¯s questions. ¡°This creature¡¯s ¡®fins¡¯ possess primitive wrist bones and simple digits, suggesting they could bear weight and even bend like fingers.¡± ¡°From this point of view, the tetrapod most similar to it would be the crocodile, and the nostrils located on top of the fossil¡¯s head indicate they had lungs as functional as gills! This is similar to lungfish!¡± Realizing this, Wu Gang started to understand why Gu Qingyuan was so excited just before; Bi Fang¡¯s question was extremely sharp. It directly pointed out the only two surviving creatures on the evolutionary chain of the transition from water to land! Damn, that¡¯s awesome! Wu Gang was thoroughly convinced now, and if his teacher weren¡¯t still occupying his seat, he¡¯d have pushed him aside to send the broadcaster a few meatballs as a tip. ¡°So that¡¯s why it dared to come out of the water to attack me yesterday?¡± Bi Fang stroked his chin, figuring out many key points. From an evolutionary standpoint, the creature had evolved, but not completely; the monster could move on land for short periods, but its tail fin kept it from leaving the aquatic environment entirely. That¡¯s why, when Bi Fang grabbed the creature¡¯s tongue, attempting to drag it away from the water, its struggle was so fierce, preferring to risk tearing its own tongue rather than letting go. Thus, in the face of danger, fleeing onto land was almost certainly safe, a significant difference compared to a crocodile. However, the situation would completely reverse underwater. Underwater, the creature was a predator far more adept at swimming than a crocodile! Chapter 124 - 121: Walking into the Trap Chapter 124: Chapter 121: Walking into the Trap After hearing Bi Fang¡¯s analysis, the Shuiyou were blown away. [Damn! Isn¡¯t it invincible underwater then?] [So strong, it turns out that what Old Fang faced before was a weakened version!] [How should we capture it, lure it?] [Can only lure it with traps, right? Otherwise, we can¡¯t beat it.] But that was not all; Gu Qingyuan¡¯s next words made the Shuiyou realize that the situation was even more serious than they had thought! ¡°The fact that such a creature still exists today means that it has already adapted to this environment, and especially in a place like Qaidam where human activities have hardly caused any disturbance. In other words, there is no possibility of it becoming functionally extinct!¡± ¡°There is a population here!¡± Bi Fang blurted out, unwittingly revealing the rest of the sentence Gu Qingyuan had intended to say. But the audience was puzzled, what is functional extinction? Facing the barrage of questions from the Shuiyou, Bi Fang offered a simple explanation. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°For any species to continue its lineage, there must necessarily be a minimum viable population to cope with the random changes in individual births and deaths, genetic drift, a series of random environmental changes, and various catastrophic events.¡± ¡°Below this number, the species will functionally go extinct! They can no longer reproduce on their own!¡± ¡°Therefore, species that have functionally gone extinct are called ¡®zombie species,¡¯ and the remaining last few individuals are referred to as ¡®the living dead.''¡± ¡°The most famous example is probably Lonesome George, who, even though still alive, meant that the Pinta Island Tortoise species was actually already extinct.¡± There are many such species in nature, and the Northeast Tiger is one of them! If humans do not intervene to allow the Northeast Tiger to breed with other tiger populations, even if their living conditions are optimal, various problems would arise due to inbreeding, and they would naturally go extinct in just a few decades! In short, there are many more of such monsters like last night beneath that pool of water! Holy shit! What do we do now? The Shuiyou were stunned, just when they thought that the danger level of this issue couldn¡¯t get any more outrageous, Gu Qingyuan dropped a bombshell! ¡°I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s not just that. The Tiktaalik here may be even more dangerous than those from three hundred million years ago. Do you know about Wu¡¯s Fish Offering, the famous fossil creature from Qaidam?¡± Bi Fang wiped the sweat from his forehead and nodded, ¡°I know a little, a kind of fish with incredibly robust bones, if it were any other fish, such a condition would¡¯ve been a disease.¡± The Wilderness Survival Skill that the System gave him was now of no use; the knowledge of flora and fauna it imparted was mostly about species that had not gone extinct. Extinct species that had been gone for millions of years were beyond the scope of his Wilderness Survival knowledge; what Bi Fang knew was all thanks to the accumulation of knowledge from his past life. ¡°Exactly, the skeletal robustness of Wu¡¯s Fish Offering is incredible, and the only fish similar to it is the Thick-tailed Secretory Fish. Both creatures had a similar living environment back then and underwent almost identical processes. Although there¡¯s no consensus in the biological community yet, we¡¯ve always suspected that the robustness of Wu¡¯s Fish Offering¡¯s skeleton was related to these environmental changes.¡± ¡°Let me put it this way, I suspect that the Tiktaalik that went through the same process might undergo the same transformations!¡± Gu Qingyuan stated his conjecture, offering a small piece of advice at the same time. ¡°If live capture is impossible, I suggest you use blunt weapons when facing danger, or aim for the joints in the skeleton, otherwise, a regular knife might not inflict any damage.¡± [What does that mean, I don¡¯t understand, what does this have to do with Wu¡¯s whatever fish?] [Don¡¯t understand plus one, Old Fang explain it please, your talk is too high- end.] [Back when the teacher asked me to study hard, I didn¡¯t listen, until I went to work in the factory, I had no regrets, but now, I¡¯m tearful for not understanding the livestream.] [Don¡¯t cry, those of us who graduated from 211 universities are also baffled here.] ¡°To put it simply, the fish here might have gotten armored up.¡± If it¡¯s indeed as Gu Qingyuan said, the bones of the Tiktaalik here could be much harder than imagined, doesn¡¯t that mean they¡¯ve layered up their armor? [If you had said it like this earlier, wouldn¡¯t that have been the end of it¡­] [Damn, how do we fight this? The other side is all decked out in holy gear, and it counters Old Fang¡¯s dagger too!] [Or should we just give up, isn¡¯t it better to live well?] ¡°But one can seek survival opportunities anytime, discovering a new living fossil might happen only once in a lifetime!¡± Unperturbed, Bi Fang was in fact eager to try. He headed straight to the edge of the pool. Since it was daytime with ample light, the pool was very clear at that moment, and the surrounding rocks could be seen more than two meters down. What exactly does the underground cave look like? What kind of creatures are down there? Bi Fang was very curious about these questions. He held the flying drone in his arms, pretending to take apart the camera, but in reality, he was transforming the livestream device into a wearable camera, which he then put on his head. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to see the habitat of such creatures? What does it eat? Its range of activity, the composition of its food web, does it cluster? What are its habits?¡± Surely, they wanted to. On the other side of the screen, Gu Qingyuan nodded frantically, but as he did so, he suddenly froze. Gu Qingyuan scratched his grizzled hair, feeling like there might be a problem. Something wasn¡¯t right. The situation was wrong. Wasn¡¯t the plan to catch a live Tiktaalik? Just like last night, wouldn¡¯t setting up some bait to lure the Tiktaalik ashore do the trick? How could all this other information be obtained? When he saw Bi Fang begin to strip off his clothes, a jolt of electricity suddenly shot through Gu Qingyuan¡¯s brain, causing a complete mental shutdown. It took a while before he could reconnect to the internet before it crashed. Damn! This kid is going to dive in and catch it! [You absolutely must not do that!] How could he dive in to catch it? Wasn¡¯t this just the same as an old man hanging himself for fear of a long life? But the barrage of messages sent by Gu Qingyuan had already been drowned in a sea of comments. Bi Fang didn¡¯t even glance at them. ¡°Since there¡¯s such a large creature in the underground river, there must be more than this small outlet; otherwise, the oxygen supply would be a problem. So I believe there should be other exits beneath the pool, maybe even an underground world.¡± Stripping down to only his trousers and undershirt, Bi Fang threw the rest of his clothes into his backpack. Then he lay down at the edge of the pool, observing carefully. He wasn¡¯t sure if it was his imagination, but he always felt there was a fishy smell in the pool. ¡°The rock walls here are made of talc deposits, and due to sandstorms, the bottom should be sandy. There should be other passages below leading to the underground river¡ªthis is a water cave!¡± ¡°Water caves are much more dangerous than land caves. Once you get lost underwater, it¡¯s easy to drown. You must not wait until your oxygen is running low to think of coming back; by then it¡¯s too late.¡± ¡°If such a situation does arise, don¡¯t panic. The more you panic, the more oxygen you¡¯ll use up.¡± ¡°All we can do is reduce our consumption and follow the current. Where there¡¯s a current, there must be a passage, and following the current also helps us reduce oxygen use.¡± Since he wouldn¡¯t be able to talk underwater, Bi Fang wanted to clarify the key points with everyone beforehand. After that, he took a few deep breaths, strapped on his backpack, put on the camera, and jumped straight into the pool! With a splash, the audience saw Bi Fang dive right in. Following the camera¡¯s perspective, all they could see was pure darkness below the pool. In the closed environment, many Shuiyou started to have difficulty breathing, feeling immensely afraid. Silence, a deathly silence. In the deepest part lurked an unknown monster, just waiting for its prey to fall into its trap! Chapter 125 - 122: Underwater Struggle (Makeup Update) Chapter 125: Chapter 122: Underwater Struggle (Makeup Update) Bi Fang dove deeper and deeper. The light around him grew scarcer, as if his soul marched towards Hell. The depth of the pool was like a gap through which all the light drained away. Nothingness. Nothing but nothingness. The audience watched with trepidation. Merely through the camera, they felt an indescribable pressure, and many understood for the first time what claustrophobia was. They had never heard of a livestream like this, one that demanded psychological fortitude from its viewers. Outside, sandstorms raged, while the pool was serene and profound. Many first-time viewers of Bi Fang¡¯s livestreams were thoroughly convinced at this moment. It wasn¡¯t just the oppressing environment driving one mad, but the thought of unknown creatures lurking in the shadows made everyone¡¯s hair stand on end! Too formidable. There can¡¯t be many in the world who dare to do this, right? It¡¯s like the epitome of courting death! Yes, courting death. Even the regular audience, who had followed along all the way, thought so at this moment. They admired Bi Fang¡¯s abilities, but the situation this time was far too dangerous. Who would fight crocodiles in a swamp? Shouldn¡¯t you lure them to the shore first? Fighting on the enemy¡¯s turf, isn¡¯t that asking for death? At this moment, Gu Qingyuan was hitting his own head, filled with regret. He deeply loathed the person he was half an hour ago. If his head hadn¡¯t heated up, how could he have made such an unreasonable request? Gu Qingyuan, oh Gu Qingyuan, you took fame and profit too seriously. Just for a bit of research findings, would you let a young man risk his life for you? Can you live with yourself? ¡°Teacher, don¡¯t be like this, you can¡¯t blame yourself for this,¡± Wu Gang tried to console his teacher while staring intently at the livestream screen. He was afraid that if something really happened to Bi Fang, his teacher would jump right down from here! Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fortunately, they lived on the first floor. But wait, the teacher is seventy years old, the first floor won¡¯t do him any good! Soon, half a minute passed, which felt as long as a century. As the depth increased, Bi Fang could no longer see things clearly two meters away. But he wasn¡¯t completely lost, as the camera atop his head automatically turned on a column-like light. This was the camera¡¯s builtin underwater filming feature, which could only be used in such environments. But as soon as the light pierced the pitch-black water tunnel and found a circle of light on the wall, a tail quickly disappeared beyond the circle! A series of bubbles escaped. Bi Fang covered his mouth, quickly retreated, and anxiously scanned his surroundings, but after a long search, he still couldn¡¯t find the owner of the tail. The water flowed past, leaving nothing behind. What pulsed was only his heart. [What happened, I¡¯ve already smashed my phone, now I¡¯ve switched to a computer.] [Horror movies don¡¯t scare people like this¡­] [I¡¯m not saying anymore, just regretting that I never remember to wear diapers when watching Master Fang¡¯s videos. I¡¯m going to change my pants now.] [This is the time to play ¡°The Haunted Basement.¡±] [The person above is inhuman¡­] [Guys, goodbye, just now my grandfather stood behind me watching the livestream and I didn¡¯t even notice, now I have to go to the hospital.] Meanwhile, Bi Fang stayed close to the rock wall, gripping the Hunting Knife tightly, constantly mindful of the surrounding currents, while calming his pounding heart. This was his tool for keeping track of time. He silently counted the beats of his heart-about seventy per minute-but his heart had become irregular just now, and he needed to start timing all over again. The average person can hold their breath underwater for 30 to 60 seconds, which, with training, can be increased to three to four minutes. The current record holder for the longest breath-hold underwater is Stig Sevennsen, known as ¡°the man who doesn¡¯t breathe,¡± who maintains several records in diving, with a breath-holding limit of 22 minutes and 10 seconds. Bi Fang hadn¡¯t reached that level, but after long-term yoga training, his breath-holding time was quite substantial, nearly six minutes, though that was under no-activity conditions. Forty seconds had passed, with roughly two minutes remaining. If he couldn¡¯t find an exit within the next two minutes, he would have to turn back the way he came. One second. Two seconds. Ten seconds. Soon, about seventy seconds had elapsed, and the environment around him was growing darker and darker, except for the beam of light above his head. Surrounding him was pitch black. Some people left the live stream; they couldn¡¯t take it anymore. Especially with this first-person perspective, it felt oppressively like an actual experience. The beam of light occasionally swept over the rugged cave walls and rubble, sometimes narrowing, sometimes veering sharply downward. The surrounding darkness was like a great hand clutching one¡¯s neck, not letting any breath pass through. Until faces turned red, many viewers suddenly coughed, remembering this was just a live stream, not reality. No wonder that monster seemed to have no eyes. Had it lived in the dark underground river for so long, surviving purely on its sense of smell to catch food? Another thirty seconds passed. Bi Fang finally reached the bottom of the pool. It was sand, thick sand. The pool was nestled in a valley, constantly exposed to windblown sand from the outside, covering the bottom with a layer of water and sand. But danger often lurked exactly at such times. The pool was about twenty-five meters deep; this depth was not something ordinary people should attempt lightly. At the bottom of the pool, Bi Fang walked along the edge of the cave wall. This way, if an attack occurred, at least one side would be safe from enemies. Moreover, he had his backpack strapped to the front as a means of defense. But one thing struck Bi Fang as odd. How come there seemed to be nothing in the pool? Reality is not fiction. Sustaining predators over two meters in size required other medium-sized animals, plus small fish and plants-basic common knowledge in biology. But here, there was nothing but rocks and sand. And that tail from before¡­ The bottom of the pool was large, and Bi Fang had grope around for quite a while without finding any other exits. Where was the underground cave? Just as Bi Fang was about to give up and search another side, suddenly, he felt his body shudder, and a surge of rapid current, wild as an untamed horse, swept over him. The next second, viewers saw Bi Fang slammed against the cave wall by the powerful current like a helpless boat! ¡°Gurgle gurgle!¡± A series of bubble sounds rose up in the silent water. Caught in the violent current, Bi Fang nearly fell apart, losing most of the air from his mouth. A sudden pain shot through Bi Fang¡¯s forehead, and upon looking up, he saw a faint wisp of red slowly dancing in the water. Disaster! His heart pounded violently. Looking down, a monstrous, ghastly water creature was already snapping at his face! Less than a meter away! A profound sense of crisis enveloped him. Many viewers gasped, covering their mouths. No one sent any messages; there was no time. Everything happened in the blink of an eye! Bi Fang kicked his legs, spinning rapidly in the water. But the creature was too fast, and there was no chance to dodge! Moreover, in water, the faster the movement, the greater the resistance. Even if Bi Fang reacted quickly, it was very hard for his body to keep up! In desperation, Bi Fang grabbed his knife and, as the creature got within three feet of him, he slashed fiercely. The Hunting Knife hooked, tearing open the skin and flesh of the creature¡¯s skull in an instant, with large quantities of red blood spilling out like ink. But Bi Fang felt no joy; the feedback from the Hunting Knife sent chills down his spine. It wouldn¡¯t penetrate! The creature¡¯s skull was just too thick! But Bi Fang wasn¡¯t going to sit and wait for death. While the creature bit down on the backpack in front of his chest and tore furiously, his Hunting Knife slid along the creature¡¯s head until it reached a depression. Now was the moment! Blood clouded Bi Fang¡¯s vision, but he knew this was his chance! Hiss! A large cloud of red blood spread through the water, enveloping everything in a mist of blood. Who would die? Chapter 126:123 Chapter 126:123 The blade slashed through flesh. The barbed teeth pierced through the fabric. The camera shook violently; no one knew the outcome. All they saw was the crimson spreading in the water, followed by the screen freezing. On screen, there was nothing but blood. What¡¯s happening? Why has it stopped moving? Watching the still camera, an ominous feeling crept over Gu Qingyuan¡¯s heart; the longer it remained still, the deeper the despair in his heart grew. Gurgle gurgle. A string of bubbles rose. Finally, the screen shook once again, and Shuiyou instantly became excited. [It¡¯s moving!! [It¡¯s perking up!] [Did he survive?] [It could be the body being eaten and shaking¡­] [Fuck off, get out of here! ] Gurgle gurgle. Another string of bubbles escaped as the crimson in the frame became increasingly sparse. A few seconds later, a figure violently burst through the cloud of blood mist! Breaking free from the blood-red, the rock wall once again appeared before everyone¡¯s eyes! It was Bi Fang! He hadn¡¯t died! Shuiyou were thrilled, as excited as if they were receiving a red envelope for the New Year! Breaking out of the blood mist, Bi Fang floated still in the water. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Streams of blood swirled around Bi Fang, drifting elegantly with the current, like red ribbons fluttering in the wind, making him appear like a bloodthirsty demon god. Hovering in the water, Bi Fang¡¯s expression was grave as he looked back at the clump of red fog, where a long shadow was struggling relentlessly-combined with the crimson ink cloud, it seemed as if a monster¡¯s embryo was gestating. It hadn¡¯t died yet! Bi Fang held his breath and with a kick of his legs, rode the current swiftly away, the blood around him quickly dispersing. It won¡¯t do, the scent of blood here is too strong. The monster¡¯s eyes had already severely degenerated, which meant its sense of smell was likely developed to an unimaginable degree! If he stayed here, he would probably be faced with an onslaught from the group of monsters! But Bi Fang hadn¡¯t gone far when he looked back, the monster was once again in hot pursuit! So tenacious! Not only Bi Fang but even the viewers were stunned-after losing so much blood, it was as if nothing had happened to the fish? Without hesitating, Bi Fang dashed forward, swimming towards the direction from which the rapids had come. If there were rapids, then the exit had to be there! But time had passed for too long, and he had overexerted himself fighting with the monster; Bi Fang¡¯s ability to hold his breath underwater was nearing its limit! The discomfort from a lack of oxygen was starting to set in! In the pitch-black pool, one man and one beast chased each other, the surging water sweeping past Bi Fang¡¯s side before flushing over the monster behind him, bringing out more fresh blood. Yet even with severe injuries, the monster¡¯s swimming speed was far beyond what Bi Fang could match; in just a moment, the distance between them had closed to less than half a meter! Damn it! Countless viewers clenched their fists, sweating profusely, the intense pressure making them almost unable to breathe. The viewers had seen firsthand how sharp the monster¡¯s teeth were; moreover, the creature might have a biting force akin to that of a crocodile¡ªif it bit into flesh, the consequences would be unimaginable! Swim faster! Everyone was silently praying, wishing they could attach a turbo engine and propeller to Bi Fang. Seeing there was no escape, Bi Fang turned and swam directly upstream. In the passing moment, the monster, weakened by blood loss, didn¡¯t react in time and missed its prey. Above it, Bi Fang kicked hard, fiercely aiming at the monster¡¯s wound. There¡¯s no need to look closely, kick wherever there is the most blood. More blood was kicked out, crimson like silk threads coiling around Bi Fang s right leg, as the creature was abruptly kicked away. After that kick, the distance between them was once again increased, the severely injured creature getting thoroughly disoriented by the strike, and Bi Fang seized the opportunity to swim swiftly towards the cave opening where the current poured out. The light column above clearly marked the spot, the cave opening on the bottom of the pool was right there! [Fifteen centimeters not including head gives Spaceship*! to the host ¨C ¨C My god, this is too thrilling.] [Nanana gives Yacht*i to the host ¨C ¨C Damn, damn, damn, that¡¯s so cool!] [Salted Fish No.l gives Spaceship*! to the host ¨C ¨C That¡¯s freaking awesome! From now on, I¡¯m Master Fang¡¯s little fan girl!] (Mocha Baka gives Big Bone* to the host ¡ª The handsome ones are tipping, the ugly ones are hesitating!] [Hereyou go, tipped!] [Tipped!] As Bi Fang approached the cave, he reached out to test the water. Despite his urgency, he was still waiting for the current to slow down. It¡¯s not possible for the current here to always be this strong; the pool is only so big. If the flow here continued like this, the pool would be like a container with no outlet, the water would eventually overflow, and the valley would become a river. So this must be an outlet of a tributary of the Underground River when the water in the pool is too abundant, and the pressure too high, the flow of the water here would weaken, and it might even flow back! However, the audience in front of the screen didn¡¯t quite understand why Bi Fang wasn¡¯t entering the cave; they only knew that the creature was recovering! Only Gu Qingyuan roughly understood why Bi Fang wasn¡¯t entering the cave, and he silently prayed that everything would go smoothly. Hurry up, just a bit faster! Countless people were anxiously shouting, and seeing the creature start to move again, their tension reached a new height. Bi Fang felt that if he weren¡¯t underwater, his clothes would have surely been soaked with cold sweat by now. Surprisingly, the creature that started moving again didn¡¯t launch another attack but instead swam several circles around Bi Fang about five or six meters away, eventually disappearing into the darkness completely. [Ahahaha, it got scared!] [This must be the one from last night, right? After being hit twice in a row, it definitely got scared.] [Awesome, another creature subdued by Master Fang.] Seeing the creature disappear out of fear, the audience cheered once more; this round was Master Fang¡¯s victory! While ordinary people were cheering, Gu Qingyuan furrowed his brows and glanced at his watch. It had already been three minutes; could Bi Fang hold on after such intense activity? Underwater, the feeling of hypoxia was extremely uncomfortable for Bi Fang, but he still didn¡¯t choose to surface to catch his breath. The smell of blood was too strong here; if he didn¡¯t hurry now, the next time he came in, he might be greeted by a swarm of creatures! No matter how brave he was then, he wouldn¡¯t be able to break through the encirclement again. Time ticked away second by second, seeming to speed up and yet feel like an eternity. The lack of oxygen made Bi Fang¡¯s brain dizzy, but just as he was about to give up the exploration and go ashore for air, the rapid current disappeared! Bi Fang didn¡¯t hesitate at all and dove straight into the cave. Extra thinking would only waste oxygen! Having come all this way, how could he miss this opportunity? No matter what was inside, he had to take a look first. Seeing Bi Fang dive into the cave, everyone got excited, especially Gu Qingyuan. The previous worry was buried deep inside him, as curiosity about the unknown took over once again. What¡¯s on the other side? What kind of creatures? How did such a massive creature grow by eating what? Are there other ancient creatures? All sorts of questions grew wildly in Gu Qingyuan¡¯s mind like weeds. The cave was long; after swimming five or six meters, Bi Fang still couldn¡¯t see the end. The pressure of more than twenty meters of water squeezing his chest and lungs was making him increasingly uncomfortable, and the damn sensation of suffocation grew stronger. Just as he was about to give up, at last, a pitch-black cavity appeared! The exit was right in front of him! His heart rate, which had previously started to slow, accelerated once again, and Bi Fang dove forward, ready to burst out of the cave, but after swimming just a short distance, he fiercely grabbed onto the rock wall and came to an abrupt stop. Immense fear clutched at the hearts of all the viewers. Under the light column, at least three Tiktaaliks were swimming rapidly towards Bi Fang! Chapter 127 - 124:1... I’m Not Dead? Chapter 127: Chapter 124:1¡­ I¡¯m Not Dead? Below the pillar of light, a full three monster fish were speeding toward Bi Fang! Their size was not much different from the one encountered earlier, and some were even larger! The ferocious mouths of the creatures opened in unison, their sharply barbed teeth utterly terrifying. What to do? What should be done? Dense threads of blood filled Gu Qingyuan¡¯s eyes as he ceaselessly pondered this question. Gu Qingyuan¡¯s mind raced frantically, yet he could think of no solution, for here in the water, everything depended on Bi Fang alone! But could an oxygen-deprived Bi Fang truly face three monsters at once? This question was unsolvable! Hold on! It wasn¡¯t just Gu Qingyuan; every viewer watching Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast was uttering the same prayer at this moment. Giant crisis! Massive crisis! Bi Fang pursed his lips, tasting the flavor of blood, his heart, which had slowed due to the consumption of oxygen, now beating fiercely once again, the sound booming like a loud bell. He felt his body getting hotter and hotter, his chestnut-colored pupils trembling slightly, fixated on the monster fish diving toward him. However, just as Bi Fang braced himself for a full-on battle, a tremendous force suddenly struck from behind! This force, like the hand of a god or a high-speed train, violently struck Bi Fang¡¯s back! It was the water, the water! Bi Fang instantly understood that the water in the pool was flowing backward! It was a difference in pressure! This sudden inrush propelled Bi Fang quickly toward the cave entrance, not just him, but also the three monster fish were hit by the massive current, directly pushed out of the cave! The perspective shook too violently, and even with a balance system, viewers felt as if they were in a tumbling washing machine. The torrent, like a giant hand, clenched Bi Fang in its grasp and hurled him violently out of the cave, eventually smashing him against one of the monster fish. The roar of the rapid current suddenly whooshed by Bi Fang¡¯s ears. Though Bi Fang could not see the full image of the monster fish behind him, he could still clearly see its tail, and he certainly wouldn¡¯t miss this opportunity, stabbing it with a Hunting Knife without hesitation. This creature relied entirely on its tail for such swift movement in water! If he could injure this tail, he could immediately slow the monster¡¯s swimming speed and agility! The tail of the Tiktaalik was not enshrouded in thick bone like its head. Bi Fang¡¯s knife plunged into its flesh without any hindrance. In an instant, Bi Fang could distinctly feel the body of the monster fish shudder, then it violently shook its body, flinging him away. Under the tremendous force, Bi Fang, from holding his breath for so long, felt a reflexive physiological constriction in his lungs and inadvertently swallowed a mouthful of water! But he didn¡¯t engage in a prolonged fight; taking advantage of this force and the fact that the other several monsters were washed away, he quickly headed upstream toward the river¡¯s surface. At that moment, he was bursting with two hundred percent of his speed! The sound of water here was too loud; it definitely could not be a structure like that of a water pipe. If the interior was full of flowing water, the sound would be greatly reduced, so there must be a water surface, air! Right now, Bi Fang had reached his limit of holding his breath; if he couldn¡¯t breathe air soon, he would drown without the attack of the monster fish. But the monster fish weren¡¯t vegetarians; how could they just watch their prey escape? The other two monster fish had been flushed away to who knows where, but the one with the injured tail had adjusted its course and was rapidly swimming toward Bi Fang! Five meters, the distance between them was less than five meters! Bi Fang, seeing the water surface within arm¡¯s reach, steeled his heart. He did not turn back to confront the fish but instead shot straight for the water¡¯s surface. Five meters! Three meters! One meter! Finally, when the monster fish was just one meter away from Bi Fang, about to bite his leg, Bi Fang finally broke the water surface, managed to take a quick gulp of air, and immediately wrapped his arms around his neck, somersaulting to dive back down, directly into the gaping maw of the monster fish! The audience in the live stream watched in horror as Bi Fang¡¯s entire head was swallowed whole by the monster fish over two and a half meters long! Splash! The monster swallowed Bi Fang¡¯s head in one gulp, and its massive body crashed into the river like the whip of a god, kicking up a huge spray of water. Swallowed! Everyone was stunned, and as Bi Fang had created one miracle after another, they simply could not accept that a guy who called himself the number one explorer would meet his end here! Gu Qingyuan, Lin Chang, Lin Xue, Wu Mingtao, Yao Jun, and Wang Yongbo, all friends of Bi Fang, were at this moment beside themselves with rage. Could it be that Bi Fang would really die just like this? Inside the Underground River! Bi Fang only felt a tremendous force strike his head, and then he was plunged into a dark, sticky environment, accompanied by a foul stench. An unprecedented sense of urgency! But there was still hope! Bi Fang had not dived recklessly, otherwise, compared to losing a leg, the importance of his head was unquestionable. What he wanted was precisely this effect! Humans¡¯ necks are too fragile, so when he dived, Bi Fang used his hands to protect his head, and because the monster¡¯s mouth was too large, it had swallowed not only his head but also his hands that were protecting his neck! In the end, the monster could not outwit human intelligence! Bi Fang reached back and grabbed the Hunting Knife, stabbing forward fiercely! In an instant, Bi Fang felt the entire fish cavity suddenly tighten, like a vacuum pump sucking air, causing his shoulders to ache. The pain triggered the monster fish¡¯s fury, but it also stirred up Bi Fang¡¯s wildness! Far from letting go, he twisted and sliced the Hunting Knife even more ruthlessly! Boom! The monster fish¡¯s whole interior constricted in a squeezing motion, and it began to struggle violently. Bi Fang¡¯s head spun wildly. The monster fish thrashed its tail wildly, immense pain engulfing its entire body, followed by a deep, heavy roar, it opened its bloody mouth and spat Bi Fang out once more! The audience in the live stream felt darkness and then light, and water came back into view! ¡°Ha ha!¡± Bi Fang burst out of the water, creating a great splash, and swam toward the riverbank without looking back! After inflicting a severe blow on the monster fish, releasing Bi Fang, it quickly swam downwards. Bi Fang coughed, with river water constantly pouring into his mouth and nostrils, creating an unbearable physiological urge to vomit, which he suppressed as he swam to the bank in agony. In front of the camera, the waterline bobbed¡ªit was unclear how Bi Fang had managed to do it, but that didn¡¯t stop the viewers¡¯ celebration! S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Within a second, hundreds of comments formed a storm in the live stream! A dense flurry of gifts made the entire screen impenetrable. The only thing that could limit Bi Fang¡¯s live stream popularity now was Wolf Fang¡¯s ceiling capacity! Wang Yongbo was all too aware that many of Wolf Fang¡¯s streamers deliberately avoided streaming during Bi Fang¡¯s times, fearing it would affect their viewership! After about fifteen seconds, Bi Fang finally reached the beach of the Underground River. He rolled over with the last of his energy, then lay on the bank, gasping for breath like a dead fish. A drop of water from the cave ceiling fell on Bi Fang¡¯s forehead, cold to the bone. ¡°I¡­ didn¡¯t die?¡± The river flowed quietly beside him, fish swam in circles like spinning vortexes of light, their bioluminescence allowing Bi Fang to see the grandeur of his surroundings. He struggled to his feet, and the moment he looked out, Bi Fang forgot all his fear. His soul was filled with immense shock, and when he saw it all, everything seemed worth it¡­ ¡°Splash!¡± Water suddenly burst, and another monster fish leapt onto the bank! Just as it vaulted from the water, Bi Fang kicked it fiercely with his foot, sending it straight back into the Underground River, and he cursed loudly. ¡°You damn thing, dare to scare me when you¡¯re not even a meter long!¡± Chapter 128 - 125: Underground World Chapter 128: Chapter 125: Underground World Bi Fang kicked the strange fish back into the Underground River and hastily moved up the riverbank to avoid being ambushed by the fish again. The water of the river flowed silently, and the fish, forming dazzling swirls of light as they swam in circles, were actually glowing! The bioluminescence was even bright enough for Bi Fang to clearly see this grand and magnificent place! What an inconceivable miracle of life! Was this bioluminescence coming from inside the cells or from their exterior? Why was it so bright? The phenomenon of bioluminescence is not uncommon, especially for fireflies on land, which are the most well-known examples. An Underground River filled with so many bioluminescent fish; what species could this be? Gu Qingyuan had fallen into deep thought, while Wu Gang beside him didn¡¯t entertain such roundabout ideas; he was simply immersed in the vast and unknown depths of the earth. So thrilling! In the moment he looked around, Bi Fang forgot the danger he had just faced and felt an urge to kneel in worship. He had never imagined that such a spacious underground space could exist, possibly hundreds or even thousands of feet across. He couldn¡¯t gauge the size of this enormous cavern with his own eyesight. Standing up to look around, the end of the Underground River disappeared into darkness, making it impossible to see where it led. The sound of dripping water monotonously echoed throughout this huge space. The rather wide Underground River meandered, like a river within this realm, while the accumulated stalactites over thousands of years formed the mountain ranges here. Suddenly, the sound of splashing water arose as a large luminescent fish Bi Fang had seen earlier leapt vigorously out of the water! It seemed to have dived deep for a while, and now, as it emerged, it was radiating light so bright that it was almost dazzling as the sole source of illumination in the darkness. Bi Fang squinted and took a step back, but tripped over a rock behind him and almost fell. [My goodness, isn¡¯t this place too huge?] [Is there really a cavern this big? We only descended about twenty meters, right?] [Brother, did you forget this is a valley? I reckon we¡¯re about sixty meters or more below the surface¡­] [I¡¯m never going to the Jiaofang Division again. Gifting the streamer a Big Bone*l¡ªPraise Nature] [Messier64 gifts the streamer Fish Balls*ioooo¡ªCrossing the ocean to finally see land, it¡¯s too beautiful.] Compared to everyone else¡¯s sighs of amazement, Gu Qingyuan wasn¡¯t as shocked by the expanse of this new world, or perhaps he had anticipated it. ¡°Just as I suspected, whales can only be nurtured in the ocean; a fish tank can¡¯t breed a big fish! To breed a carnivorous animal three meters in length, this Underground River can¡¯t possibly be small; it must be extremely huge!¡± ¡°But if the river is so big, why is the Qaidam still a desert?¡± Wu Gang asked, puzzled. If the underground water source was so abundant, why was the surface bone dry, a place where neither humans nor birds chose to dwell? What was the reason? Hearing this, Gu Qingyuan gave Wu Gang a glare, ¡°Do you think deserts are deserts just because they lack water? Ignorance!¡± Wu Gang scratched his head; after all, he hadn¡¯t studied geography¡­ ¡°In the Arabian Desert, there are occasional heavy rains that can even flood cities in the desert. But even so, strong rainfall can¡¯t change its desert nature because the desert¡¯s absorption and evaporation rates mean that the water will disappear within a month.¡± ¡°Simply having more water is fundamentally impossible for transforming a desert!¡± ¡°Moreover, this Underground River is at least several tens of meters deep¡­¡± Gu Qingyuan wanted to explain further, but when he saw Bi Fang start to move, he immediately brought his attention back and waved dismissively at Wu Gang, ¡°Enough, enough, you can look it up on Baidu yourself, I don¡¯t have time to answer your questions.¡± WuGang: ¡°¡­¡± Staggering a few steps, Bi Fang leaned back against a stalactite column to rest. He combed his drenched hair with his hands, shaking off the incessant drips of water. Under the gleaming light, his face looked especially pale. Bi Fang shook his head and saw the barrage of comments, still answering some of the online friends¡¯ questions. ¡°Mountains surround the basin, and the meltwater from the snow and ice of the mountains, along with precipitation, seeps into the desert geology of the basin and forms groundwater below the surface.¡± ¡°Take the Tarim Basin, for instance. Some of our country¡¯s geologists even believe that the groundwater resources beneath the Tarim Basin may well exceed the storage volume of Lake Baikal, the world¡¯s largest freshwater lake, and the situation in Qaidam is similar.¡± ¡°But seeing it with your own eyes still leaves you awe-struck. This place is simply an underground world!¡± Bi Fang looked up, greedily breathing in the air, seemingly unconcerned about toxicity. ¡°Many people watch movies where the protagonist encounters suffocation in caves, or the presence of toxic gases. We don¡¯t need to worry about the former because Tiktaalik is here. If there was a lack of oxygen in the cave, they wouldn¡¯t be able to breed so successfully.¡± ¡°As for poisonous gases, they usually arise from a build-up and fermentation of bat droppings, resulting in an excessive amount of ammonia in the air, or sulfur dioxide or something, but these gases generally have a strong odor, which I have not smelled, so we don¡¯t need to worry about that.¡± After taking off the backpack in front of him and checking it carefully, Bi Fang breathed a sigh of relief. The backpack provided by the system was a double-layered waterproof bag, and it was sturdy enough that only the outer layer was torn by the bites of the strange fish, while the inner layer remained intact, leaving the clothes inside dry. Although it wasn¡¯t too cold yet, Bi Fang could feel the wet clothes leeching away his body heat. He pretended to take the camera down again, and the unmanned drone made a comeback. Then he took off his lining and changed into a new one. The good figure revealed in the process caused a frenzy of envy among the Shuiyou. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [The drone is finally back in action. I was about to get dizzy from all the shaking just now.] [Add one, I was so uncomfortable, even more than when I play 3D games.] [Speaking of which, Old Fang¡¯s physique is too impressive, right?] [Those muscles, I¡¯m in love!] [Envious!] [Screenshot and set as wallpaper.] [When can I also develop a physique like Master Fang?] [Live in the wilderness often, occasionally confront bears, wolves, and snakes, and you¡¯ll be like this in half a month.] Bi Fang didn¡¯t mind the teasing from the Shuiyou and closed his eyes. After a few minutes, when he reopened them, his eyes had initially adapted to the darkness. The lights on the drone were long extinguished, and in the pitch-black cave, the only light came from the flowing Underground River. Bi Fang didn¡¯t light any torches. Before entering the water, he had collected many flower sticks, but since there was still light, even if it was faint, he shouldn¡¯t waste resources. The terrain around him was vague, and Bi Fang tried hard to imprint it in his mind. ¡°Cave exploration is a very fashionable sport abroad and a popular activity among many extreme adventure enthusiasts. However, it is an adventurous sport after all, and most people only pay attention to the mystery, excitement, and fun of cave exploration, often overlooking the many hidden dangers.¡± ¡°Especially in unknown caves!¡± ¡°Here, we have no signs or guidance, no accurate reference points, and everything is unknown. We might even be unaware of how long, wide, or deep the cave is!¡± No sooner had he spoken than Bi Fang moved forward into the darkness, with the sound of dripping water echoing monotonously in the vast cave. Getting lost, rising groundwater levels, dangerous creatures, oxygen deprivation, abnormal temperatures and humidity¡­ In the pitch-black environment, these few sentences echoed back and forth within the cave, making the audience shiver, and the joy of escaping from the mouth of the creature vanished instantly. In such a deadly environment, could humans really find a way to survive? Chapter 129 - 126: How did he get in? Chapter 129: Chapter 126: How did he get in? [Since Old Fang said so, I know it¡¯s a sure thing now.] [Although I¡¯m really worried, I still have to jinx it by responding with ¡°it¡¯s a sure thing!¡±] [Last time you said the same thing, and woof, the bear just ran away.] [But I feel like it¡¯s really dangerous this time, not on the same level as the previous times.] [We believe in you, Old Fang! Rock-solid support!] [Grand Commander Wolf Fang has sent the host Spaceship*?¡ªcharge! This wave is my bonus for you!] sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang: ¡°???¡± What¡¯s going on, why are the responses different from before? Shouldn¡¯t there be a bunch of people jumping out to say I¡¯ve gone crazy, turned foolish, or am courting death? How am I supposed to set the mood with you guys like this? This generation of netizens is getting harder to lead. Bi Fang, resigned, realized that the audience¡¯s trust in him had only deepened, making it increasingly difficult to create simple show effects. Shaking his head, Bi Fang examined the surroundings of the cave and continued to move forward. ¡°Getting lost is the most common problem cave explorers encounter because underground caves are likely to be interconnecting, and there are no reference points here. Once we lose our direction, it can be quite troublesome. So, always remember to mark the path we¡¯ve passed, and never proceed recklessly. Even if we encounter danger, we must remain calm!¡± ¡°In the cave, the oppressive darkness all around can make it hard to breathe, and in such conditions, it¡¯s easiest to lose one¡¯s way. According to statistics, the majority of cave exploration disappearances around the world have been caused by getting lost.¡± ¡°For this reason, we must make sure to mark our path clearly, to constantly remind ourselves whether the route forward is repetitive.¡± Touching a stalactite that formed a column, Bi Fang found a stone on the ground, used his Hunting Knife to carve a markon it, and placed it beside the stalactite. This stalactite was the thickest one nearby, very noticeable. Leaving a mark here would serve as a clear landmark. ¡°Caves are generally rare geomorphological features; ecologically speaking, they are irreplaceable. Yet they are extremely fragile, and once damaged, it is very difficult for them to return to their original ecological state. Therefore, when choosing a marker, it is best to use methods that are less destructive to the environment.¡± ¡°Impressive!¡± Gu Qingyuan watched intently while continuously taking notes in a small notebook. Wu Gang glanced over and saw it was full of descriptive words, with records of the living environments of various species. It was clear that Gu Qingyuan greatly admired Bi Fang now. To prioritize environmental protection despite the danger was a quality rarely found in young people these days. [But you still need to be careful. In such a place, almost isolated from the world, and vastly different from our familiar external environment, it could have developed a unique ecological system. There might be dangerous creatures, and I can¡¯t judge what they are.] ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Professor, I¡¯m well aware of that,¡± Bi Fang nodded, saying it was precisely for this reason that he had chosen to walk along the bank where there was more light, to avoid stepping on any dangerous creatures. ¡°Catching a live Tiktaalik might have to wait a bit. I want to understand the surroundings better before making a move. Otherwise, carrying a big live fish would make my exploration very difficult.¡± [No problem, no problem, it¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t catch it. What matters is that you come back safely.] Gu Qingyuan repeatedly expressed that there was no rush, and if anything happened to Bi Fang, he would feel remorseful for the rest of his life. Now, no matter how many bullet comments there were, Professor Gu¡¯s comments would always stand out. To avoid Bi Fang missing them, many netizens spontaneously copied and pasted them, over and over, ensuring that Bi Fang could see them. They might not be able to give Bi Fang much encouragement, but they sure wouldn¡¯t be a drag on him. Bi Fang went deeper into the cave, the sound of running water gradually weakened, and the once-turbulent underground river began to slow. Gradually, the sound of watery trickles became faint. In the tranquil cave, with not a single human voice, water droplets ticked and tocked. Every time Bi Fang spoke, his voice would echo through the vastness of the cave. After a long time, Bi Fang gradually relaxed. It seemed that most of the dangerous creatures in this part of the cave were underwater, and there weren¡¯t any monsters on the riverbank. What followed was a fatigue of both body and mind. Those first few minutes into the cave hadn¡¯t been without cost; his energy was nearly depleted, and he was already starting to feel sleepy after walking only a short distance. Bi Fang reached up to touch the wound on his forehead, which was a result of being hit by the rushing water. The injury wasn¡¯t serious, so he hadn¡¯t bandaged it, and by now it had scabbed over, conveniently sparing him that trouble. ¡°How do I get out?¡± In the pitch-black cave, Bi Fang asked himself. Survival required skill as well as luck. He watched the glowing fish casting their luminescent light onto the ceiling, shimmering like multicolored stars. This test was so severe that even Bi Fang felt a lack of confidence. Perhaps he was too tired, causing his brain to stop functioning properly. Maybe he needed to rest for a while. Bi Fang rubbed his eyes, which were trying to close, when suddenly, a subtle noise woke him. Although it was faint, it was very clear. In a place where the monotony was only broken by the sound of water, it was strikingly distinct. But when Bi Fang leaned in to listen, he felt like it was just a slightly distorted dripping sound. Maybe just water droplets falling into an indented stone trough, he suspected he was experiencing an illusion. Bi Fang moved his feet again. ¡°Crack!¡± This time the sound was clearer, causing Bi Fang to freeze, for the noise came from under his foot. The audience members who also heard the strange noise instantly tensed up. Bi Fang slowly squatted down, shifted his shoe aside, and picked up a yellowed fragment. Bi Fang turned his head aimlessly as the drone also flew to his side, turning in the direction away from the river. Without any light, it switched from normal to night vision mode, but at the moment when everyone could see clearly, a scream pierced through the whole dormitory building! Wu Gang staggered backward, trembling. He saw an upside-down human face with hollow eyes staring straight at him, the mouth seemingly laughing soundlessly, and two rows of ghastly white teeth pressing against his face, as if to bite through his neck. ¡°What the hell are you doing!¡± Gu Qingyuan, too, was startled by Wu Gang¡¯s scream and yelled furiously, ¡°It¡¯s just a skeleton!¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Wu Gang, still in shock, was befuddled as he looked at the screen again, indeed seeing nothing but a skeletal head! At this moment, it wasn¡¯t just him; similar scenes were happening all over the country. No one expected that a pitch-black cave would contain a skeleton! Even Bi Fang himself was startled, nearly tumbling into the river. (Damn, that scared the hell out of me!] [That sudden night vision nearly scared me to death! ] [My grandpa, who just got out of the hospital, was sent back again, wuu wuu wuu, grandpa, my grandpa!] [Ah, may he rest in peace¡­] [Watching livestreams is risky, be careful with your donations!] [But why is there a skeleton here?] The last comment voiced everyone¡¯s confusion. Yeah, why was there a skeleton in here? At that moment, Bi Fang shook his head; he was also at a loss about the cave¡¯s layout. However, discovering this skeleton was an unexpected blessing. The route through the water pool to enter the cave was incredibly difficult, requiring not only exceptional breath-holding skills but also facing monsters¡¯ attacks. It was a life-and-death situation even for an ordinary person, let alone for Bi Fang himself. So, where did this skeleton come from? And where was the entrance it used to get in? Chapter 130 - 127 Silk Road Chapter 130: Chapter 127 Silk Road The gloomy darkness of the cave, countless people stared in horror at the white skeleton, while Bi Fang squatted in front of the bones, carefully examining the clothes on the body. From top to bottom, from left to right, from the style to the color, and then combining the characteristics of each era and the unique climatic attire, Bi Fang propped up his chin, deep in thought. He understood. There are limits to the human brain. The clothes on the skeleton were a dark mess ¨C he could discern nothing from them. The underground cave was too damp, and a thick layer of calcification had formed on the skeleton¡¯s clothing, almost solidifying into a mass akin to stone. Even the skull, looking further back, seemed to have merged with the ground. ¡°Normally, a human body will become a skeleton within one to two months after death, and the bones will start to become brittle after a few decades,¡± Bi Fang picked up a piece of crushed bone and gave it a twist. Crack. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The already small bone fragment broke into pieces the size of fingernails, and with a press of the fingers, it crumbled even further, like cookie crumbs. ¡°But for the bones to become this brittle, it would take at least a hundred years!¡± A hundred years! That long? The span of time was so great that many audience members felt they must have heard wrongly. [Whoa! Is this an ancient person?] [Did people enter this cave hundreds of years ago?] [How did they die? Starved to death here?] [This is a major archaeological site!] Bi Fang stood up again and took out a torch from his bag, lighting it and continuing deeper into the riverbed, probably less than a hundred meters. An even more astonishing scene presented itself. Yet another skeleton! More than one person died here? Bi Fang pointed the torch downwards, and this skeleton was basically similar to the previous one, except that the limbs had already separated from the torso, with the hand bones lying three meters away, and the leg bones had vanished completely! ¡°They were probably eaten,¡± Bi Fang said with a grave expression. After these people died, they were likely eaten by Tiktaalik that crawled ashore; otherwise, there was no explaining why the bones were scattered so fragmentarily. Of course, there might be even more sinister endings, but this place was not insurmountable. With so many fish in the river, such an event was unlikely to happen. As soon as the second skeleton appeared, Shuiyou in the live broadcast felt even more the chilling horror of this place. A chill to the bone. Why did these people die here, what drove them into this cave? Did they leave any clues behind? ¡°Could you¡­ not squeeze so tightly? I can¡­ hardly breathe,¡± on the couch, Ning Zhiyun had Bao Xuan¡¯s neck in a tight grasp, choking her until her eyes rolled back. Even the king of mixed martial arts didn¡¯t have a chokehold as perfect as hers! ¡°Ah, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry,¡± Ning Zhiyun quickly let go, apologizing repeatedly, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to, it was just too scary!¡± Bao Xuan empathized as she had also been startled by the sudden appearance of the skeleton, nodding and saying, ¡°This guy is pretty amazing. He dares to go into places like this, and without a sound, too. I was wondering where his money came from before. I never expected that he was live streaming!¡± ¡°I wonder if he can escape this time,¡± Ning Zhiyun said, full of concern. She had a good impression of Bi Fang. The big bag of cat food Bi Fang brought last time hadn¡¯t even been finished yet; they were all very expensive brands that made their three cats picky, not even looking twice at their previous food. The result was embarking on such a dangerous task, it was literally risking their lives for money. If the police hadn¡¯t told them, Ning Zhiyun felt she would still be in the dark. She had never expected that the two shifty-looking guys would actually turn out not to be bad guys; it was a relief they didn¡¯t come back to settle scores with them, otherwise Bao Xuan would have had to apologize. inside the dormitory building, Wu Gang and Gu Qingyuan were also very puzzled at this moment. ¡°Teacher, why are there so many bodies here?¡± Gu Qingyuan shook his head, this touched upon his areas of ignorance; as a biologist, how could he know about this sort of thing? He waved his hand and picked up the phone beside him, scrolling through the contacts on his mobile phone: ¡°Hold on, I¡¯ll give Professor Song a call.¡± ¡°The one who teaches history, Professor Song?¡± Wu Gang was startled. While waiting for the call to connect, Gu Qingyuan nodded to Wu Gang, ¡°Yes, he should know a bit more after seeing this video.¡± Watching Gu Qingyuan make the call, Wu Gang couldn¡¯t stop clicking his tongue in wonder, ¡°That¡¯s odd, even Professor Song is called in.¡± Professor Song from the history department and Professor Gu from the biology department, they were both considered hidden dragons and crouching phoenixes¡ªcough cough, two pearls of their school. When senior leaders came to inspect, they would respectfully address them as Professor Gu and Professor Song. He never expected that today both would be alarmed by a single live broadcast! Soon, an audience member named Song Tingning entered the live stream, but unfortunately, with so many people in the stream, no one noticed. After a while, Song Yanning on the other end of the phone shook his head; he too was powerless, ¡°There are too few clues. Without clothing or written characters, I can¡¯t determine who these people are.¡± The clothing in the cave had all congealed into a mass of rock; it was impossible to discern any style or features, and there were no written records. Just as Gu Qingyuan was extremely disappointed, Song Yanning suddenly changed his tone, ¡°However, I think it is very likely that this was a commercial caravan from the Song dynasty.¡± ¡°Oh? How so?¡± With a plot twist in sight, Gu Qingyuan asked curiously. ¡°The Qaidam Basin is a lowland surrounded by mountains and is located in the middle of the western region; its location is very clever.¡± Song Yanning paused, then began to organize his thoughts in his mind and, drawing on his years of historical expertise, made a plausible guess. ¡°Before the two Song dynasties, Qaidam was merely ordinary territory under the rule of the Central Plains dynasties or a stage for various other minority nations, such as the Qiang, to take turns ruling. But this place is only vast deserts and salt marshes, not good pastures, so it¡¯s always been sparsely populated since ancient times.¡± ¡°However, this changed during the confrontations between the Northern Song dynasty and Western Xia. During the standoff with Western Xia, they nearly occupied the entire Hexi Corridor. The Northern Song launched five wars to try to regain the old Hexi lands but were not successful.¡± ¡°The Hexi region has always been a hub connecting the Central Plains to the western regions. Unable to recapture it despite several expeditions, the Northern Song couldn¡¯t pass through the territory to connect with the kingdoms of the western regions, something Western Xia also wouldn¡¯t allow.¡± ¡°This became a thorn in the side of the Great Song Empire, forcing the Song to seek other routes to the western regions.¡± ¡°Speak plainly, stop beating around the bush and just say the conclusion. I don¡¯t understand, nor do I care, do you think I¡¯m one of your students?¡± Gu Qingyuan grew impatient, all this stuff about two Songs, Western Xia, five wars ¡ªit was giving him a headache just listening. Song Yanning: He suppressed the surge of frustration in his forehead and sped up his speech. ¡°This place has always been sparsely populated; people simply can¡¯t survive here. Apart from warfare, the only ones who would pass through here are the caravans, and these people are obviously only wearing ordinary clothes, without armor or swords, so they couldn¡¯t be military. And it was only during the Song dynasty that caravans passed through here, as this was part of the Silk Road.¡± ¡°Then why not the Yuan Dynasty or the Ming Dynasty?¡± Gu Qingyuan was quite confused. ¡°The Yuan and Ming dynasties had much larger territories than the Song, and when they travelled to the western regions, they would take the Hexi Corridor. So, probability and timing-wise, the Song people have the greatest likelihood!¡± Gu Qingyuan nodded, acknowledging the information. If it had been put this way earlier, he would have understood without all the beating around the bush with not a bit of useful information. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m hanging up now.¡± ¡°Hey, hey, wait, don¡¯t hang up yet!¡± Song Yanning immediately grew anxious when he heard that. So after I¡¯ve helped out, there¡¯s not even a token of appreciation? One should not be too ¡®Gu Qingyuan¡¯! Chapter 131 - 128: Get to Know the Nine-layered Demon Tower Chapter 131: Chapter 128: Get to Know the Nine-layered Demon Tower ¡°Look, I¡¯ve said so much, cough cough.¡± Song Vanning coughed, vehemently hinting at Gu Qingyuan. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, tuberculosis? If you¡¯ve got something to say, spit it out. I¡¯ve still got to go apply for a quota to research rare species!¡± said Gu Qingyuan, annoyed. The two had been good friends for many years and were accustomed to mocking each other. Song Vanning was good at everything else, but he was not straightforward when he spoke, hesitantly breaking what could be said in one sentence into two. ¡°Cough cough!¡± This time Song Vanning really choked, and upon hearing Gu Qingyuan¡¯s words, he spoke bluntly, ¡°old Gu, when you take your team on a field study, can you take me with you? I also want to experience what a Song dynasty merchant caravan was like.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Gu Qingyuan agreed readily. It was just the matter of a plane ticket, which the school would reimburse anyway. He was in a hurry to apply for the quota to study rare animals. He had been only focused on having Bi Fang capture a live strange fish and had almost forgotten about this. Normally, the discovery of a new species entails on-site protection, following the principle that they shouldn¡¯t be moved unless absolutely necessary. But as always, there are exceptions, such as for scientific research. The wants of humanity supersede all. Many large laboratories have certain quotas for researching rare animals. As long as the creature has great experimental value and is not actually on the verge of extinction, researching one or two live specimens is totally allowed. Just need to get permission. As one of the leading figures in domestic biological research, Gu Qingyuan certainly had that qualification. Moreover, since Tiktaalik seemed to be thriving in the Underground River and didn¡¯t appear to be on the brink of extinction, he had asked Bi Fang to try capturing a live one. The absence of one wouldn¡¯t cause significant damage, it was simply improbable. Therefore, after relaying all this information from Song Vanning to Bi Fang, Gu Qingyuan hurried off to apply for the quota. ¡°You stay here and watch the livestream; don¡¯t wander off. If anything happens, call me right away! I¡¯ll bring you back some oranges.¡± ¡°Okay, teacher.¡± Wu Gang found this statement a bit strange, but he nodded his head anyway. After watching his teacher push open the dormitory door and leave, he suddenly clenched his fist. ¡°Yes, I can finally donate!¡± Clutching the mouse, Wu Gang skillfully opened the donation interface and sent out a few meatballs, feeling an all-round sense of pleasure. Ever since he started watching Bi Fang¡¯s livestreams, he had developed an addiction to donating, one he didn¡¯t want to cure. What was he supposed to do? Inside the cave. ¡°They were actually people from the Song dynasty?¡± Bi Fang held up a torch, looking at the skeletons on the ground with surprise in his eyes. This was already the third skeleton he had discovered. He had originally thought they might be Xianbei people; as far as he knew, Qaidam was most famously associated with the small country of Tuyuhun¡¯, founded by the Murong Clan of the Xianbei, who were also the real-life ¡°Nine-layered Demon Tower¡± tomb owners. So he never associated the discovery with people from the Song dynasty. [Wow, so historically significant?] [This is an archaeological discovery, Old Fang, you¡¯ve made another contribution to the country! Wait, why do I feel like saying ¡®again¡¯?] [Master Fang¡¯s livestreams are getting more and more amazing, even getting external assistance, awesome (voice crack)!] [Assistance from a top professor from a top university, reliable!] [A merchant caravan? Could there be antiques?] [Holy cow, isn¡¯t this a fortune? Antiques from the Song dynasty! Old Fang, remember us when you¡¯re rolling in riches!] [We should all get a share!] [We should all get a share, plus one!] ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it!¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°Do you really think that if there were antiques, they would end up in your hands? Why do you think the caravan would have entered this cave?¡± Bi Fang looked at the dead skeletons, making his own analysis. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for danger, would they have ventured so deep as to end up trapped and die here? If they encountered danger, it¡¯s very unlikely they would have been able to flee with a load of goods.¡± I suspect that if these people truly were traders, they might have been ambushed by desert bandits. The goods would have been stolen, and the survivors had to seek refuge in this cave to escape.¡± Holding the torch, Bi Fang continued to advance through the cave. The fire cast his shadow on the rock walls. With the light, he moved much faster, and soon he discovered a section of wall that was different from the others. The stone wall shone like a mirror, and as Bi Fang brought the torch closer, he discovered that there was no spot on the wall without white marks, groups of five closely packed together, densely covering the entire wall. Bi Fang counted the white marks, growing more alarmed as he counted, not knowing how these people had measured time before their death, but if each mark here represented a day, there were no fewer than a hundred marks! Roughly three months! These people had been trapped here for three full months before they died! But having held on for three months, how did they die? There was no lack of water and food here, could it have been suicide? Nature found it incomprehensible. ¡°Lack of salt and vitamins!¡± ¡°Especially without salt! Even though eating meat can replenish sodium, that¡¯s not enough; over time, one would become weak and listless, and in such a state, it¡¯s easy to entertain thoughts of ending one¡¯s life.¡± Bi Fang was solemn, the situation worse than he had anticipated; these people had held on for three months and still hadn¡¯t found the exit-what could be the reason? Had the exit been blocked by someone, or was it simply a matter of getting lost? He looked toward an alley on the riverbank, a deep alley leading toward an unseen end above, leaving a mark, Bi Fang entered the alley. Half an hour later, Bi Fang arrived at the riverbank again, and saw the marking stone at his feet¡ªit was the starting point. He had just made a big circle. [I told you we should¡¯ve taken the left fork.] [Why¡¯d we end up back here?] [I¡¯m getting anxious, what if we really can¡¯t get out?] [I think it¡¯s doubtfuL.the people here didn¡¯t find the exit even after three months¡­] [Has anyone counted how many forks there are?] [Three, four, two, probably this many, we just kept turning left.] ¡°No worries, just one more try.¡± Bi Fang wasn¡¯t disheartened; he had just been sticking to the left and had figured out one route, and when it came to caves, there was no rushing. Soon, a good half-day had passed. In this cave, devoid of daylight, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t determine the time, and could only roughly estimate that it might be evening or perhaps even later, with night having fallen. Exhaustion from the day prevented Bi Fang from keeping his eyes open, and as he explored the last alley, finally, something different occurred. At this moment, he once again arrived in a cavern, not the Underground River, but a pond, with a mound in the middle surrounded by water like a moat. But what drew the most attention wasn¡¯t the picturesque scene, but rather the creature on the mound! Another Tiktaalik, and a big one at that! Bi Fang slowed his breathing, not alarming the strange fish that appeared to be sleeping; he retreated back to the alley and pointed to the opposite side of the fish. The fluorescing river emitted a faint light, and with the help of the drone, the Shuiyou could barely make it out. There was a cave entrance right on the other side! [Ah, are we supposed to fight the monster to get through?] [Is this the King of Tiktaaliks?] [Wow, someone actually remembers this name] [This one¡¯s got to be over three meters, right?] [Catch this one, Old Fang; if you do, I¡¯ll tip you a spaceship!] ¡°This one¡¯s too big; even if I caught it, I couldn¡¯t carry it,¡± Bi Fang flatly refused. Not to mention the danger, how would he take such a big strange fish that was heavier than him? And at this point, he was simply too exhausted. ¡°Let¡¯s go back for now; we¡¯ll come back here tomorrow and have a look, maybe the strange fish will have gone by then.¡± S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 132 - 129: This Road is Impassable Chapter 132: Chapter 129: This Road is Impassable Bi Fang retreated into the corridor, winding through the paths marked on the rock walls until he found a higher sloping terrain in the corridor. After carving an arrow into the wall, Bi Fang explained to the drone. ¡°Within these caves, we must be careful of rising groundwater levels. Here, it¡¯s common to hear the water without seeing it. One step may be on solid rock and the next could unexpectedly be over a deep pool. In case of a cloudburst, it¡¯s quite possible for the water to fill the cave overnight.¡± ¡°This scenario is extremely dangerous. In December 2009, seven cave explorers from France entered a cave at the border of France and Spain in the Pyrenees Mountains. When they reached 700 meters underground, the water level of the underground river suddenly rose, cutting off the exit route for three of them. The other four tried to rescue them without success before urgently seeking help from the outside world.¡± ¡°Later, a professional rescue team arrived at the scene. The diving team entered the cave, used explosives to blast a passage, and finally succeeded in rescuing the trapped individuals.¡± [Damn! I thought getting lost was the most dangerous situation in cave exploration. Who knew there was something even scarier?] [There shouldn¡¯t be a sudden surge of water in the desert, right?] [On the contrary, I think because it¡¯s a desert, it¡¯s more likely to have rapid water level rises. All the water would seep in from a downpour.] [But heavy rains are rare, aren¡¯t deserts less likely to experience sudden cloudbursts?] [If you get flooded in such a place, isn¡¯t that just waiting to die?] The audience was anxious, unable to imagine what a desperate scene it would be if groundwater backfilled into the corridors. It was like stuffing people into a sealed glass jar and filling it with water! ¡°Yes, it¡¯s just waiting to die,¡± Bi Fang confirmed their thoughts. ¡°If you¡¯re trapped in a cave and the water level rises and floods in, you¡¯ll drown. If you don¡¯t get drowned, you¡¯ll die of asphyxiation due to lack of air circulation.¡± ¡°Not every cave exploration outing is so lucky to have friends able to call for rescue, most victims are powerless to change their fate in such situations.¡± Many viewers nodded silently. Without a rise in water level, the intricately complex caves could drive a person mad, not to mention when they are flooded. Find the exit against the clock, how could that be possible? ¡°When we ¡®re trapped in caverns for various reasons, we must try our best to find higher ground to avoid similar tragedies. This corridor seems to be the highest ground I¡¯ve come across in my recent exploration area, and I plan to make this my campsite for tonight.¡± Bi Fang cleared the rocks on the ground and then started to look for scattered stones around the area, piling them at both ends of the corridor to create simple barriers. ¡°It¡¯s best to block both ends of the passage with stones. This can effectively prevent some creatures from entering, especially heat-seeking animals like venomous snakes. A sleeping human is simply a natural furnace to them! Without taking measures, you can¡¯t possibly defend against it!¡± ¡°I hope no strange creatures come in while I¡¯m asleep.¡± After partially blocking the passage, Bi Fang wiped the sweat off his forehead, held onto the drone, and after a few final words, ended the broadcast despite the audience¡¯s pleas not to. Gazing at the torch in his hand, Bi Fang blew out a breath. The corridor plunged into complete darkness. The sound of flowing water was faintly discernible, with water droplets landing on the damp ground and echoing clearly. Bi Fang felt his own chest, sensing the heartbeat within, and slowly closed his eyes. Next came the sound of his steady breathing. In the dark, Bi Fang drifted in and out of sleep, sometimes even feeling water droplets landing on his own face. The sound of the water seemed to draw nearer, elusive like a shadow. Inside an office. Gu Qingyuan took off his glasses, pinched the bridge of his nose, and relieved fatigue. Watching this live broadcast was truly draining, never having a moment to relax is comparable to a day full of experiments. The application for research spots had gone through and the team was assembled. The next step was to head to the Qaidam Basin. Once the research team arrived, even if Bi Fang couldn¡¯t find the exit, they could send someone to dive into the pool from the entrance to conduct a rescue. One can only hope everything goes smoothly before then. ¡°Drip-drop!¡± A water droplet traced an arc in the darkness. Bi Fang, slowly opening his eyes, reached to touch his cheek, which was covered in condensed moisture. The humidity in the corridor had increased. ¡°Is it the third day now?¡± In the darkness, Bi Fang stretched with a yawn; the fatigue from yesterday¡¯s narrow escape had vanished, and he felt considerably rejuvenated. He didn¡¯t know whether it was day or night now. Deprived of sunlight, Bi Fang had no idea how long he had slept, and determining the time was out of the question. This was a good thing; if he didn¡¯t know the time of day, then neither did the corpses. Perhaps the marks on the rock walls were not accurate at all but simply the wrong conclusions drawn by a group of desperate people. Feeling his empty stomach, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t eaten the second snake. There was no way to replenish the remaining flower sticks; fire had become a scarce resource, and he wouldn¡¯t start another unless necessary. He opened the live stream and chatted with the incoming viewers before continuing towards the cave where he had encountered the giant fish yesterday. He had mostly familiarized himself with the passageway here, with nothing new discovered. His only hope now lay within the cave across the rock chamber. It must be said that the cave system here was incredibly complex, with paths branching off everywhere. Without proper markings, getting lost was almost a matter of when, not if. ¡°We¡¯re going back to where we saw the monster fish yesterday to see if it¡¯s gone. Otherwise, I might have to forcibly break through its defenses,¡± said Bi Fang, firmly wielding a torch and marching on. Time waits for no one; the longer he delayed, the worse his condition would become. If the monster fish was still there, Bi Fang could only apologize. [Master Fang: I advise you to be sensible!] [Tiktaalik: Awoo, awoo awoo awoo, wuu wuuu!] [Slowly type out a question mark?] [You¡¯re not right, seriously not right!] [Here it comes, I sense there¡¯s going to be some intense action ahead!] The viewers¡¯ hearts pounded fiercely. They had all seen the monster fish yesterday; it was definitely over three meters long, bigger than any they had seen before. Was he going to fight with such a creature? The viewers¡¯ concerns deepened with every step Bi Fang took, as if each step heavily landed on their hearts. When a light appeared in the tunnel, their anxieties peaked! The next second, just as Bi Fang stepped out of the exit, they realized. On the small island in the circular current, there was nothing! The monster was gone! [Dang, that was super tense just now, more than a roller coaster ride!] [An exquisite piggy boy offers 1 Big Bone to the streamer¡ªWu Hu, are you safe now?] [I just hope that Master Fang can safely exit the cave!] [Lord Mu sends 10 Spaceships to the streamer¡ªkeep going!] Bi Fang approached the river and looked down. With the light fish swimming below and no sign of the monster fish nearby, he walked along the edge of the cave and quickly made his way to the cave entrance on the opposite side. Lighting another bundle of flower sticks, Bi Fang pressed on. The corridor was narrow and long, with only two forks. For the first one, Bi Fang went left, explaining as he went. ¡°Caves like this aren¡¯t too complicated, actually; it¡¯s just the multitude of forks that can be confusing. In such a case, we only need to make good marks and follow the walls so there¡¯s no need to worry too much. If it were a three- dimensional, complex cave, then that would be a real challenge.¡± ¡°Staying in that kind of cave is like being inside a Rubik¡¯s cube. Even with marks, it¡¯s tough to tell if you have been in the same place before. Don¡¯t rely too much on your brain¡¯s spatial memory¡ªunless you¡¯ve been through it multiple times, it¡¯s very difficult to make the right judgment in the dark.¡± Thanks to his previous exploration, this time Bi Fang¡¯s search seemed particularly easy. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In less than fifteen minutes, he made a new discovery. More skeletons, and not just one! Just by counting skulls, Bi Fang saw at least four! But that wasn¡¯t the main point! Bi Fang felt the hard, sandy surface before him, his tone grave. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, the exit is just across from here!¡± Chapter 133 - 130: No Weaknesses Anymore Chapter 133: Chapter 130: No Weaknesses Anymore Exit! Where is the exit? The audience was especially astonished. This was clearly a dead end, so where did the exit come from? Could it be that the host had been in the cave for too long and was experiencing hallucinations? It¡¯s hard for someone to keep their sanity intact in such a closed and desperate environment, especially after learning that people had died here. Wang Xiaocong was swaying in his seat, as if shaking his phone could reveal different angles of the scene. ¡°Of course not,¡± Bi Fang shook his head. He was very alert, and seeing everyone¡¯s confusion, he pointed to the bones on the ground and said, ¡°Look at these bones here!¡± The firelight flickered, casting the white bones in stark relief. On the train, Gu Qingyuan put on his glasses to take a closer look. Upon inspection, indeed, there was a new discovery! Four skulls had been found, and two of them had clear indentations at the back of the head, evidently caused by blunt force trauma. Looking further, at least three sets of remains had broken ribs. ¡°These people were murdered!¡± Seeing these marks, Bi Fang was certain. The difference between wounds left by animal attacks and those made by weapons was very obvious. Moreover, the position of these skeletons, with their backs toward the sand, was no coincidence! Bodies with their backs to the sand. Murdered by someone. Connecting all these clues together, Bi Fang had a bold conjecture. ¡°If these people really were part of a caravan, then they might have encountered bandits and tried to escape into the cave. But some were not quick enough to avoid them and were killed right at the entrance. The direction in which they fled was deeper into the cave; that¡¯s why the bodies ended up in this position, all uniformly with their backs to the sand!¡± Bi Fang stood up and touched the hard sandstone, sighing, ¡°This yellow sand has probably been accumulating here for a thousand years; it has completely buried the entrance.¡± This place was supposed to be an exit, but after a thousand years of blowing sand, it was completely buried. Perhaps those bandits knew all along that there were monsters in the cave and watched the escapees enter it, completely indifferent to their fate. (Can we get out?] (Dig out with our hands?] [Digging through sand shouldn¡¯t be so hard, right?] [Not necessarily, with the sand of a thousand years piled up here, how could it be easy to dig? At least a few meters thick, right?] ¡°A few meters?¡± Bi Fang shook his head. If only it were that simple. In the desert, it¡¯s quite normal for a sand dune to appear overnight, let alone over a thousand years? The cave entrance here must be buried by more than just a few dozen meters! ¡°Not only that, look at this yellow sand here,¡± Bi Fang struck the sand with his hunting knife, producing a metallic sound, ¡°After prolonged permeation of moisture, this yellow sand has become clumped together, hard as rock. It¡¯s not about having just one person here. Even if ten more came, we wouldn¡¯t be able to dig through. This exit might as well not exist!¡± ¡°We must continue to search for other exits.¡± Bi Fang felt a twinge of disappointment. Even if he could break through this hard crust, the remaining dry sand would be impossible to dig; it could collapse on him at any minute. Since this path was impassable, the only option was to try the tunnel on the right. The system had given him a total of five days, and today was already the third, but he had been in the cave for a whole day. Whether he could successfully survive after getting out was still an unknown. Fifteen minutes later, Bi Fang returned to the previous intersection and felt his way down the right-hand tunnel. This should be the last passage. It was notably wider than the previous ones, wide enough for three people to walk abreast. Holding up a torch, the ceiling of the tunnel was dripping profusely with wet droplets, falling at an alarming rate. Not long after Bi Fang entered, the water had already overflowed his boots. With the faint luminescence reflecting off the cave walls, Bi Fang felt an ominous premonition. As he turned a small corner, that premonition came true. The tunnel took a sharp turn downward, leading directly to the water¡¯s edge. Another pool of water! Damp stalactites, the dark, humid air, and those smooth holes on the cave wall looking as if they were eroded by water¡­ Seeing all that was familiar, Bi Fang felt as if he had come full circle. Despair spread in his heart, and the audience was beginning to lose it. This oppressive feeling of having no way out was suffocating. [There¡¯s no way out!] [We¡¯ve looked everywhere, how can there be no exit? How are we supposed to play this?] (Don¡¯t tell me we have to go back through the previous entrance? Isn¡¯t that too dangerous?] ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m prepared for this. If the exit had been so easy to find, those people wouldn¡¯t have been trapped and died here,¡± Bi Fang slightly reassured the anxious audience. Nevertheless, seeing this scene firsthand still made him feel uncomfortable. Does this mean he really has to go back through the entrance? Last time he survived by pure luck; the current wouldn¡¯t always be on his side to help him. Seeing Bi Fang¡¯s distressed expression, Gu Qingyuan also felt terrible. The whole situation had started because of him. Now that there was no way out, most of the responsibility lay with him. ¡°Should I try going underwater?¡± Bi Fang¡¯s mind suddenly flashed with this thought, startling himself, but on second thought, he felt the plan was quite feasible. There are many Qaidam Spring Eyes, and he had come down through a pool of water; perhaps this place could also lead outside? Only by daring to do what others fear can one have a glimmer of hope for survival! Thinking thus, Bi Fang could no longer suppress his desire to explore. However, when he explained, his viewers became anxious. (Don¡¯t do it! It was so dangerous last time. What if it¡¯s the same this time?] (Yeah, yeah, go back and think of another plan! ] (Why not just wait for rescue? That¡¯s much more reliable.] (Master Fang is restless again, wanting to check out whatever he sees.] ¡°If I waited for rescue whenever there¡¯s danger, then what¡¯s the point of my live stream?¡± Bi Fang shook his head, firmly rejecting the viewers¡¯ suggestions. He would be responsible for his own choices. Even if an accident occurred, Bi Fang would have no regrets. He was merely contributing his modest effort to the path of human exploration of nature. Seeing that they couldn¡¯t dissuade Bi Fang, the viewers could only wish him well in their hearts. But just as Bi Fang was about to enter the water, a sudden chill pierced into the back of his skull, and blood vessels under his pale skin jump violently as if scorched by fire! Bi Fang¡¯s muscles tensed in an instant, and his body sprung back in a stress response! Crack! A loud noise sounded as teeth meshed together like gears, but struck nothing! It was only then that the viewers could see clearly: a gigantic monstrous fish had suddenly darted out from the darkness! The monstrous fish hadn¡¯t expected its prey to react so quickly. Its hook-like teeth dripped with saliva, and a hissing sound came from its throat. The firelight reflected on the rock walls, casting half-lit, half-shadowed images of the monster¡¯s iron-gray skull, with bone spikes throwing shadows against the rocks. A monster fish! It was the same fish from before! It had not left but had entered the passageway and arrived at this pool! The viewers felt chills down their spine! They stared at the monstrous fish that was only an arm¡¯s length away, leaning back desperately as if through the screen they could smell the nauseating stench from the monster¡¯s greedy maw. Upon seeing the monster fish clearly, Bi Fang did not hesitate for a moment and started to run! The space in the passageway was too small, and the visibility was poor; facing such a ferocious beast was very dangerous! But how could the fierce monster let him go? Seeing Bi Fang flee, the short and stocky body of the monster fish squirmed and contracted in a moment, and with a swift lunge, it caught up with Bi Fang in the blink of an eye! There was no room to dodge in the cramped space, and just as the monster fish was about to pounce on Bi Fang, the viewers in the live stream screamed uncontrollably. With the pungent wind raging behind him, Bi Fang pushed his legs forward and leaped out like a rabbit, narrowly avoiding the monster fish¡¯s sharp teeth by a hair¡¯s breadth. Rolling several times on the ground, Bi Fang instinctively pulled out his Hunting Knife, but as he looked up, a gaping maw was right before his eyes! That spotted and scaly tongue was within inches, and the foul stench hit his face! Such a familiar scene triggered an almost instinctive reaction in Bi Fang, who immediately grabbed the big tongue and yanked it back! His fingernails dug into the monster¡¯s tongue, as if grabbing onto a slippery catfish! Unfortunately, this time was completely different from the last. Bi Fang was on the ground with neither time nor space to struggle, unable to wrestle with the creature as before! Thick saliva dribbled onto Bi Fang¡¯s face, carrying a faint stench. He had no time to wipe it off, nor did he dare to. As the monster¡¯s body contracted, Bi Fang knew it was assuming the pouncing posture to snap its prey¡¯s throat. He wanted to evade but was powerless. Just as the monster fish was about to lunge forward and shred him, Bi Fang¡¯s face hardened, and his hand holding the Hunting Knife valiantly swung down! Thick, fishy dark-green fluid splattered. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The monster¡¯s scream turned piercingly sharp as its jaws snapped shut violently but failed to catch anything. Bi Fang stumbled backward, his hand now only holding half of a soft, limp tongue. The strike had severed the monster¡¯s tongue entirely! The torch had fallen to the side, flickering but not yet extinguished. Bi Fang steadied himself, and as he looked up, he saw that instead of taking the opportunity to return to the water, the beast was wobbling on its short limbs, its mouth dripping with dark green blood. Anyone could see that the monster was furious, its head swiveling as it searched for the scent of its enemy. The hard bones scraped against the ground, and its tail, akin to wrought iron, thrashed the ground irritably. The monster fish was over three meters long, resembling both fish and crocodile. As it struggled to rise up with its upper body, it was almost as tall as Bi Fang! It had caught the scent of its prey, instantly fixing its position and facing Bi Fang directly. It had no eyes, but the sudden silence was more terrifying than any gaze. Its mouth was flapping, green blood and mucus slowly dripping down. With its tongue cut off, it no longer had a vulnerable spot; all that was left in front of it was a piece of agile flesh! Chapter 134 - 131: Darkness Chapter 134: Chapter 131: Darkness In the passageway, the torchlight was dim. The creature resembling a crocodile was extraordinarily ferocious, thick dark green juice dripping from the corners of its mouth. The torch was propped against the wall, teetering on the brink of falling into the pool of water. When that happened, there would be no light left here, only darkness. Bi Fang tried to use the live broadcast¡¯s third-person night vision mode to observe the monstrous fish but unexpectedly discovered he could not turn it on! Damn it, the System had restricted him! An unforeseen situation arose, and Bi Fang¡¯s heart raced. He discarded the half of the tongue, his peripheral vision closely monitoring the torch that might fall at any moment. Please, don¡¯t fall! Unfortunately, contrary to his wishes, there was a faint sound as it hit the ground. ¡°Tss!¡± Smoke rose, and the passageway plunged into complete darkness. Hearing the sound, the monstrous fish violently turned its head towards where the torch had been, emitting a low grunting sound from its throat. Bi Fang¡¯s pupils constricted as he exerted all his effort to adapt to the darkness, his nose slightly wrinkling as he tried to capture all the scent molecules in the air to determine the opponent¡¯s position. At that moment, both parties strangely fell into silence. Outside the screen, the audience was overwhelmed by this silence; they collapsed into their seats, hearts hammering, too scared to move. The monster quieted for a moment as if understanding something, then suddenly stood erect, supporting its body solely with its coiled tail. At that moment, it was three meters tall, a height unachievable by any fish or snake. Even the similarly-sized Siamese Crocodile could not perform such flexible movements! In night vision mode, the audience could only see the monstrous fish¡¯s straightened body tremble slightly, clearly strained to its limit, and then it forcefully ¡°smashed¡± its body outwards, like a giant whip descending from the sky, its bone spurs the thorns on the whip! In the darkness, the evil wind struck! How could Bi Fang, rendered blind, be as agile as a monstrous fish that had grown up in the dark? He evaded on instinct, but it was too late, the monstrous fish¡¯s finely scaled tail brutally struck Bi Fang! In front of him, the Hunting Knife turned into a harbinger of death. At the critical moment, Bi Fang twisted the blade, pressing the flat of the knife against his chest, forcefully bearing the impact. At that moment, he felt as if he had been hit by a giant log used in sieges, his sternum and ribs making sounds as if they were about to shatter, the force of the impact almost stopping his heart! Bi Fang was flung to the ground, directly breaking a Stalactite and causing large rocks to fall, some hitting him, others splashing water everywhere. ¡°Shit!¡± Bi Fang retched uncontrollably, as if he was about to cough up blood. But he dared not stay put; cursing under his breath, he quickly struggled to get up from the ground. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He strongly suspected that the ultimate evolutionary path of this creature was to become a Crocodile: it not only looked similar but also behaved in similar ways! This was no tail, but a battering ram! The muscles and bones of Humans were far inferior to those of many animals in nature, whose proportion of fast-twitch muscle fibers far exceeded that of Humans, but this was just too much. In a matter of seconds, the difference in physical capabilities between man and animal was already apparent: Bi Fang was no match for the monster! The monster, successful in its strike, did not pause at all, instantly turning around and charging mercilessly towards Bi Fang. Its mouth open wide, it displayed its terrifyingly sharp teeth like daggers. The tongueless creature was excited, making a hissing sound. Bi Fang wiped the blood from his face, the sound tightening his whole body. But he had no way to escape. The monster had swapped places with him, and now there was a pool behind Bi Fang; retreating would mean fighting in the water, where his chances of winning were even slimmer! The monster was already reveling in the joy of devouring its prey, its short webbed limbs bending as it surged forward like lightning. It leaped, blood dripping from its fangs, the sharp whistling sound it created was like thunder; seeing the flash of lightning and then covering your ears was already too late. The blurry shadow filled Bi Fang¡¯s entire field of vision, a huge wave of wind pressure approaching, a tide of fear sweeping over his senses, everything turning pitch black as if he heard another beast roaring deep within his mind. The only thing he managed to do was to throw himself sideways towards the monster! He absolutely couldn¡¯t let the monster bite his neck! The snapping sound of teeth clashing together was like invisible needles piercing into Bi Fang¡¯s skull, and those terrifying teeth were like blades¡ªhe could even feel a tingling ache as they grazed the surface of his neck. But! Bi Fang¡¯s gamble paid off, the monster didn¡¯t bite his neck! Upon collision, both the monster and Bi Fang tumbled into the puddle, rolling in the water as mud splashed around; the next second, it was Bi Fang who struck first! He pressed down right on top of the strange fish, putting all his weight on the back of the creature, while his hands firmly held down the fish¡¯s head! Under his pale skin, Bi Fang¡¯s veins throbbed as violently as if they were serpents scorched by fire. Straining himself to the limit turned his face red, and his eyes shone brightly. If it really was as Professor Gu Qingyuan said, like the crocodile, the strange fish should have a powerful bite force, but weak tension, as long as he could hold down its snout, the beast wouldn¡¯t be able to open its mouth! However, this extremely dangerous moment looked to the audience like sheer madness! Isn¡¯t the streamer afraid the beast will just open its mouth and snap down in one bite? Yet, the scene everyone imagined did not occur; the strange fish really couldn¡¯t open its mouth! Bi Fang¡¯s eyes burned like flaming torches, filled with nothing but excitement as he seemed to gain the upper hand with his strength! ¡°Well done!¡± Professor Gu Qingyuan exclaimed excitedly from inside the train compartment. On the high-speed train, the entire research team was watching the live broadcast, and seeing Bi Fang¡¯s actions, they too excitedly punched the air. They knew very well that for crocodiles, being able to ride on their back and press down on their jaws meant they had subdued the creature! In the breeding farms, owners would use this method to restrain crocodiles; for professionals, once you¡¯re on its back, the danger is greatly reduced! No matter how the crocodile swings its tail left or right, it can¡¯t touch the person on its back. As for biting, crocodiles¡¯ heads aren¡¯t as flexible as snakes, and their movement is even more limited. ¡°This kid is too incredible, I really want to recruit him into our team!¡± ¡°Right, I feel the same.¡± ¡°So young and so talented!¡± While everyone was immersed in joy, a scream suddenly erupted from the side; an older female researcher pointed at the screen, and the terror in her eyes sent a chill down everyone¡¯s spine. ¡°It¡¯s getting up again!¡± ¡°What!¡± Not just them, at this moment, viewers all over the country involuntarily shouted in alarm. The strange fish actually stood up! How is that possible? Gu Qingyuan¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, but the next second, he realized his mistake; Tiktaalik, no matter how similar to crocodiles, was ultimately a different species! He had made an empiricist error! Damn it, he should have thought of this earlier, he should have foreseen it! The moment the strange fish appeared standing erect, he should have known! Now it was too late! The strange fish suddenly flipped over, pinning Bi Fang beneath it, and the sticky blood dripped once more onto his face as the beast licked its teeth with the remaining half of its tongue, agile as a snake. But at this moment, the strange fish had no weaknesses! If Bi Fang dared to reach out to grab it, it would be suicide! Upon pinning its prey, the strange fish hissed excitedly; within the vast cave, the fish¡¯s cries echoed, as if a hundred, a thousand strange fish were responding to it. It lowered its head and bit down! Chapter 135 - 132: The Firelight Chapter 135: Chapter 132: The Firelight Suddenly, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t feel anything, not the monster fish¡¯s hiss nor the pain on his arm. It was as if his soul had been yanked from his body, now standing in absolute darkness with only a sliver of light before him. In his hand was something cold-the Hunting Knife. Despite the pitch-black darkness, a greenish glow splattered from the blade, the brightly colored edge both elegant and capable of cutting through anything. There was a nearly tearing pain in his chest, as if a ferocious beast inside him was struggling to break free from the confines of his flesh. Restless breath surged crazily in his veins, and the light before his eyes was about to dim¡­ about to fade away¡­ Once that sliver of light disappeared, he would be completely lost in the darkness. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For the first time in his life, he felt such fear, not of death but of losing himself, of being trapped in this seemingly eternal darkness-never to see the sun, the forests, or the oceans again. Would he be unable to escape¡­ The last ray of light was about to vanish, and boundless darkness along with sweltering heat descended, enveloping him. The tiger-like roar suddenly became two, then three, followed by thousands upon thousands. Their roars intertwined and tumbled, seemingly about to explode everything within reach of their sound! ¡°Ah!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s head slammed against a stone pillar, sticky, fishy liquid pouring down. He wiped it off and his hand came back covered with blood, his arm throbbing with intense pain. He didn¡¯t dare to roll up his sleeve, afraid of seeing a mass of mangled flesh. He shook his head desperately, the nerves in his skull jumping as if on fire, unable to comprehend the sudden change even himself. His memory seemed to break off; with the onset of frenzied heat and darkness, he appeared to have swung his Hunting Knife, viciously stabbing into something. Everything was clear only to the live-streaming audience. In that instant, Bi Fang¡¯s Hunting Knife had fiercely pierced the underjaw of the monster fish, the immense force almost splitting its entire underjaw! The monster fish awkwardly hid in the darkness, only half of its tongue left, licking its underjaw, realizing a huge hole had been torn open! ¡°Heh heh heh!¡± It let out several frightened, strange cries. The monster fish did not continue to attack, but neither did it give up, sensing that its opponent was also injured and no better off than itself. If it could find the right moment, it would surely take its revenge! Retreating back into the darkness, the monster fish did not make a sound. Its prey was more troublesome than it had imagined; it was like a lion ambushing deer, patiently hidden in the dark. Bi Fang couldn¡¯t see the creature clearly, but the audience outside the live broadcast was petrified. They plainly saw the monster had not given up, ceaselessly probing less than two meters in front of the streamer. With just one lunge, it could rip Bi Fang to pieces! If Bi Fang¡¯s outburst hadn¡¯t frightened the monster fish just now, it might have already charged again! The monster fish¡¯s head swung left and right. It had already sensed the enemy¡¯s weakness; feeling the pain in its underjaw, its inner rage grew more intense! All over the passage were the scents of blood and burning, clogging Bi Fang¡¯s nostrils like rubber putty. Relying on scent alone, he could no longer track the opponent¡¯s movement. Cold sweat soaked Bi Fang¡¯s undershirt. The monster attacked too quickly, and now the scents were mixed, making it impossible for him to discern the monster fish¡¯s position by smell. If he waited any longer, things would only get worse! With this thought, Bi Fang unzipped his jacket, enduring the pain on his left arm, and single-handedly took off his outer coat, balled it up, and hurled it out! The creature in the dark was very sensitive. Despite its cunning nature, it couldn¡¯t truly think like a human. Feeling something approaching, it launched an attack first. The jacket landed straight over the monster fish¡¯s head! Now was his chance! The audience erupted in cheers, excited by Bi Fang¡¯s strike, yet worried whether he could perceive in the darkness that his attack had already taken effect. Of course he could! This jacket was a hardshell, and the noise of the monster breaking free from the fabric was the best kind of information! In the next instant, the audience realized Bi Fang hadn¡¯t taken the opportunity to flee, nor did he charge forward to attack. Instead, he shakily raised the object in his hand¡ªa massive stalactite hoisted above his head! That very stalactite Bi Fang had initially broken! Suddenly, many recalled Professor Gu Qingyuan¡¯s words: if one couldn¡¯t find the monster¡¯s skeletal joints, then blunt force should be used! The stalactite the monster had shattered with its attack on Bi Fang had now become the perfect weapon! Wu Gang dared not breathe as he envisioned a knight raising a battle sword. In this moment, Bi Fang resembled a cast-iron warrior, every muscle in his body tense beneath his clothing. The way he held the stone was extraordinarily burdensome, as if it were terribly heavy, making his hands uncontrollable. Just when Wu Gang had begun to feel hopeful, now he thought it was all over. Bi Fang had overestimated his strength and underestimated his injuries; he couldn¡¯t even lift the massive stone. With his body shaking like a falling leaf, there was no chance at all. But in the next moment, the stone suddenly stilled, no longer trembling. Wu Gang watched in astonishment as it became as straight as a famed blade. Bi Fang stepped forward, each step thudding onto the earth, resonant as a great bell. As Wu Gang listened, he began to feel his body heat up, his heartbeat syncing to the rhythm. With each step, Bi Fang paused briefly, then suddenly surged forward, spinning in mid-air with the massive stone rotating in his grasp. This was a spinning slash! Bi Fang let out a roar akin to a tiger¡¯s just before snapping a great deer¡¯s throat, the sound echoing in the vast cave, as if a hundred, a thousand tigers were answering his call. Wu Gang¡¯s face turned a worrying shade of red, as if his head might just explode. Ice crystals seemed to flow through Bi Fang¡¯s veins, and his brain felt as if it were pricked by a needle. Time seemed to slow in his eyes. In the darkness, Bi Fang¡¯s heart blazed. He sensed the direction of the sounds coming from the darkness, the whistling of the stone cutting through the air, and the rhythm of all things. The pupils of the audience contracted as they watched the stone sweep through everything like a towering pillar, the already cracked tip unable to bear the immense torque and beginning to break apart mid-air! This was a mighty strike capable of splitting the darkness and cleaving the chaos! The stone pillar shattered upon impact with the monster¡¯s head! Bi Fang turned and landed, gasping as he ran a few steps forward before collapsing to his knees. Propping himself up with one hand on the ground, he gasped for breath, his tongue dry as if it was splitting apart. He struggled to swallow, his saliva thick like glue, his heart pounding wildly in his chest. Blood dripped, merging with the water. The monster stiffened for a moment, then felt a breaking agony. It frantically straightened, twisting wildly, with dark green blood pouring from its head. All its scales flared in pain, and its pitch-black spines were worn down against the rocks. Until it collapsed weakly, crashing heavily onto the stone, flinging debris with its body. A brief silence felt like an eternity. Craaack! Sparks flickered in the darkness and a flame leapt up, landing on a torch. The flame reignited, dispelling the darkness. With the torch in hand, Bi Fang leaned against the wall and dragged his feet forward, moving toward the monster to pick up his coat. He saw the gash on the monster¡¯s head, the shattered stalactite pieces fully embedded in its body, not a trace visible outside. Chapter 136 - 133 The World’s Number One Explorer! Chapter 136: Chapter 133 The World¡¯s Number One Explorer! The vast projection screen erupted with flying debris, accompanied by the heavy sound of something large hitting the ground, and then everything went quiet. The faint light of Mars rose up, illuminating Bi Fang¡¯s face, smeared with blood. The entire provincial government office was silent as the grave. After a long while, applause began, followed by more and more people joining in, until it filled the room. The scene was so magnificent and crazy that it was hard to believe it wasn¡¯t a movie but was actually happening in some remote corner of Earth. In some underground area tens of meters below, a neglected corner for a millennium. ¡°It¡¯s truly, magnificent!¡± Zhou Anlin, sitting at the head of the conference table, was the first to start clapping and the last to stop. It was a miracle of life. Had the ancestors of humankind also done this tens of thousands of years ago? Fighting against wild beasts in blood and fire, and then step by step reaching the dominant position they hold today? Under the conference table, more people came back to reality, shocked, and then whispering to each other. ¡°It¡¯s really unexpected, a desert hiding so many secrets.¡± ¡°Prehistoric creatures, caravans from a thousand years ago, natural underground caverns, any one of these would be an astonishing discovery.¡± ¡°Just the other day, no less than seventeen research institutes applied for research quota, all for Tiktaalik¡ªthey left me bewildered, I thought this thing was long extinct?¡± ¡°If we could properly develop this underground cave, it could definitely become a new pillar of tourism for Qaidam, driving local development!¡± Zhou Anlin watched as everyone expressed their opinions, put down his teacup, and coughed, ¡°Alright, everybody, let¡¯s not argue. What¡¯s most pressing right now is not the future plans, prehistoric creatures, Song Dynasty caravans or the underground cave¡ªany one of these is no trivial matter. What we need to discuss is our next steps!¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Anlin gave a signal, and the secretary next to him took out a stack of documents and distributed them to everyone present. After everyone had finished perusing the documents, Zhou Anlin started to explain. ¡°Up until now, a total of twenty-eight domestic research institutes have applied, requesting access to the prehistoric animal specimens and biological samples from this discovery.¡± ¡°Domestic? Are there international ones as well?¡± someone realized the implication in the wording. ¡°Yes, not just domestic. Over forty-seven international research institutes have also applied almost simultaneously.¡± Zhou Anlin nodded, sharing the current information with everyone. That many? The few people present were all laymen in the field of biology; they didn¡¯t understand the significance of the newly discovered species but they knew what the number meant. The news wasn¡¯t deliberately concealed, international institutes were like sharks that had caught the scent of blood. If he wasn¡¯t mistaken, quite a few foreign media outlets had probably started reporting on the discovery of a new prehistoric species. The scope of the news spread was going to be global! People around the world would learn from the next day¡¯s news that a Chinese explorer named Bi Fang had discovered a natural underground cavern in the desert! Inside was not only a caravan from a thousand years ago but also prehistoric creatures that had been extinct for over three hundred million years! And Bi Fang had bravely fought and won against the monster¡¯s attack! Was there anything more heroic than that? This kind of event, if made into a movie, would be the most classic of Hollywood action hero films! Countless people would adore, scream, and go crazy! ¡°The higher-ups are still considering whether to agree, but they want us to cooperate as soon as possible to protect the discovery site.¡± Zhou Anlin tapped the table, interrupting everyone¡¯s train of thought, ¡°Three research institutes have already been approved to go there for exploration, and how to protect it will depend on their assessment and recommendations.¡± The people present nodded, quickly getting into the right mindset and occasionally raised some suggestions and questions. But when it came to the issue of Bi Fang, problems arose. Should a rescue team be dispatched? ¡°It has already been deployed,¡± Zhou Anlin nodded, ¡°but given the special circumstances of this case¡­¡± ¡°If he hasn¡¯t called for help, once we reach the destination, we won¡¯t initiate a search,¡± the rescue team member explained amidst everyone¡¯s questions. ¡°How can that be, he¡¯s so badly injured.¡± A female researcher raised an opposing view; she had seen clearly how the monster had bitten Bi Fang¡¯s left hand, which could cause a fracture if severe, and not rescuing him promptly would almost certainly lead to disability. A few researchers nearby nodded in agreement. It was absurd to deploy a rescue team but not undertake a rescue. But Gu Qingyuan seemed contemplative¡ªhe probably had watched Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast longer than anyone here, understanding him the most, ¡°Maybe Bi Fang himself doesn¡¯t wish to be rescued?¡± ¡°Are you joking?¡± the female researcher didn¡¯t believe it. ¡°No, Gu is telling the truth,¡± Song Vanning said with a complex expression as she passed her phone over. A moment later, everyone was speechless. On the screen, Bi Fang was gritting his teeth, bandaging his wound; his face, originally covered in blood, was soaked with cold sweat, and he still made sure to instruct his viewers. ¡°If a rescue team comes, 1 hope they do not launch a rescue for me. There¡¯s no need to waste such resources on me. Getting injured in the wild is common, there¡¯s no need for a rescue.¡± ¡°My hand isn¡¯t broken, I can still walk, my hunting knife is still sharp¡ªthat¡¯s enough. As long as I can keep moving forward, there¡¯s still hope for survival!¡± Bi Fang knew that his location could be easily found, based on the satellite images¡ªto pinpoint the great canyon, and further on, his trail would be traceable. So he was worried someone would call the police out of fear, and the local rescue team would actually come to save him. Now his live stream had over 180,000 people watching simultaneously¡ªthere was bound to be someone who would do just that! ¡°What I am only concerned about now is wound infection, as the wound has already bled, and the environment here is too damp, which is very conducive to bacterial growth, and perhaps even unknown viruses. If I manage to survive, I must go to the hospital for a check-up as soon as possible. Luckily, the quality of my tactical jacket is good, so the strange fish didn¡¯t come into direct contact with my wound.¡± While the blood plasma on his clothes hadn¡¯t yet coagulated, Bi Fang carefully took off the inner layer. Under the firelight, torn skin sticking to the fabric was lifted, a sight that made one¡¯s heart thump in terror. Bi Fang clenched his teeth and ripped it off so that the skin could stick back together. In the live stream, Shuiyou watching this gruesome scene got goosebumps all over. [Damn, my hand has started to hurt] [Just looking at it hurts!] [Master Fang is really brave!] [The toughest guy in the area! Jason Statham isn¡¯t as tough as you! Not saying more, all my assets are yours!] [Lin Chang has sent 66 Spaceships to the host¡ªbro, you¡¯re a real man! The absolute strongest in the wilderness!] [Lord Mu has sent 99 Spaceships to the host¡ªWorld¡¯s number one explorer! King of the wilderness!] Following Yao Jun and Lin Chang¡¯s lead, more gifts and donations began to pour in. The recent live broadcast had been too thrilling, and many people caught their breath, naturally forgetting to donate until they had just reacted. [Congratulations to Nanana it¡¯s me on becoming the Emperor of Master Fang¡¯s live stream!] [Nanana it¡¯s me has sent 10 yachts to the host¡ªBoss Fang is the world¡¯s number one explorer!] [Ah, Sister Nana is getting too much, have you fallen hard for someone else?] [Taking our donations to support another host? That¡¯s too much!] [Hahahaha, that¡¯s hilarious!] [Ben not seen has sent 99 Big Bones to the host¡ªWe are the world¡¯s number one!] [Pete not peeling has sent 1 Spaceship to the host¡ªMaster Fang rules!!] [Master Fang rules plus!!! Let the Spaceship fly!!!] With a massive outpouring of gifts, the donations exceeded a million in just a few minutes! Now, Bi Fang felt somewhat embarrassed recalling the excitement of receiving his first gift. Really, if it were instant noodles plus sausages, he could¡¯ve eaten to death in a single live stream, unless he added a tea egg. ¡°Haha, you guys keep flattering me like this, I¡¯ll become arrogant,¡± Bi Fang said, treating his wound with the clean water from the kettle while chatting with everyone to divert his attention. The water in the kettle was drawn from the pond, and after drinking it without adverse reactions for a whole day, it was clear it was relatively clean. While treating the wound, Bi Fang also explained the methods for handling injuries in the wild. ¡°First you need to clean the skin around the wound thoroughly, definitely use clean water, and you must rinse it, never rub.¡± [What if there is no water, or the water isn¡¯t clean? What then?] Someone raised a question. ¡°If you don¡¯t have clean water, you can also use midstream urine to clean the wound.¡± [Gross, isn¡¯t that really disgusting?] [Feels so dirty¡­] [I feel like vomiting] [What is midstream urine?] Hearing about urine, many viewers instinctively felt chills and found it unbelievable. Even more asked what midstream urine was. ¡°Midstream urine refers to the part of the urine that comes out in the middle of the urination process. Simply put, it¡¯s the urine you release when you feel the most relief and flow,¡± Bi Fang explained. ¡°The outer urinary tract in healthy individuals may contain some proteins and white blood cells. When the volume of urine is too low or the flow too slow, these contaminants are not washed away properly, so some impurities may be present in the urine. However, midstream urine has a higher volume and faster flow, making it less susceptible to contamination.¡± ¡°Normally, this part of the urine can be considered sterile. In emergency situations with no cleansing agents available, we can use midstream urine to wash the wound for its cleansing effect. But after that, you must visit a hospital as soon as possible.¡± ¡°This is actually a very good method, you must not think of human urine as dirty. In some instances, urine can be much cleaner than most liquids!¡± After a simple cleaning, Bi Fang took out a clean T-shirt from his backpack, tore it into strips, and bandaged his left arm. After the treatment was finished, Bi Fang lifted the torch. At this moment, the strange fish lay motionless on the ground, nothing like the imposing creature it had been. [Dead?] [Should be dead, otherwise it¡¯s really a cockroach] [Strange fish: Now just a dead fish] The wound on the monster¡¯s head gaped horrifically, with the shattered stone fragments having penetrated completely into its body, none exposed. Bi Fang squatted down, reached out and pressed on the creature¡¯s lung cavity, feeling the beats inside, and shook his head in amazement. It¡¯s not dead?¡± Chapter 137 - 134 Sunshine Chapter 137: Chapter 134 Sunshine Bi Fang¡¯s words were like a depth charge, setting the live stream room ablaze with excitement! [He¡¯s not dead yet!] [How tenacious is this thing¡¯s vitality?] [Just now, if it had hit my head, it would¡¯ve smashed my brains out!] [This isn¡¯t a fish, it¡¯s clearly a cockroach!] [It won¡¯t wake up, will it? Should we take the chance to finish it off?] Seeing that the strange fish hadn¡¯t died, some Shuiyou began suggesting taking out the creature. Bi Fang shook his head, turned around, took a windbreaker out of his bag, covered the strange fish¡¯s head with it, and then tied it up tightly with strips of cloth. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect it to still be alive.¡± Bi Fang was also surprised as he bound the strange fish. Despite such heavy injuries, it had not died. Indeed, any life form that survives for such an extended period must possess certain admirable survival traits. ¡°This big one will surely make Professor Gu very happy.¡± Looking at the tightly bound strange fish, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but think about taking it outside. This was the biggest strange fish he had ever seen, almost reaching three and a half meters in length. Growing so large surely wasn¡¯t easy. Perhaps, it might be some kind of Tiktaalik king, right? It would be a shame to simply kill it off. But the audience in front of the screen were all shocked. Such a big one, can he manage to carry it? And isn¡¯t he afraid it¡¯ll wake up and bite back? Seeing these bullet comments, Gu Qingyuan, who had just gotten excited, once again calmed down. Indeed, such a big strange fish would definitely weigh more than a healthy adult male. How was he to take it out? Moreover, an exit hadn¡¯t even been found yet. Bi Fang knew the difficulty of the task, so he placed his hope in the newly discovered pool. ¡°Whether we can move it or not depends on if there¡¯s an exit in this pool.¡± ¡°There are no luminous fish in this river, which means it¡¯s not part of the same system as the previous underground river. And despite the strong scent of blood, no other strange fish have come over. There are only two possibilities: either there are no strange fish here, or, all other strange fish have been driven away by this large one.¡± ¡°If there are no strange fish, some degree of safety is guaranteed, and we can search with peace of mind.¡± ¡°This place also has the highest possibility of an exit. If there¡¯s still no exit, then I will have no choice but to return the same way I came.¡± [It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over, Old Fang is being silly again] [I¡¯ve never seen anyone so brave in my life!] [So strong, yyds (stands for ¡°forever god¡±).] [This isn¡¯t about surviving, it¡¯s about diving into danger!] [No problem, how can he survive without facing danger (sarcastic)] Facing everyone¡¯s teasing, Bi Fang picked up the drone, pretended to tie it to his forehead as before, tightened the cuff on his left arm to prevent water from entering, and then plunged into the water. The light turned on, the water flowed quietly, and the hearts of the audience thumped. They had not forgotten how dangerous Bi Fang¡¯s first dive was; the thought of repeating it inevitably brought back the fear dominated by strange fish. The flow in this pool was slow, its sound somber. The dead silence intensified the audience¡¯s panic, fearing that something monstrous would suddenly emerge from the darkness. If so, they feared they might end up with a lifetime of psychological trauma. However, as Bi Fang swam further, the strange fish that Shuiyou imagined might appear did not show up. In the water, there was only darkness. Three minutes later, Bi Fang found nothing. He quickly surfaced to breathe and then sank once again. As time ticked away, countless viewers hoped Bi Fang would find an exit, but after several bouts of surfacing to breathe, the exit remained elusive. [It¡¯s over, this cave really doesn¡¯t have an exit!] [There should be one, right? Otherwise, where does the air come from?] [So dark, how can he find it?] [Should we just wait for a rescue?] [Really too dangerous, it¡¯s like watching a horror movie, just scared something will pop out!] [+1, my grandpa just got out of the hospital, he can¡¯t handle this kind of excitement.]} [A wave of filial piety, my folks.] The Shuiyou felt desperate. No matter how strong Bi Fang was, if there really was no exit, how could he find one? Three minutes later, Bi Fang surfaced once more to breathe. He lifted his head to look around and suddenly raised his hand to point at the cave ceiling. ¡°Look, is there a hole up there on the ceiling?¡± A hole? Shuiyou were taken aback. As the camera panned up, the audience was surprised to discover. There was indeed a hole! With the discovery, Bi Fang swam quickly towards the area below the hole. Only when he got close did he take a good look and realize it was a big hole over one meter in diameter! But then came another problem, how to climb up? [Is he planning to fly up there?] [Now I see why those traders got trapped.] [Is this a well?] [Feels a bit like it.] [The hole¡¯s no use if he can¡¯t climb up.] [You can¡¯t jump in the water, ah ah ah, it¡¯s so frustrating!] ¡°Not necessarily,¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°The pool is very deep, about seven or eight meters, and the hole isn¡¯t very high. Perhaps with the help of buoyancy and inertia, we can give it a try.¡± The hole was only about half a meter above the water¡¯s surface. Bi Fang reached out to touch the cave wall, found it to be rough, with many protruding rocks, perfect handholds. As long as he could hold on, nothing would be a problem. After estimating in his mind, under the astonished gazes of the audience, Bi Fang sank into the water, aimed at the hole from the bottom, and then, like a fish, swiftly swam upwards. At this moment, Bi Fang was extraordinarily agile, with the water splitting around his body, becoming his best ally. In the seven or eight-meter depth, Bi Fang approached the water¡¯s surface in just a few seconds and with a burst of inertia, he even leapt half his body out of the water! [Wow, awesome!] [Ascension balloons sent to the host Big Bone*6¡ªIs this too showy? Can you even do it this late?] [Ride a donkey to chase a motorcycle sent to the host a spaceship*!¡ª Awesome, this is like ascending to the sky!] The barrage of comments cried out in amazement, turning into a relentless ¡°666¡± machine. But Bi Fang, who flew into the cave and braced himself against the wall, nearly couldn¡¯t hold on. The excessive force in his left arm caused a piercing pain, and Bi Fang could distinctly feel the wound on his arm cracking and bleeding again, but he looked at the dark tunnel and said nothing. Grinding his teeth, Bi Fang continued to climb upwards until both his feet were inside the cave, then he barely let go of his left hand. Leaning against the cave interior, Bi Fang braced his whole body with his feet. With the aid of his legs, the pressure on his arms decreased sharply, but the pain in his left arm still made him suck in a breath of cold air. Bi Fang glanced at the ceiling above and, without pausing, continued climbing upwards. ¡°When stepping on such cavern walls, you must be careful not to slip; the moisture from years of water vapor makes the walls very slippery.¡± Bi Fang spread his legs and grabbed another rock with his right hand, ¡°It¡¯s best to maintain the three-point principle like in rock climbing, and not let go easily.¡± However, not long after climbing, Bi Fang leaned against the cave wall, motionless, only kept from falling by the skeletal structure of his legs wedging in place. This alarmed the audience, who thought something had happened, and they quickly sent barrage after barrage asking questions. It was only about fifteen minutes later that Bi Fang finally came back to his senses. He waved his hand to signal to everyone not to worry. He was just, too tired. Ever since the fight with the strange fish, he hadn¡¯t rested at all. To continue such physical exertion was proving difficult, and he almost fainted. If it weren¡¯t for the night vision mode, many would have noticed Bi Fang¡¯s lips were terribly pale. But he still held on. Without resting, he continued upward. In this way, amid the concern of hundreds of thousands of viewers, Bi Fang climbed nearly twenty or so meters, finally touching the top of the cave. But to everyone¡¯s surprise, this place was just like the place where the four skeletons were found before. There was still a hard shell. [No way, sand again?] [Damn, was all this climbing for nothing?] [This is too much] ¡°No, maybe I can get out from here,¡± Bi Fang looked at the underground river below him, an audacious idea emerging in his mind. ¡°If I can break this hard shell open, the soft sand above it will follow gravity and fall, maybe then we can dig out an exit!¡± S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That way, he only needed to break through one layer of hard shell, leaving the rest to gravity. The only concern was if there was too much sand above, it could fill the underground river while falling and still not be enough, burying him directly. But the chance was slim; the underground river was seven or eight meters deep and still flowing, and the sand, falling through a sustained small passage, would mostly be carried away by the current, making it nearly impossible to bury him. The more Bi Fang thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. Under the astonished eyes of the Shuiyou, he directly pulled out the Hunting Knife and started chipping away at the hardened shell! Could it work? The audience, who had fallen into despair, suddenly saw a glimmer of hope when they witnessed this scene. Please, let it be successful! In the train, countless people gathered, watching Bi Fang chip away at the rock layer, silently praying. In the hollow cave, the monotonous tapping kept echoing. After ten minutes, a fine crack appeared. The tapping sound began to change, from dull to crisp. Twenty minutes in, a small piece of hard shell fractured under Bi Fang¡¯s efforts and fell into the water under gravity¡¯s influence. It worked! It really was possible! Bi Fang was greatly surprised; with a breakthrough, he inserted the knife into it, rocking it left and right, and more small pieces of hard shell fell like debris. The sound of them falling into the water grew clearer and louder! ¡°We¡¯re almost there!¡± Seeing the success within reach, Bi Fang reminded everyone, ¡°But be really careful now, because it¡¯s likely there will be rocks mixed with the sand. Protect your head when the sand falls!¡± ¡°And keep your head down during the process to let the sand flow down your body, and also cover up with a face cloth to prevent the sand from getting into your mouth.¡± Bi Fang pulled out the inner lining and covered his mouth and nose, continuing to strike vigorously; more pieces of the shell fell, with fine grains of sand beginning to seep out from the cracks. After another large chunk of shell was pried off, what trickled out of the cracks turned from threads into streams, and finally a torrent! Boom! The sand poured down! Bi Fang held his head with both hands, pressing against the cave wall¡ªhe stood in the midst of this sand flow, like an invisible boulder in the rapids. Countless sand grains mixed with rocks fell, as if they were going to bury the whole world. Heavy and hard rocks hit Bi Fang¡¯s shoulders, but he didn¡¯t utter a sound; he was a good thirty meters up, and rashly falling, scraping against the rock wall, would have been worse. The sand choked Bi Fang¡¯s airways, burning hot. The good news was the temperature of the sand was getting higher, likely signaling they were approaching the surface. At last, the flow of sand stopped. Bi Fang looked up but did not see the sky he had envisioned. The sand and soil blocked again, like hair clogging a drain, but this situation was easy to solve. ¡°Here the sand had just happened to form an arch-like structure; we just need to slightly disrupt it, and this arch will collapse.¡± As expected, Bi Fang only needed to touch it slightly for a massive amount of sand to fall again. This time the sand fell for half an hour, and just as Bi Fang was about to give out¡­ The sand emptied. Bi Fang¡¯s chest swelled with immense joy. He lifted his head but felt dizzy. He hadn¡¯t seen sunlight for over forty-eight hours. Chapter 138 - 135: Hope Chapter 138: Chapter 135: Hope The intense light shone on his pale face, stinging his skin. Bi Fang¡¯s vision went dark, and the relaxation from his successful survival almost made him tumble into the pit. He grabbed onto a rock, shielding his eyes with his other hand. Down the long well shaft, the vicious sunlight erased the darkness layer by layer, from top to bottom, inside out. In just a few minutes, the steam from the underground river rose, making the cave stifling as if it were the steamer in ¡°Journey to the West¡± where monsters cooked the plump monk. Clinging to the edge of the hole, Bi Fang used the last of his strength to pull himself up. With one final effort, he rolled over and lay exhausted on the desert sand. High sand dunes surrounded him on all sides. Bi Fang thought he was hallucinating; the dunes seemed like crowds of people cheering around him. It took him a while to realize that the dunes were real, and so were the cheers. He had survived. In his field of view, there was no sky, only the Spaceship, resplendently golden as it soared upwards, with barrage comments flooding and obscuring Bi Fang¡¯s entire vision. In that moment, more than one hundred thousand spectators sent their gifts, ranging from a few cents to several thousand and even tens of thousands. In just under a minute, the livestream¡¯s earnings had already exceeded two million. Backstage, Wang Yongbo expertly opened today¡¯s stock market. It¡¯s gone up again! He touched his shiny forehead, feeling somewhat gloomy. The contract will have to be changed, again. Wang Yongbo felt uneasy. He thought that even the ridiculously generous contract was not secure anymore. Maybe he should offer the company shares directly next time? He just didn¡¯t know if the shareholders would agree. After lying on the ground for a good fifteen minutes, Bi Fang¡¯s eyes were almost closing, but he bit his tongue and forced himself to perk up. He sat up, dusting off the yellow sand from his body. Just from his hair, he could shake out half a pound of sand. Looking at the unique terrain with higher sand around a central low point, Bi Fang thoughtfully said, ¡°Indeed, this should have been a sand dune, but it collapsed when I dug a hole, so I was flushed by the sand for a good half an hour before it stopped.¡± No wonder no one had discovered the Underground Cave for so many years. The entry and exit were not something normal people would think of. If not for his dumb luck, who had just been barbecuing by the pool and attracted a Tiktaalik, who knows how much longer its discovery would have been delayed. Bi Fang looked up at the sky, which had started to turn yellow. It seemed to be around four or five in the afternoon. It would soon be getting dark. ¡°It looks like I¡¯ve been walking in the cave for nearly two days and a night, and now I don¡¯t even know how far away the original canyon is, or if I¡¯m even heading in the right direction.¡± After basking in the sun for a while, Bi Fang began to feel dizzy. He turned his head to look at the deep, bottomless pit, his muscles screaming at him to give up on the big fish. But then he shook his head. If he made a promise, he had to keep it. If he really gave up, he would lose followers. [In such hot weather, won¡¯t the fish be sunbaked to death?] [Yeah, such a big fish, must be over a hundred kilos, right? Can you even bring it up?] ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Bi Fang believed there was absolutely no issue with that, judging from how the strange fish had sustained such severe injuries yet its heart remained strong and robust. Absolute Survivor. ¡°This creature is somewhere between tour-legged animals and fish in terms of evolution, so its vitality won¡¯t be weak. Just look at its relatives to understand; whether it¡¯s the crocodiles from the former or the gar and lungfish from the latter, their vitality is so tenacious it¡¯s beyond what we ordinary people can imagine. Professor Gu Qingyuan should be very clear on that.¡± Professor Gu Qingyuan, who was suddenly mentioned, nodded and began to explain to the audience through the barrage of comments. [Yes, most four-legged animals have incredibly tenacious vitality. The most typical example is the crocodile, which can survive an entire winter in a mud hole without eating or drinking.] [And gars are even stronger. A fish weighing about 95 kilograms ordinarily needs to eat a few kilograms of food every day and night, but a gar of the same weight only requires 10-20 grams of food per day and night, making it a uniquely slow metabolic creature in the world!] sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [As for lungfish, they are even more impressive ¨C they can live for several years on dry land without touching water! ] Bi Fang took out the rest of his clothing and began tearing it into strips to rub together, preparing to make ropes. But halfway through, he suddenly stopped. He sniffed, catching a faint smell of dung mingled with a hint of dry straw odor, barely noticeable. ¡°Why is there a smell of feces?¡± [Feces?] [Did the weird fish below scare the crap out of them?] [What kind of feces can you find in the desert?] [Could it possibly be a camel¡¯s?] A camel? Could someone be coming? Bi Fang¡¯s heart chilled at the sight of this barrage of messages. Indeed, the stench didn¡¯t seem to drift out from the cave, such a large smell meant the feces must be sizeable, and the scent of dry grass couldn¡¯t be faked. In the desert, the only large herbivores Bi Fang could think of, other than camels and ostriches, were not others. However, ostriches in China are all introduced species with no wild population, so it could only be a camel! ¡°Qaidam is the region with the most camels. Wild camels are a national first- class protected animal. Wild dromedary camels are already extinct, with only domesticated ones remaining. Wild Bactrian camels too, with only around a thousand left living in the Gobi desert. I think the chances of me encountering a wild camel are very slim¡­¡± Bi Fang stopped there, the rest went without saying, everyone understood and became thoroughly excited. Wild and rare = difficult to come across = must be domesticated = people! This logic was impeccable! [So someone has passed by?] [Damn, are we going to be rescued?] [Wu Hu!! Take off!!] [Now, even transportation is not a worry! There are camels!] Thinking of this, Bi Fang put down the rope in his hand and started climbing up the sand dune. The fine sand made the dunes difficult to climb, a single step could easily cause one to slide down, requiring the use of both hands and feet, pressing close to the dune, lowering the center of gravity, and relying on friction to ascend. Although the sand was scorching hot, at its hottest it could even melt rubber shoes, but this was indeed the most efficient method. ¡°It looks like we¡¯re quite lucky in our survival situation this time. It¡¯s not easy to come across people in the desert.¡± Sand slid down from the top of the dune, and Bi Fang struggled to finally climb atop the dune. The other party should not be far away; he just needed to stand on high ground to see them. However, he suddenly stopped. On the dune, a camel slowly lifted its head, blankly staring at Bi Fang as if it hadn¡¯t understood why someone would suddenly emerge from the sand. ¡°Uh¡­ hello?¡± Bi Fang greeted it, then suddenly reached out to grab the camel¡¯s neck, wrapping around it like a python before it could react! This was a beast weighing over five hundred kilograms, but Bi Fang still boldly made his move! Without taking action, he would waste this opportunity! The camel had a muzzle over its mouth, but the reins had long since broken off. Bi Fang had glanced around just now and found that within a few kilometers, this was the only camel! This was an escaped camel! His legs formed scissors, locking onto the camel¡¯s chest and neck. His hands separated, the right hand going around the front of the camel¡¯s neck and the left elbow bent upright. He clapped his hands together, suddenly tightening his grip! It was a naked choke! Audience members who frequently watched combat sports realized this was one of the strongest ground techniques! The camel, surprised by the sudden embrace, let out a scream, its four legs kicking as it swiftly tried to flee the dune. But Bi Fang pulled hard, and the camel, already unstable on the sand dune, instantly fell to the ground! The sand dust flew up. Man and beast, both suddenly fell to the ground! Bi Fang only felt like he had been hit by a speeding car; with his already poor condition, his eyes rolled back, and he almost passed out. It was the remaining willpower that kept him from letting go. The naked choke was among ground techniques, one with the greatest killing power. If he could hold the camel for a while, it would suffocate and pass out. Then he could just refit the reins, and he would be able to ride the camel out of the desert! Chapter 139 - 136 Compassion Chapter 139: Chapter 136 Compassion In the towering dust, nobody could see what was happening. A huge shadow fiercely crashed onto the dune, then tumbled down the slope. The dust was carried away by the wind. Bi Fang clung tightly to the camel¡¯s neck, his body violently rubbing against the coarse sand and gravel, scraping trails of blood. The camel struggled desperately. It was merely curious about the commotion and came to check it out, never expecting to suddenly have its neck clamped, making it extremely difficult to breathe. Driven by its instinct for survival, the camel twisted its body, repeatedly crashing down on the dune, trying to shake off Bi Fang, who stuck to it like adhesive plaster. This was a dromedary camel, weighing up to five hundred kilograms! Such a massive weight crashing down almost sent Bi Fang to heaven, but his arms instinctively contracted, wrapping even tighter. At this moment, Bi Fang was like a wounded cheetah, making its last stand! He knew this was his last chance; if he let go, he would lose everything. A strong will to survive grew wildly in Bi Fang¡¯s heart; he tightened his hold even further as the camel became increasingly frantic, its hooves constantly kicking in disarray. The two were engaged in a primal test of strength on this stretch of desert! Loser dies! It was madness! Countless viewers swallowed nervously, not knowing why Bi Fang had suddenly made his move, but now seeing him pinned under the camel, even being dragged along, they couldn¡¯t help but feel frightened. How painful must that be? The fresh blood on his left arm stained his white T-shirt, Bi Fang¡¯s lips were as pale as a dead man¡¯s, all his muscles were shaking uncontrollably, but he just wouldn¡¯t let go. He was afraid that if he did, he would completely lose the chance to walk out of the desert, marking the first failed mission. What would happen then? Would the System give up on him? Or would it eliminate the host as described in the novels? He wanted to see more of the world, to experience more adventures, to traverse the Amazon alone, to climb Mount Everest alone, to see vistas that most people would never witness. Humans have their limits, but the System could help him break through those limits and reach even higher peaks. It was the best tool, the best ally, which was why he would go into the cave at all costs, undertake missions, and strive to improve himself. He didn¡¯t want to give up like this; that would be a huge blow! He couldn¡¯t just hand over what he¡¯d worked so hard to achieve! ¡°Ah!¡± The veins on his forearm bulged twistedly like snakes, and Bi Fang let out an angry roar. He wanted to stand atop the highest peak and see the views that no one else could. How could he¡­ give up! In the desert, billowing clouds of dust rose, followed by continuous roars that rolled and thundered. But the camel¡¯s muscles were too strong and its power too great; on the incline of the dune, it tried frantically to stand up, but slipped down again and again, knocking Bi Fang onto the sand and raising large clouds of dust. Even though it was sand, such pain was unbearable for ordinary people. This situation repeated itself countless times. Blood kept flowing, half of his clothes already soaked with its crimson shade. His strength was long exhausted, and the tenacity that had kept him going was slowly draining away with the blood. Bi Fang felt dizzy, the pain becoming less and less distinct. A numb sensation enveloped him as though his body were wrapped in heavy brocade, a fatigue that seemed to drain him of everything. With another collision, Bi Fang felt a sweet taste in his throat, as if a string in his brain had suddenly snapped, and his muscles let out a pained cry; the body that could barely hold up finally collapsed entirely. An unmatched weakness washed over him, followed by an endless darkness. He was just too tired. After fighting a monstrous fish to the death, then digging through yellow sand for nearly half an hour, how could he have the strength to subdue a beast of over five hundred kilograms? In a daze, Bi Fang seemed to return to his childhood¡ªweak and helpless, with someone gently holding him from behind. That serene and distant warmth. Bi Fang murmured something softly, more unconscious mumbling than anything. The dust rose again, and his hands fell powerlessly. ¡°Please, don¡¯t go¡­¡± Bi Fang fell to the ground, his vision blurred, he made a final plea, but could only watch the camel¡¯s silhouette getting farther and farther away. His fragile body protested, blood rushing back to his brain, Bi Fang opened his mouth but no words came out; he felt a thick surge of a sweetly metallic taste rising from within, then everything turned black. He lost consciousness entirely. The wind and sand blew over, and Bi Fang lay motionless on the ground. As if he were a dead man. Seeing Bi Fang like this, the viewers panicked. [It¡¯s over, what happened to Master Fang?] [Is he okay?] [Did something really happen?] [Doesn¡¯t look like it, seems he¡¯s still breathing, probably just fainted.] [It¡¯s all gone to hell, Old Fang really screwed up] [Master Fang has it tough, just finished fighting that freaky fish, dug sand for so long, how could he possibly catch the camel?] [What ¡®Wilderness Survivalist¡¯? Might as well watch Shark¡¯s Lu Wentao next door] [Your paid trolls have no mothers!] [Damn, go to hell, I wouldn¡¯t earn this petty cash even if you paid me!] In front of the screen, Bi Fang¡¯s friends were extremely anxious. Nothing like this had ever happened before! No matter the difficulty, this man seemed to always pull through, but to be left unconscious was a first! Passing out in the wild meant being at the mercy of the elements, right? What if some animal came by? ¡°What should we do, Old Gu! Think of something.¡± On the train, Song Vanning panicked upon seeing this scene. ¡°Captain Zhao, aren¡¯t we going for the rescue?¡± Gu Qingyuan was also extremely anxious. ¡°He hasn¡¯t called for help yet.¡± The rescuers still refused, ¡°He was conscious in the end, but still didn¡¯t send out a distress signal. I think we should wait a bit longer.¡± ¡°Wait for what? If we wait any longer, he may lose his life!¡± Gu Qingyuan urged in panic. At these words, Captain Zhao hesitated, but after struggling for a while, he still decided not to act rashly, to avoid making a bad move out of good intentions: ¡°It¡¯s 5:17 now, and it¡¯s getting dark. Let¡¯s wait for another three hours. If he doesn¡¯t wake up in three hours, we will move out.¡± Three hours was Captain Zhao¡¯s consideration; during this time, the temperature would still be suitable, avoiding the dangers of dehydration and hypothermia. If he didn¡¯t wake up after three hours, they would have to carry out the rescue for his safety, regardless of his true intentions! The cold wind whipped across the land, and the yellow sand filled the sky. The drone, set to follow automatically, quietly landed on the sandy ground, the scene almost coming to a still. Countless people called out in anxiety, but Bi Fang did not respond at all. Ten minutes later. Some in the audience started to leave; they had their own lives and jobs, and wasting time was pointless. Twenty minutes later. Even more viewers left, feeling bored, as they were just strangers who came to watch the live stream for entertainment. Bi Fang still hadn¡¯t woken up at this time. The enormous sun was setting, the dim sunlight casting vast shadows of the sand dunes in the desert. Countless trillions of sand grains sparkled with the sun¡¯s last brilliance, shining brightly. Another half an hour passed. The sunset took away the last of the twilight; night enveloped Bi Fang as if a screen had been drawn over him, the dark, boundless heights studded with drifting golden stars, with no top or wall in sight. The audience, like crabs on a beach at nightfall, retreated, leaving barely a thousand people in the live stream room. Those who were going to leave had left, and only a few wished to wait. They hoped for a miracle, having no other option. In between, people came in, but after not seeing the scene they wanted, they quickly left again. Nobody wanted to watch a person unconscious for hours. Two hours later, a faint noise suddenly arose, some of the audience sharply aware, but many others oblivious. Until this sound grew louder and closer, everyone heard it. Something was approaching! sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Goosebumps rose, and a chill spread through the hearts of the viewers. But at this moment, the drone was stationary next to Bi Fang, and nobody could see what creature was coming closer. The sound was getting near, and the viewers increasingly afraid. Fearing that some dangerous creature was approaching and that Bi Fang was being viewed as prey. Crunch. The clear sound of sand being crushed rose to the ears. A familiar hoof appeared in front of everyone, followed by a few loud snorts. Then two, then three. As more hooves stepped over the drone, the audience could finally see who was approaching. It was the camel! It had come back! ¡°Quick, go for the rescue!¡± In the train, Gu Qingyuan¡¯s pupils shrank as he rose to his feet, grabbed Captain Zhao by the collar, and started shouting like a madman, ¡°Animals have a sense of vengeance. If the camel has returned, it must be to seek revenge on Bi Fang. It¡¯ll be too late if we don¡¯t act now!¡± ¡°What!?¡± A few rescue team members on the train were startled and just about to move when, suddenly, Song Vanning stopped them. ¡°Wait! Old Gu, look, the camel doesn¡¯t seem to be here for revenge!¡± Under the starlight, the camel approached Bi Fang, but instead of acting out of revenge as Gu Qingyuan had suggested, it lowered its head to sniff him, nudged Bi Fang, and realizing that there was no response, it lifted its head to look around and then started pacing back and forth, seemingly worried about something. Several minutes later, as the temperature dropped lower and lower. The camel nudged the unresponsive Bi Fang again and then sat down beside him, using its body to block the cold wind! It was keeping Bi Fang warm! Everyone was taken aback, having not expected such a development. Seeing this, Song Vanning said with a chuckle, ¡°It looks like we don¡¯t need to carry out the rescue anymore.¡± Three hours later. The moon had risen to its highest point, the temperature also dropping to single digits. Bi Fang felt as if he had a dream, where he was running on a wilderness, chased by a tiger, exhausted to the point of coughing blood, and then suddenly the world turned upside down, and he found himself falling into an ice cave. He was wading in the bone-chilling river, with a dense fog covering the surface, the cold piercing into his marrow like needles. But soon, the temperature rose again, so hot that he was sweating profusely as if in a steam oven. He wanted to escape but was too tired until a familiar voice rang out. Bi Fang turned his head abruptly, a colossal mountain of snow blocking out the sky, the world propped up by it, but now it was slowly collapsing toward him. [Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the side mission.] The electronic tone sounded, Bi Fang awoke with a start, sat up abruptly, only to be blocked by a tuft of coarse fur. He looked up. A huge camel was silently watching him. Is this¡­ still dreaming? Am I still in the desert? Bi Fang held his forehead, his memory hazy, but in that very long dream before he awoke, he vaguely sensed warmth, allowing him to continue sleeping peacefully. Bi Fang looked at the enormous camel in front of him, as memories bubbled up like bubbles in water. He remembered it all. It really had come back, hadn¡¯t it? Bi Fang¡¯s expression turned complex, and he couldn¡¯t help but stretch out his hand to touch the camel¡¯s head. Why would it show such kindness to a human? Bi Fang pressed his forehead against the camel¡¯s head and whispered with closed eyes. ¡°This is Nature¡¯s mercy towards me.¡± Chapter 140 - 137: Covered in Scars Chapter 140: Chapter 137: Covered in Scars The starry sky slowly rotated overhead, lighting up a flat stretch of sand between the dunes. The small shadow leaned on one another under the moonlight, as Bi Fang gently caressed the camel¡¯s head. This camel, which could have abandoned him, willingly lowered its head. The survival attempt had already failed, and it was Nature¡¯s mercy that allowed him to continue. Humans and Nature, what a contradiction¡­ Bi Fang¡¯s face was a mix of emotions, ¡°I had thought this camel had escaped, but now it seems I was wrong, it just got lost.¡± The camel¡¯s owner must be kind, otherwise how could he raise a camel that harbors such goodwill towards humans? Even the naturally timid camel was willing to help a lost traveler. [emmm, can camels get lost?] [Camels can get lost?] [Isn¡¯t it said that camels have a strong sense of direction?] Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°Camels do have a strong sense of direction and are indeed known as the ships of the desert, but being lost is not the same as being disoriented.¡± Being lost isn¡¯t the same as being disoriented? This statement confused the audience. ¡°A camel that can¡¯t find its owner doesn¡¯t mean it can¡¯t find its way home. On the contrary, if the owner has confidence in their camel, they can just go back home and wait for the camel to return on its own. However, in most cases, this is rare, and the camel would most likely take the opportunity to escape.¡± [But aren¡¯t camels supposed to have strong smelling abilities? I heard they can directly smell water sources? Even stronger than dogs?] Some audience members who were more knowledgeable about camels raised questions. Bi Fang nodded and then shook his head. ¡°Yes, camels can use their sense of smell to find water sources more than twenty kilometers away, that¡¯s true, but this doesn¡¯t mean their sense of smell is better than that of dogs.¡± ¡°The number of olfactory receptor genes in camels is actually quite low, it¡¯s just that there aren¡¯t many scents to distinguish in the desert, so their olfactory discrimination talent is all focused on sensing water and greenery, but it¡¯s very weak in other areas.¡± Bi Fang stroked the small tuft of hair on the camel¡¯s head. The camel showed no reaction, its mouth moving from side to side as it quietly chewed its cud. ¡°In such a situation, a sandstorm could easily separate the camel from its owner. If there are friends living in Qinghai Province, you could contact the local police stations to ask if anyone has lost a camel; its owner must be very worried.¡± This camel trusted humans so much, its owner must have treated it like family. They must be very anxious after its loss. [So that¡¯s how it is! I get it now.] [Then does that mean we can ride the camel at full gallop next?] [Cool, I want to ride a camel in the desert too.] [I¡¯m from Qinghai, already asking.]] [Camels walk very slowly.] [Before, survival was achieved on the fourth day, will that rule be broken this time?] [But how is that fish going to be extracted? The hole is about thirty meters deep, right? Can it be pulled up?] ¡°It¡¯s somewhat difficult, but not impossible.¡± Bi Fang tightened his clothing and decided to take advantage of the darkness to bring up the strange fish, rather than waiting until the next morning when the sun came up, as it would make the task even more difficult. He was in poor condition, having stayed in the cool underground hole for two days, always getting cold from entering the water, and now he had been exposed to the cold desert wind for half the night. Even with Bi Fang¡¯s strong physique, he could not withstand it, and his voice was starting to go hoarse. He needed to speed up and finish everything before his condition worsened! Picking up the half-finished rope, Bi Fang continued to knead and roast meat to make fire. Physical strength had to be replenished, there was one snake left to eat, without a full stomach, there was simply no energy to work. An hour later. Bi Fang, with the thick rope on his back, reassured the camel, and re-entered the cave through the hole. The hole was deep, with sand blocking ten meters, and he climbed more than twenty meters further down, bringing the total depth to nearly forty meters. The rope he had twisted was only nine meters long and completely insufficient. Bi Fang could only go into the hole and pull the strange fish up bit by bit. This was bound to be a daunting task. Half an hour had passed. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The strange fish lay at the bottom of the river. Bi Fang tied the rope around his waist and, repeating his previous technique, jumped into the well again. Then, with his feet braced against the walls of the hole, he slowly pulled the strange fish up. It was manageable when the creature was in the water, thanks to buoyancy, the pull was quite easy. But for the half meter between the water surface and the hole¡¯s entrance, Bi Fang exerted all his might, barely managing to bring it out. ¡°Damn, this guy is just too heavy. I estimate its weight to be over one hundred and sixty kilograms, twice mine, definitely a heavyweight contender.¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the fish¡¯s streamlined body, resembling the Philippine crocodile, and not being too light, if it were a Nile crocodile, at the same length it would weigh over three hundred kilograms, and I definitely wouldn¡¯t be able to pull it up.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s face turned red as he hoisted the fish up another half meter. Pure strength can be considered the sum of the total power of the entire body and has always been regarded as a standard measure of strength. Professional athletes can even pull objects weighing over three times their own weight. If this were quantified into specific data, and assuming the conversion rate of points to weight does not diminish, then it would likely require both strength and physique to reach at least fifteen points or more, perhaps with an additional burst of agility. Before Bi Fang had come to the Qaidam Desert, he had barely managed to train his strength to ten points. Including the one point of strength attribute he gained from the lottery, it added up to only eleven points. However, with a physique of thirteen, he could barely manage to do it. Bi Fang, who exerted himself too much, wiped off his sweat and continued to pull upward while wrapping the excess rope around himself. Until most of the rope was reeled in, Bi Fang stepped out two steps and kept climbing, repeating the process. When tired, he would wedge the strange fish in the hole to rest. The three-meter-long fish, with only its own skeleton, could tightly wedge itself within the rock hole that was not even one meter in diameter. Having climbed less than three meters, Bi Fang was panting for breath, almost collapsing from exhaustion, but he never gave up. Finally, after more than an hour of toil, Bi Fang succeeded in bringing the strange fish out of the nearly forty-meter-deep pit! At this moment, dawn was breaking. ¡°Hoo-hah! I¡¯mup!¡± Bi Fang panted heavily, laughing heartily. After the laughter, he dug a hole in the sand and placed his bulging jacket inside, which held the five liters of water from the underground river he had collected. After swallowing a few mouthfuls of saliva, he continued, ¡°In order to¡­ hurry on the road, we can¡¯t linger and must set out as soon as possible, so¡­ I need to give the camel some water to drink.¡± The nearby camel stood up and came over to the pit to drink. In less than a minute, the water in the pit was gone without a trace. [Damn! That was too quick, wasn¡¯t it? Even a pump isn¡¯t that outrageous.] [Can it really drink that much water? How long has it been thirsty?] [Drinking so much all at once, won¡¯t it suffer water intoxication?] ¡°Of course not. A camel¡¯s stomach contains many bottle-shaped sacs called rumen pouches, which are the camel¡¯s ¡®water storage devices.¡¯ In 10 minutes, a Bactrian camel can drink down to 114 liters of water, and this water will be stored in its ¡®water storage devices.¡¯ ¡°Moreover, thanks to a long process of evolution, a camel¡¯s red blood cells have already adapted to either not drinking at all or guzzling a lot at once. They won¡¯ t burst and die even when the water content in the blood changes drastically.¡± Bi Fang, carrying the strange fish, placed it on the camel¡¯s saddle. Initially, the animal panicked as it had never seen such a creature, but under Bi Fang s soothing, the camel gradually calmed down. This made Bi Fang somewhat sentimental, growing more and more fond of it: ¡°This camel has such a good temperament; they¡¯re usually nervous around strangers, but this one is completely different.¡± After binding the fish securely with rope and ensuring the weight was balanced, Bi Fang confirmed their direction and set off with the camel. The sun was just rising, an excellent time to travel. ¡°For the first two hours after we set off, we should travel continuously without breaks, as this is the coolest time of the day. We need to cover as much ground as possible, and as the temperature gradually rises, we can increase the frequency of rest stops¡ªrest for five minutes every hour.¡± The journey was monotonous, and Bi Fang was so tired that he could barely speak, causing the number of viewers to drop steadily. Fortunately, the main task was completed while he was unconscious. The sun climbed higher, hanging over the desert, as the heatwaves rolled in. It wasn¡¯t until twelve o¡¯clock at noon that Bi Fang and the camel stopped in a patch of shade to rest. They had traveled for a solid five hours, resting for a total of less than twenty minutes, many of which were due to having to stop to determine their direction. Bi Fang leaned against the camel, sipping water. His eyes squinted while sweat streamed down his cheeks, soaking his masked attire. Clothing here had become a consumable. The system apparel purchased from the lottery and store had all been used up. But how much longer until the road to survival ended? Chapter 141 - 138 Reward! Chapter 141: Chapter 138 Reward! His head felt heavy and foggy, Bi Fang decided to take a nap first. After turning off the live stream, he dug a shallow pit in the sand underneath him and promptly fell asleep. The camel sat beside him, continuing to cud its food, mouth moving oddly from side to side. After an indeterminate amount of time, Bi Fang, who had been sleeping, felt something odd moving at his back, which jolted his fragile spirit awake in an instant. Upon waking, Bi Fang nearly collapsed. He pressed a hand to his forehead, feeling as if a blood vessel in his head was throbbing violently. His occipital region felt as though it had been struck with a wooden stick, and Bi Fang fought against the urge to throw up, the discomfort overwhelming him. The cold had gotten worse! Bi Fang¡¯s heart sank for a moment, but then he turned to see the camel and calmed down. He wasn¡¯t alone. The sun had not set much, barely two hours had passed. Bi Fang habitually patted the camel¡¯s head, not thinking it had nuzzled him because it had nothing better to do. His voice was hoarse as he asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± The camel silently stood up and fixed its stance in one direction, motionless. Facing the fierce sun, Bi Fang also got to his feet and peering ahead, he could make out several streaks of dust rising like surging earthen dragons, moving at a great speed. It was¡­ cars! Someone was passing by! Bi Fang hurriedly turned on the live stream, and viewers from across the country, having been notified, quickly filled the stream, with over a hundred thousand fans joining the live room in no time. [Eh, isn¡¯t it just two o¡¯clock? Why start the broadcast so early? This is the first time being so early.] [Are we continuing the journey?] [Didn¡¯t you say we couldn¡¯t continue til four or five o¡¯clock?] ¡°It¡¯s not me who wants to continue the journey, look over there.¡± Bi Fang operated the drone, directing the lens towards those dust streaks in the distance. The image automatically zoomed in, magnifying the dust clouds like binoculars and capturing them in clear detail. Beneath the dust, wheels were rolling. Jeeps! A full four of them! S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Hey! Old Gu, take a look at this, are these our four cars?¡± On the jeeps, Song Vanning also witnessed this scene, frantically shaking Gu Qingyuan¡¯s shoulders. He couldn¡¯t believe the coincidence! Gu Qingyuan was startled, then looked around and instantly saw the giant rock a kilometer away, identical to the one in the live room! He quickly alerted the driver: ¡°Quick, quick, quick, turn to the left, go left!¡± The driver yanked the steering wheel and floored the accelerator, heading straight for Bi Fang¡¯s location. All four jeeps turned sharply and headed for the giant rock. On one of the cars, Gu Qingyuan was sending comments, while Song Vanning had already opened the sunroof and was waving at Bi Fang from afar. ¡°Hey! It¡¯s us! Bi Fang, it¡¯s us! I¡¯m Song Vanning!¡± [I¡¯m Gu Qingyuan! Bi Fang, the convoy you see is us!] [It¡¯s Professor Gu and the others!] [Isn¡¯t this too much of a coincidence? Have we successfully survived?] [Normal, they are here to find Master Fang, and Master Fang is out surviving. With opposing directions, it¡¯s not surprising they¡¯d encounter each other.] [That¡¯s great, it feels like this is the toughest survival challenge yet!] [Not only the toughest, but also the most unbelievable one. Prehistoric creatures, Millennium Caravan, Underground Cave, I jumped the firewall yesterday, and I even saw Master Fang¡¯s videos on YouTube!] [It¡¯s got international reach now?] [Obviously, the number of comments from overseas is over ten thousand! Even the Washington News and The Sun have articles on the prehistoric creatures; it¡¯s blowing up!] [A buddy of mine from Ugly Country also asked if it was real, and he asked me to send him Master Fang¡¯s previous videos. In the end, he gave me One Hundred Ugly Gold to help donate to Master Fang.] ¡°It has spread overseas?¡± Bi Fang was surprised by these comments, not expecting that he had already become famous abroad, to the point where people were asking others to donate on their behalf. Then he got even more excited. What fun was there in earning money from his own people? If he was going to earn, he wanted to earn from foreigners¡ªgenerate foreign exchange for the country! Just as he was lost in thought, the four off-road vehicles had already rushed over. Seeing this formation, the camel snorted loudly, a little frightened. Bi Fang quickly soothed the startled camel. ¡°Haha, finally got to meet you, eh.¡± The moment the cars stopped, two old men got out, one of them with glasses embraced Bi Fang as soon as he approached, extremely excited. ¡°Are you two Professor Gu and Professor Song?¡± Bi Fang said with a smile. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me! And this is Old Song!¡± Gu Qingyuan said excitedly as he shook Bi Fang¡¯s hand, introducing Song Vanning while constantly gazing behind Bi Fang and expressing concern. ¡°You¡¯ve really worked hard. Why is your voice so hoarse? Do you have a cold? Oh, and you¡¯re injured too. Let¡¯s get that wrapped up first; we have a First Aid kit in the car.¡± Seeing this, Bi Fang chuckled and stepped aside, ¡°I see you¡¯re a bit more interested in Tiktaalik, aren¡¯t you?¡± Caught in a slightly awkward moment, Gu Qingyuan realized he was a bit too impatient and scratched his graying hair, ¡°Sorry, I just couldn¡¯t control my excitement.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, I understand.¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t mind, their curiosity about the unknown creature was just like his love for Nature, ¡°You better go see if it really is a prehistoric creature; don¡¯t make a mistake. Plus, I¡¯m quite curious too.¡± Upon hearing this, Gu Qingyuan couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. He stepped forward, pulled the coat off the creature¡¯s head, and together with two other researchers, they carefully lifted the creature to the ground and examined it closely. The other researchers gathered around, exchanging thoughts interspersed with a great deal of technical jargon. ¡°No doubt about it, it looks almost identical to the fossils when judged from the skeleton, and its skull is as big as its pelvis¡ªit could swallow an adult¡¯s head in one bite.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a lobe-finned fish, the third kind found outside the only two known species in the world today! And it appeared in our country! We¡¯re so lucky!¡± ¡°I still think it looks more like a quadruped. Look at its limbs, apart from lacking claws, it¡¯s almost the same as a Crocodile.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s measure its length, shall we? Didn¡¯t someone bring a tape measure?¡± ¡°Right, quickly, let¡¯s measure it!¡± Soon, someone brought over a tape measure and straightened out the creature¡¯s body. After measuring from head to tail, they reported a figure, ¡°Three meters and two centimeters exactly!¡± This piece of data completely stunned everyone present. [Damn, I¡¯ve never seen a fish this big in my life!] [Awesome, it¡¯s over three meters long!] [No wonder it¡¯s so bold to even bite people.] [Aren¡¯t Yangtze Crocodiles only about two meters?] [Crocodiles in China are generally not that big, three meters is rare, that¡¯s normal.] ¡°It¡¯s that big! If it were up to us to catch it, we definitely wouldn¡¯t have had it so easy. We owe a lot to Mr. Bi.¡± The other team members also got out of the car and shook Bi Fang¡¯s hand in thanks. Hearing everyone say this, the fans also felt happy for Bi Fang, as if he had received official recognition and all the efforts along the way were not in vain. After the confirmation, Gu Qingyuan approached Bi Fang to thank him again, and Bi Fang quickly reached out to help him up, but Gu Qingyuan stepped back to avoid his gesture and said earnestly. ¡°These days, discovering a new large animal is nearly impossible, not to mention one that is also a significant Living Fossil in biology. And I¡¯ve seen that the Underground Cave is home to many more unknown creatures; it¡¯s truly a discovery of the century, all thanks to Mr. Bi¡¯s contributions.¡± ¡°We will do our best to name the new species according to your wishes!¡± Gu Qingyuan had been teaching for a lifetime and spoke with clarity and authority, yet the audience felt as if they had misheard, taking a good while to process it. My goodness, did the old man just say let Master Fang name a species? The live stream audience exploded with excitement. What an honor this was! From now on, whenever anyone sees this species, won¡¯t they naturally think of Master Fang, the discoverer? [If a species could be named after me, that would make my life!] [Just an ordinary person can forget about it, but Old Fang is going to go down in history now!] [Isn¡¯t this too awesome? When I visit this animal in the future, can I say it¡¯s a Master Fang beast?] Bi Fang was pleased until he saw the last comment and his face fell. ¡°You guys are overthinking it. Naming a new species doesn¡¯t have to include the discoverer¡¯s name. I can make up one myself!¡± [Ah, that¡¯s no fun. Just use your name, at least we¡¯ll all recognize it then, you¡¯ll be forever famous (sly)] [Yeah, use your name for the naming. It¡¯s decided then, you¡¯re the one, Bi Fang beast! Quick, use water spray!] Bi Fang, not wanting to acknowledge the absurdity from the Shuiyou, turned around and saw Gu Qingyuan seemed to want to say something more, giving him a meaningful look while surreptitiously glancing at the drone. Bi Fang took the hint, willing the drone to fly away. Gu Qingyuan pointed to the sky and whispered, ¡°There¡¯s more, the higher-ups are very happy about this. The Living Fossil, the discovery of the huge Underground Cave and the Millennium Caravan, it¡¯s all very positive news. The process for your reward is already underway, and I heard they¡¯re considering a promotion for you!¡± ¡°A promotion?¡± Bi Fang¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, ¡°Just for this discovery?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure about the details, it seems pretty complicated,¡± Gu Qingyuan shook his head, ¡°I heard it¡¯s coming from the propaganda department. They think you have a good image. On one hand, you¡¯ve made significant contributions, saving people last time, this time making a great discovery, which might even help the economic development of a region. Plus, since you¡¯re special forces, they have some thoughts about you¡­¡± Bi Fang understood. He was too outstanding, catching the eye of the big shots. On the surface, he remained calm, but inside, he was already overjoyed. This was great news! Big news! A promotion, it sounded very impressive! Who would dare to trouble him then? Shark¡¯s Wang Weifeng would probably come apologizing the very next day! ¡°That¡¯s all I have to say,¡± Gu Qingyuan stopped there, unable to guarantee the accuracy of the message, as it was only a reference at best. Later, he looked at Bi Fang, who was covered in wounds, and feeling guilty for being the cause of his condition, he said, ¡°You should come with us later. We¡¯ve cleared a vehicle for you, and someone will take you to Qinghai Province Hospital for treatment¡­¡± But unexpectedly, Bi Fang interrupted Gu Qingyuan. ¡°No, I refuse..¡± Chapter 142 - 139: Life Chapter 142: Chapter 139: Life The camel carried Bi Fang toward the distance, moving slowly in the desert, swaying back and forth until it disappeared into the sands. He had only told everyone the direction and distance of the well, aside from that, he asked for nothing, wanted nothing, as if Professor Gu and the others never existed. ¡°I lie on my back in the world, without need for a house, without need for a tent, so free, without worries, my life deserves such moments,¡± Song Vanning watched the figure disappearing into the horizon, her eyes deep with emotion. ¡°What?¡± Gu Qingyuan was startled. ¡°Thomas Bernhard¡¯s Tn the Summer,¡¯ just sharing my thoughts,¡± she replied. Gu Qingyuan savored the previous statement and agreed, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect him to refuse so decisively, I had wanted to persuade him.¡± But Bi Fang had convinced him with just a sentence. ¡°If I got on the car, how would that be different from calling for rescue? Just being alive is lucky enough, please let me have a neat ending!¡± Gu Qingyuan pulled back from his memories, waving his hand, ¡°Enough of that, let¡¯s focus on the task. We need to get Tiktaalik to the lab first, then proceed with the field investigation.¡± ¡°Is that fish really that important? There are many new species discovered every year, right?¡± Song Vanning followed behind. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s important, its very existence is a jewel of evolutionary study, opening up new fields of research for both paleontology and evolutionary biology!¡± Gu Qingyuan hurriedly urged his team to lift the strange fish onto the vehicle, ¡°Be careful, it¡¯s big, just bear with it for a moment.¡± In fact, there was something he didn¡¯t mention to Song Vanning; compared to its importance for evolutionary study, perhaps the discovery was even more significant for molecular biology. This was the real reason the authorities wanted the actual specimen, despite concerns for animal protection. The lungfish¡¯s genome contains about 43 billion DNA base pairs, the largest of any animal sequenced to date, and is fourteen times the size of the human genome! How about Tiktaalik in comparison? Could it possibly have even more? With such an immense genome, it might conceal the secrets of life¡¯s evolution¡­ On the back of the camel, Bi Fang wrapped himself up tightly; with the strange fish gone, he could ride the camel, making his journey much easier. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A single-hump camel can typically carry a load ranging from one hundred sixty to two hundred kilograms; carrying a strange fish isn¡¯t difficult, but it doesn¡¯t allow for additional riders. Now, the load had been lightened for both parties. And the arrival of Professor Gu also revealed much information. ¡°Since Professor Gu and his team came by jeep, judging by the time it took, the town from which they embarked can¡¯t be too far. This means we are close to success in our survival, nearing human settlements. If we¡¯re quick, by tonight, at the latest by tomorrow.¡± [Honestly, when Old Fang said how I refused, there was a bit of coolness to it.] [Master Fang¡¯s way of refusing others is so cool too!] [No! I refuse!] [Is this the world of the strong?] [I am very strong, so bear with it.] [Tyrand gifts the host a Spaceship*!¨CThis is the best live stream I have ever seen, Bollywood movies are so weak compared to you! ] [??? Where did the guy upstairs come from?] [A foreigner came to watch Master Fang¡¯s live stream? Can any big shot translate?] [This guy said this is the most exciting live stream he¡¯s ever seen, even Hollywood movies are nothing compared to Master Fang!] [Awesome!] Bi Fang, having wandered around in his past life and often watched academic research reports, naturally was not lacking in English and understood the message. He promptly expressed his gratitude in English, showing off to his online friends once again. Old Fang really knows everything, outrageous! For foreigners to climb over the wall to watch his live stream was something not even Bi Fang himself had expected; he thought at most they would watch his edited videos, but to actually have fans abroad? The development was accelerating. But it made sense; he was still wandering around domestically, and it might not be long before he went abroad for exploration. By then, he would need to establish international channels, and his foreign fan base would experience an explosive increase, the profits multiplying by more than just double compared to now! As time passed, the sun began to sink once again. It was already after five in the afternoon. Bi Fang¡¯s headache escalated from simple dizziness; his condition visibly worsened, and due to significant blood loss, his face was as pale as paper. Camels are best at maintaining a speed of 15 to 25 kilometers per hour, and they can continue without rest for four days and nights, a pace three to five times that of humans. Throughout the day, Bi Fang had walked over eighty kilometers, detouring around numerous sand dunes. However, in terms of a straight line, he must have covered more than thirty kilometers, a substantial distance indeed. The Qaidam Basin from east to west spans roughly eight hundred kilometers, with a width of three hundred kilometers from north to south, and the desert area accounts for only one third. The hope for survival was near at hand. Bi Fang straightened up and looked into the distance. In the distance, where the desert once was a blanket of yellow sand, a different color emerged ¨C a shade of brown, clusters of well-ordered shrubbery! Among the net-like arrangement of desert shrubs lay a black railway track ¨C like a dragon resting within the sands. ¡°It¡¯s the railway!¡± Overjoyed, Bi Fang urged the camel to quicken its pace. After arriving at the railroad track and seeing the intact sleepers and newly marked rails, he finally let go of his worries. This was not an abandoned railway. The online friends were completely impressed. [Awesome, this is truly a find of hope for survival, and it¡¯s not just luck!] [With the railway appearing, just follow it and you¡¯ll eventually meet people] [So strong, yyds! ] [The king of survival! The world¡¯s number one explorer! The king of kings!] Following the railroad track, Bi Fang slowed down and began to reflect on this adventurous experience. ¡°We¡¯re here and our survival mission can be basically considered a success. I must say, this experience has been quite magical, but the most delightful part wasn¡¯t the successful survival, it was the discovery of prehistoric creatures.¡± ¡°The moment I discovered Tiktaalik, I felt genuinely thrilled; an unparalleled sense of pride overwhelmed me.¡± As he spoke, a smile appeared on Bi Fang¡¯s own face. You have been here, and I have witnessed. Even if the sky hasn¡¯t retained your trace, you have flown and I have noted. How lucky I am. ¡°In the Milky Way Galaxy, there are over a hundred billion stars, and the Milky Way is but one of about a hundred forty billion galaxies. Yet, despite the vastness of the universe, the only known place with life is Earth.¡± ¡°And on Earth, from the deepest trench to the highest peak, the known breadth of life¡¯s existence spans only 28 kilometers ¨C what is that compared to the immensity of the universe?¡± The sky gradually darkened, the bright moon rose, and the silver light was cast broadly. The stars sparkled. Bi Fang walked slower and slower, as if reluctant to leave. ¡°The history of life tells a story of massive purges, followed by the diversification of a few survivors, rather than the commonly assumed continuous optimization, complexification, and diversification.¡± ¡°Earth has already witnessed five major extinction events respectively during the Ordovician, Devonian, Permian, Triassic, and Cretaceous periods, as well as many smaller extinction events.¡± ¡°Each of these major extinctions eradicated 70% to 85% of species. During the Permian period, over 95% of creatures left the stage, never to return.¡± ¡°It¡¯s important to realize the incredibly small chance for a species to fossilize, be preserved, and eventually be discovered and recorded by humans.¡± ¡°Humans have only one thing in common with other living beings: over nearly three and a half billion years, at every critical moment, our ancestors managed to squeeze through every closing door ¨C never once failing at the numerous pivotal moments that could have erased us from history.¡± ¡°This is, the miracle of life!¡± Bi Fang stopped the camel, gazing up at the starry sky. In the distance. Roads intersected, bright with lights. Chapter 143 - 140: Let’s Go Watch a Movie! Chapter 143: Chapter 140: Let¡¯s Go Watch a Movie! [For some reason, listening to this fills my eyes with tears of laughter] [You1 re not alone!] [You¡¯re not human!] [Unidentified creature mingling among them (funny)] [Life is hard, cherish it as you go] [I¡¯m actually touched] [This is life!] Countless people voiced their emotions, but Bi Fang just wanted to hurry into what looked more like a slightly larger village than a small town. Before he could get close, however, a loud shout startled everyone. ¡°Stop right there, who are you! What are you doing here? Bi Fang turned his head to see a burly man with a white turban staring at him warily, and what was more exaggerated was that he was actually holding a short stick in his hand! Faced with the stranger, the burly man was quite tense. This place was usually deserted, but there stood a young man, ragged and covered in dust, solitary on a camel without even a bridle, skulking around the entrance of the village, looking far from normal. The burly man wondered if the young man was some kind of fugitive murderer. He watched the young man¡¯s eyes, so calm, yet seeming to hide a tiger ready to pounce. He had only seen such eyes once before, on a wolf he encountered in the desert. That time, the wolf had killed three of his sheep. Seeing the burly man acting like he was guarding against a thief, the comments section was in stitches. [They¡¯re treating Old Fang like a thief, hahaha] [I have to say, he does look a bit like one, Old Fang¡¯s image isn¡¯t very convincing right now.] [Old Fang, better explain quickly, I feel like the person in front of you is about to charge over] [Interesting, really interesting] Bi Fang, seeing this commotion, was not in the least bit hurried. Having successfully sought refuge, his mind completely relaxed, and seeing the man¡¯s wariness, he wanted to approach and explain, not expecting the burly man to retreat two steps, nearly dropping his stick. Bi Fang had to stop. The burly man who showed cowardice was quite irritated. What was there to fear? The person opposite was clearly just a young man. He waved the short stick in his hand, threatening with feigned bravery, ¡°Don¡¯t come any closer! If you come any closer, I won¡¯t be polite!¡± Bi Fang was speechless, ¡°I¡¯m not a bad person, nor a thief, just someone in trouble who has just escaped from the desert!¡± The burly man furrowed his brows, staring at Bi Fang, and repeated, ¡°Someone in trouble?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m not a bad person.¡± Bi Fang raised his hands to show he meant no harm. The burly man peered carefully in the moonlight, seeing the young man¡¯s pitiable state, partly believed him, but still didn¡¯t let down his guard, ¡°Then, do you have anything to prove your identity?¡± Bi Fang was stumped; he didn¡¯t have anything like that. Who would bring their ID card on a survival trip, and what if it got lost? The burly man, seeing no response from the other side, guessed the answer. . Noticing the genuine down-and-out appearance of the stranger, he still didn¡¯t feel at ease letting him stay alone there, and hesitated a bit. ¡°Well then, follow me into the village, remember not to run out of my sight, and don¡¯t wander off! Stay not too close!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Bi Fang agreed and walked in front of the burly man. As they entered the village, others noticed Bi Fang. Seeing the burly man behind him, their eyes brightened and they approached to whisper to the burly man. Furthermore, more and more people began to follow behind Bi Fang, until about a dozen of them neatly stopped after fifteen minutes, clearing a path. An elder came out surrounded by the villagers, speaking in not very standard Mandarin, ¡°Young man, I am the village chief here. You say you¡¯re a person in distress? Can you tell me about it?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Bi Fang nodded and repeated his earlier story. ¡°Where are you from?¡± ¡°Magic Capital.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s quite far away. And this camel is¡­?¡± ¡°1 luckily stumbled upon it in the desert.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, the dozen people behind the elder began to whisper among themselves. ¡°You stumbled upon it¡­¡± The elder pondered for a while. He was judging the truthfulness of the statement when unexpectedly, he saw the bloodstains on Bi Fang¡¯s hand and asked, ¡°You¡¯re injured?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t mention the injury was from a strange fish¡¯s bite. If he said that, these people would surely be in an uproar. Who would believe someone got bitten by a fish in the desert? Would you believe it? ¡°Then let¡¯s treat the injury first,¡± the elder decided on the spot, regardless of whether the young man was truly in distress or not. They should see to his wounds at the clinic first to avoid any delay. They had more than a dozen people there, and the stranger had nothing on him. What could he do if he really was a fugitive? Bi Fang followed the elder to the clinic, handing over the camel to him, which had been nuzzling his back ever since arriving in the village. After seeing the human settlement, it was very excited. ¡°Can you feed my camel some grass?¡± ¡°Sure!¡± the old man promised. ¡°Um, there¡¯s another thing that might prove my identity.¡± Bi Fang took down the drone, fiddled with it for a bit, and the villagers were surprised. It was too dark earlier and they hadn¡¯t noticed such a gadget flying over their heads. ¡°Spy!¡± The burly man had a very high sense of alertness and thought of the TV dramas he had seen when he saw the gadget. Bi Fang laughed, placed the drone on a nearby stone, aimed, and projected it onto a wall in front of the clinic. The images were of his survival experience. The live broadcast device provided by the System made this a breeze. ¡°Huh? A movie?¡± ¡°It seems so, what¡¯s this thing called, proj¡­¡± ¡°Projector!¡± ¡°Right, that thing!¡± A group of people¡¯s voices grew louder, occasionally mixed with dialects that others couldn¡¯t understand, all of them amazed. Meanwhile, Bi Fang went into the clinic, leaving a group of people outside watching his live broadcast. [Hahaha, these people haven¡¯t seen much!] [Damn, fooled by Master Fang again.] [I¡¯m reminded of the driver uncle Old Fang first met when he was surviving for the first time; I can¡¯t say they¡¯re similar, they¡¯re exactly the same! Hahaha] [Those people at the door are stunned.] [The edited version is even cooler! ] [This drone is so awesome, projecting and recording at the same time] Inside the clinic, there was only one female doctor on duty who looked to be in her forties, possibly aged due to the constant blowing of wind and sand. She just cut open the dressing cloth on Bi Fang¡¯s wound and was immediately taken aback: ¡°What kind of wound is this?¡± It was obviously a bite from something! Desert Wolf? No, that can¡¯t be; wolves don¡¯t have such big mouths, do they? And doesn¡¯t this guy feel pain? With such a serious injury, a normal person wouldn¡¯t even be able to lift their arm, but this young man seemed totally unaffected? The doctor stared at the wound and was stunned, her mind struggling to comprehend. After such a serious injury, had he really ridden a camel out of the desert? Seeing the doctor¡¯s expression, Bi Fang laughed, ¡°Doctor, would you believe me if I said it was a fish bite?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe it, but you¡¯d better tell me honestly what bit you so I can give you the right treatment.¡± ¡°It really was a fish, and just a simple treatment will do,¡± Bi Fang said sincerely. Seeing that he wouldn¡¯t say, the female doctor shook her head and began to examine the wound. From the first-person perspective, the pus-filled wound was shockingly graphic. [Damn, is it infected?] [What now? They won¡¯t have to amputate, will they?] S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [It¡¯s over, is Old Fang done for?] ¡°In the city, even small wounds often get infected, let alone in the wild, not to mention I was in water. But, there are many kinds of infections, not all of them fatal.¡± The doctor glanced at Bi Fang, thinking he was talking about his experience, not too concerned, ¡°No worries, it¡¯s probably just a simple infection. I¡¯ll treat it here, but afterwards, you should still go to a bigger hospital for a further check-up and get a few shots, just to prevent other bacteria infections.¡± ¡°Okay, thank you, doctor.¡± Nodding her head, the female doctor turned to get some ointment, but just as she returned, a huge commotion came from the entrance, even showing signs of escalating. The female doctor couldn¡¯t contain her curiosity and went to the door, only to discover that almost everyone from the village had come, pointing and discussing the light and shadows in front of them. ¡°Lebao, what are you guys huddled here for? Aren¡¯t you going to school tomorrow?¡± the female doctor stepped forward and grabbed a little boy, asking curiously. ¡°We¡¯re watching a movie!¡± Lebao, sucking on a lollipop, was excitedly pointing at the wall, ¡°It¡¯s so good, Auntie, come and watch with us?¡± ¡°A movie? Where did a movie come from? I didn¡¯t hear about anyone showing movies in town?¡± The female doctor looked up and when she saw the ¡°protagonist¡± on the screen, her brain froze. in the screen, it just happened to show Bi Fang confronting a monstrous fish in the darkness. All the villagers present held their breath, not daring to make a sound. Accompanied by a thunderous roar. Thunk. The walking stick and the monstrous fish hit the ground at the same time. The village chief staggered and took two steps back. ¡°This young man¡­¡± ¡°He¡¯s risking his life!¡± Chapter 144 - 141 System Upgrade Chapter 144: Chapter 141 System Upgrade ¡°Come on, brother, bottoms up!¡± In the adobe house, the burly Tashi Dorje put his arm around Bi Fang¡¯s shoulder, and without waiting for a reply, he guzzled down the alcohol from his bowl, and even though his Mandarin was hard to understand, he repeatedly apologized. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry about before, it¡¯s just that you looked so wretched, brother. No one ever comes here, and seeing you wandering around the village entrance alone made us uneasy! I, your older brother, am here to make amends.¡± Waving his hand, Bi Fang indicated that he didn¡¯t take it to heart and had also been infected by the lively atmosphere, taking a few sips of alcohol. In this remote village with few entertainment activities, everyone should have turned off their lights and gone to bed early, yet the arrival of a stranger had the place brightly lit up. The villagers were almost all of Mongolian ethnicity, and seeing Bi Fang¡¯s bravery in the live stream, they genuinely welcomed and admired him! Tashi Dorje even dragged Bi Fang to his home, insisting on apologizing and calling over a big group of people, pouring each one a bowl of strong alcohol. The scene suddenly erupted, and a big pot was set up on the spot, where everyone gathered in the middle to cook lamb meat in boiling white lamb soup. ¡°Little brother, is that ¡®tick¡¯ really over three meters long?¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s real ¡ª haven¡¯t you heard the experts say it¡¯s three point two meters!¡± ¡°How can we not be skeptical? We can¡¯t see a single fish here, and three meters ¡ª that¡¯s taller than a person!¡± ¡°It¡¯s got two of your heights!¡± ¡°Bullshit, I¡¯m one seventy! Drink more, talk less!¡± ¡°Why isn¡¯t the young brother drinking?¡± someone teased from the side. Tashi Dorje slapped his forehead, ¡°Oh! I get it, our sand here is too much, gives the liquor a taste of earth that outsiders can¡¯t get used to! I¡¯ll go and get the good stuff, brought it from the provincial city myself!¡± ¡°No need, Tashi, big brother, it¡¯s not that I won¡¯t drink, it¡¯s just that my hand is injured, can¡¯t drink too much!¡± The villagers were too enthusiastic, and Bi Fang felt a bit embarrassed, but these people just wouldn¡¯t listen. Finally, the village chief spoke up, ¡°The young brother is injured, he can¡¯t drink too much, stop messing around!¡± People then gave up, but they didn¡¯t quiet down, surrounding Bi Fang inside and out, once again bombarding him with questions. Tashi, rolling up his sleeves and with a face full of admiration, recalled, ¡°Brother, when you fought that crocodile, it was just as brave as when I fought a wolf!¡± ¡°When have you ever fought a wolf, Tashi? Weren¡¯t you so scared by the wolf that you wet your pants? ¡®One recognizes a good horse during the race and a hero in the wrestling ring.¡¯ We Mongolians respect brave men the most, and Tashi, you¡¯re not even half as brave as our little brother here!¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, the young brother dares to fight crocodiles for his life, and you? You even lost three sheep, hahaha!¡± ¡°Nonsense! You¡¯re slandering me! If I hadn¡¯t driven it off, it would have killed even more!¡± Tashi Dorje, having already drunk half a bowl of alcohol, saw that people doubted him and his face started to turn red. Then someone else asked, ¡°Tashi, did you really fight a wolf?¡± Tashi Dorje, giving the person who asked him a scornful look, showed no interest in defending himself. They continued, ¡°Then how come you didn¡¯t even bring back half a wolf brush?¡± Tashi immediately looked defeated and uneasy, his face clouding over, and he mumbled something. This time, it was all about how the wolf had run too fast and there was no time to do anything ¡ª some undecipherable words. At this point, everyone started to laugh aloud, filling the interior and exterior of the house with cheerful atmosphere. After the teasing, the villagers went up to Bi Fang to offer a toast, showing complete admiration for him. Using a fire poker to stir the charcoal, tiny sparks drifted up, and someone next to them puckered their lips and blew, snuffing them out in a flurry of brief flashes. The one tending the fire sniffed, ¡°It¡¯s ready!¡± ¡°Young brother, try this, an authentic lamb soup!¡± They warmly called out to him. Having been hungry for several days, Bi Fang didn¡¯t hold back on formalities, he speared a piece of succulent lamb meat, blew on it, and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing with satisfaction as warmth from the alcohol surged up, as if blowing out a fiery breath from deep in his lungs. He slapped his knee and exclaimed with approval. At his exclamation, the villagers¡¯ excitement bubbled over again, each one reaching out with their knives to scoop up lamb meat. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [That¡¯s it, I really want some meat nowtoo!] [Damn, spreading midnight cravings! Old Fang, that¡¯s not very nice!] [I¡¯ve been here for five days, and it¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve tasted something salty!] [I¡¯ll trade my doughnut for that!] [Isn¡¯t that a bit too enthusiastic? They slaughtered a sheep right away!] [Nonsense, we Mongolians hold warriors in the highest regard, let alone a big shot like Master Fang! ] [Loving Riceing, you¡¯ve sent too meatballs to the host¡ªMaster Fang, what should I do if I also want to eat?] [If you can¡¯t stand it, send a spaceship to the host¡ªtake it!] The spicy fragrance stirred up everyone¡¯s spirit for wine, and several villagers, half-drunk, opened their jackets, slapped their bellies, and sang the incomprehensible songs of the northern desert, creating a roaring buzz. The revelry continued until midnight, yet Bi Fang quietly stepped out of the house and collected the unattended drone. ¡°Alright, now it¡¯s truly time to say goodbye. Did you see it? Green plants have started appearing in this village, and further away, there are even trees.¡± ¡°During our chats, the villagers told me that they planted these in response to the call for reforestation. Every blade of grass and tree painstakingly planted by the people of Qaidam on the Gobi wastelands is for the sake of a better life for future generations, which is no easy feat.¡± ¡°Many people say that if it weren¡¯t for Qinghai Lake, the sandstorms of Qaidam would swallow up half of China. The transition of Qaidam Basin from an ancient body of water to today¡¯s desertified basin wasn¡¯t only because of the rise of the Tibetan Plateau changing the atmospheric circulation patterns and causing dynamic and thermal effects.¡± ¡°In fact, there are many more reasons to reflect upon. I hope that in a few years, we won¡¯t find fossils of ¡®Naked Carp¡¯ here. I¡¯d rather hope for clear skies, green grass, and a blue lake years from now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it, friends! Remember my name and story, and don¡¯t miss the next broadcast!¡± [Don¡¯t go! At least let me finish watching your meal!] [Tips for staying!] [Ah, it¡¯s gone!] In the live broadcast room, despite the audience¡¯s pleas, the screen went completely dark in the end, leaving only a heated discussion among the netizens. [By the way, did Master Fang just mention a loli fossil?] [Idiot, that¡¯s Naked Carp! A common and beautiful fish from Qinghai Lake, not a loli! Don¡¯t let beauty cloud your vision! ] [Cute girls? Where are the cute girls?] [Corporate level understanding.] ¡°Sigh, gone again.¡± Wang Xiaocong tossed his phone aside and flopped onto his bed. Having looked forward to a break to watch for a couple of days, it ended so quickly, which was hugely disappointing, and now he had to wait over ten days more. He had no idea where the next broadcast would take him or what sort of adventure stories would unfold. ¡°I really want to join in the journey. Wonder when Big Brother Fang¡¯s club will open¡­¡± In the over 9.6 million square kilometers of land, within the countless brightly lit cities, there were many more people like Wang Xiaocong. In today¡¯s live streaming circles, Bi Fang¡¯s broadcasts were groundbreaking, even historic¡ªthere was no precedent in the world for presenting adventures as live broadcasts. Previously at most, there were documentaries, fishing for big fish, or getting a close look at wild animals, but nobody was truly confident enough to dare to air it all live. And even if there were imitators, their effects and visual impact were nowhere near as strong as Bi Fang¡¯s. Just look at Shark next door. Watching their broadcasts was just for fun, utterly incomparable. [Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the task: Emerging Sharpness. Reward dispensed. Would you like to claim it?] A flicker of light passed, and all gloom and irritation were wiped away. Bi Fang¡¯s face lit up with joy, and just as he was about to claim it, a second electronic tone sounded. [Congratulations to the host for completing three R Level tasks. Your authority is now officially unlocked. System upgrading¡­] [Upgrade complete!] Chapter 145:142 King Fish’s Stomach Chapter 145:142 King Fish¡¯s Stomach ¡°Fuck, that was fast?¡± Suddenly facing an upgrade, Bi Fang was still trying to figure out how it was different from before when, the next second, it was already complete? The first time it loaded, it took a whole week¡­ [Full access to system permissions granted¡­ settlement methods changed¡­ mission system changed¡­] [Ding! Integration complete, would you like to check?] ¡°Check!¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As soon as the thought arose, a blue screen flashed in front of Bi Fang, and a flood of information poured in. Three minutes later, Bi Fang was somewhat shocked. ¡°Such a big change¡­¡± This sudden system upgrade gave him a surprise that was nothing short of huge. First of all, there was a complete overhaul of the mission mode and reward mode. The system would still issue missions, but the requirements had changed completely. Bi Fang could refuse them, or even edit the content himself! He could choose the location and mode of his live streams according to his own ideas, whether for survival, for subsistence, or other various modes. To do all this, there was only one criterion ¨C Wilderness Points. As long as the Wilderness Points Bi Fang earned each year met the system¡¯s specified requirements, then within that threshold, no matter how many missions the system issued, he could simply ignore them. The acquisition of Wilderness Points was not solely through completing missions anymore, but could be achieved through a series of impacts, reputation, and the attention of his online friends and audience, even including money he earned on his own using the wilderness theme. Ten thousand for one point. For instance, if Bi Fang earned close to three million from this live stream, that would be more than three hundred Wilderness Points. If he were to endorse products in the future, that would be counted as well. This upgrade greatly enhanced Bi Fang¡¯s access to the system¡¯s permissions and his freedom saw a massive leap forward. Moreover, the store had also been fully upgraded, with more advanced skills upgrade coupons and Skill Cans on offer, as well as some bizarre usage coupons. ¡°Good things keep coming!¡± Bi Fang was excited. He glanced around the room and saw that everyone had passed out drunk, so he began to check out the rewards for this mission in peace. [Detected a non-reward promotion, your final rewards are: 1 Intermediate Skill Upgrade Coupon, 4 Enhancement Points, 1400 Wilderness Points, 1 Skill Formation Coupon, 1 Language Proficiency Coupon] A Skill Formation Coupon? Bi Fang was a bit puzzled, but after he read the instructions, he immediately understood. It was a treasure that could turn a white skill of level 4 or above into a Green Skill, making it a branch on the skill tree. From then on, that skill could be upgraded directly using the system-issued skill coupons! Yes, white skills. Skills of a lower level than Green Skills. When Bi Fang first came to this world, he only had a few innate skills, but that didn¡¯t mean those were the only things he could do. Cooking, doing laundry, singing ¨C couldn¡¯t these be skills too? Of course not. If calculated that way, such skills were far too numerous, so these skills were all white and invisible, not part of the system¡¯s upgrade structure. But turning them into Green Skills through learning and training would require at least a year¡¯s worth of effort. Bi Fang couldn¡¯t wait to open up his white skill panel. Instantly, a long list of skill bars appeared. He scrolled down one by one, looking for any existing level 4 or above skills that were worth upgrading, growing more and more excited as he did so. ¡°Turns out I know so much!¡± But before he could finish choosing, the electronic tone sounded again. [Ding! Detected that you have hunted Tiktaalik. Would you like to generate loot?] There¡¯s more? Bi Fang¡¯s eyes shone with excitement. His last reward, the Wolves King¡¯s Sense of Smell, couldn¡¯t be too useful! What would he be rewarded with this time? Glancing at the villager who had passed out on the table, Bi Fang entered a small room prepared for him by Tashi Dorje, who wanted him to rest for the night before leaving. ¡°Generate!¡± The sensation of enhanced strength once again arose; Bi Fang felt this surely wasn¡¯t an illusion. The generation of loot indeed had improved his physical condition, albeit by a very small margin, which made him think it was just his imagination. A cold, foreign feeling emerged, and Bi Fang took out the knotted necklace from around his neck, revealing a tooth that was thicker than Wolf Fang¡¯s but shorter, lying alongside it. It was as clear as jade. [Ding! You have triggered the loot reward enhancement: King Fish¡¯s Stomach!] [King Fish¡¯s Stomach] Ability Description: Your digestive system¡¯s digestion and absorption capabilities will far exceed those of an average person. ¡°The description is still as straightforward as ever.¡± Bi Fang scratched his eyebrow, knowing he would have to figure out the extent of his abilities through trial and error. However, the ability looked very appealing and highly practical. Although a faster digestion rate meant getting hungry more easily, his absorption capabilities had also increased. From the perspective of the conservation of energy, this was a gain. As for concerns like having too much stomach acid causing gastritis, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t worried. The System¡¯s enhancements weren¡¯t that low-end; this was an enhancement, not an upgrade with a side order of stomach ailments. Most importantly, having a strong digestive capacity was actually linked to a certain extent with infection resistance. Under strong stomach acid, few parasites and pathogenic bacteria could survive. Vultures, for instance, which frequently consume carrion yet remain lively, have stomach acidity ten times higher than humans, capable of largely killing off the pathogenic bacteria ingested. This enhancement didn¡¯t give Bi Fang the intense sensations of the last one, but as time passed, he gradually felt a warm glow throughout his body, and the exhaustion from survival began to fade significantly. Bi Fang lay in bed and continued browsing the previous selection; he looked through them one by one and finally picked a level 4 skill, which was a hobby from his past life. He had reached level 4 already, and it was perfect for upgrading to a Green Skill. Archery! His skills were already quite comprehensive, but often, he lacked offensive options. If he could craft a bow and arrows in the wilderness, combined with powerful archery, it would be like a fish in water. Of all animals, only humans can accurately throw objects over long distances using their limbs for ranged attacks. Humans have more flexible waists to increase torque, lower humeruses to expand the range of motion, and flatter shoulder joints, which help align the force of the pectoralis major with the rotation direction of the throw. Archery, in particular, is a standout in ranged combat. In thousands of years of development, it has largely replaced spear throwing because it is more precise, swifter, and faster! It might lack the destructive power of spear throws, but the reloading speed of a bow and arrow far exceeds that of throwing spears. In the wilderness, this is invincible. Bi Fang intended to maximize this advantage. Upgrade! With a buzzing sound, Bi Fang felt as if someone had struck the back of his head. From the simplest longbow to the recurve bow, and finally the modern compound bow, countless notching and shooting experiences brought with them a variety of techniques, experiences, and insights. Bi Fang looked down at his hands as if he had truly released countless arrows, and he could hardly suppress the urge to test his real level of skill. But the environment wasn¡¯t conducive, so he abandoned the thought. There were still many coupons left, and Bi Fang hadn¡¯t decided how to use them; he planned to wait until he got back since he was already very tired. The next day, Uncle Tashi was reluctant to let him leave. ¡°Are you leaving so soon? Won¡¯t you stay for a couple more days? Please don¡¯t feel obligated to go; we sincerely welcome you here.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that I feel obligated, Uncle Tashi, I still need to have my wounds checked at the hospital.¡± Bi Fang showed the bandage on his hand; Tashi gave in and waved goodbye, wishing Bi Fang a smooth journey. Upon reaching the county town, Bi Fang encountered someone he didn¡¯t expect. The owner of the camel. Chapter 146 - 143 Exclusive Copyright Chapter 146: Chapter 143 Exclusive Copyright At the train station. There weren¡¯t many people at the ticket check. Passengers sitting in chairs cast curious glances as Bi Fang came by with a camel. ¡°Naron!¡± A call, and the normally docile camel became restless, seemingly wanting to break free from Bi Fang¡¯s control. Bi Fang looked at the middle-aged man at the entrance of the station and understood. He smiled faintly, patted the camel¡¯s neck, and let it go free. Without a doubt, the camel¡¯s owner had arrived. During the live stream, Bi Fang had told his online friends to call the police, and surprisingly, it worked. The camel¡¯s owner found them on his own, saving Bi Fang the trouble of searching. Not far away, man and camel hugged tightly, and after a long while, the middle-aged man came over to thank Bi Fang. The man introduced himself as Bater, saying the camel was a legacy from his father, with whom he had grown up since childhood. A month ago, when he was about to move, he planned to cross the desert with the camels. Unfortunately, they encountered a sandstorm and lost three out of thirty-seven camels. Bater was convinced that the camels, which he regarded as family, would return on their own. As expected, two of them had made it back home, but the last and most important one was yet to return. Everyone at home was frantic. Reporting to the police was futile; no one had spotted the missing camel. Bater was about to give up, but then he received a call from the police, asking him to watch a live stream to identify if the camel in it was his. That¡¯s how he found Naren. Last night, when Bater saw Bi Fang arrive in Deji Village, he guessed that Bi Fang might head to the town¡¯s train station along the railway, and came to wait early in the morning. Indeed, his persistence paid off, as he finally got what he was waiting for. ¡°After Naren left, my little daughter kept crying, thinking I had abandoned Naren on purpose. It¡¯s the last memento my father left me. It grew up with me and my children. I¡¯m truly grateful.¡± ¡°If anyone should be grateful, it¡¯s me who should thank Naren,¡± said Bi Fang, smiling as he stroked the camel¡¯s head. ¡°Lost camels rarely come back willingly. You must treat them like family on regular days.¡± ¡°Of course, I treasure every camel as a precious gift from Immortal God,¡± Bater laughed heartily. All along the way, Bi Fang had really grown fond of the gentle and lovable camel; parting with it was indeed difficult. If not for its close relationship with its owner, he would have wanted to take it back and keep it himself. With his current financial capacity, it was feasible to raise a camel. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll be taking my leave,¡± said Bi Fang, waving goodbye as he prepared to leave. But how could Bater simply let Bi Fang go? His gratitude was not just lip service but deeply heartfelt, insisting on having a meal with Bi Fang. Unable to resist further, Bi Fang agreed, and they ate heartily together, especially after Bi Fang¡¯s digestive function was enhanced. Bi Fang¡¯s appetite had increased substantially, and with his injury requiring a lot of nutrients, he alone consumed the equivalent of nearly three full-grown adults, to Bater¡¯s astonishment. The meal took quite a while, and afterward, Bater even pulled out a beautifully patterned dagger inlaid with silver and gave it to Bi Fang, hoping it would bring him good luck and safety. Bi Fang didn¡¯t refuse and accepted the gift. It was only after three in the afternoon that he managed to leave and went to the provincial hospital for further treatment of his wound. The only bad news was that his injury was severe. Even though his bones were intact, he required more than a month of rest to prevent any lingering effects. Bi Fang had no choice but to painfully use the System¡¯s acceleration healing function. It cost ten Points a day and increased the healing speed by five times, with no aftereffects. As for the new, more expensive, and more effective intensive healing, Bi Fang was reluctant to use it. After all, he only had just over a thousand Points, and each one used was one less. Moreover, he hadn¡¯t yet edited the footage for B Island, and many fans in the group were already urging him to do so. Bi Fang¡¯s live streaming quality was unique among all streamers, presenting a picture more clear, exquisite, and thrilling than even BBD¡¯s documentaries. These people were not satisfied with watching it just once, constantly clamoring for the edited version. However, the assistant arranged by Wang Yongbo, Liu Qian, interrupted this process. ¡°Mr. Bi, are you going to upload this video to B Island this time?¡± ¡°Yes, what¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°It¡¯s like this, there are currently seven video websites that want to buy the exclusive broadcasting rights to your video, but since they couldn¡¯t find you, they asked us to pass on the message.¡± ¡°Exclusive broadcasting rights?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What are the terms?¡± Liu Qian sent over a document. Bi Fang glanced through it, directly ignoring the smaller websites. Not only was their influence insufficient, but their offers were also not generous enough, a common issue with smaller companies. But that¡¯s normal, video platforms are complex businesses. To succeed, a company must balance the breadth and appeal of their content, and even if a company is willing to take a risk and spend a lot of money to buy his exclusive rights, it¡¯s very dangerous for cash flow if they can¡¯t recoup the investment quickly. Bi Fang flipped through and circled two key proposals. The best offer was from Ai Qi Yi, with the highest bid at one million per episode, and the commitment was for twelve episodes per season. If calculated normally, he could earn twelve million. B Island offered two schemes. One was a fixed price, eight hundred thousand per episode, with the commitment also for twelve episodes per season, two hundred thousand less than Ai Qi Yi. The other was a revenue sharing model. To promote their platform, B Island had set aside a large sum of money to purchase exclusive rights to excellent web dramas, and they had very generous profit-sharing rules. Additionally, the internal management rated Bi Fang¡¯s videos as A-grade, the highest video standard. According to the rules, for an A-grade web drama, as long as an individual account watches for more than 6 minutes per episode, it would count as a valid click. For every valid click, he would receive 0.4 yuan in revenue sharing. That means, for each episode of Bi Fang¡¯s videos, as long as he guaranteed a million valid clicks per episode, he could earn about four hundred thousand in revenue sharing income! Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The same amount, forty Wilderness Points. With Bi Fang¡¯s current number of fans, this viewership number was not difficult to achieve. Not every young person likes to watch live streams. Or rather, they only make up a relatively small part. The mainstream audience prefers to watch videos. However, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t really considered this scenario, or rather, he hadn¡¯t expected the terms to be so generous. Video platforms indeed allocate a large sum of special funds to purchase the rights for hot drama series and variety shows, or exclusive broadcasting rights, and then bundle them with memberships to increase the site¡¯s competitiveness. Rights are the moat of video platforms. Many sites burn money, primarily on this front. But he hadn¡¯t expected to be able to receive such treatment already! If he became globally famous, like Bear Grylls in his previous life, such treatment wouldn¡¯t be surprising. But he had only held four live streams in total, really ventured out only three times, and B Island¡¯s officials had already looked so favorably upon him, directly rating him as A-grade. It was somewhat unbelievable. Generally, the grading of web dramas into ABCD levels within a website all have standards, many restrictions, and is very stringent¡ªonly certain particularly excellent dramas can possibly achieve such ratings. And to get graded, one must first sign an exclusive broadcasting agreement with the platform. Therefore, exclusive broadcasting is no longer a one-time buyout; rather, revenue is shared based on the actual popularity of the video. This model is more secure for both the website and the creators, and it can reduce risk. Bi Fang twirled his ballpoint pen, pondering for a long time. Is it probably because B Island¡¯s higher-ups have recently decided to splurge, and just so happened to take a fancy to his Wilderness Survivalist, thinking it could be turned into a special column, hence this offer? After thinking it over for a long time, Bi Fang made his decision. ¡°Sign with B Island, and go with their revenue-sharing plan.¡± Chapter 147 - 144: Don’t you think it’s such a pity? Chapter 147: Chapter 144: Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s such a pity? Bi Fang decided to sign a revenue-sharing contract with B Island. He studied both companies carefully and found they were much the same as those in his original world, though it seemed B Island was somewhat richer? The market value of the two video websites was similar, but the implications of their similarities were quite different. B Island was on the rise, only recently reaching its current level, while Ai Qi Yi was continuously falling to such an extent that they couldn¡¯t even be compared. This indicated the market was more optimistic about B Island; it had deep waters, but B Island had grasped the future. Moreover, what differentiated B Island from mainstream video platforms was that it was a video platform that developed based on a community, and its community attributes gave B Island higher user stickiness and loyalty, and its content was also more popular among young people. It just so happened to overlap with Bi Fang¡¯s fanbase characteristics; young people had vigorous energy, pursued excitement more, and also had a stronger desire for knowledge. From a benefit standpoint, there was no doubt B Island was the choice to make; as long as more people watched, influence would grow, and Wilderness Points would not be few. Choosing revenue-sharing, earnings might be less at the beginning, but they would definitely exceed a flat rate of eight hundred thousand per episode in the long run, and just one or two more live broadcasts would raise the scores, in this way, the Points he earned wouldn¡¯t be few, and as long as B Island didn¡¯t go bankrupt, they would keep flowing continuously. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So Bi Fang didn¡¯t upload videos immediately, but instead took some time to sign the contract. It had to be said that Wolf Fang¡¯s services were really thorough; knowing he was busy, they specially assigned the assistant Liu Qian to take care of various affairs for him, even directly using their own company¡¯s legal team during the contract signing, which saved him a lot of trouble. Bi Fang felt more and more that his initial choice to sacrifice some fans and not stay in the big pit that was Shark was the right one. In such a treacherous environment, it would be a miracle to be able to live stream in peace. After finishing the affairs, Bi Fang announced the news in the fan group. ¡°Tonight at 8 PM, my fourth edited video will still premiere on B Island, everyone can pay attention.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, definitely supporting!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll send the first barrage comment!¡± Everyone was excited, Master Fang¡¯s live streams were truly not enough to watch. Are we not going for second and third viewings? ¡°Speaking of which, why hasn¡¯t Master Fang held a lottery recently? I¡¯ve been looking forward to it for a long time¡­¡± ¡°Another person who thinks they¡¯re a ¡®Lucky Emperor¡¯ has appeared.¡± ¡°Protected animals, even scientists can¡¯t get them, how could they possibly be given to you?¡± ¡°Right, and what¡¯s there for you in the desert? Sand? Or groundwater? ¡°I can! I¡¯d find even the sand Master Fang carries fragrant. ¡°Bootlickers don¡¯t get a house!¡± Bi Fang no longer watched the ridiculous discussions of his fans online and went on the internet to buy a ticket back to Magic Capital. just as he got off the plane, Bi Fang spotted a young man wearing gold-nmmed glasses holding a sign to greet him. Someone to pick up at the airport? Bi Fang approached, somewhat hesitant, ¡°You are? ¡°Oh, Mr. Bi, I am the secretary, Jiang Li, of Mr. Lin Changlin. You can call me Xiao Jiang,¡± Jiang Li extended his hand, his face full of smiles. Bi Fang shook hands with the man, even more curious, as he had not mentioned his flight to anyone. ¡°How did Lin Chang know I¡¯m here?¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t find out, someone else notified us and asked us to pickyou up to discuss some matters in person,¡± Jiang Li replied. Bi Fang tilted his head, quite interested, ¡°Who?¡± Jiang Li smiled, stepping aside and opening the car door, ¡°Mr. Bi, let¡¯s get in the car and talk.¡± Bi Fang noticed people nearby pointing at him, as if recognizing him, and he didn¡¯t want to linger, so he directly got into the car. He wasn¡¯t afraid of being deceived; what kind of trickster drives a Maybach? ¡°Mr. Bi, do you remember those people we ran into in the desert? ¡°They had an accident?¡± Bi Fang frowned. ¡°Yes, after you left, their car had a fuel leak that ignited a big fire on the spot. Thankfully, rescue efforts were timely; only two people were critically burned, and the leader, Du Chuan, became a vegetable and hasn¡¯t woken up yet. The others also suffered injuries of varying degrees and are in the hospital.¡± Bi Fang was astonished. He didn¡¯t expect such a thing to happen after his departure? If such an incident had occurred, it made no sense that there was no sound about it in his fan group. Shouldn¡¯t the internet have exploded? ¡°Why is there no news about this incident online? ¡°Because the responsibility for the incident lies on them. Afterwards, we contacted the police for an investigation at the scene. According to the investigation, the car was rented and not quality assured, not having undergone check-ups for a long time, which directly caused the fuel tank to leak under extreme day-night temperature differences. ¡°As for the cause of the fire, it was Du Chuan carelessly throwing a cigarette butt. It had nothing to do with you. And if it hadn¡¯t been for you getting them out of the car, the fire would have truly combusted internally, and it¡¯s likely none would have survived. Most importantly, this incident has been given a characterization by certain people above.¡± ¡°Is someone helping us?¡± Jiang Li turned a comer and continued, ¡°That¡¯s right. The president of the National Geographic Society has a brother who¡¯s a leader in the propaganda department, with a very high rank.¡± Bi Fang suddenly realized, so that¡¯s how it was. indeed, good deeds do get rewarded. He had saved someone, and the payoff came immediately. Otherwise, even if no one had died, getting caught up m the situation would have been a real hassle. It must have been Wu Mingtao and his friends who had exerted their influence. By the way, he had promised last time to write a column for them, he wondered if they had written it yet since he hadn¡¯t read it. He would subscribe and take a look when he got back. ¡°Is he the person I¡¯m meeting this time?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± There was a traffic jam on the road, and the sound of horns from the cars ahead merged into one, like a boiling kettle. The map was imprinted in Jiang Li¡¯s mind. With a turn of the steering wheel, he took a shortcut, winding through a few streets, then emerged onto a wide, smooth avenue. Through the car window, Bi Fang observed people in suits and leather shoes coming and going, each walking with an air of confidence, as though they were living a fulfilling and meaningful life. Looking up, he could only see the serrated skyline and a straight stretch of sky. The surrounding skyscrapers grew towards the sky like a dense bamboo forest, as if one day they might reach and merge with the sky itself. Indeed, he still couldn¡¯t get used to it. Bi Fang heaved a sigh. At that moment, Jiang Li also stopped the car to begin the security check. Once the check was over, the two of them were allowed to enter. Ten minutes later, they arrived. As soon as he got out of the car, Bi Fang noticed that Lin Chang and Yao Jun were already waiting for him. Upon seeing Bi Fang, Yao Jun greeted him with a bear hug, ¡°Man, you¡¯re finally back!¡± ¡°Why are you guys here too?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t we here to discuss club business with you? We¡¯ve completed all the necessary procedures and now we¡¯re just waiting for you to pick the place and arrange the decoration. Hold on, you weren¡¯t just talking for fun last time, were you?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Bi Fang was speechless, how could they be more proactive than him? He had just suggested an idea, and they had taken care of everything? ¡°Good, then go on in. The real bigwig is inside, the kind my father would be scared of,¡± Yao Jun said, patting Bi Fang¡¯s shoulder, pointing towards the building. Bi Fang looked at the bulging waists of the guards at the door and felt a twinge of nervousness, ¡°What¡¯s going on exactly? Do you guys know?¡± Unfortunately, Lin Chang and Yao Jun both shook their heads. They didn¡¯t know either. The only thing they were sure of was that it was nothing bad. ¡°Alright then, I¡¯m going inside,¡± Bi Fang waved his hand. ¡°Okay, after you come out, let¡¯s go eat together to celebrate your return!¡± ¡°No problem!¡± When Bi Fang approached the entrance, the guard immediately stopped him. After confirming his identity, they conducted a body search. Watching the searched Bi Fang disappear, Yao Jun and Lin Chang leaned against the car and chatted. ¡°Strange, a provincial bigwig personally meeting him, the face he¡¯s being given is fucking huge!¡± Lin Chang shook his head, finding it exaggerated, ¡°That¡¯s not entirely true. He was just in the Magic Capital for other matters and took the opportunity to meet. Saying it was a personal meeting is a bit much. ¡°Nicely put with the ¡®just¡¯. Worthy of being the son of the Lin family, not the same as us ordinary folks. I admire you,¡± Yao Jun said, bowing with his hands clasped. ¡°Get lost, stop teasing me!¡± ¡°By the way, those people¡¯s family members were causing such a ruckus before, how did you suppress it?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t suppress anything. I just made them understand that for every hour they caused trouble, their dear sons would have to stay in for an additional year. If they dared to make a fuss for a day, it would be life imprisonment,¡± Lin Chang said casually, lighting a cigarette. ¡°The next day, they vanished without a trace, didn¡¯t even visit the hospital.¡± ¡°Tsk tsk tsk, that¡¯s brilliant, really brilliant!¡± Half an hour later, the door opened again. Seeing this, Yao Jun and Lin Chang hurried over to inquire about the situation. ¡°How did it go? What¡¯s the good news, tell us?¡± Bi Fang looked at their expectant faces and was silent for a long time, giving off a somber vibe that made their hearts sink. Unable to hold back, Yao Jun asked, ¡°What, did they criticize you?¡± Bi Fang let out a sigh, his downcast mood appearing genuine, ¡°Yes, there s been trouble, big trouble! They told me to keep a lower profile in the future.¡± The two were shocked. What did this mean? Were they censuring him? At that moment, Bi Fang took out a small booklet from his pocket and handed it over. The two quickly grabbed it, and upon seeing the contents¡­ ¡°Is this what you call keeping a low profile?¡± Yao Jun really wanted to hit someone. ¡°Yeah, I received this red booklet at twenty-five. They told me to keep a low profile, to not be too conspicuous.¡± ¡°To walk in silken robes at night, what a pity.¡± Chapter 148 - 145: Size Matters in Position Chapter 148: Chapter 145: Size Matters in Position ¡°I regret that for your dad.¡± Yao Jun recalled Bi Fang¡¯s sullen look and felt irritated. All of it was just an act, obviously showing off, and the most infuriating thing was his opponent had retired from the special forces, so he couldn¡¯t even beat him in a fight. Lin Chang was still flipping through the pages, somewhat in disbelief, and asked again, ¡°How old did you say you are this year?¡± ¡°Twenty-five, doesn¡¯t it say that on the document?¡± Bi Fang pointed to the birth date on the red booklet, which was clearly written, ¡°It¡¯s also because I¡¯m so young, so it has to be this way.¡± This rank didn¡¯t seem high in Lin Chang¡¯s eyes, but paired with Bi Fang¡¯s age, it was enough to shock anyone. It was rare to the point of absurdity to be twenty-five and already a school I level officer, even at the lowest rank imaginable, there were almost none. Normally, even with significant contributions and rapid promotions, one wouldn¡¯t expect to reach this level until the age of thirty. The difference was a full five years! ¡°You¡¯re just playing coy after getting a bargain,¡± Yao Jun pounded on Bi Fang¡¯s back to vent his dissatisfaction. ¡°Afraid it¡¯s more than that?¡± Lin Chang returned the document to Bi Fang, feeling that there must be more to this encounter than a mere promotion, certainly other important matters. Bi Fang chuckled, ¡°Brother Lin¡¯s guess is spot on¡ªnot only did I get promoted, but they also added a tag to my live stream.¡± ¡°A tag, what do you mean?¡± Yao Jun didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Official endorsement?¡± Lin Chang propped his chin, stunned at the thought; was this not a bit too outrageous? ¡°About that, they basically added a logo to show it¡¯s official people spreading survival knowledge, but I still get to create the content the way I want,¡± Bi Fang put away his ID, feeling quite proud. He had not anticipated that not only would Professor Gu Qingyuan¡¯s prediction come true, but there was an even greater surprise in store. Representing the government, those few words carried significant weight; at least in this country, no one could top him when it came to live streaming wilderness survival. Not even Bear Grylls would be a match if he were around; this was like having a gilded statue erected and being stamped with official approval. In this realm, Bi Fang had become the first and incomparable. Of course, Bi Fang had shown himself to be deserving of such esteem-genuine and upright, with a special forces background, and having made palpable achievements in his two live streams, only then did the higher-ups decide to take this step. This high-level promotion was probably also because, as an official public figure, it made sense that his position should be dignified enough that speaking out wouldn¡¯t bring shame. As a reward and for propaganda, given Bi Fang¡¯s status, the more popular he would become, the more it would naturally serve as promotion. ¡°Plus, I¡¯m set up as a role model this time.¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°The live streaming industry has been growing unrestrainedly these past few years, with frequent chaos emerging. The authorities aim to reform it, hoping more positive influencers like me will emerge instead of a surge of superficial and crude internet celebrities. There¡¯s also widespread exploitation and deceit between platforms and streamers, to put it bluntly, the platforms are misaligned.¡± ¡°Did the top brass outright say that?¡± Lin Chang couldn¡¯t help asking. ¡°Of course not, but that¡¯s the gist of it.¡± Bi Fang figured Wang Yongbo would go nuts when he heard this news; this was a victory for Wolf Fang. Today, which live streaming platform circle is the cleanest? Anyone would think of Wolf Fang. Temporary setbacks are not necessarily a bad thing. As long as one¡¯s direction is right, simmering and stewing can also be ways to create something tasty. Just keep at it, and the day to come out on top will arrive. ¡°Should I go buy some Wolf Fang stocks now and make a bit of pocket money?¡± Yao Jun, being sharp, caught on at once. Bi Fang shook his head frantically, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare, I told you out of good intent, insider trading is illegal, you wouldn¡¯t set me up, would you? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re short on cash?¡± Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Hahaha, of course I know, just joking, I got you scared, didn¡¯t I?¡± Yao Jun put an arm around Bi Fang¡¯s shoulder, feeling he had avenged the previous jab, ¡°But today¡¯s meal, you¡¯re treating!¡± ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll treat, just say what you want to eat.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get scared now, Lin Chang, get in the car. We¡¯re not going to Tangdelli, let¡¯s go to that insanely expensive place we visited last time.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Lin Chang opened the car door, his smile mischievous. Bi Fang looked at the expressions on their faces, with not a trace of worry in his heart. After all, wasn¡¯t he a millionaire? How could a meal possibly scare him? ¡°Why does a plate of stir-fried vegetables cost $888?¡± Bi Fang held the lengthy bill, beginning to question life. It didn¡¯t even taste good. Yao Jun, who was stuffed, slouched in his seat with a toothpick dangling from his mouth, ¡°We didn¡¯t even want to come to this restaurant. The food is pretty average, you forced us here.¡± ¡°Heh.¡± Bi Fang scoffed coldly, did they really think he would be scared? A mere meal¡¯s cost, who were they looking down upon? ¡°Small change, all small change.¡± Yao Jun and Lin Chang exchanged glances, smirking, ¡°The club¡¯s venue and decoration costs are almost thirty million. Since Boss Bi is so wealthy, we¡¯ll leave it to you then.¡± ¡°Clatter.¡± ¡°Sir, your card.¡± The waiter kindly picked it up and handed it back to Bi Fang. Unperturbed, Bi Fang took it over and calmly paid the bill, then slapped Yao Jun on the shoulder with a laugh, ¡°See, no need for formalities, when there¡¯s money to be made, we make it together. How could I leave you guys behind?¡± ¡°Really?¡± Yao Jun¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Why would I lie to you?¡± said Bi Fang earnestly, ¡°Who doesn¡¯t know that I, Bi Fang, am always sincere with people, when have I ever deceived a friend? Watching the two tease each other, Lin Chang found it amusing but still interrupted, ¡°Alright, cut it out you two. We haven¡¯t discussed the club matters yet, let¡¯s talk while we¡¯re all free.¡± Seeing it was time for business, Yao Jun sat up straight, ¡°Bi Fang, have you decided on a location for the club?¡± Without hesitation, Bi Fang replied, ¡°I¡¯ve decided. It¡¯s either Magic Capital or the Capital, only these two places are suitable for the club¡¯s development. But 1 still prefer Magic Capital, it has more young people and better economic development.¡± Indeed. Lin Chang and Yao Jun nodded simultaneously, it seems Bi Fang¡¯s previous words weren¡¯t just a spur of the moment but a real intention. Clubs like this aren¡¯t for everyone; setting one up in the countryside is a death sentence, even if the main focus is on wilderness activities. In truth, if one really wanted to start a club, spending more than thirty million isn¡¯t too expensive, managing to get that sum wouldn¡¯t be difficult with Bi Fang¡¯s current status ¨C any bank would lend it to him on request. But he knew his energy was limited; the goal of opening the club was to establish a core of wilderness live streaming, gradually branching out into other industries, a means to cultivate fan loyalty. Still, it was essential to bring Yao Jun and Lin Chang into it, letting them help manage, and he would just need to be a figurehead. It wasn¡¯t for nothing, everyone understood the value within. Wilderness Survivalist was on the rise, not in the future, but now, at an observable speed. When everyone in class loves playing basketball, and the new kid likes it too, it¡¯s easy to fit in, and that¡¯s how connections are built. Lin Chang and Yao Jun had already reached the level of actively learning and fitting in with others, but offering such a platform was still a substantial help to them. Young people making connections through Wilderness Survivalist is as natural as middle-aged and older people doing business over golf, the principle is the same. Surviving in the wild definitely requires endurance, but any sport demands time and effort, even running needs proper methods and techniques. During the learning phase at the club, everyone trains and suffers together, chats during rest times, and with enough common topics, naturally, they grow closer. And over time, that¡¯s how people get to know each other, not just as nodding acquaintances or superficial friends. Wilderness Survivalist involves risk, and those who tackle it together form a friendship that tends to withstand tests. With an idea in mind, Bi Fang¡¯s thoughts began to flow freely. ¡°If we¡¯re going to do this, we have to do it with scale, making it impossible for others to imitate or surpass. We could have separate venues for each outdoor activity, such as close-range combat, rock climbing, swimming, skydiving, archery, and so on.¡± ¡°We could also start a mall to sell or rent out various outdoor equipment. We can organize regular wilderness activities, and after training, people can sign up to experience real Wilderness Survivalist ventures. ¡°But what about the instructors? You¡¯re too busy with live streaming to teach personally, right? In that case, we need to hire sufficiently professional people to help, otherwise, the professionalism will suffer,¡± Yao Jun frowned, this was his concern all along. High-end clubs aren¡¯t just about the environment, the service has to match. Otherwise, graffiti in the Louvre just won¡¯t look right. Bi Fang pulled out his still-warm credentials and placed them on the table, ¡°Have you forgotten that I¡¯m an official now, of sorts? It¡¯s not easy to find professional coaches, but retired special forces are a dime a dozen, right?¡± Chapter 149 - 146: No One Goes to the Temple of the Three Treasures for Nothing Chapter 149: Chapter 146: No One Goes to the Temple of the Three Treasures for Nothing ¡°Are all special forces survival experts as tough as you?¡± Yao Jun found it hard to believe. His father¡¯s entourage included numerous retired special forces bodyguards, each incredibly brave and unsurpassed in hand-to-hand combat, but he hadn¡¯t sensed any exceptional wilderness survival skills from them. Should he take them out for a test next time? Bi Fang shook his head without a hint of modesty and admitted frankly, ¡°That¡¯s impossible. When it comes to professional wilderness survival skills in the country, I¡¯m probably number one.¡± In the System, special forces skills are merely at the Blue Level. Unless regularly involved in jungle warfare, the wilderness survival aspect when taken alone might only reach the Green Level. It might be extremely impressive to ordinary people, but in Bi Fang¡¯s eyes, it wasn¡¯t enough. However, for some specialized units that are strong in jungle warfare, their wilderness survival skills could reach the Blue Level. That would be more than sufficient to serve as instructors at a high-end club and could also help address employment issues. Not all special forces soldiers are well taken care of after retirement. ¡°Leave this aspect to me. I¡¯ll make the selection and conduct interviews when it¡¯s time. I¡¯ll provide them with specialized training whenever there¡¯s an opportunity,¡± Bi Fang asserted. Lin Chang and Yao Jun felt reassured upon hearing this, confident in Bi Fang¡¯s professionalism in this area, ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll leave this part to you then.¡± As for the shares, how should they be distributed? It doesn¡¯t matter how much we hold; it¡¯s up to you to decide how to allocate them.¡± Yao Jun became much more serious when it came to business, nothing like the ¡°devoted fan¡± he was before. Even with brothers, accounts must be settled clearly. Rewarding even hundreds of thousands casually during ordinary times was fine, but when it came to moving funds over ten million, he couldn¡¯t afford to be careless. The most critical point was his fear that if relationships were mishandled, it could cost him his friendship with Bi Fang in the future, which would be a significant loss. ¡°You mentioned earlier that the venue and decorations will cost about thirty million, right?¡± Bi Fang asked. ¡°Correct, that¡¯s the estimated cost from our team previously, but following your requirements, it might not be enough,¡± Yao Jun admitted. He had connections in the outdoor branding industry. Moreover, the thirty million was for the decorations alone, with Lin Chang taking care of the venue. When the time comes, factoring in the standard rental cost into the expenses would indeed be a considerable expenditure. Moreover, the venue¡¯s opening surely wouldn¡¯t be a one-off affair. Starting with initial construction and then gradually investing more over time would be a massive challenge for the cash flow. The actual cost upon completion would be unimaginable. Bi Fang didn¡¯t hesitate and laid out his terms, ¡°I¡¯ll put up ten million outright. You guys cover the rest. Decide amongst yourselves how much each contributes, but I want a sixty percent share.¡± After some consideration, Lin Chang and Yao Jun nodded in agreement. ¡°What about the division of responsibilities¡­¡± Yao Jun spoke up first, ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the decoration, I¡¯m more familiar with that.¡± Lin Chang also pondered and said, ¡°I¡¯ll provide the venue. Our company Shenhua has quite a lot of real estate in the suburbs.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s arrangement was also in line with what both of them had expected. The Wilderness Club project was after all developed by Bi Fang alone. It could attract fans through live stream broadcasts of wilderness adventures and also interact with these fans through the offline club. Both complement each other, with the live stream bringing customers to the club, while the club would solidify Bi Fang¡¯s position as a Wilderness Master, always as the benchmark in the wilderness niche. Without Bi Fang, who knows how long it would take for a second survival master to emerge and drive the industry¡¯s development. Plus, there are his adventure and survival games. Lin Chang and Yao Jun could almost see a vast commercial empire centered around ¡°wilderness¡± slowly taking shape. A complete one-stop service from entertainment to products. Bi Fang had baked this cake, and now only the three of them were sharing it. Forget forty percent¡ª even thirty percent would bring them a good profit. ¡°With your smarts and skills, it would be a waste not to go into business,¡± Lin Chang sounded somewhat regretful. This thought came from deep within. He and Yao Jun were, after all, just successful ¡°rich second-generations,¡± and even if they owned their own businesses, they had, to some extent, used resources from their families. Without such a foundation from home, it was uncertain whether they could have reached even half of their current achievements. Bi Fang, on the other hand, was genuinely self-made, carving out an industry that predecessors hadn¡¯t found solely through his capabilities and courage, an achievement no less significant than Mr. Ma¡¯s development of online treasure hunting. Even if this new industry chain couldn¡¯t compare to treasure hunting in commercial terms, its nature was similar. Hearing Lin Chang¡¯s comments, Bi Fang shrugged, ¡°Frankly, money doesn¡¯t matter to me. I¡¯m not interested in money because the happiest I¡¯ve ever been was when I earned a few thousand a month at the company, looking forward to traveling during the New Year.¡± Yao Jun laughed heartily upon hearing this, ¡°Your words are interesting. Actually, my dream is simple: to lie at home every day with a lot of money flowing in.¡± Lin Chang joined in, ¡°I, too, want to travel the world. Unfortunately, the old man keeps pushing me to achieve minor goals, like earning a billion. It¡¯s so dull.¡± The three men exchanged knowing glances and laughed heartily together. Next, they finalized some details, with Yao Jun to find a professional to draft the project plan and then Lin Chang to oversee the renovation, aiming to start the work before December. And so, the affairs of the Wilderness Club came to a close for the time being. A future city of the wilderness gradually took shape within the walls of a restaurant. A day later, Bi Fang returned to Xicheng City. This time, he planned to terminate his lease and pack up his things to leave. Having not returned for nearly a month, he wondered what state his rundown apartment was in, whether it had become too moldy to live in. On the train, Bi Fang browsed his social media circle, which consisted of just a few people, fewer than ten in total. Suddenly, one social media post caught Bi Fang¡¯s attention. ¡°So annoying, the boss is nitpicking again. If it weren¡¯t for the mortgage I have to pay, I¡¯d have quit long ago. I really want to throw a cup of coffee in her wrinkled old face to iron it out!¡± Bi Fang glanced at the nickname; it was posted by Gou Qi. One of the three contacts he¡¯d kept from before. When he first arrived, eager to straighten out his relationships and indeed short of cash, he used the excuse of borrowing money to sever unnecessary ties, keeping only three people. The method might have been improper, but it was quick and effective. Gou Qi was one of them¡ªwhen Bi Fang repaid the money, Gou Qi had asked if Bi Fang had found a way to get rich and to not forget him if he did, to bring him along for the ride. Looking at it now, it seemed he was not doing well. Without hesitation, Bi Fang commented, ¡°If you really want to throw it, you can come work for me. The salary might not be higher, but unless you live in Tomson Riviera, I don¡¯t think paying off a mortgage would be difficult.¡± Back when he was streaming solo, he couldn¡¯t offer a job, and giving money would only sour the relationship. Now that he was opening a club, there would always be positions suitable for him; Bi Fang remembered that Gou Qi was into software development, which could come in handy for designing an app for the club, making it easier for everyone to access information. After sending this message, Bi Fang didn¡¯t follow up; there was no need to rush into explaining. Upon arriving in Xicheng City, Bi Fang entered the deep, sunlight-deprived alley, feeling a sense of everything and nothing having changed. Two months, and nothing had changed, yet everything had. The old building with red brick facades, cement balconies, and wooden windows painted green¡ªit was hard to determine its age. The hallway was poorly lit, with a few dim incandescent bulbs providing the only light, and the walls plastered with small ads for ¡°Drain Clearing¡± or ¡°Invoice Services.¡± The ¡°12-102¡± unit number plated in blue paint on the green door; a month away, and the doorknob was covered in a thick layer of dust, with layers of small ads completely covering the keyhole. The scent of cooking and the sound of children being taught drifted from next door. As Bi Fang gently touched the rusted plate, he realized he had established a foothold in this world in less than two months. And it would only get better from here. The landlady appeared from some corner, carrying two green onions as if wielding dual swords, her face lighting up in surprise upon seeing Bi Fang, ¡°Ah, a big star!¡± ¡°Good evening, landlady,¡± Bi Fang said with a smile. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you in ages. I even saw you on the news; you are so impressive!¡± S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The landlady warmly welcomed Bi Fang¡¯s return, even inviting him over for dinner, but Bi Fang declined, leaving her with a few autographs instead. Delighted, the landlady accepted the autographs¡ªshe knew well that celebrity signatures could be worth quite a bit of money. Just as she was enjoying her good fortune, she suddenly remembered something, ¡°Oh right, there¡¯s been someone looking for you these past few days.¡± Bi Fang, just about to insert his key, paused, ¡°Oh, who?¡± ¡°Someone with the last name Wang, something Wang Weifeng, I think. I can¡¯t quite remember, but he¡¯s been here every day, very persistent. I suspect he might be some sort of fan, so be careful.¡± Bi Fang chuckled in disbelief, ¡°A fan? That¡¯s unlikely, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Why not? Even though the guy looks to be in his forties, I¡¯ve always had a funny feeling about him. Hey, hey, look, he¡¯s coming again!¡± As they were talking, the landlady suddenly pointed behind Bi Fang, ¡°That¡¯s him, that¡¯s the guy!¡± Out in the alley, Wang Weifeng was jogging towards Bi Fang, all smiles. ¡°Ah, Mr. Bi, oh no, Mr. Bi, it¡¯s been so hard to get a chance to see you; I¡¯ve been waiting for a week!¡± Chapter 150 - 147: So You’re the Fucker Named Wang Weifeng, Huh? Chapter 150: Chapter 147: So You¡¯re the Fucker Named Wang Weifeng, Huh? ¡°Pleased to meet you, I am Shark¡¯s manager, Wang Weifeng.¡± Wang Weifeng bowed and respectfully presented the business card in his hand. Bi Fang did not reach out to take it but instead calmly sized up Wang Weifeng. This was the first time the two had met, having at most contacted each other by phone before. Despite the smile on his face, the haggardness could not be concealed, with a blue stubble on his chin, a strong smell of alcohol on his body, his tailored handmade suit was wrinkled, and even his shirt collar was not properly arranged, exuding an air of decadence. Bi Fang stroked his chin, finding it somewhat amusing. Wasn¡¯t it this guy who had misled him at Shark, pressuring him into joining Wolf Fang, and now here he was, eagerly seeking him out again? He didn¡¯t feel regret though, as it turned out, Wang Weifeng was genuinely a good person, not only did he help him stop the losses in time, he also steered him away from the wrong choice, leaving the big pit that was Shark. After a long while, the landlady standing by saw Wang Weifeng shivering and only then did Bi Fang reach out to take the business card. Wang Weifeng, whose card was taken, stood up supporting his waist and casually wiped the sweat from his forehead. As Bi Fang¡¯s popularity soared, the pressure on Wang Weifeng during the past half month was immense. From the second live broadcast, the signs of trouble were already showing, but Wang Weifeng was still holding back until after this broadcast, when someone snitched, maligning that it was he who had deliberately driven Bi Fang away and even accepted benefits from the Tami Association to promote Lu Wentao. Wang Weifeng was forced to prove his innocence, barely managing to do so, yet the senior executives were still dissatisfied, not because he was double- dealing, pressuring anchors with industry competition to lower their demands. These were the unspoken rules of the industry; everyone who understood, understood ¨C it¡¯s by doing so that the company could reap the lion¡¯s share. Wang Weifeng had always done well, which is why he became a manager. Engaging in plots and schemes was never wrong; the mistake was that, after doing all that, it resulted in losses for the company, and that was the biggest failure. But this time you drove away someone who could have been a top anchor and promoted someone inadequate, that is a problem of capability! Your incompetence caused the company to suffer losses! If you can¡¯t make amends, then pack your bags and get lost! Wang Weifeng knew there must be someone scheming for his position, but making amends was easier said than done. Ever since Bi Fang decisively left Shark, he understood this young man was different, probably hadn¡¯t experienced much failure, and was still an idealist, not yet ready to easily bow down to life. The cost of making amends would be anything but small. Wang Weifeng had always considered himself a competent businessman; Bi Fang¡¯s success was never a result of his own vision, but because fate willed it. When it came to Wilderness Survivalist, Lu Wentao was not bad at all, even making efforts to improve himself, but then came Bi Fang with his unpredictability! Just look at what he¡¯s done; Bear, Wolf, prehistoric creatures in the Underground Cave ¨C normally, he should have died when he encountered the bear, not have been able to keep going! This isn¡¯t doing a live broadcast; this is courting death! Willingness to take the business card was good; it meant that there was still room for discussion. It was feared that not even accepting a business card would make the relationship tense at first sight. Clearing his jumbled thoughts, Wang Weifeng looked at the young man in front of him, somewhat at a loss for words, and could only play the sympathy card, ¡°Mr. Bi is indeed elusive. I¡¯ve been staying in a hotel for a whole week, just hoping to catch you when you return. I¡¯m glad I finally got the chance to wait for you.¡± Hearing this, Bi Fang gave a slight smile, his fingers flipped the card over, glanced at it briefly, and then stuffed the card back into the other¡¯s suit pocket, patting it lightly, ¡°So you¡¯re the fucking Wang Weifeng, huh?¡± Wang Weifeng¡¯s face stiffened, unsure of how to respond to this remark and could only offer an awkward smile as compensation. ¡°If you truly want to talk, come inside.¡± Bi Fang also noticed the landlady watching the drama unfold and didn¡¯t want to stand in the doorway making a spectacle of himself. He pulled out his keys, ready to turn the doorknob and enter, only to find it was covered in dust. The landlady also saw this and slapped her forehead, ¡°Oh my, look at my memory; you haven¡¯t been back for so many days that I thought you wouldn¡¯t be coming back to stay, so I never cleaned up. I¡¯ll do it, I¡¯ll do it.¡± As she was about to grab her apron to clean, she was stopped by Bi Fang, who glanced at Wang Weifeng beside him. Wang Weifeng, understanding, tugged at the hem of his suit and wiped the dust off the doorknob until it was spotlessly clean. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Ah, this¡­¡± The landlady had never seen such a scene and was somewhat afraid. ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing,¡± Wang Weifeng waved his hand. ¡°I¡¯ve been wanting to change this suit for a while now, it¡¯s not at all fitting; just perfect, just perfect.¡± Bi Fang walked into the room and turned on the light. Wang Weifeng nodded to the landlady, then followed Bi Fang into the house. Bi Fang had only taken two steps before he fixed his gaze on Wang Weifeng, ¡°I just mopped the floors here.¡± Wang Weifeng glanced at the dust on the ground and then at Bi Fang, walking around the room with shoes on. He silently took off his own shoes. ¡°I¡¯ve made it clear I don¡¯t want to talk, yet you¡¯ve got some nerve with that thick skin of yours.¡± Bi Fang was speechless, how could the other party be so tolerant? Bi Fang never saw himself as a particularly forgiving person; he couldn¡¯t stand being bullied without fighting back. When Wang Weifeng appeared just now, if it hadn¡¯t been for the landlady¡¯s presence, he wouldn¡¯t have even wanted to talk and had deliberately given him a hard time. He had hoped the other party would back off when things got tough, but instead, they faced the challenge head-on. Being able to become a manager undoubtedly required real skills; at least in the art of ¡®turning the other cheek,¡¯ he couldn¡¯t catch up, even if he tried. Unfazed by being called out, Wang Weifeng wasn¡¯t embarrassed in the least¡ª who doesn¡¯t climb up from the bottom to reach the top? Bi Fang¡¯s words didn¡¯t make him feel ashamed; instead, he joked, ¡°You can¡¯t say that, Mr. Bi. Isn¡¯t this just a display of my sincerity?¡± Bi Fang walked over to the side where the hot water flask was, lifted it to check, and finding that it still had water, he randomly grabbed a cup, didn¡¯t bother washing it, and poured a cup, handing it to Wang Weifeng, ¡°Drink water.¡± Wang Weifeng waved his hands repeatedly, ¡°No need, I¡¯m not thirsty.¡± ¡°So, there¡¯s nothing to talk about, huh? What about your so-called sincerity?¡± Wang Weifeng ¡°¡­¡± He took the cup, looked at the black dust floating in the water, suppressed his disgust, took a sip, then quickly put the cup on the table, ¡°Mr. Bi, let¡¯s get to the point quickly.¡± ¡°What¡¯s more important than attending to a guest?¡± Bi Fang pushed the cup back toward him. This time, Wang Weifeng couldn¡¯t take it anymore. He feared he might actually die here if he drank any more of this water. ¡°Mr. Bi, I¡¯ve recognized the error of my ways deeply. I was petty, despicable, and shameless. Please, you must forgive me!¡± After speaking, Wang Weifeng gave a deep ninety-degree bow. Ten minutes later. Seeing no reaction from Bi Fang, Wang Weifeng, who felt his back muscles almost cramping, sheepishly got up, and presented the well-prepared conditions he had brought. ¡°Mr. Bi, I am truly very sincere in asking you to return to Shark TV. No matter what annual salary Wolf Fang has offered you, we are willing to double it! And we¡¯ll pay it in advance!¡± ¡°As long as you livestream, we will feature it prominently, preheat the event in advance, ensuring every Shark TV user sees your livestream.¡± ¡°Regarding gifts, we operate on a 90-10 split, and if you livestream on our platform more than three times, we won¡¯t take a cent!¡± ¡°When it comes to room inspections, we have plenty of big-name livestreamers at Shark TV. Out of the top ten in livestream popularity, five belong to us. Just say the word, and whoever you want to visit your room, we¡¯ll arrange it!¡± ¡°Although our female broadcasters at Shark TV may not be as numerous as those at Tiger Fang, if you want it, we can still provide without leaving any trace.¡± ¡°Please, I urge you to come back to Shark TV! Please, Mr. Bi Fang!¡± Wang Weifeng was almost on the verge of kowtowing to Bi Fang. In his opinion, offering such conditions to hire a livestreamer was unprecedented. As long as the other party still cared about fame and status, it was impossible not to agree to such terms. ¡°Those are very generous terms. It would be tempting to anyone.¡± There it is! No one can resist money. Wang Weifeng felt a surge of joy, but in the next moment, his expression froze. ¡°So,I refuse!¡± Chapter 151 - 148 Law-Abiding Citizens Chapter 151: Chapter 148 Law-Abiding Citizens Wang Weifeng suddenly looked up, his eyes brimming with disbelief. Such generous terms, and he actually refused? ¡°Why? Isn¡¯t our sincerity enough? If it is, I personally still hold 0.5% of Shark¡¯s shares, and I can gift you half of that!¡± Wang Weifeng gritted his teeth, revealing his bottom line. At the current market value of Shark at 6 Billion Ugly Yuan, even a 0.25% share would be close to twenty million Human Yuan. No one could resist that! This was Wang Weifeng¡¯s bottom line; he didn¡¯t want to leave Shark. Wang Weifeng knew very well that once he left Shark, everything would be over for him. Unable to recover the company¡¯s losses, the executives would not let him off, nor would his secret rivals. If they released just a little bit of damaging information, no company would dare to employ him. Moreover, according to the contract, the company would also take back the shares in Wang Weifeng¡¯s hands; then he really would have nothing left! How would he pay the mortgage for his Tomson Riviera home? How would he buy a new bag for his mistress? To this day, Wang Weifeng still had no regret for his initial choice. From the platform¡¯s interest point of view, his desire to go for a double combo meal was without a problem¡ªafter all, isn¡¯t it what every live streaming company does? The best way to make an employee obedient is to make them realize they are replaceable. If not, create the illusion. Lacking uniqueness, they would dare not switch jobs. Because without advantage, they would be forced to work wholeheartedly for you. Earning a double return while also suppressing both sides¡¯ remunerations. That is the essence of business. But who could anticipate that Bi Fang would not play by the rules and just walk away? How do you counter a punch with no set pattern? The water bubbled and boiled. Bi Fang approached the table unhurriedly and lifted the kettle. ¡°Mr. Wang, do you realize that you resemble someone right now? The two of you even share the last name, which gives me a feeling of transcending time and space.¡± Wang Weifeng didn¡¯t care about what Bi Fang was saying, but to play along, he still asked, ¡°Resemble who?¡± ¡°The vice president of Wolf Fang TV, Mr. Wang Yongbo.¡± Bi Fang leisurely poured the boiled water, rinsed the cup to remove any dust, and poured himself a cup of hot water. ¡°To be honest, he doesn¡¯t look as humanly and doggedly handsome as you do, but his character is much better than yours.¡± ¡°It was this same room, I offered him a glass of water too, and he put forth conditions I couldn¡¯t refuse. The situation is pretty much identical. But there is a big difference between you two.¡± ¡°What difference?¡± Wang Weifeng grew curious. ¡°You are far more shameless than he is!¡± Bi Fang blew on the water and, realizing it was too hot, he didn¡¯t drink it, ¡°I actually admire you. I thought with the difficulties you faced just now, you would have left. I didn¡¯t expect your skin to be thicker than I imagined. You endured it all; truly a talent. But I once said that I would make Shark pay the price, do you remember that?¡± ¡°What?¡± Wang Weifeng looked up in shock only to see a glass smashing forcefully towards his feet. The glass shattered, sending splinters flying everywhere, and the scalding water burned his feet, making him jump. ¡°If you make a mistake in school, you should be made to stand by the teacher; make a mistake at work, you should be scolded by the boss. You¡¯ve made a mistake, why shouldn¡¯t you pay the price?¡± Just because everyone does it, it is right? Consider if Bi Fang didn¡¯t have the System and left Shark, would he really make a name for himself? How many hosts are like him? How many creators are like him? He certainly wasn¡¯t a savior, nor did he intend to lead the weak to build an oppression-free society; he was the type who fed himself and didn¡¯t starve his family. But having seen such unfair, naked darkness, why be indifferent? Why let them run rampant? Why had he died trying to save a golden cat in his previous life? Was human life less valuable than that of a protected animal? Over a thousand rangers had died in Kenya in the last decade, and who knows how many more in Huaxia each year. What drove Bi Fang wasn¡¯t the meager salary, but the sincerity in his heart! Why should a platform like Shark become the leader? Why should Wolf Fang, so dedicated to quality, suffer such a fate? I am here to change this situation! This is only the beginning, it¡¯s not over yet! Splinters scattered. ¡°Get lost, I don¡¯t want to see you again!¡± Wang Weifeng fell silent, knowing that today¡¯s negotiation would fail no matter what. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His future, ruined. Despair, like ink, seeped through Wang Weifeng¡¯s heart. ¡°Which company doesn¡¯t do it, why cling to it?¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Bi Fang narrowed his eyes. ¡°Good content, high quality, does that guarantee it¡¯ll catch fire? If it wasn¡¯t for Wang Yongbo backing you, what do you think you would amount to? Do you know what live streaming relies on? Capital! If it doesn¡¯t work this time, there will be a next. If Lu Wentao doesn¡¯t work out, there will be someone else! Do you think the people in the desert organically grouped up? I¡¯m telling you, this isn¡¯t over. I will find someone; there¡¯s always someone who values money over their life. If you go live once, I¡¯ll send someone to mess with you once!¡± Wang Weifeng¡¯s voice grew louder and louder until it turned into a roar, his eyes bloodshot. ¡°Would killing me finally satisfy you? You think you can play like this and always come out alive?¡± ¡°Sooner or later, you¡¯ll end up just like me, with nothing. No, you¡¯ll be worse off, dead without a whole corpse!¡± Wang Weifeng completely gave up on himself and began to laugh uproariously, even though he couldn¡¯t do anything anymore, he still wanted to disgust the other person. But as he laughed, he suddenly couldn¡¯t make a sound anymore. Bi Fang¡¯s expression had changed. Wang Weifeng instinctively took two steps back. For some reason, Wang Weifeng suddenly remembered how the other had beaten Black Bear, killed Wolf King, as if the person before him wasn¡¯t human, but a fierce tiger. Bi Fang got up and weighed the stool in his hand. Wang Weifeng swallowed, retreating another two steps. ¡°I told you to get lost, can¡¯t you understand human language?¡± ¡°I¡¯m warning you, don¡¯t mess around, ah, this is a society governed by the rule of law! Hitting people is against the law!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m a law-abiding citizen.¡± Bi Fang picked up the stool nearby and smashed it down hard! ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°Mom, what¡¯s happening next door?¡± The little boy was fiddling with the rice in his bowl when he heard a crash next door, followed by screams. He shrank his head, somewhat scared. Seeing her husband indifferent, the landlady, worried about the furniture being damaged, couldn¡¯t help herself: ¡°Oh no, could they be fighting? This won¡¯t do, I need to check.¡± ¡°Hey, hey, hey, what are you doing? Got a death wish or something?¡± The husband tried to stop her, but the landlady had already stepped out the door. However, when she got to the room¡¯s door, she heard the noise inside and became scared again, hesitating to knock. Ten minutes later. The noise inside the room slowly stopped. At the same time, the sound of police sirens and screeching brakes could be heard in the hallway. The landlady felt relieved but suddenly realized that it wasn¡¯t the police who had arrived¡­ Neat footsteps echoed. The door was suddenly opened, causing the landlady leaning on it to almost fall over. Bi Fang paused, but didn¡¯t dwell on it, straightened his clothes, wiped the dust off his hands, and said to the people behind him. ¡°The man is inside; breaking and entering, deliberate destruction of property, make sure to take a lot of pictures. Everything inside was the last memento left by my parents, very significant to me, and now it¡¯s all gone. Plus, I¡¯ve been injured by him. See this arm? That¡¯s the evidence.¡± ¡°Yes, sir! We will handle it seriously!¡± Several soldiers saluted and then entered the room, taking the dispirited Wang Weifeng away, leaving only a few to gather evidence. The landlady hiding in the corner peeked vigorously; she saw the room was a mess, like a parking lot destroyed by a tornado, or a plane that had hit a crow, a complete disaster. Everything that could be smashed was smashed, except for the walls. But the person who just went out didn¡¯t seem to be hurt at all, did he? And what was that about last mementos, wasn¡¯t everything in the room just the furnishings she provided with the rental, with maybe a few clothes at most? Such a ruckus, she thought they were fighting, but it looked like nothing happened to either of them? And if she wasn¡¯t mistaken, didn¡¯t Bi Fang already have that injury on his arm from the beginning? Thinking this, the landlady shivered. She didn¡¯t dare to say anything, nor did she dare to ask. ¡°Mrs. Liu, Mrs. Liu?¡± Bi Fang waved his hand in front of the landlady¡¯s eyes. ¡°Ah!?¡± The landlady was startled, looking at Bi Fang with a trembling voice, ¡°What¡­ what¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°I smashed your furniture, I¡¯m really sorry about that. I¡¯ll compensate,¡± Bi Fang said, taking out his phone to make a transfer. ¡°Ah, no need, no need.¡± Seeing the situation, Mrs. Liu hurriedly shook her head, not daring to accept Bi Fang¡¯s money, but then the notification of money received came through, along with a string of numbers announced afterward. The bewildered Mrs. Liu¡¯s expression was priceless, from concern to fear to bewilderment. ¡°Is that enough?¡± ¡°Ah, yes, it¡¯s enough.¡± Mrs. Liu felt as though she had experienced a rollercoaster of emotions, even wondering if she should let Bi Fang smash a little more; how much could the broken furniture fetch? Selling it as scrap wouldn¡¯t even be worth it. With the matter resolved, Bi Fang turned to leave: ¡°Alright, I don¡¯t have anything else to take. I won¡¯t be coming back in the future. You can rent out the room to someone else. Remember to use this money for a good renovation. The musty smell is too strong; I really can¡¯t stand it.¡± ¡°Sure thing, sure thing.¡± The overjoyed landlady didn¡¯t quite catch what Bi Fang had said, too busy checking her balance on the phone. Bi Fang walked downstairs, watching the jeep drive away and shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve said it before, I am a law-abiding citizen, I never lay hands on anyone.¡± Three days later. Bi Fang moved his arm after removing the bandage, planning to exercise it and get familiar with it again when the familiar electronic tone sounded once more. The fourth mission had arrived. Chapter 152 - 149 Migratory Birds Chapter 152: Chapter 149 Migratory Birds Bi Fang was doing pull-ups when he heard the electronic tone and grabbed a towel to wipe off his sweat. [Ding! New task activated, you can check it in the task column.] He opened the task column. Task Name: Conqueror Task Location: Pacific Uninhabited Island (coordinates available) Task Mode: Wilderness survival Task Difficulty: S5 Task Requirements: Do not bring any tools except for essential clothing. Main Task One: Start live streaming with a consistent online audience of over two hundred thousand people. Main Task Two: Maintain good physical health while conducting a thirty-day wilderness broadcast and survive successfully. Side Task: Please explore on your own. Guaranteed Reward: Advanced Skill Upgrade Coupon*!. Time Limit: Forty days. ¡°There are ten days left.¡± Bi Fang narrowed his eyes and picked up his smartphone to casually check the coordinates marked in the task column, only to discover that this island wasn¡¯t even recorded in any record; it truly was a deserted island. Not surprising, though. The Pacific Ocean is the ocean with the most islands on Earth, totaling over 20,000 islands with an area of 4.4 million square kilometers, accounting for 45% of the world¡¯s total island area. The number of undiscovered islands among them is countless, so it¡¯s not strange for there to be no records. After all, it is an S-level task, and it should reflect some differences. Having no records means no data to reference, and the situation on the island is difficult to predict. Compared to previous tasks where he understood the local environment before executing his plan, the difficulty has to be notched up significantly. Moreover, this task is unlike the previous ones; it¡¯s not about survival but living through the challenge. Living and surviving are significantly different. Surviving focuses on getting out of danger with many emergency measures that can be adopted. For instance, eating raw food, which, despite the risks, is a risk worth taking in necessary situations. Those viewers who always babble in front of the screen about how eating raw can lead to parasitic infections, saying you can¡¯t eat that or you¡¯re doomed, wouldn¡¯t survive a day if thrown into the wilderness. Living, however, is different. It requires more consideration and higher standards: you must make choices based on the overall situation of your body in order to adapt to the environment. But once you get used to it, it becomes much easier; it¡¯s far simpler than the continuously changing environments of survival scenarios. The key difference between the two lies in whether one can build a stable living environment in the first week. But not being allowed to bring any tools, it seems I need to learn from Grandpa De. Bi Fang was not too happy about the prospect of live streaming in the nude; he always felt awkward about it, but thankfully the system mentioned that essential clothing was allowed. So, underwear is fine, right? As for the difficulty of the task, Bi Fang figured it out; after R Level should be S Level, and then there would likely be S4, S3, Si¡­ It escalated with each step, the smaller the number, the greater the difficulty. With no tools allowed and the store lacking skill coupons and upgrade coupons, Bi Fang decided to spend all of his points on the lottery. The day before yesterday, Wolf Fang had transferred the profits from the live broadcast after tax deductions, which got converted into points, totaling over three hundred. There were also additions from B Island, which added around a hundred more. Altogether, Bi Fang now had 1842 Wilderness Points. With another two days¡¯ earnings, he would have enough for four ten-spin draws. Just as Bi Fang thought about spinning the wheel, his phone rang. Bi Fang answered the call, ¡°Professor Gu? Is there a problem? Is the name I thought up not working?¡± Recognizing the caller, Bi Fang immediately wondered if there was a problem with the name he had submitted the day before yesterday. Bi¡¯s Pseudo-Crocodile. Simple yet profound, anyone interested in studying this creature would immediately think of its discoverer. Was it being rejected? Gu Qjngyuan scratched his head, ¡°Ah, it¡¯s not about the name. The name is quite good, and we¡¯ve already been referring to it as such privately.¡± ¡°Then what¡¯s the issue?¡± ¡°Well, I have a French friend who wants to talk to you about something. I¡¯m not sure what it¡¯s about, but he insists on meeting you. If it¡¯s convenient for you, could you share your address so he can come and visit in person?¡± ¡°Professor Gu¡¯s friend?¡± ¡°Yes, he is also a professor who studies birds. Of course, if you¡¯re busy, I¡¯ll reject him right now.¡± Gu Qjngyuan had made the introduction with good intentions. Since he still owed Bi Fang a favor, he could do nothing if Bi Fang was unwilling. Similarly, Bi Fang was puzzled. Why were all these professors, one by one, coming to me? When did I become so sought after? Nevertheless, since he was free these couple of days, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to spare some time to meet. ¡°No need, just let him come to me.¡± After giving his address and agreeing to meet the next day, Bi Fang hung up the phone and looked at the revolving wheel in front of him, waving his hand to dissipate it. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He¡¯d meet the person first; the lottery could wait. The next day, Bi Fang met Professor Gu¡¯s old friend-a disheveled middle-aged man. To his surprise, the man began to speak in fluent Chinese! ¡°Hello, Mr. Bi. I am Elvan Mendy, a visiting professor from the University of Paris. You can just call me Elvan.¡± The disheveled Elvan took off his hat and bowed respectfully to Bi Fang. Bi Fang was about to compliment Elvan on his impressive Chinese when, without any pleasantries, Elvan rushed to state his business right after introducing himself. ¡°Mr. Bi, time is urgent, so I¡¯ll get straight to the point. There¡¯s a flock of migratory birds that need you to perform acupuncture!¡± Elvan spoke so quickly and urgently that Bi Fang had trouble understanding him. He was stunned for two seconds, puzzled. Acupuncture? What does this have to do with me? If it¡¯s about business, let¡¯s talk business. Why the insult? I m not Wu Qian. What would I use for acupuncture? I don¡¯t even know how to perform real acupuncture! ¡°Wait a minute, Mr. Elvan, what acupuncture? I don¡¯t do acupuncture. Have you got the wrong person? If you¡¯re looking for an old Chinese medicine practitioner, you can find one outside. There might be a contact number on a utility pole.¡± Elvan was just as confused. His Chinese had been learned from Gu Qjngyuan, and since the professor was getting on in years, he inevitably had a bit of an accent, which led Elvan astray. It took him quite some time to understand what Bi Fang was saying. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s not acupuncture, it¡¯s rescue! The rescue of life! There¡¯s a flock of migratory birds that need your rescue!¡± Oh, I see. Bi Fang got it, but not entirely. What did bird migration have to do with him? But out of politeness, Bi Fang still stepped aside and invited Elvan inside to discuss in detail. Once inside, Bi Fang poured a glass of water for Elvan. Elvan was so thirsty from the long journey that he gulped down the glass in two swallows. Then he opened his backpack, took out a large map full of marks, and a stack of photos, ready to get down to business. ¡°Mr. Bi, do you know the White-fronted Goose?¡± Elvan unfolded the photos and handed them to Bi Fang, pointing at the creature, ¡°This animal is a second-class protected species in your country.¡± Bi Fang flipped through the photos, each depicting birds that looked like swans. Pure white cheeks, dark grey-brown feathers-it was indeed the White- fronted Goose. As a former investigator, Bi Fang was certainly familiar with the species and had even studied their migration, traveling from south to north across the whole of Huaxia, just to research the population changes of the White-fronted Goose. This bird is a winter migratory species in Huaxia. Leaving their breeding grounds at the end of August or early September to head to their wintering grounds, they usually arrive in Huaxia at the end of September or early October. The bulk of the migration occurs in mid-to-late October, with the latest arriving by early November. The migration mainly takes place at night, and during the day they rest and feed. But due to human hunting and habitat destruction, they have become a second-class protected animal. ¡°So, Mr. Elvan, what exactly are you here for?¡± Bi Fang put away the photos and looked at Elvan. Elvan rolled out the map, pointing at the dense markings and the especially clear red line, his tone serious. ¡°I¡¯m here to ask for your help with their migration!¡± Chapter 153 - 150 Chasing the Sunshine Chapter 153: Chapter 150 Chasing the Sunshine ¡°Migration?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Elvan nodded affirmatively. The migration of migratory birds was now a matter of urgency, which is why he had been in such a hurry to show up, arriving the day after they had agreed on a time. Bi Fang didn¡¯t respond, but instead took the stack of photos he had just been looking at and went through them again, and indeed, he discovered Elvan¡¯s figure among them. In the photo, Elvan was clad in brown linen garments, pretending to be a goose, leading the young White-fronted Geese in flying practice by the lake. ¡°You¡¯re raising them?¡± ¡°Sort of?¡± Elvan¡¯s tone was complicated, ¡°I found the eggs of White-fronted Geese in a wetland that was about to be developed, four nests in all, but it was too late when I discovered them. The construction crew that contracted the wetland had already started work. I waited for three days, but their parents never returned¡­¡± Bi Fang rested his chin on his hand, his eyebrows tightly furrowed, ¡°All twenty-one eggs hatched?¡± ¡°No, only eighteen goslings were born successfully, and two of them were Barnacle Geese,¡± Elvan pointed out a photo full of little goslings, among them two with distinctly black heads. ¡°So they cannot migrate on their own?¡± ¡°Exactly, these goslings were orphaned at birth, never having migrated before. Someone must guide them!¡± Elvan said, his tone charged with emotion as he smoothed out the map. ¡°I¡¯ve studied the migration routes of geese in detail. To ensure that they can breed and live healthily away from the cities, they must go to the wilderness, Mr. Bi, I can think of no one better suited than you!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve watched all of Mr. Bi¡¯s live streams, which are fantastic. As for understanding animals, Mr. Bi is an expert, and when it comes to exploration, he is the greatest explorer of the century! You are the foremost in the wilderness! Nobody understands the wild like you do!¡± As Elvan spoke these words with fervor, he was in turmoil inside, unsure whether Bi Fang would agree, hoping only to touch him with his sincerity. Leading migratory birds was no easy task. From the Arctic to Southern France, without exceptional skills, dying in the wilderness wouldn¡¯t be surprising. ¡°It¡¯s quite late now, isn¡¯t it?¡± Bi Fang turned to look at the calendar on the wall, noting it was November 21st. The weather was turning cold, which was an extremely unfavorable time for migratory birds. Yes, geese typically migrate in October, and November is later, but now it¡¯s the end of November. That¡¯s why I¡¯m so anxious. I arrived in Huaxia a day earlier, but not knowing Mr. Bi¡¯s address or contact, I couldn¡¯t get in touch. So, Mr. Bi, we don¡¯t have much time.¡± Elvan was very anxious. If they missed this year, the geese would be left behind for an entire year! S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The migratory instinct deeply ingrained in the geese¡¯s genetics would be completely disrupted, and by then it would be too late. Without migration, these eighteen geese would end up as ¡°dead geese¡± without any chance to reproduce! They are geese, not domestic geese! As a bird professor, Elvan couldn¡¯t accept such an outcome. Having brought back the eggs of the White-fronted Goose, he had to take full responsibility. If he couldn¡¯t ensure their continued breeding, he would feel guilty for a lifetime. Even Elvan had planned to lead the migration himself, risking his life if necessary, but a week earlier, when he saw the news about Bi Fang, a turning point emerged. Bi Fang! A man skilled in creating miracles! If he was willing to help with the bird migration, it would surely be a success! Bi Fang approached the table, gazing at the large map. The red line on the map was very conspicuous, and quite convoluted. He pointed to the red line and asked, ¡°Is this the migration route you¡¯ve planned?¡± ¡°Yes, the entire distance is just right.¡± As the conversation turned to this topic, Elvan became enthusiastic, excitedly pointing to the red line on the map, ¡°We will drive all the way to the Arctic, and then start the migration of the White- fronted Geese from there.¡± ¡°Why drive? Isn¡¯t it simpler with a small plane?¡± Bi Fang was puzzled. ¡°True, but birds will remember their place of origin, their home, which isn¡¯t where they were born, but where they first took flight. For migratory birds, instinctively, they fly south for the winter and come back north in the spring to feed and breed.¡± Bi Fang, deep in thought, pointed to the Arctic and said, ¡°So you mean, if we use a small plane, their first takeoff spot will be altered?¡± ¡°Exactly, Mr. Bi, you¡¯re much smarter than my students,¡± Elvan said excitedly, pleased that Bi Fang understood. He took out a pen, circled a spot on the Arctic, ¡°Look here, this is Lapland; there¡¯s a nature reserve. The geese can nest safely here without any dangers. And then look here.¡± Elvan¡¯s pen swept along the map, tracing a path to the south of France. ¡°This is where I found them, but it¡¯s too dangerous now, already enveloped by the city. So I will drive from there to the Arctic, then starting from the Arctic, fly a glider, leading the flock through the North Sea, Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, to the Grand Est, and then all the way back to France, right here!¡± The neutral pen marked another heavy dot on the map. ¡°Camargue Wetlands Nature Reserve!¡± ¡°Between these two reserves, the White-fronted Geese will be able to reproduce successfully, and this blue line, is the path I¡¯ve planned for them through unmanned areas. It¡¯s quite tortuous, but it ensures their landing spots are as far from humans as possible. Once they land in a city, it becomes very dangerous.¡± ¡°What¡¯s more amazing is that once they follow us and fly over this route, the White-fronted Geese will remember it, as if they have a built-in GPS system. If we change their migration destination, in a few years¡­¡± Bi Fang interrupted Elvan¡¯s speech, ¡°The goose population will increase, and it will continue to grow, thus saving the species.¡± ¡°Exactly! Human development over the past century has completely changed the original habitat of the White-fronted Goose. We must help them reach safe places to breed without human interference! In ten years, or maybe even less, we will have saved a species!¡± Elvan grabbed Bi Fang¡¯s shoulders, his eyes brimming with passion. My colleagues think I¡¯m a fool, an idiot, a hopeless dreamer, but it¡¯s only us fools who can save them! I know this plan is feasible, but it lacks someone capable of leading it. I can¡¯t, but you can!¡± ¡°Mr. Bi¡¯s full name is Bi Fang, which I understand is a sacred bird in Huaxia. The White-fronted Goose is also a bird, so I hope Mr. Bi could show a bit of favor and give some love to these little ones.¡± ¡°Please, Mr. Bi Fang, you must help them!¡± ¡°Only you can do this, it has to be you!¡± Bi Fang stared at the map on the table, caressing the texture of the thick leather, which contained Elvan¡¯s dedication and the future of the migratory birds. This map would be a new hope for an entire species. Bi Fang looked at Elvan, whose eyes pleaded like flickering candle flames. ¡°Is the glider ready?¡± A tremendous joy descended from the heavens as Elvan jumped excitedly. ¡°Yes, everything is ready.¡± ¡°Then book two tickets, we¡¯re off to France!¡± Elvan, however, suddenly shook his head and pulled out two plane tickets from his backpack. ¡°My friend has already driven to the Arctic, and I bought these tickets long ago. They are open tickets, let¡¯s head straight to the Arctic!¡± Bi Fang exhaled lightly, took one of the tickets from the excited Elvan, and pocketed it. The mission has changed. ¡°We¡¯re off to the Arctic!¡± Mission Name: Chasing the Sunshine Mission Location: Arctic ¨C France Mission Mode: Exploration Mission Difficulty: S4 Mission Requirements: No items allowed except for essential tools and the System. Side Mission One: Set up a live stream, with a sustained online viewership of over one hundred and fifty thousand. Mam Mission Two: Ensure the safe migration of eighteen migratory birds. Side Mission: Explore independently. Minimum Reward: Advanced Skill Upgrade Coupon *1, Skill Advancement Ticket *1 Time Limit: Thirty-five days This time, it¡¯s a grand migration towards the sunshine! Chapter 154 - 151 Preparation for Departure Chapter 154: Chapter 151 Preparation for Departure Lapland is located at the northernmost part of Finland. Finland¡¯s domestic aviation network is extremely well-developed, boasting 24 airports in total, which is the densest and most developed domestic aviation network in all of Europe; however, there are no direct flights from Huaxia to Lapland. There are five domestic flights from Huaxia to Finland, but the only one from the Magic Capital to Finland is AY58, which Elvan had purchased tickets for. Unfortunately, the flight lands at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport in the Finnish capital, rather than providing direct access to Lapland, meaning that they would have to drive after disembarking, making it a long journey ahead. The flight from the Magic Capital to Finland would take at least ten hours, and they wouldn¡¯t arrive at their destination until the local time in the afternoon. Bi Fang did not have a Finnish visa, but Finland is a Schengen country, so entry without a visa is possible as long as one holds a visa from another Schengen country. To prepare for overseas missions, Bi Fang had long ago begun the process of getting a passport and long-term visas for some major countries. Going to Finland wouldn¡¯t be a problem, and this migratory route was also entirely within Schengen countries, so there was no issue whatsoever. But before heading to the airport, Bi Fang still had plenty to do. With an hour and a half before the plane took off, he avoided Elvan and went to his room to start a shopping spree in the System store. Equipment, tools, various skill coupons. After the desert journey, all of Bi Fang¡¯s system-equipped gear had turned into ropes and bandages. Without buying new ones, this adventure would have to be undertaken in simple clothes, and he wasn¡¯t allowed to bring much. The migratory mission covered a huge span of time and space, requiring higher standards; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have been an S4-Level task¡ªa step higher than the initial S5 survival on the island. Ordinary clothes, no matter how well-made, couldn¡¯t compete with professional equipment, and Bi Fang had to make thorough preparations. To this end, he spent two hundred Points to actively refresh the store twice. The refresh was a new function that appeared after the System upgrade, costing one hundred Points for each refresh. After purchasing all the necessary items, Bi Fang tried his luck with another draw and surprisingly got a beautifully designed dagger. The Extreme Force Tiger-Tooth Harpoon! Bi Fang knew about the Extreme Force Harpoon; it was a tactical knife specifically designed for outdoor survival by an Italian company. In his previous life, he had seen someone use it, and it was very cool. But as it had been discontinued and turned into a collector¡¯s item, the person refused to even lend it to him for a look. However, Bi Fang had never seen this particular knife before. Unlike the usual Extreme Force Harpoon, this knife¡¯s design was significantly more attractive, and its length was similar to the hunting knife he had acquired earlier, slightly longer than the usual harpoon. The blade was straight, with a black, non- reflective finish, and the back featured a row of ferocious, sharp serrations. It looked more like a combination of the harpoon and the Tiger Tooth combat knife. Unlike the hunting knife, which primarily focused on cutting, this harpoon-knife was explicitly made for thrusting, while the serrated edge provided excellent cutting capabilities. The handle was soft to the touch, with deep grooves, ensuring a secure grip whether the hand was wet, or held in a normal or reverse grip. The sheath was also made of a special black rubber material with excellent resistance to cuts and abrasions. Pleased with the knife, Bi Fang packed it away along with the other physical rewards into his luggage, and then both he and Elvan headed to the airport. On the way, Bi Fang took a moment to report to the relevant authorities through his mobile phone. Now, with his special identity, he needed to report when leaving the country. Although it was a bit more trouble, it came with several conveniences, such as when he showed his documents to the airport staff, the casual glances of several workers suddenly changed. The staff whispered among themselves, one of them hurried off, and the others offered complimentary coffee. After taking a sip, Elvan, for some reason, found the ordinary instant coffee especially aromatic. Soon, a leader with a build comparable to Wang Yongbo strode over enthusiastically. After confirming Bi Fang¡¯s identity, he even escorted them both through the VIP lane, avoiding the bustling crowds. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Declining the offer for an upgraded cabin, they boarded the plane without even going through security checks. With the right credentials, it did not matter that they were carrying a knife, or even firearms; the airline staff would simply turn a blind eye. The flight attendants, noticing the leaders¡¯ respectful treatment toward Bi Fang, were intrigued. Tall, handsome passengers with an extraordinary status like him were always most welcomed. Before Bi Fang could even take his seat, they flocked around him, eagerly asking whether he needed any services. Two of them immediately recognized Bi Fang, requesting his signature and a photo with him, and even Elvan received attention. Everyone could clearly see that the two had come on board together and couldn¡¯t be ignored. All of this was quite unfamiliar to Elvan; he was just a bird expert, usually unkempt, occasionally not very light in odor, and he had only traveled in economy class, never having enjoyed the company of beautiful women surrounding him. He was at a loss for what to do. After signing the postcards quickly, Bi Fang withdrew his itchy, tickled palm and wiped off the lipstick marks that had been stolenly kissed onto his face. After declining the flight attendants¡¯ kind intentions, they settled down and quietly waited for the plane to take off. Elvan was shocked to the point of numbness, or perhaps he had been unfazed by the presence of many beautiful women around him since Bi Fang had taken out that ID. Still, he found it unbelievable. ¡°You¡¯re actually¡­¡± ¡°Shh!¡± Bi Fang put his index finger to his lips, ¡°Knowing is good enough, don¡¯t speak out loud, it could get sealed.¡± ¡°Got it, got it.¡± Elvan looked around and gestured an OK sign, staying low-key. He understood. Elvan had never heard of such a young S4 Level official and was surely impressed. No wonder his skills were so outstanding; Huaxia was indeed full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. The plane was scheduled to take off at 10:05, with twenty minutes remaining. Bi Fang took advantage of the time before the takeoff to prepare to contact Liu Qian via phone, asking Wolf Fang to get ready in advance, but before he could make the call, his phone rang first. It was Wang Yongbo. The call connected, and Wang Yongbo, as usual, exchanged brief pleasantries without beating around the bush and directly asked. ¡°Bi Fang, I heard the people from Shark TV came looking for you again? The two were well-acquainted, and Wang Yongbo had a very down-to-earth demeanor, speaking without reservation and quite frankly. in the live streaming industry, not much was secret; other companies would know about executives¡¯ plans the next day, and Wang Weifeng¡¯s moves could not be hidden from those who were paying attention, prompting Wang Yongbo to call and inquire. Hearing this, Bi Fang chuckled, ¡°Oh, I was wondering why CEO Wang suddenly gave me a call. So it¡¯s because you¡¯re worried I might transfer, huh?¡± ¡°How can I not worry? Given your current status, I¡¯m afraid they might offer a price we at Wolf Fang couldn¡¯t handle. ¡°Then, CEO Wang, rest easy. Unless Shark plans to make me the boss, I m not going back there.¡± After hearing this, Wang Yongbo didn¡¯t doubt him. He would call Bi Fang after every live broadcast and had gotten to know his character and temperament through several interactions. Knowing that Bi Fang, though easy to get along with, actually had a lot of pride and wasn¡¯t someone who could be easily swayed or controlled. However, it was better to clarify certain concerns. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. Actually, I called to discuss a raise with you.¡± Wang Yongbo, sitting in his chair, looked at the newly drafted contract and changed the subject. He knew Bi Fang¡¯s character, but that didn¡¯t mean the higher-ups did too. Hearing that Shark was approaching Bi Fang again, the top executives panicked and decided in an overnight meeting to increase Bi Fang¡¯s salary. The original annual salary of ten million was directly tripled and more, going up to thirty-eight million, the highest tier. ¡°President Wang, let¡¯s not rush into the salary increase. I have something here I¡¯d like to ask for your help with. I was about to call Liu Qian, but since the plane is about to take off, and you¡¯ve called, let me just tell you now.¡± Wang Yongbo instinctively straightened up, and his demeanor immediately turned serious, ¡°Okay, go ahead.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already finalized the details for the next live broadcast, which will be tomorrow.¡± ¡°That soon?¡± Wang Yongbo was shocked. Wasn¡¯t it less than a week since the last one ended? ¡°Can¡¯t help it, urgent matters require quick action.¡± ¡°All right, give me the location and content, and I¡¯ll get people on it right away to make sure the promotion is on point.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be leading migratory birds on their journey.¡± Wang Yongbo paused, ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t quite understand. What do you mean by leading migratory birds? Are we talking about observing their migration and filming a documentary or something? That¡¯s right, you¡¯ve been injured, so continuous high-intensity live broadcasting would be too much; something more relaxed is great, as escalating the excitement too much for the audience could backfire in the long run.¡± ¡°No, it means I¡¯ll be gliding in a glider, leading the migratory birds for three thousand kilometers.¡± Bi Fang shook the map in his hand, measuring the distance from the Arctic Circle to Southern France, which was more than fifty centimeters on the map. Using the scale, the direct distance was two thousand five hundred kilometers. Um, considering intentional detours, three thousand was within reach. Chapter 155 - 152 Charge Forward Without Hesitation Chapter 155: Chapter 152 Charge Forward Without Hesitation The other end of the phone suddenly went silent. The hum of the office air conditioning filled the room. Bi Fang glanced at the time and realized he had only ten minutes before the plane would take off. He quickly asked, ¡°President Wang? President Wang? Can you hear me, President Wang? Are you still there?¡± Wang Yongbo held back for quite a while before saying, ¡°I¡¯m here¡­ but Bi Fang, I still want to say that this joke is not funny at all.¡± Joke? What joke? I¡¯m serious, I¡¯m already on the plane to Finland, look.¡± Bi Fang took a photo for Wang Yongbo and sent it over. Outside the airplane window, the sky was blue with scattered white clouds. Wang Yongbo: ¡°¡­¡± It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over, he¡¯s actually serious. Wang Yongbo was speechless; why did Bi Fang challenge his mental threshold time and again? Ever since the Mohe live stream, he had rarely watched Bi Fang¡¯s broadcasts. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me- he just wanted to stay alive. Stay alive! Helpless, when middle age hits, one can¡¯t control everything; watching Bi Fang¡¯s live streams would send his blood pressure soaring uncontrollably, like a wild horse breaking free. Who knew, he might end up watching himself out of existence. Glide three thousand kilometers on a hang glider, and that too with a bird. Is this something a human can even do? Are you Superman? Crossing a whole continent as if you¡¯re just stepping out to use the restroom? ¡°Wait, Finland? You¡¯re going abroad?¡± Yeah, don¡¯t worry, I can get a signal overseas, it won¡¯t lag.¡± That¡¯s not what anyone¡¯s concerned about! Wang Yongbo knew that Bi Fang was dead set on his plan. Actually, with Bi Fang¡¯s current fan base, even if he didn¡¯t embark on any adventure activities, as long as the quality was as the last time he caught the python, plenty of people would tip generously; there was no need for him to push himself this hard. Three live streams had already cemented his reputation. Sigh. Wang Yongbo looked up at the ceiling, his eyes devoid of spirit. Forget it, let him be; maybe this is what separates adventurers from ordinary folks. ¡°By the way, have you recovered from your injury?¡± Recovered. That¡¯s what Bi Fang wanted to say, but he held back. Aside from the hospital doctors, no one knew how severe his injuries really were. Saying he had made a full recovery in a week wouldn¡¯t raise any suspicions, but just to be safe¡­ ¡°It¡¯s not a problem anymore.¡± ¡°Alright, broadcast whatever you want, then. Who made us sign such a contract in the first place? I¡¯ll get my team to work on the cover and promotional content. From Finland to France, right?¡± That¡¯s right.¡± Bi Fang repeated his plan once again. You re quite something, skilled and brave. Has anyone ever done this before?¡± ¡°No.¡± Bi Fang shook his head. If it were the old world, there was a precedent for using hang gliders to guide the migration of geese. William Lishman, a Canadian legend, ultralight aircraft enthusiast, as well as sculptor, director, writer, inventor, pilot, biologist, and entrepreneur. In 1993, William had successfully led sixteen wild geese from Montreal, Canada, to Virginia, United States. But before setting off, Bi Fang checked and found that this world did not have this person. Instead, he would take the place of that man and become the first person to guide bird migration using an aircraft! He would be the unprecedented first! This was a tremendous challenge! By the way, have you got all your documents ready?¡± Bi Fang suddenly put down the phone and turned to ask Elvan. Things are different abroad compared to Huaxia Country. In Europe, people aren¡¯t particularly concerned about protecting animal lives, but the procedures and regulations are incredibly cumbersome. For wild animals raised in captivity like these, even crossing borders requires paperwork and approval. Elvan instinctively lowered his head and tugged at the brim of his cap, obscuring his expression. ¡°It¡¯s all ready, just waiting for you to lead the geese on their migration.¡± After listening to the exchange between the two, Wang Yongbo couldn¡¯t help but laugh to himself. Turns out, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t fully understood the situation before he left for Finland without a second thought, all to save a dozen or so geese. For some reason, Wang Yongbo was reminded of his younger days. His heart brimming with passion and determination, he was unstoppable. To turn a dream into a profession and actually enjoy it, what a perfect life that would be. Wang Yongbo touched his belly and remembered the gym membership he had but never used. The world is so cruel; people are often pressed down to the point where they can¡¯t breathe. Everyone enters the fray not lightly equipped but bearing the weight of mountains. In this world, we are all helpless, and what can crush us is not just fate, life, death, and loneliness, but also mundane matters like money and power. ¡°Just focus on your live streaming, we¡¯ll handle everything else. As long as you¡¯re with Wolf Fang, we¡¯re your eternal supporters,¡± ¡°Wishing you a smooth journey.¡± After hanging up the phone, Wang Yongbo summoned the publicity department and began planning a new round of homepage promotions. This operation must be carried out with great fanfare! Meanwhile, as the airplane began taxiing down the runway, Bi Fang turned on flight mode, glanced at Elvan pretending to doze off next to him, and leaned back in his seat. Bi Fang opened the system panel and used up all the available coupons. He bought quite a number of Skill Upgrade Coupons this time, even two Intermediate Skill Upgrade Coupons which could upgrade Purple Skills, which he applied to Wilderness Survivalist. He raised Archery to Blue, and sought to max out the Special Forces skill. Besides that, Bi Fang also opened a Skill Can, and upon shattering, a flash of blue light appeared. Swimming Dragon Bagua Level 1. Hmm? Swimming Dragon Bagua? Before Bi Fang could react, a torrent of knowledge, techniques, and experience flooded his mind, as if he had been immersed in them for over a decade, completely unlike the empty forms of modern ¡°masters,¡± possessing genuine combative utility! It was one of the three famous internal martial arts fists of Wudang! Even more astonishing was the unexpected synergy and transformation between Swimming Dragon Bagua, Special Forces, and many combat skills from Wilderness Survivalist under the effect of the skill tree. The commonalities between the three skills rapidly integrated, and the convergence of martial arts and modern combat techniques instantaneously elevated and branched out into more techniques and moves, enriching Bi Fang¡¯s combat level within minutes! Even Qi cultivation practices surprisingly underwent a chemical reaction with Advanced Yoga and Pilates. A novel method of breathing began to take shape in Bi Fang¡¯s mind, thrilling him. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang looked at the skill tree on the panel, and at that moment, he finally understood the importance of the skill tree. To integrate what he had learned and innovate from there, this was truly the realm of a grandmaster! If he wanted to reach this stage on his own, Bi Fang estimated that he would need to level his skills to Orange or higher, and even then, it would be quite challenging, certainly not as simple as now. Using the newly acquired, yet somewhat imperfect breathing method, Bi Fang calmed his excitement. Then he began allocating points, 1 to physique, 1 to strength, and 2 to agility. The warm sensation surged again and Bi Fang yawned, took one last look at the panel, and drifted off to sleep. [Sole Binder: Bi Fang] [Age: 24] [Height: 183.6cm] [Weight: 77KG] [Strength: 12] [Physique: 14] [Agility: 12] [Spirit: 12] [Status: Good] [Enhancement Points: 0] [Wilderness Points: 3] Purple Tree Trunk: Wilderness Survivalist lv3, Advanced Yoga Ivi. Blue Tree Trunk: Pilates Iv3, Special Forces lv5, Archery Ivi, Swimming Dragon Bagua Ivi. Green Tree Trunk: Cross-country Hiking lv5, Rock Climbing lv5, Swimming 1V2, First Aid lv5, Biological Identification 1V2, Calisthenics lv3, High-altitude Parachuting IV3. Ten hours passed by in a flash. At two o¡¯clock in the local afternoon, Bi Fang put on a new jacket, tightened his clothes, and, along with Elvan, walked out of the airport and rented a car, driving toward Lapland. In the car, Bi Fang opened Wolf Fang TV. By that time, Wolf Fang¡¯s homepage already featured the cover, an efficient move by Wolf Fang deserves praise. On the summit of a snowy mountain, dynamic clouds scattered and shifted. Small silhouettes lined up in a V formation, spreading out like black wings, and this spread-winged bird with Bi Fang as its ¡°eye¡± glided through the clouds on a hang glider traversing the mountains. Inside the live stream room, the floor count soared as the online friends were surprised by the upcoming broadcast. [Wow, another live stream?] [Why is the gap so short this time? Have the injuries from before healed so quickly?] [Hahaha, we¡¯re going to see Master Fang again, I¡¯m so touched! Drowning in happiness!] [Maybe they¡¯re just promoting it ten days in advance, we¡¯ll see.] (How could that be? Two days of advance promotion for a live stream is already amazing. Wolf Fang isn¡¯t running a charity. No matter how much they favor Old Fang, three days max in advance is the limit.] [Whoa, is that a hang glider? Has a helicopter no longer satisfied Old Fang? Has he moved on to hang gliding?] [I¡¯ve already begun secreting adrenaline reflexively; I feel like this will be just as thrilling!] [Old Fang never disappoints! I have transformed into a ruthless cheer machine!] Seeing the heated discussions among the online friends, Bi Fang cracked a slight smile and opened the live stream. The familiar opening, the familiar face, a single line incited utter excitement among the viewers. ¡®Hello everyone, I am Bi Fang.¡± Chapter 156 - 153 Arrival at the Destination Chapter 156: Chapter 153 Arrival at the Destination The car sped along the road. Grass lined both sides of the road, seamlessly joining the gray asphalt. In the distance, white clouds enveloped the vast snow-covered mountains, their summits meeting the sky, and the ice and snow had not melted for a hundred thousand years¡ªgentle like the back of a young girl. Here lay the ends of the Earth, the Arctic Circle. Within a world where cold and vitality intertwined, Bi Fang ignited the audience¡¯s passion with just one sentence. His unchanging opening remarks made countless people in front of the screens ecstatic. They were so familiar with these words that they could recite them without missing a single letter, yet they still felt their blood boil upon hearing them. ¡°Looking back on the evolutionary journey of humankind, if our ancestors hadn¡¯t embraced adventure and imagination, if they hadn¡¯t had the courage to innovate and the willingness to sacrifice with their great capacity and majestic sentiments, humans would never have taken canoes to surf the seas or to uncover the endless mysteries across the oceans. Humans are curious, which leads to the urge for adventure; humans adventure, which lights the torch of civilization. Adventure is not found solely in the vast seas and mountains, deserts and swamps of nature, but also thrives within the densely populated cities.¡± Bi Fang smiled slightly at the camera. ¡°We meet again, I am Bi Fang, a professional explorer. This time, I meet you all in the Arctic!¡± [It¡¯s only been a week, right? Old Fang is live streaming again. No more short clips!] [I admit Old Fang is massive, so I¡¯ll bear with it.] [No matter how big word is, it still belongs to Microsoft.] [Amazing, even the Arctic is in the picture. Isn¡¯t the range too broad?] [Who¡¯s the uncle next to him? Why is there a foreigner, has Old Fang gone abroad?] [Nonsense, isn¡¯t going to the Arctic going abroad? But how come there¡¯s grass in the Arctic, so beautiful.] [Add one for beautiful.] [Is Old Fang¡¯s injury healed? Although we really want to see your live stream, safety first, no need to push yourself.] ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The last injury didn¡¯t reach the bone, it¡¯s pretty much a non-issue now, and it won¡¯t interfere with the live broadcast.¡± Bi Fang rolled up his sleeve, moved his shoulder, and showed everyone the thin layer of bandage on it. The bandage had been rewrapped; from the looks of it, it seemed indeed like nothing serious. ¡°As for the person next to me, he is a visiting professor at the University of Paris, Elvan Mendy. His main research focus is on bird conservation and migration.¡± Elvan, who was driving, heard Bi Fang introducing him and turned his head to greet: ¡°Hello everyone.¡± [Wow, that Chinese is spot on!] [6! A professor who doesn¡¯t speak Chinese is not a good professor.] [Why is this live stream different, with driving and the Arctic, and such a huge time difference? It¡¯s already dark here, why does it seem like noon over there with Old Fang?] [A professor studying bird conservation and migration, I have a feeling¡­] [Old Fang is indeed popular with professors (funny)] Bi Fang opened the sunroof and set up the drone on top, to give everyone a wider view, then he pointed towards the distant snowy mountains. ¡°Your feeling is right because I¡¯ve traversed half the globe to get to Finland; the local time here is 3 PM, which should be exactly 8 PM for you guys.¡± The system requirement for the number of online viewers kept increasing; this time it had reached a staggering 150,000, which was 30,000 more than the last time. By proportion, the peak viewership number needed to at least surpass 250,000 to clear the task. Luckily, the time difference provided convenience for Bi Fang, indirectly reducing the difficulty of the mission. There was a five-hour time difference between the two places. Bi Fang¡¯s usual live stream hours were from 7 AM to 7 PM, which translated to midday to midnight in China, the peak time when live stream viewers were most active. ¡°The reason why this live stream is so rushed is because of an urgent mission. Today¡¯s broadcasting is not about survival, but about sustaining life, helping endangered migratory birds find a glimmer of hope for existence.¡± Bi Fang briefly outlined the dangers and plight faced by the White-fronted Goose, and wholeheartedly shared why Elvan had sought him out, explaining the objectives of his live broadcast. ¡°This will be my broadest broadcast in terms of time and space. If all goes well, it will last close to a month. I will accompany these eighteen geese, along with Professor Elvan, on a glider from the Arctic Lapland and fly all the way to the Camargue Wetlands Nature Reserve in France!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s words were resolute and clear. But without a doubt, these words caused a sensation in the live stream chat. To ride a glider for 3,000 kilometers just to help eighteen geese memorize a migration route? What an international joke. Let¡¯s not even talk about whether it¡¯s possible, but gliding for three thousand kilometers, is that something a carbon-based life form can pull off? An attempt nobody has ever made, a journey no one dares to even think about: two people, one plane, 18 geese, flying from the Arctic to France, crossing all of Europe¡­ Are we writing a fantasy novel here? [Ash Blow Smoke has gifted the host a yacht *1¡ªApart from awesome, I don¡¯t know what to say, I can only support by sending gifts! ] [Li Bai Is Not White Enough has gifted the host Big Bone *1¡ªMaster Fang, yyds!] [Congratulations to Nanana is me for becoming an Emperor in the live stream room!] [Nanana is me has gifted the host meatballs *10000¡ªCharge! Go Master Fang! I¡¯m super pumped!] A blaze of golden light shot straight into the clouds! Just as the live broadcast started, someone had already signed up as an Emperor! Yao Lina was having a fine time streaming in her own room when she suddenly received a notification that Bi Fang had started streaming. Without a second thought, she brought her fans to watch Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast. After listening to Bi Fang¡¯s plan, she got so excited that she slammed her table. ¡°As expected of my idol, so freaking cool!¡± [The richest female fan, I¡¯m envious, I also want a pretty sister to admire me.] [Goddess, my goddess, why do you have to be someone else¡¯s lapdog, wuu wuu wuu] [Shocked, she even entered with a live broadcast!] Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [She swore too, my dreams are shattered.] [Super pumped? How do you pump (facetious)] Bi Fang sincerely thanked Yao Lina for her support. Becoming an Emperor requires a hundred thousand coins, definitely a true love fan. Up to this point, there have only been five wild Emperors in his streaming room. Adding a new one, and a pretty sister at that, put him in a fantastically good mood. Six wild Emperors, a claim that could definitely dwarf the others, especially in Wolf Fang TV, leaving countless small streamers green with envy. The atmosphere in the live stream room had already heated up before the official start of the broadcast. The gray asphalt road stretched towards the pristine snow mountains, clear and unobstructed. Bi Fang rolled up the car window and began to casually chat with his audience, introducing some details about Lapland. ¡°The northernmost parts of Norway, Sweden, and Finland have been home to the Sami and Lap peoples for hundreds of years, and hence the land got its name, Lapland. Located within the Arctic Circle, it has a harsh climate, covered with ice and snow most of the year, and is known as Europe¡¯s last wilderness reserve.¡± ¡°Here there are frozen rivers, reindeer, and the nomadic Sami people, a treasure left to the world.¡± ¡°Moreover, Lapland is also famously the home of Santa Claus.¡± [Santa Claus?] [My God, Santa Claus lives here?] At the mention of Santa Claus, the online friends got excited. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Bi Fang knew very well what his audience was interested in. This was also his usual method to fill the boring times. Telling stories. ¡°A long time ago, an old Santa Claus traveled around the world, bringing joy to children.¡± ¡°One day, he came to the Lapland area near the Arctic Circle and was enchanted by the beautiful scenery of the glistening, pristine snow. He decided to settle on Ear Mountain.¡± ¡°Since then, Ear Mountain in Finland became the place where Santa Claus lived.¡± Bi Fang pointed to the grassland beside him, which, even within the Arctic Circle, was still a vibrant green tundra. ¡°Usually, it starts snowing here in October, but we¡¯re in luck, we can still see the green grasslands along the way, a rare sight indeed. This is also good news because if this place were covered with heavy snow, the geese might not withstand the cold here.¡± Finland isn¡¯t very big, and it didn¡¯t take long for Elvan to drive Bi Fang to a lake nearby. They were at their destination. The two got out of the car, and Elvan waved to a figure by the lake. ¡°Hey, Lenin! We¡¯ve arrived!¡± Chapter 157 - 154: Eve of Preparation Chapter 157: Chapter 154: Eve of Preparation Bi Fang stepped onto the grass, his glider resting quietly on the surface of the lake. That would be his reliance for crossing Europe. Big Beard Lenin, who was gazing by the lake, quickly noticed the two of them. He was wrapped in a hemp garment, his belly shaking as he walked briskly toward them and immediately gave Elvan a hug. ¡°Thank God I¡¯ve waited so long for you, these geese are nearly frozen. If you hadn¡¯t come sooner, I was really afraid they¡¯d freeze to death here.¡± Following that, Lenin extended his hand to Bi Fang, his tone full of admiration as if singing an aria. ¡°Mr. Fang, hello, at first I didn¡¯t understand why Elvan insisted on finding you, but after I watched your live stream, my goodness, you¡¯re a modern hero! A living legend! The geese are so lucky to have met you!¡± Lenin bowed three times in quick succession, but he obviously didn¡¯t speak Chinese, using halting English instead. Luckily, the drone had an automatic translation function, displaying subtitles in the live stream. But what nobody expected was that Bi Fang would actually respond in French, ¡°It¡¯s my fortune as well to be able to save this flock of geese.¡± Elvan looked dumbfounded, ¡°You speak French?¡± ¡°Is it so strange? You speak Chinese, why can¡¯t I speak French?¡± Did Bi Fang speak French? Of course not, but he had a Language Proficiency Coupon! Now, speaking French was almost the same as speaking Chinese for him. Elvan had told him about Lenin¡¯s situation, not very good at English. A common malady among the French, they possess a strong spirit of French nationalism, generally disliking the United Kingdom and even English, to the point that the majority cannot speak good English, a circumstance that seems out of place in Europe. Shuiyou:H-¡¯¡ãfl¡ã;)^! [Fuck, Old Fang even speaks French?] [Awesome, plus awesome!] [What a real studious guy, is there anything Old Fang can¡¯t do? Mastering two foreign languages, French and English, isn¡¯t this too cool? How about speaking some secret Tuvan?] [What¡¯s that country?¡­] [Just made it up.] Anyone who has attended school and learned English knows the pain of mastering a foreign language, but Bi Fang actually knows two! Seeing Bi Fang communicate fluently with foreigners in French, all the Shuiyou were shedding tears of envy. ¡°It¡¯s so good that you speak French,¡± Lenin was very happy, ¡°we should act quickly, you need to familiarize the geese with you as soon as possible. Snow might fall in Lapland any moment now, and it will be even more difficult for the geese to fly.¡± With that, Lenin took out two brown hemp cloaks from the car and asked both men to put them on. Not only that, Bi Fang noticed a young man rushing out of the camper in a hurry. The young man was just a head shorter than him, with brown hair and the look of being about fifteen or sixteen years old. Etienne¡¯s eyes lit up when he saw Bi Fang, and he hurried over with a mix of running and jumping. Elvan scratched his head, ¡°Uh, this is my son, Etienne, your fan.¡± The young man rushed in front of Bi Fang, shouting excitedly. ¡°Hey! I know you, you¡¯re the grave digger of prehistoric monsters! The wrestler of the tyrannical Black Bear! The hunter who devours wolf packs!¡± Bi Fang, about to greet him, was taken aback and nearly reeled in awkwardness. What on earth were these bizarre nicknames? ¡°You¡¯re really awesome, especially your motto!¡± Etienne imitated Bi Fang¡¯s tone, speaking gravely, ¡°The beast can smell your fear, the more you fear, the more excited it gets. That¡¯s so cool! It¡¯s the most domineering phrase I¡¯ve ever heard.¡± ¡°Can I get your autograph?¡± Etienne waved a white card in his hand, passing over a marker pen. Bi Fang scratched his eyebrow, took the pen and paper, and he occasionally watched anime, guessing this must be some sort of adolescent fantasy. ¡°Lord of the Black Flame,¡± ¡°True Eye of the Evil King,¡± they all sounded weird, but perhaps that¡¯s what young people liked. Bi Fang wasn¡¯t surprised to see Elvan¡¯s son there either; if he himself had a father who planned to sail a glider across the entirety of Europe for bird migration, he would strut through school, and such a claim alone could make him a heartthrob until his legs wobbled. What could be cooler than that? After all, there would only be two of them flying, him and Elvan; it wasn¡¯t a problem. But now it was only November, did French students get a holiday this early? Bi Fang took the brown linen robe, ready to put it on. [All, what is this style?] [Why wear a long robe? So ugly.] [Damn, feels like some African tribal shaman] The audience in front of the screen thought this outfit was terribly ugly and didn¡¯t understand why Bi Fang would wear it. ¡°Because the White-fronted Goose is on the brink of extinction, not only because of environmental destruction but also because of the uncontrolled hunting and wanton killing by humans.¡± Bi Fang found the opening of the robe and draped it over his body. ¡°So we can¡¯t let the geese think we are humans; that way they¡¯ll stay wary of other humans. By dressing like this, the geese will trust me. I guess that¡¯s how Dr. Elvan dressed before the migratory birds were bom, right?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Elvan, now in his robe, nodded. ¡°When geese are bom, they take the first person they see as their parent, a process called imprinting. To make them fear humans, I even carried out gunshot training with them; they have to flee when they see a human or hear a gunshot. We must not let them develop any fondness for humans.¡± [I don¡¯t know why, but suddenly I feel sad] [Tearing up] [To be honest, environmentalists are often maligned because there are too few who truly put in the work, those who only repeat the same messages become nothing but parrots.] [That¡¯s true, Old Fang is really awesome, he¡¯s always mindful of environmental protection, and for just over a dozen geese, he flew 3,000 kilometers at a moment¡¯s notice] [But broadcasting this, is it okay? Won¡¯t hunters also disguise themselves this way?] Bi Fang shook his head: ¡°Not really, birds recognize their kind through multiple factors, not just by donning a robe. Without Professor Elvan here, wearing the robe would be of no use. This is also why the professor must fly with me; without him, the geese would not follow.¡± After everyone had put on their robes, they entered the RV, and only then did they get a clear view of the geese. Around fifteen geese huddled together for warmth; among them, two black ones stood out conspicuously, being the Barnacle Geese. ¡°These two are Aga and Amu,¡± Etienne said excitedly, pointing to the two Barnacle Geese. ¡°I witnessed their birth! All sticky and stinky, but they look much better now.¡± ¡°Nice names,¡± Bi Fang smiled. ¡°These geese have all been implanted with chips, vaccinated, and registered,¡± Lenin said as he stroked one of them. ¡°Each one has a number.¡± ¡°Vaccinated?¡± Bi Fang wasn¡¯t too familiar with the situation in Europe. ¡°Yes, each one must be vaccinated, otherwise, they can¡¯t leave the Schengen Area,¡± Elvan said as he lifted a cage. ¡°Now everything is done with technology; this is called progress.¡± Lenin also came to help carry: ¡°From a technological perspective, it¡¯s progress, but it¡¯s a regression ecologically.¡± As Bi Fang joined in, he suddenly saw a photo inside the vehicle and picked it up, asking Lenin, ¡°Is this you?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lenin adjusted his hat. ¡°You used to hunt?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lenin said as he carried a box, with Bi Fang following him. ¡°We all hunted in the wetlands, fished too, we caught them to eat. The wetlands used to be beautiful, life was great, that¡¯s when I started getting interested in birds. But then the developers wanted to drain the wetlands, and we opposed them.¡± ¡°You lost,¡± Bi Fang did not doubt. ¡°Clearly, afterward, I turned to studying birds,¡± Lenin said as he placed a wooden crate outside and opened it. A flock of geese squawked and ran out, but they didn¡¯t take flight¡ªthe weather was too cold, and they huddled together. Elvan handed Bi Fang a whistle: ¡°This is what I made to mimic the call of the geese. You just have to run with us shortly, get the geese familiar with your presence quickly, let Etienne follow you first.¡± Bi Fang nodded; with time running out, he couldn¡¯t afford to dawdle. Led by Etienne and clutching the whistle, he began to run. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon hearing the whistle, the geese immediately began running after the two men; then, realizing they couldn¡¯t keep up, they slowly began to flap their wings, but it was a struggle for them to fly. The drone mixed among them, capturing the scene from above; the audience in the live stream was thrilled, many seeing living geese for the first time. This was their maiden flight! The first time is always precious. Next to the RV, Lenin watched the geese trying to fly, a spontaneous smile on his face. Elvan, on the other hand, kicked a stone away: ¡°So annoying, how much longer? It¡¯s been ten days already!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Elvan, the permit should be coming through soon,¡± Lenin tried to offer some consolation. ¡°I saw the weather forecast, it¡¯s going to snow heavily the day after tomorrow; no matter when the application is approved, we must take off before that.¡± Lenin spread his hands in a helpless gesture: ¡°Hey, don¡¯t be like that, I¡¯ve already promised Johnny, he¡¯ll do it as fast as he can, maybe we¡¯ll get news tomorrow.¡± ¡°Today is Sunday, they will only go to church to attend mass!¡± Waiting for Bi Fang was just one of the reasons, but if the permit came through, they might have already started the migration with the geese. All that effort made, how could they give up! Chapter 158 - 155: Failed to Follow (Subscribe Please) Chapter 158: Chapter 155: Failed to Follow (Subscribe Please) Seven months ago. ¡°You have to help us stop the development of the wetland! Four thousand eight hundred people signed the petition, but they ignored it as if it didn¡¯t exist. The mayor even said the situation would change, bullshit! They¡¯re almost draining half of the wetland now, saying they want to build an industrial park there!¡± The elderly man was indignant. ¡°Professor Elvan, you¡¯re an expert in animal conservation; there must be a way to preserve the wetland, right? I haven¡¯t seen any geese nesting here for almost two or three years.¡± The old man called out to Elvan twice but found no response from him. Elvan was staring at the corner at some feces, lost in thought; he remembered his son¡¯s complaints. ¡°Last night there was a hamster running around in my room, so loud I couldn¡¯t sleep.¡± ¡°Hamster, hamster, yes!¡± ¡°Do you have a plan?¡± The old man¡¯s face lit up with excitement. Elvan ran to the lakeside and made a phone call: ¡°Aiji, if endangered species of hamsters are found near the construction site, how long would the project be suspended?¡± ¡°The investigation would take about six months¡­ ¡°Six months?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°YES!¡± Three months ago. ¡°I¡¯ve researched a migration route that is safer than the geese¡¯s previous ones; for at least the next few decades, the geese¡¯s habitat will greatly improve. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°I guarantee it will work.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± Elvan followed the man, pleading constantly, but Legoff didn¡¯t slow down in the slightest, not even turning his head, as he entered the lobby to greet the staff and headed to his office. ¡°Isn¡¯t saving a species important? If the plan is implemented, we can save the White-fronted Goose. It¡¯s our responsibility to do so.¡± In the hallway, Legoff was annoyed and pointed his finger at Elvan¡¯s chest. ¡°Elvan, I tell you for the last time, the government has stopped financial assistance; they have more pressing issues, like unemployment rates. Wild geese won¡¯t be their top priority. Besides, your crazy idea won¡¯t succeed. Geese flying with gliders? You think geese are as naive as you?¡± ¡°But endangered species and climate change are also important,¡± Elvan still tried to persuade. ¡°I don¡¯t need subsidies; I just need your stamp of approval. If you stamp it, the plan can proceed, you know the procedure.¡± Legoff opened his office door, holding his forehead, his voice growing louder. ¡°Without genetic testing and a virus analysis report, I won¡¯t stamp it. Even if you succeed with these dozen geese, so what? Maybe two hundred are needed to truly save the species. Your plan won¡¯t work, Elvan. ¡°I know tests are necessary, but we are running out of time if it¡¯s too late they will just¡­¡± ¡°No!¡± Bang! Elvan touched his nose, saw the secretary at the door, and his eyes lit up. ¡°Aiji.¡± Elvan motioned with his eyes toward the stamp on the table. Aiji looked up at Elvan, shook his head helplessly. Elvan wouldn¡¯t give up, his eyes flickering. Minutes later, Aiji gave in, calling out to another colleague: ¡°Avra, let¡¯s go have a cup of coffee together.¡± The two got up quickly, leaving no one around. Ten days ago¡­ ¡°Alright, let me see the documents, migrating geese with gliders? Okay, you got the stamp, yes, but you still need to do blood tests, or you won¡¯t be able to pass through the Schengen Area.¡± Johnny casually flipped through the documents. ¡°What did he say?¡± Elvan asked Lenin. ¡°Need to do blood tests.¡± ¡°How long?¡± Elvan hurriedly asked. ¡°About¡­ eight days.¡± Johnny put the documents aside and spread his hands, ¡°We also have to follow procedures.¡± Countless memories flashed through Elvan¡¯s mind; he had given so much for this moment, how could he give up? Even if no one believed he could succeed. If no one had walked this path, then he would walk it! If no one would do it, then he would! Ten days had passed. The test results were still not out. Elvan thought of the blizzard the day after tomorrow and the terrible consequences of the dozen geese not being able to migrate. The arrow was on the bowstring; he had to shoot. He had been studying the conservation and migration of birds for over twenty years, but what use was research, research, and more research? They didn¡¯t need money, they didn¡¯t need manpower; all they needed was a simple stamp, and they were unwilling. On the other side, Bi Fang and Etienne were training the geese to fly. Making the geese learn to fly wasn¡¯t difficult; the instinct of birds to fly is ingrained in their genes. Just a little guidance, and they could take off smoothly. Blowing the whistle, they ran up a slope quickly; the geese couldn¡¯t keep up and naturally started to flap their wings, one stroke, two strokes, and soon these Natural Sprites had grasped the skill of maneuvering the air currents. Soon, one by one, two by two, from gliding to skilled flying, more and more geese flew towards the sky. The large geese traced a graceful arc on the horizon as if they might plummet into the mountains at any moment. Ultimately, they flapped their wings vigorously and disappeared into the dense white clouds, only to return to the people once more. Bi Fang and Etienne watched the geese flying in the sky with excitement, and the audience in the live streaming room was also thrilled. [So beautiful] [Beautiful, I agree. This is my first time watching geese fly] [Amazing, isn¡¯t this place too beautiful? I want to go and play on the stones too] S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [This is Finland, how could it not be beautiful? It¡¯s one of the most worthwhile places to visit in Europe.] [I heard that Finland has the highest happiness index in the world. I want to go there and be a happy idler.] [Happiness is achieved through hard work!] ¡°This is their first flight, and from now on, they will have this place etched in their hearts. They will return here next year to nest,¡± Elvan said as he hurried over and explained, watching the geese¡¯s first flight. ¡°If you do this a few more times, they will get used to your presence.¡± The geese¡¯s maiden flight was successful, and next up was the trial flight. The two of them stepped on the stones in the stream to reach the hang glider, hopping from one lily pad to another like two frogs. ¡°Have you tried this before?¡± ¡°A bit,¡± Bi Fang felt that piloting the glider wasn¡¯t difficult, like playing a game ¡ªjust maneuvering two sticks. To ascend or descend, use the control stick; pulling back raises the elevator, pitching the nose up; pushing forward lowers the elevator, pitching the nose down. The rudder is controlled with foot pedals; pressing the left pedal swings the rudder left, turning the nose left; pressing the right pedal swings the rudder right, turning the nose right. The only difficulty was that merely operating the rudder could change the glider¡¯s lateral position but could not make it turn. A hang glider has a strong inertia when flying straight. Turning the rudder would cause sideslip, like when turning sharply in a fast-moving car. Sharp turns on the road are typically sloped to prevent the car from sliding, but the hang glider is free in the air. To make the glider turn without sideslipping, one must simultaneously operate the ailerons and the vertical tail. But after getting familiar a couple of times, Bi Fang quickly got the hang of it. Next, they needed to get the geese to follow them in flight. ¡°Test, how¡¯s the test?¡± Bi Fang contacted Lenin on the shore using his headset. ¡°You¡¯re coming through clear.¡± ¡°We¡¯re taking off now. Are you ready on your end?¡± Etienne, who was in the rear seat, contacted Lenin. ¡°Everything¡¯s ready.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Elvan shouted excitedly. The most cautious executor, the most comprehensive migration plan-success was within sight! On the expansive lake surface, Bi Fang looked at the ripples on the water, started the engine, and the Elvan behind him began to honk the horn. Lenin and Etienne stood on the shore, equally excited, watching every move of the geese: ¡°Good, they¡¯re all near you now, go ahead, they¡¯re following you now, go!¡± Bi Fang nodded and steered the hang glider to glide on the lake surface. The large geese followed the hang glider, flying low over the lake surface, but as they flew, the geese suddenly scattered in different directions, flying to the sky. Only a very few still maintained formation, trailing behind the two of them. ¡°Damn it,¡± Lenin had a bad feeling. ¡°Are any still following?¡± Elvan asked eagerly. ¡°No¡­¡± Lenin felt embarrassed, ¡°They have flown away.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Elvan was startled and quickly asked Bi Fang to stop, looking back. There wasn¡¯t a single goose behind the hang glider anymore; those that were following had flown off to frolic elsewhere. Lenin on the shore had a worried frown but still offered comfort: ¡°It¡¯s okay, maybe the propeller was blocking their view, and the geese didn¡¯t see you, so they flew away. It¡¯s okay, you guys go back and try once more, as long as the geese see you, it¡¯ll be fine.¡± Elvan was unsettled and had Bi Fang turn sideways to head back, but even after the geese saw Elvan, they still ignored him and swam towards Lenin on the shore. ¡°Damnit!¡± Elvan couldn¡¯t bear such a blow and banged the seat fiercely. This was completely different from what he had expected. The geese had clearly followed their first flight on the shore, so why wouldn¡¯t they even glance at the hang glider now? Back on the shore, Bi Fang removed his helmet and glanced at Elvan, then looked towards Etienne, feeling uneasy. ¡°There must be a problem with one of the steps.¡± Elvan was very anxious. ¡°Maybe we weren¡¯t properly prepared,¡± Lenin guessed. ¡°No¡­ They were ready, they all took off, which means they were ready,¡± Elvan contested this idea, ¡°It¡¯s something else.¡± ¡°The wind?¡± ¡°Wind? Yeah, the wind, as if the wind has anything to do with it, not at all.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get mad at me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not mad, it¡¯s you telling me not to get mad that¡¯s making me mad. The two began to argue intensely. Meanwhile, Bi Fang moved away from the two and sat down next to Etienne, hugging his helmet: ¡°You mentioned before, you witnessed the birth of the Barnacle Goose?¡± Etienne, puzzled, still nodded: ¡°Yes, my father and I were there at the time. What about it?¡± ¡°No, nothing,¡± Bi Fang looked at the arguing Elvan, ¡°I just hope I¡¯m wrong. Chapter 159 - 156: Positive Guessed wrong? Chapter 159: Chapter 156: Positive Guessed wrong? What do you mean? As soon as the audience heard this, they grew anxious. The mission¡¯s significance was extraordinary; its success would mean the rescue of a species, a profoundly meaningful event to witness first-hand. Now that there was a problem, everyone was especially concerned. [Why not follow and fly with them?) [What does Old Fang mean by that?] [Didn¡¯t the White-fronted Goose mistake Etienne for its parents?] [ How come they encounter a difficulty right off the bat? I thought the challenging part was the migration, never thought that getting the geese to follow would be the issue] [Isn¡¯t this just utterly ruined?] Seeing the barrage of comments, Bi Fang stepped away from Etienne and whispered, ¡°We can¡¯t rule out that possibility.¡± Otherwise, there was no explaining why the geese wouldn¡¯t follow them. Past cases had told Bi Fang that there was nothing wrong with their plan, so the problem must lie with the people! Therefore, Bi Fang sought out Elvan and explained the possibility to him. Elvan panicked at once. If that were the case, how could he lead the geese in their migration? He asked urgently, ¡°Then what should we do?¡± ¡°If the geese truly recognize only Etienne, my advice is to abandon the mission. It¡¯s far too dangerous for Etienne,¡± Bi Fang said. Bi Fang was willing to take risks with Elvan because Elvan, like him, had his own dreams and passion and was willing to sacrifice almost everything for them. Moreover, as an adult, Elvan could take responsibility for his choices. Etienne was different; he was even younger than Bi Fang had imagined, lacking three months to his fifteenth birthday. Bi Fang could not let a fourteen-year-old boy take risks with him. Upon hearing this conclusion, Elvan held his head and knocked it hard. If he must migrate, he could certainly set out with three people, but as Bi Fang said, the journey was too dangerous for Etienne. Reality isn¡¯t a novel, nobody is the protagonist, and accidents can truly happen. Between the geese and his son, the choice was undeniable. In that moment, Elvan was pained by his failure to the eighteen White-fronted Geese. Seeing Elvan in such a state, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but feel compassion and consoled him, ¡°Don¡¯t be too distressed; this is only a possibility. Perhaps I guessed wrong, maybe the geese just haven¡¯t gotten used to my presence and thus didn¡¯t follow the glider.¡± ¡°Right!¡± Elvan clutched at this lifeline, ¡°Yes, it must be that reason; we can definitely do it if we try a few more times.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s try again tomorrow,¡± Bi Fang suggested as he looked up at the sky, ¡°We¡¯ll give it another try tomorrow.¡± It was too late today. Within the Arctic Circle, the autumn days are very brief, with darkness beginning to fall at just after three o¡¯clock. Now at four o¡¯clock, the stars were already out. Elvan, resigned to the situation, agreed it was too dark for flight and decided to wait until tomorrow. The pressure of time was growing ever more intense. If the weather forecast was correct, it would snow the day after tomorrow, leaving them only one more day, or perhaps not even a full day. The crackling of burning logs resounded; the campfire lit up everyone¡¯s faces. Everyone was in low spirits due to the failure of the first flight. Just as everyone was feeling downcast, a streak of green light suddenly shone down upon the land. Bi Fang looked up, his pupils contracting. Without warning, a flame seemed to ignite in the sky, dancing and changing colors, even bursting into a near-white intense light. Strips of green ribbons stretched across the sky above them. It was the Northern Lights! These high-energy particles from space continuously collided with the Earth¡¯s atmosphere, transforming into wondrous streams of light that danced in the sky. The audience was instantly excited, and in just a few minutes, the number of viewers surged again with no sign of stopping. [Holy shit, it¡¯s the Northern Lights!] [Mom, I¡¯m seeing the Northern Lights!] sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Isn¡¯t this just too beautiful? I¡¯ve only seen photos before, never with my own eyes] [Wake up, you¡¯re still at home. You¡¯re seeing this on a screen too, no difference] [No, I feel like Old Fang¡¯s live stream is different, just as breathtaking as seeing it in person.] [Old Fang¡¯s head has turned green (humorous)] [Plus one on the green, so green, Old Fang has gone completely green.] Auroras constantly changed shape, and Etienne couldn¡¯t contain his excitement. He rushed to the nearby grassland, trying to enjoy this magnificent moment alone. It was as if a symphony had reached its climax, myriad green lights began to dance, underpinned by the purple glow, shining down like divine rays upon the land. Gazing up at the sky at this moment made one involuntarily drop to their knees. At this moment, humans were but a speck of dust in the cosmos. The night belonged to the stars and the aurora. Bi Fang immersed himself in the moment and it took a while before he responded, speaking to the screen, ¡°In Finland, you can see the aurora about too times a year, mainly in spring and autumn. We¡¯re lucky.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a legend in Finland about the Northern Lights¡ªFox Fires. According to Sami folklore, a fox running swiftly across the Lapland wilderness sweeps its tail across the snow, flinging snowflakes up to the northern sky where they turn into twinkling sparks. These sparks draw colorful arcs, lighting up the pitch-black land¡ªthat is the origin of the aurora borealis.¡± ¡°In Finnish, the Northern Lights are called ¡®revontulet,¡¯ which literally means ¡®Fox Fires,¡¯ stemming from this legend.¡± Bi Fang did not explain the scientific reasons for the aurora¡¯s formation but chose to share a beautiful legend instead, lest it spoil the mood. The aurora lifted everyone¡¯s spirits from their gloom, and Lenin happily ate his canned food, ¡°A few years ago, I came here with some students and saw the aurora too. It was really beautiful.¡± ¡°Was it for a research trip?¡± Bi Fang added more wood to the fire, curious. ¡°Yes, at that time we placed the eggs of the White-fronted Goose into the nests of Barnacle Geese, hoping they would rear the White-fronted Goose and teach them to migrate.¡± ¡°And what happened?¡± Etienne was very curious; their team had two Barnacle Geese. ¡°At first, everything went smoothly, but¡­ in fact, we didn¡¯t have a permit, Johnny ordered us to leave, and then they killed the White-fronted Geese to prevent them from interbreeding.¡± ¡°That¡¯s terrible,¡± Elvan couldn¡¯t believe it. Bi Fang glanced at the geese in the cage, ¡°This time it will work.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The next day. ¡°Morning, Johnny.¡± ¡°Morning. Gosh, it¡¯s really cold today.¡± Johnny, dressed in a sharp suit, walked into the hall and stood in front of the air conditioner, enjoying the warm air for a moment. ¡°By the way, Johnny, did you finish the blood tests Lenin asked for? They seem pretty urgent about it.¡± A colleague kindly reminded him. ¡°What blood tests?¡± Johnny was taken aback. ¡°It¡¯s for the White-fronted Goose; they need the report to be allowed to leave the Schengen Area.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Johnny slapped his forehead, ¡°You mean using the glider to migrate the geese?¡± ¡°Right.¡± Johnny chuckled, ¡°Please, it¡¯s totally unnecessary. There¡¯s no way the project will work. Geese following a glider to migrate? That¡¯s the funniest joke I¡¯ve heard this year, there¡¯s no need to waste time on tests.¡± The colleague was stunned, not expecting Johnny to dare do this, ¡°But they¡¯ve called to follow up.¡± ¡°Just give them a positive report, it¡¯s just a waste of a few sheets of paper.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that inappropriate? They¡¯ve been waiting for over ten days,¡± the colleague tried to interject with little effect. ¡°No, I¡¯m just saving them time and effort for a plan that won¡¯t work,¡± Johnny said nonchalantly, ¡°Come on, print out a report quickly; we¡¯ll go find them, no need to have them keep getting cold by the lake.¡± The colleague shook his head slightly; Johnny was no ordinary employee. His father was a retired official and his family wealthy; Johnny often treated everyone to food and drinks. Oh well, as Johnny said, it didn¡¯t matter what the blood test results were; the plan was bound to fail. ¡°Are we ready?¡± By the lakeside, Bi Fang and Elvan were preparing for takeoff when a car suddenly arrived. Seeing the license plate, Lenin¡¯s heart sank. He had promised Johnny not to release the geese from the cages until the report was out. Clearly, the geese were joyfully flying about. Johnny in the car also saw the flying geese and hurriedly got out. ¡°Hey, what did I say? Without permission, no releasing birds! And the avian flu test results are positive!¡± Johnny angrily threw out the report. Chapter 160 - 157: Tricked onto a Pirate Ship Chapter 160: Chapter 157: Tricked onto a Pirate Ship The report was slammed down onto Lenin¡¯s body. Lenin picked it up and turned to the last page, muttering. ¡°Positive? How could that be?¡± Lincoln looked as if his soul had left him; he had never imagined the test report would come back positive. ¡°The fact is, the bird flu test result is positive. Lenin, look at those geese; they should never have been released!¡± Johnny, angry at his orders having been disobeyed, pointed at the geese in the sky, then commanded the men behind him, ¡°Unload the boat!¡± Elvan and Bi Fang also hurried over. ¡°Wait, what did they say?¡± Elvan hadn¡¯t understood Johnny¡¯s Finnish. Lenin looked at Elvan. ¡°They said the test result is positive.¡± Elvan became agitated. ¡°Positive? How is that possible? Didn¡¯t we conduct tests before? Everything was compliant, no issues, and we also vaccinated afterward!¡± Could it be that you administered the vaccines too late?¡± Bi Fang asked. Elvan frantically scratched his head and paced back and forth. ¡°The vaccine was administered over half a month ago. Even if it¡¯s a normal reaction post-exposure, it shouldn¡¯t be positive now. There must be a mistake.¡± Johnny, who understood English, used his index finger to jab at Lenin¡¯s chest, pushing him backward until he was almost unsteady. Bi Fang stepped forward to steady Lenin and glanced at Johnny. Somehow, at that look, Johnny unconsciously withdrew his finger, coughed twice, and continued, ¡°Is that so? I told you to keep the geese caged until the results were out. But what did you do? They shouldn¡¯t have been bom, Lenin!¡± Without looking back, Johnny headed toward the small boat unloaded by the lakeside. What is he trying to do?¡± Elvan watched Johnny moving the boat with confusion. Lenin watched Johnny leave and said despondently, ¡°To take them away.¡± Capture? No, no no no,¡± panicked Elvan, running towards Johnny, blocking his path. ¡°STOP! STOP! Listen to me¡­¡± Bi Fang also intercepted alongside Elvan. ¡°Wait, wait, there must have been a mistake¡­¡± ¡°Who are you? Hurry up¡­¡± Johnny was about to scold but swallowed his words, ¡°Whoever you are, step aside!¡± Bi Fang blocked Johnny, and Elvan quickly explained, ¡°No no, OK, listen, I can explain, it must be the vaccine.¡± Elvan desperately tried to explain, but Johnny was immovable, and as they stood in opposition, the tension between them grew. The audience in the live broadcast grew anxious. Why were there problems with the blood test now? They thought the biggest challenge in animal protection would involve the environment; they had no idea that even before the project was implemented, the biggest obstacle would be humans themselves! [If it¡¯s positive, then the birds shouldn¡¯t have been released, right?] [Didn¡¯t you hear what Professor Elvan said? The tests came back with no issues, and they had been vaccinated. I think there¡¯s definitely some misunderstanding; something must be wrong.] [That¡¯s right; as a med student, I can tell you false positives are real, and even if it is positive, it doesn¡¯t necessarily mean there¡¯s an illness.] [Also, whether it¡¯s positive or negative depends on the testing method. It could be positive even after vaccination.] [Isn¡¯t it over before it even started?] [Aren¡¯t they going to kill these birds too? Didn¡¯t Big Beard say last night that the White-fronted Goose was killed simply because crossbreeding wasn¡¯t allowed?] [It¡¯s quite possible.] [Old Fang, stop them already, can¡¯t things be settled amicably? Why is the first recourse always to kill? Is this the animal protection the foreigners keep shouting about?] [Exactly, stop them!] As the two sides pushed and shoved each other, on the brink of a physical altercation, Lenin quickly contacted Etienne by walkie-talkie, who was next to the glider: ¡°Etienne, can you hear me? Etienne, if you can hear me, give a hand signal.¡± Dressed in a robe, Etienne, who was far away, looked at the scuffling group and waved at Lenin to signal that he could hear him. Lenin spoke quietly: ¡°Good, take the geese to the center of the lake, repeat, take the geese to the center of the lake, I¡¯ll explain to them.¡± After speaking, Lenin rushed between the two sides, pushing away Elvan and Johnny, and then said to Johnny, ¡°Calm down, getting angry won¡¯t solve anything.¡± Johnny knocked Lenin¡¯s hand aside and straightened his collar. Initially, he was just annoyed by the hassle of blood testing, so he¡¯d prepared a positive report in advance, planning to seize the birds and leave. He felt a bit guilty before leaving, until he¡¯d spoken with France on the way, which completely dispelled any guilt. Johnny pointed at Elvan and Bi Fang and spoke harshly, ¡°I¡¯ve been in touch with Paris, and they don¡¯t know anything about your plan.¡± The whole process was complicated, yet it was linear, and not a single step could be omitted. Paris had to agree first before Elvan could raise the non-wing-clipped wild geese and migrate with them. Then came Johnny¡¯s turn to pass the blood test, so the geese could cross the Schengen Area. Since the first step had not been completed, there was no need to look at the blood test report at all. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. We can test again¡­ huh, what?¡± Lenin was explaining when he heard this and went blank, as did Bi Fang standing nearby. They don¡¯t know about the plan? Wait, didn¡¯t Elvan just tell him on the plane that they had permission? They don¡¯t know what the plan is over here? Deceive me onto the boat? ¡°He said he had contacts in Paris, but they have no clue about your plan,¡± Lenin turned his head towards Elvan, repeating what he had just said before making his own excuse, ¡°Maybe there was a miscommunication. Call them again and explain.¡± Elvan touched his neck and turned to walk towards the lake. Bi Fang and Lenin hurried after him. Lenin took out his mobile phone and handed it to Elvan, ¡°Elvan, quick, ask them what¡¯s happening over there.¡± Seeing Elvan remain silent, Bi Fang sensed something was amiss, ¡°Elvan, don¡¯t you have permission?¡± Lenin denied it before anyone else could, ¡°No, I¡¯ve seen the stamped document it¡¯s real.¡± ¡°I stamped that seal myself.¡± Elvan, looking at Etienne in the center of the lake, admitted with his head down. ¡°What the hell?¡± Lenin was flabbergasted, ¡°Elvan, are you joking with me? Have you thought about the consequences of doing this?¡± Elvan remained silent. ¡°What do we do now?¡± Etienne asked through the walkie-talkie. Lenin stammered, ¡°Uhm, we don¡¯t have permission; you explain it to him.¡± He passed the hot potato to Bi Fang and then ran to explain things again to Johnny. Bi Fang took the walkie-talkie, glanced at the downhearted Elvan, and explained to the distant Etienne, ¡°Can you hear me, Etienne? The situation is a bit complicated right now. Your dad didn¡¯t get permission, and the documents are forged.¡± What?¡± Etienne felt like he had heard wrong. ¡°I know this is hard for you, but that¡¯s just how things are.¡± Bi Fang understood that Etienne had spent his entire summer with the geese and knew he must be feeling terrible now. Elvan took the walkie-talkie, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Etienne, I¡¯m an idiot, a big idiot, now they want to take the geese away¡­¡± The geese were about to be taken away. Bi Fang pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling his temples throb. He wanted to save the geese too, but the local enforcers held power here; in another man¡¯s land, his word meant nothing. If only it were in his own country, with his current status, leading a flock of geese on a migration wouldn¡¯t be so troublesome. Instead, he was now caught up with a pile of nonsense. These foreigners shouted slogans about animal protection louder than anyone else, but when someone actually wanted to do something, it was harder than anything. The mission would likely have to be reverted to its original plan. So much time wasted, and after training with the geese, they were back to square one. In the center of the lake, Etienne watched the workers at the shore pushing boats into the water, and the geese in the lake were calling out incessantly, as though foreseeing their own fate. The young birds hatched from their eggs. They learned to run for the first time. They soared in the sky for the first time. To familiarize the geese with the sound of engines, they played recordings all night even at the expense of their own sleep. They claimed to have found an endangered species of hamster to protect the wetlands and give the young birds a chance to grow up. Just because of hybrid breeding, they were going to be killed. ¡°Aga, Amu, let¡¯s go.¡± Etienne pulled the starter, the engine sprang to life, ripples spread across the lake, and the geese behind the glider, alerted by the sound, started swimming towards it. On the shore, Elvan saw the propeller spinning and realized something was wrong. He shouted urgently, ¡°Stop, Etienne, stop! Come back right now!¡± Johnny, too, noticed the geese stirring and angrily directed the boats, ¡°Chase them, chase them fast!¡± ¡°Come back, Etienne, the weather is about to change.¡± Ignoring Elvan¡¯s attempts to dissuade him, Etienne didn¡¯t care. The propeller spun faster and faster, and the once stationary glider began to move along the water surface. The engine roared to life. The boats at the shore also started their engines, and two workers drove after the glider. They had to stop the glider from taking off and bring all the White-fronted Geese back! ¡°Splash!¡± The sound of someone entering the water. Lenin turned in surprise, only to find Bi Fang had disappeared, leaving only his backpack. ¡°Bi Fang, what are you doing?¡± Chapter 161 - 158: The Sunshine is at its Peak Chapter 161: Chapter 158: The Sunshine is at its Peak The glider slowly slid across the surface of the water, and Etienne was about to lead the geese on their migration alone. A teenager, trying to survive in the wilderness with a flock of geese, impossible. Whether it be Elvan or Johnny, they had to stop Etienne¡¯s actions at this moment. The staff struggled to pull the engine by the lake, attempting to start the speedboat, but just a second before the boat¡¯s engine roared to life, Bi Fang dropped his backpack and leapt into the water, swimming swiftly like an arrow cutting through the waves. Ripples spread out, the speedboat started! What was Bi Fang going to do? Not only Lenin and Elvan, but even the audience in front of the screen didn¡¯t know what Bi Fang was planning. Was he going to swim after the glider? The glider was at least fifty meters away from the shore, the world record itself took twenty seconds, the glider would have taken off by then! Absolutely impossible! Just as everyone was puzzled by Bi Fang¡¯s attempt to swim after the glider, suddenly he dove down, disappearing from the surface of the water, leaving only circles of ripples as proof of his presence. The propeller churned the water. The people on the speedboat charged towards the glider at high speed. This small boat could go from accelerating to top speed in just three seconds, and even though it was slow at the start, if it could reach its maximum speed, it might catch up with the glider. As one of the staff members turned his head to look back, he was shocked to find that the Asian man who had just jumped into the water had disappeared. Where was he? No one knew how Bi Fang had vanished into thin air. Only the staff member sitting by the side of the boat, watching the bow splitting the waves, caught a glimpse of something unusual under the water with the corner of his eye. A blurry shadow became clearer and clearer, something was rising from the lake, and it was definitely not small. Was it a big fish? No, that couldn¡¯t be! Could it be¡­ The staff member¡¯s pupils shrank in terror as he watched the shadow, intending to steer the boat in another direction, but it was too late. The surface of the water broke and a ¡°big fish¡± leapt out, grabbing the side of the boat in a fraction of a second, the immense strength tilting the whole boat sideways as the waves splashed up. This was no ¡°big fish,¡± it was the Asian man who had disappeared! The cold lake water caused Bi Fang¡¯s muscles to stiffen; breaking through the surface, he gasped for air, filling his shriveled lungs with oxygen, his rigid muscles straining without regard for the cost. Solid muscles rolled under his skin as if trying to burst forth, the wood by the boat¡¯s side creaked softly, cracking slightly, veins on his arms snaked like small serpents, sending up a spray of water as tall as a man. Crystal droplets shattered in mid-air, and taking advantage of the last bit of buoyancy, Bi Fang abruptly flipped into the boat, grabbing the collar of a stunned staff member and flipping him into the water. Splash! A heavy object hit the water, splashing the second staff member in the face. The speedboat, now relieved of three people¡¯s weight, lightened instantly, and with only two left on board, it sped even faster toward the glider, which was swiftly moving away from the water¡¯s surface. Bi Fang turned to look at the second staff member, but to his surprise, the man had already jumped into the water! The first staff member to fall into the water swallowed a couple of mouthfuls of it and barely came to his senses, struggling to stay afloat when he saw a huge dark shadow plummeting down onto him. Splash. The third splash marked another man¡¯s entry into the water. The two collided, and blood spread through the water. The first man to fall in touched his bleeding nose, angrily staring at his colleague. The colleague was embarrassed, Bi Fang¡¯s entrance had been too ¡°brutal,¡± and feeling like he was being targeted by a fierce tiger, he had uncontrollably jumped from the boat to escape upon seeing the other man board. Pulling on the starter rope, the engine roared to life. With only Bi Fang on board, the speedboat¡¯s speed was pushed to the limit; the agile vessel jumped through the turbulent waters, rushing forward like a wild horse breaking through a field. The kid was too reckless! He couldn¡¯t be allowed to just fly away. Bi Fang stood on the bow of the boat, the wind whipping at his black windbreaker, flapping loudly like a banner. Water droplets flew from his hair, as Bi Fang chased after the glider. But the glider had taken off first, no matter how fast Bi Fang pursued, it had already left the surface of the water! ¡°Stop, Etienne, stop!¡± Elvan on the shore kept shouting, but to no avail. As soon as he thought of the geese being killed, Etienne knew he could not stop! Ten meters between them, the glider had begun to ascend! It was over, once the glider took to the skies, no one would be able to stop Etienne! The walkie-talkie fell, and Elvan sat down on the ground in despair. Everything was over. ¡°Elvan, don¡¯t lose heart, Bi Fang is still chasing!¡± Lenin grabbed Elvan¡¯s arm, his nerves stretched tight. He had watched Etienne grow up, how could he stand by and watch him take such a big risk? ¡°What?¡± Elvan looked up, surprised to see that at this moment Bi Fang stood at the bow, speeding forward without the slightest intention of giving up. What on earth did he plan to do? This is a speedboat, not a helicopter, how could it possibly catch up with the glider? The distance between the speedboat and the glider was closing, and so was the difference in altitude. Five meters away, the glider rose to one meter! Three meters away, the glider rose to two meters! Two meters away, the glider rose to three meters! Three meters! It¡¯s too high. Impossible to reach! The live broadcast audience, looking up at the angle of the glider, how could it possibly keep up in such a situation? But the next second, everyone knew what was called a miracle. Bi Fang stomped on the bow, the boat sank under his tremendous force, the lake water was pushed aside, like Moses parting the sea, and in the next moment came together, buoyancy surging upwards as though the hand of God was lifting the boat towards the sky. In the nick of time, Bi Fang suddenly leaped, his muscles and bones making a crisp sound as he extended his body, lunging towards the glider in the sky. Perfect angle, perfect arc. Just like a cheetah drawing in its body and reaching out its sharp claws, he lightly hooked onto the underside of the glider. The instant he grasped it, Bi Fang¡¯s body sank, and he almost lost his grip. More than seventy kilograms of weight suddenly pressed on the glider, tilting it downward instantly, causing its wings to tilt and plummet toward the lake¡¯s surface. The glider¡¯s sudden descent startled Etienne. He had not seen Bi Fang chasing after him, nor did he know what happened, but he quickly adjusted the direction, steadying the originally tilting glider, and spiraled upwards around the lake¡¯s surface. Bi Fang hung onto the glider like a tiger clutching its prey, refusing to let go. ¡°My Lord.¡± Johnny crossed himself over his chest, the scene before his eyes shattering his understanding. In over forty years of life, Johnny had never seen a more heart-stopping scene. ¡°Stop!¡± ¡°Etienne, stop quickly!¡± Bi Fang yelled from below, but the propeller¡¯s noise drowned out everything, and Etienne, wearing a helmet, could not hear a thing; at this moment, his mind was overwhelmed by various emotions. Fear, excitement, agitation, apprehension, all woven together, he could no longer pay attention to any outside sound. The glider flew higher and higher, passing over the entire lake, where the geese lined up, their genetic instincts forming a V-formation with the glider leading and flanking on both sides. Their wings spread wide, the tips gliding through the sky, leaving invisible traces, their vigorous flapping dissipated the severe cold. The sun hung high above the clouds, with sunlight spreading thinly across the clouds. They were migrating, following the plane! The two people trembling in the cold water as they fell, watched this scene, almost forgetting to tread water, choking again. ¡°It¡¯s so magical.¡± Lenin stood on the shore, staring blankly at the scene, ¡°They are following Etienne, not that light aircraft, Elvan, your plan was successful.¡± Elvan no longer cared about the geese migrating. All his thoughts were on his son¡¯s safety. He cried out, waving his arms: ¡°Etienne, stop quickly! Bi Fang, you come down too! I don¡¯t want the migration anymore, just come down!¡± sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The glider circled once, flew in from the opposite side of the lake, and passed overhead. ¡°Quick, stop! Stop!¡± Elvan¡¯s hands crossed, shouting until his voice was hoarse. The glider flew higher and higher, further and further away until it became a blur and disappeared from sight. Elvan knelt to the ground. ¡°Etienne!!!¡± Chapter 162: 159: Are You Ready to Set Off? (Seeking Monthly Pass) ¡°Fuck, fuck, fuck! Climbing onto a plane bare-handed, that¡¯s badass!¡± In the dormitory, Cao Lifeng went crazy yelling when he saw Bi Fang using the buoyancy of the boat to leap up and grab onto the plane, startling the few people next to him. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Old Cao, what the hell are you doing? Regressing to your ancestors?¡± ¡°You scared me, I thought ¡®Dawn of the Planet of the Apes¡¯ was happening.¡± ¡°Still on your phone? Aren¡¯t you going to review for exams? They¡¯re coming up.¡± Cao Lifeng, his face flush with excitement, explained, ¡°No, it¡¯s that streamer I told you guys about! It¡¯s explosive, I¡¯m totally blown away!¡± ¡°The ¡®Migration Goose¡¯ guy?¡± Several roommates took interest, since Cao Lifeng had introduced them to Bi Fang¡¯s live stream before, Bi Fang had become popular among them, and this trend was gradually spreading throughout the class. Bi Fang¡¯s live streams spread through the campus like a virus, growing more and more intense. But with the exam month arriving, plus the fact that yesterday¡¯s goose training lacked any explosive news, Cao Lifeng was the only one in the dorm still following the streams. When Cao Lifeng explained that Bi Fang had grabbed onto the plane with his bare hands to stop Etienne, everyone hurried to his side and saw Bi Fang dangling under the plane like a flag flapping in the wind. Time seemed to reverse as they all let out the same kind of shrieks as Cao Lifeng. ¡°Holy shit, it¡¯s like the real-life Bro Tom!¡± The plane skimmed over the surface of the lake, disappearing into the distance along with the geese from the sight of Elvan and others. Etienne sat in the seat of the glider, his heart racing and palms sweating, replaying in his mind over and over again whether he had done everything exactly as his father had taught him. ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay, the rpm is normal, the wind speed is normal, the fuel is normal, everything is normal.¡± This water glider was huge, and Etienne sitting on it couldn¡¯t see Bi Fang, who was clinging to the right pontoon of the plane; he was completely focused on what was in front of him. Bi Fang, hanging beneath the plane, was blasted by the oncoming wind so violently that he could barely open his eyes. His body broke out in a sweat, while the water-soaked clothes turned stiff and cold from the wind, soon to be crusted with frost. Bi Fang dared not and could not let go, for he was more than a hundred meters above the ground, and letting go would mean certain death. The drone quietly hovered behind the glider, capturing Bi Fang¡¯s precarious situation with crystal clear clarity. The sight of his shaking body made everyone¡¯s heart skip a beat, as if he would let go at any second. This time, there was no parachute. [Hu sou ou ji ju just donated a Spaceship xi to the host¡ªThat jump just now got me all hot and bothered, here¡¯s a drink for the badass, but isn¡¯t this too dangerous?] [Hang in there Old Fang! Do we need to call for a rescue?] [This is so exciting right off the bat!] [This is making me piss my pants.] Watching Bi Fang dizzy under the plane, viewers were getting palpitations and dry mouths. This scene was even more thrilling than a movie! Bi Fang was sweating profusely, his fingers stiff as ice and no strength to muster. He shouted twice, but got no response. Etienne, tense to the extreme, couldn¡¯t hear anything. ¡°Damn it.¡± Bi Fang cursed under his breath, looked at the pontoons of the glider, flexed his arms and trapezius to lift himself almost entirely up, then with a heave, he let go of his hands and wrapped his arms around the pontoon. This scene nearly gave the viewers a heart attack. Fortunately, Bi Fang succeeded, and the glider tilted to the left and then quickly stabilized, with Bi Fang hanging on even more securely. Now Etienne was even more nervous. Real operations were much harder than practice, and he had never encountered a situation during practice where the wind direction stayed the same but the plane suddenly tilted. Bi Fang, holding tight to the pontoon, now began trying to climb onto the plane. And with each of his movements, the audience¡¯s hearts were hanging by a thread. [My god, I wasn¡¯t this nervous even when Germany was against Argentina!] [This is truly challenging human limits] [There¡¯s never the most foolish way to die, only more foolish ways!] However, it wasn¡¯t over yet. Under the terrified gaze of the audience, Bi Fang actually began to swing his body! Bi Fang was using the force of the wind to swing himself up! He had never fallen behind in his Calisthenics and Advanced Yoga. These two exercises had given Bi Fang incredible core strength. Hanging beneath the glider, he was as steady as a pendulum in a way that was a bit terrifying. Unaware, the rhythm of the audience¡¯s heartbeat seemed to synchronize with the swaying motion. Suspended in mid-air, Bi Fang¡¯s swaying amplitude grew greater and greater until, on the last swing, he took a deep breath, made a thrusting motion, and successfully placed his feet on the pontoon! At this moment, Bi Fang was facing the camera, and everyone could clearly see that frost had already formed on his eyebrows, and his lips were even frozen to the point of turning purple. [Awesome, Old Fang¡¯s move is even cooler than Bro Tom¡¯s!] [Bro Tom¡¯s a joke, there are safety measures in all that, they wouldn¡¯t dare film it like this!] [Master Fang is the strongest! yyds] [Stop with the yyds, at this rate Old Fang will never find a wife] [Ah, this.] A dozen minutes later. Besides the recent jolt, no other incidents had occurred during the flight, which gradually relaxed Etienne¡¯s nervousness. The sky was clear and washed with azure, the white clouds drifted by, and the brown geese spread their wings, almost hovering in mid-air, as if wax statues cast in the air. With a smile, Etienne stretched out his hand, wanting to touch the geese. ¡°It¡¯s not as hard as I thought.¡± Dad¡¯s plan was correct, the geese successfully followed the plane to migrate, but what next? In the urgency of the moment, Etienne hadn¡¯t thought about the consequences of rescuing the geese. How could he, alone, lead the geese to migrate? A three thousand kilometer journey, all through the wilderness. With no navigation, how could he stay on course with just a map? Etienne began to regret his decision; if only his idol were here, he was frantically scratching his head. A cold thing climbed up his neck, like a creepy venomous snake, sending a chill straight into his heart. Etienne¡¯s hairs stood on end; he wasn¡¯t the only living thing on the glider! Hundreds of meters up in the air, what kind of thing could be crawling on it? In an instant, numerous films flashed across Etienne¡¯s mind: Alien, The Day After Tomorrow, The Conjuring, and he broke out in a cold sweat, his scalp going numb, his body stiffening, afraid to look back for fear that the moment he did, a monster would bite off his head. However, the next moment, a pair of hands suddenly reached out and took off Etienne¡¯s helmet. ¡°Hey! Kid, can you hear me now? Descend immediately, this is too dangerous.¡± Huh? With his eyes tightly shut, Etienne suddenly recognized the voice as familiar. He opened his eyes and then saw Bi Fang right behind him. The cold he had felt was indeed Bi Fang¡¯s fingers, stiff with freezing. Seeing that it was his idol, Etienne hurriedly began to explain. ¡°It won¡¯t work! Didn¡¯t you hear what Lenin said? Hybrids are slaughtered, let alone allowed to migrate. We can¡¯t hand the geese over to them, we can migrate together with the geese. They have followed me in flight, did you see? They follow me! Elvan¡¯s plan worked!¡± ¡°They are definitely not sick. I have lived with them for six months, even sleeping together. It¡¯s impossible they¡¯re positive, I swear! You¡¯re so capable, if we lead them together, we¡¯ll surely succeed. We can save them! That¡¯s what you think too, right?¡± Etienne was extremely agitated, causing the glider to start trembling unsteadily. ¡°You don¡¯t need to explain to me, I understand. I saw your determination the moment you took off, do you understand how dangerous this is?¡± Bi Fang half-knelt behind Etienne, examining the helmet in his hands. The two were silent for a whole half minute before Etienne wiped away his tears. ¡°I¡¯ll go back with you, but could you let them go? If they are caught, they will die.¡± Etienne hung his head low, ¡°I don¡¯t want them to die.¡± He was just a kid, powerless before the world¡¯s number one explorer, able only to beg the other to let these geese go free. Bi Fang examined the sound insulation of the helmet, not understanding why it was so effectively noise-canceling; he had been shouting from below, but the kid hadn¡¯t heard a thing. Seated in the second seat, Bi Fang fiddled with the helmet, saying nothing for a long time. ¡°Please, I¡¯m begging you.¡± The oppressive silence made it hard for Etienne to breathe, and he couldn¡¯t help but plead again. ¡°Put on your helmet, the wind is strong, and blowing directly into your eyes can cause inflammation.¡± Bi Fang patted the young man¡¯s shoulder, handing back the helmet. ¡°What?¡± Etienne was stunned. ¡°I¡¯ve observed your flight path, and you¡¯re off course. You should veer thirty degrees to the left.¡± Bi Fang stood up, took the goggles from the crossbeam, and put them on, ¡°A three thousand kilometer migration is no tour, be prepared for hardships.¡± Chapter 163: 160: The Second Ignition Method Finally Appears! Etienne carefully looked at Bi Fang, who had been expressionless ever since he appeared, the same look as his mother¡¯s when he didn¡¯t do well on a test, leaving Etienne completely puzzled about the situation. Is this what the Huaxia people call being inscrutable? ¡°I don¡¯t know if what I did was right or wrong, but sometimes we can¡¯t predict the outcome, we can only make decisions based on the current situation that may be correct, and that¡¯s my consistent rule for survival.¡± Bi Fang patted Etienne¡¯s left shoulder, ¡°Let¡¯s go, I told you, you¡¯re heading in the wrong direction, turn thirty degrees to the left, lead your geese on their migration.¡± ¡°Oh ho!¡± Etienne finally understood and let out an excited roar. He stepped on the pedal, changed the direction of the hang glider, and flew towards the distant mountains beyond the layers of clouds. With Bi Fang¡¯s support, Etienne¡¯s confidence soared. With the world¡¯s number one explorer helping him, what else was there to worry about? Our hearts were full of passion and resolve, unstoppable! The live audience saw this dramatic turn and tears of excitement came to their eyes. This moment was truly cool! [Awesome! I just knew Old Fang would never let us down! ] [Even though it¡¯s a bit risky, I feel like Old Fang can definitely do it! Not even wolves, prehistoric creatures can stop him, what¡¯s migrating some geese?] [ + 1, seeing that Johnny I just felt he was no good, balding and with a face full of wrinkles, how can such a person become an animal conservation inspector? I suspect he faked the report because it was too troublesome!] [ ¡°You¡¯re letting your values be swayed by his looks, a fake report is impossible. If that were the case, his life would be over, why would anyone do that?¡± ] [Who knows, we¡¯ve seen this kind of thing before, I swear I¡¯ve seen similar news before.] [How come Etienne¡¯s father still hasn¡¯t shown up, he should be able to watch the live stream, right? He hasn¡¯t been kidnapped, has he?] The test result was positive, but honestly, Bi Fang also felt there was something wrong. Each of the eighteen geese was more vigorous than the last, none of them looked sick at all. There definitely was a mistake somewhere. But that¡¯s something for Elvan to worry about. Having already flown, might as well fly to the end, it¡¯s not like committing murder or arson. Considering Elvan¡¯s position, the worst he¡¯d face would be a fine, maybe detention for a couple of days at most. As for Bi Fang himself, he wasn¡¯t worried at all, with his current status, France couldn¡¯t even penalize him. Bi Fang pulled out the large map, studying the leverage points and made sure to avoid the camera, lest someone use the routes marked on the map to interfere by figuring out their position. Migration isn¡¯t just a simple matter of direction, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t visited every place on the map, and to know if he had reached them, he needed to work out the latitude and longitude. Now that his backpack was lost, Bi Fang was soaked to the skin, with two daggers on him and nothing else, and the cold wind made him shiver. If it weren¡¯t for his strong physique, he would likely have caught a cold by now. Bi Fang looked ahead into the distance, and his excellent vision quickly allowed him to spot a lake. He patted Etienne¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Etienne, fly towards there, let¡¯s find a lake to land in first.¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t ask Etienne to move so he could take over, changing pilots on the glider was too dangerous. Following the direction pointed out, Etienne too saw the lake hidden behind the mist, made sure the geese were following closely, then he stepped on the pedal and pushed forward the control bar; the hang glider started to descend rapidly. During the landing, Etienne was a bit afraid and he muttered softly. ¡°First control it, then surrender yourself to it.¡± Hearing these words, Bi Fang tensed up, realizing that the situation wasn¡¯t so simple. He had just seen how skillfully Etienne had been piloting, thinking the other had plenty of experience, but it now seemed this wasn¡¯t quite the case. Bi Fang grabbed the beam, watching Etienne control the hang glider circling above the lake, wobbling closer to the water¡¯s surface. Through the violent shaking of the camera, the audience also felt anxious for the two on the screen. The pontoons started touching the water surface. Thump! Thud! The moment the pontoon touched the water, it was like hitting mud. The glider shook violently, and Bi Fang¡¯s butt tingled, but the plane quickly stabilized, gliding on the lake surface. The geese landed one after another, darting into the water to frolic. The propeller turned, and the two of them glided to the lakeshore and went ashore. As soon as he reached the shore, Bi Fang drew his hunting knife and handed it to Etienne. ¡°Etienne, go find a dry spot and use this to dig a pit, it doesn¡¯t need to be too big. Then find some dry stones to lay in the pit; I want to make a fire,¡± Bi Fang instructed. Etienne excitedly took the hunting knife, which he had seen many times before, and the thrill of finally holding it in his hand spurred him to immediately look for a suitable spot nearby. Having given his instructions, Bi Fang quickly stripped off all his clothes except for his swim trunks and started doing standing push-ups on the spot. [Wow, starts stripping without a word. I suspect the broadcaster is aiming for something racy.] [Cut it out, not impressed (pulls up pants).] [True to form, talking tough once your pants are pulled up.] [That physique, those muscles, ladies, my vision is clouded by beauty.] [Just now there was frost on the clothes, it looked so cold, is it nearly zero degrees here?] S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Because of the swimming just now and the long exposure to the wind, my limbs have become stiff, and I¡¯m feeling somewhat drained,¡± Bi Fang said. ¡°In such a situation, the first thing you should do is to take off your clothes.¡± ¡°Wet clothes will not only fail to keep you warm but will also keep draining away your body heat, making you sick with a cold.¡± ¡°So we must exercise more to increase blood flow and quickly warm up the body. Traditional push-ups are no longer sufficient for me. Here, I recommend everyone try the Burpee Jump!¡± ¡°This exercise is also known as the standing push-up, combining a series of movements such as the squat, plank, and jump. It can raise your heart rate to its peak in the shortest time, which is perfect for our current situation!¡± [What? Old Fang is no longer satisfied?] [Goodness, you¡¯re great at getting to the crux of things!] [Clearly a pro at finding loopholes (amused).] [So good at finding loopholes, I suspect you have a problem. Come with us.] [It¡¯s no use, he could pick locks with a toothpick. Oh, I forgot, there¡¯s only two minutes. It¡¯s too late, you¡¯re done for.] Bi Fang took a few deep breaths, then leapt into the air. He crouched quickly, performed a push-up on the ground, and leapt up again, repeating the process. After a dozen rounds, his heart rate rose sharply, and his blood warmed up again. The parts that had been frozen stiff also began to thaw noticeably. ¡°Phew¡­ indeed, I feel much warmer now. The Burpee Jump is globally recognized as a ¡®fat killer¡¯ and is an effective way to burn fat and get fit. It works over 70% of the muscle groups in the body. If you want to lose weight, you should do this exercise,¡± he continued. Bi Fang spoke in Huaxia, and Etienne, standing by, could not understand, but he knew that Bi Fang had frozen himself for his sake and felt a twinge of guilt. Warmed up, Bi Fang went to a nearby bush to look for suitable materials to start a fire. ¡°The situation is urgent this time, and I didn¡¯t bring my backpack, so I can only rely on the most primitive method to start a fire. But it¡¯s not Fire-Making by Wood-Drilling, that¡¯s too slow. This time I choose the simpler bowstring method,¡± he explained. [Awesome, waited three episodes, finally, we get to see Old Fang teach a new method.] [Now that you mention it, it does seem that way¡­] [Tears of joy, Old Fang promised to show us different methods for starting fires, and today that promise is finally fulfilled.] Bi Fang laughed in response to the barrage of comments: ¡°In the past few occurrences, the situation has been urgent, and it¡¯s only now that I¡¯ve finally found the opportunity to demonstrate this.¡± The Bow Drill Fire Starting method is a common way to generate fire through friction. Like other friction fire-starting methods, it is easier to perform and can even be used in damp environments. Soon, Bi Fang found the materials he needed in the bush. Chapter 164: 161 Guruluuuluu (Request for Monthly Pass) ¡°The Bow Drill Method requires several pieces of wood, a drill shaft, a fireboard, a bearing block, a hand-held stick, a length of string, and most importantly, some tinder to catch the flames, and then you use a knife or other sharp tool to process these raw materials.¡± Bi Fang, draped in a spare brown robe, searched through the bushes, picking up a tree branch he tested its hardness with his fingernail, only to find it unsuitable. ¡°The principle of the Bow Drill Method is the same as the Hand Drill Method, with a slightly more complex structure, because it replaces some of the manual effort with a device, converting elastic potential energy into kinetic energy, thereby achieving higher efficiency.¡± ¡°So, when it comes to material selection, the bow drill is like the hand drill, I won¡¯t go into detail here.¡± The bushes were lush, and Bi Fang quickly found a suitable drill shaft from a tree five or six meters tall, with bunches of little red fruits hanging from its branches. The fruits looked wrinkly as if they had been there for a long time. Bi Fang cut off a small branch with a Harpoon. ¡°Last time I used burdock, this time we can use this, Ligustrum.¡± [Ligustrum? That sounds very familiar.] [I know, it¡¯s Dumbledore¡¯s old wand!] [Excuse me, can your Ligustrum be used to make wands? (funny)] [Damn, now that you mention it, I remember that Dumbledore¡¯s wand material is Ligustrum!] [Can you eat these fruits? They look a lot like the Yagda from Mohe.] Bi Fang knew everyone was joking around and joined in the banter. ¡°That might be disappointing for you all, as I can¡¯t make wands, only drill shafts. Ligustrum is soft in the middle, but the rod is quite hard and has wood marrow, capable of producing more and larger sparks, making it even more suitable than burdock used last time.¡± ¡°As for the fruits,¡± Bi Fang said as he reached out to lift the grape-like red fruit, not expecting a whole bunch to fall off as he touched it. ¡°The fruiting period for Ligustrum is from September to October; these are all rotten, and even if they weren¡¯t, we couldn¡¯t eat them because Ligustrum fruit contains a glycoside, which is used as a raw material to manufacture cyanide, so we cannot consume it directly.¡± The audience felt a sense of disappointment, having hoped the fruit would be similar to the one from Mohe and could serve as a midday meal. With the drill shaft acquired, the rest of the materials weren¡¯t demanding, and it didn¡¯t take long for Bi Fang to gather what was needed. Elsewhere, Etienne had dug the pit according to the instructions. Bi Fang felt the stones in the pit and nodded in satisfaction, explaining in French the reason for laying stones at the bottom of the pit. ¡°Owing to the presence of geese and hang gliders, we can¡¯t stray too far from the riverbank, so the soil nearby is quite damp, and we must choose a dry place for starting a fire, which is more conducive to igniting it. The stones laid at the bottom of the pit act to separate us from the moist soil.¡± ¡°Furthermore, you must use dry stones; wet ones, especially those from riverbeds or valley bottoms, must not be used. Such stones can produce steam when heated and potentially explode, which is extremely dangerous. It¡¯s okay if you can¡¯t find completely dry stones, just remember to avoid those soaked by water.¡± [Wow, that¡¯s some detailed advice.] [I¡¯ve learned another little detail.] [Excuse me, is this detail polite?] [Is the detail fine enough to pick locks?] The netizens started to get lively again, capable of turning even the comments into something entertaining regardless of the time or place. Bi Fang ignored them and continued to process the materials. ¡°The length of the drill shaft should at least match the distance between the tips of your thumb and index finger when your hand is spread out, to facilitate handling. Then you need to sharpen the tip and ensure the shaft is overall round and smooth.¡± ¡°The fireboard should be over twice as wide as it is thick to allow it to be steadied underfoot and kept stable; the bearing block also needs to be thicker than the diameter of the drill shaft.¡± ¡°The hand-held stick, or the firebow, works best with a slight curve. A straight stick can also be used but ideally, there should be some curvature for ease of handling.¡± ¡°As for the string, our shoelace will suffice. If your shoes don¡¯t have laces, you can also temporarily twist one from plant fibers.¡± Bi Fang carved a notch at one end of the fireboard and hollowed out a small hole to collect the tinder gathered from the scrapings of a coniferous tree. He then dug a small hole at one end of the bearing block, which was to secure the drill shaft in place. When the time came, the tip of the drill shaft would be inserted into the fireboard with its tail end caught in the bearing block, situated between the two blocks to prevent the drill shaft from injuring the hand during high-speed rotation. Next, Bi Fang took out his shoelace and tied it to both ends of the stick, then wrapped the drill shaft around the string, forming a cross with the stick and the shaft. The entire set of movements was methodical, the hallmark of an experienced survival master. ¡°We need to control the tension of the string properly, it shouldn¡¯t be loose enough to let the drill spindle slide up and down, nor should it be too tight to move at all. The ideal status is that it takes a certain amount of effort to just be able to turn the drill spindle.¡± Etienne watched in amazement and couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°How many different ways of making fire outdoors do you know?¡± ¡°Haha, I¡¯ve never really counted,¡± Bi Fang lifted his head and thought carefully, ¡°There are probably seven or eight different fire-making methods in different environments, of which four involve friction. Etienne was shocked, ¡°That many?¡± ¡°Not really, there are just a few usable methods depending on the environment, after all environments change and methods have to adapt, we in Huaxia call this ¡®adapting measures to local conditions.''¡± Bi Fang secured the drill spindle and looked at Etienne, ¡°Why, do you want to learn?¡± Etienne nodded. ¡°If you want to learn, I can teach you when we get back.¡± Bi Fang smiled and then started to use the bow. Fixing the drill spindle into the fireboard, with the tail end inserted into the small hole of the baseboard, Bi Fang knelt on one knee to press down on the fireboard, left hand steadying the baseboard to control the pressure, right hand beginning to move the fire bow back and forth steadily and forcefully. Soon, smoke started to rise from the fireboard, drawing astonished reactions from the audience. [This efficiency is too high, way more convenient than the Hand Drill Method] [Fast it is, but it seems so complicated, doesn¡¯t look easy to remember¡­] [I agree.] Seeing smoke rising, Etienne was very excited, his eyes filled with admiration. Making fire from nothing, it¡¯s amazing! But Bi Fang did not stop, he continued to pull the fire bow until after seven or eight minutes, when the smoke grew thicker and even a flash of red light appeared, then he finally stopped pulling the bow. There was now charcoal on the fireboard, and Bi Fang carefully withdrew the drill spindle, then transferred the charcoal to the prepared tinder and gently blew on it in his hands. Bilowing smoke rolled up, a flicker of flame glinting in the dust clouds, and as the smoke gradually lessened, the flickering flame rose, quickly spreading until the entire bundle of tinder was engulfed in flames. [Awesome!] [Zeng Hang has sent the host 1000 meatballs¡ªso fast, Old Fang is too fast!] [Super efficient!] ¡°Phew!¡± Bi Fang breathed a sigh of relief, tossing the flames into the fire pit, and Etienne hurriedly threw some dry branches into it, making the fire grow rapidly. Bi Fang sat beside the fire, feeling the long-lost warmth, and immediately felt much more comfortable. Etienne wrung out his soaked clothes and placed them over the fire rack to dry. ¡°The Bow Drill Method is convenient, but it also has many details, which is why it¡¯s often difficult for first-timers to succeed and isn¡¯t suitable for beginners.¡± ¡°just like how the tension of the string also determines the flexibility of the bow. In the process of using it, you may need to adjust the length of the bowstring. For convenience¡¯s sake, experienced people will tie a dead knot on one end of the string and a slip knot on the other.¡± S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Lubrication can also be added to the drilling hole with some grease to increase smoothness and compatibility, that¡¯s why I specifically chose coniferous tree fluff, as it¡¯s naturally rich in oils.¡± It was these subtle details that allowed Bi Fang to make this fire-starting attempt so successful. Etienne continued to dig on the side, preparing to bum a pair of additional fire pits, so the clothes could be dried separately by the fire, making them dry faster. He wasn¡¯t a Wilderness Survivalist and could only help with these small tasks, trying not to hold the team back. Meanwhile, Bi Fang was also feeling comfortable, like having someone to assist him, not needing to worry about anything and just quietly enjoying the fire. It was hard to think of Etienne as a child, even though he was only fourteen or fifteen, already standing at one meter seventy tall. Etienne shook his clothes, hung another piece to dry, when suddenly an unusual noise arose. Gurgle gurgle gurgle¡­ He was hungry. Chapter 165: 162 What Are We Really Protecting? (Seeking Monthly Votes) [Hahaha, such a clear sound! ] [That¡¯s the sound of hunger.] [So cute.] [I¡¯ve just had dinner over here, Master Fang must be having lunch, right?] Bi Fang looked up at the sky and discovered the sun was already halfway up, indicating it was around eleven or twelve at noon. ¡°Hungry?¡± Etienne nodded, then shook his head. Seeing this, Bi Fang laughed, ¡°If you¡¯re hungry, just say so. It¡¯s perfectly normal to be hungry after half a day; don¡¯t hide it, that¡¯s not good.¡± ¡°Many times, situations become bad because of the neglect of certain signs. You might not be aware, but I am, so tell me if anything is wrong, and don¡¯t try to hide it.¡± Etienne felt embarrassed, stretched out his index finger and thumb, and gestured a small gap: ¡°Just a little hungry.¡± They had set off in a hurry and brought nothing with them, and without having breakfast early in the morning, anyone would be hungry after so long. Geese could find grass to eat and didn¡¯t need to worry, but humans couldn¡¯t do the same. A month was a formidable challenge for anyone. Bi Fang stood up to check his clothes; several thick coats were still wet, but the quick-drying lining was wearable. After putting it on, he went to a nearby rock. This rock was covered with blue, ear fungus-like things that looked somewhat disgusting, but Bi Fang started scraping them off with a knife. [What is Old Fang doing, eating that stuff?] [Master Fang, you might want to turn back and look at the plump and juicy White-fronted Goose (funny)] [Gosh, you dare to eat that too?] [This is called emergency avoidance, and besides, this is abroad, it¡¯s not illegal. I eat one a day.] [The person above is so savage, I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t make it to France at this rate?] [Not all wings should be braised; they can also be fried or steamed.] Bi Fang was also amused by the silly comments from his online friends: ¡°That¡¯s emergency food, emergency food, understand? I won¡¯t eat them unless I absolutely have to, got it?¡± [Oh my, do you really plan on doing that?] [Carrying eighteen White-fronted Goose bones from Lapland to France.] ¡°Enough with the jokes, look at this lichen on the rock, it¡¯s a great source of food,¡± said Bi Fang while he continued scraping the lichen. ¡°Not just lichen, the bark and tender shoots of the spruce, pine, and polar willow are also edible, but they must be boiled or roasted to be eaten.¡± ¡°Lichen, many people are used to calling it ¡®rock tripe¡¯, and in some places, it¡¯s also called ¡®Fairy Vegetable¡¯, which is formed by algae and free-living fungi. It¡¯s very high in amino acids, minerals, and calcium, and the protein content is even higher than that of eggs, so don¡¯t look down on it.¡± After scraping most of the lichen from the rock, Bi Fang went to the lakeside to clean it briefly, then skewered the lichen on sticks like slices of meat to roast it. ¡°The lichen must be roasted soft to kill off the many bacteria that can be present because of the surrounding moisture.¡± Within a few minutes, the previously firm lichen softened rapidly under the high heat. Bi Fang handed a skewer over to Etienne. ¡°You can try it. There are no seasonings, but it should taste fine.¡± Etienne took it doubtfully, looking at the somewhat blackened lichen after roasting and unsure how to eat it. As a Frenchman, he was very skeptical whether this thing was edible. As Etienne questioned his life choices, Bi Fang had already started praising the taste of the lichen. ¡°It¡¯s somewhat like a mix of egg and wood ear mushroom, very crunchy, the texture is nice. It¡¯d be better with salt, but unfortunately, we don¡¯t have any. Going a month without salt is not good, but I¡¯ll find a way to make some in a few days.¡± [Is it really that good?] [It is very good; we eat it often here. It¡¯s very smooth, a bit like crispy jelly, but I can¡¯t be sure since Old Fang has no seasonings.] [I always feel Master Fang¡¯s taste is otherworldly; what he says is delicious may not really be] [Ah, let¡¯s watch the young guy¡¯s reaction.] Is it really that delicious? As Bi Fang heaped praise upon it, driven by hunger, Etienne carefully tried a piece, imitating Bi Fang. ¡°Ugh!¡± Etienne covered his mouth, his complexion turning bitter; the strong taste of earth and mustiness exploded in his mouth, and the lichen, both slippery and sticky, made him feel as if he had just eaten a wad of mucus, revolting to the point of being difficult to swallow. Was this really fit for human consumption? [Hahaha, I just knew it, nothing tastes good without seasoning!] [Master Fang¡¯s Wonderful Taste Buds] [That¡¯s a normal reaction for sure] Etienne kept gagging, but even so, he never spat out the lichen from his mouth. Having watched Bi Fang¡¯s survival videos, Etienne knew that food resources in the wilderness were extremely precious and should never be wasted; if Bi Fang said it was edible, then it definitely was. So Etienne, fighting back the nausea, swallowed the lichen in one go. Bi Fang quietly dealt with his lunch, as if he hadn¡¯t seen what happened. If Etienne had spit it out just now, the mission would have been terminated. Etienne persevered. Meanwhile, the goose continued to graze, completely unaware that it had just had a close shave with death. To bring or not to bring Etienne, Bi Fang had also been in a dilemma initially. The protection he offered was actually different from Etienne¡¯s, it could even be said to be two different things. Bi Fang¡¯s protection was only for biodiversity, for a future possibility, not for these specific eighteen geese. This was a common misunderstanding most people had; Bi Fang in his past life had encountered it, unable to understand the acts of animal conservationists who sacrificed their lives for the cause. People generally thought animal conservationists were the reckless types who would charge into farmers¡¯ homes to smash things up, which was entirely wrong. On one hand, it stemmed from a lack of understanding about biological conservation; on the other hand, present-day conservationists had done many puzzling things, genuinely baffling people. True animal conservation was never just about protecting animals in a singular manner; it was about maintaining a dynamic balance in nature, trying to sustain order with human intervention amidst the destruction humans inflicted on nature. It sounds ironic, but that¡¯s exactly how it is. Because the future of humans might just depend on this irony. The case of Artemisia annua is a prime example. If it went extinct decades ago, would artemisinin still exist? Would there be any hope for the many people suffering from malaria? The richer the biodiversity of an ecosystem, the greater its creativity; the extinction of every single species signals the impending death for many others. Protecting the biological chain is vital for maintaining ecological balance. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. True conservationists have never been about protecting just animals. It¡¯s about protecting humans themselves. The magnitude of this responsibility can be large or small; it really depends on the weight it carries in people¡¯s hearts. Many who sacrifice do so because they place a heavy weight on this duty. But Etienne was different; he didn¡¯t protect ecology or nature, but simply the ¡®companions¡¯ that had lived with him for six months, growing from eighteen eggs into eighteen geese. To Etienne, these geese were like the cats or dogs that grew up alongside you. As a child living in an old house, white bed sheets hung in the corridor, drying, the wind rustling the glossy green leaves, whispering amidst the afternoon sun beaming through a window at the end of the hallway, warmly spreading over your body. Back then, you were just a small child, waiting for your parents to get off work, waiting for so long, so very long, until finally, there was the sound of keys unlocking the door from outside. You couldn¡¯t wait to open the door, only to find, to your delight, that your parents had brought you a new playmate. It was cute, fluffy, and spoke with a lisp. For the next dozen years or so, it was there with you through tears and laughter, licking your face while you lay by its side after being scolded by your parents, even beginning to grow so old it struggled to walk. Then, one day, when you¡¯re in your teens, animal control barges in, waving a net and stating that your pet doesn¡¯t meet regulations and needs to be euthanized. Would you also sneakily release it, or perhaps even move to a different city to live with it? From the eyes of fourteenth-year-old Etienne, Bi Fang saw that resolve. Since they¡¯d already taken flight, might as well fly to the very end. He stood up, found a stick, and planted it firmly in the soil. Many seasoned viewers recognized instantly what Bi Fang was about to do. [Ah, Old Fang is going to determine the direction again!] [I know this, it¡¯s something about the AB line, right?] [Isn¡¯t there a quicker way? Why doesn¡¯t Old Fang use it?] ¡°Because of the deviation in the flight path, I need to know the location of this lake on the map to decide if it¡¯s viable to continue moving forward,¡± Bi Fang traced along the shadow of the stick. ¡°This time I need to calculate the latitude and longitude.¡± Chapter 166: 163: Unreliable Weather Forecast (Vote for Monthly Ticket) The tree stick stood in the mud, its shadow casting straight onto the ground. Bi Fang marked the shadow¡¯s position in the mud, his actions gentle and serious, like an old watchmaker in an alley, using tweezers to pick up small parts, assembling them piece by piece. If it weren¡¯t for the previous statement, some might truly believe that Bi Fang was repairing a watch. [Measuring out longitude and latitude, no way, no way, could someone really expect a stick to measure longitude and latitude?] [A stick to measure longitude and latitude? Is Master Fang kidding?] [Lying at home, I hurriedly checked my GPS and I was scared to death, thank goodness it¡¯s not me who¡¯s lost () ] [Longitude and latitude can be measured directly? If that¡¯s possible, I, Fang Shijie, will do a handstand and get diarrhea on the spot, then eat it!] [Don¡¯t try to swindle food and drinks, why not perform a lock-picking with a toothpick instead?] Not only the new audience didn¡¯t believe it, but many old fans also held doubtful attitudes. ¡°That¡¯s too fake, right? How could you measure longitude and latitude with just a stick? Don¡¯t streamers have to follow some basic principles when deceiving people?¡± A man hanging onto a subway strap couldn¡¯t help but speak out. The subway was crowded, and the man had been standing there for a while; by chance, he noticed two young girls in front of him watching a live stream, and he curiously glanced over, only to see this scene. The image on the cell phone showed a man slightly handsomer than he had been at that age, vividly promoting his act, then inserting a stick into the ground and casually scratching a couple of marks, claiming he could measure longitude and latitude with it. How do you even start with such baseless deception? It¡¯s only these naive young girls, pretty yet thoughtless, who could believe in such things. Yang Ziyun looked back and saw a balding, slightly overweight office worker slandering her idol; how could she stand it? ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t it be possible? Just because you can¡¯t do it doesn¡¯t mean Master Fang can¡¯t, he is the world¡¯s number one survival expert!¡± The man scoffed at this claim: ¡°Master Fang? A survival expert? The world¡¯s number one? That¡¯s laughable. Not to mention the titles sound dated, who rated him the world¡¯s number one? Was there a competition?¡± He pointed at Yang Ziyun and her classmate: ¡°It¡¯s you young girls who don¡¯t focus on studying properly and spend all day idolizing celebrities and internet famous figures, holding such worthless people up on a pedestal, instead of enriching yourselves by reading more books.¡± Yang Ziyun wanted to argue back, but her classmate snatched the initiative: ¡°Uncle, don¡¯t you ever watch the news? So arrogant. Even my grandfather goes online to read the news, couldn¡¯t there be someone who doesn¡¯t even know how to watch the news? No way, no way, right?¡± Uncle? I¡¯m not even thirty yet! The man choked on a mouthful of frustration. ¡°Oh, I get it, definitely because uncle has such high pressure from overtime work, and the boss is so fierce, no hope for a promotion, and his wife is cheating while his daughter is dating early, leading to no time to be online! Wow, that¡¯s so sad. Let¡¯s go, Ziyun, don¡¯t stay with him, bad luck is contagious!¡± The classmate¡¯s words shot out like bullets, and after speaking, she pulled Yang Ziyun through the crowd to another spot without looking back, leaving behind the stunned office worker. Yang Ziyun silently gave a thumbs up, her classmate still not placated. ¡°It¡¯s so infuriating, when Master Fang was hand-to-hand with the wolves, that guy probably didn¡¯t know where he was constipated in some corner.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, since he¡¯s so pitiful, let¡¯s be considerate.¡± Yang Ziyun covered her mouth to stifle her laughter. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Wori. This uncle could hold back, but the aunt could not! The man overheard some of what they were saying, feeling hit right where it hurt, and was fuming with anger. How could he swallow this indignity when he had seen the name of the live stream! The man pulled out his phone, downloaded the Wolf Fang APP, and the first thing he saw upon opening it was Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast. Huo, it was even recommended on the homepage! Can¡¯t anyone see through this kind of scam? No way, he was really determined today; he wouldn¡¯t get off the subway until he exposed the other party! ¡°Calculating longitude and latitude is not hard; it¡¯s all about three factors: shadow, direction, and date. Don¡¯t find it unbelievable, what I rely on here is not the stick, but the sun.¡± Bi Fang pointed at the sun hanging high in the sky; the weather was good today, the sun had risen above the clouds, and sunlight spread down across the sky, tracing the shadows of trees on the ground. ¡°From a phenomenological perspective, we can treat the ground as a plane and the sky as a sphere, called the ¡®celestial sphere.¡¯ The sun travels along a circular path in the sky, rising in the east and setting in the west.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just the sun; all celestial bodies, whether the moon or the stars, rise in the east and set in the west on this celestial sphere as if they are revolving around an axis. This axis is Earth¡¯s axis of rotation.¡± ¡°The position on the celestial sphere to which this axis points is the south/north celestial pole. We determine our position on Earth¡¯s plane by using these celestial bodies for navigation.¡± After explaining the principle, Bi Fang continued to mark the shadow he had just made. ¡°First, we set up a rod on a level ground. Remember, it must be as level as possible so that the data obtained are accurate. Then we continually mark its shadow, and when the shadow is shortest, we record the direction of the shadow at that time, which is due north.¡± ¡°Measure the length of the shadow and the rod, calculate the solar elevation angle using trigonometric functions, consider the number of days since the equinoxes and solstices, I set out on the twenty-first, so today must be the twenty-second. Then, using trigonometric interpolation, calculate the latitude of the sun¡¯s direct radiation point for the day, add it, and you can get the local latitude value.¡± ¡°Besides, after determining the true north direction, record the time when the sun passes directly south. Because the Capital uses the time of 120 degrees east longitude, with the recorded time and the difference from 12 o¡¯clock, we can figure out the longitude.¡± ¡°However, this method of calculation is complex and might not be suitable for everyone. Isn¡¯t there a saying, if you can¡¯t do a math problem, your only option is to write an explanation.¡± [Damn, what the heck is this, I don¡¯t understand? Phenomenological? What is phenomenological? ] [Phenomenology, in physics, is when physical phenomena are not explained by their intrinsic causes but through physical laws derived from generalized experimental facts. Passing by¡­ a science and engineering dude.] [If you can¡¯t do a big question on a political exam, you can write nonsense; if you can¡¯t do an English essay, you can copy from the reading comprehension; but if you can¡¯t do a big math question, damn it, you can only write an explanation.] [Algebraist] [Who would have thought, even though I¡¯ve been stranded in the wilderness, I still have to do math problems?] Many viewers started to feel overwhelmed upon hearing the string of explanations. Bi Fang watched the shadow carefully; fortunately, it was still shortening, which meant it was nearing noon, and he hadn¡¯t missed the shortest point. If he had missed it, Bi Fang would have had to wait until night to use Polaris to measure the latitude and longitude. After several minutes, during the chat between Bi Fang and the audience, the shadow finally reached its shortest point and then began to elongate. Bi Fang hurriedly marked the spot where the shadow had been shortest. ¡°Measure the shadow and stick height; the data don¡¯t need to be precise, as long as the reference object remains constant, you can choose some small tree sticks to measure, because what we are looking for is the ratio.¡± Then Bi Fang started to write formulas with a tree branch on the nearby soil, when suddenly a few sheets of paper, a pencil, and a short ruler were handed to him. Bi Fang subconsciously took the paper, pencil, and ruler, then looked up at Etienne in surprise, ¡°Where did you get this from?¡± Etienne scratched his head, ¡°I brought my homework, I just left it on the plane, and now there are a few draft papers left.¡± [Wow, there¡¯s still this matter of homework?] [Amazing, he didn¡¯t forget to bring homework even when escaping ¨C clearly a good student.] Bi Fang was taken aback by this slick move, but having paper and a pencil did make things easier. He sat on a rock and wrote down a string of formulas that looked impressive to his online friends. [It¡¯s over, if you can¡¯t do math, does that mean you can¡¯t survive?] [This formula is giving me a headache. Old Fang is actually calculating functions by hand!] [I never paid this much attention in class, I¡¯m really sorry to my math teacher.] ¡°It¡¯s okay if everyone doesn¡¯t understand, in real Wilderness Survivalist situations, we rarely need to use this method to confirm latitude and longitude. It¡¯s just that this mission is special, there will be snow the day after tomorrow, so there¡¯s a high demand for time and accuracy.¡± ¡°Normally, you can use Polaris to measure at night. Stars are very bright in the wilderness and the method is simple. If there¡¯s a chance tonight, I will teach everyone.¡± Bi Fang bent over and struggled with the calculations, occasionally biting on his pencil, as many of the functions were not accurate without a calculator, so he had to settle for approximate values. The audience watched, their heads spinning from the complicated process. Just as Bi Fang calculated the answers, the paper suddenly darkened. Strange, why did it get dark? Etienne looked up. Lead-colored clouds rolled in from the southeast, the dense cloud layer casting an ominous foreboding. Etienne suddenly remembered what Elvan had said ¨C there would be a blizzard the day after tomorrow. But now, The blizzard had come early! Chapter 167: 164 Hoping North Sea is Fine Just moment ago, it was a clear and sunny day, but in less than half an hour, leaden clouds had rolled in from the southeast, thick as a winter quilt, not letting any sunshine through. [This weather is terrifying, is it going to snow?] [It seems so. I remember that professor said yesterday there would be snow the day after tomorrow, but this is only the second day, right?] [Isn¡¯t there always some error in the weather forecast?] [Master Fang, you better run now, or it¡¯ll be too late!] The online friends panicked at the sight of the clouds, remembering vividly the power of the last blizzard. If they got trapped, it wasn¡¯t just a question of whether the gliders could fly; the geese might even freeze to death. Etienne tugged at Bi Fang¡¯s robe anxiously. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s going to snow.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t panic, panicking won¡¯t help.¡± Bi Fang had naturally noticed the slowly drifting clouds, but he did not rush, as rushing would only make it harder to calculate. ¡°There¡¯s still some time before the clouds roll in over us. The most important thing is to find our current position and establish the right direction before we fly off. Otherwise, we might veer off course even more, and if we accidentally end up in a human city, the geese will remember it, and the danger will be great.¡± ¡°Go pick a few pieces of charcoal, wrap them in soil to take with us, then pour water into the pit to extinguish the fire, and don¡¯t forget to cover it with soil.¡± Hearing Bi Fang¡¯s words, Etienne complied with his instructions, though his shaking legs betrayed his nervousness. Even as Bi Fang calculated, he was explaining the methodology to the audience as if he wasn¡¯t in the least bit flustered, but the keen-eyed could tell he was recalculating a value. He had miscalculated just now. ¡°The angle of solar elevation is equal to arctanfstick height/shadow length), then calculate the latitude of the observation point = 90 ¨C the angle of solar elevation + the sun¡¯s declination angle from the almanac, and we have the latitude.¡± ¡°On clear days in the future, we can make repeated observations and calculate the average multiple times to improve accuracy. When done correctly, this method can achieve an error rate lower than 1/3000, and the positioning error won¡¯t exceed 4 kilometers.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s hands sped up noticeably, and his speech grew more urgent, the pencil scratching rapidly, with numbers almost merging into one another, the lines spreading like a fast-growing thicket. The clouds drew closer and closer, making everyone break out in a cold sweat. The world had gone mad, yet here was someone doing math problems! ¡°There are two days in the year when using the sun to measure direction is most accurate: the equinoxes of spring and fall because on these days, the length of day and night is equal globally, and true solar time aligns with mean solar time. Besides, you need to know the meridian of the East Eighth District, which is East Longitude 120¡ã.¡± ¡°This meridian passes through Hangzhou, not the Capital, so the so-called Capital time is actually the local time in Hangzhou. When calculating longitude, the time difference must be taken into account in relation to the geographic distance from Hangzhou-this detail cannot be overlooked, or the error may be substantial.¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The calmer Bi Fang was, the more anxious Etienne became. Almost hopping from foot to foot, he urged continuously, and eventually couldn¡¯t help himself from untying the glider secured to a tree. Etienne, by the lakeside, began to prompt, ¡°Is it done yet? ¡°Almost.¡± ¡°Is it done?¡± ¡°Almost there! Go gather the clothes first!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s brows were tightly furrowed. He was acutely aware that though the clouds seemed to move slowly, they were actually racing towards them at speeds of over forty, perhaps even over fifty kilometers per hour, almost comparable to the speed of cars in the city! In just under fifteen minutes, they would overtake them! Focus, focus! Bi Fang had completed most of the calculations, with just the final result left! ¡°Is it done?¡± Etienne, clutching his windbreaker, looked up at the clouds nearly upon them, his heart threatening to leap out of his chest! This time Bi Fang didn¡¯t speak. Springing up from the rock like shattering through a layer of dark membrane back to reality, the wind flipping the pages, a set of coordinates appeared sharply defined. (Latitude 69¡ã1¡ä, East Longitude 24¡ã76¡ä)! [Holy shit, incredible! He actually figured it out!] [That¡¯s so awesome!] [Spaceship and Kneepads, Up for Grabs!] [Mastermind Doing Math at the Brink of Death! Who Else Can?] [What? A snowstorm is coming? Please let me finish this problem first] Bi Fang pulled over a storm jacket and draped it on, the wind suddenly roaring and creating a sound like a flapping flag as it whisked his black jacket. ¡°Let¡¯s go, on the plane!¡± Etienne shouted excitedly, recalled the geese, and jumped on the glider. Bi Fang pulled out a map and pinpointed their current location using latitude and longitude. As expected, they were off course! The route that was originally to the southwest had shifted to the southeast! Bi Fang folded up the map and headed to the lakefront, pausing in surprise when he saw Etienne sitting in the pilot¡¯s seat. He waved him to move back, ¡°What are you doing? Sit in the back!¡± [Hahaha, which young lad doesn¡¯t dream of piloting a glider?] [Master Fang seems scared] [He¡¯s just too used to it] Etienne also realized he was in the wrong seat and hurriedly crawled to the back. Bi Fang took the pilot¡¯s seat, cranked the engine, and the propeller blades began to spin rapidly, nudging the glider to move forward smoothly. Etienne in the back row was incessantly honking the horn, and the slightly panicked geese due to the inclement weather started to gather, quickly forming a V formation. Having done this once before, they organized very quickly this time. Tiny, scattered snowflakes began to fall, lingering on the lake surface without melting. Etienne caught one and was surprised to see it was enormous, almost the size of a bean. ¡°This snowstorm is too late. An enormous amount of moisture has built up, which might cause serious sudden snowfall,¡± Bi Fang said seriously, wishing the propeller could spin faster. At first, when they were far away, no one felt much, but now with the clouds overhead, it became clear how frighteningly thick they were-so much so that the sun was completely obscured, leaving not a sliver of sunlight visible. The chilling, ghastly sound of the wind echoed through the sky, disappearing into the vast snowy expanse, as if unleashing ferocious spirits. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, that¡¯s a nimbostratus cloud, often covering the sky uniformly, with a thickness generally between four to five kilometers, which is akin to ten Shanghai World Financial Centers stacked together. Such thickness is enough to completely block out the light from both the sun and the moon!¡± Finally, as the snow thickened and the clouds almost enveloped them, the glider left the surface of the water at last. The Shuiyou audience began to cheer, but just as the glider took off, a fierce gust of wind lifted the aircraft almost 70 degrees upward, frightening the viewers to nearly have a heart attack! Fortunately, Bi Fang had pulled the control stick in advance, lowering the nose of the glider and barely keeping it under control, then using the wind to climb higher! Facing the gale, the glider flew extremely fast. Sitting in the back, Etienne felt like he was on a roller coaster, with a strong sense of being pushed back. Soon, with violent shaking, they successfully burst through the snowfall with snowflakes in tow! Behind them, the clouds were still in pursuit, but it was too late. The glider ascended into the sky, the howling wind roaring with relentless fury as snow swirled around in an angry roar. So close to disaster, only to escape by a whisker! As the flight smoothed out, Etienne looked back and saw that not a single one of the eighteen geese was missing; all were safe and sound! He¡¯d been so worried that the geese would fall behind, given how fast they had been flying. Bi Fang looked back, saw Etienne¡¯s concern, and explained, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, geese fly very fast, reaching speeds of 68 to 90 kilometers per hour. Even on a long journey of over five thousand kilometers, it only takes a little over a month. They¡¯re even faster than the wind speed in a snowstorm. And with a tailwind, if we¡¯re flying fast, they won¡¯t slow down.¡± [That was really dangerous just now, but we¡¯re lucky we flew early, or it would¡¯ve been over for us] [Exactly, if the snowstorm had come unexpectedly, wouldn¡¯t we have been doomed? Good thing the glider is fast] [By the way, didn¡¯t Old Fang take measurements for latitude and longitude in Mohe last time? If he did, couldn¡¯t we just have coordinated rescue based on that?] [Are you dumb? Taking latitude and longitude measures is essentially about observing celestial bodies. During the storm in Mohe, there was no sunlight for days. What celestial bodies are you going to look at? Think before you speak.] [Badass, someone actually understood that! So strong] Bi Fang saw the Shuiyou joking around and chuckled. They were indeed lucky this time to have escaped before the snowstorm hit, but there was no need to worry too much if it did catch up; it wasn¡¯t their first encounter with one, just so long as it wasn¡¯t a storm over the North Sea. Storms at sea are far more dangerous than snowstorms on land. Chapter 168: 165: The meat seems to be running by itself! ¡°They¡¯re going to sue you for forging documents, and you, you promised me¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care about that at all, sue me if you want to, just give me back my phone, now!¡± ¡°Calm down, calm down! Sit down!¡± ¡°My son is still out there! In the wilderness!¡± ¡°Get away from me!¡± ¡°Sir, calm down!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t touch me! I need to go find him, now!¡± ¡°Alright, you¡¯re only going to make things worse like this! And Bi Fang went with him, he¡¯s very capable, Etienne will be fine.¡± ¡°But they didn¡¯t take anything with them! No food, no water, no tents! All the routes are in the wild! It¡¯s too hard, too hard!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Etienne take a backpack¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s full of papers, papers!¡± Inside the police station, Elvan was arguing with Johnny and others nonstop, and the previously quiet police department was filled with a clamor of voices. ¡°What on earth is going on? Why are there suddenly so many people here?¡± A male officer handed a coffee to a female officer, and the two leaned against the wall, watching the crowd inside the room argue. The female officer took a sip and summed up, ¡°Forgery of a permit for a glider- led goose migration project, and they also released the geese without authorization. That bald guy was going to capture the geese to take them back, but during the argument, that guy¡¯s son took off in the glider; now everyone is frantic.¡± ¡°Is the situation serious?¡± ¡°Not really, but there might be penalties, and an adult has gone with the kid too; they should be back soon. I heard there¡¯s even a live broadcast, but I can¡¯t see it because it¡¯s behind a firewall.¡± The male officer said helplessly after hearing the whole story, ¡°Kids these days really cause too much trouble.¡± ¡°You¡¯re telling me, if my son did something like that I¡¯d spank his behind raw!¡± Another portly officer chimed in, ¡°Although, animal protection is getting out of hand these days, did you guys hear about that Tesche thing? It was also caused by an environmental group.¡± ¡°Oh, what happened?¡± Both officers were curious. ¡°Tesche was built in Huaxia in just ten months, started production in a year, quick as if they rode a rocket, their stock price even doubled. After tasting success, Tesche¡¯s boss wanted to build another factory in Germany, guess what happened then?¡± More people gathered around, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Obviously, the local government was welcoming, tax revenue, jobs were all good for their record, they immediately approved a large tract of wasteland, even saying the German factory would be built faster than the Huaxia factory.¡± ¡°Of course, German engineering is the best in the world.¡± ¡°Who says so, Huaxia¡¯s construction speed is number one in the world now.¡± ¡°Impossible, absolutely impossible, Huaxia might be fast, but the quality is not good, Germany is the most powerful, number one in manufacturing precision! I¡¯ve climbed over the firewall and seen it myself, even famous Huaxia personalities say so, their sewers don¡¯t clog or flood even after a hundred years, and parts from a century ago wrapped in oil paper are still new.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Germany just get flooded the other day? Almost two hundred people died¡­¡± ¡°Wait, what does this have to do with animal protection?¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s related, they were going to cut trees and flatten the land, which was planted with some economical-valueless decorative forests just for the looks. The very first day they started to cut trees, they were sued for destruction of greenery, ecological damage, and soil erosion, but there wasn¡¯t even a river nearby.¡± ¡°Moreover, it was just wasteland, nothing there but a few mouse nests. After a few months, Tesche agreed to plant three times the artificial forest elsewhere to settle it. Not just that, there were also water usage issues, the locality only had a little over 8,000 residents, fewer than the number of factory workers. They protested about the water being used.¡± ¡°In the end, Tesche had to relocate wolf packs, move lizards and ants homes. They thought it was all settled until suddenly they found snakes hibernating underground. The environmental group got a court order to halt the work, and they have to wait until the snakes finish hibernating and are relocated to start working. Now it¡¯s almost two years and they haven¡¯t even built the fence.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I hate animal protection.¡± A nearby officer voiced out. ¡°Exactly, I feel the same way, it¡¯s completely unnecessary.¡± ¡°It¡¯s precisely these actions that cause a lot of trouble for genuine animal protection efforts.¡± As Bi Fang was gliding, he was educating the viewers on the difficulties faced by animal protection nowadays, as well as the misunderstandings many people have about it.¡± ¡°All sorts of so-called ¡®public interest organizations¡¯ in quotes go out of their way to hinder your actions with all kinds of absurd reasons, they like to take the moral high ground and talk to you about the rights of rats.¡± Nowadays, animal protection has been totally warped into two types. One type is the traditional animal conservationist, hassled at the forefront of protecting endangered species. The other kind is the ¡°cute animal conservationist.¡± They are capable of extreme behaviors such as stopping trucks carrying dogs for meat on highways, releasing animals from labs, and hurling insults and threats at others. ¡°Those so-called animal conservationists online all share a common trait, they are extremely self-centered: ¡®I feel that your behavior hurts my tender sensibilities, so I must crush you to feel better myself.''¡± ¡°They wallow in a form of self-gratification as their main purpose, commonly referred to as ¡®self-hype¡¯.¡± ¡°What these people want to protect is not any animal but their eyes, which they feel have been sullied by seeing such animals, adhering to the mentality of ¡®out of sight, out of mind.¡¯ Cats and dogs are cute and need protection, but would you protect an ugly yet endangered toad? If you can¡¯t do that, don¡¯t call yourself an animal protector. You¡¯re not worthy. ¡°The key is that these people have relatively high incomes, either from corporate settlements or gratuitous donations. Who would make donations? I wouldn¡¯t dare guess.¡± [Holy shit, that¡¯s terrifying when you think about it!] [I feel like it¡¯s the competitors!] [They¡¯re literally using slogans to eliminate rivals! This feels like a tactic to dupe the public.] [No wonder, these foreigners are ruthless!] [No kidding, animal protection is getting out of hand overseas; lobsters even have to be stunned before boiling.] [Right, I heard they¡¯re required to give pigs toys, and it¡¯s illegal not to. Their brains have gone watt.] ¡°True animal protection should be like Professor Elvan, aimed at rare animals. Essentially, it¡¯s about giving humans a way out, saving a potential future for humans, rather than worrying about ¡®mouse rights.''¡± The glider flew hundreds of meters in the sky, soaring as if riding the wind with great freedom. Bi Fang pulled the control bar, tilting the glider¡¯s nose upwards to ascend further while changing the viewpoint. The airplane soared into the sky like an arrow shot upward, creating strong air pressure. The forest beneath grew more distant as the plane surged towards the heavens and disappeared into the clouds. The viewers in the live stream could feel the surging power of the air currents around them. Bi Fang circled above the forest, gazing at the mountain ranges to the southeast¡ªlayer upon layer, like green barriers. This first-person perspective of flying however one wished brought immense shock and enjoyment to the audience. [I¡¯ve dragged the attic fan out to simulate the airflow!] [Damn, why didn¡¯t I think of that? Count me in, taking out the summer fan!] [Remember to blow it in your face with your mouth open¡ªwooo wooo wooo¡ª it¡¯s just like experiencing it firsthand, such strong immersion!] [Old Fang is showing off! The guy above is even more brilliant, stop talking, I¡¯m already flying, wooo wooo wooo~ ~ ~ ] [Manslaughter by manhood] After flying for over half an hour, Bi Fang followed the route on the map, passing through the mountains to another tundra area. Etienne, sitting in the back, looked at the mixed green and white grassland and asked curiously, ¡°Has it snowed here?¡± Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Maybe, Finland is close to the Arctic, and even one-third of the country is within the Arctic Circle. It¡¯s November, so it¡¯s quite normal to encounter snowy terrain. According to the map, it might take us another two or three days to fly out of Finland.¡± Bi Fang circled once, preparing to leave the area. It was around one or two in the afternoon; if they delayed, they might have to spend the night in the snowy wilderness, which would be a severe test for the Goose. However, after flying for another fifteen minutes, Bi Fang suddenly changed his mind. He stepped on the pedal, making the glider circle in the sky. ¡°Etienne, do you want to eat some meat?¡± ¡°Meat? Where¡¯s the meat?¡± Etienne searched curiously, finding nothing even after looking for a while because Bi Fang hadn¡¯t brought any food. ¡°I didn¡¯t bring food.¡± Bi Fang pointed towards the ground, ¡°But look below, there¡¯s meat running.¡± On the snow-covered ground, a herd of reindeer ran freely. They looked as small as ants moving during a rainy day. Chapter 169: 166: The Sparrow Stalks Behind? ¡°Reindeer!¡± Etienne exclaimed. As the glider flew closer, the audience finally got a clear view of the creatures, which turned out to be large deer with long antlers! [Reindeer? Is Old Fang going hunting again?] [Wow, are we going to have meat now? But isn¡¯t it illegal to eat wild reindeer meat?] [Etienne: You¡¯re kidding me, I just forced down that nasty lichen, and now you tell me there¡¯s meat?] [Upstairs, do you still think this is inside the country? This is foreign territory, lawless land, Master Fang has been unleashed!] Bi Fang hadn¡¯t expected such good luck to stumble upon a migrating herd of reindeer on flat ground! Seeing the barrage screen messages from the Shuiyou, Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, everyone. Reindeer are the most abundant species of deer in the world, with nearly four million wild reindeer worldwide. They are a major source of meat for many people living in the Polar Regions, and there are quite a few reindeer meat restaurants in Finland itself.¡± Bi Fang gained altitude with the glider, circling around, looking for a place to land. Fortunately, if there¡¯s one thing Finland has plenty of, it¡¯s lakes. Finland¡¯s land area is only 330,000 square kilometers, not even as large as Yunnan Province, yet it¡¯s known as ¡°The Land of a Thousand Lakes.¡± Even that title is an understatement, as Finland has 188,000 lakes; that¡¯s roughly one lake for every two square kilometers. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If it weren¡¯t for that, Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t have bothered with the desperate calculations of latitude and longitude, as he could simply find his location on a map by some of the larger lakes. After circling around, a small frozen lake came into view. Bi Fang piloted the plane to spiral down, breaking through the thin ice with the pontoons, cutting a long waterline and docking steadily at the shore. The geese landed on the lake¡¯s surface, got a shock from the cold, trembling as they flapped their wings to climb onto the shore, shaking their feathers incessantly. Bi Fang pulled out a hunting knife, handed it to Etienne for self-defense, and pointed at the glider, ¡°You take the glider to the middle of the lake. Don¡¯t get off on shore recklessly. If you run into danger, just yell for me. The drone stays with you, And the audience will help you watch too. I¡¯ll come back as soon as I can. If all goes well, we¡¯ll have deer meat tonight.¡± Etienne was initially worried, but thinking of the lichen¡¯s unique ¡°flavor¡± ¡­ He had no choice but to agree, as he did not wish to taste lichen again. ¡°Remember, don¡¯t panic if you encounter danger. Even if the geese are in danger, don¡¯t rush to shore easily. Don¡¯t put yourself in peril for them. If it really comes to it, just fly the glider up into the sky.¡± Before leaving, Bi Fang reiterated his instructions several times. He set the drone¡¯s barrage screen to French to facilitate communication between the two parties. With the drone, he could constantly monitor Etienne¡¯s situation to prevent accidents. As long as Etienne followed his instructions exactly, there wouldn¡¯t be a problem. Very few predators are willing to swim to hunt their prey and even if there are, Etienne would have enough time to take the plane to the sky. As Bi Fang left, the live broadcast screen switched to two split views. One showed Bi Fang¡¯s first-person perspective as he hunted reindeer, and the other displayed Etienne, who remained on the water, in third-person view. Looking at the drone in front of him, Etienne was quite curious. He watched the screen as a heap of barrage comments popped up furiously, surprisingly translated into French! Etienne got excited, marveling at how intelligent the drone was, almost enabling barrier-free communication, and he extends his hand in greeting. ¡°Hello! Huaxia¡¯s audience!¡± [Wow! It¡¯s a handsome guy!] [By the way, is it winter vacation in France already?] [So interesting, one live stream, double the fun!] [Can the handsome guy tell us the story of raising the White-fronted Geese? I¡¯m so curious!] The barrage was thick and fast, and Etienne was taken aback by Shuiyou¡¯s enthusiasm, but he quickly got used to it. ¡°Of course, to be honest, I didn¡¯t like them at all when Elvan first brought the goose eggs home. To get them used to the engine noise, Elvan played that sound on the speakers every day, really loudly too, making it impossible for me to sleep at night. But gradually, I got used to it, and one day when I went to see the eggs in the hatchery¡­¡± Crrack! Bi Fang snapped off a branch, checked its weight and length, and held it in hand to serve as a walking stick. It had been less than fifteen minutes when Bi Fang reached a snow slope, and the reindeer herd spotted earlier from the air appeared once again before everyone¡¯s eyes. in the first-person perspective, this hunting view caused the adrenaline of the viewers to surge, and they held their breaths nervously, as if afraid to startle the deer herd in front of them. Bi Fang slowly descended the snow slope, lay down in the snow, and pointed to the nearby reindeer herd, saying. ¡°The most astonishing behavior of reindeer is their annual migration that spans hundreds of kilometers. With the arrival of spring, they leave the forests and grasslands they live in and head north along centuries-old unchanging routes. It is always the females that lead, followed closely by the males, marching in orderly fashion, eating as they go, and traveling day and night.¡± ¡°They shed their thick winter coats along the way, and grow new, thin summer fur; the shed wool falls to the ground, serving as markers, year after year, for who knows how many centuries.¡± ¡°This herd of reindeer is most likely migrating.¡± Below the snow slope, the reindeer herd formed a long line, with several leading reindeers bearing huge antlers, elegant and robust, their dense brown fur and powerfully arched backs indicating they are animals adept at leaping, and those big, fine-haired antlers seemed so touchable. Several deer in the line occasionally stopped to nibble the green grass buried under the snow, then lifted their heads to look around alertly, just as Bi Fang had described. What puzzled viewers, however, was that all these reindeer seemed to have antlers? Were they all males? [Damn, Old Fang¡¯s walking stick has appeared again.] [Why do I feel like this hunt seems even more difficult?] [I feel like it looks like the Pere David¡¯s deer I¡¯ve seen before, is it really not illegal?] ¡°Many people think reindeer are similar to Pere David¡¯s deer, also known as ¡öthe four not alike,¡¯ but there are significant differences between the two,¡± Bi Fang said without looking at the barrage, having to respond to netizens¡¯ questions in a different way since the drone was absent. ¡°Pere David¡¯s deer has the longest tail among deer, while the reindeer has an extremely short one. Pere David¡¯s deer¡¯s antlers have no brow tines and all the tines grow backward, whereas reindeer have very complex antlers growing forward, and they are the only type of deer where both males and females grow antlers.¡± ¡°Actually, there are no wild reindeer in our country; they are basically introduced and domesticated, speaking of which, it¡¯s interesting that the reindeer herders are the Ewenki people whom I¡¯ve mentioned many times before!¡± Bi Fang watched the reindeer herd, moving along with them and slowly looking for the right hunting opportunity while determining which deer was easier to catch. The reindeer below the snow slope remained oblivious to everything. Bi Fang took out his harpoon and tied it to the walking stick with vine, making a makeshift short spear, and took this opportunity to share some knowledge with everyone. ¡°In Ewenki legend, long ago, the Oroqen, Ewenki, and Hezhen people shared the same ancestors and lived in the primeval forests near Lake Baikal.¡± ¡°As the tribes gradually migrated, those who did not want to leave the Khingan Range became the Oroqen.¡± ¡°The tribes that moved out of the mountains to the plains became Ewenki people, living in Hulunbuir, primarily engaged in pastoralism.¡± ¡°The Hezhen people followed the river down and reached the north of the Changbai Mountains.¡± ¡°Over three hundred years ago, one of the most distant and mysterious branches of the Ewenki people migrated from places like Lake Baikal to the Argun River basin, settling on the northern banks of the Genhe at the Argun (Hulunbuir). ¡°Unlike the Oroqen, they developed an inseparable bond with reindeer and thus were referred to as ¡®the reindeer-herding Ewenki,¡¯ sustaining themselves through reindeer herding and hunting.¡± ¡°Among the Huaxia, Ewenki are the only ethnic group that herds reindeer. Regrettably, as society progresses, more and more Ewenki choose to leave the forests, and their unique hunting culture has started to collapse. ¡°In the vast northern forests, the sound of Ewenki people calling reindeer and knocking on birch bark vessels will no longer echo.¡± [Damn, I was wondering why they all had antlers, thought it was a fencing team or something!] [Fencing team¡­ looking at those reindeer antlers, they¡¯re so damn picturesque.] [Damn, it¡¯s the Ewenki again, this ethnic group seems so badass!] [Me too, feels like they know a bit of everything.] ¡°These traditional hunting-based ethnic groups have many practical survival skills, and many of my skills come from them,¡± Bi Fang said as he continued to watch the reindeer. The reindeer slowly moved, with one or two occasionally straying from the line to graze on the sides. Bi Fang fixed his gaze on a nearby reindeer, like a hidden tiger lying in ambush. But what no one knew was that, not too far away, another pair of eyes was quietly watching their own ¡°prey.¡± The resemblance between the two was striking! Chapter 170: 167: The Setting Sun Glows Red Round black pupils contracted to a fine line, faint light flitting within, reflecting the image of a goose. Curling claws gripped the rock firmly, the predator looked down from its high perch at its prey. The wild geese, never having lived in the wild, had no sense of vigilance and were oblivious to the impending danger, continuing to stroll leisurely in the snow-covered grass. In the middle of the lake, Etienne was having a great time chatting with his online friends, just about to spill some embarrassing anecdotes about Elvan, when out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of something moving¡¯on the boulder. It seemed¡­ as if something big was shifting about on top? ¡°What is that¡­?¡± Etienne looked up through the dense shade of the trees, where the sunlight, broken by branches and leaves, dappled and scattered, fell on hair as clear as snow. Upon the rock, a nimble figure stepped forward, each movement an adjustment of muscle status, the hind foot landing perfectly in the imprint made by the front foot. It shook its body in the wind, the mane-like long hair fluttering like a battle flag, its backdrop a reddening sunset. The sun gradually slanted westward, stretching the shadows long. Daylight is short in the polar winter; it was only just past three o¡¯clock, and in about half an hour, darkness would fall. ¡°Many felines prefer to hunt at dusk and dawn, and this is also a good opportunity for us.¡± Bi Fang scrutinized one animal after another, patiently selecting suitable prey. ¡°Don¡¯t pick the leading doe, don¡¯t pick the fawns. Reindeer are very timid; they only flee when faced with danger, but to hunt the two types I mentioned, you might encounter resistance, which is very dangerous, particularly with fawns because their mothers will go berserk!¡± This point was clear to Shuiyou without explanation. Upon closer observation, the leading doe was simply huge, like a small horse, and with those long antlers, a single hit could be fatal on the spot. We are going to catch the elderly deer and the young ones. Unless there is no chance at all, try not to go for the sick deer; high temperatures can kill bacteria, but that doesn¡¯t mean they can remove toxins. Take Staphylococcus aureus, for example. The bacteria itself can die easily, but the enterotoxin it produces is highly heat-resistant.¡± ¡°Look, that one¡¯s good.¡± Following Bi Fang¡¯s gaze, the viewers quickly spotted which one he was referring to. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A young reindeer, lifting its forelegs, trailed at the back of the herd, limping and moving unevenly. Without a doubt, the best hunting target of the season had appeared! The speed of reindeer is one of the slowest among cervids, only half that of the Tibetan antelope, but they can still reach nearly fifty kilometers per hour, almost twice that of humans. Therefore, a limping deer is the optimal choice, with no second thought.¡± Bi Fang took off his black coat, leaving only the white lining, a dressing technique of his to blend into various environments for camouflage. Without the black coat, Bi Fang gradually merged with the surroundings. With his gaze firmly locked on the target, he began to move with the herd of reindeer, waiting for a sufficiently close distance. Without his coat, Bi Fang¡¯s limbs started to feel cold. He was uphill, the reindeer downhill-a natural advantage. As long as he could close the distance to within ten meters, Bi Fang was confident he could catch up to and kill the limping reindeer. But after waiting for over ten minutes, Bi Fang slowly realized something wasn¡¯t right. Reindeer were supposed to graze as they walked, so why did this herd keep running off to the sides to eat? ¡°This is a glacier!¡± Upon closer observation, Bi Fang finally realized the herd of reindeer was walking on a glacier! ¡°This is troublesome. If I charge out now, it will only cause the reindeer to scatter in panic. The heavy trampling could cause resonance and shatter the ice.¡± ¡°The surface of this kind of glacier is extremely unstable, and the depth of the water below is difficult to predict. If you fall in, the zero-degree water temperature will instantly stimulate your cardiovascular system to contract, leading to accelerated blood circulation.¡± ¡°A large amount of blood rushing back to the brain could cause temporary dizziness, and if it¡¯s someone with mediocre swimming skills, this is where they¡¯re most likely to choke on water, flail about, and with the ice breaking up in large chunks, it¡¯d be even harder to get ashore, ultimately leading to drowning!¡± [Isn¡¯t this very dangerous?] [Maybe it¡¯s better to give up?] [Or maybe just scare them a bit? Shatter the ice surface? Take the opportunity to grab one?] ¡°However, ice breaking up is a low-probability event; this group of deer has been walking for so long without any problems, so the ice is likely very thick. Plus, reindeer are good swimmers; even if the ice was shattered, I might not catch anything.¡± Bi Fang felt he could take the gamble, with his current physique even if he fell into the icy river, he shouldn¡¯t pass out. But the viewers in front of the screen were undoubtedly more anxious, as what they saw was not just an icy river, but a ticking time bomb! The limping reindeer was now about forty meters away from Bi Fang, lagging at the very back of the herd. ¡°Looking downhill from the slope gives a natural advantage, I¡¯ve said before that herbivores have a very broad field of vision, about two hundred and eighty degrees, but we can still get a bit closer.¡± ¡°Look at this wind, it¡¯s a clear headwind, and the scent is in our favor.¡± Bi Fang picked up a handful of dry snow and gently released it, as the snow drifted backward in the strong wind, clearly showing the direction of the wind. The strong wind would also help mask the sound of his footsteps in the snow. Leaving the snow slope, Bi Fang ran swiftly below it. The sound of the wind covered his footsteps, and he quickly positioned himself behind the reindeer team, narrowing the distance between them to within thirty meters. ¡°Next, it¡¯s time to wait, to wait for this reindeer to leave the herd to graze, then we seize the opportunity to throw the short spear! Even if we can¡¯t kill it with one strike, we must inflict serious damage!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a pity I don¡¯t have a bow and arrows; if I did, I could shoot directly from this distance, no need to sneak up as cautiously as I am now.¡± Bi Fang planned to make a long bow when he got back. During the month-long migration period, having a bow would greatly ensure their quality of life. Gripping the short spear in his hand, Bi Fang began to regulate his breathing. The sunset gradually pulled the sunlight from the earth, turning the vast red snowfield into a red-black expanse. Soon, nightfall would descend over Lapland, marking the last sunset this lame deer would ever see. As time ticked by the second, the world was left with only the wind¡¯s sorrowful whistle. It was getting late, and Bi Fang was so patient it was almost frightening, following the herd for nearly half a kilometer, not hurrying at all. The quieter the environment, the higher the tension for the viewers. Without the drone, the image lost some of its artistic quality but gained in engagement. The audience felt like they were a ferocious tiger, just waiting for the prey to reveal a flaw, then using their sharp teeth to bite through its throat! Finally, the limping reindeer left the group to graze! And it was on Bi Fang¡¯s side of the riverbank! The distance was closing again! So thrilling! ¡°Damn, how did this lad just waltz up on the bank like that?¡± In a dorm room, one of the guys yelled when he saw what was happening. The majority of viewers had zoomed in on Bi Fang¡¯s portion of the split screen, utterly ignoring Etienne; only a few who were watching both screens noticed the situation. Cao Lifeng asked without understanding, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Switch back to dual-screen, Etienne has landed up on the bank with his glider!¡± ¡°What?¡± The other guys in the dorm exclaimed and quickly switched back to dual-screen, indeed seeing Etienne gliding in toward the lakeside! Chapter 171: 168: Herds of Deer Frenzied Run, The Lynx Bends the Bow! ¡°What is this kid trying to do?¡± Bi Fang¡¯s instructions to the audience were still clear in their minds; he had repeatedly cautioned Etienne not to go ashore, just to stay in the center of the lake, but now why had he suddenly started the paraglider to go ashore? A wave of tension gripped countless viewers. In the half-hour that Bi Fang had been gone, Etienne¡¯s recollections and narratives of the past had already made everyone like this brave and strong French boy. The online friends had understood Etienne¡¯s feelings for the geese, his efforts and perseverance, and were deeply touched by it, and now seeing Etienne going ashore, they were genuinely afraid that something would happen to him. This worry wasn¡¯t unfounded; accidents in Bi Fang¡¯s live streams were all too common, so much so that it would be embarrassing to say you¡¯d been to the wilderness without experiencing something unexpected. Eating a rabbit could lead to an encounter with a Black Bear, even snacking on spicy strips might result in meeting a prehistoric creature, and what was supposed to be a simple desert trip could turn into a cave exploration adventure ¡ªwhat couldn¡¯t happen? Of course, this was also related to Bi Fang¡¯s tendency to take the initiative in dangerous situations. You couldn¡¯t say he was courting death, just that he was skilled and very brave. He would often go towards danger, but there was no doubt that the wilderness was truly perilous, and it was very easy to lose one¡¯s life out there. Faint-hearted viewers even developed a fear of the wilderness. In their eyes, dangers lurked everywhere outside, with Black Bears and wild wolves at every turn, and for Etienne to set foot on land was to step into Hell! But when Etienne got ashore, making a wide detour to the bushes where the geese were, everyone was shocked and couldn¡¯t believe their eyes. Less than fifteen meters away from the bushes where the geese stayed, there stood a massive rock, and right now, on this boulder, a big cat appeared! In the setting sun, every strand of fur on the big cat sparkled like crystal, and the tuft of short hair at the tip of its ears stood upright like needle points, while the long hair on its cheeks fluttered in the wind. Sharp claws were embedded in the rock, and no one doubted the power of those paws. They were blades that could easily rip through human throats! S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [It¡¯s a lynx!] [Damn, a lynx?] Someone in the live chat recognized this animal and was even clear about its prowess. [I studied biology, I¡¯ve seen this animal. It is a medium-sized predator, although the lynx itself only weighs twenty to thirty kilograms, it can hunt animals over fifty kilograms!] [Medium-sized feline species have never been recorded killing humans, but a short-tailed cat about one meter in length can hunt 150-pound mule deer, and the Eurasian lynx even has a record of killing 400-pound elks!] A set of gruesome data was laid out in front of everyone, and they all knew. It doesn¡¯t eat humans. But that doesn¡¯t mean the lynx lacks the ability to attack! The online friends became anxious, as being watched by a wild animal was so unsettling. [It¡¯s over, Old Fang isn¡¯t here!] [Why go ashore in such danger? Wind tight, pull call!] [Quickly call Old Fang! ] [It¡¯s no use, Old Fang can¡¯t see the barrage!] [Etienne, hurry back, go back!] [Right, Etienne hurry back!] [Danger!] Many online friends immediately thought of calling Bi Fang, then realized the next second that Bi Fang didn¡¯t have the drone with him and couldn¡¯t see the barrage! It was a checkmate situation, with the drone present they couldn¡¯t see the barrage, and without it, they couldn¡¯t see what was happening! In fact, Bi Fang could see the barrage, but at this moment he was at a crucial point in the hunt; the barrage had been blocked long ago, all his focus was on the reindeer, and he wasn¡¯t aware of the situation here at all. Moreover, according to his thinking, as long as Etienne just stayed put in the center of the lake, he wouldn¡¯t encounter any danger. But an unexpected event occurred! A lynx had stealthily approached, wanting to eat the geese! Etienne cared about these eighteen geese more than anyone else, and he also spotted the lynx before anyone else! He dared not sound the whistle, nor dared to drive the paraglider over. He was afraid his actions and noises would startle the lynx and make it pounce on and hunt the geese before they could react. He couldn¡¯t accept the loss of any one of them. His heart was pounding fiercely as Etienne walked towards the lynx, this movement stirring everyone¡¯s spirit. Lynx! Reindeer! Bi Fang! Etienne! Prey and hunter, man and beast! On the left screen, Bi Fang was fully engaged in hunting a large elk; on the right screen, the young man cautiously confronted the beast! In that moment, the world seemed to spin, and people could no longer discern their place in nature¡ªwere we mighty or were we weak? Why were we standing at the top of the food chain one second, and the next, turning into fish on the chopping board? The most primitive, most violent conflict¡ªthis was the destiny born into every creature! The wind howled around them, deep and vast, like a wolf¡¯s long howl under the moon or as if beasts and demons were roaring, ready to leap out of the void and tear everything apart. Nature was cruel by birth; no one could truly stand invincible, not even the powerful prehistoric Tyrannosaurus, which would one day be exterminated by nature. Etienne, wearing a long robe, clutched the hunting knife given to him by Bi Fang, his legs shaking as he stood before the goose. The lynx was just fifteen meters away; Etienne¡¯s entire body reacted to the stress, feeling as if he were being pricked by needles, his skin breaking out in goosebumps that seemed ready to jump out! The large cat stared intently at Etienne, its easy prey, the goose, now blocked; even though the creature before it was more than double its size, it still let out an angry roar. ¡°Huff, huff, don¡¯t be afraid, don¡¯t be afraid.¡± In his heart, Etienne silently encouraged himself, remembering Bi Fang¡¯s teachings and strived to stand firm while opening his long robe to make himself look bigger. When a wild beast confronts you, never run; it¡¯s actually observing you. If you run, it¡¯ll know you¡¯re scared and chase you, biting at your heels. Wild beasts can smell your fear; the more afraid you are, the more excited they become! ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, don¡¯t be afraid, it¡¯s not that big.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, don¡¯t be afraid, you can eat slowly.¡± Bi Fang was buried entirely in the snow, minimizing his movements. The light of the setting sun slowly faded, with the great sun about to sink below the horizon, the last of its light setting the clouds ablaze like fire amidst the deepening dusk, Bi Fang¡¯s gaze shining like a torch. Fifteen meters, just fifteen meters, not even as long as a train car! Bi Fang could even smell the scent of grass from the reindeer¡¯s mouth, faint and lingering. Like the reindeer¡¯s mood, it was hurt but cared for by companions. There was just not enough to eat, and as the weather grew colder, the grass became drier, like the cotton it had eaten; perhaps the grass farther away was tenderer? The reindeer walked further and further away, closer and closer at the same time. Bi Fang held the short spear, his breath nearly stopping, every muscle in his body reacting in this moment. Finally, the reindeer lowered its head. Now was the time! The will, like a beast reawakening, roared from the depths of his heart. Bi Fang felt the power growing within him. It was so strong that with the short spear, he thrust out as quick as lightning, like Zeus punishing a Titan! ¡°Ah!¡± Two roars exploded rolling forth! It was as if a tiger and a lion roared in unison, their voices intertwining and resounding through the woods. The deer herd stampeded, the lynx crouched! At that moment, the sun set, and a blanket of darkness enveloped the entire world. Night had fallen. Chapter 172 - 173: 170: Gather 7 Wild Emperors! The ice shattered into a fine powder. Bi Fang, clutching the reindeer, sank into the river. Surrounded by the flow, he felt his blood about to freeze, his whole body icy cold. The bone-chilling freeze nearly cracked his mouth open, but the cold water flowing over his throat calmed him. His blood vessels constricted inch by inch, stiffening gradually. The reindeer in his arms struggled violently. Bi Fang did not dare to resist and quickly let go to watch the reindeer swim swiftly upstream and clamber onto the ice. Bi Fang did not hurry to emerge; he stayed underwater, watching as one after another large reindeer, each weighing over a hundred kilograms, leaped over the ice caves and fled. The thumping sounded like the true depiction of the audience¡¯s electrocardiogram. Thump-thump, thump-thump! Tense, chaotic, rapid. As dense as drumbeats. Minutes later, the noise gradually ceased. Bi Fang, nearly completely frozen stiff, finally surfaced and took deep breaths. ¡°Ugh!¡± After spitting out two mouthfuls of water, Bi Fang stripped off his clothes and once again started doing burpee jumps. But after being submerged twice, his body was overwhelmed. Even after a dozen burpees, he still felt piercing cold. He was experiencing hypothermia! Feeling his body growing colder and his head dizzying, Bi Fang hurriedly followed the bloodstains on the ground, picking up his clothes and the parka he had initially dropped, continuing the chase; the limping big deer, struck in the trachea, couldn¡¯t have gone far. Everything was as anticipated; less than two hundred meters away, Bi Fang caught up with the injured reindeer following the trail of blood. The reindeer looked at Bi Fang with eyes full of panic, but severe blood loss had left it without the strength to flee any further. Bi Fang approached cautiously, seizing the opportunity to grab its antlers. Pulling out the short spear, the reindeer began to struggle fiercely, but its head was firmly held in place. Bi Fang did not prolong its suffering; with stiff hands, he grasped the slippery harpoon and inserted it between the ears of the reindeer, inducing instant brain death. The heavy body of the big deer collapsed beside Bi Fang, splattering him with blood. Bowing his head, he saw the deer¡¯s head at his feet, its eyes not closed, black pupils empty. The blood dyed a large area of the ice red, and the warm blood quickly mingled with the biting ice to solidify. Hunting success. Lu Wentao sat on the couch. Seeing this scene unfold, his expression was undisturbed. He downed a gulp of liquor, not distressed but rather excited. He had come to terms with it; Bi Fang had never been his match. They weren¡¯t on the same level. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t keep up with him. Especially this ability to stream without chat and still know what interests viewers; he was born to be a streamer, no denying it. Better to give up struggling and become an ordinary viewer. Or it could be said that since the disappearance of the manager, Wang Weifeng, the mountain of pressure that had always weighed on Lu Wentao had also vanished. Actually, setting biases aside and watching Bi Fang¡¯s stream was surprisingly engaging, almost uncontrollably tempting him to send gifts! S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Damn it, sometimes the gap between people is bigger than between a person and a dog! Master Fang, YYDS! A spaceship sent! Even Lu Wentao, his former rival, felt this way, not to mention other viewers. The number in the live broadcast had surged to a new peak within half an hour, breaking through the 200,000 mark! That¡¯s audience count, not popularity! The number of people in Bi Fang¡¯s live room now exceeded the popularity of most streamers! Such a broadcast that increased viewership to a new level with each session was unheard of, unseen! Even bamboo doesn¡¯t grow this fast! [Congratulations to Huanye on becoming an Emperor in Master Fang¡¯s live room!] [Huanye has sent the streamer meatballs*ioooo] And there it was! The seventh Emperor! Golden light dazzled as it streaked across the skies. [Master Fang actually gathered seven wild Emperors! Off the charts!] [Who else do we need?] [I¡¯m going to use these seven Emperors to summon a tycoon!] [Old Fang rocks! On average, he gains at least one more Emperor per livestream, amazing! A true master! ] [Don¡¯t mention it, it hurts just thinking about it, my goddess is a bootlicker for Master Fang, wuwuwu.] The reindeer that was killed was still twitching its legs, undergoing nerve reflexes. Bi Fang hurriedly spread his coat on the ground and pressed the reindeer onto himself. Indeed, through heat transfer, Bi Fang¡¯s body temperature finally stabilized and even showed signs of rising. ¡°Phew, I feel much better now. Hypothermia was really dangerous just now, and all my clothes were soaked. If I hadn¡¯t caught the reindeer, I might have died from hypothermia. This was really dangerous.¡± Having recovered some of his strength, Bi Fang finally had the energy to chat with his audience. ¡°Even when temperatures drop to minus 50 degrees Celsius, reindeer can still maintain enough body heat, all thanks to this thick fur. While its body temperature is still up, I have to warm up quickly. Haha, this is definitely the warmest part of my day.¡± [Holy shit, he¡¯s capitalizing on the warmth] [My eyes are done for!] [Old Fang, that pose is so cringeful, hugging a dead reindeer for warmth.] [Honestly, I was so scared just now. I didn¡¯t expect Old Fang to be so badass.] [That¡¯s right, that fall was very impressive to me. Does Master Fang also know martial arts? Holding a horse stance, calm and composed, so cool! Best moment of the year! ] [Absolutely, so cool. The reindeer was about to collide, and Master Fang didn¡¯t even flinch. That¡¯s just badass! ] [Feels like the Tai Chi move ¡®Using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds¡¯] ¡°Many of you might be interested in the move I just performed. Yes, I¡¯m coming clean¡ªI¡¯ve practiced Youlong Bagua, which shares the same roots as Tai Chi. I just used the force of the reindeer¡¯s impact to break through the ice.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s admission immediately caused a huge stir, as traditional martial arts holds a special place in the hearts of Huaxia People. Nowadays, the internet is full of con artists, and everyone is unsure if traditional martial arts are actually useful. But Bi Fang¡¯s feat was genuine skill. Certainly, a wild reindeer couldn¡¯t have been acting, right? Seeing that everyone was very interested in this topic, Bi Fang continued to explain. ¡°Actually, the so-called ¡®Using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds¡¯ is a common technique in martial arts, and it appears frequently in boxing and Sanda. It¡¯s just that Tai Chi and Bagua particularly emphasize this aspect.¡± ¡°For example, what traditional martial arts call ¡®breaking the horizontal with the vertical,¡¯ appears often in Sanda. The idea is that if someone is attacking you straight on with great force, you only need to deflect it sideways with a smaller force to neutralize the attack. Zou Guojun, early Sanda champion and ¡®Asia¡¯s Fastest Leg,¡¯ also liked to use it. It¡¯s just that ¡®Using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds¡¯ is a more literary way of expressing it.¡± ¡°In weapon combat, there are even more examples, such as the European Two- Handed Sword emphasizing the strong and weak parts of the blade, various levers, all sorts of ¡®Using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds¡¯¡­ Martial arts is really just a game of mechanics.¡± Having warmed up with the reindeer for a while, Bi Fang recovered considerably. He got up, put on his coat, and hoisted the entire reindeer onto his shoulder. ¡°Gee, this is heavy.¡± Just as he lifted the reindeer, Bi Fang almost fell to his knees. The deer wasn¡¯t fully grown yet but weighed at least sixty kilograms or even close to seventy, roughly the weight of an adult man. It was impossible to carry it back. Bi Fang had no choice but to put it down again, use snow to quickly cover up the scent of blood, and with the help of a rope, dragged the reindeer forward. At that point, Bi Fang also finally noticed the barrage of comments about Etienne. [Etienne was very brave just now too, although there¡¯s a big luck element involved] [Add one, he¡¯s got a bit of Master Fang¡¯s flair, captured a Little Wolf King] [Heroes emerge from the young!] Huh? What is that about? Bi Fang was confused by what he heard. What had Etienne done behind his back? Chapter 173: 170: Gather 7 Wild Emperors! The ice shattered into a fine powder. Bi Fang, clutching the reindeer, sank into the river. Surrounded by the flow, he felt his blood about to freeze, his whole body icy cold. The bone-chilling freeze nearly cracked his mouth open, but the cold water flowing over his throat calmed him. His blood vessels constricted inch by inch, stiffening gradually. The reindeer in his arms struggled violently. Bi Fang did not dare to resist and quickly let go to watch the reindeer swim swiftly upstream and clamber onto the ice. Bi Fang did not hurry to emerge; he stayed underwater, watching as one after another large reindeer, each weighing over a hundred kilograms, leaped over the ice caves and fled. The thumping sounded like the true depiction of the audience¡¯s electrocardiogram. Thump-thump, thump-thump! Tense, chaotic, rapid. As dense as drumbeats. Minutes later, the noise gradually ceased. Bi Fang, nearly completely frozen stiff, finally surfaced and took deep breaths. ¡°Ugh!¡± After spitting out two mouthfuls of water, Bi Fang stripped off his clothes and once again started doing burpee jumps. But after being submerged twice, his body was overwhelmed. Even after a dozen burpees, he still felt piercing cold. He was experiencing hypothermia! Feeling his body growing colder and his head dizzying, Bi Fang hurriedly followed the bloodstains on the ground, picking up his clothes and the parka he had initially dropped, continuing the chase; the limping big deer, struck in the trachea, couldn¡¯t have gone far. Everything was as anticipated; less than two hundred meters away, Bi Fang caught up with the injured reindeer following the trail of blood. The reindeer looked at Bi Fang with eyes full of panic, but severe blood loss had left it without the strength to flee any further. Bi Fang approached cautiously, seizing the opportunity to grab its antlers. Pulling out the short spear, the reindeer began to struggle fiercely, but its head was firmly held in place. Bi Fang did not prolong its suffering; with stiff hands, he grasped the slippery harpoon and inserted it between the ears of the reindeer, inducing instant brain death. The heavy body of the big deer collapsed beside Bi Fang, splattering him with blood. Bowing his head, he saw the deer¡¯s head at his feet, its eyes not closed, black pupils empty. The blood dyed a large area of the ice red, and the warm blood quickly mingled with the biting ice to solidify. Hunting success. Lu Wentao sat on the couch. Seeing this scene unfold, his expression was undisturbed. He downed a gulp of liquor, not distressed but rather excited. He had come to terms with it; Bi Fang had never been his match. They weren¡¯t on the same level. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t keep up with him. Especially this ability to stream without chat and still know what interests viewers; he was born to be a streamer, no denying it. Better to give up struggling and become an ordinary viewer. Or it could be said that since the disappearance of the manager, Wang Weifeng, the mountain of pressure that had always weighed on Lu Wentao had also vanished. Actually, setting biases aside and watching Bi Fang¡¯s stream was surprisingly engaging, almost uncontrollably tempting him to send gifts! Damn it, sometimes the gap between people is bigger than between a person and a dog! Master Fang, YYDS! A spaceship sent! Even Lu Wentao, his former rival, felt this way, not to mention other viewers. The number in the live broadcast had surged to a new peak within half an hour, breaking through the 200,000 mark! That¡¯s audience count, not popularity! The number of people in Bi Fang¡¯s live room now exceeded the popularity of most streamers! Such a broadcast that increased viewership to a new level with each session was unheard of, unseen! Even bamboo doesn¡¯t grow this fast! [Congratulations to Huanye on becoming an Emperor in Master Fang¡¯s live room!] [Huanye has sent the streamer meatballs*ioooo] And there it was! The seventh Emperor! Golden light dazzled as it streaked across the skies. [Master Fang actually gathered seven wild Emperors! Off the charts!] [Who else do we need?] [I¡¯m going to use these seven Emperors to summon a tycoon!] [Old Fang rocks! On average, he gains at least one more Emperor per livestream, amazing! A true master! ] [Don¡¯t mention it, it hurts just thinking about it, my goddess is a bootlicker for Master Fang, wuwuwu.] The reindeer that was killed was still twitching its legs, undergoing nerve reflexes. Bi Fang hurriedly spread his coat on the ground and pressed the reindeer onto himself. Indeed, through heat transfer, Bi Fang¡¯s body temperature finally stabilized and even showed signs of rising. ¡°Phew, I feel much better now. Hypothermia was really dangerous just now, and all my clothes were soaked. If I hadn¡¯t caught the reindeer, I might have died from hypothermia. This was really dangerous.¡± Having recovered some of his strength, Bi Fang finally had the energy to chat with his audience. ¡°Even when temperatures drop to minus 50 degrees Celsius, reindeer can still maintain enough body heat, all thanks to this thick fur. While its body temperature is still up, I have to warm up quickly. Haha, this is definitely the warmest part of my day.¡± [Holy shit, he¡¯s capitalizing on the warmth] [My eyes are done for!] Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Old Fang, that pose is so cringeful, hugging a dead reindeer for warmth.] [Honestly, I was so scared just now. I didn¡¯t expect Old Fang to be so badass.] [That¡¯s right, that fall was very impressive to me. Does Master Fang also know martial arts? Holding a horse stance, calm and composed, so cool! Best moment of the year! ] [Absolutely, so cool. The reindeer was about to collide, and Master Fang didn¡¯t even flinch. That¡¯s just badass! ] [Feels like the Tai Chi move ¡®Using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds¡¯] ¡°Many of you might be interested in the move I just performed. Yes, I¡¯m coming clean¡ªI¡¯ve practiced Youlong Bagua, which shares the same roots as Tai Chi. I just used the force of the reindeer¡¯s impact to break through the ice.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s admission immediately caused a huge stir, as traditional martial arts holds a special place in the hearts of Huaxia People. Nowadays, the internet is full of con artists, and everyone is unsure if traditional martial arts are actually useful. But Bi Fang¡¯s feat was genuine skill. Certainly, a wild reindeer couldn¡¯t have been acting, right? Seeing that everyone was very interested in this topic, Bi Fang continued to explain. ¡°Actually, the so-called ¡®Using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds¡¯ is a common technique in martial arts, and it appears frequently in boxing and Sanda. It¡¯s just that Tai Chi and Bagua particularly emphasize this aspect.¡± ¡°For example, what traditional martial arts call ¡®breaking the horizontal with the vertical,¡¯ appears often in Sanda. The idea is that if someone is attacking you straight on with great force, you only need to deflect it sideways with a smaller force to neutralize the attack. Zou Guojun, early Sanda champion and ¡®Asia¡¯s Fastest Leg,¡¯ also liked to use it. It¡¯s just that ¡®Using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds¡¯ is a more literary way of expressing it.¡± ¡°In weapon combat, there are even more examples, such as the European Two- Handed Sword emphasizing the strong and weak parts of the blade, various levers, all sorts of ¡®Using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds¡¯¡­ Martial arts is really just a game of mechanics.¡± Having warmed up with the reindeer for a while, Bi Fang recovered considerably. He got up, put on his coat, and hoisted the entire reindeer onto his shoulder. ¡°Gee, this is heavy.¡± Just as he lifted the reindeer, Bi Fang almost fell to his knees. The deer wasn¡¯t fully grown yet but weighed at least sixty kilograms or even close to seventy, roughly the weight of an adult man. It was impossible to carry it back. Bi Fang had no choice but to put it down again, use snow to quickly cover up the scent of blood, and with the help of a rope, dragged the reindeer forward. At that point, Bi Fang also finally noticed the barrage of comments about Etienne. [Etienne was very brave just now too, although there¡¯s a big luck element involved] [Add one, he¡¯s got a bit of Master Fang¡¯s flair, captured a Little Wolf King] [Heroes emerge from the young!] Huh? What is that about? Bi Fang was confused by what he heard. What had Etienne done behind his back? Chapter 174: 171: A Deer Head Sparks a Bloodbath Chapter 174: Chapter 171: A Deer Head Sparks a Bloodbath Bi Fang dragged the large deer through the snow, curiously switching the camera to the live stream, only to discover that Etienne was sitting pretty in the middle of the lake as if nothing had happened. ¡°You all must help me keep this a secret, I¡¯m afraid Master Fang will be angry, Etienne instructed the audience. [Obviously, everyone gets it, no sweat] [There he is! The typo guy! I¡¯ve noticed every time there¡¯s a typo in the comments, it¡¯s you typing them out!] [Etienne did well, a star of the Wilderness Master in the making. Today, even I, with my tight purse strings, couldn¡¯t help but tip him] [Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll keep your secret. What landing ashore and grappling with lynxes? Never heard of it, Old Fang won¡¯t know] [Still, it was very dangerous this time. Better not to do it again next time.] Etienne chuckled, Bi Fang had warned him a thousand times not to go ashore, yet he didn¡¯t listen and even grappled with the lynx on land. Even though the lynx ended up with a scratched paw and ran away, in essence, what happened was still wrong, and Etienne knew it. It was certainly best if the netizens were willing to keep it secret for now. Unfortunately, Etienne thought that Bi Fang couldn¡¯t see the bullet screen or what was going on his end, little did he know that Bi Fang had been monitoring every move, and just a quick look through the stream¡¯s records would reveal everything. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But for now, Bi Fang had to pretend as if he knew nothing. ¡°Actually, this time I set a wrong example. Experienced hunters tend to avoid chasing game directly; the more you chase an animal when it¡¯s startled, the faster it will run. In the end, not only are you likely to get injured, but it¡¯s also easy to get lost. Don¡¯t underestimate an animal¡¯s fight for survival when it¡¯s at death¡¯s door.¡± ¡°But I was worried the reindeer would run too far, and the chase would drag on into the night. I might get lost, and that would be troublesome. Besides, the limping reindeer was limited in speed and had suffered such a serious injury, that¡¯s why I made a decisive strike.¡± [In the end, it¡¯s still Master Fang that¡¯s amazing!] [So strong it¡¯s boundless!] [Stop blowing smoke, Old Fang can¡¯t see it anyway.] Dragging the reindeer back to the lakeside, Etienne got onto the glider and disembarked, praising the reindeer behind him over and over. For such a young age, his acting was so naturally flawless; it was a pity not to mix into the entertainment industry since there was no sign of the previous tussle with the lynx. But just when everyone thought all was well, Bi Fang, without a word, called back the drone and started reviewing the playback. Uh-oh, busted! Etienne¡¯s face froze, not at all expecting this move. When Bi Fang saw the scene of Etienne driving away the injured lynx, silence spoke louder than words. ¡°It¡¯s over.¡± Etienne hung his head, expecting Bi Fang to scold him, but to his surprise, Bi Fang just rubbed Etienne¡¯s head and gave him a thumbs up: ¡°Well done.¡± Etienne instantly looked up, full of surprise. ¡°What? Thought I would scold you?¡± Bi Fang laughed, ¡°You¡¯ve got guts, daring to face off against a lynx all by yourself.¡± Etienne was overjoyed. ¡°So gutsy that I want to send you off right now.¡± Etienne¡¯s face fell, knowing things weren¡¯t so simple. [Hahaha, that twist was superb!] [Excellent!] [Wait, Master Fang isn¡¯t serious, is he?] [I find this stream so interesting, don¡¯t cut it off!] The online friends wailed. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t caught this reindeer, I definitely would¡¯ve sent you back.¡± Having reached this stage in the plan, Bi Fang didn¡¯t want to give up easily. With the reindeer, at least he wouldn¡¯t have to hunt for a week, and he could keep an eye on Etienne. Moreover, Etienne¡¯s performance truly gave him a pleasant surprise; the outcome was ultimately positive, so he reluctantly forgave the impulsiveness this time. Which is more important, life or the act of living, shouldn¡¯t be a subject of honest debate, but rather an understanding that varies between different social strata. However, there won¡¯t be a next time. Bi Fang will keep an eye on Etienne, and if he doesn¡¯t listen again, he¡¯ll be sent straight home to raise geese for the rest of his life. Understanding but not accepting, he¡¯s such a hypocrite. ¡°You should feel lucky.¡± ¡°Yay!¡± The reprieved Etienne jumped up and helped Bi Fang drag the reindeer over, showing great enthusiasm. ¡°Look, I found these nearby!¡± Etienne handed over several black stones. ¡°Flint Stone?¡± Bi Fang exclaimed in surprise. ¡°Yes, I found them under the rocks over there. I remember you explained during your livestream that these stones can be used to make weapons and start fires, so I should be correct,¡± Etienne pointed to a large boulder nearby, the very place where the lynx had just been. ¡°Not bad.¡± Bi Fang hadn¡¯t expected this windfall and, as before, he cleared away the snow from the ground, collected tinder, and then started a fire using the flint stone and the charcoal he had previously. Sparks from the flint stone lit up the darkness, and in no time, flames erupted. After warming himself by the fire for a while, Bi Fang propped up his clothes to dry. They hadn¡¯t dried completely from his previous soaking and were wet again, making him long for the times when he had a backpack and a change of clothes. ¡°Next, we need to process the reindeer, and we have to be quick before it freezes solid.¡± Bi Fang pulled the reindeer over, touched its body, and sure enough, it was still warm and its fur soft. ¡°I don¡¯t slaughter the animals where I kill them, because that might attract more animals.¡± ¡°This reindeer is a big one, and quite a hassle to deal with. First, we need to bleed it.¡± ¡°We have to grab the animal¡¯s hind legs and hang it up, cut its throat, and let the blood flow out. If it¡¯s a larger animal, it¡¯s hard to hang it up by yourself. In that case, you should use the terrain to position the animal¡¯s head facing downhill so that the blood can flow out with the help of gravity.¡± Bi Fang and Etienne grabbed the reindeer, lifting it onto the large boulder next to them, the entire process being extremely strenuous. [Wasn¡¯t the strange fish last time much heavier? Old Fang could move it, so why is this so strenuous?] [Did he secretly find a girlfriend behind our backs?] [Moderation, Master Fang! Lust is a bone-scraping steel knife! I won¡¯t let you indulge yourself like this; step aside and let me do it!] ¡°Moderation, my ass,¡± the barrage nearly took the wind out of Bi Fang. ¡°Pulling and lifting are completely different actions. Deadlifting can be said to use the combined strength of the whole body, and it is one of the three major power movements in the gym. A well-trained person could even pull more than three times their own body weight. But when it comes to lifting, being able to lift twice your weight is already very impressive, and three times is beyond even Olympic champions.¡± After lifting the reindeer onto the boulder, Bi Fang took out his harpoon, cut the reindeer¡¯s throat, and warm blood flowed out. Without wasting a drop, Bi Fang caught it all in an empty plastic bottle, one of the few items left from the glider. ¡°You need to make sure you cut the jugular vein and that the blood starts flowing out, from ear to ear. If you¡¯re not sure where the jugular vein is, then just cut off the whole head. The blood can be preserved too, and after boiling and sterilizing it, it can be eaten.¡± ¡°Many indigenous people have the habit of drinking raw blood, which isn¡¯t good, because animal blood may contain pathogens or parasites.¡± [Lord Mu sends 10 Spaceships to the streamer-Old Fang, can you bring that deer head back for me?] [Damn, how did I not think of that? I really want it too!] [Damn, that¡¯s so cool! I want to hang it in my living room! Just like the big shots in the movies!] [Lin Chang sends 20 Spaceships to the streamer-Give it to me! I want it, too!] [Nanana sends 5 Spaceships to the streamer-Wah, I¡¯m not as rich as the tycoons, but can you send one to me too, wailing!] [Damn it, if I weren¡¯t broke, I¡¯d fight for it too!] The act of Yao Jun asking for the deer head set the live broadcast room ablaze. What could be more exciting than collecting a complete deer head? Look at these antlers, they are so big and thick. And that deer head, both handsome and wild, would be absolutely awesome hanging in a living room! Not to mention that it was hunted by Bi Fang using the most primitive methods, with video to prove it! Chapter 175: 172: Listen to your brothers advice; you can eat this. Chapter 175: Chapter 172: Listen to your brother¡¯s advice; you can eat this. ¡°OMG!¡± Peter, using a translation app, watched a group of people sending gifts to compete for a reindeer head, his whole body frantically scratching his head. Such a humongous reindeer head, and it was even hunted by Master Fang with a spear. Oh my God, that¡¯s so cool! With that alone, he could invite girls over to check it out! Wants it so bad! But no money! Peter yanked out a handful of hair, even if he took out all his allowance, it wouldn¡¯t be the fraction of these gifts! He scratched his head in frustration, having worked hard doing chores all week, his aunt and uncle only gave him 20 US dollars. ¡°Please, a fan lottery, there has to be a fan lottery, then I still have a chance!¡± As a white person, Peter firmly believed in his lineage. ¡°Peter, Tony¡¯s come over to hang out, you should learn from him, stop hugging your computer all day, come down!¡± his aunt¡¯s voice came from downstairs. Peter was startled and just about to go downstairs when he bumped right into Tony. Tony, without any ceremony, opened the fridge, took out a can of Coke, and sat on the couch: ¡°Hey, Peter, why haven¡¯t you been out to play these days? Feels like forever since you¡¯ve been out. Are you secretly studying behind my back?¡± Peter scratched his head, it seemed that way, but he wasn¡¯t secretly studying. These past few days, he went straight home to watch Master Fang¡¯s live stream as soon as school ended, not having any time to hang out with friends, even his rich classmate Tony hadn¡¯t been licked for days. Wait a second, Peter suddenly froze, Tony is the son of the largest ranch owner in Texas! He had no money to tip, but if he hooked Tony in, wouldn¡¯t Tony¡¯s tips be essentially his? Hey, Tony, check this out, I¡¯ve found a super cool live stream!¡± ¡°Live stream? What¡¯s so interesting about that? I never watch live streams.¡± ¡®This live stream is really amazing¡ªit¡¯s not only that the host has discovered prehistoric creatures, but he can also hunt reindeer with a spear!¡± Peter excitedly pulled Tony toward the computer. ¡°Prehistoric creatures? Hunting reindeer? Alright, I¡¯m a bit interested now.¡± Tony sat down, pulled by Peter, curious about just what capability this highly praised host had. ¡°Oh, these two kids.¡± Peter¡¯s aunt, who had sent Tony upstairs, held her forehead, hoping that Tony could take Peter out for some activity, but why had they both sat down? Kids these days, sigh. Bi Fang was astonished by the viewers¡¯ enthusiasm, especially Lin Chang and Yao Jun, who were competing with each other in sending gifts like bidding at an auction, spending money as if they were naming prices. But this wasn¡¯t an auction, and the money sent away couldn¡¯t be taken back! For a moment, Bi Fang didn¡¯t know whom to give the reindeer head to; it indeed had a collectible value, but like before, having a lottery would be unfair to people like Yao Jun who had always supported him. ¡°Bringing it back is no problem, but I don¡¯t have the conditions to tum it into a specimen on hand, bringing it back might just be a skull with antlers.¡± [No problem, that¡¯s even cooler, right?] [Yes, even cooler!] Yao Jun didn¡¯t mind at all; he was determined to get the reindeer head hunted personally by Bi Fang, willing to fight with Lin Chang for it! Seeing that the two were about to continue bombarding with gifts, Bi Fang hurriedly intervened. ¡°Alright, alright, I got it, no more tipping, how about this, when I get back I¡¯ll pull a small group and have a lottery among you seven Emperors?¡± This was the best solution Bi Fang could think of, leaving the decision to fate. After waiting for a while, people like Yao Jun finally replied with a barrage of messages. [Alright then, a one-in-seven chance, I¡¯ll go pray to the gods when I get back, I must get it!] [No objections] [I think we can fiddle a bit behind the scenes, acting all pitiful (.>-¡®<)_0] Yao Lina put on a cutesy act, too bad Bi Fang wasn¡¯t swayed in the slightest. Seeing that everyone agreed, he continued processing the reindeer. ¡°For the indigenous Sami People living in Lapland, the reindeer is a treasure trove, especially its skin and fur. We can use it to make clothes or water bags. Look at how thick this is.¡± The camera zoomed in, showing the long fur by the reindeer¡¯s neck fluttering, at least as long as a finger! ¡°When I skinned the rabbit before, I laid it on the ground with its back down, but with large animals like deer, it¡¯s best to hang them. Otherwise, it¡¯s very ¡¯ difficult to skin, and you must be careful with the knife to avoid puncturing the innards.¡± ¡°But that takes a lot of effort and we don¡¯t have enough time, so I¡¯ll process it right here.¡± Bi Fang made a small incision at the reindeer¡¯s breastbone, inserted his fingers, then separated the incision with the knife, taking care not to puncture the innards. He continued to create space under the animal¡¯s skin with his fingers and cut more of the skin with the knife, making openings at the limbs. The overall technique was similar to that used for the rabbit, so there was no need to explain it again, just let the camera record. The prey was large enough for the audience to see clearly. After the procedure was finished, what followed was simply tearing it apart, which was quite laborious. With Etienne¡¯s help, Bi Fang spent over ten minutes before he could procure an intact piece of reindeer skin. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°That¡¯s so cool!¡± Etienne held the reindeer skin, finding it hard to believe that he had helped Bi Fang skin it. Alright, next comes the main event, we¡¯re going to process the ingredients.¡± Bi Fang flexed his stiff shoulders and plunged a knife into the back of the reindeer, cutting all the way from the rear to the neck [Wow, he can still manage to process ingredients] [Definitely, I feel like Master Fang is getting more comfortable in the wild. Before he had to eat earthworms, now he¡¯s eating deer meat directly, tsk tsk tsk] [Is it really that smooth?] ¡°We¡¯ll cut it open from the rear to the neck, then remove the innards. Beware, the smell might be very foul. So, you might want to consider wearing a makeshift mask to cover your nose and mouth.¡± ¡°Is it that exaggerated?¡± Etienne was startled, and the next second, when Bi Fang pulled open the stomach, the reindeer¡¯s innards slid out to the ground, releasing a potent smell that hit the back of the skull, as though tossing feces into a jar of sauerkraut and stirring it, then infusing it with stinky socks for a month. ¡°Ugh!¡± Etienne couldn¡¯t hold back and ran to the lakeside, kneeling and retching all bile. [Before, Master Fang always seemed so composed, but now I finally see what a normal person¡¯s reaction is.] [So real.] [Master Fang doesn¡¯t even flinch, but Little Wolf King is still not up to par.] ¡°I came prepared and I¡¯ve gotten used to it,¡± Bi Fang laughed heartily. It took a while for Etienne to recover, then he doubtfully asked, ¡°Why does this thing smell so bad?¡± ¡°Big animals are all like this. You¡¯ll get used to it. And do you know what reindeer like to eat?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Barnacle Goose droppings,¡± Bi Fang pointed to Amu, who was standing idly by, ¡°Reindeer subsist on low-quality plants like moss and lichen. Though they won¡¯t starve, the quality of life is quite tough.¡± ¡°Not getting much nutrition from their bland diet, they¡¯ll want something more savory, which is-they eat droppings. Barnacle geese can¡¯t digest cellulose well, so even though they consume a lot, the grass and moss are not fully digested and are excreted along with the feces, which become treasured food for the reindeer. Sometimes the reindeer will even chase them away to quietly enjoy the feast.¡± ¡°Stop it,¡± Etienne covered his mouth and ran aside to vomit again, but having eaten only lichen all day, he had nothing else to throw up. After removing the innards, Bi Fang pulled out the reindeer¡¯s heart, which was as big as a human head! Bi Fang brought the massive heart in front of the camera and, exhausted from the continuous labor, panted as he spoke. ¡°Here I can tell everyone for certain, theoretically, parasites can breed in any part of an animal¡¯s body, even the brain is not an exception, but they will never reside in a heart unless it¡¯s the blood-moving tapeworms, which is very, very rare, due to the heart¡¯s rapid blood flow.¡± ¡°So if you are really desperate, eating the heart raw would be a very good choice, and it¡¯s still warm.¡± Bi Fang held the bright red heart, feeling the surge of acid in his stomach, and took a bite. White teeth tore into red flesh, with blood sliding down from the comer of his mouth. A primal and wild scene struck at everyone¡¯s heart. Chapter 176: 173: Not hungry? Then youre not hungry enough. Chapter 176: Chapter 173: Not hungry? Then you¡¯re not hungry enough. ¡°Hungry or not?¡± ¡°Hungry¡­¡± ¡°Eat or not?¡± ¡°Not eating¡­¡± ¡°Then you¡¯re not really hungry, what a shame, it tastes quite good.¡± Bi Fang skewered a piece of deer meat and chewed it in his mouth. ¡°Ugh!¡± Etienne knelt on the ground and dry heaved again, unable to count how many times he had vomited, only remembering that with every bite of meat Bi Fang ate, he had to vomit once, his mouth full of the taste of stomach acid. ¡°Tiger fights with wolf, wolf eats the deer, deer eats grass, grass is innocent too, don¡¯t feel guilty, larger animals eat smaller ones, even the elk eats grass, but who would pity those blades of grass? We all come from the same cell 3.5 billion years ago.¡± Bi Fang patted Etienne¡¯s shoulder, trying to console him. This speech truly captured the law of the survival of the fittest in nature. If there were new viewers, they might actually think that Etienne couldn¡¯t bear to eat because he had seen the reindeer die in front of his eyes. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t tricked me into eating raw deer eyes¡­¡± Etienne was gasping for air but still summoned the last of his strength to accuse the main culprit, a feat much stronger than many TV dramas. Just now, Bi Fang had boldly eaten the deer¡¯s heart raw, shocking everyone. That wasn¡¯t the end; right after, he dug out a deer¡¯s eye and without a word, chewed it in his mouth, juice bursting out, praising it as tasty and asking Etienne if he wanted one. A deer has a pair of eyes, and with one gone, there¡¯d be no second chance in this village, so the young Etienne couldn¡¯t resist the temptation and tried tasting it too. As a result¡­ Etienne swore, he would never try such bizarre things again! Bi Fang seemed unconcerned, ¡°I think it¡¯s not bad, animal eyes are one of the places with the least parasites, second only to the heart, and they¡¯re bursty in texture, rich in fatty acids and vitamins, quite nourishing.¡± Etienne highly suspected that Bi Fang did it on purpose, as a punishment for his act of leaving the middle of the lake to save the goose. He would never forget the slimy juice, mixed with a heavy, pungent smell, exploding in his mouth. [Hahaha, this conversation, so funny] [I¡¯m dying of laughter!] [Master Fang is so bad!] [With that serious look, I can¡¯t tell real from fake anymore, whether Master Fang¡¯s taste is off, or if he¡¯s really fooling Etienne.] All the audience was laughing, filling the livestream room with a jovial atmosphere. ¡°Reindeer meat is quite prized, treated as a delicacy in local restaurants, with calf liver being considered an exquisite dish, though for some reason, Finnish cuisine was considered by other European countries as unpalatable as British cuisine.¡± Next to the roaring campfire hung a large amount of deer meat, looking like a dense meat forest, as Bi Fang grabbed a piece of greasy deer meat and began cutting it with his knife and fork. ¡°But I think it¡¯s alright, the deer meat is tender, similar to veal, with less fat and tenderer than most meats, but very gamey, extremely gamey, I¡¯d say about the same level as pig kidneys.¡± [My god, Master Fang says it¡¯s gamey, can people still eat that?] [Eating pig kidneys without any seasoning, I¡¯m gonna puke] [Bi Fang: Don¡¯t underestimate folks, dang it!] [You got manners?] Bi Fang swallowed another piece of deer meat and began to prepare the campsite, picking up a stick. ¡°It¡¯s too dark; for ease of gathering materials, we can make a torch for light. This time, we don¡¯t have gasoline, but we can use animal fat oil.¡± ¡°I need to first wrap the top of the torch with cloth, which serves a similar purpose as a wick. There¡¯s no need for too much, just a small piece will do,¡± Bi Fang cut a strip of cloth from the hem of his robe and then heated a bit of the yellow solid fat he had found on the deer by the fire, just enough to melt it slightly before dripping the oil onto the cloth strip. ¡°Impregnating the cloth with oil is an essential step. To make the torch burn for a long time, you must soak the cloth in fat. With the oil, the torch could burn for at least twenty minutes.¡± [Why can animal fat also be ignited? I tried burning pig fat at home with a lighter when I was a kid, but it seemed like it wouldn¡¯t catch fire?] [Yeah, yeah, I¡¯ve tried burning it too, but it just wouldn¡¯t light up.] [Awesome, if it had caught fire, there would have been trouble ¨C the ¡®Mom Will Hit Me¡¯ series.] ¡°Lucky for you, it didn¡¯t ignite,¡± Bi Fang said with a smile. ¡°This is also why the torch needs to be wrapped with cloth, which is the key to it being combustible.¡± ¡°It¡¯s quite easy for many liquids to reach the ignition point locally, but in order for the whole to sustain combustion, it depends on whether the heat generated by combustion can conduct and radiate to the liquid surface and vaporize it.¡± ¡°The essence of liquid combustion is actually gas combustion; only with a high enough heat flow density can it provide the heat of vaporization to undergo thermal decomposition or vaporization.¡± [I know this, I learned it in college!] [Dammit, I¡¯m just ignorant¡­] ¡°This is quite difficult for edible oil because its ignition point is around 300 degrees Celsius, while the flame from a household lighter is only about 200 degrees. It is even more challenging to ignite locally because the surrounding unignited liquid will act as a rapid coolant.¡± ¡°So a relatively easier method would be to heat the container as a whole. The higher the temperature of the cooking oil in the container, the easier it is to ignite. Sometimes when frying food, the oil ignites on its own simply because the entire temperature of the wok is too high, which is the same reason.¡± Bi Fang explained in simple terms, and his examples were ones many in the audience had witnessed firsthand. Even Etienne was listening intently. For some reason, listening to Bi Fang explain these things was much more interesting than listening to a teacher; it didn¡¯t feel dry at all. ¡°But it¡¯s different with cloth. Fiber materials have a strong capillary action, making it easier to draw out the oil, and the energy density is higher because the entire thing is enveloped by flames.¡± ¡°In an ideal scenario, the wick is there to facilitate the burning of the oil. It should always be the oil burning, not the wick itself, which is why a torch with oil can burn for so long.¡± The large amount of fat melted quickly, soaking the cloth strip in oil. Bi Fang hurriedly wrapped the oil-soaked cloth around one end of the stick, not letting the oil drip away. After placing the completed torch on the fire pit for a brief moment, the torch started to burn on its own in less than a dozen seconds, leaving the audience stunned. [Got schooled by Master Fang again.] [Darn, he fooled us again!] [This is the most knowledgeable live streamer I¡¯ve ever seen, bar none!] [What kind of educational background does Master Fang have? I¡¯m completely confused. He¡¯s a special forces member and knows so much, and he¡¯s only in his twenties! I think people usually retire from the special forces around their thirties! It¡¯s outrageous!] [Hisss, is that true upstairs? Terrifying indeed.] ¡°Perhaps I¡¯m just the genius from the legends,¡± Bi Fang said with a slight smile, his profound skills hidden beneath a humble facade, which only piqued the audience¡¯s interest further. They had long suspected that Bi Fang¡¯s background was no ordinary story, especially since the title of this live stream now featured a little red star sign, impressive yet inscrutable. Now that someone had brought it up, everyone wanted to know, but Bi Fang just wouldn¡¯t tell, leaving them scratching their heads in curiosity. After making the torch, he collected materials and built a shelter, just as he had done before. The area was surrounded by coniferous forests and, unlike last time, there were no wrecks nearby to scavenge from. They could only chop down trees to gather materials. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang handed the torch to Etienne to hold for lighting, then zeroed in on a large tree and climbed up to begin cutting its branches. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to him, a fiery celebration was slowly kindling elsewhere. Chapter 177: 174: It Seems, Perhaps, Indeed, There Is Something Going On? Chapter 177: Chapter 174: It Seems, Perhaps, Indeed, There Is Something Going On? Boom! The office door was suddenly flung open, startling Li Yawen into a frenzy as he hurriedly closed the webpage; when he realized who the newcomer was, he erupted in anger. ¡°Wang Yongbo! You again, why don¡¯t you ever knock before entering? Can¡¯t you respect my privacy?¡± Wang Yongbo ignored him, hoisted up a stool, and planted himself beside Li Yawen, handing him a tablet: ¡°Stop watching those booty-shaking female streamers. Here¡¯s something a man should watch.¡± Li Yawen¡¯s face turned red with embarrassment: ¡°Who was watching female streamers? How can you accuse me of such things without any evidence¡­¡± ¡°What innocence? I¡¯ve caught you several times watching live streams during work hours, female streamers, and you, Wolf Fang CEO, spending all day on Tiger Fang live streams? How does that look?¡± Li Yawen¡¯s face turned even redder, veins on his forehead bulging as he argued: ¡°Watching live streams can¡¯t be considered just watching¡­ I¡¯m also a vice president!¡­ Can a vice president¡¯s actions be described as mere watching? It¡¯s clearly spying on the competition! If I don¡¯t venture into Hell, who will? I¡¯m risking my life for Wolf Fang!¡± ¡°Alright, alright, I won¡¯t bother with these empty talks, just watch this,¡± said Wang Yongbo as he went over to the water dispenser to quench his thirst, parched for quite some time. Li Yawen looked up at the clock and realized it was already past eleven; he muttered, ¡°What¡¯s there to watch now? It¡¯s time to get off work¡­¡± A few minutes later, having watched the video, Li Yawen wore a stunned expression. This video, less than thirty minutes long, was the entire record of Bi Fang and Etienne¡¯s hunting and being hunted, and it had already amassed over three hundred thousand views on the most popular overseas platform, MeTube! Barely an hour had passed since its upload! There was enormous potential for growth! With this momentum, Li Yawen believed it could reach ten million views. ¡°Isn¡¯t this the talented streamer you found before?¡± Wang Yongbo¡¯s face was brimming with smiles: ¡°Hard to believe, right? It would be one thing if it was uploaded by some famous streamer, but previously, the uploader was just an ordinary high school student, not even breaking into triple-digit followers. One video, and he gained thirty thousand!¡± Li Yawen was at a loss for words; it took him a long time to gather his thoughts: ¡°How did Bi Fang do it? I mean, why does he have so many fans overseas?¡± Wang Yongbo pulled out a stack of newspapers and placed them on the desk: ¡°Remember the prehistoric creature he discovered during his last live broadcast?¡± Eagerly, Li Yawen picked them up and flipped through, realizing they were all English newspapers, many of them quite reputable with followers all around the world. This was the foundation, as well as the reason Bi Fang had become famous overseas following the discovery of a prehistoric creature! ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± Li Yawen asked seriously, sensing that Wang Yongbo¡¯s visit wasn¡¯t as simple as just watching a video. Wang Yongbo leaned in closer: ¡°Have you ever thought about Wolf Fang expanding overseas?¡± Li Yawen looked shocked: ¡°Are you insane? We can¡¯t even handle it here in China; you want to expand overseas? Even Shark and Tiger Fang wouldn¡¯t dare to do that. What makes us think we can?¡± ¡°On what basis? This sharp sword!¡± Wang Yongbo pointed at Bi Fang on the tablet, ¡°Plus, do you think this was my idea? I wouldn¡¯t dream of it! It was MeTube who took the initiative to come to us! They want to partner with us!¡± ¡°I think we can work with them to develop an overseas section! Together, we¡¯ll slice into the outdoor live streaming market!¡± Li Yawen said skeptically: ¡°You didn¡¯t just wake up from a nap before coming to me, did you? Still half asleep?¡± Wang Yongbo threw down another stack of documents: ¡°You¡¯re underestimating Bi Fang¡¯s current influence.¡± Li Yawen took the documents, and what he saw made his eyes pop. They contained all sorts of partnership invites, from big-brand endorsements to variety channels, and even manufacturers wanting to develop co-branded toys! ¡°Bi Fang is a sharp sword, his content unique to the whole world, impossible to learn or even mimic. Who else can wrestle with black bears? Find prehistoric creatures? Take on wolf packs single-handedly? And now, traveling across Europe with geese?¡± ¡°Bi Fang isn¡¯t just a streamer; he¡¯s a modern legend! It just so happens that he chose live streaming as his medium!¡± A modern, legend? Li Yawen was taken aback. He wasn¡¯t just some office worker stealing glimpses at female streamers, he too had his own way of thinking. What Wang Yongbo said sounded¡­ as if, indeed, perhaps, there might be something to it? This could be an unprecedented opportunity for Wolf Fang and for Bi Fang as well. The difficulty of developing overseas users is well understood by everyone; it¡¯s possible that there won¡¯t be any significant achievements within a year, but as long as there¡¯s an opportunity, even a longer duration is acceptable. The first live broadcast achieved good results, which might have been luck; the second live broadcast doubled in popularity, which might have been chance, but to say it¡¯s luck for the live broadcasts to become increasingly successful each time, with all achieving brilliant results, is too much. And Bi Fang had a huge success in all three broadcasts, admired by the ordinary people; even when he ran a ¡°bonus¡± broadcast for a day in between, the popularity was still sky-high. It can only be said that he truly has unmatched abilities in this field, and such a person should not be confined to just one domestic market¡ªthe only thing limiting him is the platform! How could Wolf Fang lag behind? This genius had fully proven his strength beyond doubt. It was not only Wang Yongbo personally who had great expectations for him, but the entire Wolf Fang company hoped he would create another miracle and prove to the world that although Wolf Fang once had a brief period of decline, it still had the strength, and would one day reclaim the leading position, even becoming the industry leader worldwide! ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± ¡°Tomorrow I will propose this decision to the board of directors, and you have to support me unconditionally!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Bi Fang made a notch in the branch and then used a rock to hammer the back of his knife. After just two strikes, Bi Fang suddenly saw darkness, the firelight disappeared, and a strong sense of dizziness came over him. He became rigid in the tree. [What happened to Master Fang?] [Why isn¡¯t he moving?] The audience sent in their queries, but Bi Fang quickly recovered, pinching his brow: ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯m probably just too tired today, a bit dizzy.¡± After speaking, Bi Fang continued to hit the back of the knife, and the others didn¡¯t suspect anything. Before long, a three-meter-long branch fell to the ground. Bi Fang had already chopped down three such branches, which were the main supports for the shelter. [How is he going to build this time? There are hardly any leaves on the trees, how can they serve as the roof?] [Yeah, the snow isn¡¯t thick enough, and there are no leaves, it seems like he can¡¯t build a conical shelter or a snow cave, right?] The audience was skeptical, and it seemed a bit difficult. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m here to build a bush shelter today. This is a tundra region; we don¡¯t have many leaves like in Qinling, so we can only make use of the bushes.¡± Bi Fang returned to the ground, and Etienne dragged the three long logs behind him. The two stopped at a flat area. ¡°The structure is still a simple triangle, which is the most energy-efficient and stable. However, there is also a knack to choosing the spot, Etienne, do you see anything different about this place?¡± Etienne looked at the ground and thought for a while: ¡°Eh, is it a slope?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, a slight slope; this way, our feet will be a little higher than our heads when we sleep. Especially after a whole day of walking, having the legs slightly higher than the head can be very relaxing. It allows the blood to flow back from the legs, providing some temporary relief after a hard day.¡± Bi Fang stood a short stick upright on the ground, marked it with his knife for a while, and then tied two other V-shaped sticks tightly with vines. ¡°To secure it in place, we will use the simplest cross knot. However, we need to carve a groove at the intersection of the cross, so that the rope will be fully tightened into it, making it more secure and less likely to come undone.¡± ¡°I surely don¡¯t want a log falling on my face while I¡¯m asleep.¡± Bi Fang joked with the audience while he laid out branches on the supports and then covered them with a layer of bushes, quickly constructing a brown shelter. Just by moving the fire over, it would become a perfect campsite. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Bush shelters can¡¯t block the rain, but they definitely protect against harsh winds and cold air.¡± That¡¯s settled; I have a place to sleep tonight. The geese huddled together under the rocks, slumbering, and Etienne wrapped them in a layer of burlap. Bi Fang also went to collect laundry; the quick-drying clothes could dry in an hour with just the wind, let alone being baked. After dressing, Bi Fang and Etienne crawled into the shelter and ended the day¡¯s broadcast amidst the reluctance of the audience. Chapter 178: 175: Accidents Always Come Unexpectedly Chapter 178: Chapter 175: Accidents Always Come Unexpectedly ¡°It hurts, it really hurts.¡± Bi Fang felt his brain was heavy, and his body was burning hot. A scorching sensation rushed up from his chest, as if he were about to throw up from eating something extremely spicy, searing and painful, making him forget about face or pretense, just wanting to open his mouth. He suddenly sat up, breathing rapidly, his entire body covered in cold sweat, startling a goose that had squeezed into the shelter at some unknown time; eighteen geese squawked as they flew out of the crowded shelter. ¡°Phew!¡± Bi Fang took big gulps of air, his mouth and nose felt so dry they seemed to smoke, as if scorched by fire, he supported his forehead, which was damp, and a terrible sensation between exhaustion and pain spread throughout his body. Etienne was awakened by Bi Fang¡¯s movement, and asked in confusion, ¡°Is it dawn already?¡± But when he peered outside the shelter, he saw it was only dimly lit outside, Etienne rubbed his eyes and turned to look at Bi Fang. What the heck is this situation? Etienne was startled. ¡°Boss, why do you look so terrible?¡± In front of him, Bi Fang¡¯s face was terrifyingly pale, with not a hint of color on his lips, sweat dripped down the sides of his forehead, he looked as if he had just been fished out of water. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I¡¯ve got a fever,¡± Bi Fang said casually. This sight made Etienne¡¯s heart pound with fear, could it be that Master Fang, who was always as fierce as tigers and leopards, had such a weak moment? Etienne worried deeply, he knew very well that Bi Fang was his only reliance to survive in the wilderness, what would happen if there was an accident? Bi Fang grabbed his clothes and put them on, then took the drone outside the shelter and started today¡¯s live stream. [Wu Hu, how lucky, another live stream! Good afternoon, Master Fang!] [No, it should be good morning, it¡¯s still morning where Master Fang is.] [Every time I come back from work, I can watch the live stream, time difference is so awesome!] [OMG, Master Fang, why are you so pale?] [Damn, that pale face scared me, what happened?] The audience had just greeted him when they noticed Bi Fang¡¯s face was terrifyingly pale. Bi Fang coughed twice, his voice hoarse as he explained, ¡°I guess it¡¯s because I fell into the river twice yesterday, causing my body temperature to fluctuate violently, it was okay yesterday, I thought it was nothing, but I woke up with a fever this morning.¡± A fever? The audience couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit scared; they clearly remembered how Bi Fang had once said how dangerous it was to have a fever in the wilderness. A fever when alone in the wilderness, in Bi Fang¡¯s words, was almost like losing half your life! [Damn, even the ironclad Fang has fallen!] [It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over, a double tragedy!] [What the heck is a double tragedy¡­] [If Master Fang falls, Etienne won¡¯t escape either, isn¡¯t that a double tragedy?] [Wow, I never thought of it that way.] [Invincible Mr. Fang, please think of a solution fast!] sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Don¡¯t panic, under normal circumstances, getting cold and fever in the wilderness is indeed very dangerous, because it will drag down your status, preventing you from carrying out activities like hunting, leading to a series of bad situations, but yesterday I caught a deer over sixty kilograms, greatly alleviating the situation,¡± he said. It was very bad, extremely bad, but it wasn¡¯t a desperate situation yet, Santa Claus¡¯s steed brought hope with its life. Bi Fang covered his face and forehead, feeling his own status, bearing the discomfort, he made an analysis. ¡°In such a situation, don¡¯t panic first, start by judging whether the situation is serious.¡± ¡°When you have a fever, if the temperature isn¡¯t too high, you¡¯ll often feel your whole body is hot and you feel weak all over, without energy, some people will also experience headaches, dizziness, or muscle pain throughout their body.¡± ¡°If the fever is very high, many patients will experience chills, cold hands and feet, and the headache and other symptoms can become more severe. Right now, I just feel hot all over, which means it¡¯s not too serious; give me some time, and I¡¯ll be able to bounce back.¡± After analyzing the problem, Bi Fang began to consider his predicament. ¡°The food reserves are not a problem right now,¡± I smoked all the remaining venison last night, and considering the temperature changes and removing the inedible parts, the remaining weight should support our food resources for at least a week. This is enough time for me to recover.¡± Hearing that there was nothing wrong with Bi Fang, Etienne finally breathed a sigh of relief and couldn¡¯t help but deeply admire Bi Fang¡¯s strength and composure. Even with such a pale face, he was able to analyze the situation without batting an eye; truly a tough guy who could munch on a heart if needed, Etienne could never match that skill in his lifetime. However, it was clear that Bi Fang was too weak at the moment; most of the upcoming tasks would have to be done by him. ¡°Are we still going to fly these next few days?¡± Bi Fang, pinching the bridge of his nose, said, ¡°Fly, why wouldn¡¯t we? We can¡¯t afford to delay.¡± Etienne was moved by this unyielding will and exclaimed loudly, ¡°Worthy of being my idol, still wanting to fly the glider in this condition!¡± ¡°Who said I was going to fly?¡± Bi Fang looked at Etienne with confusion. He pointed at Etienne, ¡°You do it!¡± Etienne was bewildered for a moment, wondering if he had misheard. He looked around, saw no one else, pointed at himself, and confirmed again, ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Who else? Didn¡¯t you do quite well the first time? Weren¡¯t you happy saving Goose back then?¡± My own status is very poor; personally flying the glider would be too dangerous. It was just that Etienne was too nervous and lacked mental fortitude; he would be fine after a couple more tries. The task only lasted for a bit over thirty days, so it wouldn¡¯t be worth stopping for several days just because of a fever. ¡°I can¡¯t do it,¡± Etienne still wanted to struggle; it was scary the last time he flew, and he did not want to repeat the experience. ¡°If we waste too much time, Goose might end up freezing to death.¡± ¡°lean do it.¡± Etienne had no choice but to hang his head and agree. ¡°Go hang all the venison on the glider¡¯s wings.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Etienne, who had been ready to pack up the venison, was startled. Hang it on the glider¡¯s wings? ¡°Smoking can¡¯t prevent mold growth completely; we still need to air-dry it to ensure absolute safety. You can use a spare robe to cut into strips for ropes; just make sure to tie it tight. If any fall off, we¡¯ll eat your meat.¡± [Master Fang is bullying child labor!] [Etienne: Wuu wuu wuu, eat my meat? Life is so hard for me.] [Wow, hanging smoked meat on a glider, who else but him?] Half an hour later, Etienne, who had hung all the smoked meat on the glider¡¯s wings, was speechless. ¡°This looks too ugly¡­¡± The huge wings with dangling strips of meat, one could easily imagine what it would look like in flight¡ªabsolutely unrefined! But there was no choice; it had to be done. After quenching the fire and restoring everything to its original state, the massive deer head was mounted at the front of the glider and the two of them took off once again. ¡°Fly carefully, steady,¡± Bi Fang leaned back and instructed without lifting his head from the map. Etienne gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Okay¡­¡± The propeller spun faster and faster, and Etienne pushed the horizontal bar, flying unsteadily into the sky. The strips of meat fluttered in the wind, and rows of geese flew neatly by their sides. Bi Fang checked the direction to make sure it was correct, then started to decide what to do next, but a severe headache sapped his energy. He regretted not picking more Ligustrum when he had the chance; it was a shrub that could significantly alleviate cold symptoms. Now, it was too late for any regrets. There once was a medicinal herb in front of Bi Fang, but he didn¡¯t cherish it, and only when he lost it did he feel grievous regret. There¡¯s nothing more painful in this world than this. How will he be able to recover as soon as possible? Bi Fang¡¯s head hurt again. Chapter 179:176 From Sagittarius to Sagittarius Chapter 179:176 From Sagittarius to Sagittarius The glider flew quickly, and the strong wind nearly plastered the venison to the wings. Lake after lake, hill after hill of pale green and white, snow cover had grown thinner with the passage of time, and many hilltops no longer bore traces of snow. Buffeted by the chilly wind, Bi Fang felt much better, but he was still groggy and queasy, his thoughts significantly dulled. It took him a while to remember he should say something. Scouring his memory for knowledge, he mustered the language with difficulty. ¡°Elders often say that when you have a fever, you should sweat it out by bundling up, thinking that sweating profusely will help, but inducing sweat can lead to a massive loss of fluids through the skin, along with a lot of heat, indeed resulting in a temporary drop in temperature¡ªbut this practice is very incorrect.¡± ¡°This is especially true for children; after inducing sweat and rapidly losing a large amount of fluids, it only leads to dehydration. Dehydration in infants and young children is more serious than a fever, as severe dehydration can cause organ failure.¡± Bi Fang touched his forehead, his personal experience at the moment lending credibility to his words. ¡°If you¡¯re really uncomfortable, you can remove some clothing to let out the heat from your body, but be careful-you should feel cool, not cold, and if you start feeling cold, you need to put your clothes back on right away.¡± (I think Master Fang¡¯s complexion is getting worse] [It¡¯s a bit alarming] [I think it¡¯s better to take a rest] ¡°No, actually I feel okay, just a bit dizzy and uncomfortable. It¡¯s a good opportunity to make some things while we have the time, like bows, containers, and water bags.¡± While chatting with the audience, Bi Fang opened the reindeer¡¯s stomach sack. He weighed it, and the stomach sack kept shaking, like a balloon filled with water, bulging and taut. Last night, he had kept the reindeer¡¯s stomach, which was actually a very good container. Once rinsed clean, it could be used to hold liquids. Before leaving today, Bi Fang had also placed two scalding hot rocks in it to boil water, because there was water, he wasn¡¯t worried about the stomach being damaged. ¡°To recover from a fever quickly, you need to drink lots of hot water. Not only can drinking hot water dissolve toxins, enabling them to be expelled from the body with the urine, but it can also enhance the activity of your body¡¯s enzymes to fight the virus more effectively.¡± Bi Fang made a small opening and drank more than half with gulps and slurps, then wiped his mouth afterward. ¡°So when you¡¯re feeling under the weather, and your boyfriend tells you to drink more hot water, it¡¯s not that he doesn¡¯t care about you-it¡¯s actually for your own good. Love can be shown in the simplest of details.¡± [Even with a fever, he can think so clearly. Master Fang is such a straight-shooter] [I must admit, this move is pro level!] [My wife is also watching Master Fang¡¯s live stream, hehehe.] [Man, my girlfriend told me she¡¯s got a cold. I told her to drink more hot water, and wham, I got slapped back. Wuuwuuwuu.) [Wait until you¡¯re half as handsome as Master Fang, maybe it won¡¯t end like that.] Etienne, piloting the glider, pricked up his ears and interjected, ¡°Where we come from, few people drink hot water. Even with instant noodles, we just use cold water and a microwave.¡± [Really?] [Indeed, I have a foreign friend who never drinks hot water either, which surprised me at the time.] [Cultural differences, I guess, but hot water is still healthier.] Bi Fang smacked Etienne¡¯s head lightly. ¡°Just focus on flying this glider, don¡¯t get distracted!¡± Etienne shrank back, deciding to temporarily avoid arguing with a sick person. Bi Fang then grabbed another long piece of wood, intending to make the bow and arrows he had long coveted. Holding a wood length nearly as tall as himself and thicker than his arm, he began to cut and shape it. ¡°The bow is a widely used hunting tool, able to facilitate approach and kill various sizes of game. The bow I¡¯m making today is suitable for short-term survival, often referred to as the ¡®Father-Son Bow¡¯, which means a larger bow has a smaller bow tied to its back, overlapping the two.¡± Bi Fang placed a short stick behind the long piece of wood, giving a simple demonstration. The reason for this design was because Bi Fang didn¡¯t have good wood material or time. A bow made from fresh wood, though easier to make, isn¡¯t as sturdy as one made from superior wood. By adding a small bow in this way, we can increase the strength of the bow despite using poorer wood materials.¡± [Then why not use bamboo? It seems like bamboo has great elasticity and smoothness.] My grandfather made me a bow out of bamboo when I was a kid!¡± ¡°Ancient people rarely used bamboo for bows, right?¡± Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°No, how come I remember there being a lot of bamboo bows?¡± ¡°No, in fact, in ancient times, people from various ethnic groups around the world unanimously considered bamboo to be the lowest grade material for bow making. A truly fine bow would never be made of bamboo.¡± ¡°The wood for a bow can¡¯t have knots, meaning branches. If there are any, it¡¯s likely to crack. The only advantage of using bamboo for bows is that it¡¯s easy to find uniform materials, so it¡¯s low-cost and can be mass-produced. Wood knots are quite common, making it difficult to find suitable wood that meets the requirements for making a bow.¡± ¡°Bamboo is generally used for arrows, as it¡¯s too soft and not tough enough for bows, so it doesn¡¯t have much elasticity. People from rural areas who have made bows out of bamboo know that its too good elasticity means the arrows don¡¯t have much power.¡± Bi Fang whittled the wood with a knife, cutting off one end to make it about one and a half meters long, then split it in half. One half was the ¡°Father¡±, the main frame, with the bark side serving as the bow¡¯s back and the side without as the belly. He then carefully shaped it, polished it with a stone until it could bend evenly. Having finished this part, Bi Fang paused for a moment, quietly opened his water bottle, and took a few sips. Just making this half of the bow had left him somewhat fatigued, something that would be impossible under normal circumstances. The fever still affected him, causing him to break into a continuous cold sweat. After resting for a good while, Bi Fang continued making the bow. He treated the other half of the wood in the same way, carving notches at both ends to secure the bowstring, then he tied the two halves together. ¡°The shorter bow¡¯s belly must be attached to the longer bow¡¯s back, with some small wood sticks inserted between the two to increase the gap, which can enhance the bow¡¯s toughness.¡± ¡°For the bowstring, I used the bark of a hardwood tree, taking the inner layer of the bark which is very tough once it dries.¡± Bi Fang took out a strip of tree bark, rubbed it into a rope to serve as the bowstring, and tied it at both ends, thus completing a rudimentary bow and arrows! He gave it a simple pull, and the grating sound of teeth aching with effort arose, showing the bow¡¯s great power. Bi Fang looked it over and was very satisfied, ¡°Now the sound when pulling the bow can alert the prey, but it¡¯ll be fine after a few more practices.¡± ¡°Damn, that¡¯s cool! A melee warrior becoming a ranged one?¡± ¡°The strongest archer has logged on!¡± ¡°The moment of hunting!¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you use deer sinew for the bowstring?¡± Bi Fang set down the bow and began making arrows: ¡°The power of a bow and arrow comes from the limbs of the bow, not the bowstring. Therefore, the bowstring should have no elasticity and be as sturdy as possible. Animal sinew for bowstrings is a fabrication from novels or storytellers.¡± Making the arrows was even simpler. Bi Fang sharpened broken deer bones to use as arrowheads and whittled wood for the shafts, and quickly, a complete set was ready. Bi Fang nocked an arrow to his bow and shot it at the lake below. Before it hit the ground, it was blown away by the wind and drifted off to an unknown location. ¡°Hahaha, that¡¯s sad.¡± ¡°That arrow¡¯s really drifting (covering mouth)¡± ¡°Is this considered high-altitude littering?¡± ¡°Twenty-one days with no chicks hatched, such a bad egg!¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t feel ashamed, ¡°Normal, a newly made bow still needs to be broken in and doesn¡¯t have the right feel yet. Plus, the height is too great, so it¡¯s normal for it to drift.¡± ¡°Huff.¡± His vision darkened again, and Bi Fang pinched the bridge of his nose, leaning back in the chair. Just these two hours felt like he had been active for a day, incredibly tiring. Fortunately, he now had almost everything he needed, hoping for a smoother path ahead. The days were too short, the sun didn¡¯t rise until nine in the morning, and by four in the afternoon, it was dark, so there were less than five hours of flight time each day. He couldn¡¯t get very far. It might take several days just to fly out of Finland. Quietly estimating the journey and time, Bi Fang delegated the client-acquisition task to Etienne and closed his eyes to sleep. Chapter 180: 177: Its Really Too Cool! Chapter 180: Chapter 177: It¡¯s Really Too Cool! One day later. On the third day of their migration, Bi Fang¡¯s fever not only failed to improve, but it became even more severe, to the point where last night¡¯s tent was pitched by Etienne alone, taking a full two hours. Bi Fang¡¯s face was completely devoid of color as he took the stomach bag Etienne had filled with water. Having just eaten dried meat and feeling quite thirsty, he gulped down the entire bag of water. The temperature of the water was just right, neither hot nor cold, and quite pleasant. Etienne was very attentive, first boiling the water with stones, then partially immersing it in the lake, using the lake water to cool it quickly, and only taking it out when he felt it was about the right temperature. After finishing the water, Bi Fang saw Etienne did not leave but rather stared at him with puppy-dog eyes. Bi Fang leaned against a tree and asked curiously, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Etienne scratched his head and glanced at the nearby camera, somewhat embarrassed, ¡°Do you still have any paper on your side?¡± Bi Fang immediately understood, ¡°You want to use the bathroom?¡± Etienne scratched his head and gave a sheepish smile. Well, it had been two or three days, so it was perfectly normal to have such needs. Bi Fang looked around at the nearby woods and saw that they were all coniferous forests; if they were to be used, one would hope not to plan on sitting down on a flight for the next two or three days. [That¡¯s right, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever paid attention to this issue before, but has Master Fang never taken a shit?] [He definitely sneaks away and deals with it when we aren¡¯t looking.] Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Speaking of which, what do you use to wipe when you¡¯re pooping in the wild?] [Isn¡¯t there a lake right next to us? I think just washing off after doing your business should be fine.] [Eh, is it really okay to discuss this kind of issue so seriously? I¡¯m grossed out.] After pondering for a while, Bi Fang finally told Etienne, ¡°Use snow to wipe.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± ¡°Ah what? These are the conditions; I still need to save the paper for calculating latitudes and longitudes, I can¡¯t let you waste it like that.¡± Etienne was unconvinced, ¡°But that paper was given by me¡­ ¡± ¡°Actually, snow is much nicer than paper and also very clean.¡± Bi Fang felt he needed to win people over with virtue and demonstrate the power of scientific knowledge. Wilderness survival: knowledge is the primary productive force. ¡°There are only so many sheets of paper, and we have to keep going for at least a month; this little amount won¡¯t suffice for that purpose, so sooner or later you¡¯ll have to get used to it. Of all the materials that can be used in the wild, snow is most suitable. Later, when we¡¯re in a lower latitude, you won¡¯t even need it.¡± Both Etienne and the viewers in the live stream were shocked. ¡°Don¡¯t be surprised, this is actually a very serious wilderness survival tip. Choosing the right material is also crucial; first, it should be soft to the touch, preferably waterproof, and secondly, try to choose something that won¡¯t impact the environment.¡± ¡°In the wilderness, there are two things that are even better to use than toilet paper: snowballs and lichens. The former has a grainy texture and a fine quality, with a built-in rinse buff, while the latter is very thick and similar to shaggy carpet, both of which are great materials.¡± ¡°Next come stones and leaves; don¡¯t be shocked, they really are viable options, but you have to find the right kind. Large leaves with a fuzzy underside are best. If I can find other materials, I wouldn¡¯t choose leaves first because most leaves are too slick to clean properly.¡± [Wow, I learned something new.] [There are so many tricks to pooping in the wild?] [Of course, otherwise what would you do if you wiped too hard, caused bleeding, and got an infection?] [I¡¯m just going to slowly type a question mark here¡­] [Master Fang has tried them all? I won¡¯t watch any reviews unless you¡¯re in them!] Seeing how seriously Bi Fang spoke, Etienne had no choice but to believe him. He nodded solemnly and headed towards the deserted snowy landscape. ¡°Remember to pack the snowballs tightly, and afterwards, wipe again with some dry material.¡± Bi Fang called out to Etienne¡¯s retreating figure, and for some reason, the silhouette seemed to stagger. Ten minutes later, Etienne returned with a flushed face. ¡°You said it is really true!¡± ¡°Right? Why would I lie to you, snowballs are really useful.¡± [My god, I can no longer look at Little Wolf King directly¡­] ¡°Alright, let¡¯s continue our journey. Once we reach a lower latitude, maybe I¡¯ll be able to find some herbs, and then I¡¯ll recover much faster.¡± Bi Fang wobbled onto the glider, and Etienne, having packed up the campsite, set off again. The deer meat had dried and was wrapped in deerskin; the plane finally looked like a plane again, not like the balcony at grandma¡¯s house during New Year. Having gained flight experience yesterday, today he was much more skilled at takeoff, which was very smooth, and he could even adjust the altitude according to the wind speed. ¡°Looking at the map, we might be able to fly out of Finland tomorrow or the day after tomorrow,¡± Bi Fang directed from the back seat. Elvan¡¯s map was very detailed. The red lines indicated the places where we couldn¡¯t stop, blue was for possible stops, and purple tags marked places where we could rest for an extended time. There were also yellow tags with many notes attached. There was a stretch of red route coming up, indicating human settlements where we couldn¡¯t stop. Bi Fang glanced at the fuel gauge: ¡°We have enough fuel for three days; the day after tomorrow, we¡¯ll need to look for supplies left by Elvan along the way.¡± The glider was custom-made by Elvan, with an especially large fuel tank. However, the primary power source for the glider was actually the wind. The propeller was mainly to enhance its takeoff speed. After folding away the map and chatting with the viewers, Bi Fang felt sleepy again. He had been lethargic for the last two days. ¡°Sister, look, the birds are following the airplane!¡± At a port, a little girl pointed excitedly at the glider in the sky. The girl¡¯s sister looked up and was also stunned to see Etienne piloting the plane. Was that a flock of geese beside it? Were they flying together by chance? But why were the geese migrating just now? Out of curiosity, she took out her phone to record and zoomed in, then cried out in shock. The glider was actually leading the geese! And what was up with the deer head in front? That was too cool! The excited elder sister recorded a video until the glider disappeared, then eagerly uploaded it to the internet, adding the caption: My god, this is unbelievable, someone is actually leading a migration of geese with a glider! Having a few thousand followers of her own, the video quickly garnered comments online. [My god, is this real? Are the geese actually following the plane?] [The deer head on this glider is so badass! I want a plane like that too! Even a toy version would be great.] [I can¡¯t believe what I¡¯m seeing. This scene is so magical.] [Wait a second, these two look familiar. Isn¡¯t this the hunting video posted by Spider-Kid? My god, it¡¯s really them! I would recognize that handsome Huaxia man anywhere!] [OMG, I remember now! It¡¯s that great master! The world¡¯s number one survivalist! He¡¯s the one with those skills!] The elder sister grew curious and couldn¡¯t help but inquire about the hunting video¡­ Meanwhile, Bi Fang and his companion were oblivious to all of this, still focused on leading the geese in their migration. In the afternoon, Bi Fang suddenly asked Etienne to land. Etienne was puzzled, as it wasn¡¯t evening yet¡ªwhy did they need to stop now? But he did as Bi Fang requested and, as the plane descended, Etienne suddenly realized something was wrong. Why was steam coming off the lake? ¡°This isn¡¯t an ordinary lake, it¡¯s a hot spring!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s eyes shone; his cold was about to be cured! Chapter 181: 178: Is this the legendary member of the Dragon Group? Chapter 181: Chapter 178: Is this the legendary member of the Dragon Group? ¡°Ah, refreshing!¡± Bi Fang was soaking in the hot spring, mist rising into the air, feeling as if his whole body might ascend to heaven. This was his most comfortable moment in the wilderness; every pore of his body was opening up and sweating, and the sunshine felt like a pair of soft hands caressing his body. Finland is rich in geothermal resources, with even floor heating being supplied by hot water, but Bi Fang had never imagined actually encountering a natural hot spring. Though this hot spring was too hot for a direct soak, close to sixty degrees, Bi Fang found a depression and used stones to block the lower end, mixing hot and cold water together to make it bearable. ¡°Soaking in a bath can greatly alleviate my illness because the increased temperature can help to lower the activity of the virus, and accelerated blood circulation can help to remove toxins from the body. But remember, keeping warm after a bath is very important, otherwise it will only make things worse.¡± Etienne, next to him, was also comfortably sighing. He had never imagined that he could enjoy a bath during his travels. Especially in this cold weather, all the fatigue of the journey seemed to have vanished. ¡°Ah, I feel like I¡¯m already sweating. Maybe my fever will be gone after today.¡± [Awesome, while others struggle to survive you soak in hot springs, while others starve you eat venison, literally not playing by the rules.] [So strong, Wilderness Survivalist like this, awesome plus!] [Cancel Wilderness, check Vacation!] Bi Fang¡¯s posture had aroused the envy of countless online friends. Surviving in the wild and even finding a natural hot spring to soak in, it¡¯s infuriating. [Wait a second, didn¡¯t Old Fang say yesterday that you shouldn¡¯t sweat too much? Could even wear less to dissipate heat?] [Blind, you¡¯ve spotted a key point!] S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Old Fang is talking nonsense; let¡¯s all disperse, leave me be to enjoy it alone (facetious).] [How dare you! Such a vicious woman, always thinking about nonsense. You want to monopolize his favor?] To achieve certain goals, humans go through a heating process after getting a fever, the quicker this process is completed the better. But if the peak temperature can¡¯t be reached, it will keep rising, entering a high-temperature ¡®plateau¡¯ state, causing one to ¡®burn out¡¯, and at this point, it¡¯s necessary to undress to cool down.¡± ¡°Recall what I said at the time: if you really feel uncomfortable, you can indeed reduce your clothing. That¡¯s the rationale.¡± ¡°Additionally, sweating and deliberately inducing sweat are two different things. Sweating does help alleviate the symptoms of a cold, but it cannot be forced.¡± Bi Fang shook his head, feeling the steam from the spring water, his whole being ethereal, as the discomfort rapidly faded away. ¡°People feel tired after catching a cold because the body is operating in overdrive, trying to eliminate the virus. That¡¯s why you need to rest more during a cold, to concentrate all energy on fighting the virus. Though inducing sweat can be useful, it mainly causes discomfort and dehydration. This should be viewed dialectically.¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t because of sweating that a fever breaks; instead, it¡¯s the other way around. Because the body cools down, we sweat. It¡¯s a result, not a cause, which many people get backwards.¡± Once these common-sense explanations were given, most people understood: inducing excessive sweat is too draining on bodily functions and can bring the body down. By the time Bi Fang finished soaking in the hot spring, it was already three in the afternoon, and dusk was approaching once again. He quickly got up, wiped his body clean with dry clothes, his skin all aglow with a reddish sheen, and his complexion visibly much better. After getting dressed, Bi Fang let out a long breath, ¡°Roar! I feel much more spirited!¡± [Isn¡¯t this just a healing pool rather than a hot spring?] [Healing complete!] [Next up, charge!] The Shuiyou were all very happy to see Bi Fang reviving his spirits. However, it was already late, and Bi Fang and Etienne continued to set up camp, planning to sleep before setting off again. What nobody knew was that videos about them on the internet were becoming more and more numerous, and increasingly popular. Along the way, it wasn¡¯t just one person who had captured them on video. ¡°Elvan, look, look! Another video has been posted, they¡¯re about to fly out of Finland! It has a million views!¡± In the police station, Lenin shook Elvan with excitement. Elvan was also extremely excited, ¡°I just knew it, Bi Fang is a master, a real master, no difficulty can stymie him!¡± The two of them hugged and laughed loudly, jumping around like two big boys. The plan had succeeded, the geese followed the plane, not a single one was missing! A nearby officer left quietly, running over to Johnny¡¯s side, pulling out his cellphone, and zooming in on the map. ¡°We¡¯ve found the boy and the geese, over here¡­¡± ¡°What are they doing?¡± Lenin, after his excitement had subsided, looked at Johnny with a bad feeling. Elvan felt the same way, he grabbed Lenin by the shoulders, ¡°Lenin, you collected a sample too, right? When you were injecting the chip?¡± ¡°Yes, just the day before we set out, what do you want to do?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll make our own report!¡± Elvan was firm, ¡°They¡¯re definitely going to try to stop Bi Fang, to cull the geese, we must make our own report to prove that the geese are fine!¡± The biggest problem now was the virus detection report; as long as they could prove it was negative, Johnny, the park director, would have no right to intervene! Dawn had not yet broken. Bi Fang and Etienne enjoyed another session in the hot springs, and when daylight came, his spirit was thoroughly invigorated, his earlier fatigue completely vanished. Starting the live stream again, the two of them continued on their way, passing through the red line routes. There were always a few video clips that made their way online, followed by a huge outcry, each more significant than the last. ¡°He¡¯s so amazing!¡± Gwendolyn exclaimed, stars in her eyes as she watched Bi Fang pilot the stag head glider on the screen. ¡°I should never have shown her this.¡± Peter regretted it a bit. Ever since he posted Bi Fang¡¯s hunting video online, his number of followers skyrocketed. He then posted videos about making shelters, enjoying hot springs, and some flight clips. Each one caused a huge sensation, ¡¯ especially when he explained in a blog post the reasons for Bi Fang¡¯s flights, which made the popularity explode. Even here his follower count soared to tens of thousands, which gave him the courage to invite the girl he had secretly admired to watch the live stream together at his home. But then¡­ No longer in love. Whimper, whimper, why can an Asian be so handsome? With one leading to ten and ten leading to a hundred, more and more people had started paying attention to the actions of Bi Fang and Etienne, learning of their act of piloting gliders to guide the migration of geese across Europe. Numerous websites had set up dedicated discussion areas, and videos of Bi Fang¡¯s previous adventures had been dug up¡ªthe details of his life, his achievements, all were revealed. [Is he the explorer who discovered prehistoric creatures? My God, no wonder he seemed so familiar. I always thought it was just my imagination because all Asians look alike!] [A Huaxia special forces soldier? That¡¯s amazing, seems even more formidable than our Royal Air Force Regiment.] [I knew it, it must be the Huaxia Dragon Group, I¡¯ve read about it in novels! He must have a lot of wives! So the books were all true! ] [The protagonist has been by my side all this time?] [The guy upstairs must have read too many of our web novels, right? Our country doesn¡¯t have a Dragon Group.] [Are you a Huaxia person? Then do you know about GOD Fang¡¯s deeds? Can you give us a detailed introduction?] [Yes, yes, tell us!] [Actually, I¡¯m a student studying abroad. I¡¯m not very clear about recent events in my home country, and I¡¯m hearing about this person for the first time¡­] A single spark can start a prairie fire¡­ Chapter 182: 179: The Fading Bird Comes Migration, Day Five. Chapter 182: Chapter 179: The Fading Bird Comes Migration, Day Five. Time zone: 10 a.m. ¡°Let¡¯s stop here to refuel.¡± Bi Fang rolled up the map again. After several days of recovery, his fever had completely subsided, and his abundant energy took the high ground. But another difficulty had arisen. They had left Finland and arrived in Norway, and the North Sea was next, but they were short on fuel. There was no choice but to look for an opportunity to replenish their fuel. This was a safe point marked by Elvan, a small town harbor where many fishing boats were docked. The harbor was large, suitable for the White-fronted Goose to rest and forage. Most importantly, the local ban on hunting the White-fronted Goose and considering it a creature that could bring good fortune. To the locals, Bi Fang and Etienne, arriving by glider, were a sight of curiosity. Bi Fang approached a smoking man at a docking point, attempting to barter deer hide for gasoline, displaying it to show its quality: ¡°This deer hide is of very good quality, almost unscathed.¡± The uncle squinted his eyes, his rough skin glistening with sweat. He didn¡¯t directly answer Bi Fang¡¯s request but curiously flicked out his cigarette: ¡°Are those geese following you guys in flight?¡± Bi Fang scratched his eyebrow and smiled, ¡°Yes, we are guiding them on their migration.¡± ¡°Migration? This late?¡± Bi Fang briefly explained their plan and the predicament they were currently facing. ¡°I heard the locals are quite fond of the White-fronted Goose, so if possible, I was hoping you could look out for these little guys¡­¡± ¡°No problem,¡± the boat owner interrupted before Bi Fang could finish, ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve seen White-fronted Geese coming to this harbor, the first time in nearly three years.¡± Etienne cheered. This was truly great news. Dreams are not easy to come by, but they always have the power to touch one¡¯s heart. Along the way, the two of them had gone through a lot, but not all of it had been rough. After refueling, Bi Fang handed over the deer hide, but to his surprise, the man refused it. The uncle shook his head, neatly folded the deer hide, and placed it on the plane: ¡°Consider it a little effort for the geese. If I take this deer hide, what will you exchange next time? Keep it until you need to refuel again.¡± [Wow, what a cool uncle!] [I¡¯m touched] [There are still more good people in the world!] [For real, watching Old Fang¡¯s videos gives me a lot to think about. Not only do I learn new things, but I also feel things I don¡¯t normally experience in everyday life. This is truly a divine live stream!] The audience was touched by the gesture. Bi Fang touched the deer hide and sincerely thanked the man along with Etienne: ¡°I really appreciate it.¡± Watching the two board the drone, the uncle suddenly asked, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Bi Fang paused but then chuckled and shook his head: ¡°I¡¯m Bi Fang, and he is Etienne.¡± Under the man¡¯s gaze, they took to the skies once more. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Over a small hill, Etienne, sitting in the back, was puzzled by Bi Fang¡¯s behavior just now. ¡°Why did you hesitate just now?¡± ¡°When you¡¯re out and about, you can¡¯t skimp on the necessary precautions. Even if someone seems good to you, aside from your parents, no one is unconditionally good to you.¡± ¡°Why did you still tell him then?¡± Bi Fang smiled and flew the drone higher. ¡°Because I decided to trust him.¡± An hour later, a car drove into the harbor. The uncle from the fishing boat, puffing on his cigarette, saw the car logo and blew a smoke ring: ¡°Cadre? Doesn¡¯t look like good news.¡± Johnny got out of the car, furious to find that the vast lake was devoid of the glider he wanted to see, stamping his foot in anger. ¡°Damn it! Damn it, they¡¯ve slipped away again!¡± As the affair got bigger and the chase continued unsuccessfully, Johnny felt increasingly uneasy, fearing his deeds would be exposed by journalists and the media, making his desire to find Bi Fang even stronger. No one is fearless against the power of public opinion, and even if the park was his to rule, under these circumstances, there was no guarantee that someone wouldn¡¯t betray him, selling the news for a good price. ¡°They must have come through here, I¡¯ve seen the video, they couldn¡¯t have flown far!¡± Johnny surveyed the surroundings, confirming that this was the harbor seen in the video. He went straight to the shore to the uncle on the fishing boat, gesticulating. ¡°Have you seen an Asian man with a boy on a glider?¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± the uncle nodded. Johnny¡¯s face lit up with joy as he eagerly asked, ¡°Tell me quick, where are they?¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°They¡¯re smuggling geese across the border! We¡¯re trying to catch them!¡± ¡°I see,¡± the uncle scratched his cheek, pointing towards the horizon, ¡°they flew that way, left about ten minutes ago.¡± Johnny didn¡¯t even say thank you before he hurried off. Click. The uncle looked at the video he had just captured on his phone, smirked, and hit send, even giving it a like for good measure. Rings of smoke drifted slowly out. Perfect. At noon, the two men ate some of the remaining deer meat and began to divide the tasks between them. Etienne was in charge of boiling water, while Bi Fang continued to calculate the latitude and longitude to ensure they were on the correct maritime course. Looking over Etienne¡¯s homework, Bi Fang suddenly remembered a question, ¡°By the way, are you on vacation now?¡± ¡°No, but I took some time off.¡± ¡°Won¡¯t it affect your studies?¡± ¡°To me, studying and smoking weed are no different; both are about holding the dead plant and having hallucinations.¡± [I must say, that¡¯s professional!] [A contemporary great philosopher! ] [I wonder what Elvan would think if he heard this, heh.] [His ass might be blooming with flowers!] Etienne picked up a scalding hot stone and put it inside the deer¡¯s stomach. They had crossed from Norway to Denmark, not the entire North Sea, which would probably take about two days. The stomach could hold three liters of water, and if they conserved it, that should be enough. It must be said, that stomach was really handy, feeling like rubber to the touch, very sturdy. In desperate times, it could even serve as emergency food. Once everything was ready, the two set off into the vast ocean. ¡°Look, they¡¯re all taking pictures of us!¡± Passing by a river, Etienne excitedly said as he saw the tourists on the cruise ship. The tourists went up on the deck, flashlights everywhere. They had never seen a scene like this before: a hang glider flying with geese, all pulling out their phones to take pictures. [What a spectacle! Looks like Master Fang has really made it big overseas!] [Woohoo, who else can match this!?] [Awesome, just amazing, I¡¯ve never seen any other streamer get this popular abroad, Old Fang is definitely the first!] [Master Fang¡¯s livestream is a dimension-reducing strike! A complete crush!] [Too bad they can¡¯t watch Master Fang¡¯s livestream.] By the time it was a little after three o¡¯clock, Bi Fang finally saw the coastline, which was no longer adorned with green hills and white snow, but a stretch of blue. No trees, no mountains, no people. ¡°Roar!¡± Etienne yelled excitedly. As the latitude decreased, daylight began to extend. It wasn¡¯t until after four o¡¯clock that it would get dark, and to save time, Bi Fang didn¡¯t stop but headed straight out to sea. ¡°Aren¡¯t we stopping?¡± Noticing it was getting late, Etienne worried they wouldn¡¯t find an island to rest on. ¡°No worries, let¡¯s fly a little longer,¡± Bi Fang said, not the least bit anxious, ¡°Norway has the most islands in the world, up to 150,000, and the coastline is very short. I could navigate there with my eyes closed. Look, isn¡¯t that one right there?¡± Etienne looked up and saw, indeed, three islands just within his line of sight. ¡°Impressive!¡± It wasn¡¯t until the last trace of light had faded that Bi Fang finally steered the glider towards an island to land. ¡°Many of these nearshore islands have been developed by humans, so we don¡¯t have to worry about danger. We can set up camp here with peace of mind,¡± said Bi Fang. Bi Fang secured the glider and went with Etienne into the forest to gather materials for setting up camp, as they had been doing these past few days. Once the camp was set up, the sun had already sunk beneath the sea. Bi Fang skewered the deer meat, ready to fish for some sea goods to taste. It had been nearly a week without salt, and he felt that his mouth was about to fade into blandness. Chapter 183: 180: One is not enough? Have another one, one for each person! Chapter 183: Chapter 180: One is not enough? Have another one, one for each person! Bi Fang smashed the reindeer bones and began to select bone fragments of the right size, then carefully ground them with a rock. ¡°Short-term survival without salt is not a big issue, but long-term lack of salt intake could lead to some very serious consequences, like nervous system weakness, general fatigue, and in more severe cases, it could even cause acids to accumulate in cells, leading to high acidity that damages DNA structures, which in layman¡¯s terms means an increased risk of cancer.¡± ¡°The solution to this problem is actually quite simple. Near the sea, you can dilute sea salt from seawater, but sea salt contains too many impurities, so it can only serve as an emergency fix.¡± ¡°Additionally, you can collect your own sweat, or drink the blood of animals. These are all good methods to replenish salt.¡± [So Master Fang kept the deer blood to drink?] [Damn, it¡¯s going to be a week soon, wouldn¡¯t it have gone bad?] [This is true primitive survival.] ¡°No, I did not keep the deer blood to drink; I have better choices, which is to eat as much meat as possible!¡± Bi Fang displayed the bone fragment he held in his hand to everyone, which originally was just a piece of broken bone but now had been turned into the shape of a fish hook! ¡°Catching animals is harder, but it¡¯s also a good way to supplement salt. However, compared to the previous methods, it¡¯s undoubtedly much more difficult.¡± ¡°This is a fish hook I made from the reindeer bone. We¡¯ve almost finished eating its meat, but we can use its bones and blood to catch more fish. This move truly stunned the netizens. Who would have thought that Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t even spare reindeer bones and that there could be someone more skilled at extracting resources than him? [Damn, even heartless capitalists don¡¯t exploit resources like Old Fang does! He doesn¡¯t even leave the bones!] [Reindeer: I¡¯ve been drained dry, truly not a drop left.] [The weak: Hey, I can use the salt from my body, and I can sun-dry sea salt. The strong: Hand it over, I want to eat meat!] ¡°Bone-made fish hooks are a very old traditional method. They are made by grinding animal bones into hook shapes. Although it¡¯s not very convenient or quick, they are stable and durable.¡± The line was still drawn from his robe, which was visibly shorter than before the trip, now revealing Bi Fang¡¯s ankles. ¡°Apart from this barbed point, I made the vertical end into a T-shape so that the line wouldn¡¯t easily come off.¡± Bi Fang tied the line tightly and turned to ask Etienne, ¡°Can you give me a button?¡± Etienne directly tore a button off his coat, and Bi Fang then tied it to the fish line as well. ¡°The best times to fish are early in the morning, at dusk, on a full moon night, or if you have a light source, then any night is possible. Fish behavior is hard to predict; their habits vary with species, and factors like the time of year, the salinity of the water, as well as temperature and current strength, all have an impact. But there are a few universal truths.¡± ¡°They like to rest in slowly flowing water, hide in rubble and rocks, search for oxygen-rich water, and look for food and warmth in the shadows of deeper lakes.¡± ¡°Some fish are also attracted to shiny things¡ªyou can hang tin foil, a button, a coin, a piece of colorful cloth, or any other shiny object on the hook.¡± Bi Fang, barefoot, led Etienne to a beach strewn with pebbles, which was covered with white foam left by the receding sea, wet and slippery underfoot. The black tide, with its white froth, crashed onto the pebble beach in front of them, occasionally scattering small, reflective-backed shrimp or crabs across the pebbles. These little creatures were knocked about by the incoming tide, but once they regained their balance, they kept struggling on, their reflections dotting the beach. ¡°These are also good ingredients. If we don¡¯t catch any fish today, we can eat them.¡± Bi Fang picked up a small crab and threw it back into the sea, then poured the reindeer¡¯s blood and guts into the water, creating an area to attract fish. After that, he lowered the fish hook, and then it was time to wait. Etienne held the fishing line, while Bi Fang held a spear, ready to make a deadly strike when a fish was hooked. After several minutes, the fish hook moved. Splash, a wave splashed. Bi Fang¡¯s voice became very soft, ¡°Hey, do you see that? That wave, it might be a big one!¡± ¡°Woah, feels like a big fish!¡± ¡°True, the water here is deep. Only Master Fang can handle it, sure to catch a big one!¡± ¡°I know this, the North Sea fishing grounds in Europe are one of the world¡¯s four largest!¡± ¡°Damn, now I remember, studied it in middle school geography!¡± The audience was excited, and Bi Fang was calm and focused; at Etienne¡¯s signal that the fish had taken the bait, he instantly thrust his spear forward. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Splash! Struck by the spear, the big fish struggled violently, splashing water everywhere as Bi Fang lifted it out of the water. Wiping the water from his face and aided by the moonlight, the tiger stripes on the fish¡¯s back were faintly visible, allowing Bi Fang to quickly identify it. ¡°It¡¯s mackerel!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s face beamed with joy. The fish was not small, as long as an adult man¡¯s lower arm, ¡°This fish is very common, a very fatty kind with darker flesh, perfect for grilling!¡± ¡°Can we change up dinner then?¡± Etienne was delighted; after a week of eating smoked and dried deer meat until it was tough, he was almost sick of it. But Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°Wait a second, what actually makes me happy isn¡¯t that we can change the dinner menu, but that mackerel like to swim in schools and are attracted to light, and November happens to be the prime fishing season for them.¡± Etienne immediately understood, ¡°Can we catch more?¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Bi Fang grinned, pouring more deer blood into the water, ¡°Let¡¯s work harder, we can catch a week¡¯s worth of food!¡± ¡°Alright!¡± The next morning, fish bones littered the ground and wisps of smoke rose, showing how bountiful their haul had been the night before. A total of sixteen fish, another week¡¯s food supply taken care of. Smoked fish hung from the glider¡¯s wings, a familiar scene replaying itself. ¡°You fly.¡± Bi Fang had no intention of piloting the flying apparatus. Etienne¡¯s face fell; he knew he¡¯d have to do the embarrassing task again. ¡°This is all sea; if we take the wrong direction, don¡¯t blame me!¡± Bi Fang ignored Etienne¡¯s last struggle, ¡°Go ahead and fly, I¡¯ll be watching from behind.¡± Settling into the seat, Etienne truly wanted to perform a Pugachev¡¯s Cobra maneuver in the glider and shake Bi Fang right off, but he thought better of it. Life is precious, after all. The sea was covered in sunlight, and seagulls gathered, flying low. It was his first time flying over the sea, and everywhere looked the same, making it impossible to discern the direction. As they moved farther from the shore, islands became even rarer, sometimes taking an hour or two before spotting one, which was understandably unnerving. However, as time passed, Etienne gradually relaxed and began to enjoy the unique experience. ¡°Today¡¯s really nice weather.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily a good thing.¡± Bi Fang interrupted Etienne¡¯s contentment, even beginning to suspect that the guy might jinx things. Dark clouds loomed in the distance, ominous and foreboding, as if a demon who had mastered dark magic was bringing a tempest to devour the flesh of the monkXuanzang. Chapter 184: 181 The Storm Chapter 184: Chapter 181 The Storm Dark clouds rolled in suddenly, and just as Bi Fang realized what was happening, the sun was already obscured. The white-hot lightning cleaved the sky, and Etienne felt as though the bolt had split his mind as well, leaving a void. Fear, like a cold snake, slithered from the bottom of his heart, spreading to every limb. He wanted to pull the control stick to land the plane, but his body seemed frozen, moving even a finger was impossible. The wind grew stronger, and the geese started to struggle in flight, wavering, desperately trying to keep on course. Bi Fang pressed down on Etienne¡¯s shoulders, stopping the shaking. From his vantage point, the shallow gray sea was tumultuous, as if giant sea creatures were about to break the surface, waves several meters high crashing against the cliff below, while the light from a distant lighthouse monotonously swept over the sea. Etienne¡¯s tongue was tied, his teeth chattering, ¡°Maybe we should¡­ should go back¡­¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s too late. How long has it been since we last saw that island? An hour or two? Can you fly back accurately? And did you see the direction of the clouds? They¡¯re coming our way.¡± If they turned back now, they would be racing against the dark clouds, the more they tried to escape, the less likely they were to succeed. To die, lost in the unrecognizable paths of the sea. ¡°Located at the fluctuating edge of extreme latitudes, the North Sea is prone to frequent cyclonic activities, especially in winter. From November to March every year, storms often occur, possibly generating waves several meters high, or even over 10 meters. We¡¯ve now encountered one.¡± Bi Fang had worried about the condition of the North Sea when he first calculated the latitude and longitude; his nightmare had become a reality. (!!!) [So what do we do now?] [Are we screwed?] Bi Fang¡¯s words, like thunder from a clear sky, not only stunned Etienne but also the viewers. The dark clouds hung low, with the sea below rolling restlessly. Black cliffs sliced through the black waters, leaving behind white trails. Peter wrapped in a small blanket, his heart pounding wildly, could hardly imagine how to survive a storm of this magnitude, whether to keep flying or land amidst the raging waves¡ªall seemed like a slim chance at life! sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Gwendolyn, who was watching with him, suddenly shouted with excitement, ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t there a lighthouse? We must be near the coast!¡± No sooner had she spoken than a forked lightning illuminated the sky, and the stone cross atop the distant lighthouse broke from its base, plunging the figure of Jesus toward the sea, shattering upon impact, as if the whole world was collapsing¡­ Gwendolyn quickly grabbed Peter¡¯s blanket and wrapped herself tightly in it. The majestic force of Nature was awe-inspiring and intimidating. Countless people following the migratory birds had now stopped in their tracks. Elvan, Lenin, Johnny, seeing the fans chasing on videos¡­ Unanimously, they parked their cars on the side of the road, watching the grand yet dangerous live stream with anxious expressions. Bi Fang noticed Shuiyou talking about the lighthouse, but he shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s no use, lighthouses serve many purposes, indicating direction, marking dangerous sea areas, route lighthouses, not all are close to the coast.¡± Clearly, this particular lighthouse was not one close to the coast. They could not go back. ¡°So what do we do now?¡± Despite facing the storm, Etienne listened with increasing alarm, feeling cold to his bones, and his hand on the control stick as if searing hot. He wished he could turn around and flee, but Bi Fang firmly held his shoulders. ¡°Crank the engine to maximum, then let me take over!¡± ¡°What?¡± Etienne had barely processed the question when Bi Fang had already unbuckled his seatbelt, reaching out to him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the plane is steady, it¡¯ll only take a dozen seconds, or even less!¡± ¡°OK, OK!¡± Etienne took a deep breath, slowly unbuckled his seatbelt, and reached out his hand towards Bi Fang. A forked lightning vanished in the clouds, followed by a thunderous roar. Etienne cried out in fright, retracting the hand he had just extended. Thousands of tons of water fell towards the earth, waves on the sea growing higher and higher, they were practically flying through a waterfall! Rain lashed against the wings as Bi Fang roared. ¡°Where is the courage you had when facing the lynx? Where has it gone!¡± ¡°Look at the geese, they can¡¯t hold on any longer! What was the purpose of bringing them out? To watch them die in the storm?¡± Etienne turned his head to look, and the geese that had been neatly arranged were now scattered by the strong wind, with occasionally one being blown far away and taking a long time to fly back. It wasn¡¯t just them struggling, the geese were too, they were never afraid of the storm, only afraid of losing Etienne. For this reason, no matter how strong the wind, they had to desperately keep up. ¡°You¡¯ve given them courage, and they¡¯ve returned to you with trust! Etienne, listen to me, reach out your hand!¡± Etienne looked down, seeing the waves collide and disappear, leaving behind white foam, like a silver ingot with a finely etched surface. Once the geese got lost in the storm, they would never return. ¡°Ah!¡± Etienne roared out loud, closed his eyes, and reached out his hand, entrusting everything to Bi Fang. ¡°Good!¡± Bi Fang shouted angrily, grabbed Etienne¡¯s arm tightly, and yanked him backward. Just as he disconnected from his seat, the severely shaking plane suddenly veered to one side, almost flying at a forty-five-degree angle! The sudden weightlessness made Etienne¡¯s feet slip, and he fell from the plane. ¡°Etienne!¡± Elvan¡¯s pupils shrank suddenly as he pounded the steering wheel like a madman. The horn blared, startling a flock of birds. ¡°Fall down, all of you fall down!¡± Johnny opened his mouth wide, issuing the most vicious curse, hoping the migration plan would meet its end. Nobody pays attention to the losers, and naturally, nobody would notice the flaws in his report. With no ships, no lifeboats, not even life jackets, falling meant certain death! ¡°Damn it!¡± Johnny slammed his fist on the steering wheel, his hopes were dashed as Bi Fang held tightly onto Etienne! In such a situation, how could Bi Fang be caught off guard? The moment Etienne began to fall, Bi Fang grabbed him with both hands, then slowly pulled him up. Fortunately, the plane Elvan had prepared wasn¡¯t purely a glider; to be precise, it was an engine-equipped light aircraft, otherwise, they would have been powerless against the storm. But now the plane was being blown increasingly off course by the wind, and it was less than three hundred meters from the sea surface. [Go Etienne, Master Fang, go!] [Come on, Old Fang!] [Lord Mu has gifted the host 10 Spaceships] [Nanana, that¡¯s me, gifted the host 6 Spaceships¡ªKeep it up, Master Fang!] [Fat Cat Pete gifted the host 1 Spaceship] Countless people were sending their blessings at this moment, praying that the two could overcome the difficulty together. Bi Fang did not disappoint the expectation, using both arms, he pulled the stunned Etienne back to his seat, fastened his seatbelt securely, and took the pilot¡¯s seat when the plane was less than two hundred meters above the sea surface! At the critical moment, Bi Fang pushed the control stick, stepped on the pedals, and the plane adjusted its direction, at less than a hundred meters from the sea¡¯ surface, but it was too late. The plane was unable to adjust its course properly, at best, Bi Fang¡¯s actions turned a forty-five-degree tilt into thirty degrees! It was still drifting towards the sea surface! Etienne gasped for air, at this moment his brain had completely crashed, unable to think too much, mechanically watching Bi Fang control the plane. ¡°Damnit!¡± In a panic, Bi Fang unbuckled his seatbelt, and under the shocked gazes of everyone, he secured the control stick and on his own reached for the plane¡¯s left wing, putting his entire body weight onto it! Chapter 185:182 : The Petrel Madman! Chapter 185:182 Chapter: The Petrel Madman! A complete madman! Johnny¡¯s pupils shrank to the size of pinpoints, unable to imagine a scene akin to movie special effects unfolding in reality. The wings of the glider were above his head, within reach if he stretched out his hand, but no one would ever think to control the angle of an airplane in this manner. This was something only a madman would do! Not even the most skilled stunt performers would dare attempt such a feat! A single slip would mean being shattered to pieces! The black sea churned, as if the airplane, mimicking a shaking vessel, followed suit, with a force beneath that seemed ready to tear the ocean apart at any moment. But in this moment, Bi Fang was the captain in the midst of the tempest, pulling the ropes of the sail to break through the colossal waves! This was no mere wing; it was a sail facing the wind! There were no words to describe the shock of this moment, that surging and brave force, like feeling the birth of lightning in the center of a storm cloud, or like witnessing humans create fire in the depths of ancient darkness, embracing light for the first time in the night. In an utterly impossible manner, Bi Fang saved the plane that was about to fall, declaring that life¡¯s opportunity is hidden even in what seems like an impossible dead end! Dangling beneath the wing, his weight over seventy kilograms pressing down, he rapidly forced the skewed wing down. The rain poured furiously, streaming down the edge of the wing, encasing him as if in a veil. Bi Fang wiped the rainwater from his face and began moving toward the center of the airplane. The rain sought to knock the plane into the sea, while the wild wind hoisted it to the sky; through stillness and motion, the airplane maintained a strange equilibrium. The Goose flew beside Bi Fang, with him commanding the dark clouds, and the lightning serving as his weapon in battle. He was a knight, an invincible warrior in the wilderness. Touching the pole, now slippery from the rainwater, Bi Fang inched towards the center of the plane. He dared not let go; the veins in his forearm stood out like twisted snakes, his unmatched strength converging there. If it were a hollow steel tube, it might have already crumpled. Finally, when everyone was nearly out of breath, Bi Fang returned to his seat. The audience gasped for air, the scene before them had even made them forget to breathe in unison. ¡°fuck!¡± Johnny hung his head in frustration, unable to believe there was still a chance for recovery in such a situation? ¡°Could it be, could it be that even God is helping them?¡± Johnny had a desperate thought, but he instantly dismissed it, ¡°No, impossible! If God were really helping them, they would not have encountered the storm in the first place!¡± Yes, it had to be that way! Johnny stared intently at the screen; what did it matter if the plane hadn¡¯t crashed? Lightning, torrential rain, strong winds! They would never make it through the North Sea! Bi Fang returned to his seat and, instead of shrinking back, piloted the plane up into the sky! This storm, formed by the convergence of cold and warm air, moved very quickly; they had no retreat. Since escape was impossible, they would have to break through the storm! Lightning serpents struck the sea¡¯s surface, with the ocean stretching as far as the eye could see, dark waves surging forth and crashing into each other, creating white foam. The sea heaved, looking like an endless wasteland, with branched lightning striking the surface, as if bizarre giants trees were growing from the black wilderness into the clouds. Etienne leaned tightly against the back of his chair; he seemed to be able to smell the scorching scent of lightning cutting through the air as the geese on both sides let out overwhelmed cries of distress. Wait, geese? Etienne hastily looked to the side, saw the geese tumbling and stumbling around, and quickly warned, ¡°Don¡¯t fly too far, stay close to us!¡± At that moment, the airplane also reached a critical point, Bi Fang flying higher and higher until they almost burst into the clouds, where everything was a dark expanse. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Etienne, hold tight!¡± Bi Fang yelled a reminder to Etienne, then charged into the dark clouds, aiming to fly above the cloud layer! The frontal cloud system was mainly stratocumulus, but due to the subsidence inversion in the cold and warm air masses, the thickness and height of the clouds were limited. Over the marine environment, the base of the cloud layer was no more than six hundred meters above the ground, with a thickness ranging from a few hundred meters to two thousand meters. If they could find a weak spot, they could escape this storm! The airplane shuddered like a roller coaster, countless spectators shut their eyes, unwilling to watch anymore, and Etienne gripped the armrest white ¨C knuckled. The raindrops were so dense it seemed as if they shattered against each other in mid-air, turning into a spray of water as they fell into the sea. Humans struggled, and the geese struggled too. They flapped their wings with all their might; this was the only disaster they had ever encountered since birth, but their thoughts were simpler: as long as their wings weren¡¯t broken, they would never stop. The heavens roared in anger, the ocean bellowed, and darkness shrouded everything, making it impossible to distinguish directions. But just then, a ray of light suddenly pierced through in front of them, and Bi Fang looked up to see ¡ªa hole in the clouds! It was as if the sky had a large hole torn through it, and light seeped in. Bi Fang stepped on the pedals, the once assisting gale now becoming the greatest obstacle. It was an untamed wild horse, and only the most skilled rider could tame it, but Bi Fang was undoubtedly such a king. He gripped the control column tightly, as if choking the wild horse¡¯s neck, never to let the plane spiral out of control. As long as they could enter the cloud hole, they would survive! The plane wobbled and shook, and the nerves of the audience grew taut as they watched Bi Fang inch closer to the cloud hole. But suddenly, a gust of wind struck, blowing the almost-entering airplane away from the hole. A shadow fell over Etienne¡¯s heart, as if plummeting into an icy abyss. Bi Fang quickly adjusted the direction of the plane, aiming for the cloud hole again, but the wind grew stronger and the plane was blown farther and farther away, the once close cloud hole seeming to vanish from sight. Damn! As the hope for rescue grew dimmer, Bi Fang made a bold decision and shut down the engine, turning the glider¡¯s rudder to the max. [Holy crap, what¡¯s he doing? Has he given up the struggle?] [Wori, don¡¯t scare me like this!] Nobody understood Bi Fang¡¯s maneuver; the audience was stunned by his actions, completely at a loss about what he was intending to do. Was Bi Fang seeking death? Of course not! He was using the wind as an ally! A cloud hole¡¯s presence meant only one thing: a cyclone was here! Without the engine¡¯s resistance, the plane was pulled like a kite by the storm, but just as the cloud hole was about to disappear, the wind changed direction! In that moment, the plane, like a ball thrown in an arc, was pulled infinitely far before it suddenly changed its trajectory and flew back towards its original direction! ¡°Boom!¡± The engine roared to its maximum as Bi Fang stepped on the rudder, the airplane shot toward the cloud hole again with the slingshot like inertia. Gonna die, gonna die, gonna die! In the backseat, Etienne felt a strong push against his back, almost screaming out loud, his stomach churning violently, just short of an erupting outlet, and everything around him blurred due to the high speed. There was silence in the live broadcast room; no one had thought breaking through would be possible in such a way, even to entertain such a thought was beyond human limits! No one could have thought of it, no one dared to do it, no one could succeed. Could Bi Fang succeed? Was he really human? No one answered because the answer had already presented itself. When light pierced the black clouds again and appeared before their eyes, this miraculous scene caused countless foreign viewers to cross themselves and kneel in prayer, their devotion intense. The light grew nearer. The dense clouds seemed to boil, and the hidden sea level within the black clouds suddenly lit up like it was on fire, the line where the sea met the sky especially bright, as if sunlight were shining on the surface of the water. The cloud layers were like an ocean. The once unsteady airplane suddenly steadied, sunlight streaming through the atmosphere and filling Bi Fang¡¯s slightly dilated pupils. They had succeeded, they were now above the cloud layer, three thousand meters in the sky! Peter and Gwen looked at each other, cheering as they tossed blankets into the air, arms over each other¡¯s shoulders, twisting and making mocking faces at the aunt who had come at the news. Lenin was shaking Elvan¡¯s shoulder vigorously: ¡°Elvan, they did it, they made it!¡± ¡°Yes, yes,¡± Elvan laughed happily. Everyone was cheering, celebrating this victorious moment. ¡°Damn, damn, damn!¡± Johnny banged his head against the steering wheel; the fast food he had eaten at noon was creating havoc in his stomach. He felt like vomiting but couldn¡¯t, danger growing closer and he had no idea how to solve it, everything had slipped out of his control from the start. It was just a plan that seemed impossible to achieve, just a trivial matter, so why had it turned out this way? While everyone else was cheering and jubilant, not a single smile could squeeze itself onto Etienne¡¯s face; in a panic, he shouted, ¡°Wait, Amu, Amu is gone!¡± What? Bi Fang was taken aback; he quickly looked around but did not catch sight of that familiar black silhouette¡ªthe pair of Barnacle Geese was missing one! ¡°Damn, it got lost?¡± ¡°What to do? Could Amu be dead?¡± ¡°Damn, damn, damn, how could it get lost?¡± The initial joy stalled, no one had expected this to happen. But how could they find a lost Goose amidst the storm? It was impossible! Bi Fang flew the plane in circles, again and again, blowing the horn, but it was completely futile. Inside the cloud hole, thunder roared; it was like two different worlds. One side heaven, the other side Hell. Lightning could not deter Bi Fang¡¯s confidence to move forward, but at this moment, he hesitated. Should he go back to look for Amu? In his heart, Bi Fang already had the answer; it was too dangerous, and the chances of finding Amu were slim to none, nearly impossible. To give up was the wisest choice. Etienne in the back seat understood something too, he knew Amu might never come back¡­ But he said nothing, Etienne knew it was the right choice. He had been willful more than once, but this time his willfulness was no use. The Geese slowed their speed, as if they realized one of their companions was gone for good, letting out mournful cries. But among them, there was one cry that seemed particularly tired, yet it conveyed tenacity. ¡°Is that Aga?¡± Bi Fang looked to the side, towards the other Barnacle Goose, which might have been more upset by the death of its kin than the other geese, but then he realized something was off¡ªAga was not the one calling, yet the cry rang out again. Etienne followed the sound and his pupils widened drastically. Within the cloud hole, a small shadow was struggling to avoid the lightning, flapping its wings hard, flying towards the airplane. ¡°Awesome!¡± A man¡¯s voice suddenly erupted in the last subway car, his fists clenched as he shouted, scarcely believing the sight, it was a miracle! The man was so excited he nearly jumped, a perfect ending! A perfect ending! ¡°Mister, you again?¡± Yang Ziyun unexpectedly encountered the same person on the same subway line! How could she forget the uncle who had sarcastically taunted her before? What bad luck! Without meaning to, Yang Ziyun glanced at the man¡¯s phone screen. ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t this Master Fang¡¯s live broadcast? Uncle, why are you watching it?¡± The man¡¯s face turned awkward. Gonna die. How was he to explain? Chapter 186: 183: History Changes from Today (Please Subscribe) Chapter 186: Chapter 183: History Changes from Today (Please Subscribe) In the live stream, the tiny figure dodged lightning, flapping its wings hard to fly through a gap in the clouds. The speck became larger and larger as it approached¡ªit was Amu. It hadn¡¯t given up; it was chasing the plane! ¨¦tienne shouted excitedly, ¡°Amu! Amu!¡± Bi Fang quickly turned the plane around to meet it. The sun spread out endlessly, rumbles of black clouds gathering in a dark hole, heavy and leaden. Golden rays spiraled in the profound darkness, as if lightning burst through the dark, the light coming from behind Bi Fang, highlighting the approaching Barnacle Goose. The Barnacle Goose, using all its strength, hurled itself towards the plane, and after joining the flock, Amu flew for a while before plummeting straight down, having exhausted its final bit of energy after breaking through the storm. It could no longer fly. But in the next second, a pair of large hands cradled it. Bi Fang held the Barnacle Goose, silent for a long time. Even through the thick feathers, he could feel the goose¡¯s heart beating fiercely. And as if it understood human nature or by sheer coincidence, Amu fluttered its wings twice and unconsciously pecked gently at Bi Fang¡¯s fingertips. ¡°OMG, OMG, AMAZING!¡± Matthew Hall knelt on the ground, eyes brimming with tears, repeating it over and over again. Perhaps it was because of his profession¡ªMatthew was a journalist for the Global Times. He had been to war zones, witnessed the cruelty of death, and been to forests, witnessed the beauty of nature¡ªbut he swore on his career that this scene was one of the most moving images of his life. The moment he saw Amu break through the lightning and fly towards them, a tidal wave of emotion surged from the deepest part of his heart, as if it would engulf the entire world. Black clouds, lightning, birds, a young man, an adventurer. Nature and life interwoven to create this unrepeatable miracle. Matthew wiped his burning tears, opened a document; he wanted to record this scene, but staring at the blank document, he couldn¡¯t write anything. All words seemed pale in comparison; it was a sight beyond human description. Yet the overwhelming emotions tormented Matthew, and his restless heart couldn¡¯t help but start typing. He wanted to skip the introduction and the process and head straight to the conclusion, the words filled with volcanic emotion and hot tears. In the end, looking at what he had written, Matthew remained silent and deleted everything, instead placing a screenshot from the live stream above and titling it simply: Miracle. This was a miracle of nature and life, and it should not be adulterated with any subjective words. The staff members behind the scenes, too, were touched by the scene. With almost no editing, they took the image directly and replaced the homepage photo with it. It was a magnificent scene beyond any artist¡¯s imagination, with golden clouds flowing like an ocean, planes soaring, geese flocking together toward hope and light. Breathtaking! ¨¦tienne gently stroked Amu¡¯s feathers, overjoyed by the recovery. The black clouds gradually receded, and Bi Fang breathed a sigh of relief. Passing through the gap in the clouds was like entering another world¡ªa light, vast sea of golden clouds stretched infinitely. Bi Fang reached out to touch it, but could grasp nothing, leaving only trails where his hand swiped through the clouds. The invisible clouds flowed through his fingers. [Ah, it¡¯s so beautiful, so beautiful!] [That¡¯s what a live stream is, this is a fucking live stream!] [Just now my mom called me to study, but ended up sitting down to watch it with me.] [Another day of using screenshots as wallpapers] ¡°It¡¯s so good, so good.¡± Elvan clutched his chest, gasping for breath. According to his planned journey, the North Sea was the hardest hurdle; from there, it would be on to Denmark and Germany. A decrease in latitude also signified a rise in temperature. As long as the blood test report came out, everything would start moving in a positive direction. ¡°How long until the report comes out?¡± ¡°About two or three days.¡± Lenin calculated the time it took to send the blood samples and arrived at an approximate timing. The report was conducted by a third-party authoritative institution. Even if Johnny didn¡¯t accept it, there would be a buffer, and whether or not Johnny agreed, the park would definitely retest. ¡°Damn, why are you crying?¡± Startled, Lenin wondered what had happened. He was watching the live feed when he suddenly noticed Elvan wiping tears and quickly handed him several tissues. ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing.¡± Elvan dabbed his eyes, signaling he was alright, but at that moment, no one could understand the excitement and exhilaration he felt inside. His colleagues saw him as a fool, a blockhead, an incurable daydreamer, but the facts proved that his plan was viable! Bi Fang executed the plan and mastered it. The white-fronted goose, this endangered species, could truly be saved by human intervention. What if he was a fool? S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was these fools who managed to do what everyone else dared not do, dared not even think about! They were the pioneers, the creators of history! History would be changed from this day forth! Bi Fang took off his windbreaker, as the weather had visibly become warmer. The smoked fish and meat were soaked by the rain, and they needed to be smoked again over a fire to prevent mold, as hunting conditions would not be as favorable further on. The North Sea fisheries, the reindeer of Finland, these were hunting spots that could hardly be asked for. Beyond this point, even large animals became scarce. After landing the plane on the small island, ¨¦tienne¡¯s legs buckled and he nearly fell as he disembarked. He hadn¡¯t felt anything while seated, but his legs had turned to jelly once the plane landed. He staggered a few steps before sitting down with a thud on the sandy beach, staring vacantly into the sky. ¨¦tienne swore this was the most thrilling moment of his life, with adrenaline off the charts, scarier than any roller coaster ride ¨C this could really kill a person! [Hahaha, jelly legs] [No kidding, I¡¯d be the same, only Master Fang acts like nothing¡¯s wrong, I have reason to suspect he¡¯s not even human!] [I¡¯m about to puke just from watching the camera, let alone being directly on it] Bi Fang went to the shore, wrung out his rain-soaked clothes, and took his spear, hoping to find something good. He chose not to dive. Although the temperature was above freezing, diving would be too cold, and Bi Fang did not want to catch a cold again. However, despite searching for a while, he only found some small crabs. ¡°It seems our good luck has run out.¡± Bi Fang wasn¡¯t discouraged; after all, there was enough food for over a week, so there was no need to panic. He approached the fire and found that all the geese had their heads tucked into their feathers. ¡°It looks like the geese are very tired; them tucking their heads into their feathers indicates they are sleeping. Moreover, geese are very vigilant birds. Before they sleep collectively, the lead goose must assign a sharp goose as the sentinel, who will squawk loudly at any sign of disturbance, rapidly awakening the others from sleep.¡± ¡°Look, that one there is doing just that.¡± The camera followed Bi Fang¡¯s finger, and the audience indeed saw a white-fronted goose that was not sleeping but looking around vigilantly. ¡°This is good news, it means they can adapt to life in the wild.¡± Bi Fang smiled, assured that everything they had done was meaningful. These eighteen geese were just the beginning. In the future, they would breed many more, growing from a dozen to dozens, and then to hundreds. Perhaps in a few years, they would see vast flocks of geese following the migration route they had now established, migrating all the way from spring to winter, year after year. In the evening, the geese woke up one after another, refreshed after an afternoon¡¯s rest. Bi Fang, seeing a clear sky with no clouds, felt they could travel at night. According to the map, they had completed less than a third of their journey, which made Bi Fang somewhat anxious. Chapter 187: 184: Never Stop Chapter 187: Chapter 184: Never Stop The audience hadn¡¯t quite recovered from the recent storm when Bi Fang was set to embark on a journey again, which inevitably raised concerns about whether the migration intensity was too high. They still vividly remembered the thunder and lightning from a few hours ago, the heavenly majesty too blinding to behold. Under such circumstances, ordinary people wouldn¡¯t dare to step outside, let alone fly an airplane through a storm. Even a tumble dryer wouldn¡¯t spin like that. [Has Master Fang stopped being human? If so, can you take me with you? I don¡¯t want to be human either.] [Flying at night, can the geese keep up?] [Yeah, it¡¯s pitch dark, isn¡¯t that dangerous?] [In just a few hours, can they rest well?] ¡°Of course they can. In fact, most of the migration of geese takes place at dusk or at night; it¡¯s just that I chose to do it during the day because that suits human habits,¡± he explained. ¡°And don¡¯t underestimate the geese¡¯s resilience and stamina¡ªthey are one of the few birds that can fly across the entire Himalayas.¡± Bi Fang revved up the engine, and in the darkness of the night, the glider swept through the air like a giant black bird, with eighteen geese neatly aligned behind it. ¡°Speaking of which, I rarely travel at night, but when it comes to nighttime, you can¡¯t help but mention the starry sky.¡± Breathing in the salty, moist air, Bi Fang turned his camera towards the starry field, where the boundless night sky spun overhead. ¡°Thousands of years ago, our ancestors had already begun using the motion of celestial bodies to determine direction. If you can determine your location through the movement of the sun, moon, and stars, then even without navigational tools, you can still find the right direction,¡± he said. [I know this one, find Polaris!] [There¡¯s also the Big Dipper; I learned this in kindergarten!] [Ah, isn¡¯t the Big Dipper the same as Polaris¡­] [I push open the door and look out¡ªwow, no stars!] Due to the time of the live stream, the number of viewers had decreased significantly, from over two hundred thousand to around one hundred thousand, yet the barrage of comments was unrelenting, the audience¡¯s enthusiasm undiminished. Bi Fang estimated it was around nine o¡¯clock in the evening. It would be two in the morning back home, yet so many people were still active? But nowadays, people really do lack some common knowledge, confusing Polaris with the Big Dipper. Bi Fang sighed silently, though he could understand. Nowadays, most people live in cities, and at night, the only bright thing in the sky is the moon. Sometimes, when the clouds are thick, they can¡¯t even see the moon, so who would care about the names of invisible stars? ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by the similar-sounding names of the Big Dipper and Polaris; they are two different things. First, the number is different. Polaris is the name of a single star, while the Big Dipper consists of seven stars, named for its shape like a ladle, also known as the ¡®Big Dipper Seven Stars.¡¯ ¡°Secondly, their functions are different. Polaris can accurately point out true north, while the function of the Big Dipper is to help us locate Polaris. Polaris lies almost directly on the extension line of the two stars at the end of the Big Dipper,¡± he explained. Bi Fang looked up at the sky and began to talk about some techniques for finding and recognizing the stars; through his first-person perspective, viewers followed his gaze in search of the so-called Big Dipper Seven Stars. ¡°Polaris is part of Ursa Minor and is the brightest star within it. But since the rest of the stars in Ursa Minor are dimmer than Polaris, we usually need to find Polaris via the Big Dipper Seven Stars.¡± ¡°The Big Dipper is the main part of the Great Bear Constellation, situated at the tip of the Bear¡¯s tail, shaped like a ladle. The target range is bigger, making it quicker and more convenient to identify the solitary target of Polaris,¡± he continued. The Big Dipper contains six second-magnitude stars and one third-magnitude star, making it quite easy to recognize, especially in the open and less polluted seascape; once seen, it¡¯s hard to forget. The night sky was clear, filled with cool light, as if travelers in the quiet of a moonlit night were guided by the gods to find their way home. [Fuck, this is the first time I¡¯ve actually seen the Big Dipper!] [Mom, I¡¯m making progress!] [Look at that little accomplishment of yours!] [Staying up all night and seeing the Big Dipper, worth it!] [Because I often stay up late, my liver seems a bit off; can you guys call me ¡®Little Liver¡¯?] ¡°From the two stars at the edge of the Dipper, in the direction of the extension line stretching about five times beyond the Big Dipper, we will find our target, the most important star pointing the direction in the northern hemisphere¡ªPolaris. See it?¡± he asked. Bi Fang stretched out his hand, followed the line with his gaze, and soon the viewers spotted the brightest star in the night sky. ¡°Within a fairly large area around Polaris, there are no brighter stars, so it¡¯s exceedingly easy to locate it using this method.¡± ¡°Against the backdrop of the night sky, Polaris is less than 1 degree away from the North Pole, so once we find Polaris at night, we¡¯ve essentially found true north.¡± With the direction established, Bi Fang increased the plane¡¯s speed, bringing forth a whistling wind through the sky. [Wow, it¡¯s so bright!] [The brightness is just not on the same level as other stars!] ¡°Of course, Polaris is one of the few first-magnitude stars.¡± Bi Fang was very happy, feeling wonderful sharing with others, just like having teammates around in his previous life. ¨¦tienne in the back row was also engrossed in the starry sky and curiously asked upon hearing the concept of first-magnitude stars, ¡°What is a first-magnitude star?¡± ¡°Ah, this¡­¡± Bi Fang scratched his head, ¡°The brightness of stars is different, which relates to the temperature of the stars, distance, and so on. You know this, right?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°Legend has it that the ancient Greek Hipparchus categorized the brightness of stars into six magnitudes based on their varying brightness, with first-magnitude being the brightest and sixth the dimmest. The brightness difference between each magnitude is about 2.5 times. In reality, there is a hundredfold brightness difference between a first and a sixth-magnitude star. But this grading has continued on and doesn¡¯t account for the distance of the stars; it¡¯s how we perceive their brightness from Earth.¡± ¨¦tienne had an epiphany. It was the first time he had heard of this ranking concept, ¡°Are there stars brighter than Polaris then?¡± ¡°Definitely, the division into six magnitudes was very rough. Later, scientists designated more magnitudes. If a star is a bit brighter than Altair, then its magnitude is zero. Vega is a zero-magnitude star.¡± Bi Fang digressed a bit, with Polaris in sight, there¡¯s no fear of getting lost at night, as long as it¡¯s not a cloudy sky, so one can drive boldly and confidently. ¨¦tienne in the back seat looked at the twinkling Polaris and asked, ¡°Does the position of Polaris not change?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good question.¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t expect ¨¦tienne to ask this, but it was something he was knowledgeable about, having asked an old professor the exact same question in his previous life, ¡°I can tell you with certainty that it will change.¡± ¡°The Earth¡¯s axis of rotation shifts, so of course Polaris does too. In the vast universe, the solar system moves at a pace that could be called slower than a snail¡¯s. Only after a long period of time will there be an apparent shift in Polaris¡¯s position as seen from Earth. But given enough time, it will eventually move away from true north.¡± ¡°So Polaris refers to ¡®the star that is nearest to the north celestial pole¡¯ which we can simply understand as the star toward which the north end of Earth¡¯s axis of rotation points. This is a definition, and the definition won¡¯t change.¡± ¡°Polaris is not a specific star¡¯s exclusive name but is taken on by different stars in turn. When the current star we call Polaris moves away from true north, the people of Earth will then call another star, the one the north end of Earth¡¯s axis points toward at that time, Polaris.¡± ¡°The current Polaris is ¡®Kochab¡¯, also known as ¡®Alpha Ursae Minoris.¡¯ It is still approaching the North Pole, but in five hundred years, it will be ¡®Pherkad.¡¯ That¡¯s why the method to determine Polaris involves using the alignment of the Big Dipper Seven Stars.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s explanation once again stunned the numb audience. You are an expert in wilderness survival, using stars to determine direction is reasonable, but even knowing this? Isn¡¯t that a bit too much? [Whoa, after becoming a grand mathematician, physicist, geographer, and climatologist, has Old Fang now awakened the skill of an astronomer?] [This is too far-fetched, what else don¡¯t you know? Confess now!] S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [The fake explorer: proficient in mathematics, physics, geography, climate, and astronomy. The real explorer: survives with blind enthusiasm, leaving teammates to save him.] The audience¡¯s praise made Bi Fang blush, he also knew this knowledge by chance, and without ¨¦tienne¡¯s question, he wouldn¡¯t have remembered it¡ªit wasn¡¯t an intentional display of holiness. Clearing his throat, Bi Fang steered the conversation back, mentioning other methods of determining direction. ¡°Aside from Polaris, in the dark canopy of the night sky, we can also use the Orion Constellation to find our bearings. The Orion features four bright stars forming a large quadrilateral, with three smaller stars lined up in its center. We can draw an imaginary horizontal line through these smaller stars as the celestial equator, and this line would then be the east-west direction.¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s different in the southern hemisphere; the Big Dipper Seven Stars might be hidden below the horizon. I¡¯ll tell you more when I get to the southern hemisphere one day.¡± [Southern hemisphere? What¡¯s there?] [Antarctica, or maybe Australia?] [Why the secrecy? I¡¯m not convinced!] ¡°Cough cough, that¡¯s all for now. What will I talk about next?¡± Bi Fang spread his hands, ¡°But just having a direction isn¡¯t enough. Our route is planned; we¡¯re heading to Denmark, and it wouldn¡¯t do to land in Holland or Copenhagen. So, we have to use the stars not only to determine direction but also to measure latitude and longitude!¡± Chapter 188: 185: The Golden Cicada Sheds its Shell is Just a Little Brother Chapter 188: Chapter 185: The Golden Cicada Sheds its Shell is Just a Little Brother All the lights in the city were on, the hard skyline submerged in the light. The skyscrapers in the business district appeared from afar like square cages woven out of light, beyond which lay a vast lake. Adjacent to the lake, the elevated road was bustling with cars, their headlights merging into a flowing river of light. In front of the floor-to-ceiling window, Matthew felt that every point of light in this flow was a living firefly, trapped within the curving, slender elevated road, compelled to rush forward in search of an exit. He wondered where his own exit was and thought of the struggling goose. After watching Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast in the afternoon, Matthew¡¯s mind was filled with the impulse to embark on an adventure in Nature, much like intestines writhing in pain during a bout of roundworm infection, unstoppable once it begins to hurt. Gazing down at the city beneath his feet, Matthew took a deep breath and, observing the city under the night sky as if standing on a cliff, felt both perilous and light, like a bird that had flown high on the wind. Here he was free, casually savoring the changing scents of wind, daylight, and the shifting seasons in the city, sometimes its iris flowers, sometimes leaves, and sometimes the sweet fragrance of oranges being sold in the street below. But it always seemed like something was missing. Matthew recalled the time he was a war correspondent; every day was a heart-pounding experience, his first act upon waking was to touch his chest just to make sure his flesh was still pulsating with life. Despite the danger, he could clearly feel that he was alive. Now, it was work, clock in, work, clock in¡ªlife was like stagnant water, utterly waveless. The emptiness inside him felt as if tapping on his chest would produce a hollow sound. ¡°Hurry, hurry, you lazy bums! We are the most professional newspaper, I want to see all the papers printed before dawn tonight, and then have them appear on every newsstand¡¯s doorstep!¡± Fitz adjusted his tie, came up next to Matthew, and together they admired the night view, ¡°Matthew, you are truly a genius. No one understands the news better than you, this is definitely the most touching news this month. It has already been pushed online, and the print version is also being rush-printed. It¡¯ll be delivered to everyone¡¯s homes first thing tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°Fitz, I want to quit.¡± ¡°WHAT?¡± Fitz thought he might have been overworked; something must be wrong with his ears, or maybe the person in front of him was not Matthew but some alien in human skin. ¡°I said I want to quit.¡± Now Fitz was sure he had heard correctly, and he stared in astonishment, ¡°Are you sick or something? What kind of joke is this? Look at you, you¡¯ve achieved success and fame, and now you¡¯re talking about quitting? I¡¯m sorry, but if you¡¯re serious, Matthew, then I suggest you see a doctor!¡± ¡°I was just saying,¡± Matthew laughed, ¡°Maybe by tomorrow morning I¡¯ll have forgotten all about this.¡± ¡°I hope so.¡± On the elevated road, a car drove out of the exit and slowly stopped beside the lake. Johnny opened the car door, stepped out, and lit a cigarette, then shouted to his colleague in the passenger seat, ¡°You drive, I¡¯m going to get some sleep.¡± Andrew had been driving all day, exhausted in both body and mind, but he coughed twice as he looked at Johnny surrounded by smoke. ¡°I think, let¡¯s just drop it. If we go back now and tell them we got the report wrong and grant their permit, they won¡¯t pursue this any further. It¡¯s just a bunch of birds, let them relocate.¡± Andrew had warned Johnny when he¡¯d wanted to fudge the report; it wasn¡¯t the first time Johnny had done such a thing, but no one had expected things to blow up to this extent, becoming almost public knowledge. In the past, even if they used fake reports to deceive, no one would make a fuss, and there were actually people who believed their tests were substandard and willingly paid for a satisfactory report. Over time, no one felt uncomfortable about it, but this time the issue had become a major problem, and not only could Johnny be in trouble, but even Andrew might not be able to extricate himself so easily. As an inspection agency exposed for issuing false reports, nobody dared to imagine the consequences. Even Johnny¡¯s father couldn¡¯t shield him; it was certain he would end up inside. Johnny did not respond, and the cigarette visibly shortened in his hand, a faint glow emanating from within the dark interior of the car. Seeing that Johnny offered no reply, Andrew began to grumble, ¡°I warned you before that this wasn¡¯t good, but you never listened. If you had listened to me back then¡­¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Johnny roared, the long ash breaking off and scattering across the carpet, ¡°If I tell you to drive, just fucking drive!¡± ¡°Do you think you¡¯d be fine if I¡¯m screwed? Don¡¯t be naive! None of you will get away with it. What you need to do now is drive, just drive, drive! Then go after them, catch them, and execute those damn geese with a gun!¡± Johnny finished the cigarette in one drag, flicked the butt onto the car mat, and stomped it out viciously. Andrew¡¯s fingers turned white on the steering wheel. Without a word, he twisted the key to start the engine, turned the car around, and drove back onto the elevated road. Like fireflies, they strained forwards, searching for an exit. ¡­ [Can stars measure latitude and longitude?] [Is this for real? So exaggerated? Observing the stars at night, a modern Zhuge Liang?] [Amazing, it¡¯s late at night, how can a stick cast a shadow when it¡¯s stuck in the ground?] ¡°It¡¯s not about using shadows. Have you heard of a sextant? It¡¯s an optical instrument used to measure the angle between two distant objects, a principle first proposed by Newton.¡± ¡°In the wild, we can make a simple sextant to measure latitude and longitude. We only need a clear night to see Polaris, a piece of paper, a string, and a small stone.¡± Bi Fang secured the airplane¡¯s crossbar and began to operate. First, he took out a sheet of paper and drew a quarter circle with a pen as the radius at one corner. Then, he carefully tore along the edge to obtain a quarter-circle paper piece. After that, Bi Fang carefully marked the scale on it, bisecting the center to indicate forty-five degrees. ¡°The accuracy of the scale markings relates to the precision of the sextant; the higher the accuracy, the more precise our positioning. Here, we can use the bisection method and then gradually mark the other scales.¡± Once he finished marking the scale, Bi Fang pulled out a small stone from nowhere, tied one end of the string around it, and anchored the other end at the center of the circle. ¡°We let the arc of the circle hang down naturally, use the weight of the stone to stretch the string straight, align it with the numbers marked on the scale, and then align the center of the circle and the mother line on the edge to form a straight line. This straight line¡¯s end should align with Polaris.¡± Bi Fang aligned with Polaris, letting the stone hang naturally, and the taut string fell neatly on a scale. Following his line of sight, the audience could see from the edge of the circle piece, following this straight line, the very top was the shining Polaris. ¡°At this moment, the celestial height and the latitude of your location are actually determined. Remember, only Polaris can be used. You can¡¯t calculate latitude using the sun with this method because the sun¡¯s height changes with the seasons. Having the celestial height and latitude, the method for finding longitude is just as I described earlier, very simple.¡± Bi Fang knew this method had errors, but it was sufficient to determine the general direction; he would at least not fly out of Denmark. [Incredibly¡­ simple?] [Holy shit, why does this feel familiar? It reminds me of that scene from a Stallone prison break movie, where he also made a sextant.] [I know that one, Escape Plan!] [Isn¡¯t it different, though? I feel like Old Fang¡¯s method seems simpler, and it doesn¡¯t even require a mirror.] Seeing the comments from netizens, Bi Fang was startled¡ªthis world also had that movie? He had seen that movie too. It told the story of Stallone, a master of prison escapes, who was framed and then broke out. He remembered it well: ¡°That¡¯s right, the principles are similar, but movies are always just movies.¡± In the movie, the prison Stallone was locked in was a moving cruise ship, and to find out his location so someone could meet him, he made a DIY sextant and had another inmate measure the data on deck, from which they calculated the longitude and latitude. ¡°In the movie, the protractor, like mine, was drawn by hand, but his sextant used the reflection of two plane mirrors to superimpose the image of the star with the image of the sea level. Not to mention where the plane mirrors came from, the bigger issue is, the mirrors in the movie were made from glasses!¡± ¡°Without reflective coating, let alone being flat, all connections would end up shaky. Even if they were tight, they hadn¡¯t been calibrated before use. Also, one would need to see the sea level, could the Arab in that kind of well-like place see the sea level?¡± ¡°Moreover, Nogo even asked if it was the Southern Hemisphere or the Northern Hemisphere, which is quite redundant. As I just said, you can¡¯t see Polaris from the south. However, the movie¡¯s method of determining hemispheres by observing water vortexes was quite interesting.¡± [Damn, impressive!] [Just keep bragging. If you¡¯re so good, why don¡¯t you do it? What? You¡¯re Master Fang? Then no worries.] [I strongly suggest that directors of these kinds of movies should hire Master Fang as a consultant. That¡¯s a true survival master!] [I think Master Fang could make his own movie¡­ handsome and fierce?] [Why make a movie? I feel like I¡¯m already watching one.] [What if you have nothing on hand?] ¡°It¡¯s no problem if you have nothing.¡± A master is distinguished by doing what others cannot. If you don¡¯t have paper and pen, you should at least have hands, right? If you don¡¯t even have hands, Bi Fang had to say frankly, it would be difficult for him to survive in the wilderness as well. It would be better to dig a hole and then call it a night. Bi Fang extended a hand, stretching it as far as he could, extending the index finger: ¡°An amateur astronomer can easily measure celestial heights with fingers, knuckles, and the palm, with accuracy I estimate to be about the same as the simple sextant in the movie.¡± ¡°First, we stretch our arm out as far as possible, index finger pointing out, the width of the fingertip is 1 degree, hook the index finger, the widths of the three knuckles are 2, 3, and 5 degrees respectively, make a fist with the palm, with the thumb not tightly held, the width of the fist is about 10 degrees, make the fist with the thumb held tight, the width is about 8 degrees, make a ¡®6¡¯ gesture with the hand, the width from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger is about 20 degrees.¡± ¡°Using this method, you can also measure latitude. The accuracy may vary from person to person, but it¡¯s simple and convenient, with an error of about five percent.¡± Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 189: 186 Capture Chapter 189: Chapter 186 Capture In the square, a man passing by the newspaper kiosk suddenly stopped, pulled a newspaper from the stand, and took out his wallet. ¡°Boss, one copy of Global Times.¡± The newspaper vendor, who was chatting with the owner of the fruit stand next door, heard him and came over, ¡°Alright, Global Times, two yuan, thank you.¡± ¡°The price went up again?¡± The man was taken aback, put the coins he was holding back into his wallet, and took out a two-yuan note, ¡°It used to be one and a half.¡± ¡°Yes, prices have gone up around here. From Monday to Saturday, it¡¯s gone from one and a half to two yuan, and the Sunday edition from four to five yuan. In other places, it¡¯s even more expensive, costing six yuan.¡± The vendor took the banknote, examined it against the sunlight to verify its authenticity, and happily pocketed it, ¡°Two US dollars is really rare.¡± Ben didn¡¯t leave right away but browsed the newspaper headlines at the stand and started chatting with the vendor, ¡°I haven¡¯t read the newspaper in a long time. Anything interesting in the news recently?¡± ¡°Of course, there¡¯s something today. When I got the newspaper, I thought the Global Times had started peddling fake news, too, but then I saw the photo and realized it was true. Someone used a glider to migrate geese across more than three thousand kilometers!¡± The vendor pointed to the newspaper in Ben¡¯s hand, its colorful cover striking, ¡°It¡¯s a Huaxia person, unbelievable! I¡¯ve never seen such a beautiful photo.¡± Ben looked curiously at the photo and the next second, he stood there, stunned. Passersby who heard this conversation also picked up a newspaper and were similarly shocked, covering their mouths. ¡°My God.¡± In the photo, a black hole and the sun were equally high; inside the cloud hole, there was no light, just the deepest, darkest black, like a gap in the sky with all light flowing out from it. Occasionally, a purple lightning bolt illuminated the struggling geese trying to fly out. Aboard the plane, the man spread his arms toward the geese, the wind lifting his brown robe, and he wore a bone-tooth necklace on his chest, shouting at the geese. The sun stretched across the sky, a deluge of light pouring down; its fiery, intense light was a dazzling gold and white, with the plane upheld by the clouds, like a little boat from heaven. Aunt¡¯s entire body tightened up, the dazzling light making her instinctively want to shield her eyes, and then she realized this was just a photo. ¡°This is too incredible.¡± ¡°Right?¡± Ben, back at home, could empathize as he spread peanut butter on his toast, ¡°My reaction to this photo was exactly like yours. It¡¯s simply a miracle of life, it reminds me of The Wonderful Adventures of Nils! Fairy tales have actually come to life right before our eyes!¡± ¡°Good morning, Uncle, Aunt,¡± Peter said, descending the stairs with heavy dark circles under his eyes. ¡°Good morning, Peter. Did you not sleep well last night?¡± Ben noticed Peter¡¯s dark circles. Seeing Peter looking listless, Aunt got annoyed, ¡°He must have stayed up late again playing on the computer. I really regret agreeing to his request last time. Look at ¨¦tienne, at his age, he¡¯s already able to fly around the world, while you can only stay under the covers playing games all night!¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t playing games!¡± Peter couldn¡¯t help but retort and immediately noticed the newspaper on the table, picking it up with surprise, ¡°Wow! Master Fang is in the news!¡± Ben was curious, ¡°You know him?¡± ¡°Of course, he¡¯s so cool! I¡¯ve been staying up these past few nights just to watch his live stream!¡± At this moment, Ben seemed to understand why Peter had been sleeping poorly. Had it been his own childhood, he might have also stayed up late to watch. He coughed twice and put down his piece of toast, ¡°Um, Peter, could you let me have a look, too?¡± Peter trembled with excitement upon hearing this. Did he hear that right? This was a perfect opportunity to draw someone in! Peter took out his phone, deftly circumvented the firewall, entered Wolf Fang TV, and Ben leaned over as the two of them started watching the live stream together. ¡°Ah.¡± Aunt sighed. The same scene was happening in countless homes, with Peter¡¯s house being just the tip of the iceberg. More and more channels began to spread this news, and it was everywhere¡ªthe young people had heard the news. It was a sensation. Videos on the platform kept being shared, and the original hunting video even surpassed ten million views! Despite such growth, the speed didn¡¯t slow but kept increasing faster and faster! Unprecedented, never before had a Huaxia host gained such immense traffic on the most famous interactive platform abroad! Wang Yongbo and Li Yawen were so excited they were trembling! With this achievement, they successfully convinced the senior management, and the whole overseas live broadcasting plan would be under their full responsibility. If everything went smoothly, Wolf Fang would achieve a leapfrogging overtaking, surpassing Tiger Fang and Shark, to become the domestic platform with the most users! At the same time, another unknown video quietly went viral¡ªit was the one filmed by the uncle who gave Bi Fang gasoline! The comments section under the video was extremely heated. [Master Fang is the greatest explorer of this century. He should run for President of the United States. Although I¡¯m not sure it¡¯s legal, I think he qualifies just based on this goose migration alone!] [Is this the lake where Master Fang stayed? It¡¯s so beautiful, and the uncle is a good person, thumbs up for you] [Why did that bald man want to stop the migration??] [It¡¯s because the bird flu test failed, so they can¡¯t cross the Schengen Area. However, Elvan, the original leader of the plan, insists the report was wrong.] [Wait, what¡¯s the Schengen Area? Is that a place?] [Ah, you can roughly understand it as if you have permission for the Schengen Area, you can move freely through most parts of the European Union.] Hearing this, more netizens shared their thoughts; they couldn¡¯t believe these adorable geese could be sick birds. Look at them, so vibrant! [I hope the report was wrong. Elvan is a professor at the University of Paris; I think he¡¯s quite authoritative. These geese are so spirited, having survived the storm, I¡¯m sure they¡¯re healthy.] [What happens if they¡¯re caught?] [They¡¯ll be executed!] [That¡¯s too sad. I think something must be wrong somewhere. I hope they investigate thoroughly; I don¡¯t want to see these geese come to harm.] S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Change was quietly happening, and Bi Fang had yet to realize that this live broadcast was different from any he had done before. He was becoming known to more and more people at a viral rate, understanding him, it¡¯s just that the number of viewers in the live broadcast room limited his awareness. The second time he received free gas also gave Bi Fang a vague premonition. Like before, the other party didn¡¯t want deer skin and was overly enthusiastic, going so far as to take a photo with them and even offered them burgers. Bi Fang declined, but ¨¦tienne was delighted. It was the first time in ten days he had tasted food with such rich flavor, nearly moved to tears. Rousing ¨¦tienne from sleep, Bi Fang began to wash up. They were now in Denmark, soon to reach Germany. A heavy rain had fallen last night, but it didn¡¯t hinder them; as the latitude decreased, the coniferous forests had turned into broadleaf forests, greatly enhancing the waterproofing effect of their leaf-built shelters. ¡°Maintaining hygiene in the wilderness is very important, especially oral hygiene, and look, a ten-day journey has already started to make my chin grow a beard.¡± Bi Fang touched his stubbly chin, planning to shave today. He pulled out the harpoon, heated it over the fire, cooled it in his canteen afterwards, and began to shave in front of the lake. Just as Bi Fang had the blade against his face ready to shave, a loud cacophony of goose calls almost made him slice open his own skin. ¨¦tienne stepped forward trying to comfort the geese, but it was of no use. The geese were frantically calling out, running around chaotically, as if warning the two men of something. Bi Fang¡¯s expression grew serious; he remembered these geese were only trained to avoid humans, their current extreme reaction¡­ From the distance in the woods, several figures stealthily approached. When they heard the noise of the geese, realizing they might have been exposed, they charged out. ¡°Quick, there they are! Catch them!¡± Chapter 190: 187: Could It Be True? Chapter 190: Chapter 187: Could It Be True? Thorns slashed across Johnny¡¯s ankles, leaving trails of blood, but Johnny seemed to feel no pain at all as he led the police towards the lake, his speed so fast that one wouldn¡¯t think he was a middle-aged man, his agility comparable to that of a cheetah! ¡°Run, run fast!¡± Upon recognizing the approaching figure, Bi Fang quickly pulled ¨¦tienne onto the airplane, he stretched out his hand to sense the direction and realized he was on the upwind side, immediately understanding that he had been careless. Only 30% of the indigenous people in Oceania have no body odor, only 10% of whites, and only 0.5% of Blacks! In other words, apart from East Asians, nearly every foreigner has body odor¡­ that¡¯s also why they need perfume¡­ So normally, as long as someone approaches, Bi Fang would be able to smell it, but he forgot this point, or rather, he didn¡¯t expect someone to pursue him so relentlessly. He even forgot he was upwind, which meant he couldn¡¯t smell anything; otherwise, he would have noticed much earlier. The geese were squawking madly, and through Elvan¡¯s training, their fear of humans, especially those armed with guns, was deeply ingrained in their brains! Yes, the police were armed with guns! Seeing firearms appear, the audience panicked, those were real guns! Not props from movies or TV shows! [Damn it, just for catching a bird and they¡¯ve brought guns? Can¡¯t they take a joke?] [The land of the free, Ugly Li Jian, gunfights every day] [This isn¡¯t Ugly Li Jian¡­] [Old Fang, run for it! If they catch up, it¡¯s all over!] [This Johnny is such a loser, can¡¯t he take a joke? Old Fang, use your bow and arrow to deal with him! Turn him into a porcupine, let him know who the Number One Archer is!] Just yesterday, Bi Fang had left a deep impression on the viewers by shooting a rabbit in the woods with an arrow, and many radical viewers even proposed to fight back. What a joke! He¡¯s not the Green Arrow! Bi Fang felt he was only in his twenties and had his whole life ahead of him to enjoy, so there was no need for rash actions. The two hurriedly escaped onto the airplane and successfully started it before Johnny and the police arrived, causing the plane to glide over the water¡¯s surface. Seeing that the two were about to fly away just like last time, Johnny shouted, ¡°Quick, stop them, open fire and block them!¡± A few police officers exchanged glances, drew their guns and aimed at the airplane, ¡°Sir, stop immediately! Sir, stop now! Otherwise, we¡¯re going to shoot! We¡¯re going to fire!¡± But why would Bi Fang listen to them? The journey was already halfway through, how could he give up just like that? He wasn¡¯t here on vacation, what a joke! After more than ten days of companionship, he had grown fond of the flock of geese, and now they were about to be captured or even killed, he was the first to object! Bi Fang at this moment was the same as ¨¦tienne from before! Law? What a load of crap. If there¡¯s a problem with the implementation of a rule itself, then why adhere to it so rigidly? If there¡¯s something he wants to do, then just do it, it¡¯s that simple. Under the gunpoint, Bi Fang was extraordinarily resolute, far from slowing down, he increased the engine power to its maximum. At this moment, Bi Fang had completely forgotten the words he used to stop ¨¦tienne back then, a prime example of double standards. And at this moment, everyone remembered one thing: when it comes to innate madness, ¨¦tienne was nothing compared to Bi Fang! Master Fang was the kind of person who would fight with a bear just for a rabbit! Elvan, who had been lurking behind the screen, felt his bladder swell when he saw the police draw their weapons, nearly wetting himself. He had never expected Johnny to dare deploy the police, and even arm them! This was way beyond his authority! Bi Fang was just too crazy, completely reckless! ¡°Fuck! Fuck! Fire! Shoot!¡± Seeing that Bi Fang had no intention of stopping, Johnny gestured to the police beside him to take action quickly. The leading police officer hesitated for a moment and chose not to shoot, in his mind, opening fire just because someone was transporting a few geese across the border was too much of an overreaction. They weren¡¯t Ugly Country police, and moreover, there was a teenager with them, an accidental injury would be even more unacceptable. ¡°Damn it!¡± As the plane ascended into the sky, Johnny¡¯s eyes turned bloodshot. He had finally found them, and now, were they going to disappear before his very eyes again? Absolutely not! Killing all the Geese still leaves some wiggle room, no one cares about a blood test report of a bunch of dead geese, but once successful, the meaning changes completely! Even if they keep the blood samples, Johnny isn¡¯t afraid. A blood test report looks at the latest sample, the past doesn¡¯t prove anything. It can only show that the Geese were fine before, not that they¡¯re fine now. But if the migration is successful, and they test again¡­ The near-mad Johnny lunged at the nearby police officer, trying to snatch his handgun! ¡°Hey! What are you doing!¡± The lead police officer noticed Johnny¡¯s odd behavior immediately. The moment Johnny reached for the gun, he withdrew his hand in advance and pinned Johnny to the ground. The nearby officers also reacted quickly, no longer paying attention to Bi Fang, they all held Johnny down. The plane flew farther and farther away. As Johnny was pressed down, unable to catch his breath, he watched the plane disappear from his sight once more. His face turned red with indignation, and he shouted loudly. ¡°I won¡¯t let you make it to France! Never!¡± His voice carried far, but Bi Fang in the sky could no longer hear him; he was cheering for escaping once again. [Outlaw!] [Hahaha, I suggest you obey the law, Master Fang!] [Awesome! Daring to fly like that, I get weak at the knees just seeing a gun in real life.] [Another day above the law, better turn yourselves in, Ah-fang. Uncle Long is everywhere outside!] ¡°Whew!¡± ¨¦tienne shouted loudly into the blue sky, feeling absolutely exhilarating! No one could catch them, nobody at all! The two laughed in the wind and flew for over an hour before stopping again. With the plane¡¯s speed, they had long left Johnny and his group far behind. Who knew when they would be chased again? After high-fiving ¨¦tienne, Bi Fang calmly walked to the shore and continued his shaving business, as if the recent escape didn¡¯t concern him at all. [Old Fang¡¯s composure is through the roof!] [Ditched the pursuers and still shaves calmly, badass] [I feel like they won¡¯t let Master Fang off so easily, maybe they¡¯ll deploy helicopters for the capture next time?] [Don¡¯t jinx it above] [Ace pilot requesting to engage!] ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if they come at us again, I¡¯ll just shake them off once more. They can only eat dust behind our asses!¡± Bi Fang wasn¡¯t too concerned. So what about helicopters? He could even take turns using drainage ditches. As long as they¡¯re not fighter jets, he¡¯s not worried. However, the police being armed this time did concern him a bit. He didn¡¯t expect the police to come with guns; Denmark isn¡¯t Ugly Country, not all police carry guns. By rights, what they did shouldn¡¯t warrant the police being armed¡­ The other side seemed very anxious, seemingly even more determined not to let the Geese migrate than Bi Fang was to migrate them. Really odd, do they need to go to such lengths? Are Europeans really this professional? Or is it just something blown out of proportion by public intellectuals? Shaking his head, Bi Fang continued shaving. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I advise everyone to shave with a small knife when available; even if you find something sharp like Black Flint, it¡¯s best not to use it for shaving. If you do shave, be extremely careful, because it¡¯s much sharper than metal blades ¨C and that¡¯s no exaggeration, it¡¯s the truth. Most importantly, the edges are highly irregular.¡± Bi Fang shaved off a small patch of beard, then took out the Flint Stone from his pocket to show everyone: ¡°Using this to shave could easily leave many bloody marks on your face, which can become easily infected. It¡¯s better not to shave and hurt yourself, we¡¯d rather use Flint Stone to cut our hair.¡± ¡°Besides beard and hair, nails also need to be trimmed, as in the wilderness, long nails can easily break and cause infections.¡± Bi Fang stretched out his fingers, his hands clean and tidy, showing no signs of having lived wild for more than ten days, his nails barely grown. [This is outrageous, is this the power of the mighty?] [Returning to the wild like coming home, all animals here taste delicious and make pleasant sounds, I love it here.] [Politeness: Are you an animal?] ¡°That¡¯s because I grind my nails with a stone every three or four days. It¡¯s rough, but very practical. You can just pick any stone, I believe there¡¯s no need for me to say more.¡± After finishing his shave, Bi Fang cleaned his Hunting Knife by the shore, and ¨¦tienne had also made simple toothpaste and a toothbrush as requested, beckoning him to come over for oral hygiene. Chapter 191: 188: The Hatch is Welded Shut! Chapter 191: Chapter 188: The Hatch is Welded Shut! ¡°` The so-called toothbrush and toothpaste were actually just a tender birch twig accompanied by some charcoal ash. Birch sap is a pretty good refreshing drink and even has medicinal health benefits. Its branches have plenty of fibers that can totally be used as a toothbrush, and some of the older branches can even be made into arrow shafts. Bi Fang chewed on a piece of the tender birch branch, then used the leftover fibers as a toothbrush and the water mixed with charcoal ash as toothpaste. ¡°The method of using charcoal ash for brushing teeth can¡¯t be used all the time, because it can damage the teeth. But remember to mix it with water before using, as the alkalinity of the charcoal ash is very strong and can easily burn the skin.¡± ¡°As for the effectiveness, well, it¡¯s definitely not as strong as modern industrial products. However, it¡¯s not far off because charcoal ash has good adsorbency. It is enough for us to do a simple oral cleaning in the wild, but cleaning is all it can do. We also need to pay attention to sterilization, so we need to use it in conjunction with mouthwash.¡± Mouthwash? The audience became curious. At first hearing, this word filled with ¡°modern¡± vibes felt a bit out of place. Many people at home don¡¯t even use mouthwash when brushing their teeth. How do they use it in the wilderness? Bi Fang held up the plastic bottle passed to him by ¨¦tienne, and through natural light, the audience could clearly see it was filled with light green water. [Lake water? The color¡¯s so green] [Impossible, what¡¯s the use of lake water?] [Admin, someone¡¯s swearing, give them a ban!] [Lord Mu: I¡¯m juggling millions every minute, how do I have time for this? So just let me be the admin, I¡¯m super free (Dog¡¯s head)] [Master Fang: After all, I¡¯ve trusted the wrong person.] ¡°Lake water isn¡¯t this green,¡± said Bi Fang, shaking the plastic bottle, which was still a bit hot. ¡°This is pine needle water that I had ¨¦tienne mash up the pine needles and boil them before filtering. Use it to rinse your mouth, it not only smells good but also has a certain antibacterial effect.¡± Bi Fang blew on it to cool it down, took a sip from the bottle, swallowed with a gulp. Audience: ¡°???¡± [Isn¡¯t mouthwash for rinsing¡­ why is he drinking it?] [What happened to the mouthwash?] Even Bi Fang himself was stunned and realized what he had just done, he instantly started coughing and choking. After a while, Bi Fang, regaining his composure, was dumbfounded. ¡°Damn it! I¡¯ve gotten used to drinking hot water these past few days, I swallowed it before I could react.¡± [Won¡¯t he get poisoned from eating charcoal ash?] ¡°No, no worries,¡± Bi Fang spit out another mouthful of saliva and kept rinsing his mouth, ¡°Charcoal ash itself isn¡¯t poisonous, and it can even have an antidiarrheal effect. However, eating too much may lead to constipation. The amount I swallowed isn¡¯t significant.¡± A slip of the mind. Bi Fang spit out the mouthful of water that still carried a hint of pine fragrance and shook his head with a laugh. He hadn¡¯t expected that he too would have a day of confusion. After cleaning up, the two of them stewed some smoked fish for breakfast and prepared to hit the road again. Who knew how Johnny had found them, whether it was by tracking them through the live stream or if Elvan had told him their whereabouts? If it was the latter, they couldn¡¯t continue following the map¡¯s route. Bi Fang opened the map, hesitated for a while, but ultimately chose to trust Elvan and did not change his plans, continuing along the route on the map. ¡°Johnny has got us in his sights now. We will minimize our rest time as much as possible to avoid being caught up with again.¡± [Epic, being pursued and still calm.] [Johnny: No one knows how to catch better than I do.] [Today I just want to be beyond the reach of the law, and I¡¯m even live-streaming it! A lawless rogue, that¡¯s just how arrogant I am!] The audience was thrilled. In their view, this was as exciting as skipping school to sneak off to the internet caf¨¦ without the teacher¡¯s knowledge, and whether it was really illegal was still to be determined. What if the problem lies with Johnny? Bi Fang pulled on the throttle, the engine roared to life, and the sound of the rotating propeller grew from nothing to a loud hum, increasing in intensity until it became a thunderous roar. ¡°Weird, why has the engine sound gotten louder?¡± ¡°` He stepped on the pedal, somewhat puzzled. Was the engine broken? Why had the noise become so loud? Bi Fang worried that the propeller was emitting smoke. Just as he turned his head back, a curse blurted out. ¡°Damn it!¡± Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A dark green helicopter roared as it flew overhead, its huge rotor blades whipping up a fierce wind, slicing through the air like a knife, zooming past the forest canopy like an enormous bird. What the hell! It had only been three hours, yet Johnny actually sent a helicopter after them! Bi Fang pulled the control stick to climb urgently, failing to understand why Johnny treated them as if they were smuggling a flock of geese with ¡°questionable¡± health certificates. What did he think they were, Mexican drug lords? ¡­ ¡°Minister, these are the hospital test reports issued by Elvan¡¯s team, all negative, and none of the blood samples are older than a month,¡± the secretary presented the reports to the park director. ¡°But Johnny¡¯s report came back positive¡­¡± The minister pinched the bridge of his nose. He didn¡¯t actually have clarity on what Johnny had been up to, resulting in the park¡¯s upper management being completely confused about the situation. Were the flocks of geese sick or not? If not sick, then why positive results? And who really was sick? Me? The minister couldn¡¯t help wanting to pace, but seeing the secretary still there, he dismissed the thought. The secretary was equally puzzled by Johnny¡¯s strong reaction, relentlessly pursuing a few individuals. Was he ever this dedicated before? ¡°It should be as Elvan and his team said, a normal reaction after vaccine exposure. Johnny¡¯s making a mountain out of a molehill,¡± the secretary pondered. ¡°Make a call and have him return, let¡¯s not concern ourselves with this matter anymore. I¡¯ve seen his dedication; grant him a promotion when he¡¯s back,¡± the minister deliberated for a moment, ¡°Also, have him send me the previous test reports. I want to take a look, better safe than sorry.¡± In fact, whether the geese were sick or healthy, or even if they had been healthy a month ago but now ill, Johnny had to stop the pursuit immediately. Because just an hour ago, the World Animal Protection Organization had called. The minister felt a headache looming; the situation was spiraling, drawing even the scrutiny of the World Animal Protection Organization, which was not just any NGO, but an international body with comprehensive consultative status with the United Nations. The World Animal Protection Organization saw it as an excellent opportunity to raise public awareness about wildlife conservation. Based on the geese¡¯s living conditions and behavior over the past ten-plus days, they judged the report as erroneous, the case needed re-investigation, and they demanded a halt to the apprehension of the animals, asking to aid Elvan with the migration plan. Just as the secretary was about to go and contact Johnny, a male staffer suddenly burst into the office, shouting anxiously. ¡°Minister! Johnny has dispatched a helicopter to capture the geese! He¡¯s already catching up to Fang Bi!¡± The minister stood up hastily, full of confusion, ¡°What?¡± Shadows rose over the forest, a droning noise like giant bees flapping their wings approached at high speed. The helicopter hovered mid-air, circling like a hunting eagle, while the white plane ahead of it was merely a tiny sparrow, issuing a final, desperate scream amidst the roaring noise. ¨¦tienne gripped the armrest tightly, the light aircraft¡¯s speed pushed to its limit. He felt as if he could hear the plane¡¯s structure groaning under the strain. This was it, glider versus helicopter? Was wildlife conservation always this dangerous? Dad, please save me! I realize my mistake! I want off the plane! Buffeted by the fierce wind, pressed hard against his seat, unable to move, ¨¦tienne shed two lines of tears. He felt his adrenal glands had been played to ruin, overworking, unable to restart. The cabin door was welded shut! No one could get off! Chapter 192: 189: Where is the airplane? Chapter 192: Chapter 189: Where is the airplane? ¡°` There¡¯s a problem! A huge problem! Bi Fang clenched his teeth, the engine overworking and emitting a terrifying clatter. The light aircraft¡¯s engine, after enduring half a month of flying and the torture akin to a tumble dryer, was on the verge of collapse with the throttle fully open once more. ¨¦tienne dared not look up anymore; he turned his head, clutching the chair back, his face pressed and distorted like a sticker, his entire body firmly pressed into the seat. Bi Fang¡¯s face wasn¡¯t looking good either. As a respectable citizen who only went to amusement parks for ¡®Mickey Mouse and His Friends¡¯ rides, when had he ever been chased by a helicopter? It was just a flock of birds, who would dispatch a chopper for that? You can¡¯t afford the game, but is this really necessary? Bi Fang was frustrated to the point of spitting blood. He had just thought he had escaped, only to be chased down again in the time it took to brush his teeth! Don¡¯t you have the energy to deal with the Mexican drug lords instead of wasting time chasing a Goose? Did the Goose eat your family¡¯s rice? Or does your wife¡¯s lover look like me? If he¡¯s as handsome as me, why would he be a lover? Intuition told Bi Fang that things couldn¡¯t be as simple as they appeared on the surface, there had to be reasons he was unaware of, but the pressing situation and lack of time didn¡¯t allow him to ponder any further. ¡°Land the plane, I repeat, land the plane!¡± Inside the helicopter, Johnny shouted through the megaphone. Although his gun-snatching behavior was despicable, considering Johnny¡¯s identity, the sheriff hadn¡¯t made it difficult for him and instead let him continue the pursuit. But the more the other side yelled, the faster Bi Fang flew. He wished the wind speed would increase even more, and that a typhoon would come. The distance kept closing, but Johnny couldn¡¯t wait a moment longer, urging the pilot, ¡°Faster, he¡¯s just a glider! Can¡¯t you even catch up with a glider? Is this the level you¡¯re at with the taxpayers¡¯ money?¡± The pilot corrected him, ¡°It¡¯s a light aircraft, not a glider. Gliders don¡¯t have engines. Besides, you¡¯re Norwegian, this is Denmark. Your taxes have nothing to do with us, we haven¡¯t taken a cent of your money for any of the roads we¡¯ve fixed.¡± The pilot even had the mood to nitpick, since he was just dragged in for an emergency. Why should he go all out? Was there a bonus? Catching up was all that mattered. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When the pilot first learned that they were using a helicopter to chase a flock of Geese, he almost thought the other party was joking with him. This mission didn¡¯t excite him at all. Besides, the speed was already high. Hadn¡¯t he noticed that the Geese could barely keep up with the plane in front? This helicopter wasn¡¯t military-grade, with a speed of only a little over 200, plus it was downwind, which obviously provided a greater boost to the plane in front, with its speed at least over a hundred. With the other side being so perfunctory, Johnny was helpless; the only person here who could fly a helicopter was the pilot, and if he walked out, there would be no chance to catch up. At least now the distance was closing. The helicopter wasn¡¯t fast, mainly due to its design with a top rotor, which compared to fixed-wing aircraft, took less forward thrust and found it difficult to achieve high speeds. But it all depends on what you compare it to! Not all airplanes are the same. Wuling Hongguang also has a rear-mounted engine, but does that make it a sports car? Bi Fang was aware that his plane, even broken down, wouldn¡¯t outrun a helicopter. It would take less than a few minutes to be caught by those behind him as the distance of a few hundred meters closed. He could even feel that the other side wasn¡¯t using full strength! After sulking for a while, ¨¦tienne turned his head and saw the approaching helicopter closing in significantly, and instantly panicked as if he was some heinous serial killer, with the police blocking him from the ground to the sky¡ªif caught, he¡¯d be locked in prison for a hundred years. ¡°Think of something fast! We¡¯re about to be caught!¡± Bi Fang yelled back, ¡°I¡¯m thinking!¡± [Take some blood pressure medication.] [Mr. Fang, what are you doing? Think of something with that invincible brain of yours!] ¡°` [So tense, it feels just like a cop and robber movie] [Above the law! Above the law! We are outlaws beyond reach!] Peter and Ben huddled on the sofa, staring tensely at the TV, not even hearing their aunt calling them to go to bed and sleep. On the opposite side of Earth, Elvan¡¯s face was pale, veins bulging as he gripped Lenin¡¯s hand, while Lenin tugged at his beard, his entire face twisted together. Bi Fang suddenly yanked the control stick, and under the massive deflection, the plane hurtled towards the forest, seemingly out of control. The sudden weightlessness caused ¨¦tienne to momentarily leave his seat. Under the camera lens, his expression resembled a painting that depicted sheer desperation, with the reflection of the airplane in his pupils and his mouth, wide open to the extreme, letting out a soul-tearing scream, akin to a long note played on a violin. The plane¡¯s maneuverability was too poor, unable to match the flexible movement of the helicopter, leaving Bi Fang with no choice but to take a gamble. The helicopter pilot¡¯s face lit up with joy; the person flying the plane opposite seemed like a greenhorn. Didn¡¯t he know that the helicopter could dive down twice as fast? Was he actually lowering his altitude intentionally? Perfect. The sooner this ended, the sooner he could rest. He still needed to pick up his daughter who had just started third grade. The helicopter suddenly accelerated, closely following behind the plane, reducing the distance to less than two hundred meters¡ªwhich, for the plane, was almost within reach. At such high speeds, it wasn¡¯t long before the Goose began to tire out. The goose¡¯s speed ranged between seventy and ninety, and it could burst beyond one hundred for a short duration, but could not sustain it for long. By now, they were close to falling behind. ¡°Can we hit them?¡± Johnny, excited at the sight of the geese two hundred meters away, felt this was the closest he¡¯d been to success. He didn¡¯t need the plane to stop; he just needed the geese to die off! ¡°No,¡± the team leader shook his head. They were just ordinary policemen, their marksmanship not that precise. At least within a hundred meters, they could be sure of hitting the geese without damaging the plane. Damn it! Johnny cursed, irritated as he looked at the firearms protected by the police chief, but seeing the plane drawing ever closer, he suppressed his inner agitation. This moment, his attention was fully on Bi Fang, not noticing an incoming call on his cell phone. Amongst the low hills with their mountain ranges extending far into the distance, the two aircraft maneuvered through the valley floors like large birds, as if two dancers aware of each other¡¯s moves were performing a grand yet perilous tango. The plane flew extremely low, and ¨¦tienne could even feel instances when branches scraped against the pontoons; any lower and they would surely crash and burn! Bi Fang made the plane skim over the trees, bypassing the low hills, yet could not shake off the pursuer behind him. The helicopter always managed to maintain a steady position behind, mockingly preying on its quarry. Under these circumstances, the helicopter pilot once again slowed down, fearing to push the other to the brink of a crash right before his eyes. ¡°¨¦tienne, hold tight!¡± Bi Fang suddenly shouted, causing ¨¦tienne to grip the seat once again, his fingers digging deep into the cushion, nearly tearing through the leather. The distance between them had now shrunk to less than a hundred and fifty meters! Bi Fang stepped on the pedal, turning the plane as sharply as possible, repeating the trick; he maneuvered behind a low hill to once again use the terrain to obstruct the helicopter¡¯s line of sight. Watching the plane disappear from sight, the helicopter pilot was not concerned; in a few seconds, he¡¯d see the plane again: ¡°Useless; haven¡¯t you learned your lesson after so many times?¡± The pilot, harboring such thoughts, circled around the low hill, and suddenly froze. In front of him, the mountains were lush with vegetation, as millions of hectares of forest spread across the slopes in waves, with the dense fir, red pine, and ponderosa pine creating an impenetrable thicket. If not for the mission, it would certainly be a great spot for camping, with the sky clear and boundless. But, where was the plane? Chapter 193: 190 Ace Pilot Chapter 193: Chapter 190 Ace Pilot Years later, standing in front of migrating geese returning home, ¨¦tienne would remember that distant afternoon when Bi Fang took him flying in a plane, escaping their pursuers. Look at this opening line, how magically real it is. ¨¦tienne felt this would be the most magical journey of his life, having already encountered wild beasts, eaten raw food, and survived thunderstorms, he was about to face a plane crash! The sensation of weightlessness attacked once more, his buttocks had lost all feeling, for they had completely left the seat, and his sweat-soaked underwear, hit by the wind, felt not only empty but chillingly cold. No one could have imagined Bi Fang¡¯s daring; he actually pulled the control stick fully at the moment the plane cleared a low mountain and planted it into the forest like a rice transplanter! Hundreds of tree branches were broken off in an instant as the plane descended, violently pruned; Bi Fang leaned against the back of his seat, feet on the pedals, maintaining balance in the violent turbulence like a triangle ruler propped between the seat and control stick. The instant the plane touched the ground, it was as if anesthesia had been injected into the spine, cutting off all sensation below the vertebrae; the plane almost bounded forward on the uneven mud. It got worse, as the airborne police lost their target and fired stun grenades all around to force them out, Bright ¨¦tienne watched the bright trajectories crisscrossing like a net above his head. ¡°Isn¡¯t this a bit too thrilling?¡± ¨¦tienne screamed. ¡°Indeed thrilling!¡± Bi Fang shouted, ¡°Would you find it even more thrilling if I told you there¡¯s a cliff ahead?¡± ¨¦tienne, fighting his fear, forced his eyes open and suddenly saw a cliff not far away. ¡°Ahhhh!!!¡± The plane passed the dirt slope onto flat ground, and after leaving the slope, it steadied, but the cliff was visible and looming closer! If they slid any further, they¡¯d fall off! The plane, like a wild stallion, charged across the mud, its body constantly shaking, with Bi Fang¡¯s foot pressed hard on the pedal, his face expressionless. In his hands, the plane became an instrument for plowing the earth. With the cliff approaching rapidly, ¨¦tienne¡¯s eyes rolled back further and further, nearly fainting. Bi Fang dared not touch the ground, as the immense ground friction could dislocate his joints and break his legs in an instant, but he released the pedal and slammed his foot onto the front rudder! The rudder was violently driven into the soil, kicking up dust a meter high, as if an invisible knife was slicing through the earth below. The steel frame of the rudder emitted a grating groan, the tough metal twisted and deformed at this moment; as it plowed into the ground and piled up more and more dirt, the overwhelming friction drastically slowed down the plane, which even started to turn! Bi Fang was driving the plane like a boat! What did he think the rudder was? An anchor? Crazy, but effective! He was the light that pierced the darkness, the Transformer that pierced the universe, the Ultraman that pierced through time and space, the supreme badass that pierced death! He shattered the darkness with a thunderbolt! ¨¦tienne believed he would never forget this scene for the rest of his life, as the sliding plane kicked up stones and dead branches, leaving two trails that stopped at the edge of the cliff. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The plane stopped before the cliff, like a bull charging toward a bullfighter but whose tail was grabbed at the last moment. The wings had already reached over the cliff, pebbles fell into the abyss, and in just a few meters, it would fall off, leaving no chance for Bi Fang and ¨¦tienne in their seats to survive. They¡­ were alive! ¡°Ugh!¡± ¨¦tienne vomited profusely, ejecting the breakfast he had just consumed mixed with acid. He was as pale as a ghost, his face covered in sweat, looking like he had been fished out of water. His hydrocephalus was nearly jolted out! What was in his head wasn¡¯t a brain anymore, but brain pulp that had been turned into juice! [Whose division commander is this? So brave and valiant?] [Badass, so badass!] [My wife has puppy love, and I can see pink hearts in her eyes!] At this point, the audience was nearly scared to pee themselves, tense and relaxed, even the strongest bladder couldn¡¯t withstand the moment the plane stopped, as many were overwhelmed with the urge to urinate. Bi Fang was pale, but not quite as miserable as ¨¦tienne. He looked at the recording drone, raised his index finger to shush the viewers, and then turned off the live stream. [???] [Why did Old Fang end the stream?] [What does this mean, why end the stream right at the climax?] [Are they worried that the other side is watching the live stream too?] [!] Shuiyou guessed right. A moment later, Bi Fang deleted all content showing the appearance of the helicopter and started playing the footage of the previous escape on loop again. [He¡¯s out! He¡¯s out!] [Why is he taking off again?] [What does Old Fang mean by this maneuver?] [I think I kind of get it now, Master Fang is so clever!] [I still don¡¯t understand, elaborate please?] [I think Master Fang is worried that the other side is also watching the live stream and has found out he¡¯s hiding in the forest, so he¡¯s pretending to still be flying!] [Then won¡¯t our comments give it away?] [Makes sense! Old Fang, run! The helicopter is catching up, it¡¯s getting closer, fly faster!] [???!!! Learned so quickly?] Just seconds after Bi Fang ducked into the forest, the ferocious helicopter rounded the hill, aiming to catch up like before, but was surprised to find that the plane had vanished. The roar of the propellers filled their ears, and all they could see was a carpet of forest stretching out over a million hectares, grand and desolate, the trees swaying in the wind. Where¡¯s my plane? How could such a big aircraft just disappear? Unlike sparse coniferous forests, broadleaf forests have tall trees which create dense shadows below, leaving no light between them, let alone allowing a helicopter to spot anything. The police inside the helicopter, having fired their stun grenades, were also baffled as to how the plane had suddenly disappeared. Minutes later, after the pilot had circled around the small mountain without finding any trace of the aircraft, he was at a complete loss. Watching this scene, Johnny felt a sinking feeling, but the next second, he thought of a solution: ¡°Climb! Climb up!¡±] ¡°Yes, indeed!¡± The pilot slapped his palm with a fist, having been drawn into a low-altitude chase by the plane, it hadn¡¯t occurred to him that he could ascend for better observation. Minutes passed again, and the pilot, having climbed to two kilometers altitude, was confused once again. Despite his exceptional eyesight of 5.1, he couldn¡¯t even see a bird. It seemed as if the plane had disappeared even more completely¡­ What was this, magic or some kind of mysterious Eastern power? The pilot, cold sweat drenching him, wondered if he was seeing ghosts in broad daylight. A silence fell within the cockpit, when suddenly, the chief of police clapped his hands and asked Johnny: ¡°Didn¡¯t you say they were live streaming? Why don¡¯t we check their stream to see where they are?¡±] Johnny realized with a start and immediately pulled out his phone. He unconsciously swiped away the missed calls, not caring who had called under such urgent circumstances, he dismissed the log and went straight to Wolf Fang TV. The forest in question was a government-designated environmental protection area, as seen on the map. The dense forest made building roads through the mountains difficult, deterring settlers, and there was a lack of public amenities. The signal was erratic, especially as foreign programs required bypassing regional restrictions, and despite Johnny¡¯s urgency, the phone kept spinning in circles as it loaded. It wasn¡¯t until fifteen minutes later that the live stream gradually came into view. In the footage, the plane was swaying and still flying! ¡°He must have used some method to shake us off!¡± The pilot declared as he slammed his fist onto the dashboard, unable to believe that they had been outplayed by someone piloting a light aircraft! Fury blazed in the pilot¡¯s eyes, feeling his profession had been mocked. He swore to reclaim his dignity, but the next second, a flash of insight struck him like cold water to the face, instantly extinguishing his anger. He abruptly remembered the scene where the plane had suddenly flown low. A pilot with such superior skills couldn¡¯t possibly be unaware that a helicopter could dive faster. It was intentional! The pilot broke out in a cold sweat, his pupils constricting to the size of pinpricks. Could it be, could it all have been within that Huaxia person¡¯s calculations? First, by feigning inexperience with low flying, he lured the pilot into complacency. After a few minutes of chase, he got him used to the pattern of pursuing at low altitude before using his superior flying skills to vanish. By the time the pilot thought of climbing for a better vantage point, several minutes had already gone by, greatly increasing the distance between them. Including the time spent watching the live stream, a full twenty minutes passed, and by then the plane had long since escaped. Who exactly was he chasing? An ace pilot from the Huaxia Dragon Group? Could such a person truly be defeated? The pilot trembled all over. Chasing a pilot with such exceptional skills, what could he even do? Chapter 194: 191 Too terrifying, completely overwhelmed. Chapter 194: Chapter 191 Too terrifying, completely overwhelmed. Oh, how terrifying. Completely overwhelmed. Exactly which unit¡¯s retired pilot is this, regardless of technique or tactics, it¡¯s not even close. The driver¡¯s pupils dilated and then contracted, his little heart greatly wounded, he couldn¡¯t believe he had been outmaneuvered by someone in a glider. Seeing that the pilot was off, the chief of the police team inquired, ¡°Steve, what¡¯s wrong?¡± The pilot looked into the chief¡¯s eyes, his pupils trembling slightly, and he swallowed, ¡°Nothing, nothing at all¡­¡± ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay? Why are you sweating so much on your forehead? If you¡¯re not feeling well, should we go back?¡± ¡°No! Keep following! We can¡¯t go back without finding them!¡± Johnny slammed his phone onto the ground, his voice filled with irrepressible rage; unfortunately, it also revealed his intrinsic frailty. The chief, who had come to help, was instantly displeased. They had come to assist out of respect for Johnny¡¯s position, and not only was he ungrateful, but what was with that attitude? Do fuel and ammo cost nothing? They would have to write a report to explain why they used the ammunition today. Did he really think that their job was that easy? Thinking of the follow-up work, the chief lost his enthusiasm and, regardless of Johnny¡¯s reaction, waved his hand, ¡°Search two more rounds, and let¡¯s go back no matter whether we find them or not.¡± ¡­ The helicopter circled overhead for almost half an hour, and Bi Fang nearly thought his tricks had been seen through and considered fleeing. Unexpectedly, just as he was about to do so, the situation turned, and the helicopter left. Yet, Bi Fang didn¡¯t start the live stream again; instead, he quietly waited, worrying they might double back. He also didn¡¯t forget to record with the drone. After the event, such a thrilling moment could be shown to the audience. ¡°How are you feeling, any better?¡± ¡°A little.¡± ¨¦tienne leaned against a tree, continuously drinking water; after half an hour of recovery, his headache had subsided somewhat. The recent events could really scare the life out of someone, with blood pressure soaring off the charts, his pale face turning red from fear. Twenty minutes later, the helicopter flew over their heads once again, this time not stopping but continuing straight on. ¡°Are they gone now?¡± ¡°Wait a bit longer,¡± Bi Fang signaled to ¨¦tienne to be patient. He knew that his narrow escape was not due to proficiency or tactics, but rather to his wit. The helicopter¡¯s pilot simply couldn¡¯t imagine that anyone would be so crazy as to force their plane to nearly crash for an emergency landing and hide in a forest within seconds of evading sight. It was only because his light aircraft was not heavy and had minimal inertia that Bi Fang had been able to control it. If it had been heavier, it might have crashed outright. Well, not necessarily. Friction would also increase; it¡¯s a function of multiple variables. Meanwhile, the pilot, who was unaware of the reality and believed he had been bested by superior skills, was still in meltdown¡­ Bi Fang crouched down to check the direction rudder of the airplane; its alloy frame was completely deformed, and the rudder was almost snapped off. It was useless now. ¡°Can it still fly?¡± ¡°It can fly.¡± Bi Fang tapped the direction rudder, which emitted a dull thud, as hard as iron, beyond hope of bending back to shape. This was a seaplane where the pedals could control two kinds of steering, both in water and in the air. The damaged direction rudder was for steering on water, while the air control used the wings, tilting them to create a effect similar to ailerons, thereby generating steering force. So the broken direction rudder wouldn¡¯t affect flying; at most, they wouldn¡¯t be able to turn on the water. For flying, the wings were the main thing. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After another twenty minutes, once sure the helicopter had flown away, Bi Fang finally turned the live stream back on. What they needed to do now was to fly away as soon as possible, before the other party could piece together the truth from the live stream and come back. [He¡¯s started, he¡¯s started again!] [Waited a whole hour, man, that¡¯s so cautious, I hail Old Fang as the most shrewd!] [I feel like the other side is completely baffled.] [Who the hell could have thought of that, Master Fang¡¯s brain is too powerful, so smart to do something like this!] [Even if you think of it, you wouldn¡¯t dare to do it, in the end, Master Fang is just too badass!] The audience¡¯s livers trembled with excitement, the scene of the airplane landing had been so awesome that an hour passed and they still hadn¡¯t recovered from the excitement. But what were they to do next? The seaplane had landed in the forest, how were they supposed to take off? There was only the hard-packed dirt ground, no lake for it to taxi on, and without a runway, how could the plane fly? ¡°Isn¡¯t there a cliff? Push it off.¡± Bi Fang propped his chin, pondered briefly, and came up with an answer. ¨¦tienne: ¡°!¡± Why did he have a bad feeling about this? He went to the edge of the cliff and, looking down at the twenty-meter drop, his legs instantly went weak. ¡°No, no, no, it can¡¯t be, that high?¡± Bi Fang came beside ¨¦tienne, looked down and nodded: ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s pretty high.¡± This height would make most people¡¯s legs go weak. Many people have no concept of height, but a five-meter diving platform is enough to discourage fifty percent of people. A ten-meter platform without training almost invariably causes leg weakness, it¡¯s just that most people don¡¯t feel it when looking from the side. ¡°But this height is just perfect. Any lower and the plane could easily fall to the ground before taking off.¡± ¨¦tienne shuddered at these words: ¡°Fall to the ground!¡± Three minutes later. ¨¦tienne sat shivering in the back seat, watching Bi Fang start the engine. But even at full throttle, the plane didn¡¯t budge, the friction was too great. ¡°Whew.¡± ¨¦tienne let out a sigh of relief, as if they wouldn¡¯t have to fly after all. Bi Fang came down and looked at the motionless plane, frowning: ¡°No, the resistance is too great. Someone has to push from the behind.¡± ¨¦tienne: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Who¡¯s going to push¡­ and who¡¯s going to pilot?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll pilot.¡± ¡°Me again?¡± ¨¦tienne pointed at himself. Bi Fang nodded: ¡°Only you can push. Otherwise, how would you get on after pushing? You can¡¯t manage it, I have to do it.¡± In the moment of pushing the glider off, he would have to grab the pontoon and climb up. This was much more dangerous than piloting the glider, so it had to be Bi Fang himself. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve flown for so long, I know the power of this plane. Twenty meters is enough for it to take off, don¡¯t be afraid.¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± ¨¦tienne was persuaded, once again taking his place at the pilot¡¯s seat, starting the engine. Bi Fang placed wooden sticks under the plane¡¯s floats, pushing it to see if it really could move. ¡°Ready?¡± ¨¦tienne, sitting in the pilot¡¯s seat, gave an OK gesture. Bi Fang walked to the back of the plane and took a deep breath. His arms were not bulky but had the sinewy strength of bamboo, with a special rhythm when the power surged. The strength bursting from flexibility was much stronger than pure brute force. Bi Fang steadied the plane, focused, and channeled a long breath from his lungs to his fingertips before exerting his strength! The plane slowly started to move, the wooden sticks at the bottom began to roll, and the wings inch by inch jutted out over the cliff. The audience in front of the screen held their breath, knowing this was a critical moment. Soon, most of the wing had been pushed out. Bi Fang¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he increased his force. The plane, already on the edge of the cliff, suddenly sped up its descent. Rocks tumbled down the cliff with a dull rumble. The plane slid faster and faster, and when it was nearly halfway out, it began to fall on its own, careening off the cliff side. The audience was startled at this sight, but then a figure sprinted and leapt from the cliff, diving soundlessly into the abyss. In Peter¡¯s pupils, the white plane soared, and Bi Fang, clutching the plane, swung into the seat. Chapter 195: 192 said it and it happened Chapter 195: 192 said it and it happened ¡°Where to next?¡± ¡°Keep heading south.¡± Bi Fang put on his wind goggles, and the wind sent the straps fluttering to the sides, dancing like snakes. Johnny¡¯s pursuit had given Bi Fang a sense of crisis. They needed to speed up their migration, as the same tactics couldn¡¯t be used a second time. If a helicopter came after them again, they would have no chance of escape. As the duo¡¯s fame grew, the likelihood of being spotted and posted online along their route grew higher, and the timing and precision of their location would become increasingly accurate. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°But why is Johnny so desperate?¡± What puzzled Bi Fang the most was Johnny¡¯s behavior. It¡¯s one thing to be a park director with a sense of responsibility and personally take part in the chase, but his actions seemed excessively dramatic. He had traveled all the way from Finland to Denmark, and they were about to enter Germany. When he couldn¡¯t catch up on land, he immediately deployed a helicopter for aerial pursuit. It wasn¡¯t something that could simply be explained by a sense of duty. It was more like¡­ impatience? As Bi Fang considered deeper reasons, the live comments suddenly became harmonious, with everyone posting the same thing. The last time this happened, it was when the online community wanted to ensure Professor Gu Qingyuan¡¯s words were conveyed accurately. Bi Fang scrolled up to look, and sure enough, it was Gu Qingyuan again. His fans recognized the old professor by now, and when they saw his post, they immediately copied and pasted it to make sure it would be seen. [Bi Fang, Elvan asked me to tell you that the park has given up the chase! They are already contacting Johnny to call him back, so you can continue with your plan.] Oh? Bi Fang was overjoyed¡ªjust as he was worrying about how to avoid pursuit, Elvan brought good news. It seemed Elvan hadn¡¯t been idle! This news greatly boosted their spirits. Great! Now that this was the case, it was time to give it their all! ¡­ The tavern was bustling with noise. ¡°A story about a little boy and a Huaxia man with a flock of geese?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I know, a splendid adventure¡­¡± ¡­ In the park. ¡°Hey, Lilith!¡± ¡°What are you doing here? Don¡¯t tell me¡­¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m here to take pictures. The news said they might fly over this area! It¡¯s so exciting! That Huaxia guy is so handsome! I¡¯m totally obsessed with him, just seeing his face gets me excited!¡± ¡°Me too! His muscles are so beautifully defined, oh my god, it¡¯s a shame he doesn¡¯t have Latte, or I would follow his personal account.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s too bad.¡± ¡­ ¡°Governor, please look.¡± The governor took the newspaper and looked at the headline. [An Incredible Journey.] The governor shook his head, failing to understand why such matters were notified to him, and casually threw the paper onto the table. ¡°Let them go. We can¡¯t stop them anyway. What kind of story is this? Just a man flying with geese, right? Aren¡¯t there more important things to worry about? Forget it, I didn¡¯t see it. Next.¡± ¡­ ¡°This fantastical adventure tale is exactly like ¡®The Wonderful Adventures of Nils¡¯, a novel beloved by readers¡­ Twenty days ago, they started from the Polar Region, planning to cross the whole of Europe to the south, reaching the Camargue Wetlands Nature Reserve in France, leading twenty endangered White-fronted Geese on their migration, hoping they can return to the wild.¡± ¡°As of now, the two have reached Germany and are about to enter France. Their dream is near at hand. This journey is a combination of science and culture and represents a highly significant adventure that deserves attention. Video related to it can also be found online. This is the morning report.¡± ¡°No.¡± Legoff shook his head slightly, as this was not an adventure worth caring about, a complete waste of effort. Clipping the wings of the geese was the best option, raising them like ducks, or else keeping them in cages, but Elvan had never listened to him. Legoff had never supported this plan because it was impossible to realize. Back when Elvan had approached him with the bird eggs, Legoff had clearly refused, citing the difficulty of flight, the abundance of uncertainties, and even if migration were successful, what then? Would the geese return next year? Could they breed successfully? It was impossible for a species to survive based on these few geese alone, would they do this every time? It was just a plan approval that allowed Elvan to raise geese, what was the big deal? The plan was doomed to fail, that was the reason. He was convinced. ¡­ ¡°Hahaha, see that? They¡¯re welcoming us!¡± Bi Fang piloted the plane through buildings, looking down at the entire city from high above. People crowded at the traffic lights waiting to cross, office workers in neat suits and shirts went in and out of upscale office buildings, the girls¡¯ attire was very much like what you¡¯d find in fashion magazine templates. People looked up as if by agreement, watching the roaring plane overhead, and took out their phones to take pictures. There were even some holding support signs with Bi Fang¡¯s and ¨¦tienne¡¯s names, cheering at street corners, clearly prepared in advance. ¡°Roar!¡± ¨¦tienne waved at the crowd and shouted loudly. The glider, like a large bird, skimmed between high-rises without stopping, flying toward the distant horizon. In this thriving metropolis, Bi Fang saw a white bird hastily traversing the sky, nervously looking around as it landed on the rooftop of a building, its chest heaving rapidly. It was a seagull, probably flown over from the docks, finding no way out in the narrow maze crammed with buildings, anxious and uneasy, surrounded by the noise of human voices and engine roars. But then, it saw the plane and the geese, cried out excitedly, flapped its wings, and joined the geese, flying off toward the distance. ¨¦tienne¡¯s eyes lit up when he saw the gull that had joined their group, ¡°Hey! We¡¯ve got a new friend!¡± ¡°Yes, a seagull.¡± Bi Fang felt greatly relieved. The appearance of the seagull meant they were at a significantly lower latitude, which would be their last stop before entering France, a city, in red on the map, no place to linger. There were ten days left until the mission ended, and in these ten days, they would cross all of France to reach the Camargue Wetlands Nature Reserve. A week had passed since their last capture, and Johnny indeed had not shown up again; everything was going very smoothly. At dusk, the two of them stopped by a lake in the wilderness, preparing dinner and the campsite for the evening. Bi Fang looked at the plane tilting to one side and, after confirming there were no issues with the hole, went ashore. During the emergency landing that day, one of the pontoons got a small hole, thankfully noticed in time. Bi Fang plugged it with a wooden stopper; otherwise, they would have to rely on cliffs for takeoff from now on. The fading sunlight cast shadows of trees on the ground. By the fire, ¨¦tienne cleaned the bass thoroughly, skewered them on sticks, and set them over the fire to roast. The initial supply of reindeer, tiger-skin fish, and a hare had been completely eaten three days ago, and these two bass had been caught that morning. [Is this still Wilderness Survivalist? I don¡¯t even eat this well at home.] [This twenty days of live streaming is too cool; Old Fang is really enduring this time, so fucking exhilarating to watch, just like watching a DDC documentary.] [The city flyover just now was way too cool, I wanna play too.] [Everyday gourmet, Master Fang, aren¡¯t you going to weigh yourself, see if you¡¯ve gained weight?] [Huo, is that real flesh on your face?] Bi Fang subconsciously touched his cheek, ¡°No way around it, this time the trip is too long, we must ensure we get enough salt from meat. And because of the long distances, we have more opportunities to encounter prey, shoot once, move to another spot¡­¡±] Bang! The gunshot was like thunder, swallowing Bi Fang¡¯s words. Birds nestled in the woods were startled into flight. Chapter 196: 193: A Person Died Chapter 196: Chapter 193: A Person Died ¡°` Legoff pulled the trigger, and the bullet whistled out of the chamber, hitting the drone midair with precision. The setting sun sank below the horizon, and a splendid shower of sparks scattered like a fountain. The drone was instantly knocked out of the sky and then plummeted to the ground. The sound of the gunshot erupted like thunder, causing ¨¦tienne¡¯s heart to almost stop, leaving him dazed and frightened to his very bones. ¡°¨¦tienne! Get down!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s roar mixed with the sound of gunfire, thick with murderous intent. He instantly tackled ¨¦tienne to the ground and then crawled to pull him behind a mound of earth, his eyes fixed on the direction from which the gunshots had come. Dozens of meters away, Legoff raised the barrel of his gun and blew away the gunpowder smoke: ¡°Done?¡± Johnny watched the new cellphone anxiously, and upon seeing the livestream black out, he rejoiced, ¡°Done, he stopped the livestream. Move in now, bring all the Geese back!¡± ¡°Next time you deliver the Goods, you know what to do, right? Firing at a drone in front of a live broadcast is too dangerous,¡± a companion joked on the side. ¡°Yeah, if we get filmed, we¡¯re finished.¡± ¡°The risk is too great.¡± The other two chimed in agreement. Johnny nodded, ¡°Of course, we¡¯ll do everything as we¡¯ve negotiated.¡± Legoff spoke lightly, ¡°Add ten percent.¡± Johnny was stunned, then furious, ¡°You can¡¯t do this. Without my supply, where would you get a stable source of Goods over these years? Don¡¯t you know how severe the crackdown on poaching in Europe is now? Ten percent is impossible! Not even one percent!¡± ¡°Then catch them yourself,¡± Reilof suggested nonchalantly as he wiped the gun barrel. ¡°I¡¯ve seen his livestream; he¡¯s not bad in a fight. You can try to handle him on your own.¡± Veins popped on Johnny¡¯s forehead, and he shot up, suddenly grabbing Legoff¡¯s collar, but with just a look, Legoff made Johnny feel like he had fallen into an ice cave, with goosebumps rising instinctively all over his body. He abruptly realized the gap between their statuses. The other man was a poacher who licked blood off the blade, whereas he was just an ordinary park director. Legoff brushed off Johnny¡¯s hand and patted his collar lightly, ¡°If blood tests find a problem, you¡¯re the one who will lose the job. If that happens, forget about the cut; you might even end up in big jail. Even without a park director, we can collaborate with someone else. There will always be a continuous stream of ¡®unqualified¡¯ animals supplied to us. This is your only chance, so think it over.¡± Johnny¡¯s eyes were bloodshot as he contemplated for a long while, ¡°Add five percent more. Any more is no good for anyone. Do you think there¡¯s no risk in finding new contacts?¡± ¡°Deal!¡± Legoff stopped wiping and smiled slightly. Suppressing his fury, Johnny crouched back into the bushes, watching as Legoff¡¯s companions emerged from the undergrowth, unaware that Bi Fang was watching everything unfold before him. In the first-person night vision mode, Bi Fang saw Johnny¡¯s figure, a face he would never forget in his lifetime. ¡°Johnny!¡± Bi Fang lowered his voice, coming across like a tiger grinding its teeth for blood. ¨¦tienne remained silent as a cicada in winter, his half month of wilderness survival making him extremely sensitive to the changes in the environment. He acutely sensed a special aura rising off Bi Fang. This indescribable terrifying demeanor was somewhat similar to his mother¡¯s after a failed test, but it wasn¡¯t comparable to her level at all. If he had to make a comparison, it was like the lynx he had encountered. No! Even more terrifying! It wasn¡¯t like a human at all but some¡­ monster that devoured humans. The muscles on the side of Bi Fang¡¯s face tensed involuntarily, revealing a sharpness akin to a blade. He wasn¡¯t afraid¡­ he was enraged! ¡°` These days, he¡¯d had the same dream several times, dreaming of a world ablaze, an airplane under a cliff exploding in the raging flames, ¨¦tienne burning fiercely. He reached out to touch him, but ¨¦tienne turned into red gravel falling away, his fingertips grasping nothing but air. When he woke, his head was drenched in sweat while his heart was ice-cold, and he even felt regret for having given in to ¨¦tienne¡¯s request. The weak Bi Fang from his past life had come back to haunt him, as he recalled the real sensation of death from his previous life, sealing that memory deep within his mind after awakening. Bi Fang was not unafraid, he had simply never revisited those memories. Now, he recalled again that sense of utter powerlessness when everything turned to nothing, and the cold, disappointed, and even mocking look in the poacher¡¯s eyes just before his own death¡­ ¡°Thought we¡¯d hit the jackpot today, but it turns out it¡¯s a human who¡¯s died.¡± Damn it! Bi Fang wrapped himself up as solid as iron, yet his heart was as fragile as shattered pottery. He must resolve this issue to stop having that nightmare, to keep his thoughts from lingering on the moment of his death! If he didn¡¯t restrain himself, he would immediately throw himself at Johnny, choke the annoying Norwegian against the wall and demand to know his true intentions! Why had he fired the gun? If Johnny couldn¡¯t give a reason, Bi Fang would crush his throat! Legoff¡¯s associate coughed softly, striding boldly out of the bushes, aware that the other man had no gun, nor any means of long-range attack. ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous, I¡¯m not a bad guy¡­¡± The shadowy figure shouted as he approached, his words muffled, intelligible yet with an unidentifiable accent. It was a middle-aged man. In the light of the fire, the viewers could see the man was clad in a dark green windbreaker over dark jeans, around five feet seven in height, with rough, yellowish skin and hair cut so short that only stubble showed, appearing to be in his thirties or forties. That¡¯s right! Just when Johnny and the others thought the live stream had ended, the drone rose again, its pitch-black shell blending perfectly into the night, silent and ghost-like, perching on a tree, like an observer coldly capturing everything. The bulletproof drone supplied by the System was by no means damaged by a single gunshot; the screen going black was entirely within Bi Fang¡¯s control, who resumed the broadcast only after seeing Johnny put away his phone. All the viewers were startled by the gunshot, and the short period of a black screen had them on edge, as for many, it was the first time they encountered a real gunshot in real life! ¡°Huaxia people, don¡¯t be nervous, I came out here hunting, just thought it was some bird, turned out I was wrong. I recognize you, you¡¯re the guy from the news about migrating geese, right? I¡¯m so sorry, did I damage your live stream equipment? If I did, just name the price, I¡¯ll compensate!¡± S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The man came over with a smile, making clear his intentions. Upon hearing this, the viewers breathed a sigh of relief; they knew that in many parts of the world, it was legal to hunt with guns, and mistaking a drone for a bird at dusk wasn¡¯t impossible, though it spoke volumes about his poor shooting skills since the drone was unharmed. Bi Fang pressed ¨¦tienne¡¯s head down forcefully, making him crouch low behind the mound of earth, and whispered urgently not to come out, then casually asked. ¡°Where did you come from?¡± ¡°Just outside the woods.¡± As the man got closer, just when he was about to see ¨¦tienne and Bi Fang behind the mound, Bi Fang suddenly asked. ¡°Why isn¡¯t Johnny coming out?¡± ¡°What?¡± The man was taken aback, but in that moment of distraction, a gust of wind rushed at him, and his face turned pale instantly, his right hand quickly moving toward his waist. But Bi Fang was faster; as he pounced, his figure blurred, the result of an unbelievably rapid burst of speed. Though he had been at the bottom of the slope, he dove like an eagle swooping from the sky! Chapter 197: 194 Poacher Chapter 197: Chapter 194 Poacher Wind! No, not the wind! A tiger! It was a raging tiger! The man was bewildered for a moment. An invisible pressure came with Bi Fang¡¯s pounce, causing his heart to tremble and his breath to pause. By the time he reacted, it was already too late. So fast! The only thought left in the man¡¯s mind was this. Bi Fang¡¯s figure became a blur, his arms indistinguishable. It was due to an even greater speed that made his punches almost invisible! If this were a knife, it would be the kind that killed people, firm, stern, with a bloody murderous aura. A punch like that would penetrate even a slab of iron. But the man was no iron slab! The man didn¡¯t even have time to cry for help before his abdomen received a punch, hitting his nerve plexus with deadly accuracy. The knobby joints of the back of the hand pierced in like the tip of a dagger, and the explosive force burst from the abdomen to the spine, violently churning his intestines, so painful he couldn¡¯t make a sound. Yet his right hand managed to reach for his waistband, accompanied by the sound of metal friction, and underscoring the metallic luster of bluish steel, a hunting knife was revealed, but before it could be fully drawn, a hand firmly pressed it down. Bi Fang pushed the knife back into its scabbard, then effortlessly seized the man¡¯s wrist, twisting and pulling it back. A crisp sound of bone breaking echoed. The man¡¯s pupils shrank violently, his entire palm now rendered powerless, limply hanging down. He was disarmed with a single move! The opponent was not just skilled, he was not even human! The man¡¯s pupils trembled, shaking like sifting powder, as if he had encountered a starving tiger in the woods, understanding his fate in the next few minutes with just one glance. What kind of¡­ monster is this? It wasn¡¯t over! Bi Fang stared coldly at the man. He had to completely incapacitate his opponent! He grabbed the man¡¯s wrist and jerked it forward, completely disrupting the man¡¯s balance. As the man tilted forward, Bi Fang stepped forward, his movement fluid like a dragon, and his elbow struck the man¡¯s lower jaw. Different from the sound of the break before, this blow didn¡¯t make the big bang everyone expected. It was like thunder muffled by a pillow, a deep and suppressed explosion. The spectators were dumbfounded. The distance was too close, and they couldn¡¯t see the details, only noticing Bi Fang launching an attack, a string of strikes later, the man stood there looking stunned, his jaw hanging open, drooling like his mouth couldn¡¯t close. They didn¡¯t even understand why Bi Fang had struck, only saw the man come over to greet and then got punched into a fool; it was as if the game had disconnected. [Damn, what¡¯s Master Fang doing? He suddenly made his move?] [Is there something wrong with this guy?] [??? Did I miss something?] That was too brutal! Even Legoff, hidden in the bushes, didn¡¯t see clearly. He only saw a shadowy figure emerge in the flickering light, and after a few shakes, both men had gone down the slope together. Johnny was gripped with anxiety, the sudden silence made him uneasy, and he began to regret this operation, but not wanting to die suddenly, he had no choice but to proceed, not a moment too late. The longer the night, the more the World Animal Protection Organization got involved. With the blood test issues, they were bound to investigate further, and upon investigation, trouble was sure to arise. Falsifying reports wasn¡¯t a new thing, as they had done so several times before. There were two solutions: bribe, and then Johnny would produce a compliant report. Without a bribe, give the animal to Legoff, splitting the profits fifty-fifty. Accepting bribes was hardly a secret, and Johnny knew he had offended many people. Previously, his father had put pressure on others, but now that the United Nations had arrived, no matter how powerful his father was, he couldn¡¯t affect them. Once the suppression failed, the World Animal Protection people would investigate what happened to the ¡°non-compliant¡± animals¡­ Like the unbreakable bond of entwined lotus roots, a whole string of records could be pulled out connectedly. Moreover, Bi Fang was too hard to find. He passed through only a handful of cities and spent most of his time wandering in the wilderness, where there were few witnesses and even if one saw him, they couldn¡¯t pinpoint his location¡ªit was all just identically looking forests! The most troublesome issue was the live broadcasting by the opposition. The only option was to ask Legoff to take it down with a single shot. Seeing Johnny as anxious as a groundhog, Legoff raised his finger to silence him. His initial plan was to have his cohorts relax their guard and stealthily attack without alarming the White-fronted Goose, then to take the goose back after a successful ambush. The White-fronted Goose, when threatened, would run very fast. It wouldn¡¯t fly but just run, then hide or dive underwater, which would make it all the more trouble to recapture later, for each goose was ¡°Ugly Money¡±. Now, it seemed like something unexpected had happened? sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Mmm mmm mmm!¡± The man lay on the ground, struggling, but it was futile. Bi Fang¡¯s arms were wrapped around his neck¡ªhis left hand gripping the elbow and the wrist, his right hand clenched behind the man¡¯s head, suffocating him tightly. Naked Choke! The man¡¯s face turned as red as blood, his blood seeming to surge beneath his skin like a wild beast, wanting to seep out through his pores. Having taken a heavy blow to his jaw nerve, he was already prone to fainting; now, with his carotid artery constricted, his efforts to struggle significantly weakened. A true Jujutsu master could choke someone unconscious in just a few seconds! To choke someone to death didn¡¯t even require a minute! Within moments, the man¡¯s arms went completely limp. ¨¦tienne, who was holding down the man¡¯s feet, turned pale as he observed the motionless man, wondering if he was dead. He didn¡¯t understand why Bi Fang had suddenly struck, but after twenty days together, he had come to trust Bi Fang unconditionally. Bi Fang was not just satisfying his and his father¡¯s wishes by migrating the geese; he actualy relished it, hoping to rescue an endangered species. ¨¦tienne felt that someone who shared his father¡¯s ideals couldn¡¯t be all bad. Bi Fang lifted the man¡¯s eyelid to ensure he was indeed unconscious before releasing his grip and hastily extinguished the fire. The sparks flickered out and darkness fell. Without rope and worrying the man might regain consciousness, Bi Fang simply dislocated the man¡¯s limbs. In the darkness, the crisp sound of breaking bones kept resounding, making the audience¡¯s hair stand on end. What had the man done to deserve his joints dislocated? How terrifying¡­ The audience couldn¡¯t understand why Bi Fang had become so brutal, frightening them into even being afraid to send messages. From the stranger¡¯s appearance to the sudden attack and strangulation, the whole sequence took less than two minutes, as if he had rehearsed countless times. What was even more terrifying was that Bi Fang¡¯s expression remained unchanged throughout, like a meticulously planned assassin from a movie! Bi Fang breathed heavily. The recent outburst was not without cost as it had expended a great deal of his energy. Now that the crisis was temporarily averted, he finally had a chance to explain, ¡°These people are poachers.¡± [Poachers!?] [How come there are poachers? Why poachers? What do we do now?] [Did that man lie just now?] ¡°If that man hadn¡¯t missed his shot just now, the drone would have been shot down already. It was deliberate.¡± Bi Fang lay on the slope, silently staring at the bushes. His top Special Forces skills and Wilderness Survival Skill had long endowed him with an acute ability to discern sounds, especially the direction of gunshots. But the audience was still unclear. How did Bi Fang know they were poachers, and is there really a difference between a poacher and a man who said he was out hunting? ¡°Yes!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s pupils burned with substantial flames. He would never forget that scene in his entire life. When poachers revealed their ominous presence. That feeling of having a volcano of fury smoldering inside him, where the anger, once ignited, would never extinguish until it incinerated the enemy or consumed himself. Chapter 198: 195: Blood Revenge and Blood Wash! Chapter 198: Chapter 195: Blood Revenge and Blood Wash! The poacher¡¯s decaying stench could be smelled by Bi Fang from a kilometer away. There was absolutely no mistaking it! The deliberate approach of the other party was too conspicuous, using words to draw attention while their body continuously moved closer, even scanning the surrounding geese. This completely went against human psychology. Humans naturally harbor distrust towards strangers; even with classmates who are not well acquainted, one wouldn¡¯t deliberately get close, let alone in the wilderness. If they were truly fans of Bi Fang and ¨¦tienne, why would their attention be on the geese? The most crucial point was that the man¡¯s hunting knife sheath had a clasp, and when he approached, the clasp was intentionally unfastened and tucked away, clearly to facilitate drawing the knife. If it was for safety, then why get closer? Wouldn¡¯t it be better not to approach at all? For all these reasons, even if the other party hadn¡¯t been mingling with Johnny, Bi Fang would definitely strike first, taking control of the situation into his own hands. The audience was shocked upon hearing this explanation; they had all missed these details just moments before! If they were in the wilderness facing such a scenario, wouldn¡¯t they be wiped clean? [Holy shit, there were these details?] [So dangerous!] [Is it really a poacher? How can a poacher appear here? Could it be that they came after watching Old Fang¡¯s live stream? Maybe you should shut it down first, Old Fang?] [Yeah, better shut down the live stream first, it¡¯s too dangerous!] [Lord Mu has gifted the host with a Spaceship*1¡ªHurry back! You can call the police, let them catch the poacher!] [Right, call the police! Does anyone know the phone number for the French police? Can we call them from here?] ¡°No need, I just shut down the live stream to confuse them. Besides, it¡¯s too late; in these deep mountains and forests, even with the location pinpointed, it would take at least half an hour for the police to get here. By that time, everything would be too late.¡± Bi Fang shook his head; he had seen Johnny turn off his phone, the network signal here was definitely not good, and the other party was watching through a VPN. To view the live stream again would take at least ten minutes, time enough for him to counterattack, and counterattack was all he could do. He didn¡¯t tell the audience about Johnny¡¯s presence; some matters, Bi Fang had to handle personally. The simultaneous appearance of Johnny and the poacher had made the truth very clear, the park director was in cahoots with the poacher, killing all the geese just because of hybrid breeding. Even though the geese were healthy, they falsely claimed they tested positive; the malicious intent was obvious. Because of him, Bi Fang and ¨¦tienne had no choice but to embark on this journey, facing such numerous dangers, even nearly falling into a ravine. He would settle every single account! This was an exciting adventure, but not the kind of adventure Bi Fang wanted! It had been three minutes since the man went out, and Johnny¡¯s heart grew more and more anxious. Upon seeing the fire deliberately extinguished, Legoff finally realized something was wrong. According to their plan, by now their companion should have subdued the Huaxia man and controlled the kid who could call the geese, rather than this quiet situation. The other two accomplices couldn¡¯t sit still either and looked at Legoff simultaneously, ¡°Boss, what do we do now?¡± Legoff, a retired special forces soldier, held the greatest prestige and strength within their four-man squad. He usually made the plans, and the other three were willing to follow his lead. Now that something had gone wrong, the first thing the remaining two did was ask for his opinion. Legoff stared at the extinguished fire, feeling it was a thorny issue. The decisiveness and strength of his opponent had somewhat exceeded his expectations. Jaden was the second strongest in their squad after him, yet he was taken down without even a sound¡ªas if devoured by a monster in the darkness. But twenty thousand Ugly Gold was right before his eyes, and he had no reason to give up, especially considering they still had three men left, excluding Johnny. There was no need to fear a broadcaster who had no firearms if they all attacked together. He gestured several hand signals, and after the other two understood, they began to tread silently using the Fox Step, quietly dispersing to both sides. Encirclement tactics. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Johnny, crouched in the bushes, didn¡¯t dare to even breathe loudly. He was just a civilian who secretly traded animals; against a retired Legoff, ten of him might not even be able to put up a fight, so he could only pray silently for the plan¡¯s success. Bi Fang turned his head towards ¨¦tienne, ¡°How¡¯s your swimming?¡± ¡°Runner-up in the school swimming competition.¡± Bi Fang was taken aback, not expecting ¨¦tienne to have this skill. He immediately formed a plan, ¡°Then you dive into the lake and swim to the center, dive as much as you can and don¡¯t come out. Without light, they can¡¯t see you, and the geese will dive with you. They know camouflage better than you. Remember, keep quiet and don¡¯t let them detect you.¡± The fact that the opponent¡¯s marksmanship was inaccurate was just a ruse to deceive the audience. In reality, under the dim conditions of twilight, being able to accurately hit a moving target at tens of meters away meant their shooting was definitely not weak. If they tried to escape in the glider, either the noise or the movements would give them away, and they would likely be shot by the opponent. ¨¦tienne nodded, he knew staying there would only hold them back. Without any hesitation, he slowly backed away, reached the lakeside and dipped his legs into the water first. The temperature of the lake water was only in the teens¡ªa bit chilly. ¨¦tienne shivered and slowly submerged his entire body into the water. The geese started calling out in the water, to which ¨¦tienne quickly shushed them, immediately silencing their calls. Man and birds, they all started to swim slowly towards the center of the lake. The silence from the opposite side was frightening, but Bi Fang knew they wouldn¡¯t just sit and wait for death. He frisked the man and found no guns, just a Hunting Knife. It seemed the opponent was quite confident, thinking he could handle Bi Fang on his own, only to be disconnected within a minute. It couldn¡¯t be said he was a poor teammate; rather, it was like encountering a godlike adversary. Bi Fang¡¯s brain was running at high speed. France was different from the domestic scene¡ªthis was Europe¡¯s hunting powerhouse. Just the statistics from 2017 showed over 1.2 million licensed hunters in the area, the highest in Europe. Especially poachers, who are never short of firearms. Bi Fang couldn¡¯t believe that as part of a poaching group, there would only be one gun. Just now, he had only seen Johnny and Legoff, with several more figures vaguely visible, yet he couldn¡¯t determine the exact number. Conservatively estimated, there were at least three. Counting Johnny, it could be a five-man team, or even more. Poaching was no easy job. Hunters not only had to contend with various outdoor dangers and deadly animals but also had to be vigilant of anti-poaching organizations and rangers. Therefore, it often required team cooperation, with each having their own role. With a squad of five, at least three were combat members, almost all having seen blood, each one extremely dangerous. Bi Fang took careful steps back, removed the bow and Arrows from the plane, drew an arrow with his right hand, and set it on the longbow. Until now, the only blood the bow and arrows had seen was that of a rabbit, but they might just be hunting bigger ¡°Goods¡± Bi Fang, now equipped with bow and arrows, ran into the distance and likewise laid low in the underbrush, composed and still as a rock. The drone flew silently to perch in a tree behind him, continuing its stealthy vigil. Darkness became the best protective color for everyone. This was a hunt, a life-and-death hunt! Let¡¯s see whose prowess is stronger! A blood feud washed away with blood! Chapter 199: 196: Raging at Teammates Chapter 199: Chapter 196: Raging at Teammates Time ticked away second by second, everyone maintained silence, whoever spoke up would become the next target. The atmosphere was oppressively suffocating. There were hardly any comments in the live stream, all eyes were fixated on the lethal hunt. Dai Chunhua stared at Bi Fang, who was lying in the bushes, and at the continuously soaring live stream popularity, convinced that Bi Fang was Shark TV¡¯s enemy for life. Ever since upper management had Wang Weifeng look for Bi Fang, for reasons unknown, he was taken away without a word, thrown into detention for over half a month, eating nothing but radishes, salty vegetables, and big steamed buns, running in the morning, working on a sewing machine at noon, and stringing bracelets at night. Wang Weifeng¡¯s family connections were useless, not a single day less, a full twenty days locked up, only released yesterday to see his family. Already unhappy with Wang Weifeng¡¯s previous actions, the upper management was ready to demote him to middle management, but with this, he was demoted straight to the bottom of the company hierarchy, the very bottom where the next step down was cleaning the company¡¯s toilets. This whole ordeal scared Dai Chunhua from personally seeking out Bi Fang, always feeling like Bi Fang was a jinx, whoever touched him would be cursed, and it would even bring misfortune upon himself. Would a normal live stream have all these complications? Lu Wentao had never even seen a bear, let alone any prehistoric creatures. F*ck my life, heaven wants me dead, an undeserved calamity indeed. Dai Chunhua comforted himself silently, and just as he was thinking about his next move, a young man pushed the door open and came in. Dai Chunhua¡¯s eyes lit up, and he said joyfully, ¡°How did it go, when will the live stream be banned?¡± As a supervisor who had just been promoted by employing some tactics, he was eager to show some results, and Bi Fang, the archenemy of Shark TV, was certainly under his close watch. He dared not confront him directly, but he could sneak in a few tricks, right? Look at this live stream, not to mention the knives, guns even came out, and he hit someone on camera. If this doesn¡¯t get banned, are we waiting for the New Year or what? I, Dai Chunhua, will anonymously report it to the superiors! Thinking he¡¯d receive good news, Dai Chunhua was baffled by the young man¡¯s expression: ¡°Eh, what¡¯s with that look on your face?¡± The young man had a mournful face: ¡°Reporting it is useless¡­¡± Dai Chunhua¡¯s breath hitched: ¡°Why?¡± The young man came over to Dai Chunhua and whispered a barrage of information. Dai Chunhua¡¯s face went through a spectrum of expressions, with his short eyebrows twisting and bouncing, and his mouth going from a 45-degree upward tilt to a 45-degree downturn in a matter of seconds. Red Light Body Shield, how to deal with it? Online now, quite urgent. After explaining the situation, the young man sighed as he looked at the stupefied Dai Chunhua, thinking why did he have to pick on Bi Fang? How long would this supervisor last? Iron-clad Bi Fang, transient supervisors, what on earth is going on? Ripples spread across the water as a pair of eyes gradually surfaced, quietly observing the darkness around. ¨¦tienne heard his own heartbeat thumping fearfully. Since swimming to the center of the lake, he could distinctly feel something brushing against his ankle, cold and slimy, like a lurking venomous snake. The small lake that didn¡¯t seem too big from the sky suddenly felt vast and limitless, as if an ant had crept into the deep of night. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Before long, the sensation disappeared. ¨¦tienne let out a breath, but in the next second, his body stiffened like frozen meat in an icebox, his breathing nearly stopped. The cold sensation returned, this time at his neck! He covered his mouth, forcefully restraining himself from making any noise. As the cold sensation crept further up, just when ¨¦tienne could hardly resist the urge to flee, a goose¡¯s head emerged from the water, a pair of little eyes gazing at ¨¦tienne, blinking. ¨¦tienne suddenly relaxed, nearly choking on water¡ªthe thing that had touched him was just the goose¡¯s neck! ¡°Amu, you almost scared me to death!¡± He tapped on Amu¡¯s head. Bang! The gunshot was deafening! The icy lake water engulfed ¨¦tienne, his limbs losing control, his feet involuntarily treading water, and it took a good while before he resurfaced, desperately suppressing the urge to cough as water spilled from his mouth and nose, even thinking for a moment that he had blown Amu¡¯s head off! A gunshot, how could there be a gunshot, had they already encountered a poacher? What¡¯s the situation? Not just ¨¦tienne, Legoff was equally puzzled. He clenched the rifle in his hands and cursed under his breath, that was the sound of a shotgun! The enemy is on the right! Without the need for Legoff¡¯s reminder, another poacher also headed towards the direction of the gunshot. The four of them had brought just three guns for this trip up the mountain: one shotgun, one small-caliber semi-automatic rifle, and one sniper rifle, the most commonly used and practical types for hunting. Each one of them had one; the sniper rifle was in Legoff¡¯s own hands, while Fourth Brother, who had the shotgun, had just gone around to the right. But he was the weakest in the four-man squad! Luckily, there were no other sounds after the gunshot, so there should be no issue for the time being. At this moment, the audience in the live-streaming room didn¡¯t dare to breathe, and some even covered their ears, shocked at Bi Fang¡¯s audacity to test the other side under the gun! [Damn, that gunshot was so loud, my ears are nearly deaf!] [That sound was f***ing loud, wasn¡¯t it? So loud?] [Old Fang, you¡¯re too gutsy!] Bi Fang brushed the dirt off his hands; the environment was too dark, and if the other side was careful to hide, they could not be detected at all. He could only throw a stone to test them, and this test indeed clarified their position. In the darkness, a standing silhouette was moving quickly. After firing the shot, Fourth Brother realized he¡¯d been tricked. There were no suspicious targets in his field of vision, and the enemy had not launched an attack at the instant he fired, presumably a little trick to confirm the position. Understanding this, Fourth Brother didn¡¯t know whether to run or to stop moving and hide in the darkness. After hesitating, he decided to move, but the time he took to think was enough for Bi Fang to lock on him! Bi Fang drew his bow, focusing on the moving shadow, aimed slightly to the right of the center, pulled the bowstring taut, and released! A sharp whoosh filled the air, and the arrow cut through the night. At about ten meters distance, the arrow hit the silhouette in a fraction of a second. The man cried out in pain, the intense agony causing his eyes to roll back as he reached out towards the direction from which the arrow had come and pulled the trigger. Flames burst forth, the shotgun roared. Each bullet would explode with countless tiny lead pellets, spewing out like a tide, leaving pits and holes in the soil and trees everywhere. ¡°Ah!¡± A scream echoed. Fourth Brother, enduring the pain, split his mouth wide as thick, warm blood flowed down the arrow shaft in torrents. This wasn¡¯t a smooth and sharp carbon arrow but one of Bi Fang¡¯s rough-made ones with a bone tip. Once hit, it created a hole difficult to heal, but Fourth Brother felt it was worth it. Even though he was hit by an arrow, he had also hit the other side. His shotgun, called ¡°Deer Shot,¡± was a large caliber with eight 8.38mm diameter lead pellets in each shell. One shot was a barrage, a hit to the body meaning a fatal wound! Without even a scream, the other side must be dead, right? Fourth Brother couldn¡¯t help but laugh, but just as he started, a burst of swearing froze his smile completely on his face. ¡°F*** YOU, Sap, you bastard, are you trying to kill me?¡± Chapter 200: 197: Bizarre Situation Chapter 200: Chapter 197: Bizarre Situation Third Brother clutched at his left hand, from which blood wouldn¡¯t stop flowing, wincing in agony. He had just rushed over to provide support when a lead bullet grazed his arm, almost piercing his bone! ¡°WHAT?¡± Sap was wracked with excruciating pain, his mind incapable of much thought; whom had he just shot? Third Brother? But how had the other side managed to do it? By the time Legoff finally made it to the scene, Third Brother, enduring the pain, stood up to keep watch, while Legoff crouched down to inspect Sap¡¯s wound, only to discover it had been caused by an arrow! ¡°Damn it, is this guy Indian or what?¡± Legoff didn¡¯t dare to pull out the arrow, fearing it might cause a secondary injury. He picked up the shotgun from Sap¡¯s hands, scanning the surroundings. Facing an unseen opponent, the shotgun, with its wider range of damage, was clearly a better choice, while the viewers¡¯ tension peaked because Bi Fang was only a dozen meters away! Without mentioning the range, it was a distance he could reach with almost a sprint! As he fired that one arrow, Bi Fang had never intended to follow up with a second one. Almost simultaneously with the release of the arrow, he switched from stillness to motion, a dive and roll to evade the shotgun¡¯s line of fire and Sap¡¯s line of sight, then hid motionless behind a tree. And Sap¡¯s shot had just happened to hit Third Brother who was coming to help! [Hit my own teammate!] [Damn, Master Fang¡¯s mental strength is just too powerful!] [So creepy, it¡¯s only a dozen meters, right? Not even twenty meters!] [Damn, damn, damn, what do we do now? Isn¡¯t this a dead end if we¡¯re discovered?] Bi Fang¡¯s expression was solemn; it wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to move, but that he couldn¡¯t move. Tonight was overcast, and the canopy of trees added to the gloom; the forest was frighteningly dark. Taking advantage of the tree shadows and the darkness, his stillness could keep him hidden, but any movement would make him excessively conspicuous. If the others saw him vanish, they should have been very frightened, yet except for the screaming Sap, the other two couldn¡¯t make a sound. They were like a pack of wolves poised to ambush a tiger, patiently hidden in the darkness. This was no ordinary poaching team, but one that had undergone some training. If they were just regular poachers, they would have panicked by now, not remaining as calm as they were. Neither side dared to use a light source; in this environment, whoever turned on a light first would be the target. At such a close distance, Bi Fang also didn¡¯t dare to shoot an arrow; with the three of them gathered together, his position would be firmly locked the second he made a shot. With neither side daring to move, the situation eerily settled into a deadlock. Eventually, Legoff seemed to lose his patience, ¡°You should have figured out who we are, no problem, it¡¯s so dark that you couldn¡¯t have seen our faces. So, let¡¯s make a deal, Huaxia People, we just want the Goose. We¡¯ll let you leave unharmed, what do you say?¡± Legoff continued to persuade, ¡°I know you might not believe me, but think about it carefully. We¡¯re just after the money, why should we be burdened with two human lives? That would be stupid. Once we get the money, we¡¯re gone. My word is my bond.¡± The agonized Sap couldn¡¯t help shouting, ¡°Legoff, find that bastard and slaughter him!¡± ¡°They all listen to me, and if I say I¡¯ll let you go, I definitely will!¡± ¡°Legoff, you always said you wouldn¡¯t let go of anyone who hurt our brothers!¡± Sap¡¯s temples were throbbing with exposed veins, showing his adamant stance. ¡°Damn it, can¡¯t you shut up for just two seconds?¡± Legoff snapped in annoyance hearing that. Was Fourth Brother out of his mind? The audience in the live stream grew impatient. [I think we should just give them the Goose, right? This is too dangerous; I feel like what they¡¯re saying makes sense, they¡¯re after the money, not our lives¡­] [Yeah, Master Fang, that¡¯s enough already, just hand it over if it comes to it] Some viewers were still young, not as experienced with the viciousness of society, and they started to believe much of what Legoff said upon hearing his words. But there were others who understood Legoff¡¯s true intent. [Are you stupid upstairs? They¡¯re clearly trying to trick Master Fang into making a sound¡ªare you seriously believing this crap? Would you entrust your life to a stranger? Even betting on your life, you wouldn¡¯t dare gamble like you suggest!] [! Wow, I didn¡¯t see that coming, isn¡¯t that too cunning?] [Holding the dagger, the intent to kill arises on its own, don¡¯t trust foreigners!] If the viewers could understand this, Bi Fang was of course even more aware. Moreover, in their minds, his live streaming device had already been smashed; Johnny would undoubtedly wish for his death, hoping his secret would be buried with him forever. In the darkness, aside from Sap¡¯s agonized screams, there was silence. Damn it! Legoff cursed under his breath upon hearing the scream, his annoyance mounting. Without uttering a word, Bi Fang took off his robe, balled it up, and hurled it out forcefully. This type of blinding tactic was not new, but it was highly effective, especially in dimly lit conditions. The enemy was definitely observing their surroundings, and would have only a fraction of a second to think upon seeing a dark silhouette appear. The enemy had guns, and in such situations, 99% of people would shoot. Firing a gun in an extreme state of tension was not an action of thought but a nervous reflex. As expected, both Legoff and Third Brother caught a glimpse of the dark shadow in their peripheral vision and immediately raised their guns to shoot. But the moment the bullets were fired, another dark figure darted out from the other side of the tree! Damn, it¡¯s a distraction! The instant another figure appeared, Legoff realized he had been fooled. He immediately dove forward to dodge the attack, but Third Brother reacted a beat too slow¡ªhe didn¡¯t notice Bi Fang¡¯s approach and continued to fire at the robe. Bi Fang rolled a few times after he lunged, not having time to get up, and knelt on both legs with his body half-bent, drawing his bow to shoot! Third Brother, who had just been shooting at the robe, couldn¡¯t react in time, and a sharp sliver of bone, transforming into a streak of black light, pierced straight into his abdomen! Awesome! So freaking awesome! Simply a master of modern combat! Just like a special forces warrior! The audience wanted to cry out in astonishment. Dealing with humans was completely different from dealing with animals. The disparity in strength that both sides could demonstrate was more evident, whether it was psychological quality or tactical competition. This moment showcased Bi Fang¡¯s formidable prowess entirely! ¡°Ah!¡± Third Brother cried out in agony, falling backward, but Bi Fang didn¡¯t continue to dodge at this moment¡ªhe charged straight towards the injured Third Brother! What is Master Fang doing! The audience¡¯s eyes widened, utterly baffled by Bi Fang¡¯s insane action. Why wasn¡¯t he continuing to hide after gaining the upper hand? Charging at someone with a gun, wasn¡¯t that suicide? A distance of a dozen meters, a world champion sprinter would take less than two seconds, and Bi Fang only needed three! ¡°Bang!¡± Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Pfft!¡± ¡°Crack!¡± A jet of blood grazed his cheek, splattering on the dark ground, sending a chill down Sap lying on the ground. The Hunting Knife, gleaming with a dark sheen, stabbed lightning-fast into the neck of Third Brother as he fell backward, and Bi Fang¡¯s long and powerful left arm wrapped around Third Brother¡¯s neck, pulling back swiftly! The dropped rifle clattered to the ground, and yellow, blood-stained bullets tumbled across the dusty, muddy ground. The shotgun-hit robe flew six or seven meters away, and landed gracefully like a descending black hawk. In the blink of an eye, Legoff was almost in a daze. What kind of person were they up against? Until a loud roar! ¡°Nobody move!¡± Legoff instinctively drew his pistol and pointed it forward. ¡°I said, don¡¯t move!!¡± Bi Fang tightened his left hand a bit more, the tremendous force causing Third Brother¡¯s eyes to roll back as blood gushed out from the handle of the Hunting Knife, his face turning pale rapidly, and he teetered on the verge of shock. ¡°I said don¡¯t move, damn it, or this man is as good as dead!¡± Looking at the middle-aged man pointing his gun, Bi Fang bellowed, and with one kick landed on Sap¡¯s face, Sap¡¯s neck nearly separating from his body. Chapter 201: 198: Murder? Chapter 201: Chapter 198: Murder? ¡°Eric!¡± Legoff couldn¡¯t care less about any targets; his flashlight beam landed ahead, revealing half of Bi Fang¡¯s face covered in blood in the dark, a frightening crimson. Countless specks of dust danced in the light, and the breathing of several people grew increasingly heavy. Legoff stood up, and the knife in Bi Fang¡¯s hands sank deeper, with blood gushing out. ¡°Let him go!¡± ¡°Put the gun down! Otherwise, both of them are going to die!¡± Bi Fang roared again, the dust in the beam of light vibrating slightly. ¡°You let him go first!¡± ¡°Then you put your gun down!¡± ¡°You release him first!¡± ¡°You drop the gun first!¡± The four people made the woods feel constricted and dangerous, the countless dust particles continuously floating in the air covered the smell of sweat and stench with the scent of blood. Sap, lying on the ground, could hear the soft cartilage between his vertebrae whining, with only the hard bone desperately supporting the fragile blood vessels and the spinal cord; Bi Fang¡¯s kick had nearly broken his neck, and before Sap could figure out what happened, the situation had spiraled out of control. What the hell, who are they fighting against? All Huaxia¡¯s anchors are this fierce, how did the Eight-Nation Alliance ever make it in? Sap¡¯s mind was foggy, filled with a mess of thoughts. The viscous, warm blood flowing out around the tip of the Hunting Knife made Bi Fang¡¯s right hand extremely slippery, the blood dripping down his right elbow into the dust, forming little balls. ¡°Who exactly are you?¡± Legoff couldn¡¯t fathom that the man Johnny had tasked him to deal with could be this troublesome. Neither in tactics nor psychological quality was he like a broadcast host well-versed in survival, he seemed more like an elite from some ace military unit. ¡°I¡¯m your grandpa!¡± ¡°My grandpa has been dead for a long time.¡± Legoff, not understanding the mockery, answered earnestly. ¡°Then I¡¯m your daddy!¡± ¡°Stop kidding around, Huaxia man, Third Brother is almost strangled by you¡ªdo you want to kill someone? You¡¯re a public figure, not someone who lives in darkness like us, do you still want to live stream?¡± ¡°Who told you to be so disrespectful to your daddy? My drone was taken down, do you think my audience won¡¯t call the police? How long do you think it¡¯ll take for the cops to get here?¡± Bi Fang spat trash talk, his English interspersed with Chinese and French as if he¡¯d lost control of his emotions, yet his eyes never left Legoff and Sap in front of him, using his words to heighten their tension, looking for an opportunity. Acting¡ªwho doesn¡¯t know how to do that? Only fools would believe it. Previously unsure of how many were lying in ambush, he hadn¡¯t rashly taken the unconscious Poacher hostage, but now the situation had been largely ascertained. Apart from Johnny, there were a total of four Poachers, the one with the flashlight was the Boss, with the rest being good with their hands, but still far less than the Boss. Bi Fang noticed Legoff¡¯s prestige within this team; without superior skills to others, this kind of prestige could not be established. Bi Fang glanced at Sap, who was slowly shifting his position, ¡°And you, the bearded Sun Zi, too much testosterone that your beard is so long? Grandpa is telling you to sit there and don¡¯t move.¡± Legoff nodded at Sap, motioning him to stay still for the time being, and continued to Bi Fang, ¡°Then we¡¯ll each take a step back. You let go of Third Brother, I¡¯ll let you go, and I won¡¯t want Goose either.¡± Bi Fang sneered, ¡°What a joke, do you think I would believe that? Leaving your daddy¡¯s body out in the wilderness to be eaten by wild wolves? What a filial son.¡± ¡°Nothing works, what exactly do you want?¡± Legoff slowly moved his feet while Bi Fang also shifted sideways; the two were like rocks in a stream, standing steadfast against the rushing water. ¡°You throw away your gun, I¡¯ll take this guy and leave, I¡¯ll let him go when it¡¯s safe.¡± ¡°You¡¯re kidding.¡± ¡°When the cops arrive, you all are going to die anyway!¡± ¡°You¡¯d be the first to die!¡± ¡°Then we die together!¡± ¡°Who¡¯s afraid of who!¡± ¡°Come on!¡± ¡°Come on!!¡± ¡°Come on!!¡± The foreheads of the two men bulged with veins, their roars overlapping each other, each louder than the last, stirring up the dust that should have settled. Legoff¡¯s gun was aimed, ready to turn Bi Fang into a sieve at any moment. Bi Fang¡¯s arm, like a python, kept constricting, his right hand likely to pull out the Hunting Knife at any time. Sap, who had fallen to the ground, stared fixedly, his complexion growing worse by the moment. Eric¡¯s face was pale, his body temperature continually slipping away, and severe lack of oxygen almost made him faint. Even the audience felt suffocated by the scene, unable to breathe; it was a true life-and-death situation where no one could overpower the other. Everyone wanted to survive, yet each wished for the other¡¯s death. The earth turned soft and mushy, soaked with blood, stamped with one bloody footprint after another. ¡°We can¡¯t just stand off like this forever, it won¡¯t be good when the police arrive.¡± Bi Fang sneered, ¡°It¡¯s you who won¡¯t see anything good.¡± Legoff laughed as well, ¡°If we¡¯re to die, shall we take you with us?¡± ¡°How do you know you can take me?¡± ¡°Stop wasting time. Today is our fault, and I already regret it. Eighteen geese, worth less than twenty thousand in total, not even enough to cover the medical bills. So, I¡¯ll count to three, and we¡¯ll both go. I throw my gun, you release the hostage, how about it?¡± ¡°Fine!¡± ¡°One!¡± Legoff¡¯s handgun pointed downward. ¡°Two!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s arm slightly relaxed. ¡°Three!¡± Nobody moved. All the viewers were dumbfounded, and then broke out in a cold sweat. The gamble between life and death was so intense they could smell the blood through their screens, sending a chill to their brains. ¡°Are you kidding?¡± Legoff lifted his arm, the gun still aimed, but now his little finger hooked around the flashlight, quietly gathering strength. ¡°Same goes for you; how could a son fool his father.¡± Bi Fang continued to taunt. Once the other party was angered, his goal was reached; a calm opponent was the most frightening, but unfortunately, the other party didn¡¯t take the bait. ¡°No more bluffing; we¡¯re serious this time,¡± Legoff proposed again. ¡°So you admit that the last time was a bluff?¡± Bi Fang twirled the tip of the knife, drawing more blood. Third Brother screamed in pain. Bi Fang had avoided the artery but could sever it at any moment. The most terrifying thing was having life and death hinging on a mere thought! ¡°It¡¯s because you didn¡¯t release the hostage,¡± Legoff said without shame. ¡°Bullshit,¡± Bi Fang cursed in Chinese, but the meaning was clear to all. ¡°We¡¯re serious this time.¡± ¡°And you expect me to believe that? What¡¯s your guarantee?¡± ¡°If you keep talking like that, this will never end.¡± ¡°Then this time, I¡¯ll do the counting!¡± ¡°Fine.¡± This time, Legoff agreed without hesitation; he didn¡¯t want to drag out the time any longer as it would be disadvantageous to both parties. ¡°One!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s toes touched the ground, tendons tensing, moving slightly forward, his muscles rippling and tightening like water waves. ¡°Two!¡± Sap glanced between Legoff and Bi Fang, uncertain what he was thinking. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Legoff¡¯s arm muscles relaxed, ready for any reaction. ¡°Three!¡± Bi Fang bellowed, his body surged with unending strength and, the moment he unleashed his power, there was no opportunity for thought or alteration. In an instant, a beam of light swept over; it was Legoff¡ªhe threw the flashlight, momentarily dazzling Bi Fang! The audience gasped for air in tension, knowing they would go blind in an instant, but Bi Fang was prepared; he never looked towards Legoff and dropped down instead! As the flashlight was thrown, Legoff propelled himself off the ground, leaves and debris flying, his calloused hand rapidly reaching for the yet-to-touch the ground gun, catching it before it landed. Swiftly, Legoff rolled, squatted to grab the gun, and aimed! But a familiar figure blocked his view¡ªit was Eric! Legoff¡¯s shot was obstructed by Eric, more blood spraying; he clearly saw Third Brother¡¯s eyes fade into grayness, the blood quickly spreading from his neck, soaking into his clothes and turning into a vague black. The enemy had slit open his carotid artery. ¡°NO!¡± Legoff cried out in fury, pulling the trigger at the silhouette behind Sap! Chapter 202: 199 Knife Strike After Knife Strike Chapter 202: Chapter 199 Knife Strike After Knife Strike Almost at the moment Legoff aimed, Bi Fang immediately squatted down, using Third Brother¡¯s body as cover, and charged straight at him! Legoff saw Third Brother¡¯s body curl up like a shrimp as it approached, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets with everything happening so swiftly that he barely had time for further thought, and fired at the shadow behind Eric! Sap instinctively used his hands to cover his head, preventing blood from splattering onto his face. Gunfire erupted, illuminating the dark forest. Bullets flying out from the fiery gun barrel pierced holes in the trees! Only one bullet drew blood; Bi Fang¡¯s left arm went numb instantly, as the bullet grazed his upper arm, spraying blood, the searing pain hitting him right after the numbness. Bi Fang gritted his teeth, not slowing his pace at all, and tackled Legoff across a body! The tremendous impact made the crouching Legoff completely lose his balance and fall backward, but he clung desperately to his handgun. As Legoff fell to the ground and continued to pull the trigger, a dark glint stabbed into his wrist, and pained, he dropped the handgun. Seeing this, Legoff tried to retrieve it but was kicked away mid-air by Bi Fang, who then kicked him squarely in the face. Crack! The sound of a bone breaking was clear to hear! Damn it! Legoff, who had been kicked in the head, had his nose bridge directly broken, his yellow, bloodshot eyes instantly turning blood red, his nose quick to swell and bleed, as a strong dizziness overwhelmed his brain, causing him to retch. The hot, metallic smell rose; blood gushed eagerly from his nostrils, looking particularly horrifying! However, Legoff had no time to tend to his wounds, as facing the blade-wielding Bi Fang and having lost both guns, he rolled away, drew the broad-bladed Hunting Knife from the side of his thigh, and slashed at Bi Fang¡¯s abdomen! If this knife struck, it would gut him open! But in a fight for life or death, no one is just a target to be hit passively; Bi Fang stood his ground, didn¡¯t step away, and swept his arm in an arc that paused mid-air. Legoff¡¯s violently bloody knife strike was imminent when suddenly, Bi Fang¡¯s knife also disappeared, only relying on a flick of his wrist, and the Harpoon made a sharp jab with not much force at the tip of Legoff¡¯s knife. This was a technique surpassing speed and strength, the knife acting as a lever, with the force at the tip transferring to the wielder¡¯s wrist, and Bi Fang chose the instant before Legoff truly exerted his strength. That was when he was at his weakest, and Bi Fang made the cut! Sap, standing not far off, couldn¡¯t make out these details, only seeing Legoff rush at Bi Fang, who stood firm, simply sidestepping, making Legoff stagger slightly as if he had hit a wall, then stumbling backwards several steps. The counterattack was instantly dissolved by Bi Fang, and Legoff¡¯s momentum drained away like a flood; in a daze, Legoff even thought himself like a child playing with knives before an adult. Merely a light flick was all it took to neutralize his attack. Bi Fang rotated his wrist, trying to shake off the tremendous force he had just felt; although he only touched Legoff¡¯s broad blade for an instant, the force was real. Legoff might be lacking in technique, but he was extremely strong; this white man was built like a bull calf. The two paused for a moment, then clashed again. The flashlight fallen on the ground cast beams cutting through the forest, with shadows and flashes of knife intertwined within. Both wielded their knives with their dominant hands, showing they could kill and defend, proving neither of them was weak. Legoff stepped forward, relying on his height and size to attempt a straight-on collision, his right hand twirling the knife, stabbing downward, aiming for his opponent¡¯s temple. Bi Fang raised his Hunting Knife to block, his body sinking and pushing in rhythm with his prolonged breath, dissolving Legoff¡¯s force in the blink of an eye. With another flick, the blade sliced directly towards Legoff¡¯s wrist. Legoff, not dodging or flinching, blocked downwards with his broad blade, diverting the Harpoon with immense strength and, like a wild ox, closed in, the edge of his blade aiming for the fingers of Bi Fang¡¯s knife-holding hand! ¡°Ah!!¡± Legoff bellowed in anger. Bi Fang¡¯s heart skipped a beat, with no time to retreat, he made a split-second decision to release the Harpoon, leaned backward, pivoting on his left foot, and spun his right leg, kicking once more towards Legoff¡¯s head. Not good! The audience, seeing Bi Fang forced to abandon his knife in just a few exchanges, were so startled that they nearly swiped out of the live stream. Legoff¡¯s heart swelled with joy as he arched back to dodge the kick aimed at him, ready to close the distance for an attack the moment it passed, determined not to give Bi Fang any chance to catch his breath. But as he dodged Bi Fang¡¯s right foot, a flash of a blade¡¯s edge unexpectedly aimed for his throat! What! Again? sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Almost instinctively, Legoff relied on his extraordinary waist strength to arch back, barely avoiding a slit throat, but still, a long gash opened up across his entire chest. Only the onlooking audience could see clearly that, as Bi Fang let go of the Harpoon and spun with a kick, his left hand steadily caught the falling Harpoon. As his right leg created a distraction, the Harpoon drew a circular arc from below upwards, aiming for Legoff¡¯s neck. The Harpoon rose like a dragon ascending to the heavens, its ice-cold tip harshly slicing towards Legoff¡¯s chest! The cloth tore. The charge jacket ripped open as the blade sliced through, leaving a deep cut across Legoff¡¯s chest, the skin peeling apart to reveal crimson muscle tissue, with a copious amount of blood pooling into a red hollow at the wound. It wasn¡¯t over yet! Upon landing a successful strike and while Legoff was still down, Bi Fang switched his thrust to downward, pressing his arm against the blade, and slamming it vehemently into Legoff¡¯s left shoulder. In urgent desperation, Legoff hurriedly held up his knife to block! The metallic clash roared through the woods, leaving many in the audience with a sour taste in their mouths. Seeing blood, Bi Fang¡¯s ferocity was unleashed, fighting with all his might to drive the knife down. Every bit of force he used caused Legoff to buckle slightly, just like a tiger firmly clenching the throat of its prey, never to relinquish its grip once it had taken hold! Fuck! Legoff¡¯s eyes began to blur, his broken nose continually bleeding. From the start, he had been at a disadvantage; the blood clogged his airway, disrupting his breathing rhythm and making it impossible for him to exert his full strength with each effort. Moreover, the opponent¡¯s strength was strangely elusive, as if no matter how much force he used, it could be easily negated. His own blade felt like it struck cotton when he swung, but when the same techniques were used against him, he felt like a piece of pork about to be chopped into mincemeat. ¡°Ah!!!!¡± The intense pain in his chest made Legoff release a heart-wrenching roar, more blood spewing from his mouth and nose. In this life-or-death moment, Legoff¡¯s potential erupted, his strength burning fiercely, stubbornly holding up against Bi Fang¡¯s Harpoon. Both combatants¡¯ blades faced off, one vertical, one horizontal, locking together at a cross. Seconds ticked by, the onlookers were frantic with worry, yet the two fighters remained in a deadlock. Bi Fang¡¯s face turned red, feeling his strength gradually failing, and the blood loss from his left arm left him unable to exert force. But he couldn¡¯t let go, for doing so would change the tide from offensive to defensive; he had to quickly think of a way to break the stalemate! Bi Fang¡¯s muscles flowed like water, his right knee shot up, crashing viciously into the enemy¡¯s ribs! Chapter 203: 200: The One Who Should Be Careful Is You! Chapter 203: Chapter 200: The One Who Should Be Careful Is You! Legoff felt like he had been hit in the side chest by a siege log, his whole ribcage making a sound on the verge of shattering, the impact force halting his heartbeat in an instant. Blood surged once more; Legoff choked on the blood spraying from his nose, and with that choke, his strength ebbed, Bi Fang¡¯s harpoon descending another inch! ¡°Die!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s eyes were about to split with rage! ¡°Cough!¡± A mouthful of bloody phlegm was spat out by Legoff, splattering on Bi Fang¡¯s face. Bi Fang instinctively closed his eyes, then a sharp pain in the ribs came as Legoff responded with a knee strike of his own! The two were relentless in leveraging their gains, following up with knee strikes wildly, clashing bones, one after another, jackhammering each other¡¯s intercostal spaces! Crack! Legoff¡¯s rib in his waist suddenly broke, and with that excruciating pain, his strength drained rapidly. As the blade was about to stab into his neck, his eyes turned bloodshot as he suddenly reached out to grab Bi Fang¡¯s wounded left arm, fingers digging into the flesh, pinching hard! ¡°Ah!¡± Bi Fang screamed in agony, the audience closing their eyes in unison, unable to imagine the pain of fingers probing and squeezing a wound. Legoff unleashed all his physical energy, twisted and pushed the blade diagonally, sparks flying in the clash of blades, as he dodged the harpoon! The blade missed its mark, the harpoon embedding into the muddy ground, Legoff took the opportunity to roll and draw his blade, his arm tracing an arc, plunging the knife towards Bi Fang who was prone on the ground due to inertia! But Bi Fang was not Legoff, his long-term yoga training and calisthenics had made him more agile than the physically larger Legoff, and even stronger core strength, a carp flip got him rolling into position, his feet kicking fiercely into Legoff¡¯s lower abdomen. Legoff, with his broken ribs, feared the kick would drive the broken bones into his organs, he forcibly twisted his weight and stepped back, but with his heel hitting the ground to gain leverage, he lashed out with the knife again! Finally, Bi Fang managed to pull out his harpoon, used it to block, his blade¡¯s back bracing against Legoff¡¯s! Metal vibrated once more. Legoff pressed down hard. In an instant, roles reversed! The tide of battle surged again, the continuous excitement nearly knocking the audience out. But Bi Fang was not Legoff, using the back teeth of the harpoon to trap the blade, he twisted his wrist and snapped Legoff¡¯s blade off before sweeping it aside. Both exposed, Bi Fang and Legoff locked eyes and with ferocity, headbutted each other hard! The head-on strike to the head concussed both men, intensifying the pain and dizziness, their visions blurring, clinging to their fighting spirit as they grappled together, like drunken men desperately clutching at each other¡¯s throats. At that moment, the fight had almost become instinctive, all notions of Youlong Bagua or stabbing techniques completely forgotten. In this state, all tactics completely lost their meaning, as they clung together rolling, striking each other¡¯s faces with all their might, elbowing throats, kneeing lower bellies. This was the most primitive of struggles, no different from the tearing and biting of wild beasts, with nobody minding using even their teeth. Legoff was a retired special forces soldier from the Qiaobote Assault Team, and Bi Fang likewise possessed powerful skills rewarded by the System, both elite among elites. Yet now, not even a neat hook could be thrown, relying only on ferocity and tolerance for pain. Legoff¡¯s elbow strike split open the corner of Bi Fang¡¯s eye, Bi Fang¡¯s fingernails nearly tore open Legoff¡¯s skin, kicking furiously at Legoff¡¯s ribs over and over. Rage ignited all the fighting spirit in their blood; they had no weapons in their hands, but their vehemence was even more ferocious than when they did. The two strangled each other, waves of suffocation hitting them, but Legoff overestimated himself and underestimated Bi Fang¡¯s endurance. Already choking on his own blood, he began to falter! As time dragged on, Legoff¡¯s consciousness grew more and more blurry. This guy, this guy¡­ how is he so formidable¡­ His vision started to hallucinate, scenes in his head flickering like a carousel¡ªthe joy of hunting success, the satisfaction with money in hand, the soft body of a woman¡­ Am I going to¡­ die? Blood sprayed from his mouth and nose, Legoff went numb for a moment, then his consciousness began to drift, everything in front of him turned blood red, his gaze dropping from the red mud to the black sky, the world trembling several times. Seizing the opportunity, Bi Fang pounced on Legoff¡¯s back, his arm tightly securing Legoff¡¯s throat, but this time he used both hands and feet to lock his body in place. Yet another Naked Choke! The technique to subdue the opponent using one¡¯s entire body as shackles! The audience, recognizing this familiar scene, gasped, as if this bloody battle was about to come to its end with the same move as the one initially used against the poacher! Die! Bi Fang gritted his teeth and roared! Legoff¡¯s legs flailed weakly, but his consciousness grew blurrier and blurrier; the carousel of images in his head stopped spinning, and he felt himself plummeting into the depths of despairing hell. [Be careful!] [Damn it, Master Fang watch out for the sneak attack!] [Master Fang, be careful! There¡¯s another poacher!] The previously calm live stream chat erupted like a volcano, with many female viewers screaming in fright. Another Sap, there was another Sap! The battle, which lasted only a few minutes, made everyone forget about the injured Sap lying nearby; he was hurt but not yet devoid of the ability to move! Sap nervously looked at Legoff, who was now only showing the whites of his eyes, and with all his might, he crawled towards the distance. Three meters away, there it was¡ªthe rifle that had fallen to the ground! But at the moment, Bi Fang surely couldn¡¯t spare any effort to read the barrage of messages; he was using all his strength to deal with Legoff! Blood mixed with mud, tracing a crimson path. Just a few meters! If he could just get to the rifle, victory would still be theirs! Hurry, hurry! Sap struggled to crawl, the shaft of the arrow dragging and tearing a larger wound in his belly, blood spurting out more profusely, causing Sap to break out in a cold sweat from the pain. FUCK, FUCK, FUCK! Having ventured out together without ever failing, how could it have come to this? He was just a streamer, only a streamer. Tears and snot poured from Sap¡¯s face, the wound in his belly growing ever larger, his hand getting closer to the rifle. Three meters. Two meters. One meter. Almost there, almost, Legoff, just hold on a little longer. A smile spread across Sap¡¯s face, but in the next second, a gunshot thundered, and the bullet mercilessly hit the rifle, sending it flying three meters away, crashing hard to the ground. Sap froze, despair enveloping him entirely as he stared blankly at the beam of light from the flashlight. Within the beam, a figure gradually approached, becoming clearer. Bi Fang staggered through the light and shadows, barely managing to stay upright as he walked up to Sap, almost collapsing, but his determination kept him standing. He gripped the gun in his hand; it was the very pistol he had kicked away earlier. Bi Fang wanted to smile, but he no longer had the energy even for that. His mouth opened silently, and blood seeped through his teeth, spitting a mouthful of bloody spittle directly onto the stunned face of Sap. ¡°You should have been more careful.¡± A hard object pressed against Bi Fang¡¯s back, an icy chill piercing straight to his heart. It wasn¡¯t just the four of them in this forest; someone had breached their battlefield, waiting for an opportunity to ambush him. Bi Fang¡¯s vision nearly blacked out; he had overlooked someone insignificant yet crucial¡ªJohnny. With all his strength depleted, Bi Fang was no longer able to resist. The joy of an expected victory washed away, and in that moment, he found an odd sense of calm. Johnny, trembling, held the rifle. He was very scared, but the smile on his face couldn¡¯t hide the pride within. In the end, he was the victor, though it was a pity that Legoff¡¯s poaching team was done for. He had no intention of bringing them back for treatment; it was better to leave them to die here. It was, after all, his first time killing someone. There was fear, but more overwhelming was the thrill. Johnny intended to finish off Bi Fang immediately, but his pride made him blurt out all the misdeeds he had been involved in over the years. ¡°I never conducted blood testing on your Geese, but what could you do about it? Elvan was too dumb, in reality, all you needed was to pay a small price for a passing report. Too bad now I¡¯ll have to look for new partners.¡± Johnny shook his head in disappointment, but his expression froze the next second. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The same touch, the same chill. Johnny¡¯s body couldn¡¯t stop shaking as he raised his hands in a tremble. ¨¦tienne, holding a shotgun, stood behind Johnny. ¡°The one who should have been careful is you, baldy.¡± Chapter 204: 201: The Path Clears as the Willow Darkens and the Flowers Brighten Chapter 204: Chapter 201: The Path Clears as the Willow Darkens and the Flowers Brighten Bi Fang opened his eyes; no longer was he met with the black sky, but a dim grey ceiling that should have been white, with only a dim wall lamp lighting the room. His head hurt, his legs ached, and when he reached up to touch his head, he found it bandaged, his mouth uncomfortably dry. It was then that he heard several familiar voices shouting. ¡°He¡¯s awake!¡± ¡°He¡¯s woken up!¡± ¡°Doctor! Bi Fang is awake!¡± A crowd of people, seeing Bi Fang open his eyes, shouted excitedly. Elvan even came forward and grasped Bi Fang¡¯s hand tightly. ¡°Elvan, Lenin, Wang¡­CEO Wang?¡± Bi Fang turned his neck, stiff as if rusted, towards the sources of the voices, eyeing the plump figure by his bed with skepticism. How could Wang Yongbo be here? It seemed that every time he got injured and woke up in the hospital, Wang Yongbo would be there to greet him¡ªutterly unexpected. Even if Yao Jun were here, it wouldn¡¯t be this surprising. ¡°Of course, I came to see you,¡± Wang Yongbo said with a smile, before pausing, ¡°Should I turn on the lights?¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± Bi Fang closed his eyes as the room brightened before slowly opening them again. And there he was, indeed Wang Yongbo. How odd! I had my visa prepared in advance, but what about you? But now wasn¡¯t the time to worry about why Wang Yongbo was here. Bi Fang hurriedly asked, ¡°Where¡¯s ¨¦tienne?¡± From the battle the day before, Bi Fang could only vaguely remember ¨¦tienne subduing Johnny before he soon heard the sound of police sirens. After spotting a helicopter, consciousness eluded him. ¡°I¡¯m here!¡± ¨¦tienne raised his hand high, pushing his way through the crowd. Relieved to see ¨¦tienne unharmed, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but ask curiously, ¡°Can you shoot? You dared to wield a gun at that time.¡± ¨¦tienne chuckled with a smug expression, ¡°I was in the boy scouts, not only did I learn shooting, but I also learned hunting! I once took down a wild chicken on my own with a hunting rifle!¡± Bi Fang fought the urge to pat ¨¦tienne on the head, sitting up in bed and looking towards Elvan, ¡°What about the geese?¡± ¡°They¡¯re all at Lenin¡¯s place now, safe,¡± Elvan glanced at Lenin, then back at Bi Fang. He started to speak, then hesitated, but in the end, decided to tell the truth, ¡°Bi Fang, I must tell you something, we have to¡­we have to stop here¡­¡± Elvan bowed his head: ¡°We need to call it quits at this point¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± Bi Fang and ¨¦tienne were both stunned. ¨¦tienne quickly asked, ¡°Then where will they go?¡± ¡°They¡¯re not going anywhere.¡± Bi Fang touched his forehead, not quite understanding, ¡°Didn¡¯t the blood tests end? They¡¯re healthy, right?¡± ¡°Yes, but we¡¯ve entered France¡­¡± Elvan felt helpless; France wouldn¡¯t approve his plan. If they had just flown directly into the wild, there wouldn¡¯t have been any problem, but now¡­ Bi Fang had been forced into hospital treatment. This is France, the last stop, and the most difficult one. ¡°We need to help them by clipping their wings. If not, they will be caged for life. I¡¯m sorry, I shouldn¡¯t have let you do something so dangerous, I didn¡¯t¡­I didn¡¯t expect things to turn out like this, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Elvan stood up and bowed deeply to Bi Fang, offering a sincere apology. ¡°This is your solution? Choose to stop here?¡± Bi Fang¡¯s expression immediately turned serious, and he picked up a cushion to sit higher. ¡°What did you say when you first came to me? I¡¯ve put in so much, and now you¡¯re telling me to stop?¡± Elvan remained silent, knowing he had already done enough foolish things. He had almost killed his own son and Bi Fang! What good was a feasible plan if foolish acts should end? Everyone should return to their own life paths. He shouldn¡¯t have bothered Bi Fang from the start, nor should he have troubled everyone else. The atmosphere gradually grew heavy. Wang Yongbo, who didn¡¯t understand French, still sensed that something was off and quickly tried to smooth things over: ¡°What¡¯s going on with you two? Bi Fang, I have good news for you. That video from yesterday¡­¡± But Bi Fang waved his hand, cutting off Wang Yongbo¡¯s words. The migration being halted meant there was no good news for him now. What had he put in so much effort for? Elvan¡¯s invitation? What a joke, my relationship is with Gu Qingyuan, not Elvan! Bi Fang had never agreed because of any relationship between Elvan and Gu Qingyuan; it was the plan that had moved Bi Fang! He too wanted to save the geese, to make an effort like in his previous life, which is why he repeatedly tolerated things, flying with ¨¦tienne even when he knew he shouldn¡¯t, willingly taking risks even when he knew it was dangerous. And now they were telling him he couldn¡¯t fly again? If his left hand were able to move, Bi Fang would truly want to strangle Elvan, that plague-bringer! Feeling the need to change the subject, Wang Yongbo remarked, ¡°Alright, alright, let¡¯s not mention it. Let¡¯s watch the news instead. Yes, the news! You¡¯ve been all over TV lately! You¡¯re a hero, Bi Fang, and the whole world knows about you!¡± Wang Yongbo picked up the remote from the cabinet head and turned on the TV. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Last night, a turning point occurred in the highly-publicized goose migration incident. To everyone¡¯s surprise, a group of poachers appeared, attempting to hunt the White-fronted Goose. What¡¯s especially chilling is that this group of poachers was deliberately brought in by the director of the Schengen Area park, who is then involved in a series of dark trade secrets.¡± ¡°And the reason why the blood test results for the geese were not qualified also has inextricable ties to the director, Johnny. In fact, these adorable geese have no problems at all; they are completely safe and healthy. Over the years, Johnny has been exploiting loopholes in the rules for his own massive profits, readily handing over these animals to poachers if he didn¡¯t get what he wanted, and then both parties would split the sale profits.¡± ¡°This poaching team is extremely dangerous. Investigations reveal that the leader of this group was once an elite member of the Qiaobote Assault Team, and the other three are all veterans¡ªhighly dangerous men. They¡¯re not just a threat to animals; the police even suspect that they might have killed more than three rangers!¡± ¡°Fortunately, with Bi Fang from Huaxia thwarting the poachers and Johnny¡¯s plot, their schemes did not succeed; instead, they paid a bloody price. In a two-against-five situation, the Huaxia broadcaster defeated the entire poaching team by himself, one against four¡­ wait, one against four?¡± The host picked up the script and checked it before joking in feigned surprise: ¡°Well, if our staff didn¡¯t mess up the script, it was indeed one against four. In this encounter, four were severely injured¡ªone lightly¡ªand all were captured alive, while Bi Fang only sustained minor injuries, which can only be called a miracle. This forces me to believe in the fact that every Huaxia person knows martial arts, and that even our most formidable special forces are no match for them.¡± The background music came in subtly as the host smoothly transitioned back to the topic, turning the screen aside. Elvan was stunned because there on the TV was Legoff, the one who had initially opposed his plan! ¡°We now welcome to the studio Mr. Legoff, director of the Natural History Museum. Director, thank you for accepting our invitation. Do you think this was a beautiful adventure?¡± ¡°Actually, this is more like¡­ like a kind of animal training, rather than a real scientific experiment,¡± Legoff paused. ¡°Geese that see humans as their parents, how could they possibly know their way back into the wild? Hence, they cannot return to the Arctic to build their nests.¡± ¡°It¡¯s undoubtedly a beautiful adventure but, scientifically speaking, it is not the migration route shift claimed by Mr. Elvan. The issue is not that simple. From my personal viewpoint, if they can¡¯t return, then it¡¯s useless¡­¡± The atmosphere in the hospital room grew even quieter. ¡°But!¡± Legoff suddenly changed his tone on the TV, ¡°Although I personally do not agree with this migration, the World Animal Protection Organization considers it a bold and innovative endeavor, and has requested that we fully cooperate and assist.¡± ¡°Now that I think about it, perhaps they are right. Any first attempt is filled with uncertainties, and if we simply refuse to try because we disagree, then the future of a species might truly end because of my personal decision. ¡°At first, I perhaps should not have stopped Elvan. Here, I apologize to him, and if the migration continues, I will offer all the help I can provide.¡± Chapter 205: 202 Glorious All the Way Chapter 205: Chapter 202 Glorious All the Way ¡°Peter, hurry up!¡± ¡°Okay, coming!¡± In the room, Peter was rapidly packing his clothes, stuffing his coat haphazardly into his backpack and running downstairs with his suitcase on his back. ¡°Be careful!¡± his aunt scolded as Peter slid down the banister. As he slid down the stair rail, Peter yelled past his aunt, who wore a helpless expression, ¡°It won¡¯t happen again next time!¡± Stepping out of the house, Ben shook his head with a smile, ¡°He¡¯s too excited,¡± His aunt complained, ¡°It¡¯s all because of you, we¡¯ve only got two days for the weekend, and you agreed to Peter¡¯s request to watch the goose migration. Plus, Christmas is just a few days away, and I still have so much to prepare.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t help it, the opportunity is so rare, and we haven¡¯t gone on a trip in such a long time. Plus, with Peter insisting so strongly, going once is no big deal.¡± Uncle Ben scratched his head, how could he admit at this moment that he himself wanted to go? Poor Peter had to take all the blame. That¡¯s right, he¡¯s the main culprit! But May still worried about the money, wouldn¡¯t it be better to save that money for a Christmas tree? Seeing May unhappy, Ben continued to persuade her, he wanted the family to have a good trip, so not to worry about these trivial matters. ¡°This is about protecting geese, you know, a worldwide first! Christmas can happen many times, but migration happens only once. We are witnesses to history. Just think, in the future, not only will these birds not go extinct, but they will also increase in numbers! When they fly over your head, you will remember that you also participated in their salvation. It¡¯s very meaningful, I¡¯ve already bought the tickets.¡± His aunt imagined it for a moment and finally sighed. There was nothing she could do about the uncle-nephew duo as she dragged the suitcase and opened the car door. ¡°Alright, just this once, transoceanic plane tickets are really expensive.¡± ¡­ ¡°Ready, Fitz?¡± ¡°All set!¡± Fitz, with his backpack on, ran toward Matthew. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d be back to my original job as a photographer, and to personally take photos. This camera is way too heavy.¡± Matthew laughed, ¡°Think of it as a vacation. Christmas is coming, and this is a double holiday!¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, it¡¯s a paid vacation! And we get to witness history on the way!¡± ¡°Hahaha! That¡¯s right, we¡¯re off to witness history!¡± ¡­ ¡°How much longer till we get there?¡± ¡°The news said tomorrow.¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I thought it was the day after tomorrow?¡± ¡°Maybe because you watched the news yesterday?¡± ¡°Oh, could that be it? Makes sense!¡± ¡­ ¡°Our reporter has already arrived at the Camargue Wetlands. According to reports, the geese may arrive today or tomorrow, and this is the largest lake in the Camargue Wetlands, which will also be the most likely landing spot for the geese.¡± The riverside crowd bustled about, with tents everywhere. Many people even arrived here three or four days earlier, countless photography enthusiasts setting up their ¡°big guns and small cannons¡± to capture the first moments of the geese landing. The wetland manager looked at the lake shore crowded with at least a thousand people and smiled; revenue from ticket sales alone over these two days exceeded holiday earnings! Everyone was focused on this geese migration, from the government and the public to enthusiasts around the world, with over a million people following the livestream. MeTube and Wolf Fang¡¯s collaborative channel started a trial run with Bi Fang¡¯s consent, allowing audiences around the world to watch on their respective platforms and join the same livestream to watch Bi Fang¡¯s broadcast, with the combined viewership already surpassing a million! Even language lessons started in the livestream room, with domestic and international players enjoying themselves immensely, everyone spontaneously cheering for Bi Fang and ¨¦tienne. ¡°Look, Bi Fang!¡± On the brand-new airplane, ¨¦tienne pointed at the mosaic of colors on the ground. Bi Fang removed his wind goggles to look down, seeing dark text pressed into the green lawn: Master Fang, ¨¦tienne rocks! The word ¡°Master Fang¡± was in Chinese, ¡°¨¦tienne¡± was in French, and the rest was in English. On the green ground, the text was square and upright. On the edge of the text, people got out of their cars and waved toward Bi Fang and ¨¦tienne in the plane. The audience in the livestream all showed shocked expressions. [Damn, people have made it here already?] [How did they find out Old Fang¡¯s route? Who leaked the info? Come clean!] [Isn¡¯t it easy to guess? Knowing the hospital where Old Fang stayed and then the Camargue Wetlands, just look at the map and see which places are far from the cities, the shorter the distance, the easier it is to guess the route.] [Is there any other streamer in the world as badass as Master Fang? He¡¯s the ultimate cultural export! Who says our Asian people aren¡¯t capable? Look at Master Fang! He can take on ten at a time!] [That¡¯s right, the first time I entered the livestream, I thought his name was so uncool, and Master Fang was hardly known, I was about to leave, but luckily Old Fang let out a howl at that time, and I ended up staying ever since.] [Aged fan here! So envious! I found out about Master Fang during his second livestream, I was wondering then who the new streamer was, just arrived at Wolf Fang and straight to the front page recommendation, so badass, and it turned out to be genuinely explosive! Blew me away!] [Actually, there are two versions of the videos on Bilibili, a complete version and an edited version, you can watch both, no worries if you missed it¡­] [What do you know? Participation is important, and anyway, the full version doesn¡¯t have bullet comments, it just doesn¡¯t have the same feel!] [My god, I¡¯m so jealous, I¡¯m in Ugly Country, I just found out about it this livestream, what a pity.] The audience engaged in a heated discussion, and more and more people started to talk about their experiences of getting to know Bi Fang, even international netizens joined in. Nobody expected that in less than half a year and after just four livestreams, Bi Fang had completely stirred up a wilderness survival craze, turning the attention of the whole world towards him. It was a miracle, an irreplicable miracle! There was always a kind of magic in Bi Fang¡¯s livestreams, a core competitive power that no one else could learn, no matter how hard they tried to emulate. Even if Bi Fang revealed all his wilderness survival knowledge to others, hoping to teach them with the same patience as he would his own child, they would never learn it. That was the magic represented by the name Master Fang; when people heard it, the only thing that came to mind was the word ¡°legend.¡± This was a truly living contemporary legend. ¡°Hello everyone!¡± ¨¦tienne waved and shouted to the people nearby, and the crowd below waved back, with children running after the plane carrying colorful banners. More and more people were paying attention to Bi Fang, and their movements could no longer be concealed. ¡°How does it feel?¡± ¨¦tienne laughed, ¡°Great! Woo-hoo!¡± This feeling of being the center of attention and anticipation was just too awesome! Underneath the plane, Elvan¡¯s car followed, also waving to the passers-by on both sides. Today was the penultimate day; they planned to arrive at the Camargue Wetlands by tomorrow morning. Bi Fang had ended up resting in the hospital for only two days, because he couldn¡¯t delay any longer, with very little time left. On the third day, he set off with ¨¦tienne once more, dragging his injured body to cross the whole of France in five days, in order to complete the mission within the deadline. At night, the group found a secluded corner to land. ¡°Be careful.¡± ¨¦tienne tied the plane to a tree, then cautioned Bi Fang. Bi Fang smiled and jumped down from the float: ¡°My injuries aren¡¯t that severe.¡± ¡°Time to eat.¡± Inside the RV, Elvan came out with bread. That was their dinner. Perhaps because the last difficulty of the trip had been overcome, the System did not issue any notices but instead reminded Bi Fang that his main mission was already complete. Tomorrow would be the last day. Bi Fang looked up at the starry sky, a view he had seen countless times over the month, yet it never felt monotonous. Bi Fang remembered Kant saying there were three kinds of happiness: one was from direct benefits to you, offering you advantages, a material or physiological joy. The second type was the happiness you feel when you do the right thing, a moral pleasure. The last kind is neither beneficial to you nor related to morality; it¡¯s when you feel comfortable and indescribably joyful in your soul upon hearing the wind rustle the falling leaves in the middle of the night. In this moment, as he looked at the stars, happiness felt so simple. Chapter 206: 203 Wilderness Adventurer Chapter 206: Chapter 203 Wilderness Adventurer ¡°This is our last leg of the journey.¡± Across the endless expanse of the lake, Bi Fang confirmed the final direction and rolled up the map with one hand. ¨¦tienne reached out to touch the goose, knowing it would be his last day with it. They had brought eighteen healthy geese over, but how many would return tomorrow? ¡°Amu, you¡¯re the naughtiest. The storm really scared me to death; from now on, you must train hard and not fall behind. Being a drag is bound to make you disliked.¡± ¡°Aga, take good care of your little brother. Though he¡¯s clumsy, don¡¯t bully him, for you two are the closest brothers.¡± ¡°Dist, you¡¯re the smartest among them. Make sure to take care of everyone and not discriminate against Aga and Amu.¡± ¡°Doug, you¡¯re the weakest, make sure to eat well, and you must flee quickly if you encounter danger¡­¡± After saying his goodbyes, ¨¦tienne felt a sense of loss: ¡°Can our plan succeed? Was Director Legoff telling the truth?¡± ¡°It will succeed.¡± Bi Fang placed his hand on ¨¦tienne¡¯s shoulder with a certainty never felt before, ready to stake his life on the plan¡¯s completion and success. He was even confident that this plan was better and more flawless than those in the original world. The pioneers of the original world didn¡¯t have Bi Fang¡¯s help and couldn¡¯t select the real wilderness migration routes, needing to constantly resupply in cities along the way. Bi Fang and ¨¦tienne had done their best. The eighteen geese would return to the Arctic, breed with other flocks, and bring more goslings back each year, eventually freeing themselves from the crisis facing their species. ¡°Birds, from now on, you must fly on your own.¡± Bi Fang moved past ¨¦tienne, reached out to shut off the engine, and, using the wind, the plane glided alongside the geese. It wasn¡¯t a malfunction; it was simply to savor the moment. The vast wind blew beneath them, carrying moisture and warmth, as Bi Fang looked towards the north and then the south. Heaven and earth. Humans and birds. On the beach, colorful campsites rose high, as people couldn¡¯t wait to witness the final moment of the geese landing. They propped up sun umbrellas, basking in the sunlight. Vendors pushed their mobile freezers, hawking their cold drinks. Men wearing sun hats walked on the beach, carrying wooden boxes filled with various sunscreens, offering samples to any well-figured girls they encountered. Journalists drove in early, ready with their ¡°long guns and short cannons.¡± Matthew blended into the crowd, looking at the dense heads of people and feeling something amiss, as if something had changed. ¡°Uncle, are you a journalist too?¡± Peter strolled on the grass and saw Matthew standing alone in the forest. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Then why don¡¯t you go to the beach? Wouldn¡¯t it be clearer there?¡± Matthew paused, then counter-asked Peter, ¡°What about you? Why aren¡¯t you going?¡± Peter spread his hands helplessly: ¡°Too many people.¡± Matthew suddenly froze, finally understanding why he had silently chosen to stand here. Indeed, the boy was right. There were too many people. It was supposed to be a migration far from humans, so why had it turned into this? ¡°The wind¡¯s too strong, I can¡¯t hear clearly. What? Thirty-five minutes, five minutes? Roger!¡± On the beach, the leader received the message and hastened to the shore, shouting, ¡°Five more minutes, they¡¯ll arrive in five minutes!¡± The crowd stirred, and those holding placards quickly stood up, ready with their welcome banners. A man beside the leader quickly stood up and ran to greet Elvan, ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Hello.¡± Elvan stood up in response, as the plane would pass over a large lake, he had set off early in the morning and waited in advance at the destination. The man hurriedly asked, ¡°Where will the plane land?¡± Elvan looked up and pointed to a spot on the beach, ¡°Over there, where it says ¡®Bi Fang and ¨¦tienne are heroes,¡¯ with the heart next to it.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll make sure the camera captures it, thank you.¡± The man expressed his gratitude and then began to direct the cameraman, ¡°Jim, a little further back, a little further back!¡± Five minutes later, a shadow appeared at the edge of the sky, then grew larger and more distinct. The people on the beach began to cheer, waving their signs and screaming in anticipation of the heroes landing on the lake surface. Bi Fang was startled by the pitch-black beach; he thought there would be a welcoming party of maybe a hundred or two at the destination, but how many were there now? A couple of thousand? No, even more. The geese next to the airplane began to cry out in alarm. Finally realizing something was amiss, Elvan on the beach stopped Lenin, who wanted to go forward, and looked behind, ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯re leaving.¡± ¡°Where to?¡± ¡°Just follow me!¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang on the plane saw Elvan and also stopped ¨¦tienne, ¡°Don¡¯t get off yet, fly a few more circles.¡± ¨¦tienne, not understanding why, did as he was told. The crowd on the beach cheered even louder, thinking Bi Fang was performing some kind of stunt, their voices swelling more and more. Not until Elvan had run far enough did Bi Fang point towards the distance, ¡°Quick, keep up with your dad!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± The airplane roared as it flew over the heads of the people below. The leader looked at the rapidly disappearing airplane, stunned, ¡°Why is he flying over there?¡± The crowd, caught off-guard by the disappearance of the airplane, let their signs fall to the ground. Matthew raised his camera with a smile and pressed the shutter towards the geese in the sky. [Damn, that¡¯s so wicked!] [So cunning!] [This is the migration I had in mind, too many people spoil it!] [True salvation has always been the effort of a few, Old Fang, I wasn¡¯t wrong about you, a man who doesn¡¯t bow to popularity!] [A bit cool, indeed.] ¡°Hurry!¡± Elvan called out to Lenin. Lenin, panting heavily, felt as if all his body fat was burning, but he kept running. The two of them walked further and further until they reached a deserted small lake. The airplane turned off its engines and spiraled down, the geese swam into the marsh as if diving into the sea. Elvan walked into the water, watching Bi Fang and ¨¦tienne come down from the plane. The four looked at each other, first with smiles, and then burst into loud laughter. ¡­ Lenin piloted the airplane away, Bi Fang and ¨¦tienne stepped out of the cabin, looking at the geese moving in the wetlands, their eyes full of satisfaction. In the live streaming room, the viewers also realized that the final moment of farewell was coming, both for humans and geese, and for them and the geese. Bi Fang put his arm around ¨¦tienne¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Let¡¯s go, from now on they¡¯ll have to rely on themselves, you¡¯ve known this day would come, haven¡¯t you?¡± Bi Fang was just as reluctant to leave; this was the most unique adventure he had ever been on, filled with not just tension and excitement, but also great satisfaction and a cleansing of the soul. The beginning of the journey might not have been quite right, and he had violated many things, even taking the risk of bringing along a fifteen-year-old boy. But it was precisely because it was ¨¦tienne that they could succeed. The adult world is always full of rules, just as Elvan would have encountered obstacles from Director Legoff and given up, yet a teenager¡¯s binary world is more pure. This might just be a teenager¡¯s ¡°second-year syndrome,¡± but Elvan envied this purity. ¨¦tienne wiped away his tears and smiled, ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re doing the right thing.¡± ¡°Exactly, the right thing,¡± said Elvan, putting on his coat, ¡°Let¡¯s go, we should go have a genuine French meal, Bi Fang, you¡¯ve been here for so long and I haven¡¯t properly hosted you yet.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m going to have a feast.¡± Chapter 207: 204: The land is not something we inherit from our ancestors. Chapter 207: Chapter 204: The land is not something we inherit from our ancestors. The group got in the car and headed toward the restaurant, along the way, they could still see plenty of vendors hawking small gifts in light of the holiday, immersed in a strong Christmas atmosphere. Is Christmas coming already? Bi Fang felt a little disoriented, only now remembering that he had set out in mid to late November. After a journey of over a month, it was almost the 25th. ¡°Could I borrow some money?¡± Bi Fang turned to look at Elvan in the back seat. They had been in such a hurry on their journey that he hadn¡¯t even thought of exchanging currency and didn¡¯t carry any extra cash. ¡°Of course! Any amount is fine, you don¡¯t have to pay me back.¡± Elvan took out his wallet, signaling Bi Fang to take as much as he liked, but Bi Fang only took the smallest denomination and then asked Lenin to stop the car. He went to a small stall selling gifts, had a brief chat with the vendor, and then got back into the car. Elvan came forward and asked, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Nothing much, just bought something.¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°Let¡¯s get going, I¡¯m starving. I haven¡¯t had anything decent to eat in a month.¡± Hearing Bi Fang say this, the others became less curious and assumed he had just bought some souvenirs. The car stopped in front of a white French-style building with a sign planted on the lawn bearing the restaurant¡¯s name. The waiter, dressed in black with white gloves, opened the car door respectfully. Elvan really wasn¡¯t stingy, taking them directly to a famous local restaurant that, according to a quick internet search by Bi Fang, was said to serve authentic French cuisine. Reflecting on it, he had been in Europe for over a month, France for over a week, yet he had hardly had any good food. The only decent meals he had were the liquid foods provided by the hospital, with a faint burnt taste. Bi Fang took the chef¡¯s menu from the waiter, and after confirming there were no dietary restrictions, he asked for a double portion. ¡°Double?¡± The waiter was taken aback; it was the first time he had heard of ordering a double serving. Bi Fang closed the menu, ¡°Is there a problem? Just pretend five of us came.¡± The waiter hesitated, ¡°Sir, our individual meals should be satisfying enough.¡± ¡°No worries, just serve five portions, and quickly.¡± Elvan cut off the waiter¡¯s words, urging him to bring the food quickly. Having come here, he was prepared to spend a good amount, and he knew Bi Fang could eat a lot. When in the hospital, Bi Fang was able to consume what three people could eat, leaving even the nurses astonished, fearing the patient might overeat and cause himself issues. However, nothing bad happened, and his wounds actually healed quite faster. [French Cuisine¡ªLeading the Trends in Western Gastronomy!] [Wilderness Broadcaster Turns Into Mukbang Host!] [Master Fang can really eat, haha, Elvan¡¯s wallet is twitching, foaming at the mouth!] [I see everyone else in pairs, a man and a woman, but why does Old Fang have four guys, so boring!] [I want to see Old Fang team up with a young lady (Dog¡¯s head)] ¡°Thinking of staying in France a little longer?¡± ¡°Depends. I might stay a few more days in the wetlands to observe the geese.¡± ¨¦tienne tried to persuade him, ¡°Won¡¯t you stay a few more days? You could come to our place for Christmas.¡± ¡°No, I have lots of things to take care of.¡± Bi Fang bent his head to wrap the gift box and responded, ¡°Today is the 21st. I have a lot to sort out after these couple of days. The geese migration has brought me not only great fame but also a host of affairs to deal with.¡± ¨¦tienne felt quite downcast. Not only did he have to part with the geese, but he also had to say goodbye to the idol he had spent over a month with, which was tough for him to accept all at once. A slim, red gift box was handed to ¨¦tienne. ¨¦tienne looked up at Bi Fang, not understanding what it meant. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to open it?¡± Bi Fang extended the red gift box toward ¨¦tienne, ¡°Even though I can¡¯t be with you for Christmas, I wouldn¡¯t skimp on the Christmas gift.¡± ¨¦tienne, excited, looked at Elvan, who nodded with a smile. [Wow, what did Master Fang give?] [I don¡¯t know, just now the camera angle got blocked, I didn¡¯t see what Old Fang put in there] [Darn, I want a gift personally given by Master Fang too!] [Did he just get out of the car to buy a gift box?] [Oh my gosh, such thoughtfulness, I want a boyfriend just like Master Fang, waaaa] [Wake up, you¡¯re a guy!] Untying the ribbon, ¨¦tienne opened the gift box, and a beautifully crafted hunting knife was quietly lying inside. ¡°It¡¯s a hunting knife!¡± ¨¦tienne¡¯s eyes lit up as he looked up in disbelief at Bi Fang, ¡°Are you giving it to me?¡± Bi Fang smiled and nodded. He had purchased this hunting knife from the System store after his first live stream. It had been with him through many adventures and held a lot of sentimental value. Now that he had a harpoon as a replacement, he decided to give the knife to ¨¦tienne. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As a testament to a month of adventure. Having been in this world for half a year, Bi Fang¡¯s gains weren¡¯t only the repeated adventures, but also fans who liked him and many friends. Yao Jun, Lin Chang, Lin Xue, Gu Qingyuan, Zheng Tianfang, some people from the geography magazine, and now Elvan, Lenin, ¨¦tienne, Bi Fang was gradually establishing a deeper connection with the new world. Because he had experienced loss, he would cherish what he regained all the more. ¡°Merry Christmas!¡± ¡­ After the meal, Bi Fang stepped out of the restaurant. The live stream was about to end, and he was ready to say his official goodbyes to the audience. ¡°The live stream is coming to an end. Leading the geese to learn their migration route was indeed an impressive act, but as a public figure, I still need to tell you, I didn¡¯t do well enough. ¡°You must remember that this started as an illegal act, even if it was only in France where it was not allowed, and obviously, many more rules were broken along the way, making this trip dangerous for a young man.¡± ¡°I was initially moved by ¨¦tienne¡¯s sincerity and made a rash decision. Although later I also established a bond and trust with the geese, I must admit, I regretted agreeing to ¨¦tienne more than once. But there¡¯s no helping it, a man has to keep his word.¡± Bi Fang spread his hands to show his own helplessness, having acted impulsively in the beginning. Behind him, Elvan laughed, vigorously ruffling ¨¦tienne¡¯s hair. ¡°Back to the main point, environmentalists are often discredited for lacking people who truly make efforts and undertake actions, being only echo chambers. So I¡¯ve made a decision here, from now on, I will donate one third of the income from each of my live streams to the CWCA, to make my own contribution.¡± [!] [One third? How much would that be? Old Fang¡¯s live streams make millions in turnover, right?] [My God, isn¡¯t that too much?] [Big spender, huh?] ¡°Stop it, I¡¯m making this promise here because I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll regret it later. If I don¡¯t say it out loud now, I might back out in a couple of days.¡± Bi Fang laughed, aside from that one time in Mohe when Lin Chang made a surprising breakthrough, his income from each live stream had been steadily over a million, and one third meant he would be donating hundreds of thousands from this broadcast alone. But it wouldn¡¯t pain him, because Bi Fang knew that his main income was no longer from the gifts during live streams, but rather Wolf Fang¡¯s salary and more commercial activities. Although hundreds of thousands was a lot, it wouldn¡¯t cause him distress. Bi Fang never went out of his way to avoid taxes, even if it was legal. He has always been a man easily contented. As long as he had enough money, that was fine for him; there was no need to accumulate too much. But the viewers in the live stream room admired Bi Fang from the bottom of their hearts; to donate one third of his earnings, and on a continuous basis, was not a decision just anyone could make. Getting back on track, Bi Fang looked towards Elvan, ¡°Professor Elvan, why don¡¯t you say a few words as well? You¡¯re the initiator of this plan.¡± Elvan was taken aback and pointed to himself, ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Of course. You¡¯re a professor at the University of Paris, say a few words, as if we were your students,¡± Bi Fang encouraged Elvan. Elvan hesitated, ¡°Will they understand what I say?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s automatic translation, didn¡¯t I just speak in French?¡± ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll say a few short words.¡± Elvan scratched his head. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m not much of a talker, my students don¡¯t like my classes, so I¡¯ll just mention two figures.¡± ¡°In thirty years, Europe has lost over 420 million birds, and every year there are 80,000 hectares of land turning into concrete and roads. I don¡¯t have many ideals to preach, but I want to share an Indian proverb with everyone: We don¡¯t inherit the land from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.¡± Chapter 208: 205: Uncle Fangs Adventure? Chapter 208: Chapter 205: Uncle Fang¡¯s Adventure? In the afternoon, Bi Fang and Elvan had spent the day at the Camargue Wetlands, further confirming that the geese were doing well in the wild. Upon returning to the hotel that evening, Bi Fang was about to check his task rewards when he received another call from Wang Yongbo. ¡°Bi Fang, are you asleep?¡± ¡°Uh,¡± Bi Fang looked up at the clock and scratched his coarse chin, ¡°Isn¡¯t it only eight o¡¯clock?¡± ¡°I have someone here looking for you, will you meet with him? If yes, let me know which hotel you¡¯re at, and I¡¯ll bring him over. It¡¯s a major deal worth billions!¡± Wang Yongbo¡¯s tone was brimming with excitement, which puzzled Bi Fang. A deal worth billions? And he¡¯s coming to the hotel to find me? Isn¡¯t that a bit exaggerated? What kind of business deal involves billions? I¡¯m a decent person, I wouldn¡¯t do or accept such deals worth billions; getting exposed would make me lose followers. Wang Yongbo, oh Wang Yongbo, I didn¡¯t expect a man of your robust appearance to be into this sort of thing. After giving his address to Wang Yongbo, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help feeling uneasy. Should he accept or not? S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If he did, he wasn¡¯t that kind of person; if he didn¡¯t, they were coming all the way here. It would feel rather rude to reject them just like that. Caught in his dilemma, there was a knock on the door. Bi Fang sighed, ultimately deciding to face reality. He wasn¡¯t suited for this kind of thing; he was a righteous gentleman. He went to the door, took a few deep breaths, and opened it. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Mr. Bi, hello, I¡¯m Brandt Palliston. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you. Just call me Bran.¡± Standing outside his room was a Caucasian man alongside Wang Yongbo, wearing a confident smile and speaking fluent Chinese with an accent, his enunciation clear. The man was dressed in a silver-gray suit, shiny leather shoes, and a rose-gold watch; his attire¡¯s luxury matched perfectly with his robust figure. The epitome of a successful and elegant gentleman. If it wasn¡¯t for what he said next, Bi Fang might have mistaken him for a male model from some agency. ¡°Mr. Fang, I am here on behalf of the Disney Company to discuss a potential collaboration with you.¡± Bran sat down on the sofa, and his opening remark took Bi Fang by surprise. Disney? Why would someone from a movie-making company like Disney come to him? ¡°What kind of collaboration?¡± ¡°We wish to acquire the rights to adapt your experience with the migrating geese into an animated film, planned to release within three years.¡± Bran took a sip of coffee, crossed his left leg over his right, then after a while, switched to cross his right leg over his left. For some reason, ever since he entered the room, he had felt a sense of defeat, involuntarily toning down his presence as if he had entered the den of some formidable beast. Wang Yongbo stood by, glancing between Bi Fang and Bran, and felt that Bi Fang¡¯s presence was slightly more imposing. Bran exuded confidence before entering the room, but after sitting down in front of Bi Fang, Bran seemed to have changed completely. He looked like a wolf but felt somewhat like an Erha. Bran coming to seek collaboration was also unexpected for Wang Yongbo because the matter seemed rather sci-fi: an overseas corporation suddenly comes to you, hoping you¡¯d grant the rights to turn your story into an animated film. The first reaction for most people would be to think it¡¯s a scam. However, when this happened to Bi Fang, it somehow didn¡¯t seem so far-fetched. Breaking the harsh and unreasonable rules of the adult world, one sets out on a nature adventure with fervor and dreams, Migrating geese, hunting reindeer, confronting lynxes, flying through storms, youth, adventurers, starlit forests, officials colluding with poachers to traffic wildlife. Is there any fairy tale more realistic than this? This perfectly aligns with the consistent core of Disney animations. By the time Bi Fang¡¯s name echoed around the world, Disney was already contemplating turning this story into a blockbuster. After days of meetings and discussions, everyone agreed it was feasible, and so Bran was honorably dispatched. ¡°If you agree, we will pay thirty million Ugly Yuan for the licensing rights, and your movie will be released globally, letting more people know about this animal conservation effort and calling for greater participation,¡± he said. Bran presented Wang Yongbo with a figure that made his heart skip a beat; he had even researched Bi Fang beforehand, hedging his persuasive efforts not on value but on influence. Thirty million! Ugly Yuan, no less! ¡°Thirty million? That much?¡± Bi Fang was surprised, too. Were licensing fees normally this high? ¡°You misunderstand. We are not just paying for the licensing rights but purchasing your entire adventure,¡± Bran explained. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Your adventure is so perfect it doesn¡¯t need any adaptation. In fact, to adapt it would be an insult to the story. Our company has never encountered such a situation before, so we¡¯ve always believed thirty million to be a reasonable price.¡± Bran wasn¡¯t lying; this was indeed their first encounter with such an instance. Previous live-action rights almost always involved adapting the experience to some degree to enhance the storytelling. No one¡¯s real-life adventures are genuinely as fairy tale-like as Bi Fang¡¯s were. So, the sum included not just licensing fees but also scripting fees, consultancy fees, copyright fees, and so forth. Taking Bi Fang¡¯s influence into account, the price was fair. Disney was no fool¡ªthey had meticulously studied Bi Fang¡¯s explosive popularity curve, which clearly had ample potential left to tap. In just half a year, he had become nearly globally known, save for parts of Africa and other third-world regions that lagged in news coverage. Almost everyone in Europe and North and South America who watched livestreams knew of Bi Fang¡¯s fame. By the time the animated film comes out, perhaps a year later, how much would Bi Fang¡¯s popularity have grown? Disney¡¯s data analysts were astounded after their research, concluding it could increase tenfold! Thus, Bran treated Bi Fang with the utmost respect, just like a top-tier star. ¡°Furthermore, we plan to develop an animated series in addition to the film. Have you heard of ¡®Uncle Long¡¯s Adventures¡¯?¡± he asked. ¡°Of course.¡± Bi Fang was certainly aware of it; the animation was famous and of high quality. ¡°If you¡¯re willing to accept our collaboration, we also plan to develop a similar type of animated series. Of course, we will pay an additional fee for the image rights, and we can assure you, the quality will be no less than ¡®Uncle Long¡¯s Adventures¡¯.¡± Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but be moved; it was like a pie falling from the sky. The world¡¯s best animation company suddenly comes to you, offering collaboration, to bring your story to the silver screen¡ªit was every adventurer¡¯s dream. It was the perfect opportunity to break out. Bi Fang had always known that livestreaming had its limitations¡ªmany streamers might be famous in the eyes of their viewers, but outside the streaming community, they were barely known. He could claim global fame now because many news outlets had reported on him; otherwise, relying solely on livestreaming, he could never have reached such heights. If news coverage could do this much, what about movies and animations? What level could they reach? Chapter 209: 206: Can This Thing Even Fuse? Chapter 209: Chapter 206: Can This Thing Even Fuse? ¡°` ¡°Then tomorrow I will bring the legal team to discuss the details further, and once everything is finalized we can sign the contract directly.¡± Having tentatively confirmed the intention to cooperate, Bran didn¡¯t stay long, picking up his coat to leave the unpleasant room. He needed to hurry to get the authorization from ¨¦tienne. Bi Fang closed the door and looked at Wang Yongbo, who was still in the room, unsure why he had stayed behind: ¡°Is there anything else?¡± Wang Yongbo laughed, pulling out a stack of documents. Of course, there was a reason for him to stay. Strangely enough, it was really difficult to get in touch with Bi Fang, either due to no signal or no time to talk, finding him for regular business matters was a matter of fate. This created a paradoxical situation: almost all of Bi Fang¡¯s personal business was handled by Wolf Fang. It almost became a consensus in the circle that finding Wolf Fang was akin to finding Bi Fang. How could ordinary staff witness such posture? With matters being relayed up the hierarchy, everything piled up with Wang Yongbo, making a corporate vice-president act like a personal assistant. ¡°Don¡¯t you have a studio? You could hire a personal assistant.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Wolf Fang assign Liu Qian to me?¡± ¡°She is just your managerial responsibility¡­¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you let her resign and come work for me, then? I¡¯m not lacking the salary for her, I¡¯ve noticed that your Wolf Fang people have good business skills. If you let her come, I won¡¯t treat her poorly.¡± Bi Fang flipped through the invitations without looking up. ¡°But that would require her consent. If she agrees, then I¡¯ll let her go.¡± Wang Yongbo smiled. He had only made the comment in jest; in reality, both parties were quite satisfied with the current arrangement. This unique cooperation brought them closer together, rather than being just a simple partnership. Bi Fang was not like any other broadcaster at Wolf Fang, he was more like a franchisee, with an international presence that Wang Yongbo, despite many years in broadcasting, had not seen before, both domestically and abroad. Never before had someone like Bi Fang been seen, and with his current status, teaming up with any platform would be a mighty alliance. Yet, he chose to stay here, to grow alongside Wolf Fang. With Bi Fang¡¯s help, Wolf Fang overcame their difficulties and even began expanding internationally, leaving their declining days far behind. Bi Fang was similarly grateful for Wolf Fang¡¯s support when he was at his wit¡¯s end, offering to stream under the best conditions. ¡°Have you watched any of the broadcasts on our platform lately?¡± ¡°No, why?¡± ¡°Recently, there have been a lot of imitators of you on our platform. I¡¯m not sure if I should sign them.¡± Wang Yongbo was worried, unsure how to deal with the situation. The popularity of the wilderness broadcast theme was soaring, sparking a trend. Many tried to emulate Bi Fang¡¯s Wilderness Survival, and although most were clumsy, eating bugs on deserted islands and such, there were a few who showed signs of teamwork, comparable to Shark¡¯s Lu Wentao in overall strength. Most broadcasters opting for this theme chose Wolf Fang because with Bi Fang there, Wolf Fang had the largest fan base interested in this theme. ¡°If there are good broadcasters, just sign them. The platform can make its own decisions. I left Shark over contract deception, not competition. I¡¯m not afraid of real competition; you don¡¯t need to worry about me in this matter.¡± ¡°I¡¯m concerned it could cause a split in your audience.¡± Wang Yongbo had clarity; ten, a hundred, no, no number of wilderness broadcasters could match the impact of Bi Fang alone. If Bi Fang spoke up, Wolf Fang wouldn¡¯t sign any of them. Bi Fang flipped through another invitation and calmly said, ¡°Would they dare to dilute my audience while I¡¯m broadcasting?¡± Wang Yongbo was taken aback, realizing it was indeed true. Ever since Bi Fang started his broadcast series ¡®Chasing the Sunshine¡¯, other broadcasters indeed had stopped for a month! To say stopped was a bit exaggerated; they still broadcasted daily to keep their audience¡¯s loyalty, but they unanimously chose to halt their wilderness broadcasts, even Shark¡¯s Lu Wentao had been quiet, only recently announcing his fourth series of wilderness broadcasts. One person dominating the entire network, it was truly so. From his very first broadcast, Bi Fang had created the persona of a Wilderness Survivalist, now unshakeable, especially the authenticity of his broadcasts, which no one doubted. Anyone who found out about the wilderness theme through other means would inevitably be drawn to Bi Fang¡¯s streams. ¡°Alright, then I am reassured.¡± Wang Yongbo nodded, noting that Bi Fang was still looking through invitations and couldn¡¯t help advising, ¡°Is there one you¡¯re interested in participating in?¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t you guys marked them out for me?¡± Bi Fang picked out an invitation with a folded corner, Amy¡¯s Interview Show. ¡°` He had heard of this interview show; it was quite famous abroad and could be said to be a household name, its guests usually being major celebrities or even prime ministers. Bi Fang had not expected that he would receive an invitation from a foreign interview program. ¡°This is our company¡¯s assessment and recommendation. Actually, I also hope you¡¯ll participate. If it were a domestic interview invitation, it wouldn¡¯t matter much as your base here is very stable. But you¡¯ve just begun to tap into the overseas market, and attending an international interview would be very beneficial for your development,¡± Wang Yongbo¡¯s words had to be admitted, they tempted Bi Fang. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Indeed, Bi Fang was still a newcomer to the international audience; more exposure would help build a solid fan base. There were some programs in China that had invited him before, but those were not interviews, rather variety shows, something that Bi Fang did not want to participate in. Playing those kind of silly games on screen could make a person silly, too. ¡°There¡¯s no problem with this program itself, right?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve investigated, there are no issues, and the presenter doesn¡¯t have any scandals,¡± Wang Yongbo knew what Bi Fang was referring to. Foreign programs often come with biases, and they will not make such a mistake. Bi Fang nodded, ¡°A good arrangement. I have no objections. Just let me know in advance when it¡¯s time.¡± After settling the business and seeing Wang Yongbo out, Bi Fang quickly closed the door. He could finally check his rewards! Bi Fang was excited since the rewards for this task were specified in advance! An Advanced Skill Upgrade Coupon and an Advanced Skill Progression Coupon! With these two coupons, Bi Fang could completely upgrade his Wilderness Survival Skill to the orange level! When that time comes, Wilderness Survival would be his first orange-level Skill! If he could reach that level, he would surely be a once-in-a-century Wilderness Master! [Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the task: Chasing the Sunshine. Rewards are being issued. Would you like to receive them?] Bi Fang took a deep breath. Receive! [Detected no award escalation. Your final rewards are: Advanced Skill Upgrade Coupon *1, Advanced Skill Progression Coupon *1, Wilderness Points *1600, Enhancement Points *4, Skill Advancement Ticket *1] ¡°Wow, a bountiful harvest!¡± Bi Fang saw the rewards he had received and was satisfied. However, it seemed there was no hunting reward this time, even though he had caught a poacher and a reindeer¡­ Never mind, Bi Fang was not obsessed with that, he was already content with the rewards he got. He opened his panel to start examining how to use the rewards. The first was the lottery draw. Sixteen hundred points, oh, there were three points left from last time, so it should be one thousand six hundred and three points in total. He could start with two runs of a ten-spin. He clicked the roulette wheel, and ten minutes later. [Congratulations to the host for obtaining a Blue Skill, Tai Chi Level 1. Detection of the host¡¯s existing Skill: Swimming Dragon Bagua Level 1. Would you like to fuse them?] Fuse? Bi Fang paused when he saw the message; could these two Skills even be fused? The bonuses provided by the Swimming Dragon Bagua were significant for Bi Fang; it helped him dodge the charge of a reindeer and deal with Legoff, as big as a calf, mainly relying on the Swimming Dragon Bagua techniques. Traditional martial arts had to be acknowledged as very strong, especially the ones provided by the System. Bi Fang even felt that the Skills he obtained were more authentic than those currently passed down on Wudang Mountain. They could actually be used in a fight. But about fusion, well, he had no reference for that, and he didn¡¯t know what the outcome would be. Nevertheless, Bi Fang thought it could be worth a try, having been influenced by web novels. Usual logic suggested that such fusions would most likely not result in a loss, and since he would have to try it sooner or later, if there was no reference, then he might as well create one. With that thought, Bi Fang chose to fuse. Chapter 210: 207: Generous Rewards, Once Again I Set Off. Chapter 210: Chapter 207: Generous Rewards, Once Again I Set Off. [Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining the special blue skill, Tai Chi Traveling Dragon lv1] Special skill? Bi Fang¡¯s mind went blank for a moment, and before he could understand what a special skill was, he felt his body start to heat up, as if all the ATP in his body was breaking down and metabolizing to provide energy. He exhaled a mouthful of hot air, took off his jacket, and couldn¡¯t help but start to move his body. His limbs stretched out, it wasn¡¯t Tai Chi, nor was it Youlong Bagua, but one could see the shadows of both forms. If there were bystanders, they would be amazed to find a special rhythm and beauty in Bi Fang¡¯s movements. All the movements were harmonious and unified, self-consistent and perfectly integrated, like a dance that could dazzle the world. Blood surged like a river thawed from ice, and every cell in his body breathed unrestrainedly like the buds of spring. A silent strength was transmitted along the muscles and meridians. Half an hour later, Bi Fang called room service to order some food, then dived into the shower and turned the water up to full blast. The hot water displaced the heat and sweat from his whole body. The overheated muscles and tendons retracted, and Bi Fang saw his own reflection in the mirror, his skin rosy, as if he had completely recovered from a month of wilderness living, showing a perfect state of health. Bi Fang took a deep breath. He even discovered that his way of breathing had been completely changed. It was no longer the normal abdominal breathing, but rather an alternation of abdominal and reverse abdominal breathing that had become instinctual. The breathing frequency was also very special; each breath seemed to generate strength. Let alone the special frequency, the natural alternation of abdominal and reverse abdominal breathing was something that normal people couldn¡¯t do. Maybe by concentrating, one could perform reverse abdominal breathing, but as soon as the mind wandered, they would immediately revert to abdominal breathing. Whether for exercise or for health, the method of breathing is very important, and Bi Fang had a lot to say on this matter. If Bi Fang didn¡¯t know the system¡¯s main task was wilderness livestreaming, he would have suspected he had received a health cultivation system. After mastering the skills it provided, one could prolong life, as if it was nurturing him to become a master of health cultivation. Tai Chi Traveling Dragon, yoga, Pilates¡ªwas it afraid he¡¯d die young, or did it want him to livestream until he was a hundred? Various breathing techniques were easily handled by Bi Fang. The so-called abdominal breathing method is the normal method of breathing for people: inhale and the belly swells, exhale and the belly flattens. It works by contracting the diaphragm during inhalation, lowering the diaphragm to increase the thoracic space, and doing the opposite during exhalation¡ªthe diaphragm relaxes, the diaphragm rises, reducing the thoracic space to push out waste gases¡ªa movement of the diaphragm up or down by one centimeter can increase the lung ventilation by about 300ml. Bi Fang¡¯s abdominal breathing was also different from that of an ordinary person. He even suspected that the vibration amplitude of his diaphragm had reached more than five centimeters, making the oxygen content in his blood far exceed that of normal people and also increasing the activity level of his nervous system. Reverse abdominal breathing, also known as ¡°fist breathing¡±, involves muscle contraction step by step, creating an effect of inhaling with the belly flattened and exhaling with the belly swelled, which is the opposite of abdominal breathing in appearance. But it¡¯s not so simple; the underlying principles are quite complex. This breathing method helps to generate power, and its effect on strengthening the body is obvious. Once accustomed to it, it makes one¡¯s strikes in combat more ferocious and powerful¡ªthe side effect is that it forces the gastrointestinal system to speed up digestion, requiring a particularly strong energy supply. Many boxers will use this breathing method during training to increase the effectiveness of their workouts. However, few can turn this method into an instinct, as breathing is one of the most basic instincts of living beings, and changing it is exceedingly difficult. Yet Bi Fang not only turned it into an instinct, but also alternated between the two without deliberately trying to control it. Telling others about this would surely drop jaws in astonishment! It wasn¡¯t just a simple fusion of Tai Chi and Youlong Bagua. Bi Fang could even sense that it also incorporated elements of Pilates and the breathing techniques of advanced yoga, much more thoroughly integrated! As expected of a special skill, it not only provided knowledge, technique and experience, but even induced a slight instinctual change in him. Bi Fang opened his eyes, looking at himself in the mirror, and could more clearly feel the difference. His thoughts were sharper, and even his aura had changed. He was no longer as intense but more tranquil and upright. Like a modest gentleman with a sword sheathed. At that moment, the room service Bi Fang had ordered before his shower arrived. After settling the payment, Bi Fang sat down at the table, picked up a steak and devoured it, downing two thick cuts, three pieces of bread, and an apple. Aside from skill fusion, the lottery had plenty of other prizes, all outdoor equipment. However, what caught Bi Fang¡¯s attention the most was one big item. The system displayed that it needed a space of 5*5*2.5 to fit¡­ What the hell did I win, something that requires such a huge space? That¡¯s the size of a bedroom; back in the capital, it¡¯d cost at least a million. If I hadn¡¯t earned some money, I might not even have been able to afford the prize. It seemed that he could only deal with it once he got back. Bi Fang curbed his curiosity, preparing for a second round of ten consecutive draws. But just as he clicked on the wheel, he found out that the system indicated a lack of points. Bi Fang: ¡°???¡± He hurriedly checked his remaining Points and found that only 123 were left, a whopping thousand less! It was only after checking the record that he realized fusion actually required Points! ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say so earlier!¡± Bi Fang literally spat blood, with a thousand Points, he could have had two sets of ten consecutive draws, but now they were fused into a single Skill. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It took quite a while, but Bi Fang finally accepted the reality. Upon reflection, it wasn¡¯t wholly unacceptable¡­ The effect of the Skill fusion had exceeded his expectations, and now he could definitely thrash Legoff. Well, maybe ¡°thrash¡± was an exaggeration, it would be fairer to say he could beat him in a normal fight. At least, he wouldn¡¯t struggle as he did a week ago, barely surviving at the edge of life and death. With the last Advanced Skill Upgrade Coupon, he upgraded Wilderness Survivalist, but Bi Fang now realized embarrassingly that it was only lv4, which wasn¡¯t enough to meet the advancement criteria¡­ It was so unexpected that the advancement coupon couldn¡¯t be used anymore, as there were no Advanced Skills to advance, nor could he draw a miracle with a ten-consecutive draw, and single draws¡­ Who does single draws anyway¡­ With a sigh, Bi Fang used another advancement coupon to upgrade Special Recon Soldier to a Purple Skill, and the Skill became Special Recon Scout lv1. Similar to the previous times, the advancement provided greater improvements compared to leveling up, with more experience, knowledge, and techniques pouring into his mind. Recon Scout? Bi Fang was delighted. Most veterans knew that the training for a recon scout was always the toughest in the military, and each recon scout could be considered a top-tier combatant. Whether it was domestic recon units or foreign assault units, recon scouts had the strongest individual combat capabilities, wilderness survival skills, and escape abilities. This advancement greatly enhanced Bi Fang¡¯s personal combat abilities! Finally came the main event: adding Points. No Skill could improve more directly than by adding Points. After three enhancements, Bi Fang had achieved the physical fitness of a real special operations soldier, and adding more Points could push him close to a professional athlete. Bi Fang had made a personal categorization. If the average value for a normal person was 10, then for a professional soldier it was 12, for a special ops soldier between 13 and 14, and for a special recon scout between 14 and 15. Anything over 15 was at the level of a professional athlete. Reaching twelve was already very difficult to improve upon with short-term training, which is why Bi Fang chose to directly add Points, one for each category. After everything was completed, a warm and comfortable sensation appeared again, and Bi Fang took one final look at the status panel before going to sleep. [Unique Binder: Bi Fang] [Age: 24] [Height: 183.6cm] [Weight: 77KG] [Strength: 13] [Physique: 15] [Agility: 13] [Spirit: 13] [Status: Good] [Enhancement Points: 0] [Wilderness Points: 3] Purple Tree Trunk: Wilderness Survivalist lv4, Advanced Yoga lv1, Special Recon Scout lv1. Blue Tree Trunk: Pilates lv3, Archery lv1, Tai Chi Traveling Dragon lv1. Green Tree Trunk: Cross-country Hiking lv5, Rock Climbing lv5, Swimming lv2, First Aid lv5, Biological Identification lv2, Calisthenics lv3, High-altitude Parachuting lv3, Running lv1. Chapter 211: 208 Extreme Environment Training Chapter 211: Chapter 208 Extreme Environment Training ¡°Finally, back home!¡± Stepping onto his native land, Bi Fang felt that every breath he took was sweet, surrounded by familiar faces and the comforting mother tongue. ¡°Then I¡¯ll have Liu Qian contact you later,¡± said Wang Yongbo as he walked down the plane, carrying his briefcase and bidding farewell to Bi Fang. Bi Fang nodded. He looked around and adjusted his mask to fit more snugly. Both of them had returned quietly, not even notifying their fan clubs. Otherwise, with Bi Fang¡¯s current status, the airport might already have been overwhelmed by fans and reporters. After parting with Wang Yongbo, Bi Fang casually hailed a taxi, prepared to go home and see what exactly the 5*5*2.5-sized thing was. If it turned out to be useless, could he refuse it? Property prices in the Magic Capital were far from cheap. However, Bi Fang had still underestimated his own popularity. In less than ten minutes from getting into the car, he noticed that the driver had glanced at him no fewer than ten times, averaging more than once a minute. ¡°Driver, stop looking. Do you recognize me?¡± Bi Fang pulled down his mask. The moment the driver saw Bi Fang¡¯s real face, he was shocked and then overjoyed, ¡°Oh! You¡¯re that, that big star, right? I¡¯ve seen your videos and the magazines! Yes, magazines, I was just looking at them. You¡¯ve been on several issues!¡± The driver opened the storage compartment, which was crammed full of magazines. Being a frequent driver for airport pickups, he had collected quite a few and liked to read them in his spare time. He picked out a few and handed them to Bi Fang. It was National Geographic! There were three issues, and all of them had Bi Fang¡¯s picture on the cover. The first one featured the heavy snowfall in Mohe, with Bi Fang leading Wu Mingtao and the others in a battle for survival. The second one showed a vast expanse of yellow sand, with Bi Fang emerging from underneath, climbing out of the ground. The third issue, and the most recent, displayed a clear blue sky with white clouds, capturing the moment Bi Fang was flying a plane to guide a flock of geese. After the magazine¡¯s professional retouching, each picture had its own unique characteristic. ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve seen National Geographic use so many photos of the same person. They usually feature mostly landscape photos, and you rarely see people. You¡¯ve almost got your own personal column now, amazing, truly amazing!¡± The driver had watched all of Bi Fang¡¯s videos and admired him immensely, considering him the epitome of manliness. Sometimes, he¡¯d get so engrossed in watching that he¡¯d forget to take orders. It was just too thrilling and exciting! Watching one video felt like watching an entire movie, no, even more exciting than a movie, because this was real life. ¡°Right, what happened to that group of poachers? I heard they even killed someone, didn¡¯t they? Could they be sentenced to death?¡± The driver, reminded of the latest developments and having the concerned party right in his cab, felt compelled to inquire. ¡°The death sentence is out of the question, but they¡¯ll probably spend their lives behind bars,¡± Police had come to investigate while Bi Fang was hospitalized. However, with the live broadcast record, there wasn¡¯t much doubt about the whole incident, as the evidence was irrefutable. France was the first country in Europe to prohibit torture, yet it was the last in Western Europe to abolish the death penalty. Nevertheless, no matter how late they abolished it, it was, after all, abolished. But with such a high-profile case, things didn¡¯t look good for Legoff and his companions. Even if they didn¡¯t get life sentences, several decades were the bare minimum, and without the possibility of bail. By the time they got out, they would be old men in their eighties or nineties, not even certain if they could catch a wild chicken. The driver, filled with righteous indignation, spluttered, ¡°It¡¯s such a pity. Foreigners just have a screw loose, why abolish that thing? Those four, oh, five poachers should all have been taken out!¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Bi Fang shook his head, equally baffled by foreigners¡¯ way of thinking. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Feeling the validation from the ¡°big shot,¡± the driver kept nodding, turning the conversation in various directions all the way to Bi Fang¡¯s residential complex, seemingly reluctant to end the chat even as they arrived. The driver, having dropped Bi Fang off at the entrance, took out a pen, ¡°It¡¯s not every day I drive a big star. I can¡¯t take your money, please give me an autograph. Just sign on this magazine.¡± As Bi Fang signed his name, he declined, ¡°That wouldn¡¯t be right.¡± ¡°Ah, don¡¯t mention it, let¡¯s just leave it at that,¡± said the driver, grabbing the magazine and zoomed away with a press on the gas pedal, leaving Bi Fang disheveled in the wind. After replacing the pen cap, Bi Fang looked at the payment deduction notification on his phone, utterly confused by what the so-called waiver of the fare meant. He had clearly used an app for the ride, and the system had deducted the payment¡­ ¡°Ah!¡± Bi Fang shook his head and turned to go home. After being away for a month, the house was covered in a layer of dust. Bi Fang went straight to the basement door and asked the System to manifest the reward. [Ding! Location selected, would you like to deploy?] Bi Fang, looking at the spatial blueprint in his mind, decided to deploy it against the wall on the side. [Ding! Deployment successful.] As the system prompt finished, Bi Fang saw a huge piece of mechanical equipment suddenly appear out of nowhere in the basement, its upper edge almost touching the ceiling. The entire apparatus was square and solid, with a dark metal frame glowing with a faint green light at its edges, and its body composed of thick quartz glass. This sealed structure was currently empty, with several tubes beside it. What does this mean? Do I have to assemble it myself? [Ding! Congratulations to the host on acquiring the underwater training equipment.] Following the prompt, a detailed instruction manual appeared in Bi Fang¡¯s hands, and after looking it over, he roughly understood. Isn¡¯t this just a sealed swimming pool? Overall, it¡¯s a machine that uses water resistance for training, but with many functions: it can increase pressure and oxygen, simulate various underwater environments and currents, and even speed up recovery by adding herbal ingredients to the water. The herb formula includes, but is not limited to, cinnamon, Sichuan pepper, star anise plus a whole bunch of stuff Bi Fang couldn¡¯t understand¡­ Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but rant; while these ingredients could indeed be used medicinally, isn¡¯t it a bit too much to mix them all together? Isn¡¯t this underwater training, but rather a scaled-up pressure cooker? After tapping the thick glass wall, Bi Fang accepted it; after all, drawing Tai Chi in a ten-pull was already quite good, and to get such a useful big gadget was definitely a windfall. Actually, it was an excellent tool for training in diving. Normally, training in diving is very dangerous, but with this device, Bi Fang could stop at any time and simulate various underwater environments. The extreme pressure could even reach the equivalent of 500 meters underwater. In reality, the deepest freediving record without equipment is 113 meters, while the record with equipment is 332 meters. Here, the term ¡°without equipment¡± means truly with bare hands, not using oxygen tanks, without relying on any external devices during the dive or ascent, propelling oneself solely with physical strength and holding their breath to brave the deep sea. Physiologists have calculated that the limit for human deep diving is only around 100 meters, which shows the true potential of the human body. Thinking of this record, Bi Fang rubbed his hands, eager to find out his own current limit of adaptation. After connecting the water hose, Bi Fang began to fill the equipment. When it was filled, he took a deep breath and entered the device. The device automatically sealed, and the water pressure began to change according to Bi Fang¡¯s will. Five meters, ten meters. An average person, without the aid of any tools, can generally dive around 10 meters. Those with slightly poor physique might only manage around 5 meters. But Bi Fang felt he could go further: fifteen meters, twenty meters, twenty-five meters. At this depth, he began to feel the pressure, which was the same as what he had experienced in the Qaidam Aquatic Cave. When the pressure reached twenty-eight meters, Bi Fang¡¯s face began to turn red. Until thirty meters, Bi Fang started to struggle and asked the device to decrease the pressure. The device was intelligent, reducing the pressure at a speed suitable for Bi Fang¡¯s tolerance. This is also a very important aspect of diving because decompressing too quickly can lead to decompression sickness, and in severe cases, gas embolism! This is the most dangerous thing in diving! Can you imagine what it¡¯s like to have a person¡¯s blood vessels filled with bubbles? ¡°Hu!¡± Resurfacing, Bi Fang took deep breaths and, looking at his record of thirty meters, knew what his training content would be next. So far, ordinary exercises had little effect on him; to survive in more extreme wildernesses, he needed training in even more extreme environments! The deep sea, the high peaks! Chapter 212: 209: The Mysterious Mission of the Adventure Channel Chapter 212: Chapter 209: The Mysterious Mission of the Adventure Channel In the sealed hydrostatic device, a dark green solution surged, and a shadow flickered and was gone as if nothing had happened. Wang Yongbo had come to join Bi Fang to go to the airport; he was headed to discuss overseas business with MeTube, while Bi Fang was off to participate in the Amy Show. They had arranged to take the same flight. Guided by the housekeeper, Wang Yongbo made his way to the basement and laid eyes on the ¡°swimming pool¡± that glowed with a dim green light. ¡°It¡¯s kind of creepy.¡± In the silent basement, Wang Yongbo examined the unique pool, puzzled by Bi Fang¡¯s peculiar taste in having such a large ¡°swimming pool¡± underground. Just as he was about to take a closer look, suddenly, a pale hand slammed against the glass wall! ¡°Ah!¡± Wang Yongbo let out a shriek, stumbling backward as a face slowly emerged from behind the hand in the green solution. It was Bi Fang. ¡°Phew, you almost scared me to death.¡± Recognizing who was in the water, Wang Yongbo almost cursed out loud. If not for the fact that he frequently watched Bi Fang¡¯s live streams, conditioning himself to be fearless, he might have had a heart attack right there! Bi Fang, floating in the water, showed a smile and gestured with his hand against the glass to wait a moment as he started to depressurize the hydrostatic device. Ten minutes later, Bi Fang emerged from the water. ¡°What is this thing?¡± ¡°A training device; it¡¯s filled with a medicinal solution that helps relieve fatigue from exercise. Mainly, I use it to adapt to some extreme environments. After returning from scuba diving in Qaidam, I had it custom-made; it just arrived a few days ago.¡± Wang Yongbo exclaimed, ¡°You¡¯re this dedicated and not famous? That would be an outrage.¡± Wiping himself with a towel, Bi Fang answered with a laugh, ¡°Aren¡¯t I already famous? Could there possibly be any host on Wolf Fang more famous than me?¡± Touching the technologically advanced ¡°swimming pool,¡± Wang Yongbo suddenly asked, ¡°This thing must¡¯ve been expensive, right?¡± Pressing his hand against the glass, Bi Fang looked at the green solution inside: ¡°Just in this pool of water, I¡¯ve put in nearly sixty thousand dollars worth of Chinese medicine, good only for twelve hours. So, expensive or not?¡± Wang Yongbo¡¯s tongue clicked in astonishment; no wonder people say extreme sports are for the wealthy, with clothing alone costing over a hundred thousand. He was getting a firsthand look at how much money gets burned in this industry. ¡°What about the matter we discussed last time? Have you thought it over?¡± Bi Fang put on his jacket, curious, ¡°The Amy Show? Didn¡¯t I already agree to it?¡± S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Not that, the one about the Discovery Channel.¡± ¡°Oh. That¡¯s fine, I¡¯ve told them. We can collaborate.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s schedule had been quite packed over the last few days, with requests for interviews from the Associated Press, Guowen Media, the East Asian Daily, BBC, and many other media outlets all wanting to feature Bi Fang to the point where he had almost forgotten what was most important¡ªthe content of his next live stream. Since he had the option to modify his tasks, Bi Fang was less concerned about the missions issued by the System and therefore took the cooperation invitation from the World Geography Channel more seriously. They wanted to purchase the TV broadcasting rights for Bi Fang¡¯s live streams. These broadcasting rights were still with Bi Fang; when he signed the contract with Bilibili last time, he had the foresight to sell only the online video broadcasting rights, which did not include television rights. Furthermore, the World Explorer Channel also wanted to work with Bi Fang to tailor-make a Wilderness Survivalist program. This was an excellent opportunity to transition from the web to television. In the previous world, shows like Bear Grylls¡¯ ¡°Wilderness Survivalist,¡± Grandpa De¡¯s ¡°Running Wild,¡± ¡°Survival 1+1,¡± ¡°Primitive Survival 21 Days,¡± and many other world-renowned outdoor programs were almost exclusively produced by this TV channel, which also created many high-quality documentaries. It was definitely a powerful TV channel. Wang Yongbo asked, ¡°Have the specifics been worked out?¡± ¡°Not yet, they¡¯re being pretty secretive, even told me not to panic when the time comes.¡± Bi Fang scratched his head, marveling that indeed the Explorer Channel knew how to play it cool, maintaining a serious and mysterious demeanor. Having packed their bags, the two men left the basement. What Wang Yongbo didn¡¯t see was that inside the dim green hydrostatic device, the red number 51 was slowly darkening. Before leaving, Bi Fang instructed the cleaning staff he had hired, ¡°Just come to clean every two days. If there¡¯s an issue, you can call me.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Three days later. When Bi Fang arrived at the set of the Amy Show, he was surprised to find the studio entrance already packed, surrounded by fans holding support signs. The moment they saw Bi Fang, they screamed excitedly, with the flash of cameras continuously going off and the sound of photography and cheers filling the air. Having received the news in advance, they had waited for several hours, and they actually saw him in person! ¡°God Fang, oh my god, I love you!¡± ¡°Master Fang! It¡¯s Master Fang!¡± ¡°An autograph, can I have an autograph, please?¡± ¡°Can I have a hug?¡± The female fans screamed crazily as Bi Fang walked on the red carpet, making so much noise the security guards felt their eardrums might burst. If it wasn¡¯t for the barrier of guards and railings, they even suspected these frenzied women would rush forward and tear Bi Fang apart! Facing the international fans, Bi Fang smiled and took their notebooks, signing them one by one. A very few even grabbed his hand and refused to let go, but luckily he was strong enough to pull away. As Bi Fang passed by a teenager about ¨¦tienne¡¯s age, he paused and curiously asked, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Who? Me? My name is Peter, Peter Parker!¡± A blushing and excited Peter, completely incredulous that his idol was actually asking for his name, handed over his notebook. ¡°I¡¯m such a fan. I really admire you so much; you are the greatest explorer of this century, no, the greatest in history. I dream of becoming someone like you. I want to be brave, strong, and powerful too.¡± Once his idol prompted him, Peter¡¯s floodgates of words burst open. ¡°Can you teach me how you train? You looked so cool when you fought four guys at once. Is it Huaxia kung fu?¡± ¡°Yes, it is Huaxia kung fu. But if you want to become as strong as me, there¡¯s something I must tell you,¡± Bi Fang said with a smile. He stylishly signed his Chinese name, specially adding a Chinese phrase afterward, then propped the pen in the notebook and handed it back to Peter, ¡°With great power comes great responsibility.¡± After speaking, Bi Fang turned and entered the studio, leaving Peter holding the notebook, pondering intently. ¡°With great power comes great responsibility?¡± Peter kept mulling over these words, finding them increasingly meaningful, as though it was his destiny to live by them. Could this be the reason why God Fang is willing to migrate geese? Incredible! Inside the studio, a slightly chubby-faced Amy in a suit was eagerly awaiting Bi Fang¡¯s arrival. As soon as he appeared, he came forward with a big hug. ¡°God Fang! I actually met you in person, it¡¯s unbelievable¡ªdude, I¡¯m in the presence of a living legend!¡± ¡°A living legend? You¡¯re exaggerating. I¡¯m just a man with an adventurous hobby,¡± Bi Fang responded with a laugh. ¡°No, not an exaggeration at all,¡± Amy released Bi Fang. ¡°You have no idea how legendary the things you do are. You know what my reaction was when I heard someone was going to pilot a hang glider and lead a flock of geese across Europe? Madman! A complete madman.¡± Amy¡¯s expression was animated: ¡°Only a god could accomplish that, so you¡¯re God Fang. That nickname is so fitting, especially after I watched all your videos. My God, I¡¯ve never interviewed a hero like you.¡± Bi Fang responded courteously to Amy¡¯s praise: ¡°Your talk show is also impressive; it¡¯s known worldwide and is definitely one of the most successful shows I¡¯ve seen. I believe the sole reason is because you, and not someone else, are the host.¡± The director, watching the mutual business flattery, couldn¡¯t help interrupting, ¡°Sorry to cut in, but it¡¯s six o¡¯clock now. We need to start shooting officially at eight, so we should start preparing as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Oh, right, you see I got so excited I forgot about that,¡± Amy said with a slight smile, turning to Bi Fang, ¡°So, before we begin the official recording, there are a few things I¡¯d like to ask Mr. Bi. Is there anything I shouldn¡¯t mention, like your past experiences? Or anything else?¡± Bi Fang pondered for a moment before shaking his head, ¡°No, if there¡¯s something you want to ask, then just go ahead and ask.¡± ¡°Okay, after the show finishes, if there¡¯s anything impolite, we can cut it out. Also, we¡¯ve prepared a little game; have a look and see if it¡¯s suitable. If it¡¯s not, we can make changes.¡± Amy nodded, pulling Bi Fang to the front of the stage, and began explaining some key points about the broadcast, as well as the schedule. They ran through a rehearsal to ensure that there would be no surprises during the show. After seven o¡¯clock, the audience gradually arrived. By eight o¡¯clock, the show officially began. Chapter 213: 210: Dreams Chapter 213: Chapter 210: Dreams The excited audience all took their seats, with Matthew looking eagerly towards the stage. Today, tickets for the audience were incredibly hard to come by. For Bi Fang¡¯s debut interview show, countless people wanted to delve deeper into the life of the legendary adventurer. Even Matthew had to pull quite a few strings to finally grab these two audience tickets, dragging his friend Fitz along to watch the live show. Fitz arrived, looking travel-worn: ¡°My goodness, I just saw so many fans outside. They¡¯ve blocked the entrance. They¡¯re actually waiting for Bi Fang to come out, but the show doesn¡¯t end until eleven o¡¯clock.¡± The show was to start at eight, meaning that the fans would be standing outside for over three hours¡ªinsane! Matthew nodded. Bi Fang rarely appeared in public outside of livestreams; his private life was almost a blank slate to the public. This episode of Amy¡¯s interview show had fans of the idol going absolutely wild. The two of them discussed Bi Fang, both eager to know what questions Amy would ask and which topics everyone was curious about. Soon enough, the television station¡¯s Amy Interview Show started. Bi Fang appeared alongside Amy on a semicircular platform, the whole studio decked in white to focus the audience¡¯s attention squarely on the host and guest. The audience, looking at Bi Fang on stage, felt a sense of strangeness¡ªas if he was somewhat different from usual, but upon closer inspection, it was indeed him. To be camera-ready, Bi Fang had naturally groomed himself, and was dressed in a chic suit, a complete turnaround from the disheveled figure he cut during wilderness livestreams. Under the professional lighting, he seemed more dignified and overwhelmingly charismatic. The female fans below the stage saw an even more handsome Bi Fang, with an unbeatable demeanor, and cheers and whistles were non-stop. ¡°Good evening, everyone! Did you all have a good Christmas holiday?¡± Amy greeted the audience and, as per tradition, delivered an opening monologue, promptly introducing her guest. ¡°It is a great honor to have with us today the greatest adventurer of our time¡ªhe has faced off alone against a black bear in the Qinling Mountains, raced with wolves in the Arctic Desert River, discovered prehistoric creatures in the desert¡¯s heart, explored underground worlds, and recently, he piloted a hang glider and led eighteen geese across Europe, defeating poachers in the process!¡± ¡°He is a legend, an epic, our hero¡ªBi Fang! Maybe you are more familiar with his other nickname, which is¡­¡± ¡°GOD FANG!!!¡± Four beams of light swept across the audience, finally focusing intensely on Bi Fang as he rose from his chair and gave a modest bow in acknowledgment. With just a few sentences, Amy had worked the audience into a complete frenzy, heating up the atmosphere swiftly. ¡°God fang!¡± ¡°God fang!¡± ¡°God fang!¡± The fans repeated Bi Fang¡¯s nickname over and over, the chanting filling the space for over three minutes before Amy finally gestured with her hands for the audience to calm down, and slowly, they did. Amy turned to Bi Fang with a smile, ¡°It seems our audience has given you a very warm welcome. Did you expect your fans abroad to be this crazy about you? I even heard you were signing autographs for half an hour at the door and almost delayed the show.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Bi Fang nodded. He had seen his share of fans¡¯ crazy antics before but never imagined it happening because of him, ¡°I was prepared before coming, but I didn¡¯t expect everyone to love my livestreams so much. Thank you, thank you all.¡± If the discovery of prehistoric creatures left an impression of the name Bi Fang, then this migration of geese had made his name resound loudly. ¡°Wow, your English is really good. Did you have any experience abroad before?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I haven¡¯t. Maybe it¡¯s because I learned it well in school.¡± ¡°Whoa, were you a top student?¡± The two casually chatted about some very ordinary topics. Amy, an experienced host, used these simple questions to help Bi Fang, who was on a talk show for the first time, relax and ease his nervousness. Once the mood was set, Amy pulled out a stack of cards and began to ask the questions she had prepared. But before she did, she added a comment. ¡°Actually, our team also invited ¨¦tienne, but his father, Mr. Elvan, firmly refused, the reason being that ¨¦tienne had taken too much time off for the goose migration and needed to catch up on the schoolwork he had missed. I can¡¯t even imagine, a young hero who dares to face a lynx with a knife, sitting down under his parents¡¯ urging to do homework with a pencil.¡± The audience below let out laughter and also felt regretful, as most of them knew Bi Fang because of the goose migration and couldn¡¯t forget the equally brave ¨¦tienne. ¡°That¡¯s really too bad.¡± Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the thought of ¨¦tienne doing makeup lessons under Elvan¡¯s urging. ¡°Yes, otherwise the migrating duo could have been reunited on our show,¡± Amy said as she flipped over the first card. ¡°As far as I know, when you first started live broadcasting, you were ridiculed by netizens for the nickname ¡®god fang,¡¯ right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Why was that?¡± ¡°Because they thought the nickname was too tacky.¡± ¡°Tacky?¡± Amy repeated the word Bi Fang had used. Bi Fang hadn¡¯t expected that the opening question of the show would be about this, but he answered truthfully. The reason he had chosen that nickname at the beginning was to attract as many viewers as possible. Although he was ridiculed at the time, it had achieved its effect. With each live broadcast, Bi Fang had been forging his own godlike status, and today, when people mentioned that nickname, they no longer felt doubt at first; instead, they gradually became convinced. The audience below gasped in surprise; they hadn¡¯t expected Bi Fang to have such an experience, but now it seemed that the nickname ¡®god fang¡¯ was indeed deserved. ¡°Indeed, if I saw that nickname, I¡¯d definitely want to go in and see what kind of skills a man who dares to use the name of a god has. It seems that the live broadcasts of ¡®god fang¡¯ were not all smooth sailing,¡± Amy nodded. ¡°So, my second question is, why did you choose to live broadcast, or rather, why do you love adventuring? Is there a reason?¡± The audience was also curious; they could only see Bi Fang¡¯s thrilling adventures time after time but didn¡¯t know what was driving him to continue. ¡°Well,¡± Bi Fang scratched his eyebrow, obviously, he couldn¡¯t say it was because the System made him live broadcast. He had always believed there was a reason why the System chose him. If the Wilderness System had given the task to a shut-in, would he have achieved his current success? Would they willingly take on those side quests given by the System? A person¡¯s success cannot be separated from help from the outside, but it¡¯s actually one¡¯s personal choices that truly make the decisive factor. Bi Fang thought for a while, then said to Amy, ¡°Let me tell you a story.¡± Amy nodded. ¡°When I was a child, I grew up in the city. I attended a New Year¡¯s Eve party when I was in high school. When I arrived at the venue, I saw hundreds of young people crowded together. The memory is still very vivid. There were many couples hugging each other, and someone sprayed canned beer on me.¡± ¡°But after the party, I couldn¡¯t get a taxi for two full hours, so I walked on the streets for a long time. The blocky stores were lit with high saturation lights, and young people with tattoos on their backs were riding high-powered motorcycles under the traffic lights. They had cigarettes in their mouths, blowing smoke, and fashionably dressed girls had their legs exposed even in the cold winter, wearing stiletto heels that were at least ten centimeters tall¡­¡± ¡°Day after day, the surrounding skyscrapers grew toward the sky, like a dense bamboo forest, and it seemed that one day they would grow to touch the sky.¡± ¡°All of this made me very uncomfortable. I didn¡¯t know where to go. It was that day that I found out I really didn¡¯t know how to enjoy myself.¡± S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Amy echoed, ¡°Was that when you realized you didn¡¯t fit in with city life? Or felt that this wasn¡¯t the life you wanted?¡± ¡°Yes, it was at that time that I felt I should pursue something. Of course, I¡¯m not saying big cities are bad. Some people are in small places but they like the bustle and glamour, and some people are in big cities but they like tranquility and nature. Everyone has their own aspirations, and that¡¯s all very normal.¡± Bi Fang leaned back in his chair, feeling that sharing his past was an interesting experience. His connection with the world had become a bit closer, and the audience below listened attentively. Nobody pursued the truthfulness of the story, because it had been many years, and the truth was no longer verifiable. Many people think that investigating a person is easy, even to the point of finding out how many times they peed as a child, but they are mistaken. When you¡¯re nobody, no one really cares about you, and once information is buried by time, it is much harder to know the truth. So at this moment, Bi Fang could speak freely of his past. Who would have known that among those at the New Year¡¯s event there was a future adventurer who would be renowned around the world? It was from that time onwards, Bi Fang dug deep into his heart, discovering that he shouldn¡¯t just be a nine-to-five office worker in the city, what he truly yearned for was not that. ¡°So, if you truly aspire, then just go for it, don¡¯t worry too much about those who doubt you. As long as you can take care of yourself, not everyone in a big city is miserable, and not everyone in a small place is bored. It all depends on what kind of person you are.¡± Chapter 214: 211: Criminal Element? (Two in One) Chapter 214: Chapter 211: Criminal Element? (Two in One) ¡°F**k, you¡¯re making me want to quit my job and go on an adventure.¡± Amy tossed the card onto the table, casually grabbed the jacket next to her, and stormed off, looking as though she were about to leave in a huff. Bi Fang quickly stepped forward, grabbed her, and pushed her back into her seat. The audience below burst into laughter. Having achieved her desired effect, Amy reluctantly sat back down and grumbled, ¡°Alright, for the sake of god Master Fang¡¯s face, as well as my generous salary, I¡¯ve decided to keep at it. Of course, how much longer I can take it depends on whether the station manager gives me a raise.¡± The audience laughed even louder, while Matthew in the audience was very moved. Master Fang¡¯s words had struck a chord, and in that moment, he seemed to understand his true desires and decided what he was going to do next. ¡°Okay, the third question: Do you feel tired after each live broadcast¡­? For example, when you immediately jump from one broadcast to the next without much of a break, if I¡¯m not mistaken, the interval between desert and migration was very short, and the previous live broadcasts usually happened once a month, lasting only five days?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, it can be exhausting at times, but as long as I manage my fatigue, it¡¯s fine. There are two kinds of tiredness: mental and physical. Physical exhaustion is easy to recover from; I¡¯m still young and energetic. As for mental fatigue, I¡¯m equally well off. If this is the life I¡¯ve chosen to pursue, how could I be tired?¡± ¡°No more talk.¡± Amy pulled out her phone and started tapping away furiously, ¡°I¡¯m going to start booking my flights now.¡± ¡°Stop, if you leave, who will host the show?¡± Bi Fang pressed down on Amy¡¯s phone. Amy was about to be touched by his concern when she heard Bi Fang continue, ¡°Just finish hosting this event before you go. It won¡¯t be too late, I¡¯m still waiting for my big reveal.¡± Amy rolled her eyes, withdrawing her phone. Bi Fang¡¯s response had reminded her of another question, ¡°How old are you this year?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be twenty-five after this year.¡± Amy was dumbstruck. She glanced around at the audience before returning to her senses, ¡°How on earth are you so young? As far as I know, you¡¯re not only a retired special forces soldier, you¡¯re also an expert in geography, astronomy, meteorology, math, and even biology!¡± Right then, the big screen timely displayed exciting excerpts from Bi Fang¡¯s past live broadcasts. Predicting an impending storm through various signs. Determining the latitude and longitude by observing the stars. Calculating the direction of local erosion based on wind and sand erosion, as well as geographic location. Solving trigonometric functions and their inverses using just a piece of paper and a pen, and so on. The audience screamed in excitement at these highlights, marveling at how cool it was for one person to know so much. Not only that, but Amy revealed more, ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not 007? And according to our research, you even attended the Hunter Academy, graduating with the highest honors!¡± Hunter Academy? The audience was taken aback, many of them not having heard of the place, but the name alone sounded impressive. Seeing the audience¡¯s confusion, Amy briefly explained what the Hunter Academy was. The Hunter Academy, located in the tropical jungles of Venezuela, is a world-renowned special forces training center, where countries from around the world send their best soldiers to train. Due to ¡°Devil Selection¡± process, which mimics actual combat in terms of environment, conditions, situations, and methods, the dropout rate is a staggering 50% to 80%! Experiencing death is almost like a daily meal at the academy. Sometimes, while the members are still asleep, a squad of armed militants would burst into the dorms, blindfold them, and haul them off to the depths of the forest in vehicles. After getting off the vehicle, the first thing that greeted them was poison gas. Without any protection or preparation, the team members were completely exposed to the toxic gas for 3 minutes. Then came resistance to beating, where many times trainees were beaten until they were left with just a breath. In sub-zero conditions, they were drenched for two hours with ice water mixtures, ate only one meal a day, received no food if training fell behind, and a 48-hour interruption of training was deemed an automatic withdrawal, among other things. As a result, some team members returned to their hometowns with regrets, some became disabled along the way and were discharged, and some even unfortunately lost their lives. This was also a brand-new experience arranged by the system after Bi Fang became a special forces member with a Purple status. The audience below, just by listening to a simple oral description from Amy, could already feel the danger involved, gasping in alarm, with many emotional female fans even starting to shed tears secretly. Bi Fang scratched his eyebrows: ¡°Maybe this is genius? I started school rather early, the university I attended wasn¡¯t bad, it was prestigious, I was not even eighteen at the time, and I competed to enlist in my freshman year.¡± ¡°I was doing a dual track at that time, studying while training. Four years later, when I was twenty-two, I directly got my diploma. I joined Hunter Academy for training when I was twenty-three, for a period of one month. I didn¡¯t retire until this year.¡± The original host wasn¡¯t actually such a failure; he indeed got into a key university, but once he was in college, he began to indulge himself. Starting from the first year, he stopped attending classes and spent all day playing games in his rental house. Many of his classmates didn¡¯t even remember him, and later when his family went bankrupt and almost didn¡¯t recover, he only lasted three months at a job, getting fired before he even got to know all his colleagues. Thus, the timeline matched up perfectly, the original host was such a person who was never seen. Therefore, Bi Fang was able to speak frankly, with candidness, and his acting wasn¡¯t particularly convincing. His emotional fluctuations were not strong when he spoke; it was as if he had come to terms with it, displaying a carefree demeanor that didn¡¯t take hardships to heart. This directly left the female fans in the audience stunned. Had Bi Fang really suffered so much? It really didn¡¯t show at all¡­ sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Surely, effort pays off! ¡°Wow, amazing!¡± Amy was equally amazed; this was an experience beyond the imagination of ordinary people. If this were a novel, it would be the perfect protagonist template! ¡°No wonder you could defeat three poachers at the same time. Is there any place on this Earth that you cannot reach? I want to know, is there anywhere you wouldn¡¯t dare go?¡± ¡°There probably isn¡¯t,¡± Bi Fang said with a slight smile. ¡°I¡¯m still young, and I plan to explore many more places in the future¡ªMount Everest, the deep sea, the Amazon, the Congo¡ªall of these most dangerous places on Earth, I will visit one by one, letting everyone continue to join me on these adventures.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Amy couldn¡¯t believe it, he joyfully said, ¡°Will you truly visit these places in the future? I mean the Amazon, Mount Everest, and so forth?¡± ¡°Yes, I will keep live streaming, and the adventure will never stop. I hope that everyone will continue to support me as always.¡± ¡°Support! Definitely support!¡± ¡°I will keep watching!¡± ¡°As long as you dare to broadcast, I dare to watch!¡± Amy took the opportunity to ask her real question: ¡°Do you have any idea what the next live stream will be about?¡± As soon as this question was asked, the audience became restless. This was the topic they were most concerned about¡ªwhen would the next live stream be, and what would it involve. ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t have control over the content of the next mission,¡± Bi Fang spread his hands, looking helpless, ¡°because I¡¯ve decided to cooperate with the World Exploration Channel, and the contract is signed. However, they keep a mystery and don¡¯t want to reveal the content to me, which means the next adventure is also unknown to me.¡± ¡°World Exploration Channel? Do you mean that we can watch your live stream on TV next time?¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± The audience was completely insane, not expecting to actually hear such explosive news on the spot. Was this not first-hand information? Not only that, but Bi Fang struck while the iron was hot and revealed his collaboration with Disney. ¡°Not long ago, Disney also came to me, wanting to buy the rights from my hands. They hope to collaborate on an animated movie, as well as a long animated series. The content of the series is undecided, but the content of the animated movie will be about this goose migration, and I agreed,¡± he said. The scene was dead silent, and Amy hadn¡¯t expected to break such big news either; he took a sip of water to calm his nerves, ¡°So how much did they pay you for the rights?¡± ¡°Thirty million dollars.¡± ¡°Pfff!¡± Amy spit out his water, questioning life: ¡°Are you sure Disney only bought the rights and didn¡¯t ask you to star in it?¡± ¡°Yes, just the rights.¡± ¡°My god! Thirty million dollars?¡± What is a successful man? This F** is a successful man! ¡­ ¡°My god, did you hear that? Master Fang is going to make a movie with Disney!¡± Gwendolyn pinched Peter¡¯s neck, disbelieving the scene before her¡ªit was too dreamy. Her favorite movie production company was actually going to craft a movie about her idol¡¯s deeds, even promising to keep over ninety percent of the storylines! Even the dubbing was decided to be done by the protagonist of the event himself! ¡°Yes, yes, I heard it too. I must go to the cinema to watch it!¡± Peter¡¯s face was flushed with excitement. Watching Bi Fang speak so eloquently on TV filled him with admiration. This episode was too exciting, thrilling to the core. Not only was there cooperation with Discovery Channel, but there were also updates about Disney¡¯s animation. All of it made Bi Fang¡¯s fans¡¯ hearts swell with excitement! The TV program continued; the humorous and witty conversation between Amy and Bi Fang made the over-an-hour-long show not the least bit dull. Bi Fang even criticized and ridiculed animal protection organizations extensively. ¡°The simplest and most mistaken basic views of animal protection organizations are two. First: Utilization is not protection, demanding an end to humans directly utilizing wildlife resources, and granting a moral superiority to those who do not use them¡ªsuch as vegetarians, who often proudly display their dietary philosophy as moral,¡± he elucidated. ¡°Second: Protection is non-utilization; this view goes a step further, advocating for protection by outright attacking utilization. To put it bluntly, the logic is a bit too simplistic. Although these two views are simple, their foundational logic is fundamentally flawed, but they have caused ideological impacts that have influenced the rules set in many countries and regions.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Amy was somewhat confused. He had always thought that Bi Fang was a staunch animal protectionist, but his views turned out to be completely different. ¡°In fact, if a species can still be utilized in various ways, then it possesses certain value; and if this value can be reflected back into conservation, then we don¡¯t have to worry about it going extinct at all. On the contrary, those species that can hardly be used by any means are the ones whose futures are genuinely concerning. Under the objective premise that ¡®inability to use¡¯ leads to ¡®no utilization,¡¯ they receive absolutely no protection.¡± ¡°This is the ultimate means of animal protection: by establishing legal pathways, by increasing the value of animals, by making the public understand this value.¡± Peter nodded thoughtfully, seemingly understanding Bi Fang¡¯s point. In fact, humans have never truly protected animals but rather value. Anyone who has studied biology knows that every species has direct value, indirect value, potential value, And so-called species protection is actually about preserving their potential value, the unknown parts that are beneficial to humans. This is what Bi Fang, a true animal conservationist, does and is why he was willing to go to such great lengths to migrate geese. ¡°Humans are part of nature; humans and nature are not in opposition but should coexist inseparably. But this does not mean that humans in nature cannot live better. It doesn¡¯t mean that humans necessarily have to face nature in a predatory way, nor does nature have to react in extreme ways.¡± ¡°Wild horses stir the dust, the evolution of all things is interrelated, and among thousands of possibilities, there indeed exists a path for long-term coexistence.¡± Well said! Countless viewers in front of their screens had a moment of clarity, especially the people in Ugly Country, who had long suffered the so-called ¡°animal protection¡± woes. Now, when compared to Bi Fang¡¯s spirit, the superiority was immediately clear! So strong. Is this what a real powerhouse is? Strength and wisdom combined! As a result, this episode became a smash hit, even making it to the headlines of several variety entertainment editions, scathingly criticizing animal protection behavior. The voices supporting Bi Fang became particularly loud. Although there was a minority who opposed him, the overall public opinion supported Bi Fang. Subsequently, the view count of Bi Fang¡¯s videos started to rise once more. Breaking ten million views was now routine; if it didn¡¯t break ten million, it was only because the platform was subpar. Some merchants even noticed that even reindeer toys suddenly sold a lot more, but it was definitely not because of Christmas; otherwise, why would only reindeer sales jump, not Santa Claus? Who are they underestimating? ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of being opposed?¡± In the hot spring, Amy asked Bi Fang, while Wang Yongbo also cast a concerned look, as he was the man most worried about Bi Fang¡¯s career. After recording the program, Bi Fang and Amy exchanged contact information, becoming friends. He didn¡¯t hurry back but stayed to discuss some business and script matters with Disney. A week had passed, and everything was taken care of. They all agreed to find a place to have some fun together. It just so happened that Disney had arranged a hot spring resort for Bi Fang, which resulted in the three men soaking in the hot spring together. ¡°What¡¯s there to be afraid of? What I said is the truth, and it is correct. I don¡¯t need everyone to like me, nor do I need everyone to become my friend or fan,¡± Bi Fang took a sip of orange juice, ¡°Just as I don¡¯t need to do everything well, doing one thing well in a lifetime is enough to live well. That¡¯s the secret to my success.¡± ¡°Awesome!¡± Amy gave a thumbs up. As a host, he wasn¡¯t so fortunate; he had to be careful with everything he said, as a slip-up could spell the end of his career. Indeed, only someone at the pinnacle of their own field has the privilege to be whimsical. However, as the three men were enjoying the hot spring comfortably, several figures avoided the attendants and ran towards the hot spring with several boxes in tow. ¡°Are you clear on the target? Is it definitely him?¡± ¡°No doubt, there are only two Huaxia men, and he¡¯s definitely not that fat bald guy.¡± After confirming the target, the leading man looked around cautiously to ensure no one was nearby. He then unlocked the box, which surprisingly contained a long rifle! Chapter 215: 212: Will Doing This Get Me Killed? Chapter 215: Chapter 212: Will Doing This Get Me Killed? ¡°Boss, aren¡¯t we going to get killed doing this?¡± Fourth Brother looked worried as he watched Boss load his gun. He had seen videos of Bi Fang taking on Poachers all by himself, one against a team, impressively taking no one seriously, beating them as if they were dogs. If the opposite side got their act together, were they even enough to be killed by Bi Fang alone? He certainly didn¡¯t want to lose control of his bladder and bowels. ¡°Relax.¡± Second Brother handed a syringe to Boss and patted Fourth Brother on the shoulder to comfort him, ¡°I¡¯ve watched that video many times. The guy pulls his punches¡ªno one died. Even if we get caught, it won¡¯t be too bad.¡± The comforted Fourth Brother looked to the heavens and cried, ¡°Why do I feel even more worried now¡­¡± ¡°Shut up, can you two say something encouraging for once!¡± Boss, who was loading the syringe, slapped Fourth Brother on the forehead, clearly angered. The operation hadn¡¯t even started, and his brothers were already speaking such discouraging words. In Huaxia terms, this was like boosting the enemy¡¯s morale while undermining your own prestige! And you, Second Brother, is that what you call comforting someone? What do you mean ¡®it won¡¯t be too bad¡¯? Not getting killed is a success? Can¡¯t you speak like a normal person? ¡°Do you think I haven¡¯t watched his videos? Sun Zi said it well: Know the enemy and know yourself, and you¡¯ll fight without danger in many battles. I¡¯ve studied carefully. Although the target takes on four, he mostly creates one-on-one situations. We have four people; as long as we don¡¯t let him get the chance for one-on-one, wouldn¡¯t that be fine?¡± We might not be special forces, but at least we¡¯re professional soldiers. Four men working together, guns in hand, and we can¡¯t handle one naked man? ¡°Amazing, Boss! You even know Chinese! You¡¯re so dedicated!¡± Third Brother was impressed by Boss¡¯s display of Chinese. Boss, flattered by the praise, tilted his head back with pride and snorted, ¡°Of course! Besides, we signed a contract! If we really get hit, we just surrender, right?¡± ¡°You¡¯re awesome. How did I not think of that? Boss, you¡¯re even smarter than Uncle Yule¡¯s little dog!¡± ¡°Idiot! Is that supposed to be a compliment?¡± ¡°What was that noise?¡± Bi Fang looked back and saw four pillars standing quietly in the bathroom, the spacious area empty. Disney had booked the place, and the staff had been instructed not to disturb, so other than them, there shouldn¡¯t be anyone else there. Amy asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing, probably just heard something wrong,¡± Bi Fang pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling dizzy. Perhaps he had soaked too long. Then he stood up from the water and stepped onto the golden teakwood floor, ¡°Continue soaking, I¡¯m going out for a drink.¡± S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. On the huge computer screen, Bi Fang walked out of the hot spring. There were floral paintings hanging on the wall, and crystal chandeliers one after another on the ceiling. The four men undertaking the mission peeked at Bi Fang using a reflective mirror, tiptoeing and constantly moving around, keeping close together and always staying behind the large pillars. ¡°Jerret, what should we do? He hasn¡¯t found out, has he?¡± Safety assistant Pondy was worried that their plan might have already been exposed, and if so, today¡¯s preparation would have been in vain. ¡°Impossible, all the crew members who know about this signed confidentiality agreements. It must be him suspecting something on his own.¡± Jerret was very confident in his own arrangements. Every step was flawless. The only unexpected event could only happen with Bi Fang. The station placed great importance on the collaboration with Bi Fang, sending Chief Director Jerret to take full charge of the arrangements. Today¡¯s scene was the result of Jerret¡¯s meticulous planning¡ªthey were going to kidnap Bi Fang! Long before Bi Fang entered the hot spring resort, they had set up an ¡°Inescapable Net¡± here, ensuring that every camera could capture the action. The entire process was completely real. The arresting party¡¯s rifles contained a total of ten tranquilizer darts, all intended for Bi Fang¡¯s trio. Once the capture was successful, they would start transporting Bi Fang to the destination to begin a new wilderness live broadcast! Of course, the capture might be a bit rough, but Bi Fang had given his consent when signing the contract, as long as there was a fifteen-day transition period to rest after the last broadcast, the rest didn¡¯t matter. But now there seemed to be a problem. Bi Fang appeared to have sensed something amiss and had come out of the hot spring! The capturing group was extremely nervous, their hearts almost leaping from their throats, yet Bi Fang walked straight out of the bathroom, completely unaware of their presence. Jerret breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, they hadn¡¯t been discovered. Otherwise, if Bi Fang had taken the initiative, they couldn¡¯t guarantee that the four of them could overpower him. The track record of one against four in the night was too astonishing. Even with the advantage of time and location, the bloody and barbaric scene was still haunting, especially the lighting effects after the flashlight fell, which were in no way inferior to a Huailaiwu blockbuster. Moreover, Jerret didn¡¯t want his great idea to go down the drain. He believed that as long as he released this capture scene, it would definitely attract a huge audience. The anticipation was maxed out. The Discovery Channel was a company specialized in producing programs about adventure, history, the outdoors, and technology. They decided to collaborate with Bi Fang because they were interested in his wilderness live broadcast¡ªit was a novel theme and his significant abilities provided the company with many ideas for program development. Jerret, as the person in charge, had high expectations placed on him. Therefore, the company specially set up a brand-new program team. Led by Jerret, they started the collaboration, creating a new wilderness live broadcast show. This program was the Discovery Channel¡¯s first attempt at a live broadcast format, to be streamed on Wolf Fang TV domestically, live on the Ugly Country¡¯s Discovery Channel, and globally on MeTube, combining the three streams into one. In order to have a good start, the Discovery Channel had reviewed all of Bi Fang¡¯s wilderness broadcasts. Initially, seeing Bi Fang always surviving alone, they thought it might be interesting to add another person to form a wilderness duo for survival challenges. However, after discussions and assessments by professionals, they created a scoring system based on outdoor skills, physical condition, knowledge level, and mental state. This also took into consideration the assessment criteria of the Marine Corps. With each section worth up to ten points, they were surprised to find that Bi Fang¡¯s PSR score was exceptionally high, exceeding 8 points, reaching a level of 8.1! Even if speaking solely on knowledge level and outdoor skills, he had far surpassed special forces level, belonging to professional domain expertise¡ªthe so-called research specialists¡­ So the person who proposed the idea was embarrassed because, without professional selection, it would be hard for them to find a ¡°partner¡± who could match Bi Fang¡¯s level in a short time. If the skill gap was too wide, it wouldn¡¯t be a ¡°partner,¡± but rather a burden. In the end, Jerret determined the course of action with his own plan, starting with a ¡°kidnapping,¡± followed by an airdrop into the sea for a twenty-one-day survival challenge! Jerret gripped the walkie-talkie tightly, ¡°We must succeed!¡± On the big screen, Bi Fang came into the lobby and looked around. The attendants who were originally present seemed to have all disappeared, leaving the entire lobby empty and echoing. Bi Fang shook his head. He tightened his bathrobe around him, rotated his neck, took a deep breath, and finally turned to look back down the corridor. ¡°Come out, how much longer do you intend to hide?¡± Chapter 216: 213 Kneeling on the Ground Chapter 216: Chapter 213 Kneeling on the Ground At the moment when Bi Fang announced the presence of the four, the audience in the livestream who had watched the entire process exclaimed in surprise. [Holy shit, they got discovered just like that? So thrilling!] [Damn, is the Discovery Channel playing this wild now? Secretly live-streaming behind Master Fang?] [Why the bath towel wrap? Master Fang¡¯s body is too amazing, right? Worship!] [Photographer: I¡¯m an old photographer, the kind that finds rice in chicken legs.] [This can¡¯t be scripted, can it?] [Stop kidding, Old Fang¡¯s livestream with a script? I¡¯d be the first to call bull! But this capture team seems pretty dumb, so unreliable.] [This livestream is so sudden, no heads-up or promotion. If not for a friend telling me and the push notification, I would have thought I was scammed.] Many viewers were originally playing with their phones when they suddenly received a notification for the livestream, completely without any prior announcements, unlike previous times where there would be posters released in advance. By the time they entered the livestream, they saw the group of four discussing how to capture Bi Fang. At first, they really thought it was poachers seeking revenge, but as they continued watching, they realized something was amiss. Old Fang actually didn¡¯t know! They hadn¡¯t expected the start of the livestream to be so explosive, being able to witness such an exciting scene! Kidnapping Master Fang? Too interesting! The only prayer of the audience was for the somewhat dumb four-man team not to get into trouble; they felt that if a real confrontation happened, it wouldn¡¯t even be a minute before Master Fang would be on the ground begging them not to die. Seeing the feedback from the viewers, Jerret excitedly clenched his fists. Indeed, his arrangement was correct; this setup was definitely going to catch the audience¡¯s eye! But upon hearing Bi Fang¡¯s words, the group of four didn¡¯t make any rash moves, who knew whether Bi Fang was just bluffing them¡­ ¡°Four people, huh? Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s too few? But you do seem well-prepared.¡± The group at the corridor entrance all stiffened in unison, with the Boss almost dropping his gun. Had they really been discovered? That shouldn¡¯t be possible, right? They had hidden themselves so well, how could they have been found? Damn it, when did it happen! Third Brother tugged at Boss¡¯s sleeve, awkwardly saying, ¡°Boss, what do we do?¡± The Boss shrugged off Third Brother¡¯s hand and hissed softly in anger, ¡°How the fuck would I know?¡± ¡°Maybe, ask the director?¡± ¡°Right, ask the director.¡± ¡°Yes, when in doubt, ask the director, that¡¯s always the right move!¡± The Boss was taken aback, then hesitantly pressed his Bluetooth earpiece. Actually, he didn¡¯t really want to contact the director; if he¡¯d been discovered, then the plan was as good as exposed, wouldn¡¯t that mean they¡¯d accomplished nothing? Could they even get paid? But on his brothers¡¯ advice, the Boss still hesitated, ¡°Should we ask then?¡± ¡°Ask!¡± ¡°Hurry up and ask!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go home early.¡± Second Brother, Third Brother, and Fourth Brother immediately nodded in agreement. They didn¡¯t care about the pay; they had revered Bi Fang from the start, and now that they had been unexpectedly exposed, they were even more frightened. True to his reputation as a heart-eating big devil! Way too scary. The money burns in the hand! Just thinking about being stabbed in the neck and having their hearts dug out and eaten alive, the brothers shuddered. But to Bi Fang, it was strange; could he have been mistaken? Initially soaking in the hot spring, he indeed thought he was just light-headed, but on the way from the bathroom to the corridor, besides the smell of sulfur and floral fragrance, he had also smelled a very strong scent of sweat, and more than one kind at that. The other side might have four or five people. At that moment, Bi Fang thought of the poachers¡¯ team seeking retaliation, but then he recalled the Adventure Channel¡¯s advice not to panic. The two possibilities left him conflicted, unsure whether it was real or fake, and if it was fake, whether he should play along? No matter which it was, Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t let his guard down and recklessly put himself in danger, lest Wang Yongbo and Amy get injured by mistake. After finishing his call with the director, the boss stiffened even more, and his brothers quickly inquired about the situation. The boss clenched his teeth, ¡°The director said no work, no pay! If we pull this off, our wages will be tripled! And all medical expenses will be reimbursed afterward!¡± ¡°Tripled?¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Are the medical expenses definitely covered?¡± Boss, Second Brother, and Third Brother all turned to look at Fourth Brother, who scratched his head awkwardly, ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that, I¡¯m okay even if they don¡¯t reimburse¡­¡± ¡°Damn it, let¡¯s do it!¡± Driven by the huge reward, the four-man crew forgot their fear of Bi Fang and rallied. The boss raised his tranquilizer gun, ready to make a big move now that they had been discovered, there was no choice but¡­ Huh, where¡¯d he go? The boss, just as he raised his gun to set up the ambush, was taken aback. The end of the hallway was now completely empty, void of Bi Fang¡¯s figure. ¡°Boss, he¡¯s gone!¡± ¡°I fucking know!¡± The boss was nearly dying of anger; from the beginning until now, his teammates had only been rattling his composure, ¡°Quick, go back and check if the other two are still there!¡± Still, they had all been trained, and upon hearing the reminder, they instantly realized the opponent might have employed a diversionary tactic! By the time they got back to the bathroom, indeed, the fatty and the white guy had also vanished! They¡¯d been played! ¡°Chase!¡± The boss immediately gave the order. There were only two exits, and the passage they were just in was completely devoid of people, which meant they¡¯d left through the other exit! Inside the RV, Jerret was now extremely excited; this was precisely the effect he wanted! On the screen, after leading Wang Yongbo and Amy away, Bi Fang had not left but instead put on his clothes, ran to the control room to shut off the ventilation system, and then returned to the bathroom! And in places hidden from Bi Fang¡¯s view, the audience was already buzzing with excitement. It was indeed Master Fang; he didn¡¯t even try to flee, he stood his ground! Without the ventilation, the mist from the hot spring slowly dissipated, soon filling the entire room. By the time the four realized something was wrong, it was too late, and they could only silently huddle together, back to back. But this also made it difficult for the audience to identify what was happening, as the misty fog not only blinded the crew but also obscured their vision. ¡°Damn it, it¡¯s a trap!¡± sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Huddled together, the boss was filled with regret. This situation was strikingly similar to when Bi Fang used the cover of night to attack the poachers. They quickly formed a circle and then retreated from the bathroom to avoid being picked off one by one and repeating the tragedy. But the camera angles in the footage switched rapidly, and the audience quickly realized that Bi Fang wasn¡¯t using the element of surprise to launch stealth attacks like last time but had instead gone to the kitchen. Was he looking for tools? Seeing pots, pans, ladles, and spatulas, the audience first thought Bi Fang might go for a knife to arm himself, but wouldn¡¯t that be going a bit too far? What if Bi Fang really mistook these people for poachers and killed them? But then, they discovered that Bi Fang didn¡¯t reach for a knife; instead, he rummaged through cabinets and drawers until he found a rolling pin! [Ah, I feel like Master Fang has already guessed it.] [Right, Old Fang is a bit too smart.] [Later on, we¡¯ll have to play along with the ¡°kidnapping.¡±] At this moment, the audience felt even sadder for the four-man crew. It wasn¡¯t that they had confidence in Bi Fang, but the crew¡¯s recent performance was just pathetic, showing fear before a fight, even talking about reimbursed medical expenses. However, all of this was still within Jerret¡¯s plan. Everyone had no confidence in the four-man crew, but who said being timid wasn¡¯t an advantage? Chapter 217: 214: Dont Jinx It Chapter 217: Chapter 214: Don¡¯t Jinx It The quartet¡¯s idea was right: no matter how formidable a person is, it¡¯s hard to fend off the hands of four, and Bi Fang could defeat the Poachers primarily by creating one-on-one conditions. When the group huddled together like a turtle shell, Bi Fang really had a hard time making a move. If he couldn¡¯t take down all four at once, any one of them firing a shot meant game over. ¡°Hahaha, as long as I¡¯m cowardly enough, even Master Fang can¡¯t do anything to me!¡± ¡°I¡¯m actually quite looking forward to it, to see Master Fang being kidnapped.¡± ¡°There is something to that; I also want to see what it looks like when the invincible Master Fang is humbled.¡± The audience, ever the instigators of chaos, were used to seeing Master Fang have the upper hand and were curious to see what Bi Fang would look like humbled after being captured. Quite thrilling. But the audience still underestimated Bi Fang. He hid at the end of the corridor, just waiting for the quartet to emerge from the thick fog. When he saw the type of firearms they were holding, Bi Fang felt reassured. They were tranquilizer guns! Tranquilizer guns have a distinctive look. To accommodate the thin, long tranquilizer darts, the design of the tranquilizer gun is quite different from that of a regular gun. The rifles are generally thin and long, somewhat resembling blow pipes at first glance, while the pistols are similar to break-action guns, also having a thin, long barrel. Of course, a few don¡¯t have long barrels, but their design is still distinct from mainstream pistols and easy to tell apart. So when Bi Fang saw the tranquilizer guns, he understood that the show¡¯s arrangement was highly probable. If it were truly a reprisal from a poaching organization, they wouldn¡¯t bother with such trouble. This was Ugly Li Jian, where gun battles were a daily affair, and a moment¡¯s worth of bullets were far cheaper than a few dozen or hundred tranquilizer darts. With this in mind, Bi Fang took a step forward and shouted from the end of the corridor, ¡°Hey, how much is the show paying you? I¡¯ll pay double!¡± The addressed quartet hesitated: ¡°???¡± Could you give us some face? We¡¯re trying to kidnap here! However, double sounded quite nice; more appealing than triple. If it meant getting double after the capture, that would be even better¡­ While Second Brother was lost in indecision, Boss slapped him across the face, ¡°What are you thinking? Where¡¯s your professional ethic? We¡¯re live here, who¡¯s going to hire you after you do this!¡± Second Brother was startled, damn, Boss was absolutely right, no wonder he was the boss. He¡¯d been careless to think he could replace him! Dammit, not only was the opponent strong, but he was also adept at psychological warfare! ¡°Hahaha, I¡¯m dying of laughter, how did the style suddenly change?¡± ¡°Did the Adventure Channel turn into the Comedy Channel? Where did the show¡¯s crew find these four clowns?¡± ¡°Such a disgrace to Ugly Country¡¯s military!¡± ¡°Speaking of which, don¡¯t you think these four guys look alike? Do I feel like they¡¯re siblings?¡± The audience was in stitches. If comedy was the show¡¯s aim, they¡¯d successfully achieved it. The online friends were witnessing a live broadcast in the style of a comedy film for the first time. Bi Fang appeared before them¡ªa golden opportunity the quartet couldn¡¯t let slip away. They immediately raised their guns to shoot, but Bi Fang¡¯s body flickered, using the wall as cover as he turned and ran. ¡°Chase him!¡± Hearing the footsteps receding, Boss immediately ran toward the end of the corridor with his gun raised, but the audience felt a little sorry to watch any longer. Because at the end of the corridor, on the front side, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t gone anywhere. Instead, he was rooted to the spot, creating the illusion for the quartet that he had fled. Even worse, he had not only made off with a rolling pin from the kitchen, but also a large bucket of cooking oil! Listening to the footsteps drawing nearer, Bi Fang splashed the contents of the oil bucket forcefully onto the ground! The top half of the oil bucket had been entirely removed, offering no resistance at all, and a large amount of golden oil was instantly sprawl. The quartet almost simultaneously stormed forward. Seeing Bi Fang emerge, they went on high alert, only to then realize what was being thrown at them. Years of military training had them instinctively hit the deck. The next moment, an extremely slippery sensation came from the ground. ¡°Ahhh!!!¡± The four men were sprawled out, sliding through the hallway like bowling balls, leaving behind long, oily skid marks, unable to stop. ¡°What a pity for the custodian.¡± Bi Fang sighed, avoiding the cooking oil on the floor and heading towards the last of the four. The struggling Third Brother, who had fallen behind, tried to get up frantically, but the floor and his body were covered in golden grease, offering no friction or reaction force. ¡°Fuck, don¡¯t come over here!¡± Seeing that he couldn¡¯t get up, Third Brother scrambled to pick up the anesthetic gun that had slid even further away, but Bi Fang was faster, darting between the gaps in the oily mess of the four men, stepping on the gun before picking it up and pulling the trigger, under Third Brother¡¯s desperate gaze. And so, the group of four was down by one. ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± The Boss, true to his title, got up the fastest and aimed at Bi Fang, but Bi Fang was always one step ahead and immediately ducked behind a pillar. The tranquilizer dart struck the pillar squarely and then fell to the floor. Without hesitation, Bi Fang dashed off into the distance, knowing that the anesthetic gun had limited ammunition. He checked and saw that after firing that shot, the gun was out of ammo. As Bi Fang ran farther and farther away, the Boss¡¯s eyes reddened with rage. He crawled over to Third Brother, looking at his brother who was about to close his eyes, he couldn¡¯t help but grasp his hand. Under the influence of the drug, Third Brother¡¯s eyelids grew heavier. He looked up at his big brother and said with difficulty, ¡°Boss, Boss¡­¡± Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I¡¯m here, if you have anything to say, I¡¯ll do everything in my power to make it happen!¡± Tears filled Third Brother¡¯s eyes as he was touched by his big brother¡¯s sincere words. With his last bit of energy before closing his eyes, he advised, ¡°If you guys succeed, will my share still count?¡± Looking at his brother whose eyes were about to close, the Boss couldn¡¯t bear to tell him the truth and said firmly, ¡°It counts!¡± ¡°Then I can rest easy¡­¡± With his answer, Third Brother smiled and closed his eyes. ¡°Boss, Boss, what do we do next?¡± The remaining two finally managed to get up from the ground and carefully approached the Boss, asking what should be done next. ¡°Of course, we keep chasing.¡± The Boss wiped away his tears, and just as he tried to stand up, he fell again, the hard floor hitting his pelvic bone, causing excruciating pain. Second Brother and Fourth Brother quickly helped him up. Standing up while rubbing his sore behind, the Boss felt indignant, ¡°Although he took Third Brother¡¯s gun, no worries, I had foreseen the possibility of the guns being taken, so I loaded only one tranquilizer dart in each. Since he has dealt with Third Brother, that gun is useless now, giving us the upper hand!¡± Second Brother and Fourth Brother were amazed by the Boss¡¯s wisdom and bravery. [Stop jinxing it!] [I¡¯m numbed; it feels like we¡¯re heading for a total wipeout.] [Surviving without getting shot counts as a success!] Seeing this, the audience had lost much hope. Comparing the two sides, Bi Fang seemed much more formidable, not breaking a sweat and even looking rosy from his bath. The group, no, now a trio, was not only covered in oil but also had to walk gingerly to avoid falling flat on their faces. ¡°My god, I can¡¯t believe I missed such an exciting scene!¡± At that moment, Amy and Wang Yongbo, who had just left the resort, were informed by the staff about the event and exclaimed at the thrill of Bi Fang effortlessly taking down a captor. Inside the resort, the trio changed into their shoes and became even more cautious, while Bi Fang faced a bit of a challenge with such wimps. It was just as Jerret had guessed, being cowardly enough seemed to really grant them invincibility. Chapter 218: 215: Spare Me, Hero (Vote for me monthly) Chapter 218: Chapter 215: Spare Me, Hero (Vote for me monthly) But following in the direction of Bi Fang¡¯s escape, the three of them searched for quite some time without finding anyone, and even the crew couldn¡¯t switch to Bi Fang¡¯s footage at this moment. If it weren¡¯t for the last shot capturing where Bi Fang went, the audience would¡¯ve really believed that Old Fang had already left the building. Inside the live broadcasting room, the audience erupted in astonishment. [Damn, can you really crawl through air ducts?] [I always thought it was fake in movies] [Pretty badass!] Indeed, Bi Fang had crawled into an air duct! The trio gathered together, covering all directions, and their movements were extraordinarily cautious; they even tested the waters when turning a corner, which really didn¡¯t give him many opportunities to attack. No matter from which side he would launch a surprise attack, he would be quickly discovered, and then the other two would initiate their attack. If he wanted to approach silently, he would have to choose the blind spots in their vision, from above or below. He couldn¡¯t tunnel underground, but he could opt to strike from above! Bi Fang had carefully observed the floor plan; the air ducts spread in all directions, and as long as he could seize the opportunity, along with a little bit of luck, his plan could succeed. As soon as he entered the duct, Bi Fang felt very uncomfortable, with water stains everywhere, and all of it was cold water. The difference between movies and reality was quite significant. In reality, few air ducts can accommodate the size of an adult. Such places are mostly air shafts. Even large hotels wouldn¡¯t be equipped with such exaggerated air ducts, but there are a few exceptions, such as banquet halls over 200 square meters or certain areas that require large-scale dehumidifying, like hot spring resorts. Coincidentally, the location where Bi Fang was met both of these conditions. But as soon as Bi Fang entered, he realized something was wrong¡ªthe steel plate was too thin! The air ducts were made of galvanized steel with a thickness of about 3mm, and Bi Fang¡¯s physique, weighing over 78kg, questioned whether it could bear his weight. Even the sound he made while crawling was quite loud. Fortunately, because the air ducts often got wet, there wasn¡¯t much dust inside, only some mold at the corners, and possibly some small insects. ¡°Damn it, movies are such a damn lie.¡± With no other choice, Bi Fang could only inch along cautiously, sliding through the duct while trying to spread out his body as much as possible to avoid putting too much pressure on the duct. When he reached the first vent, he didn¡¯t dare to move, realizing that the steel beneath him was slightly deformed. He couldn¡¯t crawl any further, as Bi Fang worried that he might fall through before reaching the position he desired. So he decided to unscrew the vent, opened it up, and waited quietly for the trio to arrive. The wait lasted over ten minutes. The deformation of the steel plate beneath Bi Fang grew more severe, and he thought about retreating. However, to his fortune, the trio actually came. Looking down through the grate, Bi Fang watched as the trio slowly approached. He glanced at their direction of movement, which was a bit off. Even at their closest point, there was still a gap of over a meter. It all depended on who reacted faster. [Damn, why does this feel like watching a horror movie? Something jumps out and scares you suddenly] [Why hasn¡¯t Old Fang come out yet? How can he hide?] [I seriously suspect that Old Fang has already left] Not just the audience, even the trio began to doubt that their target might have snuck away, but since the director hadn¡¯t informed them, they had no choice but to bravely keep searching. The trio had no idea that not far from them, a vent was quietly being moved. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s check over there,¡± Boss indicated a direction, and just as the three took a few steps, a sudden sound of metal echoed from above! Boss was stunned, his scalp tingling as if a million tiny insects were crawling over it. He shivered and instinctively looked up towards the air vent¡ªno air vent was there, just a face! Bi Fang descended from above! Second Brother and Fourth Brother quickly raised their guns, but it was already too late. Those two steps Boss took had directly positioned Bi Fang to land amidst the trio! Fuck! The audience was all shocked; they hadn¡¯t expected Bi Fang to break the deadlock in such a manner! Instantly, the four men became entangled in a scramble. Amidst the chaos, as Second Brother¡¯s gun muzzle was raised in the air, Bi Fang was already chest-to-chest with him, grabbing Second Brother¡¯s right hand, and with a reverse shot hit Fourth Brother, who was just about to get up, and then, with his arm around Second Brother¡¯s neck, he shielded himself from Second Brother¡¯s anesthetic darts using Fourth Brother. ¡°F**k!¡± Shot Fourth Brother couldn¡¯t believe it, but soon found himself twirling around as if weightless, only to be violently flung away at the last moment. The rotational force projected Fourth Brother out, and then Bi Fang pounced on Second Brother, who was starting to feel woozy. In the blink of an eye, Bi Fang had dealt with two men, leaving only the last, Boss. The audience didn¡¯t see much of a surprise or it was as they expected. If it had been three special forces operatives, perhaps not the most elite but still capable, they might have been able to wrestle with Bi Fang. But there was still a sense of unwillingness as the result unfolded. The situation developed too quickly. Just as Boss was taking aim, Bi Fang had taken Second Brother hostage for cover, making it difficult for him to get a clear shot. By the time he found an opportunity, Bi Fang had already charged over! The distance was too close, and since Boss was using a rifle, Bi Fang closed the gap in one leap, grabbing the barrel with his bare hands and lifting it upwards. At that moment, darkness fell before Boss¡¯s eyes. It¡¯s over, there goes the paycheck. He didn¡¯t even bother to struggle; he just raised his hands to show he posed no threat: ¡°I surrender, please treat the prisoner well!¡± Just as Bi Fang was about to take action, he froze. What was happening? He raised an eyebrow: ¡°Not going to put up a fight?¡± ¡°No need, I can¡¯t beat you.¡± Bi Fang was dumbfounded, scratching his eyebrow. Why did it feel like there was no sense of achievement after winning? Who was capturing whom? Yet, he didn¡¯t release his grip but continued to hold Boss hostage: ¡°Are you arranged by the show¡¯s crew?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And your objective?¡± ¡°To kidnap you, then air-drop you into the sea.¡± ¡°What to do in the current situation?¡± ¡°To tell you the truth and then hope you¡¯ll cooperate with our kidnapping.¡± S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang, completely baffled, was this how laid-back it was supposed to be? Seeing that Bi Fang was flustered, Boss spoke softly, ¡°Can we discuss something?¡± ¡°Speak!¡± ¡°Pretend that we¡¯ve captured you, then we split the money with you. That way, we can still earn a bit, maybe even 1.5 times our usual pay!¡± ¡°Is that even possible?¡± ¡°I think it is. What do you say?¡± Bi Fang really didn¡¯t know what to say, but just as he was about to refuse the offer, he felt a numbness in his waist; something had struck him. An anesthetic dart was embedded in his waist; Bi Fang pulled out the dart and then looked back at Second Brother. Second Brother chuckled, then fell into complete unconsciousness, the dart gun dropping beside him. ¡°Haha, you¡¯ve been fooled.¡± Boss laughed triumphantly, this was their Plan B! The anesthetic didn¡¯t take effect immediately. Before passing out, they still possessed some ability to act, and this window was enough time for them to reload. The only downside was that the target had to be close, otherwise, the drug would greatly affect stability¡ªany farther, and the accuracy would suffer. If they couldn¡¯t win head-on, then they¡¯d feign weakness to the enemy. When the enemy thought he was sure to win, the remaining two would launch a surprise strike. No matter how formidable Bi Fang was, he was still human and bound to have emotional fluctuations. As Sun Zi said, this is known as creating a diversion! Boss tried to pry Bi Fang¡¯s grip loose but couldn¡¯t budge it and resolved to wait for the drug to take its course: ¡°I didn¡¯t realize you could hold out so well, but this fast-acting agent will have you feeling numbness over your entire body in mere seconds. Then you¡¯ll release your grip on your own¡­ see, there it is.¡± As he prised Bi Fang¡¯s hand open, Boss turned to look at him but found that he was standing tall and straight: ¡°Don¡¯t act tough now, you¡¯re¡­¡± Boss froze. Bi Fang lifted his shirt to reveal a thickly wrapped scarf. He had wrapped several layers of towels around his torso beforehand to muffle any noise while crawling through ventilation ducts¡ªthree layers inside and out. ¡°You were saying¡­ what about now?¡± Boss collapsed to his knees with a thud, covering his head and crying out. ¡°Mercy, noble sir, have mercy!¡± Chapter 219: 216: You Never Know What Will Be Airdropped from the Plane Chapter 219: Chapter 216: You Never Know What Will Be Airdropped from the Plane The city I live in has been rated as the best in the nation for public safety, and I¡¯ve made an indelible contribution to that, because I got caught¡­ Countless viewers opened the live broadcast first thing in the morning and the first thing featured on the homepage was a black and white promotional copy. The accompanying image showed a mysterious figure with a black hood over their head and hands bound, strangely familiar to all who saw it. Viewers were all baffled. Who is this impressive that their arrest is being broadcasted live? Scrolling down, they saw the disheveled capture team, each member covered in grease, clearly having gone through a fierce struggle. Holy crap, such a badass criminal? Almost as brave as Master Fang! There was also a link to a trailer. Clicking on it brought up a video. This was the program creator¡¯s condensed version of yesterday¡¯s live content, which was then simultaneously posted to MeTube, the Explore Channel, and Wolf Fang TV. [??? What kind of big shot was caught?] [Dude, didn¡¯t you watch yesterday¡¯s live broadcast?] [What live broadcast? I was at work yesterday, no time for live streams.] [Then you really missed out, you didn¡¯t see Master Fang get taken away!] [Holy shit? Master Fang was taken away? What happened? Did he commit a crime? Is there a video? Was it for cannibalism?] [I freaking knew it! Good-looking men are never up to any good. Prophecy fulfilled!] [I was wondering who could be so impressive, turns out it was Master Fang, so it¡¯s all good then.] Within less than a minute of the promotional video¡¯s release, total clicks surged past one million, and after a few hours, it had multiplied several times over. By today, it¡¯s firmly surpassed ten million views, with the majority provided by MeTube. Neither the original Wolf Fang nor the current Explore Channel can match MeTube¡¯s user base. In less than twenty-four hours, Bi Fang¡¯s promotional video topped MeTube¡¯s popularity chart, and the program team was busily gearing up for their first live broadcast. Right now, countless people are scratching their heads waiting for the live stream; the arrest broadcast was so sudden that many missed the full process. The promotional edit by the program team was naturally cut to shock and awe, causing many viewers who lagged behind with the news to actually believe that Bi Fang had done something serious, and they were dying to know the truth. Then there were the knowledgeable netizens who simply refused to spill the beans, teasing the clueless ones, just for kicks. Some even took the game further, concocting charges against him, ranging from smuggling nuclear fuel to extremist attacks, to the failed assassination of a high official from Ugly Country. The broadcast, they surmised, was a meticulously planned entry into Ugly Country¡¯s territory to get close to its dignitaries¡ªwhat an aspiring criminal mastermind he seemed to be. Bi Fang¡¯s capture was indeed real, but it was not against his will. He volunteered for it. The four-person team was utterly defeated in the capture operation, and so the real Plan B had to be initiated, which was to persuade Bi Fang to ¡°surrender¡± himself. In the end, Bi Fang saw the light and the plan went into action; the formidable tiger was caught and then airdropped into the sea to survive for twenty-one days. This time, he would have no weapons, no equipment, and the location and environmental conditions, including whether he could find land, were all unknown. The only thing accompanying him was a solitary life raft. Mission Name: Riding the Wind and Waves Mission Location: Unknown Mission Mode: Survival Mission Difficulty: S4 Mission Requirements: Aside from ordinary clothing and a life raft, no additional items may be brought along. Side Mission One: Start a live stream, with a sustained online viewer count of over eight hundred thousand. Side Mission Two: Survive twenty-one days in good health. Side Mission: Explore on your own. Minimum Reward: Intermediate Skill Upgrade Coupon*1, Shark Muscle Strengthening Coupon*1. Time Limit: Twenty-two days. The fifth livestream is about to begin! Inside the helicopter, Jerret was directing the entire team to adjust the equipment. This time, in addition to Bi Fang¡¯s own drone, they had prepared three professional solar-powered drones for filming. One was for backup, one for close-up shots, and the third for long shots. With this arrangement, there were at least three camera angles available at any given time. Aside from Bi Fang¡¯s drone, control of the shots was entirely in the hands of the director of photography to ensure the best viewing experience. ¡°Really can¡¯t give me another camera angle? I could switch them more smoothly if they were all under my control,¡± the director of photography had been eyeing Bi Fang¡¯s drone for a long time. Although their drones provided clear footage and were documentary-quality with good image resolution, they seemed to lack something compared to Bi Fang¡¯s. What exactly they lacked, he couldn¡¯t say. He just felt that someone else¡¯s was always better, always more desirable, just like when he envied his neighbor¡¯s wife. ¡°No need, my shots will coordinate with yours, there won¡¯t be any issues,¡± Bi Fang replied with a smile, hearing this while wearing his headgear. He wouldn¡¯t hand over control of his drone to anyone, and he could ensure there wouldn¡¯t be any issues with coordinating the footage. Seeing this, Jerret didn¡¯t mind and asked, ¡°Are we ready?¡± ¡°Anytime.¡± Jerret had all the staffers leave the cabin, leaving only Bi Fang and the team of four. The drone slowly took off, and the livestream began! As the broadcast started, it opened with a promotional video, from Bi Fang taking a bath to a raid by personnel, a struggle, and finally capture, followed by raging waves and various dangerous marine animals. Accompanied by the background music, a voice-over with a classic broadcaster¡¯s intonation narrated the events. As they spoke, it was a line well-known to many. ¡°Looking back on the evolutionary journey of mankind, if our ancestors hadn¡¯t been adventurous and imaginative, without the courage to innovate and the boldness to sacrifice, with grand magnanimity and splendid sentiments, humans wouldn¡¯t have taken canoes to surf the seas, to explore the endless mysteries across the oceans. ¡°Curiosity leads humans to adventure, and adventure has ignited the torch of civilization. ¡°Venturing is not only among nature¡¯s seas and mountains, deserts and swamps, but also lies within the densely populated cities.¡± ¡°Today, the greatest explorer in history, GOD FANG! Has come alone to the high seas, where he will face the harshest of challenges. For twenty-one days, with no food, no water sources, drifting alone on the ocean.¡± sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°For this livestream, our explorer is utterly unprepared, without knives, without fire-starters, he doesn¡¯t even know his geographic location. The only thing he has is a life raft. So, can he survive in these perilous waters and complete his mission challenge?¡± The scene shifted to countless violent waves crashing, the deep blue sea looking like an abyss. The howling wind at one¡¯s ears, the endless depths right before one¡¯s eyes. Music, narration, and visuals came together as one, filling the broadcasting room instantly with tension and anticipation, especially with the raging waves, the collision of foam, and the splashing bursts in the air. Just looking down made one feel the immense power within. The next second, the scene switched again. This time it wasn¡¯t the vast expanse of the sea, but a dark cabin. Inside the cabin were two rows of seats. Bi Fang sat alone in one row, while the captured four-person team was squeezed into the other row. This scene made it seem as though Bi Fang was some sort of dangerous person, causing all four to unconsciously want to stay away. Some attentive viewers noticed that Bi Fang was no longer wearing professional outdoor gear but a very ordinary winter coat, black trousers, and even his shoes were just regular sneakers. Compared to his attire in previous livestreams, this time he looked like he was resting at home on the weekend and was suddenly caught for a livestream. In fact, that was pretty much the case. [Damn, I thought he was really caught, such a letdown.] [The classic opening line was taken by the narrator, can Master Fang endure this? I definitely couldn¡¯t.] [The opening line isn¡¯t from Master Fang, I¡¯m devastated!] [Airdropping Bi Fang? Damn, I could understand airdropping an atomic bomb, but why Bi Fang? What sins has this ocean committed?] As soon as the opening gambit played, the audience was instantly excited. Emotional manipulation was false, but the airdrop livestream was real! Too awesome, another livestream to watch before the New Year! [By the way, who ended up with the deer head from last time? Can any of the heavy hitters please tell us?] [There was also the deer hide, that hide somehow never got given away] [Damn, Master Fang¡¯s gifts are getting too high-end, I can¡¯t even grab one. I only ever got a Wolf Fang.] [Awesome, someone actually got a Wolf Fang! Envy, real name envy.] Bi Fang¡¯s headgear was taken off, and he was at a loss for words when he saw the barrage of comments: ¡°I thought you would be concerned about me, but instead, you¡¯re discussing gifts?¡± Laughter erupted in the livestreaming room. Yao Jun ended up with the deer head from the last broadcast, while the deer hide went to Yao Lina, who is also a livestreamer. The remaining five Emperors had no luck with the draw this time. After deciding on the ownership, Bi Fang didn¡¯t bring back the deer head and hide but directly mailed them to his country from Europe after a lottery among the seven; by now, they should have arrived. Bi Fang lifted his head, observing his surroundings, and realized that he was likely in a transport plane, whose cabin was quite spacious, ¡°I don¡¯t know where I am, but I must be abroad by now, and quite possibly at a high latitude because I can definitely feel the temperature dropping. Most importantly, I was on a plane for a substantial amount of time yesterday.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t accurately estimate how long the flight was, but it was probably about four hours. Considering that commercial airliners usually maintain a speed of 800 kilometers per hour, could this be the Atlantic Ocean? Or Greenland?¡± The group of four stiffened, shocked that he could figure this out. ¡°It seems that way,¡± Bi Fang concluded. ¡°It must be Greenland, because¡­¡± While Bi Fang was analyzing, he noticed the slightest relaxation in Fourth Brother¡¯s body to the side, ¡°Ah, the North Atlantic, have I returned to Europe then?¡± Fourth Brother blurted out, ¡°How do you know?¡± ¡°You just told me.¡± With a slight smile, Bi Fang easily bent his bound hands over his head, then started gnawing at the hemp rope with his teeth, ignoring the four guards watching him. Having practiced yoga for nearly half a year, this kind of movement was all too easy for Bi Fang. The group of four: ¡°¡­¡± How embarrassing. And how did you do that, are you boneless? While untying the ropes, Bi Fang also explained, ¡°In fact, around ten thousand people are abducted each year globally, yes, that many.¡±¡® Abduction is also a part of survival skills, which I rarely had a chance to talk about before, but now the opportunity has come. ¡°As early as the Spring and Autumn period in Huaxia, exchanging hostages among feudal states was a common practice, and during the Three Kingdoms era, Wei even included the method of retaining the relatives of the generals who went to war as hostages in its laws,¡± he continued. ¡°In the West, during the medieval knights¡¯ era, holding captive enemy knights for ransom or political advantages was virtually taken for granted.¡± ¡°In places like The Middle East and Italy, even the predecessors of the Islamic assassination groups and the Mafia had a history of kidnapping hostages. However, these hostage-taking incidents usually had specific purposes, rarely harmed innocents, and the perpetrators, seeking to leverage the hostages for benefits, wouldn¡¯t mistreat them or even provided them with relatively good treatment until a clear break with the extorted party occurred.¡± Some viewers nodded their heads, already knowing Bi Fang was knowledgeable, so this came as no surprise. ¡°But this scenario changed in the modern era with the emergence of a new kind of organization, namely extremist organizations, which may kidnap hostages purely to spread terror, without any concern for the victims¡¯ survival.¡± ¡°So if you¡¯re kidnapped and taken hostage, you must attempt to escape as soon as possible. The longer you¡¯re held captive, the slimmer your chances of escape become.¡± Bi Fang bit off pieces of the rope fiber by fiber ¡ª there¡¯s no special technique to biting ropes; just start slowly from the edge.¡± ¡°Try to make an escape attempt early on. It not only tests the kidnappers¡¯ response capabilities but also helps you gather more information for a future escape. Of course, if you fail, you might face anything from harsh scolding to severe beating. You need to ensure you have the willpower to endure such outcomes beforehand,¡± he explained. ¡°Once the kidnappers have taken you to their prepared detention location, especially the first one, the hope of escape becomes extremely slim. Being detained is different from being moved; they have complete control over the hostage and will do everything in their power to prevent escape.¡± [Holy crap, Old Fang knows about this?] [Impressive, ten thousand a year? Seems like a lot, the world is kind of dangerous] [No kidding, Old Fang is a special forces guy; aren¡¯t all special forces taught how to rescue hostages?] [I almost forgot, Old Fang is not just a Wilderness Survivalist, he¡¯s also a damn special forces legend! I looked up the Hunter Academy last time, the training looked frightening, and Old Fang actually made it through!] As a special forces elite, Bi Fang had a broad skill set and was well-versed in hostage rescue and self-rescue techniques; he was now demonstrating for the audience. ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve already missed the best chance to escape since this is on a plane. If you really want to flee, not only must you know how to parachute, but you also need to understand how to open the cabin door as quickly as possible, which is generally beyond most people¡¯s capabilities.¡± ¡°The actual best opportunity for escape should¡¯ve been when you¡¯re put into a car. Back then, you may have been simply tied up by one or two kidnappers and placed into a vehicle before they quickly drove off. Unless you¡¯re highly vigilant, the kidnappers¡¯ actions can catch you off guard. However, this is your first chance to escape.¡± Bi Fang moved his stiff jaw muscles and continued. ¡°You should try to use your body¡¯s strength to force open the door on the other side and escape, based on the assumption they haven¡¯t locked that door.¡± ¡°However, such an opportunity is effective because it allows them to quickly flee when trouble arises.¡± ¡°The rear door of a panel van offers a better option. Once pushed into the van, we should try to break out through the back door immediately. Suffering a shoulder injury or breaking a few ribs may be a better choice compared to being locked up for weeks or facing worse situations.¡± ¡°Of course, before you ram the door, you need to make sure which door is open because a door that¡¯s locked might not even give way to an elephant,¡± The thick hemp rope had already been thoroughly chewed through. After untying himself, Bi Fang picked up the rope and continued to explain, ¡°If your wrists are bound with a rope, even if you can¡¯t twist your joints like I can, you can still loosen it by continually making fists.¡± ¡°Even if it¡¯s a wide woven strap, soft pipe cleaning line, or a narrow band binding, it may be sturdier than the body, but we can still create an opening at the edge, then tear it across.¡± ¡°The real trouble is nylon rope; that¡¯s the hardest to deal with because the thin loops can tighten into the flesh when you struggle. At that point, you must use something sharp to cut or slice through it to escape.¡± After tossing the coarse hemp rope onto the ground, Bi Fang looked at the group of four huddled together, ¡°Hey, come on, you guys are kidnappers, can you cooperate a little?¡± ¡°Cooperate?¡± Second Brother asked cautiously, ¡°How do we cooperate? What do we do?¡± Being first-time kidnappers, they lacked experience and were currently all ears for any advice. ¡°Uh.¡± Bi Fang was stumped by the question; he didn¡¯t know either, ¡°At least you shouldn¡¯t be so, so apathetic, right?¡± [Hahaha, I died laughing, I always feel like Master Fang kidnapped the four of them!] [Epic!] [Such an unusual turn of events, the kidnappers don¡¯t act like kidnappers, and the hostage doesn¡¯t act like a hostage] [You¡¯re the hostage, dumbass, don¡¯t get too cocky!] Bi Fang chuckled, ¡°Actually, when facing danger, the most important thing is to keep your emotions stable, don¡¯t let fear cloud your judgment, because panicking can make the situation much more dangerous.¡± ¡°When dealing with intense emotions, we can try the 5-4-3-2-1 technique, which can help ¡®cool you down,''¡± 5-4-3-2-1? What¡¯s that? Not just the audience, but even the group of four were hearing this for the first time, perking up their ears to eavesdrop involuntarily. ¡°The so-called 5-4-3-2-1 technique starts with paying attention to your surroundings, inhale, exhale, breathe deeply and slowly.¡± ¡°Hoo.¡± Fourth Brother exhaled deeply, only to turn around and find that Boss, Second Brother, and Third Brother were all looking at him. ¡°What, I¡¯m nervous, is that wrong?¡± Bi Fang felt like laughing but continued, ¡°Next, say out loud five things you see around you, four things you can feel, like the warmth of your skin, your feet pressing against the ground, the chair under your butt, three things you can hear, two scents you can smell ¨C take a deep breath for this one, and finally, say one good thing about yourself.¡± ¡°So, is anyone trying it?¡± Fourth Brother looked astonished, ¡°Hey, it really works, I think I¡¯m not scared anymore!¡± Boss slapped him on the head, ¡°The hell are you scared of?¡± [Damn, it seems to really work] [That¡¯s pretty interesting] [It¡¯s not just fear, right? I feel like it can suppress other emotions too] [Amazing, I just finished watching a horror movie, and now I don¡¯t seem scared at all. Can I show off this trick when I watch movies with friends in the future?] While Shuiyou were cracking jokes, the group of four suddenly received a directive from the director. Second Brother beside him threw the life raft on the ground to Bi Fang, and Third Brother, who was closest to the cabin door, stood up and opened the hatch. The harsh cold wind mixed with thick moisture howled in as if slashing with knives. Bi Fang, holding the heavy survival raft, stood in front of the cabin door, his black clothes flapping wildly. Looking down, the height of twenty meters was enough to make anyone¡¯s legs go weak. Chapter 220: 217 High-altitude Diving Chapter 220: Chapter 217 High-altitude Diving The cabin door slowly opened. The group of four obeyed the Bluetooth commands and silently stepped back, leaving the frame to Bi Fang alone, who stood alone in the only light, his black robe billowing with the wind. Standing on the unfolded cabin door, Bi Fang looked down at the turbulent ocean below. The wind was strong, and the waves were so dense that they seemed to shatter into foam upon hitting each other in the air, then scatter into the sea as spray. Bi Fang walked onto the extended platform, and looking down from the high altitude, the first-person camera angle made everyone subconsciously feel a weakness in their knees at the sight of the more than twenty-meter drop. Even the safety assistant Pondy couldn¡¯t resist clutching his pants, wiping the sweat from his hands. When the viewers saw the altitude, and that the aircraft showed no sign of descending, they immediately understood the production team¡¯s intention¡ªthey planned to have Bi Fang jump directly! [Damn, that high? Jump straight down?] [My palms are already sweating] [Damn, last time I went to the swimming center to dive, I didn¡¯t dare jump from seven meters, and this is at least twenty!] [Master Fang makes an appearance, extraordinary as always!] At that moment, a line of numbers also appeared on the screen, a note from the production team: at that moment, the helicopter was twenty-three meters above the sea level! As soon as the data was shown, everyone silently sweated for Bi Fang! Bi Fang also took a sharp breath when he saw the surging waves beneath his feet, but soon after, his heartbeat began to accelerate, and the blood flowing rapidly through his veins gradually warmed him up in the cold air. For a while, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t tell whether his increasing heartbeat was due to excitement or a physiological reaction to the cold. He turned his head and spoke to the drone with a smile, ¡°What about you? Do you feel the urge to jump down?¡± [Jump down? Are you crazy? Not at all] [Please let me leave, thank you] [Only you want to jump down!] ¡°Don¡¯t go against your true self!¡± Bi Fang laughed in the face of the wind, showing not a trace of fear He placed his hand over his heart, ¡°Just feel it for a moment¡ªdo you really feel nothing?¡± Seeing Bi Fang speak so seriously, and apparently not joking, quite a few people actually started to contemplate, and upon looking down again, they seemed to feel an inclination to jump? What was going on? Do I have a suicidal tendency? Many netizens were puzzled. ¡°This isn¡¯t about having a suicidal tendency. It¡¯s innate for any living being to seek benefits and avoid harm, and our brain produces a subconscious response to escape dangerous situations or environments to protect ourselves.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why none of us like to go near edges of high buildings, bridges, or cliffs without guardrails! However, under the control of our consciousness, sometimes we do go to such places to experience unique scenery. But occasionally, you might feel a strange impulse¡ªthat is the desire to jump down!¡± As he spoke, Bi Fang had already reached the very edge of the unfolded cabin door, heightening the audience¡¯s suspense even further! ¡°If you¡¯ve ever felt such an impulse, don¡¯t worry, it doesn¡¯t mean you have a subconscious desire to commit suicide, but rather that you¡¯ve experienced a physiological reaction known as the ¡®High Place Phenomenon¡¯, which has an even cooler name in France called the ¡®Call of the Void¡¯!¡± ¡°Cool, isn¡¯t it?¡± [Not cool at all!] [Can you not stand on the edge, I¡¯m scared¡­] [Okay, okay, I get it, Master Fang, please spare me your glare! Don¡¯t look down anymore, I can¡¯t handle it!] ¡°Actually, this phenomenon stems from the distortion of our balance perception. On a horizontal distance, our visual reception system and the vestibular system don¡¯t conflict, but on a vertical distance, as the altitude increases, it can make us feel fear and vertigo,¡± he said. ¡°This is because the vestibular perception system believes that the ground beneath our feet is very stable, while the visual system tells our brain there is a significant visual drop, which can make us dizzy and lead the brain to believe that our body is in an unbalanced state, possibly about to fall.¡± S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When Bi Fang looked down at his feet again, even through the lens, the audience felt a genuine sense of dizziness, as if the ocean was really muttering in their sleep, tempting people to jump down. But after some thought, the audience was shocked out of their wits by their own absurd idea. ¡°When the brain¡¯s balance status is disrupted, it can produce feelings of fear, unease, and dizziness, and the subconscious quickly issues orders to seek safety and avoid harm, to return to a safe place. But sometimes these commands are wrong!¡± ¡°Like when we¡¯re standing in high places, the brain¡¯s first reaction is to jump down! To eliminate the imbalance caused by the height difference!¡± ¡°Human instinctive reactions are impulsive and fast, when the brain¡¯s safety center is threatened, it immediately sends alarm signals to the cerebral cortex.¡± ¡°However, the cerebral cortex processes information relatively slowly. In this delayed process, erroneous commands can be created, causing people to feel the urge to jump. But after a brief rational analysis, one would realize that the best way to eliminate this visual discrepancy is to retreat to a safe area, not to jump down!¡± [I¡¯ve learned something new¡­ Old Fang really knows a lot, genuinely awesome.] [So does that mean one should never climb high when emotionally upset? Is that the message?] [It¡¯s indeed the call of the void, fatally alluring.] [Why didn¡¯t I feel anything when Old Fang did high-altitude parachuting last time?] [That¡¯s because it was too high, and your brain didn¡¯t feel anything. Looking at the ground was like looking at a painting.] Bi Fang nodded, the last time because the height was too great, without any reference point, the brain couldn¡¯t believe that it was high above, so he didn¡¯t mention this point. ¡°This delay in rational judgment is more likely to result in impulsive outcomes for those who are sensitive, have weak willpower, are depressed, or already harbor suicidal thoughts, especially in critical moments,¡± he declared. Looking out at the boundless ocean, Bi Fang shouted into the wind: ¡°So, if you are emotionally unstable, don¡¯t go to bridges or any high places to clear your mind, it can be very dangerous. Even a twenty-metre-plus fall, even into water, can cause injury or disability. The great impact can, at the very least, cause swelling, and at worst, break bones.¡± Quite a few viewers nodded silently, many had studied physics and were aware of this fact. ¡°Just like what I¡¯m doing right now!¡± Right now? What? The audience was startled, still not fully grasping what was happening, when they saw Bi Fang suddenly throw the life raft into the sea with no warning, bend his legs slightly, and powerfully jump out of the hatch, his body rigidly plunging down! Fuck, didn¡¯t he just say it was dangerous? The viewers¡¯ eyes widened, and they suddenly felt a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. They only realized then, dammit, Master Fang did the same during the last parachute jump, talking about the danger, and then he jumped anyway! Shit, not again! You can¡¯t keep doing this! Once free from the hatch, Bi Fang closed his eyes tightly, his hands clinging to his legs, in complete freefall, plunging into the sea like an arrow. The intense airflow instantly blurred the sound of the waves and the rotors, leaving only the howling wind! Moments later, the camera shook violently. The white sky suddenly vanished, a vast blue burst into the frame, the screen filled with the silver reflection of bubbles. Chapter 221: 218 Isolated and Without Help Chapter 221: Chapter 218 Isolated and Without Help Bi Fang clenched his eyes shut until, with a ¡°plop,¡± he was enveloped in bubbles. He fell into the water. The huge recoil numbed his legs as numerous bubbles rushed upwards, displacing the air. Sea water instantly surged in, completely engulfing him. The bone-chilling cold penetrated every pore, crawling up his spine like a venomous snake, injecting its deadly venom into his marrow. Under the intense shock, his blood vessels contracted reflexively. Bi Fang slowly opened his eyes underwater, immersed in the pale blue water. In such severe cold, Bi Fang didn¡¯t immediately look for the life raft but stayed motionless in the water, waiting for the initial chill to subside as his blood began to circulate rapidly to provide warmth. Then he kicked with his legs and burst above the water¡¯s surface, swimming towards the bright orange life raft. Seeing Bi Fang safely in the water, the helicopter didn¡¯t linger at all and flew straight into the distance. But nobody expected that, just as Bi Fang was about to reach the life raft, a wave suddenly struck, tossing the raft several meters away! The icy seawater quickly began to sap his energy. Bi Fang took a breath, dove into the water, and swiftly swam towards the life raft. [Damn! That wave is fierce!] [Damn, why does it feel like it¡¯s getting further and further away?] [Hiss, this sea water looks so cold. I¡¯ve fallen into a river in winter before; that refreshing pain, I almost froze to death!] Remembering what Bi Fang had just said, that a normal person might only survive a few minutes in cold seawater, many people felt anxious for him. Fortunately, as the distance shortened, no waves struck this time, and Bi Fang successfully grabbed the life raft. ¡°Ha! This seawater is really too cold, I feel like my bones are about to freeze, I hope I don¡¯t get arthritis when I¡¯m old,¡± Bi Fang joked to the camera, grabbing the life raft¡¯s inflation cord. ¡°Okay, what I need to do now is inflate the life raft. At this moment, we mustn¡¯t let go because once we do, the inflated valve can easily be blown away by the wind, and then no matter how fast you swim, you won¡¯t be able to catch it.¡± Inside the inflatable life raft, there are items for inflation, which can quickly blow up if opened correctly. Bi Fang yanked the inflation cord forcefully, rapidly opening the inflation valve. White mist billowed out over the sea, as he clung to the edge of the life raft ¨C his lifeline, and the only mercy from the production crew. Without the life raft, no matter how clever his methods, he wouldn¡¯t be able to survive twenty-one days in the frigid ocean. Already on the plane, Bi Fang had observed that there were no nearby islands. From a height of twenty meters, even ignoring whether he could reach the edge of his line of sight, even with unlimited stamina, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to survive long in such cold seawater. With a strenuous effort from his waist and abdomen, Bi Fang somersaulted into the life raft. Once inside the life raft, he quickly zipped it up, leaving only a small opening to keep out most of the cold sea breeze, then he removed his clothes, wrung them out vigorously through the small hole, and spread them inside the raft to dry as fast as possible. After dealing with his clothes, Bi Fang closed the last small opening and started a series of intense exercises to restore his body heat. A few minutes later, Bi Fang¡¯s previously pale skin quickly reddened. After all this, Bi Fang didn¡¯t dare to lie down but huddled in a corner of the life raft, continually exhaling. ¡°Ha! I was really close to freezing to death just now. Luckily, I have a life raft. Most of these rafts have a tent-like design and are very warm.¡± ¡°When you¡¯re inside, the heat radiation your body emits will quickly reflect back, raising the temperature inside the tent rapidly, preventing you from freezing from the sea breeze, and the increased temperature will also speed up the drying of your clothes.¡± ¡°So unless necessary, I definitely won¡¯t unzip it again.¡± Bi Fang rubbed his skin nonstop to alleviate his discomfort, ¡°To be honest, this challenge is the harshest environment I¡¯ve ever encountered, not only is it cold, but we don¡¯t even have the basic supplies. Without supplies, I can¡¯t establish more fundamental survival assurances.¡± This challenge, even he himself didn¡¯t have confidence in it, surrounded on all sides by the sea, aside from fish, no creature could feel safe in this environment, there were no food, water, or fire above. ¡°And look, my feet are still numb.¡± The camera focused on Bi Fang¡¯s feet, and the audience suddenly noticed that despite not being rubbed, the skin was a bright red. [Is it from diving?] [I think I understand why Old Fang entered the water feet first. I always thought diving started headfirst.] [The person above, have you been watching too much diving on TV?] ¡°See that? That¡¯s the danger of high-altitude diving, even though my movement was precise enough.¡± ¡°Whenever we dive, the moment we hit the water we¡¯ll face the impact of the waves. And this force increases with the height. In such cases, it¡¯s quite easy to get injured if the posture is not properly controlled.¡± ¡°The world record for the highest dive is 61 meters, but the diver broke his spine from the fall. The injury-free diving record is held at 53.90 meters, created by Oliver from Switzerland in 1987 on a French cliff, where he even performed a beautiful backflip with two rotations and entered the water smoothly.¡± Upon hearing this height, the audience was astounded¡ªfifty meters! Without some technique, wouldn¡¯t diving be just like jumping off a building? ¡°The reason why divers can dive from platforms over 10 or even 20 meters high and remain unscathed is because they have received professional diving training and know the correct way to enter the water.¡± ¡°The correct diving posture is to enter the water feet first, the body must be straightened, legs tight together, hands pressed to the sides, just like standing at attention, this way, the surface area of the body in contact with the water will be minimal.¡± ¡°Plus, we can also throw a large rock or something ahead of time to break the surface tension of the water, minimizing the force of the impact, that¡¯s why I threw the life raft in first.¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s not a problem if you don¡¯t throw anything, as the wind is strong, and the waves on the sea surface are already significant.¡± Bi Fang pointed to the shadow outside the tent of the life raft, waves half a meter high crashing against the tent, making the life raft very bumpy. Thankfully, the drone could fly low to film, otherwise, some viewers would certainly start to feel dizzy. ¡°To be honest, I didn¡¯t expect the production team to set such a tough challenge, it¡¯s indeed difficult. Just now when I surfaced, I glanced at the helicopter and saw it was a CH-46 transport helicopter, which has its distinctive features¡ªit can land and take off in shallow seas, and when necessary, it can even be driven like a boat.¡± ¡°Looks like the production team is willing to spend money. If I remember correctly, this helicopter was only recently retired from service a few years ago; they¡¯re probably watching me from a few dozen kilometers away.¡± Bi Fang looked towards the camera as if he could see the production team dozens of kilometers away, making even the director of photography feel a sense of disquiet from being seen through. Turning away from the camera, Bi Fang watched the waves breaking against the tent. To survive twenty-one days, the best approach would be to find an island or, even more fortunately, land directly, but that wouldn¡¯t be easy. The production team wouldn¡¯t foolishly drop him off near the coast. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The one thing Bi Fang could confirm was that there was no land within at least thirty kilometers! Chapter 222: 219: Get Some Water to Drink Chapter 222: Chapter 219: Get Some Water to Drink At sea, an orange life raft bobbed and drifted aimlessly. Through the interplay of light and shadow, one could faintly see someone moving inside. Seeing the program go smoothly, Jerrett heaved a sigh of relief. Everything was unfolding in an orderly fashion, and now it all depended on Bi Fang¡¯s skills. Could he succeed in this extreme challenge of the icy ocean for twenty-one days? At the time of signing the contract, the production team intended to follow closely, but Bi Fang had flatly refused. He believed that there had to be a distance of at least twenty kilometers between them for him to feel safe broadcasting live. What is the most important thing in Wilderness Survivalist? If there were a ranking, Bi Fang would first place willpower at the top. The potential of humans is infinite. Only when one is brought to the brink of death can that potential be truly unleashed. If one leaves oneself any way out, even the strongest person will relax subconsciously. In the face of a sudden accident, the chance one might have had to fight for survival could be lost due to that moment of laxity. In the face of danger, Bi Fang preferred to trust himself rather than rely on rescue, which would always be delayed no matter what ¨C to trust his own hands, his own abilities. It was best to have the production team as far away as possible. Even for a helicopter, twenty kilometers would take several minutes to arrive, truly placing oneself in a desperate situation. Being isolated and without support could indeed trigger passivity. ¡°According to statistical data, every year there are about one hundred thousand people who encounter maritime disasters, and only about one third of them are able to get on a life raft or a wooden raft. Often, in the first three days after a ship encounters disaster, when food and drink are not yet in short supply, some people have already died, a scenario that has become all too common,¡± he continued. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Just two hours after the sinking of the Titanic, the rescuers found some of the people in the lifeboats already dead or dying.¡± Hearing this grim data, the audience gasped in astonishment. [Holy shit, one hundred thousand, is it really that exaggerated?] [That¡¯s a bit outrageous] [The Titanic? I know that one, it¡¯s the one with the nude painting, right?] [Here comes Mr. Focus, so you remembered only that from a two-hour movie? Can¡¯t you be more high-minded like me, and stay away from such lowbrow tastes?] [Laying it out here, I¡¯m a mongrel, and I love watching it, over and over again.] The unsteady life raft made Bi Fang waver constantly. The sudden change in temperature and the pitched life raft were causing him extreme discomfort. If not for the fact his Physique had reached fifteen points, he might have already started vomiting. Bi Fang held his head and continued to explain, ¡°I¡¯m not talking about the movie, but the actual historical Titanic.¡± ¡°In fact, beyond environmental factors, a contributing factor to this high mortality rate is emotion!¡± ¡°Being in the middle of the ocean, without a solid deck underfoot, can cause an intense emotional turmoil. At this point, a person¡¯s heart, brain, and nerve activities rapidly intensify, followed by the opposite process ¡ª extreme inhibition. This inhibition can cause the heart to stop beating altogether and brain activity to cease.¡± The audience was shocked to hear this. Was this what they call dying of fright? Bi Fang saw the comments and nodded in agreement, yes, it could be understood in that way. The metabolism and physiological processes of those in danger would be severely disrupted, leading to neurogenic vascular paralysis. This mechanism of death is similar to the so-called ¡°witch doctor¡¯s death¡± in certain African tribes. ¡°Witch doctor¡¯s death¡± refers to cursing certain individuals with catastrophic fear, quickly replaced by despair and apathy, leading to death shortly after. But the curse doesn¡¯t really exist; it¡¯s the enormous psychological stress that collapses a person¡¯s entire body. Simply put, those who lose hope when facing danger, who let despair take control, are the ones who will die. ¡°Damn, Old Fang knows so much, even random wilderness survival tips, he truly knows what he¡¯s talking about!¡± ¡°I always thought that Master Fang did his research before going somewhere, which is how he knew so much, but now I¡¯m kind of scared, he¡¯s too awesome!¡± ¡°Watching Master Fang¡¯s livestream, you simply can¡¯t keep any Wolf Brush!¡± Many viewers had thought that the knowledge Bi Fang demonstrated was likely pre-researched, such as historical records and tales of strange people and events. Yet now, even with random deployment, he could still speak knowledgeably! All you could do was hand over the Wolf Brush you¡¯d been saving for a month! Wolf Brush was a free gift on Wolf Fang TV that viewers could obtain through opening treasure chests, signing in, or as a bonus for recharging. In a month, one could accumulate quite a few, but Bi Fang¡¯s livestreams were like a harvester. Open it once a month, and it was like a shearing machine, not leaving a single hair behind. Truly unparalleled at shearing! ¡°So do you guys still remember the 5-4-3-2-1 technique I just taught you? Don¡¯t forget it, in these kinds of situations, the only one who can save you is yourself!¡± ¡°Have faith in your own strength, trust in your friends and your country to come and rescue you, and believe firmly that the heavens won¡¯t let you die!¡± ¡°My foreign friends can have faith that your God won¡¯t let you die easily! In fact, devout believers often have a higher probability of surviving until rescuers arrive. It¡¯s not a miracle of God, rather you become the light in your own trials.¡± Bi Fang took a deep breath and then exhaled, large and slow, employing the technique to alleviate his psychological stress. ¡°I can see the life raft, the surging waves, clothes, hands, feet; I can feel the cold, the tossing, the rubber texture, the dampness; I can hear the wind, the tide, the sound of friction; I can smell the plastic, the sea, and finally, my strengths¡­¡± ¡°Ah, my strengths are just too numerous.¡± Bi Fang rubbed his head, showing signs of trouble, ¡°To be honest, this is a bit challenging for me¡­¡± ¡°If I have to choose one¡­ does being handsome count?¡± The viewers burst into laughter as they watched Bi Fang seriously claim his handsomeness. They were all infected by Bi Fang¡¯s optimism at that moment. Unconsciously, the tension of being adrift on the sea seemed non-existent, as if the storms outside the tent simply couldn¡¯t trouble a person like Bi Fang. Bi Fang exhaled a breath of warm air, the temperature inside the tent was now significantly higher than outside, and he was no longer as uncomfortable as he had been at the start. Having calmed down, Bi Fang began to decide on his next actions. He always liked to turn passive situations into proactive ones, establishing his own survival assurances in the wilderness. Everything would get better. That saying was too vague for Bi Fang, who preferred to say: if you don¡¯t take the initiative to do something, things will never get better. ¡°If you¡¯re stranded on the vast ocean, all you can do is wait, wait for the sea breeze and the tides to push you towards the shore, or maybe you¡¯ll be lucky enough to encounter an island.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s too much reliant on luck. If you¡¯re unlucky, you might not make it to shore within twenty-one days, and then we would have to consider food and especially water, as without a water source¡­¡± Before Bi Fang could finish, he noticed that many viewers had started to answer ahead of him. [I know! The Devil¡¯s Formula!] [Nope! It¡¯s now the Master Fang Formula!] [Three minutes without oxygen you die! Three hours without warmth you die! Three days without water you die! Three weeks without food you die!] ¡°Hah, you guys remember it pretty well.¡± Bi Fang laughed. Even though only a few thousand people watched his first livestream, millions from B Island had watched his videos, and many remembered them quite vividly. For now, there was no need to worry about oxygen or warmth; the only issue was water. Out on the vast ocean, he needed to get some water to drink. Chapter 223: 220: Professional Branch: Master of Meteorology Chapter 223: Chapter 220: Professional Branch: Master of Meteorology Above the sea, the drone intermittently switches lenses for multifaceted filming from different angles. A drone even flew outside the tent, capturing the rise and fall of the life raft in clear detail from a high-altitude perspective. In the face of dangerous Nature, humans are like this life raft, bobbing up and down, seemingly at any moment they might be capsized by the waves and thus submerged beneath the sea. ¡°I can¡¯t take it, my head¡¯s getting dizzy!¡± Bi Fang held onto the edge of the boat, resisting the urge to vomit. Life rafts are unlike boats. Without a keel, the inflation valve can only be maneuvered by the waves. Every step taken is soft, without a single firm foothold. Add to that the psychological pressure of being shipwrecked; if a person gets seasick, their dizziness would be at least tripled! The experience is definitely intense. A strong physique has little to do with seasickness. If it hadn¡¯t been for Bi Fang practicing yoga for over half a year and mastering Tai Chi Traveling Dragon, thus having a strong sense of balance, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to hold on at all. He would be doing more than just thinking about vomiting; he¡¯d be considering whether to discard the vomit instead. ¡°It¡¯s hard for me to imagine what it feels like to be trapped in a life raft for two or three days, or even a week. Just the thought of it makes me want to throw up.¡± Bi Fang changed his strategy and began to lie down inside the life raft, trying as much as possible to go with the flow of the ocean currents and respond to unchanging amid constant changes, to cope with the dizziness. Perhaps he would be able to adapt after a while. ¡°Although we are surrounded by the sea, you all should know that seawater is not drinkable. Drinking this high-salinity water will not only fail to quench your thirst but could also put you in fatal danger.¡± Bi Fang touched his clothes and found that they were still a way from being dry, which only added to the torment. Even though the temperature inside the tent was higher, that didn¡¯t mean he could go without clothes. The cold was constantly draining his energy, a debuff that would inevitably leave him weakened over time. ¡°The salt concentration of seawater is about four times that of human body fluids, and the kidneys¡¯ capacity to excrete salt is limited, usually not exceeding a concentration of 2%, which is below seawater¡¯s salt concentration of 3.5%. This leads to the conclusion that drinking seawater is not only ineffective in replenishing water but causes dehydration in humans instead, not to mention the possible parasites and bacteria in it.¡± ¡°How are we supposed to get water then? Forget water, Old Fang doesn¡¯t even have a container to hold water on his face, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, looking at the sea won¡¯t quench thirst.¡± ¡°My head is about to explode; the production team is too pitiless, leaving us with nothing!¡± The audience couldn¡¯t help but feel anxious upon hearing this. It was Bi Fang¡¯s first live broadcast where he had nothing, but that was on land where he could at least gather materials and make tools himself. Now, there were no materials to be had. It¡¯s difficult to cook without rice. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m drying clothes, aren¡¯t I? Once they are dry, we will have water to drink.¡± S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang picked up a bath towel, which the production team had not taken, and he had not completely wrung out. He had left it slightly damp. ¡°There should be many things inside a life raft, such as flares, flashlights, whistles, food, and water, but obviously, the production team has taken all these. The best way to obtain water for survival at sea is, of course, rainwater, which is also what I am hoping for.¡± ¡°Do you remember my speculation on the airplane? This is the North Atlantic, where throughout the year, especially in autumn and winter, the winds are strong. Moreover, based on the temperature, I deduce that it should be close to the Arctic Circle.¡± Bi Fang trusted his deduction to be correct. He had set off from Ugly Country, flying across the entire Atlantic, then traveled by car to the coastline before departing by helicopter. He had changed modes of transport twice and wouldn¡¯t be more than five hundred kilometers from the coastline. This allowed him to roughly determine his location. The northern part of the North Atlantic! Northwestern Europe! In the autumn and winter seasons, the tropical cyclones over the North Atlantic transform into strong temperate cyclones, bringing gale-force winds to the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean. Some of the stronger temperate cyclones can cross the Atlantic, bringing gales and heavy precipitation to Northwestern Europe! [Whoa, here comes the Master of Meteorology again!] [I won¡¯t watch the weather forecast if it¡¯s not you!] [Got schooled again, I¡¯m definitely going to pass geography this time. Don¡¯t ask, if you do, it¡¯s because of the Church of Bi Fang.] [It must be fun having Master Fang as a teacher. Student: How do you know? Teacher: Because I once drifted at sea for twenty-one days.] ¡°So, during our drift, the probability of encountering rainwater is very high, but we can¡¯t put all our hopes on that. In the absence of rainwater, of course, the best way to get water is still distillation,¡± he said. Bi Fang turned the towel over and, pointing at the tent canopy, said, ¡°The life raft is watertight, and one of the reasons I don¡¯t open the zipper is so that we can trap the evaporated moisture inside, eventually condensing it on the canopy to form distilled water, which then runs down. Even though it¡¯s inefficient, it¡¯s indeed a good method.¡± He tore off a strip of cloth, tied it around the center of the canopy, and fastened the other end tightly with a shoelace, using the weight of the shoe to sag the canopy, forming a funnel shape. This way, the evaporated water vapor could drip in one direction through the funnel, improving efficiency. [666, learned a new trick, time to compete with the little pond!] [Come back and tell us how much water you collected in a day.] [But isn¡¯t this efficiency too slow?] ¡°It is slow. This method of water collection simply cannot meet my water needs, but that¡¯s survival. If necessary, I would even choose to drink urine.¡± Bi Fang swallowed hard, somewhat impatient for the water to drip down. Drink urine! This distasteful word startled many viewers when it came up. Many people had heard from various news stories about earthquake victims trapped without water to drink, forced to survive by drinking urine. But no matter how harsh the environment or how dangerous the situation had been before, Bi Fang had never spoken of, much less done, such a thing. But this time Bi Fang said it out loud, suggesting that the situation might be even more difficult than the viewers had originally imagined, forcing the always resourceful Bi Fang to resort to more extreme methods. ¡°If you can survive in the wild without any reduction in physiological function, then it¡¯s not just survival anymore, it¡¯s living, because you¡¯ve established a virtuous cycle,¡± he explained. ¡°But real survival is cruel. The harsher the conditions, the more evident the cruelty. My goal is to use every possible means to keep myself alive longer, to extend the process of deterioration using every method at my disposal, to hang on until I make it ashore or am rescued,¡± he said. Bi Fang spoke these words with calmness, but everybody could feel the brutality in them. It wasn¡¯t his first time leading everyone to experience this feeling, yet it seemed like a brand new experience every time. Everyone got something different out of Bi Fang¡¯s live streams. Some loved the natural beauty within, charmed by its lethal allure. Some were keen on seeing the infinite potential humans could unleash in times of crisis, that extreme vitality of life. Some enjoyed when Bi Fang explained knowledge in various environments, satisfying their thirst for learning. And of course, perhaps some simply liked Bi Fang because he was handsome¡ªa simple and pure affection. [Cut off from society, thou shall, no WiFi connect.] [Ah, upper floor, you owe me for that touch of emotion!] [Damn it, the emotions I was brewing just vanished. It¡¯s true, the wilderness is terrifying. There¡¯s not even WiFi.] ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the scariest part,¡± he agreed. Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but admire the creativity of the netizens. No matter how dangerous a situation, it always turned amusing through their comments. Chapter 224: 221: Who Says the Huaxia People Cant Create Miracles? Chapter 224: Chapter 221: Who Says the Huaxia People Can¡¯t Create Miracles? A coat, two inner layers, a pair of long pants, and a bath towel. Besides the pants worn to avoid any pixelation effects, Bi Fang spread out each of these clothes within the life raft, arranging them like a vendor displays his wares, allowing them to evaporate and dry with the utmost efficiency. [Wow, a boss who doesn¡¯t wear long johns! Truly worthy of you, Master Fang!] [Why is your focus so strange?] [The pants are lined with fleece, right? Is it really okay to seriously discuss this?] Bi Fang selectively ignored the barrage of comments from his online friends. After airing out for so long, the raft had started to become humid and warm, which made him more irritable and compounded his discomfort. However, to drink water, he had no choice but to do this. Tiny droplets slid down the funnel-shaped tent top, gradually dripping down, while Bi Fang opened his mouth wide below to catch each precious drop of freshwater. Without a container, this was the only way he could do it. As water droplets slid from top to bottom, they would carry many smaller droplets. After drinking for a while, he could rest briefly and allow the little droplets to condense again. Because of the temperature difference between the inside and outside, the water drops condensed quite quickly. Approximately every ten to twenty minutes, he could moisten his mouth again. Drifting at sea was not a simple matter. Bi Fang¡¯s previous estimate of twenty kilometers was conservative. Observing the color of the seawater, he even suspected that he had strayed far from the continental shelf, hundreds of kilometers from the coast! When he mentioned this possibility, the viewers were astounded. [Hundreds of kilometers? Is Master Fang joking?] [Can you really tell from that distance? Can humans see hundreds of kilometers?] [Did the production crew actually not plan for Master Fang to make it ashore?] ¡°Of course, humans can see hundreds of kilometers, not to mention hundreds of light-years. Otherwise, how could you see the stars? Whether you can see an object primarily depends on the object¡¯s size and brightness. As long as it¡¯s big enough and bright enough, you can even see Polaris.¡± ¡°Do you remember when I scanned the surroundings standing on the helicopter? Since Earth is a sphere, standing on its surface, our straight line of sight can only reach a portion of it. How far we can see depends on its diameter. This is a bit complicated, so let me just give you the conclusion.¡± ¡°On a clear day, the farthest distance a person can see over the sea can be estimated using the equation distance squared = 16.88h.¡± ¡°Where h is the height of your eyes above sea level, with h in meters and distance in kilometers. If someone¡¯s eyes are 1.5 meters above sea level, then their visible distance is roughly five kilometers.¡± [Holy moly, what¡¯s with this feeling like I¡¯m back in math class?] [I came to watch the live broadcast, not to solve math problems, survival scum!] [Make it simpler, talk in a simpler way.] [It¡¯s so complicated that you won¡¯t explain it which feels so real. I have limited knowledge; just hearing this makes me cough.] ¡°And the height from which I dived, plus my height, puts me approximately 25 meters above the sea surface. If you calculate it that way, my visible distance is roughly twenty kilometers.¡± ¡°Of course, this assumes clear weather and no haze in the air. And this is just one of my bases for judgment.¡± Bi Fang shook his head, pointing outside the tent, ¡°I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ve seen the footage taken by the drone outside the tent. Did you notice that the seawater is particularly blue?¡± The director of photography quickly switched the shot to the drone outside the tent, ascending and filming from above, where the seawater was almost deep blue. It was profoundly terrifying. Especially since below the vast expanse of deep blue, only an orange life raft bobbed up and down. Extremely tiny. [Master Fang didn¡¯t mention it at first, but once he did, my thalassophobia started kicking in] [Ah, I can¡¯t watch this! Just looking at it, it feels like there¡¯s some kind of monster in the water!] ¡°My second basis is to look at how blue the sea is. This is an issue of light scattering. The deeper the water, the more thorough the scattering of blue and violet light, so the bluer the sea appears to us.¡± ¡°This sea is nearly deep blue, so I estimate its depth to be at least 150 meters. Within the continental shelf, the depth of the water generally doesn¡¯t exceed 200 meters. Reaching a depth of 150 meters means we are already very far from the coastline, hundreds of kilometers is pretty normal.¡± Inside the helicopter, Jerret turned to his safety assistant Pondy, ¡°Is he right?¡± Pondy scratched his head, slightly embarrassed. Although he was a safety assistant and knew about visibility, judging location by the color of seawater was something he had heard about but never accomplished. Faced with Jerret¡¯s question, all he could do was speak the truth. ¡°` ¡°I know there¡¯s this method, but I can¡¯t make that deduction; only a fisherman who has spent a lifetime fishing might possibly do it. However, we did indeed fly nearly three hundred kilometers from the shore.¡± Jerret was shocked. Although Pondy wasn¡¯t an expert in this area, he was a safety professional. With an age of over forty, he had a wealth of experience and a strong understanding of many marine First Aid knowledge. Could it really be that even he couldn¡¯t make a judgment? It seemed that the scores they had given to Bi Fang might have underestimated him. Just how many more skills did this guy have that he hadn¡¯t shown yet? Jerret couldn¡¯t help but raise Bi Fang¡¯s strength in his mind again. It was hard to imagine that such seasoned judgment could be found in a twenty-five-year-old young man! Experience was something that required time and a broad range of encounters to accumulate, while physical strength would decline as one grew older. Rich experience and abundant physical strength, two seemingly contradictory qualities, were both present in one person! In films and television, he would definitely be the absolute protagonist who wins the hearts of beautiful women! The world would pay attention, no, it was already paying attention! A true genius! Nature¡¯s darling! A born Adventurer! These titles naturally sprang up in Jerret¡¯s mind. He even found it hard to imagine, what Bi Fang would become at forty, no, not forty, thirty, or even just five more years from then? Still at the physiological peak of humans, but with five more years of growth, how formidable would Bi Fang be? By then, would there be any difference for him between any place on Earth and his own backyard? ¡°Whew!¡± Having solved the water problem, Bi Fang took a deep breath, unzipped the zipper slightly, and poked half his face out to breathe in fresh air to relieve his dizzy brain. After a while, he zipped up again and felt much fresher. Bi Fang rubbed his face and continued to chat with his audience. There wasn¡¯t much he could do with the rough seas outside, but once the waves calmed down a bit, he could try some methods to catch fish. Although the task restrictions were virtually nonexistent for him now, it was still better to complete them. Completing tasks brought rewards, which were his assurance of becoming continuously stronger and the prerequisite for him to keep exploring areas where humans were forbidden. ¡°Actually, surviving twenty-one days at sea is not impossible. To my knowledge, the longest known survival time adrift at sea is 133 days¡­¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So, to retain his audience as much as possible, Bi Fang was sharing all the knowledge he had. But before he could finish, the audience was already shocked by the number. 133 days, what kind of monster is this? Master Fang had only survived for a little over an hour and was already suffering so much, so who was this person who drifted at sea for a third of a year? Could it be without vomiting bile? [It must be some big shot who¡¯s challenging the limits, right? They must have brought some food, right?] [Is it someone from Ugly Country? I feel like only people from Ugly Country would dare to court death like this!] [Indeed, people from Huaxia don¡¯t seem to like taking on extreme challenges. Perhaps it¡¯s our body structure that¡¯s not up to it.] Whenever the topic of ultimate survival comes up, the audience thinks of some Western images. Even the examples Bi Fang previously mentioned involved foreigners, like getting lost in the desert while running a marathon, not dying from wrist-cutting, diving, breath-holding, and other records were all created by foreigners. It¡¯s almost as if they represented the human spirit of daring to challenge Nature and never giving up. It seemed that pushing the limits of nature had nothing to do with the Huaxia people. But this time Bi Fang chuckled, ¡°Then you are very wrong. The creator of this record is not someone else, but a native Huaxia person!¡± ¡°` Chapter 225: 222 A Fruitless Endeavor Chapter 225: Chapter 222 A Fruitless Endeavor 133 days. That¡¯s one-third of a year, over four months, a school term¡ªit doesn¡¯t seem like much. But what if it were spent surviving adrift at sea? Surviving at sea for 133 days. This is a number that sounds incredible to anyone, created by a person from Huaxia. ¡°His name is Pan Lian, an ordinary yet extraordinary person from Huaxia, hailed by Ugly Country¡¯s National Geographic Magazine as the ¡®World Survivor Champion.''¡± What Bi Fang spoke of was a true event. In fact, apart from some cultural differences, most of the world¡¯s history is indistinguishable from the previous world¡¯s, including its people. When World War II broke out, the United Kingdom recruited a large number of Huaxia seafarers, among them was Pan Lian. Four years later, Pan Lian was transporting wartime goods in the Atlantic Ocean when a German submarine spotted them and launched two torpedoes at the merchant ship. What happened next can be guessed by all, when the second torpedo hit the ship it sank quickly, creating a powerful suction that pulled him towards the seabed. In the chaos, Pan Lian grabbed a wooden plank and surfaced. When he had been aimlessly drifting at sea for 2 hours and was about to despair, a miracle occurred. A life raft from the merchant ship, which hadn¡¯t been destroyed, floated over to him. The life raft was a square wooden raft with masts at its four corners, and on both sides of the raft there were isolation compartments with metal boxes. The metal boxes contained various canned goods and food, 40 liters of fresh water, sugar, condensed milk, etc., as well as several flares and a flashlight. ¡°Although many cargo ships at that time were equipped with life rafts like this, only Pan Lian managed to survive for an extended period. Because drifting at sea is not easy, it is a test of wisdom and willpower.¡± The audience was amazed, such tenacity of life was almost unimaginably exaggerated. Thereafter, Pan Lian¡¯s predicament was somewhat similar to Bi Fang¡¯s, though he too encountered a disaster in the Atlantic Ocean, he was at a lower latitude, and unlike Bi Fang, he wasn¡¯t prevented from entering the water; however, the heat also meant that Pan Lian needed more fresh water. ¡°He collected rainwater using the roof, tied knots to count the days, and had an extremely strong will to survive. He even made a fishhook from the spring in the flashlight, twisted the mooring rope into a thin fishing line. He used the soft bodies of shellfish attached to the raft as bait¡­ and even crafted a rudimentary knife out of a tin can.¡± [Holy shit, that¡¯s impressive!] [Who says Huaxia people can¡¯t challenge human limits?] [Honestly, I think Master Fang has been challenging limits all along. I haven¡¯t seen anyone more badass than him to this day!] [Right! Master Fang is the best in the world!] [Who says Huaxia people can¡¯t challenge limits, isn¡¯t Master Fang the very definition of a limit? Wherever he stands is the peak of humanity!] The audience was fired up. Indeed, who says Huaxia people can¡¯t challenge human limits? Master Fang already had, wherever he stood was the peak of humanity! If there was a summit, then he was the summit, and all others could do was chase after his shadow! ¡°No, you can¡¯t say that,¡± Bi Fang interjected. Even Bi Fang felt a little embarrassed by the praises from the netizens. The world was full of capable people, and there were countless wonders, it¡¯s only that they hadn¡¯t had the chance to stand in front of the public. It was better to remain low-key. Although he had the System, it had only been half a year. To declare himself the world¡¯s number one was premature; perhaps in a few more years, a few more years. At least for now, Bi Fang felt there was still a significant gap between himself and Pan Lian¡ªnot in skill or experience, but in willpower. In the later stages of survival, Pan Lian, due to prolonged exposure to sea water and the lack of fresh water to bathe, combined with a shortage of vitamins from vegetables, developed pustules and ulcers on his limbs¡¯ skin, and his joints swelled. His only belief was: survive. Sometimes, amidst hunger, thirst, and pain, he would pinch his swollen muscles fiercely, preventing himself from falling asleep, lest it be a sleep from which he would never awaken. During World War II, many sailors escaped on life rafts, but after two or three months, they would lose the will to live, eventually succumbing to despair and madness, and giving up on survival. Bi Fang didn¡¯t know if he could possess such a strong will if he found himself in such a desperate situation, but that didn¡¯t stop him from expressing his admiration. ¡°It¡¯s worth mentioning that one time, a merchant ship passed by. Pan Lian fired a flare. The merchant ship noticed and even approached, but when he could nearly see the faces of the people on the deck, the ship sailed away.¡± As he reached this point in the story, there was a slight change in Bi Fang¡¯s tone, ¡°The reason was that he was a Huaxia person.¡± The atmosphere in the live broadcast was a bit heavy, and even international viewers fell silent, with some feeling guilty. Everyone understood the history of that time, and though it went unsaid, they comprehended the nature of such events; but everything has gotten better now. Anyone who dares to look down upon this nation with a history of five thousand years will surely pay a bloody price! ¡°However, the ending is a good one. In the end, Pan Lian was rescued by fishermen and lived until he was 73 before passing away peacefully.¡± The audience nodded involuntarily, but soon, some people realized a new problem. The situation Bi Fang was in now seemed to be even worse! [At least that person still had food and fresh water, could make fishing lines and hooks, but Master Fang really has nothing, and can this life raft even gather shellfish?] Upon seeing this comment, viewers were taken aback; indeed, Master Fang¡¯s current situation seemed even more difficult. At least the other had containers and materials, while Old Fang had nothing but his bare hands. Catching fish? With what? And without catching fish, where would food come from? ¡°Don¡¯t panic, a healthy adult can go a day or two without eating without significantly affecting their mobility. We have plenty of time to prepare.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think it¡¯s very cold here, but geographically, this is still considered a temperate warm sea area, and the variety and quantity of life are extremely rich.¡± But staring at the vast ocean, viewers could only feel that Bi Fang was comforting everyone; they racked their brains but still couldn¡¯t figure out how he would procure food. Evening. Bi Fang had put on his clothes, and with clothing, he felt much better. After drinking the collected droplets of water again, he wiped his mouth and said, ¡°Many people believe that in a water shortage, water should be rationed like food, used sparingly unless absolutely necessary, but this is actually a common misconception. You must never do that.¡± ¡°The negative effects of this water-saving method often far outweigh the positive impacts. Often, dehydration can quickly overcome a person, so quickly that one may not realize it, which is a very dangerous situation.¡± ¡°When dehydrated, it¡¯s easy to faint without any warning signs. Many real-life cases have shown this to be true, with people dying of dehydration often having a whole bottle of water right next to them. Therefore, even when water is limited, it should not be conserved too much.¡± ¡°If the weather isn¡¯t hot, and you are stranded for 2 to 4 days, you should still drink 400 milliliters of water daily. By the fifth day, when your body has adapted to the lack of water, the amount can be reduced again, but it should still be between 60 and 250 milliliters, depending on the weather and how much water you have, but never less than this amount!¡± After drinking the last bit of water, Bi Fang didn¡¯t moisten the towel again but used it as a cushion for the back of his head, preparing to rest for the night. The wind outside the tent had died down a lot, and the life raft was no longer as unstable as in the beginning, which made it much more comfortable for Bi Fang. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Let¡¯s hope for some luck in finding food tomorrow. Recalling several methods in his mind, Bi Fang closed his eyes. If not necessary, he actually didn¡¯t want to use some extreme methods. The first day at sea, drifting, yielded nothing. Chapter 226: 223 My Only Opponent Is Myself Chapter 226: Chapter 223 My Only Opponent Is Myself The second day. When Bi Fang woke up, he felt an unprecedented pain in his head. It was not an acute pain, but a continuous one, like the erosion of waves, as if his brain had been stirred in a washing machine for three days and nights, turned into pulp, and with every movement, he could hear the sloshing of the liquid inside. In addition to the headache, his stomach was also very uncomfortable, with stomach acids burning his stomach lining. Bi Fang had no catch the previous day, but the severe headache alleviated his desire to eat, in short, he had no appetite. If he actually ate something, he probably would have vomited it back up. For sea survivors, the greatest dangers are not wearing clothes and severe dehydration, and seasickness can exacerbate dehydration. The production team saw that the main character was awake, so they quickly turned on the drone and started the second day of live streaming. The Discovery Channel cut off the documentary that was playing and switched to the live broadcast, with the narrator once again introducing the current state of affairs. ¡°Today is the second day of the live stream, and so far, our protagonist has gone more than twenty-four hours without food. On this vast ocean, with only a life raft at his disposal, what will he do next?¡± There wasn¡¯t much pontificating in the live room, just a lot of silly comments after greetings. [Good morning, Master Fang!] [Will you catch anything good today?] [I doubt it, this time you really might starve. I remember Master Fang went without food for two days once, right? Are you going to break that record this time?] [Starve for three days, skipping nine meals? Seems plausible to me.] [Congratulations Master Fang on unlocking a new achievement: Starving for three days, skipping nine meals!] Still groggy from sleep, Bi Fang gave a disdainful wave of his hand after reading the comments, ¡°Go away, it¡¯s only the second day and you¡¯re already cursing me, how could I possibly starve for three days without nine meals.¡± The audience laughed heartily. As a host, Bi Fang always managed to show a personable side, which was one of the reasons he was able to quickly gather a following. After laughing, Bi Fang took off an undershirt and began to unravel it. The only items Bi Fang could use at this point were the life raft and the clothes on his body, and he intended to turn his clothes into line in order to make a fishing line. ¡°If you¡¯re truly stranded, it¡¯s good to keep a navigation diary if you can. This helps with your state of mind, gives you a clear understanding of your surroundings. You can record the names of the survivors, the location of the accident, the date and time, weather conditions, and salvaged items into a table to help you organize your thoughts,¡± he explained. ¡°In cold oceans like this one, if there are more survivors, everyone could huddle together to maintain body temperature, prevent muscle or joint stiffness, and keep the blood circulating. Move your body moderately, but be careful not to move violently or suddenly to avoid unbalancing the raft or boat,¡± he said. ¡°When the climate is hot, you can remove excess clothing, but be sure to shade from the sun to avoid heatstroke and sunburn, and you could also make simple protective goggles to prevent damage from strong light.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s really too hot, you can also soak your clothes in water to help cool down, but be careful not to catch a cold at night.¡± ¡°If necessary, you could dip your lower body in seawater to reduce the loss of water, but make sure to fasten your safety belt, and be aware that prolonged exposure to water can cause skin ulcers.¡± sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°In the tropics, there¡¯s one more thing that must be kept in mind, and that is when the temperature is too high, some of the air inside the rubber raft should be let out, as air expands when heated¡ªwe just need to loosen the valve, and then inflate it again at night.¡± Bi Fang pointed to a valve on the life raft, and in his hand, a line more than three meters long was already being twisted together. He zipped his jacket all the way up and forcefully broke off the zipper pull, then tied it with a thread, gently bending the two metal rings on each side open to create a makeshift fishhook shape. Bi Fang was very careful with this step as the zippers¡¯ toughness wasn¡¯t great, and they could easily break; fortunately, he succeeded on his first try. After completing this, he continued explaining, ¡°Besides serving as a fishhook, this zipper pull can also be used for¡­¡± Before Bi Fang could reveal the answer, some of the Shuiyou (Online Friends) had already figured it out. [Many types of fish like reflective objects!] [Wu Hu, I remember this!] [A snap hook can reflect light!] ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s the point, even though the reflection from the snap hook is not strong, it¡¯s the only thing I have that can be used.¡± The smooth surface of the snap hook, under the illumination of either sunlight or moonlight, can produce a fair amount of reflection, so even without bait, with a bit of luck, it might still attract some small fish. Bi Fang tied the other end of the rope to the safety lock rope of the life raft and then dragged the snap hook out of the raft, letting the fishing line shimmer with the movement of the drifting raft. [Swish, swish, swish, are we even forgoing bait now?] [Is this like Master Jiang fishing in the sea?] [Feels like there isn¡¯t much hope, huh?] [Why not hold it in hand? That way, wouldn¡¯t you instantly know when a fish bites?] ¡°Absolutely not hold it in hand.¡± Bi Fang shook his head, for sitting on an inflatable life raft, that was very dangerous. ¡°Do not manipulate the fishing line with bare hands, nor wrap the line around your hands or simply tie it to an inflatable rubber raft.¡± ¡°After being soaked in seawater, the line will release salt, and salt accumulated on the line is quite abrasive. This is dangerous for both the hands and the rubber raft. That¡¯s why I put the locking rope that binds the fishing line into the sea instead of leaning against the raft.¡± Life rafts are equipped with locking buckles to secure the people in distress, but the buckles on this life raft had been cut off, leaving only a small section of locking rope. Bi Fang had tied the fishing line to this locking rope, knotting them together to ensure it was fail-safe before letting it into the sea. Next was a long wait, but Bi Fang was quite optimistic. ¡°If not today, there¡¯s tomorrow; if not tomorrow, the day after. Given my physique, going hungry for three days shouldn¡¯t be a big problem.¡± ¡°Besides, the odds of catching a fish are pretty good. Not only do many types of fish like shiny objects, but since we are on a life raft, to avoid sunlight, some fish species and turtles are often drawn to the shade under rubber or life rafts and come to rest beneath the boat.¡± ¡°So if we had a net, we could hang it at both ends of the ship¡¯s keel, and it would need two people to hold firmly on each end.¡± After explaining all this, Bi Fang unzipped the life raft to let the fresh sea breeze blow in. He wasn¡¯t thirsty yet, preferring to breathe some fresh air to relieve his headache somewhat. Perhaps the drifting process wasn¡¯t very interesting to watch¡ªthroughout the morning, the number of people in the live stream hadn¡¯t made any significant breakthrough. From a peak of over two million after the start of the broadcast, it had now dropped to about 1.2 million stable viewers, which was quite modest. This included nearly 500,000 viewers from within the country, with the rest being international audiences. It might not sound like a lot, but it was already a figure that all the other streamers couldn¡¯t match. Take the most popular Shark streamer, Ri Bao, for example: his live broadcasts rarely exceeded 300,000 in real viewers. The so-called 20 million viewing figure was basically data released by the platform, not very credible, even virtually non-existent. Just thinking about it, you would know it¡¯s not possible. And moreover, saying it was modest is relative to Bi Fang¡¯s previous ¡°achievements¡±; he had always climbed a notch every time he went live, always climbing, and except for some major live competitive events, no one else could beat him when it came to personal broadcasting. Bi Fang¡¯s only competitor was always himself. Chapter 227: 224 Did he say it? Chapter 227: Chapter 224 Did he say it? The usual state could still maintain an audience of over 1.2 million. Such data, whether for Discovery Channel or YouTube, was very satisfying. Especially for Discovery Channel, which had seen its ratings decline for years due to the development of the era, the viewership actually soared! It was incredible! In fact, many older generations who were not proficient in using smartphones and computers didn¡¯t know much about live streaming, but Discovery Channel provided them a channel to get in touch with it. Unsurprisingly, Bi Fang¡¯s program didn¡¯t see a decrease in its appeal to audiences of any age. Especially for the people of Ugly Country, individual heroism was their favorite. Discovery Channel¡¯s new program literally gave a blood transfusion to the declining television station. Many who didn¡¯t like watching bullet comments and wanted to enjoy family warmth with their loved ones, turned on Discovery Channel and put down their phones. If a TV media company could make a fortune, what about the platform? No one knows how many people were green with envy. Not to mention the direct beneficiary Bi Fang, even the Wolf Fang boss must have been laughing in his dreams. Who could have thought that the host he had brought back at a great cost would bring in such a profit in just half a year? In a few more days, it would be the annual New Year¡¯s ranking day when fans of all kinds would vote for their favorite hosts. The viewership would surely increase by a lot, then what would the scene be like? Thinking of this, the Shark boss wasn¡¯t just envious, he was almost ready to pop his eyeballs out and play ping pong with them for three hundred rounds. This profit should have been exclusively for them, Shark! What the hell did Wolf Fang have to do with it? With Bi Fang, it was like having a divine weapon in the live broadcasting circle, wreaking havoc, especially with its subsequent impact. Whenever Bi Fang trended, didn¡¯t the comments always mention he was a Wolf Fang host? Gradually, Wolf Fang, which was about to drop out of the top three live streaming platforms, was milked right back up. Not only did their user downloads surge in the past six months, but their market value rose steadily and was already on par with Shark and Tiger Fang! Damnit, something that should have been dead was bloody revived and became nauseating. If it were Shark, they would have killed their way through already, then what would Wolf Fang and Tiger Fang have to do with it? Now it had become a situation where one was superior and several were strong. Such a powerful tool used for resurrection, and it¡¯s no good for you, Wolf Fang! Huge profits, huge profits! Thinking of this made Wolf Fang¡¯s boss¡¯s heart ache even more. Where the hell was Wang Weifeng? Dare he still sit in the office? Go guard the door! No, go clean the toilets for me, scrub the toilets!!! ¡­ Bi Fang stayed on the edge of the life raft for a whole three hours. Not to mention a bite, not a single fish came close. [Air Force] [Master Fang in the Air Force? Interesting£¨funny£©] [It¡¯s noon already, I feel the hope is slim] [Still need to use bait, this is my over ten years of experience in Air Force, roadside bums are not reliable!] [In ancient times, The Buddha cut flesh to feed eagles, now we have Master Fang cutting flesh to fish, listen to me, you still need to use bait] [Wow, that¡¯s a bit too much] ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily the case,¡± Bi Fang remained optimistic. He pointed at the big sun in the sky, ¡°Look, the sun is so intense, maybe there will be fish that come to rest under my boat. So let¡¯s not give up too easily. Sometimes, the more you want to give up, maybe the closer you are to success.¡± ¡°The first time is always difficult, don¡¯t be anxious. Maybe we have to wait for a day, or two days, but as long as we get a fish on the hook, even if it¡¯s just a little bit, I can hold on in this sea.¡± Bi Fang wasn¡¯t exaggerating. As long as he could get one fish, he could use small fish to catch larger ones. Moreover, he could use the fish bones as hooks. By then, obtaining food wouldn¡¯t be difficult. This is after all the North Sea. With such an optimistic mood, Bi Fang fished until nightfall. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Throughout the day, he watched the sun traverse from east to west, the moon even rose, and yet not a single fish took the bait. ¡°I can¡¯t do this anymore, I¡¯m so tired.¡± Bi Fang collapsed onto the life raft, his lips turning white, his voice weak, the entire raft shaking. Fishing with a piece of iron, this isn¡¯t something humans should do. Maybe he shouldn¡¯t have pinned his hopes on fishing at all. If he was lucky, he might encounter a lost seabird. In foul weather, birds can be blown off their usual migratory paths and lose their way, and only a few seabirds can sleep on the ocean surface, so a life raft like this, a rare resting spot, has considerable allure¡­ Damn it, that¡¯s even less likely than fishing! Bi Fang slapped his forehead, doubting whether hunger had muddled his senses, to actually pin his hopes on such an event, the likelihood of which was even damn smaller than catching a fish. [Hahaha, six meals missed, an achievement is about to be unlocked, too bad there are no rewards] [Maybe the showrunners could airdrop an achievement reward¡ªa pool of seawater as the prize!] [Don¡¯t laugh, Master Fang¡¯s lips are turning white, it feels like the challenge set by the showrunners this time is beyond human capability!] [Indeed, I feel the same way, it¡¯s too hard, at the very least leave a tin can, a piece of iron or something, maybe pair it with a standard life raft!] Even Jerret started to doubt himself. Originally, he only thought about the impact of the show, plus Bi Fang left a very deep impression on him¡ªstrong, invincible, a man who could turn the impossible into the possible. That¡¯s why he stripped everything from the life raft, he even removed all but a small section of the safety harness. Now, it seemed, maybe it really was an impossible challenge from the start. In pursuit of the effect of the show, he had not taken objective facts into account and had not considered Bi Fang¡¯s feelings. Even Pan Lian, as Bi Fang mentioned, had never faced such a situation; he still had food for bait, a tin can for a knife, and various tools to help him fish and replenish nutrients, his starting point was much better. ¡°Do you think this task has any chance of success?¡± Jerret looked towards Pondy, waiting for the safety consultant¡¯s answer. If he said no, then Jerret would stop this farce he had initiated, even if it meant facing the TV network¡¯s penalties. If it was indeed impossible, why continue? The problem lay with him; Bi Fang should not have to bear the brunt of a failed adventure for no reason. ¡°Impossible.¡± Pondy covered his chin with one hand, gazing at the fluctuating Bi Fang on the screen, and shook his head swiftly and assertively. Jerret sighed, ¡°Is that really the case? Let¡¯s suspend the show for now.¡± ¡°Wait, why?¡± Pondy was stunned, not understanding why Jerret would say such a thing. The live broadcast was going well, so why suddenly suspend it? After Jerret explained his reasoning, Pondy suddenly laughed. ¡°I said impossible, because it¡¯s impossible for me. My knowledge and experience tell me it¡¯s impossible.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Pondy extended his hand, pointing towards the lone hero on the big screen, ¡°Has he said so?¡± ¡­ Bi Fang leaped up from the life raft, beating his head, dispelling the last remnants of negative thoughts, rejuvenating his spirit. He continued to unravel the threads, then reattached them to the lock rope, tying the last bit around his waist. Unable to catch anything during the day didn¡¯t mean he couldn¡¯t at night, when the reflection of the moon was even more apparent. Tonight he was going to outlast the fish. As long as a fish approached, he would catch one, even if it meant going into the water! Just as Bi Fang regrouped and focused on the ocean, he was taken aback. Onto the sea surface filled with starry reflections, suddenly drifted a patch of shadow devoid of any starlight. Chapter 228: 225 Im Floating Chapter 228: Chapter 225 I¡¯m Floating What is that? Bi Fang was the first to notice the non-reflective shadow, his tired spirits instantly tense. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was the ocean, where cries for heaven went unanswered, and pleas to earth bore no fruit, a true isolation without support. Anyone seeing a non-reflective shadow suddenly at midnight would be scared out of their wits. Especially when the shadow was considerably large, fear surged uncontrollably like breathing. Bi Fang¡¯s anomaly caught the attention of some of the audience. When they followed Bi Fang¡¯s gaze, they too noticed something amiss. On the brightly lit sea surface, the shadow spread like an expanse of darkness, all light seeping out from it. [Damn, what¡¯s coming our way?] [It¡¯s huge.] [A fish?] [Why is the fish moving so slowly?] Everyone was somewhat worried. They had all witnessed first-hand how bad Bi Fang¡¯s condition was. Having not eaten for two days, while not life-threatening, was far from being in top shape; he¡¯d do well to use half of his strength. If an accident occurred, could he resist it? Even Jerret and Pondy were on full alert, immediately instructing the driver that they must rush to the rescue at the first sign of danger. The shadow was about one square meter in size, it still seemed rather big, particularly at night, and with the cinematographer¡¯s eerie music, added quite a bit of tension. The life raft was not a wooden raft, but inflatable rubber and nylon fabric. Meeting any kind of danger could lead to deflation. Once the raft was punctured, even with a hole no bigger than a palm, the challenge could basically be deemed a failure. Therefore, Bi Fang had no choice but to muster all the energy he could, treating the shadow with the utmost caution. This was a heavy burden on both body and mind for someone who had been starving for two days. Perhaps it was because there were no waves during the day, the mere appearance of a shadow was enough to pique the viewers¡¯ interest, and the number of viewers started to climb slowly. Lying at the edge of the raft, Bi Fang stared for more than ten minutes, his eyelids knotting up, while the shadow remained motionless. Could it be an inanimate object? At this thought, Bi Fang perked up. Lucky him, he had been racking his brains for a lack of materials, and here one was drifting towards him. Could it be that his luck for the past two days was finally turning? Even a piece of plastic sheeting would be hugely useful to him at the moment. ¡°Maybe I should go check it out.¡± After looking on for a long time, Bi Fang decided to move closer and take a look. From what he could see now, it didn¡¯t seem dangerous, but still, many of the faint-hearted viewers were scared. The sinister music, dark environment, and the rise and fall of the camera¡¯s view gave the feeling of watching a horror film. They feared that as soon as Bi Fang paddled over, just as he reached out, something monstrous would leap out from the shadow and bite down. Having made his decision, Bi Fang didn¡¯t rashly approach but took some seawater in his hands and sprinkled it towards the distance. The drops hitting the surface of the water made a distinct sound. The shadow remained immobile and wasn¡¯t attracted by the noise. Now, Bi Fang was much more reassured and took more water again, this time sprinkling it directly towards the shadow. The result was the same. ¡°It seems it really is some sort of dead thing.¡± After several confirmations, Bi Fang was somewhat excited. Whatever dead thing it was, it was a material, and if it could be used, then it was a good thing! Assured that it posed no threat, Bi Fang immediately lay at the edge of the raft, pushing down on half of the raft, rolling up his sleeves, and paddling towards the shadow bit by bit. Without a paddle, relying solely on his hands, the life raft moved very slowly, sliding through the water like a short-legged turtle, one without hind legs at that. With little wind or waves, there was no hurry, and Bi Fang could steadily get closer to the shadow. Minutes later, as the distance between them closed to less than two meters, Bi Fang, with the help of the faint moonlight, finally made out what that mass was. Seaweed! [Seaweed? Can seaweed appear here?] [Damn, has Old Fang¡¯s luck finally turned around? Did a piece of seaweed actually drift over here? Is the achievement of starving for three meals going unfulfilled?] [Damn, even the Heavens are helping Master Fang!] [Why would seaweed appear here? Doesn¡¯t this stuff usually grow along the coast? Didn¡¯t Old Fang say the water here is at least one hundred and fifty meters deep? Can seaweed even grow in such a place?] [Could it be arranged by the program group?] [But it¡¯s not like you can¡¯t eat seaweed, right?] [I think it¡¯s fine, at this point, wouldn¡¯t we even consider eating grass and tree roots?] The appearance of seaweed took everyone by surprise, sparking various discussions and even leading some to suspect it was arranged by the show¡¯s organizers. Bi Fang didn¡¯t pay attention to the viewers¡¯ reactions and instead wrapped his hands in a bath towel, his eyes filled with a green glow. Damn, it¡¯s seaweed indeed! ¡°There are over a thousand known species of algae in the ocean, not all of which are edible. However, the types of seaweed that can appear in the open sea are few, and among them, there is one common seaweed that is edible.¡± Bi Fang spoke excitedly. Although the moonlight was dim and he couldn¡¯t see clearly what kind of seaweed it was, he strongly suspected that the seaweed that had drifted nearby was the kind he knew. Sargassum Natans! This type of Horsetail Kelp doesn¡¯t grow in the open ocean; on the contrary, it grows in coastal waters, mostly in the intertidal zone. But it has one characteristic! It drifts easily! As a ¡°raft,¡± this plant grows in the ocean, absorbing nutrients directly from the seawater, requiring only sunlight to thrive and reproduce. This growth form allows Horsetail Kelp to travel about under the influence of ocean currents, and it isn¡¯t rare for it to drift to the open sea; in fact, it¡¯s quite common. Many ships in the open ocean often see some seaweed debris, of which ninety-nine percent are Horsetail Kelp! Especially Sargassum Natans in the Sagos Sea Area and the North Atlantic warm current are greatly influenced by the current, allowing them to drift very far. For Bi Fang, who is drifting in the North Atlantic, encountering it is not unusual. Luck is on my side! [Damn, so that¡¯s the case? Sorry for my ignorance.] [When luck comes, you can¡¯t even block it!] [It drifts that easily (Dog¡¯s head)?] [Not only is it edible, but it can also be used as bait, right?] ¡°Exactly! If it truly is Horsetail Kelp, then it¡¯s not only edible but can also be used as bait!¡± Upon saying this, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but feel elated. Damn it, after starving for two days, he finally saw some good ¡°goods¡±. Although it wasn¡¯t fish, having something to eat was much better than before! ¡°However, before fetching it, everyone needs to be careful. These floating seaweeds may harbor many small crabs, shrimp, and fish that feed on them. Some cephalopods are dark brown, similar to seaweed, and like to hide within it, making them hard to detect.¡± The shadow wasn¡¯t large, so Bi Fang wasn¡¯t worried about any big fish being hauled up and tearing the life raft. Having some small fish or shrimp might even add to the meal. ¡°Of course, since it has drifted to the open sea, the likelihood of finding small fish and shrimp inside is slim, but we cannot be careless; therefore, we shouldn¡¯t rashly touch it with our hands. We can wear gloves; otherwise, getting cut or bitten could be troublesome.¡± The more fruitful the harvest, the calmer we must be. In wilderness survival, any injury can be fatal, even a small wound can pose an infection risk hundredfold compared to in the city! With this in mind, Bi Fang wrapped his hands in a bath towel, approached the shadow getting closer, and once within reach, he swiftly extended his hands and scooped up the entire clump of seaweed! Chapter 229: 226: Achievement Crushed Chapter 229: Chapter 226: Achievement Crushed Bi Fang suddenly stretched out his hand, and while the seaweed wasn¡¯t paying attention, he violently scooped it onto the life raft. ¡°Ha, it¡¯s quite heavy.¡± As he flung the seaweed, Bi Fang estimated it must weigh quite a few pounds; if he actually ate it, he figured it could last him several days. A truly nice catch. ¡°However, natural seaweed is tough and chewy with a high salt content, so it¡¯s hard to digest, and eating too much at once can easily lead to constipation. It can only solve urgent hunger issues, and if you¡¯re short on water, try not to eat it.¡± Whether it¡¯s constipation or difficulty urinating, or even highly concentrated urine, in harsh environments, all are quite abnormal and should be treated with caution. Bi Fang absolutely did not want to encounter such situations, especially with the crew around. Even though he might be fine, there was no guarantee they wouldn¡¯t film some bizarre stuff. At that point, his lifetime reputation would be ruined. ¡°I¡¯ve mentioned before that any food will consume the water inside your body unless you¡¯re eating fruits that provide more water than they consume. But seaweed clearly doesn¡¯t belong in that category, and it¡¯s even a bit salty; too much consumption can easily lead to dehydration.¡± Bi Fang fiddled with the seaweed on the life raft but didn¡¯t find any small fish or shrimp. However, he wasn¡¯t discouraged; harvesting the seaweed was already quite good. At least the gift from the ocean would allow him to hold on for a few more days. As long as there¡¯s enough time, there will always be a chance for a turnaround. With a large enough base, even the least probable events can occur. Picking one of the seaweeds, Bi Fang held it up to the moonlight to examine it closely. After a while, he confirmed with joy that it was indeed Horsetail Kelp! Without hesitation, Bi Fang wiped down the stem a couple of times, cleaned it briefly, and stuffed the Horsetail Kelp into his mouth to chew; the mild salty and savory flavor spread out. ¡°Hmm, the taste is not bad, there¡¯s a hint of the sea, but the plant itself is not dead or rotten, it¡¯s quite crisp. After eating it, my mouth feels drier, but it¡¯s not as salty as I thought it would be.¡± Bi Fang picked another piece of Horsetail Kelp and threaded it onto the fish hook; though it wasn¡¯t meat bait, having some vegetation as bait was much better than before, and he actually worried that true meat bait might attract some fierce carnivorous fish. On this tiny broken boat, if a large carnivorous fish came, it would most likely be a situation of fish dead, boat broken. After putting on the bait, Bi Fang zipped up the life raft, hoping to drink distilled water again. ¡°But what we¡¯ve encountered is just a remnant. If you come across the actual growth area of Horsetail Kelp, you¡¯d be absolutely shocked. It¡¯s nothing like water plants; it¡¯s more like a prairie at sea.¡± While eating, Bi Fang described the real growing environment of Horsetail Kelp. When he had nothing else to do, he relied on this to pass the time, or you could say, to retain the audience. Horsetail Kelp is a very common species among algae, but when they grow in the Atlantic, they¡¯re different. Once Horsetail Kelp starts reproducing here, people are accustomed to calling this sea area the Sargasso Sea. The sea surface is calm, stagnant throughout all seasons, with weak currents, and the sea water between different layers does not mix, so the nutrients in shallow waters are refreshed very slowly and are almost immediately occupied by Horsetail Kelp. ¡°Explorer Columbus, when he led the expedition fleet to explore the Atlantic, sailors on his ship had discovered a green ¡®prairie.¡¯ As you might have guessed, it wasn¡¯t a prairie, but a Sargasso Sea.¡± ¡°At that time, Columbus was very happy, thinking he had reached India, and ordered the ship to enter the ¡®prairie.¡¯ The result was they realized it was an endless expanse of seaweed, and they ended up being trapped inside for a month before they managed to get out.¡± [Damn, a month? That long?] [Columbus was really tragic, I always thought mistaking North America for Asia was his black history, didn¡¯t expect there¡¯s something even darker] [A month? Is it really that horrible?] ¡°Yes, the Sargasso Sea looks beautiful. But many ships, accidentally caught in the seaweed, fail to escape. The seaweed climbs onto their decks like snakes and wraps around the ship. Over time, due to lack of food and fresh water, many sailors end up dying from starvation. Hence, the Sargasso Sea is also known as the ¡®Sea Graveyard¡¯ and ¡®Devil¡¯s Sea.''¡± ¡°And because the surface is occupied, many plankton cannot survive, followed by a massive amount of fish dying from suffocation and rotting. The smell of this ¡®green field¡¯ is very disgusting, and there are wrecked ships everywhere.¡± Bi Fang had not seen it with his own eyes, but his Wilderness Survivalist experience told him how horrifying that scene was, almost like Hell. [Holy crap, is it that scary?] [If Old Fang gets trapped, isn¡¯t he screwed?] [Horsetail kelp is that formidable? It can even ¡®eat¡¯ people? Damn!] [Isn¡¯t this stuff like red tide? How can it grow like that?] ¡°Pretty much, they¡¯re both harmful, and about how horsetail kelp grow big, to this day, people still haven¡¯t found a precise answer. Some oceanographers believe these types of kelp drift from other seas and accumulate over time.¡± ¡°Others think that these types of kelp originally grew on the seabed of this area, before floating up to the surface due to underwater current activity.¡± ¡°Of course, the most surprising is the mobility of horsetail kelp, like they¡¯ve got long legs, drifting from time to time. Many scientists frequently encounter this strange phenomenon: They sometimes see a large green mass of horsetail kelp, but after a while, it disappears.¡± As Bi Fang chewed the horsetail kelp in his mouth, he not only described its properties but also addressed the viewers¡¯ suspicion about the ¡°program crew setting things up.¡± It really wasn¡¯t. Encountering horsetail kelp while drifting on the sea is normal, especially in the North Atlantic; it would be embarrassing to say you¡¯ve been to the Atlantic if you haven¡¯t run into it at least once. [Damn, there goes the ¡®three days without food¡¯ achievement] Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Crap, Master Fang actually has food now] [Here we go, back on track. Even in this situation, Master Fang turns it around, infuriating!] [But I think another achievement has been unlocked, breaking the record for holding a tree stick!] [Hey, damn, why didn¡¯t I think of this, okay, I¡¯m all in, howling to the moon, I bet Master Fang won¡¯t get his hands on a tree stick this adventure!] [Holy shit, I¡¯m going all in too, all or nothing! If he manages to get a tree stick, I¡¯ll eat my monitor!] The livestream channel¡¯s admin immediately opened a Wolf Brush betting round, wagering whether Bi Fang would get a tree stick this time. It seemed to be a new rule on the platform, where betting with Wolf Brushes was either yes or no, and if you won, you¡¯d share the Wolf Brushes of those who lost. The moment the round opened, the ¡®no¡¯ option crashed the ¡®yes¡¯ one; everyone thought it was easy money, with over a hundred thousand Wolf Brushes staked. God knows how many people joined in. Pretty clever play. Bi Fang chuckled, placing a hundred ¡®yes¡¯ Wolf Brushes himself. He didn¡¯t care much about such a small gamble, casually stuffing two more pieces of horsetail kelp into his mouth. Not only did the kelp stave off hunger, but it was also rich in minerals and vitamins, nutritionally balanced¡ªquite the catch. It directly revitalized Bi Fang, who had been starving for two days, replenishing a good deal of his strength. After eating some horsetail kelp, water droplets once again began to condense inside the life raft. Perfect for Bi Fang who was parched and thirsty, he drank until there was nothing left. Then he scooped out the excess water from the raft and wiped the raft dry with a towel, laying himself down to rest. ¡°At night, you can¡¯t let the raft get too damp; prolonged contact with seawater can cause skin ulcers. I¡¯ve mentioned this before.¡± ¡°In a small boat or rubber raft without cover, water can accumulate everywhere, and you might have to soak your feet for long periods, which is quite troublesome.¡± ¡°Moderate exercise helps protect the feet, preventing frostbite. Sleeping bare is dangerous; make sure to cover your body while resting, and move your limbs slightly when keeping watch.¡± ¡°Too bad I don¡¯t have a blanket, just this wet towel. Thank goodness I was nabbed in a bathhouse; otherwise, I might not even have this towel.¡± Bi Fang made a self-deprecating remark, He still had to think about how to survive the next nineteen days. A bunch of seaweed wouldn¡¯t be enough, he needed meat. Second day of survival at sea, harvest, a bunch of horsetail kelp. Chapter 230: 127: The Seas Fury Chapter 230: Chapter 127: The Sea¡¯s Fury The ocean surface was sprinkled with sunlight, making the cold weather feel warm. Other than the strong wind on the first day and the indecision of the rain, the weather had been good for the following two days, with not the slightest intention to rain. Bi Fang lay on the life raft, drifting with the waves, occasionally glancing at the fishing line with the corner of his eye to see if any prey had taken the bait. After three days of adaptation, he had grown accustomed to drifting. He no longer felt dizzy, and the ups and downs even gave him a feeling of ¡°floating in bliss,¡± which was rather nice. Bi Fang casually plucked a strand of horsetail kelp and chewed on it, his hands pillowed behind his head, basking in the sun leisurely without any rush, or rather, rushing was futile. Fishing was, besides skill, largely a matter of luck, especially since he was using grass as bait rather than meat. But with his current state, basking in the sun amidst the drifting sea, he looked not like a castaway but as if he were out on a vacation, provided one ignored his slightly pale complexion. Though food was secured, fresh water resources remained scarce. The small amount of daily evaporation was enough to meet the bare minimum, not the healthy requirements. Holding on for another four or five days was not a problem, but in the long run, it was not the same. He was waiting for a rain, a life-saving rain. It might sound as if he placed all his hope of survival on the whims of the heavens, but in reality, survival was just that, uncertain. The only certainty was probability. Some people became survival experts because they knew what actions would yield the greatest probability of success. Just like Bi Fang knew that the North Atlantic was affected by temperate cyclones, with unpredictable weather, wind, and rain every other day, the probability of getting rainwater was extremely high. That was why he was willing to wait, otherwise he would have zipped up and distilled water non-stop, instead of opening the tent to absorb the sun and reduce heat loss. This was a choice that conformed to the interests of the moment. A real survival master knows where every ounce of their effort should go, which is why their probability of surviving is far higher than others. Without water, you can¡¯t conjure it out of thin air; without food, you can¡¯t materialize it either. Bi Fang was human, not a deity. No matter how much people hailed him as Master Fang, he still couldn¡¯t conjure bread and water out of nowhere. Surviving was about leveraging ¡°probabilities¡± ¨C the simplest math logic was key to survival. Many people, including Bi Fang himself, had been pushed to the painful limits by struggling against harsh environments and circumstances. In such situations, life itself could feel like a threat. The feeling of fear might be momentary, or it might torment you for hours or days until you realized you had to confront it, and then everything would suddenly become clear. It was then that a person truly gained the conviction to live on, to find a way out, and return to the life they belonged to. These were not just Bi Fang¡¯s real thoughts, they were also his real actions. He was not stingy about sharing his experiences with everyone. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Many times, I became a member of an uncommon team, where hardy spirits, smart minds, decisive decisions, humble qualities, and indispensable friendships were present.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the valuable things learned from those excellent people during hard times, the things that have accompanied my life¡¯s journey, not just in past moments of danger and life-threatening situations but also now.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t consider myself an expert professional adventurer, but through many pleasant, cruel, uplifting, terrifying, or bleak experiences, I have understood the value of knowledge, clear thinking, and respect for all extreme and challenging environments. I ought to show them.¡± ¡°This is to be able to adapt to the natural environment and try to understand it, which will help you adapt to your surroundings and thereby give you hope.¡± Bi Fang kept the audience entertained with conversation, feeling that after a few live streams, he had honed quite the gift of gab, enough to perform a solo comedy act. At the same time, he was also telling everyone not to be misled by his sunbathing and drifting; he wasn¡¯t a salty fish but was instead making rational plans. He really wasn¡¯t on vacation. [Got it, Old Fang is an algebraist!] [I believe you] [Can you put your hand down before saying that? It¡¯s hard to take you seriously with you resting your head on your hand and sunbathing!] [Really? I don¡¯t buy it (jokingly)] Bi Fang chuckled, lowered his hand, and sat on the edge of the raft to check if there were any fish biting, but the outcome was quite obvious. The horsetail kelp swayed on the water¡¯s surface, with no fish hooked. He sighed. Two days had passed ¡ª how could not even a single fish be caught? Even if it was winter, it shouldn¡¯t be like this. Besides, it wasn¡¯t an empty lure; he was using grass bait. Why didn¡¯t the fish show him any face? Nowadays, many people regarded Bi Fang as the world¡¯s number one adventurer, and if he boasted about this, he would be the laughingstock. Was it environmental degradation or overfishing? Was fishing supposed to be this difficult? Bi Fang scratched his head, perplexed. To pass the time, he could only continue to chat with his audience and share some survival experiences. ¡°Although we are quite far from the shore, that doesn¡¯t mean seabirds won¡¯t show up. The North Atlantic often has strong winds, and it¡¯s possible that some birds may lose their way in the wind. They could be so hungry and tired that upon seeing my shabby raft, they might think of landing to rest for a bit. Therefore, we can put some seaweed on the tent to increase its attractiveness.¡± Bi Fang took a handful of horsetail kelp out of a large clump and placed it on top of the tent, spreading it out to make it more visible. [666, Master Fang is now even drawing the birds] [Speaking of which, after eating so many creatures from the land and sea, it seems we haven¡¯t really tried the ones from the sky?] [It was a shame about the goose last time, one by one, big and with lush feathers. They looked plump; it was quite a pity.] [¨¦tienne: Are you being polite? Thinking about my geese all the time?] [Do seabirds eat seaweed? I thought they all fished for food?] ¡°They do eat it, of course, they do. Many seabirds eat seaweed, and according to scientific research, the smell emitted by the decomposition of microorganisms on the surface of plastic debris is similar to that of decaying seaweed. As a result, seabirds, including the albatross, might mistake them for food and ingest them.¡± ¡°It¡¯s reported that about 90% of seabirds have ingested plastic debris, mostly because they mistook plastic for seaweed.¡± After arranging the horsetail kelp on top of the tent, Bi Fang sat down again and waited for the fish to bite. But the audience became restless upon hearing this news. 90%? What kind of ratio was that? [Damn, is that really a thing?] [90%? Is it really that many?] Bi Fang nodded, ¡°Yes, there are. Why would I lie to you about this? Just look it up online and you¡¯ll know.¡± Many viewers, upon hearing this, promptly switched platforms, only to find that it was indeed true, and even more than 90%! [Damn, it¡¯s actually true] [Has the environment deteriorated to this extent? It¡¯s time for us ¡®vaccine people¡¯ to make our move!] [So pitiful, eating plastic, aren¡¯t they doomed to die?] [I¡¯ll never litter again¡­] [Master Fang on ¡®Wilderness Survivalist¡¯ always tries to minimize environmental damage, even looking for tree sticks he¡¯d find those that had already fallen off¡­ Ah, why is there such a big gap between people?] Many viewers were also reminded of Bi Fang¡¯s actions; even when building a fire, except in emergency situations, he always chose dry branches and leaves and restored the environment as best as he could afterward. Compared to those who carelessly litter on the beach, the difference in attitude was stark, and it commanded respect. Risking their lives to survive, they dared not leave a trace in nature, and cleaned up thoroughly afterwards, preserving the pristine environment. Yet, as a tourist, after enjoying the beauty of nature, you leave behind trash? How shameless is that? [Stop scolding, I won¡¯t dare to do it again next time] [Awesome, Master Fang is truly conscientious] [I respect nobody but Old Fang!] The audience was full of praise again, and Bi Fang was somewhat embarrassed. After chatting idly for a bit more, he calmed his heart and went back to fishing. However, before noon he noticed something was wrong. The sky darkened. No way? Another storm? The oppressive dark clouds rolled in from the southeast, the air thickened and grew sultry, and the once calm sea started to get choppy, looking like it could turn into huge waves at any moment. This sight alarmed the viewers. The image of Bi Fang gliding through the storm on a hang glider was still fresh in their minds, with lightning splitting the heavens and earth, growing wildly like branches, it was like something out of hell. And now it was happening again? Wait a minute, it seems like Bi Fang was already waiting for the rain, wasn¡¯t he? ¡°I was just wondering when it would rain this morning, and now here it is?¡± Bi Fang marveled at his own good fortune. Yes, good fortune. He had never expected to go through twenty-one days of survival without encountering a storm. Since a storm was inevitable, worrying was useless; better to consider its benefits, like fresh water. So, Bi Fang believed his good fortune had turned. But now wasn¡¯t the time to dwell on whether luck was good or bad. He needed to prepare thoroughly for the upcoming storm. As he lowered the tent, he explained. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, everyone. I¡¯ve actually been mentally prepared for this because rain generally occurs when warm and cold air masses meet, causing water vapor to cool down into water before falling. There isn¡¯t much cover at sea, so this meeting of air masses becomes more evident when it rains, resulting in stronger wind and waves.¡± ¡°If the downpour consists of large hail, it¡¯s because water vapor suddenly encounters a strong cold air current, or due to strong convective high pressure, that it directly sublimates and falls as ice.¡± ¡°Besides, I¡¯ve mentioned before that weather in the North Atlantic is unpredictable. I¡¯ve long thought about the possibility of encountering a storm, so don¡¯t be too anxious. It¡¯s the production team that should leave quickly, especially if they¡¯re at sea. Don¡¯t stick around, because it¡¯s very dangerous for a helicopter to hover over the ocean. It would be a disaster if they ended up adrift like me.¡± The sun had shone intensely for the past two days, causing significant evaporation from the sea surface. A sudden rainfall is hardly surprising. Bi Fang was neither too rushed nor too leisurely, even taking the time to remind the directors and assistants of the production team to avoid any mishaps during filming. Of course, the production team knew this without him saying so, especially with Pondy there as the safety consultant. They checked the weather forecast daily. Once they detected a change in the weather, they would evacuate beforehand. But that just meant the danger to Bi Fang increased, although he himself didn¡¯t care. The audience was stunned by Bi Fang¡¯s composure. He¡¯s not worried about himself but concerned about the production team? Is this how a boss operates? ¡°Additionally, if we had a sea anchor, we could deploy it to keep the boat close to the scene of the accident and help you maintain the boat¡¯s position against the wind and waves. By adjusting the sea anchor, we could position the life raft at the peak of a wave while the sea anchor is in the trough. That way, it¡¯s easier for us to avoid large waves. But I don¡¯t have one.¡± A sea anchor is a large, sinkable object with 3 to 4 hooks, each with a rope tied to it. Each rope is about 1 meter long and they converge to connect to the stranded person¡¯s boat. When sunk into the water, it creates a certain amount of resistance and provides stability, helping the boat resist wind and wave movements. The wind was picking up, and Bi Fang unconsciously raised his voice as he spoke. He could clearly feel that the life raft was moving faster ¨C not just faster, it was like lightning! To prevent the life raft from being capsized by the wind, Bi Fang had to lower his center of gravity. A sea anchor helps the victim to remain near the point of distress, making it easy for rescuers to locate them, but Bi Fang didn¡¯t have one, and he never mentioned it. ¡°Ocean currents can have a significant impact on the performance of anchors and boats, so be vigilant for any changes that could happen at any time. If possible, you can make one yourself. A length of 5 meters or more for the anchor rope would suffice. When a huge wave hits, it should be positioned in the trough of the wave!¡± Bi Fang pulled the top of the tent as low as possible to facilitate lowering his center of gravity. He needed to keep the canopy upright to keep the life raft dry. ¡°If you¡¯re in a life raft capable of holding 20 people, the heaviest person should sit in the middle, and everyone else must sit properly. By distribution of body weight, the force of the wind trying to lift the life raft can be suppressed.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t sit on the edge of the life raft, and don¡¯t stand up, as it¡¯s very easy to fall into the water. Also, don¡¯t move suddenly without informing the other people in the raft in advance. Once someone falls into the water, you¡¯ll quickly be separated, and after the storm ends, the chances of being found are slim. The same applies to me; if I fall into the water, it¡¯s pretty much a death sentence!¡± ¡°So we must take every measure to prevent the life raft from capsizing.¡± Bi Fang reached out, pulling water towards himself, trying to face the wind, to clearly see and pass over the incoming waves. Large waves, especially giant ones hitting the port or starboard side, could capsize a vessel, particularly a life raft. But Bi Fang¡¯s life raft was circular, a design that can withstand giant waves from any direction. The downside is that it rarely offers paddles or anything else for maneuvering. The world seemed lead-gray, and Bi Fang¡¯s shout was drowned out by the wind. He could no longer say a word; as soon as he opened his mouth, a great amount of air rushed in, as if it could go straight to his stomach. Raindrops suddenly struck Bi Fang¡¯s hand ¨C the rain had finally started to pour. He looked up, and across the lead-gray world, a great pressure of water descended from above, smacking fiercely toward the life raft! Chapter 231: 228: Cant Lose Even Once? Chapter 231: Chapter 228: Can¡¯t Lose Even Once? The surging waves swept over like mountains, and when Bi Fang looked up, it felt as if the sky was collapsing, stirring up immense fear! This wasn¡¯t just a wave, it was as if the heavens had fallen! Even through the screen, the audience could feel the immense pressure, similar to the giant tsunami heading towards human cities in disaster movies. They held their breath and silently prayed for Bi Fang on the life raft. Natural disasters are always the most terrifying, beyond the reach of human prowess. Even the most skilled survival experts are no different from ordinary people when faced with giant waves. And Bi Fang only had a life raft that could capsize at any moment¡­ The giant waves drew closer and Bi Fang held tightly onto the tent, clinging closely to the raft, trying to minimize wind resistance to prevent the life raft from being overturned by the wind before the wave hit, or the body of the raft not flipping while the tent flew away, which was not very sturdy. But he couldn¡¯t dismantle the tent either. Once removed, rainwater would pour directly into the raft, increasing the risk of capsizing. Moreover, the temperature was dropping. If his body came into direct contact with the rainwater, Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t last long in the cold weather. The energy drained by hypothermia was enough to cause him serious trouble, and it was difficult to say whether he could survive. The Horsetail Kelp on top of the tent had also been packed away, and everything on the boat was securely fastened by Bi Fang to prevent them from falling into the sea due to the rocking of the boat. The ocean seemed resourceful, but without tools, it was nothing but a ¡°desert.¡± He couldn¡¯t afford to waste any resources, even a drop of water could be critical to his survival. The drone swayed in the wind and rain, but the footage it captured was still stable. Jerret gripped the remote in his hand. He wasn¡¯t worried about the drone; it was the latest, most advanced model, custom-made from Huaxia, with a high cost that most ordinary families couldn¡¯t afford. Even in a Force 7 wind, it could operate stably. His only concern was whether Bi Fang would be okay. According to meteorological data, the sea state had reached Force 5 and might even approach Force 6! At sea condition Force 5, waves are three to four meters high, and the wind reaches Force 6. Fishing boats pitch violently and must reduce their sails, even fully, to avoid capsizing. Fishing is highly risky, and travel is not recommended. At sea condition Force 6, waves are four to six meters high, and the wind reaches Force 7. Fishing boats halt their outings and shelter in port, and those at sea need to anchor to stabilize their vessels. Even at Force 5, if not operated properly, fishing boats could capsize, let alone a small life raft. Could it really withstand this? Before long, the first wave hit. Bi Fang desperately searched his memory for knowledge to ensure he had done everything possible. The rest was up to fate. The life raft pitched wildly as high wave crests formed, surrounded everywhere by larger white foam peaks, and sometimes, spray. The crests of the waves took up a large area on top of the peaks. The wind began shearing away the wave crests, turning the broken waves into foamy streaks along the direction of the wind. The first wave of streaked giants swept across, and the audience was nearly suffocated. The air in their shelters grew thicker and more viscous, like gel, encompassing everyone, leaving no room to struggle. More terrifying was that the glue-like air surged into their respiratory tracts. This eerie air gel, soft like a long tongue, slid down the windpipes, completely blocking their lungs. Bi Fang was stifled by the immense pressure, his heartbeat skipping a beat. Above his head, the dark blue giant wave writhed like a giant serpent, and in the blink of an eye, it swept beneath the life raft. The tent, which had some semblance of structure, collapsed instantly under the tremendous uplift force, clinging tightly to Bi Fang¡¯s body. From the perspective of the airborne drone, one could clearly see a human shape outline. The more timid audience members began to scream. From the first-person perspective, they felt as if they were on a roller coaster, equally thrilling and fast-paced, but this type of ¡°roller coaster¡± could be deadly! The black sky above was heavy with storm clouds that spun rapidly in Bi Fang¡¯s vision, like a kaleidoscope, giving him an unreal sensation. The howling wind, the rotating clouds, the oncoming mist¡ªit all seemed as if time was rapidly flying by beside him. The circular life raft adapted well to the giant waves. It didn¡¯t capsize but kept rising with the wave. Bi Fang tightly grasped both sides of the raft, flattened as if he was on a pancake, feeling an extreme sense of G-force. Bi Fang exerted all his strength to lower his center of gravity, ensuring the raft¡¯s stability. When he reached the highest point of the giant wave, his speed also dropped to the lowest. The audience held their breath, not daring to utter a sound, watching the valley floor slowly approach, like a person on the guillotine waiting for the blade to fall. The next second, a feeling of weightlessness suddenly struck! Bi Fang could feel his lower abdomen involuntarily tightening, sending chills throughout his body. It wasn¡¯t a spasm, but rather a conditioned reflex formed over thousands of years of human evolution. Whenever the human body is in a state of weightlessness, it feels tense. The body thinks you are falling from a great height and rapidly considers which way of landing could minimize injury. The tightening of the lower abdomen helps you adjust your posture more easily. Bi Fang plummeted from the peak to the trough, feeling as if he were standing in the void of immense heights, with nothing left in the world but himself and the silent, black sea. Potential energy transformed into kinetic energy. Adrenaline surged desperately. If Bi Fang were to take a urine test at that moment, the result would likely indicate that his adrenaline contained trace amounts of urine! The audience, at that moment, could no longer bear the tension; from a first-person perspective, they only felt themselves plummeting downwards, unable to restrain from screaming. The life raft shot towards the valley floor like an arrow, as if it would crash into the seabed the next moment, boat and man perishing together. Bi Fang knew this was the most critical moment, and also the most difficult one. The slightest deviation could cause the massive force of impact and inertia to flip the life raft completely over, plunging him into the abyss of Hell. Blood surged like rivers, blue veins bulging. He clung tightly to both sides, shifting his body¡¯s center of gravity backward, desperate to lift the life raft just a little bit. Just a few centimeters would be enough, to keep the angle of descent below sixty degrees¡ªthat would be safe! The surging waves gleamed with a deathly black light, like a scroll leading to Hell itself. All of Bi Fang¡¯s will was devoured by that black light in an instant. His body trembled violently, and as if on the brink of doom, a tremendous force burst forth within him, suddenly tipping the life raft upwards! Boom! sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lightning struck the sea surface, instantly vaporizing a vast amount of seawater. The steaming mist dispersed, and was rapidly blown away by the fierce winds, as if nothing had happened. The life raft crashed violently into the bottom of the wave, throwing up a mass of white spray. After a violent jolt, Bi Fang opened his eyes and found that he had safely survived the giant wave. The audience opened their eyes and could not help but cheer and jump for joy¡ªthey did it, Bi Fang had survived beneath the massive waves! Even a life raft could survive the violent storm, not due to luck, but because the person on board was Bi Fang! He was the hope, the guarantee of everything! Having conquered the land and sky, he had once again extended his reach to the sea, leaving his mark! But was it over? No! The storm was just beginning! Bi Fang¡¯s brows were tightly knitted, blue veins throbbing at his temples. What awaited him were not just one giant wave, but hundreds and thousands of them! With each one, he could not afford to lose! Chapter 232: 229: Then dont lose even once! Chapter 232: Chapter 229: Then don¡¯t lose even once! The world was pitch-black, with occasional zigzagging bolts of lightning striking the sea surface. Visibility over the ocean was extremely poor, and beyond a dozen meters, everything was shrouded in a blinding mist, with raindrops colliding and shattering mid-air, falling into the sea as scattered spray. Even as the drones managed to work steadily in the Level 7 winds, they now had to close in to discern the specific condition of the life raft. The sea conditions had officially reached Level 6, with wind speeds at Level 7, and five-meter-high wave peaks were visible everywhere; the ocean roiled like a churning earth dragon, beneath the black sea, only the orange life raft struggled desperately, much like a small beast fighting to escape from the jaws of a snake. Raindrops struck the life raft, casting a layer of faint glow upon it. Above and below were rain, beyond was the boundless darkness, below the raft was the ocean, reaching hundreds of meters deep, and all around were transparent curtains of water, as if all the fish in the world had gathered in this space, with rivulets of rain tightly packed with no gaps to be found. Wave peaks sheared by the wind began to extend into elongated strips along the slopes, and at times, the peaks took on the elongated shape of storm waves. Their edges even started to disintegrate into spray, shattering in mid-air, turned by the fierce winds into invisible, colorless mist. Bi Fang¡¯s arms were incredibly sore; he no longer remembered the number of waves he had faced or how long he had endured. Each wave consumed his physical and mental strength, and if not for his stamina already boosted to fifteen points, matched with his elevated recovery abilities, he might have already failed to persevere and left his fate to the heavens. The will to survive was like a coal mine that, once ignited, was difficult to extinguish. You can do it! Countless viewers in front of the screens prayed and cheered for Bi Fang. There were familiar friends and loyal viewers; with each wave that crashed, it was a stretch to the limits of life¡¯s tension, a perfect demonstration of human survival instinct. Milani stared at the surging giant waves, her mouth agape, unable to believe that such a scene could be real, what impressive Huaxia people! Even more formidable than her silly Grandpa De! He¡¯s now her idol! Milani reached out her little hand and poked the burly man beside her, ¡°Silly De, are you as strong as him?¡± Mulenga patted his daughter¡¯s head, watching the giant waves on the television, and despite feeling a shiver, he smiled and nodded, ¡°Of course, your silly dad is the strongest!¡± Milani puffed up her cheeks, her tone full of doubt, ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe it.¡± Where did this little girl learn this argument? It almost choked him up. Mulenga¡¯s expression stiffened, his face the epitome of awkwardness, but he still insisted, ¡°Of course it¡¯s true, would I lie to you?¡± Milani pointed at the TV, ¡°Then you go and try drifting too!¡± This time, Mulenga was truly stumped; he looked up at the life raft struggling in the waves, admiring yet not completely convinced. In his view, Bi Fang¡¯s actions had nothing to do with strength anymore; it was sheer recklessness! To talk about actual skill level, it was really hard to say. Of course, not to say Bi Fang was without skill, he definitely had it, and it wasn¡¯t shabby either; being able to struggle against the sea waves for dozens of minutes just on physical strength alone would surpass the vast majority of people, otherwise, he would not have accumulated a group of loyal fans. But as for being the world¡¯s number one¡­ Mulenga had heard of this recently rising adventurer and recognized his achievements, but to claim, as his fans did, that he was the world¡¯s number one was a bit too exaggerated, or at least he felt he himself was not inferior. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Mulenga originally belonged to the British Scottish Deerstalkers Special Forces, a legendary unit with a long history. Because Scotland has traditionally been dominated by the livestock industry and is home to a plethora of wildlife, it has given rise to many exceptionally skilled hunters. As the poaching industry ran rampant, these hunters, under official leadership, formed a special forces unit known as the Deer Hunters. Those who could join the ranks of the Deer Hunter Troop were, without exception, elite hunters who had received professional military training and had a long family tradition. They were masters of many wilderness survival skills unknown to the public and had extraordinary marksmanship, regarded as the forefathers of modern military snipers. These feats were enough to show what a formidable presence the Deer Hunters were! Mulenga, at thirty-six years old, had just retired last year. He was at the peak of both his experience and physical fitness. His family, spanning three generations, were all hunting experts. It was absolutely impossible for him to acknowledge a twenty-five-year-old youngster, a full ten years his junior, as the world¡¯s best. ¡°See, you don¡¯t dare, do you?¡± The teasing laughter of Milani snapped Mulenga back to reality. Facing his daughter¡¯s challenge, Mulenga couldn¡¯t help but feel provoked, ¡°There¡¯s nothing I wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± ¡°Then prove it to me!¡± ¡°How should I prove it?¡± ¡°You should go on the show too!¡± Following his daughter¡¯s arm, Mulenga looked towards the television, where Bi Fang was struggling in the storm. The sight plunged Mulenga into deep thought. Participate in the show? With his hand stroking his coarse chin, Mulenga glanced at the Bi Fang on the screen, quite tempted. Before this, it had never occurred to him that even wilderness survival could be transformed into a form of entertainment, and be this popular. He had been a Deer Hunter for ten years. Although he could manage a decent life with his pension and hunting after retirement, how could that compare to the quick money of becoming an entertainment star? If he could really achieve what ¡°Master Fang¡± had on TV, become a leader in the field, and earn his keep with his skills, wouldn¡¯t the money just pour in? Not only would his family be able to move into a better house, his wife would be able to buy pretty handbags, and even his daughter would be able to attend a good school¡ªall these were benefits. But most importantly, how could he lose face in front of his daughter? Mulenga looked up once more, his eyes now ablaze with fire! He believed he wasn¡¯t the only one harboring such thoughts. But who was afraid of whom? All this, of course, Bi Fang was unaware of, as he was battling furiously with the waves, completely oblivious to the fact that someone was eying his world number one spot. Of course, even if he knew, it wouldn¡¯t matter to him. He wasn¡¯t some tycoon who monopolized an industry and prohibited others from ascending. He wasn¡¯t afraid of competition; Bi Fang was fully confident in himself. He actually looked forward to the emergence of more formidable survival experts in the world, eager to measure his skills against theirs. The winds of the wilderness were stirred by him, so, how many gods were hidden in a world without Bear Grylls and Grandpa De? Another giant wave surged towards him. Bi Fang ducked his head down and low to stabilize his center of gravity. After battling the storm for nearly half an hour, he was utterly exhausted. This made his entire body sore, but he still clung tenaciously to the life raft, not daring to relax in the slightest. Fortunately, after half an hour of struggle, Bi Fang could clearly feel that the storm had subsided a great deal. This wasn¡¯t an illusion¡ªthe soreness in his arms indeed began to decrease, indicating that the pressure he was facing had lessened. The sea conditions might have downgraded from level six to level five; the spray from the giant waves was noticeably less than before, indicating a decrease in wind speed. As the wind speed dropped, so did the height of the giant waves, with a drop of less than five meters, greatly reducing the likelihood of capsizing. If the trend continued, the drop would be even less, and the life raft would survive without his intervention. With this in mind, Bi Fang pulled over a coat, preparing for his next move. He hadn¡¯t forgotten the ultimate purpose of waiting out this rain. Now that the waves had diminished, the urgent task was to collect water. He had been thirsty for a full three days. Chapter 233: 230 Great Grandmaster Chapter 233: Chapter 230 Great Grandmaster The waves rhythmically slapped against the hull as Bi Fang slowly opened his eyes. His body was utterly fatigued, yet his spirit, after plummeting to the depths, surged with renewed vigor. He could sense the stormy waves diminishing. The hardest moment had finally passed! With the storm gone, it was now his turn to take the upper hand! With his immensely strong arms, he battled the icy waves time and again. Bi Fang felt like an arrow slicing through wind and waves, unstoppable by anything¡ªthe waves, the storm, hunger, even Nature itself¡ªbecause he was sharp enough! Bi Fang suddenly flung open the tent, breathing in the normal air once more, and found the piercingly cold air so sweet. He turned to look back, seeing a vast expanse of darkness, no islands, no continents, just an endless ocean supporting their orange life raft. The unmanned drone in the storm was no longer visible, surrounded by nothing but dark, undulating waves, but the waves were much smaller than they had been minutes before. Victory was almost assured. The viewers¡¯ hearts, almost leaping from their chests, gradually began to settle. Was this intense half-hour battle with the storm finally coming to a close? Of course not! Bi Fang clutched his jacket and laboriously knelt on the life raft. Even though the waves had halved in size, this didn¡¯t make the raft stable. The three-meter-high waves, coupled with Bi Fang¡¯s excellent balance, meant that, should he dare to stand, a single wave could instantly topple him into the sea. Opening his jacket wide with the hem facing the heavens, Bi Fang tried to collect the cold rainwater. This was the simplest and fastest method to collect water, but it also had significant downsides. Without the shelter of the tent, Bi Fang¡¯s body was completely exposed to the rain. Piercingly cold beyond measure. The rain quickly drenched him; his soaked inner layer clinging tightly to his body, defined muscles soft and graceful under his skin. Water dripped from the tips of his hair¡ªhe ran his hand through it, pushing his iron-gray hair neatly back, revealing his pale cheeks, handsome and distinguished, undeniably sexy. Even the international audience had to acknowledge Bi Fang¡¯s allure, with female viewers frantically taking screenshots, almost drooling¡ªoh, or perhaps they were already drooling, only that no one knew. It was hard to understand whether it was for Bi Fang the person or Bi Fang¡¯s story that they watched the show. But Bi Fang felt no joy for the cheers of the audience, he was utterly indifferent. Not a trace of happiness crossed his face; a lonely cold wind swept through, flaying the heat from his body with razor sharpness, and then his whole body shuddered as if in spasm. The cold, extreme cold, oozed from skin to muscle, from blood to bone marrow, inch by inch gnawing at a body that seemed almost perfect. Due to hypothermia, his body quickly showed adverse reactions. Pain gripped his lower abdomen like a venomous snake unwilling to let go; the severe agony made Bi Fang tremble even more, but he held on without letting go. He needed water, water was necessary. There wasn¡¯t even a rack on the life raft. Without using his hands to prop up the jacket, it was impossible to catch the rain pouring down from the sky, but this also meant he was necessarily exposed to the rainfall. Bi Fang had thought of other ways, such as propping up the tent, then pulling the middle down to make it funnel-shaped so that the rainwater could naturally gather, and then punching a small hole at the top for collection. However, this idea was quickly dismissed as being too unreliable. ¡°` Setting up the tent to collect water would make it impossible for Bi Fang, sheltered beneath, to observe the situation closely, and with the rise and fall of the waves, most of the rainwater would inevitably be lost, not to mention the splashing spray, which becomes useless as soon as it mixes with the seawater. No one knew how long the rain would last, and once missed, it might be another five or six days before it rained again. If Bi Fang had to rely on distillation to drink, he could endure, but his status at that time would certainly be unimaginably poor, and he could not possibly do that. The mission goal was to survive for twenty-one days. How long could he hold on, ten days? Twenty days? Bi Fang needed not just water, but also food. Choosing to distill water for twenty-four hours might keep him going, but what would he rely on to find food? This was an unsolvable dilemma, choosing water or body temperature? Comparing the two, Bi Fang finally chose to go out and collect water. With a physique score reaching fifteen points, such a number was already quite high, and could even be considered robust, making catching a cold a rare occurrence in daily life, a gamble worth taking for Bi Fang. The waves were becoming smaller, but the deluge of rain continued, falling on the life raft and turning into numerous droplets, like mist rising up. Bi Fang could feel the clothes in his hands getting heavier. Of all his clothes, only his jacket was water repellent, and fortunately, it was waterproof. Very few articles of clothing are completely waterproof, except for professional sports gear. Although the kidnapping attack came out of the blue with no preparation, Bi Fang genuinely preferred to wear sports attire since he had to train extensively every day. He could pull out a professional piece from his wardrobe at any given moment, and having money, he naturally bought good quality goods. He tightened the cuffs and zipped up the zipper. If all went well, such a piece of clothing might bring him over eight liters of potable freshwater, almost half a bucket of purified water! Even at one liter a day, it would cover the drinking water needs of an adult man for over ten days, allowing him to focus all his energy on searching for food. In order to make the most of the rainwater, Bi Fang even opened his mouth to the sky and caught rainwater with his mouth, garnering a little more use from the collected rain. After drinking a couple of mouthfuls, Bi Fang finally got a chance to speak to the viewers, ¡°When collecting rainwater, be very careful of the waves at sea. Once seawater gets into your container, the freshwater you¡¯ve collected could all be for naught, so we must store up as many containers as possible.¡± ¡°In addition, you can drink your fill when it rains, but do so slowly. As I¡¯ve said before, drinking too quickly when you¡¯ve been dehydrated for a long time can cause vomiting.¡± Just as he was talking, Bi Fang suddenly shivered, but he still persisted in speaking. ¡°If the rain is too heavy and floods the deck, don¡¯t panic, because water itself is a good ballast. Even if the water has risen to the deck, you can still keep afloat.¡± ¡°Look, the water has already covered the tops of my feet, but I haven¡¯t been dealing with it, it can even help wash the salt off the Horsetail Kelp, though with the waves constantly coming in, it might not be very effective, but it¡¯s somewhat useful.¡± The camera switched to the inside of the life raft, and viewers noticed that Bi Fang¡¯s feet were indeed mostly submerged, with the Horsetail Kelp tied up nearby starting to drift just as it did in the sea waters initially. [Damn, why is Old Fang shivering as he talks?] [No shit, he must be freezing. I¡¯m cold just looking at this rain, and the wind is fucking strong too] [I thought things would be safe once the storm lessened, but I didn¡¯t expect the real difficulties lay ahead] A lot of viewers nodded in agreement with this comment. They had thought the same, but the real challenge turned out not to be the storm, but how to collect the rainwater. ¡°` ¡°` Ah, if it were near the equator in the Pacific Ocean, it would have been cool after the rain. Not like now, where the water is like poison, causing continuous damage on contact. Master Fang was already freezing when he first appeared, and now it¡¯s been three days. Can he still hold on with his condition deteriorating? Some fans expressed concern, but most people still had full confidence in Bi Fang. He had survived the storm, and things would start to get better from here. [Hey, doesn¡¯t anyone think Old Fang¡¯s clothes are awesome? Such good waterproofing?] [It¡¯s obviously a high-end brand.] [Not sure, but a good shell jacket costs at least several tens of thousands. It has all the necessary features, not to mention waterproof. I¡¯ve heard some can even withstand fire¡­] [Master Fang has always had good equipment, and he is a real big deal, a rich dude.] [What to do if you¡¯re broke] [Envious, truly earning money through skills. Isn¡¯t that better than those internet-famous pretty boys? Old Fang could take on ten of them!] [Ten? That¡¯s modest. Guys who cry over a scratch, no offence, but it¡¯s more like a hundred.] The direction of the conversation in the comments often strayed under the manipulation of the Shuiyou, and it wasn¡¯t long before they started discussing what to eat for dinner. Bi Fang, who was holding up his arms, was struggling to keep it up. He was already exhausted from struggling against the wind and waves while clinging to the life raft. Now, holding up his arms was making them go numb from fatigue. With no other choice, Bi Fang¡¯s arms weakened, and he placed the jacket that had been collecting water on the life raft to relieve his arm fatigue. Nevertheless, he kept a vigilant watch on the surrounding waves to prevent seawater from contaminating the freshwater, which was crucial for his survival and could not be compromised. Finally, after nearly half an hour of collecting water, Bi Fang filled his jacket. He hurriedly tied off the bottom of the jacket with a towel. Using extra clothing to tie it off was also meant to increase the jacket¡¯s volume. If he used the jacket¡¯s own hem, the capacity would be much smaller. After finishing all this, Bi Fang quickly set up the tent again, then drained all the rain and seawater from inside the raft. He dried off the remaining water with clothing, wrung it out, and then curled up inside the life raft. ¡°Ha!¡± He placed the water bladder off to the side, and his whole body trembled. His face was pale and colorless as he continuously exhaled warm breaths, trying to warm his stiff hands. The waves were not too high, so Bi Fang did not have to worry about capsizing without his control, but hypothermia almost brought his thinking to a halt. [Damn, just looking at that makes me cold] [It¡¯s only because Master Fang has a strong physique. If it were me, I¡¯d have frozen to death by now] [Hey, why doesn¡¯t Old Fang just stay in the tent and hold the jacket out to catch the water? That way, only his hands would be cold, right?] [No way, didn¡¯t you hear that he has to prevent the rain from getting contaminated by the waves? How can you watch for the waves if you¡¯re in the tent? If it gets contaminated, all his efforts would be wasted. Moreover, as soon as you open the zipper, water will definitely get in.] ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing the comments, Bi Fang nodded with a shiver. If he collected water while the tent was set up, it would create a blind spot in his field of view, and he wouldn¡¯t see which direction waves were coming from, risking freshwater contamination. ¡°` On the other hand, while the wind had died down a bit, it was still strong. If I kept the zipper open without fully securing the tent, it could have been blown away entirely, which would have been a serious loss. ¡°But it was all worth it, at least for the next ten days, I won¡¯t have to worry about fresh water.¡± Bi Fang curled up in a corner, continuously rubbing his skin trying to warm up. ¡°The sea conditions must have reached level four by now, stronger than when I first arrived. At this point, the waves on the sea still have a clear shape, with many crests breaking up, forming whitecaps everywhere and occasionally sprinkling sea spray. So, I can¡¯t make any big movements yet; that would still be quite dangerous.¡± The audience was a bit shocked to hear this. What did he mean? The danger hasn¡¯t been lifted? ¡°No, it¡¯s been lifted,¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°Danger is present, but not high. Under level four sea conditions, normal fishing boats just experience significant rocking and need to reduce sail somewhat, there¡¯s no need to sail fully unfurled. As long as we don¡¯t make big movements, the danger is already far away from us.¡± Bi Fang then briefly introduced the classification of sea conditions. Sea condition levels are classified by what can be visually observed at sea. Levels 1-9 are called calm, light ripple, small wave, moderate wave, large wave, huge wave, violent wave, tempestuous sea, and raging sea, respectively. Waves higher than 20 meters are classified as stormy waves, which are rare and not an official classification. It is generally only from level five and above that poses a significant threat to ships. The storm Bi Fang had faced earlier even reached level six, which was the most dangerous, especially for life rafts. After hearing Bi Fang¡¯s explanation, the audience was even more thrilled. Damn, that¡¯s impressive, level six sea conditions where fishing boats dare not leave the harbor, and yet Old Fang got through it safely¡ªhe truly lives up to the name Master Fang! Mulenga had to admit Bi Fang¡¯s courage. Whether or not one deserved fame was one thing, but he certainly was no impractical scholar, after all, the camera doesn¡¯t lie. This wasn¡¯t make-believe hunting; it was a real storm confrontation. The live broadcast room once again exploded with a surge of comments and gifts, most of which were bones and meatballs, accompanied by messages saying they wanted to make him soup to warm his body. Bi Fang gladly accepted, and seeing the screen filled with gifts, he suddenly felt not so cold anymore. Even Jerret from the program team received a message from the channel. The leadership praised Jerret¡¯s arrangements over the phone, and the Explore Channel¡¯s ratings had spiked to 3.2%, the highest of any program broadcast on the channel this year. A 3.2% rating might not seem high, but compared to a decade ago when ratings of anything less than ten percent were insignificant, times have changed. Today, even just over 3% is cause for the channel leadership to treat the director like royalty, with constant attention and care, and those in lower positions hardly have a chance to participate. Seeing this excellent performance, the leadership immediately made a call, urging Jerret to work hard to stabilize the high viewership¡ªnowadays with the general economic downturn and fewer people watching television, seizing such an opportunity was crucial. They promised to offer a raise upon their return. Faced with this call, naturally, the program team was ecstatic¡ªwho doesn¡¯t love cold hard cash? And having worked on such a program, you¡¯d have an impressive resume for the future. No one would dare to underestimate you; you wouldn¡¯t even have to worry about job-hopping. In light of this situation, even Jerret couldn¡¯t remain calm. Although he was the number one director at the Explore Channel, the television industry had been generally struggling, and he hadn¡¯t had a hit in a long time. Having produced a show that hit 3.2% viewership, with the potential to reach even 4%, was naturally a cause for celebration. And all of this, Jerret and Pondy were well aware, was largely thanks to Bi Fang. He was the one who brought the concept of Wilderness Survivalist to the public, making people realize. Oh, so that¡¯s what Wilderness Survivalist is like, and you can play it like this? Placed in Huaxia, like a Great Grandmaster founding a school, surely worthy of respect that lasts a lifetime. Even carving a wooden statue to be worshipped, well, that might be an exaggeration. But creating a figurine to put on a desk wouldn¡¯t seem out of place at all. Chapter 234: 231 How to Catch? Chapter 234: Chapter 231 How to Catch? The sun near the horizon is tepid, like a boiled egg, unable to warm the sea surface. Yet this is the last of today¡¯s sunlight; nightfall will soon arrive, leaving more than ten hours without the sun, and the temperature will drop even further. The storm has ceased, and the life raft drifts languidly on the sea like a ghost ship with no one at the helm. The sea surface that just started to warm up after two days of sunshine has been mercilessly reset by a ruthless storm, reminding everyone that this is the winter North Atlantic, where even the temperate zone cannot escape the cold. Bi Fang on the life raft doesn¡¯t stop doing push-ups, further squeezing every bit of energy from his body into heat to combat the severe cold. [Old Fang still has the strength to do push-ups! I¡¯m tired just watching] [What a strong waist, his girlfriend must be very lucky] [Thanks for the invite, I¡¯m in the North Atlantic, just got off the life raft, and yes, the waist strength is real, nearly passed out, thanks for the blessings, I¡¯m very happy.] [Get lost, Master Fang is mine! Zzzip!] [The power of the waist, in three stages!] [Hiss, this boy is terrifying! He must not be left alive!] [Xiu¡¯er, I¡¯ve washed my hands, can I hold the trophy now?] Seeing Bi Fang energetic, the online friends return to their frivolous ways. Bi Fang lets out a breath. Accompanied by rigorous exercise, he finally feels his cold body warming up, and the stomach pain eases slightly. After finishing the last set, he lies fully in the life raft, his forehead dotted with sweat, skin slightly flushed, steam rising from his body. He touches his clothes and finds them still wet. Bi Fang must continue to endure the cold. With the fluctuation in temperature, his head aches unbearably, as if roundworms have infested his brain and are burrowing in all directions. ¡°Huh, no, I can¡¯t rest.¡± Exhaling deeply, Bi Fang continuously adjusts his breathing in an attempt to relieve the discomfort, but just as it eases, a piercing hunger warns him that he needs to eat. He is famished. Horsetail kelp can fill the stomach, but as a plant, the energy it provides is far from sufficient, even pitifully inadequate. What he really needs is meat. Without having eaten high-calorie food for three straight days and having expended so much energy in the rain, Bi Fang¡¯s body is nearly at its breaking point. The principle of death by starvation after three weeks no longer applies, and Bi Fang doesn¡¯t know how much longer he can hold on. A week, perhaps? Thinking this, Bi Fang struggles up, takes some entangled horsetail kelp, removes a piece, and continues to string it onto the fishhook. He opens the ziplock and tosses it out. Just a few simple actions nearly deplete Bi Fang¡¯s physical strength. [Master Fang really deserves our praise, but you just praised him, and now he¡¯s weak?] [Is Old Fang okay? His forehead is covered in sweat, it¡¯s hard for me to watch] [Last time I had food poisoning, it was pretty much like this. My face went terribly pale, vomiting and diarrhea, squatting in the toilet, holding a basin to catch the vomit. I totally understand] [The person above, you¡¯ve got a point] [Is he really okay? I feel like we could actually end this mission. Even if Old Fang had an empty bottle, it wouldn¡¯t be this bad, right? The show crew is too harsh!] [That¡¯s right, if Master Fang can¡¯t do it, just give up. We¡¯ll understand!] As soon as the suggestions to give up appear, it immediately resonates with a large group of people. They truly admire Bi Fang, yet they don¡¯t believe he can succeed in this adventure. ¡°To be honest, although Old Fang is in good shape, he doesn¡¯t have much fat. If he can¡¯t get food for a short period, he would really struggle to hold up. Master Fang is the type who thrives on combat, not on enduring hardship. Give him a wooden spear, and he could conquer the wilderness.¡± There were quite a few outdoor enthusiasts in the live stream, and although they were not as professional or powerful as Bi Fang, they were no novices and could spot the problem right away. Master Fang was too ¡°lean.¡± Although he had well-trained muscles that were neither bulky nor gaunt, full of a sense of power, he had too little fat reserves. When faced with danger, such as being stranded and starving over a long period, needing to burn fat, he would find it very tough to last. In Wilderness Survival, the only way to get out of this predicament is to ¡°fight to survive.¡± If you¡¯re strong enough, then you don¡¯t have to starve. With no food, go hunting; as long as you¡¯re strong enough, you won¡¯t fear the lack of food. But the situation now is different. No matter how capable you are, can you conjure tools out of thin air? It must be said that Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast was a tactical misstep. He chose a survival mode that he was least equipped to handle. For someone else, just an extra ten kilograms of fat could mean surviving quite well. A week without food wouldn¡¯t matter; ten kilograms of fat would be enough to burn and sustain them. Surviving a week, even with the worst of luck, they should have caught some fish by then, right? All in all, it¡¯s not that Master Fang isn¡¯t strong, but that he isn¡¯t suited for this mode. With no tools, luck and time become critical. Even with just a wooden spear, he could dive and catch fish, unlike now when he can only wait for a fish to bite. That¡¯s Bi Fang¡¯s only weakness. Many viewers, after listening to the expert¡¯s explanations, felt heavy-hearted. They finally understood why Master Fang¡¯s survival challenge seemed so tough this time. Could it be that his first challenge would end in failure? Bi Fang also saw the online friends¡¯ discussions and had to admit there was some truth to them. If he had a bit more fat, he would indeed be in a much better situation than now. But Bi Fang shook his head. Things were far from being at their worst. He didn¡¯t need such ¡°what-ifs,¡± and besides, opportunity and danger often coexist. The storm was dangerous, and he had indeed lost a great deal of heat and physical energy, but it wasn¡¯t without benefits. He did not hastily drop the fishing hook just to try his luck, but because it was indeed the best time to fish. ¡°Rainy weather lowers the atmospheric pressure, causes a decrease in the oxygen content in the water, making it difficult for fish to breathe. They would rise to the surface to get enough oxygen. Sometimes fish even jump out of the water.¡± ¡°And now there¡¯s some sunshine, though it hasn¡¯t been out long enough for the temperature to rise, but its presence is felt. Regardless of how cold it is, the water surface temperature will recover, and warmth-loving fish will come up.¡± ¡°In other words, now is the best time to fish, and it mustn¡¯t be missed.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s face was calm, but inside he was somewhat tense. If all went well, he might be able to obtain food today. He refused to believe that for three continuous days he couldn¡¯t catch a fish. If it was still calm after the storm, then it wasn¡¯t his method that was the problem, but something was wrong with this part of the sea. Hearing this explanation, the audience, who had almost lost hope, perked up a bit. It seemed unlikely, but Bi Fang¡¯s past performances still made them choose to believe once more. Perhaps if they waited just a bit longer, the fish would indeed appear. And they waited, until the sunset. The massive sun had touched the sea, and millions of tons of water gently undulated beneath the life raft. His clothes were almost dry, but Bi Fang still had not caught any fish. He put on two inner layers, doubting himself. Could it be? Has overfishing in the Atlantic become this severe? Are there no fish left? ¡°Give it up, Old Fang, come back and get some sleep.¡± ¡°Master Fang has not lost, he¡¯s just out of luck!¡± ¡°Adam didn¡¯t lose; he just died!¡± ¡°Ah¡­ well¡­¡± Bi Fang scratched his head, feeling truly irritated. He unzipped the zipper and stuck his head out of the tent, ready to see what was going on. As soon as he went out, the desolate and cold breeze made Bi Fang shiver, once again reminding him of the feeling of being dominated by the cold. But instead of turning back, he looked at the end of the fishing line; the horsetail kelp continued to drift with the current. ¡°` After the downpour, the water flow accelerated, which was caused by the convection between the surface layer and the bottom layer. In such a situation, the Horsetail Kelp swayed just like a little fish. But it was not a fish. Bi Fang, feeling dejected, pulled up the fishing line, preparing to try again tomorrow. However, when he held it in his hand, he suddenly froze. A small notch had abruptly appeared at the end of the Horsetail Kelp! [Why isn¡¯t Old Fang moving?] sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [What¡¯s going on? Did he stop fishing?] [If he caught a fish, Old Fang wouldn¡¯t be frozen like that. He would be excitedly telling us how to cook it so it tastes good] [Ah, why isn¡¯t he moving? Don¡¯t tell me he¡¯s been scared stiff by a shark?] [The prophet, cut the crap] Due to the camera angle, the drone high in the sky didn¡¯t capture the scene clearly, and the tent was in the way as well, so the audience hadn¡¯t noticed this discovery. Excitement surged through his chest, like a hungry beast thrilled by the scent of blood. Bi Fang licked his lips, his eyes shining. There were fish nearby, there had to be! Bi Fang shifted his position and held the Horsetail Kelp in front of the camera, unable to contain his excitement in his voice, ¡°It¡¯s not a shark. Look, there¡¯s a notch on the Horsetail Kelp! It¡¯s not broken because of the water flow; it¡¯s been bitten by a fish. There¡¯s even a clear impression on it!¡± Under the camera, a row of clear bite marks were visible at the end of the Horsetail Kelp. Even a fool could tell it had been bitten by something! [Holy shit! Is that really a fish?] [What do you call this? Persistence pays off!] [Go Master Fang! Frickin¡¯ go for it!] [How was there no sign of movement just now? This fish is really good at hiding!] Bi Fang nodded. Since it was too cold outside, he had been staying inside the tent the whole time and hadn¡¯t come out to take a look. He hadn¡¯t expected that a fish would take a bite of the bait right under his and tens of thousands of viewers¡¯ watchful eyes. ¡°The fish can¡¯t be very large, and it has sharp teeth. There wasn¡¯t even a sign of movement on the fishing line, which means it easily bit off the Horsetail Kelp. But now, even a fish the size of a palm would greatly improve our situation.¡± No matter how small the fish, it was still a fish. Even if it was not edible, it could be used as bait. And the bones could be used to make better hooks. After hearing Bi Fang¡¯s analysis, the audience¡¯s eyes lit up. Now there was something substantial to eat! [Oh my god, it¡¯s the middle of the night and Master Fang is actually about to get some meat!] [Oh, now that you mention it, I am getting a bit hungry myself] Bi Fang glanced at the barrage of messages and didn¡¯t pay much attention. Nearly half of his viewers were from his home country, and due to the time difference, it would be the middle of the night there. Seeing such messages was not surprising. ¡°Alright, we need to act quickly. The sun is about to set over the ocean. Once it gets dark, it will be very inconvenient for us to move.¡± Inside, Bi Fang was thrilled as he carefully stretched his body out, attempting to stick his head beyond the raft to get a better look. He dared not make any big movements. If the fish was right under the life raft, a rash move could scare it away. That¡¯s why Bi Fang was lying down, trying to keep his center of gravity as low as possible. The camera switched to first-person view. The crew didn¡¯t allow the drone to come closer, fearing that its shadow might startle the fish in this situation. As Bi Fang¡¯s head emerged from the body of the raft, the viewers held their breath. This feeling of checking to see if the prey was still there was thrilling. If it was still around, naturally, everyone would rejoice. Their tough survival situation would have a positive turn, and everyone would be happy for Bi Fang. ¡°` If the fish didn¡¯t bite this time, who knows when they would again, if they could even hold out until then was a question in itself. It was a matter of life and death, whether they would feast on delicious food hinged on this moment! The gaze slowly shifted from inside the raft to the sea, and the audience¡¯s anxiety grew. When the sea finally came into view, it was devoid of anything. Nothing? The sun had not yet completely set, and under the sunlight, the seawater was crystal clear, allowing the audience to see the condition of the sea a few meters down. Nothing at all. Disappointment washed over them like a tide, the sparkle in their eyes slowly fading. Had the fish left? Bi Fang didn¡¯t think so. He took a deep breath, leaned most of his body out of the life raft, and slowly submerged his head in the seawater. The ice-cold water once again stimulated his cerebral blood vessels, causing them to contract sharply, which made Bi Fang feel dizzy for a while. But he quickly adapted and looked below the life raft with his eyes open underwater. As the scene appeared, the audience¡¯s pupils shrank in shock! In the deep blue sea, shafts of sunlight penetrated down to the dark seabed. Amidst the surging currents, numerous squids were slowly ascending toward the surface, drawn by the light. Thousands upon thousands! Bi Fang¡¯s heart pounded violently, the icy and bone-chilling sea no longer uncomfortable. ¡°Damn, that¡¯s a lot of squids?¡± ¡°Man, that¡¯s a windfall!¡± ¡°Feasting time!¡± ¡°I always thought squids were near the shore.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been watching too much tide-pooling, haven¡¯t you?¡± The live stream chat erupted in cheers, no one had anticipated that, though they hadn¡¯t caught any fish, a massive group of squid had shown up! A super feast! The squids seemed unaware of their observer, continuing their unhurried swimming. Bi Fang didn¡¯t act rashly and instead gradually retreated from the water. After wiping the water from his face, Bi Fang breathed in the air deeply, calming his wildly beating heart. The problem had not been resolved¡ªthough food had appeared, how to catch it was another problem. Seeing the excited viewers, Bi Fang threw cold water on their enthusiasm. ¡°Don¡¯t celebrate too soon. They might look like they¡¯re swimming slowly, but in reality, squid are the fastest swimmers among invertebrates. They move forward at great speeds by jetting water from the funnel on their bellies, like a rocket launch. In the face of danger, they can usually reach speeds of fifteen meters per second. It¡¯s absolutely impossible to catch them by direct grab.¡± The audience was startled inside, not realizing that squids, which seemed to drift leisurely, could swim so fast! Fifteen meters per second¡ªhuman beings couldn¡¯t achieve that even on land, and those who could reach ten meters per second were considered masters. ¡°So what do we do?¡± Yeah, what do we do? Bi Fang frowned in deep thought. They had been hungry for so long, giving up was definitely not an option. It was rare to encounter so many squids, the next opportunity was uncertain; giving up would be a huge loss. The sun gradually sank below the horizon, the last of its afterglow scattered across the sea, with half of the sun and its reflection together forming a complete circle. Time was running out, once night fell, the hope of catching them grew even slimmer¡­ Chapter 235: 232 You Still Say Youre Not Poisoned! Chapter 235: Chapter 232 You Still Say You¡¯re Not Poisoned! The sun was about to set, and there wasn¡¯t much time left. Bi Fang had to catch a squid during the day, otherwise once night fell, the darkness would make it exponentially harder to capture them, let alone see them clearly. A large group of squid was right before his eyes, but there wasn¡¯t much time left for him to capture them, and the feeling of seeing but not being able to eat was indeed frustrating. Thousands of squid swam below him, yet not a single one belonged to him. It was indeed a sad story. Bi Fang rubbed the spot between his eyebrows, shook off the negative emotions in his mind, and began to think about how to catch squid. It was clear that diving in to catch them was not feasible. The squid¡¯s reaction was too fast; the chances of catching one in the sea were too low, unless he had a net. But he didn¡¯t even have a piece of cloth, let alone a net; all his possessions added up to nothing more than the clothes on his back and a life raft. He would have to be a fool to tear down his tent and cut holes in it. The most crucial point was that Bi Fang didn¡¯t have the strength to go back into the water. He had just gotten through a storm, recovered from hypothermia, and now he was expected to dive in again¡ªhow could anyone endure that? Super Saiyan? If he didn¡¯t catch anything, he¡¯d be completely done for. His body couldn¡¯t take any more torment. Even with a physique of 15 points, it couldn¡¯t withstand entering the water repeatedly in the winter. Since he couldn¡¯t catch the squid directly, he could only try fishing for them. Bi Fang¡¯s gaze became resolute. There were significant differences in fishing methods for different creatures, and this was something in which Bi Fang was quite confident. With so many squid, the chances of getting a bite were very high. As long as the fishing technique was right, he would catch one with every attempt. Then he could eat one and throw one away, grilling or steaming as he pleased, with no one to stop him. The sight of a squid school surfacing was rare¡ªseizing this opportunity was like seizing the future! With that in mind, Bi Fang picked up a fishing hook, plucked off the horsetail kelp that was on it, and submerged the bare hook into the water, beginning his grand plan to fish for squid. ¡°Many people living by the sea may often see squid, so they think it inhabits the coastal waters, but this is actually a misconception. Compared to the coast, squid prefer to dwell in the deep waters of the open sea.¡± ¡°Every spring and summer, squid swim from the deep sea to the shallower inner bay to spawn. From April to June, they lay their eggs attached to seaweed and other objects, like bunches of grapes. Squids also like to be gregarious and often migrate in the same water layer, creating the scene you see.¡± ¡°Whenever this happens, coastal fishermen often bind sticks and the like into bundles and drop them into the sea to attract squid to lay their eggs. When the schools of squid come to spawn, they then spread out nets to capture them, reaping a bountiful harvest.¡± [Ah, squid really love diving!] [So are all the squid caught while beachcombing in winter fake?] [By the way, why did Old Fang pull off the horsetail kelp to fish? Not using plant bait anymore?] The netizens had many questions, and Bi Fang answered them one by one after seeing them. This was one of the charms of his live broadcast, with very strong interactivity. ¡°Squid live in the open ocean, but not too deep, usually inhabiting waters between 30 and 60 meters. They ascend to the surface of the water in the morning and evening, and descend to the middle and lower layers during the day. But since a storm just passed, the water is low in oxygen, and the temperature in the middle and lower layers has further dropped, forcing this group of squid to come up to the surface bathed in sunlight. This presents an excellent opportunity for us.¡± ¡°Moreover, squid are carnivorous, mainly eating crustaceans, shrimp, and juvenile fish. My horsetail kelp has no appeal to them, less so than the hook itself. What bit the hook just now probably wasn¡¯t squid, but some other small fish¡ªI didn¡¯t catch a glimpse of it, though. So our main goal is still to catch a squid.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s wrist moved ceaselessly, hoping to entice a squid to bite. The end of his fishing line was very smooth and flat, reflecting light very clearly under the slant of the setting sun, and it didn¡¯t take long for several squid to take notice and leisurely swim toward the reflecting object. Since he was at the water¡¯s surface, Bi Fang could see several blurry figures swimming towards the life raft. ¡°Do you see that? A few are coming over.¡± Bi Fang lowered his voice, afraid that a louder sound would scare away the squid. However, the excitement in his voice was palpable, and he continued to move his wrist even more rhythmically. ¡°` [Holy cow, can you really fish without bait?] [Eye-opener!] [The first person to catch something out of nothing!] [Master Fang is awesome!] The audience was shocked by this scene. Could you actually catch a fish with just a button? Isn¡¯t this too magical? They seriously suspected that Master Fang had seduced the squid with some kind of drug! ¡°That¡¯s because squids are attracted to light. If we don¡¯t have shrimps as bait, we can wrap the fishing hook with cigarette foil, which is the silver paper inside the cigarette box. We tear it off and wrap it around the hook. There are many ways to do this, either covering each of the three hook points separately or wrapping the entire hook, but it¡¯s important that the foil is ball-shaped rather than flat strips.¡± ¡°This way, as the hook moves up and down, the foil continuously refracts and reflects light, luring the squid onto the hook. But I don¡¯t smoke, and the button is enough. Of course, the best method is actually to light up at night, which greatly increases the catch rate of squids, almost guaranteeing a catch with every cast.¡± Every item is of use in Wilderness Survivalist, even a cigarette box can play a key role when necessary! [Ah, suddenly I have a legitimate reason to smoke] [When my wife asks again, I¡¯ll say it¡¯s for the day I get marooned on a deserted island, so I can use the foil to fish!] [Genius! I¡¯ve learned something useless] [Marooned on a deserted island, that¡¯s really something] As the squid drew nearer, the audience¡¯s barrage of comments dwindled as they concentrated on the unfolding scene, hoping Bi Fang would catch a squid and break the three-day curse of no meat. Hope was in sight, and Bi Fang¡¯s movements became subtler and subtler. Aside from his wrist, his body was almost imperceptible to any tremors, as if even his heartbeat had stopped. The half a year of breath control practice had turned Bi Fang into a stationary rock. If it weren¡¯t for the breeze moving his hair, the audience might have thought he was a stone statue. But Bi Fang was not. Instead, as the squid swam under the life raft, his lips buzzed, his voice barely audible. Without the powerful function of the drone, it might not have captured anything he said. ¡°If you are using shrimp jigs or shore fishing and encounter squids, the bite signal of the squid is similar to that of fish. But when fishing baitless like I am doing, it¡¯s quite different. At this time, the squid¡¯s bite is peculiar; it doesn¡¯t have the clear bite signal that fish do. The only sensation is that during lifting, the hook will feel suddenly heavier and there will be a sensation of tugging. At this point, we should relax the fishing line a bit. The reason for the heavy feeling is because when the squid bites while swimming, its body is suspended, but it doesn¡¯t swallow the bait. Instead, it uses its numerous tentacles to firmly embrace the bait. The sudden heaviness comes from the ¡®fish¡¯s¡¯ weight and the resistance of the water. The ¡®tugging¡¯ is the squid reacting to the lifting of the bait by contracting its tentacles, which doesn¡¯t mean it has taken the bait. At this moment, the purpose of slackening the line is to make the squid embrace the bait even tighter.¡± After the squid has taken the bait, some fishermen, being impatient, lift it out of the water; as a result, when the squid reaches the surface, because it hasn¡¯t firmly held onto the bait, it gets off the hook and all that¡¯s left behind is a cloud of ink.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s energy was grounded, and his mind was as calm as still water, like Meditating Buddha¡ªonly, this Buddha hadn¡¯t eaten meat for so long, his stomach was grumbling. The sun cast slanting rays, and due to the reflection, the cameras could no longer clearly see the situation as the squid approached closer. Without bait, fishing relied entirely on hand feel, which greatly tested the angler¡¯s experience and technique. Fortunately, Bi Fang lacked neither. Within minutes, he felt the line in his hand sink. Here it comes! Bi Fang¡¯s pupils dilated, indicating his immense excitement, but even so, he did not act prematurely. One mistake could scare away the other squids; this was his only chance! S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The fishing line didn¡¯t shake at all, but the sensation of heaviness was very clear. The audience¡¯s eyes were fixed, their hearts pounding. The fishing line was three meters long, and Bi Fang methodically tested and felt the heaviness in his hand, realizing that the squid had taken the bait! ¡°` Bi Fang moved slowly, starting to gently reel in the line as he softly explained. ¡°Squid don¡¯t swim fast unless they are in danger. When they encounter bait, their tentacles will cling tightly to it. As they move forward, they tug on the fishing line. When they feel the line is hard to pull but are reluctant to give up the tasty morsel at their mouth, they will retract their body, which draws the fishing rod downward. There¡¯s no need to jerk the rod when angling for squid; reeling in is enough to achieve the goal. Moreover, the speed must be even. Once there is any abnormality, the squid will release the bait and escape. Also, when bringing the squid to the surface, to prevent it from dropping the bait and fleeing, it¡¯s best to use a landing net. Squid use the suction cups on their tentacles to grasp the bait. The moment they are lifted out of the water, they immediately let go and escape. That¡¯s why after hooking a squid, you mustn¡¯t lift it out of water. Before lifting it out, you should net it with a landing net. But I don¡¯t have one, so now it¡¯s a test of your reaction and hand speed,¡± he said. Bi Fang kept a close watch on the water¡¯s surface. Without a landing net, it meant he had to extend his hand to grab the squid at the very moment it left the water. Should he fail, the startled squid would instinctively squirt ink. Once the ink dispersed, it would alert the other squid making it extremely difficult to catch any more. Estimating the length of the fishing line, Bi Fang¡¯s hands became steadier. He had marked the line, tying knots at intervals. When the last knot emerged from the water, his mind was extremely tense. Just half a meter to go! Bi Fang pulled his right hand back, switched to his left hand to draw the line single-handedly, and slowly brought it upward. He could even see a blurry outline of the squid! He wrapped the line around his wrist, the squid becoming clearer and clearer. Just as it was about to surface, the constantly pulled squid finally realized something was wrong. Its naturally keen instincts kicked in, and it immediately tried to let go and flee, but! It was too late! Bi Fang¡¯s heart pounded as the sun dipped lower. It was as if the sea had stopped rippling, and his right hand, like a venomous snake, shot out fiercely towards the water! In just an instant, the slippery and greasy sensation was in his grasp. No time for joy, Bi Fang quickly scooped it out! Sparkling water beads danced in the air, scattering all around. The squid in mid-air suddenly contracted its body, and a jet of black ink burst out. Bi Fang dodged the ink sideways but did not expect the force of the squirt to be so strong that the squid slipped right out of his hands! Damn it! As Bi Fang had said, squid propel themselves forward at great speeds by ejecting water through the funnel on their undersides; they can leap from the depths and jump out of the water rising 7 to 10 meters high, their bodies soaring like cannonballs for about 50 meters in the air! The audience¡¯s hearts sank, yet the next second, to everyone¡¯s surprise, the squid flew straight into the tent! The squid, suddenly launching out of Bi Fang¡¯s grip and thinking it was about to escape to freedom, abruptly collided with a large cloth and fell down, its ink spraying onto the tent, leaving a black spot. The squid still wanted to escape, but having sprayed once, it was now too weak to do so again; out of the water it was even less energetic than a fish, lying limply on the life raft until Bi Fang grabbed hold of it. ¡°Ha! Finally got you!¡± he exclaimed. Bi Fang pinned down the squid, extended his index and middle fingers, and directly removed the cuttlebone from its body. This bone, similar to the spine in mammals, meant the squid became a limp mass upon its removal. Without pausing to sort out his catch, Bi Fang hurriedly dropped the hook back in the water. It had taken him mere minutes to catch one, so why not take advantage of the remaining sunlight to catch a few more? A single squid was about the size of his forearm; frugally it could last him two days of meals. With less than half an hour until sunset, going by his previous pace, with some luck, he might still be able to catch three or four more. Indeed, Bi Fang followed the same method. He even used a small piece of limb from the caught squid as fresh bait on the hook, preserving the lure¡¯s flash without affecting it. Five minutes later, Bi Fang once again reeled in another squid. Two now! [Holy crap, jackpot!] [Finally, something good to eat. I¡¯m so moved I could cry.] [Old Fang is too strong!] [Using squid to fish for squid, this technique is so nerve-wracking I¡¯m getting goosebumps!] [Xiu¡¯er, can I touch your trophy? Just for a moment, please! I¡¯ll wash my hands!] [Do squids eat their own kind?] ¡°Yes!¡± Bi Fang affirmed, ¡°Squids are creatures known to cannibalize. It¡¯s quite common to see a larger squid eating a smaller one, and it¡¯s even more uncertain whether they can distinguish between pieces of their own kind and other food when I only use a small segment of a squid limb as bait.¡± Bi Fang wore a broad smile, delighted to have caught two squids, he couldn¡¯t wait to cast his line a third time. This time it took a bit longer, about seven or eight minutes, but he managed to pull up another one. Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t avoid the squid ink this time and his shoulder and half his face were sprayed. However, he learned from his previous experience and held on to the squid tightly, crushing its cuttlebone directly. Truly, it shattered! [Hahaha, Old Fang looks so bedraggled!] [Isn¡¯t squid ink poisonous? Is Master Fang okay?] [Wow, poisonous?] ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s poisonous.¡± Bi Fang wiped the ink off his face, only to find that the more he wiped, the blacker he became. His wiping smeared the ink all over, blurring half of his face, but after a brief attempt to clean himself up, Bi Fang stopped caring about his appearance and cast his line again, hoping to catch another squid. At the same time, he reassured his anxious audience, ¡°But don¡¯t worry, the ink, primarily used by the squid to confuse predators¡¯ sense of smell, although toxic, isn¡¯t significantly dangerous. It¡¯s a relatively weak paralytic poison, harmless to most animals. I can¡¯t feel much from it, and I¡¯ve heard that this stuff is quite popular in Japan, where they eat it directly.¡± Bi Fang stuck out his tongue, some ink had sprayed directly into his mouth, leaving a numb sensation on his tongue, which made his speech slightly slurred, but he felt the numbing sensation fading rapidly. [Master Fang! And you say you¡¯re not poisoned!] [You¡¯ve got a lisp now] [Life¡¯s tough but don¡¯t tear it down] [People can make it, at least they should try] Bi Fang tugged at the corner of his mouth, feeling a bit helpless, but continued to focus on squid fishing. Sadly, for some reason, he didn¡¯t catch a fourth one for a full ten minutes, and even after the sun had set completely, he had no luck. Did they notice? Bi Fang wasn¡¯t disheartened. He was quite satisfied with the three squids he had caught and didn¡¯t ask for more. However, he didn¡¯t give up too easily. The setting of the sun didn¡¯t mean that the squid shoal would immediately leave. They would surely linger for a while, and indeed they did. Half an hour later, Bi Fang caught the fourth squid. After dealing with it, he fished a little longer, but this time it was truly over; a long while passed without any squids biting. ¡°Phew, a fulfilling harvest!¡± Far from being disheartened, Bi Fang was actually quite excited. Without hesitation, he packed up his hook and line, grabbed a squid, and unceremoniously tore off one of its tentacles to put in his mouth. Feeling the suction cups wriggling in his mouth, Bi Fang had a strange sensation. He had never eaten squid raw before, and it was weird. But it had a nice chewiness, that was for sure. After chewing several times, Bi Fang swallowed the squid tentacle. His strong stomach acid began rapidly digesting the food, and almost as soon as Bi Fang had started on the second tentacle, the warmth spread from his stomach to his limbs and bones. Savoring the hard-earned warmth, Bi Fang almost teared up. On the third day of sea survival, he caught four squids. Chapter 236: 233 Setting Sail Chapter 236: Chapter 233 Setting Sail Fresh squid is quite chewy; Bi Fang¡¯s jaw muscles grew sore and tired before he finally managed to finish eating the squid¡¯s nine tentacles, each one damp, sticky, and accompanied by a fishy sea smell. As he bit down on the last one, the suction-cup-covered tentacle kept twitching at the corner of his mouth and even latched onto Bi Fang¡¯s skin. Bi Fang sucked in an attempt to detach it, but the tentacle was too firmly attached and wouldn¡¯t come off, so he had to peel it with his hand and stuff it into his mouth to continue chewing. The audience felt a psychological shadow watching the scene; it was too fierce. In the middle of chewing, Bi Fang suddenly remembered something and reminded everyone. ¡°I forgot to say earlier, when eating squid or octopus tentacles raw, you must make sure to chew thoroughly, never swallow them whole. Creatures like these invertebrates, even when dead, their limbs can still move. If you don¡¯t chew them quickly, they can easily adhere to your windpipe and lead to suffocation.¡± After speaking, Bi Fang even opened his mouth to show the audience. Even though it wasn¡¯t as clear as during the day with the night mode on, the viewers could still feel how, even partly chewed, the tentacles kept moving, which was chilling. [Holy shit, I can¡¯t look at squid and octopus the same way anymore!] [Damn, that¡¯s hardcore, who else but Old Fang could stomach it?] [I¡¯ve got goosebumps, disgusting!] [Crab-roe Pipi Shrimp sends a Meat Bone*1 to the host¡ªawesome!] [By the way, what species of squid is that? It seems different from what I usually see; I¡¯ve never seen one like that. Are you sure it¡¯s not poisonous, Master Fang?] [Can¡¯t raw eating cause parasites?] [What¡¯s there to be afraid of? Seafood has fewer parasites; otherwise, Japan wouldn¡¯t enjoy eating it so much. Besides, it¡¯s not Old Fang¡¯s first time eating raw; didn¡¯t he eat a heart last time?] The scene of Bi Fang bravely eating fierce seafood indeed stimulated the audience, and in a short while, the barrage of comments expanded to over a thousand. This was despite Bi Fang having set commenting qualifications, duration, and frequency as a triple safeguard in the software¡¯s backend. Many top streamers at most set two layers of restriction, anything more would appear as though the channel wasn¡¯t popular enough. Who else but Bi Fang would dare to implement triple restrictions and still maintain a barrage of comments so dense and lively? It¡¯s hard to imagine how explosive the comments would be without those three safeguards; probably in the tens of thousands at the climax, truly astonishing. Bi Fang skimmed through the comments and selected two with the most questions and misconceptions to explain. The first reply he gave blew the audience¡¯s minds. ¡°Firstly, regarding the species of the squid, I don¡¯t recognize it either, but it should belong to the family of Spear Squid, based on its appearance.¡± Audience: ¡°!!!¡± You actually don¡¯t know something? Many viewers widened their eyes, as if they couldn¡¯t believe the words ¡°don¡¯t know¡± could come out of Bi Fang¡¯s mouth. [It¡¯s over, Old Fang has been possessed! Quick, who the hell are you?] [Kill Master Fang, steal the top spot on the leaderboard, sorry, wrong scene] Most viewers reacted as above, while Bi Fang could only helplessly roll his eyes. With so many species in the world, it was impossible for him to know every single one, even with the red-level Wilderness Survival Skill; it probably wasn¡¯t achievable to that extent. Unless he activated the Biological Identification skill specifically for marine life. ¡°There are hundreds of squid species in the ocean; how could I possibly recognize every single one?¡± You¡¯re eating it even though you don¡¯t recognize it? The audience was even more surprised. Weren¡¯t they afraid of eating something poisonous? Many people had heard about things like the blue-ringed octopus, a single one of which could poison dozens of people, secreting a neurotoxin a thousand times more powerful than cyanide! ¡°Surviving in the wild doesn¡¯t mean you have to be familiar with every creature; you need to use our intelligence.¡± Bi Fang tapped his head, highlighting a significant difference. Previously, he hadn¡¯t encountered species that were difficult to identify, so this aspect had not been exposed, leading the audience to form a stereotype: eat only what you know, don¡¯t eat what you don¡¯t know. ¡°Regarding the squid, there¡¯s an important point to note: there is only one species of poisonous squid, and that¡¯s the Flame Squid.¡± Bi Fang picked up the piece of squid in his hand and gave it a shake, ¡°You can tell from the name, this one is obviously not it.¡± Indeed. The audience nodded in agreement, the squid that Bi Fang had caught looked much like the ones they usually ate, with only slight differences. As Bi Fang suggested, it could be a species of Spear Squid. ¡°In Wilderness Survival, you don¡¯t need to remember which of the more than three hundred kinds of squid are edible, you just need to remember which ones are not. Otherwise, you¡¯d foolishly try to memorize over three hundred species, wouldn¡¯t that exhaust you to death?¡± Thinking about a problem from a different angle can make it much simpler. Moreover, squids are not protected animals, and the few rare kinds are deep-sea squids, which even Bi Fang would not be able to catch. ¡°Then there¡¯s the issue of parasites. Many people think that saltwater has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, so they believe there are fewer parasites on sea fish. How is that possible? Sea fish have no fewer parasites than freshwater fish; in fact, there are even more. The most resource-rich place in the world is the ocean, where the earliest cells appeared. Marine biodiversity far exceeds that on land, and the marine ecosystem is very complete, so there are definitely a lot of marine parasites. You have this misconception solely because of osmotic pressure. Marine parasites, being unable to adapt to the osmotic pressure inside the human body, have a much lower survival rate compared to freshwater ones. The infection rate is lower, creating the false impression that there are fewer marine parasites.¡± As he spoke, Bi Fang began gnawing on the squid. Without fire, he could only eat it raw, and squid happened to have fewer parasites, making them somewhat safe to eat uncooked. To tell the truth, the squid wasn¡¯t very tasty¡ªextremely fishy, with a faint stench. Bi Fang suspected that it was because of its unpalatable taste that it hadn¡¯t made it to the dining table, which is why he didn¡¯t recognize it well. Had he fire, he certainly would have chosen to cook the food immediately. But such hope depended on finding an island. ¡°So everyone should try to eat cooked food whenever possible. In the ¡®Three Kingdoms,¡¯ Chen Deng died because he liked to eat raw fish slices. And the descriptions in the historical records are truly horrifying. When Hua Tuo treated him, Chen Deng vomited three liters of worms, all wriggling with their red heads.¡± [??? Writhing red heads? What the heck?] [I¡¯m getting visuals here¡­] [It¡¯s just a ball of squirming worms, right? Ew!] Thinking about vomiting parasites from one¡¯s mouth, many viewers simply couldn¡¯t bear it, especially the red worms, which seemed like a clump of thin red earthworms emerging from one¡¯s organs. Bi Fang took another bite of squid flesh. The four squids greatly alleviated his survival predicament, giving him something to look forward to. If a person were an engine, then food would be the fuel. A good car needs good fuel, and this creature has very high protein content. The empty stomach of the Fish King had been idle for days, but now it was at work non-stop, breaking down food and delivering it to the intestines for absorption and digestion. The calories surged up quickly¡ªpure bliss! The cold in his limbs was driven away, and Master Bi, who had been tired all day, finally could rest well. He had no intention of saving any for later, devouring an entire squid. Only then was Bi Fang free to do more work, starting with the ink. Having cleaned the ink from his face, Bi Fang also gathered up excess ink scattered on the life raft, not much but better than nothing. Although the toxicity was low, the ink indeed had a brief paralyzing effect. Fishermen, after catching squids with a landing net, would let them squirt out the ink and then haul the catch aboard to prevent the ink from spraying on people, indicating its substantial effect. Bi Fang wasn¡¯t sure if it would be useful, but it¡¯s always better to be safe than sorry. The real issue, however, was the container. Bi Fang had no choice but to empty another squid and use its head as a temporary container to hold the ink, leaving the audience staring in bewilderment. All this done, sleepiness came over Bi Fang. Full and content, it was easy to get sleepy, and with night falling, it was time for bed. After a brief farewell, Bi Fang turned off his live stream. In the live stream room, footage of Bi Fang conquering the storm began to loop¡ªwaves piled upon waves, the tiny raft standing against the surf, fearless and Riding the Wind and Waves. A bunch of viewers stared in the live streaming room, big eyes watching small eyes. This was a new feature of Wolf Fang, where the stream wouldn¡¯t go to a black screen after the host signed off but instead looped over previous exciting moments. It took several minutes for the Shuiyou to realize the live stream had ended, and they departed reluctantly, still longing for more. Inside the helicopter, Jerret sat in the lead seat, flipping through the ratings report with a serious expression, while Pondy, the director of photography, the four-member team, and others around him all looked pleased. However, as the person in charge had yet to speak, they could barely suppress their eagerness to talk. After Jerret finished reading in detail, his expression became even more solemn, his hands trembling slightly, leading one to wonder if he was showing early signs of Parkinson¡¯s. The day¡¯s highest rating was 3.6%, with an average rating of 3.1%. Such a performance¡­ Could it be, could it be that their show was this popular? Such average ratings of 3.1% for a new show without any reputation to speak of was incredibly exaggerated, wasn¡¯t it? ¡°` The most important thing is that today¡¯s broadcast has already squeezed into the top ten of the hot broadcast list, which is simply an unbelievable feat. Had it been on a more popular channel, it might have even made it into the top five. This kind of adventurous TV program has completely hit the G-spot of foreign youths. Storms, squid fishing without bait, and survival at sea, put them all together and it¡¯s simply exhilarating, alright? These days, every TV channel faces internet pressure, which has snatched away a large portion of the television audience, leaving TV increasingly vulnerable, like a weak chicken. The Discovery Channel has been thinking creatively, and achieving such a great result undoubtedly proves everyone¡¯s capabilities. But could he create such great results in the future? Jerret shook his head with a smile and stopped dwelling on this matter. Either way, today was definitely a day for celebration. He looked around and, leading by example, exclaimed, ¡°Well done!¡± Everyone cheered loudly. Pondy looked at Jerret, and upon receiving a nod, immediately brought out the supply box and distributed cans of food. Each person got several, and with canned goods in hand, everyone was even more excited. Due to their location, even though they could not end up like Bi Fang with nothing to eat, they were only able to get a fixed amount of compressed biscuits, canned food, and the like every day. After three continuous days, they were quite tired of it, so having a canned food feast was indeed wonderful. As for Bi Fang, there was nothing to be done; he couldn¡¯t join the celebration. Allowing him to eat would be cheating. They would have to wait until his live broadcast ended, and then everyone would find a nice place to have a big meal together. After all, he was the biggest project! The next morning, Bi Fang opened his eyes, squinted for quite some time against the piercing sunlight before gradually adjusting. It was another day with beautiful weather. How long had he slept? Was it nine or ten o¡¯clock? It seemed like he had slept for over ten hours because of the exhaustion from the day before. Just waking up, Bi Fang was still a bit groggy, but based on the sun¡¯s position, he estimated the time roughly. He rubbed his head; the headache was still there but not as intense. The good news was that Bi Fang did not catch a cold. Honestly, with the extent of yesterday¡¯s rain, he had braced himself for a cold, or even a fever, but fortunately, none had come. It seemed that the training had been very effective, Bi Fang thought to himself. The underwater training device gifted by the system also had temperature control. More than once, Bi Fang swam in zero-degree water, and with nearly a week of adaptability training, his tolerance was still very high. And the moment Bi Fang woke up, the director of photography, who had been monitoring the camera, wanted to start the live broadcast immediately. But Bi Fang waved at the camera, then took down the drone that was docked atop the tent, stuffed it inside, stood up from the zipper entrance, and completely blocked the camera¡¯s view. The director of photography was momentarily stunned, but quickly realized what Bi Fang was about to do. When nature calls. Seeing this, he didn¡¯t rush to start the live broadcast, waiting a few minutes until everything was done. Then, under Bi Fang¡¯s direction, he began the live stream. Following routine, Bi Fang greeted everyone and started today¡¯s broadcast. [Is Old Fang being lazy today? It¡¯s already half-past nine and he¡¯s just starting the live broadcast. I¡¯ve been waiting for over an hour, refreshing Wolf Fang waiting for you to start!] [Add one, I¡¯ve also been waiting a long time.] [You must make it up to us! Extra broadcast tonight!] [Right! You must compensate with an extra broadcast, otherwise, we¡¯ll just stay in the live streaming room and not leave!] [Staying and not leaving? Wolf Fang¡¯s boss would wake up laughing from his dream. Please, stay a bit longer.] Bi Fang just laughed and said nothing more; he had a lot to do. Processing the squid could wait, and although the sun was out, the temperature was still not high. The squid would be preserved for two to three days without any problem, and afterwards, he¡¯d have to consider drying them for storage. Next were the four squid bones; they were truly good stuff, genuine ¡°hard goods¡±. ¡°I should be thankful that what I caught were squids, not octopuses. If they were octopuses, they wouldn¡¯t have this hard ¡®bone,¡¯ instead, there would be something like a soft plastic, which wouldn¡¯t be very useful to me. But squid bones are different; they are actually quite hard.¡± Bi Fang picked up two squid bones and clacked them together, making a bony clacking sound, proving indeed some hardness. ¡°Even though squids are invertebrates, they have a bone-like internal shell, which has a specific term known as ¡®sea piaoxiao¡¯. Of course, a squid¡¯s bone-like internal shell is different from the bones of humans and many other animals, and it¡¯s not what people usually understand as bones. Its main component is calcium carbonate.¡± Calcium carbonate? ¡°` Chalk? Isn¡¯t it the kind that snaps easily? ¡°Exactly, it¡¯s chalk, but the structure of this squid bone is different, its unique structure gives it a lot of tenacity. Just looking at its hardness and toughness, it¡¯s a pretty good material. It can be used in medicine and also crafted into jewelry. So, I¡¯m planning to grind it into a fish hook¡­¡± Bi Fang gripped a fish bone and snapped it forcefully, quickly breaking it into two pieces. But that wasn¡¯t all; he snapped it two more times, dividing the fish bone into four segments. While the snap hook is metal and has much better hardness and toughness than squid bone, the only problem is that it¡¯s too small. It can attract squid and other small creatures, but if I were to catch anything else, it would be at most the size of my palm. The fish bone was split into four; next was the sanding. Without tools, I¡¯d have to use the material itself. Bi Fang used one fish bone to grind down another. Bone powder fell like drizzle, and the process was quite fast. It didn¡¯t take long for the rudimentary shapes of two fish hooks to appear. The newly made fish hooks were significantly larger than the previous ones and very sturdy. Their overall shape resembled a boat anchor, thin at both ends and wide in the middle, a structure designed as much as possible to prevent the hook from breaking. After all, no matter how hard it was or how good its structure, it was still made of calcium carbonate, not quite up to par with real bones, let alone modern metal fish hooks. But it was definitely better than the snap hook. Strung with a squid tentacle, it might even catch something big. The audience watched with great excitement; we finally have tools! Is it time to show off what I¡¯ve got? About half an hour passed, and all four fish hooks were completed. Washing them in seawater, they were smooth and thick. One was about as big as a curved little finger, who knows how many times larger than the previous metal snap hook. Bi Fang couldn¡¯t wait to thread a squid tentacle onto a hook and toss it into the sea, waiting for a fish to bite. What came next, a long wait? No, Bi Fang made a move that took everyone by surprise. He¡¯s dismantling the tent! Has he gone mad? The audience couldn¡¯t comprehend what Bi Fang was doing. Why dismantle the tent? What will he do when it rains again? He hadn¡¯t taken it down even in a storm, so why dismantle it when the sun is shining? The screen was full of messages trying to dissuade Bi Fang, but he saw them and ignored them, continuing to disassemble the tent. The edges of the thing were seamlessly connected to the raft, and he had to be very careful while slashing with the fish hook to avoid damaging the raft itself and causing a leak. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For the past three days, Bi Fang had been making a mistake, which only became apparent after the storm yesterday inspired an epiphany. This morning Bi Fang had a vague realization of what the problem was. He subconsciously thought that a life raft was supposed to drift slowly, awaiting rescue, because there were no conditions to allow an inflatable life raft to navigate. Every survival guide says the same thing: stay put as much as possible, don¡¯t swim around, shoot flares or light fires, eat supplies, and wait for rescue. But Bi Fang overlooked one thing: was his goal to wait for rescue? Not at all! He had to survive for twenty-one days and try to find land in that period! He had no supplies, no flares, no fire starters, everything depended on him. Then why not take the initiative to move forward, in search of a continent or an island? A violent storm had left him clueless about where he had drifted. If Bi Fang hadn¡¯t held down the tent back then, the strong winds and waves could have made him drift dozens of kilometers. The life raft could move forward; it just needed some simple conditions. Bi Fang was going to use the tent, As a sail! Chapter 237: 234 Plan Through Chapter 237: Chapter 234 Plan Through With the addition of a sail, the speed of the liferaft¡¯s drift noticeably quickened. The waves buoyed the light raft, carrying it far away, especially during strong winds, when it could cover at least dozens of kilometers a day. Based on Bi Fang¡¯s earlier judgment, the production team had dropped him in the North Atlantic, so he should drift eastward to have a greater chance of encountering land. ¡°To determine direction at sea, one mainly relies on a compass. Without a compass, one can only rely on the sun or the stars, and if you have a watch, we can use the watch and the sun to determine direction. There are many methods to use a watch to gauge direction. The simplest one is to lay the watch flat and align the hour hand with the sun. The line that bisects the angle of less than 180 degrees between the hour hand and the 12 o¡¯clock on the watch dial points to the south.¡± Here we go, it¡¯s time for Master Fang¡¯s show-off time again. The audience perked up their ears, wanting to know how to determine direction on the open sea when there is nothing to rely on. The situation seems even worse than the desert, at least in the desert you can rely on the dunes for direction. ¡°Of course, at sea, you can¡¯t be sure you¡¯re level, so other methods must be used, which are a bit more complicated¡­¡± The Earth rotates 360 degrees in 24 hours, 15 degrees per hour, and the hour hand of a watch generally moves twice as fast as the sun. Based on this principle, you can roughly determine the direction using a watch and the sun. At 6 in the morning, the sun is roughly in the east, casting shadows towards the west. At this time, point the hour hand of your watch towards the sun, and the ¡°12¡± on the dial will point west. If you rotate the dial 90 degrees, halving 6 o¡¯clock, so the ¡°3¡± on the dial faces the sun, the ¡°12¡± will then point north. At noon, when the sun is in the south, halve 12 o¡¯clock so that the ¡°6¡± on the dial faces the sun, the ¡°12¡± still points north. At other times, change the time accordingly, and the effect is the same. ¡°The above methods are only suitable north of the Tropic of Cancer. If south of the Tropic of Cancer, align the direction of the sun with the 12 o¡¯clock on the dial, and the midpoint between the hour hand and 12 o¡¯clock points north. Also, pay attention to the time zone issue; if you don¡¯t know, you can spend a whole day confirming the time of the sun¡¯s rise and set, then adjust your watch accordingly.¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t have a watch, unless you tell me the time, and it has to be friends from Europe.¡± No sooner had Bi Fang¡¯s voice fallen than a barrage of comments appeared, all from time-reporting birds. ¡°No need, besides these methods, we can also determine our direction by judging the wind direction based on our location,¡± Bi Fang chuckled and shook his head; they had underestimated him¡ªwithout tools, he couldn¡¯t be stumped. The grand master of geography, Fang, made his entrance once again. Beyond tools, wind direction is the best teacher for navigation. Sometimes the sea will blow winds according to the season. Especially in the monsoon climate zones, in summer, because the temperature of the sea is lower than the land, the atmospheric pressure over the sea is higher than on land, causing winds to blow from the sea towards the land; in winter, because the land temperature is lower than the sea, the atmospheric pressure over land is higher than over the sea, causing winds to blow from the land towards the sea. One quarter of the Earth¡¯s surface can be defined as having a monsoon climate, and the North Atlantic, being close to Europe, is no exception. Moreover, there is a famous ocean current here, the North Atlantic Current, which spans almost the entire ocean. Even without wind, following the direction of the current could also lead you to the European continent. All was clear, with food, bone hooks, and now a sail, Bi Fang was in high spirits and couldn¡¯t wait to set sail, conquering the sea by following the wind direction. As the strong wind blew, the canvas swiftly bulged, and the waves carried the liferaft flying towards the distance, with fish hooks unable to sink into the sea, likewise drifting on the surface. It could actually go this fast! The audience was dumbfounded¡ªwere they sure this thing wasn¡¯t a speedboat? It looked inflatable on the surface, but was there actually an engine installed beneath the raft? Luckily, the strong wind lasted only for a while, and the speed of the liferaft gradually slowed, no longer so exaggerated. Bi Fang braced his hands against the tent, letting it face into the wind. He hadn¡¯t cut the tent completely open; the bout of strong wind earlier nearly tore it apart at the seams, showing the force of the wind. Transforming the tent into a sail proved to be a success. Compared to two days before, without a sail, he clearly felt he was closer to the mainland. The reason was the sea water that had a slight change in color, though, to the audience, it all looked one color, hardly discernible for any deeper change. Using the color of the sea water to determine depth isn¡¯t really friendly toward those with color blindness or color weakness, is it? Bi Fang did not dismantle the entire tent, but rather half of it, leaving enough to firmly secure the tent. If it rained again, he just needed to hold on tight to both sides to stay secure. The audience was captivated by Bi Fang maneuvering the liferaft; his streamlined arms pulled against the tactile canvas, with occasional cool seawater splashing over his feet, as he sailed swiftly across the ocean. By noon, Bi Fang sat down to rest and supplement his nutrition, grabbing the third squid to eat and occasionally tearing off some horsetail kelp for a balanced meat and vegetable diet, to avoid constipation. By this point, except for the last squid used as a container, all three had gone into his stomach. Bi Fang didn¡¯t entertain the idea of saving food because, aside from the four squids, he had made some catches in the past two days¡ªtwo North Atlantic mackerels! That¡¯s right, the same type of fish Bi Fang had encountered before! What a twist of fate! As if knowing he had grown tired of squid, they had made the long journey from the North Sea, especially for him. Both mackerels were the size of Bi Fang¡¯s forearm, caught yesterday as he passed through a certain sea area. These fish like to school, so Bi Fang stayed in that spot. Unfortunately, he wasn¡¯t very lucky and only managed to catch two by nightfall. But no matter, two were enough to last him for three days. The mackerels were fatty and tender, with a fat content much higher than that of the squid, providing even more energy when eaten. Wiping the corner of his mouth, Bi Fang fished out the hook with an experimental mindset and found there was another catch. A little hairfin anchovy! Hey, his luck was picking up. The fish wasn¡¯t big, only about ten centimeters, much smaller than the mackerels, but Bi Fang was still grinning from ear to ear. Since catching the squid and obtaining bait, his ¡°sea fishing¡± venture had been smooth sailing, and he had been catching fish day after day, with no need to worry about food. More importantly, this situation was only going to get better. Both mackerel and hairfin anchovy had blood in them, as well as internal organs with a strong, pungent smell, making them more suitable for fishing. Perhaps he might even catch bigger fish in the future, like the North Atlantic salmon, the kind that could feed him for days! [It¡¯s over, Old Fang has found good food again.] [Damn it, did he come up here to stock up?] [What kind of fish is that?] [The king of sea fishing,] [Eh, I think I¡¯ve seen it, they seem to sell it at our local market.] Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Yes, hairfin anchovy is the foreign name for it. In our country, we call it a spring fish, which sounds much nicer. This fish is delicious and widely distributed, making it a great economic species.¡± Bi Fang quickly lowered the fish hook again. Hairfin anchovies are schooling fish that are also very active, and they feed frequently even in winter, on small shrimp and plankton, hoping to catch more. What¡¯s critical is that this fish is excellent bait. Cod, whales, seals, dolphins, sharks, tuna, and squids all like to eat it, having no ¡®fish rights¡¯ so to speak. [Wow, does that indirectly mean this fish is especially tasty?] [Clear logic, well-founded, flawless¡ªworth a try.] [It¡¯s pretty delicious, my mom buys it often.] The tentacles of the last squid had been completely peeled off, and it wasn¡¯t every time that Bi Fang could catch a fish successfully; often he would pull up the line to find the hook had snapped or the bait was gone. Previously, to catch the mackerels, he had used two cuttlebones and eight squid tentacles. Afterward, Bi Fang no longer used cuttlebones to fashion fish hooks but real bones instead. The jawbones of those two mackerels were harder and more resilient than the cuttlebone. However, this time Bi Fang didn¡¯t spend too much time fishing. After catching three hairfin anchovies and feeling it was enough, he packed up and left. Staying in the area, teeming with many animals¡¯ bait, could easily result in encounters with animals he couldn¡¯t handle, like large sharks. With this in mind, Bi Fang quickly set up his tent and continued forward, pushed by the strong wind. The great wind starts to rise. But what no one noticed was that shortly after Bi Fang left, a huge shadow moved under the water and opened its mouth wide, violently gulping down the school of hairfin anchovies. ¡°Pfft!¡± ¡°Whew, refreshing!¡± Bi Fang, hands on hips, was slightly tanner than a week ago, but his eyes sparkled brightly, looking energetic and lively. Days at sea had given him the likeness of a seafarer, and perhaps in a few more days, he would be even darker. Facing the chilly sea breeze, Bi Fang didn¡¯t feel cold at all. Having just eaten, his body was warm all over, completely unfazed by the cold wind. Moreover, the King Fish¡¯s Stomach digested the food very cleanly, rapidly generating heat. ¡°` Indeed, it was because of his stomach that Bi Fang was able to eat raw food without hesitation; otherwise he would have undoubtedly tried to minimize the risk, such as by drying the fish to make jerky, which, despite its inferior taste and still not being 100% safe, would significantly reduce the danger. ¡°Truly, the most difficult part of a survival mission is actually the first few days. When you¡¯re new to an environment, your mentality and body can¡¯t adapt, and you lack sufficient resources to gain a survival advantage. But once you get through the initial days, you¡¯ll find that survival isn¡¯t as difficult as you thought,¡± he said. On the sixth day of ocean survival, everything started to look up. The mainland was getting closer, and there was even a possibility of encountering land within twenty-one days. Moreover, the closer one got to shore, the greater the likelihood of finding an island. Bi Fang categorized the difficulties of survival into different levels. For survival missions lasting twenty days or a month, the hardest part was the first week. After that, if no accidents happened, the chances of survival would be very high. Of course, that probability was based on not just barely scraping through the first seven days. If the first week was spent fighting hunger, then it was highly likely that each day would be harder than the last¡ªthe so-called ups and downs, downs, downs, downs¡­ Oh, without even the ups, just downs. If the survival time were extended, the second difficult period would probably come in the second month when one would face nutritional and psychological problems. Prolonged high-stress survival could lead to mental breakdowns. If you can get through all that, then you¡¯re indeed a natural talent with a strong will and rich experience. You just need to deal with immediate diseases and the psychological stresses of prolonged isolation. After riding the waves for a few hours, evening approached. The setting sun spread out, casting a layer of somber deep red over the winter ocean. The waves rose and fell, reflecting dazzling light, as if sprinkled with crushed gold. Bi Fang squinted his eyes, preparing to put down the tent for rest, when suddenly he noticed a hazy shadow in the distance. What is that? Bi Fang got up to look, trying to see more clearly, but the direction was directly facing the sunset, making it glaring and blurry. The production team also noticed Bi Fang¡¯s unusual behavior and quickly sent a drone up, following his line of sight to film, while zooming in on the image. The audience in the live broadcast grew curious and, as the picture became clearer, many of them opened their mouths in surprise. It was actually an island!!! [It¡¯s an island!] [Old Fang! It¡¯s an island!] [Damn, damn, damn, it¡¯s an island!] [Old Fang hit the jackpot!] The barrage was as overwhelming as a tsunami, nearly all of it focused on the appearance of the island. The platform quickly sent out a notification, which read: On the sixth day of drifting at sea, an island was discovered! Upon receiving the notification, more curious viewers flooded in like a tide. The number of viewers surged, and before long, it broke two million globally, excluding those watching on television. To encounter an island while drifting at sea! What incredible luck! As Bi Fang had mentioned, the person who survived more than a hundred days at sea had never encountered one! Peter¡¯s mouth fell open, unable to believe that Master Fang had found an island in just six days. His idol lived up to his reputation! Incredible! Bi Fang was equally shocked inside, realizing he was the blind cat that chanced upon a dead rat ¡ª stumbling upon a small island purely by accident. Blessed by the goddess of luck.jpg! Without any hesitation, Bi Fang quickly adjusted the sail¡¯s direction, heading toward the island, but before he could reach it, the wind started to die down; by nightfall, he was still a good distance away from the island. What the hell, why is the wind suddenly gone? Where¡¯s the energy from the storm? Did it run out of steam so quickly? Bi Fang was slightly annoyed; just when he needed wind, there was none, but a storm would come when he was exhausted, right? With no other choice, Bi Fang lowered the sail and started paddling toward the island with his hands. They say ¡®hope to see a mountain run dead horse¡¯ ¨C it¡¯s spot on, and looking at the island might as well kill Bi Fang. After paddling most of the day, Bi Fang collapsed inside the life raft, nearly sticking his tongue out and rolling his eyes back: ¡°I can¡¯t do it, I¡¯m about to die of exhaustion!¡± ¡°` [How can you stop now!] [Master Fang, get a move on! The island is right there!] [Starting only with a life raft, all equipment is scavenged] [What are you doing, Master Fang!] [Don¡¯t stop now!] Bi Fang almost vomited blood when he saw the barrage of comments. He had been paddling for nearly a kilometer by now, the equivalent to running three to five kilometers, and his arms were incredibly sore. But the island was so close; how could he possibly give up? After a brief rest, Bi Fang quickly gathered his strength and continued paddling. The sun had completely set, and only by the stars in the sky could he barely discern his direction, which was also very difficult. It was easy to drift off course unintentionally. Bi Fang paddled and worried at the same time, fearing he might be going in the wrong direction. Fortunately, he had the audience to help him, and he could also cheat a little by using night vision mode to observe the direction of the island. Three hours later. ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t go on.¡± Bi Fang curled up inside the life raft like a dead dog, tongue lolling out, his body sweating profusely, a few hundred meters away from the island, he just couldn¡¯t paddle any longer. Whoever said paddling was easy was clearly exhausted from it. Don¡¯t say paddling is easy ever again! Paddling is actually the most exhausting! [How can a man admit defeat?] [You¡¯re giving up already? No way, no way, can¡¯t believe someone can¡¯t swim a few more kilometers!] [Just a few more kilometers, Old Fang what are you doing, get up and keep paddling!] Bi Fang was too weak to argue, now so tired he couldn¡¯t even utter a complete sentence and lay motionless as if asleep, until half an hour later when he suddenly woke up. It¡¯s over, I almost fell asleep, don¡¯t get freaking swept away by the waves! Bi Fang got a shock, hurriedly got up, only to find that the waves had carried him closer to the island. Only a dozen meters left! Yay! Although he was very happy, Bi Fang, approaching the island, didn¡¯t rush ashore. Instead, he surveyed the surrounding environment to prevent any rocks from tearing the life raft, which would be a major loss. Then, under the faint moonlight, Bi Fang was finally able to make out the shape of the island. The island was very small, extremely small¡ªto what extent? Approximately the size of a villa¡¯s plot¡­ [Such a tiny island¡­] [I¡¯m afraid there are no animals on this island, right?] [I doubt it] [It¡¯s hardly habitable for humans] But even if the island was small, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t disappointed. It was a stroke of great fortune to encounter an island at all; some drift for over a hundred days without seeing one, and he had found one in six days¡ªit was sheer dumb luck. Of course, it might also be due to being close to the mainland. The chance of encountering an island in the open sea depths is slim to none, but close to the mainland, the number of islands significantly increases. Bi Fang was content because the island had trees! If you can¡¯t stay, turn it into a supply station. Trees = tools = improved living environment = greater chance of survival ¡Ì Plan approved. Chapter 238: 235: Grilled Seafood Plan Chapter 238: Chapter 235: Grilled Seafood Plan ¡°` The tide churned, and the white froth of the waves washed ashore. Bi Fang dragged the life raft onto the beach with difficulty, his entire body creaking as if at its limit, yet his spirit was extremely excited as he forcibly kept going, dragging the raft ashore. It¡¯s so hard, I¡¯m really having a tough time. Bi Fang was drenched in sweat; it was one difficulty after another, a real test of strength¡­ He had manned the sail for a whole day and was just about to rest when he spotted the island. Then he paddled for several kilometers and had to hurry to drag the life raft ashore to prevent it from being carried away by the currents. Bi Fang even started to wonder if he would pee blood tomorrow. His saliva was as sticky as glue. Bi Fang covered his wildly pounding heart, spat out a mouthful, then untied the towel knot, stuck his head inside to moisten his lips, tongue, and throat before taking small sips. After retieing it, Bi Fang, looking as if a fairy had drained his vitality, threw his head back and collapsed onto the beach, with the foam-like waves kissing his feet. [No way, he¡¯s done already? Can¡¯t someone swim a few kilometers? Isn¡¯t this a sign of weak kidneys?] [Damn, where is this? I¡¯ve only been gone for three hours, and Master Fang has already stormed the beach?] [I just got the notification and thought it was fake, but he actually hit an island, what luck!] [Wu Hu! Taking off!] [This is so thrilling! My uncle, who¡¯s been paralyzed for years, saw this video and immediately jumped out of bed, running on the walls, and has been missing ever since.] [Is Old Fang not moving anymore?] [Yeah, what¡¯s going on?] The audience thought Bi Fang was just lying down to rest, but after discussing for over ten minutes, it seemed Bi Fang had no intention of getting up. Is there a problem? Jerret frowned, realizing this was not a simple matter and quickly asked the director of photography to bring the drone closer. As soon as it flew near his head, the faint sounds of snoring became clear. Pondy and Jerret looked at each other. He¡¯d actually fallen asleep¡­ Bi Fang felt he had a nightmare, in which because of his increasingly strong physique, he was spotted by a coach and taken to participate in an athletic meet, aiming to bring glory to his country. After running a marathon and with the triathlon short on people, he, unrested, was conscripted and pushed into the water to start swimming¡­ ¡°Holy shit, blood, it¡¯s blood!¡± Bi Fang suddenly woke up with a cold sweat on his back. He widened his eyes and looked around in a daze, realizing he was on a beach and not on a race track, and he hadn¡¯t fainted in the bathroom. ¡°It was just a dream.¡± Bi Fang held his head, feeling even more exhausted. His arm muscles were sore and swollen, and after struggling to recall for a while, he realized he had fallen on the beach and fallen asleep straight away last night? ¡°Boss, he¡¯s awake!¡± Third Brother, who was constantly monitoring the screen, immediately noticed Bi Fang¡¯s awakening and quickly summoned the director of photography and Jerret. Watching Bi Fang, still somewhat bewildered on the screen, they waited until Bi Fang came to and nodded, before the live broadcast resumed. As soon as the stream started, the Shuiyou flooded in. [Damn, he just got to the island yesterday, and he f*cking fell asleep, making my hemorrhoids burst.] [It¡¯s so uncomfortable being half in, half out. Can we get something exciting?] [What is this aggressive language? Can we keep it civil? There are kids in the live stream, you know.] [Run away with Master Fang overnight] ¡°` Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but laugh and cry as he mustered the energy to greet everyone, then hurriedly continued to tug the life raft further up. ¡°I almost got a fright this morning when I woke up because I fell asleep without pulling the life raft all the way ashore yesterday. I was really worried it might get carried away by the waves overnight. If you ever find yourself in this situation, be extremely careful. Not only must you keep the life raft from being touched by the waves, but you should also maintain a distance of at least three meters to prevent it from being swept away by the high tide at night.¡± Heaving the life raft onto the shore, Bi Fang wiped off the semblance of sweat from his hand. Although he hadn¡¯t slept well, it was more of a mental exhaustion, and his physical strength was quite recovered. It was just his upper arm muscles that were slightly sore. ¡°There¡¯s a lot to consider when hauling a boat ashore. It¡¯s not as simple as everyone thinks. First, you need to choose a good landing point that makes it easier for the boat to reach the shore or for you to be able to abandon ship and swim to land. Next, lower the sails if you have them, observe the rocks, anchor towards the shore to slow the boat down; of course, if you don¡¯t have an anchor, that¡¯s fine too. Remember not to land against the sunlight since it makes spotting rocks quite difficult, but using rocks we can take the time to adjust our direction.¡± As he explained, Bi Fang continued to drag the heavy life raft, which looked light but was actually quite heavy. If there were multiple choices, a sloping coast under the backwash is ideal, but the island was too small and there weren¡¯t any big waves, as the water just flowed directly down both sides. ¡°We have to seize the opportunity and advance with the waves to prevent getting overpowered or turned around by the waves coming at us. Moreover, we must exert all our efforts to reach shore swiftly and accurately because once the tide changes, it could pull you back into the sea. That¡¯s why I was so anxious yesterday. If the tide falls, the boat could be pushed back into the deep sea. This could cause the boat to take on water and become heavier, so make sure to tie yourself to the raft. Even if the boat capsizes and you¡¯re injured or unconscious, you¡¯ll still have a chance of survival; whereas alone in the waves, if you¡¯re swept towards the rocks, it¡¯s likely you¡¯ll lose your life.¡± ¡°If you really can¡¯t do it and have to abandon ship to swim to shore, it¡¯s very easy to collide with rocks in the turbulent sea. We could wear more clothes to cushion the impact, and it¡¯s better if you have a life jacket. When rushing towards rocks, lift your feet in front of you to take the brunt of the force on the soles of your feet. Bend your knees to absorb the shock.¡± [Men can¡¯t say they can¡¯t!] [Is getting ashore really that hard? Why do I feel like Old Fang is doing it rather easily?] [Idiot, obviously Old Fang scoped out the place with his eyes, a master at landing on shore.] Bi Fang, who had pulled the life raft ashore, stood up. He looked at the small island beneath his feet and was truly moved by his good fortune. Not only were there no reefs surrounding it, allowing him to drag the boat ashore smoothly, but the island also had a few trees, which were extremely rare. ¡°I¡¯ve always stressed that the North Atlantic is windy, and many trees don¡¯t grow well before they¡¯re prone to being snapped by strong winds, making it very difficult for trees to thrive. But not only did these grow, they have formed a small grove.¡± Bi Fang walked around the small island, a short journey measured in minutes. Although small and unlikely to host any wildlife, a careful count revealed that this island, less than three hundred square meters in area, actually had twenty-three trees! All are good materials! Bi Fang¡¯s eyes gleamed, and he was all but drooling. After drifting at sea for a week, he had had enough of having nothing at hand; it was as if someone had provided a pillow just as he was dozing off. And¡­ Bi Fang chuckled with a smirk, squinted his eyes, and said, ¡°Who was it that bet I couldn¡¯t find a tree stick again?¡± [!] [Careless of me, I didn¡¯t dodge it!] [Damn it, the host is shameless! Compensate my hard-earned Wolf Brush!] Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Damn it, there go my Wolf Brushes that I saved up for over ten years! All gone, just like that!] [Regret at leisure¡ªlove life, stay away from gambling!] [Slay Master Fang, loot the Wolf Brush! Here I come, and peace will reign once Wolf Fang has been secured!] In the first few days of drifting, viewers had suggested that the exploration stick that appeared in every live broadcast couldn¡¯t possibly show up again. A betting game was initiated, and in a matter of minutes, over a hundred thousand Wolf Brushes were amassed. By the time the betting closed, the number of Wolf Brushes reached a whopping million, marking the biggest betting game since the launch of the system! The odds for those who bet against it were one to eighteen; bet one stick to win eighteen! At that moment, the staff behind the scenes timely sent out the rewards. The staff were all very perceptive; such things didn¡¯t even need to be mentioned. If Bi Fang just bent down to pick up a stick, the Tree Stick would appear once again, proving the point more than words ever could, and the Tree Stick made a return yet again! [Hehehe, to refuse such courtesy would be disgraceful, indeed disgraceful.] [It¡¯s all thanks to the brothers elevating me, tearfully making eighteen times the profit, I¡¯m so bad.] [It¡¯s the first time my wallet is this bulging, I¡¯m a bit scared, should I hire a bodyguard?] The Shuiyou who received the rewards were extremely showy, and Bi Fang looked at them with the urge to hit them, not to mention the audience who lost the bet, of course, Wolf Brush itself wasn¡¯t worth much, it was just an entertainment section. However, the effect was still very good, for just a little money, the atmosphere was whipped up, and under the leadership of top broadcaster Bi Fang, Wolf Fang¡¯s development was getting better and better, not showing any signs of the decline it had experienced at the beginning. Instead, it was subtly beginning to overshadow Shark and Tiger Fang. It¡¯s said that employees were often seen looking at a picture of Bi Fang with a silly smile, wondering if they might even breathe on it and carefully place it on their office desk. Whether it¡¯s true or false¡­ Speaking of which, seems like the annual PK is about to start? When is it, does it start this afternoon? Bi Fang stroked his chin, looking at the active Shuiyou and suddenly remembered that it was indeed happening. It¡¯s a tradition in the live streaming circle, every year before the Chinese New Year there would be a giant week-long PK event, judging the popularity of the platform¡¯s broadcasters using a set of public data including viewership, donations, and barrage comments. In the past, this data was compared internally within the platform, but this year was a little different. The story goes back to when Bi Fang got his certificate; he learned that upper management intended to rectify the live broadcast platforms, and so this year they organized a joint event, where all broadcasters compete against each other, with data certified by a third party, no falsification allowed. If caught cheating, one would be blacklisted and banned from broadcasting for a month. For broadcasters who live off their popularity, this is a huge punishment. It¡¯s not strange for them to lose half their followers. This is the first step in upper management¡¯s rectification, a warning against data falsification by platforms. Who knows how many broadcasters couldn¡¯t break through because the platform deliberately suppressed their data, forcing them to sign a series of overbearing contracts. Bi Fang knew about this news half a month ago; Liu Qian told him over the phone. He remembered it, but because he had been busy fishing the past few days, he hadn¡¯t thought about it. Now that his livelihood was secure, it popped into his head again. All broadcasters ranking together? And he didn¡¯t feel the slightest bit of nerves; was this what they call ¡°lonely at the top¡±? Bi Fang felt his mental state wasn¡¯t right. Ever since Goose started migrating their broadcasts, the number of people watching his live streams had risen to at least several hundred thousand, which made him somewhat arrogant, no longer taking the PK seriously. To be honest, he, as a top broadcaster, was quite different from the top broadcasters of other platforms. If the top broadcasters of Shark and Tiger Fang were like precious sweaty horses, then Bi Fang was like a Golden-Winged Great Peng bird, grabbing hold of Wolf Fang and skyrocketing, a different level of prestige altogether. The flattery of other platform¡¯s broadcasters, no matter how hard they tried, couldn¡¯t compare to his greatness. After all, he was a global broadcaster, not only unseen but unheard of, a crushing blow from a higher dimension. When Bi Fang asked if the PK event was starting this afternoon, the audience all laughed. [Master Fang, are you worried about this? Are you underestimating yourself or us?] [Brothers, let the barrage fly, don¡¯t let the time limit affect your silly hearts!] [The event starts at 2 pm, it¡¯s only 9 am now, save your energy] [Master Fang is definitely going to be number one, but I still suspect foul play!] [If there¡¯s foul play, you get banned for a month, could you handle that?] [Damn, why is it that when Master Fang is banned, the viewers are the ones worried? What kind of logic is this? It¡¯s not logical at all!] ¡°Sigh!¡± Mo Xiaoxian was live streaming, pleading for support from his top patron when the PK officially starts in the afternoon. But as soon as he opened Bi Fang¡¯s live stream on his phone and saw the deluge of comments like tidal waves, he let out a little sigh. The sigh wasn¡¯t out of dejection, it was more of a sense of marvel. He had been the hottest broadcaster on Wolf Fang for three consecutive years, but now it seemed that today he had no choice but to step aside and possibly fight for second place. No, with all platforms combined in this event, he could only strive for the top ten. And there was no sense of unwillingness. To be honest, being first place was just a nominal title with no substantial benefits. At this point, what limited a broadcaster¡¯s growth was the platform¡¯s ceiling. The more users on the platform, the more fans one could attract. Bi Fang¡¯s arrival had forcibly raised this ceiling, and other Wolf Fang broadcasters all enjoyed the benefits. They were all thrilled, and they were more reluctant to see Bi Fang leave than anyone else. If it had been their past achievements, they probably wouldn¡¯t have made it into the top ten of the popularity list, but now they could contend for a spot, and all this was because of one person. In response to this, Mo Xiaoxian could only say, ¡°Master Fang, please step it up!¡± Aside from Mo Xiaoxian, the other Wolf Fang streamers felt the same way. If running a platform was like playing chess, then Wang Yongbo of Wolf Fang had undoubtedly made a divine move. Especially Bi Fang¡¯s ¡°big thigh¡± accessory, the well-known female sycophant of Wolf Fang, Yao Lina. If you knew Master Fang, you had to know his loyal sycophant, a woman who had followed him since Bi Fang¡¯s first live stream on Wolf Fang, without missing a single one. Because she was beautiful and generous, many people would join her live stream for fun after Bi Fang signed off. And as she kept on sycophantically courting, she went from a modestly famous streamer to a big-time broadcaster. Many people mocked her for licking ¡°thick leg hairs¡± off Master Fang¡¯s leg. Yao Lina didn¡¯t take it as a disgrace but as an honor. In her words: ¡°I licked it up with my own skills, if you¡¯ve got the guts, you lick it too!¡± Bi Fang chuckled and shook his head, no longer paying attention to the silly netizens, and turned to gather materials. The first thing to do, of course, was to make a fire. Having not eaten cooked food for a full seven days, he really missed the taste. Brimming with energy, Bi Fang started roaming around the island. The situation was pretty much as he had expected¡ªthe little broken island didn¡¯t have any animals, not even insects to be seen, just a few trees and grass. After looking around, he barely managed to gather the necessary materials for survival, but from Bi Fang¡¯s standpoint, they still weren¡¯t quite satisfactory. There was no choice but to make do. The classic Hand Drill Method. After preparing a hole in a rock and making some tinder, Bi Fang huffed and puffed as he began his grand plan for fire-making. The audience watched intently, having not seen Bi Fang use the Hand Drill Method since a long time ago. Last time he succeeded on his first try, so they figured it wouldn¡¯t be difficult this time either. Half an hour later. Dammit! ¡°It won¡¯t ignite!¡± Bi Fang threw the tree stick in his hand and began to doubt himself. [Master Fang has lost his touch] [Qilin Arm has regressed, haven¡¯t you been secretly getting a girlfriend behind our backs?] [Moderate, Master Fang, women only affect the speed of your Fire-Making by Wood-Drilling!] [Sister Na, come out, is it your fault?] [That¡¯s right, it¡¯s me! No more pretending, I lay my cards on the table.] Bi Fang, wordlessly choked, still explained the reason, ¡°The island is too small, the moisture too high, and my arms are still sore. I can¡¯t even drill up some char.¡± There was no flint stone on the small island either. Bi Fang frowned with concern. One glance at the small island told you what was there and what wasn¡¯t, and he was certain that there was no flint stone. Just regular rocks wouldn¡¯t produce sparks. No way, Bi Fang was determined, the charcoal-grilled seafood plan couldn¡¯t fall through! If hand drilling didn¡¯t work then bow drilling, if bow drilling didn¡¯t work then saw drilling, if saw drilling didn¡¯t work there was still pump drilling. He refused to believe that with so many skills, he couldn¡¯t start a fire. I¡¯m definitely seeing fire today! Charcoal-grilled seafood, wait for me! Chapter 239: 236 Raft Drifting Plan Chapter 239: Chapter 236 Raft Drifting Plan The ocean was very calm, radiating a warm yellow sunlight that made the shores glisten. Waves crashed ashore, leaving behind white foam. Bi Fang¡¯s palms were very slender. Although they were covered in thick calluses, they were clean and beautiful. Right now, these hands were holding a wooden stick, vigorously rubbing it against another piece of wood, sending a large quantity of wood shavings flying due to the friction. This was the second fire-making method Bi Fang resorted to after the failure of Fire-Making by Wood-Drilling, called the Fire Plough. This was the simplest method, completely reliant on the user¡¯s arm strength, involving a pointed stick being rubbed up and down in a groove on a wooden board. At the bottom of the groove, very fine wood shavings would appear, accumulating more and more until, eventually, when the temperature reached a certain level, they would ignite. Because of the continuous movement, a slight sweat formed on Bi Fang¡¯s nose. He dared not wipe it away for fear that, with even the slightest distraction, the heat he had so painstakingly gathered would dissipate once more. He had been rubbing for over ten minutes, his body heating up, even removing one of his coats. There were too few plants to choose from on the island, without the proper softness or hardness for making fire. Most of the trees were too hard, not well-suited for this use, and Bi Fang could only opt for the best of the worst, selecting materials that were barely suitable. At this moment, Bi Fang was in the center of the island, with his legs tightly gripping the wooden board to prevent it from swaying during the friction, lest the shavings in the groove scatter out, which would mean all his efforts had been in vain. A few more minutes passed with the viewers on edge, yet Bi Fang remained calm, rubbing to a certain rhythm. The Fire Plough was admittedly a tough process, but its advantage lay in its steadiness. The secret not only involved the technique of friction but also included maintaining a good state of mind. Having lived outdoors for most of the last half year, Bi Fang had long understood these truths. Finally, the heat transmitted through the wooden board to the skin of Bi Fang¡¯s legs, which invigorated his spirit and sped up the rhythm of rubbing, striking while the iron was hot. Here it comes! With the appearance of a faint white smoke, the viewers¡¯ spirits lifted, almost wishing they could replace Bi Fang to blow on the smoke to make it rise sooner. Watching the broadcaster make a fire was like watching a gamer get equipment. Although the process was repetitive, when the equipment finally dropped at that moment, the sense of satisfaction was immense! With the presence of smoke, the rest was much simpler. The wood groove gradually turned black, and viewers could visibly see the finest wood fibers begin to redden and vanish; they were on the verge of success, as real flames were about to emerge. First, the thinnest fibers vanished, followed by slightly thicker ones, and finally, large clumps of wood shavings began to glow red and scatter. Success! Seeing this, Bi Fang was no longer anxious. He quickly put down the wooden board and curved a piece of tree bark tanned into tinder into a nest shape on top of it. He then blew in large, slow breaths, allowing the air to make full contact with the embers. The light smoke turned to moderate smoke, and the moderate smoke thickened, transitioning from white to yellow. Sparks scattered, and a small flame emerged from the thick smoke, dancing enticingly, captivating all who watched. ¡°Finally found it!¡± Bi Fang wiped the sweat from his face with his hand and flicked it away. After striving for more than half an hour, he finally produced a flame. It wasn¡¯t easy. [Fire Ploughing, get¡Ì] [giaogiaogiao, there¡¯s fire! It¡¯s lit!] [Spread the word, matchless in haste, a role model for our kind!] [Isn¡¯t it time for some charcoal-grilled seafood?] [Charcoal-grilled seafood, I¡¯m drooling. Suddenly hungry, what to do?] Gazing at the gentle flames, Bi Fang¡¯s sense of achievement skyrocketed¡ªthe fruit of half an hour¡¯s labor. ¡°Ancient people used these primitive methods to make fire, relying on this skill for survival. When we learn this ancient skill, there¡¯s a special feeling, especially when after a long effort, you finally succeed in igniting the first spark. Even after making fire countless times, you still experience a special sense of accomplishment,¡± he said. [I¡¯m heading to the mountain to make fire by wood-drilling now] [Set the mountain on fire, and you¡¯ll sit in jail until it wears out!] [Then why can the host do it?] ¡°Don¡¯t learn from me, I have forest industry permission, not everyone can be treated the same,¡± Bi Fang said with a chuckle, genuinely afraid that some silly netizens would copy him. With the fire ready, the rest was easy, Bi Fang briefly processed the mackerel and skewered it on a stick before placing it over the fire to smoke and roast. In wilderness survival, fat is king, and any high-fat food can win Bi Fang¡¯s favor, with mackerel being among the best. Unlike sesame mackerel, the Atlantic mackerel is rich in fat: without needing extra oil, even simple grilling can make it glisten, especially in the winter when it accumulates fat, offering an incomparably succulent taste that shouldn¡¯t be missed. Watching the fish gradually change color and exude oil under the high heat, the fragrance eagerly rushed into his nostrils, and Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but swallow. How does that saying go, grilling might not be healthy, but it sure is delicious! S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having feasted on raw food for several days, Bi Fang watched the mackerel skin turn crispy, and without waiting for it to cook through, he couldn¡¯t resist tearing off a piece and hastily shoving it into his mouth. The scorching heat along with the unique salty aroma left by the evaporated seawater exploded on Bi Fang¡¯s taste buds like a culinary bomb! ¡°Ha!¡± Bi Fang opened his mouth, white steam billowing out as he quickly chewed twice and eagerly swallowed, feeling the scalding heat slide down his throat. ¡°Delicious!¡± [Mom, that looks so real, it feels like grilled saury!] [I can even hear the crispness of the fish skin, just like a biscuit] [Grilled fish skin, yyds!] [Old Fang knows how to live] Bi Fang laughed heartily, having tasted the delicious fish he couldn¡¯t hold back anymore, and quickly ate up the rest of the fish skin. His energy had depleted greatly from last night till today, and he urgently needed to eat. So, as soon as the surface was cooked, Bi Fang hurriedly consumed the flesh of the fish, even fashioning a pair of thin wooden sticks as chopsticks to enhance the satisfaction. After a week of hard work, a meal of charcoal-grilled seafood was indeed something to celebrate. By the time the fish was thoroughly cooked, nearly the whole fish had been devoured, and even the bones were not spared. Crisp from the grill, they were crunched up like crackers and gobbled down. After consuming an entire big fish, he was barely full. Energy replenished +10 Patting his belly, Bi Fang lay down on the shore to digest, with the warm sun shining on his slightly darkened face, making it look even more comfortable. [Wandering Desert Island ¡Á, vacation paradise ¡Ì] [Full belly, sipping drinks and bathing in the sun, oh how I envy this life] [Midnight gas attack, utterly foul!] [Um, midnight? Bro, where are you from? The time difference is so huge? It¡¯s only the afternoon here] [Hawaii] [I¡¯m throwing up a question mark with a backhand??] [What the hell is Hawaii? Are you on vacation? Can you say that with a clear conscience?] [Tears of Poverty Left Behind] He lay on the shore for a while, enjoying the sun and the sand, listening to the cascading sounds of the tide, comfortably stretched out, but he hadn¡¯t forgotten his mission: to survive twenty-one days on the island. Lying down wouldn¡¯t win him survival. The island was too small, offering nothing but plant life, unable to provide sustenance. One of the two big fish was eaten, the hairfin anchovy could not be consumed, as it needed to be kept for bait. This meant that Bi Fang¡¯s food reserves were down to just one squid and one fish, which once again made him feel uneasy. No food in hand, makes the heart fret. Thinking of this, Bi Fang sat up in alarm, scratched his head, and continued to wander around the island. Scavenging on the beach is very important, sometimes you can find many unexpected things. And as an adventurer with aspirations, he could not stay on a small island forever. If it were a large island, Bi Fang would have stayed, living out the remaining days, but it was doubtful whether this island even measured up to two hundred square meters. Bi Fang could at most consider this place a temporary base, his real desire was to find a continent, that would be truly ¡°Riding the Wind and Waves.¡± The evaluation of the mission would undoubtedly be higher, which was certain. With his previous experiences, Bi Fang had a clear understanding of the System¡¯s intent: it wanted him to take initiative. If he scraped by on every mission, that was undoubtedly problematic, severely affecting the speed of his growth. He was, after all, a man who aspired to climb Mount Everest! And in order to prepare for the coming days, Bi Fang needed to make complete use of everything available on the island, the first step was definitely to free up the squid container. Although the head of the squid could hold ink, it was not a long-term solution and easily scattered. Bi Fang needed a plastic bottle, and places like islands were very likely to accumulate marine trash. Especially plastic, which could last for decades or even a century. Many people in his previous life watched Bear Grylls and Grandpa De videos and often assumed that the plastic they picked up was placed there on purpose, but it wasn¡¯t. Plastic waste was already everywhere in the ocean. Bi Fang shook his head slightly and, after a thorough search of the entire island with his thoughts preoccupied, he indeed found two plastic bottles, the common soda bottles. Out of caution, he still washed them in the sea and filled them with the ink only after they were thoroughly cleaned. The remaining ink still clinging to the head of the squid was mixed with some sea water and poured in as well. Edible squid +1 With a slight increase in his food reserves, Bi Fang felt a bit more comforted, but more important tasks lay ahead. He had to build a raft! Build a raft? The audience was startled by this idea. [Why build a raft? Is Old Fang going to continue drifting?] ¡°Exactly,¡± Bi Fang nodded. ¡°I hope to find a real continent, not just linger in desperation on this tiny island with less space than a villa¡¯s footprint.¡± [Not surprised at all, I¡¯m used to it by now. Even now, if Old Fang tells me he¡¯s going to wrestle with a whale, I¡¯d think, is that all?] [I¡¯m familiar with the routine now, haha.] [Charge, motherfucker!] [Giaogiaogiao, Master Fang is the bomb!] ¡°Life rafts are really too unstable. Even a tiny hole can lead to the threat of sinking, and I definitely don¡¯t feel safe,¡± said Bi Fang, pointing to the life raft not far away. Many viewers nodded in agreement; indeed, forget about sharks¡ªif even a slightly larger fish bit into it, it could deflate the life raft and completely ruin everything, leaving no chance of recovery. But a raft was different. A well-constructed raft could effectively float on the sea surface, and even if it encountered a slightly larger shark, it wouldn¡¯t matter. In reality, unlike in the movies, Great White Sharks as depicted don¡¯t exist. Most of the time, they bite once to taste and leave if it¡¯s not to their liking. The life raft¡¯s fear was precisely that one bite. ¡°Building a sea raft depends on the materials you have on hand, the conditions of the waters where you¡¯ll be drifting, and how long you plan to be adrift. There is no fixed rule to follow here. With common sense, good tying skills, and some things that can create buoyancy, you can build a decent raft.¡± ¡°For this, we need to collect a sufficient number of logs or bamboo, roughly equal in length, and lay them out on the ground in the shape of the raft we want to build. At both ends of each log or bamboo, about 1 meter apart, carve a notch. Stack them on top of each other so that they exert ¡®pressure¡¯ on each other. If you¡¯re using bamboo, you can drill a hole to replace the notch. Thread the bamboo through these holes, which will ensure they are more tightly bound together.¡± Bi Fang squatted on the ground and began picking up stones. The island¡¯s resources were limited to these twenty-three big trees, but he didn¡¯t need that many. The trees were tall, and the trunk of each could be chopped into four or five sections. He figured he¡¯d have plenty of wood to spare with the thinner branches as well, and about five trees would suffice. If he were to chop down all of them, there would be no certainty that trees would grow on this island again. Without the big trees sheltering them, the saplings would struggle to thrive, but five wouldn¡¯t have an impact. Although it wouldn¡¯t have an impact, Bi Fang still silently apologized in his heart for the offense. For the grand plan of drifting away, he could only resort to cutting down trees. [How to chop down a tree, with a stone axe?] [This stone doesn¡¯t seem as good as flint, it¡¯s just the ordinary kind] ¡°It¡¯s pretty ordinary, but it¡¯s enough. Besides, I¡¯m not planning on making a stone axe.¡± Bi Fang tossed the stone he was holding. Stone axes were unreliable and hard to sharpen. Given the thickness of the trees, they were likely to break upon striking. But an axe that wasn¡¯t sharp was no use, so he planned to use a chisel to chop down the trees. All that was needed was a stone chisel and a stone hammer. Both were easy to craft. Tree bark was rich in fiber and could be twisted into a rope, tying a rock to one end of a tree stick would make a stone hammer. ¡°However, to make it sturdy, we need to process it a little more. First, we need to split one end of the stick, then wedge the stone inside. When tied up, it will be more secure.¡± Bi Fang stood the tree stick upright, aligning a sharp stone with one end, then knocked the stone against the tail end of the chisel. The stick cracked as he struck it; Bi Fang pried open the crack, wedged the stone inside, then tightly bound it with rope, creating a quality stone hammer. Swinging it a couple of times, Bi Fang nodded in satisfaction, finding it comfortable to handle. [Seeing Old Fang with a weapon in hand puts my mind at ease] [Top-tier lumberjack has logged in] [Charge, charge, charge!] With tools in hand, the great task of felling trees had begun. Bi Fang now marked a line at the base of a tree, then ground out a slot to secure the chisel. Standing up, he tapped it to position it, then raised the stone hammer and forcefully smashed it down onto the tail of the chisel! The originally unstable chisel instantly burrowed about a centimeter into the interior of the tree, becoming exceptionally secure. It seemed effective. Bi Fang nodded, his swings with the stone hammer grew more vigorous, whistling through the air with every blow. Once the chisel had sunk halfway in, he grabbed it and wiggled it from side to side to pull it out. ¡°When using this method to chop a tree, remember not to drive the chisel in more than half, or you¡¯ll have trouble pulling it out. About half is enough, then we switch to the other side and keep repeating the process a few times. The tree can then be chopped down.¡± Bi Fang angled the stick slightly, inserted it into the crack, and continued to swing the hammer as before. Soon, the base of the tree was riddled with splits, and the whole tree began to wobble. With a kick, it broke off and crashed down. The sound of the wooden stem snapping echoed, and the tall tree slowly fell to the ground, causing the whole island to tremble. As the spectators gazed at the fallen tree beneath their feet, they couldn¡¯t help but marvel. Was the efficiency really this high? Bi Fang wiped the sweat from his forehead and headed towards the second tree. Throughout the afternoon, the audience watched as Bi Fang chopped down trees, each one causing the entire island to shudder. After felling four trees, Bi Fang paused. He decided to start making something to see if four trees would be enough. Afterwards, he followed the same method to break down the trees into logs, each about two meters long. This process continued into the evening, and only then did Bi Fang officially obtain a pile of logs. With the prep work finished, the most important part was next. He was going to build a raft! Chapter 240: 337: Big Brother is a Craftsman Chapter 240: Chapter 337: Big Brother is a Craftsman Under the cover of night, Bi Fang worked up a sweat, his large hammer striking the logs repeatedly, striving to split them into uniformly sized timbers as soon as possible. There was one thing Bi Fang never mentioned to others, and that was his mild obsessive-compulsive disorder¡­ If the logs were of uneven lengths or the thickness varied too greatly, he would feel extremely uncomfortable and would end up spending more effort on this basis. However, doing so wasn¡¯t without purpose; if the logs were the right size, then the raft would naturally be sturdier, less likely to encounter any accidents. Yes, that¡¯s right, he was doing this for more safety, ¡°Wilderness Survivalist,¡± with Master Fang leading with stability! [Several days to chop a tree, I actually watched for a whole day, unbelievable.] [Old Fang could stand out as a part-time lumberjack, just what I need for home renovation. How much would it cost to hire Old Fang to make furniture?] [Big hammer eighty, small hammer forty.] [Wu Hu? That cheap (Dog¡¯s head emoji)] [Why does Old Fang strip all the bark off the trees?] ¡°Because I¡¯m going to use the bark to make ropes. Bark is a great source of plant fibers, which are essential for binding the raft together. Plus, plant fibers aren¡¯t afraid of water, they even become tougher when wet.¡± Bi Fang mustered his last bit of strength to lift the hammer high, then slammed it down mightily. A crisp cracking sound. The large tree at his feet broke in response. ¡°Phew, finally finished chopping them all.¡± Bi Fang wiped the sweat from his forehead, did not immediately sit on the ground to rest, but ran to check on the squid by the fire, finding it perfectly cooked with a tantalizing aromatic scent. He sat down nearby, began to eat the squid to replenish the day¡¯s energy expenditure, and took sips of bottled rainwater when thirsty. Life had taken on a completely new form compared to a few days earlier, resembling a poor farmer¡¯s march toward modest wealth. Completely comfortable. Having eaten his fill, Bi Fang started the braiding process. ¡°The best braiding material is actually shrubs, those kinds of plant stems, like nettles, but for us, bark is already sufficient. Even if we don¡¯t have enough, we can rely on quantity to ensure our raft is both sturdy and stable.¡± Bi Fang pointed towards a large pile of bark on the ground, more than enough for him to bind the entire raft three times over using the standard technique, without wasting a bit. Making the rope wasn¡¯t complicated. Bi Fang first picked up a piece of intact bark, removed the woody parts, then scraped off the fibrous surface layer with a stone, which did not increase the fiber¡¯s strength but instead made it more brittle. Finally, he rubbed the complete plant fibers in his hands until they became soft and pliable. ¡°Before we start braiding, we need to ensure that the fibers don¡¯t get wet, otherwise the ropes we¡¯ve made will shrink, causing them to become loose.¡± Bi Fang took a bundle of fibers, tied one end together to secure it, then divided it into three strands. He moved the left strand to the middle, placed the right strand on top, moved the current left strand to the middle again, and continued weaving in a process that looked somewhat like braiding hair. ¡°This method of making ropes is called plaited braiding. You divide the thread into three strands and braid them together to form a thicker, stronger rope. To extend the length, you can stagger the strands and add new fibers. When making ropes in this way, the strands should be as tight and smooth as possible. If you lack experience, you could also make ropes by hand-twisting.¡± ¡°Besides this, there are other methods, such as the twisting method. You combine plant fibers and twist them, the direction doesn¡¯t matter, as long as you maintain a consistent direction because we¡¯re short on time, I won¡¯t demonstrate this here.¡± As he spoke, Bi Fang was already lifting the rope in his hands to show the audience through the camera lens, and to their surprise, you couldn¡¯t even tell that the rope was handmade; it looked no different from the ropes they were used to seeing, and might even appear more attractive because it was handcrafted. ¡°There¡¯s no particular trick here; with a few more attempts you might all be able to do it, and girls who enjoy tying braids might have a bit more dexterity. The only thing to pay attention to when making ropes is that each strand of fiber should be approximately the same thickness, and each should also maintain a consistent thickness throughout. If the strands are uneven, the thinner parts might break when under stress after the rope is finished.¡± Bi Fang wrapped a loop of hemp rope around each hand and pulled hard. The section of cord made from tree fibers instantly went taut, leaving deep grooves in his arms. Despite the pressure, it showed no sign of breaking. Is it that strong? The audience was surprised; they hadn¡¯t expected a piece of handmade rope to be so durable. Does that mean it¡¯s time to start tying the logs together? ¡°Not enough, not yet,¡± said Bi Fang, shaking his head. ¡°We still need to twist two more strands together and then combine the three strands in the same manner. Only then will it be strong enough to withstand the drifting at sea for a fortnight without breaking. You must realize, we could encounter storms, and while a single rope might keep the raft intact, it cannot assure safety through a tempest. We need to be fully prepared; once we¡¯re at sea, should any mishaps occur, there will be no chance for regrets.¡± [666, very cautious] [Are we going to spend the whole night twisting hemp rope?] [When do we set sail? I can¡¯t wait any longer! Let¡¯s fucking go!] [What about the life raft? Don¡¯t we need it anymore?] ¡°Of course, we do. Why wouldn¡¯t we use a good, intact life raft? I¡¯m building the raft as a precaution.¡± Bi Fang shook his head. Kids choose; adults take everything. Whether it¡¯s a life raft or a wood raft, he would abandon neither. Instead, he planned to combine them. Together, they would provide an unobstructed passage across the sea, upgrading from a bird gun to a cannon. By then, even a small Shark wouldn¡¯t scare him. It would be a Shark feast! That¡¯s what it means to ride the wind and waves! With this thought, Bi Fang¡¯s hands moved even faster, quickly twisting several hemp ropes. His hands flew so fast that he didn¡¯t realize the number of viewers in the live stream had significantly decreased until it was quite late in Huaxia, likely in the early hours of the morning. Then he stopped working to rest. A night passed without incident. By the time the viewers tuned in again the next day, Bi Fang had finished making the hemp ropes and was ready to start building the raft. [OMG, that was fast, wasn¡¯t it?] [Did Old Fang keep working after ending the stream?] [Professional, meticulous] [Ah¡­ the big brother is also a craftsman, earning his keep with his craft] ¡°Of course not.¡± Bi Fang shook his head. After ending the stream last night, he had slept in the life raft. But he had gotten up early today and, before the crew started the live stream, he had completed the prep work. He had twisted most of the bark into ropes¡ªall three-ply, each one as thick as a little finger, and looking remarkably strong and durable. What followed was the most exhilarating moment¡ªthe construction, pushing the boat into the sea! Placing the logs on the beach, Bi Fang carefully picked out the two thickest and longest ones. These two logs were different from the rest and evidently served a different purpose. Is it something like a foundation? The audience couldn¡¯t help but wonder. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Unpredictably, Bi Fang carried the two logs to the side of the life raft and then positioned them along the sides of the raft. What is he doing? Now the audience was completely puzzled. Chapter 241: 338 Chapter 241: 338 What are the logs placed on either side of the life raft for? The audience, with puzzled expressions, only a few had a faint guess. It was only after Bi Fang carried other shorter logs and laid them on top of the longer ones that the audience had a sudden realization! Master Fang is combining the two and securing them together! ¡°Exactly, that¡¯s my intention. I can hide inside the life raft normally, and if the life raft gets a leak, I can move onto the wooden raft,¡± Bi Fang smiled. His plan was to use the two longest and thickest logs as rails, then place the other slightly shorter ones as sleepers side by side, leaving one-third of the end to embed and fit in the life raft. There were also plenty of nylon rope loops on the side of the life raft, originally for securing buckles, which were perfect for threading through hemp ropes and tying to the wooden raft. Securing all three sides would make the structure solid enough to prevent them from easily separating. A perfect solution. [Brilliant!] [Damn, Old Fang has a talent for design, and it even looks damn good!] [It looks stronger than the original life raft!] Even though Bi Fang hadn¡¯t tied it up with ropes yet, just setting up the outline made the audience feel far safer than before. After determining the correct distances, Bi Fang tied all the logs tightly with ropes, wrapping each log at least three times to ensure they wouldn¡¯t fall apart in stormy seas. Then, Bi Fang did not secure the life raft first, but instead pushed the wooden raft into the water. As the wooden raft slowly moved into the water, everyone held their breath, especially when they saw it floating on the surface, their excitement was uncontrollable. ¡°It¡¯s not over yet. Putting the raft in the water is just a test. We still need to see its load-bearing ability. Although the raft is large, over three meters long and nearly two meters wide, theoretically it has great buoyancy, but whether it can truly carry a person remains to be seen,¡± Bi Fang did not take it lightly but stepped into the chilly sea water, standing on the wooden raft under the nervous gaze of the audience, placing one foot on the raft. The raft dipped slightly but remained stable. It worked! Bi Fang was thrilled, knowing he had succeeded greatly, then stepped on the raft, slowly placing his other foot on it. The raft immediately tilted. Watching this, the viewers held their breath, especially as Bi Fang stood up from the water, their tension reaching its peak, even Bi Fang himself felt a little anxious. Although he lacked neither experience nor skill, this was still his first time building a raft, and accidents were not impossible. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If merely stepping on the edge could overturn the raft, it would undoubtedly be deemed a failure. Unable to shake off his apprehension, Bi Fang closed his eyes without hesitation and leaped onto the raft. The tide rippled as he stood on the raft. There was a slight wobble, but it did not tilt as he had feared, and he excitedly opened his eyes. Although the other end of the raft lifted slightly, it did not leave the surface of the water! Very stable. The raft was a success! The live stream room was immediately filled with a tide of cheers, Master Fang had succeeded! [giaogiaogiao, go for it!] [That had me on the edge!] [Hurry up and go!] [From poverty to modest wealth, the people finally have hope!] Bi Fang, in good spirits, quickly pulled the raft back to shore, then secured the life raft in the empty spot. With the two combined, he even found it a bit difficult to pull. Fortunately, it was eventually successfully put in water. This time, when Bi Fang stepped on the edge of the wooden raft, with the increased buoyancy from the life raft, the raft didn¡¯t even sway, extremely stable, both in terms of feel and safety, it was a hundred times better than the original life raft! The following task was even simpler: collect as much food and tools as possible and then set out to find the mainland! With a clear goal in mind, Bi Fang got busy with preparations. He first searched the shore for any small fish or crabs, and to his surprise, he actually found a few crabs. However, they were very small, only about the size of a hawthorn. Bi Fang didn¡¯t mind the size, catching over a dozen of them and putting them in a bark container he had made that morning. It was simply a loop of bark with a bottom, not capable of holding water but more than sufficient for other items. Besides these small crabs, there was nothing else to be found. Bi Fang shook his head in disappointment. Just as he was about to leave, a gleam caught his eye. A jar? Bi Fang approached, curious about the object buried in the sand and mud that was sparkling, revealing just a corner. When he got close and scraped away the mud, his surprise was evident. ¡°Hey! It¡¯s actually obsidian!¡± Bi Fang carefully unearthed a large chunk of black stone, surprised to find such a thing. [Obsidian? I think I have a necklace made of obsidian¡­] [Old Fang seems incredibly happy. Is this like flint? Can it start a big fire?] [It looks pretty cool, kind of like a black magnet] [Isn¡¯t obsidian just another name for flint?] ¡°Of course not,¡± Bi Fang shook his head. ¡°Flint is flint, obsidian is obsidian. Their formation conditions are different. Obsidian is natural glass formed by the sudden cooling of volcanic lava. It¡¯s slightly less hard than flint, so it can¡¯t start a fire, but it shares one characteristic: once sharpened, it¡¯s incredibly sharp.¡± Holding the glass-like obsidian, Bi Fang was excited. He suspected that this obsidian might have been washed ashore following an undersea volcanic eruption. He hadn¡¯t expected to find such a treasure just as he was about to leave the island¡ªit was the perfect material for making weapons! ¡°You should know, the sharpness of an obsidian fracture is 300 to 500 times sharper than a surgical scalpel!¡± This revelation shocked the viewers. What was a scalpel? It was a knife that could easily slice through human tissue, and obsidian was supposed to be hundreds of times sharper? Are you kidding me? [!!!] [400 times? Is Old Fang serious?] ¡°Of course, I¡¯m serious. Not only that, but there¡¯s evidence that wounds separated by an obsidian blade heal faster and with fewer scars,¡± said Master Fang, unable to wait, as he picked up another stone, ready to shape the obsidian into a dagger that would significantly increase his hunting ability. If he encountered a large fish that was hard to handle, he would tie the obsidian knife to the tree stick. One thrust with that, and it would definitely pierce right through. ¡°However, obsidian has its drawbacks; it¡¯s very brittle. If you use it for high-intensity actions, it mostly won¡¯t work. It¡¯s only capable of cutting through biological tissues and the like.¡± Bi Fang, holding a stone in his hand, gently tapped on the obsidian, even more carefully than he had with flint, for fear that one wrong hit could just break the stone entirely. With a series of clinking sounds, tiny fragments were struck off, and the shape of a sharp-pointed dagger gradually became visible. Because it resembled glass, it looked even more attractive than the previously made flint knife, especially as it glittered in the sunlight. [Cool!] [Does this mean we can have another draw? Hehehe] [Hundreds of thousands of people, and you¡¯re telling me the odds are lower than winning the lottery?] [I heard someone sold Master Fang¡¯s Wolf Fang for over ten thousand¡­] [Seriously? Are you sure it¡¯s legit for that price? What if it¡¯s a fake? Wolf Fangs aren¡¯t that hard to come by] [This is beyond my area of expertise] Bi Fang furrowed his brow slightly upon seeing the comments, not so much angry that someone sold an item he gave away but concerned that someone might be using it as a gimmick to scam money. He also planned to change the lottery system, to make only certain levels of followers eligible for prizes. This would naturally reduce the pool of people. Ah well, these concerns could wait until he got back. The priority was to make as many tools as possible. Bi Fang shook his head, clearing his thoughts, and picked up a few more tree sticks. He also searched for more obsidian but soon realized that there was only that one piece. With everything ready, Bi Fang looked back at the island without a hint of nostalgia and pushed the raft into the sea. On the eighth day of sea survival, Bi Fang had acquired one raft, various tools, and a small amount of food. Chapter 242: 239 Aircraft Carrier Is Not a Dream Chapter 242: Chapter 239 Aircraft Carrier Is Not a Dream ¡°` The weather was clear, the sea surface sprinkled with sunlight, one man standing on a raft, gazing towards the endless waves. A few long poles stood on the raft, laden with ropes and supporting a large sail; the sea breeze whistled, and with its urging, the sail provided tremendous power, propelling the raft steadily forward. However, the very front pole was slightly different, with slices of fish hanging and swaying in the wind, resembling the cured meats on a balcony during the New Year, adorned with the joy of a bountiful harvest. Today marked the eleventh day of drifting at sea and also the first day that Bi Fang officially left the island. Two days earlier, after completing the raft, Bi Fang did not leave immediately. Instead, he lingered near the small island, fishing with a line, and expanded his food reserves to over five days before setting off. With wood for support, he no longer needed to personally raise the sail; it functioned just propped up, saving him far more effort than before. Besides, Bi Fang also used plastic bottles, branches, and some tent material to set up a simple distillation device. The main part was a tree bark container, shaped and fixed at the bottom with a piece of tent fabric tightly secured to prevent leaks, and similarly covered at the top with another layer of tent fabric. However, a stone was placed on top to create a funnel shape. The container was filled with seawater. A plastic bottle stood in this sealed space; when the seawater vapor rose and condensed into droplets on the upper tent fabric, they would fall by gravity into the plastic bottle, providing a continuous supply of fresh water. Although there was still more than half of the rainwater left from last time, Bi Fang always liked to prepare for a rainy day. Having come across an island, it was natural to equip himself with all sorts of tools; otherwise, once this chance was gone, there would be no other opportunity. He looked up at the sea surface glistening like scattered gold. Audiences often teased that Bi Fang was a ¡®Daredevil King,¡¯ but gazing at the vast ocean, how could he let his journey end on that tiny island? ¡°Time to eat,¡± he said. Bi Fang diverted his gaze, feeling hungry. He casually took down a string of fish slices and came to sit cross-legged on the raft. In front of him was a tiny low table, very small, only as big as a stool, and without a tabletop. The uppermost part only supported two parallel branches with a large seashell in between. He poured out two pieces of charcoal. Using the previous method, Bi Fang carefully ignited the fire and placed it under the seashell. Once it was heated, he took down the fish slices and placed them in the shell. As soon as the fish touched the hot seashell, a sizzling sound instantly filled the air, evoking thoughts of the rich oils contained within the flesh. Once the fish turned a reddish gold and was cooked through, Bi Fang used chopsticks to pick up a piece and tasted it¡ªit was scalding but satisfying. The viewers¡¯ mouths watered, cursing Bi Fang for making them jealous. Is this really drifting at sea? Even making a grill, aren¡¯t you afraid of setting the raft on fire? [Master Fang, be a human being, please. I haven¡¯t had dinner yet, and I¡¯m so hungry] [That sizzling sound, I can¡¯t take it anymore. I¡¯m going to order delivery right away, barbeque for dinner tonight!] [Starting with just a life raft, equipment all earned by crafting, this is truly outrageous!] [What¡¯s this?] Drifting at sea. This is sea drifting? Nobody believes it, I don¡¯t believe it. This is sea drifting? The day before yesterday, you were eating raw meat, yesterday you got distilled water, and today you¡¯re having barbeque] The online audience displayed their wit, playing with memes, as the scene before them was simply too shocking. This morning they discovered Bi Fang was tinkering with this small table; at the time, none of the viewers imagined Bi Fang was planning this! He wanted to eat cooked food on a raft! Cooked food! ¡°` ¡°` What¡¯s even more frightening is that by the looks of it, Master Fang has actually succeeded! Is that reasonable? It¡¯s highly unreasonable! The audience certainly hasn¡¯t forgotten what Old Fang said earlier about how difficult it was for Pan Lian, but looking at him now, you can¡¯t tell there¡¯s anything difficult about it at all. On the contrary, it looks like he¡¯s on vacation, truly without a care for food or drink. It¡¯s outrageous! Bi Fang faced the audience¡¯s teasing with a chuckle. When he left the island, he nearly dug three feet into the ground, taking everything that seemed useful, including a large seashell. Then, while eating breakfast this morning, he suddenly had a brilliant idea; he felt he could make something similar to a stone grill. Once the idea came to him, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t contain himself, especially after having a cooked meal on the island, he became even more impatient and started building right away. Fortunately, he took plenty of wood, more than enough for burning. As for worrying about setting the raft on fire, that wasn¡¯t necessary. After all, soaked with seawater, it wasn¡¯t easy to ignite, and Bi Fang had made preparations. He first laid a layer of wet leaves on the raft, followed by dry planks, and only then did he add the charcoal. Triple protection allowed him to enjoy a cooked meal successfully. Delicious. [After staying two days, he has a water purification device, various tools, and now a raft. Combined with the life raft, it¡¯s almost like a boat. And now there¡¯s even a barbecue grill. I seriously doubt that if Old Fang stays a bit longer, he might manage to launch an aircraft carrier from the island.] [It¡¯s hard not to agree.] [Master Fang: It¡¯s worth considering.] S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Fast forward to when Master Fang uses his Exploration Skill to discover iron ore and extract iron from the island.] [Fast forward to Master Fang using the iron ore to make a steam engine.] [Master Fang: Too slow, too slow. Skip to launching a spaceship and exploring the universe.] The audience chuckled, but their admiration for Bi Fang was genuinely solid. On a deserted island with only a few trees, Bi Fang managed to make a boat out of a raft after his arrival. Considering the size of the life raft itself, it was almost five meters long and two meters wide, comparable to a small boat. It was hard to imagine what he would do in a place with more resources. The audience wouldn¡¯t be surprised if he truly started smelting iron. Now, many ¡°survival experts¡± similar to Master Fang have appeared online, but once compared to him, those who could still be watched are no longer watchable. They fall short in looks and even more so in professional skills. Strong, too strong. After lunch, Bi Fang continued his grand fishing endeavor. Fishing could be said to be the main source of food after a sea disaster, and aside from this, there were no other good solutions. But Bi Fang had lots of small fish to use as bait, greatly increasing the likelihood of catching fish. These two days, he had been well-fed and hydrated. The horsetail kelp from the beginning was already spared. If only he could encounter it again, it would balance the nutrition well. He had already accumulated plenty of survival knowledge. If nothing unexpected happened, his situation would only get better, and there would be no need to worry about the future. Looking up at the sky, Bi Fang squinted. The weather these past two days had been suspiciously good. The sunlight on the sea was very intense, causing a bit of soreness in his eyes. ¡°The sun is strong indeed. There¡¯s one thing about sea survival I haven¡¯t mentioned before¡ªit¡¯s somewhat similar to snow blindness. When encountering strong light at sea, to prevent eye injury, we can wear a mask. If an ulcerated eye is caused by the strong light, we should take a piece of cloth, soak it in seawater, then tie it over the eyes to relax them, but it shouldn¡¯t be done for too long to avoid skin ulcers.¡± As he explained to the audience, a shadow swept across the sky, suddenly entering Bi Fang¡¯s field of vision and quickly flying toward the raft. What is that? Bi Fang was momentarily stunned by the shadow, but his hand rapidly lifted, pulling the fishing hook back onto the raft. The shadow grew nearer and, reaching just above the raft, it rapidly shrunk in size before immediately descending and growing larger again, falling toward the raft. Bi Fang instinctively ducked, and when the slight tremor reached him, he opened his eyes to look through. It was, unbelievably, a seagull! ¡°` Chapter 243: 240 Changing Flavors Chapter 243: Chapter 240 Changing Flavors Seabird! Bi Fang held his breath, crouched down, and stood as still as possible, fearing that any little movement of his might startle away this creature that had suddenly intruded. The production crew quickly lowered all the drones to their minimum altitude and reduced their volume to the lowest, so as not to disturb Bi Fang. Even the audience slowed their breathing as if the seabird was standing right in front of them, and the number of people sending bullet comments decreased, as everyone recalled what Bi Fang had said before. Because the life raft is a rare resting place, it has a considerable attraction. It¡¯s actually true! The audience was exhilarated, could they finally eat bird meat? Bi Fang kept his eyes locked on the seabird, unlike the audience, his mind raced with thoughts and he considered even more things. The seabird¡¯s chest heaved violently, puffing up like a balloon, indicating it had flown a long distance and was extremely fatigued. Desperately upon spotting the raft, it had landed even with the presence of a person. And moreover¡­ Bi Fang took a light breath, slowly shifting his body to a more comfortable position. He wanted to talk to the audience but feared scaring the seabird, so he kept his volume as low as possible. ¡°I mentioned before¡­¡± Bi Fang uttered these three words cautiously, his gaze firmly fixed on the seagull, and only after confirming that it didn¡¯t make any further movements, he continued, ¡°I¡¯ve said that in severe weather, birds may be blown off their usual courses and lose their direction¡­¡± ¡°Few seabirds can sleep on the sea¡¯s surface and can fly more than a hundred kilometers away from land. Mostly, they leave land before noon and return in the afternoon. So, continuous bird calls are a blessing, signaling that land is not far away.¡± [But it seemed like there was only this one, right?] [Yeah, the one that came down from the sky, with a very clear shadow, just one] [Have you ever seen a seagull fall from the sky?] ¡°Indeed¡­¡± If that were true, it meant he could be less than a hundred kilometers from the coast. Although the ocean currents wouldn¡¯t carry him more than 9 to 13 kilometers a day, if he were heading in the right direction, he might find the continent before the challenge ended ¨C that would clearly be a greater achievement. Bi Fang was not content with merely surviving twenty-one days; he wanted to find the mainland within those twenty-one days and accomplish an even more remarkable feat. But the likelihood of that happening now seemed very small¡­ Bi Fang took another breath, trying to minimize the vibration in his throat: ¡°I also mentioned the situation of there being only one bird; it means this seagull has been blown off course and lost its way, which is also quite common.¡± Immediately, the audience remembered that Bi Fang had indeed said this, but many had somewhat forgotten, or they hadn¡¯t watched that part of the live stream and had just entered the livestream room. After all, not everyone can watch the live broadcast every day; many who have watched a few days of live broadcasts will watch the edited version again to make sure they haven¡¯t missed anything. [What do we do now, eat the bird? Such a big bird, Old Fang must like it] [It must taste very good] [Pass it on: Master Fang definitely likes eating big birds] [Pass it on: Master Fang likes eating birds] [Pass it on: Master Fang eats birds] [¡­?] Bi Fang refocused, not bothering with Shuiyou¡¯s nonsense, and started thinking about how to capture the seagull. Catching a bird that has landed on the boat can be difficult but not too challenging. If he remained quiet until it settled down completely, he might get lucky and catch it. Especially in bad weather, when the exhausted birds¡¯ physical strength and response time are significantly reduced. However, Bi Fang had a better idea; he gently dragged the fishing line in his hand, moving the fishhook close to him. The fishhook was a treasure; theoretically, it could catch anything, even a seagull, especially since Bi Fang had baited the hook with meat. A Hairfin Anchovy, a favorite of the seagull. It had flown for so long, must be very tired, must be very hungry, right? As long as he used the fish as bait to get the seabird to swallow it, the fish hook hidden inside the fish¡¯s body would go through its throat. It wouldn¡¯t be long then, till the seagull would die on its own. Although there were slices of fish hanging on his own rod, they were all dried, and their smell was far less strong than the Hairfin Anchovy in Bi Fang¡¯s hands. He believed the seagull would choose the Hairfin Anchovy. Moreover, the slices of fish that were hanging on the rod were not as accessible as the Hairfin Anchovy lying directly on the ground. The Shuiyou witnessing Bi Fang¡¯s subtle maneuvers instantly understood what he was up to and were incredibly excited, bird fishing, eh? Who had done this before? [Awesome, Old Fang isn¡¯t satisfied with just fishing anymore, he actually wants to fish for birds, really likes to eat birds, no?] [Strong, with this wave, even the flying creatures are on the menu, haven¡¯t ever tasted seagull, wonder if it¡¯s good] [emmm, I¡¯ve tried, to be honest, seagull doesn¡¯t taste very good¡­ the meat feels weird to eat] [Ah, there really is all sorts of people in the live broadcast] Bi Fang grasped the Hairfin Anchovy, looking for an opportunity to toss it by the seagull¡¯s feet, yet was also scared of frightening the seagull and making it act irrationally at first. ¡°Though the seagull is the messenger of the sea, and one of the symbols of peace, in reality, it is famously known as a marauder, very fond of snatching food and attacking its kin. Therefore, we must be careful not to let it puncture the inflation valve when we catch it. Even though the inflation valve is quite sturdy, this probability isn¡¯t non-existent. Plus, it might not immediately eat the fish. If it happens to drag the fish hook and puncture the valve, that¡¯s another problem.¡± That powerful? The audience was stunned, but seeing Bi Fang standing on the raft, they quickly realized how wise Master Fang¡¯s firm decision to build the raft was. No matter the final outcome, at least he wouldn¡¯t end up falling into the sea without a vessel. The seagull made a cawing sound with each breath. With each rise and fall, Bi Fang could clearly see the seagull¡¯s chest rapidly inflating like a balloon, as if it would explode if pricked. At that moment, the seagull was staring at the sea¡¯s surface, one of its eyes on the side fixating on Bi Fang. He didn¡¯t make any rash movements, quietly waiting for the seagull to turn its head, just like when he fished. Quite a few of the Shuiyou were getting anxious, for as time passed, they could clearly see the bird¡¯s chest rising and falling less dramatically, fearing it would regain its strength and escape. However, after a few more minutes, the seagull did not flee but instead shifted its gaze elsewhere. A great opportunity! Bi Fang did not hesitate and immediately cast the Hairfin Anchovy from his hand, using only the strength of his wrist, trying to minimize the vertical height to avoid a loud noise upon landing. That cast reached two meters, landing right at the edge of the life raft. The slick mucus allowed the Hairfin Anchovy to slide off the raft¡¯s edge, and luckily, it didn¡¯t fall into the sea but landed on the wooden raft, making a very faint sound. The seagull was attracted by the sound. It looked down and saw the Hairfin Anchovy right by its feet. Food? The seagull froze, not understanding why a fish would suddenly appear by its side. But Bi Fang¡¯s guess was not wrong; the continued long journey had indeed left the seagull both tired and hungry. Seeing the food by its feet, it only glanced twice before leaning forward, pecked a bit, and grabbed the Hairfin Anchovy with its beak, ready to swallow it into its stomach. Success! S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang was thrilled but still did not rush things. Instead, he watched the seagull swallow the entire fish, making sure the whole fish hook was ingested before lunging forward abruptly! The evident movement alarmed the seagull instantaneously. Instinctively, it tried to spread its wings to flee, but the two were too close, and before it could take off, Bi Fang had already pounced, seizing its foot. The prepared fish hook was rendered unnecessary. The suddenly captured seagull immediately attempted to fight back, fiercely pecking toward the large hand on its leg, but before it could land a blow, Bi Fang swung the bird up. Under the massive centrifugal force, the seagull had no chance to strike again. Bi Fang slammed it onto the wooden raft immediately and stepped on the seagull¡¯s neck, forcefully twisting it to break it. Amidst a slight bone-cracking sound, the bird was still performing reflexive movements but had completely lost any chance to struggle. ¡°Hoo!¡± Looking at the seagull with its life fading, Bi Fang let out a breath, not expecting that after so many days surviving at sea and eating so much fish, he would be able to change the flavor. He pulled out the dagger made of Obsidian and smiled. Chapter 244: 241 Still Can Sleep a Bit Longer Chapter 244: Chapter 241 Still Can Sleep a Bit Longer Bi Fang stood on the raft, looked around, and found that all the containers he had were already in use, leaving no extra to spare. In the end, he chose to cut another piece of tent fabric and took out the plastic bottle from the water purification device, drank the fresh water inside, then covered the mouth of the bottle with the tent fabric, pushing it in with his finger to adhere to the inner wall, finally securing it with rope. Having done all this, Bi Fang pulled on the fishing line and dragged the Hairfin Anchovy back out; the fishhook scraped the seagull¡¯s trachea, bringing out a few traces of blood. Many female viewers couldn¡¯t help but close their eyes at this scene, feeling a bit uncomfortable. [It¡¯s too pitiful to die of gluttony.] [What is Old Fang doing with a cup?] [Is he draining blood?] ¡°Yes, I need to use a container to catch the blood. On one hand, it might be useful in the future, and on the other hand, if we put blood directly into the sea, it might attract some dangerous creatures. Although I have a raft, it¡¯s still better to avoid some dangerous situations as much as possible,¡± Bi Fang explained. Bi Fang took out his obsidian dagger and aimed it at the seagull¡¯s neck, stabbing in; bright red blood immediately flowed down the blade and started to drip into the bottle through the fabric when it reached a certain point. Watching the blood flow into the bottle and begin to fill the tent fabric, Bi Fang nodded, confirming that the obsidian dagger was indeed sharp and very effective to use. Bi Fang raised a forefinger of his knife-holding right hand and, pointing to the blood flowing down the blade, asked, ¡°Are there any friends who grew up in the countryside who have seen butchers slaughtering pigs?¡± ¡°When bleeding like this, it¡¯s best to use a sharp weapon to stab in and block the wound. This way, the blood will flow down along our knife. If we choose to cut open, the blood will spatter from the artery, making it impossible to collect effectively. This is also true for slaughtering pigs. Pig blood is a delicacy, and too much spattering is a waste. Moreover, stabbing directly into the neck with a sharp knife can also kill the prey as quickly as possible, preventing it from suffering too long. So a good butcher¡¯s ¡®clean cut¡¯ is all about efficiency.¡± Previously, slaughtering pigs during festivals was an important tradition, but such activities are becoming increasingly rare. Only a few viewers who spent their childhood in the countryside still have some impression, and now, comparing it with what Bi Fang mentioned, they suddenly remembered and couldn¡¯t help nodding. [Weird knowledge has increased] [Damn, this is the first time I¡¯ve heard this explanation. I always thought it was just to reduce the pain for the pigs.] [Add one, I saw pig slaughtering when I was a kid, but this is the first time I knew there was this much attention to detail, learned something new.] [Looking at Master Fang, he must be an experienced butcher, this technique is so smooth, I wouldn¡¯t believe he hasn¡¯t slaughtered a hundred pigs.] [Slaughter? Are you leveling up your proficiency here?] [Just look at Old Fang, he¡¯s a pro, definitely leveled up by slaughtering plenty of pigs.] The blood trickled steadily, and once enough had drained, Bi Fang wiped his blade on the tent fabric, then tightened it over the bottle¡¯s mouth, lifting out the now blood-filled bag that resembled a water-filled balloon. Thus, the blood was collected without wasting the bottle, which was then placed back into the container so the water purification device could be reused. However, without hot water, plucking the feathers was somewhat strenuous. It took Bi Fang quite a while to strip all the feathers from the seagull, which he then put on the charcoal fire to roast. Seagulls are tricky to dry, better to eat them fresh for dinner. Bi Fang, having never eaten seagull before, was somewhat looking forward to it. However, he was greatly disappointed after it was roasted, wondering if he lacked cooking talent, or if the ingredient itself was subpar. It was fishy and tough, chewing felt like eating tree bark. But having roasted it, Bi Fang didn¡¯t want to waste the charcoal; after all, it was a meal, so he forced himself to eat it all. When he spat out the last bone, he felt a wave of relief. ¡°To be honest, seagull doesn¡¯t taste good at all, it¡¯s fishy and tough. I recommend that everyone avoid trying it unless you¡¯re forced to drift at sea like me. Plus, seagulls eat just about anything and live near the sea, their bodies might accumulate a lot of heavy metals or even bacteria, so if you must eat it, make sure it¡¯s well-roasted.¡± [Hahaha, this is the first time I¡¯ve heard Old Fang say something tastes bad.] [Kind of interesting] S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [I remember eating them when I was a kid, but they weren¡¯t very tasty, the meat was tough and very fishy] [Now it seems we can¡¯t eat them, this thing is considered San You in our country, exceeding a certain number means a fine. It¡¯s only abroad where the numbers are overwhelming and you can take as you please, probably because they are too distasteful.] After eating the seagull, the time had come to evening, and Bi Fang, watching the setting sun gradually sink, reconfirmed his direction before stowing the sails, and the audience understood that Bi Fang was about to end the stream. In the past two days, Bi Fang had done just that, taking in the sails to avoid sudden gusts of wind from different directions at night, causing the raft to drift too far. ¡°However, the arrival of the seagull is also good news for me. Even if the seagull gets blown off course by the wind, it won¡¯t be too extreme, suddenly being blown to the center of the ocean. This means we are indeed getting closer to land, perhaps a hundred kilometers, or maybe two hundred. But I believe there is a very high probability that I will find land before the 21 days are up.¡± Bi Fang stood at the prow stretching his body facing the sunset, seen from the back as if embracing the sun, his body aglow with golden light. The ocean current¡¯s speed was roughly ten kilometers per day, but now Bi Fang had a sail, and with the force of the wind, he could travel at least twenty kilometers a day, even thirty kilometers was not impossible. And judging by the appearance of the seagull and the color of the seawater, as long as the direction was correct, finding land was a certainty. At the thought, Bi Fang felt quite excited inside. Even if the ocean scenery was beautiful, after a while, it always became monotonous. And moreover¡­ Bi Fang stretched out his palm, for due to long hours in the sunlight, he had become much darker than when he first arrived at sea, and no one would find it strange to call him a ¡®sea folk¡¯¡­ ¡°Alright, that¡¯s it for today¡¯s livestream, we¡¯ll meet again tomorrow.¡± Bi Fang withdrew his hand, took down the sail that had been propped up, turning it back into a tent, and after bidding farewell to his audience, he returned to the life raft to sleep. Lying inside the raft, the well-fed and well-drunk Bi Fang quickly began to feel drowsy. With the support of the wooden raft, the stability of the entire raft was greatly increased, no longer tossing about as before, but rather due to the inflation it became soft and comfortable, and he soon entered dreams. Waves rose with the wind. When Bi Fang opened his eyes again, he noticed the temperature seemed to be much lower, completely different from the feeling upon waking up the previous days. The change in weather furrowed his brow. Was it going to rain again? Bi Fang lifted the tent flap, the cold crept in, as the sleep-muddled mind seemed to be poured upon with a basin of cold water, clearing instantly. He stared at the sea with wide nervous eyes, noticing it was just cold, so cold it made one want to turn back under the tent to wrap up in the sailcloth and continue sleeping. There was no wind around, and yet the sky was starting to darken. The audience, notified of the stream starting, rushed in, and seeing this scene, they immediately became anxious, vividly recalling the storm of the past few days. [What¡¯s happening? Is it going to rain again?] [Woken up this morning to bad news] [Is it a second round?] [Damn it, a second round] Bi Fang looked seriously for a moment, then his gaze relaxed again, mixed with a hint of joy. ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s not a storm, just a light rain, I can sleep a bit more.¡± Chapter 245: 242: School of Fish Chapter 245: Chapter 242: School of Fish Winter always makes it easy for people to want to go back to sleep in their cozy beds. Bi Fang was no exception, especially after confirming there was no danger, he found the cold stimulating and wanted to crawl back into his tent. However, after taking a few deep breaths and quickly increasing his blood oxygen level, he perked up and stood back on the raft. The sky was silent because of its gloominess. Suddenly, the silence shattered as rain fell with a hiss, turning the sea into a white expanse. The raft remained stable. Bi Fang reached out his hand to touch the water, feeling the coldness of the raindrops splashing on his skin. ¡°Not every rainfall at sea is a storm. Sometimes it¡¯s just a calm rain like this, with no strong winds or big waves. This is the best opportunity to collect rainwater.¡± Exhaling a breath that turned foggy in the cold air, he retreated into his tent, untied his jacket that was set up to collect rainwater, and reached out both hands to start gathering the rain. He even took out the plastic bottles and containers from the water purifier to catch the water. But this time, Bi Fang stood under the tent¡¯s shelter, extending only his arms outside, using his jacket to catch the rain. ¡°This isn¡¯t a storm. In fact, the sea is even calmer than usual. So, there¡¯s no need to worry about waves contaminating the fresh water or the raft shaking so much that it spills. In these conditions, you can just stay in the tent to collect the water. There¡¯s no need to get as drenched and cold as I did last time.¡± An astonishing coldness spread up Bi Fang¡¯s arms, but it was undoubtedly more bearable than last time. Previously, he had been soaking wet and started to lose body heat. This time, only his arms felt the chill, merely a drizzle by comparison. ¡°But you can¡¯t be too careless. If you were in the Arctic Ocean, it might be worse because the extremely cold environment could cause cell necrosis and worsen the situation. So, the method you use to collect rainwater must depend on the specific circumstances.¡± While speaking, Bi Fang noticed that the jacket in his hands had grown significantly heavier. It seemed the rain was not light, and once the rain stopped, it would be a great time to fish. He might even encounter a school of squid surfacing. He hadn¡¯t eaten for days and found himself missing the taste of squid cooked on a slate. After half an hour, Bi Fang¡¯s arms grew stiff with cold, but the jacket had become much heavier, almost full. The rain started to lessen. After taking a few sips of water, he hurriedly tied it up again with a towel. ¡°Now to wait for the rain to stop.¡± Bi Fang capped the water bottles and secured the containers with the tent fabric, then stowed them inside the life raft. The consumption of tent fabric had been significant these past two days. Luckily, it was raised, providing a larger coverage area than the life raft itself; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t even cover the raft by now. Today marked the twelfth day of survival at sea, with only nine days left until the mission¡¯s end. Yet, Bi Fang had already stored over ten liters of rainwater, meaning he no longer had to worry about his fresh water supply and could drink about a liter and a half each day. Even after finishing the water in the containers and bottles, he could continue to use the purifier to get more water, almost reaching healthy drinking standards. [Awesome, damn it, surviving in such harsh sea conditions, that¡¯s incredible, seriously incredible!] [Plus one. I thought at first that Old Fang was going to fail, but he¡¯s got water and food, and can even have barbecues. It¡¯s like compound interest, feels like he could live there for months.] [Just break Pan Jinlian¡¯s record and live stream for three months!] [It¡¯s Pan Lian, goddammit, not Pan Jinlian!] [Impossible, Old Fang could only shorten the time, not lengthen it, very tiny indeed.] [By the way, what about the guy who said he would write a novel? He promised to start a document. Has he written anything at all?] [He has. That guy is in the fan group, there was a chat about it, and he¡¯s reportedly written a 100-word beginning.] [Holy shit, I want to see it too.] [All ten fan groups are filled up¡­] ¡°Oh, he really wrote it?¡± Bi Fang was equally surprised, as he rarely engaged with the fan group. It was quite unbelievable to hear that someone had truly started writing. [Yes, and I¡¯ve seen it. The writing is elegant, the diction exquisite. It¡¯s a rare gem, sure to hit ten thousand orders once published, and destined to be legendary upon completion. The world of online literature has gained another great author.] Bi Fang smiled and, unconcerned with copyright issues, showed interest, ¡°Well, I¡¯ll have to check it out when it¡¯s published.¡± After the chat, the rain had almost stopped, and Bi Fang hurried to the front of the raft, ready to fish. Sea fishing is quite interesting, especially the moment the prey is hooked and breaks the surface. There¡¯s a strong sense of satisfaction¡ªthe bigger the fish, the stronger the satisfaction. No wonder so many people enjoy being anglers. Since it had just rained, the raft was still a bit damp. Bi Fang stood at the front, waiting for a fish to bite. The audience was curious to see what he would catch this time, and if it might be possible for him to reel in the legendary Bluefin Tuna. ¡°Bluefin Tuna?¡± Bi Fang scratched his eyebrow and then shook his head. He stepped on the raft and pointed to the fishing line in his hand. ¡°It¡¯s unlikely, although bluefin tuna mainly live in the Atlantic Ocean and have a very high temperature tolerance, the force of these creatures is too great. Just with my setup here, it¡¯s tough to haul them up. Remember what happened the day before yesterday? The line broke because the fish was too big.¡± The audience nodded, recalling Bi Fang¡¯s encounter the day before. That day, when he was fishing, Bi Fang caught something extremely heavy, and before it even surfaced, the line snapped with a loud pop, costing him bait and a bone hook. A wood raft, fishing line, and a bone hook¡ªif they could catch a fish of ten pounds, it would be quite an achievement, let alone bluefin tuna. Not to even talk about catching one, they dared not even dream of it. [Ah, that¡¯s really a pity.] [When will Old Fang go deep-sea fishing for tuna, maybe break a world record?] [Master Fang: ???] [A world record isn¡¯t something you can break just because you say so. Isn¡¯t that about luck? So many people are fishing, why should you be able to catch the biggest one as soon as you go out to the sea?] Bi Fang smiled, finding the comments of the netizens quite interesting. Just as he was about to respond, suddenly the fishing line in his hand sank. A fish was on the hook! His relaxed concentration instantly tightened. Bi Fang immediately grabbed the fishing line, but when he looked down to pull up the fish, everyone was startled by what was happening underwater. The clouds had just dispersed, and the sun had just risen. Thousands upon thousands of fish formed a vast school, shimmering like the morning glow. Some traced upward spirals, while others swirled down into the sea¡¯s depths. Some fish shone bright as silver, some appeared nearly transparent under the sunlight, and others even reflected a faint blue luminescence. They circled like black holes in the ocean, moving swiftly, with ripples and reflections of light everywhere you looked. The scene before them was vast and magnificent. The dreamlike beauty was beyond the limits of imagination, making one mistake the sunset-colored waters for the sky before dusk, with the fish inviting guests to swim in the heavens. Herring! Thousands of Atlantic herrings! Bi Fang momentarily forgot to pull up the line. [Damn, so many fish? Are they all crazy?] [What¡¯s Old Fang doing staring? Get to work!] [After this haul, we won¡¯t have to worry about eating and drinking ever again!] [Doesn¡¯t that look like herring?] [Damn, those smelly canned herrings?] Seeing the school of fish, the audience exploded with excitement. When had they ever seen such a spectacular scene? How many fish were there? A few thousand, tens of thousands, or even millions? There were too many to count. Too many! S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Faced with the audience¡¯s excitement, Bi Fang remained unmoved but furrowed his brows. The whirlpool formed by the school of fish seemed to be contracting? The fish were already packed tight, yet they were still compressing further. Suddenly, Bi Fang¡¯s heart raced. Only one thing could explain this behavior. There was a predator nearby! [Something¡¯s coming!] The audience exclaimed as the camera swiftly switched. Through the underwater drone¡¯s footage. In the sunset-colored waters, a sleek shadow moved, its long tail swaying slowly. It moved leisurely, but anyone could tell it could burst into incredible speed at any moment, like a torpedo aiming at its target. Each dive caused the school to shrink a bit more. Shark. A school of sharks! Chapter 246: 243 The Most Dangerous Shark in the Ocean Chapter 246: Chapter 243 The Most Dangerous Shark in the Ocean ¡°` Sharks, a school of sharks! As Bi Fang¡¯s heart pounded with alarm, Pondy in the live stream booth was already breaking out in a cold sweat. ¡°White-fin sharks! It¡¯s actually white-fin sharks!¡± Upon hearing Pondy name the species of shark, Jerret¡¯s two brown eyebrows instantly knitted together. He often shot documentaries and was not entirely unfamiliar with various top predators. The group of four exchanged glances, equally scared by the appearance of the sharks, but not understanding why the two of them tensed up so severely, as if facing a formidable enemy, fielding their curiosity. ¡°What¡¯s up with the white-fin sharks?¡± Grinding his teeth and covered in cold sweat, Pondy watched Bi Fang confront the sharks as if he himself were standing on the raft. Confronting the brothers¡¯ questioning, his voice seemed to squeeze through his teeth. ¡°White-fin sharks! One of the five most dangerous species of sharks in the world! But personally, I think they are actually the most dangerous, no exception.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it the great white shark?¡± ¡°Yeah, isn¡¯t the great white shark supposed to be the most dangerous?¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°These sharks don¡¯t seem too big, though. Last time I was at the aquarium, I saw great white sharks over four meters long! Didn¡¯t Bi Fang deal with a nearly three-meter-long mackerel? These creatures seem to be at most two meters, right? I think he can handle them.¡± Third Brother spread his arms wide, forming a large circle, trying to gesture the concept of three meters. He didn¡¯t recognize something called Tiktaalik; the name was too complicated for him, and he just thought the creature Bi Fang had handled in the video looked like a large mackerel. After seeing the vocal foursome, Pondy couldn¡¯t help but let out a cold laugh at their naivety and ignorance: ¡°White-fin sharks have attacked humans more times than all other sharks combined!¡± Hiss!!! The group of four inhaled sharply. More than the total? What kind of concept was that? And now, such terrifying sharks were right next to Bi Fang, the nearest few not even five meters away. The gray-white dorsal fins broke the surface, and an aggressive and bloody aura hit them full in the face. Boss shakily raised his hand, reaching for his chest pocket for some first aid medicine, only to pat empty air. Damn it! He forgot he was only in his thirties, with sound cardiovascular health, not accustomed to carrying emergency medicine. And now there was none to use! No good, he had to stock up on some fast-acting heart-saving pills at home! Meanwhile, Bi Fang had also quickly recognized the species of shark, expressing almost the same opinion as Pondy. Danger, extreme danger. ¡°White-fin sharks are extremely fierce and bold, well-known for following ships, utterly disregarding divers¡¯ defensive measures, demonstrating remarkable toughness and aggression. During World War II, many transport ships were sunk, and soldiers falling into the water often faced the threat of white-fin sharks. Some scientists even believe they are the kind of shark most responsible for devouring soldiers. Marine explorer Jacques Cousteau also listed the formidable white-fin shark as one of the most dangerous sharks.¡± The audience didn¡¯t recognize who Jacques Cousteau was, but they latched onto a key point¡ªdevouring the most soldiers! ¡°` ¡°` Even though White-fin Sharks are the most numerous in the ocean, this fact alone is enough to strike terror into everyone! ¡°Damn, I always thought that Great White Sharks were the most dangerous, I¡¯ve never even heard of White-fin Sharks.¡± ¡°Maybe you¡¯ve seen too many movies, White-fin Sharks don¡¯t look as fierce as Great Whites, they actually look kind of nice.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the use of looking nice, they bite all the same.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t sharks not like to eat people? That¡¯s what I saw online.¡± ¡°Not liking doesn¡¯t mean they won¡¯t eat you, plus sharks are very curious about humans. Great White Sharks have large and sharp teeth, and a strong biting force, getting bitten even once basically means you¡¯re done for, not to mention the bleeding would trigger their aggressiveness to the MAX.¡± Reading this, the audience was all petrified. Now they felt that such a small raft was completely unreliable, wishing they could switch to a battleship, no, an aircraft carrier! Bi Fang stood on the boat motionless, afraid that any movement of the raft would attract the attention of the shark swarm. Once they launched an attack, he was very likely to fall into the water, making the situation even more dangerous. As they slowly approached the continent, the color of the sea water faded substantially. With the clouds dispersing and the sunlight growing stronger, Bi Fang could easily make out the conditions seven or eight meters below the water. In the coral-colored sea, gigantic predators swam along with schools of fish, lazily waving their fins and tails as they roamed the ocean. Like snowballs rolling downhill, the schools of fish grew bigger and crazier in their twisting movements. From above, it seemed for a moment that even the sharks could do nothing to them. But with every approach of a shark, the fish would split apart, and as soon as the shark left, they would return to their original state, showing who the real rulers were. Perspiration beaded on Bi Fang¡¯s brow; he hadn¡¯t expected to be so ¡°lucky¡± as to stumble into the hunting ground of the White-fin Sharks. Perhaps he should have left as soon as he saw the mackerel school. No, perhaps it would have been too late by then as well. He had just noticed the mackerel school and hadn¡¯t caught any when the sharks all crowded in. ¡°Many fish in the ocean exhibit schooling behavior, forming groups to fend off predators and as a means of collective protection, like mackerel and Hairfin Anchovies. The typical mackerel school numbers from one to three million, making it one of the largest schooling fish in the ocean. If a predator is attracted, it¡¯s usually a group predator, which is even more dangerous.¡± ¡°When I encountered the Hairfin Anchovies, I didn¡¯t dare linger for long, and yet I still ran into this.¡± But thinking about this was of no use now. The immediate concern was how to survive the crisis. It was impossible to simply paddle away. The raft was so visible that any movement would likely attract the shark swarm¡¯s attention. All animals are more sensitive to moving objects. Moreover, there are many White-fin Sharks hidden in the deep water, and if they suddenly surfaced, taking a couple of snaps at his hands, it would be impossible to guard against. Bi Fang pulled out his dagger and cautiously stepped back to the edge of the life raft, reached inside, and pulled out a long tree stick. He then securely tied the obsidian dagger to the forked end of the stick, making a spear. ¡°The number of shark attacks reported every year is actually very low, even lower than those killed by bee stings, and only a small percentage are fatal. But survivors at sea are much more vulnerable, isolated, and helpless than the numerous beach swimmers mentioned in statistics.¡± After tying the dagger, Bi Fang swung it around to get used to the feel. It seemed just right. If a shark attacked, he would fight back, hoping to kill the attacking sharks before the raft was torn apart. He didn¡¯t dare get too close to the edge of the raft, staying in the center instead, keeping a firm eye on the few White-fin Sharks in the water. He wasn¡¯t too worried about the ones on the surface. Sharks usually attack from a diagonal upward direction, so before an attack, their dorsal fin would suddenly disappear as they dive underwater. A visible dorsal fin is actually not that dangerous. Furthermore, sharks from different regions have different habits. All sharks in the ocean are capable of preying on humans, but in tropical waters where food is abundant, the sharks are not vicious and are usually quite timid. A simple prod with a stick, especially on their sensitive snouts, can scare them off. Moreover, sharks live and feed in the deep sea. Most of the time, they hunt at the bottom, but hungry sharks will rise to the surface along with schools of fish and enter shallow waters. Unfortunately, Bi Fang found himself in both of these sad situations. The North Atlantic is not only cold but also a place where sharks all rise to the surface, opening their mouths to enjoy a gluttonous feast. ¡°` Chapter 247: 244: The Scent of Blood Chapter 247: Chapter 244: The Scent of Blood S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The two-meter predator roamed the sea. Its undulating chest and belly hid powerful muscular strength; once it bit into its prey, it would tear fervently, resembling a frenzied demon. Bi Fang¡¯s heart beat steadily and powerfully, his breathing long and sustained as he stood on the raft, immovable as a mountain. The situation was dangerous, but he had been through similar experiences at least four or five times. In the face of danger, the human body secretes a large amount of adrenaline to numb the nerves and switch off the pain receptors, allowing an explosion of hidden potential. But adrenaline also makes one¡¯s thought process tense and narrows the field of vision rapidly. That¡¯s why people who¡¯ve never fought before can become flustered when they encounter danger, their minds blank, flailing with instinct, with memories blurry afterward. The only way to address this problem is through continuous combat and high-pressure confrontation until the body adapts. And in terms of wilderness combat, Bi Fang felt his experience was more than sufficient. Not to mention his core muscles were quite well-developed, and even in walking and standing, he was vastly different from the average person. When Bi Fang held a spear in confrontation with wild beasts, the aura unique to a Wilderness Hunter emanated from him, making him appear steady and reliable, naturally instilling confidence in his audience. Even the meandering sharks seemed less terrifying, ready to become the souls under Master Fang¡¯s spear should they dare come close. [666, serious Old Fang is super cool] [Giao! Giao! Giao! Hunting in the deep sea!] [The Megalodon should invite Old Fang for a role, damn, I can take screenshots and lick them again, add one to the Master Fang album] [Album¡­ Can you show it to me? (Dog¡¯s head)] [Old Fang, stab it with your spear!] ¡°If you all need to use a knife for self-defense, remember to avoid its reflection, because in the eyes of a shark, that might symbolize ¡®there¡¯s fish here¡¯.¡± The limited vision of the shark¡¯s small eyes made reflections dazzle them as if they were the sun. As Bi Fang concentrated, he suddenly felt the raft tremble; a shark was crashing into his wooden raft! ¡°Here it comes!¡± Bi Fang shouted sharply, simultaneously adjusting his weight to stand steadily on the raft, not at all startled by the sudden attack. The audience fell silent in unison, realizing that danger had truly arrived. Sharks had already noticed the relatively large raft! [Damn, I didn¡¯t even see the shark coming, and the raft just started shaking!] [A big one, definitely no small creature!] [Can the drone not dive into the water? I¡¯m getting seasickness here; the feeling of not seeing but suddenly feeling it is too unbearable.] ¡°Don¡¯t panic, everyone.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s gaze remained steady as he firmly held the tree stick, utterly calm. To deal with sharks, there were many special techniques, and they were often very effective. ¡°Sharks primarily locate their targets in the water through smell and body movements, being extremely sensitive to blood and bodily excretions like urine. So, everyone must secure their food right now, avoid dropping it into the water, and try to hold it in if you have any needs. Besides, weak and rapid movements can also easily attract the attention of sharks because they imply that the target is easy to attack or already injured. Strong and rhythmic movements producing loud noises might cause the shark¡¯s heart to falter and hesitate.¡± Having said that, Bi Fang started to beat the water surface vigorously and rhythmically with the tree stick. Most crucially, the audience could clearly see several swiftly moving sharks slow down; it was effective, truly effective! Bi Fang¡¯s expression was serious, he remained vigilant of the water surface. The collision wasn¡¯t scary¡ªthe raft was five meters long and over two meters wide; it would be difficult for a two-meter White-fin Shark to overturn it, and the raft was designed big and tight. The ropes securing it originally were incredibly tight and very sturdy. But the next moment, Bi Fang sharply noticed that one of the three fins that had been above the water¡¯s surface had disappeared! Such a ferocious creature! Bi Fang went pale with fright, having never imagined that his own knocking on the water surface hadn¡¯t scared the shark away but rather made it dive down, preparing to attack! Just as he was shocked, a thin line of water formed behind Bi Fang. The drone circling in the sky captured everything clearly. In the camera¡¯s view, a massive creature was breaking the water¡¯s surface. The grey skin of the shark was smooth and delicate, and with a powerful thrash, it lunged at the raft! ¡°Old Fang behind! Something¡¯s swimming! The shark is coming!¡± An audience member screamed out. The sound of water breaking echoed, as something burst out of the water, gracefully casting a large shadow. In an instant, Bi Fang reacted, rolling to the side toward the other end. In the drone feed, the audience¡¯s eyes widened to see the shark almost brushing past Bi Fang¡¯s scalp before crashing onto the raft. He actually dodged it! Such quick reflexes! The audience was deeply shocked, having not noticed Bi Fang looking back, as if he had sensed the impending danger entirely by instinct and moved to dodge before it struck! The whole raft shook violently. Bi Fang looked up in shock to find a White-fin Shark had toppled onto the boat, nearly half of its body pressing down. This has got to be a mistake. Bi Fang¡¯s pupils dilated. He had never seen such an aggressive shark, almost like the model worker among sharks¡ªwas it starved mad? Weren¡¯t there still herring below? The shark was incredibly heavy; just having half of its body press down was nearly enough to tip the entire raft. Without hesitation, Bi Fang took a large step, sucked in his abdomen and twisted his waist, gripping the Tree Stick, and swung it at the struggling shark, aiming for its snout. Aside from the gills, this was the most vulnerable part of a shark. Only one strike sent it reeling from pain, as if it had been shocked with electricity. The nearly two-meter-long, hundred-kilogram body writhed frenetically on the raft, forcing the bow into the water, but it didn¡¯t retreat. Instead, it opened its bloody maw, and its sharp Shark Teeth, reeking of fish, snapped toward Bi Fang. Bi Fang merely took two steps back to avoid the bite, while his Tree Stick came down once more. Another barrage of strikes, the shark growing even more berserk. The spectators watched with hearts pounding, never having thought a shark could be so ferocious, unmoved even after being hit on a weak spot. Especially the scars on the White-fin Shark¡¯s body, reminiscent of turbine wounds, made it look even more fierce and terrifying, exhaling an aura of blood and primitiveness that sent shivers down one¡¯s spine. The current scene was just like in the movies, with a Great White Shark biting off half of a boat¡¯s bow, waiting for its prey to fall into its mouth! Bi Fang had also noticed the scars on the White-fin Shark¡¯s body, which resembled those made by a ship¡¯s turbine, the crossed scars gave him some speculation. Seeing the shark fighting to the death, not even stopping in its lashings of the water¡¯s surface with its tail¡ªthis was the Shark¡¯s way of calling its companions¡ªBi Fang couldn¡¯t help but switch ends of his Tree Stick, pointing the Stone Spear side at it. He had refrained from spilling blood before, not wanting to incite a frenzy among the shark school, but now he had no choice but to do so. If he allowed this shark to twist and turn wildly, more and more White-fin Sharks would be attracted by it. They might take the same actions, and by then, his small boat was very likely to be torn apart! With this thought, Bi Fang¡¯s brows suddenly sharpened, his cheek muscles involuntarily tightening, revealing lines as sharp as the edge of a blade. A murderous aura filled the air. Bi Fang fixed his gaze on the stripes on the side of the Shark, the most vulnerable part of its body¡ªthe gills, which were also the deadliest spot. Should they be damaged, it would be unable to breathe! Clenching the Spear tightly, Bi Fang watched as the Shark continued to thrash and without further hesitation, he thrust it fiercely toward the Shark¡¯s gill slits. The tip of the spear cut through the air, giving rise to a piercing whistle. A slight resistance was punctured. Blood, spreading through the seawater. Chapter 248: 245: Surrounded by Sharks Chapter 248: Chapter 245: Surrounded by Sharks The spear trailed a streak of blood mist dispersing in the water, and the once violent White-fin Shark immediately lost its strength. If the tail thrashing before was to flaunt its ferocity, then the current convulsions were a violent struggle. Taking advantage of the Shark¡¯s thrashing head, Bi Fang hurried forward and kicked it back into the sea, then watched the other Sharks vigilantly. When he noticed the two Sharks that had surfaced earlier also diving back into the water, his expression grew even grimmer. The surface of the sea appeared calm, one human, one raft, but the unseen world beneath teemed with danger. Thousands upon thousands of herring swirled like a whirlwind, making one wonder whether they¡¯d be shredded if they fell in. He gripped the spear tightly in his hand, his heart rate slowly accelerating, every muscle in his body awakening bit by bit. ¡°When Sharks circle around you, be very careful. They might attack you within twenty minutes, especially when there¡¯s blood in the water!¡± Sharks have an extremely keen sense of smell and are very sensitive to the scent of blood, but the sensitivity varies, with fish blood being the strongest and human blood the weakest! Even Sharks do not balk at cannibalism, even if it means devouring their own offspring! As the White-fin Shark¡¯s blood diffused through the seawater, all the Sharks went into a frenzy. To them, blood was like drugs are to Humans. They swam frantically around the herring, creating huge water flows with every swish of their tails. The bloodthirsty butchers couldn¡¯t resist diving into the school to tear and bite, making a sudden charge. They always managed to catch a few, and with one bite, patches of fish blood dispersed, a sight that further inflamed the Sharks¡¯ ferocity. Several Sharks closest to Bi Fang had already started circling inwardly around him! If Sharks maintain a certain distance, it indicates curiosity, but if they start circling inward and suddenly sprint, the likelihood of an attack becomes extremely high! S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just as Bi Fang braced himself, the Sharks suddenly attacked, not him but the injured White-fin Shark with damaged gills! Gills are the respiratory tracts of all fish, and once damaged, the likelihood of death is extremely high. The White-fin Shark that had just been viciously speared in the gills was done for. After convulsing in the water for half a minute, it slowly turned over, its belly up, floating in the seawater. Its companions clearly didn¡¯t pass up this opportunity and began gnawing on the corpse! Bits of flesh and blood scattered, and white fat rose to the surface of the water. The sight of cannibalism shocked all the spectators, especially when they saw the Shark blood spreading through the seawater, their fear reaching a peak, and they looked toward Bi Fang with even more concern. The two were just three to four meters apart! The White-fin Sharks had fully noticed him, and they curiously eyed this ¡°huge entity,¡± eager to taste its flavor. The raft shook violently, another Shark making an exploratory attack. Bi Fang steadied himself, his gaze piercing through the gaps in the raft, ever watchful for the oncoming Sharks. Bang! Another collision, and Bi Fang¡¯s heart skipped a beat. A raft is still a raft, no matter how tightly he had tied it with ropes, it couldn¡¯t compare to a real boat. If this continued, the raft would definitely break apart. Splash! Another sound of water breaking, and Bi Fang quickly turned his head to see another Shark lunging, but it didn¡¯t come directly at him; instead, it bit onto the raft. Damn! The last thing Bi Fang wanted happened¡ªthe Shark was tearing at his raft! He swung the tree stick; this time, he didn¡¯t strike the Shark¡¯s nose but aimed for its eyes. The Shark that bit the raft couldn¡¯t dodge in time and took a solid hit, blood quickly spreading in its eyes. This Shark wasn¡¯t as fierce as the previous one, recoiling from the pain immediately, taking away large chunks of wood shavings. Bi Fang quickly lay down to check, a row of sharp teeth marks deeply etched into the raft, large chunks of wood shaved off, and right there was a section of rope, now completely severed. The frayed ends of the rope made it clear that the Shark had quite a set of teeth. [Damn, that bite almost broke the wood] [Shit, Sharks have such strong teeth?] [Shark bro, this thing does not endure biting well.] [Why don¡¯t sharks bite the life raft instead, why bite the wood?] ¡°Because sharks seldom attack things with conspicuous colors. Sharks find striking colors unfamiliar and due to their animal caution, they won¡¯t rashly attack,¡± he explained. The life raft was conspicuous orange, which, compared to it, made the sharks more likely to tear at the wooden raft. But that was not all. Bi Fang touched the raft, looking at the pale bloodstains left from a previous white-fin shark, understanding that there also was the scent of blood that attracted the sharks. Luckily, it was only the edges that were bitten; the raft was still solid. Just as Bi Fang finished his inspection and was about to get up, the surging water beneath him immediately caught his attention. Without a moment of hesitation, Bi Fang dodged to the side. Sure enough, a shark burst forth, and he immediately leaned back, evading the shark¡¯s attack once again. While the audience breathed a sigh of relief thinking the danger had passed, an unexpected event occurred that no one anticipated. As Bi Fang leant back, another shark attacked from behind! It was a coordinated attack! The sound of breaking water rang out, Bi Fang¡¯s heart contracted violently; he had not expected two sharks to attack at the same time. As Bi Fang leaned back without any support, in his urgency, all he could do was twist his waist and abdomen, barely grazing past the white-fin shark behind him. But after shifting his center of gravity twice in quick succession, his upper body was completely off the raft, his balance utterly lost! Splash! The same sound of water breaking but this time, it wasn¡¯t a shark leaping out to attack; it was Bi Fang falling into the icy sea! Disaster struck! The viewers and the production crew alike felt a suffocating pressure surge over them as they looked at the deep blue sea. Heaven help us, he actually fell into the sea! Not just the viewers, even Bi Fang¡¯s own heart skipped a beat. When his body touched the freezing water, his nerves nearly froze. It was dangerous enough on the boat, but in the water? This was the shark¡¯s home turf! His vision was full of silvery-white bubbles, his veins contracted sharply, and Bi Fang¡¯s head spun for a moment. If he were an average swimmer, he might have choked by now, but Bi Fang recovered in just a few seconds, his mind in shock, he immediately looked around. Right then, he felt a strong pull of water on his right side! He was all too familiar with this sensation; something was approaching! And fast! Above the water, all the spectators could see a shadow swimming rapidly towards Bi Fang! Shark attack! Bi Fang¡¯s body¡¯s potential was fully unleashed. His legs bent and extended, propelling him like a frog leaping out. He turned sharply, but not quickly enough. Through the first-person perspective, viewers could almost clearly see it graze Bi Fang¡¯s scalp. The strong current brushed past him, the tremendous violent force of the shark¡¯s body hit him full in the face. Bi Fang seized the opportunity, grabbing its tail with one hand, the other hand holding the spear stabbed towards its body. The touch was like leather, and in a moment, a large amount of blood dispersed. He felt as if a thick scent of blood mixed with the stench of urine was penetrating his nostrils. The injured shark struggled violently, seeking to counterattack, but Bi Fang only sank lower, positioning himself beneath the shark, embraced it and flipped powerfully. The shark, which had been so fierce just moments ago, now lay belly-up, startlingly motionless as if it had lost all its fighting spirit! What was happening? The audience was stunned silent. They saw clearly that Bi Fang¡¯s spear had caused nothing more than a superficial wound to the shark. How could it have suddenly died? Chapter 249: 246 Divine Protection? Chapter 249: Chapter 246 Divine Protection? Unfortunately, Bi Fang had no time to answer the audience¡¯s questions at this moment. Only a few professionals understood his maneuvers and wanted to post explanations in the comments, but they were instantly lost in the sea of comments. Standing in the water, Bi Fang just glanced around and quickly noticed that there were more than six White-fin Sharks swimming nearby, eyeing him predatorily. Not only that, but the White-fin Shark that had just been stabbed with a spear was still bleeding profusely, attracting even more sharks to approach. Surrounded by danger, Bi Fang¡¯s hair stood on end, and he felt a needle-like pain all over his body. Every pore screamed, frantically warning him that danger was at hand. What to do? The audience could no longer worry about why Bi Fang had made the shark suddenly ¡°die,¡± realizing that a greater emergency had arisen. Bi Fang dared not move rashly; sharks have special eyes that struggle with capturing colors and light, so their vision is duller than that of humans, especially sensitive to ¡°movement.¡± Moreover, sharks are also predators. Once their prey shows weakness, they will attack. If Bi Fang dared to swim up and climb onto the raft now, before he could even get up, at least three sharks would attack, giving him no chance at all. The sharks kept circling inward, the encirclement growing tighter. Just as they seemed about to strike, Bi Fang bit down hard and grasped the obsidian dagger tightly in his hand! Red clouds of blood rose to the surface of the sea, resembling lushly growing seaweed. What is Old Fang doing! At this moment, the audience was extremely frightened. He actually cut his own hand deliberately. Did he think there weren¡¯t enough sharks already? He¡¯s gone mad! Bi Fang even felt it was not enough, spreading his palm and clenching it repeatedly, allowing more blood to freely rise. Seawater passing over the wound brought with it a searing pain, but he felt nothing of it now, his adrenaline suppressing all sensation of pain. The cold was creeping into Bi Fang¡¯s limbs and bones. Silence enveloped him like he was on an alien planet. The entire world seemed far away from him, and a terrifying sense of isolation haunted him like a ghost. He seemed to hear his own heart pounding, like a great drum on the verge of splitting. Am I going to die? In the midst of Bi Fang¡¯s tense thoughts, he saw something flash before his eyes, a dark shadow zipped past about ten meters from him! The viewers saw that it was a White-fin Shark! Just after the White-fin Shark passed by where Bi Fang was, a group of White-fin Sharks followed closely behind! The viewers¡¯ hearts were tense to the point of barely being able to think about why the shark didn¡¯t attack just now. It wasn¡¯t Bi Fang who seemed to be lacking oxygen, but themselves, because Bi Fang was right in the middle of the shark swarm! We¡¯re doomed, doomed, doomed! Is Master Fang going to be bitten by the sharks, his extraordinary skills leading to his downfall here? Last time, he faced off against at most three Tiktaalik, but now there were at least seven or eight big sharks, their size comparable to that of Tiktaaliks. The viewers had no idea how to cope with this utterly hopeless situation! The next moment, a shadow appeared again beside Bi Fang! It was a White-fin Shark! The viewers clenched their teeth, gripping their clothes, feeling blood rush to their brains, their foreheads so hot they almost seemed to steam. This was a physiological reaction of intense nervousness, where the heart contracts abruptly, and the blood pressure in the body spikes instantly! The Boss of the program team had bloodshot eyes. He reached for his chest again, damn, still no antihypertensive medication! Everyone was terrified! The White-fin Shark swimming towards them was even closer now, just one meter in front of Master Fang. There was virtually no difference from being up close; with the Shark¡¯s two-meter length, a single turn could initiate an attack on Bi Fang! Bi Fang¡¯s pupils shrank violently. He gripped the obsidian dagger tightly, ready to strike at any moment! But in the blink of an eye, a scene that shocked and even made countless viewers scream unfolded! The approaching White-fin Shark, as if blind, completely ignored Bi Fang next to it and continued to viciously swim towards the school of herring up ahead, swallowing several small fish in one gulp! How is that possible! This scene was beyond the understanding of the viewers, and many wanted to ask Bi Fang why. Were the Sharks raised by daylight? Blind as bats? Such a large target, and only one meter away at that, how could it not be seen? But the reality was just this, more and more Sharks were attracted by the scent of blood, either devouring the corpses of their own kind or looking for prey among the herring schools, completely overlooking Bi Fang! ¡°I¡¯ve bet correctly!¡± Bi Fang forcibly suppressed the joy of a narrow escape and immediately turned back to look at the White-fin Shark tearing at the body of its cohort. Understanding that their attention was no longer on him, he immediately swam towards the sea surface. A few seconds later, a ghostly pale hand suddenly grasped the raft, followed by bulging veins, as half a person burst from the water. Bi Fang lay on the raft, gasping for air. He didn¡¯t dare to leave his legs in the sea. After a brief respite, he exerted himself again, collapsing entirely onto the raft, breathing deeply. Once he caught his breath, a cold wind blew over, making Bi Fang shiver instantly. He hurriedly took off his clothes, wrung out an undershirt, dried off the water from his body, then set up the tent again, no longer caring about the direction, aligning it with the strong wind to increase the raft¡¯s speed as much as possible. The raft drifted with the wind, and on its path, it happened to pass by the first White-fin Shark that died. By now, the dead White-fin Shark had been consumed by half, its abdomen almost hollowed out, with no Sharks nearby continuing to feed on it. Seeing some flesh still left on it, Bi Fang hesitated for a moment, then used a stick to lift it onto the boat. After that, he didn¡¯t dare to linger. He adjusted the angle of the sail to its maximum, and the raft quickly left this blood-soaked wasteland behind. Bi Fang looked back, the ocean surface was calm, with only the occasional Shark fin breaking the water¡¯s surface, then quickly sinking, disappearing from sight. The program team flew the drone to its highest altitude for a panoramic shot. Below the deep blue sea surface, the herring school swarmed like bees, dense and numerous, while Sharks, like swords, weaved through, hunting at will. On the edge of this hunting ground, an orange-brown raft sped away. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The viewers couldn¡¯t help but feel their scalps tingle at this sight. When you see a school of Sharks feeding together, the bloodiness and cruelty hit you head-on, and the sea wind is filled with the smell of blood. The previously cloudy skies had cleared, the sunlight bathing the sea¡¯s surface in warmth and coziness, but that scene had completely changed in flavor. Beneath the calm and tranquility of the sea surface lurked the most sanguine of rules. There, killings could happen at any moment; the weak made the most of their time alive with play, while the strong stalked their playful prey. This sea area, no, any wilderness really, was constrained by bloody and violent rules. Every creature here had to adapt to the law of the jungle; the weak flocked together, the strong went hunting, including Humans themselves. After running for more than half an hour, Bi Fang finally relaxed. Suddenly, an electronic voice in his mind announced that his first task had been completed. Bi Fang paused, then wasn¡¯t surprised. It was the time of the annual rankings, with domestic viewership numbers doubling. The task requirements for viewership were met long ago, and there was probably a surge just now. Bi Fang checked the backend, and sure enough, there were a total of two and a half million viewers, with over two million witnessing his narrow escape from the jaws of the Shark. Similarly, there were over two million questions. The chat in the live broadcast room was exploding. Everyone wanted to know the real story behind Bi Fang¡¯s escape from death. That scene was too fantastical, as if a deity was providing protection. After all, what happened? Chapter 250: 247: Give It a Try and Pass Away Chapter 250: Chapter 247: Give It a Try and Pass Away On the raft, Bi Fang, having escaped danger, took down the sail and wrapped it around himself. Then, he pulled out a large heap of charcoal, lit it, and moved closer to warm up. The warmth spread through his fingertips, and the fish flesh in his stomach was quickly broken down, endlessly providing energy. This was the third time Bi Fang had gotten wet. Unlike the previous times, he not only had a fire to bake himself but also a large amount of fish meat to utilize. Warming up both inside and out, it was far less uncomfortable than before. After establishing an early advantage in survival resources, that¡¯s just how domineering it was; his ability to resist risks had greatly increased. Only when the cold had somewhat subsided did Bi Fang begin to perk up a bit. In a life-or-death situation, it¡¯s a great test for both physical and mental strength; the slightest distraction could lead to a separation between life and death. Only then did Bi Fang have the leisure to look toward his live-streaming room. As expected, the barrage of comments had completely exploded. A quick browse revealed all sorts of remarks, including some viewers suspecting that the sharks were actors with superb acting skills, completely natural and indistinguishable. [I suggest that the relevant departments dissect Old Fang. The revival of spiritual energy is right before our eyes, and I¡¯ve long suspected that Old Fang is the first awakened one. Quickly dissect him for research and let me catch the train of the era!] [Pang You, with the revival of spiritual energy, do you have a ticket?] [Shocking, is a cultivator of qi right beside me?] [I suspect Bi Fang is transformed from his true form. The evidence has long been in front of me, yet I failed to realize it. It¡¯s too dark under the lamp!] [With reason and evidence, it¡¯s hard not to be convinced.] Bi Fang felt a nerve twitch, only to think the wild imaginings of his online friends were outrageous, but it also better illustrated their doubts at the moment. The online audience, Shuiyou, didn¡¯t understand at all how Bi Fang managed to slip away under the watchful eyes of over a dozen sharks; their questions were like countless claws scratching at their hearts. With their limited knowledge, they could only lean toward the mystical for explanations. ¡°I know you all have many questions. The situation was urgent at the time, and I didn¡¯t have time to explain. Everyone, please reduce the barrage of comments, and I¡¯ll explain them one by one.¡± Bi Fang rubbed his temples, waited for a few minutes, and then looked back at the live-streaming room. Sure enough, there were far fewer comments, with people seriously asking questions. ¡°First off, I remember saying that sharks are extremely sensitive to the smell of blood and can detect the scent of flesh in concentrations of one part per million. So, they can easily sense the ¡®value¡¯ of blood.¡± ¡°Humans are not marine creatures; the calorific content of our flesh and blood is too low to meet the nutritional needs of sharks. So most sharks are actually not interested in humans; they usually attack humans out of curiosity or mistake humans for sharks. Once humans are bitten and bleed, sharks will abandon the attack.¡± ¡°But the bite force of sharks is too strong, and ordinary people who are bitten usually have trouble surviving.¡± At this point, Bi Fang felt a chill recalling the experience. At that time, more than a dozen sharks were circling around him, and thinking of this method was a last resort, with an element of gambles; otherwise, he would have used it earlier on the boat. But as it turned out, he had gambled correctly. ¡°Therefore, unless sharks are very hungry and have no better option, they may choose to consume humans. But the problem was, at that time, the school of sharks had already launched an attack on the school of herring, and two sharks were injured and bleeding. Plenty of healthy, delicious fish blood was in front of them, and I was like emergency canned food, filling, but not delicious.¡± Bi Fang picked up a slice of fish meat with his ¡°chopsticks,¡± swallowed it, felt the warmth rise, and continued to explain. ¡°Besides, sharks¡¯ vision is not good; they can barely see stationary objects. Although movement is relative, and they could still see me moving, it¡¯s certainly not as obvious as when both of us are moving. Combining these two points, I¡¯m naturally easier to overlook.¡± ¡°So, at that time, I chose to cut my palm. As long as I let out a suitable amount of fresh blood, the shark school would understand that I¡¯m not a fish, not tasty, and have a low presence, I might be able to slip by.¡± The comments went completely silent. After listening to Bi Fang¡¯s explanation, the audience seemed to be silenced at the same time. After understanding it simply, they couldn¡¯t help but admire Bi Fang¡¯s guts and courage. Without a sufficient understanding of sharks, who else would dare to bleed in front of them? Dare you graze past a group of sharks, known as the ¡°wolves of the sea¡±? Ordinary people, let alone think so much, get scared stiff. Really seeing a shark approach, they can only stand dumbfounded and be bitten. Only a top-notch awareness coupled with top-notch maneuvers allowed Master Fang to emerge almost unscathed from the encirclement of more than a dozen sharks, perfectly avoiding a deadly situation! After explaining all this, Bi Fang also recovered from his chaotic thoughts; he took a deep breath, recalling the life-and-death situation that had passed, and gradually relaxed his mind. ¡°To be honest, I wasn¡¯t 100% certain that this method would succeed; it was a desperate choice made in a moment of rapid thought colliding. Moreover, there are always exceptions. What if there happens to be a shark that¡¯s addicted to eating humans? But at that time, I had no other choice. Looking back now, I was very lucky; the probability of success in doing this is quite high. If you one day face the same situation as I did, perhaps you could give it a try.¡± [Trying it is dying!] [I don¡¯t understand very well, but I feel like I¡¯ve wasted my studies. Also, can you dive during your period? This is a serious discussion.] [I¡¯m not going to argue this time. I¡¯ll stay home and play with my goldfish.] [This is the difference between black bread and steak. Who would gnaw on dry and tough black bread when there are schools of sardines?] [Cannibalism really scared me.] [I can¡¯t believe it¡¯s not the resurgence of spiritual energy, Old Fang, you¡¯ve really disappointed me. If you don¡¯t make an effort, when can I embark on the path to becoming an immortal?] After understanding the reasoning, the online friends/admirers nearly worship Bi Fang. This isn¡¯t any superhuman ability or acting; it¡¯s purely the product of rich survival experience and the strong decision-making ability forged at countless life-and-death moments. However, many viewers had another question: why did the shark that attacked Master Fang underwater suddenly ¡°die¡±? Unexpectedly, Bi Fang shook his head. ¡°That shark didn¡¯t die. Flipping the shark is a common method to deal with them. Many divers do this when attacked. Scientists call it tonic immobility. Once the shark is flipped over, its brain secretes a chemical to prevent panic, trying to correct its upside-down visual world. If this chemical¡¯s concentration gets too high, the shark will faint. Moreover, sharks won¡¯t suddenly stop while moving, nor can they change direction swiftly. A good swimmer can definitely outmaneuver a single large shark by quickly changing direction. That¡¯s why a single shark is relatively easy to handle, which is why I succeeded so easily. The difficult ones are the shark swarms, like the ones I previously encountered.¡± S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The underwater training system provided by the System greatly improved Bi Fang¡¯s agility underwater and his perception of water currents. Only in the moment of a shark¡¯s attack could he dodge so adeptly; otherwise, it would have been impossible to succeed so easily. If it turned into a prolonged battle, more sharks would join, and the situation would become extremely dangerous. It seems that I should not forego training after returning, as this unexpectedly acquired device is quite useful. ¡°However, if you really encounter an accident, don¡¯t try to emulate me. Instead, see if you can find a Shark Repellent on the life raft. Most life rafts are equipped with them, both chemical and electronic pulse types. Although they¡¯re not 100% effective, they can certainly handle most situations. However, the chemical type should only be used in extremely dire circumstances when conditions are severely adverse because its repellent will disperse in the water and lose effectiveness soon after.¡± Having said that, Bi Fang yawned. Having reached a safe place, he felt sleepy as he relaxed, especially after eating. The gain was not all lost this time. Although he didn¡¯t catch sardines, he did get a large shark, two meters long. Even though it was eaten by more than half, the remaining scraps would be enough to eat for quite some time. Keep in mind, he was awoken by the cold that morning and hadn¡¯t rested well, not to mention contending with such danger, which drained a lot of his physical and mental energy. So Bi Fang looked around, dragged the shark¡¯s body to the middle of the raft, and said: ¡°It¡¯s about noon now, so I¡¯m going to sign off and take a nap. I¡¯ll see you all in the afternoon.¡± Ten minutes later, having cleaned the bloodstains from the boat, Bi Fang crawled into the tent, curled up, and fell into a deep sleep. Chapter 251: 248: The Taste of Moms Cooking Chapter 251: Chapter 248: The Taste of Mom¡¯s Cooking Evening. Bi Fang opened his eyes to the reflection of the gilded sun in his pupils, rubbed the corners of his eyes, and felt slightly dazed as he sat up. It took him a moment to realize that he had slept through the entire afternoon. Upon noticing Bi Fang¡¯s awakening, the production team turned the live broadcast back on, and in an instant, over eight hundred thousand viewers flooded in. The numbers continued to skyrocket, almost crashing the platform¡¯s network. A few minutes passed, and the viewership count broke through one million, with signs that it might even reach two million. At present, aside from some global sporting events, no other broadcaster had reached such an astonishing number of viewers. Perhaps it was the relief of having survived a calamity, and having incidentally completed his task, that Bi Fang felt refreshed after sleeping. He finally had the time to deal with his greatest accomplishment of this trip. A White-fin Shark two meters long! Would there be a hunting reward? Bi Fang secretly hoped, as the previous times he had caught large creatures, the System had given him very good rewards. The Wolves King¡¯s Sense of Smell allowed him to easily distinguish scents, making catching prey much more effortless, while the digestion and absorption abilities afforded by the King Fish¡¯s Stomach drastically reduced his chances of contracting parasites and infections. He had nearly killed the shark with his own hands, running it through the gills with a spear, killing it on the spot. If it was a shark, what kind of reward would there be? Would it be another sense of smell? Scent-wise, sharks were even more adept than wolves. However, receiving another scent ability would be too boring, and so Bi Fang shook his head. It would be nice to get a reward, a pleasant surprise that would make all he went through worthwhile¡ªnot getting one would not be a regret, as he was after an exciting life anyway. Bi Fang put on his already dry clothes, went up to the raft, and gripped the obsidian dagger in his hand, ready to harvest his trophy. [Hey, didn¡¯t Old Fang say that sharks have a strong sense of smell? There¡¯s still blood on the shark¡¯s body. Why didn¡¯t it attract others?] [Why would they come if they¡¯re already full? Have nothing better to do?] [Ah, that makes sense!] [Listening to your words is better than listening to a book.] [I heard they could smell from tens of kilometers away?] Bi Fang, cutting the shark steak on the raft, shook his head upon hearing this: ¡°Sharks do have a very sensitive sense of smell, even outrageously so. But in reality, it does not reach the few kilometers, or even tens of kilometers, spoken of in rumors. The actual distance is usually less than one kilometer.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s remarks greatly surprised the audience¡ªwas it really only that far? How did sharks track their prey then? Was it luck? ¡°This is actually a matter of the medium. A 100-kilogram mammal has about 7 to 8 liters of blood in its body. Even if this blood was diluted to one in ten billion in seawater, its diffusion range would be just over three hundred meters. Being able to smell from several kilometers away is basically impossible.¡± ¡°As for why sharks can track from so far away, it¡¯s not due to their sense of smell, but rather an organ called the Lorenzini Ampullae. Look, these are the pits.¡± Though much of this White-fin Shark¡¯s surface had been damaged, there were still some intact parts. Bi Fang flipped the shark over, pointing to one area of intact skin¡ªmainly black in color with many pits, located on both sides of the shark¡¯s face, ¡°These pits contain electroreceptive crystals that are extremely sensitive to electrical fields, capable of detecting voltages as minute as a few billionths of a volt per square centimeter. It¡¯s precisely because of this organ that sharks can sense their prey from several kilometers away. Anyone who has watched wildlife documentaries should know that sharks like to swing constantly from left to right as they move forward, because they need to continuously scan in different positions, like a radar.¡± ¡°In order to make better use of this organ, many sharks have evolved to have broader ampullae. For example, the Hammerhead Shark¡¯s body shape helps maximize these advantages¡ªthe larger their size, the more pronounced the benefits from the ampullae.¡± [Whoa, is that really how it works?] sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Old Fang knows so much? A biologist online!] Bi Fang did not visibly agree: ¡°Well, it¡¯s not that impressive, I mostly have a lot of knowledge about large carnivores.¡± As a wilderness expert, besides knowing a fair bit about rare poisons, he definitely needed to be well-versed in large animals that could pose a threat to his life. Sharks in the sea, lions on the grasslands, tigers in the forest, and wolf packs in the wasteland¡ªthese were all concerns he had to pay special attention to. If you don¡¯t know this, you might as well not mix in. After dissecting the shark meat, Bi Fang did not throw away the skeleton. ¡°We can hardly find any shark fossils, just some sharp teeth, because, apart from their teeth, sharks are made of cartilage, which easily decomposes, so don¡¯t throw it away, this stuff is edible too.¡± Bi Fang held a piece of shark cartilage and gave it a slight twist, it was very elastic, obviously different from normal bones. [Damn, that¡¯s also edible?] [Speaking of which, the shark fins of the White-fin Sharks didn¡¯t fall off! Is Old Fang in for a treat?] [Cool, eating shark fin in Wilderness Survival? Damn, I¡¯m envious.] As he lit the charcoal and saw the commentary, Bi Fang smiled, the shark fin might taste good, but the flavor of it untreated would certainly not be great, it could even be worse than most meats. ¡°Sharks don¡¯t have a urinary system. Their waste is completely transferred out of the body through muscles and skin, so their meat is full of urea. The meat of some species is even toxic, like the Arctic Sleeper Shark. In addition to this, sharks easily accumulate mercury in their bodies, the shark fins contain a certain amount of neurotoxins, which are potentially harmful to humans, so you should eat less shark fin, it¡¯s not at all beneficial and yet some people treat it as a delicacy, leading to sharks becoming endangered.¡± [???] [Weird knowledge increased] [What the heck, skin urination? I¡¯ve learned something new.] [No wonder the last time I ate shark meat, it felt like there was a faint smell of urine.] [No killing, no trading] Bi Fang picked up a piece of shark meat he had cut and rinsed it in the sea, but even without bringing it close to his nose, he could still smell a strong urine odor. He gave up worrying about it, eat what you have, after scraping off a layer of shark skin, he put the meat in a shell. ¡°If you were to eat shark meat in normal life, that would definitely be unhealthy, but out at sea, shark meat is good stuff, high in calories and high in sodium, the perfect choice for replenishing energy.¡± Taking advantage of the time while the meat was roasting, Bi Fang wrapped the newly scraped shark skin around his palm and took his obsidian dagger, removed the fabric at the handle, and rewrapped it with the thick shark skin. Shark skin is not as smooth as it looks, it has scales, a very dense layer of dermal denticles, which if not handled properly can affect the meat¡¯s quality. However, Bi Fang didn¡¯t care about that, he scraped it off casually and now the touch felt good, the texture deep. Just let it dry and it can be used. Bi Fang took down the shark skin and hung it on a rod nearby, then took a piece of shark meat that was almost done roasting and tasted it. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± The audience waited for Bi Fang to comment. Chewing the shark meat, Bi Fang felt it was actually not bad. He was someone who had eaten earthworms, so his tolerance for shark meat was high, and after discerning the flavor¡­ ¡°The taste is strong but the texture is okay, chewy!¡± [Ah, it¡¯s the taste of mother!] [Damn, now that you mention it, I can picture it!] [A frown and the flavor hits hard] [I can¡¯t even look at the word ¡®chewy¡¯ anymore.] [Nothing tastes bad in Master Fang¡¯s mouth!] Twelfth day of survival on sea, caught a shark. Chapter 252: 249 Purchasing Goods Chapter 252: Chapter 249 Purchasing Goods Bi Fang speared a clump of floating Horsetail Kelp and flung it onto the boat. This was the third clump of Horsetail Kelp Bi Fang had come across in the last two days, and it was their only source of vegetable intake; squinting, he looked up at the sky. The sea surface was scattered with sunlight, and seagulls converged, swooping low. All they waited for was for the playful waves to leap forth with small fish, as the ocean, on a sunny morning, was a sumptuous feast for the gulls. Their targets locked onto the small fish, in anticipation of a Hairfin Anchovy or a European Eel occasionally surfacing. This time it wasn¡¯t just a single seagull, but flocks of them! Bi Fang was emotionally stirred and couldn¡¯t help shouting through cupped hands. His shout startled a diving seagull, who, unable to capture its fish in time, hurriedly flew away, flapping its wings in panic. Continuous calling of the birds was a gospel, signifying that land was no longer far away! ¡°We are close to land now!¡± The increasing presence of Horsetail Kelp hinted at the same thing. Bi Fang took a deep breath of the salty sea breeze, the cold air filling his lungs all the way down his trachea. He looked up at the sky as if all the sunshine in the world was showering down on him. He felt neither cold nor tired, only the sounds of the seagulls crying and the tide resonating in his ears. [Sixteen days! Have we finally come across land?] [Damn, I¡¯ve waited for so long, is it going to end now?] [Should be another two or three days, right? Didn¡¯t Master Fang say that a flock of sea birds could fly around a hundred kilometers?] ¡°Yes, at most a hundred kilometers, given our current speed, we may reach the mainland within two or three days. If we directly find a port, my survival mission will be completely accomplished.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s face was brimming with smiles. The more than two weeks at sea had darkened his complexion and grown a stubble on his face, making him look rugged, resembling an experienced old fisherman. Yet his eyes were astonishingly bright, shimmering under the sunlight¡ªyouthful and vibrant. The perfect fusion of two distinct qualities gave a strong sense of safety, like a long-honed sword, sharp yet resilient. The mission was to survive for twenty-one days, yet Bi Fang might find land in less than twenty, definitely an overachievement! Bi Fang picked up a piece of the newly retrieved Horsetail Kelp, washed a section of it, and chewed on it in his mouth. The unique crispness of the plant cells spread in his mouth, diluting the fishy taste from days of eating fish. ¡°A great abundance of driftwood, coconuts, and other floating plants all suggest that land is not far now. Of course, coconuts are only found in the tropics, plus with the flocks of seagulls appearing, I estimate that I will reach the mainland before the 20th. By then, I wonder if it will be a desolate wasteland or a port; if it is a port, then our mission is accomplished.¡± Bi Fang put the few pieces of wood remaining into the charcoal, waiting for the heat to build up, then he pulled open the tent, revealing a life raft heaped with a string of fish. There were three European Eels, one North Atlantic Salmon, seven or eight small Hairfin Anchovies, a skeleton of a Shark, some Shark meat, along with two Herrings and one Mackerel. The life raft was nearly full; if it weren¡¯t wrapped in a piece of torn cloth, Bi Fang would be sleeping with the fish every night. The torn cloth was one of the gains on the fourteenth day, just floating on the sea, and Bi Fang had to exert some effort to retrieve it. [Damn, the goods have arrived?] [Stop surviving, become a fisherman] [All damn good stuff, ah, my Salmon!] Bi Fang grabbed a European Eel, cut off a piece of Salmon meat, sat cross-legged on the raft, and started to roast slices of Salmon meat on a shell. Rich in oils, the Salmon quickly started to sizzle. When most of the fat had rendered, Bi Fang placed the cut pieces of Eel meat on top, allowing it to absorb the Salmon¡¯s oil; soon, a unique aroma began to waft through the air. He sandwiched the Eel between two slices of Salmon, adding Horsetail Kelp on the outside. Bi Fang took a bite, the richness oozing with fragrance, complemented by the fresh taste of the seaweed and its juices¡ªan absolute delight! [Damn, that looks delicious] [Is that a seafood burger?] [What an extravagant waste of food!] [Using salmon for grilling, such a reckless squandering!] Bi Fang chuckled, ¡°Although Atlantic salmon can be eaten raw, after all I¡¯m running out of wood, I should try to have more cooked meals.¡± ¡°Wild North Atlantic salmon are now rare, and the taste of the ¡®supreme among fish¡¯ is indeed very fresh and delicious. If you grill it, you might find it a bit oily, but living in the wild for a long time, I find it incredibly succulent, especially when paired with European eel. It¡¯s really a pity if you haven¡¯t tasted it.¡± Bi Fang, while eating the salmon and looking at the remaining fish bones, couldn¡¯t help but think of something else and began to share his thoughts with the audience. As a migratory species, the vitality of salmon has always been something he greatly admired. Unlike the survival instinct of Tiktaalik, which avoided crisis after crisis through evolution, salmon possess a pure life force. Every autumn, they swim upstream to return to their birthplace, migrating to the lakes high in the mountains. However, the journey is far from easy. Bears wait along the riversides, cormorants roam above the water surface, and groups of catfish lie at the bottom with their mouths open, revealing sharp teeth, waiting for the most bountiful feast of the year: these tender and flavorful salmon. Yet the salmon do not fear or hesitate. Regardless of the bear¡¯s sharp claws, or how eagles and schools of catfish snatch and tear their companions away, they struggle forward. With each inch they advance, they draw closer to the clouds above. Because atop the mountains lies a warm lake, full of aquatic plants. The surviving salmon lay thousands of eggs to replace their perished brethren. In the spring of the next year, these eggs hatch, and the young fish will live like their parents, as well as those salmon that couldn¡¯t escape from the hunters. Year after year, life continues to flourish. ¡°And the bodies of those salmon don¡¯t go to waste either, they become nutrients for nature, providing sustenance for their offspring and other aquatic life forms.¡± Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Ah man, this makes me feel guilty about eating salmon in the future] [Homeland!] ¡°This is the cruel law of survival in nature,¡± Bi Fang said. Bi Fang lowered his head and took another bite, then paused and added, ¡°However, the salmon you all eat now are farmed. If they were still to migrate naturally, the fishermen would be the first to disapprove, as the loss would be too great.¡± [???] [I¡¯m moved!] [Way to ruin the mood] After devouring the entire ¡®burger¡¯ in just a few bites, Bi Fang looked out at the water. The appearance of the salmon and European eel had reminded him of something. ¡°Whether it¡¯s salmon or European eel, both require high water quality, which is also why wild salmon are scarce. So, I suspect that once I reach the shore, I might not find a harbor but a wilderness instead.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s speculation was not without reason; places with ports are often developed areas that have various factories and ships, which makes it hard to maintain high water quality. Only near the wilderness is it possible for salmon and European eel to breed here. It seems like immediate rescue is unlikely, Bi Fang sighed and was about to set sail to continue forward, when suddenly, a violent shaking came from beneath the raft. Bi Fang felt himself briefly lift into the air, then the raft tilted steeply, and seconds later, it crashed back down. The raft groaned under the strain. Bi Fang immediately looked up, but all he saw was, A tail, immensely huge! Chapter 253: 250: The Greatest Miracle of Life in the World! Chapter 253: Chapter 250: The Greatest Miracle of Life in the World! Whale! At the sight of that massive tail, Bi Fang realized at once what he had encountered. A huge whale! The raft fell into the water, splashing up a great deal of spray, and the craft rocked violently. Bi Fang lowered his center of gravity, letting his body sway in sync with the raft, narrowly avoiding being thrown off; then he tensed up as if facing a great enemy, staring fixedly at the whale beneath the raft. The audience was terrified by the sudden thrust of the whale just moments ago. Some even thought that an underwater volcanic eruption was about to send Bi Fang sky-high, only to realize it was just a nudge from the whale¡¯s tail. Wait, just a nudge from the whale¡¯s tail!? [Damn, that scared the piss out of me, I thought it was an earthquake!] [Holy shit, that¡¯s a huge whale, my goodness!] [It doesn¡¯t eat humans, right?] [Beiming has a fish, and now this] [Can Old Fang even handle a whale? It nearly flipped the raft just now, right?] The raft had almost fallen apart a while ago; if the whale struck with its tail once more, facing the largest animal on Earth, everybody was on edge. Out of the shark pack and into the whale¡¯s mouth? Bi Fang was silently sweating bullets himself; he had never been so close to a whale. Although he had seen them in his past life, it was from the safety of a boat, a good several dozen meters away! S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But just now, he could have touched it with an outstretched hand! No one could remain indifferent in the face of a creature dozens of meters long, a single opening of the whale¡¯s mouth could swallow his small craft whole! [By the way, I remember whales don¡¯t usually eat people¡­] ¡°Whales don¡¯t eat people, but that doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯re not dangerous! If it¡¯s a toothed whale, if you anger them, they might chew you up before spitting you out!¡± After showing its head, the whale rapidly vanished. Bi Fang lay beside the raft, staring intently at the ocean floor, trying to determine the type of whale since the situation had been too urgent earlier to get a clear look. Looking at the calm sea surface, it was enough to trigger a maximum level of thalassophobia, fearing that a giant mouth might suddenly emerge from below and swallow the raft whole! [Holy crap, are whales this scary?] Bi Fang did not respond but instead waited for the whale to resurface, or hoped it would never appear again. Unfortunately. A whale¡¯s call sounded again, and a giant head surfaced from the ocean, followed by a huge spray of water which formed a faint rainbow under the sunlight. And at the moment the whale¡¯s head appeared, Bi Fang¡¯s suspended heart was somewhat relieved. It wasn¡¯t a toothed whale, but a baleen whale, and the most widely known one at that. ¡°Blue Whale!¡± The largest existing animal on Earth, its weight is equivalent to more than 25 African elephants, or the combined weight of 2,000-3,000 people! Fifty people could stand on its tongue. Its heart is as big as a small car. An adult man could crawl through its arteries, and a newborn blue whale calf is heavier than an adult elephant. In the first seven months of its life, a calf drinks 400 liters of mother¡¯s milk, gaining 90 kilograms every 24 hours. This is a miracle of life, the most enormous, most majestic animal! [Holy shit, first time live-streaming a whale! Is this the Blue Whale?] [My god, it¡¯s so close! So big!] [Can you use some other words, and not sound so uncultured, please?] [Why don¡¯t you say something cultured?] [Holy crap, that¡¯s insanely cool!] [What kind of whale is that? Is it dangerous?] Bi Fang was also stunned by the close encounter with the blue whale, his eyes wide open. He didn¡¯t even notice the barrage of comments, and only thought to respond after the whale had dived back down. ¡°There might be a small chance, but it¡¯s very low. Blue whales are baleen whales, and most baleen whales are generally docile, very docile like a granny next door. But if it¡¯s a toothed whale, then the danger is much higher. Toothed whales are mostly fierce and ferocious, and the sperm whale is one of them, so many creatures in the ocean don¡¯t dare to provoke sperm whales.¡± The blue whale had just nudged the raft, probably unintentionally. After all, with the blue whale¡¯s massive size, it¡¯s quite difficult to maintain distance, and his raft was just a tiny one. Bi Fang lay at the edge of the raft, gaze eager. He wanted to see the blue whale again. Such opportunities were rare, especially at such close range, practically face-to-face, which to someone like him who pursued thrilling adventures was the ultimate reward. The audience, hearing there wasn¡¯t much danger, were all excited as well. Many people knew that blue whales were the largest whales in the world, yet had never seen one. Now, they were witnessing it together with Bi Fang, live-streamed, feeling the excitement of shared adventure. The massive shadow of the whale moved under the water, making the raft above seem incredibly tiny. As he watched the whale slowly swim by, Bi Fang suddenly seemed to remember something, his thoughts flashing through his mind like electricity, mapping out a picture of the Earth that linked into a line. ¡°The intersection of warm seawater and cold seawater is the perfect habitat for blue whales. Cold seawater is usually rich in plankton and krill, which are the main diet of blue whales. This coincides with the current sea area we¡¯re in.¡± ¡°There are only two populations of blue whales in the North Atlantic. The first is around Greenland, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, estimated to be around 500. The second is farther east, appearing around the Azores Archipelago in spring, and by July and August, they move to Iceland, navigating between these two volcanic islands along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The entire North Atlantic population ranges between 600 to 1500. Now it¡¯s February, the end of winter and start of spring, so based on their migration patterns and timing, as well as me approaching the mainland, could my final destination be Ireland?¡± Jerret looked at Pondy beside him, and Pondy looked back at Jerret. Both of them simultaneously typed a question mark. How the hell could he deduce that? According to the drone¡¯s GPS location, the closest land to Bi Fang indeed was Ireland! His guess was correct! Originally, Jerret thought that without paper or pen, and with the North Atlantic¡¯s rough seas and constant drifting of the raft, it would be impossible for Bi Fang to determine his exact latitude and longitude in order to identify his location¡­ And you¡¯re telling me he figured out where he is just by spotting a blue whale? Even professionals were astonished, let alone the ordinary viewers. Although Bi Fang had made many remarkable achievements, identifying his location by seeing a blue whale truly shocked everyone. [Production team, come out, is this for real?] [Although I¡¯ve always known Old Fang was awesome, this time it¡¯s just too awesome!] [Crap, he knows this too? That¡¯s outrageous!] [Damn, what¡¯s his role this time? A biological researcher?] The audience was overwhelmed with excitement. Such deductive methods were simply too cool. In such a vast ocean, to encounter one of the thousand blue whales, how fortunate and thrilling that was! Just then, the blue whale breached the surface. The whale broke through the water, sending a spout high into the sky. It stirred the sea with its long tail, leaving behind a transparent vortex over ten meters in diameter, its immense body creating thunderous sounds as it moved through the water. This was a blue whale dozens of meters long, its underbelly patterned like gray-and-white clouds, a giant Kun in the sky! Bi Fang stood on the raft, a smile on his face. This wasn¡¯t knowledge granted by the System, but from his past life as an investigator, he had always been fascinated by blue whales, and he knew where every single group was located. Land, not far now! Chapter 254: 251 Weve Been Pranked! Chapter 254: Chapter 251 We¡¯ve Been Pranked! ¡°Eric, any catch?¡± ¡°No, Charles, maybe we should go farther out.¡± Eric looked at the net with only a few small fish and felt a headache coming on. It was the third day they had been out at sea, and the catch was miserably small. The fish they had caught were only enough for their daily consumption; there was nothing to sell. They might have to return with an empty boat. Charles walked out of the captain¡¯s cabin and, seeing Eric looking downcast, patted him on the shoulder and consoled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Eric, we¡¯ll definitely have a catch today. We¡¯ve already gone far from the port, haven¡¯t we?¡± His old friend was good in every way, just too impatient. Fishing was something that required patience, and it wasn¡¯t unusual to return from a week at sea with nothing. ¡°Yes, we have gone far from the port.¡± Eric nodded. Because of the poor catch during the past three days, the two of them had decided to come to this area rarely traversed by other fishing boats, away from the port. Maybe this would yield more. This was the first trawling in this area today, and it didn¡¯t prove anything¡ªperhaps they would have a plentiful catch with the next haul. Both men grabbed the trawl net, ready to cast it again, but as Charles pulled open the net, he was shocked to find a large hole in it! ¡°Hey! Eric, do you see this? There¡¯s a hole in the net?¡± ¡°Uh, is that something to be happy about?¡± Eric was speechless. Why was his friend so pleased about the net being torn? Charles tried to lift the spirits of the pessimistic Eric, ¡°But it proves that it¡¯s not that there are no fish here, but rather a problem with our fishing, right?¡± Eric was startled. That seemed to make sense! With this thought, he became excited and ran to the winch to prepare for changing the net and starting to fish again. Charles also came to assist, his face full of smiles with the good news, ¡°This is truly the first good news of the day. It seems we¡¯re in luck, maybe we¡¯ll see whales or dolphins!¡± ¡°Then I must take a photo for my daughter! She¡¯s never seen dolphins before!¡± The waters around Ireland are an important habitat for whales and dolphins, where they often feed, rest, and breed. It is one of the prime spots for whale watching. Local fishing boats often see these sea creatures, and fishermen consider sightings a sign of a bountiful catch, ensuring they won¡¯t return empty-handed. But just as the two men finished replacing the trawl net, ready to throw it back into the sea, Charles suddenly stopped his movements. He stood still on the deck, squinting his eyes toward the distant ocean, slightly dazzled by the sunlight. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Eric stopped what he was doing as well and looked in the direction of his friend¡¯s gaze. After a while, he squinted his eyes in the same manner. Out on the distant sea, a patch of orange was becoming clearer and more conspicuous, looking a bit like a tent with something dragging beneath it. Was that, a life raft!? After staring for quite some time, Charles was startled and quickly ran back to the wheelhouse, ¡°Quick! That¡¯s a life raft, let¡¯s go check it out!¡± Eric¡¯s expression turned grave as he immediately began to stow the fishing net. They might have encountered survivors of a sea disaster! On the other side, the high-flying unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) had also captured the figure of a small fishing boat in the distance. The spectators were all excited; Master Fang had actually encountered people after nineteen days at sea! [Damn, is that a fishing boat? After twenty days, he¡¯s finally met someone, Master Fang is awesome!] [Awesome plus! He really made it to land on his own skill!] [Stink-stink, who got smoked to death, sends the host a Spaceship*1¡ªso incredible!] Bi Fang had also seen the fishing boat but did not immediately call for help. Instead, he observed the boat for a good while. Although the possibility of encountering pirates in the waters of Ireland was low, it was still better to be cautious. Not until he saw the trawl net and the few small fish within it did he determine that it was truly a fishing boat, and Bi Fang then chose to approach. As Charles steered the fishing boat closer to the raft, Eric immediately lowered the roped ladder from the deck. When Bi Fang climbed up to the railing, Eric reached out to pull him aboard. ¡°Hello, can you speak English?¡± Seeing their target rescued, Charles emerged from the cockpit and curiously sized up the slightly dark-faced young man in front of him. ¡°Yes!¡± Realizing that Bi Fang could understand English, Charles hurriedly asked, ¡°How long have you been adrift? Are there any other people needing rescue? Where are they? Quickly, lead us to them.¡± The other person didn¡¯t seem to be in particularly bad spirits, which suggested he might have only recently been in trouble. The incident location might be nearby, but were there any others needing rescue? Bi Fang shook his head. He wasn¡¯t really a castaway; facing the fishermen¡¯s inquiries, he responded truthfully. ¡°I¡¯ve been adrift for almost twenty days.¡± ¡°What?¡± Eric and Charles exclaimed in unison, with Eric being the first to disbelieve. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s twenty days? Not two days?¡± Bi Fang knew they would not believe him because the pronunciation difference between ¡°twenty¡± and ¡°two¡± in English meant that the two could not be confused. ¡°You¡¯re saying you survived on a life raft at sea for twenty days!?¡± Even after getting an affirmative, Eric still didn¡¯t believe it. He quickly walked to the edge of the deck, pointing at the raft below. But as soon as he looked down, he almost popped his eyes out. FUCK, how can there be so many fish? Atlantic Salmon, European Eel, Mackerel, Herring, Hairfin Anchovy, and even a Shark longer than a grown adult! Eric could rationalize the abundance of fish in front of him. Perhaps there was a fishing rod that snagged quite a haul during the accident, but how the hell is there a shark? This goddamn thing can also be caught? Are you Santiago? Are our two or three days¡¯ catch less than what a castaway has? At that moment, Eric suspected that he might have come across some sort of scam, or a television prank aiming to make a fool of him and Charles. Charles, seeing that his good buddy had checked the raft and gone silent as if he had crashed like a clockwork toy without its winding key, also curiously looked down. Clockwork toy without its winding key +1 The cold wind blew, chilling the hearts of the two brothers. Eric shakily reached inside his clothing. Bi Fang¡¯s eyes grew sharp, his body tensed with caution, until he saw Eric pull out a cigarette, then he relaxed. Eric took out a cigarette pack, drew one and placed it between his lips. His hands trembled as he tried to find a lighter, only to realize he might have forgotten to bring it. Just as he was about to put the cigarette back, a similarly quivering flame approached. He looked up; it was Charles, his hand also shaking severely. Bi Fang watched the scene, feeling somewhat moved. Indeed, fishermen lead hard lives. Look at these two, only in their thirties or under forty, and already they had chills, their hands trembling so much they couldn¡¯t even hold a cigarette steady. Eric took a deep draw on his cigarette and slowly exhaled. He looked at Bi Fang, convinced this was a prank show meant to mock fishermen like them who had been at sea for many days without any catch by having someone pretend to be a castaway and then loading up a boat with fish to taunt them. Life is tough, fishermen sigh. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Suffering so much, yet still fooled by life, one must admit, their goal had been achieved. ¡°Tell me, where¡¯s the camera?¡± Bi Fang was startled, not expecting them to realize so quickly that this was a wilderness-themed show. Previously, to enhance the effect, the production team had specifically instructed the unmanned drone to fly low, avoiding their line of sight. Now that they had been found out, Bi Fang no longer intended to pretend, and he gestured with a hand. ¡°It¡¯s right there.¡± The drone slowly rose up, and the two brothers looked at each other and nodded simultaneously. They had indeed been pranked! Chapter 255: 252 Landing ashore Chapter 255: Chapter 252 Landing ashore ¡°Hahaha, you¡¯ve got it all wrong!¡± Aboard the fishing boat, Bi Fang was amused and helpless about the brothers¡¯ misunderstanding. It was unbelievable that someone mistook him for a prankster. Charles and Eric were dumbfounded. They had just been searching through the Discovery Channel, and when they saw themselves and their brother on screen, they had no choice but to believe that Bi Fang had actually survived for twenty days at sea with only a life raft! Even more so, there was not a single piece of supplies on the life raft, and even the safety rope had been cut, leaving only a short stub of a fixing head. Incredible! It wasn¡¯t that they hadn¡¯t seen survivors of sea accidents before; fishing boats met with accidents every year. But to say twenty days¡ªwhen even two days under the immense psychological pressure could make a person utterly haggard. Not to mention surviving for a full twenty days without any supplies. Such stories they had only seen in movies, never even heard of in reality. [Hahaha, these two are just too funny, thinking someone was playing a prank on them.] [Normal. If I met someone who survived on the sea for twenty days with just a life raft, lively and even catching a boatload of fish, I¡¯d think the same.] [No need to say anything else, just one word, Master Fang is awesome!] Admiration filled Eric¡¯s eyes, ¡°You¡¯re incredible! This is the first time I¡¯ve seen such an amazing star!¡± Charles nodded as well, impressed by Bi Fang¡¯s feat of surviving alone on a raft at sea for twenty days and immediately wanted to take a photo with him. ¡°How far are we from shore?¡± After the photo, Bi Fang looked at the compass and asked. ¡°It¡¯s about less than forty kilometers from the shore, a few hours¡¯ sail. But if we head to the port, the route is a bit longer. We probably won¡¯t be able to take you back until tomorrow.¡± Charles thought that Bi Fang wanted to board their boat to return. He explained the situation honestly. Encountering such a feat made missing a fishing trip worthwhile. ¡°No.¡± Bi Fang shook his head. He understood what the other meant but felt that since the distance was not far, he might as well continue to the shore by raft. It might even be faster than by boat. The two brothers were startled, but thinking about how the man before them had survived alone at sea for twenty days, they figured he must have his own aspirations for achievement and didn¡¯t try to persuade him further. ¡°Then stay on board for lunch before you go.¡± Eric, who had tied the raft to the railing, came over and invited Bi Fang. Bi Fang gladly accepted and couldn¡¯t help but smack his lips. Having survived at sea for twenty days, he truly missed the delicious food of human society. Even if what the two brought out was just canned food, it tasted exceptionally good. Bi Fang also took out the most delicious European eels and the remaining half a Atlantic salmon from the boat to share. ¡°This salmon has been out for two days now; it might not be very fresh.¡± ¡°How could that be? You have no idea how rare wild salmon is these days. Even if it¡¯s been out for a week, people would be fighting to get it! We¡¯ve been out at sea for three days and haven¡¯t caught any big fish!¡± Eric said excitedly, not expecting that he would get to enjoy wild salmon and European eels, both of which are top-notch luxury goods expensive enough to break the bank. Adding canned sauce to the pot to stew with the eel, the fantastic aroma wafted out. Together with the juice-soaked bread, it was a trip well worth it, indeed! The three sat around the dining table, feasting and listening to Bi Fang¡¯s amusing stories, especially when the brothers heard that Bi Fang had just seen a blue whale, their eyes lit up. ¡°A blue whale? You really saw a blue whale?¡± ¡°Yes, my raft isn¡¯t very fast. It was probably around north by northwest thirty degrees, over fifty kilometers from here. If you¡¯re lucky, you might catch sight of it too.¡± Charles and Eric looked at each other and immediately decided to head in the direction Bi Fang pointed to. It wasn¡¯t just because they wanted to see the Sea Sprite but also because where there are whales there are usually plenty of plankton, krill and other creatures, which in turn means other fish that feed on them are abundant¡ªan assured bountiful catch. After eating, Bi Fang bid the two farewell, raised the large sail, and set off towards the continent, while Charles and Eric hurriedly rushed toward the sea area Bi Fang had indicated. Bi Fang faced the sea breeze, feeling the pervasive sense of freedom, experiencing a beautiful feeling of escaping into nature, free and carefree. Less than forty kilometers, if the wind was strong enough, he might have found the shoreline today. Indeed, as evening approached, a blurred outline appeared in everyone¡¯s view; with the distance narrowing, the audience finally saw that it was a coastline resembling a towering rock wall, full of cliffs and precipices that were impossible to ascend. No wonder there was no harbor! [How are we supposed to get up there?] [Damn, can we even climb that? It¡¯s got to be at least twenty meters high, right?] [Finding the coastline is already good, just follow it and we¡¯ll eventually find a place to land] Bi Fang nodded in agreement, yes, by following the coastline, one would always find a place to ascend; if all else failed, one could just climb up. By the time he actually approached the rock wall, it was already night. Darkness enveloped everything, with only the pale moonlight remaining, while the tide shattered into black foam beneath the dark cliffs. A young man touched the towering rock wall, inching along as he tried to find an open space. The monotonous sound of the tide made an unusual silence. Climbing up wouldn¡¯t be difficult on its own, but Bi Fang was reluctant to leave behind the bounty of his ship. In the live stream, some viewers didn¡¯t choose to watch through the night vision camera but looked at the images under normal light. As clouds parted and the moon shone through, the ocean surface gleamed, the black cliffs plunging into the sea like a fortress descending from the sky avoiding the ocean, dividing the land and sea into two distinct realms. And beneath the immense cliff, a small figure of a young man carefully moved along, supporting himself against the black rock face, his face half in shadow, half illuminated when the moonlight fell upon him. [What an aesthetic! The moonlight is incredible!] [Nature is the best lighting designer] [Old Fang is handsome no matter what!] ¡°Everyone must be careful when you are under the cliffs because strong winds could easily knock rocks down from above. A fall from ten or twenty meters could be fatal to humans.¡± S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°So when we hear the sound of falling rocks, we must immediately press ourselves against the cliff face as closely as possible, then crouch down with our hands over our heads. This minimizes the chance of getting hit by falling rocks, or reduces the harm they can cause, and prevents a fatal blow.¡± As Bi Fang explained, he kept his focus on the rock face, taking no chances, especially in pitch darkness. Finally, after feeling the wall for over three hours in the dark, Bi Fang saw a patch of shingle beach gleaming under the moonlight! Bi Fang paddled towards the shingle beach, being careful of the rocks in the water at all times. The more perilous the situation, the less one could afford to hurry; he remained vigilant of the tides, knowing that a shift could drag the raft back into the ocean. The raft drifted slower and slower until, with a wedging jolt as if caught on something, Bi Fang was overjoyed. He wrapped all his bounty in canvas, excitedly moving to one end of the raft. The black tide, with its white foam, washed over the shingle beach, and occasionally, small crabs with reflective shells scuttled across only to be knocked sideways by the next wave. The beach was dotted with the reflections of these small creatures. Splat. A pair of deep footprints were left in the mud. Twenty days of survival at sea. Landing. Chapter 256: 253: In Name and In Reality Chapter 256: Chapter 253: In Name and In Reality His foot pressed into the soft sand and gravel, and the unrealistic sensation of daily drifting instantly vanished, replaced by a sense of solid steadiness. It was an inexplicable feeling of safety, like a traveler returning to his hometown. At this moment, Bi Fang¡¯s confidence was through the roof, and even if a lion suddenly sprang forth, he felt sure that he could take it on in a fight. Of course, not with a guarantee of winning. Even the audience was enveloped in a sense of bliss at this moment. The fear that had them on tenterhooks every day, worrying that the raft would fall apart and they would be lost at sea, had completely disappeared, leaving them feeling grounded and at ease. The live broadcast had them accompanying Bi Fang as he drifted at sea for twenty days before being rescued. This rich sense of participation was unmatched by prerecorded programs. Especially the uncertainty was very appealing, making it hard for them to tune out. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With prerecorded shows, everyone could guess the ending. If a real death threat emerged, filming would cease, and the recording would pause. But live broadcasts are different; no one knows what will happen next. Encountering a shark, no one knew if Bi Fang could survive or if he would indeed be in danger. Such allure was extremely fatal. Many switched channels, only to find themselves irresistibly drawn back within minutes, afraid that while they were caught up in the melodramatic plots of doctors, lawyers, and students falling in love, Bi Fang might be creating a significant story out at sea they would regret missing. [Finally came ashore, I¡¯m so tired of looking at the sea every day, I feel like throwing up.] [Yeah, Master Fang actually did it, that¡¯s amazing. It must have been hundreds of miles, right? He found land just by using a life raft.] [Another chapter for the legend¡¯s biography!] [Disney: Got new material] [Don¡¯t even mention it, I used to watch Disney animations and thought foreigners had wild imaginations with beautiful stories. Now it seems trivial. If they came to work with Master Fang, I wouldn¡¯t find it strange at all. It only shows they are insightful, so I strongly demand a raise!] [The legend is right beside us! I feel like Old Fang is now even more impressive than Pan Jinlian!] The head of the Discovery Channel was equally thrilled to see the ratings soar beyond previous records. If it weren¡¯t for still being at work, he would¡¯ve loved to crack open a beer and celebrate on the spot. ¡°He really did it.¡± Jerry and Pondy looked on with complex emotions, a mix of admiration and excitement welling up inside them. The two had experienced incredible highs and lows in life. Initially, they thought the mission was just challenging, but in reality, they soon realized it wasn¡¯t just difficult; it was the impossible mode of Hell. And yet, Bi Fang had actually accomplished it. It was no wonder his fans called him GOD FANG, a title well-earned. In any case, the ratings had exploded, the crew was over the moon, everyone benefitted, Bi Fang included, as his fame spread even farther. Everyone loves an adventure story. Nowadays, people are accustomed to browsing content of interest on their phones, but a thrilling adventure story can keep a whole family patiently sitting in front of the TV. As more people become aware of this new style of show in the future, the ratings will only get higher. In times of industry downturn, the Discovery Channel will become a shining example of success against the current. Many online have already reviewed the new show launched by the Discovery Channel, with mostly positive comments. But Jerry didn¡¯t bother with these remarks and asked the team to stay alert and prepare for the final work. The mission objective was to survive at sea for twenty-one days. Now, by directly finding a fishing boat on land, it also meant that the mission was indirectly accomplished, and beautifully so. It remained to be seen whether Bi Fang would want to continue filming the complete twenty-one days or if it would end here and he would return to the city for recuperation. The hospital had already been contacted, and as soon as Bi Fang gave the word, a helicopter would immediately go to take him to the VIP ward for a full check-up, including heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and every organ, to ensure his safety. ¡°Let¡¯s complete the twenty-one days.¡± Bi Fang saw the display on the drone and shook his head, declining their kind offer. The numerous live broadcasts had given Bi Fang a sense that he wasn¡¯t far from the city. Perhaps today or tomorrow, he would find a town to put a perfect end to this drifting journey. He dismantled the life raft from the raft, dragging it ashore: ¡°It should be early morning now. I won¡¯t say much more. Everyone should get some sleep. First thing tomorrow morning, let¡¯s go in search of the city together.¡± After saying goodbye, Bi Fang ducked into the tent and went offline. Closing his eyes, ten minutes later¡­ Bi Fang suddenly opened his eyes wide. He couldn¡¯t sleep anymore. Twenty days of drifting at sea, suddenly the swaying stopped; being stable and secure was something he was not used to. The excitement of finding land was still shaking him. Eventually, he didn¡¯t know when, but a strong wave of sleepiness hit him, and he fell into a drowsy slumber. The next day, countless foreign viewers sat in front of their TVs early, tirelessly watching a documentary on Discovery Channel about turtles completing the grand harmony of life and reproducing their offspring, waiting for the screen to switch, In the live broadcast room, millions of viewers were urging on. [It¡¯s already nine o¡¯clock; Old Fang usually wakes up after six or seven days. He¡¯s being too lazy.] [I stayed up until five in the morning yesterday; damn, I¡¯m dead tired. What happened afterward?] [They found land, but then they encountered a bunch of fierce bandits who even shot at them with machine guns. Old Fang made a beach landing, fought ten at a time, and kicked their asses.] [I don¡¯t believe you, what is this, Syria? Machine guns? Why don¡¯t you just launch a nuclear bomb?] [Coincidentally, this group of bandits had stolen a mini nuke; the deal got busted on-site, which is why they went on a killing spree. Luckily, Old Fang stopped them in the end, preventing a massacre.] [Did all¡­ this really happen?] ¡°He¡¯s still not awake?¡± Jerret woke up early and headed straight to the director of photography. ¡°Not yet¡­¡± the director of photography began to reply out of habit, wanting to say not yet, but suddenly saw Bi Fang moving in the video, then opening his eyes, ¡°He¡¯s awake!¡± Jerret immediately urged, ¡°Hurry up!¡± The director of photography nodded and after confirming Bi Fang was okay, started the live broadcast. After greeting the viewers, Bi Fang jumped off the life raft and began to pack the remaining things. Anything unnecessary was left behind; two days¡¯ worth of supplies would be enough, and he only took one bottle of water. The remaining shark bones were too big and not very convenient; he felt a tinge of regret, but it was just a tinge. These bones could only be eaten, not preserved for long, so he left them to naturally decompose. Lastly, there was a full bag of Shark Teeth; many, super many. Bi Fang hadn¡¯t counted them, but there were at least a thousand. ¡°Now you guys are in for a treat; probably about half the people in the fan groups should be able to get one.¡± Bi Fang weighed the parcel in his hand, the sound of teeth clinking inside. [Wow, I¡¯m envious, all five fan groups are full, and I can¡¯t get in¡­] [Looks like¡­] [I wonder if I could get another, I washed the Wolf Fang from last time, drilled a hole in it, and made it into a necklace. Old Fang in the frame, so cool.] [I¡¯m envious.] ¡°Don¡¯t forget to retrieve the life raft.¡± Bi Fang shouted at the screen, he was instructing the show¡¯s crew, and this was a request they agreed to fulfill; just a matter of the helicopter following him and picking it up. Apart from the life raft, the rest were natural materials, so there was no need to worry too much about harming the environment. Turning the canvas into a makeshift backpack, Bi Fang shouldered a full bag of fish meat and hit the road. Chapter 257: 254 Hostility! Chapter 257: Chapter 254 Hostility! ¡°` The figure jumped across the tundra. There were no big trees here, only the green tundra, and the open environment made Bi Fang could not help but start running as soon as he set foot on land, hopping from rock to rock with practiced ease, like a lithe cheetah. Occasionally, when he encountered a rock wall six or seven meters high, all he needed to do was take a glance and he could climb up like a monkey, as swiftly as if he had done it a thousand times before. Much stronger compared to his first livestream. [I feel like Old Fang is way more awesome than in his first livestream, running for so long without even breaking a sweat or getting out of breath] [He had to teach before which definitely slows you down] [Maybe he broke up with his girlfriend, that¡¯s why he¡¯s got so much energy] [Indeed, young people need to be temperate. Even if one has a good back, you can¡¯t squander your health. Life has an end, and in the wilderness, facing danger, you can be more composed] [I¡¯ve already made him temperate, but who could help being too beautiful] [Pfft, gross] Bi Fang glanced at the comments and forcefully suppressed the urge to retort. He had definitely become stronger. Apart from anything else, his body weight had increased by ten kilograms over the last six months, but fortunately, it was all muscle, so the change in his physique wasn¡¯t obvious. As for skills, Bi Fang had to admire his own foresight. Pretending to be an ¡°expert¡± was indeed the right move, even now that he had become an actual expert, the performance gap wasn¡¯t huge. To the audience familiar with him, it just seemed like he was getting more adapted with each livestream, a natural progression. It would be strange if he hadn¡¯t improved at all after so many adventures. ¡°The vegetation is getting denser!¡± Bi Fang climbed a small hill and, looking down at the forest below, then checked the slope to make sure it wasn¡¯t too steep. He lowered his center of gravity and slid down the slope sideways, sliding directly down the hillside. The moss and other plants were very slippery, and Bi Fang slid down quickly, the grass clippings flying and sticking to his shoes while wisps of hair at his temples flew up with the wind. [Holy shit, that move was kind of cool.] [I wanna slide, too.] [Slide your way into the hospital, why don¡¯t you.] [This is very dangerous. Without strong core muscles, it¡¯s best not to casually imitate.] Just as the audience was exclaiming over Bi Fang¡¯s movements, a gunshot alarmed everybody. The gunshot was deafening, and Bi Fang reflexively ducked and rolled, before flattening himself on the ground, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily, but no one appeared. Who could it be? Not just Bi Fang, but the audience was startled as well, especially the program team. The most famous incident involving Bi Fang was naturally the goose migration, where he encountered the merciless poachers. Could it be that he had run into them again? The area was desolate and seemed like a good spot for hunting. [Holy shit, I was just joking. He hasn¡¯t really run into some desperate bandits, has he?] [Hurry and say ¡°ptui ptui ptui!¡±] [Pfft pfft pfft!] [Rustle rustle rustle!] Bi Fang lay in the underbrush, not daring to make any sudden movements. Last time he managed to take on four mostly because he had the advantage of the environment. If he encountered armed criminals again, he couldn¡¯t be sure he could handle it. ¡°Go have a look.¡± Jerret immediately instructed the director of photography to control the drone to look in the direction of the gunshot. This was too dangerous and needed to be scouted. Seeing the drone move away, Bi Fang didn¡¯t say much and quietly waited for the outcome. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Much as he felt his luck couldn¡¯t be that bad to encounter poachers every time, and since Ireland didn¡¯t have any rare animals, it seemed more likely that he had run into an ordinary hunter. ¡°Hey, Barton, a big fox!¡± Mugalen was waving a long-haired, plump fox, and in addition, he had a rabbit hanging over his shoulder. Barton drove up to where Mugalen stood: ¡°Hey, you¡¯re in luck, actually managing to hunt as soon as you arrive.¡± ¡°` ¡°` Mugalen was somewhat unhappy when he heard that, ¡°This isn¡¯t luck, I¡¯m a Deer Hunter! I caught them with my skills! A rabbit and a fox, we¡¯re going to have a good meal tonight.¡± ¡°Bunnies are so cute, how can one eat bunnies!¡± A childlike voice suddenly came from the back seat, and Milani crawled out, a hint of anger in her eyes. Mugalen was startled, ¡°But you clearly ate a whole bowl last time!¡± ¡°Ah, that was rabbit meat?¡± Upon hearing the dreadful news, the light in Milani¡¯s eyes dimmed as she recalled how tasty the rabbit meat was, and tears involuntarily streamed down from the corners of her mouth. Barton couldn¡¯t help but pat Milani¡¯s head, ¡°Hahaha, don¡¯t be sad, Milani, next time Uncle will catch you a live one to keep as a pet!¡± Milani¡¯s eyes immediately sparkled again, ¡°Still for stew?¡± Barton: ¡°¡­¡± This little girl, why is her thought process so strange? Not cute at all like his son. Thinking of his son, Barton suddenly remembered that ever since his friend had come over to his house, Milani had gotten his son hooked on some Wilderness Survivalist¡¯s livestream. Usually, they wouldn¡¯t even respond to calls for dinner, so why did they think of coming out today? ¡°Master Fang has come ashore, right in Ireland, I think we might run into him!¡± Milani said seriously, ¡°Danny is so stupid, he didn¡¯t even respond when I called him, he has no clue what he¡¯s going to miss! What a dummy!¡± Milani was clearly unhappy that her little companion stayed at home to watch the livestream alone. Now that they were in the wild, the signal wasn¡¯t good, and the video was lagging. Barton and Mugalen exchanged a glance and laughed heartily, but didn¡¯t have the heart to burst the little girl¡¯s bubble. How could it be possible to just go out hunting and run into¡­ ¡°Duh dad, we¡¯re on TV!¡± Their laughs froze, and they both looked at Milani¡¯s phone at the same time. ??? A big question mark appeared over the heads of Barton and Mugalen, then Barton looked up and suddenly noticed the drone above, pressing down on Mugalen¡¯s head to look up at the sky. A drone was hovering silently overhead. All of their conversation had been captured. [Holy crap, Old Fang, even here you encounter your fans?] [Fans know no borders] [Awesome, that little girl is so cute, I think I could wait ten years] [One shouldn¡¯t, at least probably not] [One should, at least give it a try] [Wow, life¡¯s getting more predictable by the day.] ¡°Hello there?¡± Bi Fang slowly walked out from the forest. Through the bullet comments, he¡¯d figured out the identities of these people, who would at least not be bad folks since they brought their daughter out with them. Mugalen was at a loss, not expecting that they would actually run into him just like that. His gaze towards Bi Fang was complex. This was the guy who had captivated his daughter these past few days. He had thought that she wanted to come out to see her father¡¯s brave hunting pose, but it turned out it was still because of this man. Mugalen felt as if he had lost something, the little coat draped over him getting colder and colder. Barton, on the other hand, was very cheerful. He got out of the car to greet Bi Fang enthusiastically and invited him to visit their home. His boy practically idolized Bi Fang; running into him just like this would make him crazy happy! ¡°The town is just at the foot of the mountain, we¡¯ll be there in a bit, no difference, right? My son is your fan; he must be watching the livestream right now. He¡¯d go crazy if he found out I didn¡¯t bring you home!¡± ¡°Well then, sorry to trouble you.¡± Bi Fang, hearing there was another little fan waiting for him, felt too embarrassed to refuse and immediately agreed. He also noticed the little girl in the car and the man next to her whose gaze revealed some hostility. He stiffened, what was going on? Did he say something wrong? Why did this man have hostility towards him? ¡°` Chapter 258: 255 Overwhelming Situation Chapter 258: Chapter 255 Overwhelming Situation Four people in a car, they set off for the small town at the foot of the mountain in a grand manner. Everyone in the car was having a great time, except for the serious-faced Mugalen. The cheerful laughter was like a siren¡¯s song to his ears; seeing his adorable daughter¡¯s smiling face, Mugalen felt like he had lost something important. Especially when he noticed Milani¡¯s gaze furtively glancing at the pouch around Bi Fang¡¯s waist, the longing in her eyes made him uncomfortable. It appeared to be some animal¡¯s teeth inside the pouch, combining that with the livestream they had watched the day before, it must be shark teeth. Mugalen didn¡¯t give much thought to mere shark teeth. It was a bit dangerous to kill a two-meter shark with bare hands, but it wasn¡¯t difficult for him, a member of the Deer Hunter Elite Special Forces, as long as he didn¡¯t run into a school of sharks, then he could have as many shark teeth as he wanted. But he understood that such shark teeth held a completely different value in his daughter¡¯s heart; they weren¡¯t collectible shark teeth. The so-called raffle was only drawn among Huaxia¡¯s audience; his daughter had no chance of getting them. No choice then¡­ A fierce glint flashed in Mugalen¡¯s eyes, anger rose in his heart, and he reached out his large hand to grab the passenger seat¡­ ¡°Hey, can I trade this fox and rabbit for two of your teeth?¡± He grasped two fluffy prey, trying to strike a deal with Bi Fang, ¡°I killed both with a single blow, especially the fox, the fur is still in decent condition, can I exchange for two teeth?¡± Having decided to trade, he might as well get two, to bring one back for the Barton¡¯s kid as well. If that didn¡¯t work¡­ Then there was no other option. Mugalen sighed in his heart. Bi Fang was engrossed in a pleasant conversation with Milani when he was suddenly interrupted by Mugalen. After pondering for a moment, he unhooked the pouch from his waist, rustled around in it, and handed two of the largest and finest shark teeth to the eager Milani. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°And one more is for Danny, be careful with it, it¡¯s very sharp, don¡¯t hurt yourself.¡± ¡°Mhm!¡± Milani¡¯s eyes sparkled as she treasured the two shark teeth in her hands as if they were precious gems. Bi Fang smiled and patted the girl¡¯s head, turned to look at Mugalen, ¡°No need to trade, you just prepare them, and we¡¯ll all enjoy a meal together, how about that?¡± ¡°No problem!¡± Before Mugalen could reply, Barton at his side already cheerfully agreed. Since the game was hunted together, it was abundant everywhere. He took the initiative to agree, planning to host them at his house, and the game they had caught would be perfect for entertaining their guests. Perfect! [Damn, Old Fang has charm that even wins over little girls!] [Speaking of which, shouldn¡¯t Master Fang reek of fish right now?] [Nonsense, a fairy¡¯s fart smells sweet, how could a male fairy stink?] [Ah¡­ makes sense, into the Ganges River you go.] At this moment, however, Mugalen felt like a rooster with its throat snatched, his presence among the four had diminished to its lowest, and a sense of dissatisfaction began to well up inside him. ¡°I¡¯m in too.¡± ¡°What?¡± Bi Fang was confused, not understanding what Mugalen meant. Seeing Bi Fang clueless, Mugalen suddenly felt a sense of superiority as he finally delivered his line, ¡°The Discovery Channel is organizing a second wilderness program, it¡¯s a multi-person competition, I¡¯ve signed up for it, are you interested?¡± Milani finally remembered her father, who was as inconspicuous as the air, ¡°My dad is with the Deer Hunter Troop, he¡¯s awesome!¡± ¡°Deer Hunter?¡± A touch of peculiarity flickered in Bi Fang¡¯s eyes; he had a certain understanding of many special forces units around the world. If there were special forces that were particularly adept at jungle warfare, the Deer Hunters were definitely one of the best. The live-stream chat was also drawn to the name of this unit. The Deer Hunters sounded like a formidable opponent, more like a hunter unit than a special forces one. Indeed, many military enthusiasts thoroughly understood, enthusiastically educating other viewers. As Bi Fang¡¯s followers kept increasing, the chat had all sorts of people. [Damn, a unit made up of hunters? Sounds badass.] [Speaking of which, has the Discovery Channel already begun preparing a second program?] [A multiplayer event? Want to see it. Will Old Fang participate? It¡¯ll be a sweep!] ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± In that moment, Mugalen smiled. He was eager to know if Bi Fang would join, for if he could win against him on the show, he might just win back his daughter¡­ well, the reputation as the number one Wilderness Survivalist. Mugalen knew that the other party was from Hunter Academy, but that referred to hunters in the literal sense, essentially a special forces training camp, different from his own profession as a hunter. Don¡¯t put too much faith in novels, movies, or television shows portraying special forces soldiers; in terms of wilderness survival, they generally don¡¯t match up to professional hunters. This wasn¡¯t to belittle them; rather, it was a single-sided comparison. Modern special forces weren¡¯t all-knowing as some might believe, and when it came to hand-to-hand combat, they weren¡¯t necessarily stronger than professional fighters unless they were among the elite, like a team captain. The true strength of special forces lay in their firearm proficiency, sniping, demolitions, and teamwork. They excelled at various tactical arrangements and strategic awareness, as well as obedience¡ªskills that hunters couldn¡¯t hope to match. If both sides were fully prepared, a small squad of special forces could easily wipe out a large group of hunters, whether in an urban setting or the jungle. Of course, if the hunters avoided contact and engaged in a war of attrition in the jungle, that would be a different story. After all, times had changed; so-called martial arts masters were no longer merely the strongest brutes in physical combat. Being proficient with firearms and well-versed in various tactics and knowledge was the real skill. But Mugalen was proficient in both worlds. Coming from a family of hunters and having received special training, he was a marksman of exceptional talent. Even if Bi Fang, who hadn¡¯t upgraded his Wilderness Survival Skill to the orange master level, had to admit that the other party was a formidable opponent. ¡°What do you say? Will you participate? It¡¯s a wilderness survival event with at least five people.¡± [Feels like this guy is a bit arrogant. Old Fang, accept his challenge!] [Right, let others see what real skill is!] [Speaking of which, why wasn¡¯t Master Fang informed about such an awesome show? Do they think he¡¯s too high-level (dog¡¯s head)?] Bi Fang¡¯s eyes gleamed. Contrary to what everyone assumed, he actually¡­ knew about the show. Moreover, he had already participated, but his involvement differed from Mugalen¡¯s expectation. When the Discovery Channel approached him, they had arranged for two programs: the first one, with unknown content, was the current ocean survival plan; the second was the Wilderness Arena, which he knew entirely about, even more clearly than Mugalen, a contestant. However, at the time, the program team didn¡¯t want him to participate directly in the competition but instead¡­ serve as a judge. He was set to act as an authoritative figure, scoring the remaining members at the end of the show to determine the ultimate champion. Bi Fang had calculated the timing. The broadcasting of the show would happen just a few years after the conclusion of his current live stream; it was also during the annual Spring Break period of Huaxia. He didn¡¯t plan to stream during that time but rather to take a proper rest. How could he miss out on being a judge, an easy yet entertaining task? Watching Mugalen, whose eyes were ablaze with the fires of combat, Bi Fang felt uneasy being too blunt, lest others think he had grown arrogant with fame. He offered a noncommittal response. ¡°I will participate.¡± ¡°Oh! Really?¡± Mugalen, excited, reached out and firmly shook Bi Fang¡¯s hand, ¡°Then, I look forward to our next encounter.¡± Bi Fang smiled. ¡°You will.¡± Chapter 259: 256 Wilderness Hunter Chapter 259: Chapter 256 Wilderness Hunter The sun had reached its zenith when Bi Fang finally arrived at the town at the foot of the mountain. He looked around, to the north lay a forest teeming with high mountains and dense clouds, and to the south was a European town brimming with the vigor of life, situated at the border between the North Atlantic and the inland. At this moment, it was the warmest time of day, the streets were gradually bustling with activity, a competent and beautiful landlady stood at her doorstep greeting familiar customers, fishmongers and fruit vendors had set up their stalls out on the street, and the air was filled with the salty sea breeze and the aroma of coffee. Cars drove by. There was a sign in front of the town with some English on it, probably the town¡¯s name, but it was somewhat abstract, and Bi Fang couldn¡¯t make it out at a glance. The streets of the town still exuded the atmosphere of the last century, flanked by stone houses, with merchants hanging blue batik signs in front of their shops, and the occasional modern structure was a two- or three-story building, with blooming shrubs planted in between the buildings. The audience from Huaxia, most of whom lived either in cities or rural areas, had never seen such an authentically flavored European town and found everything novel and curious. Barton parked his car in the garage of the courtyard, and upon opening the car door, he heard the sound of the tides. They couldn¡¯t see the sea, yet they could distinctly feel its presence, with a small mountain separating them from it, the sound of the tides echoed between heaven and earth. Since the town was surrounded by mountains and beyond them were steep cliffs, ships couldn¡¯t dock, so naturally, there were no harbors. To reach the nearest bay, one would have to drive for about an hour through forest trails, which is why many places still retained their era-specific character. Bi Fang took in the warm scents of the street with flared nostrils, feeling as though he had returned to the human world. ¡°It¡¯s over,¡± he said. A breath full of sea-scented turbidity was gently exhaled, and Bi Fang, looking at his live stream, showed a smile. The audience, seeing this familiar smile, vaguely sensed what was coming. [Ah, is it ending?] [No way, is it ending this quickly?] [Wori, it¡¯s only day twenty, there¡¯s still one day left, refund my ticket!] [Exactly, there¡¯s still one day left.] ¡°I can¡¯t help it, I¡¯ve completely returned to human society,¡± Bi Fang said as he pointed to the street beside him, with passersby occasionally walking past, curiously sizing up this outsider, as if he had arrived in a paradise. ¡°The conditions at sea are extremely harsh, it¡¯s a vast blue desert with no resources, no tools, and even water is hard to come by, with part of one¡¯s destiny already controlled by nature. But at all times, we must remember that the will to survive is paramount. Never give up, never get discouraged, keep your spirits high, and even if your body¡¯s last bit of energy is squeezed out, do not fall, let your will dominate your body. That is also why I¡¯ve always kept the helicopter at a distance. Its presence would give me a way out; once the will weakens, it¡¯s not a true survival adventure. With a firm belief, even someone like Pan Lian, a common man with no basis in survival, can unleash potential that is hard to imagine for most people.¡± ¡°Without further ado, this is where the sea survival live stream ends. Next time, I might be on the other side of the Earth, a brand new corner untouched by humans, waiting for you.¡± Bi Fang gave a two-finger salute, then the live stream went black before the eyes of the eagerly watching audience. But after a few seconds, the screen lit up again, and everyone perked up. Had it returned? The screen lit up not with Bi Fang¡¯s image but two turtles in the midst of completing their life¡¯s great harmony. It was a pre-set loop video. Yeah, really over! [Wait for the edited highlights, eagerly.] [May the heavens and earth bless me so that I may draw a shark tooth in the lottery.] [Admiring, I don¡¯t dare to hope to win the lottery, but to be accepted into the group would be a success.] [Upstairs has been single for twenty years, let me win the shark tooth.] After the live stream disconnected, the audience¡¯s enthusiasm not only didn¡¯t wane but grew even stronger, looking forward to becoming the Lucky Emperor. On the other side, Bi Fang also arrived at the Barton household, where he met another little fan, Danny, who showed even more exaggerated enthusiasm than Milani, his face brimming with happiness as he took hold of the Shark Tooth. Barton arranged a room for Bi Fang directly, saying he should stay the night before leaving. Bi Fang, unable to resist such warmth, accepted after speaking with the production team. Afterwards, he took a bath, washing away all the fishy smell from his body, and shaved his beard, emerging a completely refreshed man. The two little guys¡¯ eyes shone even brighter. That evening, the Barton couple and their family, along with Milani, Mugalen, and the visiting Bi Fang, six people in total, enjoyed a lavish dinner to celebrate Bi Fang¡¯s successful survival. Glasses clinked and conversations crossed. After the lively festivities, Bi Fang returned to his room, lay on the modern industrial product, and almost fell asleep as his head hit the pillow. The feeling of enduring countless hardships and then resting in the city was simply too delightful. After dozing for a moment, Bi Fang calmed his mind and began to check the rewards for this live broadcast mission. [Ding! Congratulations to the Host for completing the mission: Riding the Wind and Waves. The rewards are being issued, would you like to claim them?] Claim! [Detected that the Host has completed the task with high efficiency, your final reward includes the minimum guaranteed reward: Intermediate Skill Upgrade Coupon*1, Shark Muscle Strengthening Coupon*1. Additional rewards: Wilderness Points*2000, Enhancement Points*3, Identity Change Coupon*1] sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang¡¯s spirits lifted as soon as he saw the completion rate of the task, knowing that his initial thoughts were correct, reaching land indeed made a difference compared to drifting and surviving for twenty-one days. An unprecedented grand harvest! Just the Wilderness Points alone amounted to two thousand! This was the first time his points had exceeded the two thousand mark! The remaining coupons were all valuable too, not to mention the Identity Change Coupon, the special forces identity had given Bi Fang a significant boost, and it would continue to be very useful as it could evolve with the advancement of his skills. The Shark Muscle Strengthening Coupon was just as good; it targeted the serratus anterior muscle, which connects the shoulder blades, chest muscles, and obliques. Because it looked like gills of a shark, it was named the shark muscle; not only does it sound imposing but also looks it, and it is one of the characteristics of human aesthetics. However, this muscle is extremely difficult to develop, but once mastered, the benefits are immense, noticeably enhancing overall strength and explosive power, hence deemed the boxer¡¯s muscle, one of the core muscle groups. Yoga has a significant effect on it, but up till now, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t made any notable progress which showed the difficulty level. Fortunately, the System¡¯s reward gave him a direct upgrade. However, whether it was the Strengthening Coupon or the Identity Change Coupon, in Bi Fang¡¯s eyes, neither was as important as another coupon, the Intermediate Skill Enhancement Coupon! Bi Fang had received such a coupon before, but none were as important as the current Intermediate coupon. Because, he still had an Advanced Skill Progression Coupon. As soon as he leveled up his Purple Wilderness Survival Skill lv4 to the maximum, he would acquire his very first Orange Legendary Skill! Without hesitation, upgrade! A purple light flashed, and the Wilderness Survival lv4 had now turned into Wilderness Survival lv5, the prerequisite condition was fulfilled! Bi Fang found the Advanced Skill Upgrade Coupon, took deep breaths continuously. In his past life as a professional, he only had some Green Skills which were the result of years of dedicated practice. The System gave him the opportunity to peek at greater heights, allowing him to experience views seldom touched by the common folk. Without skills, he couldn¡¯t have calmly assessed the situation under the Black Bear¡¯s attack, driving away the threat. He couldn¡¯t have led his team step by step away from danger when encountering a pack of wolves, setting traps, and formulating counterattack plans targeting the wolves¡¯ weaknesses. He couldn¡¯t have defeated prehistoric creatures that had lived in an Underground Cave for hundreds of millions of years. And it was impossible to triumph over armed poachers equipped with thermal weapons using only cold weapons, traversing three thousand kilometers to escort Geese home through the night. Bi Fang closed his eyes, scenes from the past constantly flickered through his mind, and after three minutes, he exhaled and reopened his eyes. By pressing this coupon, he would truly become a top master in this field! Bi Fang¡¯s expression was solemn as his finger slowly pressed down. A burst of orange light exploded into view. [Ding! Congratulations to the Host for successfully advancing the skill. The quality has been updated to Orange: Wilderness Hunter lv1] Chapter 260: 257 The First Legendary Skill Chapter 260: Chapter 257 The First Legendary Skill Orange light flashed brilliantly! A torrent of knowledge, experience, and techniques flooded his mind. Bi Fang squinted instinctively, feeling a heaviness in his brain and goosebumps all over his body, with a shiver enveloping his soul. This enhancement was unprecedented, evolving from purple to Orange Legend, a leap in improvement far greater than any previous skill advancement. The bright light receded, and the description of the upgraded skill appeared on the panel. Wilderness Hunter lv1: No one knows the wilderness better than you. Your understanding of the wilderness has reached the pinnacle of mastery, almost the limit of the current human society level, with your own interpretation and innovation in Wilderness Survival turning into a biological instinct; you are a legend in your own right. Legendary Ability: Wild Instinct. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Wild Instinct: You have your own inherent perception of danger, but this newly awakened ability seems not very powerful. Bi Fang sat down heavily on the bed, his brain pounding with pain. The leap from purple to orange was too great, almost a torturous force-feeding sensation. Fortunately, with the aid of the skill tree, the newly acquired knowledge quickly integrated with the old system, and Bi Fang gradually recovered. He immediately noticed his new talent, Beastly Instinct. Past system descriptions had been quite scant, but it seemed Orange Legend was an exception, providing extensive explanations and many details not previously available. Understanding his legendary ability, Bi Fang cherished it like a treasure. He did not treat Beastly Instinct as just another skill but as a talent. A very useful talent. Humans who have lived in cities for a long time are often very slow to perceive danger, having degenerated to an extent that is almost beyond recovery. But it¡¯s different for wild beasts living in the wilderness. Even ordinary animals become uneasy before an earthquake strikes, whereas humans remain oblivious, indicating how much this ability has degenerated. Top predators are the best among them. One typical example is the tiger, which possesses an extremely keen perception of danger. If you were to hunt a tiger with a bow and arrow, the tiger might sense the danger and instinctively jump away to avoid it before you even draw the bow. Now it¡¯s different. From now on, as Bi Fang traverses the wilderness, Beastly Instinct might just save his life, as the body¡¯s instinctive reactions are much faster than conscious thought. It¡¯s just uncertain to what extent it can do so. Bi Fang gazed at the last comment about Beastly Instinct, puzzled by the vague concepts of ¡°just awakened¡± and ¡°seems not very strong,¡± which were thought-provoking. Could it detect a venomous snake hiding in the dead leaves or a hungry beast eyeing its prey? Wild beasts that live permanently in the same environment encounter only fixed dangers. A creature from the rainforest will never survive in the desert. Perhaps it could handle a Bamboo Viper but not necessarily a Rattlesnake. But Bi Fang was different; he would go to any corner of the world and needed a much stronger adaptability¡­ Well, he¡¯d experiment more when the opportunity arises. Bi Fang closed the panel, extremely satisfied. The rewards aside, just upgrading the purple Wilderness Survival to the orange Wilderness Hunter made everything he had done worthwhile, not to mention the additional derivative skill. However, having reached the orange domain, Bi Fang suddenly learned new information. Upgrading skills above the legendary level required Enhancement Points¡­ Currently, upgrading an orange skill by one level needed an Advanced Skill Upgrade Coupon plus one Enhancement Point. As his physical data continued to improve, Bi Fang could feel that the effect of the fifteenth Enhancement Point was actually not as strong as the thirteenth, but the decline wasn¡¯t significant and still within the ideal range. However, it was clear that the returns would diminish further in the future, something Bi Fang had known from the start and was not surprised by. It seemed that he had to be more careful with the allocation of Enhancement Points in the future. He needed to carefully compare the benefits of increasing physical data versus skill upgrades. Bi Fang didn¡¯t immediately use the remaining coupons but instead checked the shop to see if there was anything worth buying. There indeed was, an Achilles Tendon Enhancement Coupon worth six hundred points, which could increase the length and strength of the tendon. Purchased. Without hesitation, Bi Fang bought it. A longer Achilles tendon meant higher explosiveness and speed. Such an attribute is predetermined by genetics and cannot be lengthened later in life; the average person¡¯s tendon is about 15 centimeters, while the sprint king Bolt possessed an unprecedented over forty-centimeter tendon. Amidst his excitement, Bi Fang purchased some shoes and equipment. After his third set of ten consecutive draws, the system finally delivered its second prompt¡ªthe rewards for hunting the shark! He clicked to generate the spoils of battle, and a huge shark tooth, over six centimeters in length, appeared on the necklace. [Ding! You have triggered a loot reward enhancement: Biological Sensing.] [Biological Sensing] Ability Introduction: You will possess the same electromagnetic sensing ability as a shark to detect the presence of prey. Bi Fang was taken aback after reading the introduction. Previous enhancements involved inheriting the distinctive abilities of prey. He¡¯d contemplated possessing many of the shark¡¯s abilities, but he never dared to imagine that he¡¯d actually gain an electro-sense like a shark¡¯s. How is that possible? Does this mean he could directly discover creatures tens of kilometers away in the future? No, that¡¯s not right! Bi Fang, whose mind had been clouded by the huge surprise, suddenly realized something was amiss. If it truly was like the shark¡¯s, why didn¡¯t he feel anything? Logically, the Barton couple were just upstairs, yet he sensed nothing from them. After calming down, Bi Fang furrowed his brows in thought and suddenly realized a problem¡ªwater and air have completely different conductivities! On land, this ability was essentially useless! Could it only be used in water? Bi Fang¡¯s brows gradually relaxed. Indeed, if he could directly sense the existence of creatures tens of kilometers away on land, then he might as well start considering whether he could evolve into Superman or Magneto. Moreover, the strength of the ability was dubious. The system only mentioned the ability was the same, but it didn¡¯t specify if the strength was the same. Judging by the Wolf King¡¯s Sense of Smell, it was definitely weakened. As he was contemplating the strength of his new ability, Bi Fang suddenly thought of the large fish tank in the Barton family¡¯s living room¡­ Squeak¡­ The door was quietly opened a crack, and Bi Fang peered through the gap to check the situation in the living room. There was no one around; everyone had gone back to their rooms to rest after dinner, and not a single light shone in the living room in the middle of the night. Bi Fang tiptoed over to the fish tank. Gazing at the pitch-black fish tank, he slowly dipped his hand into it, closed his eyes, and truly, a vague sense of detection emerged in his mind! Bi Fang was overjoyed and immediately concentrated, trying to sense more. One, two, three¡­ A total of eight little fish, different from the seven he saw in the afternoon¡ªperhaps he had missed one then. The sensing was quite clear; he could even vaguely determine the size of the fish, but the intensity felt much weaker. Bi Fang opened his eyes and pondered silently. The fish tank was roughly two meters long; he could sense the other end, but the clarity became somewhat blurred as the distance increased, judging from this. Normally, he should be able to sense down to twenty to thirty meters underwater. That¡¯s powerful! Far from being disappointed, Bi Fang was actually quite pleased. Twenty to thirty meters was not a short distance; for Wilderness Survival, it was definitely a powerful tool. As long as there were fish in the river, they couldn¡¯t escape the palm of his hand! While he was excited¡­ Pat. The light turned on. Danny, who got up to use the toilet at night, rubbed his eyes and looked at Bi Fang, standing proudly in front of the fish tank, his movements gradually slowing down. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Chapter 261: 258: I am not the same person I was yesterday Chapter 261: Chapter 258: I am not the same person I was yesterday Bi Fang gripped a handful of shark teeth and stuffed them into a small hand. Watching Danny head back home happily, even forgetting to use the bathroom, Bi Fang sighed in relief. He had finally fooled the kid. Standing in front of someone else¡¯s fish tank in the dead of night without turning on the lights, if one didn¡¯t know the reason, they would likely think that person was a bit off. Fortunately, this kid was only eight years old, and a handful of shark teeth had done the trick. After determining his abilities, Bi Fang returned to his bedroom, used up all the remaining enhancement tickets, enhancement points, and the promotion tickets he had won in the lottery, and then drifted off to sleep amid a warm coziness. The next morning, feeling incredibly refreshed and invigorated, Bi Fang looked out at the sunshine and happily opened the panel. [Unique Binder: Bi Fang] [Growth Age: 24] [Height: 184cm] [Mass: 79KG] [Strength: 14] [Physique: 15] [Agility: 14] [Spirit: 15] [Status: Good] [Enhancement Points: 0] [Wilderness Points: 83] Orange Tree Crown: Wilderness Hunter lv1 Purple Tree Trunk: Advanced Yoga lv1, Special Recon Soldier lv2. Blue Tree Trunk: Pilates lv3, High-altitude Parachuting lv3, Tai Chi Traveling Dragon lv2, Archery lv1, Rock Climbing lv1, Biological Identification lv1, Swimming lv1. Green Tree Trunk: Foot Orienteering lv5, First Aid lv5, Calisthenics lv3, Running lv3. Special Talent: Beastly Instinct. Spoils of War Skills: Wolf King¡¯s Sense of Smell, King Fish¡¯s Stomach, Biological Sensing. Bi Fang was extremely satisfied with his gains this time. The lottery prizes from yesterday included a few promotion tickets and a bit of enhancement points for spirit, but that wasn¡¯t the reason for the collective upgrade of many skills; it was the ¡°feedback¡± from the Wilderness Hunter skill. This had to be the most significant leap in Bi Fang¡¯s strengths to date. In the past, whether facing a pack of wolves, prehistoric creatures, or even poachers, Bi Fang often had to pay a price, sustaining light injuries and barely managing to win, sometimes even exhausting himself. But now, with the additions of Blue Tai Chi Traveling Dragon, Purple Special Recon Soldier, and Orange Wilderness Hunter, if Bi Fang were to revisit his past adventures, he was confident he could emerge unscathed. To make a more current comparison, yesterday¡¯s Bi Fang would have considered Mugalen a formidable opponent, but today, Mugalen posed much less of a threat to him. The limit represented by the orange skill in human society was not to be taken lightly. Of course, it wasn¡¯t to say there was no threat at all, after all, Bi Fang was still competing within the realm of humanity. Even a boxing champion, if caught off guard, could be injured by a child wielding a sharp blade; one should never be careless at any time. Bi Fang sat up in bed, his bones cracking pleasantly as he stretched his body as much as possible. At the same time, he lifted up his shirt and saw the clearly defined abs, the serratus anterior muscles which were barely lined before had now slightly bulged, with clear and supple lines, resembling shark gills. With each breath, they appeared extremely explosive. Then lifting up his pant leg, the muscles on his calves had become more defined. Bi Fang made a rough estimate; the length of his tendons had grown from fifteen to about twenty-two or twenty-three, providing a feeling of being lighter, swifter, and more powerful in his jumps than before! Bi Fang couldn¡¯t resist performing a combination of moves. His body broke into a light sweat, and he felt energized; this enhancement could only be described with one word. Satisfying! It was mainly due to the continuous accumulation that led to the appearance of the orange Skill. If he had not strived for ¡°perfect¡± achievement in every task, he would never have reaped such a huge reward within half a year. If he just completed the tasks by the book, the emergence of the Orange Legend might have been indefinitely postponed, with the time requirement at least doubling. Someone else wouldn¡¯t have dared to undertake those hazardous side missions. Now, Bi Fang could truly be considered a master of Wilderness Survival, not the slightest bit intimidated, even if a Bear Grylls or Grandpa De were to suddenly appear in this world. After washing up, Bi Fang joined Barton¡¯s family for breakfast in the living room, completely ignoring Danny¡¯s excited expression about ¡°having a secret between us, now we¡¯re good friends¡± and just focused on eating his meal. That¡¯s what he said last night, but is yesterday¡¯s Bi Fang the same as today¡¯s Bi Fang? Of course not. Is there a problem? No problem. Not only Danny, but Mugalen and Barton too kept glancing at Bi Fang, feeling that there was something different about him today compared to yesterday. But they couldn¡¯t pinpoint the difference; it was just a sense of danger, and nobody could guess the existence of a System that could increase someone¡¯s strength overnight. After thinking it over for a while, they could only attribute it to Bi Fang having had a good night¡¯s rest, looking more vigorous than before, thereby creating an illusion of greater prowess. After breakfast, Bi Fang still did not rush to contact the show¡¯s production team but accepted the invitation from Barton and Mugalen to go hunting on the mountain, taking the two little ones along. ¡°Is it okay to bring them along?¡± Bi Fang looked at the two children playing in the back seat ¨C he¡¯d wanted to ask this yesterday. ¡°It¡¯s fine, let them come out and gain some experience,¡± Barton said, waving his hand. ¡°My car is bulletproof, and they won¡¯t get out of the car anyway. Even if we come across a giant moose, it won¡¯t be a problem. Besides, there¡¯s not much in these mountains. I grew up here and know everything like the back of my hand. In the winter, there are just some rabbits and foxes, nothing else.¡± Bi Fang nodded thoughtfully while examining the hunting rifle in his hand, his emotions fluctuating slightly. Although the existence of system Skills ensured that he could shoot, and even be quite good at it, this was still Bi Fang¡¯s first time hunting with a gun. Charging the bolt is a man¡¯s romance. ¡°How about it? The competition is in half a month, shall we have a little competition of our own first?¡± Mugalen couldn¡¯t stop polishing his beloved gun, looking at Bi Fang with a challenging expression. He¡¯d been hunting at a friend¡¯s place these past two days partly to take his daughter out but also to get a feel for the upcoming competition. Winning the final competition would bring a reward of a whole hundred thousand US dollars! A huge fortune! All you had to do was participate in a ten-day wilderness competition and win the first place to get it. ¡°What do you say?¡± Until now, Mugalen still thought Bi Fang was one of his competitors and saw him as the biggest threat, not knowing that whether or not he could win the final prize of a hundred thousand dollars depended on whether Bi Fang nodded his head¡­ ¡°Sure!¡± Bi Fang agreed, finding some stress-free hunting activities intriguing ¨C a suitable way to relax after completing a mission. Seeing Bi Fang¡¯s agreement, Mugalen¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement, having awaited this moment to reaffirm his image in front of his daughter! Barton shook his head, cursing that damned competitive urge. When the SUV reached the spot where they had encountered Bi Fang the day before, the two competitors alighted from the vehicle while Barton followed in the car. As soon as they stepped into the wilderness, Bi Fang instantly felt that something was different. His gaze swept over the forest, and in just one look, he spotted no fewer than three places suitable for setting traps. Analyzing both the environment and the location, he deduced which animals frequently appeared and what kind of traps would increase the success rate of the hunt! He even noticed traces of two rabbits that had passed by; by following the tracks and scent, there was an eighty percent chance of capturing them. Bi Fang¡¯s eyelids twitched as he recalled the description of Wilderness Hunter. A personal understanding and creation of survival skills transformed into a biological instinct. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Instinct, huh? Bi Fang looked down at Mugalen, who was still searching for tracks, and a smile couldn¡¯t help but form on his face. Chapter 262: 259: Is There a Reward for Second Place? Chapter 262: Chapter 259: Is There a Reward for Second Place? ¡°There¡¯s something here!¡± Mugalen walked slowly through the grass, searching for animal tracks. As a member of the Deer Hunters, there was no doubt Mugalen had real skill. Less than two minutes after getting out of the car, he had found traces of prey in what seemed to the casual observer to be a uniform expanse of grass. A patch of flattened grass. With a look of pleasure, Mugalen was about to step forward for a closer examination when he suddenly remembered something. He consciously glanced at Bi Fang out of the corner of his eye to see if the other had made any discoveries, only to find nothing. There was nothing in the corner of his eye but a patch of green moss. Hmm? Where is he? How could such a big man just disappear? Mugalen was stunned. He turned to look at his side, only to find that Bi Fang, who had been standing behind him, had vanished without a trace. He couldn¡¯t believe his own eyes. The two of them had clearly gotten out of the car together. How could he suddenly be gone? He quickly turned back to ask Barton, who pointed in a direction. Following his gesture, Mugalen saw that Bi Fang had already walked deep into the forest, leaving only a small figure in the distance. Did he find something? That quickly? Mugalen hurried over, slowing his pace as he got close so as not to startle the prey. Barton followed in the car, stopping at a safe distance before getting out with the two youngsters to walk and see what Bi Fang had discovered. Barton, who had stayed in the car, saw it all very clearly. After Bi Fang got out, he seemed to look around casually and then purposefully started walking in a certain direction. This was completely different from Mugalen, who was searching everywhere for clues. That¡¯s impressive. Barton silently felt sorry for his friend. He wasn¡¯t very optimistic about the outcome of the competition, especially given the skill Bi Fang had just displayed in finding prey¡ªundoubtedly better than his friend¡¯s. By the time Mugalen caught up, Bi Fang had also found his target¡ª a rabbit in the midst of feeding. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°So soon?¡± Mugalen¡¯s pupils constricted, he had only just found the clues, but his opponent had already found the prey¡ª the speed was frighteningly fast! Finding clues and finding prey were two different things. Usually, hunters who found clues had to spend at least half an hour to truly track down their prey, not to mention actually finding it. What had the other done just now, found it with just a glance? It must be luck! Mugalen comforted himself with that thought. He too had experienced such fortune before; indeed, on a good day, one could come across prey right after heading out. ¡°Your turn?¡± Noting that Mugalen had caught up and thinking that he wanted to give it a try, Bi Fang whispered in a low voice and tilted his head to indicate the rabbit forty meters away. Mugalen waved his hand, lowering his voice just as much, ¡°No, no, no, you go ahead. You found it first.¡± Finding the prey counted as a win for the other party; after all, luck was part of one¡¯s strength, nothing to argue about. But whether he could catch it was another matter altogether. Bi Fang nodded without making a fuss, lowering his center of gravity and beginning to crawl toward the rabbit. Although he had a gun, the closer the distance, the better. Experienced hunters could get within fifteen meters of their prey, but Bi Fang stopped at thirty meters. It wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t go closer; he just didn¡¯t need to. He simply raised his gun to aim. This was an ordinary hunting rifle without a scope, so he had to use iron sights. Mugalen paused, then continued to follow behind Bi Fang, no longer caring about finding prey to compete. Although somewhat unethical, Mugalen had to admit that seeing Bi Fang find his prey within two minutes had given him a great shock, leaving him feeling pressured and not as confident about the competition half a month away as he had been at the start. So, he wanted to observe his opponent up close. There¡¯s a saying in Huaxia that goes well, ¡°Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be imperiled in a hundred battles.¡± Hmm, his footsteps are very steady, his Fox Step is exceedingly skilled, and the sound is barely detectable¡ªclearly the mark of a professional. But he¡¯s still a bit hasty. A normal person would first test the gun to familiarize themselves with its subtle differences. There aren¡¯t two guns in the world that are exactly the same¡ªeach one feels different, not to mention this is an old gun, the precision is very different from a new one. Don¡¯t be misled by the sharpshooters in movies, Mugalen¡¯s instructor once told him something that he remembers very clearly to this day. If someone is shooting at you with a handgun from fifteen meters away, just run¡ªthey have a ninety percent probability of missing. Thirty meters is still quite a distance, Mugalen clearly remembers that this gun shoots to the left. The first time handling this gun, the chances of hitting a target beyond thirty meters are very small. Yet, Bi Fang took the gun and without any intention of test-firing, went straight to using it, which is strange behavior for a special forces operator and shouldn¡¯t need reminding by anyone. Bi Fang is calm and focused, squatting on the ground, taking aim at the hare. Before he¡¯s ready, however, the hare suddenly stands upright, as if sensing danger, looking around, just about to turn their way. Mugalen¡¯s muscles tense, strung tight with anxiety. Just as he thinks of retreating, a gunshot raises his hackles. So fast! Gone! In that instant, two thoughts flash through Mugalen¡¯s mind one after the other. Bi Fang shot so quickly, Mugalen recalls that he had barely crouched before firing. How could it be possible to hit the target under such conditions! As expected, the fur of the hare in his sight is ruffled as the bullet grazes its back and embeds itself in the tree behind, sending bark flying¡ªthe shot had clearly missed! Startled, the hare springs into action, its powerful hind legs kicking up clods and grass. In just fractions of a second, the hare leaps forward seven or eight meters, nearly turning the thirty-meter distance into forty. But before Mugalen can even begin to feel regret, the sound of a bolt being pulled back rings out, a golden shell is ejected, and a second gunshot follows closely behind. Now two seconds have elapsed, and the hare has bounded nearly twenty meters, but it won¡¯t get away. An orange bullet enters from the left side of its body and exits the right, taking a substantial amount of fresh blood and fur with it. The immense force sends the hare flying through the air, only to drop to the ground lifelessly, without even a chance to cry out. Mugalen¡¯s pupils shrink to the size of pinpricks, an involuntary rasping noise emanates from his throat, his expression one of numb shock. Even Barton, observing from afar with two young ones hidden behind a tree, gapes in amazement, because as a fellow Hunter, he understands perfectly what just happened. The opponent fired two shots in extremely rapid succession, correcting for the bullet trajectory after the first, then striking a moving target at fifty meters with the second shot. Is this even human? The smell of gunpowder lightly lingers, Bi Fang sniffs, not quite accustomed to the scent, finding it pungent. He picks up the gun again, aiming at the downed hare, ¡°This gun¡¯s trajectory leans to the left. Otherwise, I would have hit with my first shot. You might want to change the barrel when you have time.¡± At this moment, Mugalen is completely speechless, his mind a blank, simply nodding without thinking. Seeing the other man silent, Bi Fang shakes his head and approaches the fallen hare. Now, it¡¯s utterly breathless, with an added bullet hole in its body. ¡°What a pity, the fur isn¡¯t in the best condition, plus the gunshots are too loud and the smell of blood too strong. Though hunting with a gun is convenient, it has quite a few downsides.¡± Bi Fang shakes his head and casually picks up the hare. By now, Mugalen has somewhat recovered from his brief shock and finally reacts, coming up to Bi Fang with a complex expression, as if wanting but hesitating to speak. Bi Fang, sensing something amiss, asks with a smile, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Mugalen is silent for a moment before finally speaking with difficulty. ¡°Is there a reward for coming in second?¡± Chapter 263: 260 New Years Chapter 263: Chapter 260 New Year¡¯s ¡°` Finding the prey directly could be explained by luck. But Bi Fang¡¯s recent feat of rapid-firing dual guns and swiftly hitting a moving target fifty meters away after calibrating the bullet trajectory was an extreme operation that left Mugalen utterly unable to utter the words ¡°luck.¡± Absolute strength had crushed everything, at least Mugalen himself completely couldn¡¯t do it. Calibrating bullet trajectories was not that simple, not to mention the time was so short¡­ Such a performance was enough to prove that the other party didn¡¯t forgo the test shot; he merely regarded the first shot as the test shot. How confident was that? Confident enough to fire a second shot before the rabbit could escape and hit it accurately? Should one say that it was no wonder he came from Hunter Academy? Mugalen had never been to Hunter Academy, but he had heard of the harsh training there. However, were the graduates really that strong? ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t understand the other person¡¯s thought process. What second place? Wasn¡¯t it just a private comparison between two people? Why was there also a reward? If you want to eat rabbit meat, just say it! The mindsets of a judge and a contestant were completely different. Things that Mugalen cared about didn¡¯t concern Bi Fang at all, who was now completely confused. Thinking the other party was admitting defeat jokingly, he exercised the traditional virtue of the Huaxia people: modesty. ¡°Luck, it was all luck.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Mugalen looked complex and skeptical, ¡°Those two shots just now can¡¯t be explained by luck.¡± ¡°Ha, you mean this?¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s no big deal. After all, my hunting in the wild is primitive hunting; I don¡¯t use guns.¡± S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hmm? Mugalen was taken aback as if sunshine had pierced through the night, and dawn stealthily edged across the sky, he had an epiphany. Right, how good can one be with a gun? During the competition, guns couldn¡¯t be carried anyway; it all came down to primitive hunting skills. He had started learning hunting with his grandfather at the age of three, caught his first prey using a trap at eight, learned to make large traps by thirteen, hunted a fifty-kilogram deer with a spear at sixteen, could go into the mountains alone by eighteen and dared to enter the mountains barehanded at twenty. By twenty-four, he joined the Deer Hunter Troop and was definitely among the best in primitive hunting. Thinking this, Mugalen¡¯s eyes blazed with a fighting spirit. Looking at Bi Fang, he said earnestly, ¡°You win this time, but I will not give up easily!¡± Bi Fang: ¡°¡­?¡± With that, Mugalen left to find his own prey. As Bi Fang watched Mugalen¡¯s retreating figure, he was puzzled but didn¡¯t dwell on it, continuing his search for his own prey. The feeling of pulling the bolt had been too great; guns were not allowed in his country, so he wanted to take advantage of the rare opportunity as much as possible. Unfortunately, the recent gunshot had frightened away many nearby game animals, requiring Bi Fang to hunt further away. This was also why he didn¡¯t test fire at first¡ªit was too troublesome. By noon, watching Bi Fang return with three rabbits and a fox, Mugalen silently hid the only wild rabbit he had caught. It seemed he just had bad luck today. A group of five people took out a barbecue grill from the car and started a wild barbecue. Differing from Bi Fang¡¯s first wild rabbit outing, this time there were all sorts of seasonings available. With the high heat of the charcoal, enough oil brushed on, and a generous sprinkling of spices, even the tough rabbit meat could be made to taste quite good. In the afternoon, Bi Fang said goodbye to the reluctant Milani and Danny, contacted the production crew, and took a plane back to Ugly Country. After meeting Jerret and a few staff members, they first discussed the details of the next program, Wilderness Arena. Then, Jerret handed the list of contestants to Bi Fang and proposed a big dinner to celebrate the perfect conclusion of this program. After handling everything, Bi Fang returned to the hotel. However, before he could rest, Disney called again; they had some issues they wanted to resolve while Bi Fang was still in Ugly Country. ¡°` ¡°Ah, it¡¯s really busy,¡± Bi Fang sighed. Truly feeling the pressure of popularity, there wasn¡¯t a moment to stop, with endless matters to deal with. He was suffering and enjoying it at the same time, but who could complain when the numbers in his bank account kept soaring? He hadn¡¯t done the math, but Bi Fang conservatively estimated that his balance might have exceeded a hundred million¡­ Most of it came from Disney, and there was still a portion of the residual earnings to be collected. The production of animated series also gave him a slice of the pie. And that was without accepting any advertisement endorsements. If he did, there would be even more. In his past life as well as this one, this was the first time Bi Fang enjoyed the feeling of being rich. This kind of cash flow that he could fully control and didn¡¯t come from running a company eradicated all his financial stress. He could travel wherever he desired. Bi Fang was already considering whether to buy a vehicle. He had always envied those costly ¡°toys.¡± Just as Bi Fang was pondering, he suddenly realized he had overlooked something. After thinking for a while, he remembered he still had an unused ¡°identity change ticket.¡± The ¡°language ticket¡± was not urgent; it could be used when needed. But Bi Fang had someone in mind for the identity change ticket all along. Wilderness Traveler lv1 Last time, using it on the special forces was really practical. It provided him a lot of protection. Not to mention, just the part against Poachers, maybe the live broadcast was okay, but whether the subsequent videos could be released was questionable¡ªyet it seemed to completely slip his mind. In front of an audience, it also helped him establish a strong image. The more interesting part was that the identity would change as his skills upgraded, which was thoroughly advantageous. What would happen if he used it on Wilderness Traveler? As he thought about it, Bi Fang decided to give it a try and applied the identity ticket to Wilderness Traveler. After a while, a completely new identity emerged, and Bi Fang summarized it. First, a Hunter¡¯s License, different from the one the Lin Family had given him. This hunting certificate was internationally recognized, allowing the holder to hunt most species not critically endangered. Second, a Permit allowing him to travel to any corner of the world or handle related affairs, promptly recognized by local governments, effectively opening doors of convenience, with a maximum duration of twenty-four hours. Indeed, he was right! Bi Fang felt joy in his heart, glad that he used it in the right place. Whether the first or the second, both were quite useful credentials. Because of his identity, the last time Bi Fang had managed to go to France so quickly was also due to Elvan pulling some strings. But now he wouldn¡¯t have to worry. He could get permission within twenty-four hours. Awesome. Content, Bi Fang lay down to sleep. Three days later, having settled his affairs and only waiting for the crew¡¯s call, Bi Fang returned to Huaxia¡ªit was nearing the New Year, and this would be his first Spring Festival in this world. A few days later. The crackling sound of firecrackers from the far end of the street across overpowered the cheers and laughter for a moment. The air was filled with the scent of bursting bamboo, which wasn¡¯t unpleasant, but instead brought a comfortable warmth in the harsh winter weather. The streets were sparsely populated, with paper from firecrackers scattered everywhere by the big households near their doorsteps, fluttering in the wind. Occasionally, affectionate couples embraced on the streets, spreading ¡°dog food¡± everywhere. This was New Year¡¯s Eve, when the young people who normally drove around drunk at night stayed home, waiting for the New Year¡¯s bell to welcome spring. The next day, waking up bright and early, Bi Fang accepted Yao Jun¡¯s invitation to visit the not-yet-fully-decorated club for some leisure time. Chapter 264: 261: The Turnaround of the Salted Fish Chapter 264: Chapter 261: The Turnaround of the Salted Fish ¡°Not bad, riding on a Ducati now?¡± Standing at the doorway, Yao Jun watched Bi Fang ride up on a black motorcycle, dust trailing behind him, and let out a pleased whistle. ¡°Buy whatever you like, otherwise what¡¯s the point of making money? But man, your place is really out in the sticks.¡± Bi Fang set down his helmet and got off the bike, looking at the clubhouse entrance which was still not fully renovated. He nodded in satisfaction; although it wasn¡¯t completely finished yet, it already had scale and exuded the aura of a high-end club. If it had been him from half a year ago, he wouldn¡¯t have even walked through the doors. No other reason, just a realization through his eyes, it was a place he couldn¡¯t afford. What a turnaround indeed. ¡°Can¡¯t help it, if you want a large space, you have to move to the suburbs. Otherwise, the cost is too high. Speaking of which, you really let go as the absentee landlord, didn¡¯t even inquire about the location.¡± Yao Jun also felt the club was a bit far from the city center, but fortunately, it was still on the main road with convenient transportation. The three partners were all well-off, so if they were going to do something, they wanted to do it right. Not to mention anything else, at the very least the place had to be impressive, otherwise they¡¯d lose face just talking about it. ¡°Isn¡¯t it better to leave the professional stuff to the professionals?¡± Bi Fang said with a smile. The other two¡¯s business acumen was far superior to his own, and they had plenty of capable people under them, so there was no need for him to meddle. Bi Fang glanced around and suddenly asked. ¡°Lin Chang didn¡¯t come?¡± ¡°He¡¯s tied up. After the New Year, he went back to the company to deal with business. I¡¯ve realized I¡¯m the only one who¡¯s idle; if I weren¡¯t busy with the club this year, the old man would probably accuse me of being lazy.¡± Yao Jun scratched his eyebrow, even Bi Fang had just returned from abroad not long ago. Compared to them, it seemed he was indeed the one with the most free time. ¡°Thanks for your help with the rankings last time.¡± ¡°Ah, it was nothing. Don¡¯t belittle me with that talk; without me, you¡¯d be first anyway, believe it or not?¡± ¡°Credit where credit is due, if you give me money, I have to thank you.¡± ¡°Damn, not playing next time!¡± The two chatted as they walked deeper into the club, which was currently constructing several venues simultaneously: rock climbing, archery, and even a fighting gym. The decorations were very modern and nicely done. The walls even incorporated color-changing glass, which under the lighting gave off a feeling of being deep in the jungle, along with the indoor trees surrounding the area. But the more Bi Fang looked around, the more he felt something wasn¡¯t quite right, or rather, it was missing something. It seemed to lack a certain zest. Though the real adventure would take place outdoors, as far as the club was concerned, apart from the d¨¦cor being a bit different, filled with ¡°natural ambience,¡± at first glance, it didn¡¯t seem much different from any standard rock climbing or archery club¡ªperhaps only combined. Bi Fang was clear on the aim of the club. True wilderness expeditions were harsh, and aside from the enthusiasts, many people might only come once for the novelty and never return. Most people would come with two goals in mind: fun and socializing. To ensure fun, the club had to be easy-going, not too challenging, as the high learning curve could easily discourage some. The club¡¯s current appeal was lacking. It might make money upon open, but certainly not a fortune. Instead, it risked becoming an expensive toy requiring a lot of energy to manage. At this thought, Bi Fang vaguely regretted his decision. Aside from the initial investment, he had later put in several tens of millions more. To think that he ended up with this? No sign of the expected effect. Yao Jun, noticing Bi Fang¡¯s discontent, immediately laughed and said, ¡°Are you feeling like this club is just a stitched-together monster?¡± S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang looked at him in surprise and then nodded. Yao Jun wasn¡¯t worried at all. ¡°Actually, Lin Chang and I came to check this place out a month ago. We also felt something was off. This thing, well, it¡¯s hardly fun to talk about. It¡¯s like a club for professionals, naturally discouraging. On the other hand, it still has an appeal to a certain group of people, particularly the wealthy ones.¡± Most outdoor enthusiasts are also well-off. Relying on just a small group of people could cover the daily expenses. With Bi Fang¡¯s reputation, losing money is unlikely, but the payback period would also be long. ¡°So, we brought in a professional marketing team afterward, had a meeting together, and decided to approach from two angles: professionalism and entertainment.¡± ¡°Professionalism is about being the best, the kind enthusiasts can get certificates in. Don¡¯t worry about the proof; we¡¯ve got connections for that. We¡¯re just waiting for you to hire instructors from the military.¡± ¡°And the entertainment aspect?¡± Yao Jun cackled strangely and led Bi Fang through the hall to the back of the club. Suddenly, a mix of licorice and manure odors made Bi Fang¡¯s brow furrow. Here, surprisingly, they were raising a good number of animals. Just by looking, one could see rabbits, foxes, deer, and goats. Bi Fang suddenly understood and immediately realized Yao Jun¡¯s idea, ¡°You¡¯re planning to do hunting?¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Yao Jun confirmed, ¡°Do you remember how we later asked you for a big sum of money? We rented out the entire back mountain of the club, more than two square kilometers. It¡¯s this size for now, but we plan to expand later. We¡¯re planning to build a hunting ground!¡± ¡°Primitive hunting ground, cold weapon hunting!¡± ¡°Is that even allowed?¡± Bi Fang was shocked, and then he had another question, ¡°Do you have a permit? And won¡¯t it be dangerous for the tourists?¡± Yao Jun shook his head, ¡°You¡¯re underestimating us. Lin Chang and I might not have what it takes, but he and my father have plenty of connections. Plus, the main appeal of this entertainment is its mass appeal. The risks have been considered; otherwise, how could it be opened to the public? When the time comes, visitors will need relevant certificates, and it all comes full circle.¡± Yao Jun led Bi Fang to the armory to show him the items inside. Bi Fang looked them over one by one; there were longbows and spears, but without exception, the heads had been removed, replaced by a special pouch head covered with colored powder. ¡°The arrows have no tips; they¡¯re made of rubber. Once they hit the prey, the paint will leave a mark on the animal, counting as a successful hunt. Afterwards, customers can pay to purchase the prey, covering the cost of its upkeep, or it will be not for sale. Plus, they can get related souvenirs. We¡¯ve thought about the difficulty level too. The animals are bred and not so alert. Under the lead of a captain, tourists can fully enjoy the thrill of the hunt. We¡¯re also considering setting up a restaurant where one can process the prey or rent equipment for the visitors to grill on their own. We even plan to introduce some not-so-rare animals later on, turning it into a kind of alternative zoo.¡± Purchasing the prey? Well, I¡¯ll be! Bi Fang thought to himself, an expert at making money twice over: this sounds indeed fun, distinctively featured, and safe while still being accessible to the general public. ¡°That¡¯s pretty cool, you guys!¡± Bi Fang playfully punched Yao Jun¡¯s shoulder, his excitement apparent, ¡°Can I give it a try now?¡± ¡°Of course, the fence is almost completely built, but there aren¡¯t many animals yet, so catching them might be a bit difficult.¡± Yao Jun scratched his head, remembering how excited he had been himself half a month ago when he hadn¡¯t managed to catch even one rabbit. After listening to Yao Jun¡¯s experience, Bi Fang looked at him with scorn and said, ¡°Do you think you¡¯re on the same level as me?¡± Yao Jun: ¡°¡­¡± Why did he find those words so unpleasant to hear? Can¡¯t he take a hint? That very afternoon, Yao Jun witnessed firsthand what real expertise looked like. Out of the twenty rabbits and two deer released, Bi Fang caught twenty-two rabbits back, and not a single deer was missing. He even caught wild rabbits that were originally on the mountain. However, two of the bred ones were not found. If it weren¡¯t for the sheer size of the place and the lack of time, Yao Jun would have doubted whether any animal could escape at all. It must be said, the bred rabbits were indeed plump and tender, and much easier to catch than the wild ones. Almost none could escape once spotted. Bi Fang and Yao Jun ate to their hearts¡¯ content that night, packing up plenty to send to Lin Chang for a taste. In the following days, instead of intensively training, Bi Fang relaxed properly during the spring break, occasionally visiting the club. In the mornings, he would go to the park to practice Tai Chi with the old men. His flowing, unique movements dazzled the crowd, who exclaimed in amazement. Several elders even wanted to become his disciples on the spot, but unfortunately, Bi Fang stopped them. What would he do with a group of elderly disciples? Because of this, many park-goers witnessed an odd scene for a few days. A handsome and vigorous young man leading a group of old men in Tai Chi, not hesitating to rebuke them for incorrect moves, was indeed strange to see. In the meantime, Bi Fang had also kept an eye on Gou Lin¡¯s situation. As one of the friends who had borrowed money, Bi Fang had promised to give him a hand, but unfortunately, after mentioning it once, the other party never replied. Half a month passed quietly like this. Chapter 265: 262: This name is worth just two points. Chapter 265: Chapter 262: This name is worth just two points. ¡°Primitive Survival 21 Days,¡± ¡°Survival 1 Plus 1,¡± ¡°King of Survival,¡± ¡°Wilderness Couples File,¡± and so on were all very popular wilderness survival programs in my previous life. However, in this world without Bear Grylls or Grandpa De, these exciting programs had not appeared, but once Bi Fang introduced the concept of wilderness survival in the form of live streaming entertainment and achieved great success, it was as if people had a breakthrough, understanding everything all at once. Discovery Channel was among the best of them, quickly becoming innovative. Following Bi Fang¡¯s 21 Days of Sea Survival, they launched the brand-new program Wilderness Arena. Numerous wilderness survivalists competed on the same stage, undertaking challenges of wilderness survival for 300 hours, or twelve days. During this time, those who were eliminated received no reward. The remaining contestants were ranked based on Bi Fang¡¯s evaluation, with the first place receiving a hundred thousand Ugly Gold, second place fifty thousand, and third place ten thousand, including all medical expenses covered. If no one remained, then no reward would be given. This was a race system that could be called cruel, yet full of allure. The first-place prize of one hundred thousand US Dollars was a very generous reward, and with the program covering all medical and travel expenses, it was a completely unrestricted one hundred thousand US Dollars. As for Bi Fang, he played multiple roles throughout the program, serving as both commentator and safety advisor, responsible for handling any potential crisis situations, and also the final judge. The judges were more than one, but Bi Fang had the most authority, with the final say and decision-making power, while the other judges only had advisory rights, which showed how much Discovery Channel valued him. On one hand, Bi Fang¡¯s fame was too great, having accomplished many well-known feats. Ordinary people living off a single one of these for a lifetime were common, but when all these feats happened to one person, he became synonymous with legend. Moreover, from any perspective, Bi Fang was also a master at crisis management. There seemed to be no situation he couldn¡¯t resolve, no matter how desperate the circumstances, he always turned danger into safety, boosting his reputation even higher. Ugly Country, a certain restaurant. Bi Fang met Jerret and Pondy again. As one of the much-anticipated programs, Jerret still naturally wielded the reins of this program, and having a foundation of cooperation with Bi Fang, he was a very suitable partner. Upon meeting, Jerret proudly showed off a couple of Chinese phrases he¡¯d just learned. ¡°Mr. Bi, Happy New Year.¡± Even though the other party¡¯s Chinese carried a strong garlic accent, Bi Fang still praised, ¡°Your Chinese is not bad.¡± Hearing this, Jerret became animated, as this was the result of a month¡¯s study. His quick effectiveness boosted his eagerness to show off, but he was directly interrupted by Bi Fang¡¯s fluent English. Better to let foreigners give up learning Chinese¡ªit was torture for the ears. Sitting down, Jerret passed the menu, ¡°Did you see the list?¡± ¡°I have, they are all very capable.¡± Bi Fang took the menu, ordered two items at random, and looked at the 16 contestants, all of whom had relevant experience. Twelve had military backgrounds, and several were especially memorable to him. The Deer Hunter, Mugalen, needed no further mention. Bi Fang had experienced his skill firsthand; he was a seasoned hunter and a strong contender for first place. Besides him, there were many other contestants worth noting. Bono Cross, a member of the United States Marine Corps who later joined the Ranger Regiment, became one of the elite special forces with expertise in various combat techniques and wilderness survival experience. His military quality was extremely strong. Doligong Hawk, an elite firefighter at the Canadian National Forest Park responsible for forest conservation and wildlife protection, had once faced off against a bear over two and a half meters tall and managed to escape, a close call even more harrowing than Bi Fang¡¯s first live encounter with a black bear, making him a formidable natural fighter. Apart from these, many were experienced hunters, and there was even a Chinese participant, retired from a Special Police detachment, whose combat abilities were comparable to a special forces operative. Honestly, when Bi Fang first saw the list, he was surprised. For a show in Ugly Country, he did not expect to meet a fellow countryman. He immediately put his mind to work. If this person was capable enough to survive in the wilderness, he wondered if he could entice them to join his own club as an instructor, especially since they were short on staff. After all, not everyone from the troops is an expert in survival, just as not everyone is like Bear Grylls. ¡°Has the exact time for the show¡¯s premiere been set?¡± Jerret nodded, ¡°In three days, at ten in the morning, the show will officially begin. In the Rocky Mountains, these people will be randomly airdropped, just like how you were dropped onto the sea surface that time. We¡¯re still going with our four-man team to capture them one by one.¡± The Rocky Mountains? Bi Fang nodded, finding it an excellent choice. If he remembered correctly, Bear Grylls had been there in his past life, featuring mountains, water, and ferocious beasts, home to five national parks, evidencing how ¡°wild¡± it was. As for the four-man team, Bi Fang still had high hopes for them, although their first performance was quite comical. However, that was because they had encountered him, so it wasn¡¯t their fault. ¡°Moreover, we¡¯ve made some changes to the competition format,¡± Jerret suddenly said, handing over a map. ¡°To add to the fun, our production team has built some cabins in the forest with some survival supplies inside, not much, but helpful. Finding them won¡¯t deduct points, nor will it add any.¡± Bi Fang raised an eyebrow, quite surprised. He took the map and noticed that the locations were marked; green for the cabins and red for where the participants would be airdropped. ¡°Quite interesting.¡± S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang could hardly wait to see how this group would perform. Surviving twelve days in the forest for sixteen people was definitely a tough challenge, but he believed that surely some of them would persevere. Moreover, many of the locations were relatively close to each other, which he assumed was a test set by the production team. The competition did not mandate going solo. Teaming up was allowed, but it was clearly stated that this would result in points being deducted. The larger the team, the more points would be taken off. To win, one would need to put in more effort. Hunting game, establishing a camp¡¯s safety index, whether one could escape outright, and the survival status index after were all points-adding factors. Team members hoping to take first place would have to weigh the pros and cons. ¡°By the way, are you just giving me this distribution chart? Aren¡¯t you afraid I might leak it?¡± Bi Fang held the ¡°airdrop chart,¡± surprised at the trust the production team had in him. Unexpectedly, Jerret laughed, ¡°It¡¯s just a hundred thousand US Dollars. Do you think Mr. Bi would care? If you want, our channel can give it to you directly.¡± Indeed. Bi Fang laughed at his own thought, too. A hundred thousand US Dollars was a lot to the average person, but it really didn¡¯t matter to him with his current net worth. ¡°We¡¯ll be relying on Mr. Bi a lot this time. Your presence means our show is already on unbeatable ground,¡± said Jerret as he and Pondy raised their glasses in a toast. In their eyes, Bi Fang¡¯s participation was the biggest support they could hope for. If a three-point rating was expected, then just by announcing Bi Fang¡¯s name, they could account for two points. The remaining point came from the appeal of the Wilderness Survival theme. Bi Fang also raised his glass, with a slight sense of reflection in his heart. Back when he first live-streamed with the Sharks, he had needed Ling Xuefeng to bring in viewers. Half a year later, he had become the hottest topic himself. Times had indeed changed. Chapter 266: 263: Isnt the Judge Also a Participant? Chapter 266: Chapter 263: Isn¡¯t the Judge Also a Participant? ¡°` In the afternoon, after dinner, Bi Fang didn¡¯t return to the hotel, but instead chose the suitable ¡°props¡± with Jerret. Unlike last time when the capture of Bi Fang was done stealthily, this time the show¡¯s team arranged for the sixteen contestants to stay in different hotels and explicitly stated that there would be attempts to capture them, which they could resist. If they successfully resisted, they would receive a reward¡ªa random starting item just like before. Although the items were random, they were guaranteed to be useful, and now Bi Fang was picking out the right ones. After all, in this area, he was the expert. Standing in front of the display case, Jerret suddenly asked, ¡°How many people do you think can escape capture?¡± Bi Fang recalled the list of contestants and their profiles and experiences, and after considering the capabilities of the four brothers he had encountered before, he came up with a mental estimate, ¡°Two or three.¡± Jerret was dumbfounded when he heard this number, not because it was too many, but because it was too few. A total of sixteen people, and in Bi Fang¡¯s mind, only two to three could escape the four-man teams capture? These were not just some random people snatched from the street, but competent individuals, many of whom were special forces soldiers. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t dare to sign up for Wilderness Arena. Yet, in Bi Fang¡¯s words, only two or three could escape capture? Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang laughed, knowing what Jerret was thinking by his expression, ¡°The four-man team may not be special forces, but they are professional soldiers, and they work well together. Don¡¯t underestimate them: regular special forces soldiers can¡¯t handle them easily. Last time I also had a slight advantage.¡± The Wolves King¡¯s Sense of Smell was no joke. The four-man team hadn¡¯t even formally started their action last time when Bi Fang smelled them; afterward, he could also roughly deduce their location based on their scent, predicting the enemy¡¯s moves, and that¡¯s why he seemed to deal with the four-man team with relative ease. If it were someone else, it might not be the same. To escape capture, one¡¯s skills have to be good, and one¡¯s alertness has to be high, with a strong counter-surveillance awareness. Not everyone can meet both criteria. ¡°Also, don¡¯t over-mythologize special forces; they are formidable, but not invincible. In real situations, a special forces soldier handling three or four ordinary soldiers is already quite impressive.¡± ¡°Okay, then.¡± Jerret reluctantly nodded, involuntarily gaining more respect for the four-man team, difficult as it was to believe. But who else but Bi Fang was saying this? It¡¯s like when an ordinary person meets Einstein, and he tells you one plus one equals three, your first reaction isn¡¯t to think he¡¯s wrong but to wonder if it¡¯s some calculation method you don¡¯t know. A few minutes later, Bi Fang, with six items ready, nodded to indicate he had made his choice. A 500g military canned meat, a twenty-meter piece of nylon rope, a small claw knife, two military canteens, and a standard compass. ¡°Just these?¡± Jerret was somewhat speechless, taking only six items. Did he really think that few would escape? Bi Fang blinked, ¡°Believe me, even with six items, there¡¯ll still be some left over. Do you believe that?¡± ¡°Believe, believe, if not you then who should I believe in myself? I¡¯m just a director, what do I know about wilderness survival.¡± Jerret rolled his eyes. ¡­ The next morning, Bi Fang sat with the production team inside a motorhome, surrounded by large screens showing every move of the contestants. The show was officially set to air the day after tomorrow, but the capture operation could start now. The four-man team was already checking the tranquilizer guns to ensure the task went smoothly. With the experience from the first time, the four brothers were now confident and skilled, believing that they wouldn¡¯t be as embarrassed as the first time when they hardly made contact before all being taken down. They were determined to restore their manhood in front of a million viewers! Thinking of this, the four-man team couldn¡¯t help but glance at Bi Fang in front of the computer, fantasizing about him being thrashed by the four brothers, feeling refreshed by the thought¡ªit was like being constipated for three days and then suddenly having a release. There¡¯s only one word for it: exhilarating! Pondy came over with two big buckets of popcorn, offering one to Bi Fang, ¡°Want some?¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t hesitate to take it and grabbed a handful to stuff into his mouth. Then he looked at the four-man team, ¡°Tastes good, want some?¡± ¡°` For some reason, he always felt like the four-man group¡¯s gaze was somewhat impolite, perhaps it was just a misconception, what bad intentions could a partner have? The brothers shivered and politely pushed the popcorn bucket back, joking, they¡¯ll talk about reviving manhood later. The guy in front of them had fought a bear, beaten wolves, and ridden a huge python; prehistoric animal brains had been smashed to a pulp by him, enduring humiliation was not a disgrace. Bi Fang glanced at the four people¡¯s eyes, shook his head, and stopped paying attention to them, he opened the live broadcast backend, just waiting for the target to leave the room to start broadcasting. The production crew had warned in advance; within the three days before the program started, watching live broadcasts was strictly forbidden, and if caught on camera, it would be considered a violation and they would be out of the competition. Nobody would be foolish enough to cheat in such a way; at least three drones would be tracking and filming them, ensuring there were no blind spots. Finally, a contestant from the show exited his room, a discharged soldier, not special forces but with ten years of military experience, and for a time, a hunter. The four-man group packed up their things and immediately left the trailer, and headed towards the target. The hotel side had been notified, many guests were also told to stay in their rooms as much as possible to avoid panic during the upcoming activity, and those interested could also turn on their phones to check the live broadcast at any time. On this end, Bi Fang had also connected to his live streaming room, even though the broadcast was a surprise attack, with the push notification sent out, the viewer count began to grow rapidly. Whether it¡¯s Wolf Fang or MeTube, the daily view counts are very large, as soon as a notification is sent out, it won¡¯t take long to spread rapidly. Those die-hard fans of Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcasts would also be paying attention to the live room in advance, the moment a notification popped up, they would rush over just as quickly. So after just a few minutes, while the four-man group hadn¡¯t yet reached the hotel, the audience in the live room had already grown to a significant number, a few hundred thousand. Among them, thirty percent were domestic viewers. [Whoa, Old Fang started broadcasting, and it¡¯s not even the end of spring break, diving right into Wilderness Survivalist, so dedicated, I¡¯m touched.] [Being able to watch my favorite streamer during spring break, what bliss is this, Old Fang truly spoils his fans.] [Hurry up with the opening remarks, I can¡¯t wait any longer!] [Let¡¯s throw a Wolf Brush to celebrate.] Seeing the excited audience, Bi Fang also felt honored, with a faint sense of happiness lingering in his heart, a sense of achievement as if his value had been proven, but sadly, he was about to disappoint everyone this time. ¡°Sorry, this time it¡¯s not me who¡¯s going on a wilderness adventure. Remember that other show Mugalen mentioned last time, Wilderness Arena?¡± Upon hearing this, the audience felt a sense of loss, but as soon as they heard Wilderness Arena, many viewers remembered, and the platform had been promoting it the last few days. But if they remembered correctly, hadn¡¯t it been announced that Bi Fang would participate? [That¡¯s not right, didn¡¯t you say you were participating, Old Fang?] [Yeah, yeah, and you had an agreement with Mugalen to meet again, why aren¡¯t you joining now? Isn¡¯t this taking advantage of the honest people?] Bi Fang chuckled, ¡°I haven¡¯t taken advantage of the honest people.¡± Then, he lifted the camera to shoot a panoramic view, capturing the entire scene inside the trailer, leaving nothing out, indicating that he was engaged in recording the program. ¡°I am participating, but didn¡¯t say as a competitor.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t being a judge also participating?¡± Chapter 267: 264 Action Begins Chapter 267: Chapter 264 Action Begins F*ck! The audience was extremely shocked. So when Bi Fang said he was joining, he didn¡¯t mean as a contestant but as a judge? That¡¯s freaking cool! While everyone else was fighting tooth and nail for first place, the real big shot had already taken his throne, watching everyone¡¯s performance. And he was holding a bucket of popcorn in his hands. [Bro, I¡¯m already a judge, you know.] [Mugalen: That¡¯s your so-called joining? Is that polite?] [I thought we were on the same starting line, but it turns out you¡¯re not just in the audience, you¡¯re a judge in the audience. Also, put the popcorn down, it¡¯s offensive.] [Popcorn: I feel offended.] [Well, with Master Fang¡¯s standing, it would be beneath him to compete with everyone else.] Audiences both domestic and international were not only undismayed but even more excited to hear that Bi Fang would not compete but would be a judge, as if their idol¡¯s status in the industry had been recognized. He was completely unlike the contestants who were struggling to prove themselves! Bi Fang smiled and knocked on the table. There was no need for a preamble today; he would save it for the official live stream the day after tomorrow, as it was just an ordinary hunting mission. He took out a piece of white paper, stated all the game rules provided by the show, and once the audience had understood, he switched the camera back to the contestants in the hotel lobby. ¡°Within three days, a four-person team will hunt everyone. For each successful capture, they¡¯ll be rewarded with a thousand US dollars, and if a contestant successfully escapes, they can also get a starting prop. So everyone is going full throttle. Today, four people will be hunted in total. You all can guess how many the show team will catch.¡± As he spoke, Bi Fang opened a betting pool by himself, with five options ranging from one to four, and one being that nobody would be caught. The System will automatically adjust the odds according to the amount of Wolf Brush bet by everyone. [Sh*t, Old Fang isn¡¯t throwing in his lot, I¡¯ll follow Old Fang¡¯s bets!] [Right, right, let¡¯s follow Old Fang.] [Hold on, isn¡¯t there a preamble? I¡¯m confused.] [Someone wants to fleece my Wolf Brush, dream on!] The audience had grown wiser from past experience, sensing a trap in this round of betting. Master Fang became serious and immediately enticed them, ¡°How could there be a trap? Why would I deceive you over such a small matter? Plus, look, the ones carrying out the hunting mission are the four brothers. Bet boldly and confidently!¡±] Huh? It¡¯s the four-man team again? Upon hearing Bi Fang¡¯s words, everyone was startled and turned their attention to the live stream. Upon closer inspection, they realized it was true! Everyone had witnessed the performance of the four brothers last time and couldn¡¯t help but feel they were somewhat unreliable. Suddenly, the audience became energized, and the number of people betting on three and four surged. It seemed that everyone was quite confident in the contestants¡¯ ability to escape capture. Just then, Bi Fang¡¯s phone buzzed. He picked it up and saw a message from ¨¦tienne, asking which option he should bet on. The kid is pretty smart, seeking insider information. Bi Fang glanced at the camera, avoided being filmed, and sent out his message. ¡°All in on ¡®none¡¯.¡± As a judge, Bi Fang had slightly altered the hunting sequence, a privilege he still had. The result was that the four least likely to escape were arranged on the first day. The purpose was to create an upset. When the audience saw the comically inept four-man team performing heroically, the contrasting effect would naturally enhance the show, definitely boosting the ratings. Later, if someone did manage to escape, it would cause an even bigger sensation¡ªthis was a classic case of holding back before pushing forward. Of course, Bi Fang admitted that there was a chance he could be wrong and someone might actually escape, but the probability was indeed smaller compared to those in the following two rounds. After sending that message, Bi Fang¡¯s thumb moved again, quickly following up with another one, then he smiled and put the phone in his pocket. ¨¦tienne, who received the message, hadn¡¯t had the chance to be happy when he saw the content; his face fell immediately. The phone¡¯s screen prominently displayed a few words. ¡°Did you finish your homework?¡± ¡­ The group of four kept touching base with the contestants, who were either completely oblivious or pretending to be, in a ruse to lull the contestants into a false sense of security. On the surface, he seemed to be just preparing to have lunch. Bi Fang began to introduce the contestants and also showed off the starting items he¡¯d prepared, whetting the audience¡¯s appetite, leaving them wondering who would get the starting rewards. The rewards only belong to the strong! Those who could capture the escapee were definitely not weak. Gaining an item early on could definitely play a significant role, so for the contestants, this was not just a simple escape game. It could very well determine the outcome of the game! [Wow, Old Fang seems to have an emperor-like vibe, so much power!] [Is there anyone bribing Old Fang? (Dog¡¯s head)] [With Old Fang¡¯s current wealth, how much money would it take to bribe him, not enough even if the prize money is gone, right?] [Are there any female contestants?] [Hehehe, buddy, you¡¯re onto something, I think it¡¯s doable too] [Old Fang, come on, are there any female contestants? What do they look like?] ¡°Well, you said it, there are indeed female contestants.¡± Seeing the barrage of comments, Bi Fang casually pulled out a stack of files and flipped through them, selecting two. They contained personal information and ID photos. ¡°Ava Monson and Lisa Price, one is a professional off-road athlete, and the other is a member of Beret Hat, both very formidable.¡± Showing the IDs to everyone, it immediately provoked a burst of exclamations. [Holy crap, there are really women participating?] [Can women handle this kind of thing? Feels like they are going to drop dead!] [They look average.] [Nonsense, ID photos can¡¯t look that good, but for sure they have a nice figure, girls who exercise always do] [You guys are focusing on the weirdest things, seriously. To have the courage to sign up for this show is already impressive. Can we be serious?] Bi Fang nodded in agreement, actually, judging by the photos both did look pretty average, but not ugly, certainly passable, which disappointed a bunch of perverted netizens. But seeing a bunch of people underestimating the women, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but say a few words. ¡°Actually, although women may not be as strong as men, Wilderness Survivalist is mainly about experience and skills, and it¡¯s not necessary for only strong people to survive it. Women aren¡¯t completely out of the running, and in certain situations in the wilderness, women might even have an advantage over men.¡± [? Old Fang, you¡¯re not joking, are you? Tell us, do you have a girlfriend now? Did she make you say that?] [Old Fang, if you¡¯re being held hostage, blink blink] [How could that be, the extreme records are all set by men, that¡¯s an objective fact!] S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang shook his head: ¡°That¡¯s why I said ¡®in certain situations¡¯. Women have more robust immune systems, estrogen can also protect the cardiovascular system, they have a lower metabolic rate, stronger endurance, and even live longer. Not to mention fat content, several percentage points higher. Under the same conditions, such women would be able to out-hunger the men. Men, with their well-developed muscles and high levels of testosterone, have a lower immune level and, in a variety of situations, are more likely to die than women.¡± The audience was suddenly taken aback; this was the first time they had heard such a statement. ¡°But our show isn¡¯t about who can survive hunger. If someone just lasts these twelve days by enduring hunger, they definitely don¡¯t meet the standard, so you need to go hunting, to find food. In that situation, strong men certainly have an advantage, so¡­¡± But before Bi Fang could finish his sentence, he noticed the chat had exploded. In the live stream, the group of four was making their move! Chapter 268: 265: The First Round of Arrests Chapter 268: Chapter 265: The First Round of Arrests Inside the hotel. The dining hall had a total of four exits, conveniently corresponding to the four members of the capture team, one guarding each exit. If a contestant wanted to break through the encirclement, they would have to confront at least one of them face-to-face. The show was this thrilling from the get-go! The audience immediately got excited, wanting to see how the contestants would escape. Bi Fang also acted as the narrator, briefly introducing the contestant who was cornered, and then added, ¡°It¡¯s clear that this contestant is quite thoughtful. This hotel has a total of four dining halls, but he chose the busiest Hall 2 instead of the most spacious Hall 1, a very correct decision.¡± As he said this, the production team timely broadcast the dining locations of the contestants over the past two days. Without exception, they were all in Hall 2, undoubtedly proving that the contestant¡¯s presence was not by chance but purposeful. ¡°An empty location is undoubtedly advantageous for escaping, but when you face multiple attacks at the same time, the chance of escaping directly drops to freezing point. At that time, more people around can cause more chaos, the so-called ¡®muddying the waters to catch the fish.¡¯ The greater the chaos, the easier it is to look for opportunities, and the strangers around can also serve as a warning.¡± Bi Fang watched with interest as the two parties approached, but suddenly felt that there was something off between the contestant and the surrounding environment. He glanced at the contestant, then at the diners beside him, and immediately understood something, asking with a chuckle. ¡°Did you guys notice anything about the contestant¡¯s clothes?¡± Clothes? What¡¯s up with the clothes? The audience looked at the contestant¡¯s attire and were initially baffled by Bi Fang¡¯s question, because the contestant was just wearing very long winter clothing. Isn¡¯t this what you wear in the winter? Could it be that he¡¯s wearing a bulletproof vest inside? Does Bi Fang have X-ray vision? Can he see what¡¯s worn underneath? ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s very ordinary winter attire, but ¡®ordinary¡¯ depends on the context. This set of winter clothes is inappropriate here. We need to pay attention to the environment.¡± Bi Fang stretched out his hand and pointed at the clothes of a few diners next to him, and the difference became immediately apparent. The other diners were mostly wearing sweaters or just shirts, far from clad in thick coats like the contestant. The audience had an epiphany, remembering that the hotel was air-conditioned. Not to mention wearing a coat, even a sweater would seem a bit too warm, let alone an overly thick coat. [Is this kidney deficiency? Why wear so much?] ¡°Of course not, this is actually a layer of protection. The contestant must have referred to the scene when I was caught, believing the captors would use anesthetic darts, using the thick coat to diffuse the anesthetic darts.¡± At first glance, Bi Fang saw through the contestant¡¯s idea. The method was crude but indeed effective. The needle of an anesthetic dart was limited in length, and if the clothing was thick enough, the anesthetic couldn¡¯t be injected. [Damn, impressive, impressive. Old Fang is such a bull, he saw through it at a glance.] [Aren¡¯t they going to be toasted alive? The hotel¡¯s air conditioning can dehydrate a person.] [Speaking of which, capturing someone in a public place, won¡¯t that cause chaos?] [Yeah, yeah, what if there¡¯s a stampede?] ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that. The capture plan was discussed in advance with the hotel¡¯s customer service and the guests, so they are all prepared.¡± As expected. When the four-person team took the elevator to the dining floor, many people noticed these oddly dressed individuals. But when they saw the anesthetic dart guns in the hands of the four, they smiled knowingly, and some even waved at the camera, looking like they wanted to join in the excitement. Causing chaos because of a capture was something that the production team would not do. Everyone was not new to making shows, and they understood the importance of safety. The four-person team split up and ran towards the four exits, attracting the attention of quite a few patrons along the way, and the crowd in turn made the contestant vigilant. Having stayed in the hotel for three days, he was particularly sensitive to such abnormal conditions, especially when he thought of the production team¡¯s ¡°capture plan.¡± He immediately wanted to leave this place of trouble. No sooner had he stood up to leave when he saw Third Brother at the entrance ahead, aiming the gun at him. Startled, with no time to avoid, he grabbed the edge of the table and violently flipped it over! A faint whirl of air followed by a needle viciously embedding itself in the wooden table. The contestant who had narrowly dodged was about to leave, but suddenly felt a pain in his waist ¡ª two more syringes flew towards him, piercing through his coat. He looked anxiously to his left and right, surrounded by captors! The team of four had walkie-talkies to communicate, and almost simultaneously fired their guns. Even if one could dodge from one direction, escaping the others was next to impossible. Damn! The contestant cursed internally. It turned out that the starting items were not so easy to obtain. He had taken every precaution, yet he was still cornered. Three anesthetic darts ¡ª was it three people? He yanked the darts out of his body and sprinted towards the last exit. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. During his three days staying in the hotel, he hadn¡¯t been idle; he had mapped out the hotel¡¯s layout almost on the first day, learning every thoroughfare and exit. The last few days, he had spent familiarizing himself with the paths. Thus, the moment the anesthetic darts appeared, he¡¯d identified where someone was and the only ¡°exit¡±! ¡°It seems our contestant is not very lucky, or perhaps he is just too nervous. He completely failed to realise that there would be an ambush at the fourth exit.¡± Bi Fang watched the contestant run straight for the last exit and couldn¡¯t help but sigh, guessing what would happen next. One has to admit, the cooperation among the team of four was indeed seamless. Three members had shot at the same time, deliberately leaving the last exit unguarded to make the contestant subconsciously think that there were only three captors and to flee in that final direction. The audience exclaimed with excitement! What kind of live broadcast attracts the most attention? Of course, the more twists, the better! ¡°When under attack, normal people will run towards the safest place, it¡¯s a biological instinct, no one is an exception. In fact, even if the contestant suspected an ambush at the last exit, he would still have to run there. It¡¯s a gamble, after all. Every other direction is blocked, and the last exit may or may not be guarded. Plus, the subconscious will play its part, and in the end, he will run towards the last exit.¡± Bi Fang analyzed calmly for the audience, explaining the purpose behind the group of four¡¯s actions, surprising the audience with their unexpected shrewdness. So they were that smart? Were they just simpletons in front of Master Fang? The distance from the dining table to the last entrance was about thirty meters. It would only take five or six seconds from getting up to reaching it. Before Bi Fang could finish explaining, the contestant burst out! At that moment, a dark shadow also lunged from the right! ¡°Been waiting for you!¡± The contestant sneered, having anticipated an ambush at the last exit. Instead of dodging, he charged right at the shadow, but just as he prepared to attack, he found nothing but air. His fist hit a coat! Damn, it was a feint! Before the contestant could react, he felt a tremendous force at the back of his knees, and before he knew it, he was kicked to the knees and forced to the ground. Fourth Brother, who had been standing to the side, pounced from behind, unleashing all his strength to pin the contestant to the ground. The contestant tried to struggle, but lying on the ground, he had no leverage or power. In the midst of his flailing, a few more seconds passed, and the other three members had already arrived, piling on top of him. Any hope of escape instantly shattered. The first round of the capture operation, a success! Chapter 269: 266: The Ultimate Contrast Chapter 269: Chapter 266: The Ultimate Contrast Bi Fang grabbed a handful of popcorn and stuffed it into his mouth, not surprised by the outcome in the slightest. However, the audience in the live streaming room was in an uproar, as the scene before them completely contradicted their usual understanding. [Geez, geez, did that even take a minute? They caught him just like that?] sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Is the quartet that awesome?] [Why does it feel like the quartet suddenly got smart? Or is it Old Fang bestowing a buff, could it be that he is a novel protagonist?] The technique of Fourth Brother¡¯s sneak attack didn¡¯t require Bi Fang¡¯s commentary; a switch in the camera angle made everything clear to the production team. Before taking action, Fourth Brother had prepared a simple trap by securing an outer garment with a nearly invisible thread. Once they reached the lobby, he used tape to stick the clothing to the right wall. When someone was about to rush over, Boss would give an order through the walkie-talkie, and Fourth Brother would pull the thread, yanking the clothing down to create the illusion of a shadow attacking from the right. In the heat of the moment, whether contestants opted to dodge or counterattack, they would face it head-on, trying to discern the danger and unwittingly exposing their backs. Fourth Brother, hiding to the left, would then pounce, not needing to fight or struggle; he just had to hold the opponent for a few seconds, which was enough time for the other three to arrive. At that point, four against one, the quartet couldn¡¯t think of any way the opponent, apart from Bi Fang, could solve the predicament. After watching the entire capture process, even Bi Fang had to admit the ingenuity of the plan, which was indeed very different from the quartet¡¯s previous performances. He thought about it and figured the difference might lie in whether one took the initiative or reacted? Last time, the quartet was practically discovered before even moving, and after being spotted, they didn¡¯t rush to escape. Instead, they wanted to stay and assess the situation, confident they could take down the opponent directly if possible. Their thinking was unlike that of most people. Therefore, from the beginning, Bi Fang had seized the initiative, later opting to stand his ground and fight, single-handedly taking down three men, causing the quartet not even to have a chance to perform but to end up looking like a flustered and disheveled mess instead. ¡°No matter the action, taking the initiative is quite important. Did you notice that the exit the capture team reserved was actually the farthest from the contestants? I don¡¯t know if it was by chance or intentional, but this tactic allows the others to quickly catch up if the contestants get held up.¡± The farthest distance also meant the rest of them were closer to the contestants, enabling them to catch up more quickly when a contestant was trapped. [Amazing! Another small detail] [I misjudged the quartet. They are my Wolong and Fengchu, so awesome! I¡¯m a fan now!] [Quartet: I cower before Master Fang but strike hard at the contestants!] [A capture successful within one minute, I¡¯m impressed] [But how would Old Fang break the game?] [Right, right, right, in this situation what would you do, Old Fang?] ¡°Me?¡± Bi Fang scratched his eyebrows, looking at the captured contestant on the computer and pondered for a moment before replying, ¡°Compared to uncertain situations, I prefer clarity because I can¡¯t be sure if there will be an ambush or what kind of ambush there might be. I might run toward the entrance where there are people.¡± ¡°Of course, the premise for doing this is that you have the confidence to deal with a single enemy quickly,¡± he added. [Damn, he just showed off!] [Crap, such a show-off.] Bi Fang chuckled, ¡°Actually, I¡¯m not certain either. If I really faced that kind of situation, thinking is just a matter of a split second. Often, the body¡¯s instincts are faster than the brain¡¯s reaction, so I might also run towards the last exit; it¡¯s all uncertain.¡± He paused and didn¡¯t go on. If it were him running towards the last exit, he would actually be able to distinguish which side had the stronger scent, at least not as easily fooled as the contestant just now. Moreover, with his upgraded capabilities, he would react faster and more fiercely in a fight, not easily being taken down by a regular soldier in a short period of time, and definitely not ending up being tackled and piled upon. There are differences between people, after all. ¡°All right,¡± Bi Fang recaptured the audience¡¯s attention and continued to comment, ¡°The first round of capture has ended. I wonder if any lucky viewers guessed the result. This year, four people were set to be captured, but one has already failed.¡± [Damn, my Wolf Fang!] [I always feel that something isn¡¯t quite right.] [Can we open the betting again? I regret it now.] [Actually, it¡¯s not necessarily the case, right? The strength of this contestant seems to be one of the weaker ones in combat, right? I think there might be some tough competitors coming up, at least I¡¯m optimistic about Mugalen.] Amidst the audience¡¯s debate, Bi Fang remained unaffected and waited for the RV to start, taking him to the next location. As for the captured contestants, they would be ¡°escorted¡± to a hotel in a city near the Rocky Mountains, where they¡¯d be arranged to stay until the recording of the show began, and then they¡¯d be scattered and airdropped deep into the forest. About ten minutes later, the camera switched back to the capture team. This time their target was a female, which instantly energized the viewers, as this was one of only two female contestants in the show. Ava Monson, a professional cross-country athlete. When the camera cut to this female contestant, the only one of two in the crew, it immediately prompted wolf whistles from the Shuiyou. True to the Wolf Fang platform users. [Wow, wow, wow! What a figure! I¡¯m blown away!] [From the camera angle, she looks quite okay.] [Nonsense, can anyone actually look good in an ID photo?] ¡°People who like to do sports generally look better than those who don¡¯t,¡± said Bi Fang as he saw the Shuiyou interested, not minding to discuss this topic further. ¡°Because of sports, your body will gradually change. Issues like rounded shoulders, hunched back, or forward neck posture hardly occur, or if originally present, they will improve. Plus, increased metabolism makes the skin look better. You hardly see soldiers with acne all over their faces. It¡¯s the high level of physical activity that speeds up their metabolism, reducing toxin buildup in the body. Over time, the more physically fit and confident you become, the better your overall demeanor, and those two together make a big difference compared to those who don¡¯t exercise,¡± he explained. Bi Fang chatted while flipping through Ava¡¯s records, reciting her profile to the audience. Ava might be the most well-known contestant of them all, having participated in many cross-country world competitions, and achieving decent placements in them. In terms of physical endurance alone, she was definitely among the top contestants. Unfortunately¡­ This cross-country expert¡¯s abilities in counter-surveillance and combat were much weaker than those of the former soldier before, and with hardly an effort, the capture team seized her. After being caught by the capture team, she even made a self-deprecating comment: ¡°Though I knew my chances of escaping capture were slim, this was just too quick. I hope I¡¯m not the worst performer.¡± So far, both captures had been successful, just as Bi Fang initially predicted. Bi Fang reached for the popcorn bucket, but found it empty; it had been almost entirely devoured. But soon, another full bucket was handed to him. Jerret brought over a stool to sit beside Bi Fang, smiling as he greeted the audience. ¡°It seems there weren¡¯t any surprises, just as you guessed,¡± he said. ¡°You should trust my judgment,¡± Bi Fang replied. Sure enough, even the remaining two didn¡¯t cause much of a stir; except for the last one who, relying on his speed, ran quite a distance before ultimately being captured as well. The first day of capture was a resounding success, temporarily catapulting the capture team to fame. This led to another question. Just how strong was Bi Fang, who initially fought back against the capture team? Chapter 270: 267: A Drop Merges into the Sea Chapter 270: Chapter 267: A Drop Merges into the Sea How big is the gap? Faced with the audience¡¯s question, Bi Fang stretched out his index finger and thumb, leaving a tiny gap between them. ¡°About¡­ just a little bit?¡± [Here it comes! Fingertip Universe!] [A tiny bit!] [Is this sarcasm? This must be sarcasm, right?] Leaving the audience in suspense, Bi Fang didn¡¯t delay any further and planned to end today¡¯s live broadcast. ¡°Okay, that¡¯s it for today¡¯s hunting session. There will be two more rounds of hunting in the next two days, so stay tuned.¡± After finishing, the live stream went dark and disconnected. [Wow, come on, has Old Fang become this abrupt? Hasn¡¯t he been streaming just for a few hours?] [Old Fang has changed, indeed. Once a man gets wealthy, he starts to brush people off. He used to chat more before, and now he pulls up his pants and doesn¡¯t recognize us.] [It¡¯s all because you guys spoiled him!] The audience in the live chat were chattering noisily while Bi Fang took off his headphones and discussed further developments of the show with Jerret and others. As an ¡°experienced player,¡± Bi Fang¡¯s ideas brought a lot of surprises when he exchanged thoughts with Jerret and the team. ¡°My god, Bi Fang, it¡¯s such a pity you¡¯re not a program planner. If all these shows you¡¯ve proposed actually get produced, I think I can be popular for another thirty years!¡± Jerret couldn¡¯t stop praising the ideas that Bi Fang had suggested. Just by listening to them, they were captivating enough, and it goes without saying that they would be a hit if actually made. Bi Fang waved his hand. It was an overstatement; he was just standing on the shoulders of giants. ¡­ The next day. ¡°Good morning.¡± ¡°Morning.¡± After greeting the staff, Bi Fang sat in front of the screen, deep in thought. The System had just sent a task¡ªto go on a survival mission in the rainforest, but Bi Fang had flatly refused it. He liked adventure and nature, but there was no need to rush; it was still before the Spring Festival, and taking a long vacation occasionally was also good. Constantly testing the limits of danger without taking a break could lead to a breakdown; moreover, due to his flawless performance so far, he had always completed the System tasks above expectations, so he wasn¡¯t worried about not having enough Points. What Bi Fang was considering was a different issue: Could the Wilderness Arena become a System task? No amount of thinking could substitute for one actual trial, so Bi Fang opened the task editor and began to compile this mission. If he could generate the task, then it would prove to be feasible. Task Name: Wilderness Arena Location: Rocky Mountains Mode: Show Supervisor Difficulty: R2 Task Requirements: None Main Task One: Start a livestream with a sustained online viewership of over eight hundred and fifty thousand. Main Task Two: All sixteen contestants to survive without any serious injuries or disabilities. Side Task: Free exploration. Guaranteed Reward: 1000 Wilderness Points. Time Limit: 15 days. After finishing the task editing, Bi Fang clicked confirm. When the prompt for task generation appeared, he couldn¡¯t help showing a huge smile. This judging gig was more than fair¡ªit was a total windfall! It was so easy to freeload a wave of task rewards, even if it was just a few points, that was pretty good. The task difficulty plummeted by a whole major grade out of thin air, which showed it wasn¡¯t too difficult, at least much simpler than migrating geese or surviving at sea. If nothing unexpected happened, Bi Fang might not even need to leave the helicopter and just watch the players perform. Of course, if the players really encountered insurmountable dangers, it would definitely be a test for Bi Fang, so it wasn¡¯t completely without difficulty. ¡°What are you laughing at?¡± Jerret walked into the RV and saw Bi Fang laughing, handing over a bottle of mineral water as he asked. ¡°I just remembered something funny.¡± ¡°What funny thing?¡± Bi Fang went along with the conversation and was about to say his wife had given birth, but then he remembered he didn¡¯t even have a girlfriend, so he abruptly stopped and evaded, ¡°It won¡¯t be funny if I say it out loud.¡± ¡°Alright then,¡± Jerret said, not dwelling on it, and went off to direct the staff. Soon, the second capture session began! Bi Fang started the live broadcast and, after greeting the eagerly awaiting audience, began to introduce today¡¯s contestants. At the same time, he casually opened another betting pool with the exact same options, but the voting results were quite different from yesterday. The audience almost unanimously bet on complete failure, with only a handful betting on anything else, but even they were betting on just one or two escaping successfully, with almost none choosing three or four. [I¡¯m not going to be fooled anymore!] [Great, with my sharp eyes, I have already seen through everything!] [Tell the truth, the group of four is actually strong as a horse, I don¡¯t believe anymore that anyone can escape successfully] Yesterday, the group of four had captured all four contestants effortlessly, causing the audience to lose confidence in the players, even though today¡¯s contestants were entirely new, people still didn¡¯t believe anyone could escape successfully. ¡°Ah, today¡¯s contestants have a lot more value than yesterday¡¯s.¡± Bi Fang sighed. He had opened the betting pool only after publishing the players¡¯ information, but he didn¡¯t expect the audience to trust him so little. The scene shifted, and the current contestants seemed completely unaware of the looming danger, strolling casually on the streets, the epitome of skilled bravery. Bono Cross, a member of the United States Marine Corps, later joined the Ranger Regiment. Bi Fang placed him in the first interval for today¡¯s capture operation, holding high expectations, believing that if anyone could escape the capture of the group of four, it would undoubtedly be him. ¡°Perhaps many military fans can list from memory the special forces of various countries, such as Rice Country¡¯s Royal Air Service, the Polar Bear¡¯s Alpha Squad, Ugly Country¡¯s Navy SEALs, Delta Force, and so on. However, there is also a rather formidable unit within Ugly Country¡¯s battle order, often serving as pathfinders for other units including special forces, and they are the strongest light infantry, bar none. This unit¡¯s responsibility is to take the lead in combat, to assault and infiltrate the enemy, comprised almost entirely of Special Recon Soldiers, and that is the ¡®Ranger Regiment¡¯.¡± It¡¯s worth noting that Ugly Country¡¯s history of statehood spans only a little over two hundred years, while the Ranger Regiment, a historically significant and formidable military unit in the Ugly Army, has origins dating back nearly three hundred years. They are often mentioned alongside the Army¡¯s special forces, Delta Force, and the Navy SEALS.¡± Bi Fang gave a brief introduction that stirred a great deal of excitement among the audience. To be honest, the audience was somewhat unfamiliar with the Ranger Regiment, but they knew well about Delta Force and the Navy SEALs from movies and TV shows, where they often appear as tough characters capable of decimating a gang single-handedly just because the villains provoked them. [Damn, is this guy that strong?] [Crap, why didn¡¯t I check up on the Ranger Regiment beforehand?] [Does this mean that this person might actually escape?] Bi Fang nodded, ¡°That¡¯s right, the Ranger Regiment is adept at assault and infiltration, which gives them a strong advantage in this kind of capture operation. The so-called strongest light infantry isn¡¯t just a name for nothing!¡± sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As the group of four closed in, the Boss contacted the opposite side via walkie-talkie, planning to launch a joint attack when his gaze suddenly turned blank. Where¡¯s the person? Chapter 271: 268 An unexpected incident Chapter 271: Chapter 268 An unexpected incident Bonuo casually threw a hundred-Ugly Money bill on the counter and picked up a duckbill cap, intending to leave, but was unexpectedly stopped by the clerk¡¯s outstretched hand. ¡°Sir¡­¡± ¡°No need for change.¡± Bonuo waved his hand, as he had more important matters to attend to, and the extra could be considered a tip. However, just as Bonuo took a step forward, he was stopped again by the clerk, and irritation flared within him. What an insolent clerk, was he implying the tip wasn¡¯t enough? But the clerk¡¯s next words pierced through him like a sharp spike, deflating his bloated balloon of anger. ¡°Sir, this isn¡¯t enough.¡± Bonuo¡¯s defenses collapsed instantly, as he took off his cap in shock and anger. What kind of rip-off hat cost more than a hundred Ugly Yuan? A hundred denomination was a quite large bill. If you withdrew a hundred from an ATM in Ugly Country, it would spit out five twenties, a testament to its value. And now you¡¯re telling me it¡¯s not enough? As if reading Bonuo¡¯s thoughts, the clerk pointed to a shelf nearby with a clearly marked price, fair to both young and old alike. Two hundred and thirty-seven Ugly Yuan. Bullshit! Bonuo slammed the cap onto the counter and grabbed his money before storming off. This time he had not brought that much money with him. Upon leaving the shop, Bonuo raised his collar and scanned the surroundings with sharp eyes. As a Rover Cavalry, his reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance skills were beyond doubt. With less than two days before the official broadcast of the show, he knew capture attempts would certainly occur soon, so Bonuo decided to take the initiative instead of waiting passively. He occasionally left his room and wandered the streets, hoping to lure them out. To onlookers, it seemed like a casual stroll, but in reality, he never relaxed his vigilance, always on the lookout for anything amiss. Therefore, the moment the quartet appeared, he realized the capture had begun. Immediately, he entered a clothing store, flipped his clothes inside out as a disguise, and had intended to grab a duckbill cap¡ªbut he didn¡¯t have enough money. Thinking about this irritated Bonuo further, so he straightened his collar and walked into the crowd in the opposite direction of the quartet. The bustling street crowds perfectly concealed his figure, and after a few quick moves, not even the cameras could catch a glimpse of Bonuo. Just like a droplet joining the sea. Truly the strongest infantryman, adept at breaking out and infiltrating, shaking off a few people was as simple as eating and drinking. According to the rules, as long as he shook off the quartet, it counted as evading capture, so he had no intention of a head-on confrontation, and instead, he left stealthily. The drone simply changed direction and didn¡¯t follow, in order not to clue in the quartet, who might deduce something was amiss and track the target through the drone. The game was fair to both sides. The quartet, losing their target, were now turning around like headless flies. The two split groups reassembled, and finally they all received a message from Bi Fang. ¡°Come back, the target has gotten away, your mission failed.¡± Quartet: ¡°¡­¡± That was too fast, wasn¡¯t it? There hadn¡¯t been any direct confrontation, and the target had escaped right under their noses? It¡¯s over, there goes a thousand Ugly Gold. Yesterday, the quartet made four thousand Ugly Gold, plus bonuses, totaling over a thousand each. Where else could you find such a great job? But unfortunately, they were off to a bad start, allowing their target to escape. Damn it! ¡°It seems that our first escapee has appeared, and this is the first successful escape to date. Does anyone have any thoughts?¡± Bi Fang sat in his chair, not at all surprised, as it was just as he had predicted. However, the audience was somewhat dissatisfied because they felt like they had watched, yet somehow seen nothing. The two sides had merely assessed each other like high-level martial artists, and the victor was decided without any special effects or fight¡ªquite dull indeed. [Somewhat lame, didn¡¯t find it very interesting] [What do you mean ¡®not very interesting¡¯?] [That¡¯s what I mean] [Feels like it¡¯s supposed to be very badass, but I didn¡¯t catch it.] [In a clash of masters, the essence lies in the unseen] Seeing the audience¡¯s dissatisfaction, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but laugh and cry. Not everyone was like him, having the opportunity to escape directly but choosing to come back and look for a chance to fight back. After all, fighting back was risky. If Bi Fang hadn¡¯t guessed that the other party might be from the show¡¯s crew, he too might have just walked away. ¡°Bonuo¡¯s approach is quite correct. No one can be a hundred percent sure they can handle another person without any accidents happening. The best method is to shake them off and walk away. After all, reality isn¡¯t a TV drama; it¡¯s not about always chasing after spectacular scenes and coolness.¡± Briefly explaining, he saw that the audience was still dissatisfied and quickly changed the subject. ¡°However, don¡¯t worry. There are still quite a few contestants left. Maybe some of them like to clash head-on; everyone just wait and watch.¡± S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The previously somewhat disappointed audience was once again excited by Bi Fang¡¯s words, continuing to wait for the next lucky person to be captured. Indeed, the next two contestants were evidently stronger than yesterday¡¯s. Not only did they hold their own against the group of four for a while, but the third contestant almost managed to escape. Unfortunately, the relentless pursuit by the group left nearly everyone unable to run at the end, and they were caught. The audience sighed in pity. Although the first match wasn¡¯t very exciting, Bonuo was still the first one to successfully escape, fulfilling some of the audience¡¯s expectations. The next two matches were of higher quality and more exciting than yesterday¡¯s. [So close, they almost succeeded!] [The group of four is still strong.] [Indeed, fair is fair.] [I only lost to stamina.] [But it¡¯s still a matter of strength, right? If he was as good at disguising himself as that Rover Cavalry, he wouldn¡¯t need to run like parkour. He could have just ducked into the crowd.] [Ah, if you put it that way, that Rover Cavalry guy really is strong!] [Sure is the strongest soldier type. But as I watch, I can¡¯t help but feel like all these people are just setting the stage for Old Fang. Did Old Fang secretly bribe someone?] ¡°Why would I bribe anyone?¡± Bi Fang couldn¡¯t understand the audience¡¯s train of thought. That he was strong was an objective fact; it wasn¡¯t because he had used any tricks to succeed. Since the third capture took a toll on the foursome¡¯s energy, they had to rest for a while before continuing their action. Now having nothing to do, Bi Fang chatted with the audience about customs from different places. In his past life, he had ¡°Wandered Around¡± and seen many strange things, which left the audience exclaiming in surprise and appearing to learn quite a bit. Soon evening came, the four had rested up and began the fourth round of capture. But unexpectedly, an accident occurred right at the start. A contestant was directly eliminated. ¡°How did it turn out like this?¡± Bi Fang and the show¡¯s crew hurried to the scene, where they saw the contestant crying in pain. In an attempt to evade capture, he had jumped from the third floor but failed to master ¡°Fall Protection,¡± breaking his leg. The bone in his lower leg was unnaturally twisted. This was the first serious injury during the capture operation. Some staff members wanted to help, but Bi Fang immediately stopped them: ¡°Do you know ¡®First Aid¡¯?¡± The staff shook their heads. ¡°Then don¡¯t touch him, leave it to me!¡± Bi Fang took off his coat, folded it well, and moved to the contestant¡¯s side, placing the coat under the lower leg for support, to make it somewhat bearable. Next, he placed his fingers under the contestant¡¯s knee to feel the still powerful pulse and nodded. ¡°There¡¯s still a pulse, which means the situation isn¡¯t too bad.¡± ¡°For a patient with a fracture, we should avoid directly touching the fractured site, and unless it¡¯s extremely urgent, we must never move the victim, nor should we use makeshift splints rashly. Medical staff will bring more professional medical equipment.¡± As he spoke, Bi Fang looked back at the staff: ¡°Have you called?¡± ¡°They¡¯re on their way.¡± Bi Fang nodded, ¡°Fortunately, it¡¯s a closed fracture, meaning the skin around the fracture site hasn¡¯t broken and the bone hasn¡¯t pierced through the skin. There¡¯s just swelling and no heavy bleeding, otherwise, we¡¯d have to worry about bacterial infection. But at least a few months of recuperation won¡¯t be avoidable. Rest assured, the show will cover all medical expenses, you don¡¯t have to worry about that.¡± The contestant smiled bitterly and nodded; at this point, there was nothing he could say, only that he had overestimated his abilities and lacked proper training. Soon, an ambulance arrived, and with the help of Bi Fang and others, the contestant was lifted onto the ambulance, which departed with a burst of sirens. Chapter 272: 269: The Final Wave Chapter 272: Chapter 269: The Final Wave Everyone was caught off guard when, before the show could even officially start, someone was forced to withdraw due to circumstances beyond their control, reducing the number of contestants by one. Bi Fang looked up at the third floor. Each floor was three meters high, and jumping from the third floor meant a vertical height of six meters. Even he would have to make sure before daring to jump, let alone in the urgency of being pursued¡ªa careless leap could easily lead to accidents. Taking this opportunity, Bi Fang warned, ¡°Did everyone see that? Even professionals can slip up when it comes to fall protection, so don¡¯t try this recklessly and make sure to seek guidance from a professional.¡± [That¡¯s one hell of a bad example.] [Just the thought of jumping down from the third floor makes my legs go weak.] [That¡¯s frightening as fuck, the first time I¡¯ve seen a fracture in real life, holy shit, the swelling is terrifying.] [It¡¯s nothing, you haven¡¯t seen the kind of fractures where the bone fragments are sticking out. I once came across someone who jumped off a building, and man, the blood was flying everywhere, a real fright fest, could make you vomit your dinner from the night before.] [Stop, I¡¯m getting visuals.] After addressing the unexpected accident, Bi Fang gave some brief advice and then ended the broadcast. With the accident occurring before the start of the show, many adjustments had to be made, and they also needed to visit the hospital to understand the details of the situation. ¡°How¡¯s it looking?¡± ¡°No major issues, just an ordinary fracture. The doctor reckons it¡¯ll take about a month to recover, with no lasting side effects.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± Jerret wiped his forehead, relieved. In outdoor shows like this, injuries are inevitable, but fractures are considered quite serious. Once they confirmed that there were no major problems, the crew paid the medical bills and began to prepare for the live broadcast the next day, while also informing all the contestants about the accident. The message was clear: if they were worried, they could quit now. But those who had come to participate were each outstanding in their own fields, having considerable confidence in their own abilities. Even after hearing the news, nobody chose to withdraw. The show must go on. The missions continued as well. The third day, which was also the first day of the capture mission, nearly all of the formidable players were present. Lisa Price from the elite members of Beret Hat. Doligong Hawk, from the elite firefighting team of Canadian National Forest Park, responsible for forest conservation and wildlife protection, once faced off against a brown bear over two and a half meters tall. Ji Zuodong, ex-military police brigade, with capabilities comparable to special forces. Mugalen, an old acquaintance, with a background as a Deer Hunter, a combination of a hunter and special forces, probably the most overtly powerful among the fifteen contestants. Bi Fang had initially wanted to switch Lisa for Rover Cavalry¡¯s Bonuo, making the final day a true clash of titans, but it was Jerret who, with his decades of experience, made the suggestion. Three men and a woman would be more attractive than a group of four men. This piece of advice was like a wake-up call, making Bi Fang realize the considerable gap between himself and a true producer; he hadn¡¯t thought of that at all. Sure enough, as soon as today¡¯s capture list was published, the audience was almost universally ecstatic. Bi Fang casually opened a new betting pool. With the example set by Bonuo¡¯s success, the online friends didn¡¯t completely lose faith in the contestants, with most bets placed on three people succeeding. [Holy shit, this lineup feels a whole level higher than the previous two rounds!] [Epic, there¡¯s my father-in-law again] [Father-in-law? Who¡¯s your father-in-law?] Mugalen ah Grass, people can¡¯t, at least they shouldn¡¯t People should, at least give it a try. After the warm-up in the past two days, the show¡¯s popularity had completely skyrocketed. Bi Fang¡¯s fans almost all knew that for such a new wilderness program, skepticism was inevitable. However, when Bi Fang joined, even just as a judge, the quality was guaranteed. Moreover, a fracture accident occurred yesterday. Although unfortunate, it undeniably generated a wave of viewership. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. All things considered, today, as soon as Bi Fang¡¯s broadcast started, the number of viewers was heading towards the millions, with a whopping opening rating of 2%! ¡°Today is the last capture operation. After the capture is over, we will take the sixteen, oh, now fifteen contestants, and airdrop them into the Rocky Mountains. As you can guess, after the capture is finished, it will be the afternoon, and by the time we reach our destination, it might already be dark. So, the first serious challenge they face is how to spend their first night in the wilderness.¡± The wilderness at night is undoubtedly the most dangerous¡ªwith wild beasts roaming, plunging into such a forest is a huge test. It made the audience exclaim with excitement, unable to tear themselves away, feeling the thrill as if a test were approaching and the teacher suddenly comes over to explain the problems. After a brief introduction of the rules and content, Bi Fang switched the screen, handing over the live stream to the contestants. Today¡¯s first capture target was one of the female contestants, Lisa. ¡°Unlike in Huaxia, in Ugly Country, although women have already joined multiple extremely dangerous frontline combat units, such as serving as fighter pilots and armed helicopter operators for Draws Country¡¯s Navy and Air Force, special forces have long been off-limits to female soldiers. Since Ugly Country uses mixed units, women must meet the same assessment standards as men to join the special forces, which is quite difficult since women naturally have less physical strength and fitness than men. Very few are selected, and even fewer complete the entire course¡ªonly one to be exact.¡± Fuck, that¡¯s awesome. Is she the only one who has succeeded? That¡¯s so badass. A role model for my generation! ¡°No, she isn¡¯t,¡± Bi Fang threw cold water on the excited audience, ¡°According to the information provided by Lisa, she only holds a special forces combatant training certificate and has the qualifications, but did not pass the course to join. However, it¡¯s not an overstatement to say she¡¯s a member of the Green Berets.¡± ¡°Every member of the Green Berets is a master of guerrilla warfare, speaks at least one foreign language, and possesses their own technical expertise¡ªweaponry, engineering, communications, medical¡ªpretty much like the cool teams you see in the movies.¡± Although the audience felt let down by the news she wasn¡¯t an official member, they were still hugely interested after hearing the introductions. When the camera switched over to Lisa, they almost crashed collectively. Fuck, is that a woman? If she didn¡¯t have long hair, I really wouldn¡¯t believe it¡­ Ah, not as pretty as that off-road sister¡­ But she¡¯s tougher than your off-road sister, knocking them out one punch at a time. Bi Fang wasn¡¯t surprised by the viewers¡¯ reactions, because from her ID photo, Lisa already showed features that were more masculine. Just by appearance, she was far from Ava. In fact, this is perfectly normal. Countless scientific evidences show that the lower limit of strength for male athletes is almost the upper limit for female athletes. For a woman to exceed the strength of an average man, it is certainly not going to be with a slender figure; more likely, she will not correspond with gentleness, having big thighs like Chun Li¡¯s is the norm. If Ava could still be considered fit with her strength mainly in her legs, then Lisa, who had the qualifications of a special forces member, could be regarded as ¡°big and burly,¡± with a completely masculine look. The typical scenario in urban novels where the female team member is extremely strong yet maintains a slim figure is almost impossible. This is what a special forces member looks like. During Bi Fang¡¯s brief introduction, the four-man team also launched their attack. Chapter 273: 270: The Second Escapee Chapter 273: Chapter 270: The Second Escapee ¡°` To deal with the pursuit, Lisa had hardly stepped out of her hotel room in three days; even her meals were delivered by the hotel¡¯s room service. She was well aware that strength was not her forte. Perhaps she could handle one or even two pursuers, but any more than that, and physical exhaustion was inevitable. For this reason, she had to come up with some special methods. ¡°You two, break through the main entrance. Fourth Brother, you come and wait downstairs with me.¡± Lisa¡¯s room was on the second floor, one level lower than before. Boss was extra cautious, blocking off all possible escape routes. Second Brother and Third Brother, clutching the room card, arrived at Lisa¡¯s door. Under normal circumstances, they would have broken down the door in a bust, but since they had communicated with the hotel, they chose the more convenient method. However, this approach had its drawbacks: using the room card was slower than a forced entry and came with a burst of electronic noise. But that didn¡¯t matter much, as the only escape routes for the target were two: the main door or jumping out of the window. After a confirming glance, they swiped the card, and after a beep, they kicked the door open with force. The room was empty! ¡°She¡¯s gone!¡± Second Brother, noticing the open skylight, shouted into his walkie-talkie. Boss downstairs also spotted the figure climbing out of the window and immediately pulled the trigger, but Lisa reacted just as swiftly. Instead of jumping, she leaped up and grabbed hold of a water pipe! Both anesthetic darts hit the window instead. What a nimble figure! Both the audience and the team of four were slightly taken aback. ¡°Lisa must have practiced this more than once; otherwise, she couldn¡¯t have been so proficient.¡± Bi Fang could tell at a glance that this wasn¡¯t her first time, that she must have practiced numerous times. Well before the operation began, she had already planned her escape route, swiftly climbing up the pipe. Her goal wasn¡¯t to jump down, but to climb up! She was taking this chance to get up to the third floor! After firing two empty shots, Boss and Fourth Brother quickly reloaded. This gave Lisa enough time to climb up to the third floor, slide open a window, and roll into a room. ¡°Ordinarily, hotel windows cannot be opened from the outside. Lisa must have considered this. Unless she was relying on luck, she might have even spent her own money to reserve the room above hers, which would explain how she so smoothly made her way in.¡± Bi Fang saw through Lisa¡¯s tactics. Her strategy was completely different from the previous contestant with a broken leg. She didn¡¯t aim to escape by jumping out of the window but to move upwards to avoid pursuit. ¡°Unfortunately, she¡¯s been hit by the sedative now and won¡¯t last much longer. If I¡¯m not mistaken, she might choose to hide in one of the third-floor rooms, take advantage of the darkness beneath the light, or perhaps go even further and reserve another room on the third floor, using her last moments to hide. Escaping the building is nearly impossible now.¡± Capturing Lisa was only a matter of time. When the team of four reached the third floor, it didn¡¯t take long for them to find Lisa in the bathroom, close to losing consciousness. The audience felt a pang of regret; no one expected the first contestant to fail so soon. But it was okay, three were still left. Among them, Bi Fang only had faith in Ji Zuodong and Mugalen. ¡°Although Doligong is from the Forest Park Firefighting Team and is very adept at wilderness survival, he has never undergone professional anti-surveillance and escape training, so it¡¯s unlikely that he¡¯ll evade the four-man team¡¯s capture.¡± As they spoke, the team reached Doligong¡¯s location, and just as Bi Fang had surmised, with some effort, they also captured Doligong. [Is it time for them to come for one of our own now?] [Awesome, this is the first time I¡¯ve seen a Huaxia person on this kind of show. I¡¯m a bit excited.] ¡°` ¡°Who said that? Strictly speaking, Old Fang was actually the first one.¡± ¡°Plus one. Master Fang is simply a genius. I never realized Wilderness Survivalist could be this entertaining.¡± Ji Zuodong, an armed police special officer, in Bi Fang¡¯s eyes, should be the best at urban combat among all participants, and escaping capture is simply out of the question for him. ¡°Old Fang, which are a bit more formidable, the armed police or special forces?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯d like to know too.¡± As soon as the audience saw the armed police special officer, they instinctively wanted to compare him to the special forces, and with Bi Fang right there, of course they would ask the professional. ¡°Well¡­¡± Bi Fang paused. ¡°Both the Army Special Ops and the special police are classified as special forces, trained in a comprehensive set of skills, so both their collective and individual combat capabilities are very strong, nearly at the same level, but their focuses are different. The armed police are more proficient in urban combat, while the special forces are all-terrain.¡± ¡°But there¡¯s one thing worth noting. The armed police are very skilled at subduing enemies. Special forces, when encountering an enemy during a mission, will never let the enemy speak, whereas special police, when they encounter an enemy, will first shout, ¡®Don¡¯t move, drop your weapon,¡¯ with subduing them being the priority.¡± ¡°Special police are responsible for maintaining social order and fighting crime, while special forces carry out national missions. However, with the prevalence of terrorists today, special forces are also involved in counter-terrorism.¡± ¡°A word from you is worth more than a lecture from anyone else.¡± ¡°So after all that, who¡¯s really stronger?¡± ¡°This actually still depends on the individual. Although they are all special forces, there is still a difference in level among individuals. Under the same training process, some people just turn out to be stronger.¡± Seeing that the audience was determined to dig deeper, Bi Fang didn¡¯t hold back and candidly said, ¡°If he were to fight me, chances are he wouldn¡¯t be able to beat me.¡± The armed police special officer is on par with the special forces. But Bi Fang is not your average special forces member. He is a Special Recon Soldier who has trained at the Hunter Academy and possesses a refined Tai Chi Traveling Dragon skill. In terms of hand-to-hand combat, he is definitely much stronger. Having professional combat skills makes a huge difference. When Bi Fang faced Legoff, he was actually firmly in control, clearly holding the upper hand in their first few encounters, with less danger than Legoff faced. As the commentary continued, Ji Zuodong was also confronting the group of four head-on. Almost at the first glance, Ji Zuodong made a move that the audience was all too familiar with. Throwing his coat! Bi Fang had demonstrated this move long ago. When faced with something unexpected, people¡¯s instinctive reaction is to use their eyes to track it, to prevent any danger from arising. This brief moment is enough for someone to make a getaway. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the instant the group of four was distracted, Ji Zuodong turned to flee, but upon flashing around a corner, he didn¡¯t continue to run. Instead, he looked around, picked up a large trash can to empty it, and with a few leaps, arrived at a ground-floor windowsill with the trash can in tow. As soon as Boss, the first to charge in, got close, Ji Zuodong violently threw the trash can over him, completely enclosing him! The trash can hit its mark, and Ji Zuodong quickly advanced, using Boss as a shield on one hand and reaching for the tranquilizer gun in his hand with the other. With a simple joint lock, he stripped away Boss¡¯s tranquilizer gun in an instant. Before everyone else could react, Ji Zuodong had no intention of having a stand-off with the gun. He lifted the gun, aimed at Third Brother, and was about to shoot. Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t hit his target, but Ji Zuodong wasn¡¯t annoyed. He kicked Boss to the ground and continued his escape. Although he had retired a long time ago, Ji Zuodong¡¯s skills hadn¡¯t declined. He continued to ambush, successfully ¡°taking out¡± two members of the group of four, and successfully escaped. The second escapee appears! ¡°It seems my skills haven¡¯t fallen behind.¡± Having been informed by the show¡¯s crew to return, Ji Zuodong faced the camera with a hearty smile; he was the true embodiment of someone who had forcefully escaped capture. With that, fifteen of the sixteen contestants had been attempted for capture, leaving only Mugalen as the show was about to officially start. As the earliest contestant the audience had been acquainted with, could he pull off a successful challenge? The audience wasn¡¯t the only curious one¡ªBi Fang was too. Chapter 274: 271: Main Event Chapter 274: Chapter 271: Main Event The answer leaves no room for doubt. Yes. The quartet slammed their car doors shut and hurried toward the hotel, their approach so fierce that if it hadn¡¯t been for a prior heads-up, someone would have thought a sworn enemy had come for revenge. The manager pulled back the curtains and glanced at the license plate number. Once it was confirmed to be correct, he didn¡¯t wait for the men to come but opened the door in advance, even taking care to give a reminder to passersby when possible. ¡°Top floor on the right.¡± The man leading, Boss, gave the manager a surprised look. After numerous capture operations, this was the first time he¡¯d seen someone so cooperative, which left him with an uncanny feeling of being a lackey. The manager noticed the four men arriving and smiled slightly to show friendliness. As a hotel, they¡¯d welcome the chance for a TV station to visit and film ¡ª it was a coveted opportunity. Of course, they¡¯d serve them well, and as long as it wasn¡¯t too destructive, breaking a few things was fine. Of course, they had to pay for damages. The armed foursome split into two groups. One group went through the lobby to the outside courtyard to lie in wait, following the usual protocol. The other dashed for the stairs and quickly went up. At that moment, the scene switched to the room, and the viewers immediately saw a mosaic of pixels. Bi Fang was drinking water. Seeing this scene, he almost spit it out, ¡°Uh, seems like our protagonist just finished bathing. It¡¯s the last day before the show starts, and I didn¡¯t expect Mugalen to still have the mood for a bath.¡± In the frame, Mugalen was a blur of mosaic, yet despite that, sharp-eyed viewers could still discern that he was almost one color ¡ª surely wearing nothing at all. You have to admit, he¡¯s quite bold. On a day when capture was inevitable, he dared to leisurely take a bath. Only when he picked up his underwear and put it on did the mosaic finally disappear. Mugalen picked up the remote, intending to sit on the couch and watch TV, but then he suddenly heard hurried footsteps in the hallway. The heavy boots tapped against the solid wood floor, making a thumping sound. ¡°It looks like our protagonist has sensed the danger approaching.¡± Bi Fang watched as Mugalen got up, went to the door, and secured the bolt. This way, even with a room card, the capture team outside couldn¡¯t get in. Not only that, but Mugalen even moved a chair to angle it in front of the door. The rush of footsteps outside, plus the timing of events, gave Mugalen, with his hunter¡¯s alertness, almost complete certainty that this was the capture team. Realizing this, he didn¡¯t bother to open the door to check; that would only be a waste of time. Whether he confirmed it or not, he would do the same, so any unnecessary actions should be omitted. Then Mugalen began dressing, moving the table next to the bed aside. He had just poked his head out to look at the courtyard when he spotted two people also rushing over. Without a doubt, they were also part of the capture team. Surrounded front and back, Mugalen looked around and set his gaze upon the little door on the bed, which led to the attic. At this point, banging noises came from outside the door. ¡°Bang!¡± The door burst open. Boss and Fourth Brother looked around the room but didn¡¯t see their target. They asked through the walkie-talkie, and it was confirmed that no one had jumped out the window. The two immediately began searching the room and soon discovered the attic entrance. But as Boss just opened the door, a pair of legs suddenly kicked out, knocking Boss to the ground. Then Mugalen quickly pulled the door shut before climbing inside. Boss was almost dazed by the kick, gasping for air on the ground. Fourth Brother immediately gave chase. Once he entered the attic, he found it extremely tight and saw that a skylight was wide open. Just as he got there, he could see a pair of legs dangling outside; Mugalen was struggling to climb up. Unfortunately, before Fourth Brother had the chance to take aim, Mugalen had already escaped to the rooftop. Fourth Brother hurried after him. ¡°Quite a beautiful tactic,¡± Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but nod in approval, ¡°When facing a siege by multiple people, if you have confidence in your own strength and stamina, the best method is to run towards narrow spaces. Try to create one-on-one situations as much as possible to reduce the effectiveness of the crowd tactic to the lowest level. At the same time, the narrow space also makes it inconvenient for firearms to aim.¡± Almost at the moment Fourth Brother poked his head out of the skylight, a pair of large hands reached over, using the exact same routine. In the rush, Fourth Brother could only face the attack, but never expected that Mugalen had a belt looped in his hand. With a few quick flicks, he somehow got the belt around Fourth Brother¡¯s hand, then with a strong pull, he firmly trapped Fourth Brother¡¯s hand and snatched away the anesthesia gun. Mugalen took the gun and ran to the edge of the roof, then slid down the drainpipe. The whole set of movements flowed like moving clouds and flowing water, and by the time the audience realized what was happening, Mugalen had already completed the first round of direct confrontation, with Boss and Fourth Brother almost utterly defeated. Once Mugalen landed on the floor below, he stayed close to the wall, using the eaves to avoid the line of sight of the two men downstairs. He knocked the glass tiles with his hand, reaching in to unlock the latch, and pushed up the window, rolling into it. Downstairs, Second Brother and Third Brother didn¡¯t stay in the yard any longer and rushed towards the inside the hotel. Hearing a rattle from upstairs, the manager quietly contemplated how much compensation to ask for, wondering if he could make a profit from this incident. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Mugalen, who had entered the room, quickly went downstairs, but before reaching the bottom, he saw Second Brother and Third Brother coming head-on. He pulled out the anesthesia gun he had snatched earlier and shot Third Brother, who was in the lead, with a single shot. Then, with his tiger-like gaze, just as Second Brother was about to catch up, Mugalen suddenly flipped and leaped to the staircase one level below, avoiding Second Brother. By the time Second Brother realized it, Mugalen wasn¡¯t directly ahead anymore, but had moved to the stairs below, completely reversing direction. What should have been a chase upstairs suddenly became a chase downstairs, disorienting anyone. When Second Brother finally went down after him, Mugalen had completely vanished without a trace. Boss and Fourth Brother also chased down from the top floor, but when the whole group passed through the lobby and onto the street outside, seeing the coming and going traffic, everyone¡¯s heart sank with disappointment. Another thousand dollars gone. Boss gasped for air and threw his hat to the ground in frustration. Damn it, are commandos all this fierce? The whole capture process took no more than ten minutes, truly providing the audience with a feast for the eyes, giving them the thrilling satisfaction of watching a movie in a cinema. So far, three escapees in total! [I knew I wasn¡¯t wrong about you, Mugalen is still strong] [Worthy of being the man who entered the stage early, the last one to show up is always the mightiest!] [To be fair, it feels like Master Fang has the best vision! Just one glance and he can tell who has it and who doesn¡¯t.] ¡°It¡¯s exactly as you predicted.¡± Inside the RV, Jerret couldn¡¯t help feeling impressed. When initially selecting items, he had asked Bi Fang for his thoughts, and the answer he had gotten was that the number of escapees would be between two and three. Looking at it now, it was indeed the case. It has to be said, only a true expert understands another expert, and only a real master could accurately judge the strength of the competitors. This confidence also encouraged Jerret for the upcoming filming. What is the biggest worry when producing a wilderness program? Of course, it¡¯s accidental loss of life, but with a powerful master on hand, the probability of accidents was reduced to the lowest level, and all safety measures could be checked and filled in. Jerret felt a bit of satisfaction in his heart, no longer dwelling on this point, and called the show¡¯s crew to action. The warm-up for the program had concluded, and what was coming next was the real highlight. Eagerly anticipated by countless viewers. The Wilderness Arena! Chapter 275: 272 Challenge Begins Chapter 275: Chapter 272 Challenge Begins The capture concluded, and Bi Fang ended the live broadcast before hurrying to the nearest airport. Once everyone had arrived at a city near the Rocky Mountains, they were split into three helicopters, each carrying four contestants, dropping them one by one. When the capture was over, it was around two in the afternoon; by the time everyone reached the Rocky Mountains, it was already five in the evening. Bi Fang sat inside the helicopter, chatting with a few contestants while once again going over the game rules to ensure that no one would have second thoughts. And at that moment, Mugalen was experiencing a tumult of emotions. It was only when he was taken onto the plane that he learned Bi Fang¡¯s so-called participation was as a judge. In that instant, no one could understand the intense psychological changes that Mugalen underwent. It was a melancholy sensation to regard someone as a formidable rival, only to realize they didn¡¯t even remember you existed. In such a circumstance, Mugalen thought he would be angry, but upon a second thought, he was unexpectedly pleased. If Bi Fang was not participating¡­ Wouldn¡¯t he be able to stand out? Reopening the live broadcast after just three hours made the viewers unable to wait any longer. The capture action was not merely a warm-up; it was clearly a tease! In front of millions of viewers, Bi Fang once again spoke those words everyone was intimately familiar with. ¡°Looking back at the evolutionary trajectory of humans, if our ancestors had not ventured and imagined, had not dared to innovate and make sacrifices with their magnanimous hearts and grand emotions, humans would not have used canoes to surf the seas and explore the boundless mysteries of the ocean on the other side. Humans are curious, giving rise to the impulse for adventure; humans venture, igniting the torch of civilization. Adventure lies not just in Nature¡¯s oceans and mountains, deserts and marshes, but is also hidden amidst the densely populated cities.¡± Quite the speaker. The few contestants had also watched Bi Fang¡¯s live streams before, and hearing these overly familiar words now, they all felt moved. No wonder he had become a worldwide sensation; mere commoners couldn¡¯t hold a candle to his level of eloquence. ¡°But¡­¡± Bi Fang¡¯s tone shifted, ¡°today¡¯s protagonists are not me, but our fifteen contestants. In the first three days of the broadcast, everyone has gained a preliminary understanding of each contestant and has noticed the differences in their strengths. However, what I want to say is, Wilderness Survival and urban escape are two different things.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think that those who didn¡¯t evade capture are weaker than those who did. A hunter might not beat a soldier in a fight, but their survival abilities are definitely going to be stronger.¡± Mugalen, upon hearing this, let out a laugh: ¡°Then I¡¯ve got both!¡± [Old Mugalen is pretty confident] [I feel like Mugalen¡¯s odds are quite high] [Go father-in-law!] [Mugalen: Before the competition, I¡¯ll smash my son-in-law¡¯s ¡°Dog¡¯s head¡±!] ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± The pilot¡¯s voice came through Bi Fang¡¯s headset. The helicopter had arrived at the center of the Rocky Mountains. ¡°The Rocky Mountains, one of North America¡¯s most famous tourist destinations, with lakes, snow-capped mountains, meadows, plains, rivers, forests, glaciers, hot springs, waterfalls, and canyons. Almost every scene you can think of is pretty much here, and it¡¯s also rated by Ugly Country Geography as one of the top fifty places one must visit in a lifetime.¡± ¡°But beneath the beautiful environment lies deadly danger. The beauty of Nature usually means it¡¯s untamed. Every year, millions visit here, yet more than a thousand fail to make it back to the city.¡± ¡°And our contestants are about to face their first challenge, which is to make it through their first night in such a dangerous forest.¡± As the helicopter¡¯s hatch slowly opened, the sky awash with twilight and the orange-hued forest seemed to meld together. Bi Fang stepped alone onto the deck from the hatch. Under the setting sun, the helicopter circled with the Black Hawk, as Bi Fang stood on the deck, his back to the sunset sky that purpled into twilight, the forest ahead like raging flames, as if the whole world was alight. In not too long, the sun would completely set, and ferocious predators would emerge en masse, searching for any food to fill their bellies. [Wow, kind of beautiful] [When has a place chosen by Bi Fang ever not been beautiful? But I feel like the prettier it is, the more dangerous,] [Epic, screenshot this chapter!] After displaying the forest scenery, Bi Fang turned to look at the contestants and gave them a meaningful reminder. ¡°Since you¡¯ve chosen to participate in the competition, you must have done a thorough study of the Rocky Mountains; however, I still want to remind you, it¡¯s the end of February now, and the competition will run into March. Do you know the approximate time when Black Bears wake from their hibernation?¡± As he finished speaking, two contestants¡¯ faces immediately changed color. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. March is precisely the time Black Bears gradually awaken from their hibernation, ravenous after a long sleep of several months! The previously beautiful forest instantaneously became fraught with danger! ¡°Asian Black Bear?¡± Mugalen didn¡¯t seem daunted, but rather found it quite interesting. The Rocky Mountains are in Canada, home to both Asian and American Black Bears. The American Black Bear hibernates for a longer period and it is mostly the Asian Black Bears that awaken during this time. Asian Black Bears are smaller in size; the ones that Bi Fang encountered previously were 1.7 meters in length, already considered unusually large, with most around 1.5 meters. If you¡¯re adequately prepared, it¡¯s not impossible to fight one. ¡°Seems like you¡¯re quite confident?¡± Mugalen, flashing his red gums, laughed and said, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say confident, but it¡¯s not my first time dealing with a Black Bear. If I hadn¡¯t considered the possibility of encountering them, what would be the point of joining the show?¡± Bi Fang nodded and said nothing more, instructing the crew to blindfold all the contestants. After the helicopter flew a bit farther, he signaled for it to land and dropped off the first contestant, with two drones circling nearby. This was standard for every contestant: two drones responsible for filming and a wristband capable of real-time heart rate and body temperature monitoring, to ensure all values stayed within a safe threshold. It could also display a 300-hour countdown and had an emergency button. If a contestant could no longer continue, they could press the button to forfeit and be retrieved by helicopter. However, these items were not to be damaged or used for advantage, and even the comments displayed by the drones were manually selected by the crew. Although this method was less efficient, it maintained interactivity while preventing viewers from conveying information to their favorite contestants through comments. After ensuring the surrounding area was safe, Bi Fang approached the contestant and said, ¡°You can take off your blindfold after one minute.¡± The helicopter took off again, and after flying some distance, dropped off another contestant. When the last contestant, Mugalen, was finally put down, Bi Fang left him an extra item. As a reward for escaping capture, a 500g military canned meat. Feeling the weight of the canned meat in his hand, Mugalen was pleased. ¡°Seems I¡¯m quite lucky? Is this canned meat?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± Bi Fang nodded. The six items were marked for the three contestants to draw lots. Mugalen had drawn the number one canned meat. Besides him, Ji Zuodong got a Claw Knife, and Bonuo got a twenty-meter piece of Nylon Rope. ¡°You can remove your blindfold after one minute.¡± The same words were repeated four times. Without further admonition, Bi Fang jumped up to grab the rope dropped from the helicopter, hanging midair, saluting the drones below with a two-fingered gesture. ¡°I¡¯m Bi Fang, this is Wilderness Arena. Have fun, and I sincerely hope that you succeed in the challenge.¡± Chapter 276: 273: Rocky Mountains Chapter 276: Chapter 273: Rocky Mountains 299:59:59! As the helicopter began its ascent, a line of crimson numbers appeared in the top left corner of the live broadcast room and started to pulsate. Three hundred-hour countdown! Thoughts flashed through the viewers¡¯ minds like lightning. Everyone was crystal clear about the game¡¯s rules, and upon seeing the countdown-like notation, they instantly grasped its significance. Bi Fang clutched the ladder rope and climbed back into the cabin. At that moment, rows of equipment had already begun operating, and the other two helicopters had completed dropping off competitors. Huge screens started displaying thirty-two separate scenes, each manipulated by different crew members, while the chief director selected exciting footage to broadcast onto the giant screen directly in front of Bi Fang. The images Bi Fang saw were the same as those on Discovery Channel. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Such multi-camera operations were quite intricate, demanding high levels of expertise from commentators¡ªwho either knew their stuff or didn¡¯t¡ªand even that wasn¡¯t enough. They had to instantly comprehend what the competitors were doing, or they¡¯d struggle to keep up with the pace of perspective shifts. Otherwise, what kind of commentary would it be if, after explaining someone¡¯s tent-building technique, the feed switched to another person and took ages to figure out? The quicker commentators were to get ahead, the more it testified to their skill level, and the more it stoked the viewers¡¯ enthusiasm, providing everyone with a sense of predictive thrill. If even competitors didn¡¯t grasp what they should be doing, and the commentator made it clear, then that was truly impressive. Bi Fang was such an individual. Simultaneously, viewers in the broadcast room had a wider array of choices: they could follow Bi Fang and watch a multi-angle version of Discovery Channel, or they could independently switch to observe their preferred survivalist, accommodating the preferences of all. Fifteen competitors, each with a wealth of information so extensive that it would be a challenge to choose whom to focus on without the experience of having directed Wilderness Survivalist¡ªit seemed every single one of them was critical, far more thrilling than a regular broadcast! Bi Fang sat before the large screen, fiddling with a map of the Rocky Mountains and showing it to the audience while approximately circling the challengers¡¯ locations. ¡°The Rocky Mountains extend far from north to south, with significant climatic variations. The northern end experiences Arctic climate while the southern tip has a tropical fringe climate. Thus, survival requirements differ by area. It¡¯s February now, but within the same region, some places are still blanketed with snow, while others have already sprung with grass. We¡¯re located in the middle where it was still quite cold when I went down, with temperatures around just five degrees Celsius. Hence, our competitors¡¯ first challenge is to construct a warm and comfortable shelter¡ªotherwise, they could very well succumb to a cold on the first night. Those of you who have watched my shows know just how miserable it is to catch a cold in the wild, especially in a competitive situation. An early cold could make it extremely challenging to persist. Early stages are critical for establishing sufficient survival resources. Fall behind at the start, and you¡¯ll be trailing throughout, making victory nearly impossible later on. So if someone catches a cold, that¡¯s undoubtedly a deduction in my book. Of course, if someone still manages to create a decent advantage despite the cold, a deduction could just as well turn into bonus points.¡± Bi Fang served as both the commentator and the judge and naturally had to live up to his responsibilities. Inability to build a shelter to fend off severe cold on the first night was a sign of lack of competence, marking the need for a little ¡®X¡¯. However, some people naturally had weaker physiques and were prone to catching a cold from minimal exposure. So perseverance in the face of sickness was considered a highlight in his eyes. [Damn, I¡¯m getting a boss vibe here, like he¡¯s got the power of life and death!] [I don¡¯t know why, but what Old Fang said just sounds so cool!] [I wanna be masterful like Master Fang too!] [I really wish someone would jump out right now and say, ¡°If you¡¯re so capable, then go for it. You do nothing but whine. You wouldn¡¯t last even a day (dog head emoji, double safety)] [Master Fang: I could totally do it, and I¡¯d knock ¡¯em all down too, so fierce!] [Sitting atop the golden throne, Master Fang lifts his head high, baring his neck. With a single kick, he flings open the heavy chest, and coins scatter across the floor. He sneers, ¡°Entertain me to your heart¡¯s content! The winner takes it all!¡±] [Awesome, he¡¯s got the vibe of an overbearing CEO. An overbearing adventurer!] Bi Fang ignored the excited viewers and opened the mini-map in the upper left corner, a map with green dots representing the real-time positions of each person, located via a wristband GPS. If someone¡¯s status became too poor ¡ª for example, with a temperature too high or too low ¡ª the green dot would turn orange, requiring constant attention. And if the deviation was too large, the orange would become red. Regardless of whether the person agreed, it would be considered a disqualification, and they would be sent to a hospital for treatment. In addition to player positions, the mini-map also showed golden points, three in total, which were the locations of the cabins. Even the closest contestant was a hundred kilometers from the nearest cabin. Every day at noon, a signal flare would be launched from the direction of the cabins. At this time, contestants could decide whether or not to head towards the cabins, and the direction was significantly off the correct survival route. If contestants chose to go, they would need to take a detour. A gamble worth considering ¡ª going there would certainly waste some time, but perhaps one could acquire unexpected gains. [What¡¯s inside the cabin?] [Yeah, yeah, tell us, Old Fang] ¡°I can¡¯t give spoilers.¡± Bi Fang shook his head, refusing the audience¡¯s requests. He was concerned that some viewers, knowing details, might inform the contestants through comments, even though the comments were screened by the staff. One can never be too sure if a contestant has arranged for someone outside to use coded language, or fit strange punctuations into normal conversations as a signal ¡ª it¡¯s impossible to guard against such tactics. It¡¯s better to stay silent altogether. After all, it¡¯s a hundred thousand US dollars at stake, not a small amount by any measure. It¡¯s worth employing some tricks. Inside the streaming room, the sky had completely darkened, and all thirty-two drones had switched to night vision mode. Each drone was quite expensive, just slightly less so than the drones used during Bi Fang¡¯s ocean survival challenge, but the difference was marginal. More than half of these were rented; they were to be returned once the time was up, for the costs were too high ¡ª a testament to the Discovery Channel placing high importance on this program. ¡°If contestants choose not to survive in the forest for twelve days and instead go for the option with higher bonus weight ¡ª traveling through ¡ª they¡¯ll need to find an inhabited place. If they choose the north, they need to traverse nearly eight hundred kilometers of forest and prairie. They could encounter a big river many have heard of ¡ª the Missouri River ¡ª and find many towns along its banks.¡± ¡°Eastward lies an even greater distance, nearly a thousand kilometers of permafrost and mountain ranges that must be crossed to encounter a railway where, similarly, numerous small towns can be found.¡± ¡°To the west lies the greatest challenge; they must cross the entire Rocky Mountains to find a town.¡± ¡°As for heading south, a marsh awaits them, and though this route is the shortest ¡ª being only about five hundred kilometers to an inhabited area ¡ª the danger rating is the highest, as the further south one goes, the higher the temperature, and many hibernating animals have just awakened, ravenous. A famished black bear might be waiting for a delicious feast.¡± ¡°Overall, no matter which direction they head in, there¡¯s a chance to encounter inhabited places. But whether they¡¯ll meet others or will be able to form teams, we cannot predict. Moreover, the show¡¯s crew is filming entirely with drones, without even a single cameraman; everything is up to them!¡± Chapter 277: 274: Sudden Change in Style Chapter 277: Chapter 274: Sudden Change in Style Bi Fang briefly explained on the map the predicament faced by the contestants, the options for their routes through the four cardinal directions¡ªnortheast, southwest¡ªand unintentionally gave the viewers quite a shock. In Bi Fang¡¯s mouth, these were four paths that could lead to human habitation, but why did they feel like dead ends to the viewers? Heading east meant traveling dozens of kilometers, while going west spanned across the entire mountain range, the south had large swamps to contend with, and the north was covered with forests and grasslands. Something was off, very off! ¡°Can they even make it out of there? Is Master Fang sure these are routes and not deathtraps?¡± ¡°Although Master Fang¡¯s tone is very calm, this vibe of a behind-the-scenes boss designing a death game, wanting to see them die in the wilderness, why is it so strong? It must be an illusion, definitely an illusion!¡± ¡°Experience despair! Experience pain, if you want to challenge my throne, you¡¯re too weak!¡± ¡°Do they know where they are? Is it the same as with Old Fang, where they didn¡¯t even know their location?¡± ¡°They must know, right? Didn¡¯t Old Fang mention it when they got off the plane? Besides, not knowing the place would be way too unfriendly, that would be actual murder.¡± While the audience was still discussing the dangers of the Rocky Mountains, the contestants had already sprung into action. If they didn¡¯t set up tents and start fires soon, it would be too late. A stable and warm shelter could take hours to build. The fastest mover was Ji Zuolin because he was the only one with a weapon at hand¡ªa Claw Knife. Though the blade was small, barely five or six centimeters, it was enough to cut through some branches. In less than ten minutes, he had gathered four or five sticks thick as a baby¡¯s arm, stripped off the bark to use as cordage, and began assembling the main structure of his tent. This kind of main structure might not be the most stable, but it was quick to erect. ¡°Because it¡¯s getting dark, the temperature could have already dropped below zero. It¡¯s fine if they keep moving, but once they want to sleep, the clothes on the contestants won¡¯t be enough. I¡¯ve talked about hypothermia before,¡± ¡°If a contestant¡¯s core body temperature drops below 35¡ãC for more than ten minutes, we will automatically judge them to have failed the challenge and initiate a rescue operation.¡± ¡°35¡ãC? That condition seems too stringent, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Many viewers felt that reaching 35¡ãC could be easily accomplished by just catching a bit of chill, signaling that contestants could easily be eliminated by accident. ¡°Pay attention to my words. I¡¯m talking about core body temperature, not skin temperature. The core body temperature is different from peripheral temperature. The liver is the main organ of heat production in the human body. Therefore, the core body temperature refers to the internal temperature of the body, simply put, inside your belly. To maintain normal metabolism, core body temperature fluctuates very little. It is usually about 1¡ãC higher than peripheral temperature. In other words, our bodies are in a state of ¡®fever¡¯ every day. The normal human body temperature is between 36¡ãC to 37¡ãC, which means the core body temperature is around 37¡ãC. A core temperature of 35¡ãC is already 2¡ãC below the normal range. Some people may experience spasms, not to mention the premise of exceeding ten minutes, which can be extremely dangerous.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s expression turned quite serious. If the core body temperature remains below the threshold for more than ten minutes, it¡¯s highly probable that they can¡¯t recover on their own and external intervention would be required. By evening, there¡¯s no need for a hospital; it¡¯s straight to the mortuary. ¡°To measure the body temperature accurately, we¡¯ve equipped each contestant with a thermal belt around their waist, which avoids interference from humidity and external environment. Contestants are not allowed to remove it on their own, or else they will be considered eliminated,¡± As he spoke, Bi Fang swiped the screen, displaying another set of data showing each contestant¡¯s body temperature. There were fluctuations, but it was stable; after all, the live broadcast had just started, and the contestants were in good health, unlikely to encounter problems so soon. To ensure the program runs smoothly, he had put in great efforts. First was fairness. Besides the equipment issued by the show, contestants had to undergo a thorough check, men by men, women by women. It must be said that these people are really good at hiding things; those who appear to have nothing on them often turn out to be carrying a bunch of tools, even a short rope is tucked away. Next are the various emergency teams, one group is the medical team responsible for first aid, another is the security team tasked with preventing attacks from large animals, there is also a monitoring team in charge of tracking each contestant¡¯s movements, and notifying them at the first sign of danger, plus several helicopters at the ready to ensure a rapid arrival at the scene. After listening to Bi Fang¡¯s introduction, many viewers felt deeply touched; they used to think watching Master Fang braving the wilderness alone was cool, but they hadn¡¯t realized how dangerous it was. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Keep in mind that nearly every time Bi Fang goes live, apart from a camera and some equipment, he never brings things like a positioning bracelet that the rescue teams might use, facing dangers all by himself. He truly embodies the very essence of adventure, no wonder so many people are willing to acknowledge him as the world¡¯s number one adventurer, the true king of the wilderness, a solitary hero. After a few brief words, the camera returned to the fifteen contestants. Bi Fang quickly took stock and found that only three people were immediately setting up their shelters, the remaining eleven were all working hard to start a fire, and as for the last one¡ª The camera switched to Mugalen, who at that moment was attempting to open a canned food¡­ His style was different from everyone else¡¯s; as soon as he disembarked from the plane, he thought about opening a can. ¡°Haha, it seems our Deer Hunter thinks differently from the others, wanting to eat something first to warm up the body. Military rations are high in calories and sodium; just a little can provide a lot of energy.¡± Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but laugh; if it were anyone else, there¡¯s no way the can would be opened right now, it would at least be saved for a day or two when no game could be caught and used as emergency food, not like Mugalen at the present moment. A good number of viewers were puzzled, wondering why the can was so difficult to open. Isn¡¯t there a pull-tab? ¡°Because this is a real military can,¡± Bi Fang explained after taking a sip of water. Many people have never seen a real military can and are completely unaware of its packaging. Many so-called military cans available on the market, whether or not they¡¯re genuine, usually have pull-tabs after processing. ¡°Military food basically doesn¡¯t have pull-tabs; it¡¯s not suitable. The easier it is to open, the less suitable it is for off-road transport. Too easy, and it might deform, opening and leaking air, leading to spoilage. Moreover, if you work with a green cylindrical object trying to open it with a pull-tab in poor night visibility, it may cause unnecessary misunderstandings. At best, you might get knocked down by a rifle¡¯s buttstock, at worst, everyone may duck down or it might even prompt an alarm in the camp. So military cans are generally made to be sealed, which is convenient for the manufacturer, low cost, and more durable. There are many benefits. When it¡¯s time to open them, if you have a can opener, use that; if not, just insert a knife and scrape around the edge, which is also very convenient.¡± [Holy cow, what a revelation! This is the first time I¡¯m hearing about this.] [Useless knowledge, increased.] [Awesome, finally someone who knows what they¡¯re talking about! Whenever I watched those bloggers test cans, I felt like saying they weren¡¯t authentic at all!] [To be fair, if you¡¯re not careful, opening a pull-tab really does sound a bit like gunfire!] Many viewers had their eyes opened¡ªthe absence of pull-tabs on military cans is indeed something very few ordinary people would know about, or even if they knew, they wouldn¡¯t fully understand why. Meanwhile, Mugalen still couldn¡¯t get the can open and had to search for a somewhat sharp rock to assist him. The camera continued to switch back and forth as Bi Fang commented on each contestant¡¯s methods. By the time he finished with the last one, out of the sixteen originally dark screens, suddenly one switched back to daylight mode. Someone had started a fire. Chapter 278: 275 Chapter 278: 275 Fifteen screens, but only one was lit, standing out like a sore thumb. The scene shifted, the firelight illuminated half of the face of the fire-maker in shadow and half in light, yet a relaxed and joyous expression could still be made out. It was Doligong. Many viewers had a deep impression of this elite member of the fire-extinguishing team, as Bi Fang had introduced him particularly, detailing how he had once confronted a brown bear and managed to escape. Drones flew around, capturing the objects beside Doligong. Two black rocks lay quietly on the ground, flint stones. Both flint stones had neat fractures, originally one whole piece, presumably broken by Doligong himself. The audience suddenly understood why he was able to start a fire so quickly; however, finding flint stones in the pitch-dark night seemed to be a stroke of luck or genuine skill. Bi Fang joked, ¡°It seems our firefighter is not only good at putting out fires but also quite adept at starting them.¡± With the light, even if minimal, the subsequent tasks became easier. Doligong wrapped the flint stones with cloth strips, fashioning a makeshift knife, and started chopping branches as well, preparing to build a shelter. Although he did not escape capture and acquire initial items, as a national elite firefighter, often active outdoors, Doligong¡¯s knowledge of the wilderness absolutely ranked at the top among all the contestants. Extinguishing fires was not as simple as ordinary people imagined. It required considerable knowledge of the terrain, trees, and environment, not merely dousing it with water; moreover, protecting wildlife was also part of Doligong¡¯s duty. To protect effectively, one must understand animal behavior, right? Now that he had a fire, he could resist the severe cold with more confidence. There was no need to hurry with the next tasks; they could be completed gradually. The rest of the participants naturally thought the same; fire could bring not only light but also warmth. Unfortunately, they weren¡¯t as lucky as Doligong, finding flint stones so easily and had to attempt more primitive methods such as fire-making by wood-drilling, which was quite a test of skills and physical strength. Besides, material selection was also critical, or else Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t need to explain how to choose materials each time. Geographical environments varied, as did plant species. Bi Fang always adapted his material choices for fire-making to local resources, preferring those that were common and effective in the area. But the night was already dark, suitable materials were hard to come by, and the contestants dared not wander far from the drop-off point ¨C at least the drop-off point had been deemed safe by the production team. Who knew what dangers lay in other places? Thankfully, the weather remained bitterly cold, and many venomous insects and snakes had not yet reached the time to come out, making the night slightly less unbearable. Thus, a full half hour had passed, and counting Doligong, only three contestants had managed to light a fire. It was worth mentioning that Mugalen finally managed to break open the military can with a sharp stone. The military can was very calorie-dense; just two bites of meat made Mugalen feel the heat rising from his stomach, no longer fearing the cold, and he quickly began to dig a hole. ¡°A dugout?¡± Bi Fang recognized the type of shelter Mugalen was building after a brief glance. It was a hole in the ground to hide in, ¡°A dugout requires high standards and is typically used in deserts because there are fewer venomous insects in the disturbed soil, unlike in the forest where dugouts are rarely used.¡± After a pause, Bi Fang explained further, ¡°But under the current circumstances, it¡¯s a good option. The severe cold has turned many areas into permafrost, not many insects, and due to the freezing, the lower soil is quite dry. More importantly, digging a dugout is much easier than fumbling in the dark to chop branches.¡± [Truly hunter material, there¡¯s something about him] [The stranger the style, the stronger the ability] [Mugalen the Bold] The soil, frosted over, was not firm; rain had seeped into it, freezing and sublimating overnight, making it quite soft. Mugalen had dug out a hole big enough for one person in less than twenty minutes. Not deep, the soil became harder the further down he dug. The effort expended and the return received were uncertain; a depth just enough to completely lay down was sufficient. ¡°` Subsequently, Mugalen laid a layer of dead branches and fallen leaves on the bottom, and when he lay down, he placed another layer over his body before sprinkling soil on top, covering himself tightly and actually fell asleep like that. The audience watched in amazement, praising the old Hunter for his courage¡ªfor he didn¡¯t even light a fire and dared to sleep directly. After seeing Mugalen¡¯s pit, the camera switched to Ji Zuodong, who had also finished constructing his shelter, a very simple open hut. He found two closely spaced trees and leaned long poles against them, then layer by layer constructed a windbreak with dead branches and shrubs, and a simple hut was completed. However, such a hut was much less effective at retaining warmth, and for this reason, Ji Zuodong was also trying to start a fire. With a Claw Knife, he easily produced fine tinder, and Bi Fang had no doubts about his ability to start a fire. The shelter built by Bonuo, the first one to successfully escape, truly impressed everyone. It was actually a hammock! The twenty meters of Nylon Rope was a considerably long piece, which Bonuo made full use of, turning it directly into a hammock that not only effectively prevented bugs on the ground but also provided much more comfort than sleeping on the floor. [A hammock! I¡¯ve never slept in one before] [This Rover Cavalry is impressive, thinking of such a use for the rope] But even though it had its advantages, Bi Fang still shook his head. ¡°If this were the Rainforest, making a hammock would be excellent, as a hammock elevated from the ground can effectively isolate the dampness, and with the Rainforest¡¯s rich biodiversity, there are many Venomous snakes and ants, a hammock could also avoid these dangerous creatures. But this is a forest, and it¡¯s the end of February in the Rocky Mountains, where the climate is very cold. Even if you pile leaves on the hammock, the insulation is limited. It is fine just to cope with one night, but over time, the body definitely won¡¯t be able to withstand the cold.¡± Bonuo wrapped many branches around the hammock, turning it into more than just a few strings and capturing lots of dead branches and leaves, but this was still not enough. In a cold environment, the primary element of a shelter is warmth. ¡°If someone¡¯s Physique isn¡¯t strong enough, they are better off earnestly building a shelter. Otherwise, let someone else try it, one night is sure to lead to a cold.¡± The performance of the three escapees was the audience¡¯s main concern, and after viewing theirs, the camera shifted back to the remaining contestants. Some succeeded in making fire, while others tried for half an hour, ending up with sore arms from failure. But without exception, after they attempted or didn¡¯t attempt to start a fire, they all began constructing their shelters out of materials at hand, and if all else failed, at least roughly put together a shelter that could block wind and rain. The first night passed like this, and as everyone began to sleep, the first day of the live broadcast came to an end. In the woods, a transport helicopter was parked on the frozen ground, with its cabin full of screens and personnel. ¡°How¡¯s it going?¡± Bi Fang took off his headphones and looked towards Jerret. Jerret raised his thumb, admiringly saying, ¡°Impressive. Not only in the field of Wilderness Survival, but I have also never seen commentary like yours in any other field.¡± Commentators are found in many places, whether in gaming competitions or sporting events, they¡¯re indispensable for their voices. A qualified commentator should have two basic requirements: one is a professional quality that is second to none, and the other is the ability to speak well and adeptly guide the audience¡¯s emotions. As for the former, there¡¯s no need to say more¡ªBi Fang is an Orange Legend-level Wilderness Traveler. If that strength doesn¡¯t count as professional, then no one in the world can call themselves professional.¡± ¡°` And the second point where Bi Fang excelled was practice makes perfect, as his live streams weren¡¯t just about demonstrating skills, but more crucially, about communicating with hundreds of thousands, even millions, of viewers. During Wilderness Survivalist, a lot of time is spent on the move, and being able to keep even half the audience engaged during these dull moments speaks volumes about Bi Fang¡¯s impressive abilities. At any location, he could recount local history, and with any task, he could trace its origins, telling relevant ethnic stories. Even if Bi Fang wasn¡¯t skilled at first, after half a year, he became as proficient as an old man selling oil, relying only on his practiced hands. Combining these two aspects made Bi Fang a seamless commentator. Bi Fang nodded, it was good that there were no problems, and then he touched his stomach. He hadn¡¯t eaten all afternoon, and now he was really feeling hungry. Jerret noticed this too and brought out a large box filled with all sorts of canned food, instant noodles, and ready-to-eat meals. They had no choice, they were to accompany the competitors for 12 days here and it wasn¡¯t feasible to have helicopters deliver supplies every day, so they had to make do with these food items daily. Bi Fang didn¡¯t hesitate to help himself, as compared to what he often ate in the wild, a box of instant noodles was considered a delicacy. The food produced under modern industry may not be the healthiest, but in terms of taste, it was incomparable. The next day, when the first contestant sat up from the pile of dry branches, Bi Fang started his live stream, greeted the viewers as was customary, and then turned the camera to focus on the first waking participant. It wasn¡¯t fully light out yet, but it was obvious the contestant couldn¡¯t ¡°sleep.¡± [No way, up this early?] [Isn¡¯t it still dark? What time is it now?] ¡°The local time is roughly 5:30 AM, about an hour away from dawn,¡± Bi Fang explained to the audience who seemed surprised, glancing at his watch and speaking calmly, ¡°The reason why this contestant is up so early is simply because he didn¡¯t sleep at all last night.¡± Didn¡¯t sleep? The viewers were shocked. Bi Fang nodded, clearly having anticipated this situation. Besides the monitoring team checking on the contestants throughout the night, he too would occasionally get up to check on them. Out of fifteen people, at least three hadn¡¯t slept the entire night, seven became too exhausted and fell asleep only in the latter half, and two hadn¡¯t moved at all, which was hard to judge. What was clear was that only a few had fallen asleep soon after crawling into their shelters. ¡°The pressure of surviving in the wilderness is immense, especially when you¡¯re alone without any guarantee, insomnia is almost inevitable.¡± Who has truly slept alone, unarmed, in the wilderness? This wilderness isn¡¯t the roadside by a village, but deep in the forest, where it¡¯s pitch black at night and where you can often hear wolves howling in the Primeval Forest. No tents, no companions, no weapons, and even no sense of direction. Although all fifteen contestants had experience with wilderness camping, none had experienced all three of these conditions at once. The fact that Bi Fang could fall asleep quickly in the wild during his first live stream was actually a testament to his strong psychological resilience. Of course, the skills granted by the System also provided him with certain experience and confidence to not panic too much, or else he too would have suffered from insomnia. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [But why keep waiting if he can¡¯t sleep early?] [Yeah, isn¡¯t that just wasting time?] ¡°Because of cost.¡± Cost? The viewers were puzzled upon hearing this word, feeling vaguely familiar with it¡ªhadn¡¯t Master Fang mentioned it before? ¡°Of course, you¡¯ve heard it before. I¡¯ve previously mentioned that Wilderness Survivalist is essentially a mathematical problem. In everything you do, you must consider cost and benefit,¡± Bi Fang said, pointing to the footage of the first contestant stretching his body after waking up, stiff from the cold night. ¡°What can you do if you don¡¯t sleep at night? Travel in the dark? Definitely not a good idea. Walking through the forest at night is highly dangerous, firstly because of the problem with direction. Without stars, you can easily get lost, and at night is when many animals are active. Wandering around aimlessly and leaving a trail of scent behind could easily lead to dangerous encounters.¡± ¡°If the weather is too cold and you try to keep warm through movement, your body will burn a considerable amount of energy and you¡¯ll get hungry quickly. So, you have to lie in your shelter, and even if you can¡¯t sleep, that¡¯s what you have to do. These people might not have slept alone in the wilderness before, but they understand the logic. They might not summarize it as clearly as I do, but they know to conserve as much energy as possible, waiting until daylight to explore.¡± Only then did the viewers understand why the contestants, even though they couldn¡¯t sleep, would still tough it out in their shelters¡ªit was to conserve their strength. After the first participant woke up and warmed up for a while, the sky began to brighten. Feeling his body heat, he exhaled a puff of breath and started looking for new materials to start a fire. He had failed to start one the previous night, his arms too sore to continue. Having recovered a bit, he decided to try again. Utilizing the dim light, he began searching for suitable materials, often going towards larger piles of rocks, which puzzled the viewers. Seeing the viewers¡¯ confusion, Bi Fang explained, ¡°He¡¯s looking for Flint Stone. In the wild, Flint Stone can be found in large rock piles, which offers the highest likelihood of finding it.¡± As the day gradually brightened, more and more contestants woke up. The temperatures in the outdoor Rocky Mountains were well below freezing, and many contestants woke up to frost on their faces. Gradually, the viewers noticed that two contestants were sneezing. This was a sign of a cold coming on. Many viewers were worried, and Bi Fang too had a premonition that perhaps, just as the game was beginning, someone would have to drop out. But what was coming up was the main event. Bi Fang held his thermos, his thoughts wandering far off, reminiscing about his own map design. The contestant drop-off points were calculated with precision. How the contestants would spend their 300 hours, whether to establish a base camp and accumulate survival materials step by step, or to opt for higher scores by crossing the wilderness? If they choose to cross, do they deviate from the straight line to search for a cabin hundreds of kilometers away, betting on the supplies there? Searching for a cabin would take at least two days. Could they successfully make the cross then? If they give up crossing, can they still outperform those who opted from the beginning to stay and accumulate supplies for several days? Physical strength, distance, danger, time. Every step required the contestants to contemplate carefully; one misstep could lead to a cascade of errors. The first step might sound the horn of success or plunge one into an endless abyss. Today was the contestants¡¯ first daylight experience and also the day they needed to make a choice. ¡°To move forward, to stay, or perhaps¡­ to call it quits?¡± Chapter 279: 276: What Happened? Chapter 279: Chapter 276: What Happened? The nascent sun rose above the clouds, and sunlight spread evenly down, casting shadows across the sparse forest and tinting everything with a faint, bright golden hue. As the temperature gradually recovered, clarity began to dawn in everyone¡¯s hearts. Of the fifteen contestants, not a single one chose to set off immediately; instead, they searched for materials right where they¡¯d been dropped. Perhaps many had originally planned to cross the wilderness directly, but the severe chill of the previous night had brought everyone to a stark realization, scrapping all initial plans. Surviving in the wilderness was far from as simple as they had imagined. Bi Fang hadn¡¯t brought everyone here by airdrop until evening just for this reason¡ªto let them understand their own strength after surviving a night, which served as a cooling-off period. Otherwise, had they been dropped during the day, many might have rashly chosen to traverse the wilderness only to run into trouble later on. But this scene seemed utterly dull to the audience. After all that buildup, not a single person moved forward to start the journey or tried to find civilization; they all stayed at the ¡°safe point¡± where they were initially dropped. The viewers, accustomed to Bi Fang¡¯s usual bold approach, were somewhat impatient. [Isn¡¯t anyone going to cross the wilderness? Even if they don¡¯t find civilization directly, shouldn¡¯t they at least try to find a cabin?] [Is everyone really just staying put? So timid?] [From the heart.jpg] [Old Fang would have probably just set off already.] ¡°It¡¯s not that no one wants to cross over. If you look closely, you¡¯ll find that actually quite a few people are making weapons,¡± said Bi Fang, shaking his head and pointing to Bonuo in front of him. To do a good job, one must first sharpen one¡¯s tools. As a member of the Rover Cavalry, despite sleeping in a hammock all night, his years of intense training had not left him too worse for wear. However, Bonuo still vaguely sensed that something was amiss. It was too cold; he had been woken completely by the freeze. The hammock was clean and convenient, but it served only as an emergency measure. A couple more nights in it, and he wouldn¡¯t be able to endure. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This wasn¡¯t his first time surviving in the wild. Training in the wilderness was commonplace; sometimes, he could even spend a full day and night lying in the thick grass, so although Bonuo realized the difficulty of the challenge, he didn¡¯t plan to stop there. He was determined to cross the wilderness and earn a higher score! Out of the fifteen, there couldn¡¯t be too many who would last the full twelve days, but there wouldn¡¯t be few either¡ªat least Mugalen and that Huaxia person posed a significant threat. Playing it safe would make it difficult to come out on top! With this mindset, Bonuo forcefully snapped off a tree branch, then found two stones of appropriate quality and, after chiseling them slightly, began to carve the wood. ¡°He wants to make a spear, doesn¡¯t he?¡± Bi Fang nodded. This was a choice many other contestants had also made: to craft a weapon to the best of their ability, be it stone or wood, each with its own advantages, whether for defending against danger or hunting animals. Stone Spears, wooden spears, stone hammers¡­ As time passed, a variety of weapons began appearing before the audience¡¯s eyes, inspiring awe. They were seeing many methods of weapon crafting they had never seen Bi Fang use before; it was quite novel. Clutching the fully roasted wooden spear, Ji Zuodong extinguished the fire, slung three long spears and two short spears behind him, and, with the air of a primal Hunter, set off into the depths of the forest. Wild and enchanting, he caught the admiring gleam in the viewers¡¯ eyes¡ªthis outfit was incredibly cool. [Whoa, we¡¯ve got a Great Sage here] [An old general with his flags all set] [Slowly hits out a question mark?] [Ji Zuodong: Are you being polite?] With their preparations complete, more and more people made their choices, erasing any traces of themselves and setting out on their journey, like Bonuo and Ji Zuodong. And when they erased their marks, everyone knew they were not planning to return. Meanwhile, Mugalen was still struggling incessantly with a large tree, adamant like someone who wouldn¡¯t rest until it was felled. This caught Bi Fang¡¯s attention because he noticed Mugalen had taken quite a while just selecting the tree. With his keen eye, Bi Fang instantly recognized it as a fir. Fir. A type of wood definitely worth pondering over. To make an ordinary wooden spear, there was no need to go through such troubles. One could just pick a branch from any of the common tall trees; they were everywhere, so why waste time searching for fir? After watching for a long time, Bi Fang realized what Mugalen was up to only after he shaved off the outer layer of the tree, and he said somewhat surprised, ¡°He¡¯s making a bow!¡± [A worker?] [In the wild mountains and forests, you want a worker?] [Without even a meal secured, and you think about a worker?] ¡°It¡¯s not about a worker; he¡¯s crafting a bow and arrow,¡± explained Bi Fang, mimicking the action of drawing a bow. The audience realized and was again deeply puzzled. They¡¯ve seen Bi Fang make bows and arrows before¡ªusing branches. Why go through the huge effort of cutting down a whole tree for it? ¡°Because he plans to make a real bow and arrow. My method of bow-making was just a quick fix; its durability and strength are incomparable to a true bow and arrow. Mugalen is adopting a very primitive method, using the entire tree to make a sturdy bow. Willow, fir, walnut wood¡ªthese are all ideal materials for making bows. If you want a good bow, the material is crucial, which is why Mugalen went to the trouble of searching for fir. This is an incredibly time-consuming approach. He might not even finish it today. I think Mugalen must have planned this from the start; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be spending so much time on it.¡± Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but admire Mugalen¡¯s perseverance. Had it been someone else, perhaps even himself, they might have made some weapons, but definitely wouldn¡¯t spend such a long time. Even if making a bow, they would use a simpler method, like last time, and not chop down a tree to craft a large bow. The survival challenge lasts only twelve days, using up a whole day or even more to make the bow is quite risky because you¡¯ll be tens of hours behind everyone else. While others might have already found rivers and food, you might end up empty-handed because your bow isn¡¯t completed yet. ¡°However, Mugalen has a 500g can of meat, so it¡¯s understandable why he would do this. The human body needs about 1700 calories per day, of course, this varies with size and activity, but that¡¯s the rough amount. 100g of pork belly has about 350 calories, meaning that can covers the daily caloric intake, which is his advantage,¡± Bi Fang mused. [That¡¯s pretty awesome, it feels like gambling.] [+1, if it were me, I definitely wouldn¡¯t eat the can of meat unless I had to, saving it for when I¡¯m desperate. I didn¡¯t expect Old Mugalen to be so bold, using it up right from the start.] [The brave may not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all.] Mugalen was unaware of the audience¡¯s heated discussion and patiently continued crafting his large bow, with Stone Chisel in hand, bit by bit chipping away the unnecessary parts. The initial shape is always the easiest to achieve, the subsequent finishing and treatment are what truly consumes time and effort, it is also the key to the quality of a finished bow. ¡°It¡¯s an English Longbow.¡± Even though the bow was only a rough shape, Bi Fang recognized what Mugalen was attempting to make and joked, ¡°Should I say it¡¯s expected from a Deer Hunter?¡± Thinking about Mugalen¡¯s background, it wasn¡¯t hard to understand why he chose to make such a bow. The English Longbow isn¡¯t a recurve bow, it¡¯s quite primitive in design but tremendously powerful, capable of shooting a hundred meters and piercing armor, it is one of the best quality longbows. A skilled archer can shoot six arrows per minute, or even twelve arrows per minute without aiming. The only drawback is that the user must have a sturdy physique along with superior skill and coordination. Many soldiers had abnormal spinal curvatures due to the long-term pressure and specialized posture even after dying. One of the reasons the United Kingdom initially chose to equip support troops with firearms wasn¡¯t because of their greater power, but rather because, like crossbows, firearms required less training to use effectively. Otherwise, it might not have been easy to phase out the English Longbow, given its significant power. Having one is like owning a firearm, and its primitive design also means it¡¯s easier to create. With so many advantages, it¡¯s no surprise some traditional hunters still use it today, and certainly not surprising for Mugalen, who comes from a traditional hunting background, to choose to make one. After listening to Bi Fang¡¯s detailed explanation, the audience began to understand why Mugalen would rather spend a day crafting such a bow. [This is a game-changer! If he makes it, wouldn¡¯t it be like slicing melons and cutting vegetables?] [No wonder Old Mugalen took half the day just to select the tree, how can you create a game-changer without good materials?] [All of them are talents!] [Gululu sends 10 Big Bones to the host¡ªgreat commentary, learned a lot, awesome!] Seeing that Mugalen wouldn¡¯t finish any time soon, the Director of Photography switched the camera back to the other contestants. They were all grown-ups, some leaving and some staying, everyone with their own ideas. Those who completed their weapons and equipment left, while others intent on surviving the twelve days in the forest began diligently building their shelters. As the camera panned over each one, when the shot landed on Ava, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but sit upright. Not because a female contestant appeared on the screen, but because the only two female contestants had crossed paths! This was the first encounter between contestants! It¡¯s important to remember, the show allows teaming up but does not prohibit fighting! Resource plunder is allowed as long as no harm is caused! Now it depends on whether the contestants can grasp this intention. The audience was also surprised by the encounter. [Wow, they found kin so quickly?] [Awesome, and it¡¯s both ladies too, start fighting, come on, fight! The kind where clothes get ripped off!] [???] [How were the airdrops done at the beginning? Why is it so easy for them to encounter each other?] ¡°Everyone might remember, the fifteen contestants were dropped off by four helicopters, effectively in four groups. These groups were spaced out, but the members within each group were very close to each other,¡± the host explained. Since forming teams and plundering were both options, it was necessary to give contestants a chance to meet. If they were too far apart, they might never find each other, let alone engage in conflict. It so happened that Ava and Lisa were in the same group, less than a kilometer apart. If they didn¡¯t explore broadly, they could easily bump into each other. Therefore, when the two met, they were both startled, confronting one another in the middle of the forest, neither speaking, in total silence. The silence lasted for a long time, but not a single viewer felt impatient, all were looking forward to what would happen next. ¡°Let¡¯s team up.¡± Ava broke the ice first. She didn¡¯t want to waste time, as wasting time in a competition meant wasting life. Lisa only thought it over briefly before nodding: ¡°Okay.¡± Viewers: ¡°¡­¡± Had they already crowned their Kings of Scarlet? What exactly happened that led to their teaming up so quickly? Chapter 280: 277 Nothing Gained Chapter 280: Chapter 277 Nothing Gained Lisa and Ava¡¯s team formation was baffling, leaving people scratching their heads. It wasn¡¯t what was expected. Shouldn¡¯t there have been a period of probing before revealing sincerity, and ultimately deciding on unified sisterhood with benefits that cut through gold? What the hell is this one question one answer, and the team is set? ¡°Hahaha, as I thought,¡± Ben laughed. Bi Fang wasn¡¯t surprised by the outcome at all. If one were to say which two out of the fifteen were the most likely to team up, it was undoubtedly Lisa and Ava. ¡°Firstly, it is basically impossible for conflicts to occur in the early stages of the contest because everyone is in the same boat, stripped of everything. What would they rob? Clothes? Secondly, out of the fifteen participants, there are only two women. Objectively speaking, both are at a disadvantage. This forms the basis for sticking together, and both would be in considerable danger when encountering other contestants. However, once they team up, the danger shifts to the other contestants. The only issue is the foundation of trust, but it doesn¡¯t seem to be a problem now, I suspect they might have discussed it long ago.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s gaze flickered. Even with the bases he mentioned, the two were natural allies for team formation. Normally, the decision to form a team shouldn¡¯t be made in a single question and answer¡ªit was too hasty. The only explanation could be that the two had met before, which led to this brief team invitation. Perhaps on the helicopter? If they had known each other before joining the show, then even this conversation wouldn¡¯t have happened. They must have discussed it on the helicopter, right? So that¡¯s it! The audience nodded, finally understanding why the team had formed so hastily¡ªit was all arranged in advance! In the scene, Lisa and Ava huddled together, starting to discuss their route. After murmuring to each other for a while, they both stood up and headed north. North! They were the first team to head north! Out of the fifteen, eight chose to take on the crossing challenge and seven stayed to take on the survival challenge. Of the eight, six headed south, and so far, only Lisa and Ava chose to go east! What¡¯s in the east? The audience began to recall what Ben had said: going east would mean crossing almost six hundred kilometers of forest and prairie before coming across a large river, the Missouri River. Following the river, one could encounter quite a few small towns. Six hundred kilometers¡ªthat¡¯s a hundred kilometers more than the five hundred kilometers to the south! ¡°An average person can cover about five kilometers per hour, so covering five hundred kilometers in twelve days is already quite difficult. You¡¯d have to walk at least forty kilometers a day, and an extra hundred kilometers would add a heavier burden, meaning you¡¯d have to walk fifty kilometers a day. Of course, off-road progression cannot simply be measured by walking speed; in reality, the pace will be somewhat faster, over six kilometers per hour, but it¡¯s still a considerable challenge.¡± [Damn, walk fifty kilometers a day? Won¡¯t their legs break?] [Isn¡¯t that a bit too extreme? My legs hurt just from walking ten thousand steps a day.] [That¡¯s because you¡¯re weak.] [Seriously, my legs do start to suffer from walking ten thousand steps a day. I feel like I¡¯m getting old, weak and infirm.] [The children from the southern village mock me for my aging weakness, boldly carrying me off into the bamboo] [Something¡¯s off with you, very off¡ªis that the original phrasing??] The data shocked the audience¡ªfifty kilometers a day, many people were skeptical, can someone really walk that far? ¡°Of course, they can. Even ancient military marches, equipped with logistics, could cover about sixty kilometers a day. Forced marches could reach eighty kilometers, covering five hundred kilometers in seven to eight days is not impossible. To tell you something even more incredible, has anyone heard of Pan Junfan?¡± Pan Junfan? The audience was stunned, not having any memory of it. Some quick-reacting viewers were already searching, and Bi Fang didn¡¯t keep them in suspense, revealing, ¡°Pan Junfan, who set the record for a five hundred kilometer cross-country run in 202 hours¡­¡± Before he finished, viewers had already found the information, and they were incredulous. [Damn, this guy is an amputee with one leg!] [??? A single-legged amputee running five hundred kilometers cross-country in eight days, what the hell?] [Am I the only waste here?] [That¡¯s a bit ridiculous, right? Five hundred kilometers, it¡¯s only over three hundred kilometers on the highway from my house to my grandma¡¯s¡ªhalfway across the province?] ¡°So, covering five hundred kilometers off-road in twelve days is perfectly achievable. The only issue is our contestants have to not only rush on their journey but also hunt and find water sources, which also take time, not to mention six hundred kilometers, so the difficulty is indeed quite significant.¡± ¡°However, the choice of route by the pair was unexpected yet reasonable.¡± With the most basic geographic knowledge, the lower the latitude, the warmer the temperature, suitable for life, which is why the Amazon Rainforest has the richest variety of species in the world. Heading south, even if one doesn¡¯t encounter any populated areas, the resources are more abundant and easier to obtain. Hence, nearly all the eight participants chose the south. ¡°Their decision is a way to avoid contact with the rest, and going east could also play to the strength of women¡¯s endurance. For them, it¡¯s a pretty good route to take.¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having seen the choices of the fifteen participants, the camera shifted to those who chose to stay and survive for the next twelve days. Compared to the hasty shelter setups from the previous night, today the participants had noticeably more materials to choose from, and each shelter was constructed with more finesse. ¡°They started building early.¡± Bi Fang slightly shook his head, seven people stayed behind, five set up camp at the safety point, while only two chose to leave the safety point to find suitable camp locations nearby. It was understandable because, in general, those who chose to stay were weaker. ¡°There¡¯s no river near the safety point, and the closest river is even dozens of kilometers away. Did they really not consider the drinking water problem when they decided to build here? Although one should build shelters away from rivers to avoid attracting wild animals to the water, it shouldn¡¯t be to this extent, and besides, if they were closer to the riverbank, they could build even better shelters.¡± By being closer to the river, mixing water with mud, Bi Fang could even build a small mud house, unafraid of wind, rain, or hail. Even if someone managed to cross the wilderness, he was confident he could earn higher scores with his wilderness survival knowledge. Ah, it all comes down to strength. By evening, clusters of flame rose on the screen; of the fifteen participants, thirteen were already able to produce fire, and there were two¡­ ¡°I reckon these two will be eliminated within three days.¡± Bi Fang sighed. He hadn¡¯t expected that among the fifteen participants, there would be some who couldn¡¯t even make fire; the disparity in abilities was quite significant. Being able to start a fire was one of the most basic survival skills, especially in cold environments. Without fire, the body¡¯s energy consumption could be exceptionally high. No one seemed to have caught prey that day, except for Mugalen who had canned food to eat; the others almost went hungry the whole day. Water wasn¡¯t too much of an issue, with frost in the morning quenching their thirst. Spring wasn¡¯t truly here yet, so barely any wild fruits or insects could be seen. To obtain food, hunting was the only option, but success in hunting depended on both luck and skill. The luck of the fifteen participants didn¡¯t seem to be very good. However, Ji Zuodong found a river, which might give him the chance to catch some fish. ¡°Hu, it¡¯s finally almost done.¡± Mugalen released the stone he had been holding. After a whole day of grinding, his hands were severely sore, but he couldn¡¯t suppress his excitement. The entire piece of wood was polished incredibly smooth, thicker in the middle with flattened sides and curved inwards, nearly as tall as a person¡ªit looked like a powerful bow. With a sharp blade in hand, what is there to fear? Bi Fang nodded in amazement: ¡°Mugalen¡¯s bow-making skill is indeed impressive. If he were to open a shop, he would probably do well. Up to this point, the bow¡¯s shape has been completed. What¡¯s left is smoking it, drying out the moisture inside the bow, settling its shape, and at the same time strengthening its hardness and tenacity.¡± In the picture, Mugalen indeed started to smoke the finished bow over the fire. He sat next to it, braiding a cord from tree bark, intending to use it as bowstring. Come tomorrow, a brand-new English Longbow would be complete! ¡°The English Longbow is capable of hunting large animals, and the Rocky Mountains are teeming with them: there are carnivores like Black Bears, Grizzly Bears, Brown Bears, American Mountain Lions, and wolverines, and herbivores like reindeer, Moose, Elk, and bighorn sheep, and so on.¡± [Brown Bear, Black Bear, Mountain Lions¡­ can he actually kill these things?] [Wow, that sounds really dangerous] [Is that bow strong enough?] ¡°Of course, the effective range of an English Longbow is around two hundred meters, with a lethal distance of over a hundred meters. The draw weight is about 135 to 180 pounds. I usually get within ten meters of the prey, and that distance is very dangerous, but if I give myself a bit more space, say twenty meters, the lethal force is high and the accuracy is better too, which significantly reduces the difficulty of hunting.¡± Awesome! Although many viewers didn¡¯t really understand how much a pound was, they could tell by the number that it was something substantial. Over a hundred pounds, Mugalen thought joyfully, that even if he encountered a Mountain Lion, he would have a fighting chance! Looking at the longbow over the flame, Mugalen crawled back into the hole he had dug the day before and slowly drifted off to sleep. Sacrificing a day was totally worth it. Achieving mastery in skill is what empowers one to bravely explore. Otherwise, one might not even leave remains upon death. Mugalen was confident, but confidence didn¡¯t mean arrogance. Good things come to those who wait, no need to rush. In another part of the forest, Doligong dug a peculiar fire pit: he first excavated a large pit, deep enough for a forearm and twenty centimeters wide. About twenty centimeters away, he dug another smaller-mouthed pit of identical depth and joined the two at the base. The tunnel was wide enough for an arm to pass through. Having done all this, Doligong then started a fire in the large pit using conventional methods. This operation left Bi Fang quite astonished. Bi Fang didn¡¯t wait for the viewers to ask and proactively explained: ¡°It¡¯s a Dakota Fire Hole. This type of fire pit is often used in war zones to prevent detection by the enemy. It¡¯s a bit time-consuming to set up, but if done correctly, it can keep a fire burning discreetly for a long time with minimal smoke. To reduce smoke, one should collect as much dry wood as possible, and the height of the wood should not exceed the height of the flames.¡± The scene switched again¡ªJi Zuodong, gripping a wooden spear, focused on the pitch-black river. Although it was night, the moonlight and the firelight allowed him to barely make out some detail; he hoped to catch a meal for dinner. In the valley, Bonuo surveyed the terrain, holding Nylon Rope in his hand, pondering something. The only duo who had teamed up also huddled together to sleep, trying to conserve as much heat as possible. As darkness crept in, more and more participants drifted into dreams, while others stared at the countdown on their wristbands, overwhelmed by despair. Chapter 281: 278: Incurable Chapter 281: Chapter 278: Incurable ¡°Achoo!¡± As soon as Marcus woke up, he felt uncomfortable in his nose, and the next second, his face twisted sharply, his lungs contracted violently, and he sneezed, the air with droplets racing out of his nostrils. A faint stench wafted through the air, and Marcus¡¯s heart sank after the dizziness subsided. Damn. He had caught a cold! But then he harbored a sliver of luck, thinking it might just be an uncomfortable nose, spring had arrived, perhaps some flowers had bloomed, maybe it was pollen¡­ ¡°Achoo, achoo.¡± The two sneezes that followed mercilessly shattered Marcus¡¯s wishful thinking. He snuffled, his face indescribably sullen. In the city, a cold was no big deal, something that would get better in a couple of days, but being alone in the wilderness¡­it was a huge deal. Feeling his blocked nostrils and heavy body, Marcus cursed under his breath just as he was about to get up, and lay back down on the dry leaves. Little did he know that this whole scene had been witnessed by all the spectators. While Marcus was still asleep, people realized something was wrong. It was well into the morning, and the other competitors were already up and about hunting or looking for food; only he was still sleeping. With him getting up and sneezing several times in succession, anyone could tell he had caught a cold. [Is it over, is he going to be eliminated on the second day?] [The first one to be eliminated!] [Not necessarily, he hasn¡¯t given up yet, can everyone please not be so discouraging?] [Where¡¯s Master Fang, hurry up and tell us, how is it?] ¡°Whether he gets eliminated or not, I¡¯m not sure, it still depends on the individual¡¯s will and development. However, it¡¯s highly likely he won¡¯t make it through,¡± Bi Fang stroked his chin, pondering Marcus¡¯s performance. ¡°Marcus hasn¡¯t eaten for almost more than thirty hours since the airdrop, and all the water he¡¯s drunk has been frost, further aggravating his energy consumption. Now he¡¯s caught a cold; it would be impressive if he still had the energy. And you see the way he is, almost curling up into a ball.¡± On the screen, Marcus was like a cooked shrimp, completely curled up inside the shelter, shivering severely, clearly averse to the cold, and occasionally coughing violently. ¡°So this is not just an ordinary cold, but a wind-cold cold, characterized by a heavy aversion to cold, mild fever, clear nasal discharge, and coughing. Typically, one needs to prevent cold and keep warm to feel better. Judging by Marcus¡¯s behavior, it matches exactly. It might even turn into a fever later on.¡± A fever? The audience was startled; a fever was quite serious. Even in normal life, a fever was unbearable, enough to make one not want to go to work, let alone in the wilderness. If he developed a fever, Marcus¡¯s challenge could almost be declared a failure. This was clear to the audience, and, of course, Marcus understood as well. He didn¡¯t want to be eliminated so soon. Struggling, he got up from the ground and tried to find something to eat. But as soon as he steadied himself, he felt the world go dark and nearly fell, but the light quickly returned, allowing him to see his surroundings clearly. Coughing twice, Marcus headed towards the simple trap he had made the day before. In his current state, hunting was virtually impossible, so he could only hope that the trap set overnight had yielded something. Unfortunately, the first trap was completely empty. It was a fairly simple trap, using two small branches to hold up a noose, one end of the noose tied to a tree, ready to tighten instantly if any prey passed through. Bi Fang took the opportunity to introduce to the audience: ¡°This is the simplest and most primitive type of noose trap, commonly known as a neck-hanging noose. Although it¡¯s simple, it covers a wide range of prey, from small ones like squirrels and rabbits to big ones like wild boars. Setting this kind of trap requires familiarity with the animal¡¯s size, consideration of the height off the ground, and, most crucially, finding the animal¡¯s path. Otherwise, it¡¯s very difficult to have any success.¡± [So are there animals that often pass by here?] ¡°No.¡± The audience was dumbfounded. No, what do you mean? ¡°Anyway, I didn¡¯t see any animal paths here. Marcus probably just took a gamble. Didn¡¯t you notice? He set up many traps; this is already the third one.¡± Bi Fang shook his head. The traps set by Marcus were scattered at various distances, and it would take a long time to check them all. The production team had no intention of following him continuously and switched the scene to the other participants. The bow that Mugalen had been smoking overnight was now complete. He bent it to test its strength, which was surprisingly high. Clearly, it was a fine bow. He couldn¡¯t wait to string it and set out as soon as it was done. Running a full day late, there was no telling if he could turn things around. Ji Zuodong¡¯s luck wasn¡¯t bad either; backed by a wild river, he had indeed caught a small fish last night. Unfortunately, it was so tiny it could barely fill a tooth gap. He got up early this morning and walked along the riverbed, obviously looking for a good spot to fish. If he caught a big fish, it would mean he wouldn¡¯t have to worry about food for the next two or three days. Bonuo, Doligong, and several others were still unhurried, continuing on their way. However, two participants did something unexpected as they stayed put to maintain their shelters; they dug into the thick soil, half a meter deep, and pulled out a bunch. Earthworms! The soil acts as insulation. In the winter, earthworms don¡¯t all die but burrow deep underground, near half a meter. Watching the serious contestants, the audience had an ominous feeling. [Damn, what¡¯s with this d¨¦j¨¤ vu!] [That day, the screams of being dominated by earthworms rose once again¡­my apologies, wrong set.] [Awesome, awesome, I thought I¡¯d never see this scene again. This round might witness Old Fang¡¯s miraculous move!] S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The audience exclaimed in admiration, recalling Bi Fang¡¯s prior example, most could anticipate what would happen next. As expected, one of the contestants frowned deeply. It¡¯s quite amusing, though, this trick he actually learned from watching Bi Fang¡¯s videos, and this was also his first attempt. After squeezing the soil out of his stomach, leaving a deflated worm behind, the contestant closed his eyes and gulped it down in one go! ¡°Ugh!¡± The thick earthy stench exploded, and the contestant couldn¡¯t hold back, vomiting out the acidic liquid along with the worm, and within the mess vomited out, one could vaguely make out a red worm wriggling, but this scene was quickly censored by the show¡¯s production team. It was a bit of a mood killer. Another contestant seemed to fare a bit better, swallowing it in one breath, and then kept dry heaving. It¡¯s just not fit for human consumption! At least until the two of them absolutely couldn¡¯t continue anymore, there was no way they were going to eat worms again, whether mentally or physically, they were extremely uncomfortable. Then there was a large group of viewers asking how Bi Fang managed to eat them in the first place, but Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t say. After a hearty laugh and observing everyone¡¯s reactions, he switched the screen back to Marcus. Marcus had already finished making his rounds, and attentive viewers had counted a total of thirteen noose traps. All of them were empty. ¡°Traps are of use only in the right places; otherwise, it¡¯s like waiting for a rabbit by the stump¡ªa laughably low chance of success. Think about it, on a hundred-meter-long stretch of land, how much space does your noose take up? Twenty centimeters? The odds of an animal running right through it are next to none. But if you set up the trap in places that animals frequent, like a passage that is only a few meters wide, the chances of catching something are much higher.¡± Having made a full loop without any catch, Marcus nearly fainted on the spot. He staggered backward, leaning on a tree, as his stomach acid burned his stomach lining like boiling water, causing an excruciating pain. It¡¯s all over now, truly over. Forget about the competition, even just surviving these twelve days now seemed like a luxury. With a sense of despair, Marcus sat down on the ground and, in a fit of frustration, ripped out some weeds from beside him and threw them on the ground, then clutched his head in his hands. Yet, what Marcus had tossed aside caught Bi Fang¡¯s attention. He furrowed his brow, looked for a long while, and after confirming Marcus didn¡¯t realize what he had done, he regretfully said, ¡°Such a pity, actually, his chance to turn things around was right in front of him.¡± [Turn things around? What do you mean?] [Did Master Fang notice something? Come on, tell us!] [Stop being so mysterious!] [He¡¯s still thinking about turning things around?] ¡°Do you know what he just threw away?¡± Bi Fang pointed at the ¡°weeds¡± near Marcus and said, ¡°That¡¯s Echinacea, also known as Coneflower.¡± Echinacea? The audience looked at the muddy plant on the ground and slowly typed out a question mark. [Is that supposed to be a flower? Where¡¯s the flower?] [No one believes that; I don¡¯t believe it either (Dog¡¯s head)] ¡°The flower hasn¡¯t bloomed yet.¡± Bi Fang wasn¡¯t surprised by the audience¡¯s reaction because the Echinacea now didn¡¯t look at all like a flower but seemed like simple weeds. However, it is indeed a very common herbal plant. ¡°Echinacea is originally from North America, and indigenous residents used it to treat toothaches, sore throats, colds, and infections. Especially at the onset of a cold, it is very effective in treatment. To recover from a cold quickly in the wild, you either take a hot spring bath like I did last time¡ªif you have a strong physique, a single soak is almost enough. Otherwise, you rely on medicinal herbs. Many common herbs have the effect of treating colds, such as Schizonepeta, Isatis root, mulberry leaf, Imperata root, dandelion, hedge mustard, and these things are very common, found worldwide.¡± [Damn, dandelions can cure colds?] ¡°Yes, but the effect is not as good as Echinacea. This herb is the best-selling health product in Ugly Country, particularly suitable for times when the body needs the immune system to work hard. I¡¯ll tell you an interesting fact: there are no medicines in the world that can cure a cold¡­¡± How is that possible? [Nonsense, I feel much better after taking medicine!] [Right, there are so many cold medicines, how can that be?] [Old Fang, aren¡¯t you sensationalizing a bit much?] [I¡¯m a medical student, actually] The screen was filled with doubtful comments, with occasional support that was quickly drowned out by the voice of the crowd. ¡°Mr. Bi, are you serious?¡± Not just the viewers, but even the staff on-site cast skeptical glances after hearing this. If there were no medicines that could cure a cold, then what had they been taking all this time? For comfort? ¡°You can check it out.¡± Bi Fang raised an eyebrow, ¡°I know it contradicts what you¡¯ve always believed, but that¡¯s the reality. Since colds are viral infections, no medicine can cure them. The medical community¡¯s approach to treating colds still revolves around rest, symptomatic treatment, and preventing secondary infections. The symptoms in symptomatic treatment refer to nasal congestion, runny nose, cough, sneezing, fever, and other issues caused by a cold. The cold medicines on the market today target these symptoms. Which is to say, all the cold medicines available now don¡¯t ¡®cure the cold¡¯, they¡¯re just there to alleviate the various discomforts a cold brings. The only defense that can kill the cold virus is our own immune system, so this is the best time to take Echinacea.¡± Chapter 282: 279: Death Cap Mushroom Chapter 282: Chapter 279: Death Cap Mushroom After listening to Bi Fang¡¯s explanation, even those who initially didn¡¯t believe began to doubt, and when some netizens went online to check and came back, their doubt turned into shock. Unbelievable! The common cold actually has no cure! ¡°Treating the common cold relies on the body¡¯s own immune mechanisms, and the main physiological effect of echinacea is to directly enhance immunity. You may see the phrase ¡®boosts the immune system¡¯ on the descriptions of many health products, but most health foods, like ginseng, wheatgrass, and antioxidative phytochemicals, have relatively indirect effects on immunity enhancement. They strengthen the physique first, and then the immune system naturally improves. The mechanism of echinacea¡¯s immunity boost is much more direct and fast-acting. Upon intake, it quickly stimulates the immune system, allowing the body to enhance its ability to fight pathogens in the shortest time, comparable to a miracle drug. Because of this, echinacea is not suitable for long-term, uninterrupted use at medium and low doses. You should take it when you need it.¡± [Awesome! Has Master Fang secretly studied medicine?] [You can¡¯t survive the wilderness without medical knowledge!] [You always show off like this. The second company commander is tired of holding the tray, the oranges are tired of being traded around every day, and Mr. Chen Duxiu is weary of handing out awards daily and just wants to go back to writing his articles] [¡­It¡¯s really tiring to draw the forty-meter-long sword and then sheath it again. The price of Detergent of Flower Beauty has gone up, and the trophies are all worn from being touched. Have you ever cared about these? No, you only care about yourself!] [But is it still useful without flowers?] ¡°This is another feature of echinacea, it is useful for both the flowers and the roots, so it is just as useful even without blooming flowers. As long as you find the root, you¡¯re good. What¡¯s crucial is that it¡¯s a perennial herbaceous plant, which means it can live for more than two years. Its roots are always there, you can find it no matter what the season, but unfortunately, Marcus didn¡¯t recognize it, or to be precise, he didn¡¯t know it at all.¡± There was a hint of regret in Bi Fang¡¯s tone. The audience could understand, even feeling a bit like hating iron for not turning into steel. If you hadn¡¯t found it, it would have been one thing, but to have it right in front of your eyes and not recognize it! What¡¯s the difference between that and leaving a treasure mountain empty-handed? They gave you a chance, and you¡¯re still not up to it! At this moment, countless people felt regret, but it was soon replaced by admiration for Bi Fang. Would they have recognized it if they were in his place? Without the flowers, even a student of Chinese medicine might not be able to tell it apart from a bunch of weeds, right? [Old Fang is awesome, knows everything, unlike me, who thinks everything looks like weeds] [Plus one, I was driving past a farm with a friend last time and he couldn¡¯t even tell the difference between wheat and rice, not to mention any herbs.] [When can I be as excellent as Master Fang?] [Stop it, I still can¡¯t tell the difference between leeks and weeds] [Whatever can be harvested is leek, what can¡¯t be is weed (dog¡¯s head for life)] [Weeds can be harvested too (playful)] Bi Fang remained indifferent to the audience¡¯s praise; it was nothing new to him. Since acquiring the orange skill Wilderness Traveler, his ability to differentiate various plants had greatly improved, and he could basically identify many common medicinal herbs, which was an extremely practical ability. What are you most afraid of in the later stages of Wilderness Survival? Nothing more than injury and illness, understanding how to use medicine is even more powerful than learning how to farm. It seems he won¡¯t make it through the day. Marcus¡¯s condition was worsening by the minute, and it¡¯s likely that he would hit the rescue button this afternoon, initiating his withdrawal voluntarily, instead of being forced to quit. Just as Bi Fang was pondering this, a slightly urgent alarm suddenly sounded. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Bi Fang immediately took off his headphones and asked the staff. ¡°Someone pressed the distress button.¡± Bi Fang looked immediately to Marcus but noticed no abnormalities. Marcus was still propped up against a tree, looking as if he was about to fall asleep. ¡°Not him, someone else.¡± The staff quickly switched the screen to another participant ¨C Moyo, who was about forty years old, one of the older ones. The participant who hit the distress button didn¡¯t show any signs of distress, just a lost look in his eyes, slumped to the ground motionless. ¡°Did he give up voluntarily?¡± S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang narrowed his eyes. This participant, who wasn¡¯t sick nor in danger, just gave up like that? He had thought that Marcus would be the first to be eliminated, but it turned out there was someone who gave up even earlier than him, and in a better condition at that. Since there were no abnormalities, Bi Fang stayed inside the cabin and didn¡¯t join the rescue team. After the helicopter brought the participant back, the medical team found no anomalies, aside from having not eaten for two days and low blood sugar. The participant was currently on the helicopter munching on bread, wiping tears while murmuring, ¡°It¡¯s too exhausting, really too exhausting, I can¡¯t hold on anymore¡­¡± Jerret stood beside Bi Fang, feeling slightly contemplative, ¡°Unexpectedly, the first one out isn¡¯t Marcus.¡± ¡°The wilderness is always heartless, his will was a bit weak.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s thoughts wandered; the wilderness was merciless, and not everyone could withstand that pressure. Even with the production team on standby, many dangers might not be reactable, let alone when you¡¯ve been hungry for two days and both your body and mind are exhausted. Moreover, the pressure is even greater when you¡¯re alone. Barrages of comments are just that, but when it comes to taking action, the sense of loneliness that you have to rely on yourself is indelible. Humans are social animals, always subconsciously relying on the strength of a group, and can panic when support is suddenly lost. Being able to calm down under such circumstances is highly commendable. Jerret patted Bi Fang on the shoulder, ¡°Let¡¯s go, there¡¯s nothing else to do here.¡± Bi Fang nodded, returned to his seat, put on his headset again, and looked at the other contestants. Currently, he did not need to worry about Marcus, the production team¡¯s monitors would take care of him. Today was the second day, and without finding food, many people would not be able to hold on, not physically, but mentally. Fortunately, many had begun to try eating things they had never tried before, such as earthworms, moss, and lichen. The audience was surprised to find that whatever Bi Fang had eaten before seemed quite good in comparison, rabbit meat, wolf meat, snake meat, deer meat, various fish meats¡ªat least it was still meat. Until the appearance of another contestant attracted the production team¡¯s attention. In the frame, a participant was holding a mushroom with an indecisive look, seemingly struggling over whether it was edible or not. ¡°Wait, Bi Fang. Take a look at this.¡± The director of photography immediately switched the shot to Bi Fang. Unsure whether the mushroom was edible, they asked Bi Fang to judge. At that moment, the contestant in the frame seemed to recognize the mushroom, and confidently began to bring it to his mouth¡­ ¡°Stop! Quick, warn this guy to stop!¡± Bi Fang suddenly bellowed, startling everyone, but the staff reacted very swiftly and immediately issued a warning to the contestant. Bogdo¡¯s wristband blared with a piercing and urgent shriek, causing him to flinch, and the white mushroom fell to the ground, gathering dirt upon it. Seeing the mushroom fall to the ground, Bi Fang breathed a sigh of relief and then turned to the staff with a stern look. ¡°Tell him, he¡¯s disqualified!¡± Everyone was startled by Bi Fang¡¯s stern demeanor. While they did not understand, no one questioned his decision; in everyone¡¯s mind, Bi Fang had long since become an authority. Only Pondy seemed thoughtful looking at the mushroom on the ground. ¡°Is there a problem with the mushroom?¡± ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s a Death Cap mushroom,¡± Bi Fang replied, his complexion frighteningly grim. Pondy was shocked. He had heard of the notorious Death Cap, and although he had not recognized it either, he vaguely understood the reason for Bi Fang¡¯s anger. What kind of reckless person would dare to sign up without any common sense? Not recognizing it was one thing¡ªnormal even, with so many different types of mushrooms, it¡¯s impossible to know them all¡ªbut not to even perform an edibility test? That was a fundamental lack of basic knowledge! [Death Cap mushroom? Damn, a poisonous mushroom?] [Damn, is it poisonous? I actually thought it was edible, looks just like the ones we normally eat.] Without Bi Fang¡¯s detailed explanation, the viewer could tell this mushroom was bad news just from its name. Would a proper mushroom have such a name? ¡°Death Cap contains amatoxins which inhibit RNA polymerases and interfere with various cellular functions. Poisoning often starts in the liver and kidneys, and can lead to death within 2 days; it¡¯s a deadly poisonous mushroom. It¡¯s also one of the most common deadly mushrooms, and it closely resembles edible straw mushrooms and button mushrooms, making it easy to mistakenly consume and be poisoned by.¡± ¡°If I hadn¡¯t stopped him just now, he would have swallowed it by now. Disqualifying him is not an overreaction at all! In Wilderness Survival, the last thing you want to do is to eat things randomly, especially mushrooms! No matter how similar they look, you should always be cautious. If he had done an edibility test, I wouldn¡¯t have disqualified him outright, but he didn¡¯t do it! If this were real survival, he would be dead already!¡± The aforementioned edibility test is a series of methods to determine if unknown plants are edible, through visual inspection, smell, skin contact, oral testing, chewing, and finally, consuming a small amount, to ultimately confirm that a plant is safe to eat. If he had undergone a round of tests, he would have realized this thing was not fit to eat. Viewers were seeing this severe side of Bi Fang for the first time, but they also understood his anger. The contestant was too frivolous, even arrogant, when facing mushrooms that could easily lead to incidents. The frame still showed the contestant arguing with the show¡¯s staff, not believing that he was in the wrong and that his disqualification was unjust, thinking there must be some kind of conspiracy. That was until he was informed that it was a Death Cap mushroom¡ªthough he still didn¡¯t seem altogether convinced, countering, ¡°Isn¡¯t the Death Cap¡¯s growing season during summer and autumn? We¡¯ve only just entered spring; how could they possibly be here?¡± Bi Fang massaged his forehead as if the contestant¡¯s argument amused him. He pointed at the contestant onscreen unapologetically, ¡°This is a classic example of arrogance¡ªlearning things halfway, never understanding the characteristics of plants in depth. The Death Cap mushroom may resemble straw mushrooms and button mushrooms, but the differences still exist, and those who understand can easily differentiate them. Furthermore, mushrooms have a short growth cycle and do not have a set growing season; they can grow all year round, given the required nutrients, temperature, humidity, and other environmental conditions are met. These past two days have seen warmer temperatures, fully meeting the growth environment for Death Caps. You can tell him, if he doesn¡¯t believe it, then just continue eating; if nothing happens, I¡¯ll shell out a hundred thousand Ugly Gold myself!¡± Well, that¡¯s¡­ something. The staff on the other end of the walkie-talkie looked at each other. Of course, they wouldn¡¯t do as such. Ignoring the contestant, they escorted him toward the helicopter. One of them even picked up the mushroom from the ground. After all, they had to convince the contestant to give up. The next morning, two more contestants were eliminated. Chapter 283: 280 Ah!!! Chapter 283: Chapter 280 Ah!!! ¡°Phew, good thing I took a look, otherwise there really would have been an accident.¡± The director of photography wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and let out a long sigh of relief. It was fortunate that the contestant hadn¡¯t eaten it, or there would have been an accident on live broadcast. Just moments ago, the crew had confirmed that the mushroom the contestant was about to eat was indeed the Death Cap mushroom. Instantly, everyone was utterly convinced of Master Fang¡¯s expertise. Identifying a poisonous mushroom that¡¯s easily confused with others at a glance is not something just anyone can do. Such a reassuring consultant! The eliminated contestant had nothing to say, silently allowing the helicopter to take him out of the Rocky Mountains. ¡°It¡¯s just part of my job,¡± Bi Fang said with a wave of his hand, indicating it was not worth mentioning. As a safety consultant, it was his duty to avoid danger. A false alarm. The supervisory team paid even closer attention to the contestants, being extra vigilant to prevent them from consuming any more odd things. [My gosh, finding something and still not being able to eat it feels even more dangerous.] [Sparrows, thankfully we have Old Fang, or wouldn¡¯t we be dead?] [But do mushrooms even grow in this kind of weather?] ¡°Yes, many mushrooms also grow in winter, but I am a bit surprised to see Death Cap mushrooms,¡± replied Master Fang to the audience¡¯s question. Death Cap mushrooms should only appear around April. It¡¯s not impossible for mushrooms to sprout a month early, but has the temperature been that high these past two days? Bi Fang glanced at the thermometer and found that the temperature had actually reached around ten degrees Celsius. Two nights ago, it could still drop below zero! Even if the temperature warmed up during the day, reaching five or six degrees would have been normal, but now it had climbed to ten degrees Celsius! ¡°Chinook winds?¡± he muttered, rubbing his chin, Bi Fang began to suspect. They were near the cold current, and the Rocky Mountains shouldn¡¯t have such temperatures at the end of February and beginning of March. The only explanation was the Chinook winds! Pondy heard Bi Fang¡¯s mutter and asked with curiosity, ¡°Chinook winds, what¡¯s that?¡± ¡°A strange weather phenomenon that occurs in the Rocky Mountains of North America.¡± Seeing someone ask about it, Bi Fang took the opportunity to explain to the audience as well. The Rocky Mountains were formed by the intense collision and compression between the American and Pacific Plates, stretching from northwest to southeast, basically parallel to the western coastline of North America. The area chosen for the competition was north of 50¡ãN latitude. From the perspective of pressure and wind belts, this zone is under the control of the prevailing westerlies all year round. In winter, the influence of the cold air from the Arctic Ocean is more significant, resulting in low temperatures and heavy snow. As winter ends and the climate gradually warms, the high-pressure from the North American continent begins to weaken, and the influence of the cold air from the Arctic Ocean also gradually lessens. Conversely, the prevailing westerlies from the Pacific start to impact this region. Due to the mountains blocking their path, the warm and moist westerlies are lifted dramatically by the terrain, creating abundant orographic rain. However, once over the high Rockies, the airflow has less moisture and it descends along the slopes on the eastern side of the range. As the altitude decreases, the air temperature continues to rise, and by the time it reaches the foothills, it becomes a dry, warm ¡°Chinook wind.¡± Chinook wind occurrences are not unique to this region; similar phenomena occur in the Alps, the Greater Caucasus at the intersection of Asia and Europe, and the Andes in South America. ¡°If it was carrying moisture, it¡¯d be better, as the evaporation of water would take away plenty of heat, but the mountain range blocks the moisture, leaving only the dry, hot wind behind. During this period, the temperature in the Rockies will rise very quickly. It¡¯s like a giant warm air blower pointing at the ground, and the vast amounts of snow formed by the cold air from the Arctic Ocean will melt very quickly. Look, there was still some snow on the ground two days ago, and now it¡¯s almost all gone,¡± Bi Fang explained. The production team promptly pulled up footage from two days ago for comparison. No one had noticed before, but now it was clear as day. The forest floor once covered with a layer of white snow was now entirely melted away, revealing the dark brown soil, which would likely turn green before long. Hasn¡¯t it melted too quickly? Generally, the thicker the snow, the longer it takes to melt in the spring. Not to mention the wilderness, even in the city, an unexpected heavy snowfall would take nearly a week to completely disappear, but this scene had occurred in just under two days. ¡°Because of the Chinook winds, each spring, as soon as the warm winds blow, snow accumulations over 10 centimeters can melt rapidly within a day. As the snow melts, the land quickly revives, and many mushrooms begin to grow earlier. This weather phenomenon aids local agriculture, so locals refer to these warm currents as ¡®snow eaters.''¡± [What an evocative name, snow eaters, awesome!] [No wonder Death Cap mushrooms are growing, our side¡¯s mushrooms also appear around April.] Many viewers expressed that they had learned something new and had never heard of such weather phenomena before. Pondy, however, was a bit concerned. Wouldn¡¯t a rapid climate warm-up due to the Chinook winds have some effect? ¡°Could animals like brown bears wake up earlier if the temperature warms up?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Bi Fang pondered with his head bowed before nodding slowly after a while. ¡°It¡¯s a possibility.¡± Audience: ¡°!¡± A lack of food is the main reason animals hibernate, and if food is abundant, many bears may not even hibernate. ¡°However, the odds are relatively low. Wilderness Survivalist inherently carries high risks, and the dangers are objectively present. The contestants are aware of this. Do you really want to abandon the shoot because of this?¡± Bi Fang said, attempting to ease Pondy¡¯s concerns. In his previous life, those Wilderness Survivalist shows wouldn¡¯t cease production just because there were wild bears; what would be the point otherwise? The aim was to capture the sense of reality. It wasn¡¯t as if the areas Bear Grylls visited had all the bears, tigers, and wolves removed by the crew before filming, was it? Impossible. That would be like throwing out the baby with the bathwater. Bi Fang patted Pondy on the shoulder, ¡°Alright, don¡¯t think too much. What we can do is ensure the safety of the contestants as much as possible. Let¡¯s go back and continue filming.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Pondy nodded. With the conversation at this point, there was nothing else to do. The competition among the contestants was still ongoing, with Bonuo, who had started out the earliest, already nearly seventy kilometers away from the drop point, far outpacing the other players. Mugalen, who had started last, was not showing any signs of weakness either. After eating some food and being full of energy, he had reached a speed of seven kilometers per hour. He had even taken a detour, clearly having discovered something. The two female participants had made a discovery as well¡ªa cave. Ava, excited, stared at the cave not far away and waved to Lisa, ¡°Hey, Lisa, come and take a look!¡± ¡°A cave?¡± Lisa was somewhat surprised and then thrilled. For two days, apart from having eaten some lichen and earthworms, they had caught no prey. What might be in the cave they had suddenly found? [Could this be our lunch breakthrough?] [What¡¯s in the cave? A python?] [It feels like a rodent burrow?] [Master Fang, tell us, what¡¯s in there?] There are many species in the forest that dig burrows, but considering the local species and combining this with the size of the entrance¡­ Bi Fang stared at the hole, which was only as wide as a palm, and said with some suspicion, ¡°It looks a bit like the burrow of a prairie dog?¡± S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Prairie dog? What is that? ¡°It¡¯s a ground squirrel.¡± [Ground squirrel? You should have said so earlier, I¡¯m familiar with that, ah!!!!!] [Wow! There¡¯s a visual now.] [Is it that ¡°ah!!!¡± kind of ground squirrel?] Bi Fang nodded and explained, ¡°There are many ground squirrels in the Rocky Mountains. They¡¯re usually found in lower altitude grasslands, which is exactly where the pair is headed¡ªthey¡¯ll have to pass through forests and grasslands.¡± ¡°Moreover, ground squirrels don¡¯t hibernate. They are used to living in groups, are highly socialized animals, prefer being active during the day, and are good at digging burrows. If this is indeed a ground squirrel burrow, it means that there is a large group of ground squirrels here, at least six or more!¡± Six! The audience, thinking of the plump ground squirrels, held their breath. That could feed them for quite a while! The duo hadn¡¯t considered this point; they still didn¡¯t know what was inside the burrow, but the discovery itself was cause for celebration. Judging by the size of the hole, the animal living inside couldn¡¯t be too small¡ªat least it would be enough for their daily needs. With the prospect of a meal, the two were full of vigor. After a quick consultation, they cooperated and divided the tasks: Ava went to look for shrubs and branches, while Lisa, as a member of the Beret Hat organization, searched for other holes nearby. Seeing Lisa block the newly found holes with stones, Bi Fang nodded in approval, ¡°That¡¯s the right decision. Many animals adept at digging have multiple escape routes. If you just wait at one hole, you may end up with nothing. You must search for other holes and block them all. Ground squirrels are burrowing experts. They have a vastly independent burrow system that can go as deep as 5 meters. The entrance is often built up to prevent water from entering. There are also refuge chambers nearby in case of predators. Deeper down, there are storage rooms, living quarters, toilets, and more. Usually, at the end of the tunnel, there is a main nest lined with soft grass¡ªtheir infrastructure is quite comprehensive.¡± Additionally, the branches Ava gathered are selected with care. Her likely goal is to burn the vegetation and smoke out the animals in the burrow. Hence, she is collecting fresh branches broken off from trees, which have high moisture content and will produce more smoke when burned.¡± [Ground squirrel: Trembling, the outside world is so scary.] [Damn, even ground squirrels live more comfortably than me!] [Wori, the quality of their life is higher than mine. I¡¯ve been working for three years, and I still can¡¯t afford a toilet, so jealous.] [Who isn¡¯t?] Hearing Master Fang¡¯s description of the ground squirrel¡¯s luxurious dwellings, many people showed envious expressions. But the thought of them being eaten soon brought an inexplicable sense of satisfaction. Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Don¡¯t say it like that. Although prairie dogs are also rodents, they actually contribute to natural fertilization. They continually trim the grasslands, increasing the protein content and the grass¡¯s decomposition capabilities, which is of great significance for environmental protection.¡± In the midst of the conversation, Lisa had blocked all the holes she could find with stones, and Ava had rekindled yesterday¡¯s charcoal fire. Within fifteen minutes, Ava had ignited the fire. She put the branches and shrubs she collected into it, and under the high temperature, the branches quickly warped and twisted, producing a large amount of white smoke. Seeing this, Ava quickly stuffed the shrubs into the hole and took off her jacket to block the front of the fire, keeping the white smoke trapped within the burrow. With nowhere else to go, the white smoke could only drift into the hole, quickly filling the entire burrow. Lisa gripped the spear tightly, ready to strike the moment an animal emerged from the hole. Soon, there were rustling noises coming from the burrow, followed by slightly shrill squeaks. ¡°Here they come!¡± Lisa was very excited¡ªthe burrow really did have something inside! By the sound of it, there seemed to be more than one creature! Chapter 284: 281: Tearfully Finishing Three Bowls of Rice (Alliance Leaders Additional Chapter) Chapter 284: Chapter 281: Tearfully Finishing Three Bowls of Rice (Alliance Leader¡¯s Additional Chapter) Lisa¡¯s hand, clutching the spear, trembled slightly, proving that her current mood was anything but calm. The noise grew closer and the shrieks more piercing. Until a dark shadow burst forth from the cave! Now was the moment! Her arm muscles contracted in waves, the force traveling along the shaft of the spear, culminating in a lightning-like thrust, aimed at the panic-stricken groundhog! A squeal of pain. The feel of leather rebounded, and Lisa¡¯s face lit up with delight¡ªwhat a big fat rat! But it wasn¡¯t over yet; there were more than one inside the hole! Several smaller shadows shot out from the bottom of their coats, scurrying in all directions. Ava was quick to act, swiftly gathering her coat around and capturing three in one move. ¡°There¡¯s more!¡± More shadows darted out and Ava cried out excitedly, reaching out her hands to catch them. Lisa pulled out her remaining spears, spearing one with each throw. Apart from a few that got away, they snagged three more. By the time they looked up to catch the other escapees, they had vanished without a trace¡ªalmost a dozen had escaped. ¡°They sure can run fast.¡± Ava felt a bit disappointed, but her regret was quickly drowned by excitement as they counted their haul¡ªeight groundhogs in total! One groundhog was the size of a forearm, extremely plump, enough to feed both of them for four or five days! The audience shared in their joy, as the two seemed to be the first among all contestants to catch such a large number of prey. Having snagged so much game, Lisa and Ava couldn¡¯t wait to sit down on the ground. They moved the still-burning fire over, adding a substantial amount of firewood, intending to roast one of the catches right there and then! After a simple skinning, the fat groundhog was skewered on a stick from head to tailbone and set above the fire, sizzling away, soon oozing golden grease. At this scene, many female viewers found it unacceptable. Subconsciously, they still saw groundhogs as little different from the usual rats, albeit somewhat cuter, but still rats. [Can you really eat groundhogs?] [Yeah, it looks kind of gross, and they¡¯re so cute¡ªcan¡¯t imagine eating one] [I force down three bowls of rice, tears streaming] ¡°Of course you can eat them, and they¡¯re delicious,¡± Bi Fang¡¯s memory drifted to the distant past. ¡°On the Tibetan Plateau, groundhogs are a delicacy, especially each autumn, when they are fattest, like little fat bears. Deer meat and lamb don¡¯t even compare. The roasted meat is very tender, bursting with rich fatty flavor; you bite into it, and your mouth is filled with oil.¡± Wild groundhogs were amongst the most delicious things Bi Fang remembered eating, surpassing even rabbit meat, which seemed tough by comparison and only tasted good because it had been a long time since the last meal. Many viewers were drawn in by Bi Fang¡¯s description, swallowing saliva involuntarily. But soon enough, a lot of viewers realized something. Wait, Master Fang¡¯s taste buds aren¡¯t like normal people¡¯s¡ªif he thinks it¡¯s delicious, the average person might not be able to stomach it. What was that saying again? Crunchy and tastes like chicken? ¡°I¡¯m serious. Why won¡¯t you believe me?¡± Bi Fang felt a bit exasperated. And when had he ever mentioned that it tasted like chicken? How had the joke from his previous life followed him here? Was it brought over by another host? After capturing the groundhogs, Bi Fang turned his attention to the other contestants. Ji Zuodong followed the river, attempting to catch fish at a bend and managing quite a haul. They were Arctic aniseed fish, large and fast-growing with firm muscles and delicious taste. Mugalen, with the power of his bow and arrow, had successfully hunted a jackrabbit and immediately roasted it, mixing it with the leftover sauce from a can, relishing a delightful meal. It seemed he was adopting a live-off-the-land approach, showing no intention of rationing his food, a robust and bold strategy. The rest of the contestants had not been as successful. Those who achieved anything had smaller gains, including two who had remained in place and found a stream. They fashioned a small fish trap, baited it with some earthworms, and managed to catch a few small fish. By afternoon, Marcus¡¯s cold had worsened significantly, his complexion was very pale, and his temperature rose to 39 degrees Celsius. At this point, his stubbornness was of no use, and he was compelled to press the rescue button. It was then that the audience realized: only half of the second day had passed, and already three people had been eliminated. From the original sixteen contestants, only twelve remained. ¡°The early stages of survival are always the most difficult, testing the willpower, skillfulness, and adaptability of individuals. If you can endure the first five days, the rest will be much easier. I bet there will be another wave of eliminations tomorrow and the day after. By the fifth day, I estimate that only seven to eight will remain.¡± Seven to eight? Many viewers fell silent. It sounded like a lot¡ªhalf the contestants remained. But they hadn¡¯t forgotten that these sixteen contestants were no ordinary people. Most were ex-military; even those who weren¡¯t had related professional experience. And only seven to eight might survive five days? What if they were all ordinary people? Would that mean total annihilation? By the end of the competition, could they not even muster the top three? S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Moreover, they heard from another safety advisor that the black and brown bears might awaken earlier than expected, adding a sinister element to the already silent forest. Just watching the live stream was thrilling enough. This was the greatest charm of wilderness live streams, something past shows never achieved, far surpassing the tension and excitement of recorded programs. Bi Fang, however, wasn¡¯t worried; three could still make it to the end. With this thought, he pulled up the mini-map again, looking towards Bonuo, who had ventured the farthest. This guy wasn¡¯t just traversing the wilderness; he was heading towards the direction of the cabin. Bonuo was one of the escapees, but his method of escape differed from the other two; he avoided a direct confrontation and vanished into the crowd, which led many viewers to underestimate him. But this was not a display of incompetence. ¡°` At least the determination to head straight for the cabin with no hesitation isn¡¯t something everyone possesses, which means a trek of a hundred kilometers would have gone to waste. ¡°We should be able to get there by tomorrow.¡± Since today¡¯s signal flare had vanished, Bonuo didn¡¯t dare to proceed rashly. After closing in to less than twenty kilometers, he slowed down to wait until noon the following day to launch another red flare, which should get him there. [The first one to find the cabin?] [What¡¯s inside anyway? I¡¯m so curious, I really want to know (rolling on the floor)] [Is there food inside? There isn¡¯t a submachine gun in there, is there?] ¡°Submachine gun?¡± Bi Fang sweated, ¡°You guys really dare to dream. If there was a submachine gun, we might as well just declare the winner right now.¡± [Okay, no submachine gun, eliminating one possibility] [Is it this kind of submachine gun, picture.jpg] [I think it¡¯s this, picture.jpg] [When I have the money, I¡¯ll definitely buy a phone that can view pictures] ¡°Mr. Bi, come take a look at this.¡± A staff member suddenly called Bi Fang over and transferred the footage he had taken to Bi Fang. This was a drone ascending high, overlooking a forest¡ªa swath of boundless ash-green. Even further away were snow-covered mountains and ribbons of blue rivers, but none of these were the key points. At the bottom of a hillside valley, a large herd of deer were grazing on shrubs, easily a hundred in all, leisurely and carefree. Reindeer sighted again! Not only Bi Fang but even the audience who had seen them once recognized at once that these were indeed a large group of reindeer. Last time, Master Fang hunted reindeer with a short spear, then hid under the ice river to avoid being trampled. These scenes were still vivid in memory, and now they encountered another group? ¡°Is anyone nearby?¡± ¡°Bonuo, less than three kilometers away.¡± The camera immediately switched to Bonuo, who at that moment seemed unaware that a large herd of reindeer was nearby, focusing solely on finding the cabin. But it was already four in the afternoon, about to get dark, and it had been several hours since the last smoke release, making the exact direction a bit hazy. ¡°Where is it?¡± Bonuo muttered, the prospect of supplies in the program-prepared cabin surely too tempting, possibly including food, which was why he had been hurrying along despite two days of hunger. ¡°Better look from higher ground.¡± Ascending to higher ground was the best choice to identify direction and target. With a small expenditure of energy, one could determine the conditions ten or even dozens of kilometers away. Bonuo looked around and chose a rock face. What unfolded next was exactly as everyone had guessed¡ªno cabin was found, but the large herd of reindeer was discovered instead. Bonuo¡¯s eyes bulged in disbelief; he hadn¡¯t expected to be so lucky. He didn¡¯t find the cabin, but he had stumbled upon a large group of reindeer. How long could one reindeer last? If he could catch one, without worrying about spoilage or carrying weight, there¡¯d be more than enough food for twelve days! Without any hesitation, Bonuo climbed down from the rock face and hurried towards the direction of the reindeer herd. [Are we going to see hunting again?] [So thrilling, how¡¯s he going to catch them?] [The terrain isn¡¯t quite the same as last time, can he pull it off?] Many viewers excitedly discussed how Bonuo would attempt the capture, then abruptly noticed a flood of gifts being sent, and upon closer inspection, it was filled with familiar top donor IDs. [Lord Mu sends a Spaceship*1 to the host¡ªThe desire to collect deer heads is inflaming again] [Lin Chang sends a Spaceship*5 to the host¡ªHonestly, I want one too] [It¡¯s Nanana sending a Spaceship*1 to the host¡ªHe should be able to catch a few this time, right? After that guy¡¯s done, can someone catch another? I want one too (pitiable)] Bi Fang laughed, ¡°Yao Jun, didn¡¯t you get a deer head last time? Why do you still want to join in?¡± [I wouldn¡¯t mind having more.] ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t reject the idea, partly because he was itching to get involved and, on the other hand, he wanted to upgrade their food supply. The audience grew even more excited upon hearing this. Half an hour later, Bonuo met expectations and located the reindeer herd. However, he didn¡¯t act immediately but stood on an upslope to observe the surroundings. After a long while, he stealthily moved to the downslope of the herd. The viewers were puzzled by this move from up to down. What was he up to? They started asking Master Fang. It had become habit¡ªencountering something incomprehensible, they¡¯d turn to Bi Fang, who could provide a comprehensive answer nine times out of ten, often even more thorough than what the contestant himself had in mind. ¡°Nylon Rope!¡± Placing himself in Bonuo¡¯s perspective and considering the possessions he had while taking into account the characteristics of reindeer, Bi Fang made a likely judgment. ¡°He¡¯s going to use the nylon rope to hunt reindeer!¡± Bi Fang pointed at the screen, certain in his conclusion. ¡°The spot where the reindeer are is an open field, but there¡¯s forest below it. If it were me, I would wrap all twenty meters of nylon rope around the trees, then return to the upslope of the herd. Reindeer are skittish. If you scare them into the forest, as soon as one runs into the place with the nylon rope, their antlers will get tangled in it. The wit of wild animals is limited; once their antlers are caught, they can¡¯t escape!¡± ¡°` Chapter 285: 282 Improving Meals Chapter 285: Chapter 282 Improving Meals Don¡¯t panic. I¡¯ve written two thousand five hundred words so far and am still typing. It will probably be early morning before I can post, so consider this a measure against piracy for now. I will change it back around early morning, and you all might see it then. Lisa gripped her spear, trembling slightly¡ªa testament to her current state of agitation. The noises drew closer, the squeals more piercing. Until suddenly, a dark shadow burst forth from the cave! Now is the moment! Her arm muscles contracted in waves, power surged along the shaft of the spear, and in the end, she thrust it like a bolt of lightning at the panicked prey¡ª A sharp squeal echoed. The sensation of striking leather rebounded, and a smile flashed across Lisa¡¯s face¡ªa huge, fat rat! But it wasn¡¯t over; there were far more than one inside the cave! Several smaller shadows darted out from beneath the coat, scattering in all directions. Ava was quick to act, swiftly drawing in the coat and trapping three of them in one go. ¡°There are more!¡± More shadows leapt out, and Ava shouted excitedly, trying to catch them with her bare hands. Lisa produced the remaining spears and struck one with each thrust. Except for a few that got away, they caught three more. By the time they turned to catch the others that had fled, they were long gone, with about a dozen having escaped. ¡°They sure run fast.¡± Ava felt a twinge of regret, but her disappointment was soon drowned out by excitement as they counted their catch¡ªeight groundhogs in all! A groundhog was the size of a small arm and extremely plump, enough for the two of them to eat for four or five days! The viewers were happy for their catch; Lisa and Ava were the first to catch such a bounty among all participants. Having caught so many prey, Lisa and Ava couldn¡¯t wait to sit down on the ground, moving the still-burning fire over and adding a large amount of firewood, intending to roast one on the spot! After simply processing the fur, the plump groundhog was skewered from head to tailbone with a stick and placed over the fire, which soon began oozing golden fat. The sight was too much for some female viewers, who found it hard to stomach. Subconsciously, they still regarded groundhogs as no different from the common mouse, albeit slightly cuter, but still a mouse. [Can you really eat groundhogs?] [Yeah, it looks a bit disgusting. Plus, they¡¯re so cute, how could they be eaten?] [I eat my three bowls of rice with tears.] ¡°Of course you can, and not only that, but they¡¯re incredibly tasty,¡± Bi Fang¡¯s memory drifted back to long ago. ¡°On the Tibetan Plateau, groundhogs are considered a delicacy, especially in the autumn when they are at their plumpest¡ªlike little fat bears. Deer and sheep meat can¡¯t compare. The roasted meat is very tender and rich in fat; one bite and it¡¯s all oil in your mouth.¡± Wild groundhogs were among the most delectable fare in Bi Fang¡¯s memory; all other meats, even rabbit meat, were tough and seemed delightful only because he had gone too long without food. Many viewers were enticed by Bi Fang¡¯s description and couldn¡¯t help but swallow hard. But then, several viewers quickly came to a realization. Wait, Master Fang¡¯s taste buds aren¡¯t normal; if he thinks it¡¯s tasty, it¡¯s probably not something an average person could stomach. How did that saying go? Crunchy, tastes like chicken? ¡°I¡¯m serious, why won¡¯t you believe me?¡± Bi Fang was quite speechless, and when had he ever mentioned anything about the taste of chicken? How did a joke from the last world follow him to this one? Was it brought over by another streamer? After catching the gopher, Bi Fang glanced over at the other contestants. Ji Zuodong walked along the river and tried to fish in a bend, ending up with quite a bountiful catch. It was two Arctic aniseed fish, large in size, fast-growing, with firm muscles and a delicious taste. Mugalen took advantage of the power of his bow and arrow to successfully hunt a jackrabbit, roasting it on the spot and savoring it with the leftover sauce from the canned food¡ªa truly delightful meal. He seemed to be following a strategy of fighting to feed the fight, not at all sparing in his consumption of food, showing quite the determination. The remaining contestants had little to no harvest; the most anyone got was a relatively small one. The two who had stayed put found a stream and crafted a small fish trap, into which they placed earthworms and managed to catch a few small fish. By the afternoon, Marcus¡¯s cold had become much worse, his face incredibly pale and his temperature rising to 39 degrees Celsius. No longer able to feign strength, he had no choice but to press the sos button. Only then did the audience realize that just halfway into the second day, three people were already eliminated. From the original sixteen contestants, only twelve remained. ¡°The early stages of survival are always the most difficult, testing a person¡¯s willpower, technical skills, and adaptability. Those who make it through the first five days will find the subsequent one¡¯s increasingly easier. I predict there will be another peak of elimination tomorrow and the day after, and by day five, I estimate only seven to eight will remain.¡± Seven to eight? Many viewers fell silent. It sounds like quite a few are left, half of the contestants, but they hadn¡¯t forgotten that these sixteen were no ordinary people; most of them had military experience, and even the few who didn¡¯t were professionals in related fields, with substantial experience. And only seven to eight could last five days? What if they were all ordinary people? Wouldn¡¯t that mean total annihilation? By the end of the competition, would they even be able to find three finalists? Moreover, according to another safety consultant, Black Bears and Brown Bears might wake up early, adding a chilling presence to the quiet forest. Just watching the live broadcast was thrilling; this is the greatest charm of Wilderness Survival, something that television programs in the former world didn¡¯t have, far surpassing recorded shows in tension and excitement. Bi Fang, however, wasn¡¯t worried. It was still possible to pick out three contestants. With this thought, he pulled up the mini-map and looked towards Bonuo, who had traveled the farthest. This guy wasn¡¯t just traversing the wilderness; he was heading in the direction of the cabin. Bonuo was one of the escapees, but his method of escape differed from the remaining two¡ªhe didn¡¯t confront them head-on, but simply vanished from the crowd. Many viewers might have underestimated him, but this wasn¡¯t a sign of incompetence. At least this unwavering determination to head directly for the cabin wasn¡¯t something everyone had, meaning he had walked a hundred kilometers for nothing. ¡°He¡¯ll probably get there tomorrow.¡± The signal from today had already disappeared, and Bonuo didn¡¯t dare to proceed rashly. After reducing the distance to less than twenty kilometers, he slowed down, planning to launch red smoke again at noon tomorrow, by which time he should arrive. [The first one to find the cabin?] S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [What exactly is inside? I¡¯m really curious. I really want to know (kicking and screaming).] [Is there food inside? It¡¯s not going to have a submachine gun, right?] ¡°Submachine gun?¡± Bi Fang was somewhat embarrassed, ¡°You guys really dare to imagine. If they put a submachine gun in there, we might as well just declare the winner right away.¡± [Okay, no submachine gun, one answer ruled out.] [Is it this kind of submachine gun, picture.jpg] [I think it¡¯s this, picture.jpg] [When I have money, I¡¯ll definitely buy a mobile phone that can view pictures.] ¡°Mr. Bi, come take a look at this.¡± A staff member suddenly called out to Bi Fang and then transferred the footage he had captured to him. It was a drone climbing high, with forests stretching as far as the eye could see, a boundless expanse of blue-gray, and further away, mountain ranges covered in snow and blue rivers. But none of these were the key points. At the bottom of a hillside valley, a large herd of deer was leisurely grazing on shrubs, easily a hundred of them. More reindeer! Not only Bi Fang but also the audience who had seen them once recognized them right away¡ªwasn¡¯t this a large group of reindeer? Master Fang had hunted reindeer with a short spear last time and then hid under the ice river to avoid being trampled. It was vivid in everyone¡¯s memory, and now they had encountered another group? ¡°Is anyone nearby?¡± ¡°Bonuo, less than three kilometers away.¡± The camera immediately switched to Bonuo, who at that moment did not seem to realize there was a large group of reindeer nearby; he was single-mindedly trying to find the cabin. But it was already four in the afternoon, and it would soon be dark. Several hours had passed since the last smoke release, and the precise direction was somewhat unclear. ¡°Where is it?¡± Bonuo murmured to himself. As the show¡¯s carefully arranged supply site, the stuff inside must be good, perhaps there was food, so he had been rushing along even though he had been hungry for two days. ¡°Let¡¯s look from higher ground.¡± To determine the direction and target, the best choice was to look from higher ground. With a little effort, one could see the situation tens and even tens of kilometers away. After looking around, Bonuo chose a rock wall. The subsequent development was just as everyone guessed. He didn¡¯t find the cabin but discovered the large herd of reindeer. Bonuo¡¯s eyes bulged, completely not expecting his luck to be so good. He didn¡¯t find the cabin, but instead, he found a large group of reindeer. How long could one reindeer last? If he could catch one, without considering decay and weight, it would easily last twelve days! Without hesitation, Bonuo climbed down from the rock face and rapidly ran toward the direction of the reindeer herd. [Are we going to see reindeer hunting again?] [So exciting, I wonder how he will catch them?] [The terrain is different from last time, can he catch them?] Many viewers excitedly discussed how Bonuo would capture the reindeer but suddenly noticed that a gift rain started again, and it was all familiar top donor IDs. [Lord Mu gave the host 1 Spaceship¡ªThe desire to collect reindeer heads is burning up again] [Lin Chang gave the host 5 Spaceships¡ªTo be honest, I want one too] [Nanana is me giving the host 1 Spaceship¡ªThis time he should be able to catch a few, right? After that guy is done, can we catch another one? I want one too (pity)] Bi Fang laughed: ¡°Yao Jun, didn¡¯t you get a reindeer head last time? Why do you still want to mix in?¡± [I don¡¯t mind having more.] ¡°Let¡¯s see. After Bonuo is done, if there¡¯s a chance, we can try,¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t refuse. On one hand, he was feeling eager; on the other, he wanted to improve his diet. On hearing this, the audience became even more excited. Half an hour later, Bonuo lived up to expectations and found the reindeer herd. But he did not act immediately. Instead, he stood on the slope above the reindeer, observing the environment, and after a long while, he stealthily moved down to the slope below the reindeer herd. This move from top to bottom confused the viewers. What was he doing? They all started asking Master Fang. Everyone got used to it, whenever they encountered something they couldn¡¯t understand, they would ask Bi Fang, and nine times out of ten, they¡¯d get an answer¡ªeven one more comprehensive than what they had in mind. Those in the know understood that the ability of the person being asked to answer all questions did not mean the two individuals were on the same level, but rather that the one being queried was far more knowledgeable than the person asking. This was also what deeply shocked Pondy. ¡°Rope!¡± Bi Fang put himself in Bonuo¡¯s perspective and thought about what he owned, combining it with the characteristics of reindeer to make a probable judgment. ¡°He¡¯s going to use rope to hunt reindeer!¡± Bi Fang pointed at the screen very confidently. ¡°The area where the reindeer herd is a clearing, but below it is a forest. If it were me, I would wrap the twenty meters of nylon rope all around the trees, then go back above the reindeer herd. Reindeer are skittish, you just startle them into the forest, and as soon as one enters the area with the nylon rope, their antlers will get entangled. With their limited animal intelligence, once their antlers are caught, they can¡¯t escape!¡± ¡°Achoo!¡± Marcus just woke up feeling uneasy in his nose, and the next second, his face twisted violently as he sharply contracted his lungs and let out a forceful sneeze, with the gas and droplets rushing out of his nostrils in a frantic burst. A faint stench wafted through the air, and Marcus¡¯s heart sank after the dizziness passed. This was bad. He had caught a cold! Yet immediately, he harbored a glimmer of hope. It could just be an uncomfortable nose, spring had arrived, perhaps it was pollen¡­ As he went out to hunt for food, still alone, he fell asleep. As soon as he got up, he sneezed several times in a row, and anyone could tell he had a cold. [Is it over, will I be eliminated on the second day?] [The first to be eliminated] ¡°To treat a cold, you rely on the body¡¯s own immune system, and the main physiological effect of Echinacea is to boost immunity, very directly. You might see many health products claiming to enhance immunity, like ginseng, wheatgrass, antioxidants, and phytochemicals, but most health products contribute to immunity in a more indirect way. They first strengthen the physique, and then, naturally, the immunity relatively improves. The mechanisms by which Echinacea boosts the immune system are more direct: upon consumption, it can immediately stimulate the immune system, allowing the body¡¯s ability to fight pathogens to be boosted in the shortest time possible. It can completely rival specific medications because of this characteristic, and because of this, Echinacea doesn¡¯t get to be recognized by others too easily. Even Lieutenant General Orange and Chen are tired from being auctioned and awarding prizes every day, wanting to go back to writing. Did you ever care about anything else? No, you only cared about yourself!] [But is this useful even if it hasn¡¯t bloomed?] ¡°That¡¯s another characteristic of Echinacea, it works with the flowers and roots, so it¡¯s useful even if it hasn¡¯t bloomed; finding the root is enough. The most frustrating part is that if you hadn¡¯t found it, it would be one thing, but the thing was right in front of you and you didn¡¯t even recognize it! How is that any different from leaving a treasure mountain empty-handed? You were given an opportunity, but you¡¯re not making use of it! Countless people felt regret at this moment, but it was immediately followed by admiration for Bi Fang; could they have recognized it if they were in his shoes? If it hasn¡¯t bloomed, even a student of traditional Chinese medicine might not be able to identify it amidst a pile of weeds, right? [Bi Fang is awesome, he recognizes everything. Not like me, everything looks like weeds. ] [Add one, I once drove past a field with a friend, and he couldn¡¯t even tell the difference between wheat and rice, let alone medicinal herbs.] [When will I be as excellent as Master Fang?] [Don¡¯t talk about practical skills. What¡¯s the biggest fear in the later stages of Wilderness Survival?] Chapter 286: 283: Night Raid Chapter 286: Chapter 283: Night Raid ¡°` Don¡¯t panic, the reason is the same as yesterday. I¡¯ve been attending classes during the day and busy with car parts at night; I haven¡¯t had time to write. The official chapter will drop in the early morning; everyone can rest early. The rising sun climbed above the clouds, and sunlight spread horizontally across them, casting shadows in the sparse woods and tinting them with a faint bright golden hue. As the temperature gradually returned, the answer became clearer in everyone¡¯s hearts. All fifteen contestants chose not to set out immediately but to search for materials on-site. Perhaps many had planned to traverse the wilderness directly, but last night¡¯s bitter cold made everyone recognize the reality, and all original plans were scrapped. Wilderness Survival was far from as simple as they had imagined. Bi Fang explained in the evening that this was the purpose of dropping everyone off here¡ªto let them understand their strength after surviving a night. It acted as a cooling-off period; otherwise, had the drop-off happened during the day, many might have rashly chosen to cross the wilderness, and it would be troublesome if they encountered danger later on. But to the audience, this scene was quite dull. After all that buildup, not a single person set out to advance or try to find civilization; everyone stayed put at the ¡°safe point¡± where they were initially dropped off. The audience, accustomed to Bi Fang¡¯s bold and forward style, were somewhat disappointed. [Isn¡¯t anyone going to traverse the wilderness? Even if they don¡¯t find civilization directly, shouldn¡¯t they at least try to find a cabin or something?] [Really? Everyone is staying put? How timid!] [Right in the feels.jpg] [If it were Old Fang, he¡¯d probably set off right away.] ¡°It¡¯s not that no one wants to cross, if you look carefully, you¡¯ll see that actually, quite a few people are making weapons,¡± Bi Fang shook his head and pointed to Bonuo in front of him. To do a good job, one must first sharpen the tools. As a Rover Cavalry, even though he¡¯d spent the night in a hammock, his constant intense training meant he wasn¡¯t too badly affected. However, Bonuo still faintly sensed something amiss. It was too cold; he was completely awakened by the freeze in the morning. The hammock might be clean and convenient, but it was only a stopgap measure, and he wouldn¡¯t withstand sleeping in it too often. It wasn¡¯t as if he hadn¡¯t survived in the wild before; training in the wilderness was commonplace, and sometimes he could even spend a day and a night lying in a pile of grass. Therefore, although Bonuo was aware of the challenge¡¯s difficulty, he didn¡¯t plan to stop there. He wanted to cross the wilderness to earn a higher score! Out of the fifteen, it was unlikely that many could last twelve days, but there wouldn¡¯t be few either; at least Mugalen and that Huaxia person posed a significant threat. If he played it safe, it would be hard to come out on top! With that thought, Bonuo snapped off a branch with force and then found two stones of suitable quality. After some light chiseling, he began to carve the wood. ¡°Do you want to make a spear?¡± Bi Fang nodded; this was a choice made by quite a few contestants ¡ª to make a weapon as best as they could. Stone or wood, each had its advantages; whether defending against dangers or hunting animals, it was essential. Stone Spear, Wood Spear, Stone Hammer¡­ As time progressed, a variety of weapons came into view for the audience, causing admiration. Many of the methods of making these weapons were new to them, having never been used by Bi Fang, and they found it novel. Cradling the finished wooden spear, Ji Zuodong extinguished the fire and, with three long Spears and two short spears strapped to his back, set off into the depths of the forest in the manner of a primitive hunter. Wild and charming, it made the viewers¡¯ eyes sparkle; his outfit was overwhelmingly cool. [Wow, someone¡¯s going full Monkey King here.] [Looks like an old general with flags on his back.] ¡°` [Slowly typing out a question mark?] [Ji Zuodong: Are you being polite?] As preparations were completed, more and more people made their choices. Bonuo and Ji Zuodong did their best to erase any traces on the spot before they embarked on their journeys. When they cleared their own traces, everyone knew that they had no intention of coming back. Meanwhile, Mugalen was still struggling with a large tree, determined not to stop until he had felled it. This caught Bi Fang¡¯s attention because he noticed Mugalen had spent a long time just selecting the tree. With his keen eyesight, he immediately saw that Mugalen had chosen a fir. Fir wood. A type of wood worth pondering over. For making ordinary wooden spears, there was no need for such trouble. One could simply use the branches of some common tall trees, which were everywhere. Why bother wasting time looking for fir? Bi Fang watched for a long time and only understood Mugalen¡¯s intentions when he saw him strip off the outer layer of the tree. He expressed his surprise. ¡°He¡¯s making a bow!¡± [Worker?] [In the wild mountains and ridges, you still want a worker?] [You can¡¯t even get a meal, and you¡¯re thinking about a worker?] ¡°Not a worker, but making a bow and arrow,¡± Bi Fang gestured to mimic drawing a bow. The audience suddenly understood but were then deeply puzzled. They had seen Bi Fang make bows and arrows, using branches, so why would someone go through the trouble of cutting down an entire tree? ¡°Because he wants to make a real bow and arrow. My previous bow-making technique was just a shortcut; it can¡¯t compare with the durability and strength of a real bow and arrow. And Mugalen¡¯s choice is quite primitive: making a sturdy bow out of an entire tree. Willow, fir, and walnut wood are all ideal materials for bow-making. To create a good bow, the material is key, which is why Mugalen would go to the trouble of finding fir. This is a very time-consuming approach; he might not even finish it in one day. I guess Mugalen planned this from the beginning; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have risked spending so much time,¡± Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but admire Mugalen¡¯s determination. If it were someone else, even him, they might make weapons, but certainly not spend so much time on it, and if they did make a bow, they would use the simple method from last time instead of felling a tree to shape a large bow. Survival time totals only twelve days. Taking out an entire day, or even more, to make a bow was quite risky because one would be hours behind everyone else. Others might have already found rivers and food by then, but you might end up empty-handed because the bow wasn¡¯t finished yet. ¡°However, Mugalen has a 500g can of meat, so I can understand his approach. The human body generally needs to consume about 1700 kilocalories per day; of course, this varies with size and activity level, but that¡¯s the rough amount. And 100g of pork belly has about 350 calories. So, that one can could cover one day¡¯s energy consumption, which is his advantage.¡± [That¡¯s pretty badass. It feels like a gamble.] [Plus one, if it were me, I definitely wouldn¡¯t eat the canned meat unless I had to, and would wait until I couldn¡¯t go on. I didn¡¯t expect Old Mugalen to be so bold, using it up right away.] [Perhaps it¡¯s a case of the boldness of the skilled.] Mugalen was unaware of the heated discussion among viewers as he patiently crafted his large bow, holding a stone chisel and painstakingly chipping away unnecessary parts. The initial rough shape was always the easiest to achieve; the later refinements and treatments were what really took time and effort and were key to the quality of the finished bow. ¡°It¡¯s an English Longbow.¡± Even though the bow was still in its rudimentary form, Bi Fang could tell what Mugalen intended to make, and he laughed, ¡°Should I say it¡¯s no surprise coming from the Deer Hunter?¡± Thinking of Mugalen¡¯s identity, it wasn¡¯t hard to understand why he was making such a longbow. The English Longbow isn¡¯t a recurved bow. Its design is quite primitive, but its power is immense; it can shoot a hundred meters and penetrate armor. It is among the highest quality of longbows. ¡°` An adept archer could even fire 6 arrows in a minute, and without aiming, they could fire 12 arrows in a minute. The only drawback was that the user had to have a robust physique, superb skills and coordination on all fronts. Many soldiers, due to long-term stress and the impact of special postures, had spines that were abnormally curved after death. The original reason the United Kingdom began equipping support troops with muskets was not even because of the firearms¡¯ greater power, but because, like the crossbow, guns were weapons that could be used easily with little training. Otherwise, the English longbow might not have been phased out, indicating its formidable power. Owning one was like having a firearm, and its primitive design also meant it was easier to make. Having so many advantages, it¡¯s no surprise that even now some traditional hunters still use it, and it¡¯s no wonder that Mugalen, who came from a traditional hunter background, chose to make one. After hearing Bi Fang¡¯s long explanation, the audience finally understood why Mugalen would rather waste a whole day to craft such a longbow. [This is a godly weapon! With it, wouldn¡¯t chopping vegetables be a piece of cake?] [No wonder Old Mugalen was so picky about the trees, how could you craft a godly weapon without good materials?] [All of them are talents!] [Gurulu Gurulu gifted the host Big Bone*10¡ªExcellent commentary, quite enlightening, awesome!] Seeing that Mugalen couldn¡¯t finish grinding for a while, the director of photography switched the camera to other contestants. They were all grown-ups; whether they stayed or left, they each had their own plans. Those who were finished making weapons and equipment left, and those who wanted to survive twelve days in the forest began earnestly constructing their own shelters. Looking over, when the camera turned to Ava, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but sit up straight. It wasn¡¯t because a female contestant appeared on screen, but because the only two female contestants had encountered each other! This was the first time contestants had encountered one another! One should know that the program allowed teaming up but didn¡¯t prohibit fighting! As long as no harm was done, resources could be snatched away! It was up to the contestants to understand the intent. The audience was also surprised by the encounter. [Wow, they found their own so soon?] [Amazing, amazing, it¡¯s the two ladies. Fight, start fighting, the kind where clothes get ripped off!] [???] [How were the airdrops done initially, how come they encountered each other so easily?] ¡°Everyone should remember, the fifteen contestants were originally dropped off by four helicopters, divided into four groups. These four groups were quite far apart from each other, but the members of each group were very close to each other.¡± If contestants could form teams and also snatch resources from each other, then they definitely needed an opportunity to encounter each other. If they were placed too far apart, contestants might not even meet, let alone snatch anything from each other. As it happened, Ava and Lisa were from the same group, less than a kilometer apart, making it very easy to run into each other if they didn¡¯t explore too widely. Therefore, when the two met, they were both startled. Standing off against each other from five meters apart in the forest, neither said a word, and all was silent. The silence lasted a long time, but not a single viewer felt impatient, all anticipating the next development. ¡°Let¡¯s cooperate.¡± Ava took the initiative to speak first. She didn¡¯t want to waste time; in a competition, wasting time was wasting life. Lisa, after a moment of thought, nodded: ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°` Audience: ¡°¡­¡± Are they the Scarlet King now? What just happened and they already formed a team? ¡°There¡¯s something here!¡± Mugalen moved slowly through the grass, searching for animal tracks. As a member of the Deer Hunter community, there was no doubt that Mugalen had real skills. Less than two minutes after getting off the vehicle, he spotted the traces of prey amidst the grass, which looked almost identical to the untrained eye. A patch of grass that had been trampled down. Mugalen¡¯s expression lit up with joy. Just as he was about to move closer for a more detailed look, he suddenly remembered to glance over at Bi Fang with his peripheral vision to see if he had found anything, only to come up empty. In his peripheral vision, there was nothing but a patch of moss. Huh? Where¡¯s the person? How could someone that big just disappear? Mugalen was taken aback. He turned his head to the side, only to find that Bi Fang, who had been standing behind him, had vanished without a trace. He couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. The two of them had clearly gotten off the vehicle together. How could he just suddenly disappear? He hurriedly turned back to ask Barton, who pointed in a direction. Mugalen followed the gesture and saw Bi Fang walking deep into the forest, leaving only a small silhouette behind. Did he find something? That fast? S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Mugalen hurried over and slowed his steps as he got closer to avoid startling the game. Barton followed closely in the car, stopping at a safe distance to get out with the two small ones to see what Bi Fang had discovered. Barton, who had stayed in the car, saw very clearly that Bi Fang had seemingly glanced around casually after getting off the vehicle and then walked purposefully in one direction, in stark contrast to Mugalen, who was searching for clues all around. ¡°Primitive Survival 21 Days,¡± ¡°Survival 1 Plus 1,¡± ¡°King of Survival,¡± ¡°Wilderness Couples File,¡± and so on, were quite popular wilderness survival programs in a previous life. However, in this world without Bear Grylls or Grandpa De, these exciting programs had not emerged. But when Bi Fang introduced the concept of wilderness survival in the form of live entertainment and achieved great success, it was as if people had their meridians unblocked¡ªwhen one understands, all understand. The Discovery Channel was among the best, and right out of the gate, they played their cards well. Following Bi Fang¡¯s 21-day sea survival, they launched the brand-new program, Wilderness Arena. Many wilderness survivalists competed together, facing wilderness survival challenges that lasted for 300 hours¡ªtwelve days. Within this time, those eliminated would receive no reward, and the rankings would be decided based on the remaining survivors. Bi Fang would judge, with the first place receiving a hundred thousand Ugly Gold as a reward, the second place fifty thousand, and the third place ten thousand, all with covered medical expenses. If no one remained, then no reward would be given. This was a challenging and also a tempting competition format. A first-place prize of a hundred thousand Ugly Gold was quite a substantial reward, and on top of that medical expenses, travel costs, and such were all covered by the program and the hundred thousand US dollars were completely at the winner¡¯s disposal. As for Bi Fang, he played multiple roles within the entire program, both as a commentator and safety consultant, responsible for handling any potential crisis that might occur, and also as the final judge. There were multiple judges, but Bi Fang held the most power, with the ultimate interpretative and decision-making authority, while the other judges only had advisory power, reflecting the Discovery Channel¡¯s high regard for him. On one hand, Bi Fang¡¯s fame was immense, having achieved many legendary feats. If an ordinary person accomplished even one of these, they could live on it for a lifetime, but when all of these feats happened to one person, that person became synonymous with legend. And from any angle, Bi Fang was also a crisis management expert, seemingly able to resolve any issue, no matter how desperate the situation seemed. He always managed to turn danger into safety, boosting his reputation even higher. Chapter 287: 284 Slaughter Wolf · Fake Chapter 287: Chapter 284 Slaughter Wolf ¡¤ Fake ¡°` Disguised Chapter The sea was very calm, emitting a warm yellow sunlight that made the shores shine brightly. The waves crashed in, leaving behind white foam. Bi Fang¡¯s palms were very slender. Though calloused and rough, they appeared clean and attractive. Now, these hands were clutching a stick, rubbing it incessantly against another piece of wood, producing a large amount of sawdust from the friction. After failing at Fire-Making by Wood-Drilling, this was the second method Bi Fang had resorted to¡ªshaving fire-making. It¡¯s the simplest method and one that entirely relied on the user¡¯s arm strength, using a sharpened stick to rub up and down in a groove on a wooden board. In the bottom of the groove, some very fine sawdust would appear. This sawdust would accumulate more and more, and once the temperature reached a certain level, it would ignite. The continuous motion caused Bi Fang¡¯s nose to bead with sweat. He didn¡¯t dare to wipe it off, afraid that any slight distraction might cause the gathered heat to dissipate once more. He had been rubbing for more than ten minutes, his whole body was overheating, and he even took off one layer of his jacket. On the island, the choice of plants was too limited, without materials of the suitable softness or hardness. The trees were generally too hard, which was not ideal for making fire. Bi Fang could only pick the best among the poor options, choosing some reluctantly suitable materials. Now at the center of the island, he tightly clamped the wooden board between his legs to prevent it from wobbling during friction and to keep the sawdust in the groove from scattering. Once scattered, it essentially meant all his previous efforts were wasted. A few more minutes passed, and the audience was on edge, but Bi Fang remained calm, maintaining a steady rhythm of rubbing. Shaving fire-making was an extremely strenuous process, but its advantage lay in its stability. The technique involved not only friction skills but also a good mindset. Over the past half-year, Bi Fang, having lived mostly outdoors, had come to understand this principle well. Finally, the heat passed through the wooden board to the skin on Bi Fang¡¯s legs, which invigorated him, and he quickened the pace of rubbing¡ªthe time to strike while the iron was hot had come. Here it comes! With the emergence of faint white smoke, the audience perked up, almost wishing they could replace Bi Fang to puff the smoke and hasten its rise. Watching the host make a fire was like watching a gamer obtaining equipment; although the process was repetitive, the moment the desired item finally dropped, the sense of satisfaction was monumental! With smoke, the rest became much simpler. The wood groove gradually darkened, and the audience could visibly see the finest sawdust threads starting to glow red and vanish. Now just one step away, the actual flames were about to be born. First, the finest fibers gradually disappeared, followed by the slightly coarser ones, and finally, large clumps of sawdust began to glow red and drift away. Success! Seeing this, Bi Fang was not the least bit panicked. He quickly put down the stick and fashioned a bird¡¯s nest shape out of tree bark treated as tinder, placing it above and blowing slowly and deeply, allowing the air to fully contact the ember. Light smoke turned to thin smoke, thin smoke to thick smoke, and thick smoke changed from white to yellow. Sparks scattered, and a small flame emerged from the dense smoke, flickering freely, captivating onlookers. ¡°Finally it¡¯s lit!¡± Bi Fang wiped the sweat beads off his forehead, flicking them to the side. After struggling for more than half an hour, he finally managed to produce a flame¡ªit wasn¡¯t easy. [Shaving fire-making, got ¡Ì] [giaogiaogiao, we have fire! It lit up!] [Spread the word, call out loud, he¡¯s a role model for us all!] [Grilled seafood time?] [Grilled seafood, I¡¯m suddenly hungry, what to do?] Watching the flickering flame, Bi Fang¡¯s sense of achievement skyrocketed¡ªit was the fruit of his half-hour¡¯s labor. ¡°` ¡°Ancient people relied on these primitive methods of making fire for survival. There¡¯s a special feeling when you learn this ancient skill, especially when you finally get your first spark after putting in so much effort. Even after starting fires countless times, you still feel a special sense of accomplishment.¡± [Going to make fire by wood-drilling in the mountains right now.] [Set a fire and burn the mountain, and you¡¯ll end up sitting through your prison term!] [Then why can the streamer do it?] ¡°Don¡¯t copy me; I have a forestry permit. You can¡¯t generalize about people,¡± Bi Fang said with a laugh, shaking his head. He was really afraid that some foolish netizens would imitate him. Once he had fire, the rest was easy. Bi Fang processed the mackerel a bit, skewered it on a stick, and placed it over the fire to smoke. In wilderness survival, fat is justice. Any food high in fat is favored by Bi Fang, and mackerel is among the best. Unlike sesame mackerel, the fat content of Atlantic mackerel is rich. Without any added oil, even simple grilling brings out a sheen. Especially during the fat-accumulating winter season, it is incredibly succulent and not to be missed. Watching the fish slowly change color and start to sizzle under the high heat, the fragrance aggressively made its way into his nostrils, making Bi Fang involuntarily swallow. How does that saying go again? Grilling may not be healthy, but it sure is delicious! After eating raw food for several days, Bi Fang watched the mackerel¡¯s skin crisp up. Without waiting for it to cook thoroughly, he couldn¡¯t resist tearing off a piece of the crispy skin and hurriedly putting it in his mouth, regardless of the heat. The intense heat, along with the distinctive salty flavor left after the seawater evaporated, exploded on Bi Fang¡¯s taste buds like a gastronomic bomb! ¡°Ha!¡± Bi Fang opened his mouth, and a cloud of white steam erupted from it as he hastily chewed a few times, then swallowed eagerly, feeling the scorching sensation slide down his throat. ¡°Delicious!¡± [Mom, that looks so good, it¡¯s like grilled saury!] [I can even hear the crunchiness of the fish skin, just like a biscuit.] [Grilled fish skin, yyds!] [Old Fang knows how to enjoy life.] Bi Fang laughed. After tasting the deliciousness, he couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. He finished eating the rest of the fish skin bit by bit. His physical exertion had been huge from the night before until today, and he urgently needed to eat. Therefore, as soon as the surface layer was cooked, Bi Fang ate up the fish flesh completely. For this, he even fashioned a pair of thin tree sticks into chopsticks. It was truly satisfying. After a week of exhaustion, a meal of charcoal-grilled seafood was worthy of celebration. By the time the fish was thoroughly cooked, the entire fish was almost gone, even the bones. Bi Fang didn¡¯t waste them; after grilling them until they were crisp, he crunched them down like biscuits. A whole fish filled his belly, barely satisfying his hunger. Energy Boost +10 Patting his belly, Bi Fang laid down on the beach to digest his food, the warm sunshine shining on his slightly tanned face, making it even more comfortable. [Deserted island ¡Á, holiday resort ¡Ì] [Eat well, drink well, sunbathe¡­ I¡¯m envious of this life.] [Releasing toxins in the middle of the night, such unbearable stench!] [Uh, middle of the night? Buddy, where are you from? So much time difference? It¡¯s only afternoon here.] [Hawaii] ¡°` [Laozi¡¯s mother threw a question mark with the back of her hand??] [What the hell is ¡°Ha, the one¡±? You think you¡¯re on vacation or something? Does saying that sit right with your conscience?] [Left behind the tears of poverty] Bi Fang had been lying on the shore for quite a while, basking in the sunlight and sand, listening to the successive waves crashing and feeling comfortably relaxed. However, he hadn¡¯t forgotten his mission; surviving twenty-one days on a desert island wasn¡¯t something he could win just by lying around. The island was too small , providing no food from animals other than plants; one of the two big fish had been eaten, the Hairfin Anchovy couldn¡¯t be eaten and had to be saved for bait, meaning Bi Fang¡¯s food supply was down to just one Squid and a fish, which made him anxious again. No grain in hand, and a heart full of worry. With that thought, Bi Fang jolted upright, scratched his head, and continued walking around the island. Picking things up on the beach was important, as sometimes you could find some very unexpected items. Plus, as an adventurer with aspirations, staying on a tiny island forever was not an option. If it were a bigger island, Bi Fang would have stayed, passing the remaining days without worry. But it was doubtful whether this island was even two hundred square meters; at most, Bi Fang considered it a temporary base. He much preferred to find a mainland¡ªonly then would he truly be ¡°Riding the Wind and Waves.¡± There was no doubt that the evaluation for the task would be higher. With previous experiences, Bi Fang had already figured out the System¡¯s intention: it expected him to take proactive actions. If he just scraped by in every task, it would undoubtedly be problematic, severely affecting his pace of becoming stronger. He was a man who aspired to climb Mount Everest! For the coming ten-odd days, Bi Fang knew he had to prepare thoroughly, using up everything he could on the island, starting with releasing the Squid ink sac. The Squid¡¯s head could store ink, but it wasn¡¯t a long-term solution and the ink could easily disperse; Bi Fang needed a plastic bottle. In places like this island, it was very likely to find marine debris stranded. Especially plastic waste, which lasts for decades or even centuries. In a previous life, many people watched Bear Grylls and Grandpa De¡¯s videos and often suspected that the plastics they easily found were planted, but in fact, they were not. Plastic trash was already everywhere in the ocean. Bi Fang shook his head slightly, and after carefully exploring the entire island with his thoughts, he did indeed find two plastic bottles¡ªcommon soda bottles. For caution¡¯s sake, it was necessary to wash them thoroughly in seawater before filling them with ink. Some ink remained stuck in the Squid¡¯s head, so Bi Fang added some seawater and poured it all in together. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Eatable Squid +1 With a bit more food stored, Bi Fang felt slightly comforted, but an even more important task awaited him¡ªbuilding a raft! Building a raft? The audience, hearing this idea, were stunned. [Why does he need to build a raft? Is Old Fang going to drift again?] ¡°Exactly,¡± Bi Fang nodded, ¡°I hope to find a real continent, not just linger on this little island that¡¯s smaller than a villa¡¯s land area.¡± [Not at all surprised, I¡¯m used to it by now. Even if Old Fang tells me he¡¯s going to wrestle a Whale, I¡¯d think, just this?] [I¡¯m familiar with the routine lol.] [Charge, motherfucker!] [giaogiaogiao, Master Fang is explosively awesome!] ¡°The life raft is simply too unstable. A small puncture and I¡¯d be facing the peril of sinking. It really doesn¡¯t give me a sense of security,¡± Bi Fang said, pointing to the life raft not far away. Many viewers nodded in agreement; indeed, it¡¯s not just about encountering a Shark¡ª even a slightly bigger fish taking a bite could risk deflating the raft, resulting in complete doom with no recourse. But a raft is different; a good raft can effectively drift on the ocean, even if it encounters slightly bigger Sharks, there¡¯s no problem. Reality isn¡¯t like the movies; the Great White Sharks seen in movies don¡¯t exist in reality. Most of them just take a bite to taste and leave if it¡¯s not to their liking. What the life raft fears is precisely that one bite. ¡°` ¡°Building a raft for ocean drifting relies on the materials available at hand, the conditions of the waters you intend to drift in, and the duration you plan to be adrift. There is no set rule to follow here; use your common sense, good binding skills, and anything that can produce buoyancy, and you can create a pretty decent raft.¡± ¡°For this, we need to collect a sufficient number of logs or bamboo, approximately of equal length, and arrange them on the ground in the shape of the raft. Carve a notch at both ends of each log or bamboo, one meter from the ends, and stack them on top of each other. This will create a certain ¡®pressure¡¯ between them. If you¡¯re using bamboo, you can drill holes in each piece to replace the notches. Thread the bamboos through the holes, ensuring they are tied tightly together.¡± Bi Fang squatted on the ground and began picking up stones. The resources on the island were these twenty-three big trees. He didn¡¯t need that many, the trees were all very tall, the main stem of one could be cut into four to five sections, and there still would be many thinner branches that could be used, probably about five trees would be enough. If he cut them all down, it wasn¡¯t certain whether trees could still grow on the island anymore, without big trees to block the sea breeze, it would be difficult for saplings to grow, but five wouldn¡¯t cause an impact. However, even though it wouldn¡¯t cause an impact, Bi Fang still silently apologized in his heart for the offense; he had to cut down the trees for the sake of the raft-making plan. [How are you going to chop trees, with a stone axe?] [This stone doesn¡¯t seem as good as flint, just the ordinary kind.] ¡°It¡¯s quite ordinary, but it¡¯s enough, and I don¡¯t plan to make a stone axe.¡± Bi Fang tossed the stone in his hand. Stone axes are not reliable and are hard to sharpen. Since the tree is thick, once it¡¯s sharpened and chopped on, it¡¯s likely to break. But a blunt stone axe wouldn¡¯t chop anything, so he planned to use a chisel to break the large trees. All that¡¯s needed is a stone chisel and a stone hammer. Both are very easy to make. Bark fibers are abundant and can be twisted into rope, and then a stone can be tied to one end of a tree stick to make a stone hammer. ¡°However, for added firmness, we need to process it a bit. First, we split one end of the tree stick, and then we jam the stone inside it, which makes it much firmer after it¡¯s tied.¡± Bi Fang set the tree stick upright, pointed a sharp stone at one end, tapped the stone against the tail of the chisel, and the stick split upon impact. He pried open the crack, jammed the stone inside, and then tied it up with rope, creating a high-quality stone hammer. Swinging it around twice, Bi Fang nodded in satisfaction, finding it very handy. [Seeing Old Fang with a weapon in hand gives me peace of mind.] [Top-tier lumberjack online!] [Charge, charge, charge!] With tools at hand, the major task of tree-felling officially began. Bi Fang first marked out a line at the base of the tree, then ground out a pit that could hold the chisel steady. Once it was secure, he stood up, made a couple of positioning taps, and then raised the stone hammer, smashing it down hard on the end of the chisel! The previously unstable chisel instantly penetrated the tree about a centimeter deep, becoming exceptionally firm. It seemed effective. Bi Fang nodded, his stone hammer swung more vigorously, whipping up a wind with each stroke. When the chisel was embedded halfway, he grasped it and shook it out from side to side, pulling it out. ¡°When chopping trees this way, remember not to hammer the chisel deeper than half its length, or you¡¯ll have a hard time pulling it out. About a small half is enough; then we switch to the other side and repeat the process a few times, and the tree can be broken.¡± Bi Fang shifted his angle slightly, inserted the chisel into the crack, and began to swing the stone hammer methodically. Soon, the base of the tree was completely torn, and the whole tree started to wobble. He gave it a kick, and it broke off completely. The sound of the wood stalk breaking echoed, and the tall tree slowly fell to the ground, shaking the whole island. Seeing the fallen tree at his feet, the audience was amazed; was the efficiency really that high? Bi Fang wiped the sweat off his brow and moved on to the second tree. All afternoon, the audience watched Bi Fang cutting down trees, each falling tree shaking the entire island. Chapter 288: 285: Contestants Diary Chapter 288: Chapter 285: Contestant¡¯s Diary The other teams had already seen the entire hunting process through the live broadcast, and when they saw the invitation, those who had not had dinner couldn¡¯t wait for Jerret to notify them and came over one by one in high spirits. A total of four helicopters and even an off-road vehicle, medical team, supervisory team, security team, and coordination team surrounded the entire clearing. Except for a few who remained in front of the screen to monitor safety, the large group of over twenty people completely encircled the area. Bi Fang scanned the field, which was blocked by helicopters and off-road vehicles, effectively forming a natural barrier around them. It looked like they didn¡¯t even need to change locations. After the hunt, there was the removal of the innards and skinning, the scene was rich with the smell of blood, which could easily attract keen-smelling predators. But even a brown bear, seeing the current scene, would probably not dare to approach, right? There were over a dozen tranquilizer guns, more than five professional soldiers, one top-level adventurer, and a full complement of cars and helicopters, even emergency live firearms; any coming beast would only be delivering its own head. Dozens of people bustling about, hauling out barbecue grills, pouring out piles of charcoal, the lighting of which released the distinctive fragrance of fruitwood, invigorating anyone who caught the scent. After consuming canned food for three days straight, the opportunity to have fresh roasted venison had everyone working fervently. A large deer, just in pure meat, weighed over a hundred pounds, on average. Bi Fang, looking at the cumin and salt beside him, was quite surprised. Having a barbecue grill was already inconceivable, let alone all sorts of seasonings, including even ginger and garlic! ¡°How did you manage to prepare so thoroughly?¡± ¡°Hahaha, it¡¯s not that we were prepared, we just wanted to do this. We planned to have a hunting feast after the show ended.¡± Pondy sliced a piece of deer leg meat, putting it into a pot on a nearby temporary stove to simply boil with a lot of ginger and cooking wine to remove the gamey flavor, then skewered it with an iron stick and placed it over the fire to grill. The wild deer had a strong gamey taste; it needed some treatment. Bi Fang squatted down to take a look; the stove was burning biomass pellets, completely setting the scene for a camping trip. Jerry, seeing everyone¡¯s enthusiastic involvement, suddenly had a burst of inspiration. What if there was a show where hunters and cooks hit the road together, competing to see whose hunted game, cooked under primitive conditions, tasted better? It seemed promising. But it was still just a budding idea, something to consider well once he got back. The charcoal fire was fierce, and the venison was quickly roasted. Bi Fang grabbed a skewer to taste, and his eyes lit up. The venison was brimming with a smoky flavor, the fat was almost bursting from the meat layers, giving a fluffy and delicate texture, the cumin was rich, complemented by the salt crystals that had just been sprinkled on and not yet fully melted, creating distinctly layered flavors, far more delicious than anything he¡¯d eaten in the wild before. He patted Pondy¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Not bad, do you barbecue often?¡± ¡°I camp quite a lot, so naturally, I¡¯ve picked up a few tricks.¡± Pondy replied cheerfully, clearly pleased with the praise. He carried a large platter of meat towards the others. A staff member nearby, holding a small bottle of wine, tossed it to Bi Fang, ¡°Catch, Mr. Bi!¡± Bi Fang reached out and caught the bottle in his hand. Countless viewers watching this scene were dripping with envy, especially the international audience. For the production crew, it was only around eight, but in China, it was already late at night. This ceremonial arrangement was tantamount to a late-night temptation, utterly inhumane! ¡°Damn, I¡¯m so hungry!¡± ¡°I really want to join in too!¡± ¡°Contestant¡¯s Diary: Another night curled up in the shelter, watching the bright bonfire party in the distance, I tightened my clothing around me, just hoping the cold night would pass quickly, that tomorrow I wouldn¡¯t have to eat worms again, with 200 hours left until the competition ends. I hope to survive until then.¡± ¡°The good days are still to come (sly).¡± ¡°My heart is filled with nothing but gratitude.¡± Seeing the barrage of comments, Bi Fang chatted with the audience for a few more sentences and then ended the live broadcast directly. There wasn¡¯t much to see next. It was just the queueing up in the wilderness this time. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After working for three days straight, everyone relaxed properly tonight, only parting at ten in the evening to take the helicopters back to their posts. After clearing the traces from the scene, Bi Fang left the large pile of reindeer entrails for Nature. If the pack of wolves hadn¡¯t gone far, they might come back and find a meal waiting for them. Due to years of hunting by humans, the wolf population in the Rocky Mountains had dwindled. That¡¯s why Bi Fang had only killed the alpha, not even exterminating the scout wolf that had taken a piercing blow to the abdomen. With the wolf¡¯s self-healing capabilities, if luck wasn¡¯t too bad, those wounds could still heal. The supervisory team was still working, watching the screens, making sure that nothing went awry, while the others, having eaten their fill, gradually fell asleep. Bi Fang reshuffled his sleeping bag and squeezed in with everyone else. What developments would tomorrow bring? Quite exciting indeed. The third day, the live broadcast continued. The contestants had now experienced two full days and three nights, and many who were once confident in their survival skills had begun to doubt themselves, creating a bizarre scene for the audience. Many of the contestants who were already awake didn¡¯t take any action and instead stared vacantly at the countdown of over two hundred hours remaining on their wristbands, seemingly lost in thought. Wondering what they were thinking about. Bi Fang shook his head and said softly, ¡°They¡¯ve shaken their own confidence and determination and are starting to doubt if they can hold on. To be honest, this is not a good sign. In Wilderness Survivalist, when one¡¯s resolve begins to loosen, it often marks the beginning of failure. Many times, it¡¯s not that people cannot endure, but rather their will is not firm enough.¡± Even Doligong, whom Bi Fang initially favored, had begun to waver. As a man who had faced down a Brown Bear, his strength didn¡¯t seem to be as formidable as thought, and he even began to ponder whether to continue his trek. Bi Fang believed there was a high chance that he might seek out a cabin, using it as a base to build a shelter. The audience recalled a classic survival case Bi Fang had mentioned a long time ago. Moro, who got lost in the Sahara from a marathon, and Pan Lian, who persisted over a hundred days at sea, were such cases. Were they born from special forces? No, they weren¡¯t, especially Pan Lian, who was just an ordinary person yet managed to accomplish what others could not. The audience was well aware that the watershed of strength had already appeared. Forget making comparisons with Bi Fang from last night¡ªthat was plain bullying. The disparity in the statuses among the contestants themselves clearly revealed the difference in their levels. Ji Zuodong, Bonuo, Mugalen, and even the duo showed certain advantages. They got up early without any hesitation, abandoning their shelters to venture into the unknown forest. They moved forward with decisiveness, without the reluctance seen in other contestants. Especially the duo, having hunted eight groundhogs, their food crisis was resolved. As long as they found a water source, surviving a week wouldn¡¯t be a problem, and their mental states were both good due to mutual support. As for Bonuo and others, being special forces, their willpower was much stronger than that of ordinary people. Without that resilience, not to mention becoming special forces, one wouldn¡¯t even pass the basic selection. Bi Fang sighed, ¡°That¡¯s why I say today and tomorrow will still be a period of high elimination. If a contestant can¡¯t get through this phase, there¡¯s no hope of competing for the championship.¡± Many people agreed deeply, with few doubting his judgment would be wrong. Such was the transcendence brought about by Bi Fang¡¯s status. Though he didn¡¯t want to be an authority, the people regarded him as one. At this moment, a member of the monitoring team suddenly pulled Bi Fang aside as if having something to say. Chapter 289: 286: The Second Squad Chapter 289: Chapter 286: The Second Squad ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± The monitoring staff didn¡¯t speak but simply pointed at the screen. Bi Fang¡¯s eyes narrowed, it was a green dot map, with a green dot and a gold dot nearly overlapping. Contestants and the cabin¡­ ¡°Did Bonuo find the cabin?¡± ¡°Judging by the distance, they are now less than three kilometers apart, but it¡¯s not yet twelve days, the exact location is still unconfirmed, if he doesn¡¯t wait, it might take some effort to find it.¡± The audience instantly became excited, had someone finally found the cabin? What exactly was inside? Unfortunately, Bonuo was only drawing near to the cabin by intuition, and under the cover of the trees, he couldn¡¯t find the exact location, buzzing around like a headless fly, and with a heavy load of deer meat on his back, he was soon out of breath. Such a pity for a deer head. Bi Fang watched regretfully as Bonuo tied up a deer head with withered vines behind him, to make weapons, Bonuo had smashed the complete deer head and took two separated antlers as weapons. The idea was good, and fairly cool, it just felt a bit of a pity. The two deer heads Bi Fang had hunted last night had already been hung in the helicopter cabin, looking impressively dominant, every passing staff member couldn¡¯t help but stop and watch for a long time. On the other side, Bonuo was also anxious, his instincts telling him the cabin was nearby, but no matter what, he couldn¡¯t find it. However, he had to wait until noon when the signal flare would be fired to confirm its exact whereabouts. This would undoubtedly waste a lot of time. He looked at his wristband, although it was a 300-hour countdown, he could roughly use it as a watch based on the timing of the signal flares over the past two days. Three more hours to go before the second signal flare was fired. No choice but to wait. After two exhausting hours, Bonuo found nothing, he sat on the ground, quietly waiting for today¡¯s signal flare. Meanwhile, Ji Zuodong and Bonuo were racing to catch up, without a doubt, they were both heading for the cabin. Admiring courage and skill, they naturally weren¡¯t afraid of a longer trek. Would they meet? That was what the audience cared about most. Some, hoping for chaos, wished the two would fight over the resources. There was still a long time left, Bi Fang didn¡¯t just wait idly, but instead checked on a few other contestants. During this time, another gave up, which was quite regrettable, but there was nothing to say, just sent him away. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Until now, only eleven remained. At the same time, the actions of another contestant caught Bi Fang¡¯s attention. He was one who decided to stay and build a shelter. However, at this moment, he was scurrying all over the forest, apparently not looking for food. Was he looking for someone? Bi Fang watched him as he walked and shouted, obviously searching for other contestants. ¡°Has he chosen to seek an alliance with others because it¡¯s hard to keep going? That¡¯s not a bad choice, but isn¡¯t he afraid of attracting some fierce beasts by shouting like that?¡± Bi Fang suspected the man was a bit of a simpleton, Goulbin was one of the contestants who chose to stay back and survive, young and just thirty, truly in the prime of his strength, he signed up full of confidence. Unfortunately, he was taught a lesson on the very first night. Being in the real primeval forest, he couldn¡¯t sleep at all, the silent darkness seeming to hide unknown wild beasts at any moment. So much so that on the second day, he dismissed his original plan of traversing the wilderness and honestly fortified his shelter, ready to endure the twelve days. Naturally, he got educated again. If it weren¡¯t for good luck, finding a squirrel¡¯s nest on the second afternoon, capturing two squirrels and a pile of various nuts, he might not have made it this far. But you can¡¯t always be lucky, so from the start of the third day, he began to consider finding teammates. Strength in numbers, they might have a way to survive. As for being number one, although a bit of a stretch for him, Goulbin thought the others were probably not much better than himself. Half an hour later, Goulbin shouting in the forest did indeed get a response. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°A contestant?¡± The other party didn¡¯t rashly approach, talking to Goulbin across a distance. ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Goulbin was somewhat excited, ¡°Form a team? I think we should try teaming up and then go look for the cabin! Use the cabin to set up a base!¡± ¡°Use the cabin to set up a base?¡± The other party was momentarily confused, clearly not expecting this move. If it was as the production team said and the supply point was a cabin, then it would definitely be a high-quality shelter. The only problem was the need to traverse a hundred kilometers, which was quite a difficult task for those who had chosen to stay put. In Goulbin¡¯s view, getting supplies might be difficult since they were already three days behind, but in the eyes of those seeking survival, the cabin was actually the biggest treasure! Unfortunately, he was not confident in crossing alone, which is why he was pulling in teammates. After he made the suggestion, the other person fell silent, obviously moved by it. He struck while the iron was hot, continuing, ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry, I didn¡¯t bring anything, no weapons. How about we talk face to face?¡± ¡°Then step out, don¡¯t come closer, stay away from me.¡± This person had supplies on hand. Goulbin felt joy inside, it seemed the other person was quite strong, or else why so cautious? They must have gained something and feared it would be taken by others! Under the drone¡¯s lens, nobody dared to harm others intentionally, fearing to be encountered by others. The only worry was about having the hard-won supplies stolen. Goulbin did as told, and soon enough, they saw each other across a stretch of forest. Ten minutes later. The second group allied. Since they formed an alliance, of course, they had to take out their supplies and plan together. The squirrel had been eaten yesterday, leaving Goulbin with only some nuts, quite a lot actually, about two pounds, which was a great energy supplement. However, what the other party brought out was somewhat disappointing to Goulbin: just a few bird eggs, and very small ones at that. They were not even enough to fill the gaps in one¡¯s teeth, a total loss. Alas, there was no helping it. The deal was done. It had to be this way. After they distributed the food simply, both gathered the tools they made in the past two days and headed towards the cabin as they remembered it. Viewers kept watching the struggle of the other survivors, and when they got to the last one, they were surprised, as that person was actually collecting urine! Also, where did that plastic bottle come from? Ben wasn¡¯t aware of every viewer¡¯s situation in real-time. He pulled aside a staff member to inquire. ¡°Found it?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The staff member nodded, probably from last night. It was inconceivable, deep in the Rocky Mountains, to find an empty plastic water bottle. Had environmental pollution become this severe? [Dang, I¡¯m never littering again.] [That luck is way too good.] [But are they planning to drink urine? Even collecting it?] Because they avoided the cameras, viewers could still see the yellow liquid accumulating in the bottle. Ben recalled this player¡¯s past and realized he hadn¡¯t drunk water for three days, except for dew every morning. Speaking of Wilderness Survivalist, one can¡¯t avoid extreme conditions, and drinking urine is one of those measures. It¡¯s common in the news to hear about people surviving earthquakes by doing so¡­ Now, watching a contestant actually do this was unexpected for everyone. ¡°Drinking urine is a very dire situation. At least I haven¡¯t encountered it yet, and I don¡¯t recommend it unless one¡¯s life is in critical danger. Because when dehydrated, drinking urine, already concentrated with high levels of sodium due to dehydration, might worsen dehydration. Strictly speaking, urine drinking is not for quenching thirst but for survival. Usually, the osmotic pressure of urine is higher than that of blood or other body fluids, and it¡¯s even higher when one is thirsty. However, the human kidney has a strong capacity to concentrate urine. After drinking it, the kidneys will obtain some water, allowing the body to excrete metabolic wastes in an even more concentrated form. Drinking urine does not relieve thirst but can extend survival during a waterless period. The best method is still to distill the urine after collecting it, or at the very least, filter it before drinking, even if it¡¯s just a simple filtration with clothing.¡± Ben explained briefly. But the competitor didn¡¯t seem to have really made up their mind. After looking for a while, they screwed the bottle cap shut. Many viewers breathed a sigh of relief, yet there was also a hint of disappointment, as if they were hoping for something to happen. Chapter 290: 287 Leave the items behind for me! Chapter 290: Chapter 287 Leave the items behind for me! People always have a fascination for the bizarre. From light, surprising stories to the heaviest, all-inclusive curiosities. Drinking urine is one of them, which psychologically speaking, many people know to be a rather disgusting physiological act, yet when they actually hear about it, they can¡¯t help but let their curiosity drive them to learn more. Unfortunately, the competitor before the screen did not satisfy the viewers¡¯ curiosity. After staring at the nearly full bottle of urine for a long while, he eventually put it away into his pocket, much to the disappointment of many. After Bi Fang gave a simple explanation, he didn¡¯t care much about it. He had no interest in practicing it for the viewers to see, as long as the reasoning was clear. After briefly checking through the remaining participants¡¯ performances, the time was drawing ever closer to twelve o¡¯clock. The audience gradually became excited, and even Bi Fang had shrunk his screen to keep a special watch on Bonuo. The staff member looked at Jerret, ¡°One more minute, shall we launch it?¡± Jerret nodded his head, ¡°Launch.¡± At the leader¡¯s command, the team immediately sprang into action. The sixty-second countdown passed in a flash. A dazzling red flare, screeching as it soared, burst into a beautiful swath of light against the pure white sky canopy, its colors gradually shifting from red to purple, resembling magnificent auroras. A flock of startled birds scattered into the sky. ¡°There!¡± The flare was so conspicuous that even from dozens of kilometers away, it was crystal clear, prompting Bonuo to sprint off! It was nearby, he was certain, less than three kilometers from the hut! But there was someone faster than Bonuo! Ji Zuodong! The man who had been traveling along the river! Both had set off almost simultaneously the day before, with Bonuo having covered a bit more distance. Although Ji Zuodong¡¯s route was along the river, deviating somewhat from the direction of the hut, it also meant he didn¡¯t need to waste time searching for water sources. Add to that Bonuo¡¯s waste of three to four hours this very morning, and it was enough for Ji Zuodong to catch up head-on! ¡°Could my luck really be this good?¡± Ji Zuodong looked at the tall hut before him, his eyes flickering. As the flare exploded, while he was walking along the river thinking about finding some food, a screeching sound suddenly came from three hundred meters away, followed by an aurora-like light curtain appearing overhead¡­ Ji Zuodong admitted that he too was looking for the hut, but he hadn¡¯t expected such a fortunate coincidence. The audience, viewing through drones, were somewhat speechless. Bonuo had been searching all morning and hadn¡¯t found it, yet this Huaxia man just walked along the river and stumbled upon it by sheer luck. Can grinders not compete with a lucky emperor? Not so wild after all! After observing his surroundings for dangers, Ji Zuodong gripped the claw knife in his hand. Although the short spear was more lethal, in close quarters, a nimble dagger was more preferable. Moreover, he wasn¡¯t a viewer and couldn¡¯t be sure if there was anyone in the hut, nor whether the production crew had set traps to enhance the show¡¯s effects. Lethal traps were not likely, but prank traps were a possibility, as many variety shows like to set those up. The hut wasn¡¯t large, a simple square structure without even a roof, approximately 2*2*1.5 meters in size. One would have to bend down to enter, it was obviously a temporary setup for storing equipment. It could serve as a dwelling if necessary. After all, it was a hut, definitely stronger than a shelter built in the wild. Unfortunately, Ji Zuodong appeared to be a man who would not stay there. He carefully pushed open the wooden door, his gaze sweeping the dark interior for a glance, only able to discern the rough outlines of supplies without seeing what they specifically were. He opened the hut¡¯s door wider, but there were no signs of movement. It seemed there were neither people nor traps. After a quick assessment, Ji Zuodong slipped into the hut without closing the door behind him, for if it were closed, everything inside would be enveloped in total darkness. Following the daylight, one survival item after another came into view for all to see, igniting Ji Zuodong¡¯s gaze with increasing intensity. Sleeping bag*1 Firesteel*1 Thermal blanket*1 Thermal clothing*1 Portable medical kit*1, containing bandages, disinfectant alcohol, saline solution, sterile gauze ¨C unfortunately no scissors or pen. But these enviable supplies weren¡¯t the most attractive; Ji Zuodong¡¯s attention was firmly captured by the last item. A machete! The audience was stunned. [Holy shit, a machete!? Isn¡¯t that a bit like cheating?] [Everyone¡¯s got wooden spears and bows, and you not only have a claw knife, but now a machete too?] [Is it breaking the fairness of the game?] [It¡¯s outrageous, but after all, they found it by taking an extra two days of journey, so you could say it¡¯s a reward for hard work.] [If I had a machete, wouldn¡¯t I be killing through the jungle?] Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not outrageous because he can only choose two items from inside, and the price he paid for this was two days of travel and physical strength.¡± There were a total of three cabins, distributed at the offset angles of the south, east, and northwest cross, considering that some people might take different routes. Hence, the showrunners set up the cabins in different directions, meaning that there was only this one cabin going south. So they set up six items, and the rule that one person could only take two was in place, otherwise allowing one person to take everything would indeed break the game balance. Can only take two items? The audience somewhat understood, but still, a machete seemed too powerful, right? Wouldn¡¯t you be fearless against most creatures now? ¡°A machete isn¡¯t as useful as you think. In fact, most of us don¡¯t know how to use a knife, or such a big machete, in real scenarios. These items can be very dangerous in the hands of an untrained person.¡± Seeing the audience¡¯s reaction, Bi Fang mentally searched for an example to advise them, to prevent any accidents during future camping trips. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He had the System safety net, plus he had integrated the Wilderness Traveler Skill with his last Identity Integration Coupon, so discussing past experiences was no big deal. ¡°Once, on a journey to Belize in Central America, someone in our team claimed to have extensive jungle trekking experience. Each of us had a machete, and his was the longest. As the ¡®most experienced,¡¯ he plunged into the jungle, perhaps aiming to become the team leader. But just a few hours later, we heard screams from ahead. The reason was that this experienced guy had swung his machete too fiercely, hit a tree branch, but failed to cut it. The branch sprang back and slashed from his lip down to his jawbone, causing a serious laceration. At that time, the situation was still manageable as we had just entered the jungle and were able to rescue him in time and kicked him out of the expedition team. His behavior also exposed his supposed machete experience as pure boasting and revealed how dangerous handling a machete can be.¡± Many knives have unique uses, apart from choosing the right knives for wilderness and many other precautions. An inappropriate knife used for too long can also cause blisters, and getting blisters on your hands in the wilderness is easy to lead to infection, and festering wounds are even more troublesome. Bi Fang had never elaborated on these points before, but seeing the machete reminded him of this issue. Just right, he could save it for the next live broadcast. Bi Fang noted this in his mind, sparing himself the monotony of the journey. Wanting to play on, he continued chatting with the audience. ¡°Also, I remember someone in our team once sat on his sleeping bag and felt something bulging against the inside of his thigh. After investigating, it turned out that a teammate had placed a knife on top of the sleeping bag, and then got busy with something else and forgot about it. By sheer coincidence, the crease in the sleeping bag positioned the blade upwards at an angle. If this guy had been sitting a few centimeters off, it would have been much more painful.¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t elaborate, but from the sound of it, the situation must have been serious. If off by a few centimeters, where would he have been stabbed? The audience shuddered, feeling a tightness in their behinds, as if they could already see themselves bleeding out on the ground. Oh man! But Master Fang¡¯s experiences are really diverse, seeming like he¡¯s been everywhere, huh? Add his age, and it¡¯s just outrageous. Look at those Special Forces contestants, not one younger than thirty, with kids already, and many foreign competitors with big beards, looking quite mature. Is this the world of geniuses? Speaking of which, who was it that let him retire? Do they not understand making the most out of resources? To actually let him go live streaming? Decay, that¡¯s just decay! Unseen, Bi Fang harvested a portion of the audience¡¯s admiration. Bringing the topic back, Ji Zuodong was faced with a tough choice, which two items should he pick? A medical kit goes without saying, as injuries and infections are highly probable in the wild. Having bandages and alcohol is like having a godsend. Clothes and blankets are the same, the cold from their arrival is still vivid in memory. It¡¯s gotten warmer in the last two days, but the nights are still unbearable, and rain would make it worse. With twelve days¡¯ time, encountering rainy weather is highly likely. Every single item in the cabin was undoubtedly very useful. It was truly distressing to see them and have to give them up because of the rules. After much contemplation, Ji Zuodong made up his mind and finally picked a sleeping bag and a machete. A sleeping bag is very useful in the wild. Now, with the weather being relatively cold and fewer poisonous insects and snakes, there¡¯s no need to build a shelter if you¡¯re in a rush. Just spread out the sleeping bag and sleep on the ground for strong warmth. Not to mention the machete, though many people don¡¯t know how to use it, this definitely does not include Ji Zuodong. Tying the thin rope of the sleeping bag around himself, Ji Zuodong carried the machete, took one last look at the cabin, reluctantly left, but just as he was about to step out of the cabin. A rustling of footsteps on dry leaves startled everyone. The audience then suddenly recalled that there was still one person near the cabin, and he was about to arrive! Bonuo arrived in front of the cabin, gasping for breath, and before he had the chance to rest, he saw Ji Zuodong walking out of the wide-open wooden door. Bonuo immediately became furious, thinking about how he hurried for three days with hardly any food, only taking action when encountering a reindeer herd. And now someone else reached the cabin before him. In an instant, anger surged from his heart, and malice arose on the brink of action. ¡°Stop! Leave the items!¡± Chapter 291: 288 Careless Chapter 291: Chapter 288 Careless The loud shout vibrated through the woods. The birds that had initially flown off took flight once again. Ji Zuodong¡¯s right foot, stepping out of the wooden door, paused ever so slightly, before falling again, subtly treading left and right, and the mud with budding grass sprouted out from the sides of his shoes. As one could imagine, a deep footprint had already been branded into the ground. ¡°Impossible.¡± Ji Zuodong squinted at the panting Bonuo, shaking his head in refusal. There was no reason to hand over something that was already within reach. The standoff between the two men brought the audience to a climax, were they about to fight? Also, was Ji Zuodong¡¯s English really that good? Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As the only Huaxia person among the sixteen contestants, Ji Zuodong was able to reply with fluency when faced with Bonuo¡¯s threats, ¡°It¡¯s quite normal. What do you think Special Forces and paramilitary police are? They are the elites, not merely martial fighters. Many of them are proficient in a foreign language. In addition to French and English, I even spent five months before attending Hunter Academy learning Spanish.¡± Bi Fang was showing off a bit, but indeed that was the truth. Special Forces were not only physically strong, their intellects were equally mighty. When he said this, he even used Spanish, and then it was automatically translated into Chinese subtitles, the trilled R sound he produced was so lifelike, it was almost identical to a native speaker¡¯s. In Spanish language learning, nothing is more difficult than the trilled R, but it seemed that Master Fang had mastered it, surprising and even shocking the few knowledgeable viewers in the live broadcast. Wait a minute, isn¡¯t this his third foreign language? ¡°Spanish is one of the entry qualifications for Hunter Academy; I find it not surprising at all.¡± Since Bi Fang had upgraded from Blue Special Forces to Purple Special Reconnaissance Forces, and his status had changed accordingly, the System had arranged for him to have completed a stint at Hunter Academy, ensuring there would be no gaps in his cover¡ªSpanish was given to Bi Fang as an additional skill. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Ji Zuodong¡¯s face was filled with an amused smile, showing no hint of nervousness, and he casually lifted the machete in his hand, ¡°Want to try taking it by force? Give it a try.¡± Bonuo took deep breaths, trying to quickly recover the physical strength he had exhausted from rushing over. He gripped the antler weapon in his hand, looking fiercely determined. There were six items in the cabin, and although it was unclear what the other four items were, he was certain that whatever Ji Zuodong had taken was the best! Had he not encountered it, it would have been fine, but now¡­ Rob the bastard! Without much probing or communication, Bonuo suddenly lunged forward, the seven to eight meters distance flashed by in a blink, like a priest from ancient times, his antler weapon smashing towards Ji Zuodong¡¯s head¡ªa ferocious strike indeed! Ji Zuodong involuntarily ducked his head as the antler weapon brushed past, grazing his hair above. His heart was slightly shocked; he hadn¡¯t expected the other party still had such vigorous strength. When the first strike missed, Bonuo did not back down. His wrist flipped, changing the smashing motion to a chopping one, and almost at the same moment, Bonuo also felt the fierce wind aimed at his chest. He roared as he twisted his body halfway, and his chopping hand didn¡¯t stop for a moment. The antler weapon, carrying a tearing sound, struck Ji Zuodong¡¯s shoulder accurately and powerfully. Ji Zuodong¡¯s mouth opened wide with pain, but he did not make a sound. However, the claw knife in his hand was not affected at all. The sharp, tiger-claw-like blade rested against Bonuo¡¯s chest. With a slight pause, it pierced through the fabric, sliding towards the skin! Bonuo was startled. In the wilderness, a cut from a sharp object was much more troublesome than a blunt force injury. He immediately retracted the antler weapon and moved to the side to dodge. Ji Zuodong was relentless. He had intentionally taken a hit, determined to make his opponent pay a price. His wrist exerted force and the cold claw knife slid downward, the clothing was torn open in a large swath, forcing Bonuo to retreat backwards, suddenly losing his balance and falling directly to the ground. He took advantage of the moment to roll backwards, then kicked out to the side, rolling several times, momentarily creating distance. Without rushing to pursue, Ji Zuodong moved his shoulder that had been hit to restore circulation of his blood and qi while setting down his sleeping bag behind him. He stared at Bonuo, who was not far away, still with a smile brimming on his face. To be honest, he kind of wanted to eliminate his opponent right there. Bonuo¡¯s panting grew heavier, and after he stood up, his chest heaved uncontrollably as the sensation of oxygen deprivation returned; he looked down at his torn shirt. Blood oozed from his chest, staining the lining which clung to the flipped-open flesh. The sweat from two days of travel had left salt encrusted in the fabric, causing a scorching pain where it stuck to his wounds. Damn it, I was too impatient. Cursing in his heart, he had initially felt frustrated that someone got ahead of him. His temper flared uncontrollably, and he¡¯d heatedly attempted to snatch the prize without thinking it through, convinced that it wouldn¡¯t lead to a fatality. But now he had suffered a serious setback and was even considering retreat. Watching Ji Zuodong eager to advance, he immediately shouted. ¡°Wait, wait, trade you some venison for your chopper. How about that?¡± ¡°Too late!¡± ¡°A sleeping bag then, a sleeping bag! Claw Knife! Can we make a deal?¡± Desperate, Bonuo yelled, but Ji Zuodong pretended not to hear. Venison? If I eliminate him, it will be mine anyway! His thigh muscles tensed, sinking a one-centimeter-deep footprint into the ground as he lunged toward his adversary. FUCK! Seeing that the other man was not letting him off, Bonuo stopped counting on luck and swiftly ducked down, throwing himself towards his opponent. There¡¯s no way I can run; after just running several kilometers, I¡¯m too worn out to escape, and the situation will only worsen. Eventually, I might be worn down to death. I¡¯ve got to fight back! The two men collided fiercely, one brandishing an antler weapon, and the other using the nimble and peculiar Claw Knife. The antler¡¯s force was heavy and powerful, the Claw Knife sharp enough to chill to the bone, and for a moment they seemed to reach a standoff. But Bi Fang could see that Bonuo was at a disadvantage, partly due to his physical strength and also because in close combat, the agile Claw Knife was faster and had the upper hand, even enjoying the benefits of the rules! The Claw Knife is such an unfair advantage! The show¡¯s rules forbid causing excessive harm, so naturally, Special Recon Soldiers who focus on killing are at a disadvantage compared to the skillful Ji Zuodong who excels at subduing opponents. The Claw Knife, being small and only a few centimeters in blade size, even if it caused a cut it wouldn¡¯t be severe, allowing Ji Zuodong to exploit his full potential. Bonuo¡¯s sleeve was slashed open again, revealing a shallow wound on his forearm. He could feel his condition deteriorating, with almost no chance of turning the tables. In the midst of battle where circumstances shifted in an instant, Bonuo suddenly aimed the massive antler in his hand at the enemy¡¯s face. Ji Zuodong blocked the antler and turned to see Bonuo taking the opportunity to flee, even discarding his venison to lighten his load. Is he seeking his own death? Ji Zuodong didn¡¯t understand why his opponent chose to run, but had no time to ponder. To quickly eliminate the threat, he sprinted after him. The two pursued each other swiftly through the woods, but Ji Zuodong who was relatively more rested sped up too quickly. Even though Bonuo had used a diversionary tactic and had a head start, the gap between them was closing rapidly. As the footsteps behind him drew nearer, Bonuo silently calculated, knowing that once the distance was right, Ji Zuodong would pounce! The whooshing sound came from behind his head, yet Bonuo was not alarmed; instead, he was actually pleased. Knowing he couldn¡¯t outrun his foe, if he couldn¡¯t dodge this move, he would surely be taken down. Since they were not allowed to harm each other excessively, he was likely to lose. But this was also an opportunity! Prepared, Bonuo braced his right foot, which had been sprinting forward, and instantly halted. He spread his legs front to back, lowering his center of gravity, standing firmly in place! As he made this move, Ji Zuodong had already lunged onto his back with both hands swiftly wrapping around his enemy¡¯s neck. It was a Naked Choke! Bi Fang had demonstrated this move multiple times. The audience, all too familiar with it, recognized it instantly. Is he going to win? Chapter 292: 229: Caught in Between Chapter 292: Chapter 229: Caught in Between Naked Choke, a commonly used move in Jujutsu to strangle an opponent from behind, is highly practical in actual combat, to the point that many military units have specialized training for it and numerous people have used this move to achieve victory over their enemies. Once the Naked Choke is in place, conventional methods are essentially useless in breaking free! In the very instant Ji Zuodong¡¯s arm reached over, Bonuo suddenly grasped the incoming right arm with both hands, then the core muscles, hard as steel, twisted, and with a diagonal thrust from his hips, an immense flinging force traveled from Ji Zuodong¡¯s right arm throughout his entire body! It was an over-the-shoulder throw! Ji Zuodong¡¯s pupils contracted, not expecting such a swift reaction; he clearly had been taken by surprise, with the opponent planning to use this move all along! First, Bonuo steadied his stance to anchor his center of gravity, fiercely resisting the flying tackle to avoid falling down, knowing that once he hit the ground, he would have no leverage and could only be helplessly bound by the Naked Choke. Then, anticipating Ji Zuodong would go for a neck lock roar, as flying in to lock the neck was the best tactical combination for a rear attack, something anyone with professional combat training would basically know. He was betting, betting that he could disrupt it before the Naked Choke was fully applied, and retaliate! With the momentum of Ji Zuodong¡¯s flying tackle, Bonuo twisted his waist and performed a powerful dragon over-the-shoulder throw! At the same time, domestic viewers also witnessed this scene through drone footage, finding it somewhat ominous. As fellow Huaxia People, they naturally supported Ji Zuodong, and seeing him about to be thrown by Bonuo, they couldn¡¯t help but worry. Losing in such a manner would be terrible, possibly leading to Ji Zuodong being pinned down and even losing the match. In the helicopter, even Bi Fang widened his eyes, filled with apprehension. But, just when everyone thought Ji Zuodong was about to be thrown over the shoulder by Bonuo, they saw him disregard everything and continue to tighten his right hand! Time was too short, all of this was an instinctive reaction. How could this be? Bonuo¡¯s eyes bulged, utterly shocked that his opponent still insisted on choking him despite being under the threat of an over-the-shoulder throw! What kind of training did he undergo to be able to suppress his instinctual reaction in such a situation? The next second, the audience saw Ji Zuodong, who was about to be thrown, grabbing Bonuo¡¯s neck and dragging him down with him. This force was too strong; if Bonuo resisted, his neck could very likely break! He certainly didn¡¯t want to lose his life for the sake of a match! You¡¯re ruthless! S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With a face full of ferocity, Bonuo had no choice but to go with the force and fall to the ground. The heavy fall of two adult men kicked up a cloud of dust, and with Bonuo facing downwards, he lost sight, as he was in a blind spot! What an opportunity! It wasn¡¯t just Ji Zuodong who saw this; even the audience recognized the chance, each of them becoming extremely excited. Ji Zuodong likewise did not let the audience down. He landed on his back, which was better than being upside-down and strangled into oxygen deprivation like Bonuo. He could react more quickly. He immediately rolled over, grabbed Bonuo¡¯s right hand, and twisted it fiercely, pressing his legs on top of Bonuo¡¯s head before flipping over to clamp down! His legs became like scissors, ¡°cutting¡± into the opponent¡¯s head. Cross Hold! Many fight enthusiasts in the audience instantly recognized this move, and even many who don¡¯t follow fighting knew it, as it often appeared in movies and TV shows! The Cross Hold uses the principle of leverage, which means the person applying it might only need to withstand a fraction of the force required to directly break the elbow joint to fracture the opponent¡¯s elbow! Seeing this, Bi Fang relaxed. The victory was assured. Taking advantage of the deadlock between the two, he finally found the opportunity to explain, as the fight had been too intense for him to get a word in earlier. ¡°Like the Naked Choke, once the Cross Hold is set, it¡¯s impossible to escape. Actually, not just the Cross Hold, you could say the point of any joint technique is to force the opponent to choose between disability and submission, and there¡¯s almost no good way out. Just like the Naked Choke just now, I wonder if there are domestic viewers who like watching the UFC, which stands for Ultimate Fighting Championship. I reckon foreign viewers might watch it more often. UFC is the most elite and largest professional mixed martial arts event in the world, running for over twenty years now, and since Gracie Jujutsu won the first UFC championship to the present day, I¡¯ve never heard of anyone escaping a fully applied Naked Choke by using an unexpected move, which just goes to show that no one has thought of an escape.¡± [Really? I seem to remember seeing someone managing to break out using digging tactics, right?] [Master Gray? I¡¯ve seen that too, the person who tried to come up with logic afterwards got hit with a black tiger groin strike.] [Damn, that would mess someone up big time, brutal!] ¡°Impossible,¡± Bi Fang said with utmost certainty. ¡°I¡¯ve also seen discussions before, and I¡¯ve even seen a master disengage a Naked Choke by digging, but that was before the choke was fully applied. Once it¡¯s completed, it¡¯s simply not possible, you can¡¯t dig because you¡¯re too close. Eye gouging doesn¡¯t work either, its only purpose is to distract or draw the opponent¡¯s attention. It triggers the body¡¯s natural stress response, giving you an advantage for your next attack. The moment your opponent resists, you¡¯ll lose your ability to think due to pain or suffocation and will instinctively struggle. No matter how long you train, the outcome is the same; at best, you might try to use technique to break free before losing consciousness.¡± Gouging, biting, kicking the groin¡ªthese dirty tricks are just a step toward achieving the goal, not the ultimate result. The only method is brute force. A three-year-old child applying a naked choke on an adult would definitely fail to succeed. Likewise, the only feasible way to deal with a cross hold is to stop it before it¡¯s fully applied. In fact, a cross hold has significant vulnerabilities during its execution and is easily countered, which is why experienced fighters do not lightly use it without being very certain. In terms of practical combat, the naked choke is stronger and simpler.¡± Many submission techniques in jujutsu offer opportunities and methods to escape before they¡¯re fully locked in, but once in place, they¡¯re very difficult to escape from, unless there¡¯s a huge disparity in technique and strength, or other special circumstances like not having fully secured the position. This is also the reason why Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has become a world-famous fighting style¡ªit¡¯s simply strong. ¡°[I think I¡¯ve seen Batman use this move before]¡± ¡°[Isn¡¯t it awesome to be clamped by a beautiful girl? (joking)]¡± ¡°[Ah, Senior Qi has expressed great interest]¡± ¡°[So bouncy, so fragrant, so soft]¡± Bi Fang raised an eyebrow. He didn¡¯t know any Senior Qi, but he roughly understood what the online friends were thinking; they certainly had their minds in the gutter, he added. ¡°As for whether the practitioner feels any pleasure in their groin, I don¡¯t know, but for those gentlemen who wish to feel the touch through a cross hold, you guys can go wash up and go to sleep. Once the cross hold is in place, the arm that¡¯s locked will feel nothing but intense pain.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s words mercilessly shattered everyone¡¯s fantasies, but that didn¡¯t stop them from nosebleeding and making wild claims. On the other side, the struggle between the two had finally reached its conclusion. Bonuo chose to surrender, actively pressing the rescue button. Whether it¡¯s voluntary or forced, pressing the rescue button means giving up the competition, and Ji Zuodong immediately released him. The helicopter was quickly dispatched and retrieved Bonuo. Before boarding, he looked at his opponent with a complex expression, finally sighed, and without saying more, allowed the medics to bandage him. Resigned? Certainly not. After running several kilometers to get there, he was already physically drained; his reactions and status had greatly diminished. Furthermore, his equipment was inferior to his opponent¡¯s, so defeat was almost predictable. But a loss was a loss; there was nothing more to say. It was a pity, being eliminated on the third day, truly embarrassing. He was the first real powerhouse to be eliminated directly, and many viewers felt that Bonuo could have made it to the end if he hadn¡¯t been so hasty and avoided confronting Ji Zuodong. With the two pieces of equipment he had, he certainly could have survived until the final moments, and had he rested properly, the outcome of whose deer would fall might still have been uncertain. Compared to the disappointed Bonuo, Ji Zuodong was completely overjoyed. He not only snagged a bunch of venison but also acquired two antler weapons, a twenty-meter nylon rope, and most importantly, he eliminated a heavyweight contestant. Oftentimes, it¡¯s your adversaries who understand you the best. This statement couldn¡¯t be more accurate. Although the fight was brief, Ji Zuodong was acutely aware that he had benefited greatly; his opponent was definitely not weak, just unlucky. But luck is also a form of strength, isn¡¯t it? Ji Zuodong sighed. It seemed his luck was always good. Strolling along the riverbank, he stumbled upon a cabin and encountered a strong opponent who had run for three kilometers and was physically drained. If he didn¡¯t win, who would? Shouldering his backpack, Ji Zuodong set off towards the distance. Meanwhile, Mugalen was still on his way. The male duo cautiously navigated through the jungle, while Avrilisa hurried across plains, her body adorned with plump groundhogs. In the forest, some persevered, while others hovered on the brink of giving up, constantly pressing their rescue buttons. By evening, Mugalen finally arrived at the cabin and took the firesteel and the thermal blanket. Another fifty hours passed, and more and more people chose to give up, including Doligong. It was already the sixth day. Of the original sixteen, only the last eight remained for the final showdown. In an unknown cave, a massive creature that had slumbered for five months seemed to sense the warming air, its ear twitching slightly. A hunger too intense to bear awakened it from sleep, its green eyes suddenly lighting up in the pitch-black cave. Who will be the final victor? Nobody knows. Chapter 293: 290: What a big hole! Chapter 293: Chapter 290: What a big hole! Day six of survival. Only seven contestants remained, with just one stubbornly squatting in the original spot, hoping to endure the last six days, while nearly all the others crossed through the woods. Even the pair who initially wanted to use the cabin as a base did the same; after they rushed to the cabin, they didn¡¯t stop but continued on their way. Of course, this wasn¡¯t because of some courageous inspiration prompting such a decision; it was because when they rushed over, the cabin had already disappeared, leaving only a few scattered planks on the grass. Yes, the cabin was gone. Goulbin was baffled for quite a while. Where was the cabin? Wasn¡¯t there supposed to be a big cabin right here? Only the live stream audience knew that Mugalen, the bastard, had taken away the thermal blanket and firesteel but didn¡¯t stop there; he even dismantled the cabin! Confident in his archery skills and high combat strength, fearless of any sneak attacks, he stayed at the cabin for half a day. He disassembled all its planks and built a simple raft, planning to travel downstream. Traveling by water was much faster than by land and saved energy. Even Bi Fang hadn¡¯t thought of such a tactic; indeed, you were only allowed to take two items of the six, but the production team didn¡¯t say the cabin was off-limits. Unfortunately, while Mugalen was adept at making bows, his raft building skills were terrible. After less than an hour on the river, he crashed into a huge rock, bottomed out, and ¡°shipwrecked.¡± He didn¡¯t travel far, but ended up soaking wet. Had it not been for the thermal blanket and the game he¡¯d hunted, he might have caught a cold. Therefore, when the pair that was a step late arrived at the cabin, they could only see the medical kit and thermal clothes left on the single remaining plank; the cabin was completely gone. Seeing the disappearance of the cabin, the two nearly smashed the medical kit in anger. Damn it, which son of a bitch who was born without an XX dismantled the damn cabin! With the crucial cabin gone, the original plan naturally fell apart. They had no choice but to press on. They had traveled for two days, and since they were already there and hadn¡¯t encountered any danger, this situation gave the two great confidence, deciding to continue onwards. Otherwise, even if the cabin was gone, they would not have proceeded, preferring to camp in place. There was only the last half of the three hundred hours of competition time left. Was there really a chance to cross the forest? Besides, six consecutive days of clear skies had raised the temperature in the entire forest to about ten degrees. Occasionally, when the contestants hurried, their noses might even start to sweat slightly. This was both good news and bad news. The good news was that the weather wasn¡¯t as cold, and the survival environment wasn¡¯t as severe; the bad news was that this applied to the wildlife as well, and perhaps dangerous creatures would wake up prematurely from hibernation, requiring increased vigilance. But for the production team, another problem ensued. The forest was too dense. As time went on, the distances the contestants covered grew longer, and after more than two hundred kilometers, the density of the trees became much more significant. This was a fatal issue: dense trees meant a lack of clearings for helicopters to land. Moreover, cargo planes were much larger than regular helicopters and couldn¡¯t keep flying overhead for long. As for the idea of an off-road vehicle coming in, that was even less likely. Before, when the trees were sparse, it was alright. Occasionally, when the woods became denser, they could still bypass it by taking a detour over the adjoining wild plains. But they were helpless in the face of a vast forest; they were not tanks that could just drive through. Unable to keep close, how could they ensure the safety of the contestants? Dangers often came unexpectedly. Without being able to arrive promptly, the so-called security measures would lose most of their effect. Although ¡°Wilderness Survivalist¡± inherently carried the element of danger and the contestants had signed contracts and were mentally prepared, as a TV show, risks must still be minimized. ¡°What should we do? Should we follow them in? That might mean returning to the city daily for refueling, and our monitoring capacity would decrease significantly. Besides, we don¡¯t have enough manpower.¡± Jerret decided to seek advice from a professional. Looking at the towering, layered dense jungle below the helicopter, Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°Forget the helicopter. Don¡¯t we have motorbikes strapped to the off-road vehicles? I¡¯ll follow them on a motorbike.¡± Most of the contestants were in the forest, and they needed to stay close. Otherwise, it would be very difficult to respond in time to any incident. Pondy had no real grounds to object, but he was still hesitant, ¡°Isn¡¯t that too dangerous?¡± ¡°If they encounter a threat I can¡¯t handle, would they have any chance to fight back?¡± Bi Fang spoke calmly, but the confidence in his words was something everyone could feel, pumping the nearby staff with enthusiasm. People are always drawn to strength. ¡°` This could almost be called an instinct. ¡°Do you need someone to follow you?¡± Bi Fang thought back to the look of the motorcycle and imagined a big guy sitting behind him, having to hold onto his waist because of the bumpy ride, and politely declined. ¡°No need, just give me a few more tranquilizer guns.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± With that said, Jerret and Pondy didn¡¯t try to persuade him further. After coordinating the helicopter with the off-road vehicle, they dropped Bi Fang off. The dual-wheeled off-road motorcycle crushed the soil, and bits of grass and leaves scattered in the whirl of the motorcycle¡¯s engine. His black windbreaker rustled in the wind, his black Bluetooth snug against his left ear. Bi Fang, riding the bike, twisted the throttle all the way, a long-barreled tranquilizer gun and javelin strapped to his back, cutting through the endless wilderness and dense forest, rapidly closing in on the players¡¯ positions. [Ace pilot requests to join the battle] [Forget it, Master Fang has been air-dropped, the little animals in the woods are in for it again!] [Bear: I just freaking woke up, and you¡¯re showing me this?] [Werebears will never be slaves! Resist to the end!] [Don¡¯t fight anymore, bro, or you¡¯ll become a stupid bear] Seeing Bi Fang personally ensuring player safety, the audience collectively reached a climax. They had watched a hunting of wolves for the past two days, and it wasn¡¯t satisfying at all; now they were even more excited. Wilderness Survivalist is soulful with Master Fang in it! Opening the map, Bi Fang located a central position among all the red dots of the players, ensuring he could reach anyone if an accident occurred. Aside from the one who was still staying put, and the female group heading east, those three didn¡¯t need to be worried about. The helicopter following them didn¡¯t have issues with not being able to stay in place. It was the four in the forest who needed close attention. Especially the Goulbin group. Compared to Mugalen and Ji Zuodong, Bi Fang was more worried about them running into trouble, because even if they encountered sudden danger, Mugalen and Ji Zuodong had some fighting ability, but¡­ It wasn¡¯t that Bi Fang looked down upon Goulbin¡¯s team, he was just being realistic. Meanwhile, Goulbin continued into the forest with his buddy, but due to the dense trees, their pace was significantly slowed. ¡°I¡¯m so hungry.¡± Goulbin rubbed his stomach. The nuts and bird eggs they had found three days ago had long been eaten, and being hungry for two days was indeed uncomfortable. There were no wild fruits available during this season, and even though they occasionally found some mushrooms on the ground, they were reluctant to eat them fearing they might be poisonous. At this moment, the two stumbled upon a cluster of mushrooms on a dead tree. But Goulbin gave up after a couple of glances. They were strangely shaped and too red, obviously poisonous. His companion felt the same, and the two had no choice but to continue on their way with empty stomachs. Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but click his tongue. The species of mushroom they didn¡¯t recognize was familiar to him: ¡°That¡¯s Beefsteak fungus, and they just missed it.¡± S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After a pause, Bi Fang stroked his chin and smacked his fist into his palm, saying, ¡°Well, once they¡¯ve left, I¡¯ll go pick it up!¡± [Wait a minute, does Master Fang mean that thing is edible?] [So bright and colorful, and it¡¯s actually edible?] ¡°Yes, it¡¯s edible. It¡¯s called Beefsteak fungus. The mycelium can grow between 8¡ãC and 32¡ãC. It¡¯s named for its resemblance to a beefsteak. I¡¯m not sure how it tastes, but it¡¯s a valuable fungus with a big market demand. It¡¯s rarely found in the wild, only in North America and our country. It¡¯s said to have cancer-suppressing effects, too.¡± Bi Fang lay on his motorcycle and explained. If he hadn¡¯t seen it, it wouldn¡¯t matter, but having seen it, he had to try it. Besides adventuring, experiencing unusual foods was also one of his hobbies. ¡°I¡¯ve taught you all before how to find a water source, from observing plants to insects. Beefsteak fungus also has this effect. Its growth environment requires a relative humidity of 90%-95%. It hasn¡¯t rained recently, so there¡¯s likely a river nearby. We¡¯ll just go and take a look to see if it¡¯s there.¡± Wow! The audience deeply felt the immense gap between ordinary players and Bi Fang. In their eyes, it was a ¡°poisonous mushroom,¡± but in Bi Fang¡¯s eyes, it was a symbol of delicious food and a sign of a nearby water source. Half an hour later, Bi Fang headed toward the direction of the Beefsteak fungus, unaware that the duo had made a new discovery. ¡°What a big hole!¡± ¡°` Chapter 294: 291: Shocking Bear for a Whole Year Chapter 294: Chapter 291: Shocking Bear for a Whole Year Goulbin crouched down, pushed aside the underbrush, and stared at the large hole in front of him, his face a picture of shock as he involuntarily shouted out loud. The hole was wide enough for an adult to enter with ease, and it truly looked like a suitable place to live¡­ Amidst his excitement, a bolt of lightning suddenly flashed through Goulbin¡¯s mind, causing his thoughts to freeze. Wait, what kind of thing would live inside? The hole was so large, could it be a bear? His companion, who had also come to the same realization, turned deathly pale and immediately began to pull Goulbin away. The two of them had run here by accident; they had never imagined that they would stumble upon a bear den right under their feet! ¡°Go, let¡¯s get out of here fast!¡± Goulbin didn¡¯t need to be told; he took off running as fast as his legs could carry him, surprising his companion who quickly followed suit. The two of them ran several hundred meters in one breath, only daring to slow down after making sure nothing was coming after them. Goulbin leaned on his knees, gasping for air, hardly able to believe that he had just run into a bear den; talk about bad luck. He looked at his companion, ¡°fuck, was that a bear den?¡± A bear den? The audience, who were following the two, were taken aback, not understanding why they were suddenly talking about a bear den. Associating it with the pair¡¯s recent frantic running, they immediately began frantically @¡¯ing Master Fang. ¡°Hmm?¡± Bi Fang, who was nearby looking for any overlooked hericium mushrooms, was startled and opened the wildly vibrating window only to see the screen full of ¡°bear den.¡± A bear den? Master Fang¡¯s expression turned serious in an instant, and he immediately asked the staff to send over the video of the two discovering the big hole. After watching it for a while, his eyebrows almost knotted together. It was actually a bear den! And judging by the size of the entrance, it was very likely a brown bear! This thing is not something you can compare with a black bear; it¡¯s much bigger in size! It¡¯s one of the largest mammals in the Carnivora order on land! First pigs, then bears, followed by tigers. Bi Fang still felt shaken by his last encounter with a black bear, believing that luck played a major role, and even now, he felt he didn¡¯t stand much of a chance against a black bear that was around 1.6 or 1.7 meters, let alone a brown bear that typically measures over two meters! ¡°Every year as winter approaches, the brown bear starts to prepare its den in places where there are many fallen logs and branches, where the cold wind is weaker, on the sunny side. They tend to live in large tree holes or crevices in rocks and sometimes dig burrows on dry mounds in swamps. They pad their dens with dry grass, leaves, or moss using their front paws.¡± Bi Fang briefly described the characteristics of brown bear dens, then pointed at several features of the cave on the screen for a one-to-one comparison; they were almost identical! ¡°However, these two were quite alert, not considering going inside to have a look. I don¡¯t know whether there¡¯s a bear in this den, but whether there is or not, moving away immediately is always the best decision. When brown bears hibernate, loud noises, the intrusion of predators, and rising temperatures can wake them up. Since the metabolism of hibernating brown bears does not decrease to very low levels like in animals that truly hibernate, these sleeping bears could wake up at any time, and on warmer days they may even become active again and come out for a stroll.¡± Bi Fang breathed a sigh of relief as well, and without concerning himself with whether there were more hericium mushrooms nearby, he got on his motorcycle and headed toward the two men. He couldn¡¯t guarantee that the brown bear hadn¡¯t set its sights on them, so it was better to play it safe and keep a close watch on them. These fellows, each one of them really doesn¡¯t make life easy! ¡°Brown bears hibernate starting from the end of October or early November, and it lasts until the following March or April. Normally, each individual occupies a den alone except for the female bears, who share with their cubs under three years old.¡± Before entering their dens, they would circle the entrance, then jump in, back in, or they would deliberately mess up their own tracks to prevent predators from finding their caves and to better conceal themselves. It was now March, and with the weather warming up, it wouldn¡¯t be impossible for brown bears to wake up early.¡± The show began at the end of February; six days passed, and it was already early spring in March. Many people have heard about methods to deal with bears to some extent, but knowing is one thing and being able to do it is another; without having a direct confrontation, it¡¯s hard to understand that trembling sensation in your legs. It¡¯s not something that a couple of visits to the zoo can change; only those who have faced it in reality can skillfully apply this knowledge. Luckily, Bi Fang was well prepared before setting out, carrying not only a tranquilizer gun but also bear spray. When facing a high-attack, high-defense, high-health predator like the brown bear, even a tranquilizer gun might not work well. A shot might not penetrate their tough skin and flesh, and by the time the tranquilizer takes effect, a brown bear could kill you three times over. On the way, Bi Fang didn¡¯t forget to enlighten his audience. ¡°In Glacier National Park in Ugly Country¡¯s Montana, a couple once encountered two young grizzly bears, that is, brown bears, on a mountain trail. Although the bear cubs paid no attention to these two humans, their mother immediately jumped out and watched the two humans with alert eyes. The couple did not retreat calmly; instead, they glared at the mother bear and put on a show trying to scare it away. The bear mother became furious and immediately charged at the two humans who were evidently showing aggression and possibly meant harm to her cubs.¡± Luckily, the couple had pepper spray designed for bears on them. At the critical moment, the husband took out the spray and spritzed it on his wife¡¯s face¡­ [???On his wife¡¯s face?] [Master Fang, you didn¡¯t misspeak, did you? Is there something wrong with that object?] ¡°I didn¡¯t say it wrong; he didn¡¯t spray the bear, he sprayed it on his wife¡¯s face¡­ The pepper spray designed for bears is more potent and powerful than that designed for humans. His wife immediately fell to the ground, rolling around with her hands over her face, screaming heart-wrenchingly. The mother bear was stunned by the scene before her, she halted her charge, appeared troubled for a while, and eventually decided to leave with her two cubs¡­¡± When the old professor first told Bi Fang this case, his reaction wasn¡¯t exactly the same as the audience today, but it was very similar. This unconventional method actually worked, and to this day, he couldn¡¯t figure out what was going through the husband¡¯s mind when he took out the spray. [Bear: This shocked me for a whole year] [Humans are fierce, ruthless even to their own kind] [My god, that¡¯s just outrageous. If it weren¡¯t for Master Fang telling this story, I¡¯d definitely think it was made up!] [So, is this technique replicable?] Contrary to everyone¡¯s expectations, Bi Fang shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. The couple in the story actually confused the methods for dealing with black bears and grizzly bears. Their escape involved a lot of luck, and the situation was special since it was a mother bear with cubs. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I think the likelihood of replication is very low, and everyone better not try it lightly. I just wanted to tell you all that it¡¯s best to bring the spray when going camping; that¡¯s the truly useful thing.¡± Bi Fang twisted the throttle to the limit, speeding over a mound of earth toward the two green dots on the map. Meanwhile, back at the original bear den, a huge paw print appeared at the entrance. The massive creature shook its head, sniffed at the entrance, and a strong scent hit its nostrils. It didn¡¯t quite understand why, after just a short exit, the scent of another creature was at the entrance. However, feeling the hunger in its belly, the massive creature shook its head and ran off in the direction the scent was leading. In early spring, food was scarce. Chapter 295: 292 Whats the Rush Chapter 295: Chapter 292 What¡¯s the Rush ¡°Okay, okay, let¡¯s take a break, I can¡¯t run anymore.¡± Goulbin knelt on the ground, tugging at his collar, gasping for air. His lips were completely chapped, covered with peeling white dead skin, looking both horrifying and pitiful. They had been in a state of thirst, and had suddenly run two or three kilometers, which was really too much for them. The air they breathed into their lungs didn¡¯t feel like air at all, but rather a ball of fire, scorched their nose, mouth, and throat to ashes. His companion stood with hands on hips, equally short of breath, but still clutched at Goulbin¡¯s right hand, wanting to leave this place quickly. It was said that brown bears could smell scents from twenty miles away, and the distance they had covered was certainly not enough. The discovery of the bear cave really scared both of them. They sprinted for a few hundred meters, then ran for a long time. If it wasn¡¯t for the brown bear not showing up yet and the lure of 100,000 Ugly Gold, they would have pressed the rescue button by now. But, Goulbin was an adult male after all, and he also was out of strength. After pulling for a while, he had no choice but to give up. After taking a few steps, his companion looked up. They were on high ground, but looking out, it was still all forest, impossible to discern any direction, the sunlight unable to penetrate the dense canopy. ¡°This is bad.¡± His companion murmured, the two of them had been only focusing on escaping and had suddenly forgotten to check their direction. Now, they were actually lost. Earlier, on the hillside, they had seen a valley, planning to cross it before dusk. Now, finding it was a problem. After a mental search for ways to determine their direction turned up empty, the companion turned to Goulbin, placing his last hope on him: ¡°Do you have a way to determine the direction?¡± ¡°We¡¯re lost?¡± Goulbin seemed to realize only afterwards, followed by a surge of anger. This guy in front of him had been dragging him around, and they had ended up not even knowing their direction? He had really hit a streak of bad luck; had he known, he would not have formed an alliance with him. Apart from a couple of bird eggs, he had gotten nothing for free, had lost a lot of gear, and now he was hungry, thirsty, and had lost direction, and there might even be a bear chasing them¡­ Dammit! He plucked a handful of grass, the stems and leaves snapping, the broken foliage was thrown violently to the ground. Well, it seemed there was no way to deal with this. They were truly lost. The audience present had seen wilderness live streams before and realized that they had no options left; the two were thoroughly lost. In the past, watching Master Fang in the wilderness, he seemed to never lose his composure, even in the face of setbacks, he didn¡¯t get too disheartened, his mood was eerily stable, leading many to mistakenly think the wilderness wasn¡¯t that scary. Now, with over a dozen people for comparison, the differences really showed. [These two are not good, their psychological quality is too poor, how could they even participate in the competition? They better go to sleep.] [I feel the next one to be eliminated will be them.] [They can¡¯t even determine their direction, aren¡¯t they done for? Old Fang probably could come up with three different solutions at once, without any repeats.] [Speaking of which, if the sunlight is blocked by the trees, what can they do? Where¡¯s Master Fang? Come out and tell us.] The audience discussed animatedly, all talking about the current predicament of the two men. After all, they had come across a bear cave, and even if the bear hadn¡¯t really appeared, it was enough to draw the spectators¡¯ attention. Not only was the viewership in the live stream room continuously increasing, but it had returned to the two million baseline, and the ratings were also climbing steadily. Jerret tapped his pen on the desk, uncertain whether this was good or bad. Normally, an increase in viewership should be cause for celebration, but thinking about the possible appearance of a brown bear always brought a sense of dread. Especially since Bi Fang was alone in the forest, it heightened his worries. What if something went wrong? What if rescue came too late? Pondy noticed Jerret¡¯s unease and laid a hand on his shoulder, reassuring him. ¡°It¡¯s okay, you know, this isn¡¯t his first time facing this kind of situation. You need to believe in him.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Jerret hesitated for a moment, then smiled. He was worrying over nothing¡ªsince Bi Fang had chosen this arrangement, it was likely he wasn¡¯t joking with his own life. Elsewhere, Bi Fang slowed down, reducing the motorcycle¡¯s noise to the lowest, searching the area on the live map on the screen: ¡°It should be right here.¡± Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The forest was silent, not a sound from the two quarreling. Yes, quarreling. It hadn¡¯t even been two minutes since the scene changed when the disheartened pair began to speak with heavier and heavier tones, eventually devolving into insults. But their vocabulary for cursing was quite limited, just FUCK this and FUCK that, utterly soulless. On the screen, Goulbin had already started arguing with his companion, shoving the blame onto each other, even believing that without the other, they might perform better, that even if they couldn¡¯t secure the first place, second or third were still possible. Bi Fang wasn¡¯t surprised by this scene at all. Under high pressure, people need an outlet for their emotions. It¡¯s the same principle as many who get bullied outside and come home to snap coldly at their families. ¡°Just stay here by yourself!¡± His companion¡¯s face turned extremely ugly as he turned and prepared to leave in a different direction. It was Goulbin who had approached him to team up initially, and now, when things went wrong, blame fell on him, as if somehow their failing was his fault, not to mention not seeing what ¡®Goods¡¯ he was himself! ¡°Hmph, without you, I wouldn¡¯t have encountered the Brown Bear. That¡¯s all you¡¯re good for. Go ahead, leave. I¡¯ll be better off without you. Maybe I¡¯ll even catch some prey by the afternoon.¡± Goulbin saw the other leaving and his heart sank. He felt a significant loss of security, knowing that, despite everything, two were better than one. He was just venting; he hadn¡¯t expected the other to actually walk away. He thought about calling him back, but remembering the insults thrown at him, he was torn and didn¡¯t know how to choose. He could only stiffen his neck and continue with the mockery, hoping the sting would bring his companion back. The next moment, his companion indeed halted. Hmm? Goulbin was startled; he hadn¡¯t expected it to actually work. Joy surged in his heart, but his expression remained unchanged as he continued to scoff, ¡°Why¡¯d you stop? Did you run into a Brown Bear or something?¡± ¡°Shut up! Perk up your ears and listen closely!¡± His companion was indescribably furious. As he looked at Goulbin, the rage in his pupils seemed capable of spewing forth, burning him to cinders! Goulbin jumped, swallowing down the words and saliva he had readied. Yet, embarrassed by being scared off with a single sentence, he was fuming and just about to retaliate when he was drawn by a sound from the woods. He suddenly stood up, scanning the surroundings like a hamster whose nest has been discovered. The noise in the woods grew louder, as if some heavy object was trampling over the dry leaves and branches, completely crushing everything in its path. What was it? Goulbin swallowed hard, cold sweat drenching his back. He could even hear his heart thudding, as if some terrible event was about to happen. The sound became clearer and its direction more discernible. Both men turned to look behind them¡­ Behind them, the forest was the same as before, but at its heart was a strikingly noticeable shade of brown that drew everyone¡¯s gaze, snatching away one¡¯s attention with brute force. It was a bear. A giant bear over two meters in length! Goulbin swore he had never encountered such a huge Brown Bear; it seemed not so much an animal as an armored tank! Despite the distance being over fifty meters, they felt as if they could smell the bear¡¯s bloodthirsty scent wafting through the air. No one knew how it had caught up to them; its black eyes glistened, and its fangs, fully bared, seemed to wear a mocking smile. An overwhelming terror exploded, flooding over Goulbin like a tidal wave. His legs shook, wanting to run, but they were as if frozen, unable to lift even for the simplest of steps. One can¡¯t outpace a bear. At the moment of encounter, the death sentence was already pronounced; the eternal spear was thrust, and even before the strike, death had arrived. He was going to die. Goulbin¡¯s vision darkened, his body uncontrollably wobbling and falling, but suddenly, a sturdy palm braced his lower back, gently and forcefully steadying him. ¡°What¡¯s the panic? I¡¯m still here.¡± Chapter 296: 293 Confrontation Chapter 296: Chapter 293 Confrontation Bi Fang stood behind the two of them, preventing them from collapsing directly onto the ground. With the help of this strength, Goulbin barely managed to prop himself up and stood wobblingly, his broad palm leaving and pressing on his shoulder instead. As soon as Goulbin regained his balance, his numb brain began to think again, the light returned to his eyes, and he reflexively pressed the rescue button. It seemed he hadn¡¯t realized that someone had already come to his rescue. Meanwhile, his companion reacted even faster, and a glimmer of light burst forth in his eyes the moment he saw who was supporting him. ¡°Is it you!?¡± Bi Fang made a gesture to keep silent and then stared seriously at the brown bear in the distance, whispering, ¡°You guys go first.¡± The forest was very large, and it wasn¡¯t something a helicopter could reach quickly; they had to save themselves. ¡°But you¡­¡± His companion looked at him worriedly, but Goulbin took to his heels! Bi Fang arched an eyebrow, but said nothing. After all, he was there to rescue them, and running away in fear was a normal human reaction. However, the companion and even the viewers were shocked. They had been astonished by Bi Fang¡¯s courage, but now they felt as uncomfortable as if they had swallowed something indescribable. [Damn it, Master Fang comes to save you out of the goodness of his heart, and you don¡¯t even say thank you, just running away?] [Mom¡¯s spaghetti, this guy must be nuts] [Damn, damn, damn, he just fucking shouldn¡¯t have been saved!] [Ride a motorcycle away, maybe?] ¡°Hurry up and go, you¡¯re just in the way, and you can¡¯t help with anything.¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t look at the barrage of comments, and said softly to the other person, his words straightforward¡ªthere was no time for beating around the bush. With that, although the other person¡¯s face showed displeasure, he had nothing to say and turned to leave after glancing at the tranquilizer gun behind Bi Fang. Yet Bi Fang stayed where he was, silently watching the brown bear, showing no intention of retreating. This scene shocked the viewers. Why wasn¡¯t he leaving? Bi Fang of course didn¡¯t want to stay, but he couldn¡¯t leave. He calmed his slightly thumping heart and explained softly. ¡°The brown bear can be considered as an upgraded version of the black bear, and the approach to dealing with them differs greatly. Since black bears are smaller, they are more afraid of humans. If you encounter a black bear that is aggressive, you should try to intimidate it as much as possible, for instance by glaring, shouting, or waving your arms at it, so that it does not consider you easy prey. If you unfortunate enough to come across a particularly bold black bear that still wants to attack you, then you must fight back fiercely. Under no circumstances should you show weakness; instead, make it think twice about attacking. Grizzly bears are much more difficult to handle than black bears. Due to their large size, human shouting and arm-waving do not scare off grizzly bears and may even provoke them instead.¡± It was for this reason that Bi Fang hadn¡¯t driven his motorcycle over but had left it behind and traveled on foot. The sound of the motorcycle could have been perceived by the brown bear as a provocation, leading it to directly attack the two of them. To avoid such a situation, he had to come alone. ¡°So, the tactic for dealing with black bears is completely the opposite of that for grizzly bears. If you encounter a grizzly bear and want to save your life, you have to act like Sun Zi. Keep calm, stand firm, and slowly back away without making direct eye contact with the bear. Do not appear aggressive, and definitely do not act like prey. This process requires you to never take your eyes off the bear and certainly not to turn and run! I have said numerous times, never show weakness in front of a predator, as it will think you are scared and become even more fierce! The moment you run, the chances of being attacked greatly increase!¡± If you turn and run out of cowardice, the predator will definitely chase you, and there¡¯s a good chance you won¡¯t be able to outrun it, Wild animals can smell your fear! This sentence has been heard by viewers countless times, but every listen brings a new feeling. Knowing is one thing, doing is another. Many people understand this principle, but how many can truly do it? Currently, it seems that only Master Fang is capable. Just now Goulbin, had it not been for Bi Fang supporting him, the audience even doubted whether he would wet his pants. The reason Bi Fang had the two leave first was precisely this: being unable to remain calm in response would only have allowed the Brown Bear to see through their bluff. It was better to have them leave first. He stepped back slowly, his gaze never leaving the Brown Bear. The two even faced off for over ten seconds before Bi Fang moved his feet and calmly left, as if without a trace of fear, as if what he was facing was not the largest carnivorous mammal on land, but a small beast. And the Brown Bear also stayed in the valley bottom, never advancing from beginning to end. Once the Brown Bear disappeared from his sight, Bi Fang immediately sprinted to the motorcycle that had fallen not far away and chased after them on the bike! Goulbin and his companion obviously panicked and chose their route haphazardly, leaving many traces along the way; the scent in the air was also distinctly noticeable. The two hadn¡¯t bathed for six days! With the help of the motorcycle, Bi Fang quickly caught up with the two men. Seeing Bi Fang, the two seemed to have found their pillar of strength and involuntarily stopped, leaning against a big tree and gasping for air like crazy. It was only a few hundred meters, but the two were nearly exhausted. Their hearts were pounding wildly in their chests, their saliva was thick like glue, and all their physical strength had been wrung out, leaving them with no energy to spare. Being injured, the terror between life and death is immense, and fear is the most draining on both mental and physical strength. This is why on the battlefield, many new soldiers, despite being stronger, still don¡¯t have the endurance of veterans. Because of fear, panic, even if doing nothing, physical strength will be rapidly depleted, let alone after running a few hundred meters. Bi Fang didn¡¯t let his guard down but looked behind him. Just as he turned around, the sound of dry branches breaking arose, and a brown silhouette dashed through the woods. ¡°Go, quick!¡± Bi Fang immediately yelled and made room for the two to get on the bike, speeding away once the Brown Bear closed in within fifty meters again. The fallen big tree, the rugged rocks, the roar of the Brown Bear. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. All of it was stimulating the audience¡¯s senses. But less than ten minutes after they started, a waterfall suddenly blocked their path. It was a river! The audience suddenly remembered what Bi Fang had said before¡ªthe presence of morels indicated that a river was likely nearby! This was their chance! Seeing the river, Bi Fang¡¯s eyes lit up. Thinking of how the three of them had been frantically fleeing, he immediately said. ¡°Like this, we¡¯ll never be able to escape.¡± He scanned his surroundings and suddenly saw a large tree snapped and fallen, leaning on the rocks to form a natural triangular structure. He immediately dismounted. ¡°Come help me pull this tree!¡± At this moment, neither Goulbin nor his companion had any opinions of their own and subconsciously followed Bi Fang¡¯s words, moving toward the tree to help. ¡°On the count of three!¡± Bi Fang hugged the tree¡¯s root and the other two hurriedly followed suit. ¡°One, two, three!¡± As the final number was called, the three men exerted their strength together and dragged the entire tree to the riverbank before beginning to push the tree. The tree was simply too large, and it was not something three grown men could easily move. Bi Fang picked up a thick tree branch and propped it under the tree, shouting the motto again. Strength was constantly being sapped, and all three of them had fierce expressions, gritting their teeth. At that moment, another bear roar sounded. Bi Fang¡¯s veins throbbed. Damn, they had been targeted! Chapter 297: 294 Collapse of the Mountains Chapter 297: Chapter 294 Collapse of the Mountains The waterfall in the mountain stream surged and flowed fiercely. The roar of the bear echoed and rolled through the woods, exploding in everyone¡¯s ears with a thunderous blast. Goulbin¡¯s legs went soft, Bi Fang¡¯s burden of the tree on his shoulders grew even heavier, his face red with exertion, and when he saw Goulbin letting go, his anger flared instantly. Damn it. If he had turned tail and run at first, Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t have said anything¡ªit was human nature, and besides, Bi Fang had told Goulbin to run. But now, to be scared stiff by the roar of the bear, without showing a trace of courage, where had the confidence come from to sign up? How had such a mentality and psychological quality not been eliminated in the past few days? Luckily, Goulbin wasn¡¯t an idiot; though dumb, he wasn¡¯t completely foolish. In a panic, he stood up and continued to carry the tree. The three men bore the same large tree, gradually erecting it until at last Bi Fang pushed hard, and with the potential energy of gravity, the tree toppled over to the opposite side in an instant. A loud crash resounded, and dust billowed. ¡°Quick, cross now!¡± Bi Fang called out to the two behind him, then held the tree steady to avoid it rolling, immediately allowing them to cross over the log. Looking at the turbulent stream below, his comrade swallowed hard. He wasn¡¯t sure how high the mountain stream was, but it was certainly over ten meters, and the edges were all covered with boulders. Falling would surely be fatal. The noise behind them grew closer and closer, making even the viewers sweat with anxiety. Taking a deep breath, his comrade no longer looked down, stared straight ahead, and quickly stepped across, then, like Bi Fang, held the tree to prevent it from rolling. ¡°Quick, your turn!¡± Bi Fang called out to Goulbin again. Gurgle. Between the precipices ahead and the huge bear behind, just the thought of it made Goulbin feel the unstoppable urge to urinate. His hands trembled as he tentatively put one foot on the log, feeling a sense of instability as if he might roll and slip off at any moment, but this was all an illusion. ¡°Hurry, Goulbin, faster!¡± urged the comrade on the other side with all his might. ¡°Don¡¯t look down!¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t rush him¡ªthe more urgent the situation, the more he could only roar a reminder. The sound behind them was as if it were ringing in their ears, as though the bear had already arrived at their side, licking their earlobes, ready to open its mouth and devour them. If it weren¡¯t necessary, Bi Fang truly did not want to directly confront the Brown Bear, to say nothing of using a tranquilizer gun. This wasn¡¯t the first time he had faced such danger. Bi Fang could see that the Brown Bear was merely eyeing them, trying to find an opportunity; otherwise, it would have pounced at the beginning instead of facing off for so long. Once gunfire started, in the eyes of animals, it was seen as a provocation, and a deadly confrontation would become inevitable. Using a tranquilizer gun against a Brown Bear, no matter how quickly it took effect, within the range of the firearm, it was enough for the Brown Bear to charge at you and slap your Heavenly Spirit Cover before the anesthesia took effect. And even the effect was in question; Brown Bears just awakened from hibernation often have fur that can exceed ten centimeters in length! Almost like a layer of hair woven into a natural armor. Goulbin spread his arms like wings, inching his feet forward bit by bit, his slow pace infuriating the onlookers to the point of cursing¡ªwishing they could jump through the screen to give the guy a beating and then drag him across the river by his neck. ¡°Move faster!¡± The comrade on the other side urged vigorously, filled with utter contempt for Goulbin¡¯s cowardice. Had it not been necessary to stabilize the tree to prevent it from rolling, and had Bi Fang not been on the other side, he would have truly liked to turn around and leave. Just as he raised his head wanting to urge him again, a color all too familiar and painful to the eyes pricked like a needle from within the forest on the opposite side. He stared dumbfounded, pointing behind him: ¡°Bear, bear!¡± Startled, Goulbin crouched down instinctively, grabbing hold of the protruding branches on the log. ¡°Hurry!¡± Even Bi Fang had started to urge them on. He glanced back and saw the brown figure drawing relentlessly closer, the distance now less than a hundred meters. The Brown Bear¡¯s speed wasn¡¯t fast, which undoubtedly confirmed his guess¡ªthe Brown Bear was still looking for an opportunity. Otherwise, it should now be sprinting, covering a hundred-meter distance faster than Bolt¡ªno need for even ten seconds. ¡°Relax!¡± Seeing Goulbin squat down, Bi Fang nearly died of frustration. After much encouragement, Goulbin finally stood up, adjusted his posture, and walked towards the ground. It seemed he also knew the Bear was about to strike, his pace quicker than before. The Bear was getting closer, eighty meters, fifty meters, thirty meters. By the time Goulbin had crossed to the other side, Bi Fang could even smell the stench from the Bear¡¯s mouth. Only when the distance narrowed to less than ten meters did the audience truly realize just how gigantic this Brown Bear was¡ªfar more than just a ¡°massive beast¡±! It was more like a mountain, a mountain made of defensive layers of thick fat and sinewed muscles! Its physique was robust¡ªmuscles over its shoulders and nape bulging. The muscles protruding from its back gave its forearms an extraordinarily powerful look. Its claws, measuring 15 centimeters long, were more like iron daggers than the usual calcified claws. Its whole body was covered in brown fur that, under the sunlight, even seemed to shimmer with a golden light! Seeing Bi Fang alone, the Brown Bear no longer restrained its hunting instincts and pounced towards him fiercely; the mountain of muscle and fat charging at him was an unstoppable force. It seemed as if the sky was collapsing and about to crush down on him! On the other side, two people¡¯s pupils shrank sharply, almost shouting out at the same time. Feeling the reek of death approaching from behind, Bi Fang suddenly lunged forward, rolling and standing on the log with an incredibly bizarre sense of balance, wave upon wave of gasps from the audience escalating¡ªone¡¯s balance had to be incredibly unimaginable to achieve such a feat! To roll on the log and still maintain one¡¯s posture required tremendous control over every muscle in the body, and the balance was terrifyingly horrifying! Even those who knew nothing of the sort felt deeply thrilled by the scene! One roll brought Bi Fang to the center of the tree. Just as he thought about getting up to rush out, the log beneath him suddenly began to shake violently, as if it were a rope. It was the Brown Bear! Not daring to advance, it stepped on the tree, pressing down intermittently, shaking the whole tree with its weight! What a clever Bear! This anthropomorphic scene made it seem as if this wasn¡¯t a beast living in the depth of the forest but a sly and experienced Hunter! The viewers had just heaved a sigh of relief seeing Bi Fang reach the center of the tree, but now their hearts were suspended once more. But now was not the time to discuss whether the Bear was clever or not¡ªthe chat in the live broadcast was already in chaos, the comments streaming endlessly! Jerret was so anxious that he almost felt like kicking the helicopter pilot away and taking his place. [Holy shit, that scared me to death!] [Damn, this Bear¡¯s IQ is about to surpass mine!] Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Be confident, it already has.] [I played like this when I was alive. Now I am in line waiting to sip soup] The audience¡¯s hearts were practically hanging from the ceiling, with several familiar viewers preemptively reaching into their chest pockets and pulling out their go-to medications. The temporary bridge made of trees was not stable. Companions on the opposite shore noticed loose stones starting to move, but it was too late to warn him. The huge tree slipped from the opposite shore in an instant! Chapter 298: 295 Escape Success Chapter 298: Chapter 295 Escape Success The massive tree suddenly slipped, and although there were numerous boulders in the mountain stream and the falling tree got stuck again between the rocks, the sudden violent shock made it impossible for Bi Fang to maintain his balance any longer. His foot slipped, and he plunged toward the ravine. ¡°Danger!¡± Jerret suddenly stood up, his reaction mimicking that of countless viewers at that moment, who could hardly contain their exclamations. The ones in public spaces even attracted quite a bit of attention, but they didn¡¯t care at all, their minds were tensely focused on Bi Fang alone. In desperation, Bi Fang wrapped his arms around the tree, but it was so sudden, he couldn¡¯t grip the trunk tightly; instead, the bark slipped, and he lost his grip again. With no other choice, he could only reach out with one hand to grab a broken branch ahead. Fortunately, the situation wasn¡¯t beyond redemption. Bi Fang successfully grabbed onto a branch and dangled below the giant tree, calming his wildly pounding heart. This branch was the same one that Goulbin had squatted down to hold onto a moment ago, and now, in turn, it had saved his life. In the midst of the ravine lay the horizontal giant tree. Bi Fang¡¯s right hand clung firmly to the branch, and below him was a waterfall gushing furiously. The melting snow from the Rocky Mountains replenishes the rivers and lakes, accounting for one quarter of all the fresh water sources in Zhan Chou Country, with the rivers originated from the Rocky Mountains flowing into three oceans: the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Arctic Ocean. At that moment, it was a waterfall less than three meters wide, but the water was incredibly turbulent. The massive flow of water plunged into the ravine with the force of thunderbolts, creating a majestic and fatal rapid. Falling into the ravine emitted a thunderous roar, and along the way, there were boulders protruding; if one fell into them, they would be smashed to pieces going down the flood-draining waterfall. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Hu.¡± Bi Fang took a deep breath in and slowly exhaled, calming his tense nerves. With his current strength, he could pull himself up with one arm, but the Brown Bear in no way seemed willing to let his prey that was within reach slip away so easily and continued to press down hard on the tree. The muscle lines suddenly became more pronounced, and just as Bi Fang was about to pull himself up, he felt the tree tense up and all the force he¡¯d mustered was suddenly released like a flood. Bi Fang fiercely looked towards the Brown Bear. Such ferocity. The hunting capabilities of brown bears were originally not that great, and though it was early spring, the temperature hadn¡¯t fully recovered yet, and the vegetation was still withering. Roaming brown bears could only eat carcasses, and they might even fight with tigers to the bitter end over a meal. The huge bear paw landed on the giant tree, and under the double amplification of weight and strength, the tree visibly slipped downwards. ¡°Be careful!¡± The companions on the other side and Goulbin could only be anxious, watching the Brown Bear exert force on the giant tree, powerless to do anything. A companion picked up a stone from the side and threw it at the Brown Bear, but it had no effect at all. It was like throwing a grain of sand on the bear¡¯s body. It felt nothing and didn¡¯t even bother to lift its head. The combination of weight and strength was obviously not as simple as one plus one, and in just a few swats, the giant tree broke sharply and slid down again! The massive tree fell toward the ravine! This time, there were no boulders to catch the tree, and Bi Fang plummeted straight into the waterfall. Below the giant tree, the waterfall surged wildly. The viewers couldn¡¯t help but shudder inwardly, filled with dread. They were already in a precarious situation, and now it had completely fallen into the abyss! In the instant that the tree began to slip, Bi Fang¡¯s gaze was firmly fixed on the tree. Feeling the moment of weightlessness, he held onto the tree. Taking advantage of the brief halt in midair, he flipped his entire body onto the tree, then hugged the trunk tightly, pressing his body against it and closing his eyes. Several seconds later, the half-rotten behemoth crashed into the river, tumbling and making a thunderous noise, startling a flock of birds nestled in the forest. Teammates and Goulbin hastily lay on the boulder looking down, as the mighty wind swept through from between the mountains of the Rocky Mountains. The vegetation in the ravine fluttered in layers, colors changing from greenish yellow to emerald green, mixed with the white of the frothing rapids. But that familiar figure was nowhere to be seen. Their hearts sank, yet they did not give up hope. They immediately moved along the boulder, inching closer to the bottom of the ravine, but hardly had they taken two steps when the fallen tree suddenly rose from the river. Then the tree flipped over, revealing Bi Fang clutching it. Feeling himself above the water, he straightened his upper body, spat out some water, and before the others could react, he stood up from the log. The waterfall splashed nearby, causing the log to continuously float and roll. Bi Fang, relying on his good balance, jumped from the log, leaping several steps back to shore. He looked up at Brown Bear on the other side of the river. The fruitless Brown Bear roared a few times, its surging muscles like undulating hills, containing staggering power, but it couldn¡¯t cross the ravine and ultimately turned away reluctantly. Seeing Brown Bear leave, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Standing before you, a behemoth weighing over half a ton exerts an incomparable pressure. Even the Black Bear Master Fang encountered last time was a good half meter shorter in body length compared to this Brown Bear, there was simply no comparison! ¡°That was incredible, how did you do it?¡± The teammate slid down from the boulder to Bi Fang¡¯s side, his face full of astonishment. To fall from a waterfall ten meters high and be completely unscathed! This pool was not very deep, a slight carelessness could result in a collision with the giant rocks at the bottom! ¡°It¡¯s quite simple, just hold on to it tightly,¡± Bi Fang said. He pointed to the tree still in the river, which was now drifting downstream under the water¡¯s influence, but soon it got stuck in the river channel. The moment he fell, Bi Fang sharply tugged at the tree, accelerating its descent while also gaining a brief suspension for himself, balancing the fast and slow movements to adjust his position. When the log fell beside him, he grabbed it tightly. Once he had hold of the log, everything was easy. All he needed was to ensure the log was oriented downward before hitting the water. ¡°The buoyancy of the wood is much greater than that of a human body, so it¡¯s very hard for it to hit bottom or collide with the rocks. Even if it does, the tree provides cushioning. However, the prerequisite for this is to hold on to the tree very tightly, leaving no gap. At the moment of water contact, the pressure will be immense. If there¡¯s any gap, you will feel as if you¡¯ve been hit by a truck.¡± ¡°That¡¯s amazing.¡± Admiration filled the teammate¡¯s eyes, unable to imagine how someone could make so many moves and reactions in just a few seconds of falling, as if survival instincts were etched into their DNA. ¡°If you entered the competition, no one would be able to win. I¡¯m really thankful for this time. Once the show is over, I definitely have to treat you to a meal.¡± Goulbin also chimed in with flattery, having been too fearful before. Now that Brown Bear had left, he realized how foolish his actions had been. Unfortunately, Bi Fang didn¡¯t pay much attention. If it wasn¡¯t for this guy moving so slowly, he would not have gone through all this and would have simply walked across. Not showing any annoyance was already a sign of great restraint. Seeing Bi Fang¡¯s indifference, Goulbin felt extremely awkward and wisely shut his mouth. Fortunately, the awkwardness didn¡¯t last long as the roar of a helicopter began to sound. The hoist ladder was lowered, picking them up and as losers, ferrying them away from the mountains. Chapter 299: 296 Heavy Rain Chapter 299: Chapter 296 Heavy Rain Seven contestants were eliminated in one go, leaving only the last five to compete in the final showdown. The final moment had not yet arrived, and no one knew who would claim the victory. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But the selection of the past six days had almost completely separated the chaff from the grain; it was clear that unless something unexpected happened, the remaining six days would hardly be a challenge for them. With the help of the helicopter, Bi Fang successfully transported the motorcycle to the other side and then continued following the remaining contestants. In fact, the crisis was not completely resolved. ¡°A wandering Brown Bear is a very persistent animal; simply crossing a river may not be enough to shake it off. During seasons when food is scarce, you can hardly imagine the persistence of a roaming Brown Bear. Such a large creature possesses endurance and determination far beyond that of normal humans. When Kostegrode studied them, he discovered a huge Brown Bear tracking a young male tiger, just to kill it! The Bear followed it for 14 kilometers straight, only stopping when the tiger approached a human settlement. In another incident, the tiger wasn¡¯t so lucky. It circled around but still couldn¡¯t escape the pursuit, and eventually, it was caught and torn apart.¡± [Hiss! A Brown Bear killing a tiger? Master Fang, are you sure about that?] [How is that possible? I always thought tigers were the strongest] [No way, no way. Surely no one really believes tigers can beat bears, right?] [Don¡¯t leave us hanging, Master Fang, tell us, which is stronger, the bear or the tiger?] Who is stronger, the bear or the tiger? This is probably a question any animal lover wants to know, but however much it¡¯s discussed, it¡¯s impossible to convince the other side. Those who favor tigers say the tiger is stronger, boasting high attack and agility, capable of dodging with great finesse and then dealing heavy damage. Those who favor bears say the bear is stronger, with high attack and defense, where one hit can mean death, and one bump can cause injury. But when Bi Fang stood there, all these people lost their right to speak. With the boss present, the rest ought to step aside. This was a real man who had fought Black Bears in close combat, escaped the grasp of Brown Bears, battled prehistoric creatures, fought off large packs of wolves, and even the Terrifying Upright Ape could not escape unscathed. Bi Fang hadn¡¯t expected the audience to be so concerned about this question; it touched on a blind spot in his knowledge¡­ Of course, this blind spot was not about not knowing who was stronger, but rather about it being difficult to answer. ¡°Bears come in many varieties, Black Bear, Brown Bear; they are all bears. Even among Brown Bears, the heaviest Kodiak Brown Bear can weigh up to 800 kilograms and stand up to 2.5 meters tall when upright. The lightest, the Syrian Brown Bear, weighs only 90 kilograms. Tigers too vary, with the Northeast Tiger being the largest and the Sumatran Tiger the smallest; the difference in body length is quite significant. To add another point here, there are currently fewer than four thousand wild tigers globally, not of a single kind, but all species combined.¡± Four thousand? The audience had been listening intently to the beginning, and this sudden shift took them by surprise; but considering Bi Fang¡¯s usual demeanor, they could understand why he suddenly brought up this point. However, the figure of four thousand still made many of them gasp in shock. They knew tigers were rare, but had not thought there were so few. Bi Fang nodded. Four thousand was no exaggeration¡ªin fact, it was even a bit more; the actual total number of all subspecies combined was just over three thousand. There were barely over twenty wild Northeast Tigers, and about twenty South China Tigers, which were almost functionally extinct. Natural reproduction would lead to death due to various inbreeding problems, and without human intervention and subspecies mixing, extinction was inevitable. That¡¯s why a while ago, when a wild Northeast Tiger entered human territory, it was captured and then bred. But all this was beside the point. Bi Fang mentioned it only out of a sense of responsibility and then steered the conversation back to the topic. He didn¡¯t beat around the bush and directly stated the conclusion: ¡°For the same size, the tiger is stronger, even considering the large differences in size that exist in reality.¡± The relationship between tigers and Brown Bears is complex; the tiger is both a predator of the Brown Bear and their ¡®benefactor.¡¯ But one thing is for certain: as apex predators, tigers usually have the upper hand in conflicts with Brown Bears. Legendary tiger king Dale had killed a mature male black bear and a brown bear mother with cubs in December. However, those with young tigers are more dangerous and usually end up being the killed party. Furthermore, some particular environmental conditions favor brown bears and are disadvantageous to tigers. Under normal circumstances, the decision to fight or not fight is almost entirely in the tiger¡¯s hands, as tigers are faster and more agile, and can escape if the situation turns bad. But during the winter with deep snow, the deep snow hampers the tiger¡¯s movement, preventing it from utilizing its advantage in mobility. Moreover, no matter where the tiger goes, the brown bear can follow its tracks. ¡°Some netizens may doubt the accuracy of my data due to online reverence for certain animals, believing that brown bears cannot possibly kill tigers. But nothing is absolute; it¡¯s true that brown bears do not usually provoke tigers, but that doesn¡¯t mean they never encroach on tigers. Both brown bears and tigers have strong and weak individuals, and special environmental conditions can create miracles. Haven¡¯t I myself defeated a black bear before? Does that mean my strength surpasses theirs?¡± However, that being said, given the choice, Bi Fang would rather encounter a brown bear than a fierce tiger. With a brown bear, there¡¯s a chance to escape, but a tiger attack usually means no hope for survival. Unless extremely enraged, masters who can slide tackle are another story. But one shouldn¡¯t underestimate brown bears; in terms of strength, brown bears are indeed stronger than tigers. Biologists have researched that the force of a full-power slap from an average-sized brown bear can reach about 1600kg, which is the force of more than a ton from a single palm! It seems the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms would be nothing compared to this. However, due to environmental constraints, brown bears rarely can utilize the full force of their palm, generally only able to exert about two-thirds or half of their full strength. ¡°Here I must mention that influenced by the online animal fighting community¡¯s skewed beliefs of ¡®bigger and stronger,¡¯ many animal enthusiasts enjoy watching tigers and brown bears fight, thinking that killing more of the opponent proves greater strength and ferocity¡ªthis is actually quite tragic. What does it mean if tigers frequently kill brown bears? It indicates that the tiger¡¯s preferred prey, elks and wild boars, are diminishing, suggesting that the survival of the beloved tiger is under threat. What does it mean if a brown bear kills a tiger? It implies that there is a scarcity of ungulates and fruits, that brown bears have not eaten their fill before winter and have to roam the snowy fields out of desperation for a meal, risking their lives against tigers; just thinking about it is pitiable. While male brown bears roam, many female bears hibernating in dens likely have even worse nutritional status, and many bear cubs may starve to death.¡± Many who were still pondering the question of who is stronger, tigers or bears, suddenly bowed their heads in shame. [Ah¡­ I¡¯ve never actually considered this issue.] [I feel ashamed, my thinking is not on par with Master Fang.] [I¡¯m sorry for disgracing everyone.] ¡°In early spring, brown bears¡¯ body weights are still at a high standard. When do brown bears weigh the least? You might instinctively think it¡¯s right after hibernation ends, but that¡¯s not the case. In spring, when food is scarce and it¡¯s the breeding season requiring extra energy, brown bears¡¯ weight continues to drop, reaching its lowest in summer. As nuts and berries gradually ripen, the brown bears begin to regain weight from late summer, peaking just before hibernation.¡± The implication was clear: that brown bear was at its peak condition, and just out of hibernation¡¯s hunger, it was very likely to pursue relentlessly. Although the probability was very low, one couldn¡¯t afford to let down their guard. Thus, Bi Fang didn¡¯t return to the helicopter right after rescuing the two men; if the bear was persistent enough, it might very well catch up. It wasn¡¯t until dusk, a few days later, that a heavy rain arrived, allowing Bi Fang to fully relax. The heavy rain would erase most of the scents. But for the contestants, it was yet another formidable challenge. Chapter 300: 297: Im Embarrassed for You, Despicable! Chapter 300: Chapter 297: I¡¯m Embarrassed for You, Despicable! Silence shattered. Thunder streaked across the sky, lightning pierced the heart of heaven, and rain rustled down. The rain suddenly intensified, with large, cold droplets falling from the sky, causing a faint pain as they hit the skin. The wind picked up, chilling to the bone, but Bi Fang, standing amidst the woods, felt no fear of the cold. ¡°Chun Yu, huh,¡± he muttered. What a downpour. Chun Yu was supposed to be as fine as cow hair, but this scene was clearly more like a summer thunderstorm. Bi Fang looked up, his gaze piercing through the tree canopy towards the leaden sky, catching raindrops with his palm. ¡°Days of dry winds have evaporated all the moisture in the woods into the sky, only to burst forth once it reaches a critical point, causing Chun Yu to become this fierce. Moreover, the massive rainfall will wash away any traces left by animals, making it almost impossible for Brown Bear to follow us unless our luck is incredibly bad and we just happen to run into him again, but that has nothing to do with the traces we left¡ªit¡¯s purely misfortune.¡± His palm suddenly clenched, squeezing the droplets, which exploded on impact; Bi Fang flicked his hand forcefully, scattering the rainwater on the tree trunk like a knife cut. The contestants must be having a hard time. The surprise deluge caught everyone off guard; those searching for shelter in the woods, like the trio, were still manageable¡ª the dense foliage blocking most of the rain. But Ava and Lisa, who had already reached the plains, weren¡¯t so fortunate. The rain came too swiftly, leaving them utterly unprepared, its bone-chilling coldness almost stabbing through to the marrow. Women, naturally susceptible to cold, found it even more unbearable after being drenched, and they both felt dizzy after running in the rain for a short while. It took a two-kilometer sprint before they found a rocky slope and squeezed under a boulder to find a narrow space for shelter. The chill of the past six days seemed to have converged on this one, forcing all contestants to endure the discomfort as the price for past comforts. The two squeezed under the rock, took off their jackets, and began repetitive physical exercise to generate ample body heat. Afterward, they dug a dry pit in the dirt, placed charcoal and tinder inside, and quickly sparked a fire. When all was done, they embraced tightly in an attempt to preserve as much of their body heat as possible. Better physiques were exposed to the air, greedily soaking in the warmth from the flames, skin palely glowing with a hint of color under the firelight. [Ah, why am I not excited at all at this scene I¡¯ve been longing to see?] [Is that excitement? I¡¯m too embarrassed to say this, but you¡¯re indecent!] sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [It¡¯s normal, anyone who has survived in the wilderness for a week wouldn¡¯t look all that great.] [Can only appreciate the physique then.] Surviving in the wilderness for a week definitely takes a toll, erasing any semblance of beauty¡ª Bi Fang himself had grown a bluish stubble after surviving a week, still brave but by no means fresh. For those living in the woods, the situation was much better, with the tree canopy blocking the rain, allowing them to find shelter without panic. As for the contestant who had chosen to live in the forest from the start, there was even less to worry about. When the rain came, he stayed inside his shelter, not getting a drop on him. Six days of building had made his shelter very solid, constructed beneath a giant boulder situated on high ground to avoid water pooling. Most of the dirt below had been hollowed out with dried branches and leaves spread across as a mattress. There was even a fence and a wooden wall woven from branches at the entrance, which, when pulled across, offered a feeling of security at night. To prevent the boulder from collapsing, he had propped up thick tree trunks as ¡°load-bearing walls.¡± Such a shelter was more than capable of shielding from the wind and rain. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be common knowledge to take shelter under a tree during rain, because if you stand under a big tree, when the powerful current of a lightning bolt passes through the tree and into the ground, spreading outwards, it can create different voltages at different points. The voltage difference between the feet of a person standing there can cause harm, which is often referred to as ¡®step voltage injury¡¯. Unless necessary, during thunderstorms, try to keep as far away from tree trunks as possible; even if taking shelter, strive to maintain a distance of more than three meters from the trunk.¡± [If it¡¯s not raining and there are no dark clouds, does that mean it¡¯s safe?] [Lightning never strikes the same place twice.] [I once saw a film that said if I can¡¯t reach a shelter and hear lightning nearby, I should immediately lie flat on the ground.] [A victim of a lightning strike is electrified; if you touch them, you¡¯ll be electrocuted too.] There were many comments from the audience, with a flurry of discussions, but Bi Fang leaped out of this loop, reading them out, right as the audience thought these were points to remember. Then, he took a turn in his talk. ¡°All of the comments I just read are rumors; everyone has been deceived and should not believe them.¡± Audience: ¡°???¡± ¡°Not raining, no dark clouds, does not mean you won¡¯t be struck. The attack range of lightning can exceed 4 kilometers from the center of a thunderstorm, with some even reaching as far as 20 kilometers. There have been cases of fatal lightning strikes under clear skies. In fact, when you can hear thunder, you should hurry to find a place to hide. Furthermore, lightning often strikes the same place multiple times, especially if there are tall, isolated objects in the vicinity; such places have a high probability of being repeatedly struck. New York¡¯s famous landmark, the Empire State Building, is struck by lightning over 100 times a year. Lying flat will only increase your chances of being injured by dangerous ground currents. During the early stages of a thunderstorm, you should keep moving towards a shelter, not stop. As for the last rumor, it¡¯s truly disheartening. I don¡¯t know whether the person who said that is simply ignorant or had ulterior motives, but the human body does not store electricity; it¡¯s not like touching an electric door. Once the electric current has passed through the human body, it¡¯s completely safe to touch the victim and give first aid.¡± Ah, this. Many audience members scratched their heads, acknowledging they had learned something new, not realizing that everything they heard just before was a rumor. Pah, such dangerous misinformation. Watching the rain getting heavier and not stopping anytime soon, Bi Fang took down the tent from his motorcycle, and in less than ten minutes, he had it propped up, sheltering inside from the rain, all the while observing how the others were doing. Except for Ava and Lisa, who were on the plains and initially unable to take shelter from the rain, causing substantial loss of heat, the others were all fine. It was only in the evening that the rain gradually stopped. The situation for the two of them was still not optimistic. The human body is very sensitive; a sudden change in the external environment can easily affect the transport ability of the cilia, leading to an imbalance in nasal flora and inducing an infection. This is the main reason most people catch a cold. The next morning, Ava¡¯s constant sneezing proved Bi Fang¡¯s guess was correct. She had caught a cold. Pulling out the thermometer, it read 37.5, a mild fever. ¡°Otherwise, you continue on by yourself.¡± Ava¡¯s nose was red as she touched the countdown timer on her wrist. Chapter 301: 298: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind Chapter 301: Chapter 298: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind Still writing, just claiming six monthly tickets for now A sudden roar reverberated through the woods. The birds that had settled once again took flight. Ji Zuodong¡¯s right foot, as he stepped out of the wooden door, paused ever so slightly, then quickly continued down, treading softly left and right, the mud with sprouting grass squished out from the sides of his shoe. One could easily imagine, a deep footprint had been firmly impressed into the ground. ¡°Impossible.¡± Ji Zuodong squinted at the panting Bonuo, shaking his head in refusal. To simply hand over something that was mine? No way, that¡¯s not how it works. The standoff between the two immediately sent the audience into a frenzy. Were they going to fight? Also, was Ji Zuodong¡¯s English really that good? As the only Huaxia person among the sixteen contestants, Ji Zuodong managed to reply smoothly when faced with Bonuo¡¯s threat, ¡°It¡¯s normal. What do you think Special Forces and the armed police are? They are elites, not just simple warriors. Many can master a foreign language proficiently. Aside from French and English, I even spent five months before attending Hunter Academy to learn Spanish.¡± Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but toot his own horn, but indeed, it was a fact that Special Soldiers were not only physically formidable but intellectually as well. As he spoke, he even used Spanish, automatically translated into Chinese subtitles, with a trilled ¡®r¡¯ as authentic as a native speaker¡¯s. Mastering the Spanish trilled ¡®r¡¯, one of the most difficult aspects of learning the language, seemed to be a skill that Master Fang had perfectly acquired, to the surprise and even shock of the few knowledgeable viewers in the live stream. Wait, wasn¡¯t this his third foreign language? ¡°Spanish is one of the prerequisites for entering Hunter Academy. It¡¯s not surprising to me.¡± Ever since the Blue Special Forces were upgraded to Purple Special Reconnaissance Forces and his status changed, the System arranged for him to have completed studies at Hunter Academy, naturally, there were no discrepancies, and Spanish was included as an extra Skill given to Bi Fang. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Ji Zuodong smiled, showing no sign of nervousness, and casually lifted the machete in his hand, ¡°Do you want to try and steal it? Give it a try?¡± Bonuo breathed heavily, trying to recover the stamina he had expended on the way here. He gripped the antler weapon tightly, his gaze fierce. There were six items in the cabin, and though he didn¡¯t yet know what the remaining four were, he was certain that what Ji Zuodong had taken was the best. If they hadn¡¯t crossed paths, it would have been one thing, but now that they had¡­ Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He was going to rob him blind! Without much feeling out or conversation, Bonuo lunged forward, closing the distance of seven or eight meters in a flash, like an ancient shamanship officiant, bringing down his antler weapon towards Ji Zuodong¡¯s head with a brutally savage blow! Ji Zuodong involuntarily ducked, the antler scraping past his hair, narrowly missing him, sending a shock through his heart at the still-abundant energy of his opponent. Missing with his first strike, Bonuo didn¡¯t back down. His wrist twisted, changing the smash into a chop, and almost simultaneously with his attack, he also felt a strong wind assaulting his chest. He roared, half-turning his body, but the chopping motion of his hand didn¡¯t stop. The antler, with a tearing sound, struck Ji Zuodong¡¯s shoulder accurately and forcefully. Ji Zuodong¡¯s mouth wide open in pain, yet not a sound escaped, the Claw Knife in his hand unaffected, its sharp edge pressed against Bonuo¡¯s chest, paused for a moment, cut through the fabric, and slid towards the flesh! Bonuo was startled. In the wild, a cut from a sharp weapon was far more troublesome than a blunt injury. He immediately pulled back the antler, swerving to the side to avoid. Ji Zuodong was relentless. Having taken a hit on purpose, he was determined to make his opponent pay. His wrist exerted force, and the cold Claw Knife glided downwards, ripping open a large tear in the clothing and forcing Bonuo to retreat backwards. Suddenly, he lost his balance and fell to the ground. He took advantage of the momentum to roll backward and then flipped to the side, kicking his legs to roll several more times, creating some distance in the process. Not rushing to pursue, Ji Zuodong moved his struck shoulder blade, getting the blood flowing again. He also put down the sleeping bag he was carrying on his back and watched Bonuo, who was not far away, still with a smile. Honestly, I kind of want to eliminate the other guy right now. Bonuo¡¯s panting grew heavier, and as he stood up, his chest heaved uncontrollably. The sensation of oxygen deprivation that had been suppressed was creeping back. He looked down at his torn shirt. Blood flowed from his chest and stained the inner lining. The sticky lining then adhered to the exposed flesh. The salt from two days of sweating on the road was all on the lining, causing a burning pain when it stuck to the skin. Damn it, I was too hasty. Cursing inwardly, he had just felt irritated that someone else had gotten the jump on him. With rising anger and a hot head, he wanted to rush in and steal it away, thinking that it wouldn¡¯t lead to a fatality anyway. But he ended up at a disadvantage, and for a moment, he even considered retreating. Seeing Ji Zuodong eager to try, and about to move forward, he immediately shouted out. ¡°Wait, wait, how about I exchange deer meat with you for the machete? How about that?¡± ¡°Too late!¡± ¡°The sleeping bag is okay too, the sleeping bag! Claw Knife! Can the Claw Knife work?¡± Bonuo desperately yelled, but Ji Zuodong acted as if he hadn¡¯t heard a thing. Deer meat? If he eliminated the other guy, it would be his anyway! His thigh muscles tensed, forcibly creating a one-centimeter-deep footprint on the ground as he pounced toward his opponent. FUCK! Seeing that the other guy wouldn¡¯t let him off, Bonuo gave up on any luck and suddenly ducked low, charging at his opponent as well. There was definitely no chance of running away. Having just run several kilometers, he was too exhausted to escape and the situation would only get worse. He could well be worn out to death, so there was only one option left¡ªto fight! The two clashed fiercely, one wielding an Antler Weapon and the other using the swift and tricky Claw Knife. The Antler Weapon was powerful and heavy while the Claw Knife was sharp to the bone. For a moment, they were at a standoff. But Bi Fang could tell that Bonuo was at a disadvantage. On one hand, it was a matter of stamina, and on the other hand, in close combat, the agile Claw Knife was faster and had the upper hand, even receiving help from the rules! The Claw Knife is too shameless! The production crew doesn¡¯t allow excessive injury, and naturally, the Special Forces, who focus on killing, are at a disadvantage compared to Ji Zuodong, who excels in subduing. The Claw Knife is small, with the entire blade being just a few centimeters long. Even if one got cut, it wouldn¡¯t be too serious, allowing Ji Zuodong to make full use of his combat skills. Bonuo¡¯s cuff was slashed open again, showing a shallow cut on his forearm. He could feel his condition getting worse and worse, almost making a comeback impossible. In the rapid changes of combat, Bonuo suddenly smashed the huge Antler Weapon towards the enemy¡¯s face. Ji Zuodong blocked the Antler Weapon, turned his head only to see Bonuo taking the opportunity to run away, even throwing down the deer meat to lighten his load. Is he seeking his own death? Ji Zuodong didn¡¯t understand why the other would choose to run away, but there was no time to think. To eliminate his opponent quickly, he broke into a run after him. The two chased each other swiftly through the woods, but Ji Zuodong, with his relatively better stamina, was much faster. Although Bonuo used a blinding tactic and took the initiative, the distance between them was rapidly closing. Feeling the footsteps behind him drawing closer, Bonuo silently estimated the distance and, once it was close enough, Ji Zuodong would leap at him with all his strength! The sound of the wind whistling from behind his head didn¡¯t alarm Bonuo. Instead, his expression brightened. He knew he was no match for his opponent¡¯s speed. If he couldn¡¯t dodge this move, he would surely be tackled down, and since they couldn¡¯t inflict serious harm, he was likely to lose. But this was also an opportunity! The well-prepared Bonuo suddenly halted the right foot he had been running on, spread his legs front and back, and lowered his center of gravity, standing rooted to the spot! As he made this move, Ji Zuodong had already pounced on his back, swiftly wrapping his arms around the enemy¡¯s neck. It was a Naked Choke! This move had been demonstrated by Bi Fang many times, and the audience was extremely familiar with it, recognizing it instantly. Is he going to win this? Chapter 302: 299 A Stir of Excitement Chapter 302: Chapter 299 A Stir of Excitement ¡°` ¡°Fuck, it really knows how to chase!¡± ¡°Why won¡¯t it die?¡± The muddy figure dashed frantically through the forest, constantly wiping the mud-dripped off his forehead to reveal a pair of black eyes while crazily cursing, forcing the production team to incessantly beep out the profanity. After the heavy rain, the forest was filled with muck, and the soaked weeds were exceptionally slippery. Mugalen had just run too hastily and took a fierce tumble in the forest, rolling several times and now not only his shoes but his whole body was covered in mud. Luckily, Mugalen reacted quickly, scrambling to his feet, otherwise, he might have been trampled through by the moose. Getting kicked by this thing was no joke, it could break bones if it didn¡¯t kill you. There had been incidents where a 300-pound zebra had kicked a 400-pound lion to death. One must never underestimate the kick from a hooved animal; many times, it¡¯s better to attack from the front than to even get close behind, for this very reason. Continuing through the dense forest, Mugalen kept up his struggle with the moose. For the moment, it seemed there was no immediate danger. But to see it chase him this far with an arrow through its neck was truly an eye-opener for the audience. The vitality of this animal was incredibly tenacious, and despite its large size, it could run so fast! ¡°I guess the arrow didn¡¯t puncture the trachea, or else it would¡¯ve run out of strength long ago,¡± Bi Fang speculated as he watched the blood continuously flowing from the moose¡¯s neck wound. In the forest, Mugalen continued to flee, but he clearly wasn¡¯t content with just escaping reactively. He took a short spear from his back, trying to fight back. ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by the moose¡¯s size; in reality, it can run at a speed of fifty-five kilometers per hour for several hours, its stamina is incredible, and it¡¯s also very fast. But its vision is extremely poor, it¡¯s short-sighted, relying on its sensitive hearing and sense of smell. So when in danger, we can run into the woods to outmaneuver it and look for a chance to counterattack.¡± The moose¡¯s neck continued to bleed profusely, and Bi Fang keenly noticed its speed had slowed considerably. Mugalen picked up on this, circling around a large tree. As the moose charged past, he quickly threw the spear, which penetrated into the animal instantly. Unfortunately, due to the angle, it didn¡¯t penetrate deeply, just a spearhead¡¯s worth. But that was enough! Overcome by the pain of a second injury, the moose was overwhelmed by fear, panic, and rage. It no longer displayed bravery and, after charging past Mugalen, it didn¡¯t look back and turned to flee. ¡°YES!¡± Mugalen wiped the mud off his face, spat, and flung it hard to the ground, feeling a tremendous sense of relief. Every pore in his body seemed to breathe freely, as if he had expelled three days¡¯ worth of constipation in an instant. He was exhilarated. With the moose fleeing, Mugalen was in no hurry to pursue; after all, a cornered beast still fights. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Let the bullet fly a little longer.¡± When he caught up, it would naturally be too weak to resist. Following the trail in the vegetation, Mugalen arrived at a riverbank where he scooped up some water to wash his face. Then, feeling unsatisfied, he plunged his whole head into the water, shaking it a few times as the mud dispersed. A small section of the river turned a muddy brown, which only started to fade away with the current after half a minute. ¡°[Wow, how much mud was in his hair?]¡± ¡°[I suspect that when he rolled on the ground, he must have swallowed a few mouthfuls of mud.]¡± ¡°[It¡¯s you, the swamp monster!]¡± ¡°Ah, that¡¯s better.¡± When Mugalen lifted his head, water droplets flew, and with a smooth stroke of his hand, his hairline neatly appeared. Hmm, it was a bit high. Perhaps due to ethnicity and age, Mugalen grew a steady beard on his chin after just a week, but if it were Bi Fang, ten days would only yield some stubble. ¡°[Ah, Master Fang did this same movement when he was adrift at sea, I always thought it looked damn cool, but now I realize, it really depends on the face.]¡± ¡°[Boss doing that move is a bit harsh on the eyes¡­]¡± ¡°` [Mugalen: Are you polite?] [Feast your eyes on my Master Fang wallpaper, hmm, that¡¯s comforting.] After washing his face, the refreshingly spirited Mugalen returned to the original spot, tracking the fleeing moose by following its tracks and bloodstains. While doing so, he even began to explain to the audience. ¡°Tracking wild animals is the supreme skill a hunter can master¡ªin my opinion, learning to track is almost like learning a new language, in short, it¡¯s a process of becoming familiar with different patterns. Once you master this technique, you¡¯ll never forget it. After mastering this skill, wherever you look, you¡¯ll be able to see the subtle signs of a hidden world. The rain was really heavy yesterday, now the ground is muddy. The good news is that the days are getting longer, giving me more time to be active.¡± The explanation from Mugalen left the audience perplexed, many wondering why Bi Fang¡¯s voice had changed, only to realize upon checking their phones that it wasn¡¯t Master Fang who was speaking, but Mugalen tracking the moose. ¡°This man has quite the ambition, even taking my job; it seems he¡¯s harbored intentions to replace me for a long time. We cannot keep him here.¡± Bi Fang wasn¡¯t angry, but rather made a joke, prompting laughter from everyone. ¡°If you want to train your tracking skills, you can actually start from the small and simple things. For instance, if it has rained in recent days, you can clearly see the tracks of animals on muddy paths, and it¡¯s even better if you get up early, before the footprints of dogs and their walkers have spoiled them. You can try going into the city center early one day to look for animal tracks; it¡¯s quite easy to find traces left by animals. I once found roe deer tracks in Hampstead Heath Park, and an unclear badger footprint by a muddy puddle next to Regent¡¯s Canal, and also fox tracks in Wales. Of course, if it¡¯s difficult to find them in the city, then head to the countryside, where you¡¯ll find more animal tracks than in the city. Not only are there more animal tracks in rural areas, but there¡¯s also much less chance of them being spoiled by humans. All you have to do is head to the intersections between fields, forests and streams, places where animals live and pass through. Fertile soil can record the clearest footprints, and to find these tracks, you should look around walls, fences, and gateposts, and don¡¯t overlook the edges of forests. If you find ¡®paths¡¯ that animals frequently pass through, and follow them, you¡¯ll be able to find places where animals raise their young and reproduce. Flattened grass, denser vegetation with small holes than other areas, or tangled fur at low points in fences¡ªthese all tell you that animals pass through here. Once you find something, take pictures to document it, so that you can compare them at home later and know which animals left them. You could try looking for foxes in rural areas. First, look at the footprints; fox prints are longer and slimmer than a dog¡¯s, typically 5 centimeters long by 4 centimeters wide. There is a gap between the two front and two back paw prints, which is longer than a matchstick. With winter¡¯s approach, you can also see fur between fox prints because as the weather gets colder, the fox¡¯s fur grows thicker.¡± [Studied too hard, studied too hard, tonight I¡¯m going to the park to pick a fight with wildlife, and anyone who catches prey gets to feast on hotpot!] [Bullfrog, learnt a new trick, will go to the African Savanna to confront lions, as long as I run fast, they won¡¯t catch me] [Not bad at all.] [Master Fang, is what he said correct?] ¡°Yes, that¡¯s basically the training process. Ordinary people should start with parks, practice makes perfect is very important. When you take pictures, it¡¯s best to include a reference object, like a coin or other common item. Moreover, the best times to go out are at dawn and just before sunset, when the sun¡¯s position can clearly reveal these tracks.¡± Mugalen basically got it right, and Bi Fang just added a bit more information. As they chatted and explained, the trail of blood they were following became more frequent. This was a normal sign that the moose was slowing down, with more blood falling to the ground in the same amount of time. Feeling hungry, Mugalen quickened his pace, but as he rounded a large tree, he suddenly stopped, his pupils shrinking to the size of pinpoints, frozen in place. The drone ascended higher, and the audience erupted in commotion. Chapter 303: 300 The Preemptive Thiefs Awakening Chapter Chapter 303: Chapter 300 The Preemptive Thief¡¯s Awakening Chapter ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± The monitoring staff didn¡¯t speak but just pointed to the screen. Bi Fang narrowed his eyes, it was a map with green dots, one of the green dots and a golden dot were almost overlapping. Contestant and cabin¡­ ¡°Bonuo found the cabin?¡± ¡°Judging by the distance, they are less than three kilometers apart. However, it is not yet noon, so the exact location is not confirmed. If we don¡¯t wait, it might take some effort to find it.¡± The audience instantly became excited. Had someone finally found the cabin? What on earth was inside? Unfortunately, Bonuo was only guided by his instinct and could not find the exact location due to the obstruction of the trees, wandering around like a headless fly. Moreover, he was out of breath after a while from carrying a large amount of deer meat. Such a pity for a deer head. Bi Fang watched with some regret as Bonuo, with a deer head tied up with dead vines on his back, had smashed the complete deer head to make weapons, taking two separate antlers as weapons. The idea was good, and quite cool, but it was somewhat regrettable. Just last night, the two deer heads Bi Fang had hunted were hung separately inside the helicopter cabin, looking impressively dominant. Every passing staffer couldn¡¯t help but stop and watch for a long time. On the other hand, Bonuo was also very anxious. His gut told him the cabin was nearby, but no matter how much he searched, he couldn¡¯t find it. Unfortunately, the signal flare that could confirm the exact location could only be launched at noon, so he had no choice but to wait. This undoubtedly would waste a lot of time. He raised his hand to look at his wristband. Although it was a 300-hour countdown, based on the timing of the signal flare from the past two days, it could roughly be used as a watch. There were still three hours left until the second flare launch. No way around it, just wait. After wasting two hours, Bonuo didn¡¯t find anything. He sat on the ground, quietly waiting for today¡¯s flare to be launched. Meanwhile, Ji Zuodong and Mugalen were also in hot pursuit. Undoubtedly, they were both headed towards the cabin, bold and fearless, not afraid to travel a long distance. Would they meet each other? This was what the viewers cared about most. And there were those who loved chaos, hoping that the two would fight over the supplies. There was still a long time left. Bi Fang didn¡¯t just wait idly; he looked at the other contestants. Meanwhile, one more person had given up, which was a shame. But there was nothing to say; they were sent away directly. As of now, only eleven were left. At the same time, the actions of another contestant caught Bi Fang¡¯s attention. He was supposed to build a shelter, but he was now running wildly through the woods, not appearing to be searching for food. Was he looking for someone? Bi Fang watched as he walked and shouted, clearly looking for other contestants. ¡°Because he could not endure, he chose to look for others to form an alliance? That¡¯s not a bad choice, but isn¡¯t he afraid of attracting some fierce wildlife with all that shouting?¡± Bi Fang suspected the other was a bit of a simpleton, Goulbin was one of those contestants who had chosen to stay and survive. He was not old, just thirty, in the prime of his life. He signed up with full confidence, but unfortunately, he got a rude awakening on his first night. Being in the true Primeval Forest, he could not sleep at all. In the silent darkness, it felt like an unknown beast could emerge at any moment. So much so that on the second day he gave up his original plan to traverse the wilderness and settled down to consolidate his shelter, hoping to last the twelve days. But naturally, he was educated once again. If not for his luck, having found a squirrel nest in the afternoon of the second day and successfully obtaining two squirrels and a pile of various nuts, he might not have made it to now. Not every time can be lucky, so on the third day, he started to consider finding teammates. More hands make light work, and perhaps there could be a way out. As for being the champion or whatever, although he was a bit lacking, he thought the others probably weren¡¯t much better than him. Half an hour later, Goulbin, who was shouting in the forest, did indeed get a response. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Contestant?¡± The other party didn¡¯t rashly approach, instead choosing to converse with Goulbin across the distance. ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Goulbin responded impatiently, ¡°Form a team? I think we can try to team up and then look for a cabin! Use the cabin to build a base!¡± ¡°Use a cabin to build a base?¡± The other person was taken aback, obviously not expecting this kind of strategy. If it was as the crew had said, and the supply point was a cabin, then it was definitely a high-quality shelter. The only problem was the need to cross a hundred kilometers. For those who chose to stay put like them, it was quite a difficult task indeed. In Goulbin¡¯s view, though it may be difficult to obtain the supplies since they were three days behind, for people yearning for survival like them, the cabin was essentially the biggest treasure! Unfortunately, he wasn¡¯t confident about crossing the distance alone, which was why he was looking to recruit a teammate. After proposing this idea, the person across fell silent, obviously moved by the suggestion. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seizing the opportunity while it was hot, he continued, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I haven¡¯t brought anything, no weapons. How about we talk face-to-face?¡± ¡°Then step out, but don¡¯t come closer. Keep a distance from me.¡± This person must have supplies on hand. Goulbin was elated internally. Their caution suggested a considerable advantage¡ªmaybe they had gained something and feared it being taken by others! Under the watch of the drone cameras, no one dared to harm others on purpose, for fear of being seen. The main concern was someone coveting the hardly-gained supplies. Goulbin did as he was told, and soon, the two saw each other across a stretch of forest. Ten minutes later. The second group formed an alliance. Since they had allied, it was only natural to pool their resources for joint management. The squirrel had been eaten yesterday; all Goulbin had left were some nuts, still not a small amount, around two pounds, making for a good energy supplement. On the other hand, what the other person took out was disappointing to Goulbin: just a few bird eggs, and the small kind at that, hardly enough to fill the gaps between teeth¡ªsuch a loss. Alas, it was done, so they could only make do. After allocating food, the two prepared the tools they had made in the past two days and set off towards the direction of the cabin, as they remembered it. They also observed the other survivors¡¯ struggles. When they saw the last one, the audience was shocked because the person was actually collecting urine! And where did you get that plastic bottle? Even Ben wasn¡¯t aware of every contestant¡¯s situation, so he pulled aside a monitoring staff and inquired. ¡°Found it?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The staff member nodded, it was probably last night, and it was just as inconceivable to them that there could be an empty plastic water bottle deep in the Rocky Mountains. Had environmental pollution become this severe? [Damn, I¡¯m never littering again] [That luck is too good] [But are they planning to drink urine now? And to collect it?] Because the camera avoided it, but the audience could still see the yellow liquid accumulating inside the bottle. Ben recalled the contestant¡¯s past and realized that apart from the morning dew, they indeed had not had water for three days. When it comes to Wilderness Survivalist, one can¡¯t avoid extreme circumstances, and drinking urine is one of them. It is often seen on the news that many people have survived disasters like earthquakes by relying on¡­ such measures. The fact that a contestant was doing so now was unexpected to everyone. ¡°Drinking urine indicates very grave circumstances. At least I haven¡¯t encountered such a situation yet, and, unless it is a matter of life or death, it is generally not advisable to do so. Drinking urine concentrated with high sodium due to dehydration can actually worsen dehydration. Strictly speaking, drinking urine isn¡¯t for quenching thirst, but for survival. Normally, the osmotic pressure of urine is higher than that of blood or other body fluids, and it¡¯s even more so when thirsty. However, the human kidneys have a powerful ability to concentrate urine. After drinking urine, the kidneys will receive some water, allowing the body to excrete metabolic waste in a more concentrated form. Drinking urine won¡¯t alleviate thirst, but it can extend the survival period without water The best way is still to collect the urine and distill it. If nothing else, it should at least be filtered before consumption, even simply through clothing if necessary.¡± Chapter 304: 301 Blood-Stained Battle Flag Chapter 304: Chapter 301 Blood-Stained Battle Flag ¡°An eleven-year-old nomadic boy from Africa killed a lion with a spear and painted a totem on his face with the fresh blood of the male lion. An Indian boy slapped a brown bear and displayed the fearless ritual of an adult with its hide.¡± ¡°All these are real events, not fabrications. Human potential is far greater than you can imagine.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll first distract the bear¡¯s attention and then hunt it, no problem. If others can do it, so can I! If others can, I can too!¡± ¡°Today, I¡¯m going to kill that beast.¡± Mugalen climbed up a hillside, panting heavily. Despite his disheveled appearance, his eyes shone brightly underneath. Long spears filled the area behind him, each as thick as an adult¡¯s forearm and over two meters in length. It was hard to imagine such wooden spears piercing into the body of a bear, creating such a scene. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. To even wield such a spear was difficult, let alone use it normally, but only with such strength could it avoid breaking and deliver a fatal blow to the brown bear. That¡¯s how bear traps work; you lure the bear so that it falls into a pit full of sharp spears, using the bear¡¯s own weight to kill it. The most vulnerable underbelly exposed to the sharp instruments, and the half-ton weight pressing down, there was no possible recovery. This was the best attack, and the most effective one. Is it really useful? Will the brown bear actually come? The online friends worried and puzzled at the same time. After all, it was a brown bear, with a body length of 2.3 meters, standing over 3 meters tall, as high as two adults, capable of crushing a person to death just by its weight. And you plan to hunt such a giant creature with primitive weapons? ¡°The chances are high,¡± Bi Fang was certain, judging from the bear¡¯s previous behavior that it was not afraid of humans. ¡°Most animals are fairly unfamiliar with humans because we all live in cities and seldom appear in the wilderness. At first, animals approach with caution, but those that have attacked humans once will know that humans can be attacked, and they¡¯re much easier to hunt than other animals.¡± ¡°I suspect this brown bear has attacked humans before, that¡¯s why it charged directly at Goulbin and his companion when it saw them.¡± [Why didn¡¯t Master Fang simply kill it at the time?] [Yeah, I feel like if Mugalen can do it, surely Master Fang could too, right?] [Plus one, Master Fang, forever the god! (Glow sticks waving frantically)] ¡°Why should I have killed it?¡± Instead of answering, Bi Fang threw the question back at the audience. He knew someone would ask this. Both faced with a brown bear, he chose to retreat, while Mugalen chose to hunt, naturally creating a contrast. ¡°Every hunt is risky, even if I wanted to kill it, I¡¯d still be responsible for the contestants. I couldn¡¯t just leave them and go head-to-head with the brown bear. Besides, I wouldn¡¯t be able to overpower it without setting some traps first. Mugalen must¡¯ve had the same idea. Look¡­¡± Following Bi Fang¡¯s direction, the audience¡¯s attention once again gathered on Mugalen, who was on the move. He circled around a hillside, and the huge brown bear appeared before everyone once more. By then, the brown bear had finished eating and was sound asleep on top of the moose carcass, seemingly unworried about attracting other animals. A perfectly normal behavior, being at the top of the food chain as a predator, it didn¡¯t have to worry about attracting any animals, be it a pack of wolves or a mountain lion. Seeing this, Mugalen was even more infuriated, but he remained cool-headed and didn¡¯t let anger cloud his judgement; rushing in now would be suicide. ¡°Today, the brown bear stole my game and had a hearty meal. Even if it smelled the scent of blood, it¡¯s unlikely to give chase, so I can set more traps and be ready to deal with it tomorrow.¡± Mugalen wiped the sweat from his forehead and climbed down from the hillside. He was unaware that this brown bear had previously attacked other contestants and had a strong propensity to attack humans. The bear could charge at any time if it was hungry, no matter who stood in front of it. But even if this hadn¡¯t been the case, the plan was still sound. By tomorrow morning, the moose left out in the wild and muddy outdoors would be likely starting to decay, and with the presence of fresh blood, would the bear still fixate on the moose? In the natural world, aside from humans, no species consistently eats on a schedule. Driven by instinct, when a living being feels hunger, it wants to eat, but wanting to eat and actually eating are two different things, being hungry is one thing, being satisfied is another. Wild animals eat whenever they have access to food. The so-called mealtime occurs as needed, a brown bear can eat one meal that lasts for several days, or it can eat several meals in one day, entirely depending on the situation. With strong confidence, Mugalen began crafting traps, creating several short spears, and attaching them to a large rock¡­ The next day, while most participants were still sleeping, Bi Fang rose early and started the live broadcast. [Good morning!] [Here I am, front row seat, I¡¯m the first!] [Third!] [Old Fang, what time is it there? We¡¯re already having lunch here (dog¡¯s head)] [Add one, I had hotpot for lunch today, tripe, goose intestines, fatty beef, prawns in spicy pot, mmm, it was divine, jealous much?] [Wori, I just had a simple boxed lunch at noon, listening to you makes me hungry, can¡¯t you be a bit more humane?] ¡°So many people? Have you all been staying up? Oh, it should be the afternoon in China, right?¡± Bi Fang was curious about the large number of viewers, only then realizing that because of the time difference, it was afternoon in China, a time when people are generally more free. Without hesitation, she switched the camera over to Mugalen. From yesterday¡¯s bear encounter till now, Mugalen¡¯s footage had taken up a whole eighty percent, of course, this was also why the audience liked watching him. Going with nothing, using the most primitive methods to hunt brown bears¡ªjust including such a title would attract a large crowd, let alone the live broadcast. Audiences around the globe were anticipating a miracle. In the video, Mugalen was already awake early, he was no longer in a hurry to travel but instead repeated checks on his traps to ensure there were no issues. He spent a full three hours yesterday setting up a single trap, solely hoping that it would work. After ensuring the mechanism was flawless, Mugalen stepped out a few hundred meters, coming to a dead tree with a small trap perched atop. ¡°Ha, got something.¡± Mugalen walked excitedly towards the cage, snatching the squirrel out and then tearing off a piece of cloth, he pressed the squirrel onto it and smashed it with a rock, causing blood to burst. Red and white matter splattered onto the fabric, staining it with thick blood, while a fishy smell began to waft around. Stringing the blood-soaked fabric onto a wooden spear, Mugalen jogged back to his spot, then lit a fire and placed the squirrel over it to roast. He also stuck the spear with the fabric into the ground, so the smell of roasting meat and the stench of blood drifted far into the woods. The fat dripped down the small body of the squirrel onto the charcoal below, sizzling, and in a matter of minutes, the aroma of cooked meat filled the air. Mugalen took the squirrel meat off the fire, blew on it a few times, heedless of its heat, and ate the entire squirrel, leaving no remnants, not even the bones. However, the fragrance lingered for a long time, and that was enough. After finishing the roast squirrel, he extinguished the fire and then stood in the woods with the blood-stained spear, making it as inviting as possible for the brown bear to approach. The blood-stained cloth hung on the spearhead like a flag. The silence in the woods was like death itself, sunlight piercing through the tree canopy to bathe the land in a beautiful golden light, and Mugalen stood in the morning mist, his heartbeat drumming like war drums, his pupils dilated, surveying his surroundings alertly. The sound of snapping trees rang out, the whole mountain forest seemed to have just woken from a nap, the noise soft yet sharp, forceful and unstoppable. Chapter 305: 302: Anti-Theft Bear Chapter Chapter 305: Chapter 302: Anti-Theft Bear Chapter Lisa¡¯s hand, holding the spear, trembled slightly, proving that her emotions were anything but calm at the moment. The sounds grew closer and more piercing by the second. Until a dark figure suddenly burst out from the cave! Now! Her arm muscles contracted in waves, the strength traveled along the spear shaft, and finally transformed into a lightning-fast thrust, aiming at the panicked groundhog! A sharp squeal sounded. The leathery feel bounced back up, Lisa¡¯s face lit up with delight, what a big fat rat! But it wasn¡¯t over yet, there wasn¡¯t just one in the hole! Several smaller shadows darted out from the underside of the coat, scattering in all directions, Ava, quick-eyed and deft-handed, quickly gathered the coat and caught three in a single sweep. ¡°There¡¯s more!¡± More shadows darted out, Ava shouted with excitement, reaching out to grab them with her bare hands. Lisa pulled out the remaining spears, one for each groundhog, and managed to catch three more, apart from a few that escaped. By the time they turned around to go after the others, they were already long gone, roughly a dozen had fled. ¡°They are really fast.¡± Ava felt a bit of regret, but almost immediately, the excitement overwhelmed the disappointment. She counted their prey, eight groundhogs in total! One groundhog was the size of a forearm, incredibly fat, enough to feed two people for four or five days! The audience also felt happy for their catch; the two of them must be the first among all participants to capture so many prey. Having caught so much prey, Lisa and Ava couldn¡¯t wait to sit down on the ground, they moved the still-smoldering fire over, added a lot of firewood, and decided to roast one on the spot! After a simple skinning, the plump groundhog was skewered on a stick from head to tailbone and placed over the fire, sizzling away, and soon began to emit golden-yellow fat. Seeing this scene, many female viewers couldn¡¯t accept it, deep down, they still thought the groundhog wasn¡¯t much different from the common rat ¨C slightly cuter, but still a rat. [Can you really eat groundhogs?] [Yeah, it looks kind of gross, and they are so cute, how can you bring yourself to eat them?] [Tears flowing as I wolf down three bowls of rice] ¡°Of course you can, not only can you eat them, they are incredibly delicious,¡± Bi Fang¡¯s memory went back a long time, ¡°On the Tibetan Plateau, groundhogs are considered a delicacy, especially in autumn, when marmots are at their fattest. They¡¯re like little fat bears, deer and sheep meat can¡¯t compare at all, the roasted meat is very tender, dripping with fat, and the oil just bursts in your mouth.¡± Wild groundhogs were one of the most delicious things Bi Fang had ever eaten; other meats, even rabbit, were tough, and only seemed tasty because of extreme hunger. Many viewers were enticed by Bi Fang¡¯s description and couldn¡¯t help swallowing their saliva. However, some viewers quickly realized something wasn¡¯t right. No, Master Fang¡¯s taste isn¡¯t normal; if he finds it delicious, it probably isn¡¯t something most people can stomach. What was that saying again, crunchy, tastes like chicken? ¡°I¡¯m serious, why don¡¯t you believe me?¡± Bi Fang felt a bit exasperated, and also, since when had he mentioned anything about chicken flavor? How did a joke from his previous world follow him here? Was it brought up by another host? After catching the groundhogs, Bi Fang glanced at the other contestants: Ji Zuodong followed the river, looking for a bend to try his luck at fishing, and indeed, he had a quite fruitful catch. Two Arctic aniseed fish, large and fast-growing with firm flesh and a delicious taste. Mugalen, with the help of his bow and arrows, successfully hunted a jackrabbit and immediately roasted it, combining it with the leftover sauce from the canned food for a delightful meal. It seemed like he was following a live-off-the-land strategy, not sparing any food at all, quite bold. The remaining few didn¡¯t have much luck, their catch was smaller. Among them, two who stayed in one place found a stream, made a small fish trap, baited it with some worms, and indeed caught several small fish. By the afternoon, Marcus¡¯s cold had gotten much worse, his face was extremely pale, and his temperature had risen to 39 degrees; now, pretending to be strong was useless, and he had no choice but to press the SOS button. Only then did the audience realize that only half of the second day had passed and already three people had been eliminated. Out of the original sixteen contestants, only twelve remained. ¡°The initial stage of survival is always the most difficult, it¡¯s a severe test of one¡¯s willpower, skills, and adaptability. Those who can get through the first five days will have an easier time afterward. I predict there will be another peak of eliminations tomorrow and the day after; by the fifth day, I reckon there will be only seven or eight left.¡± Seven or eight? Many viewers fell silent; the number didn¡¯t sound small, half of the contestants remained, but they hadn¡¯t forgotten that these sixteen contestants were no ordinary people¡ªthe majority were military veterans, and even the few who weren¡¯t had relevant professional experience. So only seven to eight people can last for five days? What if they¡¯re all ordinary people? Wouldn¡¯t that mean complete annihilation? By the end of the competition, wouldn¡¯t there be a shortage of even three top contenders? Plus, I heard from another safety advisor that Black Bear and Brown Bear might awaken early, adding an eerie touch to the silent forest. Just watching the live broadcast is thrilling enough. This is the greatest charm of wilderness live streaming, something the shows of my previous life lacked, far surpassing pre-recorded programs in tension and excitement. Bi Fang, however, wasn¡¯t concerned at all. You could still pick out three people. With that thought, he pulled up the small map again and looked towards Bonuo, who had made the farthest advance. This guy wasn¡¯t just traversing the wilderness, he was heading towards the direction of the wood cabin. Bonuo was one of the escapers, but his escape method differed from the other two¡ªhe disappeared into the crowd without a direct confrontation, causing many audience members to underestimate him, but this wasn¡¯t a sign of incompetence. At least he had the determination to head straight for the cabin without any hesitation, which meant a hundred kilometers of road had been walked in vain. ¡°He¡¯ll probably get there by tomorrow.¡± Today¡¯s signal tip had disappeared, and Bonuo didn¡¯t dare to move forward rashly. After reducing the distance to less than twenty kilometers, he slowed down, planning to deploy smoke again at noon tomorrow to arrive. [The first one to find the cabin?] [What¡¯s actually inside? I¡¯m so curious, I really want to know (throws a tantrum)] [Is there food inside? It¡¯s not going to be a submachine gun, is it?] ¡°Submachine gun?¡± Bi Fang was embarrassed, ¡°You guys really have wild imaginations. If it were a submachine gun, we might as well just announce the winner directly.¡± [Okay, no submachine gun, that¡¯s one answer eliminated] [Is this the kind of submachine gun, picture.jpg] [I think it¡¯s this, picture.jpg] [When I have the money, I will definitely buy a phone that can view pictures] ¡°Mr. Bi, please take a look at this.¡± Suddenly, a staff member next to him called Bi Fang over and transferred the footage he had captured to him. It was a drone flying high, overlooking forests as far as the eye could see, an endless patch of grey-green, with snow-covered mountains and blue rivers further in the distance. Yet none of these were the point of interest. At a glen in the hillside, a large herd of deer grazed on shrubs, easily a hundred head, relaxed and carefree. Reindeer sighted again! Not just Bi Fang, but even audience members who had seen them before recognized them¡ªwasn¡¯t this a huge herd of reindeer? Last time Master Fang hunted reindeer with a short spear, then hid under a river of ice to avoid being trampled. The scene was still vivid in memory, and now they¡¯d encountered another herd? ¡°Who is nearby?¡± ¡°Bonuo, less than three kilometers away.¡± The camera immediately switched to Bonuo. At this moment, he seemed unaware of the large herd of reindeer nearby, single-mindedly focused on finding the cabin. But now it was four o¡¯clock in the afternoon, and it would soon be dark. It had been several hours since the last release of smoke, and he was somewhat uncertain of the specific direction. ¡°Where is it?¡± Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bonuo muttered. As a supply location carefully set up by the production team, the contents inside were definitely not going to be poor, perhaps even food, so he had been pressing on, hungry for two days. ¡°Let¡¯s get to high ground and have a look.¡± To confirm the direction and the target, high ground was the best choice. With just a little effort, one could clarify the situation for tens, even dozens of kilometers away. Bonuo looked around and chose a rock wall. The development that followed was exactly as everyone had guessed. He didn¡¯t find the cabin, but he did find the large herd of reindeer. Bonuo¡¯s eyes bulged, completely surprised by his own luck; the cabin hadn¡¯t been found, but he stumbled upon a large herd of reindeer instead. How long can one reindeer last? If he could catch one, not considering spoilage and weight, there would be more than enough food for twelve days! Without hesitation, Bonuo climbed down from the rock wall and swiftly ran towards the direction of the deer herd. Chapter 306: 303 Victory Chapter 306: Chapter 303 Victory S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The behemoth charged wildly across the land. Feeling the slight tremble of the ground, Mugalen¡¯s heart chilled as he glanced out of the corner of his eye and even saw ripples upon ripples in the puddles. Although he had mentally prepared himself before executing the plan, facing such a massive beast was intimidating to anyone. But by now, there was no turning back. In such a situation, any accident could happen in the blink of an eye, no one could rush over in time, and everything depended on him alone. In narrow straits, brave men prevail! Watching the behemoth roar towards him, Mugalen fiercely pulled down the triangular cheval de frise! This terrain was carefully chosen by Mugalen: a narrow valley bottom that was easy to defend but difficult to attack, with a strategic advantage similar to holding a pass against thousands, and one side blocked by the cheval de frise, not even a brown bear could charge through unimpeded. Moreover, the heavy rain from the day before had collected mud water that reached the lower legs in the valley bottom, soaking the soil until it was loose, and with a little force at a specific angle, the cheval de frise could sink deep. As the behemoth charged, Mugalen pulled down the cheval de frise while delaying its steps and thrust his wooden spear toward the neck of the brown bear, momentarily creating an evenly matched struggle. It was a pity that the construction of the cheval de frise was time-consuming and laborious, and even after Mugalen had stayed up all night, he only managed to make five of them. For those wooden spears and traps, even his calloused hands developed many blisters, and now the brown bear had already broken through the third barrier. The behemoth¡¯s paws slapped in the puddle, splashing water higher than a man. Mugalen kept retreating, step by step, as the brown bear pressed on, smacking the cheval de frise and shattering the wooden framework into countless splinters which scattered, just as the audience¡¯s composure was being shattered, their nerves so tense they were nearly curling up, not knowing what to do. Mugalen¡¯s arm muscles bulged as he brandished the wooden spear once more, aiming for the brown bear¡¯s neck, the spot where its defense was weakest and where the blood vessels could be most easily punctured. But the brown bear reacted quickly, with experience from many previous encounters, it bit the wooden spear, and with a single effort, Mugalen was forced to let go, watching in dismay as the bear snapped the spear the thickness of his arm in one bite! Hiss! The online friends inhaled sharply, astonished by the biting power that could snap a thick wooden rod, imagining the same fate could befall a human leg! Immediately more concerned about Mugalen¡¯s predicament, it was fortunate that Mugalen had prepared well in advance, placing a large number of wooden spears by each barrier precisely to anticipate such a scenario, and he promptly picked up another spear from the cheval de frise¡¯s side to confront the bear again. Water splashed everywhere, a fetid wind gusting. As the last barrier was destroyed, Mugalen had no choice but to face the brown bear directly with no more obstructions, maneuvering the wooden spear, circling it in front of the bear¡¯s forehead. ¡°Come and catch me, come on!¡± ¡°You beast!¡± While verbally insulting, Mugalen lured the brown bear to follow him, controlling the rhythm step by step. Until he reached the end of the valley, with no way out, and it was precisely when the brown bear¡¯s patience had run out. Raging anger consumed its mind, and faced with the reptile that kept jumping before it, the brown bear no longer wished to dawdle and charged straight forward, bumping against the wooden spear, knocking Mugalen to the ground, then stood up to attempt its final attack. Countless viewers screamed and closed their eyes, but this was exactly what Mugalen hoped for! He turned around, facing the even larger brown bear head-on, staring intently at every movement of the bear, just as it was about to bring down its attack. ¡°Now!¡± Mugalen roared, his muscles bulging, veins on his wrists throbbing violently as he wedged a wooden spear into the rocks behind him, and then he thrust it upward fiercely! Just as the brown bear was about to strike, its entire weight bearing down like a mountain, a look of terror filled its eyes¡ªbut it was too late to pull back. Its half-ton weight pressed down, and even the bear couldn¡¯t control it! An unstoppable force fell like a collapsing mountain; for a moment, Mugalen forgot to dodge. He wanted to escape, but he couldn¡¯t. The behemoth¡¯s body fell, and the wooden spear pierced into its flesh. Under such massive force, even the strongest defense was as frail as paper. The brown shaft carried out red blood, piercing through the bear¡¯s body. The brown bear roared at the sky, excruciating pain coursing through its body, blood spilling from the corners of its mouth¡ªnot the blood of a deer, but its own bear blood. At this moment, it had no strength left to fight back; all its energy gushed out with the gaping hole in its chest. Its ferocious gaze fixed on Mugalen below, but soon it lost focus and dimmed, followed by a thunderous crash as it fell to the ground. Dead, huh? The online friends dared not readily believe the scene before them, yet the reality told them¡ªthe bear, over two meters and thirty centimeters in length, had died under its own weight. And what about Mugalen? The joy of victory quickly faded, and the audience grew worried about Mugalen¡¯s fate. He was completely pinned down¡ªwould he be alright? The drone immediately moved above the brown bear, and numerous viewers watched this incredibly shocking scene. In the sunlight, the bloody spear tip emitted a faint white vapor; the brown bear¡¯s body was fully spread out as if it were an ancient and bloody totem. Only now could the people truly see the brown bear¡¯s features and understand just how large the behemoth was. Its massive body lay quietly in a puddle, resembling a large, brown pancake stretched out on the ground, with a length of over three meters from front to back. Bloodstains covered the bear¡¯s brown fur, while Mugalen lay motionless underneath. In front of the television, Barton¡¯s heart skipped a beat, not able to believe it. In his eyes, this man who had earned a medal in the army was not supposed to die, shining with an eternal light like the protagonist of a story. Suddenly, the bear¡¯s left paw moved a little. Barton¡¯s heart leaped with joy, but many other online friends were startled. Could it be alive? Goulbin, who had gone to a hotel to watch the live broadcast after his failure, was so frightened that he leaped from his chair, his shirt already soaked with sweat, not knowing if it was due to the heat from the air conditioning or fear. No one understood the fear of facing a top predator better than he did. Facing a brown bear felt like being immersed in profound darkness, as if there was nothing else in the world, only he was left alone. Fear flooded into his throat like a deluge, spilling into his nostrils. Countless microorganisms irritated his nasal mucosa, causing him to be dizzy and to breathe rapidly. By the time he regained his senses, he was already drenched in cold sweat. However, in the next moment, a pale hand suddenly reached out from under the brown bear; compared to the bear¡¯s paw, it seemed tiny, like a child¡¯s arm. The pale hand struggled to grasp the bear¡¯s paw, pushing it away with all its might. Mugalen¡¯s head emerged, as he supported his chest and took deep breaths. ¡°Damn, that almost crushed me.¡± Chapter 307: 304 Anti-Theft in Europe Chapter 307: Chapter 304 Anti-Theft in Europe ¡°An African nomadic boy at the age of eleven killed a lion with a spear, using the fresh blood of the male lion to draw totems on his face. An Indian boy slapped a brown bear and used its hide to demonstrate a fearless adult ritual. These events have all truly happened, not fabricated, and human potential is far greater than you can imagine.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll first distract the bear¡¯s attention, then hunt it down, no problem. If others can do it, so can I! If others can, I can too! Today, I¡¯m going to kill that beast.¡± Mugalen climbed up a hillside, gasping for breath, his hair disheveled and his face dirty, but his eyes shone surprisingly bright. Behind him were many spears, each as thick as an adult¡¯s forearm and over two meters long, making it hard to imagine the scene of such wooden spears piercing into a bear¡¯s body. These spears were not just difficult to wield normally but even to swing, but only thus could they avoid breaking and deliver a fatal blow to the brown bear. That¡¯s how bear traps work, luring the bear and making it fall into a trap with sharp spears at the bottom, using the bear¡¯s own weight to kill it. The softest part of the belly exposed to the blades, a half-ton weight pressing down, there¡¯s no possibility of recovery, this is the best and most effective attack. Would it really work? Would the brown bear come? The Shuiyou were concerned and confused, after all, it was a brown bear, measuring up to two meters three in length, and standing over three meters tall, it was as tall as two adults and could crush a person with its weight alone. Hunting such a giant creature with just primitive weapons? ¡°The chances are high.¡± Bi Fang was certain, knowing from the brown bear¡¯s previous behavior that it did not fear humans. ¡°Most animals are quite unfamiliar with humans as a species because we live in cities and rarely appear in the wilderness. At first, animals react with caution, but once they have attacked a human, they realize that humans can be hunted, and are much easier prey compared to other animals.¡± ¡°I suspect this brown bear has attacked humans before, which is why it charged directly at Goulbin and his partner.¡± [Why didn¡¯t Master Fang just kill it then?] [Yeah, I feel like if Mugalen can do it, Master Fang should be able to as well, right?] [Plus one, Master Fang, Master Fang, forever our god! (Glow sticks waving frantically)] ¡°Why should I have killed it?¡± Instead of responding, Bi Fang posed the question back to the audience. He knew someone would ask this; facing the same brown bear, he chose to retreat while Mugalen chose to hunt, naturally forming a contrast. ¡°Any hunting comes with risks, even if I wanted to kill it, I still have a responsibility to the contestants, I can¡¯t just leave them behind and fight the brown bear, and besides, I couldn¡¯t win a direct fight, at least not without setting some traps first. Mugalen must be thinking the same thing, look¡­¡± Following Bi Fang¡¯s indication, the Shuiyou¡¯s gaze once again focused on the toiling Mugalen. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He rounded a hillside, and the huge brown bear reappeared before them. Having finished its meal, the bear lay on top of the moose carcass, fast asleep, not in the least concerned about attracting other animals. Such behavior was normal; it was a predator at the top of the food chain, not needing to worry about any animals, whether they were packs of wolves or mountain lions. Seeing this, Mugalen couldn¡¯t help but seethe, yet he remained calm, not letting anger cloud his judgment, charging in now would be akin to suicide. ¡°Today the brown bear has taken my prey for its feast, and even if it smells the blood, it¡¯s unlikely to give chase, so I can set up even more traps and prepare to deal with it tomorrow.¡± Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Mugalen climbed down the hillside. He was unaware that this brown bear had also attacked other contestants and had a strong aggression towards humans; if it became hungry, it might charge at anything standing in front of it, but even without this incident, the plan was still viable. By tomorrow morning, the moose left out in the wilderness mud would likely start to rot, with fresh blood nearby, would it still cling to the moose? In the natural world, aside from humans, no animals eat on a regular schedule. Driven by instinct, when an organism feels hunger it wants to eat, but wanting to eat and managing to eat are two different things; being hungry is one thing, feeling satiated is another. When wild animals eat depends on when they can obtain food. Meal times are based on demand¡ªa brown bear might eat enough to last several days or might eat several meals in one day, depending entirely on the circumstances. With strong confidence, Mugalen started making traps, crafting short spears, and tying them to a large rock¡­ The next day, while most of the contestants were still sleeping, Bi Fang got up early and started the live stream. [Good morning!] [I¡¯m here, front row seat, I¡¯m the first!] [Third!] [Old Fang, what time is it there? We are already having lunch over here (Dog¡¯s head)] [+1, I had hotpot for lunch today, tripe, goose intestines, marbled beef, prawns in a spicy pot, mmm, superb, jealous much?] [Wori, I only had a lunch box at noon, I¡¯m starving just listening to you, can¡¯t you be a decent human being?] ¡°So many people? Did you all stay up late? Oh, it must be afternoon back home, right?¡± Bi Fang was curious why there were so many viewers and then it dawned on him that due to the time difference, it was already afternoon back in China, a time when people were more likely to be free. Without hesitation, he switched the view over to Mugalen. Since encountering the bear yesterday, Mugalen¡¯s feed had taken up a whole eighty percent of the broadcast time, and of course, that was also why the audience liked watching him. Going without any gear and hunting brown bears using the most primitive methods¡ªjust having that title would attract a large audience, let alone a live stream. Viewers from around the world were anticipating a miracle. In the footage, Mugalen had woken up early. He was no longer in a hurry to travel but instead repeatedly checked his traps for any flaws. He had spent three hours yesterday setting up a single trap, hoping it would work. After making sure the mechanism was faultless, Mugalen walked a few hundred meters to a fallen dead tree where he had set up a small trap. ¡°Ha, got something.¡± Mugalen excitedly approached the cage and caught a squirrel from within it. Then he tore off a piece of cloth, pressed the squirrel against it, and smashed it with a rock, splattering blood everywhere. The mix of red and white sprayed onto the fabric, soaking it with thick blood, and a pungent smell began to drift away. After skewering the bloody cloth on a wooden spear, Mugalen jogged back and started a fire, placing the squirrel over it to roast. He also planted the spear with the fabric in the ground, and the scent of roasting meat mixed with the smell of blood wafted through the woods over a great distance. The fat dripped down the small body of the squirrel, sizzling as it hit the charcoal. In just a few minutes, the aroma of cooked meat wafted out. Mugalen took the squirrel meat, blew on it a few times, and, not minding the heat, ate the entire squirrel, leaving no bones or scraps behind. The lingering scent was enough. After finishing the roasted squirrel, he extinguished the fire and stood in the woods with the bloody spear, trying his best to make a brown bear feel at ease approaching. The blood-stained cloth hung from the spear like a flag. The silence in the forest was like the stillness of death; the sunlight broke through the canopy, casting a beautiful golden hue on the ground. Mugalen stood in the morning mist, his heartbeat throbbing like a war drum, his pupils shrinking as he watched his surroundings with vigilance. The sound of breaking branches arose, as if the entire forest, having just taken a nap, was slowly awakening. The noise was faint yet crisp, powerful and relentless. Chapter 308: 305 Alls Well That Ends Well Chapter 308: Chapter 305 All¡¯s Well That Ends Well The sun shone bright across the plains, the wind swept across the earth, and countless little yellow flowers swayed, covering the naked brown land left bare after the winter¡¯s snow had melted. The wilderness was vast, as if a golden layer of sunshine had been draped over it. ¡°Spring is here, huh.¡± Bi Fang stood in the wild, the air rushing into his nostrils, the strong scent telling him that the sight before him was surely a swath of vibrant green, even without looking. From February to March, everyone had witnessed, through drone observation, the Rocky Mountains welcoming its spring, watching the earth¡¯s colors change and change again. The wind brought moisture and warmth from the Pacific Ocean, the snow line on the mountains climbed higher, and huge icy armors cracked, with meltwater flowing from the crevices like honey. The long-silent land was exposed to the sunlight once more, breathing in fresh air to its heart¡¯s content, with delicate grass pushing through the ground, like a surge of emerald spring water rising from the depth of the earth, spilling over the undulating wilderness all the way to the horizon. The winter jasmine bloomed first. With a robust vitality, like weeds, they scattered across the entire world, planting their flags in every corner of Earth. They grew crawling on the ground, sprouting branches from the leaf axils, producing long stalks with tender yellow five-petaled flowers. The tender yellow of the flowers overwhelmed the green of the wild grass, extending all the way to the sky, forming a huge blanket of blooms with no visible end. Vibrant with life. Even the audience felt joy in their hearts. In modern society, how many people have such an opportunity to be close to nature and spring? In just over ten days, such changes truly made people feel the presence of ¡°spring,¡± instead of it just being a concept in books, or a fleeting glimpse during a hectic weekend. Even worse, those without even a weekend off¡­ It was the true emergence from nothingness. ¡°Only half an hour left.¡± Bi Fang rolled up his sleeves, unveiling a watch identical to those of the contestants; the digits now shifted from the initial 299:59:59 to the current 000:31:12. ¡°Has Mugalen arrived yet?¡± ¡°He¡¯s already here.¡± Pondy pointed to a small figure in the distance, draped in a huge bearskin, the massive bear¡¯s head sitting atop Mugalen¡¯s own. If one didn¡¯t look closely, they might even think an actual brown bear was approaching. And not to be afraid of being shot. In these times, poachers were not scarce, and a bear¡¯s worth was far more than a hundred thousand Ugly Gold. Walking through the forest in a bearskin, it was indeed possible to be accidentally shot. In the distance, Mugalen also saw the helicopter parked by the road, giving a thumbs-up to the drone¡¯s camera, and shouted toward Bi Fang and the others. ¡°Am I the first one?¡± Bi Fang smiled and nodded, ¡°If no miracle happens in the remaining half hour, then indeed you are.¡± ¡°Ha!¡± Mugalen laughed out loud, extremely pleased with the outcome. But there was still half an hour left before the program officially ended, so he wasn¡¯t in a rush. He made himself at home on the helicopter, flopped down into a chair, swayed from side to side, and heaved a sigh of relief. Damn, it¡¯s more comfortable here; he would have to become a commentator in the future. Half an hour later, no miracle occurred. Ava and Lisa were still nearly a hundred kilometers away from human habitation, failing the crossing. The production team dispatched helicopters to pick up the participants one by one and discuss the final award ceremony process. Bi Fang was discussing with the other judges. The first and second places were without a doubt, belonging to Mugalen and Ji Zuodong, but the third¡­ Who would it go to? The judges had a dispute, between Avrilisa and the guy who survived in the Wilderness for twelve days, who would take third place? After all, crossing over is harder than just surviving, and even though they didn¡¯t make it, Avrilisa are women, and are naturally physically weaker; they should be given extra consideration, and the conditions should be relaxed a bit¡­ ¡°Enough, Aojinka third!¡± The judges were arguing noisily, and Bi Fang, annoyed, directly made the call for third place. ¡°Ah, this¡­¡± The judges looked at each other, those who supported Aojinka were naturally happy, while those who didn¡¯t felt choked up and uncomfortable; all the conditions they listed were ignored. Bi Fang scornfully curled his lip; all these judges were from the Ugly Country, probably brainwashed. In his view, a failure was a failure; there were not so many excuses. He definitely admired the will and ability of Avrilisa; women¡¯s inherent conditions were indeed weaker, but if they were to win because of this, that would be the true lack of respect. Do real strong women need your pity? With these judges, let Lisa come over, and she would knock them out one by one with a punch. Moreover, this wasn¡¯t fair to Aojinka either; he actually won by skill, firm for twelve days, continuously catching small game, showing real ability, understanding how to find animal paths, and his shelter was well built and fortified. It was indeed very impressive. Jerret naturally had no objections to this decision; when he first invited Bi Fang over, he made it clear that Bi Fang was the primary judge with the decisive power, while the others only had the right to suggest. Not satisfied? Fine, go hunt a black bear and come back to talk, otherwise, hold your peace. Seeing that no one had any more objections, Bi Fang walked over to Mugalen, grabbed his hand and lifted it high. ¡°Then let us congratulate Mr. Mugalen Abufus Viller, our champion! The king who conquered the Rocky Mountains, the warrior who hunted the brown bear!¡± Nearby, the staff immediately brought over the trophy, which had Mugalen¡¯s full name engraved on it, along with a large cheque. Mugalen didn¡¯t care about the darn trophy; he was here for the hundred thousand Ugly Gold, but upon receiving it, he saw it wasn¡¯t a hundred thousand, but a full six hundred thousand! The audience¡¯s breath nearly stopped when they saw it, six hundred thousand? Wasn¡¯t that nearly four million Red Tickets? Oh my god! Mugalen¡¯s mind went blank, wondering if the show had made a mistake. Jerret, however, explained with a smile, ¡°Actually, it was Bi Fang¡¯s idea; he felt that a hundred thousand simply didn¡¯t match your performance, so he suggested adding all the tips from the audience during those two days plus any tips from segments you appeared in. The production team just rounded it up. The other survivors got their share too; everyone got the tips from the segments they appeared in.¡± Ji Zuodong, who came second, and Aojinka, who came third, also received cheques; looking down, it was indeed as he said, their earnings were several times more than the pre-set amounts! Even Avrilisa, who failed the challenge, got their share; as long as they hung in there, they all received prize money, making their half-month struggle worthwhile. In an instant, the live studio was filled with congratulations and cheers; for the first place winner, Mugalen, they had absolutely no objections, a true heavyweight. Hearing the prize money had increased, everyone was genuinely happy from the bottom of their hearts. Likewise, Bi Fang¡¯s generosity had to be praised; after all, he didn¡¯t actually have to share the money, and no one would naturally assume that Bi Fang shouldn¡¯t take the money. If it wasn¡¯t for him, the show wouldn¡¯t have been as popular as it is now. It might have been in the future, but certainly not in the first season. The audience who spent money tipping generally came for Bi Fang. After all, for a new show, no matter how exciting or popular, there¡¯s always a lag; it¡¯s usually the later audience watching the recording, not at all like now with so many live viewers. A reward exceeding a million Ugly Gold, in any show, could be considered generous, and it laid the best foundation for Wilderness Arena. Even if Bi Fang wasn¡¯t there in the future, the Explorers¡¯ Channel was confident they could continue it. Everyone was happy! S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 309: 306: Preventing Theft Chapter 309: Chapter 306: Preventing Theft Giant It was indeed that very brown bear from before! The audience couldn¡¯t be mistaken, such a massive body could only belong to the giant brown bear! Mugalen¡¯s palm clenched suddenly, unable to accept the scene before him, his hard-earned prey had fallen into the jaws of a beast! The brown bear that was happily eating suddenly twitched its nose, as if a different smell had intruded, ruining its delightful feast. Sniffing around, it turned its head towards Mugalen behind it. Less than twenty meters away. Mugalen could even smell the stench from the brown bear¡¯s gaping mouth, thick blood trailing from the corners, wetting its fur, clumping together. Plop. A chunk of flesh fell through the gaps in its teeth, dropping into the mud. The brown bear didn¡¯t pick it up again; it just stared at Mugalen, quietly observing. Mugalen did not look away either, locking eyes with it, his gaze filled with ferocity, My God! The audience was almost holding their breath. Why not escape while the brown bear was distracted with its meal? Why would he lock eyes with it? Wasn¡¯t he afraid of provoking it? They vividly remembered Master Fang saying that locking eyes with a bear could easily provoke it. Had Mugalen gone mad? The sight of the brown bear gnawing on its prey, blood dripping, sent a frantic shiver through the audience. The immense pressure was like facing a ghost in a horror movie¡ªcold sweat dripping silently. The air seemed to grow thicker, and worse yet, the audience felt as if glue-like air was creeping into their respiratory tracts, resembling a soft, long tongue sliding down their windpipes into the lungs, bursting all the alveoli, filling their mouths with the taste of rust. But Mugalen didn¡¯t take a step back, his hand gripping the longbow trembling slightly, not out of fear, but anger. It was not easy to catch a large prey that could solve his hunger and earn points, only to have his success stolen by a brown bear. How about slaughtering it? Killing a brown bear, even if he didn¡¯t complete the crossing successfully, he should be first, right? This thought startled Mugalen himself, but then it caught fire like dry kindling, growing stronger rather than receding. He really wanted¡­ to try. Under the tense gaze of the audience, Mugalen¡¯s thoughts raced, and when he refocused on the brown bear, he saw that it had lowered its head again, continuing to chew. He definitely wanted to give it a try! Looking at the moose with its entire abdominal cavity hollowed out, Mugalen immediately firmed his resolve. The audience, seeing the brown bear didn¡¯t care about Mugalen, breathed a sigh of relief, completely unaware of the determination Mugalen had just made. They only felt relief that the brown bear had paid no further attention to them. Thank goodness, that kind of oppressive feeling was truly terrifying, even scarier than a horror film. At least with horror films you know they¡¯re fake, but this was a live broadcast, the most real imagery, where in the next second real death and a bloody incident could occur. Bi Fang also relaxed his spine, exhaling softly in relief that nothing had happened. Mugalen had quite the guts, to take such a gamble under those circumstances, matching his own. However, many in the audience were still puzzled. Shouldn¡¯t a predator protect its food? Why didn¡¯t the brown bear react at all when Mugalen glared at it? Was that reasonable? ¡°Actually, it¡¯s reasonable. This has to do with the brown bear¡¯s habitat and genetics. Brown bears are typical omnivores, they eat mammals as well as fruits. When they are full and not hungry, their willingness to attack other creatures is very low, even lower than a domesticated dog, not to mention randomly attacking other creatures while eating,¡± Clearly, Mugalen was aware of this, which is why he dared to stare straight at the brown bear. If it were two days ago, it would be a wonder if the bear did not pounce on him. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Regrettably, the moose was snatched away by the bear, an undeserved calamity. ¡°Similar incidents have occurred before, but it wasn¡¯t between humans and brown bears, it was a tiger and a brown bear. That time a male tiger returned to his prey only to find a male brown bear, full and satisfied, sleeping soundly on the carcass of the deer it had hunted. The male tiger thought to approach slowly for a surprise attack, but was noticed by the bear when it came within 15 meters.¡± The ambush had failed, but the tiger still launched an attack, making five great leaps around the bear without success. The male bear was not afraid of it; standing up about 15 meters from the tiger, it rested its front paws on a fallen tree, assuming a stance ready for both offense and defense. Ultimately, the male tiger gave up on reclaiming its prey, and the bear continued to feast. [Ah, this is history repeating itself!] [Old Fang really knows his stuff, how does he know about these things? Did he peek at the answers?] [What a pity, though, isn¡¯t this moose bigger than the one Bonuo caught?] [Reindeer simply can¡¯t compare to moose. I saw a moose during my last trip to Canada, and that guy was at least three meters tall, longer than two of me.] [Two of you, brother, you must be a bit short.] [But it¡¯s still such a pity, such a big moose gone. Maybe we could wait for the Brown Bear to finish eating and then pick up the leftovers? That¡¯s about all we can do now.] As the audience and Bi Fang felt sorry for Mugalen, he himself did not think so; he instead saw this as a golden opportunity. Many things become less difficult once you set your mind to them. He had a hunting license; he was allowed to hunt Brown Bears, which was not a problem at all. However, this was his first time primitively hunting a Brown Bear, a tremendous challenge. Then, what happened next not only shocked the audience, even Bi Fang was mildly surprised. Mugalen didn¡¯t leave; instead, he kept circling around the Brown Bear, seemingly closely observing the opponent. Was he waiting for the Brown Bear to leave? No, this behavior was definitely not that. What was he planning to do? ¡°Bear hunting,¡± Mugalen explained calmly. It must be said, Mugalen was a very talented man; he knew what to do to attract an audience. As soon as he spoke up, the viewers were stunned. Hunting a bear? How could that be possible? This was an adversary even Master Fang would avoid if he encountered it! After carefully observing the Brown Bear¡¯s form, Mugalen slowly retreated into the jungle, began looking for long, straight, suitable timber, and used his Stone Knife to cut it into spears. Tapping his head, Mugalen said, ¡°To hunt a creature far stronger than yourself, you must use your brain. Understanding the habits, movements, and behaviors of these creatures is their vulnerability. We are humans; what makes us much stronger than other animals is not physical strength or sharp claws, but our brains. We must use our brains to defeat them!¡± ¡°Make spears, lure the Brown Bear, entice it to attack. When the bear stands on its hind legs, as it lunges forward, stab it with a spear, like a bear trap. Bear hide is too thick for a normal person to inflict effective wounds, but what if we use the bear¡¯s own strength? Make it kill itself!¡± Is that possible? The audience wondered. Of course, it¡¯s possible, even highly feasible. Bi Fang nodded, ¡°Many animals have a monotonous attack pattern, just like a one-trick pony. Why did the tiger fail the first two times but succeed on the third? It was because it was unfamiliar with the donkey¡¯s attack pattern and got kicked, but by the third time, it saw through the donkey¡¯s tactics and was prepared, leading to a successful hunt. Tigers are the same; the limbs of tiger species are very strong, allowing them to leap high. For smaller prey, tigers tend to use their powerful forelimbs to knock down their prey, attacking it with their canine teeth. In non-ambush situations, tigers also rely on their forelimbs to test, even when two tigers fight, they stand and punch each other with their forelimbs. Only when facing large prey, like a big, strong buffalo, will they jump on top of the prey, applying their weight to quickly subdue it. Therefore, the widely circulated idea of a sliding tackle is impossible; tigers won¡¯t jump up to offer such an opportunity. But knowing it will use a paw swipe, couldn¡¯t we employ some tactics against it? Mugalen¡¯s reasoning for tackling the Brown Bear is similar.¡± Okay, the plan may be feasible, but another problem arises. What should be used as bait? ¡°Me.¡± Having finished carving the spear, Mugalen looked towards the drone. ¡°I am the bait.¡± Chapter 310: 307: This Thing Is More Useful Than Money Chapter 310: Chapter 307: This Thing Is More Useful Than Money Bi Fang sat on the edge of the bed, feeling quite excited. Just yesterday, he had been wondering when the System would release a task, and surprisingly, it arrived today. Excluding the time spent recording in the Wilderness Arena, Bi Fang had been resting for over a month since before the New Year, and he felt his bones were starting to rust. He couldn¡¯t wait to open the task panel. Task Name: Ruins City Task Location: Abbascan Yeimen Region Task Mode: Warzone Survival Task Difficulty: S2 S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Task Requirement: No items may be carried except for System equipment. Sub-task One: Establish a live broadcast, with a simultaneous long-term online audience of over one million. Sub-task Two: Conduct a six-day wilderness live broadcast, and survive successfully. Guaranteed Reward: Unlock a breakthrough task. Time Limit: Fifteen days. Ruins City? After browsing through the entire task, Bi Fang furrowed his brows. He didn¡¯t like this task, not one bit. Abbascan, one of the most chaotic countries in the world. Yeimen, a ruined city within this nation, where bandits, organizations, and armies, with their complex and intertwined forces, made it possible to be suddenly attacked just walking on the streets, with no safety to speak of. But Bi Fang was not afraid, as he had faced life-and-death crises before. It was not fear that deterred him, it was genuine dislike. All along, he had been an advocate of nature adventures. Although Ruins City could be considered part of the wilderness, Bi Fang didn¡¯t like it at all. Rainforests, forests, deserts, snow mountains ¨C even if they appeared barren, they were all ¡°brimming with life.¡± Unique landforms and scenery, magnificent natural beauty, all sorts of animals struggling and striving hard to adapt to their environments¡­ Ruins City¡­ The only way to describe it was deathly still, devoid of any hope, because those struggling here are humans themselves, and the reason for its current state was also humans themselves. When Bi Fang first saw this task, his inner response was one of rejection, until he saw the guaranteed reward at the end and paused for a moment. Open a breakthrough task? What was that? He had never heard of it before. He had experienced several tasks before, in forests, tundras, deserts, across the whole of Europe, but what was a breakthrough task? What was it breaking through? The intuition of the Wilderness Master told Bi Fang that this was something important, and if he rejected it, he might very well regret it. Accept. Bi Fang trusted his instincts and clicked to accept. This task was different from the previous ones. There was no issue going to France before, with Elvan providing a guarantee with his research assistant credentials, but Abbascan was too sensitive a country. Given Bi Fang¡¯s current status, going there could lead to complications. The task was only six days, yet the System had given fifteen days for preparations, presumably to allow time for making the necessary arrangements. Bi Fang took out his phone and dialed a number, on the other end was a person arranged from above to be something like a handler, since his public live streams were branded, making it easier to find someone to solve any issues that arose. ¡°Abbascan? Mr. Bi isn¡¯t joking, is he?¡± The person in charge on the other end of the line was taken aback, even checked his ear to make sure he hadn¡¯t misheard, and after confirming that he wasn¡¯t mistaken and that the other party wasn¡¯t joking, his expression turned serious. ¡°This is a bit of a troublesome matter.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m giving an early heads up, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°A notification?¡± The person in charge rubbed their brow, the other party¡¯s words were too clear. A notification it was, not a request for approval, the desire to go was very strong. After some thought, the person in charge nodded: ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll notify the higher-ups as soon as possible, and then contact the Abbascan side. The key to this matter actually lies not with us, but with whether they agree or not. If they don¡¯t agree, our agreement would be in vain. Mr. Bi should understand this point.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Bi Fang nodded. He was, of course, aware that the approval actually depended on the will of the Abbascan side. If they said yes, then it was truly possible. After notifying the officials, Bi Fang immediately contacted Wolf Fang, but when Assistant Liu brought up these matters, the other party seemed somewhat confused, vaguely agreeing to them. A moment later, the phone rang again. Wang Yongbo¡¯s loud voice came from the other end of the phone: ¡°Abbascan, Bi Fang, you can¡¯t be joking, is that place even considered wilderness?¡± ¡°It is,¡± Bi Fang nodded earnestly. ¡°¡­¡± There was a moment of silence on the other side of the phone, and then a trembling voice: ¡°But they are at war there. Even planes dare not fly over that area!¡± ¡°Otherwise, why would I go?¡± ¡°You! Ah, it¡¯s not the same!¡± ¡°It is the same.¡± Wang Yongbo was speechless, the other party really had guts. Although he had never been to Abbascan and didn¡¯t dare to go, he knew from movies and TV shows how terrifying that kind of place could be. Compared with domestic environments, it was like the difference between hell and heaven. After a long silence, Wang Yongbo finally sighed: ¡°Do whatever you want, I realize that I¡¯ve tried to persuade you more than once, yet to this day nothing has happened to you, while I¡¯m nearly getting a heart attack.¡± Perhaps that was the gap between an ordinary person and a legend. After a brief warning, Wang Yongbo no longer tried to dissuade him, and instead brought up another matter, inviting Bi Fang to an award ceremony. ¡°An award ceremony? Wasn¡¯t it already held?¡± Bi Fang frowned, thinking that the award ceremony mentioned by Wang Yongbo was the annual meeting, inviting himself as one of the top live streamers on the platform to receive some prize money and make an appearance. During the Wolf Fang annual meeting last month, he had been drifting at sea, naturally he didn¡¯t go, so what was this now? ¡°It¡¯s not the annual meeting. That was a month ago, how could it be the annual meeting? It¡¯s an official commendation!¡± Wang Yongbo clicked his mouse, sending a notification message to Bi Fang. It turned out to be an official invitation to Wolf Fang to participate in the Magic Capital Quality Entertainment Platform, Excellent Culture Communicator Award Ceremony and Live Observation Meeting. Bi Fang¡¯s name was listed there, with emphasis highlighted. Bi Fang suddenly remembered the news he had heard a long time ago. The authorities intended to rectify the chaos in the live streaming industry, and clearly, this event was also part of the recent regulatory efforts, with both punishment and commendation, suppressing the improper and establishing the standard. Live streaming is a form of entertainment that emerged rapidly with the internet era, growing swiftly from the moment it appeared. Within just a few years, it spawned several companies worth billions. Rapidly growing things are often rough, like adolescent boys, still with runny noses, yet sprouting barely firm beards from their lips. Sometimes upon waking up, they¡¯d find their pants have become shorter. It was as if after a thunderclap at the waking of insects, various bugs began to pester humans. One day, with a startling thunder from within, multicolored red, white, yellow, and purple sores burst forth on the face, capturing people¡¯s attention. Live streaming was the same; its growth was too rapid and too rough, relying entirely on market norms, and could even be described as barbaric, with frequent chaos. But this was, after all, a nascent thing. It shouldn¡¯t be abruptly cut off but rather guided towards a healthy and positive direction. Bi Fang¡¯s emergence was the most powerful proof of that. Thus, while criticizing Tiger Fang and Shark for their actions, the authorities also needed to commend exemplary platforms, setting a standard for the industry. There was no need to say who the standard was. Wolf Fang was selected as an excellent video platform, and they specifically mentioned Bi Fang¡¯s presence! Initially, when Wang Yongbo saw this notification, he almost thought he was seeing things; it was completely unexpected. Winning an award for live streaming? Although it was just an award with no tangible reward, it represented official recognition and encouragement, which was more effective than money. Chapter 311: 308: Uncle, I want a cup of Cappuccino. Chapter 311: Chapter 308: Uncle, I want a cup of Cappuccino. ¡°The meeting is on Friday morning, and there will be an award ceremony and a livestream. It¡¯s not just a chance for our platform, but also for you to show your face, so you must dress spiritedly,¡± Wang Yongbo repeatedly reminded on the phone, fearing that Bi Fang would screw up when the time came and had even thought of all possible excuses. Slept in, traffic jam, forgot, didn¡¯t want to go, where there¡¯s training there¡¯s bliss¡­ After all, he¡¯s a man who would skip the annual meeting that handed out bonuses without a second thought, so any mishap wouldn¡¯t surprise him at all. The annual meeting is an internal Wolf Fang event, and it wouldn¡¯t make any difference whether Bi Fang attended or not. Even the bonus he was due had to be given to him, to the last cent, of course secretly. Otherwise, what would the other attendees think? But the award ceremony was different; miss it once and you can forget about attending any future ones. Bi Fang was no fool and nodded, ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll definitely be there on time the day after tomorrow morning.¡± Upon receiving the promise, Wang Yongbo happily hung up and began discussing with his colleagues in the company where to place the certificate and trophy to make them most conspicuous once they had been obtained. He also needed to consult the publicity department about the poster for the next livestream. As a shrewd businessman, Wang Yongbo realized Bi Fang¡¯s additional value early on. When someone tried to use Bi Fang¡¯s image rights to make merchandise and posters, his immediate thought was, why not do it himself? Due to the special nature of Bi Fang¡¯s livestreams, almost every episode could become a poster and merchandise, perfectly coinciding with a one-month cycle, which overlapped with the Shuiyou¡¯s payday. After some discussions with Bi Fang, Wang Yongbo, once granted permission, eagerly started an initiative where the top hundred fans on the leaderboard would automatically receive a new poster every month, the top fifty would get both a poster and merchandise, and the top ten would receive signed posters, photos, and merchandise. As for those beyond the top hundred, they would have to purchase these items. To this day, the best-selling ¡°Goose Journey¡± had shipped over a hundred thousand copies, earning dozens of yuan per copy¡ªthat¡¯s a few million yuan, with Bi Fang taking half of it, a lucrative deal! Wang Yongbo grew prouder of his exceptional foresight in discovering this treasure of a livestreamer in Bi Fang at a time of little significance, with Shark delivering a divine assist. He was thinking of awarding them the trophy, as they deserved it. Without Shark, there would be no few days for Wolf Fang, and without Wang Weifeng, there would be no Wang Yongbo! Such a huge favor, never to be forgotten in this lifetime! ¡°Ha!¡± Wang Yongbo breathed hot air on the picture frame, pulled out a tissue and wiped repeatedly until the glass shone, and then placed it respectfully on his desk, revealing an auntie¡¯s smile. ¡­ ¡­ Friday. In the corner of the office, Wang Weifeng unlocked his phone to swipe through Weibo, hoping to catch up on some news. Now, he was utterly without status in the company. Not having fallen to the level of cleaning toilets or standing guard with the security team, but the office he was given was in the most remote corner¡ªcramped and crowded, uncomfortable even to sit in. Every day he was tasked with trivial yet annoyingly abundant errands. He knew the company was just trying to wear him down, waiting for him to resign on his own. But if he resigned, where could he go? After what he did, which company in the industry would openly hire him? Wouldn¡¯t hiring him imply that their company condoned such actions and wasn¡¯t the least bit bothered by it? Facts are facts, and on the surface, it cannot be said as such. Sigh. Thinking of this, Wang Weifeng sighed again, wondering why he was so unlucky to have encountered such a disaster, truly the worst misfortune in several lifetimes. Lu Wentao got savaged by the critiques, left Shark early, and his livestream numbers are worse than before. He has already left Shark and nobody knows where he is streaming now. Lu Junfeng had it even worse. Pressured by Shark, the guild simply fired him. But what can a man skilled only in manipulating leaderboards do without his guild? Unable to find work, with the high cost of living in Magic Capital, who knows what he is doing now? Only Wolf Fang, I don¡¯t know what kind of dumb luck he stumbled upon. Just thinking about it makes me boil with rage. If it weren¡¯t for this dying platform making a last-ditch struggle and getting Bi Fang on board, he really might not have achieved what he has now. Heard Wolf Fang has risen recently, and the live streaming platforms outwardly appear to have returned to a three-way standoff, Wang Weifeng feels quite disdainful at heart. What risen, bullshit! With Wolf Fang¡¯s stiff style, even if it rises, it¡¯s just temporary. Once the wilderness trend is over, it¡¯ll definitely reveal its true colors. How could it stay popular for long with just one wilderness show and one person? Even if it really does stay popular for that long, Bi Fang will get old one day, won¡¯t he? That¡¯s not at all a strategy for growth. Not to mention anything else, Shark spent a lot of money digging up quite a few big-time anchors after the annual meeting this year¡ªgame streamers, dance broadcasters, entertainment hosts¡ªall bringing in a new wave of traffic. What does Wolf Fang have to compare with that? Wear a little less and get blocked, gaming broadcasters can¡¯t be too free with their words, the contract constraints are poor, can¡¯t retain big broadcasters¡ªall these three conditions alone are enough to turn away a whole group of Shuiyou. If it weren¡¯t for the early launch and the many early followers, Wolf Fang would have been dead and buried by now. It¡¯s just living on borrowed time, a brief resurgence. As for the real leader, you have to look at Shark. Shameless or not, having become a casualty in the struggle, such a ruthless model indeed stands firm and cuts through the competition. If you want to make a name for yourself, relying purely on luck won¡¯t work, you have to be ruthless. There was even a hot post that came out recently, and Shark is still trying to suppress it through connections. It¡¯s about Bi Fang and the whole affair with Shark. Once someone gets famous, people get curious about their background, especially with Bi Fang¡¯s move from Shark to Wolf Fang¡ªthere¡¯s no way there isn¡¯t some dirty laundry there, and anyone intent on digging will find out. Some even tout that Shark¡¯s time is over, and the future belongs to Wolf Fang, urging to quickly download the Wolf Fang APP, obviously the work of paid internet shills. Having nothing better to do, Wang Weifeng found this post on Weibo and planned to criticize it as a target, hoping to satisfy a certain urge. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But as soon as he pulled out his phone, he found that someone had @ him, and he had received messages¡ªnot just one. Wang Weifeng was puzzled. What had happened? He quickly clicked open and then saw a group photo associated with a news release. It looked like a very official occasion, with a red banner hanging above the conference room that read, ¡°Magic Capital Quality Entertainment Platform, Content Creators, and Works Awards and Observational Meeting¡±. Beneath the banner was a large group photo, with Wolf Fang¡¯s vice-president Wang Yongbo personally in attendance, his old face grinning so wide that his chrysanthemum folds were showing, holding a trophy and certificate in his hands, standing up straight and neatly. Wang Weifeng, very familiar with Wang Yongbo, dared swear on his own head that this guy definitely wore height-enhancing shoes, and even put a stool underneath him. In the middle of the photo stood Bi Fang, a man Wang Weifeng would recognize even if he turned to ashes. Among a crowd of entrepreneurs with potbellies, bald heads, and teeth yellowed from smoking, the tall and handsome Bi Fang was as conspicuous as a poker in a pocket. But what the hell is this? Wang Weifeng, ¡°¡­?¡± What is this event? Why is Wolf Fang there? Why is there no Shark? One after another, three questions appeared in Wang Weifeng¡¯s mind. With so much information, his expression was filled with confusion¡­ He had a vague sense that something was amiss and desperately needed some tranquility, but his busy work left no time for Wang Weifeng to muse. ¡°Hey, Old Wang, pour me a coffee.¡± ¡°Eh, coming right up!¡± ¡°With or without sugar?¡± ¡°Less sugar, my blood sugar has been a bit high lately.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± ¡°Crap, why is it so hot?¡± ¡°Ah! I¡¯m so sorry, so sorry¡­¡± Chapter 312: 309: Theft Prevention Chapter 312: Chapter 309: Theft Prevention ¡°This bear, might be worth even more than the first-place prize.¡± Mugalen stood in front of the bear¡¯s corpse, slightly out of breath. The pressure he just felt was truly suffocating, as if three or four adults were weighing him down. Nowadays, brown bears are a rarity. The price one can fetch for a single bear is astronomical, especially for such a massive one. ¡°It¡¯s just that the fur quality is a bit lacking.¡± Mugalen felt a twinge of regret. Not to mention the large holes and bloodstains, just the battering it took had left several large gashes on the bear. If the skin was peeled off intact, it was bound to be pockmarked. Thinking this, Mugalen no longer cared about appearances and flopped down in the mud, waving at the drone and shouting, ¡°Hey, could you help preserve the bear paws? Freeze them directly. There are still two days left until the end, and I¡¯m afraid they¡¯ll go bad.¡± Mugalen knew for sure that a whole bunch of people were watching him; otherwise, it would be strange. The show¡¯s crew looked at each other, confused. Such a request was actually against the rules, but given the circumstances, breaking the rules just this once seemed to be no big deal. ¡°Let¡¯s agree to it.¡± Jerret nodded. Anyone in this situation would make an exception. Mugalen, having received an affirmative response, was all smiles. He pried open the brown bear¡¯s large mouth, and a putrid smell hit his nostrils, but Mugalen didn¡¯t show the slightest disgust. He reached straight in, veins bulging on his forehead. After a moment, Mugalen managed to pry out a canine tooth, and upon losing his strength, he fell back into the puddle. The water, which should have been ice-cold, felt completely unnoticed by Mugalen as he washed the tooth in it, then raised it triumphantly in front of the camera. Under the sunshine, the slightly yellow canine tooth shimmered, measuring four centimeters long¡ªno one would dare to underestimate it. It was, after all, a trophy from one of the strongest land predators. Just auctioning it could fetch a handsome price because this was no mere bear tooth, but one obtained from primordial hunting, a symbol of human strength and intelligence, worthy of commemoration. But Mugalen¡¯s mindset clearly wasn¡¯t on this point as he shouted joyfully, ¡°Milani, can you see this? This thing is way prettier than a shark tooth!¡± The audience was momentarily stunned, but many quick-witted ones got the joke and burst into laughter. [Holy shit, who¡¯d have thought this is what you actually cared about?] [Seriously, is this the main point? Now I¡¯m starting to question the real motive behind Mugalen hunting the bear. ] [But still, bad-ass. ] [Indeed, must be first place by now, right? I feel like even if he can¡¯t make it out, Mugalen should still be first. But there¡¯s probably still time to leave, right? ] [Only two days left, it¡¯s a bit risky, but no problem. Another rising star has emerged, just not as cool as Master Fang.] [True, Old Fang is still more awesome in this regard (Funny.)] [Damn, why do these kinds of people exist, handsome and capable (Crying), should¡¯t it be more like Uncle Mugalen? ] For three whole hours, Mugalen was busy with the bear carcass. A bear¡¯s hide is not something that can be dealt with easily. On one hand, the bear was too large for one person to handle, and on the other hand, the hide itself was severely damaged, so it had to be carefully processed to prevent further decline in quality. The skin had to be cut open with a small knife at every patch, like a butcher meticulously carving meat. Draping the entire bear hide over oneself, that sense of accomplishment was truly unmatched, causing countless viewers to watch with envy, almost to the point of tears. Moreover, many international viewers even offered high prices to buy the bear¡¯s head and hide, but Mugalen declined them all. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Joking, such a feat, even he himself wasn¡¯t sure he could replicate it. Of course, he had to keep it in his own home for a collection; selling it was absolutely out of the question. However, he could sell a couple of bear paws. ¡­ Survival Day Eleven. Mugalen set out again, his bear hide on his back. To lighten the load, he had even taken off his jacket. Ava and Lisa were still suffering from colds. Luckily, their condition wasn¡¯t too severe, and they were able to move around, supporting each other as they walked. But it seemed unlikely for them to make it through the wilderness. The guys in the jungle were still living a leisurely life, catching small animals every day, heading to the river for water when hungry. They were having an easygoing time, to the point of having a makeshift yard now. As for the last one, Ji Zuodong¡­ Ji Zuodong stopped in his tracks and looked down at the broken tree beside him, his expression brightening with joy. The cross-section was smooth and even, it clearly wasn¡¯t broken by nature. It was chopped down! ¡°The cross-section of a tree broken by nature is always rough, but only humans using tools could make such a smooth cut. I¡¯ve finally found traces of human activity. With any luck, I might find a human settlement today.¡± Running his hand over the smooth surface, Ji Zuodong felt a surge of excitement in his heart. Eleven days, he had survived in the wilderness for a total of eleven days. Do you know how he had spent them? Playing the game¡­ traveling every single day! His legs had even started to ache and swell. The more Ji Zuodong thought about it, the more thrilled he became. After confirming his direction, he continued forward, filled with fighting spirit. ¡°If it¡¯s a wheel track, there might be a road nearby, if it¡¯s a chopping mark, there might be a village or a small town nearby. Only then would someone go into the forest to chop down trees. Of course, it¡¯s also possible that I¡¯ll find a road first.¡± Sure enough, an hour later, Ji Zuodong reached the top of a hill. The view was wide open, and he could clearly see for tens of kilometers around. Utilizing his vantage point, he spotted a road below the hill at a glance! ¡°Damn it, Old Fang has finally made it out!¡± Ji Zuodong couldn¡¯t help but shout out loud, even letting out a curse word, followed by a burst of uninhibited laughter. Finishing his crossing more than a day early, he must be the first, right? Not to boast, but with only five people left, it was very likely that he would secure first place. All he had to do was descend the hill, and in less than a kilometer, he would reach the road and declare his challenge a success. With that thought, he hurried down the hill, seemingly still full of energy. It was truly incredible. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for someone as bold as Mugalen, this championship might really have been ours. It¡¯s a shame we can only settle for second place now.¡± Bi Fang, who had already returned to the helicopter, smiled and felt a tinge of regret. The reason for saying this was because Mugalen¡¯s first place was almost certain. If he hurried, his success in the crossing was almost guaranteed. In this case, Ji Zuodong¡¯s advantage was arriving a day early, but such an advantage was nothing in the face of Bear. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we¡¯ll go welcome him now.¡± Meanwhile, Ji Zuodong had already reached the road, and he began looking for road signs to figure out exactly where he was. But before he found them, the roar of a helicopter overhead interrupted his thoughts. ¡°Did I make it?¡± Ji Zuodong looked up at the familiar helicopter, feeling very moved. To survive eleven days and traverse over five hundred kilometers was an experience he had never had before in his life. ¡°Congratulations, after 268 hours, you¡¯ve successfully crossed!¡± Bi Fang stepped off the plane, extending his hand with a smile on his face. Ji Zuodong politely shook his hand, eagerly asking, ¡°I just want to know if I¡¯m the first one.¡± ¡°That¡­¡± Bi Fang and Pondy exchanged glances behind him, a look that made Ji Zuodong¡¯s heart sink with a bad premonition. A hundred thousand Ugly Gold was not a small amount, converted to cash, it was over six hundred thousand. It was several years¡¯ worth of salary for a normal person, and to think it could be earned in just half a month, anyone would naturally feel anxious. He hurriedly asked, ¡°Has someone else crossed before me?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not the case.¡± ¡°Then how did he win?¡± Ji Zuodong was puzzled, not so much questioning the fairness of the show, since everyone¡¯s progress was live broadcasted. If he hadn¡¯t secured first place with such a large advantage, it only meant that someone else had performed even better. What exactly did he do? Bi Fang didn¡¯t waste words, pulling out his phone to show Mugalen¡¯s bear hunting scene, to make the other accept the result wholeheartedly. Ten minutes later, Ji Zuodong returned the phone with a complicated expression, feeling a bitter taste in his heart. ¡°Impressive!¡± Chapter 313: 310: Arriving at the Capital Chapter 313: Chapter 310: Arriving at the Capital ¡°Demands? What demands?¡± Bi Fang became curious. What could Abbascan possibly want? He wouldn¡¯t be asked to help carry out their missions, would he? That would be too preposterous. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°A minor request. They demand that your live stream must not stop, that it has to be on twenty-four hours a day, in real time. They will appoint an official to supervise and prevent some terrible impacts. Moreover, they will have the authority to shut it down, meaning you¡¯ll have to hand over control of the feed to them, letting their personnel operate it.¡± ¡°Shut it down?¡± Bi Fang furrowed his brow slightly. He could understand and accept everything up to that point. It was just like the time with the wolf pack, keeping the live stream on even while sleeping. Apart from affecting his average viewership numbers, there wouldn¡¯t be any other impacts. It could even explain why the personnel requirements for this mission were not as high as before; it probably had already been accounted for by the system. But having the authority to shut it down was like handing over his right to broadcast, wasn¡¯t it? If the other side wanted to censor the content, wouldn¡¯t he have no autonomy at all? If a weird cap was fitted, there¡¯d be no way to recover. This was not unusual. Many people, whether for self-promotion or some bizarre psychology, liked to make a big fuss about things as if they needed to prove their existence. Bi Fang¡¯s live streaming was actually a bit taboo too since dissecting animals inevitably involved gore. He used to turn his back to avoid broadcasting it, but after he got official approval, he didn¡¯t need to be so discreet, and he started to boldly show it. Others didn¡¯t have this privilege. Who knows what Abbascan¡¯s group¡¯s level of psychological acceptance was? Moreover, who would supervise those with the power to shut it down? There¡¯s another inescapable issue. As for whether the signal source would involve the system, that wouldn¡¯t be a problem. The shutdown authority here belonged to the Wolf Fang¡¯s backend, not an issue with the drone signals. If Wolf Fang¡¯s management cut the signal, naturally, the audience could not see anything, unrelated to the drones. Just as Bi Fang was wrestling with uncertainty, the man opposite him smiled and said, ¡°I know the latter demand was a bit much, so we negotiated with them again. The current proposal after consultation is for us to endorse it, giving that power to us, and then letting them supervise. Right now, this is the best outcome. Take a look and see if you can accept it. If you can, then let¡¯s prepare on Wolf Fang¡¯s end.¡± ¡°You should have led with that. Do me a favor and don¡¯t gasp like that next time, okay?¡± Bi Fang heaved a sigh of relief and scolded with a laugh, damn, he really thought it was beyond saving. He could absolutely trust his own people. ¡°Didn¡¯t we want to emphasize its importance to you? Now the country is backing you up, so think carefully about what you say and do. Don¡¯t let anyone down.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve live-streamed so many times before, you know me.¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s why we¡¯re confident in endorsing you. No one else could get this privilege.¡± After Bi Fang hung up the phone, the worries that had been weighing on him were finally settled. It was indeed cause for celebration, and since he now had a higher-level connection, even the visa and everything else had been sorted out quickly and conveniently, saving a lot of time. Now that all channels were open, it was time to get everything arranged¡ªthe best planning, coordination with the platform. Wolf Fang naturally took this very seriously, and as soon as they received notification, they posted the prepared promotional poster on their official website. This time it was no ordinary forest or desert but the ruins of a human city. Just the novelty of it could set the whole network ablaze; it was sure to be a sensation in the world of live streaming. The large cover featured a desert-like bright yellow, vivid yet reeking of desolation. Below were broken walls and ruined furniture, and Bi Fang, with his travel bag on his back, stood in front of a building half-destroyed by a cannonball, looking up at the gaping hole, seemingly contemplating whether to enter and search for supplies. In the lower right corner of the image, a shadow hinted at the presence of others. A sense of cruelty and desolation spontaneously arose, putting viewers on edge, as if bandits could spring out of the shadows at any moment. At the same time, Bi Fang updated the location and time of his next live stream on his Weibo, and Wolf Fang¡¯s official account immediately responded to @Bi Fang. @Bi Fang: The strongest adventurer in history, known as Master Fang, the master survivalist, the traveler in the wilderness¡ªBi Fang has set out alone to the world¡¯s most chaotic region, inhabited by the despairing, bandit gangs, insurgents, and rebels, a place of relentless warfare, transformed into a desolate forbidden land of ruins: Abbascan! April 1st at 12:00, you think it¡¯s April Fool¡¯s Day? No, this is the day of departure! Comment and share, and Little Wolf will select the first fifty lucky fans to give away a signed poster, the top twenty will receive a chibi figurine, and the top three will even receive Shenhua¡¯s latest smartphone model. What are you waiting for? Join in now! Below was a long list of reposts from Wolf Fang¡¯s major hosts, Mo Xiaoxian, Yao Jun, Lin Chang, Yao Lina, and even Ling Xuefeng from Shark had shared it, with many of his fans jokingly calling him a traitor¡ªa lively scene indeed. ¡°Pretty good at playing this game.¡± Bi Fang saw the repost by Wolf Fang on Weibo and couldn¡¯t help but remark; wondering if he really had signed that many posters last time? Having forgotten how many signatures he had done, Bi Fang fell into thought. Just one Weibo post stirred so many celebrities, causing many people to sigh deeply. The once small-time streamer had now become a big star, a simple move of his would attract a large following, and every decision he made touched people¡¯s hearts. Even the Shark platform had to pay attention, shifting some of its important activities to avoid coinciding with Bi Fang¡¯s live streaming time, stepping back from the limelight. As for the internet, Heh. Isn¡¯t a huge uproar the norm? In less than an hour after Weibo and Wolf Fang¡¯s announcement, the news of Bi Fang¡¯s next live stream heading to Abbascan skyrocketed to the top ten of the trending list. It probably also had the push from Wolf Fang, but reaching such a level of popularity before the broadcast even started was an experience not seen in his previous streams. This alone demonstrated the shock that the live stream had on the melon-eating masses. ¡°Damn, is Master Fang going to war?¡± ¡°Huaxia Soldier King goes berserk in a war-torn area? Is this the headline?¡± ¡°There are still places at war¡­?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t even know that? Go out more, and you¡¯ll realize how lucky you are to be born in this country.¡± ¡°This live stream is way too dangerous, he¡¯s actually going to Abbascan, damn, are we going to see real guns and battles? Isn¡¯t he afraid of being turned into a sieve?¡± ¡°King of Soldiers Master Fang: Are such good things really happening?¡± ¡°Good lad, right in his wheelhouse.¡± ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not as exaggerated as you think. It¡¯s a Ruins City, not a frontline battlefield; it¡¯s not that chaotic. But the desolation is real, as nearly all places have been scavenged by the starving. You could say there¡¯s nothing growing there, not even grass, and the trees have been stripped bare, more extreme than a locust plague.¡± The trending topic drew even those unfamiliar with Bi Fang into the grand discussion, with netizens voicing their varied opinions¡ªwhether they had watched Bi Fang¡¯s live streams before or were only just getting to know him. Some accused him of sensationalism, others of seeking death, but the majority were still his fans showing support and anticipation. The internet has a memory that can trace back to ancient times, but netizens¡¯ memory can be even shorter than a goldfish¡¯s. In just two or three days, most people had almost forgotten about the trip to Abbascan, with only the fans in the fan groups still discussing it fervently. With little attention, Bi Fang took a quiet flight and arrived at the capital of Abbascan. Chapter 314: 311: Preventing Theft Chapter 314: Chapter 311: Preventing Theft Sunshine bathed the plains, and the wind grazed the earth, waving through thousands upon thousands of small yellow flowers that concealed the naked brown soil left bare after the heavy winter snows had melted. The wilderness was vast, as if blanketed with a layer of golden sunlight. ¡°Spring is here,¡± Bi Fang stood on the field, and the air rushed into his nose, so fragrant that he knew without looking that in front of him was certainly a vast expanse of lush green. From February to March, everyone witnessed the Rocky Mountains welcoming spring through drones, watching as the colors of the land transformed time and again. The wind brought moisture and warmth from the Pacific Ocean, the snowline on the mountains continuously rose, the huge ice armor cracked, and the cracks flowed with snowmelt, sweet as honey. The long-silent earth was again exposed under the sun, breathing fresh air to its content, and tender grass squeezed out of the ground, like emerald green spring water gushing from deep within the earth, spilling over the undulating wilderness all the way to the horizon. The first to bloom were the spring flowers. Their vitality was so strong, they scattered like wild grass across the entire world, planting their own flags in every corner of the Earth. They grew prostrate on the ground, sprouting branches from the leaf axils, producing long flower stems, and blooming with soft yellow five-petal flowers. The tide of soft yellow blossoms overcame the green of the wild grass, stretching endlessly to the sky, forming a huge, boundless flower meadow. Full of life and vigor. Even the viewers felt joy in their hearts, in modern society, how many have the opportunity to be this close to nature and to spring? In these ten or so days, such a change truly made one feel the existence of ¡°spring,¡± rather than it being just a concept in a book, or a hurried glimpse during a tense weekend. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Worse yet, for those without even a weekend off¡­ A true genesis from nothing. ¡°There¡¯s only half an hour left.¡± Bi Fang rolled up his sleeves, revealing the contest-standard watch, which now displayed a countdown that had gone from the initial 299:59:59 to the current 000:31:12. ¡°Has Mugalen arrived?¡± ¡°He¡¯s already on his way.¡± Pondy pointed to a tiny figure in the distance, draped in a vast bear skin, with a massive bear head resting on Mugalen¡¯s own head¡ªif one didn¡¯t look closely, they might actually believe a brown bear was approaching. And one wouldn¡¯t want to be mistaken for a real bear and get shot. Poachers were not rare these days; a bear¡¯s worth was far beyond one hundred thousand Ugly Gold, and walking in the forest in a bearskin could accidentally lead to getting shot. From afar, Mugalen also spotted the helicopter parked by the road, and raising his thumb at the drone¡¯s camera, he shouted toward Bi Fang and the others. ¡°Am I the first one?¡± Bi Fang nodded with a smile, ¡°If no miracles happen in the remaining half hour, then indeed you are.¡± ¡°Ha!¡± Mugalen laughed loudly, utterly pleased with the outcome. But with half an hour still to go before the program officially ended, he wasn¡¯t in a hurry, settling himself naturally onto the helicopter, dropping onto the seat and rocking it back and forth as he exhaled a long breath. Damn, it¡¯s comfortable here; he¡¯s going to be a commentator from now on. Half an hour later, the miracle ultimately did not occur; Ava and Lisa were nearly a hundred kilometers away from human settlements, failing to cross over. The production team sent out helicopters to pick up each contestant one by one, discussing the final award ceremony process. Bi Fang and the other judges discussed together, first and second place were undoubtedly Mugalen and Ji Zuodong, but the third¡­ Who should it go to? The judges had a dispute¡ªbetween Avrilisa and the guy who survived in the Wilderness for twelve days, who should take third place? After all, crossing is harder than staying in one place to survive. Even though they didn¡¯t succeed, Ava and Lisa are women, who are naturally physically weaker, so they should be given extra care. It¡¯s only fair to relax the standards a bit for them¡­ ¡°Alright, Aojinka third!¡± The judges were noisy and contentious, Bi Fang grew frustrated listening and directly settled on the third place. ¡°Ah, this¡­¡± The judges looked at each other in dismay. Those who supported Aojinka were naturally happy, while those who didn¡¯t felt as if they were choked with discomfort. They had listed so many conditions, yet the other side didn¡¯t even glance at them. Bi Fang scorned with a curl of his lip, thinking these Ugly Country People judges must have been brainwashed. A failure was a failure; there weren¡¯t that many reasons to it. He absolutely respected Ava and Lisa for their will and ability. Women¡¯s natural conditions are indeed weaker, but if that becomes a reason to skew fairness, then that is the truest form of disrespect. What real strong woman would need your pity? As for these judges, if Lisa came over, one punch would turn them into whining creatures. And this wasn¡¯t fair to Aojinka either. He had gotten the win on his own merit, indeed persevering for twelve days, catching small game continuously¡ªclear evidence of his true skills. He knew how to find animal tracks, his shelter was solid and colorful, he even constructed fences, indeed very impressive. Jerret naturally had no objections to this decision. When he previously invited Bi Fang over, he had made it clear that Bi Fang was the chief judge with the final say, while the others had only a voice for suggestions. Disagree? Sure, go and bring over a black bear first, then talk. If you can¡¯t, just hold it in. Seeing that no one else had any objections, Bi Fang came over to Mugalen, grabbed his hand, and lifted it up high. ¡°Then let¡¯s congratulate Mr. Mugalen Abufus Viller, our champion! The king who conquered the Rocky Mountains, the brave man who hunted brown bears!¡± The staff immediately brought the trophy over, engraved with Mugalen¡¯s full name, along with a large check. Mugalen cared nothing for the fancy trophy; he was there for the one hundred thousand Ugly Gold, but when he took the check, it wasn¡¯t for one hundred thousand, it was a full six hundred thousand! The audience almost stopped breathing when they saw it¡ªsix hundred thousand? Isn¡¯t that nearly four million Red Tickets? Holy smokes! Mugalen was stunned, wondering if the show¡¯s crew had made a mistake. Jerret, meanwhile, explained with a smile, ¡°Actually, it was Bi Fang¡¯s idea. He felt that one hundred thousand didn¡¯t match your performance, so he suggested including all the tips from the audience within those two days, as well as any tips collected during the segments you appeared in. Our show¡¯s staff just rounded it up. Other survivors got their share too¡ªwhatever tips they received during their on-screen appearances, we gave it to you guys.¡± Second place Ji Zuodong and third place Aojinka also received checks; looking down, they saw that the amounts were indeed several times higher than what had been initially set! Even Ava and Lisa, who failed the challenge, got a share. As long as they persisted, they received prize money, making their half-month of hardships worthwhile. Suddenly, the live broadcast room was filled with congratulations and cheers. No one had any complaints about the first place winner, Mugalen¡ªthey truly felt happy from the bottom of their hearts to hear that the prize money increased. Similarly, there were praises for Bi Fang¡¯s character. After all, he didn¡¯t really need to give out that money, and nobody took it for granted that Bi Fang shouldn¡¯t take it. If it weren¡¯t for him, the show would not be as hot as it is now. It might have been possible in the future, but certainly not in the first season. The audience willing to tip generously were basically there for Bi Fang. After all, as a new show, no matter how exciting or popular it would become, there would be a delay¡ªusually, it¡¯s the viewers who watch the recordings later. There is no way it could have attracted such a large audience during live broadcast like it did now. A reward of over a million Ugly Gold was considered a generous gesture in any show and laid the best foundation for Wilderness Arena. Even if Bi Fang didn¡¯t come in the future, the Discovery Channel had the confidence to carry it forward. It was a win-win for everyone! Chapter 315: 312: Starting with a Package Chapter 315: Chapter 312: Starting with a Package It was midnight in the country. The dark screen of the phone suddenly lit up, and Cao Lifeng, who was about to put down his phone for a nap, was startled. He rubbed his sleepy eyes and glanced at the push notification. ¡°Extreme Survival in Ruins City, a Glimmer of Life in War-torn Lands?¡± After reading the content, Cao Lifeng dismissively curled his lips. The notifications these days are getting more and more sensational, coming up with any kind of title just to trick him into clicking, not knowing that Big Boss Cao is not so easily fooled. Time to sleep. Cao Lifeng closed his eyes, deciding not to think about that darn Ruins City anymore. But as soon as he closed his eyes, something felt off, and he couldn¡¯t get that notification out of his mind. Ruins City, Ruins City¡­ Sounds strangely familiar. Damn it! Cao Lifeng suddenly woke up, with sleep completely gone, his eyes wide as bells. Wasn¡¯t it Master Fang¡¯s announced topic for his latest live stream? The quiet dormitory suddenly echoed with a shout. ¡°Holy smokes, Master Fang is live streaming!¡± Like Cao Lifeng, there were tens of thousands, no, countless people overjoyed upon receiving the notification, a hundred thousand, three hundred thousand, five hundred thousand¡­ People from all over the world flooded into the live stream room, once again seeing the familiar face and the well-known opening words. [Looking back at the course of human evolution, if our ancestors hadn¡¯t possessed the instinct for adventure and imagination, the courage to innovate, and the willingness to make sacrifices with their broad minds and grand emotions, humans wouldn¡¯t have surfed the oceans in canoes, nor explored the endless mysteries across the oceans.] [Curiosity leads humans to the urge for adventure, and adventure ignites the torch of civilization.] [Adventure is not only found in the vastness of nature¡¯s oceans and mountains, deserts and swamps, but also lies within the densely populated cities.] [I am Bi Fang, a professional outdoor explorer. Here, I¡¯ll show you how to survive in some of Earth¡¯s most dangerous places¡ªplaces where, without professional skills, you might not even last a day.] [So, is the live stream starting?] Before Bi Fang even finished speaking, the audience had already sent out the opening lines as bullet comments, and despite the tens of thousands simultaneously posting, they appeared extremely neat and organized. ¡°You guys remember it even clearer than I do.¡± Bi Fang laughed heartily inside the helicopter, today¡¯s effect was good, justifying his repetitive groundwork from the past. It was like the fruit he had personally sown, finally bearing fruit after half a year¡ªit wasn¡¯t very sweet, but it was still a harvest, how could it not bring joy? ¡°Besides Master Fang, who else gets this kind of treatment, too awesome, besides the league, in my life, I¡¯ve never seen such a popular live stream.¡± In the dormitory, not caring about his afternoon nap or his cursing roommates, Cao Lifeng who entered the live stream room leaned on the cushion, filled with awe. He didn¡¯t start watching Bi Fang¡¯s streams early or late, but during the desert journey. That kind of carefree and dashing prowess immediately attracted him. Is there really anyone else in the world who could be so uninhibited and cool? Compared to him, what are these little fresh meats? They¡¯re completely outclassed! A true man should be like this, unfettered between heaven and earth. Therefore, disturbing roommates out of excitement doesn¡¯t really matter anymore, especially when each one of them was even more excited than him; who could sleep at a time like this? They all got up to watch the live stream. Since the last ocean journey, Master Fang hadn¡¯t had a proper live stream in over two months. How could they not be thrilled by his return? Refocusing their attention on the screen, Bi Fang appeared in a windbreaker and outdoor pants, his smile brimming with warmth. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Hahaha, I¡¯ve waited two months, and finally, there¡¯s a new live stream! King of Soldiers Fang is online!] [Damn, I¡¯ve been holding back for so long, I need a video from Master Fang to let off some steam!] [You¡¯re not right in the head] [Indeed, we must get back to business. A solo live stream is the best. The Wilderness Arena during the Spring Festival was good too, but it just doesn¡¯t match the thrill of watching Master Fang live!] [Master Fang got even more handsome!] In the face of his online friends¡¯ enthusiasm, Bi Fang chuckled and positioned the camera in front of the plane¡¯s window to give everyone a closer look at the scenery. The center of Abbascan had not yet been reached, but they were already at the outskirts of a town. Looking down from high above, the landscape was barren, with hardly any trees; it looked as though a layer of skin had been scraped off the Earth. ¡°This is my sixth live stream, and unlike the previous survival in Nature, this time I¡¯m not going to the jungle, nor the desert, but to Abbascan, one of the most chaotic countries in the world. Since the rebel war broke out ten years ago, the sound of gunfire has never ceased on this land. Because of the continuous war, many buildings in Yemen have turned to ruins. The once bustling city of a hundred thousand people, now it¡¯s questionable whether even a thousand remain, almost becoming a ¡®Ghost City¡¯.¡± At this moment, I¡¯m rapidly approaching this city. If you had tuned in earlier, even before getting close to Yemen, you might have heard the terrifying sound of artillery.¡± Just a few simple sentences had the audience holding their breath in tension. My God, they could even hear the sound of artillery. For most viewers watching the live stream, this was unimaginable, even in Ugly Li Jian where daily gun battles were an inside joke. Most people might have fired guns, but the vast majority had never seen artillery fire up close. Those able to watch the live stream are generally not living in war-torn areas because where there¡¯s war, there¡¯s not even a stable signal tower, let alone access to the internet to watch live streams. Bi Fang filmed the aircraft¡¯s instrument panel for a while, which was dazzling with instruments like the artificial horizon, altimeter, speedometer, combined compass, vertical speed indicator, turn and slip indicator, engine parameters, and more. Just briefly introducing these instruments left the viewers dizzy, but after all, it was an armed helicopter, and there were still many interested viewers. Focusing the camera on the altimeter, Bi Fang said, ¡°As you all can see, the purpose of the altimeter is to display the aircraft¡¯s altitude. Right now, I¡¯m two hundred meters above Yemen. This survival mission will take place in an abandoned urban environment, which is a challenge for me, as my previous five times were in nature. However, this time I am in a human city. Nevertheless, I will use the same skills I¡¯ve masterfully applied in the wild to show you how to survive in harsh environments. I will be facing extreme dangers, much like a spy or soldier on the front lines, as I try to live through the great disaster of this city. But I haven¡¯t prepared much because I will play the role of an ordinary tourist. Other than a backpack, I¡¯ve brought nothing¡ªnot food, not a water source, and I haven¡¯t even carried any weapon for self-defense; I¡¯ll live six days in this ¡®Ghost City¡¯ without them.¡± Despite prior promotions and being mentally prepared, the audience couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of excitement upon hearing these words. Yes, that¡¯s right! After two months, it¡¯s the familiar thrill, the enterprising Adventurer! Of course, many viewers were still worried after hearing this. How on Earth was he going to protect himself in a war-torn area without bringing anything¡ªnot to mention firearms, but even the military knives commonly seen in the past weren¡¯t carried? Master Fang was often seen thriving in the forest, but how was he going to survive in Ruins City? This was a completely different environment, and the survival tactics in a city were undoubtedly much more practical than in the wilderness since most of them lived in cities. What if disaster struck? Aside from major events like the September 22 incident and Hurricane Katrina, which were extremely dangerous, natural disasters could also be a threat even in our own country. Starting off with just a backpack and relying on scavenging for equipment! Chapter 316: 313: Preventing Theft Chapter 316: Chapter 313: Preventing Theft ¡°Demands? What demands?¡± Bi Fang grew curious. What could Abbascan possibly demand of him? ¡­. He wouldn¡¯t be asked to help them carry out a mission, would he? That would be utterly preposterous. ¡°Just a small request. They demand that your live broadcast cannot be paused and must be operational 24 hours uninterrupted. When the time comes, they will have officials overseeing to prevent any adverse effects. They will also have the authority to shut it down, meaning they want to take control of the signal source and let their people operate it,¡± the person explained. ¡°Shut it down?¡± Bi Fang slightly furrowed his brows; he could understand and accept what was said in the beginning. It was just like with the wolf pack incident¡ªbroadcasting even while sleeping. Aside from affecting his average viewer count, there was no other impact. It might even explain why the personnel requirement for this mission was actually lower than before; it was probably already calculated within the System¡¯s metrics. But having the authority to shut it down¡ªit meant handing over control of his broadcast rights, didn¡¯t it? If they decided to censor it at will, wouldn¡¯t he be completely powerless? Various strange accusations could be thrown at him, and it could become impossible to recover from them. This situation wasn¡¯t uncommon. Many people, for reasons unknown¡ªeither to claim credit or due to some odd mentality¡ªloved making a big fuss over minor things, as if they had to prove their existence by intervening. Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast did have some taboos. Dissecting animals invariably led to bloody scenes. In the past, he used to turn away the camera to avoid showing it, but later on, with official endorsement, he no longer needed to be so discreet and was bold enough to broadcast openly, something not granted to others. Who knows what the psychological tolerance level of Abbascan¡¯s group was? Moreover, who would oversee the ones with the authority to shut it down? That was another unavoidable issue. As for whether taking control of the signal source would involve the System, that was not an issue; the shutdown authority lay with Wolf Fang¡¯s backend, not a drone signal problem. Once the management at Wolf Fang cut the signal, the audience naturally couldn¡¯t watch; it had nothing to do with drones. As Bi Fang wavered in thought, the person from the other side smiled and said, ¡°I know the subsequent demands are a bit much, so we renegotiated with them. The current proposal is for us to endorse it, transfer that power to us, and then let them oversee. Right now, this is the best outcome. Take a look and see if you can accept it. If you can, let the folks at Wolf Fang get ready.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say so earlier? Next time, do you think you could breathe a little less heavily?¡± Bi Fang let out a huge sigh of relief and jokingly scolded, damn it, he really thought the situation was irretrievable. For his own people, that was absolutely trustworthy. ¡°Wasn¡¯t trying to get you to pay serious attention? Now the nation is endorsing you. Think a bit more about what you say and do from now on; don¡¯t let everyone be embarrassed.¡± S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I¡¯ve done so many live streams; you know what I¡¯m like.¡± ¡°Right, which is why we feel confident endorsing you. Who else would get this treatment?¡± Bi Fang hung up the phone, relieved that the issue that had been worrying him was finally resolved, and it was indeed a cause for celebration. Plus, having connections in high places meant even visas and such were taken care of quickly and conveniently, saving a lot of time. Now that all channels were clear, it was time to arrange everything meticulously, planning and communicating with the platform. Wolf Fang naturally took this very seriously. They posted the prepared promotional image on their official website the moment they received the notification. This time, it wasn¡¯t about going into forests or deserts but exploring human city ruins. The mere gimmick could set the whole network abuzz, guaranteed to set the live streaming world ablaze. The giant cover featured a desert-like bright yellow, vivid yet filled with a sense of desolation. Below were broken walls, ruined furniture, and Bi Fang, with a travel bag on his back, standing in front of a building half-destroyed by cannon fire, looking up at the gaping hole as if pondering whether to enter and search for supplies. In the bottom right corner of the image, shadows loomed as if other people were also present. A sense of cruelty and desolation arose, keeping viewers on edge, as if bandits could spring from the shadows at any moment. At the same time, Bi Fang updated the location and time of his next live broadcast on his Weibo, and the official Wolf Fang immediately responded to Bi Fang. @Bi Fang: The strongest adventurer in history, known as Master Fang, the foremost survival expert, a traveler through the wilderness¡ªBi Fang, alone heads to the world¡¯s most chaotic region, inhabited by bandit gangs, thugs, and rebels, a battleground with ceaseless gunfire, the chaotic and forbidden Ruins City: Abbascan! April 1st at 12:00, you think it¡¯s April Fool¡¯s? No, this is the day of departure! Comment and share, and Little Wolf will pick the top fifty lucky fans to send a signed poster, the top twenty to receive a Q version figurine, and the top three will even get the latest Shenhua smartphone. What are you waiting for? Get involved now! Below was a long list of retweets, all of Wolf Fang¡¯s major streamers, Mo Xiaoxian, Yao Jun, Lin Chang, Yao Lina, even Shark¡¯s Ling Xuefeng had a hand in sharing it, which led to his fans jokingly calling him a traitor in great mirth. ¡°He sure knows how to play.¡± Bi Fang saw the shared Weibo by Wolf Fang, not only feeling impressed but also wondering, did he really sign that many posters last time? Bi Fang, having forgotten how many autographs he signed, fell into deep thought. The WeiBo post touched so many celebrities that many people couldn¡¯t help but feel a little emotional, recalling how the once small-time broadcaster had become a big star, casually stirring up countless followers, each decision pulling at their heartstrings, even the Shark platform had to take notice, postponing some of their major events to avoid clashing with Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast time, temporarily avoiding the limelight. As for online, Heh. Isn¡¯t creating an uproar the usual drill? Within less than an hour of the Weibo post and Wolf Fang¡¯s announcement, the news that Bi Fang would be going to Abbascan for his next live broadcast had already surged into the top ten trending topics. It was estimated that Wolf Fang was pushing hard, but to catch fire to this extent even before the actual broadcast was unprecedented compared to his previous live streams. This just goes to show the shock this broadcast brought to the rubbernecking public. ¡°Damn, is Master Fang going to war?¡± ¡°Huaxia Soldier King rampaging kill streak in a war-torn area? Is that the title?¡± ¡°Are there really still places at war¡­?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t even know about this, upstairs? Go outside more, and you¡¯ll realize how fortunate you are to be born in this country.¡± ¡°This live stream is too dangerous, he¡¯s even going to Abbascan, damn, will we see real gun battles? Isn¡¯t he afraid of being shredded by bullets?¡± ¡°King of Soldiers Master Fang: Is there such a good thing?¡± ¡°Good buddy, right in his wheelhouse.¡± ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not as exaggerated as you think, it¡¯s Ruins City, not the frontlines, it¡¯s not that chaotic. But the desolation is real, virtually everything has been scavenged by hungry people, it¡¯s stripped so bare that even the tree bark has been peeled off, more extreme than locusts passing through.¡± The trending search drew even more people unfamiliar with Bi Fang into the grand discussion, with netizens expressing their varied opinions, both those who had seen Bi Fang¡¯s broadcasts and those who were meeting him for the first time. Some accused him of sensationalism, others of deliberately courting death, but most of the voices were from Master Fang¡¯s fans offering support and looking forward with anticipation. The internet¡¯s memory can trace back to ancient times, yet the memory of netizens is even shorter than a goldfish¡¯s, and in just two or three days, most had almost entirely forgotten about the trip to Abbascan, apart from the fans in the fan groups, who were still discussing it heatedly. With little public interest, Bi Fang took a plane and quietly arrived at the capital of Abbascan. Chapter 317: 314 The Stinkiest Start Chapter 317: Chapter 314 The Stinkiest Start As the figure plummeted straight down, the audience¡¯s eyes bulged in shock. F*ck! What is the concept of fifty meters? On a flat plane, it¡¯s nothing too significant, just a few seconds to run across, but in vertical height, it¡¯s an extremely terrifying visual experience, equivalent to an eighteen-story building! Jumping from such a height, isn¡¯t that a direct descent to the eighteenth layer of Hell, done in one fell swoop? Moreover¡­ did Bi Fang just jump without any safety measures? Even the most uninitiated understand that in such a situation, one must secure a harness. But what did Bi Fang do? He wrapped a loop around his waist and just jumped down!? Fifty meters, it wouldn¡¯t just cause serious injury, it would undoubtedly be fatal! Yet clearly, Bi Fang was not intending to commit suicide. The moment he jumped from the helicopter, he suddenly turned, winding the rope around his thighs and waist in a specific way like a whirlwind, retracting his hand into his sleeve to grasp the rope, holding tightly onto the long rope through the sleeve while green veins slithered like a snake on his forearms! With just this move, he greatly reduced the massive kinetic energy, rapidly decreasing his falling speed. The little-finger-thick nylon rope constricted tightly around Bi Fang, sliding swiftly like a python. Amidst the immense friction, even with a layer of sleeve as protection, Bi Fang¡¯s hands felt as though they were holding a ball of fierce sun, burning through the flesh to the very bone. The strong wind howled by his ears, buildings overlapping in his view. Bi Fang stabilized his form, not daring to let go for even an instant, straining to look up at the sky while catching a glimpse of a building out of the corner of his eye. As sunlight slanted down, dark smoke suddenly erupted among the shadow of the building, shooting towards the sky. ¡°F*ck, an RPG!¡± Bi Fang, hanging in midair, was almost paralyzed with shock, instinctively yelling out loud. The pilot¡¯s pupils shrank dramatically, he too had spotted the RPG. He instantly pushed the control stick, and the famously agile ¡°Little Gazelle¡± maneuvered swiftly. Almost instantly, Bi Fang felt a violent shaking, like a hanging trinket on the rope, being dragged behind the helicopter. Everyone was dumbstruck, having not anticipated an attack to occur at such a time, and even less that a rocket launcher would appear! At that moment, the shadow of war loomed over everyone¡¯s heads. Fire and debris instantly enveloped the building; its already patchy walls burst open with a large hole, chunks of concrete fell from the building¡¯s exterior, hitting the ground and stirring up dust. But it wasn¡¯t over yet ¨C the light of fire flickered within the building, and in the next instant, it triggered a secondary explosion! The visible shockwave spread out from the building, firelight fiercely contracted then expanded as if gathering strength, sending countless fragments flying, slicing through air with shrill screeches. The helicopter¡¯s dark green shell was instantly marked with streaks of white, but Bi Fang, descending rapidly below, missed a piece of the action, being not on the same plane. Still, he was sweating profusely with fear. By this time, he had descended to the very end of the rope. But given the circumstances, the helicopter had long since ascended again, now a dozen meters above the ground and way beyond what a simple fall protection technique could counter. Given that the enemy had an RPG, a devastating weapon, the helicopter hardly had time to escape, much less to deliberately rescue an unknown ¡°streamer¡± like him. As far as the Abbascan officials were concerned, they were naturally welcoming of Bi Fang¡¯s arrival. But when it came to military execution, that was another story ¨C they would not risk a highly valuable armed helicopter for the sake of some streamer. Yet as Bi Fang watched the helicopter climb higher and higher, he knew that hanging in the air would make him a sitting target for an attack. With a glance, he locked onto a window, steeled his heart, and jumped straight down! Countless people screamed until they lost their voices, hearts pounding like drums about to burst. But in the instant Bi Fang fell, he fiercely grasped a rusted balcony mast next to him. However, under the tremendous impact, how could the mast hold up? Even though Bi Fang held on tight, it deformed and bent, emitting a piercing metallic groan, and in a brief moment, it bent to its limit and broke off from the balcony! But Bi Fang was prepared. As he fell, he had anticipated various scenarios and had readied himself, instinctively adjusting his body. Then, with a powerful kick against the balcony of the floor below, he leaped out like a leopard. In such a situation, even the quickest of reflexes wouldn¡¯t be enough for Bi Fang to flip into the floor below. Even if one could react, the sheer momentum was not something he could control. Therefore, his goal wasn¡¯t to cushion his fall, but to choose a landing spot. The drone followed Bi Fang, and viewers watched, astonished, as he leaped past the balcony, plummeting toward a pile of trash in the narrow alley below! The city had not seen a proper cleaning for many months, and in the box, there wasn¡¯t even a hint of a garbage bin left, clearly submerged within a mountain of trash. Bi Fang didn¡¯t need to exert much effort and successfully landed amidst it, kicking up a large cloud of dust. A moment passed. Under the tense gaze of the audience, a hand suddenly shot out from the depths of the garbage pile. Bi Fang struggled and climbed out, coughing heavily and continuously waving away the dust in the air. Most of the waste piled here was household trash, devoid of any hard objects and serving as a perfect cushion. Even without the support from that balcony, falling into it would have most likely caused no harm¡ªunless some damned fool had tossed a knife in there. But that was unlikely; amidst the turmoil of war, even a kitchen knife wouldn¡¯t be carelessly discarded. A thick stench competed to invade his nostrils first. Bi Fang, with his Wolves King¡¯s Sense of Smell, almost vomited in that instant. Even as he breathed, large amounts of dust and flying insects swarmed into his nose, inducing a surge of acid reflux. Damn it, what kind of start is this! Bi Fang cursed inwardly, never expecting such a perilous moment right after disembarking the aircraft! An attack? No, without any vendetta or grudge, and hearing the gunshots and sounds of combat from outside, he felt more convinced it was an accident¡ªhe had been caught in an unknown conflict! S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The armed helicopter he was on was even mistaken for an enemy force. Fucking hell! Wasn¡¯t it said there was some distance from the rebels? He had never started out so destitute. The audience on the other side of the screen heaved a great sigh of relief upon seeing Bi Fang land safely. My goodness, he actually survived that. Master Fang is really lucky! Awesome! [Snake-skin Movement!] [The chubby with potential six-pack abs donated a Spaceship*1 to the host¡ªbull, Master Fang¡¯s livestream never disappoints!] [Hahaha, starting by falling into a trash heap, is this Master Fang¡¯s worst moment yet?] [Stop laughing, I was scared shitless just now, so damn terrifying. They fight and kill in broad daylight?] [Was it intentional? Master Fang, hurry up and escape! If they catch up you¡¯re screwed, right?] Many viewers were amazed at Bi Fang¡¯s nimble response, and were equally startled by the attack¡ªalthough it was not targeted at the helicopter, it was still an incredibly dangerous moment in a lifetime. Knowing it was unsafe to stay long, Bi Fang struggled out from the trash heap with no footing, and once again smelled the stench on himself, which caused another round of retching. It wouldn¡¯t do; he had to find a place to bathe. The odor was too offensive, especially to his sensitive nose¡ªit all smelled like rotting insects. After spitting out some gastric juice, Bi Fang dared not linger. He shared his analysis with everyone while simultaneously scoping out the surroundings, looking for a good escape route. Charging straight out was definitely not an option; the group that had appeared was in the direction of the exit. Fleeing through the alley entrance could likely lead to a head-on collision with them! While Bi Fang was considering his options, a series of footsteps approached from a distance! Chapter 318: 315: War Epic Chapter 318: Chapter 315: War Epic ¡°Fuck!¡± When Bi Fang heard the sound of footsteps, his expression tightened. Before he could run away, gunfire rained down like a storm at the entrance of the alley, bright trajectories intertwining into a net, leaving no doubt that anyone rushing in would be shot into a pile of mush. Accompanied by screams and curses, the previously skeptical audience was utterly convinced. They had indeed stumbled into a local conflict. When they looked back at the helicopter, it was already gone without a trace. The pilot had even intentionally gained altitude, visually assessing to have risen at least 300 meters, escaping the range of RPGs. What a joke, the enemy had RPGs. If the helicopter rushed in, and bad luck struck, the outcome would be certain death. Delivering a ¡°tourist¡± was all that was needed; his life or death was of no concern, especially since that¡¯s what he had come for, right? And that kid was no ordinary person: descending swiftly without safety equipment¡ªwas that even humanly possible? Just clinging to a length of rope and daring to jump down; he hadn¡¯t encountered such a person in all his years of flying helicopters, not to mention how many seconds had that guy taken to rappel just now? He descended fifty meters in the blink of an eye, something an average person absolutely couldn¡¯t do. And without even wearing gloves, he went down with just his sleeves to protect his hands¡ªtruly a tough character. He must have been a soldier, and not just any regular one. In most countries, the regular army doesn¡¯t train for parachute or fast-rope insertions. A special forces agent? Even less reason to worry then. Thinking this, the pilot pushed the cyclic to fly away even faster, wishing to leave this troublesome place immediately. After all, the man had been dropped off, and whatever happened next had nothing to do with him. ¡°A bit too thrilling, huh?¡± Bi Fang wryly smiled, not expecting to crash into a local armed conflict the moment he arrived; however, by the look of things, he was still alright. The battle was still raging outside the alley, but it hadn¡¯t spread to his location. Yet, he was indeed trapped in the alley. ¡°They¡¯re still fighting now, but once they sort it out, I¡¯ll be in trouble.¡± The audience was feeling the aftershocks, well aware of the extreme danger of the journey, but they had never imagined it would be to this extent. It was just a ride on a helicopter, but what greeted them instead was a rocket launcher. What an ¡°authentic local experience.¡± [Damn it, a rocket launcher right from the start, explosively high-octane] [Are they shooting a war movie here?] [Too fierce, right? Master Fang finally shows up and they greet him with a rocket launcher? Where¡¯s the machine gun setup?] [Hey battalion commander, where¡¯s your damn Italian cannon?] [Is it really the time to joke? Although it¡¯s not dangerous at the moment, they¡¯re still at war. We could¡¯ve been gone just now.] This was not a place to stay for long. Bi Fang glanced around twice, fulfilling the role of a ¡°War Correspondent¡± for a moment, and then surveyed his surroundings. Seeing the wall at the alley entrance over four meters high, he quickly began a short sprint. In a few seconds of dashing, Bi Fang reached the base of the wall, with no intention of slowing down. His calf tendons contracted sharply, and he leapt from the ground, almost as if teleporting, covering close to a meter in distance. Then, with his feet hanging in the air, he stepped against the wall, using friction to push himself up a second time. Still, it wasn¡¯t enough. What happened next was startling. In mid-air, Bi Fang twisted his torso and miraculously stepped against the opposite wall. Utilizing the triangular topography for a third leverage point, he made it to the other side of the alleyway, grabbing the edge of the wall and gently swinging up to straddle the top of the wall. Fuck, that was cool! The audience couldn¡¯t really grasp the technical complexity of the action they had just seen. In reality, there wasn¡¯t much to it; as long as you tried a few more times and had enough strength, anyone could do it. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But such wall-scaling skills truly amazed many people, especially the younger ones, who were eager to try. They started thinking about which nearby residential area had this kind of terrain so they could give it a go tonight. However, Bi Fang, perched atop the wall, did not jump down. Instead, he looked up at the balcony above him, leaped up, and climbed on it. Then his arm and shoulder muscles contracted, effortlessly pulling himself up. The entire process was very smooth, clearly demonstrating the strength of Bi Fang¡¯s upper body. With his shark muscles and trapezius muscles enhanced, doing pull-ups was a breeze for him. Coupled with the continual upgrades from the System, it would be a waste if he couldn¡¯t do this much. But what was he up to? The audience was puzzled and getting impatient. The gunfire nearby had diminished quite a bit¡ªdidn¡¯t that mean things were about to end, and they would be caught? Once Bi Fang entered the balcony, he kicked and shattered the glass. The breaking sound went unnoticed under the cover of the gunfire. Opening the apartment door, Bi Fang went straight into the abandoned room. ¡°I am now in an urban environment created by man, and the laws of survival are the same. You need protection, rescue, water, food. To survive, you must keep these basic rules in mind. Survivors of urban catastrophes have to rely on themselves for days before being rescued. Knowing where to find the necessities of life could save you. Unlike in the wilderness, you cannot know where there are more resources in the wilderness. Your only choice is to head towards the equator. The closer to the equator you are, the warmer it gets, and the greater the chances of finding supplies. But in the city, you don¡¯t need to follow this rule. You can only succeed if you find the right target, not just a vague direction. Therefore, choosing a high spot to observe is essential. Right now, this building next to me seems like a good choice. Besides, in a war-torn area, you must understand the distribution of nearby forces, which are friendly and which you should not mess with. I¡¯ve barged in here; I better figure these things out. No need to interact, just need to see how many of them there are, what the situation is like with their armed forces. Now is the best opportunity while they are still fighting. I need to take a look.¡± Inside the room, Bi Fang didn¡¯t rush to go upstairs. Instead, he searched around, found the bathroom, picked up a hard object, broke the mirror on the wall, chose a piece quickly, and moved briskly to the stairwell. He went straight to the rooftop. The whole process took less than two minutes, and the struggle below hadn¡¯t even ended yet. Bi Fang pulled a silk thread from his clothing, then tied the mirror to a piece of rebar. He carefully poked it out from the building, reflecting a clear view of the street scene below. The two groups used broken-down cars as simple barricades, shooting at each other. Thugs drilled hole after hole into the Hummer¡¯s body, the rearview mirror long gone, its side glass shattered. A streak of light flew over the top of the car and exploded a dozen meters ahead, illuminating the front windshield in a fiery red, countless tiny shrapnel stuck in the engine hood. All the viewers were amazed. It¡¯s insane! ¡°In such a situation, everyone must be very careful. Stray bullets are merciless; even if no one sees you peeping, a stray bullet may come your way, so it¡¯s best to use a mirror to refract and observe the situation. You don¡¯t need to worry about snipers. The training of snipers is very harsh and strict. It¡¯s very difficult to encounter one on the battlefield.¡± The chance of encountering a professional sniper in such a battlefield is even lower than the odds of winning a million in the lottery. And through the small mirror piece, Bi Fang got a good look at the conflict scene. The viewers had an even better advantage with drones, giving them a much better view than Bi Fang, almost like panoramic photography. Unfortunately, by the next observation, the battle was nearing its end, and the viewers had not seen many intense scenes, but were still shocked by the scale of the broadcast. Can you really show this kind of thing? Chapter 319: 316 Almost Chapter 319: Chapter 316 Almost Armed violent conflict appeared for the first time in the livestream. Even Wang Yongbo was secretly worried, unsure if it would breach any taboos. In fact, there was no need to worry at all, given the high vantage point, even if bloody scenes did occur, the viewers wouldn¡¯t be able to see them very clearly. Moreover, in the past, there were people who live-streamed drug busts, which were also officially approved with no issues. Compared to that, Master Fang¡¯s situation, although exaggerated, had not crossed the line of what could be broadcasted. After quickly glancing over it, Master Fang had gained a rough understanding of both sides¡¯ firepower and manpower. ¡°We need to cultivate our ability to deal with various situations. Use our observation and inspection abilities to stay alert to potential terror risks that might be hidden in our surrounding environment. The skills used by police and military for close protection and undercover work, such as ¡®Play the Gray Character,¡¯ are the most important skills we need to master. As long as the terrorists don¡¯t single you out as a target or think you¡¯re worth special attention, your chances of survival will greatly increase. So don¡¯t step forward to ¡®play the hero.¡¯ Let¡¯s get out of here.¡± After confirming the conflict was indeed between thugs and assessing their firepower, Master Fang didn¡¯t linger; he had to leave the area quickly. But just as he looked up, he saw a dense screen of comments in front of him. And the sounds of gunfire below disappeared at an unbelievable speed. [Holy shit, Master Fang, look behind you] [Motherfucker!!] [It¡¯s going down!] [The building¡¯s collapsed!!] Master Fang turned around quickly, his pupils reflecting a burning building ¡ª the one previously hit by a rocket, which had exploded a second time for some unknown reason, was now slowly tilting like a collapsing sky. The ground shook, underground water pipes burst, high-pressure jets of water spouted like fountains, and the layers of cement coating the building¡¯s exterior peeled off, crashing to the ground with a thunderous noise. The thugs scattered and ran, sprinting frantically in all directions. It was like a scene prophesied in a book of doom; in front of the apocalypse, everyone seemed as insignificant as dust. ¡°Motherfucker!¡± At that moment, Master Fang was no longer composed; was this damn building¡¯s load-bearing wall blown off!!!? He raced along the eaves, roaring in anger as he went; no one was sending messages now. The huge building slowly toppled behind him, countless sparks shooting into the air, like a burning bird soaring to the sky, gripping the hearts of all the viewers with a disaster-like scene. Run, run! His heart pounded like a runaway wild horse; for the first time, Master Fang felt just how bad his luck was. He could even feel the strong air pressure from the falling building behind him. Unfortunately, no matter how hard he tried, Master Fang still couldn¡¯t outrun gravity. The building crashed into the residential block with a thunderous impact, and even the viewers behind their screens felt as though they could sense the shaking. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Master Fang felt the ground beneath him quake, nearly instantaneously numbing his legs as if he were holding a steel pipe and struck another steel pipe ¡ª the recoil alone nearly made him lose his footing, and the subsequent feeling of the ground tilting filled him with horror. This is bad! How could a residential building withstand the force of another building smashing into it? It barely lasted a moment before the roof of the entire block began to tilt and collapse. His pupils contracted to pinpoints, Master Fang cursed inside but dared not stop; to stop would mean death! Master Fang¡¯s legs tensed beneath his pants; he clenched his fists, the veins on his arms popping like angry snakes. Around him was the rumbling of the earth, waves of sound rising higher and higher, spreading out like shockwaves. He felt cut off from the world, wishing he could roar out loud. Adrenaline secreted recklessly, a terrible heat flooding his body, as if his veins were about to burst. Master Fang roared with all his might, and in a flash, life returned to his body. The two waves of sound combined and spread out; Master Fang leaped with all his might, but the rooftop beneath him could no longer hold, shattering and collapsing. It was too far, though. Master Fang couldn¡¯t reach the uncollapsed rooftop and disappeared into the dust along with it on the screen. The viewers were stunned. What followed was an uncontrollable panic. What to do? Something happened, something big! Wang Yongbo¡¯s eyes were about to split, his fingers whitening as he gripped the mouse. He had never anticipated something like this happening¡ªwas Abbascan¡¯s construction all just shoddy as tofu dregs? How could the building collapse after being hit by just one blast? Such a problem occurring right when the live stream started made everyone¡¯s liver and gallbladder tremble with fear. It was impossible to imagine what Wolf Fang would be like without Bi Fang. Wolf Fang couldn¡¯t be without Bi Fang, just like the West couldn¡¯t lose Jerusalem. His eyes bloodshot, he suddenly yelled at someone beside him. ¡°Quick, quick, quick, get in touch with Abbascan right now, tell them to go rescue!¡± The staff member beside him, as if woken from a dream, fumbled to get out their phone, but when push came to shove, they didn¡¯t know how to contact Abbascan. However, the official overseer sent from the headquarters reacted quicker, promptly connected with Bi Fang¡¯s person in charge, and walked to the side to give an account of the situation. The news spread rapidly, and anxious emotions spread throughout the entire office floor. Everyone present was Wolf Fang¡¯s staff, and who among them didn¡¯t know about Bi Fang? Upon hearing that he might have been in an accident, almost everyone turned on the live stream, but on the screen, all they could see was a pile of ruins. Even some of the more sensitive girls could barely hold back their sobs. ¡°Hurry up!¡± Wang Yongbo was so anxious he felt like going mad, wishing he could sprout wings and fly to the rescue site led by Abbascan himself, and personally dig through the entire building. And it wasn¡¯t just Wang Yongbo. Bi Fang¡¯s friends were also extremely nervous. Yao Jun was furiously erupting in his office, and the fans were frantically spamming the live stream with comments begging Bi Fang to hurry up and show himself, telling him to stop ¡°Playing the Gray Character,¡± hoping for a miracle. But many knew it was impossible. Even through the screen, one could feel the bone-chilling despair. The scene on the screen showed nothing but ruins, and to be struck by an entire building¡­ How could anyone survive? The Wolf Fang office building became briefly agitated then quickly fell again into a deathly silence, with only the ¡°whoosh¡± of computer fans spinning. It seemed everyone had accepted an undeniable fact, and the frantic emotion was gradually supplanted by grief, followed by a wave of desolation. Wang Yongbo, enraged, swept his monitor onto the floor. Watching the screen shatter into pieces, he felt no regret, only overwhelming sorrow in his heart. Having known Bi Fang for so long, their relationship had long surpassed merely a partnership. He felt a deep kinship with Bi Fang, like that between a master and a confidant¡­ Seeing this, everyone lowered their heads. Liu Qian was equally grief-stricken, her tears almost spilling over. As Bi Fang¡¯s assistant, she felt unbearably pained at this moment. ¡°Cough, cough.¡± A series of coughs broke the silence. The mournful atmosphere was shattered. Liu Qian, somewhat annoyed, glanced towards the source of the sound, but did a double-take. It was ¡­ The sound system? Another round of coughs rang out, and this time Liu Qian confirmed that it was indeed coming from the speakers. But she had been watching Bi Fang¡¯s live stream all along. Why were there coughing sounds? Liu Qian¡¯s pupils slowly dilated. That was¡ªthe tired but calm voice coming from the collapsed residential building: ¡°Damn, that was close.¡± The dust slowly cleared, revealing Bi Fang perched on the edge of the building¡¯s roof. His nose and mouth were full of dust, looking utterly disheveled, forcing him to cough a couple of times to ease the discomfort. He glanced at the comments, which were full of messages of condolence, and couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°What¡¯s with these comments? Do I look dead to you? How come I didn¡¯t know about it?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t just curse people like that!¡± Chapter 320: 317: Careless, Taught a Lesson Chapter 320: Chapter 317: Careless, Taught a Lesson The dust cleared, revealing Bi Fang¡¯s figure, teetering on the edge of the broken rooftop. Bi Fang felt a chill in his heart, because as far as he knew, Yemen should have been an abandoned city, as even the mission brief stated. All along the way, he saw the same scene: abandoned buildings, not a soul around, no different from a Ghost City. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was precisely for this reason that he thought he might encounter stray bandits in Yemen, though the probability should be extremely low. He had grandly flown into the city in a helicopter, followed by a high-altitude descent, never expecting to run into thugs right away, with a violent confrontation where rocket launchers were drawn, and inexplicably a building was bombed, leading to the current situation. It was not that he regretted it. As a live streamer, he needed to act ostentatiously and attract attention. If you do nothing, say nothing, you won¡¯t attract viewers. In his previous life, Bear Grylls made his recordings by taking risks; otherwise, how would he have earned nicknames like ¡°must dive into every hole¡± and ¡°must sink every boat¡±? Moreover, live streaming needed more highlights than recorded broadcasts. It had not been easy for Bi Fang to get to where he was. Next time, he¡¯d have to do more reconnaissance. As his personal capability grew, Bi Fang realized his mindset was subtly changing, even getting lazy with preparation work. It started when he commented solo and faced off against a wolf pack. This change, it wasn¡¯t good. Little did he know, when personal capabilities improved, wasn¡¯t the difficulty of the tasks also increasing? Bi Fang sighed, having learned a lesson from the surprise attack, and shook off the distractions in his mind, his eyes regaining their determined and fearless look. His live streams were about doing what others dared not; if he lost that adventurous spirit, he couldn¡¯t possibly have reached his current status. What¡¯s done is done. How could he just turn back now that he had entered the territory of the Bandit Gangs? He couldn¡¯t just retreat from Yemen now; that would be a total loss of face. He just needed to be cautious. Having made up his mind, Bi Fang once again worried about his situation. This place, it wasn¡¯t easy to climb. The drone flew high, and the audience could see the collapsed building had almost completely smashed the residential building across the street, like a square cake that had been gouged out with a spoon, leaving only a small fraction teetering on the edge. The top floor, made of reinforced concrete, was even more fragmented. Bi Fang was clinging to a slab that hadn¡¯t completely fallen but was also on the verge of collapse. Due to the stress on the structure, it had nearly broken apart, held together only by a few steel bars. When Bi Fang had tried to move, several bars bent down, scaring him into stopping immediately, but leaving him stuck where he was. If it were just his weight, the bars wouldn¡¯t have bent like this, but there was also a large chunk of concrete on top. Conservatively estimated, it weighed at least half a ton; with Bi Fang¡¯s weight additionally, even the slightest movement posed a great danger. Many viewers also cried out about the danger, unsure of what to do. But seeing that Bi Fang was temporarily safe, most of them let out a sigh of relief and dismissed the idea of seeking a rescue team. In the eyes of the audience, as long as things hadn¡¯t reached the last step, it seemed Master Fang always had a way to solve them, and they just watched on. However, after realizing the true precariousness of Bi Fang¡¯s situation and seeing the gradually bending steel bars, everyone was greatly alarmed, unsure of how to proceed. There were no points of support above, and below, it had been smashed to pieces; letting go would mean falling from the seventh floor, with slim chances of survival. But how long could he hang there on his own? [It¡¯s over, should we get the helicopter that just flew away to give Master Fang a lift?] ¡°How am I supposed to get up there? If I hang from a horizontal bar, I can only last a minute at most. Rescue wouldn¡¯t make it in time, right?¡± ¡°Why would a solid building collapse? Are rocket launchers really that powerful? Times really have changed, modern technology is incredible.¡± ¡°Could it have hit a gas pipeline or something? I seem to remember there was a secondary explosion?¡± ¡°It was indeed a secondary explosion.¡± Bi Fang, suspended in mid-air, nodded his head. A rocket launcher had not enough power to bring down a building just like that. ¡°It could be that the building¡­ had not been maintained for years, plus the secondary explosion, or even the armor-piercing warhead that hit a load-bearing wall, leading to the building¡¯s direct collapse.¡± As Bi Fang explained, he looked around in search of a way to survive. Looking down, the dust on the ground had not completely settled, but it had thinned out a lot, making the situation visible. The fighting factions had long since disappeared, with no clue where they had fled. They seemed like a group of bandits with little military training. How they got their hands on rocket launchers was a mystery, not to be underestimated. Operating in Yemen, there might still be a chance to encounter them. ¡°In this kind of situation, we mustn¡¯t panic too much. We need to calm down. The more panic we are, the faster we use up our energy. We could figure out a solution, but in a rush, we might lose our ideas, and we might not last until we come up with that solution.¡± After a brief explanation, Bi Fang slowly let go of one hand, causing the pupils of the viewers to constrict sharply. That¡¯s damn dangerous. In such a predicament and he dares to let go with one hand? ¡°Are you out of your mind?¡± ¡°Holy shit, Master Fang, you¡¯ve got guts, holding on with one hand. That¡¯s badass! I don¡¯t even hold on peeing against a wall, but you, I respect.¡± ¡°How long has it been? Half a minute? He¡¯s still holding on with one hand? I would have given up long ago.¡± ¡°Damn it, I¡¯m going to run laps tomorrow for sure. I have to improve my endurance!¡± Was Bi Fang courting death? Of course not. He had his eye on a broken rebar nearby, but it was out of reach, forcing him to try another method. Letting go with one hand, Bi Fang pressed the buckle on his waist and slowly started taking off the backpack from his back. ¡°The strength and toughness of the steel reinforcement in reinforced concrete are very high, enough to support the weight of an adult. But I¡¯m also hanging a chunk of concrete here. Under the leverage effect, the force becomes very great. As you have just seen, it started bending the moment I moved slightly.¡± Bi Fang took a deep breath, and it was clear to any observant person that his energy was being rapidly consumed. ¡°So, my goal is to use my backpack to hang onto another piece of exposed rebar.¡± The camera shifted, and everyone immediately saw the broken rebar jutting out, not too far away, roughly one and a half meters, but just beyond reach. Halfway through taking his backpack off, Bi Fang carefully switched hands. He relaxed his left hand, which greatly reduced the soreness, but he didn¡¯t dare delay, and immediately took off the entire backpack. With the backpack off, Bi Fang looked at the rebar not far away and felt challenged. He glanced at the backpack in his hand, shifted slightly to the left, then grabbed one of the shoulder straps and swung out the backpack. The strap hadn¡¯t hooked on when the concrete that Bi Fang was holding suddenly sank. In the chaos, he completely missed the mark! The sudden sinking of the concrete nearly scared the viewers out of their wits, and even Bi Fang himself broke into a cold sweat. In April, the weather hadn¡¯t fully warmed yet. A cold wind blew, and the lining suddenly clung to his back, chillingly cold, like a slippery venomous snake. Chapter 321: 318 Hell Chapter 321: Chapter 318 Hell Bi Fang clung to the broken rebar, his arms trembling slightly, and below him was the scorching sun that blazed towards the sky. The violent wind lifted the hem of his clothes, bringing a cold touch, but that chill was quickly baked away by the heat, leaving behind an intense burn. After the building collapsed, the fire did not extinguish; instead, it spread around like serpents, entwining and climbing over the residential buildings. Looking down from above, it seemed as if a fiery python had burrowed out from the core of the Earth, inch by inch squeezing and twisting its way up the building, determined to crush it to dust. The fire grew more intense, with temperatures on the top floors reaching fifty or sixty degrees Celsius. Bi Fang felt as if he hung above a furnace, his cold sweat instantly drying. Time was running out; if things continued this way, he would either run out of strength and fall to his death or be roasted alive. Swallowing saliva that was thick like glue, Bi Fang¡¯s movements grew increasingly desperate and even somewhat deformed. The rebar bent lower bit by bit. Half a minute passed, and not only had he failed to secure a hold, but he also found himself even further from the broken rebar. Having hung from the top floor for a full minute and a half, under normal circumstances, this amount of time was trivial, barely a test of skill. But now, hanging from a tall building, exhausted, and with flames burning below, his strength was sapped away faster, sweat couldn¡¯t even run down his skin; it was forcefully evaporated within his pores. Feeling the salt crystals left on his face from the dried sweat, Bi Fang licked his lips and steeled his heart, the movements of his hands grew larger. He was no longer just swinging his bag but swaying side to side like a pendulum, with an astonishing amplitude. Such intense actions naturally caused the rebar to bend almost like a plastic board, emitting a grisly creaking sound until, with a tremor, a chorus of metallic clangs rang out as the rebar on the floor above broke off. And just when everyone couldn¡¯t bear to look, Bi Fang took the opportunity to launch himself outwards! Midair, Bi Fang¡¯s heart pounded wildly, but he successfully got closer to the broken rebar. Watching for the right moment and force, he threw his backpack! The shoulder strap, swung by centrifugal force, instantly hooked onto the broken rebar! Under the influence of gravity, Bi Fang plummeted down, his entire body weight pressing down, causing searing pain in his right hand grabbing the other shoulder strap, almost dislocating it, but he clung to the strap, his fingers white from the pressure. Bi Fang knew that once he let go, it would be all over. Hiss! The countless viewers inhaled sharply, as if even the temperature at the fire scene had dropped a few degrees, nearly stunned by the scene before them. They were unclear about Bi Fang¡¯s status but still felt elated. [Damn, awesome!!!] [The legendary ¡®inverse hanging stunt,¡¯ that¡¯s insanely strong!] [For the host stinking of smoke, Bear gifts you 5 Spaceships.] The flames below roared higher, the temperature getting hotter by the moment, leaving Bi Fang¡¯s lips white and peeling with dead skin. His right arm, which had been enduring for some time, had just gone through a fierce strain and felt as if the muscles were tearing, leaving him momentarily unable to exert any pressure. Fortunately, catching the rebar meant there was no major problem. The backpack acted as the connecting medium, stretched and completely deformed. Thankfully, it was a product from the System; its reliability could support not just one person but even another if needed. Bi Fang reached out with his left hand to grab the strap, pulled himself up by grasping the backpack, and took hold of the rebar, replacing the strap. The moment he touched the rebar, it was so hot that it almost burned off a layer of skin from his hand. ¡°Damn it.¡± Even with Bi Fang¡¯s tough disposition, he couldn¡¯t help but swear at that moment. The thermal conductivity of the rebar was too good; its temperature was so much higher than the surroundings. But no matter how hot it was, he dared not let go; bit by bit, he pulled himself up. Not until half of his body emerged over the top of the building did the crowd cheer and jump for joy. The majority of people also relaxed their minds, silently praising, ¡°It¡¯s no wonder that Master Fang can survive in such a desperate situation. Anyone else would have been terrified silly just seeing a whole building bearing down on them, let alone escaping.¡± Bi Fang climbed back up to the top floor. The dust was held back, and the air was clear. He lay there, taking deep breaths of fresh air. Seeing these discussions, he let out a laugh, showing none of the annoyance of being trapped but instead patiently explained. ¡°It¡¯s quite normal. When animals face danger, apart from the strategies of ¡®fight¡¯ and ¡®flight,¡¯ there¡¯s another very important one¡ª¡¯acting weak.¡¯ When the power disparity is too great, and they can neither fight nor flee, animals have evolved the instinct to ¡®play dead.¡¯ Trembling, weak legs, or even fainting outright, the common point is ¡®showing weakness.¡¯ sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It¡¯s easy to understand, if you can¡¯t fight or flee, then you¡¯d do well to minimize your threat level. If the aggression isn¡¯t predatory in nature, showing weakness in a dire situation can make it easier to survive.¡± After catching his breath, Bi Fang sat up from the ground. Even through his trousers, he could feel his backside starting to heat up. He opened his right hand to take a look, finding several blisters. They hadn¡¯t gotten to the point of peeling skin, but they were enough to show how critical the situation had been and further impressed the audience. The billowing black smoke grew larger around him, and the fire was clearly about to reach him. Bi Fang quickly stood up from the ground. ¡°It¡¯s no use. I have to escape quickly.¡± Moving his sore right arm, Bi Fang ran towards the east side of the residential building. The residential buildings were connected, making it easy to run across the rooftops. The collapsed building was situated at the edge, so once he ran a bit further, it wouldn¡¯t be a bother. After crossing four or five buildings, Bi Fang dared to slow down, clicking his tongue at the fire that grew larger behind him. It was past noon in his home country, but here, it was dusk. The entire residential building was ablaze, with even the tendency to spread. The roaring flames and the orange dusk sky reflected off each other; for a moment, even survival expert Bi Fang couldn¡¯t tell east from west, feeling bewildered. Damn, I¡¯ve never had such bad luck in my life. First, I encounter an attack by bandits upon arriving, then, as luck would have it, a building collapses¡ªutterly perilous. If I had known, I would¡¯ve gotten an off-road vehicle and sneaked into the city quietly. I mustn¡¯t act like this again in the future; I have to do thorough research before setting out. The once arrogant Bi Fang from the increase in power was knocked back to reality. Fortunately, his awakening was not complete; being suppressed at the first sign of hubris might even be considered a good thing. With a sigh, feeling the scorching heat close at hand, Bi Fang continued to flee, trying not to let the fire catch up to him. It was only after running half a street that he stopped; the line of fire was blocked by the open road, thus cut off. Bi Fang stood atop a tall building, looking out. Intense light shone on his black clothes¡ªnot sunlight, but the glow of fire. In the raging flames, the city was wailing; it was practically hell. ¡°I see my shoulders crumble from dust, I see my beauty fall ill, Apart from vanishing¡ªthere¡¯s no other wish.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s eyelids drooped as he murmured, his face half in light, half in shadow. Chapter 322: 319: Guard Against Theft Chapter 322: Chapter 319: Guard Against Theft Bi Fang sat on the edge of his bed, feeling quite excited. Just yesterday, he was wondering when the System would issue a new task, and today it had arrived. Excluding the time spent recording in the Wilderness Arena, Bi Fang had been resting for over a month since before the New Year, and his bones were starting to rust. He couldn¡¯t wait to open the task panel. Task Name: Ruins City Task Location: Abascan Yeimen Region Task Mode: Warfare City Survival Task Difficulty: S2 Task Requirement: Apart from system-supplied equipment, no other items may be carried. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Subtask One: Establish a live broadcast with a consistent online audience of over one million. Subtask Two: Conduct a six-day wilderness live broadcast and survive successfully. Guaranteed Reward: Unlock one breakthrough task. Time Limit: Fifteen days. Ruins City? After browsing through the entire task, Bi Fang frowned. He did not like this task one bit. Abbascan, one of the most chaotic countries in the world, and Yimen, a ruined city within it, with bandits, organizations, and the military, all with their complex influences¡ªjust walking on the street might lead to a sudden attack, speaking nothing of safety. However, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t afraid, as it wasn¡¯t his first time facing life-threatening danger. His dislike was genuine. He had always revered nature adventures. Although Ruins City could be considered part of the wilderness, Bi Fang disliked it thoroughly. Rainforests, forests, deserts, snow mountains¡ªthese places might look barren but are always ¡°brimming with life.¡± Unique landscapes, magnificent natural sceneries, various animals adapting tenaciously and diligently to their environment¡­ Ruins City¡­ The only description for it was bleak, without any hope, because those struggling here are humans themselves, and the reason for its current state is also humans. Upon seeing this task, Bi Fang¡¯s heart initially rejected it, but when he saw the guaranteed reward at the end, he was taken aback. Unlock one breakthrough task? What was that? An unheard-of thing. He had undertaken several tasks before¡ªforests, tundras, deserts, traversing the whole of Europe¡ªbut what was a breakthrough task? Break through what? The instincts of a Wilderness Master told Bi Fang this was something very important, that refusing it might lead to regret. Accept. Bi Fang trusted his instincts and clicked to accept. This task was different from the previous ones. Going to France had been no issue, with Elvan using a researcher assistant¡¯s certificate as assurance. But Abbascan was a sensitive country. With Bi Fang¡¯s current status, going there could possibly cause trouble. The task duration was only six days, yet the System gave fifteen days of preparation time, seemingly to allow him to make the necessary communications. He took out his phone and dialed a number, the phone on the other end belonged to someone akin to a manager arranged by his superiors, after all, his current public-facing broadcasts were marked, making it easier to find someone if an issue arose. ¡°Abbascan? Is Mr. Bi joking?¡± The person responsible on the other end of the line was taken aback, and after digging at his ear to make sure he hadn¡¯t misheard, and confirming that the other party was not joking, his expression turned serious. ¡°This is a bit troublesome.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I informed you ahead of time, no?¡± ¡°Informed me?¡± The person in charge rubbed his brow, finding the other party¡¯s words a bit too straightforward. It was a notification, not a request for approval, seemingly reflecting a very strong desire to go. After long consideration, the person in charge nodded, ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll notify the higher-ups as soon as possible and then get in touch with the Abbascan Faction. The crux of this matter isn¡¯t really with us, but rather whether they will agree. If they don¡¯t agree, our consent is in vain, Mr. Bi should understand this.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Bi Fang nodded, of course aware that the agreement depended on the Abbascan Faction¡¯s stance, only if they said it was possible, would it truly be possible. After informing the officials, Bi Fang immediately contacted Wolf Fang, but Assistant Liu seemed somewhat confused about these matters and agreed with a seeming lack of full understanding. A moment later, the phone rang again. Wang Yongbo¡¯s loud voice came from the other end: ¡°Abbascan, Bi Fang, you¡¯re not joking, are you? That place counts as wilderness?¡± ¡°It does,¡± Bi Fang nodded earnestly. ¡°¡­¡± There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, trembling slightly, ¡°But that¡¯s a war zone, planes don¡¯t even dare to fly over it!¡± ¡°Otherwise, why would I go?¡± ¡°You! Ah, that¡¯s different!¡± ¡°It¡¯s the same.¡± Wang Yongbo was speechless, the other guy sure had guts; though he himself had never been to Abbascan and wouldn¡¯t dare to, he could tell from movies and TV shows just how terrifying that place was. It was as different from the domestic environment as heaven is from hell. After a long silence, Wang Yongbo finally sighed, ¡°Do as you wish, I¡¯ve realized that I¡¯ve tried to advise you more than once, yet nothing has happened to you so far, and here I am nearly getting a heart attack.¡± Perhaps this is the gap between ordinary people and legends. With a brief warning, Wang Yongbo no longer tried to dissuade him and instead brought up another matter, inviting Bi Fang to an award ceremony. ¡°An award ceremony? Wasn¡¯t that already held?¡± Bi Fang frowned, thinking the award ceremony Wang Yongbo spoke of was just the annual meeting, where they invited top streamers from his platform to show their faces and receive bonuses. Last month, when the Wolf Fang annual event was held, he was still adrift at sea, naturally unable to attend. So what was this now? ¡°It¡¯s not the annual meeting, it has been a month, how could it be the annual meeting? It¡¯s an official commendation!¡± Wang Yongbo clicked his mouse, sending Bi Fang a notification message; it turned out to be an official invitation for Wolf Fang to participate in the Magic Capital¡¯s High-Quality Entertainment Platform, Outstanding Cultural Transmission Event, Award and Observational Meeting. Bi Fang¡¯s name was prominently listed, highlighted even. Bi Fang suddenly remembered a message he¡¯d received a long time ago about the authorities planning to rectify the disorder in the webcasting industry. Clearly, this event was also part of the recent enforcement actions: rewarding the good and penalizing the bad, cracking down on impropriety and establishing a standard. Webcasting was a form of entertainment that emerged with the rapid development of the internet era, growing rapidly as soon as it appeared, and within a few years, several companies were valued at billions. The rapid growth mostly resulted in rawness, just like a boy during puberty, with a snot-covered nose and soft whiskers sprouting mindlessly around the lips, sometimes waking up to find that his pants have become too short overnight. Just like the sudden roar of thunder awakening insects everywhere, causing annoyance to humans. One day, with a clap of thunder within, various red, white, yellow, and purple eruptions would burst forth across the face, seizing everyone¡¯s attention. Webcasting was the same; it had grown too fast and too recklessly, wholly dependent on market norms¡ªeven barbaric in its growth, with frequent chaos. However, as a nascent field, it couldn¡¯t simply be cut off, but guided towards a healthy and positive direction. The emergence of Bi Fang was the most powerful testament to this. So, while the authorities criticized platforms like Tiger Fang and Shark, they also needed to acknowledge the good ones, to set an example for the industry. It goes without saying who the example was. Wolf Fang was selected as an outstanding video platform, with a special mention of Bi Fang¡¯s presence! When Wang Yongbo first saw this notification, he almost thought he had read it wrong, as it was completely beyond his expectation. Webcasting and winning an award? Although it was just an award with no substantial reward, it signified official recognition and encouragement, and that was more valuable than money. Chapter 323: 320 Learned Something Incredible Chapter 323: Chapter 320 Learned Something Incredible Factory. An unexpected choice. [Seriously, of all places, you just had to choose a factory, what¡¯s the reasoning behind that, does Old Fang also want to be a factory worker?] [Workers unite, worker soul, all workers are above others!] [Shocking, famous live streamer actually wants to work regularly! Is it the platform¡¯s coercion, or has the streamer¡¯s morality degenerated?] [What¡¯s wrong with working? Look down on workers? 996 is a blessing (dog¡¯s head)] The audience chuckled, and Bi Fang coughed twice, as he unwrapped the bandages from his right hand and counter-questioned. ¡°If you were to find yourselves in Ruins City, what would you choose to do first?¡± Run into the wilderness on your own? Many viewers were stunned; they were used to watching live streams and had never considered such a situation. Suddenly being confronted with the question, they even felt a surge of excitement as though they were part of it. It was as if by suggesting something, the Bi Fang visible on the screen would actually do it, giving them a sense of decision-making superiority. [Should we start by hoarding food? Or go to the supermarket? Maybe the market?] [I think we should find weapons first. Go to the police station? Searching for help is also an option, and if not, look for weapons there.] [Bro, you¡¯re ruthless. How could you think of such a thing? Fearless!] [What¡¯s so special about that? It¡¯s just talk; if something really happened, I¡¯d definitely prioritize self-preservation. There might be firearms in a police station, which would greatly increase my ability to protect myself.] [We could also head to the hospital, hoard medicines, and maybe even strike it rich later.] Quite a few viewers really thought this way. Just looking around at the desolation, the weeds in the corners, newspapers fluttering in the wind¡ªit felt intensely apocalyptic. Plus, with the sky¡¯s gloom, there was a natural greyish dark-light filter present, adding to the sense of horror, not much different from a disaster movie. Under such circumstances, not having any tools at hand was indeed unsettling. It was somewhat different domestically; going to the police station was mostly for seeking shelter. Abroad, however, the primary intent was usually to obtain weapons. After bandaging his right hand, Bi Fang smiled. The thoughts of his audience were not far off from his own guesses; how to survive in the apocalypse requires resources and power. Supermarkets, hospitals, and police stations are excellent places to look, but hospitals are slightly less ideal. Those who understand know that while medicines may be even scarcer than food, they¡¯re not easy to protect. Thus, in truth, securing them should come after obtaining weapons. ¡°So, these are all places we can¡¯t go. If it was the first moment of the disaster, these places would definitely be key locations to target, akin to strategic points that armies contest over. But it¡¯s been at least half a month since Yemen turned into this ghostly state. What you can think of, others can too¡ªlikely even more comprehensively and extensively. Now, heading there would just be picking up scraps, and you¡¯d likely get nothing. But factories are different. Did anyone suggest going to a factory just now? No, right? But what could one find inside a large factory?¡± What could there be? Hearing Bi Fang¡¯s question, the viewers frowned in thought, now considering the advantages a factory might offer. First, under normal circumstances, there would certainly be a lot of people, and where there are people, there has to be food, and also the need for order and organization¡­ A cafeteria and¡­ a security office? The quick-witted ones immediately typed this answer in the live streaming chat, enlightening others. Damn, yeah, a large factory would definitely have a cafeteria and a security office. No need to say much about the cafeteria¡ªit would naturally have rice and grain; the same with the security office. It¡¯s quite different here compared to other places; security guards have significant authority, especially in a country accustomed to war. To say that the security here doesn¡¯t have anything equipped, nobody would believe that. There must be some good stuff. But half a month has passed; surely, even the slow-witted would have caught on by now, right? S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang nodded. He didn¡¯t think highly of himself to assume he was the only intelligent one around. Certainly, others would consider heading to the factory, perhaps even the workers themselves. ¡°Surviving is never going to be smooth sailing; no doubt many smart people could think of this. But compared to supermarkets and police stations¡ªthe obvious choices for the average person¡ªthe possibility of finding supplies in a factory is undoubtedly higher. When has survival ever been a sure thing? I have long said that to survive in the wilderness is to constantly choose from options that nature presents. You¡¯re not the one setting the questions, so it¡¯s impossible to know the answers. Therefore, you must choose the option with the highest probability of success. Moreover, we still don¡¯t know what this factory actually produces; who knows, there might be some good things, right?¡± Bi Fang leaped from the rooftop, arriving at a low-rise building. He quickly descended through the stairwell to the street level. Once there, he didn¡¯t dare to run but cautiously searched around corners, investigating alleys before proceeding. The incident from yesterday was a bloody lesson, indicating that Yemen hadn¡¯t completely turned into Ghost City, but was still fraught with thugs roaming about. Half an hour later. A faint stench of decay assaulted Bi Fang¡¯s nostrils, making him frown. His first reaction was the smell of rotting corpses, a inherent part of the battlefield¡¯s harsh reality, but a closer sniff revealed it was different. The stench of human decay is an overwhelmingly strong odor that can even induce vomiting in many seasoned forensic experts caught off-guard, and it carries a distinct, faintly sour note. This is why in films and TV shows, when someone dies in a building, the neighbors on either side, above and below, can all smell the decay. But the foul smell here was somewhat different, yet Bi Fang couldn¡¯t pinpoint exactly what it was. Often, recognizing a smell doesn¡¯t mean you know what it is. That requires long-term training. It was not until he passed three streets and a pale green ¡°river¡± appeared behind the factory that Bi Fang understood the source of the stench. Walking along the riverbank, he saw a half-meter-thick water pipe that had long since dried out, but the viscous green material inside it was a stark reminder to everyone that the source of the river¡¯s odor really did spread from here. ¡°This kind of factory wastewater must never be drunk. It¡¯s dirtier than stagnant water in the wilderness, containing a plethora of chemical substances. Even many bacteria can¡¯t survive in it, and drinking it is almost certain death.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s face twisted in disgust from the stench, almost wanting to vomit, but he managed to hold back. ¡°After being roasted by the fire yesterday and going a day without water, my throat is practically smoked dry. But the tap water in all the residential buildings has practically stopped. Without water, without electricity, even a city is nothing but a steel jungle. What¡¯s worse is that most urban water sources can¡¯t be directly consumed due to various kinds of industrial pollution. The water in city rivers might even be dirtier than the stagnant water outside. Drinking water from the wilderness might at most cause diarrhea, but water here can be lethal. Even evaporation and purification are useless. Even through distillation, toxic substances can vaporize at high temperatures and mix with the distilled water.¡± Bi Fang furrowed his brows tightly. Water was indeed a big issue, and he had actually forgotten to collect some rainwater yesterday. ¡°Regardless, let¡¯s go into the factory and take a look first.¡± [All this talk, just to enter the factory, Dog¡¯s head to save my life, emoji.] [This is exactly like a post-apocalyptic crisis. It¡¯s my first time seeing such a city, without a single person, without a sound. Reminds me of The Quiet Place.] [Shoot a film with the location right here.] [Movies wouldn¡¯t dare shoot here, would they? It¡¯s too risky, a careless move could lead to disaster.] [They¡¯d abduct the actress to squeeze her dry as a lady of pressure, haha.] [So, how do we find water? There¡¯s no tap water, aren¡¯t we going to die of thirst? Is there any point in going in?] ¡°While domestic and industrial water both come from the water plant, they¡¯re actually two separate systems. Often when the domestic water supply stops, the industrial one doesn¡¯t. Let¡¯s go in and see first. If there¡¯s a water source, we might even catch some game.¡± Bi Fang adjusted his mood and optimistically began searching through the factory. At the entrance, he casually picked up a piece of rebar. This was one of the advantages of urban survival¡ªmany common items could easily become makeshift weapons. The rebar was about as thick as a little finger and over half a meter long. It appeared to have been cut, with a sharp fracture and a blob of cement attached. He struck it hard against the wall. The cement shattered, exposing the rebar. After swinging it a couple of times, he found its weight and length to be quite suitable. [That¡¯s it, that¡¯s it, the tree stick has actually upgraded to an iron stick, incredible!] [The Artifact¡¤Tree of Life Stick evolves, Super Artifact¡¤Red Origin Divine Iron Stick!] [Miying Pingzong sent a gift of Spaceship*1 to the host¡ª I think Wolf Fang could create a special set of live-stream gifts for Master Fang, like sending tree sticks, iron sticks, silver sticks, gold sticks and the like (laugh)] [Lecherous stick? Where¡¯s the lecherous stick?] While the viewers were causing a ruckus, Bi Fang approached the factory gate, noting the tightly closed iron doors with a standard lock hanging on them. Seeing this, Bi Fang inserted the rebar and, rolling up his sleeves, grabbed both ends of the rebar. The veins popped on his muscular forearms as he twisted the rebar. There was a screeching sound of the lock being torqued, the lock head deforming and stretching until, with a snap, it broke off! ¡°Squeak.¡± Pushing open the gate, Bi Fang entered with a slightly labored breath, looking at the astonished viewers. Was it really that simple to enter? It seems, after all, that they may have learned something quite extraordinary. Chapter 324: 321: Leniency to Those Who Confess Chapter 324: Chapter 321: Leniency to Those Who Confess ¡°[This technique is so skillful¡­ Come on, how many times have you done this?]¡± ¡°[Confess to leniency, resist to severity ¨C the choice between spending New Year¡¯s in jail or with family (funny)]¡± ¡°[It¡¯s over, Master Fang is on a one-way path to crime¡­]¡± The audience was shocked by Bi Fang¡¯s skilled lock-picking, and equally unexpected was the fact that the lock was so flimsy? ¡°Ha, it depends on the lock. The one just now was a very common U-lock, and it was a short integrated type, not a long separate type. If it had been a long separate type, I probably wouldn¡¯t have been able to pick it. But a short integrated type is just a regular bike lock. I don¡¯t know who gave them the confidence to use it on an iron gate. However, having a lock is actually a good thing. It shows that no one has brazenly broken in. Maybe some have climbed the fence, but those are just petty thieves. If it had been a thug, they would¡¯ve cut the lock right away. Of course, now I¡¯m one of them.¡± Bi Fang shook his head, pushed the iron gate open, and stepped into the factory, only to be instantly dumbfounded. On the factory gate happened to hang a long separation type U-lock! Good grief, this was waiting for him! Facing the second lock, the audience nearly burst out laughing. Bi Fang hesitated for a moment, shook the iron bar in his hand and approached the factory gate, inserted it into the lock mechanism, and started twisting with force. After a while, he got nowhere, and the newly acquired iron bar was bent quite a bit, forcing him to give up. Just as he said, the separate type U-lock is very difficult to pick. It is made of steel, that is often thicker than a rebar, and its strength is exceedingly high. Unable to enter through the main gate, Bi Fang could only look around for other entrances. However, after circling the entire complex, he found that this was the only gate, and the other buildings had the same structure ¨C quite troublesome. He would have to find another way to get in. The structure of the factory was simple, squarely built, but aside from the main door, the windows were all uncomfortably high. Ordinary people would find it very difficult to enter. Just as some viewers were about to mock Bi Fang¡¯s fanciful thinking, he didn¡¯t feel let down, but rather quite happy. ¡°The harder it is to get in, the better ¨C doesn¡¯t that just mean ordinary people can¡¯t get in? It suggests that many valuable things haven¡¯t been lost.¡± Shh! The Shuiyou collectively hissed, never expecting Master Fang to have such thick-skinned confidence ¨C wondering whether to praise his optimism or his self-assurance. After looking around for a long time, Bi Fang finally set his sights on a plastic water pipe. He tapped on it ¨C it sounded solid, long, thick, hard, and quite ¡°fresh.¡± It looked sturdy and usable. Yet plastic pipes, given enough time, get oxidized and brittle, losing their support and hardness, making them unfit for climbing. From his point of view, the pipe ended in a ventilation duct, a great opportunity to get inside the factory. Though it was high, it was well worth exploring. However, before attempting to enter, he needed to make some preparations since he couldn¡¯t be sure what would be inside the air duct. It was necessary to make a torch for scouting the way. There was no need for this in the resort because it hadn¡¯t turned into ruins and the air ducts were in normal use, so there were no weird things inside. But Yemen was different; the air duct could have become a rat¡¯s nest. Therefore, a torch was needed for observation and to fend off snakes, insects, rats, and ants. But it had just rained ¨C where to find materials? Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang knocked around, and as a factory is convenient for finding ¡°garbage,¡± he soon found something useful amidst a pile of trash. He pulled out a piece of broken felt, expressing his joy. ¡°A damp environment might not seem the ideal place to look for torch materials, but if you search hard enough, you will always find something. We can use this tar paper ¨C the material is great. It¡¯s flammable and the flame lasts relatively long. Tar paper is made from thick paper pulp impregnated with tar and asphalt for waterproofing, commonly laid on factory roofs for water resistance. It burns steadily and continuously, perfect for making a torch.¡± With tar paper, starting a fire became much simpler. Bi Fang searched the trash pile, finding many metal objects, but after considering them, he shook his head. Almost done rummaging through the pile, he finally found two blackened metal pieces. Striking them together produced sparks. The Shuiyou¡¯s eyes brightened ¨C weren¡¯t these natural flint stones? Bi Fang was also pleased, feeding his ¡°let¡¯s try¡± attitude, he searched and managed to find such high-hardness metal components, wondering what parts they could be. ¡°` Each profession has its own area of expertise, and although Bi Fang was not familiar with it, as long as it was useful, that was all that mattered. He wouldn¡¯t have to go to the trouble of searching for dry materials to make fire by wood-drilling. With these, it was no longer necessary. Stuffing the torch, sawdust, and iron tools into his backpack, Bi Fang tightened the bandage on his hand, stuck the iron rod into his backpack behind him, and grabbed onto the water pipe with both hands. Then, with a jump, he stepped onto the pipe and climbed up effortlessly, as if walking upward step by step, looking relaxed and at ease. A simple principle of mechanics was all that was needed, no need to hug the pipe and exert all his strength; he just had to keep his hands from letting go. With his upper body arched back and feet pushing against the pipe, he leveraged himself upward. The high pipe, several dozens of meters tall, was reached in no time. Looking back, the sheer height was enough to make someone¡¯s legs go weak. [From picking locks to climbing water pipes and entering ventilation shafts, so skilled as if he knows something incredible] [I¡¯m so dumb, really, I only knew Master Fang was nimble, but I had no clue why he was so good] [Come on, tell us, what are your side hustles, don¡¯t prevaricate under everyone¡¯s watchful eyes.] [That¡¯s it, I¡¯m scared of heights, this must be over twenty meters, right?] ¡°Bullshit!¡± Bi Fang arrived at the end of the water pipe, flipped onto the roof, and cursed with a laugh upon seeing these comments. ¡°These skills are very common; one of the training contents for special forces is urban combat. Picking locks and climbing pipes are routine operations. What¡¯s with the astonishment, making such a big fuss?¡± Taking everything out of his backpack and putting together a makeshift setup, a blazing torch appeared before the eyes of the online audience, quite impressive indeed. No matter how many times one saw it, the ability to make fire with such simple tools was seriously powerful. Just think about it, having a warm campfire in the wilderness is an immense motivation, just that alone could help one hold on for a couple more days. Prying open the entrance with a steel bar, Bi Fang extended the torch inside to scout around, discovering a layer of dust and rust on bolts, indicating a lack of maintenance over the years. ¡°Surviving in the concrete jungle is as challenging as in Nature¡¯s woodland, but both share a commonality: you need to know how to advance quickly and safely. This involves balancing confidence and advance planning, the perfect coordination of eyes and feet. This is an old ventilation shaft, which may be the best route into the building. Since there are no other more obvious entries, this ventilation shaft could provide us an entrance. It¡¯s a bit rusty, but it might be easy to get through.¡± Wiping his hand over the dust, Bi Fang shook his head. He hadn¡¯t quite gotten rid of yesterday¡¯s smell from falling into the trash bin, and now he was about to get covered in dust again. Looking at the dust, this old steel pipe had been out of use for a long time and severely eroded by the harsh climate. ¡°Now we can enter the ventilation shaft. I¡¯ll try to squeeze in; if you¡¯ve already found enough supplies, remember not to eat too much for lunch.¡± Cracking a joke with his audience, Bi Fang first stuffed the torch in, then grabbed both sides of the vent, checked its stability, and dove in headfirst. Entering the vent system was like exploring an untouched cave; the environment alone was daunting and oppressive, the air stale, every breath filled with dust. He slowly climbed further in, the torch flickering dimly, casting a silence that was frightening. ¡°The torch here is not just for light, but also a reminder to us whether there¡¯s enough oxygen for breathing. The dampness also means more severe rust, so be cautious with the path ahead. It¡¯s somewhat like navigating a minefield, filled with tension. You never know if the ground beneath you is stable, if the footplate is solid or rusted through. This means we have to be very careful, testing every step before taking it.¡± Having crawled through a ventilation shaft before, Bi Fang was quite experienced. He stretched out his limbs as much as possible to evenly distribute his weight across every thin plate. Until the light shone upon a piece of metal that was shockingly red with rust. Damn it, to rust like this, doesn¡¯t anyone do maintenance? Frustrated internally, Bi Fang could only continue crawling forward. Having come this far, of course, he had to grit his teeth and persevere; to give up now would be to abandon all his preceding efforts. ¡°This part is too rusted; we have to pretend we¡¯re walking on thin ice and distribute our weight. If necessary, use our hands to help distribute the weight. This plate is too thin; tiptoeing on thin ice is better than having nowhere to step at all. Be careful here; it goes straight down, looks like it leads directly to the next floor. We could drop a pebble to gauge the depth.¡± Bi Fang inched deeper inside, and he could feel that he was entering the heart of the factory, but gradually, he realized he was starting to struggle for breath as the oxygen supply dwindled. ¡°` Chapter 325: 322 Receiving Goods Chapter 325: Chapter 322 Receiving Goods In the ventilation duct, the light from the torch grew fainter, until after the last flicker, the entire passage was engulfed in utter darkness. There¡¯s no oxygen left! By now, there was no need for Bi Fang to remind everyone, as the online friends already knew the situation was critical. He had been crawling for a long time, and at this point, a lack of oxygen was no joke. Cao Lifeng, who had been watching all along, furrowed his brow intently and hurriedly sent a small gift, hoping Bi Fang could carry on, and even encouraged the others to join in the support. A few of the online friends had no choice but to part with their long-cherished Wolf Brush, their hearts pounding as they continued to watch the live stream. ¡°I practice Wilderness Survivalist techniques in this abandoned city, navigating through man-made obstacles. Did you all turn on night vision mode because of me? Actually, I¡¯m just crawling through a ventilation duct.¡± Bi Fang made a joke with the newcomers watching the stream, then continued to climb further in. Helicopters have a term called the point of no return, meaning that past this point, they can no longer return as the fuel will not suffice for the return flight, and they must continue towards the destination. The situation was similar now, but Bi Fang had measured the length of the ventilation duct, and the exit wasn¡¯t far away. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I¡¯m trying to enter this building to search for essential survival supplies, but my torch has gone out. The part of the ventilation duct I¡¯m in is getting narrower and narrower. It¡¯s hard for people to like such constricted places. Surviving in tight spaces requires a lot of attention, and you must remain calm and not panic. Once you panic, your chest cavity will expand, making the tight space feel even tighter. We¡¯re almost at the end. Cough cough, so much dust¡­ This section is particularly narrow, but I can see a glimmer of light at the end of the duct. I just need to squeeze through a bit more, controlling my breath as much as possible. However, the duct is full of dust and grease, and my airways are almost completely clogged by it.¡± Finally, the sensation of difficulty breathing gradually subsided, and the ventilation duct became increasingly spacious. Looking ahead at the lushness in front of him, Bi Fang wanted to kick it down, but the tight space made it impossible for him to adjust his position, so he could only slap it with one palm after another. The rivets trembled slightly, with wall dust falling in flurries. A faint sound of metal hitting the ground was heard as a rivet was dislodged. The audience cheered, urging Bi Fang to speed up until the third rivet came loose and Bi Fang, with a burst of strength, eagerly pushed out the grille! Damn it, finally out. Bi Fang poked his head out, taking deep breaths of the fresh air outside. There was still plenty of dust, but it was nothing compared to the inside of the ventilation duct. After catching his breath, Bi Fang looked around and slowly crawled out of the duct. ¡°Let¡¯s see if this place was worth all the effort I put into getting here. Such old buildings can be a rare treasure trove for survivalists.¡± [Ah ha, I¡¯m on it, this is looting, right? Time to search for goods.] [Sounds like someone who¡¯s seasoned in battle royales.] [Haha, you¡¯re making me want to play a round right now.] ¡°Huh, it¡¯s pretty spacious.¡± After crawling out of the air vent, Bi Fang glanced around; perhaps it was because it was the top floor, but there were no machines, just vast open space. Shaking off the dust from his body, Bi Fang continued to walk deeper in. Along the way, he encountered many doors, all locked, and they were all hefty metal doors. Bi Fang tried to break through one, but failed. It wasn¡¯t until he came across an unlocked bathroom that his spirits soared. [Ah, isn¡¯t it just a restroom¡­] [Is there water?] [Hurry up and check it out.] Bi Fang, however, shook his head: ¡°Water is only one aspect. Do you remember the dirty water we saw outside before we entered? That dirty water indicates that the industry this factory was involved in caused pollution. With pollution comes toxicity, and factories like this are strictly required to be equipped with first aid kits, which are usually kept in the restrooms! In case of danger and the need to wash off, one can immediately use what¡¯s inside!¡± So that¡¯s how it is! The audience suddenly understood. Bi Fang immediately went in, and to his surprise, there was almost no smell. Of course, it had been abandoned for so long. Instead of rushing to look for the first aid kit, Bi Fang first turned on the tap. Still no water. Bi Fang¡¯s brow furrowed, utterly unexpected there was no water, and just as he felt disheartened, suddenly, a stream of dark brown water began to slowly flow out of the faucet. Initially, the flow was very small, but after a few sputters, the flow abruptly increased! There really was water, thank goodness! [But this is all brown, isn¡¯t it rust? Is it drinkable?] [Wow, is this some sort of paranormal adventure? Red water, like a scene from a horror movie.] [Newcomer? This is wilderness exploration.] Bi Fang took a long breath, finally finding water, ¡°Rust isn¡¯t a problem, as long as there¡¯s water. Just need to run it longer and clean water will come out, but it might take a while, it¡¯s nearly been a month of rust, can¡¯t clean it in a jiffy.¡± Having said that, Bi Fang began to search for the crux of this mission, the First Aid kit. Sure enough, fortune favors the diligent. As he rounded a partition, he really found it, right there in the nearby showcase! ¡°Locked again?¡± Bi Fang tugged at it, unsurprisingly to no avail. No other choice, he took a steel rebar from his backpack and smashed it towards the showcase. But the next second, Bi Fang, whose hands tingled from the vibration, staggered back, staring at the unscathed glass in astonishment. Tempered glass! Was there really a need for tempered glass in such a place? Too much money to spend? Bi Fang, massaging his numb palms, silently cursed. ¡°This is made of tempered glass; the rebar¡¯s hard impact made my hands hurt. We need to think of another way.¡± Bi Fang looked around, then suddenly stepped out of the restroom and came to a corner where there was a small rack with items like promotional sides and newspapers on it. He casually pulled out a newspaper, the most recent issue was from February. Taking all the papers at once, Bi Fang rolled them into a cylindrical shape, without leaving any gaps inside, then folded them against each other, making the middle as hard as steel. ¡°Let¡¯s see if the newspaper can break it. If folded correctly, ordinary paper can be almost as strong as a Wolf Fang baton, just by simple folding it becomes very hard.¡± After swinging it a couple of times, Bi Fang was quite satisfied. Returning to the showcase, just one hit and the glass was covered in spiderweb-like cracks, not a single area unscathed. Good lord, the audience was stunned by the power of this newspaper, could it really be this impressive? Seeing the effect, Bi Fang pressed his advantage and within three strikes, the tempered glass burst into pieces. He grabbed the First Aid kit out in one go, flipping through it briefly. There were wound dressings for bandaging wounds, small scissors, bandages, alcohol, and even potassium permanganate. Bi Fang opened a cap and recognized the deep purple substance at a glance. ¡°Good stuff, potassium permanganate dissolved in water can clean wounds and turns purple when absorbing water. It¡¯s also a great marker. If it¡¯s an icy, snowy area, you can sprinkle it on snow to mark for airplanes. It has many other uses too. I¡¯m taking it.¡± One could say that with this medical kit, Bi Fang¡¯s foray into the factory was not in vain; it was, in fact, a huge gain. Back at the faucet, the rusty water finally turned clear. Bi Fang immediately unraveled the bandage on his right hand. The skin over the blister stuck to the bandage, making people cringe, even peeling off a small piece of skin, revealing reddish-white inflamed tissue that seemed to be purulent. Hiss. The viewers couldn¡¯t help but clench their hands, feeling a wave of pain. Now with medication at hand, it was sure to disinfect and rebandage. ¡°When using alcohol, make sure to check its concentration; the best is seventy-five percent, not too high or too low. Alcohol kills germs by denaturing and coagulating proteins, which requires a certain concentration of alcohol. The optimal concentration is 75%. Too low needs no explanation, but if the concentration is too high, it makes the protein denature too quickly, forming a tough layer of denatured protein on the surface of bacteria. It¡¯s like giving bacteria a protective shell, preventing the alcohol from penetrating further into the bacteria, thus lowering the germicidal effect.¡± After disinfecting and rebandaging the wound, Bi Fang felt much relief. He took a couple of sips of clear water and continued searching, but no further luck came easily. ¡°Since there¡¯s nothing good left on the top floor, let¡¯s go down and check. The exit in the stairwell is locked; we need to find another way.¡± ¡°There was an elevator earlier, definitely without power, but if we can get into the shaft, we could use it to descend.¡± Bi Fang circled around to the elevator door and conducted a brief search. ¡°Elevators usually have an emergency switch for firefighters, an off-power leveling device. With this emergency switch, firefighters can access the shaft even without power. You see, right here!¡± He pressed a red button, and the elevator seemed to show no change, leaving even Bi Fang unsure if it had worked. After watching silently for half a minute, Bi Fang thought it might not have¡­ [So it¡¯s useless, huh?] [Hahaha, I¡¯m dying, thought it would open the door] ¡°No worries, there¡¯s a backup plan.¡± Bi Fang, unfazed, took out a piece of wire he had found somewhere and slid it into the elevator door gap, gliding upward until he hit resistance. ¡°Looks like the core is here!¡± Overjoyed at finding the lock core, Bi Fang reinserted the wire and fiddled around for a while. After hearing a slight click, he quickly put down the wire and took out a crowbar. ¡°Let¡¯s see if it¡¯s movable¡­ careful, careful, careful, the elevator is definitely not on this floor, it¡¯s at least seven floors away, we need to find a way down, but Chapter 326: 324 Inside the Factory Chapter 326: Chapter 324 Inside the Factory ¡°` The end of the broken rebar was extremely sharp, and, after aiming it at the crack of the door, Bi Fang thrust it forcefully. The door trembled slightly and the rebar easily caught in the crevice. Bi Fang shook it left and right a bit, pushing the rebar deeper, then with a sudden lever to the right, the elevator door burst open! ¡°Huo!¡± A cold wind hit his face. Bi Fang looked down into the pitch-black elevator shaft and abruptly stopped in his tracks, quite alarmed. He had used too much force and, as the ground was covered in dust, his feet slipped, nearly causing him to fall down the shaft. Cold air scurried up and down the deep and dark elevator shaft. The elevator wasn¡¯t there, leaving only a few hoisting ropes dangling in the void, with no clue which floor they might have stopped on. [¡°How are we supposed to get down? The elevator can¡¯t be used during a power outage.¡±] [¡°Nonsense, Old Fang was just looking for the elevator, he must have some way to go down.¡±] [¡°Slide down the hoisting ropes?¡±] [¡°Swing, oh swing, my wild abandon.¡±] [¡°Leap with passion, you deserve to own it!¡±] Bi Fang touched the hoisting ropes with his hand, which came away coated in lubricating oil. After a moment of consideration, he said, ¡°Going straight down is definitely not going to work, the hoisting ropes are covered in lubricating oil, you can¡¯t hold onto them. We need to increase their friction; otherwise, we won¡¯t be able to stop, and it¡¯ll be just like falling down, which could be even worse if we lose our grip.¡± There were many methods to increase friction. Bi Fang initially wanted to tear off a piece of cloth, wrap it around the ropes, and slide down holding the fabric, but after a moment of thought, he started looking around. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°A factory that has first-aid kits even in the restrooms should be very standard, so the fire safety measures should also be in place. If we can find it, then we won¡¯t need to tear our clothes, just take a piece of the fire hose down, which is much rougher and more useful than fabric.¡± Indeed, his guess was correct. After bypassing a corridor, the red fire hose cabinet suddenly appeared before everyone, with the hose coiled into a circle and hung in the middle. The fire hose cabinet wasn¡¯t locked, nor would anyone lock it, but Bi Fang didn¡¯t choose to open it. Instead, he took out the rebar, stepped back half a step, shielded his face with his right hand, and swung the rebar to shatter the glass. This time it wasn¡¯t tempered glass. With a ¡°crack,¡± shards of glass flew. ¡°This time I didn¡¯t bring a dagger, and I don¡¯t have any sharp tools on me. The traditional fire hoses have a rubber lining and the outer surface is wrapped with flax fabric, which is wear- and cut-resistant. That¡¯s why I chose to break the glass, to artificially create a sharp tool. It¡¯s brittle, sure, but it¡¯s sufficient for cutting a hose, see, this piece is good.¡± Picking through the pile of broken glass, Bi Fang picked up a crescent-shaped shard whose sharp edge twinkled coldly. He opened the fire hose cabinet, dragged the hose out, and threw it onto the ground. The hose was long, and Bi Fang pulled out a section to wrap around the piece of glass, then reached out with the shard to cut into a length of the hose, truly achieving ¡°taken from the hose, used on the hose.¡± The glass began to rub against the hose with great speed, but progress did not meet the audience¡¯s expectations, and after half a minute, only a single coil of thread was severed. The man himself had much more patience; after all, it was glass, not a real knife, and with a layer of hose to get through, it wasn¡¯t easy to apply force. ¡°Although the glass is very sharp, the hose isn¡¯t a pushover either. Don¡¯t rush, if we take our time, we¡¯ll get through. At least it¡¯s not completely ineffective, right?¡± Bi Fang said with a laugh as he cut open a small portion of the hose. Hearing him say this, the audience also became patient. Now there was an opening; the rest would be easier. They cut down along the opening, and quickly a section of the hose was detached. Grasping the fire hose, Bi Fang returned to the elevator entrance, looking down at the height of over ten meters, he cautiously reached for the hoisting rope. The hoisting rope was quite far away, and Bi Fang could hardly reach it without leaning out, balancing the upper half of his body¡¯s weight on the ropes to manage the reach. Having adjusted his position, Bi Fang started to wrap the fire hose around the hoisting ropes, three full turns, then tied a firm knot. ¡°The coarse fabric of the fire hose will protect my hands and forearms, as well as increase friction. Alright¡­ huh, I didn¡¯t feel it when climbing up the hose, but now looking down, it seems so high, at least twenty meters.¡± ¡°` Bi Fang took a deep breath and looked down into the pitch-black elevator shaft, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead. He knew he shouldn¡¯t look down, but he couldn¡¯t help it. ¡°The key to sliding down a rope is to use the strength of your legs as much as possible, rather than your hands. A common mistake is to rely on arm strength habitually instead of the legs, because humans¡¯ hands are far more flexible than their legs. Over time, it becomes more natural to solve problems with one¡¯s hands, but as the old saying goes, ¡®The arm is never stronger than the thigh.''¡± With one burst of effort, then a decline, and finally exhaustion, Bi Fang briefly explained. Then, he tensed his thighs, bent them slightly, and with a leap, he latched onto the rope. Immediately, he wrapped his legs around the rope, pressing his whole body against it to increase friction, hugging the rope tightly. The next second, he felt his body suddenly drop and begin to slide down rapidly. Fortunately, the speed was within the anticipated range! A sweat broke out in Bi Fang¡¯s mind, but he was somewhat delighted, ¡°During operation, the elevator cables are regularly inspected for wear, but these old cables have been discarded, so I wasn¡¯t too sure if they were still secure. Now, it seems, they are quite sturdy.¡± However, that bit of delight soon vanished. A large amount of lubricating oil had been stripped off by the ¡°rubbing¡± against the water pipe skin, accumulating more and more, and the speed of descent was showing signs of becoming uncontrollable. Even the audience, observing Bi Fang¡¯s facial expressions, realized something was wrong, especially when they saw the thick layer of black grease on his hands. Having descended only five or six meters and already facing this situation, Bi Fang quickly looked for a solution. As he watched the scenery falling by, he steeled his heart, released the grip of his thighs on the rope, and stepped onto a column on the wall of the elevator shaft. Without the control of his legs, the speed of descent was as fast as free-falling, making onlookers break out in a cold sweat. The first step missed, the second made contact but wasn¡¯t firm, and it wasn¡¯t until the third column that Bi Fang¡¯s firm step finally slowed him down. When he had managed to reduce his speed, Bi Fang gasped for air, ¡°No good, this is too tiring, let me shake out my hands for a bit. I¡¯ve only descended halfway, and my hands are very tired. It¡¯s also a torment to the mind. You have to concentrate, remind yourself that falling from here means certain death. And you have to strenuously hold onto the rope. Just now, I almost couldn¡¯t hold on any longer due to the excess oil. Fortunately, there was no mishap, but I descended quite a distance. Later, I will still need to find a way to get through the elevator car.¡± The entrance was more than ten meters away, completely unreachable now. After evenly sliding down another seven or eight meters, Bi Fang finally saw the elevator. He released his hands and landed heavily on top of the elevator with a ¡®thud¡¯. ¡°There must be a way out at the top of the elevator. The top usually has a safety exit¡­ No good, it¡¯s too sturdy here, I can¡¯t get through this gap.¡± Bi Fang fumbled in the dark for a long time and couldn¡¯t find an opening at the top of the elevator. With no other choice, he moved around to the back of the elevator box to have a look. There was a small gap between the back of the elevator box and the wall surface, not completely flush, but through it, a sliver of light could be seen. ¡°Estimating the height of the entire building, the elevator seems to have stopped at the first floor. If we can get down there, maybe we can get out directly.¡± After a rough estimation, Bi Fang decided to descend through this gap. The gap was very narrow, approximately only 25 centimeters wide. It was extremely tight, but just enough for Bi Fang to pass through the elevator. When he reached the bottom, he could even see the ground through the light. Without hesitation, Bi Fang relaxed his muscles and dropped straight onto the ground, arriving in the space between the low elevator and the ground, with the elevator hanging right above his head. As luck would have it, the elevator seemed to be jammed between floors, with a similarly small sliver of light shining through. ¡°Phew, now we¡¯ve made it underneath the elevator. Above my head is over a ton of steel, which could easily crush me to death. Even though it¡¯s been hanging here for a month, I still can¡¯t relax. Fortunately, the situation isn¡¯t bad. The gap is very narrow, but it¡¯s still possible to get through.¡± After stuffing his backpack into the gap, Bi Fang took off his jacket, left with only a layer of lining on his body, and squeezed out through the gap, sticking close to the door panel. The light spilled onto Bi Fang¡¯s face, making him squint slightly. Chapter 327: 325: One Day (Two-in-One) Chapter 327: Chapter 325: One Day (Two-in-One) ¡°Ptooey, ptooey.¡± ¡°Finally got out, that wasn¡¯t easy!¡± Having finally seen the sunlight, Bi Fang spat out twice, clearing his mouth of all the dust, and took deep breaths of the fresh air. To call it fresh was not entirely accurate, as it wasn¡¯t a huge forest, and if you sniffed carefully, there was still a smell of gunpowder, but it was still far better than the elevator shaft full of dust and the smell of black oil. Once inside the factory, Bi Fang looked around. The floor was spacious; at first glance, it seemed like there were just a few load-bearing walls. The ground and the walls were covered in dust that had turned yellowish, and many of the windows had been fully shattered. The drone¡¯s sweep showed the audience even bullet holes preserved on the walls, with patches charred black ¡ª truly horrifying. [It¡¯s like a scene from the end of the world!] [It¡¯s so frightening, if you didn¡¯t tell me this is a real place, I would definitely think it¡¯s a movie set.] ¡°A machinery factory?¡± The empty floor told the story of a place long since emptied, leaving only a few broken lathes in the corners. ¡°They must have moved everything themselves; otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have bothered locking the door after clearing out. But finding anything good now will be difficult.¡± Bi Fang meticulously searched within the factory, not missing any room, even checking the kitchen, finding nothing but some bottles and jars and the ground covered with black granular matter. ¡°Rat droppings.¡± Bi Fang picked one up and pinched it, easily recognizing what it was without needing much deliberation. ¡°There might be rats nearby, which is actually not bad for food. I¡¯ve gone almost twenty-four hours without eating, and now I¡¯m so hungry it hurts. We can try to find a rat hole, and if we do, we might be able to catch some, and then we¡¯ll have something for lunch today.¡± With that, he stood up and began to search, carefully examining along the corners of the walls. [Damn, eating rats?] [This place is so dirty, won¡¯t the rats be poisonous?] When the audience heard Bi Fang was going to catch rats to solve the food crisis, they all got a shock. Can rats even be eaten? They¡¯re filthy and disgusting, and what¡¯s more, they might carry diseases. Besides, when compared to the prey Bi Fang had caught before, rats seemed rather insignificant and hardly something to boast about. ¡°I don¡¯t have a choice, but this is still a city, even if it¡¯s fallen into disrepair. Neither stray cats nor dogs can survive here, only rats can thrive in such an environment.¡± Bi Fang spread his hands, paused in thought for a moment, and then began to smile mischievously. ¡°I forgot to tell you something, don¡¯t think rats aren¡¯t worth mentioning. In fact, one of the major benefits of rat meat is its ability to strengthen the kidneys. It contains a large amount of protein as well as various minerals and vitamins. It enters directly into the kidney meridian, helping improve kidney function and enhance kidney energy. It¡¯s quite effective in preventing and relieving men¡¯s kidney deficiency and frequent urination. Moreover, rat meat is a high-protein, low-fat food that contains various amino acids essential to the human body. It promotes metabolism, improves bodily functions, and is high in selenium, which after being absorbed by the body can slow aging and also enhance male vitality.¡± [???] ¡°What the heck, if you¡¯re talking about that, I¡¯m not sleepy anymore!¡±] [¡°That¡¯s it, we¡¯re having a mouse feast tonight!¡±] [¡°Hurry, hurry, where are the mice? I¡¯ve got my net all ready!¡±] [¡°Let me go, I can keep eating, what? Kidney deficiency? Impossible, how could I possibly have kidney deficiency¡±] The Shuiyou¡¯s eyes lit up at the mention of other benefits, sparking with a green glow almost like the ferocious wolves Bi Fang had encountered. ¡°Hahaha, everyone can try it, but I still need to remind you that mice carry viruses and bacteria. Eating something bitten by a mouse can lead to the plague, so you must cook them thoroughly, sterilizing by fire. Eating them raw can easily cause illness, and it¡¯s best to choose field mice. City mice live amidst trash every day and might ingest chronic rat poison and harmful substances like heavy metals. Many unscrupulous sellers slaughter domestic mice and pass them off as field mice to their customers, who have trouble telling the real from the fake.¡± After adding this advice, Bi Fang started looking for traces of mice. ¡°Mouse holes are usually close to walls because that¡¯s where they prefer to be. Being by a wall lets them feel safe from predators. Also, pay extra attention to parts with water pipes. With water pipes, mice have an escape route in case of danger, allowing them to burrow right into the pipes¡ªlook, this is it!¡± Based on the features Bi Fang described, he quickly found a natural mouse hole, with a fallen water pipe as an excellent escape route. This path connects their nest to their foraging spots, making it an ideal spot to set traps. Here, setting traps would be twice as effective with half the effort. ¡°Last time in the Wilderness Arena, someone haphazardly placed traps without first finding animal paths, and failed to catch anything after several days¡ªan bloody lesson. To find food in the wilderness, you first have to identify the signs of animal presence, such as droppings and urine. Based on this, setting traps in their frequent spots increases your chances of catching them by more than sixty percent, unlike last time when numerous traps caught nothing.¡± [¡°Contestants: Stop cursing, stop cursing.¡±] [¡°Drag them out for a beating!¡±] [¡°Nameless contestants quietly passing by.¡±] S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [¡°Contestant: It¡¯s only been a few days, and you¡¯ve already forgotten my name? Love really does fade away, doesn¡¯t it?¡±] Having located the animal trail, Bi Fang got down to business, gathering materials to make traps. Hunting traps are not one-size-fits-all; you have to adapt to the size and type of the animal, and the materials at hand. ¡°Just like in the wild, the urban jungle provides all the materials you need. This old factory is full of discarded materials I can use to build a trap.¡± Bi Fang pulled out a welding rod, took a few steel pipes, picked up several ropes, and returned to the mouse hole. He tied one end of a rope to a thick steel bar, and after securing it, Bi Fang lifted it to test the weight. It was very heavy. He propped up a large steel plate at an angle using a welding rod as a support bar, explaining, ¡°This part is the actual trap. It needs to provide enough weight to catch the mice. This is indeed heavy, and the weight of the heavy steel bar can provide enough force in the trap. Most people would struggle to carry it with one hand. Next, I will use the welding rod as a trigger¡­¡± He bent the welding rod he found earlier, its coated layers of flux flaking off. Made of soft metal, the rod bent easily and held its shape, perfect for seamless insertion. It was placed beneath the trap, and finally, he unraveled a wire, connecting one end to the support bar and hanging the other end on the bent hook. ¡°With this setup, a slight touch will trigger the mechanism. We¡¯ll then use another welding rod to make a steel ring. This is the trap the mice will have to cross. If anything steps on it, it will fall down. With such heavy weight, the mouse might even be crushed to death, which could then attract others¡­¡± He placed the steel ring right in the center of the trap. Just as Bi Fang was about to proceed, he suddenly thought, what if the mouse is crushed immediately, brains squished out, attracting other animals? In the aftermath of the great disaster, all animals were struggling to survive. The scent of blood could bring them from afar. Shouldn¡¯t he set another trap, killing two birds with one stone? The Shuiyou hearing this were dumbfounded. [Goodness, infinite nesting dolls, huh? Should I perhaps set up another trap to catch the animal that hunts the mouse?] [Should I also set another trap to catch the trap that catches the animal that hunts the mouse?] [Should I even set another trap to catch the trap that catches the trap that hunts the mouse?] [Let me break this nightmare cycle!] [The mantis stalks the cicada, I¡¯m impressed with your tactics!] [Getting something for nothing, I¡¯ve learned nothing at all] It would have been fine if Bi Fang hadn¡¯t thought of it, but now that he had, his heart felt as if it were being scratched by a hundred claws. In the end, he sighed and still used the remaining wire and his own body to make a simple noose trap. Noose traps could catch anything, from small squirrels and rabbits to large wild boars, as long as he set the right height from the ground. Most importantly, he had to find the animals¡¯ travel path. ¡°The trap is about seven or eight centimeters off the ground, tailored to the size of a wild cat. Moreover, to increase the chances of success, we could block the other side with something, so that animals can only come from one direction.¡± Bi Fang brought over a large wooden box and placed it on the left side of the mouse trap, while the noose trap was on the right. Should any animals come by, they would inevitably approach from the right, greatly increasing the odds of a successful capture. With the trap set, all that was left was to patiently wait. ¡°Mice won¡¯t dare come near my trap if I¡¯m around, so I need to leave quickly to increase the chances of success.¡± Bi Fang moved away from the mouse hole and started searching for usable materials again, starting with water storage containers. This was simple, it didn¡¯t need to be too elaborate, a plastic water bottle would do. ¡°Don¡¯t just use any plastic bottle you find. You can¡¯t be sure what was originally inside it, especially from a factory. So you must find a mineral water bottle for better safety. But even then, you can¡¯t be sure it originally contained mineral water, so we have to first look, then smell, and finally wash it. Only after completing these three steps can we use it. Actually, the best method would be to boil it in hot water to sterilize it, as you can¡¯t be sure who used it first, but that¡¯s too much bother. Besides, normal mineral water bottles are mostly made of PET plastic, and boiling might release toxins, so I only do the first three steps.¡± [My goodness, this is way too cautious. I¡¯d never think of all this.] [I wouldn¡¯t survive three days in the wilderness] [You¡¯re thinking too much, one day, and not a day more.] [Prudent and strong survivor!] Bi Fang picked up a mineral water bottle with quite a bit of transparent liquid inside that looked like clean water, but that wasn¡¯t enough to guarantee it was safe. He opened the cap and smelled it; there was no strange odor. Finally, with the bottle in hand, Bi Fang went to another tap. Unsurprisingly, there was water here too, but the rust water contained a large amount of iron oxide, which would be a heavy burden on the liver if drunk directly. After waiting for all the rust to clear, Bi Fang carefully washed the bottle before confidently starting to fill it. Since he had drunk some water on the top floor earlier, he just filled the bottle this time before leaving. The spring chill was biting, and since Abbascan¡¯s latitude wasn¡¯t low, the temperature these past few days had been pretty low. It was only yesterday that he had lost a lot of water. Except for the elevator incident, he hadn¡¯t sweated much today and wasn¡¯t that thirsty either. ¡°If you can, it¡¯s still best to drink boiled water. Considering the current situation in Yemen, the water plant¡¯s filtration system is probably out of service. Even if it¡¯s groundwater, because of urban pollution, it¡¯s not good to drink directly.¡± Now that he had a water source, the most critical moment had passed. Ben heaved a sigh of relief and carefully searched the factory, but didn¡¯t find anything particularly valuable. ¡°However, this factory is very big. Looking from the high-rise before, we could see there¡¯s not just one building; maybe this is an industrial park. If we explore the other buildings, we might find something. It¡¯s a very good base camp, so I plan to make a nest here to get through the remaining days.¡± The factory had everything, and Ben didn¡¯t want to miss this opportunity. If possible, he wanted to camp here, and if he could scavenge some useful items to work with over a couple of days, he wouldn¡¯t even be afraid of the mobs. Of course, if there were too many people, that would be a different story. Exiting from the inside of the factory was much easier than entering, because there were plenty of materials to use. Feeling the weight of the parts in his hand, Ben tossed one forcefully, breaking the glass high on the wall. Then he threw out a length of hemp rope with an iron stick tied to one end. The stick lodged in the window ledge, and with a pull, it was secure. And so, Ben climbed from the inside of the factory to the window, a good four or five meters up. The descent was just a matter of the same process in reverse, perching on the wall top, turning the iron stick in the other direction to secure it before lowering himself down using the rope. In a few hours, he might come back to check for trapped prey. People couldn¡¯t get into the factory, but there were still small holes in many places, enough for a cat or even a dog to get through. As soon as he left the factory, Ben spotted a great shelter on a weed-covered path in one glance. An overturned car! ¡°Haha, look what I¡¯ve found, an old car!¡± Excited, Ben approached the car and tried to pull the shattered door open with a bit of effort, and it opened. [Hold on, can this thing house a person?] [There¡¯s no shortage of scrapped cars by the roadside, why find an overturned one?] [Yeah, yeah, couldn¡¯t you just fend off with a building like last night?] ¡°No way, it¡¯s too cold. I almost froze to death last night.¡± Ben shook his head. Last night, that¡¯s what he had thought, but the temperature dropped sharply overnight, and he had been freezing until the sun rose and warmed things a bit. As for why he specifically sought an overturned one. ¡°Would you pay special attention to an overturned car?¡± The Shuiyou paused, but then some seemed to understand Ben¡¯s idea. The terror attack from yesterday was a lesson for Ben. This city wasn¡¯t just inhabited by him, a Wilderness Traveler; it was also home to all kinds of thugs. If he didn¡¯t take them seriously, he might not be so lucky next time. An overturned car wouldn¡¯t attract special attention from anyone; even giving it a second glance would seem unnecessary. ¡°Moreover, an old car is safer and warmer than an old building. With a little modification, it can be quite comfortable. But you have to be careful with overturned cars, making sure there¡¯s no gasoline leakage around. However, after this much time, if there was any, it¡¯s long gone.¡± After a brief inspection of the surroundings, Ben began to dismantle the car seat from above his head. Car seats are usually filled with foam, which is a great insulator. They can serve as temporary bed boards to lie on and they¡¯re quite comfortable. Maybe tonight he could get a good night¡¯s sleep. Chapter 328: 326 Louse Chapter 328: Chapter 326 Louse Why choose an overturned car? Not just because it¡¯s overturned but because it indeed makes for a comfortable campsite. Those with experience understand that the roof of a car is actually very soft ¡ª practically a natural soft bed. It¡¯s also spacious, unrestricted by seats, and one person can lie down with room to spare. ¡°Moreover, a small space actually has its benefits, as it can provide a sense of certainty. Open, dark, unknown environments make people feel uncertain, and that feeling of uncertainty is hard to bear.¡± Closed, controllable environments offer much higher certainty. There¡¯s nothing unknown, everything is within one¡¯s capabilities, and it feels safe and comfortable. It¡¯s the same reason why cats like to squeeze into tight places.¡± With a stable environment, people can rest better and use less energy.¡± After clearing away all the broken glass and debris, Bi Fang took a kitchen knife he had found in a corner of the kitchen to cut open all the seats, removing the foam padding. Kitchen knives from abroad are usually delicate and sharp, quite decent to use, and could make do as a dagger as well. ¡°Wait, what¡¯s this here?¡± While cutting the padding, Bi Fang¡¯s peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of something underneath the back seat. He crawled over, picked it up, and examined the English on it, then opened the cap, sniffed it, and quickly sealed it again. ¡°Antifreeze. It smells of it, with a faint sweet smell. This is a bucket of antifreeze. Although it smells sweet, don¡¯t ever taste it; it¡¯s toxic. We can keep it; it might come in handy later.¡± [Hold on, did you say it smells a bit sweet? Can sweetness be sniffed out?] [Probably smells like syrup. Actually, you can smell the sweetness in syrup too. I feel queasy just by smelling it.] [You¡¯re making me want to take a whiff.] [Sweet smell, so that¡¯s ethylene glycol, right? I remember this stuff can be used to make explosives?] ¡°Yes, ethylene glycol is also known as sweet alcohol, hence the sweet smell. It¡¯s hazardous because it can burn or explode upon contact with open flames, high heat, or oxidants. It seems the Shuiyou are full of hidden talents. Is this from someone specialized in chemistry?¡± Bi Fang chuckled, recalling that basic chemistry wouldn¡¯t cover this topic. Of course, he couldn¡¯t be certain as he¡¯d never seriously studied chemistry in either his past life or this one. After dividing subjects in high school, he studied biology instead. His knowledge of these matters came entirely from the skills the System provided. The Shuiyou, however, were startled. Could it really be used to make explosives? [Bold prediction, it will definitely be used!] [Careful confirmation, it¡¯ll appear in the next episode!] [Wild guessing, use it to blow up a door!] [Wild guessing is still okay.] [I knew it, Master Fang has revealed yet another skill. Damn, I¡¯m envious.] ¡°There¡¯s a lot of padding, and besides blocking up these broken windows, we can also lay some on the ground for additional warmth. Despite it being spring, the chill can be severe. Last night was so cold that I woke up three times, though you didn¡¯t notice.¡± ¡°Moreover, placing padding underneath is better than having two layers on top. The body loses heat to the ground much faster than to the air, so the insulation on the bottom is key to staying warm.¡± After laying down the padding, Bi Fang lay inside to test it. He found it soft and warm, and his muscles relaxed in the coziness. He hadn¡¯t had a good rest since getting off the plane the previous day, and the previous night¡¯s sleep was unsatisfactory. Instead of relaxing, it had only made the fatigue worse. ¡°Alright, the simple shelter is already set up. If it weren¡¯t for the need to prepare for the upcoming days, I¡¯d really like to lie down and take a nap right now.¡± Bi Fang sat up from the cushion, pulled away the padding covering the car window, and carefully crawled outside. He was going to start a fire. ¡°With a car, starting a fire is naturally much simpler. There¡¯s no need to exhaust all my strength trying to produce some elusive sparks. This vehicle has all the tools needed to start a fire.¡± Once outside, Bi Fang turned to the front of the car, crouched down, and pointed at the headlight, ¡°Next, I¡¯m going to remove a headlight. By using the headlight and the battery, I can make a temporary lighter. Actually, what I want is the small bulb inside the headlight.¡± While saying this, he removed the headlight. He took down a large light, smashed it a couple of times with a rock, and the plastic shell shattered, revealing the target item. A tiny bulb, no bigger than a thumb, that was the true source of light in the headlight. ¡°This is it. The exposed filament inside will act like an electric lighter. The intact filament within the bulb, once it conducts the full current from the battery, will overheat and catch fire. We need to be careful to pry open the glass of the small bulb, being very cautious not to break the filament inside,¡± said Bi Fang. Bi Fang held the handle of the knife, tapping at the small bulb with the back of the knife, controlling the force, carefully creating cracks, and then breaking it open. He took out the car battery, pulled out two wires, stripped open the rubber casing, and Bi Fang caused them to spark against each other, creating a dazzling display of sparks. The Yemen war had erupted only one or two months ago, so the cars had been abandoned here for at most two months; the batteries were fully charged. Bi Fang pulled over a clump of sponge padding, held the wires, and moved them close to the tail of the bulb. When they touched, a stream of electrical sparks burst forth, bright as a magnesium stick, startling the audience. Even Bi Fang took two steps back, nearly blinded, but after shaking his head, he approached again and continued trying. ¡°You don¡¯t really need to worry too much. The voltage of a car battery is generally less than 24 volts, which is below the safe voltage for the human body, so just be careful not to get exploded on, and it will be fine. This level of electrical sparks can burn a layer of skin off, and even if it¡¯s not serious, it still hurts a lot.¡± [Don¡¯t worry, everyone just be careful. Bi Fang¡¯s legs: Took two steps back] [Damn, that¡¯s amazing!] Moving the wires close again, this time it went much better. The light bulb got powered, and almost instantaneously, the filament turned red and got hot. In no time, the sponge padding began to blacken and smoke; catching fire took only about half a minute. This efficiency was far better than spending the usual half hour on Fire-Making by Wood-Drilling, even if one used charcoal to light the fire, it would still not be less than fifteen minutes. Aside from the somewhat troublesome initial preparation, it was absolutely effortless. As long as one was careful about safety, basically anyone could learn it. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that the batteries are too heavy, otherwise they could be carried around.¡± After expressing his regret, Bi Fang pinched the burning sponge with two fingers and threw it into a metal tube, which contained a pile of flammable materials; cardboard was ignited first, and soon thick smoke rose up; a small flame glimmered into existence. Success! With fire and shelter, a makeshift refuge was now established. ¡°I¡¯ve set up the shelter and lit the fire, but with nightfall approaching, I ought to check the mousetraps.¡± After adding some more flammable material to ensure the fire wouldn¡¯t die out easily, and seeing that it was getting late and night was about to fall, Bi Fang thought it was time to go check on the traps. He went to the factory wall, threw out the rope, hooked the iron rod onto the windowsill, and once again climbed inside, following his memory to where the mouse holes were. Unfortunately, looking at the dark walls, Bi Fang¡¯s gaze grew dim as he sighed. The trap was empty. But what was more ironic was that the trap didn¡¯t fail to catch prey; it was just that something else had taken the catch away, leaving behind a piece of dark brown innards, which looked like it had rolled on the floor and gathered dust. Picking up the small clump of innards, Bi Fang explained. ¡°The trap was right here, and it¡¯s been triggered, but my trap is empty. Look, the innards are still here. This is common in urban environments, where wild cats and foxes are likely culprits. My secondary trap didn¡¯t work either. It seems like the adversary is quite cunning, perhaps they¡¯ve encountered traps before, otherwise they wouldn¡¯t have deliberately gone around it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be discouraged, everyone. Victory and defeat are common in war. You might catch some prey, but later they might retaliate. I¡¯m not the only animal trying to survive here.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t bother with the guts. Rat innards can contain all sorts of things and are very filthy. Eating them would definitely make you sick, so I¡¯ll leave them here as bait instead.¡± ¡°Rats are actually very clever animals. With a companion dead here, the chances of catching another in this spot are not high, but it might attract other creatures. I can set up some more noose traps, so I can¡¯t let the opponent clean us out and slip away again.¡± [Actually, I think it¡¯s because Old Fang explained the plan (smirk)] [Plus one, every time I talk about glue traps my mom hisses at me, saying you can¡¯t let the rats hear] [Same mom] Following the previous arrangement, Bi Fang set up several more traps nearby, aiming to maximize the likelihood of catching the adversary. However, the hopes weren¡¯t very high, Let¡¯s hope for the best. Feeling the grumble of an empty stomach, Bi Fang exited the factory. Since the traps came up empty, he needed to start looking for other food sources. ¡°The choices around here are very limited. If I can¡¯t catch any prey, I¡¯ll need to make some other choices, like some insects. Let¡¯s go to a place with plants.¡± [My god, bugs?] [Have things really come to this?] [I can¡¯t believe Old Fang has fallen so low as to eat bugs. Tell us! Have you found a girlfriend behind our backs, been drained dry, and your skills declined?] [Ah, so my affair with Master Fang has been discovered, huh? I¡¯m so embarrassed (shy)] [Pfft, you¡¯re shameless.] ¡°Haha, altogether I¡¯ve just been hungry for a day and a night. I could hold out much longer if I had to. Haven¡¯t I gone three days without food before? Just like that time drifting at sea. But here in Yemen, I need to maintain my strength at all times.¡± Bi Fang returned to the campfire. The night had already fallen, and he needed to take a torch to continue his search for food. ¡°On my first day here, Yemen gave me a rude awakening, showing me this isn¡¯t the real ¡®Ghost City,¡¯ but a violent town occupied by outlaws. If I¡¯m in bad shape, it could be dangerous if something happens.¡± [Outlaws?] [Zhang San: My time to flex is here] sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [DNA stirring] If faced with animals, one might deal with them by confrontation and intimidation, backing them off with the ¡°laws of nature,¡± but if targeted by humans, all talk becomes useless. How can you struggle if you are starved for two days, with most of your strength gone? Having learned his lesson, Bi Fang was more cautious this time. He¡¯d rather eat less desirable food than compromise his condition, ensuring he had the strength to defend himself in the face of danger. Holding the torch, Bi Fang began searching the area and came across a bush. While looking for some firewood, he made a discovery¡ªa large number of winged insects crawling on the bushes. Under the glare of the firelight, the cluster of bugs gathered together was particularly creepy. [Damn, my fear of insects is kicking in!] [Oh no, what the heck is this?] [Ugh, so disgusting.] ¡°It¡¯s booklice!¡± Bi Fang was very happy, not finding it disgusting at all, but rather delighted. Without any disdain, he went over and scraped up a whole bunch in his hand. Tonight¡¯s dinner was settled. ¡°Booklice are small insects that inhabit moist and dark environments. They¡¯re considered pests like mice, and although they spread plant viruses, they don¡¯t really affect humans, so eating them is safer than eating rats. Don¡¯t be fooled by their wings; they can¡¯t actually fly. They¡¯re just for show, although some species can fly, it¡¯s clear that the ones we have here are not those. Most pleasingly, booklice reproduce sexually, but they have a low reproduction rate which requires them to have stable habitats, so they rarely change locations. We can come back later and there might still be some.¡± [Holy crap, this is eating out of house and home!] [That¡¯s unethical] Bi Fang¡¯s hands were so full that he couldn¡¯t empty them; his left hand grabbed and stuffed into his right hand, brimming full. Having made a catch, naturally he was happy. He came to the fire bucket with a clutch of insects and placed a thoroughly rinsed, thin iron plate on top. Once the iron plate was hot, Bi Fang found another and placed it above the right hand, timing it right, he released his grip and prevented the insects from escaping by pressing down the iron plate. The booklice, living in bushes, had never encountered such a situation. The high heat seared away half their lives in an instant, and when the iron plate pressed down, not one could escape. They were all thoroughly roasted, becoming grilled insects on the hot plate. The audience only heard banging noises, which felt weird, kind of like nature¡¯s popcorn. ¡°When the banging stops, we¡¯re almost ready to eat. Booklice are staple food for birds and other insect eaters, but it¡¯s my first time eating them. Grilling them is definitely much better than eating them raw.¡± When the noise stopped, Bi Fang knew it was about time. He moved the iron plate away, found a mat to protect it from the sea surface, and shifted the plate on the fire bucket to another location. The booklice lay still on the plate, perfectly charred. He gave them a shake and listened to the friction between them and the plate, which seemed somewhat crispy. Without any courtesy or hesitation, Bi Fang pinched one and tossed it into his mouth, chewing it up. It was crispy, but not overly so, given their small size, generally around half a centimeter. ¡°Tastes a bit like not-so-fresh shrimp, the kind you chew with the shell on, maybe even worse. The protein content in most insects is very high, several times that of meats; over seventy percent is protein.¡± [What¡¯s the remaining thirty percent? I really want to know.] ¡°The remaining thirty percent? Who knows. Just kidding, there¡¯s also hemolymph and other stuff. Insects are indeed great survival food. I don¡¯t usually eat them, simply because I don¡¯t like to and there¡¯s no necessity. This time I didn¡¯t catch any rats, which would have been the second-best food, even though it doesn¡¯t count as a meal.¡± Bi Fang cooled the insects down a bit, and when the iron plate wasn¡¯t too hot to handle, he grabbed the remaining booklice and stuffed them into his mouth. After that, he went back to the bushes to look some more. After a couple of rounds of searching, he successfully managed to stave off hunger. It felt pretty good. After drinking some water, Bi Fang could no longer resist the urge to sleep. He approached the overturned car, crawled through the door, sealed the window, and placed the drone to one side. And fell into a deep sleep. Chapter 329: 327: Smell Chapter 329: Chapter 327: Smell Cold, hard, morning mist drifting, yet seemingly like gun smoke. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That was Bi Fang¡¯s first sensation upon awakening in the morning, and even though the rest was soft sponge padding, it still felt like he had slept on a hard plank bed all night. Sleeping in the city was vastly different from sleeping in the wilderness. It was colder, more uncomfortable, not only more constricting but also more unsettling. Upon waking, his airways felt as if they were clogged with dust. ¡°Cough, cough.¡± After coughing twice, Bi Fang opened his eyes, gazing at the seat above him for quite a while before he realized he was in the middle of a six-day Wilderness Survivalist broadcast in Yemen. Today was the second day. [Wow, Master Fang is up!] [Spread the word!] ¡°Everyone¡­¡± Bi Fang wanted to say hello, but as soon as he began to speak, the rumbling from his stomach abruptly cut off his words, making the scene quite awkward for a moment. [It¡¯s noon now, and I¡¯m just eating my lunch, so delicious. Hahaha] [Hot pepper mixed with rice, with a side of steaming spicy veggies] [Got to go, I¡¯ll take down this fish head first.] Amidst the Shuiyou¡¯s boastful comments, Bi Fang scratched his head and laughed, all the while removing the sponge padding that blocked the window as he introduced his situation. ¡°I¡¯m currently in Abbascan¡¯s war-torn city of Yemen, which seems to be an abandoned industrial area, and I¡¯ve had a rough night. Cold, wet, and hungry doesn¡¯t begin to describe my current state. If there were a basin of hot breakfast in front of me now, it would definitely be the happiest thing for the past few days.¡± Climbing out of the car¡¯s interior, Bi Fang breathed deeply into the morning sun, exhaling a misty breath, the cold stimulating every cell in his body, quickly reviving him from his dormant state. After doing some simple warm-up exercises to recover, Bi Fang decided to check the traps he had set yesterday. If he came back empty-handed again, it would not be good news for him. Grasping the rope to re-enter the factory, Bi Fang once again arrived at the trap site, but his heart sank before he got close. From a distance of several meters, he could see that every single noose trap was empty! [It¡¯s over, fortune is not on Master Fang¡¯s side!] [It seems Old Fang is having a rough time this round, not catching any game for a whole day, just eating some bugs] [Seems like only the first time with the ocean direct broadcast when Old Fang was this unlucky, right?] The Shuiyou, seeing Bi Fang¡¯s traps coming up empty again, were not exactly rejoicing in his misfortune, but they found the situation amusing nonetheless, finding entertainment in seeing the strong falter. Fought bears, killed wolves, yet repeatedly frustrated by setting traps. ¡°Although the traps are empty, let¡¯s not give up too easily. Let¡¯s get closer and look. There might be a surprise discovery. I left mouse guts here yesterday. Now that the noose traps didn¡¯t catch anything, it doesn¡¯t necessarily mean no game approached. It¡¯s also possible that the prey wasn¡¯t fooled and escaped. But there must be traces if they came by, so there might still be hope.¡± Despite the disappointment, Bi Fang was not frustrated. Trapping was always a matter of luck, and one couldn¡¯t place too much hope on it. Getting closer by a few meters, Bi Fang, who was about to give up completely, suddenly knit his brows and then smiled. It seemed there was not a total lack of findings. A faint stench in the air indicated that some creature had indeed been there. As they got closer, even the online friends noticed that the leftover mouse innards from last night were gone! [Holy moly, there really was something?] [What the heck is so clever?] ¡°Foxes!¡± Bi Fang squatted on the ground, pointing to the unmistakable diamond-shaped footprints in the dust, and nearby, a few strands of pale yellow fur could be found, obviously left by some other creature. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you still remember the training method for tracking prey that Mugalen taught us last time; those discussions were basically correct.¡± ¡°Foxes have three little claws, cats have plum blossom prints, bears have four claws in front plus large pads, deer and sheep are similar, with two sharp points, rabbits have a plum blossom spot in front followed by a long stripe, which are the back leg prints. The ground looks like it¡¯s been bulldozed where wild boars have passed. Look, these footprints are narrow diamonds, because fox footprints are thinner and longer than dog¡¯s, usually 5 centimeters long and 4 centimeters wide. There¡¯s a gap between the two front paws and the two back paws; the gap is longer than a matchstick.¡± And early spring, March to April, is when foxes shed their fur, so you often see fur between the footprints, not just foxes, most animals shed during this time, dogs between March and May, cats in spring and autumn too.¡± Bi Fang picked up some fur on the ground to show the audience, a thick tuft of short hair. Most crucially, Bi Fang smelled the distinct stench unique to foxes. [Holy shit, is fox stench real?] [The smell is so strong, can you really smell it directly?] [Amazing, Master Fang, is your nose a dog¡¯s nose?] Bi Fang shook his head, explaining that anyone paying close attention could actually smell it, as it was indeed overwhelming. ¡°Foxes themselves don¡¯t smell much, otherwise if they really had a natural body odor, wouldn¡¯t they be a natural mark in the eyes of many predators with a keen sense of smell?¡± The online friends nodded involuntarily, as if there was some sense to it. ¡°Foxes are similar to skunks in this regard; they have a gland sac on each side of their anus that can release a peculiar smell, functioning to evade predators. So when a fox is irritated or frightened, it¡¯s very likely to emit an unbearable stench. Moreover, the stench in a fox¡¯s urine is also strong and hard to remove. It¡¯s even more apt to say it¡¯s a kind of pungent stench rather than just an odor. So I guess, this little fox not only ate the mouse innards but also relieved itself here.¡± With a flare of his nostrils, Bi Fang easily found the fox¡¯s excretion spot, distinguished by the dry traces amidst the dust on the ground. A patch of dried yellow irregular stains starkly appeared on the factory floor, and Bi Fang was sure it hadn¡¯t been there the day before. It¡¯s true that foxes are rare in cities, but in abandoned urban areas like Yemen, it¡¯s still possible to occasionally see some wildlife. Moreover, the urban construction in Abbascan is quite loose, not as dense as in Huaxia, otherwise the big fire the day before yesterday, unchecked, would not have just burned down half a street. In such cases, some wildlife might occasionally enter the city. ¡°I don¡¯t have any bait left on me, and under these circumstances, it¡¯s unlikely that the fox will appear a second time. So I can only try to track it and see if I can catch it directly, just by following the footprints¡­¡± And the scent¡­ Bi Fang, pointing to a series of footprints on the ground, lowered his eyelids, leaving the latter half of the sentence unsaid. In a city covered with cement surfaces, it¡¯s hard to find prey by footprints alone. Sadly, this fox made a fatal mistake; after eating the innards, it urinated, getting the smell on itself. Isn¡¯t this seeking death? Chapter 330: 328: Appeared Chapter 330: Chapter 328: Appeared ¡°I can¡¯t believe it ran this far out.¡± Bi Fang looked up at the tall enclosing wall, having chased it for nearly three or four kilometers, only to be blocked by this wall. There were many hairs scraped off under the door crack; the fox surely must have squeezed through here, a pity, while the fox could get through, a person could not. The gap was too narrow, and Bi Fang was a bit too big. He glanced around, took two steps back, and under the shocked gazes of the audience, he charged and kicked off the wall, grabbed onto the fence with his hands, and flipped over with a hawk-like somersault. [Damn, that wall must be three meters tall, right? And he just flipped over it just like that?] [Extreme parkour, six six six] [Holy shit, dude, that¡¯s some snake-skin movement right there] Unlike the last time he scaled a fence, this time there was no triangular wall to leverage from. Flipping over a three-meter-tall wall so easily truly opened the eyes of the audience. Dust billowed slightly, Bi Fang bent his knees, and faced with the boiling excitement of the audience, he didn¡¯t react much, but followed the hair and footprints to pursue once more. The scent was getting stronger, and Bi Fang had a feeling that he was getting close. Scents naturally disperse, the more concentrated they are, the less time they have had to spread, meaning they were left recently. Thinking this, Bi Fang slowed his pace. ¡°Foxes have very good hearing and can accurately locate sounds. Their sense of smell is also very sensitive, and the most terrifying thing is that their peak speed can reach about 50 km/h, absolutely not to be underestimated. Once they spot you first, catching them is almost impossible.¡± ¡°Moreover, Yemen is ultimately a city, not a forest. If it slips into a building, I¡¯d be helpless, so it¡¯s best to proceed with caution¡­¡± Bi Fang walked with extreme care in the abandoned factory, aiming not just to avoid being detected by the fox but also to avoid being discovered by others. It would have been easier to manage at night, but now it was daylight, when running into other people was more likely. In Yemen, out of every ten people you meet, if not nine, at least eight would be thugs; otherwise, it would be very difficult to survive in this city. Good people in this city are like mice squeezing through narrow gaps. After crossing the wall, the ground was no longer cement, but soft soil which, due to the rain a couple of days ago, was quite loose and actually retained fairly clear footprints. Following the footprints into the distance, at the corner of the wall there was a huge pile of miscellaneous items, various broken pieces of furniture. The footprints stopped at this pile of goods, and from within this mess, there were many to and fro footprints. If this weren¡¯t the fox¡¯s den, it wouldn¡¯t be like this. ¡°It seems to be right over here.¡± Bi Fang narrowed his eyes; the closer he was to success, the more cautious he needed to be, lest the past hour¡¯s effort be in vain. A single fox could at least restore his status to ninety percent and would allow him to hold on for one more day, not to mention using it as bait to capture other prey. ¡°I can¡¯t get any closer, or the likelihood of being discovered is too high. We should set a trap to catch it.¡± Bi Fang continued to retreat until he was behind a building, where he took off the backpack from his back and pulled out a ¡°net¡± he had previously found. Although Yemen was an abandoned city, it was still a city. With a careful search in many trash accumulation areas, one might find some unexpectedly useful things. Like this net, which Bi Fang had stumbled upon while on the move and had joyfully collected straight away. A net is a killer tool for area hunting! The location of the fox was at the base of an enclosing wall, next to a factory building. ¡°I¡¯m going to set up a bird-catching net trap right at the entrance to its home. I don¡¯t believe it won¡¯t fall for it.¡± A bird-catching trap? Will this work for catching a fox? The viewers¡¯ mouths twitched, unsure how to rely on this bird trap to catch a fox. First of all, it was of course necessary to repair the net; a big hole would simply not do. This was no trouble for Bi Fang. For a small hole, he just threaded a rope through the surrounding mesh and tied it tight, and the small hole was fixed. The trouble was with larger holes, which required several threads to weave and mend a net-like patch. The entire process took less than half an hour. In the end, Bi Fang found several long plastic pipes and entered the factory building, heading straight to the second floor. He connected all the pipes into one piece, lifted the four corners of the last net pocket, and hung it on the pipe end. He placed a stone in the middle to serve as a weight dangling down, stretched it out from the window on the second floor, and slowly laid it on the ground, spreading it out bit by bit. A large net was thus laid out where the fox tracks were most dense. Next, all he had to do was wait for a fox to walk over it, and Bi Fang would ¡°rise to the occasion,¡± utter the command to pull the net and trap the fox within. The waiting was the hardest part. Bi Fang was okay but the audience was suffering, wanting to see the outcome, yet bored by the tedious wait. Had it not been for Master Fang occasionally telling a couple of jokes and stories, it would have been truly difficult to get through this time. Even so, a half-hour wait directly resulted in a loss of nearly one hundred thousand viewers. Such is the challenge of live streaming. The drastic fluctuations in viewership could send shivers down one¡¯s spine. If it weren¡¯t for Bi Fang¡¯s extensive experience, his hands might have been shaking with nerves. The half-hour flew by, and it was now 12:37 local time in Yemen. Just as more and more online friends grew impatient, ready to leave the stream to play video games or watch TV shows, a shadow suddenly darted past from a pile of junk! There¡¯s something! The sharp-eyed viewers were thrilled, and instantly the chat was flooded like a tide. In a moment, nearly all viewers knew something had appeared. The unmanned drone on the windowsill automatically zoomed in on the image, making more viewers hold their breath, their hearts pounding with nervous anticipation. Could it really be a success, relying on an old, torn net from a pile of rubbish? Bi Fang, tired from the wait, had relaxed a bit but jolted when he saw the chat¡¯s reminder. Focusing his gaze, he immediately spotted a blurry figure in the pile of debris, inside that tattered cabinet! A look of joy spread across Bi Fang¡¯s face as he whispered softly, ¡°No mistake, it¡¯s a fox, a sand fox at that!¡± Abbascan is located in the central west and has desert areas, so it¡¯s not unusual for a sand fox to venture into the city. Within the gaping hole of the battered cabinet, there was definitely a fox, though its exact size couldn¡¯t be made out. Awesome, my brother! Even though Bi Fang¡¯s analysis was spot-on, witnessing a fox appear before his eyes was a genuine shock of confirmation. Once the fox appeared, the viewers no longer felt bored. After a few minutes, the sand fox finally emerged from the pile of junk, sniffing the air cautiously, allowing the viewers to see its full figure. About half a meter long, with a fluffy tail, its eyes nearly squinted into slits. This sand fox first sneaked towards the factory gate, looking as if it was about to go out hunting. The yellow soil beneath the gate, frequently burrowed by the fox, had caused that part of the ground near the crevice to visibly sink, looking quite comical. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But just as it reached halfway there, as if catching a scent, it suddenly stopped and turned. Bi Fang¡¯s heart tightened. Oh no, it might have caught his scent from the net! Chapter 331: 329 Heavy Rain Chapter 331: Chapter 329 Heavy Rain Matthew Hall held his breath, not daring to make a sound. He pressed hard against his chest, where his wildly racing heart seemed to be vibrating hard enough to split his head in two, and it felt as though someone was pounding furiously on his chest from within. Tiny flying insects buzzed by his ears, occasionally one would slip into his nostril, causing Matthew discomfort and nausea, yet he clamped his mouth shut, not daring to cough out loud. With no thunder or lightning in sight, a torrential downpour suddenly descended, the huge raindrops pounding on the roof of the car with a loud clatter. Further down the street, the flashing headlights of vehicles howled like ghosts and wolves, the downpour having triggered their alarm systems. A few motorcycles and SUVs were parked in the alley, their headlights on and engines still running, yet not a soul was in sight. These people weren¡¯t concerned about someone stealing their vehicles; if someone did steal them, the vehicles would still end up back in their possession, and the thief would end up dead. ¡°What a heavy rain,¡± the leader spat, wiping the unlucky rain from his forehead with a grimace, and whistled at his underlings who were still searching for their target. ¡°Forget it, stop looking, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°But¡­,¡± ¡°There¡¯s no ¡®but.¡¯ It¡¯s just a few photos. What if they get out, will anyone come? Eh? Hahahaha,¡± the leader laughed heartily, his two companions joining in. The rest looked at the pouring rain, feeling the chill on their bodies, shrugged it off, secured their safeties, and gradually left the alley. Getting into their cars and bikes, they floored the accelerator, the dark vehicles charging through the streets like suddenly unleashed beasts, crashing back and forth. ¡°It¡¯s just crazy,¡± Rainwater seeped through the cracks, filling the city¡¯s countless wounds, while Matthew peered through the gap in the garbage bag, watching everything outside the alley, clutching his camera tightly to his chest, tears streaming down his face. What should he do now? ¡­ ¡°What heavy rain,¡± Bi Fang exclaimed, his heart, however, filled with joy. If the rain had come half a minute earlier, he might have made a mistake, but now¡­ He looked at the fox caught in the net and grinned. No harm done. ¡°Fur-bearing animals don¡¯t come out in the rain, just like how people feel uncomfortable with their clothes soaked, animals feel uncomfortable with their fur wet¡ªa simple concept. I thought this fox had caught my scent, but it turned out to be because of the downpour. I saw the dark clouds coming this morning, but I¡¯m not as sensitive as the animals. I thought it would rain in the afternoon.¡± Three minutes earlier, just as the fox was about to step into the trap, it suddenly stopped moving and even started to back away. The Shuiyou were scratching their heads in frustration, but Bi Fang was quick to react. He pulled out the water bottle from his backpack and hurled it behind the fox, startling it into leaping forward, right into the trap. The old bait-and-switch amused the audience, who cheered and chanted ¡°666¡± in support. Opening the window, Bi Fang slowly retracted the plastic hose. The little fox struggled desperately in the net, baring its claws and fangs at Bi Fang, letting out threatening hisses, to no avail. Meanwhile, many female viewers seemed to feel sorry for the creature. [The fox is so cute, how can you eat it?] [Yeah, I feel sorry for it.] [What¡¯s there to feel sorry about? When it¡¯s in Master Fang¡¯s hands, there¡¯s no escaping it.] [Absolutely, I¡¯m not here to see you conquer the wild, hurry up and get the meal started (joking).] [I suggest B Island includes Master Fang¡¯s live stream in the food program group (Dog¡¯s head).] [Cute? Drool uncontrollably slides down the corner of my mouth, let me go, I can have two more bowls!]] [Doesn¡¯t the fox smell bad, it doesn¡¯t taste good, right?] ¡°Foxes do have a strong scent, but if you want to eat them, just remove the two musk glands on the insides of their thighs, and then the meat won¡¯t smell as strong. When you catch prey, don¡¯t let your guard down, animals can become more aggressive at such times, and we must be careful not to get bitten,¡± Bi Fang said, as he held the net, ignoring the fox¡¯s attempts to leap and bite him, he stepped on its head, then pulled out a kitchen knife and, aiming for the back of its head, plunged it in. Blood spilled down the blade; the once lively fox suddenly fell silent and limply collapsed on the ground. As for any concerns regarding female viewers, that¡¯s out of the question. I¡¯ve already killed rabbits in front of them; why would a fox be any different? After wiping the blood off the blade, Bi Fang pulled the fox out of the net bag, flipped it over, and with a raised eyebrow, exclaimed with pleasant surprise, ¡°It turns out to be a vixen!¡± Seeing Bi Fang so happy, the Shuiyou immediately started teasing him, sending mocking bullet chats. [It¡¯s just a vixen, why are you excited, Old Fang?] [Impossible, surely humans shouldn¡¯t, at least they ought not to¡­] [I have faith in you] [Are you a vixen fan?] ¡°What are you guys thinking?¡± Bi Fang laughed, not bothering to skin the fox; he stuffed it into his backpack instead. ¡°I¡¯m happy because foxes usually have their pups from late March to early May; Arctic foxes a bit later, even at the end of May. It¡¯s just April now, and even though foxes are solitary, during the mating season, male and female foxes will live together. If we¡¯re a bit luckier, maybe we can find a lair with little foxes and adult foxes. I need to hurry and check it out; we might get an extra meal tonight!¡± Eat baby foxes? Hearing this, the female viewers reacted even more strongly. How could he eat baby foxes? That¡¯s too much. Bi Fang glanced at the barrage of messages with a bit of a headache, but his actions were not slow; he walked towards a pile of rubbish covered with a tarp. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Unfortunately, maybe the viewers¡¯ protests had an effect; Bi Fang searched in the heavy rain for a long time and found no traces of other foxes, so he had to return inside the building to make a fire and roast the meat. The familiar process: skinning, removing the scent glands, and scooping out the entrails. ¡°Because of the heavy rain, we don¡¯t have to worry about the smell of blood being detected by other predators. In fact, in the city, we don¡¯t have to worry too much about this either, even in Ruins City it¡¯s still a city, it¡¯s nearly impossible for predators that can threaten humans to appear, the worst we¡¯d encounter is just a big dog.¡± Bi Fang cut the fox meat into small pieces, skewered it on sticks, and started to grill it outdoors with practiced ease. ¡°I¡¯ve never had fox meat, but I¡¯ve heard it¡¯s similar to donkey meat. Some unscrupulous businesses even use fox meat to pass off as donkey meat. It¡¯s not bought only because there¡¯s an oversupply and no effective consumer market or sales channels. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s true, but there are indeed benefits to eating it; fox meat is sweet and warming, nourishing and invigorating, it¡¯s really not bad for the body.¡± While waiting for the meat to cook, Bi Fang chatted with the viewers, eyeing the fox meat as it shrunk and sizzled with fat, releasing its aroma, and he began to salivate. When it seemed about right, he sprinkled some collected salt on it, and could hardly wait to take a bite. [How is it? What does it taste like?] [Tell us, is it good?] [What? You¡¯re asking if Old Fang likes it? Haven¡¯t you heard of his ¡°Talented in Various Classical Chinese Arts¡± taste? (facetious)] The audience was already impatient, eager to know what fox meat tasted like. ¡°Hmm~¡± Bi Fang chewed thoughtfully for quite a while before finally swallowing. ¡°Not bad, it¡¯s not as awful as I thought. After removing the scent gland, the strong odor is gone, leaving only the normal gamy taste. Maybe it¡¯s because of the salt, it tastes much better than the previous times I¡¯ve eaten it.¡± Just as Bi Fang guessed, as a carnivore from the family Canidae, fox meat is rich in protein and calories. Even if it¡¯s lean and musky, it¡¯s still a rare delicacy for someone in dire need of energy. Because he hadn¡¯t eaten for two days, Bi Fang devoured two thighs and half of the fox¡¯s body in one go, only stopping when his hunger was sated. He stuffed the remaining half into his backpack, saving it for the third day¡¯s rations. Seeing that the downpour didn¡¯t seem to be stopping anytime soon, Bi Fang didn¡¯t plan to waste time. After cleaning up the site, he threw on his tarp and rushed into the rain, running back the way he came¡­ An hour later. A figure dashed into the factory, drenched by the rain, and upon seeing the scorch marks left by the fire on the ground, was overjoyed. ¡°This is the place!¡± Chapter 332: 330: Explosion, Understand? Chapter 332: Chapter 330: Explosion, Understand? The heavy rain washed over the ground, pouring into the vehicle through the gaps in the car door, leaving standing water. ¡°Can¡¯t stay here anymore¡­¡± Wrapped in oilcloth, Bi Fang hurried back to the camp with a deep frown against the pouring rain. The shelter he had finally managed to build was destroyed by the torrential downpour, and his heart was filled with melancholy. Outside the eaves, the rain was like a curtain, with mist mingling among the raindrops, reducing visibility to less than twenty meters; beyond thirty meters all was a white blur. Raindrops collided and shattered in the air, splashing onto the ground, mixing water vapor and cold air, seeping through every crevice with relentless force. Bi Fang stood under the eaves, the chilly air penetrating his body, causing him to shiver violently, but soon the undigested fox meat in his stomach turned into warm currents that revived his spirits. Rain soaked his forehead and hair, dripping wet; he reached back with his hand to sweep it back, squeezing out just two wisps of hair from between his fingers to fall from his temples, the faint daylight casting a halo around his dark silhouette. ¡°It¡¯s okay, we can rebuild the campsite. Just have to be careful not to catch a cold. Your health is capital for the revolution. Encountering such heavy rain is not unusual in the wild. Everyone doesn¡¯t have to be too pessimistic. Neither humans nor animals tend to move much in this kind of weather. This is actually good news for us.¡± The worse the weather, the less people want to go out, and bandit gangs are no different. For ¡°vulnerable groups¡± like Bi Fang, it was an excellent opportunity to act. With that thought, the unhappiness due to the destruction of the campsite was washed away by the rain. Bi Fang no longer felt cold but was reenergized, pondering where to scavenge for supplies next. ¡°We¡¯ve already been to the south side of the industrial district. Let¡¯s change directions and check out the east side next. I remember there¡¯s a cooling tower there¡ªthe kind that¡¯s shaped like a hyperbolic curve.¡± Bi Fang gesticulated with his hands, outlining the curves. Cooling towers were actually quite common; as a kid watching movies, the showdown between Wolverine and Deadpool took place right at the edge of one. Back then, he didn¡¯t understand much, thinking that such towers were a hallmark of nuclear power plants, impressively mysterious and making him instinctively want to avoid them. It was only when he grew up that he found out large steel mills and power plants also had these structures, and they weren¡¯t anything special. ¡°Cooling towers are different from the common tall and thin chimneys. They¡¯re cooling equipment typically used in large factories, like chemical plants, steel mills, and power plants. There are all sorts of good stuff in these places. No matter the type, we should be able to collect things that are useful to us.¡± Having determined the direction, Bi Fang wrapped himself tightly in the oilcloth and once again dashed into the rain. Moving through the city has its advantages. Once you¡¯re familiar with the surrounding environment, it becomes easy to recognize directions¡ªan advantage not afforded by forests where, even when returning to a campsite, without markers and facing nearly identical trees, you¡¯d have to discern directions all over again. Stepping out of the factory, the way ahead was south, so naturally, the east was just a left turn from the entrance. After that, just keep moving in that direction. Rainwater streamed across the streets. Matthew Hall ran through the heavy rain, but he just couldn¡¯t find that familiar figure. Gradually, he couldn¡¯t run anymore, his body felt as though it was filled with lead, a dizzying heaviness about to crush him. Raindrops fell in countless numbers, exploding on the ground all around him; he spun around, his gaze vacant, and in a daze, it seemed as if walls enclosed him from every side. Yemen had been ravaged by war. Modern warfare is informational warfare, and signal towers are prime targets. Apart from satellite signals, other methods of communication were almost completely severed. Matthew was fully aware of this. Du Ming had specifically brought a satellite phone for this reason, but the phone had gotten lost during a previous escape¡­ The last image from the live stream was of a campfire inside a factory. Beyond that, where he went was utterly unknown. In a city reduced to ruins, was it even possible to find one man by sheer luck? Matthew regretted his impulsive decision to quit an enviable job and return to the front lines, especially after learning of the other¡¯s destination, choosing to go to the same city. But having seen him, how could he not care? He had witnessed tragedies countless times, was powerless against them countless times, and could only record the atrocities with his camera. But that man was right here! He must have a way! ¡­ Insects struggling to avoid drowning in a puddle flailed endlessly, with roads muddy and wet after the rain. With each step, Bi Fang¡¯s shoes gathered a layer of mud. He put down his oilcloth tarp, gave it a gentle shake, and water droplets rolled off of it. After folding it up, he took his online friends to observe the destination, feeling a hint of excitement in his heart. Bi Fang had climbed over the fence ten minutes ago, intending to get inside the factory. However, he was once again stopped by a door. With no other option, he started looking for another way in, walking a full circle around the building, and unexpectedly made a discovery. Inside the perimeter wall, the factory buildings were lined up closely together, and between the wide passages, exposed pipelines were laid bare on the outside of the wall. Bi Fang held a steel rod and struck the steel pipes, making a clanging sound that was clear and lingered on. He arrived at a metal box and, with the ease of someone well-versed in this, inserted the steel rod and pried it open. ¡°These metal boxes aren¡¯t actually very sturdy, just a thin layer of iron sheet, which is quite easy to pry open. However, everyone should be careful. It¡¯s likely that the contents are flammable and explosive gases. Don¡¯t apply too much force and cause a tragedy.¡± He inserted the steel rod into the gap and the metal creaked. Soon, with a loud bang, the iron door twisted out of shape and broke free. He pulled open the iron door to reveal two large steel cylinders. Bi Fang wiped the label and pointed excitedly at the two big cylinders, ¡°It¡¯s acetylene and oxygen!¡± He looked up at the massive factory, ¡°This type of gas pipe setup on the outside of a building isn¡¯t common. They must be for the convenience of the workers. I think this is a steel factory, because the combination of acetylene and oxygen is commonly used in gas welding. Acetylene is a combustible gas, oxygen is an oxidizing gas; when mixed and ignited, the temperature can reach up to three thousand degrees, easily melting steel.¡± As soon as Bi Fang mentioned gas welding, quite a few Shuiyou were startled. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Damn, we did this in our metalworking practicum at the start of the semester, the temperature is insanely high, I directly melted a metal box.] [Holy shit, no wonder it looked so familiar, it¡¯s gas welding!] [Can this thing still be used?] [Whether it can be used or not is one thing, what I really want to know is if it will explode (dog¡¯s head).] Bi Fang stepped back two paces and looked at the orderly arranged pipes. A bold idea came to his mind and he clapped his fist to his palm. ¡°Acetylene mixed with oxygen is very unstable, highly volatile, but at the same time, if you know what you¡¯re doing, you can put it to good use. What can a bunch of combustibles mixed together do?¡± What can they do? They can easily explode! Without Bi Fang spelling it out, the audience naturally came to this conclusion. Just think about all those gas cylinder explosion incidents; isn¡¯t it the same principle? The power of acetylene might even be greater! [Old Fang, are you going to make a bomb?] [You¡¯ve come a long way, Master Fang] [Success on the horizon!] [Insist that the officials use satellites to monitor every move of Master Fang, and never let him out of surveillance, otherwise the danger is tremendous (dog¡¯s head)] [Are you Hojiro Houma?] Bi Fang chuckled and began to twist the knob on the steel bottle. Perhaps because of the long passage of time, some rust had formed on the knob, making a creaking sound as it turned. The audience watched with trepidation, terrified that the moment he finished twisting, an explosion would occur. ¡°I was just looking for a ventilation duct to enter the factory, but now it seems unnecessary. We can keep it simple, find a simpler way to enter. There is ample evidence that many flammable materials can actually be made into makeshift bombs, but this is absolutely a specialized field. Everyone should not try this lightly. Just watch for fun, so don¡¯t miss out. I¡¯m going to demonstrate it live just this once, miss it and you¡¯ll have to catch the replay.¡± Bi Fang joked with the audience, also aiming to keep them engaged. After all, aside from catching a fox, he hadn¡¯t had much business today. The officials were very cooperative, as Wolf Fang and MeTuBe obligingly sent out a push notification again, with the headline: Ruins City: Bi Fang Blasts the Gate. The catchy title quickly drew more viewers to the live stream, with the audience count shooting up in just ten minutes by a hundred thousand! [A loud smack, that was quick! I came in as soon as I saw the title, hearing there¡¯d be blasting, hoping Master Fang delivers and isn¡¯t just clickbaiting] [Same here, is this really going to be a blast? Did Old Fang get his hands on some explosives?] [I was just at work, but I had to come in when I saw this title, not wanting to miss out.] [No explosives, but there is a bottle of acetylene] Seeing the new influx of viewers, Bi Fang once again explained his situation and objectives, leaving the Shuiyou electrified and eager to see what a real blast looks like. While he spoke, a small steel bottle shorter than a meter had already been unscrewed. Bi Fang weighed it; it was heavy, but the weight was mostly from the bottle itself. Carrying the steel bottle to a side door of the steel plant, Bi Fang began collecting some other materials from the area. For soldiers and spies, entering a building is a vitally important strategic and survival Skill. Special forces are trained in bomb disposal, and naturally, Bi Fang understood it well, and even more extensively, since many situations also involved sophisticated chemical knowledge. The key to blasting a door and conducting a controlled demolition is how to direct the explosive force to blow the door off. Bi Fang looked around and spotted a large iron box, over a meter tall and two meters wide. It was locked with a small padlock, but with a simple pry, the box was opened, revealing a mix of various items inside, mostly heavy tarpaulins and oilcloths that were of little use. Many factories stock up on tarpaulins and oilcloths so they can cover things to protect them from rain, preventing lots of objects from getting wet and losing their function. This was why Bi Fang could so easily find oilcloth; in industrial parks, these items are the least scarce. Convinced there was nothing valuable inside, Bi Fang grabbed the edge of the iron box and began dragging it toward the door, explaining as he went. ¡°Sometimes blasting is the only way into a sealed building. The key is to place a huge and heavy ballast in front of the blast target to stop shrapnel from flying this way and instead direct the blast force at the target. Here, the focus is the lock and the hinges on the door. Actually, this is similar to firing a bullet, where the firearm uses the barrel to restrict the direction of the bullet, making it fly toward the intended path and hit the target. The same principle applies here, but this ballast isn¡¯t heavy enough. We can stuff some stones or clods inside to increase its weight, to prevent it from being blown apart by the explosion. As for the actual design of the blasting part¡­.¡± Having blocked the door, Bi Fang paused to catch his breath, smiled at the eagerly waiting Shuiyou, and said, ¡°That¡¯s something I won¡¯t tell you. In our line of work, many tricks can¡¯t be spread rashly. If something goes wrong and they trace it back to me, that¡¯d be dreadful. But I¡¯m quite confident that blasting this door open won¡¯t be difficult at all.¡± The Shuiyou were somewhat disappointed by the first part of his statement, even feeling it was bait and switch, but upon hearing the second part, they smiled understandingly. ¡°You just teach, I won¡¯t blame you if something goes wrong (Dog¡¯s head)¡± ¡°Bang bang bang, open the door, I¡¯m here to read the meter¡± ¡°Open the door, your delivery has arrived, quickly sign for it¡± ¡°One dares to teach, another dares to learn¡± ¡°Alright, we can begin now.¡± Using an iron box to block the side door, Bi Fang picked up the acetylene tank and placed it between the ballast and the side door, wedging it firmly in the middle. He then set down his backpack and took out the bottle of antifreeze they had seen earlier. The viewers might remember it contained ethylene glycol, which is dangerous as it can burn and explode when exposed to an open flame. ¡°Ethylene glycol can burn and explode when it comes into contact with an open flame, which is actually similar to gasoline. We can stuff a strip of cloth into it, soak it well, and it will serve as a fuse,¡± he explained. Bi Fang stuffed a thin strip of cloth into the bottle to soak up the ethylene glycol, then pulled it out again, wrapping one end around the mouth of the acetylene tank, and trailing the other end outside, beyond the ballast. Next, it was time to light the fuse. ¡°In Ruins City, fire-making by wood-drilling is difficult. As you might have seen earlier, it took me a lot of effort to start a fire, and since there has just been a heavy rain, dry wood is even harder to find, which increases the difficulty of making fire. However, after entering the factory, I found something great that can help us quickly start a fire,¡± he said. Bi Fang dug through his backpack and pulled out a small bottle. Under the dim light, it seemed filled with black powder. Potassium permanganate! Many long-time viewers immediately recognized this familiar substance: it was the potassium permanganate found earlier in the medical kit. But wasn¡¯t this stuff meant for disinfection and marking? The viewers with good memory might remember that Bi Fang had said it was indeed for disinfection and marking, but the marking was to be done in the snow. What did it have to do with making fire now? ¡°The connection is huge. You see, you weren¡¯t good in chemistry class. Potassium permanganate is a strong oxidizing agent, and as soon as it encounters a reducing agent, it will decompose automatically, releasing a large amount of heat. This heat gathered together makes the best igniter, and fire starting becomes very convenient. As for the reducing agent, we actually have one¡­¡± he said, before reaching again into the bag and pulling out a larger bottle, grinning as he showed it to his online friends. And this reagent was also recognized by the viewers¡ªit was the medical alcohol! ¡°Ethanol is one of the reducing agents that can cause it to decompose through oxidation, but unfortunately, it seems that not many people realize it,¡± he said. On this survival journey, Bi Fang had brought only one backpack, and everything inside was previously collected, with which the viewers were familiar. However, few could connect them and utilize them effectively. With these materials, making a fire was very simple. First, Bi Fang tore off a piece of sponge padding. He had anticipated the possibility that he might need to start a fire, so he had earlier taken some sponge from the car interior and placed it in his backpack. The sponge was fluffy and soft, can trapping a lot of air, and also dry and flammable, making it a suitable igniter. Bi Fang started by placing some weeds on top of the fuse as a layer, then he put the sponge padding on top of the weeds. A layer of green grass would prevent the sponge from burning too fast. After that, he poured a bit of potassium permanganate on the sponge, followed by a bit of medical alcohol, and stirred thoroughly with a piece of wire. In no time, plumes of white smoke began to rise. Seeing this, Bi Fang immediately stopped what he was doing and went to the acetylene tank, quickly turning on the valve. Instantly, a hissing sound of gas leaking could be heard. He didn¡¯t dare to turn it too much as there was a risk of an immediate explosion. Once the gas was leaking, Bi Fang ran about ten meters away and hid behind a large tree, covering his ears. The explosion was about to happen! Chapter 333: 331 The Abandoned Steel Mill Chapter 333: Chapter 331 The Abandoned Steel Mill Bi Fang sprinted for dozens of meters, then leaned against a large tree, covering his ears. A drone flew high into the sky as the online audience watched intently at the sponge, so small it was almost invisible. Less than half a minute passed before a yellow-brown dot suddenly brightened. It¡¯s on! The fire trailed quickly along the fuse, climbing like a small snake, coiling and twisting as it opened its flame-filled maw, biting down fiercely! A loud boom momentarily deafened everyone; a visible white shockwave spread out, and the gushing flames resembled an oversized blowtorch, the scorching wind softening steel and shattering glass into pieces. The black cement ground within a few meters abruptly turned white and then cracked and deformed. Gazing down from above, the online audience¡¯s eyes widened, their hearts skipping a beat within the explosion¡¯s roar, incredulous at the scene before them. The cement should have been greyish-white, turned black due to rainwater soaking it, but now it turned white in an instant¡­ In the blinding light of the fire, the iron gate twisted and was thrown into the air by the blast, soaring several meters high before plunging back down to the ground with force. Even Bi Fang, leaning against the tree, felt a slight push from behind, a testament to the strength of the shockwave. Thick mist condensed into droplets, lightly raining down and dampening the ground once more. Yet before it could soak in, the residual high temperatures evaporated the moisture again. Blown by the wind, it dissipated into nothingness. The drone changed angles, moving in front of Bi Fang. Feeling a bit dizzy, he did not rush to make an appearance, instead taking out a water bottle and drinking it to ease his discomfort. The audience could only see Bi Fang sitting calmly on the ground, drinking water while tendrils of smoke billowed behind him, as if all was unrelated to him. After ten minutes, once he confirmed there was no secondary explosion, Bi Fang dusted the ash off his shoulders, stepped out from behind the tree, and looked at the thick smoke coming from the side door without surprise. Bi Fang took a couple of steps forward to the gate, stepping on the cracked pavement and said, ¡°Acetylene burns with thick smoke because of its high carbon content and the temperature is very high. As you can see, the cement here has turned white, meaning the moisture has been evaporated, truly a terrifying temperature.¡± Hearing Bi Fang¡¯s calm analysis, the audience, shocked by the explosive power, were astonished; only a heart like his could witness such an explosion directly. This was far more shocking than a grenade explosion in movies. The ground turned from black to white, cracked every inch, and the iron gate was lifted several meters high by the shockwave, beginning to deform in the air before crashing down. [¡°Terrifying? I think you¡¯re more terrifying than the explosion.¡±] [¡°Master Fang is so calm.¡±] [¡°Of course, just the crises we¡¯ve seen are life-threatening enough, let alone the unseen ones. He¡¯s too awesome. I¡¯m shocked.¡±] [¡°With Tai Shan collapsing in front of him, his color remains unchanged; elk play around him, yet his gaze never wavers. Master Fang wouldn¡¯t be Master Fang if he wasn¡¯t badass. I¡¯m the ruthless 666 machine!¡±] [¡°After all, it¡¯s acetylene. Isn¡¯t the explosion temperature much higher than a regular bomb?¡±] ¡°Yes, acetylene can reach 3600 degrees in oxygen combustion, and even in air, it¡¯s over 2000 degrees, far exceeding the high temperatures of regular bomb explosions. And the melting point of iron is only about 1500 degrees; if the gate wasn¡¯t blown apart, it might have turned into a puddle of iron by now.¡± ¡°When you encounter such an explosion, don¡¯t rush in, because you don¡¯t know what¡¯s behind the door. If there are also flammable and explosive materials, it could be dangerous. Even if you¡¯re sure there¡¯s none of that stuff, you still need to be careful with fire extinguishers.¡± Fire extinguishers? S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Cao Lifeng, just finished getting his food and on his way back to the dorm, glanced at the fire extinguisher without much thought. What¡¯s there to be cautious about with something meant for putting out fires? ¡°Many people only know that fire extinguishers can put out fires, but the extinguisher itself is a high-pressure tank. The internal pressure is about ten times that of the atmosphere. Under normal circumstances, the thick tank walls effectively prevent explosions, but the bodies of expired fire extinguishers may corrode from external contaminants and thin out.¡± Furthermore, with the carbon dioxide, flame-retardant dry powder, foaming agents, and other components in the fire extinguisher, exposure to high temperatures could potentially cause a chemical reaction, leading to increased internal pressure. At that time, even a slight knock could trigger an explosion, and the power of such an explosion would be extremely frightening. In 2007, a worker at a wholesale market warehouse in Shenyue was killed on the spot when an expired dry powder fire extinguisher he was using suddenly exploded. In 2012, at shop No. 405 in the Yantan furniture market in Lanzhou City, when Mr. Lin, the shop owner, heard abnormal noises coming from the scrapped dry powder fire extinguisher at the door, he went over to have a look. Suddenly, the fire extinguisher exploded, seriously injuring Mr. Lin¡­¡± Hiss! Cao Lifeng inhaled sharply, feeling as if the temperature around him had risen. He stared at the extinguisher in the corner without showing his alarm and shifted his steps discreetly, circumventing it and heading upstairs in the corridor on the other side. ¡°Alright, there are many more similar cases, but I won¡¯t go into detail,¡± Master Fang said, and during that time, the thick smoke and flames at the door had already dissipated. He pulled out a towel, dampened it with water, covered his mouth and nose with it, and spoke in a muffled voice. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside and have a look. Still, everyone should be careful before entering. Although the combustion of acetylene produces carbon dioxide and steam, there¡¯s still a lot of dust from the explosion, so be cautious. The safest method is to keep a wet towel over your mouth and nose. In any case, it¡¯s best to be careful.¡± Once prepared, Bi Fang put on his backpack and approached the site of the explosion. The scene was even more shocking. The iron boxes used as ballast were blown away, and the tarpaulin inside had long been burnt to charcoal, merging with the molten iron boxes surrounding it. He pinched a piece from the wall, and it crumbled into yellow ash with the slightest touch. Stepping inside, the online friends¡¯ gaze was instantly drawn to a patch of red on the wall¡ªthe fire extinguisher. It was far enough away not to be affected by the explosion. Yet, the rust in their hands still sent a shudder through the online friends who knew about the potential for the fire extinguisher to explode. In ordinary days, there would naturally be someone responsible for inspection and maintenance, but in the chaos of Yemen, where life itself couldn¡¯t be guaranteed, who would care about such small matters of fire safety? Even Bi Fang was careful to avoid it, and the moment he bypassed the fire extinguisher and entered the interior of the factory, he felt it was all worth it. Standing by the railing and looking down from this height of several tens of meters, he felt a sense of ambition and aspiration looking at the vastness of the factory. The factory¡¯s interior was fully equipped, and except for the absence of people, it was almost identical to how it would normally be! This indicated that the place had never been looted, or perhaps there had been no time to evacuate the equipment due to an emergency. Anyway, compared to the previously emptied factory, this one was undoubtedly much better. Looking at the spacious factory, the online friends couldn¡¯t help but marvel. It¡¯s huge. [Unbelievable, isn¡¯t this place too big?] [The bigger, the better, right? It means stronger security. Could there be something good in the kitchen?] [Yeah, the bigger it is, the more likely we¡¯ll find something good, didn¡¯t Old Fang say so?] ¡°Not only the wilderness can give a sense of vastness and dread; this place is so big it¡¯s terrifying. This is an abandoned factory of colossal size. I estimate it to be at least as big as four football fields and as tall as a great cathedral. The workers have long since departed, but other creatures have begun to take up residence. Let¡¯s go, I want to see what good things we can find here,¡± Bi Fang said as he ran along the railing, waving at the drone. He could no longer contain his desire to explore! Chapter 334: 332 Advanced Welder Chapter 334: Chapter 332 Advanced Welder Bi Fang looked up as he walked into the vast space, like an ant creeping into the Forbidden City in the dead of night. The sound of his steps echoed unhurriedly through the empty factory. [Isn¡¯t Old Fang in a hurry? Won¡¯t the explosion just now attract other people?] [Add one, shouldn¡¯t he hurry to grab something and slip away at this time?] ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Bi Fang shook his head, seemingly unconcerned, or perhaps he had anticipated this. ¡°Describing Yemen with a small explosion every three hours and a big one every five hours isn¡¯t an exaggeration. Moreover, it¡¯s just rained, and everyone is exhausted at such times. It¡¯s a period when few creatures are active, an instinct engraved in DNA. I took advantage of this very fact to dare to make such a big scene; otherwise, taking such a big risk just to show you an explosion wouldn¡¯t be worth it.¡± Shuiyou were amused, remembering Bi Fang¡¯s recent jests about not missing out as he passed by. Bi Fang left out one detail, for some reason, neither the rebels nor the military had really entered the center of Yimen City. Just some rogue bandit gangs wouldn¡¯t normally venture close to such dangerous places; figuring out the cause of an explosion wasn¡¯t their concern¡ªthere wasn¡¯t a need. People cherish their lives. The normal reaction upon seeing an explosion is to steer clear, and the bandit gangs did the same. In cases where people flock to such events, they are mostly in safe cities. Those living in Yimen would never do so. After spending half an hour making his way through a large part of the factory, Bi Fang figured out the layout. He stopped in his tracks, excitedly looking at the room in front of him. Shuiyou were puzzled and didn¡¯t understand why Bi Fang started to smile inexplicably upon reaching this spot, until he moved a box to stand on and wiped the dust-coated sign on the room¡¯s door. Defense Department! It was an English sign, but the drone¡¯s footage automatically provided appropriate translations based on the different zones it filmed. [Holy shit, is this a security office?] [What security? It¡¯s called the Defense Department, look at that name, it¡¯s so international.] [¡­Isn¡¯t this in English? It¡¯s all about translation, blame the translator!] [Stagehand: I¡¯ll take the blame for this one!] [There really is one!] [Damn, hurry up and see what goods are inside, could there be guns? I really want to know! Ahhhh!] Upon spotting the possibility of there being weapons and equipment, Shuiyou were incredibly excited, almost wishing they could kick the door down themselves and start looting. Unfortunately. Bi Fang turned the doorknob, but it didn¡¯t budge. Still locked. Taking two steps back, Bi Fang suddenly charged forward and slammed his shoulder against the door. A loud bang ensued, but aside from dislodging a bit of dust, nothing happened¡ªthe door seemed impregnable. [Is this where we go for another round of explosions?] [Demolition maniac¡¤Master Fang.gif] [Wow, it¡¯s not jpg anymore, huh? We¡¯ve moved on to gifs?] [When I¡¯ve got money, I¡¯ll definitely buy a phone that can display images] [Viewing Wolf Fang¡¯s live streaming with image support, any day now!] Bi Fang looked around, shook his head, and dashed the hopes of Shuiyou wanting to see another explosion. ¡°We can¡¯t blow it up again. Inside the factory is not like outside¡ªthere are many miscellaneous items around. If we were to blow it up, we¡¯d have to clean up first, which is troublesome and not worth it.¡± [Ah, then what do we do?] A Shuiyou timely played the straight man. Though anxious, seeing the confident look on Bi Fang¡¯s face, they knew he must have had a plan in mind. ¡°We could burn through the lock!¡± Bi Fang made a startling suggestion. ¡°The factory surely has its power shut off by now. We can¡¯t use many facilities, but there is one thing we can still utilize. Remember the acetylene and oxygen cylinders outside the workshop? We can actually use them normally. Just take an acetylene torch, you can burn through the lock with it. The advantage of acetylene welding is that it doesn¡¯t need electricity; in places with poor power supply, when you need to weld, acetylene becomes very useful because you can just adjust the bottle pressure to release the gas, and it¡¯s ready to go with a spark.¡± The audience was startled by Bi Fang¡¯s idea, then found it ridiculous. Use it normally? So you admit that wasn¡¯t the normal way to use it, right? If you could do this earlier, why did you start with blowing things up? Bi Fang scratched his head and laughed, ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t have a gas welding gun, did I? It was good enough to find the cylinders, but without a gun, I couldn¡¯t weld.¡± After circling the factory, Bi Fang followed his memory to a certain place. If he remembered correctly, the gas pipeline was laid out just behind this wall. Following the gas pipes that extended from outside the wall, Bi Fang found many acetylene cylinders and oxygen cylinders again. He picked two with sufficient gas and pressure, and he also found several tubes and a welding gun. The items were heavy, so Bi Fang moved them onto a cart and pushed it to the front door of the Defense Department, and began to connect the equipment. His skilled actions left the viewers amazed. Was this what they called a jack-of-all-trades? He even knows how to weld? [I really want to open up Master Fang¡¯s head and see what¡¯s packed in there] [Count me in, that¡¯s just outrageous! He knows how to weld, is there anything you can¡¯t do except give birth?] [Learn your math and science well, and you¡¯ll be fearless wherever you go. The ancients didn¡¯t lie to us] [When the apocalypse comes, I¡¯m certain Old Fang would be the last man standing] ¡°Haha, it never hurts to have too many skills. I had a friend who was in welding. I learned a bit from him.¡± After Bi Fang finished setting up the equipment, he opened the main valve of the oxygen cylinder and adjusted the output pressure to 0.3¡ª0.5Mpa, then he opened the main valve of the gas cylinder and adjusted its output pressure to 0.3¡ª0.5Mpa as well. He even showed his Shuiyou the whole process, explaining and demonstrating, seemingly really wanting to teach them¡­ ¡°Turn on the welder¡¯s gas valve, and next you use an open flame to light the tip of the welder. I forgot to get a light earlier, so now we have to start a fire again. This time I¡¯ll teach you a new method without using antifreeze.¡± Bi Fang set down the welding gun and took out potassium permanganate from his bag, but this time, instead of taking out antifreeze, he took out a small glass bottle filled with white granules. He opened the lid, poured a bit into the palm of his hand, and swallowed it in front of everyone. [Good grief, Master Fang is snorting white powder!] [¡­] [What¡¯s that stuff? Salt?] ¡°It¡¯s white sugar, bet you didn¡¯t see that coming.¡± Bi Fang broke off two pieces of wood from a table, poured some potassium permanganate and white sugar on the wood, and explained. ¡°Potassium permanganate can produce heat and release oxygen when it comes into contact with organic substances or friction, leading to combustion. We mix one part sugar and two parts potassium permanganate, then grind it between the dry pieces of wood. If the weather is dry, the wood will catch fire very quickly, and the method is short and effective. It takes just a few minutes.¡± ¡°Oh, and I forgot to mention earlier, potassium permanganate is a strong corrosive. You shouldn¡¯t touch it directly with your hands to prevent skin burns. You should only handle it directly when it¡¯s diluted to a safe concentration. In both instances, I didn¡¯t use my hands ¨C once I poured it on a sponge, and this time, on wood. Not sure if you noticed.¡± Bi Fang took another piece of wood and covered it on top, then started to rub. In no time at all, he could feel the wood beginning to heat up. In less than a minute, smoke started to appear, and in just three minutes, he had successfully started a flame. The viewers were astounded once again. ¡°That¡¯s why you should always keep potassium permanganate at home. It¡¯s truly a great thing: it can clean wounds and purify water. When collecting water outdoors, add three or four grains to 1 liter of water, and it¡¯s drinkable after 30 minutes. It can even be used to mark your trail if you get lost in the snow.¡± ¡°Especially when you accidentally ingest plant toxins outdoors, it¡¯s crucial to wash out your stomach quickly to reduce the absorption of toxic substances. A simple method is to use a potassium permanganate solution with a concentration between 1:1000 and 1:4000 for stomach washing. Plus, it¡¯s easy to prepare the correct concentration; you just go by the color ¨C it should be light purple or light red. If the solution turns purple or dark purple, its concentration has reached 1:100¡ª1:200, which is highly concentrated and can lead to corrosion of the stomach lining, and absolutely cannot be used for stomach washing. So safety first with its use.¡± Bi Fang spoke at length about its benefits; he only briefly mentioned it before, but now he seriously explained it. [Holy crap, it¡¯s that useful?] [I was so scared I immediately ordered three boxes of potassium permanganate to eat like food] [That said, who are you advertising for? (Dog¡¯s head)] [Advertising? My fists got harder!] sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With a flame now available, Bi Fang brought the welding gun close and like lighting a match, a flame of orange-yellow burst forth from the tip of the welding gun. He opened the welding gun¡¯s oxygen valve and finally adjusted the oxygen control knob and the gas control knob. With the oxygen supply, the temperature of the flame soared rapidly, and soon the blazing light blue flame revitalized everyone¡¯s spirit. Bi Fang, holding the welding gun, moved to the front door and directed the heat at the doorknob. Before long, the knob began to glow red and soften. Incredible! Is this what a high-level welder looks like? Chapter 335: 333: Unboxing! Unlucky One or Lucky Emperor? Chapter 335: Chapter 333: Unboxing! Unlucky One or Lucky Emperor? The air was filled with rolling heatwaves. The door lock of the defense room had turned cherry red, easily melting under the scorching heat of over three thousand degrees. Bi Fang wiped the fine sweat from his forehead, turned off the spray gun, stepped back two steps, and kicked the door. Without the restraints of the lock, the door didn¡¯t hold for a moment, bursting open with a dull thud. Yay! The online friends cheered, finally arriving at the delightful scene of unboxing! Especially at that moment of hard-earned payoff, even the smallest gain could prove that their efforts weren¡¯t wasted, how could it not be exciting? A barrage of comments and gifts flooded the live stream, all suggesting Bi Fang hurry in and scavenge. [Quick, go in and see what¡¯s inside!] [My god, could there be guns? Damn, I¡¯m so excited] [Feels like I¡¯m playing a battle royale] [So thrilling, shoot shoot everyone, I¡¯ve climaxed] Bi Fang understood the excitement of his online friends, and he felt the same way. Suppressing the urgency in his heart, Bi Fang took a deep breath, stood up, and dragged two steel cylinders into the room, quickly scanning the surroundings. Inside the room, everything was neat yet covered in dust. Two tables, several stools, three large cabinets, one safe¡ªit was a scene ripe with the promise of bounty, if only he knew how much was inside. A thick layer of dust piled up on the surface of the table as he brushed it with his finger. Bi Fang let out a sigh of relief. His biggest concern was a room in disarray. A mess would mean he wasn¡¯t the first one here, but it was still too soon to feel completely at ease; the absence of outside scavengers didn¡¯t mean the factory¡¯s internal staff hadn¡¯t taken any equipment. But no matter what, it had to be better than the worst-case scenario. Out of the three cabinets, two were locked. The one that wasn¡¯t locked revealed some sundries and clothes when he pulled it open. Bi Fang wasn¡¯t surprised by this, his real focus was on the two locked ones. They could very well be gun cabinets! Dragging the cylinders, Bi Fang didn¡¯t hesitate to start welding again. Bang! He broke the softened lock and pulled open the cabinet doors. Hiss! The moment the items in the cabinet were exposed to light, the audience sucked in a cold breath, and global warming intensified by a fraction. A series of neatly arranged protective gear hung quietly in the cabinet. Bulletproof vests! Riot helmets! Tactical boots! All good stuff! There were only three kinds of items in the wardrobe, with several of each kind, but just with this one cabinet, Bi Fang¡¯s trip was already worth it! [We¡¯re in the money now!] [Holy shit, they even have bulletproof vests! That¡¯s insane!] [Normal, this is Abbascan, how can the defense department not have a couple of guns? Bulletproof vests must be standard issue!] [Quick, look in the other cabinet and the safe to see what else there is!] [Aaah, I can¡¯t wait any longer!] [Can this be given away? I really want one! It¡¯s so freaking cool!] [Add one, and I¡¯ll swipe for a spaceship right now!] [A spaceship? Aren¡¯t you being too stingy? How about a Spaceship instead?] [Then I want the one Master Fang has worn (shy)] [Pssh, shameless! But seriously, can you give away the bulletproof vest? Is that even legal?] The audience was abuzz with excitement. Just by looking at the frequency of the barrage chat, one could tell the commotion, and the staff backstage were overjoyed. The better the data, the higher their bonus would naturally be. Now, Bi Fang¡¯s live streaming server was even an independent one, intended to provide the best user experience and avoid any lag. After all, thousands of messages flashing by in an instant was not a joke, straining a common server shared with other broadcasters could possibly crash it. Suppressing his inner excitement, Bi Fang pulled out a pair of combat boots, and after a cursory glance, was ecstatic to find they were brand new. No one liked second-hand goods, especially boots. After flipping through, he found a size that would suit him. He casually picked up a bulletproof vest and felt the material with his hand; it was incredibly soft and comfortable. ¡°A Kevlar bulletproof vest, with a hard layer inside, probably an alumina ceramic layer. This kind of quality is pretty strong. It seems like the owner of this factory is no simple character. Besides being bulletproof, Kevlar can also resist cuts to some extent, which is an effect other materials do not offer. As for giving it away¡­¡± Bi Fang paused for a moment, as he naturally saw the barrage chat too. At that moment, the Shuiyou were on edge, their hearts lifted with anticipation. In reality, most were worrying over nothing. The live stream had over a million viewers, but there were less than twenty items in total present. Even bringing all of them wouldn¡¯t make the odds favorable; they were pitifully low, not to mention that now Bi Fang¡¯s giveaways were calculated based on fan value. Those with insufficient fan value couldn¡¯t even get a taste of the action. ¡°Bulletproof vests are defensive items, and my country actually doesn¡¯t prohibit their circulation. However, at most, I can only carry one extra piece. Don¡¯t be fooled by the small size of a bulletproof vest; it weighs around three kilograms, so it¡¯s impossible for me to carry more,¡± he explained. Upon hearing this, the audience was naturally extremely disappointed, but weren¡¯t too heartbroken since being an Unlucky One was the norm in this world, with Lucky Emperors being rare and short-lived. Without rushing to collect, Bi Fang dragged the steel cylinder to the second metal cabinet. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. What would be inside? Would there be any guns? The Shuiyou were so excited they could barely contain themselves, especially the male viewers. Their worship of violent weapons was almost innate¡ªdidn¡¯t every boy have a toy gun growing up? This was the most primal desire, that of violence and conquest. For food, territory, and survival, ancestors had to hunt and even kill, ensuring their dominance over females, their right to live, which is why men revered might so much. This instinct, through the passage of time, seeped into their blood. Enjoying a peach and feeling refreshed? That¡¯s heresy! They should be condemned at the stake! Many who enjoyed watching Bi Fang¡¯s live streams revered his strength and willingly spent their years-saved pocket money and cigarette and liquor funds with lavish tips during his incredible feats. Such adoration was unshakable! Compared to him, other broadcasters couldn¡¯t offer the same level of excitement and thrill, cementing his unique and increasingly stable status in the industry. The same procedure to melt the lock and then open the cabinet door was followed. Even though they were mentally prepared, the audience was still very excited to see the items inside the cabinet. Unlike bulletproof vests and helmets, this cabinet mostly contained tools. Stun guns! Electric batons! Tactical flashlights! Several daggers! All were very practical items, but unfortunately, the one thing the viewers wanted to see most was not there. But Bi Fang wasn¡¯t disappointed, after all, it goes without saying how important firearms are. If there were any, they would likely have been taken by the factory staff long ago, so the possibility of them being left behind was slim. However, judging by the resources found so far, he had already hit the jackpot! With the last cabinet finished, there was only one safe left¡­ Chapter 336: 334: Awesome and Commanding Chapter 336: Chapter 334: Awesome and Commanding The safe was noticeably thicker than the previous ones and was more difficult to weld. ¡°Since it¡¯s unclear what¡¯s inside the cabinet, we must be careful, in case it¡¯s ammunition or something. A misstep in welding could end in disaster, so we need to find the right balance,¡± he said. Having said that, Bi Fang turned off the welding torch and instead pulled out a steel bar, inserting it into the mostly welded gap and prying the safe open little by little. With a dull thud. The safe¡¯s lock completely broke, and Bi Fang opened the door to take a quick glance and suddenly couldn¡¯t look away. Most of the cabinet was empty, but in the corner, there was a faint glimmer of gold! Seeing Bi Fang frozen in place, the audience grew incredibly anxious. Fortunately, at that moment, the drone changed its angle and captured part of the scene inside the safe. The online friends held their breath! In that glowing corner lay a pile of shiny, yellow bullets! Jackpot! At that moment, the audience was almost more excited than Bi Fang himself. Those were bullets, real deadly weapons! ¡°With no firearms, what¡¯s all the excitement for?¡± Bi Fang suddenly threw a wet blanket on the audience, instantly cooling their excitement. He sighed. ¡°Seeing these bullets, I know there must have been guns here before, but someone else must have taken them. It¡¯s a shame. Now with no firearms left, only these bullets remain, and it looks like they¡¯ve mostly been taken, or else it wouldn¡¯t look like this.¡± The bullets inside the safe were piled up in the corner and weren¡¯t that many. With a little imagination, the viewers began to picture the scene. There was an emergency, and the people inside the defensive location could only manage to take away the firearms and open the safe to grab most of the ammunition, hastily leaving behind some in the corner. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for why it was locked again, perhaps they thought they might return one day? But looking at the dust on the table¡­ The audience instantly felt dejected. Had they thought they found something good only to realize it¡¯s useless? [Damn, I thought we had found some epic loot.] [Is it of any use holding onto it now?] [No problem, you can bring it back to give to us, I won¡¯t mind (facetious).] [Ugly thoughts, pretty dreams. Do you think bullets can be traded like bulletproof vests?] [You could empty out the gunpowder and give out the casings, that would still be nice.] [Too bad, now that the city has no electricity, otherwise you could machine a gun barrel.] Bi Fang grabbed a handful of bullets and observed them in his palm, finding two different calibers, one short and round, the other long and slender: ¡°7.62mm and 9mm standard rounds. The 7.62mm is for rifles, long and slender; the 9mm is for pistols, shorter and rounder. For a factory¡¯s defense force to have rifle bullets is quite preposterous.¡± [Wow, is that long one 7.62mm?] [Why do I feel like the 7.62 has more power than the 9?] [+1, isn¡¯t it like that in games too? 9mm bullets have the least power.] [Hahaha, I feel the same, 9mm isn¡¯t up to much.] A bunch of online friends shared their opinions, but Bi Fang just shook his head, flipping the bullets in his palm and finally stuffing them into his backpack. ¡°Don¡¯t confuse gaming with reality. Although 9mm bullets are small, they have a large caliber. In close range, they create a larger damage area, and generally, due to their lack of penetrating power, they tend to stay and tumble inside the body, causing the most harm,¡± ¡°7.62mm and 5.56mm, although they have more ammo and greater range and penetration, the wounds they inflict are not as harmful to people due to the caliber limitation, so they do not cause as much damage as 9mm.¡± ¡°As for why pistol bullets in games are less powerful, even though I have never played, I think this is due to the balance within the game. If a 9mm sub-machine gun had low recoil, a very high rate of fire, and the highest damage in close combat, then other guns wouldn¡¯t get a chance to be used.¡± In reality, 9mm bullets are short, meaning they have a shorter range, but their close-range damage is very high, which is suitable for street fighting. 7.62mm and 5.56mm bullets have an extremely long range and a larger effective attack radius, making them more suited for large-scale warfare. After hearing Bi Fang, the professional¡¯s explanation, the audience suddenly saw the light. That¡¯s how it was. ¡°But after all, it¡¯s still ammunition storing gunpowder, we should collect it anyway, it might come in handy.¡± Once he finished speaking, Bi Fang had already put all the bullets in the cabinet into his backpack, not leaving a single one behind. The audience couldn¡¯t tell if Master Fang¡¯s luck was good or bad. It was frustrating to finally find bullets, but have no firearms to use them with. But Bi Fang was happy. With Wilderness Survivalist, contentment breeds happiness, and a positive attitude is very important. It was already great to have found so many pieces of protective gear. After all, here he was to survive, focusing on defense and preservation of life, not to descend upon the battlefield and slay across Yemen. So, after Bi Fang had gathered the bullets, he returned to the two other metal cabinets. Tactical flashlight, dagger, boot knife, all taken. Also, grab two anti-riot helmets; they can double as pots. Then he took off his jacket and undergarment, and found a bulletproof vest of the right size and put it on. It was heavy, but in that moment, as soon as he donned the vest, Bi Fang¡¯s sense of safety surged. Facing armed criminals, his safety massively increased after armoring up. A normal person hit by a bullet, even if not in a critical area, is basically incapacitated due to pain and blood loss; it¡¯s not like movies and TV shows where you can tough it out and pursue enemies for three kilometers. Hence, the bulletproof vest is a necessity. Next were the tactical boots. Bi Fang took off his hiking boots and found a pair of brand-new tactical boots of the right size to switch into. ¡°This survival trip I was wearing hiking boots, but since there are tactical boots available, I think it¡¯s better to switch to tactical boots. Tactical boots have many advantages. They are waterproof and breathable, can partly replace leg bindings by supporting the calf muscles to prevent congestion, protect the ankles from sprains, and can even have a boot knife inserted into them, enhancing safety. The soles are also equipped with puncture-resistant plates, thick and durable. The downside is they are heavier than regular boots because the soles are thicker,¡± After changing into tactical boots and inserting a boot knife, donning the bulletproof vest, and reshouldering his backpack, Bi Fang looked completely renewed, an imposing figure. Almost all the viewers were impressed. So cool! Bi Fang was already handsome and imposing, his slightly damp hair neatly combed back, leaving only two strands hanging down from his temples. Tall and commanding, his every step seemed to carry the wind with it. After putting on the combat suit, this feeling was even more evident ¨C like a tiger in armor, sharp and fierce. The pair of black tactical boots on his feet looked even more domineering and powerful; the boot knives added an edge of lethality. This was, after all, one of the functions of tactical boots: to boost morale and intimidate by their robust appearance. [Damn, that gear is way too cool] [Wow, where can I find those boots? I want a pair too!] [Dream on, dude. These things need to match the person wearing them. Old Fang has a good physique, full of vitality, and looks that surpass 99% of people. No one else could pull off that look.] Bi Fang, fully geared up, took a deep breath, reopened the door to the room, and strode away. The challenge continues. The journey through Ruins City is far from over! Chapter 337: 335 Expired Food Chapter 337: Chapter 335 Expired Food All the workers had left, and only Bi Fang remained in the empty factory, silently searching the rooms to see if any supplies had been left behind. He thought of how this place had once bustled with activity, now a desolate shell covered with dust and ignored by the world. Things remain, people change. In an instant, this phrase popped into the minds of many, and when compared to the current ¡°desolate scene,¡± it seemed quite unsettling. ¡°Feeling a bit scared, aren¡¯t you?¡± His combat boots stopped moving on the floor as Bi Fang scanned his surroundings, amused by an audience member¡¯s comment expressing fear. It was true that the enormity of the space around him gave him that feeling, prompting Bi Fang to reflect on an off-topic subject. ¡°Know why horror stories often take place in schools?¡± As he opened a door and started rummaging through the contents, Bi Fang posed this question to his audience. Without waiting for their responses, he continued with the answer. ¡°Because schools are usually bustling during the day and empty at night. But most people are familiar with them in daylight. If you suddenly enter one at night, the stark contrast can naturally cause discomfort, and this discomfort can easily turn into fear without much prompting. Hence, many ghost stories happen in schools.¡± [Wow, there¡¯s an explanation like that?] [Holy frog, first time hearing this. No wonder I feel so creeped out fetching homework from school at night] [Another day of gaining knowledge] [Day 1,081 kneeling before Master Fang] [What is Master Fang looking for? Does he really need to search through cabinets one by one?] Since the beginning, Bi Fang had not spared any room in his search for supplies, examining even the smallest drawers, which made the audience wonder if it was really necessary. But the next second, as Bi Fang pulled open a drawer, what appeared inside left everyone speechless. ¡°Hey, snacks!¡± Bi Fang chuckled, revealing that inside the drawer he had just opened were not files but a heap of little cookies! Bi Fang shook a pack of the little cookies he had picked up; these were exactly what he had been searching for in every cabinet and drawer. ¡°In Ruins City, the most likely place to find food is not the kitchen, but these ¡®offices¡¯! Even in a factory, places like these are set up. I think many of the audience watching the live stream are probably sitting in offices, right? Do you guys store some snacks in your drawers? Out of ten people, I bet nine would do so, right?¡± Many Shuiyou immediately blushed. Thinking of their own drawers stuffed with various snacks, they understood Master Fang¡¯s actions and reasoning, and they couldn¡¯t help but admire him. It was clearly a place where supplies were very likely to exist, yet few people thought of it, and it had to be admitted that knowing was one thing, but thinking of it was another. Bi Fang held a pack of biscuits in his hand and began to check the English packaging. In no time, he found the expiration date and the production date. After a quick calculation, he was surprised to discover that the nine-month shelf life had expired just three days ago! Now Shuiyou couldn¡¯t really say whether this was a coincidence or not. But Bi Fang clearly didn¡¯t care about that; he simply put the biscuits into his backpack after emptying the drawer into it. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry too much, in fact, food expiration doesn¡¯t mean it can¡¯t be eaten. The shelf life is ultimately a ¡®guarantee¡¯ from the seller regarding the food quality. They guarantee that within this period, the quality won¡¯t be compromised. If the quality deteriorates within the shelf life, the seller is responsible. But if something goes wrong after the shelf life has ended, they¡¯re off the hook. So the shelf life doesn¡¯t equal the standard for food spoilage¡ªit¡¯s just a liability period set by the seller.¡± ¡°If the food has a short shelf life, then the food safety risk of a product that¡¯s ¡®expired by one day¡¯ can be much higher than a product ¡®with one day left before expiration.¡¯ It is recommended to throw away short shelf-life foods once expired, such as yogurt with a 21-day shelf life. But for long shelf-life goods such as biscuits, which can last for half a year or more, there is no substantial difference between ¡®expired by one day¡¯ and ¡®one day from expiration.¡¯ Is it suddenly inedible the second it expires? It¡¯s not like there is some mystical force that causes food to undergo some kind of change the moment it surpasses its expiration date. It¡¯s just like overnight water being deemed undrinkable, but the water that sits from morning to afternoon has gone through the same time period as water left overnight¡ªwhat¡¯s the difference?¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As he spoke, Bi Fang tore open a small packet and guzzled down the biscuits, finishing it off quick and even wiped his mouth afterward. ¡°However, eating expired food is a matter of weighing risks; it¡¯s best not to take the risk unless necessary.¡± Finding a pile of biscuits put Bi Fang in a great mood. Big factories really are different with their abundant supplies; it was a series of pleasant surprises. Just this big pack of biscuits was worth the price of admission, not to mention the great gear he had obtained. This multitude of discoveries also made Shuiyou realize the importance of choosing the right place in urban survival. Wandering around aimlessly like a headless fly, how could one find as many things as now? ¡°Let¡¯s go, there¡¯s still a lot of places we haven¡¯t seen yet. We need to speed up and try to cover this place before dark. I must say, this place is just too big.¡± Repacking his backpack, Bi Fang left the office and returned to the desolate factory interior, but soon after taking a few steps, he made a new discovery. Bi Fang squatted down, picked up a few feathers from the ground, and examined them closely in front of the camera. He quickly realized what creature had left them. ¡°Pigeon feathers?¡± He looked up at the steel beams crisscrossing overhead. Bi Fang surveyed the surroundings: ¡°These feathers are likely from pigeons. They prefer these kinds of huge abandoned buildings which offer them shelter from the elements. Generally speaking, where there are pigeons, there are also pigeon eggs. Adult pigeons lay eggs monthly except in winter, and even if we cannot catch the pigeons, we will most likely find their eggs.¡± Bi Fang discarded the feathers in his hand and looked up at the roof. ¡°Although I already have almost half a fox and a large pack of biscuits, these supplies might still be slightly insufficient for the remaining four days. In the wilderness, storing food is like squirrels preparing for winter¡ªyou can never have too much. So, I don¡¯t want to miss this opportunity. Pigeons prefer to nest high up, and we should perhaps start looking.¡± Climbing such a building was akin to scaling a cautious man¡¯s jungle of steel rebar, but for Bi Fang, this was clearly not a problem. Scanning around, a clear route for climbing came to the fore in his mind. Looking at the debris by the wall, Bi Fang ran a few steps, stepped on the junk, leaped forcefully, and grabbed onto a nearby ventilation pipe. Chapter 338: 336: Walking in the Sky Chapter 338: Chapter 336: Walking in the Sky ¡°Is this a ventilation duct? I¡¯m not quite sure either.¡± After embracing the round pipe, Bi Fang exhibited a rare sense of perplexity. The duct was different from the usual, not smooth but with many small pipes protruding from it, offering cheap and suitable handholds for climbing. Among the selected routes, this ventilation duct was the easiest to ascend. ¡°This is somewhat similar to climbing trees. I have explained long ago that before moving, you must ensure the stability of every foothold. What you need to be mindful of this time is the presence of oil and dirt, which is common in factories. It¡¯s almost impossible to find any surface not smeared with oil in these areas, so be extra careful when reaching out for them.¡± Bi Fang stretched out his hand, showing the audience the black grease on his palm, which was very greasy and could easily smear off in large swaths with a casual wipe. Luckily, the presence of dust made the situation not as bad. With dust, even if things were slippery, the extent was limited. ¡°Always remember the three-point rule, which is the most crucial among all climbing laws. Three out of four limbs must be firmly fixed on the attachments, distributed at three different points to form a stable base. If both feet are placed in one spot, it is only considered one anchor point.¡± As a veteran, Bi Fang was highly proficient in climbing simple ventilation ducts, and the audience could only watch his smooth ascent. If it were not a live broadcast, they might even suspect he had rehearsed on the spot numerous times¡ªhow else could he be so skilled? [I always feel that Old Fang is getting better and better. When I first watched his live broadcast, it wasn¡¯t as smooth as it is now, although it was also impressive, but it doesn¡¯t feel as remarkable as now] [Impressive, but not completely impressive] [Feels stronger than the rock climbing coaches at my local, decisive and powerful, super steady!] S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Among the audience, those who knew their stuff could tell that Bi Fang¡¯s climbing moves seemed simple, but were not achievable without extensive training. It was really strange. Looking at Bi Fang¡¯s youthful face, many silently sighed in their hearts. There truly are geniuses in this world. Soon, Bi Fang reached the end of the ventilation duct, next to which was a steel beam, solid and cold. ¡°This climb was quite strenuous and dirty, but I¡¯ve already reached the first layer, and I¡¯m closer to the goal now.¡± Bi Fang grasped the I-beam with his hand, his sleeve slipping down to reveal the smooth muscle lines of his forearm. His legs clamped tightly around the ventilation duct, still not daring to relax. Stretching his arms, he pulled his upper body up to the bar, and Bi Fang gradually released the duct. Finally, he stood slowly on the I-beam made of steel. The drone flew right in front of Bi Fang, filming meticulously. Looking from above, the height of over fifteen meters made all the viewers hold their breath, as if they were walking on a highwire, with everyone sweating for Bi Fang. Especially when the drone¡¯s camera captured his feet perched on the I-beam, that tension was once again cruelly heightened. It¡¯s that familiar Master Fang flavor! Standing on the beam, Bi Fang balanced his body and pointed at a nearby window, saying, ¡°Look, there is a broken window up top, I reckon that¡¯s the passageway where pigeons come and go. There¡¯s a good chance pigeons are nesting there. We¡¯ll go check it out, but we might as well make some preparations first.¡± With that said, Bi Fang untied a coarse hemp rope from around his waist, one he had found below, wrapped one end of the rope around his waist, then passed it through the I-beam and started tying a knot. ¡°Since we will be crossing over, for the sake of precaution, we still need to take some safety measures. Here I will teach everyone a knot, the figure-eight knot, named so because it resembles the shape of the number ¡®8¡¯ when tied. The figure-eight knot is often used in situations requiring high slip resistance. It¡¯s used in rappelling, rock climbing, and so forth. We first cross the tail end of the rope, thread the end through the loop after winding it around the main rope, wrap it around twice and then tighten it to complete the knot. It¡¯s simple to tie and the knot is quite secure, a classic method.¡± The figure-eight knot is not hard to learn, and once you hold the end of the rope, it hardly comes undone automatically, making it a very convenient knot. As he spoke, Bi Fang¡¯s fingers deftly worked, and soon a knot resembling the number 8 was tied. Standing on the beam, Bi Fang pulled at the rope, finding it secure. Assured of his safety, he then extended his right foot, inching toward the other side of the factory bit by bit. [Damn, this is exhilarating!] [Unbelievable, seriously unbeatable, just go for the thrill without a second word!] [There¡¯s a type of fear in the world that¡¯s scary just by looking at it] Ignoring the comments, Bi Fang calmed his mind, breathed steadily, and seemed unfazed by the environment. This was actually the necessary mental quality for any adventurous act; a calm mind ensured steady hands, and without calmness, the likelihood of accidents was greater. So he couldn¡¯t be afraid, he just had to keep moving forward relentlessly. Moreover, the I-beam was not a wire rope, walking on it was much smoother than on the wire rope, as long as he kept his center of gravity within a controllable range. Dragging the hemp rope, Bi Fang quickly arrived at the opposite side of the I-beam. From here, the path was much easier, with a narrow corridor and railing available. Undoing the knot, Bi Fang flipped over and landed inside the railing, which finally let the audience breathe a sigh of relief, but before they could recover, they heard Bi Fang¡¯s voice again. ¡°We can try climbing up from here.¡± Bi Fang stepped onto the railing and climbed along the pipe once more, reaching a height of nearly thirty meters this time! He then stepped onto another rail! Whoa! This time, no one could stay calm, because this rail was different from the previous ones, looking from the side like a gate, long and flat, impossible to tie a knot to! Even its width was narrower than the previous I-beam! Yet, under these circumstances, Bi Fang took only two deep breaths before slowly extending his right foot out, but this time, he didn¡¯t immediately follow with his left foot. He looked ahead, his expression solemn and somber, even somewhat cold and severe, as he needed to find the right moment to engage. Walking at such a height, one had to move in one go, without any pause. The audience waited a full five minutes before they saw Bi Fang¡¯s toes leave the ledge and fully step onto the rail! What followed was a mechanical advancement, eerily calm. The online friends were so shocked that they became somewhat numb, it was okay before when there was a ¡°safety rope,¡± but now this situation scared them. Too risky! [How does he keep his balance?] [Damn, this is fucking terrifying, and it¡¯s live! Outrageous] [I¡¯m already in the hospital taking care of my grandfather] [Good lord, how many times has he been to the hospital now? Master Fang, such a devoted grandson] [Every time I watch a Master Fang livestream, the hospital loses a bed!] [No livestream, then there¡¯s a bed available!] Climbing to the top of this factory roof was like climbing to the high canopy of a rainforest, both strength and skill were indispensable, and he still needed a clear mind at high altitudes. At the edge, Bi Fang maintained his balance at all times, his nerves were highly strung, all his senses were highly focused, even his sense of smell became more sensitive. The stench of rotting pigeons, the foul smell of bird droppings¡­ The sun outside the building gradually set, and the slanting sun shone through the window onto him, making him appear godlike. Chapter 339: 337: High-Altitude Bird Nest Robbing Chapter 339: Chapter 337: High-Altitude Bird Nest Robbing Sunlight slanted in from the skylight, the sun gradually sinking below the horizon, a smear of blush red at the edge of the sky. The person standing on the rail spread his arms wide, and the daylight split him in two, half in light and half in shadow. Bi Fang silently exhaled, slowly stepping out from the shadows. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thirty meters below, Bi Fang seemed incredibly minuscule, as if about to be completely engulfed by the shadows behind him. But every time he was nearly swallowed, he took a step forward and embraced the light anew. Light and shadow intertwined, clearly demarcated. After a few steps, Bi Fang seemed to have found the knack for walking, the memory of balance long lurking in his muscles fully awakened, like scales of a snake unfurling one by one, using instinct to replace thought, guiding him step by step forward. One meter. Two meters. Three meters. Neither hurried nor slow. Bi Fang¡¯s arms were spread wide, his balance like the wings of migratory birds. Even though indoors, it felt as if a vast wind blew beneath his feet. Bi Fang gazed ahead through the brightness; at this moment, the steel factory was like a small hill conquered beneath his feet. He stood high, overlooking the world, so close to the sunset yet so far from the world of humans. Kolo Edward stared blankly at Bi Fang in the light and shadow. With the incredible resolution, he could even see the dust dancing in the beam of light. Only a connoisseur understands a fellow expert. As a professional high-wire walker, Kolo was well aware of the difficulty of tightrope walking at a height of thirty meters. Even he would approach it with utmost care. He had expected Bi Fang to struggle, yet he walked with such ease, fluid and carefree, like an artwork come to life. As if treading on firm ground! MeTube, Wolf Fang¡¯s staff, made a snap decision, posting this scene on the homepage of the official website along with a warning sign. Not for the faint-hearted! Yet such a warning only served to draw a flood of new viewers, and the number of people in the live stream soared once again! The overseas channel¡¯s audience count instantly broke through one and a half million! Bear in mind, this was only Bi Fang¡¯s second live broadcast for the overseas audience, his third if including the trip to Yemen. Between the Discovery Channel, Bi Fang¡¯s own legendary exploits, and MeTube¡¯s promotion, reaching over a million viewers in three broadcasts was nothing short of a tall tale for other streamers. For an ordinary streamer, even an audience of fifteen thousand, just one additional decimal point, would be a rare sight for a top streamer! [Wow, so powerful, is he wearing special shoes?] [Combat boots? Holy crap, that¡¯s professional, awesome!] [So cool!] [What is he doing? The streamer seems so strong, Master Fang, how come I¡¯ve never heard of him before?] [No way, no way. Is there really someone who plays live streams and doesn¡¯t know Master Fang? Just got internet in your village?] [Catching birds lol!] [???] At this moment, everyone¡¯s heart trembled with Bi Fang¡¯s footsteps; the sound echoed in the high air, the beating of hearts pounding in chests. Just as two-thirds of the journey had been crossed, the other side within reach, the audience able to catch their breath, Bi Fang suddenly halted, reached out to point ahead, and said in a low voice. ¡°Look!¡± Following Master Fang¡¯s arm to look ahead, two dark figures suddenly flapped their wings and landed on the rail in view of the camera, cooing incessantly. Pigeons! There really are pigeons! Master Fang¡¯s guess was right! Seeing the harvest within reach, Bi Fang was quite delighted, yet he didn¡¯t act rashly. He began to constantly adjust his center of gravity, slightly bending his legs and slowly squatting down. His movements were very slow and careful enough. When his center of gravity dropped below half a meter, Bi Fang firmly grasped the steel rails with both hands, his muscles tensed to support part of his body weight. This allowed his legs to relax a bit before he gradually shifted his feet and slowly dangled them on each side of the rail, straddling it as he sat down. Only after sitting down did Bi Fang relax and explain. ¡°For safety¡¯s sake, let¡¯s not walk on the rails anymore. It¡¯s too narrow here, and if the pigeons get startled and rush over, we could easily be disrupted. At times like this, any slight change can trigger a chain reaction. Meanwhile, we can also look around to see where there might be nests.¡± As he spoke, Bi Fang moved forward a bit but just as he did, his hands were covered in dust. Even without a war, this is a place that wouldn¡¯t be cleaned, and one can only imagine how much dust has accumulated over days and months. Scraping it with his hand, it was almost half a finger thick. Bi Fang felt his backside and, sure enough, it was all dusty. He laughed softly and said, ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll need to change my pants when I get back.¡± [Is it really because of the dust that you¡¯re changing your pants? (Dog¡¯s head)] [Really? I don¡¯t believe it.] [That¡¯s too risqu¨¦.] [So, is that big splotch in front of Old Fang bird poop?] [Damn, I didn¡¯t even notice until you said it. Is that bird poop?] ¡°Yes,¡± Bi Fang said, also looking toward a spot about two meters away on the steel rail that was clearly a different color, like a splash of white and yellow. Undoubtedly bird droppings. Besides that¡­ Bi Fang moved forward, pinching a piece of white material. ¡°There are also some eggshell fragments here, a good sign. As I mentioned before, pigeons lay eggs almost every month except in winter, and wild pigeons do the same. Under suitable conditions, they can breed up to eight times a year, and each time there will be two pigeon eggs. So, if you can find an area where pigeons reside during the non-winter seasons, you¡¯re almost certain to find bird eggs in the pigeon nests. Right now, my position is on the factory roof, which is too narrow and not conducive to catching pigeons directly. Even setting traps wouldn¡¯t be convenient for checking, so my initial target was pigeon eggs. It¡¯s worth noting that eggshells are also edible. The main component of eggshells is calcium carbonate, which can be digested by the human body to supplement calcium. Many chicks are fed crushed eggshells by farmers after they hatch. However, just because it¡¯s digestible doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s easily digestible. Eating eggshells directly can be hard to digest; it¡¯s better to grind them into powder. But for me, this bit of eggshell isn¡¯t worth collecting.¡± After tossing the eggshell fragment from high up, Bi Fang moved like a caterpillar to the edge of the rail, grabbed the glass, stood up from the rail, and came to the wall beside the window. The width was just half a meter, but compared to the steel rails not even wide enough for a foot, it was ¡°spacious,¡± and he could even take large strides. ¡°Wild pigeons nest on cliff tops, and likewise their city relatives tend to build nests in high places¡­ This should be the highest point in the factory. A fall from here would be disastrous.¡± Walking along the window, Bi Fang deliberately kicked down an abandoned lamp. From a height of over thirty meters, it took more than two seconds to fall and smashed on the ground with a loud crash, totally shattering the lamp and startling the now slightly relaxed Shuiyou once again. ¡°No doubt, falling from here would be a certain death. But it¡¯s places like this where pigeons nest. Fortune favors the bold. Compared to hunting prey in the Primeval Forest, we¡¯re actually quite safe here, at least we don¡¯t have to worry about any dangerous creatures that might compete with us for food. Hey, take a look, there¡¯s a nest over there!¡± Chapter 340: 338 Chapter 340: 338 The direction is correct, the action is correct. It wasn¡¯t long before Bi Fang made a discovery while walking along the wall. He found a clump of a bird¡¯s nest in a corner. Bi Fang nearly sprinted over and then quickly waved at the drone, looking very excited. ¡°Come quickly, look, in this nest, there are pigeon eggs!¡± The Shuiyou¡¯s spirits were lifted, the drone sped up its flight and immediately arrived beside Bi Fang. Inside an oval bird¡¯s nest, several milky-white eggs shone brilliantly in the sunset¡¯s glow, looking very tempting. Bi Fang reached in and turned them over, but found that although there seemed to be many eggs, some were empty, with only two being solid. ¡°These must be leftovers from before, these two were just laid. My goodness, I even feel these eggs are warm.¡± After rummaging through the bird¡¯s eggs, Bi Fang held the two pigeon eggs in his hands, brimming with excitement. The pigeon eggs were not small at all; in fact, they were comparable to some small chicken eggs. Bi Fang pulled out a water bottle from his backpack and began to wash them on the spot. ¡°Theoretically, all bird eggs are edible raw, as long as they don¡¯t smell off. Of course, unless you¡¯re really in a bind, it¡¯s usually better not to eat bird eggs casually, unless you can confirm they¡¯re not from any rare animals. Just like I know these are pigeon eggs, so there¡¯s no problem.¡± Having wet the eggs and cleaned their surfaces, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t wait any longer. He put one into his mouth, in front of everyone, and crushed it, letting the egg liquid slide out before stuffing the shell into his mouth and chewing vigorously. Pigeon eggshells are much thinner than chicken eggshells and eating them doesn¡¯t feel odd; instead, there is a sandy crunch. The Shuiyou could only hear a crisp sound, as if he were chewing crackers. After swallowing the entire egg, Bi Fang drank two gulps of water and swallowed, a sense of satisfaction naturally arising. ¡°This experience of adventuring and then gaining a reward is truly extraordinary, like studying hard for a month and finally getting first place in the class, very satisfying. And the pigeon egg was great too, a bit fishy, but I was mentally prepared for it, so it wasn¡¯t so hard to accept. This must be the most nutritious and delicious thing I¡¯ve eaten so far. When your body is in a state of energy depletion, eating a bird egg, even if it doesn¡¯t taste great, the feedback from your body is fantastic, Although I¡¯m not actually very hungry since I ate more than half a fox at noon, the nutritional intake is definitely imbalanced. But the bird egg provides me with a very comprehensive range of nutrients any egg would offer.¡± Bi Fang let out a satisfied burp, clearly very content, a sight that left the viewers quite envious. [Damn, watching this is making me hungry] [Standing in front of the fridge with a raw chicken egg in my hand] [Put it down, this isn¡¯t something humans should eat!] [Back when I was working out, I used to down five raw chicken eggs a day] [Wow, brother, that¡¯s hardcore. I can¡¯t even stand the smell, barely eat fried eggs] After eating one bird egg, Bi Fang took out another horizontally. It was a large bottle, similar to a sports drink, also filled with water. Bi Fang opened the bottle, poured out all the water, then stuffed the pigeon egg inside, secured the cap, and carefully placed it into his backpack. ¡°Since I¡¯m not very hungry right now, I¡¯ll save the egg to eat tomorrow. Putting it in the bottle helps to avoid it getting crushed. Of course, even if it gets crushed, we can still eat it to avoid waste.¡± [Ah, I feel like you didn¡¯t have to dump the water, keeping the egg in the water would make it less likely to spoil, right?] Some viewers were puzzled by the scene of Bi Fang emptying the water bottle, but Bi Fang shook his head in response. ¡°That won¡¯t work. Most eggs are the same, they can¡¯t be stored in water as they¡¯ll easily spoil. Some people find the eggs they buy too dirty and wash them with water before storing them. This is incorrect, as it damages the nutritional value of the eggs and could even cause the eggs to spoil.¡± Bi Fang picked up another broken eggshell from the nest to show everyone. ¡°Look, there is actually a layer of ¡®bloom¡¯ on the outside of bird eggshells, which seals the pores on the shell. It not only prevents bacteria from entering the egg but also stops the evaporation of moisture inside, keeping the egg fluid fresh. When you wash the eggs, the ¡®bloom¡¯ comes off, allowing bacteria to invade and moisture to evaporate, causing the egg to spoil. So, eggs that need to be preserved shouldn¡¯t be washed, and definitely should not be kept in water.¡± [A little knowledge for daily life!] [Wow, learned something new again.] [Follow Master Fang and learn new things every day!] ¡°Let¡¯s quickly look for more bird eggs in other corners while it¡¯s not completely dark yet,¡± I said. Packing away the plastic bottle, Bi Fang continued searching the walls for any missed bird eggs. The factory was so large, there couldn¡¯t possibly be just one bird¡¯s nest. Sure enough, before the sky had turned completely dark, Bi Fang, after making a full round, successfully found three more nests, harvesting five pigeon eggs in total. Six eggs lying in the bottle, filling it to the brim, it was a sight that filled one with satisfaction. Just these few eggs could sustain a person for a day if used sparingly. ¡°I really made the right choice coming to this steel factory; the haul is more than what I got in the past two days combined. If I¡¯m careful, I might not even need to look for food for the next few days! Alright, now it¡¯s time to head back to the ground level.¡± Bi Fang dusted off his hands and took out a flashlight from his bag, retracing his steps along the wall. ¡°Earlier, as I walked along the wall, I found a platform that seems to be a balcony. We¡¯ll go there and see if we can find a way back. Luckily we have a flashlight; walking in the dark in these conditions would be too dangerous. But remember, we must shine the flashlight down at the ground, just at your feet, and never into the distance,¡± I instructed. This statement confused most of the audience, wondering why the light could only shine at the feet. [Why?] [Why can¡¯t we shine it into the distance?] ¡°Because this is Yemen,¡± I explained. Bi Fang held the flashlight close to the glass and located the terrace outside the window. He turned off the flashlight and pointed towards the residential building in the distance: ¡°What do you think would happen if a flashlight suddenly lit up in that residential building? In other words, if you were in a city reduced to ruins and suddenly saw signs of human activity, what would you do?¡± [Of course, I would go towards it, I¡¯ve found the group!] No sooner had these words been sent than the online friend who typed the message paused, suddenly remembering the scene that had unfolded when Bi Fang had first arrived here. Could they really approach it? Not only should they not approach, but they should also prevent others from approaching. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Even in extreme hardship, we must not easily trust others, or we may end up in a fate worse than death!¡± [It¡¯s like the dark forest law!] Bi Fang pulled an anti-riot helmet from his bag and smashed it against the window glass, breaking all of it until there was enough room for him to get through. Once on the terrace, Bi Fang made a round and actually found a way back. Looking at the charred wooden door in front of him, Bi Fang squeezed the handle, and as expected, it was locked. ¡°Good thing it¡¯s a wooden door. These single-layer wooden doors aren¡¯t actually that sturdy; we can try to break it down.¡± A minute later, Bi Fang charged like a cannonball and burst through the locked wooden door. His quick reflexes allowed him to catch the doorknob just in time to stop himself. Looking down at the sheer drop of six or seven stories at his feet, Bi Fang¡¯s back was almost soaked with cold sweat. He had almost stepped into nothingness! Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, Bi Fang was still shaken, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect it to be hollow.¡± No sooner had he spoken than faint footsteps came from below. Bi Fang¡¯s ears perked up, and his expression instantly froze. Someone was coming! Chapter 341: 339: Gathering place? Who are you kidding? Chapter 341: Chapter 339: Gathering place? Who are you kidding? The sound of footsteps echoed in the vast space, slowly closing in. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Perhaps right below. There were two of them. Bi Fang felt a shock in his heart as he was trying to discern their position and numbers when suddenly a beam of a flashlight swept over, and he swiftly leaned back, narrowly missing the light. Only then did the audience, who had just come to their senses from the thrill of Bi Fang¡¯s near fall, realize what had happened. [Holy shit, someone¡¯s there!] [Who¡¯s there? Show yourself!] [Why are people still coming here? Were they attracted by the explosion during the day?] ¡°Keep the light steady. What are you shaking for?¡± Below, a man dressed in a dark green light cotton jacket pressed down on the right hand of the man in black beside him, bringing the beam¡¯s focus forward. The man in black wasn¡¯t angry but simply frowned, ¡°I thought I heard something just now.¡± ¡°Heard something?¡± The man in the green jacket moved visibly but didn¡¯t show it, instead shouting loudly, ¡°You¡¯re thinking too much, must be rats, right?¡± ¡°Rats?¡± The man in black was about to object when he suddenly saw a unique contact hand signal coming from the right hand beside the man in green. He immediately understood and, instead of objecting, nodded in agreement while secretly pointing upstairs. ¡°Yeah, rats.¡± The man in the green jacket narrowed his eyes and spoke in a voice slightly louder than normal conversation, ¡°Let¡¯s hurry up. I¡¯ve been hungry all day. Let¡¯s see if there¡¯s anything to eat here. Lots of people are waiting for us to bring food back to the camp. I don¡¯t know if we¡¯ll have another chance to go out. Yesterday, Charlene even questioned me if I was hiding food, damn it, I emptied my pockets and she still didn¡¯t believe me.¡± ¡°Haha, can¡¯t help it. She is a mother after all. It¡¯s quite normal for her to ask for more food. If we find some today, let¡¯s give her a bit more.¡± ¡°If we give her more, what about the others? She¡¯s not the only one with a child.¡± Having said that, the two walked together toward the depths of the factory as if they truly believed the sound they had heard was just a rat. After the two had walked away, the man in black suddenly turned off the flashlight, and the man in green asked in a low voice. ¡°What exactly did you hear?¡± ¡°Sounded like a door being hit.¡± ¡°Hit the door? Someone there?¡± ¡°Probably.¡± ¡°Could it be another organization? The entrance¡­¡± The man in green suddenly remembered the huge blast marks at the entrance, very shocking, as ordinary bombs could not produce such marks. ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem like it. A bomb couldn¡¯t have that effect. Might be a steel cylinder exploding in the factory. Anyway, we need to go check it out. The more ¡®goods¡¯ we have, the better.¡± ¡°Should we call for help?¡± ¡°Call!¡± ¡­ A camp? Children? Food? Several key pieces of information appeared in Bi Fang¡¯s mind. From the conversation between the two, it seemed there was a survivors¡¯ camp and they were out collecting food? [Damn, have they found their organization?] [Refugees?] [Should Old Fang go and help them out? (Dog¡¯s head)] [I think Master Fang can contact the authorities to evacuate everyone, it feels pitiful to just leave them here to die, doesn¡¯t it? Old Fang even struggles to find food, let alone ordinary people.] Bi Fang slowly leaned against the wall, smelling the burnt scent, yet his expression didn¡¯t relax at all. He saw the barrage of comments and responded, at the same time lowering his voice as much as possible. The space in the factory was too large; even the faintest of sounds could echo for a long time. ¡°Do you guys think what they¡¯re saying is true?¡± Uh¡­ The audience firing off the barrage froze, startled by Bi Fang¡¯s question. What did he mean by that? Could it be¡­ fake? No way, right? Cao Lifeng, who had been just about to tip and ask Bi Fang to help them, suddenly stopped, somewhat unwilling to accept the implications of Bi Fang¡¯s words. ¡°I can¡¯t be sure either.¡± Bi Fang shook his head, not completely denying the audience¡¯s suggestions. In fact, he had been close to the ground earlier, and had neither heard the rest of the two people¡¯s conversation nor seen any secret signals. Otherwise, he could have confirmed his suspicions. The other party seemed to intentionally leak so much information. Their words were crafted in such a way that one could subconsciously feel that this settlement was a safe zone. There were women and children there, and because they were so pitiful, they even got extra food. Just by hearing this, an image seemed to form in one¡¯s mind of vulnerable individuals supporting each other, stubbornly surviving in a war-torn city. It confirmed that the gathering area the two people spoke of was a ¡°humane¡± place to go to. But the nerves honed from constantly skirting the edge of danger told him that things weren¡¯t so simple. ¡°Let¡¯s just be careful, and not trust anyone too easily.¡± The calm of the factory standing in the night was shattered by the sudden intrusion of several people, and Bi Fang, trapped on the balcony, suddenly felt a sense of urgency. The place was too cramped; if a confrontation happened, it would be very disadvantageous for him. Bi Fang went to the wooden door; beneath his feet lay a yawning abyss. He looked all around, but it was pitch black, and he couldn¡¯t make out the path ahead. ¡°Right now, I must find an exit, but the way up here is too dangerous. Plus, if I were discovered while crossing the rails, it would be completely over.¡± ¡°But we can¡¯t afford to turn on a light now; that would undoubtedly expose our position, and then we would lose the initiative. I¡¯m not sure of the identity of the people opposite, and they can¡¯t be certain of my existence either. We¡¯re both still in a probing phase, so I mustn¡¯t reveal my position at all costs.¡± Stepping on the edge of the wall, Bi Fang carefully shifted, assuring it was safe before moving along the narrow wall outside the wooden door. Bi Fang had glimpsed a pipe in the corner of the wall earlier. He wasn¡¯t sure if it really existed, but he had to go and check it out. ¡°This place is as high as six or seven stories, and the room¡¯s completely hollowed out; no floors, no stairs, just beams left. I have to find a way down. I can only hope there really is a water pipe there; maybe we can slide down it directly.¡± Bi Fang held onto the wall, inching his way carefully. As he got closer, the shadow of the steel pipe became gradually clearer in the moonlight. This scene undoubtedly stirred excitement among the viewers, and Bi Fang¡¯s pace quickened considerably. He looked at the edge of the wall beneath his feet, just the width of a beam, not too wide but not too narrow either. ¡°This is actually quite interesting. If this were on the ground, I wouldn¡¯t think twice about such a width and would just hop right across, but when there¡¯s such a high drop next to you, even moving your feet slightly can seem difficult, making your heart race with panic. We have to calm ourselves down, breathe deeply, and try not to think about other things.¡± Bi Fang focused all his attention on his feet and tested each step before taking it, ensuring there was no loose debris. For the same reason, with such great heights, even a small falling pebble could make a loud noise. Chapter 342: 340 Chapter 342: 340 ¡°I¡¯ve found this to be harder than I imagined.¡± Bi Fang leaned against the wall, panting heavily. It was only about fifty meters, but it felt like he had expended the energy of five thousand. ¡°I don¡¯t know if there are really any people who aren¡¯t afraid of heights, but I think such people don¡¯t exist, because it¡¯s determined by human physiological structure. Your balance system will instinctively start fighting.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be too quick to deny it.¡± Bi Fang saw in the live chat that some people claimed they weren¡¯t afraid of heights, even saying they were not scared at all, so he already started to explain. ¡°Being afraid of heights doesn¡¯t mean you have acrophobia. They¡¯re different things. Some people might feel only a little scared standing in high places, which doesn¡¯t reach the level of a ¡®phobia,¡¯ and there are those with strong hearts who might not feel fear at all. But essentially, your balance system is still fighting, which affects your brain¡¯s decision-making. In fact, humans instinctively want to stay away from any situation that can threaten their lives.¡± ¡°If you really like to stand at the edge of a high wall without any safety measures, that might not just be about not being ¡®afraid of heights,¡¯ but rather it could be a symptom of another condition. Maybe you should see a psychologist.¡± The sharp-edged concrete structures created by humans made this more terrifying than any cliff. Bi Fang touched the wall as he moved forward, but suddenly his hand found nothing, and with quick reflexes, he reached down and grabbed a loose brick to catch his balance. As the bricks and pebbles fell, Bi Fang was taken aback, ¡°The whole wall here is somewhat loose; that¡¯s the problem. You always want to grab something, and once you grab air, you might find something more dangerous in your panic. Luckily¡­ I¡¯ve finally made it.¡± Bi Fang let go of the brick and reached for the iron pipe in front of him. The iron pipe was about as thick as a common plastic water pipe, with a diameter of around fifteen centimeters, too big to encircle with both hands. He shook it; it felt very solid. ¡°It looks like it can support my weight, and it¡¯s also very close to the wall. Even if it can¡¯t go straight to the ground, we can still get to other floors. The most crucial thing is that it¡¯s very rough; the friction is good, you see, it¡¯s rusty, and I believe it can go straight down to the ground because it looks a bit like an oversized firefighter¡¯s pole. It seems we¡¯ll have a long slide ahead.¡± The Shuiyou watching Bi Fang introducing the pipe started to panic, because if what Master Fang said earlier was true, then the psychological motives of those two liars would be very concerning. Regardless of whether those two were telling the truth or not, the Shuiyou did not want to encounter them again. And in such a situation, Master Fang didn¡¯t seem to be in a hurry. He had just spent nearly ten minutes walking along the wall, and now he still had the mood to introduce these things. [Hurry up, Old Fang, you can talk about this stuff after you get down.] [Get moving already.] [Exactly, it¡¯s midnight over here, aren¡¯t you going to get back to the safe area quickly, or do you want us to stay up with you?] sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [The Emperor is not in a hurry, but his eunuchs are.] ¡°Right away!¡± ¡°But everyone doesn¡¯t need to worry too much; it took me a lot of effort to get up here. I spent half a day and couldn¡¯t find it; it¡¯s unlikely they can too. Even if those two really can find the way, it¡¯s not something they can do in a short time, so there¡¯s no need to be too anxious. We just need to be careful¡ªthat¡¯s enough. When you¡¯re in a rush, it¡¯s easy to make mistakes. The more dangerous the situation, the more careful and cautious we need to be to ensure we don¡¯t fail.¡± Bi Fang gracefully accepted the advice, quickly pulled out the hemp rope from his bag that was previously used for anchoring, and tied it into a loop around the iron pipe. He inserted his hands into it and pulled hard. The enormous friction naturally held his upper body in place. ¡°I¡¯m going to use the rope to increase the friction on the pipe. This method is quite common. If we have friends from Hainan, they might have seen the locals climbing trees to pick coconuts using a rope this way. An experienced climber can even ascend a tree in just a few seconds.¡± With the rope in place, the next step was to slide down. Bi Fang put one foot on the pipe and held the rope tightly with both hands, slowly leaning back. The friction on his arms held him steady against the pipe. Then, Bi Fang placed his other foot on it as well. And so, he was completely clinging to the iron pipe, with his legs tightly wrapped around it. ¡°This pipe, looking like it¡¯s used for heat dissipation, is both old and rusty, creating significant friction, yet relying solely on the strength of my arms is still impossible. Therefore, my legs must clutch tightly to the pipe, only this way can I ensure my survival. The insides of my thighs also need to exert force.¡± Bi Fang clamped the pipe between his legs, his upper body slightly leaning back to increase tension in the noose and thereby enhancing friction; compared to clinging tightly to the pipe, this method saved quite a bit of energy. With ample support, Bi Fang descended rapidly, almost ¡°walking¡± on the steel pole. However, Bi Fang soon ran into a bit of trouble. Everything was fine up until now, but the pipe below suddenly bent. It was bent but not completely. This made the curved pipe covered with dust yet impossible to stand on. Different from the areas coated with rust, the dusty spots became slippery, making it difficult for Bi Fang to get past. Struggling, Bi Fang clutched at the water pipe, dust swirling around him. In the darkness, he could hardly see the situation behind him, and the dust choked him, making it hard to catch his breath. Clinging to the water pipe like a sloth, the noose was no longer much help to him at this point. Through night vision mode, the audience watched Bi Fang inch downwards, their hearts racing with anxiety, the pitch-black environment heightening the tension. The online friends were terrified that the two ¡°malintentioned¡± individuals might appear suddenly, turning the scene into a horror movie. Without clear knowledge about the authenticity of those two individuals, the online friends naturally trusted Master Fang¡¯s analysis and presumed them to be malintentioned right from the start. Finally, after a prolonged shuffle, Bi Fang traversed the unusually curved section of the pipe. Rapid descents are extremely dangerous, similar to falling, and what Bi Fang did was akin to holding a one-way ticket straight down. Soon, he reached the end of the water pipe. Bi Fang stretched out his foot to probe, finding no path ahead. He took a deep breath and continued, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, everyone, I can see the ground now. I also counted the number of floors a moment ago, this should be the first floor. Once past this, everything will be alright. Unfortunately, the factory floors are quite high, even the first floor is about seven or eight meters.¡± Bi Fang stretched out his right foot, stepping onto the floor of the adjacent level, and then, using his hands for support, he pushed himself up to the second floor. This place was much better than the top floor. Although many areas were still empty, with only beams, some parts had actual flooring. From a height of seven or eight meters, even with fall protection landing would be dangerous, not to mention the uncertainty of whether there were steel bars below, which would make a fall perilous. For a moment, Bi Fang felt the situation was quite troublesome. But the next second, Bi Fang knew that his time was running out. A gunshot suddenly rang out not far away! Chapter 343: 341 Have you heard my story? Chapter 343: Chapter 341 Have you heard my story? Bi Fang instinctively crouched down. Then another gunshot followed, the distance had not lessened; it was clear that the other side had fired twice in quick succession from the same location. Moments later came a sound of doors being broken. The audience was startled, belatedly realizing that their opponent actually had a gun! ¡°They¡¯re using guns to unlock doors! Right on this floor!¡± The voice was very clear, and also very close, close at hand! How far was it, twenty meters? Or thirty meters? After breaking through the door, the other side didn¡¯t make a scene but advanced silently. The non-urgent, steady footsteps pressed on the atmosphere, making it tenser and tenser. Bi Fang quickly got up from the ground, suppressed his breathing, and the darkness was filled with nothing but footsteps. Run! At this moment, the audience stood united, unanimously urging Bi Fang to move quickly. Pupils silently dilating to let in more light, Bi Fang surveyed his surroundings, retreating quickly and steadily like a tiger lurking in the darkness. As the two parties who were about to intersect once again missed each other, the onlooking audience could not help but exhale in relief as the roller-coaster-like plot twists made their hearts leap out of their chests! Bi Fang wiped the sweat off his forehead, his heart equally tense. Fortunately, he had avoided this wave, but as he took another step and entered a narrow alley, the sensation under his feet suddenly changed! ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t kill me!¡± ¡­ Matthew lay prone on the ground, daring not to move an inch, as large cold sweat dripped crazily down his body, soaking him as if he had just been pulled from water. The sudden gunfire almost snapped his heartstrings, and the subsequent sound of breaking doors was like a death knell. He covered his head with a black cloth, trying to blend into the night to escape. But before he could evade, a powerful pressure came crushing down on his back, penetrating through his chest. The newcomer similarly hadn¡¯t realized that someone else was hiding in the darkness. A foot stepped on his back, then lightly leaped up and darted out of the narrow alley. That bone-crushing step pressed right on Matthew¡¯s lungs, squeezing the breath out of him, and he involuntarily cried out before immediately raising his hands to surrender. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Don¡¯t kill me!¡± Bi Fang was startled. He pulled out the rebar from his waist, quickly crouched down, then got on one knee, using a knee strike to keep Matthew, who was trying to get up, pressed down. At the same time, he wrapped the rebar around the other man¡¯s neck and tightened it fiercely! ¡°Don¡¯t, don¡¯t kill me¡ªugh!¡± Matthew¡¯s hands desperately pushed against the rebar. His face color was indiscernible in the dark, but everyone could see his face turning blue with strained veins due to the lack of oxygen. ¡°Shut up!¡± Bi Fang hissed softly, looking at the man struggling beneath him. He withdrew the rebar, switching to restraining him with one hand, and pulled him into the narrow alley. For some reason, the moment after hearing Bi Fang¡¯s rebuke, the man indeed stopped struggling and let Bi Fang drag him into the alley. Just as the man¡¯s feet entered the alley, a beam of flashlight light struck them directly, causing both their pupils to constrict. Bi Fang, holding the man, pressed tightly against the wall behind him, staring at the white light in front. He could even distinctly feel the man in front of him trembling slightly, with his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing up and down. ¡°Is anyone there?¡± The man in black shook his flashlight, hesitating as it swept over the alley before moving it elsewhere. The man in the green jacket explained as well, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, although we have guns, we won¡¯t hurt you. We were just using them to open doors. We need weapons to protect ourselves and others, don¡¯t we?¡± After waiting a long while, there was still no response. The two exchanged glances, both drawing their handguns, and cautiously approached the alley. A minute later¡­ ¡°No one?¡± The man in black¡¯s eyebrows nearly twisted into a knot. The voices had definitely come from here, how could there be no one? ¡°Forget it, it might have been a stray cat. The ¡®goods¡¯ around here were almost completely looted; it¡¯s impossible that we would just happen to find other survivors in a random factory,¡± the man in the green jacket casually kicked a stone, unsurprised. After the turmoil in Yemen, there was no shortage of stray cats and dogs; their screams could often be heard in the middle of the night. The man in black shook his head, sticking to his opinion, ¡°No, there definitely was someone.¡± Once could be an illusion, twice definitely isn¡¯t. How could it be such a coincidence? The voice just now was muffled and distorted, but it was unmistakably human! Yet gazing at the empty alley, the man in black couldn¡¯t understand where the person had gone. After waiting for a moment, he could only leave. What neither of them saw¡ªor if they did, they didn¡¯t realize¡ªwas that at the far end of the narrow alley, a black cloth was indeed covering a horizontal beam, and beneath it, a thick hemp rope was pulled taut. Bi Fang was hanging straight below the beam with his left hand clutching the man and his right hand wrapped around the hemp rope! So heavy! Bi Fang¡¯s temple veins bulged, the weight of two people almost made him lose his grip, but thankfully the man also grabbed the rope, taking on some of the weight. The audience was yelling ¡®666¡¯, scenes one would only expect in a movie were actually unfolding in reality! Incredible! [Awesome, that¡¯s so badass!] [I hereby declare Master Fang the strongest creature on earth!] [Young hero, what arm strength!] [Such a waste not to use that arm strength for heavy lifting, our construction site needs talents like you!] [Youthful Power Big Brother gifts the host Big Bone *666¡ªBlow up Master Fang¡¯s arm strength!] [Tonight Sleep with Black Silk Senior Sister gifts the host Meatball *66¡ªAll my instant noodle money for the month goes to you!] ¡°Can you hold on?¡± After confirming that the two people above had left, Bi Fang asked in a low voice. Considering the current situation, he realized that the man he had stepped on earlier was not with the other two above. ¡°I can!¡± The man nodded frantically in response. Seeing this, Bi Fang slowly let go with his left hand, and the man did not disappoint him, managing to grab the rope without falling. With much of the weight lifted, Bi Fang felt the pressure decrease. He held onto the rope with both hands, raising himself bit by bit, grabbed the horizontal beam again, and heaved himself up. Then he swiftly turned around, grabbed the rope, and pulled the man up. After completing the whole set of motions, even with Bi Fang¡¯s current physique, he felt somewhat spent. Lying on the ground, he took big breaths to catch his breath. When he had recovered a bit, he suddenly sat up and stared at the man in front of him. The two men locked eyes. Matthew blinked, using the faint starlight to see that familiar face with its distinct outlines, along with black hair and black eyes, and a tall figure. The person he had been longing for day and night suddenly appeared before him¡ªhow could he not be thrilled? Matthew wanted to say something, but the excitement seemed to squeeze his throat, and before he could utter a word, Bi Fang spoke up first. ¡°Is it you?¡± Bi Fang¡¯s words shocked everyone. Master Fang knows this person? [Damn, Master Fang, you know him?] [Wait a minute, both appearing on the battlefield, Old Fang even knows him, could this be some comrade on a secret mission? Is it really okay to livestream this?] [What¡¯s this called? This is called a united front, my friends.] [Are you all dumb? Old Fang is a born and bred Huaxia People, how could he have a foreigner as a comrade in arms?] [Who can say for sure, maybe he¡¯s a sleeper agent, there are proletarian warriors in foreign lands too!] ¡°You know me!? Have you heard of my story?¡± Sure enough, hearing Bi Fang¡¯s question, Matthew got even more excited, his face turning red with effort. As a former War Correspondent, Matthew had a bit of fame, and even after becoming a newspaper executive, his legend persisted in the underworld. Matthew thought Bi Fang might have heard his story! ¡°I don¡¯t know you.¡± Matthew: ¡°¡­¡± Chapter 344: 342: Coincidence or Trajectory? Chapter 344: Chapter 342: Coincidence or Trajectory? ¡°What do you mean by that just now?¡± Matthew¡¯s face darkened, he almost thought that the other person was making fun of him, but after thinking about the situation, he felt that it was unlikely, so he asked with a stern face. ¡°I don¡¯t know you, but I have seen you. On the day of the Amy Show recording, you were sitting in the first row.¡± Bi Fang spoke with certainty. As his own qualities continued to improve, he found his memory getting better. The enhancement in the ¡°Spirit¡± section of his stat panel involved neural reinforcement, which might have something to do with this. Often he couldn¡¯t quite achieve photographic memory, but it was close enough. In the starlight, the man¡¯s face across from him gradually became clearer. He hadn¡¯t had time to think about it carefully before, but now, after making eye contact, a sense of familiarity surged in his heart. After reflecting carefully, Bi Fang remembered where he had seen the other person. The Amy Show! Invited for an interview, the man across from him had been sitting in the first row. After the recording, he even asked for an autograph and a photo together, which made a deep impression on Bi Fang. On the other hand, upon hearing Bi Fang narrate the cause and effect, the Shuiyou (Online Friends/Audience) got excited, discovering a new trait of Master Fang. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Super-strong memory! [Isn¡¯t that the Amy Show, that was over three months ago, right? Isn¡¯t this memory a bit too exaggerated?] [Indeed unbelievable, it¡¯s been the issue of the new year, and he even remembers the audience?] [So is it him or not?] [Wait a minute, could it be some crazy fan? Following Master Fang all the way to Yemen?] [Holy shit, can¡¯t be, right? Is he that obsessive? Running to the Primeval Forest I can understand, but to Yemen? If something goes wrong, wouldn¡¯t that mean he can neither live nor die as he pleases?] [Is it also possible that he¡¯s like the ones from that previous desert trip? Also here to hog the limelight recklessly?] Seeing the last comment, Bi Fang was taken aback and had to consider this possibility. His fist immediately tensed up. He had taught those people last time such a harsh lesson, and yet there were still those who didn¡¯t learn their lesson? Matthew on the other side hadn¡¯t noticed the barrage of comments on the drone¡¯s display, but kept nodding: ¡°That¡¯s right, I was sitting in the first row at the time!¡± Seemingly noticing that Bi Fang¡¯s expression was somewhat off, recalling Bi Fang¡¯s past experiences, Matthew quickly explained, ¡°My name is Matthew¡­¡± In fact, if Matthew had paid attention to the barrage, he would find that the Shuiyou (Online Friends/Audience) were quite accurate in a few points. Since the Goose trip, Matthew had been following Bi Fang, the ¡°emerging broadcaster,¡± captivated by the content of his live broadcasts, and it reminded him of the glorious years when he was a War Correspondent. After becoming a newspaper executive, although the salary and work were better, he always felt something was missing, until that moment. The man flew the drone through the stormy clouds, and no words could describe the shock of that moment. Like oceans flowing with golden clouds, airplanes soaring, flocks of geese flying, toward hope and light. Such a surging and courageous force was like feeling the lightning strike in the midst of the storm clouds, or like in the primordial darkness, seeing people create fire, embracing light for the first time in the dark night. After that experience, Matthew watched all of Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast videos, pondered for a while, and finally decided to follow his heart, resigning from the newspaper, and once again pursuing what moved him. Just as Matthew resigned without a specific goal in mind, Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast announcement appeared once again. Yemen! This city filled with pain and despair! It matched Matthew¡¯s previous profession, and he could even follow in the footsteps of his idol. How could he not go? Matthew even hoped for an encounter. He knew about the disgusting behavior of those from the desert journey, Matthew would not do the same; he would only silently take pictures, then watch Bi Fang¡¯s figure disappear into the distance. Especially after escaping from danger, Matthew started consciously looking for Bi Fang¡¯s whereabouts. Following the last photo seen on his phone before it was lost, he found the place where a fire had been made, but unfortunately, he was a step too late. The two had not met. After that, without photos or videos, it became even harder for Matthew to search. Finding someone in a city was almost impossible. At that moment, Matthew almost despaired, wandering aimlessly through the industrial district, placing his fate in the hands of Lady Luck. Until that explosion¡­ Whether it was trying his luck or having a stroke of dumb luck, deep down Matthew had a hunch as he made his way to the steel factory. He felt that such a big commotion was very likely the work of the idol who ¡°adventured¡± habitually¡­ So while ordinary people would avoid it at all costs, Matthew did the opposite, heading to the steel factory, and ended up getting stepped on. Thus, their encounter at that time was coincidental, yet not entirely so. There was a trace of luck in the trajectory that was meant to be. Audience: ¡°¡­¡± Can such a story really exist? The scene of Bi Fang hanging under the beam to evade his pursuers was already ¡°cinematic¡± enough, but after listening to Matthew¡¯s story, that scene paled in comparison, merely mundane. [Why do I feel like shipping them together all of a sudden?] [Shut up, stop shipping everyone; it¡¯s annoying.] [Add one to that, stop with the shipping; it¡¯s irritating!] [Seriously cool, the world¡¯s most dedicated fan chasing? Is that all?] [I dub you the ultimate fan king!] [Learned calculus and linear algebra but won¡¯t change my name ¨C sending the host meatballs*10 as a reward, admiring your perseverance!] [Leopard Head Zero Charger ¨C sending the host Big Bone*1, who would have thought I, the king of freeloading, would one day donate big bucks to a live stream, I¡¯ve fallen!] But Bi Fang wasn¡¯t too surprised by the story just told; after all, a forest with many birds harbors all sorts. With tens of millions of fans and millions watching his streams daily, the occasional oddity wasn¡¯t strange at all. He was more concerned with a key point in Matthew¡¯s recent words. ¡°Did you just say¡­ made it out alive? What does that mean? What have you run into, or did you cause some trouble? Did you specifically come to find me for this?¡± If the other party had run into some kind of issue that was of no real consequence, Bi Fang was still willing to assist by contacting the Yemen government to find a way to get the other party out. It would be a small effort. However, after asking this, Matthew fell silent for a good while before finally speaking, not answering the question but asking instead. ¡°Did you just hear those two mention ¡®goods¡¯?¡± ¡°Goods?¡± Bi Fang frowned as he thought for a moment, then nodded. Indeed, those two had mentioned this, saying the area had been swept and it was unlikely that any ¡°goods¡± still remained. The Shuiyou (Online Friends/Audience) also started recalling, and some, even more diligent, played their recordings backwards, revisiting that scene. They confirmed the existence of ¡°goods.¡± Seeing how edgy Matthew was, the audience¡¯s first thought was whether this ¡°goods¡± could perhaps be drugs? But on second thought, it seemed unlikely. If they were drugs, why would they need to search all over? Such things could not be conjured out of thin air. Matthew didn¡¯t beat around the bush, pausing for a moment, then speaking in a low voice. ¡°Their ¡®goods¡¯¡­ are people!¡± Chapter 345: 343 Swamp Chapter 345: Chapter 343 Swamp ¡°` A massive moon leapt out of the dark clouds and rose slowly outside the window. Moonlight spilled in, like the tide rushing towards the shore, enveloping the entire factory in the cold, watery light of the moon. The shadow of the window pane cast across Bi Fang¡¯s face as he sat in silence, tilting his head up to meet the moonlight. Though beautiful, he would have preferred the moon to keep sleeping at this moment. Moonlight would reveal more traces. ¡°Huh¡­¡± Matthew swallowed, his breathing slightly heavy but soon held back. He looked around, even out of the window. The entire city was dark; no lights, no fires¡ªthere was only him and Bi Fang left. Matthew found it strange, as he had thought his news would shock Bi Fang, or at the very least elicit some reaction. The seriousness of Bi Fang right now had even made Matthew think those two had returned. Bi Fang¡¯s sudden silence left Matthew unsure of what to say next. It was as if he had told a joke that only he found amusing, chilling the atmosphere instantly. Matthew dared not speak again, nor even breathe too heavily. There was a silence in the factory that seemed forbidden to break. Only in the live streaming room, unlike the cold factory, a near uproar ensued. [Is this for real, human trafficking?] [Unexpected, yet not surprising.] [Are you kidding?] [Scared the hell out of me.] Having been busy with exams and absent for a long time, Wang Xiaocong finally managed to make time to watch Master Fang¡¯s live stream today but had not expected to be hit with such explosive news. He suddenly patted Kong Chao on the shoulder, ¡°Hey, do you think what he said is true?¡± Kong Chao¡¯s expression was a bit unnatural, clearly stunned by the news as well, ¡°It should be true, since the guy knows Master Fang, it¡¯s unlikely he is shooting in the dark¡­¡± They exchanged glances and then fell silent. ¡­ ¡°What if this is true?¡± Cao Lifeng repeated this phrase over and over in his dormitory, his heart filled with both fear and excitement, as if he could already see the scene of Bi Fang wreaking havoc. His roommate felt the same. ¡­ ¡°Do such things really exist?¡± In the greenhouse, ¨¦tienne turned to look back at his father Elvan. He still found it hard to believe that such things could actually happen in reality, just beyond a screen¡¯s separation. Elvan, who was tending to a new batch of precious birds, took off his glasses, rubbed his eyes, and carefully returned the migratory bird to its straw nest. He, too, was shocked by the news, but having experienced more of life than ¨¦tienne, he soon regained his composure. Is it strange? Strange, because it¡¯s sufficiently horrifying to consider what would happen to the people taken away as ¡°goods.¡± What could men provide? Healthy organs, hard labor in mines, or even as consumables in games¡ªevery horror depicted in movies has occurred in reality. Not to mention women. Yet, it¡¯s not strange at all that such things would happen in an abandoned city; it¡¯s almost inevitable, not some sudden coincidence. The only coincidence was that Matthew stumbled upon it and exposed it to the viewers. ¨¦tienne was stunned into silence by his father¡¯s confident answer. Elvan smiled and patted his son on the head, ¡°Anyway, just trust Bi Fang. He always finds a way, doesn¡¯t he?¡± ¡­ S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang remained calm because he knew such events could occur and even had mentally prepared for them. After so many adventures, Bi Fang had developed a strong mindset, and he could even guess why Matthew had come to find him. ¡°` After a long silence, Matthew could no longer hold back. He took out his camera from his backpack and whispered, ¡°I have photos, I took pictures, you can see¡­¡± Unexpectedly calm, Bi Fang did not reach for the camera but instead looked at Matthew and countered, ¡°You should go to the local government with this kind of thing, or even the rebels. Anyway, you should not come to me, I am just one person!¡± ¡°I know! Of course, I tried, but, but¡­¡± Matthew became agitated. He had indeed tried before, as soon as he had the chance while his phone was still with him, he attempted to contact the Abbascan officials, but the result was as expected. The eastern front was tense, all the troops were as if stuck in a quagmire. They had no spare capacity to deal with a local gang, even if appalling events were taking place there. By the time they got the message, it would still be a two-day wait. A two-day wait, how could he wait? Not even one day could be waited! ¡°The message I overheard is that they will ship this batch of people out in three days, and one day has already passed, we only have two days left!¡± Seeing no reaction from Bi Fang, Matthew revealed even more shocking news. ¡°Wait, you overheard? How did you overhear it?¡± Bi Fang suddenly interrupted, picking up on a key point. ¡°I just¡­ just sneaked in¡­¡± Matthew was taken aback, not understanding why Bi Fang was asking this, ¡°Their defenses were not particularly tight, or rather, there weren¡¯t any. There were just a dozen or so people. When I went, they were gathered drinking. I took the opportunity to slip in¡­¡± Bi Fang¡¯s mouth twitched: ¡°Is¡­ is that so?¡± The online friends were also bewildered. Was it really that simple? [Damn, why do I feel like this gang is completely unreliable?] [Yeah, I see a chance. Go for it, Master Fang!] [I choose you, Pikachu Fang!] Bi Fang tapped his index finger against the ground like a pendulum. Tap tap tap¡­ The two people who had just appeared made Bi Fang believe that this group was professional and may have even received professional military training. If that were the case, he would never agree to Matthew¡¯s request. It was not a matter of unwillingness, but of not wanting to find death. Better to avoid trouble, especially involving foreigners, but after all, it had happened right before his eyes. If he hadn¡¯t seen it, it would have been one thing, but having seen it, Bi Fang suspected that if he remained indifferent, the audience would curse him to death, and he could forget ever becoming a top broadcaster. They don¡¯t care how many people are on the other side, or how many guns they have. Most people¡¯s thinking would be: If Goose can save, why can¡¯t people? Although the levels of danger were entirely different, bystanders never care about that. People always like to add fuel to the fire, never considering whether the flames are burning the right things or if they will burn themselves. Therefore, when Matthew said what he did earlier, Bi Fang was somewhat dissatisfied inside, but but now, looking at Matthew¡¯s description, this group seemed more like a ragtag bunch. It might be doable if one was careful. But it was still very dangerous. A dozen people¡ªif they all had firearms, no, they would definitely have firearms. Overseas, especially in war-torn regions, one should not harbor any illusions about this and had to be well-prepared. The rocket launcher incident when he first arrived was still fresh in Bi Fang¡¯s memory. Wait, could these people be the same group? Bi Fang¡¯s thoughts stalled. He hadn¡¯t strayed far from the initial landing point these past two days, roughly staying within the industrial area. Just like any animal, humans also have a sense of territory, and this rings true for gangs that form as well. In a desolate city, the territory a gang can hold is quite vast. The people Bi Fang had encountered initially could very well be the same group! Bi Fang narrowed his eyes, his tapping index finger paused, about to say something, when a sharp screeching of brakes came from outside¡ªclearly, a vehicle traveling at high speed had come to an abrupt stop in front of the factory. ¡°A car?¡± Matthew stood up, intending to go to the bedside to look. If it was a survivor, it would be best to drive them away to avoid being caught by those two people. Bi Fang suddenly grabbed his wrist, ¡°Don¡¯t go out, it¡¯s not just one car coming, it¡¯s a convoy!¡± Chapter 346: 344 Crisis Approaching Chapter 346: Chapter 344 Crisis Approaching Matthew¡¯s wrist was pinched painfully, but he couldn¡¯t afford to cry out in pain at the moment¡ªhe hurriedly perked up his ears to listen carefully. The entire city was silent, and with concentration, Matthew could even hear his own breathing, strangely though, he could not hear Bi Fang¡¯s. There was no time for him to ponder that now, however. Indeed, there was only the sound of one vehicle outside, but why did they mention a convoy? The vehicle stopped at the factory gate without turning off its engine, emitting a roar like a behemoth, combined with the extremely sharp screeching of brakes, it was clear that it had stormed all the way here. Just as Matthew started to doubt whether Bi Fang had made a mistake, a howling of a pack of beasts approached from the distance, rushing furiously closer. It truly was a convoy, two off-road vehicles leading several motorcycles. The second off-road vehicle had been modified, with a huge shovel-like bumper installed on the front, charging past the first vehicle and headed straight for the factory. An explosion-like boom woke up the entire city instantly. The metal gate was smashed and sent flying, twisted and shattered, eventually landing several meters away. The remaining vehicles streamed in one by one. From the window, their sinister tail lights looked like a swarm of blood-red wasps. Huge spotlights shone directly on the tall building, and Matthew finally understood why Bi Fang had instructed him not to go near the window¡ªthey had shone a beam just beside him, a mere three meters away. Had he gone to look, he would certainly have been seen by everyone. Bi Fang pressed Matthew to the ground, and the two of them crawled toward the window, peering down at the action below. While crawling, Bi Fang suddenly noticed a toolbox nearby. He rummaged through it quickly, found two Phillips screwdrivers, and surreptitiously gripped them, hiding them in his sleeves before resuming his intense scrutiny of the situation below. The motorbikes the thugs had sat down on were modified to resemble the death-defying racers seen on the highways of Ugly Country. The online audience even noticed flames shooting from the rear of the second off-road vehicle, blue flames. [Holy shit, turns out Kart Rider doesn¡¯t lie, the rear of a car really can spit flames!] [Ignorant much? That¡¯s called nitrous oxide boosting!] ¡°These guys have fitted the vehicles with NOS cylinders, which can inject nitrous oxide into the engine to further increase power. While it does damage the engine, it significantly boosts the vehicle¡¯s power and speed,¡± explained Bi Fang. Bi Fang¡¯s expression darkened; anyone could tell that these people meant trouble and certainly didn¡¯t come to invite him for tea! Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Why did these people suddenly show up? It couldn¡¯t have been those two who called them, right?] [Definitely! Otherwise, why would they just appear out of nowhere? They definitely snitched!] [Damn, that¡¯s just shameless, isn¡¯t it? Bullying!] [Don¡¯t worry, Master Fang can take on ten of them!] [What about the eleventh?] [Doesn¡¯t Master Fang still have someone with him? He proposed the rescue; surely he won¡¯t let Master Fang risk it all alone? Death should come standing in front of Old Fang!] The Shuiyou were in an uproar, with a barrage of comments flooding like a waterfall, a vast data stream momentarily clogging the network, causing temporary lag. MeTube staff and those from the Langya Cooperation Department abroad had never seen such a phenomenon, staring blankly at the stuttering live stream. However, the seasoned Langya staff didn¡¯t even need to consult their superiors before skillfully utilizing other servers to allocate more bandwidth to Bi Fang¡¯s stream. They solved the lag issue within seconds, leaving the MeTube personnel in awe. The trunk of the first off-road vehicle popped open automatically, and riding motorcycles on either side of the lead car, the raiders pulled stainless steel machetes and sawed-off shotguns from the trunk. These people wore exaggerated leather jackets studded with brass nails, their arms covered in fierce tattoos. Their hair wasn¡¯t dyed in odd colors, since Yemen no longer had any operational barbershops. Matthew¡¯s eyes were nearly bulging out of their sockets; he recognized the bald head leading the pack¡ªit was the man who had captured him earlier. ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s that group!¡± he exclaimed. They actually found this place, those lunatics, but no, they weren¡¯t here for me; they believed there was ¡°Goods¡± in this building! What to do? Bi Fang had already let go of his hand, and Matthew, rubbing his reddened wrist, felt as though his sense of security had also slipped away, his heart filled with unease. Unlike the previous solo infiltration, back then, this group wasn¡¯t this ¡°fierce and vicious.¡± They were just like a bunch of rowdy ruffians, loudly bragging and drinking, a totally different situation compared to now. ¡°No worries, though there seem to be many of them, not all will come at us.¡± ¡°There are thirteen people coming, plus the two already in the building, that makes fifteen. They are here to capture someone, so they¡¯ll definitely try to prevent escape, meaning at least eight people will be needed to secure exits at the four directions of the workshop, which implies that only seven will enter. So there will be nine inside the building. They won¡¯t act together; they¡¯ll surely split into small groups of two or three. There¡¯s a chance for a fight!¡± Bi Fang leaned against the wall, wrapping a cloth around his hand with a dagger in it, checking the equipment on his body to ensure his boot knife could be smoothly drawn, while analyzing the situation at the scene. The audience suddenly realized that at some unspecified time, the steel rod at Bi Fang¡¯s waist had disappeared, replaced by a long steel pipe hanging there, and he pulled out a bullet that he stuffed into his trousers. What was he up to? Was he preparing to snatch a gun or set a trap? Thrilling! Hearing the familiar voice and seeing Bi Fang¡¯s prepared stance, Matthew found himself feeling a little more courageous. The opponent was like an invincible hero from the movies, when the hero finally appears, you just know, this is going to be good. How could someone so cool not fight his way out? Bi Fang was unaware of Matthew¡¯s inner thoughts, but had he known, he surely would have grimaced. There were many assailants, all fully armed, yet he didn¡¯t even have a gun; the only weapon he could use straight away was the dagger. These people were desperadoes beyond the reach of the law, who wouldn¡¯t get the death sentence even for murder, but if I died, it would be for real. Bi Fang felt his brain overheating from the rapid thinking; the current situation was very bad. Facing knives or guns wasn¡¯t the scary part; Bi Fang had dealt with such situations before, even with plenty of experience, but what¡¯s really frightening was being outnumbered! When there are many, logic doesn¡¯t apply. The group had already disembarked from their vehicle and started trickling into the building in pairs and trios. The ones remaining were following procedure ¨C sealing the exits and then trapping us like turtles in a jar. Bi Fang watched coldly, everything fitting the scenario he had anticipated. Although they were a gang of bandits, untrained professionally, it looked like it wasn¡¯t their first job. So the most I would need to handle would be three people. As long as I was quick enough, I could escape before the others arrived. The only problem was¡­.. Bi Fang glanced at Matthew standing dazedly beside him and sighed internally. ¡°Stick close to me later on, remember to be smart. If you¡¯re in danger, just hide; don¡¯t worry about me, taking care of yourself is the best help you could give me. Did you get that?¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Matthew nodded vigorously. Chapter 347: 335: Manual Launch Chapter 347: Chapter 335: Manual Launch Reinforced concrete is the best medium for transmitting sound; it brought back the rapid footsteps. The gang had finished sealing off the area and was now rushing in through the front door! The gunfire fell and rose. Orange light burst forth in the darkness, striking the door and splashing spectacular orange sparks. The attackers had shown their true colors and were no longer pretending to be a survivor¡¯s base. In the dark, various modern machinery, long since silent and covered in dust, echoed the only remaining sounds through the air: the roar of engines from the streets and the sound of gunfire. The world had fallen into a strange, black silence. Bi Fang suddenly asked Matthew, ¡°Did you see any other ways in when you arrived? Like a vent or some path less traveled by ordinary people?¡± Matthew shook his head nervously, ¡°No, I didn¡¯t find any other way. I came in through a side door that had been blown open. Was that your doing? What a spectacular scene. What did you use to blow it up? Do you have any more? Are we¡­¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t answer. The acetylene cylinders were too heavy and not easy to ignite or detonate, similar to fuse explosives, which were very inconvenient to use. Using them to break through the encirclement was not feasible. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Bi Fang suddenly grabbed Matthew by the wrist and ran into the darkness. Matthew stumbled but quickly followed, taking cover with Bi Fang behind a load-bearing wall. The next moment, an explosion sounded, the door lock was blown off, and people swarmed in from the entrance. The beams of flashlights swept across the first floor, leaving the spot where the two had just hidden completely exposed. Under the light, Bi Fang could even see the types of firearms they carried, most of which were sawed-off shotguns. ¡°Shotguns fire a barrage and are well-suited for breaching doors. A hit is not lethal, but for the person hit, it¡¯s worse than death.¡± Bi Fang glanced down, confirming the grouping and movements of several people, then turned his head. ¡°Dozens of lead pellets would embed themselves into flesh in an instant, creating honeycomb-like wounds, and you wouldn¡¯t even bleed because the entry wounds are plugged by the pellets, but the injuries could last a lifetime.¡± The gangsters didn¡¯t kill people; living people were valuable. Dead people could only contribute organs. If they were not handled properly, they couldn¡¯t even donate organs, greatly reducing their value. Hearing such a gruesome scenario, Matthew shuddered, feeling as if a cold snake had slithered over his heart. The audience was even more anxious but didn¡¯t know what to do. Helpless behind a screen, they dared not and could not offer any help, only able to send their encouragement to Bi Fang through the chat. However, this was of little use compared to handing Bi Fang an unloaded gun¡­ On the first floor, the gangsters fired their guns, threatening the survivors to come out, while doors were violently blasted open, with paper and wood chips flying and dust filling the air. The silent factory became noisy and rowdy. Under such tension, Bi Fang closed his eyes. A huge three-dimensional map began to grow wildly in his mind like branches, the giant factory breaking down into squares, old paths blocked, new routes forming. As time ticked by the second, Matthew nervously watched the gangsters, his heart racing. Under the light, he saw a staircase in the corner, and the gangsters were drawing near! The stairwell was not part of the steel factory Bi Fang had infiltrated earlier. The steel factory had no distinct floors and was very high, with only some beams fitted with railings to form corridor-like pathways. When Bi Fang reached the top floor and climbed out onto the balcony, he was in another factory building. Just as Matthew turned to warn Bi Fang, he suddenly noticed that Bi Fang had closed his eyes. What? ¡°They¡¯re coming up.¡± Matthew urged nervously, just when he thought Bi Fang might have fallen asleep, a pair of bright eyes suddenly burst open in the dark. Bi Fang dragged Matthew inside. ¡°Just now, when I slid down the duct, I vaguely saw a drain on the third floor, quite large in diameter, about twenty inches, roughly half a meter, very thick. It might be a sewage outlet or maybe the staff bathhouse. It wouldn¡¯t be hard for the two of us to go through, but we have to go up first!¡± ¡°How do we go up?¡± ¡°The stairs.¡± The duct could be descended, but it was not feasible for climbing up. If they were to try climbing it now and were discovered, they would merely serve as targets; any method that didn¡¯t allow a quick ascent was impractical at this moment. Matthew knew this, but he had already noticed that someone had explored towards the stairwell: ¡°But there¡¯s someone over there!¡± ¡°Then we kill them¡­ Have you got a lighter?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Bi Fang reached out his hand towards Matthew, and a windproof lighter was immediately stuffed into the palm of his hand. Matthew wasn¡¯t there to survive; he had brought a full range of basic equipment. Although he had lost most of it while being chased, he still had some small tools. Bi Fang wrapped his left hand in cloth, holding the barrel of the gun, then pulled out a 7.5mm rifle bullet from his pocket. Casually picking up a snakeskin bag from the ground, he cut off a small piece with a dagger, wrapped the bullet, and stuffed it into the steel pipe. ¡°As the biggest consumable on the battlefield, bullets generally consist of four parts: the bullet head, the propellant, the casing, and the primer. The design of this thing hasn¡¯t changed much since it was created in the 19th century.¡± ¡°When shooting, you first pull the trigger, which causes the firing pin to strike the primer of the bullet, igniting the propellant inside the casing. Once the propellant burns and the internal pressure of the casing rises to 250 to 500 kg/cm2, the bullet head is pushed out of the casing, squeezed into the rifling, and shot out rapidly under the action of high-pressure gas, inflicting damage on the target with its powerful kinetic energy.¡± Bi Fang advanced to the stairwell with Matthew, his tone not fluctuating much, as if it wasn¡¯t him who was in danger. Turning the corner, a sharp metallic sound rang out. Bi Fang flipped open the lighter, rubbed the flint, and set fire to it. He then scorched the base of the bullet inside the steel pipe, making Matthew¡¯s eyelids twitch as he watched. He moved away a few steps without changing expression, but the next second, a burst of gunfire from downstairs brought him a few steps closer again. ¡°The primer will ignite the propellant and shoot out the bullet head when exposed to high temperature or severe impact. Some bullets are heavy; when fired, the propellant blasts out of the thinner part of the casing first, so it¡¯s quite possible that the casing explodes but the bullet doesn¡¯t shoot out.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why we can¡¯t use handgun bullets with short bodies and heavy heads; we can only use rifle bullets with light heads and long bodies.¡± ¡°Many people must think that after heating a bullet, the bullet head will fly erratically in the air, possibly hitting someone nearby by accident. But in reality, this is not the case. A bullet that has left the gun may explode, but if you maintain a certain safe distance, it is not as dangerous as imagined.¡± ¡°Wait¡­ you¡¯re going to shoot the bullet!?¡± Matthew exclaimed in shock, as if only at this moment coming to his senses. The entire factory was filled with gunfire, so there was no need to deliberately lower one¡¯s voice. ¡°Just use this¡­¡± A deafening gunshot cut off what Matthew was about to say, leaving him staring blankly at the bullet holes in the wall, speechless. Bi Fang shook his numb left hand and glanced at the stupefied Matthew. ¡°Yeah, what about it?¡± S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 348: 336: A Strike to the Target Chapter 348: Chapter 336: A Strike to the Target What¡¯s going on? What¡¯s going on? What¡¯s going on? These few words echoed nonstop in Matthew¡¯s mind. Regrettably, he was not a Huaxia man. In such a situation, he couldn¡¯t even let out a ¡°fuck¡± and could only look at the pockmarks on the wall, speechless and choked up. He had so much to say, yet he could not speak. His face turned red as he nearly roared, ¡°F**K!¡± [Holy shit!] [Fuck!] [Oh my God!] Various expletives flooded the live broadcast room. Not just the average viewers, even many military enthusiasts were shocked by the scene in front of them. To fire bullets with one¡¯s bare hands, without relying on guns, is that even possible? Bi Fang showed everyone with his actions that it was indeed possible! The sound of gunfire mixed with the pelting explosions of buckshot didn¡¯t attract much attention, but Bi Fang used it to roughly estimate the timing, accuracy, and power. Much better than expected, the accuracy was not as poor as he had imagined. Some viewers, besides yelling ¡°holy shit,¡± thought further. Since bullets could be fired, did that mean they no longer had to fear those people? At least on the surface, the gap in strength wasn¡¯t that big anymore. [Can we arm-wrestle with those guys now?] [I think so!] [Charge, motherfuckers!] [Take all those bastards down!] But unexpectedly, Bi Fang shook his head. He didn¡¯t create this makeshift launcher to fight back, but to intimidate. Although there were bullet holes in the wall, they were shallow. Bullets fired this way had too little power. Even if a bullet was launched, due to the lack of confinement by a gun barrel, there was no sustained acceleration or spinning flight, so the power was far less than that of a bullet shot from a firearm. Moreover, the recoil from the explosion, even though lessened by wrapping with cloth, still nearly made the weapon slip from Bi Fang¡¯s hand when it reached him. And the launch speed was way too slow; from ignition to firing, it took at least ten seconds. The only effect it could have was to scare the enemy, making them think they also had firearms. Having firearms or not in a battle were totally different scenarios. As long as he could create a doubt in the enemy¡¯s mind, Bi Fang¡¯s effort wouldn¡¯t have been in vain. After hearing Bi Fang¡¯s explanation, the audience was greatly disappointed, but they also gained a little confidence. At least compared to just now, when they were completely unarmed, they now had some green gear with a built-in fear effect. During the explanation, Bi Fang and Matthew had already run to the stairwell. At this moment, Matthew¡¯s heart was about to jump out of his chest, fearing that as soon as he stuck his head out, he would be shot in the head. Fortunately, that situation didn¡¯t arise. When Bi Fang listened closely by the wall, the thug running in the lead hadn¡¯t come upstairs yet. ¡°Good chance!¡± Bi Fang dragged Matthew and ran upstairs with him. If they could avoid a direct confrontation, they should; that was Bi Fang¡¯s principle. But luck wasn¡¯t always on their side. When they reached the third floor, two figures caused Matthew¡¯s pupils to shrink in shock. It was the men in green and black. Damn it, how could they forget about them! The viewers almost pissed themselves in fear; even horror movies weren¡¯t this thrilling! Luckily, at that moment, both men had their backs turned to Bi Fang and hadn¡¯t noticed them. The two retreated back into the stairwell, and Matthew was sweating profusely. They had almost been discovered. He quickly looked at Bi Fang, ¡°What do we do?¡± Bi Fang lifted his hand to give Matthew a flashlight, while gripping a steel pipe, he lit his lighter again, and started burning the base of a bullet. ¡°I¡¯ll count to three, and then we¡¯re going to rush out together, and you¡¯ll use the flashlight to shine on them, aim for their eyes, got it?¡± With the proverbial wolves in front and tigers behind, if they waited for the two upstairs to leave, they would likely be caught up by the people downstairs, facing enemies on both sides, Bi Fang had no choice but to break out directly. Matthew took the flashlight. Although he was nervous, the past few minutes with Bi Fang made him understand that professional matters should be left to professionals; he didn¡¯t ask why, but simply nodded. Having often been to war zones, it was impossible for him to have poor mental fortitude, but having never been directly involved, Matthew¡¯s palms were now all sweaty. It seemed as if there were footsteps behind him, or perhaps it was just the sound of his own heartbeat; the flame in the dark was particularly conspicuous. One second, two seconds, three seconds. Ten seconds passed in a flash. ¡°Three, two, one, now!¡± At Bi Fang¡¯s low shout, Matthew shuddered and almost stumbled as he charged out. At that moment, Bi Fang and Matthew hadn¡¯t turned on their flashlights. Two dark shadows darted out, catching the attention of the man in black and the man in green. But before they could even demand what was happening, a blinding light suddenly swept across them. The abrupt change from pitch darkness to blinding light prevented their eyes from adapting in time. By the time they managed to adjust to the brightness, the assailant with the sawed-off shotgun would have turned them into a bloody mess. But Bi Fang wasn¡¯t about to give them that chance. He focused all his energy on this strike, his muscles flexing, pulling on his skeleton with machine-like precision as he lifted his hand to aim. There was no scope, no trigger, all he had was a ¡°gun barrel¡±! How could it be just a simple scare? S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Bang!¡± Flames burst forth from the mouth of the steel pipe, the metal projectile tightly confined within, whistling as it left the barrel. Blood splattered, gunshots and screams nearly simultaneous. The man in green felt a sharp pain in his left shoulder, then lost consciousness. The man in black was startled even more. They had thought they were up against an ordinary challenger, yet they had encountered a tough nut! Although their vision was still blurry, realizing the other party had a gun too, the man in black immediately dove to the side. He and the man in green had once been conscripted into the army, and although they¡¯d later escaped, they still received some professional training and were among the organization¡¯s elite, often partnering up to search for goods. They had consistently been on the advantageous side, never imagining today would be when they slipped up. There were no doctors here; if the gunshot wound wasn¡¯t treated properly, his partner might be done for! The man in green, hit by the bullet, reacted a beat too slow, but his blurred vision started to clear a bit. Humans are, after all, remarkably adaptable animals. But when he saw there were only two of them, especially when he spotted what one of them was holding, he couldn¡¯t help but be stunned. What was that thing? A gun? No, that¡¯s just a steel pipe, isn¡¯t it? He was hit by that? Feeling the pain in his shoulder, the man in green hardly had time for more emotions. Realizing the other might not be able to ¡°fire¡± a second shot anytime soon, he raised his pistol to fight back. But as he made his move, he saw a man on the opposite side take a step forward, swiftly pulling something from his waistband and throwing it with force. Immediately after, the other shoulder of the man in green was struck with severe pain. It seemed he was hit in a critical spot; he couldn¡¯t apply strength to his whole arm, his grip loosened, and the pistol fell to the ground, fortunately without going off. The man in green staggered back two steps, his eyes widening as he stared at his shoulder, the sight before him beyond his comprehension. What was that thing on his shoulder? A steel spike? Chapter 349: 347: Go Up! Chapter 349: Chapter 347: Go Up! The man in the green jacket was dazed by the steel spike in his shoulder, staggering backward as the handgun in his hand dropped to the ground; the man in black next to him saw the fallen weapon and instantly sensed trouble. In the bright beam of light, Bi Fang and Matthew had already revealed themselves; the man in black, who had dodged their advance, could see clearly¡ªthe opponents obviously had no guns, yet somehow managed to fire a shot. It was absolutely crucial not to let them pick up the weapon! The man in black wanted to warn the man in the green jacket, but he found out that he had already been bewildered by the sudden attack, utterly failing to react in time. Damn it! Seeing the green-jacketed man unreliable, the man in black turned around, holding a sawed-off shotgun to fend off the approaching enemies, but in the next second, someone in his field of vision suddenly disappeared from the light, as if he had never existed. The light from a flashlight is invariably conical, illuminating the entire corridor but, annoyingly, not the darkness right in front of oneself. Bi Fang pounced silently; just before landing at a forty-five-degree angle, he fiercely kicked off the ground, catapulting out from the darkness like a ferocious tiger pouncing on the two men in front of him. Cold sweat seeped from the forehead of the man in black as he finally realized that those opposing them were certainly not mere survivors. The man in black wanted to shout, to do something to alert everyone, but it was too late! Bi Fang, crouching low, suddenly reached out in the darkness to grab both of their ankles. The two men lost their balance and lurched forward, but the man in black, who was accustomed to war-torn regions and was still young and quick to react, had already raised his sawed-off shotgun even before crashing to the ground. But Bi Fang would not allow them to fight back or even scream; slightly shifting to avoid the barrel, he thrust his hands out, his four fingers curling inward while his thumb pressed against the knuckle, striking the men¡¯s abdomens with the joints of his second fingers. That area, the stomach and diaphragm, rich with nerves, experienced suffocating-like severe pain that shot through their nerves, immediately silencing both men. The two men, curling up like shrimp, were smashed to the ground, and Bi Fang reached out to find that a sawed-off shotgun had fallen into his hands. Bi Fang grasped the shotgun and spun around half a circle before tucking it into the back of his waistband; seeing the two men trying to prop themselves up, wanting to rise, he stepped forward and delivered a swift punch to their jaws. Matthew, who had stood still with his mouth wide open, faintly heard the sound of bones cracking in the darkness and shuddered. Bi Fang shook his hands, releasing the cloth strip from his palm along with the steel piece inside; with a heavy punch containing the metal, he broke both men¡¯s jaws and caused concussions, leaving them motionless on the ground. A perfect attack: from start to finish, Bi Fang maintained control without drawing any attention from others. The commotion was everywhere, gunfire resounding all around; a small scuffle here wouldn¡¯t attract attention, but yelling would, which is why Bi Fang struck back swiftly, taking them down before they could open their mouths. Such a violent attack filled the onlookers with adrenaline, making them wish they could join in the fight alongside Bi Fang. [Awesome!] [You can always trust Master Fang, my idol!] [Leopard-Head Zero Charge gifts the host 1 spaceship¡ªbreaking my silence again, but I still have to shout as loud as I can, Master Fang is a badass!] [EDG is awesome!] [????] [Are these two guys dead?] [No way, they just got hit a couple of times, how could they be dead?] [You obviously didn¡¯t see Master Fang take on a shark with bare hands] ¡°Did they, did they die?¡± Matthew, from behind, approached the two men and, seeing them motionless, felt a tremor in his heart; not just the audience, but even he doubted whether Bi Fang had killed them. ¡°No, they¡¯re just unconscious.¡± Bi Fang eased the pain in his wrists; snapping the jawbones with two hits was not as simple as it looked, even with the added steel pieces and the cushioning from the cloth, the impact was still significant, but given the urgency, he no longer held back his strikes. Matthew wanted to say more, but the sound of footsteps was closing in fast from behind. Their time was running short¡ªthey needed to evacuate quickly! ¡°Quick, move them out of the way!¡± Bi Fang extinguished his flashlight and felt for the shotgun ammunition on the man in black, then grabbed one of their collars and headed for the corner of the wall. Right now, Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t do anything to alert the enemy. Although it was only a matter of time before these two were discovered, delaying even a little bit was worthwhile. A careless bandit was much easier to deal with than an alert one. This attack had caught both of them off guard. Following closely behind, Matthew dragged the man in the green jacket by the collar across the floor and briefly checked the man¡¯s jaw in his hand. The feel¡­ the feel was completely different, very¡­¡±flexible¡±. It was hard to believe someone¡¯s jawbone could be broken while they were still alive. They covered the two men with a black cloth, then crouched beside the shelves, hastily concealed the scene, and quickly left. Having dealt with the man in black and the one in the green jacket, all the bandits were now only behind them, which greatly increased their pace. They had also seized a pistol and a shotgun, giving them the power to fight should they encounter bandits again. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just kill them earlier?¡± Bi Fang silently gestured towards the drone, the message clear without words. ¡°I¡¯m not talking about that.¡± Matthew, of course, knew that Bi Fang was still live streaming and couldn¡¯t just kill at will, but that wasn¡¯t what he meant. When they first encountered each other, Bi Fang could have taken them both down directly with his skills. Why did he choose to evade? It was completely superfluous, right? Bi Fang glanced at Matthew and didn¡¯t want to say more, preferring to hurry on their way, but this was also a question on the minds of the vast audience. ¡°Any attack comes with risks, and besides, I hadn¡¯t confirmed their identities at that time, it was only a suspicion. Whether to attack or not was a tricky decision.¡± The two rushed out of the stairwell and finally reached the third floor. Following his memory, Bi Fang arrived at a door, pulled out his shotgun, and fired at the door handle, sending a spray of lead pellets that left it shattered. With a kick, the door burst open. The beam of the flashlight swept back and forth, rows of metal cabinets came into view, and the four white walls were stained with yellow. The ceiling-mounted shower heads above were covered with rust. Bi Fang¡¯s guess was correct, this was the employee shower room, and the ventilation duct was just above a metal cabinet. All they had to do was open it to enter, and then they could follow the duct to the outside of the building, avoiding direct contact with the bandit gangs. But no sooner had the two climbed onto the rack, the corridor echoed with the shouts of pursuing thugs. ¡°You go first!¡± With hands gripping the wire mesh, Bi Fang leaped off the rack and quickly pulled down the rusty bars, even pulling off some chunks of cement. Knowing he couldn¡¯t help, Matthew covered his mouth and nose with a towel and dived into the ventilation duct. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing Matthew disappear into the duct, Bi Fang dragged the nearby rack in front of the door, bolted it top and bottom, then tipped the rack over to brace the door. In the corridor, the pursuing bandits sounded like hunting dogs. When they found the door they couldn¡¯t open, they grew excited. ¡°We¡¯ve found something!¡± ¡°There¡¯s something here!¡± Three people shouted loudly, quickly drawing a nearby group over. Five men arrived at the door, raised their shotguns, and kept blasting away. Five shotguns firing in unison was practically like a barrage of cannons! In just a few breaths, the entire door was shot to pieces, revealing the rack behind it. Someone deliberately blocked their way! Seeing the rack behind the door pushed over, although the room was empty and deserted, even a fool could see what was going on at this moment! ¡°Quick, quick, there¡¯s someone here!¡± Chapter 350: 348 Disguise Chapter 350: Chapter 348 Disguise ¡°There¡¯s someone here!¡± A chorus of shouts roused the entire factory, and the bald man outside heard the yelling and cracked a smile. His efforts had not been in vain. The fuel money was secure. Leaving two to defend the first floor, eight went inside and six of them arrived in front of the bathroom. ¡°Where¡¯s the person?¡± Those who arrived later looked at the empty room, puzzled, until an older man with a clearly higher status stepped forward and loudly questioned the young man who had shouted first. ¡°I don¡¯t know! But when we got here, there was this metal rack blocking the way!¡± From the drag marks on the floor, it was clear that the metal rack didn¡¯t fall over naturally, but was moved by someone. The flashlight shone on the rust, the dust on the floor was swept aside by the dragging, and the footprints made it blatantly obvious that the metal rack had not been down for long! ¡°Right, why haven¡¯t Mogadi and Mikran come?¡± ¡°How should I know? Maybe they found something upstairs, those two always like to steal the glory. They¡¯re just trainees, right? Deserters all the same.¡± ¡°Maybe they¡¯ve been taken out already?¡± ¡°How could that be, they had guns after all.¡± ¡°Shut up! Focus on searching!¡± Six beams of light moved in unison inside the confined room, searching for a possible exit, but found nothing. The young man who was questioned first started to panic under the others¡¯ hostile glares, and before he could speak, a crisp sound of metal clashing echoed through the room. Five pairs of eyes turned simultaneously to another member, who sheepishly pointed at the iron bars on the floor, and then up at the ventilation shaft on the wall. ¡°It just fell down when I touched it¡­¡± The older man suddenly froze, realizing something was amiss and immediately bellowed. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Quick, chase them!!!¡± ¡­ ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Positive!¡± Bi Fang nodded affirmatively, warily peering out at the guards by the wall. The two of them leaned against the wall, looking quite disheveled, covered in dust and nearly blackened, but considering the original disgusting plan involving the sewer, this was much better. It was just a bit of dust and grime, clean compared to a sewer teeming with strangers¡¯ skin flakes and bacteria. The only pity was that had it been a sewer, the two could have followed it underground and escaped; but a ventilation shaft did not reach underground, it only extended at ground level. At that moment, Bi Fang¡¯s gaze was firmly on an off-road vehicle not far away, with flames flickering in his eyes. Just as the two had crawled out of the ventilation shaft, a bold idea sprung to his mind. [Damn, can we hijack it?] [Go for the modified one, I think it¡¯s worth a shot.] [Right, the modified one, with that huge fork, so cool. If we get chased, we can just ram it.] [I think it¡¯s doable.] [Are you all just full of plans, huh?] Hijacking the vehicle was essential; Bi Fang was sure they had been discovered. Once the people in the factory reacted, they wouldn¡¯t get far on foot. They had to seize one forcefully. Now was the best opportunity, with most of the factory¡¯s personnel distributed elsewhere, each off-road vehicle guarded one direction, and each direction was defended by only two people. Two people, that was all, and Bi Fang, comparing their skills, was still fairly confident. It was a risky gamble. If it failed, they could be turned into sieves by more than a dozen guns, and by then, even transforming into Rambo to reenact the legend of First Blood would be futile. But should they succeed, these people wouldn¡¯t be able to touch them anymore. If he had a choice, Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t want to resort to such a dangerous move, but given the situation, he had no choice but to take the risk. With a success rate of around fifty percent, Bi Fang was willing to give it a try. With that thought, Bi Fang combed his hair and handed his coat over to Matthew, then put on the jacket he had stripped from the man in black earlier and straightened the collar. This scene left both the audience and Matthew dumbfounded. Big brother, I know you¡¯re live streaming, and you¡¯re one of the top broadcasters in the world, but is it really appropriate to change outfits and tidy up your image right now? But a second later Matthew was speechless, because he saw Bi Fang, having donned the jacket, swaggering around the corner. Matthew couldn¡¯t stop him even if he tried. Was he planning to blend in and sneak out!? It finally dawned on Matthew, but could it really work? There were only about a dozen people who came. Did they not all recognize each other? But he didn¡¯t understand that Bi Fang was still playing on the information gap. The adversaries didn¡¯t know who was hiding in the factory, still thinking it was the same type of survivors as before. How could they guess that a fierce tiger was hidden inside, daring to appear boldly before them? Moreover, the Bandit Gangs¡¯ only sources of illumination were car headlights and flashlights, so as long as the timing was right and there was no conversation, one could sneak in completely. At this time, two men were leaning against an SUV, smoking and chatting idly, glancing around now and then for a bit of vigilance. They had done this many times without any mishaps, and felt extremely at ease. Seeing someone approaching, one of them lifted their flashlight, not shining it on the face¡ªas nobody shines a flashlight in someone¡¯s face, especially the typically ill-tempered Bandit Gangs. Thus, the two men just glanced at the approaching figure¡¯s attire: a vest, with a sawed-off shotgun at the waist¡­ Yep, one of their own. The two bandits clearly did not expect Bi Fang to be so bold. A captured man actually dared to show up right in front of them, walking with such swagger! So when Bi Fang, in a jacket and slinging the iconic sawed-off shotgun around his waist, no one suspected that he was the ¡°prey¡± in disguise. ¡°Hey, how did you end up like this? Did you climb out through the ventilation duct? Where¡¯s your partner?¡± Although they didn¡¯t shine the flashlight on his face, the diffused light still revealed parts of Bi Fang¡¯s facial outline, which was fortuitously very dark. So dark, in fact, that they wondered if Bi Fang had just crawled out of a ventilation duct. Unfortunately, even though the two guessed the truth, Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t be handing out any awards, and instead silently continued walking forward, rapidly closing the distance. ¡°Hey, why are you not talking? I¡¯m talking to you!¡± Watching Bi Fang, who said nothing and kept approaching, the men finally realized something was amiss. ¡°Hey, stop right there!¡± One of them stopped fussing about and shone the flashlight directly at Bi Fang¡¯s face, only to see the rapidly approaching face of a stranger. Too late! Before the two of them could react, Bi Fang pulled out a steel spike from his waist and swung it forcefully. The whistling steel spike flashed as it struck one of them. Before a scream could escape, the second man counterattacked, but Bi Fang was already up close. He drew a pistol and a shotgun, pressing them against the foreheads of the two men, and threatened, ¡°Where are the car keys?¡± ¡°They¡¯re, they¡¯re in the car!¡± The two threatened men swallowed hard, not making any attempt to resist. Bi Fang took a glance inside the car to confirm, then called Matthew over to help control the situation, after which he knocked out both men. The two of them climbed into the car, Bi Fang tossed the backpack into the back seat, and took the keys to start the vehicle, his hands finding the steering wheel. Huh, it¡¯s real leather. Excitedly, Bi Fang had just turned the key, the dashboard lights had just come on, when suddenly, a head popped out of the third floor of the factory, shining a flashlight toward the end of the ventilation duct and shouted. ¡°Someone¡¯s escaped through the duct!¡± Unfortunately, the only response was the roaring of the engine. He floored the throttle, and the high-powered engine roared as the SUV, like an unbridled wild dog, rolled over the factory fence and dashed into the city under the cover of night. Chapter 351: 349 Chapter 351: Chapter 349 The moment the off-road vehicle¡¯s engine roared, it was as if a gap had been torn in the night. The bald leader¡¯s face twisted ferociously, he bellowed, ¡°Quick, chase them!¡± Gangsters from all directions charged toward the off-road vehicle. The bald man ran swiftly, firing at the car, sparking a spray of sparks, while those with quicker reflexes pushed their motorcycles, circling from the opposite side of the building to pursue, charging straight to the rear of the off-road vehicle. Bi Fang and his partner¡¯s chance was to break through a path before the crowd could gather. As long as they could get onto the road, with this liquid nitrogen-boosted car, very few vehicles could catch up. He shifted into reverse, slammed the accelerator to the floor, the left hand gripping the handgun, the right hand spinning the steering wheel, suddenly turning direction, charging toward the motorcycle without a moment¡¯s pause. The thug on the motorcycle obviously had not expected the survivor to be so fierce; panicking, he jumped off and tumbled awkwardly to one side. The off-road vehicle, now carrying the motorcycle, smashed its way out of the factory, the ground sparking impressively. The brilliant headlights pierced the night, while the beast-like roar surged through the alleys. Amidst the roar, tires rubbed against the pavement, trailing a line of blue smoke, as it bolted out like a wild horse breaking free. The bald man¡¯s face darkened as he watched motorcycle after motorcycle zoom past him, then jumped onto another off-road vehicle to join the chase. Bi Fang fixed his gaze on the rearview mirror, watching as the first motorcycle that had charged out drew ever closer. He rolled down the window, his left hand reaching out. Three consecutive muffled gunshots rang out, their flashes illuminating the night, until with the third shot, the motorcycle¡¯s front wheel suddenly burst, and the rider, together with the vehicle, tumbled and slid towards the roadside. ¡°Hold tight!¡± Bi Fang settled back into his seat, his gaze swiftly scanning the telephone poles on both sides of the road, yelling at Matthew, who by then had become numb. Finally snapping back to reality, Matthew clung firmly to the front handle of the car roof, his veins bulging out. Bi Fang yanked the handbrake with his right hand, while with his left hand, he executed a sharp turn. Matthew was gripped by a spine-chilling sensation of being airborne. Instinctively, he gaped, saliva flying, and then with the inertia, he slammed into the car door. Specialized driving was a compulsory skill for special forces! Besides shooting people directly, Bi Fang had used every trick in the book. He couldn¡¯t shoot at people directly because the drone was still hovering overhead; it was both his recorder and his limiter. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As seen from the drone¡¯s perspective, the off-road vehicle under Bi Fang¡¯s control suddenly spun on the straight road, crashing fiercely into a telephone pole on the roadside. The reinforced front bumper hit the concrete lamp post, which cracked and broke, with half of the post and the streetlamp falling onto the road, temporarily halting the advance of the crowd. The off-road vehicle, under the effect of inertia, spun half a circle around the pole, ending up facing the blockaded crowd. Matthew, fighting the urge to vomit, rolled down the window and extended his middle finger at the furious thugs, laughing heartily. However, sparks suddenly struck the car roof, frightening him back inside. What a character. A smile tugging at the corners of his lips, Bi Fang put the car into reverse and drove away nonchalantly on the big road. It was only after two hundred meters that he spun the car around and, under the watchful eyes of everyone, careened away into the distance. ¡°AMAZING, AMAZING!¡± Having escaped danger, Matthew leaned against his chest, gasping for breath, his face flushed with an unusual redness, still not coming out of the recent events, murmuring a single word repeatedly. [It¡¯s over, this guy¡¯s gone mad.] [The perfect blend of luck and showmanship, Old Fang really put on a show for him.] [I¡¯m stunned just watching. If I were in the passenger seat, I might have just gone straight to heaven.] [Gone, heaven?] [Jue Jue Zi!] [Jue Jue Zi and speechless are definitely the two most ¡®nt¡¯ words of the year, without exception.] [I am Hunter, specifically hunting those beings from Chernobyl who keep adding ¡®zi¡¯ at the end of every sentence!] [Mama mia?] During the peak of fan activity for the trip to Ruins City, a scene typically only seen in movies astonishingly happened in real life, somewhere on Earth. ¡°` How could that not be exciting? Just as the audience was excitedly discussing, two golden rays of light added fuel to the already passionate atmosphere. [Congratulations to Miying Pingzong for becoming an Emperor in Master Fang¡¯s live broadcast room!] [Miying Pingzong has sent the host 10,000 Meatballs¡ªGo for it!] [Congratulations to Jia Keyi for becoming an Emperor in Master Fang¡¯s live broadcast room!] [Jia Keyi has sent the host 10,000 Meatballs] [Looking up to the big shots] [Jia Keyi, isn¡¯t that the crappy author (funny), giving up writing novels to watch live streams instead] Bi Fang took a moment to check the live broadcast room. Number of viewers¡­ Three million! One million three hundred thousand domestically, one million six hundred thousand internationally! A new record! Last month, when Bi Fang was receiving an award, he had heard a figure by chance; Huaxia¡¯s current domestic live streaming user base had reached 370 million people, and even though the average active users during the same period were less than sixty million, at this very moment, just watching his livestream were well over one million three hundred thousand! The so-called sixty million is across the entire network, but how many people are registered on the Wolf Fang platform, and how many are active users? At this moment, Bi Fang alone had attracted nearly half of Wolf Fang¡¯s traffic! Moreover, ¡°active¡± does not mean online at the moment, to put it bluntly, if there are five people watching Wolf Fang live streams, then two of them are in Master Fang¡¯s broadcast room! By his lonesome, he was drawing over two-fifths of the entire platform¡¯s traffic! In the past, only outdoor streamers of the same type would avoid Bi Fang¡¯s live stream timing, opting to stream at night, or when he was not streaming, in order to ensure their viewer numbers. But now, even streamers of other genres had no choice but to temporarily avoid the limelight. No wonder the Wolf Fang streamers had secretly given Bi Fang a nickname behind his back¡ªPeople-Devouring Whale. It meant that every time he started streaming, it was like a whale eating krill. A blue whale can eat millions of krill in one go, and Bi Fang¡¯s streams could swallow up millions of viewers, leaving other streamers with just scraps. Utterly ruthless. But that was just a private joke after all, for these streamers, Bi Fang¡¯s presence had its pros and cons. While he drew away fans during his streams, he also greatly expanded the size of the Wolf Fang pie, by nearly a third in just half a year. When Bi Fang wasn¡¯t streaming, other hosts could benefit from this expanded viewership. He was like an insurmountable giant. Since they couldn¡¯t fight against him, they could only lie down and enjoy the perks he brought along. Super cool! ¡­ ¡°So you just let them get away like that? Just two people? What do you usually eat for meals, shit? Huh!?¡± A fist slammed down on the coffee table, causing all the items on it to jolt. The bald guy, who had been domineering in the factory, was now all forehead sweat and didn¡¯t dare to say another word. About ten minutes later, ¡°Forget it, forget it, if they could escape from more than a dozen people, they aren¡¯t ordinary folks. Don¡¯t bother with them anymore. It¡¯s just two people, after all, no need to provoke further. Just keep an eye on the Goods, we need to hand them over the day after tomorrow. Don¡¯t go out in the next few days.¡± ¡°The company is pressing hard.¡± ¡°` Chapter 352: 350: Gourmet Food Chapter 352: Chapter 350: Gourmet Food ¡°Have we, have we actually escaped?¡± On the highway, Matthew still couldn¡¯t believe his eyes, looking at everything around him, he felt a sense of vastness and that life was endlessly wonderful. Bi Fang gave a nonchalant hum, focusing intently on driving. The entire city had no power, there were no streetlamps on the road, and the road itself was littered with garbage and scrapped vehicles, requiring heightened alertness to avoid dozing off. The whole escape process took only about half an hour, but the mental exhaustion was far more than that of a normal half-hour. By eight in the evening, Bi Fang was already nodding off. The industrial district didn¡¯t have many tall buildings; perhaps the original Yemen had a flow of people, but the current one was desolate, with large buildings standing like dark boulders against the night sky. Half an hour later, Bi Fang parked the car in a deserted parking lot, turned off the headlights, and everything around them plunged into complete darkness. Having previously been attacked, Matthew now felt an unlimited sense of security in the dark. In the darkness, looking out at the light from the windows, it was not easy to be discovered, yet it was easy to spot others. Of course, the main reason was the presence of a big shot beside him, who could break out of an encirclement of a dozen people, more of a protagonist than movie protagonists. Bi Fang glanced sideways at Matthew, who was sprawled on the seat with a silly smile, but paid him no mind, and started fiddling with the drone he¡¯d summoned. Many people feel secure in darkness because when the light dims, people¡¯s visual sensitivity drops low, and many subtle expressions and behaviors can¡¯t be seen by each other, so there is no need to be too concerned about the details of one¡¯s own behavior, which is more conducive to relaxation. Especially at the moment, having just escaped capture, the tense mood was suddenly relieved, laughing just by sitting. Gurgle gurgle~~ Matthew¡¯s smile stiffened, and he sat up awkwardly. He wasn¡¯t Bi Fang, who could easily find food amidst ruins. Having lost their supplies, it had already been a whole day without food, and his stomach gurgled with hunger. ¡°There are biscuits in the backpack on the back seat, go look for some to fill your stomach for now, and I¡¯ll cook the remaining half of the fox thoroughly in a bit,¡± ¡°Uh-huh.¡± Matthew had wanted to be polite, but felt that politeness was out of place under the circumstances. After thanking him, he pulled the backpack from the back seat, opened the zipper, and rummaged through. Indeed, there was everything inside: newspapers, sea rations, alcohol, medicines, metal sheets, daggers, half a fox wrapped in a plastic bag, fox fur, and several small bottles that looked like spices. Matthew unscrewed one and sniffed, then dipped his little finger in it to taste. Hmm, it¡¯s sugar. If he remembered correctly, it had only been two days, right? To have found so much supply? Spices, biscuits, fox, and even pigeon eggs, all enough for two days¡¯ supply, was just too exaggerated. Matthew wondered if given enough time, Bi Fang could achieve even more exaggerated feats. At last, Matthew found a bunch of biscuits at the bottom and couldn¡¯t wait to tear open a package and start eating. While eating, he looked towards Bi Fang, who was holding the drone, doing something. After a series of operations, he set the drone flying again. Was he sending a message? ¡°What were you just doing?¡± ¡°Sending a message.¡± ¡°Not rescuing people? Weren¡¯t you the one who found me before?¡± Bi Fang looked at Matthew with a smile. Rescuing people is something the local government should be doing, not him, a foreigner. Acting without authority could easily lead to unnecessary disputes. It was one thing to break out of an encirclement since it was self-defense, but to actually go rescuing others would definitely require asking for permission first. The drone now carried many more plugins compared to when it started, and contacting the platform and contacts directly was no longer an issue. It was precisely to prevent this kind of problem from arising today. Matthew was overjoyed when he heard this! In his view, as long as Bi Fang agreed, this matter was as good as sorted! Waiting for a message was a long process, Bi Fang pulled over the backpack, took out the half fox, opened the car door, and prepared to start a fire for roasting the meat. When they ate the fox, due to hunger, Bi Fang didn¡¯t roast the whole one but cut it into small pieces. Then the rain started, and in his haste to return, he didn¡¯t fully cook the remaining half, which still showed traces of blood beneath the torn skin and flesh when pulled apart. With his mouth stuffed full of biscuits, Matthew swallowed and, smelling the fragrance of the meat, his mouth watered. Fox meat, oh, he¡¯d never eaten it before. Bi Fang picked up some easily ignitable rubbish and dead branches, took out a newspaper, tore off a piece, and poured a small spoon of potassium permanganate onto it, added a few drops of car antifreeze, then crumpled the newspaper into a ball and threw it onto the flammable materials. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Matthew watched this process dumbfounded, as he hadn¡¯t seen Bi Fang¡¯s previous broadcasts and was naturally unaware of this method of starting a fire. ¡°Is that it?¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t answer, but the efficiency of this method was proven as within a few seconds, wisps of smoke rose, followed by the ignition of the newspaper and flames spreading to other flammable materials. A blazing bonfire appeared before everyone¡¯s eyes in less than two minutes. The online friends watched Matthew¡¯s antics and burst out laughing, as if they had traveled through time and were looking at their former selves from a third-person perspective. [Fans¡¯ Real Reactions.jpg] [So this is what I used to be like] [The spitting image!] [Absolutely brilliant, way too cool, just take something, wrap it with newspaper, give it a toss, and fire appears, super suave] [I¡¯m going camping the day after tomorrow, I¡¯m going to be cool too!] Bi Fang skewered the remaining half of the fox on a stick. As the flames licked the fox meat, after a long while, fat dripped down. Bi Fang didn¡¯t waste it, catching it in a small cup, then he took his dagger to cut the meat, sprinkled some salt grains on it, and added crumbled biscuits for seasoning before handing half to Matthew. Matthew took out another knife to skewer the fox meat, watching as the salt slowly melted in the heat and seeped into the flesh. His index finger twitched with anticipation, and he couldn¡¯t wait for it to cool before he began tearing and biting into it. ¡°Huff huff huff, this wood is so good, but wow, it smells amazing!¡± Having not eaten fresh vegetables or meat for a long time, even if the fox meat wasn¡¯t as delicious as he had imagined, Matthew thoroughly enjoyed it, feeling like he had reached a pinnacle in life. ¡°Eat slowly, no one¡¯s fighting you for it, there are also pigeon eggs,¡± ¡°Hm, huh?¡± Caught in the delicious moment, Matthew paused¡ªfox meat and pigeon eggs? Weren¡¯t they practically eating through most of their supplies? He hurriedly swallowed the fox meat he was eating and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t we saving any? Today¡¯s just the second day, right? Don¡¯t we still have several days ahead of us?¡± ¡°We need to build up our energy and strength,¡± Bi Fang said indifferently. If nothing unexpected happened, the two of them would start their rescue mission tomorrow, so of course they had to get in the best shape possible. There was no need to ration anything. If they could eat well, they should eat well. After today¡¯s meal, Bi Fang¡¯s status would essentially return to normal, not affecting anything. ¡°I see!¡± Matthew had an epiphany, no longer fussing over the supply conservation plan. Chomping down on the meat, he didn¡¯t even let the bone scraps go to waste. He put them in the fire to roast until crispy, and then ate them like biscuits. Meanwhile, Bi Fang found a flat, elongated stone. He wiped it clean, poured water over it to rinse twice, and after cleaning, placed it on the fire. When the water on the stone¡¯s surface had evaporated, Bi Fang waited a moment longer, then tested the heat with his hand. Feeling the rolling heat waves, he poured the collected fox fat onto the stone and spread it out, releasing a burst of smoky fragrance. ¡°Although eating raw is the most nutritious intake method, one ought to have some pursuits in life. If you can make something delicious, don¡¯t miss out¡ªthe opportunities aren¡¯t many. After all, good food is also one way of finding joy amidst the hardships on the road to survival, which helps maintain a cheerful mood and aids in our upcoming actions as well.¡± Seeing Bi Fang justifying eating with such righteousness, Matthew secretly gave him a thumbs-up. The pigeon eggs were poured out of the bottle, lightly cracked, and their clear whites and golden yolks flowed out of the shell¡¯s cracks onto the sizzling fat. ¡°Sizzle sizzle sizzle¡«¡± The egg whites bubbled and coagulated rapidly under high heat, the clear whites starting to turn white. Soon, the perfectly fried eggs were formed, emanating a unique fragrance distinct to eggs. Matthew was completely captivated, and the viewers were outrightly stunned. Is this still a wilderness survival show? Are you sure it¡¯s not some outdoor food festival? Your hidden profession is a five-star hotel chef, right? With just a few simple ingredients, to create such appetizing food, it¡¯s truly unbelievable! [Damn, stone-grilled eggs! Fox fat fried eggs are really incredible, I want to try them.] [It¡¯s over for me, I¡¯m so hungry, I want fried eggs, I¡¯m not getting up until I get some, time to feast, I want to feast, wuwuwu.] [What the hell, late-night food show? You¡¯re making me hungry, this isn¡¯t humane!] [Didn¡¯t see that coming, Old Fang with the bushy brows, you¡¯ve also betrayed the revolution, are you using this to test the cadres?] [I want to challenge my weakness.] [Haha, everyone¡¯s so lively, huh? I just fainted from working 17 hours straight under capitalist exploitation, and just woke up. Wanted to relax by watching Master Fang¡¯s livestream, but now I¡¯m starving.] The fried egg was quickly done, and Bi Fang used his dagger like a spatula to serve it up to Matthew. With no bowls or utensils, Matthew carefully received it with his fruit knife, gazing at the fried egg that looked like a little sun, almost feeling reluctant to eat it. He took a bite of the fried egg, and tears silently streamed down his face. It was just the right doneness, with a faint scent of meat fat. It wasn¡¯t that it was so delicious it brought tears to his eyes, but after escaping death, in a city that resembled ruins, to be able to enjoy a hot steaming fried egg. That was enough to make anyone cry. Chapter 353: 351 Infiltration Chapter 353: Chapter 351 Infiltration Morning fog swathed the area, with dim golden light crossing over the wall covered with green moss, shining into the abandoned parking lot. ¡°Ah~¡± Matthew opened his eyes and let out a big yawn, feeling refreshed and energized as if he had been through a long journey and finally could sleep comfortably. What he experienced yesterday was far more thrilling than anything in his whole life, like a dream, and he was unsure if Bi Fang¡¯s response had come through. With this thought, the spirited Matthew turned his head and saw that Bi Fang had already gotten up at some point and was observing something with a drone. He keenly noticed a flashing green light at one corner of the drone¡ªif he remembered correctly, that same light flashed when they sent the message yesterday! Matthew¡¯s eyes suddenly brightened with excitement and he asked, ¡°Did we get a message?¡± Bi Fang fiddled with the drone, squinting as he absorbed the information. Since he was already caught in the vortex, he had to act, and so he had gotten up early to check for messages¡ªthe news he received said¡ª It¡¯s possible! The Abbascan Faction had already made a promise that as long as they could get the people out of Yemen and to the rear of the battle lines, they would take over! Facing Matthew¡¯s question at this moment, Bi Fang had no intention of hiding anything and nodded. [Damn, did they really agree?] [Awesome, Old Fang, are you taking office immediately?] [Great winds rise and clouds soar¡­ If only I could find a brave man to roam in all directions¡­ Bandit Gangs! They must be eradicated at all times¡­ No mercy! Imagine you take your wife out of the city, enjoying hotpot and singing songs, then suddenly you¡¯re ambushed by bandits! Thus, only days without bandits are good days!] [Must submit a petition!] [My goodness, doesn¡¯t Patriarch Huang also trade in human lives?] [Incredible!] Early in the morning, the audience that had been waiting for the grand show reached a collective climax, making their early rise or even all-night wait worthwhile! Upon certain affirmation, Matthew¡¯s expression grew visibly more excited, and he hastily asked, ¡°So what do we do now?¡± Bi Fang closed his eyes and pondered in silence; Matthew did not dare to disturb him and could only hold his breath and wait for an answer. ¡°If your intel is correct, their shipping day is tomorrow¡ªwe have more than twenty hours left to prepare, which is still ample time¡­¡± Minutes later, Bi Fang opened his eyes, already having a plan in mind, ¡°Anyway, we can¡¯t just barge in, stealing is better than robbing, and attacking is better than fighting. Do you know where their gathering place is?¡± ¡°The dock¡ªtheir gathering place is at the dock!¡± Matthew was sure, paused for a moment, and then added, ¡°That¡¯s where I discovered them, at an abandoned shipyard.¡± Upon hearing this, Bi Fang immediately twisted the ignition and pressed the accelerator, heading towards the dock. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go take a look at the dock first!¡± ¡­ Half an hour later. ¡°That¡¯s the place.¡± Matthew pointed toward the large building in the distance. The two crouched in the bushes, not getting too close. From over three kilometers away, Bi Fang and Matthew had come on foot. Their modified off-road vehicle was too conspicuous, and once discovered, could easily give them away. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Bi Fang gestured for Matthew to follow him. Matthew grabbed Bi Fang¡¯s arm, his forehead covered in cold sweat, ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t this too risky? Are we just going to head straight in?¡± Bi Fang nodded, ¡°Although the enemy¡¯s numbers are vast, the shipyard is enormous, and they can¡¯t possibly cover every corner with their defense. That¡¯s impractical, and if so, it wouldn¡¯t be a bandit stronghold, but more like a military base. What we need to do is to ascertain the entire shipyard¡¯s layout, then infer their precise location based on the guards¡¯ shifts and movements, and finally, implement the rescue operation!¡± ¡°How is it possible, just the two of us clarifying the entire layout of the shipyard, isn¡¯t that guaranteed to bump into someone?¡± Matthew said. ¡°We don¡¯t need to search the entire shipyard, we just need to find the factory map. The larger the factory, the more likely they are to have one, and it¡¯s usually located in the lobby for the convenience of new workers or visitors to find their way. Right now, nobody knows the specifics, all I can do is make a judgement based on experience.¡± Is this the equivalent of groping one¡¯s way across a river by feeling the stones? Matthew¡¯s heart raced inwardly, astonished by Bi Fang¡¯s boldness. Directly entering the factory to check the map, was he sure this river wasn¡¯t the Amazon River? One wrong step and it¡¯s so easy to drown! The audience was also startled by Bi Fang¡¯s audacity, and they burst into a flurry of discouragement. [This factory is not a place to enter lightly!] [Your Majesty, please think thrice, Your Majesty] [Charge the motherfucker!] [Look on life and death lightly, If you disagree, just do it!] [When it comes to infiltrating, Old Fang is the professional, why the fuck are you all so anxious?] [Exactly, just enjoy the show from Old Fang.] ¡°If you¡¯re unwilling, you can stay here and wait for me.¡± Bi Fang took out all the guns and ammo from his bag, performing a final check and preparation. Upon hearing this, Matthew didn¡¯t hesitate much and gritted his teeth, ¡°Fuck it, let¡¯s do this!¡± ¡°Good!¡± A look of joy appeared on Bi Fang¡¯s face. Actually, Matthew¡¯s initial act had somewhat dragged him into the situation. When Matthew had taken the initiative to come to him, as a public figure, there really was no room for refusal. The feeling of being coerced wasn¡¯t pleasant, but Matthew¡¯s actions at least proved he hadn¡¯t done it on purpose, and that he sincerely wanted to save those people. After preparing, Bi Fang handed the shotgun to Matthew. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A shotgun didn¡¯t require much accuracy; no need to aim precisely, just getting the direction right was good enough, just fire away. Matthew, who had some shooting experience, was up to the task, while the pistol, which required more skill and precision, naturally remained in Bi Fang¡¯s hands. Once ready, the two set off for the shipyard. ¡°Don¡¯t walk directly in the sunlight, choose the shadows as much as possible. If you walk in the sunlight, it¡¯s easy to be spotted by someone above. The shipyard is in the northeast direction, so we need to take the east corridor and use the difference in sightlines as a barrier to ensure we won¡¯t be easily discovered.¡± All the way, Bi Fang kept explaining the essentials and soon led Matthew to the front of the shipyard. ¡°No one¡¯s here!¡± Bi Fang was astonished as he stared at the empty entrance, never expecting that there wouldn¡¯t even be a guard at the gate, and after scanning the surroundings, there were no security cameras either. Could defense really be this lax? It was understandable the last time Matthew snuck in; it wasn¡¯t an important moment. But tomorrow was the ¡°delivery¡± day, and there was no guard at the main gate? ¡°Last time you came in, did you see them keeping dogs or anything like that?¡± Matthew was taken aback, furrowed his brows to think hard, and finally shook his head, ¡°No.¡± No guards, no surveillance, not even dogs. With this realization, Bi Fang cast an inexplicable glance at Matthew: ¡°No wonder you could sneak in.¡± Matthew: ¡°¡­?¡± There was something off about what he said, but he couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on it. Forget it, saving people comes first. Shaking his head, Matthew stopped overthinking the matter and followed closely behind Bi Fang, slipping into the shipyard. Chapter 354: 352 The Sewer Prince Chapter 354: Chapter 352 The Sewer Prince ¡°I¡¯ve found it!¡± In the expansive hall, Matthew scurried over like a thief, calling out in a low voice as he ran. Bi Fang pushed himself up from the front desk where he had been leaning against a cabinet, surprised, ¡°Found it?¡± Matthew handed the map to Bi Fang, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve looked over it, it should be this one, right?¡± Bi Fang snatched the map and spread it out. The map, with clear green and white distinctions, showed various square-like positions distinctly, and with just a glance, Bi Fang located where he and Matthew were. Looking at the small corner on the map, then at the wide hall, the audience¡¯s eyes widened with anticipation, and those who understood the map, after calculating according to the index at the side, were even more shocked. [Damn, that¡¯s hugely complicated.] [Geez, that must be almost 100,000 square meters, right?] [100,000 square meters? One and one make one, two twos make four, March Eighth is Women¡¯s Day, May First is Labor Day¡­] [Doesn¡¯t that mean working from the Stone Age?] ¡°No wonder there¡¯s no one guarding the gate; with a place so vast, it can¡¯t be defended anyway, as long as they can keep an eye on their own little area, that¡¯s enough.¡± Bi Fang was also stunned by the immense scale of the shipyard, but on second thought, it seemed plausible given that Yemen¡¯s economy was at the forefront in Abbascan, primarily due to its convenient water transportation, and owning such a large shipyard was within expectations. ¡°Look, where was it that you found them that time?¡± Bi Fang picked up a pen from the table and circled their current location, then asked Matthew to point out exactly where he had seen those people that day. Matthew moved to one side, studied the map intently, recalling the memory, then took the map outside to check against the surrounding buildings; tapping his forehead with the pen tip, he finally marked a hesitant circle in the upper right corner of the map. ¡°It should be here¡­¡± Bi Fang looked at the space on the map that was almost one-fifth circled, raised his eyebrows slightly, and repeated, ¡°It should?¡± Matthew frowned, looked around, and with a more certain tone abandoned his hesitation, affirming, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s right here.¡± ¡°A warehouse?¡± Within the red circle, the map was clearly labeled, indicating that the space was mostly used for warehouses storing ship parts and the like, similar to what they had speculated before coming here. Only now, it wouldn¡¯t be ship parts there¡­ [By the way, with Master Fang live streaming, could there be people watching from the other side?] [Unconsidered perspectives] [You¡¯re telling me Ben is watching the live stream, and it just feels so jarring, like Old Fang sitting on a duck] [What a peculiar analogy] [Can¡¯t be, right? Isn¡¯t it supposed to be all power outages and no signal there?] ¡°Could that really be possible?¡± Matthew also saw the comments on the drone¡¯s live stream. He knew very well how exaggerated Bi Fang¡¯s follower count was, and he instinctively covered his waist, looking around warily, afraid they might be ambushed and sent across the Atlantic Ocean to be treated like animals, perhaps even losing his kidneys and being of no use even if rescued. Bi Fang too was startled by the thought; it was indeed something he had never considered before. But after another moment, he understood why he had never thought about it. Because it simply wasn¡¯t possible. Subconsciously, Bi Fang had never even pondered the possibility. First, there¡¯s the matter of probability. With a whopping population of seven billion people in the world, how many have actually seen Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcasts? It¡¯s just a drop in the ocean. What are the odds that among a gang of fewer than a hundred bandits, there happens to be a fan of Bi Fang? Last night, he didn¡¯t even show his face; it was pitch-black. Even if someone had seen him, they wouldn¡¯t have recognized him, let alone thought of monitoring him through a live broadcast. Moreover, Yemen was still in turmoil. The number of people who had the luxury to enjoy television broadcasts for entertainment was pitifully small, and even bandits who lived a better life than ordinary people felt the same way. Finally, and what Bi Fang was most certain of: The hardware didn¡¯t allow it. Take Matthew, for example. There was simply no signal in Yemen. Even making a phone call required satellite communication. Watching a live broadcast under these circumstances? Besides, there wasn¡¯t even electricity; charging a device required a generator. Setting up a generator wasn¡¯t difficult in itself, but would you really go through the trouble of getting one just to charge the phones of your subordinates so they could watch entertainment broadcasts? ¡°Ah, when you put it that way, it does seem impossible.¡± Hearing Bi Fang¡¯s explanation, the audience had an epiphany, and Matthew breathed a sigh of relief. His kidneys were safe for the moment. ¡°Where to next, shall we start taking action?¡± Matthew¡¯s voice was somewhat shaky, indicating just how tense he was inside. Even though he had seen countless wars and taken countless photographs, and knew the cruelty and brutality of warfare, the chilling feeling that crept from his scalp to his toes when it came to armed struggle was inevitable. ¡°No.¡± Contrary to expectations, Bi Fang shook his head. The preparation wasn¡¯t enough yet. While they had obtained the map of the buildings above ground, they still needed the one for below ground. ¡°We¡¯re going to city hall now!¡± Two hours later. Bi Fang and Matthew returned to their off-road vehicle and cautiously made their way through most of the district to arrive at the city center. ¡°The enemy has too many people, and we are only two. A frontal assault is basically impossible, so we will avoid it whenever we can. Shipyards, being large factories near the rivers and coastline, have their best access points where there¡¯s rain, since flooding can cause significant damage. Therefore, the sewer systems underground are highly developed, even allowing people to walk upright. My plan is to use the sewer system to reach the inside and break in from there.¡± ¡°No one knows what kind of security system the bandits have set up inside, but at least if we enter through the sewers below, we can avoid places frequented by people.¡± ¡°Achieving this step is not easy because the sewer system is like a cave; it¡¯s difficult to recognize directions. We need a map, but even the factory itself may not have such a map, and it¡¯s not something sold in the market. Only city hall might have a complete set of maps of the sewer system, and we¡¯re here to find it!¡± Bi Fang and Matthew entered the lobby. By then, city hall had long been emptied of people, desolate and quiet, with even most of the materials moved out, but many things could not be removed. Bi Fang and Matthew made their way to the archive room. Many shelves were empty, but a lot of materials still remained. Fortunately, the section with the maps was still there. The two began searching, and pages flew about. Half an hour later, a thick stack of maps of the underground sewer system sat on an office desk nearby. Matthew¡¯s eyes twitched at the sight. This was the underground sewer system map of the entire city. Their task was to find the section of the system map for the shipyard area. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After another flurry of activity, when the two finally found the maps, it was already noon. Bi Fang¡¯s fingers moved along the web-like sewer pipes, a look of surprise on his face. ¡°There¡¯s a sewer right below the warehouse. If we follow it east, bypassing the shipyard from below and then into the main pipe, it won¡¯t be long before we come across the warehouse. It¡¯s a total length of one kilometer!¡± Chapter 355: 353 Sewer Ecology Chapter 355: Chapter 353 Sewer Ecology Evening. Bi Fang and Matthew sat quietly inside a parked off-road vehicle with the engine off, gazing at the distant tall black building. ¡°From now until tomorrow morning, we have about eight hours of operation time, enough for us to make a round trip to the shipyard,¡± Bi Fang said as he pulled out the car keys and finished the last piece of biscuit. ¡°There¡¯s no nightlife, and it¡¯s easy to get sleepy when it¡¯s dark, making it the perfect time to move. If it gets too late, we might drag into the next day, causing many unnecessary troubles. Once both sides collide, the resistance will increase exponentially.¡± The mere thought of breaking into the Bandit Gangs¡¯ headquarters at night to rescue the kidnapped survivors sent Matthew¡¯s heart pounding wildly, as if he were on a roller coaster reaching its peak before a sudden plunge. Just the thought was enough to stimulate adrenaline secretion, numbing him from the scalp down to his toes. Having disassembled and reassembled his pistol, Bi Fang asked, ¡°I¡¯m asking you one last time, are you sure you want to join me? You could actually stay outside to back me up, waiting until I bring out the people.¡± ¡°Absolutely!¡± Matthew was resolute. Of course, he couldn¡¯t just stay behind. Providing backup was merely self-deception. He couldn¡¯t let Master Fang take the risk alone after suggesting it himself. Otherwise, how would he face his colleagues afterward? Others only knew that Master Fang had stormed into the Bandit Gangs¡¯ stronghold, blown up the headquarters, and rescued scores, if not hundreds, of innocent people¡­ Oh, what was I doing? I don¡¯t know, of course, I was standing three kilometers away, cheering for him. He couldn¡¯t afford to lose face like that. Inside the live-streaming room, the viewer count had already surpassed three million. Except for a few special events, no single streamer had ever achieved such an exaggerated number of real-time viewers. [Damn, Master Fang¡¯s real viewer count makes those with inflated data look modest] [+1, I remember the Emperor Master, the most badass outdoor streamer on Shark¡¯s platform, once said his record was only two hundred thousand, and Old Fang just smashed it by more than tenfold.] [Master Fang, forever our god!] [Crush them!] [You¡¯re the chosen one, Pikachu Fang] [Skull-flower has gifted a Spaceship*1 to the host¡ªthis is military supplies!] S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Flying Henan Man has gifted Big Bone*66 to the host¡ªammo money!] Bi Fang tucked the pistol into his waistband, covered by a black trench coat. Beneath it was a bulletproof vest, and on his feet were tactical boots. Matthew was dressed in the same manner. The pair returned to the steel plant in the afternoon, picked up an extra set of equipment, and Bi Fang had changed out of his previous jumpsuit coat. The black trench coat was found in a building. Stepping out of the vehicle, they set off toward the distant destination. ¡°We should avoid clothes made of synthetic fibers like polyester or nylon, as they make noise when we move. It¡¯s best to wear clothes made of natural fibers like cotton or wool, or leather¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s so dark.¡± Matthew looked around; tonight, there was no moon, and there weren¡¯t many stars either. ¡°It looks like it might rain,¡± Bi Fang remarked. Bi Fang also felt the weather was a bit suffocating today. They had been busy making plans and scouting the terrain during the day and had forgotten to check the weather conditions. But no problem, rain would be to their advantage. It would wash away their traces and muffle their sounds. The two didn¡¯t approach the shipyard but instead took the road toward another building, descended into the second underground level via the staircase. Having scouted the location during the day, they moved with ease through the familiar route. Bi Fang turned on his flashlight, and the beam illuminated the dusty tabletop, which although dimmed from long-term disuse, still glowed with a faint red shimmer. Descending the metal ladder into the sewer, the flashlight revealed walls covered in moss, evoking a cinematic sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu for the viewers, as if entering a scene from a movie. [I¡¯ve always wanted to say, Old Fang¡¯s live-streaming picture quality is really amazing! How do you even shoot with such lossless quality?] [Don¡¯t ask, it¡¯s all about investing big money.] ¡°[What kind of plugin did they install, something like image restoration, similar to a beauty filter? Technology is really amazing now, though this real-time kind must cost a fortune.]¡± ¡°[Beauty filter? So what does Old Fang really look like in reality? Is he actually that handsome?]¡± ¡°[Wait until the day after tomorrow when Master Fang is back and sleeping next to me, I¡¯ll snap a photo for you guys (Dog¡¯s head)]¡± The structure of the sewer was very ancient, with a semicircular cross-section, a channel for water in the middle, and narrow paths on either side designed for maintenance workers to run down to the sewers for repairs and dredging. Dark green aquatic plants hung down from the walls and ceiling, blending with the pitch-black moss that grew from the corners of the walls. Matthew, following closely behind Bi Fang, wasn¡¯t paying attention and was unexpectedly brushed across the face by these plants, the cold sensation like a venomous snake slithering over his face. ¡°Ugh!¡± Matthew tried to endure it, but couldn¡¯t help running to one side to retch. However, his feet slipped on the moss underneath, and he fell directly towards the water channel. Splash! Just in the nick of time, Matthew only felt a powerful force pulling him by the back of his neck, and when he opened his eyes, his face was just half a meter from the water, and the stench assailed his nostrils. Bi Fang¡¯s flashlight swept towards the place where the splash had come from, but it was too late; all he saw was a slender tail, before ripples spread and the shadow disappeared into the water channel. ¡°Be careful, the ground is covered with moss and it¡¯s very slippery.¡± Bi Fang pulled Matthew up, now somewhat doubting whether this guy would actually be of any help to him, given his poor performance. ¡°What was that thing?¡± Matthew asked with lingering fear, ¡°A salamander?¡± He could only hope that the owner of that slender tail was something relatively ¡°cute¡± like a salamander. ¡°Snake, probably. Salamanders, although adaptable, lack scales and their skin is vulnerable to bacterial attacks. They require cleaner water than what is found in these industrial sewers. Even standing here I can smell the stench. Household sewage is a possibility, but don¡¯t get too close to the water channel. A bite, even from a non-venomous snake, would not be good in this situation. Here, you even have to be careful of non-venomous snakes.¡± The appearance of the snake startled everyone, particularly as they looked around at the pitch-black surroundings. The viewers were even more anxious that a venomous snake might suddenly leap out and bite them on the leg. ¡°[I¡¯m already hiding under my blanket]¡± ¡°[It has a sense of adventure]¡± ¡°[Feels like a horror movie]¡± ¡°Due to long periods of neglect, a stable ecosystem has formed here: rats, snakes, cockroaches, they could all survive here. As invaders, this environment is not friendly to us,¡± Bi Fang said, leading the way with his flashlight, ¡°The sewer ecosystems of each city are different, related to rainfall, temperature, and the pH level of groundwater. The most important thing to avoid here is injury. It¡¯s easier to get infected here than outdoors, especially with parasites. Once there¡¯s an open wound, they can enter through the bloodstream and lay eggs in your body.¡± Rats, cockroaches, snakes. Just hearing about these creatures made the Shuiyou¡¯s scalps tingle, wishing they could give wings to Master Fang to fly out of this hellish place. It was too terrifying. Even if they weren¡¯t experiencing it firsthand, just watching the live stream felt like someone was breathing down their necks. But looking back, the living room was empty, nothing there. Bi Fang glanced at the map in his hand: ¡°Another kilometer and we¡¯ll cross the street to directly underneath the shipyard. The shipyard is by the shore, and the sewer exit is there too, so there are water turbines set up. If we pass the turbines and walk a little further, we¡¯ll reach the warehouse. With the entire city out of power, at least we don¡¯t have to worry about being sliced into pieces by the turbines.¡± Bi Fang tried to lighten the mood with a joke, but it was to no avail; Matthew felt the sewers become even colder. It was as if they were walking through the intestines of a behemoth¡ªcold, wet, slippery, and revolting. As they rounded a bend, Bi Fang also saw a few empty tin cans and some rotten magazines. Matthew stepped on a small pile of pale yellow rubbery material, which looked like deflated balloons or rubber gloves without the palm section. The live stream quickly blurred the image with a mosaic, making Matthew feel as sick as if he had saved up two weeks¡¯ worth of phlegm in a steamer to stew. It was incomprehensible why there would be so many rubber gloves accumulated here. Just as Matthew was about to vomit, Bi Fang suddenly stopped in his tracks and shone the light upward. A gigantic water turbine appeared before everyone. It was extremely close. Chapter 356: 354 Flammable and Explosive Chapter 356: Chapter 354 Flammable and Explosive The giant waterwheel with a diameter of over two meters slowly rotated, thrilling every spectator who saw this scene. [Damn, that¡¯s a huge waterwheel!] [So this is what a sewer looks like? The movies didn¡¯t lie to me] [I always thought it was fake] [Why is it still turning, is there still electricity?] Bi Fang pointed at the water channel below the waterwheel, ¡°The waterwheel has already stopped; it¡¯s the flow of water that¡¯s pushing the blades. It has rained yesterday and the day before, accumulating lots of wastewater in the sewer, which naturally flows towards the ocean and rivers at lower elevations. Also, due to the unique structure of the blades, they continue to rotate, though the force is weak and it can be easily stopped.¡± Here, the sewer had widened to resemble a river, with droplets of water jumping and rolling between the blades, carrying large swathes of polluted algae. The two climbed up the iron ladder beside the waterwheel, ran through the flume, and faced the slowly approaching blades. Bi Fang reached out and grabbed one, the blade was heavy, and it cut through the water like a steel knife under the effect of the current. Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t very fast, and they were just barely able to block it. ¡°In a normal operating status, the more than a meter-long stainless steel blades could easily shred an adult into pieces, which would then be discharged into the sea along with the wastewater, to be eaten by schools of fish, leaving no trace for anyone to discover.¡± As the blades passed close by, Bi Fang and Matthew took the opportunity to move across, sliding down the damp pipe wall. Bi Fang shined his flashlight down at the pipe below and said. ¡°There should have been layers of cleaning nets here to intercept the waste in the water. Cleanup workers would shovel the sediment and waste that had accumulated at the bottom of the pipe and carry it to the sewage chute above, but I suspect the cleaning nets may have been damaged. Otherwise, the build-up of several months of dirt would have blocked up the place long ago.¡± His voice echoed through the pipes. As everyone followed the direction of the flashlight beam, sure enough, a large wire mesh had already been torn open, and all the original algae and trash had flowed out through the hole, rendering it utterly ineffective as a cleaning agent. Bi Fang turned off his flashlight without lingering further: ¡°Let¡¯s go, we didn¡¯t come here to look at small water channels, let¡¯s hurry, we¡¯re less than five hundred meters from our destination.¡± Matthew followed behind Bi Fang and asked, ¡°How come you know so much about the sewers too?¡± ¡°Read more books.¡± Matthew: ¡°¡­¡± ¡­ The sound of footsteps echoed through the pipes. ¡°Did you hear that?¡± Bi Fang whispered, silently gesturing upwards with his hand. Matthew caught on instantly, holding his breath to listen. Soft footsteps began to sound from overhead, his eyes shining. ¡°From now on, don¡¯t speak loudly, in a tubular space, any sound can be magnified and carried far away. We must be careful not to be discovered. Take this,¡± Bi Fang instructed as he handed Matthew a pebble, ¡°hold it in your mouth, so you won¡¯t make a sound if something unexpected happens.¡± sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Matthew awkwardly accepted the stone, thinking of stuffing it into his mouth, but after two attempts, he felt too foolish to proceed. Seeing the hesitation on his face, Bi Fang reassured, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve washed it; it¡¯s clean.¡± ¡°Fine!¡± Determined, Matthew closed his eyes and stuffed the pebble into his mouth. When he opened his eyes and looked at Bi Fang again, he discovered that Bi Fang hadn¡¯t also placed a stone in his mouth but had instead turned around to climb the ladder, ready to open the manhole cover. ¡°¡­?¡± Matthew mumbled unclearly, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you holding one?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve undergone professional training and can control the impulse.¡± [Mr. Matthew, we¡¯ve received strict training. No matter how funny something is, we won¡¯t laugh unless we can¡¯t hold it in.] [Ah hahaha!] [Unless we can¡¯t hold it in, ah hahaha!] [Strong Visual Impact] After about a dozen seconds, footsteps were heard above again. Bi Fang turned off his flashlight and climbed the iron ladder, took a deep breath, and carefully pushed the manhole cover. The perspective switched to the first person, with everything pitch-black in view, but soon, a bright light appeared in the middle of the frame, gradually coming into focus. The moment the manhole cover was opened, streams of water poured in through the cracks, turning the silent world into a noisy one; the sound of flowing water disappeared, replaced by the bustling noise of rain. The massive warehouse seemed like a behemoth hidden beneath the night sky, with the air filled with a damp, stifling smell as rain drizzled down. About a dozen bandit gang members, wearing clear raincoats, patrolled around, their flashlights sweeping back and forth. Even though they were from the bandit gangs, they didn¡¯t want any major mistakes happening so close to delivery, so they had arranged a substantial number of people to guard and patrol. Through the raincoats, one could see the bandit gang members¡¯ bulging waists¡ªthere was no doubt that guns were equipped there. ¡°It¡¯s raining,¡± Bi Fang said as he closed the manhole cover, ¡°It must have started on our way here, but the rain isn¡¯t too heavy yet.¡± Gurgle. The bandit gang members, wearing boots, stepped over the manhole cover, gradually moving away, never suspecting that someone was hiding just beneath them. ¡°What do we do now? There are at least ten people there, and you can¡¯t possibly take them all down, not to mention it¡¯s a problem just getting out,¡± Matthew murmured with a pebble in his mouth, speaking indistinctly. The plan was perfect, but reality was harsh. If only the manhole cover led directly into the warehouse, but no one would do such a thing. ¡°Although I have enough bullets now, I can deal with only three to five targets at a time at most, and with Matthew taking one, that makes it around five or six, but the other side has at least fifteen guns, and I don¡¯t even know if they are equipped with grenades or other deadly weapons. Suppressing them with firepower is definitely not an option,¡± he said. The audience fell silent, aware they were only a step away from success, yet that single step held the distance of an entire Mount Everest, virtually insurmountable. Was the rescue mission going to fail just like that? [Maybe we should just give up¡­] [I think so too, it¡¯s too dangerous. With so many people, Master Fang can¡¯t possibly take them all down. Even if he manages to take down most of them, he might still be targeted for retaliation later on. That would be the end.] [Yeah, let¡¯s just drop it.] [I¡¯m just worried someone will guilt-trip us.] [Ha, I¡¯d rather save a goose than a person, pathetic.] [My blood pressure is rising!] ¡°No, there still might be a chance,¡± said Bi Fang. He spread the map out again, shining his flashlight on it. As soon as he¡¯d learned that the passage didn¡¯t lead directly into the warehouse, he considered such a scenario and had planned accordingly. On the map, Bi Fang pointed to a red dot that marked their current manhole cover¡¯s location. Then with a sweep of his hand, covering just a few centimeters, another manhole cover appeared. ¡°It¡¯s not far from the warehouse, still inside the shipyard, only a few steps from the warehouse. If we create enough noise, the guards watching the warehouse won¡¯t have any choice but to investigate.¡± ¡°But how are we going to create enough noise?¡± ¡°Explosion,¡± Bi Fang said as he rolled up the map and stuffed it back into his backpack. He then pulled out a canister of liquid¡ªautomotive antifreeze! Ethylene glycol, highly flammable and explosive! ¡°We¡¯ll just make a time-delayed explosive. As long as it¡¯s powerful enough, at least a third of the guards will be drawn. These guards are spread in four directions; only those in three directions can see us directly. If these people are lured away, we will have our chance to break through!¡± Chapter 357: 355: Gas Mask Chapter 357: Chapter 355: Gas Mask The stench of sewage surged like a tidal wave, the rotten, damp rankness shooting straight to the brain, choking one to the point of breathlessness. ¡°My god, it stinks so bad here! What¡¯s going on? Is this leading directly to the toilets? Just now¡­ hey, what¡¯s wrong with you!?¡± Matthew pinched his nose tightly, tears streaming down his face, his question muffled by the stones in his mouth, but when he turned around, his heart sank. In the pitch-black environment, everyone saw Bi Fang leaning against the wall, continuously retching, his face pale and his eyes bloodshot, while thick saliva dripped unconsciously from his mouth, falling to the ground. ¡°Hey, hey, hey, are you okay?¡± Matthew was so scared he almost jumped, hurrying over to support Bi Fang, which was much more terrifying than vomiting himself. If something happened to Bi Fang now, Matthew would be done for as well. He was just a small accessory, and Matthew was very aware of that. ¡°I¡¯m okay, just give me a moment!¡± Bi Fang leaned against the wall and slowly sat down on the ground, cutting off a piece of his lower clothing, soaking it in water, and covering his mouth and nose with it made him feel a little better. To a normal person, the smell was nauseating, but to Bi Fang, it was amplified a hundred times in his nostrils. The mucous membrane in his nose felt scorched, every olfactory cell was wailing in agony¡ªit was practically like facing a stink bomb head-on! Thinking back to his memory of the smelliest toilets he had visited, and intensifying that odor by dozens of times, was probably how Bi Fang felt right now. The fact that he had made it this far was a testament to his formidable willpower. After several attempts at catching his breath, Bi Fang¡¯s senses cleared up a bit. The remaining distance was less than a hundred meters, but unless he stopped breathing from now on, he couldn¡¯t go any farther. But going there and back was a total of two hundred meters, and in between, he had to find the right spot to make the bomb. It definitely couldn¡¯t be done in less than five minutes¡ªespecially not while constantly moving for those five minutes. Hearing that Bi Fang couldn¡¯t do it, Matthew panicked, ¡°What do we do then?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t rush, let me think, just think¡­¡± Bi Fang¡¯s mind was still a bit fuzzy. The plan had been perfect, but he had never expected to be stumped by this stretch of sewer. The smell here was just too overwhelming. ¡°The smell of a normal sewer is unlikely to break the physiological limit of humans. I suspect there might be hydrogen sulfide here, and perhaps methane as well. Super-sized factories are equipped with septic tanks to prevent the accumulation of sewage. Months of abandonment may have resulted in a fault in the gas filtration system here, coupled with the failure of the exhaust fan, causing poor air circulation in the sewer and the level of hydrogen sulfide in the air to far exceed normal standards.¡± sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Last July, in Busan, a beautiful place, a 19-year-old girl died from hydrogen sulfide poisoning. The 19-year-old student went to a public toilet near a swimming facility and never came out again.¡± ¡°Twenty minutes later, her companions sensed something was wrong, rushed into the toilet, and found her collapsed on the floor, unconscious. The stench in the toilet was unbearable, and her companion nearly passed out from the fumes while continuously vomiting during the rescue attempt. The girl did not survive and was declared dead from hydrogen sulfide poisoning.¡± ¡°It was also a malfunction in the gas filtering system that had produced a lot of hydrogen sulfide, which was then released from the exhaust vent of the toilet where the girl had her accident. In the cramped toilet, the concentration of hydrogen sulfide reached 1000ppm, which is 60 times higher than the 15ppm safety standard. At high concentrations, hydrogen sulfide can even cause ¡®electrocution-like¡¯ deaths within seconds. The poisoning mechanism of cyanide is similar.¡± Matthew, standing nearby, was listening with his eyes growing wider and wider, and his breathing became lighter and lighter. He looked around, saw Bi Fang and quickly imitated him, tearing off a piece of cloth from his body, dampening it, and covering his mouth and nose. ¡°It¡¯s useless,¡± Bi Fang shook his head. ¡°I covered my mouth and nose to alleviate the irritation. A wet towel is just a fabric of fibers; it can¡¯t block these gas molecules and has no protective effects against poison. If it really could effectively block smoke and poisonous gases, it would also cut off the air supply, making it impossible to breathe.¡± [Damn, is it that dangerous? I¡¯ll never go to a public toilet again.] [Scary, so scary.] [Old Fang knows too much, like a chemist.] [Ah, I looked it up! When hydrogen sulfide enters the bloodstream, it quickly finds an oxidized form of cytochrome oxidase and binds with the trivalent iron in the heme. This enzyme¡¯s trivalent iron should be reduced to a divalent iron to form a reduced-type cytochrome oxidase that passes electrons during the redox process, utilizing molecular oxygen.] [Continued: But hydrogen sulfide steals the trivalent iron, thus blocking the human respiratory chain and causing tissue cells to lack oxygen. Additionally, hydrogen sulfide also has a strong cytotoxic effect on the respiratory system¡¯s lungs, causing severe damage to lung tissues and resulting in pulmonary edema!!!] Quick-reacting netizens had already started searching on Baidu, finding out the dangers of hydrogen sulfide, ¡°What do we do now?¡± Seeing that a wet towel was useless, Matthew had no idea what to do; he was a photographer and had no clue how to save himself in this situation. Unexpectedly, Bi Fang waved his hand, signifying to Matthew to stay calm, ¡°Don¡¯t rush. There are often toxic gases in sewers, so I came prepared for such a situation. In case we encounter this, we can make a simple gas mask. Do you remember what I asked you to do before we came down?¡± ¡°Are you talking about that charcoal?¡± Matthew quickly dropped his backpack, pulling out a big handful of black charcoal particles that Bi Fang had him prepare that morning, but he hadn¡¯t explained why. Now, it was starting to make sense. Bi Fang took the charcoal from him, explaining, ¡°A gas mask generally consists of four parts: a poison filtration material, a smoke filtration material, an isolation material, and a durable sealing material.¡± ¡°What we¡¯re dealing with is toxic gas, so the poison filtration material is essential. In the wild, we only have a few simple options: one is lime soil particles, two is activated carbon, and three is charcoal.¡± Bi Fang took out an empty plastic bottle and used a screwdriver to poke small holes at the bottom to serve as the intake holes for the poison filter, then cut an arch on the other end to fit against the face, ensuring it would match a human¡¯s nose and facial shape. ¡°All three materials are easy to obtain, especially charcoal. However, I¡¯ve processed it a bit to make more effective activated carbon. The preparation of activated carbon is also simple. Just burn wood to create charcoal, then break it into small pieces, put the pieces into a clean nylon net bag, tie the bag closed, and boil it in an acidic solution for over thirty minutes to remove the oily substance.¡± Matthew suddenly understood. ¡°No wonder you had me put vinegar in this morning! It¡¯s acetic acid, right?¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Bi Fang nodded. ¡°Vinegar contains acetic acid, but you can use other acids if you don¡¯t have vinegar: hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, even citric acid, which is added to a lot of foods and even some cosmetics; all of these can be used, as can the alkaline sodium carbonate. If you really have nothing at hand, you could even induce vomiting and use stomach acid to boil.¡± Bi Fang nodded, placed a sponge at the bottom of the bottle where he had made the holes, followed by sawdust, adding 7cm and compressing it down to 5cm. Then he placed a layer of gauze above it, followed by 3cm of activated carbon, and topped with another sponge. A simple gas mask was thus completed. ¡°All we need now is a sealing material for the face mask, a plastic bag will do. Just make sure it¡¯s soft, thick, and transparent, and most importantly, airtight.¡± Bi Fang pushed the body of the canister out of the bag, sealed the joints firmly with tape, and added an adjustable strap through the canister before handing it to Matthew. ¡°The path ahead you must take on your own.¡± ¡°Alright¡­ Huh?¡± Matthew took the gas mask, about to put it on his head, when he heard this and was taken aback, pointing to himself, ¡°Me?¡± Bi Fang nodded. ¡°Yes, you. To be frank, my sense of smell is much more developed than the average person. I smell several times what you can, and I can no longer move forward.¡± ¡°Also, don¡¯t use antifreeze to ignite an explosion. Just spread it on the ground, and remember not to use an open flame. Use the method I taught you last time, wrapping potassium permanganate and antifreeze with newspaper. The ignition will take about thirty seconds. Once ready, throw it on the ground then run towards me. Be quick, understand?¡± Bi Fang¡¯s expression was serious; the presence of hydrogen sulfide had made him change some of his plans. In sewers, nine out of ten gases are flammable and can explode, which is why he had avoided using an open flame all this time. Had his flashlight not been a highly sealed military grade one, he might not have used it at all. The magnitude of an explosion¡¯s force depends on how much explosive material there is. A whole barrel of antifreeze combined with half a barrel of gasoline might attract some attention if it explodes, but the effect would certainly be limited. But what about all the hydrogen sulfide and methane in the entire sewer system? If half the street blew up, how many people would that draw over? Chapter 358: 356: Blood Shadow Chapter 358: Chapter 356: Blood Shadow ¡°I¡¯m going!¡± Matthew, solemn, turned and left without looking back. The light beam shone on him, casting his elongated shadow against the wall, leaving the audience with a sense of tragic heroism, as if a warrior were descending into the chilly waters of Yi River, never to return. Bi Fang was quite at ease as he walked away, leaning against the wall and gazing after Matthew until his figure vanished into the light. As long as Matthew followed his instructions, there shouldn¡¯t be too much risk involved. Half a minute¡ªthat¡¯s how long it takes a normal person to run at least one hundred and fifty meters, enough to escape the danger zone. [It¡¯s a bit scary to walk through the sewers alone] [Agreed, it wasn¡¯t so bad with two people, but now, alone with just a flashlight, it feels kinda scary¡­] [Feels like we¡¯re watching a horror movie] [The Brave Man Shrinks His Feet] In his dormitory, Cao Lifeng couldn¡¯t help but withdraw his feet from outside the covers back under them and pinched the corner of his blanket to make sure it was tight before continuing to watch. Following behind Matthew, the drone captured him walking alone, flashlight in hand, meandering through the dark passageway. The water flow next to him was almost stagnant, with an occasional light splash as if something had fallen into the water. The clear snot reached the corner of Matthew¡¯s lips, only to be sucked back up. He wore a gas mask, yet it seemed Matthew could still smell the stench, which reverberated within his brain, even causing his eyes to start swelling and tear up from the irritation. ¡°I never knew Master Fang¡¯s sense of smell was this strong. Just walking up to here is unbearable for me; I can hardly imagine what it would be like under his nose.¡± [Master Fang truly has an extraordinary sense of smell!] [Is there really such a thing as a natural talent for smell?] [Yes, there is. I have a senior in my graduate program with this talent. Just by smell, he can tell you what experiment you¡¯ve been conducting.] [The difference between humans can sometimes be even greater than that between humans and dogs.] [¡°Humans have a poor sense of smell¡± is actually a 19th-century meme. The human olfactory bulb is small in proportion to the entire brain, but not smaller than that of other animals. In laboratory tests for specific odors, humans can detect some scents better than both rats and dogs, each species having their strengths and weaknesses in scent detection.] [Ah, an unknown expert has appeared!] [Useless knowledge increased!] Matthew looked at the barrage of comments on the drone and felt a bit of the tension in his heart fade away in the face of the unknown darkness. The audience was right; it¡¯s natural to be scared when walking alone at night, let alone in such a dark tunnel. Thinking this, Matthew quickened his pace. A distance of a hundred meters was a matter of mere seconds. Using the military-grade LED flashlight to illuminate the map, he quickly reached his destination. Looking down at the fault at his feet, he shifted the beam of light upwards, revealing a manhole cover. ¡°Generally speaking, a place with manhole covers indicates a deep well.¡± Since the drone was following him, Matthew felt a responsibility to retain Bi Fang¡¯s audience, so he began to give a brief introduction to them. Of course, most of this knowledge came from what Bi Fang had told him, with some insights gained from studying sewage system maps. ¡°There are three manhole covers here; it must be a septic tank!¡± Modern septic tanks all have Grade 3 Septic Treatment, always equipped with three manhole covers. Below the well there was another passage. To get a clearer view, Matthew tied his flashlight to his waist belt, climbing down a metal ladder. Halfway down, he reached through the rungs to hold his mask steady with one hand, while the other hand unfastened the flashlight to illuminate the surface of the water in the well. The wastewater well was only four or five meters deep, with rainwater seeping through the soil and accumulating at the bottom. The water was pitch-black, how many years of stagnant decay it contained was anyone¡¯s guess. ¡°Just now, Bi Fang warned me to stay far away from these stagnant waters, or if I were to fall in, the best-case scenario would be disability, worst case, death. This kind of wastewater contains a variety of microbes, parasitic eggs, and an extremely high number of toxic substances. If someone were to fall into it, they could suffer acute lung injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute¡­ uh.¡± Matthew frowned, trying hard to recall, but the long list of professional terms was just too hard to remember; the fact that he could remember so much was already no small feat. ¡°What was it again? I forgot, but basically, there are a lot of diseases, and the chance of these diseases occurring is extremely high, and they can easily cause disability or death. Plus, many toxic gases are heavier than air and settle at the bottom, leading to oxygen deficiency. Oh my god, Master Fang was right, I feel like I¡¯m having difficulty breathing already, I need to hurry up and get back.¡± Matthew took a few deep breaths from his gas canister to recover his strength, then shook his flashlight around inside the well. Dimly, something blood-red floated on the surface of the water. Matthew squinted, lowering his hand further; he wanted to see more clearly. The patch of light from the flashlight swayed in the pitch-black depths of the well, like a searchlight. The circular patch of light moved about, gradually illuminating what was below, and the blood-red colour inside the well became clearer, resembling¡­ a human shape. Matthew¡¯s face showed a look of horror, as the vivid, striking red in front of him resembled freshly spilled blood! As the light trembled and moved in front of the red, the audience finally saw the blood-red object. It was a blood-coloured coat, hooked and hanging at the bottom of the well by a wire mesh, as if someone was standing in the black water. At this moment, the hearts of all the viewers watching the program skipped a beat; such a shocking scene almost uncontrollably triggered their micturition reflex! Only the uniform ¡°Holy shit!¡± in the bullet comments could express their feelings at the moment. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Holy shit!] [I nearly peed myself just now!] [Not talking anymore, I¡¯m going to change my pants] [I¡¯m straight up¡ªstraight up!] [Stop dilly-dallying and finish up quickly, let¡¯s get out of here, this place isn¡¯t for humans] Numerous viewers, who were frightened into a psychological shadow, quickly urged Matthew to finish everything and then leave. Matthew readily agreed and went to the platform beside the bottom of the well, taking out antifreeze and gasoline from his bag. The gasoline had been siphoned from the off-road vehicle. It wasn¡¯t much, just half a can, but it was indeed an excellent combustion agent. He poured both liquids onto the ground, then climbed back up the iron ladder. He poured potassium permanganate onto a piece of newspaper that had absorbed some antifreeze, crumpled it into a ball, and violently hurled it toward the bottom of the well, then ran back without looking back. In the sealed passageway, substances collided, and a chemical reaction was happening rapidly; just a single spark would be enough to blow the entire deep well sky-high. The feeling was like a military dog running through a hoop of blazing fire, surrounded by terrifyingly high temperatures and flames. If he were tested on the hundred-meter dash in such a place, Matthew believed that even at over thirty-five, he could still score an excellent time! The two-hundred-meter distance went by in a flash, and Matthew clearly saw Bi Fang¡¯s figure not far away. Seeing Matthew running over, Bi Fang had a measure in mind; he stepped forward, grabbed Matthew¡¯s collar, turned the corner, and hid inside a recess in the wall. In the distant well, the paper ball landed in the water, rapidly generating heat. The crumpled paper began to shrink and smoke, and the flames quickly followed, with one last spark appearing. The next second, the flames shot up violently, and the fire soared into the air. The entire waste water well blazed furiously, and the coat in the water seemed to dance in the flames, dancing as it turned into ashes. ¡°Boom!¡± Chapter 359: 357 Chapter 359: 357 The deafening explosion sounded from a hundred meters behind, shaking the entire shipyard. The violent explosion burst from the narrow passage, and the surging flames burst out like an oversized welding torch. The high temperature rapidly drained the oxygen within the channel, Matthew knelt on the ground, his face swelling into a bizarre purple-red, his ears¡¯ sponges trembling slightly. Next to him, Bi Fang pressed hard on the back of Matthew¡¯s neck, lying motionless on the ground, feeling the scorching airflow whipping past. The audience watched in horror as the air distorted and waved due to the heat, and in that moment, everyone seemed to lose their hearing. On the ground, amidst the blinding firelight, a metal manhole cover was thrown into the air by the shockwave of the explosion, reaching a height of twenty meters before crashing back down, embedding itself into the shattered concrete. ¡°What¡¯s going on? What¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°Someone, anyone!¡± ¡°Has the army attacked us!?¡± ¡°Help!¡± Shouts echoed through the night, some buildings suddenly lit up, and the quiet darkness was completely shattered. Countless people panicked, deafened by the enormous sound of the explosion, with bright columns of light and the roar of motorcycles rushing in. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Minutes later, Bi Fang picked up the dazed Matthew and re-entered the passage, heading for the manhole cover in front of the warehouse gate. Along the way, everyone could see that the scene in the sewer was completely different than before. The walls were scorched and cracked, the moss climbing the walls burned to a crisp, leaving only a few parts flickering with dark red light in the darkness. The stench in the air was even thicker, but it wasn¡¯t the smell of hydrogen sulfide, but the stench after the sewage was evaporated, like dried excrement. ¡°Ugh!¡± Arriving below the manhole cover, Matthew could no longer bear it and vomited out loud, the high temperatures from the explosion and the ringing in his ears surging up in that moment. Bi Fang climbed up the iron ladder, carefully lifting the cover, speaking without much surprise, ¡°Vomit it out; you¡¯ll feel much better after.¡± Under the starless night sky, a dark figure silently observed everyone from the corner of a road, the manhole cover balanced on top. Bi Fang watched as the lights of the motorcycles scattered like fireflies to every corner of the shipyard and then extinguished. People poured out from every building, fleeing and wailing. Just as Matthew had said, these people really were half-baked, standing on the ruins relying on ruthlessness and viciousness. If it had been a trained crowd, the situation would not look like this. All passageways would have been guarded long before now, at least until the explosion was thoroughly investigated, they shouldn¡¯t allow free movement of personnel! His gaze swept around the warehouse. The dozen or so guards that were originally stationed had mostly run away, leaving only a few scattered around, even hesitating in place. Matthew asked from below, ¡°How is it? Any use?¡± ¡°Yes! Wait here for me!¡± Bi Fang pushed the manhole cover open and leaped out of the well, climbing the iron ladder. After he carefully replaced the cover, he crouched down and ran forward like a leopard, disappearing into the grass beside him. In a building not far away, members of the Bandit Gangs gathered. Soon someone pushed the door and entered. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Is it the loyalists or the rebels, or have they all started fighting?¡± The Boss of the Bandit Gangs was tense. Such a commotion, aside from the military, he couldn¡¯t imagine any other situation. For months, the Bandit Gangs had been imposing their will on the entire city, with everyone avoiding them as they acted like they ruled the world. But facing a real army, they were no better than stray dogs; no, not even dogs, just rats from the sewer that could be burned clean with a single fire. ¡°No¡­nobody attacked,¡± panted the young man as he ran in, simultaneously swinging the door open. Blazing light poured into the dark hall, not sunlight, but the glow of fire. The flamess seemed to gush forth from the bowels of the earth, shooting high into the air. Charred human figures ran through the fire, and huge steel devices burned as they flipped and fell. Bi Fang¡¯s heart seized, and he abruptly grabbed an ashtray to smash forward. The young man let out a blood-curdling scream, clutching his bleeding forehead as he dropped to his knees, not understanding why the Boss suddenly hit him. ¡°Still say no one attacked! If no one did, did you start this fire?¡± Boss¡¯s eyes were full of bloodshot rage, his face terrifying. The young man lay on the ground, blood continuing to stream from his forehead. He reached up to touch it, feeling as if a piece had caved in, tears of pain brimming as he quickly explained, ¡°Really, Boss, if someone had attacked, we would have known earlier. Not a single person, I swear. I heard Sabbas say it might be the underground natural gas pipeline that exploded, that¡¯s why. Half the road got blasted away, and a few guys were in the bathroom at the time. They can¡¯t be found now, seems like they were burned to death.¡± Bandit Gang Boss was taken aback and walked to the door to look around. It seemed indeed there was no one. The chaos was solely due to his own unreliable men. They were not from the military. The fear that had risen in Bandit Gang Boss¡¯s heart sank back down, relieved. ¡°No attack is good, no attack is good,¡± he muttered, looking at the young man to the side, devoid of further intent, and waved a dismissive hand, ¡°Alright, alright, go get that wrapped up. Can¡¯t even talk properly.¡± The young man dared not say more and bowed his head as he withdrew. ¡°Wait, the ¡®goods¡¯ weren¡¯t damaged, were they?¡± ¡°No, they were close, but it didn¡¯t reach there.¡± ¡°Good, hurry and put out the fire, so many troubles even this late at night.¡± Watching his subordinate¡¯s retreating figure, Bandit Gang Boss rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Is there even natural gas these days?¡± ¡°It must be marsh gas.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡­ In the shadows, a figure stealthily lurked, hiding its body behind bushes that hadn¡¯t been trimmed in months, thoroughly concealed. From the northeast corner of the warehouse, through the gaps in the bushes, the drone gave the audience a clear view of the warehouse¡¯s outline. This was the best position for an assault. Rock Climbing had checked thoroughly; from this direction, there was only one guard, whose angle of view was off. Quick and decisive action meant no one would notice. Rock Climbing smeared some black ash on his face and tore off a piece of rag, then boldly approached his target. ¡°Hey, stop, don¡¯t move! Who are you?¡± The moment Rock Climbing appeared near the warehouse, the guard spotted him and moved his hand toward his waist. The more chaos, the less room for error. The guard was acutely aware of this. Thus, as Rock Climbing approached, he moved to draw his gun to fend him off, but before his hand could even grasp the gun, a white towel was suddenly hurled at his face. What a joke, playing catch with a handkerchief? A flicker of absurdity crossed the guard¡¯s mind as he instinctively reached out with his left hand to grab it, but the next second, a hand firmly caught his wrist! Immediately after, a huge force struck the guard¡¯s left cheek! Chapter 360: 358 Chapter 360: 358 First, disrupt the opponent¡¯s vision. A white strip of cloth floated before his eyes, and the guard reached out to grab it subconsciously, but immediately sensed something was wrong. Then, block his blind attack. As the guard unfurled the cloth and threw a punch, a straight punch struck him on the left cheek, muscle ripples spreading across his face, suppressing any words back into his belly. Burst both eardrums. Bi Fang clapped his hands onto the guard¡¯s ears on both sides, intense dizziness instantly deprived the man of his consciousness. In desperation, the opponent would flail punches blindly, using his elbow to block, then striking the torso. With his left elbow blocking the arm, Bi Fang¡¯s right hand took advantage of the situation to hit the guard¡¯s liver area, a sharp pain zapping through like electricity. Dizziness, tinnitus, severe pain. Wave upon wave of these sensations assaulted him, and the guard had completely lost his reason, forgetting what he should be doing at that moment; of course, he could no longer do anything. Even someone with the strongest of wills could not endure the pain of a ruptured liver. The human body is not a perfect system. Striking the ears with the fist or palm can cause rupture of the tympanic membrane in the middle ear due to external shock and the impact of air pressure, leading to internal bleeding, pain, tinnitus, and loss of hearing. Moreover, Bi Fang had also powerfully struck the opponent¡¯s liver. When the head is hit, the first sensation is extreme dizziness, not pain, and one still has a certain ability to move. Whereas, when a liver is ruptured, the person¡¯s mind remains clear, but the intense pain is hard to control, forcing the body to fall to the ground the next second, and the brain, sensing that an important organ has been damaged, compels the body to fall and curl up to protect itself. The liver itself does not have pain receptors, but it is surrounded by many nerves. When the liver is struck, the sensation of pain will be transmitted to the nervous system throughout the body within seconds. The heartbeat quickens, breathing becomes rapid, and the blood flow will be uncontrollable. An adult male being hit in the liver with a velocity of 5 meters per second can be diagnosed with liver damage. And Bi Fang¡¯s fist had just reached a speed of nearly seven meters per second! Of course, everyone¡¯s nerve response varies, and the opponent may have the chance to counterattack, delivering the final blow. So, could this guard become the victor of a desperate counterattack? Before the guard collapsed, Bi Fang stepped forward, half-twisting his body, his left elbow striking the left side of the jaw, completely dislocating it, then he followed up with another attack to the liver area, finally lifting his right foot and kicking squarely on the opponent¡¯s diaphragm. The guard lay on the ground, curled up, his face pale as if dehydrated; he had entirely lost the ability to move. Bi Fang picked up the white cloth, approached the guard, and kicked him in the back of the head, casually draping the white cloth over the guard¡¯s face. Assessment of effects: Severe tinnitus, fractured jawbone, three cracked ribs, four broken ribs, hemorrhaging of the diaphragm, liver damage, estimated recovery time for normal physiological functions exceeding ten weeks, psychological recovery time¡­ There is no psychological recovery time¡ªdoctors couldn¡¯t possibly be found here. The patient would have to lay in bed for a lifetime, at the very least. The audience in front of the screen were stunned by Bi Fang¡¯s swift and fierce actions. This was the first time Master Fang had taken the initiative to strike. He had dealt with humans before, but whether it was Poachers or bandits, it was always in counterattack. Only this time did he launch a proactive strike as he decided to rescue someone, and his ferocity shocked everyone. [The guard is coming, the guard is down!] [Wori, that was ferocious] [Seven steps out, the gun is fast; within seven steps, the fist is fast!] [Seven steps out, the gun is fast; within seven steps, the gun is swift and accurate!] ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Bi Fang waved toward the manhole cover, and Matthew, who had been covertly on the lookout, immediately pushed open the cover and followed suit. Upon reaching Bi Fang, Matthew looked around apprehensively, noticing a considerable number of people in several other directions. He quickly pulled his head back and asked, ¡°How do we get in?¡± There were no entrances in their immediate vicinity, which probably explained the sparse guard presence. Bi Fang pointed at a window high up on the wall, more than three and a half meters above: ¡°We¡¯ll build a human ladder; you boost me up.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± With urgency at hand, Matthew didn¡¯t hesitate. He immediately crouched down, and Bi Fang, bracing himself against the wall, sat on his shoulder. Matthew¡¯s face turned red. Though fit, the past days spent in Yemen had drained his energy significantly below normal levels. His temples bulging with visible veins, Matthew, leaning against the wall, slowly stood up. Even so, Bi Fang was still a distance away from the window. The criminals had intentionally designed it this way; the higher the windows, the harder it was for those inside to observe outside, making it difficult to plan an escape route. At the same time, it also made management easier¡ªshutting the door in the case of an emergency would ensure absolute security. ¡°Just a little longer!¡± ¡°I can hold on!¡± Teetering on Matthew¡¯s shoulders, Bi Fang reached out to grab the ledge and, with a practiced pull-up, leaned over the edge of the window. With one more push, he hoisted himself up. Matthew, his shoulders suddenly unburdened, almost collapsed, gasping for breath as he sat on the ground. ¡°You keep watch outside. If you see someone coming, throw a stone at the window. If there¡¯s danger, don¡¯t try to fight; just run. Got it?¡± Matthew made an OK sign and then crouched down into the bushes nearby, all the while clutching a broken stone tightly in his hand. The untrimmed bushes easily concealed a grown person¡¯s figure. Plus, it was night; even if someone stood right next to Matthew, they probably wouldn¡¯t notice him. Assured that he wouldn¡¯t be easily detected, Bi Fang turned his attention to the window before him. He squinted into the darkness, unable to discern anything within. Shouts from inside masked other sounds, but he was too close, and the distinctive noise of breaking glass could easily draw attention. He was less than ten meters away from the other guards! Such a high window wasn¡¯t designed to be opened in the first place; it simply couldn¡¯t be opened. Bi Fang examined the window and said, ¡°It¡¯s a very old window, still fixed with iron nails. These types of windows aren¡¯t hard to dismantle; we just need to pry off the nails to open it.¡± S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He then took out a dagger and began to pry along the seam. The old window used several thin iron nails to fix the glass in place; removing the nails would allow the glass to be taken out intact. The wood, neglected over the years, had become very soft. The dagger slid in almost effortlessly, easily prying out the nails. Soon, Bi Fang had removed the first pane of glass. A strong, foul smell immediately made him furrow his brow. Perhaps his sense of smell had adapted to the odors of the sewer, for it wasn¡¯t until he opened the window that Bi Fang smelled the damp, musty scent. ¡°My goodness, what a strange smell¡ªit¡¯s like moldy mushrooms, damp, cold, and accompanied by a stench of decay. The situation inside might be worse than we anticipated.¡± Just the smell alone gave an idea of the torment the people inside were enduring. ¡°I can¡¯t get through a single pane; we¡¯ll have to pry off some more.¡± However, just after Bi Fang had successfully removed the second pane of glass, a stone struck him in the back. Someone was coming! Chapter 361: 359: Even Someone of Such an Old Age? Chapter 361: Chapter 359: Even Someone of Such an Old Age? Damn it! Cold sweat instantly squeezed out of Matthew¡¯s forehead, the clump of dirt in his hand was crushed into a ball, which he then punched into the ground. Looking towards the shadow on the high wall, it was still there! Why now of all times? Couldn¡¯t it be earlier or later? Around the corner of the warehouse, two shaky figures approached, causing all the viewers to break out in a cold sweat. What to do, what to do? Matthew¡¯s mind raced, but he didn¡¯t have Bi Fang¡¯s skills. Facing two armed individuals, he had absolutely no chance of success, and with Bi Fang¡¯s warning, even if he was determined to lead them away, he couldn¡¯t act on it. The vague figures drew closer, and all Matthew could do was pray that Bi Fang, lying atop the high wall, could take them by surprise and take them out before they could shout¡ªbut just as Matthew almost made out the appearance of the two individuals, he looked again at the window on the high wall only to find that the figure prying at the window had vanished! Did he go in? Taken aback, Matthew breathed a sigh of relief, but when he looked again, he suddenly noticed something was amiss. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The previously flat window sill seemed uneven, as if something had been added¡­ Matthew¡¯s breath halted, and he instantly understood everything. Bi Fang was still lying there! Such audacity! For safety¡¯s sake, the drone hadn¡¯t followed Bi Fang, but instead stayed hidden in the bushes with Matthew. Through the drone¡¯s night vision mode, the viewers could see even more clearly¡ªBi Fang was indeed lying motionless by the window! He hadn¡¯t gone in, nor had he made any other movements! Everyone was so shocked they couldn¡¯t speak. In the dark night, barely visible, Bi Fang had paused his movements, attempting to bluff his way past the guards right under their watchful eyes! Could it be possible? Watching the guards drawing closer, everyone¡¯s hearts fluttered with unease. Bi Fang had tried to slip through the window opened by removing two panes of glass, but he didn¡¯t have the ability to ¡°compress his bones,¡± and with a hole obviously smaller than his frame, he couldn¡¯t possibly get through quickly! To break the window would undoubtedly be the most foolish method as it would definitely reveal his position, and to take them down quietly and unawares was equally difficult. After brief consideration, Bi Fang decided to take a gamble. In the darkness and rain, taking advantage of the guards¡¯ carelessness and panic, Bi Fang lay petrified at the window edge, pressing tightly against the glass, trying to make his body as flat as possible, his breathing barely perceptible, no sign of his chest rising or falling¡ªan act so convincing one might believe he was a corpse! Matthew¡¯s breathing seemed to pause along with Bi Fang¡¯s, but his heart raced madly as the two individuals drew closer, his oxygen rapidly depleting, he should have felt suffocated by now, yet it was as if he had forgotten the matter. Here they come, here they come! Through the drone¡¯s feed, the viewers could clearly see two guards wearing semi-transparent raincoats heading towards another side of the warehouse. They walked directly to the base of the high wall, everyone¡¯s hearts pounding at their peak, nearly bursting from their chests. Bi Fang was right above them, and where a guard should have been was now empty. Would they notice something? The guard who was previously knocked unconscious had already been dragged into the bushes by Matthew, a rookie mistake Bi Fang would naturally not expose. Yet, with such open surroundings, it was similarly prone to arousing suspicion. Yet, seeing no one around, the two guards at the bottom of the wall not only failed to be alert but even mocked the situation. ¡°Has everyone run off?¡± ¡°They¡¯re sure scared, getting this frightened by a small explosion. The last time a rocket launcher exploded right by my feet and I wasn¡¯t this scared. Soma is definitely going to chew us out for not putting out the fire quickly.¡± ¡°Enough, I¡¯ve heard you brag so many times before. If it really exploded right by your feet, would you still be able to talk to me now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s true!¡± Chatting idly, the two gradually walked away. ¡°Phew!¡± A gust of cold wind blew by, sending a shocking chill through the already sweat- and rain-soaked shirt. Matthew gasped for air, and only then did he feel the deadly lack of oxygen, taking deep breaths as his heart was filled with after-fear. ¡°I actually fooled them.¡± [Fuck, that was too thrilling, just like watching a damn ¡®Mission: Impossible¡¯ movie!] [Even movies aren¡¯t this thrilling.] [I took a sip of room-temperature water, then downed a couple of nitroglycerin tablets.] [You even rhymed, bro.] Watching Bi Fang as he got up again to pry the window, the audience couldn¡¯t handle it. It was too much; the thrill was unbearable. Master Fang had guts for sure. Any normal person would be scared to death in this situation, but only Old Fang dared to play dead under the enemy¡¯s nose. You should know, Bi Fang on the wall was practically a live target; one shot toward the top of the wall by the two men and it would have been over, but he actually managed to fool them! No wonder he was the man who could counterattack even Black Bear, his mental strength was impressive! As the two men walked away again, Bi Fang quickly got to his feet, speeding up his movements to remove the third pane of glass from the window and gently placed it aside. All three panes of glass were removed, Bi Fang grabbed the wooden window frames in two places, and with a forceful pull, a slight dismantling noise was heard, and the whole window was torn down, creating an opening that could accommodate an adult. The musty smell in the air grew stronger. Bi Fang stepped into the inside of the warehouse, which was pitch black, and wanted to turn on his flashlight to check the surroundings and see if the floor was even enough for a Fall Protection maneuver. The beam of light shone, illuminating the cold white reflections off the dark metal cages. Shouts of surprise rang out, and Bi Fang immediately turned down his flashlight, issuing a low warning. ¡°Shh! Quiet, everyone!¡± Realizing that the newcomer was somewhat different, the crowd in the warehouse quickly quieted down, without causing too much commotion. Bi Fang waited on the spot for a while to make sure he hadn¡¯t attracted the guard¡¯s attention, then turned to gesture towards the underbrush not far away. The drone immediately rushed over. The images transmitted by the drone left the audience silent, followed by an erupting rage. In the camera¡¯s view was not any single beds or straw mats but small iron-wire cages. Each cage contained two to three, yes, two to three, not one by one, and the increased number of people made the cages seem even smaller. The individuals inside could not stand, only curl up in the corners. Without exception, they were all dirty and disheveled, emaciated, some to the point where it was impossible to tell men from women. These weren¡¯t humans; they were clearly being treated like livestock! Bi Fang gasped in shock, as someone who had been human for two lifetimes, he had never seen such a scene. Directly below him were cages. As Bi Fang dropped down from the high wall, he landed on a cage before carefully making his way to the ground. Perhaps his unique entrance led the captives to surmise something, and Bi Fang could even see some people¡¯s eyes lit up upon his arrival! ¡°Young man¡­ who are you¡­¡± An old hoarse voice sounded. Bi Fang turned around and illuminated the area with the dim LED light at the end of his flashlight, immediately feeling surprised. There was actually an old man? Bi Fang was puzzled, as normally, human traffickers wouldn¡¯t choose this kind of ¡°goods.¡± Children, men, women were all possible, but the elderly were the most useless¡ªthe old, without the physical attraction, even their organs were hardly of any use. Bi Fang looked around and noticed that except for the old man, the others also seemed keen to know his identity but kept silent. This old man was actually the leader! Chapter 362: 360: Cant Grasp Chapter 362: Chapter 360: Can¡¯t Grasp The audience found it somewhat unbelievable to see the elderly man with white hair and a full beard on screen. Was this Bandit Gang really that indiscriminate in who they abducted? Children, young people, middle-aged folk, men, and women all had their uses, but what was the deal with capturing an old man? Was he just there to mooch off free meals? [I get it.] [You get it again?] [What do you get?] [All I can say is those who get it, get it, and those who don¡¯t, I can¡¯t explain too much. I¡¯ve seen this kind of thing a lot. I just want to say, those who understand, understand; those who don¡¯t, I won¡¯t explain further. After all, it¡¯s enough if you know for yourself. Savor the nuances.] [Could it be someone in the Bandit Gangs has a particularly peculiar taste? (Dog¡¯s head)] [Your logic is compelling and convincing.] [Man, are they really so undiscerning in their hunger?] It must be said, netizens really are a group that can crack jokes at any time. Bi Fang was obviously not concerned with these comments. By just observing that only Old Fang questioned him, he understood that this guy was no ordinary man. After Old Fang spoke, no one else asked any more questions, which at least showed that Bi Fang could command their respect. This was a good sign. There was already a leader in place. If he could just deal with the leader, everything else would be much easier to resolve. This approach was far simpler than if Bi Fang had appeared out of nowhere and then tried to organize everyone to follow him. Realizing this, Bi Fang approached Old Fang, reached out to grab the bars of the cage, and began to look for a way to open it, while explaining, ¡°I¡¯m here to rescue you.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Are you here to save us?¡± ¡°Has our country finally remembered us?¡± ¡°Wuwuwu, this is great, we¡¯re finally being saved.¡± ¡°Finally, finally¡­ hahaha.¡± When they heard Bi Fang¡¯s answer, all the people held captive there were moved to tears. Their tear ducts, which had dried up from excessive weeping, seemed to regain life, and tears fell one by one onto the dusty ground, rolling into beads. They didn¡¯t know how long they had been confined here. Often, men or women were dragged out, only to be brought back half-dead. Or perhaps this unending darkness only took a few days to drive someone to nervous exhaustion. Now, learning that they were finally going to be rescued, everyone was tearfully howling with excitement. However, as soon as this man saw someone howling, he immediately shouted for silence, his voice distorted with a hoarse cry. ¡°Quiet, everyone quiet! Do you want to die?¡± Even Old Fang realized something was wrong and quickly signaled everybody to be silent. But it was not easy to calm the surging emotions all at once, and for a while, the warehouse was filled with crying and laughter. Seeing this, Bi Fang cursed quietly to himself, scanned the surroundings, and quickly found a dark corner to hide in. Moments later, the warehouse door busted open with a bang. The already agitated guard cursed loudly without even looking and fired a shot diagonally upwards: ¡°What¡¯s all the noise? The first one to make noise will be the first to go!¡± The sound of the gunshot was more than ten times more effective than any command to stop. Almost instantly, the shouting in the warehouse ceased. The beam of the flashlight swept around the warehouse. Bi Fang, nestled between gaps of two cages, minimized his exposure by shrinking his body. Fortunately, Old Fang, and the others inside the cage were not fools. They pulled several people closer, moving their bodies to block Bi Fang from view. When the beam swept over, it found nothing out of the ordinary. The guard, confirming that nothing was amiss, grunted coldly. These people had cried and made a fuss when they were first brought in, but in less than a day, they had almost all quieted down. Now, fearing that they knew they were being sent away the next morning, they had started crying again. The recent explosion might have also sparked forbidden thoughts in them. After one more warning shot, the guard closed the large door again. The warehouse plunged into darkness, and from the silence, sporadic low sobs could be heard. Soon, the faint LED lights flickered on once more. ¡°Whew.¡± Bi Fang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. He was so close to being discovered just now, if not for his quick reaction, he would have been spotted for sure, trapped in the middle of the warehouse with no way to fly away. Looking at the several people quietly weeping, he offered a few helpless words of comfort. Seeing this, the old man in the cage asked, ¡°Are you really here to rescue us?¡± ¡°Why would I lie to you?¡± Bi Fang examined the iron cage in front of him, finding it not too difficult to open, and wondered where the Bandit Gangs had gotten so many cages from¡ªa breeding farm, perhaps? The old man perked up immediately upon confirmation: ¡°How many of you are there? The explosion just now was your doing, wasn¡¯t it? Did the military come? No, no, that can¡¯t be right, if it were the military, they (the Bandit Gangs) would have fled by now. Not many people? Is it a small team? There are at least a dozen guards outside, and the entire Bandit Gang has around fifty members. Isn¡¯t a small team a bit risky? You might have plenty of gunpowder, but it won¡¯t stand up to their numbers. I suggest that you first¡­¡± The old man rambled on, clearly an experienced man, doling out analysis after analysis, even offering advice, but before he could finish, the man in front of him waved his hand to interrupt him as he pulled wire cutters from the bag and said. ¡°What small team, there¡¯s just two of us.¡± ¡°Then just take them and¡­ uh, uh-uh.¡± The old man, caught up in his excitement, suddenly choked up, almost unable to believe his ears, and after clearing them out, he whispered incredulously, ¡°Two of you?¡± ¡°Two.¡± Seeing that the other party seemed somewhat unreliable, Bi Fang added, ¡°To be exact, there¡¯s actually only one of us who can move, the other one, aside from providing information, is pretty much like you guys, and might already be keeping you company right now.¡± [Matthew¡¯s reputation has taken a hit] [Matthew: That¡¯s right, I¡¯m just a giveaway with the phone bill] [The one leading the way is none other than my cameraman, Matthew!] [How can you say that? Matthew is Old Fang¡¯s biggest fan, chasing stars all the way to the battlefield. Without him, how could we capture Master Fang¡¯s valiant image? He¡¯s the soul of the team.] [A fan with a camera is not a good journalist.] The old man seemed reluctant to believe: ¡°The explosion just now?¡± ¡°You could think of it as us blowing up a septic tank, but it was actually an explosion of gases like methane and hydrogen sulfide. I was just responsible for lighting a fire.¡± With the wire cut, Bi Fang put on gloves, grabbed the wire mesh, and tore it fiercely to make a large hole. The audience was puzzled, if it could be torn open so easily, how were these people confined in the first place? ¡°Wire mesh can only be torn this way if there¡¯s already a hole. It¡¯s like the snack packages we eat, which always have a small notch or serrated pattern to make it easy to tear open. Otherwise, it¡¯s very difficult to tear. And it¡¯s not just these cages that kept them confined, the people outside are the key.¡± While explaining, Bi Fang had already torn a hole in the cage large enough for an adult to pass through. Although it was odd that Bi Fang specifically took the time to explain this, the old man didn¡¯t care about it at the moment, what he cared about more was whether the other party could truly get them out? If they failed halfway, their fate could end up worse than before. Thinking this, the old man grabbed Bi Fang¡¯s wrist and asked seriously, ¡°What exactly is your plan for rescuing us?¡± Bi Fang was momentarily taken aback, then looked around and saw that many didn¡¯t dare meet his gaze, and suddenly understood. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Human nature is unpredictable, and if he can¡¯t articulate a rescue plan now, these people might betray him before he could even begin the rescue. Strictly speaking, this isn¡¯t malice, all living beings have the instinct to preserve themselves. If Bi Fang¡¯s appearance was like a hero descending from the heavens, filling all the captives with immense relief, when they learned that there were only two rescuers, that relief turned back into despair. If they failed to escape or didn¡¯t get away successfully, their fate would be worse than if they had never attempted to escape. Chapter 363: 361 Congested Sewer Chapter 363: Chapter 361 Congested Sewer Facing the old man¡¯s question, Bi Fang simply took out a map from his bosom and displayed the complex network of sewer lines to everyone present. ¡°We came here all the way from the adjacent sewer without anyone noticing us. At the same time, all the guards in the southeast direction of the warehouse have left, and the only one remaining has already been taken care of. This is your best chance. Believe it or not, it¡¯s up to you. If you want to leave, you can tell me now; if you don¡¯t, then I will take everyone who wants to leave. But if anyone is thinking of snitching¡­¡± Bi Fang¡¯s gaze swept around the room, and even in the dim environment, an invisible pressure seemed to emerge. Each person who met his gaze lowered their heads. At that moment, they felt as though they were in a confined space with someone swinging a flail. Even though they were confident that the flail wouldn¡¯t hit them, fear still spread in their hearts. ¡°You can try.¡± ¡°Cough cough, since that¡¯s the case, I definitely want to leave. If someone really wants to stay, they¡¯d better think clearly about what they are doing.¡± Seeing the atmosphere growing tense, the old man quickly coughed twice to lighten the mood and set the tone, meanwhile giving Bi Fang a nod of approval. The rest of the people no longer had objections, which made Bi Fang even more curious about the man¡¯s identity. After tossing the wire mesh aside, he couldn¡¯t help but inquire about the old man¡¯s identity. Supported by two younger men, the old man emerged from the cage and declared astonishingly, ¡°I am the Chieftain here.¡± Bi Fang frowned. The Chieftain? The viewers in front of the screen were even more puzzled. Wasn¡¯t Abbascan part of the Commonwealth Country? Where did this chieftain come from? Bi Fang, having researched Abbascan thoroughly before the departure, had some clarity. The actual period of Abbascan¡¯s independence was, in fact, not very long. Therefore, even though it was part of the Commonwealth Country, some areas still retained a rather primitive chieftain system, though their actual influence had become minimal. Moreover, the title of chieftain could signify varying levels of authority ¨C at its most significant, one could be the ruler of a nation, while at its most minor, it might be just a tribal leader. It seemed that this man was more than just a minor tribal leader. If he were, it was unlikely he would command such high esteem among this group of people. Three people had been freed, and the actions that followed quickened. Bi Fang took out several wire cutters from his bag and instructed two young men to open the remaining cages. Bi Fang had brought more than one wire cutter, so the more people they rescued, the faster they could solve the problem. He then moved to the warehouse door and pushed the cage that had held the old man against it. With only himself before, it had been easy to hide; but now that so many people were released, if they were suddenly checked, it would be game over. As a precaution, Bi Fang quickly pulled out a length of hemp rope, climbed back onto the high wall using the cage for support, and removed the window frame he had placed earlier. He stood on its base and disassembled it into five wooden sticks¡ªtwo long and three short. He took two long sticks and crossed them into a shape of a cross, tying them securely with rope, thus creating a simple crucifix. Bi Fang placed the crucifix in the corner of the window, gave it a forceful tug, and seeing the cross hold steady, he nodded in satisfaction. Outside the high wall, without the cage to step on, the height was close to four meters. Anyone without proper training could easily get hurt from the descent. Any sprained ankle could drastically slow down the tempo of the group, and if someone involuntarily cried out in pain, that would be even more trouble. Seeing Bi Fang¡¯s organized and methodical rescue operation instilled confidence in the people. Thus, they accelerated the pace of liberating the others. When everyone had been rescued, Bi Fang was the first to leave the warehouse. He surveyed the surroundings, and after confirming once more that there was no one below the high wall, he tossed a pebble into the bushes to signal Matthew to get ready. He then prepared the trapped individuals for evacuation. ¡°Women and children go first, then the disabled, and finally, the healthy men. Remember, as long as you are not discovered, you must wait for the person ahead to enter the bush before the next one appears. The more people outside, the greater the risk of exposure. The smaller the target, the better to hide.¡± After making the arrangements, Bi Fang turned to the old man and said, ¡°You stay with me until the end.¡± Bi Fang wanted the old man to hold the rear to prevent being stabbed in the back by his own people. Moreover, the old man was more familiar with the others and could arrange things better. The old man nodded his head, clearly aware of this and had no objections. Now they were all in the same boat, and there was no need to be wary of anything. As the first woman appeared, Bi Fang helped her onto the iron cage and brought her to the edge of the high wall. He went down first and then instructed the woman to carefully slide down the wall while holding onto the rope. ¡°Keep your center of gravity low, don¡¯t be scared. It¡¯s just four meters; even if you fall, you¡¯ll be fine. Your movements must be steady and quick!¡± Perhaps due to long-term malnutrition, the muscles in the woman¡¯s arms had visibly atrophied. Her hands trembled as she held the rope, making Bi Fang worry she might fall straight down. He stayed below, ready to catch her carefully. Fortunately, maybe the hope of survival gave everyone new strength, and this situation did not occur; the woman landed successfully. When she stepped onto the solid and open ground, the woman could hardly contain her excitement and almost cried out. Bi Fang quickly covered her mouth. ¡°Don¡¯t cry, don¡¯t shout, we haven¡¯t escaped yet!¡± Thinking of the ferocious Bandit Gangs filled the woman¡¯s heart with fear once again. She nodded frantically, and Bi Fang then let go, allowing her to run toward the bushes. Matthew, who had been hiding all along, immediately stood up, grabbed the newcomer, and pulled her into the bushes. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing a figure suddenly appear in the bushes, the woman was almost frightened into making a noise, but she quickly remembered that this was the comrade the other had mentioned and allowed him to take her hand. Indeed, that was the case. Matthew led the woman to a curb beside them, pushed open a manhole cover, and instructed her to go down. As the woman disappeared, Bi Fang immediately called for the next one. Quickly, one, two¡­ Time passed by, and the audience in front of the screen grew more tense. It had been over half an hour since the first explosion. The fire in the distance had started to diminish, and the shouting had lessened significantly, all of which proved that the situation was under control and they didn¡¯t have much time left. During the rescue, there was even a small incident when a guard from next door appeared again. Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t because he had noticed anything amiss; he simply wanted to find a secluded spot to relieve himself, which scared Matthew into pressing someone down in the bushes, daring not to make a move. Thankfully, until the figure left, he didn¡¯t notice anything unusual in the bushes. The previous method Bi Fang had instructed, to escape one by one, had proven its superiority. Though slow, it was secretive and stable, and any small issues that arose were completely within control. If everyone had run out at once in a line, there was no way they could have stayed hidden. Not until the last of the people from the warehouse had entered the sewer and only Bi Fang and the old man remained did everyone finally breathe a sigh of relief. My, surely we¡¯re safe now, right? Chapter 364: 362: Picking Up the Goods Chapter 364: Chapter 362: Picking Up the Goods ¡°On fire?¡± On deck, a man dressed in a black combat suit put down his binoculars, touching his chin and deeply furrowing his brow. The blaze from the shipyard in the dark night was visible even from half a nautical mile away, and it was still raining, although much less heavily, which was enough to prove the fierceness of the fire across. Through the binoculars, one could even make out the figures fleeing in the light of the flames. Today was the day agreed upon by both parties for the final transaction, but it seemed there might have been a little accident? ¡°A bunch of incompetents, how could they be reliable.¡± The man¡¯s subordinate snorted coldly beside him, clearly looking down on these bumpkins, but the man raised his arm, quietly hushing, stopping the other¡¯s next words while spreading his open palm, and a satellite phone was immediately passed to him. The man took the phone, adeptly dialed a number, and after barely half a minute, the slightly flustered figure on the other end picked up. ¡°Mr. Angelo, are you calling to check on the goods? Don¡¯t worry, everything is fine, no problems at all, I am personally supervising the security¡­¡± ¡°Please stop there.¡± The man cut off the other¡¯s words, his friendly tone nevertheless containing an undeniable insistence, causing the person on the other end of the line to wisely shut his mouth. ¡°I am not here to inquire about the situation. In fact, Mr. Maasai, our ship is about to enter the port, we are here to pick up the goods. Mr. Maasai, please have your men start the inventory.¡± ¡°Pick up, pick up the goods?¡± The Boss of the Bandit Gangs absolutely didn¡¯t expect the other party to pick up the goods at this time; they had clearly agreed on eight o¡¯clock in the morning. The previous transactions had all been punctual, why this time¡­ ¡°Mr. Maasai! The transaction is ahead of schedule, do you understand?¡± ¡°Uh, okay, okay, I understand, Mr. Angelo. I¡¯ll give the orders right now, your goods will be ready for direct loading before you enter the port.¡± ¡°Good, then I¡¯ll see you in a bit.¡± ¡°See you in a bit.¡± After hanging up the phone, Sisko took out his service gun, disassembled it, checked it, and finally pulled bullets out of his pocket, one by one loading them into the magazine, the release lever snapping the magazine into place with a crisp sound. His subordinates behind him did the same, as all the men in combat suits methodically chambered their rounds. Under the pitch-black night sky, the entire ship was devoid of any careless noises. This wasn¡¯t their first transaction; since the previous two times, the quality and quantity of the goods had markedly deteriorated, unerringly signaling that Yimen¡¯s potential had reached its limit. This was going to be their last transaction. Meanwhile, the Boss of the Bandit Gangs, after hanging up the phone, felt a vague unease about the premature transaction, but as he looked at the significantly smaller fire outside the window, his heart gradually settled down. Maybe it was the explosion that had unsettled him. After all, they had dealt many times before with no issues, and he had received all the money in full. Perhaps the last transaction would be the same, and maybe it was the other side who had some problems and wanted to move ahead of schedule? Maasai was well aware that the living population in this city was dwindling, and this delivery, he could barely scramble together fifty people at Stone Peak. After this score, there probably wouldn¡¯t be much left to gain, so this was his last haul. After this one last haul, Maasai was thinking of calling it quits, then he could take the money and head to Hawaii, where nobody would have a say over him. Crushing out his cigarette butt, Maasai grabbed the coat from the back of the chair and walked outside, signaling to a few of the lackeys nearby, ¡°Let¡¯s go, call back the firefighters, there¡¯s no need to control it anymore, after we load this batch of goods, we¡¯re leaving immediately.¡± Loading the goods? Wasn¡¯t it supposed to be tomorrow morning? The underlings harbored doubts, but seeing the boss¡¯s mood, they knew he was upset and wisely refrained from asking more. Approaching the warehouse entrance, Maasai looked at the mere four or five people guarding it and his face darkened, ¡°Didn¡¯t I arrange for more than a dozen? Why are there only so few now? Huh?¡± The guard at the warehouse entrance felt his heart skip a beat as he trotted over obsequiously, ¡°No, Boss, there were more than a dozen originally, but didn¡¯t an explosion just happen? The brothers were startled as well, and since it¡¯s only a hundred or two meters away, just a few steps and we¡¯d be there. Everyone was afraid the fire would spread here, so we dispatched some to put out the fire. Don¡¯t worry, Boss. Before leaving, the brothers checked; everyone was present, not a single one less. And except for these two hours, we¡¯ve always had at least ten brothers here, there won¡¯t be any problems.¡± Maasai was somewhat skeptical, ¡°Is that really so?¡± Faced with Maasai¡¯s doubt, the guard immediately swore, ¡°Absolutely true, I wouldn¡¯t dare lie to you. If anything goes wrong, just shoot me dead, and I won¡¯t say a word!¡± ¡°Hmph, it better be like that. Hurry up and open the door, we need to load the goods!¡± The guard chuckled awkwardly, immediately took out the keys, and tried to unlock the warehouse door. The padlock sprang open with a crisp sound, but when the guard tried to push the door, he was stunned. A resistance he had never felt before emanated from the door, causing his heart to throb violently twice. He immediately exerted more force, but after several tries, he still couldn¡¯t open it! Maasai grew impatient, ¡°What are you doing? Dilly-dallying?¡± ¡°Well, maybe the warehouse is in disrepair. Look, these hinges are all rusted and stuck.¡± Sweat appeared on the guard¡¯s forehead, but it was unclear if it was rain or perspiration. His voice seemed to tremble as he spoke, then he pushed even harder. Seeing that something was not right, the other few guards also stepped forward to help, but even with three people pushing, the door remained unresponsive and only moved a little bit. The guard¡¯s heart raced wildly, his throat felt as if it was on fire, and he wanted to say something but couldn¡¯t speak. The next second, he was suddenly kicked aside. ¡°Move!¡± Maasai kicked the guard to the ground, his face filled with rage as he commanded the minions behind him, ¡°What are you all standing around for, help me open this door!¡± A dozen people immediately swarmed up, all squeezing in front of the door, pushing hard. The grating sound of sliding erupted, the door trembled violently, then became much easier to move. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Beams of flashlight desperately shot through the gap into the warehouse. The cold iron cages reflected a chilling light, and pieces of broken wire mesh lay scattered on the floor. The cages were empty! Maasai¡¯s slightly obese body squeezed through the gap like rubber, his stretched clothes torn by wooden splinters, even drawing blood, but he was completely indifferent. The veins on his forehead throbbed violently in anger as Maasai pushed open one cage after another. Empty, empty, all of them empty! Maasai exuded a terrifying aura, grabbing an iron rod and fiercely smashing it onto the head of a nearby guard. His eyes were red like an infuriated bull. The guard hit with such anger didn¡¯t even let out a scream before collapsing limply to the ground. ¡°Search! Everyone, find them all!¡± ¡°If you can¡¯t find them, you¡¯ll be the ones to answer for it!¡± A lightning bolt forked through the clouds, flashing and booming overhead. The fire at the shipyard gradually extinguished under the cover of the rain. The rain grew heavier. Chapter 365: 363: Fireworks Fill the Sky Chapter 365: Chapter 363: Fireworks Fill the Sky The shrill alarm cut through the sky, echoing throughout the shipyard like the howling specter of a frenzied ghost. Originally meant to signal air raids, the alarm was now used to alert all the bandit gangs to capture the fleeing ¡°goods.¡± The whole shipyard burst into activity; the world was filled with the rustling sound of the rain, the pounding of footsteps back and forth, the clacking of loading ammunition¡ªall overwhelming Maasai¡¯s head to the point of explosion. He grabbed his sleeve, looked at the second hand of his watch, and each tick tormented and judged him. It had to be now, of all times. If only he had one more night, Maasai wouldn¡¯t be so vexed. How much time did he have left? Half an hour? S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Or only ten minutes? Wiping the spray from his face, Maasai screamed at the top of his lungs, ¡°Hurry, hurry, grab them all back! Not one less, if we¡¯re short one, I¡¯ll use you to substitute!¡± ¡°Wait, here, there seem to be traces here! A lot of people have gone through!¡± ¡°The shrubs are all trampled, they¡¯ve fled that way! Who was guarding here? Who?¡± ¡°The culvert, they must¡¯ve gone into the sewers!¡± A flash of lightning streaked across the night sky, followed by thunder so loud it was deafening. ¡­ Standing alone at the bow of the ship, Sisko heard the alarm and lifted his hood; the rain swiftly streamed down his face. ¡°Has something really happened?¡± he murmured. The situation was not beyond his expectations. If the fire had been an accident, then the alarm had just confirmed an answer: the real drama was only just beginning. ¡­ ¡°Quick, quick, move faster, hold hands, don¡¯t fall down! Don¡¯t be scared, they haven¡¯t caught up; just a little faster, and we¡¯ll be out, once we¡¯re out, we¡¯ll be safe.¡± In the narrow passage, Bi Fang urged everyone to evacuate quickly upon hearing the alarm, but despite the distance, the sharp piercing sound still reached everyone¡¯s ears. Many screamed in panic and pain but quickly recovered with Bi Fang¡¯s urging, trembling but continuing to escape. A total of fifty-three people held hands in a long line, weaving through the wet, mossy path. If anyone slipped and fell towards the ditch, the two people beside them would pull them back in time to prevent accidents. ¡°Why are we going this way? It¡¯s too narrow, isn¡¯t it? If we retrace our steps, we could move a lot faster.¡± Matthew followed Bi Fang closely, reeking from head to toe, afraid that he would slip and fall back into the stinking gutter, from whence the stench on him had just come. ¡°Our tracks from fleeing can¡¯t actually be covered up. If they take some time, those people will surely catch up. By then, we will be very passive. They will definitely follow our footprints. Once they get here, the bandit gangs¡¯ numerical advantage will be gone, as they, too, will have to stick to the walls to move forward, with only a few at the front able to act. But if they follow the direction we came from, their pursuit will be very swift, and we will have to face a large number of people!¡± From the warehouse to the small waterway, everyone had used the shrubs to conceal their trails well, and before discovery, it served as the best cover. But once the search started on a large scale, traces on the mud, soaked by the rain, would easily reveal their whereabouts, and those muddied and numerous footprints couldn¡¯t be hidden. A downside of concrete is that once stained with colored slurry, it is difficult to clean without the aid of a high-pressure water jet, inevitably leaving a trace. The muddy traces ended at the manhole cover; anyone with a bit of brains could figure out what that meant. Bi Fang never considered himself the smartest, but even within the worthless bandit gangs, there were definitely smart ones. Right now, he had no doubt that someone was already on their tail. Later, in the narrow passage, both sides would be constricted, but compared to the bandit gangs whose real fighting power rested solely on Bi Fang, such terrain clearly imposed more restrictions, and numerical advantage would be useless. ¡°In other countries, the probability of a fugitive being recaptured within 72 hours after breaking out of jail is less than five percent, because after 72 hours, the range of movement for the escapee is too vast,¡± ¡°making it extremely difficult to conduct the search and thus lowering the odds of finding them. A very specific analysis of the mode of transportation used by the escapee, the radius of their activity, and the range of the search personnel is required.¡± ¡°Although we¡¯re not fugitives, the situation we¡¯re in is not much different. Therefore, the earlier it is, the easier we are to be caught. We must be very careful. The longer we hold out, the less likely they are to find us. Conversely, because it¡¯s so easy to be caught in the early stages, we must be on our guard. That¡¯s why I chose to take the linear conduit. Once we get to the front and reemerge from the shipyard, the chances they¡¯ll catch us drop a lot.¡± [Master Fang is awesome! Crush them!] [It¡¯s all in the details] [Wori, damn exciting, full of traps everywhere!] In the pitch-black waterway, shafts of light from several flashlights scattered around, making the atmosphere the viewers felt both tense and thrilling, as if they were in a large-scale battle royal. Bi Fang led the group around a corner, continuing to move forward. According to the imagery in his memory, they only needed to walk another five hundred meters to reach the exterior of the shipyard. By then, when they got out, they could truly be free as birds in the sky. ¡°Everyone, hurry up. Only five hundred meters left. In five hundred meters, we can escape! When we get out, don¡¯t scatter. Follow me closely; that¡¯s your only chance to be completely safe. If you run by yourselves, you might still get caught. Tomorrow morning, a boat will come to pick us up, and we will be completely safe!¡± On hearing that a boat would come to pick them up the next morning, the spirits of the more than fifty people on site perked up, and despite being chronically malnourished, they still found strength surging within them. Even the old man felt that his chronic leg arthritis had greatly improved. But just as everyone thought they were about to be safe, a series of hurried and chaotic footsteps came from the passage behind them. Matthew¡¯s heart skipped a beat, but just as he was about to stick his head out to look, Bi Fang pulled him back. ¡°Don¡¯t stick your head out!¡± After pulling Matthew back, Bi Fang leaned against the wall with a handgun in his hand, pondering a solution. With a splash, a sound of someone falling into water suddenly echoed. Shouts and curses reverberated through the entire passage. ¡°Damn it, pull him up fast!¡± ¡°Quick, quick, pull him up, go!¡± After several arguments, two more splashes followed. Soon afterward, the sounds grew closer, but then they became much quieter. The audience and the people present all breathed a sigh of relief, and Bi Fang also felt at ease. The route had been carefully planned by Bi Fang beforehand. He had everyone hold hands, partly to avoid falling into the water and slowing down, and partly because this route contained many side passages. Without this measure, it would have been easy for people to get dispersed. A dozen minutes later, those walking against the wall finally saw the vertical shaft. Matthew immediately climbed the metal ladder and called for others to follow. After Bi Fang was the last one out, the heavy iron cover closed again. The sewer was plunged back into darkness. But just as Bi Fang stood up, in the direction of the shipyard not far away, a column of fire burst into the sky. The flames, which had been on the verge of dying out, blazed fiercely once more. Chapter 366: 364: Ten Seconds Chapter 366: Chapter 364: Ten Seconds ¡°WHAT THE FUCK?¡± Matthew looked toward the nearby shipyard, a confused expression on his face. Bi Fang climbed out of the vertical shaft, scratching his head uncontrollably as he listened to the distant sounds of gunfire. What was going on? Who were the Bandit Gangs fighting against? Had Abbascan suddenly freed up his hands and sent reinforcements? [Could it be that the heavens had eyes and sent someone to wipe out the Bandit Gangs?] [Could it be Abbascan¡¯s men who had arrived? Maybe Old Fang should ask?] [Has the battle situation changed this quickly? They said yesterday that they couldn¡¯t spare the forces, only able to send fishing boats to pick us up, and today they are able to bomb with cannons?] [Modern Warfare.jpg] ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that for now, whatever the case, it¡¯s a good opportunity for us to get out of here. Let¡¯s retreat!¡± The current intelligence didn¡¯t help Bi Fang make sense of the sounds of gunfire, but he didn¡¯t ponder it further. The crisis hadn¡¯t yet touched them, and it seemed like the Bandit Gangs were having trouble, which was the perfect chance for them to make a complete escape. ¡°Right, right, run, everyone run!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t scatter and run blindly! Stick close to me, and we¡¯ll be able to leave Yemen by tomorrow, otherwise, we¡¯ll be caught and hauled back!¡± Matthew led the way at the front, while Bi Fang took up the rear position of the procession to ensure no one got lost or fell behind. With the raging fire at the shipyard lifting the constraints of the terrain, the group started to sprint wildly and quickly distanced themselves from the area. However, upon passing a building, Bi Fang suddenly stopped in his tracks and stared in shock at the other side of the narrow passageway. The audience was the first to notice this scene, asking in succession what had happened and why he had suddenly stopped. Feeling that the beam of light from the flashlight behind him had disappeared, Matthew at the forefront realized something was amiss, stopped in his tracks, and turned back to see Bi Fang who had paused. ¡°What¡¯s happened?¡± Matthew ran back while asking, but only saw Bi Fang pointing down the alleyway and looked in that direction. Under the night sky, the sea surged restlessly. A black boat cut through the black waters, leaving behind white foam, and huge boat lights pierced the sky as thunder rumbled across tumbling dark clouds. A fishing boat? ¡°Someone¡¯s fishing?¡± Matthew exclaimed in surprise, but then immediately found the idea absurd. How could there be fishing at sea under these circumstances? Wouldn¡¯t the boat have been bombed to pieces only a few miles out? ¡°It can¡¯t possibly be a fishing boat.¡± On this point, Bi Fang and Matthew¡¯s views were aligned; this could not and would not be a fishing boat. If it wasn¡¯t a fishing boat, what was it doing here at this time? ¡°Could it really be that Abbascan actually managed to free up his hands and even arrived ahead of time?¡± ¡°Impossible. I haven¡¯t received any news here,¡± replied Bi Fang, pointing to the drone. If there was any news, he would definitely know. The ship they saw now didn¡¯t belong to Abbascan, so where on earth had it come from? Both men immediately realized the implications. Matthew¡¯s eyes widened with realization: ¡°Are they picking up ¡®goods¡¯ ahead of schedule?¡± Bi Fang affirmed, ¡°That¡¯s the only possibility!¡± ¡°A mutiny?¡± Connecting this to the current sounds of gunfire, Matthew became excited. A mutiny would be great, both sides hurting each other, sending these scumbags to meet God! ¡°No, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a mutiny; it¡¯s more like a silencing,¡± Bi Fang squinted his eyes. The act of picking up ¡®goods¡¯ ahead of schedule was suspicious on its own. Moreover, he was very clear: before the rescue plan had started, this ship didn¡¯t exist at all, meaning that the other party had arrived here within a mere two hours and then the conflict had broken out. The timing seemed too rushed, more like a premeditated plan. ¡°I need to have a look.¡± ¡°Are you out of your mind?¡± Matthew nearly screamed, clutching desperately at Bi Fang¡¯s sleeve, seriously doubting if Bi Fang had lost his will to live. Bi Fang shook off Matthew¡¯s hand and asked seriously, ¡°Where do you think the people picking up ¡®goods¡¯ might sell them?¡± ¡°How should I know¡­¡± Matthew didn¡¯t want to answer, but upon seeing Bi Fang¡¯s eyes, hesitated and replied, ¡°They could be sold to Southeast Asia, Ugly Country, or Black Mexico.¡± ¡°Do you think these Bandit Gangs can manage that?¡± Bi Fang challenged Matthew in return. The behavior they were witnessing was beyond what a mere local gang could accomplish. In fact, they were only responsible for the supply of ¡®goods¡¯, and knew nothing about the channels. The illegal sale of a single heart could fetch as much as three hundred thousand ugly dollars. With such massive profits at stake, it was more likely that a transnational syndicate was involved. If Bi Fang could get back, even just snapping a photo could expose this group to the light of day, and this act would have far greater significance than resolving the fate of just a handful of people. [Why am I not surprised at all, and even find it expected?] [Here it comes, the familiar feeling is back.] [Ah, this, ah this, I have no doubts that the man before me is the true Master Fang.] Matthew fell silent. Bi Fang patted his collar, ¡°You take them and continue along the route we planned earlier; I¡¯ll catch up with you.¡± With that, he ran towards the shipyard ablaze with fire without looking back. Matthew was stunned for a moment before cursing under his breath. ¡°Damn it!¡± ¡°Everyone follow me, speed up!¡± ¡­ Inside the shipyard, the situation was even more exaggerated than during the earlier explosion, with fully armed soldiers split into teams of three scouring every corner of the shipyard. Each of them was armed, firing mercilessly upon sighting someone, and many from the Bandit Gangs were laid to the ground the instant they showed up. Gunfire was deafening, so much so that Maasai thought he was on the eastern front facing off against legions. He was completely speechless, only able to stare wide-eyed at the Angelo before him. ¡°Mr. Maasai, I have said that this was going to be our last collaboration,¡± Sisko said as he lifted the hem of his garment as if to shake off the stains. Unfortunately, what stained it was blood, not dust. Upon hearing Sisko start to speak, Maasai finally snapped back to reality and hastily said, ¡°I can still capture them, still, this time it was just bad luck that let them escape, next time it definitely won¡¯t happen, a hundred, no, two hundred! Next time I can capture two hundred, and at least half of them young and strong men, Mr. Angelo, believe me, please believe me!¡± Before these men, the thugs from the Bandit Gangs were like defenseless kittens, their weapons more akin to obsolete fireplace pokers from the First World War, each one disheartening Maasai and leaving him only to plead for the forgiveness of the man before him. Even now, Maasai believed it was this failed delivery that had brought disaster upon him. ¡°Don¡¯t you understand yet, Mr. Maasai? A single failed delivery means nothing to us. The final deal is the final deal. Besides, I am not really called Angelo; please call me Sisko.¡± Sisko¡¯s face was illuminated by the fire, looking down unemotionally at Maasai who had collapsed to the ground from exhaustion, not moved in the slightest as he engaged the safety on his pistol. Hearing these words, Maasai¡¯s face was filled with defeat. Just as everyone thought he had given up hope, suddenly, a flash of fire lit up, revealing his fierce face. But then, Sisko¡¯s next words completely drained Maasai of his courage to resist, ¡°I¡¯m giving you one more chance, ten seconds. After ten seconds, I will only fire once. Whether you survive or not, I leave that to God.¡± Maasai blinked, ten seconds? What did that mean? The subordinates behind Sisko all smiled simultaneously; they knew what it meant. Before Maasai could ponder it further, Sisko on the other side had already begun counting down in a tone as steady as a clock. ¡°One.¡± ¡°FUCK!¡± Maasai had no time to think and scrambled to his feet, but the pebbles underfoot made him slip, and his bulky body fell to the ground again, his trembling fat rippling like waves. ¡°Two.¡± Ignoring the fresh blood on his palms and pain in his knees, Maasai struggled to his feet once more. ¡°Three.¡± ¡°Run, run fast.¡± At this moment, Maasai burst into the fastest sprint of his life, faster even than when he was sixteen and raced a hundred meters in front of a girl he liked. He even thought, for a moment, that he could give Bolt a run for his money. Indeed, it¡¯s said that human potential is merciless, and when Sisko counted to ten, even Maasai, who weighed over two hundred kilos, had run nearly seventy meters. Looking at Maasai, who had nearly become a dot in the distance, Sisko¡¯s lips curved slightly. ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°To have made it¡­ Ugh! How, how is that possible!¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Maasai¡¯s eyes widened; his life ended as a bullet with tremendous kinetic energy entered his body, leaving a smoking bullet hole in that bloated torso, a spray of blood carrying with it flecks of pink fat. Sisko approached Maasai at a leisurely pace. Maasai looked down, struggling to glance at the bullet hole, and looking up at Sisko¡¯s blurry figure, he said only, ¡°One day, you, you will end up the same¡­ as me!¡± Reaching Maasai¡¯s side, Sisko tipped his hat with the gun, smiling, ¡°Well, I hope that day comes later rather than sooner.¡± ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Gurgle.¡± Bi Fang leaned against the wall, feeling the multitude of crossfiring bullets brushing past the wall, a cold sweat sliding down his temple. He swallowed his saliva, filled with disbelief. Performance in terms of shooting precision, the handgun is far less accurate than rifles and machine guns, due to its short sighting baseline and lack of a stable shooting platform. In real combat, the effective range is typically only between 5 and 20 meters. Most trained soldiers could only guarantee the precision of handgun shots at a range of 25 meters. To ensure accuracy at 50 meters, only a few sharpshooters can hit a stationary target, and if the target is moving, the difficulty multiplies. Over sixty meters, in dim light, a single shot hit. Impossible! Chapter 367: 365: Breakthrough Task, Return to the Wilderness Chapter 367: Chapter 365: Breakthrough Task, Return to the Wilderness Dockside. The morning fog was thick. The people who had escaped from the warehouse were lying exhausted inside a vacant apartment building, quietly waiting for the arrival of the rescue boat. Matthew stepped out of the apartment building, wiped the damp steps, and sat down with a plonk next to Bi Fang, seeing him still fiddling with the drone, he asked curiously, ¡°So, can you see anything clearly?¡± Bi Fang hung his hands low, sighed, and handed over the drone: ¡°No use, it¡¯s too dark, plus the glare from the flames. Can only see half a face no matter how I adjust it.¡± Matthew took the drone and, even after adjusting it numerous times, still felt disappointment knowing the situation; he squinted at the screen but could discern nothing. The firelight cast on the sharp contours of the man¡¯s face, where sensitivity and sharpness interwove, the bridge of his high nose casting a shadow while one of his eyes was veiled in darkness, the other cold and expressionless. Last night¡¯s blaze had seen Bi Fang risk his life to return and capture footage, witnessing the leader of the men use a pistol to dispatch the bandit leader from sixty meters away and catch half of his side profile. [With half a face, we should be able to reconstruct the image, right? Technology is so powerful now.] [A bit challenging, I do this for a living, it involves light and shadow imaging, as well as 3D light sense and analysis of muscles and skeleton¡­ all of which I¡¯m embellishing.] [Goodness, woke up this morning and saw it¡¯s on trending, this guy¡¯s never gonna be able to show his face again (dog¡¯s head).] [I saw it too, the guy who was photographed must be totally confused; anyone who knows him would recognize him.] [Won¡¯t Old Fang be subject to retaliation?] [emmmmm, that does make some sense.] [Afraid of what? Bring them on, Old Fang will smash them all to bits.] ¡°Too bad the drone was spotted, couldn¡¯t capture more footage.¡± Bi Fang was somewhat annoyed; last night, leaning against a wall, he let the drone fly out to film, but the opponent was too well-prepared, even having infrared sensing equipment. The drone was discovered and shot at before it got close, and he had no choice but to run. In the end, it was a close call without any harm done, and Sisko, not yielding any results from the search, could only lead everyone to return. Matthew patted Bi Fang on the shoulder to comfort him, ¡°It¡¯s okay, at least we know he¡¯s Caucasian, right?¡± Bi Fang let out a wry smile, was about to say something, but suddenly stood up. Matthew thought something unexpected had happened and quickly scrambled to his feet, then saw the mist churn suddenly, and a black prow emerged through the mist before their eyes. Matthew exclaimed in alarm, ¡°Is that the one from yesterday?¡± ¡°No, it isn¡¯t.¡± Bi Fang let go of the drone, allowed it to hover above their heads, and swiftly calculated the size of the boat based on the bow, ¡°It¡¯s much smaller than yesterday¡¯s, not the same one.¡± Realizing it wasn¡¯t the same boat, Matthew paused momentarily but quickly caught on, shouting in surprise. ¡°The rescue boat!¡± ¡°Rescue boat?¡± ¡°Has the rescue boat arrived?¡± ¡°The rescue boat is here!¡± Matthew¡¯s shouting stirred the drowsy people, who were now wide awake, all sticking their heads out of the windows, looking at the distant boat, filled with excitement. ¡°Hush, don¡¯t make noise.¡± In the midst of excitement, Bi Fang threw cold water on the situation, ¡°It¡¯s not certain if it¡¯s a rescue boat yet, hide first and let the boat come closer.¡± Hearing Bi Fang¡¯s words, the previously thrilled crowd sobered up as if doused with cold water, recalling the terrifying scene from last night. A cold wind blew as they withdrew their heads, leaving only their eyes to silently watch. Bi Fang, however, ran a bit further, reaching higher ground, and watched the vessel adorned with letters approach slowly. From its appearance, it was undoubtedly a fishing boat, yet the information provided by Abbascan was consistent. Once docked, several soldiers disembarked from the fishing boat and quickly noticed Bi Fang standing on the high ground. The soldiers seemed to recognize Bi Fang, saluting him at first glance, then one of them detached from the group, unloaded his rifle, handed it to a comrade, and ran alone toward the high ground. Seeing this, Bi Fang¡¯s heart finally eased. It was over. ¡­ The drone soared into the sky, the sky clear as crystal following last night¡¯s rain, a vast expanse of blue. ¡°Saved over fifty people, how does that feel?¡± Matthew, in his casual manner, sat at the bow¡¯s deck, tossing over a bottle of mineral water, looking down at the survivors who were crying and helping each other on board, feeling an indescribable emotion within. ¡°I¡¯m very tired, just want a good sleep. If you hadn¡¯t shown up, I wouldn¡¯t have had to be in this mess now. Please don¡¯t follow me anymore, okay?¡± ¡°Am I not helping you trend online?¡± ¡°Do I need that? Please, the line of women chasing after me could stretch from Antarctica to the Arctic Circle, okay?¡± ¡°Will I also have female fans this time?¡± Bi Fang chuckled but didn¡¯t reply; he guzzled down an entire bottle of water and then collapsed backwards onto the deck, with the sea breeze blowing and playing with his hair. ¡°Every time I meet someone, it¡¯s never good news; I always feel like I¡¯m either rescuing someone or on my way to do so. Give me a break, will ya?¡± ¡°You deserve to be famous, the world¡¯s number one explorer¡­¡± Matthew wanted to add something, but just as he opened his mouth, he heard faint snoring sounds. He shook his head with a laugh and leaned against the railing, slowly closing his eyes. They had been awake for two days straight. ¡­ [Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the quest: Ruins City. Rewards are being distributed, would you like to claim them?] When Bi Fang woke up again, he found himself in the vast rear area of the eastern front lines of Abbascan, where the war hadn¡¯t caused much damage, and the infrastructure was well-preserved. Looking at the crowd in front of him and the leading officials, Bi Fang felt a bit of a headache and postponed claiming his reward. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Anyone would feel lousy after not sleeping for two days and then suddenly sleeping from dawn until evening¡ªnot to mention having to deal with a huge crowd of people. Fortunately, representatives from Huaxia had also arrived, and after dealing with the formalities, Bi Fang had a meal with everyone before returning to the inn to continue his deep slumber. It was only after waking up the next morning that Bi Fang¡¯s mind finally felt completely clear. He downed a cup of warm water in one gulp, sweeping away all his fatigue. ¡°Claim.¡± He opened the System and couldn¡¯t wait to claim his mission rewards. Reinforced concrete, bullets flying everywhere, intertwined cold grey shadows¡ªall eventually fading into nothingness. [Detection of no reward elevation, final rewards are: Skill Advancement Ticket*1, Skill Upgrade Coupon*2, Enhancement Points*3, Wilderness Points*800, Breakthrough Task Target*1 (unique and only one).] His haul¡­ was reasonable. Bi Fang stroked his chin, comparing this mission¡¯s gains to previous ones. It seemed like the rewards weren¡¯t as high this time¡ªwas it because of the breakthrough task? Bi Fang tried to open the task target, but found it was grayed out and unresponsive. ??? What¡¯s going on? A reward that can¡¯t be used? What kind of reward is that? Bi Fang was baffled; it was the first time he had encountered this situation. A reward that you can¡¯t use, how is that a reward? Is there a prerequisite condition? Looking at the greyed-out target, that was all Bi Fang could think of. With no choice, he could only use the other rewards: add to agility and strength first, bringing them to fifteen, then prioritize his physique. After using two Enhancement Points, Bi Fang tried to enhance his physique to sixteen but found, to his surprise, that it failed! His physical stats on the panel did not increase, and the Enhancement Points were not consumed. What¡¯s happening, is the System crashing? How lame. It was Bi Fang¡¯s first time encountering such a situation; could fifteen be the system¡¯s upper limit? But he didn¡¯t feel anything at all¡ªwas the human limit really that low? He couldn¡¯t even break ten seconds in the 100m dash; could that even be called a limit? Just as Bi Fang was puzzled, he suddenly noticed that the once gray breakthrough task had turned gold. There¡¯s hope! [Ding! The host¡¯s fulfillment of the prerequisites for the breakthrough task has been detected, activation in progress.] Task one: Anoxic climb to the roof of the world¡ªMount Everest. Task two: Unprotected deep-sea crossing¡ªTharp Debold Cave. Task three: On foot crossing of the Sea of Death¡ªLop Nur. ? Chapter 368: 366 The Choice of an Irrefusable Task Chapter 368: Chapter 366 The Choice of an Irrefusable Task ¡°` Oxygen-Free Mount Everest Climb, unprotected crossing of Tharp Debold, trekking across Lop Nur¡­ Bi Fang felt that either he had woken up incorrectly or he had accessed the system incorrectly. Anyway, another sleep. Just as Bi Fang lay down with a headache, a series of knocks on the door interrupted his thoughts. When he opened the door, a stranger appeared before him. White-whiskered, lean, neither tall nor short, the familiar figure overlaid with memories made Bi Fang uncertain for a long time before he tentatively asked, ¡°Chieftain?¡± Completely different from the down-and-out appearance he had before, the old man, having tidied up after a rest, actually looked quite handsome. The bush of white whiskers not only did not make him look old, but also added to his dignity, making Bi Fang almost fail to recognize him. The old man laughed heartily, ¡°It seems Mr. Bi still remembers me.¡± Bi Fang bitterly smiled twice, ¡°We just met yesterday. Is there something you need from me, Chieftain?¡± Hask also laughed, showing his brightest smile in a year. It was only after having lost and then regained something that he truly understood what was most precious. Facing his lifesaver, Hask¡¯s smile faded, as he took a respectful step back and then knelt on one knee, expressing his gratitude deeply, ¡°Mr. Bi traveled thousands of miles to our country and risked his life to save mine. I, Hask, will forever bear in mind this great kindness. If Mr. Bi has any requests, I will do my utmost to fulfill them!¡± ¡°There¡¯s really no need!¡± Bi Fang was startled by Hask¡¯s actions and hurriedly pulled him up from the ground. Poor Hask wanted to insist, but how could a small old man who had been trapped for over ten days and was malnourished stand against a young man who had just added points? He was picked up as easily as picking up a chick, and now it was not quite appropriate for him to kneel again, so he could only scratch his head awkwardly. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Since Mr. Bi insists, I won¡¯t press the matter. However, I would like to arrange a dinner to properly thank you and Mr. Matthew. I hope you can grace us with your presence.¡± After considering, Bi Fang thought there was no issue. It was just a dinner, and he wasn¡¯t likely to leave right away anyway, so he agreed on the spot. Watching Hask¡¯s retreating figure, Bi Fang rubbed his chin, his eyes narrowing slightly. He always felt something was amiss. He had originally thought Hask was just some minor chieftain of a local family, otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been captured by a mere local gang. But the way things were, it was clear there was an air of authority about him, far beyond what a small clan leader would possess. It wasn¡¯t an exaggeration; Bi Fang had wandered around and met many people. Some big shots who have been in high positions for a long time do have a certain imposing presence, the kind that stands out in a crowd. But if he had such an important background, how could he have been captured so easily? Isn¡¯t that contradictory? Even after thinking it over for half an hour, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t figure it out, so he shook his head and closed the door. What did it have to do with him? He was just a small-time wilderness broadcaster, occasionally wrestling with a bear and incidentally saving a few people. It wasn¡¯t anything significant. Approaching the bed, Bi Fang reopened the system and found that the three tasks were still the same, not a single change, which confirmed for him that he wasn¡¯t hallucinating. However, what he was most concerned about was not the difficulty of the breakthrough tasks given by the system, but the fact that he could not add points. The system hadn¡¯t changed at all; the only difference was the color. [Unique Binder: Bi Fang] [Growth Age: 25] [Height: 183.7cm] [Weight: 78.4KG] [Strength: 15] [Physique: 15] [Agility: 15] [Spirit: 15] [Status: Good] [Enhancement Points: 0] [Wilderness Points: 83] ¡°` Orange Tree Crown: Wilderness Traveler lv1. Purple Tree Trunk: Advanced Yoga lv1, Special Recon Soldier lv2. Blue Tree Trunk: Pilates lv3, High-altitude Parachuting lv3, Tai Chi Traveling Dragon lv2, Archery lv1, Rock Climbing lv1, Biological Identification lv3, Swimming lv1. Green Tree Trunk: Cross-country Hiking lv5, First Aid lv5, Calisthenics lv3, Running lv3. Special Talent: Beastly Instinct. Spoils of War Skills: Wolves King¡¯s Sense of Smell, King Fish¡¯s Stomach, Biological Sensing. Looking at the gray panel, Bi Fang frowned deeply. Why can¡¯t he add points anymore? Had his limit been locked? Having the limit locked was not good news; it was downright terrible news. As if his queries were heard, suddenly a piece of information was again infused into his mind, and he finally understood what was going on. The limit hadn¡¯t been locked, or to be precise, it was only temporarily locked, and the conditions to unlock it were simple: there were two ways to do it. One was to give up the limit-break task, and Bi Fang could immediately add the remaining Enhancement Point. The other was to complete the limit-break task. After completion, the limit would unlock, but differently, as the effects of adding points would change. Did normal people, through crazy training, only reach the limit that the system panel rated as fifteen? Of course not. Fifteen was far from the limit, yet it was a threshold. Bi Fang¡¯s previous enhancements were all within this threshold, but now he had reached its end. The human body is a finely tuned whole, pull one strand and the whole body moves. What would happen to those who trained their strength crazily? The answer, of course, was becoming muscle-bound, exchanging muscle mass for ultimate strength, but in doing so, while gaining strength, they almost inevitably lost speed and flexibility. By giving up on the limit-break task, Bi Fang could naturally continue to add points, but the consequence would be that his other attributes might slip! And his physique would undergo substantial changes! Was there a solution? Yes! Complete the limit-break task! Prove that he deserved it! The limit-break task was a choice of one out of three, unchangeable, non-editable¡ªonly these three, but completing any one would be considered mission accomplished. Task completed, threshold broken! Why did some people have greater strength with the same muscle mass? Why did some people become world champions with the same training routine? The gap in talent really existed and couldn¡¯t be changed later. Bi Fang clenched his fists. Was he going to give up? The thought was laughable. The only question now was, out of the three tasks, which one should he choose? Mount Everest, a challenge from the limits of physical strength, the world¡¯s highest peak, with extremely dangerous terrain and complex conditions. Even normal climbing had a death rate over 10%, while the mission required oxygen-free climbing¡ªa feat that throughout history, only a handful had achieved. Lop Nur, a challenge of the spirit of adventure, known as the Sea of Death. Through the ages, countless explorers ventured into it, risking their lives, earning it the title of ¡°Devil¡¯s Triangle¡± of the Asian continent. Many were found to have died of thirst just a short distance from water sources, both bizarre and mysterious. Tharp Debold Cave, a challenge of courage and wisdom, located seventy-five meters deep in the ocean where sunlight cannot reach. The dark environment, the silent seabed, the unknown directions, all magnified your fear of the dark to the extreme, spreading to every corner of your body. A small cave, yet more than three hundred people had died, making it resemble an underground graveyard! Chapter 369: 367: A Small Gift Chapter 369: Chapter 367: A Small Gift In the hall, Bi Fang, who had arrived as promised, immediately saw Matthew, who had been waiting once again. Hask had thoughtfully prepared fresh clothes for both of them to change into. Matthew was dressed in a black suit, with a white shirt underneath and a narrow black tie. It fitted his salesman¡¯s physique perfectly, making him look every bit the elite of society, and most crucially, the stench of garbage was gone from him. Bi Fang rubbed his nose. Despite having rested for an entire day, it seemed his nostrils could still detect a faint putrid smell. It probably wouldn¡¯t get better for another week. ¡°You¡¯re finally here!¡± Matthew, on the other side, hurried over upon seeing Bi Fang and looked around suspiciously, as if there was something secretive going on. Bi Fang raised an eyebrow: ¡°Is there a problem?¡± ¡°A big problem!¡± Matthew confirmed that no one else was nearby before whispering, ¡°Do you know who that old man you saved yesterday is?¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°The actual Chieftain of the entire Eastern District of Abbascan!¡± Bi Fang dug his pinky into his ear and cocked his head as if he hadn¡¯t heard clearly: ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°The real Chieftain of the entire Eastern District!¡± ¡°¡­?¡± The Chieftain of the Eastern District was almost sold by a gang of Bandit Gangs? What kind of international joke was this? Although the Chieftain of Abbascan might not be valuable now, it still depended on the situation. The Chieftains of small families, indeed, weren¡¯t worth much, but if it was a great Chieftain, the situation was entirely different. It wasn¡¯t just a matter of being a wealthy landowner; they could even legally own their private militia! ¡°Are you serious?¡± Bi Fang looked at Matthew skeptically. Matthew patted his chest: ¡°You can trust my professional integrity. I¡¯ve been in this line of work for thirteen years and have reported over a thousand news articles, but I¡¯ve never reported false news!¡± ¡°So what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°There¡¯s not enough time for detailed research, but one thing is for sure: that old man has many sons. However, one of them, since last night after the ship arrived, has never appeared again, and that person became the power holder after Hask disappeared.¡± ¡°Hiss!¡± Bi Fang inhaled sharply, recalling the old man kneeling on one knee before him. It¡¯s true that appearances can be deceiving. As for his own situation¡ªif Hask¡¯s son hadn¡¯t disappeared, he might be worried, but since he had¡­ Thinking this, Bi Fang grabbed Matthew¡¯s shoulder and scanned the area, nodding subtly. Matthew, thinking that Bi Fang had something important to say, bent down to listen carefully. ¡°I heard Chieftains can marry several wives, is that true?¡± Matthew: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You f*cking ask me this after all that? Do you think I¡¯m a paparazzi? I¡¯m a journalist, a war correspondent, not a paparazzi!¡± ¡°Just tell me, how many?¡± ¡°Seven.¡± ¡°Impressive.¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯ve been a journalist for more than a decade.¡± ¡­ The two arrived at the entrance of the hotel and saw that Hask had even arranged a car for them, which took them to a luxurious villa area. Although they had left Yemen, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t forgotten that this was still a country torn by war. Even if the flames of war hadn¡¯t reached this place, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a little emotional. Entering the lobby, it was clear that Hask had already received news and pulled the two men to meet his family. Bi Fang took a closer look. When he had returned that day, someone had come to pick them up, but he had been too tired and drowsy to see clearly in the swarming crowd. However, I still have an impression of the few who led the way, and now that I look at it, it seems like one is indeed missing? It seemed that Hask had read Bi Fang¡¯s thoughts as he ran over, patted his arm, and whispered, ¡°My child made a small mistake earlier, and as his father, it was natural for me to punish him. Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯ll learn his lesson.¡± As soon as Hask finished speaking, without waiting for Bi Fang to respond, he clapped his hands, and two men as robust as bodybuilding coaches immediately brought over two trays covered with black cloth, one placed in front of Bi Fang and the other in front of Matthew. Matthew lifted a corner of the black cloth, and a dazzling light spilled out, startling him so much that his hand trembled, and the black cloth drifted to the ground. Gold bars were neatly and evenly arranged in the tray, piled up into a small mountain. A whole tray of gold! Bi Fang also lifted the black cloth in front of him, and a similar size pile of gold was arranged in the tray, but unlike Matthew, there was a small black bag on top of the gold. When he untied the small bag and poured its contents into his palm, pure white light reflected, and diamonds clinked against each other, rubbing and shining. Matthew was shocked by the scene before him. Although he had achieved a certain level of financial independence, this was the first time he had seen so much money. So much gold, it hurt his eyes to look at it. Bi Fang rolled the diamonds in his palm, the hard minerals made his hand ache, and he was so stunned that when the gold and diamonds were laid out before him, there was a sense of impact that money could not bring, more shocking than an equivalent amount of cash. No wonder the bearers of the tray were so strong¡ªif they were not muscular, they could not have firmly held such a large plate of gold. Hask nodded with satisfaction, then said, ¡°Do not refuse, this is just a little token of my appreciation for the two of you, not as repayment. Of course, a life-saving debt cannot be repaid with money; this is just a small gift as a friend of mine, Hask. Please accept it.¡± Gulp. Matthew embarrassingly swallowed his saliva and then looked at Bi Fang. As for Bi Fang having an extra bag of diamonds, Matthew certainly had no objections. The person was his rescue after all, and he was merely a guide; the gold was already a pleasant surprise. The problem was that Matthew knew Bi Fang¡¯s character well¡ªhe could even directly donate a third of his live broadcast earnings, which was at least several million dollars. If Bi Fang didn¡¯t take it, Matthew himself would also feel a bit embarrassed. Damn, he really wanted it; he had never seen so much gold in his life. Matthew nearly gritted his teeth to pieces. After thinking for a moment, Bi Fang changed the subject and asked, ¡°What about the others who were rescued?¡± Hask spoke in an unrushed tone, ¡°Mr. Bi, rest assured, I will take good care of those people, much better than the officials would. After all, I have been caged with them before and they have taken care of me to some extent; there is a bit of affection there.¡± Bi Fang glanced at Matthew, and since that was the case, there was nothing to hesitate about. ¡°Alright, then I will accept it.¡± YES! At that moment, Matthew wanted to jump up with joy. If it weren¡¯t for being too rude, he would love to bite into a gold bar right now to see if it would leave teeth marks. He never expected that among the people he had rescued was such a big croc; truly, good deeds are rewarded. ¡°Good!¡± Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hask gestured for the servants to withdraw; the items, of course, could not be taken directly by the two men, but would be transferred to an international bank, with a direct handover of ownership. With the gifts delivered, Hask led the two to take their seats, and the host and guests enjoyed themselves. Although his eldest son was a disappointment, Hask still had other children. Especially his younger third son, Taseto, who was very interested in the adventurer Bi Fang¡¯s experiences and kept asking questions. These were not the cheap stories bragged about by the mediocre; they were legendary adventures recorded and filmed with drones! During the meal, after hearing yet another adventure, Taseto raised his glass in tribute and curiously asked, ¡°Mr. Bi, have you decided where your next adventure will be?¡± Upon hearing this, Bi Fang wiped his hands and nodded, ¡°Indeed, I have some thoughts.¡± ¡°The next stop, I¡¯m going to Mount Everest.¡± Chapter 370: 368: Reach Out and Touch the Sky Chapter 370: Chapter 368: Reach Out and Touch the Sky Mount Everest! No sooner had Bi Fang finished speaking than Taseto sprang to his feet with a whoosh, the legs of his stool screeching across the floor as he placed his hands on the tabletop, his face full of surprise. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Mount Everest! Is that the world¡¯s highest peak?¡± ¡°Is Mr. Bi going to climb Mount Jolmo Lungma?¡± Bi Fang set down his knife and fork, and before he could comprehend why the other¡¯s reaction was so strong, Hask, sitting beside him, rapped his knuckles on the table and shot a glance at Taseto. Despite his scolding tone, there wasn¡¯t much blame in his voice, ¡°Taseto, what do you look like? Sit down!¡± Embarrassed, Taseto sat down. After scolding his third son, Hask looked apologetically toward Bi Fang, ¡°I¡¯m really sorry for the interruption, Mr. Bi. Please forgive us. It¡¯s just that Taseto has been passionate about this kind of adventure since he was little.¡± Bi Fang waved his hand dismissively, not minding the incident and nodded affirmatively, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the one, the first highest peak in the world, Mount Everest.¡± Matthew was the first to express skepticism, ¡°Have you climbed a mountain before?¡± While not familiar with the world of mountaineering, Matthew, having wandered around, knew quite a lot, especially about Mount Everest. The highest point on Earth. It is an area with some of the thinnest air, one of the most hostile environments. Sometimes a cough could be fatal, and even taking a breath could cause a pain so intense it felt as if one¡¯s liver was being torn apart. If an accident occurred, not even the body could be retrieved; it would stay forever in that desolate place, becoming an eternal landmark. It is a realm where not a single mistake is permissible. Even though Bi Fang had created miracles time and again, when faced with the weight of the world¡¯s highest peak, it still wasn¡¯t enough for people to have full confidence in him. Therefore, Matthew had to ask, although it had not been mentioned in the broadcasts, maybe Bi Fang was a mountaineer before becoming a broadcaster¡­ ¡°No.¡± Matthew¡¯s train of thought was interrupted; his pupils dilated gradually. He unconsciously opened his mouth wide but after several attempts, he couldn¡¯t speak. At last, it became a sentence, ¡°Are you insane!? How is that possible?¡± At the dining table, Hask¡¯s family also looked on in shock. Except for Taseto, the others were not interested in outdoor adventures, but that didn¡¯t mean they were ignorant. The dangers of Everest, any Earthling, even if they couldn¡¯t list the specifics, knew it was a perilous place. ¡°I¡¯m not crazy.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s tone was very calm, in stark contrast to everyone else. He picked up his knife and fork again, cutting off a piece of tender steak and started to chew. After quite a while, he swallowed and then tapped his head, ¡°In my view, there are two most important things for adventures: a healthy body and a brain that understands the wilderness.¡± ¡°Coincidentally, Matthew, I have both. I¡¯m twenty-five this year, my physical condition is at its peak, and I also possess one of the top wilderness brains in the world.¡± ¡°It¡¯s totally¡­ not the same thing. You¡¯ve never been there, never been there¡­¡± Matthew stammered, unable to articulate his thoughts, feeling that the whole thing was too absurd. A person who had never climbed a high-altitude mountain range suddenly announced his intentions to conquer the world¡¯s highest peak. Has Don Quixote taken possession? A madman? Bi Fang, seeing the look on everyone¡¯s faces, knew they didn¡¯t believe him. Indeed, it was nearly impossible for someone who had never climbed high-altitude mountains to suddenly declare they would defeat Mount Everest. He gripped his knife and fork, dabbed a bit of sauce, and drew a rudimentary map of the region on the white porcelain plate. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Although Mount Everest is the world¡¯s highest peak, it¡¯s not the most difficult to climb on Earth. I¡¯ve given myself a long period for this mission, planning to spend as much as two months, with an additional month for training. It¡¯s mid-April now, and by mid-May, which is a month away, it will be the best time to climb Everest. During this period, all my live streams will revolve around Mount Everest.¡± As the fork moved continuously, everyone¡¯s attention was drawn to the black sauce, as if there indeed stood a tall mountain range; between Heaven and Earth, Mount Everest towered there. ¡°Mount Everest is located on the China-Nepal border, with the Indian subcontinent to the south and the Bay of Bengal to the east of India. In May, the continental cold air over the Bay of Bengal begins to retreat northward. The movement of high and low-pressure interfaces often accompanies the formation of cyclonic airflows. Therefore, as soon as a cyclonic airflow forms over the Bay of Bengal and shows signs of moving north, it¡¯s the best time to summit Mount Everest.¡± ¡°The climate around Mount Everest and its nearby peaks is complex and variable, with obvious monsoon characteristics. The weather is too unpredictable, so it¡¯s essential to choose a stable climatic period. Too early, and the monsoonal winds haven¡¯t stopped; too late, and the monsoonal wind shift has finished, neither of which is suitable for summiting. This weather window usually lasts from a few days to ten days, and most Mount Everest summiting is done within this window. Everything coincides with my timing plan perfectly.¡± Matthew, Hask, Taseto, and others stood behind Bi Fang¡¯s chair, blinking at the map on the porcelain plate, before exchanging glances. All present were laymen, not understanding, but feeling quite impressive¡­ It seems, it looks, not that difficult, indeed? Worthy of Master Fang (Mr. Bi), indeed well-prepared! ¡°This, why does the formation of a cyclonic airflow stabilize the weather?¡± Taseto, the only one with some knowledge of outdoor activities, struggled to pronounce the technical term, a term he had heard for the first time. Having heard it just once and trying to say it accurately was somewhat difficult for him. Bi Fang looked around the circle, and from the looks in everyone¡¯s eyes alone, he knew that nobody had understood. So, he dipped his finger in some sauce and drew several circles: ¡°It¡¯s simple, a simple explanation is like the eye of a typhoon, which compared to the wind wall, is relatively still, so the climate is stable.¡± ¡°Oh~~¡± They seemed to have really understood, as everyone let out a collective ¡°Oh.¡± Matthew, who had been very worried initially, seemed to be convinced as well. He now thought it might actually be feasible. He was just a layman after all, looking at Master Fang, who spoke so convincingly. Indeed, a layman is a layman, and the road ahead is still long for oneself. Seeing the skepticism in people¡¯s eyes turning into trust, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but smile. Is climbing Mount Everest really that simple? What he had said was, of course, correct, but that didn¡¯t mean climbing Mount Everest was simple. Choosing the right summiting window just reduced the requirements from one hundred percent to ninety percent. To challenge high-altitude mountains, the first step is to engage in low-altitude outdoor activities, physical training, and learning of basic techniques. If a beginner could use all the weekends, this phase could be completed within a year. The second step is to start entering the thin air areas of high altitude. Before attempting to climb Mount Everest, it¡¯s best to have 2-3 high-altitude climbing experiences. Progressively start from peaks at 6000 meters, then 7000 meters, and 8000 meters. This stage takes at least one year for the fastest, and 2-3 years for the average person. And for himself, he had only one month! Twirling the fork in his hand, Bi Fang¡¯s gaze was resolute and fearless. Above an altitude of 8500 meters, that is an exceedingly high measure of ethics that is beyond human demands, it is a no-go zone for humans. Thinking this, Bi Fang even felt somewhat excited. Whether in this life or in the past life, so many people had gone forth, issuing challenge after challenge to Mount Everest. He himself had also imagined it, but that place also buried batch after batch of challengers. He neither had the qualification nor the strength and could only dream. Never before had he been so close to his Goddess Peak as today. It was as if, one could touch the sky by merely reaching out. Bi Fang smiled, he had never stopped his stride, and the new journey had just begun. Chapter 371: 369: The Huaxia Anchor, Heh. Chapter 371: Chapter 369: The Huaxia Anchor, Heh. It was just before dawn at the dock, where a tiny silhouette of a ship arose on the sea¡¯s horizon, its bow slicing through the waves, leaving behind a deep blue water trail. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s Sisko and his men!¡± One of the lookouts, having recognized the boat¡¯s insignia, shuddered with excitement and immediately turned back to shout at the hulking figure in the passenger seat. Upon hearing this, Monsa Arnol put down his phone, half his body leaning out of the SUV window, resting on the roof while squinting toward the horizon. He chewed unconsciously on his cigarette holder until, as the boat¡¯s silhouette drew closer and he could make out its waterline, Monsa grinned, snuffed out his cigarette bud, and ducked back into the vehicle. ¡°Quick, quick, quick, to the dock! Let¡¯s greet the big star!¡± ¡°Wow, a big star!¡± ¡°To think you can become famous even in our line of work. Boss, you think I¡¯ve got a chance? I want to be a star too; it pays way better than what I¡¯m making now!¡± ¡°Sure, of course, you can. Tomorrow I¡¯ll send your criminal record to the police station. Look forward to jail time, haha!¡± ¡°Then make sure you send me back home for trial, so I don¡¯t get sentenced to death! And remember, Boss, you gotta bail me out!¡± On the sea, Sisko, standing at the bow of the boat, likewise saw the procession of vehicles roaring toward the dock, his brow furrowing slightly. The leading cars were all muscle cars¡ªthe kind favored by beefy thugs, their engines rumbling so loud it seemed to carry across ten nautical miles, followed by cargo vans splattered with mud. Just by looking at this display, Sisko knew who had come. ¡°Sir, it¡¯s Monsa and his crew. They seem to have ill intentions and must have been waiting here since early morning.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that they seem to have ill intentions; they do. To wait for us before dawn, it must¡¯ve been tough for him. But really, does that guy never worry about his gas-guzzlers breaking down in the middle of the grassland?¡± Sisko¡¯s tone carried a hint of irony, but his heart sank slightly. Even though he knew the cargo vans must be empty, just by the numbers he could tell that his adversaries must have come back with bountiful spoils. While the success of his own voyage was secondary to getting rid of his tail, who could have expected such an unexpected encounter? Monsa was not the type to welcome him without a reason. As expected¡­ No sooner had Sisko stepped onto land than he was greeted by a shrill burst of laughter, loud and unbridled. ¡°Look, it¡¯s Sisko. Just got back, huh? Guess what I¡¯ve found? Can you believe it, Sisko? Is this really you on here? You¡¯ve actually become a big star? Ah? Hahaha! Who would¡¯ve thought, hahaha, I can¡¯t even¡ªahahaha.¡± The burly man waved a newspaper, pointing at Sisko¡¯s image and laughing out loud, the sound even overwhelming the noise of the tides. Veins throbbed in Sisko¡¯s forehead as he ignored Monsa¡¯s provocation and led his men away without another word. Watching Sisko leave as if he wasn¡¯t there, Monsa wasn¡¯t annoyed; instead, he laughed heartily. ¡°Sisko, if you can¡¯t manage, why not let one of my underlings take over for you? It¡¯s just steering an empty boat¡ªanyone with hands can do it, right? Will you still be able to carry out missions? With a big star¡¯s face like that, oh, I forgot, you¡¯re¡­ damn, he¡¯s gone.¡± Watching the unyielding Sisko, Monsa spat on the ground and then touched his crew cut. ¡°Shit, why does it still seem like there¡¯s little hope?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t be, right? After such a big slip-up, Sisko still has a chance?¡± ¡°What do you know?¡± Monsa frowned, a spark of wisdom flashing between his brows that belied his muscular build. ¡°This guy was a top X in the central military forces and even served as an instructor for snipers. I¡¯ve seen him shoot a rabbit dead with a rifle from 300 meters away!¡± ¡°So what? Couldn¡¯t you do the same, Boss? I remember seeing you shoot a deer dead with a rifle.¡± Monsa slapped the back of the lackey¡¯s head. ¡°Bullshit, I used a sniper rifle; he used a regular one, with iron sights! Hand you a rifle and you couldn¡¯t hit shit from fifty meters.¡± All three sidekicks around him gasped in amazement. Bloody hell, a rifle with iron sights at 300 meters? To think that some rifles have an effective range of only 300 meters! The target was even a living rabbit¡ªhow was that even humanly possible? The last man to follow, Jerry, his eyes spinning, piped up: ¡°Boss, should we perhaps throw in a bit more flattery with the head honcho?¡± Monsa glanced back at Jerry, who was trailing behind, and kicked with irritation, ¡°You little shit, took a bribe from Sisko, did you?¡± Jerry scratched his head, not quite grasping Monsa¡¯s drift. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m a fool? One shake is enough; keep it up and you¡¯ll only show how little ambition you have. Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go, once this job¡¯s done we can have a few days off. I¡¯ll take you guys out for some fun!¡± ¡°I¡¯m getting ten!¡± ¡°You? Ten? You¡¯d probably be found dead the next day, lying in¡­¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± ¡­ Ferreira, observing the boisterous group on the dock, didn¡¯t find it humorous, only noisy. ¡°` ¡°Can¡¯t figure it out?¡± Sisko took off his gloves, seeing the confusion in his subordinate¡¯s eyes at a glance. Ferreira nodded, always feeling something off about Monsa, even if he was prone to mockery; waiting on the dock before dawn just to exchange a trivial greeting was not his style. ¡°It¡¯s simple, Monsa has a daughter now.¡± ¡°He¡¯s short of money? Wants to gobble up the Asian market?¡± Freyra connected the dots with the latest news, and suddenly it all made sense. ¡°Something like that. In our line of work, no one complains about having too much money, not even one billion, ten billion is enough.¡± Sisko pinched the bridge of his nose, thinking that if Monsa wanted the Asian market, so did he. ¡°Wait, what¡¯s going on with Asia?¡± The young man following on Sisko¡¯s right side was somewhat lost in the conversation between the boss and Freyra. ¡°Ansen Huang is in trouble.¡± Sisko did not elaborate, and Ferreira naturally took on the role of explainer. Chewing gum, the young man blew a bubble, ¡°Then why not just fish him out? Pay some bail? Hasn¡¯t it always been like that before?¡± ¡°This time it¡¯s a bit different, the East Asian government is hell-bent on putting him behind bars.¡± Ferreira patiently explained, the turn of events had caught everyone off guard, even Huang Ansen himself had never imagined the police would escalate things this far. ¡°So this Huang¡¯s a big deal?¡± With a helpless gesture to his forehead, Ferreira said, ¡°Do you know anything about the business you¡¯re in?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen this as a job, you think I¡¯m up for 996?¡± ¡°996? What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Nothing, it¡¯s a popular term online, something you old folks wouldn¡¯t understand. It¡¯s a dreadful way to work, with no overtime pay.¡± Ferreira drew a sharp breath, feeling the temperature rise several degrees, unable to tell if it was the greenhouse effect worsening or summer arriving early: ¡°Overtime without overtime pay? My God, that¡¯s worse than being sent to jail.¡± ¡°So who exactly is Huang Ansen?¡± Alucard blew another bubble. ¡°A longstanding partner of the company.¡± Sisko explained calmly, returning from buying a newspaper at a nearby stand, ¡°This man remotely controls Asia¡¯s largest-scale wildlife trading organization. The Luhe Wildlife Company he manages conducts most of its shady dealings almost openly, legally wholesaling countless reptiles every year, and the origin of most snakes, lizards, turtles, and frogs traded in pet stores in Ugly Country can be traced back to him. He also owns a private zoo, which he uses as a front to sell contraband, like snow leopard fur, panda skin, rhino horns, rare birds, and even Komodo dragons. From South American squirrels to elephants, he smuggles endangered wildlife from Oceania, Huaxia, Madagascar, Old Eastland, Nanmei, and other places, and then sells them in the markets of Europe, Japan, and Ugly Country.¡± Alucard drew in a breath, the gum stuck in his throat, coughing nonstop as he looked at Sisko¡¯s profile: ¡°Fuck, black and white skin? Boss, you¡¯re not kidding me, are you?¡± Sisko cast a sidelong glance at Alucard, ¡°Do I need to lie to you? It¡¯s true. Mr. Huang himself has told me that it¡¯s a breeze for him to acquire black and white skins, and because of that, our company has always cooperated with him. Apart from him, no one else can get black and white skins.¡± Alucard was speechless, it took him a while to come back to his senses: ¡°So how did he get caught?¡± Sisko shook the newspaper and did not respond; Ferreira continued the story. ¡°Because of a suitcase.¡± ¡°Had goods in it?¡± ¡°Last month, a lock on a suitcase at Kuala Lumpur Airport broke, which wouldn¡¯t have been a problem, except it contained nearly 100 juvenile pythons, two venomous snakes, and a South American turtle. And its owner was none other than Ansen Huang.¡± Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For someone who can control such trade, facing prison over a suitcase full of pythons was akin to Mexico¡¯s Poison Bird being arrested for a few marijuana cigarettes in his pocket. ¡°The company has long coveted the Asian market but never had the opportunity to get involved. Now that Huang Ansen is arrested, we can¡¯t let this pass. You know, in Huaxia, the profit from one black and white skin can exceed the earnings from many of Monsa¡¯s expeditions. We need to shift at least a hundred shipments to match it. And the boss here was the perfect candidate, but unfortunately¡­¡± There were many Hunter Teams like theirs in the company, active around the world, forming an unimaginable huge web of interests. Sisko¡¯s Hunter Team was the largest and strongest within the company. ¡°Unfortunately, we screwed up this operation, huh?¡± Alucard, ever blunt, realized what he said as soon as the words left his mouth and covered his mouth with a hand, cautiously looking at Sisko, afraid he¡¯d stepped out of line. After a couple of glances, Alucard realized that Sisko wasn¡¯t paying him any mind. Sisko¡¯s brow furrowed as he looked at the photograph on the newspaper, his own face seeming strangely unfamiliar. After a while, Sisko¡¯s expression softened and he crumpled the paper into a ball, tossing it into a trash can with a sneer. ¡°Huaxia newscasters, heh.¡± ¡°` Chapter 372: 370 All is Ready Chapter 372: Chapter 370 All is Ready The elevator doors opened, and a tide of noise flooded in, accompanied by billowing black smoke. Bi Fang coughed twice, and as the black smoke cleared, he stared at the office in astonishment. To those in the know, it was Yao Jun¡¯s office, but to the unknowing, it might have seemed like the entrance to a rock band¡¯s recording studio during a fire. Yao Jun set down his wrench, leaned against the wall to turn on the light. There was no Vanguard Band, just an antique engine roaring loudly, its chains and gears clicking together like the interlocking teeth of a skeleton, continuously emitting thick smoke, like a dark steed from Hell. Bang! A crisp cracking sound erupted. Bi Fang dodged the flying part that had apparently long been plotting its escape, which flew past and left a shallow dent on the gray-white wall. Annoyed, Bi Fang kicked a wrench off the floor and said, ¡°Where did you dig up this old relic? Are you planning to drive it in an off-road race or something?¡± Yao Jun wiped the sweat from his forehead, leaving a black smear of engine oil, and explained excitedly, ¡°It¡¯s not mine; it¡¯s an antique my old man collected. A few days ago, he suddenly remembered this thing and wanted to ride it, only to find it was broken, the engine wouldn¡¯t even turn. He insisted that I fix it. I¡¯ve been busy all day, and it seems to be in worse shape now. Some parts have been discontinued and are hard to buy.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you get someone else to fix it?¡± Yao Jun shook his head, ¡°Nope, the old man specifically named me to do the repair.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Bi Fang was curious, ¡°It¡¯s not like you broke¡­ Okay, no need to say more, I get it.¡± Bi Fang covered his eyes, feeling mentally exhausted. Feeling a bit embarrassed, Yao Jun chuckled and cleared a path through the cluttered office, then asked in confusion, ¡°How come you thought to look for me? The club still needs some time. Although most of the equipment is in place, we still need to fine-tune it. We¡¯re planning to release some tickets first, do a trial run. The online model isn¡¯t finished either. Didn¡¯t you say last time that you would recommend someone for it?¡± ¡°Forget it, I can¡¯t even get in touch with that person anymore. Let¡¯s talk about it later. If I can¡¯t reach them by May, you¡¯ll have to find someone yourself.¡± Bi Fang found a spot to sit down and casually offered an explanation. He had intended to lend a hand, but what could he do if he couldn¡¯t find the person? Yao Jun nodded; after all, it wasn¡¯t charity work ¨C they couldn¡¯t really delay the project for one person. He handed Bi Fang a cup of tea, saying thoughtfully, ¡°That was really close. I saw it all on screen, those guns flashing ¨C it made my eyes hurt and my heart almost jump out. Did you manage to catch them? You got half their faces on camera, even though the lighting was blurry, it shouldn¡¯t be difficult, right?¡± Unexpectedly, Bi Fang shook his head, which took Yao Jun by surprise. ¡°You got their pictures yet you can¡¯t catch them?¡± ¡°It¡¯s tough!¡± Bi Fang took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, ¡°You don¡¯t run around outside much, so you don¡¯t know much about this stuff. It¡¯s not as simple as just identifying who¡¯s the problem and making a decision. Besides, if it was just some small fry, it¡¯d be one thing, but from their setup, it¡¯s clear that they are organized, and definitely not small.¡± That night it was too far to estimate the size of the ship, but a vessel that could hold a hundred people was certainly not small. The overall quality of the adversary was not something ordinary gangs could match. Compared to the Bandit Gangs, it was like a game of downgraded combat, not just in terms of weapons and equipment, but also overall capability. Command prohibited, neat and orderly, to cultivate such a team quality, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t think of any place other than the military. Once any organizational structure becomes large, it becomes difficult to deal with ¨C not easily overthrown by a blurry photo, especially overseas. ¡°If you can¡¯t deal with them, doesn¡¯t that mean you¡¯re in danger? The enemy won¡¯t seek revenge, will they?¡± Yao Jun suddenly got scared after hearing this. They were a whole gang of tough bandits ¨C Bi Fang had taken photos, made them publicly known; wasn¡¯t he, in essence, offending them? ¡°Should I and Lin Chang think of a way to help you keep it under wraps?¡± ¡°No need. It¡¯s been a long time; everyone online knows by now. What¡¯s the point of fixing it now? And if I had the guts to do it, I¡¯m not afraid of them either,¡± said Bi Fang with a shrug, appearing unconcerned. ¡°Do you think reality is the same as in the movies, where offending someone means you have to root them out? The more organized the group, the more they care about how they do things. As long as they do a little research, they¡¯d realize that I¡¯m just a streamer. The photo was an accidental shot, not an intentional pursuit. Since it¡¯s accidental, there¡¯s nothing to be done after the fact.¡± ¡°Unless you¡¯re archenemies, the adversary won¡¯t take special measures to seek revenge, unless you run into each other again by chance. But that¡¯s even less likely. I was just visiting Ruins City once ¨C essentially, I¡¯m still a wilderness streamer. The odds of going to that kind of place are almost zero. It¡¯s not likely that they would be running around in the wilderness, right? That would be way out of their jurisdiction.¡± Though both involve illegal trafficking, humans and animals represent entirely different matters, with completely separate supply chains and clients. Developing both is exceptionally difficult as they are two unrelated chains of interest. Either of these activities can be extremely profitable, but likewise, the risks are immense. Doubling down on risks isn¡¯t as simple as one plus one; it escalates exponentially. However, perfecting one over the other can eventually lead to an over-abundance of wealth. Bi Fang didn¡¯t believe the other party was capable of successfully handling both sides of operation simultaneously and with equal robustness. If that were really the case, then the organization must be so massive that even he could hardly imagine its scale. After listening for a while, Yao Jun thought he understood. In essence, from now on, Bi Fang would only venture into the wilderness and wouldn¡¯t cross paths with the thugs capturing people in the city. However, he was still somewhat concerned, ¡°But I always feel¡­ ¡± ¡°You need to understand one thing, if the other side was truly capable of handling both, then my personal worries would be utterly pointless.¡± If things were really headed towards the worst-case scenario, what use would his concerns be? Could he just stay at home forever and never go out? Bi Fang tapped his temple and said with a smile, ¡°Human worries often stem from overthinking and negative speculation about situations, not from the facts themselves, but from ¡®thoughts¡¯ that trouble us. Once you start fearing the future that you imagine, you will hesitate to move forward.¡± ¡°Being afraid of these guys does me no good beyond keeping me awake at night.¡± What he could do was continue to grow stronger, to blossom brilliantly on the path of adventure, making himself more formidable¡ªthat was what truly mattered. Yao Jun¡¯s eyes widened, and for a moment, he was lost in thought until Bi Fang waved his hand in front of his face to snap him out of it. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Yao Jun didn¡¯t answer but instead exclaimed with surprise, ¡°Impressive!¡± Bi Fang replied irritably, ¡°Cut the nonsense. You¡¯ve got me off track. I forgot what I came here for. We¡¯ve strayed too far from the topic. I came to you because I need something.¡± ¡°Just say it. Whatever help I can provide, I surely will!¡± ¡°I want to borrow some of your equipment. I¡¯ve got a big plan.¡± ¡°No problem! Take as much as you need! I can afford it! But can you share a bit about your plan? Are you sure you don¡¯t need a rest? This could be dangerous.¡± Upon hearing what Bi Fang said, Yao Jun immediately became serious. The city expedition was too dangerous, full of deadly risks, and even the spectators were terrified the entire journey, let alone Bi Fang who experienced it firsthand. Yao Jun, a fellow adventure enthusiast, knew all too well how draining such intense live streaming could be on one¡¯s vitality. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It¡¯s like someone pouring all their energy into doing something, and after it¡¯s done, they might need a long time to feel spirited again. Being in a relaxed yet exhausted state, both physically and mentally, taking on any high-risk activity could indeed lead to an accident. The simplest analogy would be feeling extremely tired for several hours after a math exam, and Bi Fang¡¯s high-intensity live broadcasting was certainly no less taxing, requiring at least a week to recover. Yao Jun had thought that Bi Fang would take some time to rest after returning this time, but to his surprise, he was already planning something big. As both the top regular in the live stream and a real-life friend of Bi Fang, Yao Jun really wanted to see him create miracles, yet he didn¡¯t want him to risk any harm. Especially since Bi Fang was so young, there was a real concern that he might become reckless due to his popularity and the encouragement of certain overzealous fans, heedlessly attempting to push his limits, challenging even higher human peaks. After all, the journey of adventure, if truly pursued, is endless! Humans have peaks, but adventure does not! The spirit of adventure does not! Bi Fang waved his hand, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know what you¡¯re thinking. I¡¯m not going to be reckless. I¡¯m just borrowing equipment first. I plan to go abroad early and train for at least a month before I take action.¡± Yao Jun finally breathed a sigh of relief. Bi Fang continued, ¡°I plan to train for a month and then challenge the snowy mountains!¡± Train for a month and then challenge the snowy mountains? Even Master Fang needs to train for a month before he dares to challenge them, and he even came to him specifically to borrow equipment. The difficulty must be quite significant, right? Yao Jun took a sip of his tea, ¡°Are you talking about the Alps or the Alaska Range? Or maybe¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s Mount Everest.¡± ¡°Spit! Cough cough cough, cough cough cough!¡± Yao Jun suddenly sprayed the tea from his mouth, choking on the tea leaves through his nose, gasping for breath as he leaned on the office desk. It took him a while to pull out tissues to clean his face and catch his breath. Awesome, my brother! Yao Jun was completely flustered. Damn it, you¡¯re talking about climbing the world¡¯s highest peak? What¡¯s with the sudden career switch from wilderness host to extreme sports? Can you not joke about this, please? Are you here to borrow props? Why not borrow a coffin while you¡¯re at it? Considering our long friendship, I will spend a fortune to craft you an agarwood urn, ensuring your remains will smell pleasant even after death! Bi Fang smiled and didn¡¯t continue to tease Yao Jun. Unlike laymen like Matthew and Hask, Yao Jun was very knowledgeable about various extreme sports, especially the notorious Mount Everest, and he was well aware of the difficulties involved, not something that could be easily fooled by a few words. But Bi Fang knew his goal. This was not just a System task; if he couldn¡¯t climb Mount Everest once in his lifetime, he would regret it forever. ¡°You¡¯re not a layman, so you should know that there aren¡¯t only Mount Everest above eight thousand meters in the world, but a total of fourteen peaks. Though Everest is the tallest, it is not the most difficult. Everest doesn¡¯t even make the top ten in difficulty. And I¡¯m not looking to challenge the most challenging one, Annapurna I. If it were that, I wouldn¡¯t even think about it unless I had half a year of training.¡± Yao Jun was speechless, unable to refute Bi Fang¡¯s nonchalant attitude as if it was the most natural thing in the world, only managing a weak counterargument, ¡°It¡¯s still Everest though.¡± ¡°It¡¯s already April. The best climbing window is approaching, and I don¡¯t want to wait another year. The seed of adventure has already been planted; waiting another year would drive me insane. After a year, it will burst through my skull and grow out of my brain. Do you understand?¡± Bi Fang placed his hand on his Heavenly Spirit Cover, spreading his fingers as if a large tree were truly sprouting from it, making the viewer¡¯s eyelids twitch uncontrollably. ¡°Ah this, ah this¡­¡± Bi Fang patted Yao Jun on the shoulder earnestly, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to see me become a plant person with a plant growing out of my head after a year, then support me.¡± Yao Jun was at a loss for words. With the conversation at this point, what more could he say? If the other party had truly decided, he had no right to stop it. ¡°This is too crazy!¡± ¡°You¡¯re only thirty. Isn¡¯t that the age to be crazy?¡± ¡°Goddamn it, go for it! If you die, don¡¯t come haunting me as a ghost!¡± ¡°Ha ha ha, don¡¯t worry. If I really die, it will be on Goddess Peak, returning to the embrace of Nature. Why would I bother you, a smelly man?¡± ¡°Have you told Wang Yongbo?¡± ¡°No, he¡¯s older and doesn¡¯t have your capacity for stress. I was afraid the shock might kill him.¡± Yao Jun: ¡°¡­¡± On April 17th, the day after returning to the country, Bi Fang checked his equipment in person and sealed the bag. All the gear was provided by Yao Jun alone, whose collection could only be described as terrifying. Ice axes, snow goggles, gloves, even moisture-wicking breathable socks¡ªeverything was there. Just one of these sealed bags contained equipment worth millions, and Bi Fang had prepared three of these bags. Even amateur mountaineering, meeting only the most basic requirements, costs at least 200,000 RMB. It is worth noting that due to various factors such as weather, not every investment guarantees summiting success. In other words, tens of thousands of yuan could potentially be wasted in one trip. For a non-amateur climber fulfilling the highest possible needs, an expedition could cost millions, which is not an exaggeration. The trip to the snowy mountains is unlike any other adventure, extremely intense. The more extreme the sport, the higher the demand for equipment, from major items down to a pair of socks, attention to detail is crucial. Even though System-provided equipment is of higher quality, with the Points Bi Fang had accumulated after surviving Ruins City, it was impossible to collect so much gear all at once. However, he managed to get something useful in the System¡¯s store. ¡°Universal Prop Coupon.¡± Considering Bi Fang had come to borrow equipment from Yao Jun, the function of this coupon was self-evident. ¡°Phew, next I need to contact Jerret and his group, and finally tell Wang Yongbo about it. I¡¯m really afraid he won¡¯t be able to handle it.¡± Bi Fang wiped the sweat from his forehead. The climb to Mount Everest was genuinely an extreme journey where a single mistake could mean sudden death. Therefore, he wanted everything to be as perfect as possible, leaving no room for regrets. That¡¯s why he needed to get in touch with Jerret, a top-tier photography team in the industry. Thinking of contacting them, Bi Fang habitually opened the System store. Today was the store refresh day, and he wanted to see if there was anything good since he hadn¡¯t spent Points on gear, and he still had plenty left. His gaze skimmed past some typical equipment, and suddenly, a gleaming skill coupon caught his eye. Bi Fang¡¯s breathing grew heavier for a moment. ¡°Oxygen Uptake Index Enhancement Coupon*1¡± Chapter 373: 371: Maximum Oxygen Uptake Chapter 373: Chapter 371: Maximum Oxygen Uptake ¡°` The breath control Bi Fang had maintained for so long suddenly collapsed, his breathing became abruptly heavy, and his heart started to beat violently. His chest was filled with tremendous joy, and in a matter of seconds, his expressions nearly made the passersby on the side take notice. Bi Fang¡¯s wildness from living in the wilderness for so long was starkly distinct from the comfort of the city. This was due to the high pressure causing a surge in hormone secretion, often referred to as the scent of a man. Many special forces soldiers and frontline detectives possess a similar aura. It is for this reason that people with similar experiences and heightened sensitivity could exchange glances and immediately sense that there¡¯s something extraordinary about the other person. Such a man, when mixed into the city, is like a drop of red ink in a pool of plaster, naturally eye-catching. At this moment, Bi Fang was particularly noticeable. This guy, he looks so familiar. Is he a celebrity? As passersby began to notice Bi Fang, the more they looked at him, the more familiar he seemed, and the more astonishing it became. ¡°Hahaha, sorry, I just thought of something happy,¡± Bi Fang touched the back of his head, laughed heartily, and quickly stepped out of line, his steps surprisingly sprightly. Turning his back, the smile on Bi Fang¡¯s face was almost overflowing. How long had it been since he¡¯d had such a surprise? It was as if someone offered a pillow when he was sleepy or a steaming, spicy bowl of noodles when he was hungry. How satisfying! ¡°Oxygen Uptake Index Enhancement Coupon*1, redeem for 4600 Wilderness Points.¡± ¡°Gold coupons are different indeed, they cost over four thousand.¡± Seeing the price of the Oxygen Uptake Coupon, Bi Fang¡¯s excitement at encountering the gold coupon subsided slightly. The points he could earn from one mission were only a little over a thousand, never even reaching two thousand. This gold coupon was worth three times the points of his missions. Over four thousand points. That was the most expensive voucher Bi Fang had ever encountered; he didn¡¯t even know how much it would increase his index, but he knew he had to have it. Oxygen uptake. Many people have not even heard of this concept, yet it is a golden figure among professional athletes. Maximum oxygen uptake, also, is the most direct data for assessing cardiovascular health in the field of exercise physiology. It represents the amount of oxygen one can inhale when the body can no longer continue to support further exercise at the maximum intensity. Renowned as the gold standard for evaluating endurance levels, it is one of the crucial criteria for selecting endurance athletes. A healthy male typically has a maximum oxygen uptake between 35-40, while for females it¡¯s between 27-31. A maximum oxygen uptake value over 60 usually results in significant achievements in aerobic sports. The average for international top male runners is an astonishing 85! What qualifies as international top level? It¡¯s not something as simple as being a national team athlete, that would be undervaluing them. These people are treasures of humanity, representing those capable of competing for world championships, the pinnacle of human physical capabilities! Furthermore, good cardiovascular health even means such individuals are likely to live longer than the average person! And those above ninety? They should no longer be called human but rather¡ªmonsters. ¡°` Indeed, Bi Fang felt exactly that way, to him, anyone with a maximum oxygen uptake over ninety was a monstrous being, undeserving of the title ¡°human.¡± Such individuals could even jog on Mount Everest! To jog in the forbidden zone for humans at an altitude of over 8,800 meters, where oxygen is extremely scarce! Just imagining this scene made Bi Fang¡¯s face flush with excitement. A path he never envisioned, a scenario he never dreamt of, could he run on Mount Everest? No, there was no need to run, even walking, one step at a time, was his lifelong aspiration. Compared to the population of humans, the number of people who have climbed Mount Everest is minuscule, and among them, over 90% could barely crawl after reaching the summit due to the thin air, standing being nearly impossible! If that were all, Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t be so excited, but the key point was that, according to medical research, maximum aerobic capacity could only be improved by 5-25% through training, with the remaining 72-95% being primarily influenced by genetic factors! In other words, it was a talent! No matter how much ordinary people trained, they could not reach it! Any enhancement through exercise also demanded continuous training to maintain. If training stopped for 2 weeks, aerobic capacity would significantly decline; 4-12 weeks without training could reduce cardiorespiratory function by 50%; and without training for half a year, the function would revert to the level before training. Moreover, short-term training could not improve maximum oxygen uptake, usually requiring 10-20 weeks of training to be effective, with at least 2 sessions per week to enhance it substantially. Therefore, the appearance of this gold coupon in the store caused Bi Fang to be so excited. Why did he want to climb Mount Everest? The main reason was very simple, it was a dream, an aspiration, to put it in the words of New Zealand climber Hillary (actually, it¡¯s Hillary, but you all understand), ¡°because it¡¯s there.¡± The second reason was the breakthrough he sought after his own limits; the appearance of the enhancement coupon was also a kind of limit breakthrough. Through various training and breathing methods, Bi Fang had already reached the training limit of his maximum oxygen uptake. Naturally, any further improvement was impossible. Only the system could help Bi Fang break through the limit, to reach domains that predecessors had reached and even those unattained. 4600 points, even if it meant smashing the pot and selling the iron, he would get them! Bi Fang scrolled down his personal panel. The points brought by Ruins City weren¡¯t much, only 1600, and he had never been one to save points, as that would be disrespectful to every mission. However, fortunately, the system had been updated a long time ago, and aside from acquiring Wilderness Points through missions, they could also be generated by certain influences and fan bases. Furthermore, points could be directly exchanged with money. Ten thousand for one point. Aside from using it right after the update, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t touched this piggy bank, almost forgetting about it. When he checked, he added the points from the missions. ¡°Still short by one hundred and twenty?¡± Bi Fang was stunned. When production wasn¡¯t enough, it meant resorting to conversion with money, which was 1.2 million. To be honest, the club¡¯s investments were like a bottomless pit, which made Bi Fang¡¯s wallet constantly in a state of being both wealthy and poor. Apart from maintaining the basic expenditures, he had hardly any extra wealth, especially since renting various vehicles for each trip overseas was also a major expense. Digging out the certificate of deposit from his pocket, Bi Fang was speechless and on the verge of tears. The gold bars Hask had given him hadn¡¯t even had time to get warm before he had to give them up. But there was no choice, it would take some time for the coupon to be adapted to, the sooner the better. Bi Fang could only reluctantly choose to exchange. The sound of gold coins falling to the ground resounded in his ears, a clear and crisp echo, bleeding the heart. Although Bi Fang didn¡¯t care much about money, he had the habit of saving it. Probably a mindset that came from poverty in a previous life, losing a large sum of money always caused him heartache for a long time. ¡°By the way, after completing the task on Everest, will the points increase? Otherwise, if I encounter a gold coupon in the future¡­¡± ¡°` S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang gasped at the cold air, and immediately felt a sharp pain in his liver. But when he saw the gold coupon appear in his backpack, Bi Fang set aside the heartache and found a hidden corner in the lobby to click ¡®Adapt¡¯. Every time he used the various enhancements provided by the System, Bi Fang would secretly record it with a camera on the side, reviewing the footage afterward to see if anything was amiss. The results proved that, aside from feeling sleepy on occasion, there were no other conspicuous external changes. Thus, at this moment, he was quite eager. In the void, the gold coupon turned into fine powder and enveloped Bi Fang, merging into his body. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, so sleepy?¡± Bi Fang¡¯s eyes were blurry as he looked through the plants at the corner toward the bustling lobby, slowly lowering his head. In his sleep, Bi Fang had a dream where he found himself on a cold and freezing grassland. The weather was so cold that he was about to freeze, but soon, a warm gust of wind blew over. It started off cold, but gradually, it became warm. The wind brought moisture and warmth; the massive armor of ice cracked, and streams of snow honeydew flowed through the crevices. The once dormant path was again exposed to the sunlight, breathing in the fresh air eagerly, and sprouts of green grass seemed like springs emerging from the deep earth, spilling over the undulating grassland all the way to the horizon. The sky was a clear blue with white clouds, and herds of geese flew across, changing directions. He became a lone herdsman, riding freely across the plain, free to go wherever he wished. ¡°Mr. Bi¡­ Mr. Bi, Mr. Bi!?¡± ¡°Hmm, ah!¡± Bi Fang suddenly woke up and, by instinct, grabbed the man¡¯s wrist, twisting it behind his back. However, before the man could cry out in pain, Bi Fang, realizing who he was, quickly let go and raised his hands halfway up. At that moment, the security guard¡¯s pain signals seemed to have just reached his brain; he cried out in pain, attracting the attention of the few remaining people in the vicinity. ¡°Sorry, sorry, very sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to,¡± Bi Fang said with his hands half-raised, his face a mix of embarrassment and shame. He glanced around and instantly understood everything. Compared to the crowded lobby during the day, it was now eerily quiet, where even a small noise could echo far. Not far off, the man¡¯s colleagues were already rushing over. Obviously, he had accidentally fallen asleep after using the gold coupon and had slept into the night. The kind-hearted attempt to wake him had unexpectedly resulted in Bi Fang reflexively using a martial hold, possibly even spraining the joint. But there was no helping it; he had just returned from Yemen, and his nerves had not fully relaxed yet, coupled with his wild instinct, many actions were made subconsciously. ¡°I am truly very sorry, maybe you should go to the hospital to have it checked out. I will cover all expenses, including lost wages and the like, I really apologize.¡± ¡°No, no problem, it just hurts a bit,¡± the security guard winced in pain but still waved his hands repeatedly. ¡°Hey, Old Huang, are you okay? You there, step away from him!¡± The man¡¯s colleague was already hurrying over. The man quickly stood up and waved his hand: ¡°It¡¯s fine, just a misunderstanding, I accidentally took a fall.¡± His colleague looked skeptical: ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Really! Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± The man stood out more, took a few steps forward to show his colleague, said a few words, and only then did his colleague let down his guard and leave. The man turned back to look at Bi Fang again, who was now even more embarrassed. He hadn¡¯t expected to hurt the man¡¯s arm only for him to then cover for him. He felt terribly sorry. However, the man¡¯s attitude led Bi Fang to some speculation: ¡°Do¡­ do you know me?¡± ¡°` The man moved his shoulders, grimacing in pain, but still managed to laugh, ¡°Right, I¡¯ve seen your livestream, Master Fang!¡± Bi Fang was even more embarrassed, not expecting the other person to casually wave his hand, ¡°No worries, I understand. You¡¯ve just come back from Yemen, being tense is normal. And it¡¯s my fault too, I shouldn¡¯t have gotten close to you, always thought Cao Mengde¡¯s ¡®I delight in killing people in my dreams¡¯ was fake, but today I was really schooled.¡± With a joke, the tense atmosphere immediately loosened up. Bi Fang also breathed a sigh of relief. Compensating for the damage and apologizing were minor; he was in the wrong to begin with. His worry had been that the other party would be unyielding and make a big deal out of it, which could tie him down, and he couldn¡¯t afford that right now. Every day was precious and could not be wasted. Today, he was giving a perfunctory apology gift, and tomorrow he would set off for real. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault, a thousand times over. You should hurry to the hospital for a checkup, and I¡¯ll take care of the costs,¡± Bi Fang offered. ¡°Eh, no need for that, you let go quickly and I¡¯ve had some training myself. Look, it¡¯s almost nothing now, worst case I just slap on a plaster tonight and it¡¯ll be all good,¡± Huang Tianming declined repeatedly, swinging his shoulder in circles to show he was fine, and gave Bi Fang a thumbs-up. ¡°Master Fang, I watched the entirety of your livestream a few days ago, you are really made of iron. Damn, you really make Huaxia proud, those beasts dared not act humanely, doing things that defy nature and heavens. And who says only foreigners have the guts to take risks and strive? Be it a behemoth in a river or a rainforest expedition, we don¡¯t have such shows, they only want those sissies to dance and sing. But in truth, we Huaxia people are no less, we can do it better and more badass! What¡¯s the big deal with editing? It¡¯s all fake. Livestreaming is the ultimate badassery, who dares call it fake? Sadly, I don¡¯t have much ability or money to help out. What¡¯s a little twist? It¡¯s nothing. Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Huang Tianming ended up comforting Bi Fang instead, patting him on the shoulder. ¡°This¡­¡± Bi Fang still felt bad about it. ¡°It¡¯s really okay, really. Look, if you can¡¯t get over it, why not tell me about where you¡¯re planning to go next? When¡¯s the next livestream starting?¡± At this topic, Huang Tianming¡¯s eyes lit up. He was truly Bi Fang¡¯s fan. Unless he was tied up with work, he would follow every episode, and he sincerely thought so too. Watching Bi Fang survive and explore in various dangerous territories abroad through a screen was damn thrilling, way better than any movie! Especially after Jerret¡¯s survival show aired, it made Master Fang¡¯s bravery and fearlessness, as well as his outstanding skills, more prominent ¨C rightfully the number one wilderness survivor! Making us proud! Genuinely making us proud! ¡°For the next episode, I do have something prepared.¡± ¡°Hey, come on, spill the beans, or I really won¡¯t let you off,¡± Huang urged. Bi Fang looked around, leaned in, and whispered, ¡°I¡¯m going to climb Mount Everest!¡± ¡°Hiss! Mount Everest? My dear mother!¡± Huang exclaimed. Bi Fang scratched his head, seeing that the passersby he had finally walked away from had gathered around again, somewhat speechless. Why does everyone have such a big reaction? I haven¡¯t even started the climb! Chapter 374: 372: Thats it? (Two in One) Chapter 374: Chapter 372: That¡¯s it? (Two in One) The enormous moon rose slowly outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the entire hall was bathed in the cold, watery moonlight. The shadows of the window panes were cast upon the backrest of a long bench, where two men sat at either end¡ªone animatedly talking about his dreams, the other listening quietly. Strangely, it was Huang Tianming who did the talking, and Bi Fang who listened. Learning that Bi Fang was planning to go to Mount Everest, the reaction of this security guard before him was far stronger than imagined, and he was more excited, his face flushing red as he spoke about his desire to save money for travel and adventures. Huang Tianming spoke for a full fifteen minutes before he smacked his lips and asked, ¡°Climbing must be expensive, right?¡± Bi Fang nodded slightly, ¡°Yeah, about two hundred thousand or so per trip.¡± ¡°Ah, really, I really, really want to go, to see the snow-capped mountains, the very high snow-capped mountains.¡± Huang Tianming looked up at the moonlight, then down at the uniform he wore, suddenly heaving a sigh. His face, which had been flushed with excitement, suddenly lost its color like a deflated red balloon, ¡°You¡¯re so lucky, handsome and knowledgeable, strong in everything you do. I have nothing, I¡¯m poor and unattractive.¡± Bi Fang scratched his eyebrow, the sudden change in tone caught him off guard, he couldn¡¯t help but recall his own arrival in this world. So destitute he couldn¡¯t afford meals, relying on the generosity of friends listed in his phone book to get through those first few days. What should his life have been like? Perhaps he wouldn¡¯t have been able to join the CWCA? Thinking this, Bi Fang raised an eyebrow, suddenly he had an idea, ¡°Do you have something you can give me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s really nothing, no need, uhmm? What, what?¡± Huang Tianming was halfway through his refusal when he was taken aback, thinking he might have misheard. That¡¯s not right. It was you who sprained my arm, normally shouldn¡¯t you be giving me something? Asking me for something, what¡¯s that about? Seeing the other man taken aback, Bi Fang urged him a couple of times, ¡°Do you have anything? Anything will do, preferably something lightweight and durable, even a piece of cloth is fine.¡± ¡°Oh, yes, I have something, this is my ID lanyard that I carry with me every day. It got torn when I slept on the table at noon today, I¡¯ve been keeping it in my pocket since.¡± Out of professional habit, and since it was his idol, Huang Tianming didn¡¯t make a fuss, he took out a blue cord from his pocket. Just as Bi Fang reached out to take it, a familiar call sounded again, interrupting their conversation. ¡°Hey, Old Huang, where are you? Is everything okay or not? If it¡¯s fine, get over here quickly, you already took leave last month, don¡¯t slack off!¡± ¡°Eh, coming right away!¡± Huang Tianming stood up reflexively, replying loudly, then turned to apologize to Bi Fang, ¡°Sorry, I got so carried away with the chat.¡± ¡°No worries, it¡¯s my fault after all.¡± Bi Fang himself had caused the other¡¯s sprain; listening to a conversation was the least he could do. ¡°Well, if it¡¯s okay, then I¡¯ll be going.¡± Huang Tianming felt regret but still nodded, watching as Bi Fang turned and left through the main doors. Approaching midnight, with the hall almost empty, Huang Tianming, still shocked by the conversation about climbing Mount Everest, watched as the figure exited and gradually moved further away, and for some reason, on impulse, he waved and shouted at the man disappearing into the darkness. ¡°Keep it up, I will definitely see you reach the summit! The world¡¯s number one!¡± With one hand in his pocket, Bi Fang listened to Huang Tianming¡¯s shouts and smiled silently, looking up at the man standing with his back to him as he raised his right hand high, a blue cord naturally falling before it was firmly grasped. ¡°Number one!¡± ¡­ ¡°Huff.¡± Bi Fang slowly exhaled, his breath long and continuous, as if, to the careful observer, he had stopped breathing. He cast aside the thoughts in his mind, knowing dwelling in the past was pointless. The best way to meet life was to treat the future kindly. Finally having a moment to himself, Bi Fang earnestly felt his new status, every breath long and measured. A clear and immensely effective power revealed itself within him. It was as if his body had been cleansed by clear water from the inside out, feeling much lighter. Just like that, Bi Fang even felt his vitality had increased, the vitality of his organs, muscles, and bones seemed to have all improved. It was like an ordinary sedan used for delivering tofu had its old, rusty antique engine replaced with that of a race car¡¯s. On top of that, it was filled with fuel, every cell developing, emitting a high-pitched roar, his body hair standing on end, giving him goosebumps! If his previous self was like wearing a ¡°lead suit,¡± now he had shed the ¡°lead suit,¡± with clear ears and sharp eyes, feeling light all over. The cold midnight wind blew as if he had been transported to an icy world. A black storm swept across everything, a tiny figure swung his ice axe on the rock wall, struggling upward, The storm couldn¡¯t shake the determined figure, the cold couldn¡¯t freeze the warmth of his heart. Gazing at the empty, boundless streets, Bi Fang put on his hoodie¡¯s hood and slowly started running toward home. The total distance was less than twenty-six kilometers, which the transformed Bi Fang did not regard as significant at all. A hundred minutes later. Bi Fang leaned against his front door, breathing heavily, sweat dripping down his temples, yet his face showed no signs of fatigue, even a smile. Twenty-six kilometers, a hundred minutes, this speed was not world-class. The increase in maximum oxygen intake brought significant improvements in endurance and recovery, but his physical condition hadn¡¯t improved much; there was still a long way to go to reach the top. But in terms of endurance alone, Bi Fang was very satisfied. Leaning against the door, he could clearly feel his heart beating steadily and strongly, he had plenty of energy left! And after just a few minutes of resting, he felt much better overall. And for climbing, the most important things are endurance and recovery. Those with high maximum oxygen uptake are very suitable for the extreme sport of mountain climbing! ¡­ The next day, a neatly dressed Bi Fang pulled out a black peaked cap from the wardrobe and placed it on his head, grabbed his backpack, and walked out to the yard. Outside the gate, Yao Jun, similarly equipped, honked the horn. In the car, Wang Yongbo, with huge panda eyes, sat in the back seat. Poor guy, worried that Wang Yongbo might try to stop him, Bi Fang didn¡¯t notify Wolf Fang of his plans right away, and even the promotional poster was done by someone Yao Jun found and sent it over. As a result, Wang Yongbo only knew about Wolf Fang¡¯s Wolf King¡¯s mountain climbing expedition a mere ten minutes before Bi Fang¡¯s fans, and after learning about the difficulty from some professional outdoor streamers, he had not slept all night. Early in the morning, he had found Yao Jun and joined him in the car to look for Bi Fang. Yao Jun honked the horn twice more: ¡°Hurry up, didn¡¯t you say time is tight? It¡¯s already nine o¡¯clock.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the rush?¡± Wang Yongbo watched as Bi Fang got into the car and knew that at this point, it was impossible for him to stop him; he could only hand over the boarding pass to Bi Fang, ¡°Think about it, even though we posted the promotional posters early yesterday morning and started hyping it up, if you really don¡¯t want to go, it¡¯s no big deal. Just create some video to fudge it. This mission was very tight, and at most, everyone will just be a bit disappointed; it won¡¯t cause too much of a reaction. Your fans are very loyal; once they start watching, they hardly ever leave, so even if they are disappointed, there will be almost no impact on the live stream. As for Wolf Fang, I won¡¯t even get into that¡­ Anyway, we¡¯ve all been treating you like a VIP.¡± As an executive at Wolf Fang, Wang Yongbo was fearless at this moment, and his words clearly indicated that Wolf Fang was especially keen on having Bi Fang on board. Bi Fang smiled, amused. Being VIP was an exaggeration. The company was a business, not a charity; the fact that they gave leeway and showed consideration was already quite a gesture of goodwill. Even if he demanded a raise on the spot, Wolf Fang wouldn¡¯t refuse immediately but would start considering it right away. However, Bi Fang didn¡¯t see the need. Jacking up the price on the spot wasn¡¯t something a real man would do. Initially, when Wolf Fang made such a sincere offer before he had fully proven his value, Bi Fang naturally wanted to reciprocate. Just receiving what he was entitled to was enough. ¡°Did you take care of everything I asked you to?¡± Bi Fang fastened his seatbelt and turned to look at Yao Jun. ¡°Everything¡¯s ready. The guides, the camera equipment, I¡¯ve arranged it all for you. Jerret and the others have also gone ahead. The gear you sent over yesterday has arrived too. Oh, and I got this special item you asked for; be careful with it. I had to rush to find someone who could get it; there are only these two sticks, no extras.¡± Yao Jun opened the glove compartment and handed over two silver-white metal cylinders to Bi Fang. ¡°Good, two sticks are enough, one as a spare.¡± ¡°Right. It¡¯s a shame Lin Chang isn¡¯t as free to join; otherwise, he would definitely want to be part of the excitement.¡± Wang Yongbo, who was sitting in the back seat, leaned forward curiously, examining the metal sticks with fascination, ¡°What are these? Climbing equipment?¡± ¡°Haha, that¡¯s a secret. Huh, President Wang, what are you still doing here?¡± Bi Fang was about to tease him with the answer when he suddenly noticed that Wang Yongbo was still in the back seat. Turning his head, he gaped in surprise¡ªhow come he was even wearing sportswear now? Bi Fang, accustomed to seeing Wang Yongbo in suits and penguin outfits, rubbed his eyes as they stung from the unusual sight. He thought Wang Yongbo would have left after finishing his business, but something seemed off now. Wang Yongbo scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed: ¡°To be honest, climbing Mount Everest has always been my dream.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s eyes widened as he sized up Wang Yongbo, who was 165 cm tall and weighed 165 kg. He couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. How could the Sherpa people even carry him! ¡°What¡¯s that look for?¡± Wang Yongbo got a bit angry, feeling that Bi Fang¡¯s gaze was very impolite. ¡°I know my own limits. I don¡¯t intend to climb. I¡¯ll just stay at base camp, not go anywhere, and just watch you reach the summit up close!¡± Bi Fang sighed with relief. Although few people climb Mount Everest, countless tourists visit every day. Wang Yongbo was just one of them, going along for the excitement like Yao Jun. The only one climbing was him. But then Bi Fang hesitated, scratching his head before deciding to forewarn him, ¡°President Wang, the base camp is at five thousand meters too. Yao Jun will be fine, at least he¡¯s young, but your physical condition¡­¡± ¡°What? There¡¯s such a thing?¡± Wang Yongbo turned pale with shock, his complexion quickly turning ashen, but then he recovered, waving his hand dismissively, ¡°No problem. I still want to go. I¡¯ll stay in the hospital if I have to see you reach the summit! Besides, without going, how do you know for sure I can¡¯t do it. Damn it, don¡¯t underestimate me!¡± How does a man in his forties manage to roar like an anime protagonist? Bi Fang felt a headache coming on but figured there was no need to worry too much. Every year, many people who believe they won¡¯t get altitude sickness eagerly head to Everest, only to be rushed to the hospital soon after. They¡¯re quite experienced in handling such cases already. Half a day later, a horrific wail rose in the air. ¡°The oxygen tank! Quickly, give me the oxygen tank! Ugh!¡± Bi Fang supported Yao Jun and Wang Yongbo on each side, his face exuding speechlessness while simultaneously pulling the pre-prepared oxygen bottles from his bag. Anticipating that Wang Yongbo might not believe it, Yao Jun, how could you be this weak too? Originally, the oxygen canisters were just a precaution, but unexpectedly, they had indeed become necessary. Wang Yongbo took an oxygen canister and deeply inhaled, his pale complexion finally regaining some color. He looked at Yao Jun, who was also looking unwell, and mercilessly taunted him, ¡°Hahaha, that¡¯s it? You¡¯re even worse than a fatty like me, gasping harder than I was.¡± ¡°Damn, I miscalculated,¡± Yao Jun weakly inhaled the oxygen, puzzled, ¡°I¡¯ve been exercising the past few days, so why isn¡¯t it doing any good?¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Forget it,¡± Bi Fang helped the two sit down on the side and explained, ¡°The more you exercise, the more likely you are to suffer from altitude sickness because training keeps your muscles highly active with a higher metabolic rate, ultimately leading to increased oxygen demand. You¡¯ve suddenly come to a place with thin air, the oxygen supply naturally can¡¯t keep up. That¡¯s why it¡¯s advised to stop exercising a week before going to high altitudes. It¡¯s also my fault for not reminding you, but even if I did, it would be too late. With the short time frame, stopping for just a day or two wouldn¡¯t help.¡± ¡°Okay, so it¡¯s like that,¡± Yao Jun nodded weakly, just as he was piecing things together and realizing what was wrong, ¡°Wait, that¡¯s not right, you exercise crazily more than I do, how come you¡¯re fine?¡± Bi Fang raised an eyebrow, mercilessly mocking, ¡°You¡¯re comparing yourself to me? I may have a high oxygen demand, but my oxygen intake is even stronger! At least this much stronger than yours.¡± Yao Jun watched as Bi Fang pointed towards the sky and almost passed out from anger. Elsewhere, many of the people who had just gotten off the airplane were suffering from varying degrees of altitude sickness. None were as unaffected as Bi Fang, but unfortunately, not everyone was as well-prepared as he was. ¡°Young man, do you have any more oxygen canisters? I¡¯m really feeling terrible, feel like vomiting.¡± ¡°Sorry, I only prepared two, and look, they¡¯re both in use now.¡± ¡°Doctor, doctor, someone¡¯s fainted here!¡± In the crowd, some people were even starting to stagger. ¡°Look over there, someone¡¯s selling oxygen canisters!¡± ¡°I want one too, I want one too!¡± ¡°Hurry, give me one!¡± ¡°Sir, oxygen canisters are Three Hundred Yuan each.¡± ¡°Three Hundred Yuan, are you fucking robbing me? It only costs a few Yuan to get oxygen at the hospital for an hour!¡± ¡°Robbing people isn¡¯t as profitable as selling oxygen canisters. Sir, do you want it or not while you¡¯re on the ground?¡± Yao Jun, holding his forehead, was extremely uncomfortable: ¡°How long will it take me to recover from this?¡± Bi Fang thought for a moment: ¡°Probably a few days, depending on the person¡¯s constitution. Maybe you should just go back. If something really goes wrong, it would be quite a hassle.¡± ¡°No way, not even if I die!¡± Yao Jun¡¯s face flushed with determination, looking at the oxygen canister peddler nearby, and with a wave of his hand, ¡°I¡¯ve got plenty of money. Over there, give me a hundred oxygen canisters first!¡± Bi Fang sighed. ¡°Eh, why bother?¡± Chapter 375: 373 Mountain Chapter 375: Chapter 373 Mountain On the benches inside the waiting area, tall oxygen tanks were piled up into a small mountain, which drew the curious glances of everyone passing by in the bustling hall. Sitting beside this mini-mountain was a young man wearing a black baseball cap. Just then, another young man approached the baseball cap-wearing man and nervously asked, ¡°Excuse me, are these oxygen tanks for sale? My grandfather is feeling a bit unwell. Could you give us a discount? Three hundred is really too expensive.¡± Bi Fang looked up at the elderly man struggling to breathe on the bench opposite and casually grabbed a few oxygen bottles and shoved them into the young man¡¯s hands, ¡°Take them, no charge.¡± ¡°Oh, thank you, thank¡­¡± the young man said, his face lighting up with surprise as he took the oxygen tanks and bent down to thank him. But as he lowered his head, his gaze suddenly met those serene eyes and his emotions spiked, ¡°You, you¡¯re Master Fang!¡± ¡°Shh!¡± Bi Fang gestured for silence with one hand while firmly gripping the young man¡¯s wrist with the other, yanking down hard to prevent him from standing up and shouting. The young man was forced to swallow the second half of his word, but his excitement was impossible to hide; he bit his lip hard while the muscles on both sides of his cheeks trembled slightly. To say there was a young person in Huaxia who didn¡¯t recognize Master Fang would mean they had no understanding of what dreams, passion, or adventure were! ¡°Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap, is it really Master Fang? I saw the poster on the Wolf Fang official website this morning, are you really going to climb Mount Everest?¡± the young man asked in a low voice, trying to contain his excitement. Mount Everest, oh, Mount Everest. His idol, the tallest mountain in the world, was really going to climb Mount Everest? The next second, the young man¡¯s heart exploded as he saw Bi Fang nod his head! ¡°I¡¯m just passing through here, won¡¯t stay long, don¡¯t want any trouble, understand?¡± The young man nodded vigorously, ¡°Understood, understood!¡± ¡°Alright, go look after your grandfather, he¡¯s been waiting a long time.¡± ¡°Thank you, thank you, Master Fang.¡± The young man¡¯s heart pounded inside his chest. The thrill of unexpectedly meeting his idol up close was simply too exhilarating ¨C that was Master Fang, the idol so many young people yearned for, handing him oxygen tanks in person! Wolf, Bear, Shark, ancient creatures, even armed poachers ¨C one after another, these fearsome beings fell before Master Fang¡¯s advancing path. This was a living legend, an idol in life! A man should damn well be doing this! This is what a real man should be doing! Watching the young man return to his family with the oxygen tanks, jumping and bubbling with excitement, more and more people who felt unwell but couldn¡¯t afford the oxygen tanks turned their hopeful eyes to Bi Fang. But before any of them could get close¡­ A clattering noise broke out as the towering mountain of oxygen tanks toppled over. A fat man and a skinny man, one tall and one short, suddenly climbed out from the pile, tossed out an empty tank each, and started breathing from the new ones unanimously, dissipating the focused gazes around them once more. Inside the great quantity of oxygen tanks could be seen a sparse number of humans. ¡°Inhale, exhale! Inhale, exhale!¡± The fat man and the skinny man, tall and short, inhaled and exhaled rhythmically, their lungs working like broken bellows. Bi Fang watched them with great speechlessness, ¡°Maybe you guys should just go to the hospital. There¡¯s really no need to wait here. Once the plane arrives, I can just let you know, right?¡± ¡°No way, there¡¯s still three hours left. I can hold on! Just have to get on the plane, and besides, I¡¯ve got the money! If only I knew to choose a different route, couldn¡¯t I have flown here from some other place? Why did I have to come to such a high-altitude area? Isn¡¯t this torture?¡± Yao Jun glared at Bi Fang, ¡°Also, how could you be so generous with someone else¡¯s money! Those were the canisters I bought!¡± ¡°You said you¡¯re wealthy, huh? Plus, the Lhasa to Kathmandu flight is one I specially chose; you definitely wouldn¡¯t want to miss it.¡± Yao Jun scratched his head, somewhat puzzled. What¡¯s so special about a flight route that it shouldn¡¯t be missed? ¡°Is there a surprise?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll find out when the time comes.¡± Bi Fang said mysteriously, winking before quickly changing the subject. ¡°By the way, did you guys fall asleep on the plane just now?¡± ¡°Hmm? Didn¡¯t you sleep?¡± Bi Fang suddenly realized, no wonder these two guys had a reaction as soon as they got off the plane; it was because of this. Besides reacting immediately after getting off the plane, in fact, many people who had just arrived in Lhasa wouldn¡¯t feel anything at first, even thinking, ¡°I don¡¯t have a headache or shortness of breath; I don¡¯t have altitude sickness at all!¡± That¡¯s because the oxygen content in the blood right after getting off the plane is still sufficient and doesn¡¯t decrease with the rising altitude. By that night and the following day, as the blood oxygen content decreases, symptoms of altitude sickness such as headache, nausea, shortness of breath, lethargy, and fever will come on fiercely. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°But if you sleep, the blood circulation slows down, and since you¡¯re sitting, the oxygen can¡¯t be delivered in time. When the plane lands and you wake up in a low oxygen environment, it¡¯s easy to feel uncomfortable. It looks like you both slept soundly, probably entering deep sleep directly; otherwise, bearing it for a few hours should¡¯ve been fine.¡± Yao Jun and Wang Yongbo had been listening with interest until the last sentence, when they suddenly became furious, ¡°It¡¯s all your fault, rushing us like that. Last night, I was still busy handling things for you, of course, I was tired during the day! You, on the other hand, have nothing to do, just move your lips, do you even realize our legs could break from all this running around!¡± Bi Fang shrugged his shoulders, dismissing the matter. This time, they needed to get to the south slope of Mount Everest, which required reaching Nepal, but the Magic Capital had no direct flights to Nepal. Only flights from Guang, Kun, Cheng, Lhasa, and Hong Kong were available. Considering distance and acclimatization reasons, the group took the Magic Capital-Lhasa-Nepal route. Lhasa¡¯s altitude is 3650 meters. For people from the plains, traveling to Lhasa would usually involve some form of altitude sickness, but the situation is much better in Nepal¡¯s capital, Kathmandu, which is only a little over a thousand meters above sea level, and generally poses no problem for the average person. At noon, Bi Fang took the two of them for lunch while they breathed oxygen, waiting until three in the afternoon for the plane to finally land. The three of them packed their luggage and set off from Lhasa directly to the capital of Nepal¡ªKathmandu. Kathmandu, commonly referred to as Kathmandu, is Nepal¡¯s largest city, located in the Kathmandu Valley at the confluence of the Bagmati River and Bhingmati River. Surrounded by mountains, Kathmandu was founded in 723 AD and is an ancient city with over 1200 years of history. Many first learned about this beautiful ancient city through the Doctor Strange movie. Exquisite architectural art and ancient wood and stone carvings symbolize Nepal¡¯s ancient culture. Successive dynasties have built a vast number of palaces, temples, pagodas, and gardens here. In an area of less than seven square kilometers, there are more than two hundred stupas and temples and nearly three thousand shrines! And because Kathmandu is located on the southern slope of the Himalayas, natural barriers shield the city from the cold winds of the north. With the warm currents from the Indian Ocean to the south, the city¡¯s unique geographical environment is created. The average monthly high temperature never exceeds twenty-nine, and the low never drops below two degrees Celsius. With sunshine prevailing all year round and green trees surrounding it, it is an ideal tourist destination. One of the objectives for Bi Fang and his companions after landing was to meet with Jerret¡¯s photography team here and find a guide company before heading to the campsite. On the plane, Wang Yongbo comfortably settled into his seat, having recovered most of his strength back on the plane, showing none of the previous weariness. Wang Yongbo, marveling at Bi Fang who also spent half a day in Lhasa but seemed unaffected, asked curiously, ¡°If you¡¯re so capable, why do you still need a guide?¡± Bi Fang pulled back the window curtain and replied, ¡°Surviving in snow mountains and trekking through the wilderness are both life-threatening situations, but I¡¯m not just about surviving. If it were just about living in the mountains, of course, I wouldn¡¯t need a guide. But I want to summit, and that¡¯s a different concept. Moreover, the opponent is Mount Everest. I must know the routes up the mountain in advance to make favorable judgments. These are trails blazed by countless climbers with their corpses.¡± The word ¡°corpses¡± sent shivers down Wang Yongbo and Yao Jun¡¯s spines, as if they could already see the climbing routes paved with white bones beneath the ice and snow. Ignoring the beauty of Mount Everest, that¡¯s not just the highest peak¡ªit¡¯s clearly a towering tombstone! ¡°` As the two were chatting away awkwardly, Bi Fang knocked on the plane¡¯s window with his knuckles, ¡°Pay attention, this might be your only chance. I specifically chose a window seat.¡± Yao Jun and Wang Yongbo curiously poked their heads out. The plane was still steadily climbing when suddenly, the clouds below began to thin, the misty fog slowly dispersing and everyone¡¯s pupils dilating swiftly. That was a mountain! A huge mountain! The setting sun¡¯s Himalayas stretched across the west part of the earth, like a natural barrier separating Huaxia from Nepal, with pale golden edges etched along the division between the mountain range and the sky, dazzlingly bright. But the sunset couldn¡¯t suppress the light of the stars; seven cyan stars rose in the golden sky, their brightness as piercing as freshly sharpened iron swords. The clouds reveled in the extensive and majestic Trans-Himalayan and Himalayan mountain ranges and the winding rivers glimmering with light, affording an unparalleled divine perspective. In Bi Fang¡¯s brown pupils was reflected the image of the Roof of the World, and he softly said, ¡°Chengdu to Kathmandu, with a stopover in Lhasa, this is the only flight route in the world that goes over Mount Everest, and it¡¯s also hailed as one of the most beautiful flight routes in the world.¡± This is the part of the flight from Lhasa to Nepal that¡¯s worth every penny of the ticket price! ¡°Damn, no wonder you insisted on flying from Lhasa. So this was the reason. I stayed up all night for the tickets, totally worth it!¡± Yao Jun exclaimed admirably, his eyes not blinking for fear any flicker would turn into a lifelong regret. Everyone greedily took in everything they could see, even though their eyes were already dry and acidic from not blinking. The last warmth of sunlight fell between the mountains, eagles darted swiftly through the sky, and between the valleys, an unknown variety of small yellow flowers created knee-deep flower beds that extended beyond the line of sight where the mountain met the sky. With the wind, the flowers undulated, creating waves upon waves, and the frozen ground in this rare thawing season slowly breathed in the fresh air. ¡°A rainbow, a rainbow!¡± someone suddenly shouted out. All eyes moved skyward, and even the flight attendants, who were used to such sights, couldn¡¯t help but cover their mouths in amazement. A pure, half-arc of rainbow light shot straight from that corner of golden light to the distant horizon. Such pristine colors, floating dream-like in mid-air, were more breathtaking than any rainbow seen in a lifetime. ¡°How can there be a rainbow without rain?¡± someone asked, puzzled. ¡°It¡¯s an ice rainbow!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s pupils nearly dilated to the extreme, his heart pounding, ¡°Rainbows don¡¯t always come after rain; they can appear when there¡¯s a sufficient number of small droplets in the air and sunlight. But we¡¯re at an elevation of ten thousand meters, where the air is filled with ice crystals. Only when sunlight passes at just the right angle through the high-altitude clouds can you see such a rare phenomenon. This isn¡¯t just a rainbow, it¡¯s a sun halo as well!¡± ¡°How rare is it?¡± Yao Jun asked out of curiosity. ¡°You may only see it once in your lifetime!¡± ¡°This is how things are here, simple and straightforward. A patch of green grass, as far as the eyes can see is green; when the sky is clear, looking up is all blue; a rainbow, and half the sky takes on its color. It¡¯s not like the east, where everywhere you look, it¡¯s filled with people,¡± said an excited Tibetan with flushed cheeks. ¡°There¡¯s a mountain! There¡¯s a mountain!¡± another person shouted excitedly. Mountain? Where wasn¡¯t there a mountain? In their bewilderment, everyone began to space out. It was indeed a mountain. A real mountain! In disbelief at their own eyes, as the last rays of the sun lit the earth, a mountain enveloped in clouds, rising to meet the sky, appeared before them. Sunlight shone on the mountaintop, glowing brilliantly as the clouds drifted near the peak. Many on the plane had never imagined that they would brush past this majestic and solemn mountain; witnessing it now was as astounding as a miracle. ¡°Many landscapes, we only realize what they truly look like when we see them with our own eyes, otherwise they¡¯ll forever remain how we imagine them in our minds.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Goddess Peak.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s wildly beating heart suddenly calmed down. Not that he wasn¡¯t excited, but he was numbed by the shock of the massive beauty; a warm current flowed from his scalp to his toes and finally sweat poured out of every pore with their expansion. This was what he had most anticipated, most longed for, most wanted to hold onto, it was his faith! ¡°That is what I am pursuing,¡± Bi Fang whispered in a barely audible voice, yet it was still captured by Yao Jun standing behind him. Yao Jun watched Bi Fang¡¯s devout expression in silence, his heart filled with solemnity. What was it that had drawn him to Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast? He too loved the sport and knew many professionals who had made achievements in their field, but none had ever given him the shock that Bi Fang did. What was the difference between these people and Bi Fang? At this moment, Yao Jun finally understood deeply. Not having missed any of his live-streaming adventures, how wonderful. Is this what Master Fang was pursuing? Wang Yongbo in the front row leaned back in his seat, his body too exhausted to exert an ounce of strength. Watching Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcasts in the past, he could feel the tension, the fear, the boiling in his blood. But he had never, like today, personally experienced the ¡°beauty.¡± Is this adventure? Is this Nature? Is this what he himself was lacking? ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful!¡± ¡°` Chapter 376: 374 Idols Idol, The First Generation Legend Chapter 376: Chapter 374 Idol¡¯s Idol, The First Generation Legend From Lhasa to Kathmandu, after ninety minutes, the group finally landed at Tribhuvan International Airport, with Yao Jun and Wang Yongbo still having faces flushed with excitement that wouldn¡¯t fade. This flight was totally worth it, okay! The only thing they wanted to do now was not to climb Mount Everest, but to buy ten more tickets, get back on the plane, and just fly back and forth for fun! On the other side, just out of the cabin, Bi Fang saw a burly Caucasian man holding a sign with the words ¡°Master Fang¡±. Yao Jun took deep breaths of the fresh air and, seeing the display sign, explained, ¡°It must be from the guide company, coming to take us over.¡± Bi Fang nodded, went up to greet the man, and before he could even introduce himself, the Caucasian man enthusiastically welcomed him, ¡°My goodness, I can hardly believe it¡ªI¡¯m actually going to guide the legendary GOD FANG.¡± ¡°You know me?¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯ve seen your show in Ugly Country, it was absolutely thrilling, your fight with the Brown Bear was so exhilarating! I¡¯m Rob, your true fan and your team¡¯s lead guide. The company showed me your profile and I was so amazed, I never thought they¡¯d arrange for me to lead your team. Sorry, I¡¯m just a bit too excited.¡± Bi Fang raised an eyebrow, looked back at Yao Jun who seemed a bit embarrassed and without saying much, approached with a smile and shook Rob¡¯s hand, ¡°I¡¯m glad to meet you too.¡± After exchanging a few pleasantries, Rob got down to business. ¡°Although I know you¡¯re eager to climb Mount Everest right now, I¡¯m sorry to say it¡¯s already late in the day, and since you¡¯ve just arrived in Kathmandu, you¡¯ll need to acclimatize, so I¡¯ll take you to a hotel to rest tonight. Tomorrow I¡¯ll take you to Everest Base Camp to meet up with the other team members, if that¡¯s okay with Mr. Bi.¡± ¡°Wait, other team members?¡± Yao Jun, who had been listening to the arrangements, suddenly looked confused and, looking up at Rob, spoke somewhat angrily, ¡°Didn¡¯t I specify a private expedition? No one else! I paid extra for this!¡± Rob waved his hands quickly, ¡°I know, I know, but they had all booked before Mr. Yao arrived. Mr. Bi should be aware, there are only two windows each year for climbing Mount Everest, and there are particularly many climbers at this time. Subtracting the time needed for acclimatization, you have indeed arrived a bit late. There simply aren¡¯t enough guides, but rest assured, they will only accompany you to Base Camp, after which my colleague will take over their group. From then on, I shall be responsible solely for guiding you, you can be assured of that.¡± ¡°That¡¯s okay.¡± With that, Bi Fang nodded his head, and Yao Jun didn¡¯t say any more. As Rob walked ahead to lead the way, he suddenly turned to Yao Jun and asked quietly, ¡°How did you find this outfit? Are they reliable?¡± I¡¯ve indeed shot a show in Ugly Country, but I never dealt with Brown Bears! The one who dealt with Brown Bears was Mugalen, I¡¯ve only ever dealt with Black Bears. Clearly, this guy just glanced at a brief summary and got it all mixed up. He¡¯s not really a fan of mine at all, and might not even have heard of me before this. But Bi Fang wasn¡¯t angry. With over seven billion people on Earth, he wasn¡¯t some famous scientist changing the world. There was no need for everyone to know him. To the other man, he was just a generous customer and it was normal to exchange pleasantries. ¡°Totally reliable! Many climbers have used this company, they are utterly professional. Each guide has official certification. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can ask him.¡± ¡°I believe you, but how much did you pay for the one-on-one service?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that, it wasn¡¯t too expensive.¡± ¡°Come on, tell me.¡± Yao Jun scratched his head, ¡°Sixty-five thousand per person, including the guide. Originally our group was supposed to be eight people, I covered their shares too. I thought the others would just be refused, but they switched to a different guide instead.¡± ¡°Red Note?¡± ¡°Ugly Knife.¡± ¡°Hiss!¡± Bi Fang had never been to Mount Everest in his previous life and had never imagined that hiring a guide would be so expensive. Sixty-five thousand Ugly Knives, even if an ordinary person saved without eating or drinking, it would take several years. Wang Yongbo also counted on his fingers, shocked at the exorbitant cost. But on second thought, it made sense. Although guides couldn¡¯t take people directly to the summit, maxing out at eight thousand meters, the level of danger was still ridiculously high, carrying a tremendous risk¡ªit was literally earning money at the risk of one¡¯s life. Moreover, after climbing once, it wasn¡¯t possible to immediately lead another team; a significant period of rest was necessary. In one climbing season, managing to lead two teams would be quite an achievement. Bi Fang then understood, ¡°It seems they are all tycoons. Besides wanting to earn more money, they probably also find it hard to directly refuse, as it could easily offend people.¡± In a commercial guiding company, money is the standard that measures everything. ¡°I¡¯ll pay you back when we return.¡± ¡°No need, it¡¯s less than three million,¡± Yao Jun waved his hand, ¡°If you consider me a friend, don¡¯t mention it. Talking about money hurts the relationship. There¡¯s really no need.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Bi Fang lowered his head and thanked him sincerely. Yao Jun, online alias Lord Mu, if it weren¡¯t for this guy¡¯s generosity, how could I have become so popular so quickly? Scratching the back of his head, Yao Jun chuckled, ¡°Eh, why be so formal, haha. My old man always thinks I¡¯m wasteful with money. If he knew I spent it on you, he¡¯d probably be thrilled.¡± After settling into the hotel, Bi Fang immediately received a message from Jerret and others. After greeting Yao Jun and Wang Yongbo, he rushed to the prearranged meeting spot. As soon as they met, before Bi Fang could ask about the photography team, Jerret put his arm around Bi Fang¡¯s shoulder and whispered mysteriously, ¡°I know you want my photography team, but don¡¯t rush. I have something even more important and surprising waiting for you.¡± ¡°A surprise? What kind of surprise? Did you prepare a drone that can go up to eight thousand meters for me?¡± Jerret rolled his eyes, somewhat speechless, ¡°Eight thousand meters? Are you kidding? Let alone eight thousand, I haven¡¯t even seen one that can reach five thousand! There¡¯s someone who wants to meet you!¡± ¡°Someone who wants to meet me? Tell him to keep his distance, I don¡¯t have time to meet anyone.¡± Bi Fang, thinking there really was some surprise, was greatly disappointed. Was it just some person wanting to meet me? Who could possibly be worth my time to meet, a celebrity? ¡°Hey, don¡¯t regret it! I can assure you, if you knew who he is, you would want to meet him and beg me for the introduction!¡± ¡°What a joke, not even the Ugly Country President could make me beg you for a meeting. Is there something or not? If not, let¡¯s quickly check the equipment, or I¡¯m leaving.¡± Bi Fang, growing impatient, tugged at his ear and turned to leave. When Jerret saw that Bi Fang was really about to leave, he could no longer play coy and immediately shouted, ¡°It¡¯s David Attenborough! He wants to meet you!¡± Bi Fang abruptly stopped in his tracks, his eyes wide with disbelief as he turned to look back at Jerret, his mouth slowly dropping open in an almost fierce expression. Jerret nodded in satisfaction and repeated, ¡°David Attenborough, and not a namesake; he¡¯s indeed the one you¡¯re thinking of. He just happened to be passing through Kathmandu, and since I have his contact, seeing as we¡¯re in the same industry¡ªDiscovery Channel also frequently films documentaries¡ªI thought I¡¯d meet an industry pioneer. But as soon as we met and he heard you were also here, he wanted to meet you.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s head swam, overwhelmed for a moment, before being overtaken by immense joy, nearly jumping on the spot. If there was anyone in the world he admired, it was this elderly gentleman. David Attenborough! The author of works such as Planet Earth, Frozen Planet, Human Planet, The Life Story, Africa, Blue Planet, Hunting, and many more¡ªthe father of the world documentary! One could even say that he was the predecessor to Bi Fang¡¯s live streaming of nature, only not through live broadcasts, but through documentaries, turning nature into art as if painting! In his past and current life, the father of the world documentary was Bi Fang¡¯s idol, yes, his idol. Apart from those documentaries that resemble works of art, David Attenborough is also considered the man with the longest travel distance in history, having explored almost every known ecological environment on Earth in person! To spend a lifetime doing what one loves, to personally experience every corner of this world, to get to know every species, to deeply understand this lonely blue planet, to learn about her, understand her, love her, and protect her. This is what Bi Fang had longed for! After crossing over, Bi Fang once thought he might never see his idol again, until he later searched for documentaries online and discovered that this world had an almost identical person, with the same name, the same works, and the same experiences! Could there be anything more blissful than that? Now, his idol was going to meet him! ¡°Quick, quick, quick, take me there!¡± sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang, excited, grabbed Jerret¡¯s sleeve and dragged him towards the street. Jerret stretched out his hand to stop him but found he couldn¡¯t pull away. Bi Fang¡¯s grip was like steel, pulling him against the current. Wherever they went, the crowd had to make way for them, and the two men were like solid boulders in a river. Left with no choice, Jerret could only shout, ¡°Wait, wait, you¡¯re going the wrong way, it¡¯s not here, it¡¯s on the other side, hahaha, I knew it, you¡¯d definitely beg me to take you!¡± Suddenly realizing that he didn¡¯t know the way himself, Bi Fang finally let go. Jerret didn¡¯t dare delay any longer and hurriedly led Bi Fang toward their destination. Through the crowd, Bi Fang also took out a drone from his backpack. Jerret, leading the way up front, saw it and was surprised, ¡°Do you always carry a drone with you?¡± ¡°No, I was planning to shoot Kathmandu tonight, just as a warm-up for the live broadcast. I didn¡¯t expect you to give me such a big surprise. I want to show my fans my idol! Let them see who their idol¡¯s idol is!¡± Jerret smacked his lips and shook his head. He thought Bi Fang might be interested in David Attenborough, but he never imagined he¡¯d be this excited. In the midst of conversation, Bi Fang quickly started the live stream. Many fans who came in at the beginning even heard Bi Fang say he was going to meet his idol. The idol¡¯s idol? [Damn, Master Fang started the live early? I¡¯m the first one!] [Wolf Fang is slacking off more and more. There was no advance notice, just knew that there was going to be a live soon, but no specific time.] [The idol¡¯s idol? Who said Master Fang was my idol? He¡¯s clearly my husband!] [Pffft, shameless woman, if you¡¯re so rich, why not buy a mirror? If you¡¯re broke, just pee and look at yourself in it, and see if you¡¯re worthy to get involved in the relationship between me and Master Fang.] [Are they going to climb Mount Everest? Why does it feel like they¡¯re on the street?] [This looks so familiar, isn¡¯t this Kathmandu? I think I¡¯ve been here on vacation before, in Nepal. Is Old Fang really going to climb Mount Everest? Damn, that¡¯s badass!] [So, what exactly is Old Fang up to? Who is his idol anyway?] ¡°Hahaha, hello everyone, I¡¯m Bi Fang. I¡¯ll skip the opening remarks since I haven¡¯t officially started the live stream yet. Today, I wanted to take you all on a quick tour of Nepal¡¯s Capital, Kathmandu, but something unexpected happened. My idol showed up, and he wants to meet me!¡± Bi Fang followed closely behind Jerret while sending his drone soaring high, and suddenly, the audience got a view of historical Kathmandu, filled with a sense of history. As introduced before, this ancient historical city is brimming with a feeling of vicissitudes; sometimes, you might find yourself staring at a wall and, before you know it, tears may fall. [If Master Fang replies to me, I¡¯ll go tear apart a Great White Shark with my bare hands, count grains of sand in the desert, put rings on ants, and install an elevator on Mount Everest.] Bi Fang raised his eyebrows and laughed, ¡°This netizen who calls himself ¡®Really Handsome¡¯, I saw your comment. Please hurry up and install that elevator so that I don¡¯t have to go through the hard struggle of climbing it.¡± Ah, this. Thousands of kilometers away, a viewer named pp was instantly stupefied. He had just made a joke; with hundreds of messages flooding in every minute, how could his be seen? But, to his astonishment, Master Fang had actually responded to him. ¡°Haha, just kidding, I¡¯ll keep you guessing a little longer about who my idol is. Feel free to make your guesses.¡± Bi Fang teased, then turned the camera to Jerret, ¡°I don¡¯t know if you remember Jerret. Do you recall the last program on the Discovery Channel? Whether it was about the ocean or a multiplayer survival show, the man behind it was this guy, a gold-medal producer for the Discovery Channel!¡± Jerret cooperated by greeting the audience, even saying hello in Chinese, since nobody would complain about having high viewership. ¡°This time I¡¯ve specifically invited Jerret to help me bring you a better live broadcast. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll be climbing Mount Everest with the film crew, the always number one on the leaderboard, Lord Mu, and my ¡®immediate superior¡¯ Vice President Wang. Of course, the latter two are just tagging along for fun, so don¡¯t take it seriously. I doubt they can endure even three thousand meters.¡± ¡°Taking the guides into account, there will be about eight of us in total. The best group size for climbing Mount Everest is a seven-person team, but sometimes it can be eight. That¡¯s a reasonable configuration for ascending Everest. Any more becomes cumbersome and the climb becomes very dangerous.¡± Dangerous? What dangers? The guides can¡¯t take care of everyone? The audience raised timely questions. ¡°It¡¯s not that the guides can¡¯t take care of everyone, but because there are many places on Everest that are difficult to pass, and each additional person will waste more time. Everest has many crevasses and nearly vertical cliffs. To get through, you can only use long ladders or ropes, connecting a path between two rocks, allowing climbers to pass one by one. Each person passing can take a few minutes at the least, and up to ten minutes or even half an hour at most. Counting all the crevasses big and small, an extra person might mean several more hours. The weather on Everest is unpredictable, and those few hours could lead to an accident, endangering the whole team. Don¡¯t think it¡¯s incredible, it¡¯s true. In high-altitude areas, even with oxygen tanks, normal people would find their movements sluggish, have difficulty breathing, and even experience reduced cognitive function due to the low pressure and extreme cold.¡± [In slow motion, how slow? Slower than in snow? (Funny)] [Sword~~~~ come~~~~~!] Bi Fang smiled. Just then, Jerret, who had been leading the way, suddenly stopped and pointed ahead, ¡°Here we are, he¡¯s inside.¡± Through the floor-to-ceiling windows reflecting the starlight, in the coffee shop, an old man sitting by the window was smiling and waving at Bi Fang. Chapter 377: 375: Sir Chapter 377: Chapter 375: Sir The new chapter isn¡¯t ready yet¡­ It might take about half an hour to send out a chapter to count for the attendance, I¡¯ll correct it in a bit. It won¡¯t cost more, I¡¯ve noticed there are always misunderstandings. Paid chapters can¡¯t be deleted, once paid for, that¡¯s it, just refresh after the changes and you can see it, just like correcting typos, no need for readers to subscribe again, it won¡¯t cost you an extra cent. The same principle applies to anti-theft measures, it doesn¡¯t cost more, it doesn¡¯t cost more, it doesn¡¯t cost more. Last time during the anti-theft, someone said my eating habits were unsightly, I¡¯m utterly speechless. Did I earn any extra money from you? The deer were grazing on the slope, while the people were tying knots at the bottom of the uphill. Bi Fang was right, after leaving the uphill slope, Bonuo moved to the bottom of the reindeer herd and pulled out a twenty-meter-long nylon rope from his pocket, winding it continuously through the woods. The nylon rope was very thin yet exceptionally strong, and after winding it a few times, a rope trap with a radius of five meters was set. ¡°Nylon braided rope is the most widely used of all ropes, strong and wear-resistant, with great shock absorption capacity. Even tires have nylon ropes inside to resist tension; stopping a big deer is nothing difficult.¡± Reindeer are naturally docile and skittish, and can be tamed by humans. As long as the rhythm and direction are well managed, it¡¯s quite easy to drive them in a designated direction.¡± Bi Fang tapped his knuckles on the table, quite appreciative of Bonuo¡¯s choice, exactly as he had guessed. Whether male or female, reindeer naturally grow antlers, tangled and large, which easily get caught in ropes. Due to their lack of agility, once ensnared, they are very hard to free themselves. Not everyone has the skill to hunt with a short spear, and many can¡¯t even get within twenty meters of an animal, let alone throw a spear. Trapping with a rope is the most reliable and simplest way. After finishing the winding, Bonuo hurried back non-stop and returned to the top, watching the reindeer while gasping for breath. To avoid being discovered by the herd, he had to make a big detour, nearly out of breath after going back and forth twice. Hiding behind a huge rock, Bonuo swallowed a mouthful of saliva and waited silently for the reindeer to move, looking for the right opportunity. The long line of reindeer was oblivious to being targeted by the hunter, continuing to graze leisurely on the slope, occasionally lifting their heads to look around and, ensuring safety, lowering them again. Amidst them, a large deer suddenly drew everyone¡¯s attention. [Wow, am I seeing things? What¡¯s that on the deer¡¯s head?] [Where, where?] [I see it too, the one in the middle with the really big antlers] [Damn, what the hell, does that deer have two heads? So creepy!] [Has nuclear wastewater already reached here?] Bi Fang squinted and, following the audience¡¯s directions, found which one they were talking about. After looking twice, he was momentarily speechless. The reindeer looked normal, but hanging on its antlers was the head of another reindeer! Their antlers were twisted together like entwined roots; it seemed the head had been hanging for so long that it was shriveled like dried jerky, with only the neck skin of the severed head flapping in the wind. Utterly horrifying! Even Bi Fang¡¯s heart skipped a beat when he saw it for the first time. Such a scene was not common. ¡°It was probably killed fighting over a mate, I guess.¡± After some thought, Bi Fang understood the reason. The antlers were entangled so tightly that they must have been caused by a struggle. Reindeer rarely fight, and most of their conflicts are over mates. The breeding season for reindeer is from about September to November. Calculating the time, it must have been dead for several months. No wonder it was so shriveled¡ªit looked like jerky. Had it been summer, who knows what state it would have decayed to. However, to be killed in a fight over a mate and have its head break off, stuck on the antlers of another, that was truly rare. After hearing the explanation, the audience relaxed, understanding the reason. They had really thought they had encountered some terrifying event. Still, seeing this scene was quite unsettling. There was a dead reindeer head hanging there, and it was of their own kind. Anyone seeing that would find it too much to bear. [Ah, does this mean we¡¯re actually lucky?] [Can¡¯t we take that reindeer head down? It¡¯s going to give me nightmares.] [How would you take it down? Too much of a hassle, right?] [We could catch this one, two heads with one carcass!] Such rich imagination! Bi Fang thought to himself, but the audience¡¯s comments reminded him of something¡ªit was indeed two heads with one carcass. If he caught it, it would be a huge gain. He turned to one of the crew members, ¡°Keep a close eye on it.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± With the reindeer situation handled, the audience¡¯s attention returned to Bonuo, who, after a brief rest, had regained his breath and was ready to jump out at any moment. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The feeding herd of reindeer moved slowly, and by the time the long line reached the predetermined spot, Bonuo took a deep breath, firmly grasped the rock with both hands, pushed off with a foot, and leaped onto higher ground. His lungs expanded violently, and in a very short amount of time, he expelled all the air with a roar. His voice rolled thunderously in the open slopes, surging toward the herd like a mighty river. Over a hundred reindeer froze in unison, their most instinctive reaction making them lift their legs and flee. Nearly a hundred kilograms of weight pressed down on their hooves, causing the earth to tremble slightly as if being galloped across by a wild horse in full sprint. Without hesitation, Bonuo leapt down from the rock after catching his breath, chasing after the herd and continuously throwing stones at them. Though he hit none, he subtly altered the direction of a few reindeer¡¯s flight. A few reindeer pulled in towards the middle, leading more to change direction toward a certain part of the forest. The reindeer, not being the fastest among cervids, didn¡¯t run very quickly and hadn¡¯t left Bonuo¡¯s sight yet. From the drone¡¯s perspective high in the sky, there was an odd sensation of herding! As the reindeer panicked and rushed toward the woods, they totally missed the thin ropes hanging in mid-air. And then, the first reindeer was tripped up. While it sprinted at full speed, a tremendous force suddenly hit its head, the immense inertia nearly breaking its neck. Spying this from behind, Bonuo¡¯s face lit up with joy, but the next second, the reindeer shook its head and, incredibly, broke free! Damn it! Bonuo cursed under his breath. The reindeer was too small, not tall enough; its antlers had few tines, so only the uppermost part got entangled and it easily broke free with a bit of struggle. The surrounding reindeer weren¡¯t dumb; they quickly caught on to what happened and scattered in all directions, threatening to all escape. Bi Fang raised an eyebrow, having not expected that Bonuo would have such bad luck to actually get hit by a deer, and even more, that it would manage to escape. It was regrettable, but there was nothing to be done. The height was too high, only a minimal portion of reindeer could reach it, making it almost useless. When the ropes were too low, many deer would simply crash into them head-on, not getting tangled in the antlers at all, equally useless. Fortunately, Lady Luck hadn¡¯t completely deserted Bonuo. Only the reindeer nearby had detected the danger; those at the back of the pack hadn¡¯t noticed and were heading straight for the nylon ropes. Like a wild horse caught by the reins, the reindeer felt only a sharp pain in its neck, followed by a sense of restraint coming from its head. The entangled reindeer panicked. With the thought of the ¡°Terrifying Upright Ape¡± chasing from behind, it immediately tried to shake its head to break free. Its large, branched antlers quickly tangled up the surrounding ropes, intensifying the restraint. Yet the stronger it felt, the more desperately it wanted to escape. Just like an insect trapped in a spider¡¯s web, no amount of struggle was of use¡ªthe more it thrashed, the tighter the web constricted, and the deeper it sank. Its violent struggles only drew the hungry web-spinner closer. Success! Bonuo¡¯s face lit up with joy. ¡­ The surrounding reindeer, seeing their companion trapped, showed no intention of coming to the rescue. They scattered in every direction as if fleeing from a plague. Bonuo wasn¡¯t worried anymore. One adult reindeer was enough food for him; two would be difficult to handle, prone to spoil, and too heavy to carry. Even stripped of bones and innards, the pure meat from one adult reindeer was nearly a hundred kilograms. Attempting to cross the wilderness with that load would be nothing short of a fool¡¯s errand. At this moment, the trapped reindeer appeared as a lamb awaiting slaughter. Bonuo no longer ran but ambled leisurely towards the reindeer. By the time he reached the trap, the herd had long scattered, leaving only this lonely one in the woods. ¡°What a fatty,¡± Bonuo remarked as he looked at the deer with a shoulder height of one meter. His stomach involuntarily grumbled. He hadn¡¯t eaten anything for the past two days, spending all his time traveling. Suddenly having such a mound of meat before him, he almost wanted to gobble it up raw. Suppressing the desire welling up inside him, he cautiously approached the reindeer. Perhaps sensing the terror of the ¡°Upright Ape¡± before it, the reindeer struggled even more fiercely. But the nylon ropes were firmly tightened around it, making it nearly impossible for the animal to even twitch. Realizing this, Bonuo felt mostly relieved but didn¡¯t drop his guard completely. Instead, he circled to the rear of the reindeer. ¡°The death throes of a wild beast can be terrifying. Even a herbivorous animal can unleash unbelievable strength in the face of death, just like the last time. The reindeer that couldn¡¯t escape even dared to charge at its predator¡ªan uncommon sight. Many experienced hunters dare not confront such ferocity head-on, nor do they favor relentless pursuit. The more you chase, the faster it flees, and in desperation, you not only risk injuring yourself but also risk getting lost. Therefore, hunters usually let wounded prey flee and later follow blood trails and tracks to find the exhausted animal, delivering the coup de grace.¡± [I know this one: ¡°A cornered beast will do anything to survive!¡± This term often appears in novels.] [It isn¡¯t easy, old Bonuo. This is your first meal, right?] [Speaking of catching such a big reindeer, do we get points for that?] Bi Fang nodded, ¡°Of course, we award points for any outstanding performance.¡± As the first contestant to single-handedly hunt down a prey weighing over a hundred kilograms, such performance certainly qualified as outstanding and was definitely worthy of bonus points. To deal with the reindeer, controlling its pair of large antlers was the first order of business. Bonuo, holding the Stone Dagger, reached behind the reindeer and immediately grabbed onto the antlers. The startled reindeer kicked out rapidly, but Bonuo dodged them all. Without hesitation, he thrust the Stone Dagger into the back of the reindeer¡¯s head. Unfortunately, it appeared the Stone Dagger wasn¡¯t sharp enough as he failed to succeed even after several attempts. Many viewers, watching the wailing reindeer, felt a twinge of pity. Left with no choice, Bonuo gave up on a quick kill and instead opted to slit the throat and let the blood flow. Watching the copious blood spurt from the artery in the reindeer¡¯s neck, its eyes gradually glazed over, losing all color. ¡°Slitting the throat is not a good way to handle prey, because it wastes a lot of fresh blood, and the smell of blood could also attract a lot of unnecessary trouble. So, if we have a choice to minimize blood loss, we opt for that.¡± Seeing Bonuo slit the reindeer¡¯s throat, Bi Fang frowned and explained. After the reindeer had completely died, Bonuo, not daring to waste too much time for the reasons Bi Fang mentioned, the heavy smell of blood could very likely attract unnecessary trouble. He immediately started skinning and processing the carcass with quite skillful techniques, showing his experience. After skinning and removing the innards, Bonuo cut away a lot of unnecessary meat and bones, lightening the whole reindeer carcass by more than half. He took down the nylon rope from the tree and, after binding the big reindeer, immediately carried it on his back and ran back along the original path, eager to leave this place of potential danger. He ran for several kilometers, and only when it had grown dark did Bonuo dare to stop. He arrived at a small river, where he quickly rinsed the reindeer to try to eliminate the scent, then rolled up his trousers, took off his shoes and hung them around his neck, and waded across the river. ¡°I remember I told you that crossing a river is a good way to shake off predators in the wild. Wild animals are not like trained police dogs, once they lose the scent, it becomes much harder for them to follow, and they won¡¯t come to the opposite riverbank to look for your exit point. So if you¡¯ve caught your prey and got all bloody, it¡¯s best to find a river to cross for extra safety.¡± [I¡¯m overthinking it. If I were thrown into the wilderness, I could only eat earthworms. Let alone hunting deer, I might not even be able to catch a wild chicken.] [Add one, the last time I went to the back mountain, I saw a wild chicken, man, it darted away so fast, I lost sight of it before I even got moving.] [I¡¯m only fit to eat dirt.] [Eating dirt is worse than gnawing on bark, at least there¡¯s some nutrition there.] [Speaking of which, can you really eat bark? I really want to know.] ¡°Yes, you can, but only a few types of bark are edible, such as elm bark; the rest is mostly poisonous, and even edible bark is not recommended, as it contains a lot of fibers that the human body can¡¯t digest. If you eat too much, you could actually bloat to death.¡± Unless you¡¯re really close to starving, eating bark is a last resort, something you should never try. Once across the river, Bonuo set down the reindeer. Without making a fire, he eagerly dug out the deer¡¯s eyes and swallowed them in one gulp with his eyes closed. As he bit down, a torrent of foul-tasting juice burst forth, yet Bonuo didn¡¯t find it disgusting at all and swallowed every last drop without waste, even digging out the other eye and gulping it down in just two or three bites, still unsatisfied. Wow, this guy¡¯s hardcore! The audience, watching Bonuo unflinchingly eat the deer¡¯s eyes raw, were all shocked. If they hadn¡¯t been watching from the beginning to the end, they might have thought he was eating some kind of fruit, not the foul-smelling deer eyes. ¡°It¡¯s normal. Bonuo is a special forces soldier, after all. In the training programs for special forces, there are usually courses on wilderness survival and consuming raw food. Raw meat is nothing; things like earthworms, bugs¡ªalmost every special forces soldier who has undergone training has eaten those. Even if you catch animals like wild rabbits, wild boars, or birds to fend off hunger, you can¡¯t cook them or make soup because you can¡¯t have an open fire in the wild as it could reveal your position to enemies, so you have to eat it raw.¡± After eating something to draw his stomach acid¡¯s attention, Bonuo felt much better and even felt the illusion of regaining strength. He hurriedly took out the charcoal from his previous fire-making endeavor and took out the flint to start a fire again. Half an hour later, eying the deer leg oozing with grease, Bonuo¡¯s gaze intensified. By now, every contestant had eaten something, be it earthworms or deer meat. Watching a few start building their shelters, Bi Fang in the helicopter wiped his newly made spear over and over. The weight was well-balanced, and the tip was sharp. Switching the view to the drone tracking the reindeer herd, Pondy could see the eagerness in Bi Fang¡¯s eyes. Having watched for so long, even the judges were getting itchy fingers. Chapter 378: 376 Starting to Climb Chapter 378: Chapter 376 Starting to Climb Having found a common topic, the two conversed with much more ease. As they inquired about each other¡¯s future plans and discussed their similar life experiences, it was clear that the two hit it off quite well. Jerret, sitting on the side, felt a bit awkward, almost as if he had become the third wheel, and could only silently sip his coffee. The live-stream audience was also witnessing such a scene for the first time. Although it wasn¡¯t as dynamic and interesting as a wilderness live stream, it had its own charm, and the viewership surprisingly stabilized at over two hundred thousand people. Many viewers even started asking when Sir¡¯s next documentary would be released and how long he would stay at Mount Everest. ¡°That will depend on how smoothly the shooting goes. If it¡¯s successful, maybe half a month will be enough; if not, it could take a month. You know, shooting a documentary is very time-consuming, from weather to angles, to timing, all these are crucial elements for an excellent documentary,¡± he said. Watching Sir speak eloquently in front of the camera and recalling some of his own experiences, Bi Fang suddenly had a bold idea. ¡°Sir, would you be interested in climbing Mount Everest with me?¡± Before Sir Edinburgh could answer, the viewers in front of their screens exploded in a frenzy. Were they serious? Asking a person near a hundred years old to climb Mount Everest? Do they want Sir to die on that natural graveyard? Bi Fang immediately explained, ¡°Of course, I don¡¯t mean reaching the summit. How could that be possible? Just to Everest Base Camp. I think Sir¡¯s health is still quite good, even exceptionally healthy.¡± Having sat opposite for so long, Bi Fang could sense that although the old man looked pale, his heart remained passionate and young. Similarly, breathing is a powerful indicator of one¡¯s health. Bi Fang, who placed great emphasis on breathing techniques, could acutely perceive that the old man¡¯s breathing was still steady and strong. Perhaps climbing mountains wasn¡¯t impossible for him. As expected, after making the suggestion, Sir Edinburgh didn¡¯t immediately reject it; instead, he seriously lowered his head in thought as if he was genuinely considering it. Bi Fang was right¡ªbeneath the aged physique was indeed a heart ablaze with passion. As a legendary figure who participated in World War II, witnessed humans¡¯ first ascent of Mount Everest, and whose footsteps covered every corner of the world, it would undoubtedly be a regret not to have climbed Mount Everest. Of course, reaching the summit was no longer possible unless God intervened or he was rejuvenated. However, climbing a section of the route was still feasible. Bi Fang¡¯s invitation was sincere; he truly wanted Sir¡¯s footsteps to be left on Mount Everest. Even if Sir couldn¡¯t reach the summit, if Bi Fang could achieve the ascent himself, the significance would be just as profound. Moreover, lately, Bi Fang had begun to subtly feel that his live-streaming had reached a bottleneck¡ªthe usual solo acts were increasingly difficult to attract more viewers. In his current live streams, viewership numbers could almost always stabilize at over three million during peak times, with over two million online viewers from Huaxia and more than one million from abroad. It¡¯s important to note that these were online traffic figures, not actual fans¡ªthose who would tune in to watch Bi Fang¡¯s stream punctually. Due to the realities of day-to-day life and work, not all of Bi Fang¡¯s fans could always be in front of their screens every time he went live. Three million is already an exaggerated number, and if used for advertising to attract traffic, even with only a conversion rate of one-tenth, that would still exceed three hundred thousand in viewer traffic, which is nothing short of terrifying. Regrettably, the potential upper limit of personal live broadcasts may have been reached. With continued broadcasting in the future, the number might still rise, but it¡¯s certain that the growth curve has entered a period of plateauing. The previous world¡¯s LOL championship finals had an overseas viewership of just over four to five million, owing to a naturally large and established fan base. For Bi Fang to achieve a viewership of one million within a year was already an incredibly unbelievable miracle. However, if the personal show is full, introducing some fresh elements might change the curve and restore growth. In a past life, Bear Grylls operated just like that, demonstrating basic skills to the audience with a guest on the previous day and then sending the guest away in a helicopter to venture alone, thus retaining both the intrigue and challenge. Frankly, the appearance of the maximum oxygen uptake voucher gave Bi Fang a sense of urgency. Was the appearance of the gold voucher happenstance? Of course not. Before each expedition, Bi Fang could keenly sense the shop¡¯s bias whenever it updated its inventory; when encountering a desert, there would be more camouflage clothing and desert boots, and when in the mountains, there would be more climbing boots and quick-dry sweatshirts. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The emergence of the gold voucher was no accident; it might be interpreted as a form of sympathy from the shop. But the requirement of over four thousand points left Bi Fang feeling somewhat like a Muggle; unable to save points, he almost couldn¡¯t afford the purchase. Aside from earning through tasks, money and fan influence were also means to acquire them. It was only by expanding the latter two that one could avoid the embarrassment of almost not being able to afford items like this time. Only by seizing every opportunity to become stronger could one aspire to truly achieve boundless travel. The orange Wilderness Traveler was not the end; above it, there might be even more powerful skills. Rock climbing, swimming, knotting, escaping, animal identification¡ªI still have a long way to go! Sir, who recorded ¡®Animal World¡¯ and ¡®Nature,¡¯ was naturally beloved by the audience. Moreover, he was my idol, sitting right in front of me. With so many reasons, Sir was undoubtedly the best choice. Countless people¡¯s childhoods and youth have been accompanied by a familiar voice rising over the African Savanna¡ªwhen it comes to fan numbers, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t catch up with Sir Attenborough even if he tried. After pondering for a moment, Attenborough didn¡¯t rush to answer, but instead asked Bi Fang, ¡°Do you think it¡¯s still possible for me to climb a snow mountain now? Even if just a few thousand meters? I¡¯ve been to many places and seen many animals, but in terms of human survival, perhaps you are the real professional. So I¡¯d like to hear your advice, Adventurer.¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t confirm it outright, as he could only deem the plan feasible from a superficial standpoint: ¡°Just judging from the surface, I believe your climb is feasible. Merely two to three thousand meters of ascent is not a problem at all. One of the bigger challenges in climbing is altitude sickness. In fact, compared to women, men and compared to the elderly, the young, have faster metabolisms and energy consumption, hence their bodies consume more oxygen and experience stronger altitude sickness. Some older people and long-term smokers, on the other hand, experience a noticeably smaller reaction than others when they enter high altitudes, mainly because they¡¯ve been in a state of mild hypoxia for a long time due to smoking and aging, and thus have greater tolerance to oxygen deprivation. After entering altitude, they¡¯re often able to ¡®adapt¡¯ more easily to the hypoxic condition.¡± ¡°Of course, this adaptation is predicated on the absence of other severe diseases in your body, like asthma, heart disease, etc. If there was a medical checkup report, I could possibly make a more accurate judgment.¡± Having experienced countless wilderness adventures, if asked who understands exotic environments best in the world, Bi Fang believed he had the confidence to be among that very top echelon. It wasn¡¯t just Bi Fang himself; his viewers thought so too. [Holy crap, that actually sounds feasible!] [Amazing, seriously amazing, is Sir planning to become the oldest climber ever?] [A ninety-year-old climber, isn¡¯t that a bit exaggerated? Feels like something out of a novel] ¡°Not at all,¡± Bi Fang said with a smile, ¡°There are many miracles on Mount Everest, and the advancement of modern human technology has greatly reduced the difficulty of reaching the summit. In fact, the oldest person to summit Everest is Japan¡¯s Mr. Yuichiro Miura, who was eighty years old. Although Sir is over a decade older, what he aims to do is not to reach the summit, an endeavor which is much less challenging than Mr. Miura¡¯s.¡± Despite the delicate relations between Huaxia and Japan, this did not affect Bi Fang¡¯s love for his homeland or his admiration for those passionate about challenging human limits. ¡°Moreover, because of companions and the issue of route selection, we opted for a commercial guide to help us with the preparation and training before reaching Everest Base Camp, and that will certainly be effective in helping Sir. After arriving at base camp, I will climb alone, adopting the alpine climbing style to complete this live broadcast and challenge.¡± The methods of climbing differ. The mainstream styles are commercial climbing and alpine climbing. With a filming team involved, choosing a commercial climbing team was inevitable. A commercial climbing team, unlike ordinary teams, involves a lot of collaboration, and climbing large peaks is more like a complex system engineering project, far too complicated. However, some climbers like the Sherpas or Western experts such as Messner, climbing solo and lightly, or without collaboration, manage to summit and return in just a few days. This is known as the alpine style of climbing. These people either make a living from collaborative climbing or see it as their life¡¯s pursuit. In recent years, Huaxia has started to develop some commercial climbing organizations and commercial climbers, a necessary stage of development. Upon reaching Everest Base Camp, Bi Fang will begin an oxygen-free ascent, using the alpine climbing method to engage in a physiological challenge and a brave man¡¯s game. After listening to Bi Fang¡¯s explanation, Edinburgh seemed to ponder, then suddenly stood, glanced at the stars outside the floor-to-ceiling window, casually picked up the top hat on the armrest and placed it on his head, then turned to extend his hand to Bi Fang. ¡°Youth truly brims with life force. Listening to your words, looking at your plan, I feel as though I¡¯ve grown much younger myself. So, I hope to receive some good news tomorrow when I see my medical report, Mr. Adventurer! I look forward to our joint climbing journey. It¡¯s getting late and the elderly need their rest, goodbye.¡± Watching Sir¡¯s departing figure, Bi Fang and Jerret looked at each other and burst into laughter. ¡°Sir! Forever Godlike!¡± ¡­ At dawn, Bi Fang sprang up from bed, pulled back the curtains, letting sunlight pour in, and gazing at the city that resembled the medieval era, he experienced a surreal feeling of traveling through time once again. After the meeting with Sir the night before, Bi Fang and Jerret went to inspect the filming equipment. True to Discovery Channel¡¯s reputation, they were set to film Bi Fang¡¯s ascent. Considering the previous successful collaboration, Discovery Channel brought out their prized equipment. Two drones worth millions, with a maximum altitude of 5800 meters and documental image quality, would be operated from base camp once the climb started. There were also close-up mini cameras that could be worn on the chest, with pin design¡ªthe image quality goes without saying¡ªif it were even slightly blurred, it wouldn¡¯t be brought out. Several positions would simultaneously record to capture the most complete and shocking footage of an oxygen-free summit. There¡¯s also the matter of checking Sir¡¯s medical report. In the hall, everyone gathered around Bi Fang, watching him scan the document with tense expressions. Nearly everyone present was an industry insider and recognized the famous Sir. Therefore, they all shared a sense of anticipation and anxiety for the possibility of climbing together, with Yao Jun and Wang Yongbo being no exceptions. The former was a fan of the animal world, while the latter was tense and excited about the potential collaboration. Wolf Fang and Bi Fang could be called a community of shared fate, with benefits for one resulting in a win-win situation. ¡°This medical report is from this March, just before I left, not even a month ago, so there shouldn¡¯t be any problems. Of course, if it¡¯s not alright, just tell me directly¡ªit¡¯s all about age, after all,¡± Sir said calmly, yet the whitening knuckles gripping the teacup revealed a more complex state than his tone suggested. At over ninety years of age, nearly a centenarian, could he truly attempt to climb the world¡¯s highest peak and leave his own footprint? Even if just two or three thousand meters. Having traveled so far and wide, Mount Everest remains an everlasting desire. After a thorough review of the report, Bi Fang rubbed his nose bridge and sighed. Edinburgh put down his teacup, forcing a bitter smile: ¡°No good¡­¡± ¡°Sir, this medical report of yours makes me wonder if you got the wrong one or stole someone else¡¯s,¡± Bi Fang, sighing, changed his worried expression to a smile, ¡°From what I can tell, as long as you¡¯re fully equipped, it¡¯s not just about two or three thousand meters¡ªif even six thousand meters at Everest Base Camp is not out of the question. Your actual physical age does not seem to be ninety, but rather more like eighty, no, even less than eighty. It should be between seventy-five and seventy-eight. It looks like we¡¯ll be seeing more documentaries from you.¡± Jerret looked at Bi Fang tensely and asked, ¡°Can he climb?¡± Bi Fang nodded assuredly and absolutely: ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Wu Hu!¡± The crowd in the room immediately cheered. Even Sir burst out laughing: ¡°More documentaries? That would indeed be an honor!¡± Just then, the climbing guide Rob arrived at the hotel in a taxi, took out his phone, and called Bi Fang. After a few seconds, the call connected. ¡°Guys, all the climbing gear and tents are ready from our company, may I ask if we can set off now?¡± Bi Fang zipped up his backpack, checked all the details, nodded at everyone in the room, and energetically pushed open the doors of the hall, excitedly declaring. ¡°Mount Everest, let¡¯s go!¡± Chapter 379: 377 Continue the Challenge Chapter 379: Chapter 377 Continue the Challenge ¡°` ¡°Looking back at the evolutionary journey of humankind, if our ancestors had not dared to venture and imagine, had not had the courage to innovate and the willingness to make sacrifices¡ªthe breadth of chest and grand sentiments¡ªhumans would never have taken canoes to surf the seas and explore the boundless mysteries across the oceans. Human curiosity leads to the impulse for adventure, and human adventure ignites the torch of civilization. Adventure is not only in the seas and mountains, deserts and swamps of nature but also hidden within the densely populated cities.¡± Three drones took off simultaneously, forming a V-shaped formation as they quickly flew toward the dark mountains and pyramid-like snow peaks that loomed ahead. Like falcons sweeping through the sky, they covered everything beneath their lenses, looking up at Mount Everest, the world¡¯s highest peak. Even if they flew with all their might, they could only reach halfway up the mountainside, where Bi Fang stood at the foot of the mountain range with a bulging backpack on his back. He looked as tiny as an ant yet spoke the most stirring words with the calmest voice. Countless viewers in front of their screens shouted excitedly; this was adventure, the grand adventure of life. The Ruins City was humanity¡¯s confrontation with disaster, but the natural race of strength was the most awe-inspiring great existence. The wilderness is an impulse etched in the DNA of life¡¯s very origin, the most yearned for and thrilling drive! At this moment, how could that familiar voice and introduction not excite the people? At the airport, ¨¦tienne jumped up high from his seat, disregarding the astonished looks from those around him, and shouted at the top of his voice, ¡°Charge! We¡¯re going to the summit!¡± Elvan, who was next to him, did not stop him but instead laughed out loud, reminding him of that marvelous and unbelievable hang-gliding trip from last winter. [Wu Hu! Charge!] [Master Fang has finally officially started the broadcast!] [Feels like you¡¯ve been much more diligent lately, are you running out of money at home? (Dog¡¯s head)] [Although we last met just the last time, it¡¯s been almost two months since I¡¯ve seen the wild wilderness!!!] ¡°I¡¯m Bi Fang, a professional outdoor explorer. Here, I will show you how to survive in some of the most dangerous places on Earth, where you wouldn¡¯t last a day without specialized skills.¡± ¡°This time, I¡¯ve come to Nepal, the region of the Himalayas, and will start from the foot of the world¡¯s highest peak. Relying only on my legs, hands, and an ice axe, and without the assistance of any oxygen supply equipment, I¡¯ll ascend Mount Everest without oxygen!¡± S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Mount Everest¡ªa term that many have heard over and over. For most, the first thing that comes to mind when they hear this term is the world¡¯s highest peak, with its climbing difficulties, altitude sickness, cold, and sheer cliffs. How difficult is it to climb to the summit without oxygen? Many people do not know; most even have never climbed a mountain a thousand meters high, let alone experienced the feeling of oxygen deprivation due to high altitudes. They only have a conception of it as very, very difficult¡ªto the point that only a few in the world can achieve it, difficult to the extent they never even dream they could do it, as if it were a different world altogether. Possible? Wang Yongbo and Yao Jun, sitting to the side, suddenly burst out laughing. It seemed inappropriate yet somehow fitting for the moment. The audience watching saw Bi Fang¡¯s companions laughing behind him and, while annoyed, it was as if they were looking in a mirror and seeing themselves. Right, every time before an adventure, they would all face this question, but Bi Fang always had, and only had, one definite and affirmative answer for everyone. This familiar scene reminded people of the first live broadcast of the man known to his fans as Master Fang. That tall and slender figure appeared so insignificant at the foot of the mountain range, as if out of reach, yet bathed in daylight, he seemed to radiate brilliance¡ªjust like the infinite glow of the Primeval Forest and a similarly seemingly impossible legendary challenge. No oxygen summit of Mount Everest. Can Master Fang create a miracle once again? [Let¡¯s charge!] [Go for it, Master Fang!] [I believe in you! To the summit! To the summit! To the summit!] [To the summit!] [To the summit!] [To the summit!] Tens of thousands of viewers posted their answers on the screen. They all had one collective wish: to witness Bi Fang now and in the future on every journey, to see him undergo one legendary adventure after another. They believed that Mount Everest would not be a hindrance but another milestone! Bi Fang laughed out loud. The feeling of being firmly believed in was like a car filled with fuel¡ªburning hot and full of vigor! Seeing the live chat atmosphere heating up, Bi Fang put his arms around Yao Jun and Wang Yongbo¡¯s shoulders and introduced them to the viewers with a smile, ¡°For this ascent, I will engage in Alpine-style climbing after six thousand meters, which means going alone, but before that, I will have a few teammates. Let me introduce them to you. This skinny one here is Lord Mu, the big brother who has long dominated the top of my live broadcast leaderboard!¡± ¡°And on the other side is my ¡®boss,¡¯ Mr. Wang Yongbo. Tell me, doesn¡¯t he look handsome!¡± After speaking, Bi Fang even winked at the camera. The savvy viewers immediately understood and showered the two men waving on the screen with exaggerated flattery. [CEO Wang is explosively handsome!] [I¡¯ve heard that Wolf Fang was declining, but the heroic CEO Wang miraculously appeared out of nowhere to steer it back on track, and it¡¯s flourishing once again. Now that I see him, indeed, he¡¯s a man of striking appearance!] [Are you guys serious?] [Report to Master Fang, I caught an honest man, seriously suspect he¡¯s a spy sent by the enemies, suggest immediate elimination!] [Shocking, big brother on the leaderboard spends a fortune for a private date with the famous broadcaster, and in the wild they dare to do this!] [Come to work at the company tomorrow, I¡¯ll pay you triple the salary!] ¡°` ¡°` After the laughter, Bi Fang pulled over Jerret and his photographer companion, ¡°These two are from the Discovery Channel, the director and photographer from the last ¡®Survival in the Wild¡¯ program. They are here to help me control the camera, providing everyone with a better viewing experience.¡± Jerret and his companion immediately nodded to the camera and made some remarks to lighten the mood. After introducing most of the members, Bi Fang finally got to the main event. He straightened his back, approached the last member wearing a black felt hat, cleared his throat, and began speaking in a deep, magnetic English voice, ¡°On the vast African Savanna during the dry season, not a drop of rain falls, and it¡¯s almost like a desert, even catching fire naturally. Then, during the rainy season, the savanna comes back to life, everywhere bursting with vibrancy.¡± Sir David Attenborough laughed twice, pushed Bi Fang away, stepped forward, and introduced himself, ¡°My name is David Attenborough. If you have seen me elsewhere, I hope you like my work and I sincerely thank you for your affection. I¡¯ve heard that many viewers in Huaxia have given me a nickname, ¡®Sir,¡¯ right?¡± As he spoke, Sir David Attenborough looked back at Bi Fang, who nodded vigorously, ¡°That¡¯s right, perhaps many people already saw him last night, but I still have to formally introduce him. This is the most distinguished guest of this mountaineering team, the renowned ¡®Sir¡¯ whom I¡¯ve gone to great lengths to bring here!¡± Since last night¡¯s live stream started hastily, only a few hundred thousand viewers came to the live room. Today, only tens of thousands in the live room knew about it, and the overwhelming majority of the audience were not yet aware that the famous ¡®Sir¡¯ would be joining the climb¡ªa fact that excited many to the point of blushing. [Holy shit, it¡¯s the ¡®Sir¡¯! Old Fang, how did you manage to bring him here?] [Climbing Mount Everest at such an old age? Aren¡¯t you afraid of throwing out your back?] [Spring has come, and it¡¯s the season of animal mating again. With the arrival of the wet season, rains batter the parched earth, and all beings start to stir.] [Sir, Wu Hu! My idol! A legend!] [To the one in front, you¡¯re mixing up your lines. That¡¯s Mr. Zhao¡¯s line, not Sir¡¯s, what Master Fang just said is the right one, you fake fan!] [Double fan ecstasy! Double fan ecstasy!] Almost everyone welcomed Sir¡¯s arrival warmly. People who love Nature are almost invariably fans of Sir. Even if they¡¯re not, they would have heard of or seen this old man before, and childhood or youthful memories flooded back, inciting pure elation. However, a minority of people expressed their concerns. ¡°Rest assured, I¡¯ve meticulously reviewed Sir¡¯s medical report. He¡¯s very healthy, and theoretically, there¡¯s absolutely no problem. He could still work for at least twenty years and contribute more than ten documentaries!¡± ¡°Ten documentaries?¡± Sir David Attenborough laughed, ¡°You couldn¡¯t make that many even if you split me into twenty pieces.¡± ¡°Anyway, there¡¯s no need to worry. In theory, it¡¯s feasible, and in practice, I¡¯ll be monitoring constantly. You have to believe in my skill!¡± After chatting idly for a few moments and briefly mentioning the presence and role of the guide Rob, as well as the necessity to wait for other team members, everyone was relatively at ease. ¡°Since there are many in the team who have absolutely no mountaineering experience, having a guide will be extremely beneficial for us in terms of cooperation. Once the rest of the team members arrive, we will set off immediately.¡± After briefly discussing the situation, Bi Fang then shared some knowledge and introductions with the audience. ¡°Mount Everest, a place people once looked up to, a mountain that¡¯s now been conquered by humans, lies on the border between Huaxia and Nepal. Its north slope is within the Tibetan Plateau in our country, and the south slope is within Nepal, where we are currently located.¡± ¡°Mount Everest has an elevation of 8,844.43 meters and is the main peak of the Himalayas, as well as the highest mountain in the world. ¡®Zhumu¡¯ in Tibetan means ¡®goddess,¡¯ and ¡®Langma¡¯ means ¡®third.¡¯ That¡¯s because, near Mount Everest, there are four other peaks, with Everest being the third. ¡°` ¡°` The second theory originates from a tale popular in the XZ Region, recounting the story of the five immortal sisters who, according to legend, resided in the palaces of Mount Everest. As for the third, the coldest places on Earth are Antarctica and the Arctic, but Mount Everest is also frigid, with even the peak¡¯s highest summer temperatures being dozens of degrees below zero. Meteorological observations have recorded the summit¡¯s lowest temperature at minus sixty degrees Celsius, hence Mount Everest is called the ¡®Third Pole of the World.¡¯ These three reasons are all sources of the name of Mount Everest, and everyone is free to choose the one they prefer.¡± Having finished explaining the origins, Bi Fang gestured towards Mount Everest on the horizon, which seems deceptively close due to its status as the world¡¯s tallest peak. In reality, the true summit route is not merely the eight thousand eight hundred meters one sees, but an arduous journey of dozens of kilometers. The drone also took off, reinforcing the presence of Mount Everest once again. ¡°Mount Everest¡¯s massif forms a gigantic pyramidal shape, majestic and soaring into the sky, with extremely perilous terrain and a very complex environment. It is not only towering and grand but also possesses a majestic aura. Within a 20-kilometer radius around it, a multitude of peaks stands tightly packed, one behind the other. Mount Everest is towering and commanding with a unique geographical environment, and the summit¡¯s lowest year-round temperature hovers around minus thirty to forty degrees Celsius. Some parts of the mountain are perpetually covered in snow, and glaciers, ice slopes, and ice towers can be seen everywhere. The thin air at the summit contains only a quarter of the oxygen found at sea level in the eastern plains, posing a significant challenge for climbers. The soaring Mount Everest has always been a holy place where humans attempt to prove their climbing prowess. After the first successful ascent on May 29, 1953, many mountaineering enthusiasts from all over the world, including Huaxia, wished to leave their footprint on the summit. Sadly, only one in ten actually succeed, while many others end up with disabilities or even lose their lives.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± interjected guide Rob beside him, self-absorbed in his own remarks, ¡°That¡¯s why each year, climbing teams generally arrive at Everest Base Camp in February or March to begin acclimatizing, starting at four thousand meters to adapt to high altitudes, then moving to five thousand and six thousand meters, and finally commuting between seven thousand and eight thousand meters to enhance their endurance. When the weather window emerges, and the meteorological office announces those few days, they will launch an assault, which is why there are traffic jams on Mount Everest. Even though Mr. Bi seems to have made a lot of preparation, I must say that you have arrived a bit late, and none of you has had any high-altitude climbing experience before. Not even coming in February or March is enough; at least a year of training is required.¡± Even for a commercial guide, where money talks, Rob is still professional. With a climbing record of eight thousand six hundred meters, he stands merely two hundred and forty meters shy of Everest¡¯s peak, a feat he takes pride in and often boasts about to clients. Otherwise, the fallout from wealthy clients encountering accidents isn¡¯t something ordinary people could afford to bear, so every time he takes a job, he ensures a thorough understanding of his clients¡¯ physical condition, as well as their climbing history and experience. In the company records, the present group had not even scaled six thousand meters, let alone eight thousand. Their brazen talk of summiting Everest was downright audacious and ignorant. Just because they survived a few instances in the wild, some live-streaming entertainers have the nerve to nonchalantly talk about summiting. Do they really think conquering Everest is that simple? If it weren¡¯t for his benefactor, Rob would hope to make even more money, and such overconfident talk would never have been spoken. He might have rolled his eyes on the spot. With the commercialization of mountaineering, indeed the difficulty has decreased significantly, and there¡¯s even been gossip about Sherpas carrying people up the mountain. At eight thousand meters, it¡¯s hard enough to walk, so how could someone carry another? If it were possible, there wouldn¡¯t be so many bodies abandoned along the way, left uncollected. Would the wealthy clients¡¯ families just watch their husband or son¡¯s body left exposed to the elements? However, the wealthy do have a tremendous advantage; if they can¡¯t be carried, at least their oxygen cylinders can. While others carry four oxygen bottles, the wealthy can afford forty, and the more guides, the better ¨C they don¡¯t have to carry their own gear and can even plaster their bodies with heat packs. Twenty Sherpa guides, each carrying ten heat packs for their wealthy client¡­ walking sandwiched in between, secured by safety locks ¨C if you have money¡­ you get to do it comfortably. Just pop a bunch of pills, have the physical ability, and scramble up¡ªit¡¯s done. A physically fit livestreamer, given half a year of advanced training and adaptation to the eight-thousand-meter altitude environment, without attempting any flashy feats like a no-oxygen climb, and spending loads of money, could just possibly summit if the luck was on their side too. But now, heh. This livestreamer, utterly foolish. ¡°` Chapter 380: 378 Fortunately, I Didnt Die Chapter 380: Chapter 378 Fortunately, I Didn¡¯t Die ¡°So, when will the others arrive?¡± Bi Fang looked up at the sun, somewhat surprised by the other party¡¯s lateness. Since Rob had led them to this area of broken stones, they had been waiting for well over half an hour. Sir was getting a bit tired, slightly panting for breath. Standing still could be more exhausting than walking. While standing, the legs bear the full weight of the body, and blood and lymph fluid can accumulate in the lower limbs, leading to a feeling of tiredness due to poor circulation. Walking, however, gives the legs alternating rest and promotes blood circulation, which is much more comfortable compared to standing still. Fortunately, Sir was in good physical condition, only a bit fatigued and nothing serious. But even if the team had no issues, the audience watching Bi Fang and his companions could no longer bear it. [Damn, making people wait for over half an hour is too much.] [Don¡¯t they have any sense of time?] [When can we finally set off?] ¡°Are they going to come at all?¡± Yao Jun was getting impatient. He wasn¡¯t a pretty girl that others would wait for. This was the first time he had stood around dryly for over half an hour; even if it were a girl, he would have switched to someone else by now. This was simply humiliating. Rob glanced at his watch, hesitated for a moment, ¡°Erm, they should be arriving soon.¡± ¡°You said that before. Give me a definite answer, or else I¡¯ll have your company send someone else who can get here faster!¡± Yao Jun reached his limit of patience. He wasn¡¯t without money to be treated this way; if they didn¡¯t arrive soon, he¡¯d tell those people to roll as far away as they could. Damn it, how dare they piss me off? [Wu Hu, Lord Mu always speaks with such authority!] [Exactly, I¡¯m here slacking off at work, getting paid to watch this, and now I have to see Master Fang wait for half an hour, I¡¯m spitting blood.] [My pants are down, and this is what you show me? Hmph (zipping up).] Rob also felt awkward and apologized to the financier before stepping away from the group to make a phone call. After a brief conversation, he jogged back to the team. ¡°They said they will be here soon, definitely within ten minutes.¡± This time he was right; five or six minutes later, two Caucasian men and an Asian man arrived, bumping along in a tricycle from a distance. Yao Jun squinted and snickered coldly, ¡°Heh, driving through a pebble beach, not afraid of breaking their butts.¡± Seeing the remaining three finally arrive, Rob let out a huge sigh of relief and was extremely thankful. These wealthy people were really hard to serve, one more troublesome than the other. As everyone was introduced, Rob promptly introduced the three newcomers. He pointed to the first white man to get out of the tricycle: ¡°Folks, this is Wessels, you might notice he has a bit of a Texas flair.¡± ¡°Whew, I¡¯m a hundred percent Texan, three generations of Texan men. Sorry to keep you waiting, but believe me, waiting a little longer won¡¯t matter, since you¡¯re gonna end up waiting at the base camp until the entire weather window is over, right?¡± The big man jumped down from the tricycle, whistled, and without even glancing at Bi Fang and the others, he shouted to Jerret and his companions. Clearly, he had already gotten some information. Rob, standing in the middle making introductions, didn¡¯t know what to do as he had never anticipated a conflict would erupt as soon as both parties met. ¡°Three generations of grandfathers and grandsons, where¡¯s the great-grandfather then?¡± Bi Fang looked at Sir, who was sitting on the gravel beach and catching his breath, scratched his eyebrow, and grinned, ¡°Is he catching turkeys for Thanksgiving?¡± Wessels¡¯ smile froze on his face, and the second white man in the car quickly tried to smooth things over, ¡°Wow wow, there¡¯s a real whiff of gunpowder here, we¡¯re so sorry about that, we drank a bit too much last night, and today we came to have some fun. Wessels is a bit muddled.¡± Rob also hurriedly introduced, ¡°This is Groom, from Queens.¡± ¡°I¡¯m originally from Canada, and I¡¯m a lawyer by profession.¡± Groom patted Wessels on the shoulder, then shook hands with everyone. Bi Fang sized up the other party and didn¡¯t say much more, accepting his goodwill. Seeing that the situation had eased, Rob immediately went on to introduce the last Asian person, ¡°This is Saito Tomonobu, from Japan, a bank manager.¡± Saito Tomonobu was different from the previous two, nearing middle age with seemingly little expression on his face, his taut skin stretched over his bones, he nodded slightly to everyone as a greeting. Once everyone was acquainted, Rob immediately called for a helicopter from the airport, as helicopters charge by time, and Rob made contact only after everyone had gathered. ¡°Why are those people hostile to us?¡± During another period of waiting, Bi Fang leaned close to Yao Jun and asked in a low voice. The other party hadn¡¯t been rudely speaking without reason, after all, there are few fools in life, there had to be a reason. ¡°I have no idea.¡± Yao Jun spread his hands, his only responsibility was to spend money, the rest was left to the guide company to handle, so who knew the others would set things up so poorly. ¡°Is it because of the number of people?¡± Jerret suddenly thought of the issue Bi Fang had raised the night before last about the number of people in the Mount Everest summit team. The ideal number for a team is seven to eight people, any more and there would be problems. When they arrived, the group that was just right, including Wessels and the others, had to be accompanied by another guide because the company would not have arranged it this way if the original guide wasn¡¯t fully booked. Adding three people, the team was significantly overstaffed, and the chances of summiting could drop sharply. ¡°That¡¯s the only reason.¡± Bi Fang nodded, after all, 65,000 Ugly Gold is not a small sum, and anyone would feel uneasy knowing they spent so much money and the possibility of summiting had sharply decreased. Scratching his head, Yao Jun felt fairly smug, ¡°Heh, I can¡¯t afford it so why should I care?¡± Sir, who was sitting on the side, suddenly interjected, ¡°Did I also borrow your summit quota? And what about this suit I¡¯m wearing, how much does it cost? I can¡­¡± ¡°Eh, no, no, no.¡± Bi Fang got so scared he jumped up from the stone, ¡°Sir, this would be completely embarrassing for me! I insisted on bringing you here, how could I possibly charge you? You see, all these up here are your fans. If each of them pitches in a bit, it¡¯ll be more than enough. I¡¯m just basking in your reflected glory.¡± Bi Fang pointed to the drone, and the audience cooperated very well, immediately flooding the screen with gifts. As Bi Fang¡¯s fame grew, many broadcasters would come to watch his livestreams, not so much for mutual benefit, as they were not on the same level and couldn¡¯t provide much help. However, as it happened, Bi Fang became familiar with many broadcasters, and as soon as he spoke, the first to jump out was a well-known game broadcaster. A glittering treasure chest burst forth, displaying a golden banner across, directing the entire platform¡¯s traffic towards Bi Fang¡¯s channel like a dragon sucking water. [Congratulations to the nearly mermaid-lined fatty who has opened an Emperor in Master Fang¡¯s livestream!] [The nearly mermaid-lined fatty presents the broadcaster with Big Bone *666¨CMy God, Master Fang is actually letting fans fundraise, aren¡¯t I just sheep ready to be fleeced? I grew up watching the old man¡¯s Animal World, how could I not chip in?] [Nanana is me presents the broadcaster with Spaceship *1¨CFor the face of Animal World, I¡¯m in!] [Woody presents the broadcaster with Spaceship *10¨CJust for Animal World and Nature, I must give!] [Sob sob sob, tycoons, so many tycoons, three million viewers, if each gives me a dollar, I¡¯ll be a millionaire, wouldn¡¯t that be wonderful?] [Report the guy above for illegal fundraising!] ¡°See that, Sir? It¡¯s all because of you. Just the money from your fans is enough,¡± Bi Fang said with a joyous face. He hadn¡¯t encountered such a scenario in a long time. Indeed, bringing the old man over was a decision more correct than any other. Yao Jun got excited as well: ¡°Come on, come on, everyone who sees this should join in, why aren¡¯t you crowdfunding for me? It¡¯s obviously all my money?¡± Edinburgh watched it all with a big laugh, never having expected to have so many fans in Huaxia. Rob also came over, and although he looked down on the livestreamer using Mount Everest as a gimmick, he knew just how important traffic was these days. Seeing a big broadcaster right in front of him, anyone would want to show off a bit: ¡°We¡¯ll be taking a helicopter here to go to Lukla, a town at an altitude of 2,840 meters, which is the starting point for all ascents of Mount Everest and EBC treks. Remember to choose the left side when boarding the plane, during the flight you¡¯ll be able to see the most spectacular Himalayan ranges on this planet.¡± At this, Rob even gave a wink, a piece of good advice he wouldn¡¯t normally share with just anyone. [Ah, can you really see the Himalayas?] [Why do we need a helicopter, I thought we were supposed to climb all the way up from the base of the mountain?] [Mount Everest is over 8,000 meters starting from the sea level, it doesn¡¯t mean the starting point is at zero meters] [The area around Everest can be considered a plateau, all around 3,000 meters high, with many smaller mountains. It¡¯s pointless to approach through the smaller mountains from outside¡ªno challenge, and deadly tiring. So Lukla is recognized as the official starting point for the south side of Everest.] [Looking up at the tycoons above] [Speaking of which, I still don¡¯t know why Old Fang chose to have a guide¡­ It feels like the guide might not be as awesome as Master Fang, he gets lost on the Himalayas, and Old Fang stays different.] Bi Fang chuckled. He had explained it to Wang Yongbo before, but he had never told his audience, so he had to explain it all over again. ¡°First, a guide can help confirm the route, saving me the time it takes to find my way. Second, whether you take the south or north face, you need to choose a commercial climbing company to apply for a Mount Everest climbing permit, the expensive ¡®Everest ticket.¡¯ Only with this ticket are you allowed to climb; otherwise, you¡¯re not permitted.¡± ¡°That¡¯s also why climbing Everest is so expensive; you must hire a guide with a certification, the 65,000 Ugly Gold is a cost you can¡¯t avoid. Furthermore, there¡¯s the gear, and most ordinary people can¡¯t make it on their first attempt¡ªthose with talent train for over a year, and others possibly even longer, to have just a slight chance. Most need to start training from 7,000 meters high, and each climb costs around 50,000 to 60,000. Therefore, you need to prepare at least a million.¡± Hiss! The viewers in the livestream were shocked by these figures and also felt a bit dejected. They thought it was merely a brave man¡¯s game, only to discover it required the pre-condition of being wealthy. A million to climb a mountain once? How rich do you have to be? No wonder the guide companies refuse to push away other clients¡ªoffending someone who can afford that sort of thing is unbearable. ¡°If anyone¡¯s interested, I can also roughly explain that the south face has more mature commercial climbs, while the north face is dominated by a single company, with only one company to choose from. On the south face, there are different types of climbing teams to choose from, but the north face is more limited. Therefore, there¡¯s a certain competitive relationship between climbing companies on the south face, and the prices for going up from there will be lower than from the north face.¡± ¡°Moreover, the north slope has higher entry requirements for climbers, demanding greater technical expertise. Due to the climbing environment on the north slope, climbers are expected to have more advanced skills, and those attempting the north slope are required to possess a certificate for climbing above 8,000 meters. The requirements for the south slope are somewhat relaxed in this regard, allowing climbers with less experience to ascend from the south. I don¡¯t have this certificate, so I can only come to the south slope.¡± [Holy crap, isn¡¯t this monopolistic?] [Shush, what are you blabbering? Be discreet, be discreet!] sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fortunately, the helicopter didn¡¯t take long to arrive. In just ten minutes, the sound of the rotors cutting through the air echoed in everyone¡¯s ears. Bi Fang and the others immediately boarded the helicopter, with Yao Jun rushing to sit on the left side by the window. Ever since he had seen the mountain ranges from the sky once, he had become somewhat addicted, unable to shake off that soul-stirring sensation. Yao Jun and Wang Yongbo were the first to dash up, leaving Wessels and company speechless. Master Fang forcefully seated Sir on the left, along with Jerret and the photographer; while Bi Fang, the guide, and the other three took seats on the other side. Rob introduced the upcoming situation again, while raising a finger and speaking in a low tone, ¡°Next, we are heading to Lukla Airport, ranked as the most dangerous airport in the world and crowned with the title ¡®Runway on the Roof of the World.¡¯ It was established in 1964, constructed with funds raised by Sir Edmund Hillary to enable climbers easier access to Mount Everest and to repay local residents by improving local transportation. Sir Edmund Hillary built Lukla Airport for these reasons.¡± ¡°And have you heard the story about who exactly was the world¡¯s first person to summit Everest?¡± The usually silent Saito Tomonobu suddenly spoke up, ¡°Rob, you¡¯ve seen more than one.¡± Clearly, this was not Saito¡¯s first visit, nor was he newly acquainted with Rob. Rob shrugged, ¡°Sorry, but perhaps many haven¡¯t heard it.¡± As expected, Wang Yongbo raised a hand, then realized that everyone¡¯s gaze seemed to converge on him, making him somewhat resigned, ¡°Okay, fine, let¡¯s not talk about it.¡± Bi Fang smiled, ¡°The fact is, there were two people who made the record climb at that time: one was the New Zealand climber Sir Edmund Hillary, and the other was the Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay. The two of them endured countless hardships and finally reached the summit of Everest, only to take a secret oath at the top, swearing to never reveal who was the first to summit. They weren¡¯t individuals; they were a team. You know, being the first versus the second is a big deal. This pledge led to a lot of scrutiny from all around, and it wasn¡¯t until forty-six years later that Edmund divulged in his diary that he was the first to reach the top. But because it was a personal statement and Danzeng had already passed away, making it a sort of ¡®dead men tell no tales¡¯ situation, skepticism remained. However, the general consensus now is that Edmund was the first to summit.¡± Rob crossed his chest while his tone suddenly grew solemn, ¡°They are both legendary figures. To those who dare face their dreams, Gide Company will bestow upon you courage that words cannot express.¡± Rob paused, then looked at everyone, ¡°Do you know why we don¡¯t put these things in the brochures?¡± Bi Fang folded his arms, exhaling, ¡°Because most of the mountaineering experience is painful.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Rob snapped his fingers, then looked at Saito, ¡°Speaking of mountaineering accidents, Mr. Saito, would you mind¡­¡± Without saying another word, Saito silently removed his boots and stretched out his left foot. Everyone on the left, including Yao Jun, shuddered at the sight. Bare. It was a completely bare foot, devoid of any toes. ¡°My reward for reaching eight thousand meters. Fortunately, I didn¡¯t die.¡± Chapter 381: 379: Into the Mountains Chapter 381: Chapter 379: Into the Mountains The atmosphere in the helicopter, previously pleasant, suddenly became quiet. Jerret and the others looked at each other, and then shivered collectively. Saito Tomonobu silently put on his socks and shoes and then spoke the longest sentence since meeting everyone: ¡°An emergency can not only cause you to lose your toes, but more likely your life. Your blood will gradually freeze amidst the ice and snow of high altitudes, turning into blood crystals.¡± ¡°Even though the death rate for climbing Mount Everest has dropped from 14.8% ten years ago to 4.4% now, that¡¯s the mortality rate for all climbers. Among them, many give up at C1 or C2. The higher you go, the greater the chance of death.¡± ¡°I started climbing in 2013. That year, I stopped at 7,400 meters because I saw a line of bodies ahead of me. At the time, my brain was severely lacking oxygen. Maybe I was scared as I retreated. I didn¡¯t succeed in 2014 or 2015 either. I wasn¡¯t very lucky¡ªthere was an avalanche during the weather window in 2014; and in 2015, a huge earthquake hit Nepal, followed by a massive avalanche. No one succeeded in reaching the summit that whole year.¡± As Saito spoke, he suddenly took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing as if he saw the boundless sky that awaited at the summit. After a while, he continued with his stiff accent: ¡°I haven¡¯t come back since then, but this year, I¡¯m here again. This is my fourth attempt to climb Mount Everest, and with my fortieth birthday approaching, I hope to give myself the gift of reaching the summit. I heard from Rob that you haven¡¯t even climbed a mountain of 7,000 meters. Human bodily functions don¡¯t operate at the cruising altitude of a Boeing 747. Once you reach South Col C4 Camp on Mount Everest, your body will begin to slowly die.¡± ¡°Ha, how is that possible.¡± Wessels laughed, trying to break the silence, but apart from him, no one else was laughing. Saito continued to stare at him expressionlessly. The laughter faded, and as Wessels awkwardly clenched his fist to cover his face and coughed twice, Saito¡¯s voice rang out again: ¡°You may not believe it, but my first climb stopped in the face of death. Even though my thoughts had slowed to where they were barely functional, I could feel¡ªclearly feel¡ªDeath sitting in front of me, so close I could hear his breathing.¡± ¡°Climbing Mount Everest is a game, a game to see if you can reach the summit and return before your body dies. Win, and you conquer the world¡¯s highest peak. Lose, and your body will become part of this giant tombstone.¡± ¡°Gulp.¡± Yao Jun and Wang Yongbo both swallowed their saliva, sweating slightly on their foreheads, their limbs going weak. It sounded so frightening¡­ Is it still possible to turn back now? Even the viewers in the live stream were a bit confused. Although Saito¡¯s English was broken and heavily accented, the subtitles translated his words very accurately. It sounded as if Bi Fang was not going to climb a mountain but rather a tombstone. Suddenly, a hand patted their shoulders, making them shiver, sweat trickling down their cheeks. Bi Fang¡¯s voice rose: ¡°What¡¯s there to panic about? I haven¡¯t asked you to reach the summit. It would be impressive if you two could make it to C2. Forget about C4.¡± ¡°Huaxia person, are you the one attempting the non-oxygen climb to the summit?¡± Saito coldly observed, staring straight at Bi Fang next to him. Bi Fang raised his eyebrows, looking directly back at Saito and even tilted his chin up slightly: ¡°That¡¯s me.¡± Saito stared at Bi Fang silently, not saying a word, and everyone else was confused by the tension between the two until, after three minutes, Saito finally averted his gaze. ¡°Then I hope you make it back alive.¡± ¡°I will bring back snow from the summit.¡± ¡­ Half an hour later, the helicopter crossed the mountains and made its way to a small airport. The helicopter slowly descended onto the runway, and Rob was the first to jump out, holding onto his hat, and gesturing around. ¡°Before Lukla Airport was built, this place was nothing but rocks and shrubs. After Edmund Hillary obtained the land permit, he hired 100 locals to build the airport. They would chisel rocks and cut down the shrubs during the day, and at night they walked on the runway, flattening and compacting the ground with their steps. The airport was completed in December 1964 and has been serving the region ever since. To this day, Lukla is inaccessible by road, and all living supplies have to be transported through Lukla Airport. In 2001, the airport had its runway paved with asphalt, but it is still very dangerous. Look, even this runway is uneven and has a significant slope.¡± Bi Fang landed on the ground and immediately felt its unevenness¡ªthe overall slope was very steep! ¡°At least fifteen degrees, which is a terrifying angle on a road, let alone for an airplane, and¡­¡± Bi Fang squatted halfway, showing everyone the first-person view of what he was seeing. Through his eyes, the viewers not only saw the horrifying slope but also the undulations! [Damn, is this even a runway for planes?] [I¡¯d be scared to drive on this.] [Ace drivers, request to engage!] [No wonder it¡¯s ranked as the most dangerous airport.] Rob, who was nearby, called the locals over to move the luggage, then came over and laughed, ¡°That¡¯s right, the runway has a slope of 18.5 degrees, quite steep, and its undulating shape is rare in the world. Just for this alone, it qualifies as one of the most dangerous airports.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve just observed the pilots and realized this airport seems to only allow visual flight, which is completely reliant on sight. There¡¯s no DME, no ILS, not even approach lights or PAPI lights. Besides, the bumpiness of the plane when flying is quite noticeable, and it has a strong feeling of side-slipping, which is probably because the airport is situated in a deep valley amidst high mountains. The wind along the valley forces planes to counteract continuous crosswinds during takeoff and landing. Moreover, the generation, accumulation, and transportation of moisture in the valley further make the visibility at the airport unpredictable, no wonder it¡¯s so dangerous. The demands on pilots are high indeed.¡± The slew of professional jargon left the audience somewhat dizzy, but the latter part was translated into normal Chinese and didn¡¯t hinder their understanding. Could you really discern so much just by sitting in a helicopter for a while? [Holy shit, can you actually feel all that?] [Strange knowledge has increased, add one to Master Fang¡¯s skill panel.] [Old Fang wouldn¡¯t also know how to fly a helicopter, would he?] [Almost forgot that Old Fang is also an ace commando, damn, maybe he really could?] ¡°I can¡¯t pilot, but I do understand a bit about it,¡± Bi Fang laughed heartily, unloading all the backpack luggage on the ground, and looked towards the distant mountains shrouded in clouds. With a heroic gesture, he pointed, ¡°Here is the starting point for Mount Everest. From now on, we¡¯re officially on our way forward!¡± Although Jerret and the cameraman were still in awe of the cloud-hidden Everest, they did not forget their job. They quickly brought out their equipment, started the drones and cameras, and got to work immediately. Filming the entire airport from the air, the top-down view from the altitude was truly serious; it was completely a cliff edge. There were no fences on either side of the runway, only precipices! The two onlookers were dumbfounded. They had actually landed on such a runway? Descending from the plane, Sir looked towards the distant peaks, feeling equally thrilled. His aged face inexplicably glowed with vitality, as if he had regained several years of youth. Yao Jun, standing beside him, pulled out something resembling a pager from his lining and pressed a few buttons. A set of fluctuating data suddenly appeared before everyone: ¡°Altitude 2845! Altitude 2845!¡± [What is that thing?] [An altitude meter?] ¡°Right, an altitude meter.¡± Bi Fang took the device from Yao Jun¡¯s hand, showed it to everyone and explained, ¡°This contains a GPS chip, which continuously emits signals to provide precise locations, though its accuracy is limited, and there could be some margin of error, so there¡¯s about a one-meter discrepancy.¡± ¡°Huh, there¡¯s a signal here?¡± Wang Yongbo took out his mobile phone and was surprised to find there were signals in this area, different from what he had imagined. ¡°What year do you think it is?¡± Bi Fang rolled his eyes. ¡°Our country has installed a new mobile base station 19 kilometers away from the peak of Mount Everest. Since then, climbers taking on Everest have been able to make calls from the summit, with the British mountaineer Rod Baber being the first man to make a call from the top of Mount Everest.¡± As he spoke, Bi Fang also took out an object resembling a walkie-talkie from his bag and waved it in front of the camera. ¡°Initially, climbers mainly used Morse code to communicate with the ground from Everest. Subsequently, shortwave radios and satellite phones replaced it as the common means of high-altitude wireless communication. However, the former has a limited range, and the latter is expensive and prone to weather disruptions. Compared to other means of communication, one of the biggest advantages of mobile phones is their lower cost. Nevertheless, for high-altitude communication, shortwave radios remain the most reliable method, but some budget adventure organizations cannot afford to provide radio equipment to their members. This is a device recently prepared by the guide company for us; I¡¯ve checked, and the quality is high. Don¡¯t lose them; it¡¯s best to keep them in your lining.¡± In 2007, four Italian climbers who were part of a budget climbing team encountered a perilous situation near the summit of Everest, and they had to use expensive satellite phones to call back to Italy for an emergency rescue. The reason these four Italians survived was due to the timely help they received from ¡®Experience Himalaya Adventures,¡¯ the climbing company that Baber had joined, providing them with oxygen supplements. ¡®Experience Himalaya Adventures¡¯ climbing company usually charges each climber a fee of 20,000 British Pounds. Generally speaking, climbing companies charging only ten thousand Ugly Knives are not that reliable, so everyone be careful when choosing.¡± Upon hearing the all-too-familiar case information, Yao Jun and others immediately took out their walkie-talkies and carefully placed them inside their inner linings for safekeeping. [Redefining ¡®budget¡¯] [I can¡¯t even afford the budget company¡¯s price, damn it, it¡¯s infuriating] [I feel numb now. Master Fang¡¯s individual climbing cost is sixty-five thousand Ugly Knives; any random climbing company charges twenty thousand British Pounds. I wonder if inflation forgot about me because everyone¡¯s spending tens of thousands like it¡¯s nothing, and yet I agonize over spending five bucks on a potato pancake in the morning.] ¡°Alright everyone, have we got our luggage sorted? It¡¯s time to set off!¡± Seeing that everyone was ready, Rob, who was at the front, clapped his hands, and the mules carrying the luggage immediately started moving. ¡°Transportation is not convenient here, so the methods are still quite primitive. The transport of goods mainly relies on mules. From Lukla to Everest Base Camp, we will need about six to seven days of trekking. Next, we will walk from Lukla to Phakding for about three and a half hours, descending from an altitude of 2840 to 2610 meters, briefly going down two hundred meters, but soon making up for it,¡± Bi Fang explained, patting the mule beside him. ¡°The good news is that the altitude on this part of the journey is below three thousand meters, so generally, anyone in good health won¡¯t experience altitude sickness.¡± It was eleven o¡¯clock, and the sun had risen to a high position. Two hours later, even Bi Fang began to sweat from the heat. After crossing a narrow and short suspension bridge, perhaps due to the high humidity in the mountains, the path became muddy, crowded with long-distance trekkers, mules and horses, red-robed monks, and barefoot Sherpa people bending under the weight of lumber. ¡°I¡¯ve found that climbing Mount Everest isn¡¯t quite as poetic and picturesque as it¡¯s made out to be in stories. As you can see, the whole path is littered with animal droppings. I even feel that the ground isn¡¯t so much a dirt road as it is a trail of dung. It might sound a bit exaggerated, but you really have to watch your step with every move because there are so many herds of cows, horses, and donkeys here. However, you can see that the scenery on both sides is still pretty nice, with small yellow flowers all along the roadside, just like what we saw from the airplane. It¡¯s truly beautiful.¡± Bi Fang crouched down and lifted a small flower, as the moisture from the mountain hit his face, and the clouds here turned into a fine misty rain, making every leaf on every plant dotted with water droplets. The small flower appeared even more vivid in color. ¡°It looks a bit like an azalea, but I¡¯m not sure exactly which kind. There are yellow flowers over there too, but I don¡¯t recognize them either.¡± Bi Fang shook his head regretfully. There are thousands of species of animals and plants in the world, and although he could now identify the vast majority, he was not accurate down to the species level for every single one, especially with plants, which he could only broadly classify to the family Rhododendron, but no further. Perhaps a professional botanist would know. Just then, a somewhat elderly voice familiar to everyone¡¯s ears rang out: ¡°This is the yellow scaly-stemmed azalea, and over there is the Prunus Mume.¡± By Bi Fang¡¯s side, Sir likewise crouched down, wiping the sweat from his forehead as he carefully examined a yellow flower. ¡°Haha, I almost forgot, I¡¯ve got Sir along with me on this trip!¡± Bi Fang scratched his head; he almost overlooked the fact that he had a true expert by his side! When it comes to identifying animals and plants, there are few in the world who can match the knowledge of Edinburgh. ¡°The scaly-stemmed azalea usually grows at altitudes of around three thousand meters, which is right about here, and if I¡¯m not mistaken, further up, there should be pink bristle moss azaleas.¡± Sir pointed to the peaks shrouded in clouds, and the camera operator let the drone fly higher, then adjusted the focus, reviewing the footage on the computer screen. Slowly, a touch of pink suddenly appeared in everyone¡¯s view. Could it really be there? Even Bi Fang was surprised. Indeed, experience does count for a lot! Could you really identify the genus just from a casual roadside wildflower? The azaleas were a minor diversion; besides maintaining interaction with the viewers, the team¡¯s pace remained brisk. Fortunately, with the help of mules, even the elderly like Sir could keep up. The path into the mountains was not devoid of human presence; there were many Sherpa clan villages in the Himalayas, such as Namche Bazaar, which lay before Bi Fang and the others, a small town. Namche Bazaar hung on the slopes like a giant, tilted, disc-shaped satellite halfway up the dangerous slope, with paths between houses meandering like a labyrinth. Inside the town, there was a normal human society with services such as hotels, and that night, Bi Fang and his companions stayed in Namche Bazaar. The real difficulties lay in the days to come. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 382: 380: No Lack of Oxygen in the Highland Air Chapter 382: Chapter 380: No Lack of Oxygen in the Highland Air ¡°My God, how much longer do we have to walk?¡± In the inn, Yao Jun collapsed on the bed, took off his shoes, and after a whole day of walking, his feet were both tired and swollen, making him only want to sleep well. ¡°Huo, take the shoes outside, why do they smell so bad?¡± Bi Fang fanned his nose. He hadn¡¯t smelled such an odor in a long time and immediately pulled Yao Jun up from the bed, telling him to place the shoes outside the window. ¡°Is that really necessary?¡± Yao Jun got up awkwardly and placed his shoes and socks outside. Bi Fang shook his head helplessly, ¡°It¡¯s not just you here, and my nose is much more sensitive than the average person¡¯s, I really can¡¯t stand it.¡± Being in the mountains, what¡¯s called an inn is actually just a few small earthen houses. Don¡¯t even think about single partitions; one room usually contains earth beds that can sleep at least four people. At that moment, Bi Fang and the others were gathered in one room, while the guide and a few others were in another, all waiting for the house owner to bring dinner. Bi Fang took a hot towel to wash his face, then sat on a small stool with the others around a fire in the yard. The temperature in the mountains fluctuated greatly. Although it was still a bit warm at noon, it had begun to turn cold in the evening, even necessitating wearing a thin cotton coat. As their fingers warmed up, Bi Fang spoke up, ¡°Today was everyone¡¯s first day of walking, and everyone¡¯s pace varied, causing the group to stretch out a bit. Adjusting to a proper pace is something we need to discuss tonight. Did anyone feel like they couldn¡¯t keep up today? Or could keep up but felt particularly tired? Be honest and tell me immediately if you have any issues. Though the risk of altitude sickness isn¡¯t that high at three thousand meters, it¡¯s not non-existent. And Sir, I haven¡¯t heard you ask for a break all day; please don¡¯t force yourself too hard.¡± Sir Edinburgh laughed, ¡°You may be worrying too much. I have always been at the forefront of the team. I¡¯ve trekked far through both mountains and rainforests, so don¡¯t underestimate me. I just hiked twelve kilometers on the grasslands not long ago.¡± Seeing Sir had no issues, even with a flush on his face, Bi Fang turned to Wang Yongbo and the others, ¡°How about you?¡± Everyone shook their heads, except for Wang Yongbo who scratched his head, ¡°I had a bit of trouble keeping up today, and my heart felt weird, like it was being squeezed by a hand. Could it be a precursor to altitude sickness?¡± Bi Fang frowned, ¡°What about the rest of you? Do you have the same feeling?¡± The others shook their heads, but Jerret and the cameraman raised their hands. Indeed, they hadn¡¯t reacted before, but thinking about it now, it seemed they did have that sensation. All of these people had undergone physical exams before coming, and there were no diseases. ¡°It might be a precursor.¡± Wang Yongbo and the others were startled, then started to worry. They were experiencing altitude sickness at just three thousand meters? What about the rest of the journey? ¡°No worries, if the physical exams were fine, then there¡¯s no need to be overly concerned. As long as you¡¯re healthy, the vast majority of people won¡¯t have problems at three or four thousand meters. Besides, many people just experience a psychological reaction. I suspect you¡¯re just a bit over-exerted today, and since we took a helicopter directly from one thousand meters to three thousand meters, the rapid elevation change might not have fully settled in yet. A good rest tonight should help.¡± Wang Yongbo was a bit chubby, but not fat. As for Jerret and the cameraman, Bi Fang suspected it was just because the equipment was too heavy. Even with animals helping carry it, they both had to carry an extra near five jin of weight each, and the altitude sickness was likely due to the excessive physical exertion. After some thought, Bi Fang had a plan, ¡°Here¡¯s what we¡¯ll do. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll ask Rob to find two porters to help carry your backpacks. Tonight, eat more cheese and chocolate¡ªhigh-calorie foods are good for combating altitude. Later, I¡¯ll have Rob buy some water, and you start drinking first thing tomorrow morning¡ªdrink at least 4L. Grab about eight bottles of Nongfu Spring or something, take small sips, aiming to feel like you need to go to the bathroom every half an hour. That should probably solve the problem.¡± ¡°Drink water?¡± Wang Yongbo was puzzled, ¡°Does that really work?¡± The viewers in the live streaming room were also very curious, could drinking water really cure altitude sickness when earlier employing porters to carry things was understandable? [Isn¡¯t this just major hydration?] [I remember there are medicines for altitude sickness, right?] [Exactly, isn¡¯t Rhodiola one of them?] Unexpectedly, Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s useless, those medicines aren¡¯t as effective as drinking water. In fact, the vast majority of altitude medicines are placebos. They might be able to slow down the symptoms of altitude sickness but there¡¯s no clinical trial to prove it, and it¡¯s the same with Rhodiola. To this day, I haven¡¯t seen any authoritative scientific proof. At most, it has some effect on the lethargy that can occur with altitude sickness.¡± ¡°Besides, do you all believe that there¡¯s less oxygen in high altitudes?¡± Bi Fang looked around the audience and realized that everyone indeed nodded, as that¡¯s what they all believed. Sir was also puzzled, ¡°Isn¡¯t that the case? Isn¡¯t altitude sickness caused by the thin oxygen at high altitudes?¡± ¡°Wrong,¡± Bi Fang shook his head again, this being the second time in a short span, ¡°from sea level up to 100,000 meters in altitude, the oxygen content in the air is about 21%.¡± Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked. Isn¡¯t that common knowledge? [Is Old Fang also suffering from altitude sickness (joking), losing clarity of thought?] Bi Fang rolled his eyes, as his peak oxygen intake was at least over eighty at the moment. For a person like him to experience altitude sickness upon reaching an elevation of 3,000 meters, he¡¯d have to suffer from a heart condition, a blood disease, cerebral vascular issues, along with various respiratory diseases, epilepsy, schizophrenia, and uncontrolled diabetes, with a plethora of debuffs before altitude sickness would be likely. ¡°There¡¯s no lack of oxygen in the high-altitude air! It¡¯s the people in the high altitude who lack oxygen. Have you been on an airplane? Its engine is essentially an internal combustion engine. If the high-altitude environment ¡®lacked oxygen¡¯, then the airplane engine wouldn¡¯t be able to burn fuel normally to produce power to support flight, nor would passengers in the cabin be at risk of suffocation. Yet, in reality, every day, thousands of passengers fly safely in commercial airplanes at 10,000 meters up in the sky. If the oxygen content is 21% in plain areas, the proportion of oxygen is also 21% in high-altitude areas most of the time, which means there¡¯s no lack of oxygen in the atmospheric environment. The proportion of oxygen doesn¡¯t change at all.¡± ¡°Then how come altitude sickness occurs?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the air pressure,¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t beat around the bush and gave the direct cause, ¡°at an elevation of 4,270 meters, the pressure of oxygen is only 58% that of sea level. So, even though the relative proportion of oxygen in the atmosphere hasn¡¯t changed, the absolute amount of oxygen has decreased due to the thinner air, leading to a lack of oxygen.¡± ¡°When our bodies go to the high altitude, we need the same amount of oxygen as we do in the plains, but the lower absolute amount of oxygen in the high altitude means that we have to breathe more air to get the same oxygen. Our breathing and heartbeat must speed up; we have to breathe twice at high altitudes to get the same amount of oxygen that we could with one breath on the plains.¡± The benefit of an increased peak oxygen intake lies precisely in this, a higher utilization of oxygen. Where others might need to breathe multiple times on the high altitude to maintain their oxygen intake, Bi Fang could do it in one breath; the only difference might be a slightly larger expansion of his chest. ¡°Breathing is very easy to lose water, I¡¯ve told you in the desert to breathe through your nose rather than your mouth so you lose less water. Because both the frequency and depth of breathing increase, we lose a lot of water, making us more dehydrated than the plains. At the same time, the increase in lung activity and heart movements also consumes a lot of water. Dehydration can easily lead to a decline in blood flow and a reduction in the amount of oxygen transported within. If not promptly hydrated, the consequences can be severe.¡± Due to the cold and lack of oxygen, the high altitude can dull one¡¯s brain. By the time you realize you are lacking oxygen, the consequences are already very serious; this is what¡¯s known as altitude sickness. ¡°That¡¯s why drinking water can effectively alleviate altitude sickness. It¡¯s more effective than any medicine.¡± [Impressive, it¡¯s a real eye-opener!] ¡°` [When a calf stands on its head, it¡¯s bullishly sky-high] [Who the hell taught you all these riddles?] Just as everyone was marveling, the door suddenly opened, and a dark-faced Sherpa man came in, holding several large plates. ¡°Huo! Finally time to eat!¡± Yao Jun sprang up from the bed and rushed to the table, starving after a day¡¯s walk. ¡°Eat up, we¡¯re currently at an elevation of 2610 meters in Phakding, the mid-point between Lukla and Namche Bazaar. We¡¯ve got a long trek ahead of us tomorrow, so you need to fill up.¡± Bi Fang passed out chopsticks to everyone. The food on the table wasn¡¯t anything special, just some stir-fried noodles, fried rice, noodle soup, steamed buns, and permutations like Ruyi noodles and pizza-like concoctions. ¡°In the past, most trekkers on the EBC route were whites from Ugly Europe. In recent years, we¡¯ve seen an increase in travelers from Huaxia. The inns and lodges along the trail have added a lot of Chinese dishes. You can find dumplings and noodles, and there are even chopsticks available. We¡¯re in a good era now. Otherwise, we¡¯d be stuck eating western food with our hands.¡± Out of hunger, no one really cared about appearances and just started eating with chopsticks and fork and knife in hand. Yao Jun, on the other hand, stopped the innkeeper: ¡°Boss, I see there¡¯s a Wi-Fi signal here. Can you tell me the password?¡± The innkeeper wiped his hands, chuckled with a weather-beaten yet kind face that bore lots of wrinkles, unfortunately, the words out of his mouth weren¡¯t so kind as he held up three fingers: ¡°300 rupees.¡± Yao Jun was stunned: ¡°WTF? You charge for it? Alright, alright, tell me the password, I¡¯ll pay! Let everyone use the Wi-Fi!¡± But unexpectedly, the innkeeper shook his head again: ¡°Three hundred per person, should I enter the password?¡± Yao Jun: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Hahaha, forget it Yao Jun,¡± Bi Fang patted his shoulder, ¡°No need to bother; don¡¯t expect the Wi-Fi speed to be any good in a place where even the electricity isn¡¯t stable. Just use your data plan.¡± After dinner, Bi Fang summarized some issues and points to note. ¡°You can¡¯t rely on feeling to tell if a person is lacking oxygen, because the brain and heart can tolerate a fair bit, and it¡¯s not easy to sense issues. We need to measure it. Observing lip color is one way to measure¡ªit¡¯s a visual check. The color of the lips represents the color of arterial blood. If the lips are purple or black, it signifies that arterial blood is not well-saturated with oxygen, indicating a lack of oxygen in the body. Keep this in mind when climbing Mount Everest, so you don¡¯t run into trouble. The most convenient method is to use a pulse oximeter; it reveals the true situation in 10 seconds. I see Rob has one, I¡¯ll take you to get one tomorrow.¡± ¡°The remaining issue is trekking. I¡¯ll call you all in the morning. Go to bed early tonight; we¡¯re setting out at 7:30 tomorrow morning from 2610 meters in Phakding to 3440 meters in Namche Bazaar. We¡¯ll be ascending 800 meters, and at that time, I¡¯ll teach you some climbing techniques.¡± At night, Bi Fang turned off the live stream and went out for some exercise before retreating back to his room to rest. The next morning, Bi Fang opened his eyes, it was the first time sleeping in a bed during a live stream, which felt weird, but he quickly got up, dressed, opened the door, and started the live stream. The drone immediately took off. [So early? Isn¡¯t it just 6:30?] [Isn¡¯t it still dark?] ¡°Latitude reasons, mate. Around Everest, it generally doesn¡¯t get light until after seven during the spring and summer.¡± Bi Fang exhaled a breath of cold air, indicative of the chilly morning temperature, frost clearly visible on the nearby leaves. ¡°Today is April twenty-first. I estimate it¡¯ll take six days to reach Everest Base Camp. Then I¡¯ll have less than a month to do pull training, depending on the weather forecast from the meteorological bureau. If the right conditions come early, I might not even have half a month, so I have to intensify the training. That¡¯s why I got up so early.¡± Half an hour later, a sweating Bi Fang returned to the shelter, boiled some water, mixed some cold water in, then went out to the courtyard, stripped down, instructed the drone to avoid the view, and poured the hot water over his head. ¡°Whew! Much better.¡± Bi Fang shook his towel, wiped his face, and after exercising, his blood vessels were dilated, so he didn¡¯t mind the cold at all, which wasn¡¯t really severe as it was still above freezing. [Damn, aren¡¯t you cold?] [Drone, fly to the right? I can only see his head.] [So tough¡ªoutdoor showers, is this what real men do?] S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The sound of water outside soon caught everyone¡¯s attention as the sky began to brighten. Yao Jun blinked, yawning as he got up, then saw Bi Fang walking in, his body steaming. Yao Jun rubbed his eyes in shock: ¡°Holy shit, are you self-combusting? Why are you steaming all over?¡± ¡°Took a shower, get up quickly, and also this, you guys should use it.¡± Bi Fang put on his clothes and casually tossed a small bottle. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Everyone crowded around and found it was an alcohol spray. ¡°Alcohol spray. Go wash your feet in a bit, then spray this on, especially between the toes and the heels. After drying, apply a little alcohol to increase your feet¡¯s endurance, it won¡¯t tire as easily. I don¡¯t share this tip with just anyone.¡± Yao Jun didn¡¯t quite understand but was greatly impressed; this was his first time hearing of such a thing: ¡°What¡¯s the reason?¡± ¡°It¡¯s to relieve pain, and it reacts chemically with leather, making the shoes softer. Mountain boots are generally new; ours are too. New boots have the most friction but are too rough when unadapted and can rub your feet raw. Apply some alcohol and they¡¯ll soften up.¡± Excited by the information, Yao Jun immediately went under the bed to experiment. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say so earlier? I rubbed my feet raw all of yesterday. Forgot about it when we left the hotel, and after walking so much, I didn¡¯t want to trouble you anymore.¡± ¡°Damn!¡± (Come check out the official version, gentlemen. A book only costs a few bucks.) ¡°` Chapter 383: 381: Arrival at Base Camp, Above the Snow Line! Chapter 383: Chapter 381: Arrival at Base Camp, Above the Snow Line! ¡°When hiking as a team, especially when some members are inexperienced, you need an experienced person leading at the front and another experienced person bringing up the rear to ensure no one falls behind. Today, I¡¯ll have Rob lead, and I¡¯ll cover the rear.¡± Bi Fang pulled his trekking pole from the dirt, climbed on a rock, and from today onward, they would be ascending, with at least a six hundred meter climb ahead of them. ¡°When we walk uphill, we should take small steps and lean forward. Try to keep your stride as consistent as it is on flat ground. When walking downhill, also take small steps, lean back, and keep your knees slightly bent to reduce the pressure on your knees from the backpack¡¯s weight. Moreover, taking a zigzag path on steep slopes will save more energy.¡± ¡°If the soil on the incline is loose, such as sand, gravel, or snow, it¡¯s best to side-step and stop in a side-stepping position because it¡¯s more stable. This reduces the likelihood of slipping, and you must be mindful of your footing to avoid slipping on loose rocks. In addition, carrying a trekking pole is necessary¡ªit can help you maintain stability.¡± Sir, listening intently up front, couldn¡¯t help but admire: ¡°I¡¯ve walked many paths but never considered the reasoning and simple rules behind them. It seems your adventures aren¡¯t just about individual heroics but also a display of wisdom.¡± Bi Fang scratched his head and smiled bashfully. [Serious teaching that¡¯s laughable ¡ª not needed at all.] [Homebody who never left the city.] [I want to travel too, climb snowy mountains, but my wallet won¡¯t allow it.] [What won¡¯t allow? It¡¯s just laziness! Follow Master Fang, need nothing, find a tricycle, head to the Primeval Forest, wouldn¡¯t that be wonderful?] [Clearly an old fan here.] Just then, Rob¡¯s voice suddenly came from the front: ¡°We¡¯re going to cross a bridge, so stow your trekking poles to avoid getting them stuck in the bridge gaps.¡± Bi Fang packed away his trekking pole and looked ahead. It was still a narrow bridge, one of many they¡¯d encountered along the way. The bridge was so narrow that two people couldn¡¯t walk side by side, and it hung high in the air, enough to make one nervous. But after crossing several times, one grows accustomed, shifting from initial trepidation to driving with ease, presenting no difficulty at all. After the bridge, Bi Fang took out his trekking pole again and continued, ¡°In open terrain, we should advance in single file, with each individual within arm¡¯s reach of one another. The advantage of this is that if a blizzard hits and visibility drops dramatically, no one will get separated from the group.¡± ¡°Phew, ha, I can¡¯t do it,¡± Wang Yongbo suddenly started gasping for air up ahead, appearing as though he had been holding his breath for too long. He gulped a large mouthful from his water bottle and then leaned on his chest, breathing deeply. ¡°This is for your own good.¡± Bi Fang raised his hand to check his watch. Only twenty minutes had passed. ¡°To put it bluntly, among us, CEO Wang¡¯s physical condition is the worst. It¡¯s very possible that you won¡¯t even make it to Camp 1, so now you must practice diaphragmatic breathing.¡± ¡°Inhale and swell the belly, exhale and deflate the belly,¡± just like smelling the fragrance of a flower, ¡°inhaling¡± the breath into the lower abdomen, breathing at a normal rate for half a minute will significantly increase the blood oxygen saturation, an immediate and foolproof effect. This was taught to everyone this morning, especially to Wang Yongbo. Following Bi Fang¡¯s method, if he kept at it patiently, correctly, and consistently, his blood oxygen saturation wouldn¡¯t fall below 95%. In just a few minutes, he would feel significantly relieved or not feel the lack of oxygen at all. However, if diaphragmatic breathing stops, blood oxygen saturation would drop within half a minute, so to maintain an oxygen-rich state, one needs to form a habit. It generally takes more than a month for an average person to master this through practice, and one must overcome restlessness and resistance with strong willpower. Once the habit is ingrained and becomes subconscious, everything gets easier. ¡°I¡¯ve stressed this many times, breathing is important, breathing is important. If the body is an engine, then oxygen is the fuel, and the way you breathe represents combustion efficiency. Diaphragmatic breathing is about the quality and depth of breath. We need to improve the quality to adapt to low-oxygen environments.¡± Wang Yongbo sighed, ¡°That¡¯s easy to say, but it¡¯s really exhausting. I relax a bit and forget. I forget as I walk, and even hopping over a rock makes me forget. I just can¡¯t remember it all.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be watching, and if I notice your breathing change, I¡¯ll remind you. Now is the best time to practice because at four thousand meters, you won¡¯t be able to practice anymore.¡± ¡°Alright, alright,¡± Wang Yongbo waved his hand and changed his breathing method again. The group once again crossed a river, and the noisy sounds of people came from ahead. A few donkey carts driven by their owners approached, and everyone, including Bi Fang, moved to the side, quietly waiting for the carts to pass; Sir even took off his hat and bowed politely. ¡°When you are hiking in the countryside, you must pay attention to protecting the natural environment and respect the other people you meet along the way. You should yield to other walkers, cyclists, or horseback riders, take all rubbish with you, and avoid trampling or disturbing crops or livestock. If you have a dog with you, keep it on a leash to prevent these situations. Lastly, watch out for vehicles and always walk on the outside to react in time.¡± After letting the donkey carts pass, everyone set off again. The paths through the fields crisscrossed; despite being on a plateau, the landscape flourished as if it were a plain. Nearly every piece of flat and open land was cultivated with various crops; strings of prayer flags hung across the hillsides, and Buddhist temples and walls carved with scriptures stood tall among the peaks. All were sojourners. Locals planted crops between ridges, and travelers headed towards the snowy mountains they dreamed of. Living in the here and now. ¡°Let¡¯s take a break.¡± After crossing another mountain peak, Rob directed everyone to take a brief rest. They all entered a teahouse and ordered a pot of the local masala tea. ¡°Every time I see the locals living in harmony with nature, I feel it¡¯s the most beautiful moment in life. I¡¯ve said before that there are about 4 million different species of flora and fauna in the world. Thus, there are 4 million different answers to the question of how to survive. Now, it seems to me, 7 billion humans have 7 billion different answers to how they want to live,¡± Sir reflected, planting his walking stick into the earth as he watched the Sherpa people working the terraced fields. Bi Fang looked up, squinting his eyes, and played along by asking, ¡°And what¡¯s your answer, Sir?¡± ¡°Me?¡± Edinburgh paused to think, then said, ¡°For me, nature is the greatest joy, the ultimate visual feast, and the fountainhead of intelligence. It¡¯s the source of many things that make life meaningful for me. What about you? What¡¯s the reason for your relentless adventures? You always set one goal after another for yourself, and I think they are not easy for you to achieve, right? Such goals are meaningless, but since they are difficult, there will inevitably come a day of failure. Will you feel disappointed then?¡± [Ah, reasons, they stem from a high school annual party (sarcastic).] [Master Fang can never fail!] [I feel this is really tough this time, no-oxygen ascent, and I¡¯ve never seen Old Fang climbing mountains.] S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [This thing should require continuous training, right? Master Fang is always live streaming. After it¡¯s over, he rests. When does he have the time to train for mountaineering?] [I boldly predict the beginning of Waterloo!] Bi Fang loosened his backpack straps and changed the subject, ¡°I¡¯m actually inclined towards Adlerian philosophy. Sir, have you ever heard of the phrase ¡®living in the moment¡¯?¡± ¡°The moment?¡± ¡°Yes, the Adlerian philosophy strongly supports this viewpoint. Some people¡¯s route to happiness is to progress first, believing that only by advancing can they find happiness. Others prioritize freedom first.¡± After taking a sip of the masala tea to moisten his throat, Bi Fang was about to continue when Saito Tomonobu, who had been silent all this time, suddenly interjected, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with the roadmap of progress?¡± Bi Fang gave Saito a surprised look but shook his head, ¡°Fundamentally, there¡¯s nothing wrong with it. No one has the right to oppose the way others seek happiness, but happiness is ultimately subjective. I don¡¯t agree with the roadmap to progress because you¡¯re always on the road, just like mountaineering, Mr. Saito. You attempted to conquer Everest four times but didn¡¯t succeed, even wanting to treat summiting as a birthday gift. Is that because you think only the peak is happiness? Is the process of climbing merely the price of happiness?¡± Suddenly Saito fell silent; he did not agree or disagree. Seeing that everyone¡¯s gaze was fixed on himself, Bi Fang finished his tea in one gulp and quickly countered, ¡°But what if I can¡¯t reach the top? What if, after reaching the top, I find there¡¯s an even higher mountain? This kind of life feels like being led by a certain goal, and I don¡¯t think that¡¯s either happy or free.¡± ¡°Adlerian philosophy holds that life isn¡¯t merely a line aiming for a certain destination¡ªlife is a sequence of countless ¡®points.¡¯ Each present moment, each instant should be cherished, experienced, and enjoyed. It¡¯s like traveling, where it¡¯s not about reaching a destination to be considered a journey; the journey begins the moment you step out of your house, and every single detail along the way is worth appreciating.¡± You want to become a piano master, that¡¯s fine. But it¡¯s not that you¡¯ll only be happy once you¡¯ve become a piano master. Adler doesn¡¯t tell you not to strive for goals, he tells you to enjoy every moment of practicing the piano. In other words, Adler wants you to live earnestly. Being earnest is not equivalent to being profound. Life doesn¡¯t need to be profound¡ªearnestness is enough. If you can¡¯t live earnestly, always on the road, always disliking your current self, then you may really never achieve happiness in your lifetime. Being earnest is the most basic attitude¡ªit¡¯s an attitude toward oneself. I never treat various goals as burdens, but as markers on my pursuit of freedom and happiness. They signify that I have been here, that I have appreciated this place, and not as turning points from suffering into happiness. They aren¡¯t burdens, they¡¯re my motivation, and even if I fail in my challenges, I won¡¯t be too saddened. Of course, reaching a goal will be a peak moment of happiness, and that is where the true meaning of my pursuit lies.¡± Yao Jun slapped Bi Fang on the shoulder, gasping, ¡°Damn, that sounds so awesome.¡± ¡°Read more books.¡± Yao Jun: ¡°¡­¡± On the side, Wessels sniffed, ¡°But if you don¡¯t reach the summit, nobody will remember you.¡± Bi Fang was very calm, ¡°I¡¯ve said it before, happiness is very subjective. If you make fame and fortune your pursuit, that¡¯s your business.¡± [Master Fang, I¡¯ve had an epiphany] [I¡¯m going to write novels, even if I face failure every time, even if I¡¯m starving, I¡¯ll persist, ugh ugh ugh.] After finishing their tea, everyone set off again, perhaps touched by Bi Fang¡¯s words, the team¡¯s pace quickened that afternoon, and they managed to arrive at Nanki before dusk. They could rest for another night. ¡­ Day three: Nanki 3440m ¨C Tangboche 3860m Departed at 7:15, first sight of Mount Everest, which was obscured by clouds, on the right was Lhotse Peak, and the weather was good the entire journey, with Mount Everest accompanying along the way. Tangboche is a local religious center. This monastery was the first place where we received hada scarves. Rob led us to a nearby monastery and hoped the lama there would bless our journey. When receiving the hada offered by the lama, our leader also reminded us not to forget to give a little donation for the oil money, and I paid five Ugly Gold. The lodge that night did not provide hot water or free charging, charging once cost 300 Rupees, no matter it was a power bank or a phone, there were no toilets in the rooms, only shared public toilets, and I specially took time that night to shave. Day four: Tangboche 3860M ¨C Dingboche 4410M Here we could clearly see the famous peak on the journey, Ama Dablam Peak. In such high-altitude areas, as soon as the sun sets, the temperature drops faster than a dive; it¡¯s very cold both morning and evening. As most team members had never reached such an altitude before, I planned to have them acclimatize on the following day, staying two nights in Dingboche to improve everyone¡¯s adaptation ability. Yao Jun had been sleeping restlessly the last few nights, always getting up 3 or 4 times a night. Rob was a competent guide, but his basic skills needed polishing, and he seemed unable to keenly observe everyone¡¯s physical condition; I needed to pay more attention. The lodge didn¡¯t provide free charging, there were still no toilets in the rooms, only shared public toilets; since the lodges were built of wood, but having reached this altitude, to have these amenities was already quite good. Day Five: Dingboche 4410M ¨C Nakashan 5616M ¨C Dingboche 4410M Today was an acclimatization day, where we needed to climb to a higher altitude during the day and then return to a lower altitude to rest at night, which helps to speed up the adaptation to the low-oxygen environment. I tried to climb Nakashan to get a bird¡¯s eye view of Dingboche, with the surrounding hills all over 5000M. But due to the weather, the higher I climbed, the thicker the clouds became and the visibility was almost non-existent. In the end, I only climbed to about 4820M before turning back. It felt easy, with little difficulty, but the real challenges lay ahead. No matter how good the photo, it can¡¯t capture the expanse of being there in person, the feelings that can¡¯t be moved without being there. Starting from 4000 meters, people¡¯s bodies began to slowly show signs of stress, whether it was insufficient blood oxygen, or bloating, lack of appetite, and a few began to have runny noses; thankfully there were no other particularly uncomfortable symptoms. There was both good news and bad news. The good was that Wang Yongbo¡¯s feeling of heart constriction had completely disappeared today (his blood oxygen continued to drop, and maybe C1 would be his endpoint), which eliminated one potential cause of altitude sickness. And Sir¡¯s physical reaction was better than I had imagined, quite impressive indeed. The bad news was Gelman¡­ smeared¡­ Bellman¡­ okay, to be honest, I admit I don¡¯t really remember that person¡¯s name. His only pair of climbing boots had split open. Probably because the descent from Nakashan was too steep today, he only noticed the split when he returned. Faced with almost 10 more days of travel, it was a looming concern. But our spare boots didn¡¯t fit him; his feet were at least one size larger than all of ours. Asians have two phalanges in the little toe, while Ugly Europeans have three, with two fewer bones per foot in total. Are Ugly European feet really generally bigger? Fortunately, we will part ways after reaching base camp. Rob helped him by applying strong adhesive tape and bandaging it, hoping he would be fine. I had no discomfort, with all my body¡¯s indicators being normal. The air was very fresh. Day Six: Dingboche 4410M ¨C Lobuche 4910M In the stone hut ruins surrounded by mountains, without the colorful flags, it had a slight Northern European vibe. In the memorial area for climbing heroes who rest eternally at the foot of Mount Everest, there were stone monuments everywhere. At 4 p.m. outdoors it was only 1 degree, from tonight onwards I will sleep wearing a down vest. Tomorrow we¡¯re reaching EBC, slightly behind schedule, leaving me maybe less than twenty days for my training pull. Day Seven: Lobuche 4910M ¨C Gorak Shep 5140M ¨C Everest Base Camp 5364M On April 28th, we reached base camp. ¡°Snap!¡± Bi Fang capped his pen and stuffed the notebook into his lining. Gazing at the distant peaks, Bi Fang took a deep breath, the icy air rushing into his lungs as he set foot on the snow line, leaving a deep footprint. Altitude, 5364 meters! Chapter 384: 382 Shattered Flags Chapter 384: Chapter 382 Shattered Flags Among the roadside rubble, tattered flags representing faith fluttered in the wind, firmly wedged between the stones, perhaps burying the dreams of some anonymous climber. Expanses of snowy mountains reflected the dazzling orange glow of the sun, causing a temporary blinding effect for everyone, even casting doubt on their own vision¡ªcould there really be such a majestic mountain range in this world? Seven days, a full seven days! It took the party a whole seven days to finally reach Everest Base Camp! They could have rested for an entire day in the small village below, but nobody could wait. From soil to rock, from black to white, from warmth to bitter cold, it was all for this moment. This moment! Whether viewed from an overhead plane, gazed at from a distance, or looked up to from the foot of the mountain, there were three completely different ways of interacting with Goddess Peak. Its beauty seemed boundless; even missing just by a millimeter presented an entirely different vista. The group stood on the edge of the snowline, gazing up at the sky. Just at the snowline, the biting wind was bone-chilling, each breath felt like inhaling shards of ice, making it hard to imagine how cold and piercing the summit, three thousand meters above in vertical height, must be¡ªthe ultimate height of the world, the third pole of Earth! ¡°Hey, stop keeping a diary, what kind of serious person writes a diary?¡± Crossing the snowline, Yao Jun teased Bi Fang for putting away his notebook and eagerly jogged onto level ground. When he saw the flag in front of him, he couldn¡¯t help but stop, shielding his eyes from the sunlight, squinting, and curiously asking, ¡°How long has it been planted here, looking so tattered like this?¡± Rob, the team guide, hurried up from behind, and whether he truly understood the Chinese or just caught the mention of the flag, he said breathlessly, ¡°Perhaps a few weeks, or maybe some months. I didn¡¯t see it when I was here last year; I wonder if the owner of the flag was successful.¡± ¡°A few weeks? A few months?¡± Yao Jun, who had studied abroad, understood Rob¡¯s words loud and clear. He was taken aback, even stepping back twice. Could a few weeks or months render a flag nearly torn into strips? ¡°The environment on Mount Everest is extremely harsh, especially on the south slope, which is known for heavy precipitation and oceanic monsoon climate characteristics. It¡¯s common for the weather to be unpredictable even within the span of a single day, let alone throughout the seasons. Especially from mid-November to mid-February, when controlled by strong northwest cold currents, temperatures can drop to -60¡æ, with average temperatures ranging between -40¡æ and -50¡æ. The maximum wind speed can reach 90 meters per second!¡± Gasp for breath, Wang Yongbo caught up from the back of the group, took a sharp inhale when he heard this data, as the frigid air squeezed out all the warmth from his lungs, bringing a few more moments of clarity to his brain, his voice even distorting a bit, ¡°Ninety meters per second?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Bi Fang confirmed, nodding firmly, his brows furrowed tightly together as if he had already conjured the terrifying scenario in his mind. Ninety meters per second!? What did that even mean? Wang Yongbo looked at Rob, noting the experienced guide¡¯s serious expression. Saito, with his perennially impassive face, seemed even more frozen than before, immutably so. Even Sir, accustomed to braving the stormiest seas, appeared somber, like facing an African Lion on the savannah. But what did it really mean? Wang Yongbo felt somewhat embarrassed, but seeing that no one seemed to take the initiative to explain and Bi Fang even started to move forward, he mustered the courage to ask awkwardly, ¡°Is this wind¡­ very strong?¡± Bi Fang¡¯s right foot, which he had just stepped out, subtly shifted as he coughed twice, then turned back to look at Wang Yongbo, his gaze filled with disbelief. You don¡¯t know? ¡°What the hell did you just inhale?¡± ¡°Was that deep breath just for dramatic effect?¡± Facing Bi Fang¡¯s lethal glare, Wang Yongbo felt so awkward he started picking at his foot, pointing at everyone and then at himself, ¡°We¡¯re over five thousand meters up here, isn¡¯t it perfectly normal for me to be out of breath¡­ You can¡¯t expect me to be like you monsters.¡± Indeed, everyone in the team had at least some basic hiking experience, even Jerret and his photographer who accompanied him had gold medals from the adventure channel¡ªhow could they not have hiked before? S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Wang Yongbo was the only exception; he was here purely for the experience. But Wang Yongbo did have a point; not everyone could adapt to altitudes over five thousand meters. At this height, many people dared not make sudden movements, even walking had to be done at a slower pace, or else the sense of oxygen deprivation would become very apparent. Wang Yongbo and Sir even occasionally used oxygen tanks. At this point, viewers in the live stream were losing it with laughter. ¨¦tienne, who was thousands of miles away, laughed so hard he dropped his phone, hitting himself in the corner of his mouth. His teeth clashing against his lips, he cried out in pain. [CEO Wang has me dying of laughter] [You laugh at his ignorance of wind force levels, he laughs at your lack of financial freedom] [To be fair, I don¡¯t quite get it either, but it sounds impressive that¡¯s for sure] [I¡¯ve been mountain climbing for so long, can¡¯t I catch my breath?] When Bi Fang turned his head to see the barrage of comments, he realized many viewers didn¡¯t understand either and knew he had failed to explain things clearly. Previously overwhelmed by the majesty of the peak, he had forgotten about this. Many viewers were just ordinary people who had no understanding of these detailed classifications. ¡°A wind speed of ninety meters per second is equivalent to twice that of a category 16 typhoon. Any wind above level 12, we call it a typhoon or hurricane due to its immense destructive power, which is rarely seen on land. Moreover, natural wind forces sometimes exceed level 12. For example, the wind strength in the eye of a severe typhoon, or inside a tornado, can be much greater than level 12¡ªit¡¯s just that winds above level 12 are rare and usually aren¡¯t specifically categorized. Level 16 corresponds to winds over 51 meters per second, which can uproot large trees and completely destroy brick houses.¡± ¡°Bear in mind, the largest acid rain cloud ever discovered on Venus spans over 7,500 kilometers and has existed there since 1983, but its wind speed is only around ninety meters per second.¡± With this comparison, it was much easier for everyone to understand. [Holy crap, that¡¯s terrifying!] [Is this one of the reasons planes can¡¯t fly over Mount Everest?] ¡°That¡¯s one reason, yes. If it was just about altitude, then even commercial airliners could reach it, as they typically fly above ten thousand meters, but they cannot land. Planes can only cruise at high altitudes. If they were to land, they would need to slow down, which means deploying flaps to increase lift. However, when the plane¡¯s speed is low at the altitude of Mount Everest, it¡¯s impossible to maneuver the flaps due to the plane¡¯s structure. That prevents the plane from slowing down, making it unable to land. Moreover, because of structural strength limitations, deploying the landing gear at high speeds would cause it to break off. And at low speeds, there isn¡¯t enough lift to keep the plane airborne. If you¡¯re thinking about parachuting, that¡¯s impossible too because the oxygen levels aren¡¯t sufficient, and due to pressure differences, the plane can¡¯t depressurize. At that altitude, anyone would die from lack of oxygen. And this applies to everyone, even those who have climbed Mount Everest because the rapid change in air pressure is too much to adapt to quickly. Plus, the weather conditions are extremely harsh, making it totally unsuitable for landing. Avalanches, valley winds¡ªwinds so strong you can¡¯t imagine. Strong enough to flip over the world¡¯s largest passenger jet, the A380. If all 6 billion people on Earth jumped at once, maybe a few unlucky souls would land on the summit¡­ and then freeze to death.¡± [What about helicopters then? What about them?] ¡°Helicopters won¡¯t work either. They rely on the rotation of their rotors to generate downward force in order to ascend. But above five thousand meters, the pressure is too low to provide enough force. Even if you increased the revolutions, with the current designs, it¡¯s still very hard to achieve it. Also, higher altitude airflows are complex, making it difficult for helicopters to control direction. They can easily collide with the mountain and crash. That¡¯s why summiting high mountains remains a badge of honor for the brave, a glory for a lifetime.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s hurry up and move on. Now that we¡¯ve reached the snowline, don¡¯t forget to put on your sunglasses to prevent snow blindness. I taught everyone how to do this back in Mohe. If you don¡¯t have any, you can also use strips of cloth or charcoal ash to cover your eyes,¡± said Bi Fang as he took off his sunglasses and continued to move forward. Soon, the group arrived at the base camp, and contrary to expectations, it was filled with tents and, to their dismay, littered with garbage in many corners! Colorful plastic bags and torn pieces of fabric looked especially unsightly against the background of the pristine Mount Everest! [Wow, there are really a lot of rich people here] [If I threw a brick backhanded into this, I¡¯d kill a millionaire on the spot] [Master Fang caught the brick with a backhanded grab and threw it back, Zhang San: ¡°This is self-defense!¡±] [Damn, why is there so much trash?] [Right? Throwing garbage on Mount Everest, do they have any sense of public morality?] Bi Fang looked at Edinburgh but found that the latter was not as emotional as he had imagined. Sir¡¯s expression was calm, as if he had already witnessed thousands of similar scenes: ¡°Since we, as creatures, came to this planet, we have cut down, dug out, burned, and poisoned other life forms. And today, we are committing the same atrocities on an unprecedented scale. A hundred years ago, the Earth had only 1.5 billion people. Now, our fragile planet is overwhelmed with over 6 billion people. Yet even so, there are still some places on Earth that are rarely touched by humans. With the commercialization of Everest, this scene was almost predictable.¡± The guide Rob, sensing the awkward atmosphere, quickly changed the subject and led the group straight into a large tent adorned with their company¡¯s logo. The group followed closely. Upon entering the sturdy tent, a warm stream of air instantly hit their frost-reddened faces, quickly melting and evaporating the ice crystals. ¡°Holy shit, this is too awesome.¡± Yao Jun was the first to enter, took a deep breath immediately, and compared to the piercing cold wind outside, he had the idea of just staying here and not going out again. Compared to the harsh environment outside, this place was simply heaven. ¡°Wait a moment, I¡¯ll take the others to find their guides.¡± After settling Bi Fang and the others, Rob immediately left with Wessels and others to find their actual guides. Bi Fang, meanwhile, wandered around to inspect the inside of the tent, which was really impressive. The biomass pellet stove provided a continuous supply of heat, keeping the whole tent toasty warm, and there were fluffy blankets that even looked brand new. In the corner, there was quite an assortment of instant foods, as well as fresh ones like potatoes and tomatoes, and even an oxygen generator. One could say you get what you pay for; 65,000 Ugly Knives was indeed expensive, but the guarantee was solid. The group, after climbing the mountain all day, lay down on the blankets, feeling so comfortable they thought they might die. Taking advantage of Rob¡¯s absence, the group took the chance to rest. About half an hour later, Rob returned, having successfully seen off Wessels and the others, and he began to organize everyone for a chat, talking about their personal journeys and the like. This was what¡¯s called psychological guidance, something almost every qualified guide did. The goal was to counsel everyone so they could face Everest with a peaceful mind. If below the base camp there could still be some merriment, beyond it was a completely different world¡ªrugged paths, cold climate, howling winds, and glaciers hidden under the snow layer¡ªall of which were potentially fatal. Bi Fang lifted the curtain to check the sky and saw that there was still some time until sunset, so he took the opportunity to suggest going out to have a look. Everyone naturally agreed, and Rob, checking the time, also agreed happily. ¡°I remember there is a pass above the base camp, not far away and only less than a hundred meters high. We should be able to reach the pass before it gets dark and then come back.¡± With that, everyone immediately became excited. ¡°A pass is a common feature on the plateau, generally a conspicuous saddle-shaped depression on a mountain ridge, often serving as a passageway through high ridges. It is very suitable as a platform to look out from on a mountain.¡± With a destination in mind, Bi Fang and the others immediately set off, leaving only Wang Yongbo, who was huffing and puffing, and Sir, who was too tired, inside the tent. As they left the tent and moved away from the base camp, Bi Fang had a discovery and immediately stopped everyone. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s a Tibetan Snowcock!¡± Tibetan Snowcock? Rob and the others were taken aback, and when they looked towards the direction Bi Fang was pointing, they saw nothing. It wasn¡¯t until they stared for several minutes that they could make out some small creatures moving among the rocks. The photographer adjusted the camera and aimed at the Tibetan snowcock. Rob was shocked on the spot, his gaze uncontrollably shifting towards Bi Fang. How on Earth did this guy spot it? Moreover, ever since they passed four thousand meters, Rob had been seriously watching the livestreamer he thought was silly. Yet everything he observed was shocking. With no experience in climbing, yet showing no signs of altitude sickness even above five thousand meters at the base camp. Lacking mountaineering background, yet he had a grasp of climbing knowledge as if it were instinct. How is that possible? Had this guy hidden some kind of record? Is this motherfucker really a livestreamer? ¡°Tibetan snowcock? Where¡¯s the chicken? Can you eat it?¡± Yao Jun perked up upon hearing about a chicken. The road food had all been fried noodles, fried rice, noodle soup, and steamed buns. Initially, he was excited about these meals and would take photos to remember. But later, the very mention of food made him nauseous. ¡°Eat your head,¡± Bi Fang rolled his eyes, truly speechless, ¡°Even though they¡¯re not endangered globally, they are a Class II protected species in our country. If you eat one in front of me, where would I put my face?¡± Yao Jun sneered upon learning it was a protected animal, ¡°But this is Nepal, isn¡¯t it?¡± The corner of Bi Fang¡¯s mouth twitched, as he realized the logic was sound, leaving him momentarily at a loss for words. Then he changed tack, ¡°Even if you caught it, you couldn¡¯t eat it. Here above five thousand meters, you simply can¡¯t boil anything. You wouldn¡¯t be able to eat it.¡± ¡°We could roast it. Wasn¡¯t there a roast oven in the tent just now?¡± Yao Jun said matter-of-factly. Bi Fang: ¡°¡­¡± [Damn, it¡¯s rare to see Old Fang lose face] [666, no wonder he¡¯s the top-ranked bro, made Master Fang lose face just by opening his mouth] [It¡¯s time to call Sir Edinburgh!!] [Sir, you¡¯ve been chosen, replace Master Fang!] [Are there still animals above five thousand meters?] ¡°Hey hey hey, how can you forget your old love as soon as you find a new one?¡± Bi Fang said with an incredulous spread of his hands before pointing at the Tibetan snowcock hiding in the rocks not far away, ¡°Tibetan snowcocks typically dwell between the tree line and the snow line at altitudes ranging from 3,000 to about 6,000 meters. They live in alpine shrublands, tundras, and rock grounds. Perfectly matching our location, they often forage near the snow line, prefer to congregate and are usually found in small groups of three to five individuals.¡± The audience¡¯s attention was immediately drawn, and they counted the moving pebbles, finding exactly five, just as Master Fang had described. Awesome! ¡°The Tibetan snowcock is similar in size to domestic chickens and has grey and white mottled feathers. The wings are mostly dark grey while the abdomen is predominantly white. This coloration helps them blend into the ground when they lay down, making them less noticeable to predators. This is their way of surviving. Moreover, Tibetan snowcocks from different regions hatch in different durations. According to ¡°Chinese Ornithology,¡± it takes 27 days in Tibet, 26 days in Xinjiang, and 19-22 days in Gansu.¡± ¡°You might think they¡¯re just chickens, but these animals¡­¡± Just as Bi Fang crouched down, ready to inch closer and explain, a piercing scream interrupted him. ¡°Help!!¡± Chapter 385: 383: A Ruthless Person Comparable to Bi Fang! Chapter 385: Chapter 383: A Ruthless Person Comparable to Bi Fang! Bi Fang suddenly rose to his feet, his slightly reddened ears twitching lightly as he strained to catch any sound from around him, yet all that remained was the howling of the cold wind. He looked at the bewildered faces of the crowd and asked with some doubt, S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Did you¡­ hear anything?¡± Yao Jun, shivering with cold, dug at his ears and said indifferently, ¡°Nope, the wind is too loud, are you hallucinating? It¡¯s so cold, how nice would it be to have a bowl of hot chicken soup right now, hehehe.¡± Bi Fang was somewhat speechless. Was this guy really so obsessed with Tibetan Snowcock? These people before him were of no help¡ªBi Fang could only hope that the viewers had heard it. For some reason, he felt as if he had indeed heard a human cry. Unfortunately, the viewers were also confused and hadn¡¯t heard any calling out. [Master Fang, are you hallucinating?] [With the wind this strong, how could there be any sound?] [Could it be a chicken crowing?] [The sound of the wind is too similar to a roar, right? You must have heard it wrong.] ¡°Was I really mistaken?¡± Bi Fang began to doubt himself, wondering if the wind was too loud, causing him to mishear. ¡°Are we still going to the pass?¡± Rob looked at the sky again and realized there might not be enough time. The appearance of the Tibetan Snowcock had caused some delay, and it was becoming tense to move now; as soon as it got dark, the journey would become extremely dangerous, and no one would climb Mount Everest at night. Bi Fang hesitated for a moment but still nodded. Yet, just as he was about to move forward, a faint cry for help pierced through the cold wind once more, immediately halting everyone. ¡°No, there really seems to be someone shouting!¡± ¡°What sound, are you trying to scare me?¡± Yao Jun, who was fantasizing about chicken soup, looked around, hearing nothing unusual. ¡°Listen, the shouting,¡± Bi Fang whispered intently, ¡°it sounds like someone is calling for help!¡± The flag suddenly flapped loudly as a gust of cold wind blew directly into their faces. As the skies grew darker, the wind became fiercer and changed direction; the west wind since dusk had turned into a north wind, cutting against their skins sharply like a cold knife. Bi Fang, watching the flags waving around intensely at the base camp as if they could be torn apart any moment, was highly alert. Seeing Bi Fang¡¯s seriousness, the others fell silent and listened intently. Soon, among the raging wind, they seemed to really distinguish a special sound¡ªone time, then another, until it seemed like a desperate shout, and suddenly the sound of the flapping flags changed. ¡°Help!! HELP!!¡± Wori, it really was a cry for help, and holy shit, it was a bilingual plea! Bi Fang abruptly looked up; he finally heard it clearly¡ªit was indeed a cry for help. ¡°Damn, what¡¯s going on? Is someone in trouble?¡± Yao Jun, startled, quickly scattered the thoughts of chicken soup from his mind and looked around hurriedly, realizing none of their own were missing except for Wang Yongbo and Sir, who were inside the tent, and he breathed a sigh of relief. But his heart tensed up again quickly. It wasn¡¯t one of their own, but someone else was in trouble! However, with the wind howling, no one could make out from which direction the sound was coming, so they all just held their breath and focused; but how could they hold their breath at an altitude close to six thousand meters? ¡°Oxygen tanks, quickly bring the oxygen tanks!¡± Rob immediately ordered the Sherpa porters to bring out the oxygen tanks and then handed them over to everyone. But when it was Bi Fang¡¯s turn, he refused. Without worrying about it anymore, everyone picked up their oxygen tanks, raised them in unison, then took a deep breath, holding their breath and concentrating. The sound of the wind, the sound of heartbeats. Only two figures remained between heaven and earth. Bi Fang¡¯s heart was pounding, and just when everyone was about to give up, he suddenly looked up. ¡°Up there! Very close!¡± Everyone followed the direction of Bi Fang¡¯s pointing fingers, looking up, but they only saw a cliff that towered more than a dozen meters high! ¡°It¡¯s over, how do we get up there?¡± Jerret looked at the high wall, then turned his head to Rob, ¡°Guide Rob, how do we get up there? Is there a path nearby?¡± Rob¡¯s expression stalled, and he stared blankly at the cliff, his voice bitter, ¡°Yes, but you can only go up from the steep slope, and then come down from another platform, at least five hundred meters! And it¡¯s very difficult to navigate, with a lot of columns and sheer cliffs!¡± Running a few steps left you gasping for air, even a feeling of dizziness at this altitude; five hundred meters here was equivalent to fifteen hundred meters on flat ground, and it was a challenging fifteen hundred meters at that. By the time they caught up, the person would have long been dead! Hearing this, Bi Fang immediately dropped his backpack, took off his gloves, and started free solo rock climbing. By the time the rest had realized what was happening, Bi Fang had already reached three meters above their heads! Rob: ¡°!¡± While he was still in shock, Bi Fang had climbed another two meters. At a height of five meters, it was starting to make people feel fearful. [Damn, that familiar scent] [No way, there¡¯s already an accident just after reaching base camp?] [Mount Everest is both a milestone and a tombstone, haven¡¯t you heard?] [Death rate of four percent¡­ There were definitely more than a hundred at base camp just now¡­ Is someone destined to die? Terrifying¡­] [Damn, now that you mention it, it¡¯s really scary] [Someone has to die, why couldn¡¯t it be me?] [People hardly manage to walk around here, and Old Fang can still climb¡­ Really awesome¡­] Not buying into superstitious fears, Rob pulled out a portable thermometer. Outdoor temperature, minus eight degrees. Broken? Impossible, this was a specially made outdoor thermometer, accurate even at minus sixty degrees. It must be the world that has a problem. Rob thought, looking at Bi Fang who had climbed to ten meters. This motherfucker is a rookie? This motherfucker! Is a rookie! ¡°Let¡¯s go, we need to get up there quickly.¡± Rob bit his teeth as he looked at Bi Fang above, giving orders to the Sherpa porters to come with him, and then said to Yao Jun and the others, ¡°You guys wait here, don¡¯t go back to the camp directly, wait for us to return.¡± The cold mountain wind blew, making Bi Fang¡¯s fingers stiff with cold, but there was no way around it; his gloves were for warmth, and he couldn¡¯t perform vertical rock climbing with them on. Fortunately, the distance of more than ten meters wasn¡¯t too high, and although Bi Fang experienced some breathing difficulties and dizziness after successfully climbing up, these symptoms quickly subsided after a few breaths. This was also the first time Bi Fang felt dizzy while mountain climbing, which showed the dangers of Mount Everest! Once on the platform, the cries for help became much clearer. Bi Fang, who had come up, looked at the even steeper ice wall and quickly located the source of the voice. Not far to his right, a climber was lying on the slope with loose rocks sliding down below, but there was no platform beneath, only an abyss. A slip would mean certain death! Stones kept rolling down from beneath the climber, then plummeting into the abyss, not even an echo to be heard. The climber dared not move, but there were too many loose rocks beneath him, and he would soon slide down along with them. He even feared to call for help too loudly, for if his voice was too loud, it could cause vibrations to intensify, and he might even slide down immediately. If it weren¡¯t for Bi Fang and his team being right below him, it would have been impossible to hear him! The viewers watching the scene were stunned; it was like a slow death! [Damn, this is terrifying!] [Fuck, I¡¯m sweating in my palms.] [How did this happen? Doesn¡¯t he have teammates?] [Did he slide all the way down from above?] [If it were me there, I wouldn¡¯t even dare to shout, I¡¯d just pee my pants!] ¡°HELP!! HELP!! Save me, save me!¡± The climber¡¯s voice was urgent. Any significant vibration could be fatal at this point, and he didn¡¯t even dare to breathe too forcefully. But how was this possible? The fierce beating of his heart caused his oxygen consumption to skyrocket, and the thin air seemed like a death warrant. The climber, not daring to breathe heavily, had a whitened gaze and a strong sensation of dizziness overwhelmed him. He even began to have hallucinations, and, momentarily losing his alertness, he instinctively took a deep breath. Instantly, the loose rocks beneath him tumbled again, and his body descended a full twenty centimeters! ¡°Save me, is there anyone?¡± The cold was making the climber¡¯s body progressively chill. He didn¡¯t dare open his eyes but could feel the dwindling light. Nobody would climb Mount Everest at night, and once darkness fell, his chance for rescue would be utterly lost. The dual pressures of body and mind nearly caused him to break down; to have held on until now was a testament to his exceptional mental strength. [Fuck, he can even speak Chinese, is he one of us?] [No matter the bilingual cries for help, this is too incredible] [How on earth did he manage this, it¡¯s really crayfish-level] The audience in the live stream was frightened by this seemingly inescapable situation, and Bi Fang quickly tried to comfort the other party. ¡°Hey, are you Huaxia? Are you okay?¡± Just then, a voice unexpectedly broke through the darkness and reached the climber¡¯s ears, like the dawn piercing the night. The climber even thought he was hallucinating due to the cold, but when the voice came once more, he finally realized that someone had come! Someone had come, really someone had come! A glimmer of hope ignited in the anxious heart of the climber. Yet the voice came from behind his head, and when he tried to turn around, he was immediately stopped. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t move, don¡¯t move at all!¡± Bi Fang stopped the other¡¯s movement, knowing from the way he was moving his neck what the climber was about to do, but at this moment, it was advised not even to breathe, let alone turn his head. It seemed that the other party realized the inappropriateness of his actions and stopped immediately. Good, good. It¡¯s good that he can follow instructions. Bi Fang sighed with relief in his heart. He looked down at his feet to find a more secure place to stand, but the ledge wasn¡¯t big, and beside it was a slick, sloping ice wall embellished with a few protruding rocks¡ªthough, without exception, all were far from the victim. The one under his feet was the closest, yet it still was at least two meters away. ¡°What are you doing?¡± The other¡¯s voice was hoarse and distorted. ¡°I am trying to find a way. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t leave, you can be at ease,¡± Bi Fang immediately reassured the other, aware that at times like these, both emotions and mental strength were extremely fragile. His presence had undoubtedly brought a ray of hope to the other. If he were to show indifference, it would undoubtedly cause complete despair. ¡°Are you a guide? Or Sherpa?¡± Bi Fang was taken aback, not expecting such a question from the other. Was this an attempt at casual conversation to distract and prevent psychological pressure from becoming too great? But if that were so, shouldn¡¯t he be the one talking like this? Although he didn¡¯t understand the other person¡¯s intent, Bi Fang responded, ¡°None of those. I¡¯m just a climber.¡± Just as Bi Fang was about to perform a rescue, the next sentence from the victim not only stunned the audience but even Bi Fang himself was left wide-eyed and speechless. ¡°Have you received professional rescue training? If not, call your guide over quickly, or you might make things worse!¡± Upon hearing this, Bi Fang froze on the spot, and the audience went completely wild. [??? What kind of sorcery is this, so ruthless?] [First time seeing someone like this, damn impressive,,, to remain so composed in such a situation..] [Amazing, truly amazing; I¡¯ve only seen such a person last time I saw¡­] [Idiot, it¡¯s Master Fang, for heaven¡¯s sake! Only Master Fang could remain calm in this situation as far as I have ever seen.] A tough character! This thought flashed through Bi Fang¡¯s mind. To be so rational at such a time! To a large extent, the other party was right to refuse Bi Fang¡¯s rescue. In such circumstances, blindly accepting help from a stranger could indeed make things worse, just like someone who has never been trained in First Aid attempting CPR! But this was a good thing, as the victim couldn¡¯t see him, and all rescue operations had to be directed by Bi Fang. The calmer the other party was, the easier it would be to carry out the rescue. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve been trained. Just listen to me, you¡¯re lying on a scree slope now. The most important thing is to stop sliding down. In a moment, I¡¯ll pass you my climbing pole. Stretch out your left hand and see if you can reach it.¡± Hearing Bi Fang¡¯s words, the other party relaxed considerably, leaning quietly against the ice wall, no longer speaking. They conserved all possible energy as the severe cold and vigorous heartbeat had already begun to drain their strength.. Bi Fang stepped to the edge of the platform, extending the climbing pole as far as possible, while instructing the other¡¯s left hand to slowly lift and stretch out. Unfortunately, no matter how much they stretched, they were always less than thirty centimeters apart and couldn¡¯t reach each other. Bi Fang looked up, and unlike the rock wall beneath his feet, above was an ice wall. Even if he could use an ice axe to ascend, the other person wouldn¡¯t be able to hold on in time, so he had no choice but to try a different method. ¡°How are you feeling now? Do you still have the strength?¡± ¡°Not good. I¡¯m having a lot of difficulty breathing, and I feel very dizzy. It¡¯s probably altitude sickness; I¡¯m severely lacking in strength.¡± Lack of strength, now that was a big problem. The viewers outside the screen were anxious, but none had a good solution. In just a few short minutes, the victim had slid down nearly half a meter, and of everyone present, only Bi Fang was the most professional. As for the guide Rob, he was still on his way on horseback. After a moment of thought, Bi Fang immediately put down his backpack, unzipped it, and pulled out a section of Dyneema rope: ¡°Don¡¯t panic, I¡¯ll try another way. I have a section of Dyneema rope here. In a moment, I¡¯ll make a slipping noose and toss the other end over to you. Just lift your left hand a little, not too high. I¡¯ll try to loop the rope over your left hand and then pull you up!¡± The other party didn¡¯t speak but made an OK gesture on the ice wall, clearly approving the plan. With a plan in place, Bi Fang quickly found the end of the rope, folded it, then wrapped the slightly shorter end around three times and threaded the end through the loop he had reserved behind his hand, completing a noose. This was a slipping noose; tightening the other end of the rope would automatically secure the knot, and the more one struggled, the tighter it would get, which was perfect for someone who was out of strength. ¡°All right, lift your hand.¡± The person bent their arm, lifting their left hand. If it were a matter of lassoing cattle, the accuracy would naturally be low, but at this distance of less than three meters, looping a hand was as easy as pie. Bi Fang easily looped the noose over the person¡¯s hand and tightened the rope! There was hope! Chapter 386: 384 Chapter 386: 384 On the edge of the cliff, Bi Fang¡¯s arms rotated and wrapped around the rope, squatting low to lower his center of gravity, focusing all his attention on the other person. ¡°During a normal rescue, you can wrap the rope around appropriately to prevent slipping, but don¡¯t wrap it too tightly, or both people might end up in danger. I used a tightening noose to secure the other person, which is a very practical rope, similar to the lasso you often see in movies and TV shows.¡± ¡°OK, can you raise your left hand a little higher, then bend your elbow and try to grab the rock beside you? There is a protruding rock a bit to the left below your left foot, about ten centimeters away. Your half-foot can probably step on it¡ªcan you try to step on it?¡± Bi Fang observed the environment around the other person, instructing them to act as per his guidance. If there was a support point, the noose could be tightened even more. After hearing Bi Fang¡¯s words, the other person slowed his breathing, then braced his right hand against the icy wall to provide some friction and gently pushed. The rolling stones beneath suddenly moved, and the climber slid straight down! The audience let out a gasp, the life-and-death speed of the rescue causing their adrenaline to surge, and even the people like Yao Jun below the rock face were panicked to death. Although they couldn¡¯t see the actual situation due to line of sight issues, they could watch the live broadcast, couldn¡¯t they? Even base camp had a WiFi signal! Fortunately, in the final moment, the person managed to step on the rock! [My god, that was freaking intense.] [Not saying anymore, I¡¯ve got to pee so bad, heading to the wall to the bathroom.] [I¡¯m already peeing in splits.] The setting sun gradually dipped below the horizon, casting shadows on the icy wall, with orange and black intertwining into darkness. Bi Fang wiped the fine sweat from his forehead. Such a rescue took a huge toll on him, especially at high altitude, where the energy depletion and heartbeats almost made him lose his breathing rhythm. Luckily, the person found the rock as a leverage point. The mission would be much easier now. Bi Fang tugged the rope, and the noose that initially encircled the person¡¯s left arm quickly tightened, visibly constricting the jacket, but this slight movement once again caused the gravel to slide. However, the person did not slide any further, thanks to the half-protruding rock beneath his feet. As Bi Fang tightened the rope, he reminded the person again, ¡°OK, OK, relax. Take a deep breath, don¡¯t be scared, I¡¯ve got you now! It¡¯s secure. In a moment, I¡¯ll pull you toward me. If possible, try to kick in my direction. Can you do that? It¡¯s okay if you can¡¯t, but it would be better if you can.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m starting to pull!¡± Bi Fang quickly caught his breath three times, then took one last deep breath, pressing down the air, and with a strong pull with both hands, a surge of tremendous force came from the left arm of the climber. With no resistance, following that force, the climber forcefully kicked with his left foot. Unexpectedly, the kick did not give the climber sufficient reactive force, but instead, he stepped into the abyss! The whole rock came loose from the icy wall and fell into the cliff. The climber who missed his step plummeted quickly, but the next second, a massive pulling force halted his fall abruptly. ¡°Damn, so heavy!¡± Bi Fang clenched his teeth tightly, holding onto the rope for dear life. The rope on the other end was being tugged fiercely, tightening again and firmly encircling the climber¡¯s arm. The climber dangling in mid-air was still in shock, quickly pressing against the wall upon realizing he had been caught, providing the last bit of support he could. Fortunately, they were already close enough to each other. Bi Fang only needed to pull him up two meters, and the person would be able to reach the platform where Bi Fang stood. The other person grabbed the platform, and with the combined effort of both, they finally succeeded in escaping the dangerous situation. [Fuck, finally pulled them up; it was so nerve-racking I nearly pissed myself] [The late emperor didn¡¯t get halfway through the live broadcast before pissing himself] [] The climber lay on the ground, while Bi Fang also sat down on a rock, took out his thermos, and took a big gulp of water, relieving his body¡¯s discomfort. Gazing at the drone in front of him, he felt somewhat dizzy. ¡°My god, I haven¡¯t adapted well to the high altitude yet. Suddenly engaging in such intense exercise made me feel a bit light-headed and dizzy, buddy, you¡¯re way too heavy.¡± The other person seemed not yet to have recovered from the fright, with copious sweat breaking out from his forehead and down his nose, which then quickly froze in the cold wind. Without a response from the other climber, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t annoyed; he understood the situation well and silently took another sip of water, ¡°Many times, when people face danger, they might not be too scared due to the effects of adrenaline, but afterwards they often break out in cold sweats and may even fall severely ill because of it.¡± Not until the sky had completely darkened, plunging Mount Everest into darkness, did the man struggle to his feet. At the same time, Rob and the others finally arrived. ¡°How is it, all good?¡± ¡°All good.¡± Bi Fang shook his head. Although the others had arrived a little late, they had indeed tried their best. Had they been staying here for a day already, going through the initial adaptation, perhaps Rob could have climbed straight up from the rock face as well, but regrettably, he had not. If he had rashly attempted to climb, it was very likely he would have failed to rescue and ended up trapped instead. On Mount Everest, death is a common sight, and very few people would risk their lives to save others. In other words, everyone who comes here is mentally prepared for such an outcome. Rob looked up at the icy wall nearby, the rocks perched on the ice slope were frightening; a strong wind might send them sliding down. He then looked down at the climber still panting, and with his experience, he quickly grasped what had happened. Climbing slopes is feared for its steepness, descending slopes for its slipperiness, and this time the other person encountered the fear of slipping downhill. This kind of situation is very common on Mount Everest. Above the ice wall is usually a large icy slope with beautiful scenery that attracts many visitors to take pictures. While walking and snapping photos, it¡¯s easy to slip. Rob himself had led teams where climbers had slipped twice. Some slipped due to inattention while taking photos, while others fell due to wearing cheap crampons with front spikes only, causing instability when their heels touched the ground first. The other person must have been no exception. Indeed, once the other person had regained his composure and thanked everyone before introducing himself, everything became clear. The man¡¯s name was Ze Long, and he had lived in Tibet for many years, already blending into the local life. Moreover, this guy had arrived in Lhasa back when the train service just started in 2006, living out what people refer to as a poetic and distant life. His days in Lhasa were extraordinarily leisurely, waking up near noon, basking in the sun, sipping sweet tea, running a guesthouse with only seven rooms, making the days pass by, with half the year working and the other half spent playing. During this time, Ze Long tried various outdoor activities like self-driving tours and cycling, but these activities were relatively easy for him, and over time, he found himself in the same rut as office workers: life seemed to have an end in sight. By chance, Ze Long participated in a mountain climbing activity through a friend¡¯s introduction, summiting the 6,206-meter-tall Qizi Peak. Standing at the summit, Ze Long finally understood what was missing from his life. A state of passionate fervor, that moment of feeling one¡¯s heart beat, the surge of life, and the realization that one is still alive while standing on the mountain top. These things can only be obtained through mountain climbing, to challenge, to break through, and to enjoy the exhilarating status above the snow line. So this leisurely innkeeper trained desperately to enhance his stamina and physical condition, to learn and accumulate knowledge on the mountains, and methods to handle problems. Ze Long sold his inn, spent all his savings, which was over two hundred thousand, and embarked on the journey to summit Mount Everest. And then he just blew it. Everyone: ¡°¡­¡± [Wori, selling a house to climb Mount Everest¡­ I actually find it kind of inspirational?] [Got it, gonna go sell my house!] [Eh, dreams are for those who don¡¯t have to worry about making a living, but I still have a child in elementary school to raise¡­ Watching Master Fang¡¯s live broadcast is the biggest happiness I have every day.] S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Me too, I even ran into Master Fang at the station last time!] [Seriously? For real, you can run into Master Fang?] [What¡¯s so strange about that? I¡¯ve driven Master Fang before and even got an autograph!] [Earning three thousand a month, just stop thinking about what¡¯s at the end of the universe.] [But this dude is really fierce, saying sell the house and selling it, nearly falling off a cliff and still asking if Old Fang is a professional, amazing, were you born with such big nerves?] Ze Long¡¯s experience resonated with many, and Bi Fang suddenly asked, ¡°What about your guide and teammates? Where are they? Didn¡¯t they come to rescue you?¡± Ze Long scratched his head awkwardly, ¡°I was following the guide, but it got too late, and we were just preparing to retreat back to base camp. Then just as we reached the col, and with the sunset, I wanted to take a couple of pictures. Thinking the camp was only a few hundred meters away, I let them go ahead. When I was taking pictures, my climbing pole accidentally fell down the slope. It was only a little over a meter away from me, and then¡­ well, things turned out the way you all saw¡­¡± As expected, Rob wasn¡¯t surprised anymore. This was why Rob never dared to let the team members act alone, even if they could see the camp and it was only a matter of tens of meters. That¡¯s why he had just asked Yao Jun and the others to stand still instead of going back to the camp to wait for them. You could never predict how daring these mountaineering novices could be, daring to pick up things on the rocky layers. Bi Fang waved his hand, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s head back, it¡¯s already dark.¡± ¡°I¡¯m really sorry for the trouble,¡± Ze Long said, scratching his head embarrassedly. Guide Rob stood up, looking at the pitch-black environment with trepidation. They had already taken a long detour to descend from above. How were they going to get back now? ¡°It¡¯s simple, just keep descending from here,¡± Bi Fang said. Bi Fang pointed at the remaining rock face. He had climbed up here, so naturally, he would have to descend the same way. Rob went to the edge of the rock face and turned on his flashlight to look down. The distance of more than ten meters made him involuntarily step back. How the hell do you get down from here? ¡°No big deal, I brought a rappelling rope with me.¡± Bi Fang picked up the length of rope from the ground. Under the light, the rope was dazzling white. He untied the tight loop and explained, ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by the small volume of this piece of rope; it¡¯s actually fifty meters long.¡± What? Fifty meters? The audience watched the white rope that could be grasped with one hand, wondering if it truly spanned fifty meters. [It should be, the rope looks so thin.] [Isn¡¯t the rope too thin? It can sustain a person¡¯s weight and it¡¯s that slim, is it made of nylon?] ¡°It¡¯s not nylon, it¡¯s made of Dyneema fibers, also known as Dyneema, or UHMWPE, which stands for ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene and is the strongest material that humans can currently synthesize. With a fiber thickness of one-thousandth of an inch, it has a significant strength-to-weight ratio, making it the toughest fiber in the world. Dyneema fibers have a pulling strength 15 times that of steel of the same weight. They are also cut-resistant, shear-resistant, and even processing them requires lasers; you can essentially consider it a steel cable. It¡¯s the preferred choice for outdoor sports.¡± Bi Fang re-tied a knot and then looked around the platform, successfully finding a stone pillar, which was good as it spared him having to drill. ¡°Dyneema fibers have an extremely long molecular chain that effectively allows the load to be transferred to the polymer backbone. This physical property gives Dyneema fibers a higher pull strength than other fibers of the same weight, and a lighter weight for the same pull strength. Given the same weight, Dyneema fibers have a pull force 15 times that of steel. Besides, they¡¯re cut-resistant, shear-resistant, and usually require lasers for processing; it can totally be considered a section of steel cable. It is the go-to for outdoor activities.¡± After securing the knot around the stone pillar, Bi Fang stepped on it to make sure it was sturdy. ¡°Does everyone know how to rappel?¡± Everyone, including Ze Long and Rob, nodded their heads. They were all mountaineers, and not knowing how to rappel would be embarrassing to admit. Once he confirmed that the stone pillar was secure, Bi Fang wrapped the rope around his waist, handed one end to Rob and the others, and then went to the edge of the rock face: ¡°Even if you are sure that the stone pillar is very stable, do not rappel rashly. It¡¯s better to set up double or even triple safeguards. Then get to the edge, lean back gradually, apply your weight, and when you¡¯re fully tilted and still secure, you can begin your slide. At this moment, it¡¯s best to wear gloves; otherwise, it¡¯s easy to get friction burns.¡± After completing the tilt test and ensuring safety, Bi Fang began to slide down gradually. Descending was far easier than rock climbing. With just a few breaths, he covered the distance of more than ten meters. After him came Ze Long, Rob, and the Sherpa porters. Only once everyone had descended did the rescue mission come to a complete end. ¡°Damn, that was way too risky, brother, you¡¯re hardcore.¡± Yao Jun watched as Bi Fang gathered the rope, still shaken. In the live broadcast, the scene of sliding to the edge of a cliff, unable to make the slightest move, while slowly descending was absolutely despair-inducing. Ze Long felt awkward about the praise and bowed again to apologize, ¡°I¡¯ve caused you all so much trouble.¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. We¡¯re all compatriots; it¡¯s normal to lend a hand in times of distress. But next time, you¡¯d better not leave the group on your own again. If I hadn¡¯t heard you, you would have been completely done for, you know that?¡± ¡°I would never leave the group again, I¡¯d rather die than not stick to the guide!¡± Bi Fang smiled, then led Ze Long back to the camp. After expressing his gratitude once more, Ze Long left the group to find his own tent. Back in his tent, Bi Fang immediately went to the stove to warm his hands, while Wang Yongbo and the others started preparing dinner, oblivious to what had happened. Bi Fang picked up a bowl of unidentifiable food and crammed it into his mouth, the sticky texture almost making him spit it out. ¡°What the heck is this?¡± ¡°Egg noodles.¡± Wang Yongbo handed him a pair of chopsticks without any expression. At their altitude, boiling water barely reached just over eighty degrees Celsius, so it was impossible to cook anything properly. Chapter 387: 385: Heaven Chapter 387: Chapter 385: Heaven ¡°Can this really be eaten?¡± Yao Jun held the plastic basin, looking at the gluey food inside, and felt his stomach churn, entirely without appetite. Bi Fang scooped up a spoonful to taste. The flavor was bland, and because of the boiling point issue, even after cooking for a long time, the noodles were still somewhat hard. Combined with the mushy vegetables, it was like eating undercooked instant noodles mixed with marshmallows¡ªa truly difficult swallow. [Why does it look like pig slop? (dog¡¯s head)] [Ah, can¡¯t we eat something better?] [Eat grilled Tibetan Snowcock!] [Say chicken not bar, let¡¯s all be civilized] Rob also sat down with his bowl of food after a day of hard work, without such particular tastes. He slurped down a good half of it in no time, and afterward said, ¡°Every two days, the Sherpa people bring up fresh bread and vegetables. It¡¯s all provided by our company, guaranteed healthy and nutritious, and what¡¯s more, it¡¯s free. There are also people selling food, but believe me, it¡¯s not much better, and it¡¯s more expensive.¡± The supplies here were all transported over long distances, so whether it¡¯s a pancake or an egg, prices are incredibly steep, even ten times higher isn¡¯t surprising. And even so, they¡¯re still scarce. Feeling a sense of bliss over a bowl of plain porridge is not uncommon. Yao Jun sighed, knowing he couldn¡¯t ask for much and lifted his bowl to drink it all in one go. After finishing, he smacked his lips and looked at the Sherpa people next to him, ¡°Did you put salt in this? It tastes so bland to me?¡± The Sherpa was puzzled, dipped his pinkie in the dish to taste, and then nodded confidently. ¡°That¡¯s odd, I can¡¯t taste any saltiness at all,¡± Yao Jun said, scratching his head. ¡°That¡¯s because high altitudes dull your taste buds,¡± said Bi Fang as he drank a bowl of the gluey food, which also tasted bland, as if it had no oil, which was quite disappointing. However, to replenish energy, he had to eat it all, ¡°At low pressure, the blood supply changes, and the sensitivity of the brain¡¯s nerves alters too. Once the brain¡¯s nerves that perceive taste change, the sensation of flavor will be different from what it is in normal conditions. It¡¯s about thirty percent blander. Sherpa people live here all the time, and are accustomed to it. Since we¡¯ve just arrived, naturally, we¡¯re not used to it.¡± ¡°In addition to that, there¡¯s also the reason of smell, but in our perception of flavor, smell accounts for up to 80%. Smell cells only work well in a moist environment. Now we¡¯re around the stove, it¡¯s warm, but dryness is inevitable. Combine the two, and naturally, the flavor gets even blander,¡± he continued. It is generally accepted in the scientific community that there are only sour, sweet, bitter, salty, savory, and the sixth taste, ¡®fatty¡¯, which Purdue University of Ugly Country scientists confirmed 15 years ago. These taste molecules are captured by the tongue, which then relays the information to the brain, ¡°telling¡± the tongue what flavor the ingested item has. Smell also plays a crucial role in capturing flavors, but now both the brain and nose have dulled quite a bit, so naturally, you can¡¯t really expect a strong taste. It¡¯s also why airline meals generally taste poor. ¡°So things get worse the higher we go?¡± Yao Jun was shocked. Bi Fang shrugged, ¡°Did you really think you came here on vacation? Having food at all is already good. Higher up, you can¡¯t even get supplies.¡± Yao Jun felt a bit suffocated ¡ª his mouth was so bland, it could bore a bird. Disappointed, he waved his hand, ¡°Ah, I¡¯m feeling a bit hypoxic again, I¡¯ll rest. According to Rob, we have training tomorrow.¡± Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Everyone exchanged smiles, sped up their meal, and then spread out their sleeping bags next to the stove and crawled in. Bi Fang was the last one, bidding goodnight to the audience. Just as he was about to sleep, he saw many viewers calling for him, prompting him to lift himself up once again after lying down halfway. [Old Fang, does this stove never go out?] [Yeah, is there no crack in your tent? Won¡¯t you get poisoned?] [How could Old Fang also stumble?] ¡°Oh, this one.¡± Bi Fang pulled out a fire poker nonchalantly, opened the stove to poke around, and to everyone¡¯s surprise, instead of extinguishing the fire, he added a hefty amount of fuel. Afterward, he smiled and said, ¡°How could I possibly forget about something like this? But what we¡¯re burning here isn¡¯t coal¡ªit¡¯s biomass pellets. These are made from compressed wood, straw, and other biomass materials. When they burn, they produce no tar and have low particulate emissions. Any excess is vented outside through a flue pipe. It¡¯s smokeless and odorless, clean and sanitary, even more environmentally friendly than coal. It burns completely, without producing carbon monoxide, so there¡¯s no need to worry.¡± [emmm, clinging to my little earthen stove, I¡¯ve gained more knowledge again] [There¡¯s such a variety, I¡¯m so envious of the wealthy bosses. Watching Master Fang spend hundreds of thousands like it¡¯s nothing, I¡¯m so jealous my teeth could shatter] [What¡¯s there to be envious about? You know he¡¯s spending your money, right? If he climbs, it¡¯s just like you climb, isn¡¯t it? You¡¯ll be a man who has summited Mount Everest without oxygen too] [I¡¯m a cheapskate at heart!] [Speaking of Sir, he can really persevere. Being able to get to base camp at ninety¡­ Last time I went to xz, I almost died. Indeed, uselessness knows no age; I¡¯m the only exception] Bi Fang was amused by the lively audience and chatted idly for a while before finally ending the live stream. Before going to sleep, he also checked the number of viewers in the live stream and discovered that at today¡¯s peak, it had actually reached 2.45 million, a cause for celebration. His own Everest challenge hadn¡¯t even officially started yet¡ªjust chatting and enjoying the view had attracted as many viewers as his normal peak streaming times. It seemed that Sir¡¯s arrival did indeed have a significant impact. The host from the world of animals had come to Master Fang¡¯s live stream, leading to word spreading from one to ten, ten to a hundred, and even attracting many people who normally didn¡¯t watch live streams, just to see with their own eyes what kind of live stream could draw in Sir¡¯s participation. Bi Fang closed his eyes contently; this live stream had ended, and his Wilderness Points would see a significant increase, at least 300, enough for some high-level equipment. Plan successful. The next day. ¡°I can¡¯t do this anymore, you guys go ahead. If I climb any more, I¡¯ll be done for.¡± Wang Yongbo took a deep breath of oxygen, his eyes ringed with dark circles, and said. Wang Yongbo had hardly slept last night, frequently needing to take a breath of oxygen, and even when he did sleep, it felt as if something was pressing on his chest in his dreams, utterly unbearable. If he continued climbing, he might really die on Mount Everest. Managing the long journey to a camp almost six thousand meters above sea level had already been extremely difficult for him. Looking higher up, although only three thousand meters remained in elevation, how much more was left in terms of distance? Climb a Beichuan Jiuhuang Mountain on foot? That was just over two thousand meters, but imagine how difficult the remaining distance must be¡ªit wasn¡¯t something he could achieve. If he actually went up, others would have to divert their attention to take care of him, which wasn¡¯t good. As for the remaining distance, Bi Fang planned to advance little by little, ultimately waiting at an altitude of 7,900 meters for the weather forecast. Once the conditions were right, they would summit before two in the afternoon and then return. Bi Fang scratched his eyebrows, considering Wang Yongbo¡¯s total abandonment to be within expectations, ¡°So, do you want to head back first? Rob will climb up with us. At this time, no other guide teams will be descending, so if you want to go down, you can only go with the Sherpas who came to deliver vegetables.¡± Wang Yongbo waved his hand, ¡°No problem, I¡¯ll just wait here for you guys. Over 5.000 meters, I feel okay, just let the porters bring me some extra oxygen tanks.¡± With that, Wang Yongbo opened the oxygen generator nearby and skillfully inserted the oxygen tube into his nostrils as if he were a severe UCI patient, which made Bi Fang chuckle. Shaking their heads, the group left him alone and continued their training with Rob. Today, they were going to reach a mountain pass first, then go through a series of exercises before returning to the camp for rest in the evening. The next day, they would continue advancing, aiming to reach the second base camp. Time was tight, but there was nothing to be helped about it. Bi Fang and the others had arrived late, and the main training site had to be shifted to Camp Three. No sooner had they left the camp that Yao Jun faced a problem¡ªhe grabbed Bi Fang with a constipated expression. Bi Fang was puzzled, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Yao Jun¡¯s face turned beet red; he looked around and, after a long while, finally asked, ¡°Is there a toilet here?¡± Bi Fang pointed speechlessly to a nearby pile of rocks. Yao Jun was extremely embarrassed¡ªhe looked at the seemingly endless field of rocks and almost died of social embarrassment on the spot. Dude, you¡¯re still live broadcast; are you really going to let me poop here? But when the team had to stop due to Yao Jun¡¯s toilet problem, he reluctantly took the toilet paper and found a large rock among the rocks. It was truly a unique outdoor defecating experience. Yao Jun had defecated outdoors before but unlike his past experiences in China, which usually involved finding a bush or some cover, the terrain here lacked any. He could only find a large rock to hide behind. Even though it could protect him from the teammates¡¯ view, the space behind him was vast, with a clear view spanning 2 to 5 kilometers. This meant that anyone in the 2 to 5 kilometers behind could see him¡ªcould there be anything more thrilling? For the first time, he experienced the joy of unburdening his youth under such a vast sky¡ªwhat more could he ask for? When the team was once again fully assembled and heading towards the mountain pass, they encountered Tibetan Snowcocks again. Unfortunately, they didn¡¯t stay, simply took a couple of photos, and moved on. After a comfortable gentle slope, the team entered an area of rock debris. These scattered rocks were the remnants of glacial movement. ¡°Get ready to start ascending; check your ice claws, don¡¯t be careless, this area is above the snowline, and it¡¯s very dangerous.¡± After walking two hundred meters, Rob said, gasping for breath. The group stopped to check their gear, and Bi Fang also tapped the ice claws on his feet, showing them to his audience. Many viewers with no mountaineering experience noticed for the first time that Bi Fang¡¯s climbing boots now sported a pair of claw-like attachments. ¡°I¡¯m using professional full-step-in crampons which require the boots to have special slots. The advantage of full-step-in crampons is that they¡¯re very stable after being fixed in place and not easy to loosen, and they¡¯re relatively easy to put on and take off. However, the downside is that if the boots are made with crampon slots, the soles need to be specially reinforced, making them very stiff and heavy. It also makes the boots expensive to manufacture, so they won¡¯t be cheap overall. I didn¡¯t attach them yesterday, but today we¡¯re above the snowline, so they¡¯re a must.¡± Rob pointed at the walking tracks not far ahead and said, ¡°Because there are many dangerous ice fissures nearby, we can only follow in the footsteps of those who came before.¡± The group advanced along the tracks, and before long they arrived at a super huge boulder. Then, they began to climb at an angle of nearly 60 degrees. The sky, without warning, started to pelt hailstones, and all they could hear was the overstrained sound of their own panting. The environment was truly harsh, with thin and dry air, temperatures around minus five or six degrees, and intense ultraviolet radiation, compounded by their fatigued and chilled bodies. They really could only continue on by sheer willpower. As the snow on the ground grew thicker and more abundant, just when everyone felt they could no longer persist, a vast expanse of white snow appeared before their eyes. Rob looked up and made the sign of the cross over his chest, excitedly exclaiming, ¡°We¡¯re here, the pass!¡± Upon reaching the pass, their view suddenly widened spectacularly, allowing them to see the entire chain of undulating mountains through this natural window. Bi Fang finally saw the distant snow-capped mountains and the endless stretch of sandy land beneath them. He pulled out the altimeter. 5814M No county-level city was higher than this pass. Even the highest, XZ Shuanghu County, was only 5000 meters. Now, they were much higher than most humans, and at this altitude, there were no permanent residents on Earth. The oxygen content in the air was roughly only 50% of that at the capital, but the advantage was. There was not a hint of smog. The air was cold, yet incredibly fresh; it felt like what they were inhaling into their lungs wasn¡¯t air but clear water. Standing there, Bi Fang could clearly see a huge depression on the earth¡¯s surface, the bed of a large lake¡ªDuoqingcuo, with the snow-covered Zhumu Lagiri, towering over 7000 meters, behind it. On the dried-up lakebed, fierce winds blew, carrying rain and gravel across the ground. The group looked towards the snow mountain and saw clouds billowing behind it like a tide surging towards the low-lying pass between the peaks¡ªa moisture from the distant Indian Ocean, attempting to surmount the world¡¯s highest mountain range. Although they managed to cross the high peaks, they gradually dissipated not far from the pass. The group reached out their hands as if they could feel the moist air. Sir Edinburgh squinted against the ultraviolet rays, yet still managed with childlike innocence and joy to discern and say, ¡°Beyond the snow mountain is Bhutan, and past the mountain is the mysterious Yadong Valley. I have been there before; it¡¯s breathtaking. One side of the mountain hosts a dry sandy land where only the most drought-resistant plants can survive in such extreme conditions; and on the other side of the pass, are the moist foothills perpetually shrouded in clouds and mist. Most regions of XZ lie on the northern side of the Himalayas, with climates primarily characterized by cold deserts or dry warm valley weather, resulting in unique but not diverse species. However, the Himalayas have been deeply cut by rivers into several valleys, where moisture spreads and rises along the valley, creating climates very different from the surroundings, allowing many subtropical and even tropical plants to grow at higher altitudes along the warm and humid trails of the water vapor. The huge elevation difference from the peaks to the valleys, with its resulting changes in temperature and humidity, has led to extremely varied plant communities and a richness of species. Moreover, the high mountains between the valleys act as natural barriers, causing a dramatic differentiation of plant species in this area and the emergence of many endemic species. For these reasons, the valleys of the Himalayas have become the region with the richest biodiversity in all of XZ, and it is also the plant haven in Huaxia that attracts me the most. I was truly excited when I went there; it was simply paradise!¡± At that moment, Sir was so animated that he danced around; he had been to both sides of the mountain but had never come to the mountaintop to look down at the two sides. Such a magnificent view even caused him to inadvertently drop his walking stick, which slid straight down the icy slope into the valley between the mountains. Chapter 388: 386: Reserve a Spot Chapter 388: Chapter 386: Reserve a Spot The sea was very calm, with warm yellow sunlight that made the shore shimmer brightly. The waves slapped against the coast, leaving behind white foam. Bi Fang¡¯s palms were very slender; though calloused and rough, they appeared clean and beautiful. At this moment, those hands were gripping a wooden stick, vigorously rubbing it against another piece of wood, scattering a large amount of wood shavings produced by friction. This was the second method that Bi Fang tried after his failure with Fire-Making by Wood-Drilling, the planing method. This method was the simplest and relied entirely on the user¡¯s arm strength, using a sharpened stick to rub back and forth in a groove on a piece of wood. At the bottom of the groove, some very fine wood shavings would appear. These shavings would accumulate, and eventually, when the temperature reached a certain level, they would ignite. The continuous motion caused Bi Fang¡¯s nose to gather a slight sweat. He dared not wipe it away, fearing that the slightest mistake would dissipate the heat he had just accumulated. He had been rubbing for more than ten minutes, and his body was hot. He had even taken off one of his jackets. On the island, there were too few plant choices, and no materials with the right softness or hardness. The local trees were generally too hard and not very suitable for making fire. Bi Fang could only make do with what was available, choosing the most passable materials. At that moment, he had come to the center of the island, his legs clamping tightly onto the wooden board to prevent it from moving during the friction and cause the wood shavings in the groove to scatter, which would mean all previous efforts were in vain. Several more minutes passed. The audience was on edge, yet Bi Fang remained calm, rubbing at a steady pace. The planer method for making fire was quite arduous, but its advantage was stability. The trick was not only the technique of rubbing but also maintaining a good mentality. Bi Fang had spent the better part of the past six months living in the wild, and he had come to understand the principle behind it. Finally, the heat permeated through the wooden board to Bi Fang¡¯s leg skin, inspiring him with energy. He quickened the pace of rubbing, striking while the iron was hot. Here it comes! Accompanied by faint white smoke, the audience¡¯s spirits lifted¡ªthey almost wished they could replace Bi Fang and blow on the smoke to make it rise faster. Watching the host make fire was like watching gamers acquire new gear. Although the process was repetitious, when gear finally dropped, the satisfaction was immense! With the appearance of smoke, what followed was much easier. The wood groove darkened, and the audience could visibly see the finest fibers beginning to glow red and vanish. Just one final push was needed for the real flame to emerge. First, the finest fibers gradually disappeared, followed by slightly coarser ones, and finally, the large clumps of wood shavings began to glow red and drift away. It¡¯s done! Seeing this, Bi Fang was no longer panicked. He hastily put down the wooden board, shaped a piece of bark-tanned tinder into a nest, and placed it on top, blowing deeply and slowly to allow ample air to touch the embers. The thin smoke turned to light smoke, which thickened and changed from white to yellow. Sparks scattered as a small flame emerged from the thick smoke, dancing with abandon and captivating the viewers. ¡°Finally, we¡¯ve got fire!¡± Bi Fang raised his hand and wiped off the beads of sweat, flinging them aside. After striving for more than half an hour, he had finally produced a flame. It wasn¡¯t easy. [Planer method for fire-making, got ¡Ì] [giaogiaogiao, we have fire! The fire¡¯s ignited!] [Spread the word, it¡¯s beyond calling, an example for us all!] Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Isn¡¯t it time for some charcoal-grilled seafood?] [Charcoal-grilled seafood, damn, I¡¯m suddenly hungry. What do I do?] Looking at the gentle flames, Bi Fang¡¯s sense of achievement surged¡ªit was the fruit of half an hour¡¯s effort. ¡°Ancient humans used these primitive methods to make fire, relying on this skill for survival. There¡¯s a special feeling when you learn this ancient skill, especially when you¡¯ve worked hard for a long time to produce that first spark. Even after lighting fires countless times, you still feel a special sense of accomplishment.¡± [Now let¡¯s go up the mountain to do Fire-Making by Wood-Drilling] [Set fire to the forest, and you¡¯ll rot in jail!] [Then why can the host do it?] ¡°Don¡¯t copy me; I have permission from forestry authorities. You can¡¯t generalize one person¡¯s actions to everyone,¡± Bi Fang said with a laugh, genuinely afraid that some brainless netizens might imitate him. With the fire ready, the rest was easy. Bi Fang quickly processed the mackerel, skewered it on a tree stick, and placed it over the fire to smoke and roast. In wilderness survival, fat is justice, and any high-fat food could win Bi Fang¡¯s favor. Mackerel was among the best of such foods. Unlike sesame mackerel, the Atlantic mackerel was rich in fat. Even without added oil and with just simple grilling, it could glisten with oil, especially in the winter when it accumulated fat¡ªmaking it all the more delicious and unmissable. As he watched the fish gradually change color and ooze oil under the intense heat of the grill, the aroma aggressively vied for his attention, causing Bi Fang to swallow involuntarily. As the saying goes, barbecue may not be healthy, but it sure is delicious! Having eaten raw food for several days in a row, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t wait to tear off a piece of the mackerel¡¯s crisping skin as soon as it started to show signs of charring, regardless of the scalding heat, and popped it into his mouth. The intense heat combined with that specific salty fragrance left by dried seawater exploded on Bi Fang¡¯s taste buds like a culinary bomb! ¡°Ah!¡± Bi Fang opened his mouth, white heat billowing out as he hastily chewed a few times before eagerly swallowing, feeling the scorching sensation slide down his throat. ¡°Delicious!¡± [Mommy, looks so good, it¡¯s like grilled saury!] [I can even hear the crispiness of the fish skin; it¡¯s like a cookie.] [Grilled fish skin, yyds!] [Old Fang knows how to live.] After having a taste, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t stop himself. He methodically finished off the rest of the fish skin. After the considerable energy expenditure from the previous night till now, he was in urgent need of food. So, as soon as the surface layer was cooked through, Bi Fang ate all the meat off the top, and he even fashioned a pair of thin tree sticks as chopsticks to make the experience more enjoyable. After a tiring week, a celebratory meal of charcoal-grilled seafood was well-deserved. When the fish was thoroughly cooked, nearly the entire fish had been eaten. Bi Fang didn¡¯t waste even the last of the bones, toasting them until crispy and crunching them down as if they were crackers. Having eaten the whole fish, he was barely satisfied. Energy +10 Patting his belly, Bi Fang lay down on the shore to digest his meal, basking in the warm sun which made his slightly tanned face even more comfortable. [Stranded on a deserted island¡Á, holiday resort¡Ì] [Full belly, basking in the sun, I¡¯m envious of this life.] [Merely thinking about it makes me feel the stench in the middle of the night!] [Um, middle of the night? Bro, where are you from? The time difference is huge? It¡¯s only the afternoon here?] [Hawaii] [WTF? What the hell is Ha-wei-yi? Are you freaking vacationing? Could you say that with a clear conscience?] [Leaves behind tears of poverty] Lying on the beach for a good while, enjoying the sun and the sand, and listening to the rolling waves, Bi Fang felt utterly relaxed. Yet, he hadn¡¯t forgotten his mission ¨C surviving on the island for twenty-one days, knowing full well that one couldn¡¯t win by just lying around. The island was too small, and besides plants, it hardly had any other life forms to provide sustenance. Of the two big fish, one had been eaten, the hairfin anchovies couldn¡¯t be eaten as they needed to be saved for bait, which meant Bi Fang¡¯s food reserves were down to just one squid and one fish, making him anxious once again. Without food in hand, the mind races with worry. With this thought, Bi Fang sat up abruptly, scratched his head, and continued to wander around the island. It was important to pick up things on the beach because sometimes you could find many unexpected items. And as an adventurer with aspirations, it was impossible to stay on a small island indefinitely. If it had been a big island, Bi Fang certainly would have settled down and spent the remaining days there, but the size of this island was doubtful to even be two hundred square meters. Bi Fang could at most use it as a temporary base; he preferred to find an actual continent. That would be true ¡°Riding the Wind and Waves.¡± The assessment of the mission would definitely be higher, there was no doubt about that. From his previous experiences, Bi Fang had gotten a clear sense of what the System wanted, which was for him to take initiative. If he did only the bare minimum for each task, that would undoubtedly be problematic and severely impact the speed of his self-improvement. And he was a man who aspired to climb Mount Everest! In preparation for the next ten or so days, Bi Fang definitely needed to make adequate preparations, using up all usable resources on the island. The first step was to free up the squid container. The head of the squid could hold ink, but that wasn¡¯t a long-term solution and was prone to spill. Bi Fang needed a plastic bottle, and places like islands were very likely to have ocean refuse stranded on them. Especially plastic, which can last for decades or even centuries. In his past life, many people who watched Bear Grylls and Grandpa De videos often thought the plastics they picked up were planted, but in fact, they weren¡¯t. Plastic trash had long been scattered across the oceans. Bi Fang shook his head slightly and, after carefully finishing his tour around the entire island with his thoughts, he indeed found two plastic bottles, the common soda type. To be cautious, he still took them into the sea for a thorough wash before pouring the ink into the cleaned bottles. Some ink remained stuck to the head of the squid, to which Bi Fang added a bit of seawater before pouring it in as well. Edible squid inventory +1 With a bit more food in reserve, Bi Fang felt slightly reassured, but an even more important task awaited him¡ªbuilding a raft! Building a raft? The audience was taken aback upon hearing this idea. [Why build a raft? Is Old Fang going to continue drifting?] ¡°Exactly,¡± Bi Fang nodded, ¡°I hope to find a piece of real land, not just clung to this tiny island that¡¯s not even as large as a villa¡¯s yard.¡± [Not surprised at all, I¡¯ve gotten used to it. Even if Old Fang now tells me he¡¯s going to wrestle with whales, I¡¯d just think, is that all?] [Already familiar with the routine, hahaha.] [Charge on, dammit!] [Giaogiaogiao, Master Fang is freaking awesome!] ¡°Life rafts are just too unstable. The slightest puncture could lead to the danger of sinking, which really doesn¡¯t give me a sense of safety.¡± Bi Fang pointed to the life raft not far away, and many viewers nodded repeatedly. Indeed, not to mention encountering sharks, even a slightly larger fish could potentially bite and deflate a life raft, and then it would be completely over without any recourse. But rafts were different. A good raft could effectively float on the sea, and even if it encountered a larger shark than usual, it wouldn¡¯t matter. Reality is not a movie; the great white sharks from the movies don¡¯t exist in reality. Most of them just take a bite to try and if it¡¯s not appetizing, they leave. What life rafts fear is exactly that one bite. ¡°Building a sea raft depends on the materials you can find at hand, as well as the conditions of the waters you plan to drift in, and how long you plan to be adrift. There are no fixed rules here. With common sense, good tying skills, and some buoyant materials, you can construct a pretty decent raft.¡± ¡°For this, we need to gather enough logs or bamboo of roughly equal length, arrange them into the shape of a raft on the ground. Carve a groove at a distance of 1 meter from each end of a log or bamboo, stacking them on top of each other, to create ¡®pressure¡¯ between them. If you¡¯re using bamboo, you can drill a hole through each piece to substitute for the groove. Thread the bamboo through the holes, ensuring they¡¯re tightly strapped together.¡± Bi Fang squatted on the ground and started picking up stones. The island¡¯s resources consisted of twenty-three large trees. He didn¡¯t need that many. The trunk of one tree could be chopped into four or five sections, and there were also many thinner branches that could be used. Probably about five trees would be sufficient. If all the trees were cut down, it would be uncertain whether trees could continue to grow on this island. Without the shelter of large trees, it would be difficult for saplings to grow. Cutting down five wouldn¡¯t make a difference, though. However, even though it wouldn¡¯t make a difference, Bi Fang still silently apologized in his heart. For the sake of his rafting plan, he had to chop down trees. [How are you going to chop down the trees? With a stone axe?] [That stone doesn¡¯t seem as good as flint, it¡¯s just the ordinary kind] ¡°It¡¯s pretty ordinary, but it¡¯s good enough, and I don¡¯t plan to make a stone axe,¡± Bi Fang tossed the stone in his hand. Stone axes aren¡¯t reliable and are hard to sharpen. Since trees are thick, the stone axe could easily break upon sharpening and chopping. If it isn¡¯t sharp, it¡¯s useless for chopping. Therefore, he planned to use a chisel to cut down the trees. What he needed was a stone chisel and a stone hammer, both easy to make. Tree bark is rich in fiber and can be twisted into rope, binding a rock to one end of a tree stick to make a stone hammer. ¡°But for sturdiness, we need to do a bit of processing. First, we¡¯ll split one end of the tree stick, then fit the stone into it. That way, it¡¯ll be more secure when tied,¡± Bi Fang stood the tree stick upright, with the sharp end facing up. He lined up the rock and struck the tail end of the stone chisel. The tree stick split as expected. He pried open the crack, slotted the stone in, and then tied it with rope, producing a high-quality stone hammer. After swinging it a couple of times, Bi Fang nodded in satisfaction; it was very handy. [Seeing Old Fang with a weapon in hand puts my mind at ease] [Top-notch lumberjack logs on] [Charge!] With tools ready, the major task of cutting trees began. Bi Fang first drew a line at the base of the tree, then ground out a notch to hold the chisel steady. Standing up, he lined up the blow, then raised the stone hammer and struck down hard at the end of the stone chisel! The chisel, originally not very sturdy, plunged about a centimeter into the tree and became exceptionally secure. It seemed effective. Bi Fang nodded, swinging the stone hammer more vigorously, generating a whoosh with each strike. After the chisel had sunk halfway, he grabbed it and rocked it from side to side, pulling it out. ¡°When chopping trees this way, remember not to drive the chisel in more than half, or you¡¯ll struggle to pull it out. About half is enough, then you switch to the other side, and repeat a few times until the tree can be chiseled through,¡± Bi Fang shifted his angle and inserted the chisel into the crack, swinging the stone hammer in the same manner. Soon, the base of the tree was torn open, and it started to wobble. With a kick, he broke it outright. Got too caught up in the game and didn¡¯t finish writing, just marking a spot here. Update in the early morning. Better go to sleep early. ¡­ Not many people are following the serial, and probably no one is watching right now¡­ The sound of the wooden stem snapping roared as the tall tree slowly fell to the ground, the entire island trembled with it. Looking at the tree at his feet, viewers gasped in amazement. Was the efficiency really so high? Bi Fang wiped off the sweat and moved towards the second tree. Throughout the afternoon, viewers watched Bi Fang chop down trees, with each one making the entire island shake. After four trees were chopped down, Bi Fang decided to start constructing to see if four were enough. The method was the same: he broke down the trees into logs, roughly two meters each. This process continued until nightfall, and Bi Fang had only finished breaking down three large trees, with one last to go. But it wasn¡¯t over yet; after the processing was done, what came next was even more important. He was going to build a raft! Chapter 389: 387: Reserve a Spot Chapter 389: Chapter 387: Reserve a Spot ¡°Divine Realm: Original Sin 2¡± is so addictive; I played it way too much. I¡¯ll change it at dawn and reserve a spot. The sun was about to set, and time was running out. Bi Fang had to catch a squid before nightfall; otherwise, once it got dark, the difficulty of capture would increase exponentially. It wouldn¡¯t just be about whether he could catch one, but whether he could even see clearly enough to try. A large group of squid was right in front of him, yet he had hardly any time to catch them. The feeling of seeing but not being able to eat was truly frustrating. Thousands of squid swam underwater, but not a single one belonged to him. It was a sad story indeed. Bi Fang rubbed his forehead and shook off the negative emotions. He started considering how to capture the squid, knowing that diving in to catch them was definitely out of the question. Squid reacted too quickly; the chance of catching one underwater was too slim, unless he had a net. But Bi Fang didn¡¯t even have a piece of cloth. His entire belongings summed up to the clothes on his back and a life raft. The only other option would be to dismantle the entire tent, cut holes in it, but that was something only a fool would do. Most importantly, Bi Fang didn¡¯t have the strength to go back into the water. He had just survived a storm, recovered from hypothermia, and now you ask him to dive again? Who could withstand that? Super Saiyan? Catch or not, if he didn¡¯t catch any, he would be done for. His body couldn¡¯t take any more battering. Even with a physique of 15 points, he wouldn¡¯t withstand consecutive winter swims. Since he couldn¡¯t catch directly, he could only resort to fishing. Bi Fang¡¯s gaze grew determined. Different creatures required different fishing methods, and in this aspect, Bi Fang was somewhat confident. With so many squid, the chances of getting a bite were very high. As long as the technique was right, he was sure to catch one every cast. Then, he could eat one and discard one, grill or steam them, no one could say anything about it. It was rare to see a school of squid rise to the surface. To seize the opportunity was to seize the future! Thinking this, Bi Fang picked up the fishing hook, removed the horsetail kelp from it, and submerged the hook into the water, embarking on his grand squid fishing plan. ¡°Many people living by the sea often see squid, so they think it lives in coastal waters, but that¡¯s a misconception. Rather than coastal areas, squid prefer to live in the deep waters of the open ocean.¡± ¡°Every spring and summer, squid swim from the deep sea towards the shallow inlets to spawn. Egg laying takes place from April to June, sticking to seaweed and other objects, clustered like grapes. Squid are gregarious creatures often migrating at the same depth level, creating the scene you¡¯re witnessing.¡± ¡°At that time, coastal fishermen often tie branches and the like together and toss them into the sea to lure the squid to lay their eggs. Once the groups of squid come to spawn, the fishermen stretch out their nets to catch them, reaping a bountiful harvest.¡± [Ah, squid really love diving!] [So, is catching squid in the winter while scavenging in the sea all a lie?] [By the way, why did Old Fang remove the horsetail kelp from the hook for fishing? He¡¯s not going for vegetable bait anymore?] The friends had many questions, and Bi Fang answered them one by one. This was one of the charms of his livestream, with strong interactive features. ¡°Squid live in the open sea but not too deep, usually inhabiting waters 30 to 60 meters deep. They rise to the surface in the early morning and evening, and sink down into the middle layers of water during the day. But there¡¯s just been a storm, oxygen levels in the water are low, and the temperature of the middle and lower water layers has dropped further. This forces the group of squid to rise to the surface, where sunlight is abundant. This presents a perfect opportunity for us.¡± ¡°Squid are carnivorous animals, feeding mainly on crustaceans, shrimp, and juvenile fish. My horsetail kelp holds no attraction for them; it is less appealing than the hook itself. The one that just bit wasn¡¯t a squid, but some other small fish. However, I didn¡¯t catch a glimpse of it, so our main goal is still to catch a squid.¡± Bi Fang worked his wrist non-stop, hoping to entice the squid to bite. His polished sleek snap swivel, reflecting brightly under the slanting rays of the setting sun, soon caught the attention of a few squid. They slowly swam towards the shiny object. As Bi Fang hovered near the water¡¯s surface, he spotted several blurry figures swimming toward the life raft. ¡°Do you see that? A few are coming over,¡± Bi Fang whispered, fearing that his voice might scare the squid away, yet excitement was unmistakable in his tone, and his wrist flicks became even more rhythmic. [Holy shit, can you actually fish without bait?] [What an eye-opener!] [The first person to pull a rabbit out of an empty hat!] [Master Fang is awesome!] The audience was shocked by the scene, to think that you could actually catch fish with nothing but a button? Was this some kind of magic? They seriously suspected that Master Fang had drugged the squid! ¡°This is because squid are phototactic. If we don¡¯t have shrimp for bait, we can wrap fish hooks with cigarette foil, the silver paper found inside cigarette packs. We can tear it and wrap it around the hook in many ways, either wrapping the three individual hook points or covering the entire hook. But it¡¯s important that the foil is crumpled into a ball shape, not strips,¡± ¡°So the hook reflects and refracts light as it moves up and down, luring squid to bite. But I don¡¯t smoke, and the snap button is enough. Of course, the best method is to fish at night with lights, which substantially increases the hit rate of the squid. It¡¯s practically a catch with every drop.¡± In wilderness survival, everything can be useful, even a cigarette pack, which could play a vital role when necessary! [Ah, suddenly there¡¯s a valid reason to smoke] [Next time my wife asks, I¡¯ll tell her it¡¯s preparation for that one day I¡¯m stranded on a deserted island, ready to use the foil for fishing!] [Genius! Wasted my schooling] [Stranded on a deserted island, really?] As the squid drew closer, the audience¡¯s barrage of comments began to thin out, everyone locked in concentration on the unfolding scene, anticipating whether Bi Fang would catch a squid and break the three-day meat curse. With hope in sight, Bi Fang¡¯s movements became even subtler, with no visible shaking except for in his wrist, as if even his heartbeat had stopped. Half a year of breath control practice had turned Bi Fang into a still boulder. If not for the breeze moving his hair, viewers might have mistaken him for a stone statue. But Bi Fang wasn¡¯t. Instead, when the squid swam under the life raft, his lips buzzed quietly. The sound was so faint that it may not have been caught if the drone wasn¡¯t equipped with powerful features. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°If you¡¯re using shrimp jigs or shore fishing and come across squid, the bite signal would be similar to catching fish. But with my no-bait method, the experience is quite different. At this time, the squid bite is peculiar. Unlike fish, there are no obvious bite signals. The only sensation is a sudden heavy drop and pulling feeling when lifting the hook. At this point, we should relax the line briefly. Because when the squid bites as it swims, its body is suspended, and it does not swallow the bait. Instead, it uses its many tentacles to envelop the bait tightly. The sudden heavy feeling is from the weight of the ¡®fish¡¯ and water resistance. The ¡®pulling¡¯ happens because the squid¡ªfeeling the bait rise¡ªcontracts its tentacles, but this does not mean the squid is hooked. Our purpose in slackening the line is to get the squid to grasp the bait even tighter. After the squid has bitten, if an angler is too hasty and lifts it out of the water, the consequence is that as the squid reaches the surface, because it hasn¡¯t grasped the bait tightly, it escapes, leaving behind only a cloud of ink.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s energy sank deeply within him, his mind was as still as water, every bit the embodiment of a meditating Buddha. The only difference was that this Buddha hadn¡¯t eaten meat in too long, and his stomach was growling. The sunlight was slanted, and due to the reflection, the specific situation of the approaching squid was no longer visible. Without bait, fishing relied entirely on the sense of touch, a true test of an angler¡¯s experience and technique. Fortunately, Bi Fang lacked neither. In just a few minutes, he felt a sudden pull on the line in his hand. It¡¯s here! Bi Fang¡¯s pupils dilated, signaling his extreme excitement, but even so, he didn¡¯t act rashly, aware that failure could scare away the other squid, leaving him with only this one chance! There wasn¡¯t the slightest tremble in the fishing line, but the weight was distinctly noticeable. The audience watched intently, their hearts pounding. The fishing line was three meters long, and Bi Fang, following procedure, tested and discovered a heavy feeling in his hands, understanding that a squid had taken the bait! Bi Fang moved gently, slowly reeling in the line, while softly explaining. ¡°Squid don¡¯t swim fast unless they feel threatened, and when they strike at the bait, their tentacles will tightly grasp it, pulling the fishing line as their bodies move forward. When the squid feel resistance and are reluctant to let go of the delicious morsel, their bodies will shrink back, pulling the fishing rod downward. ¡°When angling for squid, you don¡¯t need to jerk the rod, just reeling in will do. The speed must be steady, as any abnormality will cause the squid to let go and flee. Also, when bringing a squid to the surface, to prevent it from abandoning the bait and escaping, it¡¯s best to use a landing net. ¡°Because the squid uses its suction-cupped tentacles to hold onto the bait, the moment it¡¯s lifted out of the water, it will instantly release its grasp and escape the hook. So after hooking a squid, you shouldn¡¯t lift it out of the water, instead use a landing net to scoop it up before it reaches the surface. ¡°But I don¡¯t have one, so this is where you have to rely on your reaction and hand speed.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s gaze was locked onto the water¡¯s surface. Lacking a landing net meant he had to try and grab the squid the moment it left the water, a failed attempt would startle the squid into instinctively squirting ink, dispersing it around and putting the other squids on alert, making it extremely difficult to catch another one. Guessing the length of the fishing line, Bi Fang¡¯s hand grew steadier. He had marked the line, tying a knot at intervals, and as the last knot surfaced, his tension skyrocketed. Just half a meter to go! Bi Fang switched his right hand for the left, pulling the line up slowly by hand, even making out a blur of the squid¡¯s shadow! Wrapping the line around his wrist, the squid became clearer, approaching the moment when it would breach the surface. The continuously lifted squid finally sensed something was amiss, and its naturally alert self attempted an escape, but¡ª Too late! Bi Fang¡¯s heart thumped wildly, the setting sun plunged, and the seawater seemed to cease its swaying. His right hand thrust out like a venomous snake, stabbing fiercely into the water! In just a moment, the slippery and slimy sensation met his hand, leaving no time for joy, Bi Fang quickly scooped it up! Gleaming droplets danced midair, scattering exuberantly. The squid in midair contracted sharply, spewing a jet of black ink in an instant; Bi Fang barely dodged the ink, but did not anticipate the force of the squid¡¯s jet, which slipped right from his grasp! Damn! Bi Fang had said that squid propel themselves rapidly forward by shooting water from a funnel on their bellies, allowing them to leap from the deep sea and soar up to 7 to 10 meters above the water, traveling about 50 meters in the air like a cannonball! The audience¡¯s hearts sunk, but what took everyone by surprise the next second was that the squid flew right toward the inside of the tent! The squid surged out of Bi Fang¡¯s palm, just when it thought it would make an escape, it was suddenly smacked down by a large cloth, splashing ink onto the tent, leaving a black stain. The squid struggled to flee, but having already squirted once, it lacked the strength to do it again. Out of the water, it was even less lively than a fish, flopping helplessly on the raft, quickly seized by Bi Fang¡¯s hand. ¡°Ha! Finally caught you!¡± Bi Fang pressed down on the squid, his index and middle fingers reached in, directly removing the squid¡¯s cuttlebone, akin to the spine in mammals. Once removed, the squid turned into a limp mass. Without time to attend to the catch, Bi Fang swiftly set the hook back into the water. It had only been minutes before he caught one squid; shouldn¡¯t he take advantage of the remaining daylight to catch more? One squid was about the size of his forearm, and if he was careful, it could last him barely two days. With less than half an hour until sunset, if he maintained his previous speed and was lucky, he might be able to catch three or four more squids. Indeed, Bi Fang repeated the procedure, even using a small part of the squid he had caught as bait on the hook, maintaining the lure¡¯s flash while adding flesh bait. Five minutes later, Bi Fang was reeling in another squid. Got two now! [Whoa, struck it rich!] [Finally, we can have some decent food, teary with joy.] [Old Fang is too strong!] [Using a squid to catch another squid, this move is so stunning it¡¯s making my scalp tingle!] [Xiu¡¯er, can I touch your trophy? Just for a moment, please! I¡¯ll wash my hands, I promise!] [Do squids eat their own kind?] ¡°Yes!¡± Bi Fang confirmed, ¡°Squids are cannibalistic creatures. It¡¯s often seen that larger squids eat smaller ones. Moreover, I just cut off a small section of a squid¡¯s limb; it¡¯s questionable whether they can even distinguish it.¡± Bi Fang smiled broadly, feeling quite pleased with himself for hooking two squids. He couldn¡¯t wait to throw the fishing hook down for the third time, though this time it took a bit longer¡ªseven to eight minutes to catch another. Unfortunately, Bi Fang didn¡¯t manage to dodge the squid¡¯s ink, and most of his shoulder and face were sprayed. However, he had learned from the previous mishap; he firmly grasped the squid without letting go and crushed its cuttlebone directly. Truly, it broke! [Hahaha, Old Fang looks so embarrassed!] [Isn¡¯t squid ink poisonous? Is Master Fang okay?] [Whoa, poisonous?] ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s poisonous.¡± Bi Fang wiped the ink from his face, but as he did, he inadvertently smeared a big blotch, making it worse by spreading it around. His face was obscured by the black stain, but after a brief attempt to clean up, he didn¡¯t bother with his appearance anymore and once again threw down the hook, hoping for another catch while he explained to the anxious audience. ¡°But don¡¯t worry, Burglar Ink is mainly used to confound the enemy¡¯s sense of smell. Though it contains poison, the toxicity is minor, and it¡¯s a type of weak paralytic venom, generally harmless to most animals. I don¡¯t feel anything much, and I¡¯ve heard that in Japan, they actually eat this stuff.¡± Bi Fang stuck out his tongue. Just before, the ink had sprayed into his mouth, leaving his tongue feeling numb and words coming out with a lisp. Fortunately, he felt the numbing sensation fading quickly. [Master Fang! And here you are claiming you aren¡¯t poisoned!] [You¡¯re already slurring your words!] [Give the guy a break!] [Humans can take it, should at least give it a try.] Bi Fang tugged at the corner of his mouth, somewhat helplessly, but remained focused on fishing for squid. Unfortunately, for some reason, not even after ten minutes, until the sun had completely set, did he catch a fourth one. Has it noticed something? Bi Fang was not disheartened. He was quite satisfied with the three squids he had caught and didn¡¯t yearn for more. However, he didn¡¯t easily give up either. The setting sun didn¡¯t mean the school of squid would leave immediately; they were sure to linger for a while, and indeed they did. Half an hour later, Bi Fang hooked a fourth one, and after handling it, he tried to fish for a while longer, but this time it was truly over; no squid bit for quite some time. ¡°Phew, a full haul!¡± Bi Fang was not the least bit discouraged; on the contrary, he was quite excited. Without hesitation, after putting away the hook and line, he pulled over one of the squids and unceremoniously tore off a leg and stuffed it into his mouth. Chapter 390: 388: Reserving a Spot Chapter 390: Chapter 388: Reserving a Spot ¡°` One reason¡­ The long-cultivated breathing discipline suddenly collapsed as Bi Fang¡¯s breathing turned abruptly heavy, and his heart began beating violently. His chest swelled with immense joy, which within a few seconds, nearly caused passersby to take notice. Bi Fang¡¯s wild temperament, honed over a long term of living in the wilderness, stood out starkly against the ease of the city. This was due to high-pressure situations causing intense hormonal secretions, what many people refer to as ¡®manliness.¡¯ Many special forces and frontline detectives exhibit this sort of aura, which allows those with similar experiences and a heightened sensitivity to exchange just a glance and sense that the other is no ordinary person. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the city, such a person is like a drop of red ink spilled into plaster; naturally eye-catching ¡ª and at this moment, Bi Fang was exceptionally conspicuous. This guy, looks so familiar. Is he some kind of celebrity? Just as pedestrians began to notice Bi Fang, the more they looked, the more familiar he seemed, and the more astonished they became. ¡°Hahaha, sorry, I just thought of something delightful,¡± Bi Fang said, scratching the back of his head with a laugh before briskly stepping out of the line, his steps unexpectedly light. With his back turned, Bi Fang¡¯s face was nearly overflowing with a smile. How long had it been since he experienced such a surprise? It was like being offered a pillow when dozy, or being served a steaming bowl of spicy oil-splashed noodles when starved. Utterly comfortable! ¡°Oxygen Uptake Index Enhancement Coupon * 1, exchanged for 4600 Wilderness Points.¡± ¡°Golden coupons really are different, costing over four thousand.¡± Seeing the price of the oxygen coupon, the excitement Bi Fang felt upon encountering the golden coupon subsided slightly. The points he earned from one mission amounted to just over a thousand, never even reaching two thousand, and here was a golden coupon worth three missions¡¯ worth of points. Over four thousand points, it was the most expensive exchange coupon he had encountered so far, not even knowing how much it would enhance, but Bi Fang knew he had to have it. Oxygen uptake. Many people hadn¡¯t even heard of this concept, yet it¡¯s a golden data point among professional athletes. Maximum oxygen uptake, in the field of exercise physiology, is the most direct data for assessing the quality of cardiorespiratory function. It represents the volume of oxygen a person can intake during peak-intensity exercise, at the point when the body can no longer sustain the exercise effort. Acclaimed as the gold standard for evaluating endurance levels, it is one of the important criteria for selecting endurance athletes. A healthy male¡¯s maximum oxygen uptake typically falls between 35-40, and for females, between 27-31. A maximum oxygen uptake value of over 60 often signifies remarkable achievements in aerobic sports. The international top male runners have an average that¡¯s a terrifying 85! What¡¯s considered international top level? Not just any athletes from national teams¡ªthat would be an understatement for them. These individuals are treasures of humanity, representing the group that competes for world championships! They are the pinnacle of human physiological function! Moreover, robust cardiorespiratory health even suggests they will live longer than the average person! As for exceeding ninety, such individuals should no longer be called humans, but rather¡ªmonsters. ¡°` That¡¯s right, this is exactly how Bi Fang felt. Those with a maximum oxygen uptake over ninety were, in his eyes, monstrous beings. They shouldn¡¯t even be called humans. Such people could even jog on Mount Everest! Jogging in the human-forbidden zone with an altitude over 8,800 meters where oxygen is extremely scarce! Just imagining this scene made Bi Fang¡¯s face flush with excitement. A path he had never considered, a scene he had never fantasized about¡ªcould he run on Mount Everest? No, there was no need to run; even walking, step by step, would fulfill the longing of his lifetime. Compared to the number of humans, those who have climbed Mount Everest are few and far between. Among them, over ninety percent of climbers can barely crawl after reaching the summit due to the thin air; they find it difficult to even stand! If that were all, Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t be so excessively excited. The key point is that, according to medical research, maximum aerobic capacity can only be improved by 5-25% through training, while the remaining 72-95% is mainly affected by genetic factors! In other words, this is a talent! Ordinary people, no matter how much they train, could not achieve it! Moreover, the little improvement gained through exercise needs continuous training to maintain. After stopping training for 2 weeks, aerobic work capacity would significantly decline; after 4-12 weeks, cardiorespiratory function could drop by 50%; and after half a year, it would return to the level before training. Furthermore, short-term training can¡¯t improve maximum oxygen uptake either. It usually takes 10-20 weeks of training to see effects, and at least two training sessions a week are necessary for effective improvement. Therefore, the appearance of this gold coupon in the store was what made Bi Fang so excited. Why did he want to climb Mount Everest? The main reason is very simple: it¡¯s a dream, an aspiration. Using the words of New Zealand mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary¡ªthough actually it¡¯s ¡®Hillary,¡¯ but you all understand¡ªit¡¯s ¡°because it¡¯s there.¡± The second reason is the breakthrough of his own limits. The appearance of the enhancement coupon represents such a breakthrough. Bi Fang had already reached the training limit of his maximum oxygen uptake through various exercises and breathing techniques. It was normally impossible to achieve further improvement. Only the System could help Bi Fang break through the limit, reaching realms others have, and even those unattained before. Four thousand six hundred Points¡ªa price he would pay even if it meant selling everything he owned! Bi Fang scrolled down his personal panel. The points from Ruins City were not much, just sixteen hundred, and he never had the habit of saving points, which would be disrespectful to every mission. But fortunately, the System had been updated a long time ago. Apart from earning Wilderness Points from missions, they could also be generated through a certain level of influence and number of followers and could be directly exchanged with money. One point for ten thousand. Except for using it once after the update, Bi Fang had never really touched this piggy bank, nearly forgetting it. He hurriedly clicked to check it, adding up the mission points along. ¡°I¡¯m actually short by one hundred and twenty?¡± Bi Fang was stunned. Not enough points from his output meant he would have to use money, which would be one hundred and twenty thousand. Honestly, the club¡¯s investments were like an endless pit. This resulted in Bi Fang¡¯s wallet always oscillating between being wealthy and impoverished. Aside from maintaining basic expenses, he didn¡¯t have much surplus funds. Moreover, every trip abroad and the rental of various vehicles were also a huge expense. He rummaged in his pocket for the storage certificate, Bi Fang speechless with tears in his eyes. The gold bars Hask gave him hadn¡¯t even warmed up, and now he was forced to part with them. There was no choice¡ªthe enhancement coupon would take some time to adapt to, so the sooner, the better. Bi Fang reluctantly chose to exchange. The sound of gold coins falling seemed to echo in his ears, clear and crisp, causing his heart to bleed. Although Bi Fang didn¡¯t care much about money, he had the habit of saving. This was probably a mindset that stemmed from poverty in his previous life. Every time he saw a large sum of money disappear, it always pained him for a long time. ¡°Speaking of which, after Mount Everest, will the Points for completing missions increase? Otherwise, the next time I come across a gold coupon¡­¡± Bi Fang gasped sharply, immediately feeling a twinge of pain in his liver. But seeing the gold coupon appear in his backpack, Bi Fang didn¡¯t have time to dwell on the pain and found a secluded corner in the lobby to click ¡°Adapt.¡± Each time he used enhancements provided by the System, Bi Fang would secretly record the process with a camera, reviewing the footage later to check if there were any abnormalities compared to normal humans. The findings proved that, aside from occasionally feeling sleepy, there were no conspicuous external signs. So at this moment, he was somewhat impatient. In the void, the gold coupon turned into a fine powder that enveloped Bi Fang, merging into his body. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, feeling this sleepy?¡± With bleary eyes, Bi Fang peered through the plants at the corner at the bustling lobby and slowly lowered his head. In his deep sleep, Bi Fang dreamt that he was on a freezing cold prairie. The weather was so cold that he was almost frozen solid, but soon, a gust of wind arrived. At first, it was chilling, but gradually, it became warm. The wind brought humidity and warmth, the massive ice armor cracked, and snow honey water flowed through the cracks. The path, long silent, was now exposed to the sunlight, breathing in the fresh air with abandon. The tender green grass seemed like spring water surging up from deep within the earth, spilling over the rolling prairie all the way to the horizon. The sky was a tile blue with white clouds, and flocks of geese crossed overhead, changing direction with ease. He himself was a lone herdsman, galloping on horseback, free to go wherever he wished, unfettered. ¡°Mr. Bi¡­ Mr. Bi, Mr. Bi!?¡± ¡°Uh, huh!¡± Bi Fang suddenly woke up, reflexively grabbing the man¡¯s wrist and twisting it behind his back. But before the man could cry out in pain, Bi Fang, upon recognizing him, quickly released his grip and raised both hands halfway. The security officer¡¯s pain signals seemed to only now reach his brain, causing him to cry out in pain and attracting the attention of the few remaining people around. ¡°Sorry, sorry, I¡¯m really sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to.¡± Bi Fang held his hands halfway up, his face a mixture of embarrassment and shame. He glanced around and instantly understood everything. In contrast to the crowded lobby during the day, the place now seemed vast and empty, with even the slightest sound creating echoes that carried far. Not far away, the man¡¯s colleagues were hurrying over. It was clear that after using the gold coupon, he had accidentally fallen asleep and had even slept until night. Someone had kindly tried to wake him, only to be unexpectedly restrained by Bi Fang, who might have twisted the man¡¯s joint in the process. But there was no helping it; he had just returned from Yemen, and his nerves hadn¡¯t completely relaxed yet. Plus, with Wild Instinct, many of his actions were done unconsciously. ¡°I am really very sorry. Do you want to go to the hospital to have it looked at? I¡¯ll cover all the costs, including loss of work and so on, I truly apologize.¡± ¡°No, no problem, just a bit painful.¡± The security officer grimaced in pain but kept waving his hand dismissively. ¡°Hey, Old Huang, are you alright? You, step away from him!¡± The colleague of the man was already hurrying over from a distance, and the man quickly stood out to wave his hand: ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just a misunderstanding, I accidentally tripped.¡± The colleague looked skeptical: ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Really! Don¡¯t worry.¡± The man took a few more steps forward to show his colleague, spoke a few words, and then the colleague finally dropped their guard and left. The man turned his head back to look at Bi Fang, who felt even more awkward. He hadn¡¯t anticipated that after hurting the man¡¯s arm, the man would still cover for him. He felt overwhelmingly remorseful. However, the man¡¯s attitude made Bi Fang guess: ¡°You¡­ do you know me?¡± The man moved his shoulders, wincing and twitching at the corner of his mouth, but still laughed heartily, ¡°That¡¯s right, I¡¯ve seen your live broadcast, Master Fang!¡± Bi Fang felt even more embarrassed. He hadn¡¯t expected the other party to simply wave his hand and say, ¡°No worries, I understand, it¡¯s normal to be tense after just coming back from Yemen. And it¡¯s also my fault, I shouldn¡¯t have come close to you. I always thought Cao Mengde¡¯s ¡®I enjoy killing people in my dreams¡¯ was just a bluff, but it seems today I¡¯ve been enlightened.¡± The joke broke the ice, and the tense atmosphere suddenly became more lively. Bi Fang also breathed a sigh of relief. Apologizing and compensating was the easy part; he had indeed made a mistake. What worried him was the other person making a big deal out of it, which could hold him back. Time was precious, and he couldn¡¯t afford to waste it. Today he would send his parting gifts, and tomorrow the expedition was set to start. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault, so please hurry to the hospital to get checked out. I¡¯ll cover the costs.¡± ¡°Eh, there¡¯s no need; you released your grip quickly, and I¡¯ve had some training. Look, it¡¯s almost all better now. At worst, I¡¯ll apply some plaster tonight, and that should be good enough,¡± Huang Tianming said, waving his hands and rotating his shoulders to show he was all right, while giving Bi Fang a thumbs up. ¡°Master Fang, I watched your entire live broadcast the other day, and man, you¡¯re tough as nails! You really made the Huaxia people proud. Those animals don¡¯t know the first thing about humanity, doing things that harm both heaven and reason! And who says only foreigners have the guts to adventure and strive? Whether it¡¯s the giant beasts in the rivers or rainforest expeditions, we don¡¯t have that kind of program here. They just let those sissies dance and sing, but the fact is, we Huaxia people are just as good, if not better, and even more kickass!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the big deal about editing? It¡¯s all fake. Live broadcasting is where it¡¯s at, which is irrefutable! Unfortunately, I don¡¯t have much ability or money to help you out. But what¡¯s a little twist? Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Huang Tianming ended up comforting Bi Fang instead and patted him on the shoulder. ¡°This¡­¡± Bi Fang still felt quite regretful. ¡°It¡¯s alright, it¡¯s alright. If you really feel bad about it, why not tell me where you¡¯re planning to go next? When will the next broadcast start?¡± At this, Huang Tianming¡¯s eyes lit up. He was a true fan of Bi Fang, almost never missing a broadcast unless work prevented him. He genuinely felt this way despite being separated by a screen. Watching Bi Fang¡¯s survival adventures in various dangerous places abroad was fucking thrilling, way better than any movie! Especially after Jerret¡¯s survival show aired, it highlighted Master Fang¡¯s strength, fearlessness, and exceptional skills, truly making him the top survival expert of the wilderness! Pride! Genuine pride! ¡°For the next episode, I¡¯ve indeed made preparations.¡± ¡°Hey, spill it, spill it. If you don¡¯t tell me, I really won¡¯t let you off,¡± Huang Tianming pressed eagerly. Bi Fang glanced around, leaned in, and whispered, ¡°I¡¯m going to climb Mount Everest!¡± ¡°Hiss! Mount Everest? Oh, my dear mother!¡± Huang Tianming exclaimed. Bi Fang scratched his head, seeing that the passersby who had finally dispersed were gathering around again, somewhat at a loss for words. Why does everyone have such a strong reaction? He hadn¡¯t even started climbing yet! Chapter 391: 389: Reserve a Spot Chapter 391: Chapter 389: Reserve a Spot ¡°` Those who reserved a spot, you know what I mean. Edited in the wee hours. The elevator doors opened and a tide of noise rushed in, accompanied by billowing black smoke. Bi Fang coughed twice, the black smoke cleared, and he looked around the office in surprise. For those in the know, it was Yao Jun¡¯s office. To the uninformed, it looked like a rock band¡¯s recording studio¡ªplus a recent fire. Yao Jun set down the wrench, supported himself against the wall to turn on the light. There was no Vanguard Band, just an antique engine booming loudly, its chains and gears clacking together like the tight bite of skeletons, constantly emitting thick smoke, like a dark steed from Hell. Pop! A clear, cracking sound echoed. Bi Fang dodged a flying part, which clearly harbored intentions of escape, and left a shallow dent on the gray-white wall. With an annoyed kick, Bi Fang sent a wrench on the floor flying and said, ¡°Where did you dig up this antique? Planning to take it to an off-road race?¡± Yao Jun wiped the sweat from his forehead, leaving a streak of black oil. He animatedly explained, ¡°It¡¯s not mine. It¡¯s an antique my dad collected. A few days ago, for some reason, he suddenly remembered this thing, then found out when he rode it that it had broken down long ago, the engine won¡¯t even turn, and insisted I fix it. I¡¯ve been at it all day and it seems to have gotten worse. Some parts are discontinued, and they¡¯re even hard to buy.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you just get someone else to fix it?¡± Yao Jun shook his head. ¡°No way, the old man specifically named me to do the repair.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Bi Fang got curious, ¡°It¡¯s not like you broke it¡­ alright, never mind, I understand.¡± Bi Fang covered his eyes, feeling weary. Yao Jun, feeling somewhat embarrassed, laughed sheepishly and cleared a pathway in the cluttered office, then asked in puzzlement, ¡°How did you think of coming to me? The club¡¯s matters still need some time. Although most of the facilities are set up, we still need to do some testing. We¡¯re planning to release some tickets for a trial run, and the online mode isn¡¯t ready yet. Didn¡¯t you say last time you were going to introduce someone to us?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, can¡¯t even get in touch with them. Let¡¯s talk later, if I haven¡¯t made contact by May, you¡¯ll have to find someone else.¡± Bi Fang found a spot to sit down and casually explained a bit. He had intended to give a helping hand, but what could he do if he couldn¡¯t find the person? Yao Jun nodded; after all, it wasn¡¯t charity work. They couldn¡¯t really delay the project just for one person. He handed Bi Fang a cup of brewed tea and sighed, ¡°That was really close. I saw it on the screen, all those guns flashing, it made my eyes hurt and my heart almost jumped out of my chest. So, were you able to catch them? Half the face was captured, even though it was a bit blurry, it shouldn¡¯t be hard, right?¡± Unexpectedly, Bi Fang shook his head, which truly surprised Yao Jun. ¡°The person was caught on camera and still can¡¯t be apprehended?¡± ¡°It¡¯s difficult!¡± Bi Fang took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, ¡°You don¡¯t often run out there and don¡¯t know much about this area. It¡¯s not just about knowing who¡¯s at fault, you can¡¯t just make a judgment. And if it was just small fry it¡¯d be one thing, but you can tell from the show of force, the other party is organized, and definitely not small.¡± That night, the distance was too great to estimate the size of the boats, but boats that could hold a hundred people definitely weren¡¯t small. The overall quality of the other party wasn¡¯t something average gangs could match. Compared to those bandit gangs, it was like a dimension reduction strike, not just in terms of weapons and equipment, but in overall quality. Orders flowed without violation. The neat and orderly manner in which they operated could only come from a trained team. Bi Fang couldn¡¯t think of any place other than the military that could develop such team quality. Any organizational structure, once it scales up, becomes difficult to deal with. It¡¯s not something easily brought down by a blurry photo, especially overseas. ¡°If you can¡¯t handle them, aren¡¯t you in danger? They won¡¯t retaliate, will they?¡± Yao Jun was startled after hearing this. A whole group of fierce bandits, and Bi Fang had taken their photo, making it public knowledge. Wasn¡¯t that like offending the other party? ¡°Should I talk to Lin Chang and figure out a way to help you push it down¡­¡± ¡°` ¡°There¡¯s no need, it¡¯s all been a long time, everyone online already knows. What¡¯s the use of remedying it now? And if I dared to do it, I¡¯m not afraid of them,¡± Bi Fang shrugged his shoulders, seeming unconcerned, ¡°You think real life is like in the movies, offend someone and they¡¯d go to the trouble of eradicating you completely? The larger the organization, the more methodical they are with their actions. A little investigation would show them that I¡¯m just a broadcaster, and that taking those photos was merely an accident, not intentional tracking. Since it was accidental, there¡¯s no point in fretting over what¡¯s already happened.¡± ¡°Unless we became archenemies, they wouldn¡¯t seek revenge just for the sake of it, unless we were unlucky enough to meet again, but that¡¯s even less likely. I¡¯m just going to visit Ruins City once; I¡¯m essentially a wilderness broadcaster. The chances of going to such a place again are next to none; those guys are not going to venture into the wilderness, would they? That would be stretching their business too wide.¡± Though both involve illegal trafficking, the sale of humans and animals are completely different matters, with entirely different supply and demand networks, and it¡¯s extremely hard to bridge the two separate chains of interests. Both are hugely profitable, but so too are the risks very high. Double the risk isn¡¯t a simple matter of one plus one, but rather a multiplier effect; getting involved in just one can feed you to the point of bursting. Bi Fang didn¡¯t believe they could effectively manage both. If they were that formidable, then the organization must be so vast it¡¯s beyond even what he could imagine. Yao Jun listened for a while and somewhat understood; in summary, Bi Fang would be sticking to the wilderness and avoiding those city thugs in the future. But Yao Jun was still somewhat worried: ¡°But I always feel¡­¡± ¡°You need to realize one thing, if they could handle both, then my personal worries are useless.¡± If things really did take a turn for the worst, what good would his worries do? Could he stay home forever and never go out? Bi Fang tapped his temple and smiled: ¡°Human troubles often stem from excessive imagination and negative speculation, not from facts, but from ¡®thoughts.¡¯ Once you fear the future you¡¯ve fantasized about, you hesitate.¡± ¡°Fear of these guys, apart from causing me sleepless nights, brings no benefit.¡± What he could do was continuously grow stronger, creating dazzling sights on the path of adventure, getting stronger. That was what truly mattered. Yao Jun¡¯s eyes widened, and he was momentarily stupefied until Bi Fang waved a hand in front of him to bring him back to reality. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Yao Jun didn¡¯t reply but instead exclaimed in admiration, ¡°Incredible!¡± Bi Fang said in annoyance: ¡°Stop talking nonsense. You¡¯ve distracted me so much I¡¯ve forgotten what I came here for; our conversation has strayed. I came to you because I need a favor.¡± ¡°Just say it, I¡¯ll help wherever I can!¡± ¡°I want to borrow some of your equipment; I have a big plan.¡± ¡°No problem! You can take everything you need! I can afford it! But if it¡¯s alright to ask, what¡¯s the plan? Are you sure you don¡¯t need to rest for a while? This could be very dangerous.¡± When Yao Jun heard what Bi Fang was planning, he turned serious. The journey through the city ruins had been incredibly dangerous, fraught with fatal perils that terrified not just the viewers but also Bi Fang himself, who had experienced it firsthand. Yao Jun, also an adventure enthusiast, was well aware of the enormous toll such high-stakes livestreaming could take on a person¡¯s vitality. It¡¯s like someone giving their all for a task; they might lose their zest for a while afterward, languishing in a state of fatigue-induced comfort, both physically and mentally. To then engage in risky activities could indeed lead to mishaps. The simplest analogy is being exhausted for hours after a math test, and Bi Fang¡¯s intensive livestreams were even more draining, requiring at least a week¡¯s recovery. Yao Jun had expected Bi Fang to rest for a while after returning, so he was surprised by the quick turnaround. As both a top contributor in the livestream and a real-life friend, he was eager to witness Bi Fang create miracles, but he didn¡¯t want him to take any risks. Particularly with Bi Fang being so young, he worried that his popularity and some overzealous fans might cloud his judgment, prompting him to recklessly challenge his limits and seek greater human peaks. ¡°` Adventure, you see, if you really want to pursue it, it¡¯s an endless journey! Humans have their peak, but adventure has none! The spirit of adventure has none! Bi Fang waved his hand, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know what you¡¯re thinking. I¡¯m not that suicidal. I¡¯m just borrowing it for now. I need to go abroad earlier this time and train for at least a month before I take any action.¡± Yao Jun finally breathed a sigh of relief, and Bi Fang continued, ¡°I plan to train for a month, and then try my hand at the snow mountains!¡± Train for a month before taking on the snow mountains? Even Master Fang needed a month of training before attempting it, and he even came specifically to borrow gear from him. The difficulty must be quite substantial, right? Yao Jun took a sip of tea, ¡°Abroad? The Alps? Or maybe the Alaska Range? Or perhaps¡­¡± ¡°Mount Everest.¡± ¡°Puh! Cough cough cough, cough cough cough!¡± Yao Jun suddenly sprayed the tea from his mouth, choking on the leaves that came out of his nose, leaning against the office desk, coughing nonstop. It took him a long time to pull out a tissue to wipe his face clean and take deep breaths. Awesome, my brother! Yao Jun was completely taken aback. Damn it, are you saying you want to climb the world¡¯s highest mountain? Be reasonable, you¡¯re a wilderness broadcaster, what¡¯s with the sudden switch to extreme sports? Can we not joke around? You¡¯re here to borrow gear? Why not borrow a coffin plank while you¡¯re at it? Considering our long-standing friendship, I¡¯ll spend a fortune to craft you a luxury casket of agarwood to ensure you rest with a scent soothing even in death! Bi Fang laughed and didn¡¯t continue to provoke Yao Jun. Unlike laymen like Matthew and Hask, Yao Jun was very knowledgeable about various extreme sports, especially the famous Mount Everest, and was well aware of its difficulties. It wasn¡¯t something you could just coax someone into believing with a couple of words. But Bi Fang knew his own goal. This was not just a mission from the System. If he couldn¡¯t ascend Mount Everest once in his life, he would regret it forever. ¡°You¡¯re not a layman, so you should know that in the world, there are not only Mount Everest above eight thousand meters; in fact, there are fourteen such peaks in total. Although Everest is the highest, it¡¯s not the most difficult. It doesn¡¯t even rank in the top ten; it wouldn¡¯t even make the top ten. I¡¯m not aiming for the toughest, like Annapurna I, which I wouldn¡¯t even consider without half a year of training as a foundation.¡± Yao Jun was at a loss for words, unable to find anything to rebuke the nonchalance with which Bi Fang spoke. It seemed only natural, so all he could muster was a feeble, ¡°But it¡¯s still Mount Everest.¡± ¡°It¡¯s already April now. The best climbing window is approaching. I don¡¯t want to wait another year. The seed of adventure has been sown, and waiting another year would drive me mad. In one year, it will burst through my skull, growing out of my brain. Do you understand?¡± sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang placed his hand on his Heavenly Spirit Cover and spread his fingers as if a giant tree were really sprouting from it, a sight that made onlookers¡¯ eyelids twitch. ¡°Ah, this, ah, this¡­¡± Bi Fang earnestly patted Yao Jun on the shoulder, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to see me become a vegetable with a plant growing out of my head in a year¡¯s time, then support me.¡± Yao Jun was completely speechless, with the conversation at this point, what more could he say? If the other party had truly decided, he had no right to interfere anyway. ¡°This is just too crazy!¡± ¡°You¡¯re only thirty, that¡¯s exactly the age to be crazy, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Damn right, let¡¯s do it! If you die, don¡¯t come back and haunt me as a ghost!¡± ¡°Hahaha, don¡¯t worry, if I really die, it¡¯ll be on Goddess Peak and I¡¯ll return to the embrace of nature. What would I want with a smelly man like you?¡± ¡°Have you told Wang Yongbo yet?¡± ¡°No, he¡¯s older and can¡¯t take it as well as you. I¡¯m afraid it might just scare him to death.¡± Yao Jun: ¡°¡­¡± On April 17th, the second day after returning home, Bi Fang personally checked his equipment and zipped up the seal bag. All the gear provided by Yao Jun alone, his collection was nothing short of terrifying. Ice axe, snow goggles, gloves, to the moisture-wicking breathable socks, everything was accounted for. Just this one seal bag, the equipment inside was worth millions. And Bi Fang had prepared not just one, but three such bags. Amateur climbing, even to meet the most basic conditions, costs at least 200,000 RMB. You see, because of weather and other factors, there¡¯s no guarantee that even after spending the money, one would definitely reach the summit. In other words, tens of thousands of RMB could potentially go down the drain in one trip. For non-amateurs, to fulfill the highest demands, a climb could cost millions, and it¡¯s not just scaremongering. The snow mountain expedition was incomparable to any previous adventure. It was too extreme, and the more extreme the sport, the higher the demand for equipment. The requirements could range from major items down to a pair of socks. Even though System equipment was of higher quality, with the Points Bi Fang had accumulated after surviving Ruins City, it was entirely impossible to gather so much gear all at once. However, he found something great in the System¡¯s store. ¡°Universal Prop Coupon.¡± From Bi Fang borrowing equipment from Yao Jun, the use of this coupon was self-explanatory. ¡°Phew, now I still need to contact Jerret and the others. I¡¯ll let Wang Yongbo know at the last minute, just in case it¡¯s too much for him.¡± Bi Fang wiped the sweat from his forehead. The upcoming climb of Mount Everest was truly an extreme journey. A single mistake could be fatal, which is why Bi Fang wanted to ensure everything was perfect. He didn¡¯t want to leave any regrets. That¡¯s why he needed to get in touch with Jerret, the industry¡¯s top photography team. As he thought about reaching out to them, Bi Fang habitually opened the System store. It was the store¡¯s refresh day, and he wanted to see if there were any good items. Since he hadn¡¯t spent on equipment, he still had quite a few Points left. As his eyes skimmed over some regular items, a golden ticket suddenly caught his eye. At that moment, Bi Fang¡¯s breath became slightly heavier. ¡°Oxygen Uptake Index Enhancement Coupon*1¡± ¡°` Chapter 392: 390: Take a Place Chapter 392: Chapter 390: Take a Place Seeing this title. Everyone should understand. Procrastination at its latest stage, editing at dawn From Lhasa to Kathmandu, after ninety minutes, the group finally landed at Tribhuvan International Airport, with Yao Jun and Wang Yongbo¡¯s faces still flushed with excitement that refused to fade. This flight, was it worth a fortune or what! The only thought on their minds right now was not to climb Mount Everest, but to buy ten more tickets, get back on the plane, and just fly back and forth for fun! On the other side, as soon as he stepped out of the cabin, Bi Fang saw a burly white man holding a sign that read ¡°Master Fang¡±. Yao Jun took deep breaths of fresh air and explained after seeing the sign, ¡°It must be from the guide company, coming to take us over.¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang nodded, walked forward to greet the man, and before he could introduce himself, the white man came up enthusiastically, ¡°My God, I simply can¡¯t believe it, I¡¯m actually going to guide the legendary GOD FANG.¡± ¡°You know me?¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯ve seen the show you recorded in Ugly Country, it was truly thrilling, your fight with the Brown Bear was absolutely blood-pumping! I¡¯m Rob, a real fan of yours and the lead guide for your team. I was so shocked when the company showed me your information, I never imagined they would assign me to lead your team. Sorry, I¡¯m a little too excited.¡± Bi Fang raised an eyebrow, glanced back at Yao Jun who seemed a bit embarrassed, and didn¡¯t say much, but went forward with a smile and shook Rob¡¯s hand, ¡°I¡¯m very pleased to meet you, too.¡± After exchanging pleasantries, Rob began to get down to business. ¡°Although I know you must be eager to climb Mount Everest right away, I¡¯m sorry that it¡¯s too late now, and since you¡¯ve just arrived in Kathmandu, you need to rest. So tonight I¡¯ll take you to a hotel to rest first, and the next day I¡¯ll take you to Everest Base Camp to meet up with the other members, is that okay with Mr. Bi?¡± ¡°Wait a minute, other members?¡± Yao Jun, who had been listening to the arrangements, suddenly looked confused and slightly angry, looked up at Rob, ¡°Didn¡¯t I say to charter it privately? Without any other people! I paid extra!¡± Rob waved his hands repeatedly, ¡°I know, I know, but they all made their bookings before Mr. Yao arrived. Mr. Bi must understand that there are only two windows per year to climb Mount Everest, and there are a lot of people climbing at this time. Considering the time needed for acclimatization, you¡¯ve arrived a bit late, and there simply aren¡¯t enough guides available. But rest assured, they will only accompany you to the Base Camp, and then my colleague will take over the lead. After that, I will be solely responsible for guiding you; you can be assured of that.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± With that, Bi Fang nodded, and seeing this, Yao Jun said no more. As Rob walked ahead to lead the way, Yao Jun leaned in and asked softly, ¡°How did you find this guy, is he reliable?¡± Indeed, I had filmed a show in Ugly Country, but I never dealt with Brown Bears! It was Mugalen who had dealt with the Brown Bears, the only Bear I ever confronted was a Black Bear. Clearly, this guy only glanced at a brief and confused everything, he¡¯s not a real fan of mine and might not have even heard of me before. But Bi Fang wasn¡¯t angry; with over seven billion people in the world, and him not being a famous scientist who changed the world, there was no need for everyone to know him. As far as the other person was concerned, he was just a generous customer, so polite gestures were normal. ¡°Absolutely reliable! Many mountaineers have used this company, they are truly professional, each guide has a professional certification. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can ask him yourself.¡± ¡°I believe you, but how much did you pay for the one-on-one service?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that, it wasn¡¯t too expensive.¡± ¡°Spit it out.¡± Yao Jun scratched his head, ¡°Sixty-five thousand per person, including the guide. Originally, our team was supposed to have eight people, but I covered the costs for them. I thought the rest would just turn down the offer, but it turns out they found someone else to lead.¡± ¡°Red Notes?¡± ¡°Ugly Knives.¡± ¡°Hiss!¡± In his former life, Bi Fang had never visited Mount Everest and had never imagined hiring a guide would be so expensive? Sixty-five thousand Ugly Knives¡ªa regular person would have to save up for several years without spending on anything else. Wang Yongbo also counted on his fingers and was shocked by how high that amount was. When could Wolf Fang ever earn that much? But then he thought about it and it seemed reasonable. Even the best guides couldn¡¯t just take people to the summit every time they went up; if they could, the people with the most summits would be the guides, not the climbers. So at most, they would go up to eight thousand meters, perhaps not even that high, but the danger level was still ridiculously high. It was a great risk, essentially making money with their lives on the line. Moreover, after one ascent, it was impossible to continue leading teams without a proper break. During one climbing season, managing to lead two teams was already quite an achievement. Bi Fang had also come to an understanding, ¡°It looks like they are all tycoons. Besides wanting to earn more money, they probably find it hard to refuse directly as it¡¯s easy to offend people.¡± In the business of guiding companies, money is the standard that measures everything. ¡°I¡¯ll pay you back when we return.¡± ¡°No need, it¡¯s just under two million,¡± Yao Jun waved his hand, ¡°If you see me as a friend, then don¡¯t bring this up. Talking about money is hurtful to the relationship, there¡¯s really no need.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Bi Fang bowed his head, sincerely grateful. Yao Jun, username Lord Mu. If it were not for this guy¡¯s willingness to spend lavishly, he couldn¡¯t have become so popular so quickly, could he? Yao Jun touched the back of his head, ¡°Eh, what¡¯s there to be polite about, haha! My old man always thinks I¡¯m squandering money. He¡¯d be delighted to know I¡¯m spending it on you.¡± After settling into the hotel, Bi Fang immediately received a message from Jerret and the others. After greeting Yao Jun and Wang Yongbo, he ran straight to the arranged meeting spot. As soon as they met, before Bi Fang could even ask about the photography team, Jerret put his arm around Bi Fang¡¯s shoulder and said mysteriously, ¡°I know you want to ask about the photography team, but don¡¯t rush. I¡¯ve got an even more important surprise waiting for you.¡± ¡°Surprise? What surprise? Did you prepare a drone that can go up to eight thousand meters for me?¡± Jerret rolled his eyes, somewhat speechless, ¡°Eight thousand meters? Are you kidding? I¡¯ve never even seen one that can go up five thousand meters! It¡¯s that someone wants to meet you!¡± ¡°Someone wants to meet me? Ask them to keep their distance, please. I don¡¯t have time to meet with anyone.¡± Bi Fang was disappointed, having thought there was a real surprise, and all it was, was someone wanting to meet him? Who could be worth my time to meet in person¡ªsome celebrity? ¡°Hey, you might regret it! I¡¯m sure that if you knew who he was, you¡¯d definitely want to meet him, begging me to make it happen!¡± ¡°What are you joking about? Even if it was the Ugly Country President, it¡¯s impossible that I¡¯d be begging you to see him. If there¡¯s no issue, let¡¯s just check the equipment. Otherwise, I¡¯m leaving,¡± Bi Fang said impatiently, reaching for his ear. With that, he turned to leave. Seeing that Bi Fang was really about to leave, Jerret could no longer play dumb and immediately shouted, ¡°It¡¯s David Attenborough! He wants to meet you!¡± Bi Fang braked hard, his eyes widening in disbelief as he turned back to look at Jerret, his mouth slowly opening, his expression bordering on ferocious. Jerret nodded with satisfaction, repeating, ¡°David Attenborough. Not a coincidence, but the very person you¡¯re thinking of. He just happened to pass through Kathmandu, and I happened to have his contact. After all, we¡¯re in the same industry. The Discovery Channel also often makes documentaries. I had thought about meeting a senior from the industry. I never expected that upon meeting him and hearing you were here, he wanted to meet you.¡± Bi Fang felt dizzy, his brain struggling to keep up. Then, overwhelming jubilation clouded his mind, almost making him jump on the spot! If there was anyone in this world he could idolize, it was this elderly gentleman. David Attenborough! The creator of Earth, Frozen Planet, Human Planet, The Life Story, Africa, Blue Planet, Hunting, and so on¡ªthe father of wildlife documentaries! One could even say he was Bi Fang¡¯s predecessor in live streaming nature, except he didn¡¯t use live streaming but turned nature into art through documentaries! In his past and present life, this father of wildlife documentaries was Bi Fang¡¯s idol, indeed, his idol. Apart from those documentaries that were like works of art, David Attenborough was also considered to have traveled the most in history, having explored almost all known ecosystems on Earth! To spend one¡¯s life doing what one loves, personally feeling every corner of the world, getting to know every species, deeply understanding this lonely blue planet, learning about her, comprehending her, loving her, protecting her. This was what Bi Fang had always dreamed of! After crossing over, Bi Fang once thought he might never see his idol again, until later, when he searched online for documentaries, he discovered that this world had an almost exact replica: same name, same works, same experiences! Could there be anything more blissful? Now, his idol actually wanted to meet him! ¡°Quick, quick, take me there!¡± Bi Fang, excited, grabbed Jerret¡¯s sleeve and began dragging him toward the intersection. Jerret reached out to stop him, but found himself unable to break free. Bi Fang¡¯s grip was iron-strong, propelling him against the tide, forcing people to make way for them, as unyielding as boulders in a river. Without any choice, Jerret had to shout, ¡°Wait, wait, you¡¯re going the wrong way, it¡¯s not here, it¡¯s the other side, hahaha, I told you, you would definitely beg me to take you!¡± Realizing he didn¡¯t know the way himself, Bi Fang finally let go. Not daring to delay, Jerret hurriedly led Bi Fang toward their destination. Through the crowd, Bi Fang took out a drone from his backpack, surprising Jerret, who was leading the way, ¡°Do you carry a drone with you all the time?¡± ¡°Not really. I was planning to film Kathmandu tonight as a warm-up for the live stream, but I never expected you to surprise me with such a big one. I want my fans to get a glimpse of my idol! Let them see who their idol¡¯s idol is!¡± Jerret clicked his tongue and shook his head, thinking that Bi Fang might be interested in David Attenborough, but not expecting him to be so excited. As they spoke, Bi Fang quickly started the live stream. Many fans who joined early even heard Bi Fang speak about meeting his idol. The idol¡¯s idol? [Damn, Master Fang started the live stream early? I¡¯m first!] [Wolf Fang is getting worse, no prior notice for the early broadcast, we only knew it was happening soon, but no exact time] [Idol¡¯s idol? Who said Master Fang is my idol? He¡¯s clearly my husband!] [Pfft, shameless woman, if you¡¯re wealthy, buy a mirror; if you¡¯re broke, pee on the ground and look at your own reflection to see if you are worthy to meddle in the relationship between me and Master Fang.] [Are they planning to climb Mount Everest? Why does it look like they¡¯re on a main street?] [This looks so familiar, isn¡¯t this Kathmandu? I think I¡¯ve visited here before, in Nepal. Is Old Fang really climbing Mount Everest? Holy cow, that¡¯s so badass!] [So, what on Earth is Old Fang doing exactly? Who is his idol anyway?] ¡°Hahaha, hello everyone, I¡¯m Bi Fang. I¡¯ll skip the opening speech since I haven¡¯t started the official live broadcast yet. Today, I wanted to give you all a glimpse of the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu, but something unexpected happened. My idol came by, and he even wants to meet me!¡± Bi Fang followed closely behind Jerret while letting the drone fly high, and the audience instantly caught sight of Kathmandu, filled with historical charm. As introduced before, this ancient historical city was permeated with a sense of time, sometimes staring at a wall could even bring tears to your eyes. [If Master Fang replies to me, I¡¯ll tear apart a great white shark with my bare hands, count sand grains in the desert, put rings on ants and install an elevator on Mount Everest.] Bi Fang raised his eyebrows and chuckled, ¡°This user who goes by the very handsome name, I saw your comment. Please hurry up with the elevator installation, so I won¡¯t have to climb Everest with so much effort.¡± Ah, this. Thousands of kilometers away, a viewer named pp instantly turned into a muggle. He had just joked around¡ªamong hundreds of comments flashing by every minute, how could his be noticed? But against all odds, Master Fang actually responded to him. ¡°Haha, just joking, who my idol is, I¡¯m going to keep it a secret for a little longer. You all can guess.¡± Bi Fang teased the audience and then turned the camera to Jerret, ¡°I don¡¯t know if everyone remembers Jerret. Do you recall the last program on the Discovery Channel? Whether it¡¯s marine exploration or group survival, the executive producer behind it all is this guy, a golden producer for the Discovery Channel!¡± Jerret greeted everyone in coordination and even said hello in Chinese¡ªafter all, no one complains about having too much traffic. ¡°This time, I personally invited Jerret to help me bring you all a better live broadcast experience. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll be climbing Mount Everest with the filming team, as well as Lord Mu, the top-ranked player, and my ¡®immediate boss¡¯ Vice President Wang. Of course, the latter two are just joining for fun, don¡¯t take them seriously. I doubt they¡¯ll last above three thousand meters.¡± ¡°Counting the guides, we¡¯ll probably have around eight people in total. The optimal team size for climbing Mount Everest is a seven-person squad, sometimes it can be eight. That¡¯s a reasonable configuration for such an ascent. Any more than that becomes too cumbersome and the climbing becomes extremely dangerous.¡± Dangerous? What kind of danger? Are the guides not able to take care of everyone? The audience posed their questions right on cue. ¡°It¡¯s not that the guides can¡¯t take care of everyone, but because there are many spots on Mount Everest that are difficult to traverse. For each additional person, more time is wasted. There are many crevices and sheer cliffs on Everest where one can only pass by using ladders or ropes, creating a path by connecting tools across two mountains for climbers to cross in turns. For each person that passes, it could take a few minutes, or even up to ten minutes, or half an hour. With all the big and small crevices combined, an extra person can require half a day¡¯s more time. The weather on Everest is unpredictable, and that bit of time could lead to accidents, putting the entire team at risk. Do not find this unbelievable, for it is indeed true. At high altitude, even with oxygen tanks, in low pressure, and extreme cold, normal people can become clumsy, experience difficulties in breathing or even have their intelligence affected.¡± [Slow motion, how slow? Even slower than in the snow? (Funny face)] [Sword~~~~ come~~~~] Chapter 393: 391 Occupy a Spot Chapter 393: Chapter 391 Occupy a Spot *Cough cough cough*, I¡¯m a goner. You can think of it as me procrastinating for a day, and then posting at dawn every day (Dog¡¯s head) Squatting on the spot, Ling Cheng changed On the long bench in the airport waiting hall, tall oxygen tanks piled up into a small mountain, and seated beside it was a young man wearing a black baseball cap, as people coming and going in the hall all curiously looked at this small mound. ¡°Are these oxygen tanks for sale?¡± asked a young man who suddenly approached the man in the baseball cap, nervously. ¡°My grandpa is feeling unwell. Could you make them a bit cheaper? Three hundred is really too expensive.¡± Bi Fang looked up at the old man having trouble breathing on the other side of the bench and casually stuffed a few oxygen bottles into the hands of the young man, ¡°Take them, no charge.¡± ¡°Ah, thank you, thank ¡ª¡± The young man accepted the oxygen tanks with a surprised face, bowed to express his gratitude, but as he lowered his head, his gaze suddenly met those calm eyes, and he instantly became excited, ¡°You, it¡¯s you, Fang!¡± ¡°Shh!¡± Bi Fang motioned to silence him with one hand while firmly grabbing the young man¡¯s wrist with the other, sharply pulling down to keep him from standing up and shouting. The young man was forced to swallow the rest of his words, yet he couldn¡¯t suppress the excitement in his emotions. He bit his lip hard, but the muscles on both sides of his cheeks trembled slightly. If there is a young person in the country who doesn¡¯t recognize Master Fang, he must not know what ideals are, what passion is, what adventure is! ¡°Holy crap, holy crap, is it really Master Fang? I have seen the Wolf Fang official website. Are you going to climb Mount Everest?¡± The young man suppressed his excited heart and asked softly. Bi Fang nodded with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m here on a transfer, won¡¯t stay for long, don¡¯t want to make a fuss, understand?¡± The young man nodded vigorously, ¡°Understood, understood!¡± ¡°Alright, go to your grandpa. He¡¯s been waiting for a long time.¡± ¡°Thank you, thank you, Master Fang.¡± The young man¡¯s heartbeat thumped wildly within his chest, this close and unexpected encounter with his idol was truly thrilling. That was Master Fang, the idol many young people admired, who had personally handed him oxygen tanks! Wolves, bears, sharks, prehistoric creatures, even armed poachers, one after another, beings that sound terrifying just by mention fell before Master Fang¡¯s advancing path; he¡¯s a living legend, an idol in life! That¡¯s what men should fucking be doing! This is the stuff a real man should be into! Watching the young man return to his family hopping and jumping with the oxygen tanks, visibly excited, more and more people who felt unwell but couldn¡¯t afford oxygen tanks started looking at Bi Fang with hope. But before they could get closer ¡ª A clattering noise erupted, and the towering mountain of oxygen tanks toppled over. Two men, one fat and one thin, one tall and one short, suddenly climbed out from the pile, casually throwing out an empty tank, and started breathing from a new one in perfect unison ¡ª causing the focused attention to scatter once again. Within the abundance of oxygen tanks, a few humans could be seen. ¡°Inhale, exhale! Inhale, exhale!¡± The fat and thin, tall and short pair breathed in a synchronized rhythm, their lungs like broken bellows, and Bi Fang was thoroughly exasperated, ¡°Why don¡¯t you just go to the hospital? There¡¯s no need to wait here, just wait for the plane to arrive and I¡¯ll tell you.¡± ¡°No way, there are three more hours, I can hold on! Just get on the plane, and besides, I have money! Had I known, why choose the Lhasa route? Couldn¡¯t I have just flown from somewhere else, why come to a place with such high altitude? Isn¡¯t this torment?¡± Yao Jun glared at Bi Fang, then added, ¡°Besides, how can you be so generous with other people¡¯s stuff? Those were my tanks!¡± ¡°You said you¡¯ve got the money, and besides, Lhasa to Kathmandu is a flight route I specifically chose for you. You definitely won¡¯t want to miss it.¡± Yao Jun scratched his head, somewhat puzzled. What was so special about a flight route that you wouldn¡¯t want to miss it? ¡°Is there a surprise?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll find out when the time comes,¡± Bi Fang said mysteriously, blinking his eyes, then quickly changed the subject, ¡°By the way, did you guys fall asleep on the plane?¡± ¡°Huh? You didn¡¯t sleep?¡± Realization dawned on Bi Fang. No wonder these two guys reacted the moment they got off the plane; it was because of this. Apart from reacting right after deplaning, in fact, many people don¡¯t feel much upon arriving in Lhasa and might even be under the illusion that ¡°I don¡¯t have a headache or shortness of breath, I¡¯m totally not suffering from altitude sickness!¡± That¡¯s because right after disembarking the aircraft, the blood¡¯s oxygen content is still at a sufficient level and hasn¡¯t decreased with the increase in altitude. By the night of the same day and the following day, as the oxygen content in the blood reduces, symptoms of altitude sickness such as headache, nausea, breathlessness, fatigue, and fever will ferociously come rushing in. ¡°But if you¡¯re sleeping, the blood circulation slows down, and because you¡¯re sitting, oxygen isn¡¯t delivered in time. When the plane lands and you wake up to a low oxygen environment, it¡¯s very easy to feel uncomfortable. It seems you both had a good sleep, probably went into deep sleep right away, otherwise enduring a few hours should be no problem.¡± Yao Jun and Wang Yongbo were listening with interest, but at the last sentence, they burst out in anger, ¡°It¡¯s all your fault! You hurried us so much. Last night, I was still busy running errands for you, of course, I¡¯d be sleepy during the day! And you, you do nothing, just need to move your lips, do you have any idea our legs would fall off from running around!¡± Bi Fang just shrugged his shoulders and ignored them. This time, they needed to reach the southern slope of Mount Everest and had to get to Nepal to do so, but the Magic Capital didn¡¯t have direct flights to Nepal. Only from Guang, Kun, Cheng, Lhasa, and places like Hong Kong were direct, and considering both distance and acclimatization, they took the route from Magic Capital to Lhasa to Nepal. Lhasa is situated at an altitude of 3650 meters. If people from the plains travel to Lhasa, they typically experience some degree of altitude sickness. However, Kathmandu, Nepal¡¯s capital, is much better in this respect. Its elevation is only a bit over a thousand meters, and most people have no problem with it. At noon, Bi Fang took the two of them to eat while inhaling oxygen until three in the afternoon when the plane finally landed. The three of them packed their luggage, departed from Lhasa, and flew straight to Nepal¡¯s capital¡ªKathmandu. Kathmandu, commonly known as KTM, is Nepal¡¯s largest city and is located in the Kathmandu Valley, at the confluence of the Bagmati River and Bhingmati River. Surrounded by mountains, KTM was established in the year 723 and is an ancient city with a history of over 1200 years. For many people, their first acquaintance with this beautiful ancient city may have been through the movie Doctor Strange. The exquisite architectural art and ancient wood and stone carvings are the symbols of Nepal¡¯s old culture. Many palaces, temples, pagodas, and gardens were built here by dynasties over the ages. The city covers an area of less than seven square kilometers, yet it¡¯s rich with over two hundred stupas and temples, and nearly three thousand big and small monasteries! Moreover, because KTM is located on the southern slope of the Himalayas, natural barriers protect the city from the cold northern winds. The city faces the warm currents from the Indian Ocean to the south, creating a unique geographical environment. The average monthly maximum temperature is only twenty-nine degrees Celsius, and the minimum is two degrees. With year-round sunshine and green trees surrounding it, it is an excellent destination for tourism. One of the reasons Bi Fang and his companions got off the plane was to meet with Jerret¡¯s photography team here and find a guide company before heading to the campsite. On the plane, Wang Yongbo settled comfortably into his seat. Back on the plane, he had mostly recovered, devoid of his previous lethargy. Seeing Bi Fang, who had also spent half a day in Lhasa yet was unaffected, Wang Yongbo marveled and curiously asked, ¡°You¡¯re so tough; why do we still need a guide?¡± sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang pulled back the curtain, replying, ¡°Surviving in snowy mountains and wild traverses are both about living in extreme environments, but I¡¯m not just about survival. If it was just about existing in the mountain range, I surely wouldn¡¯t need a guide, but that¡¯s not the case. I aim to reach the summit, which is a different concept. Besides, we¡¯re dealing with Mount Everest, and I must know the route up the mountain in advance to make favorable judgments. This is a path that countless climbers have explored with their corpses.¡± The word ¡°corpses¡± gave Wang Yongbo and Yao Jun a shudder, as if they could already see the mountain path paved with bones under the snowy sky. Ignoring the beauty of Mount Everest, it wasn¡¯t just the tallest peak¡ªit was clearly a towering tombstone! Just as the two were chatting, Bi Fang tapped the window with his knuckle, ¡°Pay attention, this may be your only chance. I specially purchased a window seat for this reason.¡± Yao Jun and Wang Yongbo curiously stuck out their heads. The plane was still steadily climbing when suddenly, the cloud cover below became sparse. The hazy fog slowly dissipated, and people¡¯s pupils dilated quickly in response. Those were mountains! Huge mountains! The Himalayas, bathed in the glow of sunset, stretched across the western horizon like a natural barrier between Huaxia and Nepal. A pale golden fringe outlined the division between the mountain range and the sky, bright enough to dazzle the eyes. But the sunset could not suppress the luster of the stars¡ªthe seven steel-blue stars rose into the golden sky, their light as sharp as freshly forged swords. From above the clouds, one could admire the majestic and expansive ranges, the Transhimalayas and the Himalayas, with the meandering rivers shimmering in blue light, securing an unparalleled God¡¯s-eye view. In Bi Fang¡¯s brown pupils reflected the likeness of the Roof of the World, he spoke softly, ¡°From Chengdu to Kathmandu, stopping over in Lhasa, this is the only flight route in the world that flies over Mount Everest and is also hailed as one of the world¡¯s most beautiful routes.¡± This is the part of the flight from Lhasa to Nepal that makes the ticket price worth it! ¡°Damn, no wonder you insisted on flying from Lhasa. So, this was the reason. I burned the midnight oil to snag these tickets, totally worth it!¡± Yao Jun praised loudly, his eyes unblinking, as every blink now would become a life¡¯s regret. Everyone greedily took in the view beneath them, even though their eyes were already dry to the point of burning. The last rays of warmth touched the interstices of the mountain range. Falcons darted swiftly through the sky, and in the valleys, an unknown variety of small yellow flowers piled up to knee height forming a sea of blooms that extended beyond the sightline to where the mountain met the sky. Riding the wind¡¯s sway, the flowers surged in waves, as the frozen ground gently breathed in the precious thawing air. ¡°A rainbow, a rainbow!¡± someone suddenly shouted. All eyes shifted toward the sky, even the seasoned flight attendants couldn¡¯t help but cover their mouths in awe. Indeed, it was a semi-circular arc of light that spanned from one edge of golden light to the distant horizon. Such pure colors, magically suspended in mid-air, made all the rainbows one had seen in life seem less astonishing. ¡°How can there be a rainbow without rain?¡± someone wondered aloud in surprise. ¡°It¡¯s an ice rainbow!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s pupils expanded to their limits, his heart racing, ¡°Rainbows don¡¯t only appear after rain. As long as the air is filled with enough tiny droplets and sunlight, a rainbow can occur. But up here at 10,000 meters, the air is filled with ice crystals. You can only see this rare phenomenon when the light from the sun passes perfectly through the high cirrus clouds. This is not just a rainbow, but a sundog!¡± Yao Jun asked out of curiosity, ¡°How rare is it?¡± ¡°You might only see it once in your lifetime!¡± ¡°That¡¯s how it is here, everything is simple. A patch of green grass, all you see is green. When the sky is clear, all you see is blue. A rainbow colors half the sky, unlike in the east, where everywhere you look is filled with people,¡± an excited Tibetan with flushed cheeks explained. ¡°There are mountains! Mountains!¡± another person exclaimed. Mountains? What wasn¡¯t mountain here? As the crowd pondered in confusion, they suddenly began to space out. It was a mountain. A real mountain! It was almost unbelievable to the eyes that when the last sunlight spread over the earth, a great mountain draped in clouds and reaching towards the sky appeared before them. The sunlight glowed golden at the mountain¡¯s summit, and the clouds wandered near the top. Many on the plane had never imagined that the aircraft they were on would brush past this grand and solemn mountain. Suddenly witnessing it felt like a miracle that filled them with admiration. ¡°Many landscapes must be seen with our own eyes to truly understand what they look like; otherwise, they will always remain as imagined in your mind,¡± someone mused. ¡°It¡¯s the Goddess Peak,¡± Bi Fang¡¯s wildly beating heart suddenly calmed down. It was not for lack of excitement, but because he was so overwhelmed by the immense beauty that it numbed him. A warm current flowed from his scalp to his toes and eventually, with each pore¡¯s expansion, turned into a cold sweat that left his body. This was what he had been most looking forward to, most desired, and what he had always wanted to hold onto¡ªhis faith! ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯ve been pursuing,¡± Bi Fang¡¯s voice was almost imperceptible, but Yao Jun behind him caught it. Yao Jun watched Bi Fang¡¯s devout expression and a solemn feeling filled his heart. What had drawn him to Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcasts? He too loved the sport, knew many professionals who had made their mark in his field, but none had ever given him the same sense of shock that Bi Fang had. Where, exactly, did these people fall short compared to Bi Fang? At that moment, Yao Jun finally deeply understood. Not having missed any of his live-streamed adventures, what a fortunate thing it was. Was this what Master Fang sought? Wang Yongbo, in the front row, leaned on his seat, completely drained of strength. Watching Bi Fang¡¯s live streams had always made him feel the tension, fear, and boiling of his blood. But he had never experienced ¡°beauty¡± as profoundly as he did today. Is this what adventure is? Is this what Nature is? Is this the thing I¡¯ve been missing? ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful!¡± Chapter 394: 392: Reserve a Spot Chapter 394: Chapter 392: Reserve a Spot Reserving a spot, as the name suggests Ling Cheng edited The long-cultivated breathing techniques suddenly collapsed, and Bi Fang¡¯s breathing grew rapid and heavy. His heart started to pound fiercely, his chest swelling with immense joy. Within a few seconds, his expression nearly drew sideways glances from passersby. Bi Fang¡¯s wild temperament, honed from years of living and traveling in the wilderness, stood in stark contrast to the comfortable urban environment. This was the result of high pressure leading to intense secretion of hormones, what is commonly known as ¡°manliness.¡± Many special forces and frontline detectives possess a similar demeanor, which is why sensitive individuals with similar experiences can often exchange glances and immediately sense that there is something extraordinary about one another. Such a person mixed into the city is like a drop of red ink spilling into plaster¡ªconspicuous by nature. At this moment, Bi Fang was particularly eye-catching. This guy, he looks so familiar. Is he some kind of celebrity? Just as the passersby began to take notice of Bi Fang, finding him more and more familiar, more and more astonishing¡­ ¡°Hahaha, sorry, I just thought of something delightful,¡± Bi Fang said as he touched the back of his head and let out a laugh, quickly stepping away from the crowd with surprisingly light steps. With his back turned, Bi Fang¡¯s smile was almost overflowing. How long had it been since he felt such a pleasant surprise? It was as if a pillow had been delivered while feeling drowsy or a steaming hot bowl of spicy oil-drenched noodles handed over when hungry. So comfortable! ¡°Oxygen Uptake Index Enhancement Coupon*1, exchanged for 4600 Wilderness Points.¡± ¡°Gold coupons really are different, huh? They cost over four thousand.¡± Seeing the price of the oxygen coupon, Bi Fang¡¯s excitement at encountering the gold coupon subsided slightly. After all, he would only earn around a thousand points from a single mission, never even reaching two thousand. This one gold coupon was equivalent to the points from three of his missions. Over four thousand points; this was the most expensive exchange coupon he had encountered so far, and he didn¡¯t even know by how much it would increase his index. Nevertheless, Bi Fang knew he had to have it. Oxygen uptake. Many people might not have even heard of this concept, yet it is a golden datum among professional athletes. Maximum oxygen uptake is an essential indicator in the field of exercise physiology for assessing the condition of heart and lung function. It represents the amount of oxygen the body can absorb when engaged in maximum intensity exercises until the body is no longer able to sustain the effort. Revered as the gold standard for evaluating endurance levels, it is one of the crucial selection criteria for endurance athletes. A healthy male¡¯s maximum oxygen uptake is usually between 35-40, while for females, it is 27-31. Anyone with a value over 60 can achieve significant accomplishments in aerobic exercises. The average for international top male runners is an astounding 85! What does international top mean? It¡¯s not just athletes at the national team level; that would be underestimating them. These individuals are the jewels of humanity, representing those who compete for world championships¡ªthe peak of human physical capabilities! Moreover, excellent cardiopulmonary function could even mean that they will live longer than the average person! ¡°` As for those with a maximum oxygen uptake over ninety, they should not be called humans but¨Cmonsters. Yes, that¡¯s exactly what Bi Fang felt. Those who have a maximum oxygen uptake over ninety are like monsters in his eyes, they shouldn¡¯t even be called humans. Such people could even jog on Mount Everest! Jog on Mount Everest at altitudes over 8,800 meters, where oxygen is extremely scarce, in an area that is off-limits to humans! Just thinking about this scene caused Bi Fang¡¯s face to flush with excitement. Roads he had never imagined, scenes he had never fantasized about, could he run on Mount Everest? No, there was no need to run, even walking, step by step, would be the longing of his lifetime. Compared to the number of humans, those who have climbed Mount Everest are few and far between, and among them, over ninety percent can barely crawl after reaching the summit, unable to even stand due to the thin air! If that were all, Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t be too excited, but the most crucial point was, according to medical research, maximum oxygen uptake can only be increased by 5-25% through training, and the other 72-95% is mainly affected by genetic factors! In other words, this is a talent! Ordinary people, no matter how much they train, can¡¯t come close! Moreover, the little that is improved through exercise also needs to be maintained with constant training. Stop training for 2 weeks, and your aerobic capacity will noticeably decrease; stop for 4-12 weeks, and your cardiopulmonary function could drop by 50%; stop for half a year, and your cardiopulmonary function will return to the level before training. Furthermore, maximum oxygen uptake cannot be increased with short-term training; it typically takes 10-20 weeks of training to see effects, and you need to train at least twice a week to effectively improve. Therefore, the appearance of this gold coupon in the store was what so excited Bi Fang. Why did he want to climb Mount Everest? The main reason is very simple, it¡¯s a dream, an aspiration, to answer with the words of New Zealand mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary (actually it¡¯s Hillary, but you all understand), because it¡¯s there. The second reason is his pursuit of breaking through his limits. The appearance of the enhancement coupon is also a form of limit-breaking. Through various training and breathing methods, Bi Fang had already reached the training limit of his maximum oxygen uptake. It was impossible to improve it any further under normal circumstances. Only the System could help Bi Fang break through the limit and reach the realm that others had reached, or even those previously unreachable. 4600 points must be acquired, even if it means selling every last pot and pan! Bi Fang scrolled down his personal panel. The points gained from Ruins City weren¡¯t much, only 1600, and he had never been in the habit of saving points¡ªit was a disrespect to every mission. However, fortunately, the System had updated some time ago. Wilderness Points could be earned not only from missions but also from a certain level of influence and the number of fans. Besides, they could be directly exchanged with money. One point for ten thousand. Apart from the time right after the update, Bi Fang had hardly touched this piggy bank, almost forgetting it existed. He hurriedly clicked on it to check and added it up with the mission points. ¡°Still short by one hundred and twenty?¡± Bi Fang was dumbfounded. If the production was not enough, it had to be converted with money, and that was one hundred and twenty thousand. To be frank, the investment into the club was like a bottomless pit, which has led to Bi Fang¡¯s wallet always being in a state of being wealthy yet impoverished. Aside from maintaining basic expenses, there wasn¡¯t much surplus, and each trip abroad, renting various vehicles was also a huge expense. Fishing out the gold storage certificate from his pocket, Bi Fang was speechless with tears, Hask¡¯s gold bars hadn¡¯t even warmed up yet, and he had to give them up. There was no choice, he needed some time to adapt to the enhancement coupon he would use, and naturally, the sooner the better. Bi Fang could only reluctantly choose to exchange. It was as if the sound of gold coins falling rang in his ears, clear and ringing, making his heart bleed. Although Bi Fang wasn¡¯t too concerned about money, he had the habit of saving, probably a mentality borne of poverty in a previous life. Every time he saw a large sum of money gone, it always hurt for a long time. ¡°` ¡°After Mount Everest, will the points for completing tasks increase? Otherwise, what will happen when I encounter a gold coupon¡­¡± Bi Fang sharply inhaled a breath of cold air and immediately felt a pang of pain in his liver. Yet, seeing the gold coupon appear in his backpack, Bi Fang ignored the pain and found a secluded corner in the lobby to click ¡®Adapt¡¯. Each time he used one of the System¡¯s various enhancements, Bi Fang would secretly record it with a camera, later reviewing the footage to check for anything unusual. His findings proved that, save for occasionally feeling drowsy, there were no other noticeable external symptoms, making him all the more eager at this moment. In the void, the gold coupon transformed into fine dust and enveloped Bi Fang, merging into his body. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, feeling so sleepy?¡± Bi Fang¡¯s eyes blurred as he looked through the plants at the corner toward the bustling lobby and slowly lowered his head. In his sleep, Bi Fang dreamt that he had arrived at a freezing, barren grassland. The weather was cold, so cold that he was about to freeze solid, but soon, a strong wind blew. It was very cold at first but gradually became warm. The wind brought moisture and warmth, massive ice armor cracked, streams of honeyed water flowed through the fissures, long-silent paths were once again exposed to the sunlight, breathing in the fresh air heartily, and tender green grass seemed to spring from the depths of the earth like fresh spring water, spilling over the undulating grassland all the way to the horizon. The sky was a clear blue with white clouds, and flocks of geese passed overhead, changing directions. He had become a herdsman riding alone across the plains, free to go wherever he wished, without any constraints. ¡°Mr. Bi¡­ Mr. Bi, Mr. Bi!?¡± ¡°Hmm, yes?¡± Bi Fang jolted awake, reflexively grabbing the man¡¯s wrist and twisting it behind his back, but before the man could cry out in pain, Bi Fang, recognizing his face, quickly released him and raised his hands halfway. It seemed that only now did the pain signal reach the security guard¡¯s brain, causing him to cry out in pain and draw the attention of the few remaining people in the vicinity. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, so sorry, it was unintentional,¡± Bi Fang said, his hands halfway raised, his face a mix of embarrassment and shame. He glanced around and instantly understood everything. Compared to the crowded lobby during the day, it now seemed desolate, where even a slight noise could produce an echo and carry far. Not far away, the man¡¯s colleagues were already hurrying over. Clearly, he had accidentally fallen asleep after using the gold coupon and even slept until nightfall. And when someone kindly tried to wake him, he had reacted by reflex and immobilized them, possibly even injuring a joint. But there wasn¡¯t much he could do about it. He had just returned from Yemen and his nerves had not completely relaxed. Moreover, his wild instincts meant many of his actions were subconscious. ¡°I am truly sorry. Perhaps you should go to the hospital to have it checked out? I will cover all expenses, including loss of wages and so on. I really am sorry.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s okay, just a bit painful,¡± the security guard grimaced in pain but continued to wave his hand dismissively. ¡°Hey, Old Huang, are you all right? You there, stay away from him!¡± The colleague from a distance had now approached, and the man hurriedly stood up to gesture, ¡°It¡¯s okay, just a misunderstanding. I accidentally took a fall.¡± His colleague looked skeptical, ¡°Really?¡± S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Yes, really! Don¡¯t worry.¡± The man moved forward a bit more and took a few steps, proving to his colleague he was alright. After exchanging a few words, his colleague finally let down his guard and left. The man turned his head to look back at Bi Fang, who felt even more awkward. He hadn¡¯t expected that after injuring the other¡¯s arm, the man would still cover for him. He felt terribly sorry. However, the man¡¯s attitude led Bi Fang to make a guess, ¡°You¡­ know me?¡± The man moved his shoulders, wincing as he twitched the corner of his mouth, but still let out a hearty laugh, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve watched your live streams, Master Fang!¡± Bi Fang felt even more embarrassed and was about to say something when the man waved his hand dismissively, ¡°It¡¯s fine, I understand. You just got back from Yemen, so it¡¯s normal to be tense. It¡¯s also my bad for getting too close. I always thought Cao Mengde¡¯s ¡®I enjoy killing people in my dreams¡¯ was just talk, but I guess I¡¯ve seen it for myself today.¡± The joke lightened the tense atmosphere immediately. Relieved, Bi Fang knew that compensating and apologizing financially were minor things; he had made a mistake, after all. What worried him was if the other party wouldn¡¯t let it go and make a big deal of it, which could hold him back. With every day precious, he couldn¡¯t afford to waste any. After giving away the farewell gifts today, he would be setting off officially tomorrow. ¡°I¡¯m completely at fault here. Please, go to the hospital right away, and I¡¯ll cover all the costs.¡± ¡°Eh, there¡¯s no need. You let go quickly, and I¡¯ve had some training, too. See, it¡¯s not a big deal anymore. At most, I¡¯ll just slap on a plaster tonight, and it should be fine,¡± Huang Tianming reassured Bi Fang, waving his hand and rotating his shoulder to show that he was fine while giving Bi Fang a thumbs-up. ¡°Master Fang, I watched your whole livestream the other day. You¡¯re a real tough guy, damn, you¡¯ve made the Huaxia people proud. Those animals had no conscience; they don¡¯t shy away from doing vile things. And who says only foreigners have the guts to take risks and strive? We don¡¯t have shows about fighting river monsters or exploring rainforests. All we get are those sissy dance and singing acts. But the reality shows that we Huaxia people are second to none, and we can even do better, kick more ass! ¡°What¡¯s the use of editing skills? It¡¯s all fake. Live streaming is where it¡¯s at¡ªwho would dare call it fake? Sadly, I¡¯m not that capable, nor do I have much money to help. But what¡¯s the big deal with a little twist? Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Huang Tianming ended up comforting Bi Fang, patting him on the shoulder. ¡°This¡­¡± Bi Fang still felt quite sorry. ¡°It¡¯s alright, it¡¯s alright. Look, if you really feel that bad, why not tell me where you¡¯re planning to go next? When will the next stream start?¡± At the mention of this, Huang Tianming¡¯s eyes lit up. He was a true fan of Bi Fang¡¯s; unless he was tied up with work, he hardly missed an episode. He also genuinely felt this way. Although separated by a screen, watching Bi Fang survive and explore in all sorts of dangerous places abroad was so fucking awesome, way better than any movie! Especially after Jerret¡¯s survival show aired, it made Master Fang¡¯s bravery and fearlessness even more apparent, as well as his high level of professional skill, rightfully earning him the title of number one in the wilderness! Making us proud! Truly making us proud! ¡°For the next episode, there is indeed something planned.¡± ¡°Hey, tell me, tell me. If you don¡¯t, I really can¡¯t let you off the hook.¡± Bi Fang looked around, then leaned in and whispered, ¡°I¡¯m going to climb Mount Everest!¡± ¡°Sss! Everest? My dearest mother!¡± Bi Fang scratched his head and saw that the passersby he had finally shaken off were gathering around again, leaving him rather speechless. Why does everyone react so strongly? He hadn¡¯t even started climbing yet! Chapter 395: 393: Mountain Gods Blessing Chapter 395: Chapter 393: Mountain God¡¯s Blessing In the enclosed space, the sound of breathing fluctuated continuously, deep and viscous, like a broken bellows. In the darkness, Bi Fang and Edinburgh huddled to rest, conserving their energy and heat, while only Danzeng kept digging, following the rope and ceaselessly excavating, his hands nearly numb from the cold. It wasn¡¯t that Bi Fang was being finicky; in a critical moment for his team¡¯s survival, he still aimed to complete the mission without oxygen. The reason was that he was in pain almost all over his body¡ªrescuing Danzeng had drained every last bit of his strength. If he chose to use oxygen at this point, it would mean failing both the mission and the rescue. Truly worthy of being the warrior of the Third Pole, the favorite of the high mountains. Feeling the shadowy figure swaying in the darkness, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but think. The joke that the Sherpa people possess a third lung lobe specially for mountaineering is not without foundation; genetically, they are better adapted to high-altitude conditions than ordinary people. They have low blood pressure, ensuring ample brain blood supply, and powerful muscle flexibility; compared to the length of their legs, their torsos are longer to maintain a stable center of gravity on the rugged mountains. ¡°Mr. Bi, Sir Edinburgh?¡± ¡°Here.¡± His head was getting dizzier. The air was pitifully low in oxygen, and every breath felt futile, no matter how hard the alveoli tried to expand, they couldn¡¯t filter in any oxygen. The blood flow was increasingly sluggish, the hemoglobin desperately trying to catch oxygen molecules, but it was all in vain. The silent darkness was unnerving, and at this moment, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t suppress his panic. This wasn¡¯t fear, but a physiological reaction brought on by the lack of oxygen, not so easily overcome by sheer willpower. If only there was light. In the moment of being struck by the wind and snow, aside from the backpacks secured to their backs, the headlamps of Bi Fang, Sir, and Danzeng had long since been washed away, their whereabouts unknown. If only they had a lamp now, it wouldn¡¯t be like this. With his lungs heaving, Bi Fang took another deep breath, further depleting the oxygen in the air, which in turn, increased the concentration of carbon dioxide. The now calm Bi Fang gave himself a preliminary diagnosis: his arms were completely powerless, his muscles were cramping and stiffening, perhaps a minor strain. A strain would be troublesome as it wouldn¡¯t heal quickly; he hoped it was just simple fatigue. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If they didn¡¯t get out soon, carbon dioxide poisoning might claim his life. It wasn¡¯t just carbon monoxide that could poison you; carbon dioxide could as well. Normally, the carbon dioxide content in exhaled human breath is 4.2%. The partial pressure of carbon dioxide in blood is higher than that in the alveoli, which is why carbon dioxide can diffuse into the alveoli. But once the environmental concentration of carbon dioxide increases, the concentration within the alveoli likewise rises. At that point, the pH levels undergo drastic changes, stimulating the respiratory center, eventually leading to paralysis of the respiratory center and causing asphyxia due to hypoxia. ¡°Damn it, how did we encounter an avalanche.¡± Bi Fang looked up and hit his head against the snow wall, unable to understand how this could have happened. Perhaps sensing the change in atmosphere, Danzeng called out softly, ¡°Mr. Bi, Sir Edinburgh, are you alright?¡± This was already Danzeng¡¯s thirteenth inquiry, asking almost every half a minute. Just as Bi Fang was about to respond as before, a wave of indescribable comfort washed over him, and every cell rejoiced as if¡­ The oxygen concentration was increasing! Bi Fang suddenly sat up and expanded his lungs again¡ªno mistake, the oxygen concentration in the air had increased! It wasn¡¯t an illusion! Were they about to dig out? But that wasn¡¯t right. Danzeng was digging along the rope. Was someone else not buried? That was impossible, right? With confusion in his heart, Bi Fang followed the rope to Danzeng¡¯s side: ¡°Danzeng, continue to dig, fast, keep digging!¡± Danzeng looked bewildered, but he didn¡¯t stop his movements, continuing to excavate as large chunks of snow were thrown out. ¡°` As he kept digging, Bi Fang sharply noticed that the oxygen concentration in the air seemed to have increased a little. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Mr. Bi?¡± Danzeng was perplexed, not knowing why Bi Fang suddenly reacted. Bi Fang didn¡¯t answer; he braced his hands on the snow in front of him and pushed hard with both arms. Suddenly, the snow layer in front of everyone collapsed violently, a cloud of snow dust flew, and the air circulation stirred up a breeze, with fresh air rushing in. Did they break through?! Danzeng and the semi-conscious Edinburgh¡¯s eyes widened; although they could see nothing in the darkness, they keenly sensed the airflow. Are they out?! No, not yet. Bi Fang surveyed the pitch black around him; the sky over Mount Everest was very clear, if they were outside, it would not be as pitch black as it was now. It was an internal ¡°vacuum.¡± Bi Fang recalled the scenario of the avalanche and gradually simulated the situation at the time. He took a deep breath to alleviate the dizziness caused by the lack of oxygen, and Bi Fang explained, ¡°When the avalanche occurred, it quickly engulfed everything, but the Eagle Head Ice Slope¡¯s shape was too unique, leaving some space in the rocks after the deluge had passed.¡± Just like when a plane crashes into the sea and is quickly enveloped by the ocean, the air inside the cabin gets compressed to the top and cannot escape, creating a breathable area. The peak of the Eagle Head Ice Slope rises high into the sky, but it faces away from the oncoming avalanche. As the deluge swept down, it really protected the last remaining survival space underneath the avalanche like an eagle! As Edinburgh and Bi Fang marveled at the incredibility of the situation, Danzeng¡¯s shout rang out in the darkness. ¡°Mr. Bi, there are other people here! Lama Qin! Lama Qin! It¡¯s the Mountain God¡¯s manifestation, it¡¯s the Mountain God¡¯s manifestation! Lama Qin! Lama Qin!¡± Other people? Forcing himself to stand, Bi Fang suddenly faced a blinding light. Bi Fang hurriedly covered his eyes. Realizing his mistake, Danzeng quickly dimmed the light. After slowly adjusting to the blinding headlamp, Bi Fang slowly opened his eyes. In the not-so-large space, Yao Jun, Rob, and Jerret, were all there! ¡°Everyone¡¯s okay, everyone¡¯s okay!¡± Danzeng was visibly excited, but the next moment, his mood dropped significantly, ¡°It¡¯s a pity about Uncle Holt and Uncle Lezha; they shouldn¡¯t have run away. I wonder how they are now.¡± Edinburgh comforted the young man: ¡°It¡¯s an instinctual reaction, there¡¯s no right or wrong, you don¡¯t have to worry too much about that. The Mountain God will protect them.¡± Coughing twice, Bi Fang came next to Yao Jun and the others, checking each of them in turn. They all were still breathing, and their breathing was normal, just temporarily fallen into unconsciousness. Taking out oxygen cylinders from their backpacks and fitting them, Bi Fang then rummaged through Rob¡¯s backpack, and successfully found a small radio. Phew. Finding this, Bi Fang let out a sigh of relief. Luckily it was still there, with this device, even if they couldn¡¯t dig themselves out, they could wait for rescue with assurance. ¡°` Chapter 396: 394: Reserving a Spot Chapter 396: Chapter 394: Reserving a Spot I¡¯ll stake a claim here. Edit in the early morning. By the dock. The morning fog spread. The exhausted group who had escaped from the warehouse collapsed inside the spacious residential building, quietly waiting for the rescue boat to arrive. Matthew stepped out of the residential building, wiped the damp steps, and sat down next to Bi Fang. Seeing him still fiddling with the drone, he asked curiously, ¡°How is it, can you see clearly?¡± Bi Fang let his hands droop and sighed as he handed over the drone, ¡°No luck, it¡¯s too dark, and the fire is reflecting too much. You can only see half a face, no matter how you adjust it, it¡¯s useless.¡± Matthew took the drone and, despite tweaking it countless times, still felt regret after learning the situation. He stared at the screen, but still couldn¡¯t make out anything. The light from the flames cast on the man¡¯s sharp face, creating a mix of sensitivity, with a tall nose casting a shadow. One eye of the man was hidden in the darkness, the other cold and expressionless. Last night, amidst the massive fire, Bi Fang risked his life to go back and capture footage. He saw the gang leader at a distance of sixty meters use a pistol to finish off a bandit leader and managed to capture half of his side profile. [With half a face, they should be able to reconstruct it, right? Technology is so advanced now.] [It¡¯s a bit difficult, this is what I do. It involves light and shadow imaging, three-dimensional lighting, and muscle and skeletal analysis, all of which I¡¯m boasting about.] [Good lord, I woke up this morning and saw that it made the trending search. This person will never dare to show their face again (dog¡¯s head).] [I saw it too, the person in the photo must be utterly baffled. Anyone familiar will definitely recognize them.] [Won¡¯t Old Fang be retaliated against?] [Emmmmm, you got a point there.] [Afraid my arse, bring one and I will smash one, Old Fang will smash them all to bits.] ¡°Too bad the drone was discovered, couldn¡¯t capture more footage.¡± Bi Fang was a bit annoyed. Last night, he hid behind a wall and sent the drone out to film, but the opposing party was just too well-prepared. They even had infrared equipment, and the drone was spotted before it got close and shot at, leaving him with no choice but to flee. In the end, it was a close call with no result. Sisko, having come up empty-handed as well, could only return with his people. Matthew patted Bi Fang on the shoulder to comfort him, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. At least we know he¡¯s Caucasian, right?¡± Bi Fang forced a smile, about to say something, but then suddenly stood up. Thinking something was wrong, Matthew also quickly got up, only to see that the hazy mist suddenly surged and a black bow of a boat appeared through the fog before everyone¡¯s eyes. Matthew was startled, ¡°Is it the one from yesterday?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not,¡± Bi Fang released the drone, letting it circle overhead, and quickly estimated the size of the vessel based on the bow. ¡°It¡¯s much smaller than yesterday¡¯s. It¡¯s not the same one.¡± Realizing it wasn¡¯t the same boat, Matthew was stunned for a moment but then quickly grasped the situation and exclaimed joyfully. ¡°Rescue boat!¡± ¡°Rescue boat?¡± ¡°Has the rescue boat arrived?¡± ¡°The rescue boat has come!¡± Matthew¡¯s shouting revitalized the sleepy and drowsy people, who all poked their heads out of the windows, looking at the distant boat and could not help but be overjoyed. ¡°Shh, quiet down first.¡± In the midst of excitement, Bi Fang threw cold water on everyone, ¡°Whether it¡¯s a rescue boat or not is still uncertain. Hide first, and let the boat get a bit closer.¡± Hearing Bi Fang¡¯s words, the people who had just been extremely excited sobered up like a cold shower had been dumped on them, remembering last night¡¯s terrifying scene. The cold wind blew, and they withdrew their heads, leaving only their eyes silently watching. Bi Fang then ran farther away to higher ground, watching the lettered vessel slowly approach. Judging from its shape, it was undoubtedly a fishing boat, matching the information given by Abbascan. After mooring, several soldiers disembarked from the fishing boat and quickly spotted Bi Fang standing on the high ground. The soldiers seemed to recognize Bi Fang, and upon seeing him, they saluted him militarily. Then one of them removed his rifle, handed it to a comrade, and ran toward the high ground alone. Witnessing this scene, Bi Fang finally breathed a sigh of relief inside. It was over. ¡­ The drone took to the sky, the sky clear and washed blue after last night¡¯s rain. ¡°Saved over fifty people again, how does it feel?¡± Matthew, scruffy as ever, sat on the bow deck, casually tossing over a bottle of mineral water. Looking at the survivors below who were crying and helping each other onto the boat, he was filled with an indescribable feeling. ¡°I¡¯m so tired, I just want to sleep well. If it weren¡¯t for you showing up, I wouldn¡¯t need to be in this mess now, so please don¡¯t follow me anymore, okay?¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t I helping you trend online?¡± ¡°Do I need that? Please, my female fans could circle from Antarctica to the Arctic Circle, okay?¡± ¡°Will I also get some female fans this time?¡± Bi Fang chuckled but didn¡¯t answer. He guzzled down an entire bottle of water and then sprawled face up on the deck, the sea breeze fluttering his hair. ¡°Every time I meet people, it¡¯s never good. I always feel like I¡¯m either rescuing someone or on my way to rescue someone. Just let me rest, please.¡± ¡°You¡¯re bound to be famous, the world¡¯s number one explorer¡­¡± Matthew wanted to say more, but just as he opened his mouth, he heard the faint sound of snoring. He chuckled, shook his head, leaned on the railing, and slowly closed his eyes. They hadn¡¯t slept for two days straight. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡­ [Ding! Congratulations to the Host for completing the mission: Ruins City. Rewards are being issued. Would you like to claim them?] When Bi Fang woke up again, he was already in the rear of the eastern front of Abbascan, a place not much affected by the war, with well-preserved infrastructure. Looking at the vast crowd in front of him and the leading officials, Bi Fang felt a headache coming on and put off claiming his rewards. Anyone would feel groggy if they hadn¡¯t slept for two days and then suddenly slept from dawn until evening, let alone having to deal with a big crowd. Fortunately, people from Huaxia had also arrived. After briefly dealing with them, Bi Fang had a meal with everyone and then went back to the inn to continue his deep sleep. It wasn¡¯t until the next morning that Bi Fang¡¯s mind completely cleared up. He gulped down a glass of warm water, sweeping away the fatigue from his body. ¡°Claim.¡± He opened up the System, eager to claim the rewards for this mission. Steel and concrete, barrages of bullets, the interlacing of cold gray lights and shadows, all eventually dissipated like bubbles. [Detection: No reward upgrade available. Your final rewards are: 1 Skill Advancement Ticket, 2 Skill Upgrade Coupons, 3 Enhancement Points, 800 Wilderness Points, 1 Breakthrough Mission Indicator (unique and singular).] The spoils were¡­ decent. Bi Fang touched his chin. Compared to the previous missions, the earnings this time didn¡¯t seem too high. Was it because of the breakthrough mission? Bi Fang tried to open the indicator but found it grayed out and unresponsive. ??? What¡¯s going on? A reward that I can¡¯t use? What kind of reward is that? Bi Fang was puzzled; this was the first time he had encountered such a situation. Was a reward that couldn¡¯t be used even a reward? Was there a prerequisite? Looking at the gray indicator, Bi Fang could only think of this possibility. Helplessly, he decided to use the other rewards, first adding to strength and agility until they both reached fifteen, then prioritizing his physique. After using two Enhancement Points, Bi Fang tried to enhance his physique to sixteen but was stunned to find that it failed! The physique stat on his panel hadn¡¯t increased, and the Enhancement Points hadn¡¯t disappeared. What¡¯s going on, did the System crash? How could this be? As this was Bi Fang¡¯s first encounter with such a situation, he was somewhat baffled. Could fifteen be the System¡¯s limit? But he didn¡¯t feel anything at all. Was the human limit really that small? His 100-meter sprint couldn¡¯t even break ten seconds, could that be called a limit? Just as Bi Fang was confused, he suddenly noticed that the once-gray Breakthrough Mission Indicator had turned gold. There¡¯s hope! [Ding! Detection: The Host has met the prerequisite conditions for the breakthrough mission, which is now activated] Mission one: Anoxic climb to the top of the world¡ªMount Everest. Mission two: Protective gear-free deep-sea crossing¡ªTharp Debold Cave. Mission three: Trekking across the Sea of Death¡ªLop Nur. ? Chapter 397: 395: Alive, truly alive! Chapter 397: Chapter 395: Alive, truly alive! ¡°Cough cough.¡± The cold air made Bi Fang cough uncontrollably. When he raised his head to look at the chat room again, he suddenly found that the previously bustling space full of barrage comments had become refreshingly clear, just like a pine tree shaking off its snow. Strange, why has everyone suddenly stopped talking? After a long while. [Holy shit, Old Fang is alive!] [Damn, I just prayed for Master Fang¡¯s safety by sacrificing my roommate¡¯s chance at love for a lifetime, and now my roommate¡¯s doomed to be single forever.] [Roommate: ?] [Roommate: Thanks a lot, dickhead.] [Awesome, he survived an avalanche! Who else could do that!] [Crap, I was yelling so loud, my mom asked why I¡¯m not asleep yet.] [Badass, bro, you¡¯re supremely badass!] ¡°They survived! They survived! They¡¯re okay, oh God, they¡¯re okay!¡± Inside the Arctic Circle, Elvan hugged Lenin¡¯s shoulders tightly and jumped around with joy. ¡°Yes, yes, God blesses the kind-hearted,¡± Lenin said, stroking his big beard and laughing heartily. ¨¦tienne ran around the vast lake, shouting at the top of his lungs, ¡°They¡¯re too awesome! Woo!¡± In the brightly lit building, the duty staff immediately contacted Li Yawen to share the good news as soon as possible. ¡°Boss, Master Fang¡¯s live stream is on!¡± In the living room, seeing Bi Fang safe and sound, Li Yawen clenched his fist and pounded the table: ¡°Damn it, I knew this kid wouldn¡¯t go down so easily. Bloody hell, it¡¯s got my blood pressure soaring.¡± After opening the drawer and taking his blood pressure medication with some water, Yao Xuehui sat back in his chair and heaved a sigh of relief, while the woman beside him gently patted his chest to calm him down. ¡°This damned kid, always messing around. He could¡¯ve used the time to promote his own brand instead of this nonsense! He¡¯s driving me crazy.¡± ¡°Oh come on, quit it, you worry too much. You get angry when the kid¡¯s in trouble and just as mad when he¡¯s fine. You might as well be a balloon.¡± In the brightly lit building, the sound of smashing items and growling could be heard from time to time. ¡°What¡¯s up with the manager? Did the stock market tank or did he find out his kid isn¡¯t his own?¡± The same situation, but now it was little B asking little A. Little A, looking at Bi Fang scanning the surroundings on his phone screen, chuckled: ¡°Probably because some business plans that had just been agreed upon have gone bankrupt again. But, what does it have to do with us? We¡¯re just working stiffs. If the company profits, we don¡¯t see a cent. If the company losses, it¡¯s not going to declare bankruptcy and lay us off.¡± Little B was taken aback, as if he had an epiphany, then slowly put down the document in his hands and picked up the mug beside him. The sounds of destruction continued, but little A and little B, holding their coffee cups and gazing up at the ceiling, sipped their coffee and exhaled a stream of hot vapor. Every time you slack off, a boss loses his dream. [Lin Chang gifted the host with Spaceships*10¡ªcompensate me for my lost sleep!] [Holy smokes, why¡¯s the second-place big shot not sleeping in the middle of the night? Turns out, it¡¯s because of him!] [By the way, what¡¯s the deal with this cave? Why is there a cave anyway!] [Master Fang, you finally stopped pretending, you urban superpower!] [I¡¯m laying it all out there, I¡¯m not pretending anymore. Here¡¯s my transformation device; yes, I am the light!] The audience followed Bi Fang¡¯s perspective for a full scan and discovered that the space they were in was actually not small¡ªalmost as large as a minibus. A breath of cold mist was exhaled as Bi Fang sat on the ground, taking a deep breath to explain, ¡°Just now, we encountered an avalanche. Aside from the two missing Sherpa guides, everyone else in the team is in stable condition, with no major issues beyond some scrapes.¡± What can fly without wings? What can punch without fists? What can see without eyes? This is a riddle that has been circulating since medieval Europe. The answer is an avalanche. An avalanche is also known as the white death. When an avalanche occurs, the snow relentlessly collapses down the mountain from high elevations under the force of gravity, at high speeds and with immense impact force, often leveling everything in its path. According to statistics, avalanches are the greatest natural risk leading to fatal accidents in winter outdoor sports¡ªwithout equal! Bi Fang leaned against a snow wall, feeling incredibly fortunate. There have been numerous avalanches on Mount Everest, with the Khumbu Glacier being a disaster zone, mostly happening in the early hours of the morning. This is mainly due to the terrain of the Khumbu Glacier. When the cohesive forces within the snow on a slope can no longer resist the pull of gravity acting upon it, the snow will slide downward, causing a large amount of accumulated snow to collapse. The Chinese Academy of Sciences Tianshan Snow Avalanche Research Station once found that on slopes with an angle of about 40 degrees, avalanches are most likely to occur, which coincides with the terrain of the Khumbu Glacier. Once in danger, waiting for rescue is almost impossible. By the time it arrives, your body would have already become part of the glacier, buried for a long time, and you might, like the story Bi Fang previously told, reemerge with the movement of the glacier a century later. Audiences watching the screen couldn¡¯t believe it was true that Eagle Head Ice Slope had protected Bi Fang and his group. [The Mountain God has manifested, this must be the Mountain God¡¯s work!] [Damn, that¡¯s awesome] S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [So good deeds really do get rewarded?] ¡°I had demonstrated avalanche survival before; I didn¡¯t expect to really encounter one. There are usually three causes of fatalities in avalanches¡ªbodily injury, asphyxiation, and hypothermia. There are rescue methods for each: one is to escape before the avalanche stops, two is to prevent being completely buried, and three is to reduce the time the trapped person is buried. Generally, an avalanche doesn¡¯t kill by impact; the cause of death is the cold and lack of oxygen after being buried. However, snow also contains life-saving oxygen. Ideally, after being buried, one should raise their arms to create a breathing space, which can effectively prolong survival time. If I had started the live broadcast earlier, you would have seen Sir doing exactly that, a very standard method of self-rescue.¡± Bi Fang crossed his arms over his chest. Asphyxiation from being buried is not quite the same as ordinary asphyxiation. Once buried securely, it¡¯s almost impossible to expand the lungs without certain escape techniques to widen the space, leading many avalanche victims to asphyxiate not due to the lack of oxygen, but because their lungs cannot expand. ¡°We are very lucky. There are many types of avalanches based on the physical properties of the snow and the fracture location, but basically, there are two kinds¡ªdry avalanches and wet avalanches.¡± Bi Fang grabbed a handful of snow from the nearby snow wall, and when he squeezed it hard with his hand, miraculously, the snow did not clump together but scattered like powder between his fingers, as if it was dry flour. ¡°We experienced a dry avalanche. Friends in the south may not relate, but those in the north must have encountered this situation, where the snow is as dry as flour, unable to clump together, totally unfit for a snowball fight. This is because the winter temperatures in the north are too low and the air is dry, similar to a dry avalanche.¡± ¡°When the snow¡¯s water content is less than 1%, it¡¯s generally considered to be a dry avalanche. During a dry avalanche, due to the low viscosity of the snow, a large number of snow particles collide with each other while moving, and will hang in the air forming a white fog. Viewed from high above, this kind of avalanche is very spectacular. Today it¡¯s too dark, but you should see it very clearly in night mode.¡± Indeed, many viewers nodded inwardly, because of the altitude issue, the drone wasn¡¯t flying high, practically face-to-face with the avalanche. Rumbling snow waves stretched for hundreds of meters, the sky filled with white dust, almost obscuring the sky altogether. ¡°High-speed fog compresses the surrounding air to form powerful shockwaves, destroying everything in its path. After the devastation of the shockwave, the real avalanche comes trailing after, the wild snow burying everything in its wake.¡± [So where is the luck in this, LOL-cry] [There¡¯s dry, so there must be wet, and I bet wet avalanches are even more destructive!] ¡°Exactly,¡± Bi Fang smiled. ¡°When the water content exceeds 1%, it¡¯s considered a wet avalanche. Wet avalanches mainly occur when the temperature rises. As the temperature increases, the snow melts and the meltwater infiltrates the snow layers, increasing the snow layer¡¯s water content. The infiltrating meltwater can easily refreeze into ice crystals, altering the shape of the internal snow particles, and localized collapses on the snow surface induced by high temperatures cause collapsing snow to slide along the slope, gathering speed along the way and collecting more snow to gradually form snowballs. Therefore, before an avalanche, large numbers of rolling snowballs tend to appear on the slopes. Ultimately, the aggregated mass of rolling snowballs breaks the calmness of the snow surface and slides down, causing an avalanche. During the slide, snowballs grow in size and can carry melted ground soil, rocks, and the like, resulting in destruction far exceeding that of dry avalanches.¡± Bi Fang paused, exchanging air a few times before continuing. ¡°This kind of avalanche, as you can imagine, is extremely dangerous. The rocks carried with it are as lethal as stones blown around in a storm; a hit could, at the least, result in serious injury, and at worst¡­ you understand.¡± Chapter 398: 396: Reserving a Spot Chapter 398: Chapter 396: Reserving a Spot Chapter two is not finished; I¡¯m just staking a claim. Edited in the wee hours. The waterfall in the mountain stream surged violently. The bear¡¯s roar thundered and tumbled through the forest, exploding in everyone¡¯s ears. Goulbin¡¯s legs went soft, and the weight on Bi Fang¡¯s shoulders grew heavier by a fraction, his face turning beet red from the strain. Seeing Goulbin let go, he flared up with anger. Damn it. He had nothing to say about running away at the first sign of trouble; it was human nature, and besides, it was Bi Fang who had told Goulbin to run. But now to be so frightened by the bear¡¯s roar that his legs gave out, showing not an ounce of courage¡ªwhere did he get the confidence to sign up for this? How had this mentality and psychological quality not gotten him eliminated in the past few days? Luckily, Goulbin wasn¡¯t a complete idiot. Stupid he might be, but not terminally so. He scrambled to his feet in a panic and continued to carry the tree. The three of them carried the same large tree, erecting it bit by bit, and finally, with a vigorous shove from Bi Fang, the tree tipped over to the opposite side under the force of gravity. With a loud crash, dust billowed up. ¡°Quick, get over here!¡± Bi Fang called out to the two behind him, then held the tree in place to prevent it from rolling and immediately let them cross over the tree. Looking at the rushing water in the mountain stream, his companion swallowed hard. He had no idea how high the stream was, but it was certainly more than ten meters, and the edges were all huge rocks. A fall would mean certain death. The noises behind them grew louder and closer, making even the spectators sweat bullets. Taking a deep breath, his companion decided not to look down any longer. He looked straight ahead and quickly crossed over, then like Bi Fang, held the tree to prevent it from rolling. ¡°Quick, it¡¯s your turn!¡± Bi Fang called out to Goulbin once more. Gulp. Trapped between a mountain stream in front and a huge bear behind, the thought alone made Goulbin feel an unstoppable urge to urinate. He shakily extended one foot onto the log, immediately feeling as if it were wobbling and he might roll and slip off, though it was all an illusion. ¡°Hurry up, Goulbin, hurry!¡± his companion on the other side urged impatiently. ¡°Don¡¯t look down!¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t rush him. The more he rushed, the more panicked he would become, so he could only roar a reminder as the sounds behind them seemed to be right at their ears as though the bear was right beside them, licking their earlobes, ready to open its maw and devour them. If it weren¡¯t necessary, Bi Fang truly didn¡¯t want to confront the brown bear head-on, not even with a tranquilizer gun. This was not the first time he had faced such a perilous situation. Bi Fang could tell that for the moment, the brown bear was just eyeing them, seeking an opportunity. Otherwise, it would have pounced from the start, rather than having a standoff for so long. Once a gun is fired, in the eyes of an animal, it¡¯s seen as a provocation, and confrontation is inevitable. Even if you use a tranquilizer gun against a brown bear, no matter how fast it takes effect, within the range of the firearm, the bear has enough time to charge at you before succumbing to the sedative and slap your Heavenly Spirit Cover. And that¡¯s even putting into question whether it would take effect at all. A brown bear just out of hibernation often has fur longer than ten centimeters ¨C a natural armor woven from layers of hair. Goulbin spread his arms like wings and moved his feet bit by bit, advancing at a pace that had the spectators cursing out loud. They were so frustrated they couldn¡¯t jump through the screen to beat him up and then drag him by the neck across the river. ¡°Faster!¡± His companion on the other side urged vehemently, filled with contempt for Goulbin¡¯s cowardice. If it weren¡¯t for the need to stabilize the tree to prevent rolling, and the fact that Bi Fang was still on the other side, he would¡¯ve turned around and left. As he raised his head, intending to urge him again, a familiar color in the forest on the opposite side struck his eyes like needles. He was stupefied, pointing behind him: ¡°Bear, bear!¡± Startled, Goulbin instinctively crouched down and grabbed onto the protruding branches on the tree. ¡°Quick!¡± Now even Bi Fang began to urge him on as he glanced back, the brown silhouette rapidly closing in, the distance practically under a hundred meters. The Brown Bear¡¯s speed wasn¡¯t fast, undoubtedly confirming his conjecture; the bear was still looking for an opportunity. Otherwise, by now, it should have been sprinting forward¡ªin a hundred-meter dash, a Brown Bear can run even faster than Bolt, and it wouldn¡¯t even take ten seconds. ¡°Relax!¡± Seeing Goulbin squat down, Bi Fang nearly died of frustration. After much encouragement, Goulbin finally stood up, got his posture right, and started walking toward the ground with a speed that was noticeably faster than before, as if he too knew the bear was about to arrive. The Bear kept closing in, eighty meters, fifty meters, thirty meters. By the time Goulbin reached the opposite shore, Bi Fang could even smell the stench from the bear¡¯s mouth. Only when the distance narrowed to less than ten meters did the audience truly realize just how immense the Brown Bear was¡ªit was not just ¡°huge.¡± It was clearly a mountain, a mountain made of defense-layered thick fat and convoluted muscles! Its body was robust, with muscles bulging on its shoulders and back of the neck. The muscles raised on its shoulder made its forearms appear exceptionally powerful, with claws reaching 15 centimeters long that resembled iron daggers rather than calcified talons, and its entire body covered in brown fur that shimmered with a hint of gold under the sunlight! Seeing Bi Fang isolated, the Brown Bear no longer suppressed its hunting instinct and pounced towards him aggressively, its body of muscle and fat¡ªa mountain in its own right¡ªcharging with an unstoppable momentum. It appeared as if the heavens themselves were collapsing, ready to crush down upon you! The pupils of the two on the opposite shore contracted sharply, and they almost screamed out in unison. Feeling the fierce wind from behind, Bi Fang threw himself forward, rolling and standing up on the log with an alarmingly balanced posture. The gasps from the audience grew louder with each wave, such balancing skills were simply unimaginable! Rolling on the log and still keeping one¡¯s balance required immense control over all the muscles in the body, as well as terrifying balance¡ªit was frightening! Even those who knew nothing of such feats felt utterly thrilled by this scene! With one roll, Bi Fang arrived at the center of the log, and just as he was about to rise and rush out, the log beneath him suddenly began trembling violently, like a rope being shaken. It was the Brown Bear! It dared not come closer but stepped onto the tree, pressing down uncertainly, using its own body weight to shake the large tree! What a clever bear! Such anthropomorphized behavior made it feel like this wasn¡¯t just a wild beast living in the forest, but a cunning and experienced Hunter! The audience, having seen Bi Fang reach the center of the tree, had just breathed a sigh of relief, only to have their hearts suspended once more. But now was not the time to discuss whether the bear was clever or not¡ªthe chat in the livestream had already descended into chaos, with comments flying in rapid succession! Jerry couldn¡¯t wait to kick the helicopter pilot out of his seat and take over himself. [Holy shit, that scared me to death!] [Damn, this bear¡¯s IQ is about to surpass mine!] [Be confident, it already has.] [In my life, I¡¯ve played like this too, now I¡¯m in line waiting for soup] The audiences¡¯ hearts were almost hanging from the ceiling, with many familiar viewers preemptively reaching into their chest pockets to pull out their emergency medications. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The tree had been hastily constructed and wasn¡¯t very sturdy. The quick-eyed companion on the other shore noticed the pebbles starting to loosen, but before he could warn anyone, it was already too late. The massive tree suddenly slid down from the opposite shore! Chapter 399: 397: Survival Chapter 399: Chapter 397: Survival ¡°We should expand from here and try to compact the surrounding snow so it won¡¯t easily collapse.¡± Inside the pit, Yao Jun, following Bi Fang¡¯s instructions, labored to scoop snow as Jerret threw it out behind him. Soon, a small mound of snow began to accumulate in the enclosed space. After about ten minutes, Yao Jun¡¯s hands relaxed, and he collapsed into the pit, his tongue hanging out as he panted heavily. He swallowed a mouthful of saliva and said, ¡°I can¡¯t do it, I really can¡¯t. It¡¯s too narrow, my back¡¯s about to break. Let¡¯s switch, somebody else take over.¡± Hearing this, Jerret crawled out of the pit and pulled Yao Jun out after him, while Bi Fang took over the headlamp and peered inside. ¡°How long have you been digging? It doesn¡¯t seem like there¡¯s much change. Even a dog could dig faster than you.¡± Yao Jun bit his glove and threw it aside: ¡°I really can¡¯t anymore, the position is too taxing. Digging snow like this, I¡¯m worn out.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take over.¡± Rob put on the gloves and crawled into the hole, followed by Danzeng who continued to dig out the snow, and the pile inside kept growing. As Yao Jun took out an Energy Bar from his chest pocket, he refused it, mumbling unclearly, ¡°Why not make the hole bigger?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s larger, it¡¯s more likely to collapse.¡± Bi Fang too sat down beside him, pulled out an Energy Gel and slurped it into his mouth. The cold Energy Gel glided into his stomach, and soon enough, he could feel warmth spreading to his limbs, and his stiff muscles felt much better. Compared to Energy Bars, Energy Gels are easier to digest and provide heat to the body more quickly. ¡°I saw the snow shelters you built before were much larger than this. How come they didn¡¯t collapse?¡± ¡°Firstly, I¡¯ve never built an ice-house; it was a snow cave in Mohe, got it? Snow caves, snow houses, ice-houses¡ªthese are three different things that take progressively longer to build and are of increasing quality. A good ice-house may take a whole day to figure out, while a simple snow cave could be done in a couple of hours. But even the simplest snow cave is built with compacted snow throughout, so of course, it¡¯s more stable.¡± Everyone was buried in dry snow, and even just compacting a circle around was difficult; if the internal space was slightly larger, it would be prone to collapse. ¡°Look at this place, it¡¯s round. A round structure has greater strength, like an egg, that¡¯s why it can be so large and still not collapse. Moreover, the Eagle Head Ice Slope is propping it up like a roof beam.¡± Bi Fang looked up, and the headlamp illuminated the interior. The audience could clearly see the round space with the eagle¡¯s head and body of the Eagle Head Ice Slope supporting a large area of snow. ¡°Eh, so it looks like we got lucky. I wonder how the others are doing, probably not well.¡± Indeed, while the Eagle Head Ice Slope is not uncommon, how many could have taken refuge beneath it before the avalanche? And considering the many cracks in the Khumbu Glacier, even escaping requires caution or one might tumble into a crevasse and face a near-certain death¡­ As Rob was digging, he heard the conversation behind him, and his actions slowed. Yes, what about the others? His friend Wessels had set off with their team, possibly not even a hundred meters behind them, yet facing a dramatically different fate. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Making the sign of the cross over his chest, Rob swept the snow from beneath him out of the way. Hope to God for protection. In the gloomy ice cave, a figure was huddled and trembling. Wessels rested his head against the ice wall, breathing heavily, his breath quickly condensing into frost on the smooth ice surface. Cold, an unprecedented chill. His body cooled inch by inch with every breath, signaling the loss of warmth. Hypothermia crept over him, and in the quiet of the crevasse, the ticking of his wristwatch was audible, each minute and second a passing of life. ¡°Cough, cough, cough, cough.¡± It felt as if something was stuck in his throat. Wessels coughed forcefully; a warm, rust-flavored clump was expelled. Looking down, the beam of his headlamp revealed clumps of dark blood clinging to his black gloves. Ten minutes earlier, as the avalanche struck, nobody could hear Wessels¡¯ commands. In panic, they untied their ropes and scattered in all directions. Unlike Bi Fang¡¯s team, where instinct took command amid chaos, even the brain would reflexively seal off external information. Hence, Bi Fang didn¡¯t waste any words; he grabbed the rope and forcefully took over their thinking with his most decisive actions. Although Wessels was experienced in mountaineering, he clearly hadn¡¯t faced many life-and-death crises. It was already a challenge for him to stay composed; he couldn¡¯t lead everyone through danger decisively and confidently like Bi Fang. With the slightest slip, he lost control over his team members, whose instincts fully kicked in like a group of frightened rabbits scattering in every direction. Having no choice, Wessels could only flee for his life, but he hadn¡¯t gone far when the ground beneath his feet gave way, and he plunged into darkness. Wessels¡¯s face then violently smashed against the ground. During the fall, Wessels instinctively extended his right hand, trying to stab his axe into the ice to slow his descent. However, the weight of his rapidly falling body yanked his arm out of its socket, leaving behind a mass of shattered bones and torn soft tissue. The crashing tumble stopped with the sound of bones cracking. ¡°I¡¯m going to die,¡± Wessels thought. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m already dead,¡± he thought again. He could feel his lungs heaving, struggling to pull in air. Each breath brought a wave of intense pain. Looking down, he saw his legs hanging in mid-air. He had landed on an ice shelf suspended in the darkness above, with a pallid blue-white halo over his head. He couldn¡¯t move. But for the moment, he was alive. The existence of his left hand was completely gone, along with, perhaps, many broken ribs. Who knew how deep the crevasse really was? Now, his greatest wish was for a cup of hot coffee. Looking around, Wessels realized he wasn¡¯t on a platform carved out of the crevasse but on a chunk of ice that had fallen down and got stuck between the walls. In the ever-shifting, changing Khumbu Glacier, how long would it maintain its wedge shape? Wessels¡¯s body swayed slightly as he tested his limits. Every movement sent agony throughout his body, making him dizzy and making every breath excruciating. Touching his face, he found that the wounds on his eyes and forehead were frozen, temporarily stopping the bleeding. It took Wessels almost ten minutes to sit upright and twist himself onto a safe perch on the block of ice. Simple movements left him gasping for breath, the icy air gushing out from the depths of the glacier. His body was trembling, and his fingers were icing up, quickly turning numb. He reached into his chest with his right hand and pulled out his phone. No signal. The layer of snow was too thick, or maybe the crevasse was too deep. There was no signal on the phone. Waiting for rescue was out of the question; with his current status, it wouldn¡¯t be long before he¡¯d freeze to death, or fall and die. Above Wessels, the snow was soft; the air in the crevasse had condensed on the walls, leaving a surface with the consistency of cream. The width of the crevasse was about two and a half meters, but looking to the right, Wessels saw that on the left, the crevasse seemed to narrow. If he was lucky enough, it might be narrow enough that he could ¡°chimney climb¡± upwards, or wedge his body in the crevasse, climbing up with just one hand. With his still functioning right hand, Wessels placed an axe at eye level and dragged his feet to the right, kicking the ice crampons into the ice, then reached over his body with the same hand, placing the other axe as far to the left as possible. When he grabbed the first axe, shifted his weight, and then reached for the second axe with his right hand, the pain made him scream, but he had to endure it. But when Wessels looked down, his headlamp cast a deep blue light. In the light, the familiar silhouette took him aback. ¡°Wessels, Wessels, is that you?¡± ¡°Wessels!¡± Chapter 400: 398 Occupy a Spot Chapter 400: Chapter 398 Occupy a Spot ¡°` Chapter two is not ready yet. Just staking a claim. Editing in the early morning. Mount Everest! No sooner had Bi Fang¡¯s voice fallen than Taseto sprang up with a swoosh, the legs of the stool scraping against the floor with a piercing screech. He placed his hands on the table, his face alight with surprise. ¡°Mount Everest! Is it that world¡¯s highest peak?¡± ¡°Mr. Bi is going to climb Mount Jolmo Lungma?¡± Bi Fang put down his knife and fork and, before he even had a chance to understand why the other party¡¯s reaction was so strong, Hask knocked on the table with his knuckles and gave Taseto a glare. Though his tone was one of reprimand, it wasn¡¯t too severe: ¡°Taseto, just look at yourself! Now sit down!¡± Taseto sat down, abashed. After scolding his third son, Hask turned to Bi Fang with an apologetic face: ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry for that scene, you must be amused. However, Taseto has been passionate about such adventures since he was a child, please forgive him.¡± Bi Fang waved his hands, not minding at all, and nodded affirmatively: ¡°That¡¯s right, the world¡¯s highest peak, Mount Everest.¡± Matthew was the first to express skepticism: ¡°Have you climbed before?¡± Though not well-versed in mountaineering, Matthew, who had wandered around, knew a lot, especially about Mount Everest. The Earth¡¯s highest point. The region with the thinnest air, one of the places with the harshest environments. Sometimes, even coughing could cost someone their life, and just taking a breath could cause excruciating pain as if tearing the liver and splitting the gut. Should an accident occur, even the bodies could only ever remain in that no-man¡¯s land, becoming an eternal landmark. It was a domain where every step had to be perfect; even though Bi Fang had created miracles time and again, the weight of being the world¡¯s highest mountain was still an obstacle that made it hard to have complete confidence in him. Therefore, Matthew had to be clear, although it had never appeared on the live stream, perhaps Bi Fang was a mountain climber before he became a streamer¡­ ¡°No.¡± Matthew¡¯s train of thought was interrupted, his pupils slowly dilating as his mouth opened unconsciously. After opening and closing it a few times without being able to speak, he finally managed to say, ¡°Are you crazy!? How is that possible?¡± Around the dining table, the Hask family also looked on in shock. Except for Taseto, the others were not keen on outdoor adventures, but that didn¡¯t mean they were ignorant. The perils of Mount Everest were well known to any Earthling, who, even if they couldn¡¯t list them, were aware of its terrifying aspects. ¡°I¡¯m not crazy.¡± Bi Fang, in contrast to everyone else, spoke calmly, picking up his knife and fork again to cut off a piece of veal steak and chew it. It took a good while before he swallowed, then tapped his head, ¡°To me, adventure requires two most important things: a healthy body and a brain that can insight into the wilderness.¡± ¡°Coincidentally, Matthew, I have both. I am twenty-five this year, my bodily functions are at their peak, and I also possess one of the world¡¯s top wilderness minds.¡± ¡°It¡¯s completely¡­ not the same thing. You haven¡¯t even been there, never been there¡­¡± Matthew stammered, unable to articulate, feeling that the notion was absurd. Announcing a bid to conquer the world¡¯s highest peak seemed ludicrous for someone who had never climbed at high altitude. Has he been possessed by Don Quixote? A madman? Bi Fang, seeing the looks on their faces, knew they didn¡¯t believe him. Indeed, someone who had never climbed a high-altitude mountain suddenly announcing their intention to conquer Mount Everest seemed nearly impossible. He took up his knife and fork, dabbing a bit of sauce, and drew a rudimentary regional map on the white porcelain plate. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, while Mount Everest is the world¡¯s highest peak, it isn¡¯t the most difficult one to climb. I¡¯ve set myself a generous timeline; the plan spans two months, with a month dedicated to training. It¡¯s mid-April now, and in one more month, it¡¯ll be mid-May, the best time to climb Mount Everest. During this period, all my live streams will revolve around preparations for Mount Everest.¡± ¡°` As the fork slid continuously, everyone¡¯s attention was drawn to the black sauce, as if there truly was a towering mountain range there, standing as the highest peak under the firmament, upon the Earth. ¡°Mount Everest is located on the China-Nepal border, with India to the south and the Bay of Bengal to the east of India. In May, the continental cold air above the Bay of Bengal begins to retreat northward. The movement of the high and low-pressure fronts often coincides with the formation of a cyclonic flow, so once a cyclonic circulation forms over the Bay of Bengal and shows signs of moving northward, it is the best time to summit Mount Everest. The climate around the Mount Everest area and the nearby peaks is complex and variable, with distinct monsoon characteristics. The weather changes are too unpredictable, so it¡¯s essential to choose a stable climatic period for the ascent. Too early, and the monsoon winds haven¡¯t stopped; too late, and the monsoon winds have shifted direction, neither of which is suitable for summiting. This weather window usually lasts a few days to ten days, and most ascents of Mount Everest are completed within this timeframe. Everything coincides perfectly with my timing plan.¡± Matthew, Hask, Taseto, and the others stood behind Bi Fang¡¯s chair, blinking at the map drawn on the plate, then looking at each other with confusion. Those present were all amateurs, hardly understanding but feeling quite impressed¡­ It seems, rather, that it might not be so difficult? Indeed, Master Fang (Mr. Bi) was well-prepared as expected! ¡°Why, why does the formation of a cyclonic circulation stabilize things?¡± Taseto, the only one with some outdoor sports knowledge, struggled to pronounce the technical term, which he had heard for the first time, and found it a bit difficult to say accurately after hearing it only once. Bi Fang looked around at everyone¡¯s eyes and knew they didn¡¯t understand a thing, so he dipped his fork in the sauce again and drew several circles: ¡°It¡¯s quite simple. To explain it simply, it¡¯s like the eye of a typhoon, which, compared to the eyewall, is relatively still. Therefore, the climate is stable.¡± ¡°Oh~~¡± It seemed they truly understood, as everyone let out a collective ¡°oh.¡± Matthew, who had been quite worried, seemed to be swayed as well, starting to feel it wasn¡¯t impossible after all. He was just a layman, after all, listening to Master Fang speak with such authority. Sure enough, a layman is a layman; the path he must walk is still long. Seeing the skepticism in everyone¡¯s eyes turn to seven parts trust, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but smile. Is climbing Mount Everest really that simple? What he had said was correct, but that didn¡¯t mean climbing Mount Everest was easy. Choosing the right summiting window was just lowering the requirements from one hundred percent to ninety percent. If you want to challenge high-altitude mountains, the first step is low-altitude outdoor activities, physical training, and learning the basic techniques. A beginner, utilizing all of the weekends, can complete this stage within a year. The second step is to start entering high-altitude areas with thin air. Before attempting to climb Mount Everest, it¡¯s best to have 2-3 high-altitude climbing experiences. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Gradually proceed from mountains of 6000 meters as a starting point, then to 7000 meters and 8000 meters peaks. This stage can take as little as 1 year, but for ordinary people it requires 2-3 years. And for him, there¡¯s only one month! Twirling the fork in his hand, Bi Fang¡¯s gaze was resolute and fearless. Above 8500 meters, that is the height where human morality cannot demand anything, it is a forbidden zone for humans. With this thought, Bi Fang even felt a surge of excitement. In this life or the previous one, so many had gone forth, issuing challenge after challenge to Mount Everest. He had also dreamt of it, but that place also buried countless challengers. He was neither qualified nor powerful, only able to dream of it. Never before had he been so close to his Goddess Peak as he was today. As if, he could touch the sky with his hand. Bi Fang smiled. He had never stopped his pace, the new journey had just begun. Chapter 401: 399: But this is the adventure. Chapter 401: Chapter 399: But this is the adventure. Dawn had already arrived, the sky was a dark white, and behind them was pitch black, the horizon gradually became as clear as a knife¡¯s edge. Bi Fang watched as the sun leaped above the horizon, the grand and intense morning sun breathed life into the sky, slowly melting the frozen mountains and rivers. Looking down, the Khumbu Glacier, originally covered with cracks large and small, seemed as though it had been given a big clean, all its scars covered by the snow. But this was not a good thing; the rapidly rushing snowflakes didn¡¯t fill the crevasses, instead, they hid them, making the path even more dangerous. Yao Jun exhaled a breath of cold mist, not knowing what to do, he looked towards the guide Rob beside him, but Rob then cast his gaze back onto Bi Fang. ¡°What do we do now? The crevices are covered by snow, it¡¯s very dangerous to proceed, if we wait, it¡¯ll take at least a week to basically confirm safety.¡± The glacier was covered by snow, but such an attic-like structure was not safe, a slight tremor was all it took for it to collapse. Under the glacier¡¯s motion, the blanket of snow would soon disappear, buried deep within the glacier. Of course, there were also layers of snow maintained for various reasons, but those were just the usual dangers. Many times, deaths occurred because quite a few unlucky individuals fell into such glacial traps. At this moment, everyone¡¯s gaze settled on Bi Fang. Unconsciously, even an experienced guide like Rob viewed Bi Fang as the pillar of the group. After all, who else could have personally experienced an avalanche and come out with lessons learned? An avalanche, such a natural disaster, one was incredibly lucky to survive even once, and survival could likely leave one with a lifetime of psychological trauma. Only Bi Fang could possess rich ¡°experience¡± and still come out just fine. [Master Fang, quickly use your invincible Wilderness Survivalist skills to think of a solution!] [Is this what a big shot looks like?] [All eyes are on you, hoping for a textbook self-rescue! You truly are the Wilderness Survivalist God!] Bi Fang didn¡¯t answer but instead took out the altitude meter from his pocket, 5874 meters. ¡°The altitude of Camp One is 5943, the altitude of the base camp is 5334, we were almost at Camp One last night.¡± Putting away the altitude meter, Bi Fang furrowed his brow and pondered for a moment, considering that he was not alone. If it were up to him, he would not return to the base camp, but instead, head towards the closer, safer Camp One. But there were others with him. Bi Fang looked at Jerret, whose complexion was flushed from capillary dilation due to lack of oxygen; Yao Jun who kept coughing, he might have injured his lungs and windpipe; and Adenborg from the University of Edinburgh, who was sitting on the ground catching his breath, might not have any immediate issues, but age was a definite drawback. Additionally, the use of oxygen was a problem. There was no need to worry too much about Danzeng and Rob, their physical fitness was trustworthy. After thinking for a moment, Bi Fang felt he should still ask the others. ¡°I have a suggestion, I will go ahead to the base camp, try to help other victims along the way. Mount Everest rescues are different from regular rescues, it may not start until this afternoon, by that time it would be too late, so I¡¯ll take the lead. If any of you can¡¯t hold on, come with me, we can descend and reduce the altitude, and then wait for rescue at the base camp. Danzeng and Rob can head towards Camp One to help people there. I think right now we might be the group in the best physical condition on Mount Everest.¡± Observing the terrain and changes around him, Bi Fang guessed that last night¡¯s avalanche might have come from one of the peaks over 7000 meters next to them, and Camp One was likely also in trouble. So far, without a doubt, Bi Fang and the others were the people closest to the affected area and in good physical condition, the first and only ones to have successfully self-rescued from the avalanche. Returning the altitude meter, Bi Fang looked at the people around him: ¡°Alright, now who wants to go down with me, and who wants to keep moving forward?¡± Looking around, everyone exchanged glances. Jerret coughed twice: ¡°I¡¯ll go down with you.¡± Yao Jun also smiled: ¡°Me too, I won¡¯t be a burden to everyone. Let¡¯s go down together, we can also help save some people. Honestly, I think it¡¯s because I haven¡¯t trained and adapted enough, you should have talked to me about it earlier.¡± ¡°I want to go up, cough cough,¡± Adenborg looked at everyone and smiled, ¡°Why are you looking at me? Don¡¯t you Huaxia have a saying related to sunk cost? I find it very interesting, what¡¯s it called again?¡± Bi Fang laughed: ¡°We¡¯ve come this far!¡± ¡°Right,¡± Adenborg squinted and smiled, ¡°We¡¯ve come this far, it¡¯s less than a hundred meters, I think I can handle it.¡± ¡°Whether you can handle it isn¡¯t up to you to say.¡± Bi Fang came over to Sir, grabbed his wrist, and felt his pulse. Don¡¯t get the wrong idea, although Bi Fang could call himself a survival expert, he was no expert in old Chinese medicine techniques. He was just simply checking the pulse to estimate the heart rate. Edinburgh gripped his fists tightly. ¡°The heartbeat is stable, but we can only say that there haven¡¯t been any major issues so far.¡± A minute later, Bi Fang did not refuse Sir¡¯s request. Just as Edinburgh said, he was a ninety-year-old man, and nothing, no one could easily change his mind; Bi Fang was merely a ¡°health advisor.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s get going.¡± Bi Fang stood up again, pulled out his climbing stick, and jabbed it into the snow ahead, with Jerret and Yao Jun following closely in his footsteps through the snow. The path ahead became increasingly difficult, increasingly dangerous. You might shy away, Shying away might mean you are cowardly, or it might mean that you have a very wise grasp of the risks. Regardless of your decision, in the face of death, you can¡¯t lie to yourself, you will clearly see your true nature. You might be adorned with honor and wealth, or you might never return and forever accompany the wilderness. But this, this is adventure. Watching the departing Bi Fang, Edinburgh also stood up from the ground, brushing the snow off his trouser legs, ¡°Human adventuring behavior is a product of human evolution.¡± Danzeng looked curiously at the brave old man, not understanding why he suddenly said such a thing. In the face of Danzeng¡¯s curious gaze, Edinburgh smiled, ¡°This is a theory proposed by a friend of mine at the University of California. He said, humans take risks driven by benefits; the more willing to take risks, the more likely to become powerful.¡± Having lived all his life at the foot of Mount Everest, Danzeng didn¡¯t know what California was, but he understood the statement and asked, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°He believes that this human tendency to seek adventure dates back to prehistoric times. Back then, Earth was inhabited by two major types of primitive humans,¡± Edinburgh patiently raised two fingers to the seeker, and narrated. ¡°One type built nests and settled down, while the other dared to venture out and explore new worlds. Those who settled mostly stayed in their lairs, living off the surrounding plants and small animals, always cautious. The explorers roamed everywhere, realizing that bold actions increased the chances of dying unexpectedly, but also allowed them to find tastier fruits and more prey.¡± ¡°In moving about and struggling against the dangerous outside world, these people accumulated a wealth of survival experiences and were thus better able to withstand Nature¡¯s harsh trials. Compared to the first type, they were more adaptable to the environment and were better able to survive. Besides, they also amassed a wealth of survival experience, which allowed them to better withstand Nature¡¯s harsh trials.¡± sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°These more capable doers often lived longer, were able to raise many children, and successfully passed on their genes to the next generation, until their kind ultimately came to dominate in Humans. So, a penchant for adventure is a biological inheritance of humanity.¡± Most ordinary people cannot understand the behavior of these adventurers. Some spend their entire lives avoiding danger and hardship, shunning the uncertainties of life to feel a bit safer. But others live to pursue the unknown; they are full of interest and a desire to explore everything uncertain. Compared to the risks they endure, the process of conquering these dangers holds more significance for them. For most people, this spirit of adventure is incomprehensible. In fact, this incomprehension is more a matter of different life philosophies. ¡°Of course, adventure is not the same as recklessness and loss of control, nor is it simply about seeking thrills and courting death; it¡¯s about challenging human limits, doing great things no one dares to do, things that have a great significance for humanity, like those people I just mentioned who brought back more fresh fruits for their tribe. Only those who hold the key are truly powerful,¡± Edinburgh explained. After listening, Danzeng said thoughtfully, ¡°I think you are also a powerful person.¡± Edinburgh smiled and pulled out his own climbing stick. ¡°Alright, gentlemen, it¡¯s time for us to set off. Don¡¯t take care of me just because I¡¯m an old man. To tell the truth, I¡¯ve always felt I¡¯m only twenty at heart.¡± Chapter 402: 400 Occupy a Spot Chapter 402: Chapter 400 Occupy a Spot Holding a spot, Ling Cheng modification An ear-splitting explosion roared from a hundred meters behind them, the tremor shaking the entire shipyard. The violent blast tore through the narrow passageway, erupting in flames like an oversized blowtorch, sucking the oxygen out of the air rapidly with its intense heat as Matthew knelt on the ground, his face turning an eerie shade of purple-red, his ear sponges quivering slightly. Bi Fang, lying next to him, pressed down hard on the back of Matthew¡¯s neck, staying motionless on the ground, feeling the scorching airstream howl past them. The audience watched in horror as the air twisted and shimmered with heat, and in that instant, everyone seemed to lose their hearing. On the ground, within the blinding burst of fire, a metal manhole cover was hurled into the air by the explosion¡¯s shockwave, ascending twenty meters before crashing back down fiercely lodged into the shattered cement. ¡°What¡¯s going on?! What¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°Someone come, someone come!¡± ¡°Has the military attacked?!¡± ¡°Help!¡± Shouts pierced the night, and parts of the buildings suddenly lit up, shattering the tranquil darkness completely. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Countless people panicked, the loud boom rendering them deaf, as bright columns of light and the roar of motorcycles surged in. ¡°Go!¡± Minutes later, Bi Fang lifted the dizzy Matthew and re-entered the passageway, heading towards the manhole cover in front of the warehouse. Along the way, everyone could see the sewer scene had changed drastically from before. The walls were scorched and cracked, the moss that had clung to them burned away, leaving only small patches that glimmered with a dark red hue in the darkness. The air smelled foul, not of hydrogen sulfide but of sewage evaporated by heat, like dried-out feces. ¡°Bleah!¡± Arriving under the manhole cover, Matthew could no longer hold back, vomiting as the high temperature from the explosion and the ringing in his ears surged. Bi Fang climbed the iron ladder carefully, lifting the cover and without much surprise, said, ¡°Throw up, you¡¯ll feel better after it¡¯s out.¡± Under the starless night sky, a shadow stood with the sewer manhole cover, observing everyone silently from a corner of the road. Bi Fang watched as the lights from the motorcycles scattered like fireflies to every corner of the shipyard, then went out, while people poured out of buildings, fleeing and howling. Just as Matthew had said, these people were indeed amateurs, standing on the ruins with sheer viciousness and cold hearts. If they were trained individuals, the scene would not be like this; all passages would have been secured, at least until the cause of the explosion was clear, and no personnel would be allowed to move freely! He scanned the area near the warehouse. The dozen or so guards who had been stationed there had mostly fled, leaving only a few scattered around, some still hesitating on the spot. From below, Matthew asked, ¡°How is it? Is it useful?¡± ¡°Yes! You wait here for me!¡± Bi Fang pushed the manhole cover aside and leapt out of the well, stepping onto the iron ladder. After carefully replacing the cover, he crouched down like a leopard and sprinted forward, disappearing into the grass beside him. Not far away, inside a building, bandit gang members converged, and soon someone pushed the door open and entered. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Is it them or us, or are both sides fighting?¡± The Bandit Gangs¡¯ Boss looked tense ¨C such a large disturbance could only mean the military, he couldn¡¯t imagine any other scenario. For months, the bandit gangs had been strutting around the city, making everyone steer clear of them, arrogant beyond measure. But now, faced with a real military force, they were like homeless dogs; no, worse than dogs, nothing more than sewer rats that fire could obliterate completely. ¡°No¡­ No one attacked.¡± The young man who had just run in gasped for air as he opened the main gate. The intense light flooded into the gloomy hall, not sunlight, but the light of fire. The fire seemed to erupt from the core of the earth, shooting up high, and charred human figures ran through the flames while gigantic metal devices burned, tumbled and fell. The gang leader¡¯s heart clenched, and he suddenly grabbed an ashtray to throw forward. The young man screamed in agony, kneeling on the ground with blood streaming from his forehead, not understanding why the Boss had suddenly hit him. ¡°And you say no one attacked! If they didn¡¯t come, did you start this fire?¡± The gang leader¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, his face terrifying. The young man lay on the ground, blood gushing from his forehead. He touched it lightly with his hand, it felt like a piece had caved in, causing him so much pain that tears welled up. He hurriedly explained, ¡°Really, Boss, we would have noticed if someone attacked. No one came, honestly. I heard Sabbas say it might be the underground natural gas pipeline that exploded, that¡¯s why it¡¯s like this. Half the street¡¯s been blown away, and a few guys were in the toilet at the time, now we can¡¯t find them, probably burnt to death.¡± The gang leader paused for a moment, stepped to the door to look around, and indeed it seemed like no one was there. The chaos was entirely due to his own incompetent subordinates. Not the military. With that thought, the gang leader¡¯s anxiety was swallowed back down. As long as they hadn¡¯t been attacked, that was good, as long as they hadn¡¯t been attacked, that was good. He glanced at the young man beside him, void of any other thoughts, waved his hand and dismissed him, ¡°Alright, alright, go get bandaged up, you¡¯re useless with words.¡± The young man, not daring to say more, bowed his head and retreated. ¡°Wait, the goods are okay, right?¡± ¡°Yes, although it was close, it didn¡¯t reach there.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good, hurry up and put out the fire. It¡¯s so late and still so much trouble.¡± As the subordinate¡¯s figure faded into the distance, the gang leader stroked his chin. ¡°Is there still natural gas now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably marsh gas.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡­ In the shadows, a figure stealthily skulked, hiding his body behind shrubs that hadn¡¯t been trimmed for months, completely concealed. This was the northeast corner of the warehouse. Through the gaps in the shrubs, the drone gave the audience a clear view of the warehouse¡¯s outline. This was the best location for an assault. Bi Fang had checked carefully; this direction had only one guard, whose viewing angle was skewed. As long as Bi Fang could act swiftly and decisively, he wouldn¡¯t attract anyone¡¯s attention. Bi Fang smeared some black ash on his face and pulled off a piece of torn cloth before boldly approaching the target. ¡°Hey, stop, don¡¯t move! Who are you?¡± Almost as soon as Bi Fang appeared near the warehouse, the guard spotted him and moved his hand toward his waist. The more chaotic it was, the less room there was for mistakes. The guard knew this well, so as soon as Bi Fang approached, he tried to draw his gun to force him back. But before his hand could grip the handle, a white towel suddenly flew toward his face. Is this some kind of joke? Playing drop the handkerchief? A sense of absurdity flashed through the guard¡¯s mind, and he instinctively reached out with his left hand to catch it, but in the next second, a hand firmly grasped his wrist! Immediately, the guard felt a huge force strike his left cheek! Chapter 403: 401: Avalanche Survivor Chapter 403: Chapter 401: Avalanche Survivor ¡°Blood scent? Where?¡± Yao Jun shrugged his nostrils, but he couldn¡¯t smell anything. The weather was too cold, and every breath felt like tiny knives were slicing inside his nostrils. If there really was a blood scent, it must be his own blood. ¡°Is the detector responding?¡± Bi Fang adjusted the detector again, but there was no response. Yao Jun touched his head in confusion. ¡°No response, huh? There isn¡¯t anyone around, right?¡± ¡°Maybe we¡¯ve lost the detector, or maybe the other party wasn¡¯t prepared, but I definitely smelled blood, and it was strong.¡± ¡°But I didn¡¯t smell anything at all.¡± Yao Jun took a strong sniff but still nothing. ¡°In such cold weather, any blood would have frozen, right? How could the scent drift? Are you a dog¡¯s nose?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ask, if you ask, it¡¯s a talent.¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t explain further and cautiously jogged towards the smell in the air. When they crossed over a small slope, Bi Fang sharply retracted his right foot and stopped Yao Jun and Jerret who were right behind him. ¡°Be careful, there¡¯s a glacier.¡± As he spoke, he extended his climbing stick and prodded the pile of snow in front of him. Under the weak force, the snow slope collapsed rapidly, sending up plumes of white dust. Illuminated by the sunlight, a deep blue, seemingly bottomless crevasse appeared before them all. The audience was stunned, just looking at the snow slope in front of Bi Fang, they could not discern any signs. If it were an ordinary person, wouldn¡¯t they just fall right through? How the hell did Master Fang identify it without any warning signs? ¡°[Holy shit, how the hell did he discover that?]¡± ¡°[X-ray, Master Fang used x-ray!]¡± ¡°[What the hell is x-ray, did I stumble into the Sci-Fi channel? What¡¯s this madness?]¡± ¡°[New fans might not know this, but Old Fang is our country¡¯s secret weapon, having undergone a physical transformation. His eyes can shoot out x-rays for easy scanning. Inside our military, there¡¯s an unwritten agreement: If the enemy doesn¡¯t deploy nuclear weapons, we don¡¯t bring out Master Fang!]¡± ¡°[Is the ultimate weapon¡¯s existence no longer a secret?]¡± ¡°You obviously can¡¯t tell just by looking at this pile of snow in front, but if you extend your view a bit further¡­¡± Upon hearing Bi Fang¡¯s words, the photographer back at the base camp immediately flies the drone up high to capture the entire slope. With the sightline drastically expanded and good lighting conditions, the audience finally could spot the difference. On the snow slope, another scar-like snow line was slightly raised, casting slight shadows under the sunlight. Even though it was subtle, once the view widened, it became conspicuous. ¡°Glaciers covered by snow are difficult to spot, and every year, many people get buried because of such glaciers. However, a broader view can lead to a more complete understanding. When such streamlined snow lines appear before you, you should be alert. Besides the snow line, you can also judge by the color.¡± Bi Fang grabbed a handful of snow from the edge of the crevasse, took a few steps back, and placed it on the ground. The audience widened their eyes, and after careful comparison, they slowly realized that the snow on the edge of the crack seemed darker? ¡°[Is the snow on the edge of the crack darker? Is this an illusion?]¡± ¡°It¡¯s not an illusion. These crevasses covered by snow are called hidden crevasses. Besides being slightly lower than the surrounding area, which can be observed from high altitudes during the day through shadow lines, it¡¯s through the color of the snow. The snow on hidden crevasses will be slightly yellowish or blackish.¡± ¡°Is it really that amazing? What¡¯s the principle behind it?¡± Yao Jun listened with interest, grabbing a handful of snow and giving it a lick. It didn¡¯t taste any different, did it? S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just as icy. Bi Fang chuckled, ¡°Take a guess?¡± ¡°If I could have known, I wouldn¡¯t be following behind you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the specific heat capacity.¡± Bi Fang patted the snow in his hand, ¡°Below the crevasse is air that can¡¯t circulate. The specific heat capacity is higher than that of rock, and the temperature difference causes the ice crystals and density of the snow to vary, changing its refractive index and deepening its color.¡± What? The audience was dumbfounded. [I thought Bi Fang knew a lot already, but I underestimated him.] [Specific heat capacity, damn it, I would never have thought of that reason in my lifetime¡­] [Is this what a big shot is like? Shivering.] Bi Fang walked along the glacier crevasse, trying to find if any Sherpa had left behind an aluminum ladder. ¡°The depth of a typical glacier crevasse is 25-30 meters. This one is obviously deeper; the ice layers beyond this depth are much more solid. The deeper it goes, the bigger the ice crystals become, and the stronger the adhesion. When it¡¯s subjected to pressure trying to separate it, its inner structure becomes even denser due to the pressure, and it¡¯ll appear thick like cream or syrup.¡± ¡°Actually, the best way to cross a glacier is to go around it. Circling around is much safer than crossing over. If that¡¯s not possible, the next best option is to choose a snow bridge. The deep snow of winter can become hardened under strong winds, potentially forming a snow bridge over the crevices that won¡¯t melt until summer. There¡¯s also a stronger type of snow bridge, but that¡¯s not really a snow bridge anymore¡ªit¡¯s a slender isthmus connecting two crevasses.¡± [What the hell is an isthmus?] [It¡¯s a narrow strip of land connecting two larger landmasses, like the Isthmus of Panama between the continents of South America and North America. That¡¯s a typical isthmus, but one connecting crevasses is rare, at least I haven¡¯t seen many.] [Bro, what do you do for a living?] [I¡¯m a geological explorer. This morning, a colleague of mine told me about this guy live streaming an avalanche and executing a textbook self-rescue, so I got curious and came to watch. The live streamer is really impressive. Although I haven¡¯t watched for long, he is very professional, and there is some knowledge I¡¯m not clear about.] Old Deng stroked his glasses and typed this message on his computer. The color of the snow over a glacier¡¯s hidden crevasse is deeper because of the specific heat capacity. Although he hadn¡¯t been working long, and his main focus wasn¡¯t glaciers, he understood more about this than most people. This knowledge truly opened his eyes, making him feel an urge to fly to Mount Everest to study glaciers right away. ¡°This phenomenon isn¡¯t something you can simply find out through basic research and investigation; it requires a lot of experience. Where did this guy get all that?¡± [Wow, we have all sorts of people watching the live stream. Yesterday, a top hacker appeared, and today a geological explorer joined in.] [Didn¡¯t we also have biology and history professors before? (Dog¡¯s head)] [Prosperous!] Regrettably, Bi Fang did not find any aluminum ladder left by the Sherpa, only the peg holes left next to the glacier. The aluminum ladder was likely swept away by last night¡¯s avalanche. But luckily, Bi Fang did find a snow bridge. It was wide and thick, looking like a paved road. ¡°When you encounter a snow bridge, you need to closely observe from the side before stepping on it. Ensure it¡¯s not thin, then try walking on it to physically check it out. Be very careful, and if you have a teammate, let them stand to the side to make sure they keep the rope taut to prevent you from falling into the crevasse should the snow bridge suddenly break. After the first person crosses, the rest of the team can follow their lead closely, with another teammate ensuring the rope is tight.¡± ¡°The sturdiness of a snow bridge is mainly influenced by the temperature. On cold winter days or in the early morning, a snow bridge might support the weight of a truck, but in the afternoon sun when the snow begins to melt, it might not even support one¡¯s own weight. Every crossing of a snow bridge must be approached with increased alertness; just because it was safe in the morning doesn¡¯t mean it will be safe in the afternoon.¡± ¡°Stay tight,¡± Bi Fang turned back and said to Yao Jun and Jerret. The two nodded and simultaneously lowered their centers of gravity, crampons firmly set into the ice. Bi Fang took a deep breath, about to step forward when, a few meters away on the edge of the glacier, a bloodied hand pressed against the ice, its blood quickly coagulating into a handprint and sprouting sharp ice crystals. Bi Fang¡¯s pupils shrank suddenly. ¡°Quick, go save them!¡± Chapter 404: 402 Chapter 404: 402 In the azure depths of the abyss, a figure grew larger as it struggled upward. The edges of the crevasse were narrowing, slowly, moving to the leftmost Fei She began climbing upwards, viciously hacking his ice axe into the creamy wall to find his footing; each step required his focused effort and was excruciatingly painful. He crawled upward like a worm. Stab, kick, shift, repeat. Between his palms and the ice axe, there was no longer any sensation, perhaps frozen or maybe necrotic; everything became an obsession to survive. ¡°Perhaps I¡¯ve already lost consciousness, and all this is just an illusion.¡± Fei She thought, unable to believe that the man who had been seriously injured within the ice rift and had managed to move a hundred meters up was himself. Finally, after the umpteenth mechanical upward swing of the axe, a sliver of blue sky appeared. Fei She wanted to rest, but he couldn¡¯t, for if he let go, he would die. He propped himself up and lay there, halfway in and out, completely exhausted and unable to move. Five minutes later, with the last burst of energy, he forced his body forward and flopped onto solid ground. He staggered to his feet, and then collapsed again. He couldn¡¯t walk; he could barely even get down on his knees. It was then that Fei She realized how broken his body was. As he dragged his broken ribs across the ice, he knew that unless his companions found him, he wouldn¡¯t be able to survive. Perhaps he was bleeding internally and needed first aid. But just as he was about to hit the ground, a hand yanked him abruptly. Fei She opened his frosty eyes. Was this an illusion? S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There were actually people. People after the avalanche, this has to be an illusion, right? Fei She tried to open his mouth as though to say something, but after much effort, he didn¡¯t call for help or even say thanks. ¡°Got any coffee? Preferably hot.¡± ¡°Someone, come quickly!¡± Upon receiving a response, Fei She completely passed out. Yao Jun and Jerret rushed to Bi Fang¡¯s side, and upon seeing the pitiful state of Fei She, they shuddered; this wasn¡¯t a person, but rather a demon that had crawled out of Hell! His clothes and the corners of his mouth were covered with frosty blood, the man¡¯s left hand hung limply, bizarrely elongated compared to his right, and his left ankle was similarly unnaturally twisted. Witnessing this, the two felt a sickening sensation in their teeth and couldn¡¯t help but think, if it weren¡¯t for Bi Fang, would they end up the same way? After stealthily glancing into the crevasse and feeling the bite of the cold wind on their faces, Yao Jun discarded the thought; he probably wouldn¡¯t even be able to crawl out, only wait for death below. The viewers were dizzy with shock. [This guy is tough] [Is this what an avalanche victim looks like?] [Fuck, this is too freaking scary] [I can¡¯t handle this, gonna have nightmares tonight] [Master Fang, please blur the image, I¡¯m afraid] In the live broadcast, the wretched figure of Fei She was quickly blurred. Bi Fang carefully laid Fei She on the ground, ¡°Yao Jun, see if you can find any ID on him, Jerret, got any hot water?¡± ¡°Oh, yes.¡± ¡°Give him some to drink.¡± Bi Fang quickly undid the man¡¯s clothing, and upon discovering large bruises on his chest and abdomen, he inhaled sharply: ¡°Bleeding from the mouth and nose, body swollen, muscles tense and turning dark, signs of internal bleeding!¡± [Internal bleeding, he¡¯s not going to die, is he?] [Damn, that¡¯s serious, isn¡¯t it?] [It¡¯s not certain, it depends on the type of internal bleeding and whether there are symptoms of shock and respiratory arrest. Considering he managed to climb out of such a deep crevasse, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s particularly severe.] ¡°Jerret, prop up his feet with the backpack.¡± ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Bi Fang pressed down on the man¡¯s right hand, trying to take the Ice Axe out of his grip. Just as he pried the fingers open, a layer of skin tore off, revealing that the Ice Axe was completely frozen to the man¡¯s palm, making viewers¡¯ scalps tingle in horror. [My God, that¡¯s terrifying.] Bi Fang took the warm water from Jerret and slowly poured it over the man¡¯s hand. Only after the blood and ice thawed was he able to successfully remove the Ice Axe, then proceeded to check the pulse at the wrist. After a while, Yao Jun asked anxiously, ¡°How is it?¡± Yao Jun had never witnessed someone die in front of him, and though he thought it wouldn¡¯t be a big deal, actually facing it really made him nervous, even causing him to stutter. Feeling the heartbeat, Bi Fang¡¯s brow gradually relaxed, ¡°It¡¯s okay, the heartbeat is stable. It¡¯s just a simple faint, not shock. Right now, we can only suspect internal bleeding, possibly due to broken ribs, but it¡¯s not too serious. At least no major organs are injured, otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to climb out of the abyss.¡± ¡°So what do we do now?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do,¡± Bi Fang shook his head. He knew survival and First Aid, but he wasn¡¯t a doctor, couldn¡¯t perform surgery, and even if he could, the conditions weren¡¯t right. ¡°The best thing to do for a patient with internal bleeding is to keep them quiet and immobile, positioning the head lower than the feet to redistribute blood flow using gravity, and then wait for rescue. Any significant movement could cause the internal injuries to worsen.¡± ¡°The shoulder over here¡­¡± Bi Fang examined closely. Subway, elderly, cellphone. ¡°It¡¯s not just a dislocation; the shoulder blade may be fractured, and there could be many splinters. Surgery is necessary. As for the ankle here¡­ the ankle I can handle.¡± Bi Fang took off the shoes and felt the man¡¯s ankle; it was just a dislocated ankle joint, no fractures, and he quickly repositioned it. ¡°For dislocations like this, if you¡¯re not very experienced, do not attempt to manipulate it randomly. It¡¯s best to take it to a professional hospital for a doctor to fix. Yao Jun, do you have a towel? Wrap his ankle and apply cold. When you cold compress, it¡¯s best to use a towel as a barrier to prevent frostbite.¡± Yao Jun went to search for a towel but instead pulled out an ID: ¡°Oh, right, I found this on him.¡± Bi Fang took the work ID, surprised, ¡°Fei She? Is he Fei She?¡± [Holy shit, that guide who works with Rob! The guide for the Japanese and Texan! Where are they?] [This guy is tough.] [Awesome, seriously awesome. Internal bleeding and a dislocated left hand, and he climbed out of the crevasse by himself, that¡¯s just fucking incredible¡­] [Is this what a pro looks like?] [The guide is here, are the others here too? They¡¯re not still in the crevasse, are they?] Bi Fang took off his headlamp and shone it into the crevasse, but he didn¡¯t find any other people until he had walked more than fifty meters and then saw an extremely familiar figure lying in the rift. The drone slowly descended, and the audience gasped and covered their mouths. [Is that Wessels¡­] [I¡¯m scared to look¡­] [Although he was rude, ¡®dust to dust, ashes to ashes, may the departed rest in peace¡­] [This is literally a horror live stream.] [How strong is this streamer¡¯s backing to be able to broadcast something like this?] [Nonsense, did you see the red star next to the name? Official authentication, are you kidding?] Above the crevasse, Bi Fang directed the light into its very depths, sunlight shining on his back and the glacial blue light reflecting onto his face, flowing slowly and appearing rather blurred. Tens of meters apart, heaven and Hell. Ah. After a moment of silence, Bi Fang sighed. For the second time, someone died in front of him. Chapter 405: 403: Return to Base Chapter 405: Chapter 403: Return to Base ¡°` After wrapping Fei She in the sleeping bag and feeding him two energy gels to ensure he wouldn¡¯t lose heat and his vitals could continue to stabilize, Bi Fang looked around and suddenly spotted Yao Jun¡¯s red scarf. He grabbed it, squeezed it in his hand, and asked, ¡°Did you buy this scarf yourself, or was it a gift? Does it have any particular significance?¡± Yao Jun was startled, then replied with smug pride, ¡°How about that, looks good, right? It¡¯s a limited edition, I specifically¡­¡± Before Yao Jun could finish speaking, Bi Fang yanked the red scarf off him. Feeling a chill around his neck, Yao Jun hadn¡¯t even reacted when he saw Bi Fang use a dagger to cut a strip of red cloth from his scarf. ¡°Damn it, what are you doing!¡± Ignoring Yao Jun, Bi Fang tied the red strip of cloth to a spare climbing stick in Fei She¡¯s backpack, used a simple snow shovel to dig a hole in the ground, and then firmly planted it inside, before covering it back with snow and weighing it down with rocks. Bi Fang stood up and brushed off his hands, ¡°There, this big expanse is all white, or it¡¯s just exposed dark rock. A piece of red ribbon will be really noticeable. It will make it easier for the rescue personnel to find us. Many times, when passing through avalanche-prone areas, climbers tie bright ribbons to their heads or arms for the same reason. I just asked you to find out if the scarf had any special significance. Since it doesn¡¯t, let¡¯s put it to good use.¡± At that point, Yao Jun was on the verge of tears. ¡°It really is a limited edition, only five hundred in the world, sob sob sob.¡± ¡°Wait, what about Wessels? Should we not care for him?¡± Jerret called out just as Bi Fang was about to leave. Jerret wasn¡¯t a saint. As a director, he was accustomed to protecting the reputations of his actors, and if Bi Fang could retrieve the body at this moment, he would certainly earn a good reputation. If Bi Fang could break this unwritten rule, it would undoubtedly be more beneficial than harmful to his own ¡°future.¡± Unfortunately¡­ Bi Fang glanced at the crevasse, shook his head, and said, ¡°No need, and besides, how do you know he definitely wanted to return home?¡± Jerret was taken aback, then as if something suddenly dawned on him, asked, ¡°Did Wessels sign some documents?¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Documents? What documents?] The audience was confused. Speak of something we can understand, please. Bi Fang briefly explained, ¡°Something like a body donation form.¡± Climbing Mount Everest is a game for the wealthy and dream-chasers, which has also exposed an issue: even with professional training, many people are still unprofessional. Unprofessionalism leads to accidents, and accidents can endanger the entire team. Upon Mount Everest, climbers are almost always ¡°selfish.¡± When it comes to those on the brink of death, the others will turn a blind eye. Every climber knows well the cost of helping others¡ªit might mean ¡°everyone dies together.¡± As for transporting bodies, it¡¯s even more out of the question. Therefore, every climber will sign a document before ascending the mountain, which must also be signed by their family members. It details whether they want their bodies brought back if they die. And the answer is, many choose to ¡°stay on the mountain.¡± ¡°There was once a Sherpa team that found a body and moved it to a better place on the mountain, but after finding out, the family expressed their wish to move the body back to its original place because that was the deceased¡¯s last will.¡± [Is that so?] [I can understand. If I were to accidentally perish, I wouldn¡¯t want to come down either. Maybe someone will see me after a hundred years.] [Following Master Fang is an eye-opener every day.] [Another eye-opener, I can go back and show off now.] [Picking up girls skill +1] [After watching Bi Fang¡¯s Mount Everest livestream, can I pretend I¡¯ve been there too (Dog¡¯s head), and recount it all in detail?] After explaining, Bi Fang continued to lead Yao Jun and Jerret down the mountain. According to the signal from the detector, they found two more people. Regrettably, one was gravely injured, and the other was already without signs of life. Like with Fei She, Bi Fang could only perform simple first aid on the injured one, trying his best to stabilize his vital signs. After that, it was all up to fate. During the short fifty-meter descent, they witnessed the death of two lives, which quieted the mood in the livestream quite a bit. The death rate is just a simple statistic. The dangers of climbing Mount Everest were laid bare at this moment, like a skinned elk, gruesomely exhibited before everyone. Until the appearance of the third person. ¡°Old Fang, Old Fang, there¡¯s someone over here, too!¡± Bi Fang rushed over at the sound of the voice, looking at the ¡°ice block¡± that Yao Jun and Jerret had uncovered, and wiped the snowflakes off the person¡¯s face. This was¡­ ¡°That Japanese guy! Damn, what a coincidence!¡± ¡°` ¡°I mean, come on, Jerry, maybe let¡¯s just call it quits (dog¡¯s head)¡± ¡°Ahh, seriously, you can¡¯t say that, man, it¡¯s poor sportsmanship.¡± ¡°His lips are turning purple already!¡± ¡°Same team, but the leader is up top and the member down below; got swept away, huh?¡± ¡°This is severe hypoxia! It shouldn¡¯t be happening though.¡± Bi Fang was startled as he looked at the oxygen bottle cradled in the man¡¯s arms with some confusion. Not having time to think further, he opened Saito¡¯s shirt and started compressions, but after just a few, the man suddenly began coughing violently. ¡°Awake?¡± Bi Fang was confused again. He had only pressed a couple of times. Could it be that he had a hidden talent for medicine? ¡°The magical healing touch of Doctor Bi!¡± ¡°Epic, a couple of compressions and a dead man comes back to life!¡± Saito continued to cough. Bi Fang picked up the oxygen bottle from Saito¡¯s arms, ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be so, how could there be hypoxia with an oxygen bottle? Polar Bear oxygen bottle brand POISK, the most popular oxygen bottle brand, weighing approximately seven pounds, or about three kilograms. This is the most common type of oxygen canister on Mount Everest. According to the calculations of the Nepal National Mountaineering Guides Association, a bottle like this should last five hours at the highest breathing rate, but now¡­¡± Bi Fang rolled up his sleeve; it was 7:27. They were buried around 4:30 last night which means it¡¯s only been about three hours now. Even if they had taken a few breaths during the ascent, it shouldn¡¯t last just three hours. Bi Fang wiped the frost off the pressure gauge on the oxygen bottle. The needle was far to the left. No more oxygen? ¡°Shoddy product almost killed someone!¡± ¡°+1¡± ¡°Call consumer services! Demand compensation! They almost cost a life, don¡¯t you know!¡± At this moment, Saito took a couple of sips of Jerret¡¯s water and finally came around. He recovered so fast, and the oxygen bottle showed no oxygen¡­ Bi Fang handed the breathing mask to Yao Jun, ¡°Take a breath and see.¡± ¡°Me? For what?¡± Yao Jun looked at Bi Fang warily. ¡°Just try it, it¡¯s not poison, hurry up.¡± Yao Jun, still doubtful, clearly didn¡¯t trust Bi Fang. But unable to resist the pressure, he reluctantly took a couple of breaths and discovered to his surprise, ¡°There¡¯s oxygen in this!?¡± Bi Fang suddenly realized, ¡°It¡¯s psychological hypoxia!¡± Saito, who had just woken up, was still confused and didn¡¯t understand what that meant. Bi Fang replaced the oxygen mask on Saito, ¡°You try it again.¡± Saito, puzzled, took the breathing mask and after a couple of breaths, his pupils slowly contracted, ¡°How can this be, the oxygen was clearly¡­¡± ¡°Clearly depleted, right? But if it were really gone, you¡¯d have died of hypoxia within minutes. Do you really believe you could be that lucky to wait for us to come just in those few minutes?¡± ¡°So what exactly happened?¡± Yao Jun and Jerret were both confused. Bi Fang tapped the pressure gauge on the oxygen canister, ¡°There¡¯s still oxygen in the tank; it¡¯s just that the pressure gauge is broken, possibly frozen or crushed. You had a headlamp on when you were buried and covered your mouth and nose, didn¡¯t you?¡± Saito nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right, the space you had allowed you to see the broken gauge and believe the oxygen was gone, creating a psychological effect that made you think you would suffocate. This led to ¡®pseudo high-altitude sickness¡¯ with purple lips and eventually unconsciousness. However, since you still wore the mask, you didn¡¯t completely lack oxygen and waited in that state until we arrived.¡± ¡°I know you¡¯d ask how this could be possible, but likely, that¡¯s what happened. It¡¯s a bit like being scared to death.¡± ¡°Scared to death¡­¡± Saito gave a wry smile as he now inhaled the oxygen. Even if he were reluctant to believe, he had to accept it. ¡°Okay, you¡¯re lucky to have run into us and had a detector with you. Otherwise, even if you weren¡¯t really suffering from a lack of oxygen, by the time the rescue arrived, it would have become real. How do you feel, can you still walk? If you can, come down the mountain with us.¡± Saito stood up unsteadily with Bi Fang¡¯s help and nodded, ¡°My limbs are stiff, but I can move. Let me warm up a bit, and I will go down with you.¡± ¡°Right, we¡¯re at an altitude of 5432, just a hundred meters more and we¡¯ll be at base camp.¡± Bi Fang checked the altimeter and frowned. What worried him now was whether this avalanche would lead to Nepal cancelling the climbing season. When would it reopen? Chapter 406: 404: Then, You Have My Condolences Chapter 406: Chapter 404: Then, You Have My Condolences By the time everyone returned to Everest Base Camp, it was already twelve noon, and what had originally been a trio had expanded to eleven people. Yes, eleven people. After rescuing Saito, at an altitude of 5,400 meters, Bi Fang¡¯s detector reacted again. Upon digging, it was like uncovering gourd babies; except for one individual who died on the spot, six others suffered various injuries but could still walk. Given that the altitude was not far from Base Camp and that they had left the range of the Khumbu Glacier, Bi Fang had the six of them support each other and walk together. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for why four plus six equaled eleven, the reason was that Bi Fang had also found an old acquaintance, one of the two Sherpa guides who had initially cut the rope to save their lives. The other, unfortunately, Bi Fang had not found, and their fate remained unknown¡­ After the Sherpa was dug out and heard that not only had Bi Fang and his companions survived, but could be said to be unscathed, he was thoroughly choked up. Seeing the campsite not far away, he was so moved that he couldn¡¯t even weep. If he hadn¡¯t cut the rope at that time, but had followed Bi Fang, he might not have lost a leg, nor his closest friend. Being the sole breadwinner in his family, one can imagine the impact of losing a leg on his entire household. Unfortunately, there are no what-ifs in life. Seeing this, Bi Fang didn¡¯t know what to say to comfort him. He didn¡¯t blame the man; as a wilderness adventurer, he understood all too well the influence of instinct on a person. He patted the man on the shoulder and reassured him, ¡°Stay alive, that¡¯s the best outcome. There¡¯s still hope for everything. The Mountain God let you survive for a reason; look forward, that¡¯s what matters.¡± All the team members watching the weeping Sherpa stayed silent, tears falling quietly; they too had lost companions in the avalanche. [Three lives, it¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen so many people¡­] [Natural disaster¡­] [If only we had something like in the 007 movies, something that pops up like an airbag when an avalanche hits¡­] [Stay strong, damn it!] [Honestly, the impact of this avalanche on me is even greater than that of the human traffickers we encountered last time.] The moment they saw the camp, a man wrapped in bandages on his forehead knelt down in the snow, his body quivering, startling his teammates next to him. ¡°Thank you, thank you. Alive, we¡¯ve come back alive, thank you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay, that¡¯s what we do. Come on, get up,¡± Bi Fang was taken aback for a moment, then quickly went to help him up. People nearby also came to their senses, recalling the scene of the night¡¯s avalanche and their own despair when buried, and tears began to fall. ¡°If we had waited for rescue, we¡¯d definitely be dead by now. You¡¯re even greater than God!¡± ¡°God bless you, God bless you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright now, truly alright.¡± The audience watching this scene was also deeply moved. [That¡¯s what an adventurer is!] [Sir is right, the Adventurer Fang is awesome!] [My idol, my idol, hehe] [So handsome I¡¯m drooling] [Who¡¯s Nantong?] [With great power comes great responsibility ¡ª gifting the host a spaceship*1¡ªThat¡¯s all my pocket money for this month!] At the same time, the personnel who stayed behind in the camp and the climbers who had not yet set out also saw Bi Fang and his team approaching from the distance. ¡°That is¡­¡± A climber squinted, somewhat incredulously. Last night, an avalanche had occurred, but due to unstable conditions, no one dared to act rashly, let alone climb, especially on the Khumbu Glacier. When the sun rose in the morning, the glacier was very unstable; a vast expanse of white lay above, and apart from the occasional piece of broken trash carried by the wind, there wasn¡¯t a single person in sight. Now there were people on the mountain? And not just a few. Out of concern, the man cupped his hands around his mouth to form a megaphone and took a deep breath before shouting, ¡°Hey, avalanche! Avalanche! Stop climbing! Danger!¡± Clearly, the climber mistook Bi Fang and the others for wealthy youngsters attempting to observe the avalanche up close, but in the next moment, a figure dashed past him, followed by a second, a third¡­ ¡°Here it comes, a big scoop, a big scoop!¡± ¡°Quick, it¡¯s GOD¡¤FANG! GOD¡¤FANG!¡± The climber was baffled and reached out to grab someone, quickly asking, ¡°Who is this? Do you know them?¡± ¡°F**K, don¡¯t pull me!¡± The third man to dash past tried to shake off the climber¡¯s grip with force, but the climber was so strong that the man couldn¡¯t break free even after trying three times. As his colleagues were already rushing up, he hastily explained, ¡°These are the survivors of the avalanche, they¡¯ve rescued themselves!¡± ¡°Survived, rescued themselves?¡± The climber was flabbergasted. He had heard of avalanches and seen a few, but he had never heard of anyone successfully rescuing themselves from one and then returning alone. If there were any, it was only a very few cases reported in the news. At least he had never seen such a thing, let alone with so many people? Wait, all these people had survived and rescued themselves? The climber wanted to ask more, but the man didn¡¯t give him the chance. Seeing that he couldn¡¯t escape, he actually took off his coat and ran out. ¡°What on earth is happening?¡± The climber was completely dumbfounded. It wasn¡¯t just the climber and the onlookers who were confused; Bi Fang too was perplexed. Upon arriving at the entrance of the camp and seeing a few people rushing over, he thought they were relatives of the climbers, but when he saw the microphones in their hands, he felt something was amiss. ¡°Are those journalists? You¡¯ve got to be kidding,¡± remarked Yao Jun, the little prince of entertainment news. He was all too familiar with this setup but simply couldn¡¯t fathom, ¡°The rescue team hasn¡¯t arrived yet, how did they get here?¡± Jerret seemed to have a clearer understanding, ¡°Rescue workers¡¯ lives matter too. The Mountaineering Association has to consider whether the mountain is stable, the causes of the avalanche, whether there could be a secondary disaster, whether rescue can be promptly executed, and then devise a rescue plan. But paparazzi don¡¯t need to worry about that. As long as there¡¯s money to be made, how important can danger be?¡± While they were talking, groups of journalists had already surrounded them. Being at Everest Base Camp, there were some reporters around, but the harsh environment limited their numbers. Bi Fang gently pushed them aside. A bombardment of various languages came their way: Nepali, English, Hindi, and even Chinese. ¡°Excuse me, please make way, please. There are injured people who need to rest as soon as possible.¡± ¡°GOD¡¤FANG, GOD¡¤FANG, I¡¯m your idol, what do you think about your self-rescue that netizens are calling textbook-worthy?¡± ¡°Right now, I just want to lie down and watch, so please make way.¡± ¡°Master Fang, as a rescuer, what are your thoughts?¡± ¡°I feel your mother.¡± ¡°Excuse me, can you speak English?¡± ¡°I appreciate your mother.¡± ¡°Excuse me, my mother has passed away.¡± Bi Fang: ¡°¡­¡± After a long pause, just as Bi Fang was at a loss for what to say, another round of shouting and cursing arose from behind the journalists. ¡°Get out of the way, all of you, we¡¯re from the Mountaineering Association! Don¡¯t delay the rest for the injured!¡± Thank heavens. Bi Fang breathed a sigh of relief. Although he really wanted to drive these persistent nuisances away, he simply didn¡¯t have any energy left to do so. Chapter 407: 405 Chapter 407: 405 I¡¯m saving a spot, brothers. I¡¯ve had quite a few banquets in the past two days. I haven¡¯t finished writing yet, I¡¯ll be revising at dawn, it¡¯s practically theft-proofing. ¡°OK, hurry over, no problem,¡± Bi Fang smoothly slid to the other side and waved at his companions behind him. ¡°MY GOD.¡± Jerret arrived at the edge of the crevasse and just as he looked down, his legs went soft and his hands began to rapidly cross himself in front of his chest. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be afraid, look, the rope is very securely nailed and there¡¯s a safety line. Even if you let go, you won¡¯t fall down, as long as you move properly,¡± said Bi Fang, shaking the rope vigorously, while the long nail in the ground didn¡¯t move an inch. Every climbing season, the Sherpa people would repair the glacier paths, set up ladders, drill holes in the glacier, hammer in spikes as long as a forearm, and attach ropes to help climbers cross. This was their source of income and their job. Almost every year, someone would die doing this. Here, the Sherpa people were almost considered a consumable. Trembling, Jerret wrapped the safety rope around himself and tied it. Looking into the bottomless abyss, his brain felt even more deprived of oxygen. Grabbing the ascender, Yao Jun saw this and gave him a push. ¡°Ah!!!¡± ¡°Alright, you¡¯ve made it, stop yelling. A little noise could really bring down an avalanche and then we¡¯d be in trouble.¡± ¡°Ah, uh, hmm?¡± Jerret blankly opened his eyes and stepped on the solid ice, feeling rather surreal. Looking back at the glacier, Jerret suddenly felt a sense of pride. Khumbu Glacier, is just like this, huh? Close your eyes and open them, and isn¡¯t that it, you¡¯ve crossed it? When the rest of the people gradually made it over, Rob finally exhaled and clapped his hands, ¡°Okay, that was the first glacier we¡¯ve crossed. Simple, but there are hundreds, maybe thousands more waiting for us! Let¡¯s not let our guard down!¡± Hundreds, thousands? ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Is there really no other way?¡± Jerret ran over and grabbed Bi Fang¡¯s arm. ¡°No, there isn¡¯t, look over there,¡± Bi Fang pointed. Not too far away stood towering hanging glaciers and the faintly visible Nuzi Peak and the massive Mount Everest. Just the thought of climbing these peaks was enough to feel an immense pressure, ¡°Those hanging glaciers, Nuzi Peak and Mount Everest are too close to us. The snow above is so thick that any slight vibration could cause it to collapse. So next time, try not to shout. If you can bear it, bear it. It¡¯s dangerous, and it can trigger an avalanche.¡± Jerret: ¡°o(¨i©n¨i)o¡± [Jerret: Grandpa De, I¡¯m stunned] [The fake Khumbu Glacier, a big crevasse with no bottom in sight, the real Khumbu Glacier, like this, Grandpa De still has hundreds, maybe thousands!] [I also thought Khumbu Glacier was just this one crevasse, and I was really curious why so many people died here¡­ With so many deaths, shouldn¡¯t the crevasse be filled by now¡­] [Glacier: I¡¯m Already Filled] [Huh?] [No, that¡¯s not right. If the glacier moves every day, don¡¯t the Sherpa people have to come up for maintenance every day?] ¡°In theory, yes, but in practice, it¡¯s extremely difficult. So, many times climbers will encounter situations with no path. At those times, we have to set up ladders ourselves. Do you see my backpack?¡± Bi Fang set down his backpack for everyone to see. The group was shocked to find a long, telescopic ladder stuffed between the straps and layers of the pack, which explained why the whole thing looked so rigid and straight! ¡°This is a telescopic ladder. When collapsed, it¡¯s only one meter long, but when extended, it¡¯s actually four meters. If we encounter places with no path, we need to set up the ladder to cross them. Because it¡¯s not fixed, that¡¯s where the real danger lies.¡± ¡°Mount Everest¡¯s requirements for gear are extremely, extremely high. Many parts even require aerospace-grade materials. Take this ordinary-looking climbing ladder, for example; first, it has to work in extremely low temperatures. You must know that many types of steel become brittle at low temperatures. For instance, Q345E can only withstand impacts at minus 40 degrees Celsius, any lower and it would become brittle and unusable, while the lowest temperatures on Everest can approach minus fifty degrees! So, I chose aluminum which has better resistance to low temperatures.¡± Bi Fang paused to catch his breath before continuing, ¡°The second point is to reduce weight as much as possible while guaranteeing structural strength, so titanium is not an option either. Titanium is almost twice the weight of aluminum, and the specific strength of aluminum is sufficiently high. Third, is the design of the structure; the more complex a design, the easier it¡¯s likely to break. Even a telescopic design can become a fatal factor in Everest¡¯s conditions, so the design of the connections has to be as simple as possible.¡± Besides the ticket, gear is also one of the major expenses. Just one oxygen bottle, including transportation fees for the high altitude, can cost up to 500 Ugly Yuan. Many people¡¯s salaries for a month might not even afford them one breath of it on Everest. Then there are the down jackets with a windproof and waterproof outer layer that must remain soft in extreme cold and as light as possible. The zipper design requires a full adhesive tape to ensure it¡¯s waterproof and can be opened and closed smoothly even with thick gloves on; the filling should be duck down or goose down with about 90% fill power to cope with strong winds and temperatures below minus 30¡ãC. ¡°There are also climbing boots designed specifically for altitudes above 8000 meters. The pair I¡¯m wearing weighs 1413 grams¡­ whereas a pair of running shoes is usually around 300g, and normal outdoor climbing boots are typically 500-800g. Because freezing injuries are a serious concern when climbing snowy mountains, many climbers have to undergo amputation after coming down the mountain, it¡¯s because their limbs have been frostbitten to death. The warmth provided by the boots must be top-notch. My pair is less a pair of boots and more a boot system that combines an outer boot, an inner boot, a gaiter, insoles, and an outer sole. This makes them completely unable to bend like regular shoes, and it feels like your feet and lower legs are firmly encased.¡± Bi Fang lifted up his pant leg and showed off his thick boots to everyone. They were essentially an enlarged, heavily padded version of snow boots, and their flexibility was poor¡ªbut that was a necessary sacrifice to ensure adequate warmth. In his previous life, Grandpa De had to amputate because he didn¡¯t have adequate protection from the severe cold during a survival situation, leading to his toes dying. Bi Fang watched at the time with his eyelids twitching uncontrollably as he saw the entire toe swollen to an extreme from the cold. ¡°Frostbite starts with the cold, and as the tissue gradually dies, you begin to feel pain, sharp pain, because the fluids in your tissue are freezing and your blood turns into ice crystals that rupture the cell membranes, blowing the cells apart. It¡¯s an irreversible process by that time. Even if you recover, the cells cannot regain vitality. At this stage, it¡¯s still reversible; your cells can still reproduce. But when the damage is too severe, to the point where even the nerves are affected, amputation is necessary. Your toes are at that point irreparably dead, just pieces of frozen flesh attached to your body. Once you return to a warm place, they will decompose, and if not removed, your entire right leg or even your life would be threatened.¡± Yao Jun was intently listening to all of this, but as he did, he suddenly felt a chill in his toes. He looked down and thankfully his own toes were still there. Damn it, that¡¯s amputation you¡¯re talking about. Could you not mention it so casually? ¡°However, there¡¯s no road longer than the journey on foot, and no mountain taller than the will of a person. Except for high altitudes and the Arctic and Antarctic, normally wearing all of this would indeed smother someone to death.¡± Bi Fang smiled, stepped over a small crack that was only half a meter wide. It seemed freshly formed, still quite young¡ªperhaps in ten years¡¯ time, it could grow into a large glacier. [Tell me how much all this gear costs so I can give up now.] [I found the same model on Amazon¡­ six thousand dollars¡­] [Just under forty thousand, hmm, that¡¯s cheaper than I thought.] [A big spender has arrived!] [Deliveries under Big Ben, set it up below, ship it from the top.] [Learned something new. I¡¯ve discovered one of Master Fang¡¯s hidden professions, Material Mechanics! Taking notes in my little book, Astronomer, Zoologist¡­ add Material Scientist.] [So, what else doesn¡¯t Master Fang know? Spill it all at once and enlighten me.] Bi Fang smiled, ¡°There¡¯s a lot I don¡¯t know, actually. For instance, why ice is so slippery.¡± Why is ice so slippery? Master Fang doesn¡¯t know? Question marks appeared on the faces of the viewers. Are you joking? Tony thought this was an overly simple question because it¡¯s ice, so of course it¡¯s slippery. But when Master Fang said it, it somehow didn¡¯t seem that straightforward. Tony looked up at Peter, his buddy whom he hadn¡¯t seen in a while. ¡°Peter, why is ice so slippery?¡± Biting on his pen, Peter had not heard a word Tony said. Ever since Master Fang had given him some encouragement last time, his mind had been elsewhere, busy with his outdoor research, and he hadn¡¯t been watching Master Fang¡¯s live streams much. He had even gone so far as to create a website about migratory birds. Although the traffic wasn¡¯t high yet, it was a good start. He had also made contact with bird conservation organizations, keeping it constantly updated. The migratory birds were due to return this year pretty soon, and a large flock was already on their way. Eh, hopefully, things will go more smoothly this time. Those damned poachers should have been wiped out long ago. ¡°Peter? Peter!¡± ¡°Uh, hmm?¡± After a few calls from Tony, Peter suddenly snapped back to attention, realizing his friend was talking to him. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Supporting his forehead with his hand, Tony said, ¡°What¡¯s with you lately? I remember how you used to love watching god fang¡¯s live streams. You¡¯ve hardly been online to fangirl over the last two. It¡¯s not right, really not right. You¡¯re not in love, are you? Is it Mary from class three or Gwendolyn next door? It¡¯s not Mary, is it? But she¡¯s too sly for you¡­ you probably can¡¯t handle her¡­¡± Peter twitched the corner of his mouth. What was all this about? His relationship with Mary was purely friendly. They were all goose enthusiasts and there was nothing more to it. That¡¯s right, he had an album to give to her. He would have forgotten if Tony hadn¡¯t mentioned it. He¡¯d deliver it to Mary tonight after Tony left. She seemed to have a cold and probably shouldn¡¯t be going out. She really should drink more hot water. ¡°Hey, hey? Why are you spacing out again?¡± Tony waved his hand in front of Peter¡¯s eyes. ¡°Ah, sorry, what was it?¡± ¡°Why is ice so slippery?¡± Biting his finger, Peter hesitated before responding, ¡°Because it¡¯s ice?¡± ¡°Idiot!¡± [Because this shit is an unsolved mystery in the world!] [Really? An unsolved mystery?] [Isn¡¯t it because the surface is smooth?] Bi Fang laughed heartily but then suddenly coughed a couple of times. Damn, he was starting to feel a lack of oxygen too. ¡°If anyone is interested in this question, you can search it up online. But indeed, this thing is an unsolved mystery. Ice is slippery because there¡¯s a layer of water film on its surface that acts like lubricant. Moreover, no matter how low the temperature gets, this water film always exists, but its molecular structure isn¡¯t like ordinary water. As to why, the scientific community really doesn¡¯t know to this day.¡± ¡°When traversing a broken glacier and you come upon a crevasse you need to step over, try to place the front of your high-altitude boots against the edge of the crevasse, clearly observe the opposite edge, and step over in one big stride without hesitation. It¡¯s also best to tie everyone up with a rope so if someone accidentally falls into the crevasse, they can be pulled up, avoiding any danger. However, this requires a high degree of execution in the team; otherwise, a ¡®one pulls many¡¯ situation could arise, making it impossible to pull anyone up.¡± Everyone continued half an hour more, constantly stepping over various large and small crevasses. The viewers in the live stream were all holding their breath in terror, especially as more and more types of glaciers appeared as they moved on. Not all glaciers can easily be crossed with a single rope. Bi Fang is climbing, not descending, and these types of glaciers represent only a tiny fraction. Most of them are high in the front and low at the back, and you can¡¯t just descend using a rope. You need to pull yourself up using the rope as if climbing a giant¡¯s staircase. If there¡¯s a crevasse underneath, that¡¯s even more dangerous. Two sections of a ladder tied together, with each end resting on something. People climb from below, hoping that their teammates are reliable enough to steady them. In such situations, Bi Fang always went up first. This was the most dangerous part because you don¡¯t know if the ropes tied to the ladder above have loosened. Once Bi Fang got up, he could double-check and reinforce everything. ¡°My life is in your hands now, steady the ladder for me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Yao Jun gave a thumbs up. ¡°I can pee against the wind three meters out without leaning on a wall, let alone steady you!¡± Bi Fang scolded with a laugh and placed his backpack on the ground. ¡°When climbing a ladder, it¡¯s best to go up lightly equipped for more stability. Once you¡¯re up, the backpack can be pulled up with a rope. This is a bit more troublesome, but it¡¯s safer.¡± Lightweight due to the equipment, plus the ladder fashioned from two ladders bound together, swayed precariously in the cold wind, constantly shaking. As Bi Fang set foot on it and came directly above the abyss, the drone also arrived overhead. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At an altitude close to six thousand meters, plus the chilling wind, even the drone was shaky, its trembling lens increasing the tension and fear of the entire endeavor. On the swaying long ladder above the abyss, Bi Fang walked alone, suspended between sky and earth, advancing towards the snowy mountains. Suddenly, Yao Jun let out a big sneeze, and the ladder jerked violently. Bi Fang immediately hugged the ladder tightly while Yao Jun realized his blunder and hurriedly steadied it, but before the ladder was stable, Yao Jun¡¯s mouth opened wide, emitting a heaving sound inadvertently. Amidst the howling cold wind, a strange noise intermingled. Bi Fang gripped the ladder and scanned the surroundings; he sensed danger, a cold chill running down his spine. The ladder beneath him began to tremble¡ªnot the oscillation from the wind but a tremor! The tremors grew stronger, and the freshly fallen snow started to slide sibilantly across the ice. Everyone sensed the oddity and looked around nervously. ¡°Avalanche! Rob! It¡¯s an avalanche!¡± Bi Fang pointed at the snow peak above and bellowed. Chapter 408: 406: Desperate Situation? Chapter 408: Chapter 406: Desperate Situation? ¡°` Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The mountaineering season is canceled. The news swept through the camp like a hurricane, leaving many astonished, some erupting in anger, while others, who had braced themselves, sighed deeply despite their frustration. ¡°The Mountaineering Association has no right to make us descend and suspend our summit attempts! No right at all!¡± ¡°I paid you eighty thousand Ugly Gold, eighty thousand! Do you realize what that means? You owe me a full refund, plus compensation for my losses! Otherwise, my lawyer will be talking to you.¡± In the camp, Bi Fang took off his hat, letting the cold wind howl, while various quarrels competed to flood into his ears, making him laugh involuntarily. People who made a last-minute decision like him were few and far between. If they were truly here to climb, they wouldn¡¯t still be at base camp. At the very least, they¡¯d be training between Camp One and Camp Two, instead of arguing with the guides at base camp. Most of those remaining were like Wang Yongbo and Yao Jun. They had money, but once they reached base camp, they realized they couldn¡¯t make it with their physical condition. Besides, the Mountaineering Association promised that this year¡¯s climbing permits would still be valid next year. The current squabbling was just an attempt to recoup some losses, trying to get their money back. After walking through most of the camp, Bi Fang went to use the restroom. When he returned, he found that the situation had not improved; on the contrary, it had escalated, with Sherpa people and even himself becoming targets of blame. ¡°This is a decision made by the Mountaineering Association. I¡¯m just a guide, powerless to change it, sir.¡± ¡°Why cancel the climbing season to mourn for them? I paid money! That was their job! They get paid well, so they should take the risk! If an electrician dies from electrocution, should the whole city shut down for three days to commemorate him, huh?¡± ¡°Furthermore sir, the Khumbu Glacier is very dangerous after the avalanche. The original route is completely destroyed, and no one can guarantee your safety.¡± ¡°Why can that Huaxia person go up when you cannot? Aren¡¯t you supposed to be the most professional climbing guides? Can¡¯t you even outdo an entertainment broadcaster?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go, it¡¯s time to descend. I¡¯ll come back next year, I¡¯m used to this, three times in a row now.¡± ¡°Fuck your mother, refund my money!¡± Thais was explaining from a high platform, but no one was listening; he was so anxious he felt tightness in his chest. Bi Fang sat on a rock, took out a lollipop from his pocket to replenish his blood sugar, and watched them argue calmly, finding it quite interesting. When Thais relayed that the climbing season was canceled, Bi Fang had felt far more emotional turmoil than any of those arguing before him. The cancellation of the climbing season unquestionably meant that his efforts were in vain and the mission was doomed to failure, with his limits locked by something called ¡®talent.¡¯ This wasn¡¯t just disappointment; it was despair, a plummeting into an abyss of despair. But lying in bed, calming his mind, he thought it over, and in this situation, if he couldn¡¯t accept it, what else could he do? What comes is a blessing; what goes is fate. His physical condition could still improve; it¡¯s just that the balance was disturbed, and he could no longer progress uniformly. If this was the will of Nature, what could be done? The days ahead might be harder, more tiring, and even more hazardous, but where the heart aspires, no mountain can block the path. To achieve one¡¯s dreams, how could one not pay a price? A simple truth. If it had been him when he first arrived in this world, maybe he would have been obsessed over it, but after many adventures, Bi Fang was now able to see it clearly. Seeing that his efforts to calm the crowd were futile, Thais, sweating profusely, apologized to Bi Fang, ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry, Mr. Fang. I know you wanted to complete the no-oxygen summit record and become the first successful Huaxia person to do so, but I¡¯m really sorry. I¡¯m powerless in the face of such an accident.¡± Crushing the candy in his mouth, Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s alright; I was prepared for this.¡± It was an old move by the Mountaineering Association, and Bi Fang was not at all surprised. Being prepared meant he could face the failure of the mission with such composure. Picking up the nearby drone, Bi Fang prepared to tell his fans the news, but to his surprise, they were already more informed than he was. As soon as he entered the live broadcast room, they asked him if the climbing season was canceled. The moment Bi Fang nodded, a wail went up. [Wori, was the long-awaited climb all for nothing?] [What can you do about it, go talk to the association] [Surely it didn¡¯t have to be canceled?] [Why, oh why? Mourning could be done in another way, why take such a drastic and blunt approach?] ¡°` Indeed, why must it be so blunt and crude? Bi Fang looked up at the sun, squinting his eyes. He could accept it, but that didn¡¯t mean he was content. ¡°If there has to be a reason, perhaps it¡¯s still the conflict between man and nature?¡± Conflict between man and nature? Thais, who was listening intently nearby, was taken aback, not understanding why Bi Fang would say such a thing. Wasn¡¯t this just an ordinary memorial service? What did it have to do with the conflict between man and nature? Even Thais didn¡¯t quite understand, let alone the audience in front of the screen. Bi Fang pursed his lips, uncertain whether to speak in front of Thais, but after hesitating for a moment, he went ahead and said it. The Sherpa people had lived generation after generation by farming and herding, leading a peaceful and tranquil life. But that peace was shattered by mountaineers from all over the world who came to Nepal with a desire to conquer Mount Everest. The arrival of outsiders brought the prospect of a better life, and every person has the right to pursue a better life. They wanted a better life for themselves, to let their children stand out and not be trapped in the mountains forever, to provide their parents and children with a warm and full life. However, all these hinged on money, hence the first Sherpas were very happy. The Sherpa people, living deep in the high mountains, had no other means of livelihood, and mountaineering became their most lucrative activity. But those who viewed conquering Everest as a wealthy pursuit saw the summit as a prize of fame and fortune, leaving various kinds of trash and corpses on the mountain as they continued to come incessantly, regardless of how it affected the Sherpa people. What did the Sherpas matter to them? In the grand visions of the mountaineers, the Sherpas often played the role of obedient ¡°servants,¡± doing everything to aid the climbing to the summit, helping these high-paying clients realize their dreams of conquering the peak. Climbers would fly from Kathmandu Valley in Nepal to Lukla Airport, then trek for ten days to reach base camp. They were demanding and carried little themselves, relying almost completely on Sherpa labor. In the past, one person reaching the summit was considered a success, but now everyone paid, and it became the company¡¯s challenge to let everyone reach the summit, which meant more supplies were necessary. Sherpas built camps from the bottom up, transported, and stored supplies for weeks at a time to give clients the greatest chance of summiting. It was an industry that required manpower, and more and more Sherpas chose to work on the mountain. ¡°We passed the Khumbu Glacier on our way, and as you know, that¡¯s very dangerous. The Khumbu Icefall is a waterfall formed by the glacier flowing out of the western valley, sensitive to sunlight, with huge blocks of ice breaking off without warning. Climbers only need to cross the Khumbu Icefall two or three times, but during the transportation and the route-making process, Sherpas need to cross it 30 to 40 times each season. The risk of Sherpas sacrificing their lives is far greater than that of the climbers.¡± The audience thought about that scene for a moment¡ªthirty to forty times each season? Even if the death rate was one percent, multiple climbs would make the probability infinitely higher. ¡°The death rate is just one reason, the greater reason is exploitation,¡± Bi Fang adjusted his trouser legs to sit more comfortably and continued. Nowadays, the business of climbing Mount Everest has become managed entirely by climbing companies. Sherpas serve these companies, with all the supplies needed for the summit being carried up the mountain by Sherpa labor. Men with faces lined with wrinkles used a single stick as a climbing staff, their backs laden with bamboo baskets filled with three differently colored large mountaineering bags. Women joined the carrying teams, tying white bags to their backs, again tied over their heads, pressing down firmly with both hands. Bearing loads larger and heavier than their own body size, they climbed the mountains step by step, while only the children were free to run around. While climbers, using trekking poles, walked at the front. Yet even so, their earnings were pitifully small. Even the Nepali government exploited them, even banning airplanes from transporting supplies up the mountain. Of the 100,000 Ugly Gold paid by climbers for climbing fees, a large part went into the pockets of the government, with another portion to the climbing companies. After a season of climbing in 2014, each Sherpa got only a small share¡ªabout 4,000 Ugly Knife. ¡°These are all reasons, and also the triggers, until the avalanche in 2014 when the powder keg was completely ignited. Speaking of which, you¡¯re also from the association, you should be aware of what happened after that, right?¡± Bi Fang looked toward Thais. And at that moment, Thais was filled with shame. Chapter 409: 407 Occupy a Spot Chapter 409: Chapter 407 Occupy a Spot Chapter two is not ready yet, just staking a spot. Mount Everest! The moment Bi Fang¡¯s words fell, Taseto sprang up with a resounding clang, the legs of his stool screeching against the floor as he leaned forward with his hands pressed on the table, his face alight with surprise. ¡°Mount Everest! Is it that world¡¯s highest peak?¡± ¡°Mr. Bi is going to climb Mount Jolmo Lungma?¡± Bi Fang put down his knife and fork, and before he could make sense of why the other¡¯s reaction was so pronounced, Hask next to him rapped the table with his knuckles and shot Taseto a glare. Though the tone was scolding, it carried little reprimand, ¡°Taseto, look at yourself! Sit down!¡± Taseto sheepishly took his seat. After berating his third son, Hask turned to Bi Fang with an apologetic face, ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry for this display, Mr. Bi. Taseto has been passionate about adventures since he was small. Please forgive his manners.¡± Bi Fang waved his hand dismissively, not minding the interruption, and nodded affirmatively, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right, the world¡¯s highest peak, Mount Everest.¡± Matthew was the first to express skepticism, ¡°Have you climbed mountains before?¡± Even though he was not familiar with the mountaineering field, Matthew had wandered around and knew a lot, especially about Mount Everest. The highest point on Earth. It was where the air was thinnest, one of the most hostile environments, where sometimes even a cough could be fatal or a single breath could cause excruciating abdominal pain. In case of accidents, even corpses could only remain forever in that desolate place, becoming eternal landmarks. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was a domain where one could afford no mistakes, and even though Bi Fang had created miracles time and again, the sheer weight of being the world¡¯s highest was still not enough to give people full confidence in him. Therefore, Matthew had to ask clearly, although there was no mention in the live stream, maybe Bi Fang was a climber before becoming a broadcaster¡­ ¡°No.¡± Matthew¡¯s thoughts were interrupted, his pupils slowly dilating as he unintentionally opened his mouth wide, closing it several times without being able to speak, finally managing to say, ¡°Are you insane? How is this possible?¡± At the dining table, Hask¡¯s family also cast shocked glances, everyone but Taseto. They were not keen on outdoor adventures, but that didn¡¯t mean they were ignorant. The dangers of Mount Everest were known to any inhabitant of Earth; even if one could not articulate specifics, the fearsome aspects were well acknowledged. ¡°I¡¯m not crazy.¡± In stark contrast to everyone else, Bi Fang spoke very calmly, picking up his knife and fork again to cut a small piece of steak, chewing it thoroughly before swallowing it. After a good while, he tapped his head and said, ¡°In my view, adventure relies on two key things: a healthy body and a brain that can navigate the wilderness.¡± ¡°Coincidentally, Matthew, I have both. I¡¯m twenty-five this year, my body is at its peak performance, and I also possess one of the top brains in the world for wilderness survival.¡± ¡°It¡¯s completely¡­ it¡¯s not the same thing at all. You¡¯ve never been there, never been¡­¡± Matthew stammered, unable to fully express his disbelief. It seemed too absurd, someone with no experience in climbing high-altitude mountains suddenly announcing an attempt to conquer the world¡¯s highest peak. Has Don Quixote taken hold of him? A madman? Watching the others, Bi Fang knew they did not believe him. Indeed, it was nearly impossible for someone who had never climbed high mountains to suddenly proclaim he would conquer Mount Everest. He took his knife and fork, dipped it in some sauce, and began to draw a simplified regional map on the white porcelain plate. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, although Mount Everest is the world¡¯s highest peak, it¡¯s not the most difficult. I¡¯ve set aside a very generous amount of time for this mission¡ªtwo months of planning, with one month dedicated to training. It¡¯s mid-April now, and in one month¡¯s time, it¡¯ll be mid-May, the best time to climb Mount Everest. All of my live broadcasts during this period will revolve around Mount Everest.¡± As the fork continued to glide, everyone¡¯s attention was drawn to the black sauce, as if there really was a tall mountain range there, the highest peak standing tall between the heavens and the Earth. ¡°Mount Everest is located on the China-Nepal border, with India to its south, and to the east of India lies the Bay of Bengal. May is when the continental cold air above the Bay of Bengal begins to retreat northward. The movement of the high and low-pressure fronts usually coincides with the formation of spiral air currents, so once these spiral currents form above the Bay of Bengal and show signs of moving northward, it¡¯s the best time to summit Mount Everest. The weather patterns around Mount Everest and the nearby peaks are complex and changeable, marked by clear monsoon characteristics. The weather is so unpredictable that it¡¯s difficult to forecast, which is why it¡¯s imperative to choose a period of stable climate. If it¡¯s too early, the monsoon hasn¡¯t stopped; if it¡¯s too late, the monsoon has already shifted, neither of which is suitable for summiting. This window typically lasts from several days to ten days, and most Everest summits are achieved within this window, aligning seamlessly with my schedule.¡± Matthew, Hask, Taseto, and others stood behind Bi Fang¡¯s chair, blinking as they looked at the map on the plate, and then they looked at each other, puzzled. Those present were all laymen, unable to understand, but they felt that it seemed quite impressive¡­ Could it be, perhaps, it really isn¡¯t that difficult? As expected of Master Fang (Mr. Bi), he was indeed well-prepared! ¡°This, why does the formation of a spiral current indicate stability?¡± Taseto, the only one with some understanding of outdoor activities, struggled with the technical term that he had just heard for the first time. It was a real challenge to say it correctly after only hearing it once. Bi Fang looked around at everyone, and just by seeing the bewildered looks in their eyes, he knew no one had understood. He dipped his fork in the sauce and drew several circles: ¡°It¡¯s simple, a simple explanation would be the eye of a typhoon, which is relatively still compared to the surrounding storm wall, resulting in stable weather.¡± ¡°Oh~~¡± It seemed that they had truly understood, and everyone exclaimed in unison with an ¡°oh.¡± Matthew, who had been quite worried at first, also seemed to be swayed, feeling that perhaps it wasn¡¯t so impossible after all, being a layman himself, listening to Master Fang, who spoke so convincingly. Indeed, a layman is a layman, and the path I have to walk is still long. Seeing the skepticism in everyone¡¯s eyes turning into trust, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but smile. Is climbing Mount Everest really that easy? What I have said is certainly correct, but that does not make climbing Mount Everest simple. Choosing the appropriate summit window only reduces the requirements from one hundred percent to ninety percent. To challenge high-altitude mountains, the first step is to partake in low altitude outdoor activities, physical training, and learn the basic techniques. A beginner could complete this phase within a year by making full use of every weekend. The second step is to start entering high-altitude areas with thinner air. Before attempting Mount Everest, it¡¯s best to have two to three experiences of high-altitude climbing. Gradually progress starting from peaks at 6000 meters, then move on to 7000 meters, and 8000 meters. This phase takes a minimum of one year, while the average person needs two to three years. And I, I only have one month! Twirling the fork in his hand, Bi Fang¡¯s gaze was firm and fearless. Above an altitude of 8500 meters, that area is beyond the high measure of morality that human beings can demand, a zone forbidden to mankind. At this thought, Bi Fang even felt a surge of excitement. Whether in this life or his past life, so many people had ventured forth, challenging Mount Everest time and again, and he too had dreamt about it. But that place was also a graveyard for numerous challengers; he had neither the qualifications nor the strength, and could only dream about it. Never before had he felt as close as he did today, Chapter 410: 408 Impossible! Chapter 410: Chapter 408 Impossible! At base camp, the arguments among the group continued, gradually reaching a fever pitch. From time to time, individuals descended the mountain to join the dispute, while association members ascended to maintain basic order. For a moment, the entire base camp seemed to be engulfed in chaos. If not for the high-altitude hypoxia, which caused heavy breathing from the slightest exertion, Bi Fang suspected that a fight would have already broken out. ¡°For these people, tens of thousands of Ugly Knives is just pocket change, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°The richer they are, the stingier they get.¡± ¡°I looked it up, and Mount Everest has been closed several times in recent years, not just this once. Does the association do this every year?¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°The reasons for the closure vary. Apart from the accidents in 2014 and this year, the other closures were due to environmental concerns or weather conditions, such as severe snowfalls. The former would be announced before the start of the climbing season, and the latter is due to the high risk, so it¡¯s an unavoidable measure, with only mourning as a reason, and is the most unacceptable.¡± So that was the case. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s been ten days, I¡¯ve watched the livestream for ten days, and just when it got to the most exciting part, it abruptly ended.¡± Lying on the couch inside the camper, ¨¦tienne let out a long sigh, but accidentally jerked his hand and smacked his phone against his face, knocking his teeth against his lips, causing him so much pain that he grimaced. Elvan and Lenin, who were checking the moving red markers on the computer, took the opportunity to give unsolicited advice, ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s a shame. But what can be done? Life can¡¯t always be smooth sailing. All we can do is accept it.¡± ¡°OKOK, stop with your preaching,¡± ¨¦tienne said, unimpressed. Outside the Arctic Circle. Peter and Tony closed their laptops in disappointment and went off together to find Peter¡¯s aunt, planning to make some apple pie to appease their discontent. Matthew clicked his ballpoint pen, his intended report now reluctantly put aside. Unbeknownst to those on Mount Everest, the interest in Bi Fang¡¯s livestream quickly declined. ¡°How long is this going to go on?¡± Bi Fang scratched his eyebrow, unsure of what to do. The abrupt end of the livestream left him, who had never encountered such a situation before, at a loss. Maybe wait for Edinburgh to come down and visit the documentary filming site together? Just as he was contemplating this, a shout snapped him back to reality. Turning around, he saw it was Thais. ¡°Thais? What¡¯s the situation now?¡± Thais, gasping for breath, felt nearly suffocated by the atmosphere in the crowd, ¡°It¡¯s bad, very bad. The cancellation of the climbing season is set in stone. It can¡¯t be changed, their quarreling is useless. Moreover, the Sherpa people have stated that if it doesn¡¯t stop, they will do as they did ten years ago and halt all activities. We can only wait for our president to arrive now.¡± ¡°When will he be arriving?¡± ¡°Tomorrow.¡± ¡°Then Edinburgh and the others should be descending about now. I should be leaving tomorrow as well.¡± ¡°We are still very grateful for Mr. Bi¡¯s help; without you, this rescue would not have gone so smoothly. If possible, please don¡¯t rush away, our association would like to express our gratitude.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not necessary,¡± Bi Fang waved his hand dismissively, ¡°If I want to save someone, I just do it. I don¡¯t have any other motive. You can go back now.¡± With that, without waiting for Thais to respond, Bi Fang returned to his tent and ended the livestream after a bit of idle chat. The next morning, early hours. More people came down from the mountain, including Edinburgh and Rob, who had returned to base camp via a newly carved route. Gasping for air, Edinburgh entered the tent, scanned the room, but did not find the person he was looking for. Anxiously, he turned to Bi Fang to ask, ¡°Where¡¯s Danzeng?¡± ¡°Danzeng?¡± Bi Fang was taken aback, then turned to Wang Yongbo and others, ¡°Have any of you seen him?¡± Wang Yongbo shook his head, then looked toward Yao Jun. Yao Jun also shook his head, then turned to Jerret. Everyone shook their heads. No one had seen Danzeng. ¡°Wasn¡¯t he with you?¡± Bi Fang asked, growing concerned for the young man who had been willing to help others during the avalanche. ¡°No! He descended the mountain by himself yesterday!¡± ¡°By himself!?¡± Everyone was shocked. Descending the mountain alone was far too dangerous. After the avalanche, the route was completely reset. Even with Bi Fang¡¯s experience, descending was a terrifying ordeal. Yet a young man who had just turned twenty chose to go down alone, and what¡¯s more critical, he is now missing! ¡°Rob, do you have his phone number?¡± Rob nodded but then shook his head: ¡°I called, but it didn¡¯t go through.¡± These Sherpa guides were all arranged by the company; Rob had contact information but he had tried early in the morning and couldn¡¯t reach him. ¡°Damn it, where could this kid have gone?¡± Realizing the urgency of the situation, Mr. Bi quickly rushed out of the camp and joined everyone in the search, but half an hour later, when they reconvened, no one had found him. The Mount Everest base camp is only so large; where could this guy have gone? Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He couldn¡¯t have really encountered danger, could he? Bi Fang swallowed hard as he looked up at the towering mountain. Just as he hesitated whether to climb the mountain to search, commotion broke out within the camp. The President of the Nepal Mountaineering Association had arrived! Sherpa stepped down from the helicopter, adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses and took a few deep breaths before gesturing to quiet the noisy crowd. ¡°I am terribly sorry, everyone. May I have a word?¡± Seeing that the president of the association had come, everyone at the base camp gradually lowered their voices, curious to hear what he had to say. Noticing the improved atmosphere, Sherpa resumed speaking: ¡°I am deeply sorry for what has happened and feel a great sense of guilt for the compatriots we¡¯ve lost in this disaster.¡± After finishing, without waiting for a response, Sherpa bowed his head to observe a moment of silence. In such a situation, it was hard for the onlookers to blame or insult him, and the voices grew quieter. Just then, a shout of anger came from the crowd. ¡°We never wanted an avalanche to happen, and we too are heartbroken! But you can¡¯t block our dream to climb because of the sacrifices! Sacrifices are inevitable, the dead shouldn¡¯t stop the living¡¯s journey! Either continue the climbing season or give us back our money!¡± ¡°Yes! Exactly!¡± ¡°Refund us!¡± ¡°Return our tickets!¡± Seeing the situation he had just stabilized flare up again, irritation flashed in Sherpa¡¯s eyes, and he shouted: ¡°Impossible, the climbing season cannot possibly start! Why do you think you can move forward? Why? Is it because of yourselves? No, most certainly not. Look around you, look!¡± Sherpa pointed to the surroundings, to the graveyard below the mountain and the colorful litter scattered everywhere. ¡°It¡¯s been said that Mount Everest today is littered on the left with trash and on the right with corpses. Is that a lie? No! In 2018, a Sherpa cleaning team cleared 28,000 pounds of human excrement. In 2019, 14 Sherpas cleaned up 10,386 kilograms of trash from Everest on their own. As for human bodies, it goes without saying. After the 2021 spring climbing season, the official death toll was 309 people, most of whom were whom? And why? Don¡¯t you know? Ah!?¡± ¡°It¡¯s you, it¡¯s because of you!¡± ¡°Ever since this disaster, more than six Sherpas have lost their lives, including those who are missing and unaccounted for! They could have been at home with their wives, with their children. Why should they accompany you to trample on the sacred mountain in your minds? Why?¡± ¡°Given this, shouldn¡¯t the climbing season be canceled?¡± Chapter 411: 409 Chapter 411: Chapter 409 Just a little bit more, nearly done. Will have it fixed before 12:10. In the closed space, the sound of breathing was constant and deep, thick like a damaged bellows. In the darkness, Bi Fang and Edinburgh curled up, resting to slow down the depletion of their energy and heat, only Danzeng continued to dig, following the rope and digging without cease, his hands nearly numb from the cold. It wasn¡¯t that Bi Fang was being finicky. While the lives of his teammates were at stake, he had to maintain an oxygen-free mission throughout. The reason was that he was in almost complete pain, and digging out Danzeng had already drained his last bit of strength. If he chose to use oxygen at this time, neither the mission nor the rescue could be completed. Truly worthy of being the warriors of the third pole, the darlings of the mountains. Feeling the shadow swaying in the dark, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t stop thinking. The playful nickname given to Sherpa people about having a third lung lobe for climbing isn¡¯t without basis, it¡¯s genetically determined that they are better adapted to high-altitude environments than ordinary people; their low blood pressure ensures sufficient blood supply to the brain, and their muscular contractions are powerful; compared with their legs, their torsos are longer, ensuring that they can balance their center of gravity in rugged mountainous terrain. ¡°Mr. Bi, Sir Edinburgh?¡± ¡°Here.¡± Getting dizzier. The oxygen in the air was pitifully scarce, each breath was ineffectually straining, no matter how hard the alveoli tried to expand, they simply couldn¡¯t filter enough oxygen, blood flow was increasingly sluggish, and hemoglobin was struggling in vain to capture oxygen molecules. The silent darkness was panic-inducing. By now, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t suppress the anxiety. It wasn¡¯t fear, but the physiological behavior brought on by oxygen deprivation, hard to overcome by sheer willpower. If only there were light. In the moment they were hit by the blizzard, aside from the backpacks secured on their backs, the headlamps of him, Sir, and Danzeng had long been washed away, whereabouts unknown. If only there was a lamp now, it wouldn¡¯t be as bad as it is. Bi Fang¡¯s chest rose and fell as he took deep breaths again, further depleting the oxygen in the air, while, conversely, the carbon dioxide concentration rose. Bi Fang, regaining his calm, made a preliminary self-diagnosis: his arms were completely limp, muscles spasmed and stiffened, or there was a slight strain. A strain would be troublesome, not easy to heal in a short time. He hoped it was just a simple case of weakness. If he didn¡¯t get out soon, carbon dioxide poisoning might claim his life. It wasn¡¯t just carbon monoxide that could poison someone; carbon dioxide could do the same. Under normal circumstances, the carbon dioxide content in human exhalations is 4.2%. The partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the blood is higher than in the alveoli, which enables diffusion into the alveoli. But once the carbon dioxide concentration in the environment increases, the alveolar concentration also rises. This causes a drastic change in PH, stimulating the respiratory center, resulting eventually in paralysis of the respiratory center and hypoxic suffocation of the body. ¡°Damn it, how could there be an avalanche.¡± Bi Fang hit his head against the snow wall, his mind just couldn¡¯t understand it. Perhaps sensing the change in atmosphere, Danzeng called out softly, ¡°Mr. Bi, Sir Edinburgh, are you guys okay?¡± This was the thirteenth time Danzeng had asked, nearly every half minute. Just as Bi Fang was about to reply as before, an indescribable sense of comfort surfaced, each cell rejoicing as if¡­ The oxygen concentration had increased! Bi Fang suddenly sat up, expanding his lungs once more, yes, that¡¯s right, the oxygen in the air had increased! It wasn¡¯t an illusion! Are we going to dig out? That doesn¡¯t make sense, Danzeng was digging along the rope. Was somebody not buried? Impossible, right? With confusion in his heart, Bi Fang approached Danzeng along the rope, ¡°Danzeng, keep digging, hurry, keep digging!¡± Danzeng looked utterly confused, but his hands didn¡¯t stop moving, continuing to excavate, with large chunks of snow being thrown out. While digging, Bi Fang keenly felt that the oxygen concentration in the air seemed to have increased somewhat. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Mr. Bi?¡± Danzeng, clueless, didn¡¯t understand why Bi Fang suddenly reacted. Without answering, Bi Fang braced his hands against the layer of snow in front of him and pushed hard with both hands. Suddenly, the layer of snow in front of everyone collapsed violently, sending a shower of snow dust flying, air circulation picking up a breeze, with fresh air rushing in desperately. Dug through!? Danzeng and the semi-conscious Edinburgh widened their eyes. Although they could see nothing in the darkness, they keenly sensed the airflow. Did we make it out!? No, not yet. Bi Fang looked around at the pitch-black surroundings; the sky over Mount Everest was very clear. If they had gotten out, it wouldn¡¯t be as pitch-black as it was now where they couldn¡¯t see anything clearly. This was an internal ¡°vacuum¡±. Bi Fang recalled the scene of the avalanche, gradually piecing together the scenario of that moment. Gathering his breath in one go to alleviate the dizziness from the lack of oxygen, Bi Fang explained, ¡°When the avalanche occurred, it swiftly engulfed everything. But the shape of the Eagle Head Ice Slope is so unique that after the torrent swept over, it left part of the space within the rocks.¡± Just like an airplane crashing into the sea would be quickly enveloped, the air inside the cabin would be squeezed to the top and unable to flow out, creating a breathable area. The Eagle Head of the Eagle Head Ice Slope soared into the sky but faced away from the direction of the avalanche. As the torrential flow rushed down, it really protected the last living space underneath the avalanche like an Eagle! As Edinburgh and Bi Fang marveled at the incredibility of the situation, Danzeng¡¯s shout rang out in the darkness. ¡°Mr. Bi, there are other people here! Lama Qin! Lama Qin! The Mountain God showed his sign, the Mountain God showed his sign! Lama Qin! Lama Qin!¡± Other people? Pushing himself to stand up, Bi Fang was suddenly blinded by a burst of bright light. Bi Fang quickly covered his eyes. Realizing his mistake, Danzeng who picked up the headlamp, quickly dimmed the light. After finally adjusting to the blinding headlamp, Bi Fang slowly opened his eyes. Inside the small space, there were Yao Jun, Rob, and Jerret, all here! sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Everyone¡¯s okay, everyone¡¯s okay!¡± Danzeng was obviously a bit excited, but the next moment his mood dropped a lot, ¡°It¡¯s a pity about Uncle Holt and Uncle Lezha. They shouldn¡¯t have run away; I don¡¯t know how they are doing now.¡± Edinburgh comforted the young man, ¡°It¡¯s an instinctual reaction, there¡¯s no right or wrong; don¡¯t dwell on it too much, the Mountain God will bless them.¡± Bi Fang coughed twice and went over to Yao Jun and the others, checking each of them. They were all still breathing, and the breathing was normal, just temporarily unconscious. Taking oxygen bottles out of their backpacks and putting them on for them, Bi Fang rummaged through Rob¡¯s backpack and found a small radio. Whew. Bi Fang sighed with relief upon finding this device. Fortunately, it was still there. With it, even if they couldn¡¯t dig their way out, they could wait for rescue with peace of mind. Chapter 412: 410 1 Chapter 412: Chapter 410 1 A true mountaineer¡­ Puba¡¯s roar was vivid before his eyes. Bi Fang¡¯s gaze swept over the permit in his hands with complex emotions¡ªjoy, emotion, longing, nervousness¡ªall surged up inside him at once. He had come full circle and could climb once again. Was there greater joy in life than to regain what was lost? What he thought he could never pursue again had suddenly reappeared before him. No matter how furious the Sherpas were, he really could climb. Looking at the silly grin on Danzeng¡¯s face in front of him left Bi Fang speechless; he had never expected that Danzeng¡¯s uncle would turn out to be Puba, nor that he would descend the mountain overnight to get a petition for him. But as he looked on, he too broke into a smile, which turned into laughter, to which Danzeng¡¯s smile grew even wider. At that moment, Puba, who had finished negotiating with the Sherpas outside, walked in. Hearing the laughter of the two, he couldn¡¯t help but join in. After a while, the laughter inside the tent gradually subsided. Bi Fang stood up to thank Puba. Without this guide, renowned in the world of mountaineering, he couldn¡¯t have smoothly become the sole climber: ¡°Mr. Puba, I¡¯m extremely grateful for your help; this is a dream of my lifetime.¡± Puba shook his head: ¡°It¡¯s mutual help. You¡¯ve helped our Sherpa people, and we Sherpas will help you too. The moment you risked your life to rescue us, we were already friends. Friends helping friends is nothing but normal.¡± ¡°Yeah, friends!¡± Danzeng chimed in at the side. Bi Fang smiled and reached out to ruffle the other¡¯s hair thoroughly, messing it up. Puba smiled, waited for Danzeng to fix his hair, and then said seriously to Bi Fang, ¡°However, there¡¯s one more thing I believe Mr. Fang should be clear about: this climb will consist of only Mr. Fang, and only you. Even we Sherpas will not accompany you. Do you understand?¡± Why did the Sherpas cancel the climbing season? Without Puba¡¯s explanation, Bi Fang could understand it¡ªit was for dignity, to stop those who regarded them as ¡°servants¡± from stepping over the bodies of their compatriots, to prevent the sacrifices of their people from becoming as cheap as four hundred Ugly Knives. Compared to climbers, they were the ones who truly scaled these towering peaks. Modern Sherpas not only hope to help others realize their dreams, but also aspire to obtain equal honor and status. This wasn¡¯t just for others but for themselves too. They could allow their benefactor, a devout climber, to climb, but they could not tolerate stepping on the bodies of their own kind. Once they broke their own rules, the hard-earned dignity would lose all sense. ¡°I understand,¡± Bi Fang nodded. Climbing without oxygen was already a mode of hell but climbing Mount Everest alone was even rarer than without oxygen! This wasn¡¯t just a mode of hell, it was a march toward hell. Puba stared into Bi Fang¡¯s eyes yet saw no retreat or hesitation. The guy was serious. Climbing without oxygen, climbing solo¡ªeither challenge was extraordinary. Puba had never tried and didn¡¯t have the ability to attempt either, but the man before him, a professional climber, had done so without a moment¡¯s hesitation. No words of dissuasion could be uttered anymore; countless thoughts rose from his gut and turned into a single sentence. ¡°Good luck.¡± Bi Fang tugged at the corner of his mouth: ¡°My ¡®luck¡¯ has always been pretty good.¡± ¡­ ¡°So, you can climb again?¡± When the others learned the news. Wang Yongbo, having packed up all his belongings, found himself unsure of where to place his hands, looked around, then sat down again. ¡°Great news!¡± Yao Jun slapped Bi Fang on the shoulder with mighty force, ¡°What happened, tell me, did the association decide not to cancel the climbing season after all?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to Danzeng.¡± Bi Fang recounted his recent ordeal and experience, and when everyone learned that he was the only one climbing this time, they were all utterly dumbfounded. ¡°Has anyone made it to the top this year?¡± Yao Jun suddenly realized something and looked at Rob. Rob shook his head, ¡°Not yet, the meteorological bureau hasn¡¯t announced the real window period, so no one has started their final ascent.¡± Wang Yongbo couldn¡¯t keep his composure any longer; he shot up from his seat. What did this mean? It meant that since the commercialization of climbing Mount Everest, excluding the year of the great earthquake 15 years ago, this was the first time there could be only one successful summit within a year! And that¡¯s not including the fact that this could be Huaxia¡¯s first solo ascent without oxygen! Anything, with a ¡®first¡¯ attached to it, becomes incredibly precious. If he really could succeed, the value of this achievement would be more substantial than pure gold! ¡°You¡¯ve struck it big! Old Fang, you¡¯ve struck it big!¡± Yao Jun couldn¡¯t contain his joy as he held onto Bi Fang¡¯s shoulders, realizing that befriending him was the best decision of his life! Edinburgh was equally elated, ¡°So, the good are rewarded in the end, aren¡¯t they?¡± ¡°When do we set out?¡± Jerret was a bit impatient. ¡°Tonight!¡± In the dead of night, everyone got up on time to see Bi Fang packing up and leaving. Stuffing the rope into his backpack, Bi Fang hesitated for a moment, then took out a dagger and cut the rope at two-fifths of its length, leaving only thirty meters. On his own, he had to carry many necessary but rarely used tools, and every gram he could shed mattered. Once he got everything packed and stepped out of base camp, a desolate vista of the earth under the sky unfolded before everyone¡¯s eyes. The cold wind howled. With many people already gone, the base camp, still dotted with colorful tents, lacked its usual bustling atmosphere. Granting an exception for Bi Fang meant the climbing season was essentially canceled. The remaining climbers had no reason to stay; with the Sherpas¡¯ firm stance, they could only try again next time, or perhaps never come back at all. The drone powered up again. Millions of viewers flooded in instantly. Informed early on, Wang Yongbo had asked Wolf Fang to release another statement, elaborating on the reasons for continuing the climb and posted a video of Puba challenging everyone, even weaving Bi Fang¡¯s narration and Danzeng¡¯s experiences into a story that moved many to tears. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. No one knew that the Sherpa people in the fields had such a past, nor were they aware that the reason Puba, poised to break a world record, had quit climbing was for the dignity of all Sherpa people. No one likes working 996 or 007, but for the sake of life and the future, they persist until one day, for dignity, they must fight. [The broadcast has started, it¡¯s on!] [Go for it!] [Front row seats with snacks, selling sunflower seeds, cola, and mineral water!] [On the summit of the mountain, Dugu seeks defeat alone!] [Damn, this is kinda spooky.] The dark blue mountains stretched towards the horizon, meeting the sky, while the white snow line appeared distant and stark in the moonlight, turning the earth below into a vast map. As Bi Fang set foot on the mountain¡¯s ridge, his footprints reflected a glimmering white light in the moonlight. Chapter 413: 411 Elevation 6000 Meters Chapter 413: Chapter 411 Elevation 6000 Meters Outside base camp, more and more people were emerging from the campsite, not to climb, but to see what this year¡¯s only qualifier actually looked like. A white man spat at Bi Fang¡¯s feet, but Bi Fang did not even spare him a glance. ¡°Remember to sign your body donation for organs!¡± someone yelled at the top of their lungs, followed by a burst of laughter, ¡°Oh, I forgot, probably nobody wants your frozen organs! Hahaha.¡± Laughter echoed through the camp, but Bi Fang seemed to hear nothing, see nothing, just moving forward. Snowshoes crunched on the snow, and crampons left sharp holes in the ground. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Come on!¡± A roar rose above all other noises, and people turned back to see¡ªit was another Asian. Was it the man¡¯s companion? The people wondered. The laughter did not stop, in fact, it grew even more unrestrained. ¡°Come on!¡± Another roar sounded. It came from an Asian, a fat man. ¡°Come on!¡± It was from a young Sherpa man. ¡°Come on!¡± This shout was not very loud, but it was full of force, from an old man. But these few voices were clearly not enough to drown out the much louder jeering, yet soon, a new wave of noise briefly overcame the cacophony. There were whites, Asians, and blacks, all survivors of the avalanche, people who were not seriously injured, but had stayed behind, now standing inside the camp, shouting towards a departing figure. Yet this group of fewer than twenty people was like a small splash in a pond, seeming not to stir a big wave, but gradually, the splash showed no signs of ceasing, growing larger and larger, carrying wave after wave of cheers. People watched in astonishment as the wall of less than twenty people grew longer and thicker. It was the Sherpa people! It was the roar of the mountain¡¯s darling! Leading them was Puba, standing at the forefront, with a growing number of villagers behind him, more and gathered, his eyes sharp like a hawk, intimidating every heckler into silence. Some gave up mocking, others retreated to their tents, and some joined the cheering. ¡°Come on! Come on! Come on!¡± Voice after voice joined together, converging into a sound wave that piled upon itself, forcing all the scoffers to slink back into their tents, yet the cheering went on undiminished until Bi Fang disappeared from sight, finally slowly coming to a stop. ¡°Humans cannot conquer mountains, they only climb them, like a child climbs onto its mother¡¯s knees,¡± Puba murmured as he watched Bi Fang vanish, then patted Danzeng on the head, ¡°Let¡¯s go back, whether he succeeds or not is now up to him.¡± Danzeng nodded vigorously. Watching the snowstorm, Edinburgh tightened his collar; he harbored no doubt about Bi Fang¡¯s success, as a centenarian, he understood one thing clearly. Once a person has a goal, they become unstoppable. Above the snow-capped mountain, the campsite behind Bi Fang had already blurred into the distance, but the viewers in the live broadcast room were still stunned, trying to recover from what they had just witnessed. If not for knowing the backstory, knowing what kind of person Old Fang was, they might even think it was all a performance! Of course, there were those who doubted, and not just the old viewers, but plenty of new viewers were skeptical as well. Some even raised questions, but Bi Fang did not need to worry about it, as older viewers naturally stepped up to explain. [Epic class!] [When it comes to prestige, you have to look up to Master Fang!] [Sniffle, I¡¯m moved, Master Fang rocks! Who says only those in the spotlight can be heroes?] [How far are you planning to climb today?] Bi Fang adjusted his headlamp, glanced at the barrage of comments, and explained, ¡°I will reach Camp One before the sun rises. There should be some people there still, not entirely evacuated yet. Also, my drone will be placed at Camp One because beyond that altitude, the drone cannot fly anymore. So, after that point, you can only watch the live stream in first-person view.¡± ¡°And because of the oxygen issue, I¡¯ll be talking less and less. Often I won¡¯t be able to reply in time, so if you have any questions, you need to ask them quickly. Once I reach 7,000 meters, I will try not to talk unless necessary. It might become a bit boring then.¡± [How could it be?] [This is my first time watching a Mount Everest live stream; I¡¯m a bit nervous. What can I say now to get everyone¡¯s attention?] [I didn¡¯t come here to watch you conquer the wilderness; hurry up and start eating!] [Ah, I was actually here to see what Master Fang is having for dinner today, slipping away now.] [Speaking of which, neighbors Shark and Tiger Fang teamed up the other day and launched a wilderness segment. Does anyone know?] Oh? Bi Fang raised his eyebrows; what was this situation? He didn¡¯t even know about it. [I saw it, it was launched for less than half an hour (Dog¡¯s head) and, calculating the time, it¡¯s almost the duration from when Master Fang was buried by the avalanche until he came back online.] [Tiger Fang, Shark: The sky cleared, the rain stopped, I think I can do it again.] Bi Fang was momentarily stunned and nearly laughed out loud. As a pioneer with templates and the System, he had well and truly cut off the path for any newcomers. From his very first live stream, Bi Fang paid attention to establishing a professional image. Now, he stood unbeatable like a giant in the field of wilderness, miles ahead of the rest. For anyone trying to catch up, the only way would be through a significant inflow of viewers, but the cost was mostly not worth it¡ªthe input and earnings did not add up. His earlier efforts had not been in vain. Gathering his thoughts, Bi Fang gripped the ascender and swiftly slid across the crevasse. Viewers who had watched the previous live stream even felt a slightly different sensation, as if¡­ Bi Fang climbing alone was even faster now? A figment of their imagination? Many scratched their heads, but this question was confirmed when they saw familiar mountains and the Eagle Head Ice Slope and then looked at the time. He was a full twenty minutes faster than before! [As expected, teammates are just a burden!] [Master Fang is a lone ranger!] [The lone brave one] As the daylight grew stronger, large ice crevasses became more numerous, many places lacked proper aluminum ladders, and there were no natural snow bridges. Bi Fang had to set up ladders himself, slowing down, he tied a rope to the ground and then to himself before moving forward. ¡°When climbing aluminum ladders, we hook the front teeth of our crampons onto the rung. Naturally, the rear teeth will hook onto the next rung behind. After making sure it¡¯s stable, we step up one by one. Every step must be clean and decisive to ensure there¡¯s no tripping while switching feet. The incline of the aluminum ladders varies; you might have seen many along the way, with four ladders joined end to end climbing upward, two connected across a crevasse, and others descending. No matter the angle, just make sure to take each step well. Don¡¯t be afraid, even if you fall off the ladder, two safety ropes attached to you can catch you.¡± The more experienced a person is, the more they know how absolutely important safety measures are. Therefore, Bi Fang did not dare to be careless with each step. All those who were careless ended up in the crevasses. Being alone in such an environment easily leads to psychological pressure, and under such strain, until the sun rose, the viewers finally saw Camp One through Bi Fang¡¯s perspective. Chapter 414: 412 Acquaintance Chapter 414: Chapter 412 Acquaintance Having exerted much effort to reach Camp One, Bi Fang exhaled cold mist and squinted at the sun before rolling up his sleeve to check the time and letting out a breath. ¡°Eleven-thirty-seven, not bad, we haven¡¯t missed lunchtime.¡± Starting at two in the morning, it took nearly ten hours to reach Camp One. The entire Khumbu Glacier seemed to ascend only a few hundred meters in altitude, but the actual distance covered exceeded fourteen kilometers, truly a ¡°long trek.¡± There were countless large and small crevasses, and Bi Fang had crossed seventeen aluminum ladders, finally reaching Camp One. Standing on this vast platform, the view was superb. Bi Fang expanded his lungs for deep breaths. Though the air was fresh, it was anything but comfortable to breathe due to the extremely low oxygen content. Standing at the entrance to the camp, Bi Fang could certainly see the ¡°height¡± of the surrounding mountains. His altitude was merely six thousand meters, but nearly all of the neighboring peaks rose above eight thousand. Holding the drone that couldn¡¯t fly, Bi Fang gripped his climbing poles and pointed towards the distance. ¡°The weather is good today, the mountain mist isn¡¯t too heavy, we can see very clearly. From left to right, these are four peaks over 8000 meters: Cho Oyu, Mount Everest, Lhotse Peak, and Makalu. The ones where the tips emerge from the clouds are Mount Everest, and the large gray expanse below is the massive Rongbuk Glacier, with the white at the bottom being the frozen Gokyo Lake Three.¡± The mountains were majestic, leaving the viewers speechless. After a while, they could only flood the live stream with a barrage of ¡°f*ck,¡± expressing their amazement. ¡°There are only fourteen peaks on Earth that exceed an altitude of 8000 meters, with ten of them being in the Himalayas and the other four in the Karakoram.¡± [The Himalayas still hold the trump cards] [Ten, but aren¡¯t there quite a few other peaks nearby? Don¡¯t they count?] Many viewers noticed Cho Oyu, the shortest of the four peaks pointed out by Bi Fang, but there were even sharper peaks above it, making the count more than just four. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang shook his head: ¡°Those are subsidiary peaks or forepeaks, which generally don¡¯t count. In geography, the highest peak in a mountain range is known as the main peak; a lone peak is an independent mountain; those that are relatively close to an independent mountain and present a protective formation are considered subsidiary peaks and forepeaks. Those higher than Cho Oyu are just subsidiary peaks of other mountains, and although they also exceed 8000 meters, they are not included in the count.¡± ¡°Of course, what I said earlier was not accurate either. The precise description should be a group of peaks exceeding an altitude of 8000 meters. In fact, there are more than 14 peaks on Earth that exceed 8000 meters in altitude, with many subsidiary peaks existing around most of the main peaks.¡± As the name suggests, a peak group is a ¡°collection¡± of an independent peak and all its subsidiary peaks¡­ The concept of a main peak is easy to understand, like Mount Everest being the main peak of the Himalayan range. But what does ¡°lone¡± mean? How could there be ¡°lone¡± peaks amidst the vast expanse of the Himalayas? How close is ¡°relatively close¡±?¡­ These concepts are qualitative rather than quantitative, and their boundaries are not clear, which makes the ¡°identity¡± standards for 8000-meter peaks also quite vague. [So where did this standard come from?] The audience was curious. Where did this unified statement of 14 peaks come from? ¡°That¡¯s because over the 100 years that mountaineering has been popular, only the British Military Survey Team has conducted systematic measurements of these mountains. So their statement about ¡¯14 peaks¡¯ became predominant and later gained the unanimous acceptance of mountaineers. Mountaineers have also concluded from practical experience that these ¡¯14¡¯ are actually the highest peaks within 14 distinct 8000-meter peak groups, that is, independent mountains. Around an independent peak, even if the elevation exceeds 8000 meters, they are considered subsidiary peaks.¡± [Is Old Fang now a mountaineer too (dog¡¯s head)?] Bi Fang laughed and neither admitted nor denied it: ¡°Once I summit Mount Everest solo and without oxygen, you can call me that.¡± ¡°` Although he had not achieved any specific accomplishments in climbing yet, simply reaching the summit of Mount Everest without oxygen was enough to secure Bi Fang a place at the climbing festival. Not to mention, he did it solo, without oxygen¡ªa double buff. In the entire history of climbing Mount Everest, the number of people who had achieved this could be counted on one¡¯s fingers. If this couldn¡¯t qualify someone as a mountaineer, then most of those who called themselves climbers would have to die of shame. Awesome! The audience didn¡¯t understand all the twists and turns, but at this moment, they had only one thought in mind. [Solo climbing is the way of the invincible; who needs an oxygen cylinder anyway.] [I was the first to disagree when Teacher Ma withdrew from the literary world.] [There¡¯s another identity verification; does anyone with great abilities have the stats on how many identities Old Fang has?] [Mathematician, chemist, physicist, biologist, climber, adventurer¡­ the list goes on, please add if I missed any.] [Architect, aviator, astronomer (dog¡¯s head)] ¡°I only have a smattering of knowledge in these fields; I¡¯m far from deserving the ¡®master¡¯ title. Don¡¯t inflate my ego,¡± Bi Fang waved his hand, eliciting laughter from the audience. Without lingering too long at the entrance to the campsite, Bi Fang prepared to rest a bit at Camp One before continuing his climb. ¡°I am going to rest here, replenish my energy, recover my strength, and then continue the climb. Once we get past the Khumbu Glacier, the danger decreases significantly. We just need to ascend another four hundred meters to directly reach Camp Two. The distance is approximately five kilometers, but it¡¯s much less dangerous than the Khumbu Glacier. That¡¯s also why we don¡¯t need to make a point of starting off in the middle of the night anymore.¡± Upon entering the current base at Camp One, the viewers could clearly see that in the southeastern corner, the snow had completely submerged it, with several colored tents buried underneath. This area was also affected by the avalanche. There were still people there, mourning their deceased companions and packing their belongings to return home. This was undoubtedly a somber atmosphere. They didn¡¯t realize their dreams here; instead, they had lost their lives. Bi Fang identified the tent prepared by the guide company from the markings on it and made his way to the designated permanent tent. As a formal guide company, there wasn¡¯t just Rob as a guide; there were many others. These people needed a foothold when they come to base camp, so naturally, the company would prepare campsites and supplies every season. Also, due to the strong winds at Mount Everest, repairs were almost necessary every year. Upon lifting the tent flap, a wave of warm air hit him¡ªthe temperature inside the tent was much higher than outside. ¡°The weather today is really good; the tent has been warmed by the sun, although the wind is a bit strong. Now we need to hydrate as much as possible, have some food, and later on, I¡¯ll take a nap, about an hour and a half, going through a full sleep cycle to recover my energy.¡± At this moment, the tent was empty, but some supplies were left behind. Bi Fang unpacked the fuel and lit the stove with a lighter, preparing to cook something. Unexpectedly, at that moment, a series of shouting was heard from outside the tent. ¡°Is Mr. Bi inside?¡± ¡°` Chapter 415: 413: Superman Chapter 415: Chapter 413: Superman Who¡¯s there? As Bi Fang was preparing something to cook, hearing the voice startled him. To his knowledge, all the guides and service staff from Rob¡¯s guide company should have already descended the mountain by now, so who could be looking for him? With curiosity, he lifted the tent flap. Because he was facing the sun, the light blurred his vision. Bi Fang squinted his eyes and expressed his surprise, ¡°It¡¯s you!?¡± The man standing before him was none other than Ze Long, the dream-chaser whom Bi Fang had saved just a few days ago! Even though it had only been a few days, the numerous events that had occurred in between made it seem to Bi Fang like a distant past. Many of the audience members who were drawn by the avalanche had no recollection of the incident, but quite a few enthusiastically shared their accounts. [That day at the pass, this guy slipped and nearly fell off a cliff. If Master Fang hadn¡¯t climbed down and pulled him up, he would have been done for] [Indeed, it was very dangerous. The slope was steep and covered with loose gravel. A slip could have been fatal.] ¡°What are you doing here? Haven¡¯t you descended yet? Come in, the wind¡¯s strong and it¡¯s still rather chilly outside,¡± Bi Fang said with a smile, stepping aside to make room for the other man to enter. Seeing that Bi Fang remembered him, Ze Long laughed and, without any hesitation, came into the tent with his fruits and vegetables, and sat down next to the stove to warm up. ¡°We started climbing that very night, so we were a day ahead of you. But I guess we were lucky; if we had been on the Khumbu Glacier with you, we might have perished. That would have been even more dangerous.¡± Ze Long placed the vegetables and fruits on the table. ¡°As for these items, our guide had them delivered last night. They¡¯re still quite fresh, but we¡¯ll be descending soon and won¡¯t be able to eat them. It would be a waste to leave them behind. After I got back, I followed your live stream, and honestly, I really admire people like you who walk the talk. Awesome!¡± ¡°Aw, just trying to make a living,¡± Bi Fang replied, somewhat embarrassed by the compliment. The audience found this amusing. [True struggling for a meal] [Sometimes even that¡¯s hard to come by (dog¡¯s head)] [I still remember Old Fang¡¯s first time; he didn¡¯t eat for two days and ended up eating earthworms, which nearly made me throw up. That was also the stream that got me hooked.] Ze Long also smiled. Those were the kinds of words one could only listen to. ¡°So just now, when I saw your stream coming up to Camp One, I decided to come and give them to you as a token of my respect,¡± he said. ¡°Hey, can¡¯t let it go to waste, thanks a lot,¡± Bi Fang happily accepted the goods. After all, the other man wasn¡¯t going to stay, so rather than let the food go bad, he might as well eat it himself. As Ze Long had said, it would be a waste otherwise. Moreover, canned food often has a strong taste, so having some fresh vegetables to lighten the palate couldn¡¯t hurt. The two of them chatted for a while longer. Ze Long didn¡¯t stay too long and after expressing his gratitude once more and mentioning that Bi Fang could come visit him in XZ when he had the chance, he left. Bi Fang then put the vegetables into the boiling water, stirred them with chopsticks, and poured himself a cup of the hot water. He blew on it just a bit before drinking it, to the amazement of his audience. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, I¡¯m at Camp One, which is at an altitude of 6,000 meters. Here, boiling water only reaches 80 degrees Celsius, and the temperature itself is below zero. The water cools off quickly enough to be drinkable. And since it¡¯s high-altitude ice water, there are no parasites, and bacteria are minimal. Even if it can¡¯t be boiled to 100 degrees, drinking it isn¡¯t really a problem. Of course, there are exceptions for those with sensitive stomachs, but they are very rare.¡± It was only then that the audience members came to their senses. Indeed, comfortably watching Bi Fang¡¯s live stream from home, with Bi Fang himself appearing so relaxed, they had almost forgotten where he actually was. Besides, anyone who could comfortably make it to Camp One couldn¡¯t be in too poor of shape. Physique often correlates with immune strength, and it¡¯s quite rare to find someone with a sensitive stomach. [Old Fang¡¯s physical condition is so strong. He hasn¡¯t shown any signs of altitude sickness up there¡ªI¡¯m envious] [Is that envy? You¡¯re just drooling over his physique, you¡¯re so lowly!] [Ah, yes, yes, I¡¯m lowly] Of course, it was good. Bi Fang was happy; his excellent physique had been earned through risking his life. Where there was danger, there he would be, completely disregarding the laws of wilderness survival. If he saw a mountain, he would climb it; if he found a cave, he would explore it. Only then could his four dimensions reach an extremely balanced fifteen points. A healthy male physique would be just ten points. This wasn¡¯t a simple relationship of one and a half times, but a qualitative leap, nearly the limit that special forces could achieve. With just a bit of focused training, he could reach a professional athlete¡¯s level. Even professional athletes would fall short in some areas¡ªafter all, not everyone could manage both speed and strength, let alone add nerve reflexes, resilience, and so on. Bi Fang was a bug who, thanks to the system, had forcefully developed all-around abilities. Soon, the vegetables were cooked, and Bi Fang didn¡¯t pay too much attention, simply eating them together with the flatbread. ¡°In the high mountains, it¡¯s not convenient to transport supplies, so you can¡¯t eat too well, unless it¡¯s canned food heated up. But that brings another problem, which is excessive trash¡ªmany people are willing to eat but not willing to take their trash with them. You guys know my habits, so this time I¡¯m making do. If you all come to places like this for a trip in the future, try to make do too, okay? Try not to create too much trash for the sake of your taste buds. If you really want to eat, it¡¯s best to take your trash with you when you leave.¡± After a mushy lunch that resembled porridge, Bi Fang turned off the live stream, laid out his sleeping bag, set up the stove, and took a brief nap. Due to traveling at night and the physical exhaustion, if it weren¡¯t for a coughing fit and severe altitude sickness, almost everyone who reached this point could fall asleep the moment they lay down. When he got up again, it was already two-thirty in the afternoon. After restarting the live stream, Bi Fang packed up his things, ready to hit the road once more. ¡°The elevation of Camp Two is around 6,400 meters, so it¡¯s about 400 meters higher than where we are. But between C1 and C2, there is a glacier zone where you have to climb up and down several ice cliffs almost 5-10 meters high with a nearly vertical ascent. This stretch has numerous crevasses, both visible and hidden. It requires crossing via about 8 ladders, followed by a 10-15 degree inclined ice field. Ordinary people usually need 3 to 4 hours of ¡®wriggling¡¯ to cover the 5 kilometers distance. Moreover, below Camp C2 is a high avalanche frequency area. It¡¯s safe to say that almost every year there¡¯s an avalanche here. Quite a few photography enthusiasts even come back to this place to capture the scene of an avalanche, so extra caution is needed. However, the good news is, we¡¯ve already encountered one not too long ago, and it¡¯s unlikely that another avalanche will happen soon.¡± Every year? Some were startled by this frequency. Wasn¡¯t it said that including this time, there have only been four avalanches on Mount Everest in the past ten years? ¡°Those four were avalanches with significant casualties, where at least dozens of people were injured or killed. The ones that frequently occur below Camp C2 are strictly monitored, and the overlap with climbing paths is rare. So even though the frequency is very high, there are basically no fatalities as a result.¡± S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having everything ready, Bi Fang grabbed his climbing poles, stepped out of the tent, and before leaving, he pulled out the pegs, laid the tent flat on the ground, and then pressed it with rocks and snow. ¡°Alright, although it can¡¯t be completely prevented, this can significantly minimize the tent from being blown away before the next climbing season begins.¡± Getting the campsite packed up, it was already three-twenty in the afternoon; he had to admit that at an altitude of 6,000 meters, it took a toll on Bi Fang, and he would feel winded when tired. Bi Fang was not Superman. Chapter 416: 414: With Strong Willpower, Any Difficulty Can Be Overcome! Chapter 416: Chapter 414: With Strong Willpower, Any Difficulty Can Be Overcome! Arriving at the base of the avalanche, a rugged mountain path lay above, covered in snow. The avalanche had covered nearly a quarter of Camp One, sloping down majestically. Looking from above, tents of various sizes stood in lines, much smaller than those at the base camp and far fewer in number. Most climbers spent only one night here, so the tents were generally small, and there were very few large ones. There were also the restrictions of conditions. With the increasing altitude, the number of people grew fewer, and the items they could carry became lighter. Large tents weren¡¯t so easy to bring up. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Teams were still descending the mountain, and among the dozens of people, only Bi Fang was moving against the current, like a boulder in a river. Many who didn¡¯t know the truth looked sideways and whispered until some became aware of the situation and cast strange glances. Why him? That was everyone¡¯s first reaction. No one cared why Bi Fang was allowed to continue climbing; they just knew they had to descend because of a word from the association, yet here was someone defying that rule. Seeing Bi Fang unmoved, his footsteps firm as he ascended, some wanted to say something, but the high altitude made them dizzy. ¡°Hey!¡± A shout echoed through the valley as Bi Fang stopped and turned around, squinting into the sunlight to see that it was still Ze Long, this guy. He was now standing at the camp entrance with seven or eight others, shouldering their backpacks and waving goodbye for the last time. ¡°Goodbye!¡± Bi Fang waved back, watching the others disappear into the snowy horizon. Ze Long had spent all his money to come here and didn¡¯t know if he would ever return. ¡°That guy¡­ I¡¯m not convinced!¡± Ze Long¡¯s teammate put down his oxygen tank and spat, feeling somewhat annoyed. Ze Long gave him a surprised look, his expression not very pleasant, ¡°Convinced of what? Next time you can apply to climb solo without oxygen as well.¡± His teammate fell silent. At six thousand meters, he needed to take a breath of oxygen now and then; climbing to the summit without it was out of the question. Yet, accustomed to privilege, how could he accept just standing aside and watching? He couldn¡¯t be bothered with these people. Bi Fang felt that talking to them was just a waste of time. He lifted his foot and started to jog down the path, quickly passing the group of onlookers. !? The white man, about to spit, flicked his tongue and swallowed the saliva with a gulp. The thin air at this altitude slowed everyone¡¯s minds, making them speak more slowly and appear exhausted. After successive incidents, their mood was even lower. But you¡¯re jogging here? Are we all climbing the same mountain? Several resentful people instantly lost their energy, feeling their physical strength insulted and silently tightened their collars as they turned to walk down the mountain. The drone had been set to fly down the mountain by itself. Now Bi Fang¡¯s filming was entirely in the first person, so although the viewers had an excellent sense of immersion, they couldn¡¯t directly see Bi Fang¡¯s movements. They were puzzled to see the people around staring dumbfounded with their mouths open until the camera began to shake and they realized what was happening. The System¡¯s black technology was still very powerful. Even in the first person, the stability was excellent. There was no shaking when walking, nor would it blink because of blinking. Only when running could a significant tremor be felt, but this wasn¡¯t a flaw. On the contrary, it gave the audience the most direct experience, as if they were on the scene themselves. At this moment, the viewers saw the climber¡¯s viewpoint suddenly begin to tremble. Some veteran viewers immediately understood. Is he running? Running¡­ on a six-thousand-meter snow mountain! [Damn, is Old Fang actually running?] [Be human, please.] [Everyone around was stunned (Dog¡¯s head)] [The last time I saw someone with such strong physical prowess, it was a real-life superhero] [Is Ultraman real? (Crying)] Bi Fang wasn¡¯t trying to show off, but rather wanted to reach Camp Two before dark to avoid night travel. Although ice and snow are more stable at night, visibility is indeed hindered. Without a guide leading the way on familiar paths, it¡¯s easy to go wrong, and he didn¡¯t want to take that risk. Light jogging was the most suitable option for Bi Fang at the moment. Ignoring the oxygen factor, the journey from Camp One to Camp Two is relatively easy and not too exhausting, making it a good pace to pick up speed. Not carrying an oxygen cylinder also had its benefits, at least the total weight could be reduced by a dozen kilograms without the breathing apparatus and oxygen bottle. Besides, Bi Fang¡¯s gear was extremely lightweight, including not carrying a tent. In case of an emergency, it meant he couldn¡¯t protect himself against the snowstorm, nor did he bring common medications like cold medicine and antibiotics, or a sleeping bag and pad for sleeping outdoors. He only ate energy gel bars and used a 20cm ultra-mini ice axe for steep snowy slopes. For most people, this would be unthinkable. This behavior vividly illustrated: People¡¯s physiques are different! ¡°Actually, there¡¯s not much difference,¡± Bi Fang took a sip of water to rehydrate. ¡°Scientists had researched a man before. His name is Wim Hof, also known as ¡®The Iceman¡¯. He holds nearly thirty world records in cold resistance. For example, he ran a full marathon in the Arctic Circle wearing just shorts, and swam in an ice lake for fifteen minutes. I don¡¯t remember if I¡¯ve mentioned this, but in those conditions, normal people could easily die within a minute, and he even climbed Mount Everest wearing just shorts and sandals¡­¡± Audience: ¡°!?¡± [Climbing Mount Everest in shorts and slippers?] [Did I hear that wrong?] [Did he succeed?] ¡°No.¡± [Phew, you scared me. I was like, how is that possible] [If he really succeeded, that would be too awesome] ¡°He didn¡¯t succeed because Wim Hof injured his foot during the climb. And although he failed, he still reached an altitude of 7200 meters, higher than where I am right now.¡± ¡°Aside from that, he also ran a full marathon in the Sahara Desert without drinking a single drop.¡± Wow, this man is incredible. After hearing Bi Fang¡¯s words, the audience was astonished. They could only think one thing: he¡¯s a real-life superman! Some people didn¡¯t believe it and looked it up, only to find out it was all true! ¡°I think it¡¯s impressive too. At least I don¡¯t dare to strip down to my shorts right now, but many scientists have studied Wim Hof, from his blood to his genes, from his skin to his organs. The conclusion they came to is that he isn¡¯t much different from anyone else, and what he can do is all due to his incredibly strong willpower.¡± [Willpower is that strong? I¡¯m uneducated, don¡¯t trick me.] [I don¡¯t believe it, this world is materialistic! (Crying)] [I¡¯m a supporter of Marxist Philosophy, wuu wuu wuu, Marxist Philosophy, my Marxist Philosophy, hehe.] [It¡¯s over, someone¡¯s gone crazy] [My worldview has been crushed!] [So am I to deduce that in a state of extreme anger, one really could punch through a five-meter wall? (Laughing)] [I see, you really can perform a slide tackle, Master Fang, quickly teach me how to take down a tiger!] Bi Fang laughed: ¡°So remember, with a strong will, you can withstand any difficulty and not panic in the face of danger, you¡¯ll always get through it.¡± Chapter 417: 415: The Small Animals on the Mountain Chapter 417: Chapter 415: The Small Animals on the Mountain After finishing a bag of water, Bi Fang stopped to look around and planted his mountaineering poles near a glacier. He first took out the ice axe from his waist, tapped with it to find a suitable spot, and then slammed it down fiercely, the tip of the axe penetrating the ice, creating cracks that spread like lightning. Holding the other end of the ice block, Bi Fang leveraged with his right hand, and a thick chunk of ice was knocked off. He scooped up the block of ice, took out a small knife, and started to shave the ice into chips, filling his water bag while scraping and speaking. ¡°At this altitude, there are no streams on the mountain, and all the water is in the form of ice and snow. To hydrate, one can only use ice and snow, like I did in Mohe, slowly melting it with the body¡¯s dissipated heat. Because you need to hydrate frequently, it¡¯s best to prepare three hydration bags to avoid running out of water when you need it. Don¡¯t put in big chunks of ice; they won¡¯t melt easily. It¡¯s better to shave it into chips, as I am doing now.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate this situation; it¡¯s actually very dangerous. I¡¯ve said before that drinking water can effectively alleviate altitude sickness. Once dehydrated, it could disrupt the entire mountaineering rhythm. You should never wait until you¡¯re thirsty or showing symptoms to hydrate, by then it would be too late. You should know exactly when to run, walk, drink water, and replenish energy.¡± The opening of the water bag was very large, specially prepared by Bi Fang, so shaving the ice went quickly. After filling it up, he reinserted the dagger, tightened the cap of the water bag, and placed it inside the inner pocket of his coat. ¡°Moreover, you shouldn¡¯t overhydrate; it can lead to water intoxication. The frequency should be to drink little but often, better to sip and hold a mouthful, or you could add some salt to make saltwater. That would also help a lot.¡± [Why not use snow, though? Snow is finer, right? Ice requires scraping.] ¡°Because ice is cleaner than snow,¡± Bi Fang pointed towards the sky. ¡°For water vapor in the air to condense into snowflakes, there needs to be a nucleus for condensation. Only with a nucleus can it form snow, and usually, this nucleus is a speck of dust. But the ice on the glacier is different, much cleaner than snowmelt.¡± ¡°Glaciers are also transformed from snow through slow changes over time. The snow that fell in ancient times was compressed over millions of years, and any impurities originally contained in the snowflakes were squeezed to the edges of the crystals and washed away. The resulting ice blocks, especially those formed from single-crystal snowflakes, have a purity that can compare to water distilled three times.¡± For this reason, Bi Fang had seen many businesses selling mineral water under the guise of glacier water, which wasn¡¯t exactly a deception; it truly is clean, even cleaner than water purified by water filters. After crossing the glacier, Bi Fang continued forward with his mountaineering poles, but after a short distance, he suddenly stopped, then stepped back two paces. Everyone tensed up, only to see his gaze constantly shifting, as if Master Fang was looking for something. [What¡¯s going on, what¡¯s happening?] [What happened? Old Fang, what are you looking for?] [Let me have a look] The moving gaze gradually came to a halt, and the viewers also saw what Bi Fang was looking for. [A bird¡­ a bird¡¯s nest?] [Holy shit, what kind of bird builds nests on Mount Everest?] [Props team, props team, continuity error! Continuity error!] The fans were dumbfounded, finding it unbelievable that a bird¡¯s nest could appear at an altitude of over six thousand meters! S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang was also surprised; the bird¡¯s nest was hidden in a crevice between rocks. If he hadn¡¯t glanced at it and sensed something amiss, and then looked back to search, he might have missed it. The nest wasn¡¯t big, made of dry twigs, leaves, feathers, and even bits of cotton. When Bi Fang got closer, he was astonished to find that there were actually eggs in the nest! There were three eggs in the bird¡¯s nest, yellowish-grey with brown specks. Bi Fang removed his gloves and picked up one of the eggs, feeling its surface before smacking his lips, ¡°It¡¯s still warm, the bird mother or father must have just left recently. In low temperatures, birds require a lot of energy, so they often need to search for food.¡± Holding the egg in the palm of his hand, Bi Fang scavenged his memory. The current altitude was 6,289 meters, and it was a rarity to find birds nesting at such high altitudes. Based on the location, altitude, environment, and the shape of the egg¡­ Bi Fang tucked his climbing pole under his arm and stroked his chin, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, this should be an Alpine Chough egg. These birds typically nest between three and six thousand meters, with some even at six thousand five hundred meters, which is higher than any other bird species. Now it¡¯s May, which theoretically is spring, a time when a large number of birds reproduce. Laying eggs now means that they¡¯ll hatch in summer when the temperature rises, which is very suitable for the chick¡¯s survival. Sir, could you help me take a look to see if this is indeed an Alpine Chough egg?¡± Bi Fang took out his phone and contacted Edinburgh. The old man¡¯s academic status was not for naught; it was better to ask to be on the safe side. It didn¡¯t take long for Bi Fang to receive a positive response; it was indeed an Alpine Chough egg. Bi Fang¡¯s expression brightened, ¡°It seems Sir has been watching my livestream all along. Such attention!¡± [Hit the little star] [So, can it be eaten?] [Eat, eat, eat, all you think about is eating.] ¡°It can be eaten, as the Yellow-billed Chough is not a protected animal and its population is over a million without the risk of extinction. However, I do not recommend eating it,¡± Bi Fang placed the egg back to its original place and covered it with some nearby cotton fluff, ¡°Yellow-billed Choughs, especially, like to rummage through garbage piles for food, which isn¡¯t very clean. They may circle through a garbage pile and then come back to incubate their eggs, so unless necessary, I don¡¯t recommend eating their eggs.¡± The audience felt a pang of regret, having thought they could eat local food on Mount Everest. Watching the livestream, the most exciting part was always seeing Master Fang hunting, eating authentic game. [Speaking of which, are there other animals there, at an altitude of over 6,300 meters? Is there anything living even higher?] As Bi Fang pondered while moving forward, he recalled a creature that could definitely be said to live at the highest known altitudes, ¡°This creature can even live at altitudes of over 6,100 meters. It is absolutely the highest-altitude living being.¡± With this thought, Bi Fang sped up again and arrived at the edge of a glacier, occasionally looking inside, but unfortunately, there was nothing to be seen. [What is it? Tell us already] [Yeah, spill it] The audience¡¯s curiosity was piqued. What kind of creature could live at such a high altitude? ¡°Don¡¯t rush, don¡¯t rush. You¡¯ll know once I find it. It shouldn¡¯t be hard to find,¡± Bi Fang calmed the anxious hearts of the viewers. While mountaineering, after half an hour or so, he indeed made a discovery! Bi Fang lay down at the edge of the glacier, reached out his hand, and scooped up something too quickly for the viewers to see clearly. He looked delighted, obviously having caught something. When he opened his hand¡­ [Holy shit, a spider!] [There should be screaming right now.] Indeed, if there were any girls there, there would undoubtedly be screaming because in Bi Fang¡¯s hand was a fuzzy, large spider crawling about! Chapter 418: 416 Silent Valley Chapter 418: Chapter 416 Silent Valley A large spider? Bi Fang paused for a moment, staring at the spider the size of a fingernail on his palm for quite some time. emmmm. To say it was big was somewhat true; spiders larger than one centimeter were indeed rarely seen in the city. Usually, you would only find spiders this size in the countryside, in the shadows under the eaves, crawling in and out of old tree holes, inside last year¡¯s cicada exuviae¡­ At this moment, the spider suddenly scooped out of the crevice was dashing frantically across the vast expanse of Bi Fang¡¯s hand. Its jointed legs covered in bristles moved back and forth, and on its shriveled head were eight black eyes diminishing in size from big to small. I¡¯m getting goosebumps! [What the hell is this thing?] [Can you not hold it in your hand? I¡¯m getting stressed out.] [The hair on my hands is standing on end!!!] ¡°Jumping spider. This guy is a Himalayan Jumping Spider, its scientific name is Euophrys omnisuperstes, meaning ¡®above all else.¡¯ It can survive in ice crevices at an elevation of 6,700 meters, making it the highest-dwelling creature in the world.¡± Gazing at the tiny creature scampering across his palm, Bi Fang, out of a sense of mischievousness, gently prodded it with his thumb, forcing the jumping spider to change directions and scurry erratically. At this altitude, the only living thing Bi Fang could see was the Himalayan Jumping Spider on his hand. Once everyone left the mountain, above 5,000 meters on Mount Everest, he would be left all alone. One man, one mountain. [Doesn¡¯t it bite? Is it venomous?] S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Man, you¡¯re playing with fire!] ¡°Don¡¯t worry, human skin is quite thick for a jumping spider, and the clever creature is very much aware of that. It rarely attacks humans. In fact, not just jumping spiders¡ªother spiders seldom attack humans either, as they know it¡¯s a futile effort that brings them no benefit. Usually, what you think is a spider bite is most likely caused by some other insect. ¡°This is especially true in Huaxia. In our country, a spider that poses a fatal threat to humans is virtually nonexistent. Even the spiders that can attack humans and whose venom causes severe reactions, like spiders of the genus Latrodectus, are extremely rare in Huaxia. Therefore, there¡¯s no need to be afraid of spiders. If you win the one in a million chance and encounter one in the wild, you should buy a lottery ticket or try to catch it and show it off to a zoologist, as it¡¯s pretty hard for everyone to find one.¡± Many international viewers were moved to tears when they heard this, especially those from Australia, [Wuuu wuuu, Huaxia is truly a blessed land] [I stayed in Australia for a while last year, and the spiders there were bigger than fists!] [I heard that over there, you might encounter a venomous snake slithering out of the toilet, the kind you don¡¯t see before sitting down, from the drainage pipe (dog¡¯s head)] [My heart just cooled down] [Wait a minute, if only the jumping spider lives at such high altitudes, what does it eat? What about the food chain?] [Smart guy, you¡¯ve caught the crux of the matter.] ¡°Yes, when scientists first discovered it, they were also curious about this. At such high altitudes, only the jumping spider survives, but for living creatures to exist there must be energy intake. As an animal, the jumping spider can¡¯t photosynthesize, so there must be some food chain sustaining its existence. Unfortunately, there isn¡¯t one.¡± How is that possible? Then what exactly does it eat? The audience was utterly astonished. If only one kind of creature exists there, what does it feed on? There aren¡¯t even any plants here, no soil, just rocks. Does it gnaw on rocks? ¡°It¡¯s frozen insects,¡± Bi Fang said without beating around the bush. ¡°The Himalayan Jumping Spider relies entirely on the sporadic frozen insects blown by the mountain winds for energy. It is precisely because of this predation method that biologists can unequivocally confirm that the Himalayan Jumping Spider is the highest-dwelling creature, bar none.¡± When he spoke these words, even Bi Fang sounded somewhat amazed; in many cases, animals¡¯ formidable survival abilities can leave humans in the dust. ¡°Eight eyes give it a 360-degree field of vision; its body temperature can drop to negative twenty degrees Celsius; fine hooks on its feet provide gripping power so it isn¡¯t blown away by the wind; its long legs allow it to jump effortlessly between rocks, with distances up to fifty times its body length. Jumping Spiders don¡¯t spin webs, but they can still produce silk; the safety-rope-like spider silk allows them to move about freely. ¡°Moreover, the Jumping Spider¡¯s greatest advantage is its size. Its tiny body can cling closely to the rocks, which absorb energy from the sun, creating a nearly three-centimeter layer of warmth¡ªa perfect microenvironment for this pint-sized hero.¡± Unable to venture beyond the Five Fingers Mountain, the tiny spider spat out a thread of silk onto the palm of a hand, then energetically leaped, instantly clearing the boundary. ¡°Food is scarce and the weather is harsh; settling here might seem odd, but there are reasons behind it. Here, there are only Jumping Spiders, nothing else, no one preys on them. Despite their small size, they are atop the food chain of Mount Everest.¡± The sun began to dip. Bi Fang stood up, the Jumping Spider descended slowly, like a mountaineer with a safety rope, eventually returning to the ground. It bit the silk thread, cutting it off and scampering away. [That¡¯s enlightening.] [The wonders of Nature.] [Has Old Fang received the true teachings of Sir these past days? (Dog¡¯s head)] ¡°Of course. With the master by my side, it would be a crime not to seek his counsel. Chasing stars isn¡¯t about yelling for autographs¡ªthat¡¯s chasing after nothing. It¡¯s about learning skills and certain qualities from your idols that truly matters.¡± Bi Fang laughed heartily. Climbing with Edinburgh wasn¡¯t just about mountaineering in silence; the interaction was profoundly enriching, advancing Bi Fang¡¯s knowledge of many local customs and special creatures. However, he was already familiar with Jumping Spiders. While there are many species of Jumping Spiders, he couldn¡¯t possibly know them all, but he was well-versed in some of the creatures that are the most exceptional in the world. [What can you learn from chasing after Master Fang? (Sly smile)] [Confronting Nature. (Dog¡¯s head)] Having observed the spider, Bi Fang continued to climb. Along the way, he would often encounter people descending the mountain, but there were fewer and fewer of them. Bi Fang used his ice axe to tap on the icy surface, helping himself to climb up the steep slope. Occasionally, loose rocks would fall down. If hit by them, one could easily fall off the cliff at this height, with a high chance of being severely injured or even dying instantly if struck on the head. Bi Fang personally witnessed a rock about the size of an old-fashioned computer whistling down towards him. Although the rock fell from a far distance, he managed to avoid it in time. However, from a first-person perspective, the viewers still gasped until they saw the rock plummet into a chasm and finally realized they had broken out in a cold sweat. This first-person perspective was even more thrilling than playing a horror game. A single slip, and it could truly be fatal. ¡°If you¡¯re wearing prescription glasses underneath your goggles, please make sure your breath doesn¡¯t frost up the lenses, as it could affect your vision and judgment. We¡¯re now very close to Camp Two, walking through ¡®Silent Valley¡¯. As you can see, to my right is Nuzi Peak, and the slope of the mountain on the left is prone to avalanches. Normally, one should proceed quickly and stay alert to their surroundings.¡± Climbing up the icy slope, Bi Fang took a breath and finally straightened his back, turning his head to look at the sunset in the sky. It was already evening, and he was now at an altitude of 6,400 meters, where mist flowed around like water. A high-altitude crow returned from hunting, flying towards the mountains, while a Jumping Spider suddenly leaped up from a rock¡­ The snow-capped mountains looked magnificent in the sunset, glowing with the beautiful color of gold, their ice, snow, rocks, and cliffs forming exceptionally beautiful curves and patterns. The sky, the wind, and the light were in a dynamic, perpetual act of creation¡­ but perhaps someday, the seracs will disappear forever. The environmental overdraft and damage caused by human development were also harming the Himalayas. After watching for a long time, until the sun had set, Bi Fang finally snapped back to reality and continued his climb up the mountain. Chapter 419 Chapter 417: Saving a Spot Chapter two isn''t finished yet, just claiming a spot. I''ll make changes before 0:30. In the azure abyss, a silhouette laboriously grew from small to large. At the edge of the crevasse, which was narrowing, Bi Fang slowly moved to the left and began to climb upwards, viciously hacking his ice axe into the wall of cream-like ice to find his foothold¡ªeach step a concerted effort filled with agony. He climbed up like a worm. Stab, kick, shift, repeat. There was complete numbness between his palms and the ice axe; perhaps they were frozen, or maybe they were necrotic. It all turned into an obsession for survival. "Maybe I''m already unconscious, and this is all a hallucination," Fei She thought, unable to believe that the man, severely injured in a crevice and still able to move up over a hundred meters, was himself. Finally, after what seemed like the umpteenth time mechanically swinging the axe upwards, he glimpsed a patch of blue sky. Fei She longed to rest but he couldn''t afford to let go. If he did, he would die. He propped himself up to lie there, half in, half out, totally exhausted and unable to move. Five minutes later, with a final burst of energy, he forced his body forward and fell onto the solid ground. He staggered to his feet, only to collapse again. He couldn''t walk; he could barely get down on his knees. It was only then that Fei She realized how broken his body was; dragging his fractured ribs over the ice wall, he knew that unless his companions found him, he wouldn''t survive. Maybe he was bleeding internally and needed rescue. But just as he was about to hit the ground, a hand fiercely grabbed him. Fei She opened his frost-covered eyes. A hallucination? There was actually someone there. After an avalanche, there was still someone. This must be a delusion, right? Fei She weakly opened his mouth as if to say something but after struggling for a while, he didn''t cry for help or even say thanks. "Got any coffee? Preferably hot." "Quick, rescue him!" Upon receiving a response, Fei She passed out completely. Yao Jun and Jerret arrived beside Bi Fang and shivered as they looked at Fei She''s miserable body, which looked like a demon that had crawled out of hell, not a human. His clothes and the corners of his mouth were caked with icy fresh blood; his left hand dangled uselessly, eerily elongated compared to his right; his left ankle was also twisted irregularly. The sight made both men''s teeth ache and they couldn''t help but think, if it hadn''t been for Bi Fang, would they be in the same state? Glancing into the crevice, the cutting wind on his face, Yao Jun banished the thought. He probably couldn''t even climb out, only wait to die below. The viewers felt dizzy. [This guy is tough] [Is this what an avalanche victim looks like?] [Fuck, this is too damn terrifying] [I can''t handle this, I''m going to have nightmares] sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Master Fang, censor it for me, I''m scared] In the live broadcast room, Fei She''s ghastly face was quickly censored. Bi Fang carefully laid Fei She on the ground: "Yao Jun, look for some ID on him that can prove his identity. Jerret, do you have any hot water?" "Oh, yes." "Give him a little." Bi Fang quickly undid the man''s clothes and discovered extensive bruising to his chest and abdomen, drawing a sharp intake of breath: "Bleeding from the mouth and nose, body swelling, muscle tense and turning purplish; these are symptoms of internal bleeding!" [Internal bleeding, he''s not going to die, is he?] [Damn, this is serious, isn''t it?] [Not necessarily, it depends on what kind of internal bleeding it is and whether there are any symptoms of shock or respiratory arrest. If he could climb out of such a deep glacier, I think it might not be that serious.] "Jerret, use the backpack to prop up his leg." "Oh, oh." Bi Fang pressed down on the man''s right hand, trying to take the ice axe from his grip. As soon as he pried the fingers open, a thin layer of skin was torn apart. The ice axe and the man''s palm had completely frozen together, causing viewers to feel a tingling sensation on their scalps. [My god, that''s terrifying.] Bi Fang took the warm water from Jerret and slowly poured it over the man''s hand. Only after the bloody ice melted was he able to successfully remove the ice axe, and then he pressed the wrist to check the pulse. After a while, Yao Jun asked nervously, "How is it?" Growing up, Yao Jun had never seen someone die before his eyes. He had thought death wasn''t a big deal, but now that it was actually happening, he was genuinely nervous, and his speech was slightly stammering. Feeling the heartbeat, Bi Fang''s brows slowly eased: "It''s okay, his heart rate is stable, it''s just simple fainting, not shock. Now we can only suspect internal bleeding, possibly due to broken ribs, but it doesn''t seem too severe. At least no vital organs were damaged, otherwise he couldn''t have possibly climbed out of the abyss." "So what do we do now?" "We can''t do anything." Bi Fang shook his head. He knew survival and first aid, but he wasn''t a doctor and didn''t know how to operate. Even if he did, there were no conditions for it now. "The best thing to do for an internal bleeding patient is to keep still, elevate the legs to redistribute the blood flow due to gravity, and then wait for rescue. Any significant movement could potentially exacerbate the internal injury." "Over at the shoulder..." Bi Fang looked and looked again. Subway, elderly, mobile phone. "It''s not just a simple dislocation; the scapula might be fractured, and there might be a lot of shattered bones. Surgery is a must. As for the ankle..." Bi Fang paused. "I can handle the ankle." Bi Fang took off his shoes and felt the other person''s ankle. It was just a dislocated ankle joint with no fragmented bones, and he popped it right back into place. "If anyone encounters a dislocation, don''t try to handle it without proper experience. It''s best to take it to a professional hospital and have a doctor fix it. Yao Jun, do you have a towel? Wrap his ankle and then apply a cold compress. The best way to do cold compresses is with a towel in between to prevent frostbite." After hearing this, Yao Jun went to look for a towel but ended up pulling out an ID card: "Oh, right, I found this on him." Bi Fang took the work card, somewhat surprised: "Fei She? He''s Fei She?" [Holy shit, the guide from the same company as Rob! The guide for the Japanese and the Texan! Where are they?] [This guy is tough.] [Awesome, truly awesome. Internal bleeding plus a dislocated left hand, and he climbed out of the crevasse alone, that''s just exaggerating...] [Is this what legends are made of?] [The guide is here, could the others be too? They''re not trapped in the crevasse, are they?] Bi Fang took off his headlamp and shone it down into the crevice, but he found no other figures until he had walked more than fifty meters and then saw a very familiar figure lying in the crevice. The drone slowly descended, and the viewers gasped and covered their mouths. [Is that Wessels...] [I hardly dare to watch...] [Though the other party was very rude, ''Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, may the deceased rest in peace.''] [This is clearly a horror live broadcast.] [This streamer has such a strong background, they can broadcast this sort of thing?] [Nonsense, see the little red star after the name? Official verification, you kidding me?] Atop the crevice, Bi Fang shone his light down to the very bottom. Sunlight struck his back, and the blue light of the glacier reflected onto his face, flowing slowly, making it somewhat indistinct. Dozens of meters apart, heaven and hell. Sigh. After a silence, Bi Fang exhaled a sigh. It was the second time someone had died before him. Chapter 420: 418: The Lost Souls under Lhotse Wall Chapter 420: Chapter 418: The Lost Souls under Lhotse Wall May 8th. Bi Fang woke up at Camp Two, and even with the shelter of the rock walls, his body was already piled with snow. He removed his mask to shake off the ice crystals that scattered in the wind, sat leaning on the ground, and pulled out two Energy Bars for breakfast. Just then, his phone vibrated. It was Yao Jun calling. Bi Fang took off his gloves to answer and asked as he ate, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°The weather bureau¡¯s forecast is out: from the 10th to the 14th, they say that¡¯s the best window for summiting!¡± ¡°Not bad.¡± At least there were five more days. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That was enough. Bi Fang wasn¡¯t too disappointed by this news, as it wasn¡¯t far off his expectations. Under normal training conditions, this time wouldn¡¯t be sufficient, but Bi Fang didn¡¯t plan to train in the conventional way of going up and down three times. Extraordinary times called for extraordinary measures. He planned to reach Camp Three in one go today and then acclimatize to the environment. After ending the call, Bi Fang silently started the live stream. The audience waiting in front of their computers and phones only saw a flash of a black screen before a blizzard filled their view. [He¡¯s live, he¡¯s live!] [Is he going to Camp Three today?] [Master Fang makes a shining entrance!] [Pepe Shrimp kicking it up a notch with 1000 fishballs for the host¡ªCharge!] [Liang Feifan delivers 10 rockets to the host¡ªReach the top quickly!] [Just started and already seeing whales, I¡¯m so jealous] In response to the barrage of comments and gifts, Bi Fang expressed his thanks once again, but he didn¡¯t dwell on it for long. He soon got back to the matter at hand, stood up, shook off the snow on him, and moved deeper into the valley. The valley was incredibly deep, and while many people might never have climbed a big mountain, the sheer size of Mount Everest was greater than most can imagine. To have a valley that¡¯s kilometers long at just 6,400 meters elevation was a testament to the mighty power of Nature. By now, the oxygen levels were extremely low, and a normal person would almost certainly need an oxygen bottle just to be here, constantly reminding themselves to regulate their breathing. At this altitude, movements become slower, and each kick into the hard icy snow seemed to use all of one¡¯s primordial strength, hardly any different than a sloth¡¯s pace. Even Bi Fang began to feel the discomfort in his breathing upon reaching this point. Fortunately, having navigated through so many dangerous environments before, Bi Fang¡¯s balanced physique allowed him to adapt incredibly well. After walking for a while, the discomfort gradually faded away. ¡°Psychology has a concept called ¡®flow,¡¯ which is when a person becomes fully immersed in an activity, they experience a high level of pleasure and fulfillment, and during this process, they forget the passage of time. If you¡¯re feeling empty, anxious, or even physically unwell, go do something that gets you into that state. It will bring you pleasure, just like when I¡¯m absorbed in mountain climbing.¡± The cold wind howled through the narrow valley, and it took about an hour for Bi Fang to arrive at the base of the Lhotse Wall¡ªan 800-meter ascent that meant relatively steep slopes, averaging over 40 degrees, with the steepest parts around 60 degrees. Beyond the steepness, the Lhotse Wall was a mix of ice and snow, with many areas covered in hard ice. This hard ice is formed when intense sunlight during the day melts the snow, and then at night, the temperatures drop and the water freezes over again. This cycle leads to very hard ice that is difficult to kick into or to anchor an ice axe into, which means more effort and energy are required. At that moment, Bi Fang took out his rope and ice axe, ready to climb upwards. Before coming here, Bi Fang had introduced the Lhotse Wall, but the steepness of the ice wall might seem like just a concept, especially since many viewers didn¡¯t feel much when hearing about it¡ªfifty to sixty degrees was merely a number. But now, as Bi Fang stood below the Lhotse Wall looking up, many people¡¯s mouths hung open in awe. Is this what they call a slope? [This is fifty to sixty degrees? Are you sure it¡¯s not ninety degrees?] [Indeed it is, but the visual impact is too strong.] [Can you even climb this?] [Of course you can climb it, otherwise how would you reach the summit?] ¡°Indeed you can climb it, but the danger is also very high,¡± Bi Fang exhaled a puff of warm air, acknowledging that there was no way to be fully confident, especially when climbing alone. Normally, Mount Everest climbs are a team effort. If the team is professional, the efficiency is higher. For instance, a slope like this one would require the setting up of ropes. Nails would be hammered into the rock or ice wall, then ropes would be hung for protection, using them to ascend bit by bit in a repetitive, laborious process. Alone, the efficiency would drop significantly, and the climb would be much more dangerous. Even the climbing machine had lost his grip and fallen off a cliff, tragically losing his life. Don¡¯t misunderstand; the climbing machine is not an actual machine, but a person, Ueli Steck. ¡°Ueli was one of the greatest climbers of his era, a two-time Piolet d¡¯Or winner, famous for his solo speed climbs. He completed a grand slam of the Three Great North Faces of the Alps¡ªEiger, Grandes Jorasses, Matterhorn¡ªall in under two and a half hours, even down to two hours. These three records made Ueli widely known as the ¡®Swiss Machine¡¯.¡± ¡°In 62 days, Ueli climbed all 82 peaks above 4000 meters in the Alps region, becoming the king of Alpine climbing. Besides, he pioneered a new route on the north face of Tengkampoche Peak, earning a Piolet d¡¯Or, and in ¡¯13 soloed the south face of Annapurna Peak to win another Piolet d¡¯Or. In ¡¯09 he soloed K2 and Makalu, in 2011 he completed Shishapangma in 10 hours and 30 minutes, and in 2012, he summited Mount Everest without oxygen.¡± A series of accomplishments left the audience dizzy, many of whom had never even heard of most of these mountains, but they understood one thing: this was a major figure, a pivotal heavyweight in the mountaineering world. Unfortunately, Bi Fang¡¯s tone changed, revealing regret, ¡°Ueli¡¯s two Piolet d¡¯Or climbs were both accomplished in the Himalayas, and in the end, he met his demise on the Lhotse Wall. The Himalayas made Ueli into the legend he was, and they also became his final resting place.¡± Indeed, Ueli had perished right there on the Lhotse Wall in front of Bi Fang. In ¡¯17, a significant avalanche occurred on the western side of the southern face of Lhotse Peak, but it didn¡¯t threaten the climbing route of the Khumbu Glacier, so many people overlooked it. After all, small avalanches are a common occurrence on Mount Everest. However, just half an hour later, base camp received the devastating news that ¡°Ueli has suffered a fall on Nuzi Peak, and his body is shattered.¡± In the world of mountaineering, there are many ways to prove one¡¯s ability, among which the most remarkable are: solo summits, oxygen-free ascents, pioneering new routes, and speed climbing. Completing any one of these feats on any challenging mountain would make one¡¯s name in the mountaineering community. Bi Fang¡¯s current attempt was a solo, oxygen-free climb. Though this was an achievement even Ueli himself hadn¡¯t attained, the sheer list of his accomplishments was enough to prove the brilliance of this climbing machine. The aura of a lone wolf, an oxygen-free climber, the master of speed climbing, had already convinced the public that the ¡®Swiss Machine¡¯ was ¡®capable of anything,¡¯ but still, he died at the foot of the Lhotse Wall. Thinking about this, a shiver ran through the audience. Chapter 421: 419 Occupy a Pit Chapter 421: Chapter 419 Occupy a Pit Chapter two still isn¡¯t finished, wuwuwu. Edited before one o¡¯clock. By the time everyone returned to Everest Base Camp, noon had arrived, and the original team of three had expanded to eleven. That¡¯s right, eleven people. After Bi Fang rescued Saito, at an altitude of 5,400 meters, the detector reacted again. Digging was like unearthing gourds on a vine, seven from a single stem¡ªapart from one who was dead on the spot, the other six were injured, some severely, some less so, but all were able to walk. Since the altitude was not far from Everest Base Camp and they were out of the Khumbu Glacier area, Bi Fang let the six of them support each other and walk together. As for why four plus six equaled eleven, the reason was Bi Fang had found another old acquaintance, one of the two Sherpa guides who had untied their ropes and fled for their lives. The other, unfortunately, Bi Fang did not find, and his fate remains unknown¡­ After the Sherpa was dug out and heard that not only did everyone in Bi Fang¡¯s party survive, but they were essentially unscathed, he was utterly choked up. Seeing the campsite not far away, he broke down and was unable to cry. If he hadn¡¯t untied his rope back then and had followed Bi Fang, perhaps he wouldn¡¯t have lost a leg and wouldn¡¯t have lost his best friend either. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As the only able-bodied worker in his family, the impact of losing a leg on his entire family can only be imagined. Unfortunately, there are no ifs in life. Bi Fang, seeing this, didn¡¯t know what to say to comfort him. He didn¡¯t blame the man¡ªin fact, as a wilderness adventurer, he understood all too well the influence of instinct on a person. He patted the man on the shoulder, consoling him, ¡°Stay alive, that¡¯s the best outcome. There¡¯s still hope for everything. Your Mountain God let you survive for a reason, look forward.Keep moving.¡± All the members of the team, watching the Sherpa weep, kept silent, shedding tears of their own¡ªthey too had lost companions in the avalanche. [Three lives, this is the first time I¡¯ve seen so many¡­] [Natural disaster¡­] [If only we had that thing from the 007 movies, something that pops open like an airbag during an avalanche¡­] [Keep going, for fuck¡¯s sake!] [To be honest, this avalanche has moved me more than the previous group of human traffickers ever did.] The moment they saw the campsite, a man with his forehead wrapped in bandages fell to his knees in the snow, his body trembling, startling his teammate next to him. ¡°Thank you, thank you. I¡¯m alive, I¡¯ve come back alive, thank you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, this is what we should do. Get up quickly,¡± Bi Fang hesitated for a moment, then hurriedly went to help him up. At this, the rest of the crowd also came to their senses. Remembering the avalanche that night and the despair when they were buried, they started to cry. ¡°If we had waited for rescue, we definitely would have been long gone by now. You are greater than God!¡± ¡°God bless you, God bless you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right now, really, it¡¯s all right.¡± The audience was also moved by this scene. [This is what an adventurer is all about!] [Sir was right, Adventurer Fang is freaking awesome!] [Male god, my male god, hehe] [So handsome I¡¯m drooling] [What¡¯s Nantong?] [With great power comes great responsibility, sent to the host¡¯s spaceship*1¡ªthere goes all my pocket money for the month!] At the same time, the personnel remaining in the camp and the climbers who had not yet set off also saw Bi Fang and the others not far away. ¡°That is¡­¡± A climber squinted, somewhat in disbelief. An avalanche had occurred last night, but due to the unstable conditions, no one dared to take action on their own, let alone go climbing, especially on the Khumbu Glacier. When the morning sun rose, the glacier was very unstable, a vast expanse of white, and aside from the occasional passing piece of broken debris, not a single human figure could be seen. Now there were actually people on the mountain? And not just a few it seemed. Out of kindness, a man cupped his hands around his mouth to form a megaphone and took a deep breath to shout, ¡°Hey, avalanche! Avalanche! Don¡¯t climb! It¡¯s dangerous!¡± Obviously, the climber mistook Bi Fang and the others for rich young tourists trying to get a close-up look at the avalanche, but the next moment, a figure rushed past him, followed by a second, a third¡­ ¡°Here it comes, big news, big news!¡± ¡°Quick, it¡¯s GOD¡¤FANG! GOD¡¤FANG!¡± The climber was befuddled, stretched out his hand to grab someone, and hurriedly asked, ¡°Who is this! Do you know them?¡± ¡°F**K, don¡¯t pull me!¡± the third man to rush out tried to shake off the climber with effort. But the climber was very strong; after one, two, three tugs and still not breaking free, and seeing his companions already charging ahead, he quickly explained, ¡°These are survivors of the avalanche, they¡¯ve rescued themselves!¡± ¡°Survived, self-rescue?¡± The climber was befuddled. He had heard and seen avalanches a few times, but he had never heard of anyone being able to rescue themselves from under an avalanche and returning alone, at least not except for a few rare cases in the news. He had never seen such a thing himself, and so many of them? Wait, all these people had rescued themselves and come back? The climber wanted to ask more, but the man didn¡¯t give him the chance, seeing no way to escape, he simply took off his coat and ran out. ¡°What on earth is going on?¡± The climber was completely dumbfounded. Not just the climbers and the onlookers, but Bi Fang was dumbfounded too. Arriving at the camp entrance, he saw several people charging over and thought they might be family members of the climbers, but when he saw the microphones in their hands, he felt it was unlikely. ¡°Are these reporters? Have they got it wrong?¡± As the little prince of entertainment news, Yao Jun was all too familiar with this scene, but he really couldn¡¯t imagine, ¡°The rescue team hasn¡¯t even arrived, how did they get here?¡± Jerret saw things a bit clearer: ¡°The lives of rescuers are lives, too. The Mountaineering Association has to consider whether the mountain is stable, the cause of the avalanche, whether there could be a secondary disaster, whether real-time rescue is possible, and then formulate a rescue plan. But for paparazzi, do they need to? As long as there¡¯s money to be made, is danger that important?¡± During this brief conversation, groups of reporters had already gathered around. Even though this was Everest Base Camp and there were indeed reporters, they were not numerous because of the harsh conditions. Bi Fang lightly pushed and managed to push them away. All sorts of languages were bombarding them; there was Nepali, English, Hindi, and even Chinese. ¡°Excuse me, make way, please. There are injured people here who need to rest as soon as possible.¡± ¡°GOD¡¤FANG, GOD¡¤FANG, I¡¯m your idol, could you share your thoughts on this self-rescue that netizens have called a textbook case?¡± ¡°Right now, I just want to lie down and rest, please make way.¡± ¡°Master Fang, as a rescuer, what are your feelings?¡± ¡°I feel your mom.¡± ¡°Sorry, could you say that in English?¡± ¡°I thank your mother.¡± ¡°Sorry, my mother has passed away.¡± Bi Fang: ¡°¡­¡± Stunned for a while and not knowing what to say, more cursing came from behind the reporters. ¡°Get out of the way, all of you, we are from the Mountaineering Association! Don¡¯t delay the injured needing rest!¡± Thank God. Bi Fang heaved a sigh of relief. Although he wanted to drive away these sticky burrs immediately, he simply didn¡¯t have the extra strength. Chapter 422: 420: Sprint! Chapter 422: Chapter 420: Sprint! After half a month of continuous climbing and so many incidents, Bi Fang didn¡¯t want to delay any longer. He decided to make a summit bid early this morning. Today is the ninth, and after midnight it will be the best summit window announced by the meteorological bureau. And judging from Bi Fang¡¯s own experience, the weather has been too good these two days. Apart from the strong wind, there has been no snowfall ¨C but it¡¯s abnormal for Mount Everest to have no wind. After completing his acclimatization exercises at noon, Bi Fang announced his decision, ¡°We¡¯ll make a push at dawn, straight to the summit!¡± The audience in front of the screen was thrilled. Why were they watching the live broadcast if not to see Bi Fang successfully summit? According to Bi Fang, Camp 3 on Mount Everest is at an altitude of 7,200 meters, leaving only the last 1,600 meters that seemed within reach. Although they were aware of the immeasurable risks involved, the audience had long been accustomed to Bi Fang¡¯s judgment, with only a few new viewers expressing concern. Nonsense, could they know better than Bi Fang whether the summit could be reached just by watching the video? Besides, what use would it be to dissuade him as a viewer? Just do it! At the base of the mountain, Yao Jun and the others were worried about Bi Fang¡¯s decision but sincerely hoped he would succeed and return safely. Danzeng asked Rob, ¡°Can Mr. Bi succeed?¡± Rob nodded then shook his head, and after pondering for a moment, he nodded again. Yes, can he succeed? Rob didn¡¯t know. Bi Fang¡¯s excellence was something he had never seen in all his years of leading expeditions. Top-notch climbing skills, the endurance of a world-class athlete, a supremely balanced physical constitution, and just the right weather window ¨C with these, Rob felt Bi Fang had all the qualities needed to succeed. If he couldn¡¯t make it despite all this, then the success of the countless ¡°carried¡± wealthy would be nothing short of a myth. But climbing is not all about tangible strength, otherwise how could the ¡®Swiss machine¡¯ have perished on the Lhotse Wall? But this was Bi Fang. Rob recalled the joy in Bi Fang¡¯s eyes when he looked towards Mount Everest, his eyebrows sharp as swords, nothing could stop him; he remembered the agile figure when rock climbing, honed to perfection; and he thought back to how calm and composed Bi Fang had led everyone when they faced the deadly avalanche. This is Bi Fang! It¡¯s just a step away¡­ Bi Fang looked up at the summit, already excited on the inside. But to be extra cautious, in the afternoon Bi Fang pushed on a bit further. The ¡®Yellow Band¡¯ at an altitude of 7,500 meters is a section about 100 meters long consisting of mixed ice and rock. It posed some difficulty for climbing, but it did not create a significant obstacle. Eventually, at two in the afternoon, Bi Fang reached an altitude of 7,600 meters. The time on his watch was two. He set his alarm for eleven twenty, leaving only forty minutes for preparation. An altitude of 7,600 meters was the ¡°starting line¡± Bi Fang had set for himself. In the early hours, he would make his final sprint! ¡­ At ten o¡¯clock at night, the village at the foot of Mount Everest was brightly lit, with almost no one asleep. For the Sherpa people, who rise at sunrise and rest at sunset, this was incredibly unusual, but it was happening. All because of one person. A man from Huaxia, attempting to solo Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen. In a small room in the village, an unknown borrowed projector beamed onto the screen. Yao Jun, Danzeng, Jerret, Edinburgh, Rob, Wang Yongbo, and others all brought their stools and sat in front of the wall. Undoubtedly, the image projected was of Bi Fang, still sleeping. Yes, tonight, before the live broadcast, Bi Fang had turned on the live streaming equipment and left it by his side, having not shut it down as usual, causing many people to remain in the live chat room waiting for the alarm to ring. Although it was Bi Fang who was summiting, the atmosphere inside the room seemed even more tense than on the mountain. Unable to bear the atmosphere, Yao Jun¡¯s thighs were aching. He rubbed his stomach and looked at the others, ¡°Are you guys hungry? I want to go make some instant noodles.¡± Danzeng was the first to raise his hand, ¡°Me too!¡± The atmosphere was too oppressive, and they needed something to break it. Once one person started, all the others raised their hands. Yao Jun went out and quickly returned with seven or eight cups of instant noodles, expertly boiling water and making the noodles. This was already their third round of eating since five in the morning. Not just them, many people were destined to stay up tonight to watch the live broadcast. Not to mention anything else, just by looking at the barrage of comments, you could tell that from six o¡¯clock on, the quiet live broadcast room began to stir, with many people sitting in wait right after getting off work or finishing school. Perhaps because it was Saturday, the number of viewers was exceptionally high, surpassing three million! And this was before the broadcast had even started! The actual number of viewers was more than what most streamers inflated proportionately, it was ludicrous, like opening the door to absurdity¡ªabsurdity paid a visit. Tonight, the upper management of Shark and Tiger Fang had sleepless night, pulling an all-nighter at work. At this moment, the management at Shark and Tiger Fang were completely dumbfounded, only able to utter gibberish. If someone had told them six months ago that in half a year there would be a broadcaster with three million viewers before even starting the broadcast, they would have taken that person¡¯s head and gouged their eyeballs out! ¡°The foundation of our rise, oh, the foundation of our rise! Gone, all gone!¡± ¡°It hurts, it hurts so much!¡± ¡°Wuwuwu, I¡¯m so sad, like playing Chopin in the rain.¡± For a time, the office building was filled with cries of sorrow, the employees were shivering, feeling a heavy chill within the building, and a few days later, a new urban legend began to circulate¡­ Drip! The waiting audience shivered reflexively, then realized it was only eleven o¡¯clock, not yet the moment for the alarm to ring. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [It¡¯s eleven o¡¯clock.] [Been waiting since I got off work, computer streaming live, playing with my phone while I wait] [I wasn¡¯t even this enthusiastic for the meteor shower] [It¡¯s so thrilling, feels like I¡¯m the one about to sprint] [Nanana is me giving the broadcaster spaceship*10¡ªsitting and waiting] [A chubby person about to develop abs sends broadcaster big bone*666¡ªadd another] [Holy crap, Master Fang is still asleep, who are you tipping, ghosts?] [Used to it, just a bunch of fanatics] [To get tips while sleeping, I¡¯m envious] Under the watchful eyes of thousands, time passed second by second, and finally, the time reached 11:20. At this moment, countless netizens who were either drowsy or just beginning their nightlife suddenly perked up. Here it comes! Even those viewers who wanted to go to the bathroom held it in forcibly. ¡°Beep beep, beep beep.¡± A finger pressed the side button on the wristwatch, turning off the alarm. Almost at the same moment the alarm sounded, Bi Fang woke up. His sleep was light; at this altitude, even he couldn¡¯t sleep too comfortably. But what you lack in quality you make up for in quantity. More than nine hours of vanished sleep still allowed Bi Fang to recover from all the fatigue of the day. The first sensation Bi Fang felt as he got up was cold, bone-piercing cold. But not only did Bi Fang not wrap himself up in his coat, he took it off in front of everyone! He was going to, Go light! Chapter 423: 421 Chapter 423: 421 ¡°` I¡¯ll claim a spot, will be done by 00:45 After making a huge effort to reach Camp One, Bi Fang exhaled a cloud of cold mist and squinted at the sun before rolling up his sleeves to check the time, exhaling with a huff. ¡°Eleven thirty-seven, not bad, we didn¡¯t miss lunchtime,¡± he said. Leaving at two in the morning and finally arriving at Camp One took nearly ten hours. The whole ascent of the Khumbu Glacier seemed to be just a few hundred meters of elevation gain, but the actual distance traveled was over fourteen kilometers, truly a ¡°long march.¡± The numerous large and small crevasses along the way were countless, and just navigating aluminium ladders, Bi Fang had crossed seventeen, finally reaching Camp One. Standing on this vast plateau, the view was excellent. Bi Fang took deep breaths into his lungs. The air here was fresh but breathing certainly wasn¡¯t a pleasant experience due to the very low amount of oxygen available. At the entrance to the camp, Bi Fang could well say he had a view of mountains ¡°above,¡± though his own altitude was just six thousand meters, the peaks around him nearly all exceeded eight thousand meters. Holding an undeployable drone, Bi Fang gripped his climbing pole and pointed towards the distance with a shake. ¡°The weather¡¯s good today, not much mountain fog. We can have a clear view ¨C from left to right, they are four peaks over eight thousand meters: Cho Oyu, Mount Everest, Lhotse Peak, and Makalu. The tip peeking out through the clouds, that¡¯s Mount Everest, and the large grey stretch below is the massive Rongbuk Glacier, with the white area at the bottom being the frozen Gokyo Lake Three.¡± The majesty of the mountains left viewers at a loss for words; after struggling to find the right expressions, they could only flood the live streaming chat with a barrage of ¡°holy sh*t¡± to convey their awe. ¡°There are only fourteen mountains on Earth over eight thousand meters above sea level, and ten of them are in the Himalayas. The other four are in the Karakoram.¡± [The Himalayas still hold prestige] [Ten of them, but aren¡¯t there also many peaks nearby? Don¡¯t those count?] Many viewers noticed Cho Oyu, the shortest among the four peaks pointed out by Bi Fang, but above it, there were pointed peaks that were even taller, already numbering more than four in sum. Bi Fang shook his head: ¡°Those are subsidiary or fore-summits, which generally don¡¯t count. In geography, the highest point in a mountain range is the main peak; an isolated peak is an independent mountain; and those near an independent peak that form a ¡®guarding pattern¡¯ are subsidiary and fore-summits. The ones taller than Cho Oyu are just subsidiary peaks of other mountains. Even though they also surpass eight thousand meters, they are not counted among them.¡± ¡°Of course, what I just said wasn¡¯t accurate either. A more accurate description should be there¡¯s a group of mountains over eight thousand meters above sea level. In fact, there are more than fourteen mountains on Earth over eight thousand meters, as most main peaks are surrounded by several subsidiary peaks over that elevation.¡± As the name suggests, a mountain group is a ¡°collection¡± of an independent mountain and all its subsidiary peaks¡­ The concept of the main peak is easy to understand; for example, Mount Everest is the main peak of the Himalayas. But what exactly is considered ¡®isolated?¡¯ In vast mountain ranges like the Himalayas, where are the ¡®isolated¡¯ peaks? How close is considered ¡®relatively near¡¯?¡­ These concepts are qualitative rather than quantitative, and the demarcations are not clear, making the identity criteria for 8000-meter-class mountains vague as well.¡± [So where did this standard come from?] The audience was curious, wondering where did this unified statement of fourteen peaks come from? S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°That¡¯s because over the 100+ years since mountaineering became popular, these high mountains were only systematically measured by the British Military Survey Team, so their statement about the ¡®fourteen¡¯ has taken hold. Later, it also received unanimous approval from the mountaineering community. Mountaineers have also summed up through practical experience that these ¡®fourteen¡¯ are actually the highest peaks within fourteen separate 8000-meter peak groups, that is, independent mountains. Even if there are peaks around an independent mountain that reach over eight thousand meters, they are considered subsidiary peaks.¡± [So now, is Old Fang also a mountaineer? (Dog¡¯s head)] ¡°` Bi Fang laughed and neither admitted nor denied, ¡°Wait until I summit Mount Everest solo without oxygen, then you can call me that.¡± Although he had no specific mountaineering achievements of his own, just the act of summiting Mount Everest without oxygen would secure Bi Fang a place at the mountaineering festival. Not to mention doing it solo, with the double buff, there were fewer than ten people in the entire history of Everest ascents who had achieved this. If that couldn¡¯t qualify someone as a mountaineer, then most of those who called themselves such would have to die of shame. Awesome! The audience didn¡¯t understand all the ins and outs, but at that moment, this was the only thought in their minds. ¡°A solo climb is an invincible path, why bother with an oxygen cylinder.¡± ¡°I was the first to disagree when Teacher Ma retired from the literary scene.¡± ¡°There¡¯s now one more verified identity; does anyone with the prowess keep track of how many identities Old Fang has?¡± ¡°Mathematician, chemist, physicist, biologist, mountaineer, adventurer¡­ others to be added.¡± ¡°Architect, aviator, astronomer (Dog¡¯s head)¡± ¡°I¡¯m just a little knowledgeable, not enough to be called ¡®master.¡¯ Don¡¯t put me on a pedestal,¡± Bi Fang waved his hand, amusing the audience into bursts of laughter. Without staying too long at the entrance to base camp, Bi Fang planned to rest and recuperate at Camp One before continuing the climb. ¡°I will rest here for a bit, replenish my energy, restore my strength, and then continue the climb. Once past the Khumbu Glacier, the subsequent stretch becomes much less dangerous. We only need to ascend another four hundred meters to reach Camp Two directly. The distance is roughly five kilometers, but it¡¯s much less hazardous than the Khumbu Glacier, which is why we won¡¯t need to specifically aim for a midnight start.¡± Entering the current Camp One, viewers could clearly see one corner in the southeast completely submerged in snow, with several colorful tents weighed down at the very edge, also affected by an avalanche. There were still people lingering there, paying their respects to their deceased comrades and packing up to leave. This was undoubtedly a somber atmosphere; coming here didn¡¯t fulfill dreams but instead cost lives. Bi Fang went to the permanent tent that the guide company had prepared, identified by the markings on it. As a standard guide company, there was more than one guide like Rob; there were many. These people needed a place to stay at base camp, so the company naturally prepared campsites and supplies for them each season, and because of the strong winds on Mount Everest, they almost had to be repaired every year. Upon lifting the tent flap, a wave of warmth hit him, the temperature inside the tent was much higher than outside. ¡°The weather today is really nice. The tent is warm from the sun, but the wind is a bit strong. Now, we need to replenish our fluids as much as possible, then eat something. I¡¯ll take a nap soon, roughly an hour and a half, to recover my energy with a complete sleep cycle.¡± At this time, the tent was empty, but some supplies were left behind. Bi Fang opened up the fuel and then used a lighter to ignite the stove, preparing to cook something to eat. Unexpectedly, a shouting voice came from outside the tent at that moment. ¡°Is Mr. Bi inside?¡± Chapter 424: 422: Ox-Head and Horse-Face Chapter 424: Chapter 422: Ox-Head and Horse-Face ¡°` Eight thousand meters is a line between life and death. Pulmonary edema, cerebral edema, hypothermia, slips and falls¡ªthese are the four killers above an altitude of eight thousand meters. In this thin air zone, sometimes a cough could take a person¡¯s life, even taking a breath could cause excruciating pain as if tearing the liver and splitting the belly. In bad weather, low temperature, violent winds, and blizzards can claim the lives of even the strongest climbers. But for Bi Fang, the more unbelievable the environment, the more demanding the requirements, the more invigorated his blood flowed when he later enjoyed the relaxation after the pressure passed. Perhaps this is the rationale behind all adventure sports: to clear your mind of mundane concerns, you consciously increase the stakes of working hard and focusing. This is a replica of life. But there¡¯s one difference: in your daily life, mistakes can be corrected, compromises can make up for faults, but at this specific time, your actions are a matter of life and death. The spectators silently fixed their gaze on the world¡¯s highest peak along with Bi Fang¡¯s view, the true ¡°Mount Everest,¡± standing right there, seemingly within reach, yet unattainable. This line between life and death, even the current Bi Fang could not easily cross, he stood there, stunned. To the viewers, it seemed as if there really was an unbreachable line of guard around the colossal peak. Rob, Puba, and many other climbers, at this moment, all had pupils trembling with fear. Would they take that step? Would they take that step? The effective oxygen content in the air at Camp C4 is only about 7.7%, which makes it very difficult for a normal person to concentrate or even lowers one¡¯s IQ. Even if Bi Fang stopped here, Puba could completely understand. At an altitude of 8000 meters, everyone undergoes a change. This change is reflected in the boundless amplification of emotions and the excessive fear of the uncertain factors of high altitude. Sadness, hysteria, irritability¡ªall rush to the head at once, but venting emotions to resolve inner fears is actually of no help at all, it only consumes more oxygen and energy. In the village, Danzeng¡¯s heart clenched, Edinburgh¡¯s eyebrows twitched slightly, Wang Yongbo¡¯s beer belly trembled, Yao Jun¡¯s feet jittered back and forth. From base camp to Camp 4, You might encounter bad weather, That prevents you from moving forward, And you may even wait for many days. Impatient, reckless emotions, Test your patience, Or you might experience blurred vision, frostbite, and other symptoms. Mount Everest is like a big testing ground, Where every detail of your body is subjected to extreme scrutiny, A small problem can be magnified here, It shows you where the limits of your body are, Past Camp 4, you enter the zone above 8000 meters, The continuous presence of victims on the road declares this as, The Death Zone! At this moment, Bi Fang was unable to speak, nor could he talk, he just silently took out his phone, looked at the meager battery left, opened the map, and clicked on his location. Perhaps due to the signal, the buffering circle kept spinning. At this time, Bi Fang seemed to feel unwell, began to gasp for air incessantly, like a person who¡¯s about to drown but can¡¯t catch a breath! At such a bizarre scene, the audience instantly panicked. If something were to happen, what would they do? There was nobody else on the mountain; Bi Fang could only wait for death! The executives from Shark and Tiger Fang both widened their eyes, staring intently at the screen, and silently sent their regards to the deities of various sects in their hearts. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Hurry up and retreat, Old Fang, hurry up!] [Life is the priority, life is the priority!] [The mountain will always be there, come back next time, come back next time!] [It¡¯s no use, he can¡¯t see the bullet chat!] ¡°` Just when everyone was getting anxious, the spinning circle on the cellphone finally stopped, signaling that the information had loaded. A burst of laughter cut through the tense atmosphere as everyone¡¯s minds crashed on the spot. Bi Fang pointed to the cellphone¡¯s GPS and laughed heartily, ¡°Look, I¡¯m back in my country!¡± The cellphone was held high, and at that moment, the audience could see clearly that the cellphone¡¯s GPS was showing: Huaxia! Not Nepal, but Huaxia. This place was none other than their homeland! And the time on the phone was changing, advancing by two hours and fifteen minutes! It became exactly the same as the time countless Huaxia viewers saw on their phones! After taking a few breaths, Bi Fang continued, ¡°Once you reach Camp C4, your phone¡¯s GPS will switch to Huaxia! The time will also automatically set to the Huaxia time zone. Remember not to miss anything because of a mistake in time, I don¡¯t know if this counts as smuggling, but luckily there are no sentries here, so I don¡¯t have to worry about getting my brain blasted.¡± After saying that, Bi Fang fell silent, clearly, the recent heaving of his chest was just to pace himself for this speech. It was Old Fang¡¯s style. Yes, it matched the character. [Now, you deserve a burst of gunfire in your head, no, a whole magazine!] [Wori, you were gasping just to say that?] [You¡¯re scaring us to insanity!] The audience was beside themselves with frustration but also couldn¡¯t help laughing; it turned out the heavy breathing was to build up the strength to speak! Ever since the altitude exceeded 7,600 meters, Bi Fang had stopped speaking, and the audience had gotten used to it. They didn¡¯t expect him to suddenly drop such a line, which left them dumbfounded. The Death Zone? To arrive was to enter the Death Zone! Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Bi Fang pocketed his phone and stepped forward, marching towards the summit! That was fucking crazy! Watching Bi Fang move forward without a second thought, the audience was completely thrilled; this was Master Fang, this was truly Master Fang! Especially the viewers from the Huaxia region, their eyes were bright with fervor; could he really make history? The first Huaxia person to summit without oxygen, the first Huaxia person to do an oxygen-less solo ascent! All expectations seemed to be validated with this single step he took. However, the next moment, the exhilarated audience felt as though a bucket of cold water had been dumped over their heads. Corpses. They were everywhere. The summit was in sight, but death was even closer; above eight thousand meters, not only the beautiful peaks greeted them, but also the bodies of those who had perished, stark and conspicuous. From the first-person perspective, the audience suddenly felt fear and even weakness, to the point where their legs softened, so much so that they could not stand, even though it was not them on the mountain. In this final stretch, giving up might require even more courage than going forward. Yet Bi Fang¡¯s mentality wasn¡¯t affected at all. Beyond eight thousand meters, he saw more than a hundred corpses¡ªfar more than a hundred, in fact! If you considered it in terms of vertical height, there was a body every five meters or less along this eight-hundred-meter stretch. Such a high frequency of dead bodies, how could one not feel terror? It was as if their destination wasn¡¯t the highest peak, or a place of glory and courage, but rather, they were stepping on the Road to the Underworld, heading towards the gates of the afterlife. Would they encounter ox-headed and horse-faced guards further ahead? This ridiculous thought flashed through the minds of the audience members, but as more and more bodies appeared, they all fell silent once again. The Death Zone, true to its name. Chapter 425: 423: Aspiring to the Highest Peaks, Redoubling Efforts Chapter 425: Chapter 423: Aspiring to the Highest Peaks, Redoubling Efforts Above the mountain peaks, the morning sun rose, and a pitch-black figure moved across the snow slope, agilely crossing one yellow patch of bright ice after another. The clouds below the mountain moved rapidly, making the entire mountain seem rooted in the clouds, as if a fairyland. Bi Fang immersed himself wholeheartedly in the climb, each breath infusing strength into his limbs, focused and undistracted, his natural instincts seemingly unleashed without the heavy coat and knee-high boots. He did not use a safety rope nor did he employ climbing poles, but relied solely on the two short ice axes in his hands, continuing to ascend. At this moment, Bi Fang was like a fierce combination of a rhinoceros and a nimble cheetah! Even novices with no experience could see how dangerous Bi Fang was, like a dancer on a tightrope, where a single misstep meant total loss. Those in the know were even more terrified, evident from Rob¡¯s instinctively clenched fists in the village. Climbing without a safety rope and without poles, advancing on the snow slope merely with ice axes wasn¡¯t impossible, but there was a most fatal issue¡ªit was impossible to stop! How to securely climb a slope? One way was to be careful and steady, tying on a safety rope, supporting oneself with climb poles and moving step by step. The second was Bi Fang¡¯s way, using speed and momentum to surge straight up in one go. Faster, stronger, steadier, but also, More dangerous. This method required not only maintaining a certain speed but also ensuring that every step was faultless. The faster you climb, the lower the margin for error, which is why speed climbing has the highest death toll among the four greatest climbing challenges! The margin for error was too low! The faster the climb, the less time for thought, and the placement of each step became more critical. The slightest carelessness could result in a fall off the cliff. Not to mention, at this altitude, human brain function slows and many people might only realize what they had just done one or two minutes later. If considering only the climb above eight thousand meters, Puba even felt it could count as a hypoxic solo speed climb, all three combined! Don¡¯t misunderstand, this isn¡¯t any compliment; if truly achieved, these three elements naturally bestow honor. But before success, these are the three top-tier debuffs! Such debuffs on a regular person could strangle them to death. However, in the eyes of the viewers, it was all about stability. From a first-person perspective, they couldn¡¯t see Bi Fang¡¯s expressions, but the paths under his feet, the clouds below the mountain, and the snow at the peak, everything transformed at an extremely constant speed. In the top right corner of the livestream, numbers continued to steadily jump. Starting from 8000.00, it had climbed to the current altitude of 8196.47 meters. [Such steady speed also proved that Bi Fang¡¯s physiology was still normal, healthy, energetic, and his brain had not become slow due to lack of oxygen.] A comment on the screen was pinned and colored. It was Puba explaining to the viewers. At this time, Puba was a special guest in Bi Fang¡¯s livestream, present specifically for commentary. Each of his comments would be bolded and pinned for a minute before disappearing. This was also done to help viewers understand better and enhance interactivity. Needless to say, it was Wang Yongbo¡¯s idea. The implementation was simple using a back-end plugin. After convincing Puba, the Wolf Fang¡¯s staff had it ready by the afternoon. Though his physical condition was average, when it came to running a live broadcast business, whether it was foresight or decision-making, Wang Yongbo really had something special. Since Bi Fang couldn¡¯t speak to maintain his breathing rhythm, let someone else provide explanations. Or else, just watching the animation, a dry nature would be boring, and it also constituted another form of ¡°strong alliance¡±. As a hero who could have set the record for most summits but gave it up for his people, and as a senior who admired a brave junior, wasn¡¯t this also a way of passing the torch? When the number in the upper right corner finally jumped to 8200.00. ¡°Here lies the famous ¡®Yellow Band¡¯ of Mount Everest. As the name suggests, this is where yellow-colored rocks are exposed beyond the ice and snow. At night, under the close-up illumination of headlamps, bright crystals reflect off the yellow rocks.¡± Exposure of the rocks typically indicates a steep slope. During such times, ensuring a firm footing with each step is crucial in the icy, rocky mixed terrain. That¡¯s when the strength of one¡¯s legs becomes especially important. Don¡¯t hesitate, don¡¯t linger, just press on upwards with all your might. The entire ¡®Yellow Band¡¯ ranges from 8200 meters to about 8600 meters, but there are only a few places where it gets relatively steeper.¡± Puba was as diligent and responsible as ever, as if he were still guiding as he used to. The only difference was that he was not the one summiting. In the broadcast, Bi Fang moved quickly yet steadily, but his pace had decreased slightly, from a slow jog to a brisk walk. However, each step he took propelled him upwards with mechanical stability, his ice axe firmly anchoring into the ice. His movements, filled with coordination, revealed the beauty of humans engaging in extreme sports. Every exertion was masterful, no, it was just like Master Fang, fluid as water, resolutely moving forward. One had to think and make decisions in tenths of a second, take action without hesitation, and step with conviction. Bi Fang¡¯s response time and physical condition were at the pinnacle among climbers. More importantly, it was his courage. In that moment, one must not show fear, even if facing thousands of troops and a sky full of arrows; only by applying force with precision and ferocity could one grasp a chance at survival. And Bi Fang had done just that! Fearsome is the prowess of youth. At that moment, all Puba could feel was this sentiment. With Bi Fang¡¯s live performance and the professional commentary, the viewers could only look up in admiration. ¡°Incredible, Master Fang is a human miracle!¡± ¡°Top-notch talent, is this broadcaster a national team climber?¡± ¡°Holy shit, there are still people who don¡¯t know about Master Fang?¡± ¡°No, this is just his ¡®hobby¡¯.¡± ¡°If the national team had someone like this, they would¡¯ve been boasting long ago. As for the existing records, no Huaxia person has succeeded in a no-oxygen summit, Old Fang here is already doing a solo and no-oxygen climb, with a bit of speed climbing thrown in!¡± The national team, the national mountaineering team, an official organization, gathered countless climbing experts, but at this moment, all seemed to pale in comparison to what Bi Fang was doing. ¡°For an ordinary person to complete even one of these would be astoundingly amazing, but Old Fang has touched upon three of the four great climbing achievements. Do you understand the value of this?¡± (Tactically reclining) ¡°Haven¡¯t we had people summit without oxygen already?¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t the summit already achieved before?¡± ¡°What are you thinking? Globally, the first recorded summit was in ¡¯53, but the first no-oxygen summit wasn¡¯t until ¡¯78¡ªthat¡¯s a 25-year gap. Climbing in our country has always developed slowly, so even now there¡¯s no one who has succeeded in a no-oxygen summit.¡± Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The live broadcast attracted not only onlookers but also many amateur and professional climbers. With so many records, it¡¯s impossible to remember them all, but Mount Everest is the world¡¯s highest peak! The significance is entirely different. Many people who understand the sport cherish each first-time achievement, and they immediately point out that Bi Fang might become the first Huaxia person to summit without oxygen. It wasn¡¯t just a no-oxygen climb; he was unlocking multiple achievements like solo and solo no-oxygen in one go! Many mountaineering enthusiasts were puzzled by the barrage of comments. With such impressive achievements, why had the broadcaster never mentioned them? ¡°Strange, has the broadcaster never mentioned this? Could it be he isn¡¯t Huaxia or he changed his nationality?¡± ¡°No, Master Fang is definitely Huaxia, but indeed, Old Fang never mentioned¡­¡± Shortly after, someone posted a comment. ¡°Maybe because he¡¯s a broadcaster, so if he said anything, people would think he¡¯s just showing off for attention. So, Master Fang just wanted to prove himself¡­ That¡¯s my guess¡­ Don¡¯t flame me.¡± The audience fell silent. Once again, the audience looked up in admiration. Chapter 426: 424 The Gecko Crawls on the Wall Chapter 426: Chapter 424 The Gecko Crawls on the Wall Bi Fang climbed steadily upward, terrifyingly stable as if he were not a human, but truly a mountain-climbing machine. Apart from the sound of the wind, the live stream room was filled only with his deep and rapid breathing. The audience trembled, their mouths agape, their lungs involuntarily expanding with each breath, again and again. Gazing at the nearly vertical Mount Everest on screen, Rob was covered in cold sweat; all his strength and courage drained away with it. He couldn¡¯t stand, couldn¡¯t move; the only thing active was his brain. If possible, he truly wished he could fly to Mount Everest right now, pry open Bi Fang¡¯s skull, and see if the emotion ¡°fear¡± even existed within, or if he remained within the biological category of ¡°humans.¡± Fear? Bi Fang didn¡¯t know, maybe he did, maybe he didn¡¯t. At that moment, he had completely entered ¡°the zone,¡± with his mind focused solely on climbing, free of any other thoughts, even though at such a height, with oxygen so scarce, it was impossible to keep his brain highly active. So he shut down all other functions that hindered thought, discarded emotions, distractions, and troubles, leaving only consideration for the next point of contact. The future and the past were cast aside, leaving only the present. Now, there was a glimmer of hope for survival. The only problem was, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t a true machine. At an altitude of 8398.37 meters, Bi Fang stopped on a jutting ice ledge that could hold two people standing. With a foothold, he could finally slow his momentum and rest for a while. He breathed deeply, settling his oxygen-deprived state after the intense exertion. The thin, chilly air poured into his lungs through his mouth, cold as shards of broken knives, slicing through his windpipe and alveoli inch by inch. The earlier sprint had left Bi Fang somewhat dizzy, which could affect his judgment. For this reason, he had to stop and rest. Without a supply of oxygen, he had to conserve energy. After a few deep breaths, the discomfort finally subsided. He had started the ascent at 8,000 meters around 5:30, and now the time had reached 7:00. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He had also stopped for a while at 8,200 meters, resting for a quarter of an hour. So far, everything was going smoothly, with the expectation of reaching the summit by noon, leaving plenty of time to retreat. With this in mind, Bi Fang took a water pouch from his pocket and sipped it slowly, the warm water quickly soothing his throat. Then he took out an Energy Bar from his pocket and devoured five big ones in succession. At this moment, the King Fish¡¯s Stomach finally proved its worth. The food followed the path down his throat to his stomach, rapidly colliding with the gastric acid. The stomach churned, breaking down the food, continuously digesting it, and swiftly replenishing energy for Bi Fang¡¯s body, alleviating fatigue. Puba in the live stream room also figured out Bi Fang¡¯s plan, and it had to be said, it was hard to imagine a climber so young having such a precise and cautious plan. Bear in mind, just a few dozen meters ahead was ¡°the Balcony¡±! A bare plateau at an altitude of 8,400 meters, a landmark surface which many climbers call ¡°the Balcony.¡± The large protruding rock allowed climbers to briefly stop and rest, but Bi Fang decisively stopped after climbing another 200 meters, not lured by the so-called achievement of reaching a ¡°landmark.¡± This was like when playing a game, and the boss was about to die, but its attacks were coming as well. Just one more strike would finish the boss, but Bi Fang chose not to make that strike, promptly retreating to find another opening for attack. [Stopping every 200 meters for a rest, fifteen minutes each time, to avoid muscle relaxation while fully resting ¨C a very precise plan. What¡¯s more admirable is that less than a hundred meters ahead is ¡°the Balcony,¡± but he still controlled the desire to reach the goal and forced himself to stop and rest, which is remarkable.] [A thousand words converge into two, awesome.] [Isn¡¯t it WTF?] [WTF awesome.] [Only four hundred meters left, an excited heart, trembling hands.] [Adventurer, Joe William, 48 years old¡­] [To the person ahead, something¡¯s off with you.] ¡°Animals that roam the mountains all year round must have good meat quality.¡± Shortly, a quarter of an hour passed, and Bi Fang didn¡¯t indulge in the feeling of relaxation. After getting up and moving around, he continued forward. The sun had already risen, and the temperature had risen slightly, but Bi Fang estimated that the current temperature was still below minus thirty degrees Celsius, perhaps it could rise to around minus twenty-five degrees by one o¡¯clock in the afternoon. The advantage of the equipment finally manifested at this moment, even though Bi Fang appeared to be wearing ¡°thin¡± clothes, he only felt a slight chill, which disappeared after a brief movement. The shoes on his feet were the same; they wouldn¡¯t let water seep in or cause toes to stiffen from the cold. Looking around, he could no longer see the long, magnificent mountain ranges, only a few peaks showing their tips. The surrounding area was all flowing pale golden clouds, which would turn white once the sun rose higher. At this moment, Bi Fang¡¯s heart was as vast and silent as if he was living in a dreamland. No people, no cities, no trivial matters of life, only the sky and clouds, and the high mountains that stretch between heaven and earth. Fortunately, solitude wasn¡¯t a bad thing; at least Bi Fang didn¡¯t have to worry about being ¡°stuck in traffic¡± due to a crowd. The climb continued, and Puba kept explaining various matters to increase the audience¡¯s engagement. ¡°Before we make a final push, we often empty our bowels in advance, especially for women, it¡¯s a good idea to use the toilet once more before departure, because untying the safety harness and down pants is really inconvenient.¡± ¡°At this altitude, another important thing is to avoid falling asleep during the ascent. I once experienced such exhaustion that I nearly walked in my sleep, which is extremely dangerous. At very high altitudes, drowsiness occurs, and usually, the sleep in the previous two or three days is also insufficient. People often fall asleep while climbing and tumble down cliffs; if there¡¯s no safety rope, death is almost certain.¡± Viewer: ¡°¡­¡± That¡¯s a bit outrageous. ¡°My personal experience is to keep a few throat lozenges or pickled plums in your mouth, or listen to music; continuous thinking is required, having a dialogue with your own soul.¡± Bi Fang did not understand Puba¡¯s commentary, as he was fully occupied with combating the rock face in front of him. Bi Fang found a nearly vertical rock face on the path he had chosen. It wasn¡¯t tall, only about ten meters or so, but it genuinely lay across his route. Seeing this, Bi Fang wanted to detour, but though the rock face was not high, it was incredibly wide. The distance to bypass it was somewhat long, over a hundred meters, and there were at least several seventy-degree steep slopes along the way. He measured in his mind and realized that climbing over would consume less energy. With no choice, Bi Fang braced himself for the challenge. He packed away his ice axe, tightened his gloves, and prepared to rock climb with bare hands. Such terrain was not uncommon, but it was usually climbed by a team working together with safety ropes for guaranteed protection, which is completely different from solo climbing. ¡°Generally speaking, rock walls that are too steep won¡¯t be covered with ice and snow, because gravity and friction make it impossible for ice and snow to hold firmly, plus high winds mean that even above the snowline, there are many exposed rocks.¡± ¡°Though the ice axe is tough and sharp, it can only be used on ice faces. Rock faces are too hard, which increases the risk of damaging the ice axe. Generally, ice axes come in T and B types, with B being sharper and T tougher. But even with the T type, the strength of the pick is great, it can¡¯t be used solely on rock faces, so you have to climb rocks when encountering the terrain like this.¡± High-altitude mountaineering seeks to be lightweight; spare equipment is not carried in excess, just like this time, Bi Fang only brought three ice axes. If one were damaged, the journey ahead would become very difficult. Inside the live streaming room, Puba explained conscientiously. Bi Fang¡¯s palm grabbed a protruding rock, and his body hugged the wall, inching along like a gecko, rapidly ascending by stepping on the stones beneath his feet. The double-layered gloves maximized the prevention of slipping, and the ice claws on the soles of his feet were firmly wedged into the rock fissures; with at least three points of contact, he moved up steadily. But accidents always seemed to catch people off guard. When he reached a third of the way up the rock face, Bi Fang secured his body, freed his right hand, but found that within the entire circumference of his arm, there wasn¡¯t a single protruding rock. Chapter 427: 425: The Last 350 Meters Chapter 427: Chapter 425: The Last 350 Meters Master Fang suddenly stopped moving? The constantly moving image abruptly came to a standstill until the audience saw a hand that could reach nothing, and then they finally realized what was happening. He¡¯s run out of holds! Bi Fang looked up and down, and the rock wall nearly two meters above him was exceptionally smooth. It would be impossible to grip, even without gloves, let alone with them on, and there was not the slightest protrusion. Looking at it side-on in the sunlight, one could even see reflections. In the village, the commentator Puba looked pale and said with an ugly expression, ¡°This is bad; now he¡¯s in trouble.¡± Wang Yongbo and Yao Jun, who were beside him, immediately became anxious after hearing this:, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Generally speaking, climbers who undertake solo rock climbing have to choose their path in advance. Sometimes they might even suspend themselves from the cliff, rehearsing the climb in their mind to ensure each step has a secure foothold and that the rocky protrusions are stable.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why climbers need guides to determine the route, including the climbing path. But Bi Fang is soloing Mount Everest and had never been here before. On Mount Everest, he¡¯s a complete novice! Without a guide, he can only find his way on his own. In other words, he¡¯s trying to forge a new route on this rock face, but now he¡¯s hit a dead end!¡± This is why opening new routes is one of the four great achievements¡ªit¡¯s because climbers encounter many situations like this during the process. There might be cracks on the way, or halfway through the climb, the rock wall is too smooth, forcing a retreat to start over. ¡°There is a Huaxia saying: ¡®It¡¯s hard for a clever woman to cook without rice.¡¯ A rock face without holds can¡¯t be climbed; no matter how high one¡¯s skill is, it¡¯s useless without proper handholds because that¡¯s simply unscientific! Look around, within a radius of over one and a half meters there are no rocks. Further out there is a protrusion with a better climbing path on it, but presently, it¡¯s out of reach!¡± As an experienced guide, Puba was fluent in Chinese, English, and Hindi, and could use many idioms with ease. He was typing as he spoke, not only explaining to those around him but also showing the audience. How is he going to climb this? The audience was stumped¡ªit seemed the only options were to go down and choose a new path or to bypass the obstacle entirely. In any case, clinging tightly to the rock wall without any safety measures is an exceedingly exhausting task. The more he hesitated, the more dangerous it became. Not just the onlookers, but Bi Fang himself felt extremely troubled. Many who solo peaks don¡¯t go solo on their first trip; they climb it once with assistance before attempting it alone. Bi Fang¡¯s approach was a rare case. On his first visit, with no one to lead, he could only follow what paths he could see. The climbing ability contained in the orange skill package might be powerful, but after all, it was just a skill, not suction cups spontaneously sprouting out of nowhere, allowing one to walk sideways on any smooth wall. [This is the toughest climb I have ever seen] [Is Old Fang aiming to accomplish the four great achievements to ascend to godhood?] [This route is like the giants¡¯ path in the Alps] [Start over, Old Fang, don¡¯t hesitate] In the live stream, the audience watched Bi Fang with a mix of admiration and pity¡ªit seemed he had no choice but to start over. But the current altitude was already 8,501 meters; at the ¡°Yellow Band¡± of Mount Everest, the energy expenditure was colossal. Going down to start over or taking a detour was a severe test of Bi Fang¡¯s physical endurance. With no time to waste, Bi Fang¡¯s gaze explored his surroundings. He also noticed the rock that Puba mentioned, at eye level with him but far too distant. The closest his left hand could get was still over a meter and a half away. Just as Puba had said, it was out of reach. Start over? Bi Fang shook his head. The toll at 8,500 meters was greater than he had anticipated. Rather than gambling on an unknown future, he preferred to break the norm and choose the present. Seconds later, the viewers saw Bi Fang lower his gaze, reach under his neck, and lift half of his face mask. Then he grabbed the ice axe hanging on the side of his thigh, biting it in his mouth. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Next, he pulled out a rope from his bag, tied it with one hand to the end of the ice axe, then gripped the handle and fiercely smashed it into the rock wall. The rock wall was hard and smooth but not without flaws. At least just above the spot where Bi Fang¡¯s left hand was holding, there was a tiny crack too small even for a fingertip. At that moment, Bi Fang was slamming the ice axe into it. The first strike, the ice axe missed the mark. The second, it hit, but not deep enough, and by then the ice axe¡¯s head had already started to deform slightly. Bi Fang took a deep breath, and finally, on the third strike, he hammered the tip of the axe hard into the crack, which had been frozen for quite some time, causing it to expand instantaneously. But that wasn¡¯t enough. Bi Fang shook the axe vigorously, pulled it out, then with the last strike, smashed it into the wall, burying a whole third of the front section of the ice axe into the rock face. After swinging it up and down, it was extremely secure. What was he doing? The audience asked Puba, but even Puba couldn¡¯t answer, uncertain of the profound purpose of this move. However, it wasn¡¯t long before everyone was stunned. Their gaze suddenly shot skyward, then calmly shifted back in front, where a strong hand was holding onto the ice axe. The next moment, the view became unsteady, moving downwards¡ªBi Fang¡¯s feet had left his foothold! He was swinging! His whole body swung back and forth like a pendulum, using the ice axe as the pivot point! He used the swinging motion to increase distance, to break free from the predicament! In an instant, the audience who had come to understand the situation felt a surge of cold sweat in their palms, as if it were their own hand holding onto the ice axe! Madman! That¡¯s terrifying! Did he have not a trace of fear in his mind? Is this really a human? For Bi Fang, who was ¡°swinging¡± on Mount Everest, the spectacle appeared dangerous solely because of height¡ªif it had been on flat ground, surely no one would be shocked, at most they would remark how healthy his body was; it wouldn¡¯t even qualify as being strong. The most crucial point was, this technique saved much more energy than detouring or starting over. Wiping the sweat from his palms, Puba couldn¡¯t help but gasp at Bi Fang¡¯s audacity. This method of breaking deadlock was something he couldn¡¯t even fathom: ¡°He is a born adventurer, in this field, he is the most outstanding individual of this era.¡± [If he devoted his life to climbing, perhaps he would become a miracle, a history, a legend.] [Don¡¯t compare professional challenges with someone¡¯s hobby (laugh).] [Damn, he¡¯s a monster among monsters.] [An example for my generation.] [Master Fang, yyds!] (Note: ¡°yyds¡± is internet slang for ¡°forever godlike.¡±) [Seeing the protagonist of ¡°Sword Wind Saga¡± run for three days already amazed me, I never thought reality could be crazier than anime!] As he swung back and forth, Bi Fang¡¯s arm reach expanded by a large margin, and he successfully grabbed onto a protruding section of rock on the other side, finding his footing on a rock below. With two new points of contact, Bi Fang quickly shifted his weight, and pulling on the rope in his hand, he rocked the ice axe side to side again. The ice axe had been jammed in too deeply, and it took a good while before Bi Fang could pull it out and reel it back along the rope. Unfortunately, those last couple of strikes had done some damage to the ice axe, blunting what was originally a sharp tip significantly. After shifting his weight, the path ahead suddenly opened up. He reinserted the ice axe into the holster on his thigh and took out his water bottle to replenish some fluids before continuing his climb. Fifteen minutes later, he had surmounted the rock face, and the slope became notably gentler. The last three hundred and fifty meters. Chapter 428: 426 Chapter 428: 426 ¡°` In the snow, the owner of a pair of green boots curled up, lying stiff within a snow-filled cavity in the rock and ice, as if just taking a little rest. The bright colors of the red mountaineering jacket, blue climbing pants, and green boots made him stand out starkly against the white and gray tones of Mount Everest. The legendary ¡°Green Boots¡±. Puba explained to the audience that this was one of the three major ¡°Corpse Markers¡± on Mount Everest; nearby lay the equally famous ¡°Resting Climber,¡± who maintained the position of hugging his knees with his eyes staring straight into the distance before he died. It could be said that these bodies served as ¡°signposts¡±. But Bi Fang did not linger, merely glancing briefly before continuing his climb along Mount Everest¡¯s southeast ridge toward the summit. As time passed, he climbed, rested, passed the third Corpse Marker ¡°Sleeping Beauty,¡± climbed again, and rested again. After two more rounds of rest, in which Bi Fang had refueled his body more than once, the true ¡°anoxic exercise¡± on Mount Everest commenced; every hundred meters climbed represented a tremendous drain on energy, one that only intensified. The higher the altitude, the greater the consumption of moisture, physical strength, and energy. At 8,700 meters, Bi Fang reached the South Summit, facing the final obstacle to reach the top of Mount Everest. [The Hillary Step! The Hillary Step!] Even Puba couldn¡¯t help repeating it twice, his fingers trembling slightly as he typed. It was unbelievable. Puba had complex feelings toward Bi Fang, even harboring some disdain they first met, following Danzeng¡¯s initiative to find him¡ªperhaps Puba himself hadn¡¯t noticed it at the time. However, upon seeing Danzeng¡¯s request and witnessing Bi Fang¡¯s actions and the genuine equality and respect he showed for the Sherpa people, as well as his admiration for the sacred mountain, Puba finally decided to help out of concern for his junior. But now, after having witnessed a miracle, Puba had to admit that indeed, he had felt such emotions in his mind. After all, he had summited Mount Everest 21 times, and countless Sherpa and people from around the world viewed him as a legend; yet even so, he hadn¡¯t dared to attempt a solo, oxygen-less ascent. Let alone a solo ascent without supplemental oxygen, as it required talent, flair, ability, and luck¡ªmissing any one of these was not an option. But now, what he had been unable to achieve in his youth, a 25-year-old who had never even been to Mount Everest was about to accomplish. With a complex expression, Puba even felt a tinge of jealousy at that moment, perhaps envious of the other¡¯s youth or his monumental achievement. He also felt a bit ashamed, but more than that, he felt admiration. Because, after all, the mountain remains. Taking a deep breath, Puba tapped the keyboard, offering the final narration. [During the final ascent from the South Summit, one must traverse a nearly vertical 12-meter-high rock face on the southeast ridge between the South Summit and the highest point, named the ¡°Hillary Step¡± after Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, the first pair to cross it and summit.] [The ¡°Step¡± was destroyed during the 2015 earthquake, leaving behind a ¡°snowy alcove.¡± Nowadays, climbers on the South Col no longer have a ¡°step¡± on their ascent to Everest¡¯s peak, but without question, the name ¡°Hillary Step¡± will be preserved forever.] [Still, the alcove remains narrow, and due to its tightness, it frequently gets congested. Climbers may have to wait quite long because of the bottleneck, and often, people die on Mount Everest due to waiting too long.] With his excellent eyesight, Bi Fang could see from the South Summit that the Hillary Step was extremely narrow, as narrow as the spine of a stegosaurus and barely allowing one person to pass through. Its fame made the Step so intimidating that it could induce a psychological fear. The only certainty was that no rescue attempt above the ¡°Hillary Step¡± had ever been successful. The abyss at his feet lay waiting, eager for the ¡°delicious meal¡± to fall into its mouth. The one-piece suit had become armor of ice and snow. Fortunately, Bi Fang¡¯s hands and feet had not yet frozen stiff from waiting, allowing him to continue climbing along the mountain ridge and snowy slope. The final test, the true final test, lay a mere hundred meters away! Between the South Summit and the peak, there was only the Hillary Step to surmount! A miracle was about to unfold before their eyes! The audience, as if by some unspoken agreement, held their breath, their hearts racing faster and faster. The previously bustling live stream fell silent in an instant, the entire screen filled with the vast expanse of sky. Everyone¡¯s pupils trembled slightly as they watched the summit draw nearer. In the village at the foot of the mountain, Puba and others sat together, holding their breath in deep concentration. Inside Magic City Airport, Huang Tianming¡¯s eyes, bloodshot, were wide-open, his breathing almost synchronized with the action. In the Arctic Circle, ¨¦tienne was so excited he could barely contain himself. ¡°` Ugly Country, Peter excitedly grabbed Tony¡¯s arm. Central Country, Matthew clenched his pen. Audiences worldwide, students on holiday, office workers in companies, housewives shopping in the market, those who stay up late, those who get up early, those who pull all-nighters, millions of people focused their attention here. In their ears was one heavy breath after another, rapid and deep, making one worry whether the person making the sound would collapse then and there. The 12-meter-high rubble steps¡­ If it were a few years ago, this would have been one gigantic rock, smooth on the surface, with no place to grab hold of; now, it was much easier. Bi Fang stepped on the rubble, his brain no longer capable of any thought; if someone were to lift his visor, they would see that his lips had turned slightly purple. The time was 9:14 a.m. The wind swept the clouds smoothly, flowing incessantly. Bi Fang stopped in his tracks and took one last look behind him. He gazed at the long ridge he¡¯d just climbed, its shadow almost encompassing the mountains, as if he were also part of this massive body. This was the final glance, representing all the scenery along the way: rock fields, ice, snow, forests of ice pinnacles, blue sheep, alpine crows, frigid river waters, cliffs, and even calamitous avalanches¡­ All of that, now had their ultimate reward. Bi Fang silently took off his gloves. The next second, a strong hand grabbed onto a crevice on the peak¡¯s edge and pulled the rest of the body through the fissure onto the broad ridge, completely climbing up! In the morning light, Mount Everest glistened like jade. Bi Fang removed his cold-weather mask and just sat stunned on the ground, surprising everyone, but then, he began to laugh, a loud laugh. Looking around, thousands and tens of thousands of miles of sunlight, mountains towering into the clouds, the sky so blue it seemed dyed, countless snowy peaks stirred by the wind, all ¡°surrendering¡± before his feet as the continuous clouds flowed towards the sun, relentless. The laughter grew louder, the intense laughter causing an already oxygen-deprived body to fall into further distress; he began to cough, and while coughing, he started laughing again, in a never-ending cycle. The sound spread out in waves, echoing through the mountains, resounding through the clouds and forests. From Kathmandu Valley to Lukla, from base camp to the Death Zone. Dragging heavy steps through the zone of death, each step excruciatingly painful, yet all of it was worth it. What Bi Fang pursued, risked, and yearned for, lay beneath his feet, before his eyes, right by his side! The true highest peak! There was no higher point on Earth left for him to challenge! Bi Fang¡¯s eyes suddenly reddened as waves of the urge to cry came over him, filling his eyes with hot tears. In either his previous life or this one, Bi Fang had never imagined that he could reach the top of the world solely on his own ability. If someone had told him it was possible, it must have been a dream, an illusion, fleeting as a bubble. Now, reality had happened. It had truly changed. Bi Fang looked up to stop the wetness in his eyes, struggling to stand up from the peak. He put his gloves back on and, the next second, he was holding a metal tube, as thick as a thumb, of unknown origin. Looking through the hole, it seemed to be a telescopic pole. With a light flick, a red flag unfurled. Bi Fang used all his remaining strength to plant the flag into the ice cap, sending ice shards flying. The red flag bearing the five stars fluttered in the strong wind, blowing toward his homeland across the mountains. The clouds dispersed, sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The sun shone on the golden mountain. May 10th, 9:20 a.m. The first Huaxian, the first to summit Mount Everest solo without supplemental oxygen, is born! Chapter 429: 427 Occupy a Slot Chapter 429: Chapter 427 Occupy a Slot Chapter two is not ready yet¡­ Just marking the spot. Will finish before 00:30 Within the snowy terrain, the owner of a pair of green boots lay curled up and stiff in the snow and solid ice of a rocky cave, as though he were merely taking a short nap. The red climbing suit, blue climbing pants, and green climbing boots¡ªthree vibrant colors made him stand out starkly against the white and gray hues of Mount Everest. The infamous ¡°Green Boots¡±. Puba narrated to the audience that this was one of the three major ¡°Corpse Markers¡± on Mount Everest; beside it lay another equally famous resting climber, maintaining a posture with knees hugged to chest and eyes staring blankly into the distance even in death. It could be said that these bodies served as ¡°signposts¡±. But Bi Fang didn¡¯t dwell, he merely glanced briefly before continuing his ascent towards the summit along the southeast ridge of Mount Everest. Time gradually passed, climbing, resting, passing the third Corpse Marker ¡°Sleeping Beauty¡±, then more climbing, more resting. After two rounds of recuperation, during which Bi Fang ate more than once to replenish his body¡¯s energy, the ascent of Mount Everest was a true ¡°anoxic exercise¡±. Every hundred meters climbed represented an immense expenditure of energy, and this drain only intensified. The higher the altitude, the greater the consumption of water, physical strength, and energy. At an elevation of 8,700 meters, Bi Fang reached the South Summit, facing the last major obstacle to the summit of Mount Everest. [The Hillary Step! The Hillary Step!] Even Puba couldn¡¯t help but repeat it twice, his fingers trembling slightly as he typed. It was too unbelievable. Puba¡¯s feelings towards Bi Fang were complex, even experiencing a hint of disdain hidden deep within when Danzeng had come to find him, before the two had properly met. Perhaps even Puba himself hadn¡¯t been aware of it at that time. It was only considering Danzeng¡¯s request, and Bi Fang¡¯s actions which showed genuine equality and respect for the Sherpa people, as well as his deep yearning for the sacred mountain, that Puba finally decided to lend a hand, out of concern for the younger generation. But now, having witnessed miracles, Puba looked back on everything and had to admit that such emotions had indeed crossed his mind at that time. He himself had summited Mount Everest a record 21 times, and numerous Sherpas and people around the world regarded him as a legend. Yet, even with that, he dared not attempt an unaided, oxygen-free summit. Let alone a solo, oxygen-free ascent. Talent, flair, capability, luck¡ªnone could be lacking. But now, a feat he couldn¡¯t achieve even in his youth was about to be accomplished by a 25-year-old who had never been to Mount Everest before. Puba¡¯s expression was complex; in that moment, he even felt a tinge of envy¡ªperhaps for the other¡¯s youth, or perhaps for his achievements. He now felt some shame, but more than that, he felt respect. Because the mountain was there. Taking a deep breath, Puba typed, providing the final commentary. [In the last push to the summit on the southern slope, climbers must pass through a section between the South Summit and the highest point on the southeast ridge¡ªa nearly vertical rock face about 12 meters high, known as the Hillary Step. Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first team to climb it to the summit, and the climbing community later named it after Hillary.] [This ¡°Step¡± collapsed during the 2015 earthquake, leaving behind just a ¡°snow pit¡±. There is no longer a step on the southern ascent of Mount Everest, but, without question, the name Hillary Step will continue to endure.] [But the snow pit remains narrow, so narrow that congestion often occurs here. There could be extended waits due to the bottleneck, and it¡¯s common for people to die on Mount Everest due to waiting too long.] Bi Fang had exceptionally good vision; standing atop the South Summit, he could see that the Hillary Step was incredibly narrow, as narrow as the spine of a Stegosaurus, allowing passage for only one person at a time. It was too famous, even invoking a psychological fear in climbers. The only certainty was that no rescue attempt above the ¡°Hillary Step¡± had ever succeeded. An abyss lay crawling at his feet, awaiting its ¡°delicious meal¡±. His suit had become an armor of ice and snow. Luckily, Bi Fang¡¯s limbs had not yet frozen stiff from waiting, so he continued his climb up the snowy ridge. The last barrier, the true final barrier, was just a hundred meters away! Between the South Summit and the peak, there was only the Hillary Step to overcome! ¡°` A miracle is about to happen before our eyes! The audience instinctively held their breath, their heartbeats accelerating. The formerly noisy live broadcast room emptied in an instant, and the entire screen was overwhelmed by the vast sky. As the summit neared, pupils trembled slightly. In the village at the foothill, Puba and others sat together, holding their breath in deep concentration. Inside Magic City Airport, Huang Tianming¡¯s bloodshot eyes widened, his breathing almost in sync. Within the Arctic Circle, ¨¦tienne was so excited he nearly jumped up. In Ugly Country, Peter excitedly grabbed Tony¡¯s arm. In Central Country, Matthew clenched his pen tightly. Viewers around the world, students on holiday, office workers in companies, housewives shopping at the market, those staying up late, waking up early, or pulling an all-nighter¡ªall millions of them focused here. In their ears was the sound of heavy breaths, hurried and deep, making one worry if the person making them would collapse then and there. Twelve-meter-high boulders awaited¡­ If it were a few years ago, the spot would have been one gigantic smooth rock with nothing to grasp. Now, it was much easier. Bi Fang stepped on the crumbling stones, his brain devoid of any capacity for thought. If someone were to lift his mask, they would find his lips had already turned slightly purple. The time was 9:14 AM. The wind swept the clouds away in a ceaseless flow. Bi Fang paused his steps, taking one last look behind him at the long mountain ridge he had just ascended, whose shadow almost enveloped the mountains as if he too were part of this massive body. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was the last glance, representing all the scenery along the way¡ªrocky beaches, ice, snow, ice towers, wild goats, highland crows, freezing rivers, cliffs, and even natural disasters like avalanches¡­ All of it finally paid off. Bi Fang silently removed his gloves. The next second, a powerful hand grabbed the crevice at the peak¡¯s edge, pulling the whole body up through the gap onto the expansive ridge, conquering it completely! In the morning light, Mount Everest shimmered like jade. Bi Fang removed his cold-resistant mask and abruptly sat down on the ground, startling everyone. But soon after, he began to laugh, laughing out loud. Looking around, for thousands of miles the sunshine, towering peaks piercing the clouds, the sky so blue as if dyed, countless snow-capped mountains surged, yet all ¡°submitted¡± beneath his feet, the endless clouds racing towards the sun unabated. The laughter grew louder, the intense laughter pushing his already oxygen-starved body further into distress. He started coughing, and in the midst of coughing, he began to laugh again, the cycle repeating itself. The sound reverberated through the mountains, echoing through the clouds and forests. From Kathmandu Valley to Lukla, from base camp to the Death Zone. He had trudged through the zone of death, where each step was agony, yet it was all worth it. What Bi Fang had pursued, risked, and longed for was all underfoot, before his eyes, right beside him! The very summit, the true highest point! There were no greater heights left on Earth for him to challenge! Suddenly, Bi Fang¡¯s eyes reddened, waves of emotion welling up, threatening to overflow. In this life or the last, Bi Fang never imagined he could, by his own ability, ascend the roof of the world. If anyone told him he could, it must have been a dream, a mere illusion, as transient as bubbles and shadows. Now, reality had happened. It truly changed. Bi Fang lifted his head to hold back the moisture in his eyes, struggling to stand up from the summit. He put his gloves back on, and the next second, a metal tube as thick as a thumb, which was nowhere to be seen before, was in his hand. Looking through the hole, it appeared to be a telescopic tube. With a light flick, the red flag fluttered. ¡°` Chapter 430: 428: Descend the Mountain Chapter 430: Chapter 428: Descend the Mountain The flag fluttered in the breeze, its blue cords with attached notes dancing unpredictably on the metal pole. Next to the red flag, a slightly sci-fi-looking black figure stood tall and straight, as rigid as a spear. His storm suit perfectly contoured to his muscular physique, with the orange lines on his back particularly striking. It was hard to imagine such a figure appearing at the summit of Mount Everest where temperatures fell below negative thirty degrees. Even ordinary steel would become brittle in such frigid temperatures. Bi Fang took out his live streaming device and recorded the scenery of the world¡¯s highest peak with a wider angle; he also took a few third-person photos of himself as a keepsake. And it was as he completed all this that, the System¡¯s voice finally sounded. [Congratulations to the host for completing the breakthrough task, evaluation: perfect. The path of advancement is now activated. Task reward: Platinum Body received. Activate now?] In an instant, the System panel unfolded, its pure sky-blue interface borders suddenly sprouted fine gold edges, adding a high-end touch to its sci-fi aura, and the originally gray plus signs after the standard four-dimensional data turned golden once more! Enhanceable Status! YES! Even the now composed Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but feel excited and thrilled by this sight. From his initial high spiritedness, to his self-control after the avalanche, to the forced acceptance when the climbing season was canceled, and finally to the turnaround of regaining what was lost¡ªGod knows what he went through internally! Hadn¡¯t he toiled so hard for this very moment? He played for his dreams, but even more so for a bright future and prospects! Being able to ascend Mount Everest today was not possible without the accumulation from every task he had completed before, which was truly a matter of silent accumulation resulting in a sudden outburst. As long as this wasn¡¯t a dream, even if the so-called System really was a conspiracy aimed solely at him, Bi Fang in this moment would accept it! As for the reward, the Platinum Body. The focus of this task was breakthrough, so the rewards were not plentiful, only the mystifying Platinum Body. Bi Fang thought the name was a bit intimidating, always making him think of a man whose face was etched with invincibility. Would his fists be harder than diamonds after using it? He opened the description of the Platinum Body. After use, you obtain a perfect physique¡ªthat is the so-called Platinum Body. Perfect? What is perfect? Is there really a definition? Bi Fang was puzzled, as everyone¡¯s idea of perfection must be different, right? For example, the perfect body for a bodybuilder is completely different from that for a fitness enthusiast. After delving deep into the details, Bi Fang finally understood that the so-called perfection was just an optimized change to a certain extent. It might make the lines of your abs more defined, smoother, and the muscle coordination better, but if you expect it to turn a fat belly into a ripped eight-pack overnight, you should just wash up and go to bed. Activating the Platinum Body could only make your belly rounder and smoother. What a fine thing! Bi Fang¡¯s eyes lit up. Though it was just icing on the cake, according to the description, it was a perfect skill that could adjust everything from the skin texture to muscle lines, and from the skeletal framework to organ development! Like the varying leg lengths everyone has, the slightly deformed fingers from writing too much for exams since childhood, the receding hairlines of middle-aged men, and the bow legs caused by various reasons¡­ Not to mention anything else, but just by eradicating uneven leg lengths, one might break the curse of veering off course when walking blindfolded! Stow it away, stow it away. Controlling his excitement, Bi Fang remembered that he was still on the highest peak in the world, and the reward was of no use to him at this moment. Already fighting drowsiness due to lack of oxygen, what would he do if he passed out? Bi Fang was happy. After all the hardships, the instant he received his reward made all the toil vanish like smoke and clouds. The journey to Mount Everest was successfully completed. It was time to go home! After repacking his equipment, Bi Fang took one last look at the spectacular view from the summit, which he could enjoy all to himself, a rare benefit of the climbing season¡¯s cancellation. The summit of Mount Everest wasn¡¯t very spacious, barely enough for one person. During the regular climbing season, it would have been like visiting a tourist hotspot during holidays. Imagine a wealthy patron with four guides, each carrying two oxygen tanks ¨C that¡¯s already five people, not to mention the countless other rich climbers who come every year. During the regular season, there¡¯s no time to linger after reaching the summit. A few quick pictures, and then it¡¯s time to start the descent; otherwise, staying a bit longer increases the danger for the people waiting behind you. And who would be held responsible if something were to happen? No one cares how you made it up; whether you blazed a new trail, climbed without oxygen, or raced to the top solo, you still have to eat the dust of those before you and get down quickly after taking your photos. Bi Fang, being alone, could look as long as he wanted, savor the moment for as long as he wished. If he had the physique of a superhero, he could have stayed up there for two days without an issue. Unfortunately, that wasn¡¯t possible. However, it was already 9:40, and Bi Fang had spent twenty minutes on the summit. He had done what needed to be done, seen what needed to be seen. It was a fulfilling life achievement. Time to descend! Meanwhile, the audience in the live stream was still debating over the identity of the wealthy donor who had given so generously to the ¡®ashtray cause,¡¯ arguing vehemently, with the conversation almost turning into a flame war. It was like a festival in full swing, with resounding gongs, whistling fireworks, fluttering red flags, and crowds of people. Some suspected Bi Fang was masquerading and orchestrating the whole thing himself; others thought it might be a secretive corporate CEO, and even more far-fetched was the speculation that it was a rich woman keeping Master Fang as her consort ¨C not only supporting him financially but supposedly paying this much for the hope of having a child. Coveting Master Fang¡¯s superior genes! ??? Bi Fang was left with a figurative question mark over his head, thinking that if such a wealthy patroness really existed, it would truly be a sight for sore eyes. The financial hole in the club wouldn¡¯t need him to fill it then. Lying down! But Bi Fang was indeed curious about who the other person was, having never appeared before, and then vanished without a trace immediately after, without even a bubble left behind. One million is not a small amount by any means, and even for him now, he would be reluctant to tip himself such an amount ¡ª that¡¯s almost half lost to taxes! Of course, Bi Fang was proud to contribute to his country, but this wasn¡¯t exactly the way to do it. It was like buying cement and delivering it wasn¡¯t enough; he had to mix and lay the bricks himself. Bi Fang, carefully climbing down the Hillary Step, finally caught the audience¡¯s attention, and they realized the ascent had come to an end. [Damn, Old Fang, are you descending already? That was quick!] [He stayed for twenty minutes. That¡¯s quite a while.] [What, was he going to live up there?] [Ah, it was thrilling, but now that he¡¯s descending, I can¡¯t help feeling reluctant. All that effort to get up there¡­] [It can¡¯t be helped. You have to be content.] sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Although reaching the summit has ended, it does not mean the end of danger.¡± ¡°In fact, most disasters in mountain climbing usually happen on the way back down. This means reaching the summit is only half the success; a safe return is the ultimate triumph.¡± For some reason, after successfully summiting, Bi Fang¡¯s legs no longer ached, his back no longer hurt, and he felt he could talk comfortably even on the Hillary Step. But as soon as he opened his mouth, his breath became disordered, and reality quickly taught him a lesson. Bi Fang, feeling dizzy, shut his mouth and continued to descend in silence. Chapter 431: 429 Welcome Back! Chapter 431: Chapter 429 Welcome Back! Although it was the descent, the lively atmosphere in the live broadcast room continued, and new viewers were even flooding in. By ten in the morning, the number of viewers¡­ had surpassed ten million. Whether it was within Wolf Fang or the always adversarial Tiger Fang and Shark, they all obtained this report through various channels. The number of viewers abroad surpassed four million, while domestic viewers exceeded seven million four hundred thousand and were still increasing, perhaps reaching the threshold of eight million. This figure, before the summit, was merely six million viewers, inclusive of both domestic and international audiences. In just those twenty minutes of summiting, the number more than doubled. Over ten million viewers, nearing twelve million, what kind of concept is that? This was prime time in the Capital! Even on a day off, at this hour many regions overseas were still in the middle of the night, or even early morning, but when they learned that today was the day of the summit, they still stayed up to watch the live broadcast. Almost like devout followers, these die-hard fans came for Master Fang, to see this man of legend. Like the sun at high noon. In the wilderness, Bi Fang was the only sun. ¡°In a personal live broadcast, this is probably the limit,¡± Wang Yongbo mused as he sipped his tea in the village, feeling particularly emotional. How long ago was the first live broadcast? About a year ago, right? Wang Yongbo still remembered every scene from when he invited Bi Fang to join, full of hardships but very real difficulties faced. Back then, Bi Fang was like a mighty tiger stuck in the mud, powerful but hindered by the environment. In one year, many streamers might have just started to make their mark, right? Yet Bi Fang had reached his zenith, creating one breathtaking record after another. It was already rare enough in the live broadcasting industry to have over a million viewers at the same time for a personal streamer, let alone over three million, which was unheard of. Wang Yongbo was certain that before Bi Fang, such a streamer did not exist; only various live sports broadcasts could achieve such numbers. Over ten million, in his memory, seemed to only occur in events like the semi-finals and finals of League of Legends, where the global average online viewership was around twenty million, with peak values over forty million. That is to say, Bi Fang alone had surpassed all the domestic and international streamers and all leagues, with the only thing above him being the global League of Legends tournaments. Of course, compared to such grandeur, the gap was still significant, nearly fourfold, but one must remember, Bi Fang was just one person! ¡°Incredible,¡± Danzeng said, giving a thumbs up. He didn¡¯t understand live broadcasting much, and only after hearing Wang Yongbo¡¯s explanation did he grasp the extraordinary aspect of the numbers. ¡°But it should be irreplicable, and it¡¯s uncertain whether it could be reached again in the future,¡± Wang Yongbo said, happy yet still composed. Mount Everest, it¡¯s just different, representing a passion, a dream, a longing. Plus, there¡¯s the support of patriotic sentiment, which the ratio of viewership shows. In the past, the number of domestic and international viewers was similar. Domestically, the fame was great, but there were more people overseas, and more who liked watching live broadcasts. Now the number of domestic viewers is nearly double that of international viewers, simply because Bi Fang is the first from Huaxia to summit Everest without oxygen and did so solo. Incredibly strong, to an outrageous scale, it¡¯s something anyone would be curious about. The moment the summit was successful, the trending searches nearly burst, as anyone who saw it or was interested would naturally click to watch the broadcast. Even those who didn¡¯t understand live streaming felt compelled to see for themselves. Last time, the peak viewership for the live broadcast was just over four million, and this time it tripled, which goes to show that most were just joining in the excitement, with only a few staying behind. ¡°That¡¯s still very impressive,¡± Danzeng, the professional comic relief, remarked. Indeed. Yao Jun and others nearby nodded in agreement without needing to arrange it; Bi Fang¡¯s income from a single live broadcast was now comparable to that of some small and medium-sized enterprises. Excessively exaggerated. [There are no new heights left on Earth for Master Fang to challenge, thinking of this gets my blood boiling] [The highest point has been flagged, time to go to the lowest point] [Mariana Trench, negative 11,000 meters, charge! Plant the red flag! Blossom everywhere!] [Master Fang: Overwhelmed by idiots] [Old Fang: Might as well kill me] [I remember, isn¡¯t Master Fang a former military officer or something?] In the live stream, someone suddenly brought it up. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Many people then recalled. Right, Old Fang was Special Forces! Bi Fang had used an Identity Change Coupon, and he used it on his Special Forces skills, and for various reasons, coupled with support from above, he got promoted. The audience didn¡¯t mention it; he had almost forgotten himself. [Ah, this move, this move is the military¡¯s victory!] [Is this red flag an individual act or some kind of metaphor? (Thinking)] [So, who let him retire in the first place?] [Oh no, oh no, there¡¯s a traitor!] With the added aspect of his identity, the audience reacted even more fiercely, especially many who had never heard of it before, now felt profound admiration. This is an innate trust. A streamer with no background, no matter how strong or impressive, many actions might seem like showboating to a lot of people. Because that¡¯s the impression this profession gives, false and unreal, not even like a serious job. If someone says they make a living from streaming, even the most open-minded parents would think it¡¯s irresponsible. But with a background, it feels completely different. Climbing Mount Everest is proof of strength! It means badass, it¡¯s something that makes everyone exclaim wow! Even a proof with a more intense flavor, a sense of power spontaneously emerges! This is Huaxia, this is us; what others can do, we can do, and what others can¡¯t, we also can do! Thus, once again, howls like those of wolves resounded in the live stream, and a new round of celebration began! Now, there was nothing for the haters to criticize. But Bi Fang didn¡¯t care about these things; his focus was entirely on the mountain path. Despite the fact that going up was easy and coming down was hard, Bi Fang¡¯s speed was still much faster. He enjoyed the relief after pressure, his blood flowing more freely, and even the severe cold seemed not fearsome. Encountering smooth ice and snow, moderate slopes, he almost slid down sideways with his legs together. The audience leaned back forcefully, as if the winds and snow were right in front of them. At such a speed, in just half an hour, Bi Fang had descended three hundred meters, reaching over 8,500 meters, and once again saw ¡°Sleeping Beauty¡±. [Sleeping Beauty was named Frances, and unlike the other two, she became a famous ¡°Corpse Marker¡± because she was the first woman to climb Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen. She died on Mount Everest in 1998, but Frances collapsed due to hypoxia exhaustion while descending the mountain, two hundred and forty-four meters below Everest.] [At that time, people passed by, but not a single one could lend a hand, because once you reached out, the dead might not just be one.] [There were detailed records at that time, and even a gentleman who didn¡¯t reach out suffered long-term conscience and public opinion torment. However, if you check the memoirs of the survivors, you¡¯ll find many of the details don¡¯t match up, because above seven thousand meters, a normal person¡¯s brain already became dull.] The audience was shocked; there was such a story? Fortunately, this did not affect Bi Fang; as the altitude decreased, safety increased. By eleven o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Bi Fang had rapidly withdrawn to eight thousand meters, exited the death zone, and came back to Camp Four to collect his backpack and miscellaneous items left there. Only then could Bi Fang finally breathe a sigh of relief and feel at ease to speak. By noon, he had descended to an altitude of seven thousand meters. Camp Three, down, continue downward. Camp Two, down, continue downward. Camp One, Bi Fang took a glance; it was still very far below. Finally, before the sun had completely set, Bi Fang crossed the Khumbu Glacier and returned to the base camp, completely away from the danger zone. But he didn¡¯t stop; instead, he rushed through the night, making his way back to the original village, but just as he had just descended to four hundred meters, Rows of bonfires lit up, the Sherpa people, Danzeng, Puba, and many friends holding torches, looking at the man coming down from the mountain. They clapped together, ¡°Welcome back!¡± Chapter 432: 430 Chapter 432: 430 [User 319211401454 sent a Spaceship*1 to the host] Chaman was driving the car, his dark skin perfectly blending into the night. When he turned his head to look at the co-pilot, almost only his bright white teeth were visible. After seeing the content on the phone, he raised an eyebrow, ¡°You¡¯re actually tipping him.¡± ¡°He really is amazing,¡± Grace said with a grin in the co-pilot seat. ¡°I can kind of understand why my brother messed up.¡± The drones flew in the sky, and in the pitch darkness, rows of torches illuminated the field paths. Smiles radiated from everyone¡¯s faces, and when they looked at the man emerging from the darkness, their eyes shone with respect. The path of torches stretched out for at least a hundred meters, all to welcome one person. It was breathtaking. Even from different standpoints, Grace had to admit that. ¡°Stop staring; you¡¯ll never enjoy this kind of treatment. In the movies, we¡¯re the villains,¡± Chaman said, grabbing the phone and stuffing it into the other¡¯s pocket, then slowly bringing the car to a stop. ¡°Now, it¡¯s your turn to drive.¡± Grace nodded, ¡°Okay, you go to sleep.¡± They switched seats and drove off again. Moments later, the car flew over a small hill. Underneath the tarp in the car, a pair of large antlers was revealed. Bi Fang watched as the young leader, Danzeng, walked at the front, his face also brimming with a smile, hugging each person who came to meet him one by one. Puba was the last to come over, thumping his back hard: ¡°Good lad, you did well!¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t have summited without you,¡± Bi Fang had not forgotten the help the Sherpa people provided. Without them, he wouldn¡¯t even know where he would be squatting right now. For this, Bi Fang gave a deep bow to everyone present. This scene moved countless viewers in the livestream who knew the background story to tears. [So touched, sob sob sob] [This host must be followed!] [Much love for Master Fang!] This is the true essence of human unity, extending a helping hand when there are difficulties, and the beneficiaries also offer their reciprocity. Bi Fang gave respect and support to the Sherpa people, and they were willing to open the only path to the summit for him. Bi Fang would also not forget them, leaving their names at the Summit of Mount Everest. Not all Sherpa people have the ability to reach the summit and enjoy the glory. Despite their racial talents, it¡¯s only that small handful of exceptional individuals who can achieve it. But in Bi Fang¡¯s view, this summit was not about individual heroism; it was about collective teamwork. The glory belongs to everyone. [Effort always pays off! So when is the next live stream?] [Feels like Master Fang has lost weight, you gotta eat well] [Is the previous one a mom fan?] [Generally, climbing doesn¡¯t result in weight loss, but climbing Mount Everest usually does¡­] [Actually, I think, after watching the livestream, why do I feel like if I went, I could do it too? The delusion is real.] [Seriously delusional] Puba was in great spirits, or rather, it was the first time in over a decade since he stopped guiding that he felt this good. The appearance of Bi Fang made him feel sincerely that the effort they put into paving the way and setting up ropes on Mount Everest is still remembered and respected. Especially when Puba saw Bi Fang tying the co-signed letter onto the flagpole, it almost brought tears to this tough guy¡¯s eyes. ¡°We are in desperate need of money, so we lie to ourselves and others, saying that we love to climb¡­¡± Puba still remembers the words once said to him by Danzeng¡¯s father. Upon reflection, he finds himself choked up. After exchanging pleasantries again, Bi Fang was truly weary, so tired he could hardly keep his eyes open. From the sprint at dawn up until now, he had nearly gone twenty-four hours without closing his eyes, on top of the extreme exertion, he felt exceptionally drowsy. Puba keenly noticed Bi Fang¡¯s fatigue and, realizing this, he didn¡¯t say more and waved to the people behind him. ¡°Alright, alright, stop crowding around, he just got back and only wants to take a bath and sleep, go on, everyone go home!¡± The Sherpa people then realized it was indeed late and, after waving their torches a while longer, they left in twos and threes. Danzeng, however, insisted on not letting go of Bi Fang, determined to bring him to his own home to host him as a guest. Unable to resist, Bi Fang agreed, and so a group of them proceeded to Danzeng¡¯s home in the darkness of night. On their way, Bi Fang also prepared to wrap up the live broadcast. Looking at the Sherpa people with torches, turning into small dots of light, Bi Fang felt an indescribable emotion. After summarizing his thoughts, he then spoke up, ¡°At noon when we were descending the mountain, as you saw like I did, above the death zone, there were cold bodies scattered everywhere, some far some near, some perhaps for an age, and some may have still been as living and vibrant as you and me just a few days ago.¡± Puba and Rob nodded silently; many guides would stop for a few minutes near the bodies, in silence, to show respect. ¡°But at that time, I didn¡¯t feel too much because seeing the sight of people before us leaving their bodies on the cold Mount Everest forever due to their dreams, the feeling of death wasn¡¯t very definite; I even felt like they were just resting.¡± ¡°Now that I think about it, perhaps I¡¯m a bit frightened in hindsight, but more than that, I feel an impact, not much of a sad component, because each person came here after careful consideration.¡± ¡°I was more concerned with how to take each step carefully, otherwise lying there would be very cold, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± The audience laughed, but after the laughter, there was a sense of relief. Only by returning alive, that is the true success. ¡°Climbing Mount Everest is an extremely painful affair. In less than a month¡¯s time, what awaited me included various dangers that came unexpectedly and the torment suffered by my body in the harsh environment. But once you reach the summit, all the hardships you¡¯ve experienced become worth it, that unique experience and the resulting pride and sense of achievement are irresistible.¡± Just then, someone asked a question that everyone wanted to know. [Master Fang, have you ever been afraid?] After someone brought it up, instantly, a large number of similar or identical questions appeared in the barrage of comments. Yes, has Master Fang ever been afraid? Watching him on the small screen performing one incredible feat after another, it seemed as if he didn¡¯t know what fear was, with his veins always pulsing with hot blood, and his mind filled with one meticulous and bold plan after another. It¡¯s as if the emotion of fear would never appear in him. Regarding this question, Bi Fang didn¡¯t answer immediately. He countered with, ¡°Do you think I conquered Mount Everest?¡± Isn¡¯t that the case? The audience was taken aback, having reached the summit in front of tens of millions of viewers, with an unprecedented record, what was it if not conquest? But Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°Climbing Mount Everest, death could appear before you at any moment: earthquakes, avalanches, glacier crevasses, vertical cliffs; no one knows at which point they might die. Any of those situations could place me in mortal danger.¡± ¡°In the thin air, climbers¡¯ physical strength is merely enough to sustain themselves. If a teammate dies on the way, we can only say a painful farewell on the spot. The left bodies become monuments, markers.¡± ¡°Yet, to Mount Everest itself, it might be unaware, like a speck of dust settling on its surface. In this context, is reaching the summit really conquering it?¡± The audience pondered in silence. Yao Jun and Wang Yongbo nodded lightly, gaining a measure of understanding. Sir Edinburgh and Puba¡¯s eyes shone brightly, not bothering to hide the admiration in their gaze. ¡°During the climb, the only danger comes from us humans ourselves. It¡¯s a contest between all people and the mountain, but the ultimate power over life and death lies in the hands of the mountain itself. I am merely a lucky one who happened to avoid disaster,¡± he said. ¡°Therefore, the notion that ¡®man has conquered Mount Everest¡¯ is simply not valid, nor will it ever be. The only true conquest a person can achieve is over their own inner fears and anxieties about their insignificance.¡± ¡°I am not a robot, of course I get scared, but what I have conquered is exactly that!¡± [This philosophical depth, I bow down to the master] [Where did Old Fang learn all this?] [Can¡¯t quite describe it, just feels badass] [Man can¡¯t conquer the mountain, we simply climb it, like children climbing onto their mother¡¯s lap. That¡¯s what big brother Puba said, right? (Dog¡¯s head)] ¡°I did say that, but I can¡¯t claim it was original,¡± Puba said with a smile and a shake of his head as he saw the comments. ¡°It was Tenzing who said it.¡± Danzeng looked over, his eyes filled with confusion. Had he said that? ¡°Not little Danzeng.¡± Puba patted his head. ¡°It was Tenzing Norgay who said it.¡± Everyone had a good laugh, and after the laughter died down, Bi Fang gestured, and the drone began to descend. The audience felt a sinking feeling in their hearts, knowing that with Old Fang, this really was the end. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s it for now. This Mount Everest journey is coming to an end. The last thing I want to say to everyone is that not everyone looks up at Mount Everest, nor does everyone wish or is able to climb to the top. Every adventure requires sober awareness and rational assessment,¡± he said. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t prevent you from having the aspiration to stand on top of the world, nor from pursuing that aspiration.¡± ¡°Your personal Everest isn¡¯t limited to the Himalayas.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯m Bi Fang, and I¡¯ll see you next time.¡± [Man, it¡¯s over again] [Waaaah, don¡¯t stop] [Just got hyped up, and it¡¯s over just like that?] [You can drive on this crappy road?] [The rain of donations should start now] [Here comes the big one] [So who is that millionaire? If she¡¯s a rich woman, please give me her contact info!] Fans traditionally tried to hold him back, but Bi Fang didn¡¯t waver in his decision, already unmoved by the torrent of donated gifts. Looking at the darkened live broadcast room, netizens around the world sighed. Many other streamers of the same genre or those who broadcast during the same time slot also breathed a sigh of relief; the metaphorical mountain that had been looming over them had finally left. The high-level executives of Shark and Tiger Fang instructed their wilderness streamers that they no longer needed to lie low, planning was underway. When Bi Fang stopped broadcasting, they started; when Bi Fang broadcasted, they stopped, masterfully adhering to the flexible strategy of retreating when the enemy advanced. Was this not a victory of its own? What do you mean picking up the scraps? It¡¯s clearly about filling market gaps! Enriching the public¡¯s entertainment life! Meanwhile, Bi Fang and his companions had arrived at Danzeng¡¯s house. Danzeng¡¯s mother had already prepared a big table of dishes, evidently well-prepared, and again thanked Bi Fang for his deeds. If not for him, her son might not have survived the avalanche, so she was extremely hospitable. After eating, Bi Fang took the opportunity to have a hot shower, and then he fell into a deep sleep. Not just him, but everyone else was tired too and soon fell asleep. In another room, however, Rob did not rest. He sat at the desk, hesitating for a moment before taking out paper and pen from his backpack, along with several stacks of white paper, and began to write fervently. ¡­ The next day, in order not to be surrounded by fans who came to see him off, Bi Fang bade an early farewell to a very reluctant Danzeng and descended the mountain with Sir and others. ¡°It¡¯s a shame I can¡¯t join you in filming a documentary, Sir. I was truly interested,¡± Bi Fang said regretfully. As they parted ways, Bi Fang felt a tinge of regret¡ªhe had intended to go shoot monkeys in Nepal with Sir Edinburgh after summiting, but plans didn¡¯t keep up with changes. Now he had to hurry to the Arctic Circle. The geese were returning. Though he knew they would come back, Bi Fang wanted to make the trip himself for peace of mind, driven by a sense of responsibility. Sir Edinburgh waved cheerfully, ¡°No problem, if it weren¡¯t for my team¡¯s mission, I¡¯d be more interested in going with you to see the geese.¡± Bi Fang laughed heartily, said farewell once again, and boarded the flight home with Yao Jun and Wang Yongbo. This journey would be an unforgettable one, but the adventure was far from over¡ªthere were more thrills to come! ¡­ A day later, someone suddenly noticed that the official pages of Wolf Fang and even the homepage of B Island had changed their cover photos. This wasn¡¯t just any advertisement or illustration, but a complete skin change! The image was filled with the vivid colors of an oil painting¡ªa red flag flying amidst snow-capped peaks bathed in golden light, beside it stood a young man, his back turned to us, gazing into the distance at the mountain range. In bold calligraphy on the side it read: The first Huaxia person to reach the summit of Mount Everest¡¯s south slope without oxygen! On a plane, a young man wearing headphones looked at the B Island website on his phone, stunned by the sudden change in its appearance, but felt the person seated next to him seemed familiar. He glanced at the figure in the oil painting, and then at the Huaxia person beside him. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Finally, he shook his head. He must have been mistaken. With that, he popped in his earphones, giving up on wondering why B Island had suddenly changed its appearance, and opened a funny video, his laughter filling the air. Bi Fang glanced at the young man beside him, noted the content on his phone, and after lamenting the decline of public tastes, he ignored him. In the era of big data, information cocoons are almost unavoidable. If it¡¯s not something of personal interest, many people may not have even heard of it. Therefore, Bi Fang did not expect to be so recognizable that everyone would know him¡ªhe lacked such ability and privilege. He pulled out a newspaper left behind by some traveler from behind his seat ¨C the headline news was about the migration of the geese! There are flights from Kathmandu Valley to Helsinki, but only on Sundays, and Bi Fang returned from the summit on a Sunday, obviously unable to catch the flight. Bi Fang instead decided to return to his home country, rest for a night before catching a flight to Finland. Hence, the newspaper he was reading had also come from there. The Finnish people were obviously very concerned about the follow-up to last year¡¯s sensational goose migration event. Chapter 433: 431 Change Chapter 433: Chapter 431 Change The aftermath of the geese¡¯s journey wasn¡¯t just a simple increase in Bi Fang¡¯s fame; it had an enormous subsequent impact. Half a year had passed, and people still talked enthusiastically about the geese returning to the Arctic Circle, the news even made the front page of Finnish newspapers. Scholars in the field of zoology were extremely interested in the pioneering methods of artificial migration, and Elvan¡¯s phone was bombarded with calls, earning him considerable fame in academic circles. If it hadn¡¯t been for the live broadcast, Bi Fang would have probably not escaped, as various people would have called or even asked him for details in person. Even now, people wanted to record an interview or conduct a talk with him, or even make a documentary for posterity to watch. However, due to his busy schedule, Bi Fang turned them all down. There was no need for a documentary; the entire journey had been recorded on the internet. What was there left to film? This was just one side of things, a greater impact came from¡ªanimal protection organizations. To Bi Fang, it seemed that Europeans were too wealthy, with too much free time on their hands, and that¡¯s why these organizations often did unreasonable things. However, when it came to issues like internal corruption colluding with poachers, the animal protectionists¡¯ views were quite clear. Especially in the days when the arrests were made, they were practically blocking the courthouse and even the audit bureau¡¯s doors daily. ¨¦tienne joined in the excitement and took a video, which he sent to Bi Fang. On the streets, everywhere were crowds holding signs and protest banners, fluttering flags, the noise was unbearable, and riot police had to be on the side to watch, preventing any large-scale stampede incidents. Speaking of which, wasn¡¯t the poacher and Johnny¡¯s sentencing happening these days? Bi Fang suddenly remembered this and took out his phone to search the keyword, to find out that indeed, the trial was scheduled for May 17th. It seemed that the pressure from the animal protectionists¡¯ protests did weigh heavily on the authorities, coupled with Bi Fang¡¯s live stream, the evidence was irrefutable and the charges clear, leading to a court verdict in just half a year. While half a year may seem like a long time, in reality, it was a relatively short process. Even domestically, regular cases would take over five months and if it was complicated, dragging it out for a year or two was normal, not to mention abroad. Calculating the timing, Bi Fang could still watch the geese and then go to observe the trial. Shrimp and Pig¡¯s Heart.jpg ¡°Buzz buzz buzz.¡± Just as Bi Fang had put down the newspaper and was looking at his phone, it began to ring again¡ªhe picked it up to see another unfamiliar number. He could almost guess what the person calling wanted to do; it would be nothing more than business cooperation, various events and advertisement deals. Ever since climbing Mount Everest, Bi Fang¡¯s followers were ecstatic. Nearly ten million viewers had watched, and with word-of-mouth alone, it was a force to be reckoned with, one that showed no signs of stopping and continued to grow. Add to that his previous accumulations, Bi Fang was completely in his heyday in the country, with a level of popularity higher than many top-tier celebrities. It was just unclear when his phone number had been leaked, it was like a barrage of calls. The most impressive advertiser to Bi Fang was a mobile phone company named 8848, who were desperate to have him as their brand ambassador. They were so persistent, acting as if their brand would lose its soul without him. Bi Fang decided that once he returned to his country, he would change his phone number. Given his special identity, getting an organization to arrange a more secure phone for him wouldn¡¯t be a problem. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After the phone rang a couple of times, Bi Fang hesitated but decided to answer. As expected, it was over the top. This time, it was a chocolate company. They felt that the scene of Bi Fang eating an energy bar on the mountain peak naturally matched their promotional philosophy. Climbing mountains as smooth as silk. Bi Fang: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Let my assistant talk to you.¡± Bi Fang said this and then hung up the phone, feeling somewhat fatigued. He never wanted to take on any advertisements, he had no need or interest, but if he refused someone in person, they would stick to him like a plaster. Instead, he had his assistant Liu Qian handle and turn down these business activities on his behalf. This tool person arranged by Wolf Fang was very handy to use, competently handling everything from scheduling to rejecting various commercial activities. It was time to give her a raise, Bi Fang thought satisfactorily. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard ** Airlines. I am the chief flight attendant for this flight¡­¡± The broadcast came on, and Bi Fang put the newspaper back in its place and opened the virtual panel. The sky-blue, semi-transparent screen swiftly unfolded, listing all the information. After returning home last night, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t wait to activate Platinum Body. Then, there was no after that. The moment he activated it, Bi Fang felt a burning sensation throughout his body, and waves of sleepiness overwhelmed him. He didn¡¯t even have time to use the remaining Enhancement Points, nor did he make it to the bedroom; he fell asleep on the couch. Bi Fang was only woken up by the ring of his cellphone in the morning, and as soon as he awoke, he felt an uncomfortable churning sensation in his stomach. He was hungry. Having no other choice, Bi Fang hurriedly packed his things, went out to buy seven or eight steamed buns to eat while taking a taxi to catch the plane, and only now, after the plane had taken off smoothly, did he finally have time to check the changes in his panel content. As soon as the panel unfolded, Bi Fang acutely noticed the changes. [Sole Binder: Bi Fang] [Grow Age: 25] [Height: 186.1cm] [Mass: 78.1KG] [Strength: 15] [Body: 15] [Agility: 15] [Spirit: 15] [Platinum Body] [Status: Good] [Enhancement Points: 1] [Wilderness Points: 120 (convertible)] Orange trunk: Wilderness Traveler lv1. Purple branches: Special Recon Soldier lv2, Body Tempering lv1 (formed by a combination of Yoga, Pilates, and Calisthenics). Blue twigs: High-altitude Parachuting lv3, Tai Chi Traveling Dragon lv2, Archery lv1, Rock Climbing lv2, Biological Identification lv3, Swimming lv1, First Aid lv1. Green canopy: Cross-country Hiking lv5, Running lv5. Special Talent: Beastly Instinct. Trophy Skill: Wolves King¡¯s Sense of Smell, King Fish¡¯s Stomach, Biological Sensing. He had actually grown taller! His weight had also increased! Due to the existence of the panel, Bi Fang was very sensitive to his own physical fitness. Previously, his height had hovered between 183.5 and 184.5 centimeters, but now it had broken through to 186! Considering that he had just gotten up from bed in the morning, his current height should be between 185 and 186 centimeters, roughly a centimeter and a bit more, so he didn¡¯t have to worry about being noticed¡ªit¡¯s just a pair of shoes¡¯ difference. The weight change was significant too; after returning from Mount Everest, his weight had dropped, usually around 77, but now it had reached 78. Considering that he had eaten seven or eight steamed buns just an hour ago and now felt nothing, even a bit hungry, there must still be an energy gap to fill. The change was substantial. Bi Fang sat up straight and looked around. As it was a long-haul flight, many people were already resting with their eye masks on. He got up from his seat and headed straight to the restroom. Upon seeing his reflection in the mirror, that skin which appeared fair and smooth under the light, Bi Fang was stunned. Is this me? Chapter 434: 432: Meeting étienne Again After Half a Year. Chapter 434: Chapter 432: Meeting ¨¦tienne Again After Half a Year. Platinum Body also had a beautifying effect, which Bi Fang had never anticipated. Morning came in time, and after washing up without a thorough look, he now scrutinized himself on the plane, surprised by the significant change. Bi Fang¡¯s appearance wasn¡¯t bad; on the contrary, it could be described as excellent, with exceptionally handsome features that wouldn¡¯t be out of place as a righteous male lead in last century¡¯s Hong Kong or Taiwanese movies. It was what you¡¯d call a head start. Moreover, after experiencing adventure and crises time and again, Bi Fang exuded a strong sense of confidence and a wild temperament, complete with potent male pheromones. This was normal; it would be abnormal not to have such a presence. Humans under constant stress naturally produce testosterone and various hormones, which is good for men, making them appear more mature, more serious, and more charming, like a strong lion with a flowing mane encountered on the savannah. The reason women¡¯s football players often look tougher than male ones is also here: for the sake of glory, they have to make sacrifices much greater than male athletes. And because of frequent exposure to sun and wind, Bi Fang¡¯s original skin tone was also a bit darker, but now it had lightened again. The temperament wouldn¡¯t change, nor the facial features; instead, they had become even more attractive, with skin becoming extremely smooth, barely showing any pores and looking uniformly sleek and polished. He extended his hand and saw that the conspicuous white calluses had disappeared, but upon feeling around, Bi Fang realized the roughness was still there ¨C it was just invisible now. That was good news, he sighed with relief. It would have been a loss if ¡°beautification¡± had made him weaker. In the wilderness, one often needed to use hands to deal with all sorts of stones and branches; if the palms were soft and delicate, they¡¯d blister after a day¡¯s work, or even worse, could be worn raw. Bi Fang took off his shirt, and sure enough, everything had changed; apart from the skin, the muscle definition was also perfectly sculpted, presenting both harmony and strength. The Shark muscles on the sides of his waist were also more ferocious, resembling shark gills even more and brimming with explosive power. Even a sculpture crafted by Michelangelo couldn¡¯t be much better, right? True to its name, Platinum Body. Bi Fang thought to himself. But his delight faded the moment he stripped his clothes to his shoulders. It was gone. A man¡¯s badge of honor. Bi Fang¡¯s right shoulder had been injured in Mohe and left a scar, but now there was no trace of the wolf bite on his shoulder. After a long look, Bi Fang could only reluctantly accept the fact that his scars had truly disappeared. As he thought about putting his shirt back on, the bathroom door suddenly swung open. A well-dressed Caucasian woman entered, and when she caught sight of the streamlined muscles in front of the washbasin, her eyes lit up, ending up whistling appreciatively. Bi Fang nonchalantly got dressed, and as he brushed past her, dodged the hand she extended toward him, leaving the bathroom expressionless. Finland time, 2:55 p.m. Bi Fang, carrying his luggage and ignoring the woman behind him who was still throwing seductive glances, walked straight towards a signboard bearing his name. Guided by the greeter, he left the airport in an off-road vehicle, embarking on a long car journey. He was to cross the entirety of Finland, heading for the place where he first led the Geese into flight. Like all migratory creatures, they have a deep memory of their point of departure. Fortunately, Finland wasn¡¯t very large, and by nightfall, he had finally reached his destination. ¡°Hey, here we are!¡± Just after getting off the train, a faint yet distant voice came from afar and kept getting closer. Bi Fang hoisted his backpack and knew without thinking who it was. He had sent a message when he was about to arrive, and he did not expect that Elvan and the others would actually hurry over. Bi Fang laughed heartily, waving towards the distant flashlight: ¡°¨¦tienne!¡± The driver, seizing the chance before Bi Fang walked away, immediately took out paper and a pen, ¡°Mr. Bi, could you give me an autograph? My son is also a fan of yours!¡± ¡°Of course, I can.¡± Bi Fang took the pen and briskly signed his name in the notebook, and before leaving, he did not forget to tell the driver, ¡°It would be best not to tell others we¡¯re here, okay?¡± The driver did not understand why, but he nodded and indicated that it was no problem. Bi Fang turned back, by which time ¨¦tienne had also run up to him, panting heavily, his face displaying an unstoppable smile. Bi Fang extended his hand to mess up ¨¦tienne¡¯s hair, ¡°You rascal, you¡¯ve grown quite a bit!¡± Fourteen or fifteen is the time when teenagers shoot up in height. When they had traveled across Europe the year before, Bi Fang remembered that ¨¦tienne was a whole head shorter than him, but now, he had grown up to his nose. ¨¦tienne chuckled, the distance of not seeing each other for half a year quietly disappeared, and it seemed as though they had returned to the days when they first flew gliders together. The two chatted about the fun things that had happened in their lives recently, reminisced for a while, and then walked side by side toward Elvan and the others who were coming over. ¡°How¡¯s school? It¡¯s not summer vacation yet, right? How come you¡¯re already here?¡± ¡°I applied for an early vacation, and Elvan agreed.¡± Bi Fang suspected the kid was pulling his leg, ¡°Elvan agreed?¡± ¡°My grades last year were all excellent!¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°I never lie!¡± ¡°Have you started dating yet?¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Bi Fang laughed, ¡°Who is it? Your classmate?¡± ¡°Sort of.¡± ¨¦tienne felt a bit shy and kicked a pebble by his feet. In foreign countries, fifteen or sixteen years old is not considered too young to date, so Bi Fang was not too surprised and even teased him, ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you bring her along? Wow, at fifteen or sixteen, coming to the lakeside, setting up tents, under the possible auroral night sky, watching the geese you helped migrate thousands of kilometers return¡ªhow romantic. You might even teach her how to fly a glider.¡± ¨¦tienne glanced aside, dismissively saying, ¡°Though you make it sound nice, bringing along a girl is too much trouble, would you bring a woman to Wilderness Survivalist?¡± ¡°Hahaha! You rascal, how did you manage to start dating?¡± Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but ruffle his head again and stopped only when he saw Elvan and Lenin come over as well. ¡°Long time no see, Professor Elvan and Professor Lenin. I wonder if you were able to get a permit for the geese¡¯s return this time.¡± Bi Fang opened his arms and hugged them both. Elvan scratched his head, knowing that Bi Fang was teasing him about the incident when he had been deceived, and smiled helplessly, ¡°Actually, I could have obtained the permit, but they had issues, besides, you don¡¯t need a permit to wait for the geese to return.¡± ¡°When did you get here?¡± Lenin, happy to see his old friend, joined in. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Got here at three in the afternoon, then drove for a few more hours. Have you guys had dinner yet? I¡¯m almost starving.¡± ¡°Then you¡¯ve come at the perfect time, we¡¯ve just finished cooking the food, I think it¡¯s definitely better than what you ate on Mount Everest,¡± Elvan immediately invited. ¡°OK, I must have a good taste of the food cooked by a French chef. Where¡¯s Goose now?¡± ¡°According to the display, it¡¯s already at the border of Norway, and if nothing goes wrong, it should arrive in two or three days.¡± Bi Fang followed everyone to a small table by the lake but realized that there were not the tents he had imagined everywhere, nor the throngs of sightseers; he was somewhat surprised. He had thought it would be teeming with people. Chapter 435: 433 Chapter 435: 433 It seemed that Elvan had noticed Bi Fang¡¯s confusion and thus clarified the reason. Unlike the previous migration that received little care, this time the relevant departments were extremely cautious to prevent any accidents. Otherwise, the furious conservationists, in a moment of heated frustration, might have dragged them out of their beds and smashed their dog¡¯s heads. They had started planning as early as late April to early May, and an entire area nearby was put under surveillance to keep loiterers and unrelated individuals at bay. If tourists wandered in, they were persuaded to leave, and if persuasion failed, they were forcefully expelled. If Bi Fang hadn¡¯t sent a message, and Elvan hadn¡¯t informed the personnel in advance, they might also have encountered staff blocking their vehicle. ¡°That¡¯s, well, a bit over the top.¡± Bi Fang smirked, finding Finland¡¯s approach a tad overzealous, which in reality wasn¡¯t necessary at all. Even if unrelated individuals were around, it wouldn¡¯t have mattered. Conservationists were like a sword hanging over everyone¡¯s head, with a fighting power comparable to the Ugly Country¡¯s IRS. From lobsters that shouldn¡¯t be eaten alive to hunting geese, whoever acted wrongly would get their dog¡¯s head smashed. ¡°Alright, alright, dinner is served!¡± Lenin wrapped a towel around the pot handle to serve the food on the table, distributing cutlery for everyone to start eating. It was just a typical camping meal, which Bi Fang didn¡¯t mind since he was starving. After dinner, everyone sat by the lake, counting the stars. Unfortunately, there were no auroras that night. The sky wasn¡¯t dazzling with stars, but it was still a peaceful scene. The discussion was lively, mostly revolving around Bi Fang, and without exception, focused on his recent Everest challenge. Undoubtedly, for any ordinary person, Everest represented something extraordinary. Otherwise, among the fourteen peaks over 8,000 meters, it wouldn¡¯t be the only one to have achieved commercialization. As the conversation went on, ¨¦tienne even found an exceptional comment, which he saw by accessing the internet beyond the Great Firewall. Amidst the domestic environment full of praises, the report ¨¦tienne deliberately showed to Bi Fang was evidently not a positive one. ¡°So-called wilderness big brother, in his quest to conquer Everest, still damages the environment, doesn¡¯t he? By carving a notch in the rock, has he thought about the consequences?¡± The post was accompanied by an image of Bi Fang at a smooth rock face where there were no handholds, forcing him to wedge his ice axe in a crack to swing out. The poster was quite knowledgeable, outlining the differences between traditional climbing and sport climbing. In the former, a lead climber sets up protection points and then hangs a rope without leaving a trace, whereas in sport climbing, permanent bolts are placed into the rock face. Traditional climbing requires climbers to find cracks and place mechanical anchors with higher risks of failing. Simply put, the climber places an object in a rock crack to wedge it in place, hanging on to their own rope attached to the object to prevent a fall. Such a practice minimizes damage to the rock face and avoids leaving traces of artificial alterations. The critic believed that if Bi Fang were true to his word, he shouldn¡¯t have created cracks in the rock and damaged the local ecological environment, asserting that his publicly advocated environmental protection was merely lip service. With sound arguments and accompanying photos, a crowd of onlookers chanted ¡°666¡± in the comments, with likes even surpassing one hundred thousand. However, such opinions merely merited a glance from Bi Fang, who did not take them to heart. If there were fans, there would inevitably be haters. This seemed like an unavoidable issue for any public figure; even saints couldn¡¯t make everyone like them, How could an ordinary person? Both traditional climbing and sport climbing were mentioned; the critic clearly came prepared, intending to take a moral stance, but until now, Wolf Fang hadn¡¯t informed him, marking it as mere clownish behavior. Sure enough, there were comments below. [Post a picture but no video? Talking nonsense, aren¡¯t you? There are natural cracks on the rock face; using an ice axe is just like what you said about wedging an object into a crack, right?] [That¡¯s hilarious (covering mouth)] [No way, no way, surely no one really thinks they know more about rock climbing than the first Huaxian to solo climb Everest without oxygen, right?] [Streamers are never really the most cultured group, so this kind of person is to be expected] [Endorsed by both the Youth League and People¡¯s Daily, and even the Nepal Mountaineering Association has published an article. Not giving up yet? Here¡¯s the link: ASDFL16HJDGK531431535GL] Youth League? An article? Bi Fang curiously clicked into the official account of the youth organization and found that the most recent update was the climbing video he edited. From avalanche rescue to the final success of reaching the summit, the total duration was nearly two hours. The People¡¯s Daily did the same. Having two major channels with official tones not only silenced the detractors but also indirectly attracted a wave of attention. As for those who were so delusional to accuse insiders of protecting their own, the reports from Nepal could be thrown in their faces. Bi Fang clicked on the article from the Nepal Mountaineering Association, and after reading just the first chapter, he felt something was amiss. ¡°I conceived this article on the night Bi Fang descended, but being fully aware of my limited knowledge and naive views, I reserved my thoughts to pen. Originally intended as a record of my own thoughts, it was to serve as a document for constant introspection and reflection throughout my rock climbing learning and mountaineering experiences¡­¡± The article was extremely long, as he scrolled down it took quite some time, and more than half of it was about the author¡¯s climbing stories with him. Climbing with me? Written by a teammate? Bi Fang scrolled to the end and discovered that the author was Rob! ¡°I¡¯ve led many teams and met many people, men and women, of various professions, but Bi Fang gave me a different impression from everyone else. He seemed to be able to completely blend into any environment and live within it in an extremely natural and harmonious manner, before he arrived at the base camp¡­¡± ¡°Honestly, at first, I didn¡¯t think much of him. Before meeting him in person, I even considered him just a streamer who liked to boast. I believe any guide picking him up from the airport would have felt the same.¡± Rob rambled on about a lot in the middle, from the seven-day trek to base camp, from physical fitness to climbing skills, from everyone¡¯s reactions to the outcome, still facing the despair in the avalanche, to the joy after being saved. The advantage of text over video is the ample blank space it leaves, offering any reader a richer imagination. Rob¡¯s writing was not elegant, but it excelled in authenticity and a strong sense of imagery. Following Rob¡¯s perspective, many of Bi Fang¡¯s fans felt as if they were getting to know Master Fang all over again¡ª a more three-dimensional and interesting soul. It also made many realize the difficulty and true value of a no-oxygen solo climb of Mount Everest. Miles away, after reading the entire article once again, Rob exhaled softly, a faint smile appeared on his face as he gazed out at the mountains, seemingly still lost in memories of that figure in the wind and snow. He recalled the end of his article. ¡°In my view, maintaining a clear head and rationality is a very important ability for climbing high mountains. This probably applies not only to 8000-meter peak ascents but also to the climb of life. That is the unique aspect of life, isn¡¯t it? Risks that come unexpectedly are hidden within calm, and within despair, incredible miracles can be born. Many people do things that most others cannot understand, attracted by these unknowns all their lives. Some want to experience the adventures that the majority are afraid of and that they themselves are eager to undertake despite the risks, in their otherwise mundane lives. Because the essence of life itself is a time-limited experience. And the mountain is always there, with people always wanting to climb it.¡± ¡­ sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After reading the article in one go, ¨¦tienne looked at Bi Fang with a bright gaze. His eyes were full of admiration. ¡°There it is, what is that kid plotting in his head now?¡± Those embarrassingly adolescent phrases once again surged in Bi Fang¡¯s mind. Chapter 436: 433 The Goose Returns! Chapter 436: Chapter 433 The Goose Returns! Even in May, as the enduring frost of the Arctic Circle began to thaw and seep into the ground, it brought with it endless vitality. Bi Fang and ¨¦tienne stood by the lake at noon. Even in the Arctic Circle, the weather was not cold, and they both wore only a light shirt, each holding a fishing spear in their hands, scanning the area, clearly in search of today¡¯s lunch. ¡°Why do I feel like you¡¯ve changed?¡± ¨¦tienne glanced at Bi Fang from time to time. He hadn¡¯t noticed anything the night before, but looking at Bi Fang today, he sensed something was different from the live broadcast two days ago. It was hard to pinpoint exactly what was different¡­ Was he¡­ handsomer? ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because I¡¯ve come down from Mount Everest and rested for two days, so I¡¯ve gotten fairer,¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t expect ¨¦tienne to be so perceptive, and with a laugh, he quickly changed the subject. ¡°If you are really in the wilderness near a body of water, fishing is an excellent way to obtain high-quality protein, and compared to catching land animals, you have a higher chance of success in the water. Just make a spear, and even if you don¡¯t have much experience, you¡¯ll succeed after a few tries.¡± Sure enough, as Bi Fang carefully explained his experience, ¨¦tienne, who had been very concerned about the change, immediately put it out of his mind and listened intently. Since there was nothing else to do during the two days of waiting for the geese, Bi Fang simply took ¨¦tienne nearby for some hunting activities. Originally, they were setting traps to catch small animals, but after a busy morning without much success, Bi Fang turned to try the simpler task of fishing. ¡°You can use nets, hooks, spears, or lassos to catch fish, or even catch them directly with your hands. If you set traps in a stream, you can carry out other work while waiting for the fish to swim into them.¡± ¡°How can you catch fish with your hands?¡± asked ¨¦tienne curiously. Fish are strong and slippery. Wouldn¡¯t they easily slip away if you tried to catch them by hand? ¡°It depends on the fish. You can use your hands for fish in smaller lakes, or for those that move sluggishly.¡± Glancing around, Bi Fang spotted a palm-sized fish near a stone. To demonstrate, he handed the spear to ¨¦tienne, rolled up his sleeves and approached the fish. Bi Fang whispered slowly, ¡°First, pinpoint the fish¡¯s location, then gently and smoothly approach it from underneath with both hands, one hand towards the head and the other towards the tail. When you touch the fish¡¯s body, quickly grab it.¡± ¨¦tienne¡¯s eyes widened as he watched Bi Fang¡¯s hands sink slowly into the water, barely causing a ripple, very steady. The fish exchanging air in the puddle had no idea that a pair of large hands had already approached from behind, moving to encircle it from below. Bi Fang¡¯s motions were slow yet steady, his chest expansion almost invisible, as if he had stopped breathing. When catching fish by hand, impatience is the last thing you need. Your breathing must be slowed down to avoid ripples because fish can detect changes in the water through their lateral lines. Usually, the slightest disturbance will send them darting away. When Bi Fang¡¯s left hand was behind its tail and his right hand was about to touch its head, he struck like lightning less than half a palm¡¯s distance away, grabbing the fish firmly. Bi Fang scooped the fish out of the water and threw it onto the shore with a moon-in-the-well gesture. Without the water environment, the fish could only jump around on the mud, but its fate was no longer in its own fins. ¡°Fish are strong, and you can easily let them escape if you¡¯re not careful, so if the water is shallow, you can just flip them onto the shore, or knock them out with a rock or a stick,¡± said Bi Fang. ¡°Some fish like to hide in holes at the bottom, like catfish, for instance. You can reach into the hole to grab them. These fish are more aggressive and have sharp teeth that can bite, so if you¡¯re not sure what¡¯s in the hole, it¡¯s not advisable to take the risk.¡± ¨¦tienne asked, ¡°Then how do you determine what kind of fish it is?¡± Bi Fang straightened up, shook off the water as he moved from the water to the shore, ¡°This really tests your fundamental knowledge. First, you need to know what common species of fish are distributed in the general latitude and longitude areas, and also determine, based on the temperature and the aquatic environment, which fish are active in the current season, as well as what are the habits of many common fish. All these test your basic skills, and you can¡¯t learn them just by watching fishing one or two times.¡± Knowledge is power, this saying is applicable everywhere, and often the more skilled a Wilderness Survival expert is, the wider range of subjects they master, and the deeper their understanding of various species. ¨¦tienne nodded helplessly. Bi Fang picked up a fish from the shore to look at and chuckled, ¡°Hey, it¡¯s a slant-tooth bream, we¡¯re in luck.¡± ¡°Lakes in Finland are rich in aquatic plants, and slant-tooth bream is the most abundant edible fish in this kind of environment. It¡¯s also one of the easiest fish to catch besides perch. Moreover, the end of May and the beginning of June is the spawning period for slant-tooth bream, which makes the meat rich and delicious, and it¡¯s the peak time for shore fishing.¡± ¨¦tienne¡¯s eyes sparkled, rich and delicious meat! With their catch, their hunting enthusiasm quickly soared. They stored the fish in a mesh bag and continued on, successfully catching a total of five slant-tooth bream before dinner. Among them, three were caught by ¨¦tienne, of course, part of the reason was Bi Fang intentionally letting him try his hand at it. For the next two days, Bi Fang and ¨¦tienne went out hunting whenever they had free time, from making traps to hunting techniques, as well as some common animal knowledge, all of which ¨¦tienne found fascinating. Unfortunately, land animals were much harder to catch than aquatic creatures, and despite setting traps with the knowledge taught by Bi Fang for two consecutive days, he didn¡¯t catch any prey. As for actual hunting, that was utterly useless; rabbits, for instance, weren¡¯t just difficult to approach within a ten-meter radius, even twenty meters was challenging. Whenever they spotted a rabbit, the rabbit also noticed him, and what followed was a mutual stare followed by a frantic chase. Bi Fang laughed heartily, consoling, ¡°Don¡¯t lose heart, land animals are not so easy to catch, otherwise skilled hunters would be everywhere, right? You have the knowledge, but it¡¯s very difficult to combine it with practice and use it proficiently.¡± ¨¦tienne sighed but wasn¡¯t too disheartened, ¡°Let¡¯s go fishing again this afternoon.¡± ¨¦tienne turned his gaze to the lake, and suddenly his eyes lit up, pointing to a surface of the water shimmering with light, ¡°Hey, look!¡± ¨¦tienne rounded a slight angle and indeed saw a large fish beneath the lake¡¯s surface. ¡°It¡¯s a dogfish!¡± Bi Fang, with sharp eyes, recognized what fish it was immediately and warned ¨¦tienne to be careful, ¡°Dogfish are ferocious¡­¡± Just as Bi Fang was about to elaborate, back in the distant RV, Elvan opened his computer, ready to monitor the movements of the geese, when suddenly the red dots appeared on the screen, showing they were less than a hundred kilometers away! S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Elvan and Lenin were first stunned. The next second, Bi Fang and the others saw the two of them excitedly run out of the RV, shouting loudly at them. ¡°Hey, come quick, the geese are coming!¡± Chapter 437: 435: The Clubs Grand Opening is Imminent Chapter 437: Chapter 435: The Club¡¯s Grand Opening is Imminent ¡°` The flight speed of geese is extremely fast, with the ability to fly seventy to ninety kilometers per hour, and they depart at dusk or night, resting during the day, flying for an entire night. Initially, Bi Fang and ¨¦tienne had spent nearly a month¡¯s time, which was entirely for the geese¡¯s accommodation; otherwise, it would have been faster. One hundred kilometers were but a blink of an eye, perhaps two hours later, the geese might appear here! Elvan and Lenin exchanged glances, their eyes filled with indescribable excitement. Victory was in sight; as long as the geese landed on the surface of this lake, everything they had done, everything they had given, would be valuable, would be meaningful! Recalling everything from the past, it seemed as if it was still before their eyes. This flock of White-fronted Geese had always taken the same route annually, flying from Germany to Sweden and then back from Sweden to Germany. No matter how terrible the weather conditions were during the flight or how arduous the journey, this flock of geese was resolute to follow through the route to the end without regard for turning back. Not only this flock but the other groups of White-fronted Geese, were all stubbornly following this one and only migration route from Germany to Sweden. Elvan, of course, knew that the migratory routes of birds were accumulated over tens of thousands of years through evolution by countless generations of their ancestors. The only problem was that, in the past hundred years, human activities had greatly altered the environment along the migratory routes of the birds, whether it be the terrain, the air, the light, or even the distribution of food. Yet, these brave and tenacious migratory birds still followed the route chosen by their ancestors, migrating the same way year after year. Migrating was also the most difficult and deadliest stage in the life cycle of migratory birds, and as migratory birds stuck to this fixed route, which had become extremely dangerous due to human activities over the past century, even the strongest could not escape the annual demise. From the moment Elvan decided to give his all, he decided that he must find a way to help the migratory birds change their original migration route and open up several new, safer migratory routes! But. It was very difficult. From the repeated setbacks at the start of the plan application, to the blood test report mistakes after the trial was agreed upon, and even to the poachers who later appeared to capture them. Even after everything had ended, some still believed that this was merely an exercise in animal training rather than a true scientific migration experiment and were pessimistic about the outcome of the action. Elvan¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears, and he wiped ceaselessly with both hands while Lenin patted his shoulder, softly comforting his friend. ¨¦tienne also sat quietly, like many children of his age, who before the goose project, always filled with incomprehension and rebellion towards his father¡¯s actions, yet after growing up with the geese and going through a miraculous adventure, he understood the greatness in such acts. They had flown over lakes and seas, leaped over mountains and rivers, Encountered wild beasts, and weathered extremely severe weather, Received help, and also faced pursuit. All to send the geese on their migration. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go out and wait,¡± Bi Fang said with anticipation filling his heart; even he couldn¡¯t help but get excited at this moment. Changing the future of a species! Everyone nodded, and with excitement, they walked out of the RV and came to the lakeside, facing south in unison, gazing, just gazing. One hour. Two hours. Three hours. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The geese had still not appeared. Elvan panicked, was there really a problem with the plan? Why hadn¡¯t they appeared yet? Elvan stepped out, frantic, wanting to return to the RV to confirm the geese¡¯s trajectory again, but he was held back firmly by a large hand. Elvan turned back to look at Bi Fang¡¯s smiling face indicating the sky. His heart began to pound violently as he slowly looked up; the sky was clear as wash. A thin black line appeared at the end of the blue and white sky, the geese flapping swiftly, diving toward the surface of the lake. They had flown over lakes and seas, leaped over mountains and rivers, ¡°` They helped each other and faced predators. All for the migration back home. Now, everything had proven that they could migrate back and forth on their own. It was a success. ¡°Splash!¡± ¨¦tienne, barefoot, jumped into the lake and headed toward the direction from which the geese were coming, his eyes taking in the shimmering ripples of light everywhere. ¡°Click!¡± At two in the afternoon, all of Bi Fang¡¯s fans noticed that he had unusually posted an update on his social media. The main content was a photo. Under the clear sky with lush grass gleaming, bending low in the wind, a boy dressed in brown hemp cloth rolled up his pants, stepping into the water. The geese flapped their wings and rushed into the lake, creating ripples that spread out in circles toward the boy. ¡°Three days ago, I was invited by Professor Elvan to wait for the geese to return. Everything went smoothly, and the geese successfully returned. Regrettably, the total number of the flock increased by quite a bit, with a total of twenty-four, as wild solitary geese joined the flock. However, of the original eighteen geese, only fifteen returned, with three encountering mishaps. ¨¦tienne, who was supposed to be elated, ended up crying (big laugh).¡± ¡°In fact, each goose was fitted with a tracker (Johnny had inquired about this before, but Professor Elvan was adamant there weren¡¯t any). When there were only fifteen red dots, everyone was prepared mentally. ¨¦tienne is still too young and unwilling to accept reality. However, we can understand, after all, he raised these geese.¡± ¡°But don¡¯t be disappointed, everyone. Nature is like this. Do you remember the lynxes we encountered during the migration? Such dangers are countless during actual migration. The fact that fifteen returned shows that this group of little guys is indeed quite lucky.¡± ¡°And there is good news. Each year, the geese return to the Arctic Tundra for breeding. Professors Elvan and Lenin will continue to stay here to observe the geese and wait for them to have their goslings and migrate a second time.¡± ¡°Having only a dozen geese is still quite dangerous; a big storm could wipe them all out. But after a few repetitions and the numbers increase, everyone won¡¯t have to worry. Then, this migration route will truly be successfully established.¡± As soon as the update was released, news of the geese¡¯s timely return spread quickly across the globe, from domestic to foreign fans. ¡°The big boss finally remembered his social media platform password! Cry.jpg.¡± ¡°Damn, why didn¡¯t you livestream it!¡± ¡°How come you¡¯re only posting such important news now?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve lost your coin.¡± ¡°I want to see the geese hatching.¡± ¡°As soon as I heard this news, I couldn¡¯t help but run to my friend¡¯s grave to tell him that the geese had finally returned, that his sacrifice was not in vain. Then my friend struggled to stretch his hand out of the soil and liked this update.¡± ¡°Makes you wonder how those ¡®animal training experts¡¯ feel now, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°So, when¡¯s the next livestream?¡± ¡°After climbing Mount Everest, you have to rest. We probably won¡¯t see Old Fang livestreaming in May.¡± ¡°Really blazed a new trail here, huh? Isn¡¯t this better than stopping a truckload of dog meat on the highway? Learn something!¡± It was unknown how many people shared the update after its release. To countless people, Bi Fang was not just a streamer but an animal protector, a dream worshipper, and an incredibly capable adventurer. Especially, Bi Fang¡¯s various experiences added a legendary hue to his life. He was a young, mysterious special forces officer, with a perfect build and handsome looks, idealistic ambitions, cross-disciplinary talents, strong abilities, and a mix of rationality and passion. And most crucially, he was rich! Whilst other streamers were still begging and screaming for tips, Bi Fang had already discovered a species, saved a species, and save hundreds of people! What is a legend? This is a legend! He set off on a path of badassery, never to return, riding alone and unmatched on the road of wandering the ends of the earth. Many romance novels had already featured Bi Fang as the male protagonist, and apparently, they were doing quite well, becoming increasingly popular. However, less than half an hour after this update was posted, the fans noticed that Bi Fang had released a second message. ¡°Wilderness Club will officially launch on June 1st, please look forward to it.¡± Chapter 438: 436: Initial Completion Chapter 438: Chapter 436: Initial Completion ¡°Wow, is this Huaxia?¡± On the plane, ¨¦tienne followed Bi Fang down the aircraft. In the surging crowd, faces filled with Eastern features were everywhere, a sight seldom seen in ¨¦tienne¡¯s life experience. ¨¦tienne had visited many countries in Europe, but everywhere he went, he found similar faces, similar cultures, nothing unusual. Such a stark contrast filled him with curiosity as he looked left and right. ¡°Let¡¯s go, don¡¯t wander off.¡± Bi Fang waved his hand, motioning for ¨¦tienne to follow closely behind. Two days ago, after welcoming the goose, Bi Fang received a notification from Yao Jun that the club was about to open, which is why he hadn¡¯t come to see the goose with the others. Unlike Bi Fang, who was a hands-off boss, Yao Jun and Lin Chang had invested not just money but also much effort into it. Upon hearing the news, how could ¨¦tienne miss out? He insisted on coming, while Elvan and Lenin stayed in the Arctic Tundra to continue observing the geese. So ¨¦tienne came to the Magic Capital with Bi Fang. ¡°Hey, Bi Fang, I want this!¡± ¨¦tienne pointed to a pancake stall on the roadside. Although he had never seen it before, the fragrant aroma successfully attracted the foreign boy. Bi Fang was hailing a cab. Hearing this, he turned his head, pointed at a few ingredients, and shouted, ¡°Boss, add two more eggs.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Minutes later, ¨¦tienne happily held his pancake roll as he got into the car. Surprisingly, just as they got in, the taxi driver shouted out. ¡°Holy crap! Master Fang!¡± ¡°Hey, it¡¯s you again?¡± Bi Fang also recognized the driver at a glance¡ªit was the same one who had agreed to not charge him but ended up with the fare automatically deducted from his phone! Life is truly full of such unexpected encounters. He hadn¡¯t expected to bump into him again so coincidentally. Speaking of which, the taxi driver scratched his head embarrassedly, finding it awkward to face the original passenger: ¡°Haha, who would have thought, right? I was so happy last time that I forgot the charge was automatic. This time, this time it¡¯s definitely on the house! Cancel the ride, I¡¯ll give you a free lift.¡± Bi Fang waved his hand dismissively: ¡°I was just joking. If you really enjoy my content, just watch more videos¡ªthat¡¯s the biggest support for me.¡± It had been a joke before, and Bi Fang wasn¡¯t one to fuss over the hard-earned money of others, right? The taxi driver nodded repeatedly: ¡°Of course, I always donate coins for your videos, not like those freeloaders who just watch without contributing. I even vote when I read novels to support the official release!¡± Bi Fang chuckled and nodded: ¡°Right, support the official release!¡± ¡°Big Boss, I heard your club is opening?¡± On the way, the driver asked curiously. The news that the club would open on Children¡¯s Day had spread across the globe after two days of fermenting. By now, Bi Fang¡¯s global fan base was at least over fifty million, and could possibly have exceeded one hundred million. Many people commented on his updates saying they would definitely return to the Magic Capital on Children¡¯s Day to show their support. Some even from overseas said they were already processing their visas and passports and would fly over as soon as the day came. Though many comments might be jokes, they still attested to the global fan base¡¯s anticipation for the event. It had been over half a year since the news of the club¡¯s preparation began. Even though, from a construction standpoint, that was fast, for the fans, it felt like an eternity. Ordinarily, seeing Bi Fang was impossible; he participated in no events, appeared on no shows, with his only appearance being on a talk show far across the Pacific Ocean. Now, at last, there was a chance to be up close with the big shot¡ªhow could they not be excited? Hearing the driver¡¯s question, Bi Fang nodded: ¡°Yes, make sure to come by to show your support.¡± ¡°Definitely, definitely,¡± the driver nodded, then added with a hint of regret, ¡°It¡¯s a pity my son is already in junior high. They don¡¯t get a holiday for Children¡¯s Day, or else I would definitely take him with me.¡± ¡°Children¡¯s Day this year is on the weekend, and if he¡¯s in junior high¡­ he should get the day off, right?¡± Bi Fang was about to suggest they go together, but he hesitated, remembering the current educational system¡ªjunior high students are so busy even on Saturdays and Sundays that they might not be free. ¡°Oh, really? Then that¡¯s perfect, we can go together!¡± The driver immediately brightened, but then his face fell again, ¡°But the club you¡¯re opening, it¡¯s not going to be expensive, is it?¡± ¡°Hahaha, don¡¯t worry, there¡¯s no need to be concerned about that. Visiting is completely free. You can even sit in on lessons and watch the hunting, but if you want to take real classes and receive training, that will cost money.¡± ¡°Hunting, can you still hunt?¡± the driver pricked up his ears. ¡°Of course¡­¡± Bi Fang chatted with the driver all the way, and although ¨¦tienne had learned a bit of Chinese, he still wasn¡¯t fluent, simply watching silently out the window. Soon, the car arrived at the entrance of the club, and through the car window, the driver¡¯s mouth hung open in surprise. How grand! sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Once inside the street, the level of greenery around surged up more than just one level; the entrance was a large square with a huge fountain in the center, topped with an enormous circular platform that seemed intended for something, but nothing was placed there yet. Surrounding the square were various sports equipment, many bowl-shaped terrains, and sports fields. From the square¡¯s cameras, a massive domed building, akin to a grand hall, stood with different venues within it, and behind it, you could clearly see a large expanse of ground that almost resembled a plain, with horses galloping across it. The driver and ¨¦tienne swallowed hard, overwhelmed by the grandeur. Even within the urban district, such a large piece of land would definitely cost a staggering sum! The driver hesitated for a moment, then asked subconsciously, ¡°Gosh, how much would this cost?¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t answer; he only knew that because of this club, he had always been a ¡°wealthy pauper.¡± Fortunately, the location was secluded, and the main hunting grounds were almost entirely natural, so there wasn¡¯t too much to worry about. Moreover, as a visible tourism project, the government stepped in with special subsidies, providing many land and construction privileges, which is how this enormous venue was built. After saying goodbye to the driver, Bi Fang and ¨¦tienne entered the venue, led by security. As soon as they went in, ¨¦tienne¡¯s mouth opened wide in amazement. Upon entering the hall, the first thing that did not catch his eye was the interior furnishings but rather the paintings on the high walls around them, reaching up to a dozen meters tall, decorated with one after another of unimaginably enormous, oversized oil paintings. The paintings engulfed ¨¦tienne, making him feel like an ant that had wandered into a classical yet immense European cathedral at night. ¨¦tienne walked around, looking at each painting in turn, the shock in his eyes growing ever more intense. In the first, vast Primeval Forest, Bi Fang gripped a spear, his muscles taut and stretched as if ready to strike, like a gladiator from ancient Rome about to stab at a massive Black Bear lunging towards him. The second depicted a broad expanse of snowfield, with Bi Fang holding high a torch, leading people as tiny as ants through the blizzard, with a fierce and vast pack of wolves following behind. In the third, within a pitch-dark cave, Bi Fang held a torch, cautiously exploring the path ahead, and around the corner, a monstrous creature resembling a Crocodile revealed half its savage face in the dark. The fourth showed a glimmering sea of clouds above, with drones filming the abyss, bursting out of darkness and filled with Purple lightning. On both sides, tired Geese flanked Bi Fang, who had a resolute look on his face, while ¨¦tienne behind him was filled with joy. ¡°I¡¯m there too! Look, there¡¯s me!¡± ¨¦tienne exclaimed excitedly, jumping around when he saw himself in the gigantic paintings. Bi Fang, however, continued walking forward. In the fifth, the perspective zoomed out, looking down upon an endless ocean. Above the azure sea, Bi Fang stood on a tiny raft, with a Shark skeleton arranged on it, covered in fresh blood. Below the raft, a vast Blue Whale, a Behemoth out of legend, revealed most of its body. The sixth portrayed Bi Fang standing on the roof of an abandoned building, looking over a city ablaze like a sea of fire, with disheveled disaster victims by his side. The seventh was a towering snow-capped mountain, Bi Fang stood at its peak, holding the five-starred red flag high in hand, with a golden, boundless sea of clouds before him. The eighth was blank. The ninth was still blank. ¡°Seems like they¡¯re left empty for future exciting scenes,¡± Bi Fang thought to himself. Had he really created so many remarkable moments without realizing? ¨¦tienne ran over too. He looked at the ample space left for more paintings, yet all remained empty. But at the very center, there was a huge black screen, the same size as the enormous oil paintings, and he asked curiously, ¡°What¡¯s that for?¡± ¡°That¡¯s for broadcasting live!¡± Yao Jun came in from the hall entrance, a smile spread across his face. ¡°This screen will show live broadcasts exclusively during Bi Fang¡¯s livestreams. That would be the best and most wonderful painting, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± Chapter 439: 437: The Enormous Venue Chapter 439: Chapter 437: The Enormous Venue ¡°` In the circular hall, a dozen giant oil paintings framed a screen of the same size in the center. Yao Jun turned to his assistant behind him and gave a few instructions; the assistant hurried away. Before long, all the lights in the circular hall suddenly went out, leaving only the spotlights below the oil paintings on, illuminating their content. At the same moment, the dark screen lit up; a magnificent snow-capped mountain descended from above, with a tiny figure moving slowly and steadily upon it. It was Bi Fang climbing Mount Everest¡ª the image was incredibly sharp, even with a naked-eye 3D effect! Just this one screen must have cost a fortune! After a full ten minutes of display, the lights in the entire venue came on again, ¨¦tienne and Bi Fang still somewhat hungry for more. Climbing oneself didn¡¯t feel like much, but watching it was astonishing, especially the stark contrast between the mountain ranges and the silhouette of the person. ¡°Brilliant!¡± Bi Fang gave two thumbs up to them, as the hands-off boss, he had hardly been involved in the construction of the venue and had never imagined that the club could deliver such a big surprise. The mere size of those oil paintings was enough to bring him a tremendous sense of impact and pressure, not to mention the tension filled within the paintings. It had to be said, the artistic conception of ink wash painting is unparalleled, inviting to the spirit, but oil painting¡¯s capacity to convey tension in epic scenes is even more shocking. One could fully imagine what the visitors¡¯ feelings would be when they arrived here. Yao Jun explained, ¡°This is just a rehearsal broadcast, in the future the screen will only light up when you¡¯re live-streaming; at other times, it will remain off.¡± Noticing ¨¦tienne¡¯s presence, Yao Jun made a point of explaining in English. ¨¦tienne¡¯s esteem greatly increased, but he was curious, ¡°Why not broadcast continuously?¡± Lin Chang took over, ¡°This is to ensure it draws attention. If it were broadcasting all the time, wouldn¡¯t it just be like a square¡¯s big screen?¡± This was originally Lin Chang¡¯s idea; broadcasting non-stop 24/7 seemed to him no different from square broadcasts. It was too low-brow. Couldn¡¯t visitors watch Master Fang¡¯s live streams elsewhere? What the people coming here wanted was exclusivity, that personal experience atmosphere, not just a repeating loop on a plaza screen. In a club founded by Master Fang, watching a screen that lights up only for him is the real core attraction; scarcity makes it precious. When the screen lights up, the hall will surely be packed with the crowd. ¡°You must be ¨¦tienne?¡± Yao Jun turned to ¨¦tienne at his side. ¨¦tienne nodded vigorously, excited, ¡°I know, you¡¯re Mr. Yao Jun; I¡¯ve seen you in the Mount Everest live stream.¡± Yao Jun cocked his head toward the inner part of the venue and called out, ¡°Come on, let me show you the interior architecture!¡± ¡°Wu Hu!¡± ¨¦tienne raced to the front excitedly. Yao Jun, Lin Chang, and Bi Fang followed behind, discussing some more specific matters. ¡°Do you plan to put something on that fountain outside?¡± Bi Fang recalled the massive platform on the outside fountain and asked with curiosity. ¡°Your statue!¡± Yao Jun was exuberant. ¡°It¡¯s based on the moment you were reaching the summit of Everest, stepping on the peak, holding the red flag. That scene is simply too cool! Unfortunately, it hasn¡¯t been completed yet, but there¡¯s still half a month till opening; that¡¯s enough time.¡± It had only been a week since the Mount Everest summit, the oil paintings perhaps could be rushed, but clearly not the statue. Bi Fang was stunned, somewhat embarrassed, ¡°Let¡¯s change it; preferably not to include me.¡± Yao Jun was taken aback, ¡°Why?¡± S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That was the scene he had envisioned, a multi-meter high marble statue, how stunning! How could he just cancel it? ¡°` Lin Chang pondered for a moment before speaking, ¡°Is it too personalized?¡± Bi Fang nodded, ¡°This is a club, not my personal memorial hall. It¡¯s open to all lovers of nature and wilderness, not just my fans. My fans alone cannot sustain it. The oil paintings just now were already quite exaggerated, but they were inside the venue, which is just right. However, placing a sculpture in the plaza is overdoing it.¡± Yao Jun also realized this and nodded. If a stranger interested in nature came here and the first thing they saw was a statue of someone they didn¡¯t recognize or care for, wouldn¡¯t it be off-putting? This is the Wilderness and Nature Club, not the Bi Fang Fan Club. The former is already a niche; if you add an even smaller circle within that, it¡¯s completely self-limiting and pointless. The oil paintings and large screen in the first pavilion are enough to excite the fans, especially since there¡¯s a special exhibition hall behind it containing traps and weapons mentioned by Bi Fang. Visitors can even take away a wolf tooth or shark tooth made of jade or glass when they leave. ¡°What should we erect then? The platform is already built, and the sculpture work has started. Mount Everest¡¯s summit has already been carved halfway. Moreover, if we have to re-carve it, half a month may not be enough time,¡± Yao Jun did not want his hard work to go to waste and still wanted to fight for it. In half a month, the business will open, and having an empty platform above the fountain would look out of place no matter how you look at it. Bi Fang stroked his chin, thinking for a while, ¡°Have them change the plan. Remove me from Mount Everest and carve animals on the mountain instead, in a semi-relief style, bears, wolves, deer, and gharials. If there are better ideas in the future, we can replace them.¡± Yao Jun thought for a moment and nodded. This would also allow for secondary use and wouldn¡¯t be too tight on the schedule. The group followed ¨¦tienne, venue by venue, observing. Since ¨¦tienne did not understand Chinese, he tried each of them under the guidance of the staff. Bi Fang and the others watched with interest, as if they were simulating visitors entering the place. Fighting, archery, swimming, rock climbing¡­ All these were indoor sports venues, but the major attraction was certainly not there. If it solely relied on these, it would become an alternative niche sports hall, and it would have to close in three days. As a wilderness club, these sports venues are indispensable, but when it comes to making money, that¡¯s definitely limited. There are not many people who love sports, let alone those who love these niche sports. To drive consumption, you have to rely on the general public. A single person spending ten million is far less effective than ten thousand people spending a thousand each. This was something learned in middle school business classes, so solutions had to be found in operation. ¡°So we also referred to the youth center model and launched summer and winter courses for young people, similar to Ugly Country¡¯s summer camp training. Train here for a month and you can participate in a week-long outdoor camping activity,¡± Yao Jun explained. It has to be said that the main spending force is still young people and women¡­ But relying solely on operations isn¡¯t enough; there must be core competitiveness. Hence, in addition to sports venues, there were also larger Rainforest Museums, Desert Pavilions, and Ocean Pavilions. ¡°Ocean Pavilion?¡± Bi Fang stopped in his tracks and looked at Yao Jun and Lin Chang, dumbfounded. He knew about the first two; after all, Bi Fang was not completely unaware, owning a large share, so he had some knowledge about them. But what was the deal with the last one? These pavilions covered a very large area, so immense that even Bi Fang felt astonished when he first saw the design plan. If you ignored the roof, you couldn¡¯t tell it was an indoor environment. Inside, the terrain was modeled entirely after the rainforest and desert and hid many environmental creatures. For example, the Rainforest Museum was a complete rainforest. Apart from the plants, there were many special environments simulated with glass tanks containing rainforest creatures, poison dart frogs, snakes, and other animals. They even released harmless creatures, like lizards, for close contact. Of course, these were all managed by professionals to avoid any animal casualties due to trampling. But the Ocean Pavilion, that must be expensive, right? Unlike the rainforest and desert that only needed to be laid out, the construction of the ocean venue was a completely different model. From the water circulation system to the construction of super-large custom aquariums and the development of the ecological environment. And this thing requires animals you don¡¯t normally see, such as sharks, sailfish, and dolphins. Otherwise, it¡¯s no better than going to the local fish market. But these creatures are neither cheap nor easy for ordinary people to acquire, and they are not easy to maintain. They require specialized breeders, very different from the ¡°breeders¡± who could work with minimal training in the Rainforest Museum. Yao Jun and Lin Chang exchanged smiles, ¡°It all comes back to policy support. When the proposal was first submitted, the local government was interested in supporting it. Many concessions were made, and even nearby planning was rearranged. For example, the original Ocean Pavilion that was to be relocated is being moved right here to us.¡± ¡°Considering the timing, it should be almost complete. Do you want to take a look?¡± Chapter 440: 438: On Childrens Day, the Screen Came to Life. Chapter 440: Chapter 438: On Children¡¯s Day, the Screen Came to Life. ¡°` My influence wasn¡¯t quite at this level six months ago, was it? The thought hit Bi Fang first, but glancing at Lin Chang and Yao Jun, he had a sudden realization. He might not have been sufficient back then, but who else was involved in submitting the application! Yao Jun was somewhat capable, but it was his dad who was really influential. Lin Chang was also formidable. With their combined efforts and a seemingly good idea, that was enough. Besides the oceanarium, there was also a hotel nearby, both built after meticulous planning, essentially acting as free complementary facilities¡ªit all came together perfectly. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s check out the Rainforest Museum first.¡± Bi Fang called over ¨¦tienne, who was having a blast at the archery range, and the group headed towards the Rainforest Museum. Upon entering, they were immediately enveloped by a thick, moist air. Bi Fang exclaimed, ¡°How many humidifiers did you guys install?¡± ¨¦tienne¡¯s eyes widened in amazement¡ªit was just so vast, the whole venue was enormous! Stepping further inside, it didn¡¯t feel like being indoors at all. It was as if they were truly walking through a rainforest, and if it weren¡¯t for the occasional exposed support pillar reminding them they were still in the city, it would feel entirely dreamlike. ¡°I feel like just this Rainforest Museum could keep me occupied for a whole day,¡± Bi Fang marveled. Design plans were one thing, but the actual sensory experience was completely different. After all, it¡¯s all about the scale for such venues; grand in every sense. Anything smaller would lack any sense of immersion or experience. It¡¯s like if an aquarium could display a living adult Blue Whale¡ª even if it had nothing else, it would still be packed! Naturally, that¡¯s not really realistic or ethical. But with such a grand Rainforest Museum, it¡¯s no wonder it cost so much. Worth it! Unable to help himself, ¨¦tienne slowed his pace. Just as he looked up briefly, he felt something hard bump into him. Looking down, he found himself staring at a brown-spotted snake. ¡°Snake! Snake! Snake!¡± ¨¦tienne screamed, recoiling in fright and nearly falling over. Bi Fang quickly steadied him, comforting, ¡°OK, OK, don¡¯t be afraid!¡± Lin Chang laughed, ¡°Take a closer look, it¡¯s inside a glass enclosure, no danger at all.¡± ¨¦tienne, heart still racing, took several deep breaths and looked again, realizing it was indeed just an ecological display! Due to the foliage, the glass didn¡¯t reflect, and the edges had been treated to appear nearly invisible. Coupled with an environment that matched the exterior, it was hard to tell that the snake was inside an enclosure, instead of out in the open! Yao Jun couldn¡¯t hide his glee. Crafting the edge of the glass enclosure had been his idea, aiming for this exact effect. When visitors were exploring the rainforest, suddenly finding a venomous snake opening its jaws right in front of them¡­ Still shaken, ¨¦tienne asked, ¡°What kind of snake is this?¡± ¡°A Tricolor lance-headed viper, a deadly snake. It¡¯s considered the primary culprit in local snakebite incidents due to its proximity to human dwellings, earning it the reputation as one of the most dangerous snakes in the area¡ªthe ultimate viper,¡± Bi Fang said, his eyebrows rising as he looked towards Yao Jun and Lin Chang, ¡°How did you get it? It¡¯s quite dangerous.¡± ¡°It¡¯s taken care of,¡± Yao Jun slapped Bi Fang¡¯s shoulder reassuringly. ¡°I know how you are, the Rainforest Museum and Desert Pavilion predominantly feature common snakes, not any rare animals, and there are no animal performances. This wasn¡¯t our doing. Huaxia doesn¡¯t have these anyway; they were provided by the animal protection association after negotiations¡­¡± Lin Chang added, ¡°There¡¯s a dedicated caretaker, the fangs have been removed, and to prevent regrowth, there are regular checks. We¡¯ve also prepared all the necessary antivenom¡ªtriple insurance¡ªto ensure, even if it escapes, there¡¯s no danger. Plus, we have chosen single-sex populations, so even in the event of an earthquake, preventing any chance of an invasive species problem.¡± Bi Fang nodded, reassured that both men had thought of everything. Even if something went wrong, professional teams were there to assist. Upon a cursory glance, Bi Fang also discovered that Yao Jun and Lin Chang had managed to acquire a Golden Python¡­ Through a massive glass window nested in a corner of the rainforest, camouflaged by foliage matching the environment, complete with a small pool. The more Bi Fang looked at it, the more familiar it seemed. Pointing to the large snake within the glass, he questioned, ¡°Have I seen this Golden Python somewhere before?¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± Yao Jun burst into laughter, clapping Bi Fang on the shoulder and giving a thumbs up, ¡°Correct, it¡¯s the same one you caught a long time ago. We contacted the zoo to bring it here. How about that, happy to see an old acquaintance?¡± Bi Fang: ¡°¡­¡± Beyond the rainforest, there was also a three-meter-wide stream in the middle, at the end of which was a waterfall, flanked by rock walls fitted with climbing stones¡ªtruly impressive. After a quick tour of the Rainforest Museum, the group moved on to the Desert Pavilion, which focused more on animals since it lacked the all-encompassing canopy of the rainforest and endless sands didn¡¯t hold much intrigue. ¡°` ¡°` But as soon as they entered, unlike the stuffy rainforest, everyone could feel an obvious burning sensation. Looking around, there were a dozen camels and the same number of ecological cylinders. It wasn¡¯t as breathtaking as the rainforest, but it was still a nice scene. Interestingly, Yao Jun mysteriously pulled Bi Fang aside to a small sand dune, rubbed it several times, and finally swept away the surface sand to reveal a small wooden plank door. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Bi Fang was startled, and a guess formed in his mind, ¡°An underground cave?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, a simple underground maze with an underground river flowing inside, stocked with some small fish. The water flow is recycled from the fountain outside,¡± Yao Jun said proudly. ¡°But of course, it won¡¯t be as complicated as the original. We have to consider safety as well. So, it¡¯s just a simple maze. Generally, it takes two or three tries to get out.¡± Bi Fang nodded, having to admit that he was very satisfied with all the arrangements, especially after taking ¨¦tienne¡¯s advice into account. ¡°This is so cool! Really, this is an entire ecological museum! It has everything! I think it could totally work in Ugly Country or Europe, just like Disneyland!¡± Bi Fang scratched ¨¦tienne¡¯s head; although the guy was a fan of his, and quite an enthusiastic one, his opinions might not be very influential, but they still held some value. As for opening two more, well, maybe not. Just this one almost emptied him out. Opening two more might as well put him in a blender and juice him. Speaking of Disney, he wondered if the project they had agreed upon had started and what the progress was like since there had been no news. He¡¯d have to ask about it later. Bi Fang, who had sold the rights, was quite concerned about it. The Ocean Pavilion that came next was also a nice surprise. Being newly constructed, many parts of it were spectacular, and it already ranked among the top on a national level. Following that was the hunting ground. With the cooperation of the staff, ¨¦tienne learned how to ride a horse, while Bi Fang looked at the rabbits scattered over the hills and felt eager to try his hand at hunting. Everything was ready. Each prey was fitted with an electronic tag. When non-lethal arrows hit within a certain range, the electronic tag would sense it, activate a current, and stun the prey. This effectively lowered the difficulty of hunting. And in case anyone would accuse them of animal cruelty¡­ Even in Europe, don¡¯t pigs still get a jolt before they¡¯re killed? The hunted prey would then be sent to the restaurant to be turned into spicy rabbit head, dry pot rabbit meat, braised rabbit meat, rabbit and radish stew, ginger-scallion spicy rabbit meat, roasted whole rabbit¡­ ¡°Slurp, slurp.¡± ¨¦tienne chewed on the rabbit meat, his mouth dripping with grease. ¡°Eat slower, no one¡¯s competing with you.¡± Bi Fang ordered two more different dishes to let ¨¦tienne enjoy himself. It was a rare visit, and he couldn¡¯t be neglected. Yao Jun, nibbling on a rabbit head, said, ¡°Everything is ready for the preparation. We¡¯re just waiting to open in half a month. By the way, have you hired your instructors yet?¡± ¡°No need to worry about the instructors, I¡¯ve got it all prepared. They are all elite ex-soldiers with special skills. There are no issues whatsoever.¡± Bi Fang explained that this detail was not a problem. Not all special forces were experts at wilderness survival, but some units, like the Northeast Tiger, were definitely up to the task. With so many soldiers retiring each year, resettlement is actually a problem, and Bi Fang provided an excellent outlet, which they were more than eager for. Naturally, the compensation wouldn¡¯t be bad, either. ¡°Then let¡¯s open in half a month!¡± sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In Bi Fang¡¯s view, the club was already perfect, almost flawless. Just as he was about to add another bowl of rice, the long-missed electronic sound rang out once again. Bi Fang nonchalantly glanced over twice and couldn¡¯t help but smile after seeing the familiar content. He picked up a wet wipe to clean his hands and said with a smile, ¡°Good timing, I also have a new plan recently. On Children¡¯s Day, the big screen will light up.¡± ¡°` Chapter 441: 439: Iron Age Chapter 441: Chapter 439: Iron Age [Ding, a new task has been activated, check the task bar for details.] Task Name: Iron Age Task Location: Yunnan Province, Xishuangbanna Tropical Rainforest Task Mode: Primitive Survival Creature Difficulty: T10 Task Requirements: No equipment may be carried except for necessary clothing. Main Task One: Start a livestream, while maintaining an online audience of over three million for an extended period. Main Task Two: Survive for twenty-one days in good health, while livestreaming. Main Task Three: Make a practical iron weapon by hand. Side Task: Explore on your own. Basic Reward: Joint Strengthening Coupon*1. Time Limit: 40d. Xishuangbanna? It has been a long time since I last livestreamed domestically, Bi Fang thought to himself. While setting sights abroad, one must not forget the scenery under one¡¯s own eaves. Huaxia is vast and rich in resources, with many unique landforms in the world, and also a lot of extremely dangerous maps: Qinling, Shennongjia, Lop Nur No-Man¡¯s Land, Xishuangbanna Tropical Rainforest¡­ Xishuangbanna is a tourist paradise, but without a doubt, that¡¯s just the outer periphery. In Yunnan, the Xishuangbanna Tropical Rainforest is the only well-preserved, large contiguous tropical forest on the northern edge of the tropics in the world, renowned globally. The rainforest, among all terrains, is the densest area for flora and fauna. Due to this density, many species have evolved unimaginable functions and traits. Venomous insects, venomous snakes, venomous fish; the small and weak evolve potent defenses to turn the tables on their predators. The mighty evolve larger body sizes and thicker hides to protect themselves, like elephants, for example. Beyond that, there are all sorts of parasites and germs, which are omnipresent. Any slight wound could get inflamed and rot within a day. The depths of the rainforest are no place for ordinary people. However, this clearly couldn¡¯t stop Bi Fang from moving forward; although this was his first time in a rainforest terrain, it still couldn¡¯t make him fear or retreat. Bi Fang scrutinized the task requirements and found many aspects were different now. Firstly, the difficulty; following the R and S tiers, a new T tier had appeared, and it starts right off at T10. Clearly, within the entire tier there are ten levels. That¡¯s secondary. His own abilities had been growing continuously, and it was foreseeable that the task¡¯s difficulty would increase. Furthermore, since he had managed to complete each task well every time, Bi Fang felt his own ability growth was even outpacing the speed of difficulty increase. This was a very good sign. Another point of focus was the increase in the number of main tasks. Previously, whether it was R or S tier, there were only two main tasks. Perhaps the additional requirement was a reflection of increased difficulty. Main Task Three: Craft a practical iron weapon. This task isn¡¯t about just flattening an iron can and then sharpening it into a blade. It¡¯s about iron smelting, making an iron weapon¡­ Bi Fang considered for a moment. It¡¯s challenging, but not without a solution. The task location is the Banna Rainforest; there¡¯s no doubt about the abundance of resources. Obtaining iron isn¡¯t limited to mining the ore; there are many methods. However, no matter which method, it¡¯s undeniably complicated and will require a significant amount of energy and time. In wilderness survival, nothing is more precious than energy and time. This is creating something from nothing. Even with experience, humans took a full two and a half million years to advance from the Stone Age to the Iron Age! In addition, no equipment may be carried except for necessary clothing. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Is this an attempt to emulate Grandpa De? Completely exposed, that¡¯s a bit too much for me. Luckily, the System is lenient, still allowing clothes to cover one¡¯s privacy. ¡°Phew!¡± Bi Fang scratched his eyebrow. Before, I could carry equipment provided by the System, but now I can¡¯t even use the System¡¯s gear. Rainforest, Iron Age, no equipment¡ªput it all together, and the difficulty has risen quite a bit. However, I still have confidence. It¡¯s not an adventure if it isn¡¯t difficult, otherwise, what¡¯s the difference from a vacation? Contrasting with Bi Fang¡¯s surging enthusiasm, Yao Jun, Lin Chang, and ¨¦tienne seemed even more excited. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Won¡¯t the time be too rushed? You just got back to the country today.¡± ¡°Where are we going?¡± Facing three questions, Bi Fang answered them one by one. As for the issue of time. The survival period is twenty days, but the System gave forty days to finish, the extra time is obviously for preparations. Today is the fifteenth, and there are still half a month left until June first. Starting five days earlier is more than enough. Moreover, the System always provides a break between every two missions, which is another period for rest. The Mount Everest trip had already concluded by the tenth, and even though I¡¯ve been flying around the world since then, such intensity doesn¡¯t count for much. Resting for twenty days is completely sufficient. Yao Jun and Lin Chang wanted Bi Fang to be present at the opening of their club, but obviously, rather than having Bi Fang be a wallflower, it¡¯s better to have him active on the big screen inside the first venue. ¡°Do you need any equipment this time? I still have quite a bit,¡± Yao Jun appeared a bit excited. Contrary to Yao Jun¡¯s expectations, Bi Fang flatly refused, ¡°I don¡¯t plan to bring any equipment this time, I won¡¯t even wear basic clothing.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t wear basic clothes?¡± Lin Chang paused, then cautiously asked, ¡°Just wear casual clothes or something?¡± In his mind, ¡®not wearing basic clothes¡¯ meant not wearing professional outdoor gear. Bi Fang laughed, ¡°What¡¯s happened to make you so prudish at the thought of not wearing clothes? Do you think I meant not wearing professional gear?¡± Lin Chang gave an embarrassed smile. He was just an ordinary person who occasionally went to the gym to run to maintain his basic metabolism and stay healthy. If it weren¡¯t for Bi Fang, he would have very limited interest in outdoor sports. Watching livestreams was one thing, but expending energy to learn about it was unlikely. Yao Jun caught on and exclaimed in surprise, ¡°Not wear anything? Will that pass review?¡± Bi Fang: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re too outrageous. You definitely have to wear something for privacy¡­¡± Lin Chang mocked Yao Jun in return, but as he laughed, recalling Bi Fang¡¯s usual style, he slowly lost confidence, his voice growing quieter, until he looked at Bi Fang doubtfully and confirmed, ¡°Right?¡± ¡°Nonsense.¡± Bi Fang rolled his eyes. Everyone at the table laughed heartily. ¡°Over the next two days, I¡¯ll take ¨¦tienne around here to gain some experience and check for any omissions before I go back and contact Yunnan¡¯s nature reserve.¡± ¡°By the way, did you go to see the sentencing of those poachers from last time?¡± Yao Jun suddenly asked as he saw Bi Fang out the door. Bi Fang was taken aback, seeming to drift off into his thoughts until Yao Jun asked again, and then he nodded, ¡°Yes, life imprisonment.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Yao Jun let out a sigh of relief, really fearing that such people could still get out. Lin Chang asked, ¡°Did he say anything to you?¡± Bi Fang was silent for a while, then shook his head again after a moment. ¡°Nothing at all.¡± Chapter 442: 440 Altai Argali Chapter 442: Chapter 440 Altai Argali On the streets, the protesting crowd surged out from every street corner. Various slogan banners explosively entered the brain, as riot police held up shields to prevent the angry crowd from rushing into the courthouse. ¡°Capital punishment should be reinstated!¡± ¡°Such people should be hanged!¡± These were the animal protectionists¡¯ slogans, their rage bursting forth like an erupting volcano, continuously slamming into the shields, drenching the defending police in sweat. ¡°If he is released on bail, then I will definitely question the meaning of the law¡¯s existence!¡± ¡°Everyone should be sentenced to life imprisonment!¡± These were somewhat rational, the public acting in unison to demonstrate against the courthouse, imposing immense psychological pressure. ¡°To protect animals is to protect humans!¡± ¡°We cannot tolerate someone who destroys the future of humanity to stay in society¡ªtheir only place is in prison!¡± These were more objective. They held up signs, chanted slogans, and spread their message to the uninformed public around the streets. All of this came to a halt with the fall of a small gavel. ¡°Life imprisonment!¡± S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The moment the news broke out, the previously calm sea of people surged like a tsunami. ¡°Good!¡± ¡°It should be like this!¡± ¡°Death penalty, it should be the death penalty!¡± ¡°Let him be skinned like the geese, then he¡¯ll know regret!¡± ¡°He should go straight to Hell!¡± Inside the courthouse, Bi Fang rose from the public gallery. Though not a Frenchman, given his actions and contributions, it was only fitting he was granted the privilege to attend. Bi Fang was also quite satisfied with this outcome. Since France didn¡¯t have the death penalty, life imprisonment was the most severe punishment. As the guards escorted Legoff down the aisle, he suddenly turned his head to look at Bi Fang in the public gallery and stopped in his tracks. The two guards tried to push him forward, but they couldn¡¯t move him! Even after half a year inside, this strong man¡¯s muscles remained robust. He stared intently at Bi Fang, his eyes seemingly filled with endless resentment. Bi Fang did not give him another glance, satisfied with the outcome. He donned his hat and turned to walk outside. ¡°I have a brother!¡± ¡°Take him away! Quick!¡± the judge said, pounding the gavel discontentedly. Bi Fang¡¯s steps faltered for a moment but did not stop. ¡­ In the taxi, Bi Fang stared out the window, lost in thought. What did Legoff mean? Revenge? Or something else? Who was his brother? Another poacher? He knew nothing at all now, and even if he asked, Legoff wouldn¡¯t say more. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± ¨¦tienne asked. ¡°Nothing much,¡± Bi Fang pinched the bridge of his nose, and then suddenly laughed, ¡°Just thinking about what to have for dinner.¡± At the mention of this, ¨¦tienne became interested. Not to mention anything else, Huaxia¡¯s cuisine was indeed a whole new version he had never experienced, distinct in flavor from the overly elaborate French cuisine! ¡°Let¡¯s have hotpot, I¡¯ll take you to try authentic hotpot,¡± Bi Fang said offhandedly. Meet force with force, water with earth. It didn¡¯t matter who Legoff¡¯s brother was; the main deeds were still his own. If the other party was also a poacher, they would probably resolve the issue in the wilderness. Reality is not as exaggerated as in novels. Poachers are like rats in the shadows; if they sought retaliation in the light of day, it would be sheer suicide. After hoodwinking ¨¦tienne, Bi Fang took out his phone and asked Liu Qian to help contact the Xishuangbanna Reserve to discuss live streaming arrangements. Ordinary people definitely couldn¡¯t enter the depths of the rainforest. If found by forest rangers, they might be shot on the spot. There was no doubt that the reserve would agree, given Bi Fang¡¯s background and influence, as well as his consistently good reputation. But there was a process that still had to be followed. How exactly to enter also needed to be discussed. Bi Fang cast aside the pointless thoughts, flipping through recent news. As he browsed, his finger paused. ¡°King of the Nepali Argali killed by poachers!¡± ¡°According to the official report from the Nepal Natural Animal Conservation Association on May 14th, in the Himalayas¡­ A total of seven argalis were victimized, all Altai Argali, the largest sheep in the world. When discovered, all their horns had been cut off, and their pelts were gone. They are also a second-class protected species in our country¡­ According to the traces found at the scene, the poachers¡¯ killing likely took place around May 9th.¡± Beneath the news report, there was an interview clip with reserve staff. In the video, a dark-cheeked worker explained. ¡°We still can¡¯t confirm if only seven argalis were harmed, because we can¡¯t determine if the poachers took any live argalis¡­¡± ¡°Argalis are an endangered species. The very idea of killing them to take parts of their beautiful bodies is abhorrent.¡± ¡°The primary need of life is survival, and every species has the right to ensure its own existence. For every one of us, starting from ourselves, respecting life means respecting humans themselves.¡± May 9th, the Himalayas! He swiftly captured the two key words. Bi Fang¡¯s pupils contracted slightly. Those poachers had been nearby at the time! Below the report, many people had left comments. ¡°Poachers deserve to die!¡± ¡°From an adaptation perspective, the evolution of the argali is actually quite successful. But the problem is that they¡¯re still too big a target and are valuable all over. Thus, with the prolonged hunting by humans, many wild subspecies of argalis have been reduced by more than half. In some areas, regional extinction has even occurred.¡± ¡°Is it necessary? It¡¯s just a sheep, right? People are going nuts over animal protection.¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t you watched Master Fang¡¯s live streams? Do you even understand? You¡¯re like a toilet, protecting animals is protecting ourselves! Think about it, if Artemisia annua had been extinct for a hundred years, where would artemisinin come from?¡± ¡°Live streaming? Never watch it. Not even a dog cares about that.¡± ¡°What, after watching a live stream, you become a high and mighty person?¡± ¡°All life has potential value, the extinction of any species affects the food chain, leading to the extinction of more species. The potential value can quickly disappear, and by the time humans need it, it¡¯s too late.¡± ¡°May 9th, the Himalayas, isn¡¯t that where Master Fang was live streaming? Worlds are colliding!¡± ¡°Damn, if Master Fang was there, would those poachers have the nerve to act so arrogantly? He¡¯d have sent them all packing!¡± ¡°Who is Master Fang? Is he famous? Why is everyone discussing it?¡± ¡°Wild guess¡ªis the avalanche¡­ Dog¡¯s Head Protection.¡± Thanks to the geese expedition, the world had branded Bi Fang as an ¡°anti-poacher,¡± and now the poachers were right under his nose, stirring a buzz among viewers. Some even regretted that the two did not meet face-to-face; otherwise, Bi Fang would surely have prevented their success. But all of these were unrealistic thoughts. Feeling a bit of regret, Bi Fang put down his phone and quietly waited for the Banna Reserve¡¯s response. Chapter 443: 441: Rainforest, lets go! (Extra for the alliance leader) Chapter 443: Chapter 441: Rainforest, let¡¯s go! (Extra for the alliance leader) ¡°The crux of rock climbing lies in the stability of your center of gravity, you must always remember the three-point principle, ensuring that each of your footholds is secure before continuously transitioning. Even the most skilled climbers need to adhere to this iron rule,¡± In front of the rock-climbing wall, ¨¦tienne, fully geared up, listened to the words of the coach beside him. The instructors also arrived successively, just waiting for the day of opening to welcome customers. Since they were all special forces veterans, an ironclad atmosphere seemed to pervade the entire venue, creating a sense of reliability. No country¡¯s soldiers are more reliable than those of Huaxia. Therefore, even with high compensation, Yao Jun and others felt it was worth it. At this time, Bi Fang was sitting on the side, flipping through the wildlife protection manual, carefully identifying the appearance and characteristics of each protected animal depicted. Bi Fang recognized many of them, but there was still a large part that was unfamiliar to him. This booklet, provided by the Xishuangbanna Reserve, was as thick as a dictionary, with full authority. The conservation area staff who provided the booklet told him that if Bi Fang found a rare creature in the wild that was not in the booklet and he had never seen before, he shouldn¡¯t doubt it, it most definitely could be a brand new species that had not been discovered. He should quickly note it down and register it upon return. There was nothing strange about this, as humans have always been committed to discovering and describing the diversity of Earth¡¯s species over the centuries. It was only in modern times that Earth was believed to be home to nearly 10 million (10 to the power of 7) species. Moreover, almost all of them are visible to the naked eye. Including microorganisms, there could be 1 trillion (10 to the power of 12) species on Earth. The species discovered by humans over the millennia only account for one ten-thousandth of all species on Earth. Every year, nearly 20,000 new species of plants and animals are discovered, with 2,400 from within the country last year alone, accounting for one-tenth of the new species discovered globally. Buzzzzz. Bi Fang¡¯s phone rang once more; it was the manager of the reserve, Zhou Weisheng. ¡°Mr. Bi, are you really sure you want to come to our reserve to live stream?¡± Zhou Weisheng¡¯s voice was a bit tense. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve made up my mind. Don¡¯t worry, Director Zhou, unless it¡¯s absolutely unavoidable, I won¡¯t casually harm the plants and animals, and I¡¯ll maintain the surroundings as much as possible to minimize the impact.¡± ¡°No, no, no, that¡¯s not what I mean,¡± Zhou Weisheng was nervous, fearing a misunderstanding that might result in a cancellation. In fact, when Liu Qian called yesterday to say that Bi Fang was coming here to live stream, Zhou Weisheng was somewhat stunned, then ecstatic. It felt like a pie had fallen from the sky. A good thing, a very good thing! With Bi Fang¡¯s soaring fame and global recognition, almost all the places he had live-streamed from saw a surge in popularity! Without going far, just the domestic sites such as Qinling, Mohe, and Qaidam had seen a definite increase in tourism revenue! And the trend hadn¡¯t declined but was rising even more. It was like getting a lifetime¡¯s worth of benefits from a single visit! Because Bi Fang¡¯s videos were there, and his fame continued to grow, more and more people watched his videos, and more and more knew about the scenic spots. Even a minor celebrity¡¯s visit to a small place could generate a surge in traffic, let alone someone like Bi Fang who had a massive fan base worldwide. Moreover, the footage shot by Bi Fang was simply too beautiful. The drone¡¯s image quality was lossless, and with the AI shooting provided by the System, almost every frame could be used as wallpaper. With the legendary allure present in every video, nearly every person who longed to travel wanted to see and witness the birthplace of those miracles with their own eyes. ¡°If it was any other variety show filming in the rainforest, I¡¯d definitely hesitate, but if it¡¯s Master Fang, that¡¯s an entirely different story!¡± Zhou Weisheng, a man in his forties, felt no discord calling him Master Fang. Zhou Weisheng truly meant what he said from the depths of his heart. With other variety shows, he would be grateful if they just didn¡¯t disturb the protected wildlife, reduced their environmental footprint, avoided eating protected animals and plants, and left less trash behind. What¡¯s more exaggerated is the ease with which accidents could occur, leaving him with a bitter taste in his mouth, unable to express his woes, and necessitating organized protection teams. This was especially true for the rainforest, teeming with mimetic flora and fauna. One careless bite, and if rescue was delayed, one might just collapse on the spot. Don¡¯t think it¡¯s an exaggeration; these are real bloody cases. That bunch, they don¡¯t understand anything, just recklessly charging about, and it¡¯s already this dangerous on the outskirts, not to mention deeper into the rainforest. But with Bi Fang involved, it was different. He brought immense traffic, understood environmental protection, and consciously reduced his traces to nearly none. Best of all, there was no need to worry about mishaps. Who could understand the wilderness better than Bi Fang? Although Bi Fang had not live-streamed from the rainforest up to this point, his prior performances were enough to inspire confidence. Agreeing was all that remained! That¡¯s why Zhou Weisheng was so delighted. Usually, he couldn¡¯t even beg for such an opportunity, but unexpectedly, it came without asking! He could just sit in his office, happily sign off on paperwork, and bring significant earnings to the reserve. How wonderful was that? Bi Fang understood the implications in the other party¡¯s tone and laughed, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Director Zhou. At nine o¡¯clock in the morning on the first of June, I¡¯ll start the live stream. It should also drum up some enthusiasm for my club.¡± ¡°Excellent, excellent, excellent.¡± Zhou Weisheng said thrice, then inquired, ¡°I wonder how Mr. Bi plans to enter the rainforest. Do we need to make any preparations?¡± ¡°Hmm, reserve a civilian helicopter for me. I¡¯ll be parachuting directly into the deep rainforest,¡± Bi Fang thought for a moment. According to what Liu Qian had said, Xishuangbanna did offer this service ¨C enjoying the rainforest via helicopter. Parachuting in was also the most convenient and quickest way to reach the deeper parts of the rainforest. ¡°No problem, I will surely reserve one for you,¡± Zhou Weisheng agreed immediately. It was a small matter; how much could a day¡¯s helicopter rental cost? ¡°Any other requests?¡± ¡°Hmm, prepare a changing room for me?¡± Bi Fang thought, he obviously could not be naked all the time, and stripping down upon arriving at the rainforest wouldn¡¯t be appropriate either. ¡°A changing room?¡± Zhou Weisheng was taken aback. ¡°Yes, this live stream will be a bit different. I won¡¯t be wearing clothes,¡± Bi Fang paused, and to prevent the other party from regarding him as some perverted fanatic, he added, ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll wear privacy garments.¡± Zhou Weisheng pondered for a moment, guessing the reason, their phone dropping onto their leg in shock. ¡°Are you going for a truly primitive survival experience?¡± Two days later. Wolf Fang¡¯s official account posted a brand-new poster. It depicted a forest that blotted out the sky, different from Qinling, a denser, more crowded wilderness. There was no sunlight, only quiet darkness. In the center of the forest, Bi Fang, his face painted with bold, dark colors, was dressed in plant skirtings and headgear resembling an Indian from the last century, holding an iron-tipped spear, walking into the black depths of the mysterious woods. Chapter 444: 442: Quick Methods to Increase Redeemable Points Chapter 444: Chapter 442: Quick Methods to Increase Redeemable Points The moment Wolf Fang¡¯s official poster was released, all users watching the live stream on Wolf Fang received a notification. Upon clicking, a healing forest-themed poster in a ghostly green color appeared. In the forest, a light rain drizzled down from the sky. Then, the rain stopped, and the sky cleared to a transparent blue. A line of white text slowly emerged in the center of the screen. ¡°On June 1st, we meet again, Rainforest.¡± June 1st? Rainforest? In the entire Wolf Fang community, and even among live streamers, there¡¯s only one host deserving of a pre-broadcast hype¡­ In an instant, users flooded into the not-yet-live stream room, countless fans sat row upon row in the comment section, one after another starting to build ¡®floors¡¯. In less than a minute, the number of comment ¡®floors¡¯ had already exceeded one hundred, and they kept growing at an unimaginable speed. Wolf Fang¡¯s daily active backend was shooting up like a rocket. Without a doubt, more people were receiving the notification and streaming in. ¡°Something big is coming, something big is coming!¡± ¡°Front row seats for munching on melon seeds, selling melon seeds, drinks, mineral water here. Those in front, make some space, who are you blocking the view for?¡± ¡°Damn it, just seeing June 1st, and there are still ten days to go. Pre-broadcast hype, but considering there haven¡¯t been any league live streams recently, and now seeing Rainforest, I knew right away, it¡¯s Master Fang for sure!¡± ¡°Rainforest, my Rainforest, hehe.¡± sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°The poster is as cool as ever, freaking awesome! Go for it.¡± ¡°Feels like the last live stream was just the other day, didn¡¯t expect the second one to start so soon.¡± ¡°Not soon at all, June 1st, that¡¯s a whole twenty days away. I¡¯ve already started preparing melon seeds and Fast-acting Heart-saving Pills!¡± Knowing the exact time and place of Bi Fang¡¯s next live stream, the fans were all incredibly excited, this anticipation was no less intense than gamers waiting for the release of ¡°Elder Scrolls¡±! ¡°XSBN Rainforest? What the heck is this? Why is there pinyin?¡± ¡°Shush, best not say, best not say, the mighty River Crab is watching you.¡± ¡°X stands for West, S for Shuang, B for Ban, N for Na, get it?¡± ¡°wr, zgdypb?¡± ¡°Wait, what¡¯s this link below the poster? Club visit application? What does that mean?¡± As the audience excitedly streamed in, they suddenly discovered a new link they¡¯d never seen before, both below the poster and under the live stream room. Curiosity led them to click, and a brand new webpage popped up. A pure silver badge in the center of the screen struck their eyes, reminiscent of a wax seal on an envelope. It depicted a man climbing a mountain peak, wielding a climbing stick, with his left foot on the summit as if gazing into the distance. There were no details, only the outline, yet everyone knew who was depicted there. Clicking the silver badge, the entire page unfolded, revealing various sections neatly categorized. Further down came an introduction of services. The audience browsed through, page by page¡­ Is this Master Fang¡¯s club? ¡°Holy shit, it¡¯s online, it¡¯s really online!¡± ¡°I thought we actually had to wait until June 1st.¡± ¡°Been waiting for the stars, waiting for the moon, and finally, it¡¯s here, boo hoo.¡± ¡°It is indeed June 1st. Look carefully, it¡¯s the presale for tickets right now, there¡¯s also a term activity¡­ The highest-tier package costs a whopping 360,000¡­¡± ¡°360,000? Whoa, excuse me, pardon me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s one-on-one instruction from Northeast Tiger, a retired special forces operative, plus they provide a personal guide, equipment purchases, insurance, and a full set of training courses and travel expenses¡ªit¡¯s like a package deal. It lasts for half a year and costs 360,000. Seems reasonable, doesn¡¯t it? Didn¡¯t you see Old Fang climbing a mountain last time? Just the ticket was over a hundred thousand.¡± ¡°The general admission tickets are just over two hundred, and they¡¯re half-price for students. That should be fine.¡± ¡°I still think over two hundred is expensive, boo-hoo-hoo.¡± ¡°Expensive? I think it¡¯s okay. I heard there¡¯s an aquarium, a rainforest museum, and a desert pavilion inside. You¡¯d have to spend five or six hundred at Disney, and even the Magic Capital Aquarium is over two hundred. Actually, it¡¯s quite worth it. This aquarium is just the old one relocated. The venue is bigger and upgraded.¡± ¡°Now that I think about it, that does seem alright¡­¡± ¡°Hunting grounds are a separate charge¡­ two hundred per person. But the venues have monthly, quarterly, and annual deals, and during certain times, package deals on the number of visits. It feels just like a gym membership.¡± The onlookers buzzed with discussion, mainly focusing on the pricing. Although there are many wealthy people online, in reality, most people are free users who just watch the excitement. If they have to spend money, and it¡¯s several hundred, then they need to think it over. However, there were others who felt that the content on the official website was within acceptable limits. They weren¡¯t sure about the rainforest museum and the desert pavilion, but the aquarium was guaranteed. Many people had visited the Magic Capital Aquarium before, now an upgraded version, so over two hundred still fell within acceptable limits. Even if the other facilities in the club were so-so, at least there was a safety net. Plus, since June 1st was also a weekend, many people who already had travel plans chose to pre-purchase tickets. Cao Lifeng and Wu Gang decided to buy the tickets. Even though exams were approaching, taking two days to visit Magic Capital shouldn¡¯t be an issue. ¡°Bros, let¡¯s do this, hurry and grab tickets! Pre-sale tickets are limited, only half the actual capacity is on sale. Kids, grandkids, no sleeping! In just five minutes, a third has already been sold. If you¡¯re late, it¡¯s too late, don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you!¡± Cao Lifeng woke up his bunkmates one by one, urging them to hurry and buy their tickets. ¡°What¡¯s the noise for? It¡¯s only ten o¡¯clock. Are you going to the library? Remember to bring me some food when you come back.¡± One roommate complained groggily, glancing at Cao Lifeng before preparing to lie down again. ¡°Don¡¯t sleep, don¡¯t sleep, we¡¯re having takeout today, not going to the library.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the commotion?¡± another person from a different bed grumbled. ¡°Master Fang¡¯s club is now open for online booking. Don¡¯t you guys want to go? If we don¡¯t buy now, we¡¯ll have to buy on-site later, and we might not even manage to get in line!¡± ¡°Club? What club? That¡¯s a place for elites, what does it have to do with me?¡± The roommate pulled his blanket over his head and continued to sleep deeply. Three seconds later. The roommate whipped off his blanket, stared blankly at Cao Lifeng, and asked, ¡°Master Fang¡¯s club?¡± Cao Lifeng nodded. ¡°Damn! Why didn¡¯t you wake me up for ticket grabbing earlier!¡± The roommate threw off his blanket and rushed to the computer, ¡°Where is it, where is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s in the link in the live broadcast room! Quick, quick, quick, if you¡¯re late, there¡¯ll be no tickets left!¡± ¡°You guys, stop sleeping! Get up, hurry!¡± ¡°Damn, put on your clothes, you¡¯re grossing me out!¡± ¡­ In half an hour, all twenty thousand tickets were sold out. Inside the club, Bi Fang looked at the final data on the computer and exhaled a long sigh. This day marked a financial comeback in the millions. He finally made it through. Just thinking of the club, this bottomless pit, finally filling up and starting to stack higher, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but cheer. He opened the System panel and watched the redeemable Points climb steadily upward. It was worth it! Chapter 445: 443 Chapter 445: 443 The update isn¡¯t ready yet. I¡¯m just staking a claim. I¡¯ll change it before half past midnight. Bi Fang immediately thought of this, but after looking at Lin Chang and Yao Jun, he had an epiphany; his former self wasn¡¯t sufficient, yet who was he to overlook who submitted the application? Yao Jun was somewhat lacking, but his father was generous, and Lin Chang was impressive. Combined, plus a seemingly good idea, it was already enough. Besides the Ocean Pavilion, there was also the nearby hotel, which was built only after planning, essentially a free supporting facility. Everything fell into place. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s first check out the Rainforest Museum.¡± Bi Fang called out to ¨¦tienne, who was having a blast at the archery range, and the group headed towards the Rainforest Museum. As soon as they entered, they could feel a dense humidity pressing in. Bi Fang was astonished, ¡°You guys, how many humidifiers did you put in here?¡± ¨¦tienne¡¯s eyes widened in sheer amazement. The reason was simple; it was huge, the entire pavilion was simply massive! Walking in, it felt nothing like being indoors, as if truly walking in a rainforest. Were it not for the occasional exposed supporting columns reminding them they were still in a city, it would be like a dream. ¡°I feel like you could spend an entire day just in this Rainforest Museum,¡± Bi Fang exclaimed, impressed. The design blueprint was one thing, but the actual sensory experience was completely different. However, building such a place, the key was size, all kinds of size. If it were small, it would completely lack immersion and the experience would suffer. It¡¯s like if an aquarium had a live adult Blue Whale, even if it had nothing else, it would be packed to the brim! Of course, that isn¡¯t very realistic or ethical. But for such a huge Rainforest Museum, no wonder it cost so much. Worth it! Unable to help himself, ¨¦tienne slowed his pace, just raised his head to look around, and immediately felt he had bumped into something hard. When he looked down, a brown-spotted snake came into view. ¡°Snake! Snake! Snake!¡± ¨¦tienne screamed in fright, retreating so hastily that he nearly fell to the ground. Bi Fang quickly steadied him, comforting, ¡°OK, OK, don¡¯t be afraid!¡± Lin Chang laughed too, ¡°Take a closer look, it¡¯s in a glass terrarium, it¡¯s not dangerous.¡± ¨¦tienne, calming his racing heart with a few deep breaths, looked again and realized it was indeed just an ecological container! Because of the foliage, the glass did not reflect light and the edges were so well-blended due to special treatment, they were nearly completely transparent. Together with the inside environment mirroring the outside, it was almost impossible to tell it was inside a container, instead appearing entirely exposed to the elements! Yao Jun revealed a mischievously pleased smile. The specially crafted edges of the glass terrarium were his idea, aimed for precisely this effect. When visitors were exploring the rainforest, to suddenly find a venomous snake right in front of them, mouth agape¡­ ¨¦tienne, still shaken, asked, ¡°What kind of snake is this?¡± ¡°Tricolor lance-headed viper, a highly venomous snake. It¡¯s often found near human dwellings, making it the main culprit in bite cases and therefore considered the most dangerous snake in the area, referred to as ¡®the ultimate viper¡¯,¡± Bi Fang raised an eyebrow, looking at Yao Jun and Lin Chang, ¡°How did you get it? This is very dangerous.¡± ¡°All is well,¡± Yao Jun patted Bi Fang¡¯s shoulder, ¡°I know what you are like. The snakes in both the Rainforest Museum and the Desert Pavilion are common and not endangered species; there are no animal performances involved. We didn¡¯t arrange this, Huaxia doesn¡¯t have them. They were sent here after discussions with the animal protection association¡­¡± Lin Chang also added, ¡°There¡¯s a dedicated caretaker, its fangs have been removed, and to prevent regrowth, it¡¯s checked regularly. Antivenin has also been stocked up, we have triple insurance to ensure that even if it gets out, it won¡¯t be dangerous. Plus, we¡¯ve chosen single-gender specimens, so even in the event of an earthquake and they all escape, they won¡¯t cause an invasive species problem.¡± Bi Fang nodded in relief, it seemed both had thought everything through very thoroughly, and even in case of a mishap, there was a professional team ready to help. After a brief tour, Bi Fang actually discovered that Yao Jun and Lin Chang had brought in a Golden Python¡­ Separated by a giant piece of glass, hidden in a corner of the rainforest, surrounded by similar environmental setups, and with a small pond inside. Bi Fang peered and the more he looked, the more familiar it seemed. He pointed at a large one inside the glass and asked, ¡°Have I seen this Golden Python somewhere before?¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± Yao Jun laughed heartily, slapping Bi Fang¡¯s shoulder, and gave a thumbs up, ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s the very one you caught a long time ago. We got in touch with the zoo and brought it here. How about it, seeing an old acquaintance, doesn¡¯t that make you a little happy?¡± Bi Fang: ¡°¡­¡± Beyond the rainforest, there was a three-meter-wide stream flowing through, ending in a waterfall, with rock climbing walls fitted with climbing stones on both sides. Indeed, it was quite nice. After a brief tour through the Rainforest Museum, the group arrived at the Desert Pavilion. Here, animals were the main focus, as there was neither the canopy-covered sky of the rainforest nor much interest in the endless yellow sand. However, as soon as they entered, unlike the humid rainforest, they immediately felt a distinct burning sensation. Looking around, there were about a dozen camels and the same ecosystem tanks. It wasn¡¯t as stunning as the rainforest, but it was still a nice scene. What was interesting, though, was Yao Jun pulling Bi Fang over to a small sand dune, caressing it several times, before finally sweeping away the surface sand to reveal a small wooden door. ¡°What is this?¡± Bi Fang was startled and already had a hunch, ¡°An underground cave?¡± ¡°Exactly, a simple underground maze. Inside, there¡¯s also an underground river with some small fish in it. The water flow circulates with the fountain outside.¡± Yao Jun said somewhat proudly, ¡°But of course it won¡¯t be as complex as the original version. We had to consider safety, so it¡¯s just a simple maze. Generally speaking, you¡¯d be able to find your way out after walking through it a couple of times.¡± Bi Fang nodded in agreement, he had to admit, he was very satisfied with all the arrangements, especially after taking into account Etienne¡¯s suggestions. ¡°This is so cool! It¡¯s really amazing, this place is a complete ecological exhibit! It¡¯s got everything! I think we could totally open one in Ugly Country or Europe just like Disneyland!¡± Bi Fang scratched Etienne¡¯s head, although the guy was his fan, an overly enthusiastic one at that, so his opinions weren¡¯t highly referenceable, but they were still valuable. As for opening another two, better forget it. This one alone nearly drained him completely. Opening two more would likely put him into a blender, to be ground up and squeezed into juice. Speaking of Disney, he wondered if the project they had talked about had started and what the progress was, as there had been no news at all. He had to ask about it later. Bi Fang cared quite a bit about the rights he had sold. The following Ocean Museum was also a pleasant surprise. Being newly built, many parts of it were quite spectacular, ranking it among the top in the country. After this, it was the hunting ground. With the assistance of the staff, Etienne learned how to ride a horse, while Bi Fang eyed the teeming rabbits with eager anticipation. Everything was ready; each prey animal was fitted with an electronic tag. When struck by a harmless arrow within a certain range, the tag would be triggered, activating a current to stun the prey. Essentially, this lowered the difficulty of hunting. As for whether anyone would accuse them of animal cruelty¡­ Even in Europe, don¡¯t they still electrocute pigs before slaughtering them? The hunted game would then be sent to the restaurant, turned into spicy rabbit heads, dry pot rabbit meat, braised rabbit, rabbit and radish stew, stir-fried spicy rabbit with ginger and spring onion, roasted whole rabbit¡­ ¡°Slurp slurp,¡± Etienne smacked his lips while munching on rabbit meat, grease dripping from his mouth. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Eat slowly, no one¡¯s fighting you for it.¡± Bi Fang ordered two more different dishes, allowing Etienne to enjoy himself. It was a rare visit, and he couldn¡¯t let his guest be disappointed. As he gnawed on a rabbit head, Yao Jun said, ¡°Now that all preparations are complete, we just wait for the opening in half a month. By the way, have you hired the instructors?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the instructors, I¡¯ve got them all ready. They are all elite, specially retired from the military; there won¡¯t be any issues.¡± Bi Fang explained that this minor matter was not a problem. Not every special forces soldier excels in wilderness survival, but there are several units without any issues, with the Northeast Tiger as a prime example. With so many soldiers retiring each year, their resettlement is actually an issue. Bi Fang offered a great opportunity, which they were more than happy to take. Of course, the compensation would not be meager. ¡°Then let¡¯s open in half a month!¡± In Bi Fang¡¯s opinion, the club was already perfect, almost flawless. Just as he was about to order another bowl of rice, the long-lost electronic tone rang out again. Bi Fang glanced around disinterestedly and then chuckled when he saw the familiar content. Wiping his hands with a wet wipe, he smiled and said, ¡°Perfect timing, I also have a new plan lately. On Children¡¯s Day, the big screen can light up again.¡± Chapter 446: 444 Cooperation Chapter 446: Chapter 444 Cooperation ¡°Leonardo DiCaprio.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Leonardo DiCaprio,¡± Liu Qian repeated, believing her boss had certainly heard her, but she added nonetheless, ¡°Domestic movie fans all call him Little Leo.¡± Leonardo in Huaxia, internet users call him ¡°Little Leo,¡± an Ugly Country actor and film producer. He wants to join my live stream? Bi Fang¡¯s smile slowly faded, feeling a sense of novelty, novelty to the extent that it surprised him. ¡°emmm¡­ So the ten million for the ashtray was actually a tip from Leonardo?¡± ¡°It seems that way for now. They say he¡¯s currently preparing a new movie,¡± Liu Qian flipped through her notebook, ¡°The content relates to Wilderness Survivalist and revenge, and there¡¯s even a scene where he stands off with a brown bear, and over the phone, he also expressed his admiration for you. He really respects what you¡¯re doing.¡± Leonardo wants to ¡°guest star¡± in my live stream? On the couch, Bi Fang, having been told everything, was still stunned. Before this, he had considered many possibilities: perhaps some prodigal rich second-generation, or a wealthy person with a specific plea, and he hadn¡¯t ruled out celebrities either. Given Bi Fang¡¯s current influence, ordinary minor stars were simply not on par, let alone Leonardo! This wasn¡¯t just some minor star popping out of nowhere. In his previous life, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t have hoped for Leonardo to come to him; even trying to meet Leonardo himself would have been difficult, and now Leonardo needed something from him? Liu Qian paused, then guessed quietly, ¡°I think Leonardo might really want to be the lead actor in your Disney movie. Of course, this is just my guess. Maybe he does have such a new movie, and I¡¯ve checked¡ªLittle Leo is an environmentalist.¡± That¡¯s right, Leonardo is a member of the Ugly Country¡¯s Democratic Party, and a very active environmentalist at that. If one paid a bit of attention to Leonardo¡¯s social media accounts, they would find that most of his posts are related to the environment. Moreover, more than 20 years ago, he established the ¡°Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation¡± to support environmental projects. In just the eight years from 2008 to 2016, the foundation donated over 59 million Ugly Yuan to charity. He once publicly stated, ¡°If I were not an actor, I would want to be a biologist or an environmental scientist.¡± In 2006, Leonardo funded two short environmental films about ecological issues. The following year, he personally produced an environmental documentary ¡°The Eleventh Hour.¡± It received high ratings. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In recognition of Leonardo¡¯s many contributions to ocean conservation, the ocean conservation organization ¡°Oceana¡± awarded him the ¡°Ocean Guardian Award¡± in 2014. Don¡¯t ask why Bi Fang knew so much; he had watched that documentary. Bi Fang¡¯s interests, apart from exploring nature, included watching documentaries. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t regard Edinburgh as an idol. Moreover, he wasn¡¯t cut off from society in his day-to-day life, watching plenty of movies and TV shows, and due to his professional habits, he just knew a bit more. Even in his previous life, in 2016, Leonardo finally won the much-coveted Oscar for Best Actor with ¡°The Revenant,¡± and his acceptance speech still revolved around environmentalism. Besides, probably seven out of ten passersby have seen a Leonardo movie¡­ Wait a minute! Bi Fang suddenly froze. What did Liu Qian say just now? The content is related to Wilderness Survivalist and revenge, with a scene involving a standoff with a brown bear? It couldn¡¯t be ¡°The Revenant,¡± could it? With considerable differences between the two worlds, especially in entertainment, Bi Fang had never thought about this point. He pulled out his phone to search for ¡°The Revenant,¡± only to find his own hunting videos. Bi Fang: ¡°¡­¡± All right, it looks like the movie indeed hasn¡¯t been released yet. Mentioning ¡°The Revenant¡± actually led to himself, and Bi Fang didn¡¯t know whether to cry or laugh at this situation. ¡°Did he say what the name of that movie is?¡± Liu Qian pondered for a moment and flipped through her notebook again, shaking her head subconsciously, ¡°No, he didn¡¯t mention the name of the movie, but the content was indeed about those things.¡± ¡°Alright, did he say when he is coming to Huaxia? I¡¯d like to meet him in person.¡± ¡°Yes, he arrived in the Magic Capital two days ago but has been unable to reach you.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s meet here at the club, no need to go anywhere else.¡± Bi Fang quickly decided, arranged the time and place, and waited for the other party to arrive. After hanging up the phone, Bi Fang still found it amusing. The butterfly effect is indeed miraculous, having managed to lead someone like Leonardo DiCaprio, an international superstar, to reach out to him, and all because of filming ¡°The Revenant¡±. Wilderness Survivalist, Hunter, facing off against large bears and living to tell the tale, there probably isn¡¯t anyone else in the world who could fit such a description and be so famous for it, other than himself. Adding to Leonardo¡¯s usual approach, Bi Fang didn¡¯t find it strange at all that Leonardo would want to meet him. If it really was just for one day as the other party indicated, Bi Fang thought it wouldn¡¯t be a big problem since the chances of encountering uncontrollable dangers were very small. On the other side, Liu Qian, having received instructions, quickly contacted Leonardo¡¯s assistant. Leonardo, upon receiving the message, showed up very quickly, informed in the morning and arriving by the afternoon. In less than two hours, Bi Fang saw a familiar figure, wearing a hat and wrapped up tightly despite the nearly June weather, wobbly riding a shared bike over. The club was not yet open for business, so it was obvious who would come dressed like this. Seeing Bi Fang at the entrance, Leonardo¡¯s eyes lit up. He found a place to park his bike, ran over with quick steps, took off his sunglasses, and with a smile, reached out for a handshake, uttering a slightly muffled but crisp Chinese greeting, ¡°Hello!¡± Bi Fang smiled and shook hands in response, ¡°Hello.¡± The busy staff members curious about their boss Bi Fang coming out took a peek, and when they saw the face under the sunglasses, they all stopped in their tracks. ¡°Who¡¯s that? His face looks so familiar.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that what¡¯s-his-name, the big star? Called¡­ Johnny Depp?¡± ¡°What are you talking about, it¡¯s Leonardo¡­¡± ¡°By golly, it¡¯s Leonardo DiCaprio!¡± ¡°What¡¯s Leonardo DiCaprio doing here?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t they say the boss¡¯s movie got the green light? Maybe Leonardo DiCaprio is the lead actor?¡± The staff were mostly decorators with a generally older average age, not necessarily all of whom recognized Leonardo DiCaprio, but they were quite familiar with the news about their boss. Among the recent news, aside from summiting Mount Everest and the club¡¯s opening, the most eye-catching was undoubtedly the movie that Disney was already preparing to put into production. Director, crew, and screenplay were all ready, just waiting for the casting to start filming. At this critical juncture, Leonardo DiCaprio¡¯s visit to the Magic Capital to see Bi Fang naturally led people to speculate, and in no time, quite a few people took out their phones to sneakily capture the moment of the two meeting and uploaded it online. Bi Fang looked around and invited, ¡°Shall we talk inside?¡± Leonardo nodded, agreeing it was not appropriate to discuss matters in public. As they chatted and walked through the lawns and paths, they quickly arrived at the first gallery, but as soon as Leonardo entered, he came to a halt, his pupils shrinking rapidly. A series of bold ink paintings suddenly filled his vision, especially impacting when combined with the dynamic light and shadow, very striking! The scene before him even gave Leonardo an illusion of having entered the Louvre, yet the two were incomparable. On one hand was classical art, elegant, beautiful, intoxicating, and on the other hand was the ultimate wilderness style, rough, primitive, powerful, astonishing. ¡°OMG, OMG, is this your club? It¡¯s fantastic, this is really fantastic,¡± Leonardo exclaimed as he stood in the center of the hall, rotating and scanning every painting. Bi Fang spread his arms with a broad smile, ¡°Yes, welcome to my club.¡± Leonardo remained in the center for a good while, then hastened to each painting, scrutinizing them closely, until he reached the dark screen at the end and curiously asked, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°This is a display. It broadcasts live when I am streaming, and when I¡¯m not streaming, it stays off like it is right now.¡± ¡°A screen that lights up just for you?¡± Leonardo uttered a ¡®wow¡¯, picturing the scene in his mind, feeling somewhat overwhelmed. ¡°So we¡¯ll both appear on this on June first?¡± Bi Fang paused for a moment. Leonardo shrugged, ¡°Your assistant¡¯s first reaction was to decline, which I assume is your usual stance, but then this position changed. If the negotiations were not going well or if there were no turning point, you wouldn¡¯t have specifically asked me to come over, and I wouldn¡¯t be standing here, right?¡± ¡°Hahaha, yes,¡± Bi Fang laughed loudly. Chapter 447: 445: Heading to the Rainforest Chapter 447: Chapter 445: Heading to the Rainforest Just as Bi Fang and Leonardo were discussing how to spend Children¡¯s Day on June 1st, debating between water gun fights or plans suited for eighteen-year-olds¡­ cough cough, and how to head to the rainforest, photos secretly taken by the staff rapidly spread online. In less than an hour, it had topped the trending searches, sparking widespread discussions about the reason for their meeting. Those guessing were all speaking with confidence. There was no helping it, on May 10th Bi Fang¡¯s summit of Mount Everest had set off an internet explosion as the first person in Huaxia to create such a record at twenty-five, followed by the climactic end to the much-discussed Goose adventure, adding fuel to the fire with its proven significance and history. As the attention hadn¡¯t even subsided by the 20th, a new live-streaming plan was announced straight away, along with the presale of club memberships. Just skim through the news hot searches of the past ten days¡­ Not even a bomber would have this frequency! For those who liked Bi Fang, they were naturally overjoyed, able to see news about their idol every day, but for those who disliked him, these ten days were pure nightmare. Scrolling through Weibo, you¡¯d see Bi Fang. Branch out to B Island, and there¡¯s Bi Fang on the cover; looking for featured stories, and what do you know, it¡¯s all summit climbing videos with a stirring BGM, enough to get even themselves fired up¡­ pah, steaming with rage! Grinding their teeth in jealousy, but alas, they were powerless. No scandals, strong skills, just that capricious. ¡°So, why did Leonardo come?¡± ¡°Hiss, don¡¯t tell me Leonardo is actually going to be the lead in Master Fang¡¯s Goose movie? There¡¯s quite an age difference (covers face), Leonardo¡¯s age is almost twice that of Master Fang, right?¡± ¡°A bit of adaptation is acceptable, and older age actually seems more reliable. A mature leading man isn¡¯t too bad either, especially since both are handsome.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that the difference in physique is quite something, Master Fang¡¯s summit.jpg, Leonardo playing with a water gun.jpg.¡± ¡°Your pictures are quite something. Old Fang on the summit looks more like Spider Batman, with all those muscles, too handsome; the latter, emmm, leaves me at a loss for words, can¡¯t bear to look (covers face)¡± ¡°Looking forward, rubbing hands together.jpg¡± ¡°But, just saying, you know, is there a possibility, could there be a chance, maybe it¡¯s really so, that Leonardo is the big boss behind the ashtray?¡± ¡°It¡¯s one thing to say it¡¯s possible.¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t it be the water gun if it¡¯s Leonardo? Why call it the ashtray, giggling.jpg¡± No matter what, looks like this buzz is set to continue for several more days. Many are green with envy, veins popping out of their necks, but still utterly helpless. A paper car against a steel tank, destined only for a merciless crushing. Meanwhile, Bi Fang and Leonardo had also reached an agreement on related matters, officially deciding to venture deep into the rainforest together for a live broadcast on June 1st. The difference was, Bi Fang¡¯s was a 21-day journey, while Leonardo¡¯s would only last from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., after which he would return by helicopter. During the rainforest adventure, all matters were to be directed by Bi Fang, and the equipment also had to meet Bi Fang¡¯s specifications; it was essential to follow instructions completely, to avoid causing any trouble, with each person being responsible for themselves. Leonardo obviously understood this. Unlike any film or program he had done before, just a glance at Bi Fang¡¯s previous live broadcasts would reveal that they dealt with genuine challenges. In times of danger, rescue would not arrive in time. Without true capability, it could indeed prove fatal. Seeing his objectives achieved, Leonardo was very pleased, and with a grand gesture, spent over a million at the club for a three-year professional membership, enjoying one-on-one guidance. It was also a preparation for the live streaming event the following week, undergoing some basic training. ¡°Have you had dinner? Even though I¡¯ve just arrived in the Magic Capital, I know a few great spots.¡± Once all was discussed, Leonardo extended an invitation for dinner. Bi Fang shook his head and, pointing to the vast hunting grounds behind him, said with a smile, ¡°Ever thought about hunting for yourself?¡± ¡°Hunting?¡± Leonardo was taken aback at first, but after looking at the hunting ground, he quickly understood what Bi Fang meant, showing some excitement mixed with concern, ¡°I¡¯ve never tried that before.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, our rabbits have been bred in captivity for a while, so their wildness has somewhat diminished, and we use an electronic signal to trigger a current. As long as your arrows hit within a certain range, you can successfully capture them.¡± If we did it according to real wild rabbit standards, practically no one could catch one unless they were old hunters, but then the hunting area wouldn¡¯t be fun to play in. What does it feel like not to catch prey? So, in addition to special electronic signal sensing, Bi Fang deliberately set several levels for the rabbits: the first level is real wild rabbits, nimble in shape and hard to capture even with electromagnetic arrows; the second level is wild rabbits that have been domesticated for a month; the third level is those domesticated for three months, with different color tags indicating each level. Long-term domestication makes the rabbits lose their wildness and agility, reducing the difficulty of capture successively. The hunting grounds don¡¯t have any dangerous animals, and living there, it¡¯s hard for the rabbits to regain their wildness. Yao Jun and Lin Chang also had the idea of holding a hunting competition every three months to maintain the club¡¯s popularity, with different scores corresponding to different levels, determining the champion by score, and the winner could also receive a considerable prize money. Perhaps they could even hold youth, young adult, adult competitions¡­ Well, another good way to harvest points, jot it down, jot it down. The store had refreshed its inventory recently, and Bi Fang took a liking to two new drones. Although their configurations were somewhat inferior to his current livestreaming equipment and couldn¡¯t transform, they were smaller and more covert; even if filming each other, it wasn¡¯t necessarily obvious. The whole was painted matte black, not reflecting light, looking somewhat like a shrunken helicopter but without the wheels on the bottom, the whole shape being closed and streamlined, cool to the extreme. It would definitely enrich the perspective of the livestream, allowing for multi-angle filming, a real cinematic treatment. However, after purchasing these two gadgets, Bi Fang used up all his available points, which gave him a sense of urgency. Bi Fang took out his phone and noted this down in his memo to discuss with the others later before he went hunting with Leonardo. Incidentally, Leonardo also referred to Bi Fang¡¯s real reactions and feelings when encountering a bear as preparation for his performance, as well as to consider whether some details of the entire movie were worth scrutinizing. During this period, Bi Fang also confirmed that the movie was indeed ¡°The Revenant¡± which won awards in his previous life in 2016. The two set out just after four and didn¡¯t return until six-thirty. During that time, Leonardo successfully caught a ¡°wild rabbit¡± that had been domesticated for three months, which made him exceedingly happy. This further verified that as long as one persists, it indeed becomes easier to yield results. However, after dinner, Bi Fang felt puzzled as he always felt like he was forgetting something. Meanwhile, inside the Rock Climbing gym. ¨¦tienne was drenched in sweat from his training. Gurgle, gurgle. His stomach suddenly rumbled, and his face fell. Why hadn¡¯t Bi Fang called him for dinner yet? It was already seven o¡¯clock. ¡­ The next day, Bi Fang, along with a grumpy ¨¦tienne and an energetic Leonardo, received training, but not under his personal guidance. It was still provided by retired special forces, with whom they could basically communicate without any barriers. The special forces had over a hundred training programs, with many people even proficient in several languages. English, being more universal, was obviously a prerequisite, and the number of skills they mastered was countless. Bi Fang observed from the side, wanting to check the competency level of the special forces himself before feeling reassured. From rock climbing to archery, from running to swimming, each activity had to be practiced. Bi Fang wasn¡¯t worried about Leonardo exercising too much and suffering muscle soreness; to shoot ¡°The Revenant,¡± he exercised diligently every day. After a full round of observation, except for a slight deficiency in archery, everything else met expectations. Whether coaching a novice or an intermediate, it was sufficient. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for professionals, professionals don¡¯t need coaches. To improve at the professional level, they either need to interact with peers or continuously break their own limits¡ªcoaches serve only as an aid, not the lead. Days passed by, one after another. Time swiftly moved to the end of May. Bi Fang and Leonardo, the focus of external attention, also took a flight to Yunnan. Chapter 448: 446 Grab a Spot to Watch the Live Stream Chapter 448: Chapter 446 Grab a Spot to Watch the Live Stream There were no direct flights to the Magic Capital; after traveling from Podong to Changshui, the two of them took another flight from Changshui to Gasai, and then a car ride to Jinghong, spending two days to finally reach their destination. As soon as he stepped out of the car, Leonardo was blinded by the glaring sun, and the air around him felt like humid cement choking his airways, making it difficult to breathe. Bi Fang took out his phone, opened the weather forecast, switched to the local data, and squinted his eyes, ¡°The weather is nice today, the highest temperature is only thirty-two degrees.¡± At the end of May, nearing June, it¡¯s very common for temperatures in Yunnan to rise above thirty-five degrees. The scorching sun combined with severe humidity can easily cause acclimation issues, and in severe cases, even lead to vomiting and diarrhea. Compared to the dry heat of the desert, the wet heat near the rainforest is obviously more uncomfortable. Moreover, the discomfort from the humid heat is relatively more difficult to overcome than others, requiring prolonged physiological adaptation. If this were ancient times, it might have even cost someone half their life. Not long after walking, Leonardo, laden with big and small bags, started to sweat and kept hydrating himself. Leonardo twisted open a bottle of mineral water and took a sip, ¡°I can finally understand why you would play the role of a primitive man. If I don¡¯t strip, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised to get sunstroke and dehydrate.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re regretting it now, there¡¯s still time. So far, no one besides me knows that you¡¯ve come here and are going to live stream with me. Rest assured, if you give up now, I won¡¯t tell anyone. But once someone picks us up, we won¡¯t be able to keep it a secret anymore.¡± Bi Fang joked while his eyes scanned the surroundings. Director Zhou had said he would send someone to pick them up, but after looking around for a while, Bi Fang did not find anyone who seemed to be there to meet them. Not until the two of them had been sitting at the seats near the bus station for a while did Bi Fang see several people coming towards them at the same time. He poked Leonardo, who was engrossed in his cell phone, ¡°They¡¯re here.¡± Leonardo put away his phone and pulled down his sunglasses. Indeed, upon seeing Leonardo¡¯s half-exposed face, the approaching people quickened their pace, with Director Zhou running over and firmly grasping Bi Fang¡¯s hand, glancing at Leonardo and then turning back, profusely apologizing. ¡°I was looking from the side for a long time, afraid of recognizing the wrong person, I didn¡¯t expect it to really be Mr. Bi. You¡¯re wearing sunglasses and a mask, and if it hadn¡¯t been for a tip from Xiao Wu, I wouldn¡¯t have recognized you. I am very sorry for making you wait for so long; I am Director Zhou from the Rainforest Conservation Area.¡± The people present weren¡¯t strangers to celebrities. They had expected that someone as famous as Bi Fang would cause a sensation the moment he got off the vehicle, accompanied by big and small bags and perhaps dozens of bodyguards. Furthermore, Bi Fang had previously informed them of his train number and arrival time, and Director Zhou had not arranged for anyone to hold a sign, planning to greet them personally instead. It wasn¡¯t expected that the other party would be so low-profile, with sunglasses, a baseball cap, and a mask, all bundled up tightly even in the hot weather. Plus, Bi Fang¡¯s unique demeanor and strong presence made him stand out amidst ordinary people, which finally caught the attention of Director Zhou and the others. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that Director Zhou would personally come to meet us,¡± Bi Fang said in surprise. As the director, Director Zhou¡¯s status in the Conservation Area was like a leader¡¯s, and it was unexpected that he would come to greet them in person. ¡°If it were anyone else, I definitely wouldn¡¯t have come personally, but with Mr. Bi¡¯s arrival, I couldn¡¯t stay away. If due to any negligence on our part you leave with a bad impression, I would be the sinner of the entire Conservation Area.¡± ¡°You are too courteous.¡± Bi Fang felt somewhat embarrassed being addressed so respectfully by a man in his forties, and he thought that such formalities were a waste of time. After some polite conversation, Director Zhou turned to Leonardo beside Bi Fang and asked, ¡°And who might this be?¡± Director Zhou had noticed the man beside Bi Fang earlier, who looked very familiar. It wasn¡¯t until Leonardo removed his mask that Director Zhou was startled, ¡°This¡­ this¡­ is this¡­?¡± Leonardo smiled. Although he didn¡¯t understand Chinese, he could tell from the other person¡¯s reaction that he had been recognized. ¡°Ronaldo?¡± The crowd: ¡°¡­¡± Even though Leonardo didn¡¯t understand Chinese, names are transliterated, and he felt offended. Did he just say Ronaldo? Must be, right? It wasn¡¯t until a young person beside Director Zhou nudged him gently on the arm and whispered a few words that Director Zhou realized the blunder he had made, and he was mortified. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, really sorry, I just can¡¯t remember names as I grow older, especially those of foreigners. But when I was young, I watched ¡®Titanic¡¯ with my wife every year! This can¡¯t be wrong!¡± Bi Fang translated these words for Leonardo, and the atmosphere finally relaxed. Afterwards, the two followed Director Zhou to the hotel he had arranged. In the car, once Director Zhou learned that Leonardo, an international superstar, would also join the live stream, his excitement soared even higher. Great, really great. Could such good fortune be true? He had even started envisioning the bustling scenes at the rainforest tourist areas when the live stream started! At the hotel, they all had a meal together. That night, Leonardo updated a photo of himself with Bi Fang on social media, adding the caption: ¡°Arrived in XSBN, this is my first collaboration with Bi Fang, the adventurer from Huaxia.¡± As a superstar, Leonardo naturally had his own fanbase, and the post instantly attracted massive attention when it was published. ¡°What happened, has Leonardo released a new movie recently?¡± ¡°Bi Fang? GOD FANG? Good heavens, I know him, a magical, powerful Easterner!¡± ¡°Bi Fang? GOD FANG? WTF? How dare this Huaxia person take such a nickname? Has he done anything notable? I¡¯ve never heard of him.¡± ¡°Good heavens, dude, have you never been on the internet? This is the greatest adventurer, explorer in the world, he can even take on four military professionals at the same time, including a special ops soldier!¡± ¡°I remember Leonardo¡¯s upcoming film is called ¡®Wilderness Hunter,¡¯ right? Sounds like it¡¯s describing GOD FANG¡ªlooking forward to it.¡± ¡°Little Leo? Damn, how is he with Master Fang? What cooperation, what¡¯s going on, how come I didn¡¯t know about this?¡± ¡°Bro, you¡¯re also over the wall (dog¡¯s head emoji), why don¡¯t you check out domestic news? It was exposed a few days ago, Master Fang met with Little Leo.¡± ¡°Maybe they¡¯re doing a live broadcast? Didn¡¯t they say Master Fang would livestream on June 1st? Today is already the 30th, it can¡¯t be filming, so it must be a live broadcast. Old Fang didn¡¯t leak any news, such a pitfall.¡± ¡°How come this big news is only being told now?¡± ¡°Damn, damn, damn, Little Leo and Master Fang doing a live broadcast together? My god, what a dream team, adventurer and squirt gun expert?¡± The moment the news was released, it sparked a heated discussion across the internet, and some even took screenshots and transported them to domestic audiences, triggering another round of discussions. ¡°Is this a photoshopped pic? How¡¯s that possible? If it¡¯s a real collaboration, Old Fang didn¡¯t release any information?¡± ¡°It¡¯s true, if you don¡¯t believe it, go check the international internet. It was posted by Leonardo himself, undeniable proof!¡± Suddenly, countless people @¡¯ed Mr. Bi to ask if it was real. There was no helping it; the news was so shocking. Two people, utterly unrelated, were rumored to be collaborating for a live broadcast! Even Bi Fang was getting tired from all the knocking because not only the online fans but also real-life friends were asking. He had no choice but to craft a status update and release it. ¡°June 1st, the double act, stay tuned.¡± Although it wasn¡¯t clear what kind of double act it was, piecing together previous behaviors, It was confirmed! Master Fang and Little Leo were going to do a live broadcast together! In the rainforest! Prior to this, the duo¡¯s photo together indeed led to much speculation. Some guessed Leonardo invited Bi Fang to be a consultant for his new wilderness-themed film, others thought it might be a club advertisement endorsement, or perhaps a club experience. But nobody ever dreamed that it would turn out to be a live broadcast together! ¡°I¡¯m already looking forward to it!¡± ¡°I caught up on GOD FANG¡¯s adventures through videos, and I have to admit, he¡¯s really impressive¡ªafter Bruce Lee, he¡¯s the second Huaxia person I admire.¡± ¡°Ah, June 1st, come quickly! How are there still two days left?¡± ¡°It¡¯s midnight, only one day left.¡± ¡°Heard the broadcast starts at nine, so that¡¯s thirty-three hours to countdown.¡± Inside the hotel, Cao Lifeng and his roommates arrived in the Magic Capital early, the semester had basically ended, all classes had stopped, leaving plenty of time to play¡ªahem, to review. As for their presence in Magic Capital, each holding a club ticket, evidently, it was for a balanced approach to relaxation amid the intense revisions, easing the mind and stress. ¡°Master Fang and Little Leo are doing a live broadcast, damn, I¡¯m so excited!¡± sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Cao Lifeng was bouncing on the bed with his mobile phone in hand; he couldn¡¯t wait to see the June 1st live broadcast! It¡¯d be best to watch it live at the venue! As the opening time for the club drew nearer, many of the arrangements were ¡°leaked¡± by staff, including the big screen specially set up for Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast! ¡°The club opens at six, Master Fang livestreams at nine; we can swing by earlier, check it out, then grab a good spot for the broadcast,¡± said Ge Liyang, the dorm leader. The excitement ignited among the roommates: ¡°Heard they¡¯re using laser technology for the screen, even got 3D effects without glasses, I¡¯ve never had such luxury even when watching movies.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that six is too early, guess we¡¯ll have to get up at five.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, let¡¯s all go to sleep early, still a day to go, gotta adjust our biological clocks, adjust our biological clocks.¡± ¡°Received, over, received, over.¡± ¡°Charge, charge, charge!¡± Chapter 449: 447 The Shocking First Pavilion Chapter 449: Chapter 447 The Shocking First Pavilion ¡°Damn, there are way too many people¡­¡± At 5:46 a.m., outside the square¡¯s gates, a sea of people extended as far as the eye could see, like surging waves of heads. Cao Lifeng¡¯s mouth hung open, the cone in his hand had been scraped half off by a stranger, he wanted to say something, but in the blink of an eye, the person was swept away into the crowd and disappeared. Cao Lifeng: ¡°¡­¡± This scene exceeded Cao Lifeng¡¯s comprehension, making him truly understand the meaning of ¡°drumming that pierces the sky, firecrackers in unison, red flags waving, a sea of people.¡± Twenty thousand tickets were sold online, and twenty to thirty thousand were available for sale in person. Some people came after learning they could see the 3D naked-eye effect live, while others who had missed out online rose early to buy them. There was no helping it, less than half an hour after the news was released, tickets were sold out. Many people at school or work were clueless until it was too late, full of regret, they had no choice but to arrive early to fight for tickets. The scene was akin to the elderly battling it out for discounted eggs at a supermarket sale, the only difference being that over eighty percent of those present were young people. From this, it¡¯s evident that the frenzy of grabbing bargains knows no age. ¡°Don¡¯t rush, don¡¯t rush, everyone line up! Buddy, don¡¯t climb over the fence! Don¡¯t climb over the fence, hey, be careful!¡± the security guard was shouting himself hoarse. Yao Jun, not far away, swallowed with excitement at the mass of people, so many that he couldn¡¯t even get inside himself. Lin Chang frowned, having set the opening time for six o¡¯clock precisely to avoid this, since most people don¡¯t like getting up early. He never expected that it wouldn¡¯t matter, that those who were meant to come still showed up. He sighed and resignedly said, ¡°Let¡¯s open the gates early, blocking them here is too dangerous, if something happens, it wouldn¡¯t be good, just let them onto the square.¡± In front of the first venue was a large square, and only beyond that the main gates. Currently, thousands were jammed in front of the gates, but by opening up to the square people could spread out, preventing any accidents. Yao Jun nodded, clearly worried about the same issue, knowing that if something happened, not only would the opening be ruined, but the following days would be difficult as well. He immediately pulled out his phone and informed the relevant staff, ¡°When opening the gates, get security to focus and maintain order, we must prevent a stampede.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Across from him, receiving instructions, they immediately began directing security to regulate the crowd¡¯s behavior. ¡°Stop pushing, we¡¯re opening the gates early, opening early!¡± ¡°Opening early?¡± ¡°What? Early?¡± ¡°Hurry up, I¡¯m exhausted!¡± ¡°Let me in to take a look, be good.¡± Upon hearing that the gates were opening, Cao Lifeng and the others became excited, and likewise, the previously ecstatic crowd gradually calmed down and lined up again under the guidance of the staff. When the clock struck 5:50 a.m., the gates clicked. They opened. ¡°Charge!¡± ¡°Brothers, follow me and charge!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t run! Don¡¯t run!¡± ¡°To the ticket check! To the ticket check!¡± ¡°Be safe, be safe!¡± ¡­ Cao Lifeng wiped the sweat from his forehead; it was almost June, and the weather was getting hot in the early morning. The intense jostling only added to the heat, soaking his shirt through: ¡°Phew! Grandma¡¯s legs, we finally got in! That was intense.¡± Ge Liyang adjusted his glasses that had nearly been knocked off, still shaken; he had anticipated it might be a hit, but never to this extent. They had almost lost their lives in the crowd. Fortunately, nothing went wrong. The moment the gates opened, the security guards brought out their shields, which helped control the flow of people. After going through ticket check and entering the square, it wasn¡¯t so crowded anymore. Just to be safe, Lin Chang had called the police ahead of time¡­ Indeed, judging by its size on the ground alone, the club was imposing, having claimed to represent an investment of over ten billion. With many areas still under construction or kept in their natural state, one could only imagine the scale. Cao Lifeng waved from the front: ¡°Stop taking photos, hurry into the first venue! The Rainforest, the desert, and such can wait till tomorrow, the ticket lasts two days anyway.¡± Considering the extensive content, many could spend an entire day just at the Hunting Grounds. Knowing that some might not have enough time to experience it all, Bi Fang had thoughtfully introduced two-day and three-day tickets, with corresponding discounts, embodying the epitome of a conscientious business. ¡°Yes, yes, yes!¡± Only then did everyone react and surged towards the first exhibition hall directly opposite. Some people stopped in the middle of the huge square where a fountain was gushing, gazing up at the immense Mount Everest marble sculpture. Their cameras crazily snapped photos. At the same time, Bi Fang also received a video sent by Yao Jun, and when he opened it, he instantly recognized the familiar square and the massive crowd and knew right away where it was. ¡°So many people, nothing went wrong, did it?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, with me and Lin Chang here watching, everything is fine. Everyone¡¯s gone in now. I can¡¯t wait to see their reactions to the first exhibition hall, arms-akimbo.jpg.¡± The main design of the first exhibition hall was proposed by Yao Jun himself, from the oil paintings to the giant screens, which was why he was so excited. ¡°Just be extra careful, anyway.¡± ¡°OK.jpg¡± ¡°When are you heading out?¡± ¡°Right away, just got up. Gonna wash up, grab Leonardo and head out. There¡¯s not much to prepare this time, except I need to take extra care of Leonardo.¡± ¡°Blush.jpg, think you could take me along next time?¡± ¡°Get lost, unless you also become an international star one day,¡± Bi Fang laughed as he typed the teasing reply. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thinking about it, he had only ever taken someone with him this once. The Edinburgh incident didn¡¯t count; that was commercialized and open to everyone. Leonardo was different. Taking him along was actually for Bi Fang¡¯s own sake. The number of his die-hard fans in the country had basically saturated, and even if he attracted casual fans, they couldn¡¯t possibly wait around for a live stream every day. But abroad was different; there was still a lot of potential territory to develop. Bringing Leonardo along this time was really taking a shortcut. They would mutually benefit each other, and only with safety as assured as possible would Bi Fang have agreed to it. ¡°I¡¯m gonna get my dad to develop a cinema chain, striving.jpg.¡± ¡°Envious of the second-generation rich.¡± ¡°Envious of the first-generation rich.¡± ¡°Get lost.¡± Yao Jun smirked, put away his phone, and made his way into the square. It wasn¡¯t yet six o¡¯clock, so the doors of the first exhibition hall hadn¡¯t opened yet. He slipped in through a side path. The inside of the hall was still pitch black, devoid of any light. He hid in the shadows of the corner, watching as the door quietly opened a crack, then bright specks of light flooded in, illuminating the space in front of the door. Cao Lifeng cautiously peeked out his head. It wasn¡¯t fully light outside yet, and large curtains had been hung around the first exhibition hall. The range illuminated by the doorway light was limited. Darkness. ¡°Is this the first exhibition hall with the screen?¡± The information leaked online was obviously not revealed casually but targeted by Yao Jun and Lin Chang. Therefore, the netizens only knew about some of the content ¨C the first exhibition hall was vast, with a big screen. What it actually looked like inside, nobody knew. Just as Cao Lifeng was carefully taking a step forward, he suddenly felt a force push him from behind. Someone had pushed him hard. Caught off guard, Cao Lifeng staggered into the hall. As he turned around to glare at the person with no manners. Click. The lights turned on in that instant, and huge oil paintings explosively appeared in front of everyone¡¯s pupils. The crowd slowly flowed in, their pupils gradually dilating. Cao Lifeng¡¯s pupils dilated, his mouth slightly open. ¡°This, this is too cool, right?¡± Chapter 450: 448: Live Broadcast, Start! Chapter 450: Chapter 448: Live Broadcast, Start! The interior and exterior of the venue seemed like two different worlds; the clamor was silenced the moment one stepped through the door, much like a tide crashing into the rocks and breaking into spray. Cao Lifeng stood there, dazed, with a tide of people flowing past him. ¡°This is way too awesome.¡± Ge Liyang looked around, and every thickly-painted oil painting brought the most intense, most shocking visual experience, with emotions crashing over the soul like relentless waves. Black Bear, Wolf Fang, Shark, Goose, Shark, Blue Whale, Mount Everest¡ªeach painting delivered a shockingly unimaginable impact; when all these images were displayed together, they created a spectacular scene that left thousands speechless. In a corner, Yao Jun, who was watching secretly, couldn¡¯t help but punch the air in celebration, ¡°We made it!¡± Ten minutes later, images of the gallery began popping up on major social media platforms, with the highest curiosity and attention undoubtedly being on the contents of the first pavilion. Other than that, the Rainforest Museum and the Desert Pavilion were the main attractions; ocean pavilions were nothing new, but the Rainforest Museum and the Desert Pavilion were firsts in the country, and perhaps even in the world. ¡°Damn, aren¡¯t these oil paintings too big? Are you sure they¡¯re not murals?¡± ¡°They really look good, more dynamic than photos. Does anyone have high-resolution scans? I want them as wallpapers.¡± Netizens uniformly expressed their appreciation for the oil paintings, particularly the dedicated fans who wished they could get one for their homes. The reality is¡­ They actually could. In the souvenir shop, aside from replicas of Wolf Fang, Shark Tooth, Q-version figurines, and artistic novelty keepsakes, there were also smaller electronic scan pictures¡ªquite affordable at ten yuan each. However, smaller-scale replicas of the actual oil paintings did exist, albeit at a much heftier price, and generally, people would just look rather than buy. ¡°Have you seen the Rainforest Museum? Good lord, a video of just walking straight for over ten minutes still didn¡¯t cover the whole thing, only halfway through.¡± ¡°The indoor waterfall is a bit over the top, the budget is burning.¡± ¡°You think it¡¯s just indoor scenery? NONONO, it¡¯s actually an indoor ecosystem. It¡¯s open to see what kind of impact human activities have on the environment. Once the experiment is over, we can proceed with the construction of an ecosystem under the atmospheric dome on the moon.¡± ¡°The Security Bureau is online.¡± ¡°Why does that Golden Python look so familiar? Seems like I¡¯ve seen it somewhere before.¡± In the three major pavilions, the ocean pavilion was indeed beautiful, but it still didn¡¯t offer the novelty and interest of the other two, and its popularity was slightly behind. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Damn, kind of regret not going now, especially since it¡¯s Children¡¯s Day, I could have taken my son.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been regretting it since I missed the tickets online, I heard the tickets for the day are almost sold out.¡± ¡°There are too many people, better wait for later. What¡¯s so good about being crammed?¡± ¡°No, they¡¯re controlling the number of visitors. The remaining tickets are decided based on the number of visitors for the day. It just looks crowded, but once you¡¯re divided into the various pavilions, the experience is actually quite pleasant.¡± ¡°There¡¯s also the naked-eye 3D screen exclusive to Master Fang, I really want to see it in person, wuwuwu.¡± ¡°It¡¯s already eight o¡¯clock, can only stay home and watch.¡± As everyone eagerly awaited the live broadcast, Bi Fang also came out of the hotel with Leonardo to make the final preparations. Jinghong City, here lies the largest and most bustling city in all of Greater Xishuangbanna, hence most of the attractions are centered around this city. This city is bisected by a river called the Lancang River, which, outside of Huaxia, is known as the Mekong River, thus Jinghong is divided into two parts, with the term ¡°north of the river¡± referring to the area north of the Lancang River. However, Jinghong City isn¡¯t large; Bi Fang and Leonardo had traveled around in the past two days. The taxi fee starts at 7 yuan during the day and 8 yuan at night, and they couldn¡¯t go beyond that basic fare. However, the supporting facilities were quite impressive. In the city center, there was a free outdoor fountain park called Peacock Lake, with a KFC, a Dicos, and a cinema nearby¡ªnone were lacking. In the car, Leonardo continued to check his pack, from insect repellent to a first aid kit, making sure nothing was missing. Even in the scorching heat, he still wore boots. This was to avoid being bitten by venomous snakes in disguise to the greatest extent possible. In the rainforest, there were many poisonous creatures, and many snakes could easily kill a large elephant with their venom. Even if rescue was provided immediately, there was still a certain chance of death. But the more fully armed Leonardo was, the more he understood how dangerous Bi Fang¡¯s choice to wear no clothing at all was. Especially Zhou Weisheng, as the director of the reserve, he knew better than anyone how dangerous the depths of the rainforest could be, where even a small mosquito could potentially be deadly. That¡¯s why he was so surprised when he first made contact with Bi Fang. The rainforest and the city were completely different environments. Why do so many primitive tribes still exist in the Amazon rainforest? Is it because they can¡¯t access modern civilization? Do they not yearn for a more comfortable and relaxed life? Neither. The evolution of any species only has two purposes: to make life more comfortable and to reproduce offspring. Controlled by DNA, humans are no exception. Whether it¡¯s the Ewenki in the mountains or the Inuit people within the Arctic Circle, their unique civilizations have almost completely disappeared under the impact of modern civilization. So far, globally, only the primitive tribes in the rainforests remain steadfast. Are they unable to assimilate? Too barbaric to fit in with modern society? Too dangerous to be let into society? None of these. Every civilization has gradually evolved from barbarism; the primitive tribes in the rainforest are not incapable of assimilating, it¡¯s just that the cost of assimilation is too high. The fundamental reason is only one, it¡¯s too dangerous. Before the rainforest was massively destroyed, only a few adventurers and research teams could reach them. Without the impact of large-scale social forces, how could they possibly stride into modern society? Even the indigenous people of the rainforest have lived within extremely limited areas for generations. It¡¯s difficult for outsiders to reach them, and it¡¯s equally hard for them to come into contact with the outside world. This phenomenon is unseen in both the Arctic and Antarctic. ¡°The entire Huaxia has only one factory that can produce antivenom, but the good news is that it¡¯s located in Yunnan, so in case of an accident, the chances of being rescued are still pretty high.¡± Leonardo tugged at the corner of his mouth, ¡°That joke isn¡¯t funny at all.¡± Under Zhou Weisheng¡¯s arrangement, the two of them took a small path to a little house in the scenic area, where there were no other people to ensure no fanatical fans would appear. No one knew that the world¡¯s number one adventurer and the international superstar were in this inconspicuous corner. Bi Fang looked at the time, 8:45. It was still fifteen minutes before the start, but he didn¡¯t start the live stream early. If it were a normal day, a few minutes early or late wouldn¡¯t matter, but for the opening day of the club, a sense of ceremony was still necessary. Finally, after Leonardo finished a cup of coffee, the 59 changed to 00. Bi Fang pressed the drone¡¯s power button. The live stream, had begun! Chapter 451: 449: Reserving a Spot Chapter 451: Chapter 449: Reserving a Spot Not finished yet Reserving a spot Will finish editing before 1:30 AM. There were no direct flights to the Magic Capital, so after going from Podong to Changshui, the two of them took another plane from Changshui to Gasai, and then drove to Jinghong. It took two days to finally arrive at their destination. As soon as Little Leo stepped out of the car door, the dazzling sun blinded him, and the air around felt like warm, concrete blocking his windpipe, making it hard to breathe. Bi Fang took out his phone, pulled up the weather forecast, and switched to the local reading, squinting his eyes, ¡°The weather is nice today, with a high of only 32 degrees Celsius.¡± At the end of May, approaching June, temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius were common in Yunnan, and the scorching sun combined with severe humidity often made newcomers ill-adapted to the local climate, sometimes even causing severe vomiting and diarrhea. Clearly, the humid heat near the rainforest was more uncomfortable than the dry heat of the desert. And acclimating to the humid heat was relatively more challenging than other climates, requiring a long period of physiological adaptation. In ancient times, it could even cost one half their life. They hadn¡¯t walked for long when Little Leo, burdened with a large and small pack, began to sweat profusely and kept rehydrating. Little Leo, opening a bottle of mineral water, took a sip, ¡°I can finally understand why you¡¯re playing the role of a primitive man, if you don¡¯t strip, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if you got dehydrated from the heat.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re now regretting coming here, it¡¯s not too late to back out. Except for me, no one knows you¡¯re here, and you¡¯re supposed to livestream with me. Don¡¯t worry, if you give up now, I won¡¯t spill the beans, but once others come to pick us up, we can¡¯t keep it under wraps,¡± Bi Fang said jokingly while scanning the surroundings. Director Zhou had said he would send someone to pick them up, but as Bi Fang looked around, he didn¡¯t see anyone who seemed to be there to meet them. It wasn¡¯t until the two of them had been sitting on the seats near the bus station for a while that Bi Fang saw several people approaching them at the same time. He nudged Little Leo, who was playing with his phone, ¡°They¡¯re coming.¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Little Leo put away his phone and pulled down his sunglasses. As expected, upon seeing half of Little Leo¡¯s face revealed, the newcomers quickened their pace, with Director Zhou in the lead, who ran over and grabbed Bi Fang¡¯s hand, glanced at Little Leo, then turned back and repeatedly apologized. ¡°I was standing by to avoid any mistakes for quite some time, never expected it to be Mr. Bi himself, with your sunglasses and mask, if it wasn¡¯t for Xiao Wu reminding me, I wouldn¡¯t have recognized you, I¡¯m so sorry for the wait, I¡¯m Zhou Weisheng from the Rainforest Conservation Area.¡± The others present weren¡¯t strangers to celebrities, originally thinking that a big name like Bi Fang would cause a stir as soon as he got off the car, complete with heavy luggage and numerous bodyguards. Furthermore, before coming, Bi Fang had informed them of his train number and arrival time, so Zhou Weisheng didn¡¯t arrange for someone to hold a sign, thinking he¡¯d personally receive them himself. He didn¡¯t expect the other party to be so low-profile, with sunglasses, a baseball cap, and a mask, wrapped up tight despite the hot weather. Besides, Bi Fang¡¯s unique demeanor and strong core presence made him sit up straight among the common folk, standing out like a crane in a flock of chickens, which finally caught the attention of Zhou Weisheng and the others. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Director Zhou to come in person,¡± Bi Fang said, surprised. As the director, Zhou Weisheng¡¯s position in the Conservation Area was equivalent to that of a leader, and it was unexpected that he personally came to welcome them. ¡°I definitely wouldn¡¯t personally come for anyone else, but Mr. Bi¡¯s presence, of course, I had to show up. If my inattentiveness caused you a bad impression, I would be the sinner of the entire Conservation Area,¡± Zhou Weisheng said. ¡°You¡¯re too polite.¡± Bi Fang felt somewhat awkward being addressed so respectfully by a man in his forties, finding such pleasantries a waste of time. After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Zhou Weisheng looked towards Little Leo, who was standing next to Bi Fang, and asked, ¡°And this is?¡± Zhou Weisheng had noticed the man next to Bi Fang, who looked very familiar, but it wasn¡¯t until Little Leo removed his mask that Zhou Weisheng was startled, ¡°This¡­ this¡­ is¡­¡± Little Leo smiled, and even though he didn¡¯t understand Mandarin, he knew from the reaction that he had been recognized. ¡°Ronaldo?¡± Everyone: ¡°¡­¡± Even though he didn¡¯t understand Mandarin, the name was transliterated, and Little Leo felt somewhat offended. Did he just say Ronaldo? It must be this, right? It wasn¡¯t until a young person nudged Zhou Weisheng¡¯s arm and whispered a few words that Zhou Weisheng realized what a blunder he had made, and he couldn¡¯t be more embarrassed. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, truly sorry, I¡¯m getting old and can¡¯t remember names, especially those of foreigners. But in my youth, my wife and I watched your ¡®Titanic!¡¯ This time I can¡¯t be wrong!¡± Zhou Weisheng exclaimed. Bi Fang translated Zhou Weisheng¡¯s words for Little Leo, and the atmosphere eased up. Afterward, they followed Zhou Weisheng to the hotel he had arranged. On the car ride, upon learning that international superstar Little Leo would also join the livestream, Zhou Weisheng¡¯s spirits lifted even higher. Great, really great. Could there be such good luck? He even started imagining the bustling scenes at the rainforest tourism spots once the livestream started! Arriving at the hotel, everyone shared a meal together. That evening, Little Leo updated his social media with a photo of himself and Bi Fang, captioning it, ¡°Arrived at XSBN, this is my first collaboration with the adventurer Bi Fang from Huaxia.¡± Being a superstar, Little Leo naturally had his own fans, and the update immediately garnered a lot of attention. ¡°What¡¯s happening, does Little Leo have a new movie out recently?¡± ¡°Bi Fang? GOD FANG? My god, I know him, a magical, powerful Easterner!¡± ¡°Bi Fang? GOD FANG? WTF? How dare this Huaxia person take such a nickname? Has he done anything? I¡¯ve never heard of him.¡± ¡°My gosh, dude, have you never been online? This is the greatest adventurer, explorer in the world. He can even take on four professional soldiers at once, one of them being a special forces operative!¡± ¡°I remember Leonardo¡¯s latest movie is called ¡®Wilderness Hunter,¡¯ right? Judging by the name, it seems like it could describe GOD FANG. I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡± ¡°Little Leo? Holy shit, what is he doing with Master Fang? What collaboration, what happened that I don¡¯t know about?¡± ¡°Bro, did you climb over the wall (Dog¡¯s head), and not check out domestic news? It was revealed a couple of days ago, Master Fang met with Little Leo.¡± ¡°They¡¯re probably going to livestream together, right? Didn¡¯t they say Master Fang would livestream on June 1st? It¡¯s already the 30th today; it can¡¯t be for a movie, so it must be a joint livestream. Old Fang didn¡¯t release any info, too shady.¡± ¡°How come this news is just coming out now?¡± ¡°Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit, Little Leo and Master Fang livestreaming together? My god, what a dream team ¨C an adventurer and the squirt-gun warrior?¡± As soon as the status was released, it sparked a heated discussion online, and some even took screenshots to spread on domestic websites, sparking yet another round of debate. ¡°This has got to be a photoshopped picture, right? How could it be? Old Fang didn¡¯t release any news about a real collaboration?¡± ¡°It¡¯s true, believe it or not, climb over the wall and see for yourself. Leonardo posted the status himself, the evidence is solid!¡± Before long, countless people were @-ing Mr. Bi, asking if it was really true. There was no way around it, the news was too shocking. Two people, seemingly worlds apart, were actually going to collaborate on a livestream! Even Bi Fang himself got annoyed by the constant inquiries, not just from online fans, but also from real-life friends. Left with no choice, he decided to craft a status update and release it. ¡°June 1st, a duo, stay tuned.¡± Although it was not specified what kind of duo, but piecing together the previous actions. It was confirmed! Master Fang and Little Leo were going to livestream together! In the Rainforest! Prior to this, the joint photo of the two indeed led to much speculation. Some guessed that Leonardo was asking Bi Fang to be a consultant for his new movie, since it was a wilderness-themed one, others guessed advertising endorsements for the club, or maybe just to experience the club. But nobody ever imagined it would actually be the two of them livestreaming together! ¡°I¡¯m already looking forward to it!¡± Since it was wilderness-themed, some still guessed advertising endorsements for the club, or maybe just to experience the club. After catching up on GOD FANG¡¯s experiences through videos, I have to admit, he¡¯s really impressive. After Bruce Lee, he is the second Huaxia person I respect.¡± ¡°Ahhhh, just two more days until June 1st! Why isn¡¯t it here yet? Ahhhh, just two more days until June 1st! Why isn¡¯t it here yet?¡± ¡°It¡¯s past midnight, just one more day.¡± ¡°I heard the livestream starts at 9 AM, so that means there are only thirty-three hours left on the countdown.¡± Inside a hotel, Cao Lifeng and his roommates arrived at the Magic Capital early. Since it was the end of the semester and they had stopped having classes, they had lots of time to play, er, to review. The reason they were in the Magic Capital with club tickets in hand was clearly to mix work with play, ease their minds and relieve the pressure during the intense review period. ¡°Master Fang and Little Leo are livestreaming together, holy shit, I¡¯m so excited!¡± Cao Lifeng, holding his phone and hopping around on the bed, couldn¡¯t wait to see the livestream on June 1st! It would be best to watch it in the first hall! As the club¡¯s opening drew nearer, many of the arrangements were ¡°leaked¡± by the staff, including that big screen dedicated to Bi Fang¡¯s livestream! ¡°The club opens at six, Master Fang livestreams at nine. We can go early, take a tour and then secure a good spot to watch the livestream,¡± said dorm leader Ge Liyang. The roommates all got excited: ¡°I heard the screen is using laser technology, and it even has a naked-eye 3D effect ¨C that¡¯s better treatment than watching a movie!¡± ¡°The only thing is, opening at six is too early. We¡¯ll probably have to get up at five.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, everyone better get some sleep early. We still have one more day to adjust our biological clocks, adjust our biological clocks.¡± ¡°Received, over, received, over.¡± ¡°Charge, charge, charge!¡± ¡°The only thing is, opening at six is too early. We¡¯ll probably have to get up at five.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, everyone better get some sleep early. We still have one more day to adjust our biological clocks, adjust our biological clocks.¡± ¡°Received, over, received, over.¡± ¡°Charge, charge, charge!¡± Chapter 452: 450: Primitive Man, Move Out! Chapter 452: Chapter 450: Primitive Man, Move Out! [From the first sprouting of life under water¡­to the gigantic beasts of the Stone Age¡­to the first time humans walked upright, you have witnessed much. Now, embark upon your greatest exploration yet: from the cradle of early civilizations to the vastness of the cosmos.] [Ahem, brother, you¡¯re on the wrong stage. Civilization players, please turn right and head out the door to start today¡¯s battle!] [Is this skipping the Bronze Age and going straight into the Iron Age?] Netizens in the live stream room were in a heated discussion, without a doubt, all stunned by Bi Fang¡¯s bold plan. How could a person, alone in the wild, forage for iron and craft handy iron weapons? Before, Zhou Weisheng only knew that Bi Fang intended to survive in the primitive way, but he never imagined there was another equally unbelievable goal. However, unlike the shocked audience, as the director of the reserve, Zhou Weisheng was well aware that the rainforest was not lacking in iron; obtaining a small amount of iron was not difficult. But to turn it into a usable weapon? That seemed incredible. At least Zhou Weisheng couldn¡¯t imagine how, without any external assistance, how to gather those pitifully few iron elements and refine them into a weapon? A furnace would at least be needed, right? Not only a furnace, but also charcoal fire, and grinding tools had to be crafted as well. If it wasn¡¯t for casting, it would be even more troublesome. It¡¯s baffling, truly baffling. Zhou Weisheng shook his head, the more he thought about it, the more he realized the complexity of the process, the difficulty of it, not to mention compressing the whole process into twenty days¡ªit seemed utterly impossible. The audience¡¯s reaction was expected by Bi Fang. If it wasn¡¯t for the orange Wilderness Traveler badge, even he himself might not believe it could be done with only the purple Wilderness Survivalist badge. However, there was no need to say more. Actions speak louder than words. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If no one believed it, then he would just show it to everyone. Bi Fang looked around, his eyes scanning every plant as he walked slowly past them. The place Zhou Weisheng chose was very secluded; seldom did people pass by. The wooden house was usually occupied by staff, but since the area had changed, even staff rarely visited. Because Bi Fang needed it, Zhou Weisheng had someone clean it up briefly to serve as a dressing room. The helicopter nearby was also ready to go. At this moment, there were as many as eight people present, all watching Bi Fang without blinking, curious about what he was about to do. Finally, Bi Fang stopped in front of a plant: ¡°Since I¡¯m going to partake in real primitive survival, I obviously cannot go wearing just shorts. Not only is it unseemly, but it would also make me quite embarrassed. Therefore, before I set off, I need to weave myself a grass skirt.¡± It was precisely to show the audience the whole process of weaving a grass skirt that Bi Fang did not start broadcasting immediately after the helicopter took off. Had it been before, he would already be jumping out of the helicopter by now. Bi Fang pointed to the plant in front of him and turned his head to Director Zhou: ¡°Director Zhou, may I pluck some of its leaves?¡± ¡°Of course, you can. The Pandanus is an economic crop; it wouldn¡¯t matter even if you stripped it bare,¡± Director Zhou said indifferently. The plant in front of Bi Fang was a Pandanus, common in rainforest areas, most often seen as a shrub or small tree. Due to its high value and aesthetic appeal, it is frequently cultivated as a hedge. This row of plants was used by the reserve as a natural protective barrier. And as an economic crop, it was cultivated by humans for use, so taking a few leaves was not a problem at all. ¡°In the wilderness, when looking to create garments to cover oneself, the top choice is a plant rich in fibers. And to ensure comfort, it needs to be sufficiently soft. Otherwise, if it¡¯s too close to the body, the harsh friction can easily injure the skin, causing blisters.¡± Having received Director Zhou¡¯s permission, Bi Fang didn¡¯t hesitate and began plucking leaves from the Pandanus. The leaves of the Pandanus were thick, each over a meter long. A single Pandanus could bear dozens of leaves, each spreading out like an aloe leaf. Unlike aloe, whose interior is full of gel, the inside of a Pandanus leaf was soft, elongated fibers. ¡°Therefore, the fiber of the Pandanus can be used to weave mats, hats, and other crafts. If you have friends from Yunnan, Fujian, Hainan, and other places, you might have seen them before. However, such artifacts are now rare. One thing to note is that the edges of the Pandanus leaves have small spines, which we need to remove to avoid hand injuries.¡± Tearing off a long leaf, Bi Fang used his fingernail to scrape around the edge of the leaf, tearing off the entire green skin to reveal the greenish-white flesh of the leaf. Bi Fang pinched in front of the drone¡¯s camera, and the audience could clearly see the leaf flesh quickly bouncing back, revealing that it was filled with soft plant fibers. A whole grass skirt definitely couldn¡¯t be made from just one leaf, but Bi Fang didn¡¯t grab a whole Pandanus tree and pull with all his might either. One would be enough, but that could easily strip it bare. So Bi Fang plucked around a dozen, finally gathering enough for a grass skirt. Then, on the ground, he casually pulled out a branch¡ªsoft yet tough¡ªand simply threaded it through the leaf flesh, weaving it into a sturdy grass skirt. The rainforest was good for this, with countless varieties of vines and plants; walk a couple of steps and you¡¯d come across suitable materials. ¡°Making a grass skirt isn¡¯t as hard as you think. You just need to find the right soft materials, and then use a sufficiently strong and slender vine to thread them together,¡± Bi Fang explained. ¡°If you want it to be more secure and the leaves less likely to fall off, you can tear the leaf flesh into several thin fibers at the end you¡¯ve threaded through, twist them into a rope, and tie a knot. It¡¯s more troublesome, but also more durable.¡± In less than ten minutes, a brand-new grass skirt appeared before everyone¡¯s eyes. Three drones filmed from different angles, seamlessly transitioning shots like a master¡¯s technique, capturing every facet of the grass skirt. Bi Fang tried it on and it fit just right. Thanks to the leaves being long enough, they fell down to his knees. Bi Fang took a few steps, and the skirt was both attractive and sturdy¡ªa very practical grass skirt. [Manual dexterity max!] [The show hasn¡¯t even officially started, and I¡¯m already looking forward to it. What should I do?] [Is there something wrong with me for wanting to see a man in a grass skirt? Need advice, quite urgent.] [I want to see it too, lick.jpg] [This is brilliant. I often see this plant by the road and never thought it could be turned into clothing.] [Huh? Did Old Fang¡¯s drones increase by two? Do the angles seem more numerous? Or is it another collaboration with the Discovery Channel?] ¡°The benefits of the Pandanus tree don¡¯t stop there. Its young shoots can be eaten, its roots and fruits can be used as medicine for colds, fevers, nephritis, and more. The flowers can be distilled into fragrant oils,¡± Bi Fang said. ¡°Even the leaf powder can be used as a seasoning for sweet-tasting dishes. Take a sniff.¡± Bi Fang plucked a stalk and handed it to Leonardo. Leonardo took it, brought it close to his nose for a smell, pondered for a moment and said, ¡°It¡¯s somewhat like vanilla with a hint of coconut.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Bi Fang affirmed Leonardo¡¯s comment. ¡°Moreover, the Pandanus fruit is edible too, but only when it¡¯s fresh. Once it ages, it becomes too tough to bite.¡± [My gosh, if these plants are all over the rainforest, then you don¡¯t have to worry about finding food, do you?] [The rainforest is filled with treasures!] The audience was excited, but Bi Fang brutally punctured their fantasy, ¡°Unfortunately, its fruit is in season only in November and December. You won¡¯t see any in June.¡± ¡°Furthermore, the Pandanus fruit is somewhat toxic; it must be soaked in water for over half an hour before eating, and even then, eating it as a staple food might still cause diarrhea. Getting sick in the rainforest is very troublesome, more so than in any other place.¡± ¡°Incredible!¡± Director Zhou Weisheng couldn¡¯t help but exclaim from the side. Bi Fang had a big reputation for a reason; it was well deserved. In just these short ten minutes or so, Bi Fang had explained nearly all of the functions of the Pandanus tree, down to the smallest detail. At least on the surface, this one plant seemed to solve both clothing and food needs. Bi Fang smiled, exchanged pleasantries, and then took the grass skirt into the cabin. Suddenly, the live streaming room erupted. [Here it comes, the big moment is coming!] [The temptation of nudity.jpg] [Primitive man, move out!] Chapter 453: 451 Occupy a Spot Chapter 453: Chapter 451 Occupy a Spot Chapter two isn¡¯t finished yet, taking a placeholder. Will revise it before 1 a.m. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Leonardo DiCaprio.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Leonardo DiCaprio,¡± Liu Qian repeated, convinced that her boss had heard clearly, but she added an extra line, ¡°Domestic movie fans all call him Little Leo.¡± Leonardo, known as ¡°Little Leo¡± among Huaxia netizens, Ugly Country¡¯s male actor and filmmaker. He¡¯s coming to my live stream to co-host? Bi Fang¡¯s smile slowly faded, feeling very novel, so novel that it took him by surprise. ¡°emmm¡­ So, that ten million for the ashtray was actually a reward from Leonardo?¡± ¡°From what we can tell, that seems to be the case. The other party said he¡¯s recently preparing for a new film,¡± Liu Qian flipped through her notebook, ¡°The content is related to Wilderness Survivalist and revenge, it includes a scene where he faces off with a brown bear, and over the phone, he also expressed his admiration for you, he admires what you do very much.¡± Leonardo wants to ¡°guest star¡± in my live stream? On the couch, being informed of everything, Bi Fang was still stunned. Before this, he had considered many possibilities, perhaps a prodigal rich second generation, or a wealthy person with certain demands, and he hadn¡¯t ruled out celebrities. With Bi Fang¡¯s current influence, ordinary little stars were simply no match, but he never imagined it would be Leonardo! This was not some little star that suddenly popped up from nowhere. In his previous life, not to mention having the other party come to him, even trying to meet them would be difficult. And now, Leonardo needed something from him? Liu Qian paused, then guessed softly, ¡°I think Leonardo might really want to be the lead actor in your Disney film. Of course, this is just my guess. Maybe the other party really does have such a new film, and I¡¯ve checked, Little Leo is an environmentalist.¡± Indeed, Leonardo is a member of the Ugly Country¡¯s Democratic Party and a very active environmentalist. If one paid a little attention to Leonardo¡¯s social media accounts, they would discover that most of his posts revolve around the environment. Moreover, more than two decades ago, he established the ¡°Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation¡± to support environmental projects. In just the eight years between 2008 and 2016, the foundation donated over 59 million Ugly Yuan to charity. He once publicly stated, ¡°If I weren¡¯t an actor, I¡¯d like to be a biologist or an environmental scientist.¡± In 2006, Leonardo financed the making of two environmental short films about ecological issues, and the following year, he personally produced an environmental documentary ¡°The Eleventh Hour¡±. The ratings were quite high. In recognition of Leonardo¡¯s many contributions to ocean conservation, the world ocean conservation organization ¡°Oceana¡± awarded him the ¡°14 Years of Ocean Conservation¡± award. Don¡¯t ask Bi Fang why he knew so much, because he¡¯d seen that documentary. Apart from exploring nature, Bi Fang¡¯s hobby was watching documentaries; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have regarded Edinburgh as his idol, and in his daily life, he wasn¡¯t cut off from the world. He watched plenty of movies and TV shows, and because of his professional habits, he knew a bit more. Furthermore, in his previous life in 2016, Leonardo finally won the much-coveted Oscar for Best Actor for ¡°The Revenant¡±, and even his award acceptance speech on stage was inseparable from environmental conservation. Moreover, probably seven out of every ten people have seen a Leonardo movie¡­ Wait a minute! Bi Fang suddenly froze, what had Liu Qian just said? The content is related to Wilderness Survivalist and revenge, and it includes a standoff with a brown bear? It couldn¡¯t be ¡°The Revenant¡±, could it? There are major differences between the two worlds, especially in entertainment. Bi Fang had never thought about this before. He pulled out his phone to search for ¡°The Revenant¡±, but the only result was his own hunting videos. Bi Fang: ¡°¡­¡± Alright, it seems that this film indeed hasn¡¯t been released. Mentioning ¡°The Revenant¡± pointed only to him instead. Bi Fang didn¡¯t know whether to cry or laugh over this situation. ¡°Did he mention what the film is called?¡± Liu Qian thought for a moment, then flipped through her notebook, instinctively shaking her head, ¡°No, he hasn¡¯t mentioned the name of the film, but the content is definitely that.¡± ¡°Okay, did he say when he¡¯s coming to Huaxia? I want to meet with him in person.¡± ¡°Yes, he arrived in Magic Capital two days ago, but he hasn¡¯t been able to contact you.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s meet at the club here, no need to go anywhere else.¡± Bi Fang immediately decided, set a time and place, and waited for the other party to arrive. After hanging up the phone, Bi Fang still found it somewhat amusing. The butterfly effect is indeed marvelous, somehow managing to provoke an international superstar like Leonardo DiCaprio to seek him out for ¡°The Revenant¡±. Wilderness Survivalist, Hunter, confronting and surviving against large bears, there probably isn¡¯t anyone else as famously fitting that description as himself. Plus, given Leonardo¡¯s usual approach, Bi Fang didn¡¯t find it strange at all that he wanted to meet. If the other party was really only planning to follow for a day, Bi Fang thought it wasn¡¯t a big issue, as the likelihood of encountering uncontrollable dangers was extremely low. On the other hand, Liu Qian, having received instructions, also quickly got in touch with the assistant on the other end. Leonardo received the message and came quickly; he was informed in the morning and had rushed over by the afternoon. In less than two hours, Bi Fang saw a very familiar figure, wearing a cap and wrapped up tightly despite the nearly June weather, wobbling over on a shared bicycle. As the club had not yet opened, it was clear who would come dressed like this. When Leonardo saw Bi Fang at the door, his eyes brightened. He found a spot to park his bike, ran over with quick steps, took off his sunglasses, and came forward smiling to shake hands, uttering with a slightly muddled accent but clear pronunciation in Chinese, ¡°Hello!¡± Bi Fang smiled and shook his hand in response, ¡°Hello.¡± The busy workers around, seeing their boss Bi Fang come out personally, all looked on curiously, and when they saw the face beneath those sunglasses, they instinctively stopped in their tracks. ¡°Whose face is that, it looks so familiar.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that what¡¯s his name, that big star¡­ Johnny Depp?¡± ¡°Oh come on, that¡¯s Leonardo¡­¡± ¡°Goodness gracious, it¡¯s Leonardo DiCaprio!¡± ¡°What¡¯s Leonardo doing here?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t they say the boss¡¯s movie project was set up? Could Leonardo possibly be the lead actor?¡± The workers were mostly decorators, generally older, and didn¡¯t necessarily recognize Leonardo DiCaprio, but they were quite familiar with the news about their boss. Apart from conquering Mount Everest and the club¡¯s opening, the most notable recent news was Disney¡¯s already planned and prepared film project. The director, crew, and script had all been readied, just waiting for casting and filming to begin. At such a critical juncture, Leonardo¡¯s visit to Magic Capital to see Bi Fang hardly allowed people to think of anything else, and in a moment, many people secretly snapped photos of the two meeting and posted them online. Bi Fang glanced around and suggested, ¡°Shall we talk inside?¡± Leonardo nodded; it really wasn¡¯t suitable to discuss matters in public. The two chatted as they walked along the path through the lawn, and soon arrived at the first gallery, but as soon as he entered, Leonardo stopped in his tracks, his pupils retracting swiftly. One after another, heavy ink oil paintings filled his vision all at once, especially when paired with the incredibly dynamic light and shadow effects, they were tremendously impactful! The scene before him even gave Leonardo the illusion that he had entered the Louvre, but the two were incomparable. On one hand was classical art, elegant, beautiful, enchanting; on the other was the ultimate wilderness style, rugged, primitive, forceful, and breathtaking. ¡°OMG, OMG, is this your club? It¡¯s amazing, this is really amazing,¡± said Leonardo, stationed at the center of the hall, rotating to take in every painting. Bi Fang spread his arms wide, full of smiles, ¡°Yes, welcome to my club.¡± Leonardo stood still at the center for a while, then briskly moved to examine each painting closely until he reached the darkened giant screen at the end and curiously asked, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°This is a monitor. When I live stream, it will broadcast in sync, and when I¡¯m not live streaming, it remains off like it is now.¡± ¡°A screen that lights up just for you?¡± Leonardo let out a ¡®wow¡¯ considering the scene at the time, feeling somewhat overwhelmed. ¡°So, are we going to appear together on this on June 1st?¡± Bi Fang paused for a second. Leonardo shrugged, ¡°Your assistant¡¯s first reaction was to decline, which I suppose must be your usual stance, but then that attitude changed. I figured if the matter couldn¡¯t be negotiated, or if there was no turnaround, you wouldn¡¯t have invited me here specially, nor would I be standing here now, right?¡± ¡°Hahaha, that¡¯s right,¡± Bi Fang laughed aloud. Chapter 454: 452 Caught Up Chapter 454: Chapter 452 Caught Up ¡°I¡¯m ready!¡± Leonardo took a deep breath and nodded forcefully, but his voice trembled slightly. The cabin door opened, and the hurricane whipped up by the helicopter blades raised his hair, fluttering wildly in the gale. Bi Fang tightened Leonardo¡¯s safety harness to his own body and shouted, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there are over a million trees beneath us in the canopy; there¡¯s simply no open space suitable for landing.¡± ¡°If we¡¯re lucky, our parachutes will get tangled up in the treetops. But don¡¯t worry, knowing how to conduct jungle infiltration missions is a fundamental course for special forces, and I have a certain understanding of it.¡± ¡°What if we¡¯re not lucky? What will happen then?¡± Leonardo looked at the jungle beneath, his legs going soft, and he asked loudly. Bi Fang laughed heartily, ¡°Then we¡¯ll get skewered by the branches!¡± Leonardo thought he must have misheard. But before he could ask any more questions, a tremendous pull came from behind, violently yanking him out of the cabin. Three drones filed out in succession, following closely behind, capturing every angle with their 360-degree, no-blind-spot filming. WHAT? The next second, Leonardo watched in horror as he left the cabin. Then a strong centrifugal force hit him face-on, starting with his nose, then his feet, and finally his thighs. The sky was filled with blue and white, passing through the wind and clouds, with endless roaring in his ears. Freefall! ¡°FCUK! I wasn¡¯t ready yet!¡± Leonardo¡¯s heartbeat accelerated instantly, sweat poured out of his palms, his nerves were on edge, his eyes shut tight, and his voice completely deformed. ¡°What?¡± Bi Fang couldn¡¯t hear clearly because of the loud wind. ¡°I wasn¡¯t ready yet!¡± ¡°But you said you were ready!¡± Bi Fang was taken aback but quickly smiled again, ¡°No matter, it¡¯s all the same now! Don¡¯t be afraid, enjoy it all!¡± ¡°Take deep breaths! Embrace the sky!¡± Bi Fang¡¯s infectious laughter gradually eased Leonardo¡¯s tension. Leonardo wanted to say something else, but Bi Fang adjusted their center of gravity and pushed Leonardo underneath him. The fierce airstream gushed straight into Leonardo¡¯s mouth, sending all his words back. Their position was interesting¡ªnot the traditional way of skydiving, facing the same direction, but back to back, one facing down, the other inevitably up. In that moment, Leonardo had much to say, his ears and nostrils filled with air, making it difficult to breathe. Eventually, all he could say was: ¡°M*******K!¡± [The man with the ultimate freedom on earth!] [Bliss!] [Damn, why am I head down? I can¡¯t even get the grass skirt to flare up.] Their descent was very fast, close to two hundred kilometers per hour, which is about fifty-five meters per second! After a dozen seconds, Leonardo forced his eyes open, his blood coursing faster in his veins, his body growing hot. He finally realized he was flying! And because it was happening at high altitude, everything around seemed stationary, the howling wind aside; it wasn¡¯t as terrifying as he had imagined. Only the blue and white sky remained, and the verdant green earth below. His eyes became greedy, wanting to see more and more, to imprint it all in his mind, to preserve this moment¡¯s emotion, to breathe deeply, to feel the altitude. But in the next moment, Bi Fang adjusted their center of gravity again, turned his head to look at the earth, and after calculating the distance, he yanked the parachute cord hard. A massive pull quickly hoisted their torsos, and Leonardo nearly blacked out. The world became quiet. The roaring sound disappeared completely, and they were suspended above the earth. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Carrying a person, obviously, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t perform a low-altitude parachute operation, so he opened the chute at eight hundred meters, gliding smoothly downward. Bi Fang pressed a button and explained, ¡°To land smoothly, we need to give the parachute a certain angle of inclination, giving it a horizontal speed, so the probability of being skewered decreases significantly. We will brush past tree trunks and then hang on a tree.¡± Leonardo clutched the shoulder straps tightly, watching as he constantly hurtled toward the large trees. This wasn¡¯t a movie; it was vivid reality. Appreciation for beauty was completely gone, leaving only fear behind. Leonardo leaned back forcefully and shouted, ¡°Are you really sure you want to crash into it?¡± Bi Fang gave a thumbs up, ¡°Yes, trust me, I¡¯m a professional!¡± [In the field of risking one¡¯s life, I¡¯ve never been outdone!] [Adventure? ¡Á, Risking one¡¯s life? ¡Ì] [Never believe a word that comes out of Master Fang¡¯s mouth] [Leonardo: So why did I even think of coming here in the first place?] The tree canopy grew closer and closer, and Bi Fang shouted, ¡°Be careful, hold on tight!¡± The massive canopy flooded into Leonardo¡¯s field of vision as his pupils constricted, his entire body subconsciously curling up, eyes tightly shut. The next moment, Leonardo was wracked with sharp pain as thin branches scraped viciously against his bare face and arms, and he finally understood why Bi Fang had insisted on wearing jackets in the hot rainforest. Branches snapped incessantly, startling a flock of Asuka that fled toward the sky. Just as Leonardo felt it was all over, the remaining branches cracked loudly, breaking completely and falling to the ground, the sensation of weightlessness returning. ¡°F**K!¡± Leonardo screamed in agony, feeling his thighs tightly constricted. He opened his eyes and, sure enough, found himself hanging from a tree. ¡°Wu Hu!¡± Bi Fang opened his eyes, surveyed the surroundings, and said calmly, ¡°It seems we¡¯re in luck and didn¡¯t get skewered by the branches.¡± Leonardo held his forehead with his hand, ¡°I feel absolutely terrible.¡± He finally understood why, at the last moment before the crash, Bi Fang had adjusted their center of gravity to place him in front. Seeing that there were no scratches on Bi Fang¡¯s body was telling. ¡°Haha, but it was really thrilling, wasn¡¯t it? Did you feel a warmth in your lower abdomen? That¡¯s your adrenaline secreting!¡± Leonardo paused, then couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Okay, a little, but just a little bit.¡± ¡°Trust me, you¡¯ll come to like this feeling.¡± ¡°The urgent matter now is how we¡¯re going to get down.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Bi Fang stopped joking and observed the surroundings. In fact, he had already scanned the area to ensure there was no danger. It would have been troublesome if they encountered a snake on the tree like in his first live broadcast. The giant canopy overhead blocked out the sun; almost all sunlight was obscured, with dense branches all around. Not just above them, but below as well, the ground was invisible. They were awkwardly situated in the middle of the canopy. And had no idea how high up from the ground they were. [It¡¯s so dark, claustrophobia is kicking in] [I feel weirdly safe in this space] [It would be fun if a snake suddenly appeared] [This time Master Fang would really be barbecued!] Leonardo observed the surroundings, swinging his legs: ¡°I feel like we¡¯re going to be hanging here forever.¡± It was impossible to determine how high up they were. If they carelessly descended, Bi Fang might not die; he knew how to protect himself in a fall, and from a height of seven to eight meters, he would be unscathed¡ªbut Leonardo would be done for. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Bi Fang grabbed a nearby branch, pointing to its leaves and to the trunk amid the foliage. ¡°This tree has triangular ovate leaves, the texture is like leather, the surface is a shiny deep green, the reverse is green, and they come to a point at their tips, extending into a tail shape. If I¡¯m not mistaken, this should be a Bodhi Tree. We¡¯re in luck; this is the very tree under which The Buddha attained enlightenment over 2000 years ago.¡± Leonardo said with interest, ¡°Then our luck is really good.¡± ¡°This kind of tree can grow to about fifteen to twenty-five meters high. We can guess how thick the main trunk is by looking through the gaps in the leaves.¡± That high? The audience was surprised. Didn¡¯t that mean Bi Fang and the others were at least ten meters above ground? Leonardo turned his head and pondered for a bit, ¡°Close to twenty inches, right?¡± ¡°Yes, nearly half a meter. This tree is quite thick,¡± Bi Fang felt a sudden surge in his heart. Undoubtedly, the higher a tree grows, the thinner its main trunk becomes, but they were already over ten meters high, and the trunk was still close to half a meter? ¡°Our height might be over twenty meters,¡± Bi Fang looked down and estimated. Chapter 455: 452: Plants Also Compete (Seeking Monthly Tickets) Chapter 455: Chapter 452: Plants Also Compete (Seeking Monthly Tickets) Under the lush canopy of a large tree, two people were hanging back-to-back on the branches. ¡°I¡¯m currently hanging about twenty meters up in the tree, and now we need to descend to the ground. We could use the ropes from the parachute, but that goes against the survival principles I¡¯ve set for this trip,¡± ¡°Although parachutes and ropes would be very useful here, most people lost in the forest have nothing, so I should also go down empty-handed, which will greatly increase the difficulty of this journey. I must think of other ways to get down.¡± Bi Fang looked up at the canopy, carefully unfastened his harness, and then detached himself from it. ¡°When you¡¯re hung up in a tree with a parachute, don¡¯t make any big movements that might shake it. Even though the parachute has a large surface area, it can¡¯t guarantee 100% that you won¡¯t fall straight down, so be careful with any movements you make.¡± Leonardo stayed motionless, watching Bi Fang leave him from behind, suddenly feeling lighter, as if even his position was raised a few notches. ¡°At the same time, we need to be careful of the branches next to us, so they don¡¯t scratch our eyes, and most importantly, we must always observe our surroundings.¡± After detaching from his backpack, Bi Fang grabbed a nearby branch, carefully moved toward the trunk of the tree, and stepped firmly on the branch with his bare feet, toes gripping tightly. The humid environment of the rainforest covered these branches with wet, slippery moss, and before long, the soles of Bi Fang¡¯s feet turned pure green. The branches of the Bodhi Tree have a distinctive feature; once they reach a certain height, they expand horizontally. They don¡¯t grow upwards but spread out like a layer of carpet, with another layer added further up, making it quite convenient to walk on. ¡°As I¡¯ve said before, the ecological chain in the rainforest is very cruel. Many creatures have evolved their own unique survival or predation methods; mimetism is one of them. Sometimes what you think is a branch could possibly be a venomous snake mimicking one.¡± [Eh, stop talking, I¡¯m getting goosebumps on my hands.] [Speaking of which, it feels like it¡¯s been a long time since we saw the divine artifact, dog¡¯s head.jpg] [Come out, divine artifact!] [Stick+9, Attack Power 210+120, no additional effects, Strength: D, Agility: C] [Last time I went to climb Mount Everest, I upgraded to use the Super Divine Climbing Staff. Stick hasn¡¯t made an appearance in an entire instance, losing its status as a divine artifact!] [Just break off the Bodhi Tree, it will make a statement! By the way, isn¡¯t this thing a protected plant?] [If it¡¯s a protected plant, wouldn¡¯t that be awful? Didn¡¯t Old Fang and Little Leo just come down and break quite a few branches? dog¡¯s head.jpg] ¡°How easy do you think it is to come across protected plants?¡± Bi Fang laughed upon seeing the barrage of comments. The reason why protected plants are protected is because they are rare. In such a vast forest, to land directly on protected plants; is it good luck or bad? Stepping on the thick branches, Bi Fang quickly reached the center of the trunk. Looking down, there were visibly fewer leaves, and he could barely make out the ground. A small drone took the opportunity to fly through the gap, filming from the bottom up, and the gloomy forest environment made everyone shiver. Bi Fang was right; the rainforest isn¡¯t as beautiful as people imagine but deep and shadowy. An ill-prepared explorer entering this place would only feel horror and fear, wanting to escape instantly. More than two-thirds of the world¡¯s plant and animal species have been discovered in tropical rainforests. For the wildlife living here, life is undoubtedly cruel. A frog resting might be swallowed by a venomous snake in the next second, and that venomous snake might also become snack food for a mongoose immediately afterwards. Even plants have a desperate struggle for sunlight and dew. ¡°The rainforest has a unique plant canopy structure, composed of vertical layers, including the emergent layer, the canopy layer, the understory layer, the shrub layer, and the forest floor.¡± ¡°Each layer fights fiercely to take up living space, to absorb the little sunlight that filters through the trees¡¯ fingers, with the hierarchy almost fixed. Even the seedlings of new trees hardly ever reach the height of their parents, due to lack of resources.¡± The trees of the tropical rainforest are vertically divided into upper, middle, and lower layers. The canopy of the lower trees is usually below that of the middle trees. If they bear flowers and fruits on branches that last only one or two years, they can easily be overshadowed by the upper and middle layers. Therefore, they can only choose to flower and fruit on older branches or trunks, attracting insects in this space for pollination. Or until the largest tree in the area dies, decays, and collapses, casting sunlight inside, only then might there be a possibility for a new ruler to emerge. ¡°It¡¯s about twenty meters or so,¡± Bi Fang said, looking down to confirm before heading back the same way. He grabbed a tree branch above him and reached out to Leonardo, ¡°Unstrap your backpack and then come over, be careful, it¡¯s very slippery up here.¡± Leonardo nodded, feeling even more stuffy and hot in the rainforest than before, each breath felt like he was inhaling steam into his lungs, sticky and moist. His clothes clung to his skin. He recalled Bi Fang¡¯s earlier movements and cautiously unbuckled his backpack straps, then, with Bi Fang¡¯s support, stepped onto the branch. He had just got up when his feet slipped, and he almost fell. Luckily, Bi Fang was prepared and caught him right away. ¡°The tree trunks in the rainforest are very wet and slippery, covered with a lot of moss. You must be careful when climbing trees. Don¡¯t rush.¡± The two arrived at the tree trunk, and Bi Fang chose a thinner one, hugging it and saying, ¡°The Bodhi Tree¡¯s trunk is quite special; it¡¯s somewhat like many small trunks twisted together, so we just have to slide down one of them. Don¡¯t worry about hurting your hands, it¡¯s really smooth.¡± Saying this, Bi Fang hugged a small trunk, pushed against it with his feet, and, under the influence of his body weight, slid down bit by bit, occasionally resting on some branches. He soon slid down from the twenty meters height. As they descended, the sunlight quickly vanished, and the forest became even more shadowy and secluded. The audience¡¯s mood tensed up along with the descent. [Claustrophobia is really the end here.] [Got a bit of shivers] sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just before landing, Bi Fang stopped, broke off a branch full of leaves, and swept it over the ground, ¡°The rainforest is truly rife with danger. You can see a layer of dead leaves under my feet, but hidden inside might be a venomous centipede, difficult to detect in the rainforest and you might get accidentally hurt if you startle it.¡± ¡°There might also be venomous spiders. Banna Rainforest is home to many highly poisonous spiders, but they generally come out at night, rarely during the day. If you¡¯re wearing shoes, of course, there¡¯s nothing to worry about. Regrettably, I am barefoot now, so I have to be extra cautious before I touch the ground.¡± Only after Bi Fang swept the ground to ensure there were no hidden creatures, did he finally land, and signaled to Leonardo, still up in the tree, to come down. With a demonstration to follow, Leonardo was more careful and safely landed as well. Once he reached the ground, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°Phew, you¡¯re overly cautious; that really got me tense.¡± ¡°No choice, I¡¯m not wearing anything, so no amount of caution is too much,¡± Bi Fang shrugged. If he were dressed with boots, he wouldn¡¯t have to be so nervous; he could have jumped straight down from a two or three meters height without any problem. But he didn¡¯t, and although Bi Fang had the experience and abilities bestowed by the system, his body was still normal and he had not developed the adaptability for long-term survival in the rainforest. A significant difference from the original inhabitants. ¡°Right now, the priority is to weave a pair of shoes for my feet so that I can walk freely in the rainforest without being endangered by insects.¡± Bi Fang squatted down and touched the flat ground. ¡°The dead leaves might hide dangers, and these sharp needle grasses can also stick into the sole of your foot. In short bursts, it¡¯s no issue, but over time, the soles of your feet would become very rough, with tiny wounds too numerous and small to see clearly, which can easily be invaded by microbes or even parasites, like sand fleas.¡± ¡°They usually reside in the soil, feeding on the blood of warm-blooded hosts. Many natives in Africa who don¡¯t wear shoes have extremely thick soles with many dense holes, resembling barnacles on a whale. I definitively don¡¯t want that; it¡¯s really disgusting, and I advise you not to search for it.¡± Leonardo shrugged, ¡°The way you put it makes them even more curious. But having seen it myself, it truly is disgusting.¡± ¡°I need to find a plant to protect my feet. Before that, we can use branches full of leaves for a makeshift bandage, just like bandaging a wound.¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t waste the branch he had used to sweep the ground; he wrapped it around the entire sole of his foot and did the same for the other foot. Then, he began exploring the jungle with Leonardo. The ground was covered with a mix of dead leaves and green grass, a unique phenomenon of the rainforest. ¡°This place has an abundance of microbes, so many that a dead body could decompose so thoroughly that in just a week, nothing would be left. In fact, the rainforest¡¯s hot and rainy climate, along with strong surface runoff and leaching, makes the soil very poor, lacking accumulation and replenishment of nutrients.¡± ¡°The towering trees you see are due to the intense decomposition of organic matter and the recycling of nutrients, which also means that once the rainforest is destroyed, it¡¯s very difficult for it to regrow.¡± ¡°Dead leaves and green grass, two phenomena typically of autumn and spring respectively, are able to intermingle together here.¡± Chapter 456: 453 Nonsense, you were the one who laughed the happiest at that time! Chapter 456: Chapter 453 Nonsense, you were the one who laughed the happiest at that time! Bi Fang, after wrapping his feet with soft branches covered in leaves, led Leonardo through the forest. At this moment, the audience witnessed a rather bizarre scene. In the dimly lit jungle, a man with bare skin and only a dense grass skirt around his waist, walking in crudely woven shoes, was guiding another man wearing long boots and trousers with an extremely thin beige shirt and a deerstalker hat on his head. It brought to mind the thick familiarity of the early century¡¯s Huailaiwu adventure movies when they first appeared. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Leonardo, dressed in modern attire, seemed like the Explorer from Ugly Country who, by a twist of fate, obtained a map of hidden treasures and thus ventured into the perilous Rainforest from afar. Bi Fang, on the other hand, appeared to be a local indigenous resident, the only person in his tribe who spoke a foreign language. He became the guide at the ardent invitation of the Explorer. If one added a blonde bombshell who could only scream in danger, a slightly older but knowledgeable Science professor, and, finally, a black person with a muscular reach for a particular purpose, Hey, there was the complete team! Only missing a villain to enter the scene or some terrifying creature; no camera crew needed, just three helicopters, and a first-person viewer experience. Start filming! [I¡¯m really scared that a giant snake head might suddenly pop out of a tree and bite someone.] [The imagery is so strong, I¡¯ve already started to feel scared.] [Are you also searching for the Dragon Blood Orchid?] [One for eternal life, two for immortality!] [No, I¡¯m here to look for the professor. Have you seen my professor?] After walking for a while, Leonardo became somewhat out of breath, not due to a lack of physical strength but because the environment was too taxing. Even in the deep shade of the forest, the temperature was at least above twenty-five degrees. That wasn¡¯t the worst part; it was the omnipresent humidity that was the real killer. Being there felt almost like a steamer. And then there were the incessant mosquitoes buzzing towards you, never stopping, despite Leonardo having already applied a layer of Insect Repellent on his body. Leonardo was curious about how Bi Fang endured it. He didn¡¯t have any Insect Repellent, did he? Just as he was wondering, Bi Fang had already found what he was looking for. He approached a huge plant, which wasn¡¯t really that huge. Among the Rainforest¡¯s trees that could reach over tens or even hundreds of meters, a tree that was thick at the waist and five or six meters tall was quite unremarkable. ¡°Is this a palm tree?¡± Leonardo hesitated, as the tree in front of him resembled a palm, but if there was something odd, maybe it was too robust? Looking at the girth of the tree, it might still be juvenile and capable of growing further. ¡°No, this isn¡¯t a palm tree, although many people do mistake it for one. This is actually Kuishan,¡± Bi Fang explained as he hugged the entire tree and began to move up bit by bit. ¡°Kuishan can grow up to twenty meters, but palm trees generally only reach about ten meters. Kuishan leaves are larger and the stems are thicker. It¡¯s also an economic forest species, a type of ornamental plant for gardens and good for surrounding green belts. ¡°It¡¯s less common now, but some friends in the countryside might still have it. It¡¯s that round, yellow fan made of Kuishan. We make Kuishan fans from its tender leaves; the older leaves are used for making raincoats, and the veins of its torn leaves can even be made into toothpicks. The fruit and roots are medicinal.¡± Bi Fang wrapped his arms around the trunk and stood on the tree to provide support, rather than hugging it with his legs. Using both his hands and feet, he quickly climbed to a height of four meters. ¡°The bark of the Kuishan tree is very rough, making it easy to climb. Alright, now we need to pluck some of its leaves.¡± Bi Fang grabbed a large Kuishan leaf, looked down and called out, ¡°Leonardo, catch this for me.¡± ¡°OK~!¡± Bi Fang cleared the surrounding leaves, displaying the petiole of the Kuishan leaf for all to see, extending his right hand with his index finger and thumb just fitting around it. ¡°See? It¡¯s really thick, more than enough to use as a sole for shoes. The fan-like leaves around it can also be lifted, they make natural shoes. But because it¡¯s so thick, pulling it down will be a bit troublesome.¡± Grasping the leafstalk, Bi Fang broke it off with ease, but the fibers inside were not so easy to cut through. Without a small knife, he could only tear them apart bit by bit, defeating them one by one. If he tore at it violently, it was likely that he would directly snap the entire leafstalk, which would then ruin its integrity. Soon, four large fan palm leaves had been picked by Bi Fang, all held in the arms of Leonardo, each leaf nearly half his body size. [Damn, these leaves are huge] [Aren¡¯t these more than enough for making shoes?] [Let me guess, after making shoes, are weapons next?] [Prophet, cut it out!] Bi Fang tore off the makeshift ¡°grass shoes¡± from his feet, and after walking just a hundred or two hundred meters, the leaves on his feet were beginning to fall apart. He took two large fan palm leaves from Leonardo¡¯s arms and placed them under his feet. Bi Fang arranged the two fan palm leaves across each other, the leaves overlapping one by one, and finally gathered the stems together. The stems, thick as two fingers, came together to form a crude shape of a sufficiently thick shoe insole. Leonardo¡¯s eyes lit up; he hadn¡¯t known how Bi Fang was planning to make them and had thought he would wrap his feet with leaves like before, which would hardly be comfortable. Moreover, since the leaves were too thin, they wouldn¡¯t feel too good on the feet unless they were stacked thickly, but that would be too time-consuming to weave. It wasn¡¯t just him; the audience thought the same. When they saw Bi Fang¡¯s method, they couldn¡¯t help but slap the table in admiration. The stem served as the insole, and then the surrounding leaves were wrapped across like intertwined shoelaces, but his technique was more akin to wrapping rice dumplings, and it could be sealed without any knots. Once all the cross-weaving was finished, Bi Fang bent the excess stem at the front, covering the top of his foot, and the hanging leaves at the sides were wrapped around again. In less than fifteen minutes, a shoe emerged that looked as straight and proper as Iron Man¡¯s foot armor. In half an hour, shoes covered both feet. Contrary to what the audience had imagined, with large leaves under the feet and vines threaded through the edges resembling flip-flops, a real pair of shoes that one could run and jump in, fitting comfortably, had been created! Bi Fang stood up and tested them; the soft stems filled with fiber were not only durable but also very soft, padded with air inside, a true ¡°air cushion.¡± ¡°Wearing them feels pretty good, very soft, and though they¡¯re wrapped tightly around, they¡¯re still very breathable, it feels nice.¡± [Holy shit, amazing!] [I bow to these skills] [When the rice dumpling factory didn¡¯t offer Master Fang triple the salary and he decided to leave, I was the first to disagree] [Nonsense, you were the happiest one at the time!] With the shoes, Bi Fang¡¯s subsequent actions became much more convenient. Leonardo looked envious: ¡°I feel like the ones you¡¯re wearing now are even more comfortable than mine.¡± ¡°Haha, that¡¯s not really a fair comparison. They might be a little more comfortable in the short term, but they can¡¯t be compared at all with industrial products in terms of quality. I guess I¡¯ll have to switch to a new pair every two or three days. Fortunately, fan palms are quite common in the Rainforest, not hard to find, and not too troublesome to make.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just for you. If I tried, just learning the weaving technique would probably take me days, let alone making a pair of shoes right away.¡± ¡°What are we going to do next?¡± Leonardo was eager to try. It was almost eleven o¡¯clock now, and he would be leaving that night; he didn¡¯t want to miss this great opportunity. Bi Fang naturally said, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s time to make ¡®weapons.¡¯ The Rainforest is too dangerous; we must have the ability to protect ourselves.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Leonardo got excited. ¡°Stone tools? Or are you going to start making iron tools?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s mud.¡± Chapter 457: 454: Red Mud (Seeking Monthly Votes) Chapter 457: Chapter 454: Red Mud (Seeking Monthly Votes) ¡°Mud?¡± Leonardo repeated uncertainly. What was this operation with mud? Was it about starting a fire and then turning soil into pottery? And in the end, use sharp fragments as weapons? Leonardo thought about the broken porcelain at home, indeed it was very sharp¡­ [Who said that the next step was to make weapons? Yuyanjia has cut a figure.] [Was it Stone Spear?] [Didn¡¯t you hear Master Fang talk about making iron tools before he came? Just start smelting!] Bi Fang did not respond but flared his nostrils and sniffed gently in midair, smiling, ¡°You¡¯ve applied so much insect repellent, it even stings the nose.¡± Leonardo was somewhat embarrassed, ¡°I can¡¯t help it, the mosquitoes here are too numerous.¡± He suspected that if he were to go completely like Bi Fang, wearing no clothes and using no insect repellent, once he stopped, he would likely be sucked dry by mosquitoes. Even just now, when Bi Fang was sitting on the ground weaving shoes, he was also weaving while fending off mosquitoes. Without this, the speed at which the shoes were made could have been faster. [I remember that Master Fang said a long time ago to look for water sources by observing animals and insects, that heading towards where there are many mosquitoes often leads to rivers.] [That¡¯s right, I remember that too, I think it was mentioned back in Qinling.] [All the veterans showing up in front here.] ¡°Yes, mosquito larvae are entirely aquatic, so even a small puddle, like a flowerpot on a balcony, allows them to breed prolifically.¡± An adult female mosquito lays eggs in stagnant water, at times laying over 300 eggs in one go. If left unchecked and the container remains filled with water, they can breed. Eggs hatch into larvae within 24 to 48 hours in water, then after about 10 days they mature, and about 2 days after reaching maturity, the mosquitoes are adults and soon begin feeding. It could be termed rampant growth. Not to mention in the rainforest, with its abundant moisture, puddles aren¡¯t even needed¡ªmoist soil will do. [For mosquitoes, I¡¯ve always had a deep loathing!] [Why would God create such a devilish creature?] [To fill the gap of no mosquitoes in my country¡¯s winter, some scientist finally developed a cold-resistant mosquito.] [I¡¯ve seen that news, they should be dragged away and cooked!] [Count me in on that feast!] [Actually, filling the gap allows for more food to be available, which helps animals survive the winter; this is really beneficial for ecological protection¡­ I can¡¯t keep making this up.] ¡°It¡¯s because the mosquitoes are so numerous that we need to make weapons to defend against them.¡± Bi Fang, now with shoes on, waved his hand to signal Leonardo to follow. He looked around and indeed found a broken branch. After stripping away all the unnecessary twigs, a decent tree stick appeared. ¡°Because there are so many mimicry animals in the rainforest, and the gloomy environment can easily trick you, a good tree stick becomes especially important at this moment. It helps us ¡®startle the snake in the grass.''¡± ¡°You should prepare one too, as our paths won¡¯t be entirely the same,¡± Bi Fang advised Leonardo seriously, looking back at him. Leonardo smiled and glanced around, picking up a stick as well, although it was not as straight as Bi Fang¡¯s, and it lacked a bit in appearance. [Lalalala, better late than never.] [I just knew it, I just knew it!] [You can always trust a good, straight tree stick!] [If you¡¯re ever lost in the rainforest, don¡¯t panic, calm down and find a straight stick to use as a weapon first!] [You¡¯ve obtained the sacred weapon, now go find a fierce beast and give it a try!] ¡°What was I talking about just now?¡± picking up the tree stick and being sidetracked by the netizens, Bi Fang had forgotten where he was in his narrative. ¡°Mosquitoes, you were talking about making weapons out of mud to fend off mosquitoes,¡± Leonardo added. Connecting it to what Bi Fang had mentioned about mud, Leonardo had an inkling of what was coming. Leonardo was not without experience; he had roamed around and seen many different people, Africa included, ¡°Are you planning to cover yourself in mud?¡± Bi Fang raised an eyebrow but didn¡¯t deny it, ¡°You¡¯ve been to Africa?¡± Leonardo nodded, ¡°Filmed a movie there before, saw locals do it. Honestly, I think it¡¯s quite primitive. They even bathed with mud.¡± Bi Fang remained noncommittal while the netizens scratched their heads, feeling lost in this extraterrestrial exchange. Mosquitoes, mud, Africa? What¡¯s that got to do with anything? ¡°Do you know which animal kills the most people in the world?¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t directly answer but instead asked the audience. What is it? Before the audience could react, Bi Fang had already started listing examples on his own, ¡°Great White Shark? Lion? Tiger? Or venomous snake? Poisonous spider? Actually, it¡¯s none of these; the biggest killer has always been mosquitoes.¡± Mosquitoes? The audience paused, but many people quickly caught on. Disease! Right, no other creature can spread diseases like mosquitoes! ¡°Many might not understand, but the ¡®Life Science¡¯ website once listed the 10 most deadly animals in the world that pose the greatest threat to human life. And strangely enough, the deadliest animal in the world is not the crocodile, the great white shark, or the African lion, but the inconspicuous mosquito. You wouldn¡¯t have thought it, but the most dangerous animal in the world is the mosquito. Apart from Antarctica, there are different types of mosquitoes everywhere on Earth. Most times being bitten by a mosquito just makes you itch, but some mosquitoes carry malaria parasites. This is a parasitic disease caused by Plasmodium. Once Plasmodium enters the human body, it lives in the red blood cells. People infected with malaria experience symptoms of alternating chills and fever, which in many places in Huaxia is called ¡®Shivering Fever¡¯. Every year, more than two million people die from malaria worldwide, and mosquitoes are the main culprits.¡± Therefore, it is well-deserved to call mosquitoes ¡®humanity¡¯s number one killer¡¯. It¡¯s very necessary for us to create ¡®weapons¡¯ to defend against them.¡± Two million deaths! Shit. Startled by this exceedingly exaggerated figure, the audience was shocked¡ªcould a disease really still cause millions of deaths in modern society? ¡°Now, all those who can see my live broadcast are actually very fortunate, because that means you can afford a smartphone, a computer, a television, and society can provide you with a good internet environment. These are things many people can¡¯t afford, or even witness.¡± ¡°In a good economic environment, sanitation conditions are superior, but in many places in Africa, locals don¡¯t have such good conditions. I know of one indigenous tribe that knows how to fend off mosquitoes.¡± ¡°In a nutshell, it¡¯s by applying mud, smearing mud all over your body, using the smell and thickness of the mud to prevent mosquito bites.¡± ¡°In some very backward areas, if even this kind of soil is unavailable, some Africans will directly use animal dung to smear on their bodies. Although it does have some effect, this method is unbearable.¡± When Bi Fang mentioned that people would rather smear themselves with feces to avoid mosquito bites, the audience fully understood the horror of mosquitoes. This was a situation they had never encountered in all their previous adventures. Only in the face of death can people let go of their shame and smear the dirtiest substances on themselves. ¡°Why not look for some mosquito-repelling herbs? With your ability, that shouldn¡¯t be hard, right?¡± Leonardo was curious. He had seen all of Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcasts and as a Huaxia person, finding mosquito-repelling herbs wasn¡¯t hard. Why smear mud? Such a good physique, it¡¯s a pity to cover it with mud. [Yeah, why do you have to smear mud?] The audience was also curious, was it really necessary? ¡°How long does your insect repellent last?¡± Instead of directly answering, Bi Fang turned to ask the audience. [Uh, a few hours?] [I feel like it doesn¡¯t even last a few hours¡­.] [It¡¯s gone once you start sweating.] ¡°Isn¡¯t that the reason?¡± Bi Fang laughed, ¡°Modern industrial products can¡¯t effectively repel mosquitoes; sweating, moving, all reduce their effectiveness; let alone the mosquito-repelling medicine found in the woods. They are not useless, but very limited, and they leave a strong scent on our bodies.¡± Any substance that can be directly used in nature is ninety-nine percent not as effective as industrialized products. There¡¯s a reason why human society has developed for so long. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It¡¯s not necessarily better because it¡¯s more primitive. Using herbal repellents is also a very troublesome process, as they have to be reapplied frequently and tools have to be made to crush and extract the juice. It¡¯s more practical to apply a layer of mud, which is not only easier to find but also more effective¡ªit¡¯s a chemical versus physical barrier. ¡°It¡¯s not that there are no plants in Africa with mosquito-repelling properties; people call them ¡®Mosquito-Repellent Trees¡¯. Many indigenous Africans choose to build their homes near these trees or plants.¡± ¡°But in addition to that, Africans will still smear mud on their bodies. This proves many things. Now, what we are going to look for is this kind of mud, red clay.¡± ¡°Red clay is, literally, red mud, mainly composed of terrigenous material carried by rivers. It is rich in iron oxide, and if anyone has ever worked in a ceramic factory, they would know this is a common material for pottery.¡± ¡°So this time, we are not only looking for red clay but also looking for a water source!¡± Chapter 458: 455: Poisonous Wood! (Two in One) Chapter 458: Chapter 455: Poisonous Wood! (Two in One) In the rainforest, Bi Fang leaned on a tree stick, fumbling through the woods at a not-so-fast pace. ¡°Many people think that there¡¯s no lack of water in the rainforest, but that idea is actually wrong. Although the humidity here is high, the temperature is even higher, and the scorching heat causes the body to lose moisture rapidly.¡± Bi Fang pointed at Leonardo nearby, and the audience could easily see that the thin, beige shirt he was wearing had been soaked through. Even Leonardo¡¯s lips had cracked and were peeling, a clear sign of dehydration. Luckily, Leonardo had brought his own water supply, or else he might¡¯ve already been desperately searching for something to drink. For the moment, being used as an example, he couldn¡¯t help but take out his water bottle and take a sip. ¡°All methods of finding a water source never really change; in essence, it¡¯s still about terrain, living creatures, and special landmarks, these three major directions¡­¡± ¡°Terrain is simple, water flows downhill, so we head towards the lowest ground. Yunnan has mountainous plateau terrain with many steep slopes, and by following these slopes¡­¡± Bi Fang led Leonardo to climb atop a huge rock, a high point within their field of vision. Although you need to look for water in the lowest areas, beforehand, you must discern where the true depressions are. Many times, what you think is a low-lying area might not be one at all, especially in the mountains. Therefore, it¡¯s necessary to judge the lay of the land in advance. After taking a sip, Leonardo put his water bottle back into his backpack. He wasn¡¯t sure when Bi Fang would find a water source, and he was somewhat reluctant to drink more. The experience right now was something Leonardo had never encountered in his more than forty years of life. He had acted in many movies, movies with many dangerous scenes, but their realism didn¡¯t come close to the profoundness of these short hours. Keep in mind that there¡¯s a helicopter on standby just above his head, ready to arrive within ten minutes in case of danger. Even so, Leonardo could still feel an unshakable sense of crisis in his heart. ¡°If you¡¯re someone who¡¯s not accustomed to wilderness adventures, when you enter a place like this, you¡¯ll feel extremely terrified, very afraid, and immediately want to run away.¡± Leonardo suddenly remembered the words Bi Fang had said to him before they jumped from the plane. The environment of the rainforest, the green that meets the eye, the towering trees blocking out the sunlight, insects everywhere, and the occasional wild animal¡ªon their way, they had already seen venomous snakes from a distance several times. The complex terrain, steep cliffs, rapid rivers¡ªwell, they hadn¡¯t come across that yet¡ªand the unpredictable weather during the rainy season, everything in reality fulfilled Leonardo¡¯s imagination of the rainforest. And his imagination of danger. One cannot comprehend the feeling of being completely isolated and cut off from human society unless they¡¯re in the midst of it¡ªno amount of imagining can produce it. The scarcity of resources, ever-looming perils, and the foreboding of being lost is no less daunting than knowing you¡¯re slowly dying. People who have lived in the comfortable confines of a city would inevitably have their nerves stretched tight in such an environment, taut to the point where they might snap at any moment. Even the desire to run away is indicative of nimble limbs and a robust psyche; if it were someone who loafed around all day long, they¡¯d probably just collapse and wait for death. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Bi Fang extended a hand and waved it in front of Leonardo. ¡°Nothing.¡± Leonardo gathered his thoughts, ¡°I just feel like I¡¯ve gained a lot. This sensation of danger that could strike at any moment¡ªit¡¯s quite unique.¡± Bi Fang asked curiously, ¡°What kind of gain is that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m an actor,¡± Leonardo said with a smile creeping onto his face, ¡°Many people never experience the real jungle in their lifetimes. How could they know the true sensation of death?¡± Bi Fang too smiled: ¡°How does it feel?¡± Leonardo thought for a moment before speaking, ¡°It¡¯s like walking in a valley, with death blowing against me. Do ordinary people really stand a chance of escaping to heaven in such an environment? Even water here can be deadly.¡± Not to mention, Leonardo himself was so thirsty at the moment. If they couldn¡¯t find a water source soon, would he succumb to the urge to drink from those dark puddles? Even if they reeked awfully. But such water would be teeming with rotting leaves, stinking insects, countless germs, and myriad parasitic eggs waiting to infest. Just one drink, and you wouldn¡¯t ascend to heaven, but you¡¯d come close enough. Even distillation couldn¡¯t guarantee safety. ¡°It¡¯s not that exaggerated. If you really can¡¯t find a water source, collecting dew in the rainforest is still relatively easy. All you need is a large, watertight leaf or a plastic bag to collect it. The water is quite clean, it¡¯s just that the amount you gather totally depends on your skill.¡± Bi Fang thought about it, lacking water was indeed troublesome. The rainforest was filled with danger and ferocious animals; very few dared to wander carelessly. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, dew could only solve an emergency and barely provide sustenance; it was simply not enough to collect a sufficient amount of water. Although people have always found the rainforest to be mysterious, once you¡¯re lost inside, with its complex terrain and waterways, environment fraught with danger, and significant temperature differences between day and night, the average person has very little chance of escaping or waiting for a rescue. ¡°But it¡¯s not completely impossible. Human potential is difficult to define scientifically, and many times, it is the will to survive that is key.¡± Bi Fang cited an example casually. ¡°In 2015, two Dutch girls in their twenties went missing in the jungles of Panama. It was early April, right in the rainy season. They entered the jungle wearing shorts and short sleeves, merely as tourists, not survival experts. They didn¡¯t plan to spend the night in the jungle, they didn¡¯t even have a tent.¡± [As soon as I heard ¡°spend the night,¡± I knew something bad would happen.] [Spending the night without a tent? I knew this was no simple matter.] As expected, Bi Fang¡¯s next words confirmed the audience¡¯s suspicions. ¡°And then there was no ¡®then.¡¯ They strayed into an uninhabited path and got lost in the vast rainforest.¡± [As expected, I knew it. This is a hellish little tale.] ¡°The only useful things in their backpacks were a water bottle, a camera, and a cellphone. In a situation with almost no assistance tools, at least one of them survived for about eleven days.¡± What does it mean that at least one person survived for eleven days? Leonardo, listening on the side, was taken aback and felt a sense of foreboding. Bi Fang continued, ¡°When I saw the news, I looked up some information and read many netizen analyses. It seems that, in this incident, the most likely scenario was that they got lost.¡± The most likely scenario? Not just Leonardo, but the audience also felt a sense of foreboding. If it was reported in the news, especially from 2015, shouldn¡¯t it be established fact? Couldn¡¯t the truth be known from the people involved? Why is there so much uncertainty? ¡°Ever since the two left the continental divide, it¡¯s possible they fell off a cliff from the start and had no chance of climbing back up, only to take an alternative path. The worst part is that one of them broke her leg, with multiple fractures in the foot, making it impossible to walk.¡± ¡°When crossing a river, there was just a rudimentary monkey bridge made of three ropes, which could break at any moment. To return, they had to cross the river, but for someone who could barely walk, this was an almost impossible task, not to mention maintaining balance. You should know, there are crocodiles in the rivers of the Panama jungle!¡± ¡°But in the end, the traces they left showed they had traveled a great distance. It¡¯s guessed that the girl with the broken foot persevered for six days.¡± [Okay, I understand.] [A negative story every day.] [Is this really suitable to be told as an inspiring story? Laugh cry.jpg.] ¡°From the seventh day on, only the other girl remained, carrying the despair of being the only survivor, guarding her companion¡¯s body, with a cellphone running out of battery, lost and clueless, and all the worst situations you can imagine.¡± ¡°Within eleven days, they made a total of 77 emergency calls from their cellphones, but not a single one was connected.¡± In the beginning, netizens could still crack jokes, but by now, they could no longer laugh. Looking at the dark environment surrounding Bi Fang, everyone asked themselves, what would I do if I were trapped here? The grand scene fell completely silent. Cao Lifeng, Ge Liyang, and others were glancing at each other with looks that revealed deep despair. All around you, not a single person can help you, possibly for thousands of kilometers, you¡¯re the only human. Your companion lies silently next to you on the ground. The temperature outside is scorching hot, but your companion¡¯s body grows colder inch by inch. In the rainforest, microbes are exceedingly active, and in just two days, the body¡­ As night fell, you were still dialing the distress number over and over again. You¡¯d lost count of how many times you had tried; perhaps it was hundreds, but not once did you receive a response, leaving you to watch as your phone¡¯s battery slowly drained away. In the darkness, the last glimmer of light vanished, and from not far in the jungle, that strange, rustling sound emerged once again. Perhaps a predator had set its sights on you days ago, ready to savor its treat in these final moments. ¡°[What a pity, such a pity not to have encountered Master Fang.] Some recalled the incident in Mohe. It had been similar: people were in danger, and if not for the fortunate encounter with Master Fang, they might have frozen to death in the blizzard or been torn to pieces by wolves. Just thinking about the despair those two young girls faced when they got lost made the audience feel a twinge of regret. ¡°[Not every time someone is in danger will they be lucky enough to run into Master Fang.] ¡°[Better keep watching Master Fang¡¯s videos; you never know when you might face danger.] ¡°[Master Fang is awesome!]¡± ¡°[Could these become instructional videos in the future?]¡± Leonardo fell silent. He subconsciously touched the phone in his pocket, his last bit of security gone, and let out a bitter laugh, ¡°I was expecting you to tell some kind of inspirational story, but instead¡­¡± ¡°But that¡¯s just how the rainforest is,¡± Bi Fang spread his hands, the odds of getting lost and then rescued in the rainforest were pitifully low, ¡°But this indeed is an inspirational story. Don¡¯t give up, keep going. Staying alive gives you the greatest hope.¡± Leonardo felt helpless but had to accept this reasoning, ¡°Let¡¯s continue talking about searching for water sources, the terrain, and then what?¡± ¡°Then, it¡¯s about the wildlife. Many animals live near water, like frogs, snakes, and finally, there are special cues, such as weather. If it happens to rain, then you¡¯re lucky, and you won¡¯t have to worry about finding water for the next few days. During that time adrift at sea, I put my hope in that,¡± Bi Fang explained. ¡°However, this requires a bit of luck and you can¡¯t blindly depend on the weather. I made that conclusion because I understood the climate of the Atlantic and the frontal systems at that time; in that month and location, there should be a rain within a week. But rain doesn¡¯t always mean good luck,¡± he added. ¡°Besides, there are also certain special terrains to consider, like cracked rock fissures, which are also likely to have water sources.¡± Finding water sources is crucial for wilderness survival. Outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy hiking take potable water on every trip. Especially when traversing the mountains for extended periods. It¡¯s just not realistic to carry over ten liters of water. You¡¯ll either die of thirst or of exhaustion. So it¡¯s important to have some methods for finding water sources. ¡°You carry only a portion of your water, replenishing the rest from the wilderness. Generally speaking, finding springs in the mountains is quite easy¡­¡± Mid-explanation, Bi Fang suddenly stopped, his gaze fixed on a large tree in front of him, his body motionless. ¡°What¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± Leonardo, who was still tense from the frightening story, turned around just in time to hear this command, causing goosebumps to rise on his skin as his sweat-soaked forehead began to cool. What¡¯s happening? Is there danger? Upon hearing Bi Fang¡¯s shout, Leonardo instantly thought of a standoff with a wild beast. Were there wild animals nearby? Or had he unknowingly approached a venomous snake, now within its striking range, which is why he couldn¡¯t move? In an instant, Leonardo¡¯s mind raced with numerous thoughts, even recalling the snake venom serum factory mentioned earlier in Yunnan. Large beads of cold sweat slid continuously down his forehead, but he didn¡¯t dare to so much as swallow. The next moment, Bi Fang himself moved cautiously, even tenderly touching the nearby tree, his eyes filled with astonishment. ¡°This is a Blood-Sealing Throat Tree!¡± Seeing Bi Fang¡¯s reaction, Leonardo also came to understand but still didn¡¯t dare to make a move, asking, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Step back two paces,¡± instructed Bi Fang. Leonardo did as he was told, and only then did Bi Fang pat the tree trunk, his eyes gleaming with joy: ¡°This is an Arrow Poison Wood! This thing is highly toxic; if you accidentally get cut by this in the wild, you might die within half an hour.¡± ¡°Was I that close to it just now?¡± Leonardo looked at Bi Fang continuously slapping the tree trunk, somewhat in a daze. To die within half an hour of being cut? Calculating, it would take at least ten minutes for the helicopter to arrive, and then another half an hour to reach the hospital¡­ What does that mean? Was I on the edge of death just now? Bi Fang glanced at Leonardo and knew what he was thinking, shook his head, and laughed, ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it, there are no branches around here, you couldn¡¯t have been cut.¡± The tree trunk was very smooth, and the tree stood over twenty meters tall, with branches starting ten meters up. ¡°Then what were you doing just now?¡± ¡°Just scaring you a bit.¡± Leonardo: ¡°¡­¡± [This actor can¡¯t take a scare, so funny.] [Arrow Poison Wood, Poison Dart Frog, the names say it all.] [Someone¡¯s always a step ahead of me on Baidu, the world¡¯s most poisonous tree¡­] [Netizens are always faster than me!] ¡°The milky white sap of the Blood-Sealing Throat Tree contains potent poison. Once it comes into contact with wounds on humans or animals, it can cause the victim¡¯s heart to paralyze, blood vessels to close, blood to coagulate, and lead to asphyxiation and death. In Banna, there¡¯s a saying about this, called ¡®seven up, eight down, nine knock to the ground.''¡± Bi Fang had already started looking around the tree trunk for something, speaking as he searched. ¡°Legend has it that in Yunnan Province, Banna area, a Dai ethnic hunter was the first to discover the toxic nature of Arrow Poison Wood sap. Once, while hunting, the hunter was desperately chased by a huge bear and climbed a large tree, yet the bear persisted in pursuit. At the critical moment of life and death, with no way out, the hunter smartly broke off a branch and stabbed it at the bear climbing up the tree. Then, miraculously, the bear immediately fell down dead. Since then, the hunters of Banna learned to apply the sap of the Arrow Poison Wood to their arrowheads for hunting.¡± ¡°America also had this tree. Allegedly, when ancient Indian tribes faced enemy invasions, the women and children would apply the sap of the Blood-Sealing Throat Tree to arrowheads at the back and send them to the front lines for the men to use in battle. Thanks to this, the Indians won battle after battle, leaving the invading enemies lying dead all over, with their souls scattered and courage shattered, fiercely protecting their ancestral homeland. Whether they managed to keep it in the end, well, that¡¯s a matter of opinion.¡± Bi Fang sounded a bit excited. Leonardo, who had been with Bi Fang for four or five days, could distinctly feel it and asked, ¡°You seem very happy? Planning to use it to make weapons?¡± Poison wood, something that could make Bi Fang this happy, must be for making weapons, right? Such a poisonous tree, indeed it would make a fine weapon. ¡°Make weapons? That¡¯s one aspect, yes.¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°Do you still remember what we¡¯re looking for?¡± ¡°Water source and red soil?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I originally thought we would find both the water source and red soil together, but I didn¡¯t expect to find the red soil first.¡± Bi Fang was scraping away the grass and soil on the ground, and after digging through a layer, a striking red soil suddenly came into view for everyone to see. ¡°Hehe, got it!¡± Chapter 459: 456 Chapter 459: 456 When the yellow dead leaves, green needle grass, and black soil were peeled back, the exposure of the rich red soil to the air was a delight to behold. Red clay! Bi Fang scooped up a handful of red clay, his face brimming with joy, ¡°Blood-Sealing Throat Trees are often found in tropical monsoon rainforest regions, rooting in acidic bedrocks such as granite, shale, and sandstone, or atop red soil. I guessed there might be red clay underfoot here since I didn¡¯t see any large rocks!¡± Leonardo was somewhat stunned, murmuring, ¡°It¡¯s actually here.¡± At the moment the red clay was revealed before his eyes, Leonardo didn¡¯t feel joy but an indescribable sense of relief. Yes, relief. If one were to say that upon first entering the rainforest, the deep and shadowy environment induced a sense of fear, with the highly repetitive sight of trees enough to make one feel lost and panicky. But watching Bi Fang, who knew everything and worried about nothing, who was neither sad nor anxious, just methodically following a set plan and using any available resources¡ª From parachuting into the rainforest, to descending from the trees, to the systematic search for water sources and red clay to repel mosquitoes¡ª All the apprehensions about the unknown environment were swept away. Bi Fang was like an experienced and savvy native, for whom the rainforest wasn¡¯t a place of peril that ordinary people dreaded, but his home. If a friend invited you to his home, would you feel afraid? If seeing the Arrow Poison Wood told you there was red clay, how was that different from asking for a glass of water at a friend¡¯s house and the host effortlessly fetching a disposable cup from the cabinet? He knew exactly what was where, as clear as if he were back at home. [Amazing!] [Incredible plus!] [This, he knows way too much] [I¡¯m utterly impressed!] The audience in the live broadcast room seeing that patch of red soil on their screens were utterly impressed. ¡°It¡¯s truly awesome!¡± In Pavilion One, the audience felt a sense of excitement returning, that familiar feeling coming back. Watching survival is undeniably tense and thrilling, but watching Bi Fang survive is a time to broaden one¡¯s horizons. ¡°Hurry, come and help. I¡¯ll go find something to put this in, be careful not to dig up its roots,¡± Bi Fang instructed carefully, ¡°The Blood-Sealing Throat Tree is poisonous due to its sap, so we must not scratch its surface. Additionally, it is a Third-Level Protected Plant, so for whatever reason, try not to damage its root system.¡± ¡°If you hadn¡¯t told me it was poisonous, it would have been fine, but now I¡¯m a bit scared,¡± Leonardo said with a wry smile, squatting down to dig out the red clay himself. ¡°Third-Level Protected Plant? Is that a thing?¡± Someone in Pavilion One raised a question. They¡¯d heard of national first and second class protected animals, but never of a third class. This term felt unfamiliar and strange suddenly coming from Bi Fang¡¯s mouth, yet nobody challenged it. If Bi Fang said something existed, it almost certainly did. If they didn¡¯t know or were unclear about it, it was likely their own fault. Why embarrass oneself by questioning someone¡¯s expertise with one¡¯s own layman¡¯s knowledge? sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Yes, there is!¡± Someone confirmed after pulling out their phone and checking. But even faster was someone sending a barrage of questions to Bi Fang through the live comments. At this moment, Bi Fang had come to a tree with large fan-shaped leaves, and was removing its leaves to prepare for transporting soil back. Seeing the barrage of comments, he nodded, ¡°Yes, there are first, second, and third levels of protection for plants, but animals indeed only have first and second levels. Below that, we have ¡®San You,¡¯ which isn¡¯t third level, and common animals like frogs and sparrows are among ¡®San You.''¡± ¡°Compared to first and second levels, the protection for ¡®San You¡¯ is much weaker. There¡¯s no problem unless their numbers reach a certain point, so few ordinary people care about it. It¡¯s not like they are specifically targeted for hunting. Moreover, people care less about plants, which is why you¡¯ve probably never heard about it.¡± [So that¡¯s how it is.] [What about third-level plants, though? Didn¡¯t Master Fang just say they could be used for defense? Can we still do that now?] [Should be possible, Old Fang isn¡¯t unaware that it¡¯s a third-level protection plant. He had said earlier that it was doable, so it must be.] Bi Fang chuckled, ¡°Ordinary people might not believe it, but for me, it¡¯s possible. Third-level protected plants can be utilized as long as permission is applied for, and unfortunately for you, I happen to be one of those authorized.¡± Not to mention, a long time ago, Lin Chang¡¯s dad had acquired the relevant certification for him. After some development over time, Bi Fang¡¯s status had become even more extraordinary, and naturally, there were fewer taboos for him. [We¡¯re being shown up. Is this what a true boss looks like?] [After the Hainan Warlord, do we now have a Wilderness Warlord?] [I called the cops, but his phone rang.] [Classic.] Meanwhile, Leonardo was already poking out quite a bit of red clay with tree branches. In the rainforest, the cycle of matter is rapid, so the red soil isn¡¯t on the surface but rather covered under a layer of black soil. Anyone who has ever dug up soil knows that just a bit deeper it becomes tough and hard to dig, forming into solid lumps that are difficult to remove by hand. That¡¯s why Leonardo had to poke at it for a good while with branches to procure a substantial amount of red clay. Bi Fang rolled up the large leaves, forming them into a funnel shape, then found a thick vine and started binding it around from where the break was, wrapping it round and round. After wrapping it, he found another two thin and short morning glory vines and used them to connect and secure the ends to the wrapped vine, completing the funnel-like container. ¡°We could even make a lid for the top that¡¯s connected,¡± Bi Fang said as he wrapped a thin vine around the petiole of the large leaf, with the other end attached to the thick vine. With a pull, the upper half of the leaf covered the funnel. Having made two of these, Bi Fang carried them over to the red clay and put all the red clay that Leonardo had dug up into them. ¡°Aren¡¯t we applying it now?¡± Leonardo asked curiously. ¡°No, we can¡¯t apply it yet. Red clay that has just been dug up cannot be used directly; it requires secondary processing,¡± Bi Fang explained. ¡°Because the soil of red clay contains tons of bacteria, microorganisms, and even small bugs. Look.¡± As Bi Fang stirred the red clay, ants, aphids, and woodlice were scurrying around in an escape frenzy. ¡°If you were to apply such soil directly, it would be okay if you had no tiny wounds, but if you had any cuts, it could be serious trouble. And in the jungle, with sharp branches everywhere, you could have small cuts that you might not even be aware of.¡± ¡°The locals in Africa wouldn¡¯t do this either. They would dry it, then mix in animal fats to increase the stickiness. This way, when applied on the body, it wouldn¡¯t fall off due to drying and cracking.¡± Leonardo looked up at the rainforest, where not a bit of sunlight penetrated, and scratched his head, ¡°So what do we do? We don¡¯t have animal fat, nor do we have sunlight to dry it.¡± ¡°No worries, if we don¡¯t have fats, we just add more water. If we don¡¯t have sunlight, we can bake the soil directly to sterilize it. It¡¯s the same thing,¡± Bi Fang reassured. With the large funnel on his back, Bi Fang took a deep breath and said, ¡°Now it¡¯s time to make fire. Today, I will teach you a third hands-on method of making fire, besides the ¡®Fire-Making by Wood-Drilling¡¯ and pump method.¡± ¡°The Fire Saw Method!¡± Chapter 460: 457 Occupy a Slot Chapter 460: Chapter 457 Occupy a Slot I¡¯ve reserved a spot. The second chapter isn¡¯t ready yet. I¡¯ll make the changes before one o¡¯clock in the morning. When the yellow withered leaves, green needle grass, and black soil were brushed aside, the exposure of the red soil to the air brought joy. Red clay! Bi Fang scooped up a handful of red clay, his face filled with delight, ¡°The Blood-Sealing Throat Tree often grows in tropical monsoon forest regions, rooting in acidic bedrock such as granite, shale, sandstone, or on red soil. Just now, I saw there were no large rocks here, so I guessed there might be red clay underneath!¡± Leonardo seemed stunned, murmuring, ¡°There really is.¡± The moment the red clay was exposed before his eyes, Leonardo didn¡¯t feel joy, but an indescribable sense of relief. Yes, relief. If the deep, mysterious environment of the rainforest initially instilled a sense of fear, the sheer repetition of trees could make one feel frantic and headless. But watching Bi Fang, who recognized everything, knew everything, without worry, without sadness, taking step by step toward a pre-determined plan, making use of all available resources. From landing in the rainforest, to descending from the trees, to methodically searching for water sources and red clay to repel mosquitoes. All the concerns about the unknown environment vanished. Bi Fang was like an experienced and savvy native, the rainforest wasn¡¯t a place of peril for the common folk, but his home. If a friend invites you to their home, would you be afraid? Knowing where to find red clay just by seeing the Arrow Poison Wood, how is that different from asking for a cup of water at a friend¡¯s house, and the host effortlessly taking out a disposable cup from the cupboard? Knowing exactly where everything is, just like at home. [Awesome!] [Awesome plus!] [This guy knows way too much.] [I¡¯m completely convinced!] The viewers in the live broadcast felt completely convinced upon seeing that patch of red clay in their sight. ¡°It¡¯s really awesome!¡± Inside the first venue, the crowd was somewhat excited, that familiar feeling returned. Watching someone survive is undoubtedly tense and thrilling, but watching Bi Fang survive is a time to gain knowledge. ¡°Quick, help me out, I need to find something to hold this in, be careful not to dig up its roots,¡± Bi Fang carefully instructed, ¡°The poisonous part of the Blood-Sealing Throat Tree is its sap, so don¡¯t scratch its surface. Moreover, it¡¯s a Third-Level Protected Plant, so for whatever reason, try not to damage its root system.¡± ¡°If you hadn¡¯t told me it was poisonous, I¡¯d have been fine, but now I¡¯m a bit scared,¡± Leonardo said with a wry smile, squatting down and likewise scraping out the red clay. ¡°Third-Level Protected Plants? There¡¯s such a thing?¡± someone in the first venue raised a question. I¡¯ve heard of national first- and second-level protected animals, but I¡¯ve never heard of the third level, have I? The term felt strange, suddenly coming from Bi Fang¡¯s mouth, making people puzzled, but nobody questioned it. If Bi Fang mentioned something, it was basically true. If one didn¡¯t understand or wasn¡¯t clear about it, it was likely their own fault. Who would be audacious enough to challenge the expertise of another with their own amateur knowledge? ¡°There is, there is!¡± someone said, pulling out their phone and looking it up. But there were people who were quicker, asking Bi Fang through the barrage of comments. At that moment, Bi Fang had come to a tree with large fan-shaped leaves, was removing its leaves, preparing to carry soil back. Seeing the barrage, he nodded, ¡°Yes, plants do have first, second, and third levels of protection, but animals indeed only have first and second levels. Below that is ¡®San You¡¯, not third level, like common frogs and sparrows, they are all ¡®San You¡¯.¡± ¡°Compared to first and second levels, ¡®San You¡¯ has much weaker protection measures. It won¡¯t matter unless the population reaches a certain number, so few ordinary people pay attention to it. And since people care less about plants, that¡¯s why you have never heard of it.¡± [I see] [What about third-level plants, didn¡¯t Master Fang just say they can be used for defense? Can we still do that now?] [It should be possible, Old Fang isn¡¯t unaware that they are Third-Level, he just said we can do it, so it must certainly be doable.] Bi Fang chuckled, ¡°Ordinary people might not believe this, but in my case, I can. Third-level plants can be utilized as long as permission is applied for, and as it happens, I am indeed one of those people.¡± Not to mention, a long time ago, Lin Chang¡¯s father had obtained the necessary certifications for him. As time passed, Bi Fang¡¯s status became even more extraordinary, naturally decreasing the taboos he faced. [Showed off, is this what an ¡®elite¡¯ looks like?] [After the Hainan Warlord, do we have another Wilderness Warlord now?] [I called the police, but his phone rang] [Classic.] Meanwhile, Leonardo had poked out quite a bit of red clay with branches. In the rainforest, the material cycle is fast, so red earth isn¡¯t on the surface, rather it¡¯s covered by a layer of black soil. Anyone who has dug soil knows that even a little deeper, it becomes hard and difficult to dig, clumping together; it¡¯s really hard to dig with hands, so Leonardo had to use branches to poke for a good while to get a considerable amount of red clay. Bi Fang rolled up the large fan-shaped leaf, forming a funnel, then found a thick long vine and started wrapping it around at the break, winding it up in circles. Upon wrapping it up, he found two thin and short morning glory vines, attaching and securing them at each end to the circled vine, completing the funnel-like container. ¡°The top can also act as a lid, connected together.¡± Bi Fang wrapped the thin vine around the stem of the large fan-shaped leaf, attaching the lower end to the thick vine¡¯s body. With a pull, the upper half of the fan leaf covered the funnel completely. After making two, Bi Fang carried them to the red clay, putting all the red clay that Leonardo had dug out into them. ¡°Aren¡¯t we going to apply it now?¡± Leonardo asked curiously. ¡°No, we can¡¯t apply it now; the red clay that¡¯s just been dug up can¡¯t be used immediately, it needs to undergo secondary processing,¡± Bi Fang explained, ¡°Because the soil of the red clay contains a lot of bacteria, microorganisms, and even small insects, look.¡± Bi Fang stirred through the red clay, ants, aphids, and mites were frantically escaping. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°If you apply that kind of soil directly onto your body, it¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t have small wounds, but if you do, it could be serious. In the jungle, there are sharp branches everywhere, and you may not even notice many tiny cuts.¡± ¡°The locals in Africa wouldn¡¯t do it this way either; they would dry it out, then mix it with animal fat to increase its viscosity so that when applied to the skin it doesn¡¯t flake and fall off due to drying and cracking.¡± Leonardo looked up at the rainforest where not a bit of sunlight came through, scratching his head, ¡°So what are we going to do? We don¡¯t have animal fat, nor do we have sunlight to dry it.¡± ¡°No worries, if we don¡¯t have fat, we can add more water, and if there¡¯s no sunlight, we can directly bake the soil to sterilize it, it¡¯s the same,¡± he said. Carrying the large funnel on his back, Bi Fang took a breath, ¡°Now, we¡¯re going to make fire. Today, I¡¯ll teach everyone a third method of starting a fire by hand, apart from Fire-Making by Wood-Drilling and pump fire-starting.¡± ¡°Fire Saw Method!¡± Chapter 461: 458: Youre a Bloody Genius Chapter 461: Chapter 458: You¡¯re a Bloody Genius Leonardo stripped all the twigs and leaves off the vine, wrapped both ends around his hands, and secured the center segment into the groove of the sawing board. He took a deep breath and began to rub forcefully¡ª But right from the start, Leonardo realized it was far from as simple as he had imagined, for some reason the rubbing was jerky and uneven, without any feeling of smoothness. At this rate, let alone starting a fire, it was very difficult even to accumulate a bit of heat. ¡°My goodness, this is completely different from what I thought.¡± Leonardo increased the force in his hands, but the situation not only failed to improve, it became even more snagged. Bi Fang reminded from the side, ¡°Don¡¯t tense up completely, you need to pull the vine straight, the force should be applied longitudinally, don¡¯t apply too much pressure at once, the pressure should gradually increase as the heat builds up, imagine it as the blade of a saw, it¡¯s very strong and won¡¯t break.¡± Leonardo wiped the sweat from his forehead, adjusted his posture, and started pulling again, this time it was a lot better, but still snagged occasionally. ¡°Every snag means dissipation of heat.¡± Bi Fang shook his head, acquiring fire wasn¡¯t something one could learn just by watching once or being taught once; it required a large accumulation of experience. Experience had to be built up personally, it couldn¡¯t be learned by studying alone. Regrettably, it seemed that Leonardo didn¡¯t have much talent in wilderness survival skills, after rubbing for over ten minutes, he had only managed to minimize the snags, still far from accumulating the heat necessary to start a fire. People inside the first pavilion were discussing fervently. ¡°Is it really that hard?¡± ¡°Duh, do you think making fire in the wild is easy?¡± ¡°I want to try it too.¡± S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Some in the crowd were eager to try, after all, fire-making by wood-drilling and the pump method were too cumbersome, but the Fire Saw Method seemed very simple. And the raw materials were easy to find, weren¡¯t bamboos everywhere? Just about any hilltop would have them, right? ¡°Bamboo slices and vines, anyone want to buy them? Fifty Yuan for a set, experience the Fire Saw Method onsite!¡± Just as everyone was thinking about going home to try it out, an untimely shout came from outside the entrance. A staff member, pulling a cart full of bamboo, hollered, ¡°Experience the Fire Saw Method onsite, fifty Yuan for one set of materials!¡± People: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Give me a set!¡± ¡°I want one too!¡± ¡°That was fast, I¡¯m buying!¡± Until his arms ached unbearably, Leonardo hadn¡¯t achieved effective heat accumulation, and had to stop temporarily to rest: ¡°I can¡¯t do it, it¡¯s too difficult.¡± ¡°That¡¯s normal, the first time is always like this, you¡¯ll gain experience after a few successes.¡± Bi Fang flipped the red clay on the stone slab with a bamboo board, more than ten minutes had passed, and the moist red clay had dried and cracked, presumably it wouldn¡¯t take long to turn into red powder. But Leonardo didn¡¯t give up, he shook his hands to loosen the muscles, grasped the vine, and continued to saw! Another ten minutes passed, and finally, white smoke emerged from the bamboo board! Leonardo got instantly excited, ¡°Hey, do you see that? Do you see it? It¡¯s smoking, the sawing board is smoking!¡± ¡°Yes, I see it,¡± Bi Fang nodded encouragingly, ¡°But the hardest step comes after the smoke, what you want to acquire is charcoal, not smoke.¡± After another quarter of an hour passed, the amount of smoke coming from Leonardo¡¯s hands was still pitifully little, barely visible, as if silently telling him to push a bit harder, just one more effort, and the charcoal would soon be there. But reality was always cruel, after spending a full hour, Leonardo still hadn¡¯t started the fire. Thinking about how Bi Fang managed to get a flame going in just two or three minutes, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of defeat. Now, Leonardo¡¯s forearms were sore, swollen, and even slightly trembling. Beside him, Bi Fang had obtained dry, powdered red mud. After moving the slate aside, he waited for the powder to cool. Meanwhile, Bi Fang removed the old palm leaves from the funnel, replaced them with new ones, then poured the red powder into it. ¡°We have the red powder now, after we find a clean water source to mix it with, we can start applying it. Moreover, for better effectiveness, we can also add some strongly scented herbs, which can mask our scent very well and avoid attracting predators.¡± At this moment, a slew of complaining bullet comments caught Bi Fang¡¯s attention. ¡°I failed too, boo-hoo-hoo.¡± ¡°I sawed for more than ten minutes and didn¡¯t even see smoke.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve spent three hundred yuan¡­ and haven¡¯t even seen a spark¡­ ¡± ¡°Apparently someone next door has succeeded¡­ the club¡¯s coach is demonstrating the Fire Saw Method.¡± ¡°Just faint white smoke¡­ I feel like a loser, sawing away with the girl barely acknowledging me¡­¡± ¡°The head of this club is a damn genius, making money off a bunch of bamboo sticks.¡± ¡°Damn, I really want to try it too, regretting not snapping up a ticket.¡± What¡¯s going on? Bi Fang was stunned, scrolling through the comments with an incredulous look. This was too showy, wasn¡¯t it? Could it really work like this? He had never imagined the club could also come up with such a setup. There was no doubt in his mind that this scheme was concocted by Yao Jun. The moment Bi Fang got his hands on the bamboo, Jun had thought of this method to increase visitor engagement. ¡°You¡¯re a damn genius, indeed,¡± Bi Fang thought to himself. ¡°The red mud is ready, do you want to keep trying?¡± Bi Fang, with the funnel strapped to his back, asked Leonardo, who was still struggling with the saw, with a smile. Leonardo let out a long sigh and tossed the vine and bamboo board onto the ground, ¡°I might just not have the talent for this.¡± After restoring the fire pit on the ground to its original state, Bi Fang picked up two pieces of charcoal for next time he needed to light a fire, then gestured, ¡°Let¡¯s go. We need to continue looking for a water source.¡± On their way, Bi Fang was more observant than before, trying to find some mosquito-repellent herbs to mix into the red mud. ¡°There are many common mosquito repellent herbs, such as mugwort, which can be found almost everywhere in Huaxia except for extremely arid and cold regions.¡± Bi Fang prodded a bush with a stick. After a huge centipede awoke and scurried away from the bush, he bent down, plucked a plant, and sniffed it near his nose. The scent was very strong. ¡°In addition to that, there¡¯s honeysuckle and perilla leaves, very common mosquito repellent herbs. Not much is needed, about ten grams would suffice.¡± Bi Fang placed the mugwort into the funnel bag at his waist as he explained. Now, he carried three funnel bags on him ¨C two at the waist and one large one on his back ¨C filled with red mud powder. His overall appearance was blending in more and more with the rainforest. It was around twelve noon when the sound of trickling water began echoing through the forest. Leonardo, whose water bottle was nearly empty, brightened up. Had they found a water source? Just as he was about to step forward to check, Bi Fang suddenly pulled him back, ¡°Wait!¡± Chapter 462: 459 Reserve a Spot Chapter 462: Chapter 459 Reserve a Spot Placeholder, Chapter Two isn¡¯t ready yet Will be finished before 1 a.m. Leonardo stripped the branches and leaves off the rattan and wrapped both ends around his hands, fixing the middle section into the groove of the saw board. Taking a deep breath, he began to rub vigorously. But right from the start, Leonardo realized it was far from as simple as he had thought it might be, for some reason every rub was awkward and stuttered, there was no smooth feeling whatsoever. At this rate, let alone starting a fire, it was difficult to even accumulate a bit of heat. ¡°Oh my god, this is nothing like what I thought¡­¡± Leonardo increased the force in his hands, but the situation didn¡¯t improve, instead, it became even more jerky. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang reminded from the side, ¡°Don¡¯t apply full force, pull the rattan tight, apply the force longitudinally, don¡¯t put too much pressure initially, the pressure should gradually increase with the accumulation of heat. Think of it like the blade of a saw, it¡¯s firm and won¡¯t break.¡± Leonardo wiped the sweat off his forehead, adjusted his posture, and pulled again. This time it was a lot better, but there were still stutters. ¡°Each stutter means a dissipation of heat,¡± Bi Fang shook his head. Fire-making isn¡¯t something you learn after watching once or being taught once, it requires a wealth of accumulated experiences. Experience needs to be personally accumulated; you can¡¯t learn it just by studying. Regrettably, Leonardo didn¡¯t seem to have much of a knack for wilderness survival skills. After rubbing for over ten minutes, he managed only to minimize stutters, far from building up enough heat to start a fire. People inside the first pavilion were chattering away. ¡°Is it really that hard?¡± ¡°Of course, do you think making a fire outdoors is so easy?¡± ¡°I want to try it, too.¡± The crowd on-site seemed eager to give it a go, considering fire-making by wood-drilling and pump fire-making were too troublesome, the fire saw method seemed very simple. ¡°Of course, do you think making a fire outdoors is so easy?¡± ¡°I want to try it, too.¡± The crowd on-site seemed eager to give it a go, considering fire-making by wood-drilling and pump fire-making were too troublesome, the fire saw method seemed very simple. And raw materials were easy to find, aren¡¯t bamboos everywhere? Wouldn¡¯t almost every hilltop have them? ¡°Bamboo strips and rattan for sale, fifty yuan per set, experience the fire saw method on the spot!¡± Just as people were considering trying it out when they got home, an ill-timed shout rang out from outside the door. A staff member pulled a cart full of bamboo and hollered, ¡°Experience the fire saw method on-site, fifty yuan for one set of materials!¡± Everyone: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Give me a set!¡± ¡°Me too!¡± ¡°That was quick, count me in too!¡± Until his arms were sore and swollen, Leonardo couldn¡¯t manage to accumulate effective heat, and he had to stop for a break, ¡°I can¡¯t anymore, this is too tough.¡± ¡°That¡¯s normal, the first time is always like this. Do it successfully a few times, and you will gain experience,¡± said Bi Fang, flipping over red clay on the stone slab with bamboo strips. After more than ten minutes, the damp red clay had started to crack and dry, indicating that it would soon turn into powder. But Leonardo didn¡¯t give up, he shook his hands to relax his muscles, grabbed the rattan, and continued sawing! Ten more minutes had passed, and at last, white smoke began to rise from the bamboo board! Leonardo instantly became excited, ¡°Hey, did you see that? Did you see that? It¡¯s smoking, the saw board is smoking!¡± ¡°Yeah, I saw it,¡± Bi Fang nodded in encouragement, ¡°But the real challenge begins after the smoke appears. What you need is charcoal embers, not just smoke.¡± Another quarter of an hour went by, and the smoke coming from Leonardo¡¯s hands remained pitifully scant, barely there, as if silently telling him to try a little harder, try a little harder, and soon there would be embers. But reality was always cruel. After spending a full hour, Leonardo had still failed to start a fire. The thought of Bi Fang effortlessly igniting flames within a mere two to three minutes inevitably brought a sense of defeat flooding into his heart. At that moment, Leonardo¡¯s forearms were sore and swollen, even trembling slightly. Meanwhile, Bi Fang had obtained the dry powder state of red clay. He moved the stone slab to the side, waiting for the dry powder to cool. Then he pulled the old fan leaves out of the funnel, replaced them with new ones, and poured the red dry powder inside. ¡°We¡¯ve got the red powder ready. In a moment, we¡¯ll find a clean water source to mix it with before application. Moreover, for better effect, we can add some strongly scented herbs to it. This can effectively mask our scent and prevent us from being targeted by some ferocious beasts,¡± Bi Fang said. It was at this time that a barrage of complaining comments caught Bi Fang¡¯s attention. [I also failed, boohoo.] [I sawed for over ten minutes and didn¡¯t even see any smoke.] [I¡¯ve spent three hundred yuan¡­ and didn¡¯t even see a spark.] [I heard someone next door succeeded¡­ The coach from the club is showing them the fire saw method.] [Just a faint wisp of white smoke¡­ I feel like a loser, while the sawboard is like a girl, leading me on with its elusive hints¡­] [This club¡¯s manager is really a genius, making money off a bunch of bamboo.] [Damn, I really want to try it too, regret not grabbing a ticket now.] What¡¯s going on? Bi Fang was stunned; he scrolled through the comments, looking utterly bemused. This was too showy, wasn¡¯t it? How could this be? He had never anticipated the club could pull off such a stunt. Without a doubt, this scheme was concocted by Yao Jun. The moment Bi Fang acquired the bamboo, Yao Jun had thought of raising participants¡¯ involvement in this way. You¡¯re really a genius. Bi Fang thought to himself. ¡°The red clay is ready. How about it, do you want to keep trying?¡± Bi Fang, carrying the funnel on his back, looked at Leonardo with a smile, who was still diligently pulling the saw. Leonardo sighed deeply and threw the vine and bamboo board onto the ground, ¡°I might not have the talent for this.¡± After restoring the fire pit to its original state, Bi Fang took two pieces of charcoal for easy fire-making next time, then gestured with his hand: ¡°Let¡¯s go, we need to continue searching for a water source.¡± This time along the way, Bi Fang¡¯s gaze became even more meticulous. He was trying to find some herbal medicine that could repel mosquitoes, which could be mixed into the red clay later. ¡°There are many common mosquito-repelling herbs, such as mugwort, which, except for extremely arid and cold regions, is almost ubiquitous in Huaxia,¡± Bi Fang poked around a bush with a stick. After a huge centipede woke up from the shrubbery and scurried away, he bent down to pick a plant and sniffed it near his nose. The fragrance was very strong. ¡°Besides that, there are honeysuckle and perilla leaves, which are also very common mosquito-repelling herbs. You don¡¯t need much; around ten grams is enough.¡± Putting the mugwort into the funnel bag at his waist, Bi Fang explained. He was carrying three funnel bags on him now, two around his waist and a larger one on his back, filled with red clay powder. His overall image blended more and more with the rainforest. Chapter 463: 460 North and South (2 in 1) Chapter 463: Chapter 460 North and South (2 in 1) As Tree Stick probed toward the green snake coiled on the tree branch bit by bit, Leonardo¡¯s footsteps also slowly moved backward. The closer he got, the more he retreated as if Tree Stick was coming toward him. Bi Fang noticed this and gave him a surprised look, to which Leonardo wryly smiled, ¡°I just feel that it¡¯s not safe here at all.¡± [I¡¯m dying of laughter] [If it were me, I¡¯d run too] [Looks scary] [Feels like the snake has already spotted Old Fang, staring straight over here] Hearing Leonardo¡¯s concern, Bi Fang explained very seriously, ¡°Then you¡¯d better back off some more. Bamboo Vipers are very fast, and they can even jump between trees.¡± Being used to going solo, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t realized that he should let Leonardo retreat first. Leonardo was more obedient than he¡¯d ever been, even more so than when he was scolded by his mother during his school days, as he quickly retreated to a distance of ten meters away. Without hesitation, Bi Fang approached the Bamboo Viper again, ¡°Bamboo Vipers have a strong arboreal nature, often hanging or coiling on branches, and are very agile. So, without solid experience, even if you¡¯re trapped in the wild, try not to catch it to stave off hunger. If you need to catch it, first you have to take precautions, second, use a longer stick to knock it down to the ground.¡± S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°To capture a venomous snake, try to avoid disabling it with your limbs. The moment the Bamboo Viper lands, press its head down with a stick. Bamboo Vipers have large heads and thin necks¡ªmost venomous snakes are like this. Once the head is pressed down, it is very difficult to break free. Of course, snake muscles are quite developed, so you need a fair amount of strength to do this.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re really so hungry that you can¡¯t go on without eating, and you must take the risk of capturing one, but have no experience with venomous snakes, you can try to use a rock to smash it from a distance¡­¡± While he spoke, Bi Fang had already gotten within two meters of the Bamboo Viper, and the Tree Stick in his hand was less than half a meter away. Two small drones silently hovered before and behind the Bamboo Viper, allowing viewers to see the snake¡¯s body contract clearly through the gaps in the leaves. The Bamboo Viper is getting tense! The Bamboo Viper has good vision, especially for moving objects, so Bi Fang¡¯s movements were not fast, but such a large source of heat was approaching¡ªit couldn¡¯t possibly go unnoticed. Under the extreme-resolution camera, the Bamboo Viper¡¯s body coiled tightly; at the bend, its scales all flared open like a tightly compressed spring, ready to burst out at any moment. The two were like predators in a standoff, with neither knowing who would strike first. Bi Fang calmly focused his mind; the greatest difference between humans and animals lies in the humans¡¯ ability to adeptly summarize experience and conduct targeted analysis, whereas animals act purely on instinct. Just as the Bamboo Viper¡¯s body was coiled to the extreme, right before it attacked, Bi Fang made his move! The Tree Stick went straight down from above, chopping toward the venomous snake. The intense heat motion caused the Bamboo Viper to reflexively react, but ultimately it was too late. In the moment it poked its head out, the Tree Stick, cutting through the air, hit it solidly and powerfully! The branch was broken, and the slender green figure was slashed down by the Tree Stick like a ribbon, its head and tail fluttering towards the sky. At that moment, no one knew what the Bamboo Viper was feeling, whether it was pain or confusion. When the green snake landed on the ground, viewers clearly saw it writhing in pain, its scales all flared open, just like those of its parasitized kin. Human strength is inherently immense, and with the whip effect of Bi Fang holding Tree Stick, the snake was nearly broken in two. Having knocked down the Bamboo Viper, Bi Fang quickly pressed Tree Stick onto the snake¡¯s body, then rolled forward onto the snake¡¯s neck, thereafter pressing down firmly, ¡°The snake¡¯s neck is too small a target, and it¡¯s hard to hit precisely amidst violent struggles. We need to first press down on the snake¡¯s body, then twist the stick in our hand to shift it onto the snake¡¯s neck.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s arm muscles slightly bulged, winding together like iron chains, revealing the lines symbolizing strength, pressing down on the snake with a death grip. The neck of the snake was incredibly fragile, and under such immense pressure, the Bamboo Viper thrashed about wildly, but it couldn¡¯t break free. The snake¡¯s head was large because of its skeletal structure, and to escape, it would have to crush its skull, but if it attempted to move forward, the pressure on its neck would prevent it from exerting any strength. Leonardo, who had been watching from behind, saw the Bamboo Viper being subdued and was no longer afraid; he approached excitedly to watch Bi Fang gripping the tree stick, stepping onto one end of it and then placing his feet on both ends. As the full weight of an adult pressed down, almost at the very moment he stepped on it, Leonardo thought he could hear the sound of bones cracking, after which the viper¡¯s writhing slowly ceased. Before long, the viper stopped moving altogether and only twitched occasionally. ¡°I¡¯ve said before that a snake¡¯s head can bite even an hour after death, or even several hours later, so we need to cut off the snake¡¯s head first. Don¡¯t touch it; you can just throw it away.¡± Bi Fang stood on the tree stick, and even though the snake had stopped moving, he did not let his guard down. He retrieved from his knapsack a sharp, flat rock and pressed it firmly against the neck of the snake. Bright red blood splashed out, spraying Leonardo¡¯s face. The ferocious triangular snake head rolled to the side, unconsciously snapping its fearsome jaws. As Leonardo watched, bewildered, he subconsciously licked the warm blood at the corner of his mouth. The pungent smell surged to his brain, and he immediately bent over to retch on the ground, ¡°This¡­isn¡¯t poisonous, is it?¡± Bi Fang let out a laugh, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, snake venom is a substance mysteriously concocted by nature in their bodies. Essentially, it¡¯s still protein and will spoil and deteriorate when exposed to air, losing its toxicity. As long as there are no open wounds, like mouth ulcers or gastritis, it shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡± ¡°Besides, there¡¯s no poison in snake blood. Many snakes would die from their venom, like the Feeding Viper and the Egyptian Horned Cobra. If their blood contained venom, they wouldn¡¯t be able to live.¡± Upon hearing Bi Fang¡¯s explanation, Leonardo breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°However¡­¡± Bi Fang¡¯s tone shifted as he used the stone knife to flip open the snake¡¯s head, ¡°snakes harbor many parasites, and the blood and gallbladders contain a variety of deadly parasites, such as Echinococcus multilocularis and the Tongue Worm, which can infest the brain, internal organs, eyes, chest cavity, spinal cord, skin, and reproductive system, among other parts of the body. They can form honeycomb-like cysts in your body¡ªoh, don¡¯t know what cysts are? Imagine your body developing a honeycomb-like tumor, full of holes. Ever seen tripe? It¡¯s similar, but these are hollow cavities, and currently, there¡¯s no medication that can treat them. They can only be removed surgically.¡± ¡°As for those who drink raw snake blood and eat raw frogs, the latter tend to be infected with just a few parasites and can be treated with surgery, but those who drink raw snake blood can be infected with hundreds of parasites, making surgery almost impossible to eradicate them.¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± Leonardo clutched his neck, his eyes bloodshot with tears streaming, a continuous flow of saliva dripping from his mouth. He stared intensely at Bi Fang, his eyes filled with pain as he rinsed his mouth with water, over and over. Utterly disgusting! Not just Leonardo, but even the audience felt nauseated listening to this. [Holy shit, this is so disgusting!] [Wori, why didn¡¯t Old Fang say this last time?] [I¡¯m eating here, eating!] [I¡¯m dead] [Damn it, refund my money] In the first viewing area, several people were drinking water, and upon hearing these words, they began to retch reflexively. Bi Fang patted Leonardo on the back, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared; it¡¯s just a joke.¡± Leonardo was taken aback and finally began to recover somewhat, his face filled with hope, ¡°Is everything you said a lie?¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°I never tell lies.¡± ¡°¡­¡± After a pause, as if he realized that he had gone a bit too far, Bi Fang added, ¡°Eating snake gallbladder raw poses a high risk of infection, but the probability of getting infected from drinking snake blood raw is only 0.1%. Plus, you just threw up for so long and even rinsed out your mouth, so no worries, you can rest assured!¡± ¡°Ugh~~¡± ¡­ In the jungle, Bi Fang and Leonardo continued on their way, but the difference was that Bi Fang was still optimistic, while Leonardo¡¯s complexion had gotten much worse, completely pale. Even though Bi Fang guaranteed it was safe, he couldn¡¯t help but imagine that scene, and then continue to retch. Leonardo deeply regretted his decision to keep up, and even more so, regretted why he had just gone over to watch. Now, whenever he heard the word ¡°snake,¡± he reflexively felt like vomiting. He didn¡¯t touch the Bamboo Viper at all during the entire process. Watching Bi Fang store the prey in a bag, he really didn¡¯t want to get close unless it was too dangerous in the rainforest. Bi Fang, however, introduced as usual, ¡°Animals like these that capture frogs, tadpoles, lizards, birds, and small mammals have one thing in common: they like to feed by the stream because that¡¯s where small animals are most concentrated. They would dig holes and gather here. Large animals, on the other hand, would not do this, and actually, we had already heard the sound of running water before we encountered the Bamboo Viper.¡± In the deep forest, Bi Fang bypassed one large tree after another, approaching the direction from which the sound of running water came. The audience could clearly hear the water getting louder. Watching Bi Fang¡¯s back, Leonardo looked around at the environment that seemed identical to the starting point and suddenly realized something, ¡°Don¡¯t you distinguish directions?¡± Right. The audience members were also startled; something was off! Normally, Bi Fang would first determine the direction, then make a weapon for self-defense, and afterward, he would look for a water source and obtain game. Why isn¡¯t he checking the direction now? [Dumbass, Old Fang isn¡¯t trying to escape but to live in the rainforest for twenty-one days. How important is direction?] [Ah, I remember now.] [Forgot about that.] [But what happens if you really get lost? You can hardly see the sun here, and climbing trees is very dangerous. If you encounter a snake in a tree like Old Fang, I don¡¯t have the skill to escape¡ªI¡¯d be done for.] [I simply can¡¯t climb trees!] ¡°If you really get lost, even without seeing the sun, there are many ways to determine direction,¡± after looking around and walking for a while, Bi Fang and Leonardo finally stopped beside a dark puddle, with uniform forests all around. Not to mention ordinary people, even experienced hunters could get lost. Without a compass, it¡¯s extremely difficult to figure out direction. ¡°Can you look at the tree rings?¡± Leonardo suggested, a method he had read about in a storybook as a child. To his surprise, Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°That¡¯s really just a scientific phenomenon, good for increasing knowledge, but in practical application, it might be pretty lousy. The first problem is how to find tree rings.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t these all trees?¡± Leonardo pointed to the trees around him, not quite believing. Isn¡¯t it easy to see tree rings? Just cut down any tree, right? ¡°So you mean to tell me that every piece of the way, you¡¯ll have to cut down a tree to determine the direction? Although it¡¯s okay to do so if you¡¯re really lost, the cost is too high; it requires a lot of physical strength and time. Plus, you have to cut down big enough trees to ensure you can see clearly,¡± Bi Fang said bluntly. ¡°If you want to find naturally broken trees, that might be even more disappointing. Unless it¡¯s a commercial forest, in the true wilderness, ninety-nine percent of broken trees have rotted apart, without a complete cross-section, and the heart of the tree is almost always decayed, let alone seeing any rings.¡± Leonardo¡¯s tree ring suggestion was mercilessly passed, which made him feel quite discouraged. He realized he knew absolutely nothing about wilderness survival. Without a compass, or even sunshine, he could not figure out directions at all. As if reading Leonardo¡¯s thoughts, Bi Fang smiled, ¡°Actually, letting plants indicate direction is not a bad idea, as they generally tend to grow towards the sunlight.¡± ¡°Therefore, on the sun-facing side, the plants¡¯ flowers and most of the leaves tend to be more abundant. In the northern hemisphere, they face south, while in the southern hemisphere, they face north.¡± ¡°Additionally, moss growing on the trunk will be greener and more luxuriant on the side facing the sun, while the opposite side may turn yellow or brown.¡± ¡°For trees with branches, the foliage on the south side of the trunk will be denser as well.¡± Bi Fang kicked the moss on the nearby tree, and Leonardo squinted his eyes back and forth, noticing there seemed to be a difference in color? One side was clearly greener, while the other was a pale yellow. But when it comes to whether the leaves are abundant or not, that is hard to tell. No matter how Leonardo looked, he felt they all appeared the same, and he said, perplexed, ¡°Ordinary people can only look at the color of the moss. What if they¡¯re colorblind?¡± Bi Fang rolled his eyes, ¡°You really find problems. Hand over your watch!¡± Leonardo was startled but obediently took off his watch, ¡°Are you going to use the sun and the watch¡¯s hands to find direction? I know this too, but we can¡¯t see the sun, can we?¡± He pointed to the sky, the camera showing it. The dense leaves covered the entire sky, making it impossible to tell where the sun was. ¡°The sun isn¡¯t such an inconvenient thing!¡± Bi Fang flipped the watch, not understanding its value, and asked, ¡°Can I take it apart?¡± ¡°Feel free to dismantle it, I just use it to tell time,¡± Leonardo waved his hand. How could he possibly bring a valuable and meaningful watch to the jungle? If it got scratched, that would be a loss. Once given permission, Bi Fang did not hold back. He checked the watch cover, found it to be cheap street market goods, and pried it open with his fingernail, dumping all the internal parts out. Then, in his palm, he selected the longest second hand. Handing the remaining parts back to Leonardo, Bi Fang rubbed the second hand on his hair, tore off a piece of leaf, knelt beside the dark puddle, and then placed the second hand on top of the leaf, gently letting it into the water. The leaf entered the water, creating ripples, and finally, under the watchful eyes of a million people, it slowly turned, stopping at a certain angle. Looking back and forth, Bi Fang pointed in the direction of the needle, ¡°This is north and south.¡± Chapter 464: 461 It must be because of Lorenz! Chapter 464: Chapter 461 It must be because of Lorenz! ¡°How, how can you tell?¡± Leonardo watched in amazement as Bi Fang removed the second hand from the watch, rubbed it a few times on his hair, placed it on a leaf, and floated it on water, then pointed to the stationary direction that indicated north and south. What north and south? What¡¯s that? [I know, this is Lorenz¡¯s theorem!] [To the one mentioning Lorenz¡¯s theorem, I slowly type out a question mark.] [Isn¡¯t this magnetization? Didn¡¯t you go to school? It should work on the same principle as a compass, though it¡¯s temporary.] ¡°The principle is actually quite simple, it¡¯s the same as how a compass is made, though one is permanent and the other is temporary,¡± Bi Fang explained as he lifted the leaf out of the puddle, drained off the water, and reattached the second hand back onto the watch, securing the dial. ¡°Continuously rubbing a small piece of iron or a sewing needle in the same direction against silk or hair¡ªdid you play with the game in school where you rubbed a plastic ruler on your hair and then picked up bits of paper with it? It¡¯s the same principle; the iron wire will become magnetized and when suspended, it can point to the Arctic. This is akin to placing a bar magnet at the Earth¡¯s center, with the magnetic north pole near the geographic South Pole, and the magnetic south pole near the geographic North Pole. The magnetic poles and geographic poles don¡¯t coincide perfectly¡ªthere¡¯s a magnetic declination¡ªbut for determining direction, it is already completely sufficient. The magnetism this method creates won¡¯t be very strong, so after a while, you will need to rub it again to enhance its magnetism. If you have a battery with a voltage of 2 volts or more, using electicity, you can magnetize metal. You¡¯ll also need a short length of metal wire, preferably insulated on the outside.¡± [I know the game with the bits of paper, I used to play it a lot, dog¡¯s head.jpg] [No way, no way, there can¡¯t actually be people who¡¯ve never played with a plastic ruler to pick up paper scraps, right?] [But what if you don¡¯t have a watch? Not everyone can be expected to carry around a piece of iron wire, can they?] S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Leonardo raised the same concern. Indeed, what if one doesn¡¯t have a watch? Or what if it¡¯s a digital watch? Such methods do have their limitations. He wished to learn a more universal, more common method from Bi Fang. ¡°If you don¡¯t have a watch¡¯s second hand, you can also use a thin and flat razor blade as a substitute for direction indication because it¡¯s made by bonding two types of metal together. By carefully rubbing the blade in your palm, you can make it magnetic. Then, by suspending it, you can achieve the same effect.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t have any of these and you are genuinely lost, and you can¡¯t get through on your phone, then you can dismantle your phone, there will definitely be something in there you can use. I assume everyone carries a cell phone, right? Or a flashlight, any electronic device will do.¡± Just as Leonardo was about to ask, Bi Fang cut him off, ¡°Forget it, under what circumstances does a person end up without any equipment at all, unable to see plants, the sun, or even the terrain?¡± The audience smiled knowingly. ¡°Besides, sewing needles or paper clips are essentials for outdoor exploration, don¡¯t you have any?¡± Leonardo scratched his head, ¡°I¡¯ve brought a water bottle, flashlight, knife, water purification tablets, and a first aid kit, that¡¯s about it¡­ Is there something else?¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t bother to respond further; after all, the other party was an amateur, perhaps having prepared these items on a hunch, having water purification tablets already demonstrated a decent awareness for outdoor activities. ¡°Among the basic tools for wilderness survival, cutting tools are the most commonly used in critical situations.¡± ¡°Besides that, you also need a small knife, waterproof matches, candles, fishing line, various sizes of fish hooks, two small pieces of bait, wire for making traps, water purification tablets, a whistle, rope, paper clips or sewing needles, medical tape, adhesive bandages, dental floss (sturdy thread), a compass, tweezers, acetaminophen (pain reliever), and isopropyl alcohol.¡± ¡°Put all these items into a small container. This container can also serve as a small pot to boil water in an emergency. Seal it and keep it dry. Before each departure, make sure to put your wilderness survival kit in your backpack or clothing pocket.¡± [Got it, got it, I¡¯m placing the order now, will keep it in my bag for everyday carry.] [You don¡¯t think you¡¯ll ever need to use it, do you?] [What if I get lost in the forest someday, dog¡¯s head.jpg] [Other people go on expeditions with full gear, x, Master Fang goes on an adventure with just a pair of shorts, ¡Ì] This was the first time Bi Fang had ever spoken in so much detail in front of everyone about what to prepare for an expedition, and they all promptly took note. ¡°Basically, I have mentioned all methods of determining direction except for a few with very limited applicability. For instance, ant¡¯s nests always have a north-south orientation. You already have all you need,¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t dwell too much on this and continued on. While walking, he also said, ¡°Having a rough direction isn¡¯t enough. Many times, you could already be lost after a single turn because the surroundings are too similar. Therefore, before you advance any distance, you need to mark your path with some geographic feature along the way.¡± ¡°That is, you must find a geographic feature on the ground, like a tree, line it up with your direction of travel, and walk towards it, then repeat this process over and over until you reach your destination.¡± ¡°Ant¡¯s nests are oriented north-south?¡± Leonardo caught up quickly, asking incredulously. ¡°Yes, this is the structural intelligence of creatures. Both ants and termites build nests that are ¡®mound-shaped¡¯ or ¡®thin blade-shaped¡¯. And they are always oriented north-south with entrances facing south, so they can get sunlight in winter and avoid direct exposure in summer.¡± Leondardo¡¯s eyes revealed his shock, ¡°You know so much!¡± ¡°How could I dare to wander if I knew nothing? When you understand the purpose and names of every plant, the habits and vulnerabilities of every animal, the creation and use of every tool, the formation and trends of every terrain, then you won¡¯t be afraid of the wilderness.¡± ¡°Have you reached that level now?¡± ¡°Me? I¡¯m still far from it.¡± Bi Fang crossed the dense forest and stepped onto a rock, the sound of flowing water suddenly became loud. A stream no more than two or three meters wide appeared in front of everyone. Leonardo¡¯s face lit up with joy, his pale complexion regaining color¡ªhe had found it! He hastily approached the stream, scooping up the water. The source of the stream was unknown, but having filtered through rocks and silt, it showed no impurities and was crystal clear. However, learning from previous experiences, Leonardo did not dare drink it directly from his hands. He took out his canteen, filled it with water, and dropped in two water purification tablets. [Even though I¡¯ve said it many times, I still have to shout out right now, Master Fang is awesome!] [Indeed, impressive!] Every step was made with great care; if he said he would find a water source, he would surely find it. And if he said he could find a direction, he would certainly find it. How could such a person not inspire confidence? Chapter 465: 462: Reserve a Spot Chapter 465: Chapter 462: Reserve a Spot Chapter Two isn¡¯t ready yet, just marking a spot here Will revise before 1 a.m. How, how can you tell? Leonardo watched as Bi Fang removed the second hand from the watch, rubbed it a few times on his hair, and then floated it on a leaf in the water, pointing to the still direction, declaring that it was north-south. What north-south? What thing? [I know, this is the Lorenz theorem!] [The one talking about the Lorenz theorem, I leisurely type out a question mark.] [It¡¯s magnetization, isn¡¯t it? Didn¡¯t you attend school? It should be the same principle as a compass, but this is temporary.] ¡°The principle is actually very simple; it¡¯s the operating principle of a compass, but one is permanent, the other is temporary,¡± explained Bi Fang as he picked up the leaf from the puddle, dried it off, and then put the second hand back onto the watch, securing the dial. ¡°Repeatedly rubbing a piece of iron wire, or a sewing needle, in one direction against silk or hair, do any of you recall playing with a plastic ruler rubbed on hair to pick up paper scraps when you were in school? This is based on the same idea; the wire becomes magnetized and when suspended, it can point towards the Arctic. It¡¯s analogous to placing a magnet bar at the Earth¡¯s center, with the magnetic North Pole near the geographic South Pole, and the magnetic South Pole near the geographic North Pole. The magnetic poles don¡¯t coincide perfectly with the geographic poles, creating a magnetic declination, yet for discerning direction, it¡¯s already sufficient. The magnetism produced this way won¡¯t be very strong; after a while, you¡¯ll need to rub it again to enhance its magnetism. If you have a battery with a voltage of 2 volts or more, you could use electric current to magnetize the metal. You¡¯ll also need a short piece of wire, preferably coated with insulating material.¡± [I know the game with picking up paper scraps, I play with it often, Dog¡¯s head.jpg] [No way, no way, surely everyone has played with a plastic ruler to pick up paper scraps, right?] [But what if you don¡¯t have a watch? Not everyone carries around a piece of iron wire, right?] Leonardo raised the same suspicion. Indeed, what if there is no watch? Or what if it¡¯s a digital watch? This method still has its limitations. He wanted to learn a more universal, widespread method from Bi Fang. ¡°Without a watch¡¯s second hand, you could also use a thin, flat razor blade to indicate direction since it¡¯s composed of two kinds of metals bonded together. By carefully rubbing the blade on the palm of your hand, you can endow it with magnetism, then hang it to achieve the same effect.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t have any of these and you¡¯re truly lost, unable to make a phone call, then you can dismantle your cellphone; surely it must have what you need inside. I assume everyone always carries a cellphone, right? Or a flashlight, any electronic device should work.¡± Leonardo wanted to ask more, but Bi Fang immediately stopped him, ¡°Forget it, under what circumstances would a person have absolutely no equipment on them, be unable to see plants, the sun, or even the terrain?¡± The audience chuckled knowingly. ¡°Moreover, sewing needles or paper clips are essentials for outdoor exploration; do you really not have them?¡± Leonardo scratched his head, ¡°I brought a water bottle, flashlight, knife, water purification tablets, and a first aid kit, that¡¯s about it¡­ Anything else?¡± Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang couldn¡¯t be bothered to say much more; after all, the other party was just an amateur and probably prepared these items based on intuition. Having water purification tablets indicated a decent awareness of the outdoors. ¡°In the basic wilderness survival toolkit, cutting tools are the most frequently used in urgent situations.¡± ¡°Apart from that, you also need a small knife, waterproof matches, candles, fishing line, various types of fish hooks, two small bait items, iron wire for setting traps, water purification tablets, a whistle, rope, paper clips or sewing needles, medical tape, adhesive bandages (band-aids), dental floss (sturdy silk thread), a compass, tweezers, acetaminophen (pain reliever), and disinfectant alcohol.¡± ¡°Put all of these items into a small container. This container can also be used as a small pot to boil water in an emergency. Seal it and keep it dry. Make sure to pack your survival toolkit in your backpack or clothes pocket before setting off every time.¡± [Got it, got it, placing the order now, I¡¯ll keep it in the bag for future use.] [You don¡¯t actually think you¡¯ll have a chance to use it, do you?] [What if one day you get lost in the forest, huh? Dog¡¯s head.jpg] [Others go on expeditions with full gear, ¡Á, Master Fang goes exploring in just a pair of shorts, ¡Ì] This was the first time Bi Fang had spoken so thoroughly in front of everyone about what to prepare for an expedition, and they took note of everything immediately. ¡°Basically, I¡¯ve mentioned all methods for identifying direction, with the exception of a very few, which have very limited applicability, such as ant¡¯s nests always being oriented north-south; what I¡¯ve shared is more than enough.¡± Bi Fang did not dwell too much on this topic and continued forward. As he walked, he said, ¡°Having a rough direction is not enough. Many times, you might already be lost after turning around, because the surroundings are too similar. Therefore, before progressing any distance, you need to identify a geographical feature along the way to use as a marker.¡± ¡°This means you have to find a geographical feature on the ground, like a tree, make sure it aligns with the direction you¡¯re heading, and walk towards it. Then you repeat this process again and again until you reach your destination.¡± ¡°Ant¡¯s nests are always oriented north-south?¡± Leonardo caught up swiftly and asked incredulously. ¡°Yes, this is a testament to biological structural intelligence. Both ant and termite nests have a ¡®mound¡¯ or ¡®thin blade-shaped¡¯ structure, and they are definitely oriented north-south, with the entrance facing south. This way, they get sunlight during winter and avoid direct sunlight in summer.¡± Leonardo looked astonished: ¡°You know so much!¡± ¡°How can you even call yourself competent if you know nothing? Once you understand the purpose and name of every plant, the habits and vulnerabilities of every animal, how to make and use every tool, and the origins and trends of every terrain, you will no longer fear the wilderness.¡± ¡°Have you reached that level now?¡± ¡°Me? I¡¯ve still got a long way to go.¡± Bi Fang crossed through the dense forest and stepped onto a rock, the sound of running water suddenly grew louder. A stream no more than two to three meters wide appeared before everyone¡¯s eyes. Leonardo¡¯s face brightened with joy, his pale complexion regaining some color, they had really found it! He hurried to the stream, scooped up some water eagerly, the stream¡¯s origins unknown as it gathered flowing through rocks and sediment, with no visible impurities, clear and transparent. However, cautious from past experiences, Leonardo didn¡¯t dare drink it right away; he took out his water bottle, filled it, and dropped in a couple of water purification tablets. [Although it¡¯s been said many times before, I still have to shout out now, Master Fang is awesome!] [Truly awesome!] Every step is taken with utmost care; if he says he¡¯ll find a water source, he certainly finds it. If he says he¡¯ll find the direction, he definitely finds it. How could such a man not inspire confidence? Chapter 466: 463: Extreme Joy Turns to Sorrow Chapter 466: Chapter 463: Extreme Joy Turns to Sorrow In the gloomy jungle, two brown figures sat facing each other with a campfire burning between them, sending up wisps of white smoke. Bi Fang found two slender branches, folded the snake meat and threaded it through, propping it over the blazing fire. His face was ¡°scarlet red,¡± looking like an old farmer sunburnt under the sun. After peeling off the skin, the fresh meat with streaks of blood curled and shrank under the flames, oozing droplets of fat. Even without any seasoning, the wafting aroma of the meat was enough to make one¡¯s mouth water; Bi Fang could feel his stomach growling. Leonardo felt the same way, yet as he looked at the patterned snake skin, the temptation was mingled with waves of nausea and a sourness in his throat. These two completely opposite symptoms appeared at the same time, making him feel extremely uncomfortable. [Can we eat it now? It feels done.] [It seems quite good.] [Actually, it¡¯s so-so. Without seasoning and basting, wild game grilled like this would probably be as tough as shoe leather, unless it¡¯s not fully cooked.] [When you¡¯re hungry, everything tastes good, even a shoehorn would taste good.] [Indeed, I think that kind of dry, tough meat is the tastiest.] [Wait, isn¡¯t this burnt now?] While the audience was discussing, they saw that Bi Fang did not stop, but kept roasting. The surface of the snake meat was charred, yet he continued to roast it. Isn¡¯t this burnt? Is it still edible? [Hahaha, all the newcomers up there, right? It has to be burnt to ensure the parasites are killed!] [It¡¯s all protein, treated equally!] [Old Fang used to eat intermediary viper like this, it looked like charcoal too.] Bi Fang explained, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s for safety. The high temperature of an ordinary flame can kill almost all living things in the world, hence parasites are completely out of the question.¡± But just as the snake meat was gradually turning into charcoal, thus safe to eat, a huge figure was slowly approaching from a dark corner unnoticed by anyone. The thick scent of smoke, char, and cooked meat enveloped Bi Fang¡¯s nostrils, preventing him from detecting any anomalies. Large white hoofs tread on the rotten leaves, leaving deep prints, and only when stepping on a dry branch did the keen-sensed Bi Fang notice something was off. ¡°What was that noise?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Leonardo looked around in a daze, but did not spot anything unusual. Bi Fang looked up alertly, not daring to relax for a moment in the tropical rainforest. In the rainforest, anything goes, even tigers¡­ The conversation ceased, the charcoal crackled under the licks of flame, and the vast rainforest quickly fell silent except for distant bird calls that seemed almost inaudible. What¡¯s going on¡­ The previously warm atmosphere suddenly vanished, turning eerily serious, and the audience couldn¡¯t help but tense up. The once natural and harmonious bird calls now sounded like mournful screams. ¡°Crack!¡± Another sound of dry branches breaking¡ªit was completely different from the sound of bamboo charcoal bursting in flames. Something was really coming! Leonardo¡¯s breath hitched. His senses weren¡¯t as sharp as Bi Fang¡¯s, and his vigilance was much lower. He hadn¡¯t even heard the breaking of the dry branches just now and was still pondering whether to try a bite of the wild snake meat. But he was certainly not foolish; that sound was definitely not the noise of burning wood! The primitive rainforest is just too dangerous! It¡¯s been less than half a day since we arrived, and we¡¯ve already encountered so much! Thinking of the Bamboo Viper he had run into not long ago, Leonardo now felt another unidentified creature approaching. Instinctively, he thought to get up, but Bi Fang seemed to have anticipated his move, firmly grabbing his arm. Bi Fang¡¯s smile slowly vanished, and with an extremely serious expression, he warned in a low voice, ¡°Don¡¯t move! Don¡¯t move unless you¡¯re sure of the situation. If it¡¯s a tiger, the moment you move, it¡¯ll more likely target you!¡± A tiger? There are tigers too? The audience was somewhat stunned; if the bystanders were like this, then the person involved was even more so. Leonardo felt all color drain from his face, turning him deathly pale. Bi Fang held onto his arm, clearly feeling the other trembling, so he had no choice but to offer some simple words of comfort. At such a close distance, if it really were a carnivorous beast, it would definitely have already spotted them. Running away would only make the beast feel that they were scared and incite a bold attack. ¡°Don¡¯t panic, humans aren¡¯t on a tiger¡¯s menu. As long as we don¡¯t trigger its hunting instinct, listen to me, we should be fine. Even if it really is a tiger, we can get past this crisis!¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°The approacher is not hiding its sound, so it¡¯s unlikely to be a predator.¡± Bi Fang analyzed calmly. No predator would deliberately make such a noise; the hearing of forest animals is much more sensitive, so a real tiger would not behave like this. It¡¯s more likely to be a hoofed herbivore! Hearing these words, as if infected by Bi Fang¡¯s calm composure, Leonardo, who had been trembling all over, gradually recovered his senses. In a dangerous situation, a calm, collected, and strong person has a great power of influence. They can completely become a pillar of strength for those who are in utter panic. Besides, at this moment other than trusting Bi Fang, there was no other choice. If they really encountered an uncontrollable force, Leonardo believed that Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t just run off faster than him. Crack, crack. The sound of dry branches and leaves being trampled was getting closer, like the bell tolling for one¡¯s life. The approacher was not swift, and as the sound grew clearer, Bi Fang also determined the direction of the noise. Three cameras simultaneously aimed into the darkness. A huge shadow gradually became distinct, and the audience held their breath. [Holy shit, what the hell is that?] [So big!] [What demon or devil is this!] As the giant creature behind the bushes became clearer, Bi Fang¡¯s pupils shrank sharply, his body tensed as if struck by an electric current, frozen in place. Leonardo¡¯s forehead was slick with cold sweat, and seeing Bi Fang¡¯s state made him even more restless: ¡°What on earth is it?¡± He instinctively wanted to turn back to look but was pulled back by Bi Fang, who whispered furiously, ¡°Don¡¯t look back!¡± ¡°It¡¯s an ox!¡± ¡°An ox?¡± [An ox?] [Can we have it as an extra meal?] [What¡¯s there to fear from an ox?] In the camera¡¯s view, the vast silhouette of the animal became clearer. What appeared first was the highly raised and knotted muscles; the sparse light that fell upon those muscles made them seem like little hillocks! As the creature continued forward, everyone finally saw its full form. That was a gigantic dark buffalo with white ¡°socks¡± on the lower part of its limbs, and a pair of immensely thick white horns that emerged from its wide, pale crown. They stretched outward and then curved upwards, like a pair of huge bugles, filled with a bizarre sense of power. When the audience saw what kind of buffalo it was, they were shocked. ¡°Holy shit, is this a buffalo raised by Schwarzenegger?¡± ¡°Can wild ones even grow like this? Even steroids wouldn¡¯t be enough, right?¡± ¡°They¡¯re not running away?¡± ¡°Run, and die even faster, perhaps?¡± ¡°Looking at the style of this buffalo, did it come from Fist of the North Star?¡± ¡°This buffalo works out, I bet it spent at least ten months of the year in the gym!¡± Everyone was amazed at the size of the buffalo, those tendons and muscles, simply unimaginable to grow naturally. Initially, when they heard Bi Fang mention it was a buffalo, some people were relieved, recalling the docile old yellow bulls they had seen, until this moment, with those huge horns and muscles bulging out, everyone knew this big fellow was not to be provoked. To rush up would mean death! ¡°What on earth is it?¡± Leonardo was getting anxious. He had already made out that the thing was right behind him, but Bi Fang¡¯s warning made him dare not look back; his body hair stood on end, and he got goosebumps all over! Even his breathing turned erratic, thinking if he ever encountered a bear, would he react the same way? Shivering incessantly, as if on the brink of an abyss. They really should have gotten the director on the scene to film this segment; perhaps he could have won an Oscar for it. ¡°It¡¯s a Wild Baizhi Ox.¡± Bi Fang took a deep breath, feeling both tense and a bit relieved. Indeed, it was as he had guessed, a grass-eating hoofed animal. But still terrifying! The distance between them was less than fifteen meters! For the ox, it was just a short sprint; once it charged them, in a matter of seconds, both Bi Fang and Leonardo would lose their lives, easily killed by it. ¡°It¡¯s really a buffalo?¡± Leonardo was stunned, but unlike many domestic viewers, he felt more nervous! Domestic viewers generally perceived buffalo as hard-working, honest, and gentle¡ªfamily members who had accompanied the agricultural civilization for thousands of years. But to Leonardo, the impression was entirely different. All Leonardo could think about now was bullfighting! He had witnessed with his own eyes a matador being skewered by an enraged North African Bull! And then stomped into a bloody mush by massive hooves; it was a tragic accident where the fighter meant to subdue the wild bull stopped breathing within a few short seconds. Leonardo¡¯s voice trembled, ¡°The Wild Baizhi Ox compared to the North African Bull¡­¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t even worthy to carry its shoes.¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°The Wild Baizhi Ox is the world¡¯s largest buffalo, with a shoulder height that can exceed two meters, and a weight that can reach one and a half tons, while the North African Bull is only about half a ton.¡± Leonardo shuddered again, one and a half, half a ton¡­ wasn¡¯t that a threefold difference? Imagining the North African Bull enhanced threefold, his desire to look back grew even stronger; this unknown feeling could drive him mad! ¡°Careful, it¡¯s coming this way!¡± Bi Fang yanked Leonardo¡¯s arm fiercely and pulled him down to the ground. Lying on the ground, Leonardo finally caught a glimpse of what the so-called ¡°buffalo¡± looked like. With just one glance, he almost fainted. Is this really a buffalo? Bi Fang followed Leonardo, hunkering down close to the ground, and whispered, ¡°It might have been attracted by the snake meat.¡± Attracted by snake meat? ¡°Cows eat meat too?¡± Leonardo seemed to have heard something that shook his worldview; aren¡¯t cows herbivores? Is it really a cow from the same planet? The image of the colossal beast baring a row of even teeth and tearing a large chunk of flesh from his back made Leonardo nearly pass out. ¡°Yes,¡± Bi Fang affirmed confidently, but he didn¡¯t explain why. Instead, he took Leonardo¡¯s hand and began to retreat slowly, ¡°Can you crawl? Follow me and crawl backward.¡± ¡°As long as we don¡¯t make an aggressive move or show danger, wild oxen rarely attack animals smaller than themselves. You just need to stay low and slowly back away, and you can generally escape danger.¡± ¡°There have been experiments before where two teams lined up in a bullring and advanced. If they saw a bull charging, they would lie down, and the bull would stop. Both teams safely crossed the field like this.¡± ¡°Keep in mind, those were bulls from bullfights, genuine North African Bulls. Maybe they aren¡¯t as strong as the Wild Baizhi Ox, but they¡¯re definitely among the world¡¯s most aggressive cows.¡± As Bi Fang and Leonardo crawled backward, Bi Fang continued to explain in a low voice, never taking his eyes off the Wild Baizhi Ox. Though he spoke confidently, exceptions always existed, and he couldn¡¯t let down his guard. ¡°North African Bulls are naturally combative and fierce. Plus, with special training grounds responsible for bull breeding, selecting the most ferocious individuals, if they could get by unscathed, other bulls probably had a good chance of escape too.¡± ¡°No way? The matadors were all knocked down, but the wild oxen still didn¡¯t spare them.¡± Watching the growing distance from the Wild Baizhi Ox, which didn¡¯t show much sign of aggression, Leonardo relaxed a bit, but his hesitation grew with this new information. He had witnessed matadors violently dragged under and carpeted by bulls; why would the bull keep attacking? ¡°That¡¯s because the matadors have attracted aggro, you know, from playing video games? If you crouch and walk behind a monster, there¡¯s no problem, but if you slash it, it¡¯ll chase you for five hundred miles.¡± ¡°When you haven¡¯t provoked the wild ox, and as a creature shorter than it, it doesn¡¯t see you as a threat, so it doesn¡¯t attack. But if you¡¯ve already angered it, even if you bury your head in the ground, you can¡¯t shake off the aggro; it¡¯ll make sure to stab your backside thoroughly.¡± As they spoke, the two had crawled more than twenty meters. The wild ox had reached their original campfire, nosed the sand a bit, and the flame quickly went out. It rubbed against the snake meat and began to eat, seemingly ignoring the two large figures lying nearby. Feeling a preliminary sense of safety, Bi Fang, too, breathed a sigh of relief; that was too close. He reached back and touched his own back, all soaked in cold sweat, and the red mud he had put on earlier became sticky again. Crawling along the way, a faint red mark was visible. Bi Fang¡¯s nervousness had been so evident that even the viewers noticed it. [Even Old Fang can have a day when he is scared?] Bi Fang just smiled bitterly; how could he not be scared? ¡°In some countries, the habitat of the Wild Baizhi Ox overlaps with that of the Bengal Tiger, but the victim is often not the Wild Baizhi Ox but the Bengal Tiger. Because the horns of the Wild Baizhi Ox are extremely sharp and exceedingly hard, when they attack, even mighty tigers lose the battle, forced to hunt only the calves.¡± In the wild, this creature is like a Schwarzenegger among humans; it has virtually no natural predators, especially the adult male Wild Baizhi Ox, who can virtually ¡®walk sideways¡¯. The one in front of us is a typical male Wild Baizhi Ox.¡± Now temporarily out of danger, Bi Fang and Leonardo lay not far away, starting to ¡°size up¡± the situation. ¡°How do you know?¡± Leonardo was startled, lying flat on the ground trying to look up, but the light was too dim and they were too far away; he couldn¡¯t see anything. ¡°Because Wild Baizhi Oxen like to live in herds, forming groups, it¡¯s only the males that prefer to go solo and then look for a mate during the rut in November or December.¡± [With an ox that big, how long could you eat it?] ¡°That, I wouldn¡¯t dare; in our country, it¡¯s a top-level protected species.¡± Bi Fang chuckled at the barrage of comments, but the next second, he couldn¡¯t laugh anymore. A huge black centipede slowly climbed onto the webbing between his thumb and forefinger. Chapter 467: 464: Occupy a Slot Chapter 467: Chapter 464: Occupy a Slot I¡¯ve reserved a spot. I¡¯ll have it changed before half past midnight, if there¡¯s no update, just refresh the page. In the gloomy jungle, two brown figures sat facing each other with a campfire burning between them, sending up wisps of white smoke. Bi Fang found two slender branches, folded the snake meat over them, and propped it over the fierce flames. His face glowed ¡°blood-red¡±, resembling an old farmer sunburnt under the intense sun. After peeling off the snake skin, the fresh meat striped with blood shrank and curled under the flame¡¯s scorching heat, oozing traces of fat. Though devoid of any seasoning, the wafting aroma of meat was enough to whet one¡¯s appetite, and Bi Fang could feel his stomach grumbling with hunger. By his side, Leonardo felt the same temptation but viewing the snake¡¯s skin patterns also induced waves of nausea and a sour feeling in his throat. The onset of two completely opposite symptoms simultaneously made him extremely uncomfortable. ¡°Can we eat now? It seems fully cooked.¡± ¡°It feels pretty good.¡± ¡°Actually it¡¯s so-so, without any seasoning, and wild game grilled without oil feels as tough as leather, unless it¡¯s not fully cooked.¡± ¡°When you¡¯re hungry, everything tastes delicious, even shoe horns.¡± ¡°Indeed, I think the dry, tough meat flavor is the best.¡± ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t this burnt?¡± While the viewers were chatting away, they noticed that Bi Fang did not cease his cooking, but kept on grilling. The surface of the snake meat was charred, and he was still grilling. Isn¡¯t that burnt to a crisp? Can we still eat it? ¡°Hahaha, those of you who just joined don¡¯t know, do you? It has to be charred to ensure the parasites are killed!¡± ¡°It¡¯s all protein, treated equally!¡± ¡°When Old Fang ate the intermediary viper in the past, it was the same; it looked like it was grilled into carbon.¡± Bi Fang explained, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s to make eating it safer. The high temperature of normal flames can kill almost every living creature in the world, not to mention mere parasites.¡± But just as the snake meat turned into charcoal and was safe to eat, in a dark corner that no one had noticed, a huge figure was slowly approaching, lured by the scent. The thick aroma of the fire, the char-grilled fragrance, and the scent of meat entwined in Bi Fang¡¯s nostrils, leaving him oblivious to any anomaly. The massive white hooves stepped on the decaying leaves, leaving deep prints, and it wasn¡¯t until they trampled on a dry twig that the keenly alert Bi Fang sensed something odd. ¡°What was that noise?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Leonardo, bewildered, lifted his head to look around, but noticed nothing out of the ordinary. Bi Fang looked up cautiously, knowing that no slackening of vigilance was permissible in the tropical rainforest. In the rainforest, anything can be found, including tigers¡­ The conversation ceased, the charcoal crackled under the caress of fire tongues, and the vast rainforest quickly fell silent, with only the distant, faint chirping of birds remaining. What¡¯s happening¡­ The once lively atmosphere had vanished without a trace, turning eerily serious, causing the viewers to grow tense as well; even the naturally harmonious chirping of birds now seemed like shrill screams. ¡°Crack!¡± It was the sound of another dry twig breaking, entirely distinct from the sound of bamboo charcoal popping in the fire; something was really approaching! Leonardo¡¯s breath caught in his throat. Unlike Bi Fang, his senses were not as sharp and his vigilance was much poorer. He hadn¡¯t even heard the sound of the breaking twig just now and was still struggling with whether to try some wild snake meat. But he was definitely not foolish, the sound just now was certainly not the noise of burning wood! The primeval rainforest was too dangerous! They hadn¡¯t even been there for half a day and had already encountered so many things! Thinking back to the Bamboo Viper he had encountered not long ago, and now another unknown creature was approaching, Leonardo¡¯s instincts were to get up, but Bi Fang seemed to have anticipated his action and grabbed his arm firmly. Bi Fang¡¯s smile slowly faded, and he looked extremely serious as he hissed, ¡°Don¡¯t move! Don¡¯t move until we¡¯re clear about the situation! If it¡¯s a tiger, the more you move, the easier it becomes its target!¡± A tiger? There¡¯s a tiger too? The audience was somewhat bewildered; and if the onlookers felt this way, not to mention the parties involved. Leonardo¡¯s face turned pale instantaneously, utterly drained of color. Bi Fang held his arm, feeling the other trembling distinctly, and could only offer simple words of comfort. At such close range, if it truly was a carnivorous beast, it surely would have already spotted them. Running would only make the beast perceive their fear, prompting it to launch a bold attack. ¡°Don¡¯t panic. Humans aren¡¯t on a tiger¡¯s menu. As long as we don¡¯t trigger its hunting instinct, listen to me, we¡¯ll be mostly fine. Even if it is a tiger, we can get through this crisis!¡± ¡°The comer doesn¡¯t conceal its sound, so it¡¯s unlikely to be a predator,¡± Bi Fang analyzed calmly. No predator would intentionally make such a noise, as the animals in the forest have far too keen a sense of hearing. If it were truly a tiger, it wouldn¡¯t behave like this. It¡¯s more likely to be a herbivorous hoofed animal! Hearing this, as if affected by Bi Fang¡¯s calm composure, Leonardo, who was previously shivering all over, gradually regained his composure. In the face of danger, a calm, cool-headed, and strong person can have a great influence. They can make a panicking person see them as their pillar of strength. Moreover, at this point, aside from trusting Bi Fang, there was no other choice. If they really faced an insurmountable force, Leonardo also believed that Bi Fang would never do something like running away faster than him. Crack, crack. The sound of dry branches and leaves being trampled grew closer, like the tolling of a death knell. The pace of the comer wasn¡¯t fast, but as the sound became increasingly distinct, Bi Fang also determined its direction. Three cameras simultaneously aimed into the darkness. A huge shadow gradually became clear, and the audiences held their breath. ¡°Holy shit, what the hell is that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s huge!¡± ¡°Fiend, demon, devil!¡± As the enormous creature behind the bushes came gradually into focus, Bi Fang¡¯s pupils sharply contracted, his body stiffening as if hit by an electric shock, frozen in place. Leonardo¡¯s forehead was slick with cold sweat, and seeing Bi Fang¡¯s expression made him even more restless. ¡°What on earth is it?¡± He instinctively wanted to look back but was firmly pulled back by Bi Fang, who whispered harshly, ¡°Don¡¯t turn around!¡± ¡°It¡¯s an ox!¡± ¡°An ox?¡± ¡°An ox?¡± ¡°Can we have it as an extra meal?¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to be afraid of with an ox?¡± In the camera¡¯s view, the figure of the beast gradually became clear. First to be revealed were the high, bulging muscles, which under the scarce light looked like small hills! As the beast continued forward, everyone finally got a clear view of the whole creature. ¡°` It was a huge dark wild buffalo, with white ¡°short socks¡± on the lower parts of its legs, and a pair of thick white horns that grew from its wide, light-colored cornual ridge, first stretching outward then curving upward, resembling a pair of enormous horns, filled with a strange sense of power. When the audience saw what kind of bull it was, they were shocked. [Holy crap, is this bull raised by Schwarzenegger?] [Can the wild ones grow like this? Is this what they look like on steroids?] [You¡¯re not running away from that?] [Run, and you die even faster, right?] [Looking at the style of this bull, did it run out of Fist of the North Star?] [This bull works out, I bet. Out of a year, at least ten months were spent in a gym] Everyone was shocked by the size of the wild buffalo and its muscled flesh, it was simply impossible to imagine that it could grow naturally. Initially, when they heard Bi Fang say it was a bull, some people breathed a sigh of relief, thinking of the docile domestic cattle they had seen, until this moment, those enormous horns, the heavily muscled body, everyone knew that this big guy was not to be trifled with. Rush up to it, and you¡¯ll die! ¡°What the hell is it?¡± Leonardo was frantic; he had already heard that the creature was right behind him, but Bi Fang¡¯s warning had made him too scared to turn his head. Every hair on his body stood on end, and he was covered in goosebumps! Even his breathing became erratic as he wondered if this is how he would react if faced with a bear. The trembling was incessant, as if facing the abyss. He really should have had the director come to the scene and shoot this segment, maybe then he could actually win an Oscar. ¡°It¡¯s a Wild Baizhi Ox.¡± Bi Fang took a deep breath, and amidst the nervousness, there was also a hint of relief. As he had guessed, it was indeed a herbivorous hoofed animal. But still terrifying! The distance between the two was less than fifteen meters! For a bull, that was just a short sprint, and if it hit them, Bi Fang and Leonardo would lose their lives within seconds, not even enough for it to kill them properly. ¡°A real bull?¡± Leonardo was stunned, yet unlike many domestic viewers, he grew more nervous! Domestic viewers generally perceive bulls as hardworking, honest, straightforward, and docile; they are the companions of farming civilization that has existed for thousands of years. But for Leonardo, the image was completely different. Right now, all Leonardo could think about was bullfighting! He had seen a bullfighter gored into a skewer by a raging North African Bull! Stomped into a puddle of blood by its gigantic hooves, it was a tragic accident, where the fighter meant to subdue the wild bull stopped breathing in just a few seconds. Leonardo¡¯s voice trembled, ¡°How does the Wild Baizhi Ox compare with the North African Bull¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not even fit to carry its shoes.¡± Bi Fang shook his head. ¡°The Wild Baizhi Ox is the largest ox in the world, standing over two meters at the shoulder and weighing up to one and a half tons, but the North African Bull is only around half a ton.¡± Leonardo trembled again, one and a half, half a ton¡­ Isn¡¯t that a difference of three times? Imagining a three-times enhanced North African Bull, his urge to look back grew even stronger, and the uncertainty could drive him insane! ¡°Be careful, it¡¯s coming this way!¡± Bi Fang yanked Leonardo¡¯s arm and pulled him down to the ground. From his position on the ground, Leonardo finally caught a glimpse of what the ¡°bull¡± actually looked like with his peripheral vision. With just one look, he almost passed out. Is this damn thing a bull? Bi Fang then lay down next to Leonardo, whispering, ¡°It might be attracted to the snake meat.¡± ¡°` Attracted by snake meat? ¡°Cows eating meat?¡± Leonardo seemed to have heard something that shook his worldview; aren¡¯t cows herbivores? Is it really a cow from our planet? The thought of the behemoth before him opening a pair of neat teeth, tearing a large chunk of flesh from his back to chew, nearly caused Leonardo to faint. ¡°Eat!¡± Bi Fang was certain, but he did not explain why. Instead, he grabbed Leonardo¡¯s hand and began to retreat slowly, ¡°Can you crawl? Follow me and crawl back.¡± ¡°As long as you don¡¯t initiate an attack or show danger, wild oxen rarely attack animals smaller than themselves. If you just don¡¯t stand up and slowly back away, you can usually escape from danger.¡± ¡°In the past, someone conducted an experiment: two teams lined up in a bullfighting ring and moved forward. When they saw a bull charging, they lay down, and the bull would stop. Both teams made it across the arena safely that way.¡± ¡°You should know, those were bulls from bullfights, genuine North African Bulls. Perhaps they¡¯re not as strong as the Wild Baizhi Oxen, but they are definitely the most temperamental bulls in the world.¡± While crawling back, Bi Fang explained in a low voice, firmly keeping his eyes on the Wild Baizhi Ox. Although that was what he said, there were always exceptions, and they couldn¡¯t let down their guard. ¡°North African Bulls are inherently combative and fierce by nature. Plus, special breeding grounds that select and breed the most ferocious among them mean that even they could come out unscathed, other oxen too stand a good chance of escape.¡± ¡°No way? Those matadors all got knocked down, and still the ox didn¡¯t spare them.¡± Watching as they put more distance between themselves and the Wild Baizhi Ox, which hadn¡¯t shown much indication of attacking them, Leonardo relaxed a little, but was hesitant upon hearing this. He had personally seen matadors violently rubbed into the ground, practically turned into carpets. Why would the bull keep attacking then? ¡°That was because they drew its aggro. Ever played a game? If you squat and walk behind a monster, you¡¯ll be fine. But if you hit it once, it can chase you for eight hundred miles.¡± ¡°When you haven¡¯t provoked the wild ox, being smaller than it, it perceives you as no threat and so doesn¡¯t attack. But if you¡¯ve already angered it, even if you bury your head in the soil, you can¡¯t shake off that hatred. It will ruthlessly poke a hole in your behind.¡± As they spoke, the two of them had crawled over twenty meters away, while the wild ox reached the site of their original campfire, nudged the sand with its snout, and the flame was quickly extinguished. It rubbed against the snake meat and began to lick it, seemingly oblivious to the two large figures lying nearby on the ground. Feeling tentatively safe, Bi Fang also breathed a sigh of relief; that was too close. He reached back to touch his own back, all covered in cold sweat; the red mud he had applied was sticky once more. All along the path they crawled, a faint red mark could be seen. This showed just how tense Bi Fang had been, even the viewers could see that. [Old Fang was scared for once?] With a wry smile, Bi Fang thought, how could he not be afraid? ¡°In some countries, the habitats of Wild Baizhi Oxen overlap with those of Bengal Tigers, but it is often not the oxen that fall victim, but the tigers. Because the horns of Wild Baizhi Oxen are extremely sharp and also incredibly hard. When the Wild Baizhi Ox attacks, even the formidable tigers have to back down and settle for preying on the calves.¡± S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Out in the wild, this thing is like Schwarzenegger among humans; it has virtually no natural predators, especially a mature male Wild Baizhi Ox, which could ¡®walk sideways¡¯. The one we¡¯re dealing with right now is a typical male Baizhi Ox.¡± Now temporarily out of danger, Bi Fang and Leonardo lay not far away and began to ¡°judge and comment¡±. ¡°How do you know?¡± Leonardo said, surprised, trying to look up from the ground. But the light was too dim, and they were too far away, he couldn¡¯t see at all. ¡°Because Wild Baizhi Oxen like to live in herds, forming groups, only the males like to fight alone. Then, during the breeding season in November or December, they look for others of their kind.¡± [How long could we eat from such a big ox?] ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare; this guy is a class-protected animal in our country.¡± Bi Fang smiled at the barrage of comments, but the next second he could no longer smile. A huge black centipede was slowly crawling onto the back of his hand. Bi Fang: ¡°¡­¡± Chapter 468: 465 Fishy Grass Chapter 468: Chapter 465 Fishy Grass The mighty and fierce Wild Baizhi Ox departed. After waiting momentarily for it to be completely out of sight, Bi Fang rushed forward without worrying about the burning heat, pressing the still-smoking charcoal ash onto the wound. Grass and wood ash is, after all, a byproduct of burning and has been sterilized by high temperatures, so there is naturally no need to worry about infection; in fact, rinsing with clean water carries a certain risk. When the black charcoal dust met the swollen wound, Bi Fang felt as if he had plunged into cold water after running a 10,000-meter race, the soreness instantly subsided. The previously unbearable pain in the wound became manageable, similar to the feeling of a common burn. Getting bitten by a large centipede typically results in hours of intense pain, with the pain slowly spreading to the surrounding area, torso, or chest. Fortunately, Bi Fang acted promptly and decisively cut open the wound, squeezing out most of the poison that had not yet spread. Another person would not have been able to make such a decisive decision. As he spread the black charcoal ash over the wound, Bi Fang explained, ¡°The toxicity of many poisonous insects is acidic, like certain ants, centipedes, spiders, and bees, with only a few being alkaline, such as wasps, which are weakly alkaline. So in most cases, grass and wood ash are used, at the very least to alleviate your pain.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s not in the wilderness but at home, then soap water or alcohol can be used to clean the wound, followed by some heat-clearing and detoxifying herbs to treat it.¡± [Wait a minute, centipede venom is acidic and wasp venom is weakly alkaline. Do I have a bold idea?] [Isn¡¯t fighting poison with poison exactly like this? Dog¡¯s head.jpg] [Kennedy making sports cars, what an imagination!] ¡°That won¡¯t work, fighting poison with poison is just a figment of novelists¡¯ imaginations.¡± Bi Fang joked, his pain having subsided considerably, but the soreness in his wound still made the corners of his eyes twitch. ¡°Seems like I¡¯ve gotten into a bit of unwarranted trouble now. Not only did I lose the lunch that was within grasp, but I also got injured for no good reason.¡± After applying the ash on his wound, Bi Fang shook his hand, his voice tinged with complaint, yet he wasn¡¯t too disheartened. The snake meat that was originally there had been completely eaten by the Wild Baizhi Ox, leaving nothing behind, not even the branches used to skewer the snake meat. ¡°The cooked duck has flown away; now, I¡¯ll have to find something else to replace it.¡± Bi Fang wrapped the centipede¡¯s body in leaves and moved next to the fire that had been lit. Even now, the body of the centipede had not stopped twitching, a characteristic shared by all arthropods. ¡°The nervous system of a centipede is similar to that of an earthworm, belonging to a chain-like nervous system, so it can continue to struggle even when chopped into two. I simply removed its head, and look, its abdomen is filled with many small centipedes.¡± Following Bi Fang¡¯s gesturing, the mass of white maggots startled Leonardo, who, having been at a distance with dim lighting, had not seen as clearly as the audience thousands of miles away. Despite the adult centipede being dead, these newly-born little centipedes appeared oblivious, having not yet managed to flee, or perhaps being too young to escape. ¡°Without snake meat, I¡¯ll have to eat this.¡± Bi Fang chuckled coldly, picked up some charcoal from nearby, relit the fire, and shook all the tiny centipedes onto the leaves. Even though his left hand was in pain, he could endure it and still do some work without a problem. However, upon hearing Bi Fang say he was going to eat the centipede, Leonardo stammered, ¡°Wai-wait, can, can this thing be eaten?¡± If it were snake meat, Leonardo could understand, but eating centipedes was beyond his acceptance. Is this something people can eat? Isn¡¯t it incredibly disgusting? [Hahaha, we still have grilled centipedes at our night markets here.] [With so many bug dishes, Little Leo might go crazy.] Bi Fang smiled and turned the centipede with a stick, ¡°Centipedes are really nutritious and can be used in medicine. In many countries, centipede snacks are quite famous. Did we not stroll through the night market a couple of days ago? Did you not see?¡± Hearing Bi Fang say this, Leonardo also remembered. It seemed there was such a thing, but night markets are clearly only at night, and he did not look closely at the time. He thought they were some kind of slender meat skewers, but now that he thought about it, didn¡¯t they resemble centipedes? Is eating this a misunderstanding? Is there nothing else to eat? ¡°Not at all, it¡¯s not due to a lack of food, but rather because centipedes are delicious. They¡¯re crisp and tasty and rich in protein. Chewing raw centipedes is dangerous, as the venom can enter the bloodstream via the upper digestive tract, and the amount is much more than if you are just stung. It¡¯s best to deep fry them. If grilled, there may be a burnt taste, but we don¡¯t have the means to deep fry.¡± While waiting for the barbecue, Bi Fang also took a stick to the spot where he had not been bitten by a centipede, walking back and forth, occasionally prodding with the stick in his hand. ¡°Centipedes have a gregarious nature, are easily startled, and like residing in dark, moist places. We can look for its peers, try to catch more. After all, one is not enough for two people to eat.¡± ¡°Wait, not two people. Just you.¡± Leonardo quickly shook his head, emphasizing repeatedly his aversion to these disgusting creatures. ¡°You¡¯re not even going to try?¡± Bi Fang stood up, holding out the stick, and skewered a centipede he had just dug out, which writhed continuously on the stick. Thinking about swallowing that creature made Leonardo gag. ¡°Hahaha.¡± Bi Fang laughed, not minding, and brought back the two centipedes he just caught. If he was any later, the one that had started cooking might have been charred. The two newly caught ones were also fat and looked good. Many viewers couldn¡¯t accept it just like Leonardo. [It feels too disgusting.] [I¡¯ve tried it, it¡¯s not bad. It doesn¡¯t really have a taste, just a pure crunchy sound!] [I just can¡¯t accept it, I feel a bit sick watching it.] [Come on, if you were in a rainforest and had been hungry for two days, not to mention centipedes, you could eat three big bowls of cow dung.] [Ah, this¡­] ¡°In the tropical rainforest, if there¡¯s no food around, catching insects is also a good method, and we can even dig a pit to trap them. In places where centipedes frequently move, choose a shady and damp spot in the wild before early spring to dig a ¡®plus¡¯ shaped pit. The pit should be one to two meters long, about a half-meter wide, and deeper than the length of a hand, filled with bird droppings and some decaying grass. Cover it with branches, soil chunks, or roof tiles to lure the centipedes into the cracks. Check the next morning, and if there are centipedes in the pit, you can catch them.¡± Bi Fang threw the two newly caught centipedes into the fire pit, then took out the centipede that was just roasted, broke it in two, and put one piece directly into his mouth to chew. The clear crunching sound rose, and a faint bitterness mingled with the unique fragrance of roasted arthropods wafted out. Leonardo sniffed lightly and unexpectedly found the scent not too bad. ¡°Try a bit.¡± Bi Fang licked his lips and passed the other half toward Leonardo. ¡°No, thanks.¡± Bi Fang insisted, offering it again, ¡°Try a bit.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t lose a piece of flesh, give it a try.¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Leonardo originally wanted to refuse again, but he couldn¡¯t hesitate any longer as the centipede nearly touched his face, so he reluctantly took it. Looking at the curled-up half of the centipede in his hand, which was nearly as long as half of his palm and very thick, he looked up at Bi Fang to find him holding a leaf, pouring a freshly roasted pile of small centipedes directly into his mouth, chewing vigorously. ¡°Hmm, the small centipedes taste better, there¡¯s no salt, but they¡¯re sour, probably because the venom is acidic, similar to ants, with a bursting flavor.¡± [How does Old Fang manage to eat this so deliciously¡­] [I saw Hong Qigong pull out a small knife, chop off the head and tail of the centipede, gently squeeze, and the shell fell off easily, revealing the meat, which was white and translucent like a large shrimp, quite appealing. Yang Guo thought to himself, ¡°With such preparation, perhaps it¡¯s actually edible.¡±] [Damn, I¡¯ve also read this part!] [Tasty, but lacks flavor] [Still can¡¯t accept it.] [What do ants taste like?] [Just very sour, and there are canned ones sold online, claiming to be for health purposes. I feel ants taste even sourer than damn lemons, don¡¯t just trust Old Fang¡¯s taste] [If Master Fang says something is delicious, it¡¯s not necessarily true, but if he says it¡¯s bad, then it¡¯s definitely inedible.] [Master Fang really is, emmm, exceptionally experienced] Viewers in the live stream come from all over the world, and not a few have tasted centipedes. After hesitating, Leonardo still stuffed the half centipede into his mouth; as soon as he did, a faint bitterness spread in his mouth. It was the charred shell. With a light press of his tongue, the crispy shell shattered, revealing the softer meat inside, which was still dry. When his teeth bit into it, a mild sour taste came out, mixed with the flavor of protein, like burnt feathers. The taste? It definitely wasn¡¯t great, but it wasn¡¯t too disgusting either. Surprisingly, it¡¯s not bad? Leonardo was somewhat astonished, aside from the off-putting appearance, everything else was completely different from what he expected. ¡°How does it feel?¡± S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Not bad, I¡¯ve never eaten this before.¡± ¡°Hey, if you really get lost in the rainforest, centipedes are actually a good source of food. If you can¡¯t even find centipedes, you might have to resort to earthworms or even more disgusting things.¡± By this time, the remaining two big centipedes were also roasted, but they were not as big as the first one, and Bi Fang finished them in two bites, with much less meat. After finishing eating and cleaning up, Bi Fang continued to lead Leonardo along the riverbank. ¡°Because it¡¯s about survival, not just staying alive, I was supposed to find a good place to start setting up a campsite several hundred meters away from the river, but because I just got bitten by a centipede, I now have to find some herbs for topical application.¡± ¡°If bitten by a centipede, you can use Fishy Grass or dandelion crushed for external application, these two traditional Chinese herbs are both heat-clearing and detoxifying, and can usually be found where weeds grow.¡± ¡°Dandelion?¡± Leonardo didn¡¯t know what Fishy Grass was, but he was very familiar with dandelions; they could be found every spring, summer, and autumn, blown away in large clumps by the wind, ¡°Dandelions have this effect, too?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Bi Fang nodded, ¡°Dandelions can also be used medicinally and are quite common in Chinese medicine, clearing heat and detoxifying, useful for colds and fevers.¡± ¡°I know this!¡± Leonardo said, surprisingly familiar with traditional Chinese medicine. Bi Fang raised an eyebrow but didn¡¯t seem surprised. Strangely enough, these days foreigners seem to be more into traditional Chinese medicine than locals. I can¡¯t remember which report I saw, but it¡¯s said that over 60% of Europeans use traditional medicines, and Europe accounts for 44.5% of the global herbal medicine market share. Many countries have even included traditional Chinese medicine into their healthcare systems quite early on. This phenomenon left Bi Fang at a loss for words. Looking around, Leonardo noticed a peculiar phenomenon: ¡°Since arriving just now, it seems I haven¡¯t seen any dandelions?¡± Hmm? The audience was equally startled upon hearing this, realizing indeed that there were no dandelions in sight within the camera¡¯s frame. That¡¯s not right, is it? It¡¯s June; shouldn¡¯t they be everywhere? Bi Fang shook his head: ¡°Although dandelions are widespread, nearly all over the world, they are indeed not found in the rainforest.¡± ¡°If you look at the dandelion¡¯s method of seed dispersion, you¡¯ll understand. Dandelions usually grow in relatively open, windy areas. They¡¯re commonly found on hillsides, beside water bodies, and in open grasslands. Plus, the dandelion is just a delicate herbaceous plant. The vegetation in tropical rainforests is dense, there¡¯s little wind; tall plants heavily shade the area, lacking sunlight; and the rainfall is both copious and irregular. So, dandelions don¡¯t really distribute in tropical rainforests. Therefore, my target is not the dandelion but Fishy Grass.¡± ¡°Fishy Grass might be familiar to many. It¡¯s also called Fish Mint, and while some people love it dearly, others can¡¯t stomach their food at the mere whiff of it.¡± Just hearing Fish Mint¡¯s names in traditional medicine¡ªsuch as dog-fly grass, stinky vegetable, stinky pig nest¡ªgives you an idea of its aroma. Bi Fang was searching for it, partly to find the herb for further treatment and partly for food gathering. [Let¡¯s not even talk about it, I¡¯m starting to feel nauseous.] [I¡¯m from the Northeast, went to school in Guizhou; ever since a roommate invited me to try it once, I¡¯ve never wanted to eat it a second time ¡ª plain fishy taste, and it¡¯s the kind that emerges when a fish dies.] ¡°Exactly, for some people, this fishy smell not only fills their mouth and nose but also irritates the eyes, achieving a trifecta assault on taste, smell, and vision.¡± Bi Fang nodded: ¡°But this is actually an allergic reaction, and the severity varies, mainly because of an allergy to something in Fish Mint called fishy grass essence.¡± Fishy grass essence might not only make food unpalatable for some people, but it may also cause direct allergies. Those with mild allergies might feel like they¡¯re just chewing on traditional medicine with no other significant sensation. But those with severe allergies will first lose all appetite, and those who are seriously uncomfortable might experience symptoms such as nausea, disgust, and dry heaving. ¡°Fishy Grass grows in rather damp areas and spreads widely. It¡¯s often found near lakes and rivers, by soggy roadside patches, in the wild, or in the humid places of mountains. It¡¯s widely distributed in the wild. If we¡¯re patient, we shouldn¡¯t have trouble finding it. The best bet would be downstream, where the likelihood is higher, because the water tends to be slower there.¡± Bi Fang was very focused, leading Leonardo around the riverbank in search. Fishy Grass in the rainforest was as common as reeds by the river, very easy to come by. Therefore, persistent efforts paid off, and in less than half an hour, Bi Fang had his reward. In a waterlogged corner, a spread of green ¡°water grass¡± wound its way through. Chapter 469: 466 Chapter 469: 466 ¡°` Not yet finished, will edit before dawn. The powerful and fierce Wild Baizhi Ox left, and after waiting for a moment for it to be completely gone, Bi Fang rushed forward without caring about the heat, pressing the still smoking charcoal ash onto the wound. Plant ash is indeed a product of combustion and has been sterilized by high temperatures, so there is no need to worry about infection. Using clean water to rinse might pose a certain risk. The black charcoal ash fell on the swollen wound, and Bi Fang only felt as if he had plunged into cold water after running a 10,000-meter race, the soreness immediately dissipated. The once unbearable pain of the wound became tolerable, akin to the feeling of a regular burn injury. Being bitten by a large centipede usually causes hours of severe pain, and the pain tends to spread slowly to the surrounding area, torso, or chest. Luckily, Bi Fang had acted promptly, decisively cutting open the wound and squeezing out most of the venom before it could spread. Another person surely couldn¡¯t have been so decisive. As he rubbed the black charcoal ash into the wound, Bi Fang explained, ¡°The venom of many poisonous insects is acidic, like certain ants, centipedes, spiders, bees, with only a few being alkaline, like hornets, which are weakly alkaline. Hence, in most cases, plant ash is used, at least it can relieve your pain.¡± ¡°If we weren¡¯t in the wilderness but at home, we could use soapy water, alcohol to wash the wound, and then some herbs that clear heat and detoxify to clean the wound.¡± [Wait, centipede venom is acidic, and hornet is weakly alkaline, do I have a bold idea?] [Using poison to fight poison, isn¡¯t that how it goes? Dog¡¯s head.jpg] [Kennedy made a sports car, what a flight of fancy!] ¡°That won¡¯t do, using poison to fight poison is just fiction.¡± With much of the pain gone, Bi Fang was also in the mood to joke, but the pain in the wound still made him twitch the corner of his eye. ¡°What a misadventure this has been, not only did my lunch fly away, but I also got injured for no reason.¡± Bi Fang shook off his hand after applying the plant ash on his wound, a tone of complaint in his voice, but not too downhearted. What was once snake meat was now completely devoured by the Wild Baizhi Ox, leaving nothing behind, not even the twig used to skewer the snake meat. ¡°Since the cooked duck has flown away, we¡¯ll have to find something else.¡± Bi Fang wrapped the corpse of the centipede in leaves and approached the fire. The body of the centipede was still twitching, a trait common to all arthropods. ¡°The nervous system of a centipede is similar to that of an earthworm, being a chain-like nervous system, so even if it¡¯s chopped into two pieces, it can still struggle incessantly. I just crushed its head, and as you can see, there are many little centipedes in its belly.¡± Following Bi Fang¡¯s pointing finger, the densely packed white larvae startled Leonardo, who was previously too far away and in dim light to see them as clearly as the viewers thousands of miles away. Even though the large centipede was dead, these newly born little centipedes hadn¡¯t yet realized what had happened; they hadn¡¯t had the chance to escape or, being too young, couldn¡¯t manage to. ¡°Having lost the snake meat, we¡¯ll have to eat this.¡± Bi Fang sneered, picked up some charcoal, rekindled the fire, and shook all the little centipedes onto the leaves. Even with his left hand in pain, enduring it was manageable to do some work. But when Bi Fang suggested eating the centipedes, Leonardo stuttered, saying hesitantly, ¡°Wait, wait a minute, can, can this be eaten?¡± If snake meat was something Leonardo could understand, eating centipedes was beyond his acceptance. Can people eat this? Isn¡¯t that just disgusting? [Hahaha, we still have grilled centipedes in our night market here] [With so many insect dishes, Little Leo is going to lose his mind] ¡°` Bi Fang smiled and used a branch to flip the centipede over, ¡°Centipedes are a great tonic and can be used in medicine. In many countries, centipede snacks are very famous. Didn¡¯t we go to the night market the other day? Didn¡¯t you see?¡± Reminded by Bi Fang, Leonardo also remembered. It seemed there had been something like that, but night markets were clearly a nighttime thing. He hadn¡¯t looked closely and thought they were some slender meat skewers. Now that he thought about it, did they look like centipedes? Could there be some misunderstanding in treating these as food? Was there nothing else to eat? ¡°Not at all, it¡¯s not that there¡¯s nothing else to eat, but rather because centipedes are delicious that people eat them, they are crispy and refreshing, and also rich in protein. Raw chewing of centipedes is very dangerous, as the venom might enter the bloodstream in the upper digestive tract, and the quantity would be much more than a quick sting. Frying in oil is best; if they¡¯re roasted, there might be a burnt taste, but we don¡¯t have the means to fry them.¡± Taking advantage of the time it took to barbecue, Bi Fang also took a stick to the spot where the centipede hadn¡¯t bitten him, walking back and forth, occasionally prodding with the stick in his hand. ¡°Centipedes are gregarious by nature, easily frightened, and prefer to reside in dark and damp places. We can look for its kindred, try to catch more, because one is certainly not enough for two people to eat.¡± ¡°Wait, not two people, just you.¡± Leonardo quickly shook his head, emphasizing repeatedly that he really didn¡¯t have an appetite for these disgusting creatures. ¡°You¡¯re not even going to try it?¡± Bi Fang stood up straight, holding the stick upright, and skewered the newly dug up centipede, which wriggled incessantly on the stick. Just the thought of swallowing that creature made Leonardo retch. ¡°Hahaha,¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t pay him any mind, taking the two freshly caught centipedes back with him, lest the one that started grilling earlier get burnt. The newly caught pair looked decently plump as well. However, many viewers, like Leonardo, simply couldn¡¯t accept it. [That¡¯s so disgusting.] [I¡¯ve tried it, and it wasn¡¯t bad, tasteless, just plain crispy!] [No way I could handle that, just looking at it makes me uncomfortable.] [Come on, if you were in the rainforest, starving for two days, you wouldn¡¯t just eat centipedes, you could eat three big bowls of cow dung.] [Uh¡­] ¡°In the tropical rainforest, if you have no food to eat, catching insects is also a good method, and we could even dig traps for them. At places where centipedes frequent, choose damp areas in the mountains during early spring to dig a ¡®T¡¯-shaped pit. The pit should be one to two meters in length, about half a meter wide, and deeper than the length of a palm. Inside, place bird droppings and some decaying grass, then cover it with branches, clumps of earth, or tile pieces, luring centipedes to crawl into the crevices. The next morning, check the pit. If there are centipedes, you can capture them.¡± Bi Fang placed the two newly caught centipedes into the fire pit and then took the one that had just finished roasting, broke it in two, and popped one half into his mouth to chew. The crisp chewing sound arose, and a faint bitter taste mingled with the unique fragrance that came after roasting arthropods. Leonardo took a light sniff and was surprised to find the smell rather pleasant. ¡°Try it,¡± Bi Fang licked his lips and handed the other half to Leonardo. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°No thanks.¡± Bi Fang persisted, ¡°Try it,¡± ¡°You won¡¯t lose a piece of flesh, just give it a try.¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Leonardo had intended to refuse again, but the centipede was almost touching his face. After much hesitation, he still reached out and took it. Looking at the curled half of the centipede in his hand, nearly as long as half of his palm and very thick, he looked up at Bi Fang and saw him holding a leaf, pouring a whole bunch of freshly roasted tiny centipedes directly into his mouth, chewing with relish. ¡°Hmm, the small centipedes are a bit more fragrant, no salt, but they have a sour taste when eaten, probably because the venom is acidic,¡± he mused. ¡°It¡¯s somewhat similar to ants, with a bursting texture.¡± [How does Old Fang manage to eat these so deliciously¡­] [I¡¯ve seen Hong Qigong extract a small knife, chop off the head and tail of the centipede, gently squeeze, and the shell falls off to reveal the meat inside, white and translucent like prawns, very elegant. Yang Guo thought: ¡°With this method, it might indeed be edible.¡±] [Holy crap, I¡¯ve seen this part too!] [Tasty, just lacks flavor] [Still can¡¯t accept it.] [What do ants taste like?] [Anyway, it¡¯s very sour, you can buy it online, a big can, supposedly for health benefits. I think ants taste even sourer than damn lemons, don¡¯t just trust Old Fang¡¯s taste] [Master Fang says if it¡¯s tasty it might not necessarily be, but if he says it¡¯s not tasty, then it¡¯s definitely inedible.] [Master Fang really is, emmm, well-informed and experienced] The viewers in the live stream came from all over the world, and many had tasted centipedes before. After much hesitation, Leonardo stuffed the half centipede into his mouth, and a faint bitterness began to spread in his mouth immediately. It was the charred exterior shell. With a gentle press of the tongue, the crispy shell crumbled, revealing the softer flesh inside, which was still dry. When his teeth bit through, what was exposed was a faintly sour and astringent taste, characteristic of protein, like burnt feathers. The taste? It definitely wasn¡¯t very good, but it wasn¡¯t too disgusting either. Was it actually not bad? Leonardo was somewhat surprised. Apart from its off-putting exterior, everything else was completely different from what he had thought. ¡°How does it feel?¡± ¡°Not bad, I¡¯ve never eaten this before.¡± ¡°Hey, if you really get lost in the rainforest, centipedes are actually a decent source of food. If you can¡¯t even find centipedes, then you¡¯d have to eat earthworms or other even more disgusting things.¡± By this time, the remaining two large centipedes were also roasted, though they were not as big as the first one. Bi Fang finished them in two bites, and there wasn¡¯t much meat on them. After finishing eating and cleaning up, Bi Fang once again took Leonardo to hike along the river. ¡°Because it¡¯s survival, not life-saving, I should be looking for a good place to start building a camp, hundreds of meters away from the river is a good choice. But because I just got bitten by a centipede, I now have to look for some herbs that can be applied externally.¡± ¡°If bitten by a centipede, you can use Fishy Grass or dandelion crushed and applied externally. Both of these traditional Chinese herbs clear heat and detoxify, usually found where weeds grow.¡± ¡°Dandelion?¡± Leonardo didn¡¯t know what Fishy Grass was, but he was very familiar with dandelions, which appear every spring, summer, and autumn, blowing away in large swathes, ¡°Do dandelions also have this effect?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Bi Fang nodded. ¡°In fact, dandelions can also be used in medicine and are a very common traditional Chinese medicine, clearing heat and detoxifying, useful for colds and fevers.¡± ¡°I know this!¡± Leonardo was unexpectedly familiar with traditional Chinese medicine. Bi Fang raised an eyebrow but didn¡¯t seem surprised. Strangely enough, these days foreigners seem to be more into traditional Chinese medicine than the locals. I can¡¯t remember where I read the report, but apparently, over 60% of Europeans use traditional medicines, and Europe accounts for 44.5% of the global herbal medicine market share. Many countries have even incorporated traditional Chinese medicine into their healthcare systems quite early on. This phenomenon left Bi Fang at a loss for words. Looking around, Leonardo noticed a strange phenomenon, ¡°I haven¡¯t seen a dandelion since we got here, have I?¡± Huh? The audience was similarly taken aback upon hearing this, scrutinizing the images on their screens, which indeed seemed to lack any dandelions. That¡¯s not right, isn¡¯t it June? Shouldn¡¯t there be dandelions everywhere? Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°Although dandelions are widespread and found almost all over the world, they actually do not grow in rainforests.¡± ¡°If you look at how dandelions spread their seeds, you¡¯ll understand. They tend to grow in relatively open, windy areas. They are commonly found on slopes, by the water, and other open grasslands. Moreover, the dandelion is just a delicate herbaceous plant. The vegetation is dense in tropical rainforests, with little wind; tall plants block out much of the sunlight; and rainfall is frequent and irregular. Therefore, dandelions basically do not have a presence in tropical rainforests. That¡¯s why my target isn¡¯t the dandelion, it¡¯s Fishy Grass.¡± ¡°Fishy Grass might be familiar to many of you, it has another name called Fish Mint, and while it¡¯s deeply loved by some, others can¡¯t stand its smell and lose their appetite.¡± Just by hearing Fish Mint mentioned as part of Chinese medicine, with names like dog fly grass, stinky vegetable, and pig¡¯s nest, you can imagine the smell. Bi Fang was searching for it both as a medicinal herb for further treatment and also for food collection. [Let¡¯s not talk about it, I¡¯m getting nauseous just thinking about it.] [I¡¯m from the Northeast, studied in Guizhou, and after my roommate treated me to it once, I never wanted to eat it again. It¡¯s just a pure fishy smell, like that of a dead fish.] ¡°That¡¯s right, for some people, this fishy smell not only fills your mouth and nose but stings your eyes, delivering a triple assault on your taste, smell, and sight,¡± he said. Bi Fang nodded, ¡°But this is actually an allergic reaction, and the severity varies. It¡¯s mainly an allergy to a substance in Fish Mint called fishy grass element.¡± Fishy grass element can make certain people not only find it distasteful but also cause direct allergic reactions. For those with a mild allergy, they might feel like they are just chewing on medicinal herbs with no other significant sensation. But for those with a severe allergy, they would have no appetite at all, and the severely discomforted may experience nausea, vomiting, and retching. ¡°Fishy Grass grows in damp places and spreads over large areas. It¡¯s often found beside lakes, rivers, waterlogged roadsides, fields, or damp areas in mountains. It¡¯s widely spread in the wild, so if we¡¯re patient, we should have no trouble finding it. It¡¯s best to search downstream, as there¡¯s a higher chance of encountering slower-flowing sections of the stream,¡± he explained. Bi Fang had a definite purpose, leading Leonardo along the riverbank in their search. In the rainforest, finding Fishy Grass was much like finding reeds by the riverbank¡ªquite easy. Thus, perseverance paid off. In less than half an hour, Bi Fang had succeeded. In a puddle around the corner, spread a green ¡°water grass.¡± Chapter 470: 467: Alone Chapter 470: Chapter 467: Alone From choosing the campsite to constructing the shelter, it didn¡¯t take very long. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Since lunch was eaten relatively late and there had been an incident in between, by the time a simple dwelling had been set up, it was already five-thirty in the afternoon. In the somewhat open campsite, Leonardo was making his final farewell to the audience. He didn¡¯t plan to stay over for camping, and had called for a helicopter ten minutes earlier. ¡°Wilderness Survivalist is much harder than I thought. The moment the Wild Baizhi Ox appeared, I was soaked in cold sweat,¡± shouted Leonardo over the loud noise of the helicopter rotors as it hovered above the trees. He still felt shaken by the incident that had happened at noon, but then he burst out laughing, ¡°But it¡¯s also much more interesting than I imagined. I hope to see you again next time!¡± ¡°You will!¡± Bi Fang waved, watching as Leonardo grabbed the rope ladder and climbed into the helicopter, disappearing into the jungle. What followed was the fading sound of the rotors. ¡°Phew, he¡¯s finally gone. Taking someone along is much more tiring than I thought,¡± Old Fang mopped the sweat from his forehead, breathing a sigh of relief. After a busy day, Master Fang was also exhausted, and now his stomach was growling with hunger. Physical exhaustion was one thing, but the mental stress was quite another, especially when having to take responsibility for another person, that pressure was far greater than when being alone. [Little Leo is as handsome as ever] [It seems pretty interesting] [At least he helped Old Fang quite a bit, and he¡¯s pretty good at chopping trees, funny.jpg.] [It¡¯s so dark now, I can¡¯t even see him, it¡¯s time to make a fire] The audience was being noisy; it was now six in the evening, and the already dim forest was getting so dark one could hardly see their hand in front of their face, thanks to the long days of June. Night vision mode simply does not have the same feel as lighting a fire in the dark forest, and the darkness also made the viewers somewhat afraid, so they all urged Bi Fang to start the fire. Bi Fang hastened, for in the tropical rainforest, a campfire was not used for warmth but mainly for keeping wild animals at bay and for illumination. Bi Fang took out the charcoal from his bag. At this point, the charcoal showed no sparks on its surface, but that was not a problem. When he touched it, the charcoal was still hot, which was enough. ¡°For most non-professionals, making fire by hand is a very difficult thing. Even if you are genuinely interested in survival techniques, after one or two failures, that interest is hardly lasting, and you¡¯ll end up only watching instead of doing.¡± [Ah, too real, facepalm.jpg.] [I still remember the first time I watched Master Fang live stream Fire-Making by Wood-Drilling, I was amazed. So amazed that I went downstairs to the garden to break a few branches and try it myself, but after half an hour, not even smoke came out.] [Hahaha, same here, birds of a feather.] [In the residential area? I sense elements¡­ Better not to try in a residential area, it¡¯s a bit dangerous.] ¡°But in the wilderness, we can¡¯t always stay at one campsite; many times, whether by necessity or choice, we¡¯ll face reasons to move, be it the howling of wolves nearby, the discovery of predator tracks, or finding a way out.¡± ¡°In these cases, getting to the next campsite and making a fire all over again can be tricky. If you¡¯re adept at starting fires, it¡¯s fine, but if not, it¡¯s bad. So, we must learn to make fire-starting materials, and charcoal is one of the easiest to prepare.¡± Bi Fang snapped the charcoal in his hand, and in the dim light, crimson sparks fell. This was the fire seed within the charcoal, which could enable people to start a fire quickly. ¡°There are many ways to preserve a fire seed. You can find a dry and relatively thick piece of wood, preferably a tree root, with not too high a density. Sparks from wood that is too dense are easily extinguished. Then, after igniting it, put out the visible flame, leaving only the smoldering sparks. This way, you can carry it over a long distance. When it¡¯s about to burn out, ignite the next piece like this repeatedly, and you can carry it a very long distance. But as you walk, keep an eye on it so the sparks don¡¯t go out. If they¡¯re about to extinguish, blow on them to make them flame up a bit. When you need to ignite something, just place the tinder on top, then blow on it, and you can light the tinder.¡± Gathering the dry leaves together, Bi Fang took a bunch of combustible material and gently pressed it onto the charcoal with drifting sparks. Very quickly, the audience could barely see the dense smoke rising in the darkness. Bi Fang blew several slow, deep breaths, and in less than a dozen seconds, a pale yellow flame lit up in the dark forest. Throwing the flame into a fire pit that had been dug in advance, the small fire instantly lit the branches inside the pit, followed by the larger sticks of the pyramids. Soon, a campfire was ignited within the campsite. ¡°Line the bottom of the fire pit with stones, then place dry twigs and leaves on top, followed by thin sticks, and then construct a pyramid of thicker sticks. This structure allows the flame to burn steadily, soar high, and shine brighter.¡± [Another small detail] The small flames naturally climbed up, like a giant serpent entwined on the pyramid. The campsite, which had been hastily erected due to time constraints, suddenly came into view before everyone, its lush green form casting shadows on the ground in the firelight. Many viewers who had just gotten off work in the evening and finally had time to watch the live stream realized what a hovering shelter was and how it avoided insects and ants. Quite simply, it was a stretcher. Bi Fang tied two bamboo poles to form an A-shaped structure, which he then erected, tying the top of the A to a tree as a fixed support to ensure it wouldn¡¯t fall over. Then, about two or three meters away from the first A-shaped structure, he constructed a second identical A-shaped structure and secured it. He tied a stick across the top ends of the two A-shaped structures to form a crossbeam structure similar to that of a house. Then, about half a meter off the ground at the legs of each A, he tied a stick firmly on each side, and a ¡°stretcher¡± appeared. Naturally, it wouldn¡¯t be suitable to lie down on just yet, so Bi Fang and Leonardo worked together to find a large number of vines and wrapped them around the stretcher, and with that, the task was accomplished. Bi Fang personally secured every knot to ensure sturdiness. The base was also deeply embedded into the soil because this wasn¡¯t just for one or two days of sleep, but at least a week, so it was essential to ensure quality and durability. Even a ring of stones had been piled up around the edges. Although they weren¡¯t very useful, they still created a barrier that could provide a sense of psychological comfort. It was as if in the perilous rainforest, one finally had a place to stand. Of course, it would not have taken Bi Fang and Leonardo three or four hours to construct just one stretcher. ¡°Rain in the rainforest is very frequent, especially in the summer. Banna itself has a tropical monsoon climate with distinct rainy and dry seasons. From late May to late October is the rainy season, and it rains very frequently, possibly every two to three days. So, when we set up the campsite, we have to consider rainfall.¡± ¡°Even though the temperature in the rainforest is high, because you can¡¯t be directly exposed to sunlight, getting wet in the rain can still easily lead to catching a cold. Therefore, it¡¯s necessary to prevent it before it happens.¡± Bi Fang pointed at the ¡°roof¡± over his head. It was a canopy woven from a large number of palm leaves and was not connected to the ¡°stretcher¡±. A total of six three-meter-long wooden sticks supported the canopy structure. Two sticks were vertically hammered into the ground with a distance of two and a half meters between them. ¡°` Another stick was tied to the top of the two nailed sticks, serving as a crossbeam. Bi Fang used vines as ropes for tying, and some bark as well. He leaned the remaining three sticks against the crossbeam at an angle to the ground. For the roof, there was an abundance of palm leaves, all neatly arranged in an overlapping fashion, with all the tips pointing downward. ¡°In a tropical rainforest, what we don¡¯t lack are palm trees. I split them in half and then wove them onto the frame I had built,¡± he explained. ¡°You should start weaving the leaves from the bottom of the frame upwards, ensuring all the leaf tips point down to facilitate the runoff of rainwater. While weaving, it¡¯s important to cross two layers of leaves diagonally; this enhances the waterproof capability.¡± ¡°After weaving a layer, bind it with vine ropes, then continue with the next layer until the whole frame is covered. You can also use this weaving technique to make palm leaf mats or cushions for added comfort.¡± Bi Fang held a torch and stepped outside the shelter to show everyone the palm leaves above, pointing to a clearly defined strip in the middle and saying, ¡°The top row of palm leaves should be complete, providing an ¡®eave¡¯ that directs the rainwater down smoothly.¡± ¡°Of course, if you have tarpaulin or waterproof canvas, it¡¯s much easier. Just stretch it out, and you¡¯re done¡ªno need to go through the trouble like I did.¡± For normal camping, you can spread a waterproof tarp over the entire frame to keep out the rain, then fasten the four corners of the tarp with rope and secure the other ends of the ropes to the surrounding trees. Otherwise, just this roof would take up nearly two hours for both Bi Fang and Leonardo, with most of the time spent on it. ¡°As for the circle of stones around the shelter, it¡¯s not just for peace of mind; they can actually act as a fire break, containing the spread of flames. Of course, it won¡¯t work if the fire is too big. Additionally, it can keep out some small animals.¡± After showing everyone around the perimeter, Bi Fang sat on the ¡°stretcher¡± he had woven from vines, covered with palm leaves, and a soft vine-woven base underneath, which was quite comfortable. The previously oppressive and airless rainforest seemed to make room for breathable space under this cozy shelter, easing the pressure immensely. [Phew, night is falling, hurry back to the camp.] [It¡¯s all in the details.] [No wonder Old Fang is like a fish in water in the rainforest.] Bi Fang looked around, at ease, and took out all the Fishy Grass from a backpack, plucked the leaves, leaving only the stems, which he threaded onto thin branches and lightly toasted over the fire. This was his dinner for the night. After eating and feeling slightly satiated, Bi Fang bid his audience goodnight. Without waiting for them to ask him to stay, he went off-air. At this moment, he was truly alone in the entire rainforest. It was far from silent around him; the fire crackled and popped, and the darkness beyond was filled with the sounds of insects, and even further away, there were the eerie calls of birds or other animals. Nighttime is the peak of activity for many creatures and the most frequent time for predators to emerge. The only thing that could keep them at bay was the burning campfire. The firelight reflected in his pupils, and even Bi Fang felt a touch of unease deep inside. The walls that let in drafts offered no sense of security. Tomorrow, he would try to add a lower wall, and he also needed more tools. Additionally, he had to start planning for iron smelting early, ideally having a preliminary plan by day five. Bi Fang placed the three wooden spears he had made today by his bed, added some more firewood, and then fell into a deep sleep. ¡­ In the early morning rainforest, a faint mist lingered. Compared to the night, it now seemed truly silent. The chorus of insects had ceased, and the growling of beasts had disappeared completely. Within the fire pit, the bonfire had burnt out, leaving only a wisp of white smoke. ¡°` Bi Fang had just woken up when he felt the hunger in his stomach, followed by a chill that spread through his body as moisture clung to the air around him. Yesterday, aside from eating two large centipedes and some Fishy Grass, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t had anything else to eat, which meant there was a deficit in energy compared to what he had expended. Fortunately, the deficit wasn¡¯t too large, but Bi Fang still shivered, goosebumps covering his skin. ¡°It¡¯s a bit cold.¡± With exceedingly high humidity and the absence of direct sunlight, the rainforest exuded an eerie kind of cold, but luckily it was still within a bearable range. As soon as he started the live stream, a large audience flocked in. In the first arena, there were already people waiting. By the time Cao Lifeng arrived with breakfast, there were already people waiting and munching on hand-grabbed pancakes. However, compared to the crowded scenes of yesterday, today was much better. A few roommates, yawning and waving, were lackluster this morning after last night¡¯s bonfire party went late. ¡°Did you bring breakfast?¡± ¡°Here it comes, here it comes,¡± Cao Lifeng said, placing the bags of various sizes on the seat. He served up steamed buns, noodles, eggs, tofu pudding, fried dough sticks, and other breakfast items. ¡°Sweet or savory?¡± asked a roommate who had leaned in at the sight of the tofu pudding. But as soon as Cao Lifeng lifted the lid, his roommate¡¯s expression turned sharp and he rebuked, ¡°You heretic!¡± The white tofu pudding was sprinkled with chopped pickled mustard plant, seaweed, dried shrimps, minced cilantro, and dripped with red oil and sesame oil¡ªit was clearly for the savory crowd! ¡°Heh, it¡¯s the sweet-favoring folks who are the heretics,¡± Cao Lifeng retorted disdainfully, taking a big bite of the oily stick dipped in the spicy tofu pudding. ¡°You!¡± Just as the two were about to argue, the big screen, which had been dark, finally lit up again. ¡°Stop arguing, the live stream is starting.¡± ¡°Here it comes, here it comes. I wonder what we¡¯ll encounter today?¡± ¡°They¡¯re going to start iron smelting, right?¡± ¡°Not necessarily, I think they should still focus on gathering food first. They¡¯ll probably consider smelting iron once they have food security, right?¡± Someone guessed correctly. In the camp, drops of dew were falling from the tips of palm leaves, and then the focus of the camera shifted to Bi Fang, who was roasting the tip of a spear. ¡°The morning in the rainforest is much colder than I imagined. Luckily, I wove a palm leaf blanket last night, otherwise, I might catch a cold today.¡± ¡°Besides being a bit cold, my stomach is still very hungry. Just relying on some plants and two centipedes is nowhere near enough to fill it. Although my plan is to smelt iron, the priority is to find enough food.¡± Chapter 471: 468: Fishing Ground (Two in One) Chapter 471: Chapter 468: Fishing Ground (Two in One) Bi Fang mixed the red clay with some dew, and after turning it into a thin mud, he patched up the areas that were slightly falling off, making it uniformly smooth again. His decision to apply the red mud was indeed the right one. Last night he had slept comfortably, without any incidents, and the mosquitoes hadn¡¯t bothered him at all. ¡°In damp regions, mosquitoes are inherently vicious, and not even floral-scented mosquito repellent works, let alone other herbal remedies. Therefore, physical defenses are the best option.¡± ¡°I slept through the night, and to my surprise, I wasn¡¯t bitten by mosquitoes at all this morning. The only few bites I have were from before I applied the mud yesterday.¡± [Envy. The mosquitoes have increased again these past few days.] [A mosquito flew into my mosquito net last night, and the school doesn¡¯t allow air conditioning, so it was hot and annoying with one buzzing around.] [Gosh, that¡¯s an image. If you don¡¯t cover yourself with a blanket, you get bitten everywhere. If you do, it goes for your face. You end up slapping yourself and still can¡¯t hit it.] Hearing about mosquito bites, a bunch of viewers started to vent their frustrations. Mosquitoes should¡¯ve been wiped out a long time ago! In the woods, Bi Fang covered the fire with damp earth and, holding a straight and sharp wooden spear, made his way through the forest toward the stream he had found the day before. The audience¡¯s guess was right. Today, Bi Fang¡¯s task for himself was to gather as much food as possible and then further improve the shelter. ¡°Shelter, shelter, as the name suggests, to me, it is not just a place to sleep but also a place that provides protection.¡± ¡°Although I haven¡¯t yet started on making iron tools, I may not stay here for a full twenty days, but at the very least I intend to remain here for five days. So, I plan to further perfect it, at least piling up a wall.¡± As he spoke, Bi Fang had already quickly arrived at yesterday¡¯s stream. Last night, as he and Leonardo were setting up camp, they had also explored the nearby terrain, identifying whether it was a hunting ground for large animals and safe routes that could serve as paths. That¡¯s why Bi Fang was able to reach the riverbank so quickly today. ¡°If you get lost in the rainforest or other wild areas, the best way to get food is actually fishing. Any other method is not at all safe.¡± The dappled sunlight shone through the gaps in the leaves, casting reflections on the stone-strewn stream that twinkled in the splash of water from the protruding rocks. ¡°Many wild fruits and plants, without a certain amount of knowledge, you simply cannot determine whether they are poisonous. Of course, we can test for poison.¡± [Test for poison? How do you test?] [Feed it to animals?] [If there were animals to test the poison, would I bother eating unclear fruits?] Some viewers expressed disdain. ¡°Of course not, if people are already struggling to find food and willing to take risks with unknown things, how could there be animals to test the poison for you?¡± Bi Fang explained to the audience while walking along the stream. ¡°Testing for poison is a complex and rigorous process. I¡¯ll show it to you when I have the chance in the future. But first, I¡¯m going to fish now, although, this place isn¡¯t suitable for fish to live.¡± Bi Fang looked at the flowing stream for a moment, then headed downstream: ¡°This stream isn¡¯t very deep, only about half a meter. Although it¡¯s clear and drinkable, it¡¯s not friendly to fish. Generally, too clean a water source is unlikely to have big fish in it.¡± ¡°Clear waters have no fish, and a discerning person has no companions. Although the focus of this saying is on the second half, it does hold some truth.¡± [Master Fang, you¡¯re just taking advantage of the fact foreigners don¡¯t understand Chinese, aren¡¯t you? Dog¡¯s head.jpg] ¡°` A sudden ancient phrase popped up, and although the system¡¯s translation was very powerful, enabling barrier-free communication, it still left many foreign viewers scratching their heads, but they more or less understood its meaning. ¡°So now I need to go downstream to find a spot where the water is slower and murkier, but I don¡¯t want to go too far, within four to five kilometers. Any longer and the cost of energy consumption gets too high.¡± ¡°The rivers in the Banna Rainforest transform entirely between the dry and wet seasons. What we see now is a creek, but come July or August, in the middle of the rainy season, it could be a river five or six meters wide. It¡¯s easy to find downstream pools that have built up.¡± After walking for about half an hour, Bi Fang¡¯s guess wasn¡¯t wrong. The previously rapid riverbed suddenly widened, and the once fast-flowing stream became sluggish. The clear water also turned turbid, and the riverbed was no longer visible. Bi Fang thrust his nearly man-tall spear into the water, and two-thirds of it disappeared instantly. The half-meter-deep stream had doubled in depth at this point, exceeding one meter. And that was just the edge; who knows how deep it got further in. However, the murky river where the bottom couldn¡¯t be seen gave the viewers a sense of unknown terror. [There aren¡¯t crocodiles in this water, right?] [Yeah, I remember that there are crocodiles in tropical rainforests, and also giant pythons. Super scary.] [Darn, Old Fang, stay further away from the water, don¡¯t get dragged down by something, it¡¯s frightening.] Bi Fang laughed: ¡°You¡¯re thinking too much, there may be crocodiles in other rainforests, but I¡¯ve never heard of them in the Banna Rainforest. There might have been hundreds, even thousands of years ago, but definitely not now, or they would have been discovered by now.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know much about history, but before the pre-Qin era, there were a lot of crocodiles, elephants, and even rhinoceroses in the South. Back then, there were poisonous creatures everywhere, making it hardly suitable for living, not to mention many diseases people didn¡¯t understand then.¡± [Damn, rhinoceros? Did we really have those things?] [Yes, there even were rhino horn cups before the pre-Qin period, where do you think they came from?] [There were also armors made of rhino hide that only generals could wear.] Many viewers were learning for the first time that such magnificent scenes had once existed in the lands of Huaxia. Elephants and rhinoceroses used to run through the rainforest, but now, sadly, they can no longer be seen. Rhinoceroses became extinct on this land hundreds of years ago, and even elephants are now few in number. ¡°Also, because the living environment was so harsh, the ancients referred to it as a place with ¡®miasma.¡¯ But miasma doesn¡¯t mean some kind of literal poison fog that one will encounter upon arrival here, rolling in like the mist in movies; it¡¯s not actually like that.¡± Bi Fang explained calmly. The damp and hot conditions in ancient southern regions, swarming with insect poison, created a hotbed for diseases and epidemics, also becoming a historical memory of the resistance in the Lingnan region by the central dynasties. Soldiers from the north, after traveling a great distance, arrived in the far south, unable to adapt to the climate and water and soil there, and suffered from malaria after being bitten by poisonous insects or dysentery from unclean food and drink, plagued with various ailments, many of whom died. Without understanding the true pathological causes, they could only blame these unfortunate experiences on a special and harmful ¡®qi¡¯ derived from the adverse environment so different from their homeland. It might be related to the stagnant and unventilated water and soil in the south, or the geographical isolation between the north and south¡­ In any case, various notions were integrated into one concept named ¡®miasma.¡¯ Almost all unknown diseases in wild lands could be attributed to ¡®miasma,¡¯ which was definitely not the literal ¡®gas¡¯ it seemed to be. Even the Tibetan Plateau was thought to have miasma, but in reality, it was just a respiratory difficulty caused by lack of oxygen¡­ When Bi Fang was in school, he too somewhat took for granted that it was a kind of toxic gas, like marsh gas, but later, he learned more and realized it was not so. ¡°Like schistosomiasis, which plagued our country until the middle of the last century, it was directly called ¡®plague spirit.¡¯ Once infected, patients would rapidly lose weight, becoming just skin and bones. Even their height would seem to shrink, making them look like dwarfs.¡± ¡°` ¡°Meanwhile, their stomachs were swelling up as if they were pregnant, growing so large that their belly buttons turned inside out. At that time, a gentle prick on the abdomen would cause ascitic fluid to leak from the needle hole, which was terribly shocking.¡± Bi Fang remembered clearly because nearly 10 million people suffered from the disease in the mid-20th century, including 600,000 in the late stages, with over 100 million people at risk. How many people were there in the country at that time? Six hundred million. That meant one in six people was threatened by this disease until the instructor issued an urgent order, launching the slogan ¡°Eradicate schistosomiasis completely and thoroughly.¡± Only then did the disease gradually disappear. [Sss¡­ After all that, Old Fang, you still dare to drink raw water?] [Awesome, worthy of being Master Fang!] [You must go to the hospital for a check-up after every live broadcast, right?] [Speaking of which, won¡¯t there be any side effects from Old Fang doing this every time?] Side effects? Bi Fang looked at his system panel and scoffed disdainfully in his mind. Whatever side effects there might be, the system could heal them all. ¡°Regarding drinking raw water, I¡¯ve actually mentioned before that many parasites are found in crustaceans, such as schistosomiasis due to snails. But in places with fast-flowing water, it¡¯s difficult for these animals to survive, and with the filtration of heavy stones, there¡¯s not too much to worry about.¡± Moreover, Bi Fang knew well that his stomach wasn¡¯t like that of an ordinary person; just because he consumed parasites didn¡¯t mean he would get infected. First, they had to pass the test of stomach acid, where Bi Fang had a significant advantage. If vultures can eat carrion without fear, what¡¯s there to fear from drinking a bit of raw water? And after every live broadcast, Bi Fang would indeed go to the hospital for a check-up¡­ Bi Fang looked around and chose a spot where ¡°the stream flows into the river mouth,¡± preparing to catch fish here. But this time, it wasn¡¯t about fishing, nor was it about fish. ¡°Fishing is an excellent way to obtain high-protein foods. Fish can be captured with nets, hooks, harpoons, or lassos, or even caught by hand.¡± ¡°But for me, these aren¡¯t good methods because I have many other tasks to handle. Catching fish by hand is naturally more efficient and likely to catch fish, but it prevents me from doing other things.¡± ¡°Therefore, setting traps in the stream is the skill I want to show this time. While waiting for the fish to swim into the trap, you can work on other tasks.¡± What Bi Fang had to do was build a fishing corral that would allow fish to swim in. Once set up correctly, he could go about setting other traps or return to continue working on the camp. He grasped the spear tightly and found a flat stone, using other rocks to hit and polish it, creating an inwardly concave and outwardly convex shape. He then tied it to the end of the spear with vine, and began to dig into the ground. Bi Fang planned to build a circular corral, with its entrance facing upstream of the stream, and then construct a funnel-shaped corral extending into the entrance. If the stream¡¯s current was strong, this setup could completely capture enough fish; if in a slower flow area, he could weave a curtain from flexible branches along the corral, pointing towards the entrance of the trap. When fish swam into the corral, the curtain would be pushed open, but it would block the fish trying to leave. The size of the fish that could be captured could be adjusted by changing the size of the gaps in the corral. This was a place they could swim into but not out of. It didn¡¯t need to be too deep, thirty centimeters was plenty, and about one to two square meters in size. The soil in the rainforest was moist and loose, often filled with empty spaces, and it didn¡¯t take Bi Fang too long to dig; in just over half an hour, it was almost done. He then gathered plenty of branches and vines to start making the corral. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Once everything was ready, Bi Fang dug open the mouth of the trap, and the stream water immediately rushed in, flooding the small pit. He placed the corral, added some mud for reinforcement, and the ¡°fishing ground¡± was thus completed. But even this one trap took Bi Fang over an hour and a great deal of physical effort. Already starving, he let out an even louder cry of hunger on his own. [Isn¡¯t this too labor-intensive?] [Yeah, can it really catch fish?] ¡°Of course, it can, but how much we catch is up to whether Heaven feels like feeding us. The trap I¡¯ve made this time is the same as before; it¡¯s permanent. As long as it exists, it will continuously work.¡± Bi Fang pulled out a handful of Fishy Grass from his waist pouch, crushed it, and scattered it inside. ¡°Fishy Grass can attract fish. We use it as bait and can crush it and sprinkle it in.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go check out other places. We shouldn¡¯t put all our eggs in one basket. To tell you the truth, I¡¯m almost flattened by hunger.¡± Wandering nearby, Bi Fang did find a few small animal paths. Along the way back, he casually made several traps. There were some in the trees too. After observing, Bi Fang believed they were likely made by squirrels. Unfortunately, he had no suitable bait, so he wasn¡¯t very hopeful about the tree traps. By time he returned to camp, Bi Fang found it was already midday. ¡°The traps I¡¯ve set up just now are mostly harmless; they¡¯re meant to trap, not to hurt. Do you know why?¡± After Bi Fang¡¯s reminder, the audience suddenly realized that it was true; the stone slabs and wooden spikes were gone, replaced by traps similar to nooses. They trap without harming. [Why¡¯s that?] ¡°Because there are so many protected animals here.¡± Bi Fang spread his hands helplessly, ¡°For those animal paths earlier, I can¡¯t even be sure what kind of animals they are. I only know they¡¯re small herbivores. If they happen to be under level one or two state protection, I¡¯d be in trouble if they get hurt.¡± What a guy! The audience laughed. [So you do have something to fear after all?] [The outlaw finally met his match.] [The net of Heaven is wide and spares no one. Just surrender, Old Fang.] Back at the camp, Bi Fang began crafting tools for the day¡¯s work. Compared to the fence, Bi Fang felt that creating more containers was the current priority. Backpack, bowls and spoons, baskets, and even pottery. All these were tools necessary for long-term survival. Chapter 472: 469: The Rainy Season (Two in One) Chapter 472: Chapter 469: The Rainy Season (Two in One) The best containers in the wilderness are made from animal skins or stomachs, which have sufficient toughness and elasticity. They are excellent choices for carrying water or anything else. The only problem is that these things are not easy to obtain. At least Bi Fang hadn¡¯t even seen a shadow of a large animal capable of being hunted. In place of that, trees serve as a better material. Bi Fang climbed up a giant tree¡¯s buttress root, chopped off a branch with his Stone Axe, and then slid down along the side, returning to the ground like going down a slide. It just made his butt a bit sore. The height of the entire tree was unknowable, but its underground roots were visibly massive, supporting the colossal canopy like pyramids, amazing many viewers from the north. This is one of the most unique characteristics of tropical rainforest trees¡ªthe buttress roots. ¡°In the rainforest, there is a vast number of species, leading to fierce competition for space and resources. The plant roots, which absorb water and nutrients, are the ¡®main force¡¯ in the competition for resources.¡± ¡°As the soil near the surface is fertile, the competition among plant roots intensifies the closer they are to the ground.¡± Having returned to the ground, Bi Fang picked up the branch he had dropped and carried it back to the camp. ¡°Due to fierce competition, plants¡¯ root systems engage in a form of arms race, with crazed growth¡ªwhichever is bigger, thicker, and can reach deeper into the fertile soil will live better.¡± ¡°Furthermore, the trees in the rainforest are tall and heavy, and to support the canopy and expand their territory, the trees need strong roots.¡± Some of the larger buttress roots of giant trees can reach over ten meters in height and extend more than ten meters in width, forming enormous side flanks that are quite spectacular. The one Bi Fang just climbed was no exception, its side flanks are so big they could be used as a slide. [Following Old Fang, you can learn a lot of things] [Yeah, I¡¯ve grown up without knowing how magnificent and dangerous the rainforest really is] [Ah, it¡¯s a pity I don¡¯t have Old Fang¡¯s skills, can¡¯t learn them] [The club welcomes your registration] [I¡¯m off to throw my money away.] Setting the branch on the ground, Bi Fang twirled the Stone Axe in his hand, gripped it firmly again, and then swung it fiercely at the branch. ¡°When you are chopping, don¡¯t let the force be directed towards your body; try to avoid that. Even those who are skilled with knives can stumble over this.¡± Bi Fang stood with his legs apart, toes pressing against the branch, and swung the Stone Axe towards the area between his legs, ensuring that even if it slipped from his grip, it wouldn¡¯t injure him. A cut in the rainforest can become rank within hours, and rotten within half a day, and could be fatal. Bi Fang chopped the arm-thick branch into several pieces, each as long as a forearm. He picked up one piece and sat beside the burning campfire. ¡°I want to try making a set of bowls and chopsticks out of wood, which would make it convenient for us to eat and allow us to try out a richer variety of cooking methods, like steaming. We can make wooden bowls and spoons quickly with fire, simply by placing charcoal on the wood and controlling the flame well.¡± Bi Fang held a round piece of wood about thirty centimeters long, then stood it upright and split it into two halves with force. Unfortunately, the first attempt resulted in a chip in the Stone Axe, either because it was too brittle or the wood was too hard. This forced Bi Fang to find another method. He picked up a sharp stone flake to use as a wedge, positioning it carefully and then pounding the back of it with a heavy stick, wedging it bit by bit until the wood split into two halves. Using a Tree stick, Bi Fang stirred the campfire, picked out a hot piece of charcoal, and placed it in the center of the flat surface. He carefully blew on the charcoal, allowing it to slowly burn the wood. Soon, charcoal ash was circling down and sinking to the bottom. Bi Fang used small twigs to control the direction of the charcoal fire, and soon it burned into a pit. ¡°If you find the burning too close to the edge or bottom, putting some sand or soil in those areas can stop the charcoal from burning further. If you want to slow down the burning speed, you can scrape off the charred area on the surface of the wood.¡± ¡°If you want to speed up the burning, you can use a hollow stem, such as Ligustrum, reeds, or even bamboo, or an animal¡¯s trachea to blow on the charcoal.¡± Bi Fang held a stone with a pointed end in his hand, aiming to control the direction and to scrape off the top layer. These stone tools weren¡¯t just found by the roadside but were chipped off with other stones, employing the old method: big head striking the small one, which made the work more convenient. In less than ten minutes, most of the log had been burned away. Bi Fang poured the charcoal back into the campfire, used a cone to scrape off the surface, and smoothed it out. A semi-circular bowl appeared. The audience was amazed, but many scratched their heads in confusion. [Why not just use bamboo, scratching_head.jpg] [Ah, right, just split it in half. Wouldn¡¯t it be ready to use then?] [Did Master Fang forget?] [No way, didn¡¯t he use it for building his shelter?] [I think he forgot. After all, there¡¯s no bamboo around here, lol] ¡­ After a brief silence, Bi Fang explained, ¡°I¡¯m just demonstrating a skill. After all, not all rainforests have bamboo. Most primitive rainforests are abroad; I¡¯m seeking a method that has more universal applicability.¡± Oh, so that¡¯s why¡ªit wasn¡¯t because he forgot. The audience suddenly understood and voiced their agreement, finding the explanation reasonable and persuasive. Truly worthy of Master Fang. Forgetting the unpleasant moment just now, Bi Fang showed off the bowl to everyone. A thirty-centimeter log had been hollowed out quite a bit, leaving only about one centimeter of thickness. The capacity was quite large. ¡°After completing the burning process, the bowl is ready for use. If you scrape off all the charred surface and polish the bowl with sand, it will be perfect. The food stored inside will taste better that way, but I don¡¯t have the conditions to do that.¡± ¡°The principle of making a spoon is the same as making a bowl. After completing the burning, trim it until it¡¯s suitable to hold rice. Wooden utensils will have tiny particles enter the wood, so it¡¯s best to roast them over a fire after each use to sterilize them.¡± After finishing these, Bi Fang didn¡¯t stop. He began to make a larger container¡ªa bark container. ¡°Many species are suitable for making bark containers, such as birch, cedar, and elm trees. Try to use bark that has fallen off or is about to fall.¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°If you must use bark from a living tree, do not cut off more than one-third of its circumference to ensure the tree can continue living.¡± ¡°To achieve the best results, we should soak the bark in water for several hours.¡± Making a bark basket is relatively easy and can hold many things, such as tools or edible plants. Bi Fang had picked up a piece of bark earlier on a whim. The tree was huge, so big that it would take two or three people to encircle it; therefore, even one-third or one-fourth would make a sizeable bark container. The camp wasn¡¯t far from the stream, just a ten-minute walk back and forth. Bi Fang made a hole in the bark and used a vine to hoist it, then submerged it directly into the stream. He then took a detour, relying on his memory of the terrain, and made his way back to the bamboo forest where he had encountered the Bamboo Viper. He found a thick bamboo and chopped it down. Bi Fang followed the bamboo joints and chopped down three sections, then returned to camp and used charcoal fire to burn two small holes, pouring out the water inside the bamboo before stringing it up with rope; now he had a watertight container for holding water. ¡°Many times, people would drink the clear water from inside the bamboo to hydrate themselves. While that¡¯s possible, for those not accustomed to living in the mountains, it¡¯s actually quite easy to get an upset stomach.¡± [Now why is bamboo being used again?] [I still suspect Master Fang simply forgot earlier, the evidence is ironclad] ¡°Earlier was to demonstrate skills, now it¡¯s for convenience,¡± Bi Fang stated righteously. [Ah yes, yes, yes] [Whatever you say, we believe] [Hehe] While waiting for the tree bark to soak, Bi Fang returned to the bamboo forest. ¡°Finding a bamboo forest in the rainforest, the easiest food to look for is bamboo shoots. Now in June, though a bit late, there are not as many bamboo shoots as in May, but it¡¯s still considered spring shoots. If I can find a few, and if the fish traps I set earlier have caught some fish, I¡¯ll be able to feast today.¡± Bi Fang proceeded carefully through the bamboo forest, very much aware of the Bamboo Viper he had encountered before; these creatures tend to live in groups. Finding one on the bamboo often implied a large number were lurking throughout the forest. Moreover, with the surrounding colors being very similar, Bi Fang moved very cautiously, scanning the area multiple times before daring to advance. Even the audience grew quiet, as it was genuinely frightful; given the Bamboo Viper¡¯s mimicry, it was a clear case of visible me, hidden enemy ¨C a single bite would be serious trouble. In the narrow bamboo forest, many shoots were sprouting, towering as they broke through the soil, wantonly displaying their vitality. But could those be eaten? The viewers wondered why Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t dig them up. Unfortunately, they were inedible. ¡°Digging for shoots is actually a skill, not as simple as everyone imagines. The freshest and most tender shoots are those that are newly sprouted or just poking their heads out, approximately two to three centimeters above the ground. Any larger and the shoots become tough and old; those that are clearly visible are completely inedible, so finding spring shoots is not easy.¡± ¡°When digging for shoots, pay attention to the soil. If the soil appears loose and slightly raised, there¡¯s likely a new shoot underneath.¡± Bi Fang, holding the tree stick, poked around: ¡°Those with experience can tell there is a shoot beneath from the cracks in the soil, especially where the cracks are large. One strike and you might not see it, but after two you might just see the tip of it; those are the tastiest shoots.¡± After searching for a while, Bi Fang did indeed find a hidden bamboo shoot in a crack; kneeling down, he began to dig through the soil. ¡°Digging for shoots requires certain experience and skill. Experienced diggers can estimate the size by the tip and know the direction in which to dig, so with one strike, they can pull up the whole shoot.¡± ¡°Inexperienced people might not dig at all and try to pull it out with their hands, but that¡¯s difficult because even the tenderest shoots are quite large and buried deep in the soil. Generally, loamy soil, especially that with a slope, is where you are most likely to find and dig up shoots.¡± Unfortunately, Bi Fang lacked a hoe, so he could only dig around the shoot and then try to pull it out with his hands. ¡°If you see the tip of a shoot that is yellow, it might have just broken through the soil and be very tender. If the top is black, it¡¯s quite old. If only a small part of the top is showing, don¡¯t bother digging; it¡¯s mostly lignified, tough to the bite, and indigestible.¡± After much effort, Bi Fang finally unearthed the bamboo shoot buried deep in the soil, simply tied it up with vines, and carried it on his back. Over the following hours, he continued this process. At one point, he encountered another Bamboo Viper, but unfortunately for Bi Fang, luck was not on his side. It was a particularly timid venomous snake that sped away before Bi Fang could get close, allowing the viewers to finally see the swift leaping speed of the Bamboo Viper in the forest. In the blink of an eye, it was gone, capable of startling anyone who wasn¡¯t paying attention. Luckily by around three or four in the afternoon, Bi Fang had dug up a total of eight large shoots. Even after peeling off the outer layers, there would be enough for several meals. With such a haul, Bi Fang headed back towards the river. By now, the tree bark should have soaked enough. Along the way, he checked the traps but found them empty. That dampened Bi Fang¡¯s joy slightly, leaving him to pin his hopes on the fishing site. At the water¡¯s edge, Bi Fang lifted the tree bark, shook off the moisture, rolled it into a barrel shape as thick as a pure water bucket, and could contain quite a bit, then wrapped the bottom with palm leaves and secured it with rope. ¡°Since it¡¯s tree bark, it would collapse if tied directly with rope. So we use a few branches with particularly good elasticity to prop it up inside, and then we¡¯re done,¡± Bi Fang explained. In just over half an hour, Bi Fang had fashioned a tree bark frame. After tying a few more vines, he even had shoulder straps, turning it into a makeshift backpack. Filling it with the bamboo shoots he had dug up, there was still plenty of room left. The bamboo cylinders hanging at his waist were also filled with water. Seeing Bi Fang seemingly equipped with everything, the audience exclaimed their praise, their comments indicating today had been extremely fruitful with a big pile of shoots, a variety of tools, and even a bowl for meals. [From nothing to something, impressive, things are getting more complete!] [Master Fang, impressive!] [Mountain Stream Little Prince has gifted the streamer with a spaceship*1] Following the stream to the river, Bi Fang located the fishing site he had set up earlier. The water in the fishing area was now murky, filled with brownish muddy water. Bi Fang glanced at the fence and noticed no damage, indicating the fishing area was still effective. He moved closer to check, and the muddy water was calm. Just as Bi Fang was about to insert the tree stick, suddenly, a fish tail leaped from the water, creating ripples. Goods! Bi Fang was overjoyed, but he didn¡¯t act rashly. Instead, he stirred the water with the spear tip: ¡°We need to ensure there are no other dangers in the water, such as water snakes.¡± The water swirled, and as the sharp wooden spear probed the water, it instantly splashed up greatly. Fish! Lots of fish! The audience was astounded; there was certainly more than one that had popped up. At least three of them, and all of a decent size! Bi Fang¡¯s keen eyes spotted a thick catfish, about the size of a forearm. He timed his strike perfectly to match its leap, spearing the catfish straight through. Tucking the sturdily speared fish into the tree bark frame, Bi Fang prepared to catch more, but the rainforest, still bright with daylight moments ago, suddenly darkened. Bi Fang looked up in surprise as a drop of water fell on his face. It started to rain. Chapter 473: 470 Occupy a Slot Chapter 473: Chapter 470 Occupy a Slot I haven¡¯t finished writing yet, brothers, just reserving a spot. I¡¯ll make changes before 1 a.m. The best containers in the wild are animal furs or stomachs, which have ample toughness and elasticity. They are great choices whether for holding water or other things. The only problem is, it¡¯s not easy to obtain these materials¡ªat least Bi Fang hadn¡¯t even seen a shadow of an animal large enough for hunting. Instead, trees turned out to be better materials. Bi Fang climbed up a huge tree by its massive buttress roots, cut off a branch with his Stone Axe, then slid down the flank, returning to the ground as if on a slide. It just made his behind a bit sore. The entire giant tree was of unknown height, but its root system was visibly massive underground, like the Pyramids supporting the enormous canopy. Many viewers from the north were amazed at such giant trees. This is one of the most distinctive characteristics of the tropical rainforest trees¡ªthe buttress roots. ¡°In the tropical rainforest, there is a huge variety of species, so the competition for space and resources is intense. The plant root system plays a role in absorbing water and nutrients and is the ¡®main force¡¯ in the competition for resources.¡± ¡°Because the topsoil is fertile, the competition among plant root systems is more intense the closer to the ground.¡± Bi Fang returned to the ground, picked up the branch he had dropped, and carried it back to the camp. ¡°Due to the fierce competition, plants¡¯ root systems have undergone crazy growth, similar to an arms race. The bigger and thicker that reach deeper into the fertile soil, the better they can live.¡± ¡°Additionally, the trees in the tropical rainforest are tall, and their weight is also significant. To support the canopy and expand their territory, trees rely on strong root systems for support.¡± Some of the larger buttress roots of the gigantic trees could be over ten meters high and extend more than ten meters wide, forming huge flanks that are quite spectacular. The one that Bi Fang had just climbed up to use as a slide was no exception. [Following Old Fang allows us to see so much stuff.] [Yeah, I¡¯ve grown up without knowing the rainforest could be so magnificent and so dangerous.] [Alas, I don¡¯t have the skills like Old Fang, can¡¯t learn it.] [The club welcomes your application.] [Here I go, throwing away money.] Bi Fang placed the branch on the ground, twirled the Stone Axe in his hand, grasped it tightly, and then swung it down hard on the branch. ¡°When chopping, don¡¯t let the force be directed towards your body, try to avoid it. Even a good knife handler could stumble on this.¡± Bi Fang spread his legs apart, with his toes pressing on the branch, and swung the Stone Axe towards the space between his legs so even if it slipped, it wouldn¡¯t hurt him. In the rainforest, a wound could become smelly in hours and rot within half a day, which could be fatal. Bi Fang chopped down several sections of the originally arm-thick branch, each about as long as a forearm. He picked up a piece and sat beside the burning campfire. ¡°I want to try to make a set of wooden bowls and utensils. This should make it convenient for us to eat, and it¡¯ll allow us to try a richer variety of ways of cooking, such as steaming or boiling. We can quickly make wooden bowls and spoons using fire, just by placing charcoal on the wood and controlling the flames.¡± Bi Fang held a log about thirty centimeters long in his hand, stood it upright, and then forcefully split it in two. Unfortunately, either the Stone Axe was too fragile, or the log was too hard¡ªit didn¡¯t miss on its first strike and instead shattered a small piece off of the Stone Axe. This forced Bi Fang to change his approach. He found a sharp stone flake to use as a wedge and hammered its back with a Tree Stick, driving it bit by bit until he successfully split the log in two. Bi Fang stirred the campfire with a tree stick, picked out a glowing piece of charcoal, and placed it in the center of a flat surface. Carefully blowing on the charcoal, he allowed it to slowly burn the wood, quickly creating charcoal dust that sank to the bottom. With twigs, Bi Fang controlled the direction of the burning charcoal, quickly burning a hole into the wood. ¡°If you find the burning too close to the edges or bottom, just place some sand or soil on those areas to stop the charcoal from burning further. If you want to slow down the burn rate, you can scrape off the charred surface of the wood.¡± ¡°If you want to accelerate the burning, you can use hollow stems like Ligustrum, reeds, or bamboo, or even animal tracheas to blow on the charcoal.¡± In his hands, Bi Fang held a pointed stone, used to guide the direction and scrape off the surface layer. These stone tools weren¡¯t just picked up from the roadside, but were chipped away with other stones, using the old method of big hitting small to facilitate work. In less than ten minutes, most of the log had been burned away. Bi Fang dumped the charcoal back into the fire, scraped off the surface with a chisel, and smoothed it out. A semi-circular bowl appeared. The audience was amazed, but many scratched their heads. [Why not just use bamboo, scratching_head.jpg] [Ah, yes, couldn¡¯t you just split it in half and use it directly?] [Did Master Fang forget?] [No, he used it in the shelter he built, didn¡¯t he?] [I feel like he forgot since there¡¯s not a single bamboo stick nearby, lol] ¡­ After a moment of silence, Bi Fang explained, ¡°I¡¯m just demonstrating a technique; after all, not all rainforests have bamboo. Most primeval rainforests are abroad. What I seek is a method with greater universality.¡± Oh, so that was it. Not because he had forgotten. The audience suddenly understood and expressed agreement that the reasoning was sound and convincing, truly worthy of Master Fang. Forgetting the unpleasantness of the moment, Bi Fang showed the bowl to everyone. Thirty centimeters of the round wood had been hollowed out, leaving only about one centimeter of thickness, with a substantial capacity. ¡°After the burning is complete, the bowl can be used directly. If you scrape clean the burnt surface completely and polish the bowl with sand, it will be perfect. The food in it will taste even better. However, I don¡¯t have the conditions for that.¡± ¡°Creating spoons works on the same principle as making bowls; after burning is complete, shape it to a suitable size for holding rice. Woodware tends to absorb small particles, so it¡¯s best to place them over a fire after use to sterilize them.¡± Having done this, Bi Fang didn¡¯t stop. He began crafting a larger container, a bark frame. ¡°Many species are suitable for making bark containers, such as birch, cedar, and elm. Try to use bark that¡¯s already fallen or about to fall off.¡± ¡°If you must use bark from a living tree, don¡¯t cut more than one-third of its circumference to ensure the tree can continue to live.¡± ¡°For best results, we should first soak the bark in water for a few hours.¡± Making a bark basket is relatively easy and can hold many things, such as tools or edible plants. Bi Fang had previously picked off a piece of bark. The tree was so large it would take two or three people to hug it, so even one-third or one-quarter would make a sizable bark frame. The camp wasn¡¯t far from the creek, a round trip taking only about fifteen minutes by foot. Bi Fang made a hole in the bark, threaded it with a vine, and dropped it directly into the stream. Then he took a detour, relied on the direction in his memory, and returned to the bamboo forest where he had encountered the Bamboo Viper. He found a thick bamboo and chopped it down. He cut three sections along the bamboo nodes, went back to the camp, and burnt two small holes with charcoal fire. After emptying the water inside the bamboo, Bi Fang strung it up with a rope. Now, he had a sealed container that could hold water. ¡°Often, people use the clear water inside bamboo to hydrate themselves. Although that is possible, people who are not accustomed to living in the wilderness can easily get stomach upset.¡± [Why is he using bamboo again now?] [I still suspect that Master Fang just forgot, the evidence is ironclad] ¡°Just now, I was demonstrating a skill, now it¡¯s about convenience,¡± Bi Fang stated with conviction. [Ah yes, yes, yes] [We¡¯ll believe whatever you say] [Hehe] While waiting for the bark to soak, Bi Fang returned to the bamboo forest. ¡°Finding a bamboo forest in the rainforest, the easiest food to look for is of course bamboo shoots. It¡¯s June now, a bit late, and there aren¡¯t as many shoots as there were in May, but they can still be considered spring shoots. If I can find a few, and if the traps I set earlier have caught some fish, then we can wrap up today with a feast.¡± Bi Fang carefully proceeded through the bamboo forest, certainly not forgetting his previous encounter with the Bamboo Viper, which tends to live in groups. Finding one on a bamboo means there could be a whole bunch more in this forest. Plus, with the extremely similar coloration all around, Bi Fang moved forward very cautiously, scanning his surroundings several times before daring to proceed. Even the audience was now quiet because it was rather frightening. The mimicry of the Bamboo Viper clearly gave them the disadvantage¡ªbeing bitten would be a serious matter. In the narrow bamboo forest, many shoots had sprouted, towering and breaking through the soil, brazenly displaying their vitality. But could they be eaten? The audience was puzzled as to why Bi Fang wasn¡¯t digging them up. Because, regrettably, they couldn¡¯t be eaten. ¡°Digging for shoots is actually a skillful task and not as simple as everyone imagines. The most tender are the spring shoots that have just peeked out or not surfaced yet, about two to three centimeters above the ground. Any more and the shoots will appear old and hard. Those that are conspicuously visible are completely inedible, so finding spring shoots is not an easy task.¡± ¡°When digging for shoots, pay attention to the soil. If the soil is loose and slightly raised, there¡¯s a good chance that there¡¯s a new shoot underneath.¡± Bi Fang, with his tree stick in hand, prodded around everywhere, ¡°An experienced person can tell from the cracks in the soil if there¡¯s a shoot beneath. Especially if the fissure is large, after digging once and seeing nothing, and only a little of the shoot is visible on the second dig¡ªthat¡¯s when you know it¡¯s the most delicious.¡± After searching for quite a while, Bi Fang indeed found some success in a crack with shoots that had yet to surface. He squatted down and began to pry the soil. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Digging for shoots also requires a certain level of experience. An experienced person can judge by the size of the visible part how big the shoot is, its direction, and where to dig to lift it out with one dig.¡± ¡°Those without experience might not dig at all, attempting to pull it out with their hands, but it¡¯s hard to budge because even the tenderest shoot is actually quite big and deeply buried in the soil. Generally, loess soil, particularly on sloped ground, is the easiest place to find and dig up shoots.¡± Unfortunately, Bi Fang didn¡¯t have a hoe, so he could only dig around the soil and then pull it out with his hands. ¡°See, if you see a shoot that has just penetrated the soil and is yellow, it¡¯s very tender. But if the tip is black, it¡¯s quite old. If only a tiny bit of the tip is sticking out, don¡¯t bother digging; it¡¯s most likely woody already, and you won¡¯t be able to chew or digest it.¡± After much effort, Bi Fang finally unearthed the bamboo shoot buried deep in the soil and simply tied it with a vine, securing it on his back. Over the next few hours, he continued this process, and he really did come across a Bamboo Viper, but unfortunately this time Bi Fang wasn¡¯t so lucky. It was a very timid venomous snake, and it darted away at a great speed before Bi Fang could even get close, allowing the audience to finally see just how fast a Bamboo Viper could move through the trees. With nearly instantaneous flashes, it disappeared from sight, enough to startle anyone if they weren¡¯t paying attention. Luckily, by around three or four in the afternoon, Bi Fang had dug up a total of eight large bamboo shoots, which would last for several meals even after peeling off the outer layers. With such a haul, Bi Fang headed back to the riverbank. By now, the bark should have been properly soaked. Along the way, he checked his traps, which were disappointingly empty. This made Bi Fang¡¯s joy of the spoils slightly diminish, and he could only now pin his hopes on the fishing ground. At the water¡¯s edge, Bi Fang scooped up the tree bark, shook off the water, rolled it into a cylindrical shape as thick as a bucket made of pure water, big enough to hold quite a few goods. He covered the bottom with palm leaves and tied it up with rope. ¡°Because it¡¯s tree bark, if we just tie the rope around it, the bark frame will collapse. So we need to find a few branches with especially good elasticity to prop up on the inside, and then we¡¯ll be all set,¡± Bi Fang explained. In just over half an hour, Bi Fang had crafted a bark basket, secured with several more vines to even include shoulder straps, allowing it to serve as a backpack. He put all the previously gathered bamboo shoots inside, leaving plenty of space to spare, and had also filled several bamboo tubes hanging from his waist with water. Looking at Bi Fang, who now seemingly had everything, the audience exclaimed in awe, praising his full day¡¯s bountiful harvest¡ªloads of shoots and a variety of tools, even managing to procure a bowl. [From nothing to something, amazing, he¡¯s becoming increasingly well-equipped] [Master Fang is amazing!] [Mountain Stream Little Prince has sent a rocket to the host *1] Following the stream to the river, Bi Fang located the spot where he previously set up his fishing ground. The water in the fishing ground was very murky, full of brown muddy water. Bi Fang checked the enclosure and saw that it wasn¡¯t damaged, which indicated that the fishing ground was still effective. As he came closer to examine the water, which looked tranquil, just when Bi Fang was about to insert the Tree Stick, suddenly, a fish tail leapt out of the water, creating ripples. Goods! Bi Fang was overjoyed but didn¡¯t act rashly. Instead, he stirred the water with the point of his spear, ¡°We need to make sure there aren¡¯t any other dangers in the water, like water snakes or such.¡± The water rippled, the sharp point of the wood spear piercing the water, instantly causing a large splash. Fish! So many fish! The audience was amazed; it wasn¡¯t just one that had surfaced. At least three or more! And all of them quite large! Bi Fang, with a keen eye, spotted a thick catfish, about the size of a small arm. He timed its leap and speared it with precision, impaling the catfish straight through. He stuffed the hefty catch into the bark basket, and before Bi Fang could continue fishing, the daylight forest suddenly dimmed in an instant. Bi Fang looked up in surprise as a drop of water fell on his face. It was raining. Chapter 474: 471 Oil Slag Chapter 474: Chapter 471 Oil Slag ¡°What is this thing?¡± ¡°Wait, when did these herbs get put in the bark frame? I don¡¯t remember.¡± ¡°Space-time must¡¯ve shifted.¡± The audience watched cluelessly as Bi Fang pulled out a bunch of weeds, tied them around the fish, and then proceeded to crush them to extract their juice to pour over it. As the rain drizzled down, Bi Fang washed his hands with the water running off the tent top, sat beside the bed waiting for the fish to cook and explained, ¡°This is called lemongrass, a common wild herb in the Banna Rainforest that mainly grows in the subtropics. It has a strong lemon scent to it, which is why it¡¯s also called lemon herb.¡± ¡°I picked it while digging for bamboo shoots in the bamboo forest. I just grabbed a handful and threw it into the bark frame. You guys probably didn¡¯t notice.¡± ¡°Oh, I have an impression of that. Old Fang seemed to be hurrying along and casually picked some when he saw it on the way. I thought it was just weeds he used for cushioning.¡± ¡°Huh, now that you mention it, it does ring a bell.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the use of this thing? It looks just like weeds.¡± ¡°Lemongrass? That name sounds familiar. I think I tried it during a trip to Banna, but I¡¯ve forgotten the taste.¡± ¡°Lemongrass has many uses. At first glance, it appears to grow wildly towards the sky like a big clump of weeds, which can easily be missed by those unfamiliar with it, but it¡¯s also a good find.¡± ¡°Dai people love to use lemongrass as a seasoning. They wrap marinated carp and tilapia with it before slowly roasting them over a charcoal fire until the fish is thoroughly cooked. The taste is remarkably fresh and fragrant.¡± Bi Fang flipped the fish over. Subjected to the intense fire, the fish sizzled as it oozed oil and the skin curled and crisped to a golden brown. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The rich aroma of the meat mixed with the subtle lemon fragrance made mouths water with anticipation. ¡°Damn, I want some roasted fish.¡± ¡°Cursing and leaving the live broadcast room.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just dinner time. Good thing I¡¯ve already eaten, heh heh.¡± But the fish was only surface-cooked; its interior was still raw. Bi Fang stuck the fish in the ground nearby and pulled apart a bamboo strip to render fish oil from it. Four fish yielded a total of four chunks of fatty belly, already enough to extract quite a bit of oil. ¡°In the wilderness, fat is actually more important than protein. If you have two equal pieces of pork, one lean and the other fatty, you definitely want to go for the fatty one.¡± Bi Fang stuck two sticks in the ground near the fire, tore them apart at both ends, propped up a curved bamboo strip on them, and then placed the fish bellies on top. ¡°Sugars, fats, proteins are all sources of energy. In the short term, it¡¯s just a matter of how quickly they convert, but that¡¯s not so critical for wilderness survival.¡± ¡°For example, if you¡¯re hungry and you get a bowl of rice that replenishes sugars, or a steak that replenishes proteins, you could have a full meal either way. It¡¯s only in extreme sports like rock climbing or marathons that you¡¯d need the quick energy replenishment from sugars.¡± The fish belly, the fattest part of the fish, started oozing oil as soon as the high heat began to penetrate through the bamboo strip. ¡°1 gram of carbohydrates and 1 gram of protein both provide 4 kcal of energy, but 1 gram of fat can provide 9 kcal of energy, which is more than twice the former!¡± ¡°The energy density of fat is huge. When consumed in the same weight, it¡¯s easier to overshoot the daily energy requirement.¡± While talking, Bi Fang also recalled a survival show he had seen before. It was in the Arctic, where one of the contestants, with just a small knife, hunted down a whole large deer. At the time, it seemed like a sure win. That was hundreds of pounds of meat, enough to last two months. But the next day, all the fatty parts of the deer were stolen by a wolverine, leaving behind only a large amount of lean meat, i.e., protein. The environment was in the Arctic, where fat is the lifeblood of survival. Low temperatures consume a great deal of heat, and without sugars and carbohydrates, one must consume high-calorie foods to resist the cold. Without fat, that contestant had lost a shocking 27 pounds on the 46th day of the physical examination. Fortunately, they found other sources of fat later on, which prevented them from losing the competition. However, Bi Fang was in a different situation, as he was in the rainforest with a higher environmental temperature and his energy expenditure wasn¡¯t too high. Protein alone could maintain his balance, so it was more meaningful to use fats for other things. Like soap. ¡°Food is never the first priority in survival; obtaining water and staying warm are, and in situations where water is scarce, one should try to eat less because eating increases thirst.¡± ¡°If the daily water supply is less than 1 quart, which is 1.1 liters, try to avoid dry, starchy, strongly flavored foods and meats. If available, one can opt for foods with high sugar content.¡± [Then why do I feel like protein is mentioned more frequently?] [Yeah, everyone next door is eating bugs.] [Last time, someone ate something like a white booger that burst, and they grimaced, saying the protein was six times that of beef, and it was a rare delicacy.] The term protein frequently appears before wilderness enthusiasts for two main reasons, Bi Fang believed. ¡°One, without sufficient botanical knowledge, protein is an easier and relatively safer energy source to obtain in the wild.¡± ¡°Second, sugars are generally obtained from plants, and their difficulty and safety in acquisition are poorer compared to proteins.¡± Catching small animals and insects is much safer than consuming unknown berries and mushrooms. Animals are hard to catch, but insects are everywhere. ¡°And protein, compared to fat, doesn¡¯t have a high-cost performance, but at least it can provide energy. The protein content of the average bug is also five times that of beef.¡± Bi Fang flipped the fish bellies on the bamboo board; by now, the pieces of fish had shrunk significantly, surrounded by a large amount of rendered fat. ¡°There are many kinds of insects, they reproduce in large numbers in many parts of the world and are an important food source. Most insects can be easily caught by hand, including large grubs, which are the larvae of insects, locusts, grasshoppers, ants, and termites.¡± ¡°You can find wood grubs in rotting logs, underground, or beneath dead bark. Locusts, grasshoppers, ants live in temperate and tropical regions. Termites usually live in jungles.¡± ¡°In Special Forces wilderness survival training, once lost or without supplies, the priority is to find plentiful and easier-to-catch creatures, such as insects, crustaceans, mollusks, fish, and reptiles.¡± Bi Fang swept away the dead leaves beside him, revealing a teeming mass of ants underneath. He smeared some fish scraps on a stick near the roasting fish, attracting a lot of ants to climb up. ¡°Normal black ants are rich in formic acid and taste very sour, but it¡¯s a good thing. It¡¯s a natural antibiotic with strong antibacterial and disinfectant functions, even exceeding Western medicine in many areas, without resistance or side effects.¡± ¡°The taste isn¡¯t great, first sour then salty, but you can try frying, boiling, or grilling them. Or you might prefer to stew them with other foods, which can improve the taste a bit.¡± ¡°You can even eat them raw.¡± Bi Fang downed the ants on the stick in one gulp, the sour taste exploding in his mouth, causing him to grimace, followed by a mild salty aftertaste. ¡°Except for large insects. Large insects may carry harmful parasites. Their legs also have barbs that could get stuck in your throat.¡± [I was wondering who taught those live streamers to eat bugs, turns out the pioneer is right here.] [They¡¯ve only learned the appearance, not the essence.] ¡°But if you do eat insects, when possible, make sure to process them, which means boiling them to kill any parasites and bacteria they may carry.¡± Bi Fang used the fish scraps to attract more ants, sprinkling them on the roasted fish like seasoning. By now, the fat within the fish bellies had been fully extracted, and the small pieces of flesh floated atop the plentiful oil, sizzling and shrinking into tiny clumps. Chapter 475: 472: Drinking fish soup is mostly a delightful thing. Chapter 475: Chapter 472: Drinking fish soup is mostly a delightful thing. The bamboo board was taken off the bonfire, still giving off billowing hot smoke. Bi Fang used chopsticks made of twigs to pick up the crispy fish belly dregs from the oily surface, popping them into his mouth, exceptionally crispy and slightly bitter. After letting the bamboo board cool down a bit, Bi Fang held it with his bare hands, took out a can of boiling water, and a few pieces of charcoal. ¡°What¡¯s most easily forgotten when traveling far from home or surviving in the wild is soap. Actually, it¡¯s very easy to make soap in the wilderness, and it¡¯s very important for maintaining hygiene, especially in life-or-death situations, where it¡¯s necessary to clean wounds.¡± Previously, Bi Fang had never made soap because it wasn¡¯t very useful to him, and there was no need for social interaction. One could be dirty, as no one would see anyone else. But in the rainforest, personal hygiene becomes crucial, as not being clean can be fatal. ¡°The ingredients required for making soap are just a few: one is alkaline wood ash, two is water, and three is grease from either plants or animals¡ªwhatever flies, swims, or runs. Lastly, if possible, add some antiseptic medicine.¡± ¡°Of course, the last item is not mandatory, but only added to give the soap antiseptic properties and a pleasant smell. In forests, you can find pine needles and resin, but here in the rainforest, I can use lemongrass.¡± ¡°Lemongrass is not just a spice; it contains citral, which has disinfecting and antibacterial properties as well as efficacy in treating neuralgia and muscular pain, hence it¡¯s known as ¡®Pain Relieving Swordsman¡¯. It can be used for stomach aches, colds, and fevers¡ªpretty much a panacea for common ailments, and it can even beautify, being good for the skin.¡± Bi Fang smashed the charcoal into pieces with a rock, then mixed the ash with water, saying, ¡°Be careful not to stir this with your hands, not only because it¡¯s very hot, but also because the alkalinity of the wood ash is very strong and could burn your skin.¡± After thoroughly mixing, he filtered out the particulate ash, pouring the water into a bamboo tube. Then, while the oil had not yet cooled and solidified, he poured it into the bamboo tube that had just been filled with water, placing the tube filled with oil and lye water back into the bonfire to heat up. ¡°Next, we need to boil it again to sterilize it, but there¡¯s a bit of oil left here, which we definitely shouldn¡¯t waste. We can use it to make a pot of bamboo shoot soup.¡± Bi Fang peeled three bamboo shoots that he had collected earlier, revealing their inner parts, which were even dripping with moisture. ¡°Bamboo shoots are fresh and tender food that don¡¯t store well or travel far, so there¡¯s no need to save them¡ªjust eat up.¡± Bi Fang put the bamboo shoots into the semi-circular bamboo tube used for refining oil, added some water, and continued to stew them, with pale golden oil slicks floating on top. He tore up a generous amount of lemongrass, crushed it, and added it directly to the bamboo tube in the fire pit. With this step, the making of the soap was essentially complete. ¡°If you don¡¯t need a soap with strong effects, then there¡¯s no need to worry about the ratio of fat to lye water because we¡¯ll just steam it dry. Once the moisture has completely evaporated and we let it cool, we¡¯ll have a rather nice bar of soap that cleanses and sterilizes.¡± [Hiss, I¡¯ve learned a new trick, only useful if I show it off in front of the natives after a time travel.] [666, what an eye-opener!] ¡°Just time traveling might not be enough; you¡¯d at least have to travel back to before the existence of primitive tribes, because even many primitive tribes know how to make this kind of soap.¡± ¡°This is actually a misconception held by many people who think that people living in primitive tribes must be dirtier than us, but in fact, in some existing primitive tribes today, hygiene is just as important as in modern society.¡± Seeing the barrage, Bi Fang joked with the viewers. ¡°Lastly, I want to remind you that even if you bring biodegradable soap or shampoo, you must understand that they require soil to degrade. Therefore, to avoid pollution, we should dig a pit at least 25 meters away from any water source and pour all the wastewater into it.¡± While waiting for the water to evaporate, the baked fish and bamboo shoot delicacy were finally ready. The originally golden fish skin had turned to a charred yellow. Although it didn¡¯t look as nice as before, it gained a rustic appeal and appetite-inspiring aroma, wrapped by a faint lemon scent. Lifting the bamboo tube lid, steam rose, and the milky-white tender shoots tumbled in the boiling water, accompanied by a faint scent of fish oil. They were also sprinkled with quite a few black ants to add flavor, resembling tiny black sesame seeds. Bi Fang picked up a shoot to taste, his eyes lighting up, as the crisp texture along with the scalding juice burst forth, and he couldn¡¯t help but open his mouth wide to cool down while resisting the urge to spit it out. The faint astringent taste mixed with oily slicks had no strong flavor, yet one could sense the inherent freshness and sweetness. Bi Fang quickly picked up a slice of fish that was sizzling with oil, with the unique aroma of the lemongrass and the distinctive sour and salty taste of formic acid, which enhanced the inherent deliciousness of the baked fish itself. Especially since the catfish had few bones, each bite brought immense satisfaction. Having not eaten all day, Bi Fang now enjoyed the bamboo shoot soup and baked fish, basked by the campfire, listening to the rain patter on the banana leaves, feeling utterly content. Utterly delightful. Below the rainwater, hidden from the mundane world, was a smoke of life that seemed as refreshing as a mint leaf falling into a glass of soda water. Bi Fang sipped the soup with a spoon and said contentedly, ¡°The catfish is fatty and has few bones, perfect for grilling, while the carp can be used for simmering bamboo shoot soup. Tomorrow¡¯s meals are sorted, but it would be better with some oil.¡± ¡°The only downside is that we don¡¯t have salt. If we could sprinkle a little salt on it, the taste would be much better. I¡¯ll think of a way to get some salt tomorrow. Going twenty days without salt is no good; you¡¯ll start feeling weak.¡± [Drooling, hehe] [I¡¯m hungry too, I want to eat, sob sob sob] [It¡¯s already 7 o¡¯clock, the takeout I ordered still hasn¡¯t arrived, I¡¯m starving] [By the way, can you really eat catfish? I saw a video last time that said catfish grow up eating feces and garbage¡­.. Full of heavy metals inside¡­] S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Pfft, is that true? I see Master Fang enjoying it a lot] Bi Fang swallowed the bite of fish he had in his mouth, and hearing this while eating did ruin the mood somewhat, so he simply shook his head and replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know where you got that from, but it¡¯s not very reliable and quite biased.¡± ¡°First of all, in terms of diet, catfish are carnivorous. Wild catfish mainly prey on smaller fish, such as crucian carp, common carp, and loach. They use their sense of smell to detect their prey and then trap them with their teeth before swallowing them.¡± ¡°If we¡¯re talking about eating feces, not just catfish, but any fish will eat it. However, feces is not their intended food.¡± ¡°In the countryside, those who raised fish in earlier years should know that many fish ponds, especially the larger ones, would have manure thrown directly into them. This would cause a lot of fish to stir.¡± ¡°That group of fish would eat vigorously, clamoring and jostling each other; and it wasn¡¯t just catfish but also common carp, grass carp, silver carp, all sorts of fish, really.¡± [Ah, I¡¯ve seen this!] [Same here, my grandfather had a small fishpond. Whenever we went fishing, we¡¯d just sprinkle a bunch of dry grass and manure, and all the fish would surge to the top. We¡¯d catch them and eat them at night, just as delicious.] In his past life, Bi Fang once worked in a city where he lived near a big, stinky drainage ditch. That thing was so smelly it could be detected from miles away, no exaggeration, and you could smell it even two miles downwind. If it were just a smelly ditch, the problem wouldn¡¯t be too big, but it was a stagnant water pit ¨C not only was it the designated dump for the nearby residents¡¯ sewage pipes, but many factory wastewaters were also discharged into this pit. The water was extremely viscous, stirring it would hang on a wall like milk. In that pond was not only a mix of manure and industrial wastewater and various kinds of trash, but also all sorts of dead fish and shrimp. Nothing lived in that pond; no plants grew, no creatures survived, except for one mysterious life form. That was it¡ªthe catfish, as well as a few other foreign species of catfish. At the time, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t recognize what types they were, but that stinky ditch was the reason why the nearby houses were priced so low. Once while passing by, Bi Fang saw an old man fishing there. He was shocked and stopped to watch. In just 10 minutes, the man hooked a catfish. Over a meter long, its body color was a mix of dark green and purple that emitted an industrial stench. The whiskers were horribly long, and upon closer inspection, the fish was deformed. Its head was crooked, and its hind part was protruding. What worried him even more was the cluster of unidentifiable growths on the left dorsal side of the fish, unknown substances protruding here and there. As a biology researcher, Bi Fang witnessed for the first time the tenacious vitality of a living being, and also for the first time understood the terror of mutations. ¡°So, catfish are indeed very tenacious, capable of surviving in dirty environments, but that¡¯s an extreme rarity. Moreover, all native Huaxia catfish have one trait in common: they are clean.¡± ¡°For instance, Bighead Catfish in the south demand very high water quality. If the water gets dirty, they¡¯ll turn belly up and die right before your eyes.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s words made the audience laugh but also made them understand a fact, Whether a fish is clean or not depends on its living environment. As for the natural rivers in the rainforest, they naturally won¡¯t be too dirty; they¡¯re just slightly murky, so eating the fish from there is completely worry-free. Species like Bighead Catfish and other wild catfish typically prey on small fish and shrimp as their food source. If you can find them in the wild, whether you grill them or boil them, it¡¯s an absolute delight. Chapter 476: 473: Stomach Pain Chapter 476: Chapter 473: Stomach Pain Banna Rainforest survival, day three. In the early morning, a hazy mist filled the rainforest, bringing a rare chill. The torrential rain had stopped, and life was gradually reviving. Animals that had taken shelter were starting to come out of their dens to forage for food, and not far from the campsite, Bi Fang squatted on the ground, his face pale as a ghost, with sweat pouring down his forehead like rain. Clearly, he was relieving himself. ¡°What¡¯s going on? With a physique of sixteen points, could I still get an upset stomach? Or is it an issue of not being acclimatized?¡± This morning when Bi Fang first opened his eyes, all he felt was intense abdominal pain, followed by an indescribable sense of urgency. He never imagined that even with a physique as high as sixteen points, he would encounter such an issue. Before taking on Mount Everest, Bi Fang had some Enhancement Points left, and after his success, he immediately added them to what he considered the most important aspect of his body: strength, physique, and adaptability. On the panel at this moment: [Exclusive Bind: Bi Fang] [Growth Age: 25] [Height: 186.1cm] [Weight: 78.1KG] [Strength: 15] [Physique: 16] [Agility: 15] [Spirit: 15] [Platinum Body] [Status: Diarrhea] If it weren¡¯t for the clear sixteen points written next to ¡®Physique¡¯, Bi Fang would have wondered if he had dropped to a mere 1.6. After cleaning up, Bi Fang started the live stream, and viewers poured in like a flowing stream. As loyal fans, many immediately noticed something was off with Bi Fang. [Damn, what happened? Why is your face so pale early in the morning?] [My god, take it easy, Old Fang, you can¡¯t squander your energy like that in the wilderness] [Uh, are you serious, bro?] ¡°Obviously, I¡¯m sick,¡± Bi Fang wiped the sweat from his forehead with a leaf, feeling weak in his legs, ¡°I started having stomach pains early this morning. I don¡¯t know the reason, but I¡¯ve just finished using the toilet.¡± [See, I told you not to eat the catfish.] Immediately, some viewers chimed in assertively, claiming the diarrhea was due to eating catfish. But Bi Fang shook his head: ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be a food issue. Compared to being poisoned by catfish, I¡¯m more inclined to believe it¡¯s because I¡¯m not acclimatized. If it was a problem with food, according to digestion time, I would have woken up with pain in the middle of the night, not early in the morning.¡± Looking at the misty rainforest, Bi Fang had another guess: ¡°Perhaps my stomach got cold, too. It just rained last night; it wasn¡¯t stuffy but rather made me feel a bit cold.¡± After all, Bi Fang wore nothing but a grass skirt, and had merely covered himself with a few palm leaves ¨C it was entirely possible that the chill had led to his diarrhea. The more he thought about it, the more Bi Fang felt this was the case. ¡°No worries, I¡¯ll be fine after taking some medicine for the diarrhea. Actually, this gives me a good opportunity to talk about human waste management.¡± Bi Fang shoveled a handful of earth into the toilet pit. Of course, the camera couldn¡¯t be pointed directly at it ¨C that would be too gross. ¡°Nowadays, many people haven¡¯t used a primitive pit toilet. But regardless of how you dispose of feces, there are principles that need to be followed. For example, to avoid contamination, we should ensure that any simple pit toilets are dug at least 25 meters away from any water source. The depth of the pit should be at least 45 centimeters.¡± ¡°After relieving yourself, cover the feces with dirt immediately. If there¡¯s still a smell after covering it, then you must bury it again. Paper should be burned after use, as paper can last a long time before decomposing and would severely damage the environment; it requires manual breakdown.¡± ¡°Also, make sure that nothing from your clothing bag accidentally slides in; dropping any tools in there wouldn¡¯t make for a pleasant experience.¡± Bi Fang held a piece of charcoal ash in his hand, which he crumbled and sprinkled in the pit. ¡°Here¡¯s a tip I can teach you all. To mask the odor, you don¡¯t need to cover it with a thick layer of soil right away. You can spread a layer of charcoal ash first and then cover it with soil, which is more effective.¡± ¡°Alright, now I need to quickly find something to alleviate the pain.¡± Bi Fang held his stomach, still feeling quite uncomfortable with no signs of improvement, which showed that this situation was not as simple as just a typical upset stomach. ¡°There are many ways to treat diarrhea. In fact, lemongrass also has effects on treating diarrhea, but I want to see if there are other materials available. Let¡¯s go and see if there are suitable medicinal plants around. I recall seeing rubber trees when exploring the area earlier.¡± Recalling the directions briefly, Bi Fang walked toward a certain direction. When he originally set up the camp, he had measured the bearings and had marked the northwest, northeast, southwest, and southeast directions with stones nearby to determine his orientation. ¡°Rubber trees can be said to be the most important economic trees in the world, and Yunnan is also a major rubber-producing province. Even though they were all introduced and planted later, in Jinghong, seventy percent of the rainforest has already been replaced by rubber trees.¡± The expressway from Jinghong to Mengla is flanked by rubber forests on both sides. In normal tourism, most of the trees one would see are actually rubber trees, not the real rainforest. Situated in a remote corner of southwestern Yunnan, Mengsa Bazha is a wild and desolate place. Within this flatland, ancient trees reach for the sky, and the roars of tigers and howls of wolves can be heard. Dense reeds fill the network of water channels, and snakes and insects lurk about. Miasma pervades the air, and epidemics are common. Sights like these have completely vanished, of course, some of them were not pleasant, but this also indirectly illustrates the huge changes Jinghong has undergone. ¡°Rubber trees, which look lush and green, have a strong water absorption capacity, and with their tall, dense foliage, they block out sunlight, resulting in no grass growing beneath them, and a reduction in the diversity of life in the forest, or even death. Hence, rubber forests are also known as ¡®green deserts.''¡± ¡°Surveys have shown that, compared to natural forests, the number of birds in man-made rubber forests has decreased by more than 70%, and the number of mammalian animals has decreased by more than 80%. It¡¯s said that the recent migration of elephants was suspected to be related to this.¡± [Ah, I¡¯ve seen this, there were even news reports before, about a dozen elephants, all heading north.] [Wasn¡¯t it said to be due to global warming?] [That¡¯s why they suspect it¡¯s related.] While the ecological degradation caused by the cultivation of rubber trees is indeed distressing, Bi Fang still agreed with the principle. ¡°Protecting the environment is fundamentally about protecting humans, aligning with human interest is essential, and everything we do now ultimately serves development, to be able to eat well, stay warm, and obtain a better life. However, let¡¯s hope we can consider both in the future.¡± The spreading rubber forests, dense and thick through various means, also grow in the most pristine parts of the rainforest, and this is precisely what Bi Fang was looking for. However, where Bi Fang was, had already strayed far from Jinghong, deep into the rainforest, where the primitive landscape still remained, and rubber trees naturally weren¡¯t so easy to find. Even before finding the rubber trees, Bi Fang had come across some other good things, smelly vegetables, and frangipani. ¡°Frangipani, a beautiful little tree with flowers, symbolize hope, resurrection, and rebirth. Their blooming season is from May to October, and we are in luck,¡± said Bi Fang as he picked all the pale yellow flowers from the tree. Despite feeling like there was a fire burning in his stomach, he did not want to miss out. ¡°Locals stir-fry and eat frangipani flowers, we will collect some too, but they belong to the oleander family, and the sap contained in the bark and leaves is poisonous, so be careful not to touch.¡± ¡°Look, there are smelly vegetables here!¡± Bi Fang picked the wild vegetables from the ground and placed the tips into the bark container. ¡°Smelly vegetables are the most characteristic wild vegetable of the area, and smelly vegetables fried with eggs are a traditional delicacy of the D Ethnic Group. I haven¡¯t tried it, but it¡¯s said to taste very good, although it really does smell terrible, my gosh, I feel like throwing up.¡± The smell of smelly vegetables was much more potent than that of stinky tofu, reeking like foul socks, which to Bi Fang, with his sensitive sense of smell, was overwhelming, making his head feel dizzy in an instant. ¡°But smelly vegetables are nutrient-rich. Each hundred grams contain about 10 grams of vitamin B12, and the lack of B12 is one of the causes of brain aging and Alzheimer¡¯s disease. Eating some smelly vegetables benefits the prevention of this condition.¡± [Are we starting to prevent Alzheimer¡¯s so early?] [Master Fang: Take one step and look ten steps ahead.] [Master Fang: Make plans early, make plans early.] Bi Fang, propping up his dizzy head, continued his search and eventually found two large rubber trees that were over ten meters tall on a narrow downslope. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Yes, what I saw at that time was them.¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t say much and tore off a long strip of bark directly. ¡°When cutting the bark, it¡¯s best to cut vertically because the bark is responsible for transporting the tree¡¯s nutrients. If you strip a section from the middle, the whole tree will die, so don¡¯t girdle it, and even if cutting horizontally, don¡¯t peel more than one-third of the circumference, I remember mentioning this when I was making the bark container.¡± The stomach pain persisted, and although the pain wasn¡¯t intense, its continual presence was extremely uncomfortable, even causing Bi Fang to break out in a cold sweat. [Wait, why would the whole tree die if it¡¯s girdled? Shouldn¡¯t only the top half die?] [Yeah, aren¡¯t the nutrients transported to the upper part?] [No, I remember that the bark is for nutrient recirculation, it flows from top to bottom.] ¡°Exactly, the bark is for nutrient recirculation. The growth and development of trees rely on roots absorbing water and nutrients which are then transformed into carbohydrates through the leaves¡¯ photosynthesis, supporting branches, roots, etc., and then the root system develops further to absorb more water and nutrients.¡± ¡°Some trees are already hollow in the middle and yet still full of life, simply because the phloem around the edge exists, capable of transporting nutrients.¡± ¡°If the phloem gets damaged and the bark is stripped off in a wide area without new phloem growing in time, the roots will die due to the lack of organic nutrients. It¡¯s a cycle that cannot be broken.¡± Bi Fang wiped his sweat, stuffed the two large strips of bark into his backpack frame, and then started to make medicine upon returning to the camp. Using charcoal, he reignited the fire, roasted the bark, and then crushed it together with lemongrass, placing it into a wooden bowl. To improve the taste, he also squeezed the remaining sugarcane into juice with a bamboo tube and then poured boiling water over it to stew and boil. ¡°Sugarcane is the raw material for making brown sugar and also has stomach-nourishing effects.¡± The whole process was just like brewing medicine. After allowing it to boil for five to six minutes, Bi Fang took the wooden bowl off the fire to let it cool before consuming. As the warm medicinal liquid entered his aching stomach, Bi Fang¡¯s tightly furrowed brow suddenly relaxed. Chapter 477: 474: What to Do if You Accidentally Catch a Grade II Protected Animal? Chapter 477: Chapter 474: What to Do if You Accidentally Catch a Grade II Protected Animal? Banna Rainforest survival, day four. Bi Fang sat up from his vine bed, stretched a lazy stretch, and faced another day brimming with vitality. With an empty stomach, he cooked another pot of fish soup and stewed the few remaining bamboo shoots. [Ah, fish again.] [It¡¯s still milky white!] [So fragrant.] Viewers who had just gotten up in the morning started to feel hungry at the sight. Bi Fang first grilled the fish until the surface was cooked and then stewed it, resulting in a creamy white broth. It was a pity, though, it was fresh but bland. ¡°Without salt, there¡¯s no vitality,¡± Bi Fang smacked his lips, almost tasting blandness itself. Without salt, there¡¯s no vitality, and today marked the fourth day of survival in the rainforest, subsisting on fish without any animal blood, meaning sodium intake was severely limited. There were plenty of wild vegetables in the rainforest and a stable supply of meat, unfortunately, it was all fish, so it was necessary to figure out a way to obtain some salt. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the riverbank and see if the fishing ground we dug the day before yesterday is still there. If it¡¯s gone, we¡¯ll have to dig a new one.¡± Yesterday, he had suffered from stomach pains all morning and didn¡¯t feel much better until taking medicine at noon. In the evening, he simply stewed three bamboo shoot soups, added smelly vegetables and egg flowers, a pure vegetarian meal. Almost an entire day was wasted, so there was even more to do today. In the morning, Bi Fang returned to the riverside, and sure enough, an overnight downpour had raised the water level of the entire river considerably, and many upstream streams had widened. So, Bi Fang dug a new fishing ground with a shovel, deeper and larger than before, over half a meter deep and three square meters in size. He also wove a more sturdy fish cage that allowed entry but not exit, and then scattered some smelly grass and fish entrails that had fermented overnight into it. ¡°After processing the fish entrails that day, I wrapped them in leaves and buried them in the soil. Wow, that reeks.¡± As soon as Bi Fang opened the leaf wrapping, a strong fishy and rotten stench burst forth, extremely pungent. ¡°It has already started to rot and ferment, faster than I thought, but it¡¯s perfect for attracting more carnivorous fish.¡± After throwing all the rotting fish entrails into the fishing ground, Bi Fang filled all the bamboo tubes within the bark frame with water, a total of ten tubes. He planned to go back and take a bath, and the soap he made was also ready. Having completed all this and secured a steady source of meat, Bi Fang followed the markings on the trees along the way and found the traps he had previously made, discovering many of them had been sodden and ruined by the rain. Discarding the water-soaked, soft bamboo traps, Bi Fang shook his head: ¡°Many traps are trigger-based, ruined by external forces, but that¡¯s okay, the river is full of fish, and we don¡¯t need to make more traps anymore.¡± Checking each previously set trap, he left the damaged ones to decompose naturally and dismantled the intact ones manually. To his surprise, the last one he checked actually caught something! A giant black squirrel, resembling a regular squirrel, had been caught by one of its feet! [Damn, that¡¯s a chunky squirrel!] [Are squirrels this chunky?] [This can¡¯t be a squirrel, it¡¯s so dark.] The audience¡¯s eyes widened, having never seen a black squirrel, let alone one so large. Just the body was thirty to forty centimeters, nearly the size of a cat, and the tail was even more than half a meter, making the whole thing look bigger than a dog! Indeed, the rainforest nourishes squirrels well! In normal places, it¡¯s impossible to find squirrels this size, and the audience felt enlightened all at once. [Such a big one, it could be a whole meal, right?] [I¡¯ve never eaten squirrel, only bamboo rat, and it tastes very delicious, yum.] [Squirrels are so cute, how can you eat them?] [Just talked about lacking salt, and here it is delivered to the doorstep, lol.jpg] ¡°Damn, how did I manage to catch it!¡± Bi Fang was not at all as happy as the audience imagined; not only was he not pleased, but he was also somewhat nervous. Gripping the tree stick tightly, he cautiously approached the trap. As soon as the giant black squirrel saw someone coming, it bristled and bared its big buck teeth, but in the eyes of the onlookers, it didn¡¯t seem threatening at all. Instead, it looked kind of cute. [Ah, what¡¯s going on¡­ does this squirrel have a virus?] [This can¡¯t be a protected animal, can it?] [How can squirrels be a protected species?] ¡°This dark fella here is a giant squirrel. All squirrels in Huaxia can be raised except for this one because it is a Level 2 National Protected Animal!¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t set lethal traps precisely to avoid this kind of situation; accidentally harming a protected animal would be trouble. Merely restricting movement was still okay, potentially salvageable. [Damn, seriously? This guy is Level 2?] [White-limbed wild ox is Level 1, giant squirrel is Level 2, I wonder, is this Old Fang¡¯s good luck? Or are protected animals just that common now?] ¡°[It¡¯s over, no more Old Fang live streams. Jailed for good, with millions of eyes watching]¡± ¡°[Master Fang~~~so sad!~~]¡± sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. What¡¯s the big deal? Many fishermen catch protected animals too, does that mean they¡¯re all breaking the law? As long as you don¡¯t harm them and release them back into the wild right away, it¡¯s fine.¡± Bi Fang grasped the tree stick, inching closer to the giant squirrel, whose fur bristled even more fiercely. Seeing this, Bi Fang moved even more slowly, fearful that although the animal was not physically hurt, it might become psychologically disturbed. Finally, he pressed down on the giant squirrel¡¯s head with the tree stick, gradually pushing it to the ground. Although the giant squirrel appeared to be as large as a dog, its body was only the size of a cat, so Bi Fang was able to hold it down with one hand. He took the opportunity to move to its hind legs and tried to untie the vines. ¡°Locals call the giant squirrel ¡®tree dog,¡¯ which shows how big it is. It¡¯s also called ¡®big black rat¡¯ because it¡¯s as nimble as a rat and very dark.¡± The camera zoomed in, and the audience could clearly see many bite marks on the vine. The squirrel had already bitten through quite a few fibers, but, unfortunately, the vine was too thick. It hadn¡¯t bitten through when Bi Fang found it. As he started to handle the trap, Bi Fang also laughed, ¡°Good thing it ran into me first. If it had been a python or something, it would¡¯ve been dinner on a plate.¡± ¡°[If it had been eaten by a python, it would still be your fault. It was living peacefully in the tree, then suddenly got caught.]¡± ¡°Hahaha, you¡¯re right, blame me.¡± Bi Fang chuckled, and after he had untied the trap, he stepped back and finally released the tree stick. Almost the moment the tree stick was withdrawn, with a swish, a huge black shadow flashed before everyone¡¯s eyes. By the time they spotted it again, it was already up in the trees, sitting on a branch, baring its teeth at Bi Fang, revealing its chestnut brown fur. The little fellow was quite fierce. Bi Fang picked up a small stone and flicked it, hitting the small creature¡¯s head. The black giant squirrel shrieked, panicked, and leapt away, disappearing into the jungle. Bi Fang laughed heartily, finding it amusing. ¡°[That¡¯s it, I¡¯ve discovered Master Fang¡¯s wicked taste for tormenting small animals. Am I going to be silenced?]¡± ¡°What do you mean bullying small animals? I¡¯m a friend to animals. What I just did was to help it, to let it know that humans are not a friendly species so that next time it sees one, it¡¯ll know to stay away.¡± ¡°In the future, when you¡¯re out traveling, don¡¯t randomly feed wild animals, especially ones you don¡¯t recognize. Many times, you give them the wrong idea, thinking that humans are friendly, and they¡¯ll come back for more food.¡± ¡°But animals are always animals, they can¡¯t differentiate between one person and the next. If they encounter a poacher, then it¡¯s all over.¡± Bi Fang felt it was a bit sad, but indeed, it was the most correct thing for an ordinary person to do. Not making these creatures think all people are kind is the kindest thing to do. After releasing the giant squirrel, Bi Fang had dismantled all the traps and headed back to the camp. ¡°If you catch an unidentified animal that might be a protected species, don¡¯t panic. What you should do is check online immediately, determine whether it belongs to the roster of Level 1 or 2 National Protected Animals by location. If you¡¯re not certain, you should also contact the relevant departments in time.¡± ¡°Discovering a rare national protected animal is something managed by the Forest Bureau, and their phone number is available online. Then wait for the professionals to come and assess it. Don¡¯t think it¡¯s too much trouble. Protecting rare animals is a civic duty. If all else fails, calling 110 is also an option.¡± ¡°Besides that, contacting a zoo is also correct. And, if you find yourself in a habitat of a national protected animal and see no obvious signs of injury, you can release it directly back into the wild.¡± After a brief educational session with the audience on what to do when encountering a potentially rare wild animal, Bi Fang returned to the camp and split open yesterday¡¯s bamboo tubes that had been left to dry. Breaking open the bamboo, the audience immediately saw the creamy yellow, round soap settled at the bottom of the tube. Not only did it look like soap, but its shape was also the exact center of the bamboo tube, virtually indistinguishable from modern industrial soaps! ¡°[Did you actually manage to make it?]¡± ¡°[If you have extra, you can send it to me, can¡¯t wait.jpg]¡± Bi Fang squeezed the soap; it was much softer than the ones bought in a supermarket, like a piece of lard, but a bit harder than lard alone. He smelled it, and it gave off a fragrance of lemon. He wet the soap with some water, rubbed it to create lather, and then actually began to apply it directly onto his body. ¡°In the rainforest, if possible, it¡¯s best to bathe every day. The best time is in the evening, after finishing a day¡¯s work. Pay special attention to cleaning areas like the armpits and groin.¡± ¡°These areas are most likely to develop rashes from the stimulation of sweat accumulating throughout the day. The area behind the ears needs to be kept clean too. If there¡¯s not enough water, then you should reduce the amount of soap and shampoo.¡± After applying soap all over one side, Bi Fang picked up a bamboo tube of water and poured it from top to bottom, sweeping away days of grime in one go, feeling thoroughly refreshed. ¡°If you¡¯re using a natural soap like me, a simple rinse is enough. It will biodegrade quickly in nature, but if it¡¯s not, and it¡¯s the soap you brought, no matter what it says on the packaging, be sure to dig a hole at least twenty-five meters away from a water source to dispose of the water.¡± ¡°As for using it directly in a river, that should be avoided even more. You don¡¯t know if it¡¯s truly environmentally friendly. Businesses can deceive, and even a small piece of soap can wreak havoc on the environment.¡± Clean from bathing and after eating lunch, Bi Fang cleaned his teeth with a tree branch, extinguished the fire pit, grabbed the tree stick, and, with a more portable funnel bag, set off deeper into the rainforest. ¡°[Old Fang, where are you going?]¡± The audience was puzzled by Bi Fang¡¯s sudden fully-equipped departure. Holding the spear, Bi Fang explained, ¡°While eating lunch, I thought of a good way to find salt, which is a bit dangerous.¡± ¡°But if everything goes well, we might not have to worry about salt anymore.¡± ¡°Now let¡¯s try to find the Wild Baizhi Ox we encountered on the first day.¡± Chapter 478: 475: The Great Battle Between the Ox and the Snake Chapter 478: Chapter 475: The Great Battle Between the Ox and the Snake Banna Rainforest survival, day five. Bi Fang was still wandering through the dense jungle, following the tracks on the ground in search of his target. The hoofprints of the Wild Baizhi Ox were enormous and deep, creating pits in the moist soil of the rainforest that not even a heavy rain could easily wash away. Inside one deep pit, several insects had drowned, struggling in vain. Bi Fang inserted his finger into it, and the muddy water reached past his second knuckle; a weight of over a ton pressing on the moist soil made such dramatic impressions. ¡°The hoofprints are deep, and generally speaking, the shallower the print, the longer it¡¯s been since the target left. The deeper they are, the closer the quarry is. It looks like we¡¯re about to catch up with the Wild Baizhi Ox.¡± Bi Fang wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling considerably relieved, ¡°Phew, after a day¡¯s chase, we¡¯re finally about to catch up.¡± Since yesterday afternoon, Bi Fang had begun tracking the Wild Baizhi Ox he¡¯d encountered on the first day. Even with several days passed, an experienced hunter could track animals based on traces left even half a month earlier. But by the time Bi Fang finally arrived at the original location, the hoofprints had completely disappeared due to the heavy rain, covered by freshly fallen twigs. He searched in different directions until late afternoon on the fourth day before picking up the trail again, worried that rain might fall again at night and wash away the newly found clues, Bi Fang continued the chase until nightfall before returning. This morning, he set out again, well-supplied with food and tools and having woven a new pair of grass shoes. The grand effort was not just for the sake of hunting the Wild Baizhi Ox; it was also for salt. Large herbivorous animals all have their own ¡°salt mine bases.¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The pH of all living things is basically the same. Compared to carnivores, herbivores need to consume more salt. They generally lick the walls of caves or visit a salinized patch of land. With patient tracking, sooner or later one would arrive at their salt mine base. Next, all Bi Fang needed to do was to dig up the soil to boil for salt, or he could try licking the cave walls himself, chiseling off a chunk of salt stone. If he could find salt, Bi Fang already had an ample supply of meat, vegetables, and now with salt, a stable life had the foundation to continue, and he could start thinking about iron smelting. With that in mind, Bi Fang continued to follow the hoofprints in front of him. He did not slacken his efforts, not only because snakes and ants were everywhere but also because he was about to confront the Wild Baizhi Ox. ¡°According to the hoofprints, we can see that all along, the Wild Baizhi Ox hardly ever circled around but instead wandered recklessly everywhere. This shows it is very confident because there are no creatures in the entire jungle that can threaten it; it roams confidently in every direction.¡± Even venomous snakes could hardly pierce through that thick, rough skin that was like natural armor. Its sharp horns could penetrate anything that resisted, and its strong muscles could burst forth with the power to uproot large trees. ¡°Other animals could never exhibit such behavior; they live within a fixed, familiar territory, knowing where dangers and predators are, avoiding risks in advance.¡± Pausing, Bi Fang joked, ¡°If there really were an ox talisman, its portrait would definitely be of the Wild Baizhi Ox.¡± By noon, Bi Fang¡¯s stomach began to rumble. He looked up at the sky, obscured by leaves, listened to the chorus of birds from an unknown place within the jungle, and set down the bark frame from his back, pulling out a fish. The fish was the size of a small forearm, its tail bound with a vine, the other end passing through the gills and out of the fish¡¯s lips, bending the whole fish into a bow shape. ¡°Although I can¡¯t see the sun, my stomach and biological clock tell me it should be noon by now. Let¡¯s eat first, then continue after the meal.¡± Bi Fang cleared a patch of ground and took out the Stone Dagger to cut the vine. The moment the vine was cut, the once-restrained fish immediately sprang to life, flopping on the ground, gasping for water, startling the onlookers. The fish had been tied up since early this morning, for six to seven hours now, and it was still alive? It¡¯s summer, can a fish really survive out of water this long? [Have African Lungfish invaded the Banna Rainforest?] [Isn¡¯t this just a common carp?] ¡°Haha, do you think I tied the fish this way for no reason?¡± Bi Fang started digging a pit to make a fire while explaining, ¡°This is the ¡®bowfish¡¯ method. Fish processed using the bowfish technique can survive out of water for 10 days in the winter and at least 1 day during the hot summer days.¡± ¡°The rainforest climate is hot, dead fish spoil quickly, and I¡¯ve been moving, making it inconvenient to smoke the fish. So, I have to keep the fish alive. Don¡¯t think the bowfish technique is just a simple tie-up, it¡¯s actually quite complicated.¡± The bowfish method consists of three steps: initial binding, watering, and final binding. Initial binding uses a grass rope to tie the fish¡¯s head and tail. Watering involves placing the bound fish into a stream of flowing water, allowing it to expel impurities and take in new water. Then, an hour later, the fish¡¯s tail, after it has been watered, is tied again¡ªa final binding just above the fish¡¯s anal opening. Only then is the process complete. Improper execution not only fails to achieve the desired preservation effects but can even affect the quality of the fish¡¯s flesh. ¡°By tying it up in a special way, it reduces the fish¡¯s movements, and during the watering phase, it consumes a lot of fresh water which it can¡¯t expel.¡± ¡°And by keeping the fish¡¯s mouth constantly open, the gills are also forced to remain open, increasing the absorption of oxygen from the humid air, that¡¯s why the fish survives for such a long time.¡± Bi Fang took out the fire starter, and after creating thick smoke and flames, he tossed it into the pit before processing the fish again. The fish, harvested from the fishing ground this morning, still retained its fatty belly but had not had its scales or innards removed. Bi Fang spread out some leaves and gutted the fish completely. ¡°The greatest advantage of the summer bow fishing technique is not only keeping the fish alive and fresh, facilitating transport, but also removing the river fish¡¯s muddy smell. In ¡¯09, the bow fishing technique was even added to the FJ Province¡¯s list of intangible cultural heritage.¡± After skewering the fish on bamboo sticks, Bi Fang set it over the fire to roast and then boiled some wild greens soup in bamboo tubes, sealing the lids tightly and inserting them directly into the campfire. Bi Fang had prepared well in advance for a prolonged outing. When he left early this morning, he had all the basic supplies, three bamboo tubes of water, three large fish, and along the way, he had been collecting edible flowers and wild greens, so there was no worry about lacking food. After eating, Bi Fang cleaned up the site and continued following the increasingly deep buffalo hoofprints. Finally, in the afternoon, the depth of the hoofprints was almost enough to cover an entire finger. Bi Fang poked the soft earth, which had become almost like a slurry due to the heavy rain affecting the entire rainforest floor. To prevent the mud from seeping into his straw sandals and coming into close contact with his skin, Bi Fang wrapped his feet in no fewer than three layers of large leaves to barely keep out the muck. ¡°That Wild Baizhi Ox¡¯s weight is estimated to be between 1,200 to 1,300 kilograms judging by the softness of the soil, and given how deeply it sinks in, it might have left less than half an hour ago. We should be more cautious; the large fellow could be nearby.¡± The hoofprints in front of him were even larger than Bi Fang¡¯s palm. It wasn¡¯t just the threat of being gored by its horns; a single stomp could be lethal to anyone. At this point, Bi Fang no longer dared to march forward boldly, mostly tracking in a half-crouched position: ¡°As I¡¯ve mentioned before, thanks to its extremely sensitive sense of smell and hearing, the Wild Baizhi Ox can detect human activity within a 200-meter radius.¡± ¡°It¡¯s very likely that it has already spotted us before we even see it, so it¡¯s best to stay alert at all times, avoid standing upright carelessly and drawing its attention.¡± [Damn, Master Fang has regressed] [Bravo, young hero, for your strong back!] [Looks like a real back-breaker.] Crouching and bending forward, Bi Fang opened up the nearby underbrush with his spear. In the primeval rainforest, travel was far from easy. Aside from the towering trees, the underbrush was ubiquitous. With no path in sight, sometimes after traversing a distance, one could be lacerated by the underbrush, but thankfully, Bi Fang¡¯s reddish clay not only warded off mosquitoes but also served as a thin layer of physical armor, preventing worry over cuts and scrapes. Bi Fang pressed down the brush in front of him with a tree stick, and momentarily, the branches under the tree stick shuddered and then sprang back into place. Press, and spring back. Hmm? [Is Master Fang¡¯s hand shaking?] [Hahaha, superb elasticity] ¡°It¡¯s not my hand that¡¯s shaking.¡± Bi Fang narrowed his eyes and crouched even lower, pressing into the ground to create a deep hole which quickly filled with water, forming a small yellowish puddle. A moment later, the puddle rippled again and again, endlessly. Bi Fang¡¯s expression grew serious: ¡°It¡¯s the ground that¡¯s shaking.¡± [An earthquake?!] The audience, perplexed yet impressed, thought of an earthquake upon hearing that the ground was shaking and completely lost it. [Should we find an open space to take cover?] [Where can you find an open space here?] [I didn¡¯t hear that Yunnan was on an earthquake belt] ¡°It¡¯s definitely not an earthquake.¡± Recalling the massive size of the Wild Baizhi Ox, Bi Fang¡¯s mouth twitched as he pressed down all the brush in front of him and passed through the underbrush. The next moment, the view opened up, not because of natural landscape but due to the effects of destruction. Everyone was stunned by the sight in front of them. The identical white sharp horns, the colossal size of the behemoth, its over-ton explosive muscles; one could clearly feel the powerful and fierce presence even from tens of meters away. But right now, a huge snakehead was impaled on the ox¡¯s horns, and large pools of red blood dripped down, accumulating in the hoofprints to form blood puddles. The giant python, covered with blood and black spots, was tightly coiled around the Wild Baizhi Ox¡¯s body, constricting inch by inch as the muscles bulged visibly on its thick body. Like a crazed beast, the ox repeatedly rammed into the trees in front of it, knocking down the surrounding underbrush as if it had been bombed. Numerous trees were not spared, one after another, and saplings that had yet to become towering giants all fell, like a battlefield. The frenzied and bloody scene jolted the senses of both Bi Fang and the viewers before their screens, sending chills down their spines as if a wooden plough had repeatedly tilled through their hearts. [My goodness, a battle between the ox and the snake!] Chapter 479: 476: The Pregnant Python Chapter 479: Chapter 476: The Pregnant Python ¡°` Fuck, what¡¯s going on? Bi Fang cursed softly, never seen such a thing in his life. He didn¡¯t know how these two got into a fight, but Bi Fang knew the python was done for. The area under the python¡¯s neck had been completely penetrated by the ox¡¯s horn, the dripping fresh blood and pieces of snake skin falling continuously, almost making one want to vomit. It was only a matter of time before it cooled down. The ground shook incessantly, like a small earthquake, with the area looking as if it had been ravaged by a storm. Trees less than the width of a bowl lay on the ground, and those wider than a bowl had their barks heavily mottled as if violently struck. ¡°An adult Burmese python and an adult wild Baizhi ox, truly a rare sight.¡± [Burmese python? Shouldn¡¯t that thing be in MD?] [There are also some in the Banna Rainforest, it¡¯s a first-class protected animal¡­] [Holy shit, a first-class battling another first-class?] [They¡¯re both heavyweights, so freaking cool] [I¡¯ve been to Banna Rainforest for a trip and saw a Burmese python near the botanical garden in Menglun Town. That one wasn¡¯t as big as this one, but it was also scary] Bi Fang looked around and felt it was still not safe. He took two steps back and hid his body in the bushes. He hoped the other party hadn¡¯t noticed him, or if they had, that they would ignore him. Running was not an option; it would likely attract the attention of the enraged wild Baizhi ox. His only choice was to quietly hide. However, this scene was truly rare. Peering through the gaps in the bushes, Bi Fang clicked his tongue and said, ¡°I¡¯ve only seen adult Burmese pythons eat juvenile calves, never seen one provoke an adult wild ox before.¡± Burmese pythons grow throughout their lives, meaning as long as they live long enough, there¡¯s no limit to how large they can grow. But the problem is, they have a lifespan limit. Therefore, there¡¯s a limit to how big the Burmese python can get. No matter how big it gets, it can¡¯t swallow an adult wild ox, especially a male one with sharp horns that could pierce the python¡¯s belly. In light of this, it would be pointless and potentially fatal for the python to attack the ox. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°So was it the wild Baizhi ox that attacked the Burmese python?¡± Bi Fang stroked his chin, pondering, ¡°Was the python merely defending itself and counterattacking?¡± Everyone noticed that there was a muddy river next to the two animals. Perhaps the wild Baizhi ox came over to drink water and happened to encounter the Burmese python in the river? But now wasn¡¯t the time to think about these things. Bi Fang quickly commanded the drone to move forward, ¡°Capture it, capture it, you must capture it. This is a scene worthy of going into zoological research!¡± The drone followed by Bi Fang¡¯s side, two smaller drones flying out of the bushes, capturing this rare lifetime spectacle up close. A battle between two fierce beasts, this was far more real and shocking than any movie since this very moment, in a corner of the Earth, it was happening for real. Staff at the Banna Reserve learned about this event within three short minutes. Although Bi Fang¡¯s professional competence was strong, no matter what, it was necessary to have someone monitoring the situation, just in case something unexpected happened, making it easier to respond. Who would have thought he¡¯d witness such a rare scene in his lifetime? Zhou Weisheng sat in his office, watching the live stream speechless for a long while before he muttered, ¡°I¡¯ve worked here for so long, never seen a wild Baizhi ox and a Burmese python fight.¡± In recent years, the Banna Rainforest had done well in environmental protection, and the number of wild Baizhi oxen had recovered to more than 300. But no matter how much they recovered, they were still a first-class protected animal. The same went for the Burmese python. To visit the rainforest and encounter both at the same time was already tough, let alone seeing them fight. No one knew whether to say Bi Fang was lucky or unlucky, He thought about contacting Bi Fang to see if he could remotely pilot the drone to capture the scene in great detail, as it would be hugely helpful for the study of the animals¡¯ behavior. But Bi Fang, without needing Zhou Weisheng¡¯s reminder, was already keenly aware of its value, making it so that they, the professionals, had no opportunity to interject. As for those viewers saying both animals are first-class and wondering if they should be protected, in their eyes, that¡¯s totally unnecessary. Even the rarest non-captive wild animals should be allowed to meet their natural fate as long as it isn¡¯t due to human intervention. In the rainforest. The wild Baizhi ox continued to charge into the trees, each impact making the earth tremble and making Bi Fang¡¯s teeth feel sore. As for the python, it probably had only a few more minutes before it was truly finished. ¡°With the python completely pierced by the horn, even if it chose to escape now, its chances of survival are slim. Perhaps it¡¯s already dead, merely struggling instinctively, tightening its body.¡± Bi Fang regretfully looked at the snake¡¯s blood on the ground; cooked thoroughly to kill off parasites, it would have been good for replenishing sodium levels. A minute later, the snake¡¯s tail coiled around the ox began to tremble, witnessed by three million viewers. Two minutes later, the snake¡¯s head could no longer be raised, noticed by three million, four hundred forty-six thousand viewers. Three minutes later, the snake¡¯s body completely relaxed and began to droop helplessly, its long tail dragging on the ground, the scene testified by four million viewers. Five minutes later, the ox¡¯s massive hoof stepped on the snake¡¯s body, and the wild Baizhi ox raised its head, tearing off the entire python neck like ripping fabric. The massive python head flew into the jungle, and fortunately, it did not fly towards Bi Fang. It was as if two plumes of white steam burst from the wild Baizhi ox¡¯s nostrils. The victor lifted its head high and walked toward the river, bowing to drink. Nearly five million viewers fell silent, and after a long while, comments began to emerge. [Ox¡­ impressive¡­] ¡°` ¡°This is seriously badass¡­ Long live Brother Ox!¡± ¡°This shouldn¡¯t be called badass, it¡¯s ox*damn awesome!¡± ¡°Why did you get muted? Reflect on yourself!¡± ¡°Spaceship sends 100 ashtrays to the streamer¡ªnow I finally realize how dangerous it is to encounter a Wild Baizhi Ox.¡± ¡°Hahaha, it¡¯s Leo! Leo must be totally bamboozled watching this.¡± Clearly, Leonardo was still in front of the screen, seemingly not yet immersed in work. ¡°I thought the python¡¯s head would get stuck on the ox¡¯s horn, that would have been so cool.¡± ¡°Are you also a Blue Sky Bull Python or what?¡± ¡°Who wouldn¡¯t be bamboozled by this? I¡¯m bamboozled myself. Who knew this fella was so fierce, this snake¡¯s waist is even thicker than mine, it could have swallowed me with ease. Instead, it became strung up like stringed gourds.¡± ¡°Nanshan Traveler sends 6666 fish balls to the streamer¡ªwhat an eye-opener, truly enlightening!¡± ¡°Quickly send this footage to Sir, to be added into the new documentary!¡± From the continuously rising number of viewers, it was clear how shocking this scene was to everyone. Another ¡°never seen before¡± series. ¡°To be honest, that was quite dangerous just now.¡± Watching the Wild Baizhi Ox leave to drink water, Bi Fang sat down on the ground with a flop, touched his chest, and only heaven knew how much cold sweat he had broken into. As a bystander, it was not at all relaxing, it was nerve-wracking, fearing that the fish in the moat might be affected by a fire at the city gate. ¡°The Wild Baizhi Ox might still be very aggressive now, we can¡¯t immediately follow it. If we annoy it, it¡¯s all over.¡± ¡°Hahaha, Mrs. Ox really has a violent temper.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll wait a bit more; once the Wild Baizhi Ox is gone, we¡¯ll follow, but we need to move away from here first¡ªthere¡¯s too much of a stench of blood.¡± Bi Fang sniffed, feeling regretful about the extremely strong smell of blood permeating the air. Of course, even if it hadn¡¯t been dispersed, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t have used it. According to Article 24 of the Wildlife Protection Law, the sale and purchase of state-protected wild animals or their products are prohibited. Although it¡¯s not specified, there¡¯s no doubt this includes animals that have died naturally. Otherwise, there would appear many ¡°naturally dead¡± animals all over the world. Bi Fang remembered a leader visiting Tibet, and a local leader presented a plate of lamb, brazenly stating, ¡°Respected guest, as soon as it heard you were coming, this lamb jumped off a cliff and killed itself.¡± Latter, that leader was put under investigation, and as for who that was, it was the great Director Ke! Indescribable. ¡°Such a pity, python meat, python skin, are all delicacies.¡± ¡°The one before, you¡¯re quite something, your comment is very dangerous.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the big deal, Burmese Pythons may be second-class protected in the country, but they are overrunning the world.¡± After hearing Bi Fang¡¯s explanation, the audience felt somewhat regretful, After waiting a while, guessing that the Wild Baizhi Ox had walked far away, Bi Fang emerged from the bushes and looked down at the python on the ground with some regret. The huge python head was still opening and closing. Upon closer comparison with humans, the size of the python appeared even more massive¡ªit wasn¡¯t as thick as a waist but was indeed thicker than the average person¡¯s thigh. ¡°I heard that although it¡¯s called a Burmese Python, but¡± Bi Fang estimated it to be over six meters long. After his gaze swept from the top to the bottom of the Burmese Python, he suddenly focused on the python¡¯s lower abdomen. It was the lower abdomen of the python that seemed¡­ somewhat swollen. He hadn¡¯t noticed it earlier, but now that he was closer, he realized something was off. Bi Fang felt some surprise. Was this due to constipation or¡ªwas it pregnant? Zhou Weisheng and others also realized there seemed to be something unusual. Burmese Pythons breed from November to April, with the laying period taking four to five months, and now in June counting back, the timing did seem likely! Male Burmese Pythons live to around fifteen years old, while females can live up to twenty-five. Therefore, females are generally larger than males. Recalling the python-ox fight, could it be that a female python was about to lay eggs when the Wild Baizhi Ox trespassed into its territory, and after failing to drive it away¡­ Hiss, the more Bi Fang thought about it, the more he felt he had guessed the truth. Or should he cut it open to take a look? If there were python eggs about to be laid, perhaps it would still be possible to save the lives of the baby snakes. However, he still needed to get permission from the reserve staff, otherwise he could not act hastily. Bi Fang knew that with such a big event unfolding, there were definitely staff members watching his live stream, and he immediately shared his guess with the viewers. As a result¡­ ¡°It¡¯s exactly what I thought! Even if you hadn¡¯t said it, I would have wanted you to cut it open to check.¡± Zhou Weisheng laughed heartily, immediately agreeing to Bi Fang¡¯s request. Time waits for no one, and with such a strong smell of blood here, it could likely attract carnivores. If there really were python eggs, they should be taken away first to prevent them from being eaten. So, a few minutes later, Bi Fang received a request to confirm as soon as possible. He pulled out Stone Dagger from his waist and walked towards the python¡¯s corpse on the ground. Chapter 480: 477: Natural Tree Hollow Chapter 480: Chapter 477: Natural Tree Hollow In the rainforest, Bi Fang¡¯s expression was serious as he knelt beside a python with a swollen abdomen, holding a stone dagger in his hand like a doctor about to perform surgery. He had obtained permission from the conservation area and was preparing to perform a cesarean section on a dead python¡ªof course, that was assuming there really were eggs inside. Otherwise, he might just dig out a pile of fecal matter. Gently pressing on the python¡¯s abdomen, it was the first time Bi Fang felt anxious: ¡°Many pythons suffer from ¡®constipation,¡¯ and I don¡¯t know what I¡¯ll find with this cut. It could be a pile of undigested animal corpses or a shattered snake gallbladder.¡± [Ah, this is going to be a pungent video.] [I¡¯m signing off for now. Let me know later what you find, and then I¡¯ll come back online, dog¡¯s head.jpg] [Add me to that list; I don¡¯t want to see fecal matter.] Aiming at the lower abdomen, the stone dagger made a shallow cut¡­ There was just a faint white mark. Bi Fang increased the pressure of his hand, cutting over and over: ¡°The python¡¯s skin is much thicker than I thought. It¡¯s a pity I don¡¯t have a sharper obsidian or flint stone; that would have made things much simpler.¡± If he applied too much force, the python eggs that hadn¡¯t been crushed by the wild Baizhi ox might instead be crushed by Bi Fang himself, After cutting back and forth over a dozen times, the stone dagger finally made headway by breaking through the snake¡¯s skin. Once he got started, the rest became much simpler; Bi Fang continued to cut along the muscle fibers. The Burmese python, with its muscles cut open, did not bleed much. The surroundings, looking like a battlefield, indicated that the blood had nearly all bled out. Breaking open the lower abdomen, a strong putrid stench emanated out. Bi Fang held his breath and continued cutting. ¡°It¡¯s foul, but that¡¯s normal. The insides of any animal aren¡¯t going to smell good.¡± He enlarged the wound further, cutting the opening more than half a meter at once, then grabbed the edges and pulled them apart, revealing a thin reddish membrane to everyone¡¯s view. ¡°It seems my luck isn¡¯t too bad; I didn¡¯t dig up any fecal matter.¡± Bi Fang grabbed the bottom of the placenta and pulled forcefully outward, releasing a dense cluster of tiny eggs into the air, which even gave off a faint white steam. [Are those snake eggs? There¡¯s so many!] [Damn, there must be dozens, right? How can these things be endangered?] At a glance, there were nearly dozens of snake eggs inside the Burmese python¡¯s belly, though most of them were broken, oozing egg liquid. The intact ones weren¡¯t many, less than one-fifth, but there were also about a dozen or so. Bi Fang had counted them; after all, he had witnessed the entire python-ox showdown, except for the last moment when the python was stepped on, it was slammed into the tree multiple times. ¡°That¡¯s because there are many predators of the Burmese python here, and many large lizards like to eat python eggs. For them, it¡¯s a rare delicacy. Even if they can¡¯t eat them, they wouldn¡¯t crush them, preferring to prevent those eggs from growing up.¡± ¡°In a different place, like Ugly Country¡¯s Frolorida State, because of the lack of natural predators, Burmese pythons run rampant, dominating nature, causing the government to have no choice but to organize a snake-hunting contest with a substantial prize to encourage citizens to actively catch snakes.¡± Different places determine different treatments. [A python-hunting contest? Sounds familiar¡­] [Is it like those pythons in the movies, where they¡¯re secretly fed growth hormones and then grow into huge ones?] Bi Fang collected the broken snake eggs: ¡°Of course, the ultimate goal of the contest is to kill the overpopulated Burmese pythons, so all comers are welcome.¡± [Old Fang should go and not just slaughter, but win that prize money!] [No professional competitors allowed in the contest!] [Honestly, I¡¯m a bit curious to have a look. Take a break and just go for it.] ¡°That depends on whether I¡¯m free or not,¡± Bi Fang replied without directly answering, storing the snake eggs in his bark case. Since he had found snake eggs, of course, he wouldn¡¯t just leave them out in the wild. Otherwise, by the time the rescue team arrived, they would be gone. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang privately sent his location to Zhou Weisheng. Now all that remained was to wait for the helicopter to come and take the eggs away. As for the remaining python corpse, it was left for Nature to decompose. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. After tidying everything up, Bi Fang quickly followed the hoof prints again: ¡°We¡¯ve already stayed here too long, it¡¯s too dangerous, we must leave quickly.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve caught up with the white-limbed wild ox. Next, we just wait for it to find its salt lick home base.¡± The wild Baizhi ox wasn¡¯t moving fast this time, and it only took Bi Fang ten minutes to see it again without causing any trouble. The Baizhi ox was leisurely grazing on grass, showing no signs of having just been through a battle. A python as thick as a grown man¡¯s leg was like a mere splash of water for it¡ªthis is the true lord of Nature! Moved by the thought, Bi Fang lay flat on the ground, daring not to raise his head. [Those muscles, I really want to take a bite and taste it.] [Try and you¡¯ll be dead.] [If you want to eat lead, just say so. No beating around the bush, we¡¯re all straightforward folks here.] Bi Fang spent the afternoon trailing behind the Baizhi ox, wandering around with it. ¡°What follows is just a matter of patience, but I think it¡¯s almost time for it to replenish its salt. I¡¯ve followed its hoof prints for so long and didn¡¯t see any place rich in salt.¡± ¡°So simply put, it¡¯s been nearly five days without supplementing salt, just like me. Perhaps it¡¯s happening in these next few days, as long as we¡¯re patient enough.¡± And so Bi Fang waited until nightfall, the light dimming around him and the sense of claustrophobia intensifying. ¡°We have to sleep out in the wilderness now. There¡¯s not enough time to get back to camp,¡± Bi Fang said, looking at the once-again forbidding jungle and picking a direction away from the Baizhi ox. He had to find a safe place to spend the night and continue the tracking the next day. Bi Fang had a premonition that he might be on the verge of success. ¡°I had considered the possibility that we might not be able to return tonight before coming, so I prepared plenty of supplies. Now we need to find a suitable spot to camp for the night. My ideal location is a natural tree hollow, which would save a lot of effort and also provide shelter from the rain.¡± Bi Fang glanced around the forest, seeking the ideal environment: ¡°As long as we follow certain patterns and the terrain, we can easily find a tree hollow.¡± [How easy is it to find a tree hollow?] [Ah, a tree hollow. I¡¯ve dreamed of living in a house like that since I was a child.] [Isn¡¯t Old Fang boasting? Tree hollows seem to be one of those things that you might not find even if you search for them.] Some members of the audience were skeptical, thinking that Bi Fang was bluffing since many people have never seen a tree hollow. ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯ve never been to the Banna Rainforest. Here, if you search according to my method, you can easily find one.¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t mind the skepticism, focusing his attention on the trees with very large diameters, searching carefully, but the dim light made it difficult. ¡°Research by the staff of the Banna Science Academy shows that the larger the diameter of a tree, the greater the probability of it having a tree hollow. This is easy to understand because a large diameter generally correlates with the age of the tree. And the older a tree gets, the greater the chance it has been wounded, which increases the likelihood of tree hollows forming.¡± ¡°Moreover, the formation of tree hollows is closely related to the species of the tree. Some species tend to form hollows more easily, such as the jackfruit and ant plant trees. While others aren¡¯t so prone to it. Generally, tree species with hard wood are less likely to develop hollows, whereas those with softer wood are more susceptible.¡± Bi Fang made some marks, then headed down a slope. ¡°Trees that grow on the southern side tend to form hollows more easily. Banna is influenced by the southwest monsoon, so the trees on the southern side are more vulnerable to strong winds and lightning damage, and the same principle applies to places with steeper slopes.¡± ¡°Then, in the karst seasonal rainforest and valley rainforest, the steeper the slope, the more likely the trees are to form hollows. We should now be in a valley rainforest.¡± Based on this theory, as long as Bi Fang moved towards the south and areas with steep slopes, specifically looking for those specific tree species and trees with sufficiently large diameters, the chance of encountering tree hollows would greatly increase! [Wait up, Old Fang, you¡¯re talking too fast!] [What¡¯s a karst seasonal rainforest? And what¡¯s a valley rainforest? Does that have anything to do with the Pythagorean theorem?] The audience was confused. Isn¡¯t a rainforest just a rainforest? Why does it look like there¡¯s so much distinction? [Hand raise emoji!] Before Bi Fang could answer, an employee of the Banna Rainforest Conservation Area eagerly posted the answer in the comments. [In tropical or subtropical regions, some valleys or basins, due to terrain effects, create local low pressure, causing air to rise and precipitate easily.] [And because of the hot climate in the tropical and subtropical regions, this creates a localized rainforest climate, and therefore the vegetation shaped by the terrain is known as a valley rainforest!] ¡°That¡¯s about right,¡± Bi Fang nodded affirmatively in response to the answer, ¡°The Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon has similar climate and vegetation, which is why, despite being on the Tibetan Plateau, it¡¯s also considered a tropical rainforest.¡± The Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon has snowcapped mountains above and a tropical rainforest below, even though it¡¯s on the plateau, which is quite rare worldwide. The deepest part is 6009 meters, with an average depth of 2673 meters, making it the deepest canyon in Huaxia and even the world. It is said that no one dares to enter the deepest part of the canyon to this day, and it is referred to as one of Earth¡¯s last unexplored places. ¡°As for the karst seasonal rainforest, it¡¯s mainly comprised of rainforest in areas of limestone low mountains. This type of rainforest has widespread limestone distribution, abundant karst features, and many sinkholes and underground rivers.¡± [Another day of enlightenment, eating candy.jpg] [Amazing, Master Fang is amazing, just blow me away, waving a glow stick, cheering.] [Wait, how did Old Fang determine this is a valley rainforest? You haven¡¯t told us that yet.] The laid-back employees were also curious. How did Master Fang know this place was a valley rainforest? Wasn¡¯t the helicopter drop-random? This was something almost everyone knew. The helicopter was arranged by the director. Could it be that the director and Bi Fang had already colluded? [Director Zhou: ¡°Not me, I didn¡¯t, stop making stuff up!¡±] ¡°Because the Burmese Python mainly lives in valley rainforests, I reckon there¡¯s a high probability that I¡¯m in one,¡± said Bi Fang, his tone nonchalant yet sufficient to make the employees gasp. Hiss! The devil is in the details! That¡¯s quite something, something of a lot kind! [Is this something humans can know?] [Paths never before considered] [Be confident, no carbon-based life form could possibly know this. Old Fang is purely an alien¡ªI guarantee it! I suggest sending him to my place for a thorough examination.] [Fine, so fine.] [Why is Master Fang so meticulous?] [Screaming 666, you are my big brother.] Compared to the employees, the general audience was even more straightforward, offering unconditional admiration. Bi Fang, who hadn¡¯t seen his fans prostrating themselves, eventually found a suitable place after a serious search. A giant tree hollow formed by a cluster of banyan trees! No, it should be said to be ¡°one¡± banyan tree that formed a giant tree hollow. Chapter 481: 478: The Tree Holes Master, Zhoushan Cobra Chapter 481: Chapter 478: The Tree Hole¡¯s Master, Zhoushan Cobra In front of them was a small grove densely packed with trees, and under a large tree in the middle of the grove, a unique vortex-shaped tree hole had formed. The whole tree looked like several incredibly thick vines had been sucked up by a tornado, and, failing to be uprooted entirely, they left behind distinctive features. Bi Fang exclaimed, ¡°What a huge tree.¡± The audience couldn¡¯t help but nod, the tree was indeed huge. Just looking at the size of the tree hole, it was almost like a small tent, more than enough for a person to live in. Therefore, finding tree holes didn¡¯t require a carpet-style search; just by following the rules Bi Fang had just described, one could easily find them. Master Fang did have some tricks up his sleeve and hadn¡¯t deceived anyone. Bi Fang then continued, ¡°It must cover six to seven hundred square meters, right?¡± Yeah, it¡¯s got to be six to seven¡­ hundred square meters? [Did Old Fang say an extra word?] [Hit the brakes in time, then slowly type out a question mark.] ¡°A forest of one tree, the banyan tree¡¯s classic trick. There¡¯s a large area over here that, in essence, is all one tree,¡± Bi Fang patted the thick trunk of the tree in front of him. Are you kidding me? You¡¯re calling this huge swath of forest a single tree? [Are my eyes deceiving me?] [Calling the tree a forest] [Refraining from commenting to avoid getting slapped in the face, a sly smile] ¡°This whole area is indeed one entire banyan tree,¡± Bi Fang patted the stout trunk. The high temperatures and humidity of the tropical rainforest meant the soil was often saturated with water and low in oxygen content, unable to meet the respiratory requirements of the banyan trees¡¯ root systems in the rainforest. Especially now, in the rainy season, it was too damp. With every step Bi Fang took, he could press out water. Muddiness was Bi Fang¡¯s first impression after arriving in the rainforest. In response, many trees learned to grow ¡°tentacles¡± from their stems and branches¡ª aerial roots, forming a vertical ¡°curtain of roots¡± to absorb oxygen, moisture, and nutrients from the humid air. These ¡°tentacles¡± grew quickly, sometimes sprouting overnight. As the tree grew taller and its branches thrived, countless aerial roots would dangle from the horizontal branches, getting longer and longer. Some aerial roots would penetrate the soil and establish themselves as trees. These root-like aerial roots then make up the ¡°forest of one tree¡± landscape. These supports not only stabilize the tree, but also absorb nutrients. Thus, after the rainy season ended, some aerial roots would gradually fall off, but more often than not, the number and thickness of the pillar roots would keep increasing. Gradually, the surroundings would appear as if many trees were growing and connecting together, forming a dense jungle. ¡°The banyan tree is a classic example of growth multiplication. The ¡®forest of one tree¡¯ is its specialty. Look here, there are some too, probably just grown after the rain the day before yesterday,¡± Bi Fang said. Bi Fang came under a large tree and looked up to barely see something like curtain cloth, fine as thread. A breeze blew by, fluttering and swishing as if it were a duster. ¡°These are the newly grown aerial roots. In fact, many people in the south might have seen them before. Like the willow trees by the river, if the water level rises, when it recedes again, there will be ball-like growths on the tree. Those are also aerial roots,¡± Bi Fang explained. Bi Fang approached the central tree hole. From the outside, the interior space was large, but due to the darkness, one couldn¡¯t see clearly what was inside. ¡°When encountering a tree hollow, don¡¯t rush in. Although this is a natural campsite, we should be cautious and confirm it¡¯s safe before proceeding.¡± The tropical rainforest imposes a tough survival environment and fierce competition; any similar space becomes a refuge and habitat for life. Tree hollows are natural habitats, not just for humans; they are also resting places and sanctuaries for many forms of life, as well as hotbeds for biodiversity. Bi Fang dug a fire pit in the ground, reignited the fire, and then took out a tree stick. He used the Stone Dagger to shave one end continuously, curling up layers of wood shavings, similar to fish scales. ¡°Many tree hollows have original inhabitants; this place might be home to monkeys, birds, or even fish. Now, I¡¯m going to make a torch to explore the path ahead,¡± Bi Fang said. [Wait, did I just hear that? Fish?] [Is today April Fool¡¯s Day?] ¡°There¡¯s nothing strange about that, Nature is vast and contains all sorts of creatures. The fish I¡¯m talking about is the Climbing Perch, which can climb trees. They climb up the riverside palm trees to suck the alcohol-enriched juice of fruits, and during rain, they strenuously trek to water sources, migrating on trees or overland.¡± ¡°It¡¯s also farmed domestically. I¡¯ve heard of a farmer who woke up one morning to find that all the Climbing Perch in his pond had vanished, having all climbed up the mountain during the rainy night,¡± Bi Fang narrated. [Wow, pigs haven¡¯t learned to climb trees yet, but fish have] [Does this thing have hands or something? It can actually climb trees] ¡°That¡¯s because the Climbing Perch¡¯s gill covers are exceptionally hard, acting as ¡®forelimbs¡¯ during climbing.¡± ¡°Using the spikes on their opened gill covers, they can brace themselves against the walls of crevices, wiggle their tails back and forth, push forward with the spines on their anal fins, and then brace themselves once more with the gill covers to move upwards,¡± Bi Fang explained. [Can we eat this thing?] [?] [Another day of gaining knowledge with Old Fang.] ¡°Cutting the stick into a fish-scale pattern increases the surface area contact with air, making it easier to ignite, producing a stronger flame. It¡¯s best to choose a tree stick rich in resin, such as birch, or else, we can use a vine as a substitute,¡± he added. Soaking the stick in fish oil, Bi Fang used tinder to catch a spark from the fire pit, and like that, a makeshift torch was crafted. The pine cone-like wood structure expanded the flames, illuminating the surroundings. Approaching the tree hollow with caution, Bi Fang used the torch to light the area. There were no signs of danger. Pointing the torch towards the ground, many yellow-white droppings caught his attention. ¡°It could be bats, or perhaps birds; I¡¯m hoping for birds. If it¡¯s bats, they carry too many germs, and this tree hollow might not suit us for living. But it looks like whatever was here left a long time ago; it¡¯s all dried up and petrified.¡± Bi Fang examined the stains on the ground with some confusion. He picked up two rocks, holding one and tossing it into the hollow. There was no chirping of birds, nor any bats flying out. Another rock thrown, still no sound. [No animals?] [Empty?] ¡°No, wait, there seems to be a sound,¡± Bi Fang perked up his ears. In the silent rainforest, the sound of scales rubbing against tree bark arose. A long and thick black snake slowly crawled out of the tree hollow, flicking its tongue at the massive heat source in front of it, and suddenly flared the iconic ¡°wings¡± at its neck! A cobra! It¡¯s a cobra! Even those who knew the least about animals understood that only cobras could spread the ribs of their necks to form the signature fake eyes! Bi Fang pursed his lips, ¡°I said this bird droppings seemed very old, turns out the nest had already been taken over.¡± [Is this a King Cobra?] Someone boldly speculated. ¡°No, it¡¯s just a common Zhoushan Cobra.¡± Bi Fang moved the torch closer, waving it in front of the cobra to get a clearer view. The threatened cobra reared up even higher, hissing, trying to drive off this ¡°intruder.¡± ¡°King Cobras are actually not cobras and are much larger in size than this one here; they¡¯re also more temperamental. If it were a King Cobra, it wouldn¡¯t just threaten me, but attack straight away. However, Zhoushan Cobras are also quite aggressive,¡± he said. Bi Fang used the torch to attract the Zhoushan cobra, one of Huaxia¡¯s top ten venomous snakes, and as soon as he finished speaking, the venomous snake lunged violently at him. Luckily, Bi Fang was vigilant the whole time and was ready to retreat as the cobra reared back, avoiding the attack. ¡°Ha, it¡¯s really fierce,¡± Bi Fang stepped back twice but wasn¡¯t too scared. As long as one was familiar with the movement traits of snakes and discovered them early, the danger of venomous snakes would drop significantly. ¡°Zhoushan Cobras are aggressive in nature, have a strong tendency to feed on other snakes, and can prey on any venomous snake smaller than themselves. They¡¯re not fearful of humans. Their bite causes severe damage, second only to that of the Five-Paced Snake in necrosis ability. The disability rate is extremely high, but the mortality rate is only 11.8% due to the low yield of venom.¡± [There are too many snakes in the rainforest, Old Fang has encountered them twice already.] [By the way, how does Old Fang distinguish them? To me, all cobras look identical.] ¡°First, look at the size; second, the pattern on its spread hood,¡± Bi Fang pressed the torch down from over the cobra¡¯s head, and the viewers could vaguely make out the transverse white stripe resembling eyes.Upd@te by novg0.co ¡°Zhoushan¡¯s are small with a double glasses-like pattern, the Bengal ones mostly have a single glasses pattern, while the King Cobra features an inverted V-shape.¡± The great heat source descending from above made the cobra even more irritable, biting at the torch now and then but repelled by the high temperature. [Dinner delivered to the door.] [Keep biting, and its head will be cooked.] ¡°It¡¯s a pity, though, cobras aren¡¯t national-level protected species like Bamboo Vipers, but they are provincially protected¡­ hold on, Yunnan might not be,¡± Bi Fang paused, feeling his memory a bit fuzzy. He could not possibly remember everything clearly, only that Magic Capital and Hainan are protected; he truly forgot about Yunnan. [Quick, where¡¯s the class representative? Go check!] [This is crucial for Old Fang to have dinner or not, can you afford to delay it?] S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Here it comes, just checked, it¡¯s not! Limited capture for utilization is allowed!] [Zhoushan Cobra: My fate is sealed! Who on earth air-dropped this guy into the rainforest?] ¡°Hahaha, forget it, I¡¯m not short on food anyway,¡± Bi Fang chuckled, ¡°but I¡¯m moving into this tree hollow tonight, and no one can stop me.¡± Bi Fang stepped back a few paces, and the cobra didn¡¯t follow; he took the chance to dump everything out from the bark frame, then advanced again. As the heat source approached once more, the Zhoushan cobra thought the danger was returning, but little did it know, a massive dark shadow was gradually enveloping it. Three minutes later. ¡°Hahaha, this tree hollow is mine now!¡± After several confrontations and calculations, Bi Fang slammed down the bark frame and successfully trapped the nearly two-meter-long venomous snake. He pressed a boulder on top and surrounded it with soil, sealing it tightly, eliminating any possibility of escape. Now, this tree hollow was his. ¡°I¡¯ll let you out tomorrow,¡± Bi Fang patted the bark cage, feeling somewhat proud. Though the cobra was quite large and strong, his bark cage was not to be trifled with; it was not just a layer of thick bark, but also wrapped inside and out with vines, with several centimeters of thickness at the bottom, making it quite sturdy. Not only the smallest Zhoushan, but even the King Cobra may not be able to escape. After tidying up the inside of the tree hollow and preparing to have dinner, Bi Fang had just sat down when the surrounding leaves suddenly fluttered and fell in large numbers, and a great noise struck from above. Hey, Director Zhou has finally arrived! Chapter 482: 479: Who is the Diner? Chapter 482: Chapter 479: Who is the Diner? The huge searchlight cast its beam into the forest, and the long rope ladder descended from the sky. Two minutes later, one after another, rainforest workers appeared on the self-extending ladder, climbing down bit by bit to arrive near the hollow of the tree. Carrying a thermal box, the workers picked up the snake eggs on the ground, shone their flashlights on them for inspection, and the light reflected a shimmering orange glow off the shells. After confirming there were no mistakes, they placed each egg into the thermal box, and those who followed were even more amazed. The remaining eggs of the wild Burmese Pythons, survivors of the fierce battle between the python and the wild Baizhi Ox, were a rare sight, truly rare. Even in a zoo, they could have a special plaque explaining their significance. On a certain day, of a certain month, of a certain year, the descendants of a wild Baizhi Ox that had miraculously survived the battle with a wild Burmese Python were brought back by the famous explorer, biologist, and geographer Bi Fang. How impressive. On the rope ladder, the last to descend was the reserve¡¯s Director Zhou. Bi Fang had not expected that Zhou Weisheng would come in person; although he was quite old, his agility was still remarkable, and he landed steadily on the ground. The two naturally exchanged pleasantries upon meeting, and Zhou Weisheng also praised Bi Fang¡¯s performance before promoting the scenic area to the viewers. Today was the fifth day of the live broadcast, and the number of visitors to the Banna Scenic Area had visibly increased, which was gratifying. It was like gaining publicity for free; spending ten million on advertising might not have been as effective as one day of Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast. The only problem was¡­ ¡°You didn¡¯t find the body of the Burmese Python?¡± Bi Fang was surprised when he heard Zhou Weisheng¡¯s account of their journey. Could the body of such a large Burmese Python really have disappeared before the staff arrived? Zhou Weisheng nodded, ¡°We searched the coordinates you provided, but didn¡¯t see the body of the Burmese Python. We continued searching along the way and found nothing, but it¡¯s not an issue, it was probably dragged away by a wild animal.¡± ¡°Dragged away by a wild animal?¡± Bi Fang frowned. The python had died in the afternoon; only a few hours had passed¡ªnot too long but not too short¡ªit wasn¡¯t impossible, ¡°Did you find any traces of wild animals nearby?¡± Zhou Weisheng was taken aback and a bit embarrassed, ¡°We didn¡¯t pay attention to that. When we went into the jungle and didn¡¯t discover anything, we left, and we thought it might have been eaten by something.¡± The reserve¡¯s staff often inserted tracking devices on the animals they encountered for protection. Many cases of unexpected deaths followed by consumption by other creatures were common and it wasn¡¯t always possible to retrieve the bodies, so they thought nothing strange of it. Bi Fang¡¯s frown deepened, but after a moment, it relaxed. It might have really been eaten by something; it wasn¡¯t uncommon for various carnivores in the rainforest, Bi Fang thought. ¡°By the way, we also want to take this Zhoushan Cobra,¡± Zhou Weisheng said, squatting down to look at the gently swaying tree bark cage, ¡°The stock of Zhoushan Cobra antivenom serum is running low. Wild Zhoushan Cobras are becoming rarer, and there aren¡¯t enough from breeding. This one will be good for extracting venom to produce the serum.¡± ¡°Take it if you want it. It¡¯s no use leaving it here anyway, and it was going to be released tomorrow,¡± Bi Fang waved his hand, not caring in the slightest. Zhou Weisheng nodded, and immediately a staff member approached to catch the snake. They took out a plastic board, cleaned up the mud around the bark cage, inserted the board at the bottom, then carried the entire bark cage towards the snake bag. After that, they withdrew the plastic board and tipped it inside. The Zhoushan Cobra, jostled about, struggled fiercely and tried to leap out of the bucket, but the next moment, the lid was closed, plunging it once again into darkness. Catching the snake, storing it, and boarding the helicopter¡ªall done in one fluid motion. Without any issue. They were all professionals, so how could an accident happen? As part of the rainforest staff, they saw venomous snakes most often and were all old hands at catching snakes. With the snake catching stick in place, there was no snake that could escape. After all this, Zhou Weisheng and the others didn¡¯t disturb Bi Fang¡¯s continued live-streaming, chatted for a moment, then climbed up the ladder ropes and left together. The roaring sounds gradually faded into the distance, and Bi Fang, with hands on his hips, felt somewhat proud, ¡°Now I¡¯m truly the master of this tree hollow.¡± Unexpectedly, Zhou Weisheng¡¯s visit to take the snake eggs also resulted in the cobra being taken away, which took care of a big problem. [What will happen to that snake after it¡¯s caught?] [It will be locked in a little dark room.] ¡°It will have its venom extracted. The venom of the Zhoushan cobra can be made into freeze-dried products and snake venom enzymes, which can be used to make serum.¡± After a pause, Bi Fang added, ¡°As it¡¯s their breeding season now, they might also be used for breeding purposes as well, and after that, they should be released back into nature.¡± That¡¯s generally the process for capturing wild animals. Extract what can be reused, breed what is cherished and can be bred, and after a cycle, release them back into nature. [Breeding? That¡¯s hilarious. Is it the kind I¡¯m thinking of? After Wanda Mountain No. 1, here comes Zhoushan No. 1!] [A day later, Zhoushan cobra: What the hell is this paradise? A month later, let me go, what the hell is this juice-squeezing hell?] [Ah, drained in all sorts of ways.] Returning to the tree hollow, Bi Fang lifted the torch to light up the surroundings. This tree hollow was not only big but also very high, with the middle almost entirely hollow. Above the light of the fire, there was a space that could never be illuminated. ¡°There must have been another tree here before, a pity it was strangled to death. Now there¡¯s nothing left on top. You think about it, in such a large forest, the banyan trees must have been growing for who knows how long, the plants that were strangled didn¡¯t stand a chance to survive.¡± [Strangled? What is strangling?] [The host is too professional, the netizens can¡¯t keep up.] ¡°The fruits of the banyan tree are often carried by small birds and other animals to the branches or crevices of bark of host plants, where the seeds then germinate, root, and grow.¡± ¡°The growing stems will wrap tighter and tighter around the host tree, weaving into fancifully different natural ¡®flower baskets.¡¯ If you look at this tree hollow, it appears very natural as if there was originally a big tree here, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Bi Fang picked all the dead branches and fallen leaves off the ground and cleared out a space, which would become his bed for the night. From intimacy to betrayal, the host tree eventually died from overload and nutritional deficiency, while these strangling plants ultimately became independent large trees. The banyan tree is one of the most typical ¡®slow killers¡¯ in the plant kingdom, and its effects on the trees it strangles are extremely vicious. Underground, they steal water and nutrients, leaving the strangled trees in a state of thirst and starvation. Above ground, their basket-like root systems tightly clasp the trunk and branches of the strangled trees, inhibiting their thickening and preventing the transport of water and nutrients. In the canopy, the strangler fig grew branches and leaves quickly, competing for space and sunlight with its victim. In the tropical rainforest, the strangled plants almost invariably died, while the strangler thrived, slowly feeding on the remains of its victims as nourishment. ¡°However, this is Nature, where life and death cycle, old wood sprouts anew, and every life form has its own way of living. They need nutrients, we need to eat, so let¡¯s solve the dinner problem first.¡± There¡¯s no need to ponder the cycle of life and death too much. Rather than that, it¡¯s better to think about what to eat for dinner. The time to eat meals each day is the happiest moment of the day. Eating food and feeling the energy from its digestion that sustains life¡ªthis is the most basic and fundamental meaning of existence. After reloading the gear that had fallen to the ground back into the bark frame, Bi Fang looked around and felt relaxed for the first time. ¡°Having the Zhoushan cobra as the owner of the tree hole is actually a good thing. Cobras are fierce in nature, and you hardly see any other small animals near their territory.¡± ¡°Now that the owner is gone, this is a rare safe zone, where no small creatures dare to come for at least a few days.¡± Bi Fang chose to make a fire and cook three meters outside the large tree, still eating fish and vegetables. Although the tree hole was spacious, it was still a hole in a tree, which meant it was destined to not have fires inside¡ªflammable and with poor ventilation, it could easily lead to smoke inhalation. ¡°I¡¯ve been eating fish for four days straight, and now I feel like I reek of fish. But there¡¯s no choice, to ensure energy intake, these are the only things I can eat, and occasionally I can catch some bugs to mix up the flavors.¡± He skewered the cicadas he had previously caught on a stick, a common edible insect¡ªunfortunately, there wasn¡¯t enough oil for frying. A big fish, a few sips of vegetable soup, and some roasted insects made up Bi Fang¡¯s dinner for the day. A primitive yet blissful atmosphere emerged spontaneously. In the savage rainforest, filled with life-or-death dangers, the sense of satisfaction brought by a piece of safe ground was unparalleled. After all, humans are creatures who yearn for stability. Many found it quite romantic¡ªthe primitive jungle, a huge tree hole, digging a firepit for a barbecue, like something out of a fairy tale. They¡¯d be willing to pay any price to experience it just once. But remembering today¡¯s battle between the ox and the python, everyone had to give up the idea. Too dangerous. Even though lying flat on the ground can avoid the attention of the Wild Baizhi Ox, most people would be scared stiff at the first sight of the ox, with no chance to remember these precautions. Safety manuals and various survival tips had been repeatedly emphasized during school terms. Many people were aware of what to do, but when danger truly struck, their minds would still go blank. No matter how much you know, it is often difficult to apply it when it matters most. There were no entertainments at night, and before sleeping, Bi Fang picked several thick vines from the rainforest¡ªthere might be a shortage of other things, but certainly not of lianas. Windmill vines, Shoulder pole vines, Tokyo large leaf vines, Wing nut fruit vines, and so on. Vines twining around trees, trees entangled by vines¡ªbig and small, thick and thin, long and short, they can meet all your needs, from fences to ropes, from weaving to knotting. Wrapping the thick vines around the roots of the banyan tree and smearing them with mud could perfectly isolate the outside world, preventing small animals from accidentally intruding. Just as Bi Fang was filling and packing the earth, a huge white grub suddenly jumped onto his hand. The white grub was as long as two joints of a finger and almost as wide as well. Being suddenly grasped, the white grub wriggled its fat body trying to escape, but in the next moment, it was pinched up, struggling even more vigorously. Bi Fang moved his torch closer, and under the firelight, the white grub looked even fatter. [Oh my, what a fat bug!] [A¡­ a big white grub?] [Has a caterpillar mutated?] ¡°This is a grub,¡± Bi Fang squeezed it, finding it plump, almost as if the grub could burst with sap at any moment, ¡°I think I mentioned this yesterday or the day before. Didn¡¯t expect to encounter one so soon.¡± ¡°These are the larvae of the Scarab family; all scarab larvae are called grubs and look nearly identical. It¡¯s not until they break out of the pupa that you can tell what insect they¡¯ll be¡ªpossibly a Rhinoceros Beetle or a Gold Beetle.¡± Bi Fang wasn¡¯t sure exactly what insect was in his hand. ¡°They lay their eggs in soft, moist soil, and each female can lay around a hundred eggs. When I was digging earlier, I must have hit the spot, causing one to fall out.¡± Bi Fang dug around the spot where he had been digging earlier and, sure enough, found two more, which made him laugh. ¡°Hey, this is a bonus meal for me. This guy¡¯s protein content is six times that of beef; it looks like I¡¯ve got tomorrow¡¯s breakfast sorted.¡± S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Whoa, can you actually eat this? Pretty cool.] [What¡¯s the big deal? This is just a large cicada pupa. Haven¡¯t you ever eaten cicada pupae?] [Eating a big white grub is quite a treat.] [Can¡¯t accept this, it¡¯s a bit hardcore for me.] Fortunes always come unexpectedly. This is the rainforest¡ªyou never know what creature you¡¯ll encounter next. It might be a delicious meal, or it might still¡­ be a delicious meal. After completely clearing the surrounding soil, twelve big white grubs were found, a rich bounty. Bi Fang stuffed them all into a bamboo tube, sealed with leaves and mud. Having finished everything, he turned off the livestream. ¡°Time to sleep!¡± ¡­ In the middle of the night, not far from the tree hole, in a bush that no one had noticed, a purple flower quietly blossomed and spread its pollen. The evening breeze blew, and the flower swayed gently. Chapter 483: 480 Chapter 483: Chapter 480 Day six in the Banna Rainforest, early morning. Bi Fang¡¯s head was splitting with pain. He came to a fire pit, poured in some clear water, and in its reflection, his eyes were full of bloodshot strands. ¡°Damn it, it¡¯s a real bloodbath.¡± He had thought he found a good spot, but he hadn¡¯t anticipated this. Exhausted, Bi Fang turned on the live stream and habitually said good morning. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. On the other side of the ocean, in Ugly Country, Peter was just about to go to sleep when he received Bi Fang¡¯s live stream notification. After hesitating, he withdrew the hand that was about to turn off the light. ¡°Uh, just half an hour, I¡¯ll watch for another half hour and then go to sleep.¡± Pulling over a cushion to sit on the bed, Peter hurriedly opened the APP. Right then, footsteps came from the corridor. Peter shuddered, reaching for the light switch as though he was electrocuted. Click. The room plunged into darkness. After a while, the voice of his aunt came from outside the door, ¡°Peter? Aren¡¯t you going to sleep?¡± Peter was at the height of embarrassment but dared not to reply, instead, he completely covered his head with the blanket. ¡°If you don¡¯t get up for school tomorrow, you¡¯re done for.¡± After waiting for a moment, the footsteps gradually faded away, and in the dark room, only the sound of breathing remained. As Peter caught his breath, he peeked out from under the blanket, grabbed his phone again, and just as he turned it on, a pair of eerie crimson eyes filled the entire large screen in the pitch-black room, staring dead at him. A strange scream sounded, and Peter buried himself in the blanket, yelling once more. ¡°I¡¯ll never stay up late playing on my phone again!¡± ¡­ [Damn, what¡¯s up with Old Fang? Why are his eyes so red?] [What did you do last night? To end up like that?] [Damn it, I just came in and was stared down by a pair of bloody eyes, scared me for a moment, thank goodness it¡¯s broad daylight] The audience was startled, unable to understand how Bi Fang ended up like this overnight. Did he stay up all night? No, people stay up all night on their phones, or work, but what about staying up all night in the rainforest? It¡¯s dark and dangerous. Bi Fang scratched his messy hair and yawned. He hadn¡¯t slept well and was listless. In response to the audience¡¯s questions, he stood up, following the lingering scent in the air, arriving at a spot among the viewers. Among the many dead leaves and creeping vines, a purple plant had fallen and was not getting back up. It seemed to have been ravaged, with its roots repeatedly smashed by something. ¡°There, that¡¯s the culprit that kept me awake all night.¡± Remembering the events of the previous night, Bi Fang was filled with rage. He had been sleeping soundly when suddenly a foul stench woke him up. Oh boy, it wasn¡¯t just a normal stink; it was as if a pile of dead fish had been heaped up and then covered with feces, with a large drying machine constantly toasting underneath. The unique smell was unrelenting. Just waking up, Bi Fang had no idea what was happening, thinking he had encountered something monstrous. With trepidation, he lit a torch and began searching nearby, following the scent to the plant in front of him. Of course, when he first discovered it, it wasn¡¯t like this; it was still intact. How sensitive Bi Fang¡¯s nose was! He could hardly bear it. Overwhelmed with rage, he chopped it to pieces. Unfortunately, the smell had already spread. For the rest of the night, Bi Fang could only struggle, unable to sleep, tormented. At this moment, Bi Fang¡¯s voice was somewhat nasal, ¡°Walking through the rainforest at night is very dangerous, you cannot discern direction and it¡¯s easy to encounter animals out hunting. So, I just had to stay in a tree hole, then scatter some lemongrass fragments around, hoping to alleviate the smell a bit.¡± [Hahaha, sorry, I couldn¡¯t help it] [Ah, this, how bad does it have to stink to keep you from sleeping?] [Wait, I think I¡¯ve seen this thing before, is it a konjac?] Bi Fang nodded, ¡°The Tuberculate Voodoo Lily of the Araceae family, it blooms first and then the leaves come out. The flower is huge, and at night it suddenly heats up and releases a foul smell to attract dung beetles for pollination.¡± To attract dung beetles for pollination? ¡°Pfft.¡± In the subway, an audience member who was watching a live stream suddenly laughed out loud. After noticing the stares from people around, they sheepishly toned down their smile. [We police are professionally trained, no matter how funny it is, we never laugh, unless we can¡¯t help it, hahaha!] [I didn¡¯t think much of the smell of this flower before, but when I heard it attracts dung beetles for pollination, I couldn¡¯t hold it in] [What do you call vivid and lively, tactical retreat!] Bi Fang sighed, feeling utterly drained. He hadn¡¯t anticipated the real danger here wasn¡¯t the Zhoushan cobra, but this tiny konjac flower. ¡°Well, it¡¯s already been chopped down, let¡¯s not waste it.¡± His luck truly wasn¡¯t great, the Tuberculate Voodoo Lily generally entered a rapid growth phase during the rainy season, releasing a rancid, fishy smell. And what¡¯s most peculiar is that the spadix inside the flower would quickly heat up, helping to spread the stored stench to attract flies and beetles that fed on rotting flesh to come and consume the pollen. It literally baked the scent in, and you can imagine how torturous the smell was. The most outrageous part was that a spadix only bloomed for about 3 to 4 days, not earlier, not later, and he just happened to encounter it. Who could he even complain to about this? ¡°Although I suffered throughout the night, there¡¯s good news. Many farmers, when they encounter the Tuberculate Voodoo Lily in the wild, will take it home to use as pig feed, which has the effect of fattening them up. Moreover, its tuber is rich in starch and can also be used industrially as an adhesive.¡± [Ah, pig feed, is this even edible?] [Pigs and humans are omnivores, why wouldn¡¯t it be edible?] [Feels weird, but Master Fang is awesome, able to eat anything!] ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? I haven¡¯t had carbs in a long time, and I¡¯m feeling weak all over. Good thing I can take this with me, as if I¡¯ve found wild sweet potatoes.¡± Bi Fang dug up all the soil at the base of the konjac, revealing a large tuber exposed to the air that indeed resembled buried sweet potatoes. The tuber was also very large, much bigger than the wild sweet potatoes, almost as if it had been grown in a field. After digging up the source of his torment all night, Bi Fang felt much more at ease all over. Using the Stone Dagger, he dug up a piece and stuffed it directly into his mouth. Bi Fang chewed a few times: ¡°Hmm, the texture is nothing like sweet potatoes, very dry and fibrous, with a faint sweetness. It¡¯s edible, but not very tasty.¡± After eating a few pieces as breakfast, Bi Fang tossed the remaining tubers into his backpack and followed the direction he had left from the day before. ¡°I initially planned to solve the basic problems of food and shelter in the first five days to secure a stable living condition and then focus on iron smelting. But it seems that¡¯s not really possible now. No matter, plans can¡¯t keep up with changes. Faced with different situations, we must adapt accordingly.¡± If he could catch some large mammals, then he wouldn¡¯t need to worry about his salt intake, but unfortunately, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t caught any for five consecutive days. It was either bad luck or he hadn¡¯t chosen the right method, but this was the norm in the wilderness. ¡°Even the Bengal tiger only has a hunting success rate of around thirty percent, which means only three out of ten attempts are successful. For wolf packs, it¡¯s even lower, between ten and twenty percent.¡± The audience was stunned. That low? [The hunting success rate for tigers is only that? And wolf packs aren¡¯t any better] [I feel like Old Fang¡¯s success rate is pretty high. He seems to catch whatever he sees, awesome!] [Humans should naturally be higher. We are animals of experience, knowing how to use our brains and patterns to hunt specifically. Though not statistically counted, I think the top hunters are like Old Fang] [Plus one, the human brain is a weapon. I laughed when I saw someone say that humans can¡¯t beat any large animal barehanded. This isn¡¯t a fair fight to begin with. It¡¯s only fair when you have a spear and a shield] [Anyone who talks about strength by fighting wild beasts barehanded is just being ridiculous.] [The evolution of the brain was meant for creating and using tools, just like how beasts evolved sharp teeth and claws. There¡¯s no point in handicapping ourselves in a fistfight. Why evolve a brain then? For fun?] Not allowing the use of brains and tools is like removing a tiger¡¯s fangs and claws. Bi Fang couldn¡¯t agree more. The brain is the advantage of human evolution, muscles, claws, and teeth are the advantages of fierce beasts. If you really want a fair fight, then you should allow individuals to utilize their initiative, not tie down their brains. It makes no sense to give up one¡¯s own advantage to engage in so-called ¡°fair fight¡± with another¡¯s advantage. Of course, firearms don¡¯t count, those are the crystallization of human collective advantage, industrial achievements, considered as cheating, but wooden spears, wooden shields, are all things an individual can create. Pushing aside the bushes in front of him, Bi Fang squatted down and swept away the dead leaves on the ground to reveal the obvious hoof prints of the ox once again. ¡°It seems the Wild Baizhi Ox has been walking along the riverbank all this time.¡± Bi Fang lifted his gaze toward the distance, not far from the trail of prints was a river. Chapter 484: 481: Finding it Nowhere After Searching Everywhere Chapter 484: Chapter 481: Finding it Nowhere After Searching Everywhere Banna Rainforest survival, day seven. Two days had gone by without any gains, and the sunk costs were getting higher. Bi Fang yawned, reached to grasp the edge of the hammock, swung his body to the vines at the edge, and let go to land on the ground. Throughout the entire sixth day, Bi Fang had been following far behind the Wild Baizhi Ox, but unfortunately, it hadn¡¯t headed towards its salt mine base. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be able to last so long, how is it enduring?¡± Bi Fang was puzzled. Having already dealt with two nights in the wilderness, the experience was far from pleasant. Last night he used vines to build a hammock between two trees, two meters off the ground, which was any but comfortable to sleep in, it was not only unyielding but also extremely rigid. It was so hard that his back ached. All the meat he had brought from the camp had been eaten up. However, yesterday he managed to catch a squirrel. Apart from that squirrel, all that remained was half a root tuber of konjac, plus some wild vegetables he had collected along the way. Bi Fang put the basket on his back, took his wooden spear, and cut the vines from the tree before continuing his journey, ¡°Today we will continue tracking, if there is still no gain today, then we will have to find another way.¡± [This ox is pretty tough, a day without salt and I¡¯d be dying.] [How do you live through days without salt, just thinking about it is terrifying.] [No flavor in the mouth, no strength in the body.] [Brave ox, don¡¯t fear difficulty!] Today¡¯s rainforest was just as bustling, with bird calls coming from all directions without any visible source, Bi Fang advanced carefully with each step, leaning on his wooden spear. ¡°There¡¯s a term called sunk cost, a kind of historical cost, it is an uncontrollable cost regarding current decisions, and it can greatly influence a person¡¯s behavior and decision-making,¡± he said. ¡°Like we have been tracking for three days now, yet the acquisition of salt is still in the distant future. I don¡¯t know if I can get it today, or even tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, I¡¯m not certain.¡± Time and energy are the most precious resources in survival. It could have been used to fortify the campsite, build walls, set more traps, capture more game, and find the possibility of iron smelting. But now, all these efforts are wasted on tracking a wild ox, hoping to follow it to a more valuable resource. Bi Fang wiped the sweat from his forehead, ¡°The considerable energy and time I¡¯ve already spent, if abandoned, would mean that these three days are nothing but excrement, worthless, no, even excrement can be used as compost, now it¡¯s nothing.¡± [Wuwuwu, storm crying.] [These days, even dung has its value, only I am useless.] [So sad, I always feel like I¡¯m being scolded.] ¡°Many people at this point don¡¯t want to give up, even if they¡¯re out of ammunitions and rations, they still believe they are about to succeed. This kind of mindset is a big taboo in the wild. Don¡¯t be wishful, if there¡¯s no gain today, I will turn back to where I began.¡± Not all persistence pays off, to stubbornly continue without any sign of success is a rather foolish act. Decisiveness is key. Whether to persist or not is not decided by reading an inspirational essay. Apart from scientific experiments, there is nothing that will produce the same results with mere replication. At least for now, without any meat and only some vegetables left, Bi Fang felt that today was the last deadline he could give himself. ¡°It looks like there might be rain today too.¡± The leaden skies brought endless oppression, and the dense foliage of the rainforest made it even harder to breathe; Bi Fang¡¯s frown grew even deeper. Living within the rainforest doesn¡¯t make one feel close to nature but trapped within a suffocating cage of vines. Many observant viewers watching from beginning to end noticed that these past two days, the frequency with which Bi Fang frowned had obviously increased. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Through the gaps in the leaves, today¡¯s forest seemed darker than yesterday; perhaps it was the cloudy weather, overall, not good news. It¡¯s ironic to think about it, no one expected that finding a salt mine would take so long. With thirteen days left, would he even be able to smelt iron? The audience didn¡¯t know; they couldn¡¯t even figure out how to begin the smelting, let alone estimate the time needed. But seeing the halfway mark of the twenty-one days approaching, they were inevitably worried. Stepping unevenly along the edge of the riverbed, Bi Fang looked at the ox tracks that suddenly disappeared at a stretch of river. ¡°Crossed the river?¡± The Wild Baizhi Ox¡¯s tracks vanished there, Bi Fang stooped to look; the river had narrowed and became clearer here, transforming from a small river into a stream, it was crystal clear and didn¡¯t look very deep. It seemed the Wild Baizhi Ox had crossed the river, and Bi Fang could see its tracks on the opposite bank. The riverbanks on both sides were high, with water only flowing at the bottom, and the edges were lined with protruding stones. The curved side was piled with lots of dead branches and leaves, and even decayed trees ¡ª most of which had washed down from upstream. Stepping onto the protruding stones on the bank, Bi Fang jumped across to the other side and pointed to the river underfoot to introduce to the audience. ¡°This kind of riverbed is quite common in the Banna Rainforest. During the rainy and dry seasons each year, the runoff of the surface rivers is completely different. Some may even dry up completely in the dry season. The river before us should have been quite deep, washed continuously by the rain, and then dried up during the dry season, turning¡­¡± While speaking, Bi Fang suddenly stopped. [Eh, where is he?] [Such a big person, where is he?] [My connection¡¯s not good, it¡¯s lagging for you guys?] [Try tapping, it should work after tapping.] [Are you tapping on the TV over there?] Bi Fang returned from the bank to the riverbed, stepped on a stone into the stream, went back to the side before he crossed, and cleared away all the dead branches next to a stone, revealing a dark small hole in front of everyone. At the edge of the small hole, the moist yellowish mud was so abundant it was almost spilling over, distinctly different from the surroundings. Everything around was black, or covered with mossy dark green rocks, only this soft, squishy patch was bright yellow ¡ª hard to miss! Bi Fang poked into the hole with a stick to make sure there was nothing inside, then reached in to smear some of the yellow mud from the entrance; it felt different from ordinary mud and sand, quite hard. [What the heck is this thing, such a weird color.] [Is he just going in barehanded?] [This looks like¡­!] [Yue] [It¡¯s shit, isn¡¯t it? It must be shit, right?] [Is there fish inside? Or something else?] Twiddling the yellow mud in his palm, Bi Fang brought it close to his nose and sniffed. A unique pungent, rusty smell shot aggressively into his nostrils. Then he stuck out his tongue and licked a bit, the unique salty and fishy taste spreading on his tongue, similar to fresh blood. The audience felt nauseated, perfectly interpreting the subway, the elderly, and mobile phones. Bi Fang¡¯s previously furrowed brows suddenly relaxed, and the pressure lingering in his heart completely dissipated. What a great thing, really good stuff! He had been thinking about looking for salt mines, but as it turned out, he hit the jackpot and found what was most critical for survival this time. Iron ore! If he hadn¡¯t turned back to introduce the river, he might have missed it. Bi Fang took out a bamboo tube, swigged some water to rinse his mouth, and happily explained to the audience. After hearing his words, everyone was shocked. This big lump of yellow stuff, you¡¯re telling me it¡¯s ore? [Don¡¯t think you can deceive me just because I¡¯m uneducated, and you tell me this thing is iron ore?] [Ah, I am blind] [Designating shit as ore!] [Please spare the idioms, I beg you!] [I believe in Boss Fang!] [Boss Fang? Since when did Old Fang get this title?] [People started calling him that after the club opened. Boss Fang is awesome!] Boss Fang laughed, a brilliant, sunny smile: ¡°This is iron bacteria, not what you guys think. It was among my initial search targets. I was planning to focus on finding it after locating the salt mines, but as it turns out, ¡®no need to break a sweat to get what comes without effort.''¡± Iron bacteria? [Another unheard term added to my vocabulary.] [Weird knowledge cat enters the scene!] [Explain, please. Forgive my ignorance, and be quick about it.] Bi Fang looked at the sky, which had already darkened considerably, signaling that it might rain soon. He quickly scooped out the ¡®yellow mud¡¯ from the cave and threw it into the frame with a plop. ¡°Iron bacteria, as the name implies, are a type of microorganism that lives in waters like ponds, lakes, and hot springs with high concentrations of divalent iron ions.¡± ¡°They can oxidize divalent iron salts into trivalent iron compounds and utilize the energy produced in this oxidation process to assimilate carbon dioxide for growth.¡± ¡°These microorganisms use organic matter as a nutrient source, requiring organic matter for their growth, with a preference for organic compounds of iron and manganese. Once the organic matter is consumed, iron and manganese are excreted as waste, adhering to the filamentous body of the bacteria.¡± A deluge of biologic and chemical concepts thrown out left many feeling dizzy. [I get it, do you?] [I get it too, it¡¯s quite simple¡ªit¡¯s just a kind of microorganism. Don¡¯t you know that?] [Scratching my head, am I the only one who doesn¡¯t quite understand?] [Were you not paying attention during Teacher Fang¡¯s lessons? I¡¯m assigning you to copy this a hundred times!] [Copying now, copying now.] ¡°It¡¯s getting darker now, and I guess it might start raining soon. I need to scoop them all out now. Otherwise, it would be hard to do so once the river rises, and there¡¯s also the possibility of them being washed away. We should search around here; there should be plenty more.¡± Iron bacteria generally live in oxygen-poor but iron-rich and CO2 -dissolved acidic waters; they do not thrive in alkaline environments, so the surrounding area should all be acidic. After scooping out all the yellow mud, the later part had turned brown and emitted a strange stench, but Bi Fang was undeterred and scooped it all out. The entire bark frame sunk heavily. Having scooped out all the iron bacteria from the small cavity, Bi Fang searched in other directions, leaving no stone unturned, and he found two more spots. Before he finished digging the third one, ripples started to appear on the surface of the water. It began to rain. Bi Fang wiped away the droplet about to fall from his hair and quickened his digging pace. ¡°The rainy season is really annoying, raining every other day. It might be sunny when you go out during the day, but in less than an hour, it could start pouring. Luckily, this rain doesn¡¯t seem too heavy.¡± After digging out all three holes, Bi Fang was soaked through. Fortunately, the bark frame was almost one-third full. The amount collected would be more than enough to smelt a sword. [This seems too risky, can that much really be smelted?] ¡°Enough, you have no idea how heavy they are, and they feel just like iron filings. It should be more than enough.¡± Bi Fang covered the bark frame with leaves to avoid too much rain from getting in and the water from flowing out the seams. Then, with the large frame on his back, he chased after the direction of the Wild Baizhi Ox. Entering the rainforest, the rain became much lighter. ¡°If only I¡¯d known earlier, I should have made a raincoat in advance.¡± Bi Fang scrambled through the woods, looking around. He actually found an arch made entirely of vines. The thick vines curved into growth, leaving a not-so-small space inside. Bi Fang propped it up, quickly covering the top with large leaves and binding them simply. He slipped inside, and immediately, the wind and rain were shut out. ¡°It¡¯s a pity, the situation was a bit urgent, I didn¡¯t bind the leaves properly. If the rain gets heavier, they might be washed away. Let¡¯s hope the rain ends soon.¡± Bi Fang wiped off the mud on his body and let it fall, then grabbed handfuls of palm leaves covered with iron bacteria out of the bark frame and started weaving. ¡°To be on the safe side, we should prepare a raincoat early, so if this temporary shelter is overwhelmed, I won¡¯t have to scramble around.¡± ¡°Many of you must have heard of straw raincoats. ¡®An old man in a straw cape and hat, fishing alone in the snowy river bank.¡¯ Actually, many straw raincoats are made from palm leaves. Of course, they don¡¯t compare to those made with genuine straw, but it¡¯s enough for us.¡± Palm leaves can be woven into a simple straw raincoat quickly but are rather thin, offering subpar shelter from the rain. A raincoat woven from straw is thicker, with sleeves, and provides great protection from the rain as well as warmth. However, at the moment, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t that picky; as long as it was functional, it would do. Chapter 485: 482 Genetic Instinct Chapter 485: Chapter 482 Genetic Instinct As expected, it still came as a surprise. The makeshift rain shelter collapsed under the onslaught of the torrential downpour, sending a deluge of palm leaves crashing down with the rainwater. Fortunately, just as the rain began pouring through the rupture, Bi Fang leaped out in time. Wearing a simple raincoat crafted from green palm leaves, Bi Fang kept the enormous conical hat on his head. In less than half an hour, Bi Fang had successfully made a raincoat and a conical hat, which looked pretty convincing. The colors were just a bit unusual, not the common yellow-brown but a pure green instead. Water flowed down the fresh palm leaves like little columns, dripping onto the straw sandals below. ¡°Actually, making a temporary raincoat isn¡¯t that difficult,¡± said Bi Fang, lifting the brim of his hat to see the path ahead, water sliding off the brim and dripping to the ground along its contours. A temporary raincoat doesn¡¯t need to consider durability or storage; as long as it blocks the rain, that¡¯s all that matters. Bi Fang arranged the palm leaves in a circle, leaving a gap in the middle just big enough to fit his head through. Then, he tied all the leaf stems together with thread spun from palm fiber, roughly covering his entire body. He repeated the process several times, stacking layers upon layers. Several layers of thin raincoat overlapped and added together formed a thick raincoat. By tightly interweaving them and tying off the bindings, patching up any gaps, it became hard for rainwater to penetrate. As for the conical hat, Bi Fang crafted it using a technique similar to basket weaving. First, he collected six flexible branches, made a slit in the middle of three branches, and inserted the other three branches at this point, forming a simple cross. The cross¡¯s four ends were then secured with fine thread, wrapping tightly around each set of three branches, repeating the process for each direction to prevent displacement and breakage. After that, a large amount of vines were used to bind two branches together, extending and evenly spreading out the total of sixteen branches from the cross, thus forming a complete framework. By controlling the distance between branches, a certain curvature was achieved, resulting in a funnel-shaped conical hat. Of course, this still wasn¡¯t enough to secure the hat on the head. Therefore, branches were inserted through the original gaps to create straps that would hang down, so when worn, it could be secured under the chin through these straps. Conical hats commonly seen in rural areas were made this way, and the structure of Bi Fang¡¯s hat was no different from theirs, albeit rougher, but on the surface, it looked the same. When it came to waterproofing, with the framework in place, it became much simpler. The framework itself was woven very densely. After laying a layer of tied palm leaves on top and trimming the edges a bit, it was done. Perfect. ¡°It¡¯s just that it¡¯s very heavy to wear, and it can¡¯t be stored for long, probably rotting in two or three days,¡± he said. To achieve better waterproofing, Bi Fang layered several coats, making it quite thick, which added to its weight. But the effect was very good. At this moment, walking through the rainforest, he was completely isolated from the outside rain. [Get a new skin for just 998, and take the rainforest walker home!] [All in green] [A grass skirt isn¡¯t enough; you need a grass coat and a grass hat!] With a large basket full of iron bacteria, Bi Fang suddenly had plenty of time. The most difficult part of iron smelting, without a doubt, was finding materials. Originally, Bi Fang planned to spend three days gathering materials. Now, with these three days saved, he could do much more. At the very least, he didn¡¯t have to rush to give up the salt mine. He could extend the time a bit more and go back on the ninth or even the tenth day. [Master Fang: Having this kind of mindset in the wilderness is a big taboo. One must not rely on luck. If I don¡¯t find anything today, I will head back to the starting point.] [Hahaha, that¡¯s hilarious] [What do you know? Plans can¡¯t keep up with changes. Making such a decision is perfectly reasonable! Dog¡¯s Head Protection] ¡­ The eighth day. The sky was still overcast. Bi Fang had set up a temporary lean-to shelter. Waking up, he found the rain still falling, with puddles all around. The rain was much lighter than the downpour when he first arrived, but it was more persistent, not stopping even after a night and even showing signs of continuing. Bi Fang patted the conical hat and lowered the bark frame, lifting the cover to find nothing inside but a pile of yellow mud formed by iron bacteria, which was troubling. There was no food left! The grubs he had found were all eaten. Grilled briefly, they had a very strange texture and would burst, but surprisingly, they tasted good. The konjac tubers were gone too. All that was left were a few handfuls of lemongrass he picked along the way, but that could only serve as a herb, not as food! [The landlord¡¯s family has run out of surplus too, huh] [Where to find something to eat in this rainy weather?] Scratching his head, Bi Fang looked around, unsure of when the rain would stop, so he simply sat inside the shelter to minimize energy consumption and chatted with the audience. ¡°Many large animals don¡¯t take shelter from a light rain; they just keep doing what they do, only taking action when it¡¯s pouring.¡± ¡°In situations where there¡¯s no shelter from the downpour, animals like giraffes, elephants, and bison tend to stay put because vigorous movement would lead to a rapid loss of heat.¡± ¡°So, it¡¯s better to do nothing and quietly enjoy the rare peace. In such stormy weather, even carnivores like lions and tigers temporarily give up hunting, and virtually all animals relax their vigilance.¡± [So this is your excuse for loafing around in the shelter?] [No wonder I don¡¯t feel like moving when it rains. I must have the soul of a fierce beast inside me.] [Awooo, awooo, awooo, the wild awakens.] [Is this your excuse for not going to work?] ¡°What I¡¯m saying primarily applies to mammals, not all animals, like how rainy days are actually peak activity periods for many snakes.¡± Bi Fang shifted his position and lay down on the ground. The temperature had risen quite a bit over the past two days; it wasn¡¯t as cold as the first time it rained, and with the straw raincoat adding further warmth, it was bearable. [Why is that?] [Snakes are the bane of my existence! Why do such terrifying creatures exist in the world?] ¡°Because the air pressure is very low before and after the rain, making it stuffy inside burrows, and the rain brings out frogs and mice, making it easier for snakes to fill their stomachs.¡± Bi Fang was afraid of snakes too; they were slimy, covered in parasites, extremely good at camouflage, and many were highly venomous. If you didn¡¯t spot one in time¡­ You¡¯d be typing ¡®gg¡¯ outright. Moreover, fear of snakes is actually an instinctive biological response. ¡°Our ancestors were once prey to carnivorous mammals and birds of prey, of course, this was a very long time ago, so long ago that humans were not yet humans.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s gaze seemed to grow more profound. ¡°Thankfully, at that time we evolved a system to recognize predators, which could quickly locate typical threats and help us escape, but when snakes appeared as one of the first predators, this system was completely ineffective.¡± ¡°Because they completely resemble sticks, unlike other predators, snakes move with the help of their specialized ribs and belly scales, and with a bit of camouflage, they can get very close to unsuspecting prey.¡± [What happened next? Tell me more!] [Afraid of snakes? Impossible, I¡¯ll never be afraid of snakes in my life. Look at this five-paced snake, am I scared? Watch me take it down in minutes.] [My fear of snakes is so intense that even the sight of a turtle scares me, because a turtle¡¯s head and neck resemble a snake. Just picturing a snake makes me shudder and break out in goosebumps.] [Why do we, who are afraid of snakes, click to find out why we are afraid of snakes?] ¡°Fortunately, eventually some primates evolved something akin to snake sensors, specialized neurons to locate snakes, which helped our monkey ancestors quickly avoid the creeping stick-like shapes and escape. Over time, these features were passed down to humans.¡± ¡°Observations of human brainwaves show that when we see an image of a snake, our brain performs significant activity, evaluating the danger. This activity is much greater than when we see images of other predators.¡± Bi Fang still remembered a professor who had discussed this topic. They were shown two sets of images, from blurry to clear; initially almost mosaic-like, and in the end, one was a clear picture of a snake, and the other, a clear image of a feline animal. The moment the images were shown, everyone¡¯s attention was first and foremost on the latter snake picture. ¡°Compared to recognizing other animals, our brains require far less visual information to identify a snake.¡± That¡¯s what the professor had said at the time, and now Bi Fang relayed it to the viewers in front of the screen. ¡°Some researchers even believe that our excellent color vision system evolved, to some extent, to help distinguish snakes.¡± ¡°Additionally, studies suggest that our sensitivity to snakes makes us more prone to fear them, but exactly why is still without a scientific conclusion. There¡¯s no doubt, though, that our brains are very much aware of snakes!¡± Bi Fang tapped his temple with his index finger as if there really was a snake coiled up inside. [Damn, now I know why I get so nervous every time I see Master Fang capture snakes.] [Shocking, due to the rain, the outdoor live streamer transforms into a science broadcaster!] [By that logic, is my fear of long centipedes for the same reason?] ¡°Maybe.¡± S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang responded non-committally, reaching out to check the rain, noting it had decreased significantly. He casually grabbed his conical hat, placing it on his head and stepping towards the rainforest. ¡°Let¡¯s go, the rain has eased up quite a bit. Let¡¯s see if there¡¯s anything we can find to fill our stomachs.¡± Chapter 486: 483: Exploring the Cave Chapter 486: Chapter 483: Exploring the Cave Rainy days are a common holiday for all animals, which explains why many people find the sound of rain soothing, Our ancestors probably rested on rainy days too. Rainy days equal rest days, which might be true for both humans and animals. ¡°It¡¯s a pity, on a rainy day I still have to toil for food, and the iron bacteria at my back are dead heavy, feeling like carrying a huge ingot,¡± Bi Fang gasped after walking a distance. Were it not for the raincoat, my shoulders would have been rubbed raw by the vines. [What a shame, I still have to work on a rainy day] [What a shame, I have to do homework on a rainy day] [What a shame, I still have to order takeout on a rainy day] [Is it raining over there too?] [Yes, Dog¡¯s Head Protection] ¡°The ground was not dry to begin with; now it¡¯s even wetter. When I get back, I¡¯ll have to wrap it with another layer of tree bark,¡± he complained. Bi Fang lifted his foot from the muck, every step like trudging in a swamp, occasionally strange insects crawled out from beneath the ground. The edible ones were captured, washed in clean water, and tossed into the backpack. The inedible ones were thrown back into the mire, their tails wriggling above the mud. In bits and pieces, barely enough for a meal was gathered. Today¡¯s a bug feast! ¡°In the rainforest, if you¡¯re familiar with the flora and fauna and can handle the disgust, food is actually not hard to find,¡± he reflected. Bi Fang felt like an old farmer planting rice in the paddy fields, with swamp under his feet and seedlings in hand, taking a step and making a hole. ¡°Now the Wild Baizhi Ox should be on the move, I wonder if it has headed to its salt mine base. I¡¯ve been waiting for it for three days; a week without salt, and I feel uncomfortable. If I don¡¯t replenish my salt intake soon, I¡¯ll call it the strongest wild ox!¡± [Wild Baizhi Ox: Thank you, Karl, this is the honor of my life] [What¡¯s this Karl meme?] [Master Fang deems you the strongest!] [Wild Baizhi Ox: There¡¯s a human who¡¯s been following me for three days, now I¡¯m really scared] [So scared that the big ox is checking the wildlife protection laws overnight] Noon. Like a ghost, Bi Fang wandered around, looking for anything edible, delving into every hole he encountered, and if he saw fruit, he would undoubtedly pick it. ¡°For small mammals, they aren¡¯t tough enough to withstand the heavy rain directly, animals like foxes, mice, rabbits and other small mammals, usually have their own dens.¡± ¡°Many burrowing animals, like rabbits and mice, will hide in their burrows during heavy rain. Their burrows are built in relatively high locations, less likely to be flooded.¡± ¡°There are always exceptions, though. Squirrels build their nests in dry tree holes, but on rainy days, they use their fluffy tails as umbrellas to brave the rain, so we might not actually find anything. Let¡¯s hope our luck is good.¡± The little squirrels are braver than other animals in the heavy rain. Some seemingly frail animals surprisingly adapt well to heavy rain. Covered in green leaves, Bi Fang climbed a large tree, poked his branches in and gave a prod, and after a moment, a fluffy squirrel jumped out vigorously, trying to escape, but a large hand snatched it out of the air. Fortunately, Bi Fang was merciful and didn¡¯t let it suffer in fear for too long. With a snap, its spine broke, allowing the young squirrel to meet its Nut Paradise early. ¡°Hehe, looks like we¡¯re in luck, lunch is served.¡± This squirrel was surprisingly large, so big that Bi Fang couldn¡¯t fully grasp it with one hand. It was estimated to be nearly a pound and quite plump. It was rare indeed. ¡°Autumn hasn¡¯t even arrived, and it¡¯s already got so much fat. It seems to have been living the good life,¡± Bi Fang said as he wiped the squirrel in front of him and stuffed it into his bag before continuing to search inside. ¡°So fat. I wonder if it¡¯s left any nuts for us. Nuts are great stuff¡ªthe essence of plants, rich in protein, a lot of fats, and vitamins.¡± He searched for a long while, tossing branches and dried leaves to the ground along with some broken shells. ¡°Our luck isn¡¯t very good. It¡¯s not autumn yet, and the squirrel hasn¡¯t hoarded much food.¡± Bi Fang dusted off his hands and quickly climbed down the tree, shaking off the rainwater from his sun hat. ¡°Has the rain stopped?¡± Bi Fang was surprised to discover that no raindrops were falling on his head. He looked up, and the frequency of falling water droplets in the forest was slower than it had been in the morning. After a moment of waiting, the frequency of the raindrops fell even lower. ¡°It really has stopped,¡± Bi Fang said, somewhat surprised. The rain had lasted for over two days before it finally stopped. ¡°Hurry up, it¡¯s time to move on.¡± He quickly picked up the bark basket from the ground and continued to track the Wild Baizhi Ox. ¡°Although it has just rained, like the first time we recalled and followed after several days, the traces left on the ground are still very clear, as long as¡­ wait, what is this¡­¡± Bi Fang suddenly slammed on the brakes, staring in amazement at the small hill in front of him, and at the cavernous black hole beneath it. ¡°A cave?¡± He fiercely looked down at the ox hoof prints going in and coming out of the cave. In front of the pitch-black cave, the path was almost laid bare except for some stubborn weeds. The bushes were noticeably fewer, suggesting that animals of no small size were frequently passing through, causing such a scene. Looking again at the hoof prints, it was clear that the Wild Baizhi Ox had gone in and come out! Why would an ox suddenly enter a cave? Animals don¡¯t have the same curiosity as humans, especially when it comes to dark environments. Bi Fang¡¯s heart pounded violently. He suddenly realized that what he had been looking for might be right in front of him! Many sharp-minded viewers also sensed this. After three days of searching, was there finally a result? [Could it be, could it be that what¡¯s ahead is the salt mine?] [Such a large cave entrance, no wonder the Wild Baizhi Ox could go inside.] [But, but¡­] The audience didn¡¯t quite know what to make of it¡­ Bi Fang¡¯s mind was even more tangled, his emotions experiencing an uncommon fluctuation. From the cave to his lean-to shelter, the entire distance was¡­ less than three hundred meters¡­ Three hundred meters! Less than half a kilometer! ¡°I slept all of last night and searched for food all morning, never thinking to walk a little further to check!¡± Bi Fang held his head, feeling for the first time what it meant to be toyed with by fate. If he had followed the trail a little longer the day before yesterday, wearing his raincoat, he might have already collected salt and returned to his shelter. How could he have waited until now, until now!!! Bi Fang felt dizzy and nauseous. ¡°Anyway, we seem to have found a salt mine now, which is a good thing,¡± Bi Fang said, patting his forehead, which felt somewhat feverish. This is a good thing, a good thing. Repeating to himself that this was a good thing, it took Bi Fang a while to calm down. ¡°In ancient times, both domestically and abroad, the control over salt was at a military level; many commoners who couldn¡¯t get salt would even extract it from the walls of pigsties, or the earthen walls of latrines.¡± ¡°They would crush the soil, soak it, filter out the brine after several days, and then boil it in pottery jars. The crystals left after the water boiled away were saltpeter.¡± ¡°This kind of salt was very bitter, and eating too much of it could lead to poisoning. The only thing it was good for was emergencies, to prevent death from lack of salt.¡± ¡°Some people even mixed soils of different flavors to produce salt, finding that the quality of the salt was better this way¡­¡± Bi Fang didn¡¯t even get to the more disgusting ¡®urine salt¡¯ and ¡®feces salt,¡¯ the true depictions of the lower classes in ancient times. [Ah, is that so?] [Is salt really that difficult to obtain?] How much does a bag of salt cost in the supermarket? Many people have never bought this kind of thing, but those who are familiar know it¡¯s about one yuan. One yuan can buy a bag of salt, which if used sparingly, can last nearly two months. But away from industrial society, salt is life. Understanding this shows how difficult it is to obtain salt in the wilderness inland. ¡°Actually, I had considered other methods to find salt. Mineral salt isn¡¯t only found by following animals; it can also be found in seeping rock faces or at non-turbulent riversides where it sometimes deposits.¡± ¡°Even some trees can be a source of salt. For example, the roots of the Summer Cypress when boiled dry will yield black crystals, which is also salt. But as you can see, I didn¡¯t find any.¡± Thinking of this, Bi Fang felt annoyed. After searching the lower reaches of two rivers, he hadn¡¯t found any mineral salt. Then it rained, and the likelihood of finding any became even slimmer. Even if there were any deposits, they would be mostly washed away by the rainwater. As for the Summer Cypress, not even a shadow! ¡°I¡¯ve done many live streams before, some lasted only a week. As long as food intake is maintained, even with an extremely low sodium content, not taking in salt is not much of a problem; at most there¡¯s psychological discomfort, still a bit away from physical discomfort.¡± ¡°Even for live streams that lasted up to twenty days, a month, those were either done by the sea where sodium wasn¡¯t lacking, or involved frequent hunting of large animals, relying on the blood to replenish enough salt.¡± The audience nodded in agreement. Survival at sea was not a time of salt scarcity; the Goose birds often flew over the ocean, and with large animals to catch, there was no shortage of blood. This time was a little more dire. Twenty days without salt is tough. Simply put, why can the human brain control the body? When you want to move your finger, the brain issues an instruction, which is transmitted by nerves. The neural signal causes the finger muscles to contract and stretch, enabling the finger to move. The conduction of the neural signal is determined by the potential difference caused by the entry and exit of sodium and potassium ions into and out of the nerve cells. Without salt and sodium ions, even if your brain wants your finger to move, your finger won¡¯t be able to receive the signal to do so. People will exhibit symptoms such as lethargy and fatigue. More seriously, limbs will start to swell, bodies will weaken, the brain will be suppressed all day, and death will follow soon after. However, the audience was not concerned about this at the moment. [Quickly get inside, hurry up, head to the campsite at full speed, and start iron smelting right away!] ¡°Don¡¯t rush, let¡¯s make a fire first and prepare a torch before we go in. If the Wild Baizhi Ox can get in, it means there¡¯s basically no toxic gas inside, making it suitable for living creatures to reside or survive. That means there¡¯s a good chance that bats are inside.¡± Bi Fang took out the fire source and then pulled out the tinder he had prepared in advance. He kept these items close to his body in a funnel bag to prevent them from getting wet in the rain. In the rainy season of the rainforest, even dry tinder had to be opportunistically obtained. As Bi Fang made the fire, he explained, ¡°Bats are probably the mammals that hate rain the most. On the surface, bats seem to be bald, but they actually have fur.¡± ¡°If a bat¡¯s fur gets wet, its body temperature will drop rapidly, and water will affect their flying ability. Even adult bats need to stay dry at all times. So on rainy days, bats will hide in caves or under trees.¡± ¡°The rain has just stopped for now, and I feel there might be a bunch of bats inside.¡± [Why does it have to be bats? Could there be birds inside?] [Can you eat bats?] [I am Batman!] [The Riddle of the Shadow!] S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [What if Wayne comes crawling out of there!] ¡°Birds are not likely to be in caves,¡± said Bi Fang, who had already successfully lit a torch and hollowed out a bamboo tube and filled it with sand and soil. ¡°Although birds have feathers, they actually don¡¯t mind the rain much. Most birds have oil glands, and they spend a lot of time each day grooming their feathers, which is to spread the oil onto their feathers, making them practically waterproof.¡± The reason ducks can play in the water without getting wet is the same. ¡°Some birds even take advantage of the rain to bathe and clean their feathers properly. Only fledglings, who have not yet grown waterproof feathers, would find heavy rain a disaster.¡± ¡°Oh, right, owl feathers aren¡¯t waterproof, so they usually don¡¯t hunt in the rain.¡± Bi Fang filled the bamboo tube with materials, following the same process as the gas masks prepared in the wilderness city. It was just that plastic bottles were replaced with bamboo tubes, and the inside was lined with charcoal ash, limestone, and some sawdust. He used the Stone Knife to drill two holes and tied them to his face with hemp rope, and after all preparations were complete, Bi Fang still didn¡¯t crawl into the cave. Viewers who were eager to see Bi Fang explore the cave were getting impatient. ¡°Just go in already. You¡¯ve been dawdling for half an hour!¡± Bi Fang chuckled. Who would take their own life lightly? He promptly grabbed some damp twigs nearby. ¡°We can use salt to try and smoke them out first.¡± [That¡¯s too cautious] [Are you also a master of caution?] [Come on, you¡¯ve been grinding at the cave entrance for half an hour, you¡¯ve practically rubbed yourself raw!] [That was a fast ride] ¡°Different types of wood have different burning properties. If you want to create a lot of smoke, then moist twigs are the best material.¡± Bringing the torch close to a heap of twigs and igniting them, clouds of heavy smoke billowed up, and Bi Fang quickly entered the cave. Once inside, he promptly ran back out. Before he could even get to the entrance, a cacophony of piercing screams echoed inside the cave. A mass of black bats suddenly charged toward Bi Fang! Chapter 487: 484: Return to the Shelter Chapter 487: Chapter 484: Return to the Shelter The piercing screams echoed in Bi Fang¡¯s ears as he closed his eyes, his body pressed tightly against the rock wall. Only the audience could see clearly, within the smoke-filled cave entrance, a swarm of black shadows rushed out swiftly, their shrill shrieks growing closer and closer until they burst out of the cave. Thousands of black bats formed a black storm, whirling and ascending in the dense forest, with a few even landing on the drone, giving the audience a close-up view of these sharp-fanged little creatures. The entire sky seemed to be engulfed by the bat swarm; the black storm circled the forest for a full half minute before gradually dissipating among the trees. Like diluted ink, it seeped into the greenery. With the shrieking no longer by his ear, Bi Fang finally opened his eyes and let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Bats are actually quite timid and generally won¡¯t attack humans,¡± Bi Fang said, holding a torch and entering the cave, ¡°People fear bats mainly because of their appearance and the viruses they carry.¡± ¡°Hendra virus, Marburg virus, SARS-CoV, and rabies¡ªbats are major hosts for all of these.¡± sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Aside from rabies, I don¡¯t recognize any of these.] [Isn¡¯t rabies transmitted by dog bites?] [Another day of being uneducated.] ¡°Although rabies is mainly transmitted to humans by domestic dogs, because they are more likely to sink their teeth into human flesh compared to wild animals, bats are also one of the main reservoir hosts for the rabies virus.¡± As Bi Fang walked through the cave, he explained, ¡°And don¡¯t be fooled by the bats¡¯ small size; their teeth are actually very sharp. Although we smoked out most of the bats, it¡¯s still possible that a few are hiding in crannies, so we should take good precautions before entering the cave, and it¡¯s best not to take off our clothes.¡± For this reason, Bi Fang had not taken off his raincoat, to avoid being suddenly bitten by a bat. The entrance to the cave was not small; on the contrary, it was very large, otherwise it wouldn¡¯t have allowed a huge creature like the Wild Baizhi Ox to enter. Perhaps due to consecutive days of rain, the cave was very humid and hot, with puddles everywhere. A few steps in, Bi Fang avoided the puddles, reached out to touch the rock wall, and felt the rough gravelly texture with his fingertips. He rubbed some, and applied it to the tip of his tongue. ¡°Ptooey!¡± Bi Fang quickly spat out the grit from his mouth and rinsed his mouth. The audience watched with eager eyes. [How is it? How is it?] [What does it taste like?] [Is it salt? Is it salt?] [Sweet or salty?] Bi Fang stared at the camera and after a moment of silence, suddenly revealed a big smile. ¡°Salty!¡± [Awesome!!!!] [Master Fang is invincible, invincible!] [Finally, we¡¯ve found salt! Tears in a storm!] [Long-bearded little milk bottle gifts the host Wolf Brush*10000000¡ªCan you bring back more, I want to taste it too.] Light golden wolf brushes fell like rain in the live broadcast room, fluttering down. [Wow, ten million wolf brushes? Ten thousand bucks? Awesome, was this a spontaneous donation or accumulated over time?] [Definitely spontaneous, how could you save up ten thousand for you?] [Lord Mu gifts the host Spaceship*1¡ªBring back more, let¡¯s try and see what it tastes like.] [Catch a big donor on the rebound!] The audience cheered and leaped for joy, seeing Bi Fang go through great lengths and take a full three days to finally find mineral salt following the Wild Baizhi Ox.] [Finding Salt Is Too Difficult] That was the first sensory reaction for everyone, even Bi Fang found the search for salt extremely difficult and fraught with danger, not to mention those ancient people. No wonder salt had to be managed by the officials, seemingly inconsequential yet vital to life. Bi Fang took out two leaves, one to scrape and the other to catch, carefully collecting the salt from the wall. Large chunks fell off, and when the veins of the catching leaf were raised, he poured them into a long, slender bamboo tube. Having found the rare mineral salt, Bi Fang collected a lot, with the thick bamboo joints almost filled halfway. This was far more than enough for consumption. However, Master Fang also saw the bullet comments; he indeed was thinking of bringing more back. After collecting enough, Bi Fang walked a few steps further into the cave. Dozens of steps later, he saw a broken stalactite column that seemed to have been snapped by something. Bi Fang joked, ¡°Could it be the Wild Baizhi Ox, perhaps?¡± The cave was entirely different from the rainforest where countless insects and birds could be heard. In the cave, there was nothing. Utter silence. Darkness surrounded him in every direction, and only the torch in Bi Fang¡¯s hand provided a faint light for his feet. A turn of his body might reveal the slender tail of a lizard vanishing beneath the light of the torch, an utterly terrifying sight. Even Bi Fang did not want to explore further. The firelight was no match for a flashlight, illuminating too small an area to feel any sense of safety. Fortunately, a cliff halted his desire to explore further. After progressing about fifty meters into the cave, Bi Fang encountered an abrupt drop-off. Extending the torch over the edge, he couldn¡¯t see the bottom through the inky darkness that seemed filled with endless rolling mist. [Hidden path ahead] [There¡¯s a trap ahead] [Time to jump] He kicked a pebble off the edge; after a long silence, it hit the ground with a crisp sound echoing through the cave. Bi Fang was surprised, ¡°It took about three seconds to fall; this cliff must be over forty meters high. Let¡¯s leave, we won¡¯t explore this time.¡± Not all caves harbor all sorts of weird creatures. Bi Fang had no desire to explore this dangerously high-risk, low-reward cave. After a brief explanation to the audience, he decided to head back the way he came. [Aren¡¯t we going down? There might be unknown creatures waiting to be discovered] [Do you think unknown creatures are as common as cabbages?] [Have you seen Journey to the Center of the Earth? Not going down? You might find dinosaurs] Once out of the cave, the light welcomed him back vividly. Bi Fang squinted his eyes, quickly adjusting to the brightness. ¡°Now that we have collected a lot of salt, it¡¯s time to return to our original shelter.¡± Although they had traveled far from the shelter, Bi Fang did not want to give it up easily; he and Leonardo had spent a whole afternoon building it together. In terms of both comfort and sturdiness, it was far superior to any makeshift personal shelter. The goal during its construction was to make it habitable for at least a month; if Bi Fang had to do it alone, it would take at least an entire day. Rather than that, it was better to spend a whole day returning. ¡°It¡¯s around two or three in the afternoon; although it took us nearly three days to find the salt deposit due to the rain delay and following the Wild Baizhi Ox, which slowed us down, I also made clear marks along the way. If all goes well, we might be able to get back in a day.¡± Bi Fang found his bark frame at the cave entrance, loosened the vine around his body, added a few more strands to tighten it, and wrapped several more turns at the position of his shoulder blades, padding it with thick leaves before he hoisted it on his back. ¡°Carrying the frame for a day, my shoulders really hurt, it¡¯s so heavy. If it weren¡¯t for the raincoat, I might have blisters on my shoulders.¡± It was understandable, as the vines were inherently tough. Carrying a backpack for a day was exhausting enough, let alone an unlined primitive bark frame. The air was somewhat stuffy and humid after the rain, and each day¡¯s temperature felt noticeably hotter than the last. Bi Fang wiped the sweat from his forehead and, following the markers on the trees, he moved toward the place they had started from. ¡°Hope it doesn¡¯t take too long.¡± Chapter 488: 485 Uninvited Guest Chapter 488: Chapter 485 Uninvited Guest The eighth night. The flickering campfire illuminated Bi Fang¡¯s profile. In a pit next to him, lay the fur of two peeled squirrels. As for the meat¡­ Bi Fang flipped the two spit rods in front of him, one on the left and one on the right, both squirrels plump and sizzling with fat, which he had to keep flipping to prevent the grease from dripping. Animal fat is good stuff, not a drop to be wasted. The squirrels were roasted until crispy on the outside and tender inside, but were not yet cooked through. Beside them was a string of various roasted insects, and before that, there was an essential step. Bi Fang picked up a bamboo tube next to him and carefully moved it off the campfire. The bamboo tube was split in half, filled with water, which was now bubbling merrily, and in the middle of the boiling water, a pale yellow crystalline structure stood like a ¡°small mountain.¡± This was a ¡°salt mountain.¡± The freshly extracted mineral salt could be eaten, but it wasn¡¯t safe primarily because of bacteria¡ªperhaps the part that Bi Fang scraped was just the spot the Wild Baizhi Ox had licked? Even if no Wild Baizhi Ox had licked it, maybe there were other animals? Even if no animal had licked it, the salt from the bat cave wasn¡¯t safe either. Furthermore, mineral salt contains not only salt but also many other impurities. Although eating a small amount is not an issue, it¡¯s definitely not okay to consume a lot. So, Bi Fang demonstrated the simplest way to reduce the risks to the greatest extent. He first dissolved the mineral salt in pure water, heated it with fire until the salt solution boiled, continued to heat it on low flame until a large number of white crystals appeared in the container, and then stopped heating. Boiling the water served a dual purpose: sterilization and taking advantage of the effect temperature has on solubility. ¡°The solubility of sodium chloride is minimally affected by temperature; at a normal temperature of 20 degrees, the saturation solubility is about 36 grams; when heated to 90 degrees, it¡¯s only 39 grams.¡± ¡°Typical impurities, like potassium chloride and magnesium chloride, undergo significant changes in solubility as temperature increases. For example, with magnesium chloride, at a normal temperature of 20 degrees, the saturation solubility is about 55 grams; when heated to 90 degrees, it rises to 70 grams.¡± Bi Fang scooped out all the salt grains with a small spoon; this was the third time he had crystallized the salt. Each time, he would fill the container with water, boil it vigorously, steaming for at least half an hour before enough salt could crystallize. ¡°So when the solubility of sodium chloride in water reaches saturation, magnesium chloride is far from saturated. As the water temperature rises, the difference in their saturation solubility becomes greater and greater.¡± S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°In the end, as the water solution is heated to a certain high temperature and the water evaporates, sodium chloride begins to crystallize, while magnesium chloride is still completely dissolved in the water. That¡¯s a preliminary purification,¡± he said. After stirring with a stick, Bi Fang set it down and smiled, ¡°This is content from junior high school chemistry; I guess everyone knows about it, right?¡± [Ah yes, we know, Dog¡¯s head] [Did you learn that? It makes my head spin.] [Returned it all to the teacher already.] [I have a vague memory, but I¡¯ve completely forgotten why to do it that way.] [Indeed, if you¡¯re good at math, physics, and chemistry, you can go anywhere in the world without fear. Old Fang¡¯s skill could even let him take the college entrance exam.] [Am I here to learn? Am I here to learn how to cook? What have I learned today? Three questions to ask myself daily.] [Shrimp? And pig heart?] Using a spoon, Bi Fang scraped the salt from the container, dissolved it again in pure water, and finally poured it into a container fitted with activated charcoal. The charcoal was sandwiched between clean large leaves, tied with several small holes at the top. Bi Fang explained, ¡°Since I don¡¯t have gauze, my charcoal particles are quite large, so they won¡¯t come out easily. Of course, there might be some charcoal ash, but that¡¯s not a problem, eating a bit of charcoal is harmless.¡± ¡°This filtration is mainly for adsorbing impurities. After this step, the filtered brine is heated again, and once the salt crystallizes, it¡¯s ready to eat.¡± By the time the salt crystals had precipitated again, the squirrels were roasted just right. This time, Bi Fang did not char them but roasted them to a golden-brown status. He picked up the bamboo tube with the brine, and under the firelight, although not very clear, the viewers could tell that compared to the original mineral salt, this batch of salt was much whiter, though the granules were large and very different from household table salt. In fact, modern saltmaking is a highly industrialized and standardized process. It evolved from the precise understanding of the composition of rock salt, comprehensive research in chemistry, and an industrial basis for saltmaking into the modern industry we see today. To ¡°simply¡± purify fine table salt in the wilderness is extremely difficult. The wasted effort and energy aren¡¯t worth it, and even if Bi Fang knew the process, he wouldn¡¯t do it; obtaining coarse salt suitable for long-term consumption was already enough. Bi Fang carefully pinched a pinch of salt from the tip of the little mountain and sprinkled it evenly on the roasted squirrel. The large salt grains immediately melted into the hot oil and flesh upon contact and disappeared. A stronger fragrance wafted up to his nose, Bi Fang tore the lemongrass into shreds and gently scattered it over the skin, adding a unique lemon scent to the already aromatic smell. Fanning the aroma, Bi Fang took a deep breath, savored it for a long time, then slowly exhaled. ¡°So fragrant!¡± [I¡¯m so hungry] [It¡¯s nine o¡¯clock, time for a late-night snack] [Whoo Whoo Whoo, squirrels are so cute, how can you eat squirrels, whoo whoo whoo] [So tempting, pah, so tempting] [Salt truly is the king of flavors, envious] His stomach had already started growling, and Bi Fang, unable to wait any longer, picked up a stick and bit into the meat along with the bone, chewing heartily. The abundant fat burst in his mouth, accompanied by a salty freshness he hadn¡¯t tasted for a long time. The bones, mixed with the flesh, were chewed into bony pulp, and everything was so delicious that he felt he could even swallow his tongue. The two squirrels were eaten completely clean, not even leaving behind bone scraps; the insect skewers were equally crispy and delicious. After a satisfying meal, Bi Fang, still chewing on the stick, quickly brushed his teeth, then took a warm bath, before crawling into the hammock he had rigged up to sleep. Surviving Day Nine in the Banna Rainforest. Bi Fang got up early and followed the trail markers through the woods towards the campsite. ¡°If we really get lost in the forest, we can leave some clue-like signs for any potential rescuers, indicating you have been to this place and in which direction you¡¯re heading.¡± ¡°A proper sign must let someone know at a glance that it is man-made and contains some information.¡± ¡°There are many ways to do this. If there are stones, you can use them; if not, wood, grass, or leaves can serve as markers. Moreover, it¡¯s best to use more than one method to increase redundancy and avoid destruction by animals or natural factors.¡± Stones, pebbles, sticks, tall grass can all be used as markers. Bi Fang used stones and tall grass together, stacking several fist-sized rocks and adding a knot of tall grass leaning in one direction to indicate distance through the number of tied grass knots. One knot signifies fifty meters, so if there are three knots tied together, that means the next marker is 150 meters ahead. ¡°In the rainforest, it¡¯s better not to use pebbles because heavy rain could wash them away; it¡¯s preferable to use fist-sized stones, stacking them into different shapes to indicate direction, and using trees to indicate distance. Basically, these are the two main elements.¡± ¡°Also, during the day, another effective way to attract rescuers is by burning grass and leaves, as thick smoke can reveal your position well. At night, you can use any resources you have to create a large bonfire. If you have enough fuel, you should set up three fires in a triangle, each about 10 meters apart. Of course, doing this is predicated on ensuring that you won¡¯t start a forest fire, as that would almost certainly lead to a hundred-percent chance of perishing within it.¡± Bi Fang chatted incessantly with the audience as he made his way to the campsite, somehow not encountering any mishaps. By noon, that familiar shelter finally reappeared before everyone¡¯s eyes. ¡°My God, I¡¯ve finally arrived.¡± Bi Fang dropped the heavy bark frame to the ground, stretching his sore shoulders. His forehead was dripping with sweat after running all morning, nearly succumbing to exhaustion as he had run out of water. He had discarded all the tools he could, and now, on his person, all that remained was a grass skirt, a wooden spear, Stone Dagger, red clay powder, some materials, a few bamboo tubes and funnel bags, and lastly the bark frame, which was covering the hard-earned iron bacteria, topped with a conical hat. He had even discarded the raincoat because it was too heavy. ¡°It¡¯s been almost four days since I¡¯ve been home. Let¡¯s not go in just yet. I chose an uphill location so rainwater is less likely to collect here, but that may have attracted a lot of insects to gather. Let¡¯s smoke them out first.¡± Bi Fang pulled up the inconspicuous yellow chrysanthemum at his waist, bundled it with lemongrass, and lit it on the fire. ¡°This is pyrethrum I found on the way this morning. People cultivate it specially for pest control because its flower head contains four insecticidal components, including Pyrethrin I and II and Cinerin I and II. However, they are all easily hydrolyzed and vanish, so keep it away from water.¡± [Wait, isn¡¯t this chrysanthemum used for making tea?] [This thing can kill insects?] [Damn, is it safe for humans to eat it?] [It can¡¯t touch water, so can it touch fire?] ¡°This isn¡¯t Hangbai chrysanthemum used for tea; it just looks similar. You guys wouldn¡¯t usually come across it, it¡¯s grown for industrial pesticides, and it¡¯s rare in the wild.¡± Bi Fang tossed the smoking pyrethrum inside the shelter and waited quietly for the smoke to spread. ¡°Its insecticidal action works by paralyzing the insects¡¯ nervous systems, and it¡¯s quite potent. Generally, after being paralyzed and knocked out, insects can recover within 24 hours; houseflies will be paralyzed within 10 minutes, and the mortality rate is about 60-70%.¡± ¡°It¡¯s also poisonous to arthropods, fish, amphibians, and reptiles; however, it¡¯s not clearly toxic to birds or mammals. So we don¡¯t need to worry too much about it causing harm to humans.¡± The drone approached the ground near the shelter, and the audience could clearly see insignificant little insects struggling to flee outward. Some who were too slow didn¡¯t even make it out of the smoke range before they started to slow down, and soon after, they lay on the ground, motionless. [Holy shit, that¡¯s some potent poison!] [Can it kill mosquitoes? I¡¯ve been nearly eaten alive these past few days] [I want to try this in my house too] About half an hour later, Bi Fang entered the shelter and extinguished the pyrethrum. ¡°Without pyrethrum, we can use pine needles or sage, which have the same effect, but the waiting time will be longer. They work best in a sealed environment; at home, however, this method can be used for insect repellent. Let¡¯s skip pyrethrum, it¡¯s toxic no matter how you look at it.¡± Bi Fang rummaged through the shelter he hadn¡¯t visited in a long time, picking up several stunned stiff insects and tossing them out. He also swept up the leaves blown in by the wind, but no sooner had he cleared a patch than a giant paw print caught everyone¡¯s attention. Chapter 489: 486 Do I Have Some Kind of Unique Physique? Chapter 489: Chapter 486 Do I Have Some Kind of Unique Physique? ¡°` The sudden appearance of footprints surprised everyone. Bi Fang knelt on one knee, picked up the surrounding leaves, followed the footprint in other directions, and found many more, all in various directions. After sweeping all the leaves away, it wasn¡¯t just the number of footprints that was surprising, there were also many signs of activity, like something had been thrashing or dragging. Bi Fang smiled, ¡°It looks like we have an uninvited guest, and it might even have mistaken my campsite for a cave.¡± [666, who dares to take over Old Fang¡¯s spot?] [What kind of animal is this, a paw print?] [Holy crap, is this one animal or a group, I¡¯m kinda scared] [Such big footprints, and Old Fang¡¯s not panicked at all?] [Has Old Fang recognized what animal this is?] Bi Fang nodded, placed his palm next to the paw print to compare the sizes, ¡°You see, this paw print is almost as big as my hand, which indicates that the animal is not small, and judging by the depth of the footprint, it¡¯s at least not some lightweight contestant.¡± Despite two rainfalls, don¡¯t forget that Bi Fang had a shelter with a roof, so the ground inside was drier compared to other places. And the paw prints at hand were still quite distinct, so the animal was definitely not any small creature like a fox. ¡°Many animals¡¯ footprints are actually somewhat similar, so when identifying an animal by its prints, the first thing is to assess the animal¡¯s weight class by the depth of the footprints. This depends on the situation, as moist or dry soil can affect the depth, which requires experience and a high level of observation,¡± he explained. ¡°Next is to look at the size of the footprint and the stride length. For large creatures, the footprints can¡¯t be small, and the stride will be wider due to their body size because animals need a sufficiently large skeleton to support themselves.¡± ¡°Based on the size and depth of the paw prints in front of us, I estimate that this animal weighs around thirty kilograms, give or take no more than five kilograms.¡± As an experienced Wilderness Survivalist expert, Bi Fang was quite confident in his assessment. ¡°From this, it can be deduced that the animal weighs no more than thirty-five kilograms at most, and I am easily more than twice its size, so there is actually nothing to be worried about,¡± he remarked. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Further narrowing down the type of animal based on its size became much easier. Look at those small holes; those are claw marks, which means it cannot be a species of cat because they have retractable claws and seldom leave such marks. This reduces the level of danger once again.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s tone was relaxed, not at all as anxious as the viewers might imagine him to be due to the intrusion of an unknown animal into his shelter. In nature, to be large is to be good, to be large is to be strong. This is a very simple and unadorned notion that may not be 100% accurate but is generally applicable. Even a lion has to hunt in packs when encountering an animal larger than itself. Moreover, humans are intelligent beings who have freed their hands. In the Roman Colosseum, with weapons of iron or bronze and shields, humans could face off against lions and tigers alone. In the primitive tribes of Africa, with a spear in each person¡¯s hand, just ten individuals could collectively hunt down colossal creatures like elephants, hippos, and giraffes, killing them before they even had a chance to fight back. Lions and cheetahs didn¡¯t dare approach indigenous tribes. Under such circumstances, unless the opponent is a group species, with a dozen or so attacking together, each weighing over thirty kilograms, Bi Fang really had no reason to fear it. He wasn¡¯t some frail keyboard warrior; with a spear at hand, and having fought nearly two hundred kilogram black bears and the Northern Desert Wolf Pack, how could he not handle an even smaller animal with one spear thrust? [Wait, what if it¡¯s a group? All those footprints?] [I bet Old Fang definitely has his reasons] [So what exactly is the animal?] ¡°It¡¯s quite simple. Look, if it were a group of animals, the footprints on the ground would be of various sizes, and their depths would differ too. But here, whether in size or depth, they¡¯re almost identical, which means there was only one animal that left these footprints,¡± Bi Fang pointed out the paw prints and explained. It was a very straightforward concept that became clear once pointed out. As for the type of animal in question, ¡°Five claws, so it can¡¯t be a herbivore, nor can it be from the cat or dog families, as both of those species have four symmetrical toe pads, two in the front and two in the back.¡± ¡°Excluding the two most common predatory species, based on the five-claw feature and size, it can¡¯t be an otter, ferret, or rat either, as those animals typically weigh less than ten kilograms. So, since it¡¯s none of the common predators, we can start thinking about the rarer hunters¡­¡± Bi Fang grinned, he might already know what animal he had encountered. His luck was really not bad. ¡°` ¡°I might have encountered another national first-class protected animal.¡± By now, the viewers¡¯ curiosity had been thoroughly piqued, and they were eager to know what animal it was. Another first-class? Is this like wholesale cabbage? [Does Old Fang have some strange physique that attracts animals?] [Add one, I feel the same way] [Such people, we usually call them the protagonists, Dog¡¯s head] Bi Fang swept away the leaves, emptied the bacteria from the bark frame into a hole: ¡°Judging by the footprints and claws, the creature we¡¯ve encountered should be from the lizard family, and the only lizard big enough to leave these marks is the Water Monitor.¡± ¡°Water Monitors have been quite rare over the past ten years, but Director Zhou once mentioned to me that last May, two were spotted in the Yunnan Puer Simao Nuozhadu Nature Reserve, and just earlier this month, one was sighted in Baoshan. Together with the one I¡¯ve encountered today, it shows that they¡¯re still quite active in Yunnan, indicating a sizable population.¡± ¡°The recovery of the Water Monitor population, along with the elephant herds that have been active in the north, suggests that the environmental protection in the Banna Rainforest is doing very well.¡± Bi Fang sincerely praised, making the live broadcast staff quite elated. Wasn¡¯t this a compliment to their achievements? Bi Fang was no longer a fledgling broadcaster but an explorer with a significant influence worldwide. Having climbed Mount Everest with greats like David Attenborough, receiving Bi Fang¡¯s approval undoubtedly proved the effectiveness and clear results of their work. [What is a Water Monitor?] [Never heard of it¡­] [Komodo Dragon? That¡¯s the only large lizard I know.] ¡°Normal, because it¡¯s rarely seen. An adult Water Monitor can grow up to three meters and weigh more than thirty kilograms, making it the largest lizard in our country and the second-largest in the world, second only to the Komodo Dragons.¡± ¡°However, it can¡¯t compare with the Komodo Dragon, whose size is massive, with an average weight of over 80 kilograms. They are the largest venomous creatures in the world and super predators. They often feed on large animals, eat carrion, and are incredibly fierce beasts.¡± ¡°Even though Water Monitors also have a fierce temperament, their diet consists of fish, frogs, snakes, birds, mice, and other such prey, and unlike Komodo Dragons, their mouths lack venom glands; they are non-venomous large lizards.¡± ¡°Interestingly, there have been no reports of Water Monitors attacking humans. They are unexpectedly docile towards humans, and I hope that when I encounter one later, it won¡¯t break this trend.¡± Although the animal he encountered this time, the Water Monitor, wasn¡¯t much of a threat, it still served as a wake-up call for Bi Fang. Who knows what kind of creature might appear next time? It was time to upgrade the refuge. ¡°I¡¯m going to build a sturdy mud-brick wall for the refuge.¡± Bi Fang placed his spear against the wall, set his conical hat on the wicker bed, shouldered the bark frame, took up the stone shovel, and once again left the refuge. ¡°Mud-brick walls are best made with clay, which has few sand grains and is sticky due to its low water permeability, giving it good plasticity. This type of soil is actually easy to find. We just need to patiently search along the banks of lakes or streams, where it¡¯s generally available.¡± ¡°The reason I¡¯m so keen to return to the first refuge isn¡¯t just because it¡¯s sturdy and comfortable, but also because there¡¯s a truly impressive array of resources nearby, including Fishy Grass, wild sugarcane, and clean water sources that are safe to drink. Of course, I also wanted to check if there were any fish caught.¡± Bi Fang arrived at the stream but did not rush to dig the soil. Instead, he went over to the fishpond he dug before leaving. Luckily, perhaps because the fishpond was large enough, it hadn¡¯t been flooded and still served its purpose. However, a few fish were floating belly-up inside the pond, and some small fish at the edge had been half-eaten. ¡°Could this also be the work of a Water Monitor?¡± Bi Fang wondered, comparing the wounds on the fish. It seemed quite likely. His hard-built refuge had not just been taken over, but even the stable fishpond had been discovered, providing ample daily meals. [Wow, this Water Monitor is smart!] But where had it gone now? Bi Fang was puzzled. Logically, with food readily available, there was a small chance it had gone far to hunt. Shaking his head, Bi Fang caught a few fish to put in the bark frame, then took out a stone shovel and started to scrape away the top layer of decayed plants. Digging less than thirty centimeters, the color of the soil below turned red. Bi Fang pinched a clump of soil from the ground, easily rubbing and kneading it between his fingers, the texture very fine. ¡°This is it.¡± Having found what he was looking for, Bi Fang shoveled the clay into the bark frame. Once it was full, he brought it back to camp and emptied it into a large pit he had prepared. After several repetitions, clearing out all the twigs, stones, and leaves, he poured water over the clay, submerging it and stirring continuously. A batch of clay was about to be ready. Chapter 490: 487: A huge tail Chapter 490: Chapter 487: A huge tail Clay was not only used for making the walls, otherwise Bi Fang would not have gone to such lengths. He also used clay to build a blast furnace, for iron smelting, which all required clay material. Bi Fang inserted a stick and started to stir the clay and water, just like mixing cement, and soon a layer of gray water surfaced on top of the clay pit, accompanied by sand and silt. ¡°Has anyone washed gluten before? It¡¯s when you wash the starch off the kneaded dough in water until you¡¯re left with a sticky ball of gluten¡ªour process is similar to washing gluten.¡± After a while, Bi Fang scooped out the washed clay, drained the moisture, and successfully obtained a usable lump of clay. Having removed all the clay, Bi Fang quickly ran into the woods and soon dragged out several thick vines, as thick as wrists, then he dragged the vines in circles around the shelter. He did not connect the ends together, leaving a one-meter gap as an exit. Next, Bi Fang used more vines to wrap around the pillars of the shelter roof, leaving a one-meter gap at the same spot for the entrance; once the vines were piled up to a meter high, a vine wall had formed. But one layer on the outside was not enough. Bi Fang continued to search for vines, adding another layer on the inside of the pillars. A double layer of vine walls, interior and exterior. He tied every two vines tightly together with fine fiber ropes. As viewers watched Bi Fang pull the vines and the whole shelter roof shook, they couldn¡¯t help but worry it might suddenly collapse. ¡°That¡¯s why I need both an inner and outer layer, so later on I can directly encase the support pillars. This way, unless the pillars are directly exercised, it¡¯s impossible for them to fall over.¡± Bi Fang kicked the vines, and the whole house shook, but it remained very sturdy. Once the clay was applied, the walls would be connected to the ground and become even more secure. ¡°Vines alone aren¡¯t enough; I¡¯m using them as a support structure. Next, we¡¯ll apply clay on top. You know about composite materials, right? Reinforced concrete is a classic composite material. The steel reinforcement inside gives the whole structure much greater structural strength. This is similar.¡± Having done all this, Bi Fang shouldered the clay, pouring it on top of the wall and smoothing it out with his hands to form the wall. [Resin concrete, how brilliant!] [Awesome!] [Looks really sturdy.] [Awesome, I¡¯m going to build one in my yard today.] For aesthetic purposes, Bi Fang also used a section of even wooden sticks to roll over the clay wall to level it out and make it smoother, with straight edges and corners. After two full hours, the clay wall was complete, and by then it was about four in the afternoon. Starting from noon, he had been working for several hours to finish the wall; it was certainly no easy task. ¡°Now we just wait for the clay to dry and harden. We could light a bonfire inside to speed up the drying.¡± Bi Fang went inside the shelter, which now was a true refuge. Once the clay dried, it would become a natural rampart, advantageous whether for offense or defense. Unless facing large creatures like the Wild Baizhi Ox or the Indochinese tiger, there should be no problems. Many venomous snakes couldn¡¯t climb the smooth, meter-high wall. This was what made Bi Fang the happiest¡ªhe couldn¡¯t stand the cold, slimy snakes, and the thought of no longer worrying about such creatures sleeping next to him at night brought him genuine joy. Moreover, the pillars supporting the roof had all been sealed up. Unless they were directly crafted, it was almost impossible for the roof to collapse. ¡°It¡¯s good that I had the foresight to build a high roof, otherwise it would have affected the light now,¡± Bi Fang looked around while standing inside. The wall was almost one meter high, but thanks to the combined efforts of Bi Fang and Leonardo in constructing the shelter, the edge of the roof was over two meters high, leaving more than one meter of space for light, feeling like a real ¡°house.¡± ¡°But the interior is too monotonous, just brown earth. However, there¡¯s no helping it. Everyone should also resist unnecessarily covering it with a lot of straw. Not that you can¡¯t do it, but then you¡¯d face two problems.¡± Bi Fang tossed some more wood into the campfire: ¡°First, an excess of dry grass tends to attract a lot of insects, requiring regular pest control. Second, it becomes a fire hazard; within a three-meter radius of the fire, it¡¯s best not to place flammable materials unless you choose to light the bonfire outside the house.¡± ¡°Also, now that we¡¯ve built the wall, let¡¯s not forget to add a drainage ditch; otherwise, once it floods, you¡¯ll be very uncomfortable.¡± Bi Fang pointed to a groove on the ground while explaining, as there are many considerations in designing a shelter. Different numbers of people build shelters of various sizes and shapes. ¡°If you¡¯re just one person, then a three-meter diameter shelter is enough; it provides ample space while being easy to warm up.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t overestimate the space you need; three meters in diameter is more than enough. Even though Leonardo and I built this together, as you can see, it¡¯s just under four meters in diameter.¡± Bi Fang stood up and walked seven steps along a straight line to one side of the wall within the shelter. Normally, a person¡¯s step is between 45cm to 60cm, so it¡¯s evident from what Bi Fang said: the shelter is about four meters in diameter, even a little less. ¡°For a six-person team, constructing a five-meter diameter shelter is sufficient¡ªit can even accommodate up to nine people.¡± ¡°The placement of the fire pit is also crucial. If oxygen can seep in from underneath, the fire will burn more vigorously. We can dig four channels underneath to achieve this, starting from the four walls and digging a channel in each direction towards the fire pit. Of course, I won¡¯t go to the trouble.¡± ¡°Lastly, the exit of the shelter should not face south under normal circumstances. Although that direction receives the most sunlight, we are not in a crowded city. If you want to dry clothes or sunbathe, it¡¯s easy enough to take a few steps outside.¡± ¡°We should have the exit facing the east, where the sun rises,¡± Bi Fang said. He extended his hand, pointing toward the gap he had intentionally left in the wall. The gap wasn¡¯t undefended; instead, a layer of clay shaped like a doorstep had been piled up. It wasn¡¯t tall, just palm height, with several holes dug into it. The holes were for installing a door. Bi Fang had sharpened bamboo into a grid formation, with one long piece and two short ones arranged together. The longer piece could be inserted into the holes, with the sharpened end making it difficult for animals to climb over. The only real gap in the entire wall was the drainage ditch, which could also be blocked with stones if it didn¡¯t rain. The shelter was not only situated on high ground, but also near a stream and in a relatively open area. It was one of the few spots in a several hundred meters radius where one could clearly see the sun, though the view was still narrow. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Having the exit face east means that the sunlight streaming in at morning will wake you up. That will make you feel truly content, both physically and psychologically. Maintaining a cheerful mood is paramount in the wilderness.¡± ¡°Unless you¡¯re in a desert or tundra, we cannot do anything at night; that¡¯s the time when beasts hunt, which doesn¡¯t align with human circadian rhythms.¡± ¡°If you¡¯ve been watching my videos, you¡¯d know that unless I¡¯m making tools at night, I generally end the live stream and go to sleep before nine, adhering to the rule of ¡®out at sunrise, in at sunset.¡¯ In the wilderness, you must utilize the daylight hours as much as possible. There¡¯s no entertainment at night and, given the conditions, you can only engage in simple activities.¡± ¡°If the exit were to face another direction, you would find yourself waking up later because the interior of the shelter would be dimmer. That would be an irrecoverable loss.¡± Across the oceans, Peter nodded vigorously. Many international viewers agreed. The regular schedule Bi Fang followed led them to lead irregular lives themselves. As for the domestic audience, they were experiencing a mix of pain and pleasure. [To watch Old Fang¡¯s live streams, I¡¯ve actually taken on a regular sleeping schedule] [Honestly, sleeping by nine and getting up at six, plus a nap of half an hour to forty-five minutes at noon, really keeps me energized all day] [Me too, I¡¯ve had to go to bed early and rise early just to catch the live streams] [Staying up late really drains your vitality] [It¡¯s not so bad as long as you get enough sleep, it¡¯s not considered staying up late] ¡°No,¡± Bi Fang shook his head. ¡°Many people think that as long as they sleep enough, it doesn¡¯t count as staying up late, but this is also wrong. Even if you sleep enough, but you sleep during the day and play at night, what you¡¯re disrupting is your biological clock.¡± The biological clock may seem mysterious, but it decidedly exists. Disruption not only causes bodily fatigue and mental sluggishness, but more importantly, it endangers one¡¯s health. ¡°Some might say the biological clock can be adjusted, but can you adjust the sunrise and sunset? Humans are diurnal creatures, just as bats are nocturnal. It¡¯s determined by our genes and evolution, and no matter how you adjust, it cannot be changed¡ªunless you stay in a completely sealed room all the time; otherwise, your biological clock will surely be messed up.¡± [Awesome] [Not watching anymore, it¡¯s five-thirty, time for dinner] [That early?] ¡°Is it that late already?¡± Bi Fang looked up and noticed that the sunlight had turned orange-red. He patted the dust off his hands and stood up. ¡°Well then, shall we see how the wall is holding up?¡± He went over to the wall and pinched the surface of the clay. It had started to harden, but given the high humidity of the rainforest, it would probably take some time to dry completely. Fortunately, after checking, Bi Fang found that there were no large cracks in the wall, a sign that he had done a very good job. Essentially, this could be declared a successful wall. ¡°Time for dinner.¡± Bi Fang scooped the fresh fish out of the water pool beside him. Yes, it was a pool. The hole left from dumping clay had been emptied. Bi Fang dug it deeper, filled it with water, and used it as a pool to keep the live fish he had brought back. So long as the basic problem of sustenance is solved, and there is a stable food source, life can get progressively better. After scraping off the fish scales and removing the innards, Bi Fang wrapped the fish in tree leaves. He was about to take two fish into the shelter to cook when suddenly, a rustling noise came from the trees nearby. In the exhibition hall, those who were about to leave now silently stopped in their tracks. ¡°Did you hear that noise just now?¡± ¡°What noise?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t catch it clearly¡­ They all stayed, so I stayed too¡­¡± ¡°It sounds like something¡¯s approaching, listen, it¡¯s getting louder.¡± As the sun neared dusk, Bi Fang silently moved and grabbed the wooden spear leaning against the wall. The swishing of the leaves grew louder until, with a sudden rustle. Out peeked a¡­ no, a large tail revealed itself. Chapter 491: 488 Reluctan Chapter 491: Chapter 488 Reluctant to Part Tail? The people found the notion somewhat absurd. The recent rustling of the leaves had led them to believe it was some giant creature approaching, perhaps about to spring out and startle them. But the result was a long, still swishing tail? Seeing this slender tail, many immediately thought of the footprints that Bi Fang had discovered before. [Is this a Water Monitor?] [It should be¡­ It went out for a day, who knows what it was up to.] [Such a long tail, I hate reptiles the most.] The second largest lizard in the world, second only to the Komodo Dragon, ferocious in nature, except for being slightly smaller, it had made the audience think it was some kind of fierce beast. But looking at it this way, it seems like it isn¡¯t too bright, Yazier? At this moment, the Water Monitor that had just poked out its tail seemed to still be unaware that its backside had already been seen by millions of people, continuing to swish its tail, struggling to drag something through the bushes. Even Bi Fang was curious, judging from the tail, his guess was spot on, this was indeed a lizard, and the only one that could grow so large in the entire Huaxia territory was the Water Monitor. What in the world was it doing? About a dozen seconds later, the answer finally appeared; after a fierce dragging effort, the Water Monitor finally revealed its whole body, almost a miniature version of a Komodo Dragon in appearance. However, unlike the earthy-colored Komodo, this Water Monitor was covered in dust, appearing almost pure black; its sharp five claws easily left holes and footprints in the soft, moist soil. Under the high-definition live drone footage, the audience could clearly see the fine scales on its body, and the texture similar to leather. Indeed, the skin of the Water Monitor could indeed be turned into handbags, shoes, watch straps, etc., and for a long time, people had been paying high prices in the market to buy Water Monitor leather. This also led to many people hunting wild Water Monitors, resulting in a significant decline in their numbers over the past few centuries. [Damn, another top-grade animal, Boss Fang¡¯s live stream is almost becoming a wildlife channel.] [There are so many animals in the rainforest, I¡¯ve never even heard of the ones Old Fang mentioned.] [The only thing missing from the animal world is Boss Fang.] [What is it doing?] When it finally made its way out of the bushes, the Water Monitor shook off the leaves on its head, lowered its head to bite something, and continued dragging; only then, under the sunset light, could Bi Fang finally make out vaguely that it was a round grass nest, within which shimmered several white¡­ Were those¡­ eggs? The audience, through the drone¡¯s perspective, could see even more clearly, the Water Monitor was biting at what looked like a bird¡¯s nest made of grass, and in the middle of the nest, dozens of yellow-white eggs were clustered together, reflecting a unique luster in the sunlight. As if finally realizing something was amiss, the Water Monitor let go of the nest, raised its head, sniffed the air, and turned its head towards the shelter. At that glance, it froze, standing still, occasionally tilting its head as if confused about why its original nest suddenly changed, with an added wall surrounding it. [Hahaha, I¡¯m trying so hard not to laugh out loud.] [Water Monitor: What¡¯s going on, how did a wall suddenly appear? Where¡¯s my home? How did my big home disappear?] [No way, it¡¯s thinking of moving over to Boss Fang¡¯s shelter? It sure knows how to choose.] [If I were it, I¡¯d move too. There¡¯s food and drink and shelter from wind and rain. Isn¡¯t that sweet?] In the office, Zhou Weisheng sighed, ¡°Water Monitors are already rare, I didn¡¯t expect to encounter one laying eggs. Normally we can¡¯t even find them, what luck.¡± Often, the reserve staff would set out with a goal to find a creature, and it might take ten days or half a month without any clues, but sometimes, right around the corner, the long-awaited creature would appear before them. That feeling of happiness was incomparable, and it was moments like this that made this job the most joyful. Bi Fang also laughed, he finally understood why the Water Monitor had been active around here for so long, had plenty to eat and drink, and suddenly disappeared for such a long time. Turns out it was going home to move its nest? And it wanted to bring all the little ones with it? ¡°Water Monitors often lay eggs in burrows on shores or in hollow trees around June to July. It seems we¡¯ve encountered another, but this one has already given birth,¡± said Ben, pinching the bridge of his nose, not quite knowing what to say, as it was his first time encountering such a situation. [Could it be that they realize Boss Fang is a specialist in obstetrics? Hilarious.] [Seriously, another unbelievable sighting to add to the series.] [It¡¯s just that Boss Fang has managed the shelter too well.] [Why always bump into some pregnant animals, huh?] ¡°It¡¯s quite normal; in the summer, when temperatures are high, precipitation is plentiful, and food is abundant, animals generally choose this time to lay eggs. Isn¡¯t there a saying that goes, spring has arrived, it¡¯s time again¡­ cough, cough, right?] Bi Fang coughed twice, indicating something that¡¯s better understood tacitly than expressed in words. Generally, animals look for mates in the spring and lay eggs in the summer, ensuring the survival rate of their offspring. Those with longer gestation periods look for a partner in the winter. Relationships among animals are much simpler ¨C no need for houses or cars, just a dive into a small clump of grass to procreate. ¡°Anyone who has kept pets at home would know that as long as you don¡¯t neuter them and don¡¯t limit their freedom, they¡¯ll definitely bring you a litter of kittens or puppies every year.¡± This is exactly why most female creatures found in the summer are with offspring. Not to mention in places like the rainforest, densely packed with life, Bi Fang just happened to pick the right time to witness this rare spectacle. [Wuwuwu, even animals have partners, and I¡¯m still single] [Keep talking!] [Tear, see this Wolf Brush? Gone!] ¡°But, I definitely won¡¯t let them in. This is my territory,¡± Bi Fang shook his head, carrying two fish into the shelter and placed a bamboo fence at the entrance, blocking the main door. [Boss Fang, you have such a cruel heart, men really do turn bad when they get rich] S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [To abandon them, mother and child] [Heartless blue person] Bi Fang laughed loudly, ¡°Animals are much better at adapting to the wild than us humans. You don¡¯t believe me, just wait and watch. It might come back later to climb the wall, and once it realizes that this place is no longer its territory, it will definitely dig a hole nearby.¡± Sure enough, in less than three minutes, the viewers saw the Water Monitor¡¯s head poking over the wall. For a creature with sharp claws, a bit of dirt wall was nothing. Unfortunately, as it only poked its head out, it was met with a Tree Stick held by Bi Fang, knocking it down to the ground. ¡°Lizards are tough-skinned and hard-fleshed. However, you all should be careful. Don¡¯t approach them in the wild to avoid trouble. Being bitten is a hassle, although the Water Monitor is the cleanest of all large lizards, that only refers to its exterior, not its mouth.¡± Water Monitors have a unique trait ¨C they are clean. Most large lizards carry a lot of bacteria, but Water Monitors don¡¯t. They are very clean, having the least amount of bacteria on their skin among all lizards ¨C just 30 microbes per square centimeter. As to why this is the case, nobody knows. It could be due to their lower body temperatures than most other large lizards, or some other reason. ¡°Despite the clean exterior, it doesn¡¯t change the fact that Water Monitors are scavengers, so their mouths harbor particularly many bacteria. A bite would definitely cause the wound to rot,¡± Bi Fang said, holding a long stick. Even he wouldn¡¯t dare get too close to a Water Monitor, not because he couldn¡¯t overpower it, but because he didn¡¯t want to be injured. The Water Monitor, having been poked to the ground, shook off the dust and its dizzy head, gave Bi Fang one look, and silently left. Left? Just as the viewers were thinking this, five minutes later, that familiar head poked out again from another direction. Bi Fang poked down again, and dust flew everywhere. Ten minutes later, Bi Fang poked again. After roughly four or five attempts, nearly half an hour later, the Water Monitor finally realized that the shelter in front of it had completely changed from what it had known before. In the sunset, the Water Monitor dragged its long shadow, frequently glancing back at the shelter as it left, eventually disappearing into the bushes with its nest of grass. The viewers were left in a daze. Just like this? Fierce temperament? [Was it here to make a joke?] [I thought it was going to be a formidable character¡­] Water Monitors indeed are fascinating creatures, undoubtedly fierce and aggressive, but they behave entirely differently around humans, especially being exceptionally gentle with children and lacking any aggression. To date, there hasn¡¯t been a single recorded instance of Water Monitors, including wild ones and pet ones, hurting a human. Bi Fang had mentioned this before: ¡°But we shouldn¡¯t let our guard down. It might come back tonight, so I need to set up some simple defenses. But before that, let¡¯s eat.¡± As the grilling of the fish was done amidst his strategic planning with the Water Monitor, it was now perfectly cooked. He sprinkled a handful of salt on it for another delicious meal. By now, Bi Fang¡¯s life had completely stabilized ¨C meat, mineral salts, the occasional gathering of greens for vitamins. Apart from carbohydrates which were harder to come by, one could say he was without worry for food and shelter. Tomorrow, he would start iron smelting. After dinner, Bi Fang brought out a bucket of clay, broke a tree branch into many sharp spikes, mixed them into the clay, and planted them along the wall. ¡°In the countryside, if there¡¯s a concrete wall, you might see it sprinkled with broken glass to prevent climbing. Ours is similar, but that¡¯s not enough.¡± Bi Fang went on to run a thin rope around the perimeter, tying bamboo slats to it, placing them close together. If the main line were pulled, dozens of bamboo boards would collide, creating noise, which was enough to serve as an early warning system. Stream over, time to sleep. Chapter 492: 489: Practice is the Key to the Gate of Truth (Seeking Monthly Pass) Chapter 492: Chapter 489: Practice is the Key to the Gate of Truth (Seeking Monthly Pass) Survival in the Banna Rainforest, night of the ninth day. Inside the shelter, faint snores arose. On a nearby earthen mound, a huge dark shadow slowly protruded from the bushes, gazing at the shelter for several minutes before a soft rustling sound of digging reached the air. The snoring stopped. Bi Fang opened his eyes, stared blankly at the canopy above, sat up, scratched his hair, picked up a dry stick that had been whittled into a fish-scale shape and dipped in oil, and lit it before stepping outside the fence. Under the glow of the fire, the sound of digging abruptly ceased. After gazing dumbfounded for a few minutes, Bi Fang sleepily reinstated the bamboo gate and threw the torch into the campfire. He went back to sleep. ¡­ Morning of the tenth day. Sunlight shone in from outside the door. Bi Fang yawned, chewed on lemongrass mixed with charcoal, brushed his teeth with a tree stick for a while, and washed his face with clean water before concluding his morning hygiene routine. After dealing with personal hygiene and filling the holes with charcoal ash and soil, Bi Fang started his live stream. ¡°Good morning, guys.¡± [Boss Fang, good morning!] [Why aren¡¯t there any sisters, wuwuwu] [Shivering cold, when will we women finally stand up] [Did the Water Monitors attack at night?] [Old Fang seems to have slept quite well? Did the Water Monitor leave?] ¡°It didn¡¯t leave,¡± said Bi Fang, signaling the drone to follow behind him as he moved to the spot opposite the doorway. There used to be a small hillock covered in bushes, with a stream and a big river in front and a slope with bushes behind¡ªthe shelter could be considered perched by the mountain and water. But now, the small hillock had undergone a complete transformation, a pitch-black cave appeared at the bottom of the mound, and the dug-out earth was piled in a circle at the entrance of the cave, resembling a trench. ¡°It¡¯s inside there right now.¡± This was¡­ Zhou Weisheng stood up straight, looking at the scene with some surprise. Zhou Weisheng had woken up early just to watch the live broadcast because he wanted to get a deeper understanding of the state of the Water Monitors within his own protected area. Normally, his team would research with large packs of equipment, at least seven or eight people in a big team, set up camp, use various devices which would scare away the animals; they rarely had such a secretive approach with such a rare opportunity. So they had settled here? Monitors liked to lay their eggs in tree hollows and cave interiors¡ªit was indeed their familiar style. Bi Fang said very speechlessly, ¡°Last night I was woken up once; I came out with a torch and saw it digging a hole here. This morning, the hole was already dug, and its whole family was inside, and who knows when they ate the fish from my pond.¡± Bi Fang walked a few steps and came in front of the fence. The bushes in front of the shelter¡¯s door had been cleared by him long ago, leaving a clear area with three large pits, each half a person deep, each serving a different purpose. One was a water pit for fish, one for iron bacteria, and the last for storing clay. If there was a catch in the fishing pond, it needed to be removed promptly; otherwise, the large number of fish crowding together could affect future harvests. There were originally six fish in the fish pond¡ªBi Fang had eaten two yesterday, so there should have been four left. However, when he checked this morning, only two remained. As for the other two entering someone¡¯s stomach, Bi Fang had no doubt the culprit was the Water Monitor not far away. As if sensing some kind of resentment. The Water Monitor emerged from the cave, stared motionlessly at Bi Fang, and flicked its long tongue. ¡°Damn it.¡± Bi Fang, rarely swearing, kicked a small clump of earth that hit the hillock and raised a small cloud of dust. [Such deep resentment] [Wori, are our male and female leads already living together?] [Water Monitor: Awesome, the cafeteria is even closer to home, and fresh fish pops up every day!] [Yes, I did it, what are you going to do about it? Come hit me (paws pounding on the National First-Class Protected Species certificate)] [Living in Bengbu] [Do National First-Class animals have such swagger? When can I get one too? I¡¯m also a top-class good-for-nothing waiting to die, wuwuwu] Bi Fang shook his head¡ªlet it be. Today, he had a big project to work on. Perhaps because today¡¯s sun was so good, even fog appeared this clear morning in the Banna Rainforest. Looking at the mist in the woods, Bi Fang suddenly remembered the miasma he had mentioned before, and a lightning bolt streaked through his mind. ¡°I finally understand why many people would regard miasma as a kind of poisonous fog, and why the ancients would attribute the cause of illness to a word like ¡®miasma¡¯ which clearly implies a gaseous substance!¡± [Why?] Many people scratched their heads, voicing their confusions in kind. ¡°Flowing water doesn¡¯t go stale. On one hand, moving water carries oxygen into the water and, on the other hand, flips the water with a low oxygen content from below to the top to absorb oxygen, so organic matter decomposes quickly, and microbial aggregation is less likely to occur.¡± ¡°Moreover, flowing water washes away insect eggs, making it difficult for mosquitoes and bugs to breed. Therefore, large rivers may bring moist air, but they don¡¯t necessarily cause disease directly.¡± ¡°The ancients spoke of ¡®miasma,¡¯ generally not in the open valleys with agricultural areas, but in the surrounding mountainous regions prone to miasma, which shows that miasma can¡¯t simply be equated to hot and humid air.¡± Bi Fang added some water to the clay pit and continued to mix. A night¡¯s evaporation had caused the clay in the pit to stiffen somewhat. ¡°Stagnant water that doesn¡¯t flow is most likely to breed germs, necessitating the existence of many low-lying areas to collect rainwater, and such depressions are common in most places.¡± ¡°Even if the ground surface is sloped, fallen trees and collapsing rocks often create small depressions, last year when I went to the Greater Khingan Range, I saw many similar water pits or mini swamps in the forest, all frozen of course.¡± Bi Fang referred to his trip to Mohe, where the ground was frozen with ¡®ice pits.¡¯ Combining what he saw and heard on that trip with this one, he finally understood why ¡®miasma¡¯ is called ¡®miasma¡¯ and not ¡®miasmic water¡¯ or ¡®miasmic soil.¡¯ ¡°However, the North has less rainfall, so depressions there dry up in sunny weather and freeze in winter, whereas in the South, frequent rain and high temperatures turn those depressions into ¡®bacterial soups¡¯ rich in organic matter and ¡®nurseries¡¯ for mosquitoes and insects.¡± ¡°These become a serious threat to humans, a mammal that no longer has body hair. For Northerners not adapted to Southern microbial communities, it¡¯s particularly terrifying, causing harm far beyond simply ¡®acclimatization issues.¡¯ ¡°Ordinarily, these depressions emit water vapor, which recondenses into fine droplets atop the forest, forming mists. These mists then become symbols of mosquito and germ breeding grounds and are thus deemed ¡®miasma.¡¯ Add to that the fact that large swarms of mosquitoes can look like mist from a distance, ancient people concluded there was something wrong with the air in the South.¡± In the old times of wild smoke and miasmatic rain, people¡¯s faces paled at the mention of tigers and miasma. From a geographical perspective, Bi Fang for the first time understood what exactly ¡®miasma¡¯ was. Mist often appeared between the mountains and forests, Before, he knew only that it was an ancient misnomer for bacterial and parasitic diseases, yet did not understand why such a misunderstanding occurred, simply attributing it to ignorance and superstition. Now, seeing the mist among the trees and recalling his experiences in Mohe, he had a sudden insight. ¡°Indeed, one must read thousands of books and travel thousands of miles.¡± Bi Fang wiped the condensation and sweat off his forehead, scooped up the well-mixed clay, and shoveled it into a winnowing basket framed with rattan. ¡°Three pits aren¡¯t enough, we need to dig another one to build the furnace.¡± ¡°Temperature is key to iron smelting. An underground furnace can accumulate heat more effectively, and the deeper we dig, the relatively taller the furnace becomes.¡± Length is integral; the deeper underground, the greater the effective height of the furnace. The fire in the furnace would thus be more vigorous. ¡°Utilizing the chimney effect, the taller the furnace, the faster the airflow. A faster flow means lower pressure, and with the pressure difference from below, the fire flourishes, thereby improving our combustion rate.¡± [666, finally some real content after ten days!] [Only eleven days left, can Old Fang make it?] [Big brother, go home and apologize to your wife already] [Waiting for the reactor, when are you going to rub together a nuclear furnace?] [Nuclear reactor? Coming soon, don¡¯t rush me] [All this talk, and I didn¡¯t understand a single sentence, weeping in the wind.] ¡°Ha, can¡¯t comprehend it?¡± Bi Fang scratched his eyebrows, his hands covered with black mud smudged across his face, but he didn¡¯t care in the least. ¡°To put it simply, the flow of hot and cold air is common knowledge, right? This is middle school level stuff¡ªheat expands and cold contracts. So under normal conditions, the same volume of cold air will be heavier and it will descend, while hot air will be lighter and thus will rise, creating air convection.¡± The audience nodded; this was easy to understand. ¡°The air under our furnace is burning; it heats up and expands, then rises, while the colder air above sinks. The relative speed of this flow depends on the temperature difference. As long as the chimney is tall enough, the air at the top will be closer to the natural temperature, thus colder, and the greater the temperature difference, the faster the flow. Do you get this?¡± The audience kept nodding. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Once the air starts moving and the speed is fast enough, we have ample oxygen to aid combustion, which increases both the efficiency and the temperature of the burn, essentially acting like a natural bellows.¡± By harnessing the principle of hot air rising, the furnace expels hot flue gases from an outlet at the top while fresh, cool air is drawn in from the inlet, increasing the oxygen needed for the fuel to combust fully, and thus intensifying the flames. This is the principle of the high furnace. Iron smelting in a high furnace sounds complex, but it¡¯s literally iron smelted in a high furnace. Throughout history, a major constraint on materials has been the combustion temperature and furnaces capable of withstanding high temperatures. The audience had an epiphany. [Holy crap, I get it now!] [Damn, is it really that scientific? I always thought Boss Fang hailed from a mystical world, dog¡¯s head.] [You think I¡¯m science, but I¡¯m really mysticism, ha!] [There¡¯s always someone dressed in the trappings of science, showing us magic.] ¡°High-rise buildings are the same. A fire in the lower floors creates hot air that moves upward through passages, continuously accumulating hot gases at the top, and as a result, the fire spreads to the top floors through air convection.¡± ¡°So in case of a fire, never run upwards; you must always head downwards.¡± Bi Fang dug a pit large enough to accommodate half his body and started to build a stove out of clay. [Is iron smelting with iron bacteria really reliable? It feels like Magneto pulling iron out of someone¡¯s body.] [It does sound a bit esoteric, but to say it won¡¯t work, I¡¯d bet fifty cents Fang will slap me in the face. Clown.] ¡°There are no issues, whether from a theoretical or practical standpoint, it is entirely possible to succeed.¡± Bi Fang piled a large clump of clay on the ground, spreading it out in the pit and plastering a layer around the edges as well. ¡°Iron bacteria can oxidize ferrous iron to ferric iron and extract energy in the process, oxidizing ferrous compounds in water and causing them to form ferric hydroxide precipitates.¡± ¡°The sediment accumulates around the bacteria, generating vast amounts of brown sludge, leading to pitting and tubercles in equipment and piping. Often, the brown rust we see inside pipes is this stuff.¡± ¡°It¡¯s also because of this that they can oxidize dissolved ferrous hydroxide and ferrous carbonate in the water to form ferric hydroxide deposits, concentrating and accumulating iron in the environment. Many scientists also believe they might play a role in the natural formation of limonite.¡± ¡°The ultimate ferric hydroxide can indeed be used for iron smelting!¡± Chapter 493: 490: There is only one truth! Chapter 493: Chapter 490: There is only one truth! ¡°The Stone Age began about 2.5 million years ago and lasted until approximately 7000 to 2000 years ago.¡± ¡°From monkeys, we learned to throw stones, and by the time of the apemen, we were already using stone axes.¡± ¡°The Bronze Age first started in the Mesopotamian civilization in the 4th millennium BC.¡± ¡°In Huaxia, the earliest unearthed bronze artifacts are the small bronze knives from the Gan-Su Majiayao culture, which date back to around 2800 BC. My history isn¡¯t great, but that was probably the early Shang Dynasty, right?¡± ¡°In Ancient Egypt, bronze vessels appeared during the Second Dynasty, ushering in the Bronze Age.¡± ¡°The Aegean civilization existed during the same period.¡± ¡°And then, we have the Iron Age, which continues to this day.¡± ¡°The ancient Egyptians and Sumerians were the first known to use iron tools, as early as 4000 BC, but mostly they obtained iron from meteorites rather than extracting it from iron ore, which made it many times more expensive than gold.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t until between 3000 BC and 2000 BC that Anatolia, Egypt, and Mesopotamia increasingly extracted iron from meteoritic iron.¡± ¡°In Huaxia, 5 iron-bladed bronze ¡®ge¡¯ from the Shang Dynasty of the 14th century BC have been excavated, which we call ¡®Sky Metal¡¯.¡± ¡°It was probably the Hittite Empire that first mass-produced iron and applied it, mastering iron smelting technology around 1400 BC. By 1200 BC, iron was widely used in the Middle East, but it hadn¡¯t replaced bronze.¡± ¡°From the Stone Age to the Bronze Age, and now the Iron Age, humans have used millions of years. This represents the progress of civilization and the progress of humanity.¡± ¡°This is the famed Three-Age System, dividing the development of human civilization into three stages based on materials.¡± In Bi Fang¡¯s description, the audience seemed to witness, beneath the long river of history, the piles and piles of burning charcoal, the blocks of black ore being put into the furnace that, under intense heat, transformed into dazzling red molten iron, pouring forth. [Of the Four Ancient Civilizations, only we remain, ah, I¡¯m proud!] [Old Fang has really started to understand history, cover face, the pretentiousness reaches a new level] [The progress of human civilization seems complicated, but in fact, it¡¯s the change of materials. Ah.] [Huaxia, impressive!] Quite a few foreign netizens also expressed their admiration. Ever since the discovery of iron, people began adding different components to it, changing its properties using different temperature processes, and achieving different microstructures through various techniques. This seemingly limitless black metal became the most important pillar supporting the entire planet¡¯s industrial civilization. At the moment, Bi Fang planned to leap across millions of years of history, refining this indefinitely useful black metal in the most primitive wilderness. [If human civilization were lost, Boss Fang¡¯s live stream should be preserved] [You might be able to restart a civilization] [Epic] Seeing such comments, Bi Fang joked while holding clay, ¡°I guess I¡¯m standing on the shoulders of giants now, with enough knowledge in physics, chemistry, biology, and the environment to achieve this goal. It looks like wilderness, but in fact, it¡¯s a representation of the totality of human civilization.¡± After laying a base with clay, Bi Fang applied more clay around the sides, making it look overall like a toilet. The surroundings were all encased in clay, leaving only an opening nearly four square decimeters in size. Once the structure was even with the ground level, Bi Fang added a protruding U-shaped mouth and said, ¡°This is the chimney; it will handle all the gas exchange later.¡± Having created a passageway, the construction now looked even more like a toilet. Not far away, a water monitor that had returned to its cave peeked out its head once again, seemingly puzzled by what the towering creature in front of it was doing. In its mind, hunting, eating, resting, and reproducing were the sole purposes of life. Unable to grasp the situation, the water monitor scratched its skin with its claws, thinking about heading to the dock¡­ to the water hole to catch a fish for lunch. [It¡¯s so similar, really too similar] [Alright, now our dry toilet is completed, come and give it a try] [Use it and burn at the same time] [Others clean with water, Boss Fang¡¯s has a drying function, the boss is just extraordinary] Bi Fang laughed heartily; there was no denying that the stove did have an intriguing shape. Seen from above, it indeed resembled a toilet, a squat one, but with a square fire mouth at the front. After finishing, Bi Fang rolled the clay into long strips and baked them with fire. Once they had slightly dried and hardened, he placed them inside the furnace. There was a slightly protruding platform underneath, left deliberately, perfect for placing the strips on. ¡°This is the furnace bridge. In the past, when burning coal, there was something called a furnace bridge in the stove. There was a saying, ¡®the fire must be hollow,¡¯ meaning coal needs oxygen to burn.¡± ¡°If the coal is tightly packed together without oxygen, it won¡¯t ignite. You need to elevate the coal to facilitate air circulation for combustion, and that¡¯s the job of the furnace bridge.¡± ¡°Normally, the furnace bridge is cast from pig iron, like an iron fence. Placed in the middle of the furnace, coal is put on top, and there¡¯s a furnace door below for adjusting the fire by opening or closing it. We don¡¯t have that feature here; it¡¯s just to help with air circulation.¡± After constructing the furnace bridge, Bi Fang promptly broke small branches, laid them on the ¡°toilet,¡± and plastered them with more clay. ¡°This is the ventilation hole. We can¡¯t let the clay block it. A layer of branches will secure it, preventing collapse. When it dries, it will take shape, and the branches don¡¯t need to be removed; they will burn to ash.¡± [To be honest, this stove is more advanced than those from the Great Leap Forward era.] [High-Temperature Toilet: You can only use the toilet within a certain period of time, otherwise there¡¯s a risk of roasting your behind.] [Capitalist: Install these in my company! Replace all with these!] [That¡¯s impossible. Doesn¡¯t fuel cost money? It might be more reasonable to charge for using slanted and timed toilets.] The section Bi Fang smeared on served to separate the fire mouth from the ¡°toilet¡±, and then he made a stone plate out of clay, based on the size of the fire mouth. ¡°The size of the stone plate must be larger than the fire mouth, to keep the heat away.¡± After finishing the stone plate and letting it dry and harden naturally, Bi Fang patted his black-gray palms and sighed with relief, ¡°Alright, spent the whole morning on this. Let¡¯s have lunch then go to the river for more clay, and continue making chimneys and charcoal.¡± Returning to the shelter, Bi Fang approached the water hole, ready to catch fish, but discovered that the remaining two fish had disappeared. Glancing at the nearby mound, a fish bone was spat out not far away. Bi Fang: ¡°¡­¡± ¡­ At noon, Bi Fang once again reached the stream, and after catching three big fish, he strengthened the fishing grounds, increased their size, and threw the rotting fish guts into them. He also constructed another fishing ground further downstream. ¡°Normally, one fishing ground supplying two or three big fish and four or five small fish each day would be enough, but now that I have a thieving neighbor, one fishing ground just doesn¡¯t suffice. Hence, I need to build another one, and place them far enough apart, preferably over two hundred meters.¡± ¡°Now let¡¯s dig some more clay, pour in some clear water, and while we¡¯re at it, gather some sugarcane and fishy grass.¡± The benefits of returning to the camp site were evident at this moment, not only providing a stable supply of vegetables, but also a fixed supply of sweet fruits, which, though not overly sweet, were a rare delicacy. Bi Fang shoveled clay into the form, it took three trips back and forth to fill the pit, then he lit the wood in the half-completed fire pit to speed up the drying process. To his surprise, he found a paw print in the nearby clay¡­ [Hahaha, I can¡¯t, I¡¯m going to die laughing.] [Can¡¯t hit it, it¡¯s not good to chase it away, what can I do? I can only keep it.] [This is the first time I¡¯ve seen a problem that even Old Fang can¡¯t solve.] Bi Fang massaged his temples. He had wanted to pour some water here to boil it for sterilization, but now it seemed he couldn¡¯t leave it unattended for a second. He sure didn¡¯t want to drink water that water monitors had drunk from. It had not been long since he left, but if he were away longer, wouldn¡¯t he risk losing his spot to an opportunist? [Old Fang: You dare to take over my territory?] [Water Monitors: Clearly, you took over mine first!] The audience burst into a frenzy of mockery. Bi Fang shook his head, cleaned the fish, mixed them with fishy grass for a meal, and then, armed with a large amount of firewood, he went to another clearing. ¡°To smelt iron, even though we have a blast furnace, simply burning wood is not sufficient¡ªwe need a large amount of charcoal.¡± [Honestly, I don¡¯t really understand the difference¡­] [Isn¡¯t charcoal just wood burned? Does charcoal burn hotter than wood?] [Blind spot in knowledge] [It¡¯s actually a physical chemistry fact that¡­] ¡°Indeed, it is a physical chemistry fact, but explaining it in detail would be too complicated, needing a lot of equations. Let me put it in simpler terms.¡± S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang built another suitable small structure on the ground using clay. ¡°Charcoal is a processed product of wood, but not something that you can burn in a regular stove; it¡¯s produced in a high-temperature, oxygen-poor environment. By then, the moisture in the wood has evaporated, and the structure itself has changed, internal combusting to a honeycomb-like structure, which ignites more easily, burns more efficiently, and produces little smoke.¡± ¡°When this honeycomb structure is burned, it generates a more intense combustion reaction, reaching higher temperatures.¡± [I want to see the complicated explanation, haha] ¡°The complicated explanation would be, if we consider wood¡¯s main chemical component ¡®cellulose¡¯ ¨C which is basically composed of glucose, a ¡®carbohydrate¡¯.¡± ¡°Comparing glucose with charcoal you would be using ¡®1mol of C6H12O6¡¯ contrasted with pure carbon consisting of 6mol of carbon atoms.¡± ¡°Thus, the 6 water molecules in ¡®C6H12O6¡¯ remain water after combustion and do not produce much heat. The combustion heat mainly comes from the 6 carbon atoms.¡± With this in mind, the combustion heat of wood and charcoal won¡¯t be much different. You can check chemical handbooks to see the difference in combustion heat between the two.¡± [The combustion heat of glucose is 2800kj/mol, while the equivalent amount of C combustion heat is 2361kj/mol. It¡¯s confusing; the difference isn¡¯t very big indeed.] Bi Fang laughed, ¡°So, after burning wood, you not only produce 6 molecules of carbon dioxide, but also 6 water molecules that need to be heated.¡± ¡°But with charcoal, you only have CO2 molecules!¡± ¡°Charcoal doesn¡¯t have to take into account the heating of water molecules. After combustion, charcoal has fewer types and numbers of substances to heat.¡± ¡°That is the fundamental reason why the highest temperature of charcoal combustion is higher than that of wood!¡± Chapter 494: 491: Taking Shape (Seeking Monthly Tickets and Subscriptions) Chapter 494: Chapter 491: Taking Shape (Seeking Monthly Tickets and Subscriptions) [Wori¡­ Damn it, that¡¯s mind-blowing, a shock that lasts a hundred years for my mom] [My mom asked me why I¡¯m kneeling while watching the live stream] [Is this GOD?] [So glucose is the firewood, and carbon is the charcoal, scratching my head?] [Dude, didn¡¯t you get it? Actually, I didn¡¯t either, shy] [Yes, the glucose is the firewood that we need to burn, and the charcoal is carbon] A simple analysis left the audience in the live stream completely astounded, and the barrage of comments surged. Even more were the generous tips being thrown like thousand of gold pieces. Emperor? Some rare creature? After thanking everyone for their support and tips, Bi Fang continued his work. He piled up the clay, little by little shaping it into a sealed kiln. ¡°There are usually two methods for making charcoal: the pit charcoal method and the dry distillation method.¡± ¡°The former involves building a kiln out of clay, filling it with wood, and then setting it alight to carbonize the wood inside, with volatiles escaping and leaving behind the charcoal.¡± ¡°The dry distillation method involves placing the wood in a dry distillation kiln and heating it in an air-free environment to decompose it into charcoal. This is known as the dry distillation of wood.¡± ¡°According to the method of venting from the kiln, there are generally two kinds of charcoal produced: ¡®black charcoal¡¯ and ¡®white charcoal¡¯. However, we are using the pit charcoal method here, which produces black charcoal.¡± The pile of clay looked like a well, into which Bi Fang dumped a great amount of wood, explaining: ¡°Don¡¯t stack the wood too neatly, because we need it to react and burn. If it¡¯s stacked too tightly, it¡¯s quite possible that charcoal won¡¯t form inside.¡± Then he inserted wooden sticks around the ¡®well¡¯, like tent poles leaning in toward the center, forming a half-dome structure. With the support in place, clay could be smeared on top to create a sealed lid, leaving just a small opening at the very top. Bi Fang lit a torch and used the pre-made small opening to ignite the wood. Once everything inside started burning and thick smoke billowed out, he quickly plastered the final bit of clay on the top, cutting off any contact with the outside world. Under the high heat, the damp clay dried out and changed color quickly, sealing the pit firmly. ¡°Cutting off oxygen creates a high-temperature, oxygen-poor environment inside. Once the temperature subsides, we can harvest the charcoal. If you¡¯re barbecuing in the wild, a metal can with wood inside can be used to produce charcoal too. But since we need a larger quantity, even with the pit method, we may have to do this a couple more times.¡± While the wood was turning into charcoal, Bi Fang returned to the furnace he was building. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After drying and baking over noon, the furnace had completely taken shape. The square lid resting on the furnace even made a sound like cement colliding when tapped. ¡°Next, we are going to build a chimney. It will be built over the circular opening at the center here. The taller, the better, but make sure not to build too fast. Wait until the section of the chimney dries before building the next section, or it may all collapse.¡± Bi Fang scooped the large-chunk cement to his side and pushed up clay around the mouth of the opening. The whole process was very simple, and it was no different from playing with clay in a kindergarten craft class, like building castles on the beach. ¡°Chimneys, you might have seen them before, come in square or round shapes, and there¡¯s a difference. Square ones are easier to build, while round ones are more efficient. The smoke is evenly distributed, and there¡¯s less wind resistance, so large factory chimneys are generally round. However, at home, for convenience, they are usually square.¡± For square constructions, all you need is a straightedge ruler, but round ones are far from simple. It requires many things, and a slight asymmetry could lead to an easy collapse. ¡°That¡¯s why I choose to build a square chimney. The iron smelting we¡¯re doing here is far from needing to be that efficient.¡± Bi Fang stacked the clay squarely over the smoke outlet, steadily building upward at a not-too-fast pace, very symmetrical all around. Every ten or so centimeters, Bi Fang would measure with a relatively straight branch. Only after confirming, he continued to stack. Soon, a chimney half the height of a man rose before everyone, though of course, this height was still not enough. ¡°Now let¡¯s go see if the charcoal is ready.¡± Bi Fang wiped the clay from his hands and came to the side of the sealed pit, touching the wall to check its temperature. Not hot. ¡°It¡¯s warm; it should be about ready. Let¡¯s open it up and see.¡± The clay, dried and hardened by high temperatures, felt like cement, rough and hard, not easy to open. Bi Fang picked up a stone hammer beside him and smashed it down hard on the hardened pit, breaking the even surface. Pieces of dry clay fell off, and faint whiffs of white smoke wafted from the cracks. After breaking apart all the solid, cement-like clay pieces, the completely black charcoal was revealed for all to see. Bi Fang didn¡¯t fear the heat and directly reached in to turn over the charcoal, which felt warm to the touch. The wood at the bottom had all turned into black charcoal, and as he turned them over, the pieces of charcoal clinked against each other, making the sound of metal striking. [What the heck, am I hearing this right? Feels like it¡¯s black iron?] [Did Master Fang already produce iron? Did he secretly cast a spell?] [Epic! I¡¯ve been saying Master Fang is an alien, but you wouldn¡¯t believe me] Bi Fang picked up two pieces of elongated charcoal, blowing off the white ash on them: ¡°This is ¡®black charcoal¡¯, commonly known as ¡®pit kiln charcoal¡¯. The surface is either pure black or covered with white ash powder that can be blown away. The charcoal was formed when the fiery wood in the kiln was deprived of air and the flames were extinguished at the end of the carbonization.¡± ¡°Black charcoal is soft and breaks easily. When knocked, it makes a muffled sound, and its texture is loose.¡± Bi Fang took out two pieces of black charcoal and gently struck them together, immediately producing a dull metallic knock. A firm cut would cause them to break, which to many who have never seen it in a big city, was indeed quite magical. The product of wood burning could actually make sounds like metal! Bi Fang collected all the charcoal from the pit into a wooden frame and added more firewood to it. He repeated the same sealing process. ¡°In theory, the charcoal from one pit is enough, but to be on the safe side, I¡¯m going to make another pit of it.¡± After completing that, Bi Fang returned to the furnace to continue building the chimney higher. By five o¡¯clock in the afternoon, the charcoal was ready, and the chimney had also been completed. Bi Fang looked at the chimney that towered over two meters, a good length taller than himself, and felt immensely satisfied. The chimney was squarely and vertically structured, with the topmost segment even built upon clay steps. ¡°I am one meter eighty-five tall, and as you can see, the chimney is a good half taller than me, about two meters, which should be enough,¡± Bi Fang said, dusting off the ash on himself as he descended from the clay steps and started adding more firewood under the furnace. It wasn¡¯t long before white smoke began to rise from the tall chimney. [Ahh that, ahh that, polluting the environment!] [What¡¯s this little bit of smoke, Nature will just break it down¡­] [It¡¯s not even as much as a single car would emit.] [That¡¯s true.] [That chimney is too tall, feels like iron smelting is hopeful.] [The progress is so fast.] The audience teased for a bit, not really minding, as compared to the emissions produced by modern industry, the small amount Bi Fang was releasing would be broken down by a few trees. Under the setting sun, Bi Fang, smeared in red mud and radiating a golden glow all over his body, wearing only a grass skirt and a beast tooth necklace around his neck, exuded a wild charm. Bi Fang wiped the sweat off his forehead, feeling a bit weary. The workload for the day hadn¡¯t been small: not only had he built the blast furnace, but he had also piled up a small mountain of charcoal, and now his stomach was growling with hunger. ¡°Tomorrow we can start processing iron bacteria, and maybe we can begin iron smelting by the afternoon. When I went to pick clay earlier, I also chopped down a couple of nice branches, planning to make a bow and arrows tonight. Let¡¯s see if we can hunt some wild chickens or rabbits tomorrow to improve our meals.¡± Eating fish every day, many of which had bones, Bi Fang was tired of and annoyed with it, especially since he¡¯d had a fish bone stuck in his throat at noon today, which was uncomfortable. Fortunately, there were no serious problems afterward, but he could still feel a sore throat and a foreign body sensation. In the evening, Bi Fang cooked a pot of vegetable and fish soup for dinner. The water monitors, which had basked in the sun on the dirt slope all day, became more lively and briskly went to the water hole. They dragged away a couple of fish, exemplifying quick and decisive action. Bi Fang noticed, but was too lazy to care. Tired, he let it be. Oddly enough, as cold-blooded animals, water monitors shouldn¡¯t need to eat so frequently. Maybe seeing him eating triggered their hunger? Or did they need more food during the breeding season? Animals have a much simpler and cruder way of eating than humans: the water monitors ripped the fish apart and swallowed them whole. Once sated, they spotted a large tree, used their sharp claws to slowly climb up, and then lay motionless on a branch. [By the way, is there any chance we can watch the baby water monitors being born before the livestream ends?] [Not likely, right? Didn¡¯t Old Fang say they lay eggs in June and July? It will take at least a month or two, right? By that time, Master Fang will have long gone.] [I just looked it up, damn, these things can live up to a hundred and fifty years.] [Wori? One hundred fifty? Are you kidding me?] When he saw the audience discussing, Bi Fang thought for a moment and realized it wasn¡¯t impossible. ¡°Laying eggs in June or July is the general pattern, but in reality, water monitors have the ability to lay eggs at any time, which is rather rare among animals. Especially in regions like the Banna Rainforest that lack distinct dry and wet seasons, water monitor egg-laying can occur at any time of the year.¡± ¡°If this particular water monitor is unusual in not laying eggs in June or July, then we might indeed have a chance to witness the birth of baby monitors,¡± he added. Bi Fang¡¯s words gave the audience a huge surprise. [Holy crap, can we really see that?] [That¡¯s so awesome, isn¡¯t it?] [How does Old Fang know everything?] Because I have seen records of water monitor reproduction. Bi Fang internally retorted. Every year, the Forestry Bureau almost always releases water monitors, and they have released over three hundred so far. Although he hadn¡¯t seen it personally, he did have some understanding of it. As the audience imagined, Bi Fang, who was carving the wood to make the bow and arrows, threw cold water on their fantasies. ¡°Don¡¯t get your hopes up too high. The Banna Rainforest¡¯s climate has distinct dry and wet seasons, so the chances of it not laying eggs in June or July are originally low. Besides, the incubation period for the eggs is uncertain.¡± ¡°It could be anywhere from two and a half months to ten months or even longer, usually around six months. Even if there is a chance, it¡¯s close to negligible.¡± [Ahh that.] [This creature is so ugly, how can anyone like it? Scratches head] [Add one, I think it¡¯s hideous. If this thing nests nearby, I wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep at night.] [I think it¡¯s ugly-cute.] [Your taste is too strong!] Bi Fang chuckled, but his hands and the stone knife didn¡¯t stop working; he continued to carve the bow material and arrow shafts. The Stone Dagger was after all not very convenient ¨C if only he had an iron knife. Looking at the sawdust beneath his feet, Bi Fang started to anticipate the results of the upcoming days. Chapter 495: 492: Archer Paradox (Request for Monthly Pass) Chapter 495: Chapter 492: Archer Paradox (Request for Monthly Pass) Bows are a widely used hunting tool; Bi Fang had made one before the geese began their migration. At the same time, I also have a blue ¡°Archery Mastery Skill,¡± not making one would simply feel amiss. The style of the bow and arrow was still the ¡°Father-Son Bow.¡± Behind a larger bow was bound a smaller one. Although it wasn¡¯t as sturdy and durable as those made from a single piece of high-quality wood, its advantages included low material requirements for the wood and ease of production. ¡°It¡¯s rare to find wood suitable for making good bows in the rainforest, since the trees here generally grow very quickly. Those who have studied biology should know that the longer the growth cycle, the higher the quality of the result, and vice versa.¡± The high school geography teacher used to tap on the blackboard every day in class, explaining why rice from Northeast China¡¯s Wuchang was tastier: because of its longer growth cycle and fertile soil¡­ Bi Fang remembered this very clearly. Wood from the north was much better than that from the south, for the same reason. Hundreds of years ago, the wood used to build palaces was basically felled from within the Greater Khingan Range and then floated down the rivers. The Father-Son Bow, with its unique structure, overcame the lack of good wood and was very suitable for such an environment. After busying himself for a few hours, Moyo grew tired around nine o¡¯clock, and Bi Fang felt sleepy too. Waking up early every day and engaging in a lot of physical activity, it was very easy to become sleepy at night. There¡¯s an old saying that rang true: many people nowadays are just too well-fed, and that¡¯s why they have time to worry about this and that; starve them for two meals, and they¡¯ll be fine. Bi Fang yawned, placed the bow, which was eighty percent complete, onto the ground, and muttered sleepily, ¡°I¡¯m dead tired, off to sleep, ending the stream for today.¡± ¡°Fellows, see you.¡± [Boo hoo hoo, no sisters again, my heart is dead, I¡¯m unfollowing] [You¡¯re clearly a dude¡­] [Just because it says I¡¯m a male on my profile, I¡¯m a male? That¡¯s discriminatory! I¡¯m going to sue you] [You guys are really something] [Lots of goofballs here] ¡­ Day 11 of survival in the Banna Rainforest, more than half of the 21-day survival task had passed. Early in the morning, the water monitors crawled out of their cave early. As cold-blooded animals, they needed to bask in the sun every day to raise their body temperature. The terrain surrounding the shelter was relatively open, which perhaps explained why it was so persistent in bringing its family here. Bi Fang ignored the water monitor sunbathing nearby, got up to wash and take care of personal hygiene, then opened the live stream. ¡°I nearly finished making my bow and arrows yesterday. This morning I refined them a bit more, and now I can proceed with shaping and testing.¡± Bi Fang lifted the longbow in his hand, which was very similar to the one he made for the geese hunt, consisting of two branches for the body and some ropes made from tree bark fibers as the bowstring. This wasn¡¯t the final bowstring; it was just for testing the bow¡¯s efficacy by pulling on the string. Bi Fang took out a ¡°test stick¡± less than one meter long, about seventy centimeters, and cut a notch at the top, then measured and cut another notch every twelve centimeters or so. He then placed the grip of the bow at the top of the stick and pulled the string to the position of the first notch. ¡°Each notch represents the degree of bend in the bow. Now I need to check the curve of the bow; if all looks normal, then continue to pull the string to the next notch.¡± ¡°But if you find some parts bending too much, you¡¯ll need to trim both ends to make it bend equally with the rest. The same goes for areas that don¡¯t bend enough.¡± ¡°When making a bow, don¡¯t skip this process. These details will affect the overall balance of the bow, ensuring that the arrows you shoot don¡¯t veer off but fly straight ahead, eventually falling to the ground due to gravity.¡± Bi Fang checked the bow¡¯s curvature step by step using this method until the string reached the last notch on the stick. Next, he shortened the length of the string to test the second smaller bow. After both bows, the large and the small one, had been tested, he combined them and tested them again. After some adjustments, they were both successful; there were no issues with Bi Fang¡¯s craftsmanship. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The bow and arrows had been completed the previous night; Bi Fang dried them and took them outside. ¡°If you¡¯re a beginner, don¡¯t expect to immediately succeed in hunting with a bow and arrow. What you need to do first is practice extensively, familiarize yourself with the bow and arrows in your hands, learn how to nock, draw, aim, and shoot at different distances, and only then, when you¡¯re confident, go for the real deal.¡± With his system skills, Bi Fang was naturally experienced, and he always felt that solidifying skills was a significant cheat. Any skill that appears on the panel would not become unfamiliar or clumsy due to the passage of time or a long absence of practice. A piano master ten years ago remains one after ten years without practice. Bi Fang aimed at a large tree, fired a few shots in succession, retrieved the arrows, and then headed into the jungle, following the animal trails. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever talked about archery techniques, have I?¡± [You never did, facepalm] [Right, we just saw arrows whooshing at the poachers] ¡°Have you heard of the Archer¡¯s Paradox?¡± [Oh, I know that one, it¡¯s about how the second arrow will never catch up to the first one!] ¡°???¡± [Ah, is that so?] [Something feels off¡­] [Man, that¡¯s Zeno¡¯s paradox, the one with the turtle¡­] ¡°I¡¯ve never heard anything about the second arrow not catching up to the first one¡­¡± Bi Fang curled his lip, ¡°I think what you¡¯re referring to is the philosophical paradox of Achilles not being able to outrun the tortoise; it has nothing to do with what I¡¯m saying.¡± ¡°The Archer¡¯s Paradox refers to the fact that when you shoot an arrow, if you point it directly at your target when you nock it, it will definitely miss.¡± What the heck? Did I hear that wrong? At this moment, millions of viewers in front of the screen want to dig their ears out, doubting whether they had just misheard. Aiming at the target guarantees a hit, are you kidding me? How many people have experienced professional archery practice? Not even one percent, so the live broadcast room completely blew up, thinking that Bi Fang was talking nonsense. Even¡­ those who have had professional archery experience think it¡¯s nonsensical. [How is that possible? How does the archer aim at the target?] [This is unscientific] [As expected, is it starting to get metaphysical now?] [I just came in and saw the host bragging, and this got onto the cover recommendation? Was it bought with money? It¡¯s all rigged] [???] [Nonsense, I just went to try archery at the club yesterday, and I¡¯ve never heard of such a thing, Old Fang, don¡¯t you know your own club?] Bi Fang spread his hands, ¡°I really wasn¡¯t talking nonsense, I take responsibility for what I say, if you don¡¯t believe it, look it up. Modern archery indeed doesn¡¯t have the archer¡¯s paradox anymore, but you haven¡¯t tried traditional archery.¡± He didn¡¯t expect the audience¡¯s reaction to be so strong, but he could understand it. People who have never used a bow and arrow find it unreliable, and those who have¡­ emmm, they also find it unreliable. Because modern archery has overcome this problem and wouldn¡¯t encounter such a situation. ¡°Has anyone checked it out?¡± The viewers, skeptically, opened up web pages and typed ¡®archer¡¯s paradox¡¯ word for word. Moments later. [Damn, there really is such a thing¡­] [It¡¯s the world that has a problem] [Definitely Master Fang has once again exerted his mighty power, changing the physical rules of this world!] Bi Fang didn¡¯t care, he was often teased by netizens, but he cooperated and said, ¡°If I had that ability, why would I still be live streaming.¡± ¡°Ordinary people naturally assume that one should aim the arrow directly at the target when shooting, but in reality, any arrow nocked onto the bowstring by a traditional archer is off to one side, to the left for right-handed people, and the opposite for left-handed people, which is how you accurately hit the target.¡± Most people in the live broadcast room stopped talking, pricked up their ears and listened, only a small number of people did not search, and blindly judged based on their own feelings. ¡°You¡¯d think that the arrow shoots straight ahead due to the bow and arrow being straight, but in reality, in high-speed photography, the arrow is seen to wiggle like a fish swimming away.¡± Bi Fang pulled out a long arrow, its curvature demonstrating the good elasticity of the bow and arrow. ¡°Due to the limitations of our bow-drawing techniques and the construction of the bow and arrow, whether it¡¯s the Mediterranean or Mongolian bow-drawing method, there¡¯s always some friction, leading to the bowstring rebounding to the left or to the right.¡± Bi Fang draw his bow and nocked an arrow, demonstrating what the Mongolian and Mediterranean styles were. The Mediterranean uses the right hand¡¯s three fingers to pull the string, and the arrow is placed on the left side of the bow handle. Left-handed archers use their left hand¡¯s three fingers to pull the string, and the arrow is on the right side. The Mongolian style of bow-drawing is essentially a mirror image of the Mediterranean style for left-handers. However, with Mongolian style drawing, right-handed archers should place the arrow on the right side of the bow, and they use the right thumb to pull the string. But because of using a single finger to draw the bow, it¡¯s easy for the thumb to get scraped, thus the invention of what¡¯s called a thumb ring, though this has been around since before the Qin Dynasty, when it was known as ¡®sh¨¦¡¯. ¡°I¡¯ve seen many historical dramas, but I¡¯ve never seen anyone draw a bow correctly; there¡¯s even the pinch method of holding the fletching to shoot, which should be ancient human and some tribal techniques, very inaccurate, better suited for shooting balloons on top of your boyfriend¡¯s head at amusement parks.¡± The audience almost laughed out loud. [How can actors compare with Master Fang?] [Boyfriends, beware!] [I¡¯m watching] [Are you also Xiahou Dun?] ¡°However, although the arrow may wiggle its head, there are two points on the arrow that do not sway from side to side¡ªthose are the nodes. The line connecting the nodes points to where the arrow will ultimately land. In other words, you can only hit the target if you align the arrow¡¯s nodes with the target.¡± ¡°The position of the arrow¡¯s nodes depends on the distribution of the arrow¡¯s mass and its flexibility, as well as the bow¡¯s draw weight and draw length.¡± ¡°With the same bow, if you change the arrow, the nodes will shift. So even experienced archers can¡¯t be sure to hit the target with just any arrow they grab.¡± [I¡¯ve wasted my education] [Then why has Old Fang¡¯s archery club never mentioned this?] [Right, I can hit the target even if I shoot directly at it] [Damn, you all have been there?] [Obviously, you¡¯re the only one who hasn¡¯t] [Wait for me, buying a ticket right now!] ¡°Because the issue is known, modern bows have certainly been improved. Those who have played with compound bows should know that the grip of a compound bow protrudes on one side, allowing for direct shots at the target without considering the paradox.¡± ¡°The arrow rest also serves as protection; falling during the moment of release, it minimizes external forces¡¯ effects. Nowadays, arrows don¡¯t swing left and right anymore, but rather up and down.¡± ¡°In short, if you make a bow and arrow with your bare hands in the wild, you must aim off to one side when shooting, or else you¡¯ll absolutely not hit the target.¡± Chapter 496: 493 Welcome to the Worlds Dining Table Chapter 496: Chapter 493 Welcome to the World¡¯s Dining Table So that¡¯s how it is. The audience had an epiphany. The niche development of modern archery ensured that almost no one knew about the intricacies of primitive bows and arrows. If you really ended up in the wilderness, you wouldn¡¯t know how many times you had to experiment to understand this technique. Sometimes you might hit the target directly, but it¡¯s usually because the distance is short and luck plays a part. But once you know this in advance and consciously practice it with a bias, you can quickly get the hang of it. [Learned another trick, now off to the Olympics] [The Olympics are all about modern archery, you wouldn¡¯t get a chance to showcase the archer¡¯s paradox there.] [This is so damn complicated, how much do you have to adjust?] [Still have to practice more.] [Watching Boss Fang¡¯s livestream isn¡¯t for anything else, just for this learning atmosphere. With it, I¡¯ve even passed my postgraduate exams.] ¡°We¡¯re not competing in a match, we just need to hit the target. Understand that, then get familiar with using the bow and arrow, and basically you¡¯ll be fine,¡± Bi Fang said. Bi Fang, with a basket of arrows on his back, was moving briskly through the jungle, dressed in grass skirts and necklaces, a spitting image of a primitive elite. A warrior among primordial humans. [What primitive man? Clearly a prince of elves!] [Won¡¯t watch The Lord of the Rings 4 without you] [Let Master Fang play a Hobbit from the East] [Damn, a Hobbit from the East] Bi Fang patiently searched the ground for animal tracks. ¡°Now it¡¯s early morning, the best time to observe animal footprints. The air is fresh, which makes it easier to observe. Nighttime is also when animals are most active, so the signs are more evident in the morning. The dew on the ground can also reveal some clues,¡± he explained. For this outing, Bi Fang had also put on some camouflage. He draped himself with leafy vines and donned a floral crown, a simple environmental disguise. He kept taking deep breaths, capturing every scent in the air. Soon, under his search, some traces became evident. On the black soil, a pale yellow-white stain stood out conspicuously. He squatted down, closed in to sniff, and a faint stench mixed with the scent of the earth entered his nostrils. Bi Fang confirmed, ¡°Judging from the looks and texture, it¡¯s bird droppings.¡± The dense leaves overhead blocked the sky, but Bi Fang noticed that some areas weren¡¯t covered by dead branches, and the soil underneath had signs of being disturbed. ¡°With such dense leaves, it¡¯s unlikely to be bird droppings. The turned soil suggests it¡¯s probably looking for insects to eat.¡± [Pheasant!] Although not understanding himself, Bi Fang spoke out the analysis process, and the audience quickly guessed it! This joint hunting experience excited everyone, especially when they directly mentioned the prey, it felt as if they had been searching through the woods and found the game themselves. Suddenly, the live broadcast room was scattered with rewards again, urging Bi Fang to catch and stew them into a soup. Bi Fang gave an OK sign with his hand. He didn¡¯t want to miss out on a ground runner that was finally within reach. Now with plenty of clay in hand, a furnace built, and charcoal available, Bi Fang could try making a pottery jar. Sprinkling some vegetable leaves and salt, he could indeed make some soup! Thinking this, Bi Fang¡¯s mouth watered, already hungry early in the morning. Following the strongest scent in the air, the traces where dew was scraped off were very noticeable, and on the ground¡­ footprints! The audience, with their sharp eyes, spotted the three-pronged footprints on the ground! [Go, go, go!] [Kill the pheasant, make chicken soup!] [I¡¯m a double agent! Codename: Pangolin!] Following the footprints and scent, Bi Fang traced his way and soon found two shadows flying at low altitude in the rainforest where the mist was thinning. Bi Fang watched for a while. Pheasants! At this moment, the pheasants seemed to be fighting, fluttering a few times before stopping to peck at food, and after a while, they continued their scuffle. From a distance, the pheasants had no clue about Bi Fang, concealed in his camouflage. A special forces soldier in disguise could outdo mimetic animals; being spotted by two wild pheasants would mean no more living for Bi Fang. [Damn, pheasants can really fly!] [Are these pheasants? They look nothing like chickens.] [Their feathers look so beautiful.] The drone moved closer, with no mist to obstruct the view, giving the audience a clearer view than even Bi Fang. These two pheasants looked vastly different from ordinary chickens, nothing like the shape of a chicken, with brighter plumage. The long feathers on the tail were proudly erected, slightly drooping at the tips, appearing exceptionally beautiful. [Is this a pheasant? Doesn¡¯t seem quite like what I imagined?] Bi Fang observed for a long while before making out the details through the mist. Excitement filled him as he explained in a low voice, ¡°They are pheasants.¡± Finally, he encountered prey he could capture! The previous attempts, whether national first-class or second-class, he could see but not catch, much less eat, had nearly driven Bi Fang to a nervous breakdown. Although pheasants are also somewhat protected, they are just San You. Bi Fang had a hunting permit; he could catch them! [Pheasants, I remember eating them as a child, then we weren¡¯t allowed to catch them anymore¡­] [I¡¯ve eaten it once, wow, the taste, one word, sublime!] [Isn¡¯t this San You? Have you guys eaten it?] S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [If Old Fang can catch it, then so be it, but the rest of you, stay and have tea with me.] [San You protection levels aren¡¯t high,,, it¡¯s not illegal until a certain number is reached¡­] Pheasants rely on their hearing and vision to evade predators; their sense of smell is just as acute, so Bi Fang moved very slowly, using the camouflage on his body as well as trees and bushes to conceal himself as he stealthily approached. As for scent, Bi Fang covered himself with red mud mixed with mosquito-repellent herbs every day, which only gave off a faint fragrance. Still, he did not take any chances but moved upwind. Viewers held their breaths, watching as Bi Fang inched closer and closer. Fifty meters, forty meters. The pheasants seemed to be arguing; after some flustering, one of them suddenly leaped up and flew towards Bi Fang¡¯s direction. Pheasants have strong legs and are good runners, but not adept fliers, fluttering a few meters before falling down. Bi Fang halted his steps and hid behind a bush, quietly pulling out an arrow from behind and holding it in his hand. Forty meters was too far; even a pistol might not be precise at this distance, and no matter how superior the performance of the bow and arrow, Bi Fang had no confidence in making the shot. Especially when hunting small targets like pheasants, the accuracy of all hunting tools must be halved. The spear required getting within five meters, the blowpipe within ten meters, and the dart within fifteen meters. As for archery, Bi Fang needed to be within twenty meters to have more than a seventy percent chance of hitting with a single shot! To increase his chances of success, he had even applied a small amount of poison from the Blood-Sealing Throat Tree to the arrowhead, ensuring that if he injured a pheasant, it could not escape the jungle. With the help of the bushes, Bi Fang, with leafy vines on his body, blended perfectly with the surroundings; the two pheasants, without any caution, ran toward his direction. Bi Fang¡¯s gaze was fixed on the birds, calculating the distance between them. Thirty meters. It still wasn¡¯t enough. The handmade primitive arrows were simply not reliable at that range. Closer. Thirty-two meters. The pheasants flew away with a flutter. The viewers, who had been holding their breaths, suddenly couldn¡¯t contain themselves. [It¡¯s over, they flew away!] [Damn, they¡¯ve changed direction] [What to do, don¡¯t tell me he¡¯s going to chase them] ¡°Wait a while longer,¡± Bi Fang mouthed without making a sound, remaining motionless behind the bush, but the arrow was already nocked on the bowstring. In the live stream, viewers suddenly realized that the third-person perspective had long since switched to first-person; the view was eerily steady, with no sense of breathing fluctuation. The previously impatient viewers seemed to be calmed by this stability, and the number of bullet comments gradually slowed. The two pheasants continued to leap back and forth, flying between twenty-five to thirty-five meters, appearing to revel in the insects in the soil of this area. As time went by and the sun rose higher, the temperature in the forest climbed again; the air brimmed with dry heat, but none of this affected Bi Fang. He was like a wild grass, firmly rooted in the soil. His sharp gaze was like that of an eagle, and his waiting stance resembled a tiger. Finally. After a scuffle, the two pheasants quietly crossed the line! Nineteen meters! A faint sound of wooden fiber compression rose as immense tension contained within the full draw of the bow slowly aligned with the target. Now everyone saw clearly, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t aiming the arrowhead at the pheasant but at the air slightly above its tail feathers! That area was clearly empty! But Bi Fang felt, now was the moment! His fingers released sharply. The tremendous potential energy was suddenly unleashed, violently propelling the end of the bow and arrow, and the great force deformed and bent the arrow momentarily before it furiously shot forward. But all this happened in a slow-motion world, to the viewers, Bi Fang was holding his breath, and in the blink of an eye, the arrow flashed out like a streak of black lightning! The pheasant in the bushes was struck and flew off by the arrow, oblivious to the fact it had been attacked. Only the second pheasant, upon seeing its kin wounded, opened its wings in shock and took to the air, but Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t miss this chance. He rushed out of the bushes; however, the running speed of the pheasant was too fast. When it fluttered from the bushes and landed again, it nearly became a shadow, with the arrow grazing past its body. By the time Bi Fang had nocked a third arrow, the shadow had darted left and right, vanishing into the jungle. Bi Fang replaced the third arrow into his quiver and jogged to where the first pheasant he had shot lay. The entire arrow had gone through its back, trailing a burst of fresh blood, hitting the bullseye. The toxicity of the arrowhead entered the chicken¡¯s body, causing the whole bird to tremble. Bi Fang pulled the arrow from the ground, placing the chicken into his back basket, and then turned to look for the second arrow. [Can only say got lucky giving the streamer a yacht*1 ¡ª Envious of Boss Fang having chicken soup] [Niu Pi Ke La Si is giving the streamer meatballs*10 ¡ª World¡¯s number one jungler: Master Fang] [Master Fang Master Fang I love you is giving the streamer soda*20 ¡ª Master Fang has devoured his own food demon!] [Yay, hit!] [Now part of KFC¡¯s luxurious lunch!] [Master Fang: Welcome to the world¡¯s dining table] ¡°Haha, thank you for the support, everyone. But please, don¡¯t imitate me; not all wild chickens look like domestic chickens. Many are class I or II protected animals, which ordinary people can hardly recognize.¡± [Everyone, don¡¯t imitate me, referring to shooting a pheasant through with one arrow] [The eternal hunt has begun] Bi Fang came to a tree and pulled an arrowhead from it. Just as he was about to put it back into his bag, he noticed the faint red bloodstains on it. ¡°Hit?¡± Chapter 497: 494 Chapter 497: 494 ¡°Envious, so envious.¡± Watching Bi Fang in the live stream following the direction of the fleeing pheasant, many peers left tears of sorrow. Ever since Bi Fang¡¯s Wilderness Survivalist live streaming became popular, whether by choice or by force, those hosts who had previously specialized in outdoors content had to start adding similar offerings. Otherwise, simply traveling and walking had no competitive power at all! It¡¯s not about competing with Bi Fang, but competing with the original peers¡­ While others were eating all kinds of disgusting, exotic food, capturing chickens, and making traps, you sat there, drinking water, chatting, and admiring the distant scenery¡­ No wonder before Wilderness Survivalist emerged, the outdoor section was a niche area, in addition to being a display of wealth. Li Xiuran was one of them; without money to flaunt luxury cars or splash out to attract attention, he had to switch from mountain climbing to adventurous mountain climbing, frequently searching for ¡°wild caves.¡± Unfortunately, even if they really changed their style, all of them together were still no match for Bi Fang alone. While they dug up earthworms to eat raw, swallowing dirt with twisted faces, Bi Fang hunted reindeer with a spear, devouring fresh, bloody hearts¡­ They struggled to catch a domestic chicken that had strayed from the group, eating charred meat from a simple barbecue, while Bi Fang went to sea and wrestled with dozens of sharks, pulling one onto a raft and making a pot of shark fin soup¡­ Dripping with sweat, they climbed mountains thousands of meters high, cheering loudly, while Bi Fang climbed Mount Everest without oxygen, planting the flag and becoming the first one to do so¡­ Them¡­ forget it, I can¡¯t go on, I¡¯m about to cry. We are all on Earth, all humans, all with two eyes and a nose, but Bi Fang is like a high mountain, not just Mount Everest but Mount Olympus. Yes, the one on Mars. Watching the live stream viewers who are chanting ¡°666,¡± Li Xiuran feels indescribably desolate. The pheasant is a protected species, and although it¡¯s not a crime unless in large numbers, seeing Bi Fang hunt openly, while getting berated for accidentally stepping on a toad, Li Xiuran feels particularly aggrieved. But there¡¯s nothing he can do; with a background, strength, and certificates, that¡¯s how arrogant one can be. There was a predecessor called Lu, apparently the first to shift his style and follow the trend, seeming to have some entanglement with Bi Fang, hoping to hitch a ride for some popularity. In the end, he was bashed so badly he couldn¡¯t even muster half a ¡°mom.¡± Not only did he lose almost all his original fan base, but even the newcomers came with a mocking attitude. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The guy was quite diligent, often interacting live with other hosts, but alas, some things he did were not quite honorable. Rumor has it he¡¯s now changed his name, and the guild behind him is nearly bankrupt. Pitiful. Don¡¯t think about these anymore. Li Xiuran took out his thick notebook, pulled off the pen cap, and earnestly wrote down the five characters for ¡°Archer¡¯s Paradox¡±, stroke by stroke, with a seriousness resembling a kindergarten child first learning to write. No one is born a wilderness survival expert; everyone has to follow and learn at their own pace. Still have to learn! It¡¯s not embarrassing, everyone is the same. ¡­ Elsewhere, Bi Fang had also successfully found the second trembling pheasant on the road. His arrows were poisoned. ¡°The milky juice of the Blood-Sealing Throat Tree could cause paralysis of the heart, blockage of blood vessels, coagulation of blood, leading to asphyxiation and death upon contact with wounds on humans or livestock.¡± ¡°If it got into the eyes, it would cause blindness; a few milligrams could kill amphibians, and although it was just a graze, and it would not be fatal, the pheasant must have suffered terribly. There, we caught up with it.¡± When the pheasant saw Bi Fang approaching, it tried to flee, but already poisoned, it could not move its limbs and was pinned to the ground with an arrow. Stuffing the still-struggling pheasant into his bag, Bi Fang headed back the way he came. Just as he approached the shelter, Bi Fang saw water monitors perched on the fence, as though inspecting something. But upon turning their heads and seeing Bi Fang return, their bodies trembled, swaying from side to side as they hid inside their cave. [Ah, always ready for a backstab] [Water Monitor: That guy hasn¡¯t come back for a long time today, I feel like I¡¯m in again] Bi Fang had no time to pay attention to them, having a very pressing matter to attend to, even his expressions became somewhat solemn. If he was late with this task, the consequences would be unimaginable, and much effort might be completely wasted. The poison of the Blood-Sealing Throat Tree accelerates the coagulation of the blood. A significant amount of time had passed since the capture until the return, and without bleeding, the chicken¡­ It would not taste good! Viewers: ¡°¡­¡± [When did Master Fang start making jokes?] [Master Fang making jokes is still so handsome] [Ah, he¡¯s so humorous, I¡¯m in love] [Another two have gone mad, get out of here!] Bi Fang quickly set up a flat stone, placed both chickens on it, covered them with leaves, took out a bamboo tube to collect blood, and pulled out two arrows. There was no blood-spraying effect, as the blood had already become somewhat sluggish. Bi Fang hurriedly cut open the throat, squeezing from top to bottom to extract the chicken¡¯s blood. The viscous blood dripped down the bamboo tube. Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°You could have come earlier, but now I even have salt. Still, I can¡¯t waste it. I can make it into blood curd.¡± After all the blood was extracted, Bi Fang picked up the bamboo tube to check¡ªthere wasn¡¯t as much as he had expected; some still remained inside the bodies. ¡°If you¡¯ve cooked at home, you¡¯ll know that if you don¡¯t bleed the meat well, it will taste very fishy. I haven¡¯t eaten pheasant before, so I don¡¯t know what it tastes like.¡± Smacking his lips, Bi Fang put the chickens into boiling water to rinse. After scalding for a while, some blood strands emerged, and Bi Fang started plucking feathers with his bare hands. Pheasants and chickens look very different; the pheasants have incredibly beautiful feathers. Bi Fang didn¡¯t waste any, collecting all the feathers, especially the long ones from the tail. After plucking them, he stuck them on his head, creating the most classic Indian look. [I want those feathers] [Can you send me some?] [The raffle now is so exclusive that ordinary fans can¡¯t even participate, boo hoo hoo] After dealing with two of them, Bi Fang moved over to the enclosure wall. There was a piece of dried clay on the wall that had completely air dried and needed significant force to crush. Bi Fang had placed it there the previous afternoon. He crushed the clay into a powder and mixed it with some fish bone and stone powders. While mixing, Bi Fang explained, ¡°Making pottery is different from making furnaces. Pottery is fragile and thin, so we need to add some harder substances to prevent the pottery from cracking due to excessive shrinking during firing.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯ve added some fish bone and stone powders. Stone powder on its own works fine too, as it¡¯s readily available. If possible, you can also mix in sand, eggshell powder, shell powder, or even broken bits of pottery.¡± [Another little detail] [I learned nothing] [Cook chicken soup, cook chicken soup] [Hehehe, here comes the chicken soup, not too salty or bland, tastes amazing] Once the mixture was ready, Bi Fang added water in the right amount and began kneading the clay on a stone slab, striking it with a stick as one would knead dough. ¡°The clay should be moist and soft, but not sticky to the hands. During kneading, you need to repeatedly slam it down to avoid any air bubbles, or else it might expand during firing and cause the pottery to crack.¡± Once the right consistency of the clay was achieved, Bi Fang used a completely manual hand building technique, sticking his thumb inside and gradually spreading it open. Without pottery wheels, any irregularities in the crafting might directly lead to the object cracking. Even a minor collision might have severe consequences. Gradually opening the clay ensures a symmetrical shape, but unfortunately, it can¡¯t be made too large as that would be hard to control. Stopping once it was the size of a water jug, Bi Fang started on the next one. ¡°I never intended to make them too big anyway; that would be inconvenient. The goal of making these jars is to improve our living conditions. We can cut the pheasants into small pieces and stew them bit by bit, like pot-cooked meat. Just right to cook a meal at a time.¡± [This easy life, I¡¯m so jealous] [Envious. When I was traveling in xj, I had pot-cooked meat with pigeon and mutton stewed inside, incredibly fragrant, drool-worthy.] [I¡¯ve been thinking, if we just gave Master Fang a woman, wouldn¡¯t he be able to create a civilization in the forest?] [Need one? I can sign up, dog¡¯s head] [Are you seriously competing for this?] [You guys can¡¯t reproduce a third generation anyway. According to Old Fang, it¡¯s functionally extinct, so I¡¯ll sign up too. Take me with you] [What is this, a matchmaking event?] [Keep rationalizing, I¡¯m listening] After making a total of five pottery jars the size of water jugs, Bi Fang set them aside on a stone slab to dry. ¡°Don¡¯t fire the freshly made pottery jars right away. Let them dry first, then fire them. They¡¯ll be more durable this way. Now we have a blast furnace. But if we had nothing at all, we could also dig a hole in the ground and fire them that way, a method still widely used in many parts of the world today.¡± ¡°If the temperature of the fire is too low, the pottery might crack. However, we have charcoal from the blast furnace, so we should be able to make good pottery.¡± ¡°Okay, the morning is almost over, and now comes the main event, processing the iron bacteria.¡± Bi Fang rubbed his earth-covered palms and moved over to the second stone slab, on which there was some charcoal that he ground into a black powder with a stone. Just then, a comment in the live stream caught the viewers¡¯ attention. [Someone nearby is smelting iron¡­] [Damn, are they riding the popularity wave?] [They ¡°found¡± iron ore in the mountains and then took it to a factory to smelt it themselves¡­ What¡¯s that about? They didn¡¯t show any skills] [Ah, is that it.] [The other person was born on a mine, but our guy only has iron bacteria] [Master Fang rocks, end of story!] Armed with charcoal powder, Bi Fang went down to the blast furnace, opened the lid, and inside were the white remains of burned ash, which he took some of and put into a bamboo container. Last of all, he took out the iron bacteria. Although it hadn¡¯t rained in the past few days, the iron bacteria in the dirt pit were still moist. But that¡¯s not what Bi Fang needed; instead, he took the pre-dried ones from the bamboo basket. After being exposed to the wind and sun for a long time, the moist iron bacteria had turned into yellow rust soil. And just like that, one yellow, one gray, one black¡ªthree materials combined to form the key to iron preparation. ¡°Wood ash contains sulfur, which helps the iron to liquefy, while the char is used for the reductive smelting of iron oxide.¡± [Wait, iron oxide? Didn¡¯t you say we were using iron hydroxide to make iron before?] [Didn¡¯t pay attention in chemistry class, did you? What do you think Master Fang was doing when he was exposing the iron bacteria to the wind and sun?] [When iron hydroxide is exposed to air, its color changes. 2Fe(OH)3 == Fe2O3 + 3H2O, eventually turning into iron oxide, with the water evaporating. Junior high chemistry¡­] [I¡¯ve forgotten it, got a problem?] Bi Fang was pleased to see the comments; at least some people understood: ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s the equation. So what we have now is iron oxide, not iron hydroxide anymore.¡± ¡°Now, we mix them in a one-to-one ratio, add a little water, and shape them into cakes!¡± Chapter 498: 495 Earth Online: Iron Age Chapter 498: Chapter 495 Earth Online: Iron Age 2Fe2O3 + 3C in a high-temperature environment will produce 4Fe + 3CO2. This equation is the key to Bi Fang¡¯s iron smelting; meanwhile, the sulfur content in the ash can accelerate the liquefaction of metal and lower the temperature required for iron smelting. High heat and charcoal increase the temperature, while ash lowers the required temperature, combining these two tactics to successfully produce quality iron. [WHAT THE **!] [Why can¡¯t I understand a thing?] If domestic audiences can still grasp it, the international audience is completely baffled. These things, how come they¡¯ve never heard of them before? Did they even go to school? [Why do I feel like I¡¯ve never learned this?] [The education in Huaxia is terrifying!] [I remember we also taught this, you guys must not have paid attention in class¡­] [Went off to play basketball.] [I might have been in a relationship then.] Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Mixing all three kinds of ash together, Bi Fang added water, mixed it, and kneaded it into a flat, round shape. Making a clay cake, Bi Fang said, ¡°We are not conducting experiments, so there¡¯s no need to get the proportions exactly right, just about one to one is fine, creating one piece from the combination of three.¡± [This is Earth OL¡¯s DLC, the Iron Age!] [I¡¯m so excited, we¡¯re getting iron ingots soon, and small iron swords will quickly follow.] [I bet fifty cents, after smelting, some tycoon is definitely going to buy them at a high price!] The audience all fantasized that they were the lucky one, but upon consideration, they knew it was basically impossible. Damn it, they really wanted one too! [Lord Mu is rubbing his hands together in eagerness; this iron cake, I¡¯m taking it!] [What about President Lin, though, looking down on anyone? Let¡¯s start a fight!] [President Lin doesn¡¯t seem to watch live streams much; President Yao has more free time.] [I¡¯ll offer ten million! If Master Fang accepts, pretend I didn¡¯t say anything.] Rolling and kneading, another black cylindrical object appeared. This was already the third piece, and Bi Fang set it aside to dry, as noon arrived. The weather today was hot and humid, and Bi Fang wiped the sweat from his forehead with his arm: ¡°It¡¯s time for lunch, but let¡¯s finish making the pottery first.¡± At this time, the small pot on the ground under the direct sunlight had also dried. Bi Fang moved the stone slab of the hearth away, placed the pot on the furnace bridge, surrounded it with wood, ignited the fire, poured in a large amount of black charcoal, and covered it with a lid. [How long does this need to burn?] [Should be quick, right?] [No, I remember Zisha pots seem to need to be fired for a day, right?] Bi Fang estimated that it would take a relatively long time, but definitely not as long as the Zisha pots. What he made was low-temperature pottery, probably taking around three to four hours to complete. It would definitely be ready before dinner, and he could try making jar meat today. ¡°Now it seems, the two pits of charcoal are still not enough, we¡¯ll need to burn another pit later.¡± Bi Fang looked up at the sky; today¡¯s weather was too hot. The tall trees of the rainforest shielded the sky, not providing a good indication of the weather conditions. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s going to rain again?¡± The drone camera panned upwards, and the audience saw the sky, which had been clear of clouds, once again begin to look overcast. The audience was speechless; does the rain just come whenever it says it will? [No way, it¡¯s raining again?] [Is this a joke, eleven days and it¡¯s rained five or six of them? Half the time it¡¯s raining?] [Will this affect the pottery-making?] Bi Fang nodded, then shook his head, saying, ¡°It will have a bit of an impact, but not a significant one. After all, it is the rainy season, and I took this into account when I built the blast furnace. The entire shelter and blast furnace have been constructed at a higher elevation.¡± The shelter had walls, and although the base of the blast furnace was below, the overall elevation was high. If the rain wasn¡¯t too heavy, the impact of the rain falling in that one square meter area wouldn¡¯t be great. Since the clay pots were not ready, Bi Fang still ate fish and vegetables for lunch, along with two roasted chicken wings. The taste of all wild animals is almost unavoidably tough and dry, and even though Bi Fang had brushed them with fish oil, in the wilderness, this hardly counted as a flaw. Even tough meat was still meat! Especially for Bi Fang, who had been eating fish for ten consecutive days. Delicious! They just tend to get stuck in the teeth, and Bi Fang wondered if the System¡¯s store had any coupons for dental care. If there were, he definitely wanted to get one. Unless professionally corrected by a hospital, human teeth almost always have some issues, and many people don¡¯t even know they have cavities. Bi Fang had never taken care of his, and although his teeth were even, he had two cavities that weren¡¯t obvious and didn¡¯t really affect him much. Only when he had a cold drink immediately after a hot one did he feel a sharp pain, but other than that, there were no problems, so he had never dealt with it. ¡°Wild chicken has 2.5 times the protein of regular chicken and only one-fifth of the fat. Sounds good, but out here in the wild, I¡¯d rather have it the other way around.¡± Bi Fang chewed down the bones along with the meat, continuing to knead the cakes with soil-stained hands as the sound of thunder rumbled. The sky started to rain. It was a light rain, pattering down. All the things drying in the sun were moved inside the walls, and the audience breathed a sigh of relief. All work had paused due to a downpour, leaving behind a rare moment of leisure. Bi Fang moved a stone to sit under the eaves. Water dripped down the lush green palm leaves, falling at his feet, mixing with the soil to form little beads. Not far off, the blast furnace emitted white smoke that mingled with the steam, drifting towards the gray sky. He lifted his head to look at the sky, feeling hemmed in by the towering trees around him¡ªlike a frog in a well. The drone flew out from beneath the eaves, climbing higher until it was above the trees. Suddenly, the world opened up, and all his cares seemed to vanish. The vast mist enshrouded the endless green forest. Birds braved the rain in rapid flight, creating a curtain of raindrops. The last line of black ants marched into their nest, squirrels shielded by their fluffy tails transported nuts to their warm tree hollows amidst the downpour, and big fish in the burrows emerged to blow bubbles at the surface. As a bubble burst, a bird swiftly descended, alighting on the fence, shaking off the rain from its feathers. Bi Fang was pleasantly surprised by this unexpected guest, taking joy in this brief harmony with nature. On the hill behind the shelter, a water monitor looked up at sky, puzzled at what was so interesting, then glanced at the bird on the fence. Birds on the ground were an uncommon sight¡­ The water monitor licked the corner of its mouth, but observing the silhouette by the door, ultimately abandoned the thought running through its mind. Instead, it turned and entered the cave to tend to its eggs, its massive tail sweeping a bit of dust at the entrance. After a short rest, the bird fluttered a few times and then took to the sky once more. Bi Fang watched it take flight into the distance until it was out of sight. ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s also in a hurry to get home, much like the water monitor, with its young waiting,¡± he mused. A faint smile graced Bi Fang¡¯s lips. In the rainforest, there was a small cabin to take shelter from wind and rain, and food was plentiful¡ªthis is perhaps the most basic happiness for humans. ¡°Fly with all your might. Then, when you¡¯re old and listening to the rain under the eaves, those fleeting moments will race through your mind, and you¡¯ll have no regrets.¡± You¡¯d traveled far and wide, heading to a place without a clear destination, but you had to believe it would be beautiful. Fetching a slate, Bi Fang went back to making clay cakes. On rainy days, one revels in silkiness. ¡­ In the afternoon, more than twenty mud cakes of various sizes lay on the ground, with nearly half of the iron bacteria used up. According to the estimate, these twenty cakes should be sufficient. Braving the rain, he came to the furnace. This time, Bi Fang didn¡¯t add coal; he shifted the stone slab to reveal the barely alive flames, belching hot air. He took a stick and poked through the ashes¡ªof the five pottery pieces, one was completely shattered into fragments and another badly cracked on the surface, leaving only three intact. ¡°A sixty percent success rate, we¡¯re quite lucky.¡± Using two branches, Bi Fang extracted the pottery from the furnace. The rain fell on it, quickly evaporating into steam. Touching it, he could still feel the high temperature within. Carrying the three clay pots, Bi Fang immediately brought them into the shelter to prevent them from being shattered by the heavy rain and thermal shock. ¡°Early pottery fired by bonfires was mostly round-bottomed to avoid the likelihood of sharp edges leading to breakage.¡± ¡°The earliest purpose-built kilns were pit or trench kilns, essentially a hole dug in the ground covered with fuel, where the earth itself provided optimal insulation, allowing for better control during the firing process.¡± ¡°Additionally, the fishbone powder and stone powder I added create a more porous body, making it easier for water and other volatile components to exit the clay.¡± ¡°The coarser particles also reduce internal shrinkage during cooling, slowing the entire process and lessening the thermal stress and the likelihood of breakage.¡± ¡°These are the reasons for the extra materials I added, but even so, I originally estimated only one or two might succeed. Having three is quite a surprise.¡± Inside the hut, the three pottery pieces were neatly arranged on the ground. The drone flew close by, its camera capturing every angle without blind spots. The appearance of the clay pots had not changed, but the glaze was different from before they had been fired, the surfaces now clearly smoother and gleaming faintly, making a crisp sound when tapped with a branch. After natural cooling, Bi Fang picked up one of the pots, his finger circling inside, detecting no obvious cracks. He poured water and let it sit, noting no signs of leakage. A resounding success! The crowd was joyful. Bi Fang lit a bonfire, washed the pots, and set them over the flames. He then chopped the parboiled pheasant into small pieces and put them into the pots. Having removed more blood foam from the pheasant through parboiling, Bi Fang felt a boost of confidence and pulled out all the stops to prepare this chicken soup. These days, he had collected quite a few good things nearby, even wild ginger! Ginger, the magic deodorizer! He sliced the ginger and placed it at the bottom, then added the chicken pieces, sprinkled lemongrass on top, and finally covered the pots with lids, three necks all stewing one whole chicken. ¡°Wild pheasant meat is tough and fibrous, so we¡¯ll need to simmer it for at least half an hour before we add other ingredients,¡± said Bi Fang while peeling a newly found bamboo shoot and pulling out another peculiar plant covered in a dense array of green granules. This is¡­ [Holy shit, is that Sichuan pepper?] [Wori, there¡¯s Sichuan pepper in the mountains? Am I seeing things?] [Did you find it in the wild?] [Old Fang found it earlier, how come I don¡¯t remember?] [Indeed it¡¯s from the mountains, just yesterday morning, Old Fang brought back many strange things after his stroll, that¡¯s not Sichuan pepper but Litsea.] ¡°Yes, Litsea, also known as mountain pepper, is a kind of wild produce, usually found in midsummer. But we¡¯re lucky to have come across an early ripening plant,¡± replied Bi Fang. The Litsea fruits looked like smooth, rounded green peppercorns strung along slender stems, with a flavor entirely different¡ªa mix of lemon, lemongrass, and menthol¡­ Perhaps it was a blend of these scents. Chapter 499: 496: Chicken Soup and Rainy Days Are a Perfect Match Chapter 499: Chapter 496: Chicken Soup and Rainy Days Are a Perfect Match Lemongrass, a ruthless character that disregards the scale of flavor, a perfect companion to stewing soup. In the Banna Rainforest, there always seem to be spices with a lemon scent. From lemongrass to eucalyptus, without exception. This subtle fragrance constitutes Bi Fang¡¯s most significant impression of the Banna Rainforest. [Eucalyptus chicken, a unique flavor] [I just saw it at the market a few days ago, there wasn¡¯t much, and Old Fang has already found some] [Eucalyptus made into a dipping sauce, paired with chili, ginger, and stir-fried beef and mutton, is absolutely divine!] Many from Yunnan and Guizhou, Shuiyou, are all too familiar with eucalyptus. The most wonderful mountain goods every summer, it has the function of removing the gamey taste and enhancing the flavor, a taste from memory. Bi Fang used it to replace scallions, opened the pottery jar, added the eucalyptus inside, along with fresh bamboo shoots with morning dew, and continued simmering, then went to the side to make the remaining clay pancakes. The sky gradually darkened, and the drizzle persisted. The remaining bacteria mixed with grass ash and charcoal, made into hundreds of clay pancakes, piled up together, forming almost a wall. But at this moment, the audience had no interest in it, their gazes all tightly fixed on the pottery jar nearby emitting white steam, swallowing saliva like crazy. [I¡¯m so hungry, my takeout hasn¡¯t arrived yet, I¡¯m going to die] [It¡¯s almost six o¡¯clock, I can¡¯t take it anymore] [Good thing I¡¯ve already had my dinner] [Damn it, drinking chicken soup in Wilderness Survivalist, can you believe it?] [The water monitors are going to die too, dying of craving] On top of the wall, the head of a monitor poked out, it too was attracted by the savory aroma, willing to climb the wall even in the rain, but due to the deterrence of a wooden spear nearby, it dared only to look and not to approach. After the last clay pancake was molded and placed on the wall, Bi Fang reached into the basin of clean water to rinse his hands, dried them off, then picked up two short sticks, and gently lifted the pottery jar by its ears and placed it evenly on the stove. He removed the lid on top. The moment the lid was removed, white steam rose vigorously, enveloping Bi Fang¡¯s entire head instantly, as the long-missed fragrance hit from all sides. Bi Fang took a deep breath and felt refreshed and energized, ¡°It smells so good!¡± The water monitor¡¯s eyes turned red, and its claws furiously scraped at the wall. As the steam slowly dissipated, the soup inside the pottery jar was still boiling, with golden oil floating on the clear, hot surface, chunks of tender chicken meat bobbing within. Bi Fang picked up a smoothed bamboo skewer and speared a piece of tender chicken meat, chewing away and puffing out steam. Everyone anxiously awaited the verdict. Gulp. Bi Fang swallowed in one gulp and laughed out loud. ¡°Satisfying!¡± ¡­ Survival in the Banna Rainforest, day fourteen, with only seven days left until the end of the mission, one week. Bi Fang hadn¡¯t expected that the rain would last so long, only stopping late last night, and as the sun rose this morning, the rainforest was shrouded in dense fog. The ground was still soaked with abundant rain, and every step was into sludge. He came to the smelting furnace, under which was all muddy water, dug a trench to drain the water, lit the furnace, and dried the remaining moisture. He turned on the live broadcast, around the world. In Ugly Country, Peter jumped out of bed and quickly started his computer. On a fishing boat above the Atlantic Ocean, a fisherman reeled in the sail, brought out a lounge chair, and, together with a companion, enjoyed the evening breeze as they clicked on the live stream. On the coast of England, Big Beard hugged his daughter and turned on the computer. On the island of Japan, in a certain household, despite the gloom that enveloped the entire team, they still gathered together to enjoy the precious moments. The colleague beside Jerret glanced at the director with a gloomy face. After hesitating for a moment, he spoke up, ¡°Jerret, I¡¯ve heard you¡¯re good friends with GOD FANG, maybe¡­ He has a lot of international influence right now, and he¡¯s so capable, maybe he could help us.¡± Jerret understood his colleague¡¯s meaning, but still hesitated; however, recalling what he had seen and heard the past few days, even his good friend Richard, who was the chief director for this trip, turned his gaze to them. Bi Fang¡¯s fame might not be known to everyone, but within the animal documentary circle. There was already no one who didn¡¯t know, no one who was unaware. After some hesitation, Jerret nodded, ¡°Let¡¯s wait a few more days, after his live stream ends, we¡¯ll extend him an invitation, whether he¡¯ll come or not, I can¡¯t guarantee.¡± The colleague¡¯s neck flushed with excitement, ¡°He will definitely come back, most certainly, these Japanese¡­¡± Richard, with hair graying, lowered his head, ¡°Stop, we can¡¯t guarantee now if anyone is listening¡­¡± Everyone silently bowed their heads. Across the vast Huaxia land, hundreds of thousands of early risers had already clicked on the live stream. Bi Fang glanced at the number of people in the live stream room, which had already surpassed three million! He cheerfully greeted, ¡°Yo, so many people up at just eight in the morning?¡± [Everyone knows Old Fang is about to start formal iron smelting~] [Waiting for that iron ingot] [Let¡¯s go!] [Once I accept my own incompetence, then I become, invincible. Has iron smelting started? Has iron smelting started? Has iron smelting started? Has iron smelting started? Has iron smelting started? Has iron smelting started?] [Transform!! Has iron smelting started? Has iron smelting started? Unleash myself, hmph ahhhhhhhhhhh, let¡¯s get¡údown¡úto¡úbusiness¡ü¡üI¡ýwant¡üto¡ýsmelt¡ýiron~~~~~ Help¡úme~~~~~] S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [What is this meme¡­ I¡¯m getting old, I don¡¯t understand this stuff¡­] It had been raining these past few days, but everyone was very familiar with Bi Fang¡¯s process and schedule, and they all knew that he was going to start smelting iron today. Last night, when the rain stopped, some people even suggested that Bi Fang work through the night to smelt, but unfortunately, he refused. Today, everyone got up early, not wanting to miss this attention-grabbing moment. The anticipation that had been building up for so long was about to be released today. Bi Fang apologized, ¡°Then you¡¯ll probably have to wait a bit longer, smelting iron might be delayed until the afternoon. It¡¯s been raining for two days, and the charcoal I made is a bit damp, so I need to make two new pits of charcoal this morning.¡± [Ahh that] [Alright, alright] [Hurry up, hurry up, I can¡¯t wait anymore!!!] ¡°It¡¯ll be quick, it¡¯ll be quick.¡± Bi Fang went to the charcoal pit and swiftly poured in the dry firewood. After making two pits of charcoal, the dead branches around the shelter had long been picked clean by Bi Fang. To find high-quality wood, he had to climb trees and chop some branches off. Expertly lighting the pit and sealing it, Bi Fang sat to the side and spread out his clay cakes in a row. There were over a hundred pieces¡­ Bi Fang himself didn¡¯t expect that the iron bacteria he brought back could make so many clay cakes. Roughly twenty pieces of iron content could make a dagger¡­ and he had enough for five of them here. During the several days of cloudy and rainy weather, today¡¯s water monitors had crawled out of the burrow early, basking their bellies in the sun to raise their body temperature. The morning passed, and three pits of charcoal were successfully prepared. More and more viewers eagerly awaited the final outcome, with the audience in the live stream room quickly reaching four million. [Ashtray gives the host a yacht*100¡ªI built this shelter together with Master Fang, and human civilization will also emerge here. I am proud of this.] [Catching a little Leo alive] [Come, bring the water guns, put out Old Fang¡¯s furnace fire!] At noon, after Bi Fang had eaten, he brought the clay cakes to the blast furnace, opened the lid, and saw that the bottom of the furnace bridge was filled with ash. He put five iron cakes inside, surrounded by dead branches. Then he lit the branches and covered them with a board. ¡°We won¡¯t add charcoal just yet; now is just the time to heat up the furnace.¡± [Smoke billowing from the mountaintop, fined three thousand] [A wisp of smoke on the mountain, detained for fifteen days] [Only Old Fang would dare to do this] Bi Fang stuck branches into the ground and watched the shadows, waiting. When the furnace lid was moved, a deep red glow and flames spouted out like a venomous snake licking the air. A large amount of black charcoal poured into the furnace, pushing the fiery serpent back in. After that, he covered the furnace lid again. Some time later, the furnace lid was removed, and the dazzling orange flames stunned everyone. Even through the screen, the audience could feel the intense heat. It was indeed a high-temperature furnace, but unfortunately, Bi Fang¡¯s movements were too fast, and the flames were very bright, so the viewers didn¡¯t get a clear look inside. Bi Fang moved the stones at the bottom aside, the camera angle lowered, and everyone could clearly see a patch of orange-red, an eye-catching red charcoal fall amid the furnace ash. The red charcoal, containing astonishing heat, was squeezed out through the gaps in the furnace bridge, and even at a distance of less than several tens of centimeters, the heatwave could be seen distorting the air. The over two-meter tall chimney belched white smoke, resembling an old smoker¡¯s pipe; the heat surge upward as a large amount of cold air descended, and a massive amount of oxygen was swept into the furnace, further increasing the furnace temperature. The third addition of charcoal turned the color inside the furnace to almost dazzling white, so bright it was difficult to look at. ¡°This is our last time adding charcoal. After this, we wait for the fire to die down a bit,¡± Bi Fang said as he tapped the winnowing basket, shaking out the charcoal dust before covering the furnace again. Time ticked by second by second, with no viewers leaving. Everyone wanted to see the final moment, to see if there would be a miracle. [My, I¡¯m a bit nervous] [Is there really iron?] [So anxious I could die] [Old Fang is truly Awesome, even managing to produce iron] [Iron smelting with bacteria, it¡¯s like a dream¡­ I still feel like I¡¯m dreaming right now] The chimney, once emitting billowing white smoke, now let out wisps of smoke and finally exhaled its last breath, coming to a complete stop. At this moment, everyone¡¯s heart was in their throats. Bi Fang used a branch to move aside the scorching hot stone, and a powerful heatwave burst out, even lifting his hair ends. What no one knew was that Bi Fang was also nervous¡­ Everything he did, in theory, could be successful. The only issue was that Bi Fang had never actually done it before. Viewers might think he had been through hundreds of trials and errors and was full of confidence, but this was his first attempt. Until he saw the results, he was equally on edge. The stick stirred the ashes, and soon, a heavy object blocked the way. Bi Fang saw it very clearly, he cleared away the surrounding ashes little by little to reveal¡­ A black lump emitting white smoke. Chapter 500: 497 Forging Iron Chapter 500: Chapter 497 Forging Iron ¡°Is this iron?¡± ¡°It¡¯s iron!¡± ¡°It¡¯s really iron!¡± ¡°Holy shit, it worked, it really worked! Bi Fang has smelted iron!¡± Cheers erupted from the crowd in the first venue. Some even set off fireworks on the spot, with ribbons falling from the sky and landing on everyone¡¯s heads. ¡°It worked!¡± ¡°Holy shit, where did these fireworks come from?¡± ¡°Thirty-six yuan each, the little shop next door sells them, they call it a physical reward¡­¡± [This is a miracle!] [Iron!!!!] [So much charcoal, that¡¯s a lot of lamb skewers, right?] [The temperature must be ridiculously high!] Bi Fang used a long wooden stick to clamp the ingot of iron, but it seemed to be firmly stuck at the bottom. Left with no choice, he had to take it out along with the furnace bridge. The moment the furnace bridge emerged from the land, the camera zoomed in quickly. On top of the furnace bridge, the black lump of iron was uneven. Many parts were still glowing red, flickering like the metal was breathing. He hit it hard with a stone, and it almost visibly deformed, a sign that it was near melting¡­ Amazing. Audiences both domestic and international were left in awe. Before Bi Fang, no one had been able to venture alone into the jungle and smelt iron from nothing¡­ It was too extravagant. Compared with this, those who found ¡°wild ore¡± and brought it to factories to smelt were undoubtedly crap! This was no longer about teaching wilderness survival or manual skills; it had reached the point of how to rely on wisdom to rebuild civilization entirely without modern amenities! The appearance of iron put Bi Fang¡¯s live stream on an entirely different level from the past. It used to be simple Wilderness Survivalist, but now, it was completely different. From catching fish to chicken soup, from lean-to shelters to fenced ones with roofs, to having raincoats on rainy days. All sorts of stone tools, salt, and now iron. All the essentials of life were there, and even more high-end materials had appeared. No one doubted that if Bi Fang had brought a packet of wheat seeds instead of just shorts and a grass skirt when he got off the plane¡­ No! Maybe just a piece of potato would suffice, or he might not even need that, given more time to search; he could probably find a stable source of carbohydrates to cultivate! [GOD!] [Even God couldn¡¯t conjure a piece of iron in the wilderness.] [This is the birth of civilization] [Messier presents the host with Spaceships*10¡ªIn honor of civilization!] [Fat Cat Pete presents the host with a Yacht*1¡ªIn honor of civilization!] [Pork Heart and Shrimp presents the host with Meatballs*66¡ªIn honor of civilization!] [I have no money, but! In honor of civilization! A small salute to Master Fang!] [What I¡¯m watching isn¡¯t a live stream, it¡¯s the evolution and progress of human civilization] The audience was even more excited, speaking without filter. Anyone who had followed the process for over ten days and witnessed the birth of iron would react the same way. As many as six million viewers witnessed this scene, what civilization is, what wisdom is. Do thoughts come first or physical objects? Huaxia didn¡¯t have tables and chairs in the past not because there weren¡¯t the materials or capability, but because the concept of tables and chairs didn¡¯t exist yet. The most valuable thing in this world isn¡¯t oil or gold mines but human thought. Thought, more precious than gold or diamonds, is the most precious treasure of human civilization, and any attempt to confine human thought is bound to be backfired upon. ¡°You guys are too excited, and of course, I am too.¡± The violent beating of his heart made Bi Fang start to gasp for air. He explained, ¡°But my goal isn¡¯t just iron smelting, remember what I said at the beginning? To make an iron tool, at least a dagger.¡± ¡°I have somewhat overestimated the yield of iron bacteria.¡± Bi Fang placed his hand next to the lump of iron, and only then with a point of reference did the viewers realize how small this red-glowing lump was. It was only as big as a fingernail! This piece was clearly not enough; it was far from the requirements for an iron sword. ¡°I originally thought ten lumps of soil would be enough, but now five are only fingernail-sized. It seems that¡¯s not enough, but there¡¯s no need to worry. Besides the yellow iron bacteria, I also dug up some rusted soil later. The soil cakes made from the rusted soil have a higher iron content, which will be enough to bring us a surprise.¡± Bi Fang took deep breaths repeatedly, calming his excited heart. At this moment, the end was far from near, for after the iron smelting came the iron forging. ¡°The ooze secreted by these iron bacteria is primarily composed of iron hydroxide. I added charcoal as a reducing agent C and ash from vegetation as a fluxing agent K2CO3. The three were mixed into a clay pellet, which was placed in the furnace and fired at high temperature to successfully produce iron.¡± ¡°Under high temperature calcination, the ash decomposes into potassium peroxide and carbon dioxide, which reacts with the carbon dioxide produced by combustion and then with the charcoal to form the gas carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide ultimately reduces the already oxidized clay to obtain elemental iron.¡± ¡°If we smelt all the iron out, it becomes much more difficult to melt it again since it¡¯s already in its elemental form. Although there may still be many impurities inside, it¡¯s incomparable to the earlier powdered iron oxide.¡± The original plant ash was powder, and the iron oxide was also powder; their mutual blending made the reaction naturally simple. Bi Fang smashed the black lumps in front of him with a rock, extracting all the iron bits, a process which to his surprise yielded some bonus finds. The rough iron pieces weren¡¯t just the one on the surface; there were two smaller ones inside, adding up to the size of a knuckle. Aside from these three pieces, there was a myriad of tiny iron grains, but altogether, they weren¡¯t much. Bi Fang immediately took advantage of the heat, placing another five clay pellets inside the furnace, continuing the smelting process. ¡°Don¡¯t put too many clay pellets at once; too many might be counterproductive and fail to burn and react fully.¡± By evening, Bi Fang had smelted twenty clay pellets, obtaining an iron ingot slightly larger than his index finger. He weighed it in his hand, and it felt heavy. ¡°Is it enough? I feel like¡­¡± ¡°Should it be about flat now?¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s not enough. What I can make with this is only a blade. What use do I have for a blade, to shave?¡± Touching the stubble on his face, Bi Fang laughed at his own words. ¡°What I want is a practical knife, at the very least a dagger. Not to mention there are many impurities inside, so the volume will reduce even further during the forging process.¡± In the following two days, Bi Fang continued to smelt iron, and went out hunting with a bow and arrows in the meantime, catching a snake and a wild rabbit, while also netting fish from the fish farm. Day sixteen of surviving in the Banna Rainforest; five days remained until the mission¡¯s end. ¡°Hey!¡± Just as he dumped the fish into the water hole, the water monitors, now accustomed, started to run over, but Bi Fang scared them away with a spear thrust. Having lived together for so long, the water monitors had grown increasingly bold and dared to come over for feeding even when Bi Fang was nearby¡ªhe didn¡¯t mind, he wasn¡¯t blind. After being hit hard last night, grumbling and cursing under their breath, they had been a bit more cautious today. ¡°Sounds good, huh? If it sounds good, it¡¯s a good start.¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± Coming inside the shelter, there were already dozens of iron ingots of various sizes on the ground. Often, a single clay pellet could yield several fragmented ingots, the largest being the size of a knuckle, the second-largest the size of a fingernail, and smaller yet, bits and pieces the size of beans. Bi Fang gathered all the iron in his hands, barely able to hold it all. It was heavy, to speak of weight alone, almost one kilogram! Even accounting for wastage, if reduced by half, it would still weigh half a kilogram, 500 grams. The weight of a tactical knife generally hovers around 400 grams, and that¡¯s the total weight including the handle. The iron at hand, weighing a pound, was more than enough for Bi Fang to forge a dagger. The only issue was forging it; he had no hammer, only a stone one¡­ There are indeed stones harder than iron, quartz, diabase, and such, but they¡¯re only hard, not tough, and can easily break when struck. If he relied on that to hammer, his arm might break, wouldn¡¯t it? He¡¯d try it later; Bi Fang shook his head, wondering if he could first melt these iron chunks and directly cast and forge them; that would be much simpler, at least simpler than forging directly. With just five days remaining, Bi Fang felt an urgency. He had originally thought he had plenty of time after finding the iron bacteria but hadn¡¯t expected that the true challenge lay in crafting the knife! Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Gathering all the iron, Bi Fang returned to the side of the blast furnace, placing the iron chunks into a ceramic bowl, sprinkling plant ash over them, and surrounding them with kindling wood to ignite. He continued to add charcoal throughout the process without deviation. By now, the audience no longer cared whether an iron knife could be made or not. Without the System¡¯s task assignment or Bi Fang¡¯s sense of urgency, they felt content the moment Master Fang produced iron. The white smoke ceased. Bi Fang lifted the furnace lid and took out the ceramic bowl. Fortunately, the crimson iron showed signs of melting, but just signs. The actual melting began only with the iron grains at the bottom of the bowl. Thousands of grains, each less than a third the size of a rice grain, melted together, clinging to the bottom of the bowl. ¡°To fully melt the large lumps of iron, the conditions are still not quite enough,¡± Bi Fang said, looking up at the over two meters long chimney. The current conditions weren¡¯t sufficient; it needed to be further improved! ¡°The chimney needs to be further lengthened to three meters. We also need to make a bellows so that afterwards, it will be almost enough.¡± Tossing the iron lumps back into the bowl, Bi Fang went straight to work. He went back to the riverside, dug the clay, cleaned it, extended the chimney, and then began to make the bellows. The construction of the bellows was very simple. ¡°The main components are the inner fan and the external housing that restricts the airflow.¡± Bi Fang took two pieces of stiff bark, each twenty centimeters long and five to six centimeters wide. He carved a groove in the middle of each, then fit them together, forming a cross-shaped fan blade. He then took a fine wooden twig, peeled it clean, scored a cross on one end with the Stone Dagger, split it into four flaps, and inserted it into the center of the fan. Both ends of the fan were bound securely with fiber rope to ensure it wouldn¡¯t disintegrate due to material issues. Holding the long stick, Bi Fang rotated it, testing it beside the campfire. The airflow was substantial. Then, using clay, he crafted an external housing around the fan to concentrate the pumped air through a single outlet. Chapter 501: 498 Iron? Steel! Chapter 501: Chapter 498 Iron? Steel! For the entire morning, Bi Fang was busy as a bee. He not only had to lengthen the chimney but also had to make a bellows. The finally completed bellows resembled a large sealed gourd, with the fan blades situated where the gourd would hold water. Only the long rod connected to the fan blades and the very bottom part were left empty. ¡°Leaving the bottom empty allows us to conveniently change the blades if they get damaged. Furthermore, the bellows will ultimately be placed on the ground, effectively using the earth as a seal.¡± Bi Fang brought over three pieces of wood, inserting two in front of the blast furnace and setting the third on top of them, securing it all with hemp ropes. Bi Fang carved a small hole in the middle of the branch that spanned across the top, into which he inserted the long rod attached to the fan blades, allowing it to rotate freely under constraint. ¡°We can smear some animal fat inside the pit to help lubricate it, and next, we¡¯ll make a bowstring, similar to how the Bow Drill Method creates fire.¡± He took out a hemp rope, wrapped it around the long rod, and then tied both ends to another branch. Grasping the branch, Bi Fang pulled it back and forth, and the rope immediately began to rotate the long rod, which in turn stirred the airflow with the fan blades. All the airflow was confined within the bellows, blowing out from the sole outlet and into the interior of the blast furnace, instantly intensifying the blaze even more! [What we¡¯re seeing now is Boss Fang¡¯s personal performance of Moon Reflected on Erquan!] Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Old Fang in ancient times must have been a master craftsman!] [Everything¡¯s going smoothly!] [With such skills, if sent back to primitive society, one could absolutely dominate and maybe even open ten harems!] [The power of ten harems? Terrifying indeed!] [At least he¡¯d be a fire worship priest, in charge of fire and the tribe¡¯s goods. ] [It¡¯s a physical turbine!] Bi Fang made a curved spout and fitted it onto the mouth of the bellows, blowing directly onto the burning charcoal. The flames surged out from the top of the furnace mouth, almost half a meter high, and one could feel the intense heat just by looking at it. Looking down from above the furnace cover, the fire¡¯s glow was so dazzling that the eye couldn¡¯t bear it, certainly exceeding one thousand degrees. That afternoon, after eating, Bi Fang placed the previously smelted ingots into a newly made ceramic bowl, sprinkled some wood ash on top, and set it right in the middle of the furnace bridge. Success or failure all depended on this attempt. With a chimney over three meters high, charcoal, and a bellows, even the ancient Iron Smelting process wasn¡¯t more sophisticated than this. A usable Iron Knife? Having reached this point, Bi Fang was no longer satisfied with just making an iron blade; he wanted steel! Steel!? Bi Fang displayed his ambition to his audience. The audience felt a real shock; seeing Bi Fang produce iron had already made him seem godlike, and now he was planning to forge steel? It appeared the pedestal of his deity had just grown higher. In the eyes of ordinary people, iron and steel were almost two different things, with forging difficulty beyond comparison. Of course, it didn¡¯t matter to them since they couldn¡¯t do it anyway. ¡°Is anyone here educated in engineering materials?¡± Bi Fang sat on the ground, pulling the branch in his hand, continuously pumping air. ¡°The iron we come into contact with the most isn¡¯t the industrial pure iron on the left side of the Iron-Carbon Phase Diagram, but rather industrial pig iron, also known as hypoeutectic white cast iron, with a carbon content between 2.1% and 4.3%, while ¡®steel¡¯ refers to an iron-carbon alloy with a carbon content ranging from 0.02% to 2.06%.¡± ¡°Depending on our needs, adding different alloy elements allows us to make alloy steel and stainless steel. So, steelmaking is about letting the excess carbon in pig iron react with oxygen at high temperatures and getting rid of it!¡± Forget industrial pig iron; the piece Bi Fang had was so impure that calling it iron ore wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration. It was iron riddled with impurities. Modern steelmaking methods involve oxidizing pig iron in its liquid state to produce steel, known as liquid steelmaking, which requires temperatures around 1600 degrees Celsius. Such high temperatures were unattainable in ancient times; they could only use lower-temperature techniques, such as carburizing block steel and the Steel Frying Method. ¡°During the Western Han Dynasty, thanks to improvements in bellows technology, flame temperatures could consistently reach over 1200 degrees Celsius, and decarburizing pig iron also needed to occur at such high temperatures.¡± ¡°Although I have a blast furnace, a bellows, and charcoal, they are all quite rudimentary and can¡¯t quite achieve that level of heat. But the temperature definitely exceeds one thousand degrees, so I want to try making Hundred-refined Steel.¡± Hundred-refined Steel wasn¡¯t a mysterious technology; it merely involved repeatedly heating and forging the iron to remove carbon and impurities, eventually producing what is known as Hundred-refined Steel. The simplest method to transform iron into steel, yet it¡¯s also the most physically demanding. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m not sure if it will succeed. We can only leave it to chance.¡± Even if the steel forging fails, it won¡¯t affect Bi Fang¡¯s ability to make an Iron Knife; the process is all about removing impurities to obtain better iron. ¡°It¡¯s a pity we don¡¯t have iron ore, otherwise we could try the Steel Frying Method.¡± The Steel Frying Method, an important technology invented by the Huaxia People. But this technology almost seemed like a cheat for the ancient Huaxia, who monopolized it for over a thousand years. ¡°During the Han Dynasty, the military reversal against the Xiongnu wasn¡¯t just due to the speed gap being closed by superior horses, but more importantly, the weapons were much more advanced than those of the Xiongnu. Steel was far too advanced for that era.¡± For every five Xiongnu soldiers, they matched only one Han soldier. Why? Because their weapons were blunt and their crossbows inferior. Now it¡¯s said that they barely attain the sophistication of the Han, yet still, three of them match only one. These were the original words of Chen Tang recorded in the ¡°Book of Han.¡± It implies that the reason five Xiongnu soldiers were only a match for one Han soldier was due to inferior equipment. Forget copper; even raw iron was nothing but dross compared to Hundred-refined Steel, not to mention that the material largely used by the Xiongnu at the time was understood to be bones of cattle and sheep. How could they possibly compete? There¡¯s a Gundam across the street! ¡°So many experts in the history of chemistry are still very curious why Huaxia, not the first to discover iron and about a thousand years later than the civilizations in the Mesopotamian region in using iron, was able to evolve so much in just two hundred years, and the most fundamental reason is still unclear.¡± [It¡¯s aliens!] [Huaxia is a majestic lion of the East!] [Asian people are really smart, at least when it comes to mathematics] [We are hardworking and brave!] ¡°Hundred-refined steel was a method before the Steel Frying Method, which involves repeatedly heating, folding, and hammering the iron to react with the oxygen in the air, reducing the carbon content and making the composition of the steel more uniform and dense, reducing impurities and thus improving the quality of the steel.¡± Bi Fang switched hands to operate the bellows while stirring the bright orange iron mass in the furnace with a stick, increasing the oxygen contact. ¡°But not all pig iron could ultimately be turned into steel. Besides the smelting skills involved, it also greatly depends on the quality of the iron itself, which could contain a variety of elements, such as sulfur and manganese. With the same skills, the results could be good or not so good.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why when we read stories like those of Gan Jiang and Mo Ye, we often see sword castings fail, which may reflect the reality of ancient metallurgy. But ancient people would interpret it as divine punishment or such.¡± Whether it¡¯s the ancient people or ordinary folks in society, they basically don¡¯t understand the different carbon content in iron and steel, only that they are different to use. Such is empiricism. The audience in front of the screen also seemed greatly enlightened. [I learned this before, but I¡¯ve forgotten all the specifics] [This is legit knowledge, like being back in the classroom] How much steel could Bi Fang make from this bit of iron? The ancients had already given the answer. In the ¡°Weighing Heavy and Light¡± section of the Xiahou Yang¡¯s Mathematical Manual, written during the Jin and Sui dynasties, there are two arithmetic problems. The first question: Now there are 6281 jin of pig iron for refining into yellow iron, with a loss of 5 liang per jin. How much yellow iron can be obtained? Answer: 4318 jin and 3 liang of yellow iron. The second question: Now there are 4318 jin and 3 liang of yellow iron to be refined into steel, with a loss of 3 liang per jin. How much steel can be obtained? Answer: 3508 jin, 8 liang, 10 zhu, and 5 lei of steel. In ancient times 1 jin was 16 liang, and yellow iron meant refined iron. From 6281 jin of pig iron to about 3508.5 jin of steel. More than half is lost. The impurities in the iron Bi Fang was handling were more, so the loss was even greater, but after calculating, it turned out to be just the right weight for a steel dagger! Whether it was fate playing tricks or something else, Bi Fang, who originally thought twenty cakes for a knife was a deal, got reality-checked, and indeed, he could only end up with one steel knife. Of course, that was not certain yet. The work involved in making hundred-refined steel, both its huge volume and its high intensity of labor, might be incomparable to other trades, no? For this purpose, Bi Fang had prepared several stone hammers, all lined up beside him, ready to go all out. If you¡¯re going to do it, you have to do it to the best. Push it to the limit. He removed the furnace cover, clamped out a pottery bowl, and poured the iron mass that had become a solid piece the size of a fist onto a stone slab. Bi Fang hefted a stone hammer. The muscles in his forearm twisted together like steel cables, and transparent sweat squeezed out of his pores, flowing like streams over mountain rocks. Strength traveled from the ground through his thighs to his waist, finally reaching his overhead arm, before coming down hard! Pong! Sparks scattered in all directions. The dazzling flames ejected a blinding light, the high heat distorted the air, and waves of heat billowed out. In the midst of the violent explosion, a fragment of iron whizzed past Richard¡¯s ear, raising white hair and spinning into the wall brick. The explosion turned the surrounding lawn into scorched earth, the broken water pipe spurted out water, and almost immediately the high temperature turned it into steam, the metal casing of the transformer blew apart instantly, and sparks shot up like a fountain to the height of a person. Richard stood stunned at a distance, unclear whether he was more scared or astonished. Jerret, hearing the commotion inside the house, ran out and saw the twisted car blazing like a fireball and also saw Richard standing stiff as wood. He patted Richard up and down, frantically asking what had happened. When Richard was led into the house, he could no longer remember. He lay with wide eyes staring at the newly installed light on the ceiling. The bright white daylight glared painfully, filling the eyes with bloodshot veins, as though the world had turned a crimson red. A young man wearing a mask rubbed his eyes, wondering if he was hallucinating, and walked into the restroom at the station, locking the door behind him. Inside, someone was already waiting for him. Upon seeing the new arrival, he handed over an old leather case. The young man muttered as he took the leather case: ¡°Can¡¯t even afford a proper case?¡± Upon opening the leather case, the dazzling pattern intoxicated him. He touched it with his hand, feeling the fine scales and thin leather, flawless. After making sure there was no issue, the young man closed the lid: ¡°How come there¡¯s new stock all of a sudden? Lucky I didn¡¯t leave.¡± The man who brought the case laughed: ¡°You guys manage that? Take as much as you get, that was the deal you agreed to.¡± The young man tugged at the corners of his mouth, knowing he had said too much but indifferent. He pulled out his phone and swiped a few times: ¡°Look at the number.¡± ¡°One third of the market price?¡± The man was not very satisfied with the number, even for illicit goods that seemed too low. ¡°The python skin has a bit too much damage. Or perhaps you can find someone else. If you agree, I¡¯ll transfer it; if not, take your case and leave.¡± ¡°Fine, it¡¯s yours.¡± Chapter 502: 499: Boss Fang Really Stands Tall and Firm Chapter 502: Chapter 499: Boss Fang Really Stands Tall and Firm Survival in the Banna Rainforest, Day Seventeen. After hammering away for an entire day beside the furnace, the original iron mass had completely been drawn out into a lengthy strip. Two stone hammers had been broken in the process. Choosing to make Hundred-refined Steel was a race against time. From yesterday, Bi Fang had been working until late at night, and he would wake up before dawn to warm up the furnace and melt the iron. He got less than six hours of sleep each day, which was probably good news for the global audience. They no longer had to worry about live streaming time differences. As long as they turned on their phones, they could almost always see Bi Fang either hammering iron or hunting. Survival in the rainforest, Day Eighteen. Perhaps it could no longer be called survival. From the day Bi Fang decided to smelt iron, it had become a way of life rather than mere survival. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the still dark early morning, Bi Fang, like a skilled blacksmith, skillfully got up, washed, and finally fired up the furnace. He continuously fed charcoal into the fierce fire, which meant Bi Fang had to smelt at least a kiln¡¯s worth of charcoal every day to meet his needs. The high heat of the furnace blackened his whole body, and Bi Fang, sweating like rain, gripped the glowing red-hot iron bar and hammered away relentlessly. By noon, the long iron bar was forcefully bent and folded once more. How many times he had folded and hammered, Bi Fang himself had lost count, just vaguely remembering a number and feeling like his arms were about to break off. He continued to heat the iron bar in the furnace. After drinking a few sips of water to rehydrate, Bi Fang stepped aside to wash his face, revealing his wheat-colored skin and gasping for breath. ¡°How does that saying go again? ¡®Laziness is the source of productivity advancements.¡¯ Although it¡¯s a joke, I think there¡¯s a lot of truth in it.¡± During his breaks, Bi Fang chose to chat to keep the live streaming audience engaged. With strong educational content, a fair number of people were willing to stay and listen. After all, the knowledgeable Bi Fang teaching online was indeed attractive. Curiosity, too, is a desire. ¡°We use charcoal as fuel to smelt iron ore into a spongy solid mass in the furnace. This solid mass, when cooled down, is actually called bloom iron. This was likely our method about two thousand five hundred years ago.¡± ¡°Bloom iron has low carbon content, a soft texture, and lots of impurities; it is the wrought iron that humans learned to make in the early days. Using bloom iron as raw material, it¡¯s heated in a carbon fire to absorb carbon and increase its carbon content. Then, through hammering which removes impurities and allows it to absorb more carbon, steel is obtained.¡± ¡°This type of steel is called ¡®bloom steel after carburization.¡¯ But the quality of this steel is still not good enough, with great difficulty in controlling the extent of carbon absorption, the uniformity of distribution, and the degree of impurity removal during the smelting process, and it¡¯s also extremely low in production efficiency.¡± This type of steel is certainly unqualified, no matter what tools it might be used to make. ¡°In order to improve the quality of the steel, during the middle of the Western Han Dynasty, craftsmen invented ¡®Hundred-refined Steel.¡¯ This is what we¡¯re doing now, repeatedly heating, folding, and hammering the bloom iron to make the steel structure compact and even, reduce impurities, and thus improve the steel¡¯s quality.¡± What Bi Fang was continually doing was just that, endlessly hammering the bloom iron he had smelted. At this point, the iron was neither raw nor fully processed and could be described as neither raw nor ripe. Bi Fang referred to it as, the binary nature of raw and ripe iron! ¡°Haha, just kidding,¡± Bi Fang scratched his head. ¡°As the demand for Hundred-refined Steel grew, but the production efficiency of its raw material, bloom iron, was very low and required ¡®annealing¡¯ after smelting to obtain, the development of Hundred-refined Steel faced limitations. The most critical issue was, it¡¯s too exhausting. A single piece of Hundred-refined Steel required a craftsman to hammer it over a hundred times before it took shape, hence the name ¡®Hundred-refined.¡¯ However, back then, people¡¯s nutrition couldn¡¯t keep up, and when weapons were needed for war, it was possible for the craftsmen to work themselves to death.¡± ¡°To break through these limitations, craftsmen invented a new technique for steel-making from pig iron, called ¡®stirring steel,¡¯ which I also mentioned a few days ago. This is one of those milestones.¡± ¡°In the ¡®stirring steel¡¯ process, pig iron is heated to a liquid or semi-liquid state and stirred in the melting furnace. By using a bellows or sprinkling in ore powder and other methods that utilize the oxygen in the air to oxidize silicon, manganese, and carbon, the carbon content can be reduced to obtain steel. Stirring steel was named because of the constant stirring during the smelting process, similar to stir-frying food.¡± China started ¡®stirring steel¡¯ more than 1600 years before the technique began in the United Kingdom in Europe. After chatting casually with the audience for a while, Bi Fang doused his head with the remaining water, moved in front of the blast furnace, removed the furnace lid, and continued hammering. Hundred-refined, Hundred-refined, without a hundred times, how could it ever be sufficient. After doing the math, Bi Fang realized he had hammered for nearly three days and was still short of fifty-five times, far from enough. This was even when the material was softer in the early stages; the further into the process, the harder it became to forge. With just over three days left, he had to work even harder. ¡°Damn, no wonder it could kill the craftsmen, I¡¯m nearly dead myself.¡± Banna, Day Nineteen. Today, Bi Fang went all out, forging for over thirteen hours and folding the steel twenty-one times, bringing the total to seventy-six times. The iron by now was far from as soft as it was at the beginning, becoming tougher, making it even harder to hammer. This forced Bi Fang to find better stone hammers, and he even had to coat their surface with rubber and a layer of wood planks to prevent them from breaking due to low toughness. This was good news. It meant the quality of the iron in Bi Fang¡¯s hand had improved, and it had started to become steel. It is worth mentioning that a water monitor wandered over to the furnace at night but was hit by a piece of glowing charcoal, burning a black scar on its body. Since then, it never dared to approach the blast furnace again. Survival in the Banna Rainforest, Day Twenty. In one full day, Bi Fang only managed to fold the steel bar fifteen times, bringing the total to ninety-one times. Each strike sent a wave of discomfort through his muscles. That night, Bi Fang lay in bed, his right arm sore and swollen, forcing him to soak it entirely in cold water. Over those days, millions of viewers accompanied Bi Fang in the live stream, watching the iron that was originally larger than a fist turn into a bar, bent and folded over and over. The volume shrank more and more. Up to now, the steel bar was already a full size smaller than at the beginning; if hammered out and polished, everyone believed that it would make a decent dagger. [Maybe just give it up, seems too hard anyway.] [Isn¡¯t the iron enough already?] ¡°[If I had to hammer for a day, no, half a day, I¡¯d be dead]¡± ¡°[Old Fang is really a man, he sticks to his word. I feel like I¡¯m steel now.]¡± ¡°[I won¡¯t watch the Broken Sword Competition without you]¡± Bi Fang smiled, a truly happy smile. ¡°If the iron in my hand hadn¡¯t gotten harder and harder, I might have really given up. It would mean there were too many impurities in it, and the chances of becoming steel were very low. But it didn¡¯t happen, so I had to do my best.¡± Steel is made through thousands of hammering and numerous refinements! Without countless hammering and tempering, both workability and usability are subpar! This was not only steelmaking but also self-improvement. Only by doing it to the extreme, to the point where it can no longer be folded, would it be the answer Bi Fang submits. His perfect answer from within. Thinking of this, Bi Fang suddenly rose from the bed, droplets of water trickling down his slightly swollen arm, wrapping vines around his palm again, and he grabbed what must have been the umpteenth stone hammer, stepping outside once more. Tomorrow night, six days from now, he would have to leave this place, so he had to finish forging by tonight, leaving enough time to polish the steel tomorrow. Light the furnace, smelt the iron! Day twenty-one in the Banna Rainforest survival challenge, also the last day. At this time, it was still dark, and the audience hadn¡¯t slept either. They stayed up all night with Bi Fang, watching the red-hot iron bars fold in the darkness, sparks flying, shedding black iron scales. At dawn, with the last strike of the hammer, the stones shattered once again, falling to the ground. Bi Fang felt stars in his vision, the sleepless night reaching the peak of his exhaustion. He had no doubt he could fall asleep instantly if given a soft bed right now. ¡°How many times is that now?¡± ¡°[101! 101 times, Master Fang!]¡± ¡°[It¡¯s Hundred-refined Steel now, it really is Hundred-refined Steel]¡± ¡°[Has the grinding started yet?]¡± Bi Fang shook his head, heated the iron bar again, and turned to fetch another stone hammer from inside. He had said he would hammer until he could hammer no more. At dawn, the sunlight slanted through the tall trees, falling on Bi Fang. He hadn¡¯t bothered to apply insect repellent mud for several days now. The high temperatures here kept even the mosquitoes at bay. A Water Monitor crawled out of its cave, flicking its tail. The limited intelligence of cold-blooded animals didn¡¯t allow it to ponder complex problems, yet the sight of someone staying up all night still deeply astounded it. This creature was terrifying. A full five days¡¯ worth of time. Bi Fang¡¯s skin had changed, turning a healthy wheat color. Every hair on his body glistened with gold in the morning sun, sweat streaming down the crevices of his muscles. The continuous labor had quickly depleted the salt in Bi Fang¡¯s body, and he would not have had enough replenishment from just the blood of animals if it weren¡¯t for salt. The sound of metal clashing rang out again, sparking another burst of fiery splinters. One hundred and two times. Continue heating. One hundred and three times. Bi Fang ate breakfast, saving time by only eating the boneless parts of large fish or the belly of fish with bones, giving the rest to the Water Monitor. Perhaps the wild Water Monitor had never imagined it would get to eat cooked food in its lifetime. The giant hammer fell once again, a huge rebound traveling up his arm, causing Bi Fang to involuntarily drop the hammer. In the forest, the clear, resonant sound of metal vibrating lingered for a long time. This time, the orange steel bar resting on the stone slab showed no reaction at all. Bi Fang collapsed to the ground, his vision darkening in waves, as cold sweat broke out in layers. It was very difficult, incredibly difficult. Nothing felt real anymore. After more than five days of hammering, working for over twelve hours each day and getting less than six hours of sleep, he had finally forged a piece of quality steel! ¡°[Is this¡­ steel?]¡± Looking at the iron bar now standing on the stone plate, no, it should be called a steel bar now, everyone felt a sense of awe. ¡°[Am I really on Earth?]¡± ¡°[So, did Master Fang actually smelt a piece of¡­ steel in the wilderness?]¡± In the arena, the audience stuttered, exchanging looks as if to confirm what they had just seen. But the expressions of utter shock on each person¡¯s face told them all. Yes. This is. Steel! Chapter 503: 500: Steel Dagger Chapter 503: Chapter 500: Steel Dagger ¡°` The last heating. When Bi Fang took the steel bar out of the blast furnace, his entire body was shaking. From exhaustion or excitement? Or both? It was hard to tell. At the moment of harvest, all the hardships turned into the sweetest fruit, a mix of flavors all in one. The dazzling metal before his eyes could no longer be called iron, but steel! Stronger, harder, and sharper!!! Taking a deep breath, Bi Fang steadied himself from the dizziness caused by overexertion. The familiar wooden handle was gripped firmly in his hand, power building from a focal point, dropping from high above, and striking heavily upon the steel bar. No more black iron scales fell off; all impurities had been artificially removed to the utmost limit. Under the forceful hammering, the bright orange steel was gradually compressed, deformed, and stretched into a flat, elongated shape. The embryonic form of a dagger was slowly taking shape. But steel was far more challenging to forge than iron. Whether it was hardness, toughness, or ultimate sharpness, steel far surpassed iron. The same was true for hammering. Bi Fang was very cautious, fearing that a single misstrike would demand starting all over again. There wasn¡¯t enough time for Bi Fang to do that. The sun had risen high, around 9 am Moyo time, out for food and rest, leaving him possibly less than six hours of forging time. It really felt like the tension of participating in a sword-breaking competition. ¡°To make a usable dagger today, I¡¯m not going to sharpen the edge. Without a sharpening machine, I would need to grind it with a whetstone, and hell knows when that would end.¡± ¡°So I plan to make a double-edged dagger, not needing sharpening, but with a pointy tip capable of thrusting, which counts as practical. Moreover, our steel is, after all, the most ordinary steel, with no one knowing how strong it really is; not sharpening it will also allow thickness to make up for strength.¡± Sharpening the edge would inevitably make it thinner, and Bi Fang wasn¡¯t very confident in the strength of the blade he had forged, worrying that it would easily chip. Heating, hammering, heating, hammering. The sun rose from the east, shifted toward the south, and began moving westward. After finishing mushroom and rabbit soup, Bi Fang soaked his hands in a puddle of water for a while, regaining some energy, and took the red-hot dagger out of the forge. Yes, a dagger. After nearly six days of effort, the form of the dagger finally appeared at noon on the last day. The long and narrow iron handle would ultimately be glued to a wooden handle. The slim blade extended over twenty centimeters, resembling a bayonet but too thin¡ªclearly still unrefined with a thick spine. Bi Fang switched the large hammer for a smaller one that was better for controlling the force and started to hammer the steel evenly and meticulously. The brilliant furnace fire made Bi Fang¡¯s face glow red. From the early hours of yesterday until now, the charcoal inside the blast furnace hadn¡¯t stopped burning, adding fervor to the sultry rainforest. [Swordsmith!] [Since when did LOL release an Old Fang hero, Wild Hunter, who moonlights as a swordsmith, best suited for jungle position!] [I think it¡¯s good] [These muscles, I call him the sexiest man¡ªis that okay?] [I also think it¡¯s good] [A petition of ten thousand! If they release a skin, I¡¯ll buy them all!] The hard steel bar was stretched once more, from slender to narrow, extending from the spine to the sides, becoming even sharper at the tip. No one doubted that such a thrust could pierce through an entire human body. This is metal steel! What are wooden spears, bone spears compared to metal steel? They¡¯re nothing! At three in the afternoon, the light was still good, and the dagger had once again transformed, truly taking on the appearance of a blade. Bi Fang held the dagger upright and crouched to examine each side¡¯s lines. The shape wasn¡¯t exaggerated, similar to the double-edged daggers ordinarily seen, but this had been completely hand-forged from nothing! From any angle, Bi Fang had reached the limits of what handcrafting could achieve¡ªthe spine was straight and uniform, the blade edges that fanned outward were even and smooth, the tip sharp and stylish. Anyone seeing it would have to praise it as a sharp blade. [Damn, just two hours away and it¡¯s changed so much] [It feels like I need it, sob sob sob] [Achievement Unlocked: The Hard Way] [Achievement Unlocked: Qilin Arm] [Ah, three hours until the livestream ends, who knows how long we¡¯ll have to wait next time] [It¡¯s mid-June now; it¡¯s got to be at least July, right?] Bi Fang clamped the steel dagger with wooden tongs for the last heating. Meanwhile, he added a large amount of sand under the furnace bridge. This step was so quick that the audience didn¡¯t quite see it clearly, only seeing Bi Fang stuffing some strange grey matter in again. Then came the final step. ¡°` Quenching. This time, Bi Fang removed the blower, otherwise the heating temperature would be too high. ¡°Steel heat treatment generally includes four basic processes: annealing, normalizing, quenching, and tempering. These are also known as the ¡®four fires¡¯ of overall heat treatment. Among them, quenching and tempering are closely related and are often used in conjunction, with neither being dispensable.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t go into detail about annealing and normalizing since we won¡¯t be using them next, mainly tempering and quenching. Many people have probably heard of quenching, which is typically the image of red-hot metal being plunged into water, hissing and steaming.¡± [You often see it on TV] [I¡¯ve seen it] [The tears of engineering materials, this course is too difficult, the Iron-Carbon Phase Diagram and Alloy Phase Diagram] [I can¡¯t listen anymore, I¡¯m going insane] ¡°Hahaha, engineering materials are indeed difficult.¡± Bi Fang had a headache from studying it himself, and not all his knowledge was from the System¡ª many things he had learned on his own. ¡°The heat treatment process of heating metal to austenitize it and then cooling it in an appropriate way to obtain martensite or bainite structure is what we call quenching. The most common methods are water cooling, oil cooling, air cooling, and water cooling is exactly what you just said, a quick plunge into the water for rapid temperature reduction.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have that much oil to choose from, so we are only left with water cooling and air cooling, and different cooling materials can cause different property changes.¡± ¡°To reduce the brittleness of steel, tempered steel is heated to an appropriate temperature above room temperature but below 710¡ãC for a long time, followed by cooling. That process is tempering.¡± Bi Fang opened the lid of the furnace and carefully observed the color of the dagger. ¡°This is the last step in dagger production. First, we need to heat the dagger to redness. Remember, it can only become red. You must not let it turn white, which is the orange-yellow stage. A knife that turns white is very prone to deformation, and it is also too brittle. For the specific temperature, you can look up heat color charts for steel online.¡± Seizing the right moment, Bi Fang clamped the red-hot dagger from the furnace. He held it by the blade, taking it to the water basin. When he dipped the blade, he did not plunge it in fully but let the edge enter the water. The contact between the high temperature and cold water immediately burst into flames. [Holy shit, it can catch fire?] [Can water catch fire?] [Under high temperature, water can decompose into hydrogen and oxygen, and then ignite in high temperatures. That¡¯s why sprinkling water into a well-lit furnace can actually help fuel the fire.] [What nonsense, sprinkling water to fuel the fire? The heat consumed is more than the heat produced, right?] [You¡¯re wrong, delete it. Quenching burns because it¡¯s not water but oil. Water dripped into the furnace burns because water and carbon produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide at high temperatures, known as water gas. Read more books, act less like a fool.] [Which first-rate account is this? Look closely, is this damn thing oil?] [Why not ask the magical Old Fang?] Bi Fang, however, had no time to answer. The timing and rhythm of quenching had to be just right. After immersing the blade edge in water for no more than two or three seconds, he flipped it to another side, causing another burst of flame. Under the drone¡¯s camera, the audience saw a layer of oxide peel off the surface of the blade, it was still a brownish yellow. ¡°Aside from water quenching, you can also use oil cooling, and waste engine oil will do. I don¡¯t think anyone would dare to use diesel or gasoline for quenching, right?¡± ¡°As for the oil quenching process, it¡¯s basically the same as water quenching. Heat to redness and immerse directly. When the waste engine oil stops bubbling, use a stone, or sandpaper to grind off the iron oxide from the quenched knife, and then it¡¯s ready for tempering.¡± Afterward, Bi Fang repeated this process until there was no more discoloration, then he sent the dagger back into the furnace for temporing. It was only then that the audience realized that Bi Fang no longer put the blade into the flames; instead, he opened the fire pit, slid a piece of withered tree leaf into the sand pit, and when it turned brownish without blackening or igniting, he directly buried the dagger in the sand under the furnace bridge. Then, he sprinkled some water on the charcoal fire on the furnace bridge to extinguish it, producing billowing steam. What the hell? Only now did Bi Fang see the audience¡¯s arguments. He scrolled through the barrage of comments and laughed, ¡°The burning is lacquer, not wrong there, but all your explanations are incorrect. It isn¡¯t simply a matter of water decomposing due to high temperatures. It involves high-temperature vaporization of water reacting with the hot iron to form triiron tetraoxide and hydrogen gas. The high-temperature hydrogen reacts with oxygen in the air and ignites immediately.¡± ¡°Did you just see that layer peeling off? That is the triiron tetraoxide.¡± Audience: ¡°¡­¡± So all that arguing was for nothing? [I told you high temperatures couldn¡¯t just decompose water!] [Give it a rest, hindsight hero.] [Bullshit!] [So what was Old Fang just now doing to put out the fire in the furnace?] ¡°Tempering, of course. Regardless of the quenching method used, you must temper afterward to stabilize the steel and enhance its toughness. I used the Sand-roasting Method.¡± Bi Fang sat on the ground and poked the sand under the furnace bridge with a tree stick. ¡°The temperature for tempering doesn¡¯t need to be that high, but it¡¯s hard to determine precisely. The best way is to heat the sand. When you feel it¡¯s about right, throw in a not-so-withered tree leaf, or a piece of paper. When it turns brownish but doesn¡¯t blacken or ignite, that means the temperature is appropriate for tempering.¡± Bi Fang poked out the tree leaf he had just thrown in, and sure enough, it was brownish on the surface but not blackened or burned. ¡°At this point, bury the knife in the sand, let the dummy and the blade edge cool together, and when tempering is done, you have a final dagger. Of course, it still needs a bit of sharpening.¡± After saying this, Bi Fang felt his whole body relax, collapsing on the ground as every muscle cried out. So tired. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But finally, it was completed. Steel Dagger! Chapter 504: 501: Dust to dust, earth to earth Chapter 504: Chapter 501: Dust to dust, earth to earth ¡°` Metalworking, an extremely ancient craft, originated even before recorded history. Until thousands of years ago, human knowledge about iron, the most abundant metallic element on Earth, was almost non-existent. The Ancient Egyptians and Sumerians both believed iron could only come from meteorites, a gift from the gods in heaven. Even after civilizations discovered methods of iron-smelting, entering the so-called Iron Age, they still didn¡¯t know how to consistently produce iron that was both strong and not prone to brittleness. Iron tools were too fragile, too soft, and not sharp, far inferior to copper. Until a great nation discovered steel, they swung their hammers again and again, sweating and bleeding as they forged the sufficiently stable Hundred-refined Steel. This piece of black metal finally took center stage as the protagonist. But its production was too expensive, too rare; from mining to transportation, to smelting, to forging, every iron sword took an endless amount of labor and resources. Eventually, during the Industrial Revolution, people finally discovered how to acquire iron that was tough, durable, and even cheap. Now, high-quality steel is commonplace: in skyscrapers, cars and ships, railways and trains, bridges and towers, one could get a pound of iron for less than two Yuan at a scrapyard. The black metal completed its transformation from mystery to mundanity. The sense of mystery surrounding iron long ceased to exist for humans, and the steel industry became a marvel of the new era. Majestic blast furnaces, as tall as several stories, operated non-stop 24 hours a day, with temperatures reaching several thousand degrees Celsius; no living organism or moisture could survive in the scorching molten iron, requiring countless engineers to cooperate closely. The entire steel mill was like a never-satisfied giant monster, devouring ores, coal, and limestone. The products from modern steel mills, with their high quality and consistent standards, would have been considered miracles by ancient people: only with the help of deities could craftsmen occasionally produce such exquisite work. Now, everyone has forgotten the history of this black metal, which even half a century ago was still not easy to come by. Until now, a man, almost entirely naked, has accomplished something phenomenal in the most primitive and savage rainforest using only mud and stone; he made something out of nothing, reminding people once again. Oh, so this is how the very first iron and steel were made. He smelted iron, turned the iron into more stable steel, and finally turned the steel into a blade. He is an adventurer, a nature enthusiast, a man filled with madness in his bones. In front of an audience of over ten million, he condensed the process of human history. At this moment, six million viewers watched and shouted hysterically, responding to this moment with the most intense emotions. [Ao Jing gifts the host a yacht*1¡ªMaster Fang is awesome! Humans are awesome!] [Ashtray gifts the host a spaceship*100¡ªniu~~~bi~~] [Holy crap, since when could Wolf Fang send images?] [No, it¡¯s just your own mind sketching them out, hahaha] [Lord Mu gifts the host a spaceship*10¡ªIt could become a store¡¯s treasure] [It¡¯s you! Yao Jun, you swindler! I spent three hundred Yuan on bamboo and never managed to start a fire once, wuwuwu] [President Yao is really a genius in some regards. Every time I make a purchase, I feel like I¡¯ve been thoroughly scammed, you heartless worm!] [Swindler! Wicked merchant! Charlatan! (Ma Chao triple hit)] What happened to Yao Jun, why such resentment from everyone? Bi Fang looked puzzled, but he trusted Yao Jun wouldn¡¯t mess around at the club. The scorching hot sand twisted with heat. Microscopic changes occurred before the eyes of the audience, the grains becoming finer, denser, and tighter, like twisted muscle fibers. It would be a good knife. Bi Fang collapsed on the ground, closing his eyes to savor the moment. He had finally succeeded. Next, all he needed to do was attach a handle and polish it a bit, and it would be a finished dagger. A steel knife. A blade superior in completion to the Iron Knife required by the System. Gradually, snoring began to rise. The audience was startled at first, thinking it was some strange noise until they realized it was coming from the microphone and saw Bi Fang lying on his back, eyes closed. They then remembered, in his rush to keep pace, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t had proper rest for several days, and last night he didn¡¯t sleep at all, forging through the night in addition to the intense physical exertion; he was so exhausted that he fell asleep as soon as he relaxed a bit. [Damn, is he asleep?] [You can¡¯t sleep now, the helicopter will be here in three to four hours] [My God, get up quick] ¡­ [Old Fang, get up; it¡¯s past five o¡¯clock] ¡°` [It¡¯s six o¡¯clock!] [The helicopter is here] As the sun set, the audience kept shouting, but Bi Fang had already entered his dream. Moments later, the helicopter flew in, and the electronic sound that hadn¡¯t been heard for a month rang out again. [Ding, main quest three failed, completion rate low.] ¡°Hmm?¡± Bi Fang woke up abruptly, sat up in a daze, and then clutched his swollen head. It hurt a lot. It was like magma flowing through the narrow cerebral vessels, scorching fragile veins and into the brain, before finally cracking along the cranial bone¡¯s sutures bit by bit, chafing, and turning into char under the high temperature. Remembering the nightmare he had just had, Bi Fang forced his eyes wide open against the urge to close them and asked the audience how long he had slept. [About half an hour, it¡¯s just past three now, not even four yet.] ¡°Phew, I¡¯m sorry, I was just too exhausted and dozed off the moment I relaxed.¡± Bi Fang pushed himself to stand, took a few deep breaths, and after bending over to touch his toes for about ten seconds, he stood back up; he was clearly more alert upon rising. However, the tiredness still lingered, it just wasn¡¯t as overwhelming. ¡°If you feel sleepy and want to wake up quickly, you can try the movement I just did. When your head goes down, blood will rush to your brain for a short period, providing a lot of oxygen and nutrients, making your brain active and alert again.¡± ¡°Before doing it, you can also take a deep breath to briefly increase the oxygen content in your blood, it¡¯s really effective. When I used to get sleepy during class, I would ¡®accidentally¡¯ drop my pen under the table, then bend to pick it up for ten seconds.¡± [When I got sleepy in class, I just slept, Old Fang got sleepy and he picked up pens, no wonder I understand nothing while watching a stream and Old Fang is getting more and more awesome] [Hahaha, this is so true] [What about in the office?] ¡°There¡¯s a way for the office, too. Sit up straight, lift your legs off the floor, and tense your muscles.¡± Bi Fang sat on a rock, his body in the middle of a sit-up pause, his abdominal muscles tense, his serratus anterior rib muscles undulating like shark gills. ¡°Many people will feel sore after holding the position for just over a dozen seconds, it¡¯s quite tiring. The principle behind this exercise is that muscle activity excites your sympathetic nervous system and activates the ¡®hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenalin¡¯ system to secrete adrenaline, essentially giving your body a shot of energy.¡± Half a minute later, after performing the two sets of exercises, Bi Fang had refreshed his mind and spirit and approached the blast furnace, removing the stones and stirring the hot sand with a branch. After half an hour of cooling, the hot sand was no longer scalding to the touch. [By the way, where did Old Fang get this sand¡­] [Whoa, I also noticed that. Where does sand come from in a rainforest?] ¡°Where there¡¯s soil, getting sand is not that hard. If you understand the principle of soil desertification, you¡¯ll know.¡± Breaking apart the vegetation, dead branches, leaves, and crust that protect the soil¡¯s surface, the exposed soil under the sun and monsoon quickly dries out. The original granular structure is destroyed, losing its adhesive effect. Fine particles and nutrients are carried away by the wind or rain, leaving behind coarse particles without nutrients, resulting in desertification. ¡°What can be done naturally by air drying, can be done faster artificially. Just remove the dead branches, leaves, and stones from the soil, keep heating it, rinsing it, and heating it again, and you¡¯ll get soil that is like crushed sand.¡± Bi Fang poked the mixture with a stick, and after hitting the dagger, he fished it out. After shaking off the sand, the steel dagger finally revealed its true form. But¡­ It wasn¡¯t attractive. It wasn¡¯t the cold, sharp and reflective look the audience imagined, but pitch black, reflecting blue light under the sun¡­ Bi Fang didn¡¯t care; all newly made items looked like this. They would shine after being polished. He took out a polished log, cut it evenly into two halves, and then pressed it against the thin handle of the dagger. After marking it, he picked up the dagger and cut a groove into the wood where the handle could fit, each cut precise enough to include the handle without being too loose. The two pieces of wood were joined together, perfectly sized so they could be inserted without being too loose. He smeared the collected rubber tree resin, or latex, on top. ¡°Natural latex has good stickiness after air drying. If possible, it can also be vulcanized, which would make the stickiness even higher, but I don¡¯t have enough time, I need to install the wooden handle as quickly as possible.¡± He stuck the two semi-circular logs together and waited for them to dry and adhere firmly. Bi Fang then took out the Stone Dagger, quickly carving the handle into an elliptical curve. He got the rough shape, then took out a smooth stone and rubbed it to smooth and even out the wood¡¯s rough spots. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For the final step, he wrapped the elongated vine evenly around the wooden handle for secondary reinforcement, dipped it into the latex for the final adhesion. The vines wrapped the wooden handle, towering like a black blade reflecting flecks of cold light at its tip. With that, all the work was finished, and the dagger was fully formed. Bi Fang looked at the shelter and blast furnace behind him, his mind flashing through the tidbits of these twenty-one days. Finally, he held the Stone Hammer carefully and stared at the furnace for a long time. He finally smashed it against the chimney, cracks spreading out like a spider web. The cracks grew and turned into fissures, and with a thunderous crash, the three-meter-high chimney collapsed to the ground, shaking the earth. The Water Monitors shivered slightly, scurried down from the tree, and slipped into the cave, hiding in its deepest part. Ash to ash, dust to dust. Chapter 505: 502: A Long Way to Go (Added Chapter) Chapter 505: Chapter 502: A Long Way to Go (Added Chapter) The massive chimney toppled toward the ground, emitting a sound like bricks and stones, raising dust all around. As the dust settled, the chimney, over three meters tall, had completely fractured into several pieces. Bi Fang used rocks to shatter it entirely, burying it in a large pit he had dug earlier. When he reached the last water hole, the Water Monitors were alerted by the noise. Unfortunately, Bi Fang chased them away, watching as the water hole that produced fresh fish daily was gradually filled with bricks and stones, and by noon, it had transformed into soil that was no different from the rest of the ground. The fish pit was no more. At five-thirty, the sky began to darken, and a reddish sun flooded the entire jungle. Bi Fang sat on the ground, using a smooth whetstone to sharpen the dagger in his hands. The faint glow of the golden sunset bathed him, his eyelashes glistening, as devout as a monk in his asceticism. The metal sang a clear, low hum as it rubbed against the stone. The black blade shed layer after layer of its gray exterior, revealing its shiny, silver essence. The Banna Rainforest live stream was devoid of any intense, thrilling moments, only ordinary forging and polishing, earnestly completing a task. Building a house, setting up a furnace, forging a blade. And then smashing it to pieces, burying it in the ground, waiting for Nature to decompose it. Dust and earth left to their own devices. Bi Fang didn¡¯t mind; he enjoyed the process. The process of forging refined iron was also the process of forging himself. The forest was empty and silent after the great destruction. The calls of birds lessened significantly, and the Water Monitors emerged from their holes, pacing back and forth where the old wall and water holes used to be, as if mourning the loss of an excellent shelter that had vanished. What it didn¡¯t know was that the free lunch was gone forever. Maybe it would be sad if it could understand? Maybe not. How much emotion can you expect from a cold-blooded creature? As long as it¡¯s well-fed, hydrated, and basking in the sun, the Water Monitor is content to laze around all day. But Bi Fang hadn¡¯t dismantled the two fishing spots; instead, he reinforced them again. Perhaps that was the only trace he left behind on this journey. When many people think of the rainforest, their first impression is of murky river water, thick branches or vines hanging haphazardly into the water, and broad, fan-like leaves that blot out the sky, densely packed trees. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Crocodiles peek their backs through the water¡¯s surface, massive anacondas glide through the murky depths, strange birds flutter about, locusts hide in the damp grass, and unknown jungle beasts lie in ambush behind some hefty tree trunk, ready to pounce¡­ Unfortunately, this isn¡¯t Africa or South America. Asian things have always seemed somewhat more miniature. Even the Asian Elephant is daintier than the African Elephant by an indescribable degree. It seems that even Nature has been harmonized in a harmonious society, where everything complements each other, quiet and orderly, hardly daring to overstep the boundaries on the surface. But this place has not only murky waters but also clean streams. There are no crocodiles, though pythons do exist; Bi Fang even saw a buffalo, yet there has been no sign of the Asian Elephant. He did encounter many snakes and lizards, large and small, however. Looking around. The trees strive to rise above the dense rainforest, stretching skyward to capture more sunlight, towering into the clouds; lower plants spread their large leaves wide to get more light and moisture; and mosses at the very bottom seize every chance to spread indefinitely into damp spaces. Even if there are breathtaking scenes, they are nothing more than the strangulation or parasitic phenomena between plants, sometimes chaotic, other times gorgeous. ¡°Rustle, rustle.¡± Suddenly a sound like leaves being disturbed arose in the forest, causing Bi Fang to lift his head and gradually grip the dagger in his hand tighter. The audience, enjoying the tranquil atmosphere, snapped back to attention. What¡¯s that sound? Is something approaching? There¡¯s only half an hour left to go back. No mishap now, right? The noise grew louder, and it seemed to be a huge creature making it, but the sound was very intricate. One, or two? Or perhaps even more? Bi Fang¡¯s muscles tensed with a sour stiffness, the soil beneath his feet subtly deforming. The sound drew nearer, and finally, with a whoosh, fallen leaves hit the ground and numerous snorting noises erupted. A little black pig tumbled out of the bushes, snorted a few times at Bi Fang, then seemingly unconcerned, turned around and let out a shrill neigh as several wild boars ran out. It appeared to be a whole family. At the moment the wild boar emerged, Bi Fang¡¯s nerves were almost taut to the limit, but as soon as they all came out, he let out a big sigh of relief. The wild boars of the Banna Rainforest were not quite as he had imagined. [Wild boar?] [Is this motherfucker a wild boar?] The audience¡¯s tense feelings disappeared in an instant, and for no other reason than that these few wild boars looked too naive, even completely different from the bristly, fanged creatures they had imagined, plump and round, and pitifully small, only reaching up to Bi Fang¡¯s knees. Bi Fang burst out laughing, realizing indeed that there was a big difference between one wild boar and another, and the few before him were definitely not something to worry about. Wild boars are gregarious by nature, with groups of 4-10 being fairly common. There were only four in front of him, and they were all small pigs not even knee-high. Additionally, each one was as fat as a little hippo, and he guessed that if these guys kept reproducing for a few more generations, their offspring would end up on the dinner table like domestic pig meat. ¡°Sorry, I have to leave now, if this had been a few days earlier, I might have been interested,¡± he said. [Wild Boar: Did I just feel a chill run through me?] [San You can¡¯t protect me anymore, I¡¯m so scared, wu wu wu] But it seemed that joy turned to sorrow in an extreme, as while Bi Fang was taking an interested observation, a wild boar that was up until then rooting in the ground suddenly charged at him. Bi Fang was startled for a moment, grabbed his dagger, ready to counterattack, but when the wild boar got close, it suddenly stopped, lowered its head, and sniffed. Bi Fang¡¯s movement instead frightened it into stepping back a couple of steps. Bi Fang laughed and cheerfully said, ¡°You know? Pigs have straight necks, so they can¡¯t bend backwards, which is why they can¡¯t look up, and many people say pigs can¡¯t see the sky, but that¡¯s not correct. To be precise, it¡¯s that pigs can¡¯t look up at the sky in a standing posture.¡± ¡°But they can change the position of their limbs, like sitting down on their hindquarters, lifting their front limbs, or lying on something. However, the wild boars in the rainforest probably have never seen the sky, because there are very few open terrains here, all of which are covered by large trees.¡± [This pig is terribly fat, this is a wild boar?] [It¡¯s so fat, no wonder our ancestors domesticated pigs] [It¡¯s a pity, if it was just two days earlier, Old Fang could have told us about the taste of wild boar meat.] [It seems so dumb] ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate it, the role of wild boars in the forest ecosystem is extremely important,¡± he said. Seeing that the wild boar wasn¡¯t posing any threat, Bi Fang sat back down to continue sharpening, explaining with a smile. ¡°Without the activity of wild boars, the thickness of the forest floor herbs, shrubs, and the fallen branches and leaves wouldn¡¯t change much, many herbaceous plants wouldn¡¯t be able to spread over a wide area. If the herbaceous plants don¡¯t spread, it leads to soil compaction, affecting the activity of soil animals, slowing down the natural decomposition rate, affecting soil aeration and humus layer formation, and causing changes in material cycling. Moreover, the wild boars breaking a large number of shrubs for nesting plays a regulatory role in forest density, not affecting the nutrient uptake of other tree species and herbaceous plants. The light conditions in the forest improve, enhancing the soil microenvironment. The reduction of shrubs also facilitates the movement of large animals through the area. It can find nuts buried underground by mice, and the places where wild boars forage by digging up mouse holes account for two-thirds of all foraged areas, playing an important role in preventing forest rodent infestations.¡± Bi Fang casually listed a string of benefits of wild boars, leaving the audience taken aback. [Turns out, I¡¯m the only useless one, wu wu wu] [Wild boars suddenly seem cute now] ¡°But in recent years, wild boars have been a bit too rampant, and in 2006 our country even lifted the absolute ban on hunting wild boars.¡± Each wild boar group stakes out their own territory, they don¡¯t obediently divide the reserve evenly, but capriciously occupy land at will. It¡¯s common for several groups to compete for one area while another area may not have a single wild boar. The wild boar groups that lose out in competition then turn their attention to human territory, and it becomes seemingly reasonable for them to recklessly trample flora and fauna within their dominion. ¡°When wild boars overbreed and encroach on the human living environment, they become ¡®killers¡¯ that harm humans, and we still need to prioritize human protection. I think those who have watched my livestream should understand this principle.¡± The wild boar continued to root in the ground, utterly indifferent to the two-legged ape¡¯s evaluation of it. ¡°The increase in wild boars is due to improved ecology, but it also indicates the imbalance in ecological recovery, suggesting that predators such as tigers and leopards, which are natural enemies of wild boars, have reduced or even become extinct, leading to excessive breeding of wild boars.¡± The responsibility is great and the journey is long. Chapter 506: 503: Goodbye, Rainforest. Chapter 506: Chapter 503: Goodbye, Rainforest. The wild boar kept sniffing at his feet, and after a while, it almost bumped into him before Bi Fang finally reacted and dragged the rock away from the spot. With the obstruction gone, the wild boar immediately buried its head in the soil; its long snout rooted around, and a nut caked in mud was unearthed. Then a hole was revealed, and a large black mouse darted out from inside. But before it could escape the entrance, the boar bit it and crunched it down bones and all. The viewers were all shocked. Bi Fang had been living here for about ten days and had yet to discover a mouse hole nearby? ¡°I almost forgot, the sense of smell of a wild boar is even sharper than that of a dog. Many truffle hunters rely on pigs¡¯ sense of smell to find them,¡± laughed Bi Fang. He had been living here for about ten days and had never discovered the mouse hole underneath the rock he often sat on. The water monitors didn¡¯t react; were they too used to feasting on fish and meat to bother with a mouse? [Pigs are so capable, so why aren¡¯t they used for military purposes?] [Who says they¡¯re not? They¡¯ve been around for a long time, in the cookhouse.] [Cookhouse? Are you trying to kill me with laughter and inherit my wealth?] [Full bellies give strength, and pigs make a great contribution.] ¡°Since pigs are smarter than dogs, they are more likely to exhibit complex emotions like fear and reluctance, making them much less obedient. Additionally, pigs have poor eyesight and are not as agile, so they can¡¯t replace dogs,¡± Bi Fang explained. Seeing one of their companions find food, the other three wild boars joined in; their curled tails stuck up as they overturned the entire soil layer and devoured all the hairless baby mice inside. Bi Fang looked up. The time was almost up, and he spoke with a touch of regret. ¡°Before coming here, the staff told me that there are many wild monkeys and boars in the rainforest valleys, but despite visiting many places, I saw wild Baizhi oxen and wild boars, yet I had no luck encountering any wild monkeys. Perhaps it¡¯s a problem with my appearance,¡± he joked. This remark had the viewers roaring with laughter. These last moments were spent in casual conversation as time quietly drew to a close. The wild boars had departed, and the drone slowly ascended, the wind blowing through the vast hectares of forest, making it look like an ocean from afar. A vast crimson sea. The treetops formed waves upon waves, Countless homing birds turned into dots flying towards the distance or between the thickets, while only one dot grew larger and larger, bringing the roar of an engine. Everything seemed to return to the beginning of the story. ¡°Why do humans need iron?¡± asked Bi Fang unexpectedly. Of course, because iron is useful, the viewers answered without hesitation. ¡°Yes, iron is useful,¡± agreed Bi Fang. He held up the smoothly polished dagger in his hand; its once pitch-black appearance had long vanished, now gleaming silver-white with a dazzling orange glow from the setting sun. Hard, sharp, and with excellent toughness, who could say it wasn¡¯t useful? ¡°Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin and was the first metal to be widely used, its history even tracing back to prehistoric times. Iron, which requires high temperatures for smelting, was developed later, but because it was harder, more wear-resistant, and more readily available, it quickly replaced bronze,¡± he elaborated. ¡°From buildings and transportation to tools and weapons, iron is everywhere. If one wants to understand the importance of a metal to civilization, look no further than iron.¡± ¡°However, wrought iron is too soft, even softer than bronze, limiting its use. In battle, you certainly wouldn¡¯t want your sword to be too soft. That¡¯s when humans needed steel.¡± ¡°Throughout the centuries, blacksmiths have sought various ways to strengthen wrought iron. Without the guidance of chemical science, they could only experiment over and over again. Eventually, they found that heating wrought iron on charcoal made its surface harden, making it suitable for cutting edges. So they speculated that some substance must be penetrating the iron and strengthening it. This was the process of carburization. Gradually, they also discovered the technique called ¡®quenching¡¯, which involved immersing heated iron tools in oil or water for rapid cooling, making them harder than iron that cooled slowly. But while they were harder, they were also too brittle, easily breaking upon impact. Groping in the dark, they found that this drawback could be mitigated by another technique called ¡®tempering¡¯, which involved reheating the tools to a lower temperature and letting them cool slowly, allowing the iron to ¡®relax¡¯¡ªtrading some hardness for toughness.¡± The dagger, polished with a rough stone, was full of scratches, vaguely reflecting Bi Fang¡¯s face. The rumbling in the sky drew nearer, and Bi Fang spoke faster, stirring a sense of loss in the viewers. The time for farewell had come. ¡°Though ancient people developed technology through experience without understanding the principles, every advancement was the result of countless coincidences or trial and error. We, however, have received a good education and understand many basic principles; yet we also cannot easily replicate these technologies.¡± ¡°As of today, steel smelting has become an entire set of closely connected complete industries.¡± ¡°Iron ore and coal mined from all over the world are shipped to large steel mills, where the crushed iron ore is sintered into pellets, while coal is dry-distilled into coke¡ªthen they are stacked in layers inside blast furnaces that reach up to a hundred meters tall.¡± ¡°The processed coke can even burn at temperatures above 1500¡ãC, melting the iron ore directly into molten iron, which is then poured into converters, where pure oxygen is blown in, allowing impurities to oxidize and escape, and different elements are added as needed to produce steel with precise compositions.¡± ¡°Finally, it¡¯s poured into molds to cool, at temperatures around 1100¡ãC, it¡¯s pressed into various shapes and distributed to every field of modern industry, ultimately sustaining the entire modern civilization.¡± ¡°How to develop the most accurate formulas and manufacture the best performing steel is the core competition of modern civilization. Compared to that, the little piece of Hundred-refined Steel I forged in the wilderness pales in significance.¡± Bi Fang said with self-deprecating laughter. The audience suddenly became anxious. [How can that be, absolutely awesome!] [That¡¯s right, knowing the whole process, I can only look up to it] [I don¡¯t care, I don¡¯t care, Master Fang is the best in the world!] Bi Fang smiled, ¡°I know you all like me a lot, but if you are truly interested in iron smelting, then study hard. Maybe one day, you can develop even more useful materials and contribute to the construction of our homeland. That alone would surpass me.¡± The helicopter discovered Bi Fang in the dense forest and quickly lowered a rope ladder. Bi Fang grabbed the rope with ease and climbed swiftly. Halfway up, he made a gesture to the pilot, and the helicopter began to rise slowly. ¡°The density of dangers in the rainforest is very high. In twenty-one days of survival, we saw many beautiful and dangerous creatures coexisting, from the Wild Baizhi Ox to the Burmese Python, from the Water Monitors to the Cobra. Before coming here, I never imagined I would encounter so many national first and second class species.¡± The audience remembered the Cobras, Giant Squirrels, Wild Oxen, Big Pythons, and the companion Water Monitors, and they couldn¡¯t help but nod their heads. ¡°I also built a shelter with Leonardo, made all kinds of tools, but most importantly, I started a furnace for iron smelting and obtained a Steel Dagger!¡± Bi Fang held high the only trophy he brought out of the rainforest. If it hadn¡¯t been witnessed with their own eyes, no one would believe that this dagger was crafted bit by bit in the rainforest. He came with just a grass skirt, and he left with still a grass skirt and a steel dagger. ¡°Now, the time has come for me to leave. I sincerely hope that the skills and stories I¡¯ve shown can bring you knowledge and joy.¡± ¡°So, today¡¯s live broadcast ends here, we¡¯ll see you next time!¡± [Wow, my Master Fang] [Don¡¯t go, please] [Wuuuwuuu, when is the next broadcast?] [I have a feeling, the next broadcast, will be in the next] S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As the rope ladder swung slightly, Bi Fang hung mid-air, his back to the setting sun, edged in gold, he extended his hand toward the drone in front of him and saluted with two fingers, then he slowly ascended and vanished from sight. The screen went completely dark. Inside the first venue, people facing the now dimmed large screen all exhaled, feeling somewhat unfulfilled. In these twenty-plus days, the shock brought by Bi Fang was by no means inferior to any previous live broadcasts. Although there was no life-or-death crisis, the Steel Dagger alone was enough to command absolute respect. The Master Fang live broadcast room lived up to its name. If one didn¡¯t know where the greatest adventurer of this century was, just open the live broadcast, and he would surely appear. The helicopter rose slowly into the damp night sky, and after a long time, the sky darkened completely. The city, like a glowing body gradually enlarging, then the myriad lights of Banna became clear through the moistened window. In the distance, vast stretches of the rainforest were visibly dark, gradually shrinking to a small patch of rainforest, and finally to a single tree. The flowing air whooshed past the cabin windows, leaving only the darkened heavens and a layered tapestry of grey and white clouds in sight. ¡°Goodbye, rainforest.¡± Chapter 507: 504 Chapter 507: 504 ¡°Is this the steel dagger you forged?¡± ¡°Let me have a look, come on, let me see.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t fight over it, what if you break it? Can you afford it? People online are already bidding a million to buy it!¡± ¡°A million? That¡¯s odd, even if you sold me, I wouldn¡¯t be worth that much.¡± As soon as he got off the helicopter, the rainforest staff swarmed around Bi Fang, eager and pushing; even Zhou Weisheng couldn¡¯t squeeze in next to him. Some touched the person, some touched the dagger, all wanting to see the godlike man who had lived for twenty-one days in the rainforest with nothing at all. ... It made Bi Fang feel like he was a gorilla in a zoo, and what left him speechless was that among the men, there were quite a few women mixing in, muddying the waters and stealthily getting a feel. ¡°Strong and powerful, strong and powerful indeed!¡± ¡°Back off, you damn nanmu!¡± ¡°Wuwuwu, you¡¯re scolding me.¡± ¡°What are you hiding for? What, men can touch but we women can¡¯t? That¡¯s discrimination!¡± ¡°When we touch, it¡¯s appreciation; when you do it, that¡¯s hooliganism! Forty years earlier, it would have been a crime!¡± Of course, more people still wanted to admire the dagger brought out from the rainforest. Apart from the handle wrapped in vines that seemed rather rustic, the rest looked almost like any double-edged fruit knife you could buy outside. These ordinary people couldn¡¯t figure out how on earth steel could be produced from the ordinary soil. The shock was no less than that of ancient people seeing a spaceship crash in their backyard¡ªstrongly incongruous, totally out of sync with the world they knew. Bi Fang didn¡¯t mind, passing around the ¡°million-dollar¡± steel dagger in turn. Only the tip was sharp enough, with both sides simply polished, the black coating removed, without a sharpened edge, so there was no concern for safety. After more than half an hour of commotion, the people gradually returned the dagger, still reluctantly, under Zhou Weisheng¡¯s urging, and Bi Fang put it away again. He had no intention of giving it away, after all, he had worked hard to make it; it was a memento, and he wasn¡¯t short of that million. Once the crowd began to quiet down, Zhou Weisheng finally got a chance to see Bi Fang. He had intended to welcome him and thank him for promoting and contributing to Banna¡¯s tourism. But Bi Fang was too tired, in no mood for celebrations. Right now, all he wanted was to have a comprehensive medical check-up at the hospital and then go back to sleep. Zhou Weisheng slapped his forehead, ¡°Ah, I watched the live broadcast too and almost forgot about this¡ªquickly, send Mr. Bi to our medical room and then arrange a room.¡± Though it was just a staff hospital, it couldn¡¯t be underestimated. After all, it was for employees in the protected area who often went deep into the rainforest for scientific research; it held various common antidotes and many serums as well. After the medical check-up, other than his weight plummeting four kilograms and some muscle strain, many of the test results didn¡¯t show any common issues, but something else caught his attention. ¡°The number of dengue fever cases has reached over five hundred?¡± The nurse beside him nodded, releasing the pulse pressure meter, ¡°Yes, in just twenty days, the number has increased so much.¡± Bi Fang clicked his tongue, remembering more clearly that when he first arrived in Banna, he saw a news report about one case of infection and even mentioned it to the viewers on the first day of the live broadcast. Who would have thought that by the end of the live broadcast, there would be over five hundred more? ¡°` He was somewhat relieved that he had chosen to look for red mud as mosquito repellent as soon as he entered the rainforest. Fortunately, dengue fever was treatable, so there was no need for too much worry. After receiving the report and getting the confirmation, Bi Fang completely relaxed. It was at this moment that the system¡¯s unchanging electronic voice once again transmitted. The bits and pieces of the rainforest condensed into a few seconds of images that flashed by as if traveling through the river of time, finally culminating in a prompt. [Congratulations host, you have completed the task: Iron Age. The reward is being distributed. Would you like to receive it?] Receive! [Detecting¡­] Bi Fang couldn¡¯t remember what reward the system had given afterwards, but what he clearly knew was that right now his eyelids were extremely heavy, and he wished he could fall asleep right there. Following the staff, a groggy Bi Fang returned to the hotel. Without even taking a bath, he fell asleep. When he woke up again, the sky outside the window was bright. He picked up the alarm clock by the bedside and saw that it was already two in the afternoon. He took the helicopter back at six yesterday and finished the hospital check-up at nine in the evening. After that, he returned to the hotel immediately, which meant he had slept for almost sixteen hours? Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang held his forehead, feeling an unusual headache and still very sleepy. He knew he had slept too long. Sleeping for too long sends the wrong signals to the brain, secrete sleep-related hormones, and make one want to sleep more. Waking up would also feel uncomfortable due to abnormal hormone levels. He had no choice but to force himself to get up. ¡°This is too uncomfortable.¡± Bi Fang was surprised by his body¡¯s reaction, feeling an unusual soreness all over. It was the result of a large accumulation of lactic acid. He had forged a steel knife in the wilderness, and now he was exhausted. Now he was sore, sleepy, hungry, and, even worse, had a headache. Getting out of bed, Bi Fang noticed that he was still wearing the thicket outfit from his departure. Now that he thought about it, the looks he had received from passers-by last night indeed seemed a bit strange. Perhaps they mistook him for some kind of ethnic dance performer. There were plenty of grass-skirt performers in the scenic area. Of course, it wasn¡¯t impossible they recognized him; Zhou Weisheng had broadcasted his stream on the big screens of the plaza these days, although the likelihood was small. After living in the wilderness for twenty days, although Bi Fang maintained his cleanliness daily, his hair and beard had grown considerably, and his entire body still had that constricted feeling of being wrapped in red mud. After calling the hotel to arrange for a meal to be delivered around three o¡¯clock, Bi Fang went to the bathroom to freshen up. He sprayed foam and shaved off all the stubble from his face, His formerly stubbly chin was smooth again. After washing his face, the feeling of each pore breathing freely was unforgettable. Turning on the showerhead and adjusting it to hot water, Bi Fang pushed his wet hair back, revealing his bright eyes and clean face. As the hot water washed over him, his whole body relaxed, and every cell seemed to breathe freely, tempting him to fall asleep again. Fighting off the drowsiness, Bi Fang finished his shower and took a bath. Although cold water could help alleviate muscle soreness better, that was for right after intense exercise, and he had already waited for more than a day. It would be fine to just let his body recover slowly. Steam covered the frosted glass in the bathroom. Bi Fang opened the system and quickly found yesterday¡¯s reward, which he hadn¡¯t paid attention to. ¡°` [Detection reveals an extremely high completion rate for the host¡¯s task, your final rewards are: Joint Strengthening Coupon*1, Store Exchange Coupon*1, Skill Can*1, Item Tank*1, Wilderness Points*1840, Enhancement Points*4] A pile of rewards cascaded down, greatly refreshing Bi Fang¡¯s inflating brain. Despite having reaped rewards many times before, Bi Fang always felt a heartfelt excitement every time he saw them, the sense of achievement from effort bearing fruit was unparalleled. ¡°Haven¡¯t seen a Skill Can in a long time.¡± Bi Fang was somewhat surprised by the Skill Can; it was like opening a blind box¡ªthe prices were outrageously high in the store, so he hardly ever bought them. There was also an extra Item Tank, leaving him wondering what it might contain. Without rushing to open the cans, Bi Fang used three of the Enhancement Points first. A warm stream flowed from his spine, reaching his limbs and dissipating through every pore, significantly easing the soreness in his body! He opened his long-missed panel, and a parade of data and solidified skills were fully displayed. [Unique Binder: Bi Fang] [Age: 25] [Height: 186.3cm] [Weight: 74KG] [Strength: 15] [Physique: 18] [Agility: 16] [Spirit: 15] [Platinum Body] [Status: Hungry, Fatigue Damage.] [Enhancement Points: 1] [Wilderness Points: 1960 (convertible)] Orange Core: Wilderness Traveler lv1. Purple Branches: Special Recon Soldier lv2, Body Tempering lv1 (from a combination of Yoga, Pilates, Calisthenics). Blue Boughs: High-altitude Parachuting lv3, Tai Chi Traveling Dragon lv2, Archery lv1, Rock Climbing lv2, Biological Identification lv3, Swimming lv1, First Aid lv1. Green Canopy: Cross-country Hiking lv5, Running lv5. Special Talent: Beastly Instinct. Booty Skills: Wolves King¡¯s Sense of Smell, Fish King¡¯s Stomach, Biological Sensing. Bi Fang saved one Enhancement Point; orange skills now required an Advanced Skill Upgrade Coupon along with Enhancement Points. Although he didn¡¯t have any coupons on hand, it was better to be prepared. The Wilderness Points were not too abundant, likely compensated in the tangible rewards, but Bi Fang didn¡¯t care much for those points earned from tasks anymore. With the Wilderness Club¡¯s daily flow of over a hundred points, he was already a small tycoon with three thousand a month. Right, twenty days had passed, and he wondered just how many convertible points had accumulated, whether they reached the three thousand he¡¯d initially projected. Bi Fang opened the panel¡¯s convertible section, intending to make a mental calculation when the final digit of his points made the bottle of shower gel slip from his hands into the water with a splash. Units, tens, hundreds, thousands¡­ tens of thousands? Convertible Points: 10043¡­ Bi Fang was engulfed in profound shock. The club was only so big, the number of guests it could accommodate each day was limited. After accounting for profit sharing and costs, nearly two hundred points per day was the limit! Moreover, that was for the weekends¡ª even if it was packed every day, that would only total around six thousand a month. Where had this sudden increase of a third, nearly half, of the points come from? The points wouldn¡¯t just appear out of nowhere. The system clearly outlined that this ten thousand points were almost entirely converted from the club¡¯s share. ¡°Damn, how did Yao Jun and Lin Chang manage this?¡± Facing this bizarre surge in points, Bi Fang immediately thought of his two partners; it must be their doing. What exactly had they done? With nearly five thousand extra points for himself, that meant fifty million in twenty-one days, and that was just his share. For the club, it meant a profit increase of several billion¡­ In Magic Capital, at this moment Yao Jun sat in his office laughing maniacally at the sales curve on his computer. ¡°Hahahaha, I¡¯m a goddamn genius!¡± Lin Chang, massaging his brow, sat beside him. In some aspects, Yao Jun was indeed a genius. Bi Fang started a fire with a saw in the wilderness, and in less than an hour, Yao Jun had contacted a wood mill and hauled over loads of inferior bamboo sections. With costs at nine yuan a piece and transportation included, not even ten yuan each, he was selling them for thirty-five yuan per section¡­ The saws were counted separately, fifteen a pop, fifty for a set¡ªigniting a spark on the spot granted one day¡¯s access to the Hunting Park. A day in the Hunting Park wasn¡¯t much, but some people relished spending five hundred yuan for ten sets to laboriously drill fire. Then there was the harder hand drill, the simpler bow drill, with varying rewards, and a profit margin that reached an astonishing¡­ Let¡¯s not talk about it; even Poison Beibei would cry. While Bi Fang was iron smelting in the wilderness, Yao Jun contacted an iron factory overnight to see if they could build a rudimentary furnace on the spot and transport some iron ore over. Eating konjac to sell konjac, eating squirrel¡ªthey captured a large number of squirrels and released them in the Hunting Park, with extra rewards for catching them¡­ And there were all sorts of physical rewards; thirty yuan for a mini firecracker¡­ Physical rewards were much harsher than live stream donations; people who wouldn¡¯t spend a dime on streams might indulge in a firecracker, and they sold out daily, especially during the successful iron smelting days. Now, there were still many people in the Hunting Park buying materials, trying to build their own matching huts. No matter who cursed Yao Jun, calling him a mercenary worm, or even Lin Chang, but as for Bi Fang¡­ ¡°Our Brother Fang is struggling out in the wilderness, unable to eat his fill or stay warm, how could it possibly be him?¡± Lin Chang: ¡°???¡± Chapter 508: 505 Forbidden Zone Hunter Chapter 508: Chapter 505 Forbidden Zone Hunter With over eleven thousand points, no matter how Yao Jun and the others managed to do it, Bi Fang felt quite delighted. What is the cure for worries? Only wealth. There were still three days until the store refreshed, and without any rush to spend, Bi Fang decided to first digest the rewards he had already secured. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Joint Strengthening Coupon, just by its name, one could tell it was fantastic. Bi Fang was very much looking forward to the effect of this guaranteed reward coupon; every mission¡¯s guaranteed reward was quite good, and very impactful. ... He always thought that the mission¡¯s guaranteed rewards were a baseline, that only by getting them could he barely keep up with the pacing of the mission¡¯s difficulty. Without them, he wouldn¡¯t even meet the pass mark. Clinically, the normal human skeleton, after meticulous counting, has a total of 204 bones, but the human body has many joints, with a total of 78 clearly named ones. However, there are also some small joints that are not named, and thus not within this count. For example, there are many small joints in the spinal region of a patient that are not clearly named, and these are not among the 78. However, the Joint Strengthening Coupon clearly includes all of them, named and unnamed, without exception. Europeans and Americans actually have 206 bones, and some scientists even believe that the two bones Asians are missing compared to Europeans and Americans are located in the toes. Europeans and Americans have larger physiques than Asians, so to maintain body stability, their feet are larger, providing more substantial support. Bi Fang disagreed, as he was also of a tall build and never felt that his body was unstable. He could throw a punch just as powerfully, enough to make someone spit blood. Moreover, those two bones did not disappear, but merged with other bones. Ancestors of humans had over 300 bones initially, which means that, initially, humans had many more bones than they do now. Survival of the fittest, natural selection. Our ancestors, in order to better adapt to the environment and live better, gradually reduced the number of bones to what it is now. Although the number of bones doesn¡¯t necessarily correlate with the level of evolution, and bone quantity doesn¡¯t directly signal the direction of evolution, Bi Fang felt it was a trend toward better environmental adaptation. Certain movements Asians can do, Europeans and Americans cannot, highlighting a difference in flexibility. Therefore, Bi Fang believed more in the second scientific theory that, during the evolutionary process, Asians had merged unnecessary cartilages between pubic bones to reduce the load from friction between skeletal parts. Europeans and Americans did not undergo this evolution, hence, they have two extra small bones compared to Asians, but this does not affect normal life. Clicking use, the golden Joint Strengthening Coupon dissolved into a fine powder, merging into his body. Initially, Bi Fang didn¡¯t feel anything as it entered his body, but gradually, he noticed his knees warming up first. It wasn¡¯t painful but rather itchy, and there was a barely perceptible pleasurable sensation, as if he knew his AE86 was about to be fitted with a racing-grade engine, a very peculiar feeling. As expected. The knees are the largest and most complex joints in the human body, one of the few that can only move in one direction. They are also the body¡¯s largest weight-bearing joints, with an average load capacity of 35 kilograms, part of the hinge joints, but the more weight they bear, the higher the probability of wear and tear on the joint cartilages, and the tendons are more likely to suffer injuries, leading to faster joint degeneration. Moreover, for every 1 kilogram of body weight exceeded, the knee joint has to bear six times the weight. If you are 5 kilograms overweight, then your knees will have to carry an extra 30 kilograms. During squatting, the knee joint bears 3 to 6 times the weight of one¡¯s body weight, not to mention the damage caused to the knees by overloading exercises such as deep squats with heavy weights. 65%-75% of running enthusiasts have experienced more or less damage to their knee joints. 90% of knee injuries are caused by the impact force of instantaneous foot landing. The caused cartilage wear is irreversible, but now, under the effect of the Joint Strengthening Coupon, Bi Fang even felt his knee joints were completely transformed, capable of high-intensity use into the next century. The largest knee joints reacted first, followed closely by the second-largest, the hip joints. Gradually, Bi Fang began to feel a warmth spreading throughout his body, the entire sensation was like having a high fever of forty degrees, as if in a sauna. In the bath, Bi Fang even saw a faint hint of blood diffusing in the water, which scared him enough to almost climb out. ¡°It won¡¯t be like this when I used the Platinum Body, will it?¡± Bi Fang remembered that after using the Platinum Body, he woke up the next day with a faint strange smell on his body, and after taking a shower, he rushed to catch a plane. The state of high fever lasted for a full half hour, and it finally ended just as Bi Fang¡¯s head was about to succumb to the heat. Bi Fang struggled out of the water, gave himself a rinse, and then clenched his fist forcefully. There were many joints in his fingers, and while they looked no different from the outside, when he clenched his fist, an indescribably pleasant sensation emanated from his joints. More flexible and harder? That was Bi Fang¡¯s first impression, then he sat down into a deep squat, and to his surprise, he didn¡¯t feel any heaviness. With a forceful jump and landing, his knee joints hardly felt any recoil, as if a soft sponge had been cushioned at his ankles, nearly dissipating the impact by the time it reached his knees. Bi Fang was dumbfounded¡ªwas the effect really so exaggerated, or was it an illusion created by the strengthening of his mind? Wrapped in a bath towel, Bi Fang kept throwing punches in the bathroom, the sound of the air splitting with the speed of his fists, his finger joints cleaving through the air like arrows, muscles coordinating with bones, twisting joints, all incredibly smooth. His punching speed had increased. Bi Fang was certain he hadn¡¯t misjudged this, and this improvement alone made him feel it was worth it. Awesome! ¡°Phew.¡± The fully warmed-up Bi Fang felt completely revitalized, rolling his shoulders with no trace of soreness, and sat on the bed wrapped in the bath towel¡ªjust in time as room service arrived with his meal. ¡°That was fast?¡± Bi Fang glanced at the time, two fifty, ten minutes early. As he opened the door, the service staff, pushing the cart in, stared at Bi Fang, then looked around the room, spotted the grass skirt on the floor, and was shocked. What in the world? Yesterday he looked like a savage, and today he¡¯s a handsome guy? Could a bath change someone that much? The astonished staff member froze in place until Bi Fang reminded him to proceed, and after briskly setting everything up, he didn¡¯t forget to inform Bi Fang that there was a delivery for him at the front desk and offered to bring it up. ¡°A package?¡± Bi Fang began unwrapping his chopsticks, intending to eat, but was startled by the remark, ¡°Mine?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a backpack, left with the people from the reserve by Mr. Zhou, saying that you entrusted it to him for safekeeping,¡± said the service staff. Bi Fang made a slight gesture with his chopsticks, then remembered he did have something like that. The bag contained his phone, clothes, and such, which he had left in the cabin when changing. He had asked Zhou Weisheng to have someone keep it for him since he didn¡¯t have any spare clothes at hand and was still wearing a bathrobe. ¡°Then please bring it up when you come to clean up later. Thank you.¡± ¡°Sure thing.¡± Preoccupied, Bi Fang devoured his meal. It had been more than twenty days since he had last enjoyed the fragrant, soft, steaming white rice, so appetizing and sweet to the taste. Carbohydrates are indeed the source of life! There was also the fragrant braised pork knuckle, the soy sauce mixed with sugar for an enhanced flavor, a depth of taste not achievable with salt alone in the wilderness. It wasn¡¯t long before a bowl of rice, the pork knuckle, and some greens were all consumed. Bi Fang didn¡¯t leave even the oil behind, and he hadn¡¯t eaten much. Zhou Weisheng had mentioned there was a dinner party tonight, so he saved some room for the good food to come. Half an hour later, as the service staff came to clear the dishes, Bi Fang also received his backpack. He took out fresh clothes to change into and then got ready to open the can. Bi Fang first washed his hands. After a moment¡¯s consideration, he decided to forgo the burning of incense and bathing¡ªa ritual of worship. He opened the System. In mid-air, a can that only he could see appeared, floating idly. At the moment Bi Fang decided to open it, fissures spread across it, and with a loud bang, it burst open. A coupon shimmering with colorful light floated in mid-air, and Bi Fang read it word by word. ¡°Forbidden Zone Hunter Skill Coupon?¡± Upon use, it would replace his Special Forces skills. Oh, no, more precisely, it would override them, eventually becoming a Special Purple Skill, the same level as Youlong Bagua, but the skill level would be reduced to Purple Level One. What¡¯s there to hesitate about, just swap them. Having the mentality that Special Skills were definitely better than ordinary ones, Bi Fang didn¡¯t hesitate to choose to replace them, and the coupon exploded. An uncountable number of professional skills, experiences, and knowledge surged into his brain. Bi Fang quickly assimilated them as he was accustomed to, and as he assimilated more, his expression changed dramatically, eventually his pupils contracted. This thing was much fiercer than the Special Forces skills. Forbidden Zone Hunter. Hunt what humans cannot, gain what humans cannot attain. Everything in the world has a health bar. Doesn¡¯t it? Chapter 509: 506: Forbidden Zone Hunters Tooth Care Manual Chapter 509: Chapter 506: Forbidden Zone Hunter¡¯s Tooth Care Manual ¡°` Special Forces and Forbidden Zone Hunters have commonalities, but at their core, they are completely different! The so-called Special Forces refer to military units tasked with special operations, typical examples include Marine Corps, airborne troops, and armed police special forces. They are special military units in some of the world¡¯s armies, tasked with the mission of destroying significant political, economic, and military targets of the enemy and carrying out other special tasks. Individual combat capabilities are extremely strong, fitting to complete combat missions under various adverse conditions. But fundamentally, they are still soldiers, following orders, carrying out highly targeted tactical tasks, working in teams, using tactical explosives, deciphering, sniping. ... Forbidden Zone Hunters encompass Special Forces skills, with all the above skills and more, but their unique characteristics and development focuses are completely different. They are no longer soldiers but more like warriors. It¡¯s akin to the difference between ancient Roman soldiers and gladiators in the arena. A thousand elite soldiers arrayed in formation against a thousand fierce gladiators would end with the defeat of the gladiators. However, in a duel between a single elite soldier and a gladiator, the winner will certainly be the gladiator. The mere addition of skills in the mind makes it clear, with proficiency in melee weapons, hand-to-hand combat, handling injuries, pain endurance, knowledge of beast weak points, mastery of firearms¡­ Special Forces may know a bit about melee weapons, but primarily knife training, with the focus still on firearms, far from the use of swords, spears, clubs, staffs. From being one of the wolves or lions, one becomes a solitary tiger. This is how Bi Fang felt, in the absence of firearms, he was fiercer, better in combat, more suited for a loner like himself in the wilderness. He had had Special Forces skills for so long without ever touching a gun, and the best part of the overlapping skills is that the original skills don¡¯t disappear, now Bi Fang can be said to possess the strengths of both. Alone he is the fierce tiger, together they are a pride of lions. He felt that now he could take on ten men! Cough cough, that¡¯s an exaggeration. After all, this is still the real world, not the Ip Man Movie Universe. A Special Forces soldier can handle 3-4 ordinary people at the same time, which is quite impressive, originally against poachers, he had to rely on wilderness skills and the terrain to perform extraordinarily, separating and overcoming them individually. After becoming a Forbidden Zone Hunter, Bi Fang felt that he should now be able to take on about 6-7, or even as exaggerated as 8, being a little superhero, a mini movie-version Ip Man. Don¡¯t find it unbelievable or look down on it, humans after all are composed of bones and muscles, not titanium alloy and hydraulic devices. Even in professional boxing matches, they make a division every three kilograms, which is quite telling. Before the livestream, Bi Fang was still in the light heavyweight category, but after a single livestream session, he lost four kilograms, bypassing the super middleweight and directly dropping to middleweight. And this is a group attack, how many people can surround one person? If they come at him one by one, then the number depends on the stamina. With joint strengthening, plus being a Forbidden Zone Hunter, Bi Fang feels his strength has gone up another level, a qualitative difference, in hand-to-hand combat, few in the Special Forces would be a match for him now. ¡°But what will my identity change to?¡± Bi Fang remembered clearly that he had used an Identity Change Coupon on the Special Forces skill, and it was permanent, changing with skill upgrades; at the blue stage, he was a normal Special Forces soldier, but at the purple stage, he gained the identity of an outstanding graduate of Hunter Academy. An outstanding Hunter Academy graduate was already impressive enough, so what would it be now? Bi Fang was curious, but his attention was soon captured by the remaining Item Tank. The Hunter Coupon and Joint Coupon had already brought enough surprises, he was ready to accept whatever else the Item Tank revealed, but unexpectedly, the System still proved to be amazingly generous. As if hearing his heart¡¯s desire, with the tank cracking open, an Item Coupon he had fantasized about back in the Banna Rainforest appeared. [Tooth Remodeling Coupon (Note: Requires substantial calcium supplementation during use)] ¡­ Eight o¡¯clock in the evening. There was no alcohol, just a regular dinner, with a feast of Banna specialties on the table, many of which Bi Fang had eaten in the wild, such as stinky vegetables, and even porcini mushrooms. ¡°Is this porcini mushroom cooked?¡± Bi Fang, holding the porcini, was hesitant to eat it. This thing is poisonous¡­ If it¡¯s not fully cooked, it can cause hallucinations, making one see little people everywhere, known as ¡®Little People Country Hallucination.¡¯ Every year, a large number of Yunnan people end up in the hospital thinking they can eat this. If Bi Fang had cooked it himself, he¡¯d be a bit more confident, but at a dining spot for the sake of guaranteeing a particular texture, they wouldn¡¯t stew it to mush. Director Zhou laughed heartily: ¡°Master Fang, is there anything you dare not eat? You can eat grubs raw until they burst, what¡¯s a mushroom? Porcini is extremely delicious! Not to be missed, rest assured, it¡¯s been sliced very thinly, look, it¡¯s translucent, just one stir and it¡¯s done!¡± I want to be clear about what I¡¯m eating, that¡¯s why I make sure of it. Bi Fang thought to himself with an internal monologue. But it¡¯s hard to decline such kindness, and indeed, porcini is a rare delicacy. He decided to take the risk! He continued eating until ten o¡¯clock, Bi Fang arrived on an empty stomach and left with a belly full. Fortunately, he ate quickly and digested quickly too, otherwise he really wouldn¡¯t have room for all this food, managing to eat everything clean. Director Zhou and the other colleagues watched with trepidation, after all, they were intellectuals, not used to eating that much grease. Suddenly consuming too much can be risky of bloating to death. Hosting a dinner was a way of expressing the host¡¯s politeness and gratitude, not a plot for murder! But Bi Fang waved his hand, saying it was fine while eagerly continuing to eat and drinking milk on the side. As for why he needed to drink milk. ¡°` ¡°Teeth cleaning?¡± Zhou Weisheng found it rather strange. It wasn¡¯t that Bi Fang¡¯s transformation after a bath was shocking¡ªhe had seen this when Bi Fang first arrived. Besides a darker skin tone, there wasn¡¯t much difference. But something seemed off, and it wasn¡¯t until the end of the meal that he realized what it was. That guy¡¯s teeth are so white! Just like they¡¯re brand new! Did he get his teeth cleaned? Zhou Weisheng picked up a piece of fish, deep in thought. Indeed, he had watched Bi Fang¡¯s wilderness live streams. Brushing teeth involved chewing on twigs and then chewing on some plants with antiseptic properties and the ability to freshen breath. Though effective, it certainly couldn¡¯t compare to modern toothpaste and toothbrushes. A teeth cleaning after a live stream made perfect sense. Yep, that was logical. Seeing how good his teeth whitening results were, Zhou Weisheng was also tempted. He smoked, which left his teeth yellow with black stains, a constant source of complaint from his wife. After dinner, he couldn¡¯t hold back and asked Bi Fang which dental clinic he had visited. ¡°Ah, ah, this, well, this¡­¡± Bi Fang bit on a milk straw, taken aback by Zhou Weisheng¡¯s question. He wondered when he had gotten his teeth cleaned, then suddenly understood and didn¡¯t know how to explain. The Tooth Remodeling Coupon¡ªBi Fang originally thought it was for fixing a few cavities. Who the hell knew it meant replacing them all! When Bi Fang watched in the mirror, his old teeth were pushed out bit by bit by the new growth, slowly falling from the gums, and with a crisp sound, dropped into the sink stained with blood. The scene was incredibly shocking, so much so that it was like something out of a horror movie. And the more calcium he took, the faster they grew¡­ That afternoon, Bi Fang, dreading the thought of attending the evening banquet with a set of baby teeth, spent the entire afternoon in his hotel room, eating calcium tablets like meals with pure milk. Strangely enough, as soon as those things entered his stomach, it seemed they were digested, then continuously supplied to the skull, visibly growing the gums. By the time he was ready for his appointment, except for a few back molars which were a bit short, the rest had grown in perfectly¡ªtwenty-eight in total, all uniform, without any wisdom teeth. Touching his cheek, Bi Fang even felt that the shape of his face had changed, completely eliminating the space for wisdom teeth. Ancient apes and early humans directly acquired their food from nature, unprocessed, and these foods were very tough and coarse, such as branches, plant tubers, and animal muscles and tendons. Chewing required a lot of strength and a larger grinding surface area. In that scenario, large jawbones were necessary to withstand the force of chewing food, and wisdom teeth were present and functional to increase chewing efficiency. If you observe the jawbones of ancient humans or other primates, you¡¯ll find that compared to modern humans, their jawbones are larger, with greater buccal-lingual widths, and increased mesiodistal lengths. Sufficient jaw space is needed to accommodate wisdom teeth, with few instances of the impaction issues commonly seen in modern humans. But as humans began to use fire and developed tools, processed foods, along with developments in farming and husbandry, made food increasingly more refined. Wisdom teeth became unnecessary; three molars were enough, and the fourth was superfluous. In this evolutionary process, humans needed larger brain capacities for more complex thinking, eliminating the need for strong jawbones. Increased brain capacity became the direction of evolution. Generation after generation of natural selection caused human brain capacities to increase while jaw widths decreased, lengths shortened, and overall jaw strength diminished. There was a clear regression in size. To put it figuratively, it¡¯s like a dog¡¯s head growing larger while the snout gets shorter¡­ The lack of space leads to wisdom teeth often having various problems when emerging, such as ectopic growth or impaction, necessitating extraction. In any case, it¡¯s all for the best. Those with perfectly growing wisdom teeth usually have a large face¡­ But where exactly did this third set of teeth come from? Bi Fang was very curious about that. From birth to death, humans only have two sets of teeth¡ªbaby teeth and permanent teeth, and the permanent teeth were there from the start, only emerging later. It¡¯s impossible to get an extra set out of nowhere. Otherwise, under an X-ray, that would drive someone insane on the spot. This, only the System might know, right? Bi Fang was quite satisfied with his new set of teeth, strong enough to break pork bones with a bite. But what should this third set be called? Iron teeth, copper jaw? However, Zhou Weisheng¡¯s question wasn¡¯t easy to answer. If he mentioned a random clinic and Zhou also went, asking around only to discover he had never been there, what then? Bi Fang could only deny it, and as for why they turned white, maybe it¡¯s because he brushed them really clean. Zhou Weisheng¡¯s mouth twitched skeptically. Could brushing really do that? ¡°Director Zhou smokes, right? It would be good to have your teeth cleaned.¡± ¡°I heard that tooth gaps widen and they use steel brushes¡­¡± Zhou Weisheng said, which was why he took an interest after seeing Bi Fang¡¯s teeth. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Who told you that? Tooth gaps only widen from too much tartar blocking the space or from swollen gums, it¡¯s unrelated to the teeth themselves. There are only benefits, and any clinic will do the same.¡± ¡°All right¡­¡± The two engaged in a bizarre conversation about teeth before heading their separate ways. Back at the hotel, Bi Fang picked up his phone, which was now fully charged. It had been over twenty days, and the phone¡¯s battery had completely drained. After plugging it in that afternoon, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t checked it again, as he was busy tallying his gains and¡­ taking calcium. When he turned it back on, the logo lit up, and after a moment¡¯s wait, even before the screen came alive, one black notification bar after another jumped out, filling the entire screen. All missed call alerts! ¡°Jerret? Why is he so eager to contact me?¡± Chapter 510: 507: Culture Shapes the Nation Chapter 510: Chapter 507: Culture Shapes the Nation ¡°` ¡°So you¡¯re leaving so soon? Don¡¯t you want to stay and play for a couple more days? Or have I been a poor host?¡± ¡°` At four in the afternoon, while Zhou Weisheng was still in his office, he received an unexpected call from Bi Fang about his departure. What matter could be so urgent that Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t even meet for a last face-to-face and was hurrying to leave? ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry, Director Zhou, and very grateful for your hospitality, but I really have an emergency,¡± Bi Fang explained while standing at the airport, holding his boarding pass. ... If it weren¡¯t for the unforeseen, he wouldn¡¯t be leaving so soon but would have stayed in the area for a couple more days. Regrettably, the barrage of missed calls from the previous night mercilessly interrupted his plans. Bi Fang never expected that an event which took place a decade earlier in the original timeline was only just beginning today! The thought made him feel that he could no longer wait and had to rush back to the Magic Capital immediately! Jerret and the others were already there waiting for him. Jerret didn¡¯t give many details, but based on the original timeline¡¯s ordeal and Japan¡¯s notorious behavior, Bi Fang knew they certainly wouldn¡¯t have an easy time, which is why they had to temporarily retreat to the Magic Capital to find him. He didn¡¯t expect Jerret to trust him so much. As a result, Bi Fang had no choice but to leave without saying goodbye, apologizing once again before the announcement for boarding came over the intercom. Zhou Weisheng heard the announcement and his doubts immediately dissipated. With only three flights from Jinghong to the Magic Capital at five in the afternoon, and not being able to wait even a day, it was clear that this was truly an emergency. Without further ado, Zhou Weisheng only asked that Bi Fang make sure to inform him when he comes next time, promising a warm welcome then. ¡°Then I wish Mr. Bi a safe journey and look forward to seeing more of your work.¡± ¡°You definitely will!¡± Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang ended the call, grabbed his luggage, and hurriedly boarded the plane. Ten o¡¯clock at night. The plane had risen above the clouds, the outside was pitch black, and the cabin lights were dimmed. Bi Fang¡¯s pupils dilated slightly to accommodate more light. He opened the notepad on his phone, which was filled with dense text, and racked his brain to transcribe the memories from the original world one by one. It was the same predicament Jerret and his companions were currently facing. Dolphin Bay. ¡°Dolphin Bay? What¡¯s that place? Are there lots of dolphins?¡± The boy in the seat behind was curious, leaning over Bi Fang¡¯s seatback to ask, and Bi Fang closed his phone with a hand, looked up with a smile, and said, ¡°Peeking at someone else¡¯s phone is impolite. Also, keep it down, everyone is sleeping.¡± Surprised, the boy covered his mouth and looked around quietly, then sneakily slipped down from the seatback, squeezing into the gap between the seat and the window, his eyes wide with curiosity. ¡°My mom and dad say you¡¯re a great hero, you¡¯ve saved lots of people and animals, even climbed the highest mountain in the world, and done many amazing things. When I grow up, I want to conquer the tallest mountain too, and be a great hero!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never conquered the highest mountain, nor am I a hero,¡± Bi Fang said with a smile as he patted the boy¡¯s head. ¡°So my mom and dad lied?¡± The little boy seemed a bit angry, but he quickly forgot about it and asked in a low voice, ¡°You haven¡¯t told me what Dolphin Bay is. Are there lots of dolphins? I really like dolphins, I think they¡¯re very smart, even smarter than puppies.¡± ¡°Dolphin Bay.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s gaze drifted toward the window, under the wing, where massive dark clouds surged by. He paused for a moment and nodded, ¡°Yes, there are lots of dolphins.¡± The boy, happy with the news, exclaimed, ¡°Then I¡¯m going to visit next time! Banna is so boring, it¡¯s damp and full of crawly things, surrounded by spiders and snakes, and I hate snakes the most.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a nice place.¡± ¡°Ah? Why not?¡± ¡°Because the dolphins there live in great pain.¡± The beautiful name Dolphin Bay is preceded by an infamous prefix. In Japan, there is a picturesque little fishing village called Taiji. The villagers are hardworking, leading simple lives, creating the impression of a perfect idyllic paradise with its beautiful scenery and slow-paced life. But if you delve deeper, you¡¯d discover that innocence and kindness are nothing but a facade, hiding the bloody carnage and revelry year after year. Every single villager here is a bloody executioner. Every year, tens of thousands of dolphins and even whales passing by Taiji are mercilessly deprived of their right to live by the local villagers wielding rusty spears. Fishermen drive dolphins into a shallow bay near the shore, where dolphin trainers from around the world select the lively, healthy, and smart ones to take away. The remaining large number of dolphins, however, are not released. None that enter Dolphin Bay can return to the ocean unscathed; they are all ruthlessly exterminated without reason. The slaughtered dolphins¡¯ bloody meat is packaged and sold as dolphin and even whale meat, shamelessly appearing on supermarket shelves. Everything that occurs here is concealed by the local government due to a dirty circle of interest. This graveyard for dolphins is known as Dolphin Bay. In marine conventions established by countries around the world today, without exception, all of them prohibit the hunting and killing of dolphins and whales, even if some hunt covertly, it¡¯s impossible to do so in the same way as Japan. The Japanese Government is the only one that allows its fishermen to hunt 20,000 dolphins each year, and in reality, the number of dolphins actually killed by Japan far exceeds this number. They use the excuse that whaling and slaughtering dolphins, and eating whale meat, is part of their culture, and have long refused to sign international marine conventions for the protection of whales that call for an end to whale and dolphin hunting. Thus it became one of the very few countries in the world that openly hunts whales on a large scale, and the only one that brazenly allows the slaughter of dolphins. The explanation offered by the Japanese Government is on point; they claim that hunting the whales and dolphins, which the rest of the world is dedicated to protecting, is¡­ a part of Japanese ¡°culture¡±. Ha. Culture shapes a nation, and a certain type of culture shapes a certain kind of nation. Benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and integrity can shape a great and harmonious nation that never ceases to grow stronger. Murder and bloodlust can also shape a nation that is aggressive by nature and unrepentantly so. In a past life, to expose the slaughter to the world and reveal such atrocities, Louis Psihoyos went to Taiji, risking danger to save the dolphins and filmed a documentary. Midway, there was even a bloody incident, resulting in casualties. Yes, casualties. One of Louis¡¯s colleagues, discovered while secretly filming, was left behind in that place forever, keeping company with the spirits of the dead dolphins. Afterward, not a single person was punished for the murder. All villagers took such acts of violence as normal, from the elderly to the young, from students to parents, as if the one who died was not a person but a stray dog by the roadside. No, they would feel sorrow over the death of a cat or a dog but would not feel guilty over the death of a person. The first filming session ended there, and everyone had to leave Japan, until the second time, when they learned from their mistakes, regrouped, and successfully exposed all the bloody details under the light of day. Now, Jerret and his group must be in the gap between the first and second visits, and they haven¡¯t returned to Ugly Country but have come to Huaxia seeking my help. Bi Fang pinched the bridge of his nose and turned off his nearly dead phone, unaware of how the first filming went. Jerret hadn¡¯t revealed much to him, only hoping that everything was still salvageable. If I knew nothing, it would be fine, but from the moment Jerret made that phone call, Bi Fang knew he couldn¡¯t remain uninvolved. ¡­ It was ten minutes past midnight. Not until the landing gear descended and jolted the plane did Bi Fang wake from his slumber. The brightly lit colossal city appeared beneath the wings, its vast highways woven into a glittering web that shone like a massive candle burning under the night sky. Living in an expensive city is no easy task. If I didn¡¯t have the System and never streamed, maybe I would be just one among the many, working late into the night, hounded by my boss to push the work forward. Standing by the roadside, all I see is the jagged skyline cut out by skyscrapers, so high you can¡¯t even see the sky, everyone like ants in a maze. Such a life can be truly exhausting, to the point where, on weekends, I would lie down quietly by myself, not wanting to do anything, just waiting for the sky outside the window to slowly darken. Until one day, Bi Fang no longer chose such a lifestyle; he put down the reports he was working on and joined CWCA, armed with a salary that wasn¡¯t enough for family living but enough not to starve, in pursuit of freedom. But after making this decision, I found that life was still exhausting. Pressure came from all directions, from parents to friends, from reality to fantasy, with only colleagues who made the same choice possibly understanding me. Life is like a net¡ªeven if you jump out, the threads that cling to your body will forcefully pull you back to face the gory reality. Luckily, in this life and my past one, I had neither wife nor children; otherwise, I might¡¯ve been driven crazy. Fortunately, in this life, I can finally pursue what I want, and pursue it freely. From Mount Everest to ocean trenches, from rainforests to deserts, from the past to the future. There¡¯s no one to scoff at me, no one rushing to scoff. Everyone is envious, everyone admiring, free and unburdened. I, probably, am now living the life I once desired. It is also the life of freedom that countless desk-bound workers dream of. ¡°Huh.¡± Bi Fang exhaled deeply, his bones cracking crisply as he got up from his seat, reinvigorated. After saying goodbye to the little boy, Bi Fang who had gotten off the plane entered a fast-food restaurant and ordered a large amount of high-calorie fried chicken and burgers to take away. Eating as he headed home. Bi Fang, who had lost four kilograms in Banna, needed to regain his original weight as soon as possible. Platinum Body would help him quickly turn the accumulated fat into muscle, ensuring his combat readiness. Bi Fang had the premonition that the upcoming mission to Japan would require him to maintain a high level of combat readiness. Chapter 511: 508 Violent Conflict Incident Chapter 511: Chapter 508 Violent Conflict Incident After wolfing down three double-layer cheese thick fried chicken burgers, Bi Fang finally arrived at his own front door. He took out his phone and checked, but Jerret hadn¡¯t replied to his message about having landed. Looks like he¡¯s asleep. Jerret and his team had evacuated from Japan looking disheveled and utterly exhausted. They had been waiting in the Magic Capital for several days, on one hand to regroup and, on the other, waiting for Bi Fang. Having gotten in touch with Bi Fang, everyone was very happy, and the gloom hanging over their heads lifted somewhat, giving them a chance to breathe. Now, just 24 hours later, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t given them any advance notice about buying his ticket. They didn¡¯t expect Bi Fang to arrive so quickly and had long since gone to rest. ... ¡°I¡¯ll look at it tomorrow morning.¡± With only five percent battery left on his phone, Bi Fang unlocked the front door, quickly plugged in the charger, and managed to prolong its life just before it shut down. Dawn. When he woke up early, there were more than ten unread messages in his phone, all from Jerret. After sending his location and confirming the number of people, Bi Fang got up to wash and ordered breakfast for fifteen, waiting for Jerret and the others to come over. Bi Fang thought he was mentally prepared, but when the doorbell rang and he saw the people with bruised noses, swollen faces, and bandaged bodies, he was still stunned. Bi Fang exclaimed in shock, ¡°How did you all end up like this?¡± Those injured were wounded, those not injured had faces of sorrow. Jerret sighed but didn¡¯t dwell too much on the sadness. Nearly a week had passed, and everyone had mentally come to terms with it. At that moment, seeing a long-lost friend, they were still very happy and came forward to embrace Bi Fang. ¡°My brother, I¡¯ve finally seen you again. You¡¯ve lost a lot of weight.¡± ¡°Come on in first.¡± The situation seemed more serious than expected, so Bi Fang stepped aside to let everyone in, inviting them to the dining table to try the Chinese breakfast. Seeing the pile of takeaway bags on the table, Jerret was somewhat moved and felt the warmth of human kindness again, ¡°We¡¯re only seven people, we can¡¯t eat that much, you¡¯re too polite.¡± ¡°No,¡± Bi Fang shook his head, moving a third of it towards himself, ¡°These are mine, the rest are for you guys.¡± Jerret was momentarily taken aback. One person eating for five? Could he manage it? Of course, he couldn¡¯t finish them all at once, but Bi Fang¡¯s advantage was that his stomach digested food quickly. As long as he had enough time, he could keep eating. A meal for five would just take about an hour. ¡°I¡¯ve been trying to gain muscle recently, so I need to eat more. I lost four kilograms in the Banna Rainforest, and I want to recover that quickly.¡± Bi Fang gestured for everyone not to be shy and to take a seat quickly. Bi Fang¡¯s dining room was spacious enough to accommodate seven big guys with room to spare. Richard glanced at Jerret, waiting for directions. Of the seven people who entered, only Jerret, his photographic assistant Mond, their safety assistant Pondy, and Bi Fang knew each other; the remaining five were, strictly speaking, strangers. Jerret nodded, pulled out the chairs, and pressed everyone to sit down one by one: ¡°Don¡¯t look at me, go ahead. He¡¯s very easy-going, and Huaxia People are good-looking too. Try the Chinese breakfast. The buns are really tasty; I like the ones with preserved mustard and bamboo shoots.¡± ¡°Haha, I like that kind too,¡± laughed Bi Fang. ¡°Don¡¯t be restrained. I know why you¡¯re here, and I¡¯m happy to help if you¡¯re willing to let me join.¡± ¡°You¡¯re joining us?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that what Jerret meant?¡± ¡°No,¡± Richard stammered, ¡°I just feel, feel it¡¯s unbelievable. Really grateful, truly grateful. For a big shot like you, oh, no, I mean, it¡¯s fantastic that you¡¯d join us.¡± Who knows what these people had gone through, but right now, Richard was nearly incoherent. ¡°First, let¡¯s have breakfast. If there¡¯s anything to talk about, the dining table is the place. It¡¯s a custom of us Huaxia People. But I have no alcohol here, only sweet soy milk.¡± Jerret laughed, ¡°You¡¯re still the same as before.¡± ¡°Come on, it¡¯s only been just over a month since we last met. You climbed Mount Everest with me in April. Go ahead and tell me what happened, and about the injuries on your bodies,¡± Bi Fang was eager to know the full story. Jerret sighed, not immediately starting with the trip to Japan, but first, he introduced everyone present. First was the core member of the team¡ªRichard. He too was a well-known figure. Richard had spent ten years creating Dolphin Kingdom, and he was the world¡¯s leading authority on dolphin acoustics. The dolphin show ¡°Flipper¡±, which he had founded, became widely popular in the Ugly Country, beloved by children there, and when asked about their future aspirations, those kids would invariably answer without any hesitation, ¡°Marine Biologist.¡± Richard brought dolphin shows into the public eye, making more and more people fall in love with these magical and adorable creatures¡ªdolphins. That was until an event that led Richard to undergo a complete transformation. In the ¡°Flipper¡± show, a dolphin named Casey, who had been with him day and night, ultimately chose to commit suicide in his arms. No one loved these dolphins more than Richard, who loved them as Elvan loved geese. Their affection and experiences were almost identical. The death of Casey brought a great shock to Richard, to the extent that he was willing to be arrested in order to release the dolphin Brown, which he had once captured himself, and thereafter dedicated himself to dolphin rescue missions around the world. As aquariums and dolphin shows flourished worldwide, Richard swore to personally destroy this entertainment industry he had helped create, spending the remainder of his days in this quest. When Jerret reached this point, Richard sighed and interjected, ¡°The smile of a dolphin is nature¡¯s greatest deception, giving you the mistaken belief that they are always happy.¡± Richard was not one of those dog lovers who demanded everyone stop eating dog meat simply because they liked dogs; rather, he was quite rational. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Are dolphins born more noble than pigs and cows? Of course not. The fundamental reason he went to such lengths is that dolphins are simply not suitable for human consumption. The bodies of these sea spirits are rich in mercury, far exceeding safety standards, and consuming too much dolphin meat can have a significant impact on the human body. The second reason is due to the high intelligence of dolphins. On this planet, their intelligence is second only to humans. Their brain weight is nearly the same as humans, at around 1.5 kilograms. Even the genetic overlap with humans is incredibly high, leading some to speculate that dolphins and humans share a common ancestor. However, because dolphins live in water and cannot evolve hands like humans, they cannot create tools, thus halting their path to a higher level of evolution. To Richard, eating dolphins was no different than eating chimpanzees¡ªit was a matter of form versus essence. Moreover, it¡¯s like a toxic, enhanced version of a chimpanzee. Under these circumstances, Richard simply could not comprehend why those perverted feet basin people were obsessed with this, to the point of committing slaughter. Could it be that after trying it once by accident, their brains became deformed? The unabated massive development of the world¡¯s shipping industry, along with various other marine pollutants, had already threatened the survival of dolphins, and now they faced rampant slaughter. Richard simply could not remain indifferent, especially after discovering the appalling practices at Dolphin Bay. Jerret nodded and then began to introduce the remaining members of the team, nearly all of whom were gathered by Richard, including Jerret himself. When Richard heard that over 20,000 dolphins were slaughtered in Dolphin Bay each year, and after witnessing it personally, he invited his good friend, the world¡¯s top wildlife documentary director and the face of the Discovery Channel, Jerret, to help him shoot a documentary as evidence to expose everything under the sun. Jerret, who had just finished filming Mount Everest with Bi Fang and was also a nature enthusiast, couldn¡¯t remain indifferent to his friend¡¯s righteous request. He packed his gear and, along with his photographer Mond and equipment assistant Hypeck, set off on the journey. Oh, and there was also Pondy, an old acquaintance who played the role of bodyguard. These three people were almost invariably part of Jerret¡¯s preferred team. Due to the nature of the filming environment, it was impossible for Jerret to bring too many people; doing so would have made it too easy to be exposed, so a four-person team plus equipment was enough. Among the remaining four, two divers were responsible for underwater filming: Ganna¡¯s diving champion Mandy Ray Cruickshank and diving instructor Keke Clark, both talented individuals Jerret recruited from the Adventure Channel. Then, there was an electrical expert who provided a high-speed power system to keep the cameras running at maximum capacity; he also created unmanned drone models for the shoot. The last member was Beck, Richard¡¯s own hired bodyguard and assistant, responsible for everyone¡¯s safety, just like Pondy. Richard anticipated that this trip would not go smoothly, but he never imagined it would be such a disaster, nor did he expect the Japanese People¡¯s monstrous cruelty. ¡°So, the nine of you have now become seven? Where are Hypeck and Beck?¡± A sudden concern crossed Bi Fang¡¯s mind. The first seven people Jerret introduced were all accounted for, but the last two were missing. Bi Fang didn¡¯t know Beck, but he was familiar with Hypeck, having seen him several times. He hoped the tragedy of the past life wouldn¡¯t repeat itself. Jerret sighed, but thankfully, his next words put Bi Fang at ease as he learned about the general course of events. Hypeck, who had been filming in secret, was discovered and beaten by local villagers, but fortunately Beck noticed in time to rescue him, charging in and saving his life, though Beck was severely injured in the process. Currently, both men were lying in a hospital in Huaxia¡¯s Magic Capital. Even though they were initially rescued in Japan, Richard did not trust to leave them there. Ignoring the doctors¡¯ advice, he had them transferred to the closer Huaxia. ¡°The ground was covered in blood, Hypeck was struggling and convulsing on the floor, and if not for Beck¡¯s desperate rescue, Hypeck might not have made it back,¡± said Jerret. After obtaining the medical report, Richard nearly collapsed. With multiple fractures and internal bleeding, a slight delay would have meant certain death. Hypeck had not yet regained consciousness but was out of critical condition. Beck was in a similar state. As a retired professional boxer, he knew how to protect his vital areas, but even so, he still suffered multiple fractures and injuries. As for the villagers who beat them. According to the local police, there were no surveillance cameras, no evidence, and the only potential evidence, the camera, was trampled. Such injuries could very well be the result of mutual fighting between two people, unrelated to the local population. ¡°MOTHER*******¡± Uttering this, Jerret¡¯s language was shocking. At that moment, he truly wanted to show the police officer what a real brawl looked like. Even after that, a more terrifying event occurred: Richard¡¯s car was bombed. The flames soared into the sky. Chapter 512: 509: Expert Blame Shifter, Little Myna Chapter 512: Chapter 509: Expert Blame Shifter, Little Myna The day the explosion happened, Bi Fang was still hammering away in the Banna Rainforest, completely unaware of the incident. Fortunately, Richard was not in the car when the bomb went off. The adversary likely just wanted to make a statement, without any intention to kill. The blown-up car was still rented under Richard¡¯s name, and nobody knew when the bomb had been planted. As a result, he had to compensate the rental company with a substantial sum. ¡°It¡¯s good no one died. It¡¯ll be alright,¡± Bi Fang sighed and consoled Jerret, then asked, ¡°What happened to your faces, though?¡± Touching his still-bruised cheek, Jerret recounted with difficulty, ¡°The night we left, a group of residents suddenly burst in and smashed all the filming equipment. We rushed to protect the gear and then got hit, but it was too chaotic in the darkness for them to be sure they weren¡¯t hitting the wrong people, so no major harm was done, just some minor injuries.¡± ... The equipment for shooting documentaries ranges in price. The cheap stuff could be just a few DVD players, but the expensive gear can be outrageous. Any equipment, once it falls into the hands of enthusiasts, is priced astronomically high, not to mention Jerret had gotten his directly from the Discovery Channel. The studio treated this director very well and trusted him enough to lend the equipment without asking questions. A whole set of photographic equipment, specifically for documentaries, some even more elaborate than what is used for movies, was for rent only, not for sale. Now it was all gone, the money flying away as the tools hit the ground. All the equipment was smashed beyond recognition, irreparable and impossible to put back together. Unbelievably, in a country praised internationally for its advanced economy and educational system, the local villagers could resort to such barbarity! They were even worse than primitive savages! After finishing his story, Jerret took a sip of soy milk to catch his breath. The others remained silent after listening, as if reliving the terror of Dolphin Bay once more. The xenophobic unanimity of the locals turned Dolphin Bay into a dragon¡¯s den, a Bloody Demon Cave. Every single person, driven by self-interest, turned into a demon in human skin, almost causing Jerret, Richard and the rest of their group to never return. Indeed, that was the case. If they hadn¡¯t all been from Ugly Country, including a well-known director and professor, their ¡°accidental deaths¡± would have caused quite an uproar. It¡¯s hard to imagine to what extent those Japanese People would have been audacious. Bi Fang fell silent. This all sounded more exciting than his days in the rainforest. Scanning over the injured crowd, he said, ¡°So what do you plan to do now?¡± Having been introduced by Jerret, the group was gradually getting acquainted and more relaxed, casually discussing their plans over breakfast. ¡°Of course we have to continue. If we don¡¯t, then was I just beaten for nothing?¡± Pondy¡¯s forehead bulged with veins, obviously having suffered greatly as well. As the security assistant tasked with protecting everyone, he naturally took more beatings: ¡°I¡¯ve got to show that bunch of bastards some color!¡± The electrical expert spoke with anger: ¡°I¡¯m going to throw some ashes in that old man¡¯s eyes who hit me! Let him weep in agony! How dare he pull my hair!¡± Upon hearing this, Bi Fang involuntarily glanced at the other¡¯s Mediterranean bald spot and felt a newfound respect. The man¡¯s scholarly achievements must certainly be non-negligible! The two divers looked at each other and said in unison, ¡°All we want to know is what¡¯s really happening in that bay.¡± Any professional diver would have a fondness for the creatures of the sea. They were not fanatic dolphin lovers, yet they were willing to seek the truth for them. The Japanese Government¡¯s unbridled concealment could not continue unchecked, no matter the circumstances. Jerret grew more indignant, slamming his fist on the marble table, nearly splashing his soy milk: ¡°My equipment was all smashed; that¡¯s an astronomical sum! Now I don¡¯t even know how to explain it to the studio. I must expose everything!¡± Thinking of the equipment made him want to vomit blood. If he had to pay for it himself, it would bankrupt him. Luckily, the Adventure Channel let him off the hook considering his hard work without success, but Jerret still felt indebted. He had been helping a friend and the company had suffered a loss as a result. Jerret was determined to make a big splash and recoup the company¡¯s losses! This time, he had come to Bi Fang hoping Bi Fang could lead his ragged crew back into the fray. Raising the issue dearest to him, Richard also spoke up: ¡°The hunting season in Taiji begins every summer, from late July to the following March, nearly a whole year. We must act quickly to expose all their doings!¡± ¡°It¡¯s already the end of June, and in a few days it will be July. We have only a month left, but we definitely need to enter the area early to set up cameras.¡± Bi Fang calculated the time: twenty-one days of survival in the Banna Rainforest, and it¡¯s still the end of June with the hunting season not yet started. Although dolphin killings do occur, such footage would be useless. The local government could easily dismiss the whole incident as accidental bycatch, making it ineffective to address the issue. Only by revealing the most blood-stained truth can the darkness truly be exposed to the light. That meant Bi Fang and the others could only capture the true massacre after the hunting season had started. It might seem callous. If they could film it, why not prevent it and just watch the slaughter happen? Because it was impossible to stop. Bi Fang knew all too well: How many people are in a village? A few thousand or several tens of thousands? It¡¯s called a village, but it¡¯s more appropriate to call it a county; the entire county supports fishing. How could Bi Fang possibly fight this alone? If he had a Superman-like physique, he might have a chance. Even if Bi Fang knew the truth, that every year over twenty-three thousand dolphins are killed in Dolphin Bay, he could stand up and expose it. With his current influence, certainly a lot of people would choose to believe him. But, without evidence, it¡¯s impossible to create a significant impact, and without such impact, it means nothing to the locals. Hasn¡¯t anyone stood up to reveal this over the years? Of course, there have been, but they all vanished without a trace in the end. It¡¯s even possible that the local government might lead the charge to denounce Bi Fang, using the situation to attack him. A small fish can cause a ripple, a whale can cause a wave, but all this is trivial. If tens of millions of big fish stir together, they can create a tsunami! Those little rascals can do anything, especially when it comes to deflecting blame with first-class skill. We must crush them with overwhelming force. Last year, Japan even blamed Huaxia when there wasn¡¯t enough Pacific saury to go around, as the local fishermen didn¡¯t catch anything, and the public, which considers Pacific saury a common delicacy, was enraged. The official explanation had to be given, and they blamed it on global warming, alleging that it hindered fish migration. Global warming is like a brick, it¡¯s always taken wherever it¡¯s needed. The officials are used to shifting blame, and so is the public. A large number of people accused Huaxia of overfishing, causing the little rascals to miss out on Pacific saury. Please, aside from Japan, no country in the world catches Pacific saury on a large scale. Pacific saury costs only about ten yuan each at Huaxia¡¯s small barbecue stands. So cheap, and you tell me we are overfishing? Later, their own people couldn¡¯t stand it. Shengchuan Toshio, a PhD candidate from The University of Tokyo¡¯s Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and an associate professor at Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, presented an abundance of facts and data, proving that Japan¡¯s own fishing limits for Pacific saury were inconsistent with their actual catch, and accused Huaxia¡¯s claims of being utterly ¡°shameless.¡± No country other than Japan fishes for Pacific saury on a large scale. If Japan could lead in establishing a resource management framework, it wouldn¡¯t have come to this point. They only thought to ¡°mend the fold after the sheep are lost¡± and set up rules when the number of Pacific saury sharply decreased. In Bi Fang¡¯s view, Huaxia has long been a leader in environmental and animal protection. Whether it¡¯s a ten-year fishing ban in the Yangtze River, or introducing summer fishing moratoriums, strengthening fishing restrictions, creating strict fishing frameworks in Southeast Asia, or even in land conservation areas and animal protection measures, they are much stronger than those countries that only talk but do no action, including Ugly Country, Japan, and even Europe that even wants to protect shrimp rights. Beyond that, there are many more measures, including vigorously developing new energy sources, all for the sake of protecting the environment. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Only Huaxia is truly focused on the future of humanity, sacrificing short-term benefits for the sake of longer-term interests. In such matters, the key is to see who does more, not who shouts the loudest slogans. Whether it¡¯s eating meat that leads to carbon emissions, or anything else, it¡¯s all just propaganda by conspiracists. For those little rascals, it¡¯s extra embarrassing to be slapped in the face on the spot by an associate professor from their own country¡¯s best university. It turns out that I¡¯m the one overfishing? But even so, even with evidence slapped in their own face by their own people, there are still Japanese who refuse to believe, accusing Shengchuan Toshio of taking dirty money, wielding authority, and using false data to mislead the public. Ordinary Pacific saury is one thing, but such accusations are even less welcome when they hint at something as serious as the ¡°mass slaughter of dolphins.¡± For this reason, Richard and others must use the most authentic documentary to become the sharpest nail, nailing these guys down once and for all! The team currently, excluding two who are seriously injured, includes the well-known documentary filmmaker Jerret from the Discovery Channel, dolphin expert and core figure Richard, two world-class divers, an electronics specialist, a photographer, and a safety assistant. And finally, the newest addition, Bi Fang, the greatest adventurer of this century. In total, eight members are about to launch their second assault. ¡°The only problem is, we still need a batch of new equipment, just don¡¯t know where to get it.¡± Jerret was worried; he had no face to ask the Discovery Channel again. This shoot was different; if it were a regular mission, he could borrow from other directors. But what they need is highly concealed functional shooting, which must also have good filming quality. That kind of thing is hard to find. If they opt for regular filming and production, it would be very time-consuming and possibly too late. They need to complete the filming as soon as possible after the start of the Dolphin Bay dolphin hunting season and quickly put an end to everything. A light bulb went off in Bi Fang¡¯s head. ¡°I might have a way.¡± Chapter 513: 510: Stone Camera Chapter 513: Chapter 510: Stone Camera July 1st. Bi Fang opened the system panel to routinely check his weight. [Unique Binder: Bi Fang] [Growth Age: 25] [Height: 185.7cm] [Mass: 78.2KG] ... After nearly a week of eating, drinking, and exercising, Bi Fang had successfully returned to his pre-rainforest survival condition, and the rapid transformation of Platinum Body had turned nearly all of the eight jin of weight gain into muscle. ¡°It has grown quite a bit, but it¡¯s still not enough.¡± At a height of 183, 78 kilograms of muscle mass just met the basic level of a light heavyweight boxing champion, but since acquiring Platinum Body, the perfectly built Bi Fang had grown by two centimeters. ¡°Eighty kilograms and up would be satisfactory; I need to keep increasing it.¡± Bi Fang took a bite of his burger. These days, his diet¡¯s main theme was high energy and high carbohydrates, followed by a series of fitness plans. Along with using the underground water pressure training device and the transformation of Platinum Body, he could transform fat into muscle strength at an incredibly fast rate. Descending from the bedroom, Jerret and the others were already drawing the map of Dolphin Bay. Upon seeing Bi Fang come downstairs, they greeted him and continued their research. For nearly a week, they had been studying how to film, plan the route, and¡­ physical training. Having learned from the first experience, Bi Fang arranged a specialized physical fitness program for everyone, with the aim of being able to run faster and longer when real danger arrived, to avoid being easily caught and beaten up, or even lose their lives. Even Richard, the oldest of the group, couldn¡¯t escape the training. Fortunately, everyone knew it was for the sake of their own lives, so the training was rather effective, at least they no longer gasped after a few steps. On the other side, Ganna¡¯s diving champion, Mandy Ray Cruickshank, and diving coach Keke Clark emerged from the basement, shaking the water droplets from their hair. The two had just finished using the water pressure training device. As they walked, Mandy marveled, ¡°No matter how many times I use it, I am always amazed. Its pressurization effect is fantastic, making me feel as if I¡¯m dozens of meters underwater, both in sensation and environment. Most importantly, the safety; to get out, I just need to turn off the pressurization and ascend a few meters. I really want to install one in my own home.¡± If Mandy had not experienced it firsthand, she could not have imagined that there was such a useful training device in the world¡ªsafe, reliable, and efficient. The electrical expert scoffed, ¡°Dream on. A perfect pressurization device, realistic vortex simulation, a complete safety system, and such a massive size¡ªwithout a few tens of millions, you simply cannot afford it unless you win a thousand more championships.¡± A look of envy appeared on Mandy¡¯s face. Tens of millions, wow. How long would she have to work as a regional diving champion before she could afford one? A true winner at life. ¡°Just kidding,¡± Keke laughed from the other side, ¡°Just thinking about the cost of this thing tells you it¡¯s an astronomical figure. But it¡¯s so convenient¡ªmassive villas with gardens, perfect diving training facilities; I feel like living here forever.¡± Since Jerret¡¯s visit, Bi Fang had them stay here immediately for convenience in discussion and arrangement¡ªafter all, with just seven people, there was plenty of room. Jerret and others readily agreed. They were strangers in Huaxia, and instead of staying in hotels, they might as well move in altogether. The previously empty house now had some liveliness, a bit more noise on a daily basis, and it took on the look of a real team. Keke had been living here for nearly a week, waking up every day to delicious Chinese cuisine, then going for diving training, and even going out for evening strolls. What could be more like paradise? Bi Fang laughed, ¡°If you want to stay or visit, I¡¯m always welcoming. Such a big house¡ªit often feels too spacious for just me.¡± sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For a moment, everyone couldn¡¯t tell if Bi Fang was serious or simply wanted to show off his big house. ¡°Hey, today let¡¯s compete again to see who can dive deeper, how about that?¡± Mandy said with a competitive desire. Mandy was an expert at free diving and the diving champion of Ganna, able to dive over eighty meters in one breath. Richard had extended the invitation specifically for this reason, asking for help with installing underwater sonar devices. Seeing the diving data left on the training monitor, despite thinking it was good, Mandy also thought Bi Fang had used equipment. But during one of their joint training sessions, Bi Fang showed her what it meant to be evenly matched. If only Mandy knew how to curse¡­ You solo summited Mount Everest without oxygen, sure, but free diving to seventy meters? What are you implying? Looking down on a professional diver? A diving champion from Ganna? Normally, without the aid of any equipment, a person can dive about 10 meters, and those with poorer physique maybe 5 meters. Professional divers can usually reach 30 meters. The deeper the dive, the greater the water pressure on the body. Around 10 meters depth, the pressure is about 10^5 Pascal, equivalent to one standard atmosphere. Descending another meter adds 0.1 standard atmospheres; it becomes uncomfortable for the human body. Only those who train frequently and are professionals can dive to around 30 meters. As Ganna¡¯s diving champion, Mandy could reach the extreme depth of over eighty meters, but that was in fully prepared and mentally conditioned situations. Could Bi Fang, someone whom nobody had ever heard had any diving records or experience, do the same? ¡°Are you really planning to dive into the Mariana Trench?¡± Mandy joked, draping her arm around Bi Fang¡¯s shoulder. Bi Fang was about to respond when the doorbell rang. ¡°I¡¯ll get it! I¡¯ll get it!¡± Jerret sprang up from the table and opened the door, his excitement palpable as he saw the delivery van. ¡°Is it here? My equipment?¡± he shouted. But the next moment, he saw a long package being carefully unloaded from the truck by several guys and brought into the villa. It was long and thick and didn¡¯t look at all like his photographic equipment. Jerret looked towards Bi Fang, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Ah, I bought a fish tank.¡± Bi Fang scratched his head. Ever since he had mentioned that Sir David Attenborough would take care of the camera equipment problem, just the sight of the list of items sent over had made Jerret very envious. Every day, at the sound of the doorbell, he was the first to answer the door. Who do you think of when it comes to documentaries? Sir, of course! The father of documentaries¡¯ reputation is known far and wide, isn¡¯t it? Although it was through Jerret that Attenborough found Bi Fang, it was just a connection within the industry. It was easy to get in touch through mutual acquaintances, but the two men were not personally familiar with each other. But Bi Fang was familiar! They had experienced an avalanche together, climbed Mount Everest together, laughed over life and death conversations, a friendship forged through life-threatening situations. After the Rainforest expedition, Bi Fang had a chat on the phone with Sir. Unknowingly, Bi Fang had formed his own circle of friends, got to know some extraordinary people in the industry, and even became a benchmark in a certain field himself. Elites tend to have connections with other elites. As a dolphin research expert, Richard knew Jerret, a professional director and nature enthusiast. So, when he thought about making a documentary, his friend was the first person he thought of. Jerret had worked at the exploration channel for many years, visiting most places in the world, and also knew many impressive people. But amongst those he knew, Bi Fang was the most incredible and awesome one. The more influential a person is, the more extraordinary the friends they can connect with, and the greater the forces they can unite. After the first failed expedition to Dolphin Bay, Jerret immediately thought of Bi Fang. This layered relationship is hard to ascribe to mere coincidence; it seems more like fate. When something happens, certain people are bound to be involved and have to face it. In the past, neither Jerret nor Richard, let alone a historical figure like Sir David Attenborough, would ever imagine chatting over a phone call, much less getting an autograph in person. Attenborough, knowing the situation, did not hesitate to leverage his connections and transferred a batch of the most professional equipment over. Of course, Attenborough had his demands, and there was only one. ¡°Whether the equipment is smashed, broken, or even sold, it doesn¡¯t matter, but I want to see your documentary, see it released publicly for all to see.¡± ¡°Fish tank?¡± Jerret, looking dejected and somewhat complaining, said, ¡°Why did you buy a fish tank?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit too empty here?¡± Bi Fang also felt his house was indeed too empty when they first moved in. He rarely lived there, and when he did, it was just for rest; he never really noticed. Now, he realized it was too big, it couldn¡¯t retain a cozy atmosphere. So he thought about raising some small animals at home, starting with fish. It was okay even when he went out to live-stream, as he had a maid to take care of them¡ªjust pay a bit more money, and it would be fine. The maid came back every day; there was no choice, as he would be away for ten days or half a month at a time, and with no one to clean, the house would be full of dust on his return. What many people didn¡¯t know was that aquarium landscaping was one of Bi Fang¡¯s private hobbies. By laying sand and soil in the tank, planting aquatic plants, and then crafting a little world bit by bit, watching the fish swim around provided a sense of immense satisfaction. When Bi Fang first came here, he even thought about earning money by selling landscape tanks. ¡°Mr. Bi, please sign here,¡± said the delivery guy, handing over a receipt and adding, ¡°Oh right, there¡¯s another delivery coming shortly, please also be ready to receive that.¡± ¡°Another one?¡± Jerret paused, looking at Bi Fang. Bi Fang shook his head, indicating he hadn¡¯t gone on another buying spree. Half an hour later. One by one, ¡°Fragile¡± items were delivered. Nearly a week later, the camera equipment promised by Sir finally arrived. Due to the time needed for arranging and international transport, this was already the fastest pace possible, and even Bi Fang had taken advantage of his position a little. ¡°Is this top-notch photography equipment?¡± Mandy picked up a rock, a question mark popping above her head. Isn¡¯t this just a rock? Chapter 514: 511 Dual Mission Mode, Nighttime Batman! Chapter 514: Chapter 511 Dual Mission Mode, Nighttime Batman! ¡°You don¡¯t watch many documentaries?¡± Bi Fang walked over and asked. Mandy shook her head. Bi Fang took the rock from Mandy¡¯s hand, turned it over, and pointing to a small black spot on the stone said, ¡°See this black dot? That¡¯s the hidden camera.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not kidding, are you?¡± Mandy laughed, thinking Bi Fang was bluffing. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m lying to you?¡± Bi Fang rubbed his stomach against the stone, to no avail as he felt for cracks, finally, he gripped at a raised spot with some force and a cover plate was pulled off, revealing the black mechanical device inside. ... ¡°OH MY GOD!¡± Mandy was stunned, Bi Fang was actually telling the truth, this machine that looked like a worthless rock, was really a camera? Aside from rocks of various sizes, upon closer inspection, there were also rotten tree stumps, broken branches, snails that could move, turtles that could run¡­ If one didn¡¯t look closely, it would be impossible to tell that these items, disguised as inconspicuous natural objects, were top-of-the-line cameras. ¡°If you watched more Animal Planet, you would know that these are essential equipment for top-tier documentaries, waterproof, fireproof, impact-resistant and with excellent camouflage. These guys are exactly what we need, the real deal that can actually help,¡± Jerret couldn¡¯t get enough of the wood and stones, and kept kissing a rock. The rock looked so real that it even had bird droppings on it! Even if you told someone it was a camera, they probably wouldn¡¯t believe it. Bi Fang looked at the excited Jerret and was reluctant to interrupt, but out of a sense of morality, he still said, ¡°Hold on a second.¡± Jerret was startled, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Bi Fang took the stone from his hand and scraped on a yellow-white substance, actually shaving off some powder, ¡°Have you ever thought, if it looks like, smells like, and seems like the real thing¡­ it is the real thing?¡± Everyone: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Ew!¡± Jerret rushed into the bathroom, frantically rinsing his mouth. ¡°WTF! It¡¯s actually real bird poop!¡± ¡°It must be used equipment, probably Edinburgh called for some of his own gear in use,¡± said the electrical expert after an inspection, noticing many of them had signs of use. Richard was elated, ¡°Now we have the equipment, the hardest issue is resolved.¡± If ordinary filming equipment was needed, there were many places to rent it, but the pile of treasures in front of them was owned by very few people in the world, with no place to borrow them. It couldn¡¯t be helped, the demand was too small. Documentaries inherently made little profit, making a hit earned a few awards at best, and documentaries were unlikely to be screened at cinemas, serving mainly for promotion and reputation. Moreover, ordinary documentaries didn¡¯t need these. What Bi Fang and the others were seeing was possessed only by a few documentary giants. For close-up shots of animals, venomous snakes, fierce tigers, wild buffaloes, these extremely dangerous creatures, cameramen couldn¡¯t possibly go into the field themselves, or they¡¯d only leave a hefty insurance payout for their families. But for better filming effects, cameras had to be camouflaged. With modern technology advancing, they could even make a robotic monkey blend into a troop or a robotic land turtle among a group, accepting the robot as one of their own. What¡¯s more amusing, once when a robotic monkey malfunctioned and fell from a tree, the entire troop wailed, expressing grief at the loss of a companion, a rare and typically unseen scene. However, Bi Fang didn¡¯t need those, and Sir hadn¡¯t sent them over. The first Dolphin Bay mission proved one thing, that filming openly or secretly was impossible. Therefore, Jerret and the others had to play some ¡°dirty tricks¡±. ¡°If you can¡¯t tell when it¡¯s in your hands, looks like the equipment¡¯s effect is pretty good,¡± the electrical expert mocked Mandy, but everyone could see that spirits were high. Equipment and manpower were in place, just waiting to finish training before heading to Dolphin Bay. Richard looked toward the Mediterranean, ¡°The equipment still needs further modification and testing, electrical expert, that¡¯s on you. Can you handle it in ten days?¡± The electrical expert looked at the items on the table, estimated the time roughly, and nodded. If they were to be made from scratch, it would take a lot of time and effort, and they might miss the hunting season, but just modifying them, he was confident. ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Seeing everyone¡¯s high morale, Bi Fang clapped his hands to grab their attention, ¡°Alright, since everyone is in good shape, let¡¯s add an extra half hour to today¡¯s workout.¡± ¡°OH!¡± ¡°COME ON!¡± ¡°On such a joyful day, we should have a day off!¡± Pondy seriously suggested. ¡°Oh, are you serious?¡± Bi Fang stood with his legs slightly apart, placing his hands in front of him, ready to strike, ¡°Want to try to last five seconds against me? If you can, you¡¯ll get the day off.¡± ¡°What are you guys doing!¡± Pondy was inexplicably sad, and looking at everyone, his eyes conveyed a message of disappointment, ¡°Sweat more in training, bleed less in battle, don¡¯t you understand that?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take the lead in supporting extra training!¡± ¡­ July 5th. [Ding, new mission activated, please check the mission tab.] ¡°` Quest Name: Ocean Spirit (Hunting Feast) Location: Taiji Town, Wakayama Prefecture, Honshu, Japan (Honshu Volcanic Cluster) Mode: I come, I record, I save (Primitive Hunting) Difficulty: Single T9, Dual T7. Requirements: No equipment other than system equipment may be carried. Main Quest One: Initiate a live stream with a sustained online audience of over 3.5 million. Main Quest Two: Make a complete video record of everything in Dolphin Bay, and disclose it to the public during the International Whaling Association convention on August 23; this process does not need to be livestreamed and may be recorded. (If in good condition, become the number one hunter in the process, which needs to be livestreamed.) Main Quest Three: Before August 26, call off Japan¡¯s annual dolphin hunting season (capture a mature Black Bear). Side Quests: Explore on your own. Basic Reward: Neural Strengthening Coupon*1, Memory Palace Coupon*1 (Choose one upon completion of a single quest) Time limit: 60 days. Bi Fang stopped, panting heavily, wiped the sweat off his forehead, and sat on a wooden seat by the path, carefully and thoroughly reviewing the quest issued by the system. The more he read, the more surprised he became. This time, he hadn¡¯t edited the quest. It was autonomously released by the system! Had it sensed his strong desire? During the journey to Goose, the system had already issued a quest, and it was necessary to modify it when Elvan came knocking. Was it that this time, without even setting a quest, it had perceived reality and thus issued a quest following his direction? Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was even a previously unprecedented dual quest mode. For the first time, Bi Fang knew that this mode existed in the system, and it also introduced a brand-new mode he had never seen before, recording! Jerret and the others¡¯ first failed attempt had already alerted the locals. It was virtually impossible for the local government or villagers to allow filming, and even just letting them enter would be very difficult. Under such circumstances, the filming by Bi Fang and others would be ¡°illegal.¡± If they chose to livestream, it would be like giving the Baga an X-ray vision hack, exponentially increasing the difficulty of their operation. It wasn¡¯t impossible that they could be caught right away. The time span was too long, over two months, and the system would definitely issue a task in between. Bi Fang had even considered giving up, but no one expected the system would break through the situation in this way. It helped him solve his biggest problem. The moment he finished reading the quest, Bi Fang thought of a solution, which was to livestream black bear hunting during the day and lead Richard and Jerret to film Dolphin Bay at night. Executing the two quests simultaneously, the former through livestreaming and the latter recorded, would be perfect once everything was over. Bi Fang became more and more delighted as he thought about it, feeling that the system really suited his wishes, though it meant more hard work. ¡°How come this sounds so familiar?¡± Bi Fang stroked his chin. He suddenly felt that this mode of different activities by day and night felt very familiar, like someone had done something like this before. ¡°Oh no, isn¡¯t this Batman?¡± Sitting on the stool and thinking for a long time, Bi Fang slapped his palm with a fist. He wondered why it sounded so familiar; it was just like Batman. By day a playboy billionaire, by night the dark knight ridding the city of crime. ¡°But what am I, the Dolphin Hero?¡± ¡­ ¡°Black Bear Hunting?¡± Jerret and the others looked at each other in confusion, saying they had never heard of it. These days, everyone had been discussing how to get Bi Fang, a public figure, into Taiji Town. It turned out that Bi Fang already had an idea, and it sounded good, but no one knew what Black Bear Hunting was. Bi Fang understood that. He had applied for visas in advance in most countries with protected areas around the world, except for this neighboring country of his own. Why? What was there worth filming in that hidden corner of Japan? Unless Mount Fuji erupted, and the system arranged a post-eruption survival task for him, that might be interesting. Speaking of which, might it actually be about to erupt? Bi Fang pulled out a sheet of white paper and sketched a simplified map of Japan, circling Honshu Island, specifically the area around Taiji Town. ¡°I¡¯ve checked the news about wildlife attacks on humans in Japan over the last few years and found that most of them were caused by Japanese Black Bears, and most of the attacks occurred on Honshu Island.¡± Bi Fang turned on his phone, pulled up the news, and placed it on the table for everyone to see. In ¡¯14, an adult female bear attacked a father and daughter on a trail; the father died on the spot, while the daughter was not in grave danger thanks to the timely rescue by villagers. In ¡¯15, there were two incidents. One involved a young couple playing in the forest; no one died, but there were injuries. The other occurred in a field where an elderly man planting in the spring was attacked by an adult male bear, luckily saved by villagers. In ¡¯17, there were three incidents. After that, attacks were incessant, with almost yearly occurrences leaving people in fear. Many forest trails have been abandoned, all due to fear of encountering such situations. Last year, there was only one incident, but it resulted in three deaths, making it a particularly vicious and significant case! At the same time, Bi Fang highlighted a few places in red. Trails, fields, courtyards. ¡°` Chapter 515: 512: Master Fang Registers Chapter 515: Chapter 512: Master Fang Registers Corridors, farmlands, yards? Gazing at the three words on the paper, Mandy was perplexed by their meaning. Richard understood, ¡°You mean¡­¡± Bi Fang nodded, ¡°Exactly that.¡± Mandy and Keke wore faces full of question marks, as laypeople, they didn¡¯t understand the riddles at all. ¡°Please, what on earth do you mean? I¡¯m just a diver, at most familiar with sharks, dolphins, and marine ecology, how would I know anything about black bears?¡± Mandy was quite dissatisfied. ... In the end, Jerret explained it once more. Corridors, farmlands, yards, these three places, all within the range of human activity, and many other areas are also fixed ranges of human activity. ¡°And so?¡± ¡°So, this indicates that it is the black bears that have intruded into human activity areas. If it were forests or riverbanks, it would mean humans have trespassed into black bear territory, these are two completely opposite concepts,¡± Jerret finished explaining. ¡°The number of black bears is increasing, to the extent that it¡¯s affecting normal human activities,¡± Bi Fang tapped the pen, summarizing. Mandy objected, ¡°Then why couldn¡¯t it be humans expanding massively, affecting the black bears¡¯ original range of activity?¡± Bi Fang commended, ¡°Not bad, you¡¯re starting to think outside the box.¡± Mandy chuckled, but then felt something was off. ¡°Whether it¡¯s the increase in black bear numbers affecting humans, or human expansion affecting the black bears, we still need to look at the local situation, for instance, the urbanization rate, and the development of the incident¡¯s location.¡± ¡°Japan is a country with a high concentration of population in cities; scarcely anyone invests in developing remote areas, those are agricultural zones, not to mention expansion.¡± Using a red marker, Bi Fang marked all the attack points on a sheet of white paper. After plotting them out, it was clear that these places were all quite remote, wild mountains and old forests, with only tiny villages nearby¡ªwhere¡¯s the expansion? Of course, this alone wasn¡¯t enough. Only after comparing maps of the cities from a few years back could it be confirmed that these areas hadn¡¯t expanded much in the last decade, yet black bear attacks on people had increased. ¡°With this, we can conclude that the number of black bears has increased and they have started to invade the human activity areas, and the reports from Japan also explain it in this way.¡± Japan has a profession dedicated to hunting black bears, called Y¨­ki Hunters, whose origins can be traced back to the 16th century. Every hunter¡¯s settlement in the northern part of Honshu Island has its unique characteristics, but they all consider themselves special protectors of nature¡¯s balance. However, since black bears have been protected, Y¨­ki Hunters can no longer freely hunt them, allowing the black bear population to grow again, now once more becoming rampant. ¡°So, this year the Japanese Government has opened a hunting festival, inviting professional hunters to hunt black bears and also promote the local Y¨­ki Hunter culture, with a total of one hundred bears permitted to be hunted using only cold weapons while banning heavy crossbows and prohibiting the killing of cubs and sub-adult black bears.¡± Japan is quite skilled at promoting its culture, turning even the simple act of killing black bears into a grand festival, stimulating local tourism, and also inviting Oak Tree Story company for live-tracking and filming. Oak Tree Story is a company composed of reporters, photographers, and filmmakers who all share the common trait of focusing on local stories. Anyone qualified to participate in the hunt will be assigned a liaison from the Oak Tree Story company for tracking and filming. Speaking of which, the Japanese Government was actually inspired by Bi Fang¡¯s live streaming. Ever since the concept of live-streaming wilderness survival appeared, it has created quite a frenzy worldwide, with a tremendous affinity and interest for this combination of wildness and intelligence. When Japan¡¯s live-streamed black bear hunting program was released, it also sparked a trend globally, but Jerret and others were too busy with their own work to hear much about it. Bi Fang felt that, regardless of whether Japan¡¯s promotion of culture is correct, the act and method of cultural protection are still worth learning from. ¡°The Japanese black bear is a subspecies of the Asian black bear, mainly dwelling in broadleaf and mixed needle-broadleaf forests, tropical rainforests in the south, and oak forests in the northeast, and they are found in Honshu and Shikoku of Japan.¡± ¡°Taiji Town is also located within the Honshu Volcanic Cluster boundary, with black bears appearing in the vicinity too.¡± Honshu Island is Japan¡¯s largest island, located in the central part of the Japanese archipelago and is the seventh-largest island in the world. It faces Hokkaido Island across the Tsugaru Strait to the north, Shikoku Island across the Seto Inland Sea to the south, and Kyushu Island across the Kanmon Straits and Bungo Channel to the southwest. The island is home to numerous forests and even active volcanoes, the most famous of which is Mount Fuji. The area designated for this hunting event is near the Honshu Volcanic Cluster. ¡°The hunting season starts on July 12 and will end as soon as one hundred black bears are hunted. I¡¯ve already registered online, and during the day, I¡¯ll live-stream the black bear hunt, and at night, I¡¯ll sneak off to Dolphin Bay to finish filming,¡± Bi Fang announced his plan. As for whether the registration would be successful, Bi Fang felt that as long as the organizers had no issues with their thinking, it shouldn¡¯t be a problem. ¡°Although it might sound boastful, I¡¯m already a world-famous figure. Showing up in Taiji Town directly might alert them, so I need to find a plausible excuse, and I think the hunting season is a good opportunity.¡± After hearing the plan, Richard and the others were speechless. This plan sounded rather good. But what¡¯s with this Batman d¨¦j¨¤ vu? ¡°Still, doesn¡¯t this seem too dangerous?¡± the electrical expert fretted a little, hunting black bears during the day and outwitting the locals and their villagers at night. Reality isn¡¯t a movie, playing Batman would take a toll on your body in just a few days. Bi Fang was very confident, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, hunting is fake, filming is real, I am not going for the first place, so I will rest and take control. In the wilderness, I am more cautious and knowledgeable than anyone else.¡± Despise the enemy strategically, but take them seriously tactically. It¡¯s definitely challenging to complete two tasks at the same time, but Bi Fang wasn¡¯t greedy. His ultimate goal was the Dolphin Bay mission; hunting the Black Bear was just incidental, for show. Hunting a hundred Black Bears using traditional methods was challenging. By the time the hunting season was completely over, the Dolphin Bay trip should also be coming to an end. After hearing this, no one had any more objections. ¡°Then we have one more week before we must set out.¡± ¡°Exactly, this time we have to succeed completely!¡± ¡­ Meanwhile, in the registration office for the Honshu Island hunting season in Japan, the employees were working overtime. Black Bear, primitive hunting¡ªjust the name was enough to attract the interest of ninety percent of people and create a sensation worldwide. Despite the high entry barrier for online registration requiring a professional hunter license, there was still an endless stream of applicants. Many traditional hunters signed up to try their luck, hoping to make a name for themselves. The case of Bi Fang was too successful, becoming instantly famous worldwide. From snatching food from a bear¡¯s mouth, being chased by packs of wolves, discovering unknown creatures, to the goose journey, sea drifting, summiting Mount Everest, and wilderness iron forging¡ªachieving any of these feats would be enough to live off fame and fortune for a lifetime. What about when all these achievements are attributed to one person? He would become a legend of the century, a legend that made a fortune. Some calculated that Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcasts could bring in nearly ten million yuan in revenue, and this was just from pure viewer donations, without any advertising. Not to mention the later club, which, although it hadn¡¯t gone public and its specific financials were unknown, could be roughly estimated from ticket sales to be a torrent of income envied by these earthy hunters. There were also many other invisible sources of income, including fame. In the age of the internet, reputation could be cashed in for money! Where there was profit, there were pursuers. Unfortunately, not everyone was capable of handling it, especially in the wilderness. Even Bi Fang initially consciously imitated Bear Grylls, before slowly developing and succeeding with his own style. These hunters had not watched Bear Grylls, and with Bi Fang¡¯s exemplary case before them, they couldn¡¯t make a name for themselves no matter what; they had the skills but lacked the ability to turn those skills into money. Now, Japan¡¯s hunting season was giving them a great opportunity. Each person supplied their resume, hoping to be selected and become famous with a single hunt. Unfortunately, this hunting season aimed to kill a hundred Brown Bears but only thirty-five professional hunters would be chosen, leaving the vast majority without the chance to participate. Furthermore, it was said that of these, five were designated Y¨­ki Hunters, leaving only thirty actual spots available. The staff¡¯s job was to pick the best from the massive pile of ¡°resumes,¡± looking for both strength and image, with a professional hunter certificate being the bare minimum. Some, even if they were strong, wouldn¡¯t be selected if they didn¡¯t look the part because they wouldn¡¯t attract an audience. Without drawing an audience, there would be a loss. ¡°Yawn, so sleepy, who is this jerk, too ugly, pass,¡± Nobita Nobi, with his sleepy eyes, once again passed on a professional hunter eagerly waiting for news. ¡°But his resume is quite good, eh? He killed a 2.4-meter-tall Brown Bear,¡± another colleague drinking coffee laughed. ¡°So what if he¡¯s killed a Brown Bear? I¡¯ve seen it at least thirty times, it¡¯s not with cold weapons, what does it count for killing it with a gun?¡± Nobita was indifferent as he flipped to the next one, suddenly showing some interest, ¡°Eh, this guy killed a 2.3-meter Brown Bear with a spear!¡± ¡°Mugalen, feels a bit familiar,¡± his colleague scratched his head, feeling like he had heard the name somewhere before but couldn¡¯t quite remember at the moment. ¡°The image is also good; he can be added to the alternatives,¡± Nobita clicked his mouse, adding Mugalen to the alternatives, and continued looking through. When he reached the last application of the day, the photo was slow to load, but the resume below came up first. ¡°Let me see if there¡¯s a surprise in the last one, well, it¡¯s another hand-to-hand against a 2.3-meter Black Bear? Hunted a pack of wolves? Discovered prehistoric animals? Encountered a group of sharks, killed a few, and also climbed Mount Everest? Ha? Is this guy bluffing?¡± Nobita laughed heartily. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The colleague next to him froze. He nudged Nobita, who was laughing, and reminded him, ¡°Don¡¯t you find these experiences very familiar?¡± ¡°Familiar? It¡¯s obviously Master Fang¡¯s resume; this person has the gall to copy Master Fang¡¯s experiences, and he doesn¡¯t think¡­¡± Nobita laughed and laughed, then suddenly couldn¡¯t laugh anymore. Wait, Master Fang¡¯s resume? At that moment, the photo finished loading bit by bit, revealing a confident and handsome young man with a smile. Two piercing screams erupted from inside the building. Chapter 516: 513: Preparing to Depart Chapter 516: Chapter 513: Preparing to Depart The next morning, a resume as elaborate as a movie script was printed and presented to the highest leader of the online office. Nobita Nobi bowed deeply. Gang Tianwu picked up a cup of coffee, not immediately grabbing the report; he looked at Nobita Nobi, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say to submit them to me at the last minute? There are still two days left. Why have you given it to me now?¡± As the highest leader of the online office, Gang Tianwu was also responsible for this hunting season, and the selection of the thirty hunters had to be reviewed by him. But it wasn¡¯t the deadline yet, so why had it been handed in early? ¡°No, no,¡± said Nobita Nobi, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead. He didn¡¯t know why, but every time he saw the towering figure of the team leader, Gang Tianwu, he instinctively felt fear, ¡°This resume is very special and must be reviewed by you personally.¡± ... ¡°What¡¯s so special about this resume?¡± Gang Tianwu now curiously picked it up, but upon first glance, he was stunned. While reading, he looked up at Nobita Nobi and couldn¡¯t help but burst out halfway through, ¡°Did you submit a movie script? Or a collection of novel stories?¡± ¡°Team leader, look at his name and photo.¡± ¡°Bi Fang? Hmm, Bi Fang¡­ Bi Fang!¡± Gang Tianwu stood up abruptly, his tone quite urgent, ¡°Is it that adventurer Bi Fang? He also signed up?¡± The team leader¡¯s shocked expression filled Nobita Nobi with a sense of pride ¨C it was nothing more than he¡¯d expected. The reaction was almost the same as his upon seeing it, but he couldn¡¯t show this response. Facing the question, he nodded quickly: ¡°Yes, we have confirmed it repeatedly, it¡¯s that adventurer Bi Fang.¡± ¡°Agreed, of course, I agree!¡± Gang Tianwu appeared very pleased. He couldn¡¯t believe that a small hunting season could snag such a big whale! If Bi Fang came, it would definitely push the hunting season to its peak! ¡°But¡­¡± Nobita Nobi hesitated for a moment, reminding Gang Tianwu, ¡°If he competes, the Y¨­ki Hunters, will they still be able to get¡­¡± Gang Tianwu paused, slowly sitting back down and drawing a cigarette to gather his thoughts. He had nearly forgotten about this. Focusing on the advantages of Bi Fang¡¯s arrival, he overlooked the threat it posed. The essence of this season¡¯s black bear hunting was to combine hunting culture with Y¨­ki culture. The fundamental purpose was to promote their Y¨­ki Hunter culture. The five Y¨­ki Hunters were nearly guaranteed first place; they were the five Great White Sharks among the hunters. But now, a larger, more ferocious whale had appeared. Could the five Great White Sharks still emerge victorious? The movie-script-like report was still fresh in Gang Tianwu¡¯s hands, every event written on it was the most real, witnessed by countless people around the world, beyond disbelief. In comparison, the few Y¨­ki Hunters who had always hunted in the deep forests seemed unlikely to outperform the opposition. The more bustling the hunting season, the greater his merit. However, if all this excitement benefited someone else, the more bustling it became, the worse it was for him. Far away, Bi Fang might never have dreamed that being too strong could also be a problem. If an opponent is too strong, you¡¯re reluctant to invite them over, afraid of losing. What to do? Online now, pretty urgent. ¡°If we lose, what shall we do?¡± Unable to decide on his own, Gang Tianwu waved Nobita Nobi away, then took out his phone to contact the Y¨­ki Hunters, asking them whether they had any assurance against the renowned adventurer Bi Fang. ¡°At a critical moment, we can use some tricks, but not too exaggeratedly,¡± Gang Tianwu hinted. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. To his surprise, the five Y¨­ki Hunters showed a certain interest in Bi Fang¡¯s participation but were unconcerned, even contemptuous. Gang Tianwu was astonished. Had they been so long in the deep forests that they had never heard of Bi Fang¡¯s fame? The Y¨­ki Hunters, who were together at the moment, burst into laughter after hearing this. ¡°Gang Tianwu is overvaluing others and undervaluing himself. Even if he¡¯s a legendary adventurer, what of it? We Y¨­ki Hunters, our ancestors have all been bear killers, our blades, our blood, have been forged and flow for the hunt of the black bear. If it¡¯s about wilderness survival, we might be inferior to him, but hunting black bears, we are sure to win!¡± one of the Y¨­ki Hunters shouted. ¡°Yeah, didn¡¯t you know about his first live broadcast when he ran into a black bear? He didn¡¯t succeed in killing it but let it escape, proving he doesn¡¯t know how to kill bears,¡± another Y¨­ki Hunter interjected. Gang Tianwu muttered to himself, black bears have been protected for so many years, how many have you killed? But facing his formidable seniors, he couldn¡¯t just say that. Then he had a second thought, suddenly finding their words made sense. It seemed that Bi Fang truly hadn¡¯t killed any bears, his achievements were merely driving them away. If it really came to life and death combat, it was difficult to say who would win or lose. His own side¡¯s Y¨­ki Hunters might not have killed many black bears, but they had slaughtered a few. Comforted by this thought, Gang Tianwu¡¯s mind was much more at ease. The odds of winning were still pretty good. Even if they were outmatched, a little cunning would ensure their victory. After hanging up the phone, Gang Tianwu immediately stamped Bi Fang¡¯s resume with a red seal. Approved! Alas, the clever Gang Tianwu had overlooked something: the black bear Bi Fang encountered was a rare and giant one, over two meters long, and Bi Fang had come across it by chance, armed only with a stone spear. The Y¨­ki Hunters, on the other hand, wore armor, held steel broadswords, tracked and set various traps, and had hunting dogs to help contain. Furthermore, unknown to others, the city white-collar worker with just a blue wilderness survival skill, with average stats under ten, who had gone through countless dangers, had long since grown into a Wilderness Traveler, a Forbidden Zone Hunter¡­ Magic Capital. Bi Fang was not aware that he had just gone through a process of being considered, passed, and accepted. At the moment, he was focused on the third automatic refresh of the System Shop, to see if he could find some good stuff. [Low-level Skill Upgrade Coupon*1 ¡ª¡ª 500 Points] [Strength Attribute Point*1 ¡ª¡ª 1200 Points] [Mammoth Climbing Pants*1 ¡ª¡ª 80 Points] [Weapon Repair Coupon*1 ¡ª¡ª 180 Points] [Ancestor Bird Outdoor Sneakers*1 ¡ª¡ª 100 Points] [Night Owl Whistle*1 ¡ª¡ª 50 Points] [Firesteel*1 ¡ª¡ª 140 Points] [Sudoku Puzzle Book ¡ª¡ª 10 Points] [Survival Album ¡ª 5 Points] When you have provisions in hand, your heart is at ease. Bi Fang scanned with a glance, purchased the Strength attribute points, the Weapon Repair Coupon, and the low-level Skill Coupon. As for the Survival Album that cost 5 points, he had been fooled by the name and bought it once before; it turned out to be a compilation of his most glorious moments edited into a photo album-like item, named the Survival Album¡­ But when he saw the golden light in the last item, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t take his eyes off it. [Advanced Skill Upgrade Coupon*1 ¡ª 3800 Points] An Advanced Skill Upgrade Coupon can be used in conjunction with Enhancement Points to upgrade an orange Skill! Looking at the more than two thousand points he still had left after three rounds of sweeps, Bi Fang quickly redeemed the Points he had accumulated over the past few days and consumed the Advanced Skill Upgrade Coupon. He had saved some Enhancement Points precisely for this moment! No sooner had he redeemed it than Bi Fang immediately clicked to use it. His long-unused Wilderness Traveler lv1 quickly morphed into lv2! In an instant, a massive influx of information flooded his brain, leaving Bi Fang momentarily stunned before he could begin to process it all. Simultaneously, the skill tree on the skill panel grew slightly thicker, bursting with leaves and branches. ¡°Isn¡¯t this cost-performance ratio just too good?¡± After a moment to assimilate, Bi Fang opened his eyes, his gaze filled with wonder. The upgrade from level one to level two of an orange Skill was even more substantial than the previous upgrades! Though it couldn¡¯t compare to the jump from purple to orange, it was still quite exaggerated. He opened the panel again. [Sole Bound User: Bi Fang] [Growth Age: 25] [Height: 186.1cm] [Weight: 80KG] [Strength: 16] [Physique: 18] [Agility: 16] [Wisdom: 15] [Platinum Body, Beastly Instinct] [Status: Healthy.] [Enhancement Points: 0] [Wilderness Points: 27 (convertible)] Orange main trunk: Wilderness Traveler lv2. Purple branch: Forbidden Zone Hunter lv1, Body Tempering lv1. Blue twig: Tai Chi Traveling Dragon lv3. Green canopy: None. Battle spoils skills: Wolves King¡¯s Sense of Smell, King Fish¡¯s Stomach, Biological Sensing. Opening the panel again, Bi Fang found his skill panel greatly simplified. The level 2 Wilderness Traveler and Forbidden Zone Hunter had swallowed up all the previous skills like Archery, Rock Climbing, Swimming, Biological Identification, and High-altitude Parachuting. The robust orange main trunk rooted deep within the earth, thriving and growing, sprouting lush purple branches, sprawling out blue twigs, and finally, a green canopy, verdant and lush. Felt good. Bi Fang felt completely renewed. After each enhancement, he felt like stepping on a cloud, soaring higher and farther; this pleasure was beyond any other experience. System infusion must be the world¡¯s most efficient learning and growing method, right? Bi Fang stood up and went to the now completely transformed aquarium in the living room. Half of it was filled with water, brimming with lush green aquatic plants and driftwood, while the other half was a gradient of land, harboring three small ponds. He sprinkled some feed into the aquarium, and a swarm of small fish floated at the top layer of the water, scrambling for food. In a small nearby pond, two Giant Mandible Larva young responded to the sound, ready for their midday meal. ¡°I really don¡¯t understand why you like keeping these bugs, they look¡­¡± Mandy came over and knocked on the glass, startling the small fish into a frenzy, ¡°They look just too, uh, horrifying, and they¡¯re as wide as my hand.¡± The size of the Giant Mandible Larvae in front of her was hard to believe as ¡°larvae.¡± Two-thirds of their back resembled an extended version of a lobster tail, with many tentacles, somewhat like centipedes, while the front third looked like a regular earth-boring dung beetle, complete with large pincers. According to Bi Fang, these creatures were insects with only six legs. Those tentacles behind weren¡¯t feet, but gill-like organs used for breathing. The larvae in the pond were unaware of Mandy¡¯s assessment and carefree in their play. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t underestimate them. I use them to assess water quality. As long as they are lively, it means the water has a high oxygen content and is very clean, making it a great environment for the fish in the tank,¡± Bi Fang cherished them, not only not finding them ugly but actually thinking they were quite handsome. What boy could resist a cool bug with large pincers? Giant Mandible Larvae are known as indicators of water quality. If they are present, the water quality must be good. Unfortunately, with urban pollution nowadays, they can no longer be found even in ordinary countryside, only in deep mountains and old forests. Many provinces in the country have not observed Giant Mandible Larvae in the wild for many consecutive years. The insect specimen of the Giant Mandible Larva on display at the Yunnan Province Insect Museum was still captured and prepared in 1986. The two specimens in front of him were accidentally discovered by Zhou Weisheng in the Banna Rainforest and given to Bi Fang as a gift. They had just arrived the day before yesterday. Due to the long journey, they were in poor spirits upon arrival, but after resting for a couple of days, they were now full of energy. Every day, Bi Fang would personally catch tadpoles to feed them. So, in this tank of fish, the most precious weren¡¯t the small fish but these two larvae. ¡°If you find them in some pool while surviving in the wild, then the water there is basically safe to drink.¡± Bi Fang¡¯s professional habits came to the fore, as he began to naturally disseminate wilderness survival knowledge. Mandy shrugged indifferently and walked away, shaking her head. After feeding some fish and playing with the two larvae, Bi Fang¡¯s special black phone suddenly buzzed. He pulled it out and saw a few big words that caught his eye. ¡°Application approved.¡± Chapter 517: 514: Descending upon Tokyo Chapter 517: Chapter 514: Descending upon Tokyo The phone in Bi Fang¡¯s hands was encased in a camouflage hard shell, looking incredibly sturdy and reminding one of those early-century Nokias that could be used to crack walnuts. Clearly, it was not a phone one could purchase from a regular store on the street. This time he was to go to Japan, and considering the activities he was about to undertake, his identity, and the historical relations between the two countries, Bi Fang felt he needed to submit a request for this mission. When he made his first request, the other party even misunderstood his intentions, asking if he required armed support, and later explained with difficulty that supplying firearms posed some challenges, and their use might lead to quite severe consequences. There were, however, many melee weapons readily available for supply, and airdropping them was not out of the question¡ªit just required a heads-up about an hour and a half in advance. Bi Fang was puzzled for a while but eventually clarified that he had no intentions of causing destruction¡­ ... Now, his request had been approved, and following that, a warm invitation from the Japanese side arrived. A man named Gang Tianwu called to introduce himself as the person in charge of this hunting season, expressing immense honor at Bi Fang¡¯s participation and requesting the exact time of arrival to arrange accommodations. After finalizing everything, all eyes on the Japanese official forums noticed immediately that the official poster had changed. Initially, it only featured Black Bear and Y¨­ki Hunter in an adversarial stance, but this time, it also included a young man. In the middle of the large poster, a black bear was roaring skyward, on the left was the Y¨­ki Hunter wielding a naginata, and to the right was the half-portrait of Bi Fang, with eyes full of determination and eyebrows soaring. [Who is this man? Why is he worthy of standing on the other side of Y¨­ki Hunter?] [No way, no way, can anyone really not know Master Fang?] [With regular live streams watched by over six million viewers and a global fan base of nearly a hundred million, aside from the elderly, children, middle-aged men who don¡¯t watch live streams, and people from impoverished regions, even I, from a small Japanese village, recognize this man.] [Is Master Fang here to avenge the first incident with Black Bear?] [Damn, since when was Master Fang participating in Japan¡¯s hunting season? How come I haven¡¯t heard anything? Is this fake news? Are Japanese officials violating portrait rights?] [Japan¡¯s official announcement came a day earlier than Wolf Fang¡¯s, I don¡¯t understand.] The other registered hunters were filled with jealousy. Are we unworthy of being named? Why does he get to be in the center spot? Underneath the massive promotional poster, there was also a video interview with the aged Y¨­ki Hunter. An Oak Tree Company host interviewed an elderly Y¨­ki Hunter, asking for his views on this hunting season. The old Y¨­ki Hunter Endo said, ¡°Japan now has over four million sika deer, yet our wolves have gone extinct, leaving only Black Bear to hold them back, and now, Black Bear¡¯s numbers have also gotten out of control, so we stand up!¡± ¡°The Y¨­ki Hunter has a history of several centuries; my family has passed it down to me, the ninth generation. Every time Black Bear encroaches on humans, we stand up, and this time is no exception. However, I am old now; my disciple, Sato, and his peers from the new generation of young hunters will carry on the legacy!¡± Endo stepped aside, revealing a middle-aged man behind him with a somewhat stable demeanor and bowed legs. Facing his master¡¯s introduction, he nodded calmly. ¡°` Passersby erupted in cheers; this was their culture, their Y¨­ki Hunters! The reporter asked again, ¡°So, what do you think about the Legendary Adventurer Master Fang joining the competition?¡± Endo was clearly of an older generation and not very internet-savvy. Taken aback, he asked, ¡°Master Fang? Is that his name?¡± ¡°No, his name is Bi Fang, but his fans revere him as Master Fang, comparing him to a heavenly god in the wilds. He¡¯s an Adventurer with many legendary experiences.¡± Endo scoffed, ¡°A god? If he¡¯s the god of the wilds, then we Y¨­ki Hunters are the gods of hunting Black Bears. No matter what feats he¡¯s accomplished, the first prize of this hunting competition will surely be ours!¡± Sato, clearly embarrassed by his master¡¯s age and propensity to dwell on past glories, found his master¡¯s words less than courteous. He quickly coughed twice, attempting to draw the Oak Tree Company reporter¡¯s attention. But the reporter didn¡¯t care for politeness; the more intense the conflict, the better. They pursued such stories with gusto, hoping for a face-to-face confrontation to splash across tomorrow¡¯s headlines. Left with no choice as the reporter was about to ask another question, Sato cut in, ¡°I have great respect for Mr. Bi¡¯s actions in the wilderness, and I acknowledge that he is a legendary adventurer. I¡¯ve even watched many of his videos¡ªhe¡¯s a remarkable young man.¡± After lavishing praise on Bi Fang, which didn¡¯t sit well with his master Endo, Sato quickly changed his tune, ¡°However, precisely because he is too young, my master ¡ª a professional Y¨­ki Hunter ¡ª was thirty-six when he first killed a Black Bear on his own.¡± ¡°Thirty-five and ten months!¡± Endo corrected sharply. Sato nodded, ¡°And under my master¡¯s patient guidance, I managed to kill a 1.8-meter Black Bear on my own at thirty-two! I am forty this year and have killed a total of seven large bears! The only reason there aren¡¯t more is that the government¡¯s annual quota is too low. If it were removed, I could kill even more!¡± At this point, Sato appeared somewhat proud, and Endo nodded in satisfaction, pleased that his disciple had surpassed him. ¡°But from what I understand, Bi Fang is only twenty-five this year, right?¡± The reporter nodded, confirming this information. Sato began to speak with authority, ¡°In terms of Black Bear hunting, he is simply too inexperienced. The only Black Bear encounter he had was fraught with danger, and he didn¡¯t even manage to harm the beast; he merely poked it, prompting the not particularly hungry bear to abandon its prey.¡± The reporter was skilled at honing in on the controversy, ¡°So in this competition, Master Fang is truly no match for the Y¨­ki Hunters, is he?¡± Sato was displeased with the reporter¡¯s instigation. Even if Bi Fang was inferior in bear-hunting, he was still a globally recognized figure, and Sato didn¡¯t want to offend him so easily. Yet, deep down, Sato did think just that; he simply let out a slight smile, ¡°I didn¡¯t say that, but for this competition, I still maintain considerable confidence, and I imagine the other Y¨­ki Hunters likely feel the same.¡± Beyond Sato¡¯s interview, the reporter also spoke with other Y¨­ki Hunters participating in the hunt: Tanaka, Okuyama, Fujiwara, and Takahashi, who all displayed their self-confidence and poise. Some hunters went as far as to directly state that Bi Fang was too green and that perhaps in twenty years, when they had grown old and Bi Fang had matured, he might stand a chance of winning. This infuriated Bi Fang¡¯s fans, who lashed out. [Since ancient times, the left side of a ¡®wave¡¯ denotes a loss! You¡¯re on the left side of the poster; you¡¯re doomed to lose!] [The Japanese People have always been so confident; I¡¯m used to it by now.] ¡°` ¡°To be honest, Bi Fang had never actually killed a Black Bear; the only record was a retreat battle¡­¡± S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°This hunting season, victory will inevitably belong to our Great Korean Empire!¡± ¡°Wow, Little Kimchi is even more confident than Little Yabaga. Let me see, looks like no one from Stick Country is participating huh?¡± ¡°Holy shit, is Mugalen coming too?¡± ¡°Where? Where?¡± ¡°Mugalen?¡± Bi Fang, who had been silently lurking, was somewhat surprised, but he didn¡¯t see the list of participants. Only after scrolling through the other party¡¯s social network did he find out that they had only registered, and it was still unknown whether they had been accepted or not. The complete list would not be confirmed until the day after tomorrow. Bi Fang was an exception; Japan used him as a gimmick, promoting him in advance. After sending out the new posters and promotions, the traffic to the promotional website instantly skyrocketed tenfold! Gang Tianwu was overjoyed; indeed, after Bi Fang joined, it made a huge difference, stirring up the excitement and drawing more and more attention to their hunting season. The event could be considered a great success already; if the Y¨­ki Hunter could take the final championship, it would undoubtedly be the most significant highlight in his record! Before long, Wolf Fang also released posters, but Wolf Fang¡¯s posters were much more straightforward and brutal, featuring only Bear and Bi Fang. Bi Fang, spear in hand, leapt up from behind; the Black Bear roared loudly, trying to turn around, with saliva splattering from its mouth. Wolf Fang¡¯s trailer, once again confirmed that Bi Fang was about to participate in Japan¡¯s Black Bear hunting season. ¡°Get first place, bring home the first place!¡± ¡°What Y¨­ki Hunter, thinking he¡¯s half ghost, top gun? He¡¯s actually neither human nor ghost.¡± ¡°Good joke.¡± ¡°Show those little Yabaga some color.¡± ¡°International friends, let¡¯s all be friendly, okay!¡± ¡°Throw some dirt in their eyes.¡± ¡°My back!!!¡± ¡°Stir it up, the more lively the better.¡± Bi Fang put down his phone, picked up his ticket to Japan. The more attention the hunting season drew, the more convenient his actions would be. Besides the organization and those eight people, probably no one would guess that participating in the hunting season was a sham; the true purpose was to go to Taiji Town to film Dolphin Bay. ¡°Finally, all modifications are complete! Guys, come down and have a look.¡± The voice of the electrical expert came from the living room, and everyone hurried over. Bi Fang jumped onto the stair railing, smoothly slid down to the ground floor, and from three meters high, he jumped down. The living room was already filled with various materials and wires. Bi Fang stepped over a pile of plaster and noticed a stone suddenly slide under his feet. After the modifications, the mobility of these cameras had greatly increased, becoming quieter, more flexible, and their colors and appearance were more like the local vegetation of Taiji Town. The final adjustments were completed, two days ahead of the original plan. The electrical expert wiped the sweat beads from his forehead, manipulated the computer, and the stone camera turned a corner and slid away from Bi Fang¡¯s feet, finally stopping in a corner, motionless, looking just like an ordinary stone. The electrical expert was very satisfied: ¡°Adjustments are all complete; as soon as we get there, we can start using them directly.¡± Equipment was ready, and so¡­ Bi Fang looked at his team. Richard nodded. Jerry spread his hands: ¡°I feel like I can go to the Olympics now.¡± Pondy laughed: ¡°All my injuries are healed.¡± ¡°Ready to dive, sir!¡± Mandy and Keke said aloud. The assistant cameraman was eager to try: ¡°I will do my best.¡± ¡°Then, see you on July 10th, in Taiji Town.¡± ¡°See you in Taiji Town! *7¡± ¡­ The evening of July 8th. The cabin was dark, the plane had descended below the cloud layer, and it was raining outside the window, the worldly lights shining through the veil of rain. Dressed in a rare suit, Bi Fang held a black umbrella, looking out at the huge maze beneath the dark night sky. At this moment, beneath his feet lay Asia¡¯s largest city¡ªTokyo. Chapter 518: 515: Sugar-Coated Cannonball Chapter 518: Chapter 515: Sugar-Coated Cannonball In the middle school geography atlas, there was a satellite map that Bi Fang remembered very clearly. Although he couldn¡¯t recall which volume it was or the specific content, the sprinkling of lights across it was still vivid in his memory. It depicted the night around the world, with lights forming glimmering spiderwebs in the darkness. Many bright spots dotted the spiderweb; each one was a massive human city, some bright, some dim. And in Asia, Tokyo was surrounded by a dazzling white glow. The entire Tokyo Bay at night resembled a giant candle burning fiercely, spreading along the entire coastline. This is one of the world¡¯s four super cities, Japan¡¯s Tokyo, a colossal maze with a population of over thirteen million. The entire Tokyo metropolitan area even boasts a population exceeding thirty-seven million people, more than a quarter of Japan¡¯s entire population¡ªthe world¡¯s record. ... Bi Fang took a deep breath and headed towards the interior of the airport. The smooth road collected shallow puddles, with warm purple neon light reflecting off them, trembling slightly as cars drove by. Gang Tianwu had been waiting in the lobby for the arrival of the flight, and finally, at the entrance, Nobita Nobi spotted a man in a black suit¡ªBi Fang. Both were surprised to see each other dressed so differently from their usual attire, almost missing each other entirely. Gang Tianwu immediately approached Bi Fang to shake hands, introduced himself, and then said, ¡°Mr. Bi, it¡¯s our honor to have you join the Hunting Season in Tokyo, Japan.¡± Before coming, Bi Fang had researched the organizers of the Hunting Season and seen pictures, so he recognized the burly Gang Tianwu. However, the latter¡¯s heavily accented English was tough to understand, making Bi Fang¡¯s scalp tingle: ¡°You can speak Japanese, I understand it.¡± Having anticipated this possibility, Bi Fang had used a ¡®Language Proficiency Coupon,¡¯ and now he could converse fluently in Japanese. ¡°You can speak Japanese?¡± Gang Tianwu and Nobita Nobi exchanged glances, both displaying genuine astonishment in their eyes. This wasn¡¯t just for show, but real surprise from the heart. They both knew that in addition to their native language, the other was also fluent in English, French, and Spanish. Now they could add Japanese to the list? Proficiency in five languages¡ªwithout mentioning anything else, just this alone deserved immense respect from the average person. ¡°This is great, I didn¡¯t expect Mr. Bi to also understand our language, which is truly delightful,¡± Gang Tianwu remarked with even more warmth upon learning of Bi Fang¡¯s ability to speak Japanese. Nobita Nobi was up ahead, helping with the luggage and also leading the way, while Gang Tianwu was in charge of coordinating with Bi Fang. ¡°Honestly, having Bi-sensei come to Japan for the Hunting Season is a huge surprise for us. Initially, when the Hunting Season was being organized, we had thought of inviting you, but since there was no precedent, we felt it was unlikely that you would come, so we abandoned the idea,¡± Gang Tianwu confessed. It felt odd for Bi Fang, who was in his forties, to be called ¡®sensei¡¯ by Gang Tianwu: ¡°Just call me Bi Fang, I¡¯m not worthy of the title ¡®sensei¡¯.¡± ¡°Haha, no worries, it just slipped out since you have taught us so much about wilderness survival!¡± Gang Tianwu laughed heartily before continuing. ¡°So when you registered, I was stunned, thinking someone must have watched your livestream and jokingly filled out an application in your name, right Bear?¡± Nobita Nobi turned around and smiled, ¡°Yes, exactly, it was incredible.¡± ¡°After confirming it was really you, we unanimously agreed right away and posted posters without any hesitation,¡± Gang Tianwu boasted, quite skilled at spinning a good tale. Of course, anyone with sense wouldn¡¯t mention the prior contact with the Ghost Hunter. To welcome Bi Fang, Gang Tianwu even arranged for a dedicated car for Bi Fang, making Nobita Nobi his designated driver for the time being; before the Hunting Season started, he would take him anywhere he wanted to go. There might be some discontentment among the project team, but Gang Tianwu felt it was all worthwhile. The arrival of Bi Fang had increased the popularity of the entire Hunting Season by several folds, and countless commercial advertisements had been sold. This bit of preferential treatment was trivial in comparison, even the hotel they were headed to was the presidential suite of the Imperial Hotel. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for the other hunters, they didn¡¯t receive such treatment at all¡ªgetting their airfare reimbursed at best. Hotel arrangements? Wishful thinking. They could stay wherever they liked, even in a tent in the forest, as nobody would care. But anyone who dared to be late would have their hunting permit canceled on the spot! One wonders what Mugalen¡¯s reaction would be upon seeing such a contrast once he arrived. Nobita Nobi opened the car door, loaded the luggage, and drove Bi Fang towards the Imperial Hotel. After exchanging pleasantries with Gang Tianwu, Bi Fang, led by Nobita Nobi, arrived at the presidential suite. The generosity of Japan amazed him when he saw the inside of the room. It was embarrassing to say, but he wasn¡¯t one for luxuries and had never stayed in such an opulent hotel suite before. When he saw the beautiful attendants uniformed along the corridors, the prepared tea in the room, and the heated bathrobe, he instantly felt the decadence of capitalism. Fallen, so fallen! Gang Tianwu, you villain, with your strong features and warm welcome, are you trying to undermine my will and body through such means, making me forget my true purpose? Ah!? ¡°` Do you think I¡¯m someone who falls from grace that easily? ¡°Ah, this is so relaxing.¡± Bi Fang, with a face slightly flushed with righteousness, lay in a bathtub large enough for three, looking out at the busiest metropolis in all of Asia through the one-way glass. The pitter-patter of light rain on the glass morphed into delicate streams, shrouding the entire city in a mist, with the colorful lights flickering. Indeed, from June to October is Japan¡¯s typhoon season. Japan is characterized by its subtropical monsoon climate and temperate monsoon climate, with the common feature being the influence of the southeast monsoon, leading to high temperatures and heavy rainfall in the summer, and even the possibility of encountering the rainy season. The rainy season is a unique climatic phenomenon in East Asia, found only along the banks of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in Huaxia, in areas between 29 and 33 degrees north latitude, as well as in the southeastern part of Japan and the southernmost part of the Korean Peninsula. Other regions at the same latitude around the world do not experience rainy seasons. It¡¯s hard for those who haven¡¯t lived in Jiangnan to understand what it¡¯s like when a rain can last for an entire month: stuffy and hot, staying at home, one can almost feel their body starting to mold. Choosing to visit this city in July, you¡¯re most likely to encounter rainy weather. Bi Fang stretched and climbed out of the bathtub, his travel fatigue vanishing into thin air. He hadn¡¯t been corrupted by capital; it¡¯s just that the other party had spent money, sending sugar-coated shells his way. Bi Fang, with his immense self-control, of course would eat the candy coating and send the shells right back¡ªno waste allowed. He took out the late-night snack menu that had just been delivered, ordered a few items simply, feeling that only after eating and drinking his fill could he carry on with the upcoming activities. Hunting season starts on the twelfth of July, and today¡¯s the eighth, four more days to go. Richard, Jerret, and others will arrive in Japan again on the tenth of July. Staggering their arrival times was also done to better conceal their connection. Richard and his group were probably already on Taiji Town¡¯s blacklist; it wouldn¡¯t be convenient for them to appear together. After all, given Bi Fang¡¯s past actions, if the two were to appear at the same time, suspicion would easily be aroused. On the twelfth, the hunters will choose their preferred hunting spots in the Honshu Volcanic Belt. At that time, Bi Fang will choose to be in the vicinity of Taiji Town, adding the two together, the degree of suspicion would reach its peak. So Bi Fang chose to come to Tokyo, Japan two days early. July ninth, eight o¡¯clock in the morning, the final list for the hunting season was published, including five Ghost Hunters: Sato, Tanaka, Okuyama, Fujiwara, and Takahashi, with an average age of forty-one. Bi Fang, without a doubt, was also on the list. Scrolling down, when he saw that familiar name, he laughed. Mugalen was selected too. As the most outstanding, and the final champion of the Wilderness Survivalist show, the Hunter Mugalen had long earned a certain degree of fame, and his selection was unquestionable. Scrolling further, the next twenty-eight people were not familiar faces to Bi Fang: they were all strangers, all Professional Hunters, from all over the world, but even the youngest was a full seven years older than Bi Fang, aged thirty-two. Bi Fang¡¯s youthful face stood out among them, yet it was impossible for anyone to overlook. In the minds of the other hunters, the twenty-five-year-old Legendary Adventurer who was proficient in multiple languages, dabbling in mathematics, geography, biology, chemistry, physics, and history, with no small accomplishments in these fields, powerful background, and extremely high physical fitness, Bi Fang was just a damn BUG! Against the heavens! If you were forty-five, that would still be understandable, but twenty-five? Havewe all been living our lives in vain? Since Richard and his team won¡¯t arrive until tomorrow, Bi Fang still had plenty of time today. The Imperial Hotel where he stayed had an excellent location, very close to the renowned shopping district Ginza. It was convenient to tour Asakusa, Akihabara, and Tokyo Disneyland. Thus, Bi Fang had Nobita Nobi take him on a tour of Tokyo. Although he had missed May and June, the two best months to visit Japan, the streets were still teeming with foreigners. Some young girls even recognized Bi Fang and approached him for a photo, to which he graciously agreed. A handsome Asian face coupled with fluent Japanese made it hard to tell he was a foreigner. When they arrived in Akihabara, Bi Fang talked about everything from culture to tourism, from festivals to cuisine, all the way to various customs, and then seemed to casually ask, ¡°By the way, Nobita, do you guys like eating dolphin meat?¡± ¡°Dolphin meat?¡± Nobita Nobi was taken aback, chuckling, ¡°Who would eat that? It¡¯s poisonous, you know.¡± ¡°Then why have I heard that you guys kill tens of thousands of dolphins every year?¡± ¡°Impossible, we Japanese have never slaughtered dolphins¡ªthose are nothing but lies made up by the media!¡± Nobita Nobi¡¯s voice grew louder, seemingly agitated by the fact that even an Adventurer like Bi Fang would believe reports from unscrupulous media. Bi Fang was thoughtful. ¡°` Chapter 519: 516: So Thats What I Meant? Chapter 519: Chapter 516: So That¡¯s What I Meant? Nobita Nobi and his burly boss, Gang Tianwu, were entirely different in appearance. The whole person was very thin and small, highly nearsighted, with glasses thicker than the bottom of a beer bottle, and a large head that made him look very easy to bully. Although he seemed weak and frail, when this kind of person spoke, it gave others a feeling of credibility. You don¡¯t know? Bi Fang pondered thoughtfully, which was exactly what Richard had said. Richard had come to Japan more than once to unveil the truth, and he had been active in Japan for as long as six months. ... BBC, The Times, Time Magazine¡ªmany people were brought here by him, but they all left empty-handed. In the meantime, Richard kept asking passers-by on the streets, any top-tier professional would learn how to think and distinguish the truth of a matter. ¡°Have you heard about this?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ve never heard of it.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying, right? Do people really eat dolphins? Really?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to believe such a thing.¡± ¡°We prefer to watch dolphins; I¡¯ve never heard of it myself.¡± The answers Richard got from interviews he randomly conducted on the streets of Tokyo were identical to Bi Fang¡¯s responses now. Perhaps those people were all lying, but the likelihood was not high. The media covered up the truth¡ªit was organized, premeditated censorship because dolphin meat contains high concentrations of mercury, several dozen times above the normal level! Compared to that, those who actually slaughtered dolphins were a minority; in those remote mountain villages, most Japanese people didn¡¯t even know what was happening there. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The fishermen claimed it was their ¡°tradition,¡± ¡°culture,¡± and outsiders like Richard didn¡¯t understand them¡ªthey ate beef, while the fishermen ate dolphin meat. But in fact, those people were talking nonsense. If even the Japanese themselves didn¡¯t know about it, how could it count as ¡°tradition,¡± ¡°culture¡±? It was just killing for the sake of killing. ¡°All right, all right, it was just a casual question,¡± Bi Fang waved his hand as if he really just mentioned it in passing. Nobita Nobi also calmed down, realizing he had gotten a bit emotional, and quickly apologized to Bi Fang. Bi Fang waved his hand to show he didn¡¯t mind at all, and then spent the whole day being shown around Tokyo by Nobita. They were lucky today; it was just overcast and didn¡¯t rain. It had to be said, in terms of prosperity, Tokyo truly deserved to be one of the top four mega-cities in the world; even Magic Capital had a long way to catch up. Men in suits hurried along, looking at their watches, but more often, it was energetic young people, with streets full of youthful girls, their short skirts revealing their fair thighs, and delicate stockings drawing attractive curves. Summer, ah. Bi Fang sipped on a cold beverage, feeling somewhat sentimental. With each seasonal change, a new sensation arrives, and by the time you realize it, months have passed by. After tossing his trash in the bin, Bi Fang bought some gifts and souvenirs on the recommendation of Nobita Nobi and also got himself a PS5. As night fell, neon lights lit up the long street from east to west in succession, and for dinner, Bi Fang went to meet Gang Tianwu at the Imperial Hotel as arranged. Bi Fang and others sat on the long tatami mat, and a two-hundred-kilogram bluefin tuna was displayed in the center of the restaurant for all to see clearly. An experienced chef, holding an extremely narrow kitchen knife, cut thick slices of fish flesh along the muscle texture of the tuna and served them to the tables of different guests. The pink belly meat shone like exquisite rubies under the orange lighting. There was also broiled pufferfish, charcoal-grilled Pacific saury¡ªoh, Pacific saury? Bi Fang was somewhat surprised to see it, then realized the reason. It turned out that because of overfishing in Huaxia, the price of Pacific saury had skyrocketed; no longer a commoner¡¯s food, it had started to mingle with the likes of the bluefin tuna. If Pacific saury could talk, they would probably have to sigh at their good fortune. Gang Tianwu personally poured a cup of tea for Bi Fang, as Bi Fang did not drink alcohol, tea was used instead of water. Returning to his seat, Gang Tianwu asked with a smile, ¡°Mr. Bi, what method do you plan to use for hunting Black Bear? When I arrived, it seemed you didn¡¯t bring any weapons. Did you have them shipped separately?¡± ¡°Are you trying to gather intelligence, Mr. Gang?¡± ¡°Ahahaha, sorry, sorry, that was thoughtless of me. I didn¡¯t mean that; I was just curious, just curious,¡± Gang Tianwu said with a laugh, rubbing his bald head, ¡°Our competition is absolutely fair, I almost broke the rules myself.¡± Bi Fang smiled slightly and didn¡¯t mind, answering, ¡°As for weapons, probably two daggers.¡± One would be a harpoon, which he hadn¡¯t used for a long time; the second was a Hundred-refined Steel dagger Bi Fang had made himself in the Banna Rainforest. ¡°Really? Two daggers? You think you can take down Black Bear with just two daggers?¡± ¡°You must be kidding, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a Black Bear, isn¡¯t it? I¡¯ve seen them in the zoo; they stand taller than me when up on their hind legs. If I saw one in the wild, I¡¯d probably pee my pants in fright, right?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want to reveal your secret weapon, do you?¡± ¡°Strong and powerful, strong and powerful indeed!¡± The guests around whispered to each other; the recent Black Bear hunting season had sparked a craze worldwide, not to mention in Japan. From the moment Bi Fang stepped in, they had recognized this legendary adventurer. Even those who did not know him soon learned of some of Bi Fang¡¯s past deeds from the conversations of the people around and respected him accordingly. Of course, those dining here were clearly not ordinary people; they didn¡¯t get too excited, instead coming forward to toast in honor. For this reason, the head chef specially presented a piece of the fattiest belly meat from the tuna as a gesture of admiration for the strong. Though a Huaxia person, Bi Fang knew that the Japanese¡¯s reverence for the strong was ingrained in their bones¡ªindeed, all creatures admired the strong. But the Japanese displayed this quite openly, and Bi Fang felt ¡°admiration for the strong¡± and ¡°overcoming superiors¡± were the two most distinct characteristics of this nation. There were many historic and environmental factors that shaped this mindset. Perhaps as an island nation prone to volcanoes, earthquakes, typhoons, and other natural disasters, the natural hardships made the people¡¯s lives extremely unstable. A single storm could leave ordinary people without food, but the strong were far less affected because their homes often had large stores of provisions. For ordinary people to survive, they had no choice but to seek the strong¡¯s help and rely on them, leading over time to a strong sense of crisis that made the Japanese even more inclined to revere the strong. To survive, one must grow stronger and become among the strong. The strong could dominate the weak, and the weak had to obey. However, in the Japanese view, strength and weakness could change, leading to another national characteristic: overcoming one¡¯s superiors. In the eyes of the Japanese, the strong and the weak were distinguished by their abilities, and the weak had to obey the strong. Yet the weak could endure all humiliation with a resilient spirit, learning from the strong. In the process of admiring the strong, they would continually accumulate power and enhance their own strength until they could challenge the strong to prove themselves anew. If successful in defeating the other, their status would thus be reversed. Indeed, Japan had always operated this way. These two basic characteristics are quite common in nature, especially among lion prides that are full of animal instincts and even possess strong vengeful emotions, just like how a new Lion King would kill all the offspring of the old king. Unfortunately, as much as animal instincts can rapidly strengthen a nation and create new Lion Kings, they still can¡¯t overcome a gentle herd of elephants. Bi Fang gathered his thoughts, showing little reaction to the surrounding conversations. He rose slightly, pulling out two daggers from behind his waist and tapping them lightly on the table, then delicately picked up a piece of fatty tuna with his chopsticks, savoring it carefully. Living in the wilderness made him particularly fond of fatty foods like this. The sound of metal colliding with the edge of the table was especially jarring, attracting many eyes. On the table lay a matte Harpoon with a shimmering blade under the light, while the other dagger seemed much more ordinary, but the dry vines on its hilt gave the knife a primitive and wild appearance. The implication was clear: in the upcoming hunting season, Bi Fang¡¯s weapons would be these two daggers, and nothing else. The whispering of the guests around him gave way to a distinct buzz of excitement. Gang Tianwu was just a superficial fan, claiming Teacher Fang had taught him a lot while actually never watching a single episode; but Nobita Nobi, who had watched it, was captivated at the sight of the two daggers on the table. The first was an extremely experienced Harpoon for whaling, with a spine like shark¡¯s teeth, having slaughtered numerous game; the second was even more remarkable, seemingly unremarkable but actually crafted from scratch by Bi Fang himself in the wilderness! Nobita Nobi couldn¡¯t help but want to touch it, but just as his hand was about to make contact, he quickly withdrew it and looked towards Bi Fang, who nodded slightly in assent. With permission, Nobita Nobi carefully picked up the primitive Hunting Knife, his hand trembling slightly as if holding a fragile antique, even though no ordinary antique could match the value of this knife¡ªit was truly unique in the whole world! Countless people had witnessed its creation, from nothing into being, from ancient times to the modern age. Forged by hand by the adventurer Bi Fang with each hammer strike, it was likely that another like it would never exist again. If preserved properly, it would be a priceless antique in a hundred years, with an already existing offer of 1.78 million. The Steel Dagger had been polished and sharpened a second time and coated with an anti-corrosion layer, reflecting Nobita Nobi¡¯s face with its icy gleam. Nobita Nobi was well aware that the value of the knife wasn¡¯t just because it was forged by a broadcaster but because it condensed the historical and technological development of Humans from primitive times to modernity, making it extraordinarily meaningful. Gang Tianwu wondered why this fellow didn¡¯t choose the more impressive-looking Harpoon but didn¡¯t reveal his ignorance, simply continuing his praises. But, can two daggers really kill a bear? Gang Tianwu was doubtful, secretly branding Bi Fang as arrogant. After all, Y¨­ki Hunters typically used large glaives capable of shattering bones with a single strike. From this aspect, Bi Fang was sure to lose. No hunter who came here brought only daggers! After closely examining the weapons, Nobita Nobi reverently replaced the knife in its original spot and asked, ¡°Does this knife have a name?¡± Bi Fang shook his head. ¡°It has no name.¡± Upon hearing this, Nobita Nobi paused, then had a moment of realization. ¡°Nameless? That¡¯s a good name indeed. Thinking it over, it¡¯s truly significant.¡± Bi Fang slowly typed out a question mark? Chapter 520: 517 Wakayama Prefecture Taiji Town Chapter 520: Chapter 517 Wakayama Prefecture Taiji Town A dinner party came to an end in the passing of a dagger. In the end, even the chef took to the stage, holding a steel knife, and after getting Bi Fang¡¯s consent, used the steel knife to cut the tuna and distributed it to everyone present. Everyone unanimously praised, stating that the fish cut with this knife was more delicious, with a primitive wilderness flavor, making it the most incredible meal they had ever had. Quite a few people also took videos and posted them on social media to show off, claiming they had tasted authentic wilderness flavors. In the end, as the tuna was running low, some even offered high prices to buy the last few pieces, which amazed the online audience. [Holy shit, is that a sister pouring wine on the side?] ... [Damn it, Old Fang has already become corrupt.] [Damn, 70,000 yen for a piece of fish? 4,000 RMB? Why don¡¯t they just rob?] [Can¡¯t even rob it, the hotel bought this knife and made a killing!] [Lord Mu: Damn, the competition has gotten even fiercer.] [Are all hunters who go to Japan treated so well? This hotel looks so upscale, @Mugalen] [Mugalen: There are hotels to stay in too? How come I didn¡¯t know about this?] sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [I bet fifty cents, only Old Fang has it, hahaha] July 10th. Bi Fang contacted Richard again to confirm that everyone would arrive around one in the afternoon, and then followed Nobita Nobi to a suburban villa. Today, all of the hunters were to meet and get to know each other, after which they would assign the tracking and filming personnel from Oak Tree Company, and finally, they would choose their hunting areas on a huge map. This was also a test of the hunters¡¯ eyesight and strength, whether they could judge the number of black bears in a place based on the conditions at hand. Or, if they were conscious of their limited strength, they would estimate where there was a higher or lower number of black bears, and then choose a safer area according to their own abilities. The whole process started at eight in the morning and ended at ten, with even a male and a female commentator, Kogawa Kobayashi and Shizuka Minamoto, in the middle. Although they didn¡¯t understand hunting or the wilderness, they were both good-looking and good at creating ambiance, starting to interact before the hunters even arrived. From the increase in the number of sika deer to the uncontrolled number of black bears causing harm to humans, they emphasized the legality and justice of black bear hunting, and then introduced the tradition and history of the Y¨­ki Hunters. ¡°The Y¨­ki Hunter is the strongest and most traditional professional hunter in Japan; they are experts in hunting black bears.¡± The introduction was made by Kogawa Kobayashi, indicating that the male was the explainer, while Jingxiang was responsible for assisting. ¡°Before entering the mountains, these hunters pray and then spend several hours listening, waiting, and observing their surroundings. They can detect signs nearly imperceptible to ordinary people¡ªsigns that a black bear is nearby.¡± ¡°They still adhere to traditional hunting methods, and although they wear fashionable clothes, many hunters still use weapons that their ancestors used seven generations ago to hunt.¡± ¡°It is said that regardless of who ultimately shoots and kills the black bear, all members who participated in the hunting have the same rights to divide the animal¡¯s meat and skin.¡± After Kogawa Kobayashi finished his introduction, Jingxiang on the side exclaimed how awesome it was. ¡°By the way, Jingxiang, do you know which hunters are coming this time?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a big shot among them!¡± ¡°Oh, really? Who is it, who is it?¡± ¡°He¡¯s known as the freest man on Earth, able to go to any corner of the world, even Mount Everest is no exception!¡± Bi Fang turned off the live broadcast on his phone; the commentary was so cringe, especially the part about him, the freest man on Earth¡¯s surface, misdirecting the show somehow? Do they have to make a program like this? But netizens seem to love it, cheering loudly. [The freest man on Earth, that title is so cool] [For a moment, I actually can¡¯t refute it] [Shout his name out loud, Bi~~~ Fang!] Since Bi Fang was participating in the hunting season, Wolf Fang and B station jointly purchased the rights to the live broadcast of the Japanese hunting season, with Japan even giving a discount. The difference is, Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast would be separate from the Oak Tree Company¡¯s and his personal broadcast, with only Wolf Fang having the rights to Bi Fang¡¯s personal live broadcast. At the moment, Bi Fang¡¯s personal live broadcasting room was playing back previous live footage, but the live broadcast of the hunting season had already begun, visible to audiences both at home and abroad, making Bi Fang feel embarrassed. Soon, as soon as it was eight o¡¯clock, people began to enter the scene one after another, starting with the five Y¨­ki Hunters from Japan, each wearing a very traditional Matagi vest and shoes, that is, bear skin, looking like traditional defenders. Bi Fang muttered, ¡°Please, it¡¯s summer now, wearing bear skin, aren¡¯t they hot?¡± The Y¨­ki Hunters are also known as winter hunters, and this getup is meant for winter! Tokyo¡¯s July daytime temperatures were all above twenty degrees, and even Bi Fang himself was only wearing a thin shirt. How could these people actually wear bear skins? After the entrance of the five Y¨­ki Hunters, more people appeared, most of them foreigners. Bi Fang didn¡¯t have the habit of grandstanding at the end, so he too opened the car door and headed towards the house. As soon as he entered the gate, he found a huge camera facing him. The live broadcast had already begun. The moment Bi Fang made his entrance, an unprecedented wave of barrage comments erupted in the live room, far surpassing the other hunters. The staff backstage, dazed, watched the active data skyrocket on their screens, the first to feel the weight of the term ¡°Legendary Adventurer.¡± [Holy shit! Master Fang! Master Fang!] [Take them down!] [Charge, charge, charge!] [Take first place, first place, first place!] [After watching Master Fang go without clothes for a month, it¡¯s quite a shock to suddenly see otherwise.] [Add one, I actually got used to the Indigenous Indian look.] Taking advantage of the situation as Bi Fang walked down the corridor, the two hosts introduced Bi Fang¡¯s past achievements, sparking another wave among the unfamiliar viewers. Jingxiang held her heart, her face flushed with excitement, ¡°He¡¯s so handsome, I feel like I¡¯m in love.¡± Kobayashi laughed heartily, ¡°Even as a man, I¡¯d be moved by the sight of Master Fang¡ªstrong and beautiful; he¡¯s like a powerful golden tiger!¡± Passing through the long corridor, Bi Fang arrived inside the hall, where the decor had long been altered. The walls around were lined with a layer of original wood with the bark, and opposite the wall was a stone fireplace that was already extinguished. The room was lit with incandescent bulbs, somewhat dim. The orange light took everyone back decades, with numerous hunters holding spears gathered together, discussing the upcoming hunting event. In the middle of the room, on the table, there lay an enormous map of Kyushu; around the table was a circle of stools, each person taking their seat in turn. After greeting everyone, Bi Fang approached the table and touched it, feeling the texture of leather. It was supposed to be imitation bear skin; Bi Fang concluded after observing the sewing marks on the leather. Then he saw a stone bowl beside the table with several darts in it, each dart marked with different numbers. Glancing over them, he didn¡¯t see any number exceeding thirty-two. One dart per person? In total, thirty-five people, each sticking their own dart into their chosen spot on the map. That¡¯s what Bi Fang thought as he then took his seat, noting the number of people who had arrived; he was probably the seventeenth. Shortly thereafter, Mugalen, as the twenty-third hunter, made his entrance. His image was distinct, carrying a large hunting bow on his back. The moment he saw Bi Fang, his eyes lit up, and after whispering a few words to the person in the eighteenth seat, they exchanged places. ¡°It seems Mr. Mugalen and Mr. Bi are really good friends. If I remember correctly, both of them have interacted before on the Wilderness Survivalist show on the adventure channel,¡± said the live room host, seizing the moment to comment and inform new viewers of their connection. Mugalen dropped down beside Bi Fang, ¡°Hahaha, long time no see.¡± Bi Fang was happy to see an old acquaintance as well, ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s been quite a while. How¡¯s Milani?¡± ¡°Her?¡± Mugalen curled his lip,¡± She¡¯s probably watching your personal live broadcast now.¡± ¡°Hahaha, look above my head; you won¡¯t find a drone; I haven¡¯t started yet.¡± ¡°Sooner or later.¡± ¡°So, are you aiming for the championship this time?¡± Bi Fang chatted idly. ¡°How can I take the championship with you here,¡± said Mugalen disdainfully. He had also watched the interviews and felt those five Y¨­ki Hunters were simply overestimating themselves. Anyone who hadn¡¯t hunted with Bi Fang couldn¡¯t grasp his efficiency and precision, basically a human-shaped, self-walking scanner, otherwise known as a lock-on hanger. Even though there were no records of him hunting large animals, Mugalen instinctively felt it was only a matter of opportunity for Bi Fang. Moreover, he had this strange feeling that Bi Fang seemed even more formidable than before. This feeling of subtle awareness between acquaintances struck Mugalen the moment he walked in and saw Bi Fang. What is this guy, leveling up in an online game? How has he gotten so strong so quickly? The two chatted casually for a bit, sharing their recent experiences. Mugalen asked, ¡°So, you really just brought two daggers? By the way, can I take a look at that steel knife?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t believe me?¡± Bi Fang drew out the dagger and passed it to him. ¡°I do, any outrageous thing happening to you, I believe,¡± Mugalen received the dagger and admired it, clicking his tongue in appreciation, ¡°You can¡¯t tell at all; it feels as though it was made in a factory. By the way, have you chosen your spot? I had my eye on several, but I haven¡¯t actually visited them, so I¡¯m a bit uncertain.¡± ¡°I have, Taiji Town in Wakayama Prefecture.¡± ¡°Taiji Town?¡± Mugalen was taken aback; he had never paid attention to this place. Could it be he had overlooked something? Was it a spot where Black Bears often appeared? Chapter 521: 518 This Isnt To Ward Off Fans Chapter 521: Chapter 518 This Isn¡¯t To Ward Off Fans In front of all the professional hunters, Mugalen, who was plagued by social anxiety, left his seat and walked straight up to the table. Following the marked locations, he found Wakayama Prefecture and realized that this place was far from any spot he had pre-selected. Japan¡¯s regional division has its own unique characteristics, divided into 47 primary administrative regions nationwide: 1 metropolis, Tokyo Metropolis, also commonly known as Tokyo. As for where it is commonly seen, that need not be elaborated¡ªthe knowledgeable will understand. 1 circuit: Hokkaido. 2 prefectures: Osaka Prefecture and Kyoto Prefecture. 43 prefectures. The whole of Japan is divided in this way, and within these 47 primary administrative regions, cities, towns, and villages are established. ... The reason for this segmentation has much to do with history, ultimately boiling down to Japan not being a unified central state for most of its existence, with the central government only controlling a part of the area around the capital. After the Meiji Restoration, the central government finally became the true ruler, consolidating 274 domains into 47 prefectures and provinces. The metropolis, circuit, and prefectures were economically robust and unique domains, thus each was established independently. In modern times¡ªwell, since there haven¡¯t been any major issues using this system for over a hundred years, there¡¯s no need to change it. Therefore, what corresponds to a prefecture is actually equivalent to a province in Huaxia, so Taiji Town is not small at all. Don¡¯t always be misled by the concept of a tiny country; Japan is small because it has a giant neighbor. By Huaxia¡¯s standards, most countries in the world are small. In the whole of Europe, only six countries are larger than Japan in area, including the Polar Bear. If Central Country were halved in size, it would be significantly smaller, and Germany is not as large as Japan. The larger appearance on maps is simply an illusion created by the Earth being opened up and flattened. Typically, a hunter¡¯s range of activity is about the level of a town, and might need to be expanded to a larger level in order to track the prey. But the spot Bi Fang chose, it¡¯s not just Taiji Town¡ªthere weren¡¯t even news reports of Black Bear attacks throughout Wakayama Prefecture. If someone else had chosen this place, Mugalen would have assumed that the person was either unskilled or had noticed something, but with insufficient strength, deliberately ran towards a safer area to avoid attracting more Black Bears with the scent of blood, which could lead to being attacked by two or more bears. But the person choosing now is Bi Fang¡­ Something¡¯s not right, definitely not right. Mugalen¡¯s eyes widened as he stared intently at the marks on the map, trying to find something different. Is it the terrain, the weather, or maybe the migration of the Black Bears? Do Black Bears even migrate? That¡¯s unheard of. Or has some development occurred, something been built, that has driven the Black Bears over there? Seeing Mugalen staring at the map on the table after a brief chat with Bi Fang, the other hunters also became vigilant. Regardless of their opinions of him, Bi Fang¡¯s status required their attention, and some even contemplated choosing the same area as him, wondering if they could outperform him. As if by agreement, more and more people left their seats, approached Mugalen¡¯s side, trying to strike up a conversation and sneakily inquire. Little did they know that the old drunkard¡¯s intent was not the wine. No one would imagine that in Bi Fang¡¯s eyes, this hunting season is just a game, his attention not on the Black Bear at all. Even if there were not a single Black Bear in Taiji Town, he would still choose this place in the end. Soon, all thirty-five hunters had arrived. When someone took a seat in the thirty-fifth chair, a sharp whistle sounded, followed by the fluttering of wings. A pigeon flew through the corridor into the room and alighted on the table. Someone with sharp eyes exclaimed, ¡°There¡¯s a paper attached to the pigeon¡¯s leg!¡± Mugalen, with fast reflexes, grabbed the pigeon and took the paper from its leg, spread it out on the table, and was about to read the competition rules line by line, but then he discovered¡­ Damn it, it¡¯s in Japanese! Most of those present were foreigners; this was clearly picking on them. Would it have killed them to provide a bilingual version?! Sato, with a hearty laugh, took the note and read out the competition rules in English, ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, based on your seat number, please select your dart and insert it into the designated area, in no particular order.¡± In the cabin with its stone fireplace, bear skin map, and dim orange light, a group of cold-armed hunters caught a pigeon to study the hunting rules, marking their chosen territories with their own darts as if setting boundaries. [This is so cool, isn¡¯t it?] [Damn, Little Japan has made it quite interesting!] [I¡¯m feeling it, I¡¯m feeling it. That¡¯s the feel!] [Feels like I¡¯ve traveled back in time, awesome!] Not just the audience, but even Bi Fang and the others were drawn into the scenario as if they had truly returned to decades earlier, when a group of highly skilled and courageous hunters were drawn by a notice about a man-eating bear, sitting together to discuss how to bring peace back to the small town. Which place should I choose? Kogawa Kobayashi energetically hosts in the live broadcast room, judging who will make the first choice, where they might choose, and the basic rules of hunting. Inside the cabin, whispers filled the room. People had already formed small groups discussing whether to cooperate or head to the same area. Cold-weapon hunting, without the use of oversized weapons like heavy crossbows, is extremely dangerous when acting alone. Considering the size differences of the Black Bears, this competition is still point-based; a mature adult Black Bear measuring one meter five in length, with small wounds and an intact body, scores ten points. Points are added or deducted based on various factors. Significant damage, missing limbs, or pre-existing illness result in point deductions, while larger size and higher body integrity lead to bonus points. For each extra length of the body, an extra point is added; for each extra length of a wound, a point is deducted, with the system being very detailed and fixed. Furthermore, the organizing committee does not restrict cooperation, but the points gained through teamwork must be divided equally, with a certain percentage deducted. For a two-person team, the total score is multiplied by 90 percent; for three people, 80 percent, and so on. The maximum is a five-person team, after which the total points are divided equally among each member. It seemed quite fair, even considering the advantage that more people might bring. The incandescent light flickered. The fake bearskin map was marked with numerous little red dots, indicating the locations of attacks in recent years, along with many yellow dots, noting where people had seen Black Bear. At first glance, it looked as if Black Bear was everywhere on Kyushu Island, but this wasn¡¯t the case. Hunters needed to decide where they could hunt more Black Bears based on their own experience. ¡°No one¡¯s choosing?¡± A voice broke the silence. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go first.¡± A large hand reached into the stone bowl, rustled around, and flipped out a wooden dart; before anyone could react, it swiftly landed on the coastal area of Honshu Island, sticking firmly in place, its tail quivering slightly. The light was dim, and everyone¡¯s pupils dilated, trying to make out the number on the wooden dart. Seventeen. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seventeen? Wasn¡¯t that Bi Fang¡¯s seat? Everybody suddenly remembered and looked up in surprise only to see a silhouette slowly disappear into the sunlight of the corridor, waving at them. ¡°I¡¯m good, you all go ahead.¡± The slightly blurred shadow vanished slowly. The crowd turned back to look at the dart on the map, falling into the same deep thought as Mugalen. Wakayama Prefecture, what was the mystery here? ¡­ The moment Bi Fang made his choice, a million netizens went into an uproar, clamoring about why Bi Fang had so quickly chosen Wakayama Prefecture and what the reason could be, speculating endlessly. Bi Fang, who was not broadcasting live, didn¡¯t offer any explanation; he walked out of the hallway, opened the car door, and said to Nobita Nobi, ¡°To Wakayama Prefecture.¡± ¡°Wakayama Prefecture?¡± Nobita Nobi, who was munching on an ice pop, hadn¡¯t expected Bi Fang to emerge so quickly, biting the last chunk of chocolate and hurriedly settling in the driver¡¯s seat to twist the ignition key. ¡°Mr. Bi, have you selected a hunting spot?¡± Hunting season would start in two days; today was just a test broadcast. Nobita Nobi hadn¡¯t expected Bi Fang to come out in just half an hour. If he wasn¡¯t mistaken, Bi Fang was the first to come out, right? As Nobita Nobi pondered, the second hunter also emerged and even headed straight for Bi Fang¡¯s car, familiarly pulling open the door and sitting down. Bi Fang was taken aback, ¡°What are you doing getting in?¡± ¡°Damn it, why do they give you a presidential suite and a chauffeur, and I don¡¯t get anything?¡± Mugalen was angry. Aren¡¯t other hunters people too? ¡°I¡¯m asking you?¡± ¡°Obviously, I chose the same place as you did,¡± was the reply. Bi Fang¡¯s mouth twitched, the same as his? Were they serious? Once an area was chosen, it couldn¡¯t be changed, and the activity range couldn¡¯t exceed three-fifths of a prefecture. That meant besides Wakayama Prefecture, they couldn¡¯t venture more than two-thirds beyond the borders of the neighbouring prefectures, more or less making it an enlarged version of Wakayama Prefecture. Mugalen analyzed earnestly, ¡°Although I can¡¯t guess the reason for now, you definitely wouldn¡¯t have chosen Wakayama Prefecture for no reason, and you¡¯re definitely not going to form a team, but since I¡¯ve chosen it now, why not explain?¡± Bi Fang was silent for a moment, then sighed, ¡°As long as you¡¯re happy.¡± He had already looked over the terrain of Wakayama Prefecture; it was mountainous and also had plenty of forests. It wasn¡¯t that there were no Black Bears, just that the density was a lot less than in other areas. To hunt enough Black Bears and accumulate points would require a lot more effort and be more troublesome. Seeing Bi Fang remain silent, Mugalen felt puzzled. Now that things had come to this, they couldn¡¯t change their decision, yet he still hadn¡¯t explained the reasons. Who was he keeping the secret from? Nobita Nobi sensed that the atmosphere was off and didn¡¯t speak, driving away from Tokyo. Japan, if nothing else, does have convenient transportation; barring traffic jams, just by train and car, one could travel throughout the country. At noon, Nobita Nobi, carrying Bi Fang and Mugalen, had a meal on the government¡¯s dime at a barbecue restaurant he had long had his eye on. Once they entered Wakayama Prefecture, Bi Fang didn¡¯t let Nobita Nobi continue driving, but had him head towards the suburbs instead. ¡°You can go back now, I¡¯m going into the mountains,¡± Bi Fang said, leaning on the car roof. ¡°Do you need me to come and pick you up tonight?¡± ¡°If I need you, I¡¯ll call,¡± Bi Fang replied. Nobita Nobi nodded, ¡°Okay then, goodbye, Mr. Bi.¡± Watching Nobita Nobi drive off, Bi Fang turned and walked into an alley, with Mugalen following closely behind. After scouting the area and confirming there was no surveillance, Bi Fang took out a mask and sunglasses from his bag and put them on; he also handed a mask to Mugalen, too conspicuous in this Asian city as a foreigner. ¡°A mask?¡± Mugalen laughed, as someone who had only participated in the show once and wouldn¡¯t be recognized, ¡°I don¡¯t need it, no one knows me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not for fans.¡± ¡°Not for fans? If not to ward off fans, are we going to use it for burglary?¡± Mugalen laughed heartily, but his laughter faded as he faced Bi Fang¡¯s serious expression and he wondered, ¡°Are you serious?¡± Chapter 522: 519 Storm Chapter 522: Chapter 519 Storm On the electric train, Bi Fang with his mask on and Mugalen, sitting back-to-back, tried hard to look upwards, pretending to be indifferent to the high school girls on board. After getting off the train, Bi Fang noticed that Mugalen¡¯s T-shirt was completely soaked. He asked, puzzled, ¡°Can¡¯t you act more naturally?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my first time being a thief, I¡¯m a bit nervous.¡± Mugalen sneakily looked around, always feeling as if someone was watching him. On the way here, Bi Fang had told Mugalen everything. As a half-friend, Mugalen was trustworthy, and it was better to be clear now; who knew, he might be able to help later. Bi Fang disagreed, ¡°If we¡¯re really talking about it, they are the thieves.¡± ... Mugalen sighed to the sky, ¡°I never dreamed that you weren¡¯t here to kill Black Bear but to save dolphins. Had I known, I would¡¯ve never followed you here.¡± He thought there was something special about Wakayama Prefecture Taiji Town. Maybe it was a gathering place for black bears that he hadn¡¯t noticed. Only after arriving and hearing about it did he understand. All bullshit! Now that he was on the ¡°thief ship,¡± there was no getting off. Bi Fang walked out of the train station and saw lush forests and mountains. They were standing on a road encircling the mountains, overlooking most of the town from a high vantage point. Taiji Town, an environmentally beautiful bay surrounded by low mountains, the coastal scenery was nothing short of spectacular. Mugalen was initially shocked that such a beautiful place could be the scene of such brutality. Perhaps the word ¡°hunter¡± often implies hunting, but those with legitimate licenses understood the importance of rare animals even better. This was a tourist spot, not only with conservation parks but also many famous temples that ranked among the best in all of Japan. One temple had a rock garden where the monk had raked the gravel smooth, and in the middle were several boulders for people from around the world to admire. Through his binoculars, Bi Fang saw the temple Richard had pointed out. The temple was not tall but built with a refined elegance, with interconnected tiled roofs that reflected the sunlight like ocean waves. Looking down, the overhanging eaves covered most of the sunlight, making the interior shadowy, but it was clear that many people were moving around inside, possibly tourists. In front of the building was an open area with a dense layer of cobblestones. Monks used rakes to arrange them neatly, and amidst these pebbles, several rocks stood erect in different places, with lush grass growing at their feet. Tourists took pictures of these rocks, and as a breeze blew, the wind chimes under the eaves swayed gently. Even without sound, one could almost hear the tingling and chiming, a true sense of Zen. Bi Fang found it all very interesting. The people there looked at rocks, oblivious to the fact that rocks could ¡°look¡± back at people. ¡°Back in our country, nobody would come here to look at rocks on a Sunday.¡± Mugalen clicked his tongue in wonder, then turned to Bi Fang, ¡°So what are we doing now?¡± ¡°Waiting for Richard and the others,¡± Bi Fang leaned on the railing and continued to survey his surroundings. Reconnaissance is always the first step of any operation. ¡°By the way, since you guys are working both openly and covertly, why do we need to wear masks? Wouldn¡¯t it be better to just be open and aboveboard?¡± Mugalen asked, puzzled. ¡°Richard and his team are also arriving today. Just to be safe, it¡¯s best not to show up in front of everyone on the same day,¡± Bi Fang replied. Bi Fang looked towards the coast where fishing boats had just returned to the harbor. A restaurant owner was loading a crate of fish onto his motorcycle, and even from here, his smile was visible. Many local fishermen kept the phone numbers of local restaurant owners, to sell the freshest big fish for a good price, with the rest going into frozen shipping containers. Most of these catches would enter the Tsukiji market, the largest fish market in all of Japan, and even the entire world. Bi Fang murmured, ¡°It¡¯s going to rain.¡± Mugalen looked up at the clear sky and asked in surprise, ¡°How do you know that?¡± Not all weather can be judged by clouds. For instance, a storm cloud could suddenly appear, and such abrupt weather changes can only be detected by weather satellites, which are beyond human prediction. Did Bi Fang secretly check the weather forecast? ¡°They told me,¡± Bi Fang extended his hand, pointing distantly at the returning fishing boats. ¡°It¡¯s noon, the fishing boats primarily go out based on the wind, and not the time; sometimes they even leave at midnight, and there¡¯s no set time for when they return. But now, more than one boat is coming back to port, some even with hardly any catch.¡± Bi Fang held out his hand by the roadside, letting the wind pass through his fingers and head out to sea: ¡°Look, the wind is behind us. With a favorable wind and tide, it¡¯s easy to leave port and reach the fishing zones. The boats should be heading out, not trickling back in. They must have heard the weather forecast and decided to return early.¡± ¡°A big storm is coming,¡± Bi Fang concluded. Mugalen fell silent for a moment. Though the information was still indirectly from the weather forecast, how come he felt so damn impressive? With the Hunter, why this show? As if to validate Bi Fang¡¯s statement, within half an hour, the sky suddenly turned gloomy. Lead-gray clouds drifted from the land towards the sea, and it took only a few minutes for the day to turn into night once the clouds were spotted. The wind suddenly picked up. White flashes pierced the thick clouds, thunder roaring explosively, and the rain suddenly poured down, rushing towards them with urgency. People on the streets scattered in the narrow alleys, hurrying back to their homes, firmly shutting doors and windows. Mugalen looked bewildered, turning to Bi Fang, who had one foot propped on the railing, ¡°Did you bring an umbrella?¡± Bi Fang fell silent and slowly shook his head. The awkward moment happened; neither of them had brought an umbrella. Fortunately, the awkwardness didn¡¯t last long. As they ran down the hill, the sound of a car horn saved them. Richard and the others had arrived. ¡°Phew, thank you, almost got completely soaked.¡± Bi Fang took the towel Mandy offered and wiped his drenched hair. How embarrassing. The rainy season usually lasts from late June to mid-July. Bi Fang saw the clear skies today and thought the rainy season had passed, not bothering to bring an umbrella¡ªan oversight that taught him a lesson. After introducing Mugalen to everyone, they quickly accepted each other. Whoever came to help was a friend to everyone. Richard and the others had a nine-seater van, just enough to fit everyone comfortably. ¡°Great opportunity, now with the downpour, the roads are almost empty,¡± observed Mugalen, noting the decreased traffic ahead. Bi Fang nodded. Taking advantage of the present moment to make a quick round indeed seemed like a good opportunity. Richard nodded, and they all quickly drove towards the town center. Mugalen rubbed his eyes just after rounding half the mountain, wound down the window, and looking back with confusion, pointed to the dolphin statues, ¡°Am I seeing things, or are they erecting dolphin statues?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not seeing things,¡± Bi Fang pointed ahead. That was what they hadn¡¯t noticed before, the other half of Taiji Town hidden behind the mountain. Dolphin Park. Driving into Taiji Town felt very strange. Dolphin statues were everywhere, the welcome paintings on the walls were filled with dolphins, there was a fountain of a person riding a dolphin in the middle of the park lake, and a giant whale tail seemed to leap from the ground, making Mugalen, a foreigner aware of the truth, feel as though he had entered a ¡°twilight zone.¡± The pedestrian path was tiled with images of welcoming dolphins, and even far out at sea, one could spot a few dolphin-styled boats. Mugalen gave a bitter smile, ¡°If I didn¡¯t know better, I might really think this is a dolphin paradise.¡± Halfway through, Richard pointed to a building in the distance decorated with a huge whale and dolphin motif, ¡°See that building over there? That¡¯s Taiji Town¡¯s Whale Museum, the place I hate most in my life.¡± Richard was very frustrated. They all put on masks, wary of being recognized by the town¡¯s residents. In these Asian territories, Western faces stood out sharply. Unaware, one might think this group was some sort of medical team. ¡°In Taiji Town, at the ¡®Whale Museum,¡¯ you can watch dolphin performances, buy fluffy dolphin toys, and end with a feast made of dolphin meat.¡± Richard¡¯s words made everyone present shudder. To watch a dolphin show and then eat the meat of their kind straight after, what kind of cold-hearted madness was that? ¡°They brazenly sell whale and dolphin meat right there in the dolphin pavilion.¡± This industry chain allowed the massacre to continue year after year, rewarding the fishermen for their atrocious actions. ¡°Each dead dolphin is only worth six hundred dollars, but sold to the Whale Museum, they fetch one hundred fifty thousand dollars. The Taiji Town Whale Museum, acting as a middleman, shares the profits with the town government and the fishermen.¡± ¡°Iki was once a tourist hotspot in Japan. But they too slaughter dolphins, and without exaggeration, thousands could be killed in a single day.¡± ¡°Three years ago, I went again, but there were no dolphins left¡ªtwenty years ago, there were thousands along the coastline. Now, they¡¯re all gone.¡± Richard turned the steering wheel and exited a short tunnel, officially entering Taiji Town. ¡°Every whale known to humans, as soon as it approaches Japan, faces a catastrophe¡­¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Wait, the police!¡± Chapter 523: 520: The Three Giants Chapter 523: Chapter 520: The Three Giants As a seaside city, summer storms are quite common. At this moment, a torrential storm raged outside the vehicle, with sheets of rain pelting the slanted windows. The windshield wipers swung back and forth like an out-of-control metronome, clearing away the layers of rainwater. Two policemen clad in raincoats stood by the roadside, with the already closed commercial street behind them, seemingly conducting some checks as they repeatedly stopped passing vehicles. The rain clattered loudly on the roof of the car. Bi Fang said, ¡°Mugalen, switch places with me, quickly.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ... Bi Fang lowered his backrest, and they swiftly exchanged positions. Then he told Mugalen to take off his face mask and sunglasses. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say¡­¡± ¡°Just do as I say. When they come over to ask, you take the initiative to speak up and say you are a tourist from abroad. No matter what he asks, just say you are Amrican, with an aggressive tone, got it?¡± ¡°I have a good temper¡­¡± ¡°Just imagine your daughter is dating early, and her boyfriend is a tattoo-covered delinquent who smokes, drinks, and has a past in a labor camp, thinking about how to seduce your daughter to a motel.¡± Mugalen¡¯s veins throbbed on the back of his hand. He was getting angry already. Richard, who was driving, hunched over and pulled his cap brim down to lower his presence as much as possible. ¡°It¡¯s such a hassle to check the roads in the rain.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t be helped, I¡¯ve heard that group is back. Better lock on to their vehicle quickly.¡± A policeman shrank his hand in, where the raindrops stung his skin somewhat painfully. He looked towards the road where the visibility was extremely poor, a grey blur, with occasional flashes of light followed by rolling thunder and sharp horn blasts mixed with the sound of rain. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The cars slowed down, one after the other passing through, the red light from the brake lamps piercing through the veil of rain. The policeman waved his baton, stopping a business vehicle when he saw a foreign man with a beard leaning out from the passenger side, shouting loudly with a red face and bulging forehead veins, looking extremely angry and yelling, ¡°Amrican.¡± He was dumbstruck on the spot, bowing apologetically by reflex: ¡°Sorry, sorry.¡± The other policeman bowed as well, but still looked up at Mugalen. The beard was too conspicuous. He shouted, ¡°You¡¯re the Hunter here to participate in the hunting season, right?¡± Mugalen was taken aback and could no longer shout about Amrican. He was Angolan, from Northern Europe¡­ He had been recognized. Mugalen dropped the act and said, ¡°I¡¯m here to inspect the environment of Taiji Town, and you dare to stop me? If I lose, you¡¯re taking full responsibility!¡± ¡°No, no,¡± the two policemen rushed to explain that they had no such intention. They then looked at each other and tried to peek inside the car. ¡°Hey!¡± Mugalen shouted. ¡°Do you have any business or not? If not, let me go quickly!¡± Although they often dealt with foreign tourists and spoke decent English, Mugalen¡¯s tone was so aggressive and fast that with the rain so loud, both of them couldn¡¯t hear clearly what he was shouting. Certain that they were dealing with a Hunter here for the Black Bear hunting season, and with the horns blaring from the cars behind, they became nervous, not wanting to offend the guest. They stopped inquiring, waved their fluorescent batons, and let the group leave quickly. Richard floored the gas pedal, and everyone felt a strong pushback, indicating how nervous they all were; the business vehicle quickly left the street in the pouring rain. Only when the figures of the two policemen were completely out of sight did Mugalen let out a sigh of relief. That had been too thrilling. When he turned back, he jumped in fright as he saw Bi Fang staring at him intently. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± ¡°Interested in being my Harvey?¡± ¡°A stand-in? What do you mean?¡± ¡°Nothing, just a reference.¡± Bi Fang pinched the bridge of his nose. Just now, he had a sudden brainwave. Batman has Harvey, who creates scenes with both Batman and Bruce Wayne when in trouble. Could he also have one? But thinking about it, since their appearances were widely different, he abandoned the idea. Having evaded the police search, the group continued the previous conversation. ¡°No aquarium without dolphins. To maintain the chain of interests, Iki could only buy dolphins from Taiji Town.¡± Richard recalled everything he had seen and heard. ¡°I¡¯ve asked Taiji Town¡¯s fishermen if we could subsidize their actions. In other words, if you don¡¯t go out to sea to capture dolphins, we¡¯ll give you an amount equal to what you get from killing them, to be borne by OPS.¡± Mugalen asked, ¡°What is OPS?¡± Bi Fang replied, ¡°It¡¯s a marine conservation association, founded by Richard.¡± Richard nodded, continuing, ¡°The local fishermen said that it¡¯s not a matter of money, but rather to prevent harmful fish.¡± Prevent fish pests? What do you mean? Everyone present was baffled, dolphins are fish pests? It was the first time Bi Fang had heard such a claim; he had only heard of pests, never of fish pests, and found it quite strange. ¡°Yes,¡± Richard confirmed he hadn¡¯t misspoken, ¡°That is to say, the government tells them that dolphins eat too many fish in the sea, which would lead to no fish left to catch, so they are considered fish pests, just like locusts that consume crops.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just the fishermen who are told this; the Japanese delegate Morishita Suji also says the same thing at the IWC conferences.¡± Morishita Suji, a man with handsome features, always dressed in a suit with a pair of black-rimmed glasses, greeted everyone he met with a smile and spoke with polite, refined eloquence. As an official, he was also quite talented; after all, Japan¡¯s participation in the IWC, the International Whaling Commission, was a rather awkward affair, yet he handled it with ease. ¡°His job is tough. Every day he wakes up, he has to convince himself in the mirror first, then go out and explain Japan¡¯s whaling policy to the whole world,¡± Richard quipped with a cold joke. ¡°Since 2003, Japan has been citing ¡®scientific data¡¯ to blame the decrease in the international fishery yield on dolphins and whales.¡± Mugalen cursed loudly, ¡°Shameless!¡± Bi Fang was also very puzzled; he felt he had seen this blame-shifting onto dolphins and whales for the reduction in fish resources before. Oh, isn¡¯t this just like the case with saury? ¡°Japan is truly despicable. We in Northern Europe would never do such a thing,¡± Mugalen said, filled with righteous indignation. However, after Mugalen spoke, everyone present instinctively turned their gaze toward him. Mugalen looked around: ¡°What? Did I say something incorrect? There are many whales where we come from too. Didn¡¯t Bi Fang encounter them on his sea drift last time? But we never sell whale meat.¡± Bi Fang patted Mugalen¡¯s shoulder: ¡°Norway hunts more whales annually than Japan, and then there is Iceland; these three are called ¡®the big three of whale hunting¡¯, with Norway as the Boss, Japan as Second Brother, and Iceland as Third Brother.¡± Mugalen immediately corrected himself: ¡°I¡¯m from Angolan, unrelated to those two; strictly speaking, Angolan actually belongs to Western Europe. Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± Japan is infamous for its whaling activities, but it is certainly not the only country involved. Both of Norway¡¯s Northern European siblings, along with Japan, are engaged in the same practice. In fact, Norway, rather than Japan, has earned the title of global number one ¡°Whale Killer.¡± When it comes to whaling, Norway¡¯s actions are even more astonishing. Norway and Japan differ in their approaches. Since 1982, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) has banned commercial whaling. Afterward, the Japanese continued to exploit loopholes to whale, under the disguise of ¡°scientific research.¡± In contrast, the Norwegians appear more ¡°honest¡±; they couldn¡¯t be bothered to exploit loopholes or find excuses, adhering to the Viking pirates¡¯ way of doing things ¨C you say yours, I catch mine.¡± Every year, the number of whales hunted and killed by Norway even surpasses the combined whaling efforts of Japan and Iceland, making Norway the top ¡°Whale Killer¡± in the world. Their harpoons, the largest of which can weigh up to 45 kilograms, are capable of piercing the belly of a whale at speeds of over 400 kilometers per hour, triggering a mechanism in just milliseconds, rapidly releasing 100 grams of explosives. After the explosion, the harpoon opens up like an umbrella, with 4 hooks wrapping around the whale¡¯s flesh. This type of explosive can destroy the whale¡¯s internal tissue and is far more lethal than black powder. If the whale dies ¡°too slowly,¡± the hunters will shoot it dead with a gun. Moreover, Norwegian whalers prefer to follow female whales¡ªmost of whom are pregnant with baby whales. According to Norwegian whaling documentaries, 90% of the captured whales are pregnant females. Because female whales typically swim slower, making it easier to hit them with hand grenades. If falling into the hands of the Japanese is tantamount to a death sentence for whales, being targeted by Norwegians is like entering hell. As for Iceland, compared to Japan and Norway, it¡¯s like a little brother trailing behind them. These three places are where Richard spends most of his efforts. Dolphins are part of the whale family; whales, dolphins¡ªfrom these three giants, all are hunted. And wherever there is dolphin oppression, there you will find this old man¡¯s presence, including in Ugly Country itself. In Icelandic supermarkets, the price of whale meat is generally around 2,400 Icelandic krona per kilogram, equivalent to about 150 Huaxia currency. Many tourists, curious, try it out. But beyond that, not many people like to eat whale meat, and most of it is exported to Japan. In the end, Japan seems to become the target of criticism once again, like an unlucky devil. Plus, with Ugly Country¡¯s pressure on maritime rights and even more intense propaganda against Japan, few people are aware of the other two giants. Iceland and Norway are both very beautiful places, with Goose¡¯s journey starting from the northernmost part of Norway, but many beautiful things are not necessarily beautiful in every aspect. ¡°Compared to Japan, the crimes of Norway and Iceland are harder to expose because they don¡¯t herd the dolphins together but rather spread out their fishing boats at sea,¡± Regardless, when it comes to whaling, Japan, Iceland, and Norway, these three giants, are completely in cahoots. Richard said gravely, ¡°The claws that stretch out to animals will eventually reach out to ourselves.¡± Chapter 524: 521: Ingenious Chapter 524: Chapter 521: Ingenious Richard¡¯s actions were not directed against Japan. In Florida, Norway, Iceland, his active presence was known, and he was even repeatedly arrested and imprisoned, spending time behind bars almost every year. ¡°A single dolphin placed in the right location can earn them a million a year. If you interfere, they¡¯ll break your hands,¡± he said. ¡°My colleagues, Jane Tipson and Jenny May, were sacrificed because of this. At the time, we were protesting Norway¡¯s dolphin trade with a hunger strike. I fainted on the tenth day and ended up in the hospital. Then Jenny became their target, followed her to the beach, and used her belt to strangle her to death.¡± ¡°My God.¡± Mugalen was speechless and held great respect for the old man in front of him. ... Just like the previous street interviews, in Richard¡¯s view, Japan¡¯s slaughtering of dolphins was just the action of a few towns and the government. Japan is not always so with wildlife; it¡¯s smaller in size than Sicuan, yet it has 800,000 wild boars, more than 4 million deer, 30,000 bears, and 150,000 monkeys. The numbers might be hard to believe, but it¡¯s the truth. Bi Fang explained to Mugalen, ¡°All of Huaxia doesn¡¯t even have 20,000 black bears, but there are over 30,000 in Japan, an island nation. So many that human intervention is needed for population control. Therefore, Japan¡¯s slaughter of dolphins is motivated by many deeper reasons.¡± So many black bears, that killing a hundred might not even be enough. The dietary habits of the Japanese are a bit distinct among the major developed countries. Most other developed nations are continental and have large pastures, like Central Country, and their meat is mostly from livestock such as beef and pork. With its small territory and numerous volcanoes, it was inevitable for Japan to turn to the sea for food. Even after economic development and an increase in meat imports, the proportion of fish in the Japanese diet has decreased compared to the past. However, it still plays a more significant role than in other countries. In such an environment, the Japanese themselves view the act of capturing sea fish and mammals differently from most people. To fish there must be fishermen; to the Japanese, dolphins are like wolves to a hunter. And it¡¯s even somewhat different; hunters killed wolves in the past to protect deer, but now what are the Japanese killing dolphins to protect? To protect the very oceans they over-fished and depleted? Having slaughtered all the deer, they now turn to kill the wolves, claiming it¡¯s because the wolves have depleted the deer population and thus wolves¡¯ numbers must be controlled. Is this not morally questionable? Richard felt that the Japanese did not realize this, much like a child who breaks a vase and stubbornly refuses to admit it, insisting it was the family cat that broke it. ¡°Some say, ¡®If you eat beef or mutton, you have no right to condemn the killing of dolphins or other animals,¡¯ but that¡¯s incorrect. After all, livestock and wildlife are different,¡± he continued. ¡°Humans breed livestock and enter into a covenant with them with feed in exchange for their meat, even to the measurable extent of how much feed equals a pound of meat. It¡¯s a form of cultivation-based equivalence exchange.¡± ¡°But wildlife owes you nothing, and there will always be animals that, for various reasons such as population numbers, are not suitable to eat. Now humans have a responsibility to proactively maintain ecological balance because human capabilities have evolved too rapidly in the past hundred years.¡± Driving into the mountains along a winding mountain road, shooting whatever one sees and dragging it back. Wildlife can no longer protect itself simply through the remoteness and density of the forest. The same applies at sea. If you read ¡°Moby Dick,¡± you know that in the past, whaling was a matter of risking your life¡ªit was an ode to human hunting, a testament to courage, a gamble between creatures. That was the genuine relationship of normal hunting in the food chain. Now, on large ships, they easily catch up, kill with a single shot, and lift the catch with cranes. Don¡¯t even mention the butchering¡ªif necessary, an onboard production line could turn them straight into canned food. The Faroe Islands, Denmark¡¯s largest fishing location, enjoy a comfortable life with an average income of 70,000 Ugly Yuan, thanks to the commercial catch of herring, mackerel, and so on. Yet even so, locals have not given up on the traditional practice of whale hunting. They promote the activity of hunting cetaceans extensively under the guise of training courage for the youth, and much of the meat from the mass slaughter is not even consumed, but rather thrown into the trash. Almost every year, news reports condemn the practice, and the year before last, the noise over whaling was so loud that they retaliated by killing even more dolphins¡­ The reason it¡¯s called retaliatory is that they have prior offenses. In 2012, dissatisfied with the European Union¡¯s mackerel fishing quota, Iceland and the Faroe Islands ignored the advice of ICES and unilaterally increased the mackerel catch from 630,000 tons to 800,000 tons. The same situation occurred this time. The usual few hundred killings suddenly surged to 1,428 dolphins, and many of them ended up being thrown away into the trash, unused. If humans allow themselves to eat whatever they want, they can easily wipe out any species. In the past, having enough to eat was satisfactory, but now, with the average annual income of Japanese at 40,000 Ugly Yuan, they are still demanding too much from cetaceans. The ethical shift regarding food is a long process. Some previously considered normal foods will gradually be eliminated from our diets. Foods not prohibited by law can be chosen based on personal knowledge¡ªit doesn¡¯t have to be a blanket rule, nor is there a need to force others to agree with one¡¯s own views. But as part of humanity, enjoying meat filled by feed and products created by polluting nature, we should be kinder to nature within the realms of what we deem reasonable and what we can achieve. Mugalen seemed to finally understand, ¡°First, greed, second, unwillingness to admit fault, third, destruction of nature, fourth, the bloody slaughter, goodness, they are quite capable.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Richard confirmed. ¡°If it weren¡¯t illegal to kill me, they would certainly do it.¡± Thinking of the two companions still lying in the hospital, everyone couldn¡¯t help nodding. Richard sighed, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s all my fault, because of the program ¡®The Story of Dolphins,¡¯ which created this multi-billion dollar industry. The show sparked people¡¯s desire to swim with the dolphins, touch them, kiss them.¡± ¡°No,¡± Bi Fang shook his head, ¡°Clearly you don¡¯t study Marxist Philosophy. From a materialist historical perspective, as long as dolphins remain intelligent and capable of performing, this industry would have emerged sooner or later. The only difference is the timing.¡± The car quickly passed the town government building, and after confirming that no one was following, they arrived at the foot of a deserted and remote mountain. Mandy opened a black bag, neatly packed with dozens of raincoats in various colors, picked out camouflage raincoats and distributed them to everyone. Taking advantage of the storm, when hardly anyone was going out, they all ascended the mountain. The torrential rain made the mountain path extremely muddy. Jerret almost slipped with a single step, but luckily Mugalen behind him gave him a hand. ¡°You two are too old, you should have stayed in the car,¡± Mugalen pointed at Jerret and Richard. Richard shook his head; how could he possibly miss out? S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And Jerret as well, ¡°We have limited equipment. I need to observe the entire bay before I can decide where to place the cameras. Otherwise, we can¡¯t shoot a qualified documentary.¡± The mud on their shoes kept piling up, making everyone feel as if their shoes had become more than twice as heavy. Mandy accidentally stepped into a mud puddle and lost her shoes when she pulled her foot out. Bi Fang poked around with a walking stick for a long time before fishing them out. ¡°Good heavens, I don¡¯t even want to wear them anymore,¡± Mandy held up her sport shoes covered in mud. Bi Fang said, ¡°You can go barefoot if you don¡¯t want to wear them, unless you don¡¯t mind getting bitten by some weird bugs, or cut by sharp stones resulting in a lot of bleeding, followed by a bacterial invasion. First the wound would start to fester, then the whole foot would swell, becoming bloated with bruises, and in the end, you might have to amputate not just the lower leg but potentially the thigh¡­¡± ¡°OKOK¡­ please stop talking about it, I still want my legs,¡± Mandy pleaded repeatedly, rinsed the mud out of her shoes with bottled water, put them back on, and continued to help each other move forward. Soon, a yellow metal sign blocked their way. It read: ¡°Beware of falling rocks,¡± and ¡°Wild beasts are lurking.¡± The sign was large, blocking the entire path, with a barbed wire fence on the side, stretching all the way to the edge of a nearby cliff. Richard chuckled bitterly, ¡°If it weren¡¯t raining, there would be fishermen patrolling the mountains here with knives. This is also a national park. Those fishermen told me: ¡®If word of what happens here gets out, we¡¯re finished.¡¯ They said so themselves.¡± Bi Fang touched the barbed wire, then led the group to the edge of the cliff and helped each person get past the barrier. After passing through layers of trees, everyone could finally see the bay surrounded by mountains on three sides through the gaps in the forest. ¡°Is this Dolphin Bay?¡± Bi Fang and Mugalen looked down at the shallow bay below the mountain. The coastline was only a few dozen meters long on either side, with low hills, but it was this narrow strip of shore that was littered with the bodies of thousands of dolphins. Dolphins would always follow their migratory path to Taiji Town. This had not changed for thousands of years, and all the fishermen needed to do was wait for them to walk into the trap. About a dozen fishing boats lined up, inserting long poles into the water with flanges on the ends, then hammered the tops of the poles, creating a sound barrier. They took advantage of the dolphins¡¯ sensitivity to sound, herding hundreds of them towards the shore. They were all fleeing for their lives, away from that wall of sound. Once they entered the bay surrounded by mountains on three sides, all the fishermen had to do was block the last exit with a net, and not a single dolphin could escape. Each year during the dolphin season, the shallow bay turned blood red. It was a real blood-red color without any exaggeration. From above, via satellite, you could even clearly see the bay turning into a red spot. Those dolphins not selected by marine parks, regardless of their size, were all killed. The massacre at Dolphin Bay was an ingenious slaughter because it was one that cut off a lineage. It killed all the dolphins who were frightened and realized the cruelty and evil of humans, so that others continued to naively consider humans their friends, falling into the trap time and time again. Chapter 525: 522: The Hunting Season Begins! Chapter 525: Chapter 522: The Hunting Season Begins! July 12th, 7:00 AM. The much-anticipated Black Bear hunting season would officially start today at 8:00 AM, and everyone was busily preparing for it. From the Oak Tree Company to the Japan Office, to all the hunters and audience watching with bated breath, everyone was looking forward to it. Inside the black sedan beneath the Imperial Hotel, Nobita Nobi raised his wrist and counted down¡ªthe live broadcast was only one hour away. Bi Fang went to the restroom, scooped up a handful of cool water to splash on his face, shook off the excess droplets, and after neatening his hair, he grabbed his backpack, wiped his shoes, and hurried to the elevator. At 7:40, he arrived at the southernmost tip of the Kii Peninsula, Wakayama Prefecture. ... Four drones hovered around Bi Fang, three of them were under his own control, while the other was operated by the Oak Tree Company. Hunting Black Bears in the wild was an extremely dangerous activity; those reporters who hadn¡¯t undergone professional training wouldn¡¯t dare get close and could only remotely control drones. Bi Fang proceeded alone into the wilderness, and by mid-July, the weather had become scorchingly hot. This hunting season, there were a total of thirty-five Black Bear hunters. According to the registration combinations, there were fifteen teams, with more than four-fifths choosing to form teams. Even the Y¨­ki Hunter was no exception. The Nameless Y¨­ki Hunters were divided into three pairs; Sato was by himself, while the other four split into two teams. The rest of the pairings were even more extensive: thirty-five people formed four two-person teams, four three-person teams, one four-person team, and six individuals. The individuals included Mugalen, Bi Fang, Sato, and the other three. It¡¯s the same old saying. Black Bears are risky, hunting requires caution. The Capital is in the East Eighth District, and Japan is in the Eastern Ninth Zone, so Huaxia and Japan are actually only an hour apart. Eight o¡¯clock in the morning in Japan corresponds to seven o¡¯clock on the domestic clock. Although it¡¯s a bit early, for those who enjoy Bi Fang¡¯s live streams, it¡¯s already quite a friendly timeslot. Initially, during the Banna Rainforest, one would have to wake up around 6:00 AM to wait for the broadcast. The sun hasn¡¯t risen, but I¡¯m already up. Oh, June has long days, so that¡¯s fine then. [Front row seats] [Waiting for Old Fang to go godlike in the world] [How long will this live stream last? Is it as long as the last one in Banna?] [Not sure, a hundred bears, thirty-five people, about three bears each, that should take a while, right?] [Not sure, never killed one] [Dare to kill, and I dare to enter] Inside the official live broadcast room, Kogawa Kobayashi and Shizuka Minamoto introduced the contestants one by one. When it came to Bi Fang, the number of viewers surged once more¡ªregrettably not reaching the peak of excitement seen during the initial selection of hunting ground by the hunters. ¡°I have a feeling that Bi Fang¡¯s personal live stream is taking away a large chunk of viewership,¡± complained a staff member wearing a headset. Another staff member disagreed, pointing to the curves on the panel, ¡°But the engagement is several times higher than before Bi Fang announced his participation. The number of viewers has already exceeded our initial best-case scenario predictions, and this is just the beginning¡ªit¡¯s bound to increase.¡± Hearing the two¡¯s discussion, an elder nearby scolded, ¡°Just do your own jobs; these matters are none of your business.¡± ¡°Hey, hey, hey, make sure all departments are in sync. Three minutes left¡ªthe live broadcast is about to start.¡± ¡°Two minutes left¡­¡± ¡°One minute.¡± ¡°It¡¯s starting!¡± As the seconds ticked down to zero, the departments coordinated their operations, and tens of millions of viewers in front of the screen waited eagerly. Nearly one third of the audience had gathered in Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast room. In the first venue, the lights were fully lit, the oil paintings came to life, and the massive black screen lit up once again, illuminating the entire hall. A familiar voice resonated from all directions as the classic opening lines were spoken. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Looking back at the evolutionary journey of humankind, if our ancestors had not ventured and imagined, if they had not been brave to innovate and willing to sacrifice with grandeur and magnificent sentiment, humans would not have taken canoes to surf the seas, to explore the infinite mysteries beyond the ocean.¡± [The man at the top of the food chain!] [A stomach that digests anything and everything!] [The strongest jungle player in history] [The freest man on the planet, dog¡¯s head] ¡°Human curiosity sparks the desire for adventure, human adventure ignites the torch of civilization.¡± ¡°Adventure doesn¡¯t just lie in the oceans and mountains of the great outdoors, the deserts, and swamps; it¡¯s also hidden in the densely populated cities,¡± Bi Fang stepped on a large rock, looked down the mountain, smiled at the drone hovering midair, and gave a two-finger salute. ¡°I am Bi Fang, a professional outdoor explorer. Here, I will show you how to survive in some of the most dangerous places on Earth, where without professional skills, you wouldn¡¯t last even a day, and today, I¡¯m back!¡± [Panda people series, shake the glow sticks!] [Wu Hu, Wu Hu, Wu Hu, Master Fang, my male god, hehe] [Master Fang is about to take his revenge on the Black Bear!] [Isn¡¯t this hunting season too cruel? Why do humans have the right to arbitrarily take animal lives?] [Burning incense in temples is all bullshit, you have to look at the live comments to find the real Bodhisattvas.] [Weird, Old Fang put on clothes, it feels strange] [Add one, I thought I was the only one who felt unaccustomed, I¡¯ve been watching grass skirts for nearly a month, and suddenly it¡¯s a style change] [Where are you now? I heard you were picking a location but didn¡¯t catch the previous live stream of Japan, can Old Fang explain?] Bi Fang pointed to the sea in front of him: ¡°Right now, I am on the Kii Peninsula. A peninsula is a landform, half of which protrudes into the sea or lake, and the other half is connected to the continent, generally surrounded by water on three sides. Look, standing from up high, we can easily see the ocean.¡± The drone flew up, the camera zoomed out, waves undulated in the sea, and it seemed like seagulls were flying and diving into the water, with the forest stretching behind Bi Fang, surrounded by the sea on three sides. Surrounded by the sea on three sides with forests at the back, this is an island of dreams. The rainy season had indeed passed, yesterday¡¯s downpour was an anomaly, but even though the weather was clear today, the ground was still damp, full of muck. Bi Fang scraped a layer of mud off the soles of his shoes and continued: ¡°This is a peninsula that stretches out from the central part of Japan¡¯s Honshu to the Pacific Ocean, and it is also the largest peninsula in Japan. It includes the entire area of Wakayama Prefecture, as well as parts of southern Nara and Mie Prefectures.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if you all saw the hunting rules, but the hunters¡¯ activity area is divided according to the two-thirds principle of the prefectures. Based on this rule, my activity area would be around the entire Kii Peninsula.¡± The two-thirds principle? The audience was confused, indicating they had never heard of it. Fortunately, someone explained it in the live comments, and Bi Fang repeated it once more. Bi Fang braced himself on one foot, stood up on the boulder, made a light jump, and hopped off the boulder. Ever since his joints were enhanced, Bi Fang especially liked doing this movement. It felt effortless and very smooth. ¡°As for the Kii Peninsula, people often mistakenly think that the name comes from Kii Province. In fact, it was a combination of the names of ancient Kii Province and Ise Province, taking half of each. But it seems that Kii Province got the better deal,¡± [Hahaha, it reminds me of the joke about two universities merging.] [Our brothers each contribute a character. Dongnan University provides the ¡®south¡¯ and Nanjing University provides the ¡®capital,¡¯ so neither has the advantage, dog¡¯s head. ] [Kii Peninsula, it sounds so familiar. Wasn¡¯t that where Sadako committed suicide in ¡®The Ring¡¯?] Bi Fang shook his head: ¡°You¡¯ve got it wrong. ¡®The Ring¡¯ is set on the Izu Peninsula. The story in ¡®The Dancing Girl of Izu¡¯ also took place there, not this Kii Peninsula I am currently on. The two are quite different.¡± ¡°The Kii Peninsula is mainly composed of mountains, with peaks stretching to the seaside, steep cliffs dropping straight to the seabed as if cleaved by a sword. Being a mountainous region, there is a vast expanse of primeval forest, which is why quite a few hunters chose this place.¡± The Kii Peninsula is not the same as Wakayama Prefecture. Wakayama Prefecture is closer to the sea, mostly flatlands. Plus, with Dolphin Bay and villagers regularly patrolling the mountains, the Black Bear population is indeed less compared to other prefectures. Quite a few hunters chose other prefectural cities on the Kii Peninsula. The junction where the peninsula connects with the island of Honshu is the best hunting point. That¡¯s why Mugalen was so puzzled to see Bi Fang choose Wakayama Prefecture. Thanks to the vast expanse of primeval forest and the Japanese peoples¡¯ fondness for ¡°creating gods,¡± this place can be said to be the birthplace of Japanese Shintoism. Hidden within the large primeval forest are Japan¡¯s oldest Kumano Sanzan, The First Shrine, and the world¡¯s longest and oldest pilgrimage route¡ªthe Kumano Kodo. There are also little towns with populations of only a few thousand people scattered along the coastline, secret train heavens. However, because the entire peninsula only has one train line, and the dining and commercial businesses are underdeveloped, it¡¯s not well-known to the general public. Bi Fang moved towards the deeper parts of the forest; currently, he was still on the outskirts. To have a greater chance of encountering Black Bears, he needed to venture further inside. ¡°In December 1912, a Japanese brown bear that was 2.7 meters tall and weighed 340 kilograms intruded into Shimamaki Village, Tomamae District, Hokkaido, beginning a hunt that lasted 5 days. In this brown bear incident, a total of 7 people died, and 3 were injured,¡± ¡°Afterward, Japan organized a hunting party of 600 people. By tracking the brown bear¡¯s footprints, they located it and ultimately shot it dead. To date, this is the most serious bear attack incident in Japan and even worldwide.¡± ¡°This incident started Japan¡¯s ¡®Human-Bear War,¡¯ especially since entering the 21st century, Japan¡¯s ¡®Human-Bear Conflict¡¯ has escalated.¡± ¡°According to statistics from Fukui Prefecture in Japan, there were 841 ¡®bear incidents¡¯ within 10 years, which means Black Bears appearing in residential areas. By 2014, the number of bear incidents in the prefecture remained as high as 615 times. This prefecture is also where the most hunters gathered.¡± Fukui Prefecture is located in the central part of Honshu Island and is quite far from Bi Fang¡¯s current location. However, such a high frequency of bear incidents undoubtedly made it a favorite location for hunters during this hunting season. The five Nameless Y¨­ki Hunters, without exception, all chose Fukui Prefecture. As local hunters, they knew best where the Black Bears were most numerous, and they were the quickest to choose their hunting spots after Bi Fang and Mugalen. Clearly, they had made their preparations early on. Chapter 526: 523: Black Bear Disaster Chapter 526: Chapter 523: Black Bear Disaster The Sankebetsu bear incident cannot be said to be the spark that ignited the fire, but it was indeed a significant event, a classic symbol of conflict between bears and humans. In the cold winter, without any food storage, the behemoth barged into the village, killing 7 people and injuring 3. No matter the country, such an event is horrifying and was fully recorded. Due to its infamy, this tragedy was adapted into novels, comics, stage plays, and movies, repeatedly broadcasted and widely known among the Japanese people. After the ferocious predator was eventually hunted down, people discovered that this behemoth stood at 2.7 meters tall and weighed 340 kilograms. [Holy shit, 2.7 meters? Isn¡¯t that a bit exaggerated?] [That¡¯s as tall as a building, just reaching over your fence with a boo!] ... [Wasn¡¯t the first one Master Fang encountered only 2.2 meters? This one is half a meter longer?] The live broadcast audience had seen the black bear that Bi Fang first encountered live. Among black bears with an average height of 1.8 meters, it was already a colossal type. Just from watching on the computer screen, one could already feel an immensely strong sense of oppression, let alone the fact that Bi Fang was alone at that time, in the deep mountains and forests, with only a stone spear in his palm. If it were them, forget about fighting back, they would wet their pants on the spot, and then be gnawed to nothing¡ª that would be their end. In reality, the Sankebetsu bear incident was even more brutal. The giant beast first appeared in November, near the village of Sankebetsu in the western part of Hokkaido. It quietly sneaked into a house, causing the horses to flee in terror. The owner of the house was Ikeda Tomikura. He discovered that only some corn was lost, but the sight of footprints over 30 centimeters long in the mud was shocking. Another month passed, and on the morning of December 9, the brown bear snuck into the Ota household, devouring Ota¡¯s child and wife. After that, its man-eating spree was completely triggered, starting a frenzied streak of crimes. On the night of December 10, the brown bear came to the village again. After the slaughter, five women and children were killed by the bear, and three people escaped with severe injuries. On December 11, the villagers were incredibly angry after the tragedy. Women, children, and the elderly were all relocated, while the men voluntarily formed a bear-hunting team to go into the mountains seeking revenge on the bear. On December 12, the malicious bear-attacking incident in the Sankebetsu village was reported to the Hokkaido Prefectural Government. The official bear-hunting team joined the villagers¡¯ bear-hunting team in search of the bear in the mountains. But while no one was in the village, the brown bear sneaked into the settlement again, almost completely consuming several households¡¯ winter reserves and destroyed eight huts. Over the next three days, the Hokkaido Prefectural Government deployed a total of 600 people in the extermination team, with more than 10 Ainu dogs, and used 60 firearms. The village continued to receive reinforcements from the army, soldiers, and police from the Army Seventh Division, all ready for battle and searching everywhere. This was an unprecedented beast-hunting team. However, even 600 people couldn¡¯t find the bear. In the end, it was an old veteran from the Russo-Japanese War, Yamamoto Hyogo, who made the kill. Next to a white oak tree, he shot two bullets at the bear¡¯s heart and head, killing the giant bear. Late, to expunge the memory of the terror, the villagers burnt down the mountain huts and relocated downstream, leaving the place forever. The incident thus came to an end and vanished into history. After hearing Bi Fang¡¯s story, the audience was left speechless. Is this really a bear? This is more like a grizzly bear tank, right? [If Bi Fang were in this situation, could he have defeated this bear?] [I think it¡¯s tough¡­] [It¡¯s clearly fake, so impressive if two shots could kill a brown bear, just scraping some skin at most, how could it die right away] [I saw someone on a forum once, saying that seven hundred AKs couldn¡¯t kill seven hundred tigers; that was you, right? Covering face, isn¡¯t that embarrassing?] [Really, the notion that seven hundred AKs can¡¯t kill seven hundred tigers is bullshit. Humans are so powerful now that we can easily abuse the top of the food chain, tigers? Normally an AK fires seventy or eighty shots without a tiger getting hurt, it would bite off your gun barrel while being hit.] [Tiger: Don¡¯t drag me into your bullshit.] [What, do you think you¡¯re some kind of cosmic storm tiger?] [Seventy or eighty shots, you¡¯d have been killed by the Ground Tiger Hero already!] Bi Fang broke through the brush in front of him and entered the jungle. ¡°Although this is a brown bear, in this hunting season, there¡¯s no strict requirement for it to be a black bear. Brown bears are generally larger, and if you can hunt one, the score will be even higher,¡± he said. In the wilderness of Japan, there are two types of bears: the Asian Black Bear and the Brown Bear. Among them, there are two subspecies of the Brown Bear in Japan: the Ussuri brown bear and the Japanese brown bear. The Ussuri brown bear, also known as the Northeast brown bear, is mainly found in the northern regions of Japan. The Japanese brown bear, also known as the Hokkaido brown bear, is primarily found in northern Japan, around Hokkaido. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The black bear, however, is one of the seven subspecies of black bears, the Japanese black bear, with a wider distribution than the brown bear, found throughout Japan¡¯s Shikoku, Honshu, and previously in Kyushu, though now extinct there. ¡°Because of its name, people might mistake the brown bear for having brown fur, but in fact, brown bears also have black fur, only with a shade of brown compared to the black fur of the Asian black bears,¡± he explained. ¡°Long ago, I mentioned that the black bear has a distinctive feature: a crescent-shaped patch of white fur on its chest. That is the fundamental way to distinguish the two species.¡± The habitats of brown bears and black bears cover more than half of Japan¡¯s land area, and Japan¡¯s population totals 127 million people. Clearly, the bears hunted in Japan are a mixture of black bears and brown bears. This hunting season is no different. However, in terms of the number of kills, black bears make up the larger proportion. [Indeed, no reputation is unwarranted. This Huaxia broadcaster is really impressive.] ¡°[It seems the cameras in Japan are all focused on him]¡± ¡°[That¡¯s normal. The other guys just keep their heads down and plough on without any interaction. No fun in watching that]¡± Japanese netizens expressed their admiration. The hunt had just started, and most people had only just entered the peripheries of the forest or jungle; they hadn¡¯t truly begun searching for clues. After a brief introduction, there wasn¡¯t much to watch. Besides, many hunters were so focused, like mute gourds; even if you gave them the camera, they had nothing to say. Who would watch that? Kogawa Kobayashi and Shizuka Minamoto¡¯s attempts at comedy were futile. On the contrary, Bi Fang, with his Asian looks, fit their aesthetic preferences better. Besides, he could keep talking while on the move and occasionally even communicate in Japanese, making the footage much more appealing. Kogawa Kobayashi exclaimed, ¡°Oh, there¡¯s so much stuff even I as a commentator don¡¯t know. I think Master Fang should have been the commentator. He would be more suitable than me.¡± Shizuka Minamoto said, ¡°I heard Master Fang has been a judge and commentator too. And he¡¯s livestreamed more than once. Those who have seen his livestreams say he¡¯s a scholar with extensive knowledge.¡± ¡°Oh, no wonder then.¡± Even more crucially, no matter what language he spoke, it seemed Bi Fang¡¯s livestream could translate it flawlessly. Many stories the Japanese themselves were unclear about were as familiars to Bi Fang as the back of his hand. People grew so engrossed in listening that they found switching screens troublesome. In the end, some even turned off their TVs and searched for Bi Fang¡¯s livestream on their phones. Besides, the only other reasonably competent figure was Mugalen. As one of the only two present who had been on a similar show, he had some insights. Although he wasn¡¯t as familiar with the local history and Japan¡¯s man-bear conflicts like Bi Fang, he still had his own interesting take. For instance, rather than hunting bears, right now Mugalen was trying to catch a wild rabbit. ¡°After the hunting season starts, I don¡¯t plan on returning to town. Running back and forth is just too much hassle, a waste of time. So everything from eating and drinking to relieving oneself must be done in the forest. I think getting today¡¯s lunch sorted out is better. Who knows, maybe like Bi Fang, I¡¯ll catch a Black Bear that walks into my trap all because of a little rabbit?¡± ¡°[You wish]¡± ¡°[This Big Beard alien is kind of interesting]¡± ¡°[Only two contestants worth watching]¡± ¡°[Y¨­ki Hunter is a bit of a letdown, still hasn¡¯t caught any bear]¡± Inside Bi Fang¡¯s livestream, when the Japanese viewers kept flooding in, everyone rushed to express their pride. Y¨­ki Hunter completely defeated in the live broadcast! Bi Fang squatted on the ground, examining the traces left by animals passing by, judging their size. While he wasn¡¯t focused on hunting the Black Bear, he still had to avoid being too obvious, at least not to diverge too markedly from previous livestreams. ¡°The number of bears in Japan is indeed too high. Apart from the several hundred bear sightings a year in Fukui Prefecture, many other places are similarly affected. Since the millennium, Japan started to undertake bear hunting campaigns.¡± ¡°According to the statistics from Japan¡¯s Ministry of Environment, starting from 2000, the number of bears hunted in Japan has been maintained at an average of more than 1000 per year. The year with the most bear hunts was 2019, reaching 5667, followed by 4679 in 2006.¡± And yet this wasn¡¯t enough, the conflict between humans and bears continued to escalate. That¡¯s why Japan established a hunting season this year and even encouraged traditional Y¨­ki hunters to thrive once again. ¡°[Holy shit, thousands of bears? That seems way too exaggerated, right?]¡± ¡°[Just how many bears are there in Japan¡­ They aren¡¯t more than kangaroos in Australia, are they?]¡± ¡°[You know what? The population of the Vatican is only eight hundred, while Japan alone has thirty thousand Black Bears. If the Black Bears decided to invade the Vatican, every Vatican citizen would have to fight off thirty-seven Black Bears. You have no idea because you only care about yourself!]¡± ¡°[The Vatican: Thirty-seven Black Bears? Just kill me already]¡± ¡°[You can even make a meme out of this?]¡± ¡°[So why are there so many bears in Japan? I heard that the number of Black Bears alone is more than our collective total. Is that true?]¡± Bi Fang nodded, ¡°It¡¯s true. The total number of Black Bears in Huaxia is less than twenty thousand, whereas Japan has more than thirty thousand. In fact, worldwide, only Polar Bear and Japan don¡¯t consider the Black Bear a key species for protection.¡± ¡°Japan has always been a natural habitat for both Black Bears and Brown Bears, and they are a type of wildlife that has a very wide distribution.¡± ¡°Secondly, the proliferation of bears in Japan is related to the ¡®Deer Calamity¡¯ of the eighties and nineties of the last century.¡± ¡°As for the Deer Calamity, it¡¯s related to the aging population and the young people moving into the cities for work.¡± Aging population, young people moving into cities for work? The audience slowly typed out question marks. What¡¯s the connection between all these things? Is there a relation? Chapter 527: 524: Boss Yao, One Step Ahead Chapter 527: Chapter 524: Boss Yao, One Step Ahead [Population aging leads to a surge in bear numbers, a path never before envisioned.] [All the young people have gone to work, and now this is my kingdom, Black Bear King, hahahahaha] [Can this black bear steal a cassock?] ¡°If you don¡¯t believe it, that just shows you haven¡¯t grasped the deeper meaning here,¡± Bi Fang said meaningfully. Everything is interconnected, especially humans and nature. Changes in human society have a significant impact on nature. ¡°By the end of the last century, Japan was developing rapidly, and cities were siphoning labor from the surrounding areas like a whale sucking in water, drawing many young people from villages into urban areas, resulting in serious aging in the countryside. As the elderly gradually passed away, many villages even became ¡®ghost villages.''¡± ... ¡°For instance, in 2015, in Japan, as many as 190 villages ceased to exist.¡± Bi Fang casually mentioned a set of statistics, which left the audience stunned. Had so many villages vanished within a single year? Becoming a ghost village isn¡¯t something that happens overnight, plus with the current economic slump in Japan, wouldn¡¯t there have been even more before? With the disappearance of villages, the habitats for wild animals have effectively increased. A village composed of hundreds of humans has an extremely vast impact on nature. The disappearance of hundreds, even thousands of village-like nails, has opened up a paradise for numerous wild animals, where no overpowering civilization exists anymore. Furthermore, the transition to different energy sources and building materials has reduced the demand for wood, allowing trees to grow lush and strong. ¡°At this time, the trees around the villages grew thickly, and the ghost villages became a paradise for wild animals. But a problem arose. With the decline in carnivores, mainly wolves ¨C as the Japanese wolf had been extinct for a long time ¨C wild deer started proliferating to the point of being a nuisance.¡± At this, many in the audience had already caught on. Many people learned in elementary school about a lesson where, in an attempt to protect deer, wolves were extensively culled, resulting in an explosion in the deer population that led to the destruction of entire forests. ¡°With the absence of natural predators, the deer¡¯s ability to flee weakened, giving omnivorous bears, which primarily consume a vegetarian diet, a very stable source of meat. And so, by the end of the 20th century, bears discreetly started multiplying across many areas of Japan.¡± ¡°Black bears and brown bears have similar reproductive abilities, gestating for about seven months, and then birthing 1-4 cubs at once.¡± ¡°At that time, there were no natural predators for bears in Japan, so the survival rate for bear cubs was extremely high. Plus, with increasingly fewer people around where bears roamed, by the early 21st century, wild bears began to proliferate.¡± ¡°The significant increase in bear numbers led to an obvious shortage of food within their natural habitats.¡± ¡°At this point, black bears and brown bears started descending from the mountains in search of food near human habitations, increasing the incidence of human-bear conflicts.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve specifically looked this up; according to statistics from Japan¡¯s Ministry of Environment, in the 1990s, there were only about 20-40 bear attacks on humans each year. However, this number began to rise in the 21st century, escalating to an average of 95 bear attacks per year since 2008.¡± Bi Fang explained that the severe incidents he had shown Jerret and the others were just a few out of many bear attacks that happened every year. According to Japanese statistics, there are about 22,000 to 30,000 brown bears and black bears, and considering their reproductive rate, Japan had to establish an annual plan to cull thousands of bears to keep their numbers in a relatively stable state. [Wori, ninety-five attacks a year, that¡¯s too many, right?] [The bears have become a plague] [I want to eat bear paw] [Damn, it just occurred to me, does this mean Old Fang can eat bear paw this time?] Seeing the comments, Bi Fang stopped in his tracks and thought carefully about the rules; it seemed that the Japanese government hadn¡¯t explicitly stated all hunted game must be handed over? ¡°A complete bear paw is worth one point, and it¡¯s not stipulated that one can¡¯t forego this point. Theoretically, it seems possible.¡± Damn, can I actually eat bear paw? Realizing this, Bi Fang himself was stunned. The audience was astonished. [Holy shit, can we actually eat it?] [Send me some, I want to taste that delicacy.] What does bear paw taste like? You can¡¯t have both fish and bear¡¯s paws, and ninety-nine percent of people know what fish tastes like, but bear has never crossed their minds to taste, because after such a meal, one would have to go back to a simple diet of clear broth and rice. In most parts of the world, brown bears and black bears are protected wildlife, especially in Huaxia, where they¡¯re even considered national second-class protected animals. Around the world, only Japan and Russia are the exceptions. The latter has a wide distribution and large number of bears inherently, while the former is due to ecological imbalance. The frequent occurrences of ¡°bear sightings¡± have forced Japan to annually cull thousands of bears, but even so, ¡°human-bear conflicts¡± have not been resolved. Under such circumstances, Bi Fang was fortuitously given the chance to taste bear paw. Rubbing his hands together, Bi Fang rolled up his sleeves. ¡°` The Kii Peninsula is in the subtropics with many mosquitoes, especially in the height of summer. He still vividly remembered how, when he first went to the Banna Rainforest, there was only one reported case of Dengue fever in the news. However, by the end of the live broadcast, there were hundreds more. To avoid being bitten by various insects, despite the hot weather, Bi Fang didn¡¯t wear short sleeves but a thin shirt instead. Now he was genuinely interested. Bear paws, eh? Normally, he wouldn¡¯t even dare to think about it, so shouldn¡¯t he give it a try? ¡°If you want to do something well, you must first sharpen your tools. Human strength is ultimately much weaker than a bear¡¯s. If you want to deal with a bear, you must choose to use long-range or polearm weapons. Although I only brought two daggers, I¡¯m going to use them to make a spear,¡± he said. Bi Fang moved through the forest, selecting the right wood. Regardless of whether it was an iron spear, Stone Spear, or just a simple wood spear, one couldn¡¯t be careless in choosing the trees. ¡°The spear shaft must be tough and at least not break easily under great pressure.¡± ¡°Generally speaking, there are two kinds of wood: softwood and hardwood. Softwoods primarily grow in the north, while hardwoods primarily grow in the south.¡± ¡°Most softwoods have a denser quality and grow slowly, making them excellent materials for wooden spears, such as Northeast China pine, Manchurian ash, and oak.¡± ¡°The quality of hardwoods is more complicated, with some being rather loose, such as fir wood, but others are exceptionally dense, such as camphor wood and rosewood, and so on.¡± [Rosewood for a spear, that¡¯s a bold idea] [The bolder the person, the more expensive the wooden spear] ¡°The Kii Peninsula lies on typhoon paths and climate fronts, making it one of the wettest areas in Japan. It has subtropical plants like banyan and palm trees as well as temperate sweetgum forests. The inland is mountainous, with an abundance of Yezo spruce. This might add some difficulty to our material search. If possible, we should choose camphor wood.¡± ¡°Camphor trees are originally from Japan, the Ryukyu Islands, Huaxia, and Southeast Asia. Camphor wood is fragrant throughout, with dense wood, tenacious texture, and is soft yet tough. It doesn¡¯t break easily and is less likely to crack. It¡¯s my ideal material,¡± he said. Bi Fang¡¯s nostrils flared slightly as he caught the scent molecules in the air. Camphor wood contains a wealth of volatile oils and has a strong unique fragrance, which is one of the high-quality sources of perfume extraction. So, the scent is very intense; if it¡¯s nearby, the aroma is sure to be rich. With Bi Fang¡¯s current sense of smell, as he walked through the forest, he quickly caught a faint fragrance, fresh and pleasant, and he followed the scent. About three hundred meters later, an enormous tree appeared in front of everyone. [Wow, this tree is so tall!] [It¡¯s like thirty or forty meters, right?] [Train your eye, this one¡¯s about twenty-five meters] Bi Fang nodded and said, ¡°Camphor trees are evergreen trees from the laurel family, they can reach up to fifty meters high, and some are hundreds or even thousands of years old, making them true towering ancient trees.¡± ¡°However, such tall camphor trees are rare to see. This one here is over twenty meters. The ones we commonly see are between fifteen and twenty meters tall.¡± The air was so fragrant that it was almost suffocating. Bi Fang rubbed his nose, put down his backpack, and prepared to climb the tree to select a few suitable branches, stepping on the trunk and slowly climbing up. ¡°Camphor is renowned along with nanmu, zelkova, and paulownia as the four famous woods of Jiangnan. It can be said that every part of it is a treasure. Camphor oil extracted from the roots, stems, and leaves can be used to make film rolls and sheets. The leaves can be used to extract camphor for use in agriculture, such as controlling rice borers. Silkworms fed with camphor leaves produce silk that can be used for weaving fishing nets and even as surgical sutures.¡± Having chosen a straight branch, Bi Fang took out his Harpoon, aimed at the base, and chopped down fiercely. ¡°The key point is, we can also use the leaves of the camphor tree for insect repellent.¡± ¡°In the summer, if you go outdoors, you can try picking camphor leaves, crushing them, and applying them to your hands and feet. It has a mosquito-repellent effect. However, camphor trees can also be afflicted by diseases and pests. That¡¯s how Nature is, always one thing countering another.¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Three straight Tree sticks fell from the leaves and landed on the ground. Bi Fang grabbed a thick branch, jumped down from the air, rolled over, and picked up the Tree sticks from the ground. ¡°A Spear should not be too long, being about your height is enough, too long and it¡¯s not only inconvenient to use, but it also increases the risk of breaking. We can now start a fire and briefly process them.¡± Bi Fang gathered some dry grass nearby, dug a pit, and took out a Firesteel from his bag. With a gentle scrape, a lot of sparks flew, and the flames were quickly ignited. Whether it¡¯s the bow drill, hand drill, or the cord-saw method, none could compare at this moment. ¡°Industrial products make fire starting so much quicker.¡± The firelight illuminated Bi Fang¡¯s face. The moment magnesium rod struck, it was almost like igniting a blaze in his hand. If he didn¡¯t hold on to the handle at the back, he could have burned off a layer of skin from his fingers. [I¡¯ll bet a package of spicy strips that Old Fang¡¯s same model of Firesteel will be on the clubhouse¡¯s mini-mart shelves within half an hour.] [You lose, it was stocked before this live broadcast.]] [Boss Yao is always one step ahead.] Sitting in front of the campfire, Bi Fang took out his Harpoon and silently carved the wooden spear. ¡°` Chapter 528 - 525 Hunter and Prey The fierce fire roasts the camphor wood, and the fine oils slowly seep out from the fibers, filling the air with a rich and pleasant fragrance. After the camphor leaves are picked and placed on a stone slab, they¡¯re ground into a green paste with a smooth stone. Bi Fang applies it to his exposed skin, and the mosquitos around seem to vanish into thin air. Engulfed by flames, the stick gradually turns black. Bi Fang picks up the tree stick and, using a dagger, carves a cross notch at one end. Pressing against it, he takes a round stone and strikes the back of the dagger to split it into a cross slot. He removes the wooden handle of the steel dagger and inserts the slender iron blade into the middle of the cross opening. Aside from accommodating the slender iron handle, Bi Fang also carefully carves a few grooves inside the cross notch to fit about two centimeters of the dagger¡¯s blade length, forming a simple inlay structure. Bringing the cross notch together again, one could not tell that something had been inserted inside. Bi Fang explains, "One side is concave, the other is convex; fitting them together forms the simplest mortise-and-tenon structure. It¡¯s not prone to breaking or falling out. Accommodating part of the dagger¡¯s blade ensures it won¡¯t easily bend." Grasping the fastened break, Bi Fang pulls out a piece of white rope from his bag, wraps it carefully around, and finally ties a tight knot. "This rope is made of Dyneema material -- cut-resistant, wear-resistant, and its strength is more than ten times that of quality steel, second only to top-grade carbon fiber. With a density less than water, it can float on the surface and is very light. If you¡¯ve seen my Mount Everest climbing video, you should know it, and yes, you guessed it right, this is the same piece I used before." "I didn¡¯t use all of it after climbing Mount Everest last time. We¡¯ll continue to use it this time. But honestly, its strength is so high, it¡¯s really tough to cut..." Bi Fang pulls at the excess rope, and with a harpoon, he slowly cuts it off bit by bit. This is a dagger gifted by the System, and even with that, it struggles to cut through the Dyneema rope, showcasing its high material strength. [Damn, Old Fang¡¯s rope that went up Mount Everest, forged in the wilderness, and about to bathe in bear blood. I can¡¯t imagine how much its value could soar.] [A conservative estimate, two million!] [Awesome, if it was mine, it could become a family heirloom, to be treasured at home.] [White Tassel Spear!] [Back in the day, I wielded the Lance of Glistening Silver, cutting a path seven times in and out at Changban Slope, leaving my enemies riddled with holes, rolling in piss and shit!] Bi Fang wields the approximately 1.8-meter-long spear with its bark peeled off, leaving a white branch with delicate patterns, straight in form, with a six-inch blade and an extra length of rope dangling, swinging in the wind. He stakes it into the ground and steps on it, testing its tenacity; it bends close to sixty degrees without any sign of breaking. After finding a pine tree, he easily stabs into it, and slowly oozing resin, Bi Fang wraps the flowing pine resin around the joint of the spearhead and shaft to reinforce it three times. Mortise-and-tenon, winding rope, resin bonding; after these three steps, the wooden spear has become one, whether chopping or stabbing, making it very difficult to disengage. The sharp spear pierces the sky, emitting a piercing whistle, with the nearby leaves rustling in response. Bi Fang, very satisfied with his work, puts it away and proceeds to make another two wood spears. At the same time, the other hunters are all busily engaged in their activities. Each person chooses their activity area, but the production team didn¡¯t airdrop them into the center of a random forest; instead, they had to make their own way. The radii of human settlements are wide, and most haven¡¯t found much, encountering only some wild chickens and rabbits; the larger animals remain unseen. Only by venturing deeper into the forest does the real test of skills begin. It¡¯s 9:30 in the morning now, and Bi Fang estimates that by afternoon, people will start to make discoveries one after another. Deep in the jungle, fully-armed Sato, wearing cut-resistant clothing, carrying a small bomb-proof shield, and holding a glaive as tall as a person and a crossbow, moves through the bushes, presenting an anachronistic blend of the modern and ancient. Times have changed. Traditional hunters have also learned to protect themselves. The show prohibits the use of heavy crossbows and firearms, but both normal bows and modern equipment don¡¯t fall into these categories. Other hunters participating in the show do not have the benefit of Bi Fang¡¯s System, cannot be precocious in their youth, and don¡¯t have any restrictions on equipment, so they load up with all they can. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Besides Sato and Mugalen, who carry weapons and are of an offensive type, there are also those who dig traps and specialize in defensive counterattacks. Primitive hunting, without the restraint of hunting dogs and targeting large predators like the Asian Black Bear, is ultimately very dangerous. The best option is naturally to lure the bear into stepping into a trap. Giant wooden traps and deep pits with wooden spikes are good methods for dealing with large animals. "Seeing a camphor tree taller than twenty-five meters signifies that we have already entered deep into the forest," Bi Fang says, rising from the ground and extinguishing the fire pit. Behind him are two wooden spears, one hand wielding an even sharper and harder steel spear, and on the ground lie five short spears, each about half the height of a person, along with a dart thrower. To deal with thick-skinned creatures like the Black Bear, regular arrows are far from sufficient. One must use a dart with greater penetrating power; only then can it pierce through the thick layer of fat, damaging the organs and muscle tissue. "The founding father of modern forensic science, Edmond Locard, once proposed a law named after him, which states: ¡¯Every contact leaves a trace¡¯." "To put it simply, it means ¡¯All contact leaves evidence.¡¯ My translation might not be perfect, but that¡¯s the general idea." Bi Fang waved his spear, splitting the obstructive shrubs in his path, and strode forward. With the long shaft weapon, the journey became much easier. "This statement, after being consistently exemplified by Locard, is regarded as an axiom by insiders and has become a cornerstone of courtroom science, especially the study of physical evidence." "Locard¡¯s Law tells us that matter is composed of countless particles. When a suspect enters a scene or commits an act, particles are exchanged between the objects they touch and their body, leaving traces." "At the same time, his body also picks up some traces from these object surfaces; even if the suspect has tried to clean up, it¡¯s very difficult to completely remove these traces." Every corner he stood in, every object he touched, everything he left behind, even unconsciously, became silent witnesses against him. Not just his fingerprints and footprints, but his hair, fibers from his clothes, broken glass he touched, marks left by tools he used, paint he scratched off, and blood or bodily fluids he left behind or collected. All these and more support the silent testimony against him. These evidences do not forget, do not get confused by the heat of the moment, and unlike testimonies from people, they do not disappear. It is evidence that exists as fact. Physical evidence does not make mistakes; it does not perjure, and it does not disappear completely. Only those who cannot find, study, and understand it would diminish its value. "To me, hunting for game and looking for a criminal are the same¡ªif it has ever existed in a place, it must have left traces." "As for what kind of evidence, that depends on the ¡¯suspect¡¯s¡¯ physical characteristics and behavioral habits. There are two types in total, tangible and intangible." "The tangible ones are hair, scratch marks, footprints, and damage along the way, while the intangible ones are scents, preferred food, and potential gathering points." "To find a bear, you must be familiar with its behavioral habits." Bi Fang pushed aside some branches, his gaze sweeping over one tree after another. "With the exception of the polar bear, which doesn¡¯t have the conditions, all bears like to rub against trees because they can¡¯t reach their backs with their paws, and long-haired animals easily get infested with lice, so it¡¯s important to look for scratch marks on nearby trees, which will be very obvious. The entire tree can have a hole rubbed into it." "Next is footprints. The weight of a Black Bear can leave deep footprints on the ground very easily." "Then there¡¯s the scent, but without a hunting dog, this can be disregarded." Bi Fang himself could use this technique, and there are indeed people with a super-strong sense of smell, but obviously, most people can¡¯t, so without a hunting dog, this technique isn¡¯t worth considering. "Lastly, there are traces of behavior¡ªfrom eating to walking. Predators at the top of the food chain don¡¯t pay much attention to hiding their tracks. Often, when you see a clear pathway in the wild, you need to be careful¡ªit could be a path used by some large herbivore or predator." This is a form of confidence born from being at the top of the food chain. Rabbits and mice need to look around when eating grass, but elephants never overdo their vigilance since few animals can threaten them. "Pay more attention to fallen hair on the trails. If there¡¯s hair, there¡¯s a ninety percent chance it¡¯s from a fierce predator, so be extremely cautious." "Also consider dietary habits. Look for places where things that should exist are massively disappeared or show signs of damage." "The Asian Black Bear is a typical omnivore, mostly feeding on plant matter. Its diet is varied and includes, but is not limited to, various plant shoots, leaves, stems, roots, fruits, as well as mushrooms, shrimps, crabs, fish, invertebrates, birds, rodents, and carrion. It will also dig up ant nests and bee hives." "We can look for upturned ant nests, fruit nearby gnawed to a mess, or partial bee hives that have been bitten off." "[Ah, I know this, bears love honey.]" "[So awesome]" "[Details, it¡¯s all in the details]" "[Speak slower, I¡¯m taking notes]" "[Attention, make sure you remember this everyone!]" "[But why do bears like honey?]" Bi Fang didn¡¯t answer; he grasped the spear and shook it, grabbing the tail end and using the point to lift a drooping branch. As the leaves were turned up and the sunlight shone down, several sharp scratch marks appeared on the tree trunk. Chapter 529 - 526 A False Alarm The wrinkled bark bore several neat scratch marks. Bi Fang pressed his hand against the large tree, his fingers simulating a grab. The audience could clearly see that a human hand couldn¡¯t encompass such large scratch marks, indicating the owner of these paw prints must be a very large creature. [Bear? Is there a bear nearby?] [Damn, I better check if Old Fang is the first one to find a clue?] [Seems like it.] [Awesome, the hunt is on!] The audience began to jeer, but Bi Fang shook his head and gestured for the drone to come closer. In the play of light and shadow, Bi Fang caressed the scarred bark, then bent down to inspect the nearby soil: "These were left a long time ago, at least a couple of months back. There are no footprints on the ground, so it must¡¯ve been a black bear passing by." "Fresh scratch marks typically cut through the bark to reveal the white wood underneath. Now the trunk has darkened; it has been oxidized for a very long time. It¡¯s impossible to locate the black bear based on this." "Unless its territory is nearby. But that clearly isn¡¯t the case, as apart from this scratch mark, there are very few signs of activity from other large animals nearby." It turned out to be a false alarm! The audience was greatly disappointed. They had thought that Boss Fang would be the first hunter to find information on prey this morning. However, the sudden appearance of the black bear¡¯s scratch marks served as a reminder to everyone that indeed, there are many black bears in the forests of Japan. Bi Fang shook his head, pushing aside his thoughts. "Continuing our earlier topic, someone asked why bears like honey. Actually, in a bear¡¯s diet, honey isn¡¯t the main component, but it¡¯s very important to them." Bi Fang continued his walk and chat with the audience, which was his usual style. This tested one¡¯s concentration, requiring simultaneous observation of the surroundings and timely checking of the comments to respond. For most people, this would be too challenging; they might even trip and fall while walking. Bi Fang felt that based on this alone, he should at least manifest a skill that allowed him to multitask. "Bears eat a variety of foods, and some are not easily digestible. Honey aids digestion and absorption, improving the bear¡¯s immunity and quickly replenishing its body energy." "Moreover, when bears enter hibernation, they must rely on body fat converted into energy to maintain their needs." "Among all nutrients, sugars are the easiest to convert into fat. Considering these factors, it¡¯s only natural that bears are particularly fond of honey." "In addition to ant nests and honey, there are many other indicators that are easy to observe, like shrubs with berries that have been trampled on, possibly by the meticulous work of black bears." Bi Fang elaborated on the various possible clues while picking a small red fruit from a nearby branch and popping it into his mouth. "Hmm, not bad, sour and sweet." [Holy shit, what did Boss Fang just put in his mouth?] [What is that thing? Eating it just like that, isn¡¯t he afraid of poisoning?] "Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s just Rubus, from the raspberry family. Speaking of which, it can even nourish vitality and energy." Bi Fang vividly remembered following the old professors into the forest for research, with Rubus fruits being among the most eaten wild fruits. Picking the Rubus fruits from the nearby shrubs, Bi Fang said, "In June, July, or even August, if you want to eat something good in the wild, try looking for Rubus. Not only is every species within the genus edible, but most varieties are also delicious." "Most fruits that haven¡¯t been cultivated by humans aren¡¯t tasty, being sour and astringent. Some might even be mildly toxic, so it¡¯s rare to find fruits like Rubus that have evolved to be very delectable." "It¡¯s very easy to remember the characteristics of a Rubus species: they¡¯re either shrubs or woody climbers, with prickly stems and undersides of leaf veins, and the fruit is an aggregate of drupelets that look like a bunch of pomegranate seeds clustered together, which are also quite soft and tender." "As for what the flowers look like, I won¡¯t say, since seeing flowers of a Rubus in the wild means you came two months too early." Bi Fang picked the small fruits from the shrub one by one, some he popped directly into his mouth, while others went into a small bag. The ripe fruits of Rubus are juicy and tasty; the only downside is that some varieties can be too sour, but that¡¯s rare, and certainly not the case with the one before me. Eating them is simple, just pluck and stuff them in your mouth. However, the flesh of wild species is too tender to store or transport; they¡¯d just get crushed if piled up together, so you hardly see them deeply processed. If anyone farms them, they¡¯re usually just harvested and consumed fresh. "However, it¡¯s easy to recognize the Rubus genus and start eating, but figuring out exactly which species you¡¯re eating is very difficult¡ªeven for seasoned botanists; I don¡¯t even know exactly what I just ate." The classification of the Rubus genus is a worldwide problem. Depending on different classification systems, there are estimated to be 250 to 700 species worldwide¡ªjust look at the numbers, and you¡¯ll see how much disagreement there is among taxonomists over this genus. It¡¯s like eating Squid; in a wilderness survival situation, you don¡¯t need to remember all the edible plants, you just need to remember which ones you shouldn¡¯t eat. "Only the Flame Squid is poisonous among Squids, while all species of Rubus are edible, which is an easy way to remember." Once after eating wild Rubus, Bi Fang intended to do some taxonomic work out of habit, but he ran into a significant obstacle. A respected teacher of his suggested, "Why not abandon the existing species classification completely, build up the phylogenetic tree using molecular methods first, and then reclassify the species?" But at that time, Bi Fang estimated the difficulty of sampling, counted his modest funds, and quietly gave up the idea. Unexpectedly, he still couldn¡¯t come up with a proper taxonomy now, although his wallet had fattened. As for classifying plants, his interest had waned. "The species I have in my hand right now has singular leaves with few prickles; the fruit is also solitary, and while sweet and tart, there¡¯s an indescribable taste to it. It¡¯s somewhat like a faint pesticide taste, but it doesn¡¯t affect the enjoyment of eating it. Maybe it could be called ¡¯Pesticide Rubus¡¯." [Hahaha, isn¡¯t that a bit too casual?] [Pesticide Rubus, never in my life did I think I¡¯d hear such a name] [What was the name of the species that Old Fang discovered last time?] [Bi¡¯s Pseudo-Crocodile.] [Ah right, right, that¡¯s the one, very grand-sounding] "What ¡¯grand¡¯ is there in Bi¡¯s Pseudo-Crocodile?" Bi Fang asked, puzzled, speaking earnestly, "Lots of organisms have names like that, Bi¡¯s Yeast, Bi¡¯s Ovicorn Ant; the latter doesn¡¯t even have a queen and belongs to a cool species of Army Ant, how cool is that." [Ah, right, right] [When can we see Bi¡¯s Pseudo-Crocodile in the zoo?] sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Yeah, does Old Fang know anything? Didn¡¯t you discover it?] "How should I know?" Bi Fang shook his head, he was also unclear about the specifics, but it seemed there were no plans for development from those above; instead, the area had been protected. Even Bi Fang had been instructed not to disclose the specific location to others. But it didn¡¯t matter anymore, it had nothing to do with him now. The only news he knew was that the individual brought back, which had shown remarkable vitality, had been kept in a lab with ample space, and was fed at fixed points every day. There were plans, apparently, to bring in a Female Pseudo-Crocodile for breeding purposes, to further observe the behavioral habits of this species. Chapter 530 - 527 The Kii Peninsula is a region where temperate vegetation transitions to subtropical vegetation, and with Shepherd¡¯s purse being a representative group of the North Temperate Zone, its diversity here is also quite high. Apart from pesticide-tasted shepherd¡¯s purse, Bi Fang also found a hollow berry, particularly large; at first glance, it resembled a strawberry, but upon closer inspection, it looked somewhat like a plump pink mulberry. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "My favorite among all shepherd¡¯s purse species is the hollow berry, also known as rose hips. The fruit is very large, tasty, and most importantly, it doesn¡¯t have a pesticide taste." Bi Fang picked it happily, as if he had come not to hunt Black Bears but to forage for wild fruits and enjoy delicacies. "When hollow berries are ripe, some small berries detach from the receptacle, creating a hollow in the center of the aggregate fruit¡ªthat¡¯s why it¡¯s called hollow berry." "Hey, here¡¯s a shade-loving shepherd¡¯s purse, named for its preference for growing on the shaded side; but it¡¯s also found in abundance on sunny slopes, and in areas where broadleaf forests have been chopped down, acting as a pioneer species." [Dang, if it tastes like pesticide, it¡¯s called pesticide; if it likes the shady side, it¡¯s called shade-loving; now I see why these things aren¡¯t easy to recognize.] [This sketch is so careless.] [Something feels off. What was Old Fang going to do again?] As evening approached, Bi Fang sat on a large rock without continuing to look for the Black Bear¡¯s traces, leisurely chatting with the audience instead. "The fruit of this species turns black when mature and has a moderate sweetness with an advantage in quantity. It¡¯s also an important source of nectar, with numerous flowers, each capable of secreting a lot of nectars with a sugar content over 50%, which bees particularly love." "With flowers and nectar, in theory, there should be Black Bears. Actually, we could look around here." The show usually ends around eight o¡¯clock every night, and it¡¯s almost seven now. For the next hour, Bi Fang planned to slack off and wait until the live stream ended before going to find Richard and the others. [Master Fang¡¯s been slacking off all day today.] [Why does it feel like he hasn¡¯t done anything all day, and now it¡¯s over?]> [Just listened to a lecture...]> With Bi Fang¡¯s current reserve of knowledge, spinning a few stories to keep the audience entertained wasn¡¯t hard. After all, it was the first day, and no one had gained much; there wouldn¡¯t be any problem with him slacking off, right? Right? [Someone next door has already found bear footprints, are you still slacking off here, Old Fang?] [Falling into decay, why do I feel like Boss Fang has gotten lazy? It must be because he¡¯s made too much money. Just give it to me, dog¡¯s head.] Bi Fang was taken aback, "Ah, someone found bear footprints?" That was fast; usually, by noon or afternoon, you¡¯d have entered the heart of the forest and started looking for Black Bear clues, finding traces by evening was pretty quick, actually. [Yeah, that¡¯s right, feeling the pressure now? You better hurry up and go!] "Who found them?" [Jupiter¡¯s group, they¡¯re professional hunters from Ugly Country.] [Little Japan isn¡¯t doing too well either.] [That¡¯s not it, I heard a group of Y¨­ki Hunters found a pile of feces, but it was two days old.] "How¡¯d they find it?" [They saw a chewed-up thicket, and followed the traces from there, and that was exactly like what Old Fang taught.] [That¡¯s awesome.] [It¡¯s just that Old Fang has slightly worse luck.] That¡¯s true. Hunting really depends on luck. Just like in the Banna Rainforest, if you¡¯re trying to catch a Wild Baizhi Ox, the issue isn¡¯t whether you know what signs it¡¯s left, but whether you¡¯re lucky enough to encounter a place it¡¯s been. With just two hundred heads in the entire rainforest, luck is indeed pretty important. "Actually, some animal carcasses can also offer clues; although meat only constitutes a very small part of the Black Bear¡¯s diet, Asian Black Bears are considered to meat more meat than American Black Bears." "Moreover, due to the significant seasonal changes in many natural foods, the main diet of the black bear often varies with the seasons." "In spring, black bears mainly feed on fresh, juicy young grass, tree buds, and tender leaves. We can focus our search in these areas." "In summer, they eat various fruits rich in carbohydrates, as well as berries, such as shepherd¡¯s purse, loquat, kiwifruit, and the fruits of the laurel family, and insects like ants and bees." "During autumn and winter, black bears turn to fat-rich nuts, such as walnut and acorns from the Fagaceae family." "Different seasons leave behind different traces." Bi Fang took out his water bottle for a drink, having said quite a lot. In the live broadcast, Kogawa Kobayashi was stunned; those unaware would think Bi Fang was a commentator. Eight o¡¯clock in the evening, and no one had made a catch all day. As expected. Though the population of Japanese black bears was so high it was considered a nuisance, it wasn¡¯t at a point where you could encounter one just by entering the forest¡ªthat would not be an overpopulation; it would be an ecological collapse. Moreover, it couldn¡¯t possibly be to that extent. If the numbers grew any further, food would become scarce, and the bears themselves would start to decrease due to intraspecific competition. Or perhaps, Japan would deploy its security forces for a sweeping operation, and every black bear spirit of three thousand years would be gunned down. "It¡¯s eight o¡¯clock. The program team has not specified that hunters can¡¯t return to town to rest during the hunting trip, but I think no hunter will do so tonight and will instead camp on the spot." Bi Fang estimated that no one would return to town within about three days. This was quite normal; ancient hunters might spend ten to fifteen days in the mountains on a single trip. The hunting regimen for the hunting season, if all went well, should be half a day to go deep into the forest, another half to find clues, then one day to make thorough preparations, followed by the hunt in the afternoon or on the third day. The third and fourth days were for organizing, tallying, and returning to town to rest and count scores. The capture cycle for a black bear was roughly four to five days, with a day of rest. Thirty-five hunters, one hundred black bears; if there was no conspicuous slacking, it should end in around twenty days. [Holy moly, you¡¯ve been loafing around the whole day, the whole day!] [Come on, Master Fang, haven¡¯t seen you in a month, and you¡¯ve become so slack?] [No insider sabotage, give us something good to watch.] "Don¡¯t worry, finding black bears comes down to luck, and I feel that my luck is about to come. I¡¯ll just build a temporary shelter and sleep here tonight. I think others are doing the same; they probably have tents, which are more convenient." Bi Fang, with a smile on his face, turned off the live stream amidst the audience¡¯s wails. Nighttime is not the best time to hunt black bears; the night belongs to the animals, and most people choose to rest. A group of men snoring while sleeping isn¡¯t much to see. But if there is a hunting plan, the live stream must be kept on to prevent cheating. Nine ten PM. On the quiet and peaceful small town streets, an unfamiliar young man who nobody had ever seen before appeared. Following the scent in the air for a while, the young man picked a direction and walked into an alley, finding as he had guessed a wooden cart parked inside. The strong aroma was wafting from the cart, which had a rain awning with a red curtain hanging from it, and on the side, there hung a red lantern with the large Chinese character "Noodles" on it. Lifting the curtain, the young man¡¯s eyes lit up, and he exclaimed, "This smells so good! Indeed, delicious food is always hidden in alleys like this!" Hearing the young man¡¯s fluent Japanese, the patrons assumed he was just a tourist from out of town, though it was rare to see a tourist who looked as handsome as a celebrity. They took a few extra glances at him. Now, with the young man¡¯s praise heard, the regulars began to cheer loudly. "The young man really knows his stuff. The boss¡¯s ramen is definitely the best in town!" "A piping hot bowl of soup every day, that¡¯s true delight." The boss wiped his hands and thanked them, "You¡¯re all too kind. What would you like to order, sir?" Bi Fang, sitting on a stool and unwrapping his chopsticks, pointed at the menu, "Then I¡¯ll have the specialty! And add an extra serving of meat!" Chapter 531 - 528 Inside the stainless steel vat, the milky pork bone soup bubbled vigorously, wafting the enticing aroma that had drawn Bi Fang over. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ever since he acquired the Wolves King¡¯s Sense of Smell, Bi Fang had found that discovering delicious food in the streets and alleys was actually a very simple and interesting task. Just take a whiff and you¡¯ll know. The small shop was not big, resembling a modified container. The window splayed open doubled as an awning, with thin red curtains dangling, and a row of wooden stools placed under it, lining up in front of a long counter where customers sat densely packed. The customers sat on the wooden stools eating noodles, while the ramen chef operated inside the vehicle. The place was small but had everything one needed: the soup pot and ingredients were neatly arranged. As the customers sat down, the canvas covers could shield the entire shop along with the patrons, creating a private atmosphere. The cool sea breeze blew in, dispelling some of the heat. The ramen chef was dressed in a unique white linen uniform, with a white towel tied around his forehead that looked like it had seen better days. His movements were skilled and swift as he quickly laid the base in the bottom of the bowls. Then he lifted the boiled buckwheat noodles from the boiling water, ladled a bowl of thick white pork bone soup over them, pouring it along the rim of the bowl into the noodles, mixing it with soy sauce and other seasonings to release a rich, aromatic scent. Steam wafted and filled the whole shop. A soft-boiled egg was evenly cut into two halves, its yellow yolk not fully set and oozing over the white, served with thick slices of pork belly atop the noodle soup, garnished with nori along the edges, sprinkled with sesame seeds, chopped green onions, and cilantro, completing a large bowl of noodles placed in front of Bi Fang. Accompanying the noodles was a stack of iron-plate fried dumplings, the hot oil crackling on the scorching plate with a tempting sizzle. The ramen chef wiped his hands, placed the white towel aside, and with a smile, slid the dish toward the tourist sitting in front of him, "Give it a try, our shop¡¯s signature noodles and fried dumplings." Bi Fang couldn¡¯t wait to grab his chopsticks, "Well then, I won¡¯t stand on ceremony." Everything lived up to Bi Fang¡¯s expectations¡ªthe noodles were chewy and smooth, the pork belly was fatty but not greasy, and the soup had a strong, rich bone aroma. Although it was hot, there was nothing more satisfying than a steaming bowl of pork belly noodles after a hard day¡¯s work. Especially at that moment when the carbs hit his stomach, it was all worth it. This was Bi Fang¡¯s first time eating human food on a wilderness live stream, and he found it quite novel. Even the other customers turned their attention this way, and when Bi Fang expressed his admiration, they all started to cheer, affirming the local cuisine, much like recommending a favorite movie to a friend and finding the next day that friend had become a fan too. The joy of a successful endorsement. With that joy, Bi Fang easily mingled with the customers. Observing the patrons closely, he noticed that out of the ten or so customers, seven or eight were fishermen who had just returned from the sea, dressed in work clothes, with a strong smell of fish and salt on them. Two office workers, a young couple with a child, and finally, a high school girl... Wait, a high school girl? Her hair was dyed brown, styled in twin tails, accompanied by knee-high white socks. Bi Fang hesitated for a moment, putting a question mark in his mind. The scent of perfume mixed with cheap alcohol was choking, and it was now half-past nine, or rather, snack time at night. Do Japanese high school students also have night self-study? Bi Fang recalled the few campus anime he had watched, and it seemed that there was never such a thing as night self-study. Even looking over, he found her staring back at him. In the moment their eyes met, she blinked at him. Did she just come from a nightclub!? Being locals, the crowd quickly engaged in conversation with the worldly and eloquent Bi Fang. He subtly gravitated towards the fishermen, avidly sharing tales of the sea. "Your accent¡ªit¡¯s not local, is it?" "Yes, I¡¯m here on vacation to Taiji Town. It¡¯s really beautiful, and the aquarium is especially grand. There are Dolphin Island sculptures everywhere." "Yes, that¡¯s right," the fishermen replied happily, shouting, "Whales are the pillar of our Taiji Town¡¯s industry!" "I heard there¡¯s dolphin meat in Taiji Town, right? I¡¯ve only seen dolphins perform at the marine park, never tried their meat." Bi Fang¡¯s eyes shone with longing, a typical outsider eager to taste whale meat. A fisherman, tilting his head back, eyes slightly squinted, seemed lost in distant memories, drawn out, "Dolphin meat..." "What are you pretending for, didn¡¯t you have a bad taste just the other day?" His buddy knocked on his head and turned to Bi Fang, waving his hand, "Kid, dolphin meat isn¡¯t tasty, it¡¯s sour and fishy, all smashed up and used as feed, sold to outsiders like you who don¡¯t know any better, I¡¯m telling you this out of kindness." Bi Fang nodded in thanks. "But if it¡¯s not tasty, why is there so much dolphin meat in supermarkets? I saw plenty." "Ah, that¡¯s from the hunting season, speaking of which, doesn¡¯t the hunting season start today? It¡¯s July 15th, isn¡¯t it?" A fisherman, seemingly drunk, blurted out. "Hunting season?" "Yeah, every year they kill a bunch of dolphins, if someone takes a fancy, they sell it at a high price, if not, it¡¯s turned into mince, given to museums, they¡¯ll take as much as you¡¯ve got, though it isn¡¯t much valuable anymore, not as much as selling to trainers." "If it¡¯s not valuable, then why kill them all? The meat isn¡¯t tasty and not worth much, wouldn¡¯t it be better to let them reproduce in the wild?" Bi Fang was curious. The fisherman chuckled, looked around, and whispered, "Dolphins, you see, are clever creatures. Sometimes I feel they¡¯re smarter than humans. If we let some go, won¡¯t the others stop coming?" "Right, so we have to kill them all, they¡¯re the ones that go back and tip off the others!" "I feel they¡¯re quite dumb, they actually approach humans voluntarily, and when you touch one, it doesn¡¯t flee. It seems all whales are like that, really strange." "What¡¯s wrong with that, doesn¡¯t it make catching them easier?" "Ah, yes, haha!" The fishermen laughed heartily. No one around seemed surprised¡ªeverybody, from young couples to children, even to what appeared to be high school girls, were all busily eating their noodles, even the noodle shop owner was saying that this year¡¯s dolphin season would surely bring a good catch. Bi Fang joined in with the laughter, scoffing, "How can there be such stupid fish willing to approach humans? I heard that dolphins would rescue humans when encountering sharks or a disaster at sea, is that true?" On hearing this, the fishermen felt a moment of awkwardness, the laughter subsiding, "It¡¯s all made up, how could animals possibly save humans?" Bi Fang shook his head, changing the subject, "What about the other kinds of whales, do you kill those too? Dolphin meat isn¡¯t tasty, but what about whale meat?" The mention of whales got the fishermen even more excited. Hunting the largest animal in the world, that¡¯s a proof of bravery! They rolled up their sleeves, one after another, each describing their own whale hunting experiences. "At Midway Island in Hawaii, I saw sperm whales appearing near the horizon, just like the dolphins here. There used to be as many sperm whales as dolphins! But now, you can¡¯t see them anymore, whales and dolphins have become more and more scarce." "While I was in Chile, I often saw blue whales at the horizon, like a big mass of bamboo, so we called them ¡¯bamboo masses.¡¯ No matter when, the sea was always black, full of blue whales, I chopped until my hand grew tired." "When I went to Chile in South America, that place was truly a whaler¡¯s paradise!" "Ye Zhi, you¡¯re exaggerating again, weren¡¯t you just in charge of cutting the meat? The whales were all speared, one shot and you¡¯d haul up even the biggest!" "Hey, where did that young guy go?" Before anyone noticed, the enthusiastic ramen chef came to his senses only to find that the young man who had occupied the seat had already vanished, leaving behind a slightly swinging cloth curtain and a stack of bills under the empty bowl. "Extra, wow, quite the generous customer," said the owner, counting the money and stuffing it into his pocket before continuing to knead the dough. Who was the young man, did anyone care? Chapter 532 - 529 The salty sea breeze wafted by as Bi Fang sat on the rocks, exhaling gently. Many fishermen by the sea call dolphins "sea pigs." They wouldn¡¯t actively catch sea pigs; over ninety percent of fishermen, to a greater or lesser extent, were superstitious. They firmly avoided unfamiliar fish species, believing they would bring calamity. Bi Fang didn¡¯t fully believe what the fishermen said, based on what he knew. In Japan, the regulatory safety limits for mercury content in food are 0.3ppm for methylmercury and a total of no more than 0.4ppm¡ªyet the mercury content in Taiji County dolphins that the National Minamata Disease Research Institute investigated was 2.65ppm, which was 8.8 times over the standard. The mercury content in the large and long-lived pilot whales even reached 11.6ppm, which was 39 times over the limit, something to be avoided at all costs. However, the average mercury content in the bodies of Japanese people was 2ppm, and the World Health Organization defined mercury content exceeding 50ppm as causing mental illness. If Bi Fang remembered correctly, the person with the highest mercury content in Taiji County was 139ppm, with nearly a hundred people exceeding the 50ppm safety threshold. This was even with the fact that the mercury element wouldn¡¯t accumulate indefinitely in the human body, but was being excreted every day. The half-life of mercury metabolism in the human body was a reduction by half every 70 days, 25% left after 140 days, 12.5% after 210 days, and so on¡ªthus, these levels were significantly higher than the Japanese average. Excess mercury content could cause not only mental illness but also physical mutations¡ªMinamata disease. With this disease, the initial symptoms were slurred speech, unsteady walking, and facial dementia. Subsequently, it led to blindness, deafness, whole-body paralysis, and ultimately, abnormal nerve function, fluctuating between deep sleep and extreme agitation. The final stage was contorted screaming leading to death. The onset value for Minamata disease wasn¡¯t precise, ranging roughly between 96.8 and 705. If taking the average ppm value of 338 from nine patients, to say those local fishermen with a value exceeding 50 ppm felt absolutely no adverse symptoms was absolutely impossible. Most crucially, mercury¡¯s damage was primarily concentrated in the nervous system, severely affecting the developing nervous system of fetuses, causing serious neural damage and deformities. Even so, the local government still supplied dolphin meat to schools for lunch, whether it was kindergartens or elementary schools, it was everywhere. For profit, some people would really stop at nothing. Ten o¡¯clock. Bi Fang raised his head to look at the building in front of him as flocks of crows flew overhead. He had been waiting by the beach for half an hour, yet there was no sign of Richard and the others, completely unlike what had been initially agreed. "If you all haven¡¯t arrived by ten o¡¯clock, then something has gone wrong, and I¡¯ll come looking for you." In the wilderness, Bi Fang never carried a cell phone, and so he chose the simplest solution¡ªif none of the group appeared within half an hour, he would come looking for them. Jerry and the others had booked three rooms, on the nineteenth floor at about sixty meters in height. The hotel¡¯s total height was seventy-four meters, and the exterior was made of glass structures without the protruding balconies typical of tall buildings, nor were there any obvious points to leverage. This was the rear of the hotel, without security guards or surveillance, only a large bush, an ideal place for scaling walls. Bi Fang took a deep breath, reached out to open the plastic bag, and grabbed a handful of fine sand from the beach. Without magnesium powder, he had to make do. Falling from such a wall was no joke. Certain death! No, that was not right¡ªthere were air conditioning external units. In the darkness, Bi Fang saw the protrusions on the wall. This old-fashioned hotel didn¡¯t use central air conditioning! ``` But even following the sporadic air conditioning units, such climbing was extremely dangerous. Imagine Brother Long in "Who Am I?" leaping across the sloped glass building, and if it weren¡¯t tilted but vertical to the ground with only a few air conditioning units to step on, how would you climb? Brushing the excess dust from his hands, Bi Fang tied a plastic bag around his waist, leaving an opening for his hand to reach into, and after some warm-up exercises, he began to climb. Now Bi Fang, when it came to climbing, was already at the level of a professional athlete, and his physical condition was no longer a weak office worker but more like a well-rounded professional athlete. This was an incredible feat. Typically, those who could run long distances were not suited for sprints, and those who could jump high were not meant for long jumps¡ªprobably only the System could achieve true all-around development. Bi Fang gripped the slightly protruding frame, stepped on the base of the air conditioner, and pulled himself up, advancing floor by floor, mentally counting the floors as he went. With his body pressed against the building, he couldn¡¯t see how many floors he was above the ground and could only count in his mind. Sometimes, when reaching for the air conditioning brace of the floor above, he would get a handful of rust, making one wonder if it was secure at all, fearing it might give way when pulled. Inside the bathroom, the sound of rushing water was invigorating. Mists wafted out as a young man tried to enter but was violently shoved out, followed by laughter inside the room. The man didn¡¯t mind and sat on the sofa, leisurely lighting a cigarette, inhaling a third of it in one breath, and flicking the ashes into the crystal ashtray. When the cigarette was down to the butt, a large swath of mist poured from the bathroom, and a woman wearing a pink bathrobe appeared, her damp hair wrapped in a towel, and clearly naked otherwise, exposing her long slender legs... The man chuckled and was about to pounce when he suddenly found himself lunging at thin air and stumbled to his knees on the floor. The woman who was drying her hair stepped back in shock, raising her arms and tremblingly pointing behind the man. The man, who had been rejected twice already, was a bit annoyed, looked back following her arm, and just as he was trying to stand up, thumped back to his knees. Outside the window, a large hand full of grit landed on the glass, and a man dressed in black squatted on the air conditioning unit, staring straight at him. Oh, fuck me! The man felt his blood run cold, his goosebumps rose, and his legs turned to jelly. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. How does it feel to conjure up a mysterious figure clad in black, perched on the exterior of glass walls dozens of meters high in the dead of night? This must be some devil or specter, on the thirteenth floor for crying out loud! Cooled right down, cooled right through! In a flash, the man thought of the ghastly legends from the Kii Peninsula, from eating human hearts to gobbling up brains. His eyes rolled back as he almost passed out, but fortunately, the man outside the window shouted at that moment. "Who are you cussing at, who are you cussing at, I¡¯m just a window cleaner, a cleaner, carry on, carry on." A cleaner? The man, groggily opening his eyes, saw the stranger without any safety measures and, eyes rolling back, passed out completely. Bi Fang scratched his head in embarrassment, apologized loudly, and quickly climbed upwards with a strong grip of his fingers. In fact, he wasn¡¯t attracted by what was happening in the room¡ªsure, the scene was quite interesting, but what surprised him even more was the woman coming out of the bathroom. It was the "high school student" from the ramen stall! Such a fluke, as if fate had cracked open a door, too coincidental for words. Japanese high school students sure are wild, not even drawing the curtains. Bi Fang muttered to himself as he looked up into the dark night sky, the smooth glass walls of the building reflecting everything, he discarded distracting thoughts, tensed his muscles, and flipped over to the fourteenth floor. ``` Chapter 533 - 530 Rooftop terrace. A hand covered in dust grabbed the railing. Bi Fang flexed his muscles, pulling his entire body up and flipping onto the rooftop. "Phew, that was exhausting." Shaking his sore arms, Bi Fang wiped the sweat from his forehead. The process of climbing the building had been simpler than he had imagined, so he went straight to the top in one go, as there wasn¡¯t much difference anyway. He pulled out the Dinima Rope from his backpack, tethered one end to the railing, and the other end to his waist. After securing it tightly, he slowly lowered himself down bit by bit. Richard and the others hadn¡¯t appeared, surely blocked by some external force, so he absolutely couldn¡¯t enter through the main entrance. Descending slowly on the rope, Bi Fang really resembled a window cleaner, too bad cleaners don¡¯t work in the middle of the night, do they? I wonder if those two will call the police. Bi Fang thought, and at the same time, he had reached the window of Richard¡¯s room. Securing the rope, Bi Fang pressed his ear against the wall. No sound. Bi Fang found it troublesome. He stepped on the air conditioning unit and moved to the adjacent room to continue listening. This time there was a sound. "You can¡¯t detain us, it¡¯s illegal!" "Sorry, SIR, but you can¡¯t leave this room. Sir, no filming, thank you, no filming." "There¡¯s not an ounce of freedom here, you won¡¯t find anything! You are causing trouble, get out, get out!" A loud noise came through the glass. Bi Fang gave his ears a quick rub, easily imagining Jerret angrily shutting the door. After waiting quietly for a moment, another room erupted into commotion. Leaning against the wall, Bi Fang waited for about ten minutes, waiting until all the rooms quietened down, then tapped gently on the glass wall. In the room, Jerret, who was fuming, was startled and turned to the photography assistant, asking, "Did you hear that?" The assistant looked confused and responded, "Hear what?" Jerret got up from his chair, slowly approached the bedside, and cautiously lifted the curtain... "WTF!" Jerret¡¯s legs gave way, and he knelt to the floor. The assistant Mond was so startled that he jumped up. Bi Fang calmly tapped on the window and mouthed, "Let me in." By the moonlight, Jerret, whose brain had almost burst from the rush of blood, finally saw who it was. He calmed down quickly, got to his feet, and opened the window. Bi Fang swung inside, rolling on the floor upon landing, leaving only a white rope swaying outside the window and didn¡¯t forget to greet the stunned Mond, "Good evening." With chattering teeth, Mond stuttered, "Good... good evening." When Bi Fang stood in front of Jerret, Jerret was dumbstruck, "How did you get up here? Won¡¯t you be seen entering the hotel? What if they think you¡¯re part of the gang?" "Don¡¯t worry." Bi Fang shook his hands off, "I climbed up from below." "Climbed up ¡Á2!?" Jerret and Mond both rushed to the window, looking down to see the smooth glass facade reflecting the flickering moonlight, with only the slightly raised steel structures between seams of glass. Besides that, there were only rust-stained air conditioner brackets. Jerret sat on the couch, dumbfounded, muttering, "Although it¡¯s unbelievable, if it¡¯s Bi Fang, then it seems normal..." Mond was young and seemingly hadn¡¯t seen such a scene before, he was shell-shocked, repeating unintelligible words over and over. Bi Fang washed his hands and came out of the restroom, pulling up a stool to sit in front of the two men, "Stop spacing out and talk, what¡¯s happening?" "Eh~~" "Ah~~" Jerret and Mond sighed heavily. Bi Fang found it amusing, "Come on, spit it out, I still need to go back to sleep." "Can¡¯t you see...?" Richard¡¯s group consisted of seven individuals, all with foreign faces, and it was extremely difficult for them to stay in this small Asian town that had already seen them. Not a single hotel was willing to accommodate them; all of them protested. On the second day of driving around, they were followed, and Pondy even noted down a total of seven license plate numbers. No matter where they went, there were always people looking at them, intentionally or not. Even staring straight at them. "If you look back at them, they will gesture across their neck at you," Mond made a chopping motion across his throat from left to right, "I think they¡¯re probably from the Japanese Organization. The last time Richard¡¯s car was bombed, it must have been them." Rage filled Mond¡¯s face but after the anger, there was fear. Those men, covered in tattoos, had gazes so fierce they seemed like wolves¡ªno, even more terrifying than wolves. Wolves would charge at you; you could fight and struggle until the very last moment, but they wouldn¡¯t. You could end up silently packed into an iron barrel, turned into a concrete pile, and sunk deep into the bay, where years or decades later, the green corpse oil would slowly seep out, forming the outline of a person. Life is one¡¯s own, and there¡¯s only one. Mond was beginning to regret setting foot on this land a second time. He had thought that with Bi Fang¡¯s help, it wouldn¡¯t be so dangerous, but now, fear enveloped him once more. Why did I agree? For money? There was no money. For my career? I could have refused; Jerret is a good person. Or was it a spur-of-the-moment decision? S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yes, it was a spur-of-the-moment decision. Flames, explosions, shards of metal flying everywhere, the broken eyes of a comrade, twisted joints, the smell of blood that couldn¡¯t be washed away from the ground... The memory of the orange scenes flashed like a runaway film projector until a large hand suddenly cut the film at the very moment it threatened to spill from his eyes. Everything swiftly reverted back to the beginning. "Hey, what are you thinking about?" Mond¡¯s shoulder was firmly pressed down; he looked up at Bi Fang, and in a daze, came back to his senses. Bi Fang, unconcerned, turned back to Jerret, "So what happened just now?" Jerret looked dejected, "The police came too. From the entrance to the lobby, we were shadowed. Starting tonight, as soon as they see us come out, they¡¯ll confront us and force us back in; they won¡¯t let us out at all." "Pondy tried to break out, but he got beaten up and dragged back. These people just want to wait until our visas expire and then send us back to our countries forcibly, damn it, I wondered why a hotel suddenly agreed to take us in, damn!" "But there¡¯s some good news too." All of a sudden, Jerret, who seemed despondent, remembered something. He went to the bedside cabinet, opened the drawer, and pulled out a roll of a map, spreading it on the coffee table. "Yesterday afternoon, Richard and I went to the city hall, and they gave us this map, highlighting these places strictly forbidden for Richard and me to visit. If we do, we¡¯d be trespassing on private property, and they would arrest us and jail us." Jerret pointed to the red circles on the map, his tone odd. "I think they¡¯re making some good points, and actually did us a big favor." He looked up to find Bi Fang looking at him too. The two suddenly shared a knowing smile. Chapter 534 - 531: The Suddenly Appearing Bird’s Nest "We brought a total of forty-three large boxes, with dozens of cameras alone. Can you handle it all by yourself?" Jerret was leaning on the windowsill, looking at Bi Fang who was tied with ropes and asked. Bi Fang looked up at the moon, guessing that it might already be eleven o¡¯clock. He had to go back to hunting Black Bear during the day, and he would need to return to the forest around one, the time was indeed very tight. With only two days left until the start of the hunting season, installing cameras by himself at different places in Taiji Town over two nights was simply impossible. Jerret pointed to the next room: "Let Mandy and Keke go with you. Three people might stand a chance. They¡¯re right next door." "What if someone notices we¡¯re gone?" Bi Fang hesitated for a moment, not immediately rejecting the proposal. One room for two people, if they all disappeared, the quiet rooms would be too conspicuous. Mond volunteered: "I¡¯ll go to the next room with you, make some noise." "You?" Jerret looked skeptical. Mond¡¯s performance today made him doubt whether he had brought the right person along. Even when a leopard was unexpectedly found right beside them during filming, Mond had not been so timid. Yet now, he seemed to shrink back in fear. Although he didn¡¯t show it too much, the weakness of a person could be seen in their eyes. Mond gritted his teeth: "I can!" "Okay!" Bi Fang didn¡¯t say anything, but passed the other end of the rope to Mond and retied it securely. The Dinima Rope was over fifty meters in length, and even after some use, there was still more than forty meters left, which was more than enough for normal use. The two stepped on the glass wall surface and slowly moved to the left before tapping on the glass again. Mandy and Keke opened the window and looked down with the same skepticism, the height of dozens of meters making their legs go soft. Both were experts at diving but had virtually no idea about climbing. Looking at Bi Fang, they thought of him as otherworldly. After sending Mond into the room, Mandy and Keke looked at Bi Fang: "How are we going to get down? Don¡¯t tell me we have to climb down; the rooftop isn¡¯t an option, right? There are people watching everywhere, we¡¯d definitely be recognized." "Not necessary. I¡¯ll figure something out." Bi Fang, with the rope in his mouth, first returned to the rooftop, untied the knot, folded the rope over the railing, and when it reached the window, he let out some slack and pulled the entire length of rope down. The whole process made the palms of the three inside the room sweat. Then Bi Fang, standing on an air conditioning unit nearby, tied the rope to a rust-streaked bracket, and everyone instantly understood his plan. To send them down by constantly changing fixed points. The rope was forty meters long, and the entire building wasn¡¯t eighty meters tall. Making two trips back and forth, four times in total, both of them could get down. "You¡¯ve got to be kidding me." Mandy swallowed, her heart pounding. Keke even saw a piece of brown metal fall, his face flushed red: "Is this really secure?" "Don¡¯t worry, this is how I came up. It¡¯s very stable." Bi Fang stood on the air conditioner unit, tugging hard at it, not moving an inch. Despite looking dangerously rusted, it was indeed reliable. When Bi Fang handed the rope to Mandy, inside she wanted to refuse. "Can you take me down with you?" "No," Bi Fang flatly refused, "The air conditioning unit might not be able to bear the weight of two people." Standing on the air conditioning unit with trembling legs, Mandy could clearly hear the whirring of the fan. She couldn¡¯t tell if it was the wind or the sound of the fans anymore. Looking down from the rooftop, the air conditioning units below seemed no bigger than half a palm. Feeling suddenly ill, Mandy¡¯s heart hammered, her temples throbbing like drums. "Hurry up, wrap the rope around your waist, and slowly climb down. With your fitness, you should have no problem," Bi Fang called from the lower air conditioning unit. After all, they were world-class divers. Descending forty meters with the rope, and with other air conditioners to use as stops for rest in between, Bi Fang thought it should be no issue at all. "Are you ready?" Bi Fang shouted. Mandy closed his eyes and made a cross over his chest. "Mom, bless me!" Mandy grabbed the rope and leaped into the wind. The moment his feet left the air conditioning unit, a large amount of sweat broke out into the palms of his hands, making the rope instantly slick and almost slipping out of his grip. Fortunately, the next moment, a force came from his waist and abdomen, stopping him midair. Mandy felt almost drained, not daring to open his eyes, he could only fumble his way down. A few minutes later, Mandy stood on the ground, dizzy, and turned to look back at the seventy-six-meter-high hotel building. He collapsed to the ground, his T-shirt already drenched with sweat. He took deep breaths, a look of disbelief on his face, "I, I made it down?" sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang patted his shoulder and offered him a bottle of mineral water, "Water?" "Thank you." Mandy took the mineral water and drank it all in one go, belching loudly. Bi Fang gestured from below, urging Keke to hurry down as well. "My god, this is way more thrilling than deep diving." Keke landed with the same airiness, forcibly opened his eyes wide, and staggered around as if he was still floating in the air, completely unable to stand steady. It took him a while to realize, oh, it was because his legs had gone soft. "So, you¡¯re really not Batman? You don¡¯t have some kind of armor that goes ¡¯whoosh¡¯ and lets you fly up?" Keke gestured on his forearm and squinted at the rooftop, trying to make Bi Fang prove he really didn¡¯t have the ability to shoot grappling hooks from his arm. "You¡¯re overthinking it, current technology doesn¡¯t have a motor that¡¯s so small yet so powerful, either your arm would be torn off or you would have to hook something and climb up yourself." Bi Fang reached for the equipment box dangling from above and tossed it to Mandy and Keke standing beside. The three of them, with backpacks of all sizes, retreated from the hotel under the cover of night... The next day. "Good morning, Fujiwara." "Morning!" "Isn¡¯t it a day off today? Why are you up so early?" "Because it¡¯s a day off I can¡¯t afford to be lazy, gotta get up and exercise. I¡¯ve been sitting too much lately, feel like my bones are rusting." On the jogging track, several residents passed by. Fujiwara, nearing retirement, smiled and greeted them, then slowly stopped, looking puzzled at a large tree nearby, "Eh, was there a bird¡¯s nest here before?" On the tree, a bird¡¯s nest made of straw hung between the branches. Such a huge nest, and he hadn¡¯t noticed it in the past few days of his runs? Just as an old man shuffled past the pathway, Fujiwara called out to him. "Yo, it¡¯s Fujiwara! You¡¯re up early!" "Yeah, hey, by the way, Ikeda, was there a bird¡¯s nest here before?" "A bird¡¯s nest?" Ikeda looked up, following Fujiwara¡¯s arm and expressed his surprise, "Hey, there is a nest, when did it appear? I feel like I¡¯ve never seen it before?" "Right? I find it strange too; it seemed like it wasn¡¯t there yesterday, as if it popped up overnight." Ikeda wondered for a while but didn¡¯t pay much attention, instead feeling that Fujiwara was making a fuss over nothing, "A bird¡¯s nest, eh? Birds can build nests really fast, maybe it was too small before and we didn¡¯t notice it." "Is that so?" "There are many such nests around, nothing strange about it." "Right." "Shall we run together?" "Sure!" Fujiwara and Ikeda set off together, unaware that half a minute later, the bird¡¯s nest hanging in the tree suddenly rotated, aligning with their departing figures. Only when the two had completely disappeared from the pathway did the nest shift direction again, staring straight at the sea. The sea surged with waves, everything as usual. Chapter 535 - 531 Black Bear Attack! In the hotel¡¯s rest lounge, Richard and the others watched the footage on their computer, all letting out a sigh of relief before breaking out into cheers. They had fooled everyone. The first step had been successful! Mandy and Keke high-fived in celebration. One evening was far from enough to install all the cameras, but last night¡¯s success had given everyone a glimmer of hope. Even though they were all confined to the hotel, there was still a way to break through the blockade and make everything public. Mandy asked, "What about those people? Are they still watching us?" Richard shook his head, "They left, gone by six in the morning. They tail us during the day and trap us in the hotel at night, forbidding us to go anywhere." The local societies and residents thought they could cut off Richard and the others¡¯ filming route, but in reality, that was utterly impossible. They never learned a saying. "Make ostensible plans, but accomplish your goals by stealth." "Has Bi Fang started the live broadcast yet?" "Not yet, it¡¯s only seven now, it starts at eight. But we were busy until after two last night, he probably won¡¯t return to the forest until four." Keke reflected on last night¡¯s events and made an estimate. In reality, it wasn¡¯t that late. If Bi Fang could find his way back to the city from deep in the mountains, he could certainly do the same from a semi-town, semi-forest area. He had returned at around three-thirty and was now still fast asleep. By eight, the Hunters participating in the hunting season had all started their broadcasts one after another, ready and waiting. Only Bi Fang had yet to send any news. A large group of viewers in front of their screens were baffled. [What¡¯s going on, it¡¯s half past eight and still no broadcast?] [Sleeping in?] [You might sleep in, but I absolutely don¡¯t believe Old Fang would.] [Did something happen?] Given Bi Fang¡¯s consistent habit of broadcasting early and his reliable reputation, many viewers couldn¡¯t help but worry. With so many black bears in the Japanese forests, could something have happened last night? With that concern in mind, the viewers didn¡¯t see Bi Fang¡¯s belated apology for oversleeping until nine in the morning. Bi Fang knocked on his neck and took a few deep breaths to energize himself. Six hours of sleep wasn¡¯t little, but it had been a long time since Bi Fang had stayed up late. He had unexpectedly overslept and his head still felt swollen. Fortunately, the discomfort was temporary. After a few deep breaths, Bi Fang quickly recovered. [Damn, Old Fang, what¡¯s up with you, why so late today?] [Were you secretly up to no good without us knowing?] "No particular reason, just overslept," Bi Fang said, touching the back of his head and laughing. [Waited for nothing for an hour] [Hey, just say so earlier and I wouldn¡¯t have gotten up so early] "Sorry, sorry, it won¡¯t happen again. I¡¯ll definitely start the broadcast before eight-thirty next time," Bi Fang apologized to his viewers. Last night was an accident, and the fact that Richard and the others were blocked in the hotel was unexpected by everyone. They were sure they would finish earlier tonight. They would start at ten and should be able to return by two. "Waking up late means I have to work even harder. Has anyone hunted a black bear this morning?" [Yes!] "Hmm?" Bi Fang, who was stretching, suddenly froze and asked skeptically, "Really?" Then a flurry of comments confirmed there had indeed been a bear hunt between eight and nine? [Not between eight and nine, but more like between four and five in the morning, I think.] [Right, it was in the early hours, and it was livestreamed, but it seems not many people watched it.] [It was a trio of hunters from the Ugly Country.] Through the fragmented comments, Bi Fang pieced together the whole event. A trio of Eager Country hunters had perhaps formed a strong team because they came from the same country, or they had known each other in advance. On the very first day, they had luckily located a black bear¡¯s trail. So they decided to play defense and created several large traps, including a pitfall with spikes. They had originally planned to lure the bear the next day and had ended the live broadcast, but unexpectedly, the bear approached on its own. Luckily, they kept watch at night and had set up an alarm line. In a panic, everyone started the live broadcast, ready to hunt the bear. Fortunately, they were well-prepared, and all three were experienced hunters. They didn¡¯t panic but methodically lured the bear into the trap they had prepared. This one-and-a-half-meter-long black bear was knocked senseless by a massive log, fell into the pit, and was impaled by spears at the bottom, dying instantly on the spot. The entire process involved only some scrapes and didn¡¯t result in too many unforeseen incidents. The trio from Ugly Country was also the first group to hunt a Black Bear, which measured one and a half meters in length. Unfortunately, it had been turned into a porcupine with considerable damage, scoring a total of nine points, averaging 2.4 points per person. Although it wasn¡¯t much, at least the three of them were the first to achieve something and were very happy. After the helicopter hauled away the carcass of the Black Bear, they didn¡¯t return to town and didn¡¯t even deal with the bloodstains. Instead, they set up more traps, waiting for Black Bears to come to them. As a group of three, it meant that within one cycle, they needed to hunt at least three Black Bears to match up with individuals hunting alone. However, the benefit was clear, with more people came greater strength, and they could also restrain the ferocious Black Bears together. Armed with a spear and keeping a distance of five to six meters, although the Black Bear was extremely powerful, it was not as agile as felines. As long as they judged the situation the right, two people could restrain an injured Black Bear without much problem. The only regret was that the timing of capturing the Black Bear was not very convenient. It was in the early morning, after the live broadcast had been paused, and without prior notification, only a few spectators, including the duty staff, witnessed it. Bi Fang felt a great sense of crisis when he learned that someone had captured a Black Bear the next morning. Even though he was there to coast, he couldn¡¯t overdo his act. "Time to make an effort!" Noon. True to its name, Forbidden Zone Hunter, just one glance from Bi Fang could easily reveal any traces left by animals in their environment. Rabbits, pheasants, snakes, mice, foxes, birds, wild dogs, and... bears! The scraped fur, the broken branches by rubbing, and the smashed fruits beneath those massive footprints. Bi Fang knelt on one knee and placed his palm nearby the deep paw print. As an adult male standing one meter eighty-five tall, and with frequent grasping, his hands were rough, bony, and quite large. But in front of this footprint, it looked delicate like a girl¡¯s hand. The audience didn¡¯t expect Bi Fang to find the trace so quickly, in just two hours, he had located fresh marks. "See how big this footprint is? One slap could shatter my head. In ancient times, people often revered bears for their strength and fierceness, and many indigenous tribes adopted the bear as their totem," he said. "Even now, in many areas, bears are referred to as ¡¯Man Bears,¡¯ comparing bears to men, not because they look very similar to humans, but because a bear¡¯s paws and human hands and feet are very similar. Also, bears can walk upright, so they are called Man Bears." "Among all large carnivorous beasts, only bears and humans have five toes on their hands and feet, and when they walk, their entire heel touches the ground." "Those who have seen bear paw prints in zoos definitely know that the way a bear¡¯s front and hind paws touch the ground is completely different. Only the front part of the bear¡¯s front paws touches the ground, while the entire heel and paw of its hind paws touch down. That is why it¡¯s called plantigrade walking, and bear¡¯s hind paw prints are almost identical to human footprints." "On the other hand, felines and canines walk digitigrade style, walking on two toe joints, with only the front part touching the ground." [Wait, what about tigers? I remember Old Fang saying last time that tigers have five fingers, right?] [Eh, did I remember it wrong?] Bi Fang grinned and said, "Didn¡¯t pay attention in class, eh? Was it last time when we encountered Water Monitors? I remember that I clearly stated that having five claws can rule out felines and canines, right?"] [Ah, it seems that way...] [Oh no, my memory¡¯s getting mixed up.] [Teacher Fang, I admit my mistake, let me join you in the ¡¯sin-bin.¡¯] [You¡¯re not making sense.] "Large feline predators, such as tigers, for example, have five toes on their front feet. The four front toes form a semi-crescent, while there¡¯s another toe at the back, entirely different from the five fingers of bears and humans. As I just mentioned, felines only walk with the front half, so the hind toe hardly ever leaves a print." "And they have only four toes on each hind foot, arranged in a straight line on the tiger¡¯s paws," Bi Fang briefly explained why felines generally have four paw prints. "Moreover, like dogs and unlike felines, bears cannot retract their claws, and that¡¯s one of the biggest differences from felines." Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Removing the spear and Dart from his back, Bi Fang¡¯s steps became cautious and vigilant. "From now on, we have to be extra careful. The Black Bear might be nearby." With paw prints and scent, tracking became vastly straightforward for Bi Fang, and he quickly set off on the trail. Meanwhile, the rest of the Hunters were reaping their rewards, and some had even started to tackle Black Bears! At the same time, Bi Fang also made a new discovery. A steaming pile of dung! Bi Fang knelt down and said, "Black Bears are omnivores and their diet covers a wide range, from prey meat, grass, berries, nuts, fruits, fish, to beetles and more." "The diameter of an adult Black Bear¡¯s dung is around three to five centimeters, often containing undigested or half-digested food." "Now it¡¯s summer, the time when berry plants are fruiting, and Black Bears will consume a large amount of these fruits, sometimes up to more than ten thousand berries a day. Consequently, their dung is usually loose without a fixed shape and mixed with plant seeds." Bi Fang pointed to the dung on the ground, and indeed it was as he described, not in one long piece but segmented, with many granular substances visible. These granules were what prevented the dung from forming a shape. [Damn, I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m seriously watching this?] [My mom¡¯s asking why I¡¯m watching poop.] "Sorry, is this a bit too much for you?" [Whimper, you finally noticed.] [I don¡¯t want to watch this.] [I¡¯m happy to learn something new, but there¡¯s a weird smell to it.] Bi Fang placed his hand three inches above the dung, with his breathing subtly restrained. "It¡¯s still warm, it must have been just dropped, it might be nearby... no, it¡¯s right here!" As soon as the words fell, a rumbling sound came from the nearby woods, and a large number of leaves began to shake and fall. The ground trembled, and fallen leaves drifted down. A massive creature burst out of the underbrush. Black Bear!!! Chapter 536 - 533: One Year of Growth A massive roar erupted in the woods. Branches were snapped in swathes, the scraping noise was incessant. Without a doubt, it was an enraged black bear, charging toward this spot at a terrifying high speed. Run!! In a brief moment of shock, everyone¡¯s minds were pierced by a scream. Run? Running wasn¡¯t even an option in Bi Fang¡¯s mind, the charge speed of an adult black bear could reach forty kilometers per hour, humans simply couldn¡¯t outrun it. Black bears are solitary animals with a strong territorial consciousness, deadly hostile and aggressive to any creature that intrudes on their territory. Moreover... He was here to find it in the first place! Without a second thought, he planted his spear into the ground, knelt on one knee, gathering his strength, he pushed off the ground with his foot, erupted diagonally upwards, stepping on the dust, his broad chest expanded instantly, his right hand grasping the dart, his entire body tensed like a drawn bow. Power rose from the ground, spreading like water through his body, finally surging into his arm. A young tree as thick as a small arm was snapped in two, accompanied by a deafening roar, a huge black bear close to one and a half meters in length burst out from the bushes, thudded heavily onto the ground, kicking up billowing dust, like a dragon exploding from the earth. The spectators gasped in shock, their bodies instinctively reacted, quivering in battle, their pupils contracting, restless and uneasy. Under the high-definition camera, every hair on the black bear bristled, fluttering with the flow of muscles, each strand exuded the scent of blood. Under its thick fur was an extremely robust musculature and skeleton, the fluid muscles contorted, driving its entire body¡¯s movement, enough to plunge one into deep terror. But what met it wasn¡¯t a feast, only a sharp short spear! A shadow struck, and the black bear instinctively paused its steps, mounding up dirt on the ground, its long mane fluttering. But a close-range throw made the dart like a crossbow¡¯s iron bolt, heavy and powerful, striking the black bear¡¯s face! The flint stone-headed dart shattered the black bear¡¯s facial bone like rotten wood, spraying out a cloud of fresh blood, then piercing through its shoulder, flesh and bone flying in all directions, the blood rapidly evaporating in the heat, the sullen air filled with the smell of blood. What the fuck!!! At this moment, the spectators¡¯ minds went blank, their astonishment the only thing remaining. Could the dart be that powerful?! Was the dart too mighty, or was Old Fang too strong? Or was it both? This wasn¡¯t the first time Bi Fang had used a dart, back in Mohe, he had used one during a group fight, but back then it was against wolves whose defenses were far from that of black bears, almost all of them were pierced through and nailed to the ground. One dart could take down a ferocious wolf! In reality, even a wooden dart could easily pierce through a metal car engine cover when used by an adult male! The Indian dart could defeat the Spanish spears and guns, and it could lead to the extinction of the large and ferocious beasts like mammoths. The disappearance of the mammoth behemoths was predestined the moment the dart emerged from the streams of history! The power within the dart exploded upon the black bear, like molten steel bringing high temperatures and pain to every corner of its body. Roar!!! The frenzied beastly roar brought everyone back to reality. Yes, the black bear was not dead, the damage only brought pain and greater rage, far from a fatal crisis. The fear of humans in black bears far exceeds that of humans towards them, so black bears usually stay away from humans, but if before it was merely driving them off, now it was a fight to the death! From the black bear¡¯s emergence thirty meters away, the distance between them was now less than twenty. The bear, enraged by pain, charged again, but it was met by a succession of darts. Bi Fang had prepared five darts, each with a flint stone tip. Flint stone is harder and sharper than bone, it could easily break through fur, embed into muscle and bone, blood flowed continuously from the ripped wounds, soaking the black hairs into a flat shape, each hit forcing the black bear to retreat. The black bear roared and charged, the spears flew at it time and again. This was a contest of speed and reaction, the more darts Bi Fang could throw, the greater the advantage he¡¯d have in the upcoming battle! At a distance of twenty meters, with Bi Fang¡¯s current abilities, aiming was unnecessary, his arms widened, chest expanded, back straightened, power flowed like water, like a classical javelin thrower at the sports meet. Dart after dart shot out, in one breath, turning the tables and suppressing the black bear¡¯s rapid attacks, preventing it from advancing an inch. When the five darts had all been thrown, the distance between them hadn¡¯t even closed to within ten meters. Dart after dart stuck in the black bear, making it look like a porcupine pierced through, blood streaming from the gashes. The darts in his hand had already been expended, with the first one hitting the face, causing the black bear¡¯s cheek to suffer a heavy blow, and the shoulder was next in line, with the remaining four darts all embedded in the black bear¡¯s body, firmly lodged and impossible to shake off. Summer was not the season for black bears to accumulate fat, and though it had woken from hibernation for a while, the layer of fat was not its weakest of the year, but it certainly couldn¡¯t compare to autumn¡¯s! The stone deeply embedded between the black bear¡¯s muscles and bones, it could no longer feel pain. Animals had much higher pain tolerance than humans, and when severely injured, they too would secrete hormones for pain relief. In the pitch-black pupils, no trace of blood could be seen, but the audience could clearly feel the madness contained within those beastly eyes. It seemed that upon realizing Bi Fang¡¯s darts had been used up, the black bear roared again, its saliva-covered fangs like hook, charging towards Bi Fang like a tank. Flee? The audience once again questioned internally. At this moment, with the black bear charging, covered in short spears, its blood flowing down its fur onto the ground, forming specks of blood mixed with dust, the heavily injured look not only did not lessen the fear of the viewers but added a touch of bloodthirstiness and horror! Bi Fang crouched low, pulling the spear out of the ground. Dirt flew along the shiny spine of the spear, the sharp blade cutting through the air, lifting a moon-like arc to face the charging black bear. With spear in hand, he started running. There was no retreating, no fleeing, only charging! Bi Fang, already poised for action, pushed off with all his might, leaving inches-deep footprints, moving like a galloping steed, like a swift arrow. To draw the bow without looking back. The viewers were astonished by Bi Fang¡¯s momentum, with the two commentators in the live stream having forgotten their roles, never having seen such a breathtaking scene. There really was someone, who dared to hold a spear, and charge towards one of the planet¡¯s fiercest predators! Had he gone mad or was he extremely arrogant? The fastest speed and the unreserved attacking momentum were keys to Bi Fang¡¯s fearlessness; a distance of ten meters, a mutual charge, all happening in the blink of an eye. Did he want to compete against a black bear in strength, was his brain broken? Bi Fang¡¯s brain wasn¡¯t broken, which is why, at the moment of imminent collision, he violently sidestepped and rolled, clutching the spear, his body rolling out two meters away under the force of inertia! Covered in dust, as Bi Fang brushed past the black bear, the behemoth was too late to turn around. The black bear ran fast and was flexible, but its flexibility was that of the wind, and its speed was for straight-line charges, its massive body brought greater inertia. In other words, it lacked maneuverability! Bi Fang quickly rose to his feet, his sharp spear piercing straight toward the rear flank of the black bear, the sturdy and separating steel blade effortlessly penetrating the bear¡¯s belly, cutting open a huge wound. Reeling from the pain, the black bear turned around, with Bi Fang rolling in the same direction, both moving in circles like Tai Chi. Gripping the spear shaft tightly, with the spear lodged in the bear¡¯s body, he leveraged this to support himself, continuously rotating his wrist step by step, resolutely aiming to deliver a blow that would destroy the black bear¡¯s internals, causing a fatal injury. Perhaps realizing its own folly, the black bear suddenly stood upright, swinging a paw back over its body. Under his beastly instinct, Bi Fang could clearly feel the huge paw of the bear whistling just less than a foot behind his back, and without looking, his intuition enabled him to sidestep in time; a claw grazing his back, seemingly having brushed his clothes. Hunters of the forbidden zone, travelers of the wilderness. Bi Fang was no longer the man who would fight tooth and nail at the sight of a black bear as he had been at the beginning. He was a hunter, an extraordinary hunter. His sense of smell could rival that of a wolf, his hunting instinct equal to a tiger¡¯s, even able to use the moisture in the air to sense the opponent¡¯s movements a step ahead! Wolves King¡¯s Sense of Smell, Beastly Instinct, Biological Sensing. These were the rewards from one adventure after another, from the first live broadcast encounter with a black bear to the arrival of the hunting season, completing the transition from defense to offense. In terms of experience and skill, Bi Fang was a master class hunter. Physically and by talent, Bi Fang was equally world-class. Out of thirty-five hunters, no one was stronger or more uniquely gifted than him! Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The audience was dumbfounded, observing from a godlike perspective, they saw Bi Fang repeatedly heading into danger, yet time and again escaping perfectly. He was like a dancer on the blade¡¯s edge; this was not a battle, it was a tiger hunting a gazelle, the hunt of the strong upon the weak! Bi Fang dodged the bear¡¯s paw, suddenly withdrawing his spear, his arm whirling, the pole with a tearing sound, striking precisely and forcefully on the bear¡¯s snout, the bear crying out with a wheezing roar in agony. Struck by five darts, with Flint Stone remaining embedded in its muscles and bones, the black bear had already been gravely wounded. Bi Fang did not continue his attack, instead, he swiftly retreated. Chapter 537 - 534 Primal Hunting! Bi Fang slowly exhaled. The Black Bear lay on the ground, its pupils tightly fixed on Bi Fang, the last moment of calm also hiding the fiercest offensive. Bi Fang understood this, much like the quiet before the wolves pounced on the deer coming to drink water, both sides often quietly gazing at each other. In layman¡¯s terms, it¡¯s a cornered beast still fighting. With six holes in its body, one reaching its organs and five nearly reaching the bone, if it were the food-scarce winter or even autumn, then the Black Bear would already be in a fatal situation. At this time, Bi Fang should have turned around and fled. Even in the food-rich spring and summer, the Black Bear would likely die from an infected wound. Bi Fang kept taking deep breaths, increasing the oxygen in his blood, and strived to push his response time to its peak. From the charge to the brief separation, he had been holding his breath, and now the sudden calm made him feel somewhat dizzy. The temporary pause in the attack also allowed the audience to catch their breath, and the sudden realization of oxygen deprivation hit millions of viewers. It turned out that they had been holding their breath the whole time. Glancing at the upper left corner, the popularity value had already doubled. In just a few minutes, Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast room experienced a massive surge in traffic. The staff at Wolf Fang were already accustomed to this and expertly managed the servers to ensure that not a single user felt any lag. Gang Tianwu from Japan smiled so widely he almost burst out laughing, but upon realizing what was happening, he was overcome with deep concern. Bi Fang¡¯s performance was simply too outrageous; how could he dare to engage in such direct combat with a bear? By noon the next day, Bi Fang was no longer the second Hunter to track the Black Bear, but he was definitely the Hunter who had brought the greatest shock to the hunt. Traps, ranged attacks, hit and run, draining stamina, and the final blow, without exception, the Spear had been the last resort. Afterwards, upon encountering the Black Bear, Bi Fang actually went straight for it. His Spear and blade were not his last line of defense but the bayonet of his charge! Turning to look at other staff members, their eyes were already devoid of expression, murmuring to themselves. "So amazing." "Really so amazing." "Is this something humans can do?" In the picture, Bi Fang stood in the sunlight, his face slightly flushed. Not only that, almost all of his exposed skin turned pink, as if he were intoxicated. His blood raced through veins and capillaries at a tremendous speed to transport the oxygen and provide power to his body. This usually only happened after intense exercise, yet now it had manifested within a few minutes of the confrontation. This indicated just how intense the short conflict was. Sweat poured out from every pore on his body, his shirt was completely soaked through with brown earth, Bi Fang resembled someone who had just run a marathon on the track field, but there was a sense of intoxicating gratification. Every cell awakened, excitedly squeezing out strength. Bi Fang slightly stretched his chest, allowing the sweat to gather into streams along the grooves of his muscles. The sweat-soaked back and the pronounced muscles of his arms tightly gripped the Spear; each line contracted and relaxed, possessing astonishing power. The Black Bear¡¯s mouth and nose were bleeding, it was shocked by the strength of the creature before it. In its memory, it had no natural predators, but now it faced an unimaginable scene. The two stood in silence. In the brief lull, the viewers who had been holding back could finally speak. [Fuck, I¡¯m so nervous] [Old Fang is too brave, there¡¯s no need to push it so hard... I¡¯m scared] [I¡¯m already on oxygen at the hospital, it¡¯s too thrilling, my little heart can¡¯t take it] [I¡¯ve already had my roommate watch CPR videos, just in case I suddenly have a stroke one day.] [A chubby who might eventually get abs is sending the streamer yachts*10--Bro is really strong, this Black Bear is even heavier than me] [A light boat has traveled over a myriad of mountains is sending the streamer a Spaceship*1--It¡¯s so exhilarating, my nose bleeds.] What seemed like a safe confrontation was actually fraught with lethal danger. The Black Bear had countless opportunities to fail, but Bi Fang had only one. An adult male Black Bear of one meter six in height, weighing over three hundred pounds! A swipe of its paw could almost certainly snap a tree trunk less than six centimeters in diameter. Sweat flowed and pooled. Blood spilled and formed puddles. Bi Fang slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, held the Spear across his front, tensed all the muscles of his body, and concentrated his strength at one point. The roaring of the Black Bear echoed through the forest, startling the birds into flight. Bi Fang gripped the Spear tightly and charged forward. In an instant, something long missing returned once again. Life flowed back into his body, his vigor surging, his presence mighty like a dragon. The Spear itself screamed, not with a metallic resonance but a sharp shriek that pierced the air, as if it could puncture one¡¯s eardrums. Man and bear, large and small, black and white. Two figures full of power and deterrence collided, spreading the smell of blood throughout the woods, detectable from far away. This was the struggle of wild beasts. Bi Fang surrendered everything to instinct; all attacks seemed to miss him, while each of his thrusts, as if guided by fate, struck the Black Bear. Steel cut through flesh, popping blood beads. The Black Bear ultimately was not as intelligent as humans. Its hesitation and standoffishness turned into blood flowing out. The more it waited, the weaker and more sluggish its power became. What it thought was a halftime break, a brief standoff, was actually the hunter draining the prey¡¯s spirit. The flint stone shards lodged between muscle and bone, like screwdrivers jamming gears, made the machine operate with increasing difficulty, moving slower and slower. A bloody storm shrouded the sky. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Miles and miles away, millions of viewers held their breath once more, silently waiting for the outcome of the slaughter. No one had ever challenged a black bear with primitive tools before. Perhaps there had been, but never displayed to the public in a live broadcast like today. Man versus Black Bear, spear against claws. It was like a miracle. It was the way for modern humans to peer into primitive society¡¯s hunting ¡ª no, stronger than that. Even the warriors among the primitive humans, the strong ones, couldn¡¯t hunt as precisely as Bi Fang, harvesting prey, maintaining a calm like a finely-tuned clockwork. He could accurately predict every move of the bear, scrutinize every vulnerability with precision, like a time traveler who had seen the future. Rolling on the ground again and again, thrusting the spear time after time ¡ª every creature has its weakness, and the black bear was no exception. Limited mobility was the key to victory. Bi Fang and the black bear, like two dancers performing a face-to-face dance. Unfortunately, the two dancers were not friendly. One with sharp fangs and claws, the other holding a blade. With each closeness, instead of flowers and cheers, they splattered copious amounts of blood and flesh. Time passed, unmeasured, as if breathing had stopped. The fight seemed eternal, like a millennium had passed. Yet it also seemed brief, as if everything happened in an instant. The spear pierced accurately through the heart from the original wound. The massive black figure fell, the body weighing over three hundred pounds hit the ground, unable to stir any dust, for all the dust was shrouded by blood, sticking to the ground, turning into a blood swamp. As the rubber soles lifted from the ground, they left a bloody footprint, Bi Fang pulled out the slippery spear, and with one kick, he sent a short spear embedded in the black bear¡¯s body deep inside, puncturing its organs, but by then, the bear could no longer move. Bi Fang stood in the sunlight with his chest heaving violently; his hair, soaked with sweat, clung to his face; sweat from his palms dripped slowly down the spear, splatting onto his feet. Someone shivered. Bi Fang ran his hand through his hair, pushing it back, smearing it with a blood-red pattern, looking like a demon that had climbed out of the blood rivers of Hell. At some point, his hands were also covered in blood. Bear¡¯s blood. His shirt had torn, exposing his bare back. The mix of sweat and blood spread over his clearly defined back muscles, like rivers of blood shining in the sunlight, seemingly flowing, as if they wanted to break free from the skin and wash over the earth. Blood droplets from the tips of his hair fell, blooming a blood flower on the ground. "Huff~~" Bi Fang exhaled deeply. Aside from training, it had been a long time since he felt this exhausted. Faint steam rose from his body, every muscle groaning as if they were a race car that needed to rest after a frantic race, the engine still radiating intense heat. With that breath, the viewers unconsciously relaxed their tense nerves, then felt something absurd. A black bear over 1.6 meters long and weighing more than 300 pounds, just like that, gone? Was it not ridiculous, unbelievable? A human miracle? A human miracle indeed! Unlike any group hunt, long-range attack, or close-quarters finishing move, a real one-on-one, close-range spear hunt of an adult male black bear! His experience far exceeded that of the other thirty-four hunters. Strength, technique, he surpassed them all, and even the method he used to take down the bear was simpler, more brutal, and more heart-stopping! No matter who the ultimate winner was, Bi Fang had already left a mark no one could ignore. One hundred kilometers away, within a trap, two Y¨­ki Hunters cheered as they watched a bear pierced by a short spear, with two drones circling close for the footage. Waiting for the viewers¡¯ compliments and astonishment, the Y¨­ki Hunters waited half a day, but the barrage of comments was sparse, and the few that remained even directed the watching viewers to Bi Fang¡¯s personal live stream. What was going on? Not just the two Y¨­ki Hunters. Ugly Country¡¯s trio had hunted their second black bear only to find, unexpectedly, that hardly any viewers were watching this time too! In Japan¡¯s official live stream room, countless viewers flocked to Bi Fang¡¯s stream. Gang Tianwu had intended to use the videos of other hunters to divert the viewers from Bi Fang, but the current situation made it impossible for him to continue giving orders. He had to reluctantly switch all other channels to Bi Fang¡¯s viewpoint; only by doing so could they retain the viewers. With the support of Japan¡¯s domestic audience, coupled with viewers from all over the world, the number of viewers in Bi Fang¡¯s live room reached a new peak. Sixteen million! Yes, it had multiplied several times over! Several Japanese TV stations broadcasted the event, contributing nearly ten million viewers from Japan, an opportunity rarely seen. If this hunting season were not taking place in Japan, Bi Fang would never have attracted so many Japanese viewers. Even one-tenth would have been very good. And Huaxia, along with the rest of the world, also contributed nearly eight million viewers, bringing the viewership in Bi Fang¡¯s live room to an unprecedented number! Chapter 538 - 535: Can One Have Both the Fish and the Bear’s Paw? The sunlight pierced through the forest canopy to the clearing, where the blood on the ground emitted a faint white smoke as the moisture within was rapidly evaporated by the intense heat. The blood on the ground was so thick and sticky it was like glue, making a tacky noise as shoes tread upon it. While other hunters were puzzled about why they weren¡¯t welcomed, Bi Fang¡¯s live streaming room was already bursting at the seams. [Wild Zhao Xin has just soloed a bear!] [I¡¯m willing to call Bi Fang the Silver Spear Martial God!] [The new era bear-fighting hero!] [I want to send a hundred rockets!!!] [Where did Wolf Fang get the rockets?] [Right, that¡¯s why I can¡¯t send any, it¡¯s the thought that counts, but I¡¯m strapped.] [Lord Mu has sent the streamer *100 Spaceships¡ªThe same model of Bi Fang stepping on a Black Bear plush toy is already in the works, with pre-orders expected in the next two days.] [Holy shit, you profiteer @Lord Mu!!] A 1.6-meter-long Black Bear lay splayed out on the ground, its limbs extended, making it appear even larger overall. Bi Fang circled the Black Bear, admiring his handiwork. After a year of growth, he had become strong enough to take on a Black Bear alone. It was the Wilderness Survival version of "Thirty Years a Decade East of the River, Thirty Years a Decade West of the River." Of course, this Black Bear wasn¡¯t comparable to the one Bi Fang had encountered in his first live stream, whether in stature or season¡ªthere was a significant difference in its combat power. "The first live stream was around autumn, during the season when bears bulk up for the winter, with a thicker layer of fat that made piercing attacks far less effective than now, and its size was much larger than this one, even beyond the size of a normal Black Bear, a very rare type," Bi Fang reflected, nostalgia lacing his words. "If I hadn¡¯t fought for my life back then, you probably wouldn¡¯t be able to watch my streams now. Of course, I can¡¯t seek revenge now anyway, since that was in Huaxia where the Black Bears are protected." [Hahaha, let the past be the past.] [Speaking of which, I suddenly get the feeling that Old Fang has grown up. Am I imagining things?] [I have the same impression, it feels like Old Fang¡¯s physique is getting better and better, slurp slurp.] S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Scared, the Black Bears break into the Forestry Bureau at night to hug the animal protection handbook and study it daily.] Could I beat that Black Bear now? Bi Fang asked himself. It¡¯s probably a 70¨C30 chance. Well-prepared, the enemy is as good as dead. If caught off-guard, there would be a significant risk, but it would be far less perilous than before. How time flies! Whether it¡¯s experience, skills, or physical fitness, Bi Fang could easily outclass his former self¡ªit¡¯s like attacking from a higher dimension. Looking back now, it all seems like a dream. Away from the blood puddle, the Spear stood upright in the soil; Bi Fang crouched on the ground, not paying attention to the noise and tips in the live streaming room, but reaching out to touch the Black Bear¡¯s fur. The screed filled with barrages of comments and tipping notifications, impossible to see the streaming content without turning them off, and occasionally, a golden banner would float across the screen, indicating someone had subscribed to Emperor status, worth a hundred thousand for a month. Bi Fang didn¡¯t care about these things anymore; to him, they were just numbers now. With his fame and status, earning money had become a very simple process; choosing any endorsement meant over one hundred million in income for the current Bi Fang. Over ten million people were watching the live stream; a single yuan from each meant that Bi Fang¡¯s tips would exceed ten million. For a less popular streamer, that might be the goal of a lifetime career. An ordinary live stream couldn¡¯t achieve a one-to-one tipping ratio. A real ratio of one-tenth would be good, but Bi Fang¡¯s performance greatly increased this ratio. Almost everyone who saw Bi Fang hunting the Black Bear couldn¡¯t contain their excitement and gave away all the fish balls they had saved. There was nothing Bi Fang liked that he couldn¡¯t afford anymore¡ª cars, houses, places he wanted to go, lifestyle, he had everything. Is this what financial freedom feels like? Not bad at all. Even going to space, he could buy a ticket with money. It is said that a commercial rocket is nearing the end of its development and a single ticket costs forty-five million Ugly Gold. The black bear weighed over 300 jin (approx. 150 kg), which isn¡¯t a big issue for groups of several hunters to transport as strong hunters could each carry 100 jin (approx. 50 kg). However, this was much less friendly for solo hunters. Therefore, before filming began, the production team prepared a locator for each hunter. In case of an emergency or when they hunted a black bear and needed to move the carcass, a helicopter would be dispatched for retrieval. "I¡¯m not sure how fast they act, so I haven¡¯t pressed the locator yet. Let¡¯s take this time to cut off the bear¡¯s paw." Bi Fang took out the harpoon, aimed at the first joint of the black bear¡¯s foot, and stabbed viciously into it. The scene was somewhat gory, especially the dismemberment of large prey¡ªthe whitish fascia, the orangish fat, the bloody muscles¡ªit made watchers dizzy, but nobody wanted to miss it. This was a black bear, after all! Apart from in zoos, when had one ever seen a wild black bear? Not to speak of such a bloody and violent scene. The harpoon pierced into the joint, slowly slicing through the thick white fascia and firm muscle, and blood flowed out again along Bi Fang¡¯s fingers. "I feel like I¡¯m cutting through one, oh no, ten layers of old cowhide leather stacked together. These joints are really tough and very resilient." Bi Fang found it tough to cut, and he was already somewhat exhausted from hunting the black bear. Now he was panting from the effort. "See? Just the joint alone is so tough, so if you¡¯re hunting large creatures, don¡¯t use cutting weapons. You must use piercing weapons that apply more pressure, and the blade won¡¯t easily get stuck in fascia, bones, and such." "Especially against large predators; even a horse-slaying saber wouldn¡¯t be very effective. It¡¯s likely to get stuck in the muscles and fat, to say nothing of ordinary blades." [Then why can a horse-slaying saber chop off a horse¡¯s head?] [Yeah, I¡¯ve seen a horse-slaying saber in a museum, they¡¯re huge and seem really sharp] "It¡¯s different. The horse¡¯s head chopped by a horse-slaying saber is long and slender, without much fascia or a thick layer of fat. Its defensive strength isn¡¯t high, but other large animals don¡¯t give you such easy conditions for chopping; they all have means to protect their vitals." "Either they have a thick layer of fur and fat, or they have strong muscles. At the most basic level, they don¡¯t have the long, exposed neck like a horse." Bi Fang briefly explained to clear the viewer¡¯s confusion. "Even so, our attack targets shouldn¡¯t be on the limbs because the fascia and bones are most abundant here and can easily get stuck. We should aim to stab as much as possible at the lower abdomen, the flank, and the throat to attack its organs." "When a wild beast approaches and you don¡¯t have time to retract the spear, you can also use the shaft of the spear or a short stick to hit the animal¡¯s nostrils and eyes to force it back. However, this requires very strong mental and reactive capabilities." "Ordinary people who haven¡¯t been battle-tested would find it hard to achieve this and would only launch haphazard counterattacks." Bi Fang turned his wrist and with a strong pull of the harpoon, he cut the last bit of fascia and removed the bear¡¯s paw. He weighed it in his hand; the paw was even bigger than his head. "Goodness, it¡¯s heavy. This bear paw probably weighs around ten jin (approx. 5 kg). Take a guess, how much do you think this paw is worth?" asked Bi Fang with a smile. [Goodness, how would I know? Whoever eats this is asking for a prison sentence.] [Is Old Fang fishing for answers?] "Hahaha, I don¡¯t mean it that way," said Bi Fang as he drained the blood from the bear¡¯s paw, wrapped it in a torn shirt, and stuffed it into his backpack. "In some places, hunters with hunting licenses can legally hunt bear species each year, but it¡¯s usually brown bears or black bears." "However, there¡¯s a quota restriction and also high taxes to pay, which vary from place to place; but a bear fetches at least several tens of thousands. Hunters can sell their game, so sometimes, at some wilderness restaurants, you can find bear meat, although it¡¯s very expensive." "Like this paw that I¡¯m holding, it¡¯s worth at least one to one and a half thousand yuan per jin (approx. 500 to 750 yuan per kilogram), so in my hand is more than ten thousand yuan worth." "And if it¡¯s from a black bear¡¯s dominant hand, for example, the right hand of a right-handed black bear, it might be even more expensive. More frequent use makes the meat juicier and the price could go over two thousand yuan per jin." "This is just the price for a regular bear. If it¡¯s a rare large black bear or brown bear, the price is limitless, and it¡¯s auction-level." The audience was astounded by Bi Fang¡¯s explanation. That¡¯s incredibly pricey. And that¡¯s just for the bear species with relatively abundant worldwide numbers that could be legally hunted in designated areas and times. What about other, rarer, fully protected animals? The potential profit is unimaginable. No wonder poachers are so drawn to wild animals, risking legal consequences. Huge profits drive people mad. During the fight, Bi Fang noticed that this black bear was left-handed, so he only took the left paw and left the rest. After all, he was just satisfying his curiosity. He stood up, walked between the trees, and pressed the locator, waiting for staff to remove the black bear. Chapter 539 - 536: Truly a Hero Bi Fang stood on one leg atop the bear carcass, pulled out two darts that hadn¡¯t been shaken off, flung away some bits of flesh and blood that clung to them, and upon inspection, noticed the flint stone at the top of the darts had broken off significantly. Flint Stone is hard and sharp, but it lacks toughness. It easily breaches defenses, but when it collides with bone, it¡¯s liable to cause mutual destruction, resulting in both shattering. However, that doesn¡¯t matter, it can still be used after replacing it. Due to volcanic mountain ranges and the geological background, Taiji Town has an unexpected abundance of Flint Stone, which is easily found. After pressing the locator, the Japanese side responded quickly, and in less than ten minutes, the sound of a helicopter could be heard. Outside the forest, a helicopter painted with the words "Security Team" roared into life, its huge rotor blades stirring up a whirlwind that caused the nearby leaves to rustle loudly. Snakes, insects, rodents, and ants scurried away in retreat. It just so happened that this hunting expedition was related to the Security Team; thus, the task of transporting the Black Bear was also undertaken by them. The personnel in the helicopter glanced down and couldn¡¯t help but swallow their saliva. In a surprisingly large clearing among the sparse trees, a young man who appeared unexpectedly young was sitting on a rock, wiping a blood-stained white cloth back and forth across a gleaming silver Spear. The Spear rotated slightly, reflecting the sunlight, creating a bright spot that dazzled onlookers. At the young man¡¯s feet lay an incredibly large Black Bear, with a pool of blood underneath. When leaves drifted onto it, they were stuck, unable to move. With a body length of 1.6 meters¡ªwhich doesn¡¯t sound particularly tall compared to an adult male¡ªit¡¯s only the length from head to torso, essentially not counting an adult male¡¯s legs. Should it stand upright, this Black Bear¡¯s height would undoubtedly surpass two meters. Just imagine, a Black Bear, taller than you by a whole head, towering over and gazing down at you, exhaling a fierce, bloody breath that ripples across your face. What kind of feeling would that be? Especially considering it could slap your head to smithereens with a single paw¡ªunder its massive force, a human skull is no different than smashing a watermelon. And that is precisely why, at this moment, with the Black Bear sprawling on all fours, lying on the ground, one can truly sense the shock it imparts. A fully spread Black Bear resembled a fallen giant creature, with large pools of blood beneath it, which slowly flowed towards lower terrain and split around rocks on both sides. To those in the helicopter, it seemed as if the blood was parting like a stream around the young man, as if avoiding him. Blood, forest, fallen leaves, the dark green of the forest. The wind grew stronger; the howling within the forest rose and fell in peaks. Everyone seemed to witness a sacred sacrifice, with people in beast hides dancing around a bonfire, singing and chanting. Above the bonfire hung a massive Black Bear, becoming a pile of char under the intense flames, as people offered it to the spirits, celebrating a grand festival. Ancient and mystical. The newcomers shuddered before refocusing their gaze; the forest remained unchanged, everything was as it had been. Perhaps it was their late night causing hallucinations, they thought, bewildered. They stood up, opened the hatch, and kicked down the rope ladder. The entire inspection process was very swift. Three personnel climbed down from the helicopter, but upon entering the jungle, they were greeted with an overpowering smell of blood that whitened their sight. The three exchanged glances, shocked, but they hadn¡¯t forgotten their purpose. They split up: one quickly measured the Black Bear¡¯s body length, another tied the Black Bear with ropes to be hauled away beneath the helicopter, and the third person held a form, apparently registering something. The whole process took less than ten minutes. As for the absence of one bear paw, the three had no comments, obviously accepting this circumstance. After stowing the measuring tape, one worker called out, "163 centimeters." One meter sixty-three! That¡¯s a rare large size among Black Bears. The person holding the form immediately began to register. Bi Fang stowed his Spear and approached the recorder, whose form was filled with various items. Skin damage level: Intact, slight damage, moderate damage, severe damage, no fur. Body integrity level: Intact, slightly injured, moderately injured, severely injured, shattered. Limb integrity level: Intact... At the very top of these items was a table corresponding to the items for deducting and adding points, with the recorder checking off each item on the form. Clearly, there was a strict scoring system in place, ensuring fairness before all spectators. This also relieved the audience, as the Japanese were known for their shortage of judges, resulting in many blind people serving as referees, a well-known fact. Upon completing the tally, the worker tipped their cap and handed the form to Bi Fang, "The total score is 10.2 points, Mr. Bi can take a look to see if there are any issues." Bi Fang scanned the form briefly, shook his head, and indicated there were no problems. Although the body length was significantly over the standard one meter fifty, Bi Fang had not only taken a piece of bear paw, but one limb was also missing, and due to the damage from the darts and Spear, there was significant fur damage¡ª10.2 points was within his expectations. After confirming everything was in order, the three of them flipped the bound black bear onto its back, placed it on a thick cloth resembling a stretcher, and one of them climbed up the rope ladder, attaching it to the helicopter above. Once ready, the helicopter in midair began to ascend, eventually taking the black bear away from the forest. Bi Fang watched the helicopter depart and turned back to the live-streaming camera, "Do we have a ranking with scores now? If there are scores, can you check where I¡¯m ranked?" [First place!] As expected. Bi Fang didn¡¯t feel surprised. It goes without saying for the teams; even with good luck, encountering more than two black bears on the second day was possible, but there was an objective score reduction due to being in a group. For solo hunters, there was no reduction, but the fewer the people, the more reliant they were on various "deadly traps" to contain the black bear, which made it easier for accidents to happen, thus requiring more preparation and a longer setup time. The bigger the game that a trap was designed to capture, the more difficult it was to make, Rockfalls, heavy traps, log traps, sharp blades, pitfalls, bows and arrows¡ªBi Fang didn¡¯t know how many others knew, but these traps he was aware of were mighty powerful and simultaneously more troublesome to set up. A quality large trap, if made by a single person, would take at least a few hours. For someone like Bi Fang to boldly charge at a bear with just a few darts and two or three spears, and the most outrageous part was actually succeeding; others couldn¡¯t even dare to think of it. It was no wonder other hunters were left in a state of disbelief at such an outrageous feat. Even if your traps were ingeniously laid and your hunting methods brilliant, they still wouldn¡¯t have the shocking impact of Bi Fang¡¯s direct charge! The two were like an art film versus a blockbuster; no matter how deep or impressive the message, once the flashy special effects came out, normal people would be drawn to it, and the box office would not be on the same level. Moreover, whether what you made was actually an art film is another matter. Having sent off the black bear, Bi Fang had no intention to stay longer: "I plan to go back to the town to recuperate for a day, and by the way, see if I can find a good restaurant to have the bear paw cooked." After all, opportunities were rare, and this might be his first and only chance to try it in his life; Bi Fang didn¡¯t want to just roast it simply but hoped to find a skilled chef to prepare it. In the afternoon, the residents of Taiji Town witnessed a bizarre scene: a bare-chested man, covered in blood, carrying three spears, one steel and two wooden, with a backpack hanging on one of the camphor wood spears, sliding down from the mountain all the way to the road, where he stepped on a stone and leaped onto the main street. The smell of sweat mixed with blood wasn¡¯t pleasant, especially after being fermented by the heat, causing passersby to frown, and even some were hesitant about whether they should call the police. Bi Fang looked terrifying, like a maniacal serial killer who had been hiding in the forest for a long time and suddenly ran out. Speaking of which, there seemed to have been a guard team¡¯s helicopter entering the forest just earlier, weren¡¯t they looking for this person? "What¡¯s going on?" "Who is that?" "Is that blood on him? So scary." "Oh, oh my! That¡¯s a hunter participating in the bear hunting season! Seems like he had a fruitful hunt?" "Bear hunting season? What¡¯s that, I¡¯ve never heard of it before?" "Madam, do you never go online?" "Who are you calling ¡¯madam¡¯? The young people these days really have no manners!" Whispers arose among the pedestrians as Bi Fang walked by, and even some people leaned out of their windows to catch the commotion, taking out their phones to take pictures and record videos. The viewers in front of their screens laughed heartily at this scene. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [They¡¯re all stunned] [It feels like the villagers after Wu Song fought the tiger] [Master Fang is awesome!] [Goodbye, Minasan, I¡¯m off to buy stuffed toys from that unscrupulous businessman Yao Jun, boo hoo] Bi Fang didn¡¯t rush to dine as it was still early: "This is where I¡¯ll sign off for now; it¡¯s too hot, and I need to find a bathhouse to take a bath. I¡¯ll stream again tonight when I¡¯m eating the bear paw, alright, this is it for these few days." Ignoring the wails of his viewers, Bi Fang turned off the live stream and, amid the astonished gazes of the onlookers, ran towards a certain bathhouse in Taiji Town. Don¡¯t ask how he knew the place so well, it¡¯s called looking at the map. When Bi Fang entered the bathhouse covered in blood, he almost alarmed the staff to the point of calling the police on the spot, but fortunately, a waiter recognized him. Obviously, the waiter had been slacking off during work hours and knew about Bi Fang¡¯s hunting exploits from a few hours earlier. The waiter stood in the lobby, passionately recounting the scene he had witnessed at noon, leaving everyone around him shocked and in disbelief, completely oblivious to the increasingly dark expression on the face of his boss standing behind him. But when Bi Fang looked over, the boss immediately put on a bright smile, lavishing praise on Bi Fang as a once-in-a-century warrior who, if he had lived in ancient times, would certainly have been recorded in history as a valiant hero. The boss generously declared that all of Bi Fang¡¯s expenses for the day would be on the house, resulting in cheers from the other customers as well, praising the boss as a hero, even though it was not they who were getting a free pass. It seems heroes don¡¯t cost much after all. Bi Fang thought to himself. Chapter 540 - 537: Is Bear’s Paw Really Delicious? The night fell, and Bi Fang turned on his live stream. An eager audience swarmed to join. You can¡¯t have your cake and eat it too, a common sense that everyone understands from an early age, and everyone wanted to see what bear paw tasted like. [Waiting for Boss Fang to review the bear paw] [I really want to try it] [Old Fang¡¯s food is getting more high-end] Bi Fang wandered through Taiji Town like a regular tourist, following the path to a small, yet exceedingly popular restaurant. He didn¡¯t seek out a fancy restaurant, but instead followed the bathhouse owner¡¯s recommendation to a small eatery with a great reputation among the locals. The restaurant was full, buzzing with conversation. At the center¡¯s largest table, a few slightly corpulent diners called over a big group of people, with light green tokkuri bottles and ochoko cups covering the table¡ªa common combination for drinking sake and Japan¡¯s most frequently used sake ware. The tokkuri, with its wide body and narrow mouth, resembles a small vase. It¡¯s said that the shape of the tokkuri comes from ancient vessels used to offer liquor to deities, and since the Edo period, drinking from small tokkuri bottles of about 1-2 go became fashionable and has remained popular ever since. Everyone¡¯s cheeks were flushed, tipsy from the alcohol. The waitress with the ponytail watched everything with a smile, ready to serve each customer, and her eyes lit up instantly when she saw Bi Fang walk in through the cotton curtain. "Mr. Bi, you¡¯re right on time." Bi Fang smiled and said, "If I¡¯m not on time, what if the flavor of the ingredients changes? Many things aren¡¯t tasty once they get cold." The waitress smiled slightly: "Our chef was quite surprised when the ingredients arrived; he said he¡¯d never dealt with this before. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Since cooking bear paw takes a lot of time, Bi Fang decided to deliver it to the restaurant in the afternoon and paid a hefty processing fee for it. Having money to earn, although the chef had never cooked bear paw before and felt the task was daunting, he took up the challenge. Bi Fang generously mentioned not to worry too much, just treat it like a thick piece of fatty pork. Those with rich experience in cooking bear paws on Earth were either in the Polar Bear region, behind bars, or so old they had lost all their teeth. The expectations couldn¡¯t be too high, or nobody would dare to try cooking it. The waitress led Bi Fang through the hall to a small private room separated by cotton curtains, confirmed the dishes could be served now, and then stepped back out. The audience was watching in anticipation. A bear paw could be turned into many dishes, and everyone wanted to know what it tasted like. Bi Fang had never imagined that one day he would be eating such a deluxe ingredient. [I want to try it too] [Try it? Try it and go to jail] [Darn it, he¡¯s showing off again] While waiting for the delicious dishes to arrive, Bi Fang also took the time to chat with his audience in the private room. "Before hunting, I mentioned that bears are like humans in that they walk with their whole heel touching the ground, which allows them to support their weight and walk forward." "This is quite different from the walking style of other animals, since horses, sheep, and such hoof-walking animals do not touch the ground with the palm of their extremities, but walk on their ¡¯nails¡¯, while cats and dogs have a digitigrade walking style." "From this perspective, humans have a more advanced way of walking than other animals. Six million years ago, Australopithecus gradually descended from the trees to live on the ground and slowly learned to walk upright." "In the course of evolution, humans gradually developed an arch in the foot, which prevents excessive fatigue during long treks." "Bears also evolved toward being omnivorous, as they can eat both meat and plants. Because they often need to travel long distances in search of food, they retained their five toes and a plantigrade way of walking, which makes walking very efficient." Bi Fang used chopsticks dipped in water to draw a simple bear paw on the table. "However, bears did not evolve a human-like arch, so every bear has flat feet; yet this does not affect their speed. Bears in the wild can run as fast as 40 kilometers per hour." "Bears can also walk efficiently on two legs, for instance, when they spot a beehive high up, they will stand on two feet to reach the food." "Because they need to trek for a long time in search of various foods, bears have gradually developed thick pads on their paws and accumulated a lot of fat and connective tissue, which is why many ancients coveted bear paws." Bi Fang brought the discussion full circle. Fat has always been the best part of meat in history, like fish maw, marbled beef, and fatty lamb. It is only where there¡¯s fat that the meat doesn¡¯t feel too dry, as if you¡¯re chewing wax. Lean meat chews like bark residue; it is the fatty meat that has the true taste of eating meat. Especially in ancient times when oil was scarce, fatty meat seemed particularly luscious in the eyes of laborers and commoners. Of course, people who could afford bear paws in ancient times did not face a lack of oils, which indicates that bear paws themselves must have their own unique deliciousness to have made it onto the menu of magnificent Manchu Han Imperial Feasts. "Compared to the hind paw, bear¡¯s front paws are powerful weapons and formidable tools. Like tigers, bears can use paw strikes, standing up to swipe and grab in fights or hunting, their front limbs are incredibly strong." "Many bears rely on the strength of their front paws when fishing, digging potatoes, and sweet potatoes." Chewing on his chopsticks, Bi Fang felt quite expectant as well. Bears are essentially a highly successful evolutionary species, with the combat power of Brown Bears even capable of contending with large felines like the Siberian tiger. They possess very broad shoulder blades, and their humerus, ulna, and radius are all exceptionally thick, able to withstand impact and tearing¡ªand the muscle mass on their body is very considerable, reaching about 80%. The shoulders, waist, and limbs are basically covered with thick muscles. Only someone extraordinary like myself could manage a one-on-one duel; for ordinary Hunters, it¡¯s almost always a life-and-death struggle. Having said all this, a strong scent of sauce suddenly wafted over, and Bi Fang slightly tilted his head back as a large plate was the first to push through the cotton curtains. A multi-tiered wooden tray was filled with steaming chunks of meat. The server placed them one by one in front of Bi Fang¡¯s table, Teriyaki, stew, charcoal grill, tempura, spicy, steamed¡ªfully six styles of dishes. It must be said that Japanese cuisine has many similarities with the culinary system of China. [I don¡¯t quite agree without sashimi (Dog¡¯s head)] [Hungry] [Dinner time!] Bi Fang unwrapped his chopsticks and first dug into the teriyaki. As an expert in Wilderness Survivalist and hunting, Bi Fang was somewhat unfamiliar with cooking. Living in the wilderness, he mostly mastered only boiling and grilling, and, at most, he could toss on a handful of salt¡ªgetting his hands on condiments with richer layers, such as fermented sauces, was out of the question. The chopsticks easily penetrated the meat, and with a gentle tug, the meat strands separated clearly; the meat was cooked very tender, looking very translucent, somewhat like a variant of braised pork. Bi Fang felt that teriyaki and braised both tasted similar, both sweet and salty. Picked up with his chopsticks, the meat quivered like jelly; as soon as he put it into his mouth, it melted instantly, yet unexpectedly carried a stern toughness, but what followed was a very strong gamey taste... "Cough cough," Bi Fang suppressed the urge to spit it out and coughed twice, only swallowing after taking a sip of water. On the barrage, a large crowd was still asking what the taste was really like. Bi Fang wiped his mouth and, after pondering for a moment, said, "The flavor is not bad, but it¡¯s not delicious..." The audience slowly typed a question mark. Bi Fang organized his language, "The sauce is alright, but the meat itself is gamey and greasy, and very oily." Fat is good, but it¡¯s a bit too greasy, like eating a chunk of pure fat. At this, a commotion ensued. Many viewers weren¡¯t buying it. [Old Fang, you¡¯re not deceiving us, are you?] [Was what Mencius said about the fish and the bear¡¯s paw not being obtainable at the same time false?] The barrage was dense, and suddenly, a long message caught everyone¡¯s attention. Real or not, the professionalism alone was impressive. [Indeed, it¡¯s not delicious. Freshly cut bear paws shouldn¡¯t be eaten immediately; you have to wait until the second year when they are completely dried out before they can be stewed. Moreover, freshly cut bear paws cannot be exposed to water; you need to wipe the blood away with grass paper, then prepare a large porcelain jar, first lining the bottom with lime.] [Then lay down a thick layer of roasted rice, place the bear paw on top, stuff tightly with more roasted rice around the sides, and seal the top with lime. After one or two years, you can then take it out, wash it clean, and cook it.] One or two years, the audience was stunned. Wouldn¡¯t that rot? [After cleaning the bear paw, you must coat it with a thick layer of honey, boil it on a low fire for an hour, then wash off the honey, prepare the seasonings, and stew it on a low fire from the start¡ªit¡¯s best to use charcoal fire, stewing for three hours until it turns to mush the moment you open the pot.] [If you don¡¯t first stew it with honey, you could stew for three days and three nights and still not be able to pick up the chopsticks; the gamey taste is especially strong, and even so, the taste is actually quite ordinary.] Sss. The audience gasped, and the Earth warmed up a few degrees again. Even Bi Fang was surprised. It seemed all sorts of people watched his live streams¡ªthere were even those who knew how to cook bear paw? [May I ask who you are?] [Ah, me? I can¡¯t cook; it¡¯s all what my grandfather told me. He said that bear paw really isn¡¯t tasty, just a piece of meat with a strong gamey taste. And it¡¯s hard to deal with¡ªif not handled properly, it¡¯s not as good as ordinary chicken, duck, fish, and meat.] "Who is your grandfather?" Bi Fang was extremely curious. [My grandfather is Zhang Zhengxiong.] [However, there should be very few people who know of him. As for what Mencius said, he wasn¡¯t actually implying that bear paw and fish are delicious, but that bear paw is more rare. Hunting bears was difficult in ancient times, so the bear paw was highly treasured for its rarity.] So, bear paws really aren¡¯t tasty. The ancients liked them, perhaps because... the prestige was high enough? Chapter 541 - 538: Sneaking Underwater ``` During the Spring and Autumn period in Chu State, Prince Shang Chen staged a palace coup and turned against his own father, King Cheng of Chu. On his deathbed, King Cheng strongly requested a bear¡¯s paw dish before he could close his eyes in peace. On reflection, it was perhaps not because of the delicacy¡¯s taste that King Cheng made the request¡ªhe was weak and ineffective. His demand may have been mere mockery, a critique of his son¡¯s actions. Back then, eating bear paws was largely a way to retaliate against the Zhou dynasty¡¯s rule, which at the time was in name a nation but in reality a tribal confederation. Bear, brown bear, panther, chimera, thunder beast, tiger. Six beasts served as totems for the tribes, with the bear symbolizing the ancestors of the Huaxia people. Chu State adopted the bear as its emblem, to showcase its formidable power. However, the people of the Central Plains didn¡¯t see it that way; they always considered Chu State as barbaric. Alas, they couldn¡¯t defeat its strong military, so they resorted to eating bear paws to express their disdain, akin to the modern hierarchy of scorn, to flaunt their sense of superiority. From then on, eating bear paws became fashionable, with everyone deeming it "stylish." But are bear paws really tasty? The answer is not necessarily, or rather, quite unpalatable. If modern seasonings can¡¯t make it palatable, it¡¯s highly improbable that it was prepared perfectly thousands of years ago. At this revelation, the audience was greatly disappointed. They had waited so long only to be told that bear paws aren¡¯t delicious? "Other than bear paws, I haven¡¯t heard of anyone enjoying other parts of the bear, so I guess they¡¯re also undesirable because of their taste." Bi Fang rummaged through his memory and found a century-old case that supported his claim. "In the 1980s, natural reserves were already established, and poaching was strictly forbidden. A mountain villager, who originally wanted to hunt some boars and musk deer, accidentally shot a panda wearing a radio collar." A panda? The audience perked up upon hearing this. Given the context... What the fuck, that person didn¡¯t eat the panda, did they? Bi Fang nodded, affirming the audience¡¯s suspicions. Sure enough, such an act, if it happened today, would be incredibly daring. In court. Judge: "Tell us how you found the panda." Resident: "I saw footprints in the snow. At first, I thought they were human¡¯s. Then I discovered the strangled panda. I knew killing it was wrong, and I wanted to hide the matter. I cut off the feet with a knife and then I split open the body to remove the insides. I hid all that in the woods. In the end, I took the skin and the meat." Judge: "What did you do with the meat?" Mountain villager: "I took it home, my wife cooked it with radish, we ate some. It didn¡¯t taste good. So we fed it to the pigs. I also gave some to my sister." This was the record on the case file. But Bi Fang could no longer remember clearly, so he recounted the general content to the audience. "The final sentence was two years in prison, and that was in ¡¯83 when wildlife protection laws were not fully established. If it were today, he¡¯d probably serve a much longer sentence." "Pandas are also bear species, so I suppose the taste would be similar. Bear meat is truly unpalatable; there¡¯s no need for anyone to try it, besides wasting money, it serves no purpose." Locals live off the land or water resources nearby. Mountainous areas yield low grain harvests; without hunting to trade for food from outside, life would be very tough. Mountain villagers rely on hunting for extra income, and they¡¯re not choosy¡ªwhatever they catch is what they sell, whatever is trapped, they sell. Even such villagers would feed the bear meat directly to pigs, which speaks volumes about how unappetizing bear meat must be. Perhaps, as some comments suggested, it would take one or two years of preparation and processing to make a barely edible dish. To such an extent, what is eaten is not the ingredient itself but an air of pretense. Look, this dish, it took countless man-hours and resources, can you afford it? [The theme has been elevated.] [Why do I suddenly think of indirect salvation?] [Boohoo, another day of shattered dreams.] The audience howled. "Well, you¡¯ve seen it now; it¡¯s already 8 PM, so that¡¯s all for today¡¯s livestream." Shattering the illusion that bear paws are tasty, Bi Fang delivered a double blow as he ended the livestream. [Damn, just kill the livestream like that!] [Boss Fang, don¡¯t just hide away silently; I know you¡¯re at home. You have the audacity to eat bear paws, why not to stream it?] [Open the door, if you are brave enough to eat bear paws, you should be brave enough to livestream. Livestream, livestream, do it now, Boss Fang, don¡¯t hide away in silence, I know you¡¯re eating.] [Damn, that¡¯s some serious nagging.] Even though bear paws don¡¯t taste good, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t one to waste food. It was suspicious to see someone stuffing down unappetizing bear meat so relentlessly. ``` After dinner, around nine o¡¯clock, Richard and his companions were once again blocked at the hotel entrance, with the gangsters even more aggressive than the day before, constantly making provocative remarks. The shadowy figures of society only needed to enrage Richard and company. If Richard and the others couldn¡¯t endure it and struck first, the local police would have a reason and evidence to deport them! At nine in the evening, a few gang members loitered at the entrance. However, they all found it strange that Richard and his associates seemed quite different from yesterday. Instead of coming out and having a big fight with them, they were quiet in their room. They made occasional noises, without which one might have suspected they had vanished from the room. "Have they given up so quickly?" "I don¡¯t know, maybe they¡¯re pretending? They changed their room today, I wonder what it means." "Isn¡¯t it good if they don¡¯t react? The commotion yesterday gave me a headache, and I¡¯m even a bit sleepy today." "We absolutely can¡¯t let our guard down. If they catch something on camera, the town is done for." "Got a cigarette? Give me one." "Here, the last one. You¡¯re really persistent. With this much effort, why don¡¯t you do something more meaningful?" "Who knows..." In the corridor, several youths dressed in flashy clothes leaned against the wall, casually flicking cigarette ashes onto the carpet as they chatted with each other. Suddenly, one young man seemed to remember something and excitedly looked at his companions. "Hey, did you watch today¡¯s Black Bear Hunting season? Wasn¡¯t it so cool?" Another companion didn¡¯t quite understand. "I didn¡¯t watch it. It¡¯s just a TV show. What¡¯s so interesting about it? I never watch those things; they turn you into an idiot." "Who said that? You really missed out then. Today one of the contestants actually defeated a 1.6-meter-tall black bear with a spear. A spear! And that bear, when it stood up, was even taller than me. It was so cool; he was like a superhero!" "Hey, hey, are you kidding? Fighting a black bear with a spear? Isn¡¯t that a scene straight out of a TV drama?" "It¡¯s true. Live broadcast, just with a spear. He managed to leave the black bear without any strength to fight back. I heard he¡¯s here in Taiji Town; I¡¯d really like to meet him." The few of them talked about today¡¯s hunting season. The one who initiated the conversation about it was especially animated, clearly full of admiration for Bi Fang¡¯s actions. What they didn¡¯t know was that the superhero they talked about had his hands on a handful of fine sand and was preparing to climb the hotel building once more. With the experience from the first time, Bi Fang was now even better prepared. He tied the Prusik knot on his rope, first making a loop with a shoelace using an overhand knot, and then, he wrapped the rope around it, threading it through his own loop and then through the loop formed by the rope twice before pulling tight. The Prusik knot is a safety knot used in rock climbing, serving as an extra lifesaving measure for climbers. Its unique method of tying allows it to move only up the rope; the downward pressure locks it in place. If a Prusik knot is tied on a harness, it activates an automatic braking system that can still hold a falling Bi Fang in case of other equipment failure. In infiltrations or escapes, Bi Fang could take advantage of the knot¡¯s property of moving only up the rope to lock himself in place. Bi Fang tied a total of four Prusik knots to use as loops and footholds when he unsteadily climbed up the rope. In one of the rooms, Mandy and Keke had also opened the windows and saw Bi Fang below the hotel. Having learned from their experiences, this time they chose rooms on the fifth floor, which meant it didn¡¯t take much effort for Bi Fang to reach the windowsill. Bi Fang¡¯s previous advice to Mandy to change rooms was not only to make rock climbing easier but also to avoid certain unique surveillance methods. Hotel rooms are notoriously unsafe. This is particularly true in some developing countries, where even those trusted brand hotels can easily be blamed or monitored, many with official sanction. In this era of global uncertainty, radical governments go to great lengths to gather intelligence on foreigners, from high-ranking diplomats to ordinary businessmen, with none spared, especially someone like Richard who holds a unique position in a certain field. Many ordinary people on their travels are oblivious to these invisible threats, believing that hiding in hotel rooms or rented cars ensures their safety. But Bi Fang was aware of the dangers, particularly as they were already under surveillance. Any hotel under the control of an unknown entity is subject to various threats, and some hotels place foreigners in rooms equipped with hard-wired surveillance. Fortunately, frequently changing rooms and hotels could thwart their plans. Last night, Richard and the others checked into their rooms and settled in without giving anyone else a chance to install surveillance devices, and the same held true for today. Not just today, but every day after, Richard and his companions would have to switch floors and rooms, and in three days, they would have to switch hotels. "Hotels can easily have emergencies; the safest rooms are on the second or third floor, so move to the third floor tomorrow," Bi Fang advised. Most countries¡¯ firefighting equipment doesn¡¯t reach above the third floor, making them vulnerable to the threat of fire. Even if there were other guests, such a move might harm the innocent and could be outrageously callous. But Bi Fang didn¡¯t trust the moral standards of those swayed by profit. Besides, living on the first floor should also be avoided. In case of sudden attacks, being away from the lobby is crucial for one¡¯s safety. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Mandy and Keke nodded their heads, signaling they would pass the message to Richard and the others tomorrow, and then began to climb down the rope one by one. If one observed carefully, it wasn¡¯t hard to notice that beneath their clothes, both had donned skintight diving suits. That night the trio wasn¡¯t just there to install cameras; they were undertaking a far more dangerous underwater operation. The sea floor was yet another battlefield for them! Chapter 542 - 539: Lurking Underwater ``` The sea left behind white foam as the tide receded. At 10 PM, for this relatively traditional town, few people could be found near the coastline, let alone the rocky area away from the beach. Bi Fang stood atop the towering cliff, looking down at the dark grey sea that undulated rhythmically, masses of water slowly bulging and then receding as if a terrifying sea creature was stirring up the waves beneath the surface. Waves several meters high crashed against the cliffs below his feet while the distant lighthouse monotonously swept its light across the sea surface. With the help of Mandy and Keke, Bi Fang struggled to put on his diving suit and flippers, then took a detour to enter the shallow sea from beneath the cliff. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The mission was for Bi Fang and Mandy to set up underwater cameras while Keke kept watch and stood guard onshore. Mandy, donning goggles, joked, "I thought you were going to leap straight down from up there, like a movie protagonist diving into the sea from a cliff and miraculously surviving." "You seem to have some misconceptions about me." Bi Fang rolled his eyes as he bit down on the breathing valve. This was not a live broadcast and the situation was not dire; there was no pursuit of cinematic effects, nor was there a need for it. Only a fool would risk jumping into the sea¡ªwasn¡¯t it more pleasant just to enter the water in the ordinary way? "Sorry, you¡¯ve always struck me that way, like... um, a kind of one-man-hero movie?" "Instead of talking about this, save some energy for the dive. We only have two oxygen tanks, and you¡¯re not Bajau," said Bi Fang, no longer engaging in the conversation, as he plunged into the great ocean. To facilitate carrying supplies, the two of them didn¡¯t have many oxygen tanks, just two each. This required them to act quickly and decisively. "Bajau people? What is that?" Mandy suffered from his lack of knowledge. Bi Fang didn¡¯t explain and simply swam downward. The potential of humans is truly a mystery sometimes. In the classic novel "Water Margin," "White Stripe in the Waves" Zhang Shun and "River Overturning Mouse" Jiang Ping from "The Three Heroes and Five Gallants" were able to lurk underwater for days. Even strong men like Li Kui and Bai Yutang would be pulled underwater by them and, with their bellies full of water, had no choice but to disarm and surrender. Lurking underwater for days and nights was an exaggeration by ancient literati. Without diving equipment, ordinary people couldn¡¯t stay submerged for more than two minutes. Even now, Bi Fang, without any auxiliary equipment, could only move about for about five minutes. However, the Bajau people living in Southeast Asia, wearing just a pair of goggles and without any other apparatus, can dive dozens of meters deep to fish or collect pearls, staying submerged for over five minutes, sometimes even as long as fifteen minutes. With this ability, the Bajau have lived on the sea for a thousand years, using boats as their homes, relying on fishing for a living, and rarely setting foot on land. "Bajau" in the Indonesian language means "People of the Sea." If it is nonsense to say that Sherpa people have an extra lobe in their lungs, it is indeed true that the divers among the Bajau are born different, as their spleens are 50% larger compared to other populations. When they dive into the water, their spleens contract, squeezing the oxygen-rich red blood cells into their vessels, increasing their blood¡¯s oxygen content by up to 9%, thereby extending their diving time. Theoretically, the larger the spleen a creature has, the more advantageous it is for diving; deep-diving seals, for instance, have spleens that comprise a larger proportion of their body than other animals. The exceptionally large spleens of the Bajau aren¡¯t the result of training through diving. Even among the Bajau who don¡¯t dive, their spleens are larger than those of other ethnic groups, a characteristic determined by innate genetics. The Bajau have a mutation in their PDE10A gene, which causes an increase in the level of the thyroid hormone T4 in their body. This hormone promotes the growth of the spleen, thus endowing the Bajau with extraordinary diving capabilities. Bi Fang felt that, with the System¡¯s capabilities, perhaps he could also undergo such an enhancement. Maybe he would be the future world diving champion. Seeing that Bi Fang had no intention of explaining, Mandy shrugged, "Ah, sometimes I really envy you natural-born divers. Unlike me¡ªI have to keep working hard to become a world champion." "Get down there," Bi Fang replied. Keke, seeing Mandy was fully geared up, kicked him in the buttocks and forcefully sent him into the water. With a splash, a heavy object entered the water. The cool sea instantly enveloped him. Bi Fang opened his eyes and turned on the headlamp, his vision filled with the silver reflections of bubbles. Bi Fang tightened his core, his body moving up and down like a fish, rapidly diving into the water without even fluttering his flippers. Diving is a feeling hard to describe. What makes people like diving? Each person¡¯s answer might be different. Some are fascinated by the colorful marine life in the ocean. Some enjoy the sensation of weightlessness under neutral buoyancy. Others take pleasure in drift diving, flowing with the currents. Some like the adventure of exploring historical relics on the dark ocean floor. Or perhaps it¡¯s just a simple quest for thrills... But for Bi Fang, while there is plenty of land to travel on Earth, over 70% of the ocean has never been set foot in by many people. Diving gave him a way to explore this new world. ``` Perhaps, this one answer was already enough. Underwater was very quiet. The only sound that could be clearly heard was perhaps the bubbles made by one¡¯s own breathing. The ocean at night, without direct sunlight, the flashlight could only illuminate up to six or seven meters, the surroundings were dim. Underwater, all of a person¡¯s sensory abilities were reduced, visibility in the water was very low, the nose was covered by the goggles, unable to speak, hearing almost nothing. As the beam of light swept over, tiny silver fish swiftly swam away, leaving only a trail of bubbles. Mandy had rarely experienced this, or rather had never experienced it, performing some kind of task like a special forces soldier, even though he had dived thousands of times, he still felt an indescribable emotion surfacing in his heart. What surprised him even more was Bi Fang beside him. Even though it was pitch-dark all around, the other person seemed to have grown an extra pair of eyes, even managing to avoid the coral reefs that hadn¡¯t yet appeared in the light! Mandy was very certain that, ten seconds before, Bi Fang had preemptively avoided a coral reef that hadn¡¯t yet appeared! Damn it! Bi Fang didn¡¯t know what Mandy was thinking, but he indeed had an extra pair of "eyes". Shark¡¯s electroreception was too fucking useful in the sea! In the 1960s, scientists tagged sharks with sensors for the first time, letting humans understand information such as the speed and location of sharks. But what surprised the scientists the most, without a doubt, was that many sharks were able to accurately find their way in the deep sea where one couldn¡¯t see their hand in front of their face. The reason was the sharks¡¯ magnetic reception ability. The shark¡¯s head had tiny protrusions that could sense the slightest changes in the underwater electric field. Inside their bodies were small particles of magnetic minerals, very similar to the material of a compass, which could sensitively detect the Earth¡¯s magnetic field. Since a certain ocean survival mission, Bi Fang had also acquired this ability, of course, not as good as the sharks themselves. But no matter how weakened, the strength of this ability could not be denied. However, for Bi Fang on land, it was difficult to feel the help brought by electroreception, only barely using the water molecules in the air to sense the activity of organisms within about half a meter around him. But in the sea, this function surged dozens of times in an instant, Bi Fang was like a radar, able to clearly map everything around in his mind. The light on his head was completely superfluous, he could feel any situation within ten meters! There were many small fish living on the coral reefs at the bottom of the sea, and with these biological magnetic fields, Bi Fang could easily sense the existence of rock walls and reefs in advance, avoiding them. This kind of behavior, in Mandy¡¯s eyes... So you¡¯re not Superman, you¡¯re the fucking Ocean King, huh! As they descended over ten meters, Bi Fang¡¯s body felt a bit cold. Perhaps during the day this place was still warm, but now, the seawater was gradually cooling down. The water resistance was great, but this couldn¡¯t stop Bi Fang and Mandy at all. Both were good swimmers and divers. For most people diving underwater for the first time, this strange environment and sensation indeed made one very nervous. It wasn¡¯t just a psychological factor, but also a physiological reaction. The world¡¯s best divers, like New Zealander William Trubridge, could dive to a depth of 100 meters in one breath. But even in 10-meter-deep water, a person¡¯s lungs would be compressed to half the normal volume, and in 100-meter-deep water, the lungs were no bigger than two baseballs. Athletes like Trubridge were able to dive so deep because humans have an innate ability called the "mammalian dive reflex". This physiological reflex has another more poetic name, known as the "master switch of life". The moment a person¡¯s face is submerged in water, various physiological reflexes that are triggered in the brain, lungs, heart, and other organs. The deeper the dive in water, the more pronounced these reflexes become, ultimately leading to physiological changes. The blood inside the human body will start to flow from the limbs towards the vital organs, and in extremely deep water, the blood can even permeate the organ cell walls to support the organs, protecting them from imploding under great water pressure. Moreover, as soon as one enters the water, the heart rate drops significantly, even if you exert yourself in the water, the heart rate is slower than on land, which means that you consume less oxygen in the water and can stay longer. This is the real reason why humans can dive deeper than 100 meters. Ama divers in places like Japan use the "master switch of life" to perform deep dives. At ten meters deep, the first line of photography could be arranged. Bi Fang opened the bag he was carrying, made a gesture to start the operation, and then threw a rock-shaped camera to Mandy. The two began installation, surrounding the rock layer. Chapter 543 - 340 Dolphin Bay was surrounded by mountains on three sides and faced the ocean on one, gradually deepening from the shores before appearing like a small lake. Once past the mouth of the bay, the depth of Dolphin Bay would suddenly increase to over a hundred meters. Though dolphins are skilled divers, capable of diving hundreds of meters, their main activity range is concentrated in the shallow seas between thirty and fifty meters. Therefore, the range of Bi Fang and Mandy¡¯s task was set between ten and eighty meters¡ªjust one circle wider and they could essentially capture the full range of the dolphins¡¯ activities. For this, they had to install over twenty cameras. It sounded like not much, but it was far from an easy job. Radio waves suffer extreme loss in the medium, so the signal drops very rapidly. In water, the loss of the medium at frequencies above 30KHz is 7500dB/km; at 20 meters, it can attenuate by 150dB, meaning there would be no signal below 20 meters, even if there were a base station right above the surface. The cameras Bi Fang and the others were using this time were all set to record automatically, and they would be retrieved after everything had ended to extract the footage. Therefore, the underwater installation differed greatly from the previous mountain set-up; there was no way to monitor it in real time, and unlike previously, where they could continuously adjust by remote command, now there was no such opportunity. Considering that the dolphin-hunting season was about to start, the difficulty of underwater installation would increase exponentially. There was no chance for repeated installations and adjustments; they had to succeed in one try. It was necessary for both Bi Fang and Mandy to grasp this measurement on their own. Fortunately, before this, both of them had undergone extensive training in photography under the assistant Mond, and they were now barely considered semi-professional photographers. After finishing installing the three cameras in the shallow sea ten meters deep, Bi Fang and Mandy continued to move closer to the depths. At twenty meters, thirty meters, they had reached the limit of active sinking. The world around was pitch black and silent; Bi Fang could hear the beating of his own heart very clearly. In his head, the only sound that automatically emerged was the sound of animal life, perhaps the only sign that he was still alive. Bi Fang silently counted his heartbeats. When he first entered the water, his heart rate was at 60-70 beats per minute; now it had dropped to 30-40, more than half less. A special breathing method allowed Bi Fang¡¯s lungs to fill with ten liters of air, providing a great buoyancy that enabled him to float in the water, doing nothing, thus reducing the amount of muscle movement needed to resist gravity. The deeper one went, the more the water pressure squeezed the lungs. At this point, both Bi Fang and Mandy were floating in the water relying on the air in their lungs. The diving reflex caused the peripheral blood vessels to constrict, and the blood would leave the limbs, flowing towards the most important organs¡ªlungs, heart, and brain. Furthermore, due to the blood rushing to the brain, bringing a large amount of oxygen, as long as nitrogen narcosis did not occur, the diver¡¯s brain would be extremely clear at that time. The clearer the mind, the more one could feel as if they had arrived in another world. Silence, darkness. Some say that our understanding of the ocean is not even half of what we know about the moon. This is not an exaggeration, for even in 1977, astronauts had been sent to the moon, yet people naively believed that there were no active forms of life below 6000 meters in the oceanic abyss. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Pressure indescribable from all directions¡ªas one expanded their chest to breathe through the valve, it felt like doing a bench press with oversized weights. As if being firmly grasped and squeezed by a giant. The first batch of equipment had been installed. Bi Fang and Mandy, separated by seven or eight meters, pressed their flashlight switches, flashing them a few times to confirm completion, and prepared to ascend to retrieve the cameras. Mandy nodded his head, kicked his flippers, took a deep breath, and was about to ascend when suddenly, a bright light flickered intensely in front of him. It was Bi Fang rapidly pressing his flashlight¡ªan urgent signal! Mandy¡¯s mind went blank, and with the rigorous training he had received, he almost hesitated not at all, twisting direction based on instinct alone, but it was still a step too late! The intense swirling current, like a water tornado, struck Mandy¡¯s forehead with an irresistible impact. In an instant, Mandy¡¯s eyes rolled back, water rushed in through the gaps in his teeth and nostrils¡ªgenuine seawater, with a bitter, salty taste. Too bad Mandy could no longer feel it; under the violent impact, his consciousness had abruptly halted, and he had drowned! In the exhaustion of his consciousness, he saw only a huge phantom head, with a mouth full of sharp teeth, a bulging forehead, and protruding eyes! No one expected such a sudden disaster. Bi Fang drew the harpoon from his waist and swam rapidly toward Mandy. A huge shadow swam past the two men at a high speed, stirring up the water flow to such an extent that it could move Mandy, who was unconscious and drowning, meters away. Bi Fang¡¯s flashlight couldn¡¯t catch a glimpse of its shadow; it was like a ghost, lingering around the two of them without stopping. The shark¡¯s electroreception was indeed powerful, but it could only identify the basic size and presence of living organisms, not accurately scan their shapes like radar. It was too fast; it had attacked Mandy before Bi Fang could react. Bi Fang arrived next to Mandy and quickly refitted the breathing valve, fastening it tightly. By then, Mandy¡¯s lungs had been filled with seawater. Bi Fang came up behind him and used the Heimlich Maneuver, pressing hard on Mandy¡¯s lungs. Just then, the lurking phantom appeared once again within Bi Fang¡¯s sensory range, attacking swiftly! Unfortunately for it, Bi Fang was not Mandy; even without seeing, he could clearly sense the approaching creature and reacted in advance, Bi Fang, dragging Mandy, kicked against the rock wall and quickly moved away from their original position. The intense water flow brushed past, and the differential pressure almost pulled Bi Fang back to where he had been. He tried to strike with his knife, but the other¡¯s speed was so fast that he couldn¡¯t hit it. Bi Fang bent his head to survey the scene, and with this opportunity, he finally got a clear view of the "ghost¡¯s" partial appearance! GT! Also known as Niu Gangjue! A tremendously large Niu Gangjue! Bi Fang¡¯s heart skipped a beat as he gripped the harpoon in his hand. Niu Gangjue is the largest carnivorous fish in the jack family, capable of leaping out of the water to prey on seabirds. This one in front of him was at least 1.6 meters long and weighed over 70 kilograms! A 1.6-meter GT could even prey on sharks! Niu Gangjue, the wild buffalo of the sea, was a powerful aquatic beast with a steep head and a strong tail as its main features. Lurking at depths between 2 and 80 meters, it is a large migratory fish found near the coast, distributed from the western part of South Africa to the east of Hawaii, including northern Japan and southern Australia. It often appears in estuary areas, mainly hunting at night. Greedy and strong, apart from sharks and humans, no other creature posed a threat to it. It boasted a muscular torso and oversized paddle-like pectoral and caudal fins, possessing true strength, explosive power, and astonishing endurance. Its underwater speed could reach up to 60 kilometers per hour, while the human extreme record didn¡¯t even reach 40. Moreover, Niu Gangjue had a ferocious nature, preying on all the small fish it encountered in its territory and even hunting birds and hatchling turtles resting on the water¡¯s surface. When Niu Gangjue spotted prey, it would violently ram them into unconsciousness or swallow them whole. The most terrifying part was that Niu Gangjue often hunted in groups, resulting in extremely fierce competition for food where it wasn¡¯t uncommon for adult Niu Gangjue to accidentally swallow their young. Had this one gone mad? To dare attack a human? True, Niu Gangjue was notoriously ferocious, but surely it wouldn¡¯t go this far? A 70-kilogram Niu Gangjue matched a human in weight class, and it wasn¡¯t common for animals to attack those of a similar size, except due to food scarcity. Wait a second. Was it because of the upcoming dolphin hunting season? Bi Fang guessed this possibility, as the arrival of dolphins left the nearby Niu Gangjue in a temporary state of food shortage. So, it truly was a shortage of food? Bi Fang calmed his heartbeat and tried his best to sense the surrounding environment. Fortunately, there appeared to be only one Niu Gangjue nearby. He didn¡¯t know when he had arrived at Dolphin Bay, colliding with him and Mandy while they were setting up the camera, even initiating an attack! The massive impact knocked Mandy, who was caught off guard, unconscious. It was only because Bi Fang had timely warned her and instinctively twisted his body that the blow had not landed on the vulnerable back of his head but the hard forehead instead. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have been as simple as fainting; she might have died on the spot! No more. Bi Fang stole a glance at Mandy who had fainted, noticing a large wound on her forehead from which blood was elegantly drifting out. Lurking nearby, the bull-headed siblings were ready to launch a deadly attack at any moment. Bi Fang held Mandy tight with both arms, adjusted the oxygen pressure to its maximum, and once again squeezed her lungs. Seawater poured out from Mandy¡¯s mouth, and Bi Fang quickly tightened the breathing valve, releasing a large amount of oxygen that rushed into Mandy¡¯s lungs. The second time, the third time. Mandy probably never imagined in her life that she, a diving champion, would nearly drown and even be rescued from drowning in the sea. On the fourth attempt, the waiting Niu Gangjue launched another attack! Bi Fang quickly dodged to the side, but carrying the heavy Mandy, he was hardly able to move freely. In the brief turn, his arm was still hit. For an instant, Bi Fang felt an illusion that his arm might have been broken by the impact, with blood flow in his arm being abruptly cut off. Swelling, numbness, pain. Wave after wave of foreign sensations flooded over him. Even the harpoon in his hand nearly dropped to the seabed. Bi Fang could keenly sense the numerous capillaries that had burst in his right arm from the impact, quickly accumulating into a bruise under his skin. He tried to grip the dagger again, but it was like when a nap compresses his arm¡ªwaking up in pain and numbness, unable to grasp anything properly. No wonder they call it the wild buffalo of the sea. It indeed possessed incredible strength! On the shore, Keke had no idea about anything that was happening in the water. He hid in the shadows, daring not to emit the slightest sound or light, peering around cautiously, making sure no one discovered what they were doing. The lighthouse in the distance continued to monotonously sweep the sea¡¯s surface. Chapter 544 - 541 What a Joke? Underwater, bubbles continuously rose to the surface. The seafloor was pitch black; the light from the flashlight could penetrate less than 6 meters in the water, and it was terrifyingly silent, without any sound. No wind, no water sounds, nothing existed except the sound of one¡¯s own heartbeat. Bi Fang clenched his teeth on the breathing valve, elevating his perception to the highest level, extending it to fifteen meters. The Niu Gangjue loomed within the circular domain, their presence occasionally flashing within ten meters, causing Bi Fang to break into a cold sweat each time. Every time Bi Fang tried to pull Mandy to the surface, the Niu Gangjue would attack, slamming Bi Fang and Mandy back toward the seabed. It was an extremely fierce but cunning hunter. Bi Fang slowly exhaled and leaned back against the rock wall, silently undoing the flashlights above his and Mandy¡¯s heads. He cut open the fishing net used for the camera equipment and tied it to himself and Mandy to secure their position. Then he dismantled the oxygen tanks on their backs, took a deep breath of oxygen, tightened the tanks¡¯ valves, and wound the two flashlights together, tying them onto the oxygen tank with the breathing tube. His heart thumped wildly. Bi Fang¡¯s body temperature rose quickly; he no longer felt the chill of the seawater. Holding his breath, he made sure the flashlights were securely fixed before slowly turning the valve open. Slowly stepping on the rock wall, Bi Fang used the leverage to climb up bit by bit. Seeing him attempting to escape, the Niu Gangjue predictably launched another charge. Bi Fang, who had been waiting for just this moment, suddenly yanked the valve open and kicked off the wall, ascending with Mandy! Stones were dislodged from the wall, and the fragile sandstone was shattered into pieces by the impact of the Niu Gangjue, stirring up clouds of sand in the water. In the midst of the turbidity, the oxygen tank with its open valve rapidly expelled a stream of air, carrying the glowing flashlights, creating a white trail deep in the ocean that rapidly shot away into the distance. Even more incredibly, the moment the flashlights flew out, the Niu Gangjue also turned and charged toward the direction of the flashlights! Without a doubt, this was the perfect opportunity to escape! Bi Fang, holding onto Mandy, took full advantage of the Niu Gangjue¡¯s pursuit of the flashlights to ascend with all his might. A minute later, when the lighthouse beam swept over Dolphin Bay again, Bi Fang burst out of the water, his powerful arms splitting the waves as he swam toward the shore. Keke on the shore noticed the commotion and quickly swam towards Bi Fang. The two met in the water. Keke was shocked at Mandy¡¯s unconsciousness, "What happened?" Bi Fang spat out a mouthful of seawater, breathing heavily, his voice hoarse, "Get to shore first." With one more person helping, Bi Fang felt much lighter as they both dragged Mandy towards the shore. Only when he could feel the sand and rocks under his feet did Bi Fang truly breathe a sigh of relief and collapsed face up on the sandy ground, coughing violently. He had gulped down quite a bit of water when he was hit by the Niu Gangjue underwater. Mandy, dragged by Keke, left a long trail in the sand. Keke opened Mandy¡¯s wetsuit and began performing CPR. Being skilled divers, Keke knew all too well how to deal with drowning. With Bi Fang¡¯s help, it took less than half a minute for Mandy to expel a large amount of seawater from his mouth and nose and finally regain consciousness with a jolt. Mandy sat up suddenly, spat out a mouthful of seawater, and began coughing frantically. Keke slumped down on the beach and looked towards Bi Fang, asking with difficulty, "What the hell happened?" Mandy, after coughing for a long time, finally regained his senses. He looked around in confusion, feeling a sharp pain in his forehead, and suddenly remembered the last thing before he lost consciousness. A ghastly face rushed out of the darkness towards him, and the next moment, Mandy could no longer remember anything. Bi Fang sat up from the ground, took a long breath, and said, "A Niu Gangjue." "A Niu Gangjue?" Mandy and Keke both startled momentarily. The former matched the image of the Niu Gangjue to the ghostly face in his memory and suddenly realized, reaching out to touch his forehead. Pain made him quickly retract his fingers. "Damn, it was a Niu Gangjue! No wonder my head hurts so much!" If Mandy knew what an Antarctic Immortal was, he would have found a striking resemblance between himself and the creature at that moment. The Niu Gangjue was not a rare fish. On the contrary, those familiar with diving and sea fishing knew it very well. It is too powerful, immensely strong and ferociously aggressive, often attacking fish that were nearly reeled in. Keke himself had once experienced this; he was about to land a Snapper when suddenly a huge Niu Gangjue rushed out, swallowed the Snapper whole, giving him a fright and nearly falling into the sea. Daring to snatch the prey of humans showed the viciousness of the Niu Gangjue. Because of its immense power, flexibility, and very fast swimming speed, along with formidable fighting capability, the Niu Gangjue was known as the bull of the seas. Catching a Niu Gangjue was a huge honor and gave a sense of great achievement. Thus, within the Sea Fishing Realm, the Niu Gangjue¡¯s reputation soared, becoming the ultimate target for sea fishermen, fueling an inner desire of fishermen to conquer that massive, powerful beast. However, few were successful, while many were dragged underwater. It was the same in the diving community; encountering a Niu Gangjue, many divers were sometimes more scared than they would be upon seeing a shark. Keke hurriedly asked, "So what about it now? Is it dead or what? And your oxygen tank?" Bi Fang shook his head. Underwater, he was hindered by carrying Mandy and the fight could last an unpredictable length of time¡ªa prolonged struggle could easily be dangerous for Mandy. At that time, the depth had already surpassed thirty meters, and anyone who frequently dived would know that there¡¯s a critical point for natural buoyancy in diving, which lies between thirty and forty meters underwater. Affected by the pressure, at depths of 30-40 meters, one no longer needs to swim, as the body¡¯s density becomes so high that it allows for natural sinking, and then one enters the "free fall stage". This is also the most marvelous stage of diving, where you don¡¯t have to do anything and just let yourself be pushed deeper into the ocean. But the situation at that time was far from marvelous for Mandy; instead, it was extremely lethal. Once Bi Fang let go, the poor guy would naturally sink to the bottom. Already drowning, no one could guarantee what would happen next. If he and Niu Gangjue were entangled for too long, the guy might not make it. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Drowning and suffocation are completely different. The relative time to death would be very quick, usually around 2-3 minutes. In a short time, a large amount of water would enter the lungs and stomach. Pulmonary edema, severe dilution of blood and tissue fluid, lack of oxygen exchange in the body, and the heavy burden on the heart would all lead to various concurrent symptoms and a painful death by drowning. This meant that Bi Fang had less than two minutes to act. He was unable to fight, and he couldn¡¯t afford to fight. So, in his urgency, Bi Fang resorted to a diversion tactic. It was impossible to throw something far in the water, so he tied a flashlight to his breathing tube and then opened the air valve of the oxygen cylinder, using the air pressure to drive the flashlight and create the effect of a moving column of light on the seabed. It wasn¡¯t a panacea, the trick¡¯s effectiveness depended on the fish in question. Using it on another species might not produce the same effect, or it could be completely useless. Mandy and Keke exchanged puzzled looks, clearly not understanding. Bi Fang stood up and explained, "Niu Gangjue have a particular taste for fish from the Parrotfish family¡¯s Snapper genus. As the predators one level up in the food chain, the Snapper genus fish are attracted to light and highly phototactic." "Niu Gangjue usually hunt at night, primarily because the creatures one level below in their preferred food chain are attracted to light, so they gather under light to hunt." "Perhaps Niu Gangjue initially attacked Mandy because it saw the column of light, mistook it for a Snapper, and only realized its mistake upon collision." Listening, Mandy looked speechless. So, it was all just her bad luck? The moving flashlight conveyed a certain level of misinformation to Niu Gangjue, leading them to believe that delicious Snapper genus fish might be there. Given the prospect of tastier food, naturally, Niu Gangjue would stop attacking Bi Fang and choose the easier prey. This was like Bi Fang hunting in the jungle, after several days without a meal, finally finding animal tracks, only to discover they belonged to a wolf. Well, a wolf is a wolf, not inedible ¡ª though tough and gamey and quite dangerous, it¡¯s not impossible to eat. But if you were intent on wolf hunting and suddenly a lame pheasant happened to cross your path, even a fool driven by basic instincts would abandon wolf meat for the tastier, more easily acquired pheasant. Mandy and Keke suddenly comprehended, their eyes filled with amazement as they looked at Bi Fang. In less than two minutes from the incident to reaching shore, while any normal person would be terrified into idiocy, Bi Fang managed to find a solution based on the attacker¡¯s dietary preference. Is this even the work of a human? Bi Fang took off the upper part of his wetsuit and noticed his right upper arm had swelled a bit and the color was darker, obviously bruised from the collision. Mandy and Keke were silent for a moment. Although they were shocked and found it outrageous, considering it was Bi Fang, it seemed normal. The only question was... "So what now? What do we do? Will Niu Gangjue still be down there?" The two asked. It was just before eleven, and most of the mission was still incomplete. What were they to do next? Niu Gangjue meat wasn¡¯t tasty, being coarse and fishy, usually used for animal feed. Keke was purely after the thrill of capturing a powerful fish. The more so it was, the more it proved the terror of Niu Gangjue. "Simple," Bi Fang zipped up his wetsuit again, "we just butcher it." "Butcher... butcher it?" The expressions on their faces were quite a sight. Bi Fang picked up a spare oxygen cylinder lying nearby, then dashed into the woods, and pulled out a wooden spear. The harpoon, coated with an anti-corrosion metal layer, was not afraid of seawater, but Hundred-refined Steel was not, which is why Bi Fang was initially reluctant to bring it into the water. In sea fishing, the harpoon is the real deal. Using the same setup, Bi Fang secured the harpoon onto the wooden spear. Under Mandy and Keke¡¯s watchful eyes, he once again jumped into the sea and headed towards the depths. "Wait, he didn¡¯t take a flashlight!" Keke exclaimed. Mandy just twitched her mouth, looking up at the bright moon in the sky. "I think, he might not need it." "What a joke." "Yeah, what a joke." Chapter 545 - 542 Three-Way Melee (Two-in-One) Bi Fang took a deep breath and plunged into the water. The moment he entered the water, Bi Fang¡¯s heart rate dropped from 60-70 beats per minute to 30-40, and his blood vessels contracted in response to the shock. He could distinctly feel his blood leaving his limbs and flowing towards his heart, lungs, and brain. This sensation was like being lost in a certain space where the direction of the water¡¯s surface was indistinguishable, as if he himself were Armstrong stepping onto the moon. Without the glow of a flashlight or the companionship of fellow divers, the ocean depths seemed even more pitch-black and silent. Dark waters surrounded him on all sides, with no knowledge of what unknowns lurked within, as if wrapped in the solitude that comes with being on an alien planet. This is why most underwater operations are conducted in pairs. Solitude can drive a person mad. As for the eternal solitude, Bi Fang had a relatively high tolerance for it, having experienced many solitary journeys in various kinds of wilderness. Some say that saturation commercial divers have the loneliest job in the world. Their job is simple: to install seabed oil drilling heads in the icy waters hundreds of meters deep. In this pitch-black world, unreachable by sunlight, everything can only be seen with the aid of artificial lighting. At such great depths, divers need an extremely complex and precise set of equipment to maintain life. Attached to the diving suit is a hose less than the width of a wrist, connected to the diving bell, supplying breathing oxygen, the electric power needed for the expansion diving suit, and the communication line with the surface all through this hose. It is known as the "umbilical." But at this moment, Bi Fang had no "umbilical," no backup, with only the oxygen tank on his back and the sharp harpoon in his hand to aid him. Bi Fang cautiously searched his way down the rock wall, unable to float alone in the water. The Niu Gangjue fish were too fast, so fast that even if Bi Fang could anticipate them, the tremendous water resistance made it hard for him to evade in time, and he had to rely on the reactive force from the rock wall. Ten meters, twenty meters, soon, Bi Fang arrived at the place where he first encountered the Niu Gangjue. Bi Fang could clearly feel the increasing difficulty in his lungs¡¯ effort to expand. An invisible giant hand seemed to be trying to squeeze all the air out of Bi Fang, who resisted the urge to exhale and locked the oxygen tightly within his body. Every act of respiration was a struggle against the invisible giant hand, a battle against the aquatic buffalo, and not a single detail could be neglected. If it were someone else, they might have already been overwhelmed by fear, let alone pick up a weapon to fight. All fear stems from the unknown. When it comes to what is known, you either accept it or resist it. It is only the unknown, especially the unknown that might harm oneself, that causes fear. Don¡¯t hold a heart of fear towards wild beasts; when you confront them, they are observing you. If you show fear, they will know you are vulnerable and will bite you from behind. Beasts can smell your fear; the more afraid you are, the more excited they get. The image of that professor who had once shared this wisdom with Bi Fang, which had served him ever since, reappeared in his mind; but at that time, the professor had also spoken other words, those of deeper contemplation. What is fear? Essentially, isn¡¯t it a form of the unknown? When a person feels fear, it is either because their thinking is not deep enough, so they fail to see through the nature of the thing that is causing their fear, or because they cannot maintain continuous and effective mental activity. The process of seeing through the nature of things is also the process of turning the unknown into the known. For the same thing, one might understand its essence at one moment, but when it comes time to practice, the level of mental activity drops. The thought process that saw through the nature of the thing does not maintain its effectiveness for long, resulting in a feeling of fear during the execution of the predetermined method. There are two kinds of people who rarely feel fear: one is the fool and the other is the doer. The fool¡¯s mind is not cluttered with many thoughts, so they do not feel fear towards most things. The doer bases their actions on themselves, they think and practice to the best of their ability; if there is an unknown, they strive to turn it into the known, immediately coming up with all possible countermeasures, thus they fear nothing. The ones to fear the most are the ordinary people in between these two. They possess a certain level of thinking capacity, yet struggle to think deeply and consistently. Where their thinking falls short, fear takes root. Humans naturally fear the unknown; this may be an animal instinct, or there may be other deeper reasons, but this fear of the unknown severely blocks a person¡¯s executive power, seriously hinders the accumulation of "confidence," and erodes the zeal for progressive thinking. Therefore, there are also two methods to overcome fear. The first is to increase the proportion of active thinking, even if the initial stage is painful. The second, where active thinking has yet to form, is to create as clear an image as possible, possibly with the help of language and writing. For anything in the mind, at the very least, one must be able to make a clear description. While saying this, the professor looked squarely at Bi Fang, who stood slightly immature in the forest, and swatted the venomous snake off the branch with his hand. Despite his old age and weakened strength, when the venomous snake bared its fangs, there was not a trace of fear in his eyes. "I know the venom release mechanism of the venomous snake, I know its inner fears, I know what to do in case of poisoning, I know its behavioral habits, I know at which moment it will strike, what kind of attack it will launch, how to evade it, and I even clearly understand how each of its muscles exerts force," he said. "So, don¡¯t be afraid. There is no need to be afraid. If you are afraid, then it simply means you do not know enough," the professor said as he pinned the neck of the venomous snake and deftly extracted its venom. "What should I do now?" Bi Fang asked. "Go look, go learn, go practice, travel the world, understand everything," the professor answered. When any unknown becomes known, fear vanishes without a trace, left only to seek refuge in another unknown. Diligent people are often brave because they continuously do their utmost to understand everything around them, continuously turning the unknown into the known. Bi Fang knew everything in the bay, the creatures that lived there, the terrain, the habits of the Niu Gangjue, its ways of attacking, its weaknesses. At this time, Bi Fang felt no fear. He braced himself against the rock wall and sank again. Within a fifteen-meter radius, Bi Fang could clearly sense everything: the little fish hiding in the crevices of the rock wall, the floating seaweed, the slowly moving crustaceans. But that huge figure did not appear. In the darkness, the Niu Gangjue had not gone far. It swam rapidly through the water, its flat body harboring explosively powerful bundles of muscle, the key to its reaching speeds of sixty kilometers per hour. When it followed the oxygen tank, charging at the flashlight, and launched its attack, the Niu Gangjue¡¯s small brain only then realized it had been deceived. It swam quickly back to the area, but when the Niu Gangjue found its target again, it discovered that he was different than before. It wasn¡¯t about changing from two to one; rather, there was a sense of danger. Animals, fighting daily, have honed a sense of crisis far greater than humans. At first glance, the Niu Gangjue¡¯s battle-hardened consciousness issued a warning: what lay before it was not prey but a fierce beast. On the other hand, its genetic instincts told it to charge, to ram; it was the undisputed ruler of the waters, feared by all creatures... Once the impulse surfaced, it was difficult to contain. The powerful caudal fin stirred the water, and the tremendous reactive force propelled the Niu Gangjue¡¯s body as it suddenly charged at Bi Fang! Here it comes! Almost the instant the Niu Gangjue burst into the fifteen-meter range, Bi Fang immediately sensed its presence. Fast, way too fast. Sixty kilometers per hour meant the Niu Gangjue was moving at over sixteen-point-six meters per second¡ªa fifteen-meter distance would take only 0.9 seconds! A normal person¡¯s reaction time hovers around 300 milliseconds, which starts to decline after the age of 30. Athletes with specific training can reduce their reaction time to particular stimuli, like a starter¡¯s pistol, to between 150-180 milliseconds. The scientific community currently recognizes the human limit of reaction speed to be 100 milliseconds. In a running race, if the reaction to the starting pistol is less than 100ms, or 0.1s, it is judged as a false start! Bi Fang¡¯s reaction was quick, nearly on par with professional athletes, allowing him to keep his reaction time below 200 milliseconds¡ªstill, that left him only seven milliseconds to act! Pinned against the rock wall, Bi Fang propelled himself sideways to dodge, with pebbles splashing everywhere. The seabed¡¯s rock wall was very loose, much like large pieces of stratified sandstone that would shatter on impact, stirring up a lot of silt and sand. However, in the darkness, it hardly mattered whether there was much silt or not. Bi Fang drifted to the side against the flow. In the sea, without solid ground for his legs to push off, Bi Fang twisted his waist. His core strength flowed through muscles and bones to his arms and finally channeled into the spear. A tremendous thrust was applied to the spear, the sharp harpoon penetrating the water, forcing out a multitude of air bubbles and drawing a straight white line as it stabbed at the Niu Gangjue. White waves, gray-black silt, bright red blood. All buried in the pitch black of the ocean floor, unseen in this clear trichromatic display. Having previously carried Mandy, his speed had decreased. Now, without that burden, and with Bi Fang¡¯s skill and timing, the chance of missing was minuscule! Bi Fang gripped the spear firmly with both hands, not spinning or twisting but swiftly pulling it out. With its immense power, if the spear was not withdrawn in time and the Niu Gangjue started to struggle, Bi Fang might be unable to hold onto the spear, potentially even bending or breaking the shaft and injuring himself. A splash of fresh blood followed the harpoon¡¯s withdrawal, an unstoppable flow ¨C the efficacious result of the harpoon¡¯s blood groove. In comparison, the Hundred-refined Steel that Bi Fang had forged in the wilderness paled into insignificance. Not only was it aesthetically inferior, but it also wasn¡¯t resistant to corrosion. If it were tainted with blood, it needed to be swiftly cleaned, let alone being submerged in seawater. The progress of human technology was no joke, and no ancient so-called "divine weapon" could compare to a modern industrialized tactical dagger. With that one spear thrust, Bi Fang had almost pierced through the Niu Gangjue¡¯s belly! Having struck successfully, Bi Fang quickly left the scene. As expected, this vicious strike enraged the Niu Gangjue. Hitting the rock wall in its frenzy, it thrashed about, causing a large number of rocks to fall into the unfathomable ocean depths. Without needing to gather much strength, it charged again towards Bi Fang. Without the rock wall to push off from, the Niu Gangjue wasn¡¯t just charging in a straight line. Bi Fang twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the strike, quickly moving closer to the wall. Underwater, human swimming skills could never compare with those of fish, due to the absolute gap created by their physical structure! This guy¡¯s skull was incredibly hard; Bi Fang even doubted whether his harpoon could penetrate it. The strength and curvature of its head and back were formidable, and its head and belly were almost in a straight line. It possessed a linear explosive power that was hard for humans to imagine. Being hit directly would definitely not be pleasant. A fractured rib was not out of the question. Bi Fang had to be extremely cautious. Facing off against the Niu Gangjue, he was like a matador in an arena fighting Spanish bulls. Seizing the brief stagger in timing, Bi Fang pumped his lungs, exhaled the waste gases, took a fierce breath through the mouthpiece, and large bubbles filled with carbon dioxide floated upwards. The Niu Gangjue, which had missed its target several times, was completely overtaken by rage. It traced a huge arc in the sea, coming at Bi Fang once more. The water parted on both sides of its streamlined body, making it resemble a massive underwater crossbow bolt. Bi Fang pressed close to the rock wall, ready to repeat his previous tactic; suddenly, something unexpected happened. Within the huge semi-circular perception circle, a large streamlined creature suddenly burst in! Was it a second Niu Gangjue!? There wasn¡¯t enough time for him to think any further; Bi Fang subconsciously thought it was a Niu Gangjue that liked to hunt in packs. Without bothering to retaliate, he pushed against the rock wall and floated upwards; but in the very next moment, Bi Fang realized he had guessed wrong. The creature that had burst in was heading straight for the round-headed Niu Gangjue! Faster, and more ferocious! The unsuspecting Niu Gangjue was knocked over by this sudden interloper, knocked off its original trajectory, and disappeared straight out of Bi Fang¡¯s sensing circle. What situation is this? Were the Niu Gangjues fighting each other? Bi Fang stopped moving, filled with confusion, and sensed again, discovering that the second streamlined creature¡¯s body shape was completely different from the Niu Gangjue¡¯s; it was longer, sleeker, and had an elongated snout, not a blunt one. Such a familiar form... A dolphin, was it actually a dolphin!? Bi Fang¡¯s eyes, hidden within the goggles, suddenly widened. Could it be that a dolphin had just saved him? Yes, although dolphin hunting season hadn¡¯t started, this didn¡¯t mean dolphins hadn¡¯t come around. These days, they had already been showing up around the bay in succession, just not yet in large groups. The Niu Gangjue that was knocked aside adjusted its body and quickly regained its composure. Far from retreating, it began to fight with the dolphin that had entered the fray. In Bi Fang¡¯s perception, the two swift giants appeared and disappeared, their battle immensely fierce. The dolphin, unlike Bi Fang¡¯s active attack, was on the offensive, just like the Niu Gangjue! Bi Fang was certain that Niu Gangjues were not on the dolphin¡¯s diet. This dolphin was helping him! Can dolphins save people? If someone asked him this question, Bi Fang would not hesitate to give an affirmative answer. Yes! And it was a conscious act of saving someone. Mandy, perhaps still on the shore, was the most qualified to speak about this, as he, too, had been rescued by a dolphin. Precisely for that reason, when invited by Richard, as a diving champion, Mandy did not hesitate to agree. Even if it meant diving into a Dragon¡¯s Den! Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 546 - 543 I Want to Beat You ``` Thirty meters under the sea, a fierce battle was raging. Bi Fang clung to the rock wall, steadying his form. The two figures had almost vanished from his perception, and when they did appear, it was only in a flash. In ancient Greece, harming a dolphin was punishable by death. The reason for this was because there were no shortage of stories in history about dolphins saving humans. Mandy was one of those who had firsthand experience. Three years ago, he and many friends were surfing on the East Coast of Australia. Just as a second huge wave was about to hit, a tiger shark lay hidden within it. It was one of the most ferocious sharks in the ocean, ranking just below the great white shark in the shark family for fierce and brutal carnivorous behavior. It was also the largest member currently known in its genus. It could grow up to nearly eight meters in length! Eight meters, almost the length of a small box truck. They prey on various marine fish, mammals, seabirds, sea turtles, and even humans, earning them the nickname "tiger of the sea." They are ferocious and gluttonous, equipped with wide snouts like shovels and teeth like steak knives. They were named "tiger shark" because of the stripes on their bodies that resemble those of a tiger. The one Mandy encountered was definitely not eight meters, but it surely exceeded five meters, much longer than a normal car. At that time, the shark¡¯s stripes blended with the reflected sunlight on the waves, shimmering with a unique glow. It rushed toward Mandy at high speed, quickly entering the attack range. Bi Fang really wanted to know what Mandy was thinking at that moment, perhaps his legs had gone so weak that he was about to fall off the surfboard, With less than two meters between them, Mandy¡¯s fingers brushed the waves, and under the refraction of sunlight, it was almost as if he touched the shark¡¯s skin. He looked down, as if viewing a shark specimen behind glass, and soon, he too would become a part of the collection. Just then, a dolphin leaped out, hitting the tiger shark from the side and driving it away. In that moment, Mandy felt the strongest connection with an animal he had ever experienced, so much so that even three years later, he still eagerly recounted the story to anyone who would listen. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That instant was just like the present moment. In Bi Fang¡¯s mind, the outcome of the battle between the Niu Gangjue and the dolphin had always been certain. The dolphin was bound to win. Just by comparing the data, the Niu Gangjue was far from being a match. The Niu Gangjue could reach speeds of sixty kilometers per hour, but dolphins could reach a more terrifying seventy kilometers per hour, approaching twenty meters per second, and at the limit they could even reach eighty kilometers per hour, twenty-two meters per second. That was so fast the Niu Gangjue couldn¡¯t even touch its shadow. Indeed, some scientists once believed that, given the dolphin¡¯s own characteristics and form, it shouldn¡¯t be able to swim faster than 20 kilometers per hour. If a dolphin¡¯s swimming speed surpassed the limits of what its muscles could endure, that could only be achieved under one of two conditions. One was if the dolphin¡¯s muscles had a supernatural efficiency, six times stronger than that of typical mammals. The other was if it used some unique method to reduce resistance. This hypothesis was proposed in 1936 by a Central Country aquatic animal research expert named Jan Gray. The theory was known as "Gray¡¯s Paradox." The dolphin¡¯s muscles didn¡¯t have a special structure, a fact that was soon confirmed. Of course, this meant they did not possess supernatural efficiency. ``` ``` Therefore, according to existing speculations, it must be the second reason that causes dolphins to move at high speeds. "Is it because of their body shape?" someone guessed. Not at all. Scientists created a model dolphin that was identical to a real dolphin in both shape and surface texture, and they even fitted the model with a propulsion device that generated the same thrust as a dolphin¡¯s tail fin. The result of the experiment was a disappointment; it was much slower compared to the speed of a dolphin. It wasn¡¯t until many biophysicists further studied the issue that they discovered the skin of dolphins is divided into two layers, the top layer being the outer layer, which is very elastic, and the bottom layer being the inner layer, which also has good elasticity. When exposed to the pressure of water, the upper layer of skin becomes uneven depending on the degree of water pressure. When dolphins enter high-speed movement, the turbulent flow caused by body vibrations is adjusted in the variations of the skin¡¯s unevenness, thus greatly reducing resistance. It is quite miraculous. Beyond that, dolphins may seem cute but are firmly at the top of the marine food chain, with combat capabilities much stronger than most people would imagine. Sharks are the most ferocious fish in the ocean, known as the "wolves of the sea," living on injured marine mammals, fish, and carrion, weeding out weaker members, and seldom facing competition in the ocean. Yet, these fierce sharks rarely attack dolphins. Fish fear sharks, but sharks fear dolphins. Small dolphins, fast and agile, can easily evade shark attacks. It is difficult for a shark to bite a dolphin, but it is much easier for a dolphin to attack a shark. Large dolphins may not be as nimble, but they can use their strong bodies to knock sharks over. Keep in mind that once sharks are flipped over, they fall into "tonic immobility," slipping into unconsciousness. Moreover, in the classification of biology, sharks fall under the subclass of Elasmobranchii within the class of cartilaginous fish. Their skeletons are made up of cartilage and connective tissue, which, while elastic and tough, are significantly less dense and hard than true bone. And since sharks do not have ribs, their sides and undersides are the most vulnerable parts of their bodies. Dolphins, however, are aquatic mammals with sturdy jawbones and snouts protruding like sharp spears. When it comes down to a real fight to the death, dolphins do not miss the opportunity to exploit sharks¡¯ weaknesses. Like poking a wet piece of paper with a finger¡ªif the speed and force are right, a dolphin¡¯s spear-like snout could even pierce directly through a shark¡¯s body, inflicting lethal damage. Moreover, within the dolphin family, there is a creature that could be called the "King" in the shark realm¡ªthe killer whale. The killer whale is to the shark world what China¡¯s table tennis is to the international arena, a presence at the very top of the pyramid, surpassing hellish or even purgatorial levels of difficulty. Megamouth sharks, weasel sharks, mouse sharks, sixgill sharks, when encountering a killer whale, all end up fleeing in utter panic. The Niu Gangjue, though not entirely made of cartilage and connective tissue, still has a soft underbelly, sharp like a spear, and dolphins with high swimming speeds show no fear of it. When the Niu Gangjue appeared again within Bi Fang¡¯s perceptual field, its speed had dropped considerably, as it floated quietly in the water. Bi Fang gripped his spear tightly and approached slowly, the closer he got, the clearer his perception became, and he could detect the pits and dents on the Niu Gangjue¡¯s body, as if it had been repeatedly pierced by a spear. Feeling Bi Fang approaching, the Niu Gangjue attempted to flee, but with a thrust of the spear, it pierces the Niu Gangjue¡¯s eyeball and struck right into its brain. The already severely injured Niu Gangjue died on the spot. After dealing with the Niu Gangjue, the dolphin seemed very happy, swimming around continuously within Bi Fang¡¯s perceptual circle. It was a bottlenose dolphin. Earlier, when the Niu Gangjue was clashing with the dolphin, it was moving too fast for Bi Fang to sense carefully, but now he could finally make out what kind of dolphin it was. ``` The most common species found in aquariums is the Bottlenose Dolphin, also known as the Beaked Dolphin or Bottlenose Dolphin, primarily distributed in temperate and tropical oceans around the world, including the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea in Huaxia. With a long rostrum and a short, petite mouth, their external mouth slit appears to be perpetually smiling, and in Huaxia, they are classified as a second-class protected species. Females can live up to about 80 years, whereas males, due to greater life stress, seldom live past 50 years. This type of dolphin possesses an extremely high intelligence, self-awareness, intense emotions, and even strategizing abilities. Some believe that dolphins should rank above chimpanzees in intelligence, second only to humans. The Bottlenose Dolphin before Bi Fang was quite large, over two meters three, and its weight definitely exceeded three hundred kilograms, indicating that it was likely male. Two meters three, three hundred kilograms, compared to the Niu Gangjue, which was merely about one meter six and weighed around seventy kilograms, it was nothing more than a small fish or shrimp. No wonder it was dealt with so effortlessly. Watching the dolphin swim by his side, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help reaching out to touch it. As a professional diver, touching marine life heedlessly should be a basic principle, as even a bit of human skin flake could cause damage to the underwater ecological environment. Bi Fang¡¯s fingers touched the swimming dolphin, and the creature seemed very calm. Pressing firmly, he could feel through his diving suit that the dolphin¡¯s skin was smooth like silk, sponge-like in texture, exceptionally beautiful, and rich in feel. After quietly waiting for a while, another streamlined creature entered Bi Fang¡¯s sensory circle. It was another Bottlenose Dolphin, swimming around him just the same. Male Bottlenose Dolphins usually live alone or form small groups of two to three individuals. They only join larger groups of female Bottlenose Dolphins for short periods. It is worth mentioning that the attachment among members of Bottlenose Dolphin groups is very strong. If one individual is injured, the others do not flee but instead gather around their injured companion, reluctant to abandon it, making them an exceedingly compassionate species, with each one being so. From this aspect, dolphins are much wiser than humans. On this planet, the intelligence level of dolphins is second only to humans. Their brain weight is almost the same as that of humans, at around 1.5 kilograms. Humans have the highest brain-to-body ratio of all animals on Earth, about 2%, while dolphins rank second at about 1.5%. Additionally, dolphins have 18 billion neurons in their brain, more than the 13 billion in humans. Therefore, in terms of comprehensive brain data, dolphins far surpass other animals and are second only to humans. Dolphins can use ultrasonic waves to perceive the skeletal structure of the human body, thus determining whether the other party is human. They frequently rescue humans from drowning, lifting people to the surface for air just as they would save a fellow dolphin, and will even fight sharks to save humans. In order to study dolphins, humans have conducted various experiments, including a secret experiment that was not disclosed until more than fifty years later. In 1963, funded by NASA, an experiment was conducted on a male Bottlenose Dolphin named Peter in the United States Virgin Islands to study whether dolphins could learn human language and successfully communicate with humans. The experiment team set up a room filled with water, allowing a female researcher named Margaret to live with Peter 24 hours a day, inseparable, sharing meals, sleep, learning, and entertainment. This was to enable Margaret to teach Peter to speak English like a mother teaching a child, and to get it to understand and comprehend human language. Although dolphins lack vocal cords, they can use the blowhole on top of their heads to make sounds. Dolphin Peter showed an amazing learning ability, and in less than two weeks, he learned to say numbers like "one, two, three" and simple greetings like "hi, hello," eventually mastering over seven hundred English words. Incredibly, Peter was not simply "parroting" because when Margaret told him "work, work, work," meaning it was time to learn, he truly understood and responded by saying "play, play, play," telling Margaret he didn¡¯t want to study, he wanted to play. Even when Peter wanted to eat fish, he would say to Margaret, "Fish in bucket," meaning he wanted to eat the fish in the bucket. However, as the experiment progressed, some unexpected things happened. Peter became less and less willing to learn and only wanted to be close to Margaret, using various methods every day to attract her attention. When Margaret left to use the restroom, Peter would become agitated. When Margaret was on the phone with someone else, Peter would yell and scream at the phone. Clearly, he was jealous. Peter had fallen in love with Margaret, and this led the research team to believe the experiment was moving in a direction beyond their control, so the experiment was terminated. They forcibly separated Peter from Margaret, and although she was reluctant to leave Peter, there was nothing she could do. When Peter realized that Margaret was no longer appearing, he started to become extremely angry, swimming back and forth in the pool incessantly, calling Margaret¡¯s name, refusing to eat or drink. One day, several weeks later, Peter submerged himself at the bottom of the pool, refusing to come up for air, and he suffocated himself. The respiratory system of dolphins is completely different from that of other animals. Humans absolutely cannot commit suicide by holding their breath because, after suffocation and losing consciousness, the body¡¯s instincts would take over and resume breathing. But dolphins breathe through the active control of their brain rather than the autonomic nervous system, so each breath requires actively manipulating muscles. This was the past scientific viewpoint, used to explain why dolphins might commit suicide by holding their breath, and it became widely accepted. But Richard told Bi Fang that this was inaccurate. Experiments with complex and complete anesthesia have shown that dolphin breathing could be both "automatic" and actively controlled. They could achieve asphyxiation by closing their blowholes. So it all proved one thing. This dolphin died for love. What is suicide? It is a complicated question, and modern science, still so weak, doesn¡¯t fully understand why humans commit suicide, and the risk factors for human suicide have not been determined. The Ugly Country Psychiatric Association lists suicidal behavior as a "disorder requiring further consideration." Even the determinants of human suicide are controversial¡ªit¡¯s both a biological and psychological issue, as well as a philosophical and semantic one. Some point out that even among humans, children before adolescence, or those with developmental delays, are rarely suicidal. Human children are unable to comprehend the concept of suicide; the smartest non-human animals have the intelligence level no higher than human adolescents. It seems even less likely that they could understand their own death and have the capacity to execute suicidal behavior. In Bi Fang¡¯s view, so-called suicide requires the actor to have self-awareness, understand the true meaning of death, and have the ability to execute a series of actions knowing that they would lead to their own demise. Everything proved that dolphins possess a high level of self-awareness. This experiment involved ethical and moral issues, so the data and records were sealed at the time and were not made public. It wasn¡¯t until 2014 that the experiment was finally declassified. Bi Fang slowly exhaled a bubble, looking at the dolphin beside him, slowly clenching his fist as every muscle in his body tensed. He struck the dolphin¡¯s head with a fierce punch. You have helped me, but I¡¯m sorry, I must hurt you. Chapter 547 - 544 Technical Diving The dark underwater world. Bi Fang adjusted his posture in the water, concentrating his strength in his upper body, and threw a quick punch. His fist powerfully broke through the water, striking hard against the dolphin¡¯s forehead. The dolphin¡¯s skin was very smooth and exceedingly soft. Bi Fang¡¯s punch, like a mighty blow against a carbon fiber plastic board floating on the sea¡¯s surface, swiftly glided off the head. Although the damage was not great, it was still enough to cause the dolphin pain as it flipped over in the water. It was stunned by the punch. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This bottlenose dolphin and its companion were dumbfounded, not understanding what Bi Fang was up to, swimming around him and emitting sharp cries in the water. The enormous noise of internal ear circulation mixed with the cries circulated in Bi Fang¡¯s brain, and he could feel that the dolphin before him was questioning him. It was puzzled by Bi Fang¡¯s actions. Unfortunately for the dolphin, its question was not answered but met with more punches and kicks. Minutes later, the dolphin¡¯s tail fin harshly slapped Bi Fang¡¯s chest, and, along with its companion, they quickly swam away, no longer paying any attention to the stranger they had "saved." The immense force of the slap pushed Bi Fang against the rocky wall, crushing many sandstones, but he did not feel discomfort; instead, he started to laugh. However, it sure was painful. Bi Fang helplessly clutched his chest. His lungs, already compressed by the water pressure, were hit by the dolphin¡¯s tail fin as if it were a battering ram, almost making him spit out blood. At that moment, Bi Fang felt short of breath, as if he had overexerted himself holding his breath, and he was retching and gasping for air. Animals tend to be stronger the larger they are. The black bear Bi Fang had hunted weighed only three hundred pounds, whereas the bottlenose dolphin he now faced exceeded three hundred kilograms, a whooping six hundred pounds¡ªdouble the weight of the previous black bear! It seems incredible, doesn¡¯t it? That the big, fierce black bear actually weighs only half as much as a dolphin you¡¯d find in the aqua park? Indeed, that¡¯s the case. Male black bears usually weigh between 60 and 200 kilograms while the male bottlenose dolphin can weigh between 300 and 650 kilograms. The black bear only appears larger due to the visual effect created by its fur and spread limbs. In terms of mass, it doesn¡¯t come close to an adult dolphin. In the sea, Bi Fang was not only encumbered in his movements, but also faced a dolphin without the obvious weaknesses of a black bear, more adept at attacking and evading. One-on-one, he didn¡¯t stand much of a chance, let alone against two. Just moments ago, Bi Fang had dared not exert too much strength for fear of really riling up his adversary... He might not be able to beat them... Leaning against the rocky wall, Bi Fang bit on the breathing valve, continuously exchanging breaths, easing the congestion in his chest, while the huge Niu Gangjue still impaled on the spear, its tail fin swaying up and down with the current. Above the sea¡¯s surface, a few boats decorated with colorful lights drifted in the distance, and upon closer look, one could make out the distinctive dolphin shapes on their hulls. Dolphin Bay, being a restricted area, was seldom visited by people, with only the nearby fishermen occasionally patrolling the area, and even pleasure boats would not approach lightly. Keke and Mandy stood in the shadows on the shore, not daring to show themselves. Whenever someone passed by, they quickly hid among the jumbled rocks, staring at each other blankly. Gazing at the calm sea surface, the two of them were fraught with anxiousness. Bi Fang¡¯s strength was well acknowledged, but after all, they were underwater¡ªa place that was never humans¡¯ forte. Even the Monkey King wasn¡¯t adept at swimming, let alone ordinary humans. Moreover, they were up against the notorious bulls of the sea. It was inevitable that there were concerns. Mandy and Keke were both excellent at diving, one a national champion and the other a professional coach, and they both knew a lot about marine life. But that didn¡¯t mean they could fight against those creatures. They were powerless to help Bi Fang in the water; any attempt could result in a situation like Mandy¡¯s encounter with the Niu Gangjue, where a single hit could knock them out, becoming a huge burden instead. "It¡¯s been ten minutes; nothing¡¯s gone wrong, has it?" "He¡¯s got oxygen tanks. Let¡¯s wait a bit longer." "Hey, look, here he comes!" Mandy pointed towards the sea and suddenly shouted. The calm sea surface burst open with a splash. Bi Fang stood on the shallow shore, the spear resting on his shoulder, a fish nearly as tall as a man dangling from the spear tip, dripping a mixture of blood and seawater below. Bi Fang tore off his goggles, closed the oxygen valve, and took deep breaths of the fresh air on the coast, the thick salty wind filling his lungs and providing the comfortable satisfaction he had long missed. The tail fin of the Niu Gangjue convulsively twitched, and Bi Fang threw it on the ground, delivering another stab. Mandy and Keke hurriedly waded over, their eyes wide with amazement at the sight of the Niu Gangjue, with more than half of its body submerged by the sea. Mandy waved her hands frantically, exclaiming, "WTF, I thought you were going to scare it off, but you actually just killed it outright?" Bi Fang waved his hand and found a few key spots on the Niu Gangjue, then thrust his spear down. "What are you doing? Isn¡¯t it already dead?" Mandy was astonished, his excitement evident. Watching it on TV is one thing, experiencing it firsthand is another, especially when one has witnessed the power of the Niu Gangjue. With a few stabs from Bi Fang, blood from the Niu Gangjue gushed from those holes. "Niu Gangjue is seldom bought by people, not only because of its poor meat quality but also because it has a lot of toxins in its body." "This guy mainly feeds on crustaceans, arthropods, fish, and water birds, and some of the crabs, shrimps, snails, and fish it likes to eat contain natural biotoxins, which accumulate in the blood of the Niu Gangjue, so it¡¯s essential to bleed out and detoxify quickly after catching it to prevent accidents after consumption." Such key points are only known by seasoned sea anglers, and many novices are completely unaware, even amateurs like Keke are unaware of such things. No wonder, on the last fishing trip, when Keke saw someone puncturing the Niu Gangjue they had caught several times, he thought they were just taking out their frustrations. Bi Fang and Keke, dragging the seventy-kilogram Niu Gangjue, came ashore. "Eat, are you going to eat it?" Bi Fang nodded, "I want to try it." Although it is known to not be tasty, that was just what Bi Fang had understood¡ªhe had never tried it himself, and besides, having caught it himself, it seemed unnecessary to just throw it away. "How exactly did you kill it?" Mandy and Keke both were curious. Bi Fang shook his head again and recounted the scene from underwater to them. Mandy¡¯s eyes shone with excitement, clearly thrilled to encounter a kindred spirit. "I hope that last strike will disperse the dolphins¡¯ affinity for humans, better if they run far away, stay away from fishing boats, and never return here," Bi Fang sighed. The atmosphere suddenly fell silent. Keke nodded silently, realizing how sad it was to wish for dolphins to avoid humans. "Alright, don¡¯t think too much," Bi Fang placed his hands on their shoulders, looking up at the moon, "It should be around midnight now; we don¡¯t have much time, let¡¯s get to work!" "We need to finish all this early and tell the public the whole truth, that¡¯s our purpose for coming here!" The hunting season for Black Bear had started on July 12th, and on the first evening, Bi Fang, Mandy, and Keke had set up some of the positions in the jungle. Today is the second day of the hunting season, the 13th night, and they aimed to set up all underwater cameras before the night was over. There were still many places on the mountain that had good angles for shooting, but there hadn¡¯t been enough time to set up everything. To carry all this equipment, Richard and his team had used a total of forty-three large boxes, which indicated how heavy a task Bi Fang and his two companions had undertaken. This wasn¡¯t just a matter of laying things out in order; it involved placing each piece in the right spot with suitable camouflage and at the right angle according to different features and scenarios. Based on information Bi Fang gleaned from the local fishermen on the first night, the dolphin hunting season was set to take place on July 15th, or the day after tomorrow evening. A grand ritual would be held in the evening to declare the annual, half-year-long dolphin hunting season, and on the morning of July 16th, numerous fishing boats would leave the harbor, using sonar devices to herd all nearby dolphins into Dolphin Bay, where they¡¯re surrounded by mountains on three sides. To carry out a mass slaughter. Their time was running short; with tonight, the 14th night, plus another chance on the 15th night, they had three opportunities before the slaughter would commence. Time waits for no one. The trio moved swiftly into action, with Mandy anxiously switching to a spare diving tank and following behind Bi Fang into the water. Ten meters, twenty meters, thirty meters. Bi Fang and Mandy quickly adapted to the process, diving deeper. Passing thirty meters, a starkly different sensation arose spontaneously. The body became different, the massive pressure of the seawater slowly altering their body density until reaching a certain critical point. Bi Fang felt his body sink, buoyancy no longer completely countering gravity, and under gravity¡¯s pull, both of them slowly descended into the depths. This was a tactile sensation that no diving simulator could replicate, magical and wonderful. They were gently pushed toward the deep ocean. Every diver must remember the three most important diving laws, which are: Boyle¡¯s Law. Dalton¡¯s Law. Henry¡¯s Law. Familiar, aren¡¯t they? Yes, these are the three major gas laws. The vast majority of recreational divers use air or enriched air as their primary breathing gas, and these scuba diving gas laws apply to all breathing gases. In more specialized diving domains, such as the technical diving that Bi Fang and Mandy were currently undertaking, they might encounter trimix or pure oxygen. The first iron rule of scuba diving: Never hold your breath! In line with Boyle¡¯s Law: For an ideal gas, when temperature is constant, pressure and volume are inversely proportional. Imagine the lungs as a balloon, we can inhale to inflate it or exhale to release the air and let it shrink. As we dive deeper, pressure increases, the air inside the lungs gets compressed with each breath, but after a full inhale, the lung space is filled again. The deeper we dive, the higher the pressure, thus requiring more air to fill it, and consequently, air consumption increases. The pressure exerted on a diver¡¯s lungs in the depths requires more energy to expand them. When breathing regularly, the "balloon" will never over-inflate. The same goes for the other two laws. The reason why deep diving is called technical diving is due to the abundance of technical aspects involved. This is a balancing act between the lungs and the gas. Coincidentally, Bi Fang was well-versed in this. These abyssal worlds seemed to be completely severed from other parts of Earth, waiting there silently for millions of years, until Bi Fang¡¯s flashlight cast the first beam of light. At forty meters, a pressure-resistant infrared detector was installed. This belonged to military equipment, normally not allowed to be taken out of the country. It was only after Bi Fang applied that it was approved. Through infrared, the activities of dolphins could be better detected. Above thirty meters, sunlight could still barely reach, but below thirty meters, even during the day, it would be pitch black, hence further down, what Bi Fang and others needed to install was no longer cameras, but detection devices. While maybe a large part of these devices would be fruitless, they had to be there, just like how a film shoot would have many discarded scenes. Not every device would capture the perfect shot, but it had to be there. After loading was complete, Bi Fang did not rashly dive deeper. He flashed his torchlight, giving Mandy a series of light signals. After Mandy responded, he too sent out flashes, and Bi Fang responded in kind. Confirming neither had issues, Bi Fang adjusted the gas in his oxygen bottle and continued to dive. People generally define diving within 40 meters deep as recreational diving. Why choose the number 40 meters? Two reasons. First, at this depth, divers can surface directly in an emergency without having to worry about serious safety issues. Second, when the air partial pressure at sea level is one atmosphere, then at an oxygen partial pressure of 1.4 atmospheres, oxygen toxicity becomes increasingly dangerous and can affect the diver¡¯s central nervous system, leading to convulsions underwater. This would directly impair the diver¡¯s ability to maintain a grip on the regulator. Similarly, when the partial pressure of nitrogen reaches around 3 atmospheres at about 30 meters, some divers will begin to feel an anesthetic effect, which intensifies as the partial pressure increases. This is known as Henry¡¯s law, which refers to the relationship between the solubility of a gas in a liquid and the surrounding pressure. As diving depth increases, the amount of nitrogen in the human body also accumulates. This nitrogen can induce a state similar to drunkenness, commonly known as "nitrogen narcosis". Below depths of 40 meters, the effects of nitrogen narcosis become so strong that they can impair judgment and responsiveness, leading to safety accidents. Even many individuals are not aware that they are experiencing nitrogen narcosis; they feel perfectly lucid, even euphoric, yet they can¡¯t even answer simple math questions like what is one plus one. Just now, Bi Fang and Mandy were confirming each other¡¯s lucidity by giving each other two-digit arithmetic problems to solve. For this reason, recreational diving limits are set to 40 meters; any deeper and diving enters the realm of technical and industrial diving. Issues such as decompression sickness and nitrogen narcosis are all caused by nitrogen, but we can¡¯t do without it because breathing pure oxygen is toxic. Astronauts can breathe pure oxygen for several hours before a spacewalk without being affected by decompression sickness, but this is because the pressure inside the spacesuit is lower than that inside the space station, creating a decompression environment. Pure oxygen toxicity is conditional¡ªwhen the inhaled oxygen partial pressure exceeds 0.3 atmospheres (30 kilopascals), oxygen starts to become toxic to cells. What astronauts can do in space is not feasible underwater, where breathing pure oxygen in a high-pressure environment can lead to oxygen toxicity. The human body is so fragile. To be even more precise, below depths of 55 meters underwater, breathing air alone can cause oxygen toxicity, let alone breathing pure oxygen. Behind Bi Fang and Mandy now were oxygen tanks containing three different gases: helium, oxygen, and nitrogen. This is what¡¯s known as a trimix; the addition of helium reduces the proportions of oxygen and nitrogen. Just figuring out the right ratio of these gases is enough to give amateurs a headache. Descending is one thing; ascending is an even bigger hassle, requiring stops at different depths for sufficient time to gradually expel the excess nitrogen from the body. The world record for technical diving was once set by a man named Ahmed Gabr, who in 2014 reached a depth of 332 meters. Gabr took only 14 minutes to descend to 332 meters, but it took him 14 hours to surface. Even though Bi Fang now can free dive to a depth of 70 meters in one go, this is on the basis that he doesn¡¯t need to stay there for a long time, and the changes in his body are not too drastic. If he spends too much time at depth, he must also abide by the laws of physics. 50 meters below water. Bi Fang¡¯s body entered the second phase, where the capillaries in his lungs began to congest and harden to protect the chest cavity from the water pressure. Pressure increased, and without any preparation, an ordinary person would surely die if they instantly entered such a pressurized environment. Time passed for what seemed like an eternity until they were 80 meters below water. Eighty meters, a number that makes one feel suffocated, where struggling only leads to greater danger. Here, one can only rely on mental and psychological strength to overcome and tell oneself to go with nature, and only by completely relaxing can harm be transformed into protection. In the pitch-black world, far away from light and humankind, in a place accompanied only by cold isolation, Bi Fang became like a tiny droplet, silently floating in the ocean. With the final piece of equipment installed, a sense of relief washed over Mandy and Bi Fang. Plan accomplished! Chapter 548: How to Shake Off a Stalker July 14, in the morning. Bi Fang didn¡¯t participate in the live streaming of the hunting season, his reason was the same as before. He was resting in town, and needed to wait until the fourth day to return to the forest to live stream. Inside the live stream room, a large number of viewers who saw the leave notice howled in dismay. The barrage of comments stormed in wave after wave, like a tide erupting. The deep resentment contained within made anyone who saw it afraid, especially with the mix of multiple languages, it seemed even more terrifying. [Damn, another leave?] [Old Fang really isn¡¯t worried about others surpassing him, huh?] [Laziness, oh laziness, you¡¯re too lax!] [Lord Fang, give us something, I¡¯m having withdrawals. It¡¯s unbearable day by day. Without something to watch, my heart feels like it¡¯s stuffed with a cat, gasping and scratching, I can¡¯t sleep at night and end up scratching all the good skin off my body] [Just quit, it¡¯s hopeless.] [I know I should quit, but I really can¡¯t take it. Lord Fang, I know you¡¯re soft-hearted, a great kind person, give us something to get through this period, I promise I¡¯ll quit next time, Lord Fang¡ªoops, Lord Fang] Ever since there were comments, Bi Fang gave the viewers¡¯ comments a thumbs up. Bi Fang put the tablet filled with comments aside, picked up his backpack, and walked out of the hotel openly and aboveboard¡ªthis was how he was different from Richard and the others. When Bi Fang went out, nobody tailed him, unless it was a fan, and fans were easy to shake off. To start with, the fan would have to follow a top-special forces soldier; that fan must also have some sort of system. The backpack was stuffed to the brim. Bi Fang held a map in his hand, walked towards the location indicated by the red circles, then set his backpack down, took out the camera equipment, climbed a big tree, and secured it at a high vantage point with an open view. Sitting on a tree branch, Bi Fang looked at the distant bay and squeezed the earpiece, shouting, "How¡¯s the angle? Can you see clearly?" "Move up a bit, there¡¯s a branch in the way." With a computer on his lap, Jerret was remotely directing Bi Fang through the screen. Bi Fang readjusted the camera position, "OK, how about now?" "Too high now, lower it a bit, yes, that¡¯s right, now that position is good, you can fix it in place." Bi Fang circled around the branch, got behind the tree, tightened the securing bolts, and firmly clamped it onto the trunk. Then he slid down the tree trunk all the way to the ground. Apart from Dolphin Bay, there were many more places where Bi Fang needed to set things up. Dolphin Bay was just the most bloody and notorious slaughter spot; every year during the dolphin hunting season, the water here was blood red. And this was without any exaggeration. Literally blood red. From satellite images, the entire Dolphin Bay looked like a sea of blood. In his past life, when Bi Fang saw it for the first time, he truly understood that expressions like "rivers of blood" and "blood flowing into a stream" were not just idioms on paper, but scenes that existed in reality. "Phew, another one dealt with." Bi Fang wiped the sweat from his forehead. The weather was really hot today. It was a bit better in the forest with no urban heat island effect and plenty of cool places, but Bi Fang was not idle and, to avoid scratches, he couldn¡¯t wear shorts or short sleeves. "Was anyone following you today?" After installing another camera, Bi Fang sat on a stone, took a sip of water to rest, and pressed the earpiece to ask. Since Bi Fang was operating under the cover of darkness, he naturally needed someone to draw the locals¡¯ attention in the open. The more Richard and the others resisted, the more attention they could draw. By contrast, Bi Fang¡¯s operations were much safer and more covert. However, things couldn¡¯t get too intense. Richard¡¯s car had been blown up, and that scene was still vividly etched in everyone¡¯s minds. Everyone was trembling with fear, as if walking on a tightrope, carefully measuring every step. Exposing everything here is everyone¡¯s wish, but that doesn¡¯t mean everyone is ready to make that sacrifice. Whether it¡¯s pickpocketing, other petty crimes, or serious crimes or acts of terrorism, almost all criminals will surveil their targets to some extent before they strike. They focus on observing every move of their targets, but in fact, during this period, the criminals themselves are highly susceptible to exposure¡ªespecially if their targets are always vigilant and extremely sensitive to their surroundings. Richard¡¯s team, upon setting foot in Japan for the second time, couldn¡¯t be clearer about this, knowing how unwelcome they were in Taiji Town. They even felt that every person who sneaked a glance their way was a resident tasked with tailing them, or a member of the Japanese Organization, ready to pull out a switchblade from their pocket and use it on them at any moment. No police would come to their aid, and even after death, the perpetrator could not be found. Being stabbed over twenty times in the back and then ruled as a suicide, such a ludicrous thing was indeed possible. "How could there not be any," Jerret said with a wry smile, pressing down slightly on his computer and opening the car window. Alongside the road, a man dressed in all black and wearing sunglasses held a video camera, squatting on the ground, blatantly turning his head to follow Richard and the others as they drove past. As they passed by each other, the man with the rolled-down window gave Richard and the others the middle finger. The provocation was quite blatant. Looking in the rearview mirror, Richard saw today¡¯s third vehicle that was closely following them, "Just from the license plates, we¡¯ve noted down seven or eight numbers." "When we first arrived, we didn¡¯t know who was tracking us." A few days ago, Richard and his team only knew that they were being watched and followed, but had no idea who was behind it. Whether it was whalers or the Japanese Organization, they had no clue. It wasn¡¯t until this morning that Bi Fang taught Mandy how to locate their tail, and they pinpointed a particular individual. Bi Fang told Mandy that, to ascertain who was following them, they needed to act on multiple fronts while following the TEDD principle. The so-called TEDD principle stands for Time, Environment, Distance, Demeanor. Time: Have you seen the same person or a group of people repeatedly in different environments? To confirm whether this is true, you should pay attention to time the entire day. Environment: Have you noticed people whose dress or body language clashes with the surrounding environment? Distance: Does the same group of people appear at two locations far apart from each other? For example, is this person the same one wearing sunglasses that you saw at the neighborhood convenience store 10 minutes ago, perhaps less suspicious in appearance, or was he there two hours earlier? Behavior: In the field of surveillance, "behavior" refers to conduct and appearance. Look for those whose clothing or behavior doesn¡¯t blend in with the environment. Frequently change your daily routine or routes to confirm if you¡¯re being followed. According to these guidelines, look for "coincidences" that repeat themselves at different times and places. Meanwhile, be extra cautious in your actions¡ªmake the criminals believe that they have merely lost sight of their target by accident, rather than the target intentionally evading them. The simplest way to do so is to go to a far-off supermarket to shop, eliminating the chance of coincidence, to confirm whether you¡¯re under surveillance¡ªthen head to another area to do some errands, to test your hypothesis. Keeping these rules in mind, Mandy successfully locked onto an individual. They happened to encounter an English-speaking Japanese tourist and asked if he knew the guy standing by the roadside, or if not, could he please ask for them. The tourist wasn¡¯t highly alert and was quite willing to assist Richard and the others. The eventual answer was. That guy was the Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department. "The ones tracking us aren¡¯t from the Organization, nor are they whalers; they¡¯re police," Richard stroked his chin, "They consider us criminals now." "Is there any way to shake these guys off? Old Fang? Any tips? They¡¯re as annoying as rats!" Jerret snatched the communicator channel and yelled frantically. He couldn¡¯t stand the atmosphere anymore, there were eyes on him wherever he went. Jerret suspected that even when he was using the bathroom, his photo was taken, possibly to threaten them to leave Japan. Bi Fang pondered for a moment, "There is a way, but it¡¯s not guaranteed to work if you guys do it, and with the police mobilized, their people are everywhere. Even if you shake them off, if you¡¯re not planning to go into hiding, they¡¯ll find you again very quickly." "I don¡¯t care, I need to shake them off now, give them a run for their money!" Bi Fang nodded, understanding what Jerret meant. Such actions were too stifling, everyone had a fire in their belly, even if they would be caught up with quickly, they wanted to give these guys a hard time. "Then turn off all your cell phones," Bi Fang instructed through the earpiece. Everyone in the car did as they were told. "Set the radio to a frequency that¡¯s outside the receiving range." Mandy twisted the knob, and soon the car radio was hissing without picking up any signals. "How about it? Besides the hissing sound, do you hear any ticking? Listen carefully," Bi Fang turned off the earpiece, temporarily cutting off contact with Richard and the others. After a while, the earpiece reconnected. Richard¡¯s somber voice rang out, "Yes." "What does this mean?" Mandy exclaimed, convinced that Bi Fang wasn¡¯t making unfounded claims; the ticking sound had to mean something. Bi Fang sighed. Entering the era of miniaturization technology, attaching magnetic tracking devices to vehicles had become a piece of cake. Commercially available tracking devices varied in size, with the smallest being the size of a thumb drive, and were capable of being hidden in various environments, tracking the location of mobile phones and rental vehicles by sending back echo signals. To prevent loss, all rented vehicles were pre-installed with tracking devices. However, if the data falls into the hands of those with malicious intent, its use remains unknown. Tracking devices could be permanently installed inside a vehicle or temporarily attached to the car frame, communicating with satellites, cell towers, and servers. To avoid openly inspecting the vehicle, what Bi Fang had done was to make Richard and the others pay attention to whether there were any static interference noises. Bi Fang patiently explained, "If you occasionally hear a ¡¯tick¡¯ on top of the ¡¯hiss,¡¯ it means there¡¯s some kind of mobile device operating within the car." sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "This noise comes from the interaction between mobile signals and the radio¡¯s speaker wires and coils. I had you turn off all cell phones and computers to avoid interference." "These signals can¡¯t penetrate metal, so such devices can¡¯t be hidden under the car frame or metal parts¡ªthey can usually be found in specific areas." Following Bi Fang¡¯s guidance, everyone started to search. "Between the window and the hood, under the plastic bumper, beneath the insect screen, on the roof, inside the speaker, under the trunk¡¯s felt board, underneath the front and rear seats..." "I¡¯ve found it!" Keke, sitting in the back row, fumbled around and grabbed a small electronic device, occasionally flashing with light, in his hand. Everyone was exhilarated, "What¡¯s next? Toss it away?" "No!" Bi Fang narrowed his eyes. If you¡¯re certain someone has maliciously installed a tracking device against standard protocol, don¡¯t attempt to remove it. Instead, find an excuse to turnover the vehicle. "Switch cars." Find a new rental company, or offer a hefty sum to switch with a resident¡¯s car¡ªas long as the price is right, everything is negotiable. As for who would cover the expenses, Bi Fang, the richest among them, was the obvious choice. The power of money could make even the most staunch locals waver in front of this force. The key to shaking off the surveillance team without escalating the tracking into a full-blown chase was to make the trackers believe they had lost the target, rather than letting them realize they had been exposed. "To get rid of a car surveillance team, avoid those driving techniques that make it obvious that you¡¯re trying to hide." Switching to another vehicle, Mandy, who was driving, nodded earnestly and tried to drive as smoothly as possible. As if it were a normal sightseeing trip. "Create an accordion effect: Draw the surveillance team to areas with traffic lights or many stop signs to break them up." A long line of start-and-stop traffic could both scatter the members of the surveillance team and prevent them from becoming suspicious about Richard and the others¡¯ scheme. Mandy drove onto a congested street which was the main thoroughfare of the town with a high volume of traffic. Many tourists passed through here, honking incessantly, trying to get the cars in front to move faster. The vehicles closest to the target clung tightly, but the other members of the surveillance team eventually got caught several red lights back. "Once there¡¯s no team member to take over, a surveillance operative acting alone will opt to leave to avoid arousing the target¡¯s suspicion." Mandy looked back and saw the originally conspicuous multitude of cars had seemingly dwindled to the last two. "Surveillance teams often lose sight of the target when they park or set off, so increase the frequency of stopping." "Park the car near an exit, make two right turns, then drive out of the parking lot." Mandy drove into the parking lot, paused for a moment, then set off again. The surveillant who parked behind Mandy reacted too slowly, only thinking to start the car as Mandy¡¯s taillights were about to vanish. "There¡¯s one more left." Richard and the others looked back, from the several license plates they had memorized, now only the last one remained. "Get out!" "Get out?" The group was taken aback. "You¡¯re now very close to a streetcar stop," Bi Fang said calmly, based on the location Richard sent, "I¡¯ve checked the arrival time of the streetcar, you have one minute." "Dash to the platform the moment the streetcar arrives, and leap into the carriage before the surveillant behind you realizes what¡¯s happening." Richard and the others, carrying their things, hurriedly left the car and emerged from the alley just in time to see the streetcar already at the platform. The group rushed over and managed to squeeze into the streetcar just before it started moving. Bi Fang pressed the earpiece, "Is anyone following you?" Mandy, gripping the handrail above, involuntarily grinned as he watched the surveillant outside who failed to catch the car. "No more." Chapter 549 - 546? "Lost them?" "I assigned you seven cars and more than twenty people taking turns tracking, and now, you¡¯re telling me that they¡¯ve been lost!?" Inside the police headquarters, the chief clutched the phone, with veins bulging like a grid on his forehead, his voice low and measured as if suppressing the eruption of a volcano. "Yes, it¡¯s..." The team leader responsible for tailing was drenched in cold sweat as his subordinates all kept as silent as cicadas in winter. As expected, they would soon be facing the chief¡¯s tempestuous rage. Ten minutes later... The team leader scratched his confused ears, feeling like he was hearing things; it seemed as though the chief¡¯s scolding was still echoing in his mind. It was only when his subordinate shouted loudly that he snapped back to attention and asked, "Ah, what did you say? Speak up." "Are we still going after them?" "Of course we are chasing them, now, this instant, everyone get moving. As long as they are still in Taiji Town, find them all, even if it means digging three feet into the ground!" Unlike the infuriated chief of the police headquarters, Richard and his people all wore smiles of relief, as days of frustration dissolved, leaving everyone in much better spirits. "What do we do next?" Mandy asked Bi Fang, excitedly pressing her earpiece. "Get off the bus as soon as possible, get off at the next stop, and remember, never talk about sensitive information in an unknown environment; contact me after getting off at the next stop," Bi Fang instructed Mandy before falling silent. Mandy nodded and confirmed this information with the people around her. Whether it was the train or the bus, fixed routes were in place. With a bit of investigation, one could easily figure out Richard and co.¡¯s itinerary, so it was crucial to leave before the followers could set up at the next stop. Bi Fang stood atop a hill, looking down at the road below. This was directly in front of Dolphin Bay. Dolphin Bay was surrounded by mountains on three sides, with sea water spreading across the beach, while a tall wall stood higher up on the shoreline. Above the tall wall was a wide road, with hills at both ends, so this road served as the access to the tunnels at each end. Dolphin Bay was low-lying; beside the road, there was a promenade, and next to it, stairs leading down to the beach of Dolphin Bay, reminiscent of ancient city walls. Bi Fang planned to install a few cameras right above the road. With an unobstructed view from a high vantage point, there was no better observation spot, but there was one problem. Due to the tunnels, surveillance was set up at both ends. To reach the beach of Dolphin Bay, one would have to pass by the road and thus be exposed to the surveillance cameras. Nowadays, surveillance cameras are widespread in major city streets and alleys, at traffic stops, ATMs, jewelry stores, and fast food shops. These places all capture footage of passers-by¡¯s faces. As surveillance equipment is low-cost, those devices can now be found even in the most remote parts of the world. Japan¡¯s surveillance coverage is not as extensive as Huaxia¡¯s, and although Taiji Town is not a major city, crucial road segments might have surveillance; the likelihood of them being out of service is very slim. This was no longer a matter of overt versus covert operations; anyone doing this would appear extremely suspicious. Setting up several high-definition cameras in the most sensitive area of Taiji Town¡¯s residents. What are you trying to do? What¡¯s the purpose of installing these, and who¡¯s directing you? What¡¯s your motive, and have you obtained permission from the relevant authorities? Is Li allowing you to go ahead? Who¡¯s behind you, what are you trying to achieve with these, and what are you trying to overthrow or destroy? Can¡¯t answer? Don¡¯t say we¡¯re arresting you for no reason; we have our grounds. Here in Japan, we can detain you for up to 28 days without evidence! Cough cough... Bi Fang adjusted his baseball cap, reeling in his thoughts. Regrettably, these surveillance cameras were indeed troublesome, but for Bi Fang, they weren¡¯t a problem. To be safe, Bi Fang often assumed he was already within the camera¡¯s range and would use various stealth or interference methods to lessen the chance of being detected. A baseball cap and a mask were usually enough. When out and about, one should avoid wearing masks or adopting bizarre disguises. Hollywood-style disguises can quickly draw the attention of third parties. The truly clever ones are often the simplest; a hat or a hood is usually enough. Bi Fang squatted on the hillside, watching the vehicles appear in the tunnel and then quickly enter another passageway. This place was rarely frequented by people, and soon, Bi Fang found a gap in the traffic. He turned on his flashlight and took advantage of the absence of vehicles to jump off the five-to-six-meter-high hillside. After executing a fall protection maneuver, he quickly brushed the fallen leaves off his body and shone his flashlight on the roadside surveillance. Many cameras with auto-exposure features automatically contract their apertures under bright light¡ªdirecting a flashlight or LED light at the lens can effectively reduce the pixel quality of the images. Bi Fang had already gone through the entire plan on the mountain, calculating the timing of his actions to ensure that whenever he encountered a camera, the sun was always behind him. Seizing the chance to blur the camera¡¯s view, Bi Fang quickly maneuvered along the edge of the roadway, pulling out an extendable ladder and arriving directly beneath the surveillance camera. He slipped the razor blade that had been pressed under his tongue, inserting it into the rubber sleeve behind the surveillance device and twisting it left and right, making it penetrate the braided shielding layer to reach the sturdy metal core. The core signal of surveillance cameras is transmitted by a copper conductor in the middle, which is encased in a protective sleeve woven from metal and rubber. Contacting a steel blade with the copper conductor can cause a short circuit, momentarily interrupting the video transmission. Inserting the blade into the rubber sleeve behind the surveillance camera, penetrating the braided shielding layer, and reaching the sturdy metal core, which is the aluminum foil shielding layer, causes static interference in the monitor, interrupting the image transmission. And restoring normalcy is very simple. Remove the blade, and the signal will return to normal. Steel blades are easy to find. If not in the most ordinary of hotel rooms, then just go and buy a box for a few dollars. Such road surveillance is bound to be monitored, and upon noticing something amiss, someone will definitely come to check. But Bi Fang wasn¡¯t waiting for them to come and inspect. Once the surveillance broke, it wouldn¡¯t be repaired for days; his goal was to keep the problem unnoticed. Five minutes. The time Bi Fang gave himself. From the surveillance staff noticing the problem to calling and logging the incident, it would be around this much time. If the staff were negligent, the timeline could be extended, but Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t count on such luck. As long as he completed his objective within this timeframe, his actions wouldn¡¯t raise any suspicion. After similarly disrupting another tunnel outlet¡¯s surveillance with static interference, Bi Fang quickly took out a "rock" from his backpack, placing it under the guardrail on the side of the road. The spot was unassuming. Facing Dolphin Bay, it offered a perfect vantage point for filming; everything anyone did here would be recorded without omission. Just then, the sound of a car roaring through the tunnel echoed once more; Bi Fang quickly scrambled over the guardrail, laying on his hands at the edge of the sidewalk, hanging from the high wall supported only by the strength of his fingers. Waiting for the car to pass and vanish over the road, Bi Fang stepped forward and quickly grabbed the guardrail, flipping back over it and setting up other "stones." These were small stones, inconspicuous, but because of their size, they couldn¡¯t fit large batteries, thus had limited power. Just like installing hidden devices, there are terms "hard installs" and "soft installs." The former relies on the parasitic power from sources like televisions or power sockets to temporarily install equipment. The latter could be simple, such as placing the device inside a tissue box. "Hard installs" require a lot of time on target but never need to be serviced again. But once a device¡¯s battery runs out or its storage space is insufficient, sometimes the person who placed it might need to take a risk to handle the "soft install" device. Choosing which method depends on weighing the available locations, surveillance duration, achievable audio quality, and various other factors. Although a usable surveillance device can be fashioned from just a phone and a pair of headphones, if the installation location is terrible, the results will be poor. Having finished setting up above, Bi Fang jumped onto the beach and quickly dug a hole to bury a "boulder" within it, leaving just a small corner protruding, making it look like a normal, albeit partially exposed, rock. Bi Fang then spread some dry, fine sand over it to prevent anyone from noticing the spot had been dug. Time ticked away, second by second. Bi Fang moved swiftly, pulling out the blade from the second surveillance camera. The five-minute alarm went off right on cue. In a room, the dizzying array of surveillance screens, which had been filled with static, returned to normal, showing cars passing without any anomalies. Just as the staff member was about to make a call for repairs, they saw the situation resolve and laid down the phone and logbook, picking up their cellphone again. All was as usual. In the forest, Bi Fang clapped his hands and took a deep breath; the toughest part had been dealt with, and the rest would be easy. But there was a problem. Bi Fang flipped through his backpack, which was now devoid of "rocks": "I¡¯m out of equipment." The backpack could only hold so much, accommodating three "boulders," a handful of smaller stones, and a few branches was about the limit; any more would be cumbersome to carry and inconvenient to move around in the forest. Previously, working with Mandy, Keke, and a group of three, they managed to carry four or five large cases at a time. Making three trips allowed them to bring back a dozen and a half cases, speeding along the work through the night. However, on his own, Bi Fang could only carry one backpack and couldn¡¯t go back for more equipment. Climbing walls at the hotel during the day was too conspicuous and would be easily remembered by people. The city had even more surveillance, and it wasn¡¯t possible to jam them all with blades. Bi Fang needed to avoid any public intersections with Richard and his team as much as possible. "Looks like I¡¯ll have to make some myself." Bi Fang gripped the map, which had many unvisited places on it. As he pondered a solution, Mandy¡¯s call came through again. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "We¡¯ve gotten off the car, now what?" Bi Fang hesitated for a moment, then tentatively suggested, "Play?" "Are you joking?" "But that¡¯s all we can do now," Bi Fang said helplessly. He was able to direct Mandy and others to shake off their tail, but he wasn¡¯t a god, unable to turn them invisible under broad daylight. With such a large group of foreigners, the police could quickly pick up their trail through surveillance and find Richard and the others unless they split up and reduced their movements. But that conflicted with the original intent of Richard and his team coming out to attract attention, and Bi Fang didn¡¯t have the capacity to guide every individual. Putting up a show of force once to vent was enough. "After establishing dominance, they will seek revenge on you. I think you should now make some weapons," Bi Fang calmly suggested. Dominance was established, but the memory of Richard and his team¡¯s first visit to Japan was still fresh. If the other party got frustrated, they might lash out and beat them up. "Weapons?" "You have a lot of cameras around you, right?" "No shit." Let¡¯s not forget what they were there for; how could they not have cameras? "Then you could try modifying the cameras into Tasers." "Tasers? What¡¯s that?" "Stun guns." Speaking to Mandy, a layman, Bi Fang used a simpler term to convey his meaning. "Camera... stun gun? Are these two words actually homonyms?" Mandy looked blankly at a camera on a nearby seat, picked it up, and after scrutinizing it for a while, click-clicked a few photos of the train station. Yep, sharp and pretty. "How do you modify this?" Richard and Jerret, two older individuals, were even more perplexed, feeling out of their depth handling the camera. Cameras turned into stun guns. What kind of black technology was this? "Don¡¯t worry about the details, just do as I say," Bi Fang waved his hand, moving onto the streets again; he needed to go to a supermarket to buy some things. Whether for a civilian or a spy, choosing non-lethal means of self-defense is crucial. However, ready-made Taser guns are not easy to come by, let alone for Richard and the others to buy. Even if they tried, no one would sell to them. Converting a camera into a Taser gun actually isn¡¯t difficult. One only needs to rewire the circuit so that the power originally intended for the flash is directed to two protruding screws. This charge is enough to temporarily paralyze an attacker. The struck opponent is likely to fall to the ground and lose the ability to move for several minutes. An electrical current between 120-380 volts can penetrate tissues and nerves, creating static electricity within the body and thus disrupting communication between the brain and muscles. The result is compromised motor function and involuntary muscle contractions, making it an effective form of non-lethal self-defense. Upon hearing this, Mond¡¯s hand trembled. Photography and camera work go hand in hand; as a photography assistant, Mond had never imagined the device in his hands could be so hot to handle. "Now, listen to me. Disassemble the camera¡¯s capacitor, and then remove the battery." Film SLR cameras are outrageously expensive, but when your life is on the line, everything is worth it. After all, you only have one life. Bi Fang began to teach step by step knowledge that laymen could never know. First step, empty the capacitor. Before opening the camera, remove the battery, press the flash button, and deplete all the electricity stored in the capacitor to prevent accidental electrocution during assembly. If the capacitor is not properly discharged, the risk of injury will be very high. Second step, open up the camera. Remove the camera¡¯s casing, dismantling the circuit board, flash unit, and film, breaking apart the flash assembly and circuit board. "Do you have a screwdriver, and wire strippers? Small pliers will do as well." "Yes!" The electrical expert opened his toolbox and took out the tools. With Bi Fang¡¯s guidance, he now knew what to do. As an electrical expert, he felt that converting a camera into a Taser was a path he had never considered before. Often, it¡¯s not that people can¡¯t do something, but rather they lack inspiration. Without training that laypeople are unaware of, one would never think of this method. Following Bi Fang¡¯s advice, the electrical expert quickly grasped the key points and, as instructed by Bi Fang, left behind a small section of film. He carefully stripped the insulation off both ends of the wires and wrapped the ends around the screw tops. He then screwed the screws into the camera casing from the film canister side. Next, he wrapped the other end of the wires around the terminals of the capacitor and secured them with electrical tape. Thus, the camera¡¯s electrical current was diverted from the battery to flow towards the two screws instead; when pierced into an enemy, it would achieve the same effect as a taser gun. The last step was the reassembly of the camera, restoring the circuit board and stuffing the wires around the edges of the circuit board. "We also need a safety mechanism." "I understand." The electrical expert immediately understood why Bi Fang had asked him to cut off a piece of film. He inserted the cut film between the battery and the capacitor terminals to prevent the modified camera from accidentally discharging. Finally, he reattached the casing, and to the eye, it looked exactly like before! But within, it was completely different. Nobody would suspect that the "camera" in a tourist¡¯s hands was actually a Taser gun capable of easily stunning a person! "Bi Fang! You¡¯re a damn genius!" the electrical expert exclaimed. "When using it, you can make a stabbing motion to drive the screws into the opponent¡¯s flesh. The collision will produce significant vibrations, triggering a discharge, but even if the device fails to emit a shock, piercing the skin will likely cause enough harm to the attacker for you to escape." "This device is very dangerous," Bi Fang solemnly warned. If it weren¡¯t to prevent unexpected incidents for Richard and the others, he would never teach such a thing. Making a makeshift Taser gun is far more dangerous than it seems; discharging it could cause a severe shock that might incapacitate someone! Chapter 550 - 547: Surprise Inspection "Appreciation of five thousand six hundred yuan, welcome to visit us again!" In the supermarket, the sweet-voiced clerk smiled at Bi Fang, who was bagging his items. Bi Fang nodded before hurrying out with two large bags in hand. He was running short of specialized surveillance equipment and needed to craft some himself, leading him to the supermarket to purchase large quantities of milk, vinegar, and some snacks. Something seemed off, didn¡¯t it? If Bi Fang were live streaming at that moment, many viewers would probably be commenting, for a simple reason: The goods he bought seemed just too ordinary. Are you sure you¡¯re not here to shop for daily necessities? Apart from the excessive amount of milk, which looked impossible to finish during a trip, the rest¡ª a bottle of vinegar, hmm, maybe Old Fang has a taste for sourness, and then the chips, soda, biscuits, jelly¡­ Anyone who saw these items wouldn¡¯t think they could be used to make anything special; they were just the essentials for a homebody¡¯s survival. Behind the image of a rugged outdoorsman was actually a happy home dweller!? Of course not. Bi Fang dumped all of his purchases on the hotel sofa, took out a small basin, opened the milk carton, and poured all the milk into it. The real reason for his supermarket visit boiled down to just two items: milk and vinegar. Cameras are everywhere¡ªone must always assume that their actions are being recorded. The other snacks were merely a decoy to mask the presence of these two items, to avoid drawing suspicion with an overly obvious purpose. Of course, to most people, milk and vinegar wouldn¡¯t suggest anything out of the ordinary, but for someone like Bi Fang, these items were perfect for creating concealment tools. A white froth formed on the surface as Bi Fang poured about a liter of milk into the container. He tapped the chopstick along the rim to dissipate the foam, then placed the basin in the microwave of his hotel room, checked the power settings, and set the timer for five minutes to start heating. Fancier hotel suites come fully-equipped with furniture and appliances, some even include a private kitchen. After five minutes, Bi Fang took out the hot but not yet boiling milk, now topped with a thin layer of "milk skin." Opening the bottle of vinegar, Bi Fang used a stainless steel soup spoon to add eight spoonfuls of vinegar into the container of milk, piercing the milk skin and stirring continuously. Once mixed, a mass of flocculent sediment entwined around the spoon handle. Fishing out the sediment and holding it level with his eyes, Bi Fang pinched the flocculent substance, which was sticky but intact. Good. That was precisely what Bi Fang wanted. To hide valuable data, keys, or surveillance gadgets like cameras and microphones, one only needs two common kitchen ingredients: milk and vinegar. Heated and filtered, the casein in the milk coagulates into a gel-like, plastic-like substance. Molding this substance allows it to take any shape and dry to a clay-like consistency. This versatile material can be shaped, colored, and made to mimic the appearance of rocks, bricks, logs, or any object, making it an ideal drop point for intelligence and perfect for concealing valuable items or surveillance devices in specific environments. The only thing to be mindful of is not to let the milk boil during heating, or else the result would be a flocculent substance instead of a silky one. Separating DNA proteins in high school biology essentially uses the same method. Bi Fang took out a spare T-shirt, draped it beneath the container, and poured its contents into the sink, filtering out the stringy mixture. In practice, five hundred grams of milk could produce a "milk plastic ball" the size of an egg, enough to conceal a miniature camera. Having the disguises wasn¡¯t enough, they also needed cameras and microphones. These were no challenge for Bi Fang either. During the initial execution of the mission, he had considered that they might not be able to bring too much equipment, so he had Richard and the others purchase a considerable number of baby monitors. Any computer city or large supermarket would have them, they just needed to be simply modified to become hidden cameras. Bi Fang needed only the components inside, discarding the bulky casings entirely. He removed the components¡ªtransmitters, battery packs, and camera lenses¡ªbut did not cut the wires connecting the components. Then he inserted a toothpick into the camera lens and glued the newly acquired "special plastic" to the lens, molding the surrounding "plastic" into the shape of a rock. When the time came, he just needed to pull out the toothpick, which would leave an inconspicuous pinhole in its place, allowing the camera to conduct surveillance through the tiny opening. Bi Fang poured out some vinegar, mixed in a suitable amount of milk and stirred, quickly turning the mixture into a brownish-gray color¡ªhis "paint" for dyeing. He painted the rock a neutral color or created special textures mimicking the exterior of the target location, placed the transmitter and battery pack into a waterproof ziplock bag, and then connected it to the "rock." At that time, this part could be buried in the ground, not too deep as that would lead to signal transmission failure, and finally, position the camera to capture the desired footage. To ensure the camera¡¯s "view" was at the correct angle, Bi Fang didn¡¯t remove the toothpick until the very last moment, using the angle of the toothpick to measure the field of view. A lens like this had a very small chance of being discovered. Even if discovered and dismantled, and the exposed wires were seen, in the eyes of ordinary people, it was nothing more than a piece of junk that had been blown by the wind and buried by the sun. During installation, additional camouflage could be added by spraying glue on the rock lens and covering it with soil collected from the scene, almost ensuring infallibility. Moreover, a microphone was needed. It was relatively simple to secretly install a voice-activated recording device in the target¡¯s room or vehicle, but without amplification equipment, it was unlikely to gather effective intelligence. A complete surveillance system needed to amplify the sound through a microphone. Lacking specialized tools, one could also transform a cellphone, an audio jack, and headphones into an effective listening device. The difference between the two was incredibly simple as their functions were the exact opposite. Bi Fang disassembled a pair of cheap headphones from a variety store, revealing two conspicuous wires, a red positive wire and a black negative one. By reversing the polarity of the two wires, one could change the device¡¯s function. Microphones and speakers were essentially the same instrument; any speaker¡ªfrom the earbuds on headphones to the stereo systems in televisions¡ªcould be turned into a microphone within a few minutes. Speakers convert electronic signals into sound, while microphones convert sound into processable and amplified electronic signals. Bi Fang cut the output end of the speaker¡¯s wire, connected it to an audio jack, and plugged the audio port into the camera equipment he had just prepared. All small recording devices could essentially be used this way, but phones set to silent mode and configured to auto-answer had two extra advantages. They could intercept information in real-time without risking a return to the target location to retrieve the devices. This eavesdropping device installation technique was highly adaptable. Unfortunately, Bi Fang didn¡¯t have that many phones. He had also taught this trick to Richard and others, advising them to install one in their own cars as well so as not to be caught off guard by someone sneaking in. One only needed to disable any rear speaker in the vehicle, plug its wires into a recorder or phone, and assemble a vehicle surveillance device. In public places, earbuds that can dangle from one¡¯s jacket pocket can serve as a covert intelligence-gathering station. The sound, image, and camouflage were all set; in just one short hour, Bi Fang had once again produced a batch of surveillance equipment ready to use. He hoisted the backpack onto his back; there was still work to be done today. Night. Bi Fang, along with Mandy and Keke, returned to Dolphin Bay once more. Despite switching hotels as instructed by Bi Fang, tracking them down was still no challenge for him; in fact, it was even simpler, because this hotel had balconies instead of floor-to-ceiling glass walls. Right under the watchful eyes of the guards, Bi Fang led the two out with him. Perhaps because the dolphin season was drawing near, there were noticeably more people at Dolphin Bay tonight. Large piles of firewood had accumulated on the beach, suggesting a grand bonfire party was being prepared for the following evening. The mission period was much longer than Bi Fang had anticipated¡ªsurveying the terrain, formulating a plan, and patiently observing, "Just now, two groups of people headed to the tunnel. Did you see them?" Bi Fang turned his head to ask Mandy and Keke. The two nodded, indicating that they had also seen them, and that it was a very bad sign. As soon as the two groups descended the mountain, they ran back up, their flashlights swinging hurriedly¡ªactions marked by swiftness. They were eager to get moving and start work. Richard had told Bi Fang that the first time they came to Japan, they also encountered these people who would carefully inspect broken branches. Usually, they would only climb the mountain to check when there were dolphins in Dolphin Bay, and the purpose was to see if anyone was tracking and filming. Bi Fang had already encountered dolphins the previous night, and everything signaled the inevitable. The focus of Dolphin Bay was on its right side, but Bi Fang and his companions had placed the equipment on the left side the previous night, which made it easier to enter the water and observe. Today Bi Fang placed most of the equipment on trees with a clear view, the observation point higher, offering an unobstructed view from top to bottom. Mandy wore an infrared camera on her head, also as a precaution against the sudden appearance of anyone. Moreover, they also had professional underwater divers responsible for underwater inspection, conducting thorough searches of the seabed¡ªBi Fang didn¡¯t want them to discover the equipment. Underwater sonar, underwater cameras, underwater infrared devices¡ªall were the results of their hard work from an all-nighter. Bi Fang and Richard needed to understand everything that happened here, to experience it in an all-encompassing, three-dimensional way. They wanted to hear every sound the dolphins made as well as every word spoken by the fishermen. Bi Fang¡¯s efforts were not solely for exposing the slaughter but to also document something that might change hearts. Last weekend, the long and mournful cries of the humpback whale resounded across London¡¯s Trafalgar Square; an overwhelming sadness burst forth like a cold, inundating flow of water that covered every person in the square. Thousands of demonstrators demanded a halt to the hunting of whales. In the 1960s, the IWC did nothing about the whale slaughter. Until one man appeared¡ªRoger Payne. Not a character from an anime, but a real hero. He initiated the whale rescue movement by revealing their songs to the world, an influence so profound and terrifying. Anyone who had heard the cries of the whales could feel the tumultuous sorrow within, as explosive as a volcanic eruption. Now, the protests had started again, and those involved were determined to change the status quo as the numbers of whale slaughter were on the rise again, and it was time for a new leader to take charge. Roger Payne was already over seventy years old, and there were only a few like him. This night was bound to be difficult to endure. "Take this." Bi Fang handed each of them a slip of paper with a series of numbers on it. "What¡¯s this?" "The phone number for the Huaxia Embassy. Keep it saved and the paper with you. If you run into danger, or get captured, apart from contacting me, the second option is to contact this number." "Oh, no need, we have Ugly Country..." "Trust me, take it. It¡¯s more reliable, just in case. Remember to keep your phone in your sock, and, have you each prepared more than two phones as I told you?" Bi Fang folded the slip of paper and stuffed it into their collars. All these precautions were taken to avoid unforeseen problems. If they were caught, they would certainly be searched. One phone was to be left in a conspicuous place, intended for their captors to "find". The other was to be hidden on their person, so having more than two phones was essential. Sometimes, mere hiding isn¡¯t enough; the enemy must be made to believe their goal is achieved¡ªthat¡¯s the real art of concealment. Creating a diversion, luring the tiger away from the mountain, the same principle. "Oh, alright, I hope I never have to use it." The two earnestly accepted the slips of paper. Having finished this, the three of them turned and entered the forest, completely disregarding the no-entry signs. Regrettably, Bi Fang¡¯s learning was inadequate; he believed the yellow sign simply read, "Welcome to Taiji Town." ... In the early hours of the morning, the three evaded the searching villagers, but just as they thought to head down the mountain, suddenly, a flash of lightning blinded Keke¡¯s eyes. Fortunately, Bi Fang was quick to react, pulling Keke back and using a large tree to obscure their figures. "Is someone there? Who¡¯s there?" Apparently detecting something amiss, the villager shouted. Keke swallowed hard, his heart pounding, his temples throbbing intensely. "It¡¯s over, I didn¡¯t see." Mandy said quietly, licking his lips. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just as the villager ran out, Mandy happened to look away, and the infrared vision didn¡¯t catch anything. Bi Fang crouched down, picked up a rock from the ground, weighed it, and then hurled it powerfully to the other side. The rock whistled through the air, making a noise and swiftly drawing the villager¡¯s attention, with shouting voices, the flashlight quickly disappeared. "Is he gone?" Keke swallowed, his forehead already drenched with sweat, looking as if he had been fished out of water. The patrolling villagers, each with a machete at their waist¡ªone could imagine what would happen if they were caught. After about five or six minutes, Bi Fang nodded, "He should be gone." Just when the three thought it was all over and they reached the foot of the mountain, The people in the hotel, including Richard, were facing a sudden attack. Chapter 551 - 548 Plan In the hotel, after adjusting all the equipment and confirming there were no problems, Richard and the others, who were preparing to rest, suddenly heard an urgent knocking at the door. The people sitting around inside the room felt their hearts skip a beat as they exchanged glances, wondering what the situation might be, when the urgent knocking emphasized the unkind intentions of the visitor. The visitor shouted in broken English, "Open up, police! Search!" "Police?" Upon hearing this word, everyone felt a pang of panic in the depths of their hearts. Richard gestured with his hand to calm everyone down, stood up from the tatami, walked to the door, and peered through the peephole to see the uniformed Japanese police; he asked, "Please show your identification, and also, do you have a search warrant?" "Open up!" The other side didn¡¯t answer, only repeating the demand, with the knocking growing louder and louder. "No search warrant, I can¡¯t open the door, understand?" Seeing that the other side didn¡¯t have a search warrant, Richard felt somewhat emboldened. The authority of Japanese police is slightly greater than in other countries, as they can perform searches at will, a practice known as "shokumu shitsumon," but this requires the person to be outdoors. Once they enter a private residence, whether it¡¯s one¡¯s own home, a rental, or a hotel, having a rental agreement means they must have a search warrant, otherwise it is illegal. The knocking continued, and the other party even threatened to break down the door. "What do we do if they decide to force their way in?" Mond asked the group. Conducting a search by force without a warrant is already illegal. The only problem is the proverbial dragon can¡¯t suppress the local snakes. If these people really barged in, even if it were against regulations, Richard and the others could do nothing about them. Mandy and Keke had not returned yet, and once intruders came in, the fact that the two of them had been sneaking out would certainly be discovered. Once discovered, the opposition would definitely intensify their search efforts. Seeing that the other party was becoming more and more irritable, Richard urgently reminded everyone, "They¡¯re about to come in, remember to protest, make sure not to get into a conflict, don¡¯t curse, don¡¯t fight, and don¡¯t even touch!" Richard was well aware that once a physical altercation occurred, even if the police were at fault first, they could be charged with obstructing official business, providing the police with a sufficient reason to detain them, an eventuality he needed to prevent at all costs. Outside the room, the hotel owner reluctantly persuaded but gave up and handed over the room key. "Mond, record a video!" Richard shouted as the electronic sound signaled the door opening. Bang! The door flew open. Three uniformed men disregarded Richard¡¯s attempts to block them and barged into the room, counting heads and quickly realizing that the numbers did not add up! "Two people short?" "Where are they?" "Where are they?" The three police officers immediately turned to Richard and demanded an explanation. Jerry shrugged, "What, officer, don¡¯t you have the power to restrict our freedom? Is it wrong for the two of them to go watch the night view on the beach now?" "It¡¯s three in the morning, watching the night view? Are you joking?" the leading officer shouted, "We now suspect you have intrusion..." "Got a sudden urge, officer. Is there a problem with that?" A voice suddenly interrupted the uniformed man¡¯s words, as Mandy and Keke, with their arms around each other¡¯s shoulders and panting heavily, stood at the doorway, their bodies covered in sweat. "Just went to use the restroom, is there a problem with that?" "Restroom? Doesn¡¯t the hotel have one?" "We prefer public toilets, is there a problem with that?" "Officer, please show us the search warrant. If not, then please leave immediately, otherwise this video will soon be uploaded online!" Jerry snatched Mond¡¯s phone, which was recording, and shook the camera in front of the uniformed men. The uniformed men instinctively reached out to grab it, but the electrical expert and others quickly stepped in front of Jerry, preventing them. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Got that on video too!" Jerry yelled. The scene was chaotic. Three policemen were surrounded by seven or eight people, unable to reach Jerret. Helplessly, after uttering a few harsh words, the three could only skulk away dejectedly. Had they failed? Had Richard and the others succeeded? Neither. After the uniformed men left, silence once again descended upon the scene. Why had the police suddenly come? Without a doubt, Bi Fang and his two companions hadn¡¯t completely concealed themselves. The villagers had been drawn to the anomaly and reported it, thus prompting the police¡¯s surprise inspection. Was the police¡¯s purpose to take them away? No, that might have been one of their objectives, but they had already confirmed who it was that had or hadn¡¯t left. Mandy, gasping for breath, scratched her head, "Sorry, I didn¡¯t make it in time." Real life, after all, cannot be like a movie with a perfectly timed rescue. If the two of them could have returned just five minutes earlier, perhaps none of this would have happened. Richard shook his head, "Let¡¯s go to sleep early. We¡¯ll talk about this tomorrow." The next day. As expected, someone came looking for them. It was a few minor officials from Taiji Town, holding something that looked like record sheets, stopping Richard and indicating they had some questions to ask. Inside the camera lens, Jerret and the others recorded everything. In the dim footage, only the faint sounds of the conversation between the two could be heard. A skinny, middle-aged man with glasses smiled, "A very strange phenomenon, in the dead of night, around dawn, three people in black... I think they must be... " "Those were members of OPS, OPS members, the Ocean Protection Association, and we have nothing to do with them." "It¡¯s not me, I was asleep in the middle of the night." "He says he doesn¡¯t know, he was sleeping at that time." The interrogator relayed the conversation to the other two in Japanese. The other two displayed awkward, not polite, smiles. "Then your two... " "I don¡¯t know, I can¡¯t speak for OPS, I can only represent Richard, no one but myself... " "I was asleep at night, I¡¯m not a member of OPS, whenever someone wants to talk to me, I talk, like about mercury poisoning." "He¡¯s talking about mercury poisoning again..." An ineffective conversation. No matter the question, Richard knew nothing. The officials left. Jerret took off his headset and threw it on the table, pinching the bridge of his nose, "They¡¯re trying to divert attention." The situation was more difficult than he had imagined. This morning, Richard and his group discovered that, in addition to recorded broadcasts, three or four live transmission devices were missing their feed. While not many, the message conveyed was decidedly bad. The opposition was already checking, and all they could hope for was that the electrical expert and Bi Fang¡¯s camouflage was strong enough to convincingly muddle the truth. "Where¡¯s Bi Fang?" "He¡¯s already started a live broadcast. Today is the fourth day of the Hunting Season, and his rank has slipped to third place." Mond opened Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast video on the side, where an official real-time ranking was marked clearly. Bi Fang¡¯s rank had dropped from first place the day before yesterday to third place. No one was idle during rest time. Amidst the jungle, a somewhat tired Bi Fang yawned and, reinvigorating his spirit, headed deeper into the forest. Chapter 552 - 549: Competing for Ranking Bi Fang wandered through the forest with a spear on his shoulder, the beast tooth necklace around his neck clinking with a metallic sound. He scratched the slightly turned-up tips of his hair, looking somewhat listless, opened his mouth wide, and let out a deep yawn. He didn¡¯t get back until the early hours of yesterday, and today, he started live streaming at 8:30 in the morning. All in all, he hadn¡¯t had a full six hours of sleep and was feeling drowsy. [Dude, did Old Fang secretly treat himself on his day off yesterday?] [You need to show some restraint!] [I heard Japan has official pleasure districts (smirk)] [Old Fang is young and strong; he must not have been able to control himself] [Handsome Fang: Just hunted down a bear, I¡¯m fuming mad] "Cough cough." Bi Fang coughed into his fist, took out his water bottle for a drink, and after taking a few deep breaths, his spirits lifted, and he quickly recovered. Being Batman is really not easy, not even enough rest time, I could barely get up this morning. "When I woke up this morning and checked the rankings, I found that I had fallen to third place. It seems the others are really making an effort." The current first place belonged to a pair of Y¨­ki Hunters. Although they hadn¡¯t made any significant gains in the first few days, they rose through the ranks by skillfully using traps and large knives to hunt three Black Bears in just three days. Both hunters have 13.2 points each now; the scores for the three bears are all around ten. The second-place contestant was quite unexpected. Turns out it was an old man from Ugly Country named Gary Benson. Well... Calling him old might not be entirely accurate, but he indeed was the oldest among the competitors, at fifty-two years old. Amongst a crowd of competing hunters, he was at a significant physical disadvantage. What¡¯s key is that, after learning about this guy¡¯s background, I couldn¡¯t help but admire him. What a wild imagination. Because this old hunter assembled a contraption akin to a heavy crossbow. Cheating? Hard to say. The show doesn¡¯t allow hunting with heavy crossbows because that would be too much of an unfair advantage. The earliest crossbows emerged more than two thousand years ago in Huaxia. In the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, a large number of bronze crossbow bolts and bronze parts of crossbows were unearthed. From that time, the might of the crossbow began to show, gradually becoming the true king of cold weapons. If that was the case in antiquity, modern times with advanced material science are a whole different story. Compared to ancient crossbows, modern crossbows are basically a different thing altogether. Modern crossbows use synthetic materials; the bow of the crossbow is usually made of carbon fiber or polymer composites. These materials are lighter and have a stronger energy capacity than the bamboo, wood, or steel used in the past, and they are far ahead in terms of strength and durability. Especially, modern crossbows incorporate a pulley system. The eccentric wheel design makes it easier to draw the string, and, on the other hand, the rebound speed of the bowstring is faster. Many crossbows have an initial speed that exceeds 100 meters per second, which is unimaginable for traditional crossbows. Take medieval steel crossbows as an example, a 740-pound pull crossbow only had a bolt speed of about 42 meters per second, because the elastic quality of the crossbow arms was poor, they couldn¡¯t be drawn too tightly, and the bowstring provided a very short acceleration distance to the bolt. Under the action of the pulley system, modern crossbow limbs can undergo significant deformation, giving a longer acceleration distance to the bolt and therefore a much higher final velocity. Further, at closer ranges, the accuracy of modern crossbows with sniper scopes is even comparable to that of sniper rifles. An international weapons blogger once demonstrated the shooting accuracy of a modern crossbow at a range of 25 yards. How precise was it? Almost every arrow stuck close to the previous one, and arrows fired later repeatedly hit the same hole as the arrow before. The overall margin of error was less than the size of a coin; using a rifle without a scope at that distance would be very difficult to achieve such precision. And arrows, needless to say, the mass production lines of modern industry ensure that nearly every arrow is completely identical, something unimaginable in ancient times. Being identical means that there¡¯s almost no significant errors due to differences in the quality of the arrows. With so many advantages, it¡¯s no wonder that modern special forces and some armed police units, both domestic and international, still reserve a place for crossbows in their arsenal. In the People¡¯s Armed Police sequence of Huaxia, many special forces teams are equipped with crossbows, a type of cold weapon. The reason for choosing it is simple, crossbows launch silently, completely without smoke or light, and produce extremely little noise, making them a naturally sound-suppressing weapon. Of course, when compared to firearms, there is still a huge gap in terms of power, range, and rate of fire, with the best crossbows being no match for an old-fashioned rifle. However, crossbows still pack a very considerable punch. Although their initial velocity is merely around 100 meters per second, let¡¯s not forget that arrows are much heavier than bullets. A 24-gram carbon arrow can reach a kinetic energy of 120 joules, and with a high-damage hunting head, it can easily hunt large animals like deer and bears and penetrate standard soft body armor. No matter how much fat a bear accumulates, its defense can¡¯t possibly be better than that of body armor. Therefore, modern crossbows are strictly prohibited in the competition; bringing a modern crossbow is almost the same as carrying a rifle. It isn¡¯t just plain cheating, it¡¯s like using a cheat code. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The only problem is, this hunter didn¡¯t bring a crossbow directly but brought a whole set of carpentry tools instead... Apart from some key components that need to be made from alloy due to load-bearing requirements and all other reasons, the rest of the crossbow was painstakingly carved out of the wilderness using his carpentry tools... Does this really break the rules? Not to mention the judges, the audience was also confused. If you say it¡¯s against the rules, it doesn¡¯t seem quite fitting, because except for some small components that wood can¡¯t handle, the rest, including the entire large structure of the wrapped crossbow, was slowly chiseled out by this guy in the forest with a plane. Otherwise, a pile of small parts is nothing. If you want to say it¡¯s breaking the rules. There isn¡¯t a clear regulation on how much less a heavy crossbow should weigh. The judges tested Bosen¡¯s crossbow and found that it could easily penetrate a large tree within twenty steps and embed halfway into the tree at thirty steps. The power was astonishing, almost no different from that of a Dart. Modern science structures, combined with the amazing load-bearing alloy parts, just need a decent frame, and the crossbow can perform with astounding power. In the end, the judges gave Bosen a break, and the audience, quite accustomed to this old man, didn¡¯t rule it as cheating. After all, Bosen had clearly stated that he would bring these items with him and didn¡¯t hide anything, and being able to craft a crossbow with these initially was his ingenuity. Bosen took more than two days to make the entire crossbow, and on the third day, with his weapon in hand, he hunted a huge Black Bear almost 1.7 meters in length with only ten arrows by the evening. The wound caused by the crossbow was small, but the damage was significant, resulting in the high completeness of the hunted Black Bear. His score jumped to 13.1 points, and Bosen, in his fifties, surpassed Bi Fang¡¯s 10.2 points to become the second-ranked contestant. He even earned the title of the powerful crossbowman Bosen. Although Bosen¡¯s performance in both the hunting scene and the level of excitement was not as good as Bi Fang¡¯s, he used experience and methods unique to his age group. Years taught this old man that a strong body will inevitably decline one day. Only wisdom is something that can be used for a lifetime. When facing a desired goal, he wouldn¡¯t hunt in the most primitive way like the brave Bi Fang, engaged in a hearty battle of blood and fire; instead he would hide in the shadows, aiming a lethal shot at the prey¡¯s weak spot. [I feel the judges must have undermarked, otherwise the current top ranker should be Bosen, not those two Y¨­ki Hunters] [Old Fang, I told you to rest, and look what¡¯s happened now, you¡¯ve fallen to third place!] [Stop rewarding yourself and get up and at ¡¯em!] "Alright, alright, I¡¯ll strive to hunt another one today," Bi Fang replied in quick succession. After three days of competition, the rankings have once again changed. Y¨­ki Hunter duo in first place, 13.2 points. Powerful crossbowman Old Bosen in second, 13.1 points. Forbidden Zone Hunter Bi Fang in third, 10.2 points. General Sato with his Naginata in fourth, 9.8 points. ... Hunter of deers Mugalen in sixth place, 9.4 points. Chapter 553 - 550 Excited Black Bear The open hunting quota for Black Bears is one hundred. Once that number is reached, the rankings will be set in stone. It¡¯s the morning of the fourth day. More than sixteen Black Bears have been killed in total, with everyone fully energized, preparing to go all out in the days to come. Some hunters even carried a large pack of supplies and lived in the forest, planning not to return to town for repairs after hunting a Black Bear, but to pitch a tent and continue hunting. Fortunately, they are not here, or one would definitely smell the strong odor of sweat. Many even have a thick smell of blood on them, and they simply don¡¯t care that their scent could be picked up by large carnivores and attract them. Japan has no packs of wolves, no tigers, and no super predators as agile and menacing as lions, with only Black Bears and Brown Bears being the large predators present. It¡¯s fine if they don¡¯t come, but if they do, it would be perfect; the hunters with their sharpened knives are looking forward to it. The succession of sunny days has made today¡¯s weather even hotter than the previous two days. The topsoil exposed to the sunlight can be crumbled into powder with a grab, slipping through one¡¯s fingertips. Bi Fang picked up a handful of soil from the ground and went to higher ground, standing on a huge rock looking down at the forest at the foot of the mountain, slowly squeezing the fine sand out of his hand. Watching it drift towards a certain direction before dissipating in mid-air. "Southeast wind, and it¡¯s a light one," Bi Fang commented, squinting at the sun. His body felt as if it was about to burst into flames, with every skin cell screaming in the high temperature. He opened his water bottle and poured all the water over his head, the breeze passing by taking some of the heat away. Bi Fang wiped his face and said, "Most wild animals are far more afraid of humans than humans are of them, even large animals, so Black Bears generally stay away from humans." "I¡¯ve mentioned before that Black Bears have a very keen sense of smell and hearing. Downwind, they can smell scents from half a kilometer away and hear footsteps from 300 steps away, so if you want to approach them, it¡¯s best to move upwind rather than downwind." "If it¡¯s downwind, your scent will reach the Black Bear before you do, and out of caution, it might leave early, adding difficulty to our hunt." Waiting in one spot is not advisable, and neither is killing a Black Bear in a certain place. This stems from Black Bears¡¯ strong territorial instinct. In the entire animal kingdom, virtually all carnivores of medium size or larger have been known to attack humans, but their attacks are rarely for food. Carnivores in nature all have a relatively fixed diet, and they seldom feed on things outside of it. For instance, although lions might kill predators like leopards and hyenas, they won¡¯t eat these animals unless they are starving. Black Bears are the same; they are also afraid of unfamiliar things and will actively avoid them under the instinct to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages. However, Black Bears are solitary animals with a very strong sense of territory. Usually, animals with territorial instincts are full of hostility and aggression towards those who intrude into their territory. "I mentioned this the day before yesterday as well," Bi Fang said, pursing his lips, and began to climb the slope. After a period of exercise, his spirit was fully awake, and his muscles began to regain strength. After waking up, humans often experience muscle weakness, but this can be relieved after a short period of activity. This is because the muscle nerves are not fully awake; the better one sleeps at night, the more obvious the lack of strength in the morning. After about fifteen minutes of hiking, which was akin to a warm-up exercise, Bi Fang had returned to normal physiological status, eager to get started. Five hours of sleep wasn¡¯t inadequate; if necessary, Bi Fang could keep his physical energy above a certain level even after staying awake for three days and nights. This was almost a basic quality required of every special forces soldier. Moreover, after training, most elites could enter deep sleep in seconds, using the least amount of sleep time for maximal rest. However, that was under special circumstances, with nerves constantly taut, they would let their brains empty after extreme fatigue, quickly like water. Generally, they would sleep in multiples of a sleep cycle. For example, one and a half hours, three hours, four and a half hours, and so on to schedule shifts. Bi Fang currently didn¡¯t need to do that, waking up in the morning still feeling tired like a normal person. It seemed there was even a more advanced method of polyphasic sleep which involved sleeping for 30 minutes every four hours, a total of three hours of sleep in 24 hours, which improved cognitive function more than sleeping for three hours at once. It¡¯s said that (Leonardo) Da Vinci¡¯s sleep method was even more outrageous, sleeping for 15 minutes every four hours of work, which meant that in 24 hours a day, one could sleep six 15-minute sessions, adding up to an hour and a half, and save more time. But Bi Fang had never tried it himself. That kind of sleep pattern seemed like a fast track to meeting Yama, oh, in Da Vinci¡¯s case, was it God? S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang, also somewhat of a health guru, believed that persisting in polyphasic sleep would only disrupt the human body¡¯s circadian rhythm, leading to fatigue, anxiety, reduced immunity, and other adverse reactions. As a normal way of life, a person¡¯s performance in this state would be much worse than usual. Beyond that, there wasn¡¯t much else it was good for. If you¡¯re a student cramming in homework in the last two days of summer or winter break, it might be worth a try; create a miracle in one night. After stretching his shoulders, Bi Fang maintained a fairly quick speed as he tread over the rocks, moving through the forest; only after crossing the hill in front of him did he continue speaking. "Generally, the territory of an adult Black Bear ranges from 10 to 40 square kilometers." "Most people probably don¡¯t have a clear concept of this data, but all you need to know is that 10 square kilometers is equivalent to 1,400 standard soccer fields." [Holy crap, that big?] [LOL, I have an idea of one standard soccer field, but I have no concept of 1,400 soccer fields] Bi Fang shifted his tone, "However, there are so many Japanese Black Bears, and with humans occupying most of the territory, a Black Bear¡¯s territory might not be that large under the pressure from both its own species and humans." [Have Black Bears started to compete internally now too? (Amused)] [Compete, everybody compete!] "Aside from accidentally entering their territory, there¡¯s another situation where Black Bears will initiate an attack, and that¡¯s when female black bears are with their cubs." "Female black bears with cubs are extremely ¡¯maternal,¡¯ so if you encounter them at this time, once the black bear feels its cubs are threatened, it will initiate an attack." Generally, these are the two situations when Black Bears will actively attack humans; and in such moments, the bears are extremely dangerous, entering the scene in a state of fury. This is quite unfriendly for hunters. Having the initiative in an attack is quite important during hunting. "Of course, seemingly for no reason, at least that¡¯s how humans view it, there have been incidents of Black Bears attacking humans." "However, most such attacks occur in the summer, around the mating season, when animals in love, driven by hormones, are like humans, very excited and passionate, and see the world around them differently." "One thing to note is that the mating season for Black Bears varies by region." Bi Fang bent down to part the brush, revealing a steaming pile of dung in front of everyone. Chapter 554 - 551: The Strong Crossbowman Bosen Covering his nose, he pushed aside the underbrush. Bi Fang promptly entered a code in the live stream room to avoid causing discomfort, and prodded with a stick. It wasn¡¯t dry, quite fresh. [Is this... bear poop?] [It¡¯s much smaller, could it be wolf¡¯s?] [Didn¡¯t Master Fang say there are no wolves in Japan? Must be dog¡¯s then.] [Feels like it¡¯s from a deer...] Seeing the barrage of comments, Bi Fang almost rolled his eyes. So all his previous teachings had been in vain. Stabbing the ground with his spear, Bi Fang yelled, "People! This is human feces! Don¡¯t you even know what your own usually looks like?"] [Ah, this...] [Scratches head...] [Awkward...] [Teacher Fang, I was wrong, please punish me harshly (taking off shirt)] [Nantong, roll away] Most of the audience in the live stream room fell silent, only a small part mocked the "Fang scholars" who had been seriously analyzing earlier. Even though it was July, the postgraduate entrance exam students had chosen to stay at school. In the dormitory, Wu Gang lowered his head in shame. Because he had really thought it was dog feces, he even bet a pack of spicy strips with his roommate. As a result, not only did he lose the spicy strips, but he also faced the relentless ridicule of his roommate: "And you study biology? You¡¯re always the most active in watching the live stream, but you don¡¯t even know what your own looks like, haha!"] Bi Fang held his head, feeling like he had encountered a group of students who endlessly analyze and calculate even something as simple as one plus one. He had to patiently explain again. "I¡¯ve told you, black bears are omnivores. In this season, their feces are often loose, without a fixed shape, and mixed with seeds from plants." "Deer feces are generally oval in shape, often around 1.5 cm in diameter¡ªthe larger the pellets, the larger the deer." "Normally, deer feces appear as black scattered pellets. However, in the summer and autumn seasons when food is aplenty, they consume a large amount of high-moisture food such as apples, berries, carrots, etc., which causes the feces pellets to stick together." "During the winter when food is scarce, they feed on high-fiber foods like branches and bark, making their feces scattered in pellets, hard in texture, and lighter in color." Bi Fang scrolled through the comments and explained all the controversial points one by one. The bigger the capacity, the bigger the tasks one can handle. Similarly, the larger the size, the more feces one produces. The principle is the same, simple and easy to understand. "As for dogs, dogs and coyotes are similar, also omnivores. The shape and color of their feces are greatly influenced by their diet. Wild dogs and coyotes prey on animals that are sized between wolves and foxes, primarily feeding on rodents, rabbits, or smaller deer." "Their feces are generally less than 2.5 cm in diameter and no longer than 10 cm in length. Due to their diet, they consume more moisture, which makes the surface of their feces smoother and more rounded compared to wolves¡¯, with a tapered end and a little pointed tip." "They often contain animal hair, bone fragments, undigested seeds of fruits or berries, or remnants of fruits. Dry feces usually turn white." "I¡¯ve also talked about wolves before. Their feces are generally larger, with similar characteristics to dogs, but tend to be darker in color, mainly due to consuming fresh blood from the meat of their prey." "As for human¡¯s..." Bi Fang sighed. He didn¡¯t want to explain much anymore: "Please do me a favor and take a good look next time before you flush. Note down the characteristics. Next time, share them in the comments to see what¡¯s different from others." [Got it, Teacher Fang!] [Is this homework for after class? Wuu wuu wuu] [I¡¯m just squatting in the pit right now] [What a stinky barrage, I can¡¯t accept it] [Why are there people here, are they other hunters?] An audience member expressed doubt, as this place was deep within the forest, where human footprints were rare, and with black bears rampant, locals hardly dared to enter. Just as Bi Fang had said, black bears have a strong sense of territory, and it might still be their mating and breeding season, where their desire to attack is particularly strong. Even professional hunters usually avoid such black bears, let alone ordinary people. "Black bears are basically solitary animals, only meeting with the opposite sex during mating season, and they may search for food together, so, during the mating season, hunters are very cautious, because it¡¯s very possible to provoke more than two large black bears at once." If armed and prepared in advance, one bear could still be considered huntable. But if two black bears attack at the same time, one should think about how to escape quickly. Because at that time, the hunted wouldn¡¯t be the black bears, but you. And this is true even if you¡¯re armed with a gun! "Black bear mating seasons vary by region, with those living in Polar Bear Country typically mating in June to July each year, and the young are usually born from December to the following March." "Those living in Bayastan generally mate in October, with cubs typically born around February of the following year." "This situation is mainly due to latitude reasons, with sunlight and food being the key factors in black bears deciding whether to breed." "In Japan, it¡¯s roughly every summer, so the Japanese Government increases its publicity efforts during this time every year, to prevent villagers near forests from entering the mountains, as the black bears are very dangerous at that time." Just think about those teenage boys who start flexing in their youth, behaving very emotionally to show off in front of girls they like. They like to show off their strength, and the simplest way is through displays of power. Therefore, they may quarrel over trivial matters and even escalate to fighting. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This is actually a biological instinct, during the spirited, *enlightenment stage, controlled by hormones within the body, deliberately displayed as a means. And this is with teachers and school rules holding them down. Lacking rational thought, driven purely by instinct, and with no legal constraints, black bears behave even more so, and anyone daring to disturb their mating... Who would dare enter deep into the forest at such times? Those encountered now are mostly with the same purpose in mind. "Other hunters maybe?" Bi Fang stood up, looking around. The stench in the air was too overpowering, so strong that it concealed the scent of the visitors. Although the feces were relatively fresh, they had not just appeared, and time had allowed their odor to spread continuously. This made it somewhat difficult for Bi Fang to search. He couldn¡¯t tell if the individual who left these traces had gone far or not. [Come to think of it, haven¡¯t really seen anyone live streaming this, have I?] [Isn¡¯t that obvious?] [I¡¯ll ban them if they dare to stream] [Anyone here in the same area as Old Fang, let¡¯s all think about it] [Damn, haven¡¯t really watched other people¡¯s live streams, I¡¯ve spent so much time watching Old Fang] [Mugalen, eh? Is this Mugalen¡¯s doing? No, that doesn¡¯t seem right, it doesn¡¯t feel like him, and his location seems quite far from Old Fang¡¯s, wait, isn¡¯t Bosen also here?] [Holy shit. That second-ranked guy?] The audience suddenly remembered a formidable person who had killed a black bear even larger than the one Old Fang faced. "The second-ranked Bosen?" Bi Fang¡¯s ears perked up. He hadn¡¯t paid attention to the movements of other hunters; had Bosen chosen the same spot as him? While he was puzzled, a figure carrying a large crossbow appeared behind some nearby trees, muttering as he walked, "I really wonder if your soul is as big as mine, when I was twenty-five, I still didn¡¯t know which farm I was feeding horses on!" Chapter 555 - 552 In the forest, Bosen turned from behind a huge fir tree and, as soon as he appeared, he noticed a pair of bright eyes staring straight at him, causing the hair on his body to involuntarily stand on end. The feeling of being watched was so obvious that Bosen¡¯s body instinctively reacted. It was like writing math equations on the blackboard, you can¡¯t see, but you can definitely feel the entire class watching you, dozens of pairs of eyes staring at your back, slightly warming. Obviously, Bi Fang had already spotted Bosen hidden behind the fir tree and was even somewhat vigilant. Perhaps it was because of a hunter¡¯s weather-beaten nature, fifty-two-year-old Bosen¡¯s face was full of wrinkles, with a big nose and a chin that wore a mournful tuft of gray and white beard, making him look very old. But on closer inspection, it wasn¡¯t hard to see that his back was straight as an arrow, and the eyes hidden beneath thick eyebrows and eyelids were sharp like those of a hawk, his hands were knobby, but very broad and covered with thick calluses. Especially the base of the thumbs and the pads of the fingers, where the calluses had turned brownish yellow, some of them had even dried and cracked open, revealing the whitish, about-to-peel stratum corneum. Always cocking a crossbow or... always shooting a gun? Bi Fang reminded himself in his mind. The grip of a crossbow also has a handle, but nearly no recoil¡ªyet long-term holding and friction could also result in thick calluses. Either this old man was a master crossbowman, or he was someone who frequently held a gun. An experienced and frighteningly formidable old hunter. The profession of a hunter, unlike a warrior, does not grow weaker with the passing of time and the loss of a strong body, on the contrary. An elderly hunter of fifty could even be significantly stronger than a twenty-year-old young hunter. Bosen was in turn sizing up Bi Fang between the trees. Young. This first impression was so strong and distinctive it was as though it had been plastered on Bosen¡¯s forehead, as if someone was gripping his collar and telling him that this guy was only this old but could stand on equal footing with you, and had even risen to fame in the world, a renowned explorer, an adventurer. The second overpowering perception was wildness, Bosen felt as if he was looking at a wild American Lion in the jungle that he had just trespassed into its territory and was about to face a fatal attack. And those muscles, they could compete in a bodybuilding contest, almost like a tiger¡¯s. Under a prestigious name lives a worthy person. If Bosen knew Chinese, this was undoubtedly the thought that would be crossing his mind at that moment. Sometimes, through a screen, many perceptions can be inaccurate, only face-to-face, looking directly at each other, can one understand what a person is really like. Seeing Bi Fang gripping his spear tightly, Bosen voluntarily put down the large crossbow that was on his shoulder, not holding the handle but the body of the crossbow, signaling that he had no ill intentions. "Such acute observational skills, youngsters nowadays are getting more and more impressive, when I was twenty-five, I was still working on a farm for someone else." Bosen repeated the words he had just said, slowly approaching Bi Fang. Bi Fang, who had been crouching on the ground, stood up with the help of his spear, and also put away his hostility, which was a completely subconscious reaction. Anyone you meet in the forest calls for caution, it¡¯s a professional hunter¡¯s instinct. "Hello," Bi Fang nodded, as a form of greeting. Bosen smiled, pointing at the three drones above Bi Fang¡¯s head, then gestured towards his own rear: "No need to be so cautious." Two tigers cannot share the same mountain, the relationship between the strong and the strong is generally one of competition. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Therefore, Bi Fang did not act too cordially. Bosen untied a half-drained rabbit from his waist and threw it in front of Bi Fang, "Caught it last night, thought it might attract the Black Bear. I was planning it for today¡¯s lunch, but since I ran into you, I¡¯ll give it to you as a welcome gift." There were hardly any wounds on the rabbit in front of him, just two red marks on its chest, one in the front and one in the back, which made it clear when combined with the object in Bosen¡¯s hand that it had been pierced by an arrow. Bi Fang was stunned, clearly not expecting the other to come up with such a move. Bosen smiled, "Take it, and to tell the truth, I should thank you. If it weren¡¯t for your emergence, I don¡¯t think the Japanese Government would have organized something like this, let alone given me the chance to compete for prize money." These words from Bosen were heartfelt. Before Bi Fang¡¯s livestream emerged from nowhere, no one could have imagined that something as inconspicuous as ¡¯Wilderness Survivalist¡¯ could make such a big splash. With people¡¯s lives becoming stable and affluent, such unique and curiosity-piquing performances attracted many viewers and brought fame and profit to many hunters who had previously remained obscure. As a typical example, Mugalen gained not just a hefty sum of prize money from his participation in the Discovery Channel¡¯s program, but also invisible assets like fame and status. While many hunters were drawn to the hunting season in Japan, many believed that even without monetary rewards, there would still be plenty who would participate. But from the viewers¡¯ perspective, the existence of prize money was essential. It allowed them, as a third party, to feel the fierce atmosphere driven by financial incentives. The distribution of prize money was straightforward; one point equaled one hundred thousand Yen. Converted, that¡¯s about five thousand Huaxia currency. Five thousand per point, ten points meant fifty thousand; killing a Black Bear of normal size, one could receive a cash prize of fifty thousand after hunting it. Of course, the value of a Black Bear is much more than this ¨C bear gallbladders, bear meat, bear paws, bear skins, and bear bones could all be sold for a total value that is definitely over fifty thousand. However, considering the issue of personal selling qualifications and channels, as well as the government¡¯s rapid recovery, getting fifty thousand without having to worry about transport or dissection was not too low. Bi Fang now had 10.2 points, meaning he had already earned one hundred and two thousand Yen. "Are you lacking money?" Bi Fang picked up the rabbit from the ground and did not refuse it, instead, he struck up a casual conversation with Bosen. Instinctively, Bi Fang found the old man in front of him interesting. Bosen sighed, "Yes, you¡¯ll understand when you reach my age. Ordinary people find it very difficult to adequately prepare for old age, whether it¡¯s financially or health-wise." "When I was young, I had quite arty imaginings, thinking I¡¯ll regret not accomplishing many dreams when I¡¯m old. But believe me, that won¡¯t trouble you. What will trouble you are the medical bills, retirement accounts, pains all over your body, and your vision of the world growing dimmer every day." As humans expanded, animals found it increasingly hard to survive. Many conservation areas were established, and one after another, species were added to the protection list, with limited hunting allowed by schedule, period, and quota. Traditional hunters found it very difficult to maintain their livelihood under such circumstances; anything of value was protected and only a tiny number of animals, such as wild boars, hares, and pheasants, became the main source of income for hunters. These animals had only one thing of value¡ªtheir meat, which could perhaps keep one fed and warm. But once faced with children¡¯s education fees, high housing costs, and other expenses, it undoubtedly became quite difficult to make ends meet. Traditional hunters are vanishing. The truly active and skilled ones are either those who have inherited the trade or are relics of the previous century like Bosen, or... poachers. If it weren¡¯t for Bi Fang revitalizing this field, it might be even more desolate. [Fuck, damn it, I¡¯m getting emotional.] [I watch live broadcasts to entertain myself, not to face reality, boo hoo hoo.] [I¡¯ll give you 4000 bucks to decrease your lifespan by a month, would you take it?] [What kind of shitty question is that? No one would want that, who would agree? Nobody, that¡¯s who. 4000 is too little, it¡¯s not worth it.] [How much is your salary a month now?] [...4000?] The audience in the live broadcast couldn¡¯t help but sigh when they saw an aged Bosen express such sentiments. [Did your initial wish come true? Or is it just time to pay respects now? As the years dry up ideals, I can no longer find the real me.] [I envy Old Fang for being able to adventure everywhere and achieve financial freedom. That¡¯s the life I¡¯ve been dreaming of.] [I¡¯ve been watching Old Fang¡¯s videos too much recently and thought about taking my family on a Sichuan-Tibet Road self-driving tour, only to find out after doing some research that fuck me, just the fuel cost is gonna be nearly ten thousand. I almost spat blood.] [Don¡¯t even mention it, fuel prices went up again.] "So I really thank you, at least now, I have nearly ten thousand I can take." "Alright, I get chatty when I¡¯m old, I can¡¯t help but talk when I meet someone. Let¡¯s call it a day, I¡¯m currently second place after all. Go for it, young man." Bosen winked playfully at Bi Fang, picked up the big crossbow beside him, and without looking back, walked into the forest. Bi Fang watched Bosen walk away, then looked up at the drone. He always felt something was off. He picked up the rabbit in his hand. After being exposed to the sun and bled out, this half-rabbit had shriveled and seemed to have little meat left. Bosen showed a lot of goodwill toward Bi Fang. But Bi Fang felt things were not that simple; the other party... seemed to harbor animosity toward him? Nevertheless, under the camera, Bosen was very good at hiding it, even giving off the impression of a cheerful and optimistic old hunter with a strong sense of the sun setting. Maybe it was just his own misperception. Unless it was a life-threatening danger, the instincts Beastly Instinct gave Bi Fang were not necessarily accurate. Maybe it was just the animosity born from competitive relations; it didn¡¯t explain much. Besides, there was the drone. If an enemy comes, meet them head on; if a flood comes, counter it with earth. Putting aside his uneasiness, Bi Fang didn¡¯t waste this half-rabbit. As Bosen said, it could actually be used to attract a black bear. However, finding a black bear clearly was not that easy. Before finding a black bear, Bi Fang instead came across a sika deer. Perhaps due to the lack of natural predators, the deer did not exhibit much alertness and didn¡¯t notice Bi Fang even when he got within thirty-five meters. Bi Fang tiptoed, moving with a Fox Step, and even managed to chat with his audience while doing so. "For the island nation of Japan, there¡¯s hardly a place for sika deer in their homeland anymore. Animals like tigers have been extinct since prehistoric times, and after the Japanese Government hunted the Japanese dwarf and Honshu wolves to extinction, bears are the only creatures left in Japan that can be called mighty predators." "Both brown bears and black bears can hunt sika deer, but they aren¡¯t strictly carnivorous, and they don¡¯t hunt sika deer often. Bears also hibernate during winter, so they have a shorter timeframe to prey on sika deer." "Relatively speaking, these large, fierce animals are quite clumsy, making it difficult for them to catch the agile Sika Deer. The number of Sika Deer they can kill is not that high." For multiple reasons, the native Sika Deer of Japan have completely lost their natural predators and are growing almost savagely¡ªit¡¯s like the scene from elementary school textbooks where, without wolves, the deer ate up the forest. The Japanese Wolf Association even suggested that Japan could import wolves from other countries to help control the Sika Deer population from a biosphere perspective and reduce the damage caused by their overpopulation. However, the public felt that comparing wolves to Sika Deer, introducing wolves was more dangerous since Sika Deer are typically docile animals. Occasionally, they can even bring in tourism revenue for the locals, so from this point of view, it¡¯s better not to introduce them. As for letting hunters hunt, that¡¯s nothing more than a pipe dream, as previously mentioned, due to various reasons, traditional hunters are dwindling, almost to the point of extinction. In recent years, Japan¡¯s serious aging population problem has reduced the number of registered hunters from 500,000 to the current 100,000, of which over 60% are elderly with limited mobility, and there are more than 1,200 women. The actual number of able-bodied young hunters is only about 10,000, which means each person would have to catch 300 deer! Even catching one a day would take a whole year! It is said that by the year 2025, the number may surge to 5 million, by then each hunter will have to deal with 500 deer, not even one person with an AK could finish them all. The decreasing number of hunters each year is no threat to the rapidly increasing Sika Deer population, unable to curb the deer numbers¡¯ upward trend. Surprise echoed throughout the Japanese government¡¯s official live broadcast room. Jingxiang, who heard Bi Fang speak, was very surprised, "Has the Sika Deer population really grown to this extent?" No one expected that such a seemingly cute animal could cause so much trouble for everyone. The commentator Xiao Fu nodded in agreement, "The Japanese Government has decided to introduce a ¡¯Wildlife Hunting Course¡¯ in schools from next year, which involves teaching related laws and hunting knowledge through the school system to help students obtain trapping and shotgun hunting permits, increasing the number of domestic hunters." Black Bears still have a quota, but the Japanese Government is encouraging an open season on Sika Deer. Bi Fang had already seen many Sika Deer in the woods, but he never felt like catching them because deer are indeed not easy to catch. Not only are they incredibly fast, exceeding speeds of 90 kilometers per hour, but their field of vision is wide as well, making the success rate of catching them extremely low. Bi Fang tried once the day before yesterday, but sadly, it ended in failure. This did break the audience¡¯s perception that Bi Fang had a 100% success rate in hunting, but it¡¯s quite normal; even in nature, the hunting success rate of tigers is only 30%, and among the feline family, the highest is the Black-footed Cat at 60%. Conversely, the African Hyena has the highest success rate at 85%, but even that¡¯s not 100%. But the alertness of the deer he encountered today was so poor. What a golden opportunity. Bi Fang squatted in the bushes, rubbing his hands together with excitement. "Normally, deer look up to survey their surroundings almost every time they take a bite. Look at this one, it has only lifted its head twice in ten minutes, which clearly indicates very poor vigilance. Let¡¯s try and see if we can catch it. If we do, we¡¯ll have venison for lunch today." "However, the wind direction is not quite right; it¡¯s neither downwind nor upwind. Sika Deer have a very sensitive sense of smell, so I need to be careful, especially since I¡¯ve been running all day and my body odor is quite strong." Bi Fang tore open a small cloth bag filled with powdered wood ash, which is charcoal ash. He applied all the charcoal ash to his face and crushed some local plants, smearing their juice on his body to better conceal his scent. "If conditions allowed, actually rolling in thin mud would be best, but we don¡¯t have that opportunity now. All right, now let¡¯s see if we can get a little closer." Having said that, Bi Fang stopped talking to the audience, because with the hearing of the Sika Deer, getting any closer would risk being exposed. Chapter 556 - 553: Pulsing Blood Pool The forest was a tranquil expanse of lush green. The air was oppressively heavy and humid, as if one were inhaling not gas but boiling water. Too hot, too vast. The vast monsoon from the Western Pacific carried copious amounts of moisture from the ocean toward the land, washing over the forest time and again. Tens of millions of tons of the Tsushima Warm Current formed a colossal python deep in the ocean, surging northward with great momentum. It separated from the Kuroshio, joined the Sea of Japan after passing through the Tsushima Strait, and entwined with the dormant cold python of the Sea of Japan, lifting dense fog. Where the monsoon and the warm and cold currents met, a massive amount of moisture accumulated over Honshu Island of Japan, elevating the humidity to its peak. Here, the seasons were always distinct, the rainfall always plentiful; even if the trees were all cut down, within a decade, another verdant grove would grow upon this land once more. The white sweatshirt was soaked, indistinguishable if by sweat or the damp air, clinging tightly to well-defined muscles, revealing the beast tooth necklace beneath the fabric. Bi Fang crouched behind a cedar tree, breathing the somewhat moist and stuffy air, about to go hunting, he tuned his body to its optimal state. Like a tiger ready to pounce, coordinating every muscle, he stared intently at his prey up ahead. The audience held their breath, having watched Bi Fang hunt countless times, yet they never grew tired of it. So thrilling! Every time, the fusion of strength and skill was a textbook example of hunting, perfect, powerful, the wisdom of humans. Once, someone edited together all of Bi Fang¡¯s combat scenes with the hunting of all feline animals, set to rousing music. In less than a day, it dominated the top spot in B Island¡¯s daily views. The stout roots, covered in mossy patterns, were exposed to the air, crawling out of the dark brown soil, drawing moisture from the atmosphere. Within low shrubs, a chestnut-colored sika deer with white spots was nibbling on leaves. The tall antlers indicated a mature male sika deer, stunningly beautiful. The antlers arched to either side, with brow tines stretching forward, curving slightly inward, like smoothly rounded tree branches. Bi Fang counted; the antler had four branches, which made him feel somewhat disappointed. In zoos, it¡¯s hard to see sika deer with complete antlers, because every year around mid-April, their old antlers fall off, and new ones start to grow. The new antlers, fragile and not yet ossified, are covered in a layer of deep red velvet, with blood vessels in the underlying tissue arranged sparsely. This is what is commonly known as velvet antler. By August, the velvet antler gradually ossifies, the velvet skin sheds off, and the deer¡¯s antlers become hard and smooth. Come next spring, the antlers will fall off again, and new velvet antler will grow out. The young male deer harvest their antler velvet around mid-June. For adult males over two years old, it¡¯s best to harvest when the velvet has grown into a second beam, the tips are concave, and the third branch has not emerged. At this time, the velvet¡¯s quality is high, and its value is great. Generally, the first cut is in late June, and the second in late August. Now, mid-July, neither here nor there, perfectly in the middle, it meant nothing but the meat was worth taking. Gripping the dart in hand, Bi Fang felt the ground, stood up from behind the cedar tree and inched closer; his movement was even slower, so slow that it was almost imperceptible. The average time spent per step was about one minute. This was a great test of strength, endurance, and patience, due to the slow movement, the muscles had to stay tensed, exhausting a lot of energy. Bi Fang moved his hands in front of his body, breaking away as much as possible from the familiar human form, which not only helped him wield his weapon but also assisted in lifting his legs. The difference in silhouette also made him less likely to alert his prey. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When an unfamiliar object appears, an animal¡¯s first reaction is curiosity, not like when they see humans, where their first response is to run away. The leaves rustled in the wind, masking the soft sound of Bi Fang¡¯s movements well. The sika deer was quite sensitive by nature, perhaps a bit clumsy, but that didn¡¯t hinder its agile movements, sharp hearing, keen sense of smell, and its rather poor vision. With its delicate hoofs and quick speed, it was exceptionally skilled in climbing steeps and leaping with great bounds nimbly. Bi Fang had to seize the opportunity for a fatal strike. More than ten minutes had passed, and Bi Fang, who moved slowly, finally crept within twenty meters of the Sika Deer¡ªa distance he deemed worthy of a try with the Dart in hand. If lucky, the deer might be taken down with one strike. Just as Bi Fang was about to raise the Dart in his hand, the slow-witted Sika Deer seemed to suddenly sense something amiss, lifted its head, and looked around. At this moment, the audience appeared even more nervous than Bi Fang, with barrage after barrage of comments flooding in. [Damn, is it going to be discovered?] [Just rush up and do it!] [Is it over, are we going to lose this chance?] In the commentary room, Kogawa Kobayashi and Shizuka Minamoto¡¯s hearts skipped a beat as well; the situation where success or failure rested on a single move was too thrilling. Missing the shot, humans, with their speed, would have no chance of catching this creature again. "Are we going to fail?" "No, we have to succeed!" Surprisingly, as the Sika Deer looked over, Bi Fang did not seize the moment to launch an attack, but instead lowered his body and head, watching the deer only with his peripheral vision. What was astonishing was that after briefly scanning the area, the Sika Deer actually failed to notice Bi Fang! After it turned its head back, Bi Fang seemed to confirm the temperament of the deer before him and tried to get closer once more. The closer he got, the higher the chance of success. There was no doubt about it. He lay on his stomach, placing his hands beside his shoulders, using his hands and toes to support his body, lifting himself about ten centimeters off the ground, moving forward, and then returning to the ground, shifting his hands and feet forward again, and lifting his body once more. The repetition made Bi Fang look like a comical inchworm. But this was the best method to avoid alarming the animals and to reduce the sound of his own movements, a fairly flexible type of creeping. Gradually, the distance closed to under twenty meters, and by the time he approached fifteen meters, the Sika Deer clearly sensed something, lifting its head more frequently and for longer. Yet by the time it realized what was happening, it was already too late. Bi Fang, his body fully bent like a bow, released the bowstring, and sprang from the ground as if shot out of a sprint, creating deep impressions in the soil from the great force. The moment his front foot touched the ground, his body stretched out, and the Dart was drawn back to its limit. From still to dynamic, the deer instinctively leaped away in an attempt to escape, quickly covering three meters and pulling the distance back to twenty meters. However, even before it could land, the Dart, under tremendous torque, had already been launched with an unmatched force. The sharp Flint Stone Spear pierced the air, emitting a piercing whistling sound. Bi Fang had anticipated the escape route of the Sika Deer in advance. Deer generally are timid, and leaping is their subconscious reaction when attacked or startled, often not forward but to the sides, and towards terrains that are more open¡ªa decision dictated by biological instincts! Therefore, the moment the deer leaped, Bi Fang had already targeted the brushless soil on its right side. The Dart, carrying blood, passed through the neck of the freshly landed Sika Deer. Its immense force brought the deer, which was over one meter long, to its knees upon impact. It was knocked down by the colossal force and lay directly on the ground. But it did not die; the Sika Deer¡¯s major arteries and nerves were not pierced, just its windpipe was ruptured. It struggled to get up, but the second Dart quickly followed. This one was more accurate, faster, and mercilessly aimed at the Sika Deer¡¯s abdomen, thoroughly dyeing the chestnut red into a bloody red. "Huh." Bi Fang let out a long sigh of relief; hitting the abdomen and damaging the vital trachea, he could essentially declare victory. Grasping the Spear behind him in his hands, Bi Fang approached the fallen Sika Deer. The audience once again realized the terror of the Darts. Two Darts, effortlessly taking down an adult male deer. A Sika Deer¡¯s body length is generally between 125 and 145 centimeters, shoulder height between 70 and 95 centimeters, and weight between 70 and 100 kilograms; this one was about one meter thirty in length and likely weighed around eighty kilograms? Eighty kilograms, that¡¯s already more than what most ordinary people weigh, some might not even reach that much. If two spears can kill a deer, it indicates they could also kill a human with two spears, or maybe even one if aimed precisely. No wonder even the Black Bear gives way to the sharp edge of the Dart. This is practically an ancient machine gun! [Awesome!] [No matter when or where, watching Old Fang hunt is always thrilling, truly satisfying!] [I¡¯ve tipped! All the Wolf Brush I earned this month, I¡¯m giving it all to you, sob sob sob] [Pizza Hut from Nanshan is gifting the host 1 Spaceship*] Bi Fang squatted on the ground, the Sika Deer¡¯s limbs still twitching. He took out a Harpoon and stabbed it toward the back of the deer¡¯s head: "We can insert a dagger into the gap in the back of its head, destroying its brain, and that¡¯s the fastest way to end its pain." The moment its brain was destroyed, the Sika Deer instantly stopped twitching, and blood slowly spread on the ground. Catching the Sika Deer, Bi Fang didn¡¯t rush to process it but went to the place where it had been grazing earlier. He dug through the soil and found a section of black root in the area the deer had disturbed. Pulling hard, he brought the black root out of the soil, and on the rough vine, there were several large spherical objects attached. [Wow, what is this, potatoes?] [Do potatoes in your home look like this?] "It¡¯s kudzu root, one of the Sika Deer¡¯s favorite foods." Bi Fang poured water onto the spherical object, revealing the black kudzu root. He sliced open the part that had been nibbled on by the deer, revealing the pale yellow interior with a texture similar to taro. "During summer and autumn, Sika Deer will migrate to the shady slopes at the edge of forests, mainly feeding on vines and herbaceous plants such as kudzu vines, Chinese knotweed, Codonopsis, strawberries, and so on, all of which are their favorites." "We can eat these things too. So if you get lost in the wilderness and see a deer, but unfortunately, you don¡¯t catch it, you can check the area where it was for anything edible." He cut off a piece with his knife and stuffed it directly into his mouth, muttering, "Kudzu root can be eaten raw like taro, it¡¯s quite astringent, juicy, and has a faint sweetness to it. If you¡¯re hungry, it can make for a decent meal." After a taste, Bi Fang put the rest of the kudzu root into his backpack and took out a piece of rope, winding it around the antlers of the Sika Deer. He looked at the surrounding environment and, dragging the deer, arrived in front of a large tree, throwing the rope over a tree branch. Pulling the rope, the entire deer was hoisted onto the branch. For large animals, hanging and cutting is the best and quickest method, but it¡¯s often difficult to handle alone because they¡¯re too heavy. This Sika Deer, weighing as much as a person, was just right for one person to handle, both in size and weight. "Next, we¡¯re going to hang it up, skin it, and remove the innards. These parts are edible, but we have enough food, and there¡¯s really no need for that. Besides, dealing with the innards is such a hassle, and they smell strong. Out in the wilderness, I often choose to leave them behind." With the Sika Deer hanging, blood dripped down from its head, merging with the wound on its abdomen, and slowly dripping off its hooves. Bi Fang, holding the Harpoon, sharpened it and began to skin the deer from the head. As the bloody scene was about to be revealed, a massive blur of mosaic covered the viewers¡¯ screens. [olst] [To be honest, I¡¯ve actually turned eighteen years old and want to see the infantry (sly)] [Mosaic is the stupidest invention in human history!] Among the barrage of comments cursing their own mosaics, some recalled the moment of the hunt. [I almost forgot, why didn¡¯t the Sika Deer see Old Fang at that time?] At that moment, the Sika Deer was practically looking straight at Bi Fang, but somehow it failed to notice him, which is really unscientific. It wasn¡¯t like this when catching rabbits before. As Bi Fang pulled on the deer skin, he explained with difficulty: "It¡¯s simple because the Sika Deer is, is colorblind." Pulling off a swath of skin from one leg, Bi Fang caught his breath, his energy sapping due to the rising temperature. Colorblind? The audience paused, clearly not expecting this answer. "Many times, a tiger is right in front of a deer, and it can¡¯t tell, precisely because of this reason." Because of color blindness, in the eyes of a deer, a yellow tiger and the surrounding green leaves have no color difference, and the stripes greatly confuse the deer¡¯s ability to distinguish them, just like camouflage. "In fact, not only sika deer, but the majority of mammals are colorblind." "Cows, sheep, horses, dogs, cats, and others, can¡¯t distinguish colors; reflected in their eyes are only black, white, and gray. Dogs can¡¯t distinguish colors, so what they see is similar to looking at a black and white photograph." [Holy crap, is that true?] [Learned something new today.] Many viewers began to realize for the first time that their pets at home are colorblind? "Most mammals can¡¯t discern colors, so even without camouflage, as long as they haven¡¯t smelled you, you can get close enough to them to hunt." "Additionally, pay attention to birds; birds can differentiate colors, and they are often the natural sentinels for wild animals." "This is mainly due to evolution." Two hundred million years ago, during the Mesozoic era, the dominant creatures on Earth were reptiles like dinosaurs, crocodiles, snakes, and lizards. They are cold-blooded, and when the temperature drops at night, they need to hide and sleep, so they usually are active during the daytime. On the other hand, most mammals are viviparous, and giving birth to a single offspring is very taxing. They cannot compete in numbers with reptiles, and it¡¯s too dangerous to go out during daytime. But since mammals are warm-blooded, lower temperatures at night don¡¯t affect them much, so they choose to be active at night, grab some midnight snacks, and live the nightlife. Daytime belonged to the reptiles, but nighttime was the domain of mammals; it became an unwritten rule. For mammals active at night, discerning the brightness of objects in the dark is much more important than seeing their color clearly. What followed could be anticipated. Over long evolutionary periods, most mammals lost the green and blue vision proteins and can only see a world similar to black, white, and gray, but they are able to spot prey under very dim light. They also became more sensitive to moving objects, while their sense of smell developed further, and frequently processing a large amount of olfactory signals also made their brains more developed. Coupled with certain changes in their teeth and bones, their brain size increased, creating a unique set of survival advantages for mammals. Later on, when dinosaurs became extinct, daytime also became the world of mammals. But the fact that most are colorblind remained unchanged. [Wait a minute, then why aren¡¯t we colorblind?] The audience was confused. So why are humans so unique? "Because primates need to discriminate which fruits are unripe and which are mature when they eat wild fruit. Mature fruits are generally red or orange-yellow, containing more sugar, providing more energy, and they taste better." "Being able to distinguish between red and green fruits is a significant survival advantage. In the subsequent long process of evolution, primates regained color vision." "Therefore, not only humans but also orangutans, monkeys, and baboons can see many colors just like we do." The audience suddenly understood. Awesome! "So, our ability to see a colorful world today, we owe it to the food-loving nature of humans." Bi Fang joked with the audience and redirected their attention back to the large deer in front of them. As its artery had been punctured, more blood flowed down the deer¡¯s hoof onto the ground, accumulating into a small pool of blood. But aside from Bi Fang who occasionally looked down, no one else noticed that this pool of blood... Was slowly pulsating. Chapter 557 - 554 Sika Deer Blood Wine, Taste the Flavor of Masculinity In the forest, the tall trees spread their branches in all directions toward the west. A dusty white rope was wrapped around one of the branches, and beneath it, a pair of antlers was tightly entwined. A large deer weighing eighty kilograms hung in mid-air, half of its short fur had been skinned off, revealing the bright red muscles. Many capillaries had ruptured, and the severed artery had stopped bleeding, beginning to dry out and dripping blood into a puddle below its hooves. Ripples spread out from the center of the blood pool, one layer after another. Bi Fang squatted down and stared intently. The audience in the live broadcast room was still making noise and had not noticed this scene. A bear? Such a massive tremor, could a huge creature be approaching? No, it couldn¡¯t be possible. Bi Fang shook his head. Given the frequency, the scent, and the distance that could cause such a tremor, if it were a bear, it would not still be out of sight; it would be visible by now. Remembering the region in which he was located, Bi Fang¡¯s pupils shrank instantly, and he blurted out, "Fuck, an earthquake?" The sudden shout confused the noisy audience, and more than ninety percent of ordinary people had never experienced an earthquake in their lives. It was a term that only appeared during occasional school drills. The word that finally came out abruptly from Bi Fang caught them off-guard. An earthquake? Fuck, an earthquake! At this moment, the camera in the Japanese live broadcast room just switched back to Bi Fang, where two commentators¡¯ brains crashed, and they instinctively crawled under the desk. When the audience came to their senses and looked back at the broadcast, the blood pool on the screen was almost jumping! In just a few seconds, an incredibly intense vibration traveled from the soles of Bi Fang¡¯s feet to his whole body. The blood pit in front of him, which had been rippling, was almost splattering blood droplets from its center! In the eyes of millions of viewers, the entire screen was trembling slightly. It wasn¡¯t the drone that was moving, but the earth itself. With thunderous roars like a dragon turning over, countless small stones scattered, a multitude of leaves fell from the air, and the hanging sika deer began to shake violently. This feeling was exceedingly frightening, the true majestic might of nature. Bi Fang steadied himself against a tree. At that moment, he felt very strange, as though his legs were tied to a large vibrating machine. Fortunately, the intense shaking stopped after seven or eight seconds. Numerous viewers swallowed, wanting to comment but found their fingers trembling too. [Is it... over?] [That was fast] [Was that really an earthquake just now?] [I actually witnessed an earthquake?] Many viewers found the experience both shocking and surprising. So rare. To watch a live broadcast and see an earthquake? Humans, so far, have no means of predicting earthquakes in advance; therefore, a live broadcast of one is simply unheard of. Even if one does occur, it¡¯s usually indoors with some small-scale broadcasters. Like today, with hundreds of people watching at the same time. Unprecedented. Bi Fang swallowed, his forehead breaking into a sweat, he was also somewhat shaken. In his past and current life combined, he had only seen earthquakes on the news, let alone experienced one personally. Just now was the first time in his life he had felt an earthquake, and he was quite taken aback. Bi Fang looked around and saw that no large swaths of trees had collapsed, nor were there landslides, and based on his immediate feeling, "The earthquake just now must not have been high in magnitude, but it was indeed very nerve-racking, especially in the mountains where landslides can easily occur¡ªonce you encounter a landslide, there¡¯s basically no chance of survival." [Awesome, I¡¯ve never experienced an earthquake in my life.] [Better if you never do.] [I give to the host not out of concern for people but for the event, Big Bone*66¡ªdamn, that¡¯s seriously extreme.] S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [The user who will no longer change their name is an idiot gives to the host yacht*1¡ªSuch an eye-opener, really an eye-opener! I¡¯ve grown so much, and this is the first time I¡¯ve encountered an earthquake.] After waiting for a moment and not experiencing any aftershocks, Bi Fang relaxed, "Good, there¡¯s no danger, but capturing this moment is indeed very rare. Still, to be safe, we should start moving towards flat, open areas. It¡¯s best not to stay here." Inside the Japan livestream room, a large number of viewers exclaimed in surprise. The camera focused on the other hunters. The range of an earthquake is often vast, and not just Bi Fang, but many other hunters had also felt this tremor a few minutes ago. Mugalen leaned against a tree, slowly sitting down, his chest heaving wildly; although it didn¡¯t use up much physical strength, he couldn¡¯t help but gasp for air. Scared the shit out of me, the earthquake came out of nowhere. Bosen, carrying a crossbow, ducked and covered his head, only daring to peek out after everything ended, then he released a deep sigh of relief. "Almost lost my life there." It wasn¡¯t only Taiji Town, but the entire Wakayama Prefecture, and even most of Honshu Island, felt this intense earthquake. Every hunter, no matter how big or small, felt it. A few Y¨­ki Hunters, accustomed to it, quickly moved away from tall trees and ducked down, standing back up after it was over. Fortunately, no one was hunting Black Bear at the time of the earthquake, or else accidents would have surely occurred. Sato opened his water bottle to take a sip, telling the audience not to worry, "Our Japan is a country prone to many earthquakes and volcanoes; it also has the highest frequency of earthquakes in the world." There are three major seismic belts on Earth: the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Mediterranean-Indonesian Seismic Belt, and the Oceanic Ridge Seismic Belt. These are all unstable regions formed by tectonic collisions, and the countries located on these seismic belts frequently experience earthquakes. Among them, the places with frequent earthquakes are Fukushima in Japan, San Francisco in Ugly Country, the Andaman Sea in the Indian Ocean, and La¡¯Aquila in Italy. Especially Japan, it¡¯s the most noteworthy among them. Its geographical location on the map is between the Eurasian Plate and the Pacific Plate, with the Pacific Plate subducting under the Eurasian Plate, causing intense collisions and compression. This type of collision, on one hand, formed the Japanese archipelago; on the other hand, it also brought an endless series of earthquake disasters. It¡¯s a bit like two plastic plates floating in a basin, from collision to separation, merely in an instant. But in Earth¡¯s "big basin", this process is slowed down countless times. The moment of collision and deformation is happening, and it¡¯s also slowed down countless times. The collision continues even today, and Japan experiences continuous volcanic eruptions and earthquakes every year. There are over 200 volcanoes here, about 45 of which are active, and earthquakes are so frequent they are like eating and drinking, averaging over 1500 times a year, with an average daily earthquake frequency of more than four times. You only eat meals three times a day, but here, earthquakes can occur four times a day; you¡¯d have to include late-night snacks to draw even. Of course, that¡¯s a bit exaggerated, because this includes all of Japan, counting the seabed too. If it¡¯s just in a certain area, it wouldn¡¯t be quite so exaggerated. "We have earthquakes almost every day throughout the year. Most of them are just small, non-destructive ones, the kind that causes a slight ripple in the water. But, sometimes we encounter more powerful ones, which is why our houses are primarily made of wood to reduce the casualty rate." "I¡¯ve been used to this kind of life since I was a child, so there¡¯s no need for anyone to be scared, it¡¯ll pass soon." Picking up the naginata lying on the ground, Sato waved it off, signaling that the earthquake was nothing to worry about, categorized as frightening but without any real danger. [You¡¯re number one!] ``` [Been through a big scene now] [Other hunters must be scared out of their wits, hahaha] In the forest, Bi Fang said the same thing, explaining why earthquakes are so frequent in Japan. Many netizens were deeply moved. [Huaxia is still the best, safe] "That¡¯s not necessarily true," Bi Fang thought about it and denied it. "Although Japan has many earthquakes, Huaxia is the country that ultimately suffers from the most severe earthquake disasters. Our earthquakes are powerful, shallow, and widespread. Either they don¡¯t happen, or once they do, it¡¯s generally inescapable." Since the founding of the country, Huaxia has experienced over 100 destructive earthquakes, with disaster areas reaching over 300,000 square kilometers and 7 million houses collapsing. Huaxia¡¯s land area accounts for one-fifteenth of the global total, but its land earthquakes make up one-third of the global total. The illusion that earthquakes rarely occur is entirely because most of the population is concentrated in the plains. "7% of Huaxia¡¯s territory bears 33% of the world¡¯s continental strong earthquakes, making it the country with the most strong continental earthquakes in the world." "Damn, is that so?" Inside the first exhibition hall, many spectators looked at each other in dismay. Many nodded their heads, the people in the hall murmuring, coming from all over the country, and even from abroad. At this moment, they clearly recalled many unbearable memories. "However, we should now focus on dealing with the sika deer, and then quickly descend to a flatter area. I¡¯m worried about aftershocks, especially since we¡¯re on a mountain, and whether there will be landslides doesn¡¯t necessarily depend on the intensity of the quake." After skinning and removing the innards, the weight of the deer was significantly reduced. Bi Fang looked at the pair of majestic antlers, which were almost fully calcified and no longer covered in velvet. "Antlers without velvet are basically useless," Bi Fang still felt it was a pity. "Cervids can be said to be nature¡¯s Deadpool, with extremely strong regenerative abilities. For example, this sika deer we see here, if its leg bone were fractured, it could stand within three days, run again in ten days, and completely recover in twenty days." "Deer velvet is the same. It¡¯s actually the regenerative tissue of the sika deer, and it can be called a miracle in the animal kingdom. Biologists still can¡¯t understand why mammals can regenerate such a large organ." "Notice that I said organ, not our nails or hair, which, if cut, grow back as keratinous protein proliferation, commonly known as dead skin. But deer velvet is a living organ of the deer." Bi Fang tapped on the antlers with the back of his knife, producing a dull sound. The antler velvet of sika deer grows at about 1.5 centimeters a day. The antler velvet of moose grows at an astonishing rate of 2.5 centimeters a day, one of the fastest growing organs in nature, and the largest regenerative organ in nature, bar none. "Antlers are a pair of fully calcified bones. During the process from velvet to antlers, the fine hair on their surface falls off, revealing a bright red color. Then, various birds would come and help clean off the velvet. Deer will also eat the velvet off each other. In fact, the supposed medicinal benefits of deer velvet chiefly come from the biochemical substances found in this layer of velvet." "Shame, it¡¯s all gone now." The audience was amazed to hear this. So deer are that awesome? [Deer blood is the real pity, I¡¯d rather not have the velvet but have the blood, wuwuwu, Old Fang, if you don¡¯t want it you can give it to me] "Oh, someone understands deer blood?" Bi Fang was surprised. [My great-uncle breeds them, deer blood is great stuff, hehe, those who know, know] [? What kind of riddle man?] [What does it mean, I don¡¯t get it] [Can¡¯t say, can¡¯t say, it¡¯s ineffably wonderful] Bi Fang laughed loudly, "It¡¯s simple, do you know that a stag typically has a harem of a dozen or twenty does, and these harems are not just for show, nor is it like lions that only mate a few times; they have to be serviced several times a day. And it goes on for several months." The audience: "???" [A dozen or twenty harems, several times a day, let¡¯s say a hundred times, for several months... damn, that¡¯s like a pile driver, isn¡¯t it?] [This... is a bit outrageous] ``` [Really, I don¡¯t believe it] "It¡¯s all thanks to deer blood. Deer blood has an extremely high oxygen content and contains a vast amount of immunoglobulins, roughly three times that of human blood. The SOD antioxidants are even up to seven times higher than in humans, completely fearless of viruses and bacteria." "That¡¯s why a lot of men adore deer blood wine, but I didn¡¯t have a container to collect it, and it felt quite heavy, so I couldn¡¯t be bothered to gather any." [What a waste, what a waste!] [Quick, Boss Fang, send the coordinates. While it¡¯s still fresh, I¡¯ll come over and lick it up] [Lord Mu has sent the host 10 Spacecrafts¡ªAh-fang, we¡¯ve been friends for so long, wouldn¡¯t it be unspeakable for you not to bring back a jar as a gift?] [Wow, a jar? Aren¡¯t you afraid of dropping dead from greed, you black-hearted merchant?] Kicking aside the useless parts, Bi Fang lifted it and felt much lighter, at least a third of the weight was gone, and the extra forty kilograms he could now carry was more than enough for him. He took the deer down from the tree, slung it over his back, and rested it on his shoulder, near his neck. [By the way, what would Old Fang do if he runs out of energy halfway and encounters a Black Bear?] "That¡¯s actually possible, but since we¡¯re running downhill, it¡¯s not very likely. We¡¯ve discussed the combat power of bears and tigers before. One thing I didn¡¯t mention is that the chances of Black Bears ¡¯meeting¡¯ tigers are actually not as high as we think." Their selection of microhabitats is totally different. "On a horizontal level, tigers and bears share the same habitat, like a place where there are both bears and tigers, but vertically, their chosen living spaces are quite different." "Black Bears prefer higher elevation mountain areas, usually in the mountains within a habitat, whereas tigers prefer the lower altitudes of valleys or dense forests, similar to the microhabitats of Brown Bears. "They share a ¡¯bunk-bed¡¯ relationship." Oh. So that¡¯s how it is. Once Bi Fang explained, everyone understood. Black Bears live at higher altitudes, and now, by running downhill, one is leaving their habitat. Furthermore, the lower mountain areas are generally human settlements, so the likelihood of encountering Black Bears is even lower. Bi Fang quickened his pace down the mountain, leaping over trees with ease. With his joints reinforced, Bi Fang could move up and down without feeling any pressure on his knees, making it quite effortless. This easy and carefree movement made many outdoors enthusiasts watching envious. Let alone carrying a load nearly the weight of a person, one wouldn¡¯t dare to jump off a rock more than a meter high with just a slight bend of the knees! Wouldn¡¯t one dare to jump like that if their knee joints were made of titanium alloy? Jumping onto a mound of earth, a dark brown patch of soil caught his attention and made him stop. In the summer after the harsh sun, the top layer of soil should be light grey. But here, all of it was the moist deep soil, obviously turned over not long ago. A small landslide? Bi Fang took note of the slope¡¯s gradient and shape. About fifty degrees, clearly very prone to landslides. The unique U-shape mouth confirmed this as well. The recent earthquake wasn¡¯t without its effects. But this wasn¡¯t what drew Bi Fang¡¯s attention. In the brown soil, a large piece of pale green stone was particularly eye-catching. This is...Bi Fang moved closer. Under the sunlight, the pale green stone shone brightly. "Jade?" Chapter 558 - 555: Found a Treasure Bi Fang stood in the sunlight and blurted out after a long time, "Jadeite!" Jadeite? What jadeite, where¡¯s the jadeite? As Bi Fang pointed toward the edge of the forest, millions of viewers¡¯ gazes also shifted in that direction. Kogawa Kobayashi and Shizuka Minamoto both widened their eyes, too shocked to speak. The drone had flown earlier, through the sparse trees, until it arrived at a steep slope and looked down from top to bottom. Atop a hill a few hundred meters high, a huge brown landslide, like a scab being peeled away, revealed grayish-white limestone, damp earth, fallen trees, and in the middle, an enormously large stone with a green fracture face. Between the brown and gray, this touch of green was quite eye-catching. It was dotted as if it were a dormant Mangshan pit viper that, due to rainfall, had some of its soil washed away, exposing parts of its body to the air. If this were a snake, it would definitely qualify to appear in Ugly Country¡¯s sci-fi flicks like "Python vs Crocodile" or "Python vs Spider." Not only the Huaxia audience, but also the Japanese netizens were boiling over. Jadeite, that¡¯s their "national stone" in Japan! Not just in Huaxia, Japan is also extremely enthusiastic about jade. In 2016, they even designated jadeite as their national "national stone," which speaks volumes. Seeing Bi Fang uncovering jadeite out in the open now was enough to make anyone green with envy. This is like walking down the street and suddenly finding a lottery ticket worth a billion! What is this? This is what? I¡¯m envious. I¡¯m jealous. My heart is tired. No matter how much the viewers howled inside, they had to offer up their congratulations with their barrage of comments, secretly indicating their envy. [Jadeite, it¡¯s really jadeite, I¡¯m not mistaken!] [Such a huge piece, it¡¯s massive!] [Damn, hitting the jackpot here!] "Is it really jadeite? Could there be a mistake?" the female commentator still couldn¡¯t believe it, "How much would such a big piece cost?" Kogawa Kobayashi made an estimate, "About a cubic meter, judging by the cross-section?" "It¡¯s amazing, this earthquake actually shook a piece of jadeite out of the ground. Is there a jadeite mine here?" If it truly was jadeite, and so immense at that, there couldn¡¯t just be this one piece, right? Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thinking this, the audience became even more excited. A mine, how much would that cost? Most of the audience were ordinary people; they might not understand the exact value of a mine, but they clearly knew it would be an astronomical figure. After all, anything that can be associated with a "mountain" is never simple. [Boss Fang is rich again, hey, why do I say ¡¯again¡¯?] [Fast forward to leasing the whole hill and starting mining] Bi Fang was also a bit nervous, the feeling of discovering unanticipated wealth was too abrupt, so sudden that it could make one¡¯s heart skip a beat. "Don¡¯t worry, let¡¯s go down there and take a look, I just feel like it¡¯s jadeite, it might not be real, maybe I¡¯m mistaken, it might just be a piece of serpentine, they¡¯re both green." Jadeite is formed under geological processes and reaches the quality of jade as a crystalline aggregate, while serpentine is mostly the product of alteration of pyroxene and amphibole crystals. The only difference is that the former is a gem¡ªjade and the latter is simply igneous rock, that is, magmatic rock, a worthless thing. The two can easily be discerned at a glance, and Bi Fang¡¯s eyesight isn¡¯t that bad. "Saying this, the greater intention was still to calm down the excited emotions, whether it was my own or the audience¡¯s, we were all somewhat excited." After taking a few breaths, Bi Fang, who had regained his composure, came to the slope and looked down. Fortunately, the forest lay below the slope, not some residential town, so no casualties had occurred. Without any trees here, Bi Fang tied the rope around a large tree nearby that showed no risk of sliding and then proceeded down the slope, stepping on the boulders and moving towards the center of the landslide scar. [Old Fang, are you sure this is jadeite?] [Why do I feel like it looks like green marble (amused icon)] [It doesn¡¯t look quite the same as the ones I¡¯ve seen before.] [What is jadeite?] [A kind of stone.] Asian viewers were very familiar with the term jadeite, but foreign ones not so much, and some had never even heard of it. "It¡¯s a very beautiful kind of stone, similar to diamonds, but personally, I think jade is much more valuable than diamonds," Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but say. Simply put, gemstones are beautiful and rare stones that are loved for their beauty and valued for their scarcity. Jadeite is even more so, as jade itself is very rare, let alone the king of jade¡ªjadeite. This is even more the case with the cultural enhancement of Huaxia over thousands of years. As for diamonds, in Bi Fang¡¯s eyes, they really aren¡¯t worth much. If you¡¯ve seen Little Leo¡¯s movie "Blood Diamond," you¡¯d understand that this stuff is mined in such large quantities it¡¯s staggering, Africa is replete with veins of it, and it can form under high temperature and pressure; "scarcity" is entirely due to monopolization. Before artificial synthesis was possible, they hyped up its perpetuity; once artificial synthesis was achieved, they praised the natural, the cutting techniques, the certifications. Bi Fang once saved a chieftain who gave him a small bag of them, along with a thick stack of certificates. Now, the technology of the Hua Science Academy has made another breakthrough; they can even grow diamonds, truly natural ones. It remains to be seen how diamond merchants will spin that. Jadeite, however, is different. The conditions required for its formation begin with regional metamorphism, where native sodium feldspar loses silica to form jadeite rock, followed by plate collision, creating conditions of low temperature and ultra-high pressure. Low temperature and ultra-high pressure¡ªif you hear this, you know how preposterous it is, as it is a contradiction in terms. In physics, the deeper into the mantle, the greater the pressure and the higher the temperature will be. But jadeite requires low temperature and high pressure, and it also needs sustained ultra-high pressures. Low temperatures indicate shallow earth, while high pressures suggest deep layers. So, theoretically, such conditions do not exist. Many viewers were hearing this explanation for the first time. [Wow, how does this stuff even form then?] "This has to do with the plate tectonic theory in geology. The mine site is located near the intersection of the Eurasian Plate and the Indian Ocean Plate, and millions of years ago, the collision between the Indian Ocean Plate and the Eurasian Plate provided the low temperature and ultra-high pressure conditions necessary for the formation of jadeite." "The northern part of the surface site, particularly the Meng Gong area in Mizhina, has been ¡¯favored by the heavens.¡¯ Its location just happens to meet the geological environment requirements for jadeite ore formation. Such demanding conditions are one in a million, and this place is almost the only source for gemstone-grade jadeite." It can be said that the entire world¡¯s gem-grade jadeite is only found in a strip about 200 kilometers long and 15 kilometers wide, and even on that strip, most of the jadeite mined is of extremely poor quality, with only a few pieces qualifying as gemstones. As for synthetic versions, what is produced is dross... Outrageous, isn¡¯t it? It¡¯s not that other places don¡¯t have jadeite at all, apart from the site, there is jadeite in Guatemala, Japan¡¯s Honshu Island, Colombia, Old Zealand, California in the Ugly Country, and Polar Bear, but these can¡¯t really be called gemstones. The quality is embarrassingly low, and there¡¯s no top-grade jadeite. They are just greener, smoother large rocks. The most typical case is Yunnan in Huaxia; not to mention the poorer quality, there isn¡¯t any at all, even though it¡¯s in the same region and less than 150 kilometers away from the Meng Gong area. Because Yunnan and the Meng Gong area in Myanmar both belong to the plate junction zone, but on the Huaxia side, it¡¯s part of the rising zone under compression, whereas the surface site belongs to a subduction boundary, which is also a mountain building area. In the collision mountain system, the area with the greatest force is the subduction boundary mountain building region. The force in the rising zone is used to arch up the mountain ranges, so only at this spot is there the low temperature and ultra-high pressure environment needed to form jadeite. The location of this point is precisely where the Meng Gong area is situated. It¡¯s that surprising, the geological environments on both sides are completely different. Given its rarity, jadeite mining has also become the pillar industry for the surface site. ``` "Gawazi doesn¡¯t count." Bi Fang said, "So don¡¯t get too excited. Even if it really is jade, the quality can¡¯t be that high since it¡¯s ¡¯mountain material¡¯, which is even worse." Many viewers didn¡¯t understand the term and asked what ¡¯mountain material¡¯ meant. "Mountain material refers to jade found in the mountains. Besides that, there¡¯s ¡¯seed material¡¯, which falls into rivers by various accidents. After being washed for countless years and undergoing material exchange, it forms a layer of stone skin, making the jade inside smoother." "Mountain material doesn¡¯t have that, so we can see it exposed directly. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t recognize it and might think it¡¯s just an ordinary rock." The jade in a mine is in a static environment, hidden deep within the rock from start to finish, lacking the polishing of external forces, leading to incomplete or non-existent skin, with clear, unrounded edges. Bi Fang tightened the rope, confirming it was secure, then approached the steep slope¡¯s edge. Standing on a rock, he steadied himself before lightly jumping to the next one. The rocks here were only partially lodged in the mountainside, exposed by the landslide, and not necessarily stable, so Bi Fang moved very cautiously with minor adjustments. The drone flew over Bi Fang¡¯s head, casting him in the light of a stunt performer treading on invisible stairs as it filmed from above. With a crash, a semi-protruding boulder broke away from the mountain wall. Bi Fang¡¯s foot found empty air, so he jumped off the nearby cliff face, landing on another big rock, which also wobbled and soon broke off and fell. Damn! Cold sweat covered Bi Fang¡¯s body as all his pores expanded. He quickly grabbed the rope at his waist and continued stepping on the cliff face, using the reaction force to move forward and land on another small rock. Unfortunately, the smaller rocks were even less reliable, continuously breaking and falling as soon as he landed, forcing him to jump again. A mass of rubble tumbled down the steep slope, the smaller pieces flying out mid-air into the forest, while the larger ones rolled down, smashing directly into the trees, kicking up a cloud of dust. No birds were startled. Long before the earthquake arrived, all the birds had flown away. The entire forest now lay eerily silent, even the insect noise had quieted down significantly. Even the viewers, under the drone¡¯s surveillance, could see snakes crawling down from the trees, heading downhill at this moment. In just a few minutes, six or seven made a chilling sight. Bi Fang was like a wilderness version of Supermarket Warrior, jumping over a dozen rocks before he finally stabilized himself and leaned against the cliff wall, gasping for air. Even though his sweatshirt was quick-dry, at this moment sweat stains were still visible. The viewers silently sweated for Bi Fang, thankful for the rope; otherwise, it would have been too thrilling, and their hearts couldn¡¯t take it. After descending about twenty meters more, Bi Fang finally neared the green boulder he had spotted earlier. Upon closer inspection, Bi Fang confirmed thoroughly. This motherfucker is a piece of jade! And it¡¯s huge! The surface area exposed above ground alone was over half a square meter, and the whole rock was estimated to be around half a cubic meter! Kogawa Kobayashi and Shizuka Minamoto looked at each other in shock. The next moment, they clasped their fingers tightly, screaming. "Ah!!!" Gang Tianwu crossed his arms, looking at the soaring popularity figures on his computer with a look of life¡¯s disbelief. An earthquake had revealed a huge piece of jade. How come such good fortune never fell upon him? Nobita Nobi envied even more, his face full of yearning. The last time he felt such an obvious earthquake, all he got was a big bump on his head from a falling fan, which cost him a good sum of money to treat at the hospital, and nothing else. Despite always doing good deeds, helping grandmas across the street, feeding stray cats and dogs. Sigh. There¡¯s really a big difference between people. [It really is jade!] ``` [Awesome!!!] [Lord Mu sent the anchor 66 yachts¡ª¡ª Handsome guy, bring it over and have some fun] [Gross!] [Isn¡¯t this embarrassing?] [So cool, following Old Fang one really gets to see a wide array of things, encountering all sorts of situations] [Nonsense, hasn¡¯t Old Fang nearly traveled all over Earth by now?] [Ashtray sent the anchor 10 Spaceships¡ª¡ªPretty good-looking, wonder if there¡¯s a part for me (smirk)] [Aren¡¯t you filming, or are you watching the live broadcast? Is the new movie out yet?] Bi Fang clutched the rope tightly, his body firmly pressed against the slope. Due to the landslide, the slope had exceeded seventy degrees. At thirty degrees, it¡¯s already difficult to stand steady; at seventy to eighty degrees, it¡¯s virtually indistinguishable from being completely vertical¡ªno way to stand at all. After some friction and kicking loose stones, Bi Fang reached the edge of the jade. He gently tapped it with his foot, and seeing that it was stable, he kicked harder, eliciting a wail from the viewers. [Oh no, stop kicking, what if you break it?] [If it falls, it¡¯ll shatter. Think thrice, Boss Fang, think thrice!] [Stop it, I don¡¯t allow you to do that!] [Jade, my jade, hehe] [How about knocking off a piece to give away to everyone?] After a few forceful kicks, confirming its sturdiness, the audience screamed in dismay. Because Bi Fang stood directly on top of this huge rock, he stomped forcefully, finding it very solid: "It seems there¡¯s still a large part inside the mountain; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be this solid. It¡¯s really big, but the quality indeed is average." He squatted down, brought the camera closer, and now everything became clear. It wasn¡¯t the all-encompassing emerald green that the viewers had imagined, it was more like... A very green, very large rock? [Some look like this before they¡¯re polished. Some become much prettier after polishing.] Bi Fang touched with his fingers, wiping away as he went, revealing many fine cracks. "Mountain material, as the name suggests, is found in mountain ranges, not having been soaked and washed by river water. It¡¯s characterized by generally large sizes. This one in front of me is conservatively estimated to be half a cubic meter. They mostly have an unremarkable appearance, with edges and angles, and the surface is quite rough with obvious cracks and fissures." "The more famous mountain jade deposits are known for producing large pieces, mostly without a complete outer crust or mist layer, and they are huge blocks of jade weighing tons, tens of tons, and even hundreds of tons for the really big ones¡ªfrighteningly large." "However, mountain materials generally have poor water, which can also be understood as immature jade raw stones." "Because of the poor quality and large size, they are mainly used to manufacture fake jade or make low-end bracelets and large ornaments. It¡¯s difficult to make into the fine jade pendants or bracelets we commonly see." "The quality of this piece we have here is considered good." This piece before him couldn¡¯t be called good, nor could it be called bad. How much it was worth, Bi Fang didn¡¯t know, being a complete layman. But it must be worth quite a bit of money, right? The only issue was how to take it away. Due to its formation under extremely high pressure, the jade was very dense, much denser than ordinary rocks. A half cubic meter, the weight was close to two tons. Even injecting Bi Fang with Supermarket Warrior serum might not be enough for him to handle it. [No problem, just tell me the address, I¡¯ll go dig it out right away!] [Boss Fang must have too much money, let me do it, let me show you what the human limit is, a super warrior.] After thinking for a while, Bi Fang said, "I¡¯d better go down the mountain and find someone to help." Chapter 559 - 556: Persuasion is Futile for a Stubborn Ghost ``` Between the trees, two grown men were pulling a thick rope, bare-chested, moving forward bit by bit, like boat trackers on the Volga River. "Why did you come to find me for this kind of thing?" "You were the closest, and we¡¯re about even. After it¡¯s done, I¡¯ll split it in half with you. You pick first, how about that?" The man with the beard felt somewhat unsure, always feeling that he had been tricked into doing hard labor for nothing. He asked again, "Is this thing valuable? I have never seen it before; it just looks like a piece of green stone to me?" "Trust me, even if I split it in half, there¡¯s still a hundred thousand dollars in it." Bi Fang revealed a confident smile, his shining white teeth so dazzling that the man couldn¡¯t keep his eyes open. Could that be... youth? Cough cough. Misjudgment. Mugalen rubbed his eyes, always feeling that smile was up to no good. The shirts of the two men were completely taken off and thrown on the rocks beside them; their wheat-colored skin glistened with sweat as their high-thigh muscles bulged and relaxed, transferring strength to the emerald boulder beneath the cliff, with the high-fiber rope leaving a red mark on their shoulders. A Beast Tooth Necklace clung to the neck, as Bi Fang¡¯s muscles were as solid as if cast in steel. Mugalen wasn¡¯t too shabby either, but perhaps starting to experience a midlife crisis, his build was slightly more robust. Inside the livestream, the audience was enthusiastically cheering them on. Approaching two tons in weight, the emerald boulder was something Bi Fang couldn¡¯t lift on his own. If he just excavated it and let it roll down the cliff, it was likely to shatter into pieces. One of the values of such mountain material is being large enough to make substantial displayed pieces. If it broke, its value would diminish greatly. It just so happened that Mugalen was nearby Taiji Town too, so Bi Fang called out in the livestream, asking the audience to shout out when the camera switched to Mugalen, to see if he was interested in coming over to this mountain to make a fortune. Aside from Bi Fang, who could broadcast independently, other Hunters had to have the production team switch the camera over so that the audience could send bullet comments for the corresponding Hunters to see. This was also a way to remind Hunters to "perform well". Gang Tianwu and the others were very sensible, hearing what Bi Fang meant, they immediately switched the camera over and got in touch with Mugalen. When Mugalen heard that it was Bi Fang calling him to make money, although he was puzzled, he was happy to come over, only to be roped up upon arrival. He was like a wild donkey that had been caught. Since the earthquake, the number of viewers in the livestream had been skyrocketing, especially after Bi Fang quickly found the huge emerald gemstone, the growth rate surged once again. Aside from Mugalen¡¯s journey over, more than ninety percent of the time, the camera was on Bi Fang. Before Mugalen arrived, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t idle either. He took advantage of the time to make a simple pulley set out of wood. Even if the two men were strong, they couldn¡¯t possibly lift the boulder that conservatively weighed one and a half, nearly two tons. One ton per person, that would be superhuman. Using the pulley set could effectively reduce the pulling force, which is a basic lesson from junior high physics. Bi Fang used a large tree as a fulcrum, with several pulleys in place, to easily reduce the force to a level that two strong men could handle. However, though they reduced the force, it demanded more from the rope¡¯s length; forty meters was plainly not enough. Fortunately, Mugalen also had a length of rope, and combined, they were just about sufficient. Hearing Bi Fang¡¯s promise of a hundred thousand dollars, Mugalen, who had been feeling somewhat weak, straightened his back, invigorated once more. Amidst the chants of the audience, they both stepped forward in unison, leaving an inch-deep footprint; then pushed off the ground again, advancing another step! Beneath the cliff, the massive green emerald they had unearthed, half a cubic meter in size, rose by ten centimeters. Unavoidably, the consequence of reducing the force was a minimal height gain for each forward step. Now, the emerald was ten meters away from reaching the top of the mountain. After pulling for another half hour, Mugalen¡¯s face was flushed, his body drenched in sweat that soaked most of his pants, looking as if he had just been fished out of water, with his legs trembling slightly. "I¡¯m so tired, I can¡¯t do it anymore, I feel like I¡¯ve pulled about three hundred kilograms." "How can a man say he can¡¯t do it? Push harder, a hundred thousand dollars! Just think about it, a hundred thousand dollars! Just a few more pulls and a box of Ugly Money will be in our hands!" "Damn, a hundred thousand dollars, a hundred thousand dollars! Wait, what if it¡¯s not there?" "Damn, don¡¯t lose heart. If it¡¯s not there, I¡¯ll compensate you, I¡¯ll give you one hundred and fifty thousand!" "You said it!" ``` ``` The donkey perked up when Bi Fang replaced the carrots it had dropped with a fresh basket of water radishes. With their last ounce of strength, the two men finally managed to haul the massive jadeite boulder up before three o¡¯clock in the afternoon. The hefty stone crossed over the cliff, rolling onto the ground with the help of the tree trunks, and the moment it landed, a slight tremor passed through the feet of both men. At that moment, as if their souls had been sucked out, their legs gave in, and they both collapsed on the ground, panting heavily, their throats as though riddled with gaping holes, constantly leaking air and dry to the point of feeling clogged with thick phlegm. [This is exhausting just to watch] [Awesome, feels just like that time in middle school after running a kilometer, hahaha] [I can¡¯t believe I cheered for an hour straight] [Those tendons, so badass] [They pulled up a two-ton guy, that¡¯s tough as nails, truly awesome] [The rope¡¯s quality is really good.] Mugalen felt like he could breathe fire, his throat smoking, he hoarsely shouted, "FUCK, I can¡¯t do this anymore, I¡¯m really done for, so tired, I¡¯m dead, water, I need water." "I can¡¯t climb anymore either." Bi Fang lay on the ground, the water bag just beside him, but he couldn¡¯t muster the energy to move even the short distance to it. Too freaking tired. If a black bear appeared now, it might complete a double kill and, with that achievement, become the king of the bears and reach the summit of bear life. He just hoped the jade was worth the effort and would give him a surprise big enough to match. After all, he was an amateur, only knowing a bit about geography and mineralogy; what the stone was really worth was a professional¡¯s concern, and he needed someone to take a look. Meanwhile, the other hunters gradually realized something was amiss, as even when the camera was on them, the number of comments in the live stream was inexplicably low. Where did all the viewers go? Only a few kind-hearted viewers explained what had happened, but 99% of them were captivated by the discovery of the huge jadeite by Bi Fang. "Bi Fang, Bi Fang, Bi Fang, why is it always him? Don¡¯t you leave any room for the rest of us to live?" Dozens of hunters wailed, each like a magnet using their skills to attract an audience, but... Why are you like a neodymium magnet? Sato punched a tree trunk in anger, and a few leaves fell. His limelight had been completely stolen, which went completely against the original intention of the live stream. It was supposed to promote Y¨­ki culture, but instead, the spotlight was hijacked by an outsider, which was hard to swallow. Why was he so lucky, and why did I get nothing? Even when the camera turned to Sato, he had to put on a smile and offer his congratulations. Bosen, carrying a large crossbow, sat on a rock and scratched his head, chuckling, "Too bad, I was on the mountain too, even met them this morning, why didn¡¯t they ask for my help? I did give them half a rabbit, but man, what luck! You don¡¯t see this sort of thing often." [Hahaha, uncle, Old Fang and Old Mugalen have known each other for a long time, of course they wouldn¡¯t share the good fortune] Despite being over fifty, Bosen was still agile, and the viewers affectionately called him Hunter Uncle. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [If we really call Uncle Bosen, then wouldn¡¯t it be half a rabbit exchanged for a large chunk of jade? The most expensive rabbit in history!] [Uncle, hurry and catch up, maybe you can still get a share, finders keepers, finders keepers, if you disagree just shoot Old Fang in the butt] Bosen waved his hand, "Forget it, let¡¯s continue hunting for black bears, they fetch a few tens of thousands each, much simpler." With that, he got up from the rock, dusted off his pants, and leisurely followed the tracks through the forest. Apart from Bi Fang, the audience also loved this older hunter, who had an air of a sunset warrior but was remarkably skilled at tracking black bears. He was even better than the Y¨­ki Hunters in Japan, where one could hunt black bears openly and without shame. Compared to Bosen, they seemed more like master and apprentice; the difference was significant. Indeed, the older hunters get stronger and stronger! Elsewhere, after resting, Bi Fang and Mugalen sat on large rocks, one hand propped on their thighs, the other holding a cup of water, sipping slowly like two exhausted old men in a park. Having replenished their fluids and regained some strength, the two men looked at the huge stone on the ground and exchanged glances. ``` Mugalen twitched the corner of his mouth, "We¡¯re not going to move it down, are we?" Bi Fang shook his head, "It can¡¯t be moved." Mugalen breathed a sigh of relief, but soon his expression froze. "Do you know how the Egyptians built the Pyramids? They were able to move huge stones weighing tens of tons from the bottom of the mountain to the top." "FUCK, I¡¯d rather not take this hundred thousand!" ... The sun was about to set. The afterglow of the setting sun pierced through the now sparse forest, falling on two bare-chested men, making their sweaty sheen glisten under the sunlight. After placing the last wooden rod under the boulder, Mugalen pushed with all his might, and the jade began to roll toward the foot of the mountain. They were now close to where humans lived, not far from a village and houses, "This is the hardest I¡¯ve ever worked for a hundred thousand bucks. If I had known it¡¯d be like this, I¡¯d rather go hunt a couple of black bears to get a thrill," Mugalen said through gritted teeth, his words laced with murderous intent. In the forest, several black bears looked around, not knowing why they suddenly felt a chill down their spines. Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter, almost choking. The laughter spread over the open ground, attracting a few old farmers who had just returned from the vegetable garden. Seeing two muscular men, one a foreigner and the other an Asian, they couldn¡¯t help but become curious. Just as they were about to go over and take a look, their gaze fell on the huge stone at Bi Fang¡¯s feet, shimmering green in the sunset, and their eyes slowly widened, their pupils dilating. Clang, clang clang. One after another, hoes dropped to the ground. An old farmer wiped the sweat from his forehead with a towel, then rubbed his eyes, only to be stung into tears; even so, he dared not blink, afraid that he had seen wrong, "Is it real? Is it? Am I mistaken? Is that jade? Jade?!" "There¡¯s no mistake, it¡¯s jade! That¡¯s jade!" Another farmer pointed his trembling finger at the large jade stone, his voice shaking as he repeated himself, as if trying to convince himself. Once confirmed, the group exploded into a frenzy of discussion. Even from dozens of meters away, it was as if one could hear their arguing. The drone quickly flew in close, capturing their words without missing a single one. "Such a huge jade!" "How could they carry something so big?" "I don¡¯t know, but they must be rich now, right?" "Where did the jade come from? Did they dig it out of the mountain?" "It looks like these two guys carried it down from the mountain." The audience burst into laughter. [Hahaha, they¡¯re all stunned by the huge piece of jade] [The foot basin is only so big; they probably have never seen such a large piece of raw jade in their lives] [If it were me, I¡¯d be shocked, too] [What¡¯s under Boss Fang¡¯s feet isn¡¯t just a rock, it¡¯s money, money that can set a person financially free!] Like the old farmers, the audience went wild, especially with the thought that this "rock" could turn into cash, they grew even more envious. Many international viewers didn¡¯t quite understand the value of jade, but they heard about the hundred and fifty thousand dollars Bi Fang had promised Mugalen. Hundred thousand dollars, that¡¯s over seven hundred thousand! That¡¯s just for half, wouldn¡¯t it be over a million for the whole thing? [I could carry these two tons directly!] [I am Superman!] [Hmph, I won¡¯t hide it from you guys any longer, I am the legendary Poor Superman! The poorer I am, the stronger I become! Right now, I¡¯m invincible!] The old farmers made a fuss for a while and seemed to push one of their own to the front, who approached Bi Fang and Mugalen. Seeing the muscles on their bodies, he felt scared and asked tentatively, "Can you understand Japanese?" Mugalen waved his hand and pointed at Bi Fang, indicating he should talk since he didn¡¯t understand the language. Bi Fang nodded his head. The old farmer was very happy, "Are you Japanese?" Bi Fang shook his head, "I¡¯m from Huaxia, but I understand what you¡¯re saying." Upon hearing that the other party could communicate, the old farmer danced with joy, his voice filled with excitement, spittle flying everywhere, "Jadeite, is this jadeite? Where did you find this jadeite, is it on the mountain? Is it on the mountain?" Seeing how excited the man was, especially the way his eyes were fixed on the jadeite, glistening with an unmistakable greed, it went without saying. Bi Fang worried that if it weren¡¯t for the unmanned aerial vehicle flying above, and his and Mugalen¡¯s visibly strong physique, these farmers might have come at them with hoes in hand to rob them. You can¡¯t overestimate human nature in the face of interests, but fortunately, education in Japan is more widespread, they knew what a drone was, and they saw the comments streaming above. Seeing the farmer¡¯s urgency, Bi Fang nodded, "Yes, it¡¯s jadeite, found in the mountain in the back, although it¡¯s quite far." Upon getting a positive response, the old farmer shouted excitedly to the people behind him. "It¡¯s jadeite, right there in the mountain behind us!" "A vein, there must be a jadeite vein!" "We¡¯re going to be rich, we¡¯re all going to be rich!" "Quick, let¡¯s go dig now, right now!" The group picked up their hoes noisily and ran straight toward the mountain behind Bi Fang; even though night was falling, they couldn¡¯t care less at that moment. "There are bears on the mountain!" Bi Fang warned sternly, yelling, "Bear hunting season has already started, don¡¯t you know? Your government should have told you by now, it¡¯s prohibited to enter the mountain!" "Prohibited to enter the mountain!?" The leader of the group turned around, his eyes showing a fierce light, but quickly softened when he saw the unmanned aerial vehicle overhead. Mugalen snorted with a smirk, "They won¡¯t listen to you, you don¡¯t need to bother that much." Bi Fang shook his head, turning back to continue, "There are many bears on the mountain, aren¡¯t you afraid of dying? Plus it¡¯s getting dark now, it¡¯s the time when black bears come out!" As he said this, Bi Fang happened to see a yellow sign warning of wild beasts nearby, pointing at it with a very serious tone. Everyone wants to make money, even himself when he had first come to this world might have been tempted. A bucket of cold water sobered everyone up real quick. The men exchanged glances and seemed to come to a sober realization after some discussion. The leader of the group sighed, "Maybe you¡¯re right." "Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go back." "Yeah, we can¡¯t deal with bears." "I haven¡¯t even brought in today¡¯s laundry, and it looks like it¡¯s going to rain." "Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go, I¡¯m getting old, my mind isn¡¯t clear anymore. I even saw a bear recently, my head must be really clouded, haha, sorry about that, sorry for troubling you with our flight." Having said that, the group thanked him and then returned the way they had come. Watching their retreating figures, Mugalen was unconvinced, "You think they¡¯ll listen to you?" "Definitely not." Bi Fang had the drone move a bit farther away, and said in a voice so low that no one could hear. "But at least they can¡¯t go while we¡¯re here, a kind word doesn¡¯t persuade the dead, and if they¡¯re still determined to go into the mountains tonight, there¡¯s nothing I can do." No matter what, with millions of viewers watching, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t let them get hurt. He had a basic sense of morality, and he needed to make the situation clear, but whether they listened was not up to him, but up to them. He had given his warning. Whether they listened or not, He couldn¡¯t control it and couldn¡¯t manage it. In the face of interests, others would just think you had ulterior motives, not that you were sincerely advising them. Chapter 560 - 557 Reactions from All Sides The transportation of the emerald original stone to the village made everything much simpler. Bi Fang found several strong men nearby, paid them a labor fee, and had them carry the rock onto a small truck to be delivered to the town center. Japan wasn¡¯t large, but it was impossible for Bi Fang to run the market himself to find buyers, so upon arriving in town, he entrusted an agency to handle it. They were to contact buyers and negotiate for the highest possible price, taking a commission afterward. Bi Fang and Mugalen found a small eatery by the road to address their dinner needs when, to their surprise, the agency staff proved rather efficient. Before seven p.m., even before they had finished eating, news was brought to them. Bi Fang gestured for the waiter to bring an extra set of chopsticks and invited the man to sit down, "That was fast?" Yehara Hiroshi nodded and placed a document in front of them with proper posture, "Yes, and we have Mr. Bi to thank for the swift location of a buyer." Yehara Hiroshi was the agent Bi Fang had selected, noted for his excellent performance and high efficiency. "Me?" Bi Fang flipped through the document and struggled to make sense of it for a while. Aside from the basic data, it was filled with professional terminology that he didn¡¯t quite grasp. Reading a few lines, he discovered that his earlier introduction was somewhat incorrect, Hetian jade is the one divided into mountain material and seed material, while it turns out that emerald is categorized into mountain material, water stone, and half-mountain-half-water material. He was an amateur indeed. "That¡¯s right." Yehara Hiroshi nodded, "Your live-streaming was watched by many across Japan, and, frankly, my son has always been enamored with your hunting stories and incessantly begs to meet you, Mr. Fang. The discovery of the emerald has even made the news, and once word got out that Mr. Fang was looking to sell, many jewelry dealers started waving their checkbooks and contacted us proactively." [Hahaha, Boss Fang, don¡¯t forget that we helped to get this sold!] [You can¡¯t be ungrateful] [If it were me, I¡¯d definitely have to give one piece to each person here; otherwise, I¡¯d feel awful about it.] Mugalen sipped water from his cup and glanced at the document, which detailed nothing but the weight, size, skin shell, type, color, and such¡ªmost of it incomprehensible to him. He tossed it onto the table, leaned back in his chair, propped it up, and said, "What¡¯s the highest bid?" The water content and color of emerald can greatly affect the price; such differentiation cannot be determined by a single standard assessment. Jewelry diamonds, on the other hand, are much simpler¡ªsize makes the value clear. Foreigners love precision; without a square standard for emeralds, how could one easily discern their worth? Just look at diamonds¡ªso straightforward, the bigger they are, the more valuable, signaling one¡¯s wealth for all to see at a glance. Additionally, for more profound reasons, emeralds are not very popular abroad. Mugalen was unclear about their value and held little expectation. After all, the raw stone was uncarved and unpolished, indeed not very appealing to the eye, and lacked aesthetic beauty. If they didn¡¯t make at least a hundred thousand Ugly Yuan, Bi Fang would have to make up the shortfall; after putting in so much effort, he couldn¡¯t afford to have toiled for nothing, especially with his legs still sore and his shoulders sporting red marks that had been rubbed raw. When the topic of price came up, Yehara Hiroshi sat up stiffly. "The current highest bid comes from a Hokkaido gemstone merchant, who has offered 134 million." "Pfft!" A mist of water sprayed all over Yehara Hiroshi¡¯s face. Mugalen nearly lost his balance and fell off his chair; he quickly sat upright and frantically began to wipe down Yehara Hiroshi with a napkin he grabbed from the side. His face sprayed with water, Yehara Hiroshi, instead of getting angry, seemed rather pleased; after all, he too would receive a substantial commission, equivalent to a year or two of his salary. He couldn¡¯t suppress a grin, "But it¡¯s only been two hours, so I think there¡¯s still room to negotiate the price further. The final transaction price should be able to reach between 160 to 180 million." "An almost two-ton block of emerald original stone naturally commands an impressive price. Although the quality of the piece Mr. Bi extracted is average, it¡¯s considered superior compared to regular Japanese materials." "Furthermore, its emergence is also extraordinary, witnessed by millions of nationals and tens of millions of viewers. Many now see it as ¡¯Earth¡¯s emerald¡¯ with considerable collector¡¯s value." Yehara Hiroshi briefly explained the reasons. In Japan, jade is revered as the national stone, and the "Yata no Kagami," a sacred treasure from Shinto legend, is made from jade. However, this doesn¡¯t mean that all jade is the coveted national stone, but only jade that originates from within Japan itself. Unfortunately, as Bi Fang had mentioned earlier, the only region capable of producing gem-quality jade is Huaxia; over ninety percent of Japan¡¯s jade is inferior in quality, making it very difficult to find any decent pieces. The majority are small in size and of poor quality; strictly speaking, these should only be called nephrite. Given the quality of this rough stone, if they tried to sell it somewhere else, they probably wouldn¡¯t get even close to the price it fetched now, possibly as little as half. But in Japan, this place foretold their fortune. Sitting opposite, Bi Fang seemed to hear the sound of a slot machine cashing out, turned his head, and suddenly noticed that Mugalen¡¯s eyes had turned into the symbol of Ugly Gold. Crab, Crab boss? After blinking again, Bi Fang realized he had been seeing things, but there was no doubt that the trembling cup in Mugalen¡¯s hand betrayed his true thoughts, as he murmured nonstop, "One hundred and eighty million, one hundred and eighty million." Bi Fang stepped forward to take the cup from his hand, worried that the guy¡¯s hand was unsteady and might break the cup, and he reminded, "It¡¯s in yen, it won¡¯t be that much if you convert it to Ugly Gold." Realizing that he had lost his composure, Mugalen gave an embarrassed smile, "I¡¯m just too tired today, my muscles haven¡¯t recovered yet, I¡¯m a bit shaky, haha, a bit shaky." The audience burst into laughter, then looked on with envy. Such wealth, damn that¡¯s awesome! [Old Mu¡¯s really something; if it were me, my cup would¡¯ve already shattered.] [One hundred and eighty million, holy smokes!] [Does anyone know the current exchange rate between Huaxia currency and yen?] [Don¡¯t ask, I¡¯ve calculated it: 9.3 million Huaxia currency, 1.38 million Ugly Gold.] [Quick, I need oxygen, I need to breathe!] [If you see it, you¡¯ve got a share! If you see it, you¡¯ve got a share!!!] At that moment, Mugalen also took out his phone and worked out how much Ugly Gold it totaled to, deducting the commission and splitting it with Old Fang fifty-fifty. At least five hundred thousand... Mugalen suddenly grabbed Bi Fang¡¯s hand, raised his arm, and flexed the large muscles on his biceps, "Brother, my dear brother, next time you have this kind of grunt work, remember to call me, I¡¯m strong and vigorous! Strong and vigorous indeed!" "Asking for fifty percent, what a loss. I¡¯d rather find someone else." "Don¡¯t be like that, my brother, thirty, no, ten is fine too, just call me and I¡¯ll be there, I can do the work of three men on my own!" Mugalen was now over the moon. Just a bit of effort on his end, and he¡¯d netted five hundred thousand Ugly Gold just like that? Please let these kinds of opportunities come more often; he had plenty of strength to spare. Look at this, what does it mean to be a professional explorer? This is professionalism. If it had been him, how could he possibly have known that was a rock of invaluable worth, instead of just some green tuff? Bear hunting? Screw hunting! Thinking about his shopping cart, Mugalen realized he could empty it again, he could finally afford the fishing gear he¡¯d been longing for. The remaining mortgage on the large villa he¡¯d put down using his show¡¯s prize money could also be paid off in one go, utterly delightful. Back to the days without financial pressure. The other diners around them all cheered loudly, their envy unmistakable. Bi Fang stood up, placing one foot on the slanting rod of the stool, and called out, "Today¡¯s expenses at this restaurant are on me!" ``` A single stone stirred up ripples, inciting a loud cheer from the diners in the shop, and even the owner¡¯s face blossomed with a smile. It was unexpected fortune, and true happiness was only real when shared by all. Unlike the joyous Bi Fang and his companions, other hunters, hearing the figure of 180 million yen through the audience, were also secretly amazed. They had come to Japan and could not avoid exchanging currency, so they naturally understood how much that was, especially for the native Y¨­ki Hunters, whose feelings were even deeper. 180 million... Which hunter¡¯s prey could earn so much money in a lifetime? Afraid not even the change, and the ancestral grave would be emitting green smoke, right? One hundred thousand per point, ten points for one bear, how many points is 180 million divided by one hundred thousand? Eighteen hundred points? An adult Black Bear with a body length of 1.5 meters, intact and with small wounds, was worth ten points. Would I have to kill one hundred and eighty bears myself? Sato and others had returned to town to regroup because of the earthquake, and for the first time since the hunting season started, they gathered together, finding the calculations somewhat dizzying. Okuyama, with a hand on his forehead, said, "I have to hunt one hundred and eighty bears to catch up with that guy." Tanaka agreed, "This is an unexpected windfall." "You guys still have a chance, now ranking first. Takahashi and I have only caught one bear, and it¡¯s already the fourth day," Fujiwara sighed. "This guy, he¡¯s too prominent." The five of them watched Bi Fang on the television, their eyes filled with envy. The hunting season was supposed to be their stage, so thought Gang Tianwu. But ever since it started, from Bi Fang¡¯s building momentum, to his bear hunting, to discovering jade after the earthquake, Bi Fang brought tremendous traffic to the entire program, but it seemed like no one else was really enjoying the benefits that came along. Especially the scene of the bear hunting, which stunned the native Y¨­ki Hunters. They too held naginatas, but those were for delivering the final blow. When the Black Bear was on its last breath, that was the time to go in with a naginata for the last harvest. Who would rush in holding a long spear? It¡¯s like a man with a death wish¡ªlooking to hasten his demise? This guy was really impressive. Beyond the envy, the hunters couldn¡¯t help but reflect; out of thirty-five hunters, aside from the protagonist, nearly every one of them watched Bi Fang hunting the bear again and again. Putting themselves in his shoes, they wouldn¡¯t have dared do such a thing; it was completely risking life and death. They didn¡¯t have the Wolves King¡¯s Sense of Smell or the Beastly Instinct, and seeing Bi Fang, they felt as if they were watching a sci-fi movie. It¡¯s not scientific. Lack of science doesn¡¯t mean it can¡¯t be done; perhaps at the brink of life and death, the few sitting here could gamble with their lives as well, but hunting in the usual way was never this thrilling. To dare to do this, you would need at least an 80% certainty, right? If it were them, they probably had... Thirty percent? With this thought, those present exchanged glances, filled with empathy. They couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit sheepish and avoided each other¡¯s eyes. Do not underestimate this extra fifty percent; this represents one being a fight for one¡¯s life, and the other being totally in control. The realms were worlds apart, more than double. Sato, clutching his hair, felt a twinge of irritation. ... ``` Within the Police Department, a police officer walked out of the office, his head hung in dejection. Through the still-open crack of the door, one could see Police Chief Matsumoto Kiyotaka grabbing at his thinning hair, his chest heaving with breaths, as his recent tirade had left him somewhat winded. Picking up his teacup, he took a sip, then turned on the television next to him to watch the evening¡¯s bear hunting season broadcast. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The bear hunting season would broadcast a two-hour edited program every night at eight o¡¯clock, providing some consolation to the many office workers. Seeing his country¡¯s hunters ranked first, Matsumoto Kiyotaka¡¯s knotted frustration eased considerably, and even the irritation from his employees¡¯ ineptitude dissipated a great deal. Upon learning that Bi Fang had found an emerald worth over a hundred million Yen because of an earthquake, the chief fantasized about how wonderful it would be if he were so lucky. Then he wouldn¡¯t have to work anymore, nor deal with pressure from his superiors, and could fully achieve financial freedom, doing whatever he pleased. He could divorce his shrewish wife, visit any pleasure district he wished, go sea fishing in Hokkaido, and indulge in high-end spending in Ginza. Unfortunately, he was still stuck in the small town of Taiji, plagued by a bunch of dolphin enthusiasts. The Police Department and the local government were one and the same; if they allowed the other party to expose everything, especially control over financial powers, the Police Department could not sit idly by and watch those rascals run amok. Tonight, the dolphin hunting season was about to begin. Matsumoto Kiyotaka casually picked up the camera from the desk, which had been dismantled and lay in pieces, revealing its red and green wires inside, along with four others just like it. After spending days, they had only located these four cameras, causing the chief to doubt if his subordinates were nothing but a bunch of good-for-nothings. "How on earth did they install these?" They were under surveillance during the day, and their nights were spent in hotels. How did that group manage to set up the cameras over several evenings? Was someone helping them? Matsumoto Kiyotaka believed he had them under constant surveillance, yet things were still subtly slipping out of his control, especially since Richard and his group had suddenly lost their tail during the day. Were these few people really that formidable? This wasn¡¯t Matsumoto Kiyotaka¡¯s first encounter with this team. Strictly speaking, he had met Richard many times, with their standoff beginning half a year ago. The previous month had been the most tense, with a blood incident occurring. Matsumoto Kiyotaka had helped cover it up, only to find that instead of backing down, their opposition had intensified. Even with a reduced number, they still had the audacity to come here. But with fewer people, it was the same few individuals. How did the same team become even more daunting? He was itching for an opportunity to catch them all. Unfortunately, that was not possible. Richard and the others had just put diplomatic pressure on him through their embassy yesterday. After some thought, Matsumoto Kiyotaka pressed the telephone button, calling back the previously dispatched officers, "Tonight there¡¯s a festival, and they¡¯re sure to appear. We need to find out who¡¯s helping them. Don¡¯t go back yet. Work overtime tonight, and we must catch them red-handed!" The officers, who had just returned to their seats, had their faces fall immediately upon hearing this. That evening, Mugalen stood alone by Dolphin Bay, his pupils reflecting the high flames held by villagers. In a deep part of the forest, Bi Fang took out the rabbit given to him by Bosen earlier. Having thought about it all day, Bi Fang still felt something was amiss, that sense of hostility did not seem like an illusion. Hopefully, there really was no problem. Gazing at the somewhat shriveled half rabbit, Bi Fang¡¯s eyes were somber. Chapter 561 - 558 Long-Lost Spot Reservation Segment As the title suggests, the new chapter isn¡¯t ready yet; I¡¯m just staking a claim. I¡¯ll have it corrected by 00:30. "Thank you for your purchase of 5,600 yuan, welcome back next time!" In the supermarket, the sweet-voiced cashier smiled with squinted eyes at Bi Fang who was bagging his items. Bi Fang nodded and rushed out with two large bags in hand. Since he didn¡¯t have enough specialized surveillance equipment, Bi Fang needed to make a batch himself and therefore came to the supermarket to buy a large amount of milk and vinegar, as well as some snacks. Does something feel off? If Bi Fang was live streaming at the moment, surely a lot of viewers would have commented just like this, simply because what Bi Fang bought was too ordinary. Are you sure you¡¯re not just stocking up on daily necessities? Except for the excessive quantity of milk, which didn¡¯t seem like something one could finish during a trip, the rest of it¡ªa bottle of vinegar, well, perhaps Old Fang liked sour flavors, and the remaining items like chips, soda, biscuits, jelly... Anyone seeing these goods wouldn¡¯t think they could be used to make anything special; they completely looked like the survival essentials of a home-bound comfort-lover. Could it be that the rugged outdoorsman was actually a happy homebody? Of course not. Bi Fang dumped all the items he had bought onto the hotel sofa, took out a small basin, and poured all the milk into it after opening the lid. He had only two targets for his supermarket trip. Milk and vinegar. Cameras are everywhere¡ªone must always assume that one¡¯s actions are being recorded. Bi Fang remembered this rule of conduct and normalized all his behavior. The rest of the snacks were merely to hide the existence of these two items to avoid arousing suspicion due to their evident purpose. Of course, to the average person, milk and vinegar wouldn¡¯t suggest anything, but for someone like Bi Fang, exercising caution was paramount. To his eyes, they were the best materials for making disguise tools. Milky white foam rose slightly on the surface of the milk as Bi Fang poured about a litre of it into the container. He tapped the edge of the container with chopsticks to disperse the foam, then brought it to the microwave in the room. After flipping through the microwave power instruction table and making adjustments, he set the timer for five minutes of heating. In higher-end hotel suites, furniture and appliances are all readily available, and some even have private kitchens. Five minutes later, Bi Fang took out the warm but not yet boiling milk, which had already formed a thin layer of "milk skin" on top. Opening the bottle of vinegar, Bi Fang grabbed a stainless steel soup spoon and began adding eight spoonfuls of vinegar into the container of milk while puncturing the milk skin and continuously stirring. After the mixture was complete, a large amount of flocculent sediment twisted around the handle of the spoon. He scooped up the sediment, lifted it to eye level with the spoon handle, and pinched the flocculent matter¡ªit was tacky but didn¡¯t break. Just right. This was what Bi Fang was looking for. Protein. To conceal valuable data, keys, or surveillance equipment like cameras and microphones, one only needed two common kitchen ingredients: milk and vinegar. After heating and filtering, the casein in milk would solidify into a gel-like plastic substance, which, when mixed, could be shaped into any form and, after drying, could achieve a clay-like consistency. This versatile substance could be molded, colored, and made to imitate the shape of rocks, bricks, logs, or anything else, making it an ideal choice for intelligence drop points and highly suitable for disguising valuable items or surveillance equipment in specific environments. The only point to note is that during the heating of the milk, it must not be brought to a boil, otherwise, what¡¯s obtained is not filamentous matter, but flocculent matter. In high school biology, isolating DNA proteins essentially uses the same method. Bi Fang took out a spare short-sleeve shirt, placed it beneath the container, and poured into the sink, filtering out the filamentous mixture. In actual operation, five hundred grams, a jin of milk, could be used to make a "milk plastic ball" the size of an egg, capable of hiding a miniature camera. Having the camouflage was not enough; a camera and microphone were also needed. These also presented no difficulty to Bi Fang. When he was on a mission before, he had considered the possibility of not being able to carry too much equipment, so he had Richard and the others buy a considerable number of baby monitors. Any computer mall or large supermarket would have them, needing only simple modifications to become covert cameras. Bi Fang just needed the components inside, the not-small casings were all discarded. He dismantled the components¡ªthe transmitter, battery pack, and camera lens, but did not cut the wires connecting the components. He then inserted a toothpick into the camera lens, stuck the freshly obtained "special plastic" onto the lens, and molded the "plastic" around the lens into the shape of a rock. At the time, one would simply pull out the toothpick, the original position of the toothpick would leave behind a pinhole that¡¯s not easily detectable, and the camera would be able to monitor through the small hole. Bi Fang poured out some vinegar, mixed in the right amount of milk and stirred, the color quickly turned to brownish grey; this was the "paint" for dyeing. Painting the rock a neutral color or depicting the unique textures of the landscape outside the target house, placing the transmitter and battery pack into a waterproof sealed bag, and then connecting it up with the "rock". At the time, this part would be buried in the ground, it didn¡¯t need to be too deep, too deep would lead to signal transmission failure, finally setting up the camera to capture the desired image. To ensure that the camera¡¯s "view" was in the right position, Bi Fang did not remove the toothpick until the very last moment, and used the angle of the toothpick to measure the field of view. A lens like this had a very small chance of being discovered. Even if it were discovered, if it was dismantled, the exposed wires, in the eyes of ordinary people, were nothing more than a discarded item, blown and weathered and buried. During installation, one could also spray adhesive on the rocky lens and cover it with soil collected from the scene as another layer of camouflage, it was almost foolproof. Besides, a microphone was still needed. Hiding a sound-activated recording device in the target room or car was relatively simple, but without amplification equipment, it¡¯s unlikely to gather effective intelligence. A complete surveillance system needed a microphone to amplify the sound. Lacking specialized tools, one could also convert a cellphone, audio jack, and headphones into an effective listening device. The difference between the two is extremely simple, their functions are exactly opposite. Bi Fang took apart headphones bought from a cheap general store, exposing two conspicuous wires, one red positive wire, and another black negative wire. Simply reversing the polarity of the two wires could change the function of the device. A microphone and a speaker are essentially the same instrument; any speaker¡ªfrom the earbuds on headphones to the stereo system in a TV¡ªcould be turned into a microphone within minutes. The speaker converts electronic signals into sound, whereas the microphone turns sound into electronical signals that can be processed and amplified. Bi Fang cut off the output end of the speaker wire, connected it to an audio jack, and plugged the audio port into the camera equipment he had just made. All small recording devices could essentially be used this way, but a cell phone set to silent and programmed to auto-answer had two additional advantages. It could capture intelligence in real-time and did not require taking the risk of returning to the target¡¯s location to retrieve the device. Such eavesdropping device installation techniques were highly versatile. It¡¯s a pity Bi Fang didn¡¯t have that many cell phones. Bi Fang had also taught Richard and the others to fit one to their own cars, so they wouldn¡¯t be unaware if someone sneaked in. It only required disabling any one of the car¡¯s rear speakers and plugging its wires into a recorder or phone to assemble vehicle surveillance equipment. In public places, the earbuds hanging and swaying from the pocket of an overcoat could serve as a clandestine intelligence-gathering station. Sound, image, disguise¡ªall in place, and in just one hour, Bi Fang had once again produced a batch of surveillance equipment ready for use. He shouldered his backpack, for there was more work to be done today. Night. Bi Fang, along with Mandy and Keke, once again came to Dolphin Bay. Though they had followed Bi Fang¡¯s advice and changed hotels, it was still no challenge for Bi Fang, even easier this time, because the new hotel had balconies instead of glass curtain walls. Right under the watchful eyes of the guards, Bi Fang led the two of them out. Perhaps it was because the dolphin season was nearing, Dolphin Bay was more crowded tonight. There were also large piles of firewood on the beach, looking like there would be a grand bonfire celebration the following night. The mission duration was much longer than Bi Fang had anticipated; surveying the terrain, planning, patient observation, "Did you see the two groups that just came through the tunnel?" Bi Fang asked Mandy and Keke, tilting his head. The two nodded, indicating they too had seen them, and it was a very bad sign. As soon as those two groups had come down the mountain, they ran back up, constantly shaking their flashlights, moving rapidly and scouring the entire forest. They wanted to set off early and get to work. Richard told Bi Fang that when they first came to Japan, they had also encountered these people; they would carefully examine broken branches. Usually, they would go up the mountain to inspect only when there were dolphins in Dolphin Bay, aiming to find out if anyone was tracking and filming. Bi Fang had already encountered dolphins the previous night; everything was inevitable. The focus of Dolphin Bay was on its right side, but Bi Fang and his team had placed their equipment on the left side the previous night, which was easier for entering the water and observing. Today, Bi Fang had placed most of the equipment in the open view of the trees, the observation point was higher, and everything was in clear sight from top to bottom. Mandy was wearing an infrared camera on her head as well, to brace for someone suddenly appearing. Not only that, but they also had professional underwater divers responsible for underwater inspections, making a carpet-like search beneath the water; Bi Fang didn¡¯t want them to discover those devices. Underwater sound detection equipment, underwater cameras, underwater infrared devices¡ªthese were all the result of their hard work over an entire night; Bi Fang and Richard needed to understand everything that happened here, they needed a full-spectrum, three-dimensional experience. They wanted to hear every sound made by the dolphins as well as every word spoken by the fishermen; Bi Fang¡¯s efforts were not solely to expose the slaughter but also to document something that could change people¡¯s hearts. Last weekend, the long and sorrowful moans of the humpback whales echoed through London¡¯s Trafalgar Square, a great sadness burst forth, pouring out like cold torrents, overwhelming the square, covering everyone present. Thousands of protesters demanded a halt to the killing of whale species. In the 1960s, the IWC Organization turned a blind eye to the slaughter of whales. Until one man appeared¡ªRoger Payne. Not some character from an anime, but a real-life hero. He started this whale rescue campaign, the method was to make public the songs of these animals to the whole world, the impact was profound and terrifying. Anyone who had heard the sorrowful cries of the whales could deeply feel the violent sorrow contained within them, like a volcanic eruption. Now, this protest movement had begun again, and the participants were determined to change the status quo, because the number of whale slaughters was rising again, and a new leader had to take charge. Roger Payne was already over seventy years old, yet people like him. Were few and far between. Tonight was destined to be a tough night. "Take this." Bi Fang handed each person a note with a string of numbers. "What is this?" "The Huaxia Embassy¡¯s phone number, save it, and keep the note on you too. If you encounter any danger or get caught, contact me first, the second is this number." "Oh, there¡¯s no need, we have Ugly Country..." "Trust me, take it. It¡¯s more reliable. Just in case, remember to stuff the phone in your sock. And, I told you to prepare more than two phones each, did you?" Bi Fang folded the slip of paper and tucked it into their collars. All these precautions were to prevent potential troubles. If they were captured, they would certainly be searched. One phone was to be placed conspicuously for the "discovery." Another phone had to be hidden close to the body, so two or more were necessary. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sometimes sheer concealment is ineffective; you must make the enemy believe they have achieved their goal. That¡¯s the best form of hiding. Lure the enemy in the wrong direction, misdirect their focus, it¡¯s all the same idea. "Oh, alright, I hope I¡¯ll never have to use it." They sincerely accepted the notes. Having done all this, the three turned and entered the forest, completely ignoring the no trespassing sign. Regrettably, Bi Fang¡¯s knowledge was lacking, and he thought the yellow sign simply said. "Welcome to Taiji Town." ... In the early hours, the three evaded the searching villagers, and just as they were heading down the mountain, a beam of bright light suddenly flashed in Keke¡¯s eyes. His pupils contracted sharply, and he froze as if he were a frog. Bi Fang reacted swiftly, grabbing Keke by the collar and yanking him back, hiding his silhouette against a tree. "Is someone there? Who¡¯s there?" Seeming to sense something amiss, the villager shouted. Keke swallowed hard, his heart pounding fiercely, temples throbbing. "It¡¯s over, I didn¡¯t see it." Mandy muttered quietly, licking her lips. The moment the villager ran out, she happened to be looking elsewhere; the infrared vision missed it completely. Bi Fang crouched down, picked up a stone from the ground, and after weighing it, hurled it to the other side. The stone flew across their line of sight, striking leaves and making a noise, quickly attracting the other party¡¯s attention, followed by shouting, the light dissipated. "Are they gone?" Keke swallowed, his forehead wet with sweat, looking as if he had been pulled out of water. The patrolling villagers all had sickles at their waists. What they¡¯d face if caught by them goes without saying. After about five or six minutes, Bi Fang nodded: "They should be gone." But just as the three thought everything was over. Back at the hotel, Richard and the others faced a sudden attack. Chapter 562 - 559: Red Blood and Black Waves The giant dolphin sculpture pointed towards the sea from afar, and at this time, the sea was calm, with only the foghorns of the fishing boats preparing to set out. At sea, a bird takes a long time to completely disappear from your view, and you can watch it unobstructed for quite a while. The sun had just risen, and it wasn¡¯t even half past five in the morning. Bi Fang stood on the mountain peak, gazing into the distance. There were still nearly three hours left until the live broadcast would start, providing him with ample time for observation and recording. Dozens of fishing boats, big and small, were lined up in a row within Dolphin Bay, with banners and flags hanging from their gunwales and masts, and decks piled with chickens, ducks, fish, and meat for the sacrifice. It was an offering to the ocean, but also an unconventional kind of bait. Bi Fang didn¡¯t have a watch, and the fishing boats in the harbor hadn¡¯t yet moved, but he felt that the time was coming close, perhaps it was 5:38 AM. Fishermen often believe in superstitions even more than farmers do. The unpredictable and unfathomable sea is far more elusive than the solid ground underfoot. When faced with uncertainty, superstitious thinking emerges. In 1948, an English anthropologist studied a primitive tribe near Papua New Guinea that lived off fishing. Their island had an inland lake with very stable resources - you could always find fish there, but the quantity and quality were mediocre. The inland lake¡¯s offerings were insufficient, so sometimes the fishermen had to venture out to sea, an endeavor full of uncertainties¡ªsometimes they could catch lots of big fish, other times they would return empty-handed, and it might even be dangerous. Before heading out to sea, the fishermen would perform a primitive religious ritual, willing to believe in supernatural powers. However, the anthropologist noticed that the fishermen were not always superstitious. They only engaged in religious rituals before sea fishing; if they were going to the inland lake for fish, they wouldn¡¯t carry out any superstitious practices. Then the question arose¡ªif you truly believed in gods, wouldn¡¯t you need to thank them for the bounty of the inland lake too? It seems that the fishermen didn¡¯t care much about how the gods felt¡­ They just wanted to do something to intervene in the uncertainty. Athletes do the same, as good scores or goals aren¡¯t always guaranteed. Why did I hit the mark last time but not this time? It must be something I didn¡¯t do right. So, they start with small actions, like licking the bat, tapping it on the ground twice, or making the sign of the cross over their chest. This phenomenon exists not only in humans but also in the animal kingdom. In 1948, psychologist B.F. Skinner from the Ugly Country conducted an experiment with pigeons. He first put the pigeons in a cage with a lever inside. Initially, whenever the pigeons touched the lever, they received food, and their behavior was normal¡ªthey would touch the lever whenever they wanted to eat. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then Skinner changed the rules of the game. The lever-touching now resulted in food randomly. Sometimes they would get it after just one touch, other times they would touch several times and get nothing. The pigeons didn¡¯t understand randomness; they pondered what they had done right last time to receive food. Skinner noticed a change in the pigeons¡¯ behavior. Now before each touch of the lever, the pigeons would perform some unnecessary actions. Sometimes it was shaking their head, at other times it was turning around twice¡­ The pigeons had become superstitious. Fishermen conducting sacrificial rituals, athletes seeking good luck, pigeons performing extra movements¡ªsome rely on gods, some on themselves, but fundamentally, they all reflect the same thinking¡ªthat in the face of uncertainty, people want to do something to intervene. We know it might not work, but we still have to do it, because without it, we feel uneasy¡ªthat is superstition. As for what the ocean thinks, these people subconsciously don¡¯t care at all. 7, 5, 3, 8 are numbers beloved by the Japanese, and there¡¯s even a festival called the 753 Festival, which is a day to bless children. Aside from nine and thirteen, the Japanese prefer odd numbers. Although it was hard to make out the specifics of what those guys were up to, over a dozen fishing boats lined up in front of Dolphin Bay seemed poised to set off soon. The mist over the sea slowly dissipated, and it was already past five thirty, maybe just a few minutes shy of 5:38. Bi Fang squinted his eyes in vain; the distance was too great, and he couldn¡¯t make anything out. He could only watch through the distant drones. On the fishing boats, the captains offered incense and kneeled in prayer as gongs, drums, and firecrackers sounded in unison. Among the dozens of fishing boats, there was one new vessel, its deck very clean, not yet covered in bird droppings. The air was thick with the pungent smell of fresh paint, which was somewhat irritating. Some crew members stood at the bow, one of them constantly sniffing, slightly uncomfortable, a young lad wearing waders probably handed down from his father, old and large. This was a hunting tradition passed down through generations. He stretched out his arms, able to feel, as if he were a petrel soaring in the wind above the sea, except it seemed like one of the petrels was black, standing out awkwardly. But before the young man could get a closer look, the black petrel had disappeared. Everything started with amiable pleasantries, with just a few common topics, occasionally interspersed with boasts of the amorous escapades from the night before setting off. Soon, 5:38 arrived, as expected. All the fishing boats sounded their horns, white foam spreading from both sides of the hulls, pushing the waves forward as they departed. The departure ceremony started right on time, neither a minute early nor a minute late. Just heading out to sea, the young man, Tobi, did not feel unwell; on the contrary, he was quite excited. As a child, Tobi was used to watching dolphin shows at the aquarium; those intelligent creatures were really adorable. His room was plastered with dolphin posters and small toys. But people can¡¯t remain the same forever. As he grew older, Tobi¡¯s interests multiplied: the latest gaming console, VCDs, the cute girl next door. After starting university, his desires only grew: the best computer, a comfortable environment, food for his pet, a place to live, a cool bike, an ergonomic chair... And all of these required money. A single qualified dolphin could fetch several hundreds of thousands of Ugly Gold, and even if he couldn¡¯t get it all, it would cover most of his desires. It was summer break, and the girl next door wanted the latest makeup, sadly costing tens of thousands of Yen. Tobi felt it was necessary to fulfill her wish. Compared to money, cute dolphins didn¡¯t count for much. An older crew member saw Tobi daydreaming and scolded him sternly, "Tobi, is this the time to be daydreaming?" Tobi jolted and hurried over, "I¡¯m here, I¡¯m here, senior. What do I need to do?" "Take this!" The older crew member handed over a long pole to Tobi. Tobi took it with both hands, surprised to find it very heavy. The pole was nearly as long as the entire fishing boat. There was a bulge at the end of the pole, heavy enough to bend the whole thing, yet he had no idea what it was used for. But soon, Tobi found out. The older crew member, holding a cigarette in his mouth, passed a hammer to Tobi, not even bothering to explain, propped the pole against the railing, and immersed it in the seawater, then began hammering at the top of the pole. Tobi looked on, utterly confused. What were they doing? Blowing out a puff of smoke, the old sailor cursed, "What are you dazed for? Can¡¯t you just do as you¡¯re told?" The Asuka who had barely started was already scolded for a good opportunity, and the youthful and energetic him was somewhat resentful, but thinking of today¡¯s bonus, he still endured it, imitating the movements of the old sailors and inserting the long pole into the water, hammering it with a hammer. At first, he thought it was an easy job, but after hammering for a few minutes, he felt his left hand that gripped the pole go numb and painful; upon opening it, it had already become red and swollen. The long pole vibrated continuously under the hammer¡¯s strikes, the fine, dense vibrations turning his hand bright red. The old sailor glanced at him twice, spat the cigarette butt into the sea, and snorted coldly. Only the more experienced sailors knew that gloves were essential for this work. As for this brash young man who didn¡¯t know how to respect his elders and was full of thorns, teaching him a lesson was quite necessary. Asuka clearly heard the sneer, gritted his teeth, took off his clothes, and held them in his hands, not only undiscouraged but even hammering more vigorously. But very soon, the captain noticed Asuka; he and Asuka¡¯s father were good friends, so he took off his right glove and threw it to Asuka. When Asuka turned around and saw this, he exclaimed happily, "Captain!" The captain patted Asuka on the shoulder and encouraged him, "Work hard. The dolphins always follow their migration routes to Taiji Town. This has not changed for thousands of years. We just need to wait for them to fall into our nets." "Aye!" Bi Fang stood on the mountaintop, arms crossed, watching all of this unfold without a hint of concern. Stopping them now would only prevent this once, but there would be tomorrow, the day after, next week, next month, year after year. Looking down from his high vantage point at Dolphin Bay, Bi Fang could clearly see about a dozen fishing boats lined up, the crew members placing some long poles into the water, the ends of the poles equipped with flanges, then hitting the tops of the poles with hammers. Because of the whip effect, applying a small force at the top of the pole was sufficient to generate a large vibration at the tail, transmitting sound and creating a sound barrier. Dolphins are extremely sensitive to sound, so sensitive that it astonishes many people. According to Richard, the nerve center of all dolphin enclosures is the "fish house," and no matter which "fish house" you go to, you would find boxes and boxes of Maalox and Tagamet, both of which are drugs to reduce stomach acid secretion. The reason for their presence was that all dolphins had developed stomach ulcers. They were under too much stress, to the breaking point. This was almost the same as with humans. Only when you see them in the ocean do you understand that this kind of confinement doesn¡¯t work. Dolphins are auditory animals, with hearing being their primary sense. Human¡¯s most advanced sonar, when compared to dolphins¡¯ abilities, is like a mere amateur facing a great master. They can easily "hear through" humans in the ocean, hearing your anxious heartbeat due to falling into the water, your bones, whether you are pregnant or not. Just by sound, dolphins can acquire a wealth of information. After being captured, dolphins were placed into a pool made of concrete, surrounded by rings of screaming spectators, and at night after the enclosure closed, they also had to endure the non-stop operation of all kinds of machinery. It was like humans being forced to keep their eyelids open with a twenty-four-hour non-extinguishing bright light in front of them. When the Baltimore National Aquarium first started operations, dolphins kept dying one after another, and the staff tried everything but could not keep them alive. In the end, they discovered that it was the noise from the filtration system that was too loud; the non-stop noise stress had taken the lives of the dolphins. Hearing was the primary lifeline of the dolphins, but it also became their most fatal weakness in Taiji Town. The fishermen capitalized on dolphins¡¯ sensitivity to noise, driving more than a dozen boats to the mouth of the bay where the dolphins gathered, artificially creating noise in the sea, placing a long pole from the ship into the water, continuously hammering it to create a series of sound waves, forming a sound barrier with the purpose of frightening the dolphins¡ªbeings primarily reliant on keen hearing for survival¡ªand driving hundreds of them to shore. The dolphins were fleeing for their lives, escaping from the sonic wall. Eventually, the fishermen would drive the dolphins into a reef lagoon that was barricaded with fishing nets and begin slaughtering the tormented, panic-stricken dolphins who were in immense pain. With each tap, Asuka quickly noticed something was different; the originally tranquil sea seemed to become restless. As the fishing boats lined up and formed a semi-encirclement towards Dolphin Bay, suddenly dolphins leaped out of the water, but unlike the graceful dives Asuka used to see on the beach, they heavily smashed onto the sea surface, stirring up waves. For some reason, Asuka felt afraid, and his actions slowed down. "Hey! Kid, don¡¯t stop!" The old crew member next to him kicked Asuka in the armpit, knocking him to his knees on the deck, and shouted loudly, "This is a critical time, don¡¯t let any dolphin escape! They can send signals to each other!" As Asuka¡¯s kneecap collided with the deck, the intense pain brought him quickly back to his senses. Thinking of the money that was nearly within reach, he struggled to stand up and continued tapping. After the first one, more and more dolphins began jumping out of the water, breaking the surface and plunging back in. They used to be the spirits of the sea, but now, they seemed to have forgotten how to swim. The blue sea was soon crowded with white foam, looking everywhere, all was white froth. Before long, the encirclement had halved in size, slowly moving towards Dolphin Bay. The sonic wall, like a huge net, captured all the dolphins and dragged them towards the narrow Dolphin Bay. Dolphins had already entered Dolphin Bay, and the fishermen on the shore cheered loudly, with some even eagerly sliding their small boats into the water, holding the long hook knives in their hands, approaching the dolphins that were swimming towards the shallows. The long hook knife glistened with a menacing light in the sunlight; it was a tool originally used in ancient naval warfare to damage the enemy¡¯s ship equipment. It consisted of a long pole with a loop at the end and a sharp hook-shaped knife attached. When approaching an enemy ship, the sailor would extend the hook knife and tear at the ropes of the enemy¡¯s masts, causing the sails to fall and lose wind power, making it easier to board the ship for combat. The fishermen who jumped into the sea did not stab wildly but specifically sought out dolphins of poor appearance, which were deemed of no value and merely as feed. Suddenly, a fisherman spotted an injured dolphin swimming towards him as if it were seeking help. Seeing this, the fisherman clenched the long hook knife and thrust it into the dolphin¡¯s spine, hooking it like a rope, and without even the blood dispersing, the dolphin was pulled onto the small boat by the fisherman and his companions. The nerves in the dolphin¡¯s spine grated against the metal, causing severe pain. Piercing screams echoed throughout Dolphin Bay. The screams of comrades, the piercing sonic wall from all directions. The frightened dolphins darted around the bay, their surroundings turning red with the blood of their companions. The mother dolphin tried to inform the young ones of the danger and emitted excruciating cries in an attempt to protect them. With the heavy loss of blood and unbearable pain, the injured dolphins had no strength left to resist. More and more fishermen joined in, and the blood spread. The fishermen¡¯s faces beamed with the smiles of a bountiful harvest, and given the abundance of the first catch, it promised to be a fruitful year. They pulled the dolphins onto the fishing boats, cut their throats, chopped through their spines, left them on the boats, and let them die naturally. One after another. The sea churned with red blood and black waves. Chapter 563 - 560: The Blood-red Dolphin Bay The fishing boats on the sea drew closer and closer, the invisible net tightening steadily. The dolphins were trapped by wave after wave of noise, pinned by the clanging of long poles, sounds like countless silkworms gnawing on mulberry leaves. The sounds they could hear grew louder and more rapid, repeating monotonously, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t bear it any longer, his brain felt like it was about to explode, the noise seemed to come from within his own cranial pulp, as if his skull was slowly cracking along its sutures, chafing against each other. He turned off the drone¡¯s sound system. But the dolphins couldn¡¯t turn it off; they could only suffer helplessly and passively, colliding with each other in the shallow waters, emitting piercing and mournful screeches. The sharp long hook knife easily tore through their smooth, plastic-like skin, slicing muscles and bones and deftly hooking the spine, pulling them aboard as if dragging a rope. Giraffes, humans, and dolphins, are the only three creatures in nature with seven cervical vertebrae, Blood splashed onto the fisherman¡¯s face, full of smiles, and he licked the blood by his mouth, wiped it with his hand, and turned to his companion on the boat with a big laugh, "So many dolphins on the first round, this year is bound to be a bountiful harvest." His companion nodded, while warning, "Be careful, don¡¯t slaughter the pretty ones; those are the ones that are really worth money." "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve been doing this for so many years, I can tell at a glance which dolphins qualify and which don¡¯t!" As he spoke, the fisherman sank the dolphin beneath his knife, then swiftly lifted it, using buoyancy and momentum to drag the several-hundred-pound dolphin onto the small boat with force. An adult dolphin weighs nearly as much as five adults, impossible for a novice to haul aboard single-handedly; only a seasoned hand could accomplish this. One by one, heavy dolphins were dragged up onto the small wooden boat, pressing it down into the water, almost level with the surface, as bloody water still poured in. The onlookers on the shore cheered and, once the small boat was full, it returned to the shore, dragging the dolphins out and swapping in another crew, while the rest began to process the dolphins. Dozens of dolphins were lined up, the fisherman walking back and forth atop the dolphin carcasses, some of which were not quite dead yet, still crying out in agony until someone stepped on them, causing their tails to reflexively flick up. "Wow, look, the trainers have arrived!" someone shouted. At the announcement of the trainers¡¯ arrival, a dozen fishermen turned around, their faces filled with anticipation. A few trainers in wetsuits descended from the road to the beach, greeted several familiar fishermen. When they saw the pool full of blood, they frowned. Normally, trainers should have the first pick, and only after they selected would the fishermen slaughter the unwanted dolphins. Seeing this, a fisherman who was processing a dolphin immediately led the trainers over to a corner enclosed by nets. The trainers¡¯ frowns vanished upon seeing the dolphins in the nets; the quality of these dolphins was quite good. "These smart, clever ones with good appearances, we picked them out early, just waiting for you all," boasted the fisherman, seasoned with handling dolphins and observing trainers pick, they already knew what to look for. Looking at the dolphins within the wire net, soaking in the bloody water of their companions, listless, the trainers patted the fisherman¡¯s shoulder, then entered the water to choose their own preferred dolphins. Seeing the trainers enter the water, an old sailor slapped Asuka on the shoulder and laughed, extracting a pack of cigarettes from his chest, clamping a cigarette between his lips to light it: "Hahaha, kid, we¡¯re in for a windfall. This is where the real money¡¯s at, at least a hundred thousand dollars a piece!" "A hundred, hundred thousand..." Asuka, who had been mechanically striking the long pole, had become numb; he felt something might be wrong with his eyes, as everything he looked at was stained with blood. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The entire world spun. The air was filled with dolphin¡¯s cries, the clanging of poles, over and over, ringing from inside the skull, pounding heavily. The beach was covered with the thwarted attempts of dolphins, adult female dolphins trying to let their young escape, only to have their bodies cut open by long knives the next second, the young following suit, blood filling up Dolphin Bay. Seabirds that had been circling high above seized the opportunity, diving down to snatch a piece of flesh and promptly flew away, tilting their heads to swallow the dolphin meat. Laughter from the fishermen was everywhere. The laughter and screams mixed together, indistinguishable whether it was joy or terror, everything becoming a blur assaulting the senses. "Hey, kid, you¡¯re dazed, aren¡¯t you? Don¡¯t stop now," the old sailor spat a puff of smoke into Asuka¡¯s face, pushed him when he didn¡¯t respond, and slapped the back of his head, clearly displeased. Asuka¡¯s head hung lower with each hit, the dizziness intensifying, he looked at the sea, the frothy waves no longer white but a deep, dark color, darkness and blood mingling, completely engulfing him. "Hey, hey, hey! Damn it, Captain, this kid has passed out!" .... "Huff!" Bi Fang exhaled for a full half a minute before feeling that the stuffiness and waste gases in his chest had been emptied out. When his senses returned, he was shocked to realize he had been standing here for a solid two hours, his legs slightly swollen from the strain. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, feeling his head was heavy and groggy. The drones, mixed in among the seagulls, overlooked a scene where Dolphin Bay, once azure, had turned a blood red, and even the beach above was all sand mingled with blood. When it comes to a vast fortune, the greed of humans flows like poison in their blood. After thousands of years within the civilized world, these people still haven¡¯t learned to love the world. Inside the hotel, Richard and others had also experienced all this, even more so. In the ocean, innumerable dolphin shadows darted about, repeatedly knocking into each other like humans in a stampede, their clear view turning to blood red in less than an hour. Through infrared, one could only glimpse their panic and tension as if watching a blood storm from the sea bottom, with orange-red figures everywhere. When they approached the fishing boats, the orange hue would suddenly expand, staining everything around it. There was no doubt that this was the result of blood spreading in the sea water. The encirclement tightened rapidly, and in less than two hours, about a dozen fishing boats had once again completely surrounded Dolphin Bay. Now, the frenzy that belonged to everyone truly began, as more and more people entered Dolphin Bay, humans wielding slaughtering knives and dripping with blood, alongside the dolphins that surfaced. The whole capture process was very quick; by eight o¡¯clock, the first round of capture had finished. But the blood-stained bay remained colored for a long time. Bi Fang didn¡¯t know how long it would take for the blood-red to turn back to blue again, but considering the geography of Dolphin Bay, it was difficult for the water here to mix with the open sea, suggesting it would take quite a while. He didn¡¯t know when the next hunt would be. The hunting schedule in Taiji Town wasn¡¯t daily, but depended on whether dolphin pods arrived here each day. If there were only a few small groups sporadically, then it wouldn¡¯t be possible to do this every day. As for the next time, no one knew. Taking a moment to steady his mind, Bi Fang rubbed his face, moving his stiff expression around, as he still had other tasks waiting for him that day. It was already the fifth day of Black Bear hunting season; the rankings had changed once again, and Bi Fang had slipped from third to fifth place. The Y¨­ki Hunter duo had now surged ahead of him. They were said to have been caught overnight. "No matter," he muttered. Bi Fang took out his water bottle, moistened his throat, then warmed up before turning on the live stream, greeting the surrounding forest with practiced ease. In the live stream room, Kogawa Kobayashi shouted with excitement, "Everyone, look! Master Fang has also started live streaming. Seems like he didn¡¯t choose to sleep in today but got up early! That¡¯s not easy for him at all." [Good morning.] [So tired, just got up.] [Emmm, didn¡¯t Old Fang treat himself again last night? He still looks listless.] [By the way, has the jade been sold yet?] Bi Fang shook his head, "Not yet, but Yehara Hiroshi told me the price has been negotiated up to 150 million yen. It probably won¡¯t be long before it¡¯s sold. Then I¡¯ll be able to send everyone a big red envelope. If you¡¯re interested, you can join a group; there¡¯s something for everyone." [The group is full.] [How many groups have you made? I can never get in; it always shows full.] [Everyone gets a share, meaning everyone in the Emperor¡¯s group gets a share.] [Hurry up and go hunt the bear, you¡¯re so far behind! Even if you dig up gold today, it¡¯s no use unless you give it to me (dog¡¯s head).] Bi Fang readily agreed, "All right, all right. I found some traces yesterday, and today, I¡¯ll strive to return to the top. This time for bear hunting, let¡¯s try using poison." Chapter 564 - 561 Poisoning A rather novel combination came from Bi Fang¡¯s mouth. Poisoning a black bear? [What the hell is this about poisoning?] [Can we no longer hide the fact that Boss Fang is an alien?] [To be honest, compared to being an alien, I¡¯m more convinced that Old Fang underwent some surgery to implant poison glands (jokingly)] [I know, got bitten by a spider and turned into a four hundred-pound lady!] [I don¡¯t want to ask anything else, I just want to know one thing, where does this poison come from, I¡¯m quite curious (dog¡¯s head)] "How could I possibly produce poison? Of course, I¡¯m using what¡¯s available." Bi Fang was briefly taken aback by the barrage of comments, but this improved Yuyu¡¯s mood significantly. Silly netizens always bring joy. Survival in the wilderness with an audience is a completely different ballgame compared to without. At the very least, one doesn¡¯t feel lonely when alone in the forest, and it can even bring a little happiness. Once Wilderness Survival Skill reaches a certain level, what one is often combating is not so much survival issues as it is oneself. Heading deeper into the forest, Bi Fang continued, "In nature, to survive, various animals have evolved different survival strategies, whether for hunting or for self-defense, especially venomous snakes. With their venom, they can often punch above their weight." In nature, body size is almost akin to a hierarchical relationship, but venom can overturn this rule, enabling animals to surpass their superiors. "However, the most fearful things for humans are probably those poisonous species, because most venoms are not only excruciatingly painful, but our understanding of them is also very limited, which brings a sense of unknown fear." All the behaviors of animals and plants on Earth can be attributed to: survival and reproduction. The reason why flora and fauna evolve toxins is actually to better survive and reproduce. "According to the second law of thermodynamics, in an isolated system, the system tends to go from order to disorder, which is the process of entropy increase. For example: an apple falls to the ground and will gradually rot." "If organisms want to survive, they first need to combat entropy increase, and ingestion of energy can maintain their original low entropy state, like: eating." "All creatures on Earth must rely on energy to survive, but different organisms have different methods of utilizing energy. Plants use solar energy, herbivores consume plants, and carnivores consume the meat of herbivores." Energy flows along the chain of solar energy-plants-herbivores-carnivores, and it is precisely because of this that Earth has such a complex food web. But in practice, every creature is reluctant to give up the energy it has worked so hard to acquire. "For plants, because of the limitations of the cell wall which impedes their movement, and since plants can¡¯t retaliate against attackers, they can only evolve things like thorns and toxins to evade herbivorous animals¡¯ attacks." "Herbivorous animals have various ways to avoid attacks from carnivores. They can evolve to run faster, have sharper monocular vision, or have thicker skin to escape predators, but some herbivores also develop toxicity to defend against their natural enemies." "There are also animals that evolve toxicity for hunting purposes, like venomous snakes. When they hunt, they first spray venom on their prey, wait for it to succumb to the poison, and then come to eat it." It is precisely because plants and animals need better ways to avoid predators and improve their hunting that there are so many poisonous species in nature. If we think of predators and prey as hunters and their quarry, then there is always an arms race between hunter and hunted. Both sides are constantly adapting to each other. At this point, Bi Fang¡¯s meaning was quite clear. [Are we looking for a plant or an animal?] [Isn¡¯t it hard to find poisonous plants here? Are there Blood-Sealing Throat Trees here too?] "Japan has many poisonous plants, but when it comes to hunting, plant toxins are often not as useful as biological toxins, like the Sago Palm," explained Bi Fang. The Sago Palm is a highly toxic plant commonly found in the southern part of Japan; it¡¯s actually not rare and is what many people have seen as the "iron tree." What many people don¡¯t know is that this plant contains deadly poison. It is one of the oldest seed plants still existing on Earth, known as a "living fossil" plant. Its origins can be traced back to about 300 million years ago, and it reached its zenith during the Jurassic period, when it dominated the planet alongside the dinosaurs. "Cattle that eat the seeds of the Sago Palm can be paralyzed, as it contains neurotoxins. Consuming too much can even lead to death, but it¡¯s not enough to deal with a black bear." Using toxins is mostly done by application followed by an attack to enter the opponent¡¯s bloodstream. The key feature is that the toxicity needs to be strong and fast-acting and able to cause maximum damage with the smallest quantity. Talking about toxins without mentioning dosage is irresponsible; a few wounds infected with Sago Palm toxin are basically useless, and the effect is too slow. By the time it takes effect, the bear would have finished its last burp. "As with the Blood-Sealing Throat Tree, there are only a few, but most toxic animals can instantly kill prey of the same size. The useful plants that can be found here in Japan are probably only castor beans and water hemlock. The former is somewhat lacking, while the latter, being considered the most toxic plant in North America, can serve as a backup option." The toxin of water hemlock is very strong; the entire plant contains hemlock toxin, which can disrupt the central nervous system, causing those who mistakenly ingest it to have epileptic seizures and ultimately die. And since coniine works similarly to arrow poison, it can paralyze motor nerves and inhibit the medulla oblongata. It has a rapid effect and has been listed by Bi Fang as an alternative. However, what he wanted to find more was snakes. Plant toxins are for defense, to deter herbivores, but snake venom is for offense, evolving in the direction of Bi Fang¡¯s needs. After all, both involve hunting, with exactly the same requirements. "Japan¡¯s humid climate provides habitats for as many as 47 species of snakes, but only eight of them live on the four islands of Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu, with just two being venomous snakes." "One is the Mamushi, and the other, the Tiger Keelback. Considering the size of the black bear, we don¡¯t need a toxin that can kill it outright. As long as it has a significant paralytic effect, it¡¯s effective. The one I want to find most is the Tiger Keelback," he said. The venom yield of Tiger Keelback is low, averaging 11.8mg, with components such as metalloproteinase and coagulases. But its intravenous toxicity is very high, with an LD50 of 0.265mg/kg, exceeding the venom of most vipers. Vipers, with just their names, most people would associate them with deadly poison, which shows the potency of the Tiger Keelback¡¯s venom. However, because the Tiger Keelback has posterior fangs and it has been the subject of much debate whether it¡¯s a venomous snake. Because its fangs and venom glands are not connected by ducts, making venom injection difficult, and its venom delivery system can be quite wasteful. Coupled with its docile nature, most people who are bitten suffer only mild symptoms, which was quite an oddity. Before 2008, it wasn¡¯t even considered a venomous snake in Huaxia. But even so, there have been several cases of death by Tiger Keelback bites in Japan. "But no matter, I¡¯m manually extracting it, there won¡¯t be any waste. Moreover, during yesterday¡¯s earthquake, many venomous snakes actually came down from the mountain. I saw one that looked very much like a Tiger Keelback, but at that time I discovered jade and didn¡¯t have time to catch it," he said. Reptiles are very sensitive to earthquakes, and at least a dozen snakes shot past Bi Fang¡¯s line of sight at that time, but they were too concerned with escaping to pose any threat. "Now let¡¯s go over there and see if we can find it. It mainly preys on small vertebrates, such as frogs and toads, and likes to dwell in areas with lush aquatic vegetation, the same kind of place as water hemlock. We¡¯re actually looking for two things," he said. Following the direction he remembered, Bi Fang quickly found a stream in a valley and began to search along its banks. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. While he hadn¡¯t found the Tiger Keelback yet, he did discover two Banded Kraits intertwined together, a non-venomous species. Without wasting them, Bi Fang captured the loving couple to prepare for lunch, and continued his search. Eventually, Bi Fang located the target amid a small clump of aquatic vegetation. Chapter 565 - 562: The Doomed Poison Master ``` "Heh heh heh, see that? It¡¯s right there." Bi Fang squatted down, didn¡¯t rashly approach, and used the tree stick in his hand, the seasoned actor, to point at a clump of grass not far away. Because it was near the stream, the grass grew very lush, all higher than the knees, and if you didn¡¯t look carefully, you really couldn¡¯t spot it. "The color of this creature varies greatly depending on the region. Generally speaking, the southern Banded Kraits are lighter in color and green, blending in with the grass and difficult to distinguish. Those in the north have darker colors with more black spots." Many viewers felt scared, as stepping on it without noticing could lead to a serious injury, couldn¡¯t it? [Damn, it¡¯s so well hidden?] [So bright and colorful!] In the grass, the Banded Krait was also entirely green with black spots, hidden among the lush aquatic plants, scarcely noticeable at a cursory glance. However, its neck was a bright orange-red color, very vivid and adding an element of danger. At the moment, this deadly snake hadn¡¯t noticed Bi Fang, lying motionless in the grass. Bi Fang lowered his voice, "Although it¡¯s not the most lethal snake, the strength of the Banded Krait shouldn¡¯t be underestimated. It has a record of human fatalities in both Huaxia and Japan." [The Banded Krait has one of the lowest fatality rates among deadly snakes, where did this ¡¯most lethal¡¯ talk come from?] [Just joined the live stream? Didn¡¯t they say earlier that the effectiveness of its fangs is hit or miss, so whether the injection is successful is a matter of chance.] [You wouldn¡¯t dare to risk it, the thing is quite toxic. If bitten, you can¡¯t be sure if it¡¯s a dry bite or it injected a small amount of venom. So if you see it, keep your distance.] [Someone said mildly toxic [smile] when I was a kid, a neighbor got bitten and ruined a leg, the necrotic flesh was horrifying.] [If you encounter either the Tiger-striped Neck Groove Snake or the Red-necked Groove Snake, I advise you to run. It doesn¡¯t have commercial serum, meaning there is no antivenom available if you get bitten by it (Dog¡¯s head).] "The venom delivery of the Banded Krait is very poor, as it uses rear fangs to inject the venom, which is quite difficult, and sometimes there are no symptoms after being bitten, making it easy to mistake it for a nonvenomous snake." "A few years ago, this snake was universally considered mildly venomous, but recent research has confirmed it to be highly venomous. However, it is always right for the average person to see it and walk away." Many viewers nodded, as many had seen them in the countryside. Unfortunately, they didn¡¯t know at the time that it was a venomous snake; they only understood after Bi Fang¡¯s explanation. It¡¯s not nonvenomous, but rather highly venomous; it just doesn¡¯t manage to inject it. Such a waste of a potent tool. Bi Fang observed his surroundings and slowly approached the Banded Krait. Before he made a move, his eyes lit up, and he stopped, pointing the tree stick across the stream: "Hey, look over there, there¡¯s another one over there!" Following the direction of the tree stick, the drone quickly approached the opposite bank, revealing another flash of bright orange. Ha! S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A second Banded Krait! Well, look at that, two for two! Not only that, Bi Fang pointed to a small clump of grass beside the opposite bank: "Lucky day, got both at once, and there¡¯s Water Hemlock here too." The Water Hemlock swayed gently by the side of the stream and, at first glance, looked quite similar to dandelions, both with long stems and then a tuft of white flowers, only flatter. "Water Hemlock is toxic to various livestock and humans alike, and the symptoms are similar. The toxin acts directly on the central nervous system, causing severe convulsions and death from respiratory failure. The tuberous dose required to kill is 0.2-0.5% of the body weight for sheep, 0.1% for cattle, and 0.5% for horses." [Wait a minute, a cow weighs hundreds of pounds. Even one-thousandth of that is still a lot, right?] [One pound is five hundred grams, so it needs fifty grams?] ``` [An egg weighs 50 grams? Insert an egg on top of an arrow?] "Yes, although it¡¯s one-thousandth, it¡¯s still quite a lot, so I prefer biological toxins, but paralysis is sufficient, and plant toxins have a feature, which is that they can be refined," "Animal venom is very intense, but it¡¯s often protein, synthesized within the body, and it denatures upon heating. You could eat it and it would be fine, but most plant toxins are molecular, not proteins, and they don¡¯t easily change their chemical properties when heated, so they can be refined." As Bi Fang explained, he edged closer to the banded krait. Snakes are actually not hard to catch, especially for experienced people like him. To someone with rich experience, this creature is completely considered to be on the level of a spicy snack. Most snakes are actually very afraid of humans; Bi Fang¡¯s first concern when encountering one was whether it might escape, rather than being bitten. Bi Fang, adept at catching snakes, smoothly captured one of them, though unfortunately, the other seemed to sense danger and quickly vanished into the bushes before Bi Fang could get to it. Bi Fang shrugged indifferently, "It looks like one male and one female. The breeding season for tiger-striped neck groove snakes is in May and June. It¡¯s a bit late now." The tiger-striped neck groove snake, gripped by the throat, coiled around Bi Fang¡¯s forearm, with the tip of its tail constantly twitching as if expressing discontent. None of these fidgets could change reality, though. Bi Fang bent down and progressed, holding the tree stick, "The best way to obtain venom from a venomous snake is to catch it alive, although dead ones could work, but not for the banded krait." "One, these guys aren¡¯t particularly rare; in Huaxia, it is one of the most numerous and widely distributed snake species, second only to the viper. Two, as I mentioned before, it has no venom glands, which makes it hard to extract venom directly." [Banded Krait: Are you being polite?] [Thank you.] [Hahaha, Old Fang saying this is really funny.] [Boss Fang: Since we already have a banded krait, for now... oh, sorry, I still need your life.] "The banded krait¡¯s venom glands are not connected to the fangs with a duct. However, if you look here, there is a protruding neck gland on the back of the snake¡¯s neck, and the venom is stored there," Bi Fang pressed the banded krait against a rock with the back of his dagger, firmly holding down its head. The snake¡¯s body twisted even more violently, and the audience could clearly see the protrusion on the neck confirmed by Bi Fang¡¯s fingers. But it was not noticeable unless it was struggling. Having identified the target, Bi Fang deftly used his knife to cut off the snake¡¯s head and then sliced along the raised neckline little by little. "The venom sacs of venomous snakes are quite fragile, so be careful when you cut. Don¡¯t injure your own hand, or it would be troublesome if the venom entered the bloodstream," Although the snake¡¯s head had been cut off, its body continued to twitch reflexively, adding some difficulty to Bi Fang¡¯s task. But it was no big deal. He sliced open the snake skin and muscle layer, and a thin layer of membrane appeared. Bi Fang extended his finger, stained with snake blood, to hook it out, carefully pulling it back until he eventually extracted a small pouch. An expression of delight appeared on Bi Fang¡¯s face, "Look, this is the venom sac. Its tenacity is quite strong. I used to discard it, but this is the first time I need it." The venom sac was not a small pouch in the conventional sense, but rather elongated and looked... [Why does it feel like a shrunken... cover (Dog¡¯s head)?] [+1] Bi Fang paused, momentarily at a loss for words. He looked at the white venom sac in his hand and suddenly felt a chill, cleared his throat awkwardly, "Cough cough, it¡¯s all in the mind. Don¡¯t think about it too much; we run a civilized live stream." Cutting off the audience¡¯s imagination, Bi Fang tied a knot in the venom sac and placed it directly into his water bottle before running to the other side of the stream to gather water hemlock. Upon approaching, the audience realized that from afar, the plant resembled a dandelion, but up close it was more akin to common celery¡ªalmost identical! [Isn¡¯t this water celery?] [OMG, I eat this stuff often, am I going to die? Wuuu.] [If you can comment here, it means you¡¯re fine...] Bi Fang said, "Water celery and water hemlock do look very similar, even their names are almost identical, but the difference is that the stem of the poison one is covered with a fine layer of white fuzz, and it looks fluffier and feels prickly to the touch, whereas the stem of water celery is fuzz-free and very smooth. This is also the most obvious distinction between the two." When he swiped along the stem of the water hemlock, the tiny barbs accumulated, becoming somewhat more noticeable. "Now that it¡¯s this season, many wild vegetables are growing, and there are quite a few incidents of poisoning due to mistaken ingestion," Bi Fang crushed the barbs in his hand. "Last year in Guangdong, an accident happened during training activities organized by Zhang Chunliang, the team captain of the Qianzhen Mountain Rescue Team¡¯s search and rescue squad. Three members were poisoned by eating wild vegetables, and as the team captain, Zhang Chunliang perished, while the other two members were out of danger after being treated in the hospital upon descending the mountain." "This was not just any ordinary hiking enthusiast, but the captain of a search and rescue squad, who had encountered many complex outdoor sports accidents and was one of the main founders of the Qianzhen Mountain Rescue Team. He could definitely be called an experienced old mountaineer, and still, he fell victim." "According to the investigation by local authorities, Zhang Chunliang¡¯s death was caused by accidental consumption of water hemlock." "After Zhang Chunliang showed signs of poisoning, he still attempted to aid two other poisoned team members, which accelerated the onset of the poison and caused him to miss the best opportunity for his own rescue." Hiss. The audience gasped in shock. If even the rescue team captain could be fooled, how similar must they be? [For the sake of outdoor survival, it led to... an indescribably bizarre outcome.] [He tried to rescue others while being poisoned himself, he did his duty.] [Rest in peace.] [Old Fang should lead the team for this kind of thing (dog¡¯s head).] "Wild vegetables can have different characteristics in various areas. Before consuming any wild vegetables that have been foraged, one should conduct extensive research into the local conditions and always consult with experienced locals," Bi Fang said. The water hemlock in Dalian was uprooted. Although it appeared there was only a small patch, a few square meters filled with various other weeds, at least several kilograms could be collected. After gathering a bundle, Bi Fang began the extraction process. "Extracting hemlock toxin isn¡¯t difficult. If you find it troublesome, you can directly pluck a section and apply the juice to a weapon, as the whole plant of water hemlock is poisonous, so any part will do. The flowers have the highest toxicity, but I recommend using the tubers and stems since these parts are juicier and easier to apply." "If you don¡¯t mind the extra trouble, you can collect more, then crush them all, add water and start boiling. Remove the remains, and just keep steaming until you can separate out crystals." Having gathered a small clump of water hemlock nearby, Bi Fang set up distilling apparatus right next to the river. It was simple, just a plastic bottle and a fire could do the job, and it could even take care of lunch. Bi Fang skewered the snake meat on a tree stick and found a flat stone to lay some of the collected water hemlock on it. He then used another stone to grind it down before stuffing it into the cut-open mineral water bottle and poured a ladle of stream water in, starting to heat it up. "Most mineral water bottles have a melting point higher than the boiling point of water, so you don¡¯t have to worry about the bottle melting." Once the stream water boiled, Bi Fang ladled out the residue and added in another part of the water hemlock. "Be careful, the water is already toxic at this stage! Don¡¯t treat it as pure water to drink! And don¡¯t let it come into contact with any wounds on your body!" Bi Fang issued a stern warning¡ªit wasn¡¯t a matter to be taken lightly. "It can paralyze the motor neurons, suppress the medullary center. The toxic dose for humans is 30¨C60 milligrams, while the lethal dose is 120¨C150 milligrams, capable of causing death within minutes." "Heating can reduce the toxicity to some extent, but it¡¯s very limited, and the loss is within the tolerable range for our distillation." Right now, it¡¯s equivalent to concentrating a portion, but there will be losses in the process of concentrating the poison. However, when compared to the whole, the toxicity is still stronger, so extra caution is needed. This is the biggest difference between plant toxins and animal toxins, as they do not easily become denatured and inactivated when exposed to high temperatures. By the time everything was refined, Bi Fang had also finished lunch. He now possessed two major toxins, concentrated hemlock toxin and the venom of the banded krait, both deadly! He also crafted two wooden darts. "The flint stone dart can only be coated with a limited amount of venom, so we can choose the wooden ones. Afterward, we carve some small grooves at the tip of the spear. Although not as sharp and hard as flint stone, it can retain more venom, becoming a poison spear!" Unlike flint stone, a poison spear doesn¡¯t chase after killing power; as long as it can break skin, it¡¯s successful! The millions of viewers in the livestream were excited, finally it was completed. [Congratulations to Master Fang for unlocking the achievement: Master of Deadly Poisons] [Awesome, really awesome, go get ¡¯em killer] [Feels like the Indian blowgun made with poison dart frog toxin] [Shocking, tens of millions watch the poison-making scene live, is this a distortion of humanity or a decline in morality?] [iWitness sends a rocket*1 to the host¡ª¡ªCome on, hurry up, grab that number one spot] A murderous intent rises with a blade in hand. Bi Fang was eager to try, doing his best to search for Black Bear¡¯s trail. 2:38 in the afternoon. A brown shadow appeared in front of everyone, immensely large, startling the Shuiyous. [Damn, that¡¯s a huge Black Bear] [That¡¯s at least two meters, right? Lengthwise?] [Who¡¯s in first place now? How many points?] [That Y¨­ki Hunter called Sato, he got a 1.2 meters one last night, just matured, 19.7 points!] [Can Black Bears grow this big?] The enormous body moved on the ground, seemingly digging at something. This large bear didn¡¯t appear to have noticed the approaching Bi Fang, but when it raised its head, the Shuiyous were surprised to find that there was no white patch on the bear¡¯s chest. "The body color of Brown Bears and Black Bears is generally not too different; Brown Bears aren¡¯t necessarily brown. To differentiate between the two, don¡¯t look at the fur color; instead, notice if there¡¯s a white crescent patch on their chest." The words that Bi Fang had said earlier echoed in the ears of the Shuiyous, who suddenly realized. This wasn¡¯t a Black Bear at all. It was a Brown Bear! Chapter 566 - 563 Two Bears and a Pig In the vast forest, the enormous bear¡¯s rear was turned towards the gathered onlookers. As the drone took off, what could be seen was the brown bear digging and foraging on the ground, oblivious to the danger approaching from behind. The hunting season had been in full swing for two days, with a total of thirty-five hunters. Though not everyone bagged a black bear, at the very least, every two hunters had one between them. However, not a single brown bear had been taken. The audience, having witnessed nearly twenty black bears killed, had formed a set impression of their size. Having seen so many, they had a clear understanding of the approximate size of a black bear. But seeing a brown bear now, their fixed impression was greatly shaken, an inner shock that went without saying. It was damn huge. Not even in the same category as the black bear. Adult black bears are relatively small among bears, with females measuring less than 1.5 meters in length and weighing under 140 kilograms, while males typically around 1.5 meters long and approximately 150 kilograms in weight. Also known as grizzly bears, brown bears are even larger than black bears, and are among the largest land carnivores. Female brown bears alone weigh between eighty and two hundred and fifty kilograms, making an adult female larger than an adult male black bear. The weight of an adult male is even more exaggerated, ranging between one hundred and forty to five hundred and fifty kilograms. Bi Fang took a deep breath and slowly retreated, avoiding early detection by the brown bear, "The largest brown bear hunted in the world to date measured almost 4 meters long and weighed nearly 600 kilograms!" Don¡¯t be fooled by the brown bear¡¯s bumbling appearance as it digs in the soil, looking clumsy and lumbering when it walks. Its sense of smell and hearing are highly developed, and it possesses tremendous strength, capable of running at a top speed of 56 kilometers per hour! It wasn¡¯t until he had moved back fifty meters that Bi Fang finally let out a sigh of relief. "It is said that bears have poor eyesight, earning them the nickname ¡¯blind bear,¡¯ but that¡¯s only true for the Asian black bear. Other species have quite keen eyesight. In front of an adult brown bear, unarmed humans are just like helpless chickens." "A brown bear can reach speeds of fifty-six kilometers per hour, comparable to a small car, but this speed can¡¯t be maintained for long; it¡¯s more of a short-term burst." "Moreover, in the forest, mass equals inertia; a brown bear can¡¯t just charge around recklessly. So, a distance of fifty meters, in my opinion, is safe. Even if the brown bear were to suddenly charge at me now, I¡¯m eighty percent confident I could escape." It was summer, and the quantity of plants and animals around was substantial. Brown bears are omnivores and unlikely to chase an animal to the death when food is plentiful, especially in the hot weather, as their thick fur makes them even hotter. It¡¯s not worth the effort, unless you provoke them. [It¡¯s ridiculously huge, at least twice the size of a black bear!] [Take it down, and Old Fang would be the man. This one¡¯s at least two meters long. I bet it¡¯s definitely two meters three!] [Is this the first brown bear?] [No, a two-person team spotted one the other day, but they didn¡¯t dare to act because it was too big. Let Old Fang give it a try (dog¡¯s head).] In Japan, there are fewer brown bears than black bears, so the chances of encountering one are somewhat less. The rear end of that brown bear just now was twice as large as the one Bi Fang hunted on the third day! This guy, he¡¯s not seriously thinking about hunting the brown bear, is he? Bi Fang had performed remarkable feats before, but still, many people showed their fear when faced with such a massive brown bear. Even though they weren¡¯t the ones going in, the audience still felt frightened. Man hunting bear, if the attempt failed, it was highly likely to end with being killed in return, a dangerous "heroic action." This was not like the time with Mugalen; at least there were two people then, having at least some degree of coordination, along with a host of prepared traps, and they had severely wounded the brown bear beforehand, enabling them to land the fatal shot. Bi Fang nodded without hesitation. Of course, he couldn¡¯t miss this opportunity. A single brown bear could score higher than two black bears put together, and he had two great tools at his disposal. Hemlock toxin and the banded krait¡¯s venom, either of these, if applied to the brown bear, would give it a hard time. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the restaurant, Tanaka and Okuyama watched the small television mounted on the wall, their hearts sinking a bit. The two had already hunted three bears and were ranked first the previous night, but today they had slipped to second place. It was a period of rest, so they returned to town, taking the opportunity to address their dining needs, and just happened to witness this scene. In these two days, the black bear hunting season had become immensely popular in the streets and alleyways of Japan; no matter where one went, they could see live or recorded broadcasts of the hunting season. Even the small restaurant at this moment was no exception¡ªthe volume of the television had been turned up to the maximum. The once lively restaurant quieted down suddenly, with several waiters sneaking glances at Tanaka and Okuyama while quietly discussing. "Brown bear, it¡¯s huge." "I saw one from a distance once, when it stood up, it was at least as tall as two people!" "As tall as two people? Nonsense, that¡¯d be over three meters; you think it¡¯s a myth?" "This guy, he¡¯s got a lot of nerve, it¡¯s like the legend has come back!" "Truly amazing!" It wasn¡¯t noon yet, so there weren¡¯t many people in the restaurant, just a few waiters and drinkers, but Tanaka and Okuyama heard every word clearly and felt a bit put out. Okuyama straightened up, turned around to look at the few people behind him, and raised his voice a few decibels, "That guy is just bragging, a brown bear and a black bear are not on the same level of prey! How could one person possibly succeed in hunting it alone?" Tanaka nodded in agreement, adding, "Even a hunting rifle would have a hard time killing a brown bear, let alone primitive hunting. One person dealing with an adult male brown bear is simply impossible." From the live broadcast, the brown bear¡¯s body length was at least 2.2 meters, so the two easily judged this was an adult male black bear. A few drunks who had been there since noon, hearing this, suddenly became interested and egged Tanaka on, asking why. "Nowadays firearms can blow a person to pieces with a single shot, how could they not deal with a bear?" "Yeah, it¡¯s all muscle and bones anyway, what¡¯s the difference?" Given such layman answers, Tanaka scoffed, "The brown bear is bulky, with a tough and thick skull, and its face is long and narrow, offering a small target area for head-on shots. Humans might not die immediately even if a bullet lifts their skull cap and the brainstem isn¡¯t damaged, let alone a bear." "308 Win caliber, that is, the 7.62X51mm bullet is somewhat strenuous; bear bodies are much sturdier than humans. You need at least a .30-06 caliber, that is, the ammunition used in Springfield and M1 Garand rifles, to be sufficient." When hunting bears, bison, and other large animals, in order to avoid alarming the prey, it¡¯s necessary to shoot from a safe distance, and rifles are definitely the weapon of choice. "300 Winchester Magnum bullets, although also 7.62 caliber, have over 40% more power than standard 308 bullets." Tanaka had military experience, and his family owned a hunting rifle license; he was well-versed in these matters. A few years ago, he had even hunted a brown bear using a rifle, which was completely different from this hunting season, but it was enough to give him something to boast about. Even Y¨­ki Hunters rarely hunted brown bears. Seeing the few drunks at a loss, Tanaka became more enthusiastic, "Hornady¡¯s new .300 PRC ¡¯Precision Rifle Cartridge¡¯ bullets use a long, low-drag bullet and are currently the best-performing .30 caliber ammunition on the market." "Modern high-speed rifle bullets, although fast, far-reaching, and accurate, tend to tumble and fragment upon hitting the prey, which is downright wasteful for hunters wanting fresh meat." Okuyama was somewhat surprised at this, as he wasn¡¯t too clear on these details... He suddenly felt that his teacher was somewhat out of date, still using traditional firearms. "The 45-70 caliber Marlin M1895SBL lever-action rifle easily shatters large rocks." "Large caliber bullets have high kinetic energy and strong stopping power, able to quickly bring down large game, and also cause less damage to the muscle tissue of the prey." "The 45-70 rifle bullet is quite famous; it is a low-velocity, heavy bullet that relies on its large caliber and significant heft to kill prey, penetrates deeply, and the bullet is less likely to over-expand and fragment, reducing the pain of the prey after being hit, making it an excellent choice for hunting with the intent of consuming the meat." The drunks were completely silenced. Tanaka, looking pleased, picked up a cup from the table, took a sip of water, and said calmly, "Only these heavy-powered firearms pose a threat to brown bears; the rest are inadequate. Aiming head-on for a kill shot is not the best strategy; targeting the softer heart and lung area from the side is the best tactic. In primitive hunting, it would be even less possible for one person alone." A few drunken men had casually asked a question, but were intimidated by the earnest response, exchanging uneasy glances. They seemed to have encountered someone formidable? Squinting their eyes toward Tanaka and Okuyama, the more they looked, the more familiar they appeared, exclaiming in shock. "Hiss, you guys, you are..." "So familiar, I feel like I¡¯ve seen you somewhere before." Hearing this, Tanaka and Okuyama stood even straighter. One lives to impress. Both in their forties, they couldn¡¯t help feeling proud, especially at a moment like this. Having killed bears for half their lives, they had never been as renowned as they were today, worshipped and respected by others. What a great new era. Finally, one of the drunken men had a sudden realization and slammed the table: "It¡¯s Fujiwara and Takahashi, the Y¨­ki Hunter duo!" "Oh, oh, oh, I remember now, it¡¯s them!" "Truly an honor for our Japan! Come on, take a drink!" "Tsk!" A snicker came from nearby. Tanaka and Okuyama turned stiffly to see a waiter nearby, suddenly sitting up straight with a smile he couldn¡¯t contain. "..." On the other side, Bi Fang was applying a second layer of poison to the darts and spear. He submerged the entire wooden dart head in the thickened poison of water hemlock, left it to soak thoroughly, then lifted it out and spun it around a few times to prevent dripping, waiting for it to air-dry on the surface. Then, he took another dart and applied the venom of the banded krait. Bi Fang did not create a mixed poison to avoid unexpected reactions; instead, he produced them separately. The process seemed complicated, but it was actually very quick since it was a second application of poison, not the initial one. At this moment, the brown bear did not stay in place to forage; after a quick dig in the soil and finishing off the last of the plant roots, it set off. Bi Fang did not immediately follow, and with the existing traces in the forest, he could quickly catch up. After eating the roots, the brown bear lifted its head to catch scent molecules in the air. Seeing this, the audience tensed up. [Has it been discovered?] [You¡¯re kidding, right?] [Downwind or upwind?] "Upwind, it must have detected other prey," said Bi Fang, pressing himself even lower. Dealing with olfactory animals like bears, he dared not be careless. Not only upwind, but he also rubbed his body with ashes from plants, mixing it with mud and leaves, as well as some pine needle juice, to completely cover his scent. Even for a brown bear, the chance of detecting him was slim. The subsequent behavior of the brown bear unquestionably proved Bi Fang right; after sniffing for a while, the massive creature suddenly moved purposefully in the direction slightly ahead of Bi Fang. Just as Bi Fang finished applying the poison, he silently trailed behind the brown bear, curious to see what it was up to. The chase lasted for more than a mile! During this time, the brown bear frequently stood up to look around, while the drone flying overhead undoubtedly had a further view. Wild boar! A wild boar was in the thicket eating potatoes, oblivious to the approaching danger. Clearly, the brown bear¡¯s target was the wild boar. [Shit, he tracked it for over a mile, he could smell that?] [How sensitive is that nose?] But Bi Fang narrowed his eyes, sensing that things were not as simple as they seemed, and without waiting for the audience to catch on, he quickly retreated to a distance of about sixty meters. [What¡¯s up?] "Look at the tree," he said. The drone¡¯s camera casually panned and soon locked onto what Bi Fang was pointing out, instantly shocking the viewers. There was another bear in the tree, an Asian black bear! Bears actually climb trees? The black bear in view was not small, about 1.1 to 1.2 meters long, and even so, that was quite large - and it managed to climb such a tall tree? But what was the situation here? The wild boar was stealing food beneath the black bear? "In fact, evidence suggests that the relationship between the black bear and the wild boar is more of a symbiosis, particularly when food is abundant, and in many areas, the two have formed a close mutualistic relationship," Bi Fang explained rapidly, as this phenomenon was not uncommon. "When black bears climb trees to eat fruit, wild boars quickly gather beneath, or wait for the black bear to leave and then come to this spot." People didn¡¯t understand this connection before, thinking it was miraculous, but after detailed studies, it was revealed that, unlike black bears, wild boars cannot climb trees, and the vibrations and branch breaking caused by the black bear¡¯s climbing would lead to fruits or branches falling to the ground, allowing wild boars to pick up the leftovers." The scene in front of him made Bi Fang reconsider his initial plan of action. He wanted to see if he could benefit as the third party. If he could be successful, he might be able to obtain both a black bear and a brown bear, possibly breaking a score of thirty and leaving everyone else far behind. Would the brown bear hunt the black bear? Audience members had their doubts, but Bi Fang had no time to explain now; his focus was entirely on the three animals before him. The Shuiyous were also watching intently, putting their discussions on hold for the moment. The black bear in the tree had obviously noticed the brown bear and was roaring continuously, soon alerting the wild boar below, which had been eating heartily. Due to their lack of flexible spines, the wild boar couldn¡¯t see the brown bear behind the bushes, but it had already caught the scent of impending doom. In the blink of an eye, the wild boar took off running! But the brown bear was faster, its myriad of muscles flexing in unison, unleashing incomparable strength that thundered forth! Chapter 567 - 564: Tighten the Sails in Strong Wind, the Ultimate Victor Must Be Me! The wild boar nibbling on tree fruit had long since lost its leisurely comfort upon smelling the bear scent in the air, and had taken off running, kicking up the leaves on the ground as it fled. The boar was not large, about one meter in length, but though its limbs were short, its muscles were taut. It sprang forward abruptly, blurring into a shadowy figure. The online audience¡¯s mouths gaped in an "O" shape, no one expecting the unimpressive-looking boar to burst forth with such speed. Unfortunately, the top speed of a Japanese wild boar is only about fifty kilometers per hour. The Brown Bear¡¯s reaction wasn¡¯t slow, even faster than most creatures in Nature; the moment it charged forward, the very earth seemed to tremble. Hundreds of kilograms in mass crashed onto the ground. Even though the bear¡¯s thickly padded paws provided significant cushioning, the dry earth still formed several indentations. Muscles wrapped in dense fur pulled on the humerus bones. The bear had the advantage of striking first; the distance between the two rapidly closed as the Brown Bear aimed to use its powerful front paws to force the boar to a stop. The audience held their breath, their pupils dilating and contracting with the Brown Bear¡¯s movements. This was the hunt of Nature¡¯s top predator. With the wind from its paws howling behind it, the boar dragged its slightly "petite" body to dodge, displaying an agility in its movements. Within a few seconds, the two had darted dozens of meters. The Brown Bear didn¡¯t have the endurance for sustained high-speed running¡ªit surged forward and then weakened, its energy depleting quickly after the initial burst. If the boar could just avoid the bear¡¯s initial charge, with their speeds being similar, it would have a chance to escape. So, it kept pushing forward, desperate to run on. Within the woods, the large and small figures crazily darted through the trees. Seeing this, the Black Bear that had been in a tree prepared to descend; but before it could stretch out a leg, a piercing scream frightened it back up. The boar was struck on the behind by the Brown Bear¡¯s paw, instantly turning flesh and blood into a blur. The drone flew silently through the trees, recording everything in crystal clear detail; the sharp bear claws embedded in skin, tearing the muscle wide open. The audience was dumbfounded as half of the boar¡¯s rear end was sent flying, its bodily flesh crumbling beneath the bear¡¯s paw like foam, leaving little more than shreds. What followed was an extensive pixelation. "Is human skin as tough and thick as that of a boar?" Everyone shivered, goosebumps spreading from head to toe. Under such a ferocious attack, the boar limped badly, crying out pitifully. In the face of death, there was no difference between a wild boar and a pig waiting for the slaughter. The fallen boar struggled to stand, desperately raising its head, trying to display its upward-curving tusks. It had developed these canines into weapons Bend over time. But all of this meant nothing in the face of the bear¡¯s paw¡ªas the ordinary-sized Brown Bear struck with all its might, the force could reach a staggering 1600 kilograms. That¡¯s the weight of one ton. One ton of weight pressing down hard on the head... With the drone following close behind the Brown Bear, the tens of millions of viewers could almost hear the sound of the boar¡¯s skull shattering, sending a chill down their spines. The anticipated fight did not occur; the boar put up only a token resistance, no¡ªit could hardly be called resistance, as it was effortlessly flipped onto the ground by the Brown Bear, smashing the boar¡¯s lower body like bursting bubbles, and with a final swipe, crushing its head. After one last scream, all went silent. Only the twitching hind legs represented that just a few seconds ago, there had been a living being. The boar hadn¡¯t even had a chance to use its sharp tusks before the Brown Bear easily ended its life. But even if it had, it would¡¯ve been useless, as it couldn¡¯t penetrate the thick fur of the Brown Bear, let alone cause any harm. The audience swallowed hard. A one-meter-long boar, conservatively estimated to weigh over a hundred pounds, just crumbled like tofu; if you replaced it with a human of similar weight, what would the outcome be? No, it would¡¯ve been far worse. Humans don¡¯t have the thick skin of wild boars, they¡¯re even more fragile than tofu. Bi Fang also felt nervous, his palms starting to sweat incessantly. He was originally about sixty meters away from the brown bear, but since the bear had chased after something, the distance had increased to over a hundred meters. The dense trees in the forest blocked his view, and he could only observe through the drone. Unfortunately, the clearer he saw, the more frightened he became. Anyone who saw a colossal creature nearly twice the height of a person would feel intimidated. In nature, besides tigers, no other animal willingly provokes a bear. Their robust muscles place them at the very top of the food chain. Even if they aren¡¯t very agile, their powerful limbs make up for many shortcomings. However, fear is acceptable, as long as your hand doesn¡¯t tremble when throwing the spear. "Oh my ancestors, why did you have to provoke it when we agreed not to compete for first place?" Wang Yongbo, who hadn¡¯t watched Bi Fang¡¯s live streams for a while, took out a tissue to wipe the sweat beads on his forehead, his stomach filled with an indescribable bitterness. It had been a long time, and Wang Yongbo seemed to have gained more weight. Even the air conditioning in the room on a hot day couldn¡¯t stop him from sweating; it was unclear whether it was due to heat or shock. As the boss, Wang Yongbo was well aware of what Bi Fang was up to in Japan. This guy, it¡¯s like he can¡¯t live with himself if he doesn¡¯t do something big. If it were him, now that he was so famous, he¡¯d have long since settled at home to enjoy a lifetime of profits. Alas. Wang Yongbo sighed. Perhaps that¡¯s what dreams are all about, unlike his merchant¡¯s pursuit of money, his dream was to make money, while others earned money in the process of pursuing their dreams. Making money while standing. Thinking about it, Wang Yongbo shook his head again. How many out of ten thousand people can make money while pursuing their dreams? When a man lacks money, he¡¯s like a spineless mollusk. Life is a net, and most people can only be tightly bound by it, tighter and tighter until they end up confined in a small wooden box. In the forest, the brown bear was viciously tearing apart the wild boar that had already lost all its breath. Despite the distance of over a hundred meters, Bi Fang still dared not breathe too heavily: "Bears¡¯ appetite is related to seasonal climate. If the climate is warm and hot, they eat less. In winter, they can consume 60, 70, or even 80 pounds of food a day, and some bears can eat a lot, consuming less in summer¡ªmaybe just over 40 pounds a day." "One wild boar is enough for its consumption. However, brown bears are different from black bears; perhaps being higher up in the food chain gives brown bears a lot of confidence. Black bears are more timid and will actively flee when they see people." "Brown bears are much more fierce and domineering in nature, especially when hunting, competing for other predators¡¯ food, or during the mating season when male bears are more aggressive," As if to confirm Bi Fang¡¯s theory, the immense brown bear gnawed a few bites at the boar on the ground, droplets of blood falling from its yellowed teeth. It suddenly turned its head and looked up at the black bear in the tree, striding forward. Bi Fang didn¡¯t know what the black bear in the tree was feeling at that moment, but if it were him, there would definitely be a hint of panic. The black bear wished the tree were taller, tall enough to climb straight to the sky, but unfortunately, the brown bear had already arrived at the base of the tree, standing up and scratching at the trunk. The standing brown bear looked even more terrifying, at least one and a half times the height of a person, looking up was no exaggeration. A bear¡¯s claws aren¡¯t sharp, but with a force exceeding ten thousand newtons, even the bluntest knife deserves the term "sharp". Chunks of bark and debris were stripped off. [It¡¯s on, the clam and crane fight has begun] [My god, this is so awesome] [This is intense, wait a sec, I gotta change my underwear before I keep watching the live stream] [Going to switch mine too] Seeing the two bears fight, Bi Fang was not alarmed but delighted, thinking, Fight on, fight well. If they really started fighting, Black Bear was doomed, but Brown Bear, after chasing the wild boar and killing Black Bear, would surely be exhausted. By then, he only needed to go up and thrust the poison spear a couple of times, then make a quick getaway. Come back in ten minutes, and by that time he didn¡¯t believe Brown Bear could hold up. The tree Black Bear climbed was a kapok tree, not very tall, only about eight meters, bearing lots of round, small fruits. "Kapok trees are typical tall trees, and the fruits known as kapok pods are highly nutritious and have a mild sweet taste. Black Bears like them very much, and they are also very popular in Japan, now between July and September, just the season when the fruits are ripe." A tree that¡¯s not tall can¡¯t possibly be thick either. As a result, the smaller Black Bear could climb it, but Brown Bear couldn¡¯t. However, it wasn¡¯t without a method. It kept ramming the kapok tree, shaking the whole tree violently, causing the Black Bear hiding above to nearly fall several times. [Damn, no wonder Old Fang said before that climbing trees is useless, it really is] [You climb up, and they¡¯ll just pull you down] [Totally in a passive state now] If Black Bear with its claws can¡¯t hold on, let alone a human. Believing that climbing trees is useful when encountering a bear will only put you in a passive situation where you wait hungry up there, are likely to fall off, and can¡¯t get down if you want to. Whether you¡¯re passive or active, you¡¯re done for. Bi Fang saw this and was secretly pleased, hoping only that the conflict between the two would get even more intense: "Black Bears have a strong sense of territory, but Brown Bears not so much, possibly due to their larger size, often failing to catch up. Brown Bears might just want to drive Black Bears away, but if things get serious, they might kill the rival." [These are both bears, though] [Born from the same root, why the rush to fry each other] [Bears actually kill their own kind?] "Kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species - Black Bear and Brown Bear differ only in the smallest category, species. Yet it¡¯s not uncommon for Brown Bears to eat Black Bears," stated Bi Fang as he applied more poison and took deep breaths to prepare. "Last winter, someone captured footage in Canada of a Brown Bear preying on a Black Bear. There¡¯s video evidence on B Island. In the den, there was a mother bear with three subadult Black Bears hidden deep in a cave." "The mother bear tried to break free and escape, but one of the subadult Black Bears that ran first was caught and eaten alive by the Brown Bear, their shrieks agonizingly piercing. Thankfully, the mother bear and the other cubs managed to get away." The screams of the cub being eaten alive were chilling, a desperate cry for its mother to come and save it. But in the face of absolute power, the Black Bear mother could only choose to escape with the remaining cubs. This is very normal behavior in Nature. Someone even managed to record a Brown Bear eating wolf cubs, the bear digging into the wolf den and gobbling up the pups right in front of the mother wolf, who watched everything unfold with a clear view. All animals have the instinct to protect their young, and even some seemingly gentle herbivores are willing to fight vicious carnivores to protect their offspring. Yet, there are animals whose instinct to survive is apparently much stronger than their instinct to protect their young. When they see a Brown Bear attack their cubs, they only "watch coldly from the sidelines," helpless to do nothing but watch their own children being eaten by Brown Bears. This phenomenon is most common in winter. People can do anything when they¡¯re hungry, let alone animals. "The key thing is, Brown Bears eat their prey alive. If the prey is too weak and gets killed outright like that wild boar, that¡¯s that. Otherwise, it¡¯s a real torment for the prey... To my knowledge, there have been numerous cases of bear predation, cough cough, in the Sichuan area," said Bi Fang, too embarrassed to state it explicitly, but the implication was still chilling. Chewing it alive! [The pain has already started] [So scary, Old Fang, come and hold me tight] [What¡¯s with that saying, "Bears are afraid of Russians"? It¡¯s ridiculous; everything¡¯s up in the air] Bi Fang¡¯s remarks triggered a barrage of comments. All of them were filled with fear and horror. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then there was Master Fang protecting... [I know this one, stand up to confuse the Brown Bear, and when it charges at you, quickly dodge to the side. Brown Bears are fast in a straight line, but slow to turn, giving you a chance to quickly hit its head] [If you repeat this several times, it can become dizzy and slow down. Finally, finish the fight with an elbow strike. People have different physiques; if you say you can¡¯t beat it, that¡¯s your problem] [Master Fang: That¡¯s right, it¡¯s like that] [I¡¯m an old action game player. Twenty years ago, I did that when I was eighteen years old] Accompanied by a rumble and a scream, the standoff between the Brown Bear and the Black Bear had come to an end as well. The Black Bear plunged straight down from eight meters high, screaming in pain, contorting the faces of the Shuiyou watching. Bears don¡¯t practice Fall Protection; if it were a person, a fall from eight meters could be fatal, even a Black Bear¡¯s thick hide wouldn¡¯t make for a soft landing. Having seen the Black Bear hit the ground, the Brown Bear didn¡¯t hesitate to attack again, and the Black Bear could only struggle desperately. Another bloody and brutal fight ensued. Minutes later, the Brown Bear lifted its bloodied mouth and roared, sending the leaves in the forest fluttering down. But just as the Brown Bear was about to reaffirm its dominant status, a sharp short spear sliced through the falling leaves, sending a whistling sound through the air as it flew toward the bear. Bi Fang, who had been biding his time, finally made his move. With no deviation, the long-awaited spear plunged directly into the Brown Bear¡¯s flank. The sharpened wooden spear, hardened by the fire, stabbed deep into the Brown Bear¡¯s muscle layer. The pain enraged the Brown Bear, causing it to roar, only to be met with a second short spear, then a third. Before the fourth... there was no fourth. The porcupine-like Brown Bear refused to give the thief in front of it another chance, chasing furiously in rage. Having been hit by three spears, Bi Fang turned tail and ran, with the Brown Bear relentlessly pursuing him, every step causing the fallen leaves to tremble slightly. The large and small figures darted non-stop through the dense woods. Although the distance between them seemed to be closing, Bi Fang was able to use the thick trees each time to gain distance again, always maintaining more than thirty meters between them, making viewers¡¯ hearts race. Feeling the blood and violence close behind him, there was a moment when Bi Fang felt he had the potential to outpace Bolt. Just kidding, fight head-on with poison spears? That¡¯s insane. Bail out when the wind¡¯s too strong! As long as the poison takes effect, I¡¯ll be the ultimate victor. Chapter 568 - 565 How Much Is a Brown Bear Worth? The short spear, a meter in length, pierced through the bear hide, firmly stabbing into the brown bear¡¯s body, fresh blood gushing down the shaft, soaking the fur, turning the already deep brown hairs completely black. The fierce sun blazed like a furnace, rapidly clotting the blood into chunks, but the blood inside the skin didn¡¯t stop flowing; in fact, it speeded up towards the heart due to the violent movement. The heart, nearly the size of a human head, pulsated violently, circulating blood throughout the brown bear¡¯s body like a sixteen-cylinder engine at full throttle, providing ample power. Only now, the gasoline in the tank was mixed with water, and before long, the whole truck would start to smoke. In the woods, the ground trembled slightly as Bi Fang hurdled over the bushes, running non-stop downhill, silently counting down in his heart, praying for the poison to take effect quickly. Hemlock toxin and banded krait venom were both deadly poisons. By normal reason, the brown bear should have shown some reaction within three minutes. But this bear, with its fur and a layer of fat that was at least ten centimeters thick even in summer, What did that mean? If you tried to stab it with a dagger, more than eighty percent of the dagger would be buried in the layer of fat, not touching any vital blood vessels, muscles or internal organs. For the brown bear, having a dagger inserted or pulled out of its body was akin to a human getting an IV ¨C just a momentary sting, with no impact on fighting power. In other words, even with a hundred stings from a little dagger, the bear would still be at full health. The most desperate part was that this creature ran faster than humans, could climb trees, could swim, had extremely fast reactions, could hit fish leaping out of the water, and probably could break large stones with its whole body¡¯s hard kung fu. Fortunately, being in the jungle, Bi Fang was able to run, relying on the complex terrain and the energy the brown bear had previously expended. The drone raced past, filming from multiple angles with no dead spots ¨C from the diagonal side, directly above, directly in front, and directly behind. The brown bear came close to capturing Bi Fang time and again but was repeatedly thwarted by large trees or shifts in the slope. Bi Fang dove into the most complex terrains, thrilling the Shuiyou with excitement. [Lord Mu sent a gift to the host: 66 Yachts ¡ª Tough as nails, truly a divine deer of the east!] [Licking Duck¡¯s Moon Reflection sent a gift to the host: 666 Meatballs ¡ª Charge, start the charge!] Boom. A golden banner floated out. [Congratulations to Bo Mengzhe for becoming the Emperor of Master Fang¡¯s live broadcast room.] [666, another big shot, I¡¯m envious] [Damn!!!] Bi Fang was almost sticking out his tongue, but now was not the time to stop and catch his breath, as his opponent was a customs official who could take direct gunfire without issue. It was uncertain whether all three darts had penetrated the fat layer. Hefty trudging footsteps approached rapidly from behind, and a low growl echoed in his mind, sounding as though an evil spirit was drooling over him. Bi Fang charged up a small hill, tore through the bushes, and plummeted downwards as the ground gave way. Countless fallen leaves were dragged down with him as his body instinctively curled up, rolled, and finally landed steadily. A heavy thud fell behind him, the ground shook slightly, the trudging ceased, turning into growls instead. Clutching the spear in hand, Bi Fang turned around and swiftly leaped backward, increasing the distance once more. The brown bear following Bi Fang down the slope suddenly weakened in its paws and tumbled to the ground, shaking its head, somewhat dizzy. Bi Fang¡¯s chest heaved dramatically; he dared not be careless. Hemlock toxin and banded krait venom both had paralytic effects on the nerves. The symptoms should resemble an inability to control one¡¯s body. The poison had finally taken effect. A small slope of four meters was nothing for a tough brown bear that measured two meters and thirty centimeters in length. The beast swayed and struggled to stand; Bi Fang continued to retreat. The water-diluted engine was already smoking; it was just a matter of time until it blew. The standing brown bear shook its dizzy head, apparently still unclear about what was happening. [Damn, it can still stand up] [How is this possible, so resistant?] [It weighs several hundred pounds, after all, it¡¯s not the same as a human] Bi Fang gripped the spear in his hand tightly, not daring to be careless, "The toxin has just started to take effect. To have the Brown Bear unable to stand up, we¡¯ll still need to wait at least half a minute to a minute." The Brown Bear took a tumble mainly because a slight paralysis made its feet give way, which was far from being completely immobilized. At this moment, its brain, which was comparable in size to a yoga ball, also realized that it was the creature in front of it that had caused these symptoms. With a roar, the bear shook off the spear still stuck in its body and charged at Bi Fang. Bi Fang had no intention of facing the onslaught head-on and urgently dodged the Brown Bear¡¯s charge. The scales of victory were already tipping in his favor; there was no need to add complications. It seemed thrilling and dangerous, but actually, after a few charges, more than half a minute had passed. The toxin had spread throughout the Brown Bear¡¯s body, and with its last sprint, it toppled over onto the ground, gasping for air, unable to stand up again. Bi Fang didn¡¯t dare to approach rashly. From fifteen meters away, he shot two more darts, also poisoned, but the Brown Bear showed no reaction. It seemed the opponent was truly completely paralyzed and no longer had any strength to resist. "Don¡¯t be fooled by its bulky appearance; Brown Bears are much smarter than you think. Or rather, no Predator is stupid. When it comes to Hunting, they are more cunning than the average person. We don¡¯t need to be in a hurry; we can just wait it out. The toxin won¡¯t be neutralized just because it¡¯s been in the system for a long time." While saying this, Bi Fang walked to a nearby wall and leaned against it. He didn¡¯t sit, in case the creature suddenly lashed out, so he could still take action. But at a distance of twenty meters, it¡¯s doubtful the Brown Bear could do anything even if it did lash out. [The Hunter is overly cautious] As it turned out, caution was warranted. In less than thirty seconds, the Brown Bear, which had just been struggling on the ground, suddenly stood up, startling the Shuiyou. In the end, it didn¡¯t even get close to Bi Fang before collapsing on the ground once again. This time, it was truly at the end of its rope. The Shuiyou who had just commented on being overly cautious promptly gave their 666s. Who could have thought a bear could play dead better than a human? "Never underestimate the intelligence of wild animals." Bi Fang, holding the spear, came to the side of the Brown Bear and noticed it was still glaring with eyes as big as fists, still showing unwillingness. Seeing this, Bi Fang thrust the spear into the bear¡¯s abdomen, using a lot of effort to penetrate the thick fur and tough muscles, directly damaging the heart and killing it. No matter how tough it is, the heart and the brain are fatal weaknesses. Once the heart was pierced, the light gradually faded from the Brown Bear¡¯s eyes, and it could no longer let out a roar. At the moment of death, the Shuiyou in the live stream let out a collective sigh of relief. It had not been easy. The sun was scorching, and Bi Fang was drenched in sweat, leaning on the spear, he realized he was soaked through with perspiration. In the eyes of the audience in the live stream, everything seemed very simple¡ªit was just about launching the poison spear and then a desperate flight. But to the experts, it was not so simple; this was the expenditure of mental energy. The timing, the physical demands, the control of the terrain, the understanding of the animal¡¯s habits¡ªall these required extremely high standards. Especially when fleeing, identifying advantageous terrain in a critical moment is not something ordinary people can accomplish, particularly when falling down slopes and dodging during the Brown Bear¡¯s charges. Tanaka and Okuyama looked at each other, wide-eyed. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They both felt such reaction speed was almost unbelievable. "But, it¡¯s finally done." Struggling with such a top Predator, you can¡¯t relax for even a second. A single misstep could be disastrous, with no place even to cry. All the effort was worth it. Bi Fang pressed the program team¡¯s positioning button with joy. A Brown Bear over two meters tall, how many Points would it bring? Chapter 569 - 566: Still Trying to Scheme Against Me? The work crew, who had been ready for quite some time, quickly mobilized and arrived at the scene within ten minutes, and they were the same three people from last time. Bi Fang was sitting on the bear¡¯s head with a spear in his hand and greeted them skillfully, "I¡¯ve kept the bear¡¯s paw for myself, but this time make sure to score me a bit higher." All three exchanged glances and nodded with smiles. However, when they saw the bear¡¯s head where Bi Fang was sitting, they were still shocked by the massive size of the creature. Encountering a bear, no one could remain unfazed, even if it was dead. Its imposing presence lingered, keeping people at bay. Having seen Black Bear numerous times in the past few days, they had adapted somewhat, but they hadn¡¯t encountered a Brown Bear of such a significant size before. The suppressed fear resurfaced once again. That day, humans finally remembered the terror they were once dominated by, and that feeling of being caged within a birdcage... Cough cough. Wrong script. Gazing at the behemoth at their feet, they looked at each other, no one daring to make a move, especially because it appeared almost unharmed, as if it was just quietly sleeping and might lash out at any moment. "Hahaha, don¡¯t worry, look, it¡¯s dead for sure, can¡¯t move." Bi Fang stabbed his spear into the dead Brown Bear¡¯s head, eliciting no reaction. With repeated encouragement, the three slowly approached and tried poking it with a stick. The online friends burst into laughter at the scene. [Stop laughing, if it were me, I wouldn¡¯t dare to get close either] [Seriously, with just a few small wounds from darts, hardly any blood spilled, it looks like it¡¯s just sleeping. I wouldn¡¯t dare get close either] [Sob sob sob, Old Fang¡¯s list of trophies is getting longer and longer] [Bringing a bear¡¯s head home would be incredibly prestigious] [Does Old Fang live in a log cabin, with a stove, a stove with spears hanging above it, and all around him are specimens of animal heads, Brown Bear, Black Bear, deer, prehistoric creatures, wolves, sharks...] [Covered in glory he is] After poking with sticks for a while, Bi Fang urged them, "Hurry it up, there¡¯s still a Black Bear in that forest. We need to measure that one after this." "What are you whispering about!" Finally snapping out of it, the three apologized loudly, with one pulling out a tape measure and another starting the calculations. The scorer checked off each item on the list. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fur damage: only three small wounds, about the size of a dart shaft, barely noticeable once the fur covered them up. Should have been rated as minor damage. Hesitating for a moment, the worker stole a glance at Bi Fang, saw he wasn¡¯t looking, and with a trembling hand, marked it as slight damage. Corporeal integrity: intact... Body length... The person responsible for measuring glanced at the two meters thirty-six on their tape measure, stretched it a little tighter, adding two centimeters, and proclaimed without a blush, "Body length two meters thirty-four!" The scorer and the measurer exchanged a look, breathed a sigh of relief, and checked the box for two meters thirty to two meters thirty-five. In the body length category, below two meters, every ten centimeters was a scoring bracket, but beyond two meters, it was a bracket for every five centimeters. Once all the measurements were taken, they began to announce the score. "Total score, 20.3 points!" Bi Fang frowned, this didn¡¯t seem right. An extra ten centimeters above one meter fifty should be an extra point, and beyond two meters, every additional five centimeters should mean another point. Just based on size, he should have scored twenty-two points. For fur being slightly damaged, that could be argued either way, but the points deducted seemed overly harsh, didn¡¯t they? Losing 1.7 points? That was even more severe than the last time when he got a bear¡¯s paw. What was going on? Bi Fang didn¡¯t hold back, directly asking the work crew, "Why do I feel like the points deducted are harsher than last time?" Facing Bi Fang¡¯s question, the staff member tensed up for a moment but quickly thought of the right words to say, "Mr. Bi, although the Brown Bear¡¯s carcass is intact, we watched the entire live broadcast and you used poison, didn¡¯t you?" "Is there a problem? There¡¯s no rule against it, is there?" "Of course, there¡¯s no problem, but we¡¯d like Mr. Bi to understand that we still need to process the final bear carcass, to be used as medicine or some other materials." The staff member¡¯s tone was extremely respectful, to the point of being unavoidably so. So respectful that they didn¡¯t dare look up into Bi Fang¡¯s eyes. Having just killed a bear weighing hundreds of kilograms, Bi Fang was still emanating a formidable aura. "There¡¯s no issue with your hunting, but the poison has significantly damaged the economic value of the bear carcass, and directly affected the medicinal materials, such as the bear bile. For this reason, we¡¯ve deducted one and a half points. Can you accept that?" The rather sheepish staff member¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, he swallowed, and timidly raised his eyes to glance at Bi Fang, who was casually stroking his chin and waved his hand dismissively. "Fine, fine, that¡¯s okay. Just one and a half points. I¡¯ll go look for another one now." Bi Fang couldn¡¯t be bothered to quibble over a point or two; it didn¡¯t matter to him. Seeing that Bi Fang seemed relatively easygoing, the staff member grew bolder and continued, "Old Fang, there¡¯s actually another matter." "Yeah, what is it?" "The bear has to be hunted by oneself for it to count." "What do you mean?" Bi Fang¡¯s brows furrowed, his gaze suddenly sharp, causing Ikeda to press down on his cap, his psychological pressure skyrocketing in an instant. Damn it, that look is too intimidating. Somebody save me. I knew I should have let Chaki Shintaro and Ida Kou be in charge of scoring. Internally wailing, Ikeda, pressured by his superiors, still mustered the courage to explain: "This is a hunting competition, and theoretically, any means are permissible, but there¡¯s one thing ¡ª the hunter must be the one to end the bear¡¯s life for it to count towards the score." Seeing Bi Fang¡¯s brow furrow deeper, Ikeda hurriedly added, "Otherwise, if one is lucky enough to come across a dead Black Bear, wouldn¡¯t that be somewhat unfair to the other competitors? It¡¯s not personal against you. Before this, nobody anticipated such a situation, but we still believe that the Black Bear died accidentally." Ikeda mentally commended himself for his quick thinking. "No, it¡¯s not dead yet." Ikeda¡¯s face stiffened: "Wha... what do you mean?" "Come with me." Chaki Shintaro secured the ropes and the helicopter towed the Brown Bear, flying low along with the four people on the ground. Although the live broadcast showed them running for just over a minute, it took nearly ten minutes for the four to return. Various bushes impeded their way, causing the three of them to be somewhat astonished. When the three reached the tree and saw the Black Bear still struggling to move forward, they were all shocked. "It¡¯s alive, alive!" "Run for it!" Chaki Shintaro and Ida Kou, upon seeing the living Black Bear, cried out in alarm and tried to run away, only to be firmly caught by Bi Fang¡¯s grip. One man held both firmly in place: "Don¡¯t be afraid, it¡¯s already severely injured, can¡¯t even stand up, it¡¯s no threat." The two stopped and observed the Black Bear from a distance, realising that it truly was as described. The Black Bear had several limbs broken and couldn¡¯t possibly walk. Ikeda finally understood the meaning behind Bi Fang¡¯s statement that it wasn¡¯t dead yet. The Black Bear was indeed not dead! Without hesitation, Bi Fang went ahead to deliver the coup de grace: "After falling from the tree and being attacked by the Brown Bear, but Black Bears are equally resilient, and it didn¡¯t suffer a fatal wound, how could it die that easily, right?" As the spear pierced the heart, Bi Fang smiled at Ikeda, "Now it counts as a kill by me, right? According to your rules, any method is acceptable." "I drove the Brown Bear over so that they would fight each other, that should count, right?" Whether the Brown Bear found this place itself or not, Bi Fang was now insistent that he "drove" it here. Ikeda was momentarily dumbfounded but nodded helplessly. There were no excuses left. Chapter 570 - 567: One Incident After Another "How many points?" Bi Fang, with a stalk of reed in his mouth, cradled his spear and leaned against a tree, his gaze fixed intently on the scoring official. The reed in his mouth kept waving as if it was about to shoot out and stick into someone¡¯s neck. March was the best season to eat reed stalks, by July they were too hard and prickly to eat, they would make your nose bleed. Ikeda marked off the score with trembling hands, large beads of sweat dropping from the temples. He felt as if there was a sharp blade hanging over his neck, its edge menacing. "Is it that hot?" Ikeda forced a smile, "No, not at all." Bi Fang looked up at the sun. Although it was midsummer, he was under the shade of a tree, so it really shouldn¡¯t be sweaty enough to soak through your shirt, right? The young people nowadays really are becoming weaker. "So, how many points?" From the side, Chaki Shintaro shouted, "One hundred and nineteen centimeters!" Ikeda¡¯s heart skipped a beat. One nineteen, such a precise number! Yet, as Bi Fang continued to inquire, he hastily calculated until his scalp tingled, hesitantly saying, "Seven, seven point four points?" "You¡¯re the scorekeeper, why are you asking me?" Bi Fang countered, feeling that the guy in front of him was awfully nervous. Did he steal my points? Eh, let it go. If it¡¯s stolen, so be it. Quibbling over a minute or two really wasn¡¯t something in his nature to do. What a hassle. After confirmation, Bi Fang, who had already had ten point two points, gained another twenty-seven point seven points. Totaling 37.2 points! The hunting ranking board quickly updated, and the name that had slipped to seventh leapt up, reclaiming first place! He pulled ahead of the second place, Sato, by nearly twenty points, with a margin of 19.7 points! Twenty points, that¡¯s the score of two adult black bears. If one couldn¡¯t get as lucky as Bi Fang to encounter a brown bear or even a brown bear in hunting mode, it would normally take at least a week to catch up! [Daytime Fireworks gifted the main character Wolf Brush*100¡ª"Rub away Little Japan¡¯s edge!"] [Thirty-five hunters, a hundred black bears, on average it¡¯s not even three bears per person. If we go by an average of ten points per bear, Old Fang has already surpassed this average.] [And he¡¯s the first one to do it too, the second place only has nineteen points, which is roughly two black bears!] [Red Palms Stirring the Clear Waves gifted the host a yacht*1] [So many big spenders, looking to cling onto someone¡¯s coattails!!! Come check out my stream.] Once the scoring was done, Bi Fang certainly didn¡¯t forget about the dead wild boar lying nearby¡ªhe picked up a bit of extra luck. Speaking of which, there had been a lot of game these past couple of days. The sika deer from a few days back wasn¡¯t even finished yet, stored in the freezer of a restaurant, and now there was another wild boar. A bountiful harvest. Inside the pub. "Forty points? How can we catch up to that?" Inside the restaurant, Tanaka and Okuyama were both stunned. They considered themselves lucky, the two of them had hunted three bears, climbing to second... oh, now they were third. For the span of five days, their efficiency was high, normally they would each have one by now. But how could one person end up with four when it was one per person? "Damn it! We¡¯ve lost the entire Yamato nationality¡¯s face!" The cup was slammed down on the table and Okuyama let out a growl as he picked up a nearby backpack and stormed out. Now was not the time to rest; it was crucial to make up for lost time! Over the next few days, the rankings kept changing time and again. Dolphin Bay remained as usual, only the blood from that day had disappeared, and now every day, boats patrolled to check for any new groups of dolphins. Finally, on the eighth day, a hunter was forced to withdraw due to an injury, not from a bear, but from another hunter¡¯s trap. A leg was pierced by a crossbow trap on the spot and nailed to the ground, rendering him immobile. The scene was extremely bloody at first, but eventually, staff arrived and carried him away on a stretcher. Luckily, those who could come here were all experienced old hunters who knew a bit of first aid, so no serious issues arose. The hunter who had set the trap also received a punishment, deducted two points, and slipped one rank for not having a conspicuous marker on the trap. Coincidentally, the person who had points deducted was none other than Bosen. What on earth was this old man up to? Each day, Bi Fang had to deal not only with the night patrols but also be wary of this old scorpion lurking in the dark. The audience was unaware of Bosen¡¯s previous actions and felt that the old man was just unlucky; to lose two points just like that¡ªhe was losing money. There went ten thousand bucks. [This is ridiculous, stepping on it yourself, how could you blame someone else?] [Supporting the old man, huh?] "No, Bosen does have to bear some responsibility," Bi Fang shook his head. "I¡¯ve watched the replay. A normal hunter wouldn¡¯t dig a trap in that kind of place because it¡¯s not a game trail; putting it there is just relying on luck, and usually, no animals would pass by. It¡¯s a waste of time." "Plus, there were no obvious hidden marks around the trap, so that was why the other hunter stepped on it." [Hidden marks? What¡¯s that?] [Signs? But wouldn¡¯t animals notice them?] The audience was somewhat confused. Bi Fang shook his head: "Hunters are much like animals, they are very particular about their own territory. They usually only operate within their familiar areas. Hunters like me who run around the world are a minority." "Back in the mountains, hunters had their own activity ranges to avoid accidentally hurting others. Near traps they set up, snare ropes, or hidden traps, they would make rather distinct signs that animals wouldn¡¯t understand but hunters could recognize at a glance, like flattening a certain number of weeds, and so on." The average person, being careless, lacks this awareness and might still fall for a trap even with hidden markers. How could someone who had obtained a professional hunter¡¯s license and could still hunt black bears using traditional methods possibly not know this? Most hunters were already in their physical decline; they didn¡¯t have the strong physique like Bi Fang did and almost all relied on traps. It was just bad luck for a trap setter to get caught in the trap, but Bosen didn¡¯t do anything at all, and he even made the trap exceptionally concealed. What kind of person would take the trouble to create a trap in a completely useless place, aside from the fact it¡¯s not on a game trail and without any hidden marks? Using bamboo slats to make a flexible bamboo crossbow trap is a technique usually only used by good hunters to capture aggressive beasts. Sharpened wooden stakes are more common; bamboo slats are used when pressed for time. A trap that can catch animals can also catch humans. In Bi Fang¡¯s eyes, Bosen¡¯s actions were against the rules. Even in North America, according to development, such logic should not be absent. Unless... In Bi Fang¡¯s mind emerged the map of Honshu Island, and above the Kii Peninsula, there were several prefectures next to Wakayama Prefecture, but only six hunters were active near Wakayama Prefecture. Bi Fang himself, counting Bosen and Mugalen, and this hunter who withdrew due to injury, as well as two other team hunters whom Bi Fang had not met and could barely remember the names of. Only these six. Bosen, could it have been deliberate? Bi Fang was startled. One day later. As expected, an accident happened again, involving the two hunters Bi Fang had not yet met. This time it was even worse; they made a mistake and encountered an attack by more than two brown bears. These were the second and third brown bears to appear since the start of the hunting season, and the two hunters were petrified upon seeing them. The situation was so dire that even the viewers of Bi Fang¡¯s live stream had all left. In the blink of an eye, without any hesitation, the two hunters had only one thought. Run! Escape as far as possible. The two turned and fled. If the brown bears had been fighting each other, it would have been one thing, but unfortunately, the bears were only in a standoff. When they encountered the two intruders on their battlefield, they furiously gave chase. The two hunters, not well acquainted, were simply teaming up because they both came from the Ugly Country. Faced with such peril, they each ran for their lives. It was as if the two brown bears had a mutual understanding, with each bear chasing one hunter. Tens of millions of viewers, sweating in the palms of their hands, watched as if it were a movie, helpless as the entire ordeal unfurled thirteen kilometers away from Bi Fang¡¯s location. They were two adult male brown bears, both roughly 2.3 meters in size, comparable to the one Bi Fang had encountered. Perhaps even more so. Because in the world of brown bears, battles are often between challengers and the reigning king, meaning one of them had to be the Bear King. The size of brown bears ranges from 1.5 to 2.8 meters; however, due to the lower latitude of Japan, the size of the bears there usually does not exceed 2.4 meters. This was not a movie, where Little Leo still had a musket; these two had nothing. Their only lifesaver was the alarm device. After the incident, the Japanese Government was bewildered, dispatching the ever-ready guard teams and helicopters as swiftly as possible. The viewers learned for the first time that not all humans are alike. Bi Fang¡¯s ability to wrestle with a brown bear was not luck but strength, and he also had the assurance of waiting for the poison to take effect. The two hunters weren¡¯t bad; they fired their bullets at the moment the brown bear pounced. After that, the live stream was cut. [Reminder, you can breathe now] [I¡¯m a bit afraid, these two won¡¯t be in trouble, right?] [Hope the people are okay] The comments were full of prayers. The online friends finally understood what a brown bear meant to humans. It¡¯s a terrifying monster. With such an incident, all the hunters lost their mood to continue. In less than three days, three hunters had accidents, effectively eliminating them. Waiting until night, Bi Fang sat by the campfire, roasting wild boar meat, chewing laboriously, and just then he received a notification from the Japanese Government. One was a medical examination report, the second was a statement about the live stream, and the third was about the identity of the two brown bears. After carefully reading the first two, Bi Fang said to the audience, "Fortunately, there¡¯s no life-threatening danger, only fractures, mostly in the limbs, and there are no disabling injuries. The live stream can continue, no problem there." Hearing Bi Fang admit it himself, the Shuiyous all let out a sigh of relief before they started to discuss the day¡¯s thrilling events. It was terrifying. And when you think about the life-or-death crises Bi Fang has encountered before, it¡¯s even more fucking terrifying. Bi Fang gnawed on the pork, his mood gloomy. Anyone would be unhappy in such a situation, and now, in Wakayama Prefecture, only Bosen, Mugalen, and Bi Fang himself were left. That old scruff had racked up twenty-three points and was now in third place. While reading the third report, Bi Fang struggled to chew on wild boar meat. His jaw muscles were aching as if he were chewing on dried beef jerky. The texture of this stuff was unbelievably coarse! It was tough to cut and even tougher to chew! Without the godsend of a pressure cooker, dealing with wild boar meat was indeed challenging. Moreover, the wild boar hadn¡¯t been castrated, and the foul odor was incredibly strong. If it hadn¡¯t been for his upgraded set of teeth, his mouth would have been filled with meat fibers now. [These two are so unlucky, to have encountered something like this.] [Old Fang encountered a brown bear killing a black bear, which was rough enough, but these two pure dimwits ran into a brown bear fighting another brown bear.] [And they were in the midst of a standoff, how eight lifetimes of bad luck!]? By this time, Bi Fang had also finished reading the third bulletin, and sure enough, one of them was the Bear King, which Japan had even given a specific name to, calling it Matsutaro. A name from an ancient and fairly well-known Japanese sumo wrestler. This fellow had an astonishing body length of 2.47 meters, just over 2.4 and nearing 2.5 meters, which is quite rare in Japan. As for the other bear, it clearly was the one who initiated the challenge to the brown bear. [Ah, didn¡¯t Old Fang say that brown bears don¡¯t have a strong territorial consciousness? Why would they still fight?]? Bi Fang shook his head, "It¡¯s different, having a weak sense of territory doesn¡¯t conflict with becoming the king of the group, monopolizing mating rights and food." As long as you become the king, you can rightfully snatch away food, and if there¡¯s resistance, it will be seen as a challenge. "There is a vast difference between people, and the same is true among animals. The strength of a Bear King is often much greater than that of its type. Among the two people on hand, it was the one who encountered the Bear King that was the most unlucky, receiving a serious injury. When the helicopter arrived, it took a good fifteen shots." "The other bear was taken down with just five shots. Even if I encountered it, it would be dicey; I¡¯d likely get knocked down too." "In fact, the fame of some animal kings can spread across the world, like the brown bear king Tuyuk of Katmai National Park in Alaska. Tuyuk reigned as the king of the Katmai region for over ten years. Thousands of brown bears lived in its habitat, all competing for the same food." "But Bear King Tuyuk always managed to control the largest of several brown bear territories in the Katmai region and faced several challenges from other male bears over the years. The main goal was to seize the territory, secure mating rights, and compete for a unique food source¡ªsalmon. It wasn¡¯t until it aged and was eventually dethroned and driven away." "Another is the Peninsula Giant Bear King of Alaska¡ªCarter. This guy was even more impressive, weighing over six hundred eighty kilograms at his peak and having a massive skeleton." The researchers who discovered him were fascinated. "I¡¯ve never seen a bear with such an overwhelming presence. Other bears wouldn¡¯t dare make any moves, such as trying to intimidate or challenge it. They just obediently left, or even turned tail and fled." "There¡¯s also Piro, the Brown Bear King of the Pyrenees Mountains. His reign lasted even longer, over twenty years, and he was incredibly tyrannical, with a strong possessive desire over female bears, especially liking to slaughter cubs, to such a severity that it affected the local brown bear population."? Piro¡¯s behavior was such that it was like a bear killing to the point of a species crisis. "These guys are equivalent to the human King of Chu, L¨¹ Fengxian, and the Western Hannibal¡ªdominant figures with overwhelming control over regular bears." Bi Fang¡¯s tone revealed admiration. Now he might be able to handle some ordinary bears, attack their weak points, but against such individuals, he would have no chance of winning. They were on another level; maybe his double orange maxed-out Skill might stand a chance? S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Or even higher? Chapter 571 - 568: Reserve a Spot ``` Still not completed, but following the old rules, I¡¯ll stake a claim. I¡¯ll finish editing it before half-past midnight. In the forest, tall trees were spreading their branches in all eight directions. A length of white rope covered with dust was wrapped around one section of a branch, and beneath it, a pair of antlers was tightly entangled. The eighty-kilogram sika deer hung mid-air, half of its short fur had been skinned, revealing the blood-red muscles underneath. A multitude of capillaries had ruptured, and the severed arteries no longer bled but were drying gradually, dripping into a puddle of blood beneath the hooves. Ripples spread out from the center of the blood puddle, layer upon layer. Bi Fang squatted down and stared intently. The audience in the live broadcast were still clamoring, not having noticed this scene. Bear? Such a massive vibration, was it caused by some gigantic creature attacking? No, impossible. Bi Fang shook his head. According to the frequency, the scent, and the distance of the vibration source, with such a disturbance, it would have been in sight by now, not still hidden from view. He thought about the region he was in. Bi Fang¡¯s pupils shrank instantly, and he blurted out, "Fuck, an earthquake?" The sudden shout confused the noisy viewers for a moment. Over ninety percent of ordinary people have never experienced an earthquake in their lives, a term only encountered during occasional school drills, which unexpectedly burst forth from Bi Fang, leaving many unable to react at first. An earthquake? Fuck, an earthquake! At that moment, the camera in the Japanese live broadcast room switched back to Bi Fang. The two commentators¡¯ brains froze, and they almost instinctively crawled under the table. When the audience looked back at the live broadcast, the puddle of blood on the screen seemed almost ready to leap into the air! In just a matter of seconds, an intense shaking sensation transmitted from Bi Fang¡¯s feet to his whole body. The blood pit in front of him, which had been rippling, now had blood drops almost splashing from its center! In the eyes of millions of viewers, the entire screen was trembling slightly. It wasn¡¯t the drone that was moving, it was the earth. Amidst the rolling thunder like a dragon turning over, tiny stones scattered about, a multitude of leaves fell from mid-air, and the suspended sika deer shook violently. This feeling was extremely terrifying, truly nature¡¯s mighty wrath. Bi Fang leaned against a tree for support. At that moment, he felt extremely strange, as if each of his legs were tied to a large vibrating device. Fortunately, after just seven or eight seconds, the intense shaking had stopped. Countless viewers swallowed and tried to send a barrage of chat messages, only to find their own fingers were trembling as well. [Is it...over?] [That was quick] [Was that really an earthquake just now?] [I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m witnessing an earthquake] Many viewers were surprised by the experience. It was so rare. To see an earthquake during a live broadcast? Humans have had no means of detecting earthquakes in advance, so live broadcasting it is simply impossible. Even if occasionally caught, it is mostly indoors with some small streamers broadcasting. ``` Such as the magnificent scene witnessed by millions of people today. Unprecedented. Bi Fang swallowed hard, sweat beading on his temples, he was a bit slow to recover. In both his past life and this one, he had only seen earthquakes on the news, let alone experienced one personally. The earthquake just now was Bi Fang¡¯s first personal experience, and he was quite shocked by it. He looked around and saw no widespread tree collapse or landslides, and considering his immediate feeling, "The earthquake just now must not have been high in magnitude, but it indeed made one anxious, especially on the mountain where landslides can easily occur. Once caught in a landslide, there¡¯s hardly any chance of survival." [Awesome, I¡¯ve never experienced an earthquake in all my years.] [Better if you never have to.] [I freely give to the host Big Bone*66 for keeping it real¡ªhe¡¯s damn impressive.] [The user who stops changing names is a fool gives the host a yacht*1¡ªEye-opening, truly eye-opening! I¡¯ve grown so much, and this is the first time experiencing an earthquake.] After waiting for a moment and not feeling any aftershocks, Bi Fang began to relax, "Good, there¡¯s no danger. But capturing this moment is indeed rare. However, for safety¡¯s sake, we¡¯d better start moving towards flat and open ground. It¡¯s best not to stay here any longer." In the Japan live stream room, a huge number of viewers expressed their amazement. The camera moves to the other hunters. The range of an earthquake is often vast, not just Bi Fang; many other hunters had also felt this shake a few minutes ago. Mugalen leaned against a tree, slowly sitting down with his chest heaving violently. Although it was not that physically exhausting, he couldn¡¯t help but gasp for air. That was damn scary, an earthquake out of nowhere. Bosen, with a crossbow on his shoulder, hugged his head and squatted on the ground, only daring to look up after everything had ended, and he let out a huge sigh of relief. "Almost lost my life there." Not only in Taiji Town, but the whole of Wakayama Prefecture and even most of Honshu Island felt this strong earthquake. Every hunter, big or small, experienced it. Several Y¨­ki Hunters were used to it and quickly left the tall trees to crouch with their heads covered, standing up again after it was over. Fortunately, there was nobody hunting Black Bear when the earthquake happened; otherwise, accidents would have been inevitable. Sato opened his water bottle for a drink and asked the audience not to worry, "Our Japan is a country with many earthquakes and volcanoes and is also the country with the highest frequency of earthquakes in the world." There are three major seismic belts on Earth: the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Mediterranean-Indonesian Seismic Belt, and the Oceanic Ridge Seismic Belt. These are unstable regions formed by tectonic plate collisions, and countries located on these seismic belts often experience frequent earthquakes. Among the places notorious for frequent earthquakes are Fukushima in Japan, San Francisco in Ugly Country, the Andaman Sea in the Indian Ocean, and La¡¯Aquila in Italy. Especially Japan, which is the foremost among them. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Its location on the map is between the Eurasian Plate and the Pacific Plate, with the Pacific Plate subducting under the Eurasian Plate, causing intense collision and compression. This collision not only formed the Japanese archipelago but also brought endless earthquake disasters. It¡¯s a bit like two plastic plates floating in a basin of water, colliding and separating in an instant. But on Earth¡¯s "large basin", the process is slowed down by countless times, and so is the deformation at the moment of impact. The collision continues to this day, and every year Japan experiences a succession of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. There are over 200 volcanoes here, about 45 of which are active. Earthquakes are so frequent it¡¯s like eating and drinking, with an average of over 1,500 earthquakes per year, and a daily earthquake occurrence rate of more than four times. We only eat three meals a day, but there can be four earthquakes here in a day, making it even with night snacks. Of course, that¡¯s a bit exaggerated because this includes the entire territory of Japan, including the seabed. In specific areas, it¡¯s not that dramatic. "We have earthquakes almost every day of the year here. Most of them are small and non-destructive, like ripples barely disturbing the water. However, sometimes there are more powerful ones, so our houses are mostly made of wood to reduce casualties." "I¡¯ve been accustomed to this life since I was young, so there¡¯s no need to be afraid; it will pass in a moment." Picking up a naginata lying nearby, Sato waved his hand, indicating that the earthquake was minor, scary but of no real harm. [Like a boss!] [Seen bigger scenes than this] [Other hunters must have been scared shitless, hahaha] In the forest, Bi Fang said the same, explaining why Japan has so many earthquakes. Many netizens were quite moved. [Still, Huaxia is better, safe] "That¡¯s not exactly true," Bi Fang thought for a moment and then denied it. "Our country¡¯s 7% of land bears over 33% of the world¡¯s strong continental earthquakes, which is an alarming ratio; it¡¯s considered safe because most of the population is concentrated in the plains." "Holy shit, really?" Many viewers looked at each other in disbelief. The first venue was packed with people nodding their heads from all over the country and even from abroad, obviously recalling many traumatic past experiences. "Let¡¯s hurry and deal with the Sika Deer, then head down the mountain to flatter ground, in case there are aftershocks. After all, it¡¯s the mountain slope we¡¯re on that matters, not just the intensity of the earthquake." After skinning the deer and removing its innards, the whole deer¡¯s weight was significantly lighter. Bi Fang looked at the pair of majestic antlers, which were almost completely calcified, and had no velvet left. "Antlers without velvet are pretty much useless." Bi Fang still felt regretful. "Deer can be called the Deadpools of nature due to their incredibly strong healing abilities. For example, this Sika Deer here, if it fractured a leg bone, it would be able to walk in three days, run again in ten days, and fully recover in twenty days." "The same goes for the velvet; it¡¯s actually the regenerative tissue of the Sika Deer and can be described as a biological wonder in the animal kingdom. Biologists still can¡¯t understand why mammals can regenerate such large organs." "Note that it¡¯s an organ, not our nails or hair which regrow after being cut, referred to as keratin protein hyperplasia, commonly known as dead skin. In contrast, the deer velvet is a living organ of the deer." Bi Fang tapped the antlers with the back of his knife, producing a dull sound. The growth rate of Sika Deer¡¯s velvet is about 1.5 centimeters per day. The velvet of Moose grows at an astonishing rate of 2.5 centimeters per day, making it one of the fastest-growing organs in nature, and also the biggest regenerative organ in the animal kingdom; there are none others like it. "Antlers are completely calcified bones, and during the transition from velvet to antlers, the furry surface sheds, revealing a raw, red color. Then various small birds come to help them clean it off. Deer also eat the layer of velvet from each other. The so-called medicinal value of deer velvet mainly comes from the biochemical substances in this layer of fur," "Too bad it¡¯s all gone now." The audience was equally astonished hearing this. So deer are that badass? [The deer blood is the real pity here, I¡¯d rather have deer blood than velvet, wuuu, Old Fang if you don¡¯t want it you can give it to me] "Oh, someone knows about deer blood?" Bi Fang was surprised. [My great uncle breeds them, deer blood is some good stuff, hehe, those who know, know.] [? What kind of cryptic person?] [What does that mean, I don¡¯t get it] [Can¡¯t say, can¡¯t say, words fail to describe it] Bi Fang laughed heartily: "It¡¯s simple, do you know, a male deer usually has over a dozen or so harems, and these are not just for show, nor is it like a lion which mates only a few times, but they must serve them well several times a day. And this goes on for several months." Audience: "???" [Over a dozen harems, several times a day, let¡¯s say a hundred times, continuously for several months... holy fuck, this is no less than a piling machine, right?] [... That¡¯s a bit outrageous] [Really? I don¡¯t believe it] "The reason I could do this is the deer blood. Deer blood has an extremely high oxygen content and contains a large amount of immune globulin¡ªabout three times that of human blood. Its SOD antioxidant molecules are even as much as seven times higher than those found in humans, making it completely unafraid of viruses and bacteria." "That¡¯s why many men admire deer blood wine. However, I don¡¯t have a container, and it feels pretty heavy. I was too lazy to collect it." [Such a waste, such a waste!] [Quick, Boss Fang, send your coordinates. While it¡¯s still fresh, I want to go there and lick it up] [Lord Mu has sent the streamer Spaceships*10¡ªAh-fang, we¡¯ve been friends for so long. Wouldn¡¯t it be inappropriate not to bring back a barrel as a gift?] [Wow, a whole barrel, aren¡¯t you afraid that corrupt merchants will die of a sudden heart attack?] Cutting away the useless parts, Bi Fang lifted the load. It was much lighter now. At least a third of the weight was gone, and the extra forty kilograms of weight was more than manageable for him at this point. Bi Fang took the deer down from the tree, carried it on his back, and hoisted it onto his shoulders, around his neck. [By the way, what if Old Fang runs out of strength halfway and encounters a black bear?] "That¡¯s possible, but we¡¯re heading downhill. It¡¯s not very likely. We¡¯ve discussed the combat abilities of bears and tigers before. There¡¯s one thing I didn¡¯t mention: the chances of black bears and tigers ¡¯meeting¡¯ each other are not as high as we think." Their choices in microhabitats are completely different. "On a horizontal distribution level, tigers and bears can be in the same habitat, like a place that has both bears and tigers, but vertically, their preferred spaces are quite different." "Black bears prefer higher altitudes in the mountains, usually at the top of a habitat¡¯s high mountains, whereas tigers prefer lower altitudes in valleys or dense forests, similar to the microhabitats of brown bears. "It¡¯s like they have a ¡¯bunk bed¡¯ relationship." Oh. So that¡¯s how it is. Once Bi Fang explained, everyone understood. Black bears live at higher altitudes; now that we are running downhill, we are leaving their habitat. Plus, the foothills are usually human settlements, so the likelihood of encountering a black bear is even smaller. Bi Fang raced down the hill, stepping on rocks, and quickly leaping over the trees. With his enhanced joints, Bi Fang felt no stress on his knees when rising and falling, making it all very effortless. This ease and comfort made many viewers who love outdoor sports downright envious. Not to mention carrying a load almost as heavy as a person, even just dropping down from a huge rock over a meter high, they wouldn¡¯t dare to do it by just bending their knees slightly! Who would dare to jump like that unless their knee joints were made of titanium alloy? Jumping onto a dirt mound, a dark brown soil patch nearby made him stop in his tracks. After a hot summer, the surface soil should be light grey. But this area was all damp subsoil, clearly freshly dug up. A small landslide? Bi Fang took notice of the slope¡¯s gradient and shape. About fifty degrees, which is extremely prone to landslides. The unique U-shaped mouth also proved this point. The recent earthquake was not without impact. But that wasn¡¯t what attracted Bi Fang. Among the brown soil, a large chunk of cyan-green stone stood out markedly. Could this be... Bi Fang stepped closer. Under the sunlight, the cyan-green stone glittered brilliantly. "Jade?" Chapter 572 - 569: Reserve a Spot Today was incredibly busy. Still reserving a spot. Regular updates will resume tomorrow... July 14th morning. Bi Fang did not participate in the live broadcast of the hunting season, giving the same reason as before. He was staying in town for repairs and would not return to the forest for live streaming until the fourth day. In the live streaming room, a large number of viewers who saw the leave announcement howled with dismay, and the barrage of comments surged like tidal waves. The deep resentment contained within those comments frightened everyone who saw them, especially with the mix of multiple languages, which made it even more terrifying. [Damn, another leave?] [Old Fang really isn¡¯t worried about others surpassing him, is he?] [Laziness, oh laziness, you are too slothful!] [Lord Fang, give us something, I¡¯m in withdrawal here, it¡¯s unbearable day by day, without your stream my heart feels like it¡¯s stuffed with a cat, panting and scratching, I can¡¯t sleep at night, I¡¯m scratched all over my body] [Just quit it, it¡¯s not possible.] [I know I should quit, but it¡¯s truly unbearable, Lord Fang, I know you have a soft heart, you are a good person, give me something to get through this period, next time I will definitely quit, Lord Fang~~sorry, Lord Fang] From time immemorial, the barrage had brought out talents; Bi Fang had given a thumbs up to the netizens¡¯ comments. After placing the tablet with the barrage of comments to one side, Bi Fang picked up his backpack and walked out of the hotel without hiding anything, which distinguished him from Richard and the others. When Bi Fang left the hotel, no one was tailing him unless it was fans. But fans were easy to shake off, and to follow a top-tier special forces soldier, the fan would probably need a System of their own. The backpack was packed to the brim, and Bi Fang held a map in his hand. He walked to the corresponding location marked by a red circle, then set down his backpack and took out the photography equipment he had brought along. Climbing up a tall tree, he fixed the gear at the highest point with a clear view. Sitting on a tree branch, Bi Fang looked towards the distant bay and grabbed his earpiece to shout, "How about it, the angle? Can you see clearly?" S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "A little higher, there¡¯s a branch blocking the way." With the computer resting on Jerret¡¯s thighs, he was remotely directing Bi Fang through the screen. Bi Fang readjusted the camera¡¯s position, "OK, how about now?" "Too high now, a little lower, yes, that¡¯s it, it¡¯s good now, you can fix it there." Bi Fang navigated around branches to the back of the tree, tightened the securing bolts firmly onto the trunk, then slid down the tree trunk and quickly reached the ground. Besides Dolphin Bay, there were many other places that needed Bi Fang¡¯s attention to set up. Dolphin Bay was just the most notorious and bloodiest slaughter location. During the dolphin hunting season, the waters here turned blood red every year. Without any exaggeration. Genuinely, blood red. From the satellite maps, the entire Dolphin Bay looked like a sea of blood. When Bi Fang first saw it in his previous life, he truly understood that ¡¯rivers of blood¡¯ and ¡¯blood floating the pestles¡¯ were not just idioms on a piece of paper, but a scenario that existed in reality. "Phew, that¡¯s another one taken care of." Bi Fang wiped the sweat off his forehead; the weather today was really hot. It was somewhat cooler in the forest, without the urban heat island effect and with plenty of cool spots, but Bi Fang was quite active and, to avoid scrapes and cuts, he couldn¡¯t wear shorts or short sleeves. "Did anyone follow you guys today?" After setting up another camera, Bi Fang sat on a rock, took a sip of water to rest, and pressed his earpiece to ask. Bi Fang operated from the shadows; naturally, he needed someone in the spotlight to draw the attention of the local residents. The more Richard and his team resisted, the more attention they attracted. In contrast, Bi Fang¡¯s operations became increasingly safe and concealed. However, they couldn¡¯t be too aggressive. The explosion of Richard¡¯s car was still fresh in everyone¡¯s minds; all were terrified, like walking on a tightrope, cautiously gauging each step. Exposing everything here was everyone¡¯s wish, but that didn¡¯t mean they were psychologically prepared for sacrifice. Whether it¡¯s pickpocketing, other minor crimes, or more severe crimes or terrorist acts, nearly all criminals will surveil their targets to some extent before striking. They focus on observing their target¡¯s every move, but in fact, during this time, criminals themselves are at great risk of exposure¡ªif their targets are always vigilant and extremely sensitive to their surroundings, then this is especially true. On their second visit to Japan, Richard¡¯s team knew all too well how unwelcome they were in Taiji Town. They even felt that every person who sneakily glanced at them could be a resident tasked with stalking them, or a member of the Japanese Organization, ready to pull out a switchblade from their pocket and strike at them at any moment. No police would come to their aid; even after death, the criminals might not be found. Being stabbed over twenty times in the back and then ruled a suicide¡ªthat absurdity could indeed happen. "How could there be none." Jerret let out a wry smile, pushed down his laptop slightly, and opened the car window. By the roadside, a man dressed in black and wearing sunglasses held a video camera, squatting on the ground, staring straight at Richard and his team as they drove by, turning his head without any attempt at concealment. As they brushed past each other, he gestured a middle finger at Richard and the others through the rolled-down window. The provocation was intense. Richard glanced at the rearview mirror; it was already the third car that had been closely following them today: "Just the license plate numbers, we¡¯ve already noted down seven or eight." "When we first arrived, we didn¡¯t know who was tracking us." A few days ago, Richard and his team only knew they were being watched and followed, but had no idea who was doing it. Were they whalers or the Japanese Organization? They were completely clueless. It wasn¡¯t until this morning that Bi Fang taught Mandy how to find their trackers, and they locked onto a particular individual. Bi Fang told Mandy that in order to confirm who was following her, it was necessary to act on multiple fronts while adhering to the TEDD principle. The so-called TEDD principle is Time, Environment, Distance, and Demeanor. Time: Do you repeatedly see the same person or group of people in various settings? One must keep an eye on the time throughout the day to verify whether it¡¯s true. Environment: Have you noticed individuals whose clothing or body language is out of place in their surroundings? Distance: Do the same people appear in two locations that are far apart? For example, is this the person wearing sunglasses who appeared at the community store 10 minutes ago? He might look less suspicious, or perhaps, he showed up two hours earlier. Demeanor: In the realm of surveillance, "demeanor" refers to behavior and appearance. Look for people whose attire or behavior doesn¡¯t blend in with their environment. Change your schedule or your route frequently to verify whether you¡¯re being followed. Based on these, look for "coincidences" that occur at different times and places. At the same time, act with extra caution¡ªto convince criminals that they¡¯ve merely lost sight of their target by accident, not that the target is intentionally evading them. The simplest way is to shop at a faraway supermarket, ruling out coincidences to confirm whether you¡¯re under surveillance¡ªthen carry out some errands in another area, to test your hypothesis. Keeping these rules in mind, Mandy successfully locked onto someone. They also happened to meet an English-speaking Japanese tourist and asked him if he recognized the fellow standing by the roadside, to ask for them if he didn¡¯t know. The tourist wasn¡¯t very wary; on the contrary, he was very willing to help Richard and others. The answer they finally got was this. The guy was the Chief of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. "It¡¯s not the organization or the whalers that are tracking us, it¡¯s the police," Richard stroked his chin, "They have already branded us as criminals." "Is there a way to shake these guys off? Old Fang? Any ideas? They¡¯re as annoying as rats!" Jerret rudely grabbed the communication channel and yelled. He couldn¡¯t stand the atmosphere anymore, being watched wherever he went. Jerret had suspected that even when he went to the toilet, he might have been photographed as a threat to make them leave Japan. Bi Fang pondered for a moment, "There is a way, but it¡¯s not guaranteed to succeed if you do it, and with the police mobilized, their people are everywhere. Even if you manage to shake them off, unless you plan to go into hiding right after, you¡¯ll quickly be found again." "I don¡¯t care, I must shake them off now and show them a lesson!" Bi Fang nodded, understanding Jerret¡¯s intention. Such an action was too frustrating; everyone was angry, and even if they would be caught again soon, they wanted to give these people a lesson. "Then turn off all your phones," Bi Fang instructed through the headset. Everyone in the car complied. "Set the radio to a station outside the reception frequency." Mandy turned the knob, and the car radio quickly turned to static, with no reception. "How about it? Apart from the static, do you hear a ticking sound? Listen carefully," Bi Fang turned off his headset and temporarily lost contact with Richard and the others. After a while, the headset reconnected. Richard¡¯s deep voice sounded, "Yes." "What does that mean?" Mandy exclaimed, convinced that Bi Fang was not making pointless remarks; the ticking sound must have some significance. Bi Fang sighed. Since entering the era of miniaturized technology, attaching a magnetic tracking device to a vehicle had become a piece of cake. Market-available tracker sizes varied; the small ones were only the size of thumb drives and could be pre-installed in various settings, tracking the location of mobile phones and rental vehicles through echo signals. To avoid losing track, all rented vehicles were already fitted with tracking devices internally. But if someone with malicious intent got hold of this information, its use was unknown. Tracking devices could be permanently installed in the vehicles or temporarily attached to the frame, communicating with satellites, cellular towers, and servers. To avoid publicly checking the vehicle, what Bi Fang had done was to make Richard and the others listen for static interference noise. Bi Fang explained patiently, "If there¡¯s an occasional ¡¯ticking¡¯ sound besides the ¡¯static,¡¯ it means there is some kind of mobile device operating inside the vehicle." "This sound comes from the interaction between the mobile signal and the radio speaker wires and coils. I had you all turn off your phones and computers to eliminate interference." "These signals can¡¯t penetrate metal, so these devices can¡¯t be hidden under the frame or metal parts¡ªusually, they can be found in specific areas." Following Bi Fang¡¯s instructions, the group began to search. "Between the car windows and the hood, under the plastic bumpers, beneath the insect shields, the roof, inside the speakers, under the rear trunk fabric panel, the bottoms of the front and back seats..." "I¡¯ve found it!" Keke, sitting in the back, fumbled around and grabbed a small device, twinkling intermittently, in his hand. Everyone¡¯s spirits were lifted, "What do we do next? Throw it away?" "No!" Bi Fang squinted his eyes. "If you¡¯re certain that someone with ill intent, rather than following standard protocol, has installed a tracking device, do not attempt to remove the device." Instead, find an excuse to transfer the vehicle. "Swap for another car." Find another rental company or shell out a significant amount of cash for a resident¡¯s vehicle; as long as the money is sufficient, everything is negotiable. As for the funding, the wealthiest Bi Fang naturally took the initiative. The power of money can sway even the most steadfast locals in its presence. The key to shaking off the surveillance team without escalating the tracking to a full-blown chase is to make the followers believe they¡¯ve lost the target rather than realizing they¡¯ve been exposed. "To get rid of the driving surveillance team, avoid using driving techniques that obviously look like evasive maneuvers." Having switched vehicles, Mandy, who was driving, nodded seriously and tried to steer as smoothly as possible. Just like a normal tourist. "Create an accordion effect: lead the surveillance team into areas with a lot of traffic signals or stop signs to split up the members." The stop-and-go traffic can not only disperse the surveillance team members but also avoids raising their suspicion about Richard and the others¡¯ plans. Mandy drove into a congested street, the town¡¯s main thoroughfare with a heavy volume of traffic. Many tourists passed through here, constantly honking in hopes the vehicles in front would move faster. The vehicle closest to the target still maintained its proximity, but the rest of the surveillance team eventually got stuck several red lights back. "Once a team member doesn¡¯t take over, a lone tracker might leave for fear of alerting the target." Mandy looked back and saw that the obviously numerous vehicles seemed to be reduced to the last two. "Surveillance teams often lose sight of the target when it stops and starts, so increase the frequency of stopping." "Park the vehicle near an exit, turn right twice, then drive out of the parking lot." Mandy drove into the parking lot, paused for a moment, then started off again. The tracker who had parked behind Mandy was clearly a beat too slow to react, only thinking to start the engine as Mandy¡¯s taillights nearly vanished. "Only one left." Richard and the others looked back, now only remembering the last of the few license plates they had seen initially. "Get out!" "Get out?" Everyone was startled. "You¡¯re now very close to an electric tram station," Bi Fang calmly relayed, based on the location Richard had sent. "I¡¯ve checked the tram¡¯s arrival time, one minute." "Rush to the platform at the moment the tram arrives, and leap aboard while the follower is still regaining their bearings." Richard and the others, carrying their belongings, quickly got out of the car and, upon exiting the alley, they saw the tram already at the station. The group hurriedly rushed over and managed to squeeze into the tram before it departed. Bi Fang held the earpiece: "Is anyone following you?" Mandy, gripping the handrail above and unable to stop a smirk from spreading across her face as she looked at the trailing pursuer who did not make it onto the tram, replied, "No more." Chapter 573 - 570 Suspicion Seeing the visitor, Matsumoto Kiyonaga was filled with trepidation and bowed deeply in apology, "Lord Morishita, I never expected you would personally come to Taiji Town so late. I hadn¡¯t heard any news of your visit and fear that our reception was inadequate. Please, you must forgive us." The administrative structure of Japan is divided into one cabinet office and twelve ministries. The cabinet office is like the cabinet itself, and the ministries are similar to the General Affairs Ministry, Justice Ministry, Foreign Affairs Ministry, Finance Ministry, etc., which are equivalent to Huaxia¡¯s ministries. Owing to the unique structure of Japan¡¯s fisheries, instead of an agriculture ministry, there is a Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in Japan. The man before him, Morishita Suji, was a high-ranking official in Japan¡¯s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the vice chairman of the Japan Whaling Association. In terms of rank, he was more than a notch above Matsumoto Kiyonaga, the mere provincial director. Even though they were not from the same ministry, Matsumoto Kiyonaga still felt nervous and unsteady. Was he here to hold me accountable? Thinking of all the days he had been busy without catching the culprit and having been slipped by the other party time and again, Matsumoto Kiyonaga couldn¡¯t help but break out in a cold sweat, so much so that he didn¡¯t dare to lift his head, with his entire back gradually drenched with sweat. It was already the wee hours of the morning, yet even then Matsumoto Kiyonaga had to take personal action, which could only mean how great the pressure was. Morishita Suji extended his hand in a feigned support, "There¡¯s no need to be so formal, Chief Matsumoto. You don¡¯t need to be nervous, I¡¯m not here to hold you accountable. My visit is due to an urgent matter, and I didn¡¯t notify you in advance." "Yes, yes!" Matsumoto Kiyonaga nodded in agreement, but he didn¡¯t believe a punctuation mark of those words. This guy was notoriously two-faced, disguising a hungry tiger under a refined appearance. Trusting his words was just asking for trouble. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As expected, after helping Matsumoto Kiyonaga to his feet, Morishita Suji started by praising his decades of daily work attitude, expressing strong approval of Matsumoto Kiyonaga¡¯s work in Taiji Town. He fully demonstrated the responsibility and resolve of an exemplary Liberal Democratic Party member, ready to face challenges and head into adversity... Morishita Suji spoke for a good ten minutes, during which Matsumoto Kiyonaga, who was initially quite nervous, almost fell asleep; it was like standing in the scorching sun on a primary school playground, listening to a headmaster drone on and on during the opening school speech. "But recently, the situation in Taiji Town has us very worried, Chief Matsumoto. As a worker in the Fisheries Ministry, every time I stand in front of the Whaling Commission fighting for our fishermen¡¯s interests, making explanations has been difficult. If those with malicious intentions make misleading videos, my job becomes even harder." "The Whaling Commission¡¯s annual meeting is about to be convened. It doesn¡¯t matter if my job is difficult, but what about the many fishermen of Taiji Town? What will they eat and use throughout the year? This is our pillar industry! Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga, please take it to heart." Finally, it had come! Matsumoto Kiyonaga, previously on the brink of dozing off, was instantly alert and vocally assured that he would certainly catch the culprits and secure evidence, promising they would pay for their actions. "Any results tonight?" "Uh... none. We had a lead from the police dogs, but they seemed to have been prepared for us, and we caught no one," Matsumoto Kiyonaga said, embarrassed for a few seconds, but still stated firmly. "Prepared..." The smile on Morishita Suji¡¯s face slowly faded, and his eyebrows began to knit together. If anyone didn¡¯t want Dolphin Bay¡¯s affairs to come into the public eye, aside from the fishermen of Taiji, it might be Morishita Suji. Relying on dolphins, Taiji Town had already developed rapidly from this income source. It was a well-known and prosperous tourist town. Public exposure would deal a massive blow to the local economy. Even if people continued to trade and slaughter dolphins regardless, no one would think of coming here to travel. Moreover, as someone who annually promotes and explains the rationale of Japan¡¯s whaling to the outside world at the Whaling Commission, he couldn¡¯t possibly cope with the fallout. A career dead end was nearly a given, not to mention the possibility of resigning to take responsibility, and furthermore facing the public¡¯s anger and condemnation. That could mean being pelted with rotten eggs whenever he was out and about. Those guys, they weren¡¯t trying to save any dolphins, they were clearly after his life! Morishita Suji came to the blackboard in the office, where several photos pinned with thumbtacks were displayed, all of Richard and his crew. Next to each photo was a wealth of personal information. Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga was not without his achievements. At the very least, the true identities of Richard and his people, what they had done, their backgrounds, ages, genders, and experiences had all been thoroughly investigated. "To be so proficient at dealing with police dogs, to install cameras right under the noses of the police, to know the jungle, to understand tracking, to love Nature..." Morishita Suji¡¯s gaze swept over each of the individuals in the photos, who were either photographers or scientists, with the only notable figure being Pondy. But even then, he was just a retired military man, skilled in combat, and his execution ability was slightly stronger than others on the blackboard, but that just made him bodyguard material. With such a background, it was hard to believe that he was the doer, especially when comparing the poor execution of Richard and his group¡¯s first operation with this next one, which was clearly much more sophisticated. The only possibility was that someone was helping them, and what Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga needed to do was find this person and then slap any charge on him, lock him up in prison, and eventually deport him. Whoever could accomplish these feats certainly couldn¡¯t be a nobody. Looking at the map of Taiji Town. Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga slowed his breath, not daring to be careless. "Eh." Morishita Suji let out a soft murmur, bringing the deeply focused Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga back to reality, who quickly asked, "Lord Morishita, have you discovered something?" "Not a discovery, but, there have been hunters around Taiji Town recently for the hunting season, haven¡¯t there?" The bustling of the hunting season was well known, like the town was emptying out, even Morishita Suji, who was busy preparing this year¡¯s report for the Whaling Commission, had caught wind of it. "Yes, not only that, but there are several, and many of our mountain ranges are national protected areas with a lot of wildlife, bears included. A few days ago, as I drove through the tunnel, I even saw one, but what you¡¯re implying is..." said Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga, who was no fool. "Is it possible these hunters are helping them?" Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga hesitated: "That¡¯s not very likely..." "Why not?" "Because every day at eight o¡¯clock in the morning, the hunters have to start live streaming until eight o¡¯clock at night, a twelve-hour stretch. If a hunter is helping them, what is he, a robot?" To be busy in the forest all day and then continue through the night? Aren¡¯t they afraid of dropping dead? Moreover, dealing with bears is not an easy task. "Check it out anyway, keep a close eye on them, just in case," Morishita Suji didn¡¯t believe it but still instructed Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga to be vigilant. "Understood!" Chapter 574 - 571 Tiangella Early the next morning. Police officers from the Security Bureau carried a stack of documents as they knocked on the door of the chief¡¯s office. Upon entering, they were assailed by an unpleasant odor ¨C indefinable, but certainly enough to furrow one¡¯s brow. The inside was a mess, with balls of wastepaper strewn everywhere, and a half-rolled sleeping bag visible under the desk. The new officer couldn¡¯t help admiring their superior¡¯s dedication and reverently placed the document bag on the desk, "Chief Matsumoto, here are the materials you asked me to get from the Tokyo Hunting Season Security Bureau. They¡¯re all here." "Leave them there, and go get me a cup of coffee." Matsumoto Kiyotaka, who had just climbed out of the sleeping bag, yawned and checked his reflection on his phone, noticing his dark circles were more pronounced than ever. "Really, to think I¡¯m over forty and still have to work overtime every day, yawning~" To protect Taiji Town, Chief Matsumoto had no choice but to stay overnight in the office with his sleeping bag, hoping that in case things couldn¡¯t be resolved, his dedication might at least preserve his position. A steaming cup of coffee was placed on the desk. Chief Matsumoto opened the document bag with one hand and took a sip of the coffee with the other, the heat scalding his mouth, jolting him alert. "Indeed, coffee must be piping hot." Smacking his lips, Matsumoto Kiyotaka straightened up in his chair. His aging bones creaked softly, but at least he hadn¡¯t twisted his back. He pulled out the documents from the bag, flipping to the Kii Peninsula section and taking out all the materials therein. The Hunting Season was organized by the Tokyo Police Department. Although Japan has no designated capital, it is, after all, Tokyo, which is a step above in ranking, directly overseen by the National Police Agency. Matsumoto Kiyotaka had pulled some strings to get these documents in less than a day; normally, such a request would take days to process. Taking out all the files, he began checking them. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. First, those not from Kii Peninsula could wait till later. Although Japan isn¡¯t large, it¡¯s still over three thousand kilometers from south to north. One couldn¡¯t reach it by car in a day, and getting to Dolphin Bay from outside Kii Peninsula would take hours at the least. If that were the case, there¡¯d be no chance to sleep. People could be worked to death. Looking at the Kii Peninsula, there were six hunters. Six hunters and... huh? Matsumoto Kiyotaka paused, quickly flipping through pages, his pupils dilating. Six hunters, and three accidents? These days, Matsumoto had no time to watch such entertainment programs. Though thrilling, he had passed the age for seeking excitement and passion. Such live broadcasts were of no interest to him. Only now, when he received the materials, did he realize the coincidence. How many had accidents? Being a police officer, he immediately sensed that something wasn¡¯t right. Three out of six hunters had accidents; the incident rate was fifty percent. If it were really that dangerous, the show would definitely not be able to continue. He checked online on his phone; not wanting to check but needing to, the discovery worsened the matter. Only three hunters had accidents, all on Kii Peninsula! Something was off, definitely off! There was a problem. Pages flipped. Bi Fang, Mujialun, Bosen. On Kii Peninsula, the three remaining made Chief Matsumoto¡¯s brow furrow deeply. At first glance, he thought Bi Fang was Japanese, but then he realized he was Huaxia, and upon reflection, he seemed familiar. It seemed he had been promoted a few days ago as an expert bear hunter. All foreigners? He examined the rankings. Bi Fang was in first place, Bosen in second. Even Mujialun ranked fifth. What was going on with these guys? Now, Chief Matsumoto could be certain that there was an issue with the competitors; their presence was too concentrated. Out of thirty-five hunters, a single peninsula held three of the top five, and all the accidents involved hunters, the incident rate reaching fifty percent. So only you are special? Chief Matsumoto realized in a flash that the breakthrough was right in front of him. Who could it be!? The three people on the Kii Peninsula still didn¡¯t know they were being watched by a certain Security Bureau Chief and were still performing. Each performing their own roles. Bi Fang was playing Taiji Town, the audience, and the organizer. Bosen was playing an old Hunter at the end of his life, valiant in his declining years, an aged steed resting in his stall. As for Mujialun... it was unclear what he was playing, perhaps the frightened competitor vying for first place? But there were still many in the audience with a keen intuition who vaguely sensed that Bi Fang seemed to be hiding something from them. There was no other explanation, his relaxation was too obvious, the rhythm was off. Loosening and tightening intermittently, the audience would just start to get excited, and then things would relax. When they were cursing and complaining, it would suddenly tighten up again, back and forth. The erratic rhythm was very uncomfortable, like a giant and a dwarf dancing the rumba. At first, not much was felt, but after more than a week of the same, many old fans began to notice. After all, they had been watching his live streams so many times, there was bound to be some understanding. Less than a month left. Though it was the midst of a scorching summer, Bi Fang managed to lean against a tree with a calm and composed air. Today was another day of going easy. It couldn¡¯t be helped, busy at night meant lowering physical activity during the day, only this way could he show no clear signs of fatigue. Fatigue is difficult to camouflage, anyone could tell you¡¯ve been up to no good the night before. Even so, Bi Fang didn¡¯t know how much longer he could keep up the act. The world is full of ordinary people, but ordinary doesn¡¯t mean stupid. Sooner or later, someone would notice something was off, and all Bi Fang could do was race against time. In a corner of the mountains. Bosen was indeed becoming more accustomed to life in front of the camera, even beginning to blend in with the audience. "Being young is great. I never imagined that a Hunter like me could have fans, and so many at that." Bosen was very happy, especially when watching the gifts on the screen¡ª he even felt he was making more than in his old line of work. Being able to hunt Black Bears openly and receive effortless wealth made him wonder if his old profession would still have any takers. "I¡¯m a bit tired today." Mujialun sat on the ground¡ªas after eating grilled meat at noon, his blood had surged to his stomach from his brain, making him increasingly want to sleep. He couldn¡¯t comprehend how Bi Fang managed to do this every single day. No matter, no matter. Hunting while dragging a weary body could lead to accidents, better take a rest first. Matsumoto Kiyotaka yawned and rubbed his eyes; this was yet another all-nighter in his busy schedule, surviving on short naps each afternoon. After nearly half a week of busyness, Matsumoto Kiyotaka finally had some clues. Among the three men, the backgrounds of two were easy to research, laid out in the open, but one remained a mystery. "Bosen, once served in Tiangella." "What¡¯s this company?" Matsumoto Kiyotaka was confused¡ªhe had never heard of such a large multinational corporation. Chapter 575 - 572 Cicadas were crying for their lives, and the world outside was filled with the blinding sunlight, the shadow of the eaves on the ground sharp as knives. Gang Tianwu stood by the window and tugged at his collar, the air conditioning repairman had yet to arrive, and in just over ten minutes, he was feeling unbearably hot, his saliva sticky like glue in his throat, the office stuffy as if it were the steamer where monsters in "Journey to the West" cooked the fat monk. There was a knock at the door, and a team member stood at the entrance, saying, "Group Leader Gang Tianwu, someone wants to see you." "Who?" "Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga from Taiji Town." "Do I know him?" "Chief Matsumoto asked us for the hunters¡¯ information from the hunting season a couple of days ago." "Oh!" Once the team member mentioned it, Gang Tianwu recalled some memories, strode back to his seat, tidied up his desk briefly, wiped off the sweat, and nodded, "Invite Chief Matsumoto in, please." A moment later, Gang Tianwu stood up to greet him, "Ah, Chief Matsumoto¡¯s visit is a surprise, you should have said something in advance. How was it, have you checked the previous information? Any issues? Nagano, pour Chief Matsumoto a cup of tea." Matsumoto had come straight from the subway station without a moment¡¯s rest to see Gang Tianwu, not even having time for a drink, drenched in sweat. He thanked Nagano as he poured the tea, and after gulping down an entire cup, he finally caught his breath, "I apologize, Group Leader Gang, I¡¯ll skip the pleasantries. There was nothing wrong with the information, but how much do you know about Bertrand Guy?" "Oh, you mean the hunter ranked second? Do you remember him?" "I do." Gang Tianwu nodded, as he was the one who ultimately confirmed the participants¡¯ list, of course he remembered, especially the second-ranked, almost knowing it by heart. "Bertrand Guy, born in Ugly Country Minnesota State, has held a professional hunter¡¯s license for over thirty years, enlisted when he was young and performed excellently, and after ten years of service, he retired. He has been a truck driver, hunter, archer, actor, singer, sailor, engineer, farmer, with a total of more than fifteen black and brown bears hunted, which is quite an impressive resume." Bertrand¡¯s career was so diversified and spanned such a broad range that one might wonder if it was fabricated. This man in his fifties had an extremely rich life experience. His application quickly caught the attention of the reviewers, who placed him on the list, and Gang Tianwu also readily agreed upon seeing it. Connecting this to Matsumoto¡¯s previous actions and his haste in coming here definitely wouldn¡¯t be without reason, Gang Tianwu thought for a moment, "Is there a problem with him?" "I can¡¯t be sure, but there is a good chance." Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga didn¡¯t dare to confirm it outright, then he asked Gang Tianwu, "Are you familiar with Tiangella?" "Tiangella? What is that?" Gang Tianwu was confused. Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga let out a long sigh of relief, as expected, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department was also unaware of it, and he explained with slight pride, "It is an international company..." At that moment, Nagano brought a second cup of water, and Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga received it with a smile. This time he didn¡¯t gulp it down but held it in his hand, sipping slowly. Without utilization, there is no protection. That was Tiangella¡¯s company philosophy, and also what they had always professed externally. In this regard, it was almost identical to what Bi Fang had said in an interview program half a year ago. Commercial hunting protects wildlife animals. This viewpoint had been briefly explained by Bi Fang, supported by a systematic chain of relationships. Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga took out his phone, opened a video, and showed it to Gang Tianwu. In the Old Stone Age, when the human species had just been born, agriculture was yet to appear. As omnivores at the top of the food chain, humans relied on a combination of hunting and gathering to survive and develop, mere parts of nature like any other dominant species at the top of the food chain. During the process of hunting, clever humans invented spears and bows and arrows, and with them came the habit of collaborative survival, which laid the foundation for modern civilization. At this point, humans thoroughly established themselves as the sovereigns of the natural world, the relationship with wild animals being a very direct food chain dynamic. The upper-level species depended on preying on lower-level species to survive and continue their existence. In the Old Stone Age, humans definitely did not have the concept of wildlife conservation. However, through repeated trial and error, humans instinctively understood not to over-hunt or over-gather. One reason was the lack of good storage conditions to save any surplus harvest, and the second was to avoid unnecessary trouble for the next hunt. On this point, there are two most direct pieces of evidence. First, we can see species like pigs, horses, cattle, and sheep that have been domesticated today. They were formed during the Old Stone Age, and this process of domestication was a way of "protecting" animals. Domestic animals like pigs, horses, cattle, and sheep have become the mammals with the most abundant numbers in the world, the reason being their value, which leads humans to want to breed them. Second, studies on primitive Old Stone Age tribal civilizations that still exist in contemporary society have shown that they consciously protect the healthy breeding and continuation of populations in their habitats. This awareness of not exploiting excessively is the bud of the animal conservation mindset, a practice that creates conditions for better sustainable use in the future. "If farming is not done at the right season, the grains will be inedible; if fishing nets are not used thoughtfully in the Tamaki Pool, fish and turtles will be inedible; if axes and saws are used responsibly in the forests, timber will not be overly consumed." The point of the grains and fish and turtles being inedible, and the timber being overly consumed, is to let the people live and die without regrets. Living and dying without regrets is the beginning of the king¡¯s way. Mencius explained this principle thousands of years ago. After that, a series of even more complex changes took place, as the agricultural-pastoral model replaced the hunting-gathering model, and human survival no longer relied directly on the use of wild animals, loosening the direct food chain link between them. Thereafter, the emergence of metallurgy enabled the large-scale use of metal farm tools, leading to a qualitative change in the efficiency of farming, and increasingly more human groups began to completely break away from the direct use of wild animals. Humans became the single species at the very top of the food chain, with no wild animals they couldn¡¯t hunt down. Humans started focusing on the efficiency of obtaining meat, with large-scale animal husbandry replacing hunting, the main purpose of which was no longer just for food. As the wheels of history continued to turn, the Age of Discovery dawned between the 15th and 17th centuries, giving rise to significant geographical discoveries and the great exchange of species. Crops like potatoes and sweet potatoes appeared, with more efficient agricultural-pastoral models further squeezing out the residual hunting-gathering model, blurring humanity¡¯s bond with nature. Humans began to isolate themselves from wild animals, inhabiting towns and cities, while wildlife took to the jungles. The food chain relationship between them almost completely disappeared, and they ceased to coexist in the same area; the boundaries between their territories became clear, and their paths no longer crossed. The wheel stopped in the modern era. Humans have become a species that can only survive and develop by relying on an economic society. With modern agriculture and animal husbandry increasingly developed, ordinary people no longer need to utilize wild animals, so their value has plummeted, reducing them to nothing more than objects for the rich to pursue for excitement and aesthetic pleasure. Ordinary people might take real action over the price of pork going up, but they wouldn¡¯t give a second thought to something that only the rich care about. The words in the video abruptly stopped, and Gang Tianwu pressed the pause button. He had been very patient: "What is Chief Matsumoto trying to say?" sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sitting upright, Matsumoto Kiyonaga said, "I would like you to agree to suspend the hunting season and allow me to arrest Bertrand Guy!" Chapter 576 - 573: This is not a rescue operation, it’s a struggle for interests! "Are you insane?" Gang Tianwu didn¡¯t even use honorifics, directly using "you", "You expect me to suspend the hunting season and arrest the second-ranked contestant just because you gave me a spiel about the reasons and principles of animal protection?" "Does Chief Matsumoto not realize how popular this show has become lately? Over a hundred million people worldwide are following it, and tens of millions know about it in our country alone, with over ten million viewers sitting in front of their TVs or smartphones every day!" "This is no longer a small entertainment program led by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department! It¡¯s our reputation at stake, we cannot proceed, not even with solid evidence, let¡¯s forget mere suspicion!" "That is not the case, Mr. Gang," Matsumoto Kiyotaka¡¯s tone was very serious, "The words I just spoke are exactly Tiangella¡¯s publicly stated principles." The scale of this company is so large it¡¯s almost unbelievable, from America to Europe, then to Asia; except for Antarctica, it¡¯s practically all over the world. They operate on the principle that business is protection, purchasing hunting licenses across the world to carry out a series of legal activities. It¡¯s not that wildlife cannot be bought and sold, but it must be done legally and compliantly. However, legal trade faces two major practical issues: one, the taxes are high, and two, the quantities are limited. Driven by huge profits, these people do not care about sustainable development. Even this hunting season, Japan¡¯s official agencies had dealings with Tiangella. "Dealings? How come I wasn¡¯t aware?" Gang Tianwu was stunned. "This is unrelated to the police department; it¡¯s an event organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. They sold all the Black Bear carcasses hunted this time to Tiangella. It¡¯s quite normal that Group Leader Gang isn¡¯t aware," Matsumoto Kiyotaka explained, "But that¡¯s not important." "Tiangella has many clubs under their banner and several auctions where they maintain friendly relations with TNC (The Nature Conservation Association), organizing multiple events and claiming that hunting is also a method of ecological conservation." The only problem is. "Now look at this," Matsumoto Kiyotaka handed Gang Tianwu a second video. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The content of this video was relatively straightforward. Tiangella had been exposed. An undercover agent participated in the annual meeting of an international hunting club in Reno, Nevada State, featuring a competitive hunting event with trophies for killing large game like elephants, lions, leopards, or rhinoceroses, which many wealthy individuals could purchase the opportunity to slaughter. Once the news broke, it caused an enormous scandal. That year, Tiangella suffered a major blow. Even though they quickly disassociated themselves from their subsidiary clubs, fired a mass of employees, and claimed they were "outsourced," "uninformed," and "lacked supervision," they still took a heavy hit to their vitality. "Now look at this list." Gang Tianwu had a premonition and, sure enough, he saw Bertrand Guy¡¯s name on it. "According to what I have found so far, Bertrand Guy joined Tiangella before the incident, but only briefly, less than a mere half a year, before being pushed out because of the scandal, and later sentenced to ten months of imprisonment," Matsumoto Kiyotaka continued. "But it¡¯s been said that Bertrand was spotted three months after the incident, though Tiangella explained it as a similar appearance, which led to another wave of public outcry, believing that it was a bail provided by Tiangella." Gang Tianwu was speechless; he had never imagined that the seemingly amiable old man had such a rich background. There are three major illegal trades in the world: the first is drug smuggling, the second is arms smuggling, and the third is trafficking of wildlife. According to data disclosed by the Ugoku State Department, wildlife smuggling is second only to drugs and arms, with annual transactions ranging from 10 to 20 billion Ugoku Yuan. Reportedly, every year around the world, there are illegal transactions involving 50,000 primates, 140,000 African elephant tusks, 10 million reptile skins, 15 million mammals, 350 million tropical fish, and over 100,000 tons of rhino horns, generating profits as high as 10 billion Ugoku Yuan annually. Among them, the annual transaction volume of endangered species smuggling is at least estimated to be between 2 and 3 billion US Dollars. The former Secretary-General of CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) at the United Nations, Johan Scanlon, provided data showing that the illegal trade of species listed by CITES is valued at approximately 20 billion Ugly Yuan annually, but the total value of all illegal wildlife trade can reach around 200 billion Ugly Yuan each year. The sheer amount of it is astounding. These figures undoubtedly prove one thing: the wildlife smuggling trade has formed a complete industrial chain, connecting people of different skin colors and cultures from around the globe as simply as if they were trading ordinary products. Yet Bertrand Guy was one of them, and even after several decades, he had changed his appearance and emerged in a way that no one could have anticipated. Tiangella¡¯s incident had happened more than a decade ago, and no one remembered Bertrand Guy anymore, and even if they did, the changes over a decade would make it difficult to recognize the once spirited Hunter, who had become an old man in his fifties. Whether Tiangella was innocent or had indeed been negligent in its supervision, Chief Matsumoto didn¡¯t know, but Bertrand Guy was definitely not a good person! Chief Matsumoto even suspected that Tiangella itself wasn¡¯t clean, and perhaps that amputation was just a way to move a group of subordinates from the public eye to the shadows. However, without evidence, these were just thoughts that crossed Chief Matsumoto¡¯s mind. Unfortunately, Chief Matsumoto and Gang Tianwu ultimately lacked some insight; if they had only thought to read the name tianusGra backwards¡ªGratianus. Gratianus, the elder son of Valentinian I, Emperor of the Western Roman Empire, was made Augustus by his father at age eight, with the poet Decimus Magnus Ausonius as his tutor. He had a lifelong passion for hunting, which was not only his hobby but also became his life, and he ultimately lost his Empire because of it. "But what does this have to do with Dolphin Bay?" Gang Tianwu still didn¡¯t understand after all this time. Even if Bertrand did have a lot of dirt, why arrest him? Why not turn a blind eye? Leaving the role of the bringers of justice to others had nothing to do with them. Chief Matsumoto clenched his teeth in anger, "It¡¯s because these people are helping Richard! We¡¯ve always been unable to catch them!" Chief Matsumoto finally realized it. Clearly, this was the doing of Bertrand and the gang behind him. A guy who started with wildlife, how could he possibly forget the taste of success? "Their ultimate goal is to put us under international condemnation, to force us, under public pressure, to give up dolphin hunting. With no one capturing the wild dolphins, they would eventually belong to them!" Chief Matsumoto spoke emphatically, realizing that he had been in the dark, and Richard had been deceived as well. Interests are a matter of supply and demand. Does demand disappear if no one is hunting? Impossible, demand would only become stronger, and the price of dolphins would skyrocket! These animal traffickers had their sights set on this fact, much like businesses smear their competitors¡¯ product quality, aiming to monopolize the market! What Taiji Town was facing was not a rescue operation at all but a group of sharks that had smelled blood, a bunch of even more greedy monsters. This was clearly a struggle for interests! "We have to protect the interests of Taiji Town, and we can¡¯t let them succeed!" "Gang Tianwu, I beg you, even if we don¡¯t halt the hunting season, we must arrest Bertrand and expose everyone behind them!" Chapter 577 - 574 We Must Protect Batman Matsumoto Kiyotaka and others¡¯ analysis was unknown to everyone else. The hunting season continued unabated. A group of people continued to play their parts. Scores kept rising, rankings kept changing, everything was like a fog, with no one knowing who the final victor would be. The lush willow trees seemed as if they could exude oil under the scorching sun, and dozens of cicadas perched on the trees, continuously vibrating their drum-like tympana located at their abdomens to emit a sharp and loud sound. Each year in June and July, these common insects transformed from pupae to adults and then laid eggs within a matter of days. From the egg stage to the nymphs living underground and until their final transformation into adults loud and proud upon the trees, this process usually took one to two years. If one were to occasionally enjoy a walk in the woods, then the sound of cicadas would undoubtedly be the concerto of high summer, bringing joy to one¡¯s body and soul, but for hunters who were on a twenty-four-hour stakeout in the woods, it was piercingly painful to the eardrums. The mass of noise could interfere with a hunter¡¯s hearing, easily causing them to miss crucial information. Many times, this meant barely missing prey or being completely oblivious to impending dangers. Bi Fang squatted beside a stream, scooping up a handful of clear water to wash his face, cooling down his heat-filled irritability. At his feet was a small bamboo basket, similar to an ancient wealthy young master¡¯s one for holding crickets, but inside there were not crickets but rather a crowded nest of cicadas. As the person involved, Bi Fang was completely unaware that someone had already impersonated his act of "Batman." Maybe even if he knew, he wouldn¡¯t be upset. On the contrary, he would be more pleased. Everything was proceeding in an orderly and busy manner, Matsumoto Kiyotaka and Gang Tianwu worked together to clarify the whole situation, and reported to Morishita Suji, preparing for the final action. Only... "You guys, are you joking?" S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When Gang Tianwu and Matsumoto Kiyotaka reached a consensus, Morishita Suji¡¯s facial expression almost lost its composure as he expressed serious doubts about their analysis. How could an animal welfare activist¡¯s work get involved with a wildlife smuggling organization? Are you sure these two are the same thing? A protector and a poacher, two fundamentally opposed entities, appeared at the same time, and the nature of the case shifted from one extreme to the other... Is the world really this complex? To say that Gang Tianwu, as a member of the Eastern Capital¡¯s Metropolitan Police Department, did not understand how this hunting season was related to Tiangella was somewhat understandable. But as a high-ranking official at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Morishita Suji could not possibly be unaware, especially since, in many cases, most of the leftovers from the whaling plans, aside from the necessary key parts, were sold to them. However, Morishita Suji was also not well-informed about that dark piece of history from more than a decade ago. For him, the events of so many years past were too distant. Back then, Morishita Suji might have been just a junior employee, not at all concerned with such matters and even less aware of the existence of such conditions. At this moment, Matsumoto Kiyotaka and Gang Tianwu exchanged glances and nodded affirmatively. After Matsumoto Kiyotaka had sought out Gang Tianwu the day before, Gang Tianwu swiftly utilized his position to investigate the identity and background of Bertrand Guy, uncovering Bertrand¡¯s blemish from many years ago. Everything was as Matsumoto Kiyotaka had described. Taking into account the abnormal withdrawal of the three other hunters on the Kii Peninsula, Brown Bear had no direct evidence but the one whose thigh was pierced by a trap surely had something to say. So, analyzing what comes next is simple, and the answer becomes quite clear. Gang Tianwu took the initiative to explain to Morishita Suji, starting with the identity of Bosen. "Bertrand Guy, an experienced old hunter, yet all of us were deceived. He concealed the fact that fourteen years ago, he was involved in the club poaching scandal, was expelled by Tiangella, and sentenced to ten months of imprisonment." "Back then, it was so long ago that everyone had forgotten about it. His appearance had also greatly changed, allowing him to brazenly participate in this hunting season." Matsumoto Kiyotaka added from the side, "We have reason to suspect that Tiangella actually did a cover-up job on Bertrand Guy, moving him from the open to the shadows, but this is without proof and merely our conjecture." After all, "unaware" and "lax in supervision" were excuses they were all too familiar with, clear signs of passing the buck. But speaking of facts and reason, Matsumoto Kiyotaka was merely stating a possibility, "It cannot be taken as evidence." "This time, Bertrand Guy had his sights set on our dolphin industry, a highly profitable industry¡ªa single dolphin is worth a whopping one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. They took action, but there had been no breakthrough until now." "Unfortunately, this has always been our base. The organization versus the state is, relatively speaking, still too insignificant. Hence, they reached out to Richard and others, showing their strength as a means to help, and to avoid drawing our attention, they chose to register for the hunting season competition." What a clever tactic. Such individuals entering customs would certainly attract attention, but once cloaked as participants in the hunting season, everything seemed reasonable, so much so that it took half a month for Taiji Town to catch on. Matsumoto Kiyotaka could not help but admire the ingenuity of these people. Unable to confront the nation, they would draw the attention of the whole world, using the world¡¯s power to destroy the whaling industry of Taiji Town. The industry¡¯s Boss would be finished, and wouldn¡¯t the remaining orders then belong to them? Richard thought he was protecting the dolphins, not realizing they had become a mere facade, a protective cloak. Taiji Town believed they were being attacked by a group of protectors, little did they know it was a group of poachers! Morishita Suji pushed up his glasses, appearing calm on the surface but with tumultuous waves churning inside. The analysis seemed quite logical... Could the true nature of the matter be this complicated? "It seems I thought too simply," Morishita Suji sighed deeply. Matsumoto Kiyotaka and Gang Tianwu exchanged a glance, their faces showing delight. Clearly, their analysis was correct, "But even if that¡¯s the case," Morishita Suji had another question, "then why would they want to eliminate the other hunters on the island?" "That¡­" Matsumoto Kiyotaka hesitated for a moment. This was also where he was puzzled, but there were two explanations, "One is that those hunters might have discovered something, and to prevent leaks, Bosen took preemptive action. The second possibility is an issue with Bosen himself." "Look at this." Gang Tianwu presented a document detailing Bosen¡¯s military service from over twenty years ago. Although he had an outstanding performance, the double-digit number of brawls suggested that the amiable old man was not so friendly in his youth. "Perhaps Bosen himself prefers such a brutal method to eliminate his competition, a downright dangerous person!" The two spoke with conviction. Having been soldiers themselves, they were even indignant about the temper of such military troublemakers. Their assuredness dispelled Morishita Suji¡¯s last shred of doubt. "So, what¡¯s your plan going forward?" "We can¡¯t tip them off; we must catch them all in one swoop!" "The hunting season cannot be stopped, as it generates substantial revenue." "Currently on the Kii Peninsula, apart from Bosen, there are two other hunters. We must protect them!" Chapter 578 - 575: Delicate Atmosphere The cicada pupae in the bamboo basket were still squirming, densely packed enough to drive an entomophobe insane. These were all caught by Bi Fang to prepare for lunch. These guys, solid high protein. "Cicadas are rich in nutrients, with dry base protein content over 70%, fat around 7%, vitamins, and various beneficial trace elements all higher than those of general meat products, earning them the title of the ¡¯protein king¡¯ in today¡¯s food." "You don¡¯t need to be afraid. Has anyone tried eating this? It¡¯s quite delicious." [I¡¯ve eaten it!] [Get that away from me, I¡¯m going to go crazy!] [If you show me that again, I¡¯m unfollowing you! You¡¯ve been warned!] [Crunchy and fragrant!] "Hahaha," Bi Fang laughed heartily, "Humans have an innate fear of insects, just like with snakes, coded into our genes, along with lions and tigers, too." "It¡¯s just that lions and tigers are rarely seen now, our instincts have all but forgotten, and we may even find their cubs cute. However, without protection, in a face-to-face encounter, many would probably urinate out of fear." "Who knows, maybe thousands of years from now, insects won¡¯t be so common, and we¡¯ll forget our fear of them, even finding them cute." [Don¡¯t go carving every weird thing into our genes!] [Let me see what¡¯s in your genes... oh, my God, it¡¯s so weird, I have to look again.] Digging out a fire pit, Bi Fang sat on a stone, skewered the cicada pupae onto a small wooden stick, and stuck it into the mud next to the fire. Under the high temperature, one could clearly see the cicada pupae slowly changing color from pale brown to a metallic bronze. Many people can¡¯t stomach the idea of eating bugs, but there are some who relish it. And judging by the delectable aroma wafting through the air at that moment, Bi Fang was undoubtedly of the latter camp. "These juvenile cicadas are also known as ¡¯nymphs¡¯, and male cicadas make sounds to attract females for mating. It uses its sharp ovipositor to lay eggs inside the tree. It isn¡¯t until the following year that the larvae hatch and live underground for several years or even over a decade before they emerge from the soil." "During their lengthy life underground, they molt many times, with the final molt marking their transformation into adults." "Once they become adults, they start singing, and the male cicadas produce sound at high frequencies of hundreds of times per second, which helps female cicadas pinpoint the location of a suitable mate for coupling. Just like now, wherever we go, we can hear the cicadas; sometimes I find it so noisy that I can¡¯t hear anything but their chorus, wishing I could wipe them all out in one swoop." [Wipe them all out: meaning to gobble up everything in sight.] [I¡¯ve never been keen on insects in this lifetime¡ªexhausting.] [Ah, how tasty cicada pupae are! Surely no one hasn¡¯t tried them yet, right?] "However, certain silkworm pupae inherently carry diseases caused by amoeba, transmitted through silkworm eggs and feces. Consuming these inherently defective silkworm pupae can easily result in poisoning. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Some silkworm pupae already have well-developed molds, bacteria, and parasites within them. Despite processing, they¡¯re not completely killed, and these toxins cause the pupae¡¯s protein to denature and produce poisons. Some people are sensitive to these toxins; eating silkworm pupae on an empty stomach before meals leads to excess absorption of toxins, resulting in poisoning. If you eat silkworm pupae and drink alcohol at the same time, the poisoning can be even more severe. So when you eat them, be very careful, look closely, and avoid those with strange shapes or hairy ones." Insect grilling is much simpler than cooking meat; they can be thoroughly cooked in no time. Bi Fang picked up a skewer, bit into it with a crunch, and the sound resonated in his mouth. Indeed, it was not bad. "I think it tastes much better than the meat of wild animals," Bi Fang mused, chewing and nodding in agreement. Most wild animal meats are gamey and tough; before Bi Fang changed teeth, they would often get stuck in his teeth. Many people love the legs of animals¡ªchicken legs, lamb legs, pork legs¡ªall delicious. Yet in the wild, the legs of animals are difficult to eat: too tough and pitifully low in fat. That¡¯s why belly meat is the first choice in the wild¡ªit may be gamey too, but at least it¡¯s not tough. "However, food is always an issue in the wild. When there¡¯s something to eat, everything is delicious, and we shouldn¡¯t expect too much." "Speaking of which, how come I haven¡¯t seen Bosen today?" "Bosen? Who¡¯s Bosen?" "No way, dude, you haven¡¯t just been watching Old Fang¡¯s live stream, have you?" "Yes, I cough when I watch someone else¡¯s stream" "Now that you mention it, it does seem so. Japan¡¯s official live stream went straight from Sato to Boss Fang here." As soon as someone mentioned it in the comments, it quickly resonated with the audience. Japan¡¯s live stream room starts off every day by broadcasting from the last ranked and counts up to the first, taking a look through the rankings. But today, it seemed to have jumped from the third-ranked Sato, skipping Bosen, and went directly to the first-ranked Bi Fang. "Hahaha, could it be that Old Fang¡¯s ranking has dropped again, overtaken by Bosen?" "Boss Fang is getting lazy again, he has made his fortune and no longer cares about this small change, jealous much." "Boss Fang, take me with you in making money. Joining your livestream is like having an extra leg!" "A hind leg?" Not only other Hunters but Bosen himself also sensed that something was off. Although he didn¡¯t have his own live stream room like the other Hunters, with such a huge privilege, there still should¡¯ve been viewers commenting and mocking every so often. Today wasn¡¯t entirely without comments, but they were all from the same few people, many of them meaningless repetitive praises. "What¡¯s going on?" Bosen was somewhat confused. Was there a bug? A subtle atmosphere began to spread gradually. Bosen felt a twinge of nervousness, but his rich experiences and background allowed him to quickly calm down and carefully think about whether there were any slips on his part. Participating in the competition was a spur of the moment decision that he hadn¡¯t told anyone about. Aside from that time with the crossbow trap, he had been very secretive with his other moves, confident that he could even deceive Bi Fang. With that thought, Bosen steadied himself without the slightest panic, everything as usual. Until the afternoon. Bi Fang and Mugalen suddenly received a message from the production team. At first glance, they were so shocked they almost jumped, thinking all their actions of the past few days had been exposed; but then they reconsidered, it couldn¡¯t be, if that were the case, the police should be inviting them for a "tea talk," not a text notification from the production team. After reading the entire message, they could only deduce one sentence. There is an issue with Bertrand Guy, they were to proceed with caution, and if necessary, press the rescue button¡ªthe guard team was on standby ready to provide all-around protection. ??? Mujialun¡¯s reaction to the message was unknown to Bi Fang, but he was somewhat bewildered. He wondered if the production team had set a trap for him, fishing for something with an unknown method on their part. But after pondering for a long while, he couldn¡¯t figure it out, because Bosen definitely had an issue, which seemed perfectly reasonable from that point of view... However, was this the issue he was thinking of? Bi Fang was lost in thought. Who exactly is the undercover? Chapter 579 - 576: Damn it! The situation wasn¡¯t right. Bi Fang¡¯s mind was somewhat muddled at the moment, he felt confused about the current state of affairs, yet not so confused, caught in a duality of understanding and not understanding. Bertrand Guy didn¡¯t seem like a good person, so it made sense to catch him. But who he really was, and why he should be caught, Bi Fang wasn¡¯t very clear about, and for some reason, he vaguely felt that Bertrand Guy being targeted had something to do with him... S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The message from the program group specifically advised Bi Fang not to act abnormally, to carry on as usual, only that they would discreetly send someone to protect him. They told him to broadcast live and compete boldly, as the Japanese Government welcomed his arrival, and once again expressed their honor in having him choose to participate. Between the lines, they were saying: I¡¯m very happy and honored that you could come. Now, a small mishap has occurred, there¡¯s a bad guy, but don¡¯t worry, we¡¯re already dealing with it. After contemplating for a while, Bi Fang bit into a cicada and three words popped out between his teeth, "Pretty good." On the other side, Bertrand Guy received a notice from the program group, and his uneasiness dissipated instantly: "A BUG? So that¡¯s what¡¯s happening." "Yes, Mr. Guy, I am terribly sorry, it¡¯s a problem on our side, we have caused you a loss, we truly apologize," the program group liaison nervously explained on the other end of the call. "You seem very tense?" Bertrand Guy looked up at the blazing sun hanging in the sky and squinted his eyes. The liaison nervously denied it. Standing by his side, high officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Morishita Suji, leader of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Hunting Season Program Group Gang Tianwu, and Taiji Town Police Department Chief Matsumoto Kiyotaka all stood in a row behind him, making it clear as day that there was an issue, even to a fool. "But your voice is trembling." Gang Tianwu shot a glance at the Oak Tree Company¡¯s liaison, he originally wanted to simply employ some internet trolls to bluff his way through, but Morishita Suji thought it wouldn¡¯t do, so they switched to another person, trying to get by with the BUG excuse, not expecting the other party to have such poor nerve. "No, no, no, it¡¯s just that the air conditioning is set too low, I¡¯m a bit cold." The liaison babbled excuses as the pressure behind him grew heavier and heavier, finally hanging up the phone before it could reach freezing point. A moment of silence filled the room. In the end, the three of them turned and left. "What do we do now?" Matsumoto Kiyotaka looked towards Morishita Suji, who in turn looked at Gang Tianwu, "Mr. Gang, this is your field of expertise, what should we do next?" Let Taiji Town deal with Taiji Town¡¯s problems. Gang Tianwu felt it was troublesome and had some complaints in his heart. Although the Dolphin Bay¡¯s interest chain was huge, the one reaping the most benefits was still Taiji Town. Paying attention to it should be Morishita Suji¡¯s and Matsumoto Kiyotaka¡¯s concern, it had nothing to do with him. It was purely because Bertrand Guy participated in the hunting season and used it as a front that Gang Tianwu got dragged into this mess. He really didn¡¯t want to get involved with Poachers! Poaching, arms, smuggling, the reason they are the world¡¯s three major smugglings isn¡¯t just because of the huge profits, but also because each of these guys is hard to mess with. All dangerous people. If you block their path, your entire family might face misfortune. Gang Tianwu had some connections at home, and when he started as a policeman, he was already working in Tokyo, so he had never seen Poachers, nor been to the front lines. Usually, it was just petty thieves, fraud gangs, at worst impulsive murderers. Murder, that was serious business. But to these ruthless people, murder was as commonplace as a meal, even a side dish to their rice, the thought alone was intimidating. Morishita Suji was at a much higher level than himself, and he couldn¡¯t afford to offend him. Matsumoto Kiyotaka was an old fox too, seeking Morishita Suji¡¯s support in the first instance, effectively silencing Gang Tianwu. Thinking of this, Gang Tianwu felt even more resentment towards Bertrand Guy and was determined to increase his workload. Damn! Frustrated inside, Gang Tianwu took a few deep breaths, lowered his head and pondered for a moment, "Let¡¯s first try to lure Bertrand Guy out. If we can avoid a direct confrontation, we will, as he is a professional hunter armed with a crossbow nearly as powerful as a heavy crossbow. A direct outbreak of conflict could lead to casualties." Although Bertrand was not a good person, his strength had been clear to everyone over these days. The man who could easily hunt a black bear and whose second place rank in the hunting season carried significant weight. "If we can¡¯t trick him, then we¡¯ll proceed with violent arrest." "Okay, let¡¯s leave it to you, Mr. Gang Tianwu!" "The capabilities of Group Leader Gang Tianwu are so outstanding, I truly feel inferior. Indeed, the glory of the Empire of Japan relies on Group Leader Gang Tianwu!" Gang Tianwu: "..." Nightfall. Bertrand sat on a rock grilling meat, filled with doubt as he spoke to the suddenly appearing liaison officer, "Broadcast suspension? A three-day break?" The liaison officer nodded helplessly, "That¡¯s the situation. After the brown bear attack incident, we thought it wasn¡¯t a big deal, but public opinion fermented more and more fiercely; many people are saying our show is too violent and bloody, and shouldn¡¯t be broadcasted." Despite being a bit flustered, the liaison officer was clueless about what had actually happened, merely relaying Gang Tianwu¡¯s message word for word to Bertrand Guy. If the liaison officer had known that he was dealing not just with a professional hunter, but an extremely vicious poacher, he probably would have wet himself in fear. "Is the public opinion that serious?" Bertrand cut off a strip of wild boar belly with his dagger and stuffed it into his mouth, "Sorry, I¡¯ve been busy all day, I¡¯m so hungry. Forgive me for eating while talking to you, would you like some?" "Oh no, I¡¯m fine." Watching Bertrand¡¯s kindly and aged appearance, the liaison officer gradually let down his guard, not as tense as before, and even boldly sat down on another rock. Bertrand¡¯s gaze flashed, forming a guess in his mind. This kid seems to know nothing. "We¡¯re already trying to control public opinion. This time we plan to take a three-day break, and perhaps after three days, it will have blown over," the liaison officer explained everything in detail. Actually, what he said was true. The incident did spark some discussion in the days that followed, but it wasn¡¯t nearly as severe. "Why will it be okay after three days?" "Our show is organized by the Eastern Capital¡¯s Metropolitan Police Department, it¡¯s not going to be directly banned. By then, it might just be reclassified. Once it¡¯s reclassified, things will be much simpler." "Oh." Bertrand Guy nodded, swallowed the last piece of wild boar meat, wiped the grease from his beard, stood up, and patted the dust off his clothes, "Alright then, let¡¯s get going." The liaison officer, as if granted a pardon, hurriedly stood up with an apologetic smile, "Right this way." Ten minutes later. With a calm expression, Bertrand Guy raised the silver bracelet in his hand, looking at Gang Tianwu, who wore a smug expression, "Mr. Police Officer, have you made some mistake? Why are you suddenly arresting me?" Chapter 580 - 577: Why Are You Arbitrarily Labelling People? The development of the situation was unexpectedly smooth. In the middle of the night, Bi Fang received a greeting message from Gang Tianwu. The message indicated that under the action of the Japanese Government, Bertrand Guy had been arrested, all thanks to the outstanding work of the Eastern Capital¡¯s Metropolitan Police Department, and it said that everything was now under control, there would be no problems with the show, and that Bi Fang could rest assured and participate in the competition. The rest was a series of superfluous literary niceties, basically just polite words and some expressions of gratitude. In any case, the Japanese side was indeed very concerned about Bi Fang¡¯s feelings, for he was a veritable god of wealth. A single person could double the heat of the show, they were afraid that this matter would affect his mood, so speaking nicely was surely no mistake. Mugalen glanced at Bi Fang¡¯s text message and pointed at the long lines of text with surprise, "Why is your message so long?" "Is it?" Bi Fang looked at Mugalen¡¯s message. The texter seemed to be just a staff member, the content was very simple: Everything is under control, the show will go on as usual. Was there a different treatment even when sending a text message? Although Mugalen could not understand Japanese, he knew the difference between long and short! "Japanese is like that, not as concise as English, but the content is the same." "Do you think I¡¯m Milani?" "Don¡¯t worry about the details," Bi Fang glossed over the contents of the message lightly. Mugalen grumbled unhappily for a while, but still got drawn in by the content of the message. Bertrand had actually been arrested? Having lived for more than thirty years, Mugalen had seen all sorts of situations, but what was happening now, he had never seen before. "What exactly is going on? Why do I feel like an outsider, was the incident at Dolphin Bay really our doing?" "I¡¯d like to know that myself," Bi Fang shrugged, tossing a backpack to Mugalen, "We have to continue working tonight. I¡¯ve checked, and there are far fewer patrollers on the mountain." Mugalen smirked, "That¡¯s indeed good news." Normally, the Japanese police can legally detain a suspect for 48 hours, and within these 48 hours, if the police have sufficient evidence, they can start a formal detention. Detention in Japan lasts 10 days, then can be extended once, for a total of not more than 23 days for one crime¡ªthis includes the initial 48-hour detention, one day to inform the court of the detention, and 20 days of the detention itself. If the conditions for prosecution of a crime are not met within these 23 days, the suspect must be released, but if they are met, prosecution follows, and the person is sent to a detention center. No matter what, even if Bertrand had many issues, at least for these few days, there was no need to worry about him. ... The room was very narrow, filled around with materials resembling the dark blue sea, oppressive and terrifying. The dim yellow headlight shone down from above, casting the light that made Bertrand¡¯s face appear half-lit and half-shadowed, completely obscuring his expression; but judging by his steady breathing, he seemed very calm, as if he had long expected this scene. "Damn it, just as I thought." Gang Tianwu cursed softly behind the one-way glass, thinking that if it was a common person in here, they¡¯d be panicking by now. But it¡¯s only these poachers who are bold as brass, utterly fearless, commonly known as old hands. They might have killed more people than he had dealt with in death cases! Taking a few deep breaths, Gang Tianwu pushed open the door; inside the room, an officer was bowing his head taking notes, while Okada sat nearby, instructing his subordinate to start the recorder before asking. "Bertrand Guy, do you have nothing to explain?" Bertrand Guy smiled, "Explain what? I haven¡¯t done anything, and you arrested me, even lied to me by saying the program was just paused. I want to ask, exactly which law did I break? If I did make a mistake, then I¡¯m very sorry because it¡¯s my first time in Japan and I¡¯m not quite familiar with everything here." "Stop hiding it. We have already found out, Bertrand Guy..." An officer read out the prior findings of Bertrand¡¯s past and then stared into his eyes, confidently accusing, "You are a poacher!" Unexpectedly, Bertrand didn¡¯t show any anomaly; instead, he nodded calmly, "Yes, you are right. If it is because I failed to report this situation before participating in the contest, then I am very sorry. However, I don¡¯t think this violates the law, does it?" Then he lifted his head slightly, his tone filled with regret, "That was more than ten years ago. I was not even forty yet, impulsive and blinded by money, and made some wrong decisions. Afterwards, I received the punishment I deserved and have reformed." "Am I to be tried a second time in Japan? I don¡¯t think that¡¯s reasonable, officer, is it?" "Indeed, but speaking of reform, I highly doubt it," Gang Tianwu said with a snort. Bertrand Guy¡¯s face remained indifferent, as if he didn¡¯t quite understand what Gang Tianwu was talking about, which only made him more composed because they had not grasped the real issue of him hurting someone. Reform aside, it was indeed Bertrand¡¯s first time in Japan, and aside from injuring someone, he really hadn¡¯t done anything else. On this land, he was truly innocent. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Early in the morning, Bertrand had realized there was an issue. Considering his own identity, he likely knew some of it, and when the liaison found him, he didn¡¯t resist at all. Not resisting was the only way there was no issue. Gang Tianwu took the initiative, "Does Richard know your true identity?" "Richard? Who might that be?" Bertrand was taken aback and began to think carefully about his colleagues. There was no one by that name, was there? "You¡¯re still pretending!" Gang Tianwu roared with anger, "Tell me, how long have you been coveting the dolphin trade?" "Dolphins?" Bertrand¡¯s brow furrowed. What did this have to do with dolphins? He was genuinely shocked, his pupils suddenly dilated, and his complexion slightly changed. I¡¯ve pulled ivory, skinned bears, chopped off lion heads, but I¡¯ve never laid my hands on dolphins before. How could this person be framing him out of the blue? His mother¡¯s, is this a case of a corrupt cop? Bertrand Guy had been wandering around for so long, and these kinds of situations were everywhere in Africa, with corruption and bribery being common. Dragging them out to be shot might wrong some innocents, but skipping every other for execution would surely leave some culprits behind. But to think that even the police in major cities of developed countries would act like this? Seeing Bertrand¡¯s sudden change in expression, Gang Tianwu felt as if he had caught evidence. There certainly was a problem! Why else would there be such a strong reaction? His own reasoning surely was correct. At this moment, Gang Tianwu had full confidence, slamming the table and shouting, "I advise you to admit it early! We already have ample evidence to prove everything you¡¯ve done in Dolphin Bay!" Bertrand Guy¡¯s gaze gradually became vacant. Evidence, what evidence? And, could someone please tell him where Dolphin Bay is? Chapter 581 - 578: Provocation A certain guesthouse in Taiji Town. Richard and his team were tensely working on post-production video in the cramped room, the atmosphere was quite gloomy, even though they had confirmed in advance that no one was eavesdropping, they couldn¡¯t help but lower their voices. All was silenced except for the clicking sounds of mouse and keyboard strokes. Both inns and hotels had stopped admitting them, not even for thrice, five times the price. Perhaps the hoteliers wanted to make money, but earning this money might mean they could never set foot in Taiji Town again. Seventy percent of the villagers here were fishermen who got rich by selling dolphins, and their anger could drown the whole of Taiji Town. The entire world was targeting them. Richard couldn¡¯t help but worry about Jerret and Mond, who had worked through the night again: "There¡¯s no need to rush like this, take a rest." "Rest? If I rest any more, I¡¯ll produce the worst documentary of my career!" Jerret was unusually irritable, which was how he got when immersed in work, especially under such high-pressure conditions; but most people tolerated him well because Jerret truly was capable. The biggest problem with covert filming was the inability to precisely capture the desired shots. Most documentaries face this issue, with cameras fixed in the mountains, it might take a full month to get a shot of a tiger, which might only appear for three seconds in the documentary. One might even end up wasting a month because the camera wasn¡¯t set up properly. For sufficient viewing appeal, Jerret had Bi Fang set up as many cameras as possible. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Richard and his team had brought a total of forty-three equipment boxes, far more than what was needed for a typical documentary. If someone in Taiji Town took one down, Bi Fang would go set up three more. If it wasn¡¯t enough, they¡¯d adjust; after adjusting, they¡¯d install; once installed, they¡¯d slip away. Out of the hundreds of captured shots, Jerret displayed tremendous control, observing multiple screens at once within minutes and connecting them together. Being capable and irritable was just part of his personality. "Okay, don¡¯t rush, I¡¯ll go make you a cup of coffee," Richard raised his hands, complying with Jerret¡¯s wish, letting him focus on his work. It¡¯s already July 30th, less than twenty-five days until the Whaling Commission meeting on August 23rd. The citizens of Taiji Town were becoming less and less welcoming towards them, and it seemed like their tolerance was reaching a breaking point, pushing further could start to sting the nerves of the fishermen. Silently, Jerret and Mond each poured themselves a cup of coffee. Richard quietly stepped out the door, followed by Mandy and Keke. Avoiding going out alone had almost become the rule. The three of them jogged towards the harbor for their morning exercise along the path, each passerby watching them as if monitoring a prisoner. After so many days of receiving such gazes, Keke and Mandy felt uncomfortable, with Mandy even glaring back fiercely at times. Richard seemed indifferent to it, having long grown accustomed to such looks. Admiration, envy, contempt, anger, or disdain; Richard, who had experienced it all in his extensive career, was untroubled. From Europe to America and then to Japan, no matter who he faced, or what kind of gaze he met, Richard had long been able to remain calm and composed. Richard knew he was not a "thin-skinned" person. Arriving at the port, Richard leaned on the railing, and after a brief warm-up, he was slightly out of breath, raising his hand to check the time. 7:00 AM sharp. At that time, the earth wasn¡¯t yet scorching hot; the air carried a hint of a cool sea breeze, making one irresistibly spread their arms to embrace the ocean. The Kii Peninsula was surrounded by mountains, with sunlight sprinkling over the sea surface and seagulls gathering in low flight; they circled in the air, waiting for the small fish to appear amidst the waves, plunging down the moment they leaped out of the water. A clear morning by the sea was a seagull¡¯s bountiful feast. Richard squinted his eyes, and while looking at the flock of seagulls, suddenly revealed a slight smile, pointing towards the sky he said to Mandy and Jerret, "Look, a sea eagle, a Tiger-headed Sea Eagle!" Mandy and Jerret looked up, the morning sun somewhat dazzling. They squinted their eyes and indeed among the seagulls, spotted an exceptionally large sea eagle. The Tiger-headed Sea Eagle! The black and white Tiger-headed Sea Eagle mixed in with the seagulls, charging recklessly, its call deep and hoarse. By its behavior, this was an extremely dominant raptor. Unlike those seagulls targeting small fish and shrimp, it waited for the occasional large fish that surfaced, for this purpose it soared, hovering. Whenever a seagull carelessly approached, it would mercilessly drive it away with its sharp claws, leaving a few pure white feathers to drift down from the sky. This was the largest sea eagle in the world, with adults weighing over 5 kilograms and a wingspan reaching 2.5 meters. Its sharp eyes, strong and accurate claws, and its majestic and powerful beak were all a vibrant orange-yellow, whether soaring high or perched on a branch, or the seashore, always displaying the extraordinary aura and spirit of a ruler. Normally it mainly feeds on fish such as salmon and trout, and it will also hunt larger birds like geese and swans, as well as medium-sized mammals, and even seals pups. In Sir¡¯s documentary "Blue Planet", there were shots of the Tiger-headed Sea Eagle hunting seagulls in midair. Mandy and Jerret also broadened their horizons, they had never seen such a majestic sea eagle before, its size a notch above other species of its kind. Compared to it, those seagulls seemed like fools. "To think that one could still see the Tiger-headed Sea Eagle in Japan," Richard exclaimed softly. "What do you mean?" Jerret felt there was some implication in his words. "This is the largest sea eagle in the world, and also the heaviest eagle on Earth on average. Now the global population of the Tiger-headed Sea Eagle is approximately 4,600-5,100 individuals, including 1,830-1,900 breeding pairs. They are monogamous, which roughly equates to only 3,600-3,800 mature individuals." "They are only found near the coastlines of Huaxia, Japan, and the Russian Federation. They were already very rare, and lately, their presence in Japan has almost vanished." "Why?" "Because of death caused by lead poisoning inland in Japan, the number of Tiger-headed Sea Eagles here has dropped by nearly half." Constant consumption of seafood, coupled with environmental pollution, has led to unexpectedly high lead content in the land of Japan. Moreover, with the Tiger-headed Sea Eagle¡¯s monogamous mating system, breeding only once a year, laying two eggs at a time, and usually only one surviving, seeing them in Japan is truly difficult. "..." Lead poisoning again? Is this a lead poison area? Mandy and Jerret heaved a sigh, looking at the Tiger-headed Sea Eagle, they couldn¡¯t help but feel some pity and sorrow. This beautiful species was also perilously on the brink of danger. "But being able to see it is still something to be happy about, no need to look so down," Richard said upliftingly, "It¡¯s still here isn¡¯t it?" Mandy and Jerret looked towards the sea, nodding involuntarily. Below the undulating water, a vague shadow became clearer, something was rising from the seabed, and it was definitely not small. The Tiger-headed Sea Eagle perked up, drew in its wings, extended its sharp claws, and like a dive bomber, struck directly towards the water surface. Roar! It was a big trout! Before Mandy and Jerret could take pictures, a sharp whistle interrupted their joy. "Hey, over there, look at this!" The fishermen on the boat laughed loudly at the three of them, their faces brimming with enthusiasm, as if they were very welcoming of their visit. "Doesn¡¯t he recognize us? To think he¡¯s still waving at us..." Mandy laughed, but he soon couldn¡¯t laugh anymore. The fisherman on the boat suddenly lifted a black cloth and turned a hinge. A young dolphin was hoisted up. Chapter 582 - 579: Reserve a Spot Chapter two is not finished yet, just staking a spot. Will finish before one. Cicadas cried out desperately, and the world outside was filled with blinding sunlight, with the shadow of the roof as sharp as a knife upon the ground. Standing by the window, Gang Tianwu pulled at his collar. The technician to fix the air conditioning hadn¡¯t arrived yet, and within just ten minutes, the heat had become nearly unbearable for him, his saliva thick and sticky like glue in his throat. The office felt as stifling as the steamer basket where demons in "Journey to the West" steamed the plump monk. There was a knock at the door, and a team member stood at the entrance saying, "Group Leader Gang Tianwu, someone wants to see you." "Who?" "Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga from Taiji Town." "Do I know them?" "Two days ago, Chief Matsumoto asked us for the hunter data of the hunting season." S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Oh!" As soon as the team member mentioned this, part of the memory sparked in Gang Tianwu, who quickly returned to his seat, tidied up his desk in the office, wiped off his sweat, and nodded, "Please, let Chief Matsumoto in." Moments later, Gang Tianwu rose to greet him, "My, Chief Matsumoto honors us with a visit, why didn¡¯t you say something in advance? How about it, did you go over the data from last time? Is there any problem? Nagano, pour a cup of tea for Chief Matsumoto." Matsumoto had rushed over from the subway station without a break and headed straight for Gang Tianwu¡¯s location without even a sip of water, drenched in sweat. He thanked Nagano and drank down a whole cup, his vigor returning, "Sorry to trouble you, Group Leader Gang, I¡¯ll spare the niceties. There¡¯s no issue with the data, but how much do you know about Bertrand Guy?" "Oh, the hunter ranked second. Do you recall?" "Yes," Gang Tianwu nodded. He had the final confirmation on the participant list, so of course, he remembered, especially the second-ranked one¡ªit was almost memorized by heart. "Bertrand Guy, born in Ugly Country, Minnesota State, has had a Professional Hunter¡¯s license for over thirty years, enlisted in the military in his youth with outstanding performance, discharged after ten years, then worked as a truck driver, hunter, archer, actor, singer, sailor, engineer, farmer, the total number of Black Bears and Brown Bears he has hunted exceeds fifteen, quite an impressive resume." Bertrand Guy had a career so varied it almost invited suspicion of fabrication. This man in his fifties boasted an exceedingly rich tapestry of life experiences. Following his registration, he quickly caught the attention of the verifying staff, and they added him to the list. Gang Tianwu saw it and agreed without hesitation. Linking it to Matsumoto¡¯s prior actions and his hurried visit, it definitely wouldn¡¯t be without purpose. Gang Tianwu pondered for a moment, "Is there an issue with him?" "I can¡¯t be sure, but there¡¯s a high likelihood," Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga didn¡¯t dare to be absolute. He countered Gang Tianwu¡¯s question, "Do you know about Tiangella?" "Tiangella? What¡¯s that?" Gang Tianwu was confused. Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga breathed a sigh of relief. As expected, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department didn¡¯t know about it. He explained with slight pride, "It¡¯s a cross-national company... " At that moment, Nagano brought a second cup of water. Chief Matsumoto took it with a smile, this time not gulping it down but holding it in his hand, sipping little by little. Without utilization, there is no protection. That was Tiangella¡¯s company mission, and also their continuous public declaration. In this aspect, it even echoed what Bi Fang had said in an interview show six months ago. Commercial hunting is protecting wildlife. This view had been briefly expounded by Bi Fang, backed by a systematic network of relationships. Matsumoto Kiyonaga pulled out his phone, opened a video, and showed it to Gang Tianwu. In the Old Stone Age, when the human species had just emerged and agriculture had not yet appeared, humans, as omnivorous species at the top of the food chain, depended on a combination of hunting and gathering for survival and development, just like other dominant species at the top of the food chain, they were merely a part of Nature. During the process of hunting, clever humans invented spears and bows and arrows, leading to the emergence of cooperative group living habits, which laid the foundation for modern civilization. It was at this juncture that humans truly became the rulers of the natural world, with a very direct food chain relationship with wildlife. The higher species depended on preying on lower species for their survival and continuity. In the Old Stone Age, humans absolutely had no concept of wildlife conservation. However, through repeated trial and error, humans instinctively understood not to over-hunt or over-gather. The first reason was the lack of good storage conditions to preserve the excess harvest, and the second was that it would bring unnecessary trouble for the next hunting expedition. There are two most direct pieces of evidence for this. First, today humans can see domesticated species like pigs, horses, cattle, and sheep, which originated during the Old Stone Age period. This process of domestication was, in a way, a form of "protection" for animals. Livestock such as pigs, horses, cattle, and sheep have become the most numerous mammals in the world, simply because their value makes humans willing to raise them. Second, after researching the civilizations of Old Stone Age tribes that still exist in contemporary society, it was discovered that they consciously protect the healthy reproduction and continuation of populations in their habitat. This awareness of not over-exploiting is the budding of animal conservation awareness, a practice that creates conditions for better sustainable use in the future. If one does not go against the farming seasons, the grains will be more than enough to eat; if one does not over-fish with nets in the fisheries, there will be more than enough fish and turtles to eat; if one cuts timber at the right times, there will be more than enough wood to use. Having more than enough grains to eat and wood to use enables the people to live and die without regrets. Living and dying without regrets is the beginning of the Way of the King. Mencius explained this principle thousands of years ago. Following that, a series of even more complex developments occurred. The pastoral-agricultural model replaced the hunting-gathering model, and human survival no longer depended on the direct use of wildlife. The direct food chain relationship between them began to loosen. Later, the advent of metallurgy technology led to the large-scale use of metal farming tools, greatly changing the efficiency of agriculture, and more and more human groups began to completely break away from the direct use of wildlife. Humans definitively became the only species at the very top of the food chain, with no wild animals they could not hunt down. Humans began to focus on the efficiency of obtaining meat, and large-scale livestock farming replaced hunting. The main purpose of hunting was no longer just for food consumption. As history rolled on, the 15th to 17th centuries brought the Age of Discovery, spurring the Great Geographical Discoveries and the Great Exchange of species. Potatoes and sweet potatoes arrived, and a more efficient livestock-agriculture model further squeezed out the remaining hunting-gathering model. The bond between humans and nature became blurred. Humans began to segregate from wildlife, living in towns and cities while wildlife occupied the jungles. The food chain relationship between them almost completely vanished, and they no longer reproduced in the same area. The boundaries between their territories became clear, with no overlap occurring. The wheel of history stops at the present day. Humans have become a species that can only survive and develop fully depending on economic and social structures. With the increasing development of modern agriculture and animal husbandry, ordinary people no longer need to utilize wildlife, so the value of wildlife has plummeted, reducing it to a pursuit of stimulation and aesthetic pleasure for the wealthy. Ordinary people might take concrete action for the price increase of pork, but they wouldn¡¯t pay half as much attention to what rich people like. The words in the video abruptly ended, and Gang Tianwu pressed the pause button. He had been patient, "What is Chief Matsumoto trying to say?" Chapter 583 - 580: Fanatics ``` In the cramped room, beds were neatly stacked, the dim yellow light swinging back and forth, emitting a sour creaking noise. On the faded yellow walls, shadows were heavy, and outside the room, rain poured down in torrents. "Click." The metal spring lock snapped into the ratchet, completely locking in place. Bi Fang closed the door, leaving everyone inside looking at each other with a mix of expressions. Richard fell silent for a moment, then drew in a deep breath, only to choke on the dust that filled the room, breaking the heavy atmosphere. Everyone laughed. Richard clapped his hands, "Alright, don¡¯t just sit here, get back to work!" Jerret muttered, "Should¡¯ve said so earlier." "Sitting cross-legged really is uncomfortable, my legs are getting stiff," Mandy complained, patting her thigh. "Exactly, and we are running out of equipment again. I better get on with my own tasks. Oh, by the way, Mandy, have you seen my needle-nose pliers?" "Needle-nose pliers?" Mandy denied fervently, "I definitely did not use them to twist the hose!" "Damn it, you¡¯ve admitted it! Give them back to me." "I didn¡¯t, no, I didn¡¯t, stop talking nonsense!" The floorboards in the hallway creaked mightily, their noise cutting through even the sound of the rain and thunder. Walking on it, Bi Fang had the illusion of being a medieval ninja moving silently across a nightingale floor, a type of flooring designed to alert occupants to an enemy¡¯s intrusion. The founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate, Tokugawa Ieyasu, once ordered carpenters to install a "nightingale floor" in the corridors of Nijo City as an alarm system. They nailed extra metal clips between the joists that support the corridor flooring, and each clip had two nail holes. Inside the holes were iron nails, and when someone walked over them, the nails would rub against the clips, producing a sharp noise. Walking on such noisy flooring, one might worry whether a group of samurai with Shimada-style hair would rush in and chop him to pieces at any moment. Unfortunately, this was simply due to a lack of maintenance. Outside, there were no patrolling samurai, just a group of idle "vagrants." The town¡¯s hotels and inns were unwelcoming, so the only option was to spend a fortune staying in these private lodgings. The walls were covered with mold spots, the air reeked of sewage, and a casual swipe of the finger left a thick layer of dust. Staying here could make a person¡¯s stomach turn enough to vomit their last meal. This place was definitely not designed for living, nor was it any kind of guesthouse. Perhaps it was just a rundown cabin turned over by some money-hungry, lame old man looking for a bargain. Even the wilderness was much cleaner than this place, and Bi Fang had indeed considered whether he should take Richard and the others to build a simple wooden hut on the mountain. It would certainly be cleaner and more comfortable than here, although there might be a few more mosquitoes. Bi Fang clearly understood Richard¡¯s concerns, and it wasn¡¯t that he wanted to give up. How could a man who wasn¡¯t caught even once a year be so vulnerable? He was just beginning to doubt whether what he was doing was worthwhile, whether the great cost of making a documentary would indeed yield an equivalent return. Richard lowered his expectations; he began to feel that he might not be able to awaken the public with just one documentary and stop Japan¡¯s actions. Just like with whaling. But Bi Fang was full of confidence. Because the impact that the documentary "Dolphin Bay" had was far greater than Richard and others could imagine, it was unprecedented. Even though it didn¡¯t completely eliminate the existence of Dolphin Bay, it still caused a massive obstruction to the captures, and that was enough. Besides, Bi Fang believed that with his help this time, the footage they captured would be even more authentic. At least he knew that those first slaughter scenes transmitted from the fishing boats were never seen in his former life: they couldn¡¯t get close enough, nor did they have the capability to set up the equipment. However, with Bi Fang¡¯s help, Richard and his team gained that capability. And with the influence he had attained so far, the sensation it created would undoubtedly be even greater. No one can be perfect, but as long as we do our best, we can live without regrets. Thinking of this, Bi Fang suddenly remembered something, took out his phone, and dialed ¨¦tienne¡¯s number. It was now 10:30 p.m. in Japan, but in France, it was just around 3 p.m., broad daylight, with ¨¦tienne grinding his teeth as he played a video game. Accompanied by the sound of GAME OVER, ¨¦tienne despondently tossed aside his controller, which coincidentally lit up the screen of a nearby phone. "ohshit!" ¨¦tienne slapped his forehead, "Could it be Elvan calling?" Every day around this time, Elvan would call to urge ¨¦tienne to study diligently during the summer break instead of immersing himself in video games. Well, what could he do when his old man was a university professor? Alas, he had already caught up with his studies. ¨¦tienne was quite disappointed, but when he picked up his mobile phone, he was surprised to find that it wasn¡¯t his dad calling! "Hey, Fang, what made you think to call me? Is there a new adventure waiting for me?" "Yes, there is a new adventure waiting for you." Bi Fang carefully leaned out the window and inched along the eaves, avoiding the downpour from the gutters while smiling in response, slowly making his way in a certain direction toward Taiji Town. "Cool!" ¨¦tienne¡¯s eyes lit up, he was just making a joke, but could it really be true!? "Is it the African Savanna or the Congo Basin Rainforest, the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon is fine too, I heard no one has ever set foot there, is that true? Fang, you¡¯re a Huaxia person, wait, aren¡¯t you in Japan now?" "You sure do ask a lot of questions." Bi Fang was somewhat exasperated, "First of all, although I am a Huaxia person, I haven¡¯t been to the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon either. Secondly, I¡¯m calling you because I need your help." "Hey, even you need help sometimes?" "Of course, do you want to keep listening or not?" "OK, but you have to help me write a report as my summer practice!" Bi Fang nodded calmly, "Sure, I¡¯ll make sure to tell your teacher about how you¡¯re blackmailing me for a report." "Forget it, I was just joking." ¨¦tienne flopped on the couch, a look of misery on his face. "Just a joke, no big deal." Bi Fang laughed softly and nonchalantly agreed. A good practice report can serve as a key to admission to university, especially if it¡¯s written by famous people, similar to a letter of recommendation. Even though Bi Fang is a Huaxia person, Europe and America have never really cared much, but Bi Fang¡¯s actions precisely hit some people¡¯s fervor for "environmental protection," which made him quite popular. Even ¨¦tienne¡¯s friends have been asking on the down low if they could get an experience similar to the Goose journey from Bi Fang, simply because it¡¯s too glamorous and full of value. Such students are highly sought after by many schools as a form of honor and proof of value. To this, ¨¦tienne could only say heh. After that, he never associated with that friend again. Even Bi Fang himself has received many offers, but not to be a student, rather as an honorary professor. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Alright, no more jokes, you have a Goose fan group, don¡¯t you?" "How did you know?" "Elvan told me." "...Alright." "Pay close attention recently and look for anyone who posts overly zealous comments, keep an eye on them for me, and then tell them... this and that..." Chapter 584 - 581: Defeat Magic with Magic (Reserve a Spot) Reserving a spot; will finish revising before dawn. The cicadas were screaming for their lives, the world outside was flooded with burning sunlight, and the shadows of the eaves on the ground were as sharp as knives. Standing by the window, Gang Tianwu adjusted his collar. The air conditioning repairman hadn¡¯t arrived yet, and in just over ten minutes he began to feel unbearably hot. Saliva was sticky as glue in his throat, and the office was stuffy like the steamer where monsters cooked fat monks in "Journey to the West". A knock on the door sounded, and a team member stood at the entrance and said, "Group Leader Gang Tianwu, someone wants to see you." "Who is it?" "Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga from Taiji Town." "Do I know him?" "Chief Matsumoto asked us for the hunter information from hunting season a few days ago." "Oh!" S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Once reminded by the team member, memories flooded back to Gang Tianwu. He hurried back to his desk, quickly tidied up the office table, wiped off his sweat, and nodded, "Please, let Chief Matsumoto in." Moments later, Gang Tianwu rose to welcome him. "Ah, Chief Matsumoto, your visit is an honor. Why didn¡¯t you say so in advance? How was it, did you review the materials from last time? Any issues? Nagano, pour Chief Matsumoto a cup of tea." Matsumoto had rushed all the way from the subway station without a break, heading straight over to Gang Tianwu¡¯s place without even time for a drink, drenched in sweat. He thanked Nagano for the drink and drank down a whole cup of water in one go, finally catching his breath, "I apologize for the bluntness, Group Leader Gang, I will spare you the courtesies¡ªthere was no issue with the information, but how much do you know about Bertrand Guy?" "Oh, that hunter ranked second? Do you remember him?" "Yes." Gang Tianwu nodded. He had personally confirmed the final participant list, so of course, he remembered, especially the one ranked second, almost by heart. "Bertrand Guy, born in Minnesota State of Ugly Country, has held a Professional Hunter¡¯s license for over thirty years, enlisted in his youth, served with distinction, retired after ten years, has been a truck driver, hunter, archer, actor, singer, sailor, engineer, farmer, and the total number of Black Bears and Brown Bears he has hunted exceeds fifteen. A very impressive record." Bertrand¡¯s career was incredibly diverse, with such a broad range that it made one wonder if it was fabricated. This man in his fifties had an extremely rich life experience. He quickly drew the attention of the vetting personnel after registering and was placed on the list. Gang Tianwu had also agreed readily upon seeing it. Linking Matsumoto¡¯s previous behavior and his hasty visit now, there must be a good reason. After some thought, Gang Tianwu pondered, "Is there a problem with him?" "I can¡¯t be certain, but there¡¯s a good chance." Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga didn¡¯t dare make a definitive statement and instead asked Gang Tianwu, "Do you know about Tiangella?" "Tiangella? What is that?" Gang Tianwu was puzzled. Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga took a deep breath, relieved. As expected, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department was also unaware of this. He explained with a hint of pride, "It¡¯s a multinational corporation..." Just then, Nagano arrived with a second cup of water. Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga received it with a smile but didn¡¯t gulp it down this time. Instead, he held it in his hand, sipping it slowly. Without utilization, there is no protection. This was the corporate motto of Tiangella and their longstanding public declaration. In this aspect, it almost matched what Bi Fang had said in an interview program six months earlier. Commercial hunting is the protection of wildlife. This viewpoint was briefly explained by Bi Fang, underpinning it with a systematic chain of relationships. Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga took out his phone, opened a video, and showed it to Gang Tianwu. In the Old Stone Age, when the species of humans had just been born, agriculture did not exist. As omnivores at the top of the food chain, humans relied on a combination of hunting and gathering to survive and evolve. Like other dominant species at the top of the food chain, they were merely a part of Nature. In the process of hunting, intelligent humans invented spears and bows and arrows, and with these tools, they developed cooperative group survival habits, laying the foundation for modern civilization. At this juncture, humans completely became the dominators of Nature, with a very direct food chain relationship with wild animals. The upper-level species depended on preying on the lower-level species for survival and continuity. In the Old Stone Age, there was absolutely no concept of wildlife protection in humans. However, through repeated trial and error, humans instinctively understood that they should not over-hunt or forage excessively. First, there were no proper storage conditions to preserve surplus harvest, and second, it would cause unnecessary trouble for the next hunting expedition. There are two most direct pieces of evidence for this point. First, today we can see domesticated species such as pigs, horses, cattle, and sheep that were formed during the Old Stone Age. The process of domestication is itself a form of "protection" of animals. Livestock such as pigs, horses, cattle, and sheep have become the most numerous mammals in the world because their value makes humans willing to keep them in enclosures. Second, research on the still-existing Old Stone Age tribal civilizations reveals that they consciously protected the healthy breeding and continuation of the species in their habitats. This notion of not overusing resources is the sprout of animal protection awareness, a practice that creates conditions for better and sustainable utilization in the future. By not going against the agricultural seasons, grains will be abundant beyond consumption; by not over-fishing with nets in the pool of spawning fish, fish and turtles will be plentiful beyond consumption; by cutting wood only at the right times, the forest resources remain inexhaustible. Grains and fish are abundant, wood is inexhaustible; these practices ensure that people can live and die without regret. To live and die without regret is the beginning of the Way of the King. Mencius explained this truth thousands of years ago. The subsequent series of developments became even more complex, as the pastoral-agricultural model replaced the hunting-gathering model. Human survival no longer relied on the direct use of wild animals, and the direct food chain relationship between the two began to relax. Later, the emergence of metallurgy meant that metal farming tools began to be used on a large scale, farming efficiency underwent a qualitative change, and more and more human groups began to completely free themselves from the direct use of wild animals. Humans had truly become the only species at the very top of the food chain; there were no wild animals that humans could not hunt. Humans began to focus on the efficiency of obtaining meat, with large-scale livestock farming replacing hunting, and the main purpose of hunting was no longer just for consumption. As the wheels of history continued to roll, in the 15th to 17th centuries, the Age of Discovery dawned, giving rise to geographical discoveries and the great exchange of species. Potatoes and sweet potatoes appeared, and a more efficient system of pastoral-agriculture further squeezed the remaining hunting-gathering model. The connection between humans and nature became vague. Humans began to segregate themselves from wild animals, living in towns and cities, while wildlife occupied the jungles. The food chain relationship between the two disappeared almost entirely. They no longer reproduced in the same area, their territories clearly demarcated, without overlapping. The wheel stops at modern times. Humans have become a species that can only survive and develop by relying on the economic society. As modern agriculture and animal husbandry become more developed, ordinary people no longer need to use wild animals, and their value plummets, becoming merely the thrill pursuit and aesthetic pastime of the wealthy. Ordinary people might take action over the price of pork rising, but they wouldn¡¯t pay any attention to things the rich enjoy. The speech in the video came to an abrupt halt. Gang Tianwu pressed the pause button; he had been patient enough: "What does Chief Matsumoto wish to say?" Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga sat with a straight, serious posture: "I would like to ask you to agree to suspend the hunting season and permit me to arrest Bertrand Guy!" Chapter 585 - 582 Log Out Bosen had been captured for three days, during which there had been no news. Even when Bi Fang actively inquired about it, Gang Tianwu, who was always ingratiating, did not reveal any information. However, from the tone of their chat, it was evident that he seemed very annoyed and hadn¡¯t found the mastermind behind the incidents. In response to Bi Fang¡¯s initiative to chat, Gang Tianwu appeared even happier, pouring out a wealth of complaints and talking about his series of workplace experiences. He criticized his superiors for being incompetent, yet capable of throwing their weight around due to their seniority, claiming that this was why Japanese society remained stagnant and failed to develop. To someone like Bi Fang, a Huaxia person, such workplace pressures in Japan were very hard to understand, and so on and so forth. Many times, The lines seemed to treat Bi Fang as a friend, but Gang Tianwu¡¯s professional ethics were exceptionally high, and even so, he did not reveal any news. At the end of the conversation, he expressed how much he enjoyed talking to Bi Fang, saying Bi Fang was a friend worth confiding in and that he would invite him for a meal next time. After that, there was no more communication. After hanging up the phone, Mugalen grew anxious and asked, "What¡¯s the situation? What exactly is going on?" This feeling of not knowing what was happening was unbearable. Bi Fang shook his head, "I don¡¯t know¡ªhe wouldn¡¯t say, but it seems he hasn¡¯t discovered what we¡¯re doing. His attitude towards me is still the same." "Alright," Having been captured for three days, the first thing Gang Tianwu had to face was how to explain it to the audience. How to explain? There was no explanation. All suspicions were under investigation, including the issue of hunter traps. They could only post an announcement saying Bosen was unwell and that the live stream would be temporarily suspended. The audience naturally was not satisfied, without any prior indication. You say he¡¯s unwell, but where is he himself? Why doesn¡¯t he come out and explain? Some even suspected a conspiracy theory, doubting that the Japanese program tampered with something to make their own hunter look better in the rankings. They wouldn¡¯t dare to meddle with Bi Fang, a Huaxia person, because he carried too much weight, and any interference with him might lead to trouble. But the second-place old man... This theory actually gained considerable acceptance and recently seemed to be intensifying, causing Gang Tianwu, who was also a team leader, to feel annoyed every time he saw Chief Matsumoto. When people can¡¯t solve a problem, they often start blaming the person who posed the problem. Morishita Suji had even issued an order that, within a week before the 23rd gathering, they must pry the guy¡¯s mouth open. Ginza, Tokyo¡¯s busiest commercial district, known as "the most expensive place in Asia," symbolizes Japan¡¯s prosperity. Every weekend, vehicular traffic here is prohibited, turning it into a pedestrian commercial street crowded with people. Inside a certain Japanese-style restaurant on the street side, "Damn it!" The bottle of liquor slammed onto the table with a loud bang, startling the surrounding waitstaff. Matsumoto Kiyotaka quickly apologized with a smile, pulling at Gang Tianwu to lower his voice: "Team leader Gang Tianwu, you¡¯re drunk, don¡¯t make such loud declarations here!" Gang Tianwu¡¯s face was slightly flushed, his voice suppressing anger. Fortunately, he was conscious enough to lower his volume, still discontent: "This guy¡¯s mouth is just too tough. Three whole days¡ªno, an entire three days¡ªand he hasn¡¯t said a thing. He even claims that he doesn¡¯t know about Dolphin Bay! Ridiculous!" They had interrogated Bosen for a full three days. He knew nothing about everything; always asking for a lawyer. He even claimed he didn¡¯t know about Dolphin Bay, unfamiliar with dolphin migration patterns, nor aware of the recent installation of cameras. Three denials. Could that be believed?!! "Does he think he can fool me? A seasoned veteran of twenty years...erm..." Matsumoto Kiyotaka covered Gang Tianwu¡¯s mouth, "Group Leader Gang, don¡¯t talk anymore. What can we do? This guy has probably killed more people than we¡¯ve ever seen, too mentally strong." Matsumoto Kiyotaka felt like the person across from him was treating him like a fool, and it annoyed him to the extreme. "Has there been any movement from that group?" S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "After being provoked that day, they have been very well-behaved these past few days, hardly even leaving their rooms." Matsumoto Kiyotaka knew who Gang Tianwu was asking about; it was none other than Richard and his people. "They really are in contact!!!" Gang Tianwu was energetically assured. If there wasn¡¯t a secret connection, why would Richard and the others suddenly settle down a lot right after Bosen was captured? It was nothing but the disappearance of their outside support. "Yes, yes, Group Leader Gang is truly insightful, with brilliant strategies," Matsumoto Kiyotaka showered him with compliments, as he could feel Gang Tianwu¡¯s dislike for him and tried his best to please. After all, he was a "Capital Official." "Hmph!" Gang Tianwu snorted out a breath of alcohol, feeling a little proud; even his ill feelings towards Matsumoto had somewhat dissipated. He patted Matsumoto Kiyotaka on the shoulder, "Chief Matsumoto, watch closely. This time, we¡¯re not facing ordinary criminals, but a gang, a vicious and ruthless gang." "Ah right, right, right." Matsumoto Kiyotaka nodded eagerly. "Hahaha!" The memory of the internet always fades quickly. Three days ago, the disappearance of Bosen left the audience unsatisfied, with a great impact. But by the fourth day, the trend started to slow down, and by the fifth day, it faded gradually just like colors washing out. A week later, even if Gang Tianwu had not managed to pry anything open, he still sighed in relief. August 10th. Less than two weeks remained before the annual meeting of the Whaling Commission was convened. ¨¦tienne opened WhatsApp on his phone, feeling a bit clumsy with it as a Frenchman, he usually used FB Messenger. After about ten days and paying an extortionate fee for the aquarium admission, under Bi Fang¡¯s guidance, ¨¦tienne had finally recruited a significant number of followers... cough, cough... friends. The cost: emptying his entire year¡¯s allowance. But for the noble cause of saving dolphins, it was all worth it! Among these friends were many Frenchmen, but also a good number from other parts of Europe; to cater to them, ¨¦tienne had to give up FBM and switch to WA. Initially, he just thought some of his Goose fans were a bit radical, and some constantly contacted him privately, trying to pull him into some embracing organization, to become a formidable pair with some girl, and fiercely advocate for environmentalism together. Fortunately, ¨¦tienne had some brains; he could never agree to such a thing, that would make him a fool. Imagine for a moment. "How dare you!" On some podium, ¨¦tienne, in a suit and tie, holding a microphone, shouting that phrase to the crowd below. The image was too beautiful; he dared not envision it. Opening the patchwork group chat he had assembled, ¨¦tienne recalled the words Bi Fang cautioned him with the night before. After pondering for a moment, he wrote an email to each group member. "Dear friends, my friend, yes, the famous Adventurer, is currently in Japan participating in the hunting season. Unfortunately, he has stumbled upon a secret in Taiji Town..." He wrote nearly two pages of content, and after confirming everything was correct, ¨¦tienne clicked send to the whole group. "Phew, now it¡¯s time to wait and see it ferment." Bi Fang, who received ¨¦tienne¡¯s message, nodded, then thought about his own social contacts. "I wonder if I can get the airlines to give a discount on the tickets?" Chapter 586 - 583: Reserve a Spot Cicadas called desperately, the world outside was full of blinding sunlight, and the shadows of the eaves fell on the ground as sharply as knives. Gang Tianwu stood by the window and tugged at his collar; the air conditioning repairman had not arrived yet. In just about ten minutes, he was already feeling unbearably hot, his saliva as sticky as glue in his throat, the office stuffy as if it was the steamer where demons cooked the fat monk in "Journey to the West." There was a knock at the door, and a team member stood at the entrance and said, "Team Leader Gang Tianwu, someone wishes to see you." "Who?" "Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga from Taiji Town." "Do I know him?" "The day before yesterday, Chief Matsumoto asked us for hunter information for the hunting season." "Oh!" As soon as the team member mentioned it, Gang Tianwu recalled some memories, quickly walked back to his seat, tidied up the desk in the office, then wiped his sweat and nodded, "Please invite Chief Matsumoto in." A moment later, Gang Tianwu stood up to welcome him, "Ah, Chief Matsumoto graces us with your presence; why didn¡¯t you say something in advance? How was it, did you look over the data from last time? Any issues? Nagano, pour a cup of tea for Chief Matsumoto." S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Matsumoto had rushed over all the way from the subway station without a moment to rest, heading straight for Gang Tianwu¡¯s place without even time for a drink, his whole body covered in sweat. He thanked Nagano with a nod, gulped down a whole cup of water, then finally got his breath back, "Sorry Team Leader Gang, I¡¯ll skip the formalities. There were no issues with the data, but how much do you know about Bertrand?" "Oh, the hunter ranked number two? Do you remember him?" "I do." Gang Tianwu nodded. He had confirmed the final participant list himself, so of course he remembered, especially the second-ranked one, almost reciting it by heart. "Bertrand Guy, born in Ugly Country Minnesota State, has held a Professional Hunter¡¯s license for over thirty years. Joined the military in his youth and performed excellently. After ten years, he retired, was a truck driver, hunter, archer, actor, singer, sailor, engineer, farmer, and has hunted down a total of over fifteen Black Bears and Brown Bears, a rather impressive resume." Bertrand¡¯s career was extremely diversified, with such a wide range that it even made one suspect it was fabricated. This man in his fifties had an extraordinarily rich life experience. He quickly caught the attention of the reviewers after registration and was added to the list. Gang Tianwu also agreed quite readily when he saw it. Taking into account Matsumoto¡¯s previous actions and his hasty visit, it certainly wouldn¡¯t be without a reason. Gang Tianwu pondered for a while, "Is there a problem with him?" "I can¡¯t be certain, but there¡¯s a high probability." Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga did not dare to be too definitive. He counter-questioned Gang Tianwu, "Do you know about Tiangella?" "Tiangella? What¡¯s that?" Gang Tianwu was puzzled. Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga breathed a sigh of relief, as expected, even the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department didn¡¯t know about it. He explained with a slight sense of pride, "It¡¯s a transnational company¡­" Just then, Nagano brought a second cup of water. Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga accepted it with a smile, this time not drinking it all in one go but holding it in his hand and sipping it gradually. Without utilization, there is no conservation. That was Tiangella¡¯s company motto, as well as their longstanding public statement. From this point of view, it was almost identical to what Ben had said in an interview program six months ago. Commercial hunting is conserving wildlife. This was a point that Bi Fang had elaborated on briefly, behind which was a systemic relationship chain. Chief Matsumoto Kiyonaga took out his phone, opened a certain video, and showed it to Gang Tianwu for him to watch. In the Old Stone Age, when the species of humans had just emerged, agriculture had not yet appeared. As an omnivorous species at the top of the food chain, humans relied on a combination of hunting and gathering for survival and development and were, like other dominant species at the apex of the food chain, simply a part of Nature. During the process of hunting, the intelligent humans invented spears and bows and arrows, which led to the emergence of collaborative group living¡ªan important foundation for modern civilization. At this juncture, humans completely became the overlord of Nature, with a very direct food chain relationship with wild animals. The upper-tier species depended on preying upon those below for survival and propagation. In the Old Stone Age, humans absolutely lacked the concept of wildlife conservation. However, through repeated trial and error, humans instinctively learned not to overhunt or overgather. First, because there were no good storage conditions to preserve excess harvest, and second, because it would create unnecessary difficulties for the next hunt. There are two most direct pieces of evidence for this point. First, the domesticated species we see today, such as pigs, horses, cattle, and sheep, came into being during the Old Stone Age; the process of domestication was a way of "protecting" animals. Livestock such as pigs, horses, cattle, and sheep have become the most numerous mammals in the world, largely because their value made humans willing to keep them. Second, studies of still-existing Old Stone Age tribal civilizations have found that they consciously protect the population health and breeding continuity of the species within their habitat. This awareness of not overexploiting is the germ of the concept of animal protection, a practice that creates conditions for better sustainable use in the future. "If one follows the proper agricultural seasons, the harvest of grain will be more than one can eat; if one does not overfish with nets, the fish and turtles will be more than one can eat; if one cuts timber only at the right times, the wood will be more than one can use. Having more grain and fish than one can eat, and more wood than one can use, ensures that people can live and die without regret." "Living and dying without regret¡ªthe beginning of the Royal Way." Mencius stated this principle thousands of years ago. Subsequent developments brought more complex changes: the pastoral-agricultural model replaced the hunting-gathering model, and humans¡¯ survival no longer depended directly on wild animals. The direct food chain relationship between them began to loosen. Later on, the advent of metallurgy led to the large-scale use of metal agricultural tools¡ªwhich fundamentally changed farming efficiency. More and more human groups began to completely break free from direct dependence on wild animals. Humans definitely became the only species at the very top of the food chain, with no wild animals they couldn¡¯t hunt. Humans began to focus on the efficiency of obtaining meat; large-scale animal husbandry replaced hunting, and the primary purpose of hunting was no longer just for food. As the wheels of history kept turning, the 15th to the 17th centuries ushered in the Age of Exploration, which led to the great geographical discoveries and the great exchange of species. Potatoes and sweet potatoes appeared, and a more efficient pastoral-agricultural model further squeezed out the remaining hunting-gathering model, blurring the bond between humans and nature. Humans began to separate themselves from wild animals, with humans living in towns and wild animals occupying the jungles. The food chain relationship between the two all but disappeared, and they no longer propagated and thrived in the same area¡ªtheir territories clearly delineated and non-intersecting. The wheel of history stops in modern times. Humans have completely become a species that can only survive and develop by relying on the economic society. With modern agriculture and animal husbandry becoming more and more developed, ordinary people no longer need to utilize wild animals. Thus, their value has fallen again and again, rendering them merely a pursuit of stimulation and aesthetic interest for the wealthy. Ordinary people might take concrete action over the price increase of pork, but they won¡¯t spare half a thought over what the rich like. The words in the video abruptly stopped as Gang Tianwu pressed the pause button. He was already being very patient, "What does Chief Matsumoto wish to say?" Sitting upright and proper, Matsumoto Kiyonaga said, "I would like to ask for your approval to suspend the hunting season, and to permit me to arrest Bertrand Guy!" Chapter 587 - 584: Capture Alive The situation in Taiji Town was somewhat too complex, and Bi Fang could no longer pay attention to the specifics of Bosen. He was more focused on the completion of the majority of the Dolphin Bay documentary, which had already entered its final stages. At this moment, Bi Fang was more interested in accomplishing another task assigned by the System¡ªcapturing a mature Black Bear alive. How to capture a mature Black Bear alive? Ninety-nine percent of people faced with this question would clearly be at a loss, but there might be that one percent who could have a solution. Bi Fang stepped on a tree root, pulling up the bark in his hand, taut as a bowstring. "In wilderness survival, the role of rope is obvious. It can be used to make escape tools, hammocks, self-defense weapons, bamboo rafts, hunting traps, and so on. It¡¯s safe to say that wilderness survival is impossible without rope." "If you find yourself in the wilderness without ready-made rope, then you should learn how to make one from suitable plants." "Some tree barks with high-quality fibers are the best choices for making ropes. Especially willow bark, which contains very high-quality fibers. We usually take bark from newly grown young willows." "Inner bark from dead willows and inside the branches are also good choices, but if the willow has been dead for a long time, most of its bark may have rotted. Therefore, you should test the strength of its fibers before using it." Bi Fang straightened the bark in his hand, and with all his might, he pulled on it. The bark performed exceptionally well, showing no signs of breaking. Stay tuned to NovelFire.C?m "Apart from strength, we also look at whether the fibers are rough. We can tie a clove hitch, joining two long fibers together. When pulling apart, the force should be just right. If the fibers suddenly break, it indicates that they are too brittle; if they slide apart, the fibers are too slippery. Suitable fibers will twine together." After another pull, it met expectations. "Looks pretty good," Bi Fang let out his breath, slightly out of puff, "If the tree is alive, you must never ring bark it, as this would prevent the tree from transporting nutrients and cause it to die. However, there¡¯s no such problem with a tree that¡¯s already dead." Bi Fang climbed the tree, broke off a few branches, and showed them to the camera for the audience to see. He noted that the buds had already shrunk and withered, and after scraping the bark, he found it was totally discolored and devoid of moisture. "The buds have shrunk and dried up, and there is no green in the bark¡ªthere¡¯s an eighty percent chance that it¡¯s dead. Let¡¯s check its roots..." Bi Fang pulled out a harpoon from his waist and plunged it into the soil, rocking it back and forth to unearth a large clump of dirt, revealing the willow¡¯s roots. They were just as dry, without a hint of moisture. "The roots look the same; it¡¯s practically a hundred percent dead." "It is relatively rare to see willows die, considering they seem to be a staple in the Jiangnan Water Towns. However, willows can even grow on the Tibetan Plateau, showing their incredible vitality." "This is because willow bark sap contains salicylic acid, which is the main ingredient in aspirin, and is also a kind of aggressive chemical weapon for willows. It allows them to seize the moisture and nutrients they need. Therefore, under the same conditions, willows are more tenacious than other plants." [It seems that Lightning-Struck Wood is usually willow, right?] S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [What¡¯s Old Fang doing with so many ropes? Has he invented a new tactic?] These days, Bi Fang¡¯s bear-hunting tactics have been diverse, from face-to-face combat to poisoning, then to traps; almost every time, his method was different, offering quite a spectacle. Seeing Bi Fang making so many ropes, many viewers were looking forward to what method he would use to hunt bears this time. Bi Fang smiled but did not speak. In a hunt that was attempting to capture a Black Bear alive, Bi Fang¡¯s efforts seemed a bit too outstanding. The task specified to find an adult black bear, but it did not specify the gender, Bi Fang¡¯s plan was to ideally find a smaller female bear with a body length between one meter one and one meter two. Black bears of this size, when standing, would even be half a head shorter than Bi Fang, which meant the danger to him had been minimized. Afterward, he would make some traps with rope to further restrict movement, there should be no problem then, as long as he could loop around one of the limbs. Confirming that the willow tree in front of him was indeed dead, Bi Fang did not hold back, he climbed the willow, inserted the knife into the bark, and scraped off a piece. With a downward slice, the whole strip of bark was peeled off vertically. "Apart from willow bark, nettles, bamboo, palm plants, spruce roots, and lampwick grass are all good materials for making rope." "Find some nettles that have grown for a long time and have long stalks, soak them in water for a period, then lay them on a smooth stone slab, and strike with a smooth-surfaced stone club. This tears the outer surface, revealing the fiber-rich interior, then carefully comb through, remove the flesh, and hang to dry before it can be used for making rope." "Roots that grow underground or even those that surface are usually soft and strong, spruce roots are particularly strong, and the Native Americans in North America would often sew birch bark together with rope made from spruce roots to create canoes." "Today I will demonstrate the wrapping method of rope making." Bi Fang took out a bunch of bark and rubbed it against rocks until it all turned into fine fiber bundles. After that, he placed some plant fibers together and rotated them clockwise. "It doesn¡¯t matter which direction you rotate, the main thing is to keep the direction consistent. When you need to add more fibers, offset their ends." Bi Fang, who had already made three fibers, secured them together and continued to twist each fiber until it was tight enough. Then he tied a hitching tie at the end of each fiber, which was made of small twigs, making the rotation even more convenient. Placing the three strands together, Bi Fang began to twist in the opposite direction. He continued to add and twist until he reached the number of ropes he believed were necessary. "When making it, sometimes you feel like you are in a difficult position and it doesn¡¯t go smoothly. At this time, you can fix the completed part; keep each strand tight. You can wrap the finished part around a trunk, making the rotating length shorter." "Finally, the ends of the rope need to be secured in some way to prevent them from fraying. Then wrap and tie the rope tightly to avoid abrasion." A hemp rope as thick as a finger was made, and although it didn¡¯t seem very thick, its strength was actually quite astonishing, and definitely two adults could not break it. Even the rope Bi Fang made could support a tug-of-war contest of about ten people, so it was more than enough to restrain a black bear. After bundling the rope over his shoulder, Bi Fang began to look for suitable places to set traps. And it was different this time. When Bi Fang hunted, he always tried to find the biggest target, and often the larger the bear, the more aggressive and domineering its personality, but smaller ones were different. From this perspective, animals did not differ much from humans. Those with weaker bodies usually had introverted, insecure personalities, while those who were physically robust tended to be more confident. If not properly guided, such confidence could even turn into domination, which was especially common in kindergartens and elementary schools where moral values are still immature. Small black bears would flee upon seeing humans. Chapter 588 - 585: Reserve a Spot It might be a bit late. Try to get it done before one o¡¯clock. The cicada pupae in the bamboo basket were still squirming, dense and numerous, enough to drive someone with a fear of insects insane. All of these were caught by Bi Fang to prepare for lunch. These guys are a solid source of high protein. "Cicadas are rich in nutrients, with a dry protein content of over 70%, about 7% fat, vitamins, and various beneficial trace elements that are higher than those found in general meat products, hence they can be dubbed the protein kings of today¡¯s food." "You guys don¡¯t need to be scared. Has anyone ever eaten this? It¡¯s quite delicious." [I¡¯ve eaten it!] [Get it away, get it away now, I¡¯m going crazy!] [If I see it again, I¡¯m unfollowing, you see what you¡¯re doing!] [Crunchy and oh so delicious!] "Hahaha." Bi Fang laughed heartily, "The fear of insects in humans, much like with snakes, is something etched into our genes; aside from insects and snakes, lions and tigers are the same." "Only now lions and tigers are rare, and our instincts have almost forgotten them, even finding their cubs cute. But if we were face to face without protection, many people would probably pee their pants from fear." "Perhaps a few thousand years from now, when insects are rarely seen, we¡¯ll forget our fear of them and might even find them cute." [Don¡¯t just etch any bizarre thing into our genes!] [Let me take a look at what¡¯s in your genes. Oh, God, it¡¯s so weird, let me take another look.] Digging a pit, Bi Fang sat on a rock, skewering the cicada pupae on a small stick and sticking it into the mud beside the fire, clearly seeing the pupae slowly change color under the high temperature, turning from light brown to an ancient bronze with a metallic sheen. Many people might not be able to stomach the idea of eating bugs, but there are those who relish the thought. From the appetizing aroma wafting through the air at this moment, it was clear that Bi Fang was among the latter. "These juvenile cicadas are also known as ¡¯nymphs.¡¯ The male cicada makes a sound to attract the female to mate with it, using its sharp ovipositor to penetrate the tree and lay eggs until the nymphs hatch the following year and live underground for several or even more than ten years before emerging. Throughout their long life, they must undergo many molts, with the final molt marking their transformation into adults." "When they become adults, they make sounds, and the male cicada¡¯s is a high-frequency noise at hundreds of times per second, which helps the female locates a suitable mate. It¡¯s like now, anywhere we go we can hear cicadas. Sometimes I find it annoying, not able to hear anything but their calls, wishing I could catch them all in one fell swoop." [Catch them all in one fell swoop: refers to eating everything you see.] [I respectfully decline (it¡¯s tiring) a lifetime of insects.] [Ah, how delicious cicada pupae are! Surely, no one hasn¡¯t tried them?] "However, some silkworms inherently carry amoebas spread through eggs and feces, which can cause toxic reactions after eating these inherently deficient pupae. Moreover, molds, bacteria, and parasites in some silkworm pupae have flourished after processing and ¡¯surviving the great difficulties,¡¯ these toxins cause the pupae¡¯s proteins to denature and decompose, producing toxins. If some people are sensitive to toxins, consuming silkworm pupae on an empty stomach before a meal increases toxin absorption, causing poisoning. Eating silkworm pupae while drinking alcohol can worsen the poisoning. So, when you eat them, you need to be cautious, look carefully; avoid the weirdly shaped ones and those grown with hair." Grilling insects is much simpler than cooking meat; it doesn¡¯t take long for them to be thoroughly cooked. Bi Fang picked up a skewer and, like nibbling on kebabs, bit into it, the crunch resonating in his mouth. Indeed, it was good. "I think it tastes much better than wild animal meat," Bi Fang said, chewing and nodding. Most wild animal meats were gamey and tough; even the pre-tooth change Bi Fang would find it easy to get food stuck in his teeth. Many people love to eat the legs of animals, chicken legs, lamb legs, pork legs, they¡¯re all delicious, but in the wild, animal legs are hard to eat, too tough and pitifully low in fat. Thus, belly meat becomes the choice in the wild; though still gamey, at least it isn¡¯t tough. "But in wilderness survival, food is always a problem. When you have something to eat, anything tastes good. Don¡¯t be too picky." [By the way, why does it seem like we didn¡¯t see Bosen today?] [Bosen? Who is Bosen?] [No way, dude, you didn¡¯t just watch Old Fang¡¯s livestream, did you?] [Yes, I cough when I watch other people¡¯s livestreams] Continue your adventure with NovelFire.C?m [Now that you mention it, it really seems like it. The Japan official livestream room, after showing Sato, jumped directly to Boss Fang here.] Once someone mentioned it in the barrage of comments, it quickly resonated with others. Every day, the Japan livestream room starts from the last place and plays until the first place, going through the rankings in reverse order. But today, it seems that they jumped from the third-placed Sato, skipping Bosen, and went directly to the first-placed Bi Fang. [Hahaha, could it be that Boss Fang has dropped in rankings again, overtaken by Bosen?] [Boss Fang has gotten lazy again; he¡¯s made his fortune and doesn¡¯t care about this small change anymore. I¡¯m so jealous.] [Boss Fang, take me with you to make money. If you bring me in your livestream, it¡¯s like having an extra leg!] [A hind leg?] Not only other Hunters, but Bosen himself also noticed that something was off. Although he didn¡¯t enjoy the huge privilege of having his own livestream room like other Hunters, there should still be viewers mocking and commenting in barrages from time to time. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Today wasn¡¯t any different in that respect, but they all seemed to be the same few people over and over again, with many meaningless repetitive flatteries. "What¡¯s going on?" Bosen was somewhat confused. Was this a bug? A subtle atmosphere began to spread gradually. Bosen was somewhat nervous, but his rich experience helped him quickly regain his composure as he carefully considered whether he had slipped up anywhere. His decision to participate in the competition had been spontaneous, and he hadn¡¯t told anyone. Apart from that one time with the crossbow trap, all his other moves had been very covert, even confident enough to deceive Bi Fang. With that in mind, Bosen calmed down, showing no sign of panic, everything as usual. Then, in the afternoon. Bi Fang and Mugalen suddenly received a message from the program organizers. At first glance, both of them were so shocked they almost jumped, thinking that everything they had done these days had been exposed. But on second thought, it shouldn¡¯t be; if that were the case, they should be invited by the police for a conversation, not receiving a text notification from the program organizers. After reading the whole message, they could only make out one sentence. Bertrand Guy had an issue, and they needed to be cautious. If necessary, they should press the rescue button, and the security team was on standby, ready to provide all-angle protection. ??? Mujialun¡¯s reaction to the message was something Bi Fang didn¡¯t know, but he was puzzled. He suspected that the program organizers might be setting a trap for him, trying to fish for something through an unknown method on their end. But after thinking it over for a while, he couldn¡¯t make sense of it, because Bosen did indeed have an issue, and just looking at that point, it seemed reasonable... However, was the problem what he thought it was? Bi Fang fell into deep thought. Who was the undercover? Chapter 589 - 586: Here it comes "There are many ways to restrict the movements of prey without harming their lives; the simplest is to dig a pit, a deep pit." Bi Fang scattered fallen leaves and soil over the ground to conceal the traces of the trap. Often, animals aren¡¯t aware of traps because they¡¯re smart, but merely because they tend to stay away from unfamiliar objects. "Before you learn to set animal traps, you must understand that in many places around the world, it¡¯s illegal to do so unless you have to for survival." "Traps can kill endangered species, and not only that, they can cause injuries to large animals and even humans." [Master Fang: It¡¯s illegal to do this, so don¡¯t you guys learn it.] [Although I¡¯m teaching, that doesn¡¯t mean you should do it (Dog¡¯s head)] Bi Fang saw the barrage of comments and couldn¡¯t help laughing, "This is just in case, to broaden your knowledge. What if you need it one day? Besides, I got permission from the forestry bureau the first time I live streamed, and every time thereafter it¡¯s been with consent. I¡¯m a law-abiding citizen." [Law-abiding Boss Fang] [Epic scene] "This time, I¡¯ve set mainly snares, probably the simplest and most primitive trap in the world, commonly known as the neck noose. Despite its simplicity, it has a wide range of prey; just adjust the size of the loop and the thickness of the rope, and it can catch anything from squirrels, wild rabbits, to wolves and wild boars, and even black bears." "However, if you are living in a certain place, settling down, then you need to be careful not to disturb other animals in the area when setting traps to prevent them from becoming aware of the traps you¡¯ve set." After concealing the trap¡¯s marks, Bi Fang moved to a dense shrubbery and hid within. Discover hidden tales at NovelFire.C?m Waiting for prey is undoubtedly a very patience-consuming task. In the bushes, mosquitoes buzzed around. To avoid his scent being exposed by sudden wind direction changes, Bi Fang covered himself with mud that had been boiled and sterilized, into which he had mixed a considerable amount of willow sap, and finally coated with ash from plants and grasses. Even if approached within three meters, Black Bear would probably mistake Bi Fang for a lush willow tree. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang sat on the ground, leaning a vine-wrapped spear against his shoulder, constantly adjusting his breathing and lowering his heart rate, making him seem like a boulder covered in moss. Bi Fang¡¯s lips moved slightly, but viewers could still hear clearly what he was saying. "As long as the camouflage is appropriate and the right approach is used, we can get within the effective hunting range of almost any animal. This is the wisdom humanity has gathered over tens of thousands of years." Most predators have their own fixed hunting ranges. But humans, with their strong bodies and brains, have conquered almost the entire world, even the cold Arctic with its Inuit inhabitants. Every form of prey exists in humans¡¯ diet, their weaknesses, their habits, all systematically summarized and experienced. This is the most valuable treasure of humans when hunting primitive style, coupled with an utterly terrifying learning capability. Unfailingly successful. "When you approach prey, you must remain calm." Bi Fang glanced down and to the side, spotting a small bug with a swollen belly, a deep blackish-red under the sunlight, on his arm. A blood-sucking louse. Bi Fang hadn¡¯t even noticed when it had jumped on him; such small insects were easy to overlook, a common part of life in the forest. Bi Fang directly pinched it and tore it out from the flesh, bursting out a disgusting mixture of blood and white pus, causing the audience in front of the screen to feel nauseated. [Damn, that¡¯s disgusting] [Got used to it... Master Fang¡¯s livestream is incredibly clear, sometimes the scenery is truly beautiful, but one has to endure the disgusting parts (Dog¡¯s head)] [A double-edged sword of clarity (facetious)] However, Bi Fang was very calm, as in the rainforest such situations were more common, with leeches, blood-sucking lice, bats, venomous snakes, mosquitoes¡ªthe mosquitoes in the rainforest were not like the ones seen in the city, they were a completely different matter, both poisonous and fierce. In the subtropical regions of Japan, these cases were already fewer. "When you discover lice on your body, you must remove them immediately, and not wait for them to leave on their own." "In areas with many insects, check every one to two hours for lice on your body, and don¡¯t use cigarettes or burning plants to smoke them out, as that only causes them to release a lot of venom. Instead, you should use tweezers to grab and directly pull them out from your skin." Bi Fang glanced at his body and found two more lice-infested spots, which he promptly removed. "Insects are very harmful, especially in tropical regions, where they are the main vectors for disease transmission. The most common and often ignored are lice, which can carry many viruses." "For example, Lyme disease, after infection you get fever, headache, and in severe cases it affects the heart and the nervous system, and can even be fatal, and there is no vaccine for the virus, only antibiotics can be used." [Strange cases are increasing] [The world is so dangerous] [Why are there so many disgusting things in the world, viruses, parasites, I¡¯m gonna throw up] "Fortunately, in the vast majority of regions, this risk is relatively low, only people in Ugly Country need to be careful, as about one third of the lice there carry this bacteria." "Once lice land on the body, they will bite into the skin to suck blood, and after about twelve hours, they will release their barbs and inject saliva to destroy the surrounding tissue of the wound, and it is this saliva that may contain bacteria or viruses." "Alright, now we wait for the Black Bear to show up. I have observed the surroundings, and there are many claw marks left on the tree trunks nearby, you see over there." Bi Fang pointed to a nearby tree, half of its bark was rubbed off, and sawdust covered the ground, a sign of the Black Bear frequently scratching itself against the tree. The Black Bear liked this tree very much, perhaps because of its nice smell, getting a fragrant rub every time, or perhaps because the hardness of the wood was just right, excellent for relieving the itch. "It might be an hour, or it might be half a day, in any case, we have time to wait." This approach, essentially, still relied on luck, no one could provide an accurate estimate of when the Black Bear would come, but experienced hunters could usually use the footprints and traces on the ground to calculate how long the bear had been gone and whether it favored this particular area. Bi Fang sat with the audience, and the wait went from morning until afternoon, and all the way to evening, but the Black Bear did not appear. The audience was getting impatient, after all, waiting for a bear was quite tedious and boring. [What¡¯s going on, is it there or not?] [The day lily has gotten cold] Yet Bi Fang remained in good spirits; he did not think his judgment was wrong, on the contrary, the longer the wait, the closer the time of the Black Bear¡¯s arrival. Indeed, the moment the sun set, an unusual noise came from the forest. Bi Fang was instantly alert. "It¡¯s here." Chapter 590 - 587: Successful Capture! (Placeholder) This week has been too overwhelming, with experiments and the completion of electives. Once I messed up my routine, I couldn¡¯t get it back on track (covers face) Something about the way things are developing feels off. Right now, Bi Fang¡¯s mind is a bit of a mess. He¡¯s feeling lost about the current situation yet not entirely lost, caught between understanding and not understanding. Bosen didn¡¯t seem like a good person, so it made sense to arrest him. But who he really is and why he should be arrested isn¡¯t very clear to Bi Fang. And for some reason, he has a nagging feeling that Bosen being targeted might be connected to him somehow... The message from the program team instructed Bi Fang to act as usual, that he should keep doing what he¡¯s doing, but they would secretly provide protection and let him live stream and compete boldly. The Japanese Government welcomed Bi Fang¡¯s participation and once again expressed its honor that he had chosen to compete. Between the lines, it all meant: I¡¯m very happy and honored that you can come. There has been a slight mishap with a bad person, but don¡¯t worry, we are already dealing with it. After pondering for a while, Bi Fang bit into a cicada and three words popped out between his teeth: "Pretty good." On the other side, Bosen received a notification from the program team, and the unease instantly dissipated: "A bug? So that¡¯s what this is." "Yes, Mr. Bosen, I¡¯m so sorry. It¡¯s our program team¡¯s mistake, and we have caused you loss, truly sorry," explained the liaison from the program team, trembling. "You seem very nervous?" Bosen looked up at the scorching sun in the sky, squinting his eyes. The liaison stuttered out a denial, still trembling. Beside him stood high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Morishita Suji, the person in charge of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Hunting Season Program Group, Gang Tianwu, and the Taiji Town Police Department Chief, Matsumoto Kiyotaka. Even if one didn¡¯t know what had happened, it was clear to any fool that there was an issue. "But your voice is trembling." Gang Tianwu glared at the Oak Tree Company¡¯s liaison officer. He had originally planned to use some internet water army to fool them, but Morishita Suji didn¡¯t agree with that plan, so they changed people, attempting to use the excuse of a bug, not expecting the other party to have such poor psychological quality. Stay tuned to NovelFire.C?m "No, no, no, it¡¯s just that the air conditioning is set too low, I¡¯m a bit cold." The liaison made up excuses, with the pressure behind him growing heavier and heavier, until it reached freezing point and he hung up the phone. The room fell into silence. Eventually, the three men turned and left. "What should we do now?" Matsumoto Kiyotaka asked Morishita Suji. Morishita Suji then turned to Gang Tianwu, "Gang Tianwu-kun, you are the professional in these matters. What should we do next?" Let Taiji Town take care of Taiji Town¡¯s problems. Gang Tianwu felt it was a hassle and rather displeased within. Although the interest chain of Dolphin Bay was huge, the greatest benefits still went to Taiji Town. It was Morishita Suji and Matsumoto Kiyotaka¡¯s concern, not his. He was only dragged into this mess because Bosen participated in the Hunting Season and used it as a front. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He really didn¡¯t want to get involved with Poachers! Poaching, arms, trafficking¡ªthese being the three major smuggling activities in the world¡ªare not only hugely profitable but also notoriously dangerous to cross. All were vicious people. Get in their way, and your entire family could face misfortune. Gang Tianwu had some connections, and since becoming a police officer, he had always worked in Tokyo and had never encountered Poachers himself, nor had he been to the frontlines. Usually dealing with small thefts, fraud gangs, and impulsive killings at most, murder¡ªsuch a serious matter. ``` But for these ruthless people, killing was as common as eating dinner, and it could even whet their appetite. Just thinking about it was enough to make someone feel afraid. Morishita Suji¡¯s rank was much higher than his own, so he couldn¡¯t afford to offend him. Matsumoto Kiyotaka was an old hand at this, and he immediately sought Morishita¡¯s protection, effectively shutting Gang Tianwu¡¯s mouth. With this in mind, Gang Tianwu felt an even deeper resentment toward Bertrand Guy, determined to add to his workload. Damn! Gang Tianwu, feeling agitated inside, took a few deep breaths and lowered his head to ponder for a moment, "First, let¡¯s try to lure Bertrand Guy out. If we can avoid a head-on conflict, let¡¯s do so. The guy is a professional hunter and he even has a crossbow that¡¯s nearly as powerful as a heavy crossbow. A direct confrontation could lead to casualties." Although Bertrand was not a good person, his strength had been widely acknowledged over these days. A man who could easily kill a Black Bear, ranked second in the hunting season, carried a lot of weight. "If we can¡¯t trick him, then we¡¯ll move on to violent capture." "Okay, then it¡¯s up to you, Gang Tian-kun!" "The capabilities of Squad Leader Gang Tian are truly outstanding, I must admit I¡¯m outmatched. Indeed, the Japanese Empire can only thrive under the leadership of Squad Leader Gang Tian!" Gang Tianwu: "..." Night. Bertrand sat on a rock, grilling meat, and looked at the suddenly appearing contact person with suspicion in his voice, "Pause the broadcast? Rest for three days?" The contact person nodded helplessly, "That¡¯s the situation. After the Brown Bear attack happened, we thought it wasn¡¯t a big deal, but the public outcry has been getting worse and worse, with many saying our show is too bloody and violent and shouldn¡¯t be aired." Although a bit flustered, the contact person didn¡¯t know what exactly had happened and just relayed to Bertrand Guy what Gang Tianwu had told him. If he knew that he wasn¡¯t just dealing with a professional hunter but an extremely vicious Poacher, the contact person might have pissed his pants in fear. "Is the public opinion that severe?" Bertrand cut off a strip of wild boar belly with his dagger and stuffed it into his mouth, "Sorry, I¡¯ve been busy all day, I¡¯m very hungry, forgive me for eating while talking to you. Would you like some?" "Oh no, no need." Seeing Bertrand¡¯s aged and kind demeanor, the contact person gradually let down his guard, wasn¡¯t as tense as at the beginning, and even dared to sit down on another rock. Bertrand¡¯s eyes flickered, and he made a guess. This guy seems to know nothing. "We are trying our best to control the public opinion. We¡¯re preparing to pause for three days, and maybe after three days, it might be okay," the contact person said straightforwardly. In truth, he was being honest; there had indeed been some discussion following the incident, just not as serious as suggested. "Why would it be okay after three days?" "Our program is run by the Eastern Capital¡¯s Metropolitan Police Department, so it won¡¯t be directly banned. By that time, it might simply be reclassified, and once it¡¯s reclassified, things become much simpler." "Oh." Bertrand Guy nodded, swallowed the last piece of wild boar meat, wiped the grease from his beard, and stood up to dust off his clothes, "Alright then, let¡¯s get going." The contact person, as if receiving a pardon, hurriedly stood up and said apologetically, "Yes, yes, right this way." Ten minutes later. Bertrand Guy calmly raised the silver bracelet in his hand and looked at the smug Gang Tianwu, "Excuse me, Mr. Policeman, have you made some mistake? Why are you suddenly arresting me?" ``` Chapter 591 - 588: Anomaly In the dense woods, the sad howls of a Black Bear caused the surrounding animals to scatter and flee. But quickly, the bear¡¯s mouth was circled by hemp ropes, silencing it from making any further noise, Bi Fang held the rope in his hand, circling around the Black Bear, looking for the proper point to start. "The more crucial the moment, the less one can afford to be careless. Under the influence of hormones, many mammals facing dire situations often have an explosive burst of power, especially bears with their inherently great strength." The hemp rope, as thick as a finger, hung from a large tree as broad as the mouth of a bowl, shaking and shedding leaves as the Black Bear tugged at it, appearing quite dangerous. The most difficult part was binding the Black Bear¡¯s hands and feet together, as the trap caused the bear to be restricted in a spread-eagled position, except that one of its rear legs continued to furiously kick against the ground. Bi Fang first encircled this leg, pulling it together with the other hind leg, and after exerting herculean effort, finally wound the hemp rope around them and then secured it tight. The entire backside of the Black Bear collapsed onto the ground, and after Bi Fang fixed its lower half in place, he then dealt with the front half in the same method. By the time he finished these tasks, he was dripping with sweat, exhausted. The Black Bear seemed to have an endless supply of energy. In the countryside, it would take several grown men to hold down a pig for slaughter, let alone a Black Bear. Finally, Bi Fang inserted a thick tree stick between the Black Bear¡¯s front and back limbs and tightened it, completely cutting off the bear¡¯s mobility, leaving it only able to roll on the ground, unable to run or cry out. Just as the Black Bear lost all ability to move, the unchanging electronic tone of the System announced a prompt. [Ding! Congratulations to the Host for completing the main task one of the Hunting Feast, the rewards will be settled after all tasks are complete!] "Phew, finally done," Bi Fang sighed in relief upon hearing the completion of the task, knowing that his efforts today were not in vain. He put his spear in the ground and wiped the sweat from his forehead. His arm muscles were sore and tender, clearly from overexertion. Catching a bear wasn¡¯t hard, the difficulty was in how to secure and bind it. The strength of a live bear was tremendous. On the drone¡¯s small screen, the shocked audience also started to express the praise they had been preparing. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Holy shit, a total eye-opener¡ª a live capture of a Black Bear, I¡¯m damn impressed!] [Before I came in, I wondered who could be so badass, but if it¡¯s Master Fang, it¡¯s actually normal (dog emoji)] [666666] [Master Fang is awesome!] [Sniff sniff, I¡¯m giving you my breakfast money as a tip, truly incredible] This is, after all, a live Black Bear, and although the one at hand is somewhat small, it doesn¡¯t change the fact that this is an adult Black Bear. How many people can manage to weave ropes, set a trap, and capture a live Black Bear from scratch in the wilderness? Killing a large wild animal is not difficult; many people exaggerate the physical advantages of ferocious beasts but are utterly ignorant of the power of weapons. The flesh and blood of animals stand no chance against human weaponry. With weapons, humans possess the potential for level-jumping challenges, and even the land dominants such as the African Elephant cannot escape their fate. Don¡¯t assume humans are weak; humans are actually a very belligerent and capable species. Humans became the rulers of Earth, eradicating countless creatures along the way, not by hiding and dodging but with relentless assaults, "Terrifying Upright Ape" is a title earned through combat. Although the physical capacity and willpower of most people have been weakened by modern lifestyles, humans have not regressed at a genetic level to the point of no return, the mighty instinct for battle still lurks within everyone¡¯s blood. But what if the hunt changed to capture alive? Without lethal weapons, the difficulty increases by more than a level, which is precisely why the audience was shocked. It¡¯s been a full year since Bi Fang first encountered a Black Bear. Stay tuned to NovelFire.C?m The dangerous situation from that meeting remains fresh in the minds of many. People were dumbfounded back then, just like watching ordinary people encounter dangerous beasts on the news, only they never imagined it would actually happen in reality. Of the thousands of viewers at that time, more than half started to follow the daily updates, becoming the most loyal fans and witnesses to the birth of a miracle. A journey from nothing to something. [It¡¯s like another world...] [Unknowingly, I¡¯ve been watching Old Fang for a year now] [Wuwuwu, I¡¯m really a fan for a year now. There were only a few fans of Old Fang at the beginning, but now there are over a hundred million globally, damn, it¡¯s glorious!] [Feeling of achievement maxed out!!!] [We used to be beaten by Black Bear to run for our lives, and now we¡¯re capturing it alive!! Awesome!!] [What¡¯s the value of being a pioneer (tactically lean back!)?] The old fans found themselves immersed in a celebration that belonged only to them at that moment. [Envious, I only started watching this year] [I started with the migratory birds] [I¡¯m French, I started watching with the goose] [Humans are the mightiest beasts, wild boars and bears are quite good among animals, but to humans, they¡¯re just prey, especially for hunters, it¡¯s really like that] [@Bi Fang, I hunted a black bear in Ganna, how do I bring it back to my country in the most maximized way? Including its gallbladder, skin, paws, and bones, other organs or whatever are not necessary, if it¡¯s not possible then I can only go shopping] [Holy shit, bro is awesome?!] [Damn, there are amazing people among the fans] [Bear hunting? For real?] [Isn¡¯t bear hunting illegal out there? I¡¯ll report you with a backhand, cyber police, go catch him.] Bi Fang was truly happy, but upon seeing this comment, his brow furrowed suddenly. After some thought, he still gave an honest answer. "Other people, don¡¯t listen to someone saying it¡¯s illegal, in fact, if you bring it back yourself, it counts as smuggling. Smuggling is naturally illegal, but if you really want to bring it back, you can hire a specialized import-export company, and they can help you bring the hunting trophies back legally." To bring back trophies, it¡¯s simple; first, you need a company with import and export rights, and then, the black bear locally in Ganna needs to have animal health inspection certificates and reports arranged. Then, arrange for temperature-controlled air transport back to the country, and get a customs broker to handle the customs procedures into Huaxia. When Bi Fang went on his goose hunt, the deer head and deer skin were brought back in this way and were later given to Lord Mu. "However, I want to say that in most cases fur is legal, and many provinces have specific regulations about wildlife organs. If you hunted in British Columbia Province, I would be very suspicious you were poaching, because at least the bear gallbladder must be destroyed on site, and many people overhunt for the bile and discard the meat." "So if your hunting trophy is illegal, I¡¯m sorry, but that¡¯s completely illegal. Also, for the legal route, you will have to pay a hefty fee, which you can¡¯t avoid. Don¡¯t think about sneaking it back because customs truly aren¡¯t vegetarians." British Columbia Province, one of Canada¡¯s four major provinces, has a mild climate and most of its area is forested, making it a haven for black bears. However, hunting there is illegal. Do I have such a capable person among my fans? Unfortunately, when Bi Fang inquired again about the specifics of where this person was, they had already disappeared. [Holy shit, playing disappearing acts?] [Did he vanish because what Bi Fang said hit the nail on the head?] [I mean, just guessing, but could this person have only realized that they were breaking the law after hearing what Old Fang said?] [Sss...] Mulling over in his heart, Bi Fang then contacted the staff in Japan. Government workers who usually needed at least ten minutes to arrive after the button was pressed were unexpectedly efficient this time. Almost as soon as Bi Fang pressed the button, not much later, they were already on top of it. So quick? Bi Fang was puzzled. Chapter 592 - 589: Taking the Blame The arrival of the helicopter was unexpectedly efficient, as if it had been waiting on standby, just waiting for everything to conclude before stepping into the limelight. The heat churned, and its texture was disrupted by the wind. Bi Fang squinted up at the helicopter hovering in mid-air, his hair tips quivering slightly under the rotor wash. His pupils trembled for a full half minute, but he eventually calmed down. Explore more stories at NovelFire.C?m Perhaps he had surmised as much all along. No matter how perfectly one covers their tracks, with modern investigative techniques, it is only possible to delay the inevitable. If one wishes to leave no trace, they must do nothing at all. This wasn¡¯t a matter of capability but a fact¡ªthe adage "without action, there is no consequence" holds true. Bi Fang once told his audience about the golden rule proposed by the father of forensic science, Edmond Locard: "Every contact leaves a trace," which is used to track prey. This applied to himself just as well. Bi Fang didn¡¯t know why these people wanted to capture Bosen. Maybe he was indeed a poacher, or perhaps it was some other misunderstanding, but the Japanese People weren¡¯t fools. Unless someone suddenly came forward to take on all the blame, that could bring the matter to a conclusion. Is filming outdoors without permission a crime? Yes, and no. If taken seriously, it could be construed as investigating enemy intelligence or surveying terrain. Would Japan deliberately overlook it? Clearly impossible. Bi Fang thought he was ready, but when the moment came, he still felt a tinge of unease. Fortunately, he had made up his mind long ago. He sighed softly and stood in the wind, waiting for the helicopter to descend. The audience was completely unaware of the background, and even less why the helicopter arrived so early. They took it as a coincidence or a testament to the crew¡¯s high efficiency, and they even had the mood for jokes. [666, Japan¡¯s pretty fast with this] [It¡¯s not Japan, it¡¯s Y¨­ki] [Everyone, mind your manners, use civilized language, what¡¯s wrong with Y¨­ki? How can you be so discriminatory? Can¡¯t you share a little of the love you have for little flies and mosquitoes with them?] [Who the hell loves little flies and mosquitoes...] [So there¡¯s nothing to share lol (Dog¡¯s head)] [666, I was strongly against Teacher Wen leaving the literary world] [Stop bluffing, you were the one who voted in favor] In a burst of laughter, a long comment streaked across the screen. [The smell of tobacco in the air, the hum of air conditioners nearby. Mr. Bi¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t loud, but it was immensely powerful: "I am leaving the literary world." The once noisy hall was now dead silent.] [A young reporter shot up, trembling as he spoke: "Are you really going to leave... to leave the literary..." "My mind is made up, no need... to say... more."] [Mr. Bi¡¯s voice choked up, tears moistened his eyes, and with a sigh, he turned and left, leaving behind the literary world he dearly loved... "I disagree!" that statement echoed throughout the hall.] [That¡¯s right, I was the one who said it. Because the teacher wanted to leave the literary world, I was strongly against it. But he was as stubborn as a mule. The more I opposed him, the more he wanted to leave. Even though I yelled till I was hoarse, urging him not to be rash, my hoarseness couldn¡¯t bring back his receding figure. He was leaving not just this hall, but the entire literary world.] "Hahaha!" Seeing the comments, even the somewhat melancholic Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but laugh. His mood suddenly improved, no longer anxious, waiting only for the final outcome to arrive. The helicopter let down its ladder, and the people descending were indeed not the original three crew members, but one by one, police officers in uniform, with batons at their waists, and bulging waist packs, stuffed with suspicious items. The bustling live chat room saw a significant drop in comments, as many viewers realized that something was amiss. What¡¯s this all about, why have the police arrived? Bi Fang laughed, he serenely prepared to face everything... "I¡¯m so sorry, Mr. Bi, there was an incident on the road, and coincidentally, we received your request, so we came right over. I deeply apologize that this time we will be taking over Ikeda¡¯s calculations," the lead officer bowed and, disregarding Bi Fang¡¯s surprised reaction, began working with the two people behind him. Afterward, the three of them simply left Bi Fang aside and went straight to the Black Bear. Their eyes and tone were filled with surprise, yet much less fearful than Ikeda¡¯s trio and even non-existent. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, they were armed, a far cry from the three ordinary people with Ikeda, and two of them had even hunted black bears before. During the bear infestations, it was mainly the police who hunted using firearms in hand. However, faced with a live, bound Black Bear, they were still quite curious, and one even reached out to touch it, jumping back in fright when the bear twitched. "Oh ho ho, it¡¯s really a live bear, eh? Ma Sheng, come and feel this, the texture is quite something!" "This is amazing, the first black bear to be captured alive, right?" "This is incredible, well-deserved for the man with the utmost freedom on this planet, the strongest in this hunting season; even the Y¨­ki Hunter is no match!" In the trio¡¯s tone, there was not the slightest bit of caution or guard against Bi Fang, only admiration and reverence. The audience also relaxed. [Hahaha, were they so scared of a live bear that they sent the police?] [I always thought that Ikeda was a scaredy-cat] [What a disgrace to us Japanese People!] "How are we going to measure this? Take it back alive, just like that? Seems a bit troublesome." "But that¡¯s the only way, isn¡¯t it? I can¡¯t believe I don¡¯t know how to handle this, hahaha." "Mr. Bi has already tied it up for us, what a thoughtful gesture!" Bi Fang was puzzled... and shocked. What... what¡¯s going on? Bi Fang was slightly astonished in his heart, yet he maintained his composure, pacing around a bit closer, and testing the waters, he asked those taking record, "What happened?" The previously jovial officers exchanged glances, their expressions became a bit more solemn, and they answered earnestly, "We are truly sorry, Mr. Bi. I know you might have several doubts, but trust me, none of this will interfere with your hunting. On the bright side, there¡¯s good news: you¡¯re the only hunter left on the Kii Peninsula now." "What happened to Mugalen?" Bi Fang¡¯s heart tightened. That guy hadn¡¯t gotten into trouble, had he? Bi Fang had a connection with Mugalen; anyone who had watched the past shows would understand, so the three showed no suspicion in their reaction to Bi Fang but still shook their heads. "Sorry, Mr. Bi, we can¡¯t disclose the specifics. Please, go on with your hunting," they said. After that, the three no longer engaged in conversation with Bi Fang and simply carried out their tasks at hand. At last, they reported the score to the dazed Bi Fang and left with the live bear in tow. It wasn¡¯t until nightfall that Bi Fang finally learned everything from Richard and fell into silence. He had never expected such a turn of events. Mugalen had been arrested. The big man from England had voluntarily taken the fall. Chapter 593 - 590 The Cause Nightfall descended on the Kii Peninsula, and bright sparks flew from the high railway as the train passed by, with pedestrians hurrying by and neon lights shimmering diffusely through the rain. But that was in the Kii Peninsula¡¯s busiest metropolis, and in the more remote Taiji Town, there were no colorful signs and advertisements, just the undisturbed black sea. After pouring rain for more than ten hours straight, all one could see under the round streetlights was a uniform grey expanse, with no clear distinctions. No sooner had the door¡¯s lock snapped shut than a window on the other side opened, and a man with a burlap hood leaped into the room. Richard and the others tensed at once, but relaxed their stiff postures once they made out who the newcomer was. The hood soaked through to the hair beneath, giving off a strong scent of earth; the short-sleeved shirt was wrung out, releasing a stream of brown muddy water and then shaken clean. "Phew, fell over on the way here, covered in mud. Where¡¯s Bi Fang? Isn¡¯t he here yet, or am I late? Oh, thanks." Mugalen scratched his wet hair, the rainwater gathering along his thick, bushy eyebrows and dripping down his jawline to splatter on the floor. He thanked Mond, took the dry towel that was handed to him, wiped off the mix of sweat and rainwater, then casually hung it on the rack, only for the rusty hanger to unexpectedly break off and crash to the ground. The edge of the tube, corroded into a hollow pattern, shattered, spilling a pile of red-brown rust debris all over. Mugalen lifted his hands, "Oh, sorry about that; I didn¡¯t mean to." "No worries, we¡¯re used to it, just leave it there," smiled Richard, gesturing for Mugalen to take a seat. Mugalen glanced around the narrow room, finding nowhere suitable for him to sit. No wonder Japanese people have such stocky legs, kneeling all day long, doesn¡¯t that get tiring? The people beside him shuffled over, revealing once again the spot where Bi Fang had been sitting, and Mugalen took his seat: "So, where is he?" Mugalen¡¯s build was even larger than Bi Fang¡¯s, and his arrival made the already cramped space feel even tighter, almost creating an illusion that breathing had become difficult. Richard glanced toward the door not far away, "He¡¯s already left." "So, the counseling session is over, and there¡¯s nothing else?" Regret tinged Richard¡¯s voice, "Yes, sorry about that, for making you come here for nothing." Mugalen chuckled, "Well, that¡¯s not entirely true. It¡¯s actually convenient without him here. Otherwise, it would be a bit awkward; cough cough, I do have something I wanted to discuss with everyone." Everyone leaned forward attentively, ready to listen. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just as Mugalen was about to speak, he suddenly stood upright and sniffed, "Wait, what¡¯s that smell?" "Oh," Mond had an epiphany, "just a second." He stood up and opened the bathroom door, and a more intense stench wafted out. The city¡¯s sewers, already in disrepair and gradually clogged, couldn¡¯t withstand the downpour¡¯s strain, often burbling with dark water, spread a faint toilet odor through the cramped housing. Mond, adept at dealing with this, took out a few plastic bags, crumpled them up, and stuffed them into the drain to block the flow of black water. The stench in the air dissipated significantly. Mugalen looked around in surprise, "You guys are living here now?" Keke managed a wry smile, "What can we do? It¡¯s already good enough to have a place to stay. At least we don¡¯t have to sleep in the park and avoid being chased away by the police." Mugalen took a deep breath, finding his visit to Japan to be fraught with challenges. People were filming everywhere; a single mistake could get you arrested and deported, and now there wasn¡¯t even a place to stay, forcing them to rent abandoned houses from a lame old man, and even then, they faced intermittent extortion. Sighs filled the room as everyone pondered their situation. After a moment of silence, Mugalen spoke up, "Well, we can only make do for now. Let¡¯s continue talking..." In the cramped room, everyone listened intently, and as they did, their expressions grew increasingly animated, filled with astonishment as they looked at Mugalen. "We started at the beginning of July, and now it¡¯s mid-August. Almost a month has passed, and as time goes on, the risk of Bi Fang helping you all being exposed grows greater." "The Japanese are very stubborn. We can¡¯t even understand their thought processes, but one thing is clear¡ªthey are not fools. No matter how well we do, we must also consider the day Bi Fang is exposed. Ladies and gentlemen, have you thought about the aftermath when you asked Bi Fang for help?" The air grew even more silent. "Deportation back to his country?" Mond asked. "I don¡¯t know." Mugalen shook his head, his gaze fixed firmly on everyone, his tone resolute, "But it¡¯s precisely because we don¡¯t know that we cannot take this risk!" "What¡¯s your plan?" Jerret spoke up. Mugalen was here to discuss this matter; he surely had a well-thought-out solution. Mugalen nodded, "Yes, I have an idea¡ªthat in a few days, I¡¯ll turn myself in!" The electrical expert was confused, "Turn yourself in? What do you mean?" "In the next few days, I will intentionally expose some flaws. When they come looking for me, I will take full responsibility for all the consequences and duties. As long as someone admits to everything, it can significantly shift their focus." "Even if they still sense something is off, we can at least buy another month. By then, Bi Fang will definitely no longer be in Japan, and if anything happens, the danger won¡¯t be too great." "But what about you? As you said, no one knows how the Japanese government will react in desperation. What if they insist that you¡¯ve stolen secrets?" "That¡¯s even more reason for me to go in," Mugalen said calmly, "I¡¯m just a small fry who likes to hunt in the mountains, with little influence. But Bi Fang is different; he¡¯s a big shot. The people he knows, the influence he can wield, it¡¯s all much greater than mine." "If I go in, he has the capacity to get me out. But if he goes in, I don¡¯t have the power to do the same for him. So, I¡¯ll go." A bolt of lightning split the sky in half, and in the room briefly illuminated by its flash, the listeners¡¯ faces revealed a look of shock. Mugalen¡¯s participation was an unexpected development. Who Bi Fang was and what he had done were well known to everyone present, and they had almost all seen his broadcasts. But aside from Jerret and Mond, the others were quite unfamiliar with Mugalen. If not for Bi Fang¡¯s invitation, they wouldn¡¯t be sitting in the same room at this moment. "You..." Mandy tried to say something but hesitated for a long time, "Ah, alright then." This was the optimal solution. If someone had to be discovered, it was better that it wasn¡¯t Bi Fang. The most capable should not be confined to a small cage. A wild tiger is truly a tiger only in the wild. "That day, there was a torrential rain, and those were his exact words," Richard¡¯s blue eyes stared intensely at Bi Fang, his tone sorrowful. Discover hidden content at NovelFire.C?m "Bosen¡¯s arrest was an accident, but it¡¯s unlikely he¡¯ll admit to having anything to do with Dolphin Bay, so Mugalen proceeded with the plan. He told us not to tell you beforehand because you would not agree." The two were silent for several minutes. A moment later. "I¡¯ll get him out." Bi Fang said. Chapter 594 - 591: Reserve a Spot Typing furiously to keep up with the fast pace... Will change back before 1 AM. Not spending a penny more. "There are many ways to restrict an animal¡¯s movement without harming its life; the simplest is digging a pit, a deep pit." "But that¡¯s undoubtedly too laborious. To catch a Black Bear, the pit must be at least one and a half meters deep and over a meter in diameter, otherwise, it¡¯s unlikely to be effective." Bi Fang scattered leaves and dirt on the ground to conceal any trace of the trap. Often, animals aren¡¯t able to spot traps because they¡¯re smart, but merely because they steer clear of unfamiliar objects. "Before you learn how to set animal traps, you must understand that in many parts of the world, doing so is illegal unless you¡¯re in a life-or-death situation." "Traps can kill endangered species, and not only that, they can inflict harm on large animals and even humans." [Master Fang: This is illegal, so don¡¯t you guys learn it.] [Although I¡¯m teaching, you better not do this (Dog¡¯s head)] Bi Fang, amused by the comments, said, "This is just in case, to broaden your knowledge. Who knows when you might need it? Besides, I obtained permission from the forestry bureau the first time I live-streamed, and have always had their approval since then. I¡¯m a law-abiding citizen." [Law-abiding Boss Fang.] [Classic scene.] "The main trap I¡¯m setting this time is a snare trap, probably the simplest and most primitive trap in the world, commonly known as a neck-hanging snare. Despite its simplicity, it has a wide range of application, just by adjusting the size of the loop and the thickness of the rope, it can catch everything from squirrels, hares, to wolves, wild boar, and even Black Bears." "However, if you are living and staying in a certain area, one thing to remember is to set your traps without disturbing other local animals, lest they become aware of the traps already set." After concealing the trap¡¯s traces, Bi Fang hid within dense shrubbery. Waiting for the prey undoubtedly requires immense patience. In the bushes, mosquitoes buzzed around. To prevent a sudden change in wind direction from blowing his scent to the prey, Bi Fang covered himself with mud, which had been boiled and sanitized, then mixed with a large amount of willow sap, and finally coated with grass ash. Even if approached within a three-meter range, Black Bear would probably mistake Bi Fang for a robust willow. Bi Fang sat cross-legged on the ground, resting his shoulder against a spear wrapped in vines, constantly regulating his breathing and lowering his heart rate, becoming like a rock covered in moss. Bi Fang¡¯s lips moved slightly, but the audience could still hear clearly what he was saying. "As long as the camouflage is right and the correct approach is used, we can get close to nearly any animal¡¯s effective kill zone. This is the wisdom that humans have accumulated over tens of thousands of years." Most predators have their own fixed hunting ranges. Continue your journey on NovelFire.C?m Only humans, with their powerful bodies and brains, have conquered almost the entire world, even the cold Arctic, where the Eskimo live. No matter the prey, it is part of the human diet, and there is a systematic summarization and experience of their weaknesses and behavioral habits. This is the most precious asset humans have when hunting in the wild, paired with an incredibly terrifying learning ability. Unstoppable. "When approaching prey, you must remain calm." Bi Fang glanced down and noticed a small, distended insect on his arm, showing a deep black-red color in the sunlight. A bloodsucking louse. Bi Fang hadn¡¯t noticed when it had jumped on him; such tiny insects were too inconspicuous, and this was a common issue to face in the forest. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang simply pinched it, pulled it out from his flesh, and burst out a disgusting mix of blood and white fluid, causing the audience in front of the screen to feel nauseous. [My God, that¡¯s disgusting.] [I¡¯m used to it... Master Fang¡¯s live stream is so clear it¡¯s ridiculous, sometimes the scenery is really beautiful, but you also have to endure the disgusting parts (Dog¡¯s head)] [A double-edged sword of clarity (funny)] However, Bi Fang was quite composed, as there were even more such cases in the rainforest, with leeches, bloodsucking lice, bats, venomous snakes, and mosquitoes. The mosquitoes in the rainforest were not like the ones seen in the cities; they were a completely different matter, both toxic and fierce. Here in the subtropical region of Japan, the situation was already less severe. "When you discover parasitic lice on your body, you must remove them immediately, don¡¯t wait for them to wander off by themselves." "In areas infested with insects, check your body every one to two hours for lice. Do not use cigarettes or burning plants to fumigate them, as that will only cause them to release a lot of venom. Instead, use tweezers to grasp them and pull them straight out of the skin." Bi Fang then checked his body and found two more lice, plucking them off directly. "The harm caused by insects is significant. In tropical regions, they are the primary vectors of disease transmission. The most common and most easily overlooked are lice-borne diseases; they can spread many viruses." "For instance, Lyme disease, which after an infection can cause fever, headaches, and, in severe cases, affect the heart and nervous system, and might even lead to death. Moreover, there is no vaccine for this virus; antibiotics are the only treatment." [Strange cases are on the rise.] [The world is so dangerous.] [Why are there so many disgusting things in the world, viruses, parasites, I¡¯m gonna puke.] "Fortunately, in most areas, this risk is relatively low. Only the people of Ugly Country need to be careful¡ªabout one-third of the lice there carry this kind of bacteria." "Once lice land on the body, they will bite into the skin to suck blood. About twelve hours later, they will release their barbs and inject saliva to disrupt the tissue near the wound. It is this saliva that may contain bacteria or viruses." "Alright, now we wait, wait for the Black Bear to appear. I¡¯ve observed the surroundings, and nearby many tree trunks are marked with claw prints. Look over there." Bi Fang pointed to a nearby tree whose bark was half rubbed off, and sawdust covered the ground. These were traces left by the Black Bear frequently rubbing against the tree. The Black Bear liked this tree, perhaps because of its pleasant smell; after rubbing against it, it would smell nice, or maybe because the hardness of the wood was just right for relieving itchiness. "It could be an hour, or it might take half a day. In any case, we have some waiting to do." This approach was essentially reliant on luck; nobody could predict exactly when the Black Bear would arrive. However, experienced hunters can often estimate how long it had been since it left and whether it¡¯s particularly fond of this area based on the footprints and traces on the ground. As a member of the audience, Bi Fang had been waiting from morning until afternoon, and even all the way until evening, but the Black Bear had not shown up. The audience was getting restless, after all, waiting for bears was quite a dull and boring task. [What¡¯s happening, is there a bear or not?] [The day lilies are getting cold.] Yet Bi Fang¡¯s mood was good; he didn¡¯t feel that his judgment was wrong. On the contrary, the longer the wait, the closer the time of the Black Bear¡¯s arrival. Indeed, at the moment the sun set, an unusual noise came from the woods. Bi Fang perked up. "It¡¯s here." Chapter 595 - 592 All of Them "First, contact the Master¡¯s Lodge in England and inform them Mugalen has been arrested. I¡¯m not in a position to get involved now, so let them negotiate on our behalf. Delay things as long as possible," Read exclusive content at NovelFire.C?m "Will they help us?" the electrical expert asked doubtfully. Many people think too highly of the Master¡¯s Lodge, but the electrical expert knew better, as he had studied abroad when he was younger. Visa and passport renewal ¨C such tasks were to be handled by the Master¡¯s Lodge, but the staff were often uncooperative. If you run into illness or an accident overseas, seeking help from the Master¡¯s Lodge is difficult, let alone if you happen to break local laws. Embassies will first ask if your visa or residence permit is valid. If it isn¡¯t, sorry, they¡¯ll say you¡¯re no longer a national, or at least you¡¯re not their problem. If it is valid, they might refer you to an association or a lawyer, maybe even reject you outright, but often not without a scolding first: "How could you be so careless? Didn¡¯t you know this? What were you doing back home?" In any case, you might end up humiliated whether you get help or not. The Ugly Country¡¯s Master¡¯s Lodge was so eager to help Richard and the others that they¡¯re now safe here, mainly because Richard had pulled some strings and made arrangements in advance. University students from prestigious schools always have various fraternities to reach out to ¨C there¡¯s so much help available. Richard had his own network, which he¡¯d prepared beforehand, and perhaps Ugly Country also had a reason to pressure its underlings, so they went the extra mile. But Mugalen¡¯s involvement was unexpected, and since he was from Central Country, the situation was somewhat awkward. Would Central Country¡¯s Master¡¯s Lodge be willing to get involved in this mess? Bi Fang looked at the electrical expert with surprise. It occurred to him that despite calling the expert Daokete all this time, he still didn¡¯t know his actual name. But it felt awkward to ask after all this time they had spent together, so he had no choice but to carry on as it was. Who would have thought Daokete had such a rich experience? Indeed, many embassy staff aren¡¯t part of the regular diplomatic corps and are used to acting like big shots at home, behaving the same way everywhere. Luckily, Bi Fang had anticipated this and knew that to get the other side to exert effort, he would need to engage in a trade of interests: "Go find a consul or master, the higher rank the better, and tell them that if they¡¯re willing to help, I can go to Central Country to make a special live broadcast of at least thirty days, and I¡¯m willing to put forth a positive portrayal." Daokete nodded, indicating he had no further objections. Bi Fang then turned to the director duo: "Jerret, Mond, how much longer do we have?" Mond looked at Jerret, and Jerret frowned, deliberating for nearly three minutes before answering, "By the 22nd." "Can we speed it up?" Bi Fang did the math and felt uneasy. The conference was on the 23rd, leaving just one day of leeway? Wasn¡¯t the schedule a bit too tight? This documentary was the trump card produced from the trip to Japan. Without it, everything done beforehand would be meaningless and ineffective. Jerret lowered his head, gritting his teeth. But no matter how much he clenched his jaw, the 22nd was already the limit ¨C they were pushing themselves to the brink of exhaustion. This was a full-fledged documentary, not some film school¡¯s end-of-term project. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even with a lot of preliminary work, it simply couldn¡¯t be completed in the short term. Any further compression of time would compromise quality. Bi Fang sighed, "Make sure to rest." "Richard, have you contacted everyone on the list I gave you?" Richard shook his head, "I¡¯ve talked to half of them already, and I can finish today." Bi Fang had handed over the list of animal rights activists ¨¦tienne had contacted to Richard. For attracting attention, ¨¦tienne could take over, as it was hard to suspect a minor, and he could more easily arouse compassion. At this point, persuasion would be most effective. But for the subsequent arrangements, it was safer to let mature Richard take over. Confident, Richard accepted the task. For years, he had been in touch with protection organizations everywhere and believed he could proficiently manage these affairs. But after a brief communication with them, Richard suddenly realized ¨C he had oversimplified things. These people were very different from those he had dealt with before... Their thoughts and actions were entirely different from the organizations he had collaborated with before. It wasn¡¯t that he had a problem; they were just very... special. They knew nothing about dolphins¡¯ habits, their distribution and types, not to mention the dynamic data on population numbers and the chain reaction after extinction. When Richard inquired why they wanted to participate, even willing to pay for expensive plane tickets, the answers were nearly all "They¡¯re very smart," "They¡¯re cute," "They seem pitiful," and so on. For a moment, Richard was at a loss for words. Okay, he had miscalculated. But when Richard asked Bi Fang why he had involved these people, he only got one answer: they were more useful than genuine animal rights activists. Richard, not entirely clueless, twitched his mouth at the time, but now he was beginning to understand somewhat. The more fanatical the person, the more likely they were to take actions that were more disruptive. After making three arrangements, Bi Fang heaved a sigh of relief. With the 23rd approaching, it was time to start rallying support. "Are you still leading in the Hunting season?" Mandy asked suddenly. With the preliminary work completed, Mandy and Keke had quite a bit of free time. Cameras on land were easy to dismantle, and with crowds plus metal detectors, checking and replacing them was a slow process. It was not so easy in the sea. Professional diving teams were needed, and the dim environment made working difficult, even hazardous, so the two didn¡¯t have much remedial work to do, and Bi Fang could usually handle it alone. Bi Fang nodded, "Yes, but the others are closing in. Black Bear¡¯s total hunting count has reached ninety, with just the last ten remaining. Theoretically, any group could pass me." These past days, between wrapping things up and the less frequent Hunting season¡¯s tasks, there had been some slack. "I don¡¯t think any group could possibly do it!" Pondy laughed heartily, stepping forward to pat Bi Fang¡¯s shoulder. The first time Pondy had met Bi Fang, he was already well-known, but compared to now, the difference was immense. Almost every live stream elevated Bi Fang, and it was hard to believe that one could achieve such success. Pondy extended his right hand, clasping it firmly, "Keep it up, our Adventurer, we all must!" Bi Fang smiled. "I¡¯ll make it." Chapter 596 - 593: Taking a Spot I¡¯ll reserve a spot to maintain full attendance, best to go to sleep early. Will finish editing before 2 AM. In the dense forest, the black bear¡¯s wails rang out, startling the surrounding animals into scattering and fleeing. But soon, a hemp rope looped around the bear¡¯s mouth, silencing its cries, "The more critical the moment, the less one can afford to be careless. Under the influence of adrenaline, many mammals display incredibly strong burst capabilities when facing adversity, especially the innately strong bear species." The hemp rope, as thick as a finger, hung on a tree trunk as wide as a bowl, swaying and dropping leaves as the black bear struggled against it, looking dangerously precarious. Binding the black bear¡¯s arms and legs together was the most challenging part. Because of the trap, the immobilized black bear was essentially in a "big" shape. Only, unlike the three secured limbs, its one remaining hind leg continued to kick fiercely against the ground. Bi Fang first circled this leg, then pulled it together with the other hind leg. It took the strength of nine bulls and two tigers to wrap it with hemp rope and then tie it tight. The black bear collapsed onto its backside. Bi Fang secured its lower body before moving on to fix the front half in the same manner. By then, he was drenched in sweat and utterly exhausted. It seemed like the black bear had limitless strength. It is hard enough to kill a pig in the countryside, requiring several grown men to hold it down, let alone a black bear. Finally, Bi Fang inserted a thick tree stick between the black bear¡¯s fore and hind limbs and tightened it, completely restricting the bear¡¯s ability to move. It could only roll on the ground, unable to run or call out. Stay updated via NovelFire.C?m It was at the very moment the black bear lost all ability to move that the System, with its eternally unchanging electronic voice, issued a prompt. [Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the first main task of the Hunting Feast. Rewards will be tallied after all tasks are finished!] "Phew, finally took care of it." At the sound of the task completion, Bi Fang let out a sigh of relief, knowing his efforts today hadn¡¯t been in vain. He stuck the spear into the ground and wiped the sweat from his forehead. Now his arm muscles felt sore and tender, clearly overexerted. Catching a bear wasn¡¯t difficult, but securing and binding it was. The strength of a live bear was simply too much. On the drone¡¯s small screen, the stunned audience also let loose their long-prepared words of admiration. [Damn, a real eye-opener¡ªcapturing a black bear alive, you¡¯ve got me soaking wet!] [Before entering, I was wondering who could be so badass. But if it¡¯s Master Fang, then that makes sense (dog pal).] [666666] [Master Fang is awesome!] [Wuu wuu wuu, I donated my breakfast money to you, truly badass.] This was a living black bear we¡¯re talking about, and although this one was somewhat small, it didn¡¯t change the fact that it was an adult black bear. How many people could, in a wilderness with nothing at their disposal, make a braid, set up a trap, and catch a black bear alive? Killing a massive wild beast is not difficult. Many people greatly exaggerate the physical advantage of fierce animals, yet have no knowledge about the power of weapons. The flesh and blood of animals are no match for human weaponry. Once humans have weapons, they are capable of challenging those higher up the food chain. Not even the African Elephant, the lord of the land, can escape their grasp. Do not think humans are weak; in fact, humans are a species that is both warlike and proficient in combat. Humans became the rulers of Earth, exterminating countless species along their path, not by cowering or hiding but with sticks raining like a downpour and blades and spears like forests. The title "Terrifying Upright Ape" was hard-fought and won through bloodshed. Although the physical capabilities and willpower of most people have been weakened by modern lifestyles, on the genetic level humans have not degenerated into a hopeless state. The powerful instinct for combat still lurks in the veins of every person. But what if the hunt became a capture? Without the use of lethal weapons, the difficulty increases by more than just one level. This was the reason for the audience¡¯s shock. A full year had passed since Bi Fang first encountered the black bear. ``` The close brushes with danger from that one encounter are still fresh in many people¡¯s memories; everyone was dumbfounded at the time, no different from watching ordinary people face life-threatening encounters with wild beasts in the news, except that no one expected it to actually happen in reality. Of the thousand-plus viewers at that time, more than half had turned on daily updates, becoming the most loyal fans and witnesses to the birth of a miracle. The process of coming into existence from nothing. [It feels like a different world...] [Unknowingly, I¡¯ve watched Old Fang for a year now.] [Wuwuwu, I¡¯m really a year-long fan now. At the beginning, there were only a few Old Fang fans, and now there are over a hundred million worldwide. It¡¯s truly glorious!] S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [The sense of accomplishment is maxed out!!!] [Before, we were chased by Black Bear, running for our lives. Now we¡¯re catching it alive!! Amazing!!] [How is being called a pioneer not prestigious (tactical lean back)?] Old fans were in the throes of a frenzy that belonged uniquely to them at this moment. [Envious, I only started watching this year.] [I started with the migratory birds.] [I¡¯m French, started watching with the Goose.] [Humans are the most ferocious beasts of all. Wild boars and bears are pretty good in the animal world, but they¡¯re just prey when it comes to humans, especially for hunters, it¡¯s just like that.] [@Bi Fang, I hunted a Black Bear in Ganna. How can I maximize the return to my country? Including bear gall, bear skin, bear paws, and bear bones. Other organs or something else aren¡¯t necessary. If it¡¯s not possible, I might just have to go sightseeing instead.] [Holy shit, bro¡¯s awesome!] [Damn, even the fans are amazing.] [Bear hunting? For real?] [Isn¡¯t bear hunting illegal out there? I¡¯m going to report you with a flip of my hand. Cyber police, go arrest him.] Bi Fang was truly happy, but when he saw this barrage comment, his brows suddenly furrowed, he pondered for a moment and then decided to answer truthfully. "Other people should not listen to someone saying it¡¯s illegal, the truth is if you bring it back on your own it¡¯s considered smuggling. Smuggling is naturally illegal, but if you really want to bring it back, you can hire a specialized import and export company. They can help you transport the hunting trophies back to your home country legally." If you want to bring your trophies back to your country, it¡¯s quite simple. First, you need a company with import-export rights, then you must secure an animal inspection and quarantine certification and report for the Black Bear in Ganna. Then arrange for temperature-controlled air transport to your country, and get a customs broker to handle the customs declaration and entry into Huaxia. When Bi Fang went on his Goose hunting trip, the deer heads and hides were brought back this way, and he ended up giving them to Lord Mu. "However, what I want to say is, most fur trade is legal, and many provinces have specific regulations for the organs of wild animals. But if you hunted in British Columbia Province, I would be quite doubtful you¡¯re poaching. Because at least the bear bile must be destroyed on the spot, and many people poach and discard the meat just for the bile." "So if your hunting trophies are illegal, sorry, but that¡¯s completely illegal. Also, with legal channels, you need to pay a hefty fee, and there¡¯s no escaping that. Don¡¯t even think about smuggling them back, because customs officers are not to be messed with." British Columbia Province is one of the four major provinces in Ganna, with a mild climate and forests covering most of the area; it is a gathering place for Black Bears in Ganna. However, hunting here is illegal. Do we really have such capable people among our fans? Unfortunately, when Bi Fang inquired again about the specific location, the person had already vanished. [Damn, playing the disappearing act?] [Could it be that what Bi Fang said hit home?] [I mean, it¡¯s just a speculation, but is there someone who realized they were breaking the law only after hearing what Old Fang said?] [Hiss...] Mentally taking note, Bi Fang then contacted the staff in Japan. ``` Chapter 597 - 594: Occupying a Big Pit ``` I¡¯ll take a two-in-one spot. Finish editing before 2 a.m. Can go to bed early. "Hehehe, see, it¡¯s right here." Bi Fang crouched down, not approaching rashly, and pointed with the tree stick in his hand at a patch of grass not far away. Being close to the creek, the grass was growing very lush, all taller than the knees, and if you didn¡¯t look carefully, it would be hard to spot indeed. "The color of this critter can vary greatly depending on the region. Generally speaking, those found in the south have lighter green colors that blend well with the grass, making them difficult to distinguish. The ones found in the north are darker with more black spots." Many viewers felt scared. If they hadn¡¯t noticed it and stepped on it, wouldn¡¯t they be done for? [Holy cow, that¡¯s so hidden?] [So bright though] In the grass, the Tiger-striped Neck Groove Snake was also entirely green with black spots, hiding beside the lush water plants. A casual glance wouldn¡¯t reveal it, but the orange-red color of its neck was exceptionally vivid, adding an element of danger. At the moment, the venomous snake hadn¡¯t noticed Bi Fang and lay motionless in the grass. Bi Fang lowered his voice, "Although it¡¯s not the deadliest snake, the power of the Tiger-striped Neck Groove Snake is not to be underestimated. It has a record of killing people in Huaxia and Japan." [The Banded krait is known to have the lowest fatality rate of venomous snakes; where did you get that ¡¯most deadly¡¯ notion?] [Just got into the live stream? Didn¡¯t we talk about this earlier? Because its fangs don¡¯t work well, whether the injection is successful is a matter of chance] [You wouldn¡¯t dare bet; this thing¡¯s venom is quite potent. If bitten, you can¡¯t be sure if it¡¯s a dry bite or if less venom was injected. So when you see it, keep your distance] [Someone says it¡¯s mildly poisonous [smile] I remember a neighbor got bitten as a child, and one of his legs was so badly damaged it was scary] [If you encounter the Tiger-striped Neck Groove or the Red-necked Groove, I advise you to run fast. Its antivenom has no commercial value, which means it¡¯s not available on the market. In other words, if you¡¯re bitten and poisoned, there¡¯s no antivenom you can take (dog¡¯s head)] "The venom delivery efficiency of the Tiger-striped Neck Groove Snake is very poor; it bites and injects venom through grooved rear fangs, which is quite difficult. Sometimes there are no symptoms after a bite, so it¡¯s easy to mistake it for a non-venomous snake." "A few years ago, this snake was universally considered to be only mildly poisonous. It was only determined to be highly venomous in recent years. However, it¡¯s still a good idea for most people to give it a wide berth." Many viewers nodded their heads, as many of them had seen these snakes in rural areas. Unfortunately, at the time, they didn¡¯t know these were highly venomous snakes, and only now, after listening to Bi Fang¡¯s explanation, did they have their aha moment. It¡¯s not that it¡¯s non-poisonous; it¡¯s highly poisonous, just unable to deliver its venom efficiently. What a waste of such a deadly weapon. Bi Fang observed his surroundings and slowly approached the Banded krait. Before he even took action, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he stopped in his tracks, pointing his stick toward the other side of the creek, "Hey, look over there, there¡¯s another one!" Following the tree stick, the drone quickly moved closer to the opposite bank, revealing another flash of vivid orange. Aha! The second Tiger-striped Neck Groove! Alright then, two active ones! Not only that, but Bi Fang also pointed to a small clump of grass next to the opposite bank, "Lucky day, a double find, Water Hemlock is here too." Water Hemlock swayed slowly beside the creek. At first glance, it looked rather similar to a dandelion, with a long stem and a puff of white flowers, only flatter. ``` "Water Hemlock is poisonous to all kinds of livestock and humans alike, with similar symptoms. The toxin acts directly on the central nervous system, causing severe convulsions, respiratory failure, and eventually death. A dose of 0.2~0.5% of body weight for sheep, 0.1% for cattle, and 0.5% for horses can be lethal." [Wait a minute, a cow weighs hundreds of pounds, so one-thousandth of that is still quite a lot, right?] [One pound is five hundred grams, so fifty grams?] [An egg weighs about fifty grams? Put an egg on the arrowhead?] "Yes, although it¡¯s only one-thousandth, it¡¯s still a considerable amount, which is why I prefer biological toxins. However, the paralytic effect is sufficient, and plant toxins have one advantage¡ªthey can be extracted." "Animal venom is very potent, but it¡¯s often made up of proteins, which are synthesized in the body and denature when heated. You can ingest them without any effect, but most plant toxins are molecular, not protein-based, so their chemical properties don¡¯t change easily with heat, making them extractable." As Bi Fang explained, he approached the Banded Krait. Snakes are actually not difficult to catch, especially for veterans. To an experienced person, they are essentially nothing more than spicy strips. Most snakes are even afraid of humans. When Bi Fang encountered them, his first concern was whether they would escape, not whether he would be bitten. Master Fang skillfully caught one of the snakes without much trouble, but unfortunately, the other seemed to sense danger and disappeared into the underbrush before Bi Fang could get to it. Explore more adventures at NovelFire.C?m Bi Fang shrugged and didn¡¯t mind, "It seems they might be a male and a female. The breeding season for the Tiger-striped Neck Groove Snake is in May and June. Now it¡¯s a bit late." The Tiger-striped Neck Groove Snake, with its throat grasped, coiled around Bi Fang¡¯s forearm, its tail tip quivering incessantly as if to vent its dissatisfaction, but this didn¡¯t change the reality. Bi Fang bent forward, holding the Tree Stick in hand, "Ideally, to obtain venom from a venomous snake, it¡¯s best to catch it alive. Dead ones work too, but not for the Banded Krait." "First, this guy¡¯s population isn¡¯t exactly rare; it¡¯s one of the most numerous and widely distributed snake species in Huaxia, second only to the Viper. Second, as I¡¯ve mentioned before, they lack venom glands, so it¡¯s not easy to squeeze out the venom directly." [Banded Krait: Are you being polite?] [Thank you very much.] [Hahaha, Old Fang saying that is too funny.] [Boss Fang: Because I already have a Banded Krait, for the time being... oh, sorry, I still want your life.] "The Banded Krait¡¯s venom gland is not connected to the fangs through a duct, but look, there is a raised neck gland on the back of the snake¡¯s neck where the venom is stored." Bi Fang pressed the Banded Krait against a stone, firmly holding the snake¡¯s head down with the back of a dagger. The snake¡¯s body twisted even more violently, and the audience could clearly see a bump on the snake¡¯s neck through his fingers, clearly visible only when it struggled. Having identified the target, Bi Fang made his cut, removing the snake¡¯s head and then slicing along the raised line on the neck. "The venom sacs of snakes are quite fragile, so be careful when cutting. Make sure you don¡¯t cut your own hand; otherwise, it could be troublesome if the venom gets into your bloodstream." Although the snake¡¯s head had been cut off, its body still twitched reflexively, making Bi Fang¡¯s task somewhat more difficult. However, it didn¡¯t hinder him. He cut through the snake¡¯s skin and muscle layers, and a thin white membrane appeared. Bi Fang, his finger covered in snake blood, hooked it out and carefully peeled it back, ultimately pulling out a small pouch. Bi Fang¡¯s face showed delight, "Look, this is the venom sac. It¡¯s actually quite resilient. I used to just throw it away, but now it¡¯s the first time I¡¯m going to use it." The venom sac wasn¡¯t a small pouch in the conventional sense but rather flat and elongated, almost looking... [Why does it feel like a miniaturized sheath (Dog¡¯s head)?] [+1] Bi Fang paused, suddenly at a loss for words. He looked at the white venom sac in his hand and suddenly felt a chill, coughing twice, "Cough, cough, it¡¯s all psychological, don¡¯t think too much, we are a civilized live broadcast room." Interrupting the audience¡¯s speculation, Bi Fang clamped the venom sac and placed it directly into the water bottle before rushing to the other side of the stream to collect water hemlock. It was only upon closer inspection that everyone realized, this plant, from afar resembled a dandelion, but up close it was more akin to water celery, almost identical! "Isn¡¯t this water celery?" "Damn, I eat this often, am I going to die, wuu wuu wuu" "If you can comment here, it means you¡¯re fine..." Bi Fang said, "Water celery and water hemlock do look very similar, even their names are almost identical, but the difference is that the stems of hemlock are covered with a fine layer of white fuzz, making them look fluffy and feel prickly to the touch, while the stems of water celery are fuzz-free and smooth, which is the most obvious distinction between the two." Gently brushing along the stem of the water hemlock, the tiny barbs became more noticeable as they piled up. "During this season, a lot of wild plants grow, leading to numerous cases of poisoning due to mistaken plant ingestion," Bi Fang crushed the fuzz in his hand. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Last year in Guangdong, Zhang Chunliang, the captain of the Qianzhen Mountain Rescue Team¡¯s search and rescue squad, organized a training event that met with an accident, where 3 team members were poisoned by eating wild plants. Although Zhang Chunliang, as the captain, sadly died, the other two were fine after being treated at the hospital post descent." "This was no ordinary hiker, but the captain of the search and rescue squad, who had faced many complex outdoor accidents and was one of the main founders of the Qianzhen Mountain Rescue Team, truly an experienced veteran of the mountains, yet he was victimized by the same mistake." "According to the investigation by local police, it was believed that Zhang Chunliang¡¯s death was caused by mistakenly consuming water hemlock." "After showing symptoms of poisoning himself, Zhang Chunliang still tried to aid the other two poisoned team members, which accelerated the onset of toxicity and missed the optimal window for treatment." Hiss. The audience drew in a sharp breath of air. If even a rescue team captain could be fooled, how similar could they be? "To end up... tragically like this while striving for wilderness survival... it¡¯s indescribably bizarre." "He was still trying to save others even though he was poisoned, that¡¯s very dedicated of him." "Rest in peace." "Old Fang should be the one to lead the team (Dog¡¯s head)." "Wild plants can have different characteristics in different regions. Before consuming and harvesting wild plants, one should conduct a lot of research concerning the particular area and definitely consult local people with rich experience." A large quantity of water hemlock was uprooted. Though it only seemed like a small patch of a few square meters, mixed with various other weeds, at least several kilograms could be collected. After gathering a bundle, Bi Fang began the extraction process. "Extracting hemlock toxin isn¡¯t difficult. If you find it bothersome, you can just pick a piece off, then smear the juice onto a weapon. The whole plant of water hemlock is poisonous, so you can use any part, although the flowers are the most toxic. However, I recommend using the tuber and stems, as they have more liquid and are easier to apply." "If you don¡¯t mind the extra effort, you can collect more, crush it all, add water, and start boiling. Skim off the waste material and keep steaming until it crystallizes." Gathering a small bunch of water hemlock around him, Bi Fang set up distilling equipment right there on the riverbank. It was simple¡ªa plastic bottle and a fire were all that was needed, which also conveniently served to solve the issue of lunch. Skewering snake meat with sticks, Bi Fang found a flat stone, placed some of the collected water hemlock on it, and then crushed it with a rock. He then stuffed the crushed plant into a cut-open mineral water bottle, scooped some stream water into it, and began heating it up. "Most mineral water bottles have a melting point that is higher than the boiling point of water, so you don¡¯t need to worry about the bottle melting." Once the stream water boiled, Bi Fang removed the residue and then added another batch of water hemlock. "Be careful, the water¡¯s poisoned now! Don¡¯t drink it thinking it¡¯s pure water! If you have any wounds on your body, don¡¯t let this water touch them!" Bi Fang¡¯s words were stern; this was no laughing matter. "It can paralyze the motor nerves and suppress the medullary centers. The toxic dose for humans is 30 to 60 milligrams, while the lethal dose is 120 to 150 milligrams, capable of causing death within minutes." "Heating can reduce the toxicity to some extent, but only slightly, and the loss during our distillation process is within an acceptable range." At the moment, it¡¯s about concentrating a part of it, but there will be some loss in the process of concentrating the toxicity. However, compared to the overall amount, the toxicity is still stronger, so we must be extremely careful." This is the biggest difference between plant toxins and animal toxins; they are not easily denatured and deactivated by high temperatures. By the time everything had been refined, Bi Fang had also finished his lunch. Now, he had acquired two potent toxins: concentrated hemlock toxin and the venom of the Banded krait, both highly toxic! He had also crafted two wooden darts. "The Flint Stone darts coated with a limited amount of venom are one option, but we can choose the wooden ones, and later carve small notches in the spearhead. Although not as sharp and sturdy as Flint Stone, they can retain more venom and become a poison spear!" Unlike Flint Stone, a poison spear does not pursue lethality; as long as it can break the skin, it is successful! The tens of millions of viewers in the live broadcast became excited, as everything was finally completed. [Congratulations Master Fang on unlocking the achievement: The Deadly Poison Master] [Awesome, really awesome, go and wreak havoc now] [Feels like the Indian people using poison dart frogs to make blow darts] [Shocking, tens of millions witnessing the making of poison live, is this a twist of humanity or the degeneration of morality?] [iWitness gifted the host a spacecraft *1 ¡ª¡ª Go for it, hurry, snatch the first place throne] With a sharp blade in hand, a killing intent arose within him. Bi Fang was eager to try and spared no effort in searching for the tracks of the Black Bear. Two thirty-eight in the afternoon. A brown shadow appeared before everyone, enormously large, startling the Shuiyou. [Damn, that¡¯s a big Black Bear] [It¡¯s at least two meters, right? Body length?] [Who¡¯s in first place now? How many points?] [That Y¨­ki Hunter called Sato, he took down a 1.2-meter just matured one last night, 19.7 points!] [Can a Black Bear grow that big?] The massive body loomed on the ground, seemingly digging at something. The large bear didn¡¯t seem to notice Bi Fang approaching, but when it lifted its head, the Shuiyou were surprised to find that there were no white patches on its chest. "The body colors of Brown Bears and Black Bears differ only slightly; it¡¯s not that Brown Bears are necessarily brown. The way to tell the difference between the two is not by the color of the fur, but by checking for the presence of a white crescent stripe on the chest." The words previously spoken by Bi Fang echoed in their ears, and the Shuiyou suddenly realized. This was not a Black Bear at all. It was a Brown Bear! Chapter 598 - 595: Occupying a Big Pit Brothers, go to sleep early. I don¡¯t know when I¡¯ll finish the edits either. The last three Black Bears. Today may become the last day of the hunting season. The show started broadcasting early, with the two hosts already warming up. "Wow, it¡¯s six o¡¯clock now. I thought I got up early enough, but viewers are still flooding in! There are four million viewers, it¡¯s unbelievable." "Let me sneak a peek at Master Fang¡¯s live stream." Kogawa Kobayashi exaggeratedly pulled out his phone and placed it on his thigh, "Roar! Six million! It¡¯s already reached six million, two million more than us! That¡¯s outrageous!" "I so wish I could adventure with Master Fang. Then maybe I¡¯d also have a million fans?" Shizuka Minamoto said while resting her chin in her hands, her expression exuding envy. [Master Fang is awesome!] [Do you understand the value of being the world¡¯s number one host? (Strategically leans back)] [This is a god! The god of adventure!] [I¡¯ve made up my mind, Master Fang, quick, use Water Shuriken!] At six in the morning, aside from high school students and city sanitation workers, even most white-collar workers are probably still in their dreams. For an ordinary host, this would be a deadly time to broadcast, a time zone deserted by viewers. Yet, Bi Fang was able to extract a staggering six million viewers from this desert, which was absolutely outrageous. Just like what we often fantasized as kids, with so many people in the country, if each person gave a dime, one could become a billionaire. Of course, this is impossible and also illegal, as it¡¯s considered illegal fundraising. But now there was a successful case, six million real viewers; even if it was a dollar per person, that¡¯s also six million. An instant millionaire. Probable even Bi Fang himself doesn¡¯t know how much money he makes from a day¡¯s stream, as every time he cashes out, he sees a long string of numbers. Including the fixed donations, he gets over ten million in hand. Compared to the members of the small organization from his last life, it¡¯s like a huge leap in class, and the most direct manifestation is that he no longer has to consider whether his wallet is fat enough when he wants to buy something. After marveling at the exaggerated number of viewers in Bi Fang¡¯s live stream for a while, Kogawa Kobayashi emphasized once again the points of the remaining hunters. "First place is, of course, our indisputable Master Fang, with a total score of 90.3!" Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The live broadcast room rang with the audience¡¯s astonished noises just in time. Kogawa Kobayashi paused for a full half minute before beginning, "An adult Black Bear typically measures between one point three and one point eight meters in length, with our scoring standard at one point five, which generally only male Black Bears can achieve. And now, ninety points!" "If we analyze it just from the points and not the performance, it¡¯s like nine adult male Black Bears! My goodness, how long has the hunting season been going on? Less than forty days, nine bears, Master Bi Fang has almost done one every four days." "An average of four days to catch one Black Bear, this efficiency is simply too terrifying, he¡¯s like a merciless bear hunting machine!" Influenced by 19th-century new-wave drama, Japanese people often like to express emotions in an exaggerated manner. At this moment, Kogawa Kobayashi¡¯s tone was extremely fluctuating. Many people experiencing it for the first time might find it awkward, but the Japanese are collectively thrilled. "Next up is Mr. Sato, with 79.8 points! Oh dear, nearly 10.5 points behind!" Kogawa Kobayashi¡¯s voice came through to Sato¡¯s earpiece, darkening his face. Damn, can¡¯t you speak properly? "Moving on to the third place, it¡¯s Okuyama, who was originally paired with Tanaka. Unfortunately, Tanaka withdrew due to injury. The current score is 67.2 points." Sato was stunned; was that all for his introduction? "And in fourth place is the Takahashi Combination, with 62.7 points. Aside from Master Fang, among the top four, three are Y¨­ki Hunters. There¡¯s a saying that the hunting abilities of the Y¨­ki Hunters are more formidable than ghosts, hence they are called ¡¯Y¨­ki Matagi¡¯." "The Y¨­ki Hunters of Akita mainly hunt wild bears, wild boars, and deer, making a living by selling bear skins, bear livers, bear gall, and bear paws. They believe that the mountains and forests are ruled by the Mountain God, and that any game they catch is a gift from the Mountain God. Therefore, Y¨­ki Hunters do their utmost not to defy the Mountain God, but sadly, they are not the first rank." "Is it because they are about to disappear that no formidable character could be selected? Or does it prove that Bi Fang is more powerful than our traditional, local Black Bear hunters?" "When you think about it, Master Fang seems even more remarkable." Not just Sato, but also Okuyama and the others pulled a face, what do you mean by that? Are you even Japanese? Weren¡¯t you bragging a lot just a few days ago? Why has the tone changed today? The truth was only known to Gang Tianwu himself. If it had not been for secretive thefts, Bi Fang¡¯s Points might have broken a hundred by now, silently deducting an extra point or two for every Black Bear. Yet the Y¨­ki Hunters still couldn¡¯t pull themselves together. With only the last three Black Bears left, there seemed to be no way they could turn the tables. To lose more gracefully, they could only try to shift the public opinion. Even the audience showed the same sentiment, and aside from a few older ones cursing loudly, most young people laughed heartily. Bi Fang¡¯s behavior pattern was rather odd, seemingly indifferent to hunting, often displaying noticeable slacking after some time. But people like Sato never stopped for a moment, and even so, they couldn¡¯t catch up to their opponent. The difference in skill was clear. Additionally, with Bi Fang¡¯s Asian features contrasting sharply with the forty-something-year-olds like Sato in terms of looks, how could the young people support a bunch of old men? Kogawa Kobayashi then read out the remaining people¡¯s scores before starting the recording. Sato rubbed his fingertip against the blade, feeling its sharpness. The tip of this knife was sharp as a sword, the blade length reaching up to 8 inches, and the front end of the single-edged knife had reinforcements, slightly curving upward in shape. Tilting the knife caught the metallic sheen, exuding the imposing force of a sword. This was a mountain knife called a "Pocket Knife." The hollow handle could be fitted with a long wooden shaft to quickly turn into a spear. For hunters attacked by wounded Brown Bears or wild boars, the spear was their ultimate weapon, second in importance only to their lives for the Japanese Hunters. Not everyone could engage in close combat with bears as confidently as Bi Fang, which was highly dangerous and usually a last resort. For the Y¨­ki Hunters, the Y¨­ki Mountain Knife was not just a simple knife; it was a reward for the brave spirit of the hunters who dared to confront bears face-to-face and survived. Sato¡¯s master passed it down to him, and although many hunters dressed in trendy clothes, they still used the weapons their ancestors wielded seven generations ago for hunting. The first time he used it was during a duck hunt when a shot duck fell into dense shrubbery, and tough, spiky vines created a wall that was difficult to cut through. Swinging the Y¨­ki Mountain Knife, accompanied by the rustling sound, the vines scattered on the ground, and after three swings, he cleared a path. Not only for clearing paths in the bush, but it also made the task of cutting up the caught ducks quite easy. It was his first kill. At this moment, Sato¡¯s eyes, reflecting in the blade, looked tired. Sato had been tracking game all of last night, only managing to get a little sleep in the early hours of the morning. In recent years, indeed, the hunting activities of the Y¨­ki Hunters had been significantly restricted; making a living through animal conservation was already hard enough. After the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, the Japanese Government, concerned about contamination, decreed that many Y¨­ki Hunter communities were not allowed to trade in bear meat for six years. Even Sato¡¯s master was forced to find other means to sustain himself. Furthermore, there were numerous bureaucratic restrictions placed on hunting activities. The process to obtain a license to hunt Black Bears was exceedingly cumbersome and costly. Even those not directly involved in the killing had to renew it every three years. Events like the hunting season were few and far between. More and more of the younger generation are choosing to leave, and just like many of the indigenous people, the cultural practices of the Y¨­ki Hunters are under severe threat. "If one day the Japanese Black Bears really go extinct, then it should have nothing to do with the Y¨­ki Hunters," an old Y¨­ki man mocked, "I think the Y¨­ki Hunters will disappear before the Black Bears do." But Sato believed that those who stayed were the real elites, and those who left were just looking for excuses to cover their weakness. Sato stood up and fixed the mountain knife onto the wooden pole. At some point, it had become impossible for the Y¨­ki Hunters to turn back and use any other knife. The Y¨­ki Mountain Knife was not just a high-quality survival tool. It gave them courage to cut through brambles and branches and carve a path for themselves, even in the worst conditions. "Wish me luck, old pal." "For the last time, who wins and who loses, it¡¯s all up in the air." If his movement hadn¡¯t been restricted, Sato would have gone to the Kii Peninsula to try his luck. ... At three o¡¯clock and sixty-four minutes, the North American Hunter Group killed the first Black Bear, bringing the score to 50.7 points. No impact on the overall situation. The production team sent a notification to everyone, and the buzzing of mobile phones reminded everyone to race against time. Sato clenched his teeth, and his tired body was once again filled with strength. He took off his shirt, revealing his lean and muscular torso, then tore it into long strips and tied them around his legs to improve blood circulation. Only the last two quotas remained. Bi Fang was not to be outdone, searching high and low across the mountains. As long as he hunted one more, his score was likely to break a hundred. The gap from him to the second place would stretch to twenty points. Explore more stories at NovelFire.C?m Unless someone killed a 2.3-meter Brown Bear, it would be impossible to surpass him; the title of first place in the hunting season was within easy reach. The System task could also be completed. At this thought, the audience couldn¡¯t help but feel tense. It¡¯s just that... Crushing the remnants of a campfire on the ground, Bi Fang stood up and looked around. [Are there people in the mountains?] Bi Fang nodded, "Yeah, there are people in the mountains, just don¡¯t know what kind of people they are." Bi Fang took out his water bottle and poured water into the pit, "The campfire is still smoking, but the people have already left. This could easily cause a fire, very amateurish. They didn¡¯t go far." "Maybe it¡¯s campers." [They have a death wish, camping here?] [Didn¡¯t see a Single Black Bear warning sign.] [Aren¡¯t you going to check it out?] [Know why my grandpa lived to a hundred? Because he never meddled in other people¡¯s business.] "Don¡¯t meddle, let¡¯s move on," Bi Fang crushed the charcoal in his hand. Meanwhile. The Japan Office suddenly discovered a recent surge in visa applications. At numerous international airports, many ticket counters also noticed that tickets to Japan were becoming increasingly popular, even to the point of selling out. That day, a young man wearing a duckbill cap arrived at the airport early and, after the broadcast announcement, picked up his suitcase and embarked on a journey to a foreign land. Exactly how many people followed him there, nobody knew. Inside a dimly lit room, Jerret and Mond had pale faces and bloodshot eyes, with deep eye bags. The thick smoke filled the room, and as soon as Mandy walked in, she couldn¡¯t help coughing, but seeing both of them so focused, she forced herself to hold back. Jerret and Mond had reached the point where they had to rely on excessive smoking to stay alert. Mandy stealthily opened a crack in the window and, holding the tape that Bi Fang had returned the night before, played it one by one. What followed was another long process of selection, editing, and viewing. This was the final wrap up. Inside the Taiji Town police station, the British Consul argued forcefully, causing Matsumoto Kiyotaka to feel overwhelmed. Mugalen had already overcome the initial panic, the boy insisting he was asleep and hadn¡¯t seen any suspicious individuals. It made Matsumoto Kiyotaka want to give him a kick. In another room out of sight, an officer unlocked the cuffs of an elderly man with a white beard, grudgingly escorting him out. Outside, a well-dressed, refined lawyer had been waiting for a while. The old man glanced back at the police station and then at the nearby mountains, declining the lawyer¡¯s offer to get into the car. He suddenly became curious about that place mentioned by the station chief. He truly didn¡¯t know, so why was the other party so sure? What exactly was hidden there that required the whole of Taiji Town to cover up? Looking at the giant Killer Whale sculpture by the roadside, the old man pondered thoughtfully. In the bay surrounded by mountains on three sides, seagulls soared in the sky, while the majestic Tiger-headed Sea Eagle mingled among them, emitting a deep eagle¡¯s cry. It dove down at high speed, grabbed a large fat fish, causing the fishermen on the boat to shout loudly. The horn sounded, issuing orders, and the fishing boats moored at the shore set out again. They lined up and converged towards the center. Before long, hundreds of dolphins leaped out of the water. The intense stench of blood spread through the happy town with the sea breeze. The piercing cries seemed to wail in agony. Thousands of miles away, an airplane landed in Alaska of the Ugly Country. On the runway, Morishita Suji, dressed sharply, adjusted his glasses as he descended from the stairs, breathing in the air of this land and finding it sweet; his face beamed with a consistent smile. Less than a week remained until the committee meeting here. Morishita Suji pulled out a list from his chest, containing many government names that he needed to visit. This committee meeting was extraordinary, and Morishita Suji needed to find more allies to support the event¡¯s progress and declare to the world Japan¡¯s upcoming whaling plan. It was a busy and essential errand. But Morishita Suji was full of confidence. So, who to visit first? Chapter 599 - 596 . Still occupying the seat, maintaining perfect attendance... Under the moonlight, the sea waves twinkled. The air was filled with the salty tang of the sea, along with a strong smell of paint. Bi Fang reached out to grab the railing on the boat, slowly pulling himself up, the droplets of water on the tips of his hair falling in a chain into the sea, making a faint sound. The tides continued unabated, everything concealed by the sounds of the waves. The night and the sound of the tide became the best protectors for the two individuals. Once on deck, stepping over the long pole at their feet, Bi Fang took off his shirt, wrung it out by the side, put it back on, then headed to the front of the driving gear. Under the moonlight, one could clearly see that it was a very ordinary old lock. It was normal; coastal fishing boats were not like ocean-going vessels. With only one driving gear, there weren¡¯t too many security measures in place, and the locks they used were old, even becoming rusty from constant exposure to wind and rain. Only some of the newer boats would use more complex locking mechanisms, which was why Bi Fang had not chosen the new boat closer to the cliff. You could smell that pungent paint odor from afar, not even the sea breeze could mask it. Bi Fang took a piece of wire from his pocket, folded it to make one end longer than the other, straightened both ends, and bent the longer end at about one centimeter to a ninety-degree angle to form a torsion wrench. He inserted it into the lock core and began to manipulate the interior tumblers. Mugalen casually looked around and said in a low voice, "How are you so skilled at this?" "Didn¡¯t you learn this when you were with Deer Hunter?" "..." Mugalen fell silent for a moment, then answered truthfully, "Anyway, I never learned it." "Then you were really unlucky." Mugalen¡¯s facial muscles twitched, and he turned to face outward, focusing on keeping watch. Bi Fang inserted the bent torsion wrench into the bottom of the keyhole, applying a gentle turning force to one side. He did not know which way the key would turn, so he had to try clockwise and counterclockwise, each with a 50% chance, carefully feeling for the resistance. The resistance would be a little less if he turned it in the correct direction. While maintaining pressure on the wrench, Bi Fang inserted the lock-picking paperclip into the top of the keyhole and started "searching for the sweet spot." Most American locks have at least five pins that need to be set before the lock can open. Keeping the pressure on the wrench, Bi Fang pushed each pin to its unlocking position, starting from the inside one by one, feeling a slight springiness until he heard a faint click. Although he knew the technique, Bi Fang was still a beginner and could only try them one by one. It was said that experts could succeed all at once. The pressure on the wire increased, and each time he encountered a pin, Bi Fang would wiggle the lock-picking needle. Five minutes later, Mugalen heard a click. Everything went smoothly. The moon was very round tonight, and even inside the driving gear room, visibility was clear. The driving gear room was cramped, filled with electronic equipment, a helm, and a small bed, the air saturated with the lingering smells of sweat, smoke, and fish from the day. "Did you bring the phone?" "I did." Mugalen handed over a packet made of aluminum foil that was unmistakably shaped like a phone. The packaging was very secure, comprising four layers of foil paper. No matter the environment, the most dangerous factor might just be the device found in the pockets of people from most countries. In certain areas, communication companies are state-owned enterprises. If one finds themselves in these regions, information security becomes especially important. All foreign mobile phones appearing in the cellular network are external devices, thus more easily tracked. Bi Fang was worried that the Japanese People might exploit this fact; whenever they moved at night, he would either shield these devices or completely disable them, or place them inside a bag made of four layers of aluminum foil to block incoming and outgoing signals. Smart devices would redirect all battery power to search for a signal, so single or double layers of aluminum foil could not shield them, and the foil must wrap tightly around the device, leaving no gaps. Mugalen clearly followed Bi Fang¡¯s instructions to the letter. Using the previous method, Bi Fang quickly installed the devices in inconspicuous places. After completing everything, the two left the cockpit and relocked it. Everything was as it had been before. "Wait," Bi Fang called to Mugalen, who was about to go to sea, and cast his gaze towards the deck on the side. The long pole on the deck was very noticeable; everyone knew it was the lethal weapon used for killing dolphins. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "We should also set one up on this pole." The pole was hollow, which gave it better elasticity and made it lighter. Not only did it produce louder sounds, it was also easier to use, but this also provided an excellent hiding place for crucial equipment. "The paint smell is too strong." Bi Fang suppressed the urge to sneeze, fixed the camera inside the hollow pole at a certain position, and followed Mugalen, moving silently like water. The people on the mountain had no idea that someone had completed this task right under their noses. In the night, Asuka stared blankly as two dark figures climbed up the cliff and gradually vanished into the woods. He looked up at the moon, finding it somewhat glaring, not because he was still half asleep. Somehow, Asuka chose not to shout but instead his intuition told him that ordinary petty thieves wouldn¡¯t possess such agility, nor would they target a small fishing boat that had nothing of value. The only thing of value on the fishing boat was probably the boat itself, right? But that would be hard to sell since it couldn¡¯t be taken to a place where nobody recognized it to be bought and sold. Who exactly were they? The young Asuka sat on the edge of the bed, and as he saw the figures, he became anxious, held his breath, and dared not breathe heavily, fearing they might be dangerous criminals. But those two men seemed not to notice him at all. Until they left, they never realized that not far from them, on a new fishing boat, a young man was hiding, with only his eyes revealed, watching them through the window. It wasn¡¯t until they had left that Asuka gasped for air, realizing he had been holding his breath all along. After calming down for quite a while, Asuka¡¯s first reaction was to call the police. Those two were definitely not good people! Yet this thought had barely materialized when Asuka dismissed it. Even if they were not good people, what could they be doing here? Stealing money? There was no money on the fishing boat. Asuka furrowed his brows, thinking hard. Suddenly, he recalled something his father had said when he was drunk during the day. "These dolphin protectors, really have nothing better to do. Just yesterday, we discovered two cameras. What are they trying to do? What do they want? Destroy the foundation handed down by our ancestors? Ah!" "Asuka, if you see them, tell me. We need to catch them all and lock them up in jail. Only then will they stop meddling!" "Dolphin Bay is our place, it has nothing to do with them, nothing!" With that in mind, Nasunobu Asuka took a deep breath. "No way, what a coincidence that I would encounter this?" What should I do? Should I tell my father and the others? Although the dolphin hunting season had started as scheduled, Asuka could sense that this year, people weren¡¯t as happy as expected. Indeed, there was joy when they caught dolphins and received their money during the day, but that joy quickly turned into worry. It was not because there was less money, but because someone was trying to destroy this joy that might still exist in the future. But... Thinking of the bloodiness during the day, the screams of those dolphins, the dolphin shows witnessed in his childhood, and the 396,000 yen that were now in his possession. It wasn¡¯t three thousand, six thousand, but a full 396,000! Yes, Asuka had also received some money. He had only tapped the pole during the day, and even though his hands were still sore, he had earned over three thousand dollars, close to four hundred thousand yen. When the captain took the money from the trainer and distributed it among the crew, Asuka was shocked; joy flooded his mind, and he was dazed, finding it hard to believe. Such a thick stack of banknotes was now his. Even though he was the youngest, the least experienced, and had received the least amount of money, it was still over 270,000 yen, enough to buy a top-configured computer. With that, he could play any game he wanted with perfect performance. The scent of blood in the air had turned into the aroma of the finest tuna sushi. It was the smell of luxury, the scent of indulgence. Even his sense of guilt had lessened a great deal. Even if the captain made him sleep in this freshly painted, new ship to get accustomed to "sea sickness," he had no complaints at all. But now, Asuka recalled that feeling of guilt. The moonlight shone brightly. After much contemplation, Asuka took a deep breath, lay back on the bed with a sudden movement, and buried his head in the pillow. Forget about it, forget about it. He didn¡¯t see anything! Sleep! Up in the mountains, several people were being scolded by their leader. They had patrolled for so long and hadn¡¯t found a single trace of the other party. "You¡¯re all worthless, pigs, dogs, idiots, fools!" Matsumoto roared, holding a long leash in his hand, at the end of which was a Black Back German Shepherd wagging its tail. This was a police dog. Matsumoto was going all-out to find someone. While he was scolding them, the calm German Shepherd sitting on the ground suddenly stopped wagging its tail, stood up abruptly, and barked towards the trees. "Taro, stop barking, Taro!" Matsumoto called out the Black Back¡¯s name but with no effect. Then, suddenly thinking of something, he exclaimed with surprise, "Did you find a clue?" All that answered Matsumoto were a few shouts. Matsumoto immediately let go of the leash, and the German Shepherd darted off into the forest. Matsumoto kicked a dumbstruck policeman forcefully and shouted angrily, "What are you dazed for, hurry up, go chase!" Only then did the others snap out of it, and they scrambled after the German Shepherd. Unfortunately, it was too dark among the trees; not far into the run, the fastest runner suddenly tripped over a stone and fell to the ground. The rest, caught off guard, tumbled over each other like dominoes. "Useless, useless, useless!" Matsumoto, middle-aged and slower, kept kicking the fallen men furiously, one by one forcing them to get up. In the forest, Bi Fang and Mugalen were on a mission and preparing to return, when suddenly Bi Fang stopped, his ears twitching, "What¡¯s that sound?" "Sound?" Mugalen held his breath and listened. The sea breeze blew across the mountains, stirring the leaves of the whole forest. In July, the most abundant sounds were the chirping of crickets, with fireflies fluttering and dancing around them. After listening for a moment, both of them opened their eyes and exchanged glances. "Police dog!" "Run!" "No need," Bi Fang grabbed Mujialun, who had turned to flee. How could humans possibly outrun dogs? The running speed of medium to large dogs is around fifty kilometers per hour, almost twice that of a human. "What should we do then, kill it?" Mujialun hesitated. "That¡¯s unnecessary," Bi Fang shook his head. To them, a police dog wasn¡¯t much of a threat, just an annoyance, but no matter how troublesome, there was no need to kill a police dog over it. While speaking, Bi Fang pulled out a small plastic bottle from his bag and sprinkled the liquid inside on the ground. "What is this?" Mujialun was startled. "Female dog urine," Bi Fang said calmly. Mujialun: "???" He was not so much shocked by Bi Fang¡¯s action, but rather¡­ "How did you get this stuff?" "Family secret recipe, not to be shared. Alright, let¡¯s go," Bi Fang only poured out a third and then capped the bottle. Gathering that much urine had not been easy for Bi Fang. Minutes later, a robust dog burst out of the bushes, instantly distracted by an odd scent and promptly forgot its mission. By the time Matsumoto and the others arrived, what they saw was a German Shepherd digging incessantly at the ground. Find adventures on NovelFire.C?m "What happened?" Matsumoto was flabbergasted. Apparently hearing Matsumoto¡¯s voice, Taro suddenly came to his senses, realizing his mistake. He lay on the ground, covering his nose with his paws, and whimpered, trying to avoid eye contact. "Ah!!!" Roars echoed through the forest, startling the sleeping birds. By this time, Mujialun and Bi Fang had already walked far away, unable to hear Matsumoto¡¯s shouts. Mujialun¡¯s expression was complex: "You were prepared for this weren¡¯t you?" "Yeah, I gathered most of the bottle a few days ago." The deployment of police dogs was almost a certainty, and in terms of searching, humans were no match for these born hunters. Unfortunately for them, they were up against Bi Fang. Police dogs have a characteristic, which can also be seen as a weakness: the vast majority are males. The nature of males is more suitable for training. Canines have a social hierarchy, just like wolves, with males in a leadership position. They possess a stronger desire to own, greater confidence, and all of these are essential for training. It¡¯s not that there are no females, but the ratio is like that of male to female soldiers¡ªa considerable disparity, with male dogs always being the main force. Based on this, although it could sometimes be difficult to obtain female dog urine, it was one of the most effective tools for diverting a police dog¡¯s attention. Bi Fang had prepared early, and every time he returned to town, the street¡¯s female dogs would walk with their tails tucked at the sight of him. Just spray it where the males can smell it clearly, and even well-trained police dogs can¡¯t resist the temptation of this scent. "Maybe next time they¡¯ll consider changing the gender of the police dogs." "Hahaha." ¡­ The next day, within the police headquarters, someone showed up unexpectedly, causing a big surprise to Matsumoto. "Mr. Morishita Suji, what brings you here?" Chapter 600 - 597: Hold a Spot, Will Be Ready Soon Just a little bit more, finish revising before one o¡¯clock "How many points?" Bi Fang, with a thatch needle in his mouth, leaned on a spear cradled in his arms against a tree, fixing his gaze on the scoring official. The thatch needle in his mouth swayed back and forth as if it was about to shoot out and pierce someone¡¯s neck. March is the season for eating thatch needles, but by July, they are too tough and prickly¡ªeating them would cause nosebleeds. Ikeda marked off checkboxes on paper with trembling hands, as large beads of sweat fell from beside his temples. He only felt as if a sharp blade hung over his neck, its edge menacingly close. "Is it that hot?" Ikeda forced a smile, "No, not at all." Bi Fang looked up at the sun. Although it was midsummer, they were in the shade of the trees¡ªit shouldn¡¯t be sweaty enough to soak through one¡¯s back, right? The young people these days seem to be getting weaker and weaker. "So, how many points?" Chaki Shintaro shouted from the side, "One hundred and nineteen!" Ikeda was startled. One nine, such a coincidental number! Yet, with Bi Fang inquiring again on the other side, Ikeda quickly did the math, his scalp prickling with anxiety. Hesitantly, he said, "Seven... seven point four points?" "You¡¯re the scorer, so why are you asking me?" Bi Fang retorted, always feeling that the guy in front of him seemed nervously guilty. Did he steal my points? Ah, whatever. If they¡¯re stolen, they¡¯re stolen. Quibbling over a minute or two is certainly not something within my character to do. What a hassle. After confirmation, Bi Fang, who already had ten point two points, gained another twenty-seven point seven points. Total 37.2 points! The hunting leaderboard rapidly updated, and his name, which had slipped to seventh place, swiftly climbed, once again taking the top spot! He pulled ahead of the second place Sato by nearly twenty points, 19.7 to be exact! Twenty points, that¡¯s the equivalent of two grown black bears. Unless one could be as lucky as Bi Fang, encountering a brown bear, or even a brown bear in a hunting state, under normal circumstances, it would take at least a week to catch up! [Daytime Fireworks donated 100 Wolf Brushes to the protagonist¡ªRubbing down Little Japan¡¯s sharp edge!] [Thirty-five hunters, a hundred black bears, averaging less than three bears per person. If we calculate an average of ten points per bear, Old Fang has already surpassed this average number] [And he¡¯s the first one to do so, while the second place only has nineteen points, which is roughly two black bears!] [Red Palms Stirring the Clear Waves donated 1 yacht to the host] [So many tycoons, I¡¯m begging to tag along!!! Come check out my live stream.] Once the scoring was done, Bi Fang hadn¡¯t forgotten about the dead wild pig nearby¡ªhe¡¯d found an oversight. Speaking of which, there¡¯s been quite a lot of game these past two days. The sika deer from a few days ago is still not finished eating; they stored it in a restaurant freezer, and now they¡¯ve got another wild pig today. The harvest is plentiful. In the izakaya. "Forty points? How can we catch up to that?" In the restaurant, both Tanaka and Okuyama were dumbfounded. They were also quite lucky, the two of them had killed three bears and moved up to the second... oh, it¡¯s the third place now. The efficiency within five days was already considered high; normally, around now, it would be time for each person to have bagged one. But at one per person, someone actually had four? "Damn it! We¡¯re losing face for the entire Yamato nationality!" A cup was slammed onto the table, and Okuyama let out a growl as he picked up a backpack next to him and headed outside. Now was not the time to rest; they had to seize every moment to catch up! Over the next few days, the rankings changed time and again. Dolphin Bay remained as usual, albeit the bloodshed from that day was gone. Each day, boats patrolled the area, checking for any new groups of dolphins. Finally, on the eighth day, a hunter had to withdraw due to injury¡ªnot from a bear, but from another hunter¡¯s trap. A thigh was pierced on the spot by a crossbow trap, pinning the victim firmly to the ground, unable to move. The scene was extremely gory for a while until staff arrived and carried the victim away on a stretcher. Luckily, those who came here were all experienced old hunters who knew some first aid, so no serious trouble arose. The hunter who had set the trap was also punished, with two points deducted from his score, causing his ranking to drop by one; the reason was that the trap wasn¡¯t clearly marked. Ironically, the person who lost points was Bosen. What on earth was this old man trying to do? Every day, not only did Bi Fang have to deal with patrolling at night, but he also had to be wary of this old scorpion lurking in the shadows. The audience wasn¡¯t aware of what Bosen had done before and simply felt sorry for the old man. Just like that, he lost two points¡ªthat¡¯s money! There went ten thousand bucks. [That¡¯s ridiculous. If you step into it yourself, how can you blame someone else?] [Are they bullying an old man?] "No, Bosen does have to take some responsibility," Bi Fang shook his head. "I¡¯ve reviewed the playback. A normal hunter wouldn¡¯t have dug a trap there because it¡¯s not a beast path. Putting it there was pure luck; typically, no beast would pass by. It¡¯s a waste of time." "Moreover, there weren¡¯t obvious signs around the trap, so that¡¯s why the other hunter got caught in it." [Signs? What¡¯s that?] [Like a marker? But wouldn¡¯t animals notice that?] The audience was confused. Bi Fang shook his head: "Hunters, like animals, care a lot about their territory. They usually only operate within areas they are familiar with. Globetrotters like me are the exception." "Back in the mountains, hunters had their own range of activity to prevent accidentally harming someone. Near traps they set, nets, or hidden snares, they would place clear markers. Animals can¡¯t understand them, but hunters get it right away, like pressing down a fixed number of weeds, etc." Ordinary people, being careless, have no awareness of this and might still fall for marked traps. How could someone capable of obtaining a professional hunter¡¯s license, and still use primitive methods to hunt black bears, not know this? The physical condition of most hunters was already on the decline. Unlike Bi Fang, with his strong and powerful body, almost all of them relied on traps. For a trapper to fall into his own trap, it only indicates that Bosen did nothing and even made the trap very concealed. Discover stories at NovelFire.C?m What kind of person would expend such effort to make a trap in a completely useless place, not on a beast¡¯s trail, and without leaving any signs? Using bamboo strips to create a flexible bamboo crossbow trap is something skilled hunters would use to catch fierce beasts. Sharp wooden stakes are more commonly used, and bamboo is only employed when there is a rush. A trap can capture animals, and can equally ensnare humans. Such behavior, in Bi Fang¡¯s eyes, was against the rules. Even in North America, based on development principles, this kind of rationale shouldn¡¯t be lost. Unless... Bi Fang¡¯s mind conjured a map of the whole Honshu Island, and above the Kii Peninsula, aside from Wakayama Prefecture, there were a few other prefectures. However, in the vicinity of Wakayama Prefecture, there were only six hunters active. Bi Fang himself, including Bosen, Mugalen, this one injured in retirement, plus another two hunters whom he had never met and whose names he barely remembered. Just the six of them. Bosen, could it be intentional? Bi Fang was suddenly shocked. One day later. The accident indeed occurred again, involving the two hunters whom Bi Fang hadn¡¯t met before. This time it was more tragic, a direct mishap, and they encountered attacks from more than two brown bears. These were the second and third brown bears appearing since the start of the hunting season. When the two hunters saw them, they were scared stiff. The situation was so urgent that all viewers from Bi Fang¡¯s live stream escaped. Almost in the blink of an encounter, with no hesitation left in their minds, they had one thought. Run! Escape as far as you can. The two turned and ran. If the brown bears had been fighting each other, that would have been one thing, but unfortunately, these two bears were only posturing when they happened upon the intruders, and in a fury, they gave chase. The two hunters were not familiar with each other; they had merely teamed up because they both came from the Ugly Country. And when disaster struck, it was every man for himself. The two brown bears might as well have planned it; each bear pursued one hunter. Tens of millions of viewers watched as if they were watching a movie, their palms sweaty. The whole scene unfolded just thirteen kilometers away from Bi Fang¡¯s mountain head, yet he was powerless to intervene. These were two adult male brown bears, both about two meters three in size, no less formidable than the one Bi Fang had encountered. Perhaps even more so. Because battles among brown bears often involve newcomers challenging the king, it meant that one of the bears was the bear king. The length of brown bears ranges from one meter five to two meters eight, but given the lower latitude of Japan, their size generally does not exceed two meters four. This was no movie shoot; Little Leo had a musket, but these two had none. The only thing that could save their lives was an alarm. After the incident, the Japanese Government was dumbfounded and dispatched a standby guard team and helicopter at top speed. The audience too learned for the first time that not all people are alike; Bi Fang¡¯s ability to wrangle under a brown bear¡¯s grasp wasn¡¯t due to luck, but strength and the confidence to wait for the poison to take effect. The two couldn¡¯t be said to be lacking, as they fired their bullets at the very moment the brown bear pounced. After that, the live broadcast was cut off. [Reminder: You can breathe] [A bit scared, these two won¡¯t be in trouble, right?] [Hope they are alright] The barrage of comments was filled with prayers. The Shuiyou finally understood what a single brown bear means to humans. It¡¯s a terrible monster. With such an incident, none of the hunters were in the mood anymore. In less than three days, three hunters had accidents, and this situation doomed them to be eliminated. When night fell, Bi Fang sat beside the campfire, grilling wild boar meat, chewing with difficulty, just as he received a notice issued by the Japanese Government. One was a medical report, the second a declaration regarding the live broadcast, and the third pertained to the identities of the two brown bears. Bi Fang carefully reviewed the first two reports and said to the audience, "It¡¯s not bad, there¡¯s no life-threatening danger. It¡¯s just fractures, mostly on limbs, and there are no disabilities. The live-stream can continue; there¡¯s no problem." Hearing Bi Fang¡¯s personal confirmation, the Shuiyou all breathed a sigh of relief, and then they began to discuss the day¡¯s harrowing experiences. That was terrifying. And when I think about the life-and-death crises Bi Fang has faced before, it¡¯s even more fucking terrifying. Bi Fang, gnawing on pork, felt gloomy. No one could be happy after such an incident. Now, in Wakayama Prefecture, only Bosen, Mugalen, and Bi Fang himself were left. That old rascal now had twenty-three points, ranking third. While looking at the third report, Bi Fang bit into the wild boar meat, his cheeks aching as if chewing dried beef strips. This thing¡¯s texture is so rough! It¡¯s tough to cut, and even tougher to chew! Without the miracle of a pressure cooker, dealing with wild boar meat is really troublesome. And the boar wasn¡¯t castrated, so it has an extremely strong stench. If it weren¡¯t for getting a better set of teeth, I would surely have bits of meat stuck in my teeth now. "These two were really unlucky to come across something like this." "Old Fang encountered a brown bear killing a black bear, which was crude, but these two pure unlucky fellows encountered a brown bear fighting another brown bear." "And they were still in a standoff, such cursed luck." By the time Bi Fang finished reading the third notice, it turned out that one of them was indeed the Bear King. Japan had even given it a special name, calling it Matsutaro. A sumo wrestler from ancient Japan who was rather famous. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This guy¡¯s body length reached an impressive 2.47 meters, over 2.4 and close to 2.5 meters, which is quite rare in Japan. As for the other bear, clearly, it was the one that had challenged the brown bear. "Ah, didn¡¯t Old Fang say that brown bears don¡¯t have a strong sense of territory? Then why did they fight?" Bi Fang shook his head, "It¡¯s different. Having a weak sense of territory doesn¡¯t conflict with becoming the king of a group, monopolizing mating rights, and food." Once you are king, you can rightfully steal food, and if there is resistance, it¡¯s seen as a challenge. "The gap between humans is big, and it¡¯s the same between animals. The Bear King¡¯s strength often far exceeds other bears of the same species. Among the two injured, the one who encountered the Bear King had the worst luck; he was seriously injured and it took the helicopter more than a dozen shots when they arrived." "While for the other one, it only took five shots to deal with. Even if it were me, it would be a close call, and I¡¯d probably be knocked down too." "Some animal kings¡¯ fame can even spread across the world, like the Brown Bear King of Katmai National Park in Alaska, Tuyuk. He became the king of the Katmai area for over 10 years. Several thousand brown bears live in his territory, all competing for the same food." "But Bear King Tuyuk always controlled the largest of several brown bear territories in the Katmai area and faced challenges from other male bears, mainly aiming to take over the territory and compete for a unique food¡ªsalmon. It wasn¡¯t until he got old that he was dethroned and driven away." "Besides, there¡¯s Carter, the Peninsula Giant Bear King of Alaska. That guy is even more formidable, weighing over 680 kilograms at his peak, with a huge skeleton to match." The research institute that found him was fascinated. "I¡¯ve never seen a bear so confidently dominant. The other bears didn¡¯t even dare to act, like trying to intimidate or challenge it. They just quietly left or even turned tail and fled." "There¡¯s also Piro, the Bear King of the Pyrenees Mountains, whose reign was even longer, over twenty years, and he was extremely tyrannical, with a strong desire to control female bears, especially keen on killing cubs, so much so that it affected the local brown bear population." Piro¡¯s actions were tantamount to causing a bear population to face the threat of extinction. "These guys are like the King of Chu, L¨¹ Fengxian, and the Western Hannibal among humans, having an overwhelming dominance over ordinary bears." Bi Fang spoke with envy in his tone. Currently, he might be able to deal with some ordinary bears by exploiting their weaknesses, but against such individuals, he had no chance of winning. It was a different level, maybe trying with dual orange max level skills? Or even higher? Chapter 601 - 598 (Placeholder Post) Stirring Up Trouble ``` He finished making adjustments at half past one. "How many points?" Bi Fang bit down on a straw needle, holding the spear and leaning against a tree, his eyes fixed intently on the scoring official. The straw needle in his mouth kept swaying as if it might shoot out any moment and stick into someone¡¯s neck. March was the proper season for eating straw needles; by July, they were no longer edible due to their hardened and prickly nature, which could cause nosebleeds if consumed. Ikeda ticked off something on the paper with trembling hands, large beads of sweat falling by his temples; he felt as though he was wearing a sharp blade around his neck, its edge threatening. "Is it that hot?" Ikeda forced a smile, "No, not at all." Bi Fang looked up at the sun. Although it was the height of summer, they were in the shade of the trees. Surely it wasn¡¯t sweaty enough to warrant this reaction? The youth of today are really becoming more fragile. "So, how many points?" Chaki Shintaro bellowed from the side, "One meter and nineteen!" Ikeda¡¯s heart skipped a beat. One-nine? What an unlikely number! Yet Bi Fang was asking again and he quickly did the math, his scalp going numb before hesitantly responding, "Seven¡­ seven point four points?" "Why are you asking me when you¡¯re the scorekeeper?" Bi Fang retorted, he always felt like the guy in front of him was nervous about something. Has he stolen my points? Well, whatever, if he stole them, so be it. Fussing over a minute or two wasn¡¯t something in his character. What a hassle. After confirmation, Bi Fang, who already had ten point two points, earned another twenty-seven point seven points. That made a total of 37.2 points! The hunting leaderboard quickly updated and his name, which had dropped to seventh place, jumped up rapidly, returning him to the top spot! He was now a considerable nineteen point seven points ahead of the second place, Sato¡ªnearly twenty points! Twenty points, which would equate to two adult black bears¡¯ worth of points. Unless someone had the good fortune to encounter a brown bear, or even a brown bear in hunting mode like Bi Fang did, it would take at least a week to catch up under normal circumstances! [Daytime Fireworks gifted the host Wolf Brush *100¡ªdampen the spirits of little Japan!] [Thirty-five hunters, one hundred black bears-really, that averages out to less than three per person. If we go by the average of ten points per bear, Old Fang has already surpassed this average.] [And he¡¯s the first one to do so; the second place only has nineteen points, which is roughly equivalent to two black bears!] [Red Palms Stirring the Clear Waves gifted the host a yacht *1.] [So many tycoons, looking for a leg up!!! Come check out my stream.] After the scoring was finished, Bi Fang didn¡¯t forget about the wild boar that lay dead beside him, seemingly a bonus. Speaking of which, there were plenty of game animals these past two days; he hadn¡¯t even finished the sika deer meat from a few days ago, which he stored in the freezer of a restaurant, and now there was this wild boar. Quite a bountiful harvest. Inside the izakaya, "Forty points? How are we supposed to catch up?" Find more to read at NovelFire.C?m In the restaurant, Tanaka and Okuyama were flabbergasted. They too were lucky; together, the pairs had hunted down three bears, ranking them at second¡­ oh, they were now third. ``` Five days was quite efficient, normally now it should be one person per catch. But at one person per catch, is there actually someone with four? "Damn! We¡¯re dishonoring the entire Yamato nationality!" The cup was slammed down on the table as Okuyama let out a low growl and picked up a nearby backpack to leave. It wasn¡¯t time to rest now; they needed to make the most of every moment to catch up! In the following several days, the rankings changed repeatedly. Dolphin Bay remained the same as always, only the blood from that day had vanished. Now there were boats patrolling every day, checking for new groups of dolphins. Finally, on the eighth day, a hunter was eliminated due to an injury¡ªbut not from a bear. Instead, he fell victim to another hunter¡¯s trap. His thigh was pierced by a crossbow trap on the spot, pinning him to the ground, immobilized. The scene was gruesomely bloody for a time until the staff members arrived and carried him off on a stretcher. Luckily, those who came here were seasoned hunters, more or less familiar with some first aid, so no serious issues arose. The hunter who had set the trap also received a penalty: two points were deducted, and his ranking dropped one place, the reason being that the trap had not been clearly marked. Ironically, the person who was penalized was none other than Bosen. What on earth was this old man up to? Every day, Bi Fang not only had to deal with the nighttime patrols but also be wary of this old scorpion lurking in the shadows. The audience didn¡¯t know what Bosen had done before and just felt that the old man was somewhat unlucky. Just like that, two points¡ªequivalent to money¡ªwere gone. That¡¯s ten thousand bucks gone. [This is just too outrageous, stepping into it oneself, how can it be someone else¡¯s fault?] [Are they bullying an old man?] "No, Bosen does bear some responsibility," Bi Fang shook his head. "I¡¯ve reviewed the footage. A normal hunter wouldn¡¯t dig a trap in that kind of place, because it¡¯s not an animal path. Putting it there is just a matter of luck; generally, no animal would pass by¡ªit¡¯s a waste of time." "Moreover, there were no clear stealth marks around the trap, which is why the hunter stepped into it." [Stealth marks? What is that?] [Signals? But wouldn¡¯t that be detected by the animals?] The audience was somewhat puzzled. Bi Fang shook his head: "Hunters, like animals, take great care of their territory. They usually only move within familiar ranges, like myself traveling around the world is rare." "In the past when in the mountains, hunters had their own zones to avoid misfiring at others. Near their own set traps, snares, or hidden traps, they would mark it with something quite noticeable. Animals don¡¯t understand, but hunters see it clearly, like pressing down a fixed amount of underbrush and so on." An average person is careless and wouldn¡¯t normally be aware of this, and even if they made the stealth marks, they might still fall victim. How could someone eligible for a Professional Hunter¡¯s license, capable of hunting black bears using primitive methods, possibly not know this? Most hunters were already experiencing a decline in physical fitness; they didn¡¯t have the robust and powerful bodies like Bi Fang, and almost all of them relied on traps. Bosen, who played with traps, fell for one¡ªit only means he didn¡¯t do anything, and he even made the trap extremely concealed. What kind of person would bother with setting up a trap in such a useless place, not only away from any animal paths, but also without leaving any stealth marks? Using bamboo strips to make a spring-loaded bamboo crossbow trap is a technique typically used by good hunters to catch fierce beasts. However, sharpened wooden stakes are used more often. Bamboo strips are used when time is short. A trap can catch an animal, and it can also catch a person. In Bi Fang¡¯s eyes, Bosen¡¯s actions were against the rules. Even in North America, considering its development, this sort of principle shouldn¡¯t be unknown. Unless... ``` Bi Fang¡¯s mind conjured up the entire map of Honshu Island. Above the Kii Peninsula, besides Wakayama Prefecture, there were several other prefectures, but only six hunters were active near Wakayama Prefecture. Bi Fang himself, including Bosen and Mugalen, this hunter who retired due to injury, and two other team hunters whom he had not yet met and whose names Bi Fang could not quite remember. Only these six. Bosen, could it be intentional? Bi Fang was suddenly startled. One day later. The accident indeed happened again. It was the two hunters whom he had not yet met. This time it was worse, they made a mistake and encountered an attack by more than two brown bears. These were the second and third brown bears that had appeared since the start of the hunting season. The hunters were petrified at the sight of them. The situation was so urgent that all the viewers from Bi Fang¡¯s live stream had left. Almost the instant they came face to face, the two men had no hesitation, with only one thought in mind. Run! Run as far as they could. The two turned and fled. If the brown bears had been fighting, it might have been different, but unfortunately, the two bears were only in a standoff. When they encountered the two intruders, they chased after them furiously. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The two men were not familiar with each other; they had teamed up simply because they both came from the Ugly Country. When disaster struck, each ran for his life. It was as if the two brown bears had conspired together, with one bear chasing each man. Tens of millions of viewers watched as if it were a movie, their palms sweaty with tension. The whole incident was happening just thirteen kilometers away from Bi Fang¡¯s hilltop, and he was powerless to do anything about it. These were two adult male brown bears, both about 2.3 meters in size, on par with the one Bi Fang had encountered. Perhaps even exceeding it. Because among brown bears, a struggle usually meant a challenger taking on the king, this meant that one of them could be the bear king. The length of a brown bear ranges from 1.5 to 2.8 meters, but given the lower latitude of Japan, the size of the brown bears normally does not exceed 2.4 meters. This was not a movie. Little Leo still had a musket, but these two men had none, their only lifesaver being an alarm device. After the incident, the Japanese Government was bewildered and dispatched an always-ready guard team and helicopter at top speed. The audience was seeing for the first time that not all people were the same; Bi Fang¡¯s ability to escape the clutches of a brown bear was not due to luck, but to strength, and also the confidence of waiting for the toxin to take effect. The two hunters were not bad; the moment the brown bear pounced, they fired their bullets. After that, the live stream was cut off. [Just a reminder, you can breathe] [I¡¯m kind of scared, I hope nothing happens to these two] [I hope they¡¯re okay] The barrage was full of prayers. The Shuiyou finally understood what a single brown bear meant for humans. It was a terrifying beast. With such an incident, none of the hunters were in the mood anymore. Within three days, three hunters had accidents; under such circumstances, they were destined to be eliminated. By evening, Bi Fang sat beside the campfire, roasting wild boar meat, struggling to chew when he received a notice from the Japanese Government. One was a medical examination report, the second was a statement about the live stream, and the third concerned the identity of the two brown bears. ``` Bi Fang carefully reviewed the first two reports and said to the audience, "It¡¯s alright, there¡¯s no life-threatening danger, just fractures, mostly on the limbs, and no debilitating injuries. The livestream can continue without any problems." Relieved by Bi Fang¡¯s own admission, Shuiyou all let out a sigh of relief and then began to chatter endlessly about the day¡¯s adventures. That was terrifying. And thinking back on the life-and-death crises Bi Fang had faced before, it was even more damn frightening. Bi Fang gnawed on pork, his mood gloomy. Nobody could be happy in such a situation. Now in Wakayama Prefecture, only Bosen, Mugalen, and Bi Fang himself were left. That old coot currently holds twenty-three points, ranking third. While looking at the third report, Bi Fang struggled to bite into the wild boar meat, his cheeks aching as if gnawing on jerky. The texture of this thing was incredibly rough! Hard to cut, even harder to chew! Without the magic of a pressure cooker, dealing with wild boar meat is truly a challenge. And since the boar wasn¡¯t castrated, the gamey smell was especially intense. Had it not been for a good set of teeth, there would be meat stuck between every tooth by now. [These two are so unlucky to have encountered such an incident.] [Old Fang faced a brown bear killing a black bear, that was crude. These two pure lads, they met brown bear fighting brown bear.] [And it was a standoff, cursed for eight generations.] By then, Bi Fang had also finished reading the third notice. As expected, one of the bears was the Bear King, and Japan had even given it a special name called Matsutaro. An ancient and fairly famous sumo wrestler in Japan. This guy had an impressive body length of two meters forty-seven, exceeding two meters forty and close to two meters fifty, which is quite rare in Japan. As for the other bear, obviously, it was challenging the brown bear. [Ah, didn¡¯t Old Fang say that brown bears don¡¯t have strong territorial consciousness? Then why were they fighting?] Bi Fang shook his head, "It¡¯s different, having a weak territorial consciousness doesn¡¯t conflict with becoming king of the group, monopolizing breeding rights and food." As long as one becomes king, one can rightfully steal food, and if resisted, it will be regarded as a challenge. "The gap between people is great, and it¡¯s the same between animals. The strength of a bear king often far exceeds that of its own kind. Of the two injured, the one that met the bear king was the unluckiest, suffering severe injuries. When the helicopter arrived, it took more than a dozen shots." "As for the other one, it took only five shots to handle. Even if I encountered it, it would be dicey, probably would have taken me down too." "Sometimes the reputation of some animal kings spreads across the world, like the brown bear king Tuyuk of Katmai National Park in Alaska, reigning over the Katmai area for over 10 years. Its domain was home to thousands of brown bears, all competing for the same food source." "But bear king Tuyuk always controlled the largest territory among several brown bear domains in Katmai and faced challenges from other male bears, mainly intending to take over the territory, gain breeding rights and compete for a unique food source¡ªsalmon. He was only driven away after he grew old and stepped down." "Then there¡¯s Carter, the Peninsula Giant Bear King of Alaska¡ªthis guy is even more powerful, at his peak, he weighed over six hundred and eighty kilograms, his skeletal frame massively large." The research institutes that discovered him were fascinated. "I have never seen a bear so domineering that other bears wouldn¡¯t even dare to act, like trying to intimidate or challenge it. They simply left or turned tail to flee." "There¡¯s also Piro, the bear king of the Pyrenees Mountains. He reigned for an even longer period, over twenty years, and was extremely tyrannical, especially domineering towards female bears, fond of slaughtering cubs to such a degree that it affected the local brown bear population severely." Piro¡¯s actions were equivalent to a bear pushing its own species towards the brink of extinction. "These guys are like the King of Chu, L¨¹ Fengxian, Hannibal of the West to ordinary bears, they wield overwhelming power." Admiration tinged Bi Fang¡¯s voice. Now he might be able to handle ordinary bears by exploiting weaknesses, but against the likes of these, there was no chance of victory. It was a different level altogether. Perhaps full-level orange skills could give it a try? Or even higher? Chapter 602 - 599: Extreme Diving In the dense forest, several figures were running hastily, their faces and necks covered with bloodstains from being scraped by branches. "Ha, heh, haha." Matsumoto Kiyotaka was panting heavily, his windpipe felt like it was being scorched by fire, and the saliva he secreted was like glue, clogging his throat and nearly making him gag; his legs shook uncontrollably and he almost fell to the ground. The mountain path was too difficult to run on, with bushes and pebbles everywhere, making it easy to sprain an ankle with a single misstep. The poise he had during the 5-kilometer run in police academy had long been worn away by the years. Several younger ones beside him were equally exhausted, hardly able to speak. They looked towards Matsumoto Kiyotaka, waiting for instructions. The hills on either side of Dolphin Bay rose over forty meters high, with the cliff face below roared with waves, the cliffs sharp like the cut of a knife. The hill wasn¡¯t big, and the summit was even narrower. Constantly eroded by the sea breeze, this small expanse was only filled with rugged boulders, without a single tree in sight, the area clear for all to see. Matsumoto Kiyotaka lifted his hand to shield his eyes from the sun, his pupils violently constricted, struggling to adjust to the brightness. The eight o¡¯clock sunlight was a radiant white-gold, the entire ocean sparkling with phosphorescence. A light gold hue framed the boundary between the cliff and the sky, dazzlingly bright. But within this brilliance, there was an extremely conspicuous spot. A dark, elongated shadow stood upright at the summit, its edges iron-blue amidst the interplay of light and shadow, like a freshly sharpened steel sword. "General Bi Fang! You have nowhere to run!" Matsumoto Kiyotaka shouted. The height of the small mountain exceeded forty meters¡ªa fall from this height into the water would mean certain death. Matsumoto Kiyotaka didn¡¯t know what the world record for the highest dive was, but he remembered that in his youth he had jumped from a bridge over twenty meters high to save a woman who had fallen into the river, and ended up with a broken leg; if it hadn¡¯t been for the two colleagues with him, he probably would have sunk to the depths alongside the woman. That girl was even unluckier¡ªwithout a basic understanding of how to fall into water and lacking the robust physique of an adult male, she suffered five broken ribs that pierced her lung, and injuries to her esophagus and trachea, along with bruises and abrasions all over her body. The doctor said she was lucky she didn¡¯t break her neck upon impact; otherwise, she would have died on the spot. That incident was the most terrifying scene of Matsumoto Kiyotaka¡¯s career, and since then, his official career had gone quite smoothly. The height now was double that, and there was no way the other party could escape. Matsumoto Kiyotaka didn¡¯t want to take a life unnecessarily, especially since the other party was a celebrity, and right now they were live broadcasting. He was gasping for breath, trying to squeeze out a few words. But in the next moment, Matsumoto Kiyotaka¡¯s pupils shrank to the size of pinpoints. He lost his voice and couldn¡¯t scream out loud. The iron-blue longsword suddenly extended into a hilt, and finally, the hilt became extremely elongated, as if it had turned from a steel sword into a Judgement Cross. But then, the cross seemed to shorten abruptly. No! It didn¡¯t shorten. The man was leaning back¡ªhe was going to jump into the sea! Matsumoto Kiyotaka¡¯s mind froze for an instant. Bravely facing death! The idiom suddenly popped into his head and, mouth agape, he yelled: "Shoot!" Everyone was startled by this command. The target was a world-famous adventurer, and he was currently broadcasting live¡ªwere they really supposed to shoot? "Shoot!!!" Matsumoto Kiyotaka roared again. The young graduates from the police academy, reactively pulled out their P230s from their waists. But before they could aim, the pitch-black cross had already disappeared from their sight. Everyone ran frantically toward the cliff edge, as their legs, once weak and rubbery, propelled forward, nearly causing them to fall to the ground. For Bi Fang, each free fall was a way to feel the true existence of Earth. That sensation of being pulled was incomparable. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The moist, salty sea breeze lifted his hair as Bi Fang stood with his back to the sea and leaned back, entering free fall under the force of gravity. The air was not only tinged with the smell of fish but also carried an extremely thick, rich scent of blood that was getting denser. Forty meters, almost forty-five meters high. Diving as a sport is more difficult and dangerous than most people think. The official world diving record is 59 meters, while ordinary people wouldn¡¯t stand a chance of surviving at 30 meters. Even a fall from around 10 meters, landing on one¡¯s back, abdomen, or head in a seated position, would subject a person to a force of 60g, causing death or disability. In June 2009, around the 14th, at the Beirut Seaside of Lebanon, a boy dived from a 10-meter board, followed by a scream, as the swimming pool quickly reddened. Late, he managed to struggle towards the shore, and the people onshore screamed in horror. Because the boy¡¯s face had split into two halves. His face was longitudinally bisected, everything between his mouth and his eyes completely gone, his tongue and teeth exposed. His teeth were all cracked into segments, visible amidst the bloody mess. Amidst the blood red, they were starkly white. Discover exclusive content at NovelFire.C?m Even professional special forces soldiers often only undertake diving missions of up to twenty-five meters, any higher, and there would be a significant risk of accidents. Was Bi Fang prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice? Of course... not. Bi Fang¡¯s morals weren¡¯t so noble, he was just an ordinary person, albeit more capable, hoping to be of some help. A forty-meter free fall takes only two seconds. The impact of the water on the body falling at high speed is the main difficulty in extreme diving. In professional high-altitude diving, the men¡¯s diving height is 23 to 28 meters, the women¡¯s is 18 to 23 meters, and athletes enter the water at speeds of around 78 to 100 kilometers per hour. The moment a person enters the water, the impact is like driving into a wall at 100 kilometers per hour, which is why divers must enter the water feet first after completing their maneuvers. Only by assuming a standing soldier¡¯s posture is there a slim chance of survival. And there can¡¯t be any rocks underwater. Bi Fang was not one to shoot blindly; he had thoroughly scoped out the underwater terrain during his first diving operation. In midair, Bi Fang twisted his waist and abdomen to quickly adjust his posture. His entire body tensed like a straight and rigid javelin. The waves below the cliff broke one after another, already having disrupted the surface tension. Bi Fang, like a shooting star, glided across the sky and gracefully entered the water. Accompanied by a splash drowned out by the wind, the police who arrived at the cliff saw only the undulating waves. Many young officers widened their eyes in disbelief at the sight of the waveless sea. Dead? "Had he planned to jump all along?" "At this height... wouldn¡¯t he die?" Forty meters down, just the thought made the officers¡¯ legs go weak. But the next second, one officer gasped, his eyes bulging as he collapsed to the ground, shakily pointing toward the sea surface. Everyone looked down, and their expressions instantly froze. Beneath the waves, a dark, long shadow, swift as a sword, raced toward the fishing boat! Chapter 603 - 600 Occupy a Spot Before two o¡¯clock in the morning, he finished revising. Bi Fang struggled to pull the spear from the Black Bear¡¯s body, collapsing onto the ground, gasping for air as he looked up at the twinkling stars above. After three hours of tracking and searching, he was now completely drained. Most Black Bears are still afraid of humans, just like the one before him. This Black Bear was exceptionally good at running, having run from dusk to starry night; it had taken Bi Fang nearly four hours to finally catch and kill it. With this, only five Black Bear quotas remained for the entire hunting season. The hunting season was drawing to a close, from July 12 to today¡¯s August 18, thirty-seven days had passed. However, the more this was the case, the less one could lower their guard. Tonight might be many hunters¡¯ last chance and a sleepless night, which was very dangerous. Animals are more adapted to being active at night than humans. But that had nothing to do with Bi Fang; he was already very tired. Having just killed a Black Bear, he preferred to sleep rather than stay awake all night; he planned to continue tomorrow. He pressed the positioning button, and Bi Fang began to set up a simple shelter. He looked for dry branches and vines on the ground, rolled them crudely into a bird¡¯s nest shape, spread dry leaves over it, and lit camphor tree leaves and "y¨­ki medicine," which was Japanese anthurium, and smoked the area. Mosquitoes and ants don¡¯t like pungent smells. Then he stuffed the ashes into a water bottle, shook it, and poured it on the ground; he had finished these simple tasks before the staff even arrived. Proving that all this was done within a quarter of an hour. "Even if you¡¯re exhausted, don¡¯t joke with your life. The nights by the sea are still quite cool. Cold-blooded animals like snakes enjoy getting close to heat sources, and no one wants to wake up to find a long snake lying on their chest." Bi Fang mustered his last bit of energy to explain, and then waved his hands, "No more, no more, I¡¯m truly too tired and sleepy. When the staff arrives, you can talk to them. Don¡¯t even tell me how many points, I¡¯m going to sleep first." [Don¡¯t worry, Brother Fang, I¡¯ll take care of it for you. If it can be one point, definitely not two.] [???] [Goodnight, Ah-fang.] [Alright, let¡¯s invite the next contestant with a round of applause!] [Others are overtaking on the curve. Just a little more, just a little more.] [So has no one noticed Bosen¡¯s absence? How has he disappeared, it¡¯s been more than a week.] [By the way, why has old Mu also vanished, what¡¯s going on here¡­] Perhaps as the competition was nearing its end, more and more hunters were getting anxious, and the more anxious they grew, the more accidents happened. In the last two days, quite a few hunters had been injured and dropped out of the race. There was even a hunter named Tanaka who had switched from a duo to a solo player. Japan hasn¡¯t issued any announcements, they don¡¯t want public attention shifted to Dolphin Bay. Therefore, many spectators were worried whether Mugalen had been injured, but Bi Fang did not directly respond. So far, only twenty-four hunters were left to compete in the final round. Theoretically, even if the currently last-ranked hunter spent it all on killing five Black Bears, overtaking Bi Fang¡¯s score of seventy-nine points was not impossible. Nevertheless, the possibility was as slim as winning a lottery. But for the top five, there was still hope with just a bit of luck. Like Sato. Suppressed by Bi Fang¡¯s prominence through an entire hunting season, this Y¨­ki Hunter was filled with indignation, swearing to show Bi Fang the true art of bear hunting. While most hunters dared not act at night, he was already making his last desperate efforts. On the other side, at Ichi-bancho No. 1, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, a consulate located 4 minutes east of Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Station, on Uchikudari Street near the western side of the Imperial Palace. The British Consul, upon learning the truth, was clearly livid and vowed to fight for Mugalen¡¯s "safety and welfare." Everything was as the electrician had said. The Consul originally heard about Mugalen¡¯s incident and, regardless of his modest fame as a hunter, didn¡¯t want to deal with it and was about to send Richard away. It wasn¡¯t until Richard took him into a small room and, ten minutes later, the Consul came out adjusting his collar, all smiles. Then, after a moment¡¯s thought, he felt it was inappropriate, so he toned it down, becoming serious. "Rest assured, for the sake of justice, we will not let any British citizen lose his backing!" "Japan has no right to judge our citizens, don¡¯t worry. I understand the urgency, we must not delay, I will leave at once!" Richard nearly rolled his eyes upon hearing this. Arrogant at first, then obsequious; the thought was almost laughable. The Consul left in high spirits, his expression grave but his step light. Years ago, Bi Fang had drifted to the coast near England, ending his ocean survival journey. At that time, no one could have expected that in just half a month, the originally desolate coastline had become a must-visit spot. From desolation to a site filled with camping tents and snack stalls at the foot of the mountain, it only took Bi Fang a few hours of live broadcasting. Now the place still attracts a significant number of visitors daily, truly astonishing. The clarity of Bi Fang¡¯s live stream was off the charts, and the natural scenery captivated everyone who saw it. If a few hours¡¯ footage could have such impact, what would happen if he broadcasted for a month in England? Securing such a person in exchange for such a return was indeed a stroke of luck, and it was not just a noteworthy achievement, but two. Swearing to defend the liberty of Daiyo Empire citizens and inviting the renowned Adventurer, Mr. Bi Fang, to activities in England, weren¡¯t there two? The Consul was already considering where in Daiyo would be suitable for activities. The Tristan da Cunha Islands? Strid Killing Creek? The Consul was torn internally because he seemed unable to find any well-known wilderness areas¡­ Back at the police headquarters in Taiji Town, Nasunobu Asuka had gone home. Matsumoto Kiyotaka couldn¡¯t get anything out of him; he felt regretful that he was living in a modern country. If he could resort to some harsh measures, he was sure to make these people tell the truth. The Chief of the Metropolitan Police had an intuition that the big boy was definitely hiding something from him. The same was true for Mugalen, who even had a higher mental resilience. After guessing that witness testimonies were useless, he became nearly fearless, saying nothing, much like Bosen. These people who licked blood off the blade¡¯s edge were one tougher than the other. Speaking of which, they would soon have to let Bosen go, too, as there was no substantial evidence to hold them any longer. Matsumoto Kiyotaka was very angry, but when he learned of the arrival of the Central Country Consul, his expression grew even darker. Early morning. Dewdrops from the treetops fell from the sky, splashing onto Bi Fang¡¯s forehead. Bi Fang opened his eyes, got up and stretched his muscles, feeling refreshed. By five in the midsummer morning, the sun had already begun to rise, with a moist mist filling the forest and a refreshingly cool temperature. Bi Fang started the live stream; it was too early, and there weren¡¯t many viewers at this time, so he scrolled through the rankings. Overnight, the hunting roster was short by two more Bears. Only the last three Black Bears remained. Early morning. Dewdrops from the treetops fell from the sky, splashing onto Bi Fang¡¯s forehead. Bi Fang opened his eyes, got up and stretched his muscles, feeling refreshed. By five in the midsummer morning, the sun had already begun to rise, with a moist mist filling the forest and a refreshingly cool temperature. Bi Fang started the live stream; it was too early, and there weren¡¯t many viewers at this time, so he scrolled through the rankings. Overnight, the hunting roster was short by two more Bears. Matsumoto Kiyotaka was very angry, but when he learned of the arrival of the Central Country Consul, his expression grew even darker. Early morning. Dewdrops from the treetops fell from the sky, splashing onto Bi Fang¡¯s forehead. Bi Fang opened his eyes, got up and stretched his muscles, feeling refreshed. By five in the midsummer morning, the sun had already begun to rise, with a moist mist filling the forest and a refreshingly cool temperature. Bi Fang started the live stream; it was too early, and there weren¡¯t many viewers at this time, so he scrolled through the rankings. Overnight, the hunting roster was short by two more Bears. Only the last three Black Bears remained. Early morning. Dewdrops from the treetops fell from the sky, splashing onto Bi Fang¡¯s forehead. Bi Fang opened his eyes, got up and stretched his muscles, feeling refreshed. By five in the midsummer morning, the sun had already begun to rise, with a moist mist filling the forest and a refreshingly cool temperature. Bi Fang started the live stream; it was too early, and there weren¡¯t many viewers at this time, so he scrolled through the rankings. Overnight, the hunting roster was short by two more Bears. Matsumoto Kiyotaka was very angry, but when he learned of the arrival of the Central Country Consul, his expression grew even darker. Early morning. Dewdrops from the treetops fell from the sky, splashing onto Bi Fang¡¯s forehead. Bi Fang opened his eyes, got up and stretched his muscles, feeling refreshed. By five in the midsummer morning, the sun had already begun to rise, with a moist mist filling the forest and a refreshingly cool temperature. Bi Fang started the live stream; it was too early, and there weren¡¯t many viewers at this time, so he scrolled through the rankings. Overnight, the hunting roster was short by two more Bears. Only the last three Black Bears remained. Early morning. Dewdrops from the treetops fell from the sky, splashing onto Bi Fang¡¯s forehead. Bi Fang opened his eyes, got up and stretched his muscles, feeling refreshed. By five in the midsummer morning, the sun had already begun to rise, with a moist mist filling the forest and a refreshingly cool temperature. Bi Fang started the live stream; it was too early, and there weren¡¯t many viewers at this time, so he scrolled through the rankings. Overnight, the hunting roster was short by two more Bears. Only the last three Black Bears remained. Early morning. Dewdrops from the treetops fell from the sky, splashing onto Bi Fang¡¯s forehead. Bi Fang opened his eyes, got up and stretched his muscles, feeling refreshed. By five in the midsummer morning, the sun had already begun to rise, with a moist mist filling the forest and a refreshingly cool temperature. Bi Fang started the live stream; it was too early, and there weren¡¯t many viewers at this time, so he scrolled through the rankings. Overnight, the hunting roster was short by two more Bears. Only the last three Black Bears remained. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Early morning. Dewdrops from the treetops fell from the sky, splashing onto Bi Fang¡¯s forehead. Bi Fang opened his eyes, got up and stretched his muscles, feeling refreshed. Explore more at NovelFire.C?m By five in the midsummer morning, the sun had already begun to rise, with a moist mist filling the forest and a refreshingly cool temperature. Bi Fang started the live stream; it was too early, and there weren¡¯t many viewers at this time, so he scrolled through the rankings. Overnight, the hunting roster was short by two more Bears. Chapter 604 - 601 Sunken Ship Bloodied hands suddenly burst out of the water, droplets falling from the palms, the outstretched hands with clearly defined joints firmly grasping the wooden pole, squeezing and pulling with force, the long pole knife writhing like a serpent, slipping from the fisherman¡¯s grasp. But the purpose of the bloodied hand went beyond that, the scythe in his grasp now wielded with a different flair, no longer a tool for killing fish but more like a spear dancing about, its body cutting through the air, smashing directly into the fisherman¡¯s waist, before finally pressing down hard. "Splash!" The loud sound of something hitting the water frightened everyone senseless. "Ghosts!" One fisherman, having seen the bloodied hand, screamed in terror, shouting that there were mountain ghosts; after a few steps, he stumbled and fell off the boat, plunging into the water as well. Bloodied spray scattered everywhere. With two people falling into the water one after the other, the rest began to panic, not even understanding what was happening. Mountain ghosts? Who would believe in ghost stories meant to lull children to sleep? But no one could make sense of the current situation. First, the sound of gunfire was terrifying enough, followed by the sight of bloody hands, and now people were falling into the water; the fishermen still casting nets were overcome with fear, not daring to move, as if beneath the bloody waters lurked a Great White Shark waiting to choose its prey. Your next read is at NovelFire.C?m Bi Fang stood on his feet beneath the fishing boat, crouching as if seated, then he grabbed the edge of the boat and pushed hard with his legs, shooting through the water like an arrow released from its bow, heading towards the depths. The other fishermen could only see a dark shadow moving under the bloody water, like a large fish, but when they rubbed their eyes and looked again, the shadow had disappeared. "What, what was that?" "A shark?" "No, not a shark." "Thud!" An eerie knocking sound came from beneath the wooden boat, causing a slight tremor on the surface of the water. The fishermen shouted, "What¡¯s that noise?" "Thud! Thud! Thud!" sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A series of rhythmic knocking sounds emanated from below the boat, and the fishermen on board, in a state of chaos, thrust their long knives into the sea with all their might. The waters of Dolphin Bay were shallow, and the fishing boats here were different from the ones outside that beat on poles; these were large, wooden flatboats. Bi Fang arrived under one of the fishing boats and raised the long-handled knife he had just seized, flexing his muscles and stabbing forcefully at the bottom of the boat. Perhaps it was because he had killed too many dolphins, but the wooden spear in his hand was unexpectedly blunt; when it struck the bottom of the boat, it made a sound similar to that of the fishermen beating on their poles. Matsumoto Kiyotaka¡¯s handgun hadn¡¯t hit him at all, leaving Bi Fang still in top form. Ordinary people with a gun have less than a 10% accuracy rate beyond fifteen meters; even for professionally trained personnel, accuracy is below 30%. Key to this is that the resistance in water is eight hundred times that of air; an AK47 bullet fired into the water can only travel one and a half meters. What Matsumoto Kiyotaka and his men were using were P230s, standard issue for Japanese police, which Japan had also modified somewhat, generally speaking, a handgun only slightly more powerful than a revolver. With limited firepower, hoping to hit a target that¡¯s already off-angle due to refraction and impeded by water resistance is practically a pipe dream. Accompanied by mysterious knocking sounds, the fishermen dared not move recklessly, and the dolphins, which had been pushed to Dolphin Bay, finally got a chance to catch their breath and began to struggle mightily, splashing huge waves of blood onto everyone. "Dolphins! Catch the dolphins! They¡¯re escaping! Pull the net, pull the net quickly!" A fisherman with a beard, clearly older, dove into the sea with a lunge, pulling up the fishing net that was nearly breached by the dolphins. The special anatomy of the dolphins prevents them from moving backward, allowing them only to move forward, so once entangled in the fishing nets, they¡¯re almost certainly doomed to be unable to escape. Underwater, Bi Fang clenched his teeth, still feeling exhausted. Since diving in and working on the boat, he hadn¡¯t gone to the surface for air, and the wooden planks at the bottom of the boat had turned into sawdust, with just a bit left to go. Stirring his lungs, Bi Fang exhaled a breath of spent air. It was hard to push against anything in the water; he could only rely on the strength of his waist and abdomen. To facilitate swimming, he had already removed his upper garment. The muscles on his upper body surged as the serratus muscles along his ribs undulated like the gills of a shark, accumulating an invisible force that finally transferred to his arms. Bang! A silver blade, spotted with rust, stabbed through the bottom of the boat, and blood-red water gushed out through the hole. With the breach in the fishing boat, the spectators felt as if a hole had been opened in their own lungs, gasping for fresh air. From the moment of jumping into the sea, every frame was a climax. The fishermen on the boat looked on in terror: "Ah!! The boat is broken! The boat is broken!" Bi Fang pried forcefully, and the entire wooden plank was pried open, the gushing water instantly turning into a spray. Grabbing the broken edge, he widened the hole in the boat, and soon it was submerged by more than half, forcing the fishermen on board to jump into the sea. Bi Fang grabbed onto the sinking plank and rose from the water, rapidly expelling the spent air and taking deep breaths, his tired muscles swiftly regaining vigor. Then he sank again. Soon, another fishing boat began to sound with those mysterious knocks, and then, a second boat started to sink. The fishermen shouted about a mountain demon and leaped into the water, scrambling toward the shore to escape. More dolphins slipped from the nets¡¯ control, and as the fishermen tried to hold onto the fleeing dolphins, they were turned over in the water. Just then, a third boat was drilled with holes. A burly fisherman, hardened in his resolve, clenched his spear and lunged at the dark shadows underwater, causing the audience to scream. Although the bloody water obscured his view, Bi Fang had been attentively observing and, following the direction from which the spear was coming, rolled in the water, agilely avoiding the spear thrusting into the water. As the fisherman tried to withdraw it, Bi Fang grabbed onto the pole, braced against the side of the boat, and pulled hard, causing the spear-wielding fisherman to fall into the water unintentionally. Another tried to escape, but the next moment felt a sharp pain in his abdomen. A round, wooden pole jabbed quickly and precisely at his spleen. Even without a spearhead, the sheer force was enough to cause so much pain that he lost the ability to even cry out, kneeling on the boat, drenched in cold sweat. A lithe and stretched arm wrapped around a fisherman¡¯s head, flipping him over into the seawater, and waves of blood bloomed again, like roses blossoming on the sea bed. All the fishermen screamed, waving their spears chaotically. If they occasionally struck a dolphin, they¡¯d excitedly shout that they had subdued a mountain demon, only to be turned over into the sea by a "blood man" who suddenly appeared. In just ten short minutes, Dolphin Bay was thrown into chaos, and the trainers on the shore waiting for the goods took advantage of the chaos to flee, while the fishermen¡¯s families were too afraid to approach because of the previous gunfire and talk of "mountain demons." In such a situation, Bi Fang was surprisingly left to play his role, with more than six fishing boats within Dolphin Bay and over three sinking beneath the surface. Those banging on poles outside Dolphin Bay looked towards the chaotic scene¡ªa sight of bodies covered in blood, like a demonic dance¡ªand they all forgot their actions for a moment. The sound barrier broke, and dozens of dolphins took the opportunity to rush past the fishing boats. The older captain grabbed the pole, shouting at them to pick up the hammers, pick up the hammers. Asuka dumbfoundedly watched the scene before her, and for some reason, felt a sense of relief and satisfaction in her heart. Chapter 605 - 602 "Was he really alone that night?" Matsumoto Kiyotaka stared intently at the young man in front of him, issuing a warning, "I advise you to tell the truth, Asuka. You¡¯ve just graduated from school and you wouldn¡¯t want the villagers to look down on you, right? Speak, as long as you tell me, you can go home now." Asuka lifted his head shakily, his legs trembling nonstop, his heart filled with immense fear, his eyes constantly drifting towards the recorder behind Matsumoto, trying to find some sense of security. Having just graduated from high school, not even twenty years old, having never dealt with the police in his life, how had he suddenly found himself in a police station, interrogated personally by the chief? This young man, who hadn¡¯t even completed two months since his graduation, was now drenched in cold sweat. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but it was as though an invisible sponge blocked his throat, absorbing all the sounds he tried to make. Asuka¡¯s lips turned paler and paler, chapped with large flakes of dead skin. Dry, thirsty, cold. These were Asuka¡¯s only sensations, as under the high temperature of thirty-seven degrees, his whole body felt chilled from head to toe. While Matsumoto Kiyotaka was questioning Asuka, in another room, Mugalen sat on the interrogation chair, his pupils trembling nonstop. To intimidate Mugalen into confessing, Matsumoto Kiyotaka told him of the existence of an eyewitness. Damn it. Why was there someone else there that night!? S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Mugalen¡¯s heart was in turmoil. All the plans had gone smoothly; on that night, during the operation with Bi Fang, he deliberately hadn¡¯t dried himself off, leaving footprints to attract the attention of the police, but Bi Fang hadn¡¯t noticed at the time. Indeed, the police had taken note of it, even identifying Mugalen as a suspect the very next day, but due to his status, they had to go through proper procedures before arresting him today. But who could have anticipated that there would be someone on that other new boat at the time? The new boat with the strong smell of fresh paint, even now Mugalen remembered it vividly. He too was feeling freezing cold. All his efforts were in vain, even a terrible misstep. If everything had gone according to plan, he should have been the one to draw the police¡¯s attention, granting Bi Fang a longer period of safety. When Mugalen was "forced" to the police station and saw the clues and evidence Matsumoto Kiyotaka presented to incriminate him, he knew that if it wasn¡¯t for him, Bi Fang¡¯s discovery was imminent. Mugalen¡¯s decision and actions were also correct, but who could have foreseen... who could have foreseen. Enjoy more content from NovelFire.C?m It was all over, completely over. If the other party mentioned there were two people that night, all his efforts would be completely wasted. Mugalen banged his head against the table. Next door, Matsumoto Kiyotaka was startled by the noise, hurriedly checking what happened, and only after finding everything was alright did he calm down. The man was a professional ex-special forces Deer Hunter who had even hunted Black Bear, a true beast at heart, not easily restrained even with chains, always a source of unease. Seeing Mugalen¡¯s behavior, Matsumoto felt a sense of triumph inside. Indeed, his assumption was right. All of this was done by Mugalen! But this raised another problem. Where on earth did Bosen come from? As he pondered this, Mugalen in front of Matsumoto Kiyotaka suddenly lunged forward, glaring at Matsumoto fiercely, scaring him into retreating three steps. Matsumoto barked, "What do you think you¡¯re doing? Attacking? What are you all standing around for? Hold him down!" The police officers on either side quickly moved to restrain Mugalen, only to find that the man in front of them was not humanly strong, built like a bull calf, impossible to hold down. It took the third and fourth person joining in to push him back into the interrogation chair and handcuff him. Mugalen breathed heavily, glaring at Matsumoto, yet he said nothing. The more one speaks, the more mistakes one makes; one lie had to be covered up with yet more lies. Therefore, Mugalen never actively admitted to anything he had done, and even now, Matsumoto Kiyotaka still believed that Mugalen¡¯s behavior threatened Asuka not to reveal his visit to Dolphin Bay; it wasn¡¯t about concealing the fact that there were actually two participants involved. He only hoped that the young witness Matsumoto mentioned could understand right from wrong. However, in Japan, it was astonishing that children had to learn to discern right from wrong better than adults. What a strange phenomenon. Asuka next door heard the loud noise and cold sweat dripped down his forehead. He wanted to speak, but he dared not. If he admitted that he had seen two people go to Dolphin Bay that night, why hadn¡¯t he called the police then? Why wait until now to talk? What to do, what to do, what to do! Somebody save me. Asuka was a mess of anxiety at this moment, his mind went blank, and his vision darkened and swam before his eyes. If he had known it would come to this, he should not have concealed the truth. Why not call the police, why not call the police, getting the money would have been fine, let others seek the limelight! Asuka, oh Asuka, do you think you¡¯re an osprey? You¡¯re just an ordinary seagull, why try to be the standout? In fact, Asuka could have simply lied and said he thought those two people were crew members who had forgotten something, but now his mind had entered a dead end, only obsessively fantasizing what would happen if he came clean. Matsumoto Kiyotaka thought the child was just scared and even began to comfort Asuka. "I... I..." Asuka faltered. Matsumoto Kiyotaka pressed impatiently, "You what? Speak up!" Seeing the young man in front of him faltering, Matsumoto Kiyotaka was so anxious he felt like slapping someone. Knowing that there had been others on the boat that night, he had rushed to have Asuka brought over, yet half an hour had passed and not a single word had been spoken. Asuka¡¯s lips trembled slightly, his heart beating faster and faster, and he could distinctly feel his face swelling with the rush of blood to his forehead, every capillary expanding with the flow, his face surely beet-red and frightening in appearance. Perhaps Asuka a few days ago, with a smidgeon of conscience left in his heart, had chosen to be an ostrich, but now what influenced his decision was no longer that bit of pity but worry and fear. He didn¡¯t want to offend the big man not far from him, nor did he dare to face the consequences of his failure to report. Wave after wave of dizziness hit his brain. Unable to help himself, Matsumoto Kiyotaka shook Asuka, "Hey, speak, speak! Did you see him that night or not, did you!" "I... I..." The red Dolphin Bay appeared before Asuka, changing from red to brown, from brown to dark red. Asuka closed his eyes tightly and, overcome with tension, fainted. Matsumoto Kiyotaka gently shook Asuka, his expression stunned, and in shock, he pulled his hands back and raised them high, looking around, "You all see it clearly, I didn¡¯t touch him, he fainted on his own! It has nothing to do with me." His subordinates quickly nodded. Mmm-hmm, you¡¯re the director, what you say goes. You didn¡¯t shake him, we all didn¡¯t see it. Matsumoto Kiyotaka, looking at his subordinates¡¯ gazes, knew they were of no use, felt out of luck, and wondered how poor the psyche of recent Japanese graduates was. Or was it because he looked very intimidating? "Take Mr. Asuka down, he might have heatstroke, why hasn¡¯t this damn air conditioner been fixed yet?" Matsumoto Kiyotaka, with a grim look on his face, re-entered the interrogation room, and Mugalen, who had been extremely tense until then, immediately relaxed, letting out a sigh of relief as his entire body slackened. If the other party really had something to ask, his expression certainly wouldn¡¯t be like this. Mugalen rested his head on the table, gasping for breath, his pores opening up and releasing a torrent of sweat. Nobody knew how tense he had been in those few minutes. Chapter 606 - 603: Taking Up a Big Pit ``` It¡¯s over, trapped in an endless loop... Never able to finish writing, then I occupy the spot... Must finish before three in the morning... In the vast conference room, a massive curtain over fifteen meters in length suddenly dropped. The green light of the projector silently turned on, and the sound of the machine operating began. The next moment, a rainbow light illuminated the entire white curtain, which abruptly turned into a dazzling blood-red color, reflecting light that tinged every delegate¡¯s face red. Bloody waves with dark red foam rose, such a bizarre sight provoked whispers among the crowd. "What... what is this?" "A procedure?" "Who started it?" An electrical expert monitoring remotely through a micro-camera pushed the controller and abruptly turned the volume to maximum. A screeching, ear-piercing scream suddenly echoed in the empty hall, as if scraping eardrums with a small knife, no, it was more like cleaving the head in two with an axe right next to one¡¯s ear! Li Zhe was so discomforted that he covered his ears and couldn¡¯t even hear what the people around him were saying. But soon, the volume returned to normal. The scene just now seemed like nothing more than an accidental equipment malfunction. The abrupt incident startled everyone. For a time, no one stepped forward to stop it. After a full ten seconds, a person in charge hurriedly jumped up, demanding, "Who did this, who is responsible for this, turn it off, turn it off quickly!" The screen was full of blood-red seas and piercing screams, and one could even faintly hear rhythmic beats of long poles. The eerie tones and monotonous blood-red sea were chilling to the bone. The projected images looked as if a horror movie was being played, so much so that the person in charge thought someone was playing a prank, deliberately sabotaging the order of the conference. Morishita Suji clenched the speech resuming the whaling plan and felt a trace of unease. Not until the image began to ascend, flying higher and higher, did that unease explode in an instant. Morishita Suji¡¯s face turned deathly pale in an instant, he sprung up, flipped over the table, squeezed past the Japanese spokesperson, made his way through the crowd, and shouted at the chairman on stage, "Turn it off, turn it off now!" sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Such an unseemly act caused a small commotion. Reporters with keen senses immediately smelled the scent of a big news story, raising their cameras and snapping away. The flashes caused Morishita Suji to scowl, he kept charging towards the outside ranks. A dozen delegates were violently pushed aside, their faces showing dissatisfaction, and even a few imposing figures deliberately straightened up, blocking Morishita Suji¡¯s path. Another spokesperson saw Morishita Suji still hadn¡¯t realized what was happening, but by the time the familiar three-sided sea, the familiar tunnel, and familiar fishermen gradually appeared, his head spun. Done for. It¡¯s Dolphin Bay! A torrential downpour descended upon the bustling Ginza streets, yet it did nothing to dampen people¡¯s enthusiasm for walking. The sidewalks of Ginza on both sides were spacious. Every weekend, vehicles were barred from the streets, turning it into a bustling pedestrian mall. Today was Sunday. Black umbrellas blocked the rain, falling along the edges forming a curtain of water, and through the blurry water curtain, one could see a faint purple light emitted by neon lights on tall buildings. The shadows of fluorescent lights reflected on the marble floors as Richard heard the downpour hitting the roof, the surrounding flow of people was ceaseless, like a stream. In front of Richard was a backpack, and it was clear to anyone that there was a display screen between the backpack and his chest. Nobody paid attention to the old man who suddenly appeared under the eave of the building, assuming he was someone who, after purchasing electronics and caught off guard by the sudden downpour, was blocked from going home by the rain. A street vendor saw a business opportunity, quickly approached Richard, and asked if he needed an umbrella. Richard smiled and politely declined the vendor, then glanced at his watch. As the hour struck, he no longer waited and stepped into the rain. The rejected vendor was momentarily surprised, scoffing inside, "Stingy old man, aren¡¯t you worried about your display getting wet?" But in the next moment, the vendor was rendered speechless because he saw the elderly man, over sixty years old, boldly walking toward the crossroads, finally standing silently in the middle. The man with a stern face set down the backpack in front of him, strapped it to his back, and revealed the display screen on his chest. ``` The passersby on the street gave a sidelong glance but did not stop. Performance art was not common on the streets of Tokyo. The heavy rain soaked Richard¡¯s grizzled hair, yet he did not leave, standing straight in the middle of the intersection, as newcomers brushed past him. The screen on Richard¡¯s chest suddenly lit up. The same blood light, the same piercing scream. Some passersby glancing sideways halted, showing a hint of interest in the old man¡¯s performance. Such performance art was quite rare on the streets of Tokyo. "A sea of blood," huh? What is he trying to express?" "Don¡¯t understand." "The rain is getting heavier, let¡¯s go." Richard remained silent, while the screen display reduced the scale of the image, revealing more and more content¡ªocean, mountain, people... dolphins. "Oh, those are dolphins, dolphins?" "Yes, dolphins, what¡¯s happening here?" "Is this Japan? Is this Japan?" The fishermen stood on small boats, wielding long-handled knives, as a dolphin suddenly turned around, diving swiftly into the water. The photography seamlessly transitioned from the sea surface to the seafloor, crystal clear. Onlookers saw the dolphin attempting to enter a crevice beneath the mountain range, but it was quickly driven out by unseen sonar waves. A mechanical imitation fish, fitted with a camera, swam over the surface, and from below, it captured the long knife piercing down through the water, then the screen abruptly went black. The scene returned to the air above, the red mist of blood billowing from the azure sea and gradually spreading, turning into a faint pink. But before the ocean currents could sweep it away, more and more blood gushed out, the pink turning to blood-red, and finally to dark red. More and more onlookers stopped, young girls covered their mouths, boys had their eyes shielded by their parents, and office workers stood in astonishment at a distance. More and more gathered, more and more. Where is this place? More and more onlookers wanted to know where this was, was it a documentary or a video produced with special effects? "This is Taiji Town! This is Taiji Town!" A passerby shouted, "I¡¯ve been there, I rode on a cruise in that place, I¡¯ve seen this bay!" "Taiji Town?" "The Taiji Town in Wakayama Prefecture, a truly beautiful place, does something like this really happen there?" "It¡¯s fake, it¡¯s fake. It¡¯s just a produced video, stop watching!" A man pulled his own girlfriend, with red-rimmed eyes, away. The heavy rain continued. "Is this Taiji Town?" Someone in the crowd asked. "Yes, this is Taiji Town, Dolphin Bay." It was a heavy rain in Ginza, and a fine drizzle began in Taiji Town as well. Bi Fang arrived on the mountainside, stepping onto a large boulder, with hundreds of hectares of green forest behind him. High up on the mountain, the horizon opened up with the turbulent tide, and through the high-definition drone, one could clearly see everything inside the bay below the mountain. The fishermen excitedly captured dolphins, not noticing that on the right side of the shorter mountain, a young man stood. It was nine o¡¯clock in the evening in Alaska, nine in the morning in Tokyo, eight o¡¯clock Huaxia time. Tens of millions of viewers poured into the live stream, stunned. Many were still groggy, waking up early in the morning to such a bloody scene, which was indeed stomach-churning. [What¡¯s happening?] [I¡¯m confused.] [Why would you show me such a bloody thing this early in the morning?] [A missing person returning?] [What¡¯s the situation, what¡¯s the situation, Master Fang why aren¡¯t you explaining? I nearly threw up my breakfast] [I forgot, I¡¯m kind of bewildered right now.] Bi Fang began walking towards the top of the mountain. The fishermen, losing themselves in their actions, were swinging their long knives with smiles plastered across their faces, which, combined with the sea of blood, created an unspeakably eerie atmosphere. Were these fishermen mentally disturbed? No, they were only after profit... Wait, even Bi Fang wasn¡¯t sure whether these Japanese were mentally disturbed or not, but their primary objective was indeed money. As he walked, Bi Fang started to describe the dolphin activities in Taiji Town, pointing towards the other side of the ocean where several tour boats were docked, their massive bulks adorned with huge dolphin cartoons, even the bows had dolphin sculptures. "See those tour boats over there? They¡¯re Taiji Town¡¯s famous tourist attraction." Bi Fang said nothing, everything was left unsaid. The higher you stand, the further you see. Unfortunately, no matter how far one could see from here, it was still not possible to spot the Whale Museum in town. "There¡¯s a Whale Museum in the town as well, with a huge sculpture at the door. When you walk down the street, even the floor tiles are decorated with dolphin cartoons." However, that didn¡¯t matter. In Bi Fang¡¯s description, the audience had already been sent shivers down their spines. "Many people are conflicted about eating dog meat, often you can see the supporters and opponents clashing. But this is personal preference. What kind of sight is it when someone who loves dogs is petting their beloved pet one moment and ordering a spicy dog meat hotpot the next?" "I know many of you have been asking why I ended the stream without a closing remark a couple of days ago and then disappeared for two days. The chief of Taiji Town Police Department probably has the most say in this matter¡ªas he¡¯s likely been searching for me in the forest for a good two days now." Matsumoto Kiyotaka, listening to Bi Fang¡¯s words, shivered all over, "Shut him up, make him shut up! Technician, cut the signal, can you cut the signal?" "No, they¡¯re using satellite signals!" "Then forget the stream, just catch him, go catch him now!" The officers filed out, but Matsumoto Kiyotaka called them back. "Wait," Matsumoto Kiyotaka¡¯s expression changed for a moment as he made up his mind, "arm yourselves, arm everyone!" "Move out now, immediately!" ... "Why can¡¯t it be turned off, how can it not be turned off?" "Our system has been hacked, we don¡¯t control it anymore." A whaling conference, how could it attract a hacker attack? They were just ordinary staff, and even half-experts in electronics were enough to throw them into chaos. "Then pull the plug, pull the damn plug!" Someone yelled. A few people moved their stools frantically trying to unplug the power. Morishita Suji finally burst out of the delegation seats and approached the projector to try and unplug it. But the ceiling was simply too high, and hopelessly out of reach, they stood on tiptoe like clowns performing a farce. The noise in the conference room grew louder with each image that played on the screen. "This is a massacre, a naked massacre!" "Taiji Town, Japan, it¡¯s real, it¡¯s all real!" "Japan must give an explanation, explain this clip, explain their deception!" Just as the incident was escalating, the screen suddenly went pitch black, returning to the original blank screen. Morishita Suji was panting heavily by the electrical switch, his forehead covered in cold sweat, his heart in utter chaos. He pulled out a tissue to wipe his forehead, wanting to say something, but his mind was going blank. Someone stood up and shouted, "Why turn it off, feeling guilty?" "We have the right to know the truth!" "Why keep denying it? This is deceit, what exactly is the purpose of your deception?" The Japanese delegation, which had initially enjoyed popular support, suddenly found themselves the target of everyone¡¯s condemnation. Morishita Suji licked his lips and opened his mouth slightly: "I¡¯m sorry, everyone, but I must tell you, you¡¯ve all been deceived..." "Do you think we¡¯re blind?" "Of course not, but oftentimes, there¡¯s a tendency to see issues from one side only." "If it¡¯s one-sided, why can¡¯t we watch it to the end? Isn¡¯t that even more one-sided of you?" "That¡¯s right, put it back on, we want to see everything!" The countless flashing cameras almost turned the conference room into daylight. On the streets of Ginza, the bustling intersection was completely blocked by pedestrians. The crowd, driven by curiosity and excitement, was growing, and everyone wanted to ask the old man what was going on. But Richard stood silently in the rain, quietly playing the video. The rain drenched his entire body, yet Richard couldn¡¯t feel the cold; a passion was stirring within his chest. Seeing more and more people sheltering him with umbrellas, Richard knew he had succeeded. "Do you see it clearly? This is Taiji Town." At that moment, Bi Fang had already reached the mountaintop; his right elbow rested on his knee, his left hand pointing at the increasingly blood-red sea water below. "In June, before I had returned from the Rainforest, Richard had already come here to secretly film, but the result was that all the equipment was destroyed, and two of our members are still in the hospital recuperating." "At the end of June, after returning from the Rainforest, Jerret approached me, asking for my help to expose all this. I didn¡¯t refuse. Until today, the truth is right before your eyes." "Every year, more than ten thousand dolphins are slaughtered here, without the knowledge of the outside world. They¡¯ve always hidden it very well." [This is terrifying...] [Wait, where did Master Fang find the time to help?] [The unsung hero indeed.] Discover more stories at NovelFire.C?m Under the drone¡¯s camera, fishermen drive away dolphin calves, some of which were only as big as Bi Fang¡¯s arm. Yet they still proceeded with the slaughter of these dolphins. A chaotic chorus of shouts came from behind Bi Fang, and when he looked back, he saw several panting officers. They were shouting loudly, telling Bi Fang to surrender, and some even drew their guns in threat. But Bi Fang¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change in the slightest, he continued walking towards the edge of the cliff. "Stop right there!" The officers behind him yelled. Bi Fang looked down at the sea waves below the cliff, the stones tumbling into the sea. This cliff was forty meters high; a fall would mean certain death. "Richard advised me to leave Japan early, as it would be dangerous, but after much thought, I could not bear to. I didn¡¯t leave; I waited in the forest for two whole days, just for today..." Bi Fang turned to look at the officers, yet his tone remained unchanged Chapter 607 - 604 Full of Flaws Accompanied by Matsumoto Kiyotaka¡¯s roar, like a sumo wrestler displaying his powerful stomp to drive away evil spirits, the wavering in the fishermen¡¯s hearts was shattered, replaced by a surge of hot blood, commonly known as getting pumped up. Splash, splash, splash. One after another, the fishermen, eager to be the first, leaped into the sea, like dumplings being dropped into boiling water, en masse¡ªeven those who had initially fled far away rejoined, swelling their numbers. Shameless!!! Matsumoto Kiyotaka thought that the roaring sea wind would block and conceal his speech, that his words would not be captured by the drone, but he underestimated its recording capabilities. Except for Bi Fang, who was furiously swimming, everyone heard it loud and clear, their expressions filled with outrage. Everyone knew that Bi Fang could do anything but kill; once he committed murder, no matter how many identities he assumed, he wouldn¡¯t be able to continue live streaming, even if the victim was the most vile criminal. No country in the world would allow an executioner to livestream in front of tens of millions of people. Besides, although the fishermen were detestable, they were fundamentally just greedy, not evil to the core. This made the situation even more challenging to handle. If it were on land, the worst-case scenario would be a beating, but at sea, any serious injury would inevitably force Bi Fang to save them instead. As long as they needed saving, Matsumoto Kiyotaka¡¯s goal would be achieved. What would Bi Fang do once the fishermen clung to him? Knock them unconscious and they drown; break their limbs and they drown; incapacitate them and they still drown. But without taking such measures, minor wounds and pains mean nothing compared to the immense profit dolphins bring, and the fishermen simply didn¡¯t care. Take a punch, bleed from the nose, and in return get ten thousand dollars¡ªwho wouldn¡¯t be pleased? Needless to say, there were plenty of takers; some even felt uneasy about the money unless they took an additional punch. Bi Fang couldn¡¯t escape whether underwater or above. If he reached land, the situation would be even easier to deal with¡ªso many people could easily take control. But the fishermen weren¡¯t so polite when it came to dealing with Bi Fang. If they all rushed at him and an accident happened, who would take the blame? Especially with the chief of the Metropolitan Police Department right by their side, there was nothing to fear about losing the moral high ground. This was the best solution Matsumoto came up with in a short time, minimizing the impact of the situation. From the drone¡¯s perspective, an incredibly spectacular scene unfolded on the sea surface. Bi Fang took the lead, outdistancing everyone by dozens of meters, his strong arms slapping the water forcefully, creating a clear wake as he moved from the crimson-tinted waters into the blue. Behind him followed dozens of fishermen, some armed with long spears and long hook knives, resembling a mob¡ªor perhaps they were indeed a mob. The fishermen couldn¡¯t swim as fast as Bi Fang, but their sheer numbers were overwhelming, swarming over the sea like locusts, creating a unique wave of blood that alarmed the onlookers. Even Yamamoto, who was the first to cough up water, caught on, wiped his nosebleed, and charged forward with howls. This time he had learned his lesson and didn¡¯t rush to the very front but remained behind everyone else. The hot-blooded fishermen didn¡¯t find this odd, assuming that Yamamoto was injured and could only move with difficulty. Around this triangular charge, dolphins still capable of resistance leaped and swam, but they were again and again blocked by sound walls coming from all directions. The audience in the live streaming room had already erupted in curses, but Matsumoto Kiyoshi could no longer care about that. This plan was the best solution at the moment! [Isn¡¯t this just bullying the honest people?] [Good people have to let others point guns at them?] [Damn it, why didn¡¯t Old Fang say something earlier? If he had said something sooner, I would¡¯ve booked two plane tickets to beat the crap out of those damn Japanese fishermen!] Shuiyou (Online Friends) were filled with righteous indignation, clamoring to fly to Japan and teach those fishermen a lesson. On the surface of the sea, the fishermen who saw Bi Fang approaching grew increasingly panicked. "Damn it, the killing god is coming, what do we do?" They weren¡¯t in the sea; their fishing boats weren¡¯t made of wood but of steel underneath, impervious to breaching unless blasted with a rocket launcher. Without any geographical advantage, if the adversary boarded, wouldn¡¯t it be a massacre? Someone was already at the edge of the ship, ready to jump into the ocean at any moment. Seeing the growing panic, the experienced captain shouted, "Don¡¯t panic, don¡¯t panic!" He had seen it all before. In his youth during long voyages, he had even slaughtered humpback whales, impaling and hoisting them with whaling harpoons while sharks starving below circled¡ªa scene no less terrifying than this. Even the largest fishing boat is but a leaf on the vast ocean. Outside lies tumultuous waves and fierce creatures; inside, a uniform crew of men¡ªa single accidental weapon discharge could spark a war. Besides, the opponent wasn¡¯t a shark; it wouldn¡¯t kill people. The experienced captain, who had seen big scenes, yelled again, "Don¡¯t panic, there¡¯s only one person against us. We have our brothers behind us. Everyone line up, put away the long poles and switch to long hook knives. Be ready, and don¡¯t let him board!" The other fishing boats at a greater distance did not move since maintaining the sound wall meant they couldn¡¯t disrupt the semi-circular formation, or else they¡¯d risk creating a breach. Furthermore, everyone could see that their fishing boats were like individual islands, with the surrounding sea serving as a moat that often should not be bridged. If bridged, it would be like chaining the boats together, potentially leading to a fiery defeat! Bi Fang¡¯s powerful arms stretched behind him, propelling him hundreds of meters in a single go. Even he was exhausted by now, not to mention the fishermen left far behind. Watching the fishermen on the boats, armed with long hook knives and standing guard like soldiers on a fortress wall, Bi Fang rotated his arms, took a deep breath, and swiftly dove underwater. "He¡¯s dived! He¡¯s gone under!" "Be careful, keep watch! Keep watch!" With the target vanishing suddenly, the fishermen fell into a fluster, but the captain calmed them and loudly declared, "What are you afraid of, you bunch of wimps? Haven¡¯t you caught fish before? Just spear him like a fish!" S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The captain demonstrated a spearing motion, helping the somewhat panicked crew regain composure. Yes, wasn¡¯t it just like spearing fish? They might not be good at fighting people, but when it came to spearing fish, they were quite skilled! "Ahh!!!" Just as the crew regained their confidence, a scream echoed from the rear deck. When they turned to look, their souls nearly left their bodies. There stood the drenched Bi Fang on the deck, casually wiping his hair, and with a cold glance at the crowd, his right hand held a fisherman¡¯s long hook knife. Clearly, one unlucky individual had not only failed to pierce him but had his weapon snatched away instead. As for where that fisherman had gone, the continuous splashing behind them spoke volumes. When had he come aboard? The seasoned captain was stunned but quickly called his crew to try driving the intruder back to sea. Yet the surrounding crew hesitated, unsure and afraid to approach. Bi Fang scoffed, noting that compared to professional hunters, these crew members were practically full of openings in their reactions and movements. "If no one will come, I guess I¡¯ll have to come over there!" Stay connected with NovelFire.C?m Chapter 608 - 605 ``` Before 1 a.m., the revisions need to be complete. There¡¯s been so much going on lately¡­ There¡¯s also the final exam to prepare for, which will take up a week¡¯s time. There won¡¯t be any issues tomorrow, and I surely won¡¯t hold things up. Everyone just consider it an anti-theft measure... In the dense forest, several figures hurried along, their faces and necks covered with bloodstains from the scratches of tree branches. "Ha, huh, hah-heh." Matsumoto Kiyotaka panted heavily, his trachea burning as if touched by fire, his saliva thick as glue blocking his throat, almost making him retch, while his legs shook uncontrollably, nearly bringing him to his knees on the ground. The mountain route was too difficult to run on, with bushes and stones everywhere, making it easy to twist an ankle. The performance of a 5-kilometer run back in the police academy had long been worn away by the years. The younger ones, just as exhausted, could barely speak and looked to Matsumoto Kiyotaka for an order. The hillocks on either side of Dolphin Bay stood over forty meters tall, with waves crashing against the rocks below and sheer cliffs as if cut by a knife. The mountain was small, and the summit even narrower. Exposed to the sea breeze all year round, the small patch of land boasted only jagged boulders with not a single tree in sight, laying everything bare to both sides. Matsumoto Kiyotaka raised his hand, shielding his eyes from the sun as his pupils contracted, struggling to adapt to the brightness. The 8 o¡¯clock sun was a spilling golden light, the entire ocean glinting with phosphorescence, a pale gold edging the line where the cliff met the sky, so bright it was almost blinding. Yet in this flood of light, one particular shape stood out starkly. A black silhouette stood erect on the mountain peak, its edges iron-blue in the interplay of light and shadow, like a freshly forged sword. "General Bi Fang! You¡¯ve got nowhere left to run!" Matsumoto Kiyotaka yelled. From the height of the hillock, over forty meters, a fall into the water would be nothing but a shattered body. Matsumoto Kiyotaka didn¡¯t know the world record for the highest dive, but he remembered clearly: In his youth, he had jumped from a bridge over twenty meters high into a river to save a drowning woman, breaking his shin on impact. Had it not been for two colleagues on hand, he might have ended up at the bottom of the sea with the woman. The girl was even unluckier, lacking basic diving posture and the sturdy build of an adult male. She suffered 5 broken ribs that punctured her lung; her esophagus and trachea were damaged, and her body was bruised and abraded everywhere. The doctor said she was fortunate her neck hadn¡¯t snapped upon hitting the water; otherwise, she would have been killed instantly. That incident was the most terrifying moment of Matsumoto Kiyotaka¡¯s career, and from then on, his official journey was smooth sailing. Now the height was double that, and the person on the other side could not possibly escape. Matsumoto Kiyotaka did not wish to cause a fatality, especially since the person in question was a celebrity. He gasped for breath, trying to force out a few words. But in the next moment, Matsumoto Kiyotaka¡¯s pupils shrunk to the size of pinpoints; his voice was hoarse, and he couldn¡¯t shout. The iron-blue longsword suddenly extended a hilt, which eventually elongated so much that it seemed to turn from a sword into the Judgement Cross. Experience tales with NovelFire.C?m Then, suddenly, the cross shortened. No! It wasn¡¯t shortening. The man was falling backward, about to leap into the sea! Matsumoto Kiyotaka¡¯s mind froze for an instant. To die for a just cause! The phrase burst into his mind. He opened his mouth and bellowed: "Fire!" Everyone was startled by the command. The target was a world-famous adventurer, even live streaming at the moment. Should they really fire? "Fire!!!" Matsumoto Kiyotaka roared again. ``` These young graduates from the police academy reflexively drew their P230s from their waists. But before they could aim, the pitch-black cross had already disappeared from their sight. Everyone panicked and ran towards the edge of the cliff, their weak legs starting up again and nearly causing them to fall to the ground. For Bi Fang, every free fall was a feeling of Earth¡¯s true presence. That sense of being pulled, unparalleled. The humid, salty sea breeze lifted his hair as Bi Fang turned his back to the ocean, falling backward into a free fall under the force of gravity. The air was filled not only with the smell of fish but also with an extremely heavy and rich scent of blood that was getting thicker and thicker. Forty meters, almost forty-five meters in height. Diving, the sport, is more difficult and dangerous than most people imagine. The world diving official record is 59 meters; ordinary people have no chance of surviving from 30 meters. Even a fall from about 10 meters, whether on the back, stomach, or head, or in a seated position, would result in a 60g load that could cause death or crippling injuries. Around June 14th, 2009, at the Beirut Seaside of Lebanon, a boy jumped from a ten-meter diving board. Right after, a scream was heard, and the water in the swimming pool quickly turned red. Later, he struggled to swim close to the shore, and the people on the shore screamed in horror. Because the boy¡¯s face was split in half. His face was longitudinally bisected; everything from his mouth to his eyes disappeared, leaving his tongue and teeth exposed. All the teeth were clearly broken into segments amongst the bloody flesh. In the midst of the blood-red, it was strikingly white. Even professional special forces soldiers are often only assigned diving missions of twenty-five meters or less; anything higher poses a significant risk of accident. Was Bi Fang ready to sacrifice himself? Of course... not. Bi Fang¡¯s morality was not that noble. He was just an ordinary person with above-average ability, hoping to make a little difference. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A free fall from forty meters only takes two seconds. The impact of the water surface on a body in high-speed free fall is the main difficulty in extreme diving. In professional high-altitude sports, the men¡¯s diving height is 23 to 28 meters and the women¡¯s is 18 to 23 meters, with athletes entering the water at speeds of about 78 to 100 kilometers per hour. At the moment of entering the water, the impact on the body is likened to crashing into a wall at 100 kilometers per hour, which is why divers must enter the water feet first after completing their maneuvers. Only in a standing soldier¡¯s position, may there be a slim chance of survival. And there can be no reefs underwater. Bi Fang never took aimless risks; he had thoroughly assessed the specific underwater conditions on his first diving operation. In mid-air, Bi Fang twisted his waist and abdomen to quickly adjust his posture. His entire body was tense like a straight javelin. Beneath the cliff, the waves crashed one after the other, breaking the surface tension. Like a shooting star, Bi Fang gracefully dived into the water. Accompanied by a splash drowned out by the wind, the police officers who reached the edge of the cliff only saw the undulating waves. A few young officers widened their eyes in disbelief at the wave that had not even stirred. Dead? "Had he been planning to jump all along?!" "At this height... he¡¯ll die, right?" At forty meters, just looking down made the officers¡¯ legs go weak. But the next second, an officer¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment, and he fell seated onto the ground, pointing shakily at the sea as if he had seen a ghost. Everyone looked down, and their expressions instantly became stiff. Beneath the glittering light, a pitch-black shadow streaked under the sea like a sword, speeding towards the fishing boat! Chapter 609 - 606 Confrontation Kii Peninsula, Wakayama Prefecture, Taiji Town Dolphin Bay. The sight of the crimson sea water was startling as it spread from the bay to the open sea, where the blood red gradually turned into sea blue. What was even more alarming was that at this moment, hundreds of people had gathered in this not-so-large bay. The sounds of arguing and cursing were incessant, and even though these people hadn¡¯t done anything yet, the tense atmosphere they created was frightening enough to make one afraid that they might suddenly draw weapons and start a conflict. Bi Fang had three drones, one hovering above the bay, with a view that belittled the surrounding hills. Another followed closely behind Bi Fang, providing a third-person perspective. Continue reading stories on NovelFire.C?m The last one expanded the frame, adding supplementary views and offering multiple angles. Besides, there was the more amazing first-person perspective, thrilling and immersive, a combination of the four sure to be the work of the strongest equipment master broadcaster, offering screen shots and cuts no different from a movie. In just one hour, it provided an audience of over ten million with a rousing spectacle comparable to watching a film in the theater, especially when they saw Bi Fang steering the fishing boat, tearing through the protective lines and nets, the exhilaration reached its peak. Even students and working-class viewers, caught up in the excitement, contributed their share to the live broadcast, pushing its popularity to another peak. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Wolf Fang spared no effort in arranging promotions, sending notifications to every user who downloaded the Wolf Fang live streaming app. On B Island, a Huaxia tourist who happened to be traveling in Ginza, Japan, captured a video of Richard presenting a documentary in the pouring rain. The handheld recording made the frame slightly shaky, but the image was very clear, even the drifting rain could be seen, evidently not just shot with a mobile phone. Everyone could see clearly under the lens the bustling scene of Ginza, bathed in neon lights, and Richard braving the heavy rain, his graying hair completely wet and dripping with rainwater down his forehead, while the giant screen on his chest played the footage they had captured. Without creating a fuss or disturbance, occupying only a small patch of the pedestrian street, he drew a large crowd. This uploader, a wild boar claimed to be holding an umbrella over Richard to shield him from the rain, while recording the first half of the documentary with his other hand. Due to time constraints, just as wild boar, who was a fan of Bi Fang, learned that Bi Fang was live streaming, he immediately released the video he had filmed, which lasted for a quarter of an hour. Though not complete, the content it included was enough to provoke righteous indignation. In less than half an hour, the video surpassed a million views, topped the popularity charts, and spread rapidly across various social media platforms. At that moment in Taiji Town, buses were lined up one after another, and a flamboyant Caucasian tycoon spared no expense to rent five buses, bringing along all the like-minded organization members, only then was such a sensational effect possible. If groups of four or five people had come, they would have likely attracted police attention first, and it would have been difficult to create a scene like the current one. Viewers who saw ¨¦tienne appear were exceptionally excited. [Holy shit, it¡¯s ¨¦tienne!] [Wori, the old heroes return for the new season!] [Is there a reward for recharging?] [Sorry, we operate on a gacha system] [Drawing cards is the stupidest game mode in the world, bar none.] Considering Goose¡¯s journey, the audience in front of the screen had not seen ¨¦tienne for almost half a year, and they greatly missed him now that he was on screen again. Originally, ¨¦tienne attracted many fans, his popularity not at all inferior to that of Mugalen, who had already been active twice, and might even have surpassed him. Many viewers had even requested that Bi Fang could shoot more entertainment-oriented videos, featuring ¨¦tienne, too; unfortunately, Bi Fang did not have much time or opportunity for that. Inside Dolphin Bay, over a hundred fishermen, along with hundreds of residents of Taiji Town and hundreds of foreign tourists holding up banners in protest, gathered in the small Dolphin Bay, numbering nearly five hundred people, almost equivalent to the student population of a local middle school. At this moment, they all congregated because of one team. Viewers looked down from the drones overhead, and many domestic viewers were momentarily reminded of the bustling Shanghai Bund, with a similarly bustling atmosphere, but even more explosive, as if a fight would break out at any disagreement. Standing in the front row, apart from ¨¦tienne, were several burly men, all sporting big beards and looking like they could give a biker gang a thorough beating. European Caucasians, generally taller than the Japanese, made the residents and fishermen of Taiji Town hesitate to act, allowing Bi Fang to speed around the sea in a boat with the dolphins, breaking through the blockade to swim in the ocean. Through the live stream, everyone in the Taiji Town Government Department became exceptionally nervous. At 8:30, even before office hours began, leaders of various departments received an urgent notice from their superiors and left their homes to drive toward Dolphin Bay. The situation had escalated to such an extent that it was beyond the capacity of the police department to resolve, with every moment a potential disaster if not handled carefully. The higher-ups were anxious, not to mention the small Taiji Town Government Department. Some officials from the Taiji Town Fisheries Department even felt the urge to turn the steering wheel and flee towards the airport. Compared to Huaxia, where the full details of what occurred in Ginza could not be known, these officials had been following the developments closely. Although the documentary had not been entirely released, it had already mentioned the "good deeds" of the Fisheries Department. Selling toxic Dolphin Bay meat as part of school lunches, packaging dolphin meat as whale meat, and unscrupulously selling it in supermarkets for unsuspecting citizens to buy had led to many tragedies. Now, with only a mention in the first half of the documentary, a large number of Japanese netizens had already started to react strongly, and it was uncertain whether the second half would provide concrete evidence. If the truth came to light, would there be any way out? Perhaps... a deep bow and an apology? However, when they drove to Dolphin Bay, they found the situation was worse than they expected: five buses completely blocked the entire tunnel, with a stream of residents from Taiji Town and tourists following behind and private cars everywhere, making it impossible for the officials to squeeze through. Expecting traffic to resume was futile, so they had to get out and walk. What was worse, with Dolphin Bay being remote and except for this tunnel road, nearly all surrounded by deep forests and mountains, the only way to get through the crowded crowd was to rush into the mountains and make a big detour to get there. By the time the officials arrived, they were drenched in sweat, their white shirts covered in leaves and brambles, and some even had faces full of mosquito bites, swollen red from the toxic and large insects of the forest, a truly painful experience. It¡¯s a wonder how those hunters have endured it. Seeing the hundreds of people inside the bay, the officials were dumbfounded. The only piece of good news was that Bi Fang had already sailed back to shore and was surrounded by members of environmental protection groups, both sides in a standoff. Chapter 610 - 607 Complete Documentary Bi Fang had never imagined that one day he would be protected by others. With the arrival of the most "powerful" foreign aid, Bi Fang breathed a sigh of relief. With this large group of people coming to stand off, his safety was basically assured. It was like choosing between tearing off the roof or simply opening a window, if the Japanese Government still wanted to calm things down, they would definitely choose to compromise. It might sound shameless, but it was also a fact that a large part of these fervent activists were here because of Bi Fang himself¡ªhe was the "head" of this group. As long as no one was seriously injured and only property damage occurred, unless the Japanese Government wanted to arrest hundreds of people at once, it wouldn¡¯t be possible to forcibly arrest Bi Fang. Japan might be shameless, but it still followed the basic laws. Make a big issue smaller, and a small issue disappear. The incident had already occurred, the only thing to do was to try to control the situation as much as possible. Feeling untouchable was unexpectedly pleasing. Having achieved his goals, Bi Fang silently stepped back, blending in with the crowd. The ensuing wrangling would be handled by ¨¦tienne¡¯s people. When it came to arguing and protesting, these people were experts. As expected, Japanese officials, who had come over hills and dales, were sweating profusely as if the droplets of sweat were like raindrops falling. With the magnitude of the incident, and over tens of millions of people worldwide paying attention, it was imperative to calm things down as quickly as possible. The leader from Taiji Town was easy to find¡ªMatsumoto Kiyotaka, the Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department who had been in power for over a decade. The locals all knew him, and he had considerable prestige. Matsumoto Kiyotaka was in a tight spot, standing off with over a hundred people. His superiors could skin him alive for this, and right now Matsumoto would have been grateful for someone to give him an out. However, on the other side, the officials looking for the leader were bamboozled once more. Once Bi Fang retreated into the crowd, he unexpectedly vanished. Where is he??? Experience more tales on NovelFire.C?m How could such a big guy just disappear? An Asian man, blending in so perfectly among Europeans? When the higher-ups heard the news, they cursed out the communication personnel, clearly disbelieving it, especially when there were drones hanging in the sky. There were even suggestions to snipe down the drones, but these were promptly rejected. If things hadn¡¯t escalated to this point, the plan might have been acceptable. But to snipe now could likely become a fuse. Opening a can of worms could lead to an outcry, let alone shooting in public. Isn¡¯t that asking for trouble? Who could bear that responsibility? With hundreds of people crammed into such a tight corner, what would happen if a stampede occurred? It was only minor injuries now, and those were caused by an individual, plus there was some property damage. But if it turned into a brawl or even death, Japan¡¯s face would be utterly lost. Or perhaps it was already lost. We are now in the age of information, where any shameful deeds are quickly spread by netizens who come to mock. The disgrace of Dolphin Bay is known to the world. Trying to cover it up now is utterly impossible. When Morishita Suji of the Whaling Commission turned off the power and learned that Bi Fang was livestreaming, in a fit of rage, he swept the documents from his desk onto the floor, emanating an aura that warned others to keep their distance. It was irrecoverable. Perhaps Morishita Suji knew it was irrecoverable from the moment the convention was unexpectedly disrupted, but deep down he still harbored a hope that even though the other side had a documentary, there was still a chance to turn things around by destroying the original with a certain price paid. Now, that chance was completely gone. On B Island, as a wild boar posted a video every quarter-hour, the entire documentary gradually unfolded before everyone¡¯s eyes. Since Richard and the others¡¯ first livestreaming failure, with two members still lying in Magic Capital¡¯s hospital, the audience seethed with anger. [They¡¯re shameless!] [Bullying the few with numbers, right?] [If Old Fang were here, would they dare to act so arrogant? Isn¡¯t it just a disorganized mess?] Further down, there was the story of how Jerret suggested finding Bi Fang and inviting him to join the journey. At that time, Bi Fang had just finished his rainforest expedition, and Mond had also selected a lot of material in Bi Fang¡¯s house to cut into the documentary. The audience finally understood why Bi Fang joined Richard¡¯s team. After that, the narrative returned to its normal course, with a large portion dedicated to Bi Fang and Mugalen¡¯s contributions. Hiss. There was something about Mugalen too? The audience was shocked, finally realizing why the Englishman had suddenly disappeared in the second half of the hunting season. Could there be more to the story? Mugalen¡¯s willingness to put his life on the line for his friends won over a large number of viewers. [This guy, such loyalty!] [I¡¯m a fan now] [No wonder they never said why he disappeared and didn¡¯t look for him. Wasn¡¯t that just giving themselves away? Still, they kept it tightly under wraps.] [Wait, what about Bosen?] S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having discovered the reason for Mugalen¡¯s mysterious disappearance, many viewers now remembered another person. This hunting season, both Mugalen and Bosen dropped out midway. Could it be for the same reason? Unfortunately, after watching for a long time, the audience did not see Bosen make an appearance... Why Bosen disappeared will likely remain an unsolved mystery. Besides Mugalen¡¯s heroic sacrifice, there was also Bi Fang¡¯s impressively wide reach. The audience finally understood why Bi Fang often chose to ¡¯sandbag¡¯ during the day; turns out he was off being Batman at night. Could that not be exhausting? Although Bi Fang¡¯s fans already had high expectations of his abilities, this move still shocked them to the core. Fighting wit and might against people at night, struggling for survival with Bear during the day, and still managing to slash his way to first place with scores hitting triple digits, [Damn, movies wouldn¡¯t even dare to pull this off] [Tai Chi is the real deal] [My idol, my idol!] [Furious Thunder Tao is opening the ¡¯Emperor¡¯ in the live stream¡ªwhat does it mean to be the world¡¯s number one (tactical lean back)] [Big shot, another big shot, I¡¯m in awe] What followed was an underwater shooting segment showing an intense confrontation between Bi Fang and Niu Gangjue, which was an eye-opener for the audience. He had used various methods to avoid being tracked, even resorting to blackout filming, leaving the online friends thoroughly impressed. [Can they really release this kind of footage?] [Is Old Fang some sort of special forces? This is spy-level, isn¡¯t it? He knows everything?!] Moving on, the content revealed was even more shocking. Jerret¡¯s narrative was very clear, exposing the stark reality of the entire dolphin meat interest chain in Taiji Town, and only then did people realize that poisonous dolphin meat was actually being delivered to schools and blatantly sold in supermarkets. Japanese netizens were incredulously surprised, with some even revealing whale meat from their own refrigerators. [The stuff I bought before, could it actually be dolphin meat?] [Elementary school students? Are you kidding me, supplying to elementary schools?] [Heartless maggots!] [It¡¯s okay, just bow deeply, just bow deeply.] Officials at Dolphin Bay who were unable to locate Bi Fang were sweating profusely and, with no other choice, made a ninety-degree deep bow toward the people and shouted. "We deeply apologize, it¡¯s all our responsibility. Please go back, everyone, we implore you!" Chapter 611 - 608 Planting Trees ``` August 25th. The uproar over Dolphin Bay had passed two days ago. Amidst public fervor, and with the help of the British Consul, Mugalen was unsurprisingly released¡ªsafely out of harm¡¯s way. On the day he left the police station, hundreds of tourists and residents who heard the news came to watch, giving Mugalen his moment in the spotlight. He even flexed his muscular biceps for the cameras, showing he was in good spirits¡ªthis strongman had been living comfortably these days. Yet, what captured everyone¡¯s attention the most wasn¡¯t Bi Fang¡¯s shocking act, nor the hundreds gathered in protest, but "Dolphin Bay," the unexpected debut of this epoch-making documentary. At noon on the 23rd, before it was officially released, various segments of the documentary were already spreading like wildfire, catching the attention of tens of millions. It finally premiered on major platforms, with the Discovery Channel broadcasting it on schedule. Lord Adenborg promptly promoted the documentary on social media. Through the complete version of the documentary, audiences finally learned that Lord Adenborg had been involved; without his generous provision of equipment, the film could not have achieved such a breakthrough. A true collaborative effort. Although many video bloggers had released bits and pieces of the documentary before its broadcast, and the content was patchy, when the full version arrived, the blood-drenched waves revealed what a massacre in the ocean was like. [Awesome, truly a collection of talents.] [I watched it, and I cried.] [Thanks to the great team who risked their lives to expose these bloody atrocities!] [This isn¡¯t Hell, this is Dolphin Bay in Taiji Town, Japan!] [Low EQ: This is Hell. High EQ: This is Taiji Town Dolphin Bay, right?] [Some people are just demons! Thank you to the brave creators of this documentary!!!] [Setting aside words like cruelty and hatred, killing is always brutal. What I really want to know from this film is, after picking out the valuable dolphins, and considering dolphin meat is so cheap it¡¯s fed to children and contains heavy metals, why the locals still insist on killing these dolphins.] With such a tremendous response, the Japanese Government finally couldn¡¯t sit still any longer, and on the 25th, they called an emergency press conference. At nine in the morning, the meeting commenced as planned. A middle-aged man with a receding hairline hurried through the side door, and the other officials immediately stood up. The sounds of chairs being moved were monotonous and grating beneath the dull snaps of cameras. Once the last person took their place, they didn¡¯t sit, but instead stood with hands naturally clasped in front, slightly bowed their heads, their faces showing grief as they mourned deeply. "For everything that has happened in Dolphin Bay, my department expresses its profound sorrow and regret." The official who arrived last and stood up first looked the most grieved, as if he were about to shed tears. Facing the flashes from the reporters¡¯ cameras, he made a show of wiping his eyes and bowed deeply. In a moment, a row of officials, as if they had rehearsed many times, bent down simultaneously, bowing deeply. Their timing was impeccable. Audience: "..." For some reason, this emergency PR was conducted live, seemingly in response to someone¡¯s actions. [At that glance, the streets teemed like the sea, and as you passed by, somewhat dazed, I kept looking back.] [I feel like I¡¯ve seen this scene so many times in my memory, have I time-traveled, brothers?] [It¡¯s the Mandela Effect! I put the Mandela Effect in there!] It wasn¡¯t until three minutes later that the officials stood up, sat back down, and began reading from their reports. The first step was a sincere apology and expression of mourning. For the slaughter of dolphins at Dolphin Bay and the supply of toxic dolphin meat to schools and supermarkets, the government felt deeply sorry and also burdened with guilt. ``` The second step, completely unaware, began to shift the blame. Every action taken was solely the local government¡¯s behavior; the higher authorities knew nothing about it and expressed strong condemnation and indignation. The third step was to strengthen management, strictly supervise, and... announce the punishment for Bi Fang. Huh? Experience new tales on NovelFire.C?m The punishment for Bi Fang? The million viewers watching what they thought was a farce were taken aback, thinking they had heard wrong, but then realized there was no mistake. After stating that they would strengthen supervision over Taiji Town, and strictly monitor to absolutely prevent incidents like dolphin meat being passed off and supplied to schools, they announced the punishment for Bi Fang. "In light of Mr. Bi Fang¡¯s actions of assaulting Hirotai Yamamoto, deliberately damaging public property, trespassing on private land, and orchestrating a mass protest, as well as Richard and others disrupting public order, after careful deliberation, we have decided on the following punishments, which include but are not limited to..." The announcement was quite convoluted and formal, but it could be summarized into four key points. First, he was to compensate residents for property and emotional damages in the amount of one hundred and thirty million yen, to provide financial reparations. Second, all earnings from this trip to Japan were to be confiscated, and he was stripped of the title and rewards of the first place in the hunting season, denying Bi Fang¡¯s achievements during the hunting season. Third, a complete prohibition of Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcasts within Japan, banning any related activities, effectively blacklisting Bi Fang. The fourth point was a ten-year ban on entering Japan, to be officially enforced starting from the first of September, 202*. In other words, in just six days, Bi Fang would be forcibly expelled from the country. Wow! The reporters below burst into uproar; although Bi Fang¡¯s punishment could be anticipated, its severity still shocked everyone. The audience was even more stunned. Where do you get the face to do this? [Did anyone notice that Japan only mentioned they would supervise the supply and sale of dolphin meat, but did not say they would prohibit or even limit the capture of dolphins?] [What the heck, so they don¡¯t mention a word about the key issue?] [Confiscate the gains? Does that include the jade piece as well?] [Jesus, that¡¯s nearly three hundred million yen, isn¡¯t it? How much money is that?] S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Don¡¯t know, there¡¯s also the earnings from the traffic Bi Fang brought to the hunting season, gone too. That might total up to four hundred million yen.] [How much money is that?] [Roughly twenty million...] Twenty million... Many people had never seen that much money in their lifetime and were dazzled by the amount. Just because of a documentary, one has to face such an exorbitant fine; it¡¯s truly infuriating. It wasn¡¯t just the domestic netizens who were angry, Japanese locals were outraged too. Blacklisting Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcasts? How would they watch them in the future? Use foreign networks? As neighbors, many Japanese were also fans of Bi Fang, and quite a few had been aware of him, watched, and became fans long before this hunting season. [Blacklisting Bi Fang? Have they asked for the opinion of us, the Japanese public?] [Does this mean we won¡¯t be able to watch Master Fang¡¯s live broadcasts ever again?] [Aside from bowing, is that all our officials are capable of achieving?] However, as the party concerned, Bi Fang himself didn¡¯t react much to this. Chapter 612 - 609: Neural Enhancement Under the sunset, Bi Fang sat atop a hill in Dolphin Bay, watching the undulating waves before him. The sun touched the ocean¡¯s surface, its orange-yellow light spilling over the world like a flood, elongating the shadows of the people on the hill. Another, broader shadow staggered over to Bi Fang, plonked down beside him, and placed a can of beer between them before pulling one out with a pop. He pulled the tab, and foam gushed out, spilling over Mugalen¡¯s hand as he quickly stretched out his arm, watching the golden liquid leap over forty meters into the ocean and vanish. After taking a sip of the chilled beer, Mugalen let out a satisfied noise. Midsummer should always be accompanied by cold beer! Dangling their legs over the cliff¡¯s edge, Mugalen joked, "I¡¯ve been all over Taiji Town, and you know what happened?" "Not a single supermarket would sell you beer?" "Hahaha, did you try to buy some too?" "I don¡¯t drink, just guessed." "Tsk tsk tsk, these people are really stingy." "It¡¯s already a restraint that they didn¡¯t beat you up." S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The two men looked at each other and burst into laughter, drawing the attention of the tourists camped out on the beaches of Dolphin Bay. To protect the dolphins, these conservation groups had set up tents here, and it was evident that this strategy was highly effective. Today, there were no fishing boats on the sea, and nearby, dolphins leapt out of the water, creating golden, glittering sprays of water, incredibly brilliant. After their laughter subsided, Mugalen seemed a bit puzzled, scratching his head. "You don¡¯t seem worried at all. That¡¯s four hundred million Yen we¡¯re talking about. I even thought I might have to console you." "Console me about what? You don¡¯t think I¡¯d be upset, do you?" Bi Fang laughed heartily and picked up a backpack beside him, pulling out a fist-sized, emerald green stone, "Take a look at this." "Is this... the jade you mined?" Bi Fang nodded, "Remember that agent?" "Yehara Hiroshi?" Mugalen had some recollection. It was he who had helped Bi Fang carry the raw jade stone down the mountain, and the weight of that stone was deeply etched in his memory. When Yehara Hiroshi came to take over, Mugalen was also present. "Yes, he came to give this to me at noon today, chiseled off from that huge raw jade, the best quality piece." Enjoy new adventures at NovelFire.C?m The raw jade stone was, in accordance with the Japanese government¡¯s penalty provisions, confiscated. The buyers and sellers have naturally scattered to the winds. So, seizing the opportunity before the officials arrived to confiscate it, Yehara Hiroshi secretly left a small piece for Bi Fang, a move steeped in risk. Mugalen remarked, "That guy is not bad." "Yeah, he¡¯s a good person," agreed Bi Fang. He said he had lost four hundred million Yen, but in reality, the loss pertained mostly to that jade stone which he was to pay for; his actual loss was about two hundred million Yen, roughly ten million Huaxia currency. "Two hundred million is not a small amount either." "But during my live stream at noon, my followers have already helped me raise it," Bi Fang winked. At the noon press conference, Bi Fang also hosted a private live stream, and the two hundred million Yen contributed towards the fine was an unexpected gain. Mugalen was stunned and suddenly fell silent. After a moment, he gritted his teeth and said, "You think it¡¯s great having fans?" "Haha, but that means you won¡¯t get the half of the money I promised you. How about I give you half of this stone instead?" "S**T!" It was only now that Mugalen suddenly remembered he had a share in that raw jade stone! Thinking of all the hard work he had put into moving it, Mugalen felt like crying without tears. "Don¡¯t be sad now, do you want this half or not? If you don¡¯t, then it¡¯s all mine." Mugalen¡¯s voice was filled with bitterness and determination, "Yes!" Bi Fang patted his butt and got up, "Actually, being deported isn¡¯t so bad, it even saves me a plane ticket." "A plane ticket worth two hundred million Yen?" "I wasn¡¯t planning on coming back here anyway." Bi Fang was indifferent. Unless Mount Fuji erupted in a volcanic explosion leading to another volcanic survival mission, as far as Japan was concerned, there were no more thrilling places left to visit, and based on the difficulty of the tasks arranged by the system, it was unlikely he would come here again. "Where are you planning to go next?" "To your hometown." "My hometown? What¡¯s there to visit?" "To take a vacation." Bi Fang stretched out his arms, flexing all the muscles in his body. Mugalen had a very bad premonition, and sure enough, once Bi Fang had fully stretched his muscles, he looked down at the ocean and held his breath. As for who else was breathless, aside from Bi Fang, it was also Mugalen. In that moment, the sun sank below the horizon, and the thick black night slowly enveloped Taiji Town. Accompanied by a barely detectable splash, the journey in Japan came to an end. [Ding, congratulations to the host for completing the task: Ocean Spirit] [Would you like to claim your rewards?] .... On September 1st, escorted by the police, Bi Fang and Richard¡¯s team boarded the plane back to Huaxia. At the airport, ¨¦tienne waved to Bi Fang before also boarding another flight. The pleasant summer vacation had come to an end, and the kid had to return to school. "I¡¯m envious of him, if I¡¯d had such rich experiences at his age, I definitely would¡¯ve been the dream lover of all the girls in school," Mugalen said with a tone that was like he had just eaten a sour plum. "Wake up, you¡¯re already married." Bi Fang settled in his seat, let out a deep sigh, and finally, he was able to head back home. Next to him sat Richard, Mandike¡¯s Science, and the others, all of whom, without exception, were being deported. The rows in front and behind were all their own people. A whole airplane of deportees¡ªwhen you think about it, it¡¯s pretty funny. Wearing his eye mask, Bi Fang opened the long-awaited system panel¡ªthere had been no change in the data. With Bi Fang¡¯s current physical condition, it was extremely difficult to make further progress through normal training. He skillfully opened the task template and claimed two task rewards. The two-month-long task flickered by in a flash, and the moment it stopped twinkling, it was as if it had extracted all the matches, bringing with it all the honors. [Detecting host¡¯s task completion. Final base reward: Neural Strengthening Coupon *1, Memory Palace Coupon *1, Task Rewards: Item Tank *3, Skill Can *2, Store Refresh Coupon *1, Product Exchange Coupon *1, Wilderness Points *4017, Enhancement Points *5] Bi Fang lifted his eye mask to find the plane had already taken off, and Richard and the others had all fallen into a deep sleep. Seeing this, he did not hesitate to use the base rewards for completing the task. The Neural Strengthening Coupon and the Memory Palace Coupon. The effect of the former was self-explanatory, it was simply... Hiss! The moment the Neural Strengthening Coupon took effect, it interrupted Bi Fang¡¯s train of thought. He felt a chill he had never experienced before, spreading from the back of his head down his spine, and eventually throughout his whole body. Bi Fang even felt as if, for a moment, he had been transported to Antarctica, yet the sensation was strikingly different from the coldness of temperature; it was more as if every nerve was licking a blast of cool mint, his whole body shivering uncontrollably, even each muscle quivering slightly! Chapter 613 - 610: Forest of Thought ``` "Hoo! Ha!" Bi Fang¡¯s whole body clung to the seat, feeling the strong sensation of shivering steadily intensifying. Each muscle was slowly writhing, as though it had come to life. This sensation was not pain, it was very strange. Cold, numb, sour, swollen. It was like digging away the pain from the common sensation of a toothache and spreading it to every cell in the body. Even without the pain, it was still unbearably uncomfortable, as if undergoing severe torture. Big beads of cold sweat slid from the brow, drawn by gravity into the corners of the eyes. The salty, burning sensation spread, and Bi Fang wanted to wipe it away, but his whole body was stiff, completely unable to move an inch. Fortunately, the whole process was very brief, lasting only ten minutes. Cold, numb, sour, swollen sensations vanished, but before Bi Fang could take a breather, he felt his body start to heat up. It¡¯s over. Bi Fang howled inwardly. At first, it was just the warmth of a complete run, but soon it turned into burning pain. The next ten minutes were another kind of utterly different torture. By the time it was completely over, a half hour had passed. Like he¡¯d just been fished out of water, Bi Fang¡¯s quick-dry T-shirt was visibly sweat-stained. Adjusting his breathing, Bi Fang took out a bottle of mineral water and drank it in one go to replenish some fluids. He then glanced at the others still in their dream states and went to the washroom to wash his face, wiping off the salt particles that had precipitated from sweating profusely with a towel. Afterward, he took off the T-shirt, soaked it in the sink, washed away the salt stains, wrung it dry, and put it back on. The T-shirt was from Polartec¡¯s Power Dry, the best quick-drying fabric on the market, even if it was a bit on the expensive side. In less than five minutes, it had evaporated to the point where no water stains were visible. In ten minutes, it was almost completely dry. From the outside, Bi Fang looked no different from before he boarded the plane. But the feeling... Bi Fang stretched out his hand and squeezed his fist. After the torture, his body didn¡¯t seem to feel noticeably different. Bi Fang had always been very concerned about the state of his body. Wilderness Survivalist is foremost about knowledge and the body. Therefore, he had become sensitive to the point where every training session was accompanied by a very complete scientific plan and statistics. The improvements brought by the earlier Skill coupons were incredibly strong, but this time the sensation was a little off. Back in his seat, Bi Fang continued to use the Mind Palace Coupon. The Palace of Mind, also known as a memory palace or the Method of Loci, Mental walking, is an ancient mnemonic device. The essence is to establish a virtual spatial scene in the mind and link various pieces of information to the space. Compared to the earlier visual enhancements, trapezoid muscle, bullet muscle, joints, and nerves, this Skill coupon was not essentially an enhancement of the body but rather a form of mental training and change. This method is most famously used by Sherlock Holmes and he was quite skilled at it. In "A Study in Scarlet," Sherlock Holmes said something. "You see," he explained, "I consider that a man¡¯s brain originally is like a little empty attic, and you have to stock it with such furniture as you choose. A fool takes in all the lumber of every sort that he comes across, so that the knowledge which might be useful to him gets crowded out, or at most, is jumbled up with a lot of other things, so that he has a difficulty in laying his hands upon it." ``` Apart from Sherlock Holmes, another famous figure is probably Dr. Hannibal Lecter. In his palace, he stores the vivid medical records of patients over the years, and perhaps his unique meat recipes as well. As for its documented appearances, they go even further back, according to the ancient Roman philosopher Cicero, the creator of the memory palace was the poet Simonides of Ceos. Legend has it that in 447 BC, Simonides was attending a court banquet when suddenly two young men came looking for him outside the banquet hall. When he stepped out of the hall, the young men were nowhere to be seen, but the roof of the banquet hall suddenly collapsed, killing all the guests inside. Since the bodies were mangled beyond recognition, he could only revisit the banquet scene in his memory, recalling the names of guests in different positions. After this event, Simonides realized that he could memorize all events by associating conscious images with spatial information. It was also the origin of the birth of the word "palace". But for Bi Fang right now, this coupon seems to be of little use. The two main functions of the Palace of Mind are, one, an extraordinary memory ¨C a blessing to the student party, and two, a unique way of association that allows thinking to operate more rapidly. However, the Skills given by the System are inherently panel-based; unless Bi Fang deletes a Skill, it¡¯s basically impossible to forget it. Enjoy more content from NovelFire.C?m Moreover, due to the existence of the Skill tree, each Skill can interact perfectly with each other, not just operating independently. Each Skill can coordinate and evolve with the others. But, since it has been received, it¡¯s a freebie nonetheless. The rewards from this trip to Japan are beginning to stack up, close to the quantity normally obtained from two regular missions; it can definitely be called a windfall. Additionally, building the palace itself is far less simple than it appears; it requires a very powerful spatial imagination and concentration. With the coupon, it can help Bi Fang skip this step entirely. And though the Palace of Mind may be constructed, the quality between individuals can vary greatly. Produced by the System, it must at least reach the upper levels of the Pyramids if not up to the level of Sherlock Holmes and Hannibal, right? It¡¯s just unknown what his own palace will look like, a room, a palace, or something else? Soon, Bi Fang understood; his "palace" was neither a room nor a palace... The moment the golden coupon turned to powder, the lush Skill tree in his mind abruptly grew taller, then numerous branches drooped down, similar to the aerial roots Bi Fang saw in the Banna Rainforest. The branches touched down and rapidly took root in the vast expanse of his mind. Then, one after another, towering trees sprung from the ground, encircling the central mother tree. The endless forest rose and fell, growing dense and interwoven like a sea of green. Bi Fang teleported into the midst of the forest, arriving beneath a giant tree, to find each tree had a wooden drawer. Pulling one open, inside were scrolls of parchment. Unrolling a scroll, without needing to read, a flood of information naturally poured into his brain. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Looking up towards the center of the forest, without needing to think, a thought sparked, and countless leaves danced. Fire. Dozens of fire-making methods naturally emerged in his brain, and on this basis, even more methods evolved. Bi Fang opened his eyes, rubbed the bridge of his nose, and a smile crept across his lips. Not bad at all. Chapter 614 - 611: It’s All Prediction The plane landed gracefully at Magic City Airport, trembling slightly as it faced the strong wind and the setting sun. "Hmm, have we arrived?" Mugalen lifted his eye mask, feeling somewhat tired from sleep. It only takes two to three hours to fly from Japan to Magic City. He had boarded the plane at around four in the afternoon, and now it was already six o¡¯clock, leaving him feeling groggy. Mugalen glanced over at Bi Fang, who was next to him playing on his phone. Mugalen thought Bi Fang was gaming, but on closer inspection, he saw a green button on the screen. In the blink of an eye, the green button instantly turned red, and almost at the same time it changed color, Bi Fang pressed the button. A number popped up from the top. 87ms. Suddenly curious, Mugalen asked, "What is this?" Bi Fang replied, "A rudimentary software for measuring neural response." "Can I give it a try?" "Sure," Bi Fang handed him the phone and explained, "The button will turn from green to red, and you hit it as soon as it turns red to check your reaction speed." Mugalen nodded. The rules were quite simple. He quickly understood after restarting it. After a series of actions, a number jumped out. Mugalen¡¯s eyebrows twitched: "268ms? Why is there such a big difference from yours?" If Mugalen hadn¡¯t seen it wrong, Bi Fang scored 87ms, right? Although he wasn¡¯t sure what the standard for good was, Mugalen had the feeling that his number seemed pretty weak. Just as Bi Fang was about to take his phone back, Mugalen pushed him away: "No, no, no, I wasn¡¯t ready. Let¡¯s do it again, one more time." Watching an eager Mugalen, Bi Fang sighed and stood up to gather his luggage. By the time they disembarked from the plane, Mugalen was still focused on the test. Bi Fang ignored the protests and snatched the phone back. He opened the average value and saw 156ms. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Covering the data from the first half, the average value fluctuated again, becoming 237ms. "What counts as a good score?" Mugalen asked from behind. Bi Fang didn¡¯t reply but just nodded: "Not bad, it¡¯s above average." The average person¡¯s reaction speed is usually around 250ms, which can reach 200ms with focused attention. Typically, with regular training, one¡¯s response speed can get down to around 150ms. The physiological limit of human response speed will not be lower than 100ms¡ªthat¡¯s the biological limit. Modern medical science, following further research into nerve conduction velocities, has shown that the speed at which nerve fibers conduct is related to their diameter; the larger the diameter of the nerve fibers, the faster they conduct. For example, the diameter of the main nerve fibers of humans or mammals ranges from 1 to 22 micrometers, and their conduction speed can reach 5 to 120 meters per second; the diameter of the branching nerves and visceral nerves of the main nerve is less than 3 micrometers, with a conduction speed of 3 to 15 meters per second; while the diameter of peripheral nerves ranges from 0.3 to 1.3 micrometers, with a conduction speed roughly of 0.6 to 2.3 meters per second. Physiologists also discovered that there¡¯s a linear relationship between the diameter of the main nerve fibers of mammals and their conduction speed: for every 1 micrometer increase in the nerve fiber¡¯s outer diameter, the conduction speed increases by 6 meters per second. Theoretically, human reflexes should be at the speed of light, as nerve reflexes are biologically electrical. The fundamental reason is that the transmission within neurons is at the speed of light, but the transmission between neurons is not; it¡¯s a matter of substance transmission instead. Moreover, the electrical signals are generated by the difference in ion concentration on the inside and outside of the nerve ending cell membranes, resulting in a potential difference. The conduction of the potential difference is at the speed of light, but the speed of the variation in ion concentration is much slower than that of light. Crude nerves modify this process. So what people often call rough nerves should not actually be regarded as slowness but as sensitivity far beyond that of an ordinary person. This should be considered a compliment. Saying someone is slow should be putting it as having delicate nerves. Based on this threshold, pressure sensors were installed on the starting blocks. If a runner starts, they will exert pressure on the block, which in turn will sense the start. The shortest human reaction time is 0.1 seconds; anything within 0.1 seconds is considered a false start. The International Association of Athletics Federations has rules for this: if someone starts with a reaction time of 0.09 seconds, it¡¯s definitely an attempt to jump the gun rather than following it, so it can only be ruled as a foul. As for the peak period, it¡¯s basically the age range of eSports competitors. For Mugalen, the average is 237ms, which is indeed quite good. He was quite the hero in his youth. Mugalen scratched his head, puzzled. The human limit is 100ms, and if he hadn¡¯t seen wrong just now, Bi Fang¡¯s test was definitely below triple digits. He asked curiously, "How did you manage to get 87ms just now?" Humans do have their limits, so does that mean Bi Fang is no longer human? Bi Fang replied calmly, "I just blindly anticipated it." Testing reaction speed, of course, can¡¯t be done with just one try. You need at least five attempts to calculate an average. Mugalen suddenly realized, "Ah, I see, but now I¡¯m curious: ¡¯Let me see your average.¡¯" "Forget it, it¡¯s at an ordinary person¡¯s level." Bi Fang turned off his phone and ran towards the hall. "Hey, you can¡¯t do that," Mugalen said anxiously, carrying luggage and chasing after Bi Fang. The two weaved through the bustling crowd in the hall, while Richard and the others were leisurely following behind. As Bi Fang passed through the crowd, he also caused a stir; more people recognized them because both of their appearances and auras were too eye-catching. It¡¯s like going to a zoo where you¡¯re more captivated by the animal that has just been captured from the forest than by one that was born and raised there. As they chased each other, just as Mugalen was about to catch Bi Fang¡¯s shoulder, a scream came from beside him. Mugalen turned around and saw an orange tray flying into the air, with the burgers, chicken nuggets, and fries also taking flight. "Oh no, I¡¯ve hit someone!" Mugalen suddenly realized, but it was too late. Watching as the food was about to scatter all over the floor, he thought of apologizing to people. At the last possible moment, a hand with distinct knuckles reached through from between them, swiftly supporting the bottom of the tray. To everyone¡¯s amazement, it caught each piece of the airborne food one by one. With the last chicken nugget landing securely back in its box. "Plop." Someone¡¯s phone fell to the ground; they turned to their companion and exclaimed, "Is this them filming ¡¯Spider-Man 4¡¯?" The companion looked around and shook their head, "I don¡¯t see any cameras." "Sorry, my friend bumped into you. Are you okay?" Bi Fang tipped his cap and sincerely apologized. "No, no, no, it¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine," the girl whose tray was knocked over hurriedly gestured. She adjusted her glasses and studied Bi Fang¡¯s face for a while before exclaiming again, "Ah, you are... " "Shh!" Bi Fang raised a finger to his lips. As expected, what followed was another fan meet-and-greet. Mugalen stood awkwardly to one side; once the photo op was over, he immediately grabbed Bi Fang, "How did you just do that?" "What?" "That thing, with the whoosh whoosh whoosh, the Spider-Man thing," Mugalen explained, making swooping gestures in the air with his hands. Stay connected with NovelFire.C?m Bi Fang tugged down his cap, "I just blindly caught it." Chapter 615 - 612 TIME Magazine’s Cover Person Mugalen was no longer asking about Bi Fang¡¯s test results after leaving the airport, still grappling with life¡¯s uncertainties from the recently witnessed scenes, muttering to himself as he trailed behind Bi Fang. "Anticipation... How can one anticipate..." Gazing at the wide avenue, Bi Fang didn¡¯t head home, but went to the hospital with Richard and the others to visit the two teammates who were initially injured. After two months of recovery and treatment, the two were almost completely out of danger, though they still needed close observation. They were very happy to see everyone come to visit. Once it was confirmed that the two were much better and could be discharged in a few days, the group did not linger longer and found a restaurant near the hospital to deal with dinner. After a whole day of rushing about, everyone was famished. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I¡¯m going to use the restroom," Mandy said, standing up from her seat while waiting for the meal. "If not for the injuries, they would have shared this honor with us," Bi Fang thought of the two in their hospital beds as he watched Mandy¡¯s departing figure, feeling somewhat melancholic. The exposure of Dolphin Bay was life-threatening, and although the fundamental purpose of the group was not to profit from the documentary, the arrival of benefits after it was released was an undeniable reality. What those present cared about was the distribution; hence, the entire Dolphin Bay was given out for free to major video websites and allowed to be shared on social platforms. The total number of views across the web had surpassed two billion, with over 360 million on MeTube and more than 21 million on B Island. Though these numbers might seem small compared to the top ten historical records, the essential point is that it is a two-hour documentary, and only a week had passed. Those that boast billions of views were exceptions, all being short videos of less than ten minutes, and those figures were based on the number of views within a month. Two billion views didn¡¯t mean that over two-sevenths of the world had seen Dolphin Bay¡ªperhaps less than one-tenth had¡ªbut it was still an exhilarating statistic. It looked like Dolphin Bay was going to be the highest-viewed video among all of Bi Fang¡¯s independent edits. Although there were no official global figures, Bi Fang had four videos on B Island with over a hundred million views, with Goose¡¯s Journey being the highest, firmly in the lead with over 140 million. The view count on B Island was calculated based on IDs, not replayed views, and with a total of only 300 million registered users on the island, 140 million views¡ªand still increasing¡ªmeant that approximately every two users had watched it, a miraculous achievement. There was a joke on B Island that the only one who could beat Bi Fang¡¯s viewer count was Bi Fang himself. Originally thought to be just a playful meme, it now seemed to be a proverb. Read exclusive adventures at NovelFire.C?m On the total historical view ranking, Bi Fang himself had surpassed seven within the top ten, all of which were long videos over ninety minutes. Putting other things aside, the few people present, even the electrical engineer who worked behind the scenes, had gained a significant following on Twitter thanks to Dolphin Bay. But because of their injuries, those two missed out on all this, becoming "sacrifices" in the process of exposure. Bi Fang only felt regret on their behalf; it was sad that they got nothing out of it. Richard and Jerret had not forgotten them; they both appeared in the edits but inevitably ended up being relegated to the backdrop. Richard twirled his fork in the spaghetti, chewing and swallowing, "They won¡¯t care about that." "Before you helped us, we never imagined we¡¯d succeed," Jerret said, picking up a steak with his chopsticks, tearing into it and swallowing. Contrary to what many imagine, most Westerners can in fact use chopsticks, and use them quite well. This steak was the best meal Jerret had had in two months. In Japan, he had been eating instant meals every day, and it was even more embarrassing in the later stages, as no one was willing to sell them even instant foods. The venison and boar meat that Bi Fang couldn¡¯t finish were all secretly given to them; tough and stringy, they couldn¡¯t compare to the taste of farmed beef. Enjoying the rare delicacy made Jerret forget how to use a knife and fork; he simply picked up chopsticks. "Don¡¯t be too sad," Richard patted Bi Fang on the shoulder, "Both of them are members of the Ocean Organization, I know their character. The documentary¡¯s release is already the best reward for them." As someone who had been there, Richard knew what Bi Fang was thinking. In the eyes of the world, it seems heroes only appear great when they offer selfless devotion. Selfless devotion is indeed great, but only when one receives the due reward will more and more people dare to devote themselves. Bi Fang himself didn¡¯t care about the benefits, but the two lying in the hospital bed were just ordinary people, with wives and children, needing bread and milk. "Hey, look what I¡¯ve found?" Mandy returned from the restroom, threw something on the table, and her surprised voice interrupted everyone¡¯s thoughts. Everyone looked towards the shadow that flew in and discovered it was a magazine. TIME Under the large black title, a very familiar and handsome face came into view. Keke picked up the magazine, marveled at Bi Fang under the light, then looked back at the cover and realized that the real person and the photograph were almost identical. Mandy also leaned in, her mouth forming an O-shape, "Wow, Bi Fang, isn¡¯t this you? You made it onto the cover of TIME magazine!" "That¡¯s really amazing!" One after another, the people offered their praises. Bi Fang took the magazine and was also very surprised. He had actually become the cover person of TIME magazine? TIME, one of the most famous magazines in the world. With great authority, a long history, and having witnessed nearly a hundred years of changes in the world, the magazine is very well-made. The cover design may seem simple, but the level of photography and design details are handled by masters, making it a very influential magazine. However, TIME can¡¯t strictly be classified as a weekly, as there are times when it publishes every two weeks. The 23rd was a Sunday, and obviously, after the event occurred, TIME quickly made Bi Fang its cover, and the timing was very tight; they didn¡¯t even have a proper photo shoot, merely taking a still of Bi Fang from a certain scene. Backlit by the sun, the shadowy figure added a touch of mystery. Which specific scene was taken, with the background removed, not even Bi Fang himself recognized it. As a streamer, to be on such an authoritative magazine was a surprise, even if it was just an ordinary issue. This was an honor Bear Grylls and Grandpa De had not achieved, and now, Bi Fang had it. "I think you should also have a place as Person of the Year!" Jerret went so far as to declare boldly. The Person of the Year was even more prestigious than appearing in a weekly issue. This tradition started in 1927 when TIME magazine¡¯s editor was pondering what to cover in a week with no significant news. Since Charles Lindbergh had flown across the Atlantic Ocean for the first time that year, but TIME magazine hadn¡¯t featured him on the cover, the editor at the end of the year thought of a way to remedy this embarrassment by putting Lindbergh on the cover and naming him Person of the Year. From the perspective of an Adventurer, Jerret felt that Bi Fang was even more outstanding and had a greater impact, and he deserved to be on the annual cover! Hearing this, Bi Fang laughed heartily as if he didn¡¯t take it too seriously, taking it as a friend¡¯s blessing. Yet, it also planted a seed of hope in his heart. Could he really make the cover? Many people have appeared in regular issues, from entrepreneurs to stars, but the Person of the Year carries undoubtedly a higher value and represents the true movers and shakers. "Damn, it¡¯s finally over! I just want to go home now." Having bitten off the last piece of beef, Jerret raised his beer, "come, Cheers!" "Cheers!!!" "Hahaha!" Chapter 616 - 613: Super Fast Body Reaction Plus Extremely Strong Dynamic Capture Equals... ``` "Phew!" After the celebration, Bi Fang returned home and lay on his bed, stretching out his body with all his might, his joints crackling as he relaxed completely. After a moment¡¯s squint, Bi Fang took out his phone and deftly opened the reaction test, pulling up his average score. 54ms, tested seventeen times in total, with the best one¡ª34ms. If these numbers were posted online, no one would be surprised because they would only believe they were fake. No one believes it, not even Bi Fang. A single Neurological Strengthening Coupon actually took him beyond the realm of humans¡­ With the various Enhancement Coupons he received before, Bi Fang only felt their effects were extremely strong. He had never gone to the hospital for a more comprehensive check-up. But subconsciously, Bi Fang felt that under the enhancements, he had only reached some extreme limit of humans, not surpassing the boundaries of that limit. But now¡­ The human limit is 100ms; he cut it right in half, even reaching below 50ms, which would absolutely astonish a host of neurosurgeons. Discover stories with NovelFire.C?m After tapping his knee joint, Bi Fang gained a deeper understanding of the strength of his joints. He also touched the side of his neck, and a realization flashed in Bi Fang¡¯s eyes¡ªit was no wonder that he was relatively unharmed when the Wolf King bit his neck in Mohe, bleeding a bit more than usual, but neither the muscles nor the major blood vessels were damaged. He had thought it was because he was wearing thick clothes, but now it seemed that the other party had literally bitten into steel! However¡­ The more, the better. With this thought, Bi Fang opened his panel. This time, the mission ended, and he received 3 Item Tanks, 2 Skill Cans, 1 Store Refresh Coupon, 1 Product Exchange Coupon, and five unspent Enhancement Points. First to open the tanks, open the tanks! In the void, the sound of tanks shattering followed one after another. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! One pull, a smooth quintuple opening by Bi Fang. [Dynamic Vision Enhancement Ticket*1] [Vision Enhancement Coupon*1] [Culinary Mastery Lv3*1] [MOD MK VI Stinger Tactical Knife*1] [Orange-flavored Hard Candy*100] Just a few days ago, Bi Fang was visibly thrilled, until he saw the last item on the list. Orange-flavored hard candy? What is this? Looking at the large pack of candy that appeared in his hand, Bi Fang hesitated for a long time before he unwrapped a piece, discarded the wrapper, and popped it in his mouth. Mmm, it tastes good. Hell! Bi Fang slapped his forehead, having always assumed that the tanks rewarded from the System¡¯s missions mainly contained good stuff, even offering skills suited to his development. But instead¡­ The appearance of this pack of candy took Bi Fang by surprise, but fortunately, the first four items were great treasures, worth the cost. The tactical knife was the first. It was already the third tactical knife Bi Fang had received from the System, and he had his eye on this particular model. ``` Duane Dieter and Jimray named their latest collaborative creation the Mark VI "Stinger," a tactical fixed-blade knife that is exceedingly ornate and captures the eye, much like the globally recognized Mark V. At a mere glance, its design is notably distinct from that of a typical tactical knife, mainly due to the two small "horns" protruding from where the handle meets the blade. With an overall length of 23.8 cm, and an 11.5 cm long A-2 steel blade, it has an exceptional ability to retain a sharp edge; the handle, made from glass-filled nylon, resists chemical corrosion and withstands high temperature and pressure, remaining robust at temperatures up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and also offering excellent electrical insulation; the butt end of the handle is composed of hardened steel, which can be utilized as a hammerhead. This knife has been deemed one of the top ten strongest tactical knives in the world. A knife is the most crucial object in the wilderness after fire, often referred to as a hunter¡¯s second life. Bi Fang was quite pleased with the knife and stowed it away with care. As for skills, the blue Culinary Mastery can be set aside for the moment, as having many skills is never a burden, and it can be useful, at least in making the food taste better in the wild, significantly enhancing the quality of life. With an increase in comfort comes a greater likelihood of enduring the challenges ahead. The importance of vision goes without saying, but what surprised Bi Fang was that the System had separated dynamic vision from overall vision and that these were just associated with silver coupons. Every mission provided a baseline reward of gold coupons, which are of a completely different quality. When Bi Fang first started live streaming, he obtained a Vision Restoration Coupon, not an Enhancement Coupon, so his eyesight was only slightly better than that of an average person. Biologically, the ultimate limit of human-eye retinal vision should fall between 3.0 and 4.0. In other words, if the human eye had a more perfect refractive regulation system, our natural eyesight could theoretically reach about a 3.0. Yet, in reality, only a very small portion of the population reaches 2.0. It is said that the vision of the Maasai people far exceeds 2.0, approaching 3.0, allowing them to clearly see people a kilometer away with the naked eye and to observe animals as far as 10 kilometers away. Even in the dark, they can accurately distinguish the type of animal hiding in the grass. It sounds like something out of a fantasy novel. As for 4.0, that¡¯s theoretically the limit, and no human being has ever reached it so far. Bi Fang used both tickets simultaneously, feeling a subtle warmth in his eyes as if something was being pulled open, involuntarily bringing tears to his eyes, though thankfully it wasn¡¯t as dramatic as the first time his vision changed. After shedding gray tears for a full ten minutes, and once his vision returned to normal, Bi Fang looked around and noticed no significant change¡ªuntil he opened the window and cast his gaze into the distance, where the improvements in his vision became apparent. It seemed there was nothing in the world that he couldn¡¯t see clearly; coincidentally, as the moon was full tonight, Bi Fang strained his vision and could even discern the vague outlines of craters on its surface. Phew. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This feeling of seeing everything with extreme clarity holds an indescribable satisfaction. Seeing the world clearly is challenging; in the past, it was difficult to do so with intention, but now, for most people, even seeing with their eyes is a struggle. Bi Fang still remembered the moment a year ago when his vision was restored, how he completely abandoned the heavy glasses on the bridge of his nose, relishing the unfettered exhilaration of observing the world without frame borders or floaters. And dynamic vision... Bi Fang pulled out a coin and flicked it into the air, only to catch it in his hand. Holding the coin, Bi Fang silently predicted, "Heads." He opened his hand¡ªit was heads. "Let¡¯s try again." "Tails." He opened his hand¡ªit was tails. To his own astonishment, he could now clearly see which side of the coin was facing up while it was mid-air. This was no exaggeration for a skilled baseball player, who could discern the Arabic numerals written on a baseball, as well as capture the baseball¡¯s spin and movement. In boxing, every fighter relies on dynamic vision to detect swift movements from the opponent¡ªin a matter of milliseconds, you could knock out your opponent or be knocked out... Wait a second, boxing. Bi Fang¡¯s pupils slowly dilated as he pieced together the rewards he had received from previous missions, and a shocking realization dawned on him. Combined with superhuman neural reflexes and superior dynamic capture abilities, what would happen if one were to step into a boxing ring? Chapter 617 - 614: Legends of the Martial World (Two in One) ``` I¡¯m invincible! That was the only thought in Bi Fang¡¯s mind at the moment. Indeed, after undergoing various enhancements and skills, Bi Fang had become very confident, feeling he could take on ten opponents at once. The sixth Ip Man film should be starring him! What¡¯s most important in combat? Strength? Agility? Stamina? S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Or is it resistance to blows? Bi Fang believed none of these were the most important. That is to say, despite their significance, these four attributes were not decisive factors. Distance perception. In other words¡ªdynamic vision. A kind of dynamic vision. Bi Fang personally thought that this was the most crucial. The most common modern standard combat is boxing, and an essential quality for a boxer is the sense of distance. Take for example, the boxing prince Naseem Hamed. Many people may find his matches somewhat strange yet overlook his astonishing sense of distance. Naseem Hamed¡¯s sense of distance was so good he could dance around the ring. A boxer with a strong sense of distance comes across as flamboyant or could be said to be relaxed. Because they know the distance between themselves and their opponent, and how to dodge their punches, they can afford not to be tense and defensive, and can lower their hands, taunting their opponent, using their rich facial expressions and arrogant body movements to lure the opponent into attacking, revealing their weaknesses and thus countering and retaliating. How wonderful it is to achieve the desired effect without having to feint, just by taunting. Excellent distance perception allows you to attack when you want to and relax when you don¡¯t, easily leading the opponent into your rhythm and gradually breaking them down. Standing in front of your opponent, you know how to control the entire rhythm of the battle. Those adept at observing and questioning will definitely notice that the eyes of herbivores and carnivores are markedly different, with herbivores having eyes on the sides of their heads, as they need a wider field of vision to watch out for predators. But the eyes of carnivores are always located at the front, because this allows both eyes to focus on the same object. They obtain a three-dimensional image and accurately target the location and distance of their prey. When you have that ability, resistance to blows? The opponent can hardly land a hit, or rather, they think they can, but every time they throw a punch, they find they are just two centimeters short, allowing you to seize the opportunity to strike back effectively. Not only that, but a strong sense of distance also plays a crucial role in many other areas, such as low-altitude parachuting, needing to master the distance, and in many other dangerous sports. The enhancement of dynamic vision greatly improved Bi Fang¡¯s sense of distance. Strength? Unless it¡¯s a child against an adult, it can always cause damage. Agility, well, that¡¯s indeed important, but for Bi Fang... Do you want to compare reflexes with me or dynamic visual motion capture? Building the four dimensions around sense of distance ensures an undefeated stance in fighting. With his remarkable dynamic capture, extraordinary sense of distance, combined with the acquired nerve reflex and Palace of Mind, the synergy of these four elements can be described as extremely terrifying. The true process of combat is incredibly fast, so quick that when you get close and grapple with the opponent, you can¡¯t even think about your next move, because it¡¯s too rapid. By the time you¡¯ve figured out how to respond, the enemy has already knocked you to the ground. ``` Life-and-death fights are exactly like this, with the brain controlled by rage, and everything is a matter of instinctive reaction. Daily practice serves to engrain movements into instinct. When physical fitness is comparable, the one whose instincts are more deeply embedded and who responds more adeptly will emerge victorious. But now, super-quick neural transmission, along with the Palace of Mind¡¯s coordination of movement and reaction. A person in the midst of a fight with a strong sense of distance, whose thoughts are so quick that they can clearly decide how to respond... Inside Dolphin Bay, Bi Fang once encountered Niu Gangjue under water. At the time, he could only shorten his reaction to 200 milliseconds, with action time less than ten milliseconds. But now, the time Bi Fang has for action will reach a horrific 150 milliseconds! Not only can he dodge moves, but he can even take the opportunity to strike another blow. To say his combat power has doubled would be an understatement. Accompanied by such an expansion of confidence, Bi Fang exerted himself to use up all the remaining Enhancement Points, only this time the distribution was different from usual. Four major attributes: Strength, Physique, Agility, Spirit. These four are not merely as straightforward as their names suggest, and they even vary in meaning; for instance, Agility does not refer to nimbleness but specifically to burst speed. Physique then is the combination of endurance and physical constitution. Add enough points and you might even extend your lifespan¡ªit¡¯s the overall ability of the body system to manage external environments, like resisting temperature changes, and combating foreign bacteria and parasites. In comparison, the meaning of Strength is simpler: muscle density, hardness, and mitochondrial function, among others. Spirit refers to coordination, sixth sense, and the like. The properties of these four attributes have highly integrated Bi Fang¡¯s bodily reactions to harsh environments, leaving nothing out. It can be said that if one could strengthen each of these attributes to hundreds of points or more, there wouldn¡¯t even be a need for Wilderness Survival skills¡ªyou could bulldoze through the entire Amazon rainforest. Any viruses or parasites would be shredded to nothing by the immune system upon entry, and a bite of ten roots could be dissolved by stomach acid, extracting energy even from cellulose. Of course, all of the above were Bi Fang¡¯s own wild guesses, assuming there were enough Enhancement Points available, and that the effects of the points would not diminish. After exceeding fifteen points in any single attribute, the effectiveness of the Enhancement Points became less pronounced than at the beginning, with a discount nearing fifty percent. Perhaps after thirty points in a single line, there would be no effect left? Looking at the effects of the four attributes, it¡¯s certain that they would overlap with the effects offered by the System¡¯s enhancement vouchers. However, the vouchers offer more meticulous upgrades, affecting even individual muscles, bringing benefits far beyond what a single Enhancement Point could compare with. Combining the enhancements he had just received, Bi Fang decided to undertake targeted strengthening, no longer following a balanced path. Five Enhancement Points¡ªhe invested three in Agility and two in Physique. He quickly browsed through the store after that, using a refresh coupon. Sure enough, an attribute point appeared, but it wasn¡¯t for Agility or Physique; it was for Spirit. Continue reading stories on NovelFire.C?m Add it on. He wanted to be an agility-based burst warrior! With the addition of points complete, a unique warm stream rose from his lower abdomen, circling the limbs and bones of his body like soaking in a hot spring, making him sleepy. Bi Fang stretched out his hand, acutely aware that his body was undergoing metamorphosis. Lifting his arm, the muscles wrapping around his bones intertwined and writhed, binding and linking together like steel, tightening bit by bit. When he stood up again, Bi Fang¡¯s skin was smooth, with beads of sweat and natural oils glistening in the light, almost metallic under the illusion. A sense of ruggedness arose spontaneously. If he were to stand before others, it would seem as though Bi Fang¡¯s entire being was like a steel whiplash, ready at any moment to be swung and emit a piercing sound through the air. Having fully absorbed the rewards from his trip to Dolphin Bay, Bi Fang took a deep breath and lightly jumped. Although he had just finished a journey, he was brimming with energy that had nowhere to be released. He suddenly thought about getting a girlfriend, but then Bi Fang dismissed the dangerous thought. He was simply unable to vent his temporary energy. Instead of finding a female companion, it was better to seize the time and embark on the next adventure. While Bi Fang was not some paragon of virtue, he did have his principles¡ªonce involved, he would take responsibility. Adventuring almost every day was inherently dangerous. In case... cough, just in case. Those on Mount Liang with wives, like short-legged tiger Wang Ying, were rather common. True heroes spent all day honing their martial virtues. Even those who were married, like Lin Chong and Song Jiang, had to face family ruin before they could sever all ties and expose no weaknesses. Moreover, at the age of twenty-five, many people still might be pursuing their studies or researching. Bi Fang cut off his train of thought and opened his panel. A series of data was pleasing to the eye. [Sole Binder: Bi Fang] [Age: 25] [Height: 185.8cm] [Weight: 80KG] [Strength: 16] [Physique: 20] [Agility: 19] [Spirit: 16] [Platinum Body, Beastly Instinct] [Status: Healthy.] [Enhancement Points: 0] [Wilderness Points: 1234 (convertible)] Orange Main Skill: Wilderness Traveler Lv2. Purple Branch Skill: Forbidden Zone Hunter Lv1, Body Tempering Lv1. Blue Twig Skill: Tai Chi Traveling Dragon Lv3. Green Canopy Skill: Cooking Mastery Lv3. Spoils Skill: Wolves King¡¯s Sense of Smell, King Fish¡¯s Stomach, Biological Sensing. After using the recently acquired five skill points, Bi Fang finally reached a stat value of twenty points, nearing the level of top athletes. However, accordingly, the strength of enhancements after twenty points would be discounted. Feeling the intensity, Bi Fang guessed that twenty-five points might be the level of world-class athletes. "Sleep time, sleep time." The combined mission proved to be powerful indeed, with generous rewards, and Bi Fang even wished for it to happen a couple more times. Unfortunately, it was probably a one-time opportunity. To avoid being too energetic and unable to sleep at night, Bi Fang took a hot bath in the bathroom, waiting for his muscles to fully relax before lying down to rest. ... In the following few days, Bi Fang found himself with nothing to do and spent time getting used to his body, even buying food to try out his Cooking Mastery level. After tasting it a few times, it actually felt like he was a hotel chef. From then on, Bi Fang grew fond of cooking every day, to the point that the housekeeping auntie thought she was going to lose her job, but eventually realized she wouldn¡¯t. Bi Fang only enjoyed the process of cooking, leaving the dishwashing and preparation to the auntie. With the remainder of his time, he tended to his insect and fish tanks, attempting to establish a pseudo self-sustaining ecosystem, or went out for leisure and entertainment with Richard and the others as his friend was about to be discharged from the hospital, and they would all be returning to Ugly Country in a few days. Sometimes, he would log on to play a few rounds of FPS games with ¨¦tienne after school, partly to test his own reaction capabilities and partly for relaxation and fun. As a result¡ªvictory in every match. Dominating every game, his impressive skills left the opponents feeling like they would die as soon as they peeked out, crying out accusations of cheating, and even shocked ¨¦tienne who begged Bi Fang to teach him his skills. Basically, unless his teammates were really dragging him down, whichever side had Bi Fang would always win. There was even a match where they were reported successfully by the opposing side, resulting in a permanent ban, forcing Bi Fang to re-register an account. Gradually, a terrifying nightmare began to circulate in the FPS gaming community, known as the number one instant sniper in FPS. The evil joy of life. While Bi Fang was enjoying his life, the outside noise did not quiet down¡ªin fact, it was getting louder, with reporters trying to interview everyone, only to be rejected by Bi Fang every time. He had completed what he set out to do, and now it was time to enjoy his life. As for interpreting the meaning and impact of his actions, Richard and the others were more than capable. Also gaining infamy was the iconic scene of Bi Fang catching a hamburger with his bare hands at the airport. The busy airport scene was witnessed by many and even captured on video¡ªending with a phone falling and the world spinning, vividly expressing what the person filming must have felt. Now, just open any short video site, scroll a few times, and you¡¯re almost bound to come across it. Some even compared footage of Bi Fang with Spider-Man, concluding that there was a "99% synchronicity rate". The video even spread abroad, eliciting a response from the actor Toby. "I think GOD¡¤FANG is a real superhero, both in his actions and his spirit. I deeply respect everything he did at Dolphin Bay, which sounds like something out of a story or a movie. I¡¯m looking forward to going on an adventure with GOD¡¤FANG like Leonardo one day." It¡¯s said that Leonardo and Toby are good friends¡ªlooks like it¡¯s true. [Old Fang, that reaction speed is off the charts] [If I had that reaction, wouldn¡¯t I be victorious in every game I play?] [Enough with your low aspirations¡ªlook what Master Fang is using his talents for, and compare that to your ambitions. There¡¯s just no comparison] [Stop, stop, stop the hate. I admit I lack grand aspirations. I¡¯m not successful] [I think only the Rubik¡¯s genius in the gaming world can match Master Fang in terms of reaction speed] [Damn, you¡¯ve encountered it too? I got my ass kicked last time I faced him. It was like facing a machine gun] [Hehehe, I¡¯ve encountered him too, but as a teammate. Easy win] [Daily question: have you spoken up for Dolphin Bay today?] [It¡¯s too high, I¡¯m getting oxygen-deficient] [When is the next livestream, @Bi Fang] [Will go to the United Kingdom] Bi Fang, having nothing better to do, casually responded to the comments under the video. Soon, his backend was flooded with a dense array of likes and comments. Turning off his phone, Bi Fang took out a map and began to prepare for finding a suitable live broadcast location. The last time, in order to persuade the consulate to save Mugalen, Bi Fang made a commitment to go to the United Kingdom to record an episode. Bi Fang planned to go a bit earlier, to settle this matter once and for all, the only problem being the lack of good places... Honestly, given the level of development in the United Kingdom, there are no truly dangerous wilderness areas left. Perhaps he should just swing by a few nearby islands? But that didn¡¯t feel quite sincere, which is why Bi Fang was so troubled. If all else failed, he might as well treat it as a vacation. By then, ¨¦tienne and Mugalen were close by and could be invited to join the shoot, turning it into a fun event. Ever since the System¡¯s last evolution, Bi Fang had a lot more freedom. He could afford to play around for half a year with no issue; the one who really couldn¡¯t wait, however, was Bi Fang himself. Chapter 618 - 615: The Accidental Visitor In the dim light in front of the screen, Bi Fang was fully engrossed, skillfully clicking the mouse and pressing keys on his keyboard. Before long, the golden symbol of victory appeared on the big screen, and ¨¦tienne¡¯s cheers could be heard through the headphones. After a pinch and a power boost, Bi Fang¡¯s eSports skills had indeed risen like the tide in these days, and his "Magic Cube" nickname had made quite a splash in the FPS world. It wasn¡¯t until yesterday when he received a message from an overseas eSports club inviting him to join their training and offering a salary that Bi Fang realized how incredible his feat was. On the other end, ¨¦tienne, still whooping, clamored, "Let¡¯s go another round, one more time!" "No more, no more, it¡¯s not interesting." Bi Fang declined, unless he was going to play professionally, wreaking havoc among regular players had lost its appeal; it was too easy, like slicing through melons and vegetables. "Ah, okay." ¨¦tienne was still smacking his lips, not quite satisfied. Playing games with Bi Fang was indeed exhilarating, a feeling of unmatched momentum. France and Huaxia were six hours apart time-wise, which meant that ¨¦tienne could only play on the weekends. Otherwise, it would¡¯ve been difficult for them to get together and play a few rounds. "It¡¯s been two weeks since Dolphin Bay, Fang. What are your plans for the next adventure?" ¨¦tienne shifted the topic. "Hmm," Bi Fang pondered. It had been nearly half a month since the Dolphin Bay, and the System hadn¡¯t released any missions. He had thought about going straight to the United Kingdom to take care of the promised task, but then he thought there weren¡¯t any particularly famous wilds in the UK, so he tossed the question back to them. You guys pick a place, it doesn¡¯t matter which. Once it¡¯s decided, I¡¯ll head over by myself. A week went by, and yesterday Bi Fang had called the consulate, only to find out that they hadn¡¯t decided either... It wasn¡¯t because there were no good places to choose from, they surely wanted Bi Fang to tackle a challenge, but Bi Fang was just too in demand, everyone wanted him for themselves. The British Overseas Territories had no complaints; they knew such good fortune would never come their way. But England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, the four regions themselves were one thing, even the more detailed counties below them started arguing. And then... Bi Fang looked helplessly at the hot potato kicked back to him, truly at a loss for words. He had wanted them to decide, but they ended up quarreling, and ultimately, unwillingly, they all said they would listen to Bi Fang... "In the end, I¡¯ve decided to go to the Gower Peninsula." "The Gower Peninsula?" ¨¦tienne paused, minimized the game interface, and started searching it up on the browser. The Gower Peninsula, as the name suggests, like the Kii Peninsula, is a geographical feature that juts into a sea or lake, surrounded by water on three sides and connected to the mainland or a larger island on the other. Europe¡¯s coastline is intricate with many peninsulas, known as the "continent of peninsulas," and the Gower Peninsula is one of them. This peninsula is located in the southern part of Wales, bordered by Bristol Bay to the south, Carmarthen Bay to the west, and the Loughor Estuary to the north at Barry Bay. The terrain mostly consists of plateaus at an altitude of 45¨C140 meters, with the plateau deeply dissected by short, rapid streams forming narrow and steep valleys. The southern coast features magnificent limestone cliffs, while the northern shore is mostly marshland. Humans have inhabited the Gower Peninsula since the Old Stone Age, and in 1823, a human skeleton dating back to the Old Stone Age was discovered in a cave there. In Oystermouth, there were also the ruins of an ancient Roman villa and a small monastery established by Celtic Monks in the early Middle Ages. During the Norman conquest of Wales, a large number of Flemish and other people came to settle in the southern part of the peninsula. It was the United Kingdom¡¯s first designated area of outstanding natural beauty. There are a total of six castles on the peninsula, which not only add a lot of scenic charm but also enrich the history and culture of the area. However, since entering the modern era, compared to other big cities, it seems not to have developed, so much that many places are still wilderness. It¡¯s still a nice place to visit. ¨¦tienne nodded his head, and after listening to Bi Fang¡¯s explanation, it seemed indeed quite good. Although it lacked a bit of the danger of rainforests, it also had its unique scenery. Having roughly confirmed the location, Bi Fang prepared to depart on the 19th, start live broadcasting on the 20th, and aim to finish before the end of November. With a few days to spare, Bi Fang visited the club again and found that the paintings in the hall were, as expected, one more in number. This time the painting was extremely realistic, and it was from a bird¡¯s-eye view, looking down upon the entire Dolphin Bay. Within the bay was a deep crimson color, and on the cliff next to it, a faint cross, which was Bi Fang free-falling with arms outstretched. Compared to the previous paintings, Bi Fang appeared "tiny" in this one, but under the unique lighting, he was very conspicuous, hard to overlook. To get such a painting done within two weeks, one has to say that Yao Jun really put in the effort. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In all the major venues, the flow of people never decreased, and to this day, the entire complex was still expanding. According to Yao Jun, they had even connected with a zoo, which intended to merge. They asked Bi Fang for his opinion. Experience new tales on NovelFire.C?m Bi Fang had no objections. As it appeared, as long as Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcasts could continue, the club¡¯s prosperity would never fade, and its profits would only get better. Because with the appearance of the club, nearby development had already begun, gradually becoming bustling. Perhaps in another six months, a year, the place would be completely transformed. To avoid future land price increases, Yao Jun and the others had already purchased a large tract of nearby land in advance, waiting for the club¡¯s cash flow to become healthy before starting to expand again. It looked like getting money from the club was still a long way off... But no matter, at least the Points were in hand. The money earned was going to further expand the club, and increasing its fame was rather a good thing. On the 15th, Richard and others formally bid farewell to Bi Fang and left Huaxia. Bi Fang could rest, but Richard could not. For him, there were many more dolphins in the world that needed his help. His next stop would be Denmark. After wishing him a smooth journey, the plane gradually disappeared into the skyline. On the 18th, after completing a set of training, Bi Fang was slightly short of breath, his wheat-colored skin glistening faintly, looking as robust as if cast from steel. Now, Bi Fang felt his body was somehow lighter. After finishing the last set, Bi Fang started to pack his luggage and plane ticket, but at that moment, a tourism department official he was in contact with suddenly sent him a message that shocked him. A high-profile individual wanted to join Bi Fang for the live broadcast and inquired if he could agree to it. Bi Fang had thought it might be a member of the royal family, but it turned out not to be the case... Chapter 619 - 616 I’m Convinced ``` On the evening of the 18th, Wolf Fang¡¯s official account and the Discovery Channel¡¯s official account jointly released a post on their social media platforms. This post was quite intriguing. Because the content of the post suggested something very obvious, this live broadcast would be different from any before, and it would also be a unique duo venture, one that no one could have imagined. Explore hidden tales at NovelFire.C?m They also launched a guessing game event, where anyone could win a series of prizes if they guessed who it was before 6 p.m. the next day. Many fans following the accounts were utterly confused. [Huh? Which tycoon has thrown a fortune again?] As everyone knows, if the mortality rate is less than eighty percent, Bi Fang doesn¡¯t bother with it. That¡¯s why, with the exception of that time in the rainforest, Bi Fang had never brought any guests before, simply because he couldn¡¯t guarantee their safety. Leonardo was the only exception; the man shelled out ten million and stayed for just one day, not even daring to stay overnight. Ten million for a day¡¯s appearance, that¡¯s an exorbitant fee. To participate in Bi Fang¡¯s show, one needs not only money but also courage, and even then, there are time constraints. Which poor... cough cough, enthusiast has decided to join this time? [Is this one also ten million?] [Could it be Toby?] [Possible] [I want to go too, wuwuwu, take me with you @Bi Fang] [Are you going there to be emergency rations?] The more secretive the production team was, the more curious the viewers became. This situation continued until 6 p.m. on the 19th. The previously silent Wolf Lord and the Discovery Channel finally made a move and published another post, with two photos, one on the left showing Bi Fang in the jungle, pointing ahead as if he had discovered something, and the other on the right was a photo of another man. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Blonde hair, a tall figure, and... rather sullen features. Some fans were clueless. They seemed to have never seen this person before, he wasn¡¯t any big star from the industry, and some even joked that Bi Fang was lowering his standards. But the next moment, the comment section was indeed flooded with a uniform reaction of astonishment. Only by scrolling down did people begin to understand. [Holy shit, the Prime Minister of Central Country???] [Can someone tell me if this is real or fake] [The official?] [@Bi Fang, aren¡¯t you going to come out and explain this, you¡¯ve hit the big time huh] [In Central Country without Master Fang, a helicopter brought in those seeking good fortune. Arriving with nothing to eat, they perched in the trees. The tiger saw them, such huge beasts, and thought them gods, hiding in the forest and spying on them. Gradually it approached, staring intently, not recognizing each other. When Master Fang awoke, the tiger was terrified and fled far away, fearing it was about to be devoured, very scared. But back and forth it went, looking again, approaching nearer the front and back, yet it never dared to pounce. Master Fang, delighted, thought to himself, ¡¯This is nothing but a trick!¡¯ And with a leap, he mocked it greatly, crushing its throat, consuming its flesh, and then he left.] [Turns out it¡¯s Wilson... This sounds more like something the President of the Ugly Country would do.] Some people were excited; after all, this was a country¡¯s Prime Minister about to go on a wilderness live broadcast with Bi Fang. ``` But there were also people who felt angered, most of whom were the youth of Central Country, thinking it was all a show and mocked the event. However, Wilson¡¯s arrival had become a certainty. Because of the arrival of this high-profile visitor, Bi Fang, who had initially planned to start the live broadcast on the 20th, had to push it back by a day, to the 21st. Bi Fang sat in the helicopter, marking the first time he was doing a live broadcast not tied to any mission, in a location that was far from dangerous, almost a tourist spot. He had thought it would be a fairly easy task. What he hadn¡¯t anticipated was that the Prime Minister of Central Country would join the fray, suddenly increasing the pressure. Live streaming with the head of a state wasn¡¯t merely about being dangerous or not... It was entirely different from that time with Leonardo; even Bi Fang felt a bit nervous. But at this moment, looking at one of the bright spots of the Gower Peninsula¡ªRossilli Beach¡ªthrough the helicopter¡¯s window, he began to feel a bit more at peace. Engaging with a national Prime Minister, even if Boris agreed, was not something Bi Fang could undertake rashly, especially given his identity; he had to be particularly mindful of this. Fortuitously, his superiors had agreed and even encouraged him. From the initial few hundred viewers to the current tens of millions, or even hundreds of millions of fans, Bi Fang was no longer the novice he used to be; he had implicitly become a kind of image ambassador. And they were all positive images¡ªtough, brave, powerful, and responsible. At this very moment, the participation of Central Country¡¯s Prime Minister testified to that fact even more clearly. Previously always weak in cultural output, from movies to music, which others would barely take seriously, a sudden emergence of an anomaly like this, one that forcefully captured the attention of the whole world, was bound to turn heads, wasn¡¯t it? The benefit of this was that Bi Fang¡¯s freedom and support were growing stronger and stronger. This time, the other side even hinted at something upon his return, they would promote his rank again. Bi Fang hadn¡¯t expected to have grown to the point where the head of a state wanted to participate in his program. Regardless of the motive, thinking back to when he dared to come to this world, struggling to even secure food and shelter, felt like a lifetime ago. This helicopter was not just something that could be found easily. Every country has specialized security agencies responsible for the protection of national leaders. The safety of the Ugly Country President, Vice President, and other officials is handled by the Secret Service, while the security for Central Country¡¯s Prime Minister is mainly managed by the Metropolitan Police Service¡¯s Royalty and Specialist Protection. Boris¡¯s travels were undoubtedly protected by a team of professional agents. The helicopter Bi Fang was riding in was arranged by the Metropolitan Police Service, taking him directly to Rossilli Beach, which is recognized as one of the best beaches in Central Country, Europe, and even the world. This three-mile-long beach is simple and majestic, complemented by blue skies and the sea. The pale sands and cliffs brimming with the vitality of greenery. Taking a deep breath, Bi Fang started the live stream, and the audience, which had been waiting for a long time, poured in explosively. On the one hand, they hadn¡¯t seen Master Fang for a long time; on the other, they had been hooked by the news of Boris¡¯s arrival. Upon entering, the fans quickly noticed the difference. Aside from the very first live broadcast, where "due to insufficient funds," Bi Fang had to ask a grandpa from a nearby village to ferry him on an electric cart, every other time he had used a helicopter. Convenient and fast. But usually, it was just two or three people: a small helicopter with two people, one pilot and Bi Fang himself, and a medium one with three people, adding a co-pilot. Now, however, there were six people in total: the pilot, co-pilot, Bi Fang as usual, plus three fully armed soldiers. [Where is he, where is he?] [Let me check out the Central Country Prime Minister¡¯s sandbox] [I thought the current Prime Minister was that May something, didn¡¯t expect it to have changed to the third one already] "When 10 Downing Street gave me a call, I actually thought it was a scam call," Bi Fang admitted to the camera. "They said Boris was a loyal fan of mine and was very eager to appear on the show." In front of hundreds of thousands of viewers, Bi Fang paused, then joked, "Whether you believe it or not, I do." Chapter 620 - 617: The Prime Minister Arrives (Two in One) The words, tinged with either jest or self-deprecation, drew laughter from the audience yet piqued the curiosity of many about what kind of person the Prime Minister of the Central Country would actually be. For the general public, the deepest impressions of foreign leaders were likely of Polar Bear and Eagle, followed by the Central Country. However, compared to the former two, the Central Country¡¯s presence had diminished several times compared to a hundred years ago, and many people who didn¡¯t pay attention to international politics couldn¡¯t even recall what the Prime Minister looked like. But what was even more surprising was... [Damn, Old Fang started without his usual opening line, what a legendary fail] Audience members with quick reactions finally remembered that Bi Fang hadn¡¯t said his usual opening speech this time! As someone mentioned it, the barrage of comments exploded, and comments about the legendary fail floated across. "Ahem." Bi Fang coughed twice into his fist. Distracted by the audience¡¯s interruption, he also remembered he¡¯d forgotten his opening line, but it wasn¡¯t a big deal. He paused for a moment, then explained, "Actually, this time I wouldn¡¯t really call it an adventure." "Even though it lasts for thirty days, the main goal is to show some common wilderness survival techniques¡ªI can build a little cabin, go fishing, and such¡ªit¡¯s mostly about showing a relaxed way of life." [Speaking of which, we haven¡¯t seen Old Fang since Dolphin Bay. He hasn¡¯t wrapped up yet.] [Yeah, yeah, without the wrap-up, it feels like something is missing, like the live stream is incomplete.] A wrap-up? Bi Fang was taken aback; he hadn¡¯t expected the audience to actually care about that. The live stream at Dolphin Bay had ended with a bunch of police dispersing protesters and didn¡¯t include any grand closing remarks. After that was the release of the documentary. Unlike before when there was always a long speech to wrap things up, the silent and quiet ending made viewers feel as if that live stream hadn¡¯t really finished. As for Bi Fang, the main character of the event, he seemed to have hidden his light under a bushel and hadn¡¯t appeared in the public eye since then. Many people, before Wolf Fang announced the upcoming live stream two days ago, even thought Bi Fang had been arrested by Japan. Bi Fang pondered for a moment, just about to say something, when the soldier beside him coughed, signaling that he had something to say. Bi Fang nodded his head in assent. With permission, the soldier spoke up, "Actually, our Prime Minister is also quite interested in the topic of Dolphin Bay. If Mr. Bi Fang is willing, many things can be discussed when we meet; we¡¯re almost there." "Alright," Bi Fang agreed readily. Although he was dealing with the Prime Minister, the other party evidently showed him great respect. Whether he spoke now or later made no difference; Bi Fang curbed his words and turned to introduce the remaining beaches instead. "The Central Country is surrounded by the sea on all sides, yet it¡¯s not famous for its beaches." Bi Fang looked down at the cliff full of rocks. Clearly, the area was very dangerous, completely unlike the sunny beaches and naturally had few visitors, making it look desolate. In contrast, Hawaii in Ugly Country, Los Angeles, and France are known for extensive sunny beaches where one can see sexy beauties in bikinis strolling around. "The main reason is that the western parts of Europe border the Atlantic Ocean. There¡¯s a large continental shelf between the continent and the deep ocean basins; the British Isles and the North Sea are located right above it." "This area used to be part of the European mainland. The British Isles formed after the sea level rose post the ice ages of the Fourth Epoch, which then led to the appearance of the North Sea." Bi Fang pointed at the cliffs below while explaining, and all the soldiers beside him perked up their ears. These soldiers were all born and raised in the Central Country. They liked to go to the coast during their holidays, but they had never thought about this matter. Now that it was suddenly brought up, their curiosity was piqued. "In other words, before the Fourth Epoch, the British Isles were the western mountains of Europe, so after the sea level rose, many cliffs like these appeared." In plain terms, the Central Country was once connected to the European mainland. But as the sea levels rose, the land between them was completely submerged, leaving only the towering mountain parts visible, which naturally resulted in many cliffs and steep bluffs. Few soldiers standing nearby, evidently hearing this for the first time, had never considered this aspect before and now wore expressions of sudden realization. No wonder why the coastline of Central Country is so long, yet the number of scenic beaches is only a handful. Even in the episode of Wilderness Survival, Bi Fang had drifted to the edge of a cliff. He climbed up overnight before he was truly rescued. "Besides this reason, it also has to do with the geological composition. The coasts of Central Country are mostly characterized by white cliffs, which are extremely susceptible to erosion by seawater, leading to the collapse of entire stretches of land." "What are white cliffs?" A soldier beside couldn¡¯t help asking. Bi Fang smiled and said, "The so-called white cliffs are actually rocks formed by the deposition of tiny marine microorganisms at a rate of 0.015 millimeters per year, mainly consisting of calcareous micro-fossils called coccoliths and planktonic foraminifera fossils." S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "It started in the Cretaceous period, lasting till now for 130 million years. If you dig into them, you often find fossils of sea urchins, arrow stones, ammonites, as well as marine reptiles like the ichthyosaurs." "For instance, the famous Dover Cliffs are a straight vertical expanse of white cliffs, located at the English Channel of Central Country, with a length of about 5 kilometers, facing the continent of Europe." "There¡¯s another interesting thing, at St. Margaret¡¯s Cliff of Kent County in Central Country and the people of St. Margaret¡¯s Bay, a popular coastal site with white cliffs visible upon looking up. Visitors often receive a ¡¯Welcome to France¡¯ message on their phones, which results in roaming charges after use." "Later investigations revealed that because the area is close to France, locals¡¯ mobile phones occasionally enter the network of French mobile operators, and the ¡¯culprit¡¯ blocking the signals from Central Country turned out to be the beautiful white cliffs." Having live-streamed so many times, once Bi Fang started talking, he couldn¡¯t stop, quickly getting into the flow and casually mentioning all sorts of interesting things. Especially after acquiring the Palace of Mind, Bi Fang found these activities even simpler to do. [Amazing, it¡¯s time for Teacher Fang¡¯s lecture again] Experience more content on NovelFire.C?m [I don¡¯t understand, but I¡¯m deeply impressed] Apart from the thrilling action content, Bi Fang¡¯s vast knowledge is also a major highlight of his live streams, which ordinary imitation broadcasters simply can¡¯t emulate. This requires a massive accumulation of knowledge and the flexible means to apply it; many types of knowledge aren¡¯t readily usable after learning them. "However, as I¡¯ve said, Central Country is surrounded by the sea on all sides, but the country itself is not small, so the coastline is extremely long. This even led to an interesting joke that the coastline of Central Country is infinitely long." "In 1967, a groundbreaking paper was published in the internationally authoritative ¡¯Science¡¯ magazine from Ugly Country. Its title was ¡¯How Long Is the Coastline of Central Country? Statistical Self-Similarity and Fractal Dimension¡¯." "Mainly, it discussed that coastlines, as a type of curve, are characterized by being highly irregular and extremely rough, displaying complex and sinuous changes. We can¡¯t distinguish any essential differences between one part of the coast and another based on shape and structure. This nearly uniform degree of irregularity and complexity indicates that the coastline is self-similar in morphology, meaning local shapes are similar to the overall shape." "Without a reference object, scale, or measuring unit, people cannot tell by eye whether a certain section of the coastline captured by a camera is 100 km, 10 km, or 1 m." "This type of self-similarity is common in nature, such as the rolling mountains, fractured strata, patterns of tree bark, falling snowflakes, and so on." The audience listened, awestruck and full of admiration. [Impressive, though I don¡¯t understand] [Off-topic, off-topic] "Ahem." Bi Fang realized he had gone a bit too far and hurriedly got back on track, "With such a long coastline, there are bound to be a few spectacular beach scenes. The one beneath our feet right now is¡ªRossilli Beach." "Alright, let¡¯s go down now." Upon receiving the instruction, the pilot nodded, and the helicopter slowly approached the beach below. With the longest coastline in Wales to its back, at a glance, Rossilli Bay seemed to hang upside down on the sea like a crescent moon. The elongated coastline drew a perfect arc against the horizon. The water was clear to the bottom and, under the sunlight, it complemented the three miles of golden sandy beach, with the sea and sky blending into an incomparable hue. Apart from the emerald sea, blue sky, and golden sands, the beach was surrounded by dark cliffs with multicolored wildflowers squeezed onto the rocks, boldly displaying their beauty. When the helicopter reached directly above the beach, descending to about ten meters, Bi Fang signaled the pilot to stop. "Alright, this is the spot." "Here?" The pilot confirmed once again. "Yes." Bi Fang had already opened the hatch and tossed his backpack down. "The rope ladder is under the seat, you can..." "No, I don¡¯t need that thing." Bi Fang shook his head, loosening his muscles in the cramped seat. Not using the rope ladder? "Oh, are you planning to rappel down? We have a fast rope as well, it¡¯s right..." "No, no, no, I am going to jump straight down." The soldiers in the back row cocked their heads in unison, staring at Bi Fang¡¯s silhouette, and a unanimous "???" popped up above their heads. The pilot let out a shriek of astonishment, triple-checking, "WH*******! Are you serious? It¡¯s ten meters high!?" Ten meters high, no rope ladder, not rappelling, are you going to protect your fall? The audience was shocked, ten meters? In the past, the highest Bi Fang performed fall protection was six meters, right? Now, he¡¯s just added four meters? Before anyone could think further, Bi Fang had already jumped out of the hatch. Soldiers: "!!!!" The very moment he leaped out of the aircraft, Bi Fang¡¯s adrenaline soared. Ten meters! It wasn¡¯t four meters, it wasn¡¯t six meters, it was ten meters! Even divers can have shaky legs, let alone jumping towards the ground! The audience gasped, the soldiers on the helicopter raced to peer down from the door, Bi Fang visibly shrank to the eye, and in a matter of seconds, he was almost touching the ground. Bi Fang adjusted his posture mid-air to face downwards, and the moment he made contact with the ground, his brain reacted, 50ms of response time allowed him nearly three times more adjustment time than the average person! The balls of his feet touched the soft sand, compressing like a springboard, and after his whole foot settled evenly, he instinctively squatted, leaning the body¡¯s center of gravity forward. Ankle, knee, and hip joints, all three joints dissipated the force simultaneously. Quicker reflexes, greater shock resistance! Next, Bi Fang¡¯s hands thrust slightly upward, executing a small amplitude dolphin dive, and as he threw his hands out, his legs pushed off the ground, propelling his body into a parabolic arc. The viewers¡¯ eyes followed the trajectory of the arc, After diving a short distance, Bi Fang touched down and rolled forward, finally standing up ready to sprint as if nothing had affected him. A perfect display of fall protection. "Did this guy really just pull it off??" Even with the sand, a ten-meter drop is terrifying, the soldiers aboard the helicopter exchanged glances, not daring to believe it, even suspecting their eyes were playing tricks on them. The audience watching the livestream were stupefied as well, he just jumped like that? "Haha, that felt pretty good." Bi Fang bounced on the sand, sensing that this wasn¡¯t his limit, he could still push the height further. Next time, maybe try twelve meters? "But everyone, don¡¯t try this lightly, anything above three meters is dangerous, and if you really want to practice, you must do it over a sponge mat." In the end, Bi Fang didn¡¯t forget to offer a word of caution, after all, many of the youths watching his livestream might get the urge to imitate him. [It¡¯s so high, I¡¯m short of breath] [My legs have gone soft already] [Can we agree this is the most hardcore livestream, no objections right?] [Master Fang, teach me to show off like this!] [Coach, I want to learn this!] [Try and you¡¯ll die] The ten-meter fall protection set off a small wave of excitement in the livestream, with gifts and comments flooding in. Bi Fang picked up the backpack lying on the ground and began to stroll along the beach. If the Prime Minister was coming to join his live broadcast, naturally it wouldn¡¯t be him waiting for Bi Fang. "Do you see the drone over there?" Bi Fang pointed at the drone in the sky not far away. Apart from the three drones filming him, there were many small black dots in the sky, conservatively estimated to be over ten, with helicopters hovering in the distance as well. "The Protection Bureau has deployed a large number of drones, sealed off the nearby airspace, and I could only leave the plane early, then walk to the agreed location, let¡¯s see, someone should come to guide me." No sooner had Bi Fang finished speaking than a drone flew towards him, circling in front of him a few times; clearly, this was the "guide". Bi Fang followed the airborne drone, starting to head eastward. On the other side, Boris made his way to the beach, but obviously in a more pedestrian manner, with the helicopter descending to the ground, a more grounded approach. There was also a livestream on Boris¡¯s side, running concurrently with Bi Fang¡¯s, split into two vertical screens. The moment he appeared, it sparked cheers from the audience, and it was only then that they fully believed that this was indeed the Prime Minister of Central Country. [Awesome, awesome, awesome, it¡¯s really the Prime Minister of Central Country!] [Master Fang is moving up in the world, from international superstar to a national leader] [Glorious!] [The most badass host, in terms of content and status!] Boris was clearly well-prepared for this livestream, trading his usual suit and tie for professional sports attire, looking genuinely ready for more than just a walk-on role. Despite this, his hair still flowed freely. Boris, facing the camera, began to exchange pleasantries with the audience smoothly. Accustomed to politicians in suits and ties, the audience found the sight of the Prime Minister in sportswear refreshingly different. Compared to other countries¡¯ leaders, the barely over fifty Boris looked significantly more vibrant and energetic. Chapter 621 - 618 Awkward Chat Mode "After I became Prime Minister, I often lived in a bubble, constantly surrounded by special agents to ensure I wouldn¡¯t be in danger. I appreciate everything they did, but many times it also caused me trouble." "Whenever I strayed from the norm and did something unexpected, they would steer me back on track, into 10 Downing Street. Along with the power it gave me, it also made me responsible for many more people." "So I¡¯m really happy to be able to follow GOD¡¤FANG into the wilderness; it¡¯s easy to experience this outdoor adventure together with GOD¡¤FANG." With a backpack on his shoulders, Baus headed toward the beach alone after disembarking from the helicopter, stepping on rocks with his blonde hair tips fluttering attractively. The former Mayor of London, former Foreign Secretary of Central Country, a contender for Prime Minister of Central Country¡ªoh, and now he is. These are Johnson¡¯s most conspicuous tags. And the most memorable tag is¡ªthe Central Country version of Mr. Unpredictable. His messy blonde hair and overly animated demeanor have provided citizens with a wealth of expressive memes, making Baus one of the two highly talked-about leaders. Perhaps their similarities are due to the common "political persona" they have either intentionally or unintentionally crafted¡ªapproachability. From talk shows to cycling to work, the Baus we see on our screens undoubtedly makes him seem more relatable to the average person, and it is precisely because of this image that Baus has become one of the most popular and approachable politicians in Central Country and even the world. In just a few words, he would already be interacting normally with the audience. As a bay that¡¯s constantly eroded by the sea wind, there are no trees here. All that can be seen are black or white rocks, with hardy weeds growing in the crevices between them. The damp air has covered the rocks with moss, forcing Baus to move cautiously. As a leader of a nation, he is quite young; but as an adventurer, he seemed a bit out of his element. "I don¡¯t aspire to learn cool survival skills, but I¡¯m looking forward to GOD¡¤FANG. I believe he can teach me some little tricks, setting up a shaky tent would be great, and it would be even better to manage a fire." [Clearly a fake fan, Old Fang never brings tents when he¡¯s in the wilderness] [Correct, and straight to the point] [Wait ¡¯til you see what it means to build a house with bare hands, a wild hunting fiend] Meanwhile, the helicopter had also landed on another stretch of beach, and after Bi Fang caught up, it took off and disappeared from view. "It seems this is the rendezvous point." Bi Fang looked around; the curving coastline stretched for about 5 kilometers, covered with fine sand, with a cliff several tens of meters high and green hills behind him forming a circular enclosure. Extremely beautiful. "Generally, plants like to grow in soil, where they can absorb the moisture and nutrients they need for growth. The beaches are full of sand, which lacks nutrients and can¡¯t retain moisture. When the wind blows or the tide comes in, plants can easily be knocked down or washed away by the surging waters." Read new chapters at NovelFire.C?m "Besides, the salt content in seawater is very high, and if sea water is used to irrigate plants, most of them would wilt due to their inability to withstand the salinity; even coastal plants like palm trees can only grow on beaches with fresh water." "Ordinary plants can¡¯t survive such harsh environments, which is why there are so few plants on the coast." Compared to the lush giant trees of rainforests and forests, the environment here is wide open, just rocks and the endless sea and sky, making one feel open-hearted and broad-minded. "Reading and traveling are the best ways to broaden one¡¯s horizons and mind." Bi Fang stood beside the seawater, his mood cheerful. "Now that modern people are affluent, they like to travel. My advice is, if you really want to see different scenery, then you might go to the grasslands, deserts, the Yangtze River Three Gorges, to see these places, instead of going from one city to another." Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Take a good look at plateaus, lakes, snow-covered mountains, grasslands, Gobi, deserts. In the face of nature¡¯s grandeur, some of life¡¯s minor dissatisfactions don¡¯t seem to matter at all." [Next time for sure] [I¡¯ll go when I have money] [Alas, traveling is luxury indeed, domestically you could spend a few thousand at most, but buying stuff can go over ten thousand, yet it¡¯s hard to let go. You throw in two months of pure income, and the enjoyment of just two or three days is gone] [Add one, it¡¯s kind of a luxury, affordable but doesn¡¯t feel worth it] The audience chuckled. Is it really a choice that¡¯s preventing them from seeing natural landscapes? No, it¡¯s lack of money. [So much to say, but it all comes down to tears] [Another day, another no-money] [Wait until I¡¯m financially free, I¡¯ll visit every place Master Fang has been!!!] [Go to the Atlantic to see whales, go to Qaidam to see the desert, go to Mohe to see the snow-capped mountains, go to Denmark to see the aurora....and now add one more, go to Central Country to see the beaches] Bi Fang stood still, chatting with the audience for a while and waiting for Moyo for about ten minutes, as viewers reminded him. [He¡¯s coming, he¡¯s coming] [Old Fang, look behind you, the big shot¡¯s arrived] Bi Fang turned around, and sure enough, on the beach hundreds of meters away, a man was walking towards him. With his enhanced vision, Bi Fang recognized the man from hundreds of meters away. The messy and unrestrained blond hair billowed in the sea breeze. It was the Prime Minister of Central Country that he had been waiting for. Bi Fang immediately jogged over, waving at the other man, while running and laughing, "A leader of a major country asking to participate honestly, I never imagined it could happen, I just hope I don¡¯t get tongue-tied." Baus was the biggest "celebrity" Bi Fang had ever met in this and his past life, and as he ran over, he couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit nervous. Because of this, when he nearly reached the man, Bi Fang slowed his pace, changing from running to walking. "Hey, Fang!" Baus called out and waved from ten meters away. "Hello, Mr. Prime Minister." "How are you?" "Very well, sir." Baus smiled, walked up to Bi Fang, and held out his hand: "Pleased to meet you." "I¡¯m Bi Fang, pleased to meet you." "This is a great place for a meeting," Baus patted Bi Fang on the arm. "Yes, it¡¯s quite spectacular." Bi Fang nodded. For Central Country, today was an unusually sunny day. The conversation between the two left the audience stunned, and they couldn¡¯t help but start to comment. [Feels like I¡¯m back in third grade just learning English] [Is Master Fang nervous? (funny)] [Awkward chat mode activated] [I¡¯m an English noob; turn off the visuals, and I can actually understand what they¡¯re saying, hahahaha] [Got it, I¡¯m gonna use this in my English exam] Bi Fang scratched his eyebrow, seeing the bullet comments, he paused: "It¡¯s an honor to have an adventure with the Prime Minister." Baus laughed: "I think this will also be my first chance to truly travel in these past few years." Chapter 622 - 619: The Poisoning Incident of the Deputy Minister of the Ocean The audience laughed at Bi Fang¡¯s awkwardness in conversation, and he too felt helpless. Streaming live with a stranger was inherently awkward, but Bi Fang had an easier time with Leonardo, as there wasn¡¯t a big gap in their statuses, and being a film enthusiast himself, he easily found common ground through movies. With Baus, it was entirely different; not only was there a large gap in statuses, but finding topics of conversation was also challenging. Could he possibly talk about... Even if he wanted to talk, the River Crab God loomed over Bi Fang¡¯s head, watching him at all times. Dare to speak? If you dare, I dare to ban. "This is actually my first time stepping onto Rossilli Beach, I¡¯ve always heard about it but never had the chance to come here. It¡¯s definitely the best day of my life, not being stuck in a dull office¡ªI really enjoy sports, it¡¯s the essence of life, isn¡¯t it?" Baus joked, but in truth, it reflected some of his genuine inner thoughts. When he was the Mayor of London, he used to cycle to work every day, believing that cycling could alleviate London¡¯s traffic congestion. Afterwards, as he hoped to continue his cycling lifestyle when he became Foreign Secretary, the London police told Baus that his status had changed and it was too risky for a Foreign Secretary to do the same, insisting that Baus should only use official government vehicles. Later on, Baus¡¯s bicycle was stolen, and it was said that he had cried over it since it had been with him for 8 years, a gift from an Olympic athlete. As the two walked and talked, Bi Fang quickly got back into his rhythm. "By the way, congratulations are in order¡ªI saw you on the cover of Times Magazine. We could say we¡¯re ¡¯cover mates¡¯ now." "Cover mates?" Bi Fang was momentarily startled, as he had never heard this term before. Baus blinked, "I too made it onto the cover about a decade ago." Bi Fang¡¯s mouth twitched; he couldn¡¯t possibly have seen every issue of Times Magazine, and it had never crossed his mind. [Wow, didn¡¯t know that was a thing] [Classmates, roommates, drinking buddies, and now ¡¯cover mates¡¯ too] [I found it, back in ¡¯09, he was selected as one of the top 100 global figures of the year by Times Magazine!] [I remember Hitler was on it too...] [Gosh, that¡¯s terrifying] But at least there was now a common characteristic: once people share something in common, it becomes easier to locate themselves, and with a location comes a topic of conversation. After a brief introduction, Boris quickly moved the conversation from Times Magazine to Dolphin Bay, considering it was the reason Bi Fang had been featured. "I¡¯ve seen the entire documentary; it¡¯s really incredible and has made me aware of many animal protection issues," Baus expressed his sincere admiration. The editing of the documentary was highly dramatic. In the dolphin pavilion, a little boy curiously looked around at a shelf where dolphin meat was being sold, while a little girl was holding onto a plush dolphin toy with affection. When Richard cried over the death of a little dolphin, the fishermen who were watching them jeered and mocked them with numbed taunting and provocation. The ocean, stained red with dolphin blood, and the injured dolphins struggling frantically, with a small dolphin dragging its bloodied body toward the camera, desperately seeking rescue, yet ultimately sinking hopelessly to the bottom of the sea. All the footage was shot by masters, and some angles even make one wonder if they were really captured secretly. Just as that soldier mentioned, Baus was also very interested in the Dolphin Bay incident. The audience also perked up, finally, here it came¡ªthe complete version¡¯s ending! "Our efforts are not to expose the slaughter, but rather to document something that can change hearts." "The original intention of making this documentary wasn¡¯t to overly condemn Japanese fishermen, but to understand the issue, to reflect, and then to change." Enjoy new stories from NovelFire.C?m This was Bi Fang¡¯s first public response after the incident ended. It was also a good topic to open up a channel for communication. "I have paid attention to the subsequent reactions of Taiji Town, Japan, but they disappointed me," Bi Fang sighed. He hadn¡¯t been idly lazing around at home these days; he had followed the aftermath, and quite a lot had happened over half a month. The local fisheries association executives still refused to accept interviews, stating, "These are grave distortions of the truth. We are outraged." The mayor of Taiji Town, Sanguan Yigao, still emphasized, "The killing of dolphins does not violate any laws, and it is necessary to respect dietary cultures based on an understanding of local traditions and the actual situation." Regarding the dolphin slaughter by the fishermen of Taiji Town, the Japanese Government still insists that hunting dolphins and whales is an important cultural tradition of Japan. Because of the opposition from the residents of Taiji Town, Japanese theaters dared not show the film. However, there was a piece of good news. The Japanese distributor clearly stated that regardless of whether the Taiji Town Government agreed or not, the documentary would be released in either October or November, and an independent cinema in the center of Tokyo had already agreed to screen the film. In his previous life, Jerret, the director of this documentary, was arrested by the Japanese authorities, but this time, with the help of Bi Fang, he avoided this trouble. Hundreds of European tourists were watching eagerly. Although many had left Dolphin Bay over the half month, more and more people were arriving. The total number of people not only didn¡¯t diminish but had actually increased instead. "Japan, as an island nation with a high population density and scarce resources, has been plagued by natural and man-made disasters throughout its history. Due to a severe lack of security, a desire for resources has been formed over a long period and a collective unconscious dependence on and possession of marine resources." I think this documentary shows how, under the trend of interests, human desires are magnified without limit, and the ethics of the animal kingdom, including humans themselves, are ignored. "When dolphin shows develop into an industry with an annual output of tens of billions, there is a frenzy to catch dolphins. People can even supply non-edible dolphin meat to schools for profit, turning a blind eye to children¡¯s health." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Not just about dolphins, tragedies of depleting resources and destroying habitats are enacted every day on this earth. Most people fight and revel in various interests every day, having no time to consider whether their actions contravene the natural order. While satisfying ever-expanding desires, they overlook harmony with nature, the environment, and the Earth." Returning to his field, Bi Fang opened the conversation again and paused at the end of his speech. "I think, until humans completely break away from the natural environment to explore the stars and the sea, we have a long way to go. Until then, nature remains inviolable to us." "Hmm... that¡¯s about it, the summary you wanted." "Well said," Baus clapped his hands, and just as he was about to segue into something else, he realized they had reached the end of the beach. After thinking it over, he said directly, "There¡¯s something else you might not know about." "What is it?" "The Japanese Deputy Minister of Marine Affairs got mercury poisoning." "Huh?" Bi Fang was stunned, "When did that happen?" "This morning." Chapter 623 - 620 Residence Baus¡¯s words were like a bolt from the blue, and the live room fell silent for a moment, Japan¡¯s Deputy Minister of the Sea poisoned with mercury!? Suddenly, Bi Fang felt this news sounded familiar; a spark ignited in the Palace of Mind within his brain, and he remembered ¡ª something similar had happened in his past life! It was shortly after the disclosure of Dolphin Bay that the Deputy Minister of the Sea had an incident ¡ª mercury poisoning. While the details of the poisoning were unknown, one could imagine it was not an easy ordeal. Heavy metal poisoning, even with modern technology available for treatment, still posed a significant chance of leaving behind complications, especially with mercury. Did it happen this morning? Bi Fang was secretly astonished; he hadn¡¯t been online since his arrival here, and was unaware of such an incident. Your next read awaits at NovelFire.C?m In his previous life, the incident at Dolphin Bay occurred in 2009, when online media was far less developed than now, so only a minority were aware of it. But today is different; Japan¡¯s Ministry of the Sea¡¯s every move was evidently scrutinized by a plethora of media outlets, who were quick to broadcast and write extensively about such incidents, with an unmistakably mocking tone when paired with the "whale meat" in supermarkets. Compared with Bi Fang¡¯s calm exterior, the audience was much more direct, flooding the chat with congratulatory messages. Many immediately went online to search, and indeed found it to be true. When they learned that Japan¡¯s Deputy Minister of the Sea himself suffered from mercury poisoning, a feeling of schadenfreude surged from within them ¡ª the wrongdoer had received Nature¡¯s retribution. Japan is a maritime nation, and now with the ocean¡¯s overfishing, it¡¯s evident that these island nations would be the first to suffer the damage, as can be seen with the case of the saury fish. Saury fish spawn in the spring, autumn, and winter, have short lifespans, and their population recovery is extremely resilient; they are abundant worldwide, yet such a fish, upon reaching Japan¡¯s waters, can be fished to a point of sharp decline, after which, blame is conveniently shifted onto other countries. Such shortsightedness is lamentable. But that¡¯s a story for another time. With that, the Dolphin Bay incident came to a complete close. Bi Fang snapped back to reality, thankful to Baus for sharing this news with him, and steered everything back on track. "It¡¯s not easy to find such good weather in the Central Country, what are we going to do today? I¡¯ve set aside the whole day," Baus said, not without anticipation in his voice. Like Leonardo, Baus was also staying for only one day but for a different reason. Leonardo¡¯s stay was brief due to the perilous environment¡ªhe feared an accident if he stayed longer, while Baus was simply too busy. After all, taking a day off was quite difficult for a prime minister. Bi Fang looked up at the sun and nodded, beginning to explain to his viewers. "The Central Country is situated in the mid to high latitudes, belonging to the typical temperate maritime climate zone. Compared to other countries at the same latitude, the Central Country also has the North Atlantic, which constantly ¡¯supplies¡¯ additional warmth and moisture; and secondly, due to the influence of the mid-latitude westerlies, rain in the Central Country is always ¡¯out of control.¡¯ "Because of such environmental factors, winter temperatures in the Central Country seldom drop below -3 to 10 degrees Celsius, and moreover, with central heating as a standard feature in homes, winters here are quite comfortable." "Similarly, the summer isn¡¯t too hot, usually between 15 and 22 degrees Celsius. Days above 30 degrees are so rare you could count them on your fingers." "To my knowledge, in most European countries, high temperature warnings start at thirty degrees, while in Huaxia, it begins at thirty-five degrees and has to persist for several days before alerts are issued." For these reasons, even in the September heat, Bi Fang didn¡¯t feel any discomfort; rather, the sea breeze brought a gentle coolness. It¡¯s a completely different situation compared to taking a few steps in Japan and breaking into a sweat; it¡¯s much more comfortable. Baus listened silently on the side, nodding constantly, agreeing with Bi Fang¡¯s statement, especially in London. Overcast days, occasionally accompanied by showers, day after day, seemed endless. Many foreigners who live there for two to three years only realize when they look back that London indeed has no clear skies; dark buildings against grey skies, and thick fog are the true visage of London. Here, air conditioning is even a rarity. As for being warm in winter and cool in summer, reflecting on this, Baus laughed and said, "Fang, you haven¡¯t lived in Central Country. Nowadays, in Central Country except for the suburbs, it also gets very hot in summer, especially inside the subway carriages, where the temperature can even exceed 35¡æ. In London¡¯s oldest subway line, the temperature inside the carriages can even surpass 40¡æ!" "If it weren¡¯t for the budget constraints, I would definitely install air conditioning in the subways!" With several hundred years of industrial development, the heat island effect is significant; now London is cold in the winter and scorching in the summer, a big difference from the past. Bi Fang just smiled and didn¡¯t say anything, actually, in his view, it wasn¡¯t even considered hot. Europeans typically handle cold well but not heat; they have quite different definitions of hot. At least Bi Fang didn¡¯t find it hard to bear the thirty-five-degree subway. When Bi Fang arrived in Central Country that day, he went to London and took the subway, without feeling uncomfortably hot, but the smell was unforgettable. The people of Central Country have a severe body odor, and on the subway, within the confined carriages, Bi Fang had to endure the "long-marinated" smell of sweat and stinky feet. Having an acute sense of smell, coupled with cheap "Cologne Perfume," the odor was indeed "unique"! Discussing this, Bi Fang and Baus seemed to suddenly have a common topic and started to banter, continuing until they stopped at the edge of the black cliff. This scene somewhat resembled Bi Fang¡¯s experience of seeing land while adrift at sea; looking at Baus beside him, he had a plan in mind. "We have to climb up now, once we get up, we¡¯ll look for a suitable spot to camp, then make a fire and build a simple safety house, though it might involve a lot of walking." "I don¡¯t have a problem with that," Baus said confidently, believing himself to still be strong enough. Seeing this, Bi Fang nodded, took out a length of rope from his backpack, and tied one end to Baus, explaining, "To prevent accidents, it¡¯s best to take safety measures, otherwise, I¡¯m very likely not to make it out of Central Country alive." [The closest I¡¯ve ever been to death] [Unmanned drone: I am watching you at all times.] [Could there be a sniper rifle aimed at Bi Fang (dog¡¯s head)] "There probably isn¡¯t a sniper rifle at least." Bi Fang didn¡¯t sense any danger, nor did he notice any reflection, "Central Country is actually quite safe." There were no people nearby, and there were no large predatory animals native to Central Country; even wolves had been extinct since the eighteenth century. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The only remaining threat was perhaps snakes? Having tied the rope, Bi Fang began to climb the cliff. A dozen meters high, it was not difficult for him, merely requiring finding footholds in advance, a matter of a few minutes. Once up, Bi Fang pulled on the rope, letting Baus give it a try. To his surprise, Baus indeed had some outdoor experience and quickly made it up with Bi Fang¡¯s help. After that, the two set out on foot to look for a suitable place to stay. Chapter 624 - 621: The Cave The tide ebbed and flowed. Upon the black rock face, a white slender rope rubbed against the stone, scattering a bit of limestone dust. The rope, seemingly delicate, was as tough as steel wire. A pair of large hands grasped the long rope, finally reaching the top. Gasping for air, Baus reached the top of the cliff. Although he was secured by safety equipment, he was still exhausted. In contrast to Bi Fang¡¯s effortless ease, Baus labored like an old ox plowing a field. "Phew, it¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve had such intense exercise. Sorry, I¡¯m a bit out of breath," Baus raised his hand as a gesture. Bi Fang handed him a bottle of mineral water, smiling, while internally making a preliminary assessment of Baus¡¯s physical condition. The drone rose into the sky, capturing the endless plains in its view. At first glance, the peninsula seemed to invoke the sensation of a grassland. The only difference was, compared to the lush pasture grass of grasslands, the grass here was denser and shorter, appearing at first glance like a layer of green carpet with a fluffy texture, stretching endlessly to the horizon and composing a vast expanse with no visible end. On the carpet of grass, rocks the size of human heads were often visible, and occasionally a small flower bed could be seen. The wind skimmed over the earth, causing thousands of blossoms to sway, concealing the brown soil peeking through. Boundless and immense, the land was like it was covered with a layer of golden sunlight, shedding the gloom from one¡¯s heart. Upon this colossal green carpet, two tiny figures progressed toward a direction, gradually moving away from the seaside. During this time, Bi Fang maintained a steady pace, allowing Baus to walk at a pace in between hiking and strolling, so he would not feel too strained and could still have enough energy to interact with the audience. This time, it was Bi Fang who mostly listened, nodding now and then. As they interacted, the initial awkwardness from when they first met gradually dissolved. It had to be said, Baus was truly skilled at communicating, without any arrogance, and occasionally he would even catch a popular youth expression or two. Without trying to dominate the conversation, Baus actively asked about Bi Fang¡¯s survival experiences. Bi Fang was not stingy with his advice, speaking as they walked, "The key to outdoor survival is to have certain skills, a resourceful mind, and the ability to make quick decisions." "You must strive to control the environment you are in, not sit around waiting for the end. It¡¯s important to keep a clear mind, and being proactive means taking action. If you don¡¯t do anything, there will be no results." "Shelters don¡¯t build themselves, and survival plans don¡¯t create themselves. Sitting down and doing nothing won¡¯t generate heat or warmth." "Do you think you are a born adventurer, or have you ever felt scared?" "Yes, definitely, even now sometimes. In a dangerous environment, fear and anxiety are initial mental states, which are difficult to avoid, but these are just mental states." "Staying proactive can turn fear into a blade for survival, while proper fear can be transformed into a heightened concentration of energy." "What does it mean to stay proactive?" Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Staying proactive doesn¡¯t mean running around aimlessly. What you need to do is to focus your intelligence and fully utilize the advantageous conditions in the environment, that¡¯s what it means to stay proactive." As they conversed with each question and answer, the audience found it captivating. Many viewers were increasingly surprised that this man, with hair messier than a bird¡¯s nest and a mouth more exaggerated than a comedian¡¯s, was actually esteemed as a leader of a nation. Baus also had a nickname, known as the world¡¯s funniest internet celebrity prime minister. He was phoned up for complaints 500 times a day by the people, yet he still merrily made jokes. When playing games with kids, he¡¯d vigorously knock them over; while stuck hanging from a zip line, he stubbornly claimed it was the Olympic spirit; and when he finally ran for prime minister in earnest, he entertained everyone on stage with a salted fish. Throughout Baus¡¯s life of power, many people might think he¡¯s quite the comedian and doesn¡¯t quite fit the mold of traditional leaders. Now, it seems that he is indeed a very capable person, at least one who is extremely good at packaging himself. Ordinarily, the public image of a national leader is that of a serious and imposing figure, which can result in a lack of approachability. While Baus¡¯s actions might not make everyone love him, they at least make him likable to the majority. Therefore, regardless of whether the public image is real or fake, at least at this moment, Bi Fang¡¯s pressure began to fade. The conversation and the dispersal made the live stream room appear somewhat monotonous, but the number of viewers kept increasing without any signs of decline, almost all of them there for Baus. The head of a country participating in a wilderness live stream was truly incongruous. And there was a string of hosts trying to connect with Bi Fang, a golden opportunity though slim in hope. All their messages sank like stones in the sea, but many hosts still persisted. What if they succeeded? By that time, they would make a fortune. It wasn¡¯t until 9:30 that Bi Fang, having walked the entire way, climbed up a slope. His gaze swept downward, offering an unobstructed view of the entire land, remarkably clear, and further away, another cliff was in sight. But this time Bi Fang made a discovery¡ªhe spotted a cave on a dirt slope below the cliff. "We¡¯ve found the place we were looking for," Bi Fang said, standing beside Baus and pointing at the cave more than a kilometer away with a smile. At these words, Baus looked stunned, followed Bi Fang¡¯s pointing finger and squinted hard for a long time, but couldn¡¯t spot the cave Bi Fang was talking about. [Where¡¯s the cave?] Read new chapters at NovelFire.C?m [I¡¯m done for, I¡¯ve gone blind] [Old Fang¡¯s eyesight is too good, isn¡¯t it?] It took almost ten minutes of walking before Baus could see it with his own eyes. In fifteen minutes, the two arrived in front of the cave. This was a cave formed by two huge rocks standing atop a slope. Inside, it appeared somewhat damp, with corners covered in green moss, Baus looked incredulously at the narrow cave, less than two square meters at the entrance, then turned back to look at the slope they had come from, astonished: "How far did we walk, fifteen hundred meters? You saw this cave from one thousand five hundred meters away?" If that was true, then Bi Fang¡¯s vision was nothing short of astonishing. "I¡¯m not nearsighted, but it took me ten minutes to notice it. You must have the eyes of an eagle!" "Thank you," Bi Fang said politely, then habitually scanned the surrounding environment and nodded, "This is a very good shelter location." "Central Country has a lot of rain, so we need to choose a shelter location as high up as possible. Look here, it¡¯s not at the top of the slope, but it isn¡¯t on a slope either. If it rains, the likelihood of being submerged is very small. Plus, it¡¯s sheltered from the wind, so it won¡¯t become a wind tunnel at night." "Come to think of it, this is my first time living in a cave during a live stream. I¡¯ve never tried it before." Chapter 625 - 622 Unable to Bow and Bend the Knee to the Powerful (Two-in-One) The cave was a natural shelter, and Bi Fang felt lucky to have found such a place. It meant he could save a lot of effort. As he and Baus cleaned up the rubble in the cave, Bi Fang shared his past experiences. "I always remember the first night I spent in the jungle, it was truly unforgettable. Now, I¡¯ve slept in windy mountains many times, from snow forests to deserts, from underground caverns to¡ªbut recalling that first night in the jungle still feels so different." "Back then, I didn¡¯t have any knowledge about surviving in the jungle; all I could think about were snakes, spiders, ants, mosquitoes, and other wild crawling animals that might bite." "For me, that night, my nervous system was working overtime, and on a simply constructed hammock, I couldn¡¯t sleep at all." [Ah, why didn¡¯t I notice?] [When I watched the first live broadcast, I thought Master Fang slept pretty soundly] [Surely it wasn¡¯t the first live broadcasting of Wilderness Survival... First time broadcasting Wilderness Survivalist and the first time surviving in the wilderness are not the same concept, what are you guys thinking] [Oh, I get it, it¡¯s pre-level experience!] Continue reading at NovelFire.C?m [Let me jot this down in my little notebook.] "But my outdoor instructor looked so comfortable and didn¡¯t seem to mind stopping ants from crawling into his hammock, I asked him how he could be so carefree in the jungle." Baus, carrying a rock the size of a head out of the cave, placed it on the ground and asked curiously, "What did he say?" The cave was small, only large enough for one person to enter and exit. Once Baus came out, Bi Fang went in to remove the remaining rocks and continued talking. "He said, ¡¯If you get bitten by any poisonous or large animal, you¡¯re actually quite lucky! There¡¯s only a 10% chance to see some impressively dangerous animals around here." "Huh?" Baus laughed, "So we¡¯re pretty safe?" "Wild and crawling animals only act when they feel threatened or cornered, so we don¡¯t usually have to worry. As long as we don¡¯t move recklessly, enter the territories of large animals, or deliberately track them, the wilderness will threaten life mostly through the environment itself." "In the jungle, there are far more eyes watching us than we can see. The more nervous you are, the more challenging the environment will seem." No one is born adapted to the wild, especially people from the city. Past life¡¯s Bi Fang also took a long time to adapt. For nearly a week, he could only fall asleep in the middle of the night when he was too exhausted to stay awake, and then he would wake up early to shake the ants out of his hair. "Of course, now I can sleep peacefully in the jungle." Speaking of this, Bi Fang felt a bit proud. To achieve this, most people would already have a chance to survive. [Here¡¯s a little red flower for you] Hearing Bi Fang¡¯s words, Baus breathed a sigh of relief, "I was worried at first about whether there would be a black bear or something living in the cave, it seems we are not likely to encounter one." Bi Fang paused, looking at Baus in surprise. "What¡¯s the matter?" Baus felt a bit self-conscious being stared at. "Nothing," Bi Fang laughed, "But, I think it¡¯s necessary to remind you that Central Country is in a high-latitude area, so theoretically, huge brown bears could live in the forests of Central Country. The only regret is that there are no more wild bear populations in Central Country now, only a few zoos where you can see brown bears." "If it were the early 20th century, you might still see the now-extinct English bear. Before that, bear hunting was a popular sport among the nobility, and circuses often used ¡¯Dancing bear¡¯ to attract crowds eager to see something rare." Baus was amazed at Bi Fang¡¯s erudition. He himself was seen as a polymath by his teachers in school, but compared to Bi Fang, his talent seemed trivial. Not only was the other party a master of Wilderness Survival, but he was also clear about such folk customs? "Up to now, there won¡¯t be any large animals on the Central Country¡¯s land that can threaten human life, unless it¡¯s one from a zoo that has escaped or a pack of feral dogs." "That¡¯s really too bad, just a hundred years since the early twentieth century." Baus sighed. "Then Paddington Bear wouldn¡¯t exist either." Baus made a playful joke, then sighed again. "It seems we won¡¯t be able to see bears in the wild anymore." But what Bi Fang said next turned Baus¡¯s slight melancholy into embarrassment. "I¡¯ve heard that the Central Country government has projects with non-governmental organizations for ¡¯rewilding,¡¯ starting from next year Central Country plans to introduce wild Brown Bears from Ganna into the forests of Gasdah County. Sir, didn¡¯t you know?" Baus: "..." [Hahaha, what Master Fang said] [Give our Prime Minister some face] [Baus: That¡¯s a thing? How come I didn¡¯t know?] Bi Fang was only joking slightly, with no intention of ridicule. In fact, it¡¯s impossible for a national Prime Minister to know everything, while he might recognize the importance of environmental protection and promote a series of measures, he wouldn¡¯t go into detail to understand the actual number range of a certain species, whether it is endangered or not. Baus was an old hand, and he quickly recovered from the embarrassment and continued to clean the cave. After moving out the last large stone, Baus wiped the slight sweat on his forehead, looking at the now clean interior of the cave. "Is this good enough?" "No, of course not," Bi Fang shook his head. "If you are a confident Explorer, traversing the entire wilderness, finding a spot to get by for one night is naturally enough, but to be on the safe side, we need to make it safer and more comfortable." Comfortable? Baus looked around the cave, which was filled with green moss. To him, the first impression was only moist, hard, and cramped. How could such a place be considered comfortable? "Of course, it¡¯s up to our brains and hands. Come on, let¡¯s go to the cliff over there and collect some materials." Bi Fang led Baus towards a cliff not too far away. "Cliffs are generally composed of metamorphic rock or volcanic rock. In the case of the former, it is very easy to form slate on cliffs. Let¡¯s go and see if we can find some slabs." Slabs? The audience was taken aback. This word, it just doesn¡¯t seem to fit with wilderness. But when the two reached the foot of the cliff, and Bi Fang inserted a dagger into a laminated rock and levered it, a piece of slate of several square decimeters fell off. Is it really slate!? "Haha, sure enough, it¡¯s slate. This kind of rock has basically no recrystallization, it¡¯s a type of metamorphic rock, originally mudstone, silty or neutral tuff, which can be peeled off along the cleavage plane into thin sheets. We can lay them inside the cave to make a hard plank bed." Bi Fang pulled out another dagger and handed it to Baus, urging him to try peeling off a few pieces as well. [It¡¯s hard enough...] [Wait, does Old Fang have a new knife?] [Damn, new knife, so cool!] Only then did some keen viewers realize that the knife Bi Fang had used to peel rocks was a new one they had never seen before, and its unique design immediately caught everyone¡¯s attention. Many viewers immediately asked what kind of knife it was, but some military enthusiasts recognized it right away. [Damn, modmkvi stinger! Nice knife!] [Envious, I want one too] [So cool] [Not something ordinary people can afford.] Given Bi Fang¡¯s current following, there were all sorts of people in the audience, so there was no need for him to do the explaining himself, saving him the effort. By the time the two had pried off the stone slabs, Baus was already drenched in sweat. The slabs were thin, but they were indeed heavy, especially when carrying a dozen or so. "Phew, it¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve had this much exercise." But looking over at Bi Fang, he seemed not to have broken a sweat, not even gasping for air, which was quite enviable. "This is another key point for outdoor activities, to have an objective assessment of your own physical condition. A robust physique allows you to challenge greater limits in far-off places and for longer periods of time." Bi Fang glanced at the backpack and equipment behind Baus, all of which were from quite professional brands and configurations. Obviously, as the Prime Minister, even if he wasn¡¯t adept at wilderness activities, someone would have prepared everything for him. "Equipment is important, but even if you¡¯re physically strong and experienced in outdoor activities, don¡¯t blindly carry too much gear." "I¡¯ve seen friends who, because they carried too much equipment and moved too quickly, ended up in great misery." [No insider here, this friend, I guess...] [Dog¡¯s head to save my life] Bi Fang just smiled, "If you make this mistake in the Arctic, you¡¯ll sweat. Sweating too much in a cold environment will quickly take away your body heat and can lead to hypothermia if severe." "Our ancestors survived in extremely harsh environments not by relying on the equipment we have now, but on natural materials obtained from farming or hunting." "Today, outdoor equipment is designed to be very diverse, to suit a variety of specific and special environments. Pure natural fibers are rarely used now; more often, synthetic fibers are employed, making gear more functional and lighter." "But that¡¯s not to say that when preparing your outdoor gear, you should disregard equipment that isn¡¯t made from the latest materials. Modern equipment isn¡¯t always effective, and sometimes what our ancestors used can be more useful." Inside the live stream, some viewers strongly agreed. [I¡¯ve spent three months in Antarctica. Our team wore the same era clothing as Captain Scott, slept in tents from that era, and ate food from that era. Our boots, sleeping bags, and gloves were all made from reindeer fur.] [We wore tweed trousers, slept in canvas tents, and used bamboo poles to support them, and with this, we withstood months of bitter cold and blizzards.] [The documentary crew had the most modern equipment and food. We got trapped in a 3-day storm in Greenland and almost had to abandon our canvas tents.] [But when the storm stopped, we found that the green canvas tent had just a small tear, whereas our crew¡¯s modern tents had turned into a pile of junk. Just like that, even in minus 50 degrees Celsius, we didn¡¯t get frostbite.] [Ah, it¡¯s Sir!] [Caught a big shot live] [Sir has been slacking off, and he even has time to watch live broadcasts] Bi Fang took a closer look at the person who posted in the chat, and sure enough, it was Edinburgh. One could only say that this historical figure¡¯s claim of nearly stepping foot in every corner of the earth was no exaggeration. After placing the stone slab in front of the cave, Bi Fang, along with Baus, made two stone axes and cut down a tree, mainly using its branches, as well as some bark. Although shrubs were abundant in this land, there were sparse trees as well. With the materials prepared, he then began to work. Bi Fang made a stone shovel and dug a pit at the entrance of the cave, removing a good amount of soil, and then set up a bowstring and some deadwood, carving a small hole in the wood to align it with the drill shaft. He placed a large amount of dry grass inside the cave and then invited Baus to start a fire. For beginners, crafting the Bow Drill Method could be difficult, but once completed, the moment of igniting the fire turned out to be the simplest part. Baus took over with great enthusiasm, appearing very excited. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After a few brief attempts, he got the hang of the bow drill technique quickly, holding the drill shaft in place and moving the bow back and forth continuously; soon, white smoke began to rise from the dry tree trunk. Seeing this, Baus grew even more excited and sped up his movements. Bi Fang quickly squatted down and piled some tinder next to the drilling hole. Unfortunately, after the following ten minutes, there was only white smoke. Baus was taken aback, "Did it fail?" "It¡¯s okay, let¡¯s try again." Bi Fang was not discouraged, and he dug a new small hole on the side, then held down the drill shaft himself, allowing Baus to just pull the bowstring. Indeed, this time it went much smoother; after the white smoke followed quickly by black wood dust appearing inside the hole. Seeing this, Bi Fang quickly piled tinder on top, then asked Baus to stop moving the bowstring and start blowing on the tinder. "Blow gently and slowly, take a deep breath and then exhale, somewhere between exhaling and blowing," Bi Fang instructed Baus patiently. Soon, more and more white smoke emerged from the tinder, with sparks scattering intermittently. A minute later, a small flame licked the tinder, turning it into black ash. Success! Baus couldn¡¯t contain the joy inside; it was almost evident on his face. Although all the tools were made by Bi Fang, and even the pressure on the drill shaft was controlled by him, in the end, the fire was indeed blown out by Baus himself! Looking at Baus, who was almost dancing with joy, Bi Fang smiled. It seemed that even a prime minister could not refuse the feeling of accomplishment that came from personally creating fire in the wilderness with primitive tools. [Master Fang, you¡¯ve changed; I still hope for your former unrestrained self] [How can I bow and scrape to those in power!] [When I make it big, I also want Master Fang to prepare the tools for me, and then hold the drill shaft!] Bi Fang sighed helplessly, merely tossing the burning tinder into the cave filled with dry grass. "Central Country is humid, especially now in September, the hottest season, swarming with mosquitoes. By burning the cave, not only can we disinfect and kill bacteria, but we can also eradicate all the mosquitoes inside." Chapter 626 - 623: One’s Own Happiness In the narrow, huge stone cave, flames licked at every corner, spreading a distinct smoky scent from the burning plants all around. Inside were the dry branches that Bi Fang had specifically collected from the trees, which produced little smoke. "The drier the material for making a fire, the better. The simplest way is to pick up dead branches. Those that fall to the ground are usually damp, especially in inherently moist areas. But the dead branches still hanging on the trees in the air are drier. Use a wooden stick to knock the lower branches, and the ones that break off naturally are the dead ones." To prevent the flames inside from leaping out and causing a fire, Bi Fang dug a ditch around the area. There was no water in it, but all the plants that could easily ignite were removed, leaving only the moist soil at the bottom. While using the fire to disinfect and kill insects, Bi Fang started the long process of rubbing down tree joints with Bear Grylls. "Stone and wood are the easiest materials to obtain in wilderness survival and can provide great assistance. The former is hard and can be made into weapons, while the latter is adaptable and can be made into various tools." The two of them carried stone axes and set up a large tree stump vertically, preparing to split it open. "When using a stone axe, be careful not to swing it down in a direction that points at any part of your body," Bi Fang instructed Bear Grylls on the correct posture to use the axe. "First, spread your legs apart, then place the object you want to chop directly in front of you." Positioning the large tree stump in front, Bi Fang lifted the stone axe and swung it straight down from top to bottom. "The force must be directed in a straight line. Assume there¡¯s no object in front of you, then the axe swung down will circle around your shoulder and arrive exactly at the gap between your legs." "Many people, because of muscle groups and lack of strength, as well as not mastering the technique, can easily deflect the direction. But the less strength you have, the more you need to do as I said." Bear Grylls asked, "So, if I don¡¯t have enough strength, it makes it easier to lose control and hurt myself, right?" Bi Fang nodded. The correct direction for applying force should start with the legs, where the force is gathered, then it moves to the waist as the core explosion zone, rather than simply using arm strength. "And generally, people do not know how to exert force properly and, due to the difference in hand dominance, tend to turn a straight chop into a diagonal one. If the stance is also incorrect, once it deviates, it¡¯s very easy to chop into one¡¯s own shin or even thigh. The former could lead to a fracture, and the latter could sever a major artery." Bear Grylls¡¯ hand trembled. But Bi Fang had already raised the axe in his hand, standing straight, legs spread apart, then he chopped downward, his entire body like a released bowstring, releasing after the force had built up to a certain level. Bi Fang didn¡¯t use his full strength, just as he himself had said¡ªgoing all out made it very easy to lose control and accidently injure oneself. The sharp stone axe sliced through the air, directly entering the grain of the tree stump. The stone rubbed against the wood, forcefully wedging itself inside. Crack. Accompanied by a clear sound of splitting wood, the audience¡¯s eyes widened as they watched the entire tree stump split cleanly in two! [High-end player!] [Damn, awesome, 666, a triple peerless!] [I want to learn this!] Bi Fang laughed, "This is a pine tree, the most common tree in the wild in Central Country. Its wood isn¡¯t very good, quite soft and known as one of the poorest solid woods. If you split it along its grain, with enough strength and the right technique, it¡¯s not difficult to split it in one go. Many experienced workers at lumber mills can do this." Moreover, the stump itself isn¡¯t that thick. Given my current explosive power, it would be odd not to split it in one go. Even so, it¡¯s still surprising enough for Bear Grylls. Experienced workers at lumber mills? They all use sharp iron axes! Letting Bear Grylls try splitting wood, Bi Fang then laid the split log on the ground and began crafting a groove with his dagger and stones. "Actually, in many cases, a handsaw is a very useful tool in wilderness survival and can completely replace an axe." "An axe is used for chopping down trees but is less efficient than a handsaw and requires more effort. Axes can be used as hammers, but saws cannot. However, a hammer¡¯s function is easy to replace; you can simply use a thick stick or a stone, since using a hammer isn¡¯t a common scenario. For splitting firewood, a knife can replace the axe." "The disadvantages of axes are, first, they¡¯re heavy, with most weighing 1500 grams, while a handsaw only weighs three to four hundred grams. Second, they¡¯re more dangerous and more likely to cause self-injury; even many experts can slip up." [Then why does Old Fang still use an axe?] "Because I can¡¯t make a saw in the wilderness," Bi Fang said with a smile. However, after pausing, he negated, "Well, not really. Just like how I previously forged the dagger, I could refine steel and craft a rough saw blade, but that would be too costly." It isn¡¯t feasible to spend ten or twenty days just for one saw blade. With that time, an axe can finish the work much sooner. "For gardening, Japanese saws like the Red Fox and Okada are rather famous. Domestic ones are fine too. If they¡¯re more expensive, they¡¯re sharper, but the gap isn¡¯t that big; it saves maybe ten to twenty percent of time, and the saw teeth hardness doesn¡¯t differ much¡ªif you hit a stone, it¡¯s done for either way." "Some saw blades are more flexible and elastic, they might bend if they get jammed when pushing hard, but they won¡¯t break. Saw teeth come in different sizes; if you only carry one, naturally you would buy a medium size. As for blade length, around twenty centimeters is suitable." "You can grind the back of the handsaw blade in advance to form a cutting edge, making it a tool that serves as both a saw and a knife." "Don¡¯t think about sawing trees that are too thick; ones as thick as your arm are sufficient. You need to first saw the tree into sections, then split them finer. For each log section, just use a knife and a wooden stick to split it." Although he had never used it and might never have the opportunity to do so, Bi Fang still educated the viewers on the usage and function of a saw. After all, my survival skills are closer to extreme survival, yet actually, carrying a few tools can make survival a whole lot easier. He struck the handle of his dagger with a rock, gradually hollowing out a semi-circular wooden stump to create a large wooden trough. Then, on both sides of the trough, he painstakingly carved out small holes with a small knife, threading through a thick rope woven from tree bark for easy dragging. Bear Grylls, imitating Bi Fang, also made a wooden trough, but his progress was much slower. By the time Bi Fang had finished, Bear Grylls had hollowed out less than half. Utilizing the time, Bi Fang went to a small river near the cave and filled it with water, then poured it into the wooden trough. He picked several rocks blackened by fire, using branches to throw them into the water. In Central Country, not to mention anything else, there were also plenty of rivers, almost always within a few kilometers of a lake or a river. With a hiss, large amounts of white steam billowed up. After the stones cooled down, Bi Fang used branches to pick them out and repeat the process three times; the water in the wooden trough was nearly boiling. At this point, the flames inside the cave were also nearing extinguishment, and the accumulated ash from the plants had not been cleaned up and collected. Bi Fang simply spread it out evenly. Then, using small stones, he filled in the cracks in the bottom of the cave. The cracks were quite large, about half the width of a palm, perfectly suited for small insects to thrive. If not sealed, in no more than two days, mosquitoes and bugs would start to gather here again. Once the rocks had been packed in sufficiently, he piled the plant ash into the gaps, completely sealing the tiny crevices. The floor of the cave now appeared very smooth. Bi Fang then began to stack stones on the other side, using the large rocks he had previously moved outside, one by one, carefully selecting them by size and shape, stacking them evenly, similar to playing Tetris. "You must be good at Tetris," Baus commented, squatting down to admire the perfectly fitted stones, issuing a word of praise. Despite being the most ordinary rocks, uncut by any tool, it seemed as if Bi Fang could remember their shapes at a glance, then naturally knew how to arrange them, leaving no significant gaps, all kept within finger¡¯s breadth. The stones were only piled up on one half of the cave, making it obvious that Bi Fang intended to construct a "stone bed." "Next, we need to use clay." Bi Fang walked out of the cave, poured the clay he had previously excavated directly into another wooden trough without boiling water, then poured a small amount of the boiling water from another trough, and began to stir it thoroughly. Then it was a handful of clay, one rock after another, stacking the stone bed high like laying bricks, leaving no gaps. But soon Baus noticed that Bi Fang had left a trench about twenty centimeters wide in the middle of the stone bed. Bi Fang, seeing Baus¡¯s expression, explained, "This is a heat-retention trench. We can light a fire in it, and the residual heat will spread throughout the stone bed, which will also serve a structural function later. In our Huaxia, this is a very common architectural feature, especially in high-latitude areas." Although he called it a heat-retention trench, it was essentially the traditional heated bed of Northeast China. Bi Fang simply explained it again in a more accessible way¡ªas the electric blanket of the wilderness. [I understand, stone slab barbecue] [Regarding Bi Fang¡¯s trip to the north] [Master craftsmanship, exquisite] Baus wiped off the sweat from his forehead. Though he had worked up a sweat, it was due to the activity, and the air was still cool, far from cold¡ªsurely there was no need for heating? "Of course, there¡¯s no need," said Bi Fang, "but what I¡¯m showing off is more about skill." Baus suddenly understood. "Our lives may seem very calm and peaceful, and many accidents seem far away from us, but in reality, everyone is exposed to certain safety risks. In real life, accidents can happen at any time, and various natural and man-made disasters constantly threaten our safety." "Earthquakes, floods, fires, car accidents, and other emergencies occur frequently. Life¡¯s small hardships are also endless: elevators malfunction, buildings catch fire, airplanes have faults, cars face dangers, accidental injuries, sudden illnesses, food poisoning, and so on..." "In the face of unforeseen circumstances, we cannot afford to gamble with luck for survival. Instead, we need to acquire essential knowledge. Knowing how to administer first aid, learning some self-defense skills, understanding wilderness survival¡ªthese can help us live safely in a variety of situations." Experience more on NovelFire.C?m "The unpredictable and irreversible nature of these sudden dangers, and the variety of situations, all require timely medical treatment. In the face of disaster, many people panic due to a lack of self-rescue and first aid knowledge, missing the golden opportunity for rescue, leading to tragic outcomes." "So, we need to have enough ability to protect ourselves and to provide aid, as the correct handling and treatment will play a very important role." "With so many accidents, it¡¯s impossible for me to demonstrate every single one, I can only show a variety of methods as conveniently as possible." "We won¡¯t keep the insulation tank this time, which live session will it be needed for next? I don¡¯t know, so that¡¯s why it has to be made in advance and demonstrated once, even if it seems like a wasted effort under the current circumstances." Bi Fang felt this was something he also needed to do in his livestreams. The wilderness survival videos by Bear Grylls and Grandpa De are indeed entertaining to watch, yet they imperceptibly spread a lot of knowledge that many have never seen before, which might be used by someone one day, right? As the times progress, humans¡¯ range of activities has become broader than before, and the frequency of travel has greatly increased. No one can guarantee that they will not find themselves in distress in the wilderness, isolated and without help. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If this situation arises, how should you face it¡ªare you going to wait in despair for a miracle to happen or use your mind and hands to carve out a path of survival for yourself? Any smart person would not choose to sit and wait for death; survival is always the top priority for humans and is most crucial. [May peace and safety be with you.] [I hope you never have to use what you¡¯ve learned.] "The psychological foundation of survival is very simple: don¡¯t panic. If you suddenly find yourself in a dangerous situation, you will have chaotic thoughts and feelings, and you must try your best to prevent this from happening." "Find a well-sheltered place, sit down and think carefully about how to survive. Being well-prepared and having a plan can help you overcome difficulties and dangers and enable you to survive." "Everyone hopes to live a peaceful, happy life; this beautiful wish is just an ideal state." "The journey of life is always full of unexpected events, whether they are minor accidents or major disasters. People will always face various crisis situations, and if you have the ability to save yourself and help others, if you have a determined and calm attitude, if you have the essential wilderness survival skills, you can survive dangerous and chaotic situations." "Whether now or in the future, the healthier a person¡¯s body and the richer their knowledge, the greater their chances of survival." While speaking, the stone trough had already been set aside; Bi Fang continued to lay clay on both ends, covered it with the stone slabs he had collected from the cliff earlier, and spread more clay on top. A stone bed suddenly appeared, curving into a segment near the back of the cave, and after laying stone slabs on it, it became a stone table that could hold items. Inside this cubic cave formed by several huge rocks, there now appeared a stone bed and stone table, bringing a hint of domestic warmth. Just the sight of it could greatly enhance one¡¯s sense of security! Bi Fang looked at his handiwork with satisfaction. Baus was also happy, and although he hadn¡¯t done much work, his sense of accomplishment was undiminished, just like when he built a small castle with blocks as a child. That was a joy uniquely his own. Bi Fang clapped his hands and said, "Now that we have a place to live, it¡¯s time to look for food." Baus perked up upon hearing this. What will they eat? Chapter 627 - 624: Glacier "What are we going to eat?" "Although I¡¯m prepared, I still hope to get some normal food." sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, Baus was both nervous and expectant. Participating in the show was, of course, for some unspoken yet widely understood purposes, and also carried some personal interests. He had a general understanding of Bi Fang¡¯s show and even made a summary table of what they might eat, ranging from normal food to exotic dishes. Eating raw earthworms, grilled grubs, roasted elk meat, boiled chicken¡ªit seemed as if anything edible was on Bi Fang¡¯s menu. [You can always trust Master Fang¡¯s hunting skills] [And you can believe in his seasoning] [But never trust his taste buds (Dog¡¯s head)] "Certainly," Bi Fang said with a smile. He pointed to the field in front of them, sporadically dotted with a few large trees, but mostly covered with clumps of shrubs and the herbaceous plants beneath, "Actually, at a glance, I can see many edible herbaceous plants." "Ferns?" Baus recognized what Bi Fang was pointing at. Bi Fang nodded: "In the outskirts of Central Country, the most common wild plants are ferns, they¡¯re everywhere. From London to the northernmost tip of Scotland, it¡¯s all this kind of plant." "Ferns are ancient plants that live in the shade of forests and riverbanks and have survived on Earth for over 300 million years. Long before the dinosaurs, they filled the steamy primeval swamps along with club mosses and horsetails." "Wow," Baus exclaimed. "Central Country women once had a crazed obsession with ferns. I don¡¯t know if that¡¯s the reason why there are so many ferns here, but you could say that most of the wild weeds in Central Country are ferns," Bi Fang squatted down and flipped through the herbaceous plants in front of him. "However, some ferns have become very rare, and others, due to limited suitable habitats, have a very restricted distribution. The reason might date back to the Victorian era when it was very fashionable to collect ferns and grow them indoors." Stay updated via NovelFire.C?m "Collectors searched the countryside for ferns, transported them to town streets, and sold them from door to door. Naturally, the rarer the ferns they sold, the higher their price. Before long, due to continual picking, certain species of ferns became extremely rare." "What we have here is the broom fern. Its tender stems and leaves are edible, and it¡¯s a semi-wild vegetable high in carotenoids and rich in potassium and copper. The mature plants can be used to make brooms, which is how it got its name." Bi Fang poked around, found some tender leaves, pinched them off with his nails, handed some to Baus, and then chewed on some himself. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Baus also popped it into his mouth. "How does it feel?" "A bit dry," Baus chewed a few times, "The fibers are quite prominent, is it too old?" Bi Fang nodded, it was a bit old, but still edible. "Not all ferns are edible. Some young fern leaves contain tannins and typically need to be soaked in cold water overnight before they can be eaten. Usually, they¡¯re thermally processed. Blanching and rinsing can significantly reduce their original glycosides content and lower the risk of cancer." "Can this be eaten raw?" Baus asked, pointing at the broom fern. Bi Fang shook his head: "No, according to traditional Chinese medicine, broom fern is cool in nature and can have an adverse effect on the human digestive system. Eating it raw can lead to diarrhea." Baus: "..." He looked at the half-eaten piece of fern in his hand and the dry plant taste in his mouth, uncertain of what to do next. Bi Fang chuckled: "Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s just a bit of tender leaves, it won¡¯t do much harm." "Alright then." If it¡¯s edible, there¡¯s no reason to miss out. Bi Fang searched around and picked everything edible, as it was summer, there were fewer tender leaves, but not none. After spending about fifteen minutes, he had gathered almost half a plate¡¯s worth, but it was far from enough for two people, and plants are hardly sufficient in providing enough energy. Meat would be best after all. Hence, the two of them continued walking, coming to the small river where they had fetched water, looking for a slow-flowing bend where fish might be found. "We¡¯re already quite a distance from the coast, the wind has died down a lot; you can see the trees are much more robust here, and it¡¯s a marsh forest on one side." Bi Fang pointed to the dense forest upstream of the river, which, though still sparse, could now be referred to as a forest. "From wilderness to forest, the change is very distinct in vertical zones, so there¡¯s a significant increase in biodiversity. The animal density here will be higher, and we¡¯ll have a better chance of encountering prey, especially in the marsh forest." "What¡¯s with the marsh forest?" "The fish resources in the marsh forest are incredibly rich." "One typical example is the mangrove forest, which is also a marsh forest, growing in coastal intertidal zones. It¡¯s one of the most productive marine ecosystems at the land-sea interface, with nearly 80% of the global fish catch coming directly or indirectly from mangrove forests." "However, mangrove forests only exist in subtropical and tropical regions; Central Country doesn¡¯t have them, only common marsh forests, but that¡¯s sufficient. The forest roots in the swamp intertwine, providing habitats for many animals." Walking into the marsh forest, Baus felt it was noticeably harder to move. The moist soil stuck to the soles of his shoes, and it took much more effort to pull his feet free. Bi Fang perked up, reminding him, "Follow me, don¡¯t get stuck in the mud, that would be troublesome." [I feel like there could be snakes.] [Indeed, with crocodiles and pythons in the swamp, are we really okay?] Bi Fang shook his head: "Central Country doesn¡¯t have either of those, you could even say it has no reptiles at all." In terms of wilderness survival, the island nation of Central Country could truly be considered a heaven on Earth. In the Middle Ages, fierce animals like brown bears and wolves had nearly vanished from England, and in the modern era, they are completely extinct, only seen in zoos. The remaining elks and wild boars are considered top hunting targets, followed by hares, pheasants, and waterfowls. With the large animals gone, surely there must still be small venomous creatures? What about venomous snakes? It¡¯s not that there are none, that would be too absolute, given the presence of various invasive species and the phenomenon of pet releases, but it¡¯s fair to say they are scarce. Nevertheless, it has nothing to do with Saint Patrick. "In Central Country, there¡¯s a holiday called Saint Patrick¡¯s Day, commemorating Saint Patrick, the patron of Ireland." "One of the legends about Saint Patrick is that he drove all the snakes out of Ireland, and it is one of the most famous stories in Irish mythology." This is telling in its own way. "But at the end of the day, it¡¯s just a legend. The scientific explanation is that during the Ice Age, the temperatures in Ireland and Central Country were too low, unsuitable for the survival of cold-blooded animals like snakes. The cold-blooded nature of snakes requires them to absorb heat from their surroundings to maintain normal bodily functions." "It wasn¡¯t until 10,000 years ago that glacial changes connected Central Country, Ireland, and the European continent, creating a land bridge that led to species migration. Some species then migrated to Central Country." "But there was little time, not many made it, and by the time the glaciers melted and they wanted to cross, there was already a sea in between." Chapter 628 - 625 Full meal Find more chapters on NovelFire.C?m There were no large predators, nor were there any sly venomous snakes or crocodiles, the most deadly thing was the mild climate, not too cold or too hot, just comfortable¡ªin fact, if there was nothing else to do, one could even go to the beach for a surf, which was why Bi Fang considered this livestream to be more like a vacation. He even had the confidence that he could live for a month with Baus without any pressure. "Nowadays in Central Country, there might be more snakes in the cities than in the wild, because pet snakes were a symbol of social status during the economic boom of the late ¡¯90s, but after the economic recession in 2008, people struggling with life set their pet snakes free." "So if you are in the city, you may still encounter them, but in the wilderness, you don¡¯t really need to worry about this problem." In the mud, Bi Fang used a stone shovel to dig up quite a few crustaceans; perhaps it was because he was too close to the seaside, the haul contained many seafood items, possibly washed into the river during high tide. After a round... cough, after circling the marshland, the catch was quite bountiful. Among them were even Chinese mitten crabs, a good seven of them, a mix of river and sea delicacies. Many viewers were stunned. Central Country actually had Chinese mitten crabs? The scientific name for the Chinese mitten crab is "Chinese Mitten Crab," and since they have furry patches on their claws that look like they¡¯re wearing mittens, hence the English name "Chinese Mitten Crab." From the name you can tell where the specialty comes from. "These creatures are overrunning the Thames River," Baus said with a wry smile. The Chinese mitten crab is a typical invasive species, and he never expected to see them even in such a small river. Their main habitat is from the Korean Peninsula to the coastal river estuaries of Huaxia, even the Natural History Museum London has a credible explanation for the Chinese mitten crab¡ª"originating from Asia, but the Chinese mitten crab has already landed on the European continent a century ago." Bi Fang explained, "There are records of Chinese mitten crab sightings in the Thames River dating back to 1953. They¡¯re said to have brought great trouble to the people of Central Country because its survival and reproduction abilities are just too strong. The Chinese mitten crab not only posed a serious threat to ¡¯their own crab species¡¯ but also damaged the riverbed, so the people of Central Country even refer to the Chinese mitten crab as ¡¯Alien Crab,¡¯ that is, an extraterrestrial crab." Saying this, Bi Fang glanced at Baus, asking the "local," and received an affirmative response. "But we¡¯re in luck now. It¡¯s a shame we don¡¯t have scallions, ginger, garlic, or cooking wine; boiling them may result in a fishy taste," Bi Fang said happily, putting another crab into his vine basket. "On the way back, let¡¯s see if we can find some wild sage or rosemary or something like that." Apart from crustaceans, Bi Fang also caught a few little barracudas in the river bend. With fish and vegetables, life was rich indeed. After pulling his feet out of the mud, he washed off in the river, let himself dry, then put his socks and shoes back on. The two gutted and scaled the barracudas right there; the small river was quite convenient for washing them. After processing the fish, they headed towards the direction of the cave. After being busy all morning, both of them were famished. Baus checked his phone. It was already three in the afternoon, "Hard to believe I haven¡¯t eaten all day and am heading straight to afternoon tea." "I don¡¯t have any sweet treats or tea here, just some fish that might taste a bit fishy." "Right now, I feel like I could eat anything." Along the way, Bi Fang kept an eye out for wild spices and actually managed to find some, a few mint plants, which he joyously pocketed. Back at the cave, Bi Fang dumped the crustaceans into a tank of water: "Shellfish need to spit out sand, we can¡¯t eat them right now, we can only eat grilled fish for now. In a moment, we¡¯ll drop the oil from the grilled fish into the water, forming a layer of oil on the surface to separate the water from the air, making these guys oxygen-deprived in the water and speeding up their breathing, and thus speeding up the sand expulsion process." "If we¡¯re quick, we might even get to eat tonight." Bi Fang built a simple stove by stacking stones around the fire, plastering them with clay, and finally topping it with a washed clean stone slab. With the stone slab, it was possible to switch from roasting fish to searing fish, allowing the fat and meat to react more thoroughly, creating an even more delicious aroma in the absence of seasonings. The mint leaves were torn and sprinkled in, and their fragrant scent wafted through the air. The belly meat of the fish contracted under the high heat, and the cellular fat turned into a thick oil, sizzling in the fire¡¯s lick and interacting with the flesh of the fish itself, the enticing aroma spreading all around. Baus sat aside, holding rough chopsticks whittled from a hunting knife, his stomach growling loudly. It had been a long time since he had felt such hunger, and the fried fish before him was unexpectedly tempting. Even though there were no seasonings and the only herb was mint, Baus still found it quite satisfactory; after all, a cook from Central Country might perhaps just sprinkle on a bit of salt? The cuisine of Central Country had always faced criticism, with fish and chips or speculative ¡¯starry sky¡¯ dishes being the well-known options. Fish and chips weren¡¯t bad, but they were far too greasy, and after eating them for a week, one would likely not want to touch them again for a month. Bi Fang had always thought that culinary skills and fine food should develop alongside the evolution of civilization, but Central Country could prove to you: No, that¡¯s wrong. [If there were "Culinary Reflections of Central Country," it might be written: The people of Angolan choose fine cod, wash it, coat it in batter, and fry it in oil until golden brown, served with freshly fried chips.] [The people of Scotland go for fine rayfish, wash it, coat it in batter, and fry it in oil until golden brown, served with freshly fried chips.] [The Welsh opt for fine flounder, washed and enrobed in batter, then deep-fried to a golden crisp, accompanied by fresh chips.] ["What is heaven? Heaven is chefs from France, laborers from De Country, and police from Central Country. What is hell? Hell is chefs from Central Country, laborers from France, and police from De Country." ¡ª Johnson Khan Jr.] In fact, this island nation could hardly grow anything other than potatoes and rapeseed; its pursuit of a natural style was really limited by its natural resources. [In the canteens of Central Country¡¯s schools: Steamed mega potatoes, big potatoes, small potatoes¡ªall unpeeled. Baked mega potatoes, big potatoes, small potatoes¡ªall unpeeled. Rough-cut fries, fine fries, mashed potatoes, thick potato slices, thin potato slices.] Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When the barracuda was finally cooked through, Baus couldn¡¯t wait to pick it up with chopsticks, hissing from the heat, but still too impatient to let the fish cool and eagerly stuffing it into his mouth. The mint¡¯s crisp fragrance alone couldn¡¯t completely suppress the fishy taste of the barracuda, but after being seared and fried, that taste was almost non-existent. Even without salt, the aromatic hit was so overwhelming that Baus completely forgot about it, joyfully eating away. Plus, since the caught barracuda was from seawater, there were fewer bones, mostly just a few large ones, making the eating all the more enjoyable. Bi Fang waited for the stone slab to cool down a bit before submerging it in a wooden trough, letting the oil float on the surface. The crustaceans, already nearly fully open, began to expel sand before long. Good, there was now a late-night snack too. Chapter 629 - 626: Are Sea Fish Salty? {Seeking Monthly Pass} The golden, crispy flesh of the fish easily parted with the chopsticks, and the texture transmitted through them clearly conveyed the crunchiness of the fish skin. As the crispy layer was torn open, one could feel the tenderness of the fish flesh, with the fat streaming between the flesh and skin, the high heat coaxing out a fragrance that made the two hungry people eager to eat, as they started their meal with the sea breeze blowing. After cutting off the head of the barracuda, Bi Fang continued to fry it. He took a bite of the fish body, and the freshness burst across his taste buds. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The sea barracuda didn¡¯t have as many bones as the river barracuda, so Bi Fang wasn¡¯t afraid of choking. He slurped down more than half of it, then licked his glossy, oily lips. "Barracuda is rich in nutrients, with a tender and delicious flesh. It¡¯s high in protein content and is a delicacy on exquisite banquet tables, especially the spring sea barracuda, which is the most precious. Although it¡¯s September now, and not the season when the barracuda is fattest, it is still delicious." Having eaten the whole barracuda, with only its head left, which wasn¡¯t thrown away, Bi Fang picked up the slightly charred head and crunched through the bones and flesh together, the crispness complemented by the smoothness of the fish brain, adding an even richer layer of texture, leaving Baus looking constipated. "Can you eat the fish head, too?" "Give it a try," Bi Fang didn¡¯t just say it outright but encouraged Baus to try it himself. After some hesitation, Baus, who had slurped up a whole barracuda, flipped the fish bone over and positioned the head in front of himself, staring it down. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t eat fish heads, one could tell from looking at the night sky filled with stars, where fish heads were all turned skyward. But Baus himself wasn¡¯t keen on it. However, due to Bi Fang¡¯s enthusiastic invitation, he still carefully opened his mouth and bit into half of it. The moment it entered his mouth, Baus¡¯s eyes lit up. The outside of the fish head, having been barbecued for a long time, had become as crispy as a potato chip, this crunchiness distinguishing it from the backbone and even more fragrant. In the end, he could feel the fish brain burst, bringing with it a strong salty taste. Seeing Baus enjoy it so much, Bi Fang smiled with satisfaction, "When cooking barracuda, the head is the most fragrant part. There¡¯s a folk saying that goes, ¡¯Lose the cart and ox, but don¡¯t lose the barracuda head.¡¯ The fish brain inside the head is a roughly transparent and gelatinous liquid, which when cooked has a very fragrant and concentrated taste of bone marrow collagen, delicious and can be considered a top delicacy within the fish head. "Furthermore, it contains a small portion of seawater, hence the distinct saltiness. Although the flesh of the fish is fragrant, it lacks saltiness and is rather bland when eaten on its own." [Eh, shouldn¡¯t sea fish be saltier?] [Sea fish are naturally salty. Some cooking methods don¡¯t require any salt at all; they¡¯re already salty (smile)] [...Are sea fish salted through curing?] Bi Fang shook his head, "Firstly, one has to acknowledge the fact that the body fluid salinity concentration of marine fish is higher than that of freshwater fish, but in bony fish, this difference is not significant, hence seasoning with external salt is still necessary when cooking fish." The audience pulled up their stools, perking up their ears. "The body fluid salinity concentration of marine bony fish is lower than the salinity of the surrounding seawater, so they autonomously regulate their osmotic pressure." "The primary pathways for marine bony fish to regulate osmotic pressure are twofold. On one hand, they drink a lot of water, in addition to the water they get from their diet, marine bony fish directly consume a considerable amount of water." "On the other hand, the gills of marine bony fish have special salt-secreting cells. The seawater ingested and absorbed into the blood through the intestines retains the water, but the excess salt is expelled through the salt-secreting cells on the gills. Enjoy more content from NovelFire.C?m A certain amount of other salts are also expelled through the urine, though the kidneys of marine bony fish are very degenerate, and they produce very little urine." As Bi Fang explained, he gesticulated at his neck as if he had fish gills there. "The salt-secreting cells on the gills are the main pathway for marine bony fish to expel salt from their bodies, mainly excreting sodium chloride, while divalent ions like calcium, magnesium, and sulfate are excreted through urine." "This ensures a low osmotic pressure environment within the bodies of marine bony fish. That¡¯s why salt still needs to be added when cooking marine bony fish." The audience had an epiphany. That¡¯s why sea fish and river fish are pretty much the same without salt; they lack flavor. Baus listened intently as well. One had to admit, the charm of being able to answer any question was truly powerful. This kind of erudition in the wilderness gave a strong sense of security; when you didn¡¯t know whether the creature before you was poisonous or dangerous, he could easily provide an accurate answer, lessening much of your concerns and fears. "Cartilaginous fish are an exception," Bi Fang added and then the audience saw him appear to think of something, his face showing disgust. Cartilaginous fish... typical examples being sharks. That taste... Bi Fang remembered the white-fin shark he had eaten before; the shark meat had a strong ammonia smell, which was how cartilaginous fish regulated their osmotic pressure, through the concentration of urea in their blood. "The method of osmotic regulation in marine cartilaginous fish is completely different; the osmotic pressure in marine cartilaginous fish is higher than that of marine bony fish, sometimes even higher than seawater." "They regulate their osmotic pressure by varying the concentration of urea in their blood; when urea content is high, water intake increases, diluting the concentration of urea, leading to increased urination and the reduction in urea." "When the urea content decreases to a certain level, water intake reduces, urination decreases, and the urea concentration increases. The cycle repeats." "Because of this bizarre method, if you really want to eat them, you actually have to add a lot of salt when cooking cartilaginous fish to suppress the strange taste of the meat." [Weird knowledge has been gained] [So shark meat is very salty, huh (dog¡¯s head)] [Not just salty, but also cheesy (funny face)] Meanwhile, the crabs that were simmered in fresh water were ready, bright red and apparently because no one had come to eat them yet, quite large in size, with bodies as big as a palm. They were indeed delicious, Bi Fang opened the shell of one crab and found abundant and full crab roe inside. The two of them ate a total of six fish and six crabs before they stopped. Bi Fang ate quite cleanly, Baus gobbled down the crabs, making it a painful sight to watch. After burping contentedly, Baus patted his stomach and exclaimed, "Although there aren¡¯t many seasonings, this is still an unforgettable meal in my life, surrounded by the sea, the wind, and the endless wilderness, making me feel like I¡¯ve tasted the most primal flavors of nature." After eating their fill, Bi Fang rested only briefly before looking up at the sky. In Central Country, the nights in September come late, not until nine o¡¯clock. It was only four o¡¯clock now, and they had plenty of time. "Our cave still needs some fixing up, adding a roof and as well as a wooden door that can bring a sense of security." Chapter 630 - 627: Separation The drone flew high above, looking down on the wilderness where two tiny figures busied themselves repairing a rocky cave entrance. They stripped the bark from tree trunks, fashioned them into threshold-like long strips, and placed them at the very bottom of the cave entrance, digging out the mud from beneath the boulders and wedging small stones into the gaps to secure them firmly in place. Stones were used to fill the bottom layer, with long wooden strips stacked on top, and Bi Fang had even carved many small grooves into the timber to add texture to the wall surface. The wooden strips were connected using mortise and tenon joints, a simple yet practical solution. Once stacked, the construction resembled a solid layer of wooden wall, leaving only two openings: one was a stone flue leading outside for smoke, and the other, smaller than the original cave entrance, would be fitted with a wooden door. Wooden boards were joined using wooden pegs, and the final piece, with two protruding cylinders, would be fitted into recessed pits in the wooden wall to form a hinged door. Finally, a roof needed to be installed. "The original cave might leak water through the gaps between the boulders, so we need to construct a tiled roof. It doesn¡¯t have to be too complicated; we just chop the trees into circular slices." S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With just a segment of a tree, Bi Fang and Baus managed to split many circular slices. Although not pretty and uneven in thickness, they were adequate for use. Laid out neatly on the roof, the slices overlapped like tiles, and with appropriate waterproofing at the very top, rainwater would simply flow down the "tiles." The solution was straightforward: placing a straight stick at the very top, covering it with clay, and baking it with fire until it was dry and fixed in place. After these efforts, the cave no longer resembled a rocky structure; instead, it looked more like a wooden hut. The fans expressed their envious admiration. [A Hobbit¡¯s abode] [So cool] [The secret base of my dreams] [Such efficiency! It¡¯s only eight o¡¯clock, and a wooden hut has been built in less than a day?] [That¡¯s not all, they even foraged for food and sun-dried saltwater in the meantime.] At eight o¡¯clock, Bi Fang looked up at the twilight sky, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and headed to the pit where he had been making salt earlier, with a concave stone slab in the middle. Inside it was the yellow crystalline substance that had precipitated from the roasting flames. After washing his hands, Bi Fang tasted some of the grains, and the salty flavor mixed with a faint bitterness spread through his mouth. Salt could be extracted from a mixture of wood ash and seawater filtered through clothing. After several rounds of boiling the filtrate to dryness, coarse salt was produced. Despite not completely filtering out impurities, such salt from the ocean was enough to fulfill the short-term sodium needs; at the very least, it would greatly enhance the flavor of the food. Salt truly is the foremost of all flavors! Estimating the time left until nightfall, Bi Fang said, "There¡¯s about an hour left before it gets dark. Let¡¯s go out into the wild and see if we can find more spices." Spices often had distinct and strong flavors, and with his keen sense of smell, Bi Fang actually found two additional spices: sage and dill, both found near the river. They looked indistinguishable from the weeds, yet they were excellent for preparing meat. The aroma of sage was intense, a common ingredient in men¡¯s fragrances. Dill was less familiar to many people. "This herb is native to Western Asia but is now mainly produced in the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe. It looks similar to fennel but has a more pungent scent. It¡¯s particularly suitable for cooking fish as it helps remove the fishy smell, and the dill leaves can be eaten directly or dried for a fragrant seasoning," explained Bi Fang, inhaling deeply and looking blissful. With salt and three kinds of spices, tonight¡¯s dinner was destined to be a feast. Baus could hardly wait, "Can we head back now?" "Wait a second," Bi Fang glanced at the swaying reeds by the river, "We¡¯ve come across some reeds; we can harvest some to make a mattress." "A mattress?" "That¡¯s right." Bi Fang handed the knife to Baus, and together they cut a large bundle of reeds. This plant can be seen by nearly every river around the world. After cutting the reed rhizomes to the same length, Bi Fang tied them into small bundles using tree rope, and soon the audience understood that he was actually making a mattress. The reed stalks were very elastic and tied up quite thick, making them soft and comfortable to lie on, almost as good as modern mattresses, though the noise could be a bit loud. Whenever one turned over, a loud friction sound could be heard. Baus lay down to try it and exclaimed, "You¡¯ve really changed my perception. I¡¯ve never seen anyone make wilderness survival so enjoyable¡ªhouses, soft mattresses, delicious spices and food." [Is this what a big shot looks like?] [To me, other people¡¯s survival looks just like being in prison] [Being in prison, haha] "It¡¯s time for dinner." Bi Fang carried the mattress on his back and brought a handful of spices back to the shelter, where he started a fire and began cooking. He crushed the spices and spread them evenly on the remaining barracuda, tossing all the shellfish into a wooden trough and stewing them in brine, also sprinkling in the crushed spices. Finally, there was the fern he hadn¡¯t eaten at noon, which he also stewed in clean water. Soon, two meat dishes and one vegetable dish were served on the table. One plate held tender boiled fern leaves, one a messy stew of shellfish, and the last smoked barracuda, sprinkled with crisp spice leaves, fragrant and rich. By then, the sky had completely darkened, and the bonfire roared into life, the wood cracking and popping, sending out sparks. A faint scent of fireworks spread into the air. Both of them dragged a rock over to sit opposite each other. It didn¡¯t look like wilderness survival at all but more like a holiday getaway. Baus gazed at the three dishes in front of him, reluctant to eat, and excitedly took out his phone to take a selfie with the two of them. With the click of the camera, the moment was captured forever. Under the starry night sky, Baus had his arm around Bi Fang¡¯s shoulder, both smiling broadly. In front of them, the bonfire blazed, scattering sparks, with the vast wilderness behind them and a wooden hut with patterns. The fern was crispy and delicious, several times better than eating it raw, and the salt-soaked fish also brought out a richer flavor, with the fishy taste barely detectable. For a moment, everyone forgot that this trip was fundamentally about survival. After dinner, the two-person journey came to an end. As the helicopter¡¯s rotors spun, Baus had to shout to be heard. "This will be the most special trip of my life; it was beautiful, and though very tiring¡ªI can even feel my thigh muscles trembling now¡ªbut the knowledge you shared, your experiences, oh, and your fish, were all great. I feel they were even tastier than what I¡¯ve had in most restaurants." "I think you¡¯re fully capable of opening a restaurant in Central Country." "I¡¯ll consider it." Bi Fang waved to Baus with a smile. Discover hidden stories at NovelFire.C?m "Well, it was a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Fang. Goodbye!" "Goodbye!" Chapter 631 - 628: Check-In Holy Land At night, Bi Fang extinguished the campfire, closed the wooden door, and released the edited video of the day. The ripples in the outside world were far from stopping, continuously expanding under the influence of the wind, and summoning a colossal tidal wave. The arrival of Baus caused an earthquake of sorts across the globe. Tell me, which livestreamer has ever been able to invite a prime minister to participate in a broadcast for an entire day? Before Bi Fang, none had done so. This explorer Mister created a precedent. The following morning, a plethora of articles appeared on the front pages and headlines of various newspapers in the Central Country. "Baus joins Huaxia program ¡¯Wilderness Survivalist¡¯; netizens: Master Fang is pleased to have prime minister-level ingredients with Baus." "Host Bi Fang, who once served in the Huaxia Special Forces, became globally famous for his strong survival skills shown in his livestreams. Due to his incredible and perilous adventures, he is called ¡¯The world¡¯s number one adventurer.¡¯ "¡¯World¡¯s number one¡¯ in value, recognized by foreign prime ministers." "How terrifying is the 25-year-old survival expert? This is what the Prime Minister of the Central Country said..." "Famed adventurer Bi Fang encountered the biggest celebrity ever this week¡ªCentral Country Prime Minister Baus, participating in a thirty-day Central Country wilderness survival challenge. Readers who want to watch Master Fang¡¯s ¡¯Exploration Collection¡¯ can find the ultra-clear complete set download on Qiandu Cloud at the end of the article. Most files are in mp4 and mkv formats." Under each report, numerous viewers flocked to leave comments. It even brought positive renown to Bi Fang himself, such as attracting serious-politics-oriented audiences. In the digital age, getting information is very simple. It is equally challenging to passively receive news that doesn¡¯t interest you. The "filter bubbles" created by big data have a direct impact, resulting in a narrow range of personal knowledge and a skewed information structure. When people only receive what they¡¯re interested in and refuse information from other fields, it undoubtedly hinders comprehensive personal development. Just as people like to hear praise, groups, like individuals, prefer to hear opinions that echo their own. The internet, while providing a wealth of information, does not necessarily create an infinitely open social platform, but rather a closed-off space. A serious-minded person is unlikely to come across room choreography when browsing videos. A person indulging in low-brow tastes is likewise unlikely to encounter serious political and historical subjects. Bi Fang¡¯s actions are undoubtedly all about breaking down these barriers, from being an ordinary survival livestreamer to hunting at the brink of death, leading others through breakthroughs, and discovering unknown creatures. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Entertainment, education, hardcore, strong, thrilling, great¡ªmore and more labels are being affixed to Bi Fang, attracting people from one circle after another. [A maxed-out deity bringing along a newbie with Level One Divine Equipment (dog¡¯s head)] [You¡¯ve really made something of yourself] [Watching Old Fang step by step until today has not been easy]} [Gold will always shine] [When will you lead the Ugly Country President (joking)] [Honestly, as compared to the environments Bi Fang¡¯s been to before, Central Country is practically easy mode] Read the latest on NovelFire.C?m [There¡¯s even two dishes and a soup, compared to adventure, I think this is more like a rural retreat, Master Fang please take me!] [Oh, the life of my dreams] [Life of your dreams? Pfft, cut your WiFi for a month and you¡¯d be dying to get it back] Comments of all sorts came in a motley array. Some even started a search party, trying to locate Bi Fang through satellite positioning. Unlike before, the rainforest, forests, and tundras were difficult to find, and even if found, people dared not venture there, but this time was different. An open wilderness, a distinctive cabin, plus the clarity of the bone hook map, it wasn¡¯t impossible to find. Moreover, the area where Bi Fang was located actually belonged to a nature scenic area. Although it was vast and seldom saw visitors, tourists did indeed exist there. Thus began a nationwide game of spot-the-difference, especially with fans nearby Central Kingdom. A few days later, Central Kingdom Airline Company also unexpectedly found that the throughput at Cardiff International Airport in Wales had surged nearly one-fifth in just a few days! Upon asking around, many were there for the Gower Peninsula, and given who was on the peninsula at the time, their purpose was self-evident. Some were there to try their luck after watching Bi Fang¡¯s travel livestream, while others were simply star-chasing. An international airport¡¯s throughput increased by nearly one-fifth because of one person¡ªsuch an astonishing pull! The Central Kingdom embassy in Ugly Country was extremely pleased upon hearing the news, indeed, their choice had been so wise and correct. Just a few days of effort had brought in quite impressive tourist revenue, a lucrative business indeed! It was the first time Bi Fang encountered such a situation, where sending Baus away instead brought an endless stream of fans, encountering several every day. When these fans found Bi Fang¡¯s cabin, they excitedly circled it taking photos as if they had found long-lost relatives. But Bi Fang didn¡¯t mind; after all, this livestream was partly a playful endeavor, with entertainment as its main feature, and one of its purposes was to increase the locality¡¯s popularity, a sign that his work was effective. The fans were quite considerate, knowing they were appearing in front of millions of viewers, and they didn¡¯t want to overdo it. The only problem that bothered Bi Fang was that fans often ran into him while he was eating, their desire to dine apparent on their faces, and of course, it was hard to refuse them. As a result, Bi Fang had to prepare meals for three or four people every day to have enough to eat, or else he might go hungry. This situation continued until mid-September when Bi Fang couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. As more and more people came looking for him, and more posted their locations, three or four portions were not enough; he had to waste a lot of time looking for food. Out of necessity, Bi Fang decided to give up the cabin and started wandering the wilderness. Under these circumstances, an even bigger frenzy began... The number of people trekking on the peninsula suddenly multiplied, and the original cabin became a check-in holy place for all tourists visiting the Gower Peninsula. It was as if by taking photos there, they too participated in Wilderness Survival. The local tourism department smartly cordoned off the surrounding area to prevent excessive damage, because what would they do if no one visited in the future? Pannad Castle was a warning from history. This city¡¯s ruins were located not far behind the cliffs of Bi Fang¡¯s cave, atop a limestone hill above Sanya Bay. As the dunes grew higher, the castle gradually became submerged and fell into decline. Now, only a few walls were left. In the meantime, Bi Fang shouldered his backpack again, running from the southern tip of the peninsula to its northern end, across towns, villages, armed with a cast iron pot gifted by a fan, and ate his way through most of Wales... Chapter 632 - 629th Next Live Broadcast ``` On an open grassland, Bi Fang dragged a stag with mighty antlers and with a sudden force, flipped it onto the ground. Tony, excited, stepped forward wanting to help hold down its thrashing hind legs, but had only taken a step when Bi Fang shouted at him to back off. Bi Fang sternly said, "Don¡¯t come near it. If it kicks you, breaking a bone is a very simple matter for it." The tone was so serious that Tony, startled, raised his hands and retreated two steps. Peter, who stood by his side, grabbed him and explained how dangerous his actions had been just now. The stag on the ground kicked wildly at the dirt, and once it struck a slightly sharp stone, it flew out instantly and embedded itself into a tree behind them. Tony, who had been scolded, was initially a bit resistant, knowing perhaps that what Bi Fang said was right, yet still carried some youthful stubbornness. But upon seeing this scene, his eyes widened, and he suddenly felt scared. Even a kicked stone had the force of a bullet; if it had hit a person, the consequences would have been unimaginable! This was an elk, much larger than the sika deer Bi Fang had hunted before. An adult male elk could stand 1.1 to 1.3 meters at the shoulder and weigh over 200 kilograms¡ªnearly three times the weight of an adult male¡ªits strength can well be imagined. But now, it was merely a lamb to the slaughter. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This elk had been caught by Bi Fang through a trap, its legs entangled, hence it was still very fresh. Bi Fang swiftly drew his Hunting Knife and with one blow to the back of the elk¡¯s head, it was dead. He then cut open its throat, severed the main artery, and bled it to remove the gamey smell. Charles and Eric had brought a large plastic bucket to catch the deer blood, wasting none of it. Behind them, Tony and the rest, who served as a backdrop, cheered them on. There were both males and females, none of them old, all vibrant high school students. One of them, named Peter, had left an impression on Bi Fang, as he met him at the entrance during a talk show Bi Fang had participated in and even received his autograph. Since he had the Palace of Mind, Bi Fang could easily recall many people he had only met once. Besides these five student guests, Charles and Eric were also acquaintances. When Bi Fang had first drifted to the Central Country, it was these two who had pulled him up from the fishing boat. Hearing that Bi Fang was in Wales, they came with a hope of catching him by chance, and indeed they did. Just as Bi Fang had secured some big game, and his thirty-day trip to the Central Country was nearing its end, he invited the seven of them to dine together on roasted whole elk. "On the Central Country Queen¡¯s banquet menu, there¡¯s a main dish called ¡¯Balmoral Roasted Venison¡¯. In Central Country tradition, deer meat has a more prestigious status than beef, as deer have been the exclusive food of the nobility throughout Central Country and even Europe for a long time." "The elk has traditionally been the most prestigious game animal in Europe, and when European literature refers to ¡¯deer¡¯, it¡¯s mainly them. The male elk are large and majestic, symbols of strength and power. Although elks are also found in Huaxia, they are mainly in remote areas of the northeast and northwest. The main deer bred and hunted are the smaller sika deer." "Actually, elk provide more meat than sika deer, but to Huaxia People the quality of the velvet antlers is not good, so they are less farmed. Europeans don¡¯t recognize the value of deer velvet and want to wait until they grow a pair of splendid antlers, which can then serve as hunting trophies." "This guy is a second-level protected animal in Huaxia, so you¡¯d have to come abroad to eat it." Bi Fang scalded the entire body of the elk with 80-90¡ãC boiling water, shaved off the hair while it was still hot, removed the innards, and cleaned it before making several small cuts in the thick parts of the belly and inner thighs of the elk. He then placed mint leaves, sage, basil, star anise, and ground fennel seed among other spices in the elk¡¯s belly, rubbed the meat with sea salt to flavor it, and seasoned and salted the slits in the inside of the elk¡¯s legs. The sea salt was no longer the coarse yellow grains of the first day but closer to creamy yellow, indicating Bi Fang had further refined it. The deer¡¯s tail was tied with a wooden stick to the belly, breast-up, with limbs hanging off the skin side, brushed with saltwater, then brushed with a layer of animal fat, and finally, its legs were tied to a branch and hung over the fire to roast. As they waited for the meat to roast, everyone sat around together, and Bi Fang, as he re-brushed the dripping fat back onto the elk, also shared historical anecdotes with them. "Large wild animals like elks become scarce resources wherever there are crowds of people. If everyone hunted them, they would soon be extinct." "And so, whether in ancient Huaxia, the Middle East, or Europe, emperors and kings would often designate certain forests as royal hunting grounds, forbidding commoners to hunt there, reserving the animals exclusively for themselves." "Even nations with deep agricultural traditions like Huaxia didn¡¯t completely forget the ancient practice of hunting throughout their imperial era, let alone the hunting-enthusiastic Europeans. It was the best entertainment for medieval European monarchs who took pride in leading their armies to war personally." "In ancient times and the early Middle Ages, the Central Country didn¡¯t have a particularly strong royal power, that changed with the ¡¯Norman Conquest¡¯ of 1066. The monarch who started the Norman dynasty¡ªWilliam the Conqueror¡ªafter his accession, created 21 royal forest areas across England." ``` "By the end of the 12th century, in the reign of Henry II, the royal forests had increased to about 80, covering a quarter to a third of the area of all England! Basically, wherever there were wild animals, the king would enclose the land, and he would hunt wherever he desired." "From the Middle Ages to the early modern period, the hunting of deer was exclusively a royal privilege in Central Country." Elvan asked with a smile, "So you¡¯re saying we¡¯re now experiencing the life of the Central Country royalty?" Bi Fang brushed the deer oil on and nodded, "You could say that." "In the Middle Ages, to prevent commoners and even local nobility from hunting deer on their own, the royalty enacted strict laws. That lasted until the Central Country Revolution in the 17th century, when a king was beheaded; afterwards, the Central Country royalty didn¡¯t have as many privileges, and everyone could hunt at will on their own land." In the vast forest, breathing fresh air, listening to the pleasant chirping of birds, surrounded by groups of fine horses, hunting dogs, and companions, searching and chasing game was the most noble of activities. Apart from the occasional misfortune of falling off a horse or eating something dirty, the likelihood of an aristocratic hunter getting hurt while hunting was extremely low. Later, with the advent of accurately shooting repeating rifles, it was even safer. Speaking of this, though, there was a sad fact. However, having just recently co-hosted a live broadcast with the prime minister of Central Country, Bi Fang refrained from speaking too frankly in front of the audience. There is a very famous Central Country documentary called "Seven Up!" The director reflects on the social mobility between different classes in Central Country by following the life trajectories of 14 children from different social strata, checking in on these 14 kids every seven years. From age seven, fourteen, twenty-one, twenty-eight, thirty-five, forty-two, forty-nine, all the way to last year¡¯s fifty-six. This documentary realistically portrays the rigidity of Central Country¡¯s social classes. Indeed, one doesn¡¯t need this documentary to understand. Looking at Central Country¡¯s history, it¡¯s evident that their classes have been solidified for a thousand years. This place has always been a country ruled by an alliance of kings and nobility; commoners have no place in it, and there are no peasant revolts to speak of. The only conflicts that arise are occasional disputes between the king and the nobility, who then fight one another. Even the Scottish hero William Wallace, depicted in Braveheart, ultimately was betrayed by Scottish Nobility. And whether it¡¯s Scottish Nobility or English Nobility, they might endure an incompetent king, but generally would not tolerate a peasants¡¯ revolt. Motorcycle gangs and parliamentarians are entirely different groups, after all. They live in the same country but may have almost no intersection, including their descendants. So the joy of activities like deer hunting was never something peasants could enjoy. Amidst the conversation, the deer meat was finally cooked. Bi Fang pulled out the Hunting Knife and sliced the deer meat from the leg, distributing it to everyone. They all couldn¡¯t wait to try it; the finished product was yellow-red and shiny, the skin crisp and the flesh tender, fatty without being greasy, flaky and delicious, with a unique flavor. It must be said that after eating a lot, Bi Fang had gained some understanding; not all wild meats are dry and tough. The trick lies in the technique used and the origin of the meat. For example, the deer in Central Country have no natural predators and are practically in a state of free-range. With little exercise needed and their numbers becoming a menace ¡ª there are over one and a half million in Central Country alone ¡ª they are fat with a rich, oily taste that¡¯s tender and succulent. But the deer in Japan are tough because they contend with a large number of Black Bears and Brown Bears, resulting in a body full of muscle that tastes leaner when eaten. The audience in front of the screen envied them. [Now I finally understand why they always seek out Boss Fang, it¡¯s clear they¡¯re just there to freeload and drink.] [I¡¯m so envious, wuu wuu wuu] [I¡¯m so hungry, showing this in the middle of the night is just cruel, I¡¯m impressed.] [Darn this time difference, it¡¯s one in the morning here, while Old Fang has just had dinner.] "Do you have plans for the next adventure?" Charles, who was thoroughly enjoying the meal, suddenly lifted his head, remembering a key question. Now that it was almost the last few days of Bi Fang¡¯s live broadcast in Central Country, and soon to be October, everyone was very curious about where the next broadcast would be. In Central Country, it was virtually a vacation, a rest for nearly two months. Isn¡¯t it time to get moving? Enjoy new tales from NovelFire.C?m Bi Fang readily admitted. "Yes, I have plans already." Chapter 633 - 630: Flames and Solid Ice The rich fat dripped down the venison, emitting an extremely enticing aroma. Everyone who had been hungry all day felt their stomach acids churning, but upon hearing Bi Fang¡¯s plan, without exception, all stopped what they were doing and pricked up their ears. Where would the next adventure be? This matter was far more important than eating. Bi Fang, holding a whole deer leg, tore off a chunk of fatty sinew and chewed it. After a long moment, he swallowed and faced the crowd¡¯s gaze, uttering a single word. "Arctic." "I will go to the Arctic." A gust of night wind blew by, and the fear of coldness etched into their genes made everyone shiver in unison. The Arctic? Bi Fang closed his eyes in contemplation, and within the system panel, a new mission glimmered with a faint blue light. [Mission Name: Icy Tundra] [Mission Location: Greenland] [Mission Mode: Survival] [Mission Difficulty: T6] [Mission Requirements: No equipment other than system gear may be carried.] [Main Mission One: Start a live broadcast with a consistent online viewership of over five million.] [Main Mission Two: Survive one hundred days in good condition.] [Side Mission: Explore on your own.] [Guaranteed Reward: Balance Enhancement Coupon*1] [Time Limit: One hundred and fifty days.] A one hundred day survival challenge¡ªbefore this, Bi Fang had never encountered a mission challenge with such a long duration. Especially since the location was the Arctic, Greenland. The two poles, north and south, the coldest points on Earth. Greenland, located within the Arctic, is one of the coldest places there. The Arctic is different from Antarctica. Antarctica is a continent, boasting the only Antarctic region in the world without human habitation, while the Arctic¡¯s center is not the same¡ªit¡¯s not a continent but a sea¡ªthe Arctic Ocean. The island closest to the North Pole is actually not Greenland but the Svalbard Archipelago, meaning Cold Coast, which is a Polar Region natural archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, under the sovereignty of Norway. One of Huaxia¡¯s Arctic research stations, the Yellow River Station, is located here. Even though the Svalbard Archipelago is closest to the North Pole, the environment there is not the most extreme due to a nearby warm current. The entire Svalbard Archipelago is under the influence of the North Atlantic warm current, characterized by polar maritime climate. Average summer temperatures are above zero, and January winter temperatures range between ?16¡ãC and ?12¡ãC, which clearly shows that the influence of the warm current is more apparent in the winter, being nearly 20¡ãC higher than other regions at the same latitude! Judging by the temperature, it¡¯s not as cold as Mohe, which Bi Fang had visited before, and even most of the northeastern region is colder than it. Therefore, Greenland is theoretically the closest to the North Pole and has an extremely harsh environment. As for how harsh it is, the temperature says it all. On December 22, 1991, a record low temperature of ?69.6¡ãC was recorded in Denmark¡¯s Greenland, the lowest recorded temperature in the Northern Hemisphere, a record previously held by Polar Bear Country. Exposed to such temperatures, if one did not take any measures, they would die within a minute. Steel in the natural environment becomes more brittle than glass. When Bi Fang conveyed this information with his calm demeanor to the crowd... Elvan shivered, and in a moment of haze, he seemed to see the sky filled with flying snow, as well as himself frozen stiff in the snow due to the extremely low temperature. His soul took a closer look, only to discover icicles still hanging from his snot. "A hundred days!? The Arctic? Are you insane?" "Charles, is something wrong with my ears?" "No, nothing is wrong. They are just fine. You heard correctly." The audience in front of the screen also gasped in shock, that was the Arctic after all. Surviving there for three months, who could endure that? Moreover, it was wilderness survival, without any sort of accumulated preparations or resources, once there, one would face the might of nature. Even if one went in mid-October and stayed for a hundred days, they would return in early January, which meant enduring the whole winter and only finishing after the coldest month had passed. And it was worth noting, the coldest temperatures were recorded in December. [God Fang is not being human again] [This is great, even though it¡¯s almost October, I¡¯m already feeling cold] [The hot sweat that just broke out has been scared back in] [I hate the cold the most, wuwuwu] [There¡¯s a kind of cold that feels chilly just by watching] Bi Fang also found this mission daunting. In his previous life, there was a wilderness show where someone did indeed survive a hundred days in the Arctic. However, the conditions Bi Fang faced were completely different. At least those contestants could still encounter trees, shrubs, and even a fair number of land creatures since they were just within the Arctic Circle. Explore new worlds at NovelFire.C?m But Bi Fang was at the northernmost tip of Greenland. There were no trees, no shrubs, just snow, an endless expanse of snowfields. Even Viking pirates would have fled in panic, because after the onset of the Little Ice Age, there were no trees to build ships with, and staying there meant starving to death. Compared to animals, the majestic wrath of heaven and earth was the most unfathomable and the most challenging aspect of survival. Throughout Earth¡¯s history, there have been several ice ages, with the most recent one being the Quaternary Ice Age. It lasted at least several million years and is commonly referred to as the Great Ice Age. Typically, during the Great Ice Age, global temperatures would drop significantly, forming large ice caps and glaciers in higher altitude areas. The ocean would also freeze over extensively, and the climate would turn dry and cold, directly affecting the growth of animals and plants. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the time of the Great Ice Age, humans had not yet appeared on Earth, and during the entire human society period, there had been no incidences of a Great Ice Age. However, some periods have had climate characteristics similar to those of the Great Ice Age, but not as severe. These periods are referred to as Little Ice Ages, More than three hundred years ago, during the "Little Ice Age" at the end of the Ming Dynasty, the population decreased by half due to the cold. Of course, this wasn¡¯t because they were all frozen to death, but rather because crops had difficulty growing, which led to a sharp decline in food production and more people actually died of starvation. But at the end of the day, it was still essentially a result of temperature changes. The Ming Dynasty was a glorious era, and many time-travel novels yearn to go back to the past to change everything. But the biggest problem wasn¡¯t Wei Zhongxian or foreign enemies, it was the temperature, it was nature. Bi Fang stretched out his hand, feeling the searing heat from the fire, and then looked up at the gradually sinking sun. The fundamental reason Earth can foster life is because of the sun. Adequate temperatures ensured that water was neither the stubborn glaciers on Europa nor the sulfuric acid rain that falls on Mars, igniting wildfires. The just-right temperature turned the water into flowing primordial oceans, where countless molecules collided billions of times, giving birth to the first primitive life form. The root of all these coincidences is the giant fireball in the sky. Bi Fang lifted his hand, and the setting sun shone obliquely through his fingers, casting several shadows on his face. Warm and cozy. Chapter 634 - 631: Polar Region (Placeholder) Reserving a spot, not ready yet, I¡¯ll return before 1 am. Baus¡¯s words were like a thunderclap on a clear day, and the live broadcast room fell silent for a moment, Japan¡¯s Ocean Deputy Minister poisoned by mercury!? Bi Fang suddenly felt this incident somewhat familiar. A spark flickered in the palace of his mind, and he suddenly remembered something similar from a previous life! It was shortly after Dolphin Bay was announced that the Ocean Deputy Minister had an incident¡ªmercury poisoning. Although the details of the poisoning were unknown, it was imaginable that it was not easy to bear. Metal poisoning, even if treatable with modern technology, still had a significant chance of leaving sequelae, especially mercury. Did it happen this morning? Bi Fang was secretly surprised. He hadn¡¯t been online since coming here, and he was unaware of what had happened. In his former life, the time of the Dolphin Bay incident was in ¡¯09 when online media was far less developed than now, so those who knew were few. But things are different nowadays. Every move of Japan¡¯s Ocean Department was clearly being watched by a plethora of media, and when something like this happened, it was immediately highlighted with big stories, coupled with "whale meat" in supermarkets, the scoffing was very obvious. Compared with Bi Fang¡¯s outward calm, the audience was much more direct, sending a barrage of congratulatory messages. Many immediately went online to search and indeed found that it was true. When people learned that Japan¡¯s Ocean Deputy Minister had mercury poisoning, a feeling of satisfaction arose in their hearts, as the evildoer had received nature¡¯s retribution. Japan is a maritime nation, and now the excessive overfishing of the ocean will definitely first hurt these island nations. This was evident from the situation with saury. Saury can lay eggs in spring, autumn, and winter, has a short lifespan, strong resource recovery capabilities, and is in great abundance worldwide. Yet, such a fish could be overfished to the point of sharp population decline after migrating to Japan, and then other countries are blamed, which reveals a lot about the situation. It¡¯s sad to see such shortsightedness. But that¡¯s a story for another time. The Dolphin Bay saga has thus come to a complete close. Bi Fang snapped back to reality, thanked Baus for informing him of the news, and brought everything back to proper order. "It¡¯s not easy to find such good weather in the Central Country. What do we have planned for today? I¡¯ve cleared my whole day," Baus said, his tone full of anticipation. Just like Leonardo, Baus only had one day, but for a different reason. Leonardo¡¯s was due to the environment being too dangerous to stay for long for fear of accidents, while Baus was simply extremely busy. After all, being a nation¡¯s prime minister, taking a day off was quite difficult. Bi Fang looked up at the sun and nodded, explaining to the audience. "The location of the Central Country is mid to high latitude, classified as typical temperate maritime climate. In comparison to other countries of the same latitude, the Central Country also has the North Atlantic, which constantly ¡¯supplies¡¯ it with increased temperature and humidity; secondly, due to the influence of mid-latitude westerly winds, the rainfall in the Central Country is always in a ¡¯state of excess¡¯." "Because of such conditions, winters in the Central Country never drop below -3 to 10 degrees Celsius, and furthermore, heating is standard in homes, so winters are quite comfortable here." S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Similarly, summers are also not too hot, typically between 15 and 22 degrees Celsius. Days exceeding 30 degrees can be counted on one¡¯s fingers." "To my knowledge, most countries in Europe start their heatwave warnings from 30 degrees, while in Huaxia, it starts from 35 degrees and must continue for several days before a warning is issued." Because of this, even in the scorching heat of September, Bi Fang didn¡¯t feel any warmth, instead, the sea breeze brought a faint coolness. Compared to walking a few steps in Japan and immediately sweating bullets, this was a completely different situation, much more comfortable. Baus listened silently on the side, nodding continuously in agreement with Bi Fang¡¯s statement, especially in London. Overcast days, occasionally accompanied by rain showers, day after day, seemed endless. Many foreigners who lived there were startled to realize after a few years that London indeed lacked sunny days; the dark-hued old buildings matched with the gray sky and dense fog were the true visage of London. Air conditioning was rarely seen here. As for the weather being warm in winter and cool in summer, thinking of this, Baus laughed, "Fang, you haven¡¯t lived in the Central Country, but nowadays, apart from the suburban areas, it¡¯s also very hot in summer there, especially in the subway carriages, where temperatures can even exceed 35¡æ. The oldest subway line in London has carriages that can reach over 40¡æ!" "If it weren¡¯t for budget constraints, I would definitely install air conditioning in the subways!" With hundreds of years of industrial development, the heat island effect has become pronounced, and London now experiences cold winters and scorching summers, a significant change from the past. Bi Fang smiled but said nothing; in his opinion, this couldn¡¯t really be considered hot. Europeans typically handle cold better than heat and have a very different definition of what constitutes heat; at least Bi Fang didn¡¯t find the thirty-five-degree subways difficult to endure. When Bi Fang arrived in the Central Country, he had been to London and taken the subway without feeling uncomfortably hot, but the smell was unforgettable. The body odor of the people of the Central Country was too severe; while riding the subway, Bi Fang had to endure the "long-marinated" smell of sweat and stinky feet in the closed carriages. With his keen sense of smell, coupled with the cheap "Cologne Perfume," that scent was truly "unparalleled"! Talking about this, Bi Fang and Baus seemed to find a common topic all of a sudden and began to rant, not stopping until they reached the edge of the black cliffs. The scene was somewhat similar to when Bi Fang had sighted land while adrift at sea, and looking at Baus by his side, his mind started to make plans. "We need to climb up first, and after we get up, we¡¯ll find a suitable spot to camp, then make a fire, and build a simple safety house, although it might mean a lot of walking." "I have no problem with that." Baus seemed very confident, believing he was still strong enough. Seeing this, Bi Fang nodded. He took out a length of rope from his backpack, tied one end to Baus, and explained, "To prevent any accidents, we should take safety precautions, otherwise, it¡¯s very likely that I won¡¯t be able to walk out of the Central Country alive." [The Closest I¡¯ve Ever Been to Death] [Drone: I¡¯m watching over you all the time.] [Could there be a sniper rifle aimed at Bi Fang (Dog¡¯s head)] "It¡¯s not as bad as a sniper rifle." Bi Fang sensed no danger and didn¡¯t spot any reflective objects, "The homeland security in the Central Country is quite high." There was no one around, and the Central Country didn¡¯t have any large predators; even wolves had been extinct since the 18th century. The only possible threat was snakes, perhaps? Explore hidden tales at NovelFire.C?m Bi Fang, having secured the rope, began to climb the cliff. The ten or so meters did not pose much of a challenge to him; all he needed was to find good footholds in advance, a matter of mere minutes. After climbing up, Bi Fang pulled on the rope, helping Baus to give it a try. Surprisingly, Baus indeed had some outdoor experience and quickly made it up with Bi Fang¡¯s assistance. The two of them then started looking for a suitable place to stay on foot. Chapter 635 - 632: Doomsday Seed Vault Langyel City lacked some of the bustle of human civilization, but it had an extra dose of stunning beauty enveloped in silver and white. From the drone¡¯s overhead view, aside from the endless white, one could also spot a hint of green, the vegetation persevering through the snow. Contrary to what the audience might imagine, the Svalbard Archipelago wasn¡¯t entirely covered in snow and ice, and there was the rare sight of "vegetation" as far as the eye could see. In low-lying and moist areas, plants of various colors could always be seen. There were flowers and grasses, and even a special plant¡ªthe Edelweiss. This flower, shaped like cotton, blossomed in white tufts across hills and fields. There were no towering trees or dense jungles here, this touch of green was the Svalbard Archipelago¡¯s summer "swan song." Year after year, the tenacious vegetation of summer could be seen. Walking along the road, warning signs were everywhere, not saying "Beware of Vehicles," but "Beware of Polar Bears." Such a scene seemed absurd, as if one hadn¡¯t arrived in the real world but had ventured into the kingdom of polar bears from "The Golden Compass." Bi Fang pointed to the sign and laughed, "It¡¯s only in the roads of Langyel City in Svalbard that signs like this are written, because there are nearly 5,000 polar bears in the region, while the resident population is less than two thousand." That¡¯s right, there were more polar bears here than local residents. Although it was habitable, the year-round low temperatures and vast snowy plains deterred many. As mineral resources were depleted, the various scattered points of human settlement had also disappeared, leaving only Langyel City. A little over two thousand people lived here all year round. Among them, Norwegians and Polar Bear People were the majority, and the rest were scientists from around the world. Of course, there were also some people living scattered around the Svalbard Archipelago, most of them clustered together, worried about attacks from polar bears. This situation reminded Bi Fang of the joke about kangaroos invading Uruguay. "So, if the polar bears were to revolt in an organized manner, it would mean that on average, a person would have to deal with more than two bears," he said. "These are the largest carnivorous animals in the world, with a body length between two to three meters, and adult males often weigh over half a ton." As the northernmost city on Earth, it was only 1,300 kilometers from the North Pole and, apart from Greenland, was one of the last major land masses, serving as one of the strongholds for polar bears. Strolling down the path, Bi Fang even saw a polar bear cast a distant glance at him; but as soon as their eyes met, it fled in a hurry, its fur flapping in the wind. [Hahaha, it¡¯s running away] [Polar Bear: That look in the eyes, he¡¯s someone I can¡¯t afford to mess with] Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Polar Bear feels a chill down its spine] Where people live, there will be infrastructure. Hotels, churches, post offices, and even pedestrian streets¡ªthis place wasn¡¯t much different from any ordinary city. The only difference was that there was a scarcity of amenities for entertainment, transportation, financial services, and educational facilities. But this was an inevitable predicament for the Svalbard Archipelago. The roads were also mostly empty, lending a particularly quiet atmosphere. "The city itself isn¡¯t big, so there¡¯s no need to drive. Usually, it¡¯s only at birth and death that people take a car to the coast to board a ship or plane and leave." "Isn¡¯t there a hospital on the island?" "There is, but people still prefer to go elsewhere. On one hand, because the local medical facilities are lacking, and on the other hand, to protect the environment." [???] [What does that have to do with protecting the environment?] The audience was somewhat puzzled. "You see, you didn¡¯t pay attention to the prohibitions just now. There¡¯s another rule that says, ¡¯No burials allowed.¡¯" "The Svalbard Archipelago is the only place in the world where births and deaths are prohibited." The audience was astonished. What was the reasoning behind this? Bi Fang explained, "This is actually due to safety considerations. Since the area is perennially cold and the ground is mostly permafrost, viruses from corpses can easily be preserved by the ice. If the permafrost melts, the viruses could start to spread, leading to unimaginable disasters." "There is also just a small graveyard in Langyel City, and it stopped accepting new bodies 70 years ago." "Due to the poor local medical facilities, pregnant women close to childbirth and those with serious illnesses are taken away from this place to other cities in Norway for childbirth or burial. So, unless it¡¯s a sudden death, you have no right to die here." "Of course, there are no explicit regulations prohibiting birth and death; everything is done to protect this pristine land as much as possible." In the Svalbard Archipelago, everyone is a guest. In addition to polar bears, you can also see whales, Arctic foxes, walruses, and arctic reindeers along the shore. Creatures of the snow, rarely seen elsewhere, are commonplace here. The group even saw a polar bear feasting. But these were not the true purpose of Bi Fang¡¯s visit. As a survival expert, there was a certain place in the Svalbard Archipelago that Bi Fang had been curious about for a long time, and he could not miss it on this trip. The Doomsday Seed Vault. Enjoy new stories from NovelFire.C?m Also known as the Global Doomsday Seed Vault. A thick sense of the apocalypse made many viewers feel absurd; they were hearing about such a place for the first time. What was it used for? "This Doomsday Seed Vault is built deep underground in the Svalbard Archipelago and serves as the last line of defense for global food security," he explained. "The seed vault can store 2.25 billion seeds for up to a thousand years, aiming to preserve crop diversity and prepare for disasters such as asteroid impacts on Earth or nuclear wars. The Norwegians have even given it a resounding name¡ªDoomsday Dome." "Currently, about 100 million seeds from agricultural crops around the world are stored at minus 18 degrees Celsius in the vault." [Hiss, why do I feel a bit anxious?] [Don¡¯t say that, I¡¯m starting to feel nervous already.] [This feeling that everyone¡¯s preparing for the apocalypse behind my back while I live in ignorance¡ªis it just me?] [I¡¯m already watching Master Fang¡¯s videos to learn about survival.] [Master Fang! Save me!] [Hugging legs tight.] [Wait, is this kind of place open to the public?] "Of course not," Bi Fang said as he reached into the inner pocket of his jacket, searching for something. "This vault has had a very low profile since its establishment, with almost no news reports about it." "The only internal filming occurred back in September and October of 2008, when the French photographer Caroline Boulen captured the entire process of transporting plant seeds from a farm in India to the seed vault, and there has been nothing since then." "Luckily, I got a pass." Bi Fang finally took out his hand from the pocket, holding a stamped document and a magnetic card. He unfolded the document; it contained just a few simple sentences, but the stamp on it clearly had a high level of authoritative force. This was something Bi Fang had acquired from the Norwegian government two days in advance. The Norwegian side agreed very readily, and the respective documents were mailed directly to him. "Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll take you to see the modern-day Noah¡¯s Ark!" Chapter 636 - 633 What’s Called Privilege "We need to hurry, we still have to catch a cruise ship in-between, and I hope we can make it before it gets dark." Bi Fang stuffed the documents and magnetic card back into his inner pocket, zipped it up, and started jogging toward the direction of the seed vault. [Before it gets dark? Is it far away?] [We just got off the plane and it was just getting light, right? Is Old Fang planning to run the whole day?] [Master Fang: I can keep going for a whole day] [Really? I don¡¯t believe it, let¡¯s see (lifting the skirt)] [Are you guys stupid? This is the Arctic, there are polar days and nights, and it¡¯s October now, we¡¯re about to enter the polar night, the daytime is very short! I estimate only a few hours!] "That¡¯s right," Bi Fang said with a smile, "From November to February every year, within the Arctic Circle, we enter the polar night, there¡¯s no daytime, and this is also the most difficult part of my survival challenge two days from now." Bi Fang planned to start his live-streamed survival on October 15th. According to the meteorological bureau, this year¡¯s polar night would begin on November 2nd. That meant Bi Fang had less than eighteen days to establish a safe house that could sustain life, after which he would welcome eternal night. Until February 13th, there would not be a single ray of sunlight within the entire Arctic Circle. Humans are diurnal animals. Without the sun, the difficulty of finding resources in the darkness is imaginable! Moreover, due to the absence of the largest source of thermal radiation, the overall temperature of the Arctic would continue to decrease. Shh! The audience gasped at the chilling reality, is it really that terrifying? [I always thought that polar night was 24 hours of total darkness, and that the sun appears for a few hours...] [Eternal night sounds like the end of the world from a novel.] [So scary, months of darkness? Can people really survive a hundred days in such an environment? Even the Inuit can¡¯t manage that, right?] The audience found it difficult to imagine how to endure a hundred days of darkness. The path became more and more remote, and less than half an hour into the walk, there was no one in sight. Leaving the human city, the temperature kept dropping. After getting off the cruise ship, Bi Fang had to put on a hat to resist the wind and snow to advance, each step leaving deep footprints. All around was a pure white snowfield, and if it weren¡¯t for the footprints left along the way, some viewers might even doubt whether Bi Fang had gotten lost. Only when the sun was about to set, a rectangular concrete wedge appeared at the end of the snowfield, in stark contrast to the snow-covered scenery, its shadow casting long on the white snow, resembling a huge battleship with only its mast above the surface. Bi Fang took off his hat, rubbed his hands together, and pulled out the thermometer. Negative sixteen degrees. All around was desolate, with a piercing cold wind. "Not too bad, it¡¯s not particularly cold, I¡¯ve managed to catch up before sunset," Bi Fang breathed a sigh of relief. Actually, it had only been five hours since departure. In early October, the daylight hours had become very brief. "Let¡¯s go, we should hurry over." Bi Fang pulled his feet out of the snow and ran towards the seed vault. Only on approach did the audience realise the futuristic feel of this fortress, the square and straight wedge-shaped exterior that looked like an alien spaceship buried under a snowy mountain. At the very front, a layer covered with irregular reflective panes, resembling glass, reflected a faint blue light. On the snowy mountain slopes behind, several polar bears wandered, looking down from above at Bi Fang, the outsider, like guardians protecting the seed vault. If it weren¡¯t for a distance of more than three hundred meters between them, Bi Fang would definitely run away in respect. Bi Fang stepped onto a short bridge made of wire mesh, arriving at the door of the Doomsday Seed Vault. Before he could swipe the card, he heard the sound of mechanisms moving. The door opened automatically, and a curly-haired man with glasses walked out, saw Bi Fang, and shook his cellphone with a beaming smile, taking off his gloves, "Welcome, I¡¯ve been waiting for you for a long time." "Hello." Bi Fang¡¯s eyes were sharp, and he noticed that his own live feed was playing on the man¡¯s phone, showing that the man was indeed waiting for him. The man stepped aside, making room for one person to pass. Bi Fang entered, curiously looking around. It was also his first time seeing the inside of the seed vault. What came into view was a small room resembling a tunnel, filled with the sounds of electrical and cooling equipment running, and at the very end was another door with a passcode lock on it. The man led Bi Fang to the door, introducing himself along the way with familiar ease. Cooper Barritt, a scholarly-looking man with black-rimmed glasses, which gave him an air of erudition. "So you¡¯re the guardian of this place?" "Guardian? Oh, no." Barrett shook his head, "The Seed Vault doesn¡¯t need a guardian. I¡¯m just doing the ¡¯tour guide¡¯ job. To tell you the truth, I only arrived here one day before you." Bi Fang was astonished. Barrett said, "Since its completion, only a few hundred people have been here, as there¡¯s no one on duty. Everything operates automatically. In fact, if it truly needed someone to guard it to ensure stable function, then we¡¯d have to doubt whether it could really operate automatically in a doomsday crisis." [Wow, that sounds so cool] [Truly awesome] [That¡¯s the spirit.] The two quickly arrived in front of the door, and as Barrett was about to enter the passcode, Bi Fang quickly covered the drone¡¯s camera. Barrett smiled, "Actually, it doesn¡¯t matter if you see it. We change the password periodically." [Exactly, can¡¯t we have a little more trust between people?] [Damn it, Old Fang, you don¡¯t trust us!] Bi Fang helplessly shrugged and dropped his right hand that was covering the camera. Accompanied by the sound of air valves releasing, the door slowly opened. Strip lights slowly lit up, and the viewers couldn¡¯t wait to see inside¡ªthere was a long concrete tunnel. Barrett led the way, "When it was built, the workers carved out a 120-meter long tunnel into the permafrost layer inside the mountain, which is the one we are walking through now." The sound of Barrett¡¯s voice echoed down the long tunnel, empty and distant. The two of them walked side by side, the drone following behind, capturing everything, providing the audience with a feast for their eyes. This kind of futuristic technological scene, they had only seen in movies, never expecting it to be real. "This Seed Vault is indeed a frequent guest in movies; it even made an appearance in ¡¯The Wandering Earth,¡¯" Barrett replied jokingly to the comments he saw on the live feed. [Damn, no wonder it looked so familiar, it¡¯s actually real!] [Truly awesome] [Not talking anymore, I¡¯ve started building a bunker in the yard to prepare for doomsday] [You have a yard? Show-off dog, drop dead!] "Mr. Fang is actually the first visitor of the Seed Vault this year," Barrett walked with Bi Fang down the long tunnel, revealing a surprise to everyone. "The first one?" "The sample vault isn¡¯t manned; it only opens 2-3 times a year for sample deposits and to allow important guests to visit. So far, only a few hundred have visited." "Crown Prince Magnus of Norway visited the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. During his visit, he requested to see the ¡¯core area¡¯¡ªthe storage room¡ªand was denied entry." "Former President Carter of Ugly Country came here with the Save the World Foundation¡¯s staff, and they too weren¡¯t granted entry to the ¡¯heart¡¯ of the Seed Vault." The audience was stunned. Old Fang just brought them in like this? [What do you mean by important guests (tactical leaning back)?!] After passing through the 100+ meter-long cylindrical passageway, they finally reached a slightly more spacious room. In front of them was a huge iron door covered in ice, and behind that door was the seed storage warehouse. As the door opened with a thunderous roar, Barrett¡¯s voice became solemn. "Welcome to ¡¯Noah¡¯s Ark,¡¯ Mr. Fang." sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 637 - 634: Doomsday Vault Snow. Thick snow. Ice frost covered the vault door at the end of the corridor, and Bi Fang reached out to touch the wall, feeling the snowflakes that had crystallized into ice. An astonishing chill traveled from his fingertips to the palm of his hand as if it intended to freeze his blood. When Bi Fang pulled his hand away, his fingertips had frozen to the frost, leaving behind remnants of fractured ice crystals, a layer of white cold frost. The temperature here was even lower than the outside. Behind this frost-covered iron door lay the real seed warehouse. A series of checkpoints had made everyone realize what true layered defense was. The iron door swung open, and visible cold frost drifted out. The cold wind poured into the tunnel, causing Bi Fang to squint his eyes. After a moment, when the light and shadows became clear, he could finally see the true scene within this Noah¡¯s Ark. Vast. Incredibly vast. Like a giant warehouse. A room the size of a huge conference hall was filled with supermarket-like shelves, each shelf with boxes holding seed samples from various countries. Bi Fang walked past row after row, from Europe to Asia, from Norway to Huaxia, each seed packet filled with information. "Each country¡¯s seeds are distributed in a few large boxes. International seed samples are flown to the island, some in wooden boxes, some in cardboard, and upon arrival, the box samples are examined with X-ray. They are not opened." Barrett, guiding Bi Fang, weaved among the "shelves," introducing each one. "Most of the sample packaging is made of tin foil bags, each containing 200-300 seeds." "The seed vault stores backup samples. Each institution has physical samples preserved locally, these institutions are seed vaults constructed by various nations. However, due to natural disasters and man-made calamities, backups are needed in the Doomsday Seed Vault." [Have these seeds ever been used?] [Are you stupid? This is the Doomsday Seed Vault. When have you encountered the apocalypse?] An audience member raised a doubt, but was immediately contradicted by others. Bi Fang relayed this question to Barrett, who surprisingly confirmed it. The seeds had been used once since the vault was established. The audience fell silent for a while. [Damn, is the incident of ¡¯99 no longer a secret?] [Stop the broadcast, hurry up!! Do you want to become a criminal against humanity?] [Forget it, the meme contamination is about to start] [Shut up, you signed a confidentiality agreement, don¡¯t talk anymore!] "This Doomsday Vault only began construction in 2005 and wasn¡¯t completed and in operation until 2008. It definitely wasn¡¯t used in the year ¡¯99," Bi Fang said soberly. Barrett was a bit bewildered; he looked at the streaming comments, which were in both Chinese and English, but even in English, he didn¡¯t recognize the combination of words. What happened in ¡¯99? Wasn¡¯t he just nine years old at the time? "What are you talking about?" "Just a joke," Bi Fang said, quite embarrassed. "Alright," Barrett shrugged, unconcerned, and continued, "The seeds that were taken were from Ruyuliqa, which was still in the midst of a civil war." "During the civil war in Ruyuliqa in September 2015, hundreds of thousands died and about 11 million were forced to become refugees; amidst the war, the main seed vault located in Aleppo in the Middle Eastern region was destroyed and rendered unusable." "The war forced Aqionghan to withdraw seeds from the ¡¯Doomsday Seed Vault¡¯ for the first time. Their researchers applied to us, requesting to retrieve nearly 130 boxes out of the 325 boxes, a total of 116,000 agricultural crop seed ¡¯backups¡¯ stored here, for planting and agricultural restoration," he said. "It was the first and, so far, the only time since the establishment of the world seed bank." The online audience was shocked, Aqionghan, of all places? "This seed vault holds varieties from the 2,000-year history of human agricultural civilization, the hard-earned results and crystallization of the labor of farmers over several millennia, linking our past and future agricultural development." The situation in Aqionghan made everyone realize the necessity of establishing a seed vault. "Each vault can store 1.5 million samples. Currently, only one vault is open for use while the rest remain sealed." "In addition to food crops, there are also backups of many rare plant seeds," "Our goal is to provide a safety net to prevent the accidental loss of species diversity in the event of major global or regional incidents." "Its function is like a safe deposit box in a bank, allowing specific organizations or governments to ¡¯deposit¡¯ seeds for preservation, and only they have the right to access them." "So, in theory, this place is off-limits to any visitors, and historically, only one journalist has ever been allowed to tour here. Mr. Fang can be considered the second," Barrett looked up at the drone in mid-air, smiling as he spoke. [Boss Fang sure has a lot of clout!] [Envious. When can I get this kind of treatment...] [First, you have to have some universally recognized, meaningful, and widely known ¡¯world¡¯s first¡¯ title, then hold a significant political status, and also have symbolic significance in some way, having made several groundbreaking actions that shocked the world. That should do it.] [Damn...] [Slowly typing out a question mark.] [What political position does Master Fang hold?] [Old Fang is a military school officer!] As time went by, even though Bi Fang had never deliberately exploited this for publicity, his status in this regard had long since become known. By going through security checks for boarding, gradually, everyone knew about it, and it was clear that things were such. [Almost forgot, Old Fang is a military officer...] S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Damn it, look at his twenty-five years, and then look at mine. No more talk, time to sleep some more. Dreams have it all.] The entire vault was huge and very cold. Almost ten degrees colder than outside. The seed bank was also equipped with various sensors and cameras for remote real-time monitoring. Bi Fang saw a camera closely following their movement. "In fact, there are over 1,700 gene banks worldwide, but many have safety concerns. For instance, the seed banks in Aqionghan and Iraq were completely destroyed, and Feral Ice was damaged by natural disasters like typhoons," he said. "Natural and man-made disasters can all lead to the destruction of rare collections, akin to the extinction of dinosaurs¡ªonce gone, they are gone forever. It is due to the recognition of the vulnerability of gene banks around the world that we had the idea to create the Svalbard Global Seed Vault." Confidence was evident in Barrett¡¯s words. Despite the naturally low indoor temperature, the ¡¯Doomsday Seed Vault¡¯ is still equipped with cooling systems, ensuring the seed vault¡¯s temperature remains at minus 18 degrees Celsius so the seeds can be preserved for the long term, theoretically for thousands of years. "From a functional design perspective, the seed vault can withstand most natural and man-made disasters, including the impact of asteroid collisions or nuclear war." "Also, its remote location contributes significantly to its safety. It¡¯s the closest archipelago to the Arctic, with no place more desolate and isolated than this," As Barrett walked and talked, the audience in the live broadcast had their horizons broadened. Chapter 638 - 635: If the caliber were even slightly smaller, I wouldn’t feel at ease. Walking inside the huge seed vault, everything was suffused with a science fiction hue. It was like stepping into a massive spaceship carrying humanity¡¯s hope, fleeing into the universe, with the sounds around being monotonously terrifying, only the hum of the cooling machines at work. Removed from human settlements, it was also free from the maelstrom of war and other unstable elements. The remote location, harsh climate, and being home to polar bears were disadvantages for human habitation, but these factors kept the "seed vault" safe from various external threats. The perennially frozen ground was perfectly suited for the long-term storage of seeds, unaffected by temperature fluctuations. The air in the vault was replaced once a year during winter, but if for some reason that couldn¡¯t be done, the permafrost would still keep the seeds fresh for decades. Last of all was the stable geology; the likelihood of earthquakes here was zero. The seed vault, located over 130 meters above sea level, would be safe even if Greenland¡¯s ice cap melted or Antarctica¡¯s ice sheets completely disappeared, raising sea levels by 61 meters. In addition, Langyel City had excellent docks and an airport, facilitating the transport of seeds from various countries to the location. Read exclusive chapters at NovelFire.C?m There was no better place on the entire Earth to establish Noah¡¯s Ark. "The seed vault construction began in March 2007 and was officially completed on February 26, 2008. The opening ceremony was attended by nearly 150 people from 33 countries, including Jos¨¦ Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission, 2004 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai, and Jens Stoltenberg, the Prime Minister of Norway." "That was also the time it saw the most visitors. After that, almost no one could get in." "The Global Crop Diversity Trust will provide technical guidance, transportation of seeds, and management assistance." "Following the security design model of Ugly Country¡¯s National Gold Reserve Vault, the seed vault was constructed at the end of the tunnel, with a 1-meter-thick concrete slab built around the tunnel and the vault, and a sealed door at the tunnel entrance capable of withstanding the force of several tons of explosives. With two airlock chambers, the overall strength could withstand earthquakes, nuclear weapons, and even an asteroid collision with Earth." Even if someone really wanted to sabotage the seed vault, it would not be an easy task. The island where the seed vault is located still has no commercial flights. Even Bi Fang had to come by boat himself. "Polar bears often roam the area surrounding the seed vault, acting as the vault¡¯s natural ¡¯security guards,¡¯ since they regard all outsiders who enter their territory as ¡¯unwelcome people.¡¯" "The locals rarely venture over here on their own because it¡¯s truly dangerous. In fact, if Mr. Fang hadn¡¯t come over today, we would have been planning to drive over to pick you up." Barrett¡¯s words carried a hint of helplessness. According to Bi Fang¡¯s itinerary, he had only just arrived today, yet he had rushed over in a whole day, hardly giving them any time to prepare. "Ha ha." Bi Fang scratched his head, "No wonder I saw so many polar bears on the hillside when I was coming here." Barrett had to vent his pent-up frustrations. Even the builders of the seed vault had to use a combination of kindness and force with the polar bears, feeding them and defending themselves with guns, to temporarily coexist peacefully with them. Other than Bi Fang, who else dared to wander alone in the Svalbard wilderness? Almost every hillside had polar bears, and a slight misstep could lead to being a polar bear¡¯s victim. [666, seeing Old Fang come over by himself, I thought that was how he was planning to come, it seemed quite dangerous...] [+1...] [It turns out I was overthinking it; Old Fang¡¯s travel methods are not normal at all] At the end, Barrett also showed everyone the new seeds that had been added to the vault that year. The seeds were stored in sealed glass vials, which looked very ordinary. "This February was marked by volcanoes, floods, and plagues of locusts. The seed vault was once again filled with 60,000 seed samples, accelerating the stockpiling process." "Very beautiful." Bi Fang commented, as the meticulously selected seeds were densely packed together inside the transparent resin tubes, each seed almost identical in size and shape, creating a unique aesthetic. "Although these boxes have little monetary value, they might hold the key to global food security and the balance of biodiversity." After carefully placing the seeds back into the storage box, Barrett led Bi Fang out of the warehouse, with the audience seemingly reluctant to leave. Unbeknownst to them, they had been there for nearly three hours. Following the same path back, they traversed the lengthy corridor, Barrett closing each door behind them until they returned to the initial small room. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Barrett cautiously opened the outermost iron door, peered through the crack for a long while, and, only after confirming that there were no polar bears outside and that the environment was safe, did he lead Bi Fang out. Barrett¡¯s task was to act as a tour guide, and the seed bank didn¡¯t require a guard, so it was the perfect time to leave together. Outside the dome, the sky overhead was dotted with stars. As soon as the audience¡¯s gaze shifted upwards, they couldn¡¯t look away. [Wow, this starry sky, why is it so beautiful?] Having followed Bi Fang to wander around, the audience in the live stream had seen many starry skies, the clearest being that time in the desert. But even that time couldn¡¯t compare to the star-filled expanse they saw now. Under the black curtain, densely packed, were all the stars. Crystal clear. Although it was night, it reminded one of the word "crystal clear." They could even make out the general surroundings without the need for a flashlight. "It¡¯s a pity there are no northern lights tonight," Bi Fang sighed, "The Svalbard Archipelago often has northern lights, and this is the only place on Earth where they can appear during the day." "At this time, tourists from all over the world would come here to admire the splendid northern lights. From early spring to autumn, Svalbard experiences 99 to 141 days of the midnight sun, presenting a spectacle of daylight sunshine, but unfortunately, we¡¯ve missed it." Feeling slightly regretful, Bi Fang followed Barrett, stepping on the snowy ground, to an off-road vehicle parked on the other side of the seed bank. No wonder he hadn¡¯t seen it when he arrived. Bi Fang suddenly realized that the off-road vehicle was parked on the opposite side from where he¡¯d come, obscured by the seed bank¡¯s wedge-shaped structure that jutted out from the mountain. Once inside the vehicle, turning on the heater quickly made things much warmer. The temperature outside the car was minus eight degrees Celsius. While waiting for the engine to warm up, Bi Fang also keenly spotted a gun case under the rear seat. Barrett noticed Bi Fang¡¯s gaze, picked up the gun case, opened it, and revealed the full view. "CR308, caliber 7.62¡Á51mm, an AR-type rifle developed by the German Heckler & Koch Defense Company," Bi Fang recognized the model of the gun at a glance. "Correct," Barrett was somewhat surprised by Bi Fang¡¯s expertise but then understanding dawned considering the other¡¯s identity, "This rifle fires medium caliber, full-power ammunition, which can be lethal enough in a polar bear attack, and one 20-round magazine should be sufficient to take one down." "Your country¡¯s research stations are basically equipped with this type of gun. With a polar bear that¡¯s three meters long, I would find anything with a smaller caliber unreliable, and to be honest, I am not even sure if one magazine would be enough." Barrett obviously had experience dealing with polar bears but did not have a clear understanding of the power of firearms and the defensive strength of polar bears. In this day and age, the number of people who have fought polar bears is very few. "It¡¯s not that exaggerated," Bi Fang smiled. Huaxia has many early photographs of the establishment of the Great Wall Station, many of which show foreign armed guards outdoors, holding Winchester lever-action rifles with round-nosed bullets. Polar bears may be strong, but twenty shots of medium caliber, full-power ammunition would do more than just take one down; they¡¯d turn it into a sieve. Chapter 639 - 636: Midnight Visitor Under the starry sky, the snowfield was not dim and lightless. Snowflakes are crystal structures, and the snow on the ground is like a layer of mirrors, capable of reflecting all the surrounding light. In the starlight, every rising snow mountain glowed with a faint dark light, and occasionally a huge figure could be seen running on it¡ªthat was a polar bear out hunting at night. Entering autumn in October, polar bears needed to forage extensively in order to survive the entire winter, which was also their most active time. The Doomsday Seed Vault emitted a faint green glow in the darkness, The engine rumbled deeply, and the heat from burning fuel rapidly spread throughout the off-road vehicle¡¯s body, slowly melting the prisms on the exhaust pipe, as clear droplets of water fell and froze again upon hitting the ground. Seemingly hearing the roar of the car, the polar bear that had been running across the snowfield suddenly stopped and turned its head toward Bi Fang. Bi Fang, upon seeing this, subconsciously reached for the hunting knife on his thigh. Having killed too many bears, the sight of them approaching triggered an instinctive urge to draw the knife. "NO, NO, NO!" Barrett quickly explained. "Don¡¯t be nervous, it¡¯s a normal reaction." Bi Fang was stunned, "Normal reaction?" How was this any kind of normal? Bi Fang had witnessed polar bears changing from a trot to a sprint, their fur flying, obviously showing signs of extreme excitement. This was normal? Up to this point, the most ferocious animals Bi Fang had dealt with were bears. Although he had never directly confronted a polar bear, as members of the same subfamily, they weren¡¯t much different, especially the brown bear and the polar bear, which had diverged not more than six hundred thousand years after their geographical isolation, without reproductive isolation. They both had exceptionally developed shoulder humps, a structural feature formed by the attachment of shoulder muscles, giving them powerful forelimb swings. The claws of a polar bear were more than 5 centimeters long, shorter than those of a brown bear but slightly longer than those of a black bear, and sharper. The claws of brown and black bears were quite blunt, while those of polar bears were extremely sharp, an evolutionary adaptation for walking through snow and ice. Strong and sharp, polar bears could easily tear through armor plates over 5mm thick, which meant that the two people in the off-road vehicle were not safe at the moment, in fact, they were in great danger! Bi Fang could tell that Barrett, too, was very nervous, his little finger trembling slightly as he gripped the steering wheel. But since Barrett had said so, Bi Fang didn¡¯t take any further action. Compared to himself, a visitor, Barrett must be more familiar with the local area. Barrett took several deep breaths, lowered his seat back, climbed into the back of the car, pressed the shoulder switch, pulled back the seat, and dragged out an object wrapped in greaseproof paper that was quite large. Barrett slowly unwrapped the greaseproof paper. A strong scent of grease wafted out. This was... The greaseproof paper was wrapped so tightly that Bi Fang hadn¡¯t smelled anything unusual after getting into the car. Barrett used a knife to cut it open, and only then did everyone see that it was actually meat! Experience more tales on NovelFire.C?m It was pork belly. Bi Fang had deduced the type of meat based on the smell. This bag was not lacking in quantity, there must be the amount of several pigs inside, all selected from the fattest parts of pork belly, usually the trimmings that no one ate. At first glance, there wasn¡¯t even any red lean meat visible, just pure fat. Although not many people eat it, for polar bears, there is nothing better than fatty oils, which are the only thing that can make them comfortably get through the entire polar night. Carrying the heavy butter bag, Barrett quickly opened the car door, lifted his legs, and took the fats out from the seat, then picked up the yellow paper, swiftly shut the car door, returned to his position and with one press of the gas pedal, sped away. The whole process was very quick, it looked as if he had done it more than once. "Phew, every time I do this kind of thing, I get particularly nervous. This is the fourth time, and my palms still sweat," Barrett let out a long breath as if completing a difficult task, Well, feeding polar bears in the wild is indeed a challenging task. After all, no one can guarantee that the last thing the polar bear will eat is not a sheep. "Every time we come here, we feed the polar bears some food so that we can coexist peacefully," Barrett explained as he drove. It was a combination of sternness and clemency, holding a rifle for authority, and periodic feeding as kindness. With the melting ice caps, polar bears that can catch seals are becoming increasingly rare, and each year a significant number of polar bears do not survive. According to ecological data projections, perhaps by 2100, polar bears might go extinct. "We don¡¯t overfeed on each visit; we feed them just once to make sure they don¡¯t attack us due to extreme hunger." The law that has always existed in nature is survival of the fittest, and most polar bears are able to catch enough food to get them through their difficulties. Only a small portion of weaker polar bears struggle to survive due to environmental changes. If humans continuously provide them with food, they would lose their hunting instincts. Therefore, Barrett and others have always maintained a rather fragile balance with the polar bears. Overall, this journey was an eye-opener for the viewers. It was like experiencing magical future technology in the real world, and also the first time they realized that humans are truly making practical plans for the future. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Many people couldn¡¯t help but remember the words Bi Fang spoke long ago. The history of life is a story of massive selection, followed by the speciation of a few survivors. Earth has witnessed 5 major extinction events, with each event leading to the extinction of 70%-85% of species. During the Permian, more than 95% of animals disappeared from the stage and never returned. Humans have survived time and time again over nearly three and a half billion years. So what about the hundreds, thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of years into the future? Will we be voyaging through the stars, or become part of some fossil? Having traveled back to the city, Bi Fang bid farewell to Barrett, ended the livestream, and walked alone through the streets of the city. It was quite desolate... After all, it was a place where polar bears outnumbered people. There were no street vendors, no stalls, only orange-yellow street lamps, and the occasional passing car. Warning signs painted in black with a white polar bear and a red outline also informed passersby of the potential dangers outside. The majority of polar bear attacks on humans occur at night. In fact, it was just a regular six o¡¯clock in the afternoon, which in any other low-latitude city would still be dusk, but here, it was as deep into the night as midnight. Back at his lodging, Bi Fang had nothing to do and was about to pull out his phone to play some games before sleeping when suddenly the phone rang; the hotel¡¯s front desk informed him someone was looking for him downstairs. Someone looking for me? Bi Fang was startled. He had many friends, but surely none that extended to the most remote city in the world? Carrying a sense of curiosity, Bi Fang went downstairs, only to find a completely unknown stranger, a man he had never met before. Chapter 640 - 637 Even the largest ocean liner is but a tiny boat on the vast sea. Bi Fang tightened his clothes and exhaled a breath of warm air, which was almost invisible as mist. He took out his thermometer. Indeed, the temperature had dropped to negative nineteen degrees Celsius. Once below twenty degrees, the mist from one¡¯s breath would instantly become ice crystals, a temperature nearly impossible to reach in the Svalbard Archipelago, due to the millions of tons of warm currents from the North Atlantic surging through the ocean, bringing astonishing amounts of heat. The Westerlies Drift, the most powerful warm current in the northern part of the Atlantic, is also an extension of the Gulf Stream from the Gulf of Mexico. But with half a day¡¯s navigation, Bi Fang had gradually left the range of the warm current and arrived at Fram Strait, distinctly feeling the heat escaping from his body. "The strait is located between Greenland and the Svalbard Archipelago, with a width of 450 kilometers. It serves as a passage from the Greenland Sea of the Arctic Ocean to the Norwegian Sea, between Greenland and the Spitsbergen group of islands." "It is named after the Norwegian ship Fram, which was constructed by the Danes, and the Norwegians aboard it became the first people in the world to reach the Antarctic." "The ship could accommodate a six-person exploration team, had once sunk into the sea, but was salvaged in 1936, and now remains intact in a museum." Bi Fang, holding a map in his hand, was giving a simple lecture to the audience in the live broadcast room. And by his side, other tourists and sailors had also gathered, clustering around him like students, as he spoke about the Arctic Ocean. Compared to the previous several hours, the number of people surrounding Bi Fang had already decreased by more than half. Most had returned to their rooms to rest, partly because it was too cold outside, and partly because ¡ª seasickness. This was a long-distance fishing boat converted into a cruise ship. Initially, every tourist was excited without exception, and everything started with friendly greetings. The primary topics were threefold: "What is your name?" "Where are you from?" "What did you do before?" Occasionally, one could hear someone bragging about the romantic escapades had the night before departure. And then, just a few hours later, the atmosphere on the ship had changed entirely; almost everyone was knocked down. Just as they sailed into the open sea, people started vomiting bile, the plastic bags beside them were already empty, with nothing left in their stomachs to throw up. Unlike the climax of a roller-coaster ride, which ends within 10 seconds or a few minutes, an ocean-going ship is like a 24-hour roller-coaster. Swaying left and right is tolerable, but what¡¯s fearsome are the pitch and heave, like being forced to bungee jump or ride a drop tower non-stop. The most uncomfortable is the irregular tossing, with people on board becoming like dice in a casino, placed in a jar and shaken aimlessly in all directions. Continue your adventure at NovelFire.C?m Tables and chairs in the rooms slid from one corner to another and back again. Plus, the noise from the engines roaring non-stop, 24 hours a day, left no chance for peace. Only an experienced captain would, through personal example, tell newcomers: perseverance is the only remedy for seasickness. Eat something. If you throw up, eat again. As the ship tossed in the big waves, the rolling angle almost reached 30 degrees. Walking on the deck was extremely difficult. The group clustered around Bi Fang had changed over and over again. The Arctic Ocean is filled with icebergs floating on its surface, and to navigate flexibly around these ice caps, the ship was only about 70 meters long; the slightest wind and waves made it shake violently, making moving about on board like walking on a tightrope. At least a few people could remain composed, apart from the sailors, and the only person unaffected appeared to be Bi Fang himself. Outstanding core strength and balance allowed him to walk as if on flat ground, even outperforming many of the sailors as if the waves had no effect on him at all. "What an odd relationship, Danes built it, Norwegians captained it?" a sailor raised a question nearby. "Yes," Bi Fang nodded with a smile, "For thousands of years, humans have been trying to extend the footprint of exploration and discovery to every corner of the Earth. Among all, the most enchanting and coveted destinations for explorers are the mysterious icy realms of the Arctic and Antarctic." "In the late 15th century, European explorers sought to discover a route to Asia by sailing northwest or northeast. At that time, people already knew that the northern parts of Norway were not frozen, so the explorers began their Arctic expeditions in search of the Northwest Passage, and they would continue this struggle for several centuries to follow." "In 1845, the government of the Central Country decided to establish two grand prizes: 20,000 British Pounds to reward the first person to navigate the Northwest Passage and 5,000 British Pounds to reward the first ship to reach 89 degrees North latitude." "That was a substantial amount of money, and we have to thank Mr. Newton for that." A little girl nearby raised her hand and asked, "Newton? What does this have to do with Newton?" "Because it was this physicist who, while working at the Mint, established the Central Country¡¯s gold standard. In 1717, Newton set the price of gold at 3 Pounds 17 Shillings and 10 Pence per troy ounce." "The British Pound¡¯s value was fixed to gold in 1717, a price that lasted until 1931, interrupted only twice, but was not affected in 1845." "To put it simply: in the 19th century, 1 Pound contained 7.32238 grams of pure gold. Today, the Huaxia currency¡¯s stated gold price is about 330 yuan/gram. In other words, 1 Pound was equivalent to more than 2,400 yuan in Huaxia currency, and given that gold mining was far less developed back then, the value would have been even higher." "In ¡¯Around the World in 80 Days,¡¯ the wager between the protagonist and his friends was 20,000 Pounds, and the cost of circumnavigating the globe was also about 20,000. Judging by their lavish spending along the way, 20 million Huaxia currency might not have been enough." Huaxia currency is now one of the world¡¯s universal currencies. With Bi Fang¡¯s conversion, those present could roughly understand its value. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Such a vast fortune naturally stirred people¡¯s hearts, and nearly every explorer in Europe was mobilized, including those from Norway and Denmark." [Holy moly, more than ten million?] [Not just that, it¡¯s immeasurable] [So much money] "You truly are a learned man, knowledgeable in history, geography, and climate. To call you an all-rounder would not be an overstatement." A gentleman tipped his hat in respect, having listened for several hours. He watched as the young man confidently held forth, completely engrossed. "You flatter me," Bi Fang replied with a polite smile before shifting the subject, "But it was precisely this grand prize that led to the greatest tragedy in the history of Arctic exploration." "At that time, the Central Country¡¯s exploration ships HMS Erebus and HMS Terror were equipped with the most advanced steam engine propellers and also had heating systems to withstand the extreme cold of the Polar Regions." "The expedition was led by the renowned polar explorer John Franklin. But in July of that year, both ships mysteriously vanished in the Arctic seas under the leadership of Sir John Franklin, and the 129 elite crew members, including Franklin himself, disappeared without a trace." Whispers of shock spread among a few of the listeners. The disappearance of over a hundred crew members was no small matter. The crew members, looking around at the icy sea, even felt a shiver of fear. Even though they had been here a dozen times, the chill down their backs was like the gaze of invisible ghosts watching over them. "It was not until 1903 that Captain Amundsen appeared out of nowhere, landing on the Antarctic Continent with the Fram, becoming the first explorer to set foot on the Antarctic Continent," Bi Fang brought the topic back full circle. The crowd nearby let out exclamations of appreciation for Amundsen¡¯s deed, in light of the previous example. Yet Bi Fang¡¯s tone had not risen for long before it once again became somber. "The fact is, there was another captain as famous as Amundsen at that time, that was Scott. Just over a month after Amundsen landed, on January 18, 1912, Scott also reached the South Pole." "Regrettably, due to their physical exhaustion and an early storm, Scott and his team fell one by one on their way back." "Six months later, the rescue team found their bodies along with Scott¡¯s diary, which detailed his last expedition, as the diary continued until the final day. The rescuers buried them on the spot, and today they rest deep beneath the Antarctic ice." "The competition for the South Pole between Amundsen and Scott became an epic in the history of world exploration." Scott and his team remained forever in that little cabin, while Amundsen became the first person in human history to reach the South Pole. "And the tragic end of this hero is inseparably linked to the Arctic we see before us." Bi Fang pointed to the sea in front of them, stirring a ripple of curiosity in the somber atmosphere. Chapter 641 - 638: Polar Region Ah...... "You¡¯re a great storyteller." In the ship¡¯s corridor, Bi Fang was just about to return to his room when he ran into the captain, complete with a full beard. Leaning next to a seat with a cup of steaming coffee, the captain raised his cup in a toast, the faint mist emanating from it brought a touch of warmth amidst the cold of the Arctic Ocean. Bi Fang smiled, "Actually, a good half of my livestream is storytelling, which I¡¯ve gotten better at over time." Having just come down from the deck, many of the listening tourists were somewhat reluctant to leave. Human knowledge comes from three levels: experience, understanding, and epiphany. Experience is undoubtedly the most direct way to acquire knowledge, and for a lazy cognitive system, acquiring knowledge through experience is both natural and unquestionable¡ªhumans are born with a love for visual thinking. This is also Bi Fang¡¯s greatest strength; his audience never feels bored during his livestreams. Other people need to edit a day¡¯s worth of ¡¯Wilderness Survivalist¡¯ content down to an hour, or even half an hour, to ensure enough attractiveness, but Bi Fang can keep his viewers intensely online, thanks to his strong storytelling ability. "So you haven¡¯t told the end of the story yet? That explorer, called... Mon... Mon..." The captain handed over a cup of hot cocoa. He had listened in for a while and enjoyed it, but had to return midway to the captain¡¯s quarters for some tasks, and now he was curious about the ending. "It was Roald Amundsen," Bi Fang took the hot cocoa and took a small sip, praised it, "Nice drink, but next time you could add a few more cubes of sugar." Continue reading on NovelFire.C?m The captain had his own charm. Bi Fang was on his way to Greenland, but he was headed somewhere further, more remote, where large cruise ships with set routes couldn¡¯t possibly change course just for one person. In the end, Bi Fang found this small cruise ship, originally converted from a deep-sea fishing vessel. Although its facilities were definitely not as luxurious as the ¡¯Titanic¡¯, and comfort was somewhat lacking, the captain had very readily agreed to Bi Fang¡¯s request without any additional charges. He even mentioned he had been watching Bi Fang¡¯s livestream for a long time. "According to your request, I have already added three sugar cubes and plenty of chocolate," the captain said, at a loss for words. "Hm, is that so," Bi Fang shrugged, "Do you have donuts on board? I¡¯ll have them for dinner tonight." The captain spoke seriously, "If you keep this up, you¡¯ll get diabetes by your mid-thirties." "Ah, it¡¯s just for this period of time." These days, Bi Fang had been trying to gain weight, eating several meals a day, mostly sweets, to store as much fat in his body as possible to cope with the potential drastic weight loss during his Arctic survival. Thanks to the strong digestive capability of the ¡¯King Fish¡¯s Stomach¡¯, Bi Fang¡¯s weight had already broken through the eighty-five kilogram mark, reaching 170 pounds. It is for this reason that Bi Fang had been livestreaming all these days. Because of the gradual change, it seemed not too noticeable; if there had been an interruption, the weight gain would feel much more obvious. "So you haven¡¯t finished the story yet," the captain reminded him. Even though he had sailed this route for more than a decade, the captain still didn¡¯t know there was such a legendary explorer, nor did he know the origin of the Strait¡¯s name. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He had always thought Fram Strait was always called Fram Strait, just like how Angola was always called Angola, since time immemorial. "The ending is that the explorer¡¯s glory was in Antarctica, but the curtain fell in the Arctic. The fireworks faded, and everything returned to Nature," Bi Fang explained. Hearing this ending, the captain felt a moment of astonishment. "After returning from Antarctica, Amundsen did not bask in the glory of plucking the crown jewel of the exploration world. He proposed early on to use aerial transportation to investigate the Arctic and made several attempts." "In 1915, he obtained Norway¡¯s first civilian pilot license. The following May, he flew with the Ugly Country People¡¯s Ehrlich and the Italian Nobile, taking a dirigible from Spitsbergen and traversing the North Pole to Alaska, a journey of 4,000 kilometers in total." "That was humanity¡¯s first flight across the Arctic. Previously, it was rumored that a vast land existed between the North Pole and Alaska. This flight proved those rumors wrong." "But on May 23, 1928, Nobile flew a dirigible to the North Pole for an exploration, and on the return journey, the airship crashed, leaving nine people stranded on the ice, with six unaccounted for. Upon receiving this news, Amundsen departed on June 18 to rescue his former exploration companions by plane, only to then be involved in an aviation accident." "An aviation accident?" "Yes, on June 18, 1928, Amundsen took the French aircraft ¡¯Latham Aircraft¡¯ to the Arctic in an attempt to rescue the missing Italian exploration team. On the way, the plane crashed, and Amundsen never returned." December 14, 1928, was designated by the Norwegian government as Antarctica Day to commemorate Amundsen. At noon on that day, church bells across Norway would ring, and people would remember this great explorer with two minutes of silence. The spirit of Amundsen, who was resolutely committed to his ideals, dared to challenge himself, feared no difficulty, and was unwavering in his pursuit, will forever inspire future generations to explore the unknown world. After musing for a moment, Bi Fang began to recite. "After completing his part of the work, he returned to the wilderness of the Arctic, the place where he vacationed. Under the pure sky of the world of ice and snow, he found an unknown eternal resting place, permeated with everlasting music. His name, like the splendid Northern Lights, shall forever illuminate Norway¡¯s young generation." "That¡¯s really nice." "That wasn¡¯t me who said that." "Then who did?" "Fridtjof Nansen, a sailor, Arctic explorer, zoologist, and politician, was also a predecessor and idol of Amundsen." "He became famous in the science world for his expedition across the Greenland ice cap in 1888 and for sailing the ¡¯Fram¡¯ across the Arctic Ocean from 1893 to 1896. He also received the Nobel Peace Prize for his work repatriating 500,000 prisoners of war and directly aiding the starving people of Polar Bear Country." "Wait a minute? The Fram again? Didn¡¯t you just say that Amundsen took it to Antarctica?" The captain questioned his own ears, wondering how this ship could be so prominent. "Yes, but who told you a ship could only undertake one expedition or go to a single pole?" Bi Fang said with a twinkling, mischievous smile. The Fram, a legendary polar exploration ship that became famous twice over. Apart from this ship, no other vessel in the world had ever been to both the Arctic and Antarctica. Having drained the last of the hot cocoa from the mug, Bi Fang handed the cup back to the captain and turned to leave. Watching Bi Fang¡¯s departing figure, the captain reflected thoughtfully. The name of Amundsen, like the dazzling Northern Lights, will forever shine upon the younger generation. The Polar Region... Here I come. Chapter 642 - 639: Arriving at Greenland In order to save space, the staircases on board are generally very steep, and the clearance height of the rooms is only two meters, with pipelines, cables, and insulation materials laid across the top. Once the bed, cabinets, table, and chairs are arranged, the room is basically crammed full. Bi Fang made his way between the seats and wooden table and sat on the edge of the bed, which was a standard single bed and yet a bit narrower. The narrowness of the bed wasn¡¯t without reason; at sea, it¡¯s best for the bed to be just narrow enough to snugly encase one¡¯s body. Experienced sailors would stuff pillows and blankets at the head of the bed early on, so that when a storm hits, they could grasp the sides of the bed with their hands and push against the wall at the foot of the bed with their feet, to avoid being thrown onto the floor. Outside the room, the corridor on the ship barely met the international convention¡¯s minimum standard¡ª0.7 meters. When two people met in the corridor, one had to turn sideways and press against the wall for the other to pass. As for entertainment, there were practically no public spaces other than the dining room. No wonder the fare for a cruise ship like this was so cheap. Bi Fang sighed inwardly, a fishing boat turned cruise ship could only offer such conditions. If it were before, the crew would have to spend a whole two or three-year stint in such an environment, but turning into a cruise was much simpler, and it offered a relatively more stable income. Most people¡¯s idea of life at sea is a lengthy holiday: eating sashimi, feeling the sea breeze, sunbathing, as if they¡¯re in Hawaii every day. The first few points were indeed true and also the biggest selling point of this "cruise," as it retained some of the fishing functions from its conversion. In the Arctic Ocean, with virtually no industrial pollution, you could catch fresh seafood and taste the finest sashimi without any seasoning, which felt tender and sweet. Not long after boarding, Bi Fang experienced an unprecedentedly huge haul¡ªa 120-pound catch. He had never eaten such delicious Arctic shrimp sashimi that simply melted in his mouth with a sweet and chewy texture. But once all your meals every day become like this and continue for years... Thinking about it that way, the captain who had decided to convert the ship really had courage; as a cruise, all that¡¯s left to enjoy are the good things. Bi Fang took his backpack out, pulled out two documents from the innermost compartment, and looked them over again and again. He had taken out two documents. One was allotment proof for hunting polar bears, and the other was a permit for seal hunting. It was given to him by the research staff at Yellow River Station. Bi Fang recalled the previous night when the hotel¡¯s front desk suddenly called him, saying someone was looking for him, and he had been curious about who would come to such a remote city to find him. It turned out to be a compatriot from Yellow River Station. The purpose of their visit was to deliver the two permits he was now examining. At face value, the meaning is very straightforward; Bi Fang could now hunt polar bears and seals, and it was through a legitimate, legal way. Greenland is also one of the polar bear¡¯s bases, and it¡¯s highly possible for Bi Fang to encounter them. They are animals with a quite strong curiosity, especially in autumn when they try to accumulate fat. Nobody can predict how a conflict would turn out once it erupts. The same goes for seals; at a critical moment, a seal might save a person¡¯s life. Whether it¡¯s their warm fur or the fat-filled seal meat, the heat and aid they provide are immensely substantial. Don¡¯t underestimate the determination of humans to protect both poles; it is so firm that it even shocks people. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There¡¯s such a regulation in the Antarctic Treaty. "If you hadn¡¯t obtained a ¡¯seal hunting permit¡¯ before heading to Antarctica and you were about to starve to death after a disaster, would you be allowed to kill a seal to stave off hunger?" The answer¡ªsure to surprise everyone¡ªwas, "You cannot kill a seal to stave off hunger." Incredible, isn¡¯t it? Yes, anyone would find it unbelievable. Are the regulations so meticulous that one could still think that human commitment to protecting the Antarctic ecosystem is a joke? If you find these concepts as vacuous as advice from a distant planet, maybe it¡¯s because your world hasn¡¯t expanded to the ends of the Earth. Of course, that¡¯s the Antarctic Treaty, and Bi Fang was headed to the Arctic, where, even though an Arctic Treaty was in the works, there weren¡¯t such strict regulations yet¡ªonly prohibitions against ordinary people hunting. Apart from Canada, the only ones who could obtain hunting permits were various research centers and the local indigenous Inuit people. Hunting polar bears and seals is a means of survival for the Inuit people, a natural part of the food chain, just as it is natural for a polar bear to hunt seals. No one would stop them, and even so, the quota for each year was fixed. No matter how the polar bear died, it would count against the quota. This time, it was Yellow River Station that donated a quota of one polar bear and three seals to Bi Fang, giving him a helping hand. Stay connected through NovelFire.C?m All in all, it was a huge favor. Bi Fang solemnly placed the two permit certificates into a compartment in his backpack. It was a major favor, and although he might not need to use it, he remembered it gratefully. Indeed, when you¡¯re out in the world, it¡¯s still best to rely on your own people. Over the next few days, Bi Fang remained on the ship, getting closer to Greenland. After the initial excitement wore off, the tourists on the ship began to treat Bi Fang¡¯s few hours of live broadcasting each day as a regular entertainment program. As the time approached, they would all appear on deck together, listening to Bi Fang explain cultural history and share intriguing anecdotes about past Arctic explorers. Everybody felt as though they were back in a classroom from their youth, only this lesson was more interesting and more beautiful. On the ship, what affected Bi Fang the most was probably going to the bathroom. Walking into the restroom, a sway of the ship made it impossible to squat steadily. In the end, Bi Fang concluded that one should choose calm days to use the restroom, or else they might very well end up constipated. Passing through the Fram Strait, the warming effects of the North Atlantic current were almost negligible, with temperatures dropping every day¡ªnot because winter was approaching, but simply due to the change in geographical location. From around zero degrees on Svalbard to minus twenty degrees in the strait, and now down to minus thirty degrees. Bi Fang had no doubt that, upon landing, the temperature could drop below minus thirty-five degrees, and during the period of polar night, it could even potentially reach sub-sixty-degree frigid temperatures. After several days of sailing, that morning, the captain sent a sailor to knock on Bi Fang¡¯s door to inform him. The northernmost tip of Greenland had been reached. Bi Fang stood up and looked out at the pitch-black porthole. Although it was technically morning, the sky was still dark, dotted with a mysterious ribbon of aquamarine light that drifted slowly, like the shimmer of a soap bubble. It was the aurora borealis. Today was a great day for the aurora to appear. It would be another two hours before dawn, but the silent icebergs of the night had already welcomed the first touch of natural light, turning the entire sky into an indissoluble hue of aquamarine. "Looks like it¡¯s a good day to land on the island." Chapter 643 - 640: Arrival at the Arctic On the deck, a group of people stood, each one of them wrapped up in thick coats, bundled up like penguins. On a normal day, it still wouldn¡¯t be light out and everyone would be sleeping, but now quite a few people had actually shown up. Obviously, everyone had woken up early to see the aurora. The huge cruise ship slid through the sea filled with floating ice, shattering pieces of thin ice and leaving behind a clear trail of water. The Arctic Ocean is a sea covered in sea ice, with about two-thirds of its surface area made up of perennially frozen seawater; the remaining surface is also thick with floating ice and icebergs. About half of this water remains frozen year-round, the rest melts in spring and refreezes in winter. The ice in the central area has even been there for 3 million years, belonging to the category of permanent sea ice. As for the climate, it can be summed up in one word: cold. "Whew, it¡¯s so cold." "Too cold, what¡¯s the temperature now?" "Negative thirty." "Only thirty? Why do I feel it¡¯s colder than yesterday?" The person asking about the temperature was puzzled because it had been thirty for the past few days. Today felt colder; why was it still thirty? "That guy is from Ugly Country; he¡¯s talking in Fahrenheit. The temperature in Celsius is almost negative thirty-five degrees. Damn it, my nose is about to freeze off. When I get back, Stephen is definitely going to mock me." "Damn, my thermometer isn¡¯t moving!" "Huh?" On the deck, a man tapped his thermometer against the railing, producing a metallic clinking sound. The temperature on the thermometer didn¡¯t budge, which was making the man quite frustrated. "Kerosene¡¯s freezing point is negative thirty degrees Celsius. If it¡¯s frozen solid, of course, it won¡¯t move." The voice came from the direction of the cabin. Everyone looked up and saw Bi Fang closing the door and walking out onto the deck. "Oh, it¡¯s Mr. Bi." "Mr. Bi, are you up to watch the aurora too?" "Do you have any stories for us today?" "I caught up with the videos last night, absolutely amazing. I regret not getting to know you earlier." Everyone greeted him one after another; less than a week aboard, and everyone, from the captain to the chef to the tourists, knew this young man. Bi Fang nodded with a smile and approached the man who was complaining about his broken thermometer, leaning against the railing: "Thermometers are typically made from three substances, kerosene, mercury, and alcohol." "Kerosene has a freezing point of just negative thirty degrees, below which it solidifies and naturally won¡¯t move. Or more precisely, the thermal contraction is so slight, it¡¯s almost imperceptible to the naked eye. Mercury has a freezing point of negative 38.87 degrees Celsius, so it¡¯s not an option either." "In the Arctic, you can only bring alcohol thermometers because only they have a freezing point of negative 117 degrees Celsius, suitable for all the low-temperature natural environments on Earth. Fortunately, you¡¯re not using mercury because if it explodes, it¡¯s very dangerous. However, it¡¯s rare for thermometers to use mercury anyway." There are many types of thermometers, with clinical thermometers and atmospheric thermometers being the most common. Clinical thermometers are usually mercury, while atmospheric thermometers are kerosene or alcohol, and from their names alone, it¡¯s clear what they measure. "Why is that?" Someone called out from behind. Bi Fang looked up: "Because mercury expands slowly when heated and doesn¡¯t cool down quickly when taken out of the body. It needs to be shaken down to return to zero. Using it to measure temperature is simple and direct, and it also avoids errors caused by external temperature transfer." "Kerosene and alcohol thermometers expand quite noticeably with heat, changing very rapidly, heating and cooling will make them rise and fall quickly, so they¡¯re generally not used to measure body temperature, they¡¯re made red and hung indoors, to roughly monitor the weather temperature." Everyone had a sudden realization. "Everyone¡¯s up so early today?" Bi Fang glanced at the time; it wasn¡¯t even time for breakfast yet. Even though the real polar night had not yet arrived, the abnormally short day still reminded people to be mindful of the time. Most people probably don¡¯t have the experience of surviving through polar nights, but it¡¯s imaginable that it¡¯s not easy, with many issues, such as a disruption to humans¡¯ biological clocks. A large part of the human biological clock relies on natural light. So an important way to adjust their rhythm is to eat meals, and the meal times on the cruise ship are fixed, with only three meals free of charge. If you want an extra meal, sorry, you have to pay extra. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "We¡¯re all here to see the Northern Lights." "It¡¯s so beautiful." "Yeah, it¡¯s almost dawn, can we still see them?" "We can see them during the daytime here, of course we can." "Mr. Bi, you¡¯re up early too." "Mmm." Bi Fang nodded, pointing towards the ice floes not far away, "As soon as it gets light, I¡¯ll be getting off the ship to find a good spot." He was getting off the ship! People were somewhat surprised but not too shocked; everyone knew that Bi Fang¡¯s purpose for joining this trip was to reach the northernmost point of Greenland. They just didn¡¯t expect it to come so soon. Half an hour later, the green bands in the sky persisted, the second hint of natural light slowly appeared on the horizon, lifting the deep black curtain a notch, with the pallor of dawn spreading. A century ago, on the other end of the Earth, on the Antarctic Continent, the bravest of people embarked on an uncertain voyage of exploration and adventure. On the left was flame, on the right was seawater, and ahead was the dream and glory they desperately sought in their hearts. A century later, a young man arrived at another node on Earth, carrying no supplies, ready to challenge himself to survive a hundred days here. The cold wind howled. The colossal cruise ship, over seventy meters long, once again shattered a piece of ice floe, with the sun dangling obliquely at the position of the ship¡¯s figurehead. The figurehead scattered the most glaring of the giant sun¡¯s rays, leaving splayed white light, spreading in all directions. The shivering tourists squinted and looked up, and before them lay a vast expanse of white void¡ªnot just blocks of white ice floes but a continent, an immense and unbroken pure white continent. There were no trees, no grass, no life. Just an endless cold wind, like blades of steel slashing across faces without any bloodshed, as all the blood froze into crimson icicles the instant it was about to spatter. Read new chapters at NovelFire.C?m Many spectators couldn¡¯t help but touch their own faces, their facial skin almost frozen numb until the warmth of their fingers touched what seemed to be icy cold skin did they realize, their faces had not been cut by the icy blade; it was all just an illusion. A familiar voice, mixing with the wind, reached their ears, and as people looked towards the sound, they noticed that the seemingly indestructible drone had already taken its position overhead. "Looking back on the course of human evolution and change, if our ancestors hadn¡¯t taken risks and imagined, hadn¡¯t dared to innovate and have the courage to sacrifice with their broad and grand spirit, humans would not have used canoes to surf the oceans and explore the endless mysteries beyond the opposite shore." "Humans are curious, yielding the impulse for adventure; humans take risks, igniting the torch of civilization." "Adventure is not only about nature¡¯s oceans and mountains, deserts and swamps, but also lies within densely populated cities." "I am Bi Fang, a professional outdoor explorer, and this time, we¡¯ve come to the Arctic." Chapter 644 - 641 Occupy a Pit Familiar territory claiming segment. Will be done revising before 1am. Under the starry sky, the snowfield was far from dim and lightless. Snowflakes are crystalline structures, and the snow on the ground acts like a mirror, reflecting the surrounding light. In the starlight, each rising snow mound glistened with a faint dark glow, and occasionally, one could spot a huge figure running on top¡ªit was the polar bear out hunting at night. October marks the beginning of autumn, and polar bears needed to feed extensively to survive the entire winter; this was also their most active period. The faint emerald glow from the Doomsday Seed Vault diffused into the night. The engine rumbled deeply, and heat from the burning fuel quickly spread throughout the off-road vehicle¡¯s body. The icicles on the exhaust pipe slowly melted, and clear droplets fell, freezing again upon touching the ground. The polar bear, which had been running across the snowfield, suddenly stopped at the sound of the vehicle¡¯s rumble and turned to approach Bi Fang. Bi Fang, upon seeing this, instinctively reached for the hunting knife on his thigh. Having killed too many bears, the sight of them approaching triggered an instinctual urge to draw the knife. "NONONO!" Barrett quickly explained. "Don¡¯t be nervous, this is a normal reaction." Bi Fang was taken aback, "Normal reaction?" What kind of normal was this? Bi Fang witnessed the polar bear accelerate from a trot to a sprint, its fur bristling in what was clearly an extremely excited state. This was considered normal? So far, the most dangerous beasts Bi Fang had dealt with were bears. Although he had never faced off against a polar bear head-on, they belonged to the same subfamily, so they were not very different. In particular, the brown bear and the polar bear had diverged less than 600,000 years ago after being geographically separated, with no reproductive isolation between them. Both had abnormally developed shoulder humps, a structural feature formed by the attachment of shoulder muscles, which when developed, could powerfully drive their forelimbs in a swing. The claws of a polar bear were over 5 centimeters long, shorter than those of a brown bear, but slightly longer than those of a black bear, and their advantage lay in their sharpness. The claws of the brown bear and the black bear were quite blunt, whereas the polar bear¡¯s claws were extremely sharp, an adaptive evolution for walking in ice and snow. Strong and sharp, polar bears could easily tear through armor plates over 5mm thick. This meant that the two people inside the off-road vehicle were far from safe and, in fact, were in great danger! Bi Fang could tell that Barrett was also quite tense, his little finger clutching the steering wheel trembling slightly. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But since Barrett had said so, Bi Fang refrained from taking any further action. Compared to himself, a visitor, Barrett likely had a deeper familiarity with the local area. Barrett took several deep breaths, laid back his seat, climbed into the back, and pressed a button on the shoulder, pulling down the seatback to drag out a fairly large object wrapped in greaseproof paper. Barrett slowly unwrapped the paper. A rich smell of fat wafted out. What was this... The greaseproof paper had been wrapped so tightly that Bi Fang hadn¡¯t smelled anything unusual after getting in the car. Barrett cut it open with a knife, and everyone could finally see¡ªit was meat! Pork belly. Based on the smell, Bi Fang had identified the type of meat. There¡¯s still quite a bit in this bag, enough for several pigs at least, all selected from the fattiest parts of pork belly¡ªthose edge pieces no one typically eats. At first glance, one might not even see any red lean meat, just pure fat. Though not many people eat this, for polar bears, there is no better food than pure fat. It¡¯s only fat that can allow them to comfortably get through the entire polar night. Holding the heavy bag of lard, Barrett quickly opened the car door, lifted his legs, and pulled the fat out from the seat. He then picked up the yellow paper, swiftly closed the car door, and returned to his spot, slamming on the accelerator to speed away. The entire process was done very quickly, suggesting it wasn¡¯t his first time doing this. "Phew, every time I do this kind of thing I get particularly nervous. This is the fourth time, but my palms still sweat," Barrett sighed with relief, as if he had completed some arduous task. Indeed, feeding polar bears in the wild is a formidable task. After all, no one can guarantee that the polar bears will end up feasting on sheep. "Each time we come, we feed the polar bears a bit of food, so that we can coexist peacefully," Barrett explained, driving the car. It was a mix of both carrot and stick¡ªthe rifle served as the stick, and the regular feeding was the carrot. As the glaciers melt, polar bears that can catch seals become fewer each year, and many don¡¯t survive. According to ecological data projections, perhaps by 2100, polar bears will be extinct. "We don¡¯t overfeed them during our visits; we just feed them enough to ensure they aren¡¯t so hungry they might attack us." The rule that always existed in nature, survival of the fittest, meant most polar bears could still catch enough food to get through their hardships. Only a small portion of weaker bears struggle to survive due to environmental changes. If humans continuously provide them with food, they could lose their hunting instincts. Therefore, Barrett and others have always maintained a rather fragile balance with the polar bears. Overall, this trip opened the eyes of the audience. It was like witnessing future technology in the real world and realizing for the first time that humans have indeed made practical plans for the future. Many were reminded of the words Bi Fang said a long time ago. Experience tales at NovelFire.C?m The history of life is a story of mass extinction, followed by the diversification of the few survivors. Earth has witnessed five major extinction events, with 70%-85% of species dying out each time. During the Permian period, more than 95% of animals were wiped out, never to return. Humans have survived over and over again throughout nearly three and a half billion years. Would we be swimming in the cosmic ocean hundreds, thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of years from now, or become part of a fossil? After making his way back to the city, Bi Fang bid farewell to Barrett, ended the live broadcast, and walked alone slowly through the city streets. Quite desolate... After all, this was a place where polar bears outnumbered people. There were no street vendors or stalls, only orange streetlights and the occasional passing vehicle. Warning signs, black with images of white polar bears and red outlines, also informed pedestrians of the potential dangers outside. Most polar bear attacks on humans occur at night. In fact, it was only six in the evening now, which would have been merely dusk in any low-latitude city, but here the night seemed as deep as midnight. Returning to his lodgings, with nothing better to do, Bi Fang was about to pull out his phone to play a few games before sleeping when suddenly the phone rang. The hotel¡¯s front desk notified him that someone was looking for him downstairs. Someone looking for me? Bi Fang was surprised; he had many friends, but none that he knew of in the world¡¯s most remote cities. With curiosity, Bi Fang went downstairs, only to find a completely unfamiliar man waiting for him. Chapter 645: I understand all the logic, but when is the game coming out? Only the sound of wind remained between heaven and earth, and everyone momentarily held their breath. Scattered snowflakes drifted onto faces, but they couldn¡¯t stay put, as if crashing into a cold stone, they quickly departed. It wasn¡¯t snowing; these snowflakes were lifted from the ice surface, whirling at low altitude, creating one short-lived vortex after another, which could only last for a few seconds before being dispersed by the fierce wind, then gathering again after a while. The cruise ship, less than eighty meters long, seemed significantly smaller compared to the hundreds of meters long cargo ships. Yet, standing up close, it was still unimaginably massive to ordinary people. But this huge vessel, compared to the coastal line stretching hundreds of kilometers, became unremarkable again. The drone rose a hundred meters into the air, looking down from the web, the huge cruise ship moved sluggishly, its deck crowded with passengers on one side. Standing on the vertical ladder in the exact center of the ship¡¯s route was a tiny figure. Bi Fang squinted against the wind and snow, his heart beating thumpingly, pumping blood throughout his body to provide enough heat to sustain his movements. Standing alone in the wind was even colder than staying within a crowd. Bi Fang thought to himself. He climbed down the iron ladder slowly to the shore, the massive body of the ship bobbing on the waves, barely touching the sea ice, it was hard to tell which one was undulating. Bi Fang let go, The audience gasped. Bi Fang kicked off the ladder with his legs, Enjoy more content from NovelFire.C?m The people¡¯s pupils contracted. At last, He landed gently. Bi Fang stood up from the ice floe, brushed the snowflakes off his pants, and waved to the captain on the deck to thank him for the send-off. "Goodbye!" "Goodbye!" The captain¡¯s beard quivered slightly, waving fervently at the departing Bi Fang. The two said farewell like the most normal of friends, showing no sign that the one stepping onto the floating ice was about to undertake a challenge of surviving a hundred days in the coldest place of the Arctic. When the captain turned back, he jumped in shock, realizing that all the passengers on board were staring at him, their gazes filled with inexplicable meaning. The captain felt confused, he touched his own beard and tentatively asked, "Are you all expecting something?" The passengers looked at each other; one of them, a man with a hat, stepped forward. He had been a faithful listener to Bi Fang¡¯s stories aboard the ship, and whenever he heard something astonishing, he would take off his cap as a sign of respect. The man, faced with the expectant eyes of the crowd, hesitated for a moment. Then, with his right hand flat and his left hand¡¯s index and middle fingers extended, he simulated a miniature human figure, which walked across the palm of his right hand toward the edge and then, with a sudden leap, dove off. After signaling in this manner, the man seemed to solidify his conviction and stated confidently, "Shouldn¡¯t Mr. Fang have jumped down like this?" Captain: "..." Inside the cabin, Guoba scratched his head. He had been holding his breath just now, and after waiting so long, Bi Fang just went on the ice floe as if he were simply going downstairs, and nothing happened. He almost choked on his anticipation. Compared with the previous falls with protection, diving into the sea, and rapid descent, it was as ordinary as an old man doing Tai Chi in the park after sunrise. "Many people get off the ship this way; what else do you expect?" The captain was frustrated. There was nothing flashy about jumping down; the thickness of the Arctic Ocean ice was reliable, but the section where it meets the waves is usually thin. Even if not thin, the incessant lashing of seawater makes it very slippery, with a watery film on its surface. If one were really to jump down, they¡¯d likely end up in the sea. Bi Fang didn¡¯t want to lose a significant amount of heat right from the start; that would be a pretty bad beginning. [So it¡¯s just me who¡¯s anxious enough to hold my breath, huh?] sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [You¡¯re not alone.] [You¡¯re not human.] [Exhausted. Got excited for nothing.] [What do we do next?] Bi Fang looked at this question and couldn¡¯t help but look up at the sun, surveying his surroundings, a vast expanse of white. For the survival task, determining direction wasn¡¯t that important, as he was going to stay here rather than searching for an escape route. Turning around, the cruise ship was already far away, a loud whistle sounded, and the white smoke melded with the snow and wind, slowly disappearing into the distance. Now, Bi Fang was truly alone in the world, not even a sea bird in sight. The young explorer was left in a snowy wilderness, watching the cruise ship disappear beyond the horizon. After the cruise ship disappeared, the world almost quieted down. A faint feeling of loneliness wound through everyone¡¯s hearts, slowing the typists¡¯ hands involuntarily. How was he to survive? All around, there was nothing but ice. What would he eat? And there were endless bitter winds, squeezing into every inch of his body as if in a mortal struggle, determined to strip away his warmth, even the slightest bit. Bi Fang crouched down and swiped the ground, brushing away the thin layer of frost crystals to reveal the smooth, polished ice underneath, reflecting his face. Drawing his Hunting Knife, Bi Fang began smashing it into the ice, chipping away with the sharp and sturdy tip. At negative forty degrees, the special steel hadn¡¯t reached the temperature where it would become brittle. "Survival essentially revolves around water, fire, food; this is also one of the basic sequences of survival. In the vast majority of cases, this order doesn¡¯t change, whether in rainforests, forests, wetlands, mountains, oceans, grasslands, or deserts. Only in some extreme situations does the order change." "For example, deep in the Arctic, fire, water, then food is the correct sequence for survival." Bi Fang took out a water bottle from inside his clothes, filled it with the chipped ice he had just carved out, and then tucked it close to his body, using his dissipated body heat to melt it. Bi Fang had discussed this in Mohe before, but he summarized the reasons again simply. "Fire is, in essence, temperature, which is heat, the most fundamental energy required for biological activities." "Due to temperature differences, the inevitable loss of our body heat is happening. Heating the water bottle with our dissipating body warmth is about not letting this heat go to waste." "If survival were a game, and we were to concretize our total heat value, let¡¯s say it is a hundred. Then one could say that we have a DEBUFF causing our heat to continuously decline." "And the colder the external environment, the more pronounced this negative effect becomes. In a forest, you might lose 0.1 point per hour, while here it could be one point per hour. Once it reaches zero, our lives are over." "Furthermore, any action we take can exacerbate this process, such as walking, getting injured, or constructing tools." "Some measures can lessen the impact of the debuff, such as wearing thick clothes, sleeping, making a fire, drinking hot water, or living within a house." "Then there are measures not just to lessen the debuff¡¯s impact, but to increase our own heat storage, like eating meals." "The key to polar survival is to reach a dynamic equilibrium of heat before this hundred-point value zeroes out, either by reducing the debuff, increasing heat gain, to the point where the output exceeds the input." [I get the principle, I just want to know, when does the game come out?] Chapter 646 - 643 Taking a Slot The placeholder session soon ended. I changed it back before one-thirty in the morning. Love you all. The cold wind cut across the face. Bi Fang stepped out of the cabin, exhaled a breath of cold mist, and shivered all over. Suddenly entering the bitter winter from the height of summer, even those with strong physiques felt the bone-chilling cold. By then, Bi Fang had already donned his storm jacket. This place wasn¡¯t Greenland, but Langyel City in the Svalbard Archipelago. Located at 78 degrees 13 minutes north latitude and 15 degrees 33 minutes east longitude, it is the northernmost city in the world. Its approximately 1,800 residents are mostly Norwegian, making it the most populous city at the northern tip of the world. The town also boasts a newspaper¡ª "Svalbard Post", the world¡¯s northernmost post office. Discover hidden content at NovelFire.C?m Here, Bi Fang was quite close to the northernmost point of Greenland that he intended to visit, only separated by a stretch of the Greenland Sea. Travelling by ferry, passing through the Fram Strait, he would cover several hundred nautical miles in less than two days to reach his destination. In fact, Bi Fang could have taken a direct flight to Greenland, but he chose to first visit the Svalbard Archipelago and then take a cruise to Greenland. One reason was to see the beautiful Svalbard Archipelago. The scope of the Arctic is vast, referring both to the vicinity of the Arctic Circle and to the North Pole at 90 degrees north latitude. As a traveler here, one should of course visit the homeland of the polar bear, the Svalbard Archipelago. The place is cold, yet not excessively so; a thick down jacket is more than enough. Here one could see the aurora during daylight, free-roaming polar bears, Greenland whales, and houses nestled in the snowfields. With no skyscrapers, this tourist destination is not as crowded as others, conveying a sense of peace. The reason he didn¡¯t wait until after survival was... Bi Fang suspected that after a hundred days in his current state, he would have no interest in tourism at all. It was better to create some beautiful memories for himself in advance. The second reason was to give his body a period to adapt. Going from a hot area with temperatures over thirty degrees to a cold area with temperatures below minus thirty or forty degrees¡ªa temperature difference of over sixty degrees¡ªwas a stern test for the body. Bi Fang had no desire to fall ill right after getting off the plane. Visiting Svalbard as a buffer, with one day of sightseeing and two days on a cruise ship, was enough. He took out his phone to check the current temperature: minus three degrees. Walking inside the airport, one could even spot young and beautiful girls exposing their smooth ankles. He hoped they wouldn¡¯t suffer from rheumatism or arthritis in their thirties or forties. Bi Fang sent them his best wishes. In coastal areas, the high humidity and low temperature made it easy for the cold to penetrate the body, causing significant harm. "Everyone should keep warm in winter," Bi Fang made a point of advising the audience in the livestream. Having just disembarked from the plane, Bi Fang had started his livestream, also wanting the viewers to enjoy the natural scenery together. Perhaps the allure of the Arctic was too strong. It wasn¡¯t long before hundreds of thousands of viewers gathered in the livestream. It¡¯s funny; these days have been all about traveling, but the audience in the livestream room has indeed had their fill of excitement, with live broadcasts to watch nearly every day. And now, less than two days after returning from the Central Country, he was broadcasting again, presenting a completely different scene from the sunny beaches of the Central Country. It was as if summer had suddenly turned into winter. Everyone¡¯s clothes had become bulkier, especially for the majority of the audience who were still in the midst of the summer season. This feeling was very peculiar, as if they had entered a fairy-tale world. Stepping out of the airport at Langyel City, the capital of the Svalbard Archipelago, Bi Fang immediately spotted a striking "Tourists Notice." It was covered with a dense array of prohibitions. One must not litter, hunt or disturb birds and animals, transplant trees, pick flowers, or damage artifacts here¡­ [Damn, isn¡¯t this a bit too strict?] sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [What do you mean by strict...? Shouldn¡¯t civilized tourists be doing this anyway?] So in the audience¡¯s mind, shouldn¡¯t a tourism city feature a welcoming slogan? Instead, you are greeted with a list of don¡¯ts, which can be slightly off-putting. Bi Fang smiled but did not respond; instead, he started telling a story. "On June 17, 1596, a Dutch exploration fleet caught sight of an island almost entirely covered by ice and snow on the vast sea. Sheer mountain peaks stood out against the snow. In that moment, the whole fleet nearly went mad with excitement. This was definitely a new continent, a new land never before discovered by humanity. And this was the first time the Svalbard Archipelago was revealed to the world." "The adventurer was the Dutch explorer Willem Barentsz." "Willem found a significant number of Greenland Whale pods in nearby waters at that time, and thus began a three hundred years¡¯ history of European nations plundering the whale resources of this ownerless land." "After that, more and more adventurers arrived here. Especially as the rich mineral resources of the area were discovered, it attracted even more fervent adventurers." The audience had a faint guess about the following part of the story. Bi Fang sighed and talked as he walked along the road. "The universe is vast, and humans have never stopped exploring. Because of their special geographic locations, places like the Arctic, Antarctica, and the Tibetan Plateau have always drawn people to set foot on those unique lands. As the most habitable region near the North Pole, the Svalbard Archipelago undoubtedly provides conditions for Arctic exploration." "In the museum here, there¡¯s an engraving created in 1791 that vividly reenacts the scene from that time." Bi Fang, following the travel guidebook, looked at the engraving. On the sea, dozens of fishing boats drifted, with whalers thrusting harpoons viciously into whales spouting huge jets of water; ashore, hunters fired their repeater rifles at polar bears and seals. The gifts of Nature, under human greed, appeared extremely fragile. All this caused a vast reduction and even near extinction of many local species. Not until the "Svalbard Treaty" was signed, confirming Norwegian sovereignty, did the local area gradually establish a more complete ecological conservation law, and the environment began to improve. Destruction is easy, but recovery is extremely difficult. And it was not something one person could accomplish to restore the Svalbard Archipelago to its original state; it required the collective effort of everyone who came here. This nearly stringent "Environmental Protection Regulation" is one such effort, and the self-discipline of tourists, residents, and researchers is a major force contributing to environmental change. Since then, the Archipelago¡¯s environment began to be effectively protected. Only because of this, did Bi Fang see prohibitions instead of a welcoming greeting upon stepping out. "However, there is actually good news for us Huaxia tourists," Bi Fang said. Rolling up the travel guide, Bi Fang explained, "On February 9, 1920, Huaxia was among the nations that signed the treaty, which means we have the right to develop this land." "We can engage in any non-military activities on this land, and citizens can freely enter and leave the Svalbard Archipelago." "The only problem is that there are only flights from SAS and Norwegian Air from Oslo and Troms? in Norway, so a Schengen visa is still required." Chapter 647 - 644: A Lot of Snowstorms at the Border of Cold and Warm "Actually, some people say that Red-Haired Shanks from One Piece is modeled after Red-Haired Erik, but I¡¯m not sure about that, it¡¯s all hearsay. Just take it as a story to listen to." Bi Fang took a breath. Walking on the ice field was incredibly tiring, and for safety, he couldn¡¯t walk too fast, or else the likelihood of falling would greatly increase. Standing on the unprotected ice field, one could clearly feel body heat being taken away, even though there wasn¡¯t much physical activity, the energy consumption was nevertheless significant. "In the Polar Regions, you must cover your entire body to resist the low temperatures and strong winds, especially your head and feet, and you must not stop." "Our bodies have reserved energy, which is fat. By burning fat, we can also generate heat. That¡¯s why these past few days I¡¯ve been eating high-calorie food ¡ª drinking milk tea like water, eating donuts like meals, using cheese as a seasoning ¡ª it¡¯s all to gain weight." [Sss, that explains it, I dimly felt that Old Fang had gained quite a bit of weight] S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Dude, that diet... gaining ten pounds in one meal] Bi Fang exhaled, unable to feel any warmth on his face. Sunlight had made the temperature rise quite a bit, at least above minus thirty-five degrees, but it was still very cold. The huge temperature difference was like a giant pump, sucking away all heat with great force. "The best method is to keep moving. It ensures blood circulation in the body and also prevents sweating from too much activity." "If you start to sweat, you must loosen your clothes to ventilate promptly. Being wet with sweat will reduce the insulating effect. Also, you need to keep your clothes clean; dust and grease can clog the pores in the fabric, decreasing its effectiveness against the cold air." After walking for almost four hours, the surroundings were still vast and empty. Bi Fang stopped in his tracks. He looked around; the sun had already reached its highest point but still seemed quite low, as if it couldn¡¯t rise any higher, giving the impression that even thirty degrees would be tough to achieve. "I can¡¯t go any further. The ice field is even larger than I expected; it might take more than two days, maybe even three, to cross. We need to stop now, while the temperature is relatively high, and prepare for overnight stay." Read the latest on NovelFire.C?m The expanse of the ice field was larger than Bi Fang had imagined. Every summer was a time for sea ice to melt, and it wouldn¡¯t start to form again until autumn. But it seemed the sea ice had frozen very quickly this year, which may indicate a colder winter ahead. "The weather is actually quite nice today. Look, the visibility is high," Bi Fang pointed around. Indeed, the air was terrifyingly clean here. Aside from being as sharp as knives, the sea ice stretched as far as the eye could see, extending into pale blue and pure white, under the warm yellow sunlight. The world was elegantly simple. "If you are forced into a situation like mine, say a plane crash or some other reason, now would be the best time to signal for help, and the techniques are similar to those used in mountain rescue." "Vibrant colors and linear shapes are easier to spot from above. Even a piece of black clothing, spread on the barren snow, can be seen from far away." "Burning animal fat can create smoke. You can also use ashes and burnt debris to make marks on the snow and ice, so don¡¯t be stingy with your expensive calf-leather belt at this time." "Search and rescue flights can only be conducted under certain good weather conditions, so be prepared. It¡¯s unlikely that a helicopter will come to rescue you in a blizzard unless there¡¯s a daughter of a Fortune 500 businessman in your group." Bi Fang made a joke, still remembering the second time he live-streamed when someone questioned the implausibility of the rescue speed, calling it a director¡¯s drama. In fact, these people just don¡¯t understand the wilderness and human capabilities. "For snow rescues, it¡¯s most likely that an aircraft equipped with skis will be used. There are not many pilots globally skilled in operating these aircraft, so you¡¯ll need to find a place to use as a landing strip. This place doesn¡¯t have to be perfectly flat, but it certainly shouldn¡¯t have obvious, plane-damaging objects." "Snowdrifts formed by the wind, known as ¡¯sastrugi,¡¯ are impossible for landings. About 100 meters of flat ground covered with a thin layer of snow would be the ideal landing spot, and it¡¯s also a great place for us to stay, as it will allow us to spot approaching polar bears at a glance." Bi Fang squatted down, began to chip at the ice with a knife, and said, "Contrary to what many people think, polar bears¡¯ fur is not actually white; their skin is even black. The reason they appear white is that they have two layers of fur, with the outer layer about 5-15 centimeters long, composed of a protein called keratin, and the middle is hollow, not solid." "This unique structure, while absorbing sunlight, can trap it in the hollow fur and, after being refracted at certain angles, makes the polar bear¡¯s fur appear pure white, blending it almost perfectly with the snowy surroundings and making it very hard to detect." Therefore, having a flat and open area all around is very necessary to spot the presence of such large creatures at a glance. "This is because the hollow fur is waterproof and insulates like the Onion Clothing Method we use; it meets the needs of camouflage and also provides warmth." Bi Fang had likewise spoken about the Onion Clothing Method before, which is the principle that, compared to one thick layer, multiple thin layers of clothes of the same combined thickness keep you warmer. These layers of clothes form a thin layer of air between them, helping to prevent the loss of heat. It is also convenient for dressing and undressing, adapting to the needs of different environments. For example, Bi Fang is about to build a shelter and the physical activity will increase a bit, so he can take off one layer to avoid sweating. As Bi Fang advanced, the snow on the ground had started piling up, a good indication that he was getting close to land. "I¡¯ve always said, one of the keys to survival is knowing where you are. As long as you know your location, you can be prepared for many things." "Greenland has high latitude and average elevation, coupled with glacial coverage, which results in a persistent cold high-pressure system over the island. This high-pressure system, due to its coldness, lowers temperatures, exacerbated by several cold currents that further enhance the cooling effect around Greenland." "But do you remember Svalbard Island, despite its even higher latitude, the climate is quite warm, due to the strong Atlantic warm and humid air currents bringing abundant precipitation to the coast. In winter, the Atlantic warm and humid air currents peak and are extremely powerful." "When the two meet, it creates the classic cold and warm front system often mentioned in geography textbooks, only instead of rain, it snows, hence Greenland has many blizzards." "However, Greenland itself is surrounded by cold currents, and also due to its topography, they can¡¯t penetrate deep into the island but only snow on the peripheral areas during autumn and winter, which somewhat replenishes the ice cap. During this time, the sea surface starts to freeze and continues spreading outward." Chapter 648 - 645 Cough Cough Familiar pit-stop segment, guys. Ahem. I will finish the changes by one o¡¯clock. "You are quite the storyteller," the captain said. Inside the ship¡¯s corridor, just as Bi Fang was about to return to his room, he bumped into the captain with his full beard. The captain leaned against the seat holding a cup of hot coffee, raising it in greeting as the faint steam rose, bringing a hint of warmth to the cold Arctic Ocean. Bi Fang smiled, "Actually, a large part of my livestream is dedicated to storytelling; I¡¯ve gotten good at it over time." Having just come down from the deck, many of the eavesdropping tourists were reluctant to leave. Human knowledge comes from three levels: experience, comprehension, and insight. Experience is undoubtedly the most direct way of acquisition. Compared to the lazy cognitive system, gaining knowledge through experience is both natural and unquestionable¡ªhumans are born to favor visual thinking. This is also Bi Fang¡¯s greatest strength; his audience never feels bored during his livestreams. Others have to edit a day¡¯s worth of Wilderness Survival footage down to an hour or even half an hour to ensure it¡¯s engaging; yet Bi Fang can keep his viewers intensely engaged online just by relying on his great storytelling ability. "So you haven¡¯t mentioned the ending yet? That explorer, called Mon... Mon...," the captain offered a cup of hot cocoa. He had been listening and enjoying it, but had to return to his captain¡¯s quarters for some reason and was now curious about the ending. "It¡¯s Roald Amundsen," Bi Fang took the hot cocoa, sipped, and praised, "Not a bad drink, but next time you could add a few more sugar cubes." This captain was quite the character. Bi Fang was headed to Greenland, but his destination was even further, more remote. Large cruise ships have fixed tourist routes and wouldn¡¯t change their course for one person alone. Eventually, Bi Fang found this small cruise ship, repurposed from a long-distance fishing vessel. Although it obviously paled in comparison to the Titanic in terms of facilities and comfort, to meet Bi Fang¡¯s requirements, the captain before him very gladly agreed, even without any extra charge. He even expressed that he had been watching Bi Fang¡¯s livestreams for quite a while. "According to your request, I¡¯ve added three sugar cubes and a generous amount of chocolate," the captain replied, voice flat. "Hmm, is that so." Bi Fang shrugged, "Do you have doughnuts on board? I¡¯ll have those for dinner tonight." The captain spoke seriously, "You¡¯ll get diabetes by the time you¡¯re around thirty if you keep this up." "Hmm, it¡¯s just for this period of time," Bi Fang replied. These days Bi Fang had been constantly increasing his body weight, eating several meals a day, mostly sweets, to store up fat in his body as much as possible, preparing for the potential drastic weight loss during the upcoming Arctic survival. Thanks to the powerful digestive ability of the Fish King¡¯s stomach, Bi Fang¡¯s weight had already broken the 85 kg mark, reaching 170 pounds. And since Bi Fang had been livestreaming continuously during this period, this gradual change didn¡¯t seem obvious. If there had been interruptions, the weight gain would have been more noticeable. "So you haven¡¯t finished the story yet," the captain reminded him. Even though he had been sailing along this route for over a decade, the captain still did not know about such a legendary explorer, nor the origin of the sea channel¡¯s name. He had always thought the Fram Strait was always called the Fram Strait, just as Angolan was always called Angolan, since ancient times. "The ending is that this explorer shone in Antarctica, but his curtain call was in the Arctic, with the fireworks gone, all returning to Nature," Bi Fang concluded. Hearing this conclusion, the captain felt a trace of astonishment. "After returning from Antarctica, Amundsen didn¡¯t bask in the glory of plucking the jewel from the crown of the exploration community. He proposed early on to use aircraft to explore the Arctic and made several attempts." "In 1915, he obtained the first Norwegian civilian pilot license. The following May, he and Ugly Country People Ellsworth and Italian Nobile took off in an airship from Spitsbergen, flew over the North Pole and onto Alaska, covering a total distance of 4000 kilometers." "It was the first human flight across the Arctic. Prior legends suggested that there was a vast land between the North Pole and Alaska, and this flight proved those legends wrong." "But on May 23, 1928, Nobile flew an airship to the North Pole for an expedition. On the return flight, the airship crashed, leaving nine people on the ice and six missing. On hearing this news, Amundsen left on June 18 in an airplane to rescue his former exploration companion, and then the air crash happened." "Air crash?" "Yes, on June 18, 1928, Amundsen took the French plane ¡¯Latham Aircraft¡¯ to the Arctic in an attempt to rescue the missing Italian exploration team who had crashed in an airship. Along the way, the plane went down, and Amundsen never returned." December 14, 1928, was designated by the Norwegian government as Antarctica Day to commemorate Amundsen. At noon on this day, the church bells rang out across Norway, and people commemorated the great explorer with two minutes of silence. Amundsen¡¯s unyielding spirit, his courage to challenge himself, his fearlessness of difficulties, and his relentless determination always inspire future generations to explore the unknown world. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After musing for a moment, Bi Fang intoned leisurely, "After he completed his assigned tasks, he returned to the Arctic wilderness, his place of vacation. Under the pure skies of the icy world, he found an unknown place for eternal rest, imbued with endless music. His name shines upon the youth of Norway like the dazzling Northern Lights, forever." "Not bad." "Those aren¡¯t my words." "Then whose are they?" "Fridtjof Nansen, a sailor, polar explorer, zoologist, and politician; he was Amundsen¡¯s predecessor and idol." "He became famous in the scientific community for his trek across the Greenland ice sheet in 1888 and his journey across the Arctic Ocean aboard the ¡¯Fram¡¯ between 1893 and 1896. He also received the Nobel Peace Prize for his work repatriating half a million prisoners of war and for his direct relief work for the starving people of Polar Bear Country." "Wait a minute? The Fram again? Didn¡¯t you just say that it was Amundsen that took her to Antarctica?" The captain doubted his ears; how could this ship have such a high profile? "Yes, but who told you a ship could only embark on a single adventure, to one pole?" Bi Fang replied with a mischievous wink. The Fram, an exploration ship that twice made history in the polar regions. Apart from this ship, there is no other in the world that has been both to the Arctic and Antarctica. Experience new tales on NovelFire.C?m Having drunk the last of the hot cocoa from his mug, Bi Fang returned the cup to the captain and turned to leave. Watching Bi Fang¡¯s departing figure, the captain pondered deeply. The name of Amundsen shines like the splendid Northern Lights over the younger generation. The polar region... Here I come. Chapter 649 - 646 Preparation for Eternal Night It wasn¡¯t light yet; the land was shrouded in grey. The vast ice field was all-encompassing, devoid of any sign of life. A pair of gloved hands suddenly burst forth from the ground, brushing the accumulated snow to one side. Bi Fang panted heavily as he labored to push the snow aside. A night of furious winds had completely sealed off the entrance to his dugout, with at least thirty centimeters of thickness. Leaning on the exit, Bi Fang took a breath, grabbed the icy sides, and propped his entire body up, then began to gather his rope. The freeze overnight had solidified the rope thoroughly, a few drops of water that froze last night had now formed several centimeters of ice. The thickness of the ice was increasing. After tying up the rope and putting it in his backpack, Bi Fang started his live broadcast and greeted his viewers. "Today is my second day of Arctic survival, feeling pretty good although a bit hungry but after all, there are only ninety-nine days left, aren¡¯t there?" [I just have to give a thumbs up, 666] [I give full marks to this challenge. Don¡¯t ask why I don¡¯t keep points for encouragement; he deserves it.] [Waking up in the middle of the night just to watch the live stream, the ¡¯mom caught me¡¯ series] [I¡¯m so tired, and I haven¡¯t even started my holiday yet] The time difference between Greenland and Huaxia is seven hours, so there aren¡¯t many viewers at this point. Although Bi Fang¡¯s broadcasts had already gone global, domestic viewers were still the main audience. [Is it already daylight in the Arctic?] Viewers in the live stream noticed that the sun hadn¡¯t risen yet, but it seemed not as dark as they imagined. The drone¡¯s night mode wasn¡¯t even activated. "Because the snowflakes reflect the white light. The complex structure of the snow can¡¯t absorb light. A beam that enters a snowdrift is quickly scattered by billions of Ice Crystals and air voids, with most of the light reflecting back out of the snowdrift." "Therefore, as long as there¡¯s some daylight, places with snowflakes will appear brighter, though it¡¯s just a dim brightness." Bi Fang pointed to the stars in the night sky, clearly indicating the source of the light. Most people who live in cities can hardly imagine a night sky full of stars anymore, even after sunset, it¡¯s never pitch dark. During a full moon, the illumination is surprisingly bright, as if streetlights are shining down. Today, the moon in the night sky wasn¡¯t full, but there was still plenty of light. Additionally, the strong winds blew up snowflakes, creating a twinkling effect on the ground below four or five meters, which actually made it fairly bright. However, brightness aside, the flurry of snowflakes made it almost impossible to see the path clearly, but, fortunately, Polaris was faintly visible, giving Bi Fang a direction to move towards. "Now there are more than a dozen hours each night, and we shouldn¡¯t waste this time. We can get up three hours before sunrise." "When surviving in the Arctic, whenever entering a period of polar day or polar night, it¡¯s critical to set your biological clock. Otherwise, inverted routines will leave you feeling lethargic and often with a headache." "Sleeping too much or too little will both cause headaches, leaving you without sufficient energy to face upcoming challenges. So, if possible, definitely set an alarm. If not, you can only rely on your body¡¯s internal biological clock, which can be quite difficult." "How many of you like to stay up late? How often do you do it?" In the midst of his trek, Bi Fang suddenly asked a question. [Ah, this, well] [Be confident, everyday] [Hey, actually, it¡¯s not so bad studying and working until midnight, but after a whole day of that, I always end up wanting to scroll through my phone for a few hours to relax, and before I know it, it¡¯s already late] [Plus one, every morning when I wake up my head just hurts] [Working until eleven or twelve at night, how could I possibly directly go to bed to sleep? My life needs entertainment, of course I have to relax, and then I fall into a vicious cycle (covers face)] Work eight hours, entertain eight hours, sleep eight hours. That was the product of a long struggle, but now working hours often exceed ten, some even twelve. The majority work for a better life, and entertainment time can¡¯t be shortchanged, so naturally sleep time gets invaded; otherwise, life would have no meaning. Those with financial freedom are few and far between, and life gets incessantly swept up in the wheel of progress. Sometimes, when they see Bi Fang effortlessly traveling all over the world, many can¡¯t help but feel a touch of envy. Even though a lot of his actions might stir up controversy, Bi Fang doesn¡¯t care, considering those are just a minority compared to his supporters. "Actually, for many people, their circadian rhythm isn¡¯t exactly twenty-four hours but has a certain discrepancy, usually within two hours. For instance, it might be twenty-six hours or even twenty-two hours, but most would be slightly longer than twenty-four hours." "This is a common phenomenon; most diurnal animals have a biological clock slightly longer than 24 hours, and most nocturnal animals have one that is slightly shorter than 24 hours. Humans are diurnal creatures, so they fall into the former category, although there are exceptions. This isn¡¯t a theorem but a general rule." "The reason for this is still unknown, but one plausible hypothesis suggests that when humans first appeared, the Earth¡¯s rotation period might not have been 24 hours. After all, the Earth¡¯s rotation speed has changed several times over the past few billion years." At this point, the audience in front of the screen felt as though a door had swung open, awakening them with a start. [No wonder I keep staying up late, and it gets later and later, damn it, so that¡¯s what¡¯s happening!] [Every time I stay up an extra hour, after twenty-four days, I return perfectly to a normal state] "Take light exposure as an example; most human biological clocks are slightly longer than 24 hours. So, in a light-dark cycle that¡¯s only slightly longer, humans would be the most comfortable because it matches their innate circadian rhythm exactly." "And we can also adapt to a 24-hour light-dark cycle on Earth. The difference is not that significant. If the light-dark cycle were 50 hours, typically that would be unadaptable." "In other words, the human biological clock can be adjusted to adapt to external environments, but this adjustment has its limits." "In other mammals, light can regulate the biological clock via the phototransduction pathway through the suprachiasmatic nucleus in the hypothalamus. But once you¡¯re in complete darkness, you can only rely on the habits you¡¯ve developed." "Once these cyclical biological habits are disrupted, consequences include decreased memory, lack of vitality, a tendency to headaches, and in severe cases, chronic diarrhea or vomiting." "So, self-discipline is really important." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang continued to advance, guided by his own biological clock, ensuring he could wake up on time and not let sleep disrupt his forward motion. He pressed on until the pre-dawn light began to break, the snow gradually ceased, and the snowflakes on the ground started to settle down. With the sunlight¡¯s glow, the distant undulating mountains finally came into view for everyone. "We¡¯ve finally arrived." Bi Fang breathed a sigh of relief, changes in elevation meant mountains. Where there are mountains, there are rocks, soil, plants, animals. Your next chapter is on NovelFire.C?m They say ¡¯you¡¯ll wear out your horse trying to reach the mountain¡¯, but in any case, it¡¯s still better than not seeing the mountain at all. Chapter 650 - 647 Cough Cough Before two o¡¯clock in the morning, they finished. On the deck, a group of people stood, each one without exception wearing a thick coat, wrapped up like penguins. If it were normal times, it wouldn¡¯t even be daylight yet, and everyone would still be asleep, but now quite a few people had come. Clearly, everyone had gotten up to watch the aurora. The huge cruise ship glided through the sea filled with floating ice, smashing pieces of thin ice, leaving behind a clear trail in the water. The Arctic Ocean is a sea covered with sea ice, three-quarters of which is perennially not melting, with a large amount of floating ice and icebergs on the rest of the sea surface. About half of the seawater here will be frozen all year round; the rest will melt in spring and freeze up again in winter, The central region¡¯s sea ice has even existed for three million years, belonging to the permanent ice cover. The climate type is even more singular, which can be simply summarized in one word: cold. "Huh, so cold." "It¡¯s really cold, what¡¯s the temperature now?" "Minus thirty." "Only thirty? Why do I feel colder than yesterday?" The person who asked about the temperature was puzzled; it had been thirty the previous days, and today felt colder, so why was it still thirty? "That guy is from Ugly Country, he¡¯s talking about Fahrenheit, the Celsius temperature is near minus thirty-five degrees already, damn, my nose is about to freeze off, Steven will definitely mock me once I¡¯m back." "Damn, my thermometer isn¡¯t moving!" "Huh?" On the deck, a man tapped his thermometer against the railing, making a metallic clanking sound. The temperature on the thermometer wouldn¡¯t budge, which irritated the man. "The freezing point of kerosene is minus 30¡ãC, it¡¯s frozen, of course, it won¡¯t move." The voice came from the direction of the cabin, everyone looked up, just in time to see Bi Fang close the door and step out onto the deck. "Hey, it¡¯s Mr. Bi." "Mr. Bi, you got up to watch the aurora too?" Enjoy new stories from NovelFire.C?m "Do you have any stories to tell us today?" "I caught up on the videos last night, truly amazing, I regret not getting to know about it sooner." The people greeted him one after another; in less than a week, everyone on the ship had gotten to know this young man, from the captain to the chef and the tourists. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang smiled and nodded, walking over to the man who was complaining about the broken thermometer, leaning against the railing: "The materials for thermometers generally come in three types: kerosene, mercury, and alcohol." "Kerosene¡¯s freezing point is only minus thirty, below this temperature, it solidifies, naturally, it won¡¯t move, or to be precise, the effect of thermal contraction is very small, almost imperceptible to the naked eye, and mercury¡¯s freezing point is minus 38.87¡ãC, so it can¡¯t be used either." "Coming to the Arctic, you can only bring alcohol thermometers because only their freezing point is at minus 117¡ãC, suitable for all the low-temperature environments on Earth. You¡¯re lucky you¡¯re not using mercury, otherwise, if an explosion happened, it would be very dangerous. Though generally, thermometers rarely use mercury." There are many differences in thermometers, with the most common ones being clinical thermometers and atmospheric thermometers. Clinical thermometers usually use mercury, while atmospheric thermometers use kerosene and alcohol; what they measure can be understood just from the literal meaning. "Why?" Someone in the back shouted. Bi Fang lifted his head: "Because mercury expands slowly when heated, and when taken out from the body, it doesn¡¯t cool down rapidly and fall, it needs to be shaken down to return to zero. Using it to measure temperature is simpler and more direct, and it can also avoid errors caused by external temperature transmission." "Kerosene and alcohol thermometers expand significantly when heated, and react very rapidly, rising and falling swiftly with changes in temperature, which is why they¡¯re generally not used for measuring body temperature. They¡¯re often made red and hung indoors, roughly monitoring the ambient weather and temperature." Everyone suddenly understood. "Is everyone up so early today?" Bi Fang checked the time; it wasn¡¯t even breakfast yet. Although the true polar night hadn¡¯t arrived yet, the exceptionally short daytime still reminded everyone to be mindful of time. Most people probably wouldn¡¯t have experience with polar nights, but it¡¯s imaginable that polar nights are not easy to get through; they pose many problems, such as disruptions to a person¡¯s circadian rhythm. A significant part of the human biological clock depends on natural light. Therefore, one very important way of maintaining a schedule is through meal times. The meals on the ship are served at fixed times, with only three meals free of charge. If you want extra meals, sorry, you need to pay. "We all came to see the aurora." "It¡¯s really beautiful." "Yeah, but it¡¯s almost daylight, can we still see it?" "Here you can see it even during the day, of course." "Mr. Bi, you¡¯re up early, too." "Hmm." Bi Fang nodded, pointing at the ice floes not far away, "As soon as it gets light, I¡¯m going to get off the ship once I find a good spot." Getting off the ship! Although the crowd was somewhat surprised, they weren¡¯t too shocked; everyone knew that Bi Fang¡¯s purpose for joining this trip was to reach the northernmost point of Greenland. They just didn¡¯t expect it to come so soon. Half an hour later, the green bands in the sky remained, while the second streak of natural light slowly emerged from the horizon, lifting the dark veil, and a glimpse of dawn appeared. A century ago, on the other side of Earth, on the Antarctic Continent, the bravest group of people embarked on an unpredictable path of exploration that teetered between life and death. On the left was fire, on the right the sea, and ahead lay the dreams and glory they ardently pursued. A century later, a young man arrived at another point on Earth, carrying no supplies, to challenge himself to survive a hundred days here. The cold wind howled. This giant cruise ship, over seventy meters in length, once again shattered an ice floe as the sun hung obliquely at the position of the ship¡¯s figurehead. The figurehead shattered the most glaring rays of the sun, leaving scattered white light to spread in all directions. The freezing tourists shivered and squinted, raising their heads only to see a vast expanse of white. It wasn¡¯t just ice floes, but a continent, an extensive and continuous expanse of pure white land. No trees, no grass, no life. Only the endless cold wind, like knives slicing across faces without blood. Any blood about to spill instantly froze into crimson icicles. Many onlookers couldn¡¯t help touching their own faces, their skin almost numbed by the cold, not realizing there were no cuts from ice knives until their warm fingers touched skin that felt like blocks of ice. A familiar voice mixed with the sound of the wind and reached their ears. When they looked, they noticed that the sturdy drone, which seemed like it would never break, was already hovering overhead. "Looking back at the course of human evolution and change, if our ancestors hadn¡¯t risked and imagined, if they hadn¡¯t dared to innovate and bravely sacrifice with their magnanimous spirit and magnificent sentiment, humans wouldn¡¯t have taken canoes to surf the oceans, exploring the infinite mysteries beyond the shores." "Human curiosity sparks the impulse for adventure, and human adventure ignites the torch of civilization." "Adventure is not only contained within Nature¡¯s oceans and mountains, deserts, and marshes, but is also hidden within densely populated cities." "I am Bi Fang, a professional outdoor explorer. This time, we have come to the Arctic." Chapter 651 - 648: Even Soil Can Be Eaten After crossing countless glaciers and trekking through dozens of kilometers of the ice cap, they finally arrived at the true Greenland. The rocks were as hard as icebergs, and the light grey soil beneath the thick snow was so familiar it made one want to kneel and kiss the ground. The earth is the true destination of humans. Bi Fang leaned against a rock, feeling a slight dizziness, a symptom of low blood sugar. "I haven¡¯t eaten for three days." In front of the camera, Bi Fang said this calmly, accompanied by a burning pain in his stomach. He leaned against the rock, closed his eyes to rest, and took a brief respite, looking quite fatigued. This was his longest recorded period without food during his many live streams. The excessive secretion of gastric acid that wasn¡¯t neutralized made his stomach feel as though it was stuffed with a fiery ball, burning and piercing. "How long humans can survive without food doesn¡¯t have a definitive answer. In 2006, a Japanese hiker, Mitsutaka Uchikoshi, unfortunately fell down a mountain. Immobilized, he survived 24 days just by drinking rainwater." "In 2011, a Swedish man, Peter Kjellberg, was caught in an avalanche while driving. He survived for two months in a car completely buried in snow by eating nothing but the snow." "David Blaine, a magician from Ugly Country, lived in a transparent glass box on the banks of the Thames River in 2003. He was live-streamed 24 hours a day, drinking only water and not eating anything, lasting 44 days before he emerged, having lost about 20 pounds, but his other bodily indicators were mostly fine." "This shows that the human body can survive a long time on just water without food, but it will definitely become very weak." [Stop talking, I¡¯m starting to feel hungry] [I was so scared I hurriedly wolfed down three bowls of rice] [Three bowls? That¡¯s going to bloat you to death] Explore more stories at NovelFire.C?m [I tried it when I was dieting before. The first day I was very hungry but could bear it, on the second day I started to lose control, and my body easily felt cold. On the third day, I suddenly wasn¡¯t hungry anymore, but my body was clearly weak, without any strength, and it was amazing how my body would automatically wake up early, without needing an alarm clock, and I could fall asleep easily.] [Haha, it¡¯s so easy to fall asleep, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t wake up] [Low blood sugar is very dangerous, if you don¡¯t replenish it in time, you could easily pass out] "Dieting by not eating isn¡¯t good," Bi Fang opened his eyes and glanced at the comment stream to remind them, "Not eating or eating too little will put the body into a low metabolic state, which is the ¡¯getting by with minimal¡¯ state." "In 1944, Ancel Keys from the University of Minnesota in Ugly Country conducted a starvation experiment, which was quite an inhumane study with a complex process. I won¡¯t go into detail, but there was a control experiment that could be thought of as eating normally first, then starving, then eating normally again¡ªdoesn¡¯t that sound like the typical dieting pattern for losing weight?" Many viewers nodded without thinking. After all, you can¡¯t diet forever; eventually, you would return to a normal diet. "Dizziness, hair loss, edema, cold intolerance, photophobia, phonophobia, blurred vision, persistent tinnitus, sluggish reactions..." S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Suddenly, a string of words burst from Bi Fang¡¯s mouth, and he concluded, "These were all side effects after the experiment, and there were no exceptions among the participants." [???] [What the hell, that serious?] "The experiment was extreme, and of course, our everyday dieting isn¡¯t that severe, but we still need to be cautious. The calorie formula we have always known is actually wrong. Many believe that reducing caloric intake equates to losing weight, but this is a mistake because intake and consumption can never be considered equal." "Everyone has a balance system inside their body. When we eat less, the body enters a low-energy mode, reducing consumption, which means lowering body temperature, strength, and the brain¡¯s regulatory abilities. You will feel weak, irritable, and depressed." "And while it¡¯s easy for consumption to drop, it¡¯s hard to raise it again. Once the body adapts to a low-consumption mode, even if you eat the same amount of food as before, you won¡¯t be able to increase your metabolism back unless you engage in heavy exercise over a short period." "So when you start eating normally again, you consume the same energy as before dieting, but your consumption does not increase accordingly. Instead, your body starts to store more energy, that is, fat. This is the rebound phenomenon many people experience." [Damn, it suddenly makes sense.] [No wonder my sister gets fat again within a month after dieting, and even more so, in an endless cycle.] [I¡¯ll show this to my girlfriend (dog¡¯s head).] "For weight loss, it¡¯s better to exercise more. By increasing metabolism and maintaining a normal diet, you don¡¯t need to change your food structure drastically, and it¡¯s best to chew slowly." "Many times, the reactions of the stomach and the brain are inconsistent. The stomach is full, but the brain doesn¡¯t realize you¡¯ve had enough, and keeps sending hunger signals." [The real trick is to eat before the brain catches on.] Bi Fang, who had rest for a while, stood up again and stomped his feet, feeling a sense of fulfillment that filled his entire body with a trace of pride. "This is indeed the world¡¯s largest island. It bridges the Arctic Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, facing North America across the strait to the west, bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the south, and looking at Iceland in Europe across the Denmark Strait to the east." "The severe cold of Greenland, where snowflakes dance all year round. Even in the height of summer, the weak sunshine can¡¯t melt all the snow on the ground, not to mention during the long polar nights when the sun hides below the horizon, refusing to show its face, making the climate even colder and the snow even thicker." "For hundreds of years, the cold of Greenland hasn¡¯t changed significantly. The accumulation of ice and snow can¡¯t withstand great pressure, turning gradually into translucent, pale blue ice blocks, covering the entire land of Greenland, with a thickness of over 1500 meters and up to 3000 meters at its thickest." Bi Fang stretched his hand out to point at the nearby mountain range, covered in thick white snow. He didn¡¯t know if it was a rocky mountain or a glacier; from their appearances, they were indistinguishable. These massive glaciers slide down the tilted mountain terrain toward the vast ocean, and over time, due to the combined effects of sea currents, tides, waves, and sunshine, they gradually break apart with thunderous crashes, fragmenting into huge chunks that drift with the currents. Along their journey, sunlight, wind, and waves carve them into various shapes reminiscent of glorious pyramids, mountain ranges, and arches, creating a spectacular and endless display of wonders. Some of these icebergs are kilometers long and hundreds of meters high, essentially floating islands. Yet, what one sees above the water¡¯s surface is only a fraction of their true size. With seventy to eighty percent of their bulk hidden underwater, their enormity can only be imagined. "These icebergs of the Arctic drift independently away from the glaciers, able to last two years, traveling a distance of 3000 kilometers across the oceans." "When they reach warmer waters, they ultimately can¡¯t survive and melt away, vanishing without a trace." "However, in the Baffin Bay area, when icebergs are at their most imposing, they often bring endless disasters to ships of polar explorers." "But that has nothing to do with us." Bi Fang¡¯s grandiose tone suddenly lightened. "I¡¯m so hungry right now that I could eat anything, even dirt." Chapter 652 - 649: Graze Voraciously It was already very late, so late that most would hesitate whether to starve another night, waiting for daylight before setting out again. Originally, Bi Fang should have prepared a shelter within two hours before dark, but when he saw the mountain range within reach, he acted impulsively. He was too hungry; even in the wilderness, he had never felt such hunger. People under extreme hunger don¡¯t tend to be very rational. Having not eaten for three days, and with the cold sapping his warmth, Bi Fang¡¯s hunger was undoubtedly more intense compared to normal temperatures. His shriveled stomach had taken command of his intelligence. Of course, it hadn¡¯t completely taken over; Bi Fang was still quite rational. His exceptional vision allowed him to see clearer and further, and his sense of distance was also more accurate. He had a feeling he could reach his destination before dark. Fortunately, Bi Fang¡¯s bet paid off. Now, less than half an hour remained before darkness fell¡ªindeed, even a quarter of an hour was doubtful! To ninety-nine percent of the world, the Arctic Ocean conjures images of a monochromatic world of ice and snow. Indeed, due to its harsh climate, the Arctic Ocean region is indeed unwelcoming to plants, and it¡¯s rare to see the trace of colorful flowers and green trees. The vegetation on the islands consists mainly of mosses and lichens. Some southern islands have cold-resistant herbaceous plants and small shrubs, but this doesn¡¯t mean that the area is bleak and barren. On the contrary, the Arctic Ocean is a paradise for many animals, such as the famous polar bear, as well as seals, Arctic foxes, reindeer, hares, whales, herring, cod, and in the summer, many birds visit the Siberian coast. In fact, the potential of life is enormous. No matter how harsh the environment of the poles is, living creatures always manage to claim their place and survive. Even though Bi Fang had traversed nearly three thousand miles of vast ice plains, in essence, there would be Arctic foxes and polar bears, but because there was no bottom of the food chain, the already sparse numbers of these animals meant that Bi Fang hadn¡¯t seen a single one. "It might seem like there¡¯s no food in the Polar Regions, but as long as you look carefully..." "In these remote areas, animals are rarely disturbed by humans, so sometimes catching them is not too difficult." "For example, penguins. Of course, these creatures are only found near the Antarctic Circle¡ªI¡¯m just giving an example. Many early explorers used them for food. I heard penguin meat tastes somewhat between beef and mutton, with clear layers of fat and lean meat." "There are also rabbits and voles, foxes and wolves, reindeer, musk oxen, arctic reindeer, elk, and moose, seals¡ªseals have a lot of fat, but they¡¯re quite large and can sometimes be aggressive. Finally, there¡¯s the polar bear, which you¡¯d best not encounter¡ª they¡¯re very large and usually aggressive." [I feel like if I were in the Arctic, even if I really had to take emergency shelter, it¡¯s very unlikely I could defeat one...] [Polar Bear: Thanks bro for the winter warmth. Just worrying about running out of food, and I¡¯ve got three bear cubs to feed at home. A debt of gratitude is inexpressible!] [Be confident, normal people wouldn¡¯t even attempt that icy expanse, completely unaware of directions. If I were out on the ice plains for tens of kilometers, I¡¯d just be spinning like a headless fly, and would have frozen to death early on] But in the current situation, it was impossible for him to catch animals. There wasn¡¯t enough time, and it was impossible for Bi Fang to find animal trails, to construct traps in just ten minutes. Hunting was even less likely¡ªunless he was waiting for hares to run into his lap. It would be good enough if he could eat some grass. Bi Fang¡¯s target was indeed some plants. "Most plants in the Polar Regions are edible. They can usually be peeled, dried, and boiled, or added to brewed tea. Some can be eaten raw, and some are rich in trace elements, which can supplement the body¡¯s needs." "For example, willows in the Polar Region¡ªthe bark, tender shoots, and newly grown roots are all edible and rich in vitamin C." "Litmus can be used for boiling or soaking. Most of the lichens and mosses on rocks are also edible. Lichens and mosses are good sources of food but not abundant in quantity. They must be cooked or roasted before eating, and one should not consume too much at a time. Rock tripe is the best ingredient and can be eaten raw." "Spruce and pine needles, the young shoots and bark can be boiled and eaten. Back then, the Huaxia Volunteer Army used to make tea with pine needles to solve the problem of night blindness, enabling them to fight beautiful battles at night." "In addition, there are bilberries, these red berries are rich in nutrients, and their leaves can be boiled or roasted. Wild lingonberries¡ªthe golden berries are very high in vitamin C, and their leaves can be used to make tea." "If you have the materials for making a fire, like wood, plants, or animal fats, then you can start a fire and thus cook food. However, it¡¯s difficult; without ample time and luck, you hardly need to consider it. Don¡¯t expect that you can easily find branches for kindling, as you might in lower-latitude regions." sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Still, exposed rocks with lichens and mosses on them are easy to find. Reindeer, for instance, survive on them. On Greenland, there have been records of 300 kinds of lichens and 600 kinds of mosses. In 1954, people even discovered bacteria and fungal spores at a depth of 3400 meters under the Arctic Ocean." Bi Fang knelt on one knee in the snow, scraping away at the rock in front of him with both hands, sweeping the snow clean to reveal the cold and smooth surface of the stone that seemed to lack the moss and lichen he mentioned. But Bi Fang did not give up. He scraped the snow clean from between the stones and the frozen earth, and finally, a faint green color appeared before everyone¡¯s eyes. There really were plants! The audience¡¯s eyes showed shock. Greenland is primitive. Here, every mountain the people see dates back hundreds of millions of years, and the icebergs thousands upon thousands of years. Since ancient times, it has been the realm of myths, this remote island becoming the fountainhead of all fantasies and mysteries. The dazzling auroras, the boundless tundra, the shimmering ice columns, the peculiar icebergs, and the nearly extreme cold combined with the almost silent Inuit people create a world as pure as a fairy tale. But that¡¯s for travelers. For those seeking to survive, this place is simply the arctic Hell. Yet even in a world blanketed in snow, there are stubborn green plants that grow in the crevices. What do they live on? In temperatures dozens of degrees below zero, wouldn¡¯t the cell fluid freeze? [By the way, why are polar plants mostly evergreen? It seems like they¡¯re mostly green.] [Holy crap, now that you mention it, yeah, shouldn¡¯t the high latitudes have seasonal changes?] "Because the base is made of moss plants, also known as tundra, which is a biological community that grows on cold permafrost, an extreme environmental community. It has many special adaptations to the harsh polar conditions." "For instance, the stems and leaves of these plants are tightly pressed against the ground to withstand the pressure of the snow. As long as there is a short warm spell each year, the plants immediately sprout, completing the process of growth, flowering, and fruiting within two months." "And they remain evergreen to better absorb sunlight. There¡¯s no seasonal change here, just half a year of daylight and half a year of night. It¡¯s already good enough that evergreen plants can survive, let alone undergo seasonal changes." "The shedding and growth of tree leaves are for better energy storage. For polar plants, just surviving is difficult enough, to say nothing of storing energy, and for that reason, they grow very slowly." Bi Fang directly picked a tender leaf and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing it like an ice cube, without any taste or sensation, and it quickly entered his stomach. Explore more at NovelFire.C?m Although it¡¯s best to boil moss before eating, Bi Fang currently didn¡¯t have the conditions to do so; being able to fill his stomach was already a luxury. Bi Fang was confident in his digestive capabilities. Chapter 653 - 650: Encountering a Blizzard Sitting on the ground, he gnawed some moss to neutralize the surging stomach acid, and the discomfort in his stomach finally subsided a lot. By this time, the weather had also completely darkened; pitch black surrounded him. Bi Fang decided not to look for another place and simply leaned against the rock to start pushing snow. Using the rock as a windbreak, he blocked off the other sides with snow, eventually forming a narrow snow burrow to crawl into. It was quite snug, and most importantly, it was convenient and fast, much quicker than huffing and puffing to dig a hole. Especially since the ground beneath him was frozen, which was no easier to dig than ice blocks. The only advantage was that it was more likely to shatter, similar to brittle sugar cookies. This permafrost in Greenland had been frozen for who knows how many years, like ice granules, a pity they were inedible¡ªif eaten, they would cause diarrhea and easily block the intestines. After the exterior wall was built to block the cold wind, Bi Fang used a dagger to fashion a small fork shovel and dug out a pit just large enough for one person, with steps like tiers: one layer a bit higher, the next layer deeper. In time, the slightly higher layer would be used to rest his legs, making the sleeping posture similar to lying down while sitting on a stool. "This is a very efficient sleeping posture often seen in the military. Elevating the feet allows blood from the legs and feet to return more quickly to the lungs and heart, providing them with ample oxygen, helping with sleep initiation, and also activating venous circulation in the legs and feet to prevent varicose veins." "Well-trained soldiers can even fall asleep within one hundred and twenty seconds." Once he made the bed and covered it with snow, the heat was completely trapped inside. In less than ten minutes, the whole cave began to warm up. Moreover, he had just eaten some moss, and though it was cold at first, once melted by body heat, his long-parched body crazily absorbed the nutrients, which spread as warmth throughout his limbs and body. Combining both effects, Bi Fang found himself surprisingly comfortable, turning over contentedly in the pitch-black cave. "Today, I finally arrived on permafrost, and although the surroundings are still rather bleak, at least we have an environment suitable for long-term survival. Here we have moss and lichen; they can keep me going at least half a month, giving us enough time to build a main base and prepare for the polar night." "If I could find a river or even the edge of the frozen sea, that would be even better. Dig a hole, and maybe I could enjoy some seafood." Bi Fang was already daydreaming about a wonderful life ahead. The ice sheet of Greenland does not spread in all directions due to latitude and ocean currents; on the map, it presents a triangular shape. The section where the cruise ship dropped Bi Fang off was precisely at the sharpest point of this triangle, the furthest from the permafrost. If he headed towards either side, perhaps he could find a coastline with soil. Of course, the best scenario would be to find a frozen inland river because the coastlines of the Arctic are often tumultuous and frequented by polar bears. "Time to sleep, there¡¯s no need to hurry tomorrow. We¡¯ll explore the surrounding environment and look for materials to see if we can make a fire. Alright, goodbye." Read new chapters at NovelFire.C?m Using his backpack to block the drafty entrance, amongst the usual reluctance of the massive online audience, Bi Fang decisively turned off the live stream. The live room went dark for several minutes, afterward replaying the day¡¯s broadcast. [Off I go, will watch tomorrow] [Work tomorrow, will watch in the evening] [Party tonight, will watch during the day] With an audience numbering in the millions chatting idly for a while, they started leaving the live room one by one. And then, at this moment. [Damn, I just casually checked Greenland¡¯s weather forecast, and it says there might be a blizzard after 6 am tomorrow!] Suddenly, a comment in the chat made many of the viewers who were trying to leave stick around. A blizzard? That word reminded everyone of some rather unpleasant memories. The last time Bi Fang encountered a blizzard was in Mohe, where he also came across a group of people from a geographical magazine who had been in a car accident due to the storm. It was a stroke of luck that he was able to rescue them and prevent the loss of lives. As fans of Bi Fang, most people have watched the Mohe special edition, whether at the time or later on. Looking back now, the Mohe episode was indeed tense and thrilling, leaving a lasting impression. But at the time, no one knew what the outcome would be. Viewers were anxious and on edge every day, their palms drenched with cold sweat after watching. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [blizzard, there shouldn¡¯t be any problem, right...?] [Suddenly feeling a bit nervous] [I¡¯d like to call it blizzard phobia.] [Does Old Fang know about it?] [How would he know, Old Fang isn¡¯t a god, can he predict the weather ten hours from now?] Weather is unpredictable; unless satellite monitoring of cloud movements is utilized, signs that can be directly observed are difficult to come by more than three hours in advance. At sea, a sailor who can predict weather changes an hour in advance with over fifty percent accuracy is a VIP wherever they go, a boss among bosses. The advent of natural weather satellites is a powerful tool for humans to avoid natural dangers, an advantage unmatched even by the most experienced survival experts, allowing for accurate weather predictions days or even half a month in advance, something impossible for humans alone. With no sign of trouble, it was impossible to foresee Nature¡¯s plans; at this moment, Bi Fang had ended his live stream and was blissfully asleep, completely unaware of what he would face when he woke up. The audience also became anxious, but unfortunately, their concern was of no help. Exhausted, Bi Fang fell asleep quickly, a skill honed over time, completely unaware of the barrage of messages from his online friends. But he was soon to feel it. That piercing cold wind. ... When Bi Fang opened his eyes again, what he felt was not the refreshment after a good night¡¯s sleep, but uncontrollable shivering, his limbs stiff as if numb, and chillingly cold. He was hypothermic. Bi Fang quickly realized this. Generally, hypothermia in the wilderness is divided into three stages: mild hypothermia is characterized by constant shivering and chills, with core body temperature dropping to around 35 degrees Celsius. With moderate hypothermia, one has "no energy left to shiver," thinking becomes confused, and emotions turn apathetic. When the core temperature drops below 32 degrees, that¡¯s severe hypothermia, where one¡¯s thinking is totally confused and the ability to move is lost. Fortunately, Bi Fang was only mildly hypothermic at the moment. He was essentially woken up by the cold. It was then that Bi Fang glanced at the chat in his live stream room. Even though he hadn¡¯t started broadcasting yet, people had already been waiting and discussing the blizzard they¡¯d noticed the night before. A blizzard? Bi Fang was startled, then his nose tingled, and he couldn¡¯t help but sneeze. No wonder it was so cold. Chapter 654 - 651 Reserve a Spot Rushing a draft Finished revising before one in the morning To save space, the stairs on the ship are generally very steep, and the height of the rooms is only about two meters, with piping, cables, and insulation materials laid on top. Once beds, closets, desks, and chairs are in place, the room is essentially filled. Bi Fang maneuvered between the seats and the wooden table to sit on the edge of the bed, which was a standard single but even narrower. There¡¯s a good reason for the cramped bed space. At sea, it¡¯s best to have a bed so narrow that it snugly fits your body. Experienced sailors often stuff pillows and blankets at the head of the bed in advance so that when a storm hits, they can grasp the edges of the bed with their hands and brace their feet against the wall at the bed¡¯s end to avoid being thrown to the floor. Outside the room, the ship¡¯s corridors barely meet the minimum international convention standard¡ª0.7 meters. When two people meet in the corridor, one must turn sideways and press against the wall for the other to pass. As for entertainment, there¡¯s hardly any public space besides the dining room. No wonder tickets for such a cruise are so cheap. Experience new stories on NovelFire.C?m Bi Fang sighed in his heart. A fishing vessel turned into a cruise ship could only offer these conditions. If it were before, the crew would have had to spend whole two to three-year fishing periods in such an environment, but converting to a cruise ship made things much simpler and the income a bit more stable. Most people imagine life at sea as a long vacation: eating sashimi, feeling the ocean breeze, sunbathing, each day like in Hawaii. The first few aspects are indeed true and are also the biggest selling points of this "cruise ship," which, as a converted fishing vessel, has retained some fishing capabilities. In the Arctic Ocean, almost free from industrial pollution, you can catch seafood and enjoy the finest sashimi without any condiments¡ªtender, sweet, and rich. Not long after boarding, Bi Fang witnessed an unprecedented catch¡ª120 pounds of fish. He had never before tasted such delicious Arctic shrimp sashimi, which melted in the mouth with a sweet and glutinous texture. But once your three meals a day become just that, continuing for years... Thinking this way, the captain who decided on the conversion was indeed quite bold; by turning it into a cruise ship, only the good was retained. Bi Fang took out his backpack and, from the innermost compartment, retrieved two documents, inspecting them back and forth. What he had taken out were two certifications. One was a hunting quota allocation for polar bears, and another was a hunting permit for seals. They were given to him by the scientists at Yellow River Station. Bi Fang remembered the night before last when the hotel front desk suddenly called him, saying someone was looking for him. At that time, he was curious about who would come to such a remote city to find him. It turned out to be a compatriot from Yellow River Station. The purpose of their visit was to bring him the two permits he was now examining. At face value, it¡¯s very simple: Bi Fang could now hunt polar bears and seals, and it would be through regular, legal means. Greenland is also a stronghold for polar bears, and it¡¯s very likely that Bi Fang could encounter them. They are animals with a very keen curiosity, especially in the fall when they try to accumulate fat. Once a conflict arises, the outcome is unpredictable. The same goes for seals, a single seal could save a life at a critical moment, whether it¡¯s with its warm fur or the fatty seal meat, providing immense heat and assistance. Never underestimate the determination of humans to protect the polar regions; their resolve is so firm that it¡¯s even shocking. There¡¯s a regulation in the Antarctic Treaty. "If you have not obtained ¡¯permission to kill a seal¡¯ before heading to Antarctica, in the event of a disaster where you¡¯re about to starve to death, are you allowed to kill a seal to stave off hunger?" The answer¡ªunexpected by everyone: "You may not kill a seal to stave off hunger." Incredible? Yes, it seems incredible to anyone. When regulations are this detailed, can anyone still think that the commitment to protecting the Antarctic ecosystem is a joke? If these contents seem as empty as advice from a distant planet, it might be because your world hasn¡¯t expanded to the ends of the Earth. Of course, that¡¯s the Antarctic Treaty, while Bi Fang is now heading to the Arctic, and even though an Arctic Treaty is being drafted, currently there are no such strict regulations in place, except for a ban on hunting by ordinary people. Apart from Canada, only various research centers and the local indigenous Inuit people are able to obtain hunting permits. Hunting polar bears and seals is a means of survival for the Inuit people, a natural part of the food chain, much like polar bears hunting seals. It¡¯s a given, nobody will stop them, and even then, there¡¯s a fixed quota each year. No matter how a polar bear dies, it counts against the quota. This time, Yellow River Station gave Bi Fang the quota for one polar bear and three seals, lending a helping hand. It was a huge favor, to say the least. Bi Fang solemnly placed the two permits into the compartment of his backpack, considering it a significant favor. Although he might not need it, he would never forget it. Indeed, when you¡¯re away from home, it¡¯s always best to rely on your own people. In the following days, Bi Fang stayed aboard the ship, approaching Greenland. After the initial novelty wore off for the passengers, they started treating Bi Fang¡¯s several hours of live broadcasting each day as a fixed program activity. When it was about time every day, they would gather on the deck, listening to Bi Fang explain cultural history and the strange tales of past Arctic explorers. Everyone felt as if they had returned to their school days, except that this lesson was more interesting and more beautiful. During his days on the ship, what affected Bi Fang the most was probably using the toilet. Entering the restroom, the ship would sway, making it hard to squat steadily. In the end, Bi Fang concluded that one should choose a calm day to use the toilet; otherwise, constipation was highly likely. Having passed through Fram Strait, the warming effect of the North Atlantic current was negligible. Almost every day, the temperature was dropping, not because it was approaching winter, but simply due to geographic changes. From around zero degrees at Svalbard to minus twenty in the strait, the temperature had now dropped to minus thirty degrees. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang had no doubts that, upon landing on the island, the temperature would drop below minus thirty-five degrees, and at the end of the polar night, it could even hit an extremely low temperature below minus sixty degrees. After several days of sailing, that morning, the captain sent a sailor to knock on Bi Fang¡¯s door to notify him. The northernmost point of Greenland had been reached. Bi Fang stood up and looked out the pitch-black porthole. Although it was just a regular morning, the sky was still dark, painted with a faint, deep aquamarine ribbon, slowly drifting like a dreamy bubble. It was the aurora borealis. Today was a good day for the aurora borealis to appear, and in two more hours it would be dawn, but the silent icebergs of the night had already welcomed the first touch of natural light, turning the whole sky into an indelible aquamarine hue. "Looks like it¡¯s a good day to land," he said. Chapter 655 - 652: Coach Fang in the Snowstorm of Greenland In the darkness of the cave, Bi Fang¡¯s face was half visible and half shrouded, yet even though separated by more than a meter of snow, the audience in front of the screen could still hear the clear howling of the wind, quite eerie. This didn¡¯t seem like taking shelter in a snow cave, it felt more like being buried alive. If one¡¯s psychological endurance was slightly weaker, they wouldn¡¯t be able to stay in such an environment. But going out would most likely mean death, the environment was already cold, and the blizzard was like a giant heat extraction machine, not leaving a trace of warmth in the earth. The blinding snowstorm also blocked out the sunshine, completely cutting off any warmth from solar radiation. [In such a scene, it kind of feels like being buried alive] [Today¡¯s wind is particularly raucous] Bi Fang, back against the snow, was slowly taking apart the thin rope that had been used to block the snow. He had now constructed the entire ceiling of the cave into a semi-circle, the strongest structure, so those ropes were no longer necessary. To build the entire ceiling of the snow cave into a semi-circle took both time and effort. Not knowing the blizzard was coming, Bi Fang¡¯s initially dug snow trench was very rough. The ropes served the purpose of branches, supporting the upper "snow blanket", but now that it was arched, they were no longer needed. But just to complete this one snow cave, Bi Fang had dug for a good half of the day, which shows that compared to a simple snow trench that only needs a hole, building a snow cave is indeed more laborious. After all this work, Bi Fang planted the shovel in the ground and lay down in the snow to rest, although he had tried his best to avoid sweating, sudden cessation of activity still brought beads of sweat on his forehead. The entire cave had a diameter of about 1.6 meters, just right for a single-person snow house. It didn¡¯t need to be too big, as too much space couldn¡¯t accumulate heat, and this size was just right. However, in a cave that was 1.6 meters, Bi Fang, being over 1.8 meters tall, couldn¡¯t lie flat; there wasn¡¯t space for him to lie down, and forcing it would make the cave too cramped for him. Luckily, with an extra step to place his lower legs, he managed to fit in somewhat comfortably in a decent posture. Inside the cave, it wasn¡¯t completely dark but rather, with the help of a 10-centimeter diameter air hole in the ceiling, there was a very dim white light filtering through. It was so faint that Bi Fang could barely make out his surroundings, whereas the drone had to activate night mode to operate properly. This ventilation hole was completely parallel to the direction of the wind, almost preventing any cold air from pouring in while ensuring air exchange under the pressure difference, maintaining air quality within the cave. "When camping in the snow, wind protection is the most important. It¡¯s the most dangerous thing in a blizzard and can easily cause death. So, when building shelter in a snow-covered wilderness, always remember that digging down is much easier than building up. Find places around large trees or areas with lots of snow accumulation to dig." "The three main types of snow shelters are adapted for different conditions. Dome snow houses are suitable for hard, heavy snow, just like now, where the blizzard has pressed the snow on the ground to be hard and thick." "Snow mounds are appropriate for building in powdery snow, which was the case before it snowed, and snow caves are more for use in emergencies." Bi Fang, leaning in the snow, as if lying on a soft sofa, intermittently shared some key points with the audience. "And you must ensure air circulation because once the body heats the shelter, the surface of the snow will slightly melt, creating a good seal. Therefore, it¡¯s essential to maintain a ventilation hole or check regularly to prevent carbon dioxide build-up from reaching dangerous levels and causing poisoning." Although dry powdered snow can¡¯t be gripped, when under sufficient pressure, or when its surface slightly melts from heat, it will crystallize and turn into a state of half snow, half ice. Many people have seen this situation before, but never paid it any mind. That is, often after a heavy snowfall, clear skies would follow. Yet stepping onto the snow then, one would feel something completely different. At that moment, walking on it would produce a crisp, crackling sound, in stark contrast to the utter silence during the snowfall itself. In fact, it¡¯s because the top layer of snow slightly melts upon receiving sunlight, then recrystallizes under low temperatures, forming a thin layer of ice crystals. It¡¯s just extremely thin, so stepping on it causes the crunching, collapsing sound. "Hah~~~" Bi Fang removed his gloves, breathed out a breath of warm air, and finally felt a bit of warmth. Due to the recent activity, the entire cave had filled up with heat, and the temperature inside was between negative ten and negative five degrees Celsius. But after another half an hour, it would probably stabilize at around negative ten degrees Celsius. Although that might still sound very cold, at least compared to the potential negative fifty degrees Celsius outside in the "hell" of frigid weather, it was already a warm paradise. [Do we just wait it out now?] [I think we should do something] Read new chapters at NovelFire.C?m [Perhaps we could have done something initially, but now with the blizzard raging, it¡¯s completely too late.] The online friends¡¯ conversation in the style of Great Britain was so on point it was laughable. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang held the rope in his hand and shook off the ice flakes, feeling his growling stomach and exhaling deeply. If the blizzard really persists for three days, if he just waited, he might end up losing ten pounds in weight. Holing up in the cave for food and drink was one thing, but dealing with bowel movements was truly torturous. Wilderness survival wasn¡¯t just about having robust survival skills; these small details were equally important. Although he didn¡¯t have much to eat these past days and thus had no need for major bathroom breaks, the minor ones were inevitable, as he had been continuously drinking. Bi Fang had tried to take care of these needs all at once during the daytime when the sun was beaming, to avoid the extreme cold at night which could freeze things up. This was not impossible; at temperatures below minus thirty degrees, it was perfectly possible to throw water and see it turn into ice. That would be really bad; even skin exposed to the air would quickly suffer from frostbite, let alone more sensitive parts of the body. But there was no solution for this; he could only endure it. With such external weather conditions, waiting was out of the question. If he actually starved for a week, Bi Fang feared he¡¯d be so weak he wouldn¡¯t even be able to walk, undoubtedly leading to a vicious cycle. His only option now was to brave the blizzard and see if he could find anything to eat nearby. "I must go out and look, see if I can find food. Otherwise, all we can do here is wait to die." The audience was shocked by Bi Fang¡¯s decision, yet some found it completely logical. Bi Fang stabbed his dagger into the ground, tied one end of the long rope around his ankle, and wrapped the other end securely around the knife handle. "The storm outside is too fierce, the visibility is less than five meters. Once I go out, it¡¯s very possible to get lost in the blizzard. In this situation, making marks is useless because the traces will quickly be erased by the snowstorm. I must use this rope to find my way back, but it also limits my movement." "Wish me luck." Chapter 656: Finish before 2:53 Cough cough, finish before two o¡¯clock, an error margin of no more than an hour is acceptable. Having crossed countless glaciers and trekked across dozens of kilometers of ice fields, he finally arrived at the real Greenland. The ice-cold, hard rocks, the pale grey soil beneath the thick snow, were so inviting that one couldn¡¯t resist kneeling and kissing them. The earth is the true destination of humans. Leaning against a rock, Bi Fang felt a slight dizziness in his head, a symptom of hypoglycemia. "I haven¡¯t eaten for three days," he calmly said to the camera. Accompanying this statement was a burning pain in his stomach, and the visibly exhausted man leaned on a rock to close his eyes and rest for a bit. He had live-streamed many times before, but this was the longest he had gone without food. The excessive production of stomach acids without neutralization made his stomach feel like it was stuffed with a fireball, hot and aching. "There isn¡¯t a definitive answer to how long a person can live without food. In 2006, a Japanese hiker named Mitsutaka Uchikoshi unfortunately fell down a mountain during a trek. Unable to move, he survived 24 days by just drinking rainwater." "In 2011, a Swedish man named Peter Kjellberg was caught in an avalanche while driving. Stuck in his car, completely buried in snow, he survived for two months by eating snow." "The magician David Blaine from Ugly Country performed a stunt in 2003 by the Thames River, living inside a transparent glass box, 24 hours of live-streaming, without eating anything and only drinking water. He managed for 44 days before coming out, losing about 20 pounds, but other health indicators were largely intact." "This shows that the human body can survive a long time just by drinking water without food, but it will definitely become very weak." [Stop talking, I¡¯m feeling hungry already.] [I got so startled, I hastily wolfed down three bowls of rice.] [Three bowls? Hope you don¡¯t burst.] [I tried fasting when I was dieting before. The first day I was very hungry but could bear it. By the second day, I couldn¡¯t control myself anymore, and I was feeling colder. By the third day, I was suddenly not hungry, but I was clearly weaker, with no strength, and amazingly my body would wake up on its own, without needing an alarm clock, and I would fall asleep easily.] [Haha, falling asleep easily, I¡¯m afraid I might never wake up.] [Hypoglycemia is dangerous; if you don¡¯t address it promptly, it can pass you by quite easily.] "Dieting by not eating is not good," Bi Fang opened his eyes and glanced at the barrage of comments, reminding, "Not eating, or eating too little, will cause the body to automatically enter a state of low metabolism, which is like being in a ¡¯make-do and still survive¡¯ condition." "In 1944, Ancel Keys from the University of Minnesota in Ugly Country conducted a starvation experiment. It was quite an inhumane experiment, and it¡¯s somewhat complex, so I won¡¯t go into details, but there was a control experiment: normal eating, then starvation, followed by normal eating again. Doesn¡¯t that sound like the usual routine of dieting?" Many viewers nodded subconsciously. After all, one can¡¯t diet forever; eventually, normal eating habits will resume. "Dizziness, hair loss, edema, feeling cold, being light-sensitive, sound-sensitive, blurred vision, continuous tinnitus, slow reactions..." Suddenly, a string of words tumbled out of Bi Fang¡¯s mouth, and he finally added, "These were all the sequelae after the experiment. Not one of the participants was an exception." [???] [What the hell, that serious?] "The experiment was extreme, and we would never diet this severely in our everyday lives, but we still need to be cautious. The calorie formula that we¡¯ve always known is actually wrong. Many people believe that reducing calorie intake equals weight loss, which is a mistake because intake and expenditure are never equal." S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Everyone has a balance system within their body. When we eat less, our body enters a low-energy mode, reducing consumption. This means lowering body temperature, strength, and the brain¡¯s regulatory abilities. You will feel weak, irritable, and depressed." "While it¡¯s easy for consumption to decrease, it is hard to increase. Once you adapt to a low consumption mode, even if you return to your previous diet, you cannot raise your metabolism back up unless you engage in large amounts of exercise over a short period." "So when you start eating normally again, you¡¯re taking in the same amount of energy as before the diet, but your consumption hasn¡¯t increased. This actually leads to your body storing more energy, in the form of fat, which is what many people experience as weight rebound." [Damn, it suddenly makes sense.] [No wonder my sister gets even fatter within a month after losing weight, and it¡¯s a never-ending cycle.] [Gotta show this to my girlfriend (Dog¡¯s head)] "For weight loss, you should exercise more. As you increase your metabolism, maintaining a normal diet should be enough. There¡¯s no need to specifically change your food structure, and it¡¯s best to chew slowly." "Often, the stomach and the brain don¡¯t sync up. Even when the stomach is full, the brain might not realize you¡¯ve already eaten enough and keeps sending hunger signals." [Real¡¤Taking advantage before the brain catches on] After taking a brief rest, Bi Fang stood up again, stepping on the ground, a sense of fulfillment turned into a trace of heroic spirit filling his entire body. "This is the true world¡¯s largest island. It connects the Arctic Ocean with the Atlantic, faces North America across the strait to the west, borders the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic to the south, and looks out at Europe¡¯s Iceland across the Denmark Strait to the east." "On the extremely cold Greenland, snowflakes dance all year round. Even in the peak of summer, the weak sunlight can¡¯t melt the snow on the ground, let alone during the long polar nights, when the sun always hides below the horizon, unwilling to show its face, and the weather gets even colder, adding to the thickening snow." "For hundreds of years, Greenland¡¯s cold climate has shown no significant change. The mountainous snow, unable to withstand the immense pressure, gradually turns into pale blue transparent ice blocks that cover all of Greenland¡¯s land, with depths reaching over 1500 meters, and in some places, more than 3000 meters." Bi Fang pointed at a mountain range not far away, covered by thick snow. He couldn¡¯t tell whether they were rock mountains or glaciers; they were indistinguishable from their appearance alone. These massive glaciers would slide down sloped terrain towards the vast ocean. They gradually break apart into huge chunks due to the combined action of currents, tides, waves, and sunlight, bobbing along with the waves, creating loud cracking sounds. Along the way, sunlight, wind, and waves shape them into various forms, like magnificent pyramids, like mountains, like arches ¨C a sight filled with wonders and of extreme grandeur. Some of these icebergs are kilometers long and hundreds of meters high, comparable to a floating island. However, what people see is only the height above water. Below the surface, the iceberg has seven to eight times that size hidden, and its enormity is unimaginable. "Each of these Arctic icebergs breaks away from the glacier and drifts independently, lasting up to two years, traveling over a distance of 3000 kilometers across the ocean." "When it reaches the warmer waters and can no longer survive, it melts and disappears without a trace." "But along the Baffin Bay, the icebergs are at their most daunting, often bringing endless disasters to the ships of polar explorers." Read latest stories on NovelFire.C?m "However, that has nothing to do with us." Bi Fang¡¯s grandiose tone suddenly lightened. "I¡¯m starving to death right now, I just want to eat something, even dirt would do." Chapter 657 - 654 What a Coincidence Those who wonder why the inside of an ice hut does not melt when you make a fire fundamentally lack understanding of the concept of cold. Most people find it hard to comprehend how one can still freeze to death indoors in winter even when the air conditioner is set to maximum heat and full power. But many people from the north can understand. If modern heating with air conditioning can¡¯t achieve it, how could a fire meant to warm just one person possibly do so? "Ice has excellent insulation properties. The outside and inside are two completely different temperatures, so the inner layer of ice and snow will indeed melt a layer. But with the subsequent rush of cold air, it will refreeze, turning into ice blocks. That¡¯s why lighting a bonfire in a cave will not only not melt the snow house, but it will actually make it harder," Bi Fang shivered and briefly explained before continuing to dig out snow. In the dim environment, although he couldn¡¯t see the sky, he could still tell it was nighttime. Bi Fang needed to be extra careful to avoid snowflakes falling into his shoes¡ªin such extreme cold, wetting one¡¯s shoes could be fatal. It was easy to find fire-making bushes, but food was not so easy to find. The bushes, exposed on the surface before the blizzards arrived, were easily visible. Just a quick look yesterday and Bi Fang had used his excellent memory to record the location of all the bushes. Now, he just had to follow those memories. Although the heavy snow obscured distances, with more searching, he could always find them. But things like moss and lichen were already buried under the snow layers before the blizzard, leaving no trace for Bi Fang to remember; he could only rely on luck to search. He searched for nearly twenty minutes. In the blizzard, even staying for one minute was a huge test of physical strength. Bi Fang¡¯s limbs were beginning to stiffen. If he hadn¡¯t kept moving, he probably would have become immobile by now. Luckily, after digging for nearly five to six meters, a hint of green finally appeared on the screen. The tundra vegetation consists mostly of perennial evergreens that can make full use of the brief nutritional period without having to waste time growing new leaves and completing their entire life cycle, but the short nutritional period means that tundra plants grow very slowly. Although there wasn¡¯t much moss and lichen in sight, Bi Fang treasured them as if they were precious gems. They were lifesaving resources, after all. Reinvigorated, Bi Fang dug them all up, not worrying about whether the leaves were tender or not. He¡¯d take them back to figure it out; if they weren¡¯t edible, they could still be used for making fire. In a world of ice and snow, plants are the most valuable resource. The solitary figure of Bi Fang trudged through the icy wilderness, cold and hungry, his hands and feet nearly numb. Fortunately, his mind was still clear, and he didn¡¯t succumb to hallucinations. After an hour of leaving the cave and digging up the second batch of lichen, Bi Fang could no longer continue. Lifting his legs that were as cold as ice pops, he crawled back into the burrow along the rope. "Hiss." Bi Fang shook off all the snow from his body, every muscle crying out in bitter cold, accompanied by shivering. Stored fat had been rapidly depleted, and though he didn¡¯t appear noticeably thinner, Bi Fang could still feel the change in his body weight. Ordinary people wouldn¡¯t noticeably lose weight after not eating for three days, but in the Arctic, it was a different story. Experience more content on NovelFire.C?m Under Nature¡¯s brutal test of minus fifty degrees, Bi Fang¡¯s life hinged on his body fat. His previous weight gain had not been in vain. In the cave, Bi Fang took off his shoes. Although he had been very careful, the blizzard¡¯s snowflakes were pervasive. Although his toes were completely frozen stiff, he could still see that parts of his socks were wet from the melted snow. If he had continued to dig earlier, he might have faced the risk of tissue necrosis. In extreme cold, tissue necrosis, especially in the toes, is a very common occurrence, even in modern times. Food could wait, but Bi Fang had to start a campfire to dry his shoes, or else his feet would completely freeze. He took all the dry branches and grass out of his backpack, selecting suitable materials for a simple Fire-Making by Wood-Drilling. "Fuel is not scarce in this kind of environment. Greenland actually has vast forests, but we don¡¯t have them here. We only have shrubs, but they¡¯re also good materials. And they¡¯re very dry." "Don¡¯t think these dead branches and leaves buried in the snow will become very moist, but in fact, they contain very little water." "This is a simple physical phenomenon. When it snows, the temperature is low, and when the temperature is low, the air¡¯s saturation vapor pressure is low, so the air can carry very little water vapor. When dry air comes into contact with a moist object, it causes more water from inside the object to evaporate, thereby becoming dry." S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [No wonder my skin always feels so dry in the winter.] [Aside from SpongeBob, nothing else can stay moist when it encounters water.] [Dry climate in autumn and winter is the mainstream of the global climate.] Bi Fang took off his gloves, unzipped his jacket to take out matches. He had to succeed on the first try, as his hands had already frozen stiff in just that short time. He didn¡¯t have any fire-making materials on him, so he had to resort to the most primitive way of making fire, and due to limited materials, he could only use Fire-Making by Wood-Drilling. Using a knife, he shaved a branch into a velvet-like texture, quickly fashioning a tool. With Bi Fang¡¯s master-level experience, although his fingers were somewhat stiff, Wood-Drilling relies more on palm friction and arm strength. He managed to create black smoke on his first attempt. The campfire was lit, and as Bi Fang brought his hands close to the flames, his blood began to circulate once more. After toasting his shoes slightly over the fire, Bi Fang put them back on, and an indescribable sense of comfort rushed up his spine to the Heavenly Spirit Cover, making one unable to resist the urge to stretch. Bi Fang wanted to shift to a more comfortable position, so he leaned against the wall of the cave. Instantly, the accumulated snow fell. The fire was extinguished. Hm? Bi Fang looked up in surprise, only to find that a thick slab of snow had dislodged from the originally arched snow roof of his shelter, like a piece of white plaster falling from an old, decrepit ceiling. The sudden accident stunned everyone. Even after a full minute of silence, Bi Fang¡¯s voice rose again. "This must be the consequence of digging first and building later." If it were a properly built snow house, one would naturally use snow bricks, stacking the solid blocks piece by piece. But Bi Fang¡¯s method had been to dig a large hole and then form an arch on top. Such construction is naturally not as sturdy or stable as one built block by block, and it¡¯s normal for a piece or two to fall off occasionally. Maybe just now, with the change in temperature, it had already experienced a slight deformation and loosening, coupled with a minor vibration, coincidentally extinguishing the fire that had just been lit. Bi Fang had to start the fire again; this was his last chance, because his hands were no longer responding, and his toes even started to feel a sharp pain. He put on his gloves, desperately hitting his own thighs, until his hands felt again. Chapter 658 - 655 Two Hours Later I¡¯m staking a claim, time to rest early. I¡¯ll change it back before two in the morning. Enjoy new stories from NovelFire.C?m The sun rose, and I was full of energy. Feeling the temperature rise, Bi Fang felt all the cells in his body stretch out. Far away was a series of white undulations, indicating he was going in the right direction, headed towards the interior of Greenland. Because there could not be any undulating terrain on the ice field, they had to be mountain ranges. "If you set a goal to direct your travel, after reaching it, you need to establish a new goal," he said. "In polar conditions, it is extremely vast and there are nearly no distinguishable features, so remember to fixate on a feature you can see on the horizon, but this doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯ll reach that place quickly." The old saying ¡¯watching a mountain run won¡¯t make it come any closer¡¯ warns of this very thing. You see the mountain, but even if the horse dies running, you still might not reach it. "It could be as far as 100 kilometers away. The captain on the cruise ship shared his experience with me. Once, he was walking on the ice cap of Greenland when he spotted a black object on the horizon. During the weeks of travel through icebergs and coastlines without seeing anything else, it was the first time they saw a small black dot." "The captain was extremely excited about this different object, setting up a camp eagerly discussing that they could reach the mountain by the next morning. Two days passed, and it was still there!" he laughed. [Let¡¯s not disclose such embarrassing stories, shall we?] [Ah, the captain!] [Is the captain watching the live stream too?] [Aren¡¯t you afraid of hitting an iceberg if you¡¯re not watching the ship?] [Darling, I have a first mate and a second mate. They are the real workers.] [What a guy.] [The polite first mate.] Bi Fang finished his last sip of water and squatted down to start drilling ice. "These past days I drank a total of four pots of water, roughly two pots a day, without drinking excessively. Drinking water is a part of metabolism, which does take away some of your body¡¯s energy, so under non-extreme conditions, maintaining just the necessary amount of hydration is sufficient," he explained. "One thing I¡¯ve noticed distinctly is that the taste of salt in the water has become less and less apparent, and now here..." Bi Fang chipped off a piece of ice, put it in his mouth, then spat it out, laughing, "There¡¯s practically no saltiness left, indicating the ice here is quite ancient." The audience was surprised. What was the reason for this? [I always thought ice was fresh water, how come there¡¯s salty ice?] [Indeed, I remember learning that both polar ice caps are fresh water, and there¡¯s a lot of it.] sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The glaciers at the Arctic and Antarctic are the world¡¯s largest reservoirs of fresh water, with 70% of the world¡¯s fresh water stored within them. This is probably everyone¡¯s impression, but is fresh water salty? "You haven¡¯t understood the real reason why glaciers are freshwater. It¡¯s true that the icebergs at both poles are freshwater, but the reasons for their formation are different, leading to some other differences," "The Antarctic region is a large continent, and the heat capacity of land is much lower than that of water, which makes its ability to store heat relatively weak. The heat gained in the summer is quickly radiated away." Bi Fang poured the crushed ice into the kettle as he explained. "The average annual temperature there is around -56¡æ. In such low temperatures, the water produced by the water cycle mainly exists in the form of rain or snow, and water freezes at 0¡æ, ensuring that the snow doesn¡¯t melt throughout the year." "Even during the summer, some of the snow that melts soon freezes into ice. Therefore, around the seas of the Antarctic Continent, there are large quantities of ice blocks floating, forming immense icebergs." This was easy for the audience to understand. The freshwater in Antarctica becomes snow after natural evaporation, and then melts into ice; the entire process doesn¡¯t contact any salts and, as a result, naturally becomes freshwater icebergs. "By contrast, the Arctic region has less land area, mostly consisting of the Arctic Ocean. Since sea water has a high heat capacity, it can absorb more heat, and the heat dissipates slowly, so the average annual temperature there is higher than in Antarctica, sitting at around 8¡æ, also influenced by warm currents," "The freezing point of sea water lowers due to the presence of various salts. Also, at low temperatures, the solubility of sea water decreases. Warmer seawater has a higher salt content, and as the water freezes, the salt is transferred to the relatively warm sea water. This is why after the seawater freezes, it turns into ¡¯freshwater¡¯; the salts crystallize out, causing a decrease in salinity in the formed glaciers." "Therefore, there are fewer glaciers in the Arctic than in Antarctica, and the vast majority are accumulated on Greenland." "The former is direct transformation into freshwater by natural distillation, but the latter is due to the crystallization of salts caused by various factors, which is a change in quantity leading to a change in quality. Since it¡¯s a matter of quantity, there naturally is a process. Walking here from the seashore is to experience this process of change in quantity," "The Eskimos living in the Arctic Ice Field rely on such methods to obtain a certain amount of freshwater resources. This also causes the sea areas where ice forms or the nearby sea ice to have a higher salinity." "Under my feet now lies true freshwater, with all the salt completely crystallized out. The water I drank earlier could be considered saltwater with a pinch of salt. Although it is saltwater, the salinity is much lower than that of sea water and is completely suitable for hydration," [Strange knowledge has increased.] [Feels like I¡¯ve learned something amazing again] [Geography is really fascinating] "In fact, when sea water freezes, an interesting phenomenon occurs, which is the ¡¯brinicle¡¯ or ¡¯ice stalactite¡¯." "The temperatures at both poles are very low, sometimes dropping to tens of degrees below zero¡æ at sea level. At this point, the surface of the sea begins to freeze, and as the surface temperature drops, the salt expelled increases the density of the water below, resulting in an ice stalactite extending downwards, while the surrounding seawater, upon reaching the freezing point, doesn¡¯t freeze due to the change in density." "Thus, the ¡¯brinicle¡¯ is born. If you observe from below, you can see an ice stalactite extending from the surface down below. Under the extreme low temperatures, freezing occurs in an extremely short amount of time. Marine life touched by the brinicle is instantly frozen, which is why this phenomenon is called a ¡¯brinicle¡¯ or ¡¯ice stalactite¡¯." [What kind of sorcery is this?] [Master Fang, I want to learn this!] [Master Fang: If I could do this, I¡¯d have gone exploring space ages ago] "Right now, we¡¯re walking on Greenland¡¯s ice cap, where the thickness can even reach several kilometers. It¡¯s impossible for human strength alone to drill through, with the known average thickness being more than two thousand meters, and in some places, it even exceeds three thousand four hundred meters." Bi Fang dropped one astonishing fact after another, shocking the audience. Who has ever seen ice layers thousands of meters thick? Amidst such astonishment, Bi Fang had yet to reach the mountain range in front of him, and so, out of necessity, he dug another snow trench to spend the night. It wasn¡¯t until the evening of the third day that Bi Fang finally touched the first rock he had come upon since arriving on the island. By that time, he hadn¡¯t eaten anything for three days. Chapter 659 - 656: Neither of the two chapters are ready today... Finish the edits by two o¡¯clock. Hunters in the hunting season, fishermen in the pork season, ¨¦tienne flying to Tokyo, Morishita Suji arriving in Alaska, Bosen walking out of Taiji Town Police Department, and Jerret busily producing the final cut of the film. Everyone was headed towards their goals. Huge footprints were imprinted in the deep furrows of the track, fresh enough to suggest the Black Bear must be nearby. Sato¡¯s muscles bulged as he ran through the woods, giving it everything he had, fighting for every breath. The forty-something Sato felt a resurgence of youthful vigor, even as his lungs burned like they were on fire, he was determined to get ahead. Sato leaped onto a large rock, rolling as he landed. The surrounding leaves rustled in the breeze. Bi Fang released his grip, and the scattered Black Bear fur floated away with the wind; he had memorized the scent. That Black Bear had to be nearby. "Clearly, when it comes to the topic of whaling, it¡¯s easy for everyone to get emotional. We have never been given a compelling reason to prove that these species are in any way special." Morishita Suji, unruffled by the reporters¡¯ barrage of questions, even had time to adjust his tie while walking. A few reporters trotted alongside, mics in hand, questioning as they ran, "Do you mean... Is that true?" "Yes, it¡¯s true." "Mr. Morishita, I hear that this year Japan plans to resume its Antarctic whaling program. Is this true? Does Japan really kill far more whales than its quota each year for scientific research? Can you explain the abundance of whale meat in Japanese supermarkets?" Morishita Suji abruptly stopped, staring at the questioning reporter for several seconds before responding, "Regarding that, I will provide an explanation at the conference in a few days." "I heard that Mr. Richard has gone to Taiji Town, intending to reveal the truth about Taiji driving dolphins into a cove and slaughtering them. Could Mr. Morishita address whether this description is accurate?" Though slightly surprised, Morishita Suji, experienced in handling such matters, retorted, "This is nothing but the hysterical behavior of animal rights activists, a highly unethical defamation, and an individual attempt to garner attention for personal gain." "Are you suggesting that Richard is deliberately slandering for money?" "I did not say that," Morishita Suji shook his head, then continued without waiting for the reporters to speak, "Alright, such questions will also be addressed at the conference. That¡¯s it for now. If you have any more questions, gentlemen of the press can wait until the conference on the twenty-third. As for me, I¡¯m going to rest at the hotel now." Morishita Suji pushed past the encircling reporters and entered the hotel. The reporters wanted to follow but were stopped by the security at the door, left to watch Morishita¡¯s retreating figure. In the dim room, the door lock clicked shut. "Let¡¯s go." Richard slung his backpack over his shoulder, exchanged a look with the electrical expert, and without further disturbing Jerret, they left the creaking house. They needed to get to Alaska ahead of time, in case they missed the completion of the documentary film. Community members, blatantly shadowing them outside, watched Richard disappear down the alley, then made a call. After several relayed messages, the information finally arrived at the office of the police department. "They¡¯re leaving?" Matsumoto Kiyotaka was surprised. "Yes, they took their luggage and went to the airport by taxi." "What about the others?" "Still here, only Richard has left. It seems he was picked up by the Ugly Country¡¯s embassy car." To let him go or not, in that moment, Matsumoto Kiyotaka considered quite a lot. "Chief, they¡¯re on their way to the airport!" "Forget it, let them go." Matsumoto Kiyotaka sighed; directly detaining someone would still be Taiji Town¡¯s affair, but arresting a person sent by the Ugly Country¡¯s embassy could lead to an international dispute. The interests of a regional government could never compare to the entire nation of Japan. Matsumoto Kiyotaka, after all, was the chief of the department. He knew the severity of situations and how to downplay major issues instead of exacerbating minor ones. If the other party really did record a video, with the internet being so developed, there was no way he could keep it under wraps. In the forest. Sato lay prone in the bushes, his chest heaving violently. He hadn¡¯t exercised this strenuously in a long time, and now he even felt a bit dizzy from lack of oxygen to his brain. But as expected, about thirty meters in front of him, a black bear lay on the ground, resting and leisurely nibbling on the small flowers. In this moment, Sato truly felt what aging had brought him: he had gained experience and cunning, but lost his once robust body. Twenty years earlier, he could have crossed three mountains in one go, but now, climbing half a mountain nearly cost him his life. Thinking of Bi Fang, who was still a pressure on him, jealousy flashed again in Sato¡¯s eyes. If he could have his current experience with the body he had at twenty, he might not be inferior to that young man, perhaps even better. Unfortunately... That guy was really a freak! Sato couldn¡¯t help but curse internally when he thought of Bi Fang¡¯s youth and skill level. If that guy were Japanese, his own master would probably praise him as a rare talent of a millennium. Alas. Casting aside the stray thoughts in his mind, Sato wanted to retreat and set up traps. He knocked his head on the ground, panting heavily, and a bout of dry heaving surged up his throat. This is bad, the physical exertion was too great. Meanwhile, the black bear that was nibbling on flowers suddenly lifted its head and looked in Sato¡¯s direction. Sato¡¯s heart skipped a beat. "Run!" Experience tales with NovelFire.C?m ... "Last one." Bi Fang scratched his head, looking at the little black bear in front of him that was just over a meter tall, without any fear. The audience even wondered if the black bear weighed as much as Bi Fang. Now, Bi Fang was in first place, with no need to take risks. Just one more kill and a mere five points would make it almost impossible for anyone else to surpass him. The black bear in front of him didn¡¯t seem to have fully grown yet. Given its size, it could be considered an adolescent. Faced with the 185 cm tall and physically fit Bi Fang, the black bear kept backing up on its hind legs, growling fiercely. Bi Fang gripped the spear tightly, inching closer. Just as he was about to make his move, a wail of agony echoed throughout the forest. Even the audience was taken aback. The cunning black bear had taken advantage of Bi Fang¡¯s distraction, slinking into the undergrowth with a swift motion, and soon, thanks to its small size, it had disappeared without a trace. [Why does it feel like someone¡¯s calling out?] [It does sound like a person, "ao" that shout, scared me so much my hand shook] Bi Fang held his breath and listened intently. Before long, screams of agony rang out again. The audience was stunned. What had happened? When Bi Fang followed the sounds to the place of incident, the air was thick with a smell of blood that was enough to make one sick. A huge adult brown bear stood with its back to Bi Fang, tearing at the carcass lying on the ground. Is... is that a person? The audience, apprehensive, almost didn¡¯t dare to watch, afraid of witnessing a scene against humanity. But Bi Fang saw clearly ¨C the brown bear wasn¡¯t biting a person, but a still twitching sika deer. Was that not a human scream just now? Bi Fang pondered for a while, the brown bear nearby still feasted happily, unfazed by the newcomer. But when Bi Fang stood up, he suddenly noticed specks of blood on the branch next to him. Bi Fang reached out and measured the height, finding it at the level of his waist. Upon closer inspection, there weren¡¯t just bits of flesh but also extremely fine strands of fiber. Clearly, they had been scraped off a person. It was certain that someone had encountered something here, and in their panic, had been cut by the sharp branches, leaving behind deep bloody traces. It was just unknown what the situation had become. However, having come all this way. Bi Fang narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixing on the brown bear not far away. The black bear from before had run away, it¡¯s your turn to be the offering. The viewers watched as Bi Fang crouched down, the contours of his muscled back visible through his thin shirt. He was like a tiger, fully prepped for the attack, his back muscles spread out like a net, encompassing his entire skeleton. The familiar silhouette carried a spear horizontally, body pressed to the ground, yet his head was held high, staring straight ahead. He was lean and powerful, like an unshakable ancient tree. Distantly, a snake lay coiled, its sinuous muscles tense, ready to unleash its most formidable strength, like a spring compressed to the limit. The rat, blissfully unaware of the impending danger, nibbled on a corn kernel with its tiny fingers, savoring every bite. Opportunity was fleeting, the snake sprung forward, its mouth gaping wide as it lunged at the rat! Pebbles were scattered by the flick of the snake¡¯s tail. The rat¡¯s natural instincts made it drop the corn kernel, instinctively jumping away, its slender tail waving in mid-air, trying to dodge the snake¡¯s attack, but it was too late. The snake opened its maw, its huge fangs bloody and ferocious, it missed the rat¡¯s soft belly and only bit its rear, but in the next instant, the snake¡¯s body recoiled like a released spring, twirling like a whirlwind, engulfing the rat entirely, tightening inch by inch. The rat struggled with all its might, its beady eyes flashing in terror, but that light was quickly swallowed by the dark scales. The battle had been decided. After some time. Sato checked his equipment one last time: armor, rope, machete, the dagger in his boots, the fire kindling sealed in a copper tube. He touched the spear on his back, tied with a rope, ever ready to be drawn, just like the two knives at his waist. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So all the traps for the black bear were set. Suddenly, he stepped forward, pivoting his body, drawing his sword with the rotational force of his waist. Once he burst forth, all the soreness in his body disappeared, as if he were back to his younger days. Sato bellowed, like a warrior clad in armor, unstoppable. Evening. When Bi Fang emerged from the woods with his spear, the setting sun draped over his shoulders. Without a doubt, Bi Fang had won. After he had successfully hunted the brown bear that was enjoying its feast, the outcome of the entire competition was no longer in question. Even though Sato had lost an arm, he still lost. All one hundred quotas were used up, and in this hunt, Bi Fang¡¯s total score was one hundred and three point seven, crushing everyone with a three-digit lead. "Sigh." Having won first place in the competition, Bi Fang felt no joy in his heart, only a deep fatigue. It was finally over, thankfully over. He declined the staff¡¯s offer to escort him back to town and instead walked alone through the forest until he finally emerged from the mountains. The setting sun cast oblique rays, and there were few pedestrians on the road, which was shrouded in a dark gold hue, the long shadows blending indistinctly with the earth. Streetlights lit up one by one, wrapped in a grey mist, looking like pearls floating in a grey sea, each pearl imprisoning a sea nymph. Bi Fang found a public bench and plopped down on it. At this moment, he didn¡¯t want to say anything, nor did he wish to. The water was crimson, boundless, slowly rolling its waves. Richard had told Bi Fang that he often had a dream where he waded through water. The water was the same crimson color, but where Bi Fang saw red-gold, Richard described it as red-blood. Richard told Bi Fang that he couldn¡¯t remember when he started his treacherous journey, nor how long he had been wandering. It seemed endless, with nowhere to rest, not even a single rock in sight. A faint firelight appeared ahead as if from a lighthouse. Accompanying the firelight was the sound of water, the gentle lapping of the waves interspersed with the splashes of frolicking dolphins. When Richard reached the source of the light, he found no island or lighthouse, only a burning cross in the water, with rusty chains binding a man to it. "Who¡¯s on top?" Richard¡¯s gaze was distant as if he saw that scene once again, "It¡¯s me." The dying sun blazed like fire. [So beautiful!] [First place!] [Master Fang has always been amazing.] [I feel like Master Fang has gotten stronger.] The number of bullet comments in the livestream had lessened, as though many viewers were likewise immersed in the scenery. [Taiji Town has issued a notice.] [Hahaha, it must be those few people.] [Old Fang warned them already, but they¡¯re lucky it only happened now.] The screams and bloodshed had already made the viewers aware of the cause and effect. Speaking of which, it was related to Bi Fang as well. Before leaving, the staff told Bi Fang that the previous screams had come from a group of mountain people, the same ones who had seen Bi Fang and Mugalen carrying the jade down the mountain. They entered the great mountains seeking a chance to strike it rich overnight but didn¡¯t expect to find a brown bear feasting instead of jade. Had the bear not been well-fed, the situation might have been worse. It seems they still didn¡¯t heed Bi Fang¡¯s advice. Such is human nature. Bi Fang sat on the bench, letting the sea breeze blow over him. Half an hour passed without him saying a word. Impressively, millions of viewers actually accompanied him watching the sunset for half an hour until the sky turned completely dark. If he followed the plan, Bi Fang should be buying a ticket to leave immediately. Otherwise, a few days later at the Whaling Commission, the exposure of the Dolphin Bay documentary would put him in a highly disadvantageous position. But looking at the pitch-black sea, Bi Fang suddenly changed his mind. He was never one to play by the rules. He wanted to stay, to do one last thing. Chapter 660 657: Frozen River With a tree stick, survival is half guaranteed! That was, of course, a joke among the online friends. But for Bi Fang, a straight tree stick was indeed an unexpected delight, as its help in probing the snow-covered ground was quite significant. It protected his joints, maintained his balance, and even made walking up slopes more effortless, effectively increasing his average speed. Studies have proven that a walking stick of the right length can reduce the impact on the knees by more than 40%, especially when going downhill. Bi Fang''s joints were naturally strong enough to withstand the impact, but the stick''s help in maintaining balance and speeding up his progress was truly appreciated. The tree branch itself had not dried out to the point of snapping easily; on the contrary, it retained a fair degree of toughness and could serve as a perfect probing stick. And its length was just adequate to double as a makeshift weapon. The reason it was just makeshift was that the Arctic was indeed too dry; although the tree stick still had toughness, using it as a spear was somewhat of a stretch. As for brushing aside undergrowth, startling snakes in the grass, clearing thorny vines from the path, or webs along the way¡ªthese functions were utterly useless in the Arctic. There were no trees nearby, so it was clear that the stick had broken off from some tree and been blown here by the wind, with many branches still attached. Selecting a segment of the right length and straightness, Bi Fang whittled away all the excess parts with a knife. Larger branches were collected for making snowshoes; smaller ones, though less useful, served as fuel¡ªnothing wasted. "I''m not new to making snowshoes. Sometimes, in treacherous, snow-covered terrain, you find that your boots always sink into the snow. In such conditions, snowshoes are very necessary." "Sinking into the snow is like sinking into mud while planting rice in the South, draining much more energy when walking. Energy is precious; we must save it. Homemade snowshoes distribute your weight over a larger area, making it easier to walk on snow." "This branch is from a pine tree, the most common tree in the Polar Region. Even without leaves, its dense branches make excellent material." Bi Fang cut 5 to 10 branches about half a meter long, tied the bottoms together, and gathered the branch shafts loosely around a central point. Next, he tied his foot to the front third of the makeshift snowshoe with a strap. "If you have ample time, you could make a more complex trail snowshoe with saplings and thin ropes, but that''s not necessary for us on the vast expanse of Greenland." Greenland is essentially composed of towering mountain ranges, massive blue-green icebergs, magnificent fjords, and barren, exposed rock. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. From the air, however, it looks like a vast, open wilderness dotted with uneven black peaks occasionally piercing the blindingly white and endlessly extending ice fields. Overall, Greenland is an island of great contrasts: in summer, meadows near the coast bloom with Purple Edelweiss and yellow poppies, along with shrubby arctic willows and birches. However, central and northern Greenland are locked under massive ice caps, with no grasslands or flowers for hundreds of kilometers¡ªa vast expanse reminiscent of a white desert. "If you don''t plan to walk on flat terrain with your snowshoes but need to climb or descend mountains, or cross slopes, then your snowshoes need a certain level of adherence to the ground. Therefore, your snowshoes should have fittings like splints or hooks at the toes, heels, and sides to grip the terrain." After a brief overview of other conditions, Bi Fang continued to move forward. With the aid of snowshoes, Bi Fang''s walking speed visibly reached a new level. Looking at the sun overhead, the weather today was also quite nice, with intense sunlight melting and refreezing the surface of the snow, crunching beneath his feet. Furthermore, during autumn and winter, temperate cyclones frequently invaded Greenland, causing dramatic temperature fluctuations, sometimes -50¡ãC, other times -30¡ãC. Bi Fang suspected that today''s temperature might only be in the low twenties below zero, far less oppressive than the scorching cold of the previous days. The howling winds, like frosty blades, seemed intent on dismembering a person, and the cuts made by them might be more appealing than the ice-fresh danxia produced by the Polar Celestial Wolf''s blade. With unrealistic fantasies roaming his mind, Bi Fang felt he might be too hungry, as his thoughts began to drift away. Normally, he was a person with a very strong sense of purpose, which allowed him to gradually establish stable living conditions in the wilderness without getting sidetracked with haphazard ideas. Bi Fang felt that this was caused by a lack of energy in his brain, with his willpower being continually eroded in this harsh environment. Many people would think that willpower is a psychological topic, without realizing that it should actually be categorized as a physiological one. This thing is a consumable, each struggle against instinct causing internal consumption, and it''s also a main factor in supporting efficient work. When willpower is insufficient, it''s easy to fantasize, to let one''s mind wander. "Huff!" Bi Fang pulled down the cover over his mouth and nose, exposed his face to the cold wind, and rubbed it, took a deep breath to maximize his blood oxygen content, and only then did he feel rejuvenated. It was time to quicken the pace. An unprecedented hunger pangs unleashed Bi Fang''s potential, and with the help of snowshoes, he even ran faster than when he first arrived in Greenland. Bi Fang crouched down, knocked off a piece of light blue ice with rounded edges, and shoved it into his dry water bottle. "The older the sea ice, the less salt it contains. Aged sea ice breaks off with rounded edges, and its surface is often pitted; the part submerged in water appears light blue. Fresh sea ice is milky white like cow''s milk, with sharp angles when broken." [What''s the rationale behind that?] "It''s due to different microstructures, ice varies from ice." Bi Fang pointed to the ice beneath his feet, next to which was a thick layer of snow that had been shoveled and piled up. After a blizzard, the ice surface exposed on the ground could hardly be seen, and snow had to be shoveled to fetch water. "Freshly formed sea ice is made up of needle-like or flake-like tiny ice crystals; a mass of ice crystals coalesce and gather to form a sticky or spongy ice, which upon snowing at a temperature near freezing point on the sea surface, does not melt and directly forms a sticky ice." "Ice skin is formed directly by the freezing of a calm sea surface, or by the continued freezing of newly formed ice. Its thickness is about 5 centimeters, quite brittle, and easily broken into rectangular thin ice pieces by the wind on the sea surface or the currents of the water." "If the newly formed ice continues to grow, freezing into a flexible thin ice layer of about 10cm thick, it will bend easily and break into rectangular ice pieces under external forces. And the breaking of pancake ice into thin pieces, under external forces, will collide with and compress against each other, causing edges to rise and form." "Eventually, it transforms into circular ice disks of about 30cm to 3m in diameter, with a thickness of around 10cm; this degree of ice is known as old ice. New ice doesn''t freeze like this, it seems the river section under our feet must have been frozen for a long time." Shuiyou were still listening to Bi Fang''s scientific explanation, but when they heard the last sentence, they paused, and then suddenly realized what it meant. A river? Did they find a river!? Chapter 661 661: 658 Chapter Completed Before 2 a.m. Finish on time, complete changes before two o''clock. Shivering from the cold, Bi Fang felt quite lucky because he had not yet shown signs of a fever. Having added so much to his physique, it proved to be quite useful. Although he had caught a cold, at least he would not easily develop the severe symptoms of a fever, which would be the real trouble. Once he developed a fever, he would lose nearly ninety percent of his mobility. If it was just a common cold, Bi Fang would probably recover on his own within a week. "Blizzard..." After understanding the situation, Bi Fang sighed, and like the viewers, couldn''t help but recall the scene in Mohe. That was only his second adventure, which resulted in an unforgettable life-and-death crisis that still felt fresh and chilling. But the temperature then was only around minus twenty or thirty degrees Celsius, which could almost be considered "warm" compared to now. What worried him most now was how long the blizzard would last. One day would be manageable, but if it were two days, three days, four days... The blizzard would bring not only low temperatures but also intense physical constraints on activity. Mohe was still okay; there were undulating mountains and sprawling forests, with many snowdrifts that allowed for some traversal, but not far ahead here was a vast plain, where the wild wind blew fiercely like unleashed stallions, strong enough to batter a person to death. Even if he were burly enough for the wind not to move him, the blowing snow would obscure his vision, making the search for supplies even harder. He had only eaten some moss the night before to stave off hunger. If he had to wait a few more days, he might not starve to death, but his body would become completely debilitated. However, overthinking was pointless, as even contemplating consumed energy. Every decision made was a significant drain on one''s energy, even eating and drinking. When thirsty and reaching for water subconsciously, you inadvertently used up the energy for decision-making. Often, it is essential to develop physical habits for such menial tasks. Most modern people are short on energy, feeling exhausted doing nothing all day. Actually, it is like this, from the moment you wake up in the morning, hesitating on whether or not to get out of bed, to deciding whether to brush your teeth or eat breakfast first, you''re consuming your limited energy for the day. Better to save some effort to accomplish more tasks. Bi Fang turned on the live stream, and the bullet chat that had been discussing the blizzard immediately turned into neat greetings, followed by a variety of questions about whether a blizzard had hit. Facing this question, Bi Fang took the backpack that had been blocking the cave entrance down, expecting the howling wind to rush in... No, that didn''t happen. The snow had completely buried Bi Fang''s cave, and the backpack that was blocking the wind at the entrance was buried underneath as well. Removing it had no effect at all. Bi Fang had to dig upwards laboriously. It had to be said, the snow was quite solidly packed; after digging for nearly half an hour, Bi Fang finally made a breach, and the howling wind instantly gusted in, stirring up a cloud of snowdust. After coughing twice, Bi Fang wrapped his clothes tightly around himself and crawled out from the ground. Wow! The viewers were immediately startled as soon as he emerged; the visibility was so poor that beyond three meters everything was obscured, worse than the night time visibility. The mountains that could be seen before had vanished, the view was hazy and grey all over. The large rock he had relied on was already half-buried in snow, only a bare top exposed. Bi Fang was nearly blown away, his face quickly covered in frost, forcing him to retreat back into the cave. "The blizzard really comes out of nowhere. Just as life was looking a bit brighter, it all gets destroyed by it," Bi Fang said to the camera with a wry smile. [Looks like this is targeted at Old Fang (dog head)] [This might be the toughest one for Old Fang yet, right?] [Indeed, when has Master Fang ever suffered such an indignity? Sooner or later, he''ll storm the Celestial Court, slaughter those ungrateful Thunder Deity and Lightning Goddess! Pin them to the ground, skin and debone them, pluck those bird wings, and make some outdoor BBQ!] [Do they also control the blizzard? (scratching head)] [Who cares if they do or don''t, let''s just assign the blame first (joking)] [I saw on the weather forecast that this blizzard seems like it will last three days] [Wow, three days?] Three days! Bi Fang felt a sudden shock in his heart, but he wasn''t too disappointed¡ªblizzards in Greenland are like this; once they start, it''s hard for them to stop, and it''s impossible for them to disappear without causing trouble for a few days. He had mentally prepared for this very scenario, but upon hearing the facts, Bi Fang still felt somewhat despondent. [For three days, can you go out hunting in this weather?] Indeed, everyone just saw the scene; nothing visible beyond three meters, let alone hunting, it''d be difficult enough to just keep oneself safe¡ªgo out for half an hour and you might freeze into an icicle. At that point, don''t bother with rewards, let''s just collectively mourn. Just as the viewers were unsure of what to do, Bi Fang had already made a decision. "Can''t just sit here waiting to die." Bi Fang rolled over, took out the little shovel he hadn''t yet unpacked, and started digging downward again, tossing the frosted soil that he dug up towards the only entrance. The cave that was originally meant to protect him from the blizzard was clearly not enough; it needed to be modified. "Snow is a very good insulator. If you can dig a snow cave to take shelter from the blizzard, your chances of survival will greatly increase." "Winds at a speed of 160 kilometres per hour will lower the surrounding temperature to minus 60 degrees Celsius, and the blizzard brought by these fierce winds will stop your progress and pack the snow very hard." "At this time, snow will accumulate on the leeward side of the slope. The depth of the shelter you can dig can exceed 2.5 meters, but it depends on how compacted the snow is." "Safety must always be kept in mind. Steep slopes are best because on steep slopes, the snow you dig can be directly thrown out of the entrance. This reduces the physical effort required to clear the entrance, especially when you dig deeper." After digging about 0.5 meters, Bi Fang made a turn to one side. He worked hard and quickly but tried as much as possible not to sweat. Otherwise, once he stopped working, the sweat would quickly cool his body down. "The entrance should be located a bit lower than the cave, because cold air sinks, and this way, the cave can expel the colder air, and the entrance should be small, making it easier to close. If you''re on the ground, use a canvas backpack as thermal insulation for the floor." "Block the entrance as much as possible, but leave a hole about the size of your head for ventilation and observation. On the leeward side of the slope, the wind gradually decreases and the snow accumulates; you might already be very tired, but you must maintain a vent to prevent suffocation. Two hours of snowfall is roughly equivalent to the amount of snow removed in two hours of digging." After digging to a certain depth for half of the day, Bi Fang then started digging upwards to create a ventilation hole to avoid suffocation. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having done all this, Bi Fang curled up like a ball, wrapping his toes and fingers well, his mood wasn''t downcast though. "Indeed, it''s tough to spend a night in such a makeshift shelter with not much in the way of insulation, but compared to being outside, your chances of survival are still much greater." "What comes next, can only wait." Chapter 662 659: The Person Who Eats Raw Meat Accompanied by the clear sound of splashing water, the spotted fish was flung onto the ice surface. The big fish, intending to surface for air, finally realized what had happened and struggled desperately, its splashed droplets quickly freezing into beads. The fish was more than forty centimeters long, longer than an adult''s forearm, covered with many spots, with a white belly and a brown back, and sporting a striking red line between its waist and abdomen. Without a doubt, it was a trout, a plump and delicious trout. Seeing the lively trout slowly stiffen in the cold weather, Bi Fang, who hadn''t tasted meat for a whole week and survived on bark, felt his eyes turning red. Meat! Fatty fish meat! The mucus on the fish''s body gradually turned into ice shavings, the air filled with a faint fishy smell. The superior position in the food chain triggered an incessant secretion of saliva in Bi Fang''s mouth, making him almost wish he could pounce on it and devour its flesh raw, but in the end, Bi Fang held back, refocusing his attention on the ice hole once more. Another fish swam by, and Bi Fang gripped his spear tightly, stabbing down once again. Under the sunset''s glow, one fish after another was flung from the hole, with hardly any misses. The river swelled with an intoxicating blue micro light, its waters clear as crystal; a scene not normally seen. Even northerners accustomed to winter fishing saw mostly dark green river water that, when surged onto the ice, left a thin layer of dirt. [It''s so beautiful, just like a wonderland.] [I''ve never seen such clean river water in my life.] [The fish in here could be eaten raw, right? It seems completely unpolluted.] Such a beautiful river left an extremely deep impression on the audience watching the screen. The fourth fish was tossed ashore, leaving Bi Fang slightly gasping for breath, reminding him of his first venture into Qinling. He felt perhaps weaker now than he did back then, catching just a few fish had left him feeling very exhausted, his aim was off, having stabbed twice to catch that fourth fish. Taking a few breaths, Bi Fang sat down on the ground. Having caught four in a row, the first batch of fish that could be caught had been snared, and those that could escape had fled, creating a brief lull, waiting for the second batch. Seeing the audience''s astonishment, Bi Fang took the opportunity to explain. "Ordinary ice directly formed from water contains a large number of air bubbles. The light entering will reflect off the interfaces of the ice and the air bubbles, as well as the grain boundaries between ice crystals, making the ice appear white." "But a lot of the ice in the Arctic is formed when snowflakes are gradually compressed under pressure, turning into granular snow, and the final form of the snow at the bottom is also ice. This kind of ice has very few air bubbles, and the pores between the grains keep shrinking, becoming denser, and turning into perfect ice crystals." "Perfect ice crystals absorb very little of the visible light spectrum and appear transparent. However, they absorb red light more than blue light, an absorption caused by the vibration of the O-H bond in water molecules." "At this time, when light passes through very pure water or ice, more red light is absorbed. When the water body and ice layer are thicker, they will appear blue. The river beneath our feet, at least this section of it, has definitely not melted this summer, which is why we are seeing this situation." Ice emitting blue light is generally from icebergs, while blue light from rivers is quite rare. The blue cold light brings a sense of tranquility to one''s heart. Time was brief, and by the time the sun had set, Bi Fang had caught a total of seven fish, including four trout, two salmon, and one cod. The catch wasn''t just good, it was a bounty. Without even digging a shelter, Bi Fang started preparing the fish, slicing open the trout''s belly, emptying the guts, and washing it clean by the river. He then used the Hunting Knife to directly cut off the fattest part of the belly, which had the most fat. While Bi Fang was processing the fish, the audience noticed a problem¡ªthere didn''t seem to be any material to start a fire, did there? The tree sticks I had seen before were mostly used to make snowshoes; the leftovers were just scraps. There were a few small branches left, but the idea of using them to start a fire and roast fish was completely absurd. [No fuel] [Yeah, seems too late to collect any now] Just when everyone was doubting whether Bi Fang would have anything to eat and might have to go out to gather materials, they were astonished to find Bi Fang actually picking up a slice of fish belly and stuffing it directly into his mouth! Wow, freshwater fish, eating it raw! The audience was in an uproar. In this age of abundant information, almost everyone who has watched videos online has a basic understanding of the issues with raw fish consumption. Some of it is wrong, like the belief that seafood has fewer parasites or that seafood parasites can''t survive in the human body¡ªthis is an extremely one-sided understanding. Others are correct, like the fact that due to osmotic pressure, most seafood parasites can''t survive in the human body, and freshwater fish often can''t be eaten raw due to a high probability of parasitic infection, especially with crustaceans where the chances are outrageous. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But right or wrong, it''s generally known that freshwater fish can''t be eaten raw. [666, such vigor in eating raw freshwater fish] [Damn, Old Fang is seriously brave, not afraid of parasites?] [Sea fish is one thing, but eating river fish raw?] [Has he gone crazy from hunger?] [What''s this streamer doing, gnawing on raw fish?] [Philips Fish gifts Wolf Brush*666 to the streamer] Trout typically begin spawning in November, and experienced anglers start looking for them in October. One could say that now is the season when trout are at their fattest and most delicious. Even the belly meat of the fish had an oily sheen to it, which, after being frozen, didn''t feel greasy at all but was instead very smooth and tender, almost like slurping noodles. Actually, greasiness wouldn''t be a problem at all; in fact, the greasier, the better. What Bi Fang needed most at this moment was exactly this¡ªlots of fat. After devouring several pieces of fish belly, the bellies of the two trout had vanished without a trace. Only after he had some solid food in his stomach did Bi Fang temporarily stop his frenzied eating. His stomach began to digest the fish meat with all its might, emanating a warmth from the inside out, making one feel so comfortable they wanted to stretch lazily. It was only then that Bi Fang noticed the chaotic mess in the comments. "Ah, this, indeed there are certain risks, but they are not that great. Parasites are really afraid of the cold. In fact, truly safe raw fish has a freezing stage, which is to keep it in an environment of minus twenty degrees for twenty-four hours to kill parasites to the greatest extent," Bi Fang explained while chewing. "However, eating raw meat in the Arctic isn''t just about safety, it''s also a necessity." "Although I have been eating grass skin for the past few days, there''s a terrifying disease that could threaten us at any moment, and to prevent it, eating raw meat is an essential method." Disease? The audience perked up at this, scrutinizing Bi Fang''s appearance closely. Apart from looking a bit pale and weak, they didn''t see any sign of illness. "Of course, I''m not sick, just a little hungry..." "And I said it''s just a precaution. This disease is actually something you may have all heard about, quite famous during the Age of Exploration." "Scurvy." Chapter 663 660: Change before one oclock Switched back before one o''clock. It was still dark, the earth a uniform grey. The vast expanse of the ice field was visible in its entirety, showing no signs of life. A pair of gloved hands suddenly burst out from the ground, sweeping the accumulated snow to one side. Bi Fang gasped for breath, struggling to push the snow aside, as the overnight blizzard had completely sealed the entrance to the trench, with at least thirty centimeters thick. Leaning at the exit, Bi Fang took a breath, grabbed the icy sides, and propped himself up, then he began to gather the rope. The overnight freeze had solidified the rope, and a few drops of water from last night were now encased in several centimeters of ice. The thickness of the ice was increasing. After bundling the rope and putting it in his backpack, Bi Fang started the live stream and greeted his audience. "Today is my second day of Arctic survival. I''m feeling pretty good although a bit hungry, but after all, there are only ninety-nine days left, right?" [I simply hail 666] [Full marks for this guy, don''t ask why not keep some for encouragement, he deserves it] [Up in the middle of the night for the live stream, mom-sees-I''m-hit series] [So sleepy, haven''t even started my vacation] The time difference between Greenland and Huaxia was seven hours, so there weren''t many viewers at that time. Although Bi Fang''s live stream had already gone global, domestic viewers were still the main force. [Is it already daylight in the Arctic?] Inside the live stream''s screen, the audience noticed the sun hadn''t risen yet, but it didn''t seem as dark as they had imagined; even the drone''s night mode hadn''t been activated. "Because snowflakes reflect white light. The complex structure of snow can''t absorb light. A beam that enters a pile of snow will be rapidly scattered by billions of Ice Crystals and air pockets, with most of the light reflecting back out of the snow. "So as long as there''s a little bit of light, places with snowflakes will seem brighter, but it''s just a dim brightness." Bi Fang pointed to the stars in the night sky, clearly indicating the source of the light. The vast majority of people living in cities can hardly imagine a night sky full of stars anymore; even after the sun sets, the night is never completely dark. During a full moon, it''s amazingly bright, almost as if there were streetlights shining. Today, the moon in the night sky wasn''t full, but there was still plenty of light. Furthermore, the strong wind was blowing the snowflakes around, creating a flurry of snow at about four or five meters above the ground, which actually made it fairly bright. However, as bright as it was, the blizzard made it impossible to see the path clearly. Fortunately, Bi Fang could indistinctly make out Polaris, which gave him a direction to proceed in. "Now we have over a dozen hours each night, and we can''t waste this time. We can get up within the three hours before sunrise." "To survive in the Arctic, whenever entering a period of polar day or polar night, it is essential to set your biological clock; otherwise, an inverted routine will leave you feeling lethargic and often with a headache." "If you sleep too much or too little, you''ll get headaches, and you won''t have enough energy to face upcoming challenges. So, if possible, definitely set an alarm clock. If not, you''ll have to rely on your body''s biological clock, which is quite difficult." Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "How many of you like to stay up late? How often do you do it?" As Bi Fang trekked onwards, he suddenly asked a question. "Ah, this," "Be more confident, every day," "Hey, actually, I don''t absolutely have to study and work until midnight, but after a whole day at it, I always end up wanting to scroll through my phone for a few hours to relax. Before I know it, it''s really late." "Add to that, every morning I wake up with such a headache." "Work until eleven or twelve at night, how could I possibly go straight to bed satisfied? My life needs some entertainment, of course, I need to unwind. Then, I fall into a vicious cycle (covering face)." Work eight hours, play eight hours, sleep eight hours. This schedule is a hard-fought achievement, but now the working hours usually exceed ten hours, or even worse, twelve hours. Most people work for a better life, and entertainment time is indispensable, so naturally, they encroach on their sleeping hours. Otherwise, life would have no meaning. There are few who are financially free, and the rest of the lives just get swept up in the relentless march of time. When they see Bi Fang gallivanting around the world, many can''t help but feel a tinge of envy. Although many of his actions sometimes stir controversy, Bi Fang doesn''t care. Compared to the people who support him, the critics are the minority. "Actually, many people''s biological clocks are not exactly twenty-four hours but have a certain margin of error, usually within two hours. For example, one''s cycle may be twenty-six hours, or even twenty-two hours, though most are slightly longer than twenty-four hours." "This is a common phenomenon, most diurnal animals have a circadian rhythm slightly longer than 24 hours, and most nocturnal animals'' rhythms are slightly shorter than 24 hours. Humans are diurnal, so we belong to the former category. Of course, there are exceptions, this isn''t a theorem but a general rule." "The reason for this isn''t yet known, but one plausible hypothesis suggests that when humans first appeared, the Earth didn''t rotate every 24 hours. After all, Earth''s rotation speed has changed several times over the past few billion years." Upon hearing this, the viewers in front of the screen felt as if a door had been flung open, struck by a sudden realization. "No wonder I keep staying up later and later every night, damn it, so that''s why!" "Every time I stay up an extra hour, after twenty-four days, I''m back to normal." "Taking light as an example, most human circadian rhythms are slightly longer than 24 hours. So, humans are most comfortable living in a light-dark cycle that''s a bit longer than 24 hours, because it''s completely in sync with our natural rhythm." "And while we can also adapt to Earth''s 24-hour light-dark cycle, the difference is not huge. However, if the light-dark cycle were 50 hours, it generally wouldn''t be adaptable." "In other words, the human biological clock can adjust to the external environment, but this adjustment has its limits." "In other mammals, light can regulate the biological clock through phototransduction pathways that involve the suprachiasmatic nucleus in the hypothalamus. But without light, you can only rely on the habits you usually develop." "Once you destroy this cyclical biological habit, the consequences include decreased memory, lethargy, headaches, and in severe cases, frequent diarrhea and vomiting." "So, self-discipline is very important." Bi Fang continued on, relying on his biological clock; he was always able to wake up on time, and it never disrupted his advance. He kept moving until the sky began to lighten, and the snowstorm slowly abated. The snowflakes on the ground gradually settled, and as they were bathed in sunlight, the continuous range of mountains finally appeared in everyone''s sight. "We''ve finally arrived." Bi Fang let out a sigh of relief¡ªat last, the sight of undulating terrain meant there were mountains. Where there are mountains, there are rocks, soil, plants, and animals. Though there''s a saying, ''hopes in the distant mountains can kill a horse with exhaustion'', seeing those mountains is still much better than not seeing them at all. Chapter 664 661: Fierce Pickled Puffin Why does eating staple foods reduce the demand for vitamin C? In fact, this has to do with a certain type of "lousy receptor." Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and an essential substance for the formation of collagen. Collagen, in turn, is the main component of the body''s connective tissue, which is indispensable for the structure and support within the body, including blood vessels. Therefore, when there is a lack of vitamin C, just a little external pressure can cause blood to seep out of the blood vessel walls, resulting in bleeding, which is scurvy. Once scurvy is contracted, one may experience symptoms such as bleeding gums, loose teeth, wounds that are difficult to heal, and joint pain. The absorption of glucose and vitamin C actually has a "competitive relationship." In the 1970s, Professor John T., an honorary professor at the University of Washington, put forward his glucose-ascorbic acid antagonism theory, also known as the GAA theory. This theory suggests that increased blood glucose levels can hinder vitamin C from entering cells and exerting its effects. This is because glucose and vitamin C share similar chemical components, and they enter cells through the same "Glut-1 receptor." Compared to vitamin C, the Glut-1 receptor prefers glucose, which means that, given the opportunity to "compete," it will choose sugar over vitamin C. Bi Fang explained at length and finally put it in layman''s terms, "In other words, this receptor is quite vain, it''ll kick the less attractive option to the curb if something better comes along." [Got it, lousy receptor!] [Putting facts aside, isn''t there anything wrong with vitamin C?] [Exactly!] The main source of glucose is carbohydrates, so without the intake of carbohydrates, naturally, the demand for vitamin C isn''t high. Seafarers are prone to scurvy, primarily because they eat too much black bread. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With this in mind, Bi Fang took another big bite of fish meat, savored it, and spat out a fishbone. The taste of turf had long been pushed out of Bi Fang''s memory, like something removed from the palace of memories, frozen with liquid nitrogen, and turned into a fine powder with a blowtorch. That stuff was truly a painful memory, the taste of earthy dirt mixed with the dryness of dead grass, and the texture like chunks of ice were far from the current greasy deliciousness, invigorating every cell in the body in a moment of low metabolism, and getting them back to work. River delicacies tend to have a muddy fishy taste, especially when eaten raw, but in Bi Fang''s mouth at that moment, it became an exceptionally rare treat. At least, it was much better than the Inuit people''s traditional food, kiviak. With that thought, Bi Fang added a clarification. "Actually, what I just described wasn''t entirely accurate; the Inuit don''t just eat raw meat, they eat more of a fermented raw meat without any treatment, which is a natural fermented food called kiviak, also known as ''pickled puffin.''" "High-latitude ethnic groups, due to the scarcity of food, particularly the lack of vitamin sources like green vegetables, have a similar custom of eating raw meat. One reason is the shortage of fuel, and the other is to supplement vitamins. But raw meat is not easy to preserve, especially in summer, so more often, they eat fermented raw meat." For the Inuit people, living on Greenland isn''t easy; otherwise, there wouldn''t be cases of people being frozen to death inside ice houses. Therefore, every spring and summer, they go out hunting to collect enough food to last the entire winter. This is a necessary process; without it, one is very likely to freeze to death during winter. No one will come to help you, because most people are struggling just to maintain their own survival. They are not unwilling, but rather they lack the spare capacity to help. Even if they do have the capacity, how long can they provide help? Greenland''s icy and snowy conditions are indeed conducive to food preservation, but in summer, temperatures can sometimes rise above freezing. It''s okay to leave food out for a week, but any longer and it will inevitably rot, hence the need for artificial fermentation. Fermentation and rotting are two distinct processes. The former is the process where beneficial bacteria utilize organic matter, which when consumed, is beneficial to the human body, and can even make the food more nutritious. The latter, however, is when harmful bacteria proliferate, rendering the food inedible. "Take, for example, the renowned traditional Swedish delicacy of surstr?mming. It is made from lightly rotten and fermented herring," he said. "The Inuit people''s kiviak is a bit more rugged. The method to prepare this food is very complex and takes a long time to complete. Definitely not something I could produce within the span of one hundred days I am spending on survival," Bi Fang explained. "To put it simply, the method involves not processing the puffin''s body at all. You don''t pluck the feathers or remove the innards. The carcasses are placed directly into the seal''s body, submerged in the digestive fluids of the seal''s stomach, and after being sewn up, sealed with the seal''s blubber," he continued. "Then the seal is buried in the permafrost layer, left to ferment for two to three years before being dug up. After cutting open the seal''s belly, the puffins are retrieved and can be directly consumed." From a preparation perspective, it is still raw meat because it has not been subjected to any high heat to cause protein denaturation. "As feathers do not ferment, they still maintain the original shape of the puffin, and one can hardly see any change. One can only imagine what the final product is like. [Holy shit, is this something that people eat?] [That''s so hardcore...] [Bought a can of surstr?mming once, that flavor, unforgettable to this day] Seeing the barrage of comments in the live stream, Bi Fang chuckled. "There are actually two ways to eat it. The first one involves pulling off the bird''s tail and sucking out the fermented and decomposed innards through the bird''s anal opening, which is said to taste similar to bran and natto, along with the taste of the combined fermented mixture," he said. "The second method is to spread the contents from the bird''s stomach onto grilled meat and eat it that way." With the development of human history, the custom of eating cooked meat has taken root among the Inuit people, and they also now have sources of fresh vegetables. Thus, opportunities to get vitamins from raw meat have lessened, and they use kiviak as a seasoning spread on grilled meat. At this point, everyone was astonished. They thought that surstr?mming was already the ultimate, but who knew there was even more extreme food out there? And the eating methods are so bold! [Unprocessed, that means there''s feces...] [Birds have a different digestive system from other animals; they defecate as soon as they have to, so it might not be too bad] [That''s too much for me, I feel like vomiting already] [I''m also eating right now, wuwuwu] Shuiyou found it hard to believe that humans would eat such food, but for the Inuit people, this was a rare delicacy that could provide the severely lacking vitamins in the Arctic region. It was a forced adaptation of humans to their living environment, and expecting it to be tasty was indeed impossible. Bi Fang hadn''t tried surstr?mming before and imagined that it definitely wouldn''t taste good. He wasn''t daring enough to try it either. His sense of smell was far more sensitive than the average person''s, and he feared that he might pass out if he caught a whiff of it. Chapter 665 662: Preparedness Competition One of the necessary principles for the emergence of a rich variety of cuisines is the abundance of produce, which essentially depends on the richness of species. Just as a Huaxia person would find it hard to comprehend how to cook without scallions, ginger, and garlic. Therefore, it can almost be seen that the closer to the low latitudes, the more diverse the culinary possibilities become, even presenting many unheard-of spices. Besides latitude, there also needs to be a sufficient platform to facilitate the convergence of ingredients from all corners of the world. Adhering strictly to one place, indeed, could yield exquisite food, but it usually tends to be rather monotonous, becoming a "local flavor." Just like the sour and spicy flavors of Southeast Asia, they are quite good, but apart from this cuisine, there doesn''t seem to be another more profound impression. It''s not that the produce isn''t rich, but rather a lack of exchange, fundamentally due to national borders and transportation limitations. Thirdly, there needs to be a prosperous period; people need to be safe and content to ponder over their culinary desires. And looking at the global map, only Huaxia meets these three conditions. Its vastness is matched by the richness of its produce, and although it hasn''t always been peaceful and prosperous, every dynasty had at least such a time. Then, looking at Polar Bear, the latitude is too high, largely consisting of Siberia, and Canada similarly. As for Ugly Country, with its latitude nearly twenty degrees higher than Huaxia, it barely meets the first condition, but it has a brief history and certainly can''t satisfy the third condition. Moreover, due to its colonial nature, the tastes of Ugly Country are essentially transferred from the high latitudes of Europe. Moving on, no one else meets the third condition. Therefore, Huaxia is unique, where every region has its distinctive cuisines, but Huaxia''s vast boundaries themselves present endless possibilities for these culinary arts, an extensive variety. Bi Fang took a sip of water, contentedly lying on the ground, with half-eaten big fish scattered around, seemingly the leftovers of an Alaskan Brown Bear''s feast. Only they would indulge in eating the high-fat belly meat and disregard the rest. Bi Fang had cleaned out all the fish bellies, leaving only the less fatty parts¡ªno need to worry about them spoiling within a day or two in the current Arctic weather. If the bountiful harvest continues tomorrow, these remains would be preserved, as the limited stomach space should be reserved for high-calorie foods. Glancing at the live stream''s chat, Bi Fang noticed many viewers were still discussing the strong taste of pickled puffin, and he couldn''t help but smile with a sense of mischief accomplished. Considering humans'' history of venturing into the polar regions, we naturally haven''t evolved taste bud genes that accommodate this "delicacy," only those who have grown up eating it might potentially develop a customary adaptation. But as living standards improve, the number willing to accept it will only decrease. Even with surstr?mming, as economic conditions improve, many locals actually find it hard to stomach. "The Inuit people still eat puffin, but one type of puffin, the great auk, has already gone extinct. The last specimen of the great auk existed in the form of pickled puffin, it''s like a witness to human history, I guess." Bi Fang got up, dusted the snow off himself, and prepared to dig tonight''s shelter. The night was quite favorable; the temperature dropped only to negative thirty degrees, not too extreme, and even the aurora appeared. Pale green ribbons floated in the night sky, providing a good view. A rather strong display of the aurora borealis, the snowfield was cold, but the hearts of the viewers were boiling, watching the sky full of Northern Lights fluttering, as if the souls of angels were swaying. In history, people have been very afraid of the aurora borealis. Especially for the local Sami people of Northern Europe, their legends about the aurora are often stories of terror. For example, there''s a legend that children should not look at the aurora because it will take away their souls. There''s also a belief that the aurora carries an axe as it flies across the sky, killing anyone who mocks it. Therefore, under the bright aurora, sleds in motion are not allowed to use bells, in order to avoid startling the aurora and encountering misfortune. But in modern times, aside from possible solar storms causing changes in the magnetic field, affecting mobile phone signals, the aurora has become a beautiful scene. "I feel like I''m filled with strength right now, the feeling after a full meal is just different," said Ben as he shoveled a block of frozen earth from the pit, his face reflecting the shimmering green light, huffing and puffing as he worked. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If the weather is also good tomorrow, Ben felt he might even take a bath. Explore more adventures at My Virtual Library Empire On the vast snowy plain, digging the foundation caused Ben''s heart to continuously supply blood to the skin''s surface and limbs. The temperature was still a biting minus thirty degrees. The moment Ben stopped moving, the blood supply would immediately slow, and the warmth from the food gradually faded away. The cold attacked from all directions, launching a full-on assault against Ben, the tiny being on the snowy plain. Blood is alive, and when faced with a sudden assault of cold, it will fight back. But if it exceeds the threshold, it will retreat and seek cover, staying away from the terrible chill. The dug-out pit that took quite some time to complete acted as a barrier, ultimately not letting the blood recoil in fear. Ben huddled in the pit, took out a few finger-thick branches left over from before, used the remaining charcoal from last night, and quickly lit a fire once again, speeding up the warming of the cold pit. Feeling the pleasant warmth around him, Ben grew drowsy. He buried the water bottle beneath thirty centimeters of snow. "In the polar region, I recommend using a wide-mouth container because narrow-mouthed flasks can freeze shut more easily and take longer to melt," he advised. "The insulating properties of snow are really good. Put a pot of water under thirty centimeters of snow even if the temperature drops to minus 40¡æ, most of the water in the pot will still remain liquid." Ben carefully sealed the pit with snow, keeping the cold air on the outside, and placed the water bottle upside down. This way, even if a little water at the top ¡ª which now was the bottom ¡ª froze, it won''t prevent the lid from opening. After completing the last task, Ben turned off the live broadcast. Tomorrow would be very busy. He needed to gather more food for the winter and a secure enough shelter to welcome the polar night. The four-day storm had greatly reduced the daytime activities for Ben. What followed was a life-or-death race against time. So, the next morning, armed with a Hunting Knife, Ben set off, not to go ice fishing right away. Frequently fishing in the same cave might alert even the most indifferent fish, so he decided to save it for the evening. Today, Ben wanted to follow the river downstream to see if he could find a coniferous forest, gather enough firewood, or perhaps encounter larger game. Chapter 666 663: Catching Puffins Most people directly assume that the climate of Greenland is a polar ice cap climate, but in actuality, the area around Nuuk in the southern part of the island exhibits a polar tundra climate, while the northern uninhabited regions are characterized by a polar ice cap climate. The tundra climate is mainly distributed along the northern edges of the North American Continent and the Eurasian Continent, parts of the coastline of Greenland, and several islands in the Arctic Ocean. The ice cap climate, on the other hand, is found in polar regions and their nearby areas, including Greenland, several islands in the Arctic Ocean, and the ice cap plateaus of Antarctica. These are the places where the Arctic and Antarctic air masses originate, with perpetual night throughout the winter and perpetual daylight in the summer half of the year; however, the sunlight is slanted, and the heat it provides is feeble, resulting in a cold climate all year round, with temperatures below 0¡ãC every month. Most Inuit people live in a tundra climate, where from springtime the snow on the ground gradually melts, revealing green lichen or moss, and rivers aren''t always frozen, allowing at least a window of time when they''re unfrozen. However, Bi Fang''s current location boasts an ice cap climate that is even more severe than the tundra. Otherwise, lichens and moss wouldn''t be so scarce that one might have to search for half a day, and if one comes across some that are inedible, it''s easy to become frustrated. The fact that Bi Fang had traveled so far and never encountered any Inuit people was due to this reason. But life is tenacious, and even in the ice cap, it is still possible to find plants. Especially near rivers. Wherever there is liquid water, it''s likely one might find forests nearby. Conifers, birches, and willow trees, these hardy plants and trees can endure astonishingly cold temperatures. Bi Fang used a homemade shovel to dig through the snow, occasionally finding leaves, twigs, and remnants of plants, which confirmed there was indeed a plant zone nearby. And a forest signifies a more advanced ecosystem, where one might find substantial game, such as Arctic musk oxen and reindeer. After the blizzard strikes, many animals would seek shelter within the forest, making the next couple of days an excellent opportunity for trapping them. Perhaps it was the effect of Bi Fang''s mention of traditional Inuit cuisine yesterday, for as he walked along the riverbank, he did indeed spot some small black animals. Even though the reflected light on the snowy plains was so intense that it was difficult to keep one''s eyes open, Bi Fang still spotted them from a hundred meters away, a small flock of puffins. [Puffins? Where?] [Didn''t they say they''re extinct?] [Clearly you weren''t listening yesterday, what''s extinct is the great auk, not puffins.] [Isn''t a great auk still a puffin?] [A great auk is a puffin, but a puffin isn''t necessarily a great auk!] [¡­] A group of online friends, for some inexplicable reason, started arguing in the live stream chat, seemingly about to initiate an accumulated debate over the classification of puffins. From Bi Fang''s perspective, the viewers couldn''t spot the puffins at all, even though their color starkly contrasted with the snowy plains. After all, these creatures are birds, not large carnivorous species like geese or falcons, and are relatively small in size. Even the extinct great auk, the largest of all puffins, only had an average body length of 75 to 80 centimeters and weighed 5 kilograms, whereas regular puffins are less than half the size of the great auk. Moreover, the viewers didn''t possess the strong visual perception of Bi Fang, who could make out the craters on the moon with his naked eye. Fortunately, there was more than one drone; a smaller drone quietly approached, finally giving everyone a clear view of the puffin. "Isn''t that a penguin?" Guoba, the class representative in Bi Fang''s livestream, widened his eyes in surprise upon seeing the puffin on the screen. It wasn''t just the class representative; many people thought the same¡ªit looked exactly like a penguin, right? Its head sides, chin, throat, and wings were blackish-brown, while its belly was pure white, except it had odd body proportions, with a protruding and longer neck, and its belly wasn''t as big compared to a penguin''s. But compared to the birds one usually sees, it indeed looked plump and not adept at flying. "Of course, it''s plump; otherwise, the Inuit people wouldn''t consider it a delicacy. Animals that can survive in the Arctic all have a good layer of blubber," Bi Fang chuckled. In the Arctic, the more fat an animal has, the better the ingredient it is. "But you''re wrong if you think it can''t fly. Puffins not only can fly, but they are also all-rounders." When it comes to the animals in nature, God is very fair, always giving you at least one skill sufficient for survival. For example, birds excel at flying, fish at swimming, cheetahs possess incredible running speeds, and pandas are born to be adorable... However, not all animals are content with just one skill; some in the natural world possess multiple abilities, like the puffin, which is a special species of the bird class. Bi Fang lay on the ground and slowly approached, and since the distance was still quite far, he took the opportunity to explain: "According to biological classification, puffins belong to the bird class, Charadriiformes. They are special because they not only can fly but also have strong swimming and diving skills." "They can dive into the sea like penguins to catch small fish, and almost never fail at their hunting attempts. On land, unlike many birds that can only hop and skip, puffins can also walk, taking what looks like a comical swagger. It appears quite funny," he explained. "So their build is between a penguin and a regular bird, combining the strengths of both, making them the ''penguins'' of the Arctic ice cap." As he was speaking, the drone had already captured the walking behavior of the puffins. The puffins, resembling penguins, spread their wings and then raised them high, as though putting hands in their pockets, and began striding across the snow. Their gait was completely different from the hopping of normal birds and was amusing to watch. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Puffins are innately happy-go-lucky; they are animals that love to socialize, often gathering in large groups to play and rest. And the places where they congregate vary; sometimes they gather along the coast, other times they drift in groups on the sea surface or in the snow. This was why Bi Fang had encountered them here. But because of a lack of materials, Bi Fang didn''t have a net cage or any other kind of rope to catch birds with. He could only tie a shovel to a tree stick, making it into a sharp weapon, hoping to get lucky and knock out a puffin, and of course, catching more would be even better. By now, Bi Fang had stealthily advanced within ten meters, and the puffins were still none the wiser. In terms of sheer survival skills, puffins were quite adept; they could fly, swim, dive, catch fish, even strut with a swaggering gait. Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire As a result, there weren''t many predators in the Arctic that could threaten them, leaving them without much vigilance, which gave Bi Fang his opportunity. With that thought, Bi Fang suddenly charged out! Chapter 667 664: Accumulate Food The puffin, basking leisurely on the snow and enjoying the sunlight, was suddenly startled. Just as it was about to spread its wings and flee, the merciless shovel had already descended. There were both big and small puffins, and Bi Fang naturally targeted the fattest one. After all, as a species between penguins and normal birds, even though they can fly, their take-off is actually slower than that of regular birds by a beat, and given their large size, it''s slower by two beats. This group of puffins had seen humans before, but they had never seen a reaction speed as fast as 50ms. Bi Fang had been hungry for a long time, and although he had eaten a lot yesterday, it wasn''t easy to recover his status in an instant; but no matter how difficult, it couldn''t withstand his terrifying foundation, which was definitely three times faster than an ordinary person. The iron shovel, fashioned from a dagger, whistled through the air, making a sharp screech, and almost at the moment the fattest puffin was about to open its wings, it had already descended upon its head, smashing down fiercely. Red snowflakes scattered across the snow, as the dagger cut straight through the puffin''s body. Seeing that his strike was successful, Bi Fang didn''t show any delight, because the other puffins hadn''t managed to take off yet! Bi Fang immediately grabbed the tree stick at his waist, turned around, and swung the "shovel" in a semicircle. Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire Benefiting from his various acquired skills, Bi Fang, with an extremely smooth posture, swatted down a second puffin that was just a dozen or so centimeters off the ground. It even made a crisp clanging sound. With one hit and one flick, he caught two puffins on the spot, but by the time the third one came along, Bi Fang was powerless because all the other puffins were already in the air, out of his attack range. Having captured two puffins, Bi Fang finally had time to show his delight. He happily picked up the two bloody puffins from the ground and exclaimed, "So fat! Feels almost as big as an old hen." Audience: "..." Fast, way too fast. Millions of viewers had almost failed to grasp exactly what had happened. In less than two seconds, Bi Fang had already taken down two puffins. It was as if he had rehearsed it countless times beforehand, but everyone knew that was impossible. The puffin''s takeoff speed is indeed a beat slower than that of normal birds, but to ordinary people, it still looks almost the same, falling within the range of not being able to see clearly or catch. But Bi Fang managed to kill two in an instant! The first one might be explained away, as he had predetermined its location and struck it down in a swift motion, but what about the second one? It was already off the ground! The iron shovel in Bi Fang''s hand even managed to round a curve for an immediate hit; ordinary people couldn''t even see it clearly, yet Bi Fang hit his target with pinpoint accuracy. Whether it''s reaction speed or dynamic vision, it all seemed somewhat terrifying to the audience, especially considering Bi Fang''s own subpar status. [Chang Wei! And you said you don''t know martial arts!] [As soon as I went in, I saw Master Fang beating puffins.] [Awesome, capital A awesome, with such skills, it''s a waste not to box.] [How brazen, demon! Reveal your true form!] "How did he do that? Luck?" Vazili took a heavy drag on his cigarette, consuming a third of it instantly. It must be said that among Bi Fang''s multitude of fans, some were not ordinary people, such as Vazili, a professional boxer with an extremely high stature worldwide. His footwork was elegant and agile, his offenses and defenses comprehensive, with both speed and defense regarded as world-class. On the offensive end, he was more coherent and aggressive than the Black Sea Boxing King, and he took the initiative more actively, fighting in a more aggressive manner. He was a boxing prodigy, hailed as the fastest boxer in history. A short while ago, the most authoritative social media in the boxing world¡ªWorld Boxing News¡ªreleased the latest P4P rankings, and Vazili, was ranked second. He had created a brand-new technical system, which shattered people''s inherent understanding of boxing and was known as black technology. However, at this moment, Vazili was at the lowest point of his life, immersed in deep depression, because he had unexpectedly lost to the young fighter Teofimo Lopez in the undisputed lightweight championship more than two months ago. Since then, Vazili had fallen from his pedestal, and there was a lot of speculation; some called it the depletion of his talent, while others believed that the real reason for his defeat was his shoulder injury. But no matter what, he had lost. Vazili was very clear about this, and the defeat had caused him to enter an unusual state of decay, so much so that during the day, instead of training, he was watching a live broadcast rather than taking the time to watch an edited version. Vazili was a fan of Bi Fang, but not an obsessive fan; he just found Wilderness Survivalist extremely interesting. Among all those who did Wilderness Survivalist, whether it was live or recorded, there was no doubt that Bi Fang was the most impressive of them all. Specialization is key, he was a boxing champion in boxing, just an ordinary viewer in Wilderness Survivalist. However, what caught Vazili''s attention at that moment were Bi Fang''s movements. Fast, incredibly fast. Even being hailed as the fastest boxer in history, Vazili had to admit that Bi Fang''s movements, in terms of both continuity and reaction, were astonishingly swift. Could he do the same? Having been defeated by a youngster recently, Vazili was no longer the high-spirited boxing champion he used to be, and he began to doubt himself. He knew that Bi Fang was also very strong in fighting, but he had not expected his physical condition to be so exceptional; if Bi Fang could enter the boxing world, he would certainly make a great name for himself. Enter the boxing world... Vazili paused, then stared intently at the large screen after a moment. After quickly cleaning two puffins, Bi Fang stuffed them into his backpack. Combined, the two puffins weighed almost ten pounds¡ªa substantial amount, considering a single great auk. "Didn''t expect to come across a catch just by heading out in the morning; looks like I''m quite lucky today." Bi Fang put away his shovel and looked around nearby to see if the puffins had laid any eggs. "Puffins may be very capable, but they''re not all-powerful when it comes to building nests. None of the puffin species build nests, they either have to rest out in the open or occupy the nests of other animals." "Even if female puffins are about to lay eggs, they won''t prepare a nest for their offspring, instead laying their eggs in the open air to incubate them." "Furthermore, puffins may be strong, but their adaptability to their environment is quite average. Marine pollution and changes in their living environment can lead to the death of puffins, which is why they''re listed as vulnerable in the international Red Book. So, the birth rate of puffins is quite low, and chick mortality is a frequent occurrence." [Vulnerable, does that mean they''re a protected species?] S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [No, it''s not the same concept. Just because a species is listed as vulnerable doesn''t mean they''re few in number, but it means there are factors threatening their population.] [If a meteorite were about to hit the Earth right now, humans would also be ''vulnerable'' (dog''s head), because there are threatening factors.] "Alright, none here." Bi Fang searched the snowy ground for a long time without finding a single egg, it seems like the puffins had merely thrown a party here. "Although these two puffins are quite fatty, our plan must continue; they alone aren''t enough to get us through the winter." "Most Inuit people start consciously gathering food from summer, or even spring, until the end of fall. We''re still far behind; we need to hunt more than twenty kilograms of food each day at least to get through the winter." Chapter 668 665 Snow Bath To smoothly get through the later stages, 20 kilograms of game per day was the target Bi Fang set. There was less than half a month until the perpetual darkness descended, roughly fifteen days, and during that time there could be another blizzard, combined with other unforeseen events, plus building a shelter; the actual days that one could go out hunting and gain a yield might only be about a week. A healthy adult male typically consumes about three jin of food a day, which adds up to forty-five kilograms a month, and for three months, that would require at least one hundred thirty-five kilograms. In the Arctic, this amount needed is even greater. About one hundred fifty kilograms of food reserves would be relatively safe. Two puffins, plucked of feathers, might not even amount to eight jin, or four kilograms, meaning today''s task was completed by less than one-quarter. Find your next read at My Virtual Library Empire [Isn''t this too difficult? Twenty kilograms, I couldn''t finish that much meat in a month] [But you don''t eat meat as your staple food] [Not all of it can be eaten, like bones with attached meat, and lean meat, eating lean meat in the Arctic is definitely a losing business, right?] [I finally understand why Master Fang didn''t get bitten by sharks when he was surviving at sea, it''s because he had too much lean meat, eating more of it and you could starve to death (jokingly)] Continuing along the riverbank, Bi Fang frequently dug through the snow to check the conditions underneath. When the frequency of moss on the ground noticeably increased, Bi Fang knew he was not heading in the wrong direction. "Under the influence of Earth''s rotation, the entire world has a dominant wind pattern, meaning that most of the time, the wind is blowing in one direction." "On Greenland, under the influence of air pressure belts and prevailing wind belts, the wind direction is from west to east. Isn''t someone checking the weather forecast? You can look at the weather forecast for the past week, see if it''s all westerly winds; even if not, they are mostly southwest or northwest winds." Some of the more curious Shuiyou immediately left the live broadcast and searched for the weather forecast in Greenland, finding it to be true indeed. Over the past week, and the coming one, more than half of the winds were westerly, with the remainder being southwest winds and a small portion of northwest winds; the main wind direction is westerly. [Amazing] [Impressive] [What if you don''t know the wind direction?] "If you can''t determine the wind direction based on geography and climate, that''s fine, look at the snow ridges." Bi Fang pointed at the high snow ridges on the distant snowfield. Snow is stickier than sand grains, but under the action of the wind, it also forms dune-like snow mounds. Under the force of prevailing winds, the ridges on the snow mounds, without exception, are neatly facing towards Bi Fang; this also means that Bi Fang is now in the leeward. "The direction I''m walking in isn''t chosen at random; it''s partly following the river and partly following the direction of the wind." Being leeward is disadvantageous for capturing animals, but it''s incredibly helpful for finding a forest. "Do you remember what I said before? On the sea, small islands below a certain area are unlikely to grow trees, mostly shrubs, because the wind on the sea is too strong, and the saplings might get broken by the wind before they can grow." "It''s the same in the Arctic, if a place wants to grow a forest, it must be a valley; only with mountain ranges to block the airflow can the trees grow normally." "Following the wind direction, if there are even shorter ridges to block the fierce wind, plus a stream, flipping over, it''s very likely to be a forest." [Couldn''t you go against the wind, in theory?] [If you go upstream, the river and wind directions are inconsistent, reducing the criteria by one.] [Oh, I remember now.] "In fact, I saw a rising hill here before I set out this morning, and now we''re heading in its direction, not sure if we can reach it before dark." Half an hour later, the appearance of a low hill confirmed that Bi Fang''s choice was very correct, and it was closer than he had previously estimated. Bi Fang prepared to climb over the low hill with an excited heart, thinking that there must be a forest on the other side. The wildlife management system in Greenland is outstanding; every year, people who get hunting licenses come here through various channels to hunt reindeer and Arctic musk oxen, which are also the main targets for hunters here. All signs indicate that there is no shortage of large animals in the Arctic; if that were the case, they wouldn''t be able to sustain giant carnivores like polar bears. "But before we climb over, we have one more thing we need to do." Bi Fang looked at the obliquely setting sun in the distance. It was not at the highest point it had reached today, but had moved further on, coinciding with the peak of the day''s temperature, which was warmer than the day before, possibly above minus twenty degrees Celsius. He began to strip off his clothes, removing his coat one piece at a time and then throwing it onto the snowy ground. "Since we''re going against the wind, if we climb over, my scent might alert the animals. So, I need to take a bath before that, a snow bath." "Trust me, the effect of a snow bath is quite remarkable. The porous structure of the snowflakes makes it a very absorbent material, effectively removing any odors." Having said that, Bi Fang was now shirtless, proceeding to unbuckle his pants. The skin was fully exposed to the cold air, and under the intense stimulation, capillaries began to flow more rapidly. Soon Bi Fang''s upper body turned a slight red, much like the flush one gets from drinking. [Hiss, a bath?] [Speaking of which, Old Fang indeed hasn''t bathed for a week (dog head).] [Seems his body''s marinated at this point.] [Bathing once a week in winter is normal, right? Not to mention in the Arctic (sweat).] "Cherish this moment. Once the polar night arrives, the temperatures will drop even lower, making it even more challenging to find a suitable moment to bathe." "Even though it''s the Arctic, when the temperature and weather allow, it''s still good to take a bath, and then bask in the sunlight. Ultraviolet rays and clean air have miraculous effects on the skin, body, and spirit." Bi Fang took off the last piece of clothing, burying it in the snow, and with only shorts remaining, he dived directly into the snow, crawling and rolling around. In the face of the cold environment, the human body produces heat in a short time by consuming glycogen through expanded capillaries. During this process, brief exposure to the cold not only doesn''t feel cold but instead gives a sense of exhilaration. Bi Fang grabbed a handful of snow, carefully scrubbing his body, making his skin turn red, feeling as refreshing as after a bath. At this moment, exposed to sunlight and with no wind, Bi Fang could even feel a trace of warmth. Ten minutes later, his body began to feel the cold. Bi Fang immediately climbed out of the snow, scattered the clinging snowflakes from his body, dug out the clothes he had buried earlier, and dressed from inside out, one piece at a time. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Feels as if I''ve washed away the fatigue, feeling light." Bi Fang''s eyebrows rose with joy. Chapter 669 666: The Forest "Clothing is your first and best line of defense against harsh environments. Wear the right clothes, and you can keep your body temperature above 36 degrees Celsius. If you wear too little, your body temperature will drop below this number, and you''ll quickly experience hypothermia." Bi Fang zipped up his clothes and tightened them again. Initially, because the temperature of the clothes was very low, he felt cold, but he quickly warmed up. "Most survival experts will tell you that the best garments for sub-zero temperatures are Gortex outdoor jackets, wool socks, wool clothing, and wool gloves. That''s true, but in extreme survival situations, what you carry with you determines what you can wear." "To maximize their effectiveness, remember the acronym COLD, which stands for clean, avoid overheating, loose, and dry." "Cleanliness of clothing is important. In the wilderness, this won''t be easy. But if clothes are dirty or greasy, they lose some of their insulating properties. If possible, wash them in a stream or lake, but make sure you have a fire to dry them afterward." "I''ve talked many times about avoiding overheating. Loose means dressing in layers like an onion, allowing air to insulate, and lastly, wet clothes will absorb heat from your body, and they do it much faster than almost anything else." "Especially wet socks, which can be life-threatening. In such environments, moisture means death. You can dry your clothes by the fire, or wring them out. During the day, you can tuck your socks under your arms to dry them." [Ew, that''s a strong smell.] [There''s that smell.] [I feel a bit nauseous.] [Come on, your life''s at stake, and you''re worried about a little stench?] Bi Fang, free of any unusual smells, finally felt at ease to move forward, heading into the winding mountain ranges along the river. Viewers in front of the screen could clearly see that the dead branches on the ground had visibly increased. Everything was indicative of a good direction. In the forest, Bi Fang would undoubtedly have more survival options. There, he would find materials for shelter and firemaking, as well as plants and animals to replenish energy. But in the snowfields and deserts, these necessities for survival would be absent. Hence, Bi Fang always hoped to stay in places covered with vegetation. "However, if you''re just an ordinary person, with no confidence in your survival skills, then in the harsh Polar Regions, you should only move if there''s immediate danger where you are, you''re close to a populated area, or rescue is imminent." "While moving, be careful not to carry unnecessary items, as carrying too much equipment not only consumes heat but also causes you to sweat and lose water." "If you''ve decided to abandon a camp, be sure to leave long-lasting markings to show your direction of travel to rescue teams." "The best method in the snow is to pile up snow to show your direction, choosing open areas for large piles, clearly indicating the direction you''re going, and continuously leaving markers along the way." "Compasses are not usable in the Polar Regions, so you must learn to recognize directions by the stars at night and by using a stick to measure shadows during the day." "Every day before setting out, choose your route carefully. Your area might not be on a large-scale map, so try to travel along creeks, rivers, and other waterways, as this lets you replenish water or catch fish and hunt for food." As Bi Fang mentioned some common precautions, he noticed that the path ahead was blocked. The river was wedged between two mountains, extremely narrow, and even frozen at the bottom. A large amount of water vapor had evaporated from the river, and over time, thick frost had condensed on the mountain walls and even joined together. The river seemed to flow underground as well. With no other choice, Bi Fang could only grasp the rocks to climb up, keeping the dagger nestled in his hand to stab into the crevices to stabilize his body at any moment. "The rock faces in the cold regions are all coated with a layer of frost, very slippery, so you must be careful. If you don''t have a base in rock climbing, you should detour instead of doing what I did, safety comes first," he said. Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire "The same height would be far more dangerous if you fall in a valley, with hard stones everywhere. Your body is definitely not as hard as they are." [Master Fang: I''m not an ordinary person, so I can climb, but you can''t.] [That''s pretty blatant.] The valley path was narrow, but after climbing only about five or six meters, the space in front of Bi Fang widened, and reaching out, he began to try moving forward. Halfway through, the drone made its way through the gap between the valleys and captured everything on the opposite side. In the seemingly boundless snowy plain, a hint of gray-brown suddenly mingled with the pure white. Upon the frozen ground stood tall coniferous forests, heavy snow blanketed the treetops, pressing them to the brink of breaking, making one worry if they would suddenly collapse. [Damn, trees!] Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [There are actually trees!] [Master Fang is awesome!] [Seriously awesome, that prediction was too accurate, saying there are trees and then there are.] [You think it''s Old Fang''s accurate judgment, but in fact, it''s ''his word becomes reality,'' you''re still green.]] The crevice wasn''t long, and Bi Fang stabbed the dagger into the rock fissure, crossing the mountain face nervously but without incident, finally landing smoothly on the snow. This was a valley, with the mountain rocks on both sides keeping out all the wind and snow; without the wind and snow, the temperature in the valley seemed higher, and the frozen river split the place in two through the only gap, bringing ample moisture to the land beneath the snow. The forest wasn''t large, as Bi Fang looked over from halfway up the mountainside, noticing the strip of woodland was narrow and rapidly diminishing in size once out of the valley, stretching less than a kilometer along the river before disappearing; it looked like a drop of Luporte''s Tear had fallen on this frigid land. Bi Fang turned to look at the two low mountains and sighed, "Even two mountains aren''t tall enough, they can only be considered hills. If these were a mountain range, then there would be a vast forest." It is difficult for forests to grow in polar regions, but in all kinds of special terrain, it''s still possible for small, unique biological communities to flourish. Though small, the forest had all the necessary components; Bi Fang saw a puffin standing among the distant trees, but it quickly flew away as he looked on. With rivers, there''s a steady catch of fish, with forests, there are small animals, and the hills on both sides can block the wind and snow. After traveling so much, he had finally found a reliable place. Bi Fang was in a pleasant mood, "This is an excellent spot to build a shelter!" If all goes well, he would spend the upcoming eternal night right here. Chapter 670 667: Musk Oxen Bi Fang walked between the trees, took off his gloves, and touched one icy tree after another, with a hundred-meter-high cliff towering behind him¡ªa natural city wall. Nature was so vast, yet the terrain was exceedingly cruel, no hint of green could be seen on the ground, as it was all concealed under a thick layer of snow. Standing in the forest located in the Arctic, Bi Fang, as a human, inevitably felt a hint of insignificance. Looking back, the cliff bore a massive inland ice face forming ice tongues that could break away at any moment during a storm and plummet from the heights, smashing everything to dust. In Greenland, as far as the eye could see, there lay endless wild lands. "The Arctic region, in all aspects, is pretty extreme; only those species that can successfully adapt to the harsh climate conditions here, and the huge differences from summer to winter, can survive. There are no fallen leaves here; nearly all trees are green, striving to absorb sunlight and perform photosynthesis to the fullest extent possible." Bi Fang caressed the tree trunks, where visible scrapes were left all over them. He squatted down, shoveled away the snow on the ground, and uncovered a patch of moss that had been nibbled. Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire The edges of this moss bore clear bite marks; it was obvious that some herbivorous animal had visited this place and left traces behind. Clearing more snow away, soon enough, more tracks were revealed¡ªnot just bulky footprints, but also strands of long brown hairs. Looking at the hoof prints on the ground, the viewers felt they looked somewhat familiar. [What''s this? A reindeer?] [Looks like it, but seems to be quite bigger.] Bi Fang dug up the remaining moss from the ground and shook his head, "It''s not a reindeer; reindeer don''t have such a large size. These are the footprints left by musk oxen." [What kind of ox is a musk ox?] [Blind guess, it''s a really big ox] [Can it be eaten?] "Musk oxen are representative animals of the Arctic Tundra and are the northernmost hoofed mammals on Earth. Among hoofed mammals, none live further north than the musk ox, not even reindeer." "It''s said that the underfur shed by musk oxen during their molting period is eight times warmer than sheep''s wool, and their protective outer hairs are among the longest in the animal kingdom, reaching up to 60 centimeters, perfectly withstanding temperatures as low as minus forty degrees." Bi Fang briefly introduced, then pointed at the footprints on the ground. "The reason you find their footprints similar is that both musk oxen and reindeer belong to the order Artiodactyla, and they are both part of the suborder Ruminantia. It''s not until you get to the family level that they differ, which is why their footprints might look similar at a glance. But the two are very different in size." "Musk oxen typically weigh over three hundred kilograms. Reindeer weigh less than half of that. It is precisely because of the musk oxen''s massive size, and their preference to move in herds, which leaves them with hardly any natural enemies and makes their walk rather domineering, that they often scrape against trees, whereas reindeer rarely do so." [Ss, three hundred kilograms?] [Dang, catching one should be enough, right?] [Suddenly the twenty-kilogram goal Old Fang set doesn''t seem so outrageous now, right? One of these should be enough.] [Herds? My DNA is twitching.] The soil here was permafrost; stepping on it would leave marks that were hard to erase, which made it difficult for Bi Fang to determine how long ago the prey had left. Bi Fang closed his eyes, his nostrils flared slightly as he tried to catch the musk oxen''s lingering scent in the air. "Musk oxen are so named because both males and females exude a scent similar to musk, particularly prominent in males during the mating season." "However, this scent does not come from a specialized gland but from their urine, and it is from this ''body odor'' that musk oxen get their name." In the air, a faint peculiar fragrance quickly entered his nostrils with the airflow, but it was not pronounced. Bi Fang had to lie down on the ground and discern it once again. [The taste just got stronger.] [Damn, isn''t that the smell of urine?] [Musk-scented pee (dog''s head)] [What''s that? Diluted a thousand times, poop still smells like jasmine.] [Ah, I know this one. A certain chemistry teacher never gifts his girlfriend jasmine perfume, and every time he sees someone using jasmine perfume, he just smiles and says nothing (dog''s head).] "That''s incorrect." Bi Fang opened his eyes and shook his head after reading the barrage. "Feces, when diluted, is still the smell of feces, just not as stinky. Jasmine, when concentrated, is still the smell of jasmine, just not as pleasant." "This claim originates from ''indole'', which indeed is a scent component found both in feces and jasmine. The former Herm¨¨s head perfumer, Jean-Claude Ellena, described the smell of concentrated indole as the stench of corpses, which I think is similar to the smell of sun-baked cow dung in the countryside." "But when indole is diluted to 0.1% or lower, it''s not exactly the complete aroma of jasmine, not even the main component of the jasmine scent." "Take grandiflorum jasmine absolute as an example, its scent components from highest to lowest concentration are a sweet fruity fragrance, a gentle sweetness, a dry tea leaf smell, a mix of grass and floral scent, a refreshing floral aroma, a kind of hay smell, and then comes indole at about 0.16%, plus about twenty other scent components." Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [???] [Can humans really smell this?] [Damn, that''s seriously impressive.] Bi Fang shrugged. These were scents identified by professional perfumers; he personally couldn''t do it. Distinguishing scents requires a lot of training, and it''s not just about having a good sense of smell. Someone who has never smelled jasmine wouldn''t recognize its scent on the first encounter. Having a strong sense of smell mainly helped Bi Fang in tracking and locating enemies. "The same goes for feces; it is not composed entirely of indole." "If they really are chemistry teachers, they ought to know that the smell of natural substances is complex by nature. It is a common phenomenon for vastly different things to share the same or similar scent components. Cheese, beef, pork, shrimp, eggs, strawberries, cherries, peaches, they all contain traces of indole." "Can you admit that you actually eat, uh..." Bi Fang scratched his cheek and smiled, "that stuff?" [Holy crap, I''ve been confused for so long, and finally I see an authoritative explanation.] [Awesome, the truth has to come from Old Fang.] [So, did you smell it? Are the musk oxen still around?] Bi Fang nodded and picked up a tree stick lying nearby. "As I said before, the scent of musk oxen is stronger during the mating season, which is from mid-September to October. After a summer of rest and recuperation, musk oxen have accumulated a great deal of energy. The females are primarily concerned with breeding, while the males also fight for the right to reproduce during the autumnal mating season." "At this time, the male musk oxen''s facial musk glands secrete a strong smelling secretion, which gets transferred onto plants on the ground via their legs, marking out their territory. The female musk oxen are then corralled within and strictly guarded and protected to prevent other males from encroaching." "As a result, the scent on the ground is much stronger, which is also why we had to lie down on the ground earlier." "However..." Bi Fang looked up at the sky. It was getting dark. Chapter 671 668: Tracking Bi Fang gave up the pursuit. By the time he crossed the valley, it was already afternoon, and darkness would fall again in about an hour. If he started chasing now, even if he caught up within an hour, he wouldn''t be able to bring the wild ox back. Moreover, the food reserves were not abundant. If it dragged on for two days, the situation would deteriorate. He might as well set out tomorrow morning and ice fish again today. After carefully searching the icy surface, Bi Fang found a good spot, broke through the ice, sat on a dry log, and used fish bones to make a fish hook, baiting it with the fish guts left over from yesterday. Before darkness set in, he caught eight fish of various sizes. The largest one weighed more than fifteen pounds and had to be held firmly to control it; Bi Fang speared it with a fish spear. However, the most exciting part was having charcoal at last and finally being able to eat some cooked food. After crudely building a snow hut, Bi Fang lit a campfire, and the environment quickly warmed up, making him feel sleepy after a day of fatigue. "Tomorrow we''ll go hunting Musk Oxen. We don''t need to save food. Eat as much as we can and replenish our strength as much as possible." Bi Fang''s cheeks were bulging. He cut all the fish bellies out and swallowed them raw, chewing vigorously to add calories and vitamins. After half-sating his hunger, he sliced the remaining fish meat and stewed it in a wooden pot. Bi Fang chose to sustain himself through active efforts rather than scrimping resources to barely survive. In his previous life, many survival experts had participated in Arctic survival challenges, but they were all too cautious, or rather, not confident enough. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As a result, they dared not consume the resources they had painstakingly hunted, so even if they won, they would lose a significant amount of weight, and their condition would degrade day by day to the point where they could no longer catch prey in the later stages, relying solely on endurance. The root of this lack of confidence was, fundamentally, a deficiency in ability. The fish meat curled in the boiling water, changing color from pink to white, which tremendously whetted the appetite. At that moment, Bi Fang finished carving the last bit of wood shavings, and a pair of chopsticks was also completed. He scooped up the fish meat and took big bites. The long-missed sensation of heat almost brought tears to his eyes. Nothing beats the flavor of cooked food! Without minding the heat, Bi Fang grabbed a large mouthful with his chopsticks. The scalding broth wasn''t even dripping off when he stuffed it into his mouth¡ªhe craved that burning sensation. His mouth felt spicy hot, but it made him feel incredibly alive. In the cold and icy world, experiencing such warmth was indeed rare and precious. It was at that moment that the texture and flavor of the Arctic fish fully burst forth. There was a fishy smell, yes, but after boiling, it was almost negligible compared to the fish Bi Fang had eaten before. Exceptionally sweet and clean, the fish meat was very elastic. "The water quality where fish grow has a huge impact on the taste of the fish. The better the environment, the more the fish can truly showcase its deliciousness. Fish from different water qualities have distinct flavors. Fish that grow in high-quality water sources are often very tender, vibrant, and, there''s no better water environment in the world than the Arctic Ocean." Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire "Trust me, even without any seasoning, the fish here is unimaginably delicious." Bi Fang''s feast made the audience envious. [I want to eat it too, but I don''t have the money] [I''ve been to Iceland once. It''s impossible to fly there directly. You have to transfer in continental Europe. The cheapest return ticket I''ve seen is 5000 yuan, but if you book during the peak season or book late, it could even cost 12,000. Greenland is at a higher latitude, farther away, and it seems airplanes can''t pass over it, so it might be even more expensive.] [Excluding the cost of the flight, if you go for 7 to 8 days, including all accommodations in Iceland, tour groups, and airport shuttle, the total comes to about 15,000 yuan] [Whew, the dream of the poor.] [Greenland must be prettier than Iceland, which is now full of people anyway.] [I just went to check the hunting club''s information and found that the top three rewards for this period are a ten-day trip to Greenland for five people, and you can even take the same cruise as Old Fang... Plus, besides the reward, you can pay your way for 18,000 yuan per person...] [That''s so you, Ah-Yao!] [I''m not even a bit surprised (Dog''s head)] After a satisfying meal, Bi Fang exhaled a pleased breath of warm air, feeling toasty all over, and while chatting with the audience, he also spoke of some dangers associated with musk oxen. Although musk oxen were not as robust as the Wild Baizhi Oxen Bi Fang had encountered earlier, they were still more dangerous. "Musk oxen are gregarious animals with a high degree of organization. When facing natural predators, they don''t panic and scatter like ordinary oxen, but instead form a unique defensive circle. A dozen or so bull and cow oxen charge uphill, and standing shoulder to shoulder, they protect the calves in the middle by facing outward, heads lowered, eyeing the enemy with vigilance." "In the Arctic, only wolf packs and polar bears threaten them, but faced with the huge bodies weighing three to four hundred kilograms and the tough horns of the musk oxen, wolves and polar bears often find themselves at a loss and sometimes the infuriated musk oxen break out of their defensive formation to launch an attack." The audience was startled by this. Everyone had seen wildlife documentaries, and the iconic scene of galloping wildebeests on the savannah was deeply ingrained, not something humans could contend with; even lions had to weigh their options. Could one man really catch such an animal? [Brave oxen!] [Unafraid of difficulties!] [So badass, how is Old Fang going to catch one tomorrow?] [Such a fierce ox] "However, once Europeans, armed with guns, entered the Polar Regions to make war on the musk oxen for their hides, meat, and horns, the musk oxen''s defense systems became not only useless but worse than scattering in panic." "Hunters first released hunting dogs to chase the musk oxen, and when the musk oxen angrily formed their defense circle in preparation for a decisive battle, they were shot one after another. This method of slaughter was incredibly efficient." "Around 1865, the last musk ox in Alaska was shot dead. By the early 20th century, the musk oxen in Canada and Greenland were on the brink of extinction." "Between 1902-1909, an explorer and Rear Admiral from Ugly Country, led several expeditions north into the Arctic, killing about 600 musk oxen for food and funding their activities by selling musk ox hides." "Had the Canadian Government not passed legislation in 1917 banning the hunting of musk oxen, they might well have become extinct. Under subsequent protection, the musk ox population recovered quickly. There are now about 3,000 musk oxen in Alaska and about 80,000 worldwide; they are no longer considered endangered, and in some areas, limited hunting is even permitted." "So there''s a tough fight ahead of me tomorrow, and I''ll be turning in early tonight." With that, Bi Fang switched off the live stream. The drone quietly settled onto the ground, Bi Fang extinguished the fire, blocked the entrance, leaving only a vent, and then began to rest. Seeing this, the audience lingered in the live stream room as they usually would, chatted for a bit, and then left the live stream room in small groups. Early the following day, before it was fully light, Bi Fang dug open the entrance and jumped out of the snow house, heading to the spot where he had found the musk oxen the day before. Bi Fang sniffed the ground, relieved that the scent was still there. Chapter 672 - 669 Pursuit In the Arctic summer, there¡¯s 24 hours of daylight, while in the Arctic winter, it¡¯s 24 hours of darkness. Any perception of time here is not accurate, and the circadian rhythm becomes blurred under the night sky¡¯s aurora. Spring and autumn usually mean more unpredictable weather, accompanied by storms and various cloud conditions. Fortunately, over the past ten days, Bi Fang encountered only one blizzard that lasted four days. At 7 a.m., most regions are already bright with daylight, yet the Arctic sky is still dotted with stars. Today, the starry sky did not show the aurora; amid the deep forest, Bi Fang gathered dry twigs into a pyramid shape, stuffed a smoky tuft of dry grass in the middle, blew on it, and soon sparks floated out from the grass, producing a small flame. The tiny flame climbed along the fibers, spreading and growing, igniting the entire pyramid of dry wood. Starting a simple bonfire, Bi Fang placed a pot of ice water above it, tearing the lichen he had collected the day before into small pieces, soaked them, and waited for it to boil. "This lichen is called Reindeer Moss because it¡¯s an important food for reindeer, it¡¯s also known as Reindeer Lichen, mainly found in the alpine permafrost regions, extremely cold-resistant." "Reindeer Moss is an ancestral secret recipe of the Menba people in the high mountain regions of the Eastern Himalayas for removing kidney stones. The inland Tanana people crush the dried Reindeer Moss and boil it in hot water until soft to use as food. They also make a soup with Reindeer Moss as a diarrheal medication." [Can this thing really treat kidney stones?] [Damn, I think I got this last time I went to gather herbs.] [This is in traditional Chinese medicine.] "However, since it contains acidic substances inside, it may cause stomach discomfort, especially when it¡¯s not cooked, so you must patiently wait for it to be fully cooked before consuming." Bi Fang submerged the Reindeer Moss with chopsticks, waited for it to soften and sink, then covered it with a wooden lid. "Reindeer Moss grows very slowly; when it gets overgrazed, burned, trampled, or depleted, it usually takes decades to recover, so if you find it, don¡¯t pull it out by the roots. It¡¯s better to cut a part of it." Bi Fang stood up, plunged a thick stick into the bonfire, and tied one end with a rope made from tree fibers¡ªa loose structure that would allow the torch to burn longer. If he could coat it with animal fat, it would burn even better, but for Bi Fang, who was still in a state of basic survival, that was luxury. After waiting for the torch to burn properly, Bi Fang lifted it and walked into the forest. Before preparing for hunting, Bi Fang had a lot of preparation work to do, like making weapons, ropes, sleds, and so forth. [A sled, Wu Hu, getting ready to ski?] [Can you even ski on these snowfields?] Bi Fang shook his head: "I¡¯m not preparing a sled for skiing, but for dragging the game easily later on." Having found such a good valley, he would definitely make it his base¡ªthe most critical thing was the availability of combustible material. If he hunted a musk oxen, he¡¯d naturally want to bring it back here; but with an average one weighing three hundred kilograms and after removing the bones and unnecessary fat, there¡¯d still be at least two hundred kilograms. Two hundred kilograms, the weight of three adults, was too much for Bi Fang to carry ¨C he would have to drag it, and a sled would save some effort. Bi Fang, holding the torch, picked his way through the forest for a while until he had collected enough materials, then returned to the side of the bonfire and began to carve with a knife. Quickly, Darts, Short Spears, and Bi Fang fitted his favorite weapons with sharpened stones, and finally, three long sled boards. "For the sled boards, we don¡¯t need them to be too well-made; just having a rough prototype is sufficient for use," he said. ``` Although he lacked a plane, Bi Fang had gained a fair bit of experience in how to carve hardwood with a dagger, and he had completed all the preparations before the sun rose. By now, the reindeer moss in the pot was fully cooked. Bi Fang, along with some fish, simply filled his stomach and then erased any traces of having made fire. Bi Fang wrapped all the short spears with a few turns of rope over his shoulder, tying them to his back, then put on his backpack, took less than his supply of rations, managed a kettle of boiling water, and set off following the initial tracks of the musk oxen. The sun had just risen and the temperature of the earth had not yet increased; the scalding boiling water brought a bit of warmth through the kettle and his clothes, dispelling a little coldness. Following the remaining traces and scents on the ground, Bi Fang gradually moved toward a direction away from the forest. The deep gouges on the trees also allowed the audience, who had yet to see a musk ox, to envision its massive and fearsome form in their minds. However... Almost all the tracks seemed not to exceed the height of Bi Fang¡¯s waist, and the highest was just up to his chest; in comparison to its weight, it seemed unexpectedly short? [It seems like this ox has kind of short legs.] [Three hundred kilograms of short legs, isn¡¯t that a potato?] [Bulldozer!] "Musk oxen do have somewhat short legs, and when it comes to the morphology of endothermic animals, there¡¯s something in zoology called Allen¡¯s rule. It suggests that among members of the same species or closely related species, those living in cold regions, as compared to those living in warm regions, have a tendency for shorter extremities, which is an adaptation to reduce heat loss," Bi Fang explained as he looked at the comments. "In comparison with serows, which belong to the same family, musk oxen with their short tails, short legs, and small ears are indeed a confirmation of Allen¡¯s rule," he continued. "Additionally, there¡¯s Bergmann¡¯s rule, which states that among members of the same species or closely related species, those living in colder environments tend to have a relatively larger body size. And indeed, musk oxen are substantially larger compared to serows," Bi Fang explained in detail. [Note-taking intensifies.] [I always learn something new each time.] [The most knowledgeable and hardcore in Wilderness Survivalist.] [I remember Old Fang once said that the higher the latitude, the larger the size of wolves becomes. So, are Arctic wolves particularly big?] Explore stories on FreeNovelFire Bi Fang nodded, "Yes, the Arctic wolf is the largest member of the wild canine family in the world, with adults weighing over forty kilograms. There was once an adult male specimen that weighed up to 68 kilograms, which is significantly larger than all other wolf species I¡¯ve encountered before." It was only on a Discovery Channel program that Bi Fang had once faced a pack of wolves alone, but those were timber wolves, with a median latitude, and much smaller than Arctic wolves. Facing a pack of Arctic wolves alone, with a body size close to that of humans, would still be quite dangerous for Bi Fang, as Arctic wolves typically form packs of 5¨C10 individuals, and each family has about 20¨C30 members. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If the pack encountered a famine, it was possible for the whole clan to be on the move, just as it had happened in Mohe. [Yikes, that number is a bit terrifying.] [That many?] [Wouldn¡¯t a person be devoured alone?] "But there¡¯s no need to fear, it¡¯s not a wise choice to stop moving forward just because we haven¡¯t come across them yet. Let¡¯s think about how to deal with the musk oxen instead," Bi Fang said. Bi Fang, wearing his brand-new snowshoes, walked into the flying snow. ``` Chapter 673 - 670: The Holistic Nature of Evolution Musk oxen are a species unique to the Arctic tundra. In summer, they prefer the shelter of moist lowlands, such as river valleys and lakesides; in winter they move to higher slopes, plateaus, and areas with deep snow accumulation, which facilitates foraging. Under normal circumstances, musk oxen seem exceptionally docile, stopping to eat some food, then lying flat on the ground to chew their cud slowly, and soon nodding off to sleep. When they are slightly more awake, they continue to walk a distance, and then repeat the same routine, eating, ruminating, and dozing off. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Though it seems like a lazy behavior, it actually contains the survival wisdom of polar creatures. This not only reduces energy consumption but also lowers food demands. Because musk oxen are extremely efficient at conserving energy, the food they need is only 1/6th of what an equally sized cow would require. It is precisely for this reason that Bi Fang could afford to wait a whole day in pursuit. Even when walking naturally, he was confident he could catch up to the musk oxen. Add to that the rich scent on the grassland, proving that the herd of musk oxen had not left long ago, definitely not more than five days. Find your next read at FreeNovelFire Of course, moving slowly doesn¡¯t mean musk oxen can¡¯t run fast; during the breeding season, these behemoths weighing over 350 kilograms can reach speeds close to 50 kilometers per hour. With their terrifying mass and speed comes an immense momentum; these furry behemoths of the Arctic Circle colliding head-on uses their sharp, massive horns against opponents, shaking the earth at the moment of impact. What¡¯s more fatal is that, over a lifespan of 10 to 12 years, a male musk ox¡¯s head might endure more than 2100 impacts. The audience, hearing this frightening number, almost jumped out of their seats. [2100 times???] [Momentum of 5000...] [Can someone calculate how much kinetic energy that is in joules?] [I did the math, a momentum of 5000 is about 35,000 joules of kinetic energy...] [The muzzle energy of an AK47 is around 2000 joules (covering face)] [Wouldn¡¯t getting hit by this thing be like getting shot by an anti-aircraft gun?] How do musk oxen survive these attacks without their brains turning to mush? This is the question that lingered in everyone¡¯s mind, unable to be shaken off. As if seeing the mythical oxen that create mountains. "People have always believed that animals like musk oxen and bighorn sheep, which use their heads to attack, are somewhat immune to head injuries. It¡¯s as if they possess magical horns." "But in reality, these impacts do cause damage, not only are they not immune, but the impacts can also cause chronic damage to the musk oxen¡¯s brains, similar to dementia in humans." Bi Fang¡¯s statement is based on scientific evidence; musk oxen¡¯s behavior is also humanity¡¯s first foray into detecting whether this kind of collision causes damage to animals. "Within a creature¡¯s brain, there¡¯s a type of protein called tau. Whether due to aging, genetic issues, or mechanical influences, when neurons are damaged, they are torn apart, tau proteins break down and form clumps." "And when detected with fluorescent markers, the tau proteins in the brains of musk oxen shine like a lit Christmas tree." "Evolution can lead a species down the astonishing path of self-destruction." Bi Fang revealed a shocking truth. All evolution, in essence, is for the better reproduction of species. The survival of the individual, in fact, is inconsequential. This was also the cruelest scene in the evolution. As for whether musk oxen are really suffering from dementia or similar diseases, who would know? Musk oxen do not have behavioral scales, and humans do not know whether they feel forgetful. One thing is beyond doubt; their brains are damaged. "Every year, musk oxen engage in many fights, but if they want to successfully reproduce even once, they have to ram, catalyzing chronic death to the brain. From an evolutionary perspective, as long as musk oxen ¡¯do not die,¡¯ it¡¯s fine." Viewer: "???" "For example, the antechinus is a small carnivorous animal native to the Australian Mainland and Tasmania, and they have a feature, which is ¡¯once in a lifetime birth.¡¯ "Meaning they reproduce once and then die. Female antechinus can live for 2 to 3 years, or even longer. Males rarely live past 11 months." "They have a frenzied mating season, where males can mate for 12 to 14 hours during their reproductive period, then each male will mate with as many females as possible¡ªleading to their death." "This is somewhat like a beehive, where worker bees do not reproduce themselves to successfully pass on genes, but rather help their mother, the queen bee of the colony, reproduce offspring." "An ant colony or a beehive is more like a large animal, where the queen ant or queen bee represents the reproductive organs. These numerous worker bees require only a small amount of resources to raise, so in some ways, they are similar to human body cells." "So, musk oxen are actually the same. As long as they can promote reproduction, the individual¡¯s survival situation is, in fact, trivial compared to the entire population." "This also leads to the fact that male musk oxen do not live past 15 years, while female musk oxen can live 15 to 23 years." "Their lives are not that complicated. So, they may only live to do what needs to be done and that¡¯s it." Newly made snowshoes were constructed from planks, which offered at least several times better effectiveness than the initial simplistic branch version. They sank mere centimeters into the snow, stopping there and reducing the resistance to the minimum. Bi Fang moved towards the distance, while the viewers were still caught up in the "harsh truth" they had just heard, unable to pull themselves out of it. [Do humans have such individual reproductive defects?] A viewer asked. "Not clear for the time being," Bi Fang shook his head. This was an area of knowledge he was not familiar with, or perhaps nobody had studied this aspect, but without a doubt, they indeed exist. But he couldn¡¯t go into detail. Bi Fang was afraid the livestream would be banned, cough cough. Though the probability is low, it¡¯s still better to speak less about it. [I have been hurt by wine and lust, to the point of looking haggard! From today onwards, I quit drinking!] [You don¡¯t even mention it] [Can¡¯t be lewd] [By the heavens above, I shall not coexist with gambling and drugs!] After chasing for an entire day, Bi Fang had no luck. Watching the sun set again, Bi Fang sat down on the ground. Compared with when he first arrived, where daylight could last over six hours, now it didn¡¯t even reach six hours, the time press was horrifying. However, it was still too early in the day. After just a short contemplation, Bi Fang decided to continue traveling through the night. Two consecutive days of clear weather, and the night was not so cold as to be intolerable; it would be a pity not to take advantage of it. After a day¡¯s chase, the best news was that signs of musk oxen finally appeared on the snow layer, visible to the naked eye, meaning that Bi Fang was only two days behind the musk oxen after the blizzard ended. Bi Fang was confident he would catch up to them by the next morning. Chapter 674 - 671 Wangcai, Fugui, and Goudan A cluster of musk oxen, leisurely and intermittently stopping, how far could they have traveled in two days? He would definitely catch up to them tomorrow. Holding onto that thought, Bi Fang fell asleep, not even bothering to dig a snow ditch today; he simply erected a windbreak wall. He merged the sleds together and laid on what was left to minimize the loss of body heat to the ground, and before long, Bi Fang drifted off into a drowsy sleep. By dawn, the sun hung brightly in the sky, and for some reason, it radiated a searing heat. Strange. Bi Fang thought. Continue your saga on FreeNovelFire Due to latitude, even on the summer solstice at noon, the sun is only 23¡ã26¡ä high at the North Pole; now, in autumn, the angle is even lower, making it feel as if the sun can hardly rise, resulting in a paltry amount of heat. Yet today, for some reason, it gave Bi Fang the false impression of facing the warming sun of spring, and the temperature kept rising. A few consecutive days of clear skies couldn¡¯t explain it, could they? "It¡¯s so hot." To prevent sweating and consequent loss of heat, Bi Fang unzipped his jacket, dug out the sled from the snow, took his equipment, and continued on his way. The goods were heavy and drained his strength. Outer jacket, lining, one garment after another was shed by Bi Fang, and soon he was down to his last two undergarments; to take off any more would almost mean facing the cold wind directly. Yet, even so, beads of sweat formed on Bi Fang¡¯s forehead, and he began to gasp for air as if his chest was being weighed down by something. But he was as healthy as could be, so why the sudden breathlessness? Something was definitely amiss. Bi Fang looked up directly at the sun, and for some reason, he felt as if he were hallucinating from the heat. The once orb-like sun seemed to distort under the heat, sprouting something on top, and ultimately stretched out in shape. That clear outline, those wise-looking eyes. It resembled... A dog¡¯s head? Bi Fang was stunned. As he was caught off guard, that huge dog¡¯s head suddenly approached, its thick tongue lolling out and heavily licking Bi Fang¡¯s face. "Fuck!" Bi Fang startled awake in the snow, pushing away the enormous dog¡¯s head in front of him. He took off his gloves and felt with his hand; there was sticky mucus that had almost frozen into chunks in his palm. When Bi Fang woke up, the "culprit" leaped joyfully, retreating a few steps before giving a bark, standing on its toes with its long hair trembling. "Woof!" Bi Fang: "???" It was still night time, and upon hearing the dog bark, Bi Fang sat up in confusion. But before he could fully rise, he felt as if someone kicked him in the chest. With his breath knocked out by the kick, Bi Fang rubbed his chest, then looked up to meet a pair of deep blue eyes. The owner of the blue eyes tilted its head in puzzlement for a moment, then leaped up, landing with its head held high. Under the moonlight, a large canine, resembling a wild wolf, cast a dark shadow and opened its wide mouth. "Howl~~~!!!" ... In the snow, Sanshao, finally seeing humans, joyfully ran about, plowing up mounds of dry snow like a wild boar, stubbornly playful. Dawn had not yet broken, but the moon was full and shone upon the snowfield with unexpected clarity. Especially the one dog that most resembled a wolf ran the fastest and would occasionally nudge the butts of the other two fools, speeding away before they could react, looking mischievously playful. As the show began, the audience saw such a "harmonious" scene and couldn¡¯t help but wander. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Did I tune into the wrong channel? Videos featuring one¡¯s own pets were not unusual, but they were relatively scarce in number, and they were generally recorded, edited, and then posted, with live streaming being quite rare. It wasn¡¯t until Bi Fang yawned on screen that the audience confirmed they hadn¡¯t entered the wrong live stream room, this was indeed Master Fang. [Are these the sled dog Three Fools? (Dog¡¯s head)] [OMG, that husky looks so sly, kind of like the one I have at home] [Smart intelligence takes the high ground again] [Master Fang, where did you find these dogs?] "I have no idea where they came from, I¡¯m really vexed." Facing the audience¡¯s curiosity, Bi Fang said, holding his forehead in distress. God knows why he woke up to find three sled dogs beside him, and they were just the three most common breeds all at once, a Samoyed, an Alaska, and finally a husky. The one that licked his face last night was the Alaska, and the one that kicked his chest was the husky... No wonder he felt so hot in his dream. Bi Fang was exasperated, how could it not be hot with three fluffy big dogs clustering around him to sleep? He woke up with his forehead slick with sweat; a blast of cold air nearly chilled him to the bone, and only after eating some food did he manage to barely recover. However, with a keen observation, one could clearly see the worn and aged buckles on their collars; obviously, they were not wild dogs but probably working dogs that somehow escaped. Looking at the wear on the buckles, it seemed they had been out for a while. The behavior of the three big dogs was indeed consistent with the image Bi Fang remembered: the Samoyed dumb, the Alaska na?ve, and the husky crafty. They¡¯re so robust, they would be really good for hauling goods. With such boundless energy, Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help thinking this about the Three Fools. A sled, a backpack, water, food supplies, and weapons - the weight was indeed not light, and the Three Fools could be used like strong laborers. "I don¡¯t know where they¡¯ve run away from, but it seems like they¡¯ve been out for a while. I have no way to send them back, so I might as well put them to use." Since they¡¯ve come, he might as well accept them. If Bi Fang had run into them, there was no reason to let the three dogs go. As working dogs, it would be quite difficult for them to survive on their own without humans, even wolf packs cannot live peacefully within the Arctic Circle, let alone dogs. Bi Fang stood up and tried whistling. The Three Fools immediately stopped their frolicking and turned to look at him. Another whistle, and the Three Fools rushed over instantly. "Hey, they really respond; they must have received good training, which is quite convenient for me." Bi Fang chuckled, unclear on how the original owners of these sled dogs gave orders, but a whistle was indeed the most common means, clear, loud, and straightforward. The Three Fools quickly gathered around, and Bi Fang patted each of their heads in turn, then decided to give them names. After a pause, Bi Fang pointed at the Samoyed, the Alaska, and lastly the husky and said, "Let¡¯s call you Wangcai, Fugui, and Goudan respectively!" Audience: "..." The first two didn¡¯t react much and just tilted their heads, while the husky, seeming to catch something in the tone, barked once. However, it was just seemingly so, as its tail continued to wag happily. Bi Fang didn¡¯t expect the three dogs to remember their names in such a short time, but it didn¡¯t matter, they would understand after a few days. Compared to Old Fang¡¯s perfunctory naming method, the audience had a lot of pent-up complaints they needed to express. [Old Fang, your naming really takes me back to the countryside] [The first two names are far-fetched but passable, but the last one, Old Fang, to be honest, do you have some personal vendetta against the husky? Tell us about it] [These names are too down-to-earth; since I left my village at three years old, I¡¯ve never heard names that feel this grounded.] "There¡¯s no vendetta." Bi Fang unbuckled the gear and loaded everything onto the husky. Since they were working dogs, they obviously needed to work more. Chapter 675 - 672: Glory and Dreams The Three Fools of the sled are three types of working dogs that are quite excellent in extremely cold areas. This is mainly because the extremely harsh local natural environment is not suitable for other animals that can serve as labor, nor is it suitable for wheeled vehicles. Using sled dogs as a means of transportation can be seen as adapting to local conditions as well as a last resort. Read exclusive content at FreeNovelFire The dog breeds mainly include Siberian Dogs (Huskies), Alaskan Dogs, Greenland Dogs, Samoyeds, Norwegian Elkhounds, etc. These sled dogs all share one common feature¡ªthey have double-layered coats, which allows them to maintain their body temperature in the snowy, cold weather. However, Bi Fang also loved to exploit; he generously took out his own food reserves¡ªa few frozen fish and two plump puffins. Almost as soon as Bi Fang had unzipped his bag, the Three Fools caught the scent of blood, leaped excitedly, and threw themselves onto Bi Fang, nearly knocking the burly man down. Bi Fang was so excited that he couldn¡¯t make cooked food, so he had to feed the Three Fools raw. As soon as he tossed it down, the Three Fools leaped into the air and caught all the fish in their mouths, enjoying their meal, which showed how long they had been hungry. After gathering some dry grass nearby for firewood, Bi Fang kept half a puffin and after stewing it, it became his breakfast for today. Well, even though it was still dark, it was indeed breakfast. After the meal, Bi Fang packed up his things, checked the belt buckles of the Three Fools, and after confirming that although they were a bit worn, they were still usable, he tied the three together with a rope. After that, he tied the supplies to the three dogs separately, giving the restless Husky the backpack, the Short Spear to the Alaska, and the remaining sundries and sled to the Samoyed; Bi Fang only kept a Spear and a dagger on himself for emergencies. The Three Fools, well-fed and watered, had no aversion to doing some work; they were work dogs who loved to be busy, and with a carefree demeanor, they seemed to regard Bi Fang as their new master. Having shed his burden, Bi Fang felt much lighter; he grabbed the lead rope in one hand and hit the road with the Three Fools. Bi Fang originally wanted to use the Three Fools to pull the sled, but then he thought better of it; he was now hunting, and if he used the dogs to pull the sled, the speed might be too fast and he could easily miss a lot of hunting information, so he decided to walk instead. Once they got into the rhythm, the Three Fools were actually quite well-behaved, holding back their frolicsome nature and not running wild; if they did, Bi Fang might not have been able to hold them on his own. On the snowy ground, Bi Fang was in a good mood; after all, he had gained three free working dogs. It¡¯s just that they eat a bit much; however, as long as he could catch musk oxen, none of that would be a problem. "Do you guys still remember the story I mentioned at the beginning, about the two adventurers who had vowed to see who would conquer Antarctica first?" [Oh, I remember, Amundsen and Scott!] [Who won in the end?] [I know, it was Scott!] [....You must have listened in solitude; it was clearly Amundsen, Scott froze into an old ice lolly and is still buried in Antarctica] "That¡¯s right, it was Amundsen, and one of the very significant reasons for the difference in their fortunes was actually caused by these guys behind us." The audience glanced skeptically at the Three Fools in front of Bi Fang¡ªhow could these three critters be of any use? The drone flew next to Goudan, who had never seen such a thing before and was somewhat surprised, his pale blue eyes staring intently. Er... Quite spirited. Guoba woke up early to watch the live broadcast and twitched the corner of his mouth. "Back then, Scott and Amundsen chose two completely different types of work animals; the former used ponies, while the latter used Eskimo dogs, which are a type of sled dog." "Compared with sled dogs, ponies were completely outmatched under extreme conditions. Ponies required fodder and their cold resistance had not been proven in polar conditions. In the later stages, Scott¡¯s team could only rely on manpower to move forward, which undoubtedly set the stage for tragedy in the harsh environment of nature." "The blizzards they later encountered and the kerosene leak were just adding insult to injury. Additionally, the number of frostbite cases were severe in Scott¡¯s team, as they had not used traditional fur for warmth in large quantities¡ªtheir preparation for insulation was inadequate." "Moreover, after Scott failed to become the first person to reach the South Pole, his mental blow, combined with injuries and illness on the return journey, also lowered their will to survive. Even if they had managed to return alive, most would have been permanently disabled; such is the cruelty of polar exploration." "In contrast, Amundsen brought a far greater number of Eskimo dogs than he actually needed. Excess dogs were continuously replaced to conserve the strength of the pack, and those that could not keep up were killed for food for the people and other dogs." [Eh, as food?] [Wouldn¡¯t cannibalism lead to gastric virus infections...] [They¡¯re really going all out, huh.] [They are working dogs... It can only be this way.] [Just because the wrong draft animals were chosen, the final outcomes were worlds apart.] "That¡¯s right." Bi Fang gave an affirmative answer. It was an aspect no one had anticipated that had decided the two men¡¯s fates. Ponies or Eskimo dogs? For explorers, in the vast expanse of the Antarctic Continent, survival elements such as food, temperature, and supplies all hinged on one thing¡ªthe choice of transportation method. Given that other conditions and the competition were not much different, what should have been a fair fight turned into a cruel joke played on Scott by fate. Eight years prior, Scott had actually been to Antarctica, where he likewise used Eskimo dogs to pull sleds for exploration. However, he believed that on the extremely food-scarce Antarctic Continent, the high activity level of the Eskimo dogs and their corresponding high food demands were unsustainable. Therefore, in the choice of transportation, he virtually ruled out Eskimo dogs and instead brought a large number of sturdy and drought-resistant purebred Siberian ponies, three fuel-supplying crawler tractors, and his superstitious secret weapon: man-hauled sledges. For Amundsen, an expert dog trainer himself, his knowledge of and affection for dogs were unparalleled. In his previous polar explorations, Eskimo dogs had almost been like a wall that he relied on for offense and defense. For the expedition towards the South Pole, he brought nearly 100 well-trained sled-pulling Eskimo dogs. As the most important means of transportation for residents living in the polar regions before mechanization, the dogs¡¯ dense fur, remarkable cold resistance, loyal and strong demeanor, and reliable working capabilities were, in Amundsen¡¯s view, undoubtedly reliable companions. This was true even when compared with sturdy ponies. Within a similar timeframe, Amundsen and Scott set off one after the other. The two expeditions set off across the icy, snowy landscape of the Antarctic Continent in a competition for honor that allowed no turning back. No one knew what lay ahead, and on the unforgiving Antarctic Continent, life and death were the norms. Ice and fire, glory, and dreams. But in the end, Scott lost everything. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 676 - 673: Hunger The audience could guess the outcome already, after all, they knew the mystery¡¯s solution, so reasoning backward wasn¡¯t difficult. On the fourth day of departure, Scott¡¯s track tractors were already badly damaged. In the severe cold, the oiling system completely seized up. It was unrepairable and unable to be refueled, turning the tractors into heaps of scrap metal. Subsequently, the supplies from the tractor were transferred to the backs of the Siberian ponies. In the extreme cold, the Siberian ponies¡¯ poor resistance to cold struggled to adapt to the harsh conditions of the Antarctic plateau. Even with sufficient food and drinking water, their strength was insufficient to cope with the continuous low temperatures and the high loads they had to carry. One by one, the Siberian ponies collapsed. With no other options, the members of Scott¡¯s expedition were forced to drag the supplies themselves, struggling forward through the blizzard-covered ice fields. Meanwhile, Amundsen¡¯s expedition team, who had departed from Whale Bay two months after Scott, had already far surpassed them, and they were advancing towards the South Pole at a speed that the former could hardly imagine. [Damn, there¡¯s such detail.] [I had only heard about it before, never realized it was so complex.] The audience listening to this already had a foreboding feeling. Bi Fang tugged at Goudan, who was trying to jump out, and continued to speak along his train of thought. Nature treated everyone equally; the challenges and hardships faced by Amundsen¡¯s expedition team were not much less than those faced by Scott¡¯s team. Frostbitten skin and feet, diminishing supplies, and the polar reflection of sunlight off the snow even made it impossible to open one¡¯s eyes during the journey. These were difficulties Bi Fang had encountered himself, but because he took better protective measures, besides long-term fasting that caused physical weakness, he didn¡¯t suffer too much damage. However, it was different for Amundsen a hundred years ago. Their less advanced production capabilities meant less advanced protective measures. And though they were called adventurers, in terms of the technological level at the time, most of it was still empirical. In terms of survival skills, they were far inferior to Bi Fang. But the cold resistance and endurance of the Eskimo dogs ensured that Amundsen¡¯s daily travels could continue, and the team still maintained a high speed of 30 kilometers a day without slowing down. For the first half of the roughly 700 kilometers, Amundsen¡¯s team wore Eskimo fur coats and advanced using dog sleds and skis. The latter part of the journey was mainly ascending and crossing ridges. Despite encountering numerous mountains, valleys, and crevasses, the team still did not face fatal obstacles due to thorough preparation and the abilities of the Eskimo dogs. [Impressive.] [The Paw Patrol did a great job!] [I didn¡¯t see that coming, my Erha only knows how to wreck the house] [An Erha that doesn¡¯t wreck the house is not a good Erha] After nearly two months of marching across the ice fields, the weather turned foul again, and a blizzard blew for five days and nights. To get to the South Pole first, Amundsen continued to move forward, carrying his skis and guiding the dog sleds. When Amundsen was only 25 kilometers from the Pole, Scott¡¯s team had already been struck by a combination of foul weather and inadequate preparations. All of their Siberian ponies had frozen to death in the bitter cold. With the tractors broken down and the ponies dead, Scott¡¯s team had lost all forms of transportation. Dragging supplies non-stop in the extreme cold had caused their feet to become frostbitten, and their faces were covered in frostbite, a stabbing pain with the slightest touch. Under such circumstances, defeat was certain. Bi Fang patted the dog head of Fugui, feeling the warm temperature through the fur transfer into his palm. Previously, the audience only knew about a rough outcome but had no idea about the details of the adventure. Now, after listening to Bi Fang¡¯s more detailed recap, they were quite emotional. [Awesome, this is what an explorer is really about] [A spirit worth studying] Polar expeditions are like that, often leaving a big pit where nobody pays attention. One would have turned into an icicle a long time ago if they thought they could ignore the natural environment and carelessly mess around just because they have good equipment. "Actually, before coming here, the captain of the cruise ship told me an interesting story that happened not long ago, just last year." Bi Fang remembered some fresh stories the old captain had shared with him during their conversation. "Two-thirds of the Arctic Ocean is covered with ice and snow that does not melt all year round. For tourists who come here, it naturally feels novel and fun. But for the crew, who often have lived on a ship for a long time, the scenery they see every day is the same." "Apart from the ice layer, there¡¯s only ice. Wherever the ship goes, there¡¯s a vast expanse of whiteness, and the landscape is so monotonous that people grow tired of looking at it. The only people they can talk to are a few familiar faces, so the extremely bored crew members can only stare at the ice and daydream in their idle time." "As a result, while one crew member was gazing into the distance again, he suddenly saw something move. At first, he thought he¡¯d encountered a polar bear, which is common enough, so he didn¡¯t pay much attention. But as the ship approached, he realized that it was much smaller than a polar bear." "Eventually, after getting the binoculars, he discovered that it was actually a dog." The crew members at the time couldn¡¯t believe their eyes, but upon closer inspection, even though its fur almost blended into the background, it was indeed a dog! That lonely dog wandered on the bumpy ice surface, stopping now and then, and unconsciously wagging its tail as it came under the cruise ship, looking both eager to approach and a little fearful. "At that time, the captain ordered the boarding ladder to be lowered and used food as bait. The dog immediately came aboard, and later, the crew recorded a video of the dog, trying to see if any locals recognized her. They actually found the original owner." [Damn, can I also pick up a dog if I go to the Arctic now?] [Is it like an Arctic adoption center?] [Do these three dogs have owners too?] "Perhaps," Bi Fang said noncommittally. Even large sheep farmers lose a number of sheep that sneak away every year, not to mention dogs. But seeing the way the three dogs approached willingly, Bi Fang suspected that they might not have run away on their own initiative. Just as he had initially told the audience, even in modern times, there were instances of Inuit people being found frozen to death inside their homes. Just as there are still people living in primeval forests today, some Inuit people have not been able to integrate into modern life and still maintain their original way of living. Without enough food stored, they can face life-threatening risks. Even those who have adapted still need to save enough money to survive. Thanks to some people, Inuits entering modern society no longer needed to store large amounts of food. Instead, they converted their reserves into money. They made money through legal hunting qualifications for polar bears and other animals, selling fur, and accruing enough funds to support the purchase of supplies when the supply ships arrived in winter. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If there¡¯s not enough food, one would starve to death. And if there¡¯s not enough money, one would still starve to death. There seems to be no fundamental difference between the two, and the latter is even more stark. Your next journey awaits at FreeNovelFire Chapter 677 - 674 tracking Having three free laborers, Bi Fang¡¯s pace had undoubtedly quickened a lot. By the end of the morning, they had successfully located their targets. The unique scent on the ground had intensified by more than a notch, and the quantity of feces visible on the ground had gradually increased. The three sled fools did not cause any trouble either, carrying Bi Fang¡¯s goods without complaint, even Goudan was very well-behaved, only he liked to look around curiously. Although people often tease Huskies for having an "inspiring" intelligence, according to professional intelligence tests, Huskies rank moderately high among various breeds of dogs; their brains work just fine. The reason why Huskies are deemed "unteachable," love to destroy households, and engage in various perplexing behaviors, is mainly due to their excessive energy and poor obedience. Originally bred for long-distance sledding, they have abundant energy and stamina. If you keep them as pets, the dog¡¯s boundless energy has nowhere to be released, so they end up dismantling the household instead. As for how vigorous their energy is... A dog sled team can carry 300 to 400 kilograms each time; they can travel forty kilometers per day, with a speed comparable to a light tank of the time. And this only requires seven to nine dogs. In fact, there was a Husky that set a record by running 452 kilometers in minus 30 degrees Celsius with winds above force seven. This distance is roughly equivalent to the distance from the Capital of Huaxia to Hujang Haote. Moreover, when people say Huskies are silly, they often refer to their "disobedience," also known as "poor obedience." Huskies are outdoor working dogs; humans are more of their partners rather than just owners. Before they became household pets, when they were pulling sleds in the freezing cold, they needed to work in teams, usually, a sled team would have at least four Huskies, one of which would be the lead dog. Even among these three by Bi Fang¡¯s side, one could see that the expression in the Huskies¡¯ eyes was distinctly different from that of the larger dogs in the Alaska region. More spirited and more alert, with a strong desire to perform. This position of "dog leader" had the same status as the owner and was called the "Lead Dog," responsible for identifying the road conditions and eliminating dangers. In the actual working process, because the person driving the sled is at the back, they might not perceive certain things accurately and could make wrong judgments. Therefore, the "Lead Dog" can refuse to follow the owner¡¯s commands and can find its own direction if it deems necessary. In some extreme environments, when even the owner cannot judge the situation, the "Lead Dog" might even lead the team forward in place of the owner. In the city, however, most Huskies are kept as pets, with only one of their kind around them. As a result, they inevitably consider themselves as the "Lead Dog," bravely expressing their own thoughts and unwilling to obediently follow the owner¡¯s instructions. "You and I are equal, so why should I listen to you?" This is probably the dog¡¯s true thought. So Bi Fang had it carry the heaviest load, not out of any personal vendetta, but he also provided compensation. A whole puffin and several river fish. It was undoubtedly the most lavish meal it had had in a long time. For a sled dog with black fur, hunting in the Polar Region is quite challenging, even polar bears and wolf packs have to use camouflage; sled dogs, unless they want to survive by hunting less agile creatures, are left with their only option: seals. But seals are actually one of the animals most misunderstood by humans. Wild seals are not like the ones in zoos that clap their bellies and bark. Despite its adorable appearance, it is actually a formidable predator on the food chain, armed with very sharp little teeth that can be deadly with just one bite, and there are even records of humans being bitten to death. Humans can effectively suppress these creatures mainly because of their slender limbs and long-handled weapons, which have proven to be invincible. "Found the musk oxen herd, and there are more than I expected." In the icy and snowy environment, Bi Fang pulled back Goudan, who still wanted to move forward, and pointed towards the specks in the distance. The audience widened their eyes, struggling to discern what they were seeing. It looked as if someone had dotted two black points onto a white paper fan with a water pen¡ªtrying to see it clearly was virtually impossible. [Master Fang¡¯s eyesight must be at least 5.2, right?] [Feels like even pilots are no match...] The audience was once again astounded by Bi Fang¡¯s remarkable vision. Bi Fang also became cautious because there were more specks than he had anticipated. He removed the weapons from Fugui¡¯s back and, fully armed, began to stealthily approach little by little. "Musk oxen like to live in herds. In summer, they form smaller groups to feed on the leaves of the stunted willows. In winter, they gather in large herds, sometimes numbering over a hundred." "In autumn, which is now, they begin to gather in scattered groups. Encountering separate groups, they merge together. It seems that the herd we¡¯ve come across has already combined at least three or four groups." After approaching within two hundred meters, the audience could finally see clearly the number of musk oxen, which was indeed quite large¡ªroughly counting, there appeared to be nearly thirty animals. If faced with a confrontation, it would be a tough situation for Bi Fang, who was alone. Musk oxen are intelligent. When in a group, they almost become an impenetrable shield. By the time he got within one hundred and fifty meters, the drone had reached right above the musk oxen herd, giving the audience a clearer view. Unlike the cows we usually see, the base of the musk oxen¡¯s horns is especially large, covering almost the entire top of their heads. The horns curve after branching out from the head, with the males¡¯ being thicker than the females¡¯. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The most terrifying part is that every ox seemed to have large horns atop their heads, which is similar to reindeer in that both males and females grow horns. The limbs of the musk oxen, just as Bi Fang mentioned, were indeed short; their hooves were like those of cows but appeared broader. Additionally, their tails were extremely short, entirely hidden within their long fur and hard to see, detectable only when they occasionally flicked them. Bi Fang pointed to a few musk oxen and said, "Usually the young and female musk oxen are positioned in the middle of the herd, with the strong and powerful males stationed around the perimeter serving as scouts and protectors. Moreover, the males form their own unique groups, each with their own ¡¯group leader,¡¯ all under the command of an elder musk ox, often a pregnant female." "Whenever the herd moves, there is also an astute and capable male leading the way, followed by a grand procession of musk oxen." As he spoke, the musk oxen that had been resting suddenly stood up in twos and threes. Bi Fang was startled, thinking he had been discovered, and quickly buried his body deeper into the snow, ready to flee at any moment. Explore stories on FreeNovelFire But unexpectedly, the musk oxen did not look in Bi Fang¡¯s direction; instead, they began to move on. "Whew, seems like it was just a coincidence." Bi Fang held down the eager head of the husky to prevent the animal from barking and drawing attention accidentally. As for Wangcai and Fugui, they had already hidden beside Bi Fang, desperately burrowing under him. Faced with the group of enormous creatures before them, they were terrified. "Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s follow them and see if we can find any straggling musk oxen." Chapter 678 - 675: Victory or Defeat Hunting is a game of patience. All afternoon, Bi Fang lay in the snow waiting for an opportunity, but fortune did not favor him, and no good chance presented itself. Yet Bi Fang was not discouraged, for compared to the ultimate catch, spending a few days was completely worthwhile. Hunting large animals belongs to the type where if you don¡¯t open for half a year, you feast for half a year when you do. The audience, however, appeared somewhat restless. Nearly two days had passed since they spotted the musk oxen, but they still had nothing to show for it. On the contrary, they gained three big eaters instead of profits, a clear loss-making business. It was particularly worrying that they might fall into a vicious cycle once again. This type of resource scarcity was something the Scoia¡¯tael could not accept. Bi Fang¡¯s livestream was known for its immersive experience. The greatest characteristic of live broadcasting is the uncertainty of the future; no one knows what will happen next. Maybe you¡¯re enjoying hot pot and singing, then suddenly you¡¯re... well, there won¡¯t be any bandits in the deserted wilderness, and if there were, they¡¯d starve to death and couldn¡¯t rob anyone, but accidents would certainly not be few. So whenever they watched Bi Fang¡¯s livestream, whether it was a deep forest, a barren desert, or the vast snowy plains he was on now, the sense of insecurity about the environment always lingered around the audience. Bi Fang himself was very brave and skilled. He used to share the same apprehensions, but after many experiences, he no longer found it as frightening. However, the audience found it thrilling, hence any change in the environment was particularly sensitive to them. They finally understood why Scott had given up his sled dogs and opted to bring ponies instead¡ªthere was no other reason; they just ate too much. And most crucially, they didn¡¯t graze! All the supplies Bi Fang had prepared before departure were gone, and along the way, he could only gather some lichens left over from the musk oxen. Anyone who has raised a dog knows that the appetite of a large dog is much greater than that of a human, even though they may weigh less than a person, they still eat more. "This is mainly because dogs have a faster metabolism than humans. Canines have body temperatures around thirty-eight or even thirty-nine degrees Celsius. Just maintaining this temperature requires a lot of food. Moreover, a dog¡¯s stomach is different from that of other animals, it has strong digestive capabilities, which is another main reason why they eat so much." Bi Fang patted Fugui on the head. This Alaskan¡¯s fur was extremely lush, making it feel great to the touch. Its eyes slightly squinted, it rubbed Bi Fang¡¯s palm and licked it with its tongue. At first, Fugui and Wangcai were quite scared of the huge creatures on the snowfield, but after half a day of adaptation, they grew accustomed to following this herd of fierce beasts. [Too small-minded, you¡¯re thinking too small. You think Master Fang is making a losing deal, but in fact, he has gained three reserve sources of food.] [Hiss, so that¡¯s the case.] [Is Master Fang out of food now?] Bi Fang leaned against a snowdrift, took out his dagger, and dug up the lichen on the ground. The place they were in was precisely where the musk oxen had just fed. Bi Fang picked some intact ones and simply boiled them before considering it his dinner for the day. These half-eaten lichens and moss could serve as food, but obviously, the calories they provided were pitifully low. The only advantage was probably the convenience of collection, sparing Bi Fang the trouble of digging through snow layers in search of his own. The herd¡¯s walking pace was outrageously slow; they moved so little that Bi Fang wondered if they had covered five kilometers all afternoon, walking a bit, feeding a bit, then sleeping a bit, which even made him somewhat lax. Seeing Bi Fang eating, Goudan immediately perked up and squeezed in front of him, pushing away Bi Fang¡¯s arm. But after smelling for a while and realizing it was just weeds, it barked discontentedly and ended up being hit on the head twice with a tree stick by Bi Fang. ``` Erha, having been reprimanded, ran to one side and buried its head in the snow in a sulk. After waiting until dark and "wasting" a day, Bi Fang finally saw the opportunity he had been waiting for. Bang! The loud impact echoed and reverberated across the vast snowy plain, abruptly awakening Bi Fang, who instinctively rolled to the side and grasped the spear behind him, but after scanning the area, he noticed nothing unusual. The sound of the collision came again, and this time Bi Fang heard it more clearly; it was like two enormous rocks smashing into each other, producing a dull yet powerful noise. [Damn, they¡¯ve started fighting!] [There are two musk oxen fighting.] [Shit, they¡¯ve left the group. Isn¡¯t this a good opportunity?] [Old Fang, go for it! The chance for a lavish meal is today!] The audience, who had the perspective of an unmanned drone, could undoubtedly see the situation much clearer. Sensing the content of the messages, Bi Fang used his hands and feet to slowly climb up the snowbank, his view transitioning from pure white to half black and half white. Luckily, there were Northern Lights in the sky today. In the darkness, the reflected light from the snow-covered ground brought unexpected brightness and caused the sky to display distinct layers of rose pink and light blue, sparingly dotted with golden evening stars. Before arriving in Greenland, many viewers had longed to see the Northern Lights, but after finding out that they appeared here every other day, their enthusiasm waned slightly; still, a night scene as beautiful as today¡¯s was rare. Pleased with this, the drone didn¡¯t even need to activate night mode, offering a very clear view. The two musk oxen clashing against each other were obviously males. "Although both female and male musk oxen have horns, there is a difference. The horns of musk oxen are bulbous at the base, but it¡¯s particularly pronounced in males, almost covering the entire head, and overall, they are thicker and stronger than those of the females." At this moment, Bi Fang was very close to the herd of musk oxen, merely fifty meters away, hidden behind a snowbank and pointing at the fighting musk oxen. Though both female and male musk oxen, like reindeer, have antlers, males in musk oxen differ even more, being typically a quarter larger in size and weight than females. The two musk oxen in the fight, compared to those in the nearby herd, were also larger, and Bi Fang suspected their weight neared four hundred kilograms. [Four hundred kilograms, holy crap, that¡¯s eight times my weight.] [Why are some females bigger and some males bigger?] "Well, that¡¯s a bit complicated to explain, but all questions about living organisms can be traced back to evolution, and in the end, you¡¯ll find that production capacity determines production relationships." "There are three common physical dimensions between males and females in the animal kingdom: one where they are the same size, one where the female is larger, and one where the female is smaller and the male is larger, and the fundamental reason has to do with the environment and competition." S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "As species competitiveness continues to rise, the male evolves from a simple ¡¯seed provider¡¯ to a ¡¯selective seed provider.¡¯ In this transformation, size increasingly becomes an advantage." "The explanation is a bit complex, and I¡¯ll talk more about it later. They are close to deciding a victor, and once that¡¯s done, we can make our move." ``` Chapter 679 - 676 bleeding damage The current time period, for the breeding season of the musk oxen, is considered somewhat late, but not too late; a transitional period. For the herds of musk oxen, this is undoubtedly very challenging because they will form a formation. Under normal circumstances, musk oxen seem very docile; to conserve energy, they move particularly slowly, always appearing lazy. But when a herd of musk oxen feels threatened, they will circle up facing the enemy, hiding the calves in the middle. If the enemy is a wolf pacing around the herd, the herd will rotate with it, positioning the strongest oxen directly in front of it, with others as support. To the musk oxen, Bi Fang was that wolf. In such a situation, trying to tackle it alone was almost equivalent to a death wish. Bi Fang had hoped to catch a moment when the musk oxen herd was off-guard, such as when they were lying down to sleep, when there would always be one or two straying far from the rest of the group, presenting him an opportunity to strike. Unexpectedly, he now found musk oxen engaging in fierce battles for the sake of reproducing. This opportunity was much better than waiting for the musk oxen to be careless. For if a challenger failed, it would be driven out of the herd and left to roam the wilderness for the entire year that followed. In this respect, it was not much different from the wolf packs. "Perhaps they have just finished regrouping," Bi Fang speculated. Musk oxen are herd animals; typically, each large herd has a leader. But every large herd is divided into many smaller groups. Each small group consists of a bull, several cows, and calves. In the summer, musk oxen act in these small groups, but come winter, they regroup again. However, when recombining, they might not rejoin the same small group as before. In such cases, a new leader must be chosen, and with the restlessness of the breeding season, the males always seem a bit agitated. The rest and recuperation in summer allow these musk oxen to accumulate a lot of energy, full of vigour. The bulls will mark their own territories, enclosing the cows within and protecting them rigorously; no other ox may invade, or else, both sides will engage in a breathtaking battle for dominion. Perhaps this was one such moment. The sound of their repeated colliding, even from such a distance, was crystal clear, making many in the audience¡¯s scalp tingle. After another round of charging, both oxen shook their heads, and one of them, taking the lead, accelerated once more and launched into a fierce rush. The two nearly half-ton musk oxen slammed into each other with a fearsome force. This level of ferocity was alarming, and watching, Bi Fang genuinely felt headache on their behalf. And as for their battle, the cows didn¡¯t pay too much attention, the herd still leisurely grazing beside. Finally, the ox that initiated the charge sustained some minor injuries and began to lose ground, pushed back step by step. The audience couldn¡¯t help but feel anxious for it. Bi Fang indeed showed a look of delight; although it might seem like he was picking on the weaker one, the loser was simply the perfect hunting target. As a male, not only was it fat and strong, but it had also just gone through a life and death struggle, its head still in disarray¡ªwho else if not it? In such a duel, the loser would lose everything. The outcome of the fight was determined quickly; even the musk oxen themselves would struggle to withstand such charges, buckling after just a few rounds. With a final clash, one of the musk oxen was chased off, the victor chasing it for a few steps, bellowing a few times at the escapee, before returning to the midst of the herd. The loser seemed rather disheveled by now, looking at its herd with its head wobbling as if filled with paste. Bi Fang felt that even if it wasn¡¯t actually the case, it was nearly so. The defeated Musk Ox knew that in the coming year, it would have to wander alone. But the females didn¡¯t care about this, they didn¡¯t even give the loser a second glance, continuing to nibble at the moss, and eventually, the loser left in solitude. "Their life isn¡¯t that complicated, all they need to do is survive long enough to do what needs to be done." For some reason, the viewers all remembered what Bi Fang had said earlier. "Let¡¯s hurry and follow, what a golden opportunity!" Unlike the sentimental viewers, Bi Fang, who had been gnawing on random weeds all day and was starving, felt a surge of excitement and, grabbing the leash, took Sanshao in the direction of the loser to track it. However, considering that the herd of Musk Oxen was still nearby, Bi Fang didn¡¯t launch an attack right away, since nobody knew whether the herd would stay put and just watch if he made a move on the loser. Once they were far enough apart, Bi Fang didn¡¯t hesitate; he leaped out from the snow and chased after the Musk Ox¡¯s back. The defeated Musk Ox, either stunned from the recent fight or simply unaware, didn¡¯t react at all to Bi Fang charging towards it from behind. Only when Bi Fang got within ten meters and a Dart struck it did the Musk Ox realize danger had arrived. But as it turned its head, the second Dart was already coming straight at it. Two Short Spears comically stuck in the Musk Ox, and Bi Fang, having achieved his goal, didn¡¯t linger for a moment and turned to run. Sanshao, watching from a distance, jumped for joy at Bi Fang¡¯s success, seemingly anticipating that tonight¡¯s dinner would be exceptionally sumptuous. But they couldn¡¯t help feeling disappointed when they saw Bi Fang running back. "Hah, did it catch up?" After running dozens of meters, Bi Fang finally turned back to look and saw that the Musk Ox hadn¡¯t caught up. [Holy shit, did it get knocked silly?] [Is there a possibility, and I mean just a possibility, that it didn¡¯t feel like it was attacked (Dog¡¯s Head)?] S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang panted heavily, surprised by the Musk Ox¡¯s patience and unaware of how much damage his Dart had caused. Normally, a Musk Ox¡¯s fur was over thirty centimeters long, like armor, and given their huge size, the two Short Spears sticking out of it looked rather comedic, like toothpicks. "It must be wounded." Bi Fang still had some confidence in his Dart throwing technique; even though Musk Oxen had long fur, the power of a Dart shouldn¡¯t be underestimated. "I sharpened a blood groove on the tip of the Dart; as long as the Musk Ox is wounded, it will continue to bleed." The Musk Ox didn¡¯t chase after him, perhaps it didn¡¯t realize this fact and just felt a slight pain in its body. On top of that, the recent fight had drained so much of its energy, it didn¡¯t show a tendency to fight. "This Musk Ox is very old, their trunk back grows saddle-shaped light-colored hair, and the older they get, the more prominent the white area becomes. This one¡¯s white is very clear, clearly old, there¡¯s no need for us to take risks. Just wait and see, wait a few more hours, it will become weak." To prevent a cornered beast from fighting back, Bi Fang withdrew from the area, moving out of the Musk Ox¡¯s line of sight. Minutes later, Bi Fang reached the area where the Musk Ox had just been, the air was tinged with a faint smell of blood. Indeed, the Musk Ox was wounded. Blood continuously oozed out of the Short Spears on the Musk Ox¡¯s body, staining the nearby fur into black clumps. Bi Fang confirmed his assumption, but he didn¡¯t rush forward, waiting for the opponent to be completely powerless was the best moment. Chapter 680 - 677: Harvesting the Spoils of War As an experienced veteran hunter, Bi Fang clearly possessed a great deal of patience. Accompanied by Sanshao (Three Fools), he followed the musk ox at a leisurely pace, maintaining a distance that ensured he would not be discovered, so as to avoid a desperate struggle. On the snowy plains, the musk ox¡¯s massive body comically sported a "toothpick," which was actually the short spear that Bi Fang, named Dart, had thrown. Originally there were two, but as the musk ox entered a narrow thicket, it brushed against a tree, and one of the spears broke off and fell to the ground. "I can feel its status getting worse and worse, its moving speed is changing, and the resting periods are getting longer." Bi Fang picked up the broken short spear from the ground, which had obvious blood stains on it, the fresh blood from the musk ox¡¯s wound had dripped down along the shaft. For this moment, he had waited a full three hours, but it was all worth it. Spending a few more hours to minimize the risk was a most cost-effective deal. "Now we need an appropriate terrain to make our move, ideally a depression, which could greatly weaken the musk ox¡¯s attacking power." The most significant threat from the musk ox was its unparalleled charge, and if they could force it into a depression, it would be like a big target, unable to launch an attack. Huge prey animals could hardly make use of their advantages in confined spaces other than trampling. "There¡¯s a rocky pit up ahead, we can try to see if we can drive it into it." Bi Fang, lying behind a rock, watched for a long time and finally decided to make a move ahead of time. For a better hunt, Bi Fang had already surveyed the terrain near the musk ox, and the area ahead not only had woods but many jumbled rocks, which was the perfect location. But just as Bi Fang led Sanshao out from behind the rocks and was about to move forward, he experienced a tremendous resistance from the dog leash. Turning back, he realized Fugui and Wangcai had already lay down on the ground and no matter how Bi Fang pulled on the leash, they simply wouldn¡¯t budge. "Useless things!" Bi Fang was somewhat annoyed, but then looking at Goudan to the side, it was clearly much braver, even appearing eager to try, truly deserving of being the dog closest to a wolf. Seeing this, Bi Fang kicked Fugui and Wangcai¡¯s butts, untethered Goudan¡¯s leash, and leaped out from behind the pile of rocks with it. "Goudan, let¡¯s go!" Again aiming for a stealth attack from behind the musk ox, but the animal, having learned from its previous experience, became much more alert. As soon as Bi Fang emerged, the musk ox reacted, swiftly turning its huge body and letting out a low growl. Bi Fang did not recklessly approach, but instead dashed to the other side, with Goudan running excitedly in front of him. A hunting instinct, a gene named "Hunting," was awakening within Goudan... "Ao!" Erha suddenly fell onto the ground and, due to its momentum, was flung out, tumbling across the snowy land, its black fur soon blanketed with white snow. Bi Fang glanced at the stone buried in the snow layer from the corner of his eye, twitched the corner of his mouth in annoyance, but did not stop his footsteps. In the musk ox¡¯s line of sight, he arrived at the other side of the rocky pit. Goudan, embarrassed by its fall and biting the rock, saw Bi Fang running away and hurriedly trotted after him with the rock still in its mouth. Bi Fang casually took the rock from Goudan¡¯s mouth and threw it at the musk ox. He did not use a spear, as the musk ox had weakened to a certain extent by now, and showing too much strength might cause it to flee, rather than being provoked and charging. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The fist-sized rock accurately struck the musk ox on its horn. Bi Fang¡¯s strategy was undoubtedly effective. Despite the musk ox being so weak that it could hardly stand, when its pride and strong skills were challenged by the stones thrown at it, the beast was still enraged. "It¡¯s much easier to provoke the emotions of animals than of humans." Bi Fang remarked, before quickly retreating with Goudan, hitting the musk ox with one accurate stone after another. Soon, the extremely weak musk ox stepped across the grass, preparing to charge once again. Noticing this detail, Bi Fang pulled out a rope, and the alert audience immediately noticed the knots on it. Indeed, it was the lasso commonly seen in Western cowboy movies, which tightens more the more you pull once it¡¯s looped. The snow on the ground was scattered by the stout hooves, and the pebbles on the rocky ground began to tremble as the musk ox launched its charge. But in the focused eyes of Bi Fang, the beast¡¯s speed was more than a notch slower, as if it were a roadside bicycle, the kind that¡¯s shared. Seizing the right moment, Bi Fang threw the rope, looping it flawlessly around the musk ox¡¯s horns, and then quickly wrapped it around a nearby tree. Under the immense pull, even the musk ox stumbled. From a third-person perspective, the audience clearly saw the musk ox¡¯s head bend alarmingly, as if it was about to be pulled off from its neck. The rope was stretched taut, digging deep into the tree bark. Under the massive pulling force, the entire musk ox fell to the ground. This charge had drained all its strength, and the beast, already exhausted from bleeding, found standing to be a very difficult task. Bi Fang simply tied a knot on the tree, took out his spear, and charged towards the musk ox. He stabbed viciously into its abdomen, then quickly opened a gash. Once the musk ox struggled to turn, Bi Fang charged a second time. This musk ox was at its limit, both physically and mentally. Unable to respond in time to Bi Fang¡¯s attack, it could only watch as more and more holes were poked in its body, hastening its blood loss and bringing it closer to death. Even Goudan bravely stepped forward, distracting the musk ox to create opportunities for Bi Fang¡¯s attacks. Stab and run¡ªit was truly thrilling! Bi Fang, holding the spear, felt his heart surge with excitement. No matter how long the musk ox¡¯s fur was, it was no match for the sharp blade, which easily sliced through the hide, causing large gashes. After several rounds, the musk ox, riddled with wounds, finally collapsed to the ground, its loss of blood so severe it couldn¡¯t lift its head anymore. Bi Fang didn¡¯t approach carelessly, for the musk ox was not yet completely dead. Its chest was still heaving, and the hot breath from its nostrils melted half the snow around it. A pair of huge eyes glared at Bi Fang, seemingly filled with endless resentment, causing many in the audience to feel somewhat distressed. "This is how survival in nature is." Bi Fang took out his dagger and approached the back of the musk ox¡¯s head, inserting it at the juncture of the skull and spine, killing it instantly. This beast, nearly half a ton in weight, had completely lost its life. "Whew." Bi Fang slowly exhaled, feeling the sweat on his body. The whole process seemed simple but was still mentally draining. Fortunately, it was all worth it. Now was the time to harvest the spoils of the hunt. Chapter 681 - 678: Reserve a Spot I¡¯ve got something on today, so I¡¯m just marking my territory here, and I¡¯ll change it before 2 a.m. The Sled Dog Three Fools are three types of working dogs that are quite excellent in extremely cold regions. The primary reason is that the extremely harsh natural environment of the area is not suitable for other animals capable of labor, nor is it suitable for wheeled vehicles. Using sled dogs as a means of transport can be seen as making do with what¡¯s available, or as a method born out of necessity. The dog breeds mainly include Siberian Dogs (Huskies), Alaskan Dogs, Greenland Dogs, Samoyeds, Norwegian Elkhounds, etc. These sled dogs all share a common feature¡ªthey have double coats, which allows them to maintain their body temperature in cold weather with heavy snowfall. However, Bi Fang is also fond of exploitation; he generously brought out his own food reserves¡ªa few frozen fish and two fat puffins. Almost as soon as Bi Fang unzipped his bag, Sanshao (Three Fools) smelled the blood and became excitedly jumpy, pouncing on Bi Fang, nearly knocking this strong man to the ground. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang couldn¡¯t prepare mature food because of their overexcited state, so he had to give Sanshao (Three Fools) raw food. As soon as he tossed it over, Sanshao (Three Fools) leaped in the air and caught all the fish in their mouths, devouring them eagerly, showing how long they had been hungry. After collecting some dry grass nearby for firewood, Bi Fang kept half a puffin, stewing it to serve as his breakfast for the day. Well, although it¡¯s not yet dawn, it¡¯s indeed breakfast. After eating, Bi Fang packed up his things and checked Sanshao¡¯s (Three Fools¡¯) harness buckles to ensure they were somewhat worn but still usable, then he used ropes to secure the three together. He then tied the supplies onto each of the dogs, giving the backpack to the hyperactive Husky, the short spear to the Alaskan, and the remaining miscellaneous items and the sled to the Samoyed. Bi Fang only kept a spear and a dagger on his person for emergencies. Fed and watered, Sanshao (Three Fools) had no aversion to doing some work. Being industrious working dogs and with their carefree demeanor, they seemed to have fully accepted Bi Fang as their new master. Relieved of his burden, Bi Fang felt much lighter. He took the lead rope in one hand and set off on the road with Sanshao (Three Fools). Bi Fang had originally planned to use Sanshao (Three Fools) to pull the sled, but upon consideration, he decided against it. He was now on a hunt, and if he used dogs to pull the sled, the speed might be too fast, and he could miss too much game information. He opted to walk instead. Once in working mode, Sanshao (Three Fools) was quite well-behaved, holding back their playful nature, without running around wildly; otherwise, Bi Fang might not be able to hold them back by himself. In the snowy landscape, Bi Fang¡¯s mood was good, after all, he had acquired three free working dogs. It¡¯s just that their appetite was a bit large, but as long as he could catch a musk ox, everything would be fine. "Do you guys still remember the story I told at the beginning, about the two adventurers who agreed to see who would conquer Antarctica first?" [Oh, I remember, Amundsen and Scott!] [Who won?] [I know, it was Scott!] [....You listened to your own little world. It was clearly Amundsen. Scott turned into an old popsicle, and he¡¯s still buried in Antarctica.] "That¡¯s right, it was Amundsen. A large part of the reason for the difference in their fates actually has to do with these guys behind us." The audience looked skeptically at Sanshao (Three Fools) in front of Bi Fang, wondering how these three fools could be of any use. The drone flew over to Goudan, who had never seen such a thing and was somewhat astonished for a moment, watching it with a pair of bright blue eyes, full of spirit. Uh... Quite spirited. Guoba, who had woken up early to watch the live broadcast, twitched the corners of his mouth. "At the time, Scott and Amundsen chose two vastly different types of work animals, with the former using ponies and the latter Eskimo dogs, also a type of sled dog." "Compared to sled dogs, ponies were completely outclassed under extreme conditions. Ponies required fodder and their cold resistance had not been tested in polar environments, leading to Scott¡¯s team having to rely on manpower later in the expedition. In the harsh conditions of nature, this undoubtedly laid the groundwork for tragedy." "The blizzard they later encountered and the kerosene leak were just adding insult to injury. Moreover, frostbite was a severe issue among Scott¡¯s team because they did not make extensive use of traditional furs for warmth, leaving their preparations for insulation lacking." "Moreover, after Scott could no longer become the first man to reach the Antarctic, the psychological blow on the way back, combined with injuries and illness, caused their will to survive to plummet. Even if they had made it back alive, most of them would have been disabled for life. Polar exploration is that brutal." "In contrast, Amundsen brought a far greater number of Eskimo dogs than he actually needed. The surplus Eskimo dogs were continuously replaced to preserve the strength of the pack, and those that could not keep up were killed to provide food for the people and other dogs." [Ah, used as food?] [Wouldn¡¯t cannibalism result in weasel disease¡­] [That¡¯s quite extreme.] [Well, they are tool dogs¡­ It can only be like this.] [Just because of the wrong choice of working animal, the final outcome is worlds apart.] "Yes." Bi Fang gave an affirmative answer. It¡¯s truly an aspect no one would think of, yet it had already determined the success or failure of the two men. Ponies or Eskimo dogs? For explorers, on the vast expanse of the Antarctic Continent, survival components like food, temperature, and supplies all depended on one thing¡ªthe choice of transportation. With all other factors and competitors being nearly equal, what was supposed to be a neck-and-neck contest turned into a cruel joke played on Scott by fate. Eight years earlier, Scott had actually been to Antarctica, using Eskimo dogs to pull sleds for his expedition at that time. However, in his view, the high amount of food required by the highly active Eskimo dogs was unbearable on the food-scarce Antarctic Continent. Therefore, in the choice of transportation, he largely avoided using Eskimo dogs and instead brought a significant number of robust ponies, which can endure hunger and thirst, Siberian ponies, three fuel-supplying caterpillar tractors, and his superstitious secret weapon: man-powered sleds. For Amundsen, being a dog training expert, his understanding of and affection for dogs was incomparable to that of ordinary people. In his past polar explorations, Eskimo dogs were almost like a fortress he relied upon for both offense and defense. On his expedition reaching for the endpoint of Antarctica "Q," he brought nearly 100 sled-pulling Eskimo dogs. As the most important mode of transportation for residents of the Polar Regions before the age of mechanization, Eskimo dogs with their thick fur, astonishing cold resistance, loyal and resolute nature, and reliable working abilities were seen by Amundsen as dependable partners, even when compared to the sturdy ponies. Within a similar timeframe, Amundsen and Scott set off one after the other. The two expeditions unfolded a contest of honor in the icy and snowy Antarctic Continent where they could only advance and not retreat. No one knew what waited ahead of them; on the unforgiving Antarctic Continent, life and death were the norm. Ice and fire, glory and dreams. But in the end, Scott lost everything. Chapter 682 - 679: The Return Journey In the rock pit, the huge semi-circular wooden basin bubbled with boiling water, within which chunks of fatty intestines bobbed up and down, and a thick layer of golden fat floated on the surface of the water. The unique terrain formed a natural heat gathering area, and outside the rock pit, Bi Fang peeled off the entire piece of musk ox skin, tilting the hunting knife, carefully scraping off the fat and the innermost layer of the skin. "This is the subcutaneous tissue, a layer composed of fat and connective tissue that accommodates blood vessels and nerves. Don¡¯t waste it; we can also use it to render oil," Bi Fang said. Bi Fang threw the hanging, greasy cheese-like layer into the pot, where it continuously tumbled with the boiling water. Once the inner layer was cleaned, Bi Fang turned the musk ox skin over to clean the outer surface, scraping off the knotted hair and then rinsing it several times with boiling water. Unfortunately, although this place was also a forest, there was no river, so the skin couldn¡¯t be soaked. Bi Fang had to make do with what he could, unable to clean it thoroughly. While waiting for the animal skin to dry completely, Bi Fang moved over to the skinned musk oxen. Deprived of its furry coat, the musk ox¡¯s naked red muscles were exposed, looking quite shocking. Although Sanshao (Three Fools) had eaten a lot already, there were still many internal organs left inside. "Every part of a prey theoretically has its use. For instance, the intestines, stomach, and bladder, once cleaned, even if not eaten, serve as bags with excellent expansibility and strong sealing effects, useful for carrying water," he noted. "The same is true for an animal¡¯s head. The fluid inside the eyes mixed with twigs can be used to make strong glue, and the fresh brain matter will later be used for tanning the animal skin." Bi Fang separated the remaining viscera to avoid cross-contamination. "Especially when cutting the liver, one must be careful not to rupture the gallbladder, as anything that comes into contact with bile will be contaminated," he advised. Bi Fang carefully extracted a long, dark object that was almost inky green in color and looked very suspicious in shape. "Many people have a misconception that bile is secreted by the gallbladder, but in reality, bile is primarily secreted by the liver, and the gallbladder serves to concentrate and store it. When bile is initially secreted by the liver, it¡¯s quite thin, but through concentration in the gallbladder, it becomes much thicker," he explained. "Believe me, you wouldn¡¯t want to taste it, or you¡¯d regret many things in life," he warned. [I know this. If the fish¡¯s gallbladder is punctured, none of the surrounding flesh can be eaten.] [Just thinking about it makes me frown.] [It¡¯s bitterly disgusting.] Anatomizing an animal is harder than most people imagine, especially an oversized one. It¡¯s a test of both physical strength and technique. But Bi Fang¡¯s technique was extremely proficient; nearly all of his movements were fluid and seamless. Many viewers who had seen the butchering in slaughterhouses felt that even the masters who had done this kind of work their whole lives were about this skilled. In fact, experts can tell just by the way one starts with the guts, professionals can determine skill level from that very first step. Following the incision along the breastbone area, all the way to the unmentionable parts, this is a quite difficult task. The location is near the posterior, and if one carelessly cuts the tube connecting to the unmentionable parts, the surrounding meat will be contaminated. Who knows how many apprentices have paid their dues learning the proper technique and strength required. But clearly, Bi Fang didn¡¯t waste an inch of material. "In theory, regardless of whether the environment is cold enough or not, we should always wear gloves when handling dead animals, to avoid cuts that can lead to bacterial infections. If conditions don¡¯t allow, we must ensure not to get injured and wash hands regularly." Bi Fang skillfully used the Hunting Knife to carve up the Musk Oxen. All ungulates share similar body fat and muscle distribution, so the skills involved are largely the same. "As we can see, there is a thin layer of filmy substance on much of the meat. This is the normal fascia, and there is no need to remove it, in fact, it¡¯s best preserved as it helps keep the meat." A considerable amount of greasy, white fat fell onto the snow, quickly freezing like stones. After trimming off all the visible chunks of fat, Bi Fang packed them into the prepared stomach sacks, filling two of them. Musk Oxen are not entirely bovines; essentially, they are transitional animals between cattle and sheep, having basic characteristics of both. Like cows or sheep, they also have four stomachs, and Musk Oxen are no exception. With intestines and bladders, Bi Fang was able to craft quite a few storage pouches at once. That¡¯s why he doubled up, to prevent the fat from leaking out, cramming everything into the backpack until it was bulging. This was probably the highest energy part of all the edible sections of the Musk Oxen. Separating them in advance was a precaution, in case they encountered insurmountable events, such as other Predators or blizzards, during the Musk Oxen transport where they might have to abandon their spoils. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "As long as we have this fat, our Hunting won¡¯t be considered a loss," Bi Fang was very satisfied. Rendering fat, curing skins, and cutting up meat, even all done simultaneously, require loads of time. As time went by, they gradually completed these tasks. The fats rapidly solidified into a pale yellow color in the low temperatures, emitting an incredible aroma. With so much of it, Bi Fang collected all into the intestinal bags, rolling them into a bundle shape for convenient transport. The entire Musk Oxen was thoroughly dismembered, with the useless rib, tail, and spine bones discarded for Sanshao to gnaw at leisure, while all the useful parts were kept. However, Bi Fang did reserve the leg bones for himself. While heavy, they indeed provided great material for making weapons and tools. Bi Fang kept two and after stewing the rest, crushed them open and sucked out the bone marrow. Meanwhile, Bi Fang and Sanshao were feasting on some of the less cost-effective lean meat. With their strong digestive capacities, he could eat again every two hours. With the continuous supply of energy, Bi Fang could feel his physical strength rapidly returning to its peak Status, despite the continuing drop in external temperature. By the time he finished all this, it was already the next day. The animal skin stretched tight on the wooden framework snapped crisply when tapped, the frost falling off in a shower. Bi Fang applied the mix of hot water and brain matter to the Musk Ox Skin to prevent the fibers from binding back into rawhide, and continued to work the still stiff areas until he had cured the entire hide. With that, everything was accomplished. The symbolic white Musk Ox horn helmet was mounted on Goudan¡¯s head, and Bi Fang, now down to only the two-hundred-kilogram carcass, loaded it onto the sled. With one man and three animals as the primeval driving force, they set off back in the direction they came from. Chapter 683 - 680 Sandstorm On the snowfields, Erha with a Horn Helmet hopped and skipped playfully. The massive Horn Helmet covered Goudan¡¯s entire head with even extra space to spare, wobbling as he walked, but Goudan wasn¡¯t bothered and seemed very happy, feeling it was his trophy. Sticking out his tongue, he licked the Horn Helmet, feeling contentment inside. Life these days had been truly wonderful. Goudan could no longer remember when he had set out, for the concept of time wasn¡¯t something that occupied his mind, but he knew it had been a very, very long time since he last had a full meal. In the vast, uninhabited and snow-covered Greenland, the three sled dogs were undoubtedly tiny. Looking around, all they could see was snow, where could they find any food? Occasionally with good luck, they might catch a clumsy Asuka, but they weren¡¯t always successful. A few days ago, the icily fierce snowstorm had come again, and, driven by hunger and cold, they had to keep moving, fending for themselves. They didn¡¯t expect that under their own "lead," they actually found humans. I am surely a born Lead Dog! "Slacking off again," complained Bi Fang. With a kick, Bi Fang hit Goudan¡¯s behind, almost knocking the Horn Helmet off Erha¡¯s head. After being kicked, Goudan resumed his hard labor obediently, donning the helmet and braving the wind and snow alongside the other two dogs. The Horn Helmet was enormous, looking from the front it was almost the size of an adult man¡¯s chest, thus it was still quite comical to see it on Erha¡¯s head. Ordinarily, Bi Fang wouldn¡¯t want to carry something so heavy, but thinking it seemed almost a pity to discard it, as it was a rather rare trophy, and with the intention of collecting it for decoration, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to throw it away. "Phew, let¡¯s rest a bit," he said. He had spent almost the entire night preparing the hunting rewards and had hardly slept. Now, exhaustion was taking over. Bi Fang sat down and called a halt to the Three Fools¡¯ sledding. It had to be said, they were indeed skilled at pulling sleds, their strength extraordinary. If Bi Fang had been alone, he would have had to give up more items, limiting the weight to under a hundred kilograms. It was impossible to bring as much as he currently had without their help. The tired Three Fools stuck out their tongues, not even huddling together for warmth, clearly exhausted to their limits. They drank some water and ate some meat. Bi Fang turned to check the sled, which he had hastily made using just ropes for securing. The base comprised six sled boards, paired and tied together at the end, not necessarily sturdy. On top of the makeshift sled boards, there lay butchered Musk Ox meat, rigid from freezing. It looked less bloody, especially since a square piece of Musk Ox Skin was neatly tied over it with ropes, concealing the contents underneath. Although it would inevitably end up smelling of blood, once tanned successfully, the skin could be cleaned and would not revert to its original state. The Musk Ox Skin itself wasn¡¯t rectangular, and Bi Fang had cut the excess parts to make a small vest for the Three Fools. The hem was threaded with a rope and tied tight. Although it wasn¡¯t pretty, it was quite secure. Seemingly feeling the warmth of the Musk Ox Skin, the Three Fools didn¡¯t resist wearing clothes much. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After resting for a while, Bi Fang whistled, and the man with the three dogs resumed their arduous task. [It has the feel of labor workers] [Coolies of Greenland] [Although, the combination feels a bit over the top] "Today¡¯s wind is strong; we need to be careful with our direction. Fortunately, because Musk Oxen run slowly, we actually haven¡¯t strayed too far from the valley. I estimate we can return by tomorrow afternoon or the next morning," Bi Fang predicted. Bi Fang estimated the situation and felt it should be about right. The group activities of the musk oxen were too erratic; if it weren¡¯t for the need to pull the sled, he might have been able to return today. Thinking of this, Bi Fang grew somewhat impatient. This two hundred kilogram musk ox had alleviated most of the winter crisis in one fell swoop. As long as he stored this food properly, he wouldn¡¯t have to worry too much about the calorie intake for at least the first two months. In addition to the musk ox skin measuring over one meter nine in length, it could almost be made into a sleeping bag. Just thinking about sleeping in a warm blanket, not having to worry about food, made Bi Fang a little excited. "Phew, the weather is getting colder by the minute, even at noon the temperature could be minus thirty degrees." Bi Fang pulled the rising long rope and was about to take out his thermometer to check the temperature, but unexpectedly, something smacked him in the mouth. At first, he thought it was dry snow, but the substance in his mouth showed no sign of melting. It felt more like sand. "Ptooey, what¡¯s this stuff?" The wind suddenly increased in strength, and the fine sand, coarser than snowflakes, blew against Bi Fang¡¯s face in the violent wind, chafing his skin raw. "Where is this sand coming from?" Bi Fang spat out saliva but found he couldn¡¯t clear it completely¡ªevery time he opened his mouth, sand plastered onto him the next second. He struggled to open his eyes in the raging wind, only to find that the moderately obstructive snowstorm had suddenly become thick and heavy. The sky darkened abruptly. And in the distance, a distinctly dark long dragon was rolling its way toward him. Another blizzard? Bi Fang was baffled by the sudden darkness of the sky, but the next moment he sharply realized something was wrong. If it was a blizzard, then what was in his mouth? Sand, fierce wind, rolling dragon... Bi Fang shivered and was so startled he nearly jumped up: "Damn, a sandstorm!" [A sandstorm? How is that possible?] [Old Fang, you¡¯re not joking with me, are you? There are sandstorms here?] The audience was left surprised and puzzled by his outburst, and many were skeptical. To any rational person, how could there be a sandstorm on Greenland? In his more than ten days on the island, aside from snow, was there anything else? But as the audience looked into the distance, their doubt turned to shock, as the might of nature once again made itself visible. The previously clear view was as if veiled by a layer of gauze; the entire sky was dark and dreary, shaded with grey, and accompanied by an extremely pungent dust smell. Bi Fang was certain that this was no snow but sand, this was a sandstorm! No, this was even more absurd than a sandstorm. Bi Fang looked up at the pitch-black sky and swallowed hard. It was a blizzard and a sandstorm combined! Ink-black clouds rolled in from the north. In these high latitudes, precipitation was even less than that of the Sahara Desert, but once black cumulonimbus clouds appeared, the weather would change instantly, and the snow would bury everything. Sand mixed with dry snow roared like a dragon, rolling in, the leading edge towering tens of meters high, the regions covered by clouds jet-black, the other half pure white, the division line as sharp as a blade¡¯s edge. Chapter 684 - 681: Please Respond ``` A sandstorm combined with a blizzard, what kind of devilish combination is this!? Even Bi Fang was somewhat hopping mad and feeling pins and needles on his scalp at this moment. Any one of these disasters was enough for him to endure, yet they were happening simultaneously? Though sandstorms and blizzards seemed like two completely unrelated natural disasters, they actually had something in common. The former only requires three elements -- sand source, unstable atmospheric circulation, and strong winds. Once these three elements are present, strong winds will lift massive amounts of sand and dust from the ground. As the sand and dust pass through, the air becomes polluted, and visibility is noticeably reduced. Skin, eyes, nose, and lungs are the first to come into contact with the sand and dust and are very prone to harm, especially the lungs, where the effects are more severe and widespread. A moment of carelessness could lead to a risk of suffocation. At the same time, the large amounts of sand and dust carried by the sandstorm obscure the light, making the weather gloomy and causing solar radiation to decrease, further cooling the already cold Arctic. As for blizzards, needless to say, their cause is even simpler and to some extent drives the sandstorms, resulting in the terrible disaster at this moment. Both are among the most common types of natural disasters. Last year, Mengxin Country experienced a simultaneous outbreak of sandstorms and blizzards, with the number of casualties exceeding double digits. Three drones quickly descended, following closely beside Bi Fang. Watching the earthen dragon rolling towards them, Sanshao all involuntarily let out anxious whimpers, jumping around, clearly terrified to the extreme. "Come here!" Bi Fang quickly grabbed the leash to prevent them from running off in fright. They had been together for less than two days, trust was not that high, and in the face of disaster, it was very likely they would break free and escape. As a means of transportation, these three sled dogs were each about the size of an Arctic Wolf, especially the largest one, Alaska, who stood as tall as a person and weighed over 90 pounds. If he hadn¡¯t been starved, he might have reached 100 pounds. It took quite an effort for Bi Fang to pull these three panicked giants. The wind speed of the sandstorm definitely exceeded twenty meters per second. From the moment he saw it, escape was definitely not an option. An earthen dragon composed of yellow sand and ice was sweeping in from the horizon. It didn¡¯t take long for the sandstorm to cover half of the sky and then obscure the entire canopy. With the earth dragon drawing nearer, more and more fine sand desperately tried to burrow into Bi Fang¡¯s nostrils, making it almost impossible for him to breathe. The sky was full of sand and dust; it was clearly daytime, yet the sky was dark and gray. Bi Fang, holding onto the leash, came beside the sled. Although he had cut a lot of meat from the musk ox¡¯s body at the last moment, it was not exactly dismembered, and the overall shape of the ox was still intact. After pulling apart the ropes, Bi Fang opened the musk ox along the cut near the breastbone and, to the surprise of the viewers, directly crawled inside. The space inside was so large that it even felt a bit spacious, but trying to fit Sanshao in there too was obviously a bit of a stretch, at most half another one could fit. Having no choice, Bi Fang had to come out again, pull the musk ox open from the breastbone, lay it flat on the ground, cover it with fur, tighten the ropes, and quickly herd Sanshao inside. When Fugui and Wangcai were all inside, Goudan, who was by the side, tried to take the Horn Helmet in with him, but Bi Fang slapped it away and stuffed Goudan in by the neck, then crawled in himself. So cramped. Bi Fang¡¯s first reaction was that it was crowded, but there was nothing he could do. To fit Sanshao inside, he had to expand the coverage area of the musk ox. The only problem was that the seal was much poorer. Originally leaving just one gap, now there were gaps all around; fine sand could penetrate through these gaps, leaving nothing impenetrable. ``` Due to time constraints, Bi Fang could barely manage to tie up the musk oxen and the furs, and didn¡¯t have time to tie a proper knot; he could only grip the end of the rope in his hand. Just a few seconds later, Bi Fang felt the pull in his hand increase rapidly to a nearly unmanageable and terrifying extent. The howling wind swept over his head, and the fiber rope in Bi Fang¡¯s hand jerked violently, cutting a bloody gash in the palm of his hand. Fortunately, Bi Fang wound the rope around quickly, avoiding the chance of the obstacles above his head being blown away. Accompanying the howling wind was a terrifying shrieking sound that seemed to meld thousands of aggrieved souls into one, causing the three dogs to shiver uncontrollably and whimper without ceasing. Thankfully, the situation had temporarily stabilized. Bi Fang wound the rope around his hand a few more times and breathed a sigh of relief. The combination of a sandstorm and blizzard was indeed fearsome, but the threat was more about persistence, like the previous blizzard that lasted four days. Suddenly exposed to it, one wouldn¡¯t die instantly as if bitten in the throat by a lion or tiger, but given slightly more time, irreversible damage would ensue. Sandstorms cause suffocation; the omnipresent sand clogs your organs, ultimately leading to asphyxiation. Blizzards bring hypothermia; the fierce wind with its chilling effect rapidly strips away any shred of warmth from the body, and reaching a critical point, one would freeze to death in the storm. After the fierce wind, Bi Fang could already feel the temperature dropping around him, but thankfully it wasn¡¯t significant, because they had fur over their heads and a musk oxen frame, and most crucially, they were accompanied by three large sources of warmth. Bi Fang exhaled lightly, not daring to relax his grip, but he knew he couldn¡¯t hold out for long. He looked around at his environment and pulled on the rope with effort, feeling an increased pressure above his body. He then wrapped the rope around the sled¡¯s baseline and tied a knot, securing it firmly. After doing all this, Bi Fang finally took a moment to glance at the barrage of comments, which were already crowded on the screen, making it difficult to discern the content. The viewers in the live broadcast room couldn¡¯t see anything either, not only because there was no light source¡ªeven though there was a night mode available¡ªthe camera was pointed at the ground. All three drones were pressed under Bi Fang, completely obscuring any view. [It¡¯s really a sandstorm.] [Is Old Fang alright?] [Old Fang, Old Fang, if you receive this, please respond, please respond.] "Received, received, this is Old Fang, speak quickly if there¡¯s something," Bi Fang joked upon finally making out a comment. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Whew, we thought something had happened to you.] "Not at all, in fact, as long as things are handled properly and supplies are ample, weather disasters are not that scary," Bi Fang replied. Bi Fang turned over in the extremely cramped space, laying on his side to make the tight space a bit more bearable. "There¡¯s no need to panic when encountering a sandstorm either; just hide in an enclosed space and cover your mouth and nose, and you¡¯ll be fine. As for blizzards, this isn¡¯t our first encounter, is it?" By now, this was already the third blizzard Bi Fang had encountered. Blizzards are different from downpours; a torrential rain usually lasts just a few hours, but blizzards are often counted in days, and it¡¯s not unusual for them to last two or three days, or even a week. Chapter 685 - 682: Losing More Than Just Freedom Now that they had confirmed Bi Fang was temporarily unharmed, the audience naturally asked the question they cared about most. Why would there be a sandstorm in Greenland? And was this really a sandstorm? Could they have seen it wrong? A flurry of questions flooded the live stream, which was normal because in most people¡¯s minds, sandstorms were either associated with deserts or at the very least, with grasslands; how could there be one in Greenland? Seeing this, Bi Fang immediately reached his hand out of his fur coat, and after a moment, retracted it, baffling everyone. It was only after Bi Fang opened his hand and fished out the drone to activate its night mode that people could see clearly that what was in his palm wasn¡¯t entirely made up of snowflakes. Bi Fang rubbed it slightly, breathed out a warm breath, and part of the snowflake gradually melted, but in the end, there was still some solid matter left, it looked as if it was still white, and sparkled under the night vision mode. "See, it is indeed sand," he said. "Although sandstorms are usually associated with deserts, major sand-dust phenomena also occur frequently in high-latitude regions where the wind can be strong enough to blow underground sediments along the coast." "Greenland is one of the places with the highest latitude, so it¡¯s no exception; hence, this phenomenon is often observed here. The sand-dust in the wind is mainly glacial dust, a fine-grained silt formed by glaciers grinding rocks." S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "This kind of sand-dust is extremely light, allowing the wind to easily blow it into the air. It is most common during the transition from summer to winter, erm, that is, autumn. Our timing really couldn¡¯t be worse, we¡¯ve encountered everything." Bi Fang said with self-deprecation. Although the task of surviving one hundred days started in the autumn, before entering the perpetual night, each daytime was a high-efficiency period for accumulating survival resources, but autumn is also a very unstable point in time. The dynamic change from summer to winter is very unstable, and this instability is the fundamental cause of frequent sandstorms and blizzards. "During summer, high temperatures cause fast-flowing streams and rivers to carry meltdown water away from the ice cap and towards the ocean, but once autumn arrives, the colder temperatures slow down the melting, the rivers gradually recede, revealing large expanses of glacial mud." "This mud, just like the sand we see in deserts, provides a critical condition for the three main causes of sandstorms." The audience suddenly understood. "To put it simply, glacial dust is created by several glaciers above the valleys, and the wind is triggered by a combination of the low-pressure system that crosses the Greenland ice cap and the subsequent high-pressure ridge. As the water level of autumn streams falls, the floodplains dry up revealing mud that is easily eroded by the wind." "Mud exposed on the surface prevents the wind from picking up more dust when it snows, but since the summer has melted a large area of snow and hasn¡¯t accumulated a thick enough layer of snow, when strong winds blow, sandstorms naturally occur." [So much for "to put it simply"!] [Can you please explain it again in terms simple enough for an idiot to understand?] [I suspect Old Fang might have misunderstood the meaning of the word "simple" (dog¡¯s head)] In the transition from melting to freezing, autumn becomes such a tumultuous time. Bi Fang was somewhat puzzled; they were supposed to have daylight for twenty days, but most of that time had to be spent in this awful weather, making the mission harder than he had anticipated. "However, everyone shouldn¡¯t worry too much. The sandstorms on Greenland aren¡¯t as severe, and the main concern should be blizzards," he said. "Comparing it with the Sahara Desert, the wind direction there can toss dust high into the atmosphere, but the height of the dust in Greenland is quite low, no more than one to two kilometers," he explained. The difference in dust height ultimately meant that the sandstorms in Greenland were entirely different from the vast dust clouds that could linger for days over the Sahara Desert. This critical point meant that the possibility of Bi Fang being completely buried was not so great; there was no need to worry excessively about being buried alive while sheltering in a sealed space. The differing amounts of sand meant that the power of sandstorms varied greatly; in cities, the volume of sand wasn¡¯t usually that significant ¨C it was the gales and the respiratory diseases caused by the sand that were the main concerns. "The Sahara¡¯s sandstorms are truly terrifying," he said. "It¡¯s not unusual for them to change the landscape. Often, travelers will drive through in an off-road vehicle, and then, after a single sandstorm, they¡¯re completely buried alive with no one able to locate them." "Though not high, the advantage of Greenland is the strong winds, which sometimes are powerful enough to blow sediments in one go from dried-up lakes, river valleys, and erosion plains straight to the coastline," he added. "In a single day, this dust can race hundreds of kilometers, and it might even reach areas far from the coast. The upside is that it can transport nutrient-rich dust to regions that are typically nutrient-poor, serving as an alternative form of redistribution," he noted. Due to the sparse human population, the dust storms in Greenland not only don¡¯t pose much harm, but they actually have quite a few benefits. In high-latitude regions, atmospheric dust affects the formation of ice nuclei, while surface dust decreases the surface albedo and accelerates subsequent ice melt. Dust can also serve as atmospheric ice nuclei particles, influencing cloud formation and thus affecting the solar radiation process. The transportation of airborne dust provides a mechanism for transferring sediments and nutrients between unconnected locations in the arid Arctic, and dust deposition affects soil formation on the island, replenishing nutrients for both land and marine life, thereby benefiting nearby organisms. It can even assist scientific research, as aeolian mineral dust on the ice cap can provide crucial information about climate change. Geologists can investigate the global climate of various periods by studying ice cores and dust. Past records of core dust reveal the concentration, composition, granularity, and morphology of minerals during glacial formation, much like the growth rings of a tree, aiding in the study of glacial formation as well as significant climatic and geological changes that may have occurred in the meantime. However, for Bi Fang at the moment, this knowledge was not so comforting. After he had explained so much, the audience finally understood why there were sandstorms in Greenland. They marveled at the wonders of nature and thought it was a place where anything could happen. "Let¡¯s hope it ends soon," he sighed. Bi Fang exhaled deeply, unable to do much in his current situation except to quietly wait for the disaster to pass. The good news was that food was within view, and there was plenty of it, enough to last until after the disaster was over. "Wu wu," whined Goudan. To him, the loss was not just freedom but also his dashing Horn Helmet. He wondered if he would be able to find it again once everything was over. Chapter 686 - 683: Flammable Soil The vast expanse of land was enveloped by a grey blizzard, obscuring everything. Black felt strips danced in the fierce wind, as snow in large clumps buried the felt only to be quickly swept away by the subsequent gales, again and again. What was even worse, among the wind and snow, were sharp sandstones mixed in. In the grip of winds exceeding thirty meters per second, the sandstones unleashed an unbelievable force, easily slicing through delicate skin and leaving behind wounds¡ªshallow yet white-marked gashes by the thousands. Bi Fang retracted his hand back into the felt, and just for an instant, he felt as if his skin had been peeled off, leaving numerous white marks on it. A hundred years ago, bands of brave men stepped foot on this land, only to fall one by one. Packs of wild wolves, fierce land bears, and hidden crevasses in the glaciers beneath the snow¡ªall counted for nothing. The harsh climate. That was the true danger. Here, no one could save another; surviving on one¡¯s own was already no easy feat. It was so cold that blood could freeze into ice chunks, and survival depended solely on the heat of flowing blood and courage in one¡¯s heart. Without courage, an adventurer¡¯s blood would flow slower and slower; nothing could keep the body warm any longer, and death was just a matter of time. Whoosh. Bi Fang didn¡¯t know how many times he had adjusted his breathing now, but his muscles were indeed beginning to ache, and his body was starting to sweat. That¡¯s right, in the forty degrees below zero temperatures, Bi Fang was actually feeling warm. Both the musk ox skin and the heat naturally emitted by the sled dogs made the insulation effect of this enclosed space excellent, not to mention that he was constantly moving. Another scoop of dry snow was shoveled out; no need to shake it off, it was quickly dispersed by the violent wind as soon as it was thrown out. A hemispherical pit gradually appeared beneath Bi Fang, significantly expanding the space, enough so as not to be crushed to death by the three silly dogs. It was clear that under the atrocious weather of the blizzard and dust storm, Bi Fang was not sitting idly by to meet his fate. He had moved several sled boards aside to expose the ground beneath and then started to dig a pit, attempting to carve out a shelter once again and to expand the cramped space. Each dog had nearly the size of an adult human. Although musk oxen are indeed large, trying to fit four people was too much of a stretch. Not long after, Bi Fang started feeling a bit short of breath and thus had to begin digging. After ten some minutes, he finally managed to create a space where he could sit cross-legged and breathe freely. Both Fugui and Wangcai were smart; given a bit of space to maneuver, they both busied themselves helping Bi Fang dig. It must be said that, as dogs, their talent for digging was extraordinary. They soon enlarged the space, which could barely fit a person sitting cross-legged, to a point where one could kneel on one knee. Only Goudan had no awareness of digging. Perhaps as the "Lead Dog," it felt that such labor was beneath it. It buried its head downward, peering through a slim gap to the outside world, longing for its lost Horn Helmet. Before long, it seemed to feel a bit embarrassed about doing nothing. Goudan squatted in the pit, lifted its right leg to its neck, kicked vigorously, and after sniffing its underside, it looked around. Then it stood up, paced back and forth as if finally making up its mind, and suddenly crouched down. Bi Fang¡¯s face darkened in an instant; he knew exactly what this creature was about to do. [Damn, is this¡­] [My God, it¡¯s starting already?] [Looks like it really ate too much.] Sure enough, after a bit of straining, a lump of black something dropped from underneath Goudan¡¯s rear¡ªquite a large lump. A faint stench began to spread in the confined space, and both Fugui and Wangcai immediately stopped what they were doing and covered their noses. Bi Fang: "..." Blizzards last for days on end, and even though he knew such situations were inevitable, Bi Fang was still very annoyed. After eating so much, and considering that a dog¡¯s esophagus is short and digestion is quick, it wouldn¡¯t be long before it had to defecate. Bi Fang pinched the nape of Goudan¡¯s neck, curled his middle finger, flicked it hard on the forehead, and then pinched his nose to cover the big clump with snow. Dry snow could act like coal dust, covering the smell and clinging to form clumps, making it less disgusting to shovel and more convenient. [Raising a dog is like this, you¡¯ll get used to it (dog¡¯s head)] [Old shoveling officer.] [You¡¯ll get the hang of it gradually] The audience unleashed relentless mockery, Bi Fang slapped his forehead, thinking it¡¯s okay to do this now, just as long as it¡¯s not in the middle of the night when he had to wake up to do it. Nevertheless, going to the toilet is indeed a problem. Everyone has physiological needs like eating, drinking, and excreting. Under normal circumstances, these are relatively easy to deal with, but in such extreme environments, physiological needs like going to the toilet can be much more difficult. "In Inuit people¡¯s homes, there usually aren¡¯t any toilets, so they have to go outside to take care of business. And the temperature outside compared to inside the house can be a lot lower. If it¡¯s summer, it¡¯s not too bad since the temperatures are relatively mild. But in winter, the temperature can drop very low. Therefore, when they go to the toilet, they must be as quick as possible, otherwise they might get frostbite from the cold." "This must be one of the hardest things about polar survival, right?" As Bi Fang continued shoveling snow and chatting, after digging nearly a meter and a half, the thick layer of snow was finally broken through, exposing the frozen ground beneath. But even after reaching the ground, the space started to get a bit tight. Thinking about spending the next few days here, Bi Fang continued digging downward. Wangcai and Fugui worked hard as well, but after digging through half a meter of soil, the color of the frozen earth suddenly changed. Bi Fang stopped his motion, picked up a handful of frozen earth, and began to carefully rub it between his fingers. The dirt, which looked like tan-colored ice granules, slipped from his fingertips, and Bi Fang¡¯s face showed a look of shock. This color and texture, and even the smell... "Is this... peat soil!?" S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Peat mud?] [What¡¯s the difference?] Most of the audience had never heard of it and didn¡¯t know what it was. "Haha, luck turns at last!" The audience was clueless, but Bi Fang knew very well and was visibly excited. He quickly took out wood and fire-starting tools from his backpack, and while starting the fire, he also offered a simple explanation. "Peat soil refers to soil that forms a peat layer in certain river and lake sediments, low-lying plains, and mountain valleys where, due to long-term waterlogging and dense aquatic vegetation, a large amount of incompletely decomposed plant debris accumulates under anaerobic conditions." Bi Fang gave a lengthy explanation, but the audience did not understand it very well, and they still did not know what it was good for. [Uh, can you eat it?] "Of course, you can¡¯t eat it; it¡¯s just soil." [Then what¡¯s it good for?] [Is it fertile? Can it be used to grow vegetables?] [Surviving a hundred days in the Arctic by farming, I think it¡¯s doable (funny)] "As long as you dry this kind of mud, it can be burned directly." Chapter 687 - 684: Eternal Night Approaches Combustion!!! The audience¡¯s eyes widened in unison as they let out cries of surprise. Can soil also burn? "Of course, and the combustion effect is very good. You can simply think of it as charcoal-like soil; it has other names, such as peat and lignite, which is coal with the lowest degree of coalification." This comparison made the audience instantaneously understand the combustion ability of peat soil. So it¡¯s coal! Sparks ignited on the charcoal he held, and Bi Fang blew deliberately into it. Soon, a small flame sprinted up on the tinder, and seeing this, he didn¡¯t hurry to insert the peat but instead grabbed a handful of loose peat soil. "When the organic matter content in clay exceeds 10% but is less than 60%, it is called peaty soil, and only when it surpasses 60% can it become peat. This kind of soil mostly has a calorific value of 9.50 to 15.0 megajoules per kilogram and burns very easily." S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "This is a type of soil formed in a moist and hypoxic environment from the accumulation of undecomposed plant remains. Its appearance is usually dark grey or black with a foul smell, showing incompletely decomposed plant structures, swelling and easy crumbing upon soaking in water, with plant residues floating above the water, and evident shrinkage when dried." The audience moved closer, and indeed, they could see structures resembling plant roots in the soil. "Apart from the characteristics of peaty soil, peat also has a loose structure, light soil quality, and a dull, lackluster appearance." With so many features, identifying peat soil was not difficult. Coupled with the faint foul odor, Bi Fang recognized it at a glance. [However, does peat soil also exist in the Arctic?] [There aren¡¯t many plants in the Arctic, are there? How come there are so many plant remains?] The audience was somewhat puzzled because, according to Bi Fang, such a thing should be common in places like rainforests, where countless plant remains can be found. "So you didn¡¯t listen to the preconditions, did you?" Bi Fang chuckled, "It¡¯s completely different from what you guys are guessing. In places like rainforests, where microbes are too developed, plant remains hardly get left behind, so seventy percent of the world¡¯s peat bogs are located in the Arctic region, predominantly in high latitude areas. Low latitude regions with more peat soil... let me think..." "Oh, the Indonesian Forest is covered in peat bogs." "However, when we use peat soil, we must be very careful and take all necessary precautions. Since peat soil burns very easily and has properties close to coal, you can imagine the scenario of starting a fire on a coal pile." [Holy shit, is it that dangerous?] [I¡¯m gonna die, I¡¯m gonna die] [Old Fang has really got guts] The audience drew in a sharp breath of cold air; this was too scary. "Haha, actually, it¡¯s not that exaggerated. After all, the degree of coalification is very low, and it has to be dried before it can burn. Plus, we¡¯re surrounded by snow and ice; a little caution is all we need. I just wanted to make you aware of its potential danger," he explained. Just as he had said, Bi Fang didn¡¯t choose to start the fire inside the remaining peat pits but laid a considerable amount of snow beside them. Then, he added ordinary permafrost, creating a concave shape, and tossed the peat soil and the flame into it. In no time at all, the flames blazed fiercely, emitting astounding heat that quickly warmed up the dugout. Removing his coat, Bi Fang looked up at the musk oxen above his head and felt that this was a kind of unconventional smoking process, even though the smoke was a bit thick. It wasn¡¯t working, Bi Fang picked up a shovel and began digging to the side. He had to move the fire; he didn¡¯t want his musk ox meat to taste like the unpleasant dryness of smoke. "In many places, when forest fires occur in the summer, they are likely to spread to the peat bogs where forests grow. It doesn¡¯t only intensify the fires, but they also act as potential climate bombs." "When peat bogs burn, they release carbon dioxide that has been stored for several geological eras. As the soil begins to burn, it lets off choking thick smoke, and only with the help of bulldozers can this process be stopped. The fire can last for months or even years, so the loss of peat is extremely significant." "The carbon content in the atmosphere is 7,500 tons, while the peat bogs in the Arctic might contain 250 to 450 billion tons. If it¡¯s all released, it will increase the carbon content in the atmosphere by 50%." Bi Fang articulated a terrifying conclusion. "I don¡¯t know if everyone remembers the huge wildfires that erupted in the forests of Australia and California, Ugly Country, the year before last, causing Earth to lose hundreds of millions of wild animals and many species to become endangered. In fact, at that time, the Arctic also saw multiple wildfires, it¡¯s just that they weren¡¯t as widely reported." "At that time, the smoke from the wildfires rising from the ground in the Arctic created enormous columns of smoke in the stratosphere, which could be clearly seen from satellites." "It wasn¡¯t until the next day, after months of cold weather, that the above-ground wildfires in the Arctic were completely extinguished, but the fires underground were still burning." "Even near Seydi Village, about 400 kilometers northeast of Yakutsk in the Arctic, the underground fire continued to burn at temperatures of -50¡æ, spreading from Udarnik to Seydi, and all important resources were burned up." The audience was stunned. Burned for a year? Wasn¡¯t that an exaggeration? "Peat fires are different from the forest fires we typically see. Because they burn quietly underground, they are incredibly difficult to put out, even if heavy snow falls above, the peat fires still blaze beneath." "Burning underground, with no flames visible and very little smoke, these fires are hard to detect unless satellite detects an abnormal temperature." "Especially since such fires can keep burning until they reach the mineral layer and the upper portion of the groundwater. Although they spread slowly, at a rate of 4-5 meters per hour, and can only spread a few dozen meters in a day and night, they are difficult to extinguish and can burn for days, months, or even longer." "Fires that occur underground in the fall can usually overwinter, continuing to burn until the next spring, which is why they are also called overwintering fires." Once again, the audience was shocked by the power of nature and heard for the first time of flames that could burn underground. [If the underground fire keeps spreading to coal deposits, what would happen?] [Wouldn¡¯t that just cause an explosion?] Amidst the audience¡¯s discussions, Bi Fang started to dig horizontally, planning to build a greenhouse next door and release as much smoke as possible. With the effort of one man and three dogs, progress was swift. By the afternoon, the dig was complete. Bi Fang also transferred the fire. Although the likelihood of humanly igniting a layer of peat on fire was meager here with much snow cover and the temperature melting the snow into water to extinguish the flame, it was still better to be cautious and convey the right knowledge and methods to the audience as much as possible. With flames and food present, Bi Fang and Sanshao hunkered down for three days, as the outside world¡¯s snowstorms and sandstorms finally showed signs of abating. And the polar night was now less than five days away. Chapter 688 - 685: Lost and Found The blizzard gradually subsided, and the black felt had long been completely covered by snow and gravel, blending with the ground as one. After a sound of rustling, a small patch of snow suddenly collapsed, and gradually, a hole emerged on the ground, from which a dog¡¯s head popped up abruptly. Goudan stuck out its tongue, and the shockingly low temperature instantly froze the saliva on its tongue, scaring it into quickly closing its mouth. After confirming that there were no abnormalities, Goudan howled, and its two companions immediately began to dig; soon, a large patch of snow around the hole started to collapse. Bi Fang employed all his skills and forcefully lifted the musk oxen off him; the snow slipped off with a swoosh, raising a large cloud of snow dust. Finally dug out, Master Fang relaxed and said, "Phew, I almost got buried alive." The thickness of the snow increased at an astonishing rate every day. If it weren¡¯t for the air vent above their heads that remained clear, Bi Fang and Sanshao might have been buried alive and suffocated long ago. Waking up today was even more exaggerated; it was completely dark inside the hole, completely buried alive. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that Master Fang and Sanshao had dug out a large enough space within three days, and there was sufficient oxygen reserved, who knows if they could have held on until they got out. [Mom, are the blizzards in Greenland always this terrifying, more than three days this time.] [Been here for more than half a month, and it¡¯s blizzard one week after another (laugh cry).] [Finally out.] [Why is it so dark? Is it early morning or dusk?] [Although there¡¯s a time difference, but I checked, and it seems to be midday right now in Greenland...] [Midday? F*ck, are you kidding? The sun can¡¯t even come out halfway at noon?] Bi Fang looked around and indeed, just as the viewers had said, the sky was dim and lightless, but it was twelve o¡¯clock at midday. He turned his head, and finally saw the sun of noon, revealing only half a circle, no, not even half a circle, as if it was fleeting. "The polar night is coming within these two days, it could be tomorrow or the day after." Master Fang¡¯s expression was serious. Time didn¡¯t allow for any more delay, he pulled out the sled and the musk oxen, quickly finished packing, and blew a whistle to call back Sanshao, who was still frolicking. Fugui and Wangcai immediately came trotting over, Master Fang harnessed them back up, and shouted towards Goudan, who was about to run a hundred meters away. "Goudan, come here!" But Goudan didn¡¯t move an inch, running into the snow and sniffing at something everywhere. Old Fang found this strange; large dogs are generally intelligent, and he¡¯d been training for so many days, in theory, this guy should know his own name. Old Fang thought that maybe he didn¡¯t call out loudly enough, or perhaps Erha¡¯s "Lead Dog" mindset was getting in the way. Just as he was about to walk over, he noticed that Goudan suddenly stopped, and then started digging ferociously. [What is Goudan doing?] [Did it find something to eat?] [Rather than finding food, I¡¯m more inclined to believe it¡¯s marking its territory.] Old Fang, driven by curiosity, walked over to Goudan. By this point, the fellow had already dug a hole nearly half a meter deep. After watching for about fifteen minutes, the original half-meter deep hole was fast approaching one meter. Just as Old Fang¡¯s patience was about to run out and he was preparing to forcibly drag Goudan away, Goudan suddenly barked, and then dragged something out. A huge skull with a pair of large and sharp horns was pulled out of the deep hole by Goudan. It was actually a Horn Helmet that had been discarded after the blizzard hit. "Woof!" Erha barked excitedly, stuck its head into the snow, and then pushed forward with all its strength, successfully putting on the Horn Helmet on its own head. It spun around, its tail creating a blur. Bi Fang looked back at the dugout he had excavated as a refuge and then glanced down at the nearly one-meter-deep pit, the distance between the two was nearly a hundred meters apart. How could this be found? Bi Fang gave a wry smile. The Horn Helmet was heavy and not easily blown away, but under the power of the blizzard, he hadn¡¯t harbored any hope of finding it again. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You¡¯re really something." Bi Fang slapped the Helm on Goudan¡¯s head, then grabbed the rope around Goudan¡¯s neck and ran quickly toward the musk oxen. "Goudan, get ready to work!" ... An hour later, the sun had fully set, and darkness fell. The short day, lasting less than three hours, was an eye-opener for everyone, a natural occurrence that most people would never witness in their lifetimes. Before long, before spring arrived, the sun would sink into perpetual silence, never to rise again. As complete darkness approached, Bi Fang shivered, his biological clock already somewhat disrupted even now. This was all foreseeable, starting with the inability to eat meals regularly, the tendency for the biological clock to be disrupted came naturally. Most people are unlikely to experience polar night, and it¡¯s indeed difficult to endure. One important way to adjust the rhythm disrupted by polar night is to eat meals. Researchers at Yellow River Station have a schedule for meals. All national expedition teams must go to the canteen to eat, ensuring that they meet and communicate daily, fostering regular habits. So during those few days when food was scarce, Bi Fang had anticipated today. Now, he himself couldn¡¯t confirm whether he was indeed following a normal daily routine or not. "It¡¯s my first time encountering such a situation, which inevitably makes me a bit nervous," said Bi Fang as he dragged the musk oxen, feeling somewhat unaccustomed to the disruption of his usual perceptions. [Master Fang gets nervous too?] [A rare experience] [Note down Old Fang¡¯s embarrassing moment.] "Enough talk, I need to conserve some energy and strive to get back today." [But why stick to that valley?] [Yeah, isn¡¯t there a forest where Old Fang is catching the musk oxen?] "Forests are good for making tools and serving as fuel, but the key is still the river in the valley." "With the river, it means a stable and straightforward food source. Catching animals in the forest is not that easy." Bi Fang changed his tone and answered the audience¡¯s questions. Trees are certainly important, but food is still the key, even though Bi Fang now had musk oxen to eat for at least a month. But what if an accident happened? For example, meeting a wolverine, an Arctic Wolf, or a polar bear¡ªsuch scenarios are not impossible, and then everything would be lost. Therefore, there must be a fail-safe option, a Plan B that allows Bi Fang to bounce back quickly without affecting the overall situation even after losing everything. Changing his tone, Bi Fang moved quickly with the help of Sanshao. Perhaps because the blizzard hadn¡¯t completely ceased, snowflakes still fluttered in the air, but the wind was not strong and did not hinder Bi Fang¡¯s progress much. Despite the snow blinding him, he arrived at the valley once again before the sun rose. Chapter 689 - 686: Bathing in the Glacier Chapter 689: Chapter 686: Bathing in the Glacier At last, he saw the valley. [Wu Hu, finally there] [Finally feeling a bit relieved] [Nobody sleep tonight, the big one is coming!] [Lonely Xiao Wen gifted Master Fang a Spaceship *1¡ªNot easy, Master Fang rocks!] [Speed 18000 gifted the streamer a Yacht *1¡ªWhat is called the world¡¯s number one jungler (tactically leaning back)] ... The target achieved, Bi Fang felt his muscles begin to ache, realizing only now the sheer volume of physical activity he had undergone over the past two days, feeling the impulse to collapse and sleep. But now wasn¡¯t the time, at least not until after crossing the river. Reinvigorating himself, Bi Fang pulled the sled to the riverbank, kicked away the snow on the ground, and revealed the inelegant ice surface beneath, which wasn¡¯t transparent due to its thickness, resembling a dense layer of frost. The river wasn¡¯t wide, only about four to five meters across, therefore for safety¡¯s sake, Bi Fang planned to take Sanshao across first, later bringing the musk oxen over from the other bank to avoid having both on the ice at the same time, preventing the pressure from becoming too great and breaking the ice. ¡°We need to be careful. Even though the temperature has been quite low these past few days, we can¡¯t rule out the possibility that these naturally formed rivers might have really thin ice in some places due to geological reasons¡ªespecially when we¡¯re carrying heavy loads.¡± Unfortunately, Bi Fang¡¯s plan fell apart at the first hurdle, as the sled dogs stood on the bank, stubbornly refusing to cross. After pulling Goudan for a long while, it seemed to ponder for half a second, then ran to the riverbank. It turned in circles on the spot, finally cracking a smile and lifting its hind leg to release a stream of pale yellow urine, squinting slightly in evident enjoyment, having clearly been holding it for some time. [233333, Goudan really knows how to show off] [Erha basic operation, sit, no panic] [Goudan: Just peeing, you all look so anxious] Bi Fang held his breath, somewhat helpless but not overly disappointed, ¡°No way around it, we haven¡¯t spent enough time together. These guys might not understand my commands, especially since their previous owners were probably not Huaxia people, so it¡¯s even harder for them to understand spoken Chinese commands.¡± ¡°Moreover, animals are actually very afraid of frozen lake surfaces, because they fear water. Dogs don¡¯t know how thick the ice needs to be to stably support a person, so they subconsciously feel it¡¯s unsafe. I better go across by myself.¡± Bi Fang stepped on the ice, holding a rope in his hand, walking at a pace that was neither fast nor slow. Regrettably, when luck is sour, even drinking water can get stuck between your teeth. Not even halfway across, a muffled cracking sound erupted beneath Bi Fang¡¯s feet, triggering the viewers¡¯ fear. Bi Fang¡¯s brow raised, but as the second muffled crack sounded, the corner of his mouth twitched. What the heck, why is the ice here so thin? Or is it just my bad luck? If the first sound was not clear to many viewers, with focused attention, the second sound was like a thunderclap on a clear day. [Damn, damn, did I just hear a cracking sound?] [It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over, is it going to blow up?] [Don¡¯t panic when facing trouble, light a cigarette and act cool] ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, and don¡¯t panic, there¡¯s no problem. In these situations, it¡¯s essential to stay calm, don¡¯t try to escape by running fast¡ªthat will only speed up the extensive collapse of the ice.¡± ¡°What you need to do now is lie flat on the ice and then crawl towards the bank, or slowly roll towards the bank.¡± ¡°If the crack in the ice is still expanding and you have no conditions to move, then spread your limbs as much as possible, lie flat on the ice without moving, call out, and wait for rescue on the spot.¡± Bi Fang quickly took off his coat and gently placed it on the ground; with this cushioning, the time the force acts could be extended, reducing the magnitude in the momentum and avoiding multiple fractures in the ice as much as possible. Carefully lying on the ice, Bi Fang inched his way toward the shore, and surprisingly, he actually made it across. It was merely a harrowing but ultimately safe crossing of the river. Bi Fang looked at the ice with visible white cracks with lingering fear, ¡°It seems that for some reason, this part of the ice cannot be walked on. We¡¯ll have to try somewhere else.¡± Walking along the riverbank, Bi Fang found a slightly further spot and tried to cross the river again. This time, there were no problems. Once safety was assured, Bi Fang immediately led the Three Fools and the musk oxen across the river from that unproblematic part of the ice. After a combination of coaxing and pulling, he led the Three Fools back to the other side, and then they all together dragged the musk oxen across, successfully crossing the river to reach safety. Within the valley, dense forests and the mountain at its back with rivers encircling it¡ªit was simply the perfect terrain. This was precisely why Bi Fang insisted on bringing the musk ox back here. There¡¯s no other reason; the place was just too good. Even if it took a bit more time and pulling a two-hundred-kilogram musk ox all day, it would be worth it. Entering the forest, the Three Fools immediately scattered, but Bi Fang didn¡¯t mind. The valley was encircled by rivers and wasn¡¯t very large, so there wasn¡¯t much danger and no worry of them getting lost. Walking among the trees, Bi Fang found a few pines and picked a few pine needles. Then he returned to the riverbank, started a fire with dry wood, and obtained some wood ash. The audience could then see that Bi Fang was gathering materials, though they didn¡¯t know what for. But when Bi Fang pulled out tallow, everyone understood. He was making soap. With water, the alkaline wood ash, and musk oxen tallow, Bi Fang began boiling water in a wooden bowl, preparing to make a bar of soap with a faint plant fragrance, similar to how he did it in the rainforest. After a brief explanation, he started the practical operation. ¡°Oh right, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever talked about sanitary pads,¡± Bi Fang said, slapping his forehead as he boiled the water. Being a man, he had never considered this necessity. [Ah, what¡¯s there to talk about] [Goodness, really?] [Why shouldn¡¯t it be discussed? Why do you think there¡¯s nothing to talk about? Are you underestimating Master Fang¡¯s female fans?] [Goodness, my right fist opens the sky, and I transform into a dragon] sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Don¡¯t be like that. I just happened to think of it, so I thought I¡¯d mention it in passing. It¡¯s actually quite simple. The majority of indigenous residents use dried moss to make sanitary pads. Additionally, very soft and specially treated animal leather is often used to make sanitary pads and baby diapers,¡± he said. ¡°This is a serious topic. The hygiene of women on their period is actually very important in the wilderness; you shouldn¡¯t underestimate it.¡± [I¡¯ve heard that they might get attacked by bears and sharks] [Damn, really?] ¡°That should be a myth,¡± Bi Fang said, shaking his head upon seeing the barrage of comments. ¡°In 1967, two menstruating women were attacked and killed by a grizzly bear in Montana¡¯s Glacier National Park, which probably started that myth.¡± ¡°After a series of research and experiments, bear experts confirmed that grizzly bears and black bears are actually not that interested in menstruating women, unless they come face-to-face and the bear is extremely hungry. But in such a case, scent or no scent doesn¡¯t really make a difference, and as for sharks, that¡¯s even less likely.¡± Bi Fang smiled, ¡°I can speak from personal experience. Sharks are not at all interested in human blood.¡± [Another day of learning] The soap-making process didn¡¯t take long, especially in the Arctic where cooling happens very quickly. In a short span of time, Bi Fang had a solid bar of soap, which he then brought back to the initial location where the ice had cracked. What¡¯s Old Fang doing here? The audience all had their doubts. Bi Fang lifted the soap and smiled, ¡°Taking a bath, and at the same time, I¡¯ll give you a demonstration of ice river survival.¡± Chapter 690 - 687: Winter Swimming Chapter 690: Chapter 687: Winter Swimming The clear ice surface still proudly displayed the white cracks spreading like a spiderweb, and the river, completely sealed by ice, exuded an astonishing chill. Bi Fang had always been somebody who dared to think and act, and to the surprise of the audience, he stripped off all his clothes, leaving nothing but a pair of shorts. The cold wind was still biting, and as it blew, capillaries naturally had a physiological reaction, contracting quickly to reduce the heat flowing out. Bi Fang felt as if he were wrapped in a blanket of ice, each needle-like prick biting into his skin. Not to mention swimming, it would take great courage for a normal person just to get into the water. Every breath was uncomfortable, with the icy chill pouring down the throat straight into the lungs, as if each alveolus was forming a layer of frost in the low temperatures. But this, compared to being exposed to the cold wind, was less bone-chilling than what was to come next. Having been in the Arctic for more than two weeks, the time had moved from mid-October to November. For most people, this time of year is not too cold, but when it rains, a shirt is not enough to keep out the creeping coolness. ... Seeing what Bi Fang was doing, many people subconsciously hunched their shoulders and broke out in goosebumps, as if they were the ones being blown by the cold wind on the screen. Especially from a first-person perspective, when looking at the whitened ice surface, that coldness seemed almost to spill out, leaving you breathless. [Damn, I feel my teeth chattering.] [Every time I see that group of winter swimmers, I suspect they are aliens.] [Can you really not freeze to death?] Light rain was drizzling outside the window, and the slightly chilly cold wind blew into the office. Even wearing a coat, Yao Jun couldn¡¯t help but shiver and put down his cold drink. You¡¯re really something. Yao Jun wrapped his coat tighter around him and couldn¡¯t help but take out his phone and scroll through his contacts list. The night was particularly cold; he needed a big sister with a broad heart and a warm soul to watch the live stream with him. Ordinary viewers could only bear it alone with tears. [Amazing, Master Fang is tops!] [What defines a true man? (tactically leans back)] [Let me use my sincere heart to warm up the cold ice!] Bi Fang held his breath, choosing not to jump directly onto the ice from the shore but to walk onto it barefoot instead. No one knew how strong the ice was. The cracks had formed, but if it had not broken through, rashly jumping on it could lead to a nasty slip and a bruised backside. His feet, exposed to the low temperature, quickly turned red. Bi Fang shivered and then started walking lightly. When he reached the center of the river, the sound of the ice cracking echoed again, like a thin, crisp cookie. Small fragments of ice burst from the huge crack, and as it neared its limit, Bi Fang tiptoed slightly, then stomped firmly, and the entire ice sheet shattered. ¡°Splash.¡± The clear river water surged up and down, splashing onto the ice surface, quickly forming a layer of frost. Silver bubbles filled the entire world as Bi Fang fought the urge to close his eyes. Ice seemed to flow through his veins, further freezing, expanding, puncturing the elastic blood vessels under the extreme cold. A cold venomous snake wound its way up his coccyx, climbing the spine at a swift pace, coiling deep within his brain. Like an electric current passing through, his body instinctively wanted to open his mouth to breathe but was forcibly held shut. Yet, ultimately, he inevitably swallowed a mouthful of river water. The thermal conductivity of water is 30 times greater than air, meaning a person loses heat in water 30 times faster than they would in air at the same temperature. In 14-degrees Celsius cold water, the perceived temperature is already zero degrees. Water at ten degrees Celsius, feels like negative four degrees Celsius to the body. Eight degrees Celsius is the cold sensation temperature for winter swimming; strangely, it feels like negative eight degrees Celsius, providing an extreme sensation of intense cold, stinging, pain, and numbness. The vast majority of natural water bodies begin to freeze at four degrees Celsius, which feels like negative sixteen degrees to the body. At 3¡ãC water temperature, it feels like -20¡ãC. At 2¡ãC water temperature, it feels like -24¡ãC. At 1¡ãC water temperature, it feels like -28¡ãC. At 0¡ãC, it feels below -30¡ãC. In the Arctic, the freezing rivers are undoubtedly in the last category under the air temperatures of tens of degrees below zero. The bone-chilling cold almost split Bi Fang¡¯s mouth, but the icy water flowing down his throat calmed him. Normally, winter swimming would undoubtedly involve a warm-up, exposing one¡¯s body from a comfortable temperature, awakening each cell and pore to adapt to the cold, but Bi Fang did not because he had to demonstrate survival after falling into water at the same time. Without any rash actions, Bi Fang just stayed still underwater, watching as the silver bubbles before his eyes slowly disappeared. [Why isn¡¯t he moving?] [Could something have happened?] [I¡¯ve heard that when someone falls into cold water, they may experience a gasp reflex due to the cold water stimulus, causing you to hyperventilate uncontrollably, leading to an accelerated heart rate, and possibly even a temporary shock. Could it be that Old Fang is in shock?] [Master Fang, Master Fang, are you still there, Master Fang? If you can see this, blink your eyes.] You wouldn¡¯t be able to see me blink anyway. Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but muse sarcastically to himself. The first-person camera had an intelligent recognition function, and could fill in the visuals on its own, blinking did not affect the audience¡¯s viewing angle at all, unless one closed their eyes completely. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But faced with the audience¡¯s concern, Bi Fang still stretched out his fingers, grabbed, and gestured an OK sign, indicating that he was fine and still conscious. This relieved many in the audience, and it was good to know that he was okay, but Bi Fang¡¯s motionless posture still caused confusion among the people. Why isn¡¯t he acting? However, Bi Fang didn¡¯t keep the audience waiting too long. The very moment he entered the water was without a doubt bone-chillingly cold, followed by an instinctual desire to breathe. Hence, a person who has fallen into water must control their breathing and avoid gasping. After the brief cold, one must face the danger of hypothermia. Once hypothermia sets in excessively, it can pose a risk to one¡¯s life. After the initial cold, the blood has to recirculate and expand, continuously delivering heat, while glycogen begins to break down in the body, consuming a large amount of oxygen simultaneously. But Bi Fang felt okay at the moment. While he remained completely still, Bi Fang could endure for more than eight minutes underwater, which for a normal person is already a terrifying figure, and on the other hand, it was the result of Bi Fang¡¯s continuously improving physique and endurance training that led to his exceptionally high maximum oxygen uptake. However, in cold water, with blood flowing rapidly to provide warmth, the time undeniably had to be discounted, but three to four minutes were still very easy. Yet, after feeling that his body was no longer that chilling, Bi Fang began to move. He first looked up, only to find that the hole through which he had fallen had disappeared at some point. The audience felt a sudden chill on their scalp. Bi Fang had been swept away by the river! Chapter 691 - 618: Confidence Chapter 691: Chapter 618: Confidence As expected. Compared to the panic of his Shuiyou, Bi Fang seemed much calmer and did not show signs of desperately struggling; instead, he turned around and swam deeper. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The disappearance of Luoshui Dongku was within Bi Fang¡¯s expectations. Most victims of glacial plunges, stimulated by the cold water, tend to thrash wildly, and due to the influence of the currents, it is easy for them to move away from the point of entry. Underwater, regardless of how strong a victim is, it¡¯s very difficult to break through the ice above, especially in high-latitude regions. Trying to pry open ice layers tens of centimeters thick is totally impossible, which makes escaping even more difficult when the time comes. The river itself was not wide, and its depth was quite limited; it didn¡¯t take long for Bi Fang to nearly reach the bottom. After moving a distance away, Bi Fang looked up, gaining a broader view of the ice surface, and also made a directional gesture to the audience. ... Seeing Bi Fang so calm, the previously somewhat panicked online friends quickly calmed down as well, remembering Bi Fang¡¯s usual live streaming style and thinking that he would not act without reason, clearly having considerable confidence. [Master Fang¡¯s actions always bring such ¡°surprises¡±.] [Tell me, what is a surprise?] [So what does Master Fang mean, is there any great explanation?] [Great Bird Meng Mei has arrived uninvited] [See through the light, distinguishing the location of the plunge through the strength of light transmission.] [You can distinguish the location of the plunge by the strength of the light passing through the ice layer, the place where the light is stronger is where the plunge occurred.] [Regardless of whether the cave has frozen or not, the thickness can¡¯t be the same as before, so the light transmission definitely will be stronger] The live broadcast room had millions of viewers, and among them were always some capable people, plus Bi Fang¡¯s strong display of knowledge, someone quickly explained it. Bi Fang nodded his head, with a somewhat exaggerated motion so that viewers might notice it from the first-person perspective. In the more spacious view, everyone quickly found a spot where the light was noticeably stronger, which clearly was the place where it had cracked open originally. Once the viewers understood this, he lowered his head again, allowing everyone to clearly see his movements. The viewers saw Bi Fang moving his legs as if he was riding a bicycle, after which his body began to rapidly ascend. [If you can¡¯t swim, imagine you¡¯re riding a bicycle, it can also provide buoyancy to help you float up.] [This is the most convenient option for those who can¡¯t swim] The same people who had provided explanations earlier once again started the barrage, explaining the meaning behind Bi Fang¡¯s actions. [What if you can¡¯t ride a bicycle either?] [Sharp observation, you¡¯ve grasped the crux of the matter] [Wow, this question really hits the nail on the head, spot-on, gets straight to the point, piercing to the core, with words that always hold substance.] [¡­] A few experienced online friends let out a string of ellipses, at last understanding why Bi Fang sometimes found himself choked up and speechless in response. After confirming the target and the correct way to proceed, Bi Fang quickly arrived at the entrance of the cave and found a spot where the ice was thicker and had fewer cracks. He punched through the thin ice and grabbed the edge of the hole, not forcefully pulling himself up but continuing to tread water to ¡°float¡± himself up. ¡°Pfft.¡± Bi Fang spat out a mouthful of water, his arms supporting him on the ice as the cold wind blew, chilling him to the bone and making him shiver involuntarily. After remaining still for a while and catching his breath, Bi Fang finally felt a bit warmer. He smiled and pointed at the ice beneath his arms. ¡°Did you see my movement just now? When coming up, you should find the right spot, with fewer cracks and thicker ice. Of course, it¡¯s already good enough if a person who falls in can remember what to do, and not necessarily have to find the perfect spot to climb out. Anyway, make sure to stabilize yourself first before rescuing yourself.¡± ¡°If you truly have the ability to observe the ice, then you can judge the strength of the ice layer by its appearance. Generally, a clear and thick ice layer has a stronger load-bearing capacity, while turbid and white ice layers with many impurities and air have a weaker load-bearing capacity.¡± ¡°Near the edge of the ice layer, don¡¯t press down too hard, which can cause the cracks to widen. The right way is to place your hands on the ice and tread water with your feet to float your body.¡± ¡°Once your upper body is on the ice layer, wait in place for a few seconds to drain as much water as possible from your clothes, which lightens your weight and reduces the risk of falling back into the water. Then you can move slowly forward by crawling until you¡¯re far away from the hole.¡± Bi Fang stepped up his treading, and as soon as his entire upper body was above water, he quickly leaned forward, lightly pressing his abdomen on the ice before moving forward in a crawl. ¡°After leaving the ice hole, don¡¯t stand up immediately, as the ice surface may break again, causing you to fall back in. Continue to stay low to the ground and move toward the shore with slow rolls or crawling motions.¡± As his thighs also came onto the ice, Bi Fang rolled over, finally leaving the river entirely and lying on the ice layer. Even a slight breeze made him feel dizzy at this point, as his brief immersion had caused him to lose a substantial amount of body heat. His skin turned a deep red from the cold¡¯s sting, as if he¡¯d run a grueling marathon, his large frame and every muscle quivered slightly as they generated heat. Bi Fang neatly combed his hair back to wring out as much water as possible, then took the soap he had found on the riverbank, wet it in the icy river water for a moment, and quickly started scrubbing himself, while the camera panned to the sky, so viewers could only hear Bi Fang¡¯s voice. ¡°When the body temperature drops to 35¡ãC, one starts to shiver and the consciousness begins to blur.¡± ¡°When it falls to 32¡ãC, the shivering stops, but mental confusion worsens. If it goes down to 28¡ãC, brain activity slows down significantly, putting one¡¯s life at risk.¡± ¡°So you¡¯ve got to get out of the cold water fast.¡± [Wow, he¡¯s scrubbing with soap and we don¡¯t get to watch, I want a refund!] [I want to see blood everywhere!] [Not an insider, bring on the thrills] [Master Fang¡¯s No-Code High Definition Bath.avi] After his whole body was covered in foam, the camera turned back to him, and Bi Fang dived into the water, quickly shaking his hair and washing off the soap. Once completely clean, he used the same method to climb ashore, rolled in the snow to dry off, and then dressed. ¡°So comfy!¡± Bi Fang used snowballs to rub his hair dry, slapped off the remaining snow after, and joined the fire draped in Musk Ox Skin, warming himself and casually slicing some musk ox meat for a quick meal. The sensation of cleanliness and the ensuing comfort were indescribable, bringing not just physical relaxation but also much mental relief. Having established the basic conditions for survival, he looked toward the distant snowfields, finally having the confidence to enjoy the view with peace of mind. Chapter 692 - 689 Hot Pot Meat Chapter 692: Chapter 689 Hot Pot Meat In the icy Arctic Circle, Bi Fang wrapped in musk oxen fur, sat in front of the campfire, feeling the warmth that the flames brought, melting every frozen cell back into vitality. ¡°Campfires are one of the charms of outdoor activities. If constructed with the best wood, one can barbecue food over a forest campfire.¡± ¡°Many lumberjacks prefer to build a second, smaller campfire for barbecuing, but I don¡¯t think it¡¯s necessary unless you are in a large campsite where you need to prepare a large amount of food. Ordinary campers should decide based on their own needs. After all, various attempts are an important part of the fun of living in the woods.¡± With a joyful expression and lively eyebrows, all of the audience could tell that Master Fang was very happy at the moment, having left the survival crisis far behind him. After roughly flattening both sides of two pieces of firewood, Bi Fang placed them on the ground with one end a palm¡¯s width apart and the other half a meter apart, creating a trapezoidal shape, making for a satisfactory outdoor cooking space. For safety, Bi Fang also placed a few stones on the wider end and laid some hardwood rods on them as a barrier. ... ¡°If possible, you can place a heat reflector on the wider side, so you can make full use of the heat instead of watching it be wasted in the air.¡± ¡°It also makes the barbecuing very even and usable in any weather. Bread, fish, game, or other meats can be cooked very well, and the operation is very convenient, small enough equipment to serve two or three people.¡± Even though he had nothing, Bi Fang did not hesitate to introduce these things to the audience. The campfire was just between the two logs, and barbecuing and frying were very convenient at the narrow end of the opening. ¡°If you have richer resources, you can use slow-burning green trees as base logs or end logs, using chestnut, red oak, ash hickory, red maple, persimmon, etc.¡± ¡°These are all hardwoods and are the best for cooking and heating because they burn slowly and produce a lot of heat, and they will burn into a pile of hot charcoal.¡± Bi Fang picked through the flames, finding a large piece of black charcoal to prove his point. ¡°On the other hand, softwood catches fire easily and though it burns quickly and fiercely, it leaves nothing but ash afterward.¡± S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [What is hardwood, and what is softwood?] [Ah, isn¡¯t it just the literal meaning?] [What if there¡¯s some hidden meaning?] ¡°No hidden meaning, it¡¯s just as the word suggests. The woods that are hard, generally those that can¡¯t be scraped by a small knife, are hardwoods. Those that can be easily cut through, are softwoods.¡± Bi Fang explained simply while crafting a wooden basin and introduced the relevant wood material. ¡°Hickory is the best firewood in the north so far; it burns fiercely, lasts a long time, and forms large pieces of charcoal, maintaining a consistent high heat over a longer period.¡± ¡°Second to hickory is chestnut; lumberjacks also like to use basket oak, hornbeam, cornelian cherry, white wax tree, and others.¡± ¡°Among these trees, those that split easily include red oak, basket oak, white oak, white wax tree, and white birch. Some woods split easier when they are not dry, such as hickory, cornelian cherry, beech, sugar maple, white birch, and elm.¡± ¡°The hardest woods to split are Ligustrum, Bluebeech, cherry tree, sour gum, hemlock, sweet gum, and ginkgo. Among the softer woods, Birch is the best fuel, especially black birch, which is one of the few woods that burn well even when not dry.¡± ¡°Ironwood bark catches fire easily and burns fiercely, while birch wood can ignite quickly even when damp. Driftwood makes excellent kindling, and pine cones are superb for lighting fires.¡± ¡°Of course, in winter when there is less sap in the trees, even wood that isn¡¯t dry burns rather well. Trees on high ground burn better than those in damp, low-lying areas. Hardwoods are more abundant on high ground, whereas softwoods are more plentiful along riverbanks.¡± For the most part, many viewers had never heard of these types of wood, but Bi Fang spoke about them with such knowledge and ease¡ªbe it their pros and cons or how to find them¡ªthat even those with relevant experience were left speechless. From south to north, from soft to hard, from texture to utility, it seemed there was nothing Bi Fang didn¡¯t know; he looked like he could easily apply for a job as a professional lumberjack. [Master Fang is still that same Master Fang, not a bit has changed] [Another day of not paying attention to the lesson] [My learning is wasted, wasted] [To share something embarrassing, I have never distinguished any kind of tree by myself, let alone know their uses. Just the thought of it gives me a headache, not to mention distinguishing them] [Add one, I probably recognize a ginkgo?] [If it¡¯s planted by the roadside as a landscape tree, I recognize it, but if it¡¯s in the forest, I¡¯m not so sure (funny)] Bi Fang set up two sticks as a stand, then perched a wooden basin on top. With a small knife, he sliced the frozen-hard musk ox meat into rolls and submerged them in boiling water. This was the belly meat layered with snowflake-like fat, unlike most wild animals whose bodies mostly consist of lean meat; whether roasting or boiling, it¡¯s hard to avoid ending up with something as dry as tinder. But the less-active, high-fat musk oxen were different. Even the loin, which has the least amount of fat, was streaked with oil, not to mention the belly of a fatty¡ªit was enough to make your mouth water just by looking. ¡°If it were a normal lunch, a low heat would suffice to provide enough heat for the soup and for pan-frying food.¡± ¡°If there were an iron pot, you could just insert a branched stick into the ground, place a green twig at the split, with the other end held down by a stone, and hang the pot over the protruding stick.¡± ¡°But our conditions are limited, we don¡¯t have ironware, so we can only cook with the method of setting up branches as a frame.¡± The sharp dagger carved off a whole strip of meat. Inside the wooden basin, the pinkish beef bobbed up and down in the boiling water, intertwining, inseparable, emitting steady streams of steam. Seemingly drawn by the delicious smell, Erha dashed ahead through the woods, racing towards Bi Fang, followed by his younger brothers, with their long fur swaying. Bi Fang hurriedly protected the campfire to prevent the Three Fools from knocking it over; he then couldn¡¯t help but slice up more musk oxen meat so that the three clowns could also get a taste. Once the meat was cooked, Bi Fang picked up a big chopstick-full. There was no need to blow on it, just exposing it to the air for a moment cooled it to the deliciously warm yet non-scalding point. He stuffed it into his mouth, utterly satisfied! The Three Fools also whined eagerly, so Bi Fang laid out three pieces of bark on the ground and fished out the meat onto them so the trio of big guys could enjoy the deliciousness together. Viewers watched with envy at this method of eating meat akin to swishing slices in a hot pot. Chapter 693 - 690: Building a Wooden Cabin Chapter 693: Chapter 690: Building a Wooden Cabin The musk ox is a transitional species between cattle and sheep, and its meat surprisingly combines similar flavors of both, making it a rare culinary adventure in Bi Fang¡¯s life experience. It just lacked some seasoning, and the taste was a bit bland, but it was not bad. After all, it was hotpot-style meat, seeking the original, fresh taste. An Arctic journey, not in vain at all. Bi Fang let out a satisfied belch, leaning against the snow slope, watching the polar ice plain under the night sky. Almost twenty days had passed since the hundred-day survival task began. With the musk oxen and the environment being favorable, the pressure of survival in the vast Arctic Plain had lessened by more than half, making everything seem more pleasurable. The sky was speckled with twinkling stars, scattering starlight that, blended with the mist emanating from the vast white land, turned into a hazy pale purple that spanned across the sky. ... This kind of nightscape was not to be seen anywhere else. Now is the era of camping, Bi Fang thought. People are tired of the concrete jungle, the nine to nine, six days a week grind. They want to leave behind the clamor between people to interact with insects and other animals. More and more people aim to cultivate such a culture of camping. Although not everyone wants to be as stripped down and in complete zero-distance contact with nature as himself, even if separated by some modern technology, the aspiration is undoubtedly there. However, they often have to reconsider because of the thickness of their wallets. Ordinary people¡¯s lifetimes have too many demands, often lacking the power and ability to choose the life they want. Even if one really goes through hardships, scrimping on food and clothes, clutching one¡¯s teeth tightly to carve out a little time, a pile of money, all the energy, the lack of experience could lead to a total mess¡ªfrom living to eating to using the bathroom¡ªthe first time is often chaotic. [I¡¯ve tried camping, but it wasn¡¯t as fun as I imagined. It¡¯s not nature¡¯s fault, it¡¯s my own] A middle-aged man, moved by the beautiful view before him, couldn¡¯t help but send such a comment. The city¡¯s hustle and bustle have steeped so deeply that even the topics of conversation revolve around the life people want to escape. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Unable to not chat, but what we talk about is so meaningless. Topics include but are not limited to what to do if children¡¯s cram school is canceled, who can possibly repay XXX¡¯s two trillion, and when will the car chip shortage end (facepalm)] [Damn, too real] People¡¯s conversation topics inevitably revolve around their own lives, similar to how classmates can talk about everything. But after going to schools in different places, just after one semester, there¡¯s 90% less to talk about. Any conversation, to enjoy it, must be about shared experiences. Engulfed in the shade of greenery, listening to babbling brooks, but depleting topics ultimately force you to dream of CBD office buildings, hearing the music of the fountains at the entrance of office towers. [Tears just by talking about it] [Yet another tearful day] [Envious of Old Fang¡¯s life¡­ thrilling and free] [But it might lead to death (dog¡¯s head)] ¡°Don¡¯t be sad; it¡¯s already late. Although I¡¯ve secured a safe environment, I can still further optimize, so there¡¯s a bunch of tasks waiting for me tomorrow. That¡¯s it for today¡¯s live broadcast; we¡¯ll continue the rest tomorrow.¡± Bi Fang said with a smile, patting his butt as he stood up. The drone flew to the front, and as his voice faded, the live broadcast screen was instantly cut off. The next day at eight in the morning, the sun showed no signs of rising; the sky remained dark. Emerging from a warm pile of dogs, Bi Fang shook off the dog hair from his body, turned on the live broadcast on time, prepared his tools, and started his day of optimization. But first, he went to check on the buried musk ox; it was well-preserved, with no irregularities. To effectively freeze and kill parasites at low temperatures, Bi Fang dismembered the musk ox and buried the pieces in the snow, packing and compressing them securely. After a week, the meat could mostly be eaten raw¡ªan easy and convenient method, mainly aimed at supplementing vitamins and achieving a fuller nutritional intake. Cooked food in the Arctic can only serve as a variation in taste. Then came the construction of a shelter, which was the task Bi Fang had set for himself for both today and tomorrow. ¡°This time it¡¯s not a snow or ice house. Although the insulating properties of ice and snow are good, there is one fatal flaw¡ªif the room temperature is above zero degrees, it will inevitably melt. Therefore, the indoor temperature can only be raised to a point close to zero degrees, achieving a relatively warm, passable shelter,¡± he explained. ¡°But for better living, snow and ice houses are definitely not sufficient, so I plan to build a wooden cabin. For this, I have no choice but to fell trees.¡± Bi Fang lifted the tools in his hands, showing that he had prepared a stone hammer and chisels. Stone axes tend to shatter, so chopping must be done with a chisel and hammer. ¡°A wooden cabin can be a long-term shelter, most commonly used in cold and temperate climates. Wood is not only safe, stable, and warm, but it can also effectively withstand inclement weather.¡± Bi Fang went into the forest, found a few good trees, and collected the wood he needed. ¡°To build a wooden cabin, you can use an ¡®A¡¯ frame or a lean-to roof. If there¡¯s only one person, or materials are limited, then I recommend the lean-to roof.¡± ¡°Choose woods that are manageable in weight. The tools are sharp. If you chop down a tree with a half-meter diameter, believe me, it¡¯s useless for you because you can¡¯t even move it, and don¡¯t choose trees that require all your strength to lift¡ªthat will be too tiring for construction.¡± ¡°My recommendation is to use timber no more than six inches in diameter¡ªabout fifteen centimeters. The length of each piece of wood depends on the size of the shelter and the walls built with these woods.¡± ¡°Of course, this diameter is not absolute; it¡¯s a general choice. If you¡¯re a woman, then you can appropriately reduce the size. And if you find yourself in an area with only hardwood trees, the diameter can be smaller. They have a higher density, and the same size means greater weight.¡± With the final strike, a six-meter tall pine tree fell with a crash. Having stripped off the excess branches and leaves, it was dragged to the riverbank, followed by the second tree, then the third. Soon, a stack of low wood began to accumulate, but it was clearly not enough. This was a long process of gathering. At noon, having removed his coat, Bi Fang rested the hammer on his shoulder and looked up at the sky. It was still pitch black, radiating faint purple light, but on the distant horizon, there was a faint glow of gold. That was a sliver of the sun¡ªor perhaps not even a sliver, just a touch of sunlight. And that was the limit of the sun¡¯s rise. Chapter 694 - 691: Labor Chapter 694: Chapter 691: Labor The tranquil forest was punctuated by a monotonous chopping noise, occasionally mixed with the barking of dogs. Bi Fang, who had shed his coat, brought the sledgehammer down, driving the wooden wedge further into the tree with fiery zeal. Flakes of accumulated snow fell onto his shoulders, quickly melting into damp spots under the warmth of his body. Despite the cold, Bi Fang, having eaten breakfast, felt an abundance of strength surge within him, emitting warmth that dispelled the severe chill. After dozens of strikes, the fourth wedge was inserted into the tree, almost completely severing it, but it still didn¡¯t fall, just lacking that final bit. Coarse hands tightly grasped the smoothly polished wooden handle of the hammer, and his robust forearm muscles tautly contracted and relaxed, escalating force upon force with the support of sturdy bones. The sledgehammer was raised to its highest point and, guided by the large arm muscles, carved out a semi-circular arc to hit the wedge precisely. Crack. ... The crack pierced through the bark, emitting a crisp sound, the tree bark, lacking moisture in the bitterly cold region, dry and brittle, snapped like a piece of deep-fried crispy pork skin. After a moment of swaying, the completely severed giant pine tree slowly toppled to one side, its branches shedding the last bits of snow. Like falling on a cotton field, a great deal of snow whirled up, stirring a choking cloud of dust that, being snowflakes, wasn¡¯t at all unpleasant. A moment later, Bi Fang emerged from the forest, carrying a log on his shoulder and dropping it onto the snowy ground, his cheeks slightly flushed, whether from the cold or from excessive physical exertion. Bi Fang did not choose to build his cabin near the river; instead, he chose a spot about thirty meters from the river bend, in a relatively open area. The ground¡¯s snow had been cleared away early, revealing the grayish-white soil underneath, which was heaped with trees Bi Fang had chopped down, and next to it was a two-meter-deep pit that he and the three fools had dug together. The deep pit didn¡¯t serve any special purpose for the trees but was a sudden inspiration from Bi Fang after he dug out peat soil, curious to see if there was any beneath this valley, and to his surprise, there was. However, unlike the one he dug during the blizzard, the peat soil here was buried deep, having dug more than a meter, nearly two meters before finding it¡ªdeeper than normal peat soil. Nice, no more worries about fuel in the future. Bi Fang set the log down from his shoulder and brushed the sawdust off his hands; to him, this peat soil was an inexhaustible resource. The large and small logs, stripped of their excess twigs, were neatly stacked together, but this was only a beginning. They still needed further trimming, cutting, and fashioning into the appropriate mortise and tenon joints. Without the right tools, and only using a dagger, the process could undoubtedly be done, but was unquestionably going to be much more cumbersome, a lengthy, complex process that even the viewers felt fatigued watching. ¡°Because the wood doesn¡¯t have any slots, we need to build a framework to prop it up,¡± Bi Fang explained. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang selected suitable timber and buried it into the soil, tamping it down firmly. ¡°First, we need to collect 14 sturdy poles between two and a half and three meters long. At each of the four corners, we bury three poles, which adds up to 12 poles in total.¡± ¡°Bury the poles twenty to thirty centimeters into the ground, compact the soil all around to secure them. Then, a half-meter plus to the left of the front right corner, insert another two poles. This area will serve as the entrance. Make sure all the supporting poles are secure so they can hold the horizontal poles and form the walls of the shelter.¡± Bi Fang did his work meticulously, sharpening the base of the wood and driving it deep into the ground; after giving it a shake, it was very stable. Yet another exceedingly exhausting process. [Master Fang, the woodworker, has come online] [Just Learned Another Craft] [Can you really learn it? I feel like you¡¯re deceiving me] [You caught me (Dog¡¯s head)] From chopping down trees to clearing the land, and then to driving in all the stakes, a day just passed like that. ¡°I¡¯m too tired, that¡¯s it for today, time to rest.¡± The exhausted Bi Fang turned off the livestream. ¡­ Today, not even a sliver of the sun showed up; at noon Bi Fang looked out at the distant horizon. Yesterday the sun wavered between peeking out and merely shining, but today there was only light. Sighing, Bi Fang pushed against the stakes he had fixed into the ground; they were very sturdy, not budging even when he ran up and collided with them. ¡°Once all the support poles are in place, you can start stacking the logs horizontally between them. Use an adequate amount of grass and mud to make ¡®plaster¡¯ to reinforce the logs and seal the gaps.¡± Although Bi Fang didn¡¯t chop many trees, each one yielded several segments, enough for his use. ¡°To make mud plaster, just mix equal parts of mud and fibrous material, like dry grass, straw, or fern plants thoroughly together. Once it dries, this mixture works like strong glue.¡± Bi Fang dug a small pit in the snow nearby, pouring river water, the mud from the river, some fern plants, and strips of tree bark into it. ¡°The back wall of the wood house should be over one and a half meters high, and the front wall should be over two meters. A significant height difference can prevent it from being crushed by snowfall, ultimately leading to collapse.¡± Bi Fang placed a log horizontally above the front wall and the entrance, supported by the side walls. In the end, he spread a generous amount of prepared plaster on both the inside and outside of the walls, which quickly set in the cold wind, turning a faint grayish-white color. Bi Fang placed the logs in parallel across the top of the shelter, at a right angle to the entrance, until it was completely enclosed. Afterward, he used mud plaster to seal all the gaps, and then covered it with sod and leaves cut from the logs. ¡°If you¡¯re planning to light a fire inside the wood house, make sure the ventilation holes are large enough and can be opened and closed. You can use any suitable material to make a door; you might also choose to fashion a wooden door from available materials.¡± ¡°But most of the time it¡¯s necessary, as the shelter you¡¯ve built will become your home, so it¡¯s vital to set aside an area for making a fire.¡± ¡°With fire comes light, warmth, cooking, and entertainment. But if used incorrectly, it could cause a fire disaster, and one might even perish in the flames.¡± ¡°Before starting a fire in the shelter, ensure that the ventilation holes are operable and can vent smoke, to prevent suffocation and carbon monoxide poisoning.¡± ¡°A good fire pit is often located between the door and the center of the shelter, not affecting the use of the area at the back. For optimal effect, dig a circular fire pit with a diameter of less than half a meter, but go a bit deeper, preferably over two meters, then line the bottom and sides with stones.¡± When Bi Fang was building the wood house, he left a hole in the outer wall, constructing a protruding outlet with rocks mixed with plaster, all to create a fire pit at this moment. Chapter 695 - 692: Reserve a Spot, Will Be Updated Before 1 AM Chapter 695: Chapter 692: Reserve a Spot, Will Be Updated Before 1 AM I haven¡¯t finished yet. I¡¯m just staking a spot first. I¡¯ll change it back before 1 PM. The cleaned ice surface still clearly showed the white cracks spreading like a spider web, this completely ice-sealed river exuding an astonishing chill. Bi Fang had always been a daring man. Amidst the audience¡¯s surprise, he took off all his clothes, leaving only his shorts. The cold wind was still biting. With the chill blowing over him, capillaries naturally reacted by constricting quickly, reducing the heat leaking out. Bi Fang felt as though he was wrapped in a blanket of ice needles. Not to mention swimming, it takes a great deal of courage for a normal person to enter the water. Every breath was uncomfortable, the icy cold air pouring straight into the lungs from the throat, as if each alveolus was frosting over in the low temperature. But compared to being exposed to the cold wind, what came next would be even more bone-chilling. ... Having been in the Arctic for more than two weeks, the time had moved from mid-October into November. For most areas, this time wouldn¡¯t be considered too cold, but once it rained, even wearing a shirt wasn¡¯t enough to ward off the hint of chilliness. Seeing Bi Fang¡¯s actions, many subconsciously shrugged their shoulders, their bodies breaking out in goosebumps, as if they were the ones standing on the screen being buffeted by the cold wind. Especially from a first-person perspective, when looking at the whitening ice surface, the coldness seemed to almost seep out, suffocatingly chilling. [Damn, I feel like my teeth are chattering.] [Every time I see those winter swimmers, I suspect they are aliens] [Can they really not freeze to death?] Rain drizzled outside the window, and a cold wind with a slight chill blew into the office. Even with a coat on, Yao Jun couldn¡¯t help shivering and put down his cold drink. Impressive. Yao Jun wrapped his coat tighter, and involuntarily took out his phone, scrolling through his list of contacts. The night was exceptionally cold; he needed a big sister with a broad heart to warm his own and watch the live stream together. Regular viewers could only cry and bear it alone. [Amazing, Master Fang rocks!] [This is what a tough guy is (tactically leans back)] [Let me warm the ice with my heartfelt sincerity!] Bi Fang held his breath, opting not to jump straight into the ice from the shore but walked up barefoot instead. Nobody knew for sure how strong the ice was. Even though it was cracked, if it didn¡¯t break, a rash jump could mean slipping and bruising badly. His feet turned rapidly red in the low temperature. Bi Fang shivered, then started to walk lightly, and when he reached the center of the river, the sound of cracking ice resumed, like a thin crisp biscuit. Tiny chips of ice burst out along the huge crack, and just as it reached its limit, Bi Fang tiptoed slightly and with a forceful pause, the entire ice sheet shattered. ¡°Whoosh.¡± Clear river water surged up and down, splashing onto the ice, quickly forming a layer of frost. Silver bubbles filled the entire world, and Bi Fang resisted the urge to close his eyes. It was as if ice spikes were flowing through his veins, further crystallizing in the cold, expanding, piercing through the elastic blood vessels. A cold venomous snake coiled up the tailbone, shooting up the spine at an incredibly fast speed and resting deep in the brain. It was like electricity flowing through, his body almost instinctively wanting to open its mouth to breathe but forcibly covering it up, and inevitably he began to swallow a mouthful of river water. Water conducts heat 30 times better than air, meaning a person loses heat 30 times faster in the water than in the air at the same temperature. The thermal sensation in 14-degree Celsius cold water was already at zero degrees. The water at ten degrees Celsius feels like minus four degrees Celsius. Eight degrees Celsius is considered the cold threshold for winter swimming, producing a sensation equivalent to minus eight degrees Celsius, resulting in an extreme feeling of intense coldness, stinging, pain, and numbness. Most natural bodies of water begin to freeze at four degrees Celsius, which feels like minus sixteen degrees. At 3¡ãC water temperature, it feels like -20¡ãC. At 2¡ãC water temperature, it feels like -24¡ãC. At 1¡ãC water temperature, it feels like -28¡ãC. At 0¡ãC water temperature, it feels below -30¡ãC. In the Arctic, under air temperatures of tens of degrees below zero, frozen rivers undoubtedly match the last category mentioned. The bone-chilling cold was almost enough to crack Bi Fang¡¯s mouth, but the icy water flowing down his throat calmed him. Normally, winter swimming undeniably requires warming up to expose oneself from a comfortable temperature, awakening every cell and pore in the body to adapt to the coldness. But Bi Fang didn¡¯t warm up, because he was simultaneously demonstrating how to survive falling into the water. Without any rash movements, Bi Fang just sank quietly in the water, watching the silver bubbles slowly disappear. [Why isn¡¯t he moving?] [There isn¡¯t an accident, right?] [I heard that when someone falls into cold water, they might undergo a cold shock response, leading to hyperventilation, rapid heart rate increase, and possibly brief shock. Old Fang hasn¡¯t gone into shock, has he?] [Master Fang, Master Fang, are you there? If you can see us, blink your eyes.] You wouldn¡¯t be able to see me blink. Bi Fang couldn¡¯t help but critique in his mind. The first-person camera had an intelligent recognition function and could complete the image on its own. Constant blinking didn¡¯t affect the viewer¡¯s perspective unless one closed their eyes completely. However, Bi Fang still made an OK sign with his fingers to appease the viewers¡¯ worries, signaling that he was alright and still conscious. This relieved many viewers, thankful that he was fine, but Bi Fang¡¯s motionless stance still raised confusion among them. Why isn¡¯t he moving? But Bi Fang didn¡¯t leave the audience waiting for too long. The moment he entered the water was without a doubt piercing cold, followed by the instinctive urge to breathe. Therefore, anyone who falls into the water must control their breathing and avoid gasping. After the initial cold exposure, the danger of hypothermia looms. When body temperatures drop too much, it also poses a risk to life. After the initial coldness subsides, blood returns and dilates to continuously release heat while large amounts of glycogen break down, consuming substantial oxygen. But Bi Fang felt relatively fine at that moment. In complete stillness, Bi Fang could last more than eight minutes underwater, a terrifying number for an average person. Correspondingly, it was the result of his continuously improving physique and rigorous training that led to a remarkably high maximum oxygen uptake. Yet in cold water, the fast blood flow for warmth meant a discounted time frame; still, easily managing three to four minutes was not a problem. However, when he no longer felt so piercingly cold, Bi Fang began to move. He looked up only to find that the cave he had fallen into had vanished without a trace. The viewers felt a sudden tingling in their scalps. Bi Fang had been swept away by the river! S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 696 693: Glue The open space was filled with the incessant sound of knocking and hammering. Bi Fang sat on a small stool, inserting a palm-sized wooden wedge into a groove, using a forearm-length stone hammer to knock and drive it in place. With the wooden slats stacking up, piece by piece, and being secured, the shape of the sled had essentially taken form; by its appearance alone, one could tell this was going to be a highly functional dog sled. Not far away in the forest, the Three Fools sat in a row, occasionally lying on the ground emitting sorrowful whimpers; they watched the sled taking shape yet dared not approach, sensing an immense terror that was about to befall their dog minds, which had been thoroughly overexcited in the past week. Bi Fang was unaware that the three foolish dogs had been sitting out there since the early morning watching him, but that didn''t interfere with his work. As he chewed on a tooth-cleaning stick, he struck powerfully with the stone hammer, continuing with the task at hand. Though some roughness remained, the wooden wedges weren''t exactly the right size, but they did secure the two long, curved pieces of wood firmly together. Unless the wedges were pulled out or the material itself broke, they would not come apart. Only the size was a bit off; the width was just right, but the length was slightly short, leaving a bit of slack. Bi Fang inserted another piece of wood to compensate and then brushed on resin glue. Resin glue is a type of waterproof glue with excellent effectiveness, mainly extracted from coniferous trees such as pines and spruces, which are precisely the types of trees found in cold regions. There were plenty in the forest. "Resin seeps out of ''wounds'' on the tree trunk or is stored in protrusions under the bark; in such cases, you can simply use a stick to remove the resin directly," Bi Fang had explained the process of harvesting resin yesterday, but to avoid leaving uninformed viewers in the dark, he repeated it again. The live broadcast audience hailed from all across the country, and due to time differences, coupled with Bi Fang''s disrupted biological clock, it was inevitable that some viewers would miss parts of the content. Considering a twelve-hour boundary, only ten percent of the audience in the live stream overlapped, meaning the remaining ninety percent likely hadn''t heard the earlier content and could only catch up through the chat messages. Major events were still fine, as they could be revisited through replays, but not necessarily the smaller informational tidbits. This was perfect for Bi Fang, who could also use it to fill time and add some interest. Just in time, the batch of resin glue he had collected and made the day before yesterday was almost used up, so he had made a new batch. "We place the collected resin in a container, and then heat it over the fire." A small fire pit was slowly heating up the resin glue. "When the resin begins to melt, you''ll smell a strong pine scent; that''s normal¡ªno need to worry. What you need to pay attention to is ensuring the heat is not too high to avoid boiling the resin, which would diminish the adhesive properties of the glue." "Also, make sure you have a cover at hand because resin can easily catch fire. In case it ignites, you must cover the container with the lid right away to prevent the resin from burning. If... Huo!" Just as Bi Fang was about to finish his sentence, he noticed out of the corner of his eye a piece of wood crackling and breaking apart, sending a spark flying into the container, followed by a burst of flame shooting out from the wooden bowl. Fortunately, he was quick to react, and he immediately covered it with a lid, otherwise he nearly singed his own eyebrows. [Geez, it''s on fire as soon as you say it!] [That''s too hot, a blazing fire!] [Be careful, man.] After covering it with the wooden lid to cut off the oxygen for a minute, Bi Fang removed it and continued speaking. "What was I saying? Right, if you have a large quantity of resin and you need very pure resin glue, then you should filter the liquid glue quickly, or it might solidify." "Once the resin cools down, it will return to its natural state. Thus, to make the glue harder and stronger, you need to add a ''hardening agent'' to it." "Typically, there are 3 readily available additives in nature, each with its own advantages. Crushed charcoal, being the easiest to procure, is a commonly used additive. In most cases, it''s alright to add charcoal, although the resin tends to be more brittle once dry." "Next is beeswax, which makes the resin glue more flexible. However, this type of resin glue isn''t very sturdy, feels greasier to the touch, and tends to be softer once it sets." "Finally, there''s dung, and it must be from herbivores like rabbits and deer. Their dried dung is the best additive. This resin glue is the most durable and sturdy, but it isn''t very hygienic, so don''t use it to glue cups or other utensils." Bi Fang chose to add charcoal. He stirred the resin continuously as he mixed in the pulverized charcoal, ensuring it was well-blended. [Wow, even dung works?] [That''s a bit outrageous] [I guess it''s a mix of fibers, plus some other special components, right?] "Determining the right amount of binder for making resin glue is tricky. Usually, you start with a 1:10 ratio, then test a little bit to see if it sets. If it hardens after setting, it means that''s enough." "If it''s still soft and sticky, continue adding binder. After adding the binder, the resin glue must be used immediately while hot, because once it cools, it will set." "It''s best to divide the resin glue into portions, using only a part of it each time, as resin glue becomes less sturdy the more it''s reheated." "Dividing it into small portions is also simple. Just stick a little onto a stick and then cool it in water to peel off. Of course, in the Arctic, air cooling is usually sufficient." Bi Fang rolled the sticky resin glue out and directly applied it to the joints of the sled. After smoothing it with tree bark, he immediately wrapped it with long cords made from soaked and rubbed tree bark, reinforcing it three times. "I was actually thinking of using leather glue, which is the best for bonding organic materials, even though it has its drawbacks. It expands when wet, can''t be subjected to heat, and can''t bond materials like stone, but for wood, the effect is truly good. It''s just that leather glue, well..." Bi Fang scratched his head and spread his hands, "Just by the name, you know that this stuff needs to be made from rawhide, but I don''t have any left, only a piece of tanned musk ox skin. And even if it were raw, I wouldn''t give up my furry sleeping bag." [No, actually Master Fang, you do have rawhide, and plenty of it] "Huh?" Bi Fang was taken aback. He had rawhide? [Old Fang, look to your left, and you''ll understand] S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang looked to his left with confusion, just in time to see the Three Fools sitting in a row. ... [Holy shit, you''ve got quite the imagination!] [Three Fools: What did we ever do to you?] [I''m convinced by nothing but you] "Ahem, after all, they still need to pull the sled, so let''s be a little more forgiving." Chapter 697 694 Jealousy Causes the Dogs Spirit to Separate from the Wall On the third day of the polar night. Under the dim white light, Bi Fang yawned, crawled out of the Musk Ox Skin sleeping bag, and pushed aside a moveable rock in the remaining fire pit. He picked and chose, found a smoking log, broke it, and after revealing the sparks, he lit the oil lamp. Ancient people often used animal fat as fuel for lighting, and since oil lamps could employ any non-flammable container, Bi Fang quickly fashioned one out of a lump of clay. The lamp wick, twisted from pine tree bark, smoked and sputtered vigorously when it met the spark, then lit up. A small flame flickered to life, illuminating the dim cabin and Bi Fang''s sleepy eyes. The sudden appearance of light made Goudan from the Three Fools twitch his ears, open his eyes, and after seeing Bi Fang, he closed them again, turned over, and continued to sleep next to the fire pit. Getting out of bed in the cold was sheer torture. The more severe the outside temperature, the more one coveted the slight warmth of the bed¡ªa situation Bi Fang had never encountered before. After dawdling for several minutes, Bi Fang finally triumphed over the bedcovers¡ªthose evil incarnate¡ªand started his live broadcast. In the gaze of his audience, he put on gloves and began to pack things he needed for departure. Unknowingly, Bi Fang had been living in the Arctic for twenty days. A fifth of the hundred-day survival challenge was completed, which seemed to alleviate the pressure significantly. Still, Wilderness Survival was never simple, and the impact of time was not yet apparent. Backpack in tow, Bi Fang returned to the cabin to wake up Sanshao, who were still nestled in their sleeping spot. "It''s time to set off." Fugui and Wangcai were slow to get moving, but at least they started to stir. Only Goudan turned over, showing his belly, until Bi Fang grabbed his ear. Reluctantly leaving the cabin, he sat beside the food bowl, waiting for Bi Fang to feed them one by one. "Wangcai, this is yours." "Goudan, don''t snatch¡ªit''s Fugui''s turn. This one''s yours." Bi Fang placed a whole grilled fish and some Musk Oxen meat into Goudan''s bowl, immediately piquing the audience''s curiosity. After all, the food in Goudan''s bowl was noticeably more substantial than Fugui''s or Wangcai''s, including the added luxury of a fatty, grilled salmon. Fugui and Wangcai noticed as well, letting out pitiful whimpers, but Bi Fang remained unmoved, as if he didn''t even see them. [Hey, Old Fang, aren''t you playing favorites big time?] [Is this a mistake? The naughtiest, Goudan, gets the most to eat?] [This favoritism is way too obvious.] [Whoa, I swear I just saw Goudan grinning.] The audience immediately erupted with complaints, finding Bi Fang''s actions incomprehensible. "I''m not playing favorites at all, everyone gets about the same amount," Bi Fang explained, gesturing towards the Three Fools'' bowls. Indeed, although Goudan''s dish had an extra salmon, he had less Musk Oxen meat compared to the other two dogs. The overall amount they ate wasn''t much different. In fact, the Alaskan had a bit more since it was bigger and naturally had a larger appetite. Seeing the audience''s reaction, Bi Fang felt amused, "After all, I''m counting on them to work. I''m no exploiter¡ªhow could I possibly let them go hungry?" [Ah, so there wasn''t enough Musk Oxen meat?] "Of course not, there''s plenty left. As for why, you''ll find out soon enough." Bi Fang kept the audience in suspense. Although they all ate similar amounts, it wasn''t really about how much or how little you had, but whether you had it at all or not. But what Bi Fang wanted was to make Fugui and Wangcai realize their own "favoritism" towards Goudan. Unaware of this, Goudan wagged its tail happily, content with its meal for the day. After finishing breakfast and closing the cabin door, Bi Fang took one last look at the wooden hut before turning his gaze to other places, where heavy stones pressed down everywhere. The uneaten musk ox meat was mostly buried in the snow, and after he left, bold little animals might come to steal a bite. Originally, Bi Fang had intended to move all the meat into the cabin but was worried that if not "little animals," Arctic wolves or even polar bears might come, possibly ruining the wooden hut he built. "I hope no bears or wolves come," he said. Without a lock, he simply fastened the door and, carrying only the fats and oils and a small portion of musk ox meat, Bi Fang said a prayer before heading over to the completed dogsled to harness the Three Fools. The completed sled appeared exceptionally lightweight, almost entirely composed of wooden strips that Bi Fang could lift with one hand. Despite its light weight, the sled was very sturdy. The key joints were not only constructed with mortise and tenon but also reinforced with resin glue and bark rope for a second and third time. Even if the wooden strips themselves broke, the joints were unlikely to crack, creating a seamless unity. Stepping out from the warmth of the cabin into the cold wind, the Three Fools quickly regained their vigor, shook off their sleepiness with several yawns, and shook their bodies free of fatigue. When Bi Fang stood on the sled, confirmed the direction of Polaris, and tentatively tugged on the reins, the audience was astonished to discover. The intelligent look in the eyes of the Three Fools suddenly changed, revealing a trace of defiance, a sense of freedom... As the lead dog, Goudan stood up, howled at the moonlight, and then started moving forward, the sled gradually set into motion under the pull of the three sled dogs, from the initial resistance to the later fluidity, eventually gliding smoothly. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The cold wind hit his face, igniting a fiery passion inside Bi Fang. This novel sensation, which he had never experienced before, completely captivated him. Fast, too fast. And beneath this speed was the thrill of free sprinting across the snow plains, as if flying across the snowy fields! Although his Skill set included animal taming, driving, especially driving a dogsled, was a rare blind spot in Bi Fang''s knowledge¡ªnot exactly a blind spot but rather sparse in content¡ªand since he had never tried it before, he had been somewhat worried before starting. Now, it seemed simpler than he had imagined. This was greatly thanks to the presence of Goudan, an experienced "Lead Dog," which largely compensated for Bi Fang''s lack of operational experience. "Do you know why I deliberately added a salmon to Goudan''s meal just now? It''s because it''s the Lead Dog." [What does that have to do with being the Lead Dog?] [You''re fussing over nothing.] "There''s a structure in dogsledding called the Eskimo setup," Bi Fang said. Pointing to Goudan, whose rope was clearly longer than Fugui and Wangcai''s and who was leading by a body''s length, Bi Fang explained, "This is a method of harnessing invented by the people living in the Arctic Circle to make dogsledding faster and better." "Giving the leading dog privileges that the other Sled Dogs don''t have makes them envious. During harnessing, the Lead Dog''s rope is made longer, so it can run at the front; this way, during dogsledding, the other Sled Dogs can always see the arrogant tail of the Lead Dog ahead of them." "The Sled Dogs will be angry and always want to catch up and bite it. However, the Lead Dog''s rope is more than two feet longer than that of the Sled Dogs. To bite it, they need to run forward with all their might, which ensures the speed of the sled." "In the extreme cold of the Arctic Circle, the Inuit people are able to gallop freely. Therefore, this method is called the Eskimo setup." "By utilizing exclusivity, it taps into the animals'' potential maximally and is of great practical value." The audience was dumbfounded. Chapter 698 695: Bring It Back Eskimo structure? A novel term emerged from Bi Fang''s mouth, and as he explained, the audience gradually understood. Making use of animals'' exclusivity, Eskimos divided the sled-pulling dogs into two tiers: the lead dog and the sled dogs. The lead dog ran at the front, enjoying various privileges in its everyday life: it ate alone, feasted on good meat in large quantities, had the best doghouse to itself, and was never beaten. The sled dogs would pull the sled behind the lead dog: they did not eat or live well, scrambling for food together, sharing cramped living spaces, and often getting whipped. Bi Fang''s live streams always brought a variety of novel knowledge to viewers, and this time was no exception, but the audience was once again greatly impacted. Such stark behavior made them deeply uncomfortable, as if they were seeing themselves in their own reality. [Damn, what kind of scheming BOY?] [Using exclusivity to maximize the exploitation of the animals'' potential is highly practical, but it feels quite offensive.] [Wait a minute, are you sure this isn''t just internal competition?] Shuiyou had not expected that Bi Fang''s specific act of giving Goudan a fish in the morning would carry such profound significance, bordering on the horrific, and it was somewhat shocking. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Even dogs are manipulated, you''re truly a dog, I misjudged you, Master Fang.] [So Goudan is just a bought-over scab!] [Suggest a lamppost!! Hang him!] [The stakes, he must be put to the stakes, this is a disgrace] "Cough cough, it''s not like that, I haven''t implemented the true Eskimo structure. Fugui and Wangcai did not eat less, in fact, Fugui ate even more." Bi Fang coughed awkwardly, offering an explanation. The traditional Eskimo structure undoubtedly had a huge gap between the treatment of the lead dog and sled dogs, which was quite extreme, but Bi Fang would not go to such lengths; it was just too cruel. With only three dogs to begin with, it would not be fun if they were subjected to such treatment, nor was it suitable. "The traditional Eskimo composite method does increase efficiency to a certain extent, but it also puts the lead dog in constant danger of being torn apart." Bi Fang pointed out a possibility that the audience hadn''t considered. Indeed, viewers couldn''t help but wonder, would the sled dogs pounce on and bite the lead dog when they reached their destination and the sled needed to stop? If left unchecked, this phenomenon would naturally occur, so human intervention was needed. For humans, the simplest way to deal with a dogfight was undoubtedly the "whip." Beat them, the simplest and most effective method. [Sounds a bit pitiful] [Ah, feels just like me] "Yes, the dogs'' psychological capacity is limited, and when their rage surpasses the fear of their master''s whip, they will bite the lead dog without hesitation as soon as the sled stops." "It shows that such means are still low-level psychological tactics, though they might seem ''merciful'' compared to the excessive use of a whip." While the Eskimo structure was effective, whether one should employ it was a matter of conscience for the user. If like Bi Fang, one triggered the spirit of competition through rewards, the approach was fairly innocuous. Sleeping was still done together in the wooden hut around the stove, meals were still eaten together, there was no whipping, although in a fit of anger, Goudan''s head might be knocked, but that was human nature. Who could remain calm in the face of a home-wrecking Erha? Bi Fang had simply made some distinctions in the richness of the food. He had replaced some of the musk oxen meat with salmon. However, when one exhausts efficiency and thoroughly applies the Eskimo structure, turning the simple companionship among dogs into a relationship of enemies, that would be going too far. "Even though the Eskimo structure belongs to a relatively lower-level psychological tactic, the shadow of this fishing and hunting era management model is still seen everywhere in today''s global industrial age." Bi Fang''s thoughts couldn''t help but scatter; many relationships among animals can be seen in humans too. In fact, the so-called "tree-typing" approach also reflects the shadow of the Eskimo structure to a certain extent. "Einstein said the universe should be harmonious. If the pursuit of rapid development relies on the motivation of creating hostility and uses the elimination system for the least efficient, then it seems to contradict the original purpose of societal development¡ªcreating happiness." The audience couldn''t help but shiver. [We really shouldn''t dwell on this.] [Stop right there, Master Fang, you''re surrounded by entrepreneurs.] [I get it now, my boss really does treat me like a dog.] [You beast, what do you understand??] [That''s not true, that''s not true.] [The good days are still to come.] [Ahem] The odd barrage of comments brought Bi Fang''s thoughts back; at heart, he was still someone who loved animals. In his previous life, he didn''t have the means, but in this life, with money, he always wanted to keep some pets. However, because he often had to venture into the wilderness, and each trip could last a month or two, it was hard to take good care of them, so naturally, he abandoned the idea. "If I can''t find the owner of the Three Fools this time, I''ll take them home after the livestream ends," he said, sounding like he was setting a flag for himself, and declared confidently. [Man, flying that flag high, I bet 50 cents something''s gonna go wrong this time.] [Bro, I''m in for a dime!] [Gathering to gamble is illegal; I suggest we all bet on spicy strips instead.] [What? Spicy strips? My DNA is stirring.] This was already the second time Bi Fang encountered animals in the wilderness that willingly showed him kindness. The first time was in the desert, when he met a camel that was still willing to help him despite being throttled, but that one had an owner and went home with its owner afterwards. The second time was this current journey in the Arctic, when he was awoken by Goudan with a kick after a night. It was truly a coincidence, once in the desert, once in the snowfield, in two drastically different environments, he encountered completely different kinds of kind creatures. Life is wondrous, isn''t it? If he had stayed home, working 9-9-6 for a living, he would never have encountered so many novel and beautiful things, would he? He''d traversed mountains and rivers, witnessed various miracles. On the snowfield, the Three Fools ran like the wind, carrying the sled behind them and leaving a trail in the snow; the flurry of snow kicked up behind them as they moved towards the seashore. Bi Fang held the reins, becoming more and more skillful, following Polaris in the night sky, racing towards the destination in his heart. Even though the sun was gone, Polaris was omnipresent, the best marker above his head. Once again, the Northern Lights appeared in the night sky, faint green ribbons waving in the sky, a luminescent phenomenon caused by the collision of countless atoms. "Oh-ho!" Facing the fierce wind, Bi Fang exclaimed excitedly. The Arctic journey had just begun. Chapter 699 696: Star Clock The aurora made everyone''s vision much clearer and accelerated the Three Fools'' progress. The stamina of sled dogs is exceptionally good, and if they run excitedly, it''s fine for them to run for most of the day. Considering the load and number of dogs, two hours later, Bi Fang pulled the Three Fools to a stop and prepared to take a break. "Two hours, we''ve run at least twenty-five kilometers. That''s much faster than when I walk." Humans'' normal walking speed in the snow is only about three kilometers per hour. In other words, if it wasn''t for the help of the sled dogs, Bi Fang would have to walk for at least an entire day, and even that wouldn''t be enough. But these three managed to cover the distance in just two hours. "Of course, that was the speed when we started with full energy. It will slow down after this. The speed might drop by half, but it''s still much faster than if I were walking alone. Perhaps we''ll reach the coast by tonight." Bi Fang patted the heavily panting Goudan, took out dog bowls, and poured some drinking water and food for each of the Three Fools. Then he sat down nearby himself, admiring the beautiful night scene while chatting with the audience. Half an hour later, the rested Bi Fang advanced again. It was not until the third rest break that viewers began to question how regular Bi Fang''s rest times were¡ªhe ran for two hours, then rested for half an hour. If it were usual times, it would be fine, but how did Bi Fang determine the time? "Ah, that''s actually quite simple," Bi Fang pointed to the sky. Even without a watch or the sun, Bi Fang still had many ways to determine the time, which wouldn''t affect his actions due to timing issues. For instance, by looking at the moon in the sky, or by directly asking the audience in the live broadcast. Cough cough, of course, the last method might seem like cheating unless it was an emergency. Generally speaking, Bi Fang would still opt to determine the time in his own way. "In the wilderness, determining time usually isn''t that important, because most of the time you actually don''t need it." Survival in the wilderness is not like in the city; there''s no one to dictate what you must do at certain times, everything is up to you. To survive, you just need food, water, and fire. The acquisition of these three essentials is tied to time only slightly when hunting for food. But even then, it''s not that significant; just avoid the times dusk and night when predators are most active. Before now, Bi Fang had never encountered the polar night phenomenon, living a routine based on sunrise and sunset. But now, since he was using dogs to pull the sled, he needed to determine regular rest times through timing to increase efficiency. "That''s also why I never talked about how to tell time; it''s actually quite simple." "Sun, moon, stars¡ªrising in the east and setting in the west without cease. The ascension and descent of celestial bodies act like a natural clock showing the time. In astronomy, by using precise instruments to observe stars, one can determine the exact time." "But by observing the stars with a simple method, we can also approximate the time. Although the precise process is different, the basic principle is the same. Usually, you wouldn''t need this in the wilderness, but it can be quite useful for those who travel at night." [Eh, the stars can determine time?] [I can understand using the sun, and even the moon, but aren''t stars a bit of an exaggeration?] [I always thought stars were only used for navigation. Old Fang, are you sure you''re not confused or frostbitten?] [Experience proves that all those who doubted Old Fang ultimately ended up with egg on their faces. Just humbly take out your notebook and start learning!] Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Some people expressed skepticism about Bi Fang''s statements. The sun and moon¡ªa person can easily determine time by the former, and it''s doable with the latter, although harder. But stars? That''s preposterous! [By the way, why isn''t there a moon today? Isn''t it a clear sky?] Speaking of the moon, many viewers suddenly noticed that despite a sky filled with twinkling stars, there was actually no moon? "Of course not, when the ''polar night'' arrives. For half a month, we can see the moon, whether full or in phases, revolving around the sky all day. For the other half of the month, the moon is not visible at all. Obviously, now is the half-month when the moon cannot be seen. Otherwise, I wouldn''t need to use the stars to determine the time." [I really want to learn] Bi Fang freed up a hand to point at the sky, "Do you see the Big Dipper Seven Stars above?" From the first-person perspective, the audience easily found the Big Dipper Seven Stars that Bi Fang was pointing at and responded in agreement. "As I said before, we face north, and then we imagine extending the line from the two stars that form the outer part of the Dipper''s bowl five times longer to find Polaris." "Now we use Polaris as the center of the clock face, and the line connecting it with the pointer stars as the hour hand. On the clock face, we divide it into twelve equal parts: 12 is at the top, 3 is on the right, 6 is at the bottom, 9 is on the left, and this is the Big Dipper Clock." Since the audience''s perspective was aligned with Bi Fang''s, there was no chance of misunderstanding, so with his hands-on guidance, the audience easily visualized a large clock. [The Big Dipper Clock, what a cool name] "Since the stars rise in the east and set in the west, the hour hand of the Big Dipper Clock moves in the opposite direction to that of a regular clock. After 12 o''clock, it points to 11 o''clock, then subsequently to 10, 9, 8, 7... and so on. Although the movement of the clock''s hour hand is different from that of a common clock, one can still determine a time that is almost identical to a standard clock." "When observing, just remember the local longitude. Remember, here we express longitude in terms of time because the Earth rotates 360¡ã in 24 hours; therefore, we can divide the local longitude by 15 to find it, recognize the ''hour'' number indicated by the star clock''s hour hand, as well as the month and date of the observation, and then subtract a constant, and you''ll immediately get the time you need." "This method can be written down in a simple formula, which is Capital time = 36.4 - longitude - 2(hour number + M)." "M represents the number of months since January 1st up to the time of observation. If the result is a negative number, just add 24 hours. As for the origin of the 36.4-hour constant, it can be simply understood as a constant in the formula, you don''t need to understand it." [Impressive, though I don''t quite grasp it] [I get that Master Fang is awesome, just not how to tell time (dog head)] "Actually, it''s quite simple," Bi Fang said with a smile, "For instance, on the evening of June 1st of a certain year, at the Capital Astronomical Observatory, the longitude equals 7 hours and 45 minutes; when you see the hour hand of the Big Dipper Clock at 10, calculate what the current Capital time would be?" Bi Fang waited for a while, but seeing that only a few in the discussion had come up with the answer, he didn''t keep them in suspense. He used a tree branch to draw it directly in the snow. "This kind of thing can actually be calculated in your head. Now we know that June 1st is 5 months from January 1st, so M is 5. The Capital time at that moment is..." A simple formula appeared in the snow, and the audience suddenly understood. 36.4 hours - 7.8 hours - 2(10 + 5) hours = -1.4 hours. -1.4 + 24 = 22.6 hours. Which is 10:36 in the evening. "Sometimes, the Big Dipper Seven Stars are not visible, but when Beta Cassiopeiae in the constellation opposite to it rises, we can also use that. We can take the line connecting Beta Cassiopeiae and Polaris as the ''hour hand.'' The division of the clock face and the direction of the hour hand movement are the same as with the Big Dipper Clock." "It''s just that, in calculations, the 36.4 constant is changed to 25.5." "Of course, if you have a ''Star Indicator Dial,'' you can almost avoid calculations, just adjust the disc, and you will immediately know the time. This is more complicated; if we have time, we can make one by hand when we get back to the cabin." "How about that, pretty simple, right?" Bi Fang clapped his hands cheerfully and said. Chapter 700 697: Water Flow "Come back!" Bi Fang pulled on the reins, stopping Sanshao in mid-sprint, but due to inertia, the snow sled still slid forward several tens of meters. The undulating sea nearby was now visible to the naked eye; after a day''s travel, they had finally returned to the Greenland seas once more, a far swifter journey than on foot. Bi Fang took the already prepared tools from the snow sled and unfastened Sanshao''s reins, walking to the seaside to begin the now-familiar process of salt extraction. "I''ve refined salt several times before, it''s still the same old method: filter, evaporate, precipitate, dissolve..." It was deep into the night when Bi Fang finally collected over half a pot of sea salt after several hours of extraction, sufficient for survival purposes. Having secured this essential for survival, Bi Fang, exhausted from a day''s labor, set about constructing a temporary dwelling to rest in. By the time they reached the coast it was around seven in the evening, and if they were to travel back overnight, that would mean staying up all night; Bi Fang had no such plans. Moreover, obtaining salt was the main, yet not the sole, purpose of this trip; Bi Fang also wanted to look around to see if he could catch more game, like reindeer, musk oxen, or even puffins. "But whatever you do, never rest on the coastline¡ªit''s extremely dangerous, as you may well encounter seals, walruses, or even polar bears coming ashore." "The west coast of Greenland is home to about six species of seals, and if you''re sailing through the fjords, they''re easy to spot. The weight of these seals ranges from 100 to 300 kilograms depending on the species." "Besides, the walruses of Greenland are enormous creatures, unlike the seals, and they are often found on the east coast of Greenland Island, near the seabed or the coastline." "Don''t be fooled by how chubby and cute they all look on wildlife shows; in reality, a walrus''s tusks can be several meters long and are used for defense, and the males are all over three meters in length and weigh between 1200 and 3000 kilograms." "Though these creatures move slowly, believe me, an encounter while you are sound asleep is an absolute disaster waiting to happen." Bi Fang said gravely. Whether an animal is formidable or not, its weight is an extremely important reference point; all the fierce beasts he mentioned were many times larger than humans. Perhaps, due to their body structure, they''re not too dangerous for a prepared person, but one must still never let their guard down. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Oh my, are walruses really that chubby? From one to three tons?] [Well, boy, isn''t that heavier than a musk ox?] [One of those could feed you for quite some time, right?] [Eat, eat, eat, that''s all you think about. Can''t you consider their tusks for once (Dog''s head)] [After all, it''s the elephant of the sea; outrageous, but not entirely unbelievable.] Leaving the coastline about a kilometer behind, Bi Fang set up camp on the spot, digging a "top-side excavated snow cave" with Sanshao. "Top-side excavated snow cave sounds fancy, but it''s really just what it says: a hole that can be dug from both the top and side." "And the final result is all the same: a tunnel leading to an arched chamber. The depth of the snow required for the cave should be the same as that needed for the snow cave, at least one and a half meters deep, with more than three meters being ideal." "The disadvantage is that you need to cover the hole on top with snow blocks, which is a more complex process than just digging a snow cave." "However, the main advantage of a top-side excavated snow cave is that two people can dig simultaneously, which speeds up construction, and you don''t need to dig snow inside and then carry it out through the passage." Even though Bi Fang was alone, it was not a problem; he had three dogs! Given a direction, a mere three-meter-long tunnel was a piece of cake for them, and in the end, a space of just about one meter eight squared was enough to house two people. Bi Fang found a suitable patch of snow with enough depth and compacted the snow overhead with his skis. "The chamber for sleeping should be located beneath this compacted area, and the compacted snow provides a base for sealing snow blocks. If the compacted snow is relatively shallow, snow from elsewhere should be shoveled on top of it to increase the depth, but we''re in the Arctic, where snow is plentiful; other places might require creating a spot to gather snow blocks." "If you''re bringing snow from elsewhere, you don''t need to compact it with boots, but you should still use a shovel to press the snow down. As soon as you find the right spot, compact the snow. You''ll need to build other parts too, and the compacted snow needs some time to freeze together solidly. Only then can you dig a sturdy snow cave." "Once you flatten the area, avoid walking on it so you don''t create cracks in the snow. This is another task that should be done as soon as possible because the snow blocks become more solid after freezing." "For example, if you walk a path leading to the snow structure the day before you move camp, you could cut thick, durable snow blocks from this path." "Wait until the compacted snow has solidified, then dig a hole in the center of the compacted area above the future snow cave. Don''t make the hole too wide; it should only allow a person to stand in it and shovel out the snow. The smaller the entrance, the easier it is to plug it with snow blocks." "Be careful not to immediately stand on the hard snow surface around the entrance. If you do fall into the snow, fill the accidental hole with compacted snow and try to avoid placing snow blocks over this fragile area later on. If the snow is too dry to compact and fill the hole, you can quickly make ''epoxy resin'' with water and snow." "Dig down a few feet, then start digging sideways..." Bi Fang, while pointing out things to be cautious about, drew a circle and had Sanshao start vigorously digging downward. From start to finish, it took less than an hour to create a shelter that could accommodate one man and three dogs. The following day, Bi Fang, with the refined sea salt in tow, boarded the snow sled and took a winding route home, attempting to find more traces of animals. He even saw a polar bear lying on the sea ice; the moment it saw Bi Fang, the bear didn''t react at all, perhaps deeming him too far away to catch up with, so it just lay there unconcernedly, much to Bi Fang''s relief. Perhaps that polar bear was eyeing an ice den somewhere close, Bi Fang reflected on the bear''s lazy demeanor. "Shh!" A huge surge of water suddenly exploded from the ground, shooting high into the sky. Bi Fang, standing on the snow sled, pulled the reins and couldn''t help but gaze in amazement. Chapter 701 698: Trapping the Whale The immense jet noise erupted over the vast ice plain, and Bi Fang pulled the reins, stopping Sanshao from continuing their advance. The audience too was startled by the sudden sound, asking what it was. [What is that sound?] [What is that?] [Did something explode?] Bi Fang rolled up the musk ox skin and stepped down from the sled, standing on the ice, gazing into the distance. Under the faint starlight, watching the water spout jet again, he felt as if something was undulating repeatedly, and he began to suspect what it might be. "It looks like a whale." A whale!? The Shuiyou were shocked. The drone was flying much higher than Bi Fang, and theoretically, they could see farther than Bi Fang, but looking into the distance, they could only see glaciers everywhere. How could there be a whale appearing and spouting a column of water? How had it managed to spout? "Let''s go and see," Bi Fang said as he stepped back onto the sled and tugged the reins, directing it toward the direction of the water spout. As they got closer, the audience, through the aerial drone, finally saw that on the vast ice plain, there was a huge ice cave that had, at some unknown time, appeared. The sea water was churning inside, and in the cave, a behemoth was undulating continuously, bursting with water spouts. [It''s really a whale!!!] [How did the whale get here?] [There are whales in Greenland, what did you think?] [Wait, there seems to be more than one whale!] [Two! There are two of them!] "No, there are three," Bi Fang said. Bi Fang drove the sled to the side of the cave and finally could see clearly what the huge creatures undulating under the water were. They were over ten meters in length, with gray bodies covered in white spots, and their rough skin looked mottled and uneven. [What kind of whale is this? A blue whale?] [Doesn''t seem like it, Old Fang has encountered one before, and it feels different from a blue whale] "These are three gray whales, they look like a family," Bi Fang, squatting beside the ice cave, immediately provided the answer, leaving the audience astonished. [A family?] [I can''t even recognize what kind of whale this is] [So big, it''s enormous] For those who are not familiar, every large whale species seems to look somewhat alike, but to those who are a bit more knowledgeable, each species of whale has significant differences. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Gray whales are between 10-15 meters in length and weigh over 30 tons. They are gray, dark gray, or blue-gray with white spots, and their undersides are lighter in color," Bi Fang explained. "Do you see the uneven surface on their backs?" Bi Fang pointed to the back of the gray whale that had surfaced the water and said, "Those are mainly caused by scrapes from rocks or gravel, and scars left by parasitic life forms like barnacles that have attached themselves to their thickened skin. That''s why some people call it the ''gray rock swimmer.''" The mottled skin wasn''t visually appealing, and the majority of the audience felt more or less a wave of goosebumps. Bi Fang then continued to point out some unique characteristics of the gray whale. "Besides these, the gray whale has many features that are not unique, but when all present together, create a distinct profile. For example, its eyes are oval-shaped, located behind the corners of the mouth and positioned higher than those of other baleen whales; the upper eyelid is slightly longer." "The ear openings are large enough to insert a pencil, located between the eyes and base of the flippers." "The baleen is pale yellow with roughly 140-180 plates on each side, each 40-50 centimeters long. The plates are thick, the bristles coarse, giving the whole baleen a heavy feel." "And then there''s the bulky body, particularly thick near the flippers. Although they lack a dorsal fin, you can still see the spine with 8 to 15 small hump-like protrusions towards the tail." "Moreover, gray whales lack throat grooves, emmm, everyone knows Thanos, right?" Bi Fang stroked his chin, suddenly saying. [Yeah, we know, the purple sweet potato essence] [How does that relate to Thanos?] "Exactly, Thanos'' chin looks a bit like a whale''s throat grooves, which gray whales don''t have. Some believe that the function of throat grooves is to assist in the expansion and contraction of the chest cavity when the animal breathes, and to increase the capacity of the mouth when feeding. Gray whales are the most primitive type of shallow water baleen whale, so their throat grooves are not as developed as those of other baleen whales." As if sensing Bi Fang''s presence, the gray whale that surfaced to breathe emitted a mournful sound, akin to a crying sigh, much like that of humans. The sound spread continuously across the ice field, and it sprayed a column of water towards the ice cave, which looked more like an ice column. The mist-like water vapor instantly turned into frost upon contact with the freezing Arctic temperatures. Some of it dissolved back into the ocean, while the rest piled up on the ice surface. Bi Fang wiped it with his hand and already it was an inch thick, indicating that the gray whale had been trapped here for a long time. "Gray whales have two blowholes located slightly behind the highest point on the snout. The distance between the front ends of the holes is close, about 7 centimeters, and the distance at the back is slightly further, about 21 centimeters. What we have just seen and heard is it exhaling." "Also, because there are two, the spray from a gray whale is shorter and thicker, flat at the top, and the columns are very close to each other. So from behind, it looks like two closely situated columns of mist, but from the side, it appears as one. This combination gives the appearance of a distinct water column, which makes it easily visible to us." Without such a thick column of spray, even with Bi Fang''s vision, it would be hard to spot in the Arctic night. [I see] [Isn''t it dangerous to stand so close?] [I feel the whale''s call is so sorrowful] At this time, the audience was filled with puzzlement, especially upon seeing the scars on the top of the gray whale''s head. The whale seemed to be self-harming. "There''s no danger. I''ve encountered a blue whale while surviving in the ocean before. Not sure if you all remember what I''ve said before about whales being divided into two major categories." "One is the baleen whale, which doesn''t have teeth and primarily eats crustaceans like krill; they are quite gentle towards humans in terms of disposition. The other is the toothed whale, which has sharp teeth and prefers to eat large squid, octopus, and fish, and are relatively more aggressive in nature. Gray whales, like blue whales, are a type of baleen whale." But this did not resolve the audience''s confusion about why the gray whales were here and kept surfacing. Although Bi Fang had said that the skin on the heads of the gray whales was roughened by scrapes from rocks and such, there were clearly many fresh wounds on the whale''s head now. It was obvious to anyone that Master Fang must have known as well. "It''s simple, they are trapped." Trapped? What does that mean? The audience grew more perplexed. Bi Fang stood up, looked out over the vast ice field, and narrowed his eyes: "There are ice fields for miles around. Gray whales cannot break through the ice like bowhead whales to breathe through holes and swim to the sea. They can only guard this one opening, continuously breathing." Chapter 702 699: The Whale Family The isolated ice field was a vast expanse of white snow, with no wind; the world was exceptionally quiet, punctuated only briefly by the mournful cries of gray whales. A male, a female, and a juvenile. Bi Fang had pulled the drone out of the seawater, his hands were red from the cold, and the water he shook off froze into ice particles before it could even hit the ground. With the aid of the drone, the group further ascertained the situation underwater, and Bi Fang also deduced the relationship between these three gray whales based on their size and likelihood. As previously guessed, it indeed was a family, a complete family. For many, this unique family-like structure was a first-time sight, particularly with both parents present, which was very novel. For many people, this pattern of one husband, one wife, and one child highly matched the modern human family model, which is extremely rare in nature. Especially since the animals most modern people come into contact with are basically cats, dogs, pigs, cows, and sheep, they do not exhibit this pattern. "Generally speaking, if the reproductive strategy is K-type, the family structure tends to be closer to that of humans," Bi Fang mused, then said, "This should be high school biology knowledge, I wonder if you remember it." [I''ve long forgotten...] [Who remembers this (covers face)] [Master Fang, teach us a bit] S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The whales inside the cave were still breathing, judging by the amount and duration of their "icicle" spray, these three big fellows have been here for not just hours, but days. Since the problem couldn''t be solved any time soon, and without any clues, Bi Fang didn''t mind having a discussion with the audience. In nature, the reproductive modes of organisms can be divided into two basic types: asexual reproduction and sexual reproduction, reflecting two different reproductive strategies: r-strategy and K-strategy. r-strategy species are more tolerant of abiotic environmental factors, such as climate and other natural conditions'' wide variations, pursuing numbers at the expense of mass mortality, hence the "sexual" cost of reproduction is lower, while the "sexual" cost for survival is higher. In other words, quantity for quality. As long as there are enough numbers, some will survive, and from the perspective of genetic variation, it''s also easier for such species to produce individuals that adapt to the environment. They are usually lower on the food chain. K-strategy reproduction, on the contrary, is an evolutionary product for adapting to a relatively mild biotic environment. It''s derived from the basics, aiming for quality of survival, focusing on increasing survival rates, hence the "sexual" cost of reproduction is higher, and the "sexual" cost for survival is lower. Typically, these species are higher up in the food chain. It is precisely because of the higher cost of reproduction that the nurturing of young becomes a problem, requiring more energy and a suitable environment. "Birds are often seen in this situation, many bird species are very faithful to monogamy, because their reproductive route is K-type, fewer but better-cared-for offspring, which need lots of food and energy to support," Bi Fang explained. Bi Fang pointed to the giant whale in the ice cave, where there was one whale notably smaller than the rest, approximately half the size of the largest one, roughly eight meters in length. "Gray whale calves are born measuring over four meters, and by one year, they can reach nine meters. The smallest one in the cave should be about ten months old." "These big fellows usually mate during January and February, with the female reproducing about once every two years. The gestation period is 12 months, and each pregnancy results in only one offspring. By this calculation, tracing back to January the year before last, fits just right," he concluded. With a quick calculation, Bi Fang understood the formation time of the family before his eyes. Ten months¡­ The audience''s mouths twitched, less than a year to gain several dozen tons¡­ One could only say that it''s worthy of being a natural giant, an "enormous creature" of the sea; it could fatten up by an adult human''s weight in just one day, its growth rate somewhat challenges human imagination. "During this period, the calf will be continuously nurtured by the female whale, and after giving birth, the female will reject any contact with males, leaving the males to seek out other females that haven''t given birth for mating." "The affection between the males towards the females and the females towards their calves is very strong, but the females do not feel the same towards the males; thus, if a female or a calf is threatened, both male and female whales will rush to rescue them, but if a male is in danger, it will not receive assistance." "However¡­" Bi Fang shrugged, "it''s precisely this associative affection that causes the trio to usually stick together, acting as a family unit." [Wow, that''s some dedicated fathering.] [So cold, when will our male whales stand up for themselves.] [It''s also a lovelorn whale.] [Whales are very smart, I''ve always thought so.] [I can''t take it, I have a fear of huge creatures.] [Add me, when the drone went down, watching the gray whale swim in the water, I felt like I was suffocating.] [So what do we do now? The gray whale staying here could be dangerous, right?] [Master Fang, use your unbeatable survival skills to think of a solution.] There aren''t a few gray whales in the Eastern Pacific, their number exceeds ten thousand, but they are pitifully scarce in the North Atlantic, with only around two hundred or so. Moreover, genetic research and population viability analysis indicate that the gray whale subpopulation in the Northwest Pacific is independent of the Eastern Pacific subpopulation and has been listed as an endangered species; if these three whales truly die of suffocation or starvation, it would be a great pity. Troubling. Bi Fang paced beside the ice cave, circling the massive hole again and again. Whales are not fish, but mammals, belonging to the order Cetacea. Although they swim in the ocean, they breathe with lungs, not gills, and thus have to surface for air every so often or else they will suffocate. "I''m not sure how far we are from the coastline, but it''s at least more than five kilometers. Whales generally need to surface to breathe roughly every half-hour, the shorter times being about every ten-plus minutes; judging by that timeframe¡­" Pacing around, Bi Fang explained to the audience while also organizing his own thoughts. [How did this thing get trapped here?] "It probably came here during the days when polar night was approaching," Bi Fang guessed, "After the polar night started, the temperature kept dropping in the last few days, and it''s possible that the ice hadn''t formed near this area." "Gray whales have the longest migration distance among all mammals, spanning between 10,000 to 22,000 kilometers, to put into perspective, Earth''s equatorial circumference is only forty thousand kilometers." Every year from late May to the end of October, gray whales would pass through the Bering Strait and the northwest part of the Bering Sea, feeding within the Arctic Circle where water temperature and sunlight were suitable. Then they start moving south, passing the Aleutian Islands and traveling down along the North American coastline, averaging about 185 kilometers each day. The family of whales before us likely entered the Arctic Circle during their migration, passing by Greenland when on one side, the coast was still covered with drift ice. Due to the sudden onset of the polar night, temperatures plummeted rapidly, freezing the entire ocean into a solid ice field, blocking their chance to surface for air! Chapter 703 700 The Fishing Net on Little Gray Whale Many people have this misconception, believing that whales are diving experts, the kind of behemoths that can effortlessly dive for several hours, moving through the ocean depths of hundreds, even thousands of meters, like the legendary Leviathan, unstoppable in the sea. This is a wrong perception. In terms of diving duration, whales are inferior to most animals that are truly adept at diving. It''s only because whales are mammals that lead the pack among fellow air-breathing creatures, which would drown within minutes. Therefore, they score extra points in biological characteristics, making their diving capability appear much stronger. However, bonus points can only be that, bonus points. Compared to the most common turtles, which can easily dive for two to three hours, only the Cuvier''s beaked whale and the sperm whale can dive for 120 and 90 minutes, respectively, and these are extreme cases. Usually, it''s around 50 minutes, and even that already makes them the "diving champions" among whales. Only in extreme cases can they barely reach the lower limits of many diving experts, which is telling. Of course, being able to dive for hours is quite impressive indeed, which is why whaling ships, when pursuing them, once they see them dive deep, can only wait in place for a long time. Next comes the "diving runner-ups" like the humpback whale and the baleen whale, which can dive for 60 and 40 minutes, respectively, but usually need to rest for 5 to 10 minutes at the surface after every 10 to 15 minutes of diving. Then there are the other whales, whose dive time is generally below half an hour, representing the vast majority of species. For instance, the blue whale consumes 2¨C4 tons of food per day. When feeding, it swims at 2¨C6 km/h, during migration 5¨C33 km/h, and when pursued, up to 20¨C48 km/h at most. Generally, it performs 10¨C20 short dives followed by one deep dive. The interval between shallow dives is 12¨C20 seconds, and deep dives can last 10¨C30 minutes. The blue whale''s behavior is the norm, while the sperm whale, which can dive for an hour and reach depths of two thousand meters, is like the "big daddy" among whales, akin to Bolt among humans. It was precisely for this reason that in the Middle Ages, humans could chase whales in their little boats and hunt them indiscriminately; otherwise, if they just dived deeply for an hour and swam away, who could catch up? Those who could catch a big daddy like the sperm whale were the cream of the crop, the personification of adventure and a badge of honor. Of course, there are also dolphins, who don''t dive very deep, generally around 5 minutes, with the Bottlenose dolphin capable of holding its breath for up to 23 minutes. After all, whales are mammals and ultimately breathe with their lungs, not anything else. The length of diving time all depends on oxygen utilization. Ordinary animals can exchange only 10-15% of the air they inhale, but whale lungs, although not large, can refresh 80-90% of the air with each breath, making it more efficient than humans'' deep breathing. They also utilize oxygen more effectively, as whales can control it to priorize supply to the brain, heart, and swimming muscles during dives, being very energy-efficient with oxygen consumption. Most humans cannot do this, with only a very few world-class breath-hold divers able to reduce oxygen supply to non-core organs through prolonged training. In addition, whales have a much higher carbon dioxide tolerance than humans. Many people feel the urge to breathe after holding their breath for just twenty-odd seconds not because of a lack of oxygen but due to increased internal carbon dioxide concentrations. Often at this point, the oxygen level inside the body remains at a high ninety-nine or ninety-eight percent. Trained free divers, an important part of their training is to increase their carbon dioxide tolerance, allowing them to hold their breath much longer than untrained individuals, typically three to six times longer than average people. But no matter how they utilize it, the essence is still that lung. "The breathing pattern of gray whales when swimming involves several breaths during shallow dives, followed immediately by a longer deep dive." "The usual depth of a deep dive is about 100 meters, covering a distance of around 1000 meters underwater, generally lasting 17-18 minutes, with some capable of only an 8-minute maximum and the longest at barely 50 minutes." ``` Upon hearing Bi Fang''s explanation, the concerned individual did a quick calculation and conservatively estimated that the straight-line distance to the coast was over five miles, nearly three kilometers. Looking purely at this data, escape seemed impossible. Even if the gray whales reached their limit and were able to dive for half an hour, they would at best cover two kilometers, just over half the distance. "Then, Old Fang, can''t you dig more holes? Please help out." "Yeah, can humans dig holes to assist?" "In that case, why not dig one every mile?" Bi Fang nodded, "Of course, that''s possible." Shuiyou were just about to smile when Bi Fang, still nodding, said indifferently, "If the entire ice field is thin, no thicker than thirty centimeters, if there are no ice ridges for several kilometers allowing for straight-line progression, and if the sperm whales can fully understand my intentions, maintain a considerable degree of trust in me, and also have an excellent vision to accurately see the ice holes a kilometer away, and if I take two days to dig holes, then it''s possible to save them." Shuiyou were doused with a bucket of cold water, no one had anticipated so many problems. Indeed, gray whales, unlike Bi Fang who had traversed the ice field, did not know the exact distance to the coast; why did they stop moving? Obviously, they had sensed that there were no more opportunities to surface for air within their range of perception. Cautious and timid by nature, the gray whales dared not move forward and could only huddle together here. Certainly, this timidity was a decent survival strategy. Not all parts of the ice field had ice as thin as at this hole; looking in all directions, one could even find ice caps and ice ridges dozens of meters thick. To reach the sea directly, one would have to take detours. Gray whales were definitely not "ice-breaking animal vessels" like bowhead whales, capable of directly breaking through ice more than sixty centimeters thick. Without hard skulls, they would only injure themselves severely. Moreover, considering Bi Fang''s physical strength and the time the gray whales could keep going, the distance between holes had to be at least more than a mile, which is about five hundred meters. Otherwise, the cost of digging holes was too high, Bi Fang''s stamina wouldn''t allow it, and the whales wouldn''t last that long either. But could the whales follow Bi Fang without seeing hope if the distance was five hundred meters? These were all problems, which was why Bi Fang kept pacing around the cave, hesitant to act. Without a solution to the aforementioned issues, a successful rescue was impossible. "Stop cursing, stop cursing." "Is there really nothing that can be done?" "Ah, this..." Just as everyone, even Bi Fang, was at a loss, a whale call drew Bi Fang''s attention. He had noticed early on that the smallest gray whale, due to its lack of strength, couldn''t surface for air frequently and had to rely on its parents'' help. This time was no different; the Little Gray Whale surfaced for air with the help of a Big Gray Whale, but the fishing net entangled around its tail firmly captured Bi Fang''s gaze. ``` S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 704 701: New Project, Need to Raise the Pay! In the vast ice cavern, about five meters wide, the inky seawater heaved up and down, reflecting dappled starlight. A marine behemoth, over fifteen meters long, swam in the water, gently propping up another "little creature" half its size against its belly, slowly nudging it towards the surface. The seawater gently swelled, forming a large bulge, and then suddenly receded, revealing the smooth back of the whale. Perhaps due to its short life so far, the little gray whale''s body didn''t have many barnacles or scars, appearing rather neat. "Puff!" The blowhole opened and closed, accompanied by a huge sound like that of a small train''s steam whistle, as a short, thick column of frost burst forth, showering onto the icy expanse above. When the whale surfaced to breathe, it first expelled a large amount of waste air from its lungs, and the pressure of the expelled gas was great enough to shoot the seawater near its nostrils out of the water, a phenomenon usually called "spouting" or "blowing." But now, it might be more apt to call it "spouting ice." Because the air above the sea is cooler than the gas in the whale''s lungs, the moist air exhaled from the whale''s lungs condenses into many small droplets upon meeting the cold air, forming a misty column of water. In the low temperatures of the Arctic, these water columns turn directly into icicles, becoming like shaved ice before they even hit the ground. The water columns spouted by various whales vary in height and shape, with the blue whale''s reaching as high as 9-10 meters. Centuries ago, primitive whalers discovered the whereabouts of whales by the columns of water on the sea surface, and could even identify the species of whale by the height and shape of the column. However, Bi Fang''s attention was not on this at the moment, as the tangled object on the little gray whale''s tail caused him some surprise and doubt. Seaweed? Or something else? A whale call sounded, and the little gray whale dived back into the ocean, followed by another gray whale surfacing, cycling over and over, until ten minutes later, the little gray whale surfaced again. This time, Bi Fang''s eyes widened as he finally saw it clearly. The reflection from the ice fields above was strong, making many things very clear to see, but it still didn''t compare to the good visibility during the daytime. When the colors were similar and there were no distinct shapes, many things could easily be overlooked. Bi Fang hadn''t noticed it at first, but now, focusing his attention, he discovered that the tail of the little gray whale was actually entangled in a fishing net! With the drone''s focus, the audience could also see it all clearly. [Fishing net!] [What fishing net?] [Didn''t you see just now? The little whale''s tail, it''s tangled in a fishing net.] [When did it get tangled? Does someone fish in the Arctic? Can''t they help?] [Didn''t you hear what Master Fang said earlier? The gray whale might be migrating, who knows when it got tangled. Plus, it might have encountered an ocean-going fishing vessel for all we know.] The audience each held their own opinions, sharing their viewpoints, and some also offered suggestions for the rescue, but none were really feasible. Expecting suggestions from the online friends was like waiting for a pig to climb a tree. One thing was certain, with the appearance of these three gray whales, more and more people were joining the live stream, curious to see what was going on. Gray whales being trapped in an ice cavern was too rare an occurrence to miss. Wolf Fang''s live stream quickly pushed the scene to the top of the page, featured as the homepage''s top story, further attracting viewers. Who could resist a giant whale? S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. To a certain extent, cetaceans seem to have a "mysterious affinity" for humans, from small dolphins to great blue whales, and even killer whales, known as murderers of the sea, which in fact rarely harm people. Despite being hurt time and again, they consistently bear it without complaint. Humans'' feelings towards these behemoths are quite similar. Almost every young boy has fantasized about making eye contact with a blue whale at an aquarium, longing to watch its graceful, undulating body, only to realize when they grow up that no aquarium in the world could accommodate such a gigantic creature, and thus their dreams are stranded. "Captain!" On board a cruise ship, a sailor standing on the deck, holding his phone, waved to the captain who had just come down from the captain''s quarters: "Have you seen the live stream?" "Live stream?" The captain was momentarily puzzled, then remembered who the sailor was talking about, rubbing his head with a bit of a headache, "Uh, what happened? I had a few drinks last night and just woke up." The captain was a loyal viewer of Bi Fang''s, and since it was his ship that Bi Fang was using to single-handedly survive in Greenland¡ªa godforsaken place for a hundred days, especially in the coldest northern parts¡ªhe remembered it vividly and had been squeezing in time to watch the live streams these past few days. But as the captain just mentioned, he had a bit to drink the night before and was clueless about what had happened, thinking there might have been an accident. "It''s Mr. Fang..." The sailor quickly stepped forward, showed his phone to the captain, and briefly recounted the events, then suggested, "I think we can help Mr. Fang out." Even a cruise ship in the Arctic Ocean has certain ice-breaking capabilities, not to mention this one, previously an ocean-going vessel converted for enhanced ability. Captain Harvey found the idea quite tempting. The number of gray whales was limited, totaling only a few hundred, and having sailed back and forth across the Arctic Ocean for over a decade, how many times had he seen them? "But the tourists..." Harvey was conflicted. He was eager to go, but he was no longer the captain of a fishing boat, but of a cruise ship, with many tourists onboard following a set itinerary. The decision to go or not to go wasn''t solely his to make. If such a thing had happened ten days ago, Harvey felt it definitely wouldn''t have been a problem, as the tourists on the ship at that time were the same group that came with Bi Fang. Bi Fang, the guy with amazing charisma, not only told great stories with strong verbal skills and good looks but also got along with everyone onboard, young and old. Spending a couple of days out of the way to help out would have been agreed to without question. But now, twenty days had passed, and it was no longer the same group of tourists. "I think it''s fine, don''t you find it exciting? We''re talking about saving whales here!" The second mate, who had been listening, was a bit exaggerated in his gestures and enthusiasm, "Captain Harvey, you can pitch it as a new activity. I believe the vast majority would agree. And even if it''s not the majority, any small portion of people who agree will back us up!" Harvey was momentarily confused: "Why?" The second mate, pounding his chest confidently, explained, "Because as long as some people agree, no matter how few, the rest will support it, so as not to lose face." Harvey paused for a moment, then suddenly understood. Come on, who gets on a boat like this one? Even if a converted fishing vessel is cheaper, it''s not something just anyone can afford¡ªit''s mostly middle-class and upward, primarily from Europe and America. An eco-friendly, animal conservation mission to save the whales is like the epitome of correctness, bound to garner support! Even if some are not genuinely interested, in the context of a publicized live stream, they absolutely won''t stand in opposition! "Tell me, if we tell the tourists this is part of a new activity, could we ask them to pay extra?" The second mate was taken aback, then his smile widened, and he gave a thumbs up: "Great idea!" Chapter 705 702: The Great Whale Rescue Operation By the ice cave, when Bi Fang saw the fishing net on the little gray whale''s tail, he came up with a not-so-mature plan, which might just earn the trust of the gray whales. At the same time, Captain Harvey had also embraced the "new project" initiative. "Ladies and gentlemen, our cruise ship now has a brand-new plan..." In the spacious two-story hall, Captain Harvey took advantage of the time when the most people were dining at noon to stand at the platform and eloquently share the plan he and the first and second mates had deliberated on. He also projected the live broadcast of Bi Fang onto the screen. A few passengers who recognized Bi Fang let out exclamations of surprise, clearly identifying the person on the large screen. "My God, are those whales? Are they trapped?" "What movie are we watching today, wait, is this a movie? Why doesn''t it seem like it?" S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Who is that person?" "Please, don''t you go online? That''s a Legendary Adventurer, but I think he might be in some trouble right now." "Witt, be polite to your elders! Apologize to the man!" "Ah, don''t... okay." A chubby kid reluctantly hopped down from his seat under his mother''s stern gaze and apologized with a forced smile, "I''m sorry, sir." A lady who had just entered the dining hall took off her trench coat, looking somewhat excited at Captain Harvey on the stage. Apart from seeing the captain at boarding, she rarely encountered him, "Is this some sort of special program?" "I haven''t heard of it, this is my first time too. Hmm, the pea stir-fried beef today is not bad; you might want to try it," recommended a gentleman who had arrived early and already ordered his meal. As more and more people became drawn to the announcement, Captain Harvey began to recount Bi Fang''s ordeal and the current situation of the gray whales, including, of course, Bi Fang''s connection with the cruise ship. While Captain Harvey''s speaking skills were far from perfect, and even somewhat poor, with the help of the live broadcast, he managed to explain the situation well enough for the passengers present to gain a general understanding. In short, a Legendary Adventurer with a touch of myth, while trying to survive in the Arctic, encountered three gray whales that were trapped. These were an extremely rare species of large whale, with only two hundred left. If no action was taken, these three big creatures would likely suffocate and die, ending in whale fall. But now, the Thesus cruise ship was very close to the location where the whales were trapped. Perhaps they could arrive in just one day, or even half a day. If they were to lend a hand, they might be able to save the three whales. This distance and time commitment were the result of discussions between Harvey and a few other crew members. They were indeed very close to Bi Fang, who was still human after all; his walking speed was limited to his two legs. By tracing the point of his landing on the island, combined with the direction and distance he walked in the live broadcast, they could pinpoint Bi Fang''s approximate location. And what''s more, the Thesus was heading in Bi Fang''s direction! This was the best part. A cruise ship couldn''t operate non-stop; each time it returned to the harbor, it needed several days of maintenance and resupply. After taking the first batch of tourists on a trip in the Arctic Ocean, the Thesus was just about to set off again from the Svalbard Archipelago, through the straits to the vicinity of Greenland. With just a slight detour, they could reach the area where Bi Fang was, begin icebreaking, and open up a channel of water. The polar night had just begun; there were definitely weak spots on the ice plain, so taking a longer route was not an issue. "So, the opportunity for the Thesus to save the gray whales is right in front of us!" "Of course, we are a cruise ship with a fixed itinerary, and it''s for this that you all boarded. But isn''t this a rare experience?" ``` "An Arctic journey, the Northern Lights, glaciers, the biting cold, beautiful nights, and to top it off, spending two days to save three stranded big guys¡ªwhat a wonderful trip it will be! I think this event will definitely leave a bold and colorful stroke in our lives. We''ll be able to sit under the sunset and tell our neighbors about this amazing experience when we''re old!" Captain Harvey said with great emotion. Although he was Bi Fang''s audience, he was a "grown-up" in his fifties after all, so how could he become a die-hard fan? His desire to help Bi Fang was more for the "legendary" aspect of the event itself. If he could participate in it, maybe he could even get his captain''s diary published. "Yeah, I''m in! Mom, I want to go!" The little chubby boy who had just been a bit resentful immediately jumped up from his not-yet-warm seat upon hearing Captain Harvey''s suggestion, shouting loudly. He wasn''t the only child on the ship; the other children who had already bonded during the voyage also started to shout, and their excited appearance surprised their parents, who then took interest in what Captain Harvey had suggested. Saving animals, eh! And it''s whales, what a rare experience. They teach their children not to litter, to care for small animals, and even to donate money, but could that be as impactful as a firsthand rescue? Bringing kids out to play and teaching them something valuable in the process, isn''t that worthwhile? With the children leading the support, the parents had no objections. Just a few families agreeing accounted for nearly half the people in the hall. The rest exchanged glances and were quite tempted. Just as Harvey had thought, the event itself was "too cool" to refuse. It was a cruise after all, and everybody was there for fun. Saving whales was more interesting than any other amusement. Someone raised their hand to ask, "What if we have to spend a few more days than planned? Do we need to pay extra?" Even though those present were fairly wealthy, they were not so affluent as to waste money. It was a bit embarrassing, but still better to ask and be clear. "Of course not, whether it''s additional supplies or whatever else, we will bear the cost. Also, if anyone has urgent matters, they can tell us in advance, and we can help contact other cruise ships, without any extra charges. We won''t waste our guests'' precious time," Captain Harvey said earnestly. The idea of paying extra for new activities was just a joke. Even if they had to put in a bit of their own money, it wouldn''t matter. With Bi Fang''s live broadcast, the participation of the Thesus in the whale rescue mission would only make it more famous. They could make much more by raising ticket prices in the future than they do now. "Then I have no problem." "Okay, this is really cool, Captain. This trip is definitely worth more than we paid for!" "What are we waiting for? Let''s move! I can hardly wait to head out onto the ice to have a look." Soon, more and more people echoed their agreement. Around half of all the tourists came to the restaurant for lunch, and almost all of them agreed. Things were going even better than the first mate had expected. On the ice field, Bi Fang also took off his coat and stared at the surging sea, clenching his teeth. ``` Chapter 706 706: 703 "Hiss, I really don''t want to get into the water!" In the biting cold, Bi Fang shivered and clenched his teeth; unless his body reached a point where it absolutely needed cleaning, he truly did not want to touch the icy seawater. The piercing chill invaded inch by inch as if wrapped by a python, causing an overwhelming sensation of suffocation. But now he had no choice but to go in. Moments ago, Bi Fang had seen the fishing net on the Gray Whale, and an incredibly bold idea suddenly surfaced in his mind¡ª Could he gain the trust of the Gray Whales by helping the Little Gray Whale cut free from the fishing net? Once his mind opened up to this idea, it was very hard to close it again. The audience was shocked to hear Bi Fang''s idea and wondered if he had gone mad? If there had been a long-term interaction, perhaps it would be possible to build feelings and trust, but could simple help with removing a fishing net suffice? Not to mention the inherent dangers; the frigid seawater was one thing¡ªperhaps not much for Bi Fang, who had recently demonstrated "winter swimming"¡ªbut the danger was indeed a real and objective one. Moreover, the ocean was unlike a river; being swept away in a river meant only so much range, not too far and mostly depth, but being swept away in the sea could mean vanishing in all directions. Lastly, the status of the whales cast doubt; even if they were affectionate, having been trapped for so long, who''s to say they wouldn''t be in a foul mood? People could become Yuyu, but who could be certain about whales? All these considerations understandably caused people to worry. Regrettably, Bi Fang was determined to go, and he had a considerable degree of trust in the whales. "Whales are a kind of marine creature that is still very mysterious to humans, and their intelligence remains a major topic in oceanic life research. They possess an astonishing sense of perception and analytical ability towards their immediate three-dimensional space, which also equips them with ample understanding of human behavior. I strongly believe in this." "Different species of whales exhibit different temperaments¡ªthe hunting prowess of Killer Whales, the cuteness of Beluga Whales, the docility of Humpback Whales, the freedom of Blue Whales, and the resilience characteristic of Gray Whales." After all, they are the creatures with the longest migration distance, patiently and tenaciously covering a quarter of the Earth''s circumference every year. As Bi Fang attributed "personality traits" to whales, it inevitably felt somewhat discordant to the audience. [This is too exaggerated, isn''t it? It feels like they are just like humans.] [Actually, whales are indeed smart. I heard they have the intelligence of a fifteen-year-old human teenager.] [Really? Fifteen-year-old humans can do geometric functions, can whales do that?] [Your comparison isn''t accurate. Feral children are also fifteen and yet why can''t they learn to speak even after years of being back in society? Knowledge is knowledge, the development of humans relies on society. Haven''t you studied Marxist Philosophy?] The audience engaged in a heated debate over the intelligence of whales. Whether or not whales possess the intelligence of fifteen-year-old humans, one thing remained unchanged: whales indeed could understand and respond to certain human actions and gestures. Whether it was "Old Tom" from the last century, a Killer Whale known for its collusion with humans to prey on the tongues of Baleen Whales, or the more recent good relations that people on the western coast of Ugly Country had cultivated with migrating Gray Whales. More and more Grays allowed humans to touch them, sometimes with mother whales even taking the initiative to bring their calves close to small boats to show friendliness to humans. Both instances demonstrated this point. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There was even a more mystical belief that whales inherently passed down memories, whether dietary habits or behaviors, everything was inherited from ancestors. It''s highly possible that in the far distant past, humans and whales had some sort of agreement, but as time passed, we completely forgot, still puzzled by the behavior of whales. Of course, this assertion is too mystical and lacks credibility, likely being just a form of self-entertainment for whale enthusiasts. Ben''s example of Old Tom was somewhat shocking, but it nonetheless captivated the audience. Killer whales like to eat the tongues of gray whales, and Old Tom was the best among them, often cooperating with fisherman Davidson''s family. Old Tom and his pod would corral the little baleen whales into a certain area near the coast, keeping the baleen whales from escaping. Then Old Tom would swim to the whaling station and forcefully slam his tail against the surface of the water to notify Davidson''s family. Sometimes, Old Tom would work with another killer whale. If they felt that Davidson''s boat was moving too slowly, they would tug on the rope of the boat''s anchor, dragging the boat forward; thus, Davidson''s boat was often the first to arrive. In return, Old Tom and the killer whale pod''s reward was the little baleen whales'' tongues and lips. In these parts, the pod would get 4 tons of soft, boneless whale meat. The two sides cooperated for a full forty years, with three generations of Davidson''s family taking turns. However, in 1930, Old Tom collaborated with fisherman George Logan to catch a whale. But Logan thought it was the last whaling season and, since the whale they caught was small, he was reluctant to give the head to Old Tom. As a result, during the tug-of-war, Old Tom lost several teeth to Logan''s rope. As a mammal, losing teeth meant infection and death. A few months later, Old Tom''s carcass washed up on the beach at Eden. As a social animal, after Old Tom died, his pod never appeared off the coast of Eden again, nor did any killer whale cooperate with humans in whaling. [Is this story about Old Tom real? It seems a bit far-fetched.] [It appears to be true. I checked, and Old Tom''s carcass is still displayed in a museum as a specimen...] [Incredible... That''s practically a legendary creature.] The audience, dumbstruck, could only silently watch as Ben stripped off his clothes, took a few deep breaths to expand his lungs and increase his blood oxygen level, and leaped into the ice hole. The piercing cold penetrated each pore and seeped into his marrow. Ben instinctively shivered, and the conditioned contraction of his muscles almost caused him to choke on water, but fortunately, he stifled it. For a gargantuan gray whale, Ben''s leap into the water, weighing just eighty kilograms, hardly registered as anything, and the whale continued to breathe without any reaction. Floating quietly in the water for a while, Ben''s heart throbbed violently, and sugar broke down in large quantities, beginning to transmit heat continuously to his limbs. After a brief acclimation to the icy environment, Ben began to look for the little gray whale. The Arctic night is brighter than anywhere else on Earth, but even so, once in the sea, it is still pitch-dark. While one can still see clearly above the ice, it''s near total darkness in the ocean. Ben struggled to widen his eyes and capture as much light as possible, barely making out the silhouettes of three large creatures as he tried to identify the smallest one. The audience held their breaths, their palms full of sweat without realizing it. When the cold wind blew, chills spread, as if the Arctic''s low temperatures were catching up to them. Chapter 707 704 Ocean King Waves surged, and the pitch-black environment was eerily silent, sending shivers down one''s spine. Blood coursed through his body as Bi Fang steadied his breath, starting to inch closer to the front, with only a slight movement that once more lowered his recently recovered body temperature, as the crosscurrent continuously washed away his warmth. Bi Fang''s pupils were a dark abyss, only occasionally discerning vague silhouettes, and when he saw the noticeably smaller shadow of the giant creature, he slowly rubbed forward, probing, until after a dozen seconds, he touched the whale, and his clarity of vision was largely restored. The audience held their breaths, and although Bi Fang couldn''t see clearly, they could easily see him approaching the Little Gray Whale and touching its head, thanks to night vision mode. That huge head made one''s scalp tingle ¨C simply because it was just too massive. Big enough to easily swallow an adult human with a single gulp, even though it was still a child, not even a year old. [I can''t take it anymore, I''m going to faint.] [It''s so terrifying, it won''t really eat people, will it?] [Didn''t Old Fang say that Baleen Whales eat crustaceans, like krill? How could they possibly eat people?] [They''ve been trapped here for who knows how long, they could be starving. People would eat dirt when starving, let alone animals.] [Although they need to surface for air, that doesn''t mean they can''t eat, right? There are fish nearby, aren''t there?] [Indeed, when I think of the Arctic, I think of Arctic shrimp, sweet and incredibly delicious.] The audience''s eyes widened, like a group of curious elementary school students, their comments varied and colorful. In the ocean, when Bi Fang''s hand touched the Little Gray Whale''s head, even prepared as he was, he still got quite a scare. While Bi Fang trusted his own judgment, this fear was more of a biological instinct, engraved in his DNA, not something that could vanish simply by overcoming it psychologically. No one could remain indifferent when facing a being hundreds of times larger than themselves, capable of snatching away their life with ease. His heart thudding, Bi Fang swallowed, feeling the strange sensation on his fingertips. Even though both were cetaceans, the tactile sensation of dolphins and whales was completely different. The skin of dolphins is rather hard and incredibly smooth, similar to the feel of an iPhone screen but very elastic, and also cold, like a piece of hard plastic with great toughness. The touch of whales, however, is quite distinct, clearly much softer, perhaps thanks to the thick layer of blubber on the whales. It is because of this layer of fat that they can move unhindered at high latitudes, feeling like touching a leather sofa, while dolphins have a lower body fat percentage and are more like "muscle men." As Bi Fang was still reflecting on his feelings, he realized the resistance against his hand suddenly increased. The Little Gray Whale abruptly began to rise upwards, brushing past Bi Fang, until a much larger Gray Whale filled his field of view. It was then that everyone understood ¨C it was the Little Gray Whale''s turn to surface for air. The largest Gray Whale passed less than two meters from Bi Fang, and the whale''s enormous eye seemed to glance at him, a gaze between a giant and an ant, that left the onlookers as if on the scene, frozen. What was that gaze like? Ancient and profound, compassionate and peaceful, gentle and deep. Staring into it felt almost like being irresistibly drawn in, and the low whale song, traveling through the surging water, reached miles away, compelling one to follow it into the depths of the ocean ¨C and it wouldn''t matter if they never returned. Was it the call from the depths of one''s soul memory? Many people thought so. [Why do these eyes look so human?] [So sacred] [This is even better than the last blue whale!] [Hey, hey, hey, don''t you guys find it terrifying? It''s too human-like!] [It''s precisely because it''s human-like that it''s terrifying, the uncanny valley effect] [I believe that those with thalassophilia all come from the ocean depths, while those with thalassophobia come from the sky. Those from the ocean are drawn to the profound depths without fear of the abyss, while those from the sky, due to their inherent memories of the vast expanse of the cosmos, fear being confined by the ocean depths like being trapped in an enclosed space.] [Wow, that''s deep] [What if you first fear it and then crave it (dog''s head)] [Maybe that''s Kaz] Bi Fang moved his arms, treading slowly in the water to keep buoyant. After more than half a minute of acclimatization, Bi Fang''s eyes gradually adjusted to the darkness and he could see the position of the little gray whale clearly. In the moment of eye contact just now, Bi Fang himself almost forgot to slide through the water to maintain his buoyant stance, feeling a sense of amazement in his heart. Thanks to the whaling industry of the 20th century, nowadays seeing seven or eight whales is considered an extraordinary experience in one''s life; everyone thinks the era they live in is the correct state of the world. Actually, over a hundred years ago, bay after bay was filled with the backs of hundreds, even thousands of giant whales¡ªthat was the true appearance of the world. The breathing rhythm was quick; a drone still hovered in the air above the ice field, and the viewers clearly saw the little gray whale spout out an icy pillar before sinking again. Bi Fang shook off the random thoughts in his mind. With the experience of contact, this time he grabbed the dagger and swam directly toward the little gray whale, moving along the massive body towards the tail, easily finding the fishing net entwined around the whale''s tail. Even though the ocean was too dark and he could only make out a silhouette, Bi Fang could still feel how tightly the fishing net was wrapped around the little gray whale''s tail, firmly binding it. Without hesitation, already a minute and a half into the icy ocean, Bi Fang was extremely cold. He reached out to grab the fishing net and cut through the thick connection with his dagger. In the silence of the ocean, with only the sound of water flowing past his ears, Bi Fang tore off piece after piece of the net until the innermost layer, where he slipped the dagger in the gap between the smooth skin of the whale, turned the handle upside down, blade facing upwards, and forcefully sliced upward. Having cut the last connection, the now free little gray whale completely shed the net; the amplitude of its tail''s movement suddenly increased, stirring up a huge current that nearly toppled Bi Fang. He was pushed back several meters before stabilizing. Done. In the water, a satisfied Bi Fang clapped his hands, wrapping the cut-off fishing net around his arm and headed up towards the surface. But just as he was about to turn around, Bi Fang suddenly felt the current beside him become more intense, as if something huge was swimming up towards him from below. Bi Fang''s pupils shrank suddenly, but in the next moment, his expression relaxed. Unbeknownst to him, the little gray whale, having shaken off the net, had come under Bi Fang, lifting him with its broad back and carrying him to the surface. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Feeling the swirling water moving quickly by his side, Bi Fang''s face was full of shock. The seawater surged and after a slight bulge, it broke open; a drenched Bi Fang stood on the whale''s back. With a light leap, he returned to the ice field. Chapter 708 705: Thesus Arrives Breaking through the waves, emerging atop them! When Bi Fang propped himself on the whale''s back and stood up in a half-crouching position, almost all the viewers of the live stream revealed looks of amazement and envy in reality. It was too cool. [Awesome! Dream whale!] [Whale Knight!] [Here, take the Golden Trident, you''re definitely the Ocean King] [Speak of the Trident, not the bar] [I won''t watch Ocean King 2 without you] [666, this scene is worth rewarding] Although the whale hadn''t been rescued yet, the audience had already fallen into an excited state, filled with joy. Under this momentum, the number of viewers in the live stream continued to grow. Speaking of which, one of the System''s main quests always included a requirement for the number of viewers, but this requirement hadn''t put enough pressure on Bi Fang for a long time. Because of the quality of the live stream, Bi Fang''s fan count was almost always exploding, while the quest requirements were still advancing step by step slowly and hadn''t been adjusted according to the real situation. "Damn, that''s so awesome, even movies aren''t this cool." "I want to try it too, to see what it feels like to ride a whale." "Is this the Romantic Knight?" "Every time after watching Master Fang, other Wilderness Survival shows just seem tasteless. It''s like I''ve entered a sage mode, not feeling anything." The Wilderness Club, particularly the first venue, was bustling with excitement. Every time there was a heart-stopping scene, the cheers here seemed like they could flip the entire roof over. Romantic Knight, this was another title many viewers gave to Bi Fang, symbolizing the uniqueness of every one of Bi Fang''s adventures. A year or more had passed since Bi Fang''s first live stream, and the concept of Wilderness Survivalist had already become popular all around the world, constantly increasing in breakout index, with more and more people understanding the activity and not just settling for watching, but actually putting it into practice. Many survival experts also realized that their skills could be traded for more substantial benefits, leading to a surge of professional survivalists. However, after they put in effort, they would find that there was already a huge mountain in front of them. In front of Bi Fang, other people''s live streams seemed to always fall short by more than a notch, with no basis for comparison. When it came to the wilderness, what always came to mind was that confident Huaxia person and those adventures that were as exciting as movie plots. "Hiss, so cold." Coldness always followed after being excessively cool. The back of the whale was really slippery, and after standing for just a short while, Bi Fang had to jump back onto the land to avoid a slippery fall. Using the dry moss he had prepared earlier as a towel to wipe off the frosty water, and quickly putting on clothes, Bi Fang shook off the musk ox skin, pulled out the connecting rope from the side, draped it over himself, and felt the cold being blocked out with his body temperature starting to warm up; only then did he breathe a sigh of relief. Although he had been in the sea water for less than five minutes, the energy he had lost was alarmingly great. Thinking of this, Bi Fang came to the side of the sled, lifted the seat, and directly pulled out a soft, long object from beneath it, completely white and looking like a piece of white jade. Just as everyone was curious about what this object was, Bi Fang had already stuffed the white jade into his mouth and bitten off a piece. Upon seeing the cross-section, everyone then realized that this white jade-like object was a piece of raw meat, only the surface was a layer of thick, white fat. It had become stiff from the cold, which gave it the appearance of a piece of white jade. Before setting off, Bi Fang had stuffed several strips of raw meat beneath the sled seat, a fact he had not concealed from the audience. However, since it was packed so tightly, the audience hadn''t seen it clearly and few pondered over it, assuming it to be some sort of cushion. Now, as he began to eat, they realized it was food. [Wow, stored here?] [Aren''t you worried about the smell? (Dog''s head)] [This meat actually looks pretty good] [No, that''s not right, he didn''t eat this last night, did he decide to do this on the spur of the moment?] "Because this is an emergency food supply." Bi Fang chewed on the raw meat, replenishing the energy he had just lost at sea. The strips of meat stored under the seat were long and flat, specially prepared by Bi Fang before his trip. They had not been frozen solid like a rock in the severe cold but because the Arctic temperatures were so low, they had still gotten somewhat cold and stiff after just a few minutes. Luckily, before preparing these meat strips, Bi Fang had smashed all the inner fibers with a rock, which made them fairly easy to chew. [Why is there an emergency food supply?] [Is there anything special about it?] Seeing the audience''s questions, Bi Fang simply explained, "I prepared two types of food, the first is ordinary food stored in my backpack. The meat strips in there contain more lean meat. The second type is what I''m eating now, with a higher fat content, and it''s placed under the seat." "The first type is for regular consumption, and it''s alright if it''s a bit tough. The energy requirements are not so high. The second type is intended as emergency food. It''s convenient for me in case I suddenly encounter danger that causes a significant loss in heat, allowing me to rapidly replenish energy. You could think of it as an energy bar for outdoor activities." "So the meat strips are slender, convenient for me to bite off in one go. And by smashing the muscle fibers with a rock, they are made easier to chew and digest. Finally, placing them under the seat both insulates them and, with the jostling, further softens the meat for easier chewing." "However, this method isn''t original to me. It has been around for a long time; nomadic tribes used to do this." As Bi Fang ate, he casually brought up a small story to capture the audience''s attention and also to distract himself, reducing the sensation of cold. "Nomadic tribes had vast territories for grazing, warring, and moving about, and getting food in these areas was a critical skill necessary for survival." "The Tatars of that time would chop raw meats, be it cow, sheep, or horse, mix it with dough to make meat patties, and then put the meat slices into pies beneath the saddle." "Because the meat patties were placed under the saddle, they would get pressed and softened from the bouncing while riding. Moreover, the constant friction between the person and the horse during the march would also generate heat. So the meat patties would have a certain warmth, reaching a semi-cooked state, making them very tasty. This led to the creation of the Tatar steak." "It''s said that the first hamburger patty was made in Europe thanks to this method being passed down." [That''s so detailed, even eating is done with such care.] [Wow, always prepared for anything] ["Reached Europe," if I''m not mistaken, it sounds like they were forced to accept this method (Dog''s head)] [No wonder he''s confident about surviving a hundred days in the Arctic, such meticulousness!] As Bi Fang was eating the meat strips and replenishing his energy, Captain Harveys finally got around to informing everyone of what had happened, and without exception, everyone agreed. The first officer, upon receiving the instructions, quickly steered the wheel, turning the ship''s bow and altering its course towards the direction of Bi Fang. A few sailors by his side also started flooding the livestream chat with messages, trying to catch Bi Fang''s attention and establish contact. Such unique barrage of messages naturally drew the attention of other viewers. Once the viewers understood the situation, they too joined in the commotion, and soon, the chat was filled with messages about Captain Harvey''s impending arrival. "Captain Harvey?" Bi Fang quickly noticed the enthusiastic chat and promptly got up to speed on the situation. He remembered the cruise ship he had taken to get there and was immediately overjoyed. The arrival of the Thesus was certainly an unexpected delight. Even though its icebreaking capabilities couldn''t match those of a professional vessel, it was still not to be underestimated. Bi Fang was well aware that, although he had helped the Little Gray Whale get rid of the fishing net and freed it, allowing it to surface for air by its own strength, this action had undoubtedly bought the three large creatures more time. However, this was merely a temporary solution. Everything Bi Fang did was still inadequate for quickly creating a hole in the ice floe, which was the most crucial issue. Bi Fang had undoubtedly gained the trust of the Gray Whales by then, but if he couldn''t lead them out, the Gray Whales still faced a fatal outcome. While chatting with the viewers, Bi Fang was also thinking about a real solution to save the lives of the three behemoths in front of him. Now that the Thesus had arrived, there was no doubt that there was hope! Even if ice ridges surrounded them and the Thesus couldn''t break through, at least a hundred people could come over and help dig through the ice layer. As for the final ice ridges, the Gray Whales could completely dive and cross over them. The three Gray Whales could be saved! With that in mind, Bi Fang immediately swallowed the last strip of meat, washed the grease off his fingers in the sea water, rolled up the Musk Ox Skin, put on his coat, and patted the Little Gray Whale''s head as he began to think about his next steps. With the hole digging issue resolved and the trust of the Gray Whales gained, the final challenge remained. "That''s figuring out the route," said Bi Fang as he clenched his fist to his palm, looking around. The only issue now was to determine the right route for digging to avoid wasted effort. The terrain of the ice field was unique, with thickness varying greatly. It was possible that the closer to the shore, the thicker the ice might be. It might be just a few tens of centimeters thick in one place, but after a few miles, the thickness could suddenly increase to a kilometer, turning into ice ridges. Bi Fang''s task was to scout the nearby terrain in advance, aiming to find a route that was sufficiently short and where the ice layer wasn''t ridiculously thick. The five-mile estimate Bi Fang had shared with his viewers was based on his own recollection, and he needed more accurate data. Based on the point of landing and the route he had traveled, Bi Fang easily calculated his current exact position and relayed it to Harris. With a more specific location, Captain Harvey, drawing on his years of experience, gave an accurate time of arrival. "If everything goes as planned, the Thesus will reach the vicinity in about thirteen hours and begin breaking the ice," he said. "Half a day, huh..." Bi Fang quickly did the math and promptly climbed onto the sled, "That''s enough! Goudan, let''s go!" ... Over the vast ice field, three robust sled dogs pulled the sled across the snowy ground. Bi Fang held the reins, his gaze sweeping around, committing every detail of the landscape to memory. Using the method of memory palace, he effortlessly created a full, three-dimensional map around the ice cave in his mind, which kept expanding as the distance grew. "It''s further than I expected..." ... Above the current, the Thesus was at full power, avoiding one glacier after another, speeding towards the location provided by Bi Fang. There were more passengers standing on the deck than ever before, each of them craning their necks in anticipation, leaning on the railings, eager to encounter the simple gray whale as soon as possible. "Witt, is the icebreaker ready?" "It''s ready, Captain." "Vlad, what about the snowmobile?" "Filled up with fuel, Captain, guaranteed to be in the best condition." "Good! Kolklafe, hard to port! Full speed ahead!" ... Standing atop the ice ridge, Bi Fang gazed down at the undulating waters below, estimating in his mind: "About a little over six miles, roughly three kilometers, farther than I thought. But this is an ice ridge; I wonder if there is a closer location." "Goudan, keep going!" Bi Fang shouted, tugging on the reins, changing direction. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The sled continued along the coast. Three hours later, Bi Fang, who kept a vigilant watch on his surroundings, finally found a breakthrough on the ice ridge, seven and a half miles from the ice grotto, with a moderate thickness of ice. After rewarding Sanshao with meat chunks from his backpack, Bi Fang made some adjustments and continued forward. Five hours later, a second route appeared, seven miles from the ice grotto, that is, three thousand five hundred meters, with a moderate thickness of ice, slightly thicker for about one mile. After six hours, Bi Fang found a third route, six miles long. Although there was no ice ridge, the thickness of the ice was slightly greater, and it might have taken the icebreaker longer to get through. Are there only three routes in total? Bi Fang halted the sled, frowning in thought. He had already scouted the entire coastline. Going further out would be at least ten miles from the ice grotto, and the distance could not possibly be shorter. Based on the icebreaking data provided by Captain Harvey, Bi Fang''s brain worked rapidly, simulating the specific conditions and calculating over and over again, until he finally selected the second route as the shortest time-consuming option from all the data! Without dwelling too much on it, Bi Fang quickly decided on the location and relayed it again to Harvey. Upon receiving a response, Bi Fang returned to the ice grotto just in time to encounter the Little Gray Whale surfacing for air. Seeing Bi Fang return, the Little Gray Whale spouted a water column, emitting a whale call that was noticeably higher in pitch, clearly a joyful emotion, yet in the context of the moment, it seemed inappropriate. Arriving next to the ice grotto, Bi Fang keenly noticed that the area of the grotto had shrunk. Seeing the freshly enlarged wound on the head of the Big Gray Whale, Bi Fang understood that the ice grotto had been frozen over again while he was away, and now it appeared broken open. However, the shrinking ice grotto increasingly limited the whale''s range of activity, and Bi Fang immediately set to work, trying to expand the area of the grotto by using a large hammer tied to rocks, pounding the edge of the ice. Watching Bi Fang labor so strenuously to carve out the ice grotto, the audience at that moment realized just how difficult it was to dig a large hole in the ice by human strength alone, and this might still be the thinnest part of the ice. When the area of the ice grotto had expanded back to its original size, a distant steam whistle interrupted Bi Fang''s work. The steam whistle of an ocean-going ship can be heard up to five kilometers away, at that moment the whistle blew, no doubt about it. The Thesus had arrived! Chapter 709 706: The Rare Icebreaking Exploration Ship The ship''s horn could be heard from over five kilometers away. On the vast and silent ice plains, this distance could be extended even further, so by the time the Thesus had not yet officially reached the coast, Bi Fang had already set out with the Three Fools, driving the sled towards the shore. The ship inched closer to the ice plains, and Bi Fang moved toward the coast. This was a mutual rush. A quarter of an hour later, Bi Fang finally saw the massive cruise ship wandering on the ocean from the extended coastline. The ship''s lights were on, and its body emitted a gentle orange glow, making the tense atmosphere a bit more relaxed. However, since Bi Fang had only provided a general location without precise latitude and longitude, the people on the ship had not yet discovered the suitable route Bi Fang mentioned. Bi Fang quickly threw the fuel he brought onto the ground and used the Mars he had in storage to quickly ignite it, producing a bright light. If it had been daytime, Bi Fang could have used musk ox skin to make a flag; the brown musk ox skin would surely be eye-catching against the white ice plains, but in the perpetual night of the Arctic, this approach was obviously useless. He could only resort to a bonfire. The small bonfire burned under the starry sky. Although it wasn''t big, it was exceptionally conspicuous. A crewmember holding binoculars noticed a light in the night and peered in that direction. He easily spotted Bi Fang and his three sled dogs on the shore and immediately shouted upward to the captain''s cabin, "Captain, found them, ten o''clock direction!" Harvey hurried over, lifted his binoculars, and swiftly locked onto the target on the shore, overjoyed. He immediately issued an order, "Steer to port ten!" The crewmember at the helm had no hesitation, reflexively turning the wheel while repeating the command, "Steer to port ten!" Moments later, the command was executed. The sailor reported the effect of the execution, "Ten degrees to port!" Harvey nodded silently; the Thesus, with its course altered, headed straight for Bi Fang. As the distance between them gradually narrowed, Harvey issued another command, "Full speed ahead, don''t stop, we''re going straight for it! Begin ice breaking!" "Aye! Prepare for ice breaking!" The crewmember operating the signal light quickly flashed a signal according to the command, and Bi Fang on the coast saw the flickering lights. Having a certain understanding of signals, Bi Fang instantly understood Captain Harvey''s idea. It signaled for him to clear the way, and he quickly pulled on the reins, turning the sled inland. After moving nearly a hundred meters away, Bi Fang stopped the sled and watched as the Thesus gradually approached, his eyes filled with anticipation. The viewers'' eyes widened; many had never seen an icebreaker, much less witnessed one breaking ice, and were extremely intrigued. The Three Fools sat in front of Bi Fang, restlessly watching the enormous Thesus getting closer. They couldn''t help but become agitated, standing up and barking wildly at the cruise ship. In the end, it was only after Bi Fang pinched the back of each of the Three Fools'' necks that they reluctantly settled down, although one look at Goudan''s trembling legs showed that he was still very afraid. Seems they''ve never seen a ship before, Bi Fang thought. [The big one is coming, the big one is coming!] [Charge, charge, charge!] [Here it comes, it''s hitting, it''s about to hit!] Under the excited barrage of comments from Shuiyou, the Thesus didn''t slow down for a second; instead, it powered up and smashed into the ice plain, and the collision of steel and solid ice occurred before the eyes of millions. "Crack-crack-crack." Perhaps it was due to the polar night, or maybe the Thesus had encountered a blizzard, but only when the ship drew close to the thick ice did the audience notice that the Thesus was covered in white frost. The steel body of the ship emitted the unique structural collision sounds of a massive object. The metallic resonance echoed continuously within the empty hull, eventually reaching the ice sheet above. There was no shock as imagined, no exaggerated scenes, like entering a realm without ice... Without the slightest bit of hesitation, the Thesus collided straight into the ice sheet, shattering chunks of solid ice as easily as a hot knife slices through butter. The ground trembled faintly, and the once-continuous ice sheet once again became drift ice, floating away to sea. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For safety reasons, there were no tourists on the deck to watch; to avoid the sudden trembling during the collision that could lead to falls into the ocean, so only a few sailors were patrolling. "Goudan, let''s go!" Bi Fang tugged at the reins, sitting on a sled, once again distancing himself from the shore. The ice-breaking capability of the Thesus was a bit better than he had anticipated. A hundred-meter distance was not safe enough; they needed to retreat farther back. Goudan, who had been needing to relieve himself, sprinted off and pulled back to a distance of three hundred meters. There are a total of seven levels used to classify the ice-breaking capabilities of professional icebreakers around the world, with level one being the strongest. A level three standard for ice-breaking means it can continually break through 1.5 meters of 2-year-old sea ice. The Snow Dragon II is a level three icebreaker, while the older Snow Dragon is generally between levels five and six; thus, for thicker and older ice layers, the Snow Dragon could only longingly keep its distance. Today, there are only two or three icebreakers that can continuously break through three-meter-thick ice layers ¨C the strongest icebreakers, strictly speaking. An example includes the Fifty Years Victory of Polar Bear and Red Era. Naturally, the Thesus could not be compared to these monstrous ships; even if it underwent sufficient renovation to be comparable to a new ship, it was still just an exploration cruise ship. However, it was also an icebreaker! An icebreaking cruise ship is extremely rare! Many travelers to the Arctic or Antarctica are very concerned about a ship''s icebreaking capabilities, often inquiring whether the ship they are boarding is an icebreaker. This actually confuses scientific exploration voyages to the Arctic and Antarctic with tourist voyages to Antarctica, where ice-breaking capabilities become very important for reaching many areas unexplored by humans. In contrast, tourists typically only visit a small part of the area, and an icebreaking ship is often not necessary; a ship with reinforced bow and ice-resistant ability would suffice. So-called ice-resistant ships are those whose unique construction structures significantly strengthen the ship''s ability to withstand glaciers. A ship must meet certain requirements and technical parameters and demonstrate certain capabilities to obtain relevant ice-class certification, which is divided into ABC levels. In short, the higher the ice-resistance level, the deeper it can venture into ice-filled waterways, navigating through the ice floes, and reaching places that other ships can''t. The lower the ice-resistance level, the smaller the range of reach and activity. Therefore, in Antarctica, there are no icebreaking tour ships at all, and only a few exist in the Arctic. Luckily, the Thesus is one of them! During the initial renovation, Captain Harvey had invested heavily, and he was at a loss for quite some time, which made him doubt whether it was worth it. Nobody expected that the Thesus''s moment to truly shine would come today. It cannot be denied, it is the lucky ship of the Gray Whales. As the ice layer continued to crack, the Thesus, like a sharp-pointed hammer, ruthlessly smashed into the ice sheet, tearing open a large fissure. Chapter 710 707 Occupying a Spot Chapter two isn''t finished yet, just holding a spot to maintain attendance. I''ll have it revised before 1 AM. The aurora improved everyone''s visibility and also accelerated the pace of the sled dogs. The endurance of the sled dogs is excellent, and if they''re let loose to run, they could keep going for the better part of a day without any issues. However, considering the load and the number, after two hours, Bi Fang pulled on the dogs'' harness and stopped the sled to take a break. "Two hours, we must have covered at least twenty-five kilometers. That''s much faster than I could walk." The normal walking speed of humans in snow is only about three kilometers per hour, which means that without the help of the sled dogs, it would have taken Bi Fang at least a whole day to cover the same distance, and even that might not have been enough. But the three fools had accomplished this in just two short hours. "Of course, this is just the speed when they start out full of energy. It will get slower after this, the pace might even halve. But it will still be much faster than if I were walking by myself. Maybe we''ll even reach the coast by tonight." Bi Fang patted Goudan, who was panting heavily, took out a dog bowl, and poured some water and food for each of the three fools, then he sat down to enjoy the beautiful night scene and chat with the audience. Half an hour later, the rested Bi Fang advanced again, and it was not until the third break that the viewers began to question because they noticed that Bi Fang''s rest times were too regular: two hours of running followed by half an hour of rest. If it were ordinary times, it wouldn''t matter. But how was Bi Fang determining the time? "Ah, that''s actually quite simple," Bi Fang said, pointing to the sky. Even without a watch or the sun, Bi Fang still had many ways to judge the time, and he wouldn''t let it affect his actions. For instance, he could look at the moon in the sky, or he could simply ask the viewers in the live stream. Cough cough, of course, the last method smells a bit like cheating. Unless it''s an emergency, Bi Fang usually prefers to rely on his own methods to tell the time. "In the wilderness, telling time is often not so critical because, most of the time, you don''t actually need this thing." Surviving in the wild is not like living in a city; there''s no one to dictate when you should do what. Everything is up to you to decide. To survive, you need only food, water, and fire. The procurement of these three necessities only slightly correlates with time when hunting for food, and even then, it''s not that significant. You just need to avoid the twilight and night times when predators are most active. Until now, Bi Fang had never encountered the polar night phenomenon. He was used to the routine of working with the sunrise and returning at sunset. However, since he was now depending on dog sledding, regular breaks based on time were necessary to improve efficiency. "That''s why I never talked about how to tell time before. Actually, it''s quite simple." "Sun, moon, and stars, rising in the east and setting in the west, never ceasing in their motion. The rising and setting of celestial bodies act like a natural clock. In astronomy, by observing stars with precision instruments, you can determine the exact time." "But by using simple methods to watch the stars, we can also tell the approximate time. Although the precise process is different, the basic principle remains the same. It''s generally not needed in the wilderness, but it can be quite useful for those who travel at night." [Eh, you can tell time by the stars?] [I understand using the sun, and maybe the moon too, but aren''t stars a bit of a stretch?] [I always thought stars were only used for navigation, Old Fang. Are you confused or just rattled by the cold?] [Experience proves that everyone who doubted Old Fang ended up being proven wrong in the end. Just take out your notebooks and start learning, folks!] Some were skeptical of Bi Fang''s claim. The sun and the moon make sense, the former is easy to tell the time by, and the latter is doable, although more difficult. But stars, that sounded far-fetched! [By the way, why is there no moon tonight, isn''t it clear skies?] Speaking of the moon, many viewers suddenly noticed that despite the clear, starry sky, there was no moon to be seen. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Of course there isn''t, when ''Arctic night'' arrives. Only during half of the month can we see the moon, whether full or crescent, rotating all day around the sky. During the other half of the month, the moon is not visible, and obviously, now is that half when we cannot see the moon, otherwise I wouldn''t need to use the stars to tell the time," Master Fang explained. [I want to learn, give me the lowdown.] Bi Fang raised a finger toward the sky: "Do you see the Big Dipper Seven Stars up there?" From the first-person perspective, the viewers easily found the Big Dipper Seven Stars that Bi Fang was pointing out and acknowledged in agreement. "Previously, I mentioned that if we face north and then extend the line from the two stars at the end of the Big Dipper''s bowl five times longer, we can find Polaris." "Now, we take Polaris as the center of a clock face, with the line from the pointer stars to Polaris as the hour hand. Divide the clock face into twelve equal parts: at the top is 12, on the right is 3, at the bottom is 6, on the left is 9, and this, is the Big Dipper Clock." Due to the consistent perspective, what Bi Fang saw and pointed out was crystal clear, so there was no chance of error. With his guided assistance, the viewers easily imagined a large clock. [The Big Dipper Clock, that''s a cool name.] "Since the stars rise in the east and set in the west, the hour hand of the Big Dipper Clock moves in the opposite direction of a regular clock''s hands. After 12 o''clock, it points to 11 o''clock, then successively to 10, 9, 8, 7... and so on. Although the direction of the Big Dipper Clock''s hour hand is different from a regular clock, it can accurately show almost the same time," Bi Fang continued. "When observing, just remember your local longitude, remember, here we express longitude in terms of time, because the Earth rotates 360¡ã in 24 hours, so we can divide the local longitude by 15 to get the time, recognize the ''hour'' number which the star clock''s hour hand points to, and also consider the observation month and date. Finally, subtract a constant from it, and you will immediately get the needed time," Master Fang elucidated. "This method can be simplified into a formula, that is, Capital time = 36.4 - longitude - 2(hour number + M)." "M represents the number of months from January 1st up till the time of observation. If the result is negative, 24 hours must be added. As for the origin of the 36.4 hour figure, it can be understood as just a constant in the formula, which doesn''t need to be understood," he clarified. [Wow, it''s profound and impressive.] [Got it, but not quite.] [What''s clear is that Master Fang is awesome, what''s unclear is how to determine time (dog head).] "Actually, it''s quite simple," Bi Fang said with a smile, "For example, on the night of June 1st in a certain year, at the Capital Astronomical Observatory, the longitude is 7 hours 45 minutes. If you see the Big Dipper Clock''s hand at 10, can you figure out the current Capital time?" Bi Fang waited a while, but seeing that only a few in the chat came up with answers, he decided not to keep them in suspense and directly drew out the solution in the snow with a stick. "This kind of thing can actually be done mentally. Now, knowing that June 1st is 5 months from January 1st, M is 5. So, the Capital time then is..." A simple equation appeared in the snow, enlightening the viewers. 36.4 hours - 7.75 hours - 2(10 + 5) hours = -1.4 hours. -1.4 + 24 = 22.6 hours. Which is 10:36 p.m. "Sometimes when the Big Dipper Seven Stars are not visible, but the Cassiopeia constellation, which is almost exactly opposite to it, has risen, we can still use it by considering the line from Beta Cassiopeiae to Polaris as the ''hour hand.'' The division of the clock face and the direction of rotation remain the same as with the Big Dipper Clock." Chapter 711 708: Sweet Dreams "Buzzzz~~" Pulling on the curve saw, the roaring sound of steel rose above the ice field; sparse snow dust trembled slightly on the ground. The passenger wielding the electric saw showed excitement on his face¡ªan excitement only heightened by the scarf that covered it, leaving only half a face visible, which under the starlight appeared somewhat eerie. [What an electric saw maniac] [God, this uncle wielding the saw really has that vibe] Not far away, a little boy following behind his parents saw this scene, fell to the ground, his eyes and pupils dilating as he suddenly burst into tears, frightened to crying! The sudden crying sound pressed down the sound of the electric saw by Points, and the tourist wielding the saw showed an embarrassed Points smile. Watching this scene, the audience couldn''t restrain their snarky spirits. [Goodness me, I knew my feeling was right] [Texas Chainsaw Massacre Zhang San, I choose you!] The embarrassment was just a gap. After the brief commotion, everyone didn''t forget the main reason they had come here, and the scene quickly became orderly. The preheated generator finally was in place; the spotlights turned on, illuminating the ice so that it shimmered brightly. "Don''t let the engine stop, otherwise it will definitely freeze." "Be careful, stay back." "Don''t get too close, don''t get too close!" "Put on your scarf, be careful of frostbite." The sailors were experienced; they often ventured into the Arctic and were well versed in how to handle the environment, organizing themselves efficiently without needing reminders from Bi Fang. The tourists, without such experience, began to cut into the ice in an orderly manner under the sailors'' guidance. Under the sharp teeth of the saw, snow and ice danced, forming a bridge of ice in mid-air. "Keep warm, keep warm, don''t expose any skin, beware of losing your ears! Your skin will also crack, so if you don''t want to ruin your looks, don''t take off your scarf and face mask!" S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing someone exhausted, trying to remove his scarf to breathe, the keen-eyed sailors immediately shouted a warning. The sailors managed the situation with ease; after all, drilling holes wasn''t a complex task. Just by giving direction, these crew members could handle it well, so Bi Fang sat down and let go of his worries. With the help of twenty people and modern tools, the impact of one more or one less was imperceptible to him. Seeing the sailors handle everything efficiently, Bi Fang didn''t intervene, as he was already very tired. From discovering the whale, to confirming the route, and all the way to the arrival of the Thesus, many didn''t realize that Bi Fang had gone without sleep for over twenty hours and was physically and mentally exhausted. But accidents always happen unexpectedly. A scream woke Bi Fang from his doze, and he looked up sharply to find a passenger clutching his eyes, shouting and panicking. "I''m blind, I''m blind, I can''t see, I can''t see anything!" Bi Fang quickly got up and, along with the sailors, went to check on the man, holding his hands down, only to find that his eyelids were frozen shut. Under the magnification of the camera, the audience could clearly see ice crystals all over the passenger''s eyelids, freezing them firmly together. The muscles above trembled in an attempt to break free, to no avail. "Stop moving, relax, relax, it''s just frozen, don''t be afraid," the second mate, experienced in handling such matters, said, "Forcibly trying to open them will only tear your eyelids. If you want to keep them, don''t move." The second mate was a stocky man. He wasn''t good at comforting people, but with his mix of threatening and advising words, the other man quickly calmed down. "It''s a small matter, what''s there to fear, every year a few people get their eyelids frozen," said the second mate, and then turned to shout, "Anybody know this mister''s family, or friends?" The lady beside him quickly raised her hand, "Me, I''m his wife!" "Okay, ma''am, could you please help lick the ice crystals off your husband''s eyelids?" "Lick them off?!" The lady looked shocked. The second mate turned to look at the sailors nearby, who had expressions of disgust, and shrugged, "Yes, if you don''t want to do it, then we will have to find someone else, but I think it would be best if you could do it; otherwise, we will have to do it for you." Upon hearing this, the man''s mind involuntarily conjured up images, and he blurted out in panic, "Lisa, you do it, you do it!" Lisa''s face stiffened with embarrassment, "Okay... okay then!" The second mate released the man''s hands, watching the couple lean into each other with a smile on his face. Although Bi Fang was tired, he couldn''t help but laugh, moving a little farther away and saying to the audience with a smile, "In places like the Arctic and Antarctic, where the eyes are moister, eyelids can easily freeze if exposed to the cold air for too long." "If you have a companion by your side at that time, it is the correct thing to have him lick them open for you. Of course, besides licking, you could also use your urine, which is another method, only..." [Only what?] [Hurry up and tell us!] [Wow, urine works too? What if your tongue gets stuck?] [You know what I mean (sly)] The audience''s curiosity was piqued, asking questions one after another. Bi Fang pointed to the thermos still on the seat of the snowmobile, "With so many people here, I don''t believe they didn''t bring hot water." The astute audience instantly understood; oh, it was deliberate! With hot water available, there was no need to resort to licking. "Typically, small teams don''t have hot water and usually do as I do, placing the water bottle next to them and using body heat to melt the snow. However, the temperature of the thawed water is definitely not as high as body temperature, so using body fluids is the fastest and most convenient choice. But for a large team, naturally, boiling water is the way to go." "And for small teams, even if they have hot water, licking is actually better because when you pour water, things like hair or collar inevitably get wet, easily causing a cold. But as I said, these issues are nothing for a large team." Bi Fang didn''t reveal the truth; it was just a small joke, and they were husband and wife after all. Once the eyelids were licked open, the man blinked and seemed to regain his composure, quieting down. People around considered it an overreaction and even scoffed at them. As the second mate said, in the Arctic, it was a minor issue; every year, there would be a few tourists on deck who got their eyelids frozen, and they could take care of it themselves without needing the ship''s doctor. "Mr. Fang, would you like something to eat?" A sailor came over, pulling out a hazelnut chocolate bar from his pocket. Bi Fang swallowed, the sweet treat was hugely tempting for him at the moment, like a vampire smelling fresh blood, but in the end, he shook his head, restraining himself with great willpower. "No thanks, I''m not hungry right now. Just keep digging along my route, I''m too tired and want to rest for a while." "All right, sweet dreams." Chapter 712 712: 709 Occupying a spot to maintain full attendance, refresh after one hour. "Come back!" Bi Fang grabbed the reins in his hand, stopping Sanshao who was still sprinting, but due to inertia, the sled still slid forward several dozen meters. The undulating sea was now visible to the naked eye, and after a day of travel, they had finally returned to the shores of Greenland, which was much faster than traveling on foot. Bi Fang took the tools he had prepared earlier from the sled and unleashed Sanshao, walking to the seaside to start extracting salt following the same steps as before. "I''ve extracted it many times already, still the same old routine, filter, evaporate, precipitate, dissolve..." It wasn''t until late at night, after hours of extraction, that Bi Fang finally managed to collect more than half a pot of sea salt, which was enough for survival. Having obtained the essentials for survival, Bi Fang, who had labored all day, prepared to build a temporary shelter to rest. Having run the entire day, it was already around seven in the evening when they reached the coast, and if he were to rush back overnight, it would mean staying awake all through the night, which Bi Fang had no intention of doing. Moreover, the main purpose of this trip was to gather salt, but not the only one, as Bi Fang also wanted to look around to see if he could catch some more game, such as reindeer, musk oxen, or even puffins would be great. "However, everyone must never rest by the coastline, as that''s extremely dangerous, because you might encounter seals, walruses, or even polar bears coming ashore." "The west coast of Greenland is home to about six species of seals, which you can easily spot if you''re touring the fjords by boat. These seals each weigh between 100 to 300 kilograms, depending on the species." Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Besides that, the walruses of Greenland are quite large and different from seals; they''re often found on or near the eastern coastal beds of Greenland." "Don''t be fooled by their chubby, seemingly docile appearances on Animal Planet; walruses can have tusks several meters long and use them defensively. The males are over three meters in length and weigh between 1,200 to 3,000 kilograms." "Although these guys move quite slowly, believe me, if you encounter them while you''re asleep, it would be an absolute disaster if caught off guard," Bi Fang said seriously. How dangerous an animal is can be an extremely important reference, and the ones he was talking about are all several times larger than humans. Perhaps because of their physical structure, they''re not as formidable for those who are prepared, but one still shouldn''t take them lightly. [My god, walruses are that fat? One to three tons?] [Damn, aren''t these things fatter than musk oxen?] [One could eat for a long time, right?] [Eat, eat, eat, that''s all you think about. Can''t you think about their tusks for once (Dog''s head)] [After all, they''re the elephants of the sea, it''s far-fetched but not unbelievable.] Moving nearly a kilometer away from the coastline, Bi Fang started setting up camp right there, digging a "top-side-communal snow hole" with Sanshao. "Top-side-communal snow hole sounds fancy, but it''s really just what it says, a hole that you can dig from the top and sides simultaneously." "And the final result is the same, which is to dig out a tunnel leading to an arched chamber. The required snow depth for the hollow must be consistent with the depth needed for the snow hole, at least one and a half meters deep, with three meters or more being optimal." "The downside is that you need to cover the top hole with snow blocks, and the process of making and placing snow blocks is much more complex than digging the snow hole." "However, compared to a snow hole, the main advantage of a top-side-communal snow hole is that it allows two people to dig simultaneously, so the construction is faster. Also, it eliminates the need to dig snow inside and then transport it out through a passage." Even though there was only Bi Fang there, it didn''t matter because he had three dogs! Given a direction, a simple three-meter tunnel was nothing for them, and a space of roughly one meter eighty square could accommodate two people. Bi Fang found a spot with suitable snow depth and then compacted the snow at the selected location using his skis. "The chamber for sleeping should be underneath this compacted area, and the compacted snow provides a base for the blocks to seal off the top. If the compacted snow is relatively shallow, you should shovel snow from elsewhere on top of the compacted snow to increase the depth. However, we''re in the Arctic after all, where snow is abundant; in other places, you might need to create a location to gather snow blocks." "If snow is brought from elsewhere, you don''t need to compact it with boots, but you should compress it with a shovel. As soon as you find a suitable spot, compact the snow because you still need to construct the other parts, and it takes time for the compacted snow to freeze together. Only then can you dig a sturdy snow hole." "After leveling it, avoid walking in this area, or you''ll create cracks in the snow. This is another task that should be done as early as possible because the blocks will be more solid after they freeze." "For instance, if you marked a path to the snow shelter a day before moving camp, you could carve out thick and durable blocks from this path." "Wait until the compacted snow can freeze solid, and then dig a hole in the center of the compacted area above the future snow hole. The hole shouldn''t be too wide, only enough for someone to stand inside and shovel out the snow. The smaller the entrance, the easier it is to block with snow blocks." "Be careful not to stand immediately on the hardened snow around the entrance. If you do fall in, fill the accidental hole with compacted snow and try not to cover this fragile area with blocks afterward. If the snow is too dry and cannot be compacted to fill a mistakenly dug hole, you can quickly create ''epoxy resin'' with water and snow." "Dig down a few feet, then start digging to the side..." While explaining the points to note, Bi Fang drew a circle and had Sanshao begin to dig down with all their might. From start to finish, it took less than an hour to construct a camp that could accommodate one man and three dogs. The next day, Bi Fang took the refined sea salt, boarded the sled, and headed home in a curved path, trying to find more signs of animals. In the middle, he even saw a polar bear lying on the sea ice. When the bear saw Bi Fang, it didn''t react at all, perhaps thinking that he was too far away to catch, so it lay there unconcerned, which was a relief for Bi Fang. Perhaps the polar bear was eyeing a lair in the ice, Bi Fang mused remembering the lax demeanor of the polar bear. "Tssk!" A massive rush of water suddenly exploded from the ground, shooting up high in the air. Standing on the sled, Bi Fang grabbed the reins and couldn''t help but look in the direction of the commotion. Chapter 713 710: Delayed Update ``` I had something to take care of during the day and went to the hospital, so today''s update isn''t ready yet. I''ll edit and refresh it once it''s done, just holding a spot to maintain the daily updates. You can check it out tomorrow, refreshing this chapter will suffice. .... Arctic Survival, Day Seven. When Bi Fang pushed aside the snow and stepped out of the dim cave, almost everyone involuntarily breathed a sigh of relief. The blizzard that had raged for nearly four days had finally come to an end. As far as the eye could see, the whole world was once again covered in snow. The rocks that were initially exposed, symbolizing the arrival at the frozen tundra, had completely disappeared as if the ice plains had returned once more. This blizzard was not ordinary; it was more like a signal of the perpetual night''s approach. Bi Fang took a breath, looking at the sun hanging low on the horizon. In any low-latitude region, the sun''s position could have been considered dusk, but on Greenland, it was already midday. "In all my adventures, I have never felt so weak." Walking onto the land and taking deep breaths, Bi Fang found himself slightly short of breath, with a lack of oxygen supply due to his rather excited state, but after only a few breaths, he quickly recovered. Oxygen uptake had always been one of Bi Fang''s strengths. In seven days, having eaten only some lichens and moss, aside from satiety, the energy gained was pitifully little; in fact, it was mostly trace elements. However, these things were not the most important for survival. Bi Fang needed fat, fat rich in copious amounts of oil that could provide a full quota of heat with every bite. Fish, foxes, reindeer, mice, anything would do. But it was difficult to find mammals at that moment; humans feared the cold, and so did animals. "Animals, in order to adapt to the environment, develop thick fur and several centimeters of fat layers, but it doesn''t mean that they''re not afraid of the cold. On the contrary, once they sense a change in the weather, these polar animals know better than humans how to preserve their own body fat. Therefore, after a blizzard, it''s very hard to find any trace of prey." "On one hand, the blizzard has wiped everything out, all traces have vanished, making the search for prey much more difficult. On the other hand, those clever natives have already run away early on. Three days'' time is enough for them to escape the range of the blizzard." "If we want to find prey to replenish our energy, sea fish are the simplest and most likely catch, and that''s our first choice." After a few simple analyses, Bi Fang had decided what needed to be done, which was also the only choice with a higher likelihood of success. The changing polar climate often causes large prey such as reindeer, seals, and whales to migrate elsewhere or periodically abandon their habitats, leading to significant fluctuations in prey numbers. This is an objective fact. This fact has directly determined the fate of the Indigenous people of America who live by hunting. Although the Inuit people have been surviving in Greenland for eight centuries since their arrival, a change in prey numbers still has an impact on them. Archaeologists have found numerous Inuit igloos sealed in ice like time capsules, with the bodies of entire families frozen inside, lifelike as though they were ice sculptures. Most of them didn''t survive the ordeal of a particular winter and starved to death in their igloos, ultimately becoming live ice sculptures. Perhaps it''s not entirely accurate because no one can say for sure whether they starved to death first, froze first, or if both happened simultaneously. Even during the Danish Colonial Period, there were frequent accounts of lone Inuit stumbling toward Danish settlements, saying that all their people had starved to death, leaving only the individual behind. ``` Bi Fang''s tone was no longer as forceful as in the past few days, but it was still clear. In a trance, it was as if everyone once again saw the blizzard from last night. In the midst of the blizzard, a barely discernible figure emerged from the blur, becoming clear as it approached, speaking in not-so-fluent Danish, begging the Danes who had come here for some bread frozen like stone, or some other form of sustenance. When the man spoke of relatives frozen into ice sculptures, there was no fluctuation on his face; he was all too accustomed to such sights. Under this blizzard, the man had already seen no less than three similarly completely sealed ice houses, deeply buried in the snow and ice, with no trace of smoke coming out from them, only the cold air emitting chillness. The man neither had nor wanted to open them to see; he knew what was inside¡ªperhaps one, or perhaps many, but always no survivors. For nearly a thousand years, there had always been clan members dying in such a way. Was it painful? Not at all. Any extreme emotion would require a lot of energy, and the man no longer had the strength to produce those emotions. Crying can burn about 1.3 calories per minute, so ten minutes of crying would consume 13 calories. Laughter also burns calories; 10-15 minutes can burn up to 40 calories, enough to lose nearly 2 pounds after laughing every day for a year. Excess emotions are expensive in the face of survival. Human survival is not an easy task. It requires a great deal of labor to obtain the necessities for food, clothing, shelter, and transportation. When these are not met, emotions become superfluous. Hence, wild animals never have as rich emotions as humans¡ªthey struggle to survive themselves, let alone spare energy for crying or laughing. In the cruel polar regions, there is no difference between humans and animals. This image appeared in the audience''s minds unbidden, sending shivers down their spines. It was terrifying. [Whoa, that was another close call with death, Old Fang.] [Death is like the wind, always by my side.] [Feels like Boss Fang has lost a lot of weight (Dog''s head)] [Drained by the Arctic.] [So where to find fish?] "Keep going further in," Bi Fang said as he broke through the cave he had painstakingly dug out, causing the entire roof to collapse and erase the traces of his stay. "If we continue further in, the conditions for survival will improve significantly, and there''s a chance of finding a river. The ice there won''t be too thick and can be broken through, and river fish are much easier to catch than sea fish." Shouldering his backpack, Bi Fang continued his trek. As the world''s largest island, Greenland''s total area reached an astonishing 2.1756 million square kilometers¡ªnearly one-third the size of Australia, almost comparable to a continent. In fact, UNESCO has established that any landmass larger than Greenland is officially considered a continent. This academic standard is why there are six continents identified on Earth. Therefore, it is not surprising that there are many rivers within the island. Even on the ice cap, there will be many weak spots. During the summer, these can even melt into rivers on the ice cap. These weak spots are also places where it''s possible to dig through to fish, though it''s very dangerous. "The thickness of ice formed by natural rivers is never uniform, especially in recent years with the intensification of the greenhouse effect, many ice surfaces have become extremely thin. The bearing capacity of such ice is not visible to the naked eye. Actually, when you step out to test the solidity of the ice, you are joking with your own life." "The warming in the Arctic region is happening faster than anywhere else on Earth. Some predict that by 2050, the average annual temperature in the Arctic will rise by 4¡æ. By mid-century, the summer sea ice will all but have disappeared. So this place is not entirely safe, and falling into an ice river greatly reduces the chances of survival compared to normal rivers." "Sixteen years ago, a man in Anshan was ice-skating on the surface of the Wanshui River beneath the Dawn Bridge when he fell into the river due to the ice breaking. He tragically lost his life. During the incident, someone threw a tree branch into the water, but because the man''s strength failed him and the river water was too cold, he drowned before he could reach the branch." [It''s starting, it''s starting, the "lessons learned" from Master Fang] [Ah, Anshan, that''s right here. I kind of remember that] [Falling into the ice river, you''d either drown or freeze to death] "Unlike normal rivers, once you fall into an icy river, the extreme cold causes all the blood vessels in your body to contract sharply, making you feel an electric shock. This sensation typically fades within three minutes." "Then, your body will experience a torso reflex due to the stimulation of the cold water, which makes you hyperventilate excessively, causing your heart rate to increase rapidly and can lead to temporary shock." "So you need to control your breathing rate to avoid gasping for air. Next, you will have to face hypothermia because the body loses heat 32 times faster in cold water than in air." "In fact, this is the most dangerous part; you might not even wait for the shock to wear off before you lose consciousness due to hypothermia." Bi Fang regulated his strength with his breath while looking around for something. The blizzard had been raging for four days straight, making it nearly impossible to see anything that could be used on the ground. All the shrubs he had collected before had been burned as fuel, leaving Bi Fang with no materials to make snowshoes, and walking in the snow field was extremely draining; each step felt like pulling out a stopper. Shaking his head, Bi Fang continued to chat with his audience. "At the initial moment you fall into the water, try to shed as much weight from your body as possible, but don''t immediately take off your clothes, as the air trapped in your clothing can help you float and temporarily keep you warm." ??? This statement overturned the audiences'' conventional wisdom. Don''t take off your clothes after falling in water? [Did you get that wrong, Master Fang?] [This feels different from what I learned....] [Not take off your clothes? Once soaked, clothing becomes heavier, and it clings to you, making it even colder and impossible to swim! Misleading and ignorant! If you don''t have basic knowledge, please don''t live stream, okay?] Most viewers were puzzled; a very small number of new viewers, possibly trolls, even accused Bi Fang of misleading people. Bi Fang just shrugged, not minding the criticism. With millions of fans, even one-thousandth of troll fans would amount to over a hundred thousand, more than most streamers have. He saw such comments almost every time; if he really cared, it would wear him down to death. "The idea of removing your clothes when you fall into water is a mistake of inertia in thinking and not informed by practical conditions." "Firstly, winter clothing with sufficient thickness like nylon, cotton, shirts, and jackets that are made of densely woven fabric are water-resistant and serve as a barrier from the body. Down jackets, which contain a lot of air, prevent you from sinking immediately and delay the iciness of the cold water." "On the contrary, some woolen fabrics that absorb water do indeed get heavier and should be removed. But then again... do you have time to take them off? And even if you do, will you have the strength left to swim? Moreover, wool products are mostly underwear, right? In winter, everyone wears at least three layers of clothes; can you guarantee to take them all off within a minute?" His series of questions left the viewers speechless. Yes, they would get heavier, but does heavy necessarily mean you have to take them off? The water is icy, your strength drains rapidly, and most people are in a state of fear at this point. Do you really want to calm down and peel off your coats one by one? Isn''t that like hastening your own reincarnation? On the other hand, heavy objects like backpacks are easy to take off and definitely should be discarded. In reality, given the quality of modern clothing, a winter coat won''t fill with water instantly, even if fully submerged. It can take minutes and may even act as a life jacket. "Even if your clothes are filled with water, there is no need to take them off, as they can prevent the circulation of water. Have you ever played with water? If you put your hand in ice water, does it feel colder if you stay still or if you move?" Anyone with a bit of common sense knows it''s obviously colder when you move. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After the body warms the water a little, moving creates a water flow, and the cold water that has not been warmed will wrap around the body again. However, if you are wearing clothes, it will to some extent prevent such a circulation of water. Furthermore, even if clothing becomes heavier, it doesn''t feel significant in water. It''s only when you climb out that the weight becomes unbearable. In the water, buoyancy supports you, and the weight is not so heavy that you can''t keep up. So, from any perspective, it''s better not to take them off. The Shuiyou had an epiphany. [Damn, I''ve been wrong all this time!?] [Learned something new, another survival tip.] [Master Fang is awesome!!] [I have a reason to suspect that what comes next is a practical demonstration.] "There''s no demonstration, I''m about to freeze to death." Bi Fang sneezed again. If it was right after he arrived, a dip in the water wouldn''t have been a problem, but now with a cold and weakened, it would truly be risky to try. Better to be cautious. While explaining the essentials of Arctic survival to his audience, Bi Fang finally found some material that could be of use. "Hey, look what I''ve found." Bi Fang pulled his foot out of the thick layer of snow, hopped and skipped in a new direction toward a black dot on the ground. The presence of a black dot in a field of snow definitely meant something different was there. When Bi Fang reached the black dot and brushed away the snow to look... Ha! A long tree branch! Ssst! The viewers drew in a breath of cold air, and the global greenhouse effect suddenly intensified a notch, accelerating the melting of the Arctic ice. The ice breakaway thundered into the icy surface, causing waves that surprised a cruise ship passing by. The Shuiyou did not expect to see such a familiar old friend in the desolate Arctic! Bi Fang''s face was matted with snowflakes; after wiping them off, he pulled out the whole branch. A fairly thick branch with many forks - perfect material for a tree stick! [Artifact acquired, the chances of success for this survival increased by a hundred percent, the chances of finding food increased by a hundred percent, the chances of finding a river increased by a hundred percent!] [Finding a tree stick means victory!] [Server announcement: Congratulations to the player Bi Fang for obtaining the only designated artifact of this server, a dry tree branch.] Chapter 714 711: Goudans Old Master The rescue plan was carried out in an orderly manner, with digging and ice-breaking happening at the same time, and the distance between the two parties was gradually closing. On the second day of the rescue operation, even members of the Inuit tribe came to pray. Out of curiosity, Bi Fang put down the chainsaw he was holding, kicked the cut ice blocks aside, and went to meet the newcomers. There were three men, all with broad faces, small eyes, and clothes adorned with white fur, accompanied by sled dogs on leashes, licking their shoe tops. "Polar bear fur!" Bi Fang recognized at a glance the material of the Inuit men''s clothing; it was undoubtedly polar bear fur. Inuit people had annual hunting permits for polar bears, so Bi Fang was not surprised to see them wearing polar bear fur, but he found it rather unusual. "In fact, Inuit people nowadays seldom do this. Usually, they would use their hunting quota and then sell the polar bear fur to others in exchange for living supplies, conducting resource exchanges. Self-sufficient Inuit people like these are actually quite rare in this century." "And have you noticed? They''re also traveling by sled!" Clad in polar bear fur and riding sleds, without a doubt, these people led a very primitive lifestyle. Many Inuit people at lower latitudes had already abandoned traveling by sled, switching to snowmobiles instead¡ªconvenient and fast. The Inuit people''s sleds looked much more luxurious than the one hastily put together by Bi Fang, and were fully equipped. One sled was pulled by seven sled dogs, the lead dog charging ahead, followed by pairs of dogs. There were two sleds here, a total of fourteen dogs, making for a lively scene. "The number of dogs on a sled is generally odd; the lead dog guides the way, and the others run in pairs. This makes it easier to control the direction of the sled and avoids accidents." While chatting with the audience, the Inuit also noticed Bi Fang standing by and approached to greet him. Both having Asian features, although there was quite a difference in attractiveness, they naturally felt a sense of kinship. During their conversation, everyone learned why the other party had come. Contrary to what they had imagined, the three Inuit men had not come because they had seen Bi Fang''s live stream, but rather because they were out hunting and were drawn to the bustling scene of people breaking the ice-cave with curiosity. However, the Inuit people did not intend to stay to help the whales. Once they understood the situation, they prayed for the three whales for a while and then prepared to leave. "Woof!" A familiar bark drew everyone''s attention, and as Bi Fang looked up, he saw Goudan joyfully circling another sled dog, his tail twirling like a little whirlwind. Then, an unexpected scene occurred. Seeing that the lead dog of the other team had no intention of paying any attention to him, Goudan got angry, a boldness surged from within, he leaped and placed his forelimbs on the waist of the unfamiliar lead dog, his hind legs kicking the ground to get closer, and in front of everyone, he began his primal and impulsive day. It was as if crows were flying over everyone''s heads, even the sound of the chainsaw seemed to quieten significantly. The world fell silent. Bi Fang''s face darkened as he quickly stepped forward, grabbed Goudan by the scruff, and dragged him away ruthlessly amidst his whines, giving an awkward smile to the Inuit: "I''m so sorry, I didn''t keep an eye on him." Damn it, he almost forgot that dogs'' breeding season is in spring from March to May and in fall from September to November! Now was the prime time! The composition of a dog team has certain requirements¡ªit''s either a mix of males and females for less tiring work or an entire team of the same sex. In a team, all the dogs tend to be quite excitable; any conflict can escalate into a fight quickly. Therefore, to prevent sled dogs from fighting during work, some owners will pair male and female dogs side by side to avoid conflicts arising from competition amongst the same sex; others believe that an all-same-sex dog team will inspire competition and make them run faster; or pairing an older dog with a younger dog to pass on experience. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang''s encounter with the Three Fools was a twist of fate; he had no choice but to take in three male dogs. Meanwhile, the sleds ridden by the Inuit people were pulled by all female dogs! In the restless month of November, with two unromantic big dogs by his side, Goudan, in the prime of his life and driven by hormones, was already desperately restless. Seeing as many as fourteen unclad female dogs at once, could Goudan restrain himself? He couldn''t. He simply didn''t have that capability. And so, everything happened naturally. Bi Fang coughed awkwardly twice; the normally talkative man suddenly found himself at a loss for words. Just as he was searching for what to say, the eldest among the Inuit suddenly shouted, "Banlam?" "Woof!" Goudan, whose neck had been grabbed, leaped up and barked in response to the Inuit man. Upon hearing the response, the Inuit man''s tone clearly turned more excited, and he raised his voice a notch: "Banlam!" "Woof!" Goudan responded again. In such a moment, anyone clever could guess many things, and when they pieced together Goudan''s origins, the online audience howled in dismay. [Whoa, has he found his owner?] [No, don''t do this, didn''t Master Fang say there was a high chance he was unclaimed?] [Alas, another heartbreaking day.] Though Goudan often acted foolishly, the exceptionally clever and lively Erha had left a profound impression on the viewers before their screens. Now, with the appearance of his owner, many viewers felt somewhat lost. Since Bi Fang was not one to take what wasn''t his, there was no doubt that Goudan was leaving them. Even Bi Fang himself thought so. Amidst his bitter smile, the three Inuit men began whispering to each other, and moments later, a surprising and shocking announcement was made. "You''re not Goudan''s owner? And you want to give me three more sled dogs?" Bi Fang asked incredulously. "Goudan? You mean Banlam?" pondered the Inuit man without getting too hung up. He went on to explain. "Banlam''s owner was Amarok, and he''s dead. He passed away in a blizzard just over a month ago." The Inuit man''s gradual narrative clarified everything for everyone. Goudan''s original owner was an Inuit named Amarok, a childless 76-year-old elder whose only family were his eight sled dogs. However, just over a month ago, the old man quietly passed away at home, not likely from hunger or cold, as there was still plenty of food in his house when he was found. Perhaps it was simply because he was too old. This wasn''t surprising. The Arctic is a place with a harsh environment. Living here for years on end, one ages quite rapidly. Seventy-six was already a respectable age. "When we discovered Amarok had died, we found that five of the eight dogs were missing, leaving only three behind, skinny as skeletons. I brought them home and fed them. If you need them, I can help bring them over to you." Chapter 715 712: Reindeer Again Eight dogs ran off, and only five were encountered by Bi Fang... The situation with the other two... S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "The likelihood of their survival is slim," Bi Fang sighed. As an explorer who specialized in wilderness survival, he was well aware of the harshness of survival in the Arctic. Perhaps Goudan''s companions had fallen forever in the snowy wilderness. The only thing that puzzled Bi Fang was why this Inuit man had brought over the other three dogs. Shouldn''t he be returning Goudan instead? After all, Goudan''s original owner had no children, and as part of the inheritance, it would have certainly made more sense for it to be left to a neighbor or someone like that, wouldn''t it? To Goudan''s old master, he was just a stranger after all. The leading Inuit indeed smiled, "But Banlam obviously is more affectionate towards you. Look, even though I called its name, it merely responded and didn''t come over. It has already found a new owner, hasn''t it?" Bi Fang was stunned, looking down at Goudan squatting by his feet. Indeed, when the Inuit man in front of him had called out Banlam''s name, Goudan was indeed very excited, and it was then that Bi Fang had let go. But Goudan did not rush over; instead, it quietly sat down at his feet. My efforts weren''t in vain! With that thought, Bi Fang vigorously rubbed Goudan''s head. "Banlam is the lead dog, and also very smart. I''ve raised many sled dogs and seen even more than a hundred, but Banlam is certainly one of the smartest. I trust its choice. Besides, I already have more sled dogs than I need¡ªthree more or three less, it doesn''t really matter to me. It''s unnecessary and just ends up wasting food," he said. The Inuit leader was right; an average pet dog consumes about 1,000 calories a day, whereas a sled dog can burn up to 10,000 calories in a day pulling sleds, which is ten times or even more than that of a regular dog. However, dogs have strong reproductive capabilities, and unless they are competition-grade, ordinary dogs used for pulling sleds are not too rare, and having too many is just a waste of resources. A purebred sled dog can pull the weight of a person on its own, not only because of its sheer strength, but also due to the lower friction on ice and snow. In international sled competitions, two people on a sled are usually more than enough for four to six robust sled dogs. In sled pulling races held near the Arctic, dozens of Samoyed dogs can even pull several hundred kilograms of goods through winds of -1 to -40 degrees Celsius, requiring only a few short hours of rest each day. What normal household needs such tremendous pulling power? This power, enough to drag a musk oxen, is not only hard to control but also a waste of resources. It''s better off left at home for free boarding. Since the matter had come to this, Bi Fang naturally agreed. For the Inuit people, the sled dogs left by Amarok were an idle resource, but for him, they significantly increased his carrying capacity, facilitating more operations. The audience excitedly yelled and hollered, as the exploration team was about to gain new members! What an unexpected joy, an unexpected joy indeed! Not only was the issue of Goudan''s belonging completely resolved, but there were also three healthy sled dogs to boot. [You good boy, all that meat wasn''t fed to you for nothing!] [From the moment Goudan wore the horn helmet and was reluctant to let go after the fact, I knew this dog was indeed smart.] ``` [Rescuing whales really does bring unexpected joy!] After confirming ownership of Goudan, that afternoon, the Inuit brought over three other sled dogs and handed them over to Bi Fang. They were two Alaskans and a Samoyed, giving Bi Fang a total of six sled dogs: one Erha, three Alaskans, and two Samoyeds. The original team was reassembled, and Goudan was excitedly jumping up and down. Perhaps the only imperfection was the lack of a female in the team. When the initial excitement had passed, Goudan stared blankly into the distance at the fading figure of the Inuit. "Stop looking, you won''t find your wife that way." Bi Fang kicked Goudan''s butt, causing him to bark in dissatisfaction. Holding Goudan''s head down, Bi Fang didn''t mind at all. With three more sled dogs, the pulling power indeed increased significantly. If they could previously pull 120 kilograms, now they could even approach 300 kilograms! This meant that Bi Fang could modify the sled, upgrade its configuration, and easily transport game, as long as it wasn''t something as large as a musk ox. The only problem was that the consumption of food had increased again. The sense of security provided by the musk ox quickly vanished. These dogs ate more than an adult human, making things a bit tougher than Bi Fang had initially anticipated. Luckily, before leaving, the Inuit gave Bi Fang a key piece of information. About twenty kilometers to the southwest, there was a herd of reindeer! Watching Captain Harvey carry on with the rescue plan in an orderly fashion, Bi Fang felt that being short of one person temporarily wasn''t a big problem. After giving notice, Bi Fang set out with the six sled dogs towards the southwest. Opportunities don''t come often, and the reindeer were there now. In two days, they could be anywhere else, an opportunity not to be missed! After briefly bonding and feeding them some water and food, Bi Fang pulled the reins. After a short period of unfamiliarity, he quickly got the hang of driving. All six sled dogs went full throttle, speeding off towards the southwest. With six engines at full power, the drive was certainly strong. Sitting on the sled, Bi Fang felt as if he were coursing through the wind at lightning speed, with the entire ice field open to him. Without a break and just an hour and a half later, Bi Fang found numerous tracks on the ground left by passing reindeer, with an exceptionally large number of footprints. Clearly, this was a very large group. Bi Fang estimated roughly based on the number of footprints that there were at least a hundred! "This is rare." Bi Fang held the dry snow in his hand, discerning the hoof prints on the ground, "Reindeer on Greenland actually went through an extinction event." "Before the 19th century, Greenland had herds of reindeer. Except for the rare occasion when a polar bear could hunt them, the old hunting methods of the Eskimos didn''t impact their populations. But entering the 19th century, as the island''s population increased, the number of wild animals hunted gradually grew." "Especially after 1814, when Greenland became a colony of Denmark, the introduction of hunting rifles sealed the fate of the reindeer populations, leading to their complete eradication. Now, the reindeer on the island are mostly from other places." "So, encountering a group with over a hundred reindeer is quite rare. They probably haven''t gone far. Goudan, continue!" Bi Fang got back onto the sled and resumed the chase. To better look for tracks, he slowed down, and finally, after half an hour, he saw a dense mass of small black dots on the ice field. ``` Chapter 716 713 Whirlwind Formation Reindeer, old friends. Each of these big guys had antlers, and there were many of them, gathered together en masse at this moment, looking quite spectacular. On the snowy ground, Bi Fang and six dogs were buried in the snow, their seven pairs of big eyes rolling around, as if envisioning hundreds of huge roasts with bones sticking out running across the endless snowy plains. Goudan softly called out and scratched at Bi Fang''s clothes with his paws, seemingly urging him to hurry up. Bi Fang was not overly excited, tapped Goudan''s head, and stroked his chin in contemplation, "Without cover, it''s a bit troublesome." No sooner had he spoken than the drone soared high into the air, revealing a bird''s-eye view of the terrain within hundreds of meters ¨C all uniformly snowy plains, exceptionally flat, with no suitable cover to conceal their figures. In such terrain, forget approaching at twenty meters¡ªeven at fifty meters, they could easily be spotted. However, as always, solutions are created by people. Bi Fang stealthily spread out the musk ox skin and sprayed dry snow on top of it. Although occasionally a bit of black hair might still show, on the surface, it already blended in with the environment, not striking enough to attract the reindeer''s attention. Bi Fang lifted a corner of the musk ox skin, crawled inside, and slowly approached the reindeer herd, covered by the skin. The musk ox skin was truly useful, serving as a sleeping mat by night and a hiding spot by day. "Although this isn''t the first time we''ve encountered reindeer, I still have to say that this time might be different from the previous two encounters." Crawling forward in the snow was quite demanding on his strength and was also very cold due to the close friction with the snow. After a while, Bi Fang stopped to catch his breath and temporarily replenish his status. Herbivorous animals being preyed upon by carnivores is an event that can be said to be happening all the time. Usually, when herbivores encounter predators, they choose to run away quickly. But for some herbivores, running away is not the only option, just like the musk oxen Bi Fang met in the Arctic. "Reindeer are herd animals. They typically form ''family groups'' of six to thirteen members, with several such ''family groups'' comprising a large herd, usually numbering in the hundreds. With such numbers, under the right conditions, they can form a unique formation to fend off enemies." A formation? This word, which carried an air of ancient military strategy, left the online friends looking at each other in disbelief. The deer know this trick? But Bi Fang nodded, confirming the audience''s speculation. "The reindeer''s formation is called the Whirlwind Formation, named for its resemblance to a whirlwind, yet this formation is not complicated. It simply involves the entire reindeer herd rotating around a common center. After all, they are only animals, mostly driven by instinct, but this can be formidable for predators in Nature. Once the formation is activated, not to mention wolves, even tigers are powerless." "When carnivores hunt herd animals, they generally only attack some of the weaker individuals, but in the reindeer whirlwind, the weaker members of the herd are in the center of the formation, making it impossible for predators to lock onto an ideal prey." "According to the order from inside to outside, the speed of the reindeer''s Whirlwind Formation increases gradually, with the reindeer on the outer edges moving the fastest, and those located in the outer region of the whirlwind are almost all the strongest in the herd!" As large ungulates, a strong reindeer can weigh over 200 kilograms, with some particularly robust individuals even exceeding 300 kilograms. Moreover, adult reindeer all grow complex branching antlers, which contribute to the reindeer''s formidable offensive capabilities. "Once the reindeer formation was initiated, the reindeer on the perimeter would start running at high speed. If a predator recklessly rushed into the formation at that moment, it would be repeatedly rammed and trampled by consecutive strong reindeer and was very likely to be pierced by their antlers, rendering most predators powerless," Bi Fang explained. After resting, Bi Fang draped the musk ox skin over his head and continued to creep forward. However, the fundamental reason humans displayed behaviors distinctly different from other creatures lay in their knack for thinking. Soon, someone had pointed out a loophole in this formation. [If it''s like a whirlwind, it shouldn''t be easy to move, right? So, when it gets tired and lacks strength, won''t it just be waiting to be slaughtered?] [Yeah, once it''s exhausted, it''s done for] S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Reading the comments, Bi Fang stopped again, blinked, and chuckled, "You''re absolutely right. Hence, when humans arrived, the reindeer went extinct." The audience was stunned. [So this thing is useless against humans, huh?] [As expected of us] "Humans are actually quite isolated from Nature. Hmm, this isn''t easy to explain clearly, but simply put, during the evolutionary process, we humans didn''t co-evolve with many other creatures. Therefore, most of the defense methods evolved by other animals are ineffective against us." "Reindeer are naturally good at running, and the low temperatures of their habitat aid in body heat dissipation. That''s why the reindeer Whirlwind Formation can last a long time. Predators in Nature don''t possess the logical reasoning abilities of humans. They can only judge based on the immediate situation and are unlikely to wait for an extended period," he continued. "On the other hand, when a large group of reindeer runs together, it causes a lot of flying debris, and creates significant vibrations and noise. Clearly, this is a considerable deterrence to predators, and they usually choose to leave in the face of the reindeer whirlwind." Regrettably, these two tactics amounted to nothing against humans. At their wits'' end, the essence of the reindeer whirlwind was too transparent, and humans simply weren''t frightened by it. For humans, formidable formations like the Reindeer Whirlwind, especially in ancient times when they had learned to use tools for long-distance attacks, were utterly ineffective. "The reindeer formation is impressive in scale but quite rigid. It''s just a headlong rush in one direction and isn''t as threatening as the musk oxen''s group defense, which is genuinely dangerous." The musk oxen''s formation strategy involved enclosing the vulnerable in the center, with the stronger musk oxen confronting the predators, counterattacking, and launching fierce assaults¡ªan agile and tricky defense. The reindeer that could only run in circles posed certain danger, but with adequate preparation, they were hardly a concern. "In the past, catching reindeer would occur on frozen rivers or hilly terrain, unfavorable for them to deploy their formation. In face of danger, they had no choice but to scatter. Now it''s different; we are on the open ice plains, so we need to be cautious," Bi Fang elucidated. As he said this, Bi Fang had gotten considerably close to the reindeer, gripping his spear, ready to strike At an opportune moment, Qi, his energy at its peak, suddenly leapt out. The reindeer were startled awake. Just as Bi Fang had mentioned, all reindeer instinctively formed a circle. With layer upon layer, the strongest bucks on the outside began running rapidly around the edge. They tightly spiraled around the center ''eye'' of the formation, their hooves thundering against the ground. Like the galaxies rotating around the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, they were also akin to the hurricanes swirling over the oceans. Chapter 717 714: Oil Saves the Whale "Everyone, give it another push, we are almost through!" The third mate shouted. "Ho!" The crowd cheered. Wielding the electric saw, the third mate cut through the last bit of connection, successfully separating a nearly one square meter block of huge ice into floating chunks within the ice cavern. "Puff!" A spout sounded, and the giant whale''s head pushed through the broken ice, breathing freely at the surface of the sea. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The water column turned into frost in the cold air, landing on the faces of a few tourists who couldn''t dodge in time, but it didn''t cause any discomfort. Instead, everyone laughed heartily, treating it as an affectionate interaction, with some even jostling to be sprayed, in high spirits. Watching the gray whale move step by step closer to the shore with the efforts of the people, such interactive feeling was incomparable, and it was also the fundamental reason why the tourists persisted. Rescuing gray whales sounded noble and was indeed fun, but it was undeniable that most people were initially driven by sheer enthusiasm. Once the Arctic cold wind blew, nobody knew how many would turn into great musicians, beating a retreat, even catching colds. But seeing the gray whales move along with the ice cavern dug out by the people, responding to the interaction, everyone understood that these big guys were extremely intelligent. They weren''t dim-witted wild beasts but rather another kind of highly intelligent creature that could communicate, interact, and share joy. Just the feeling of self-satisfaction from seeing one''s help clearly reciprocated was enough to make many unable to stop, even if they had runny noses and risked their pee being frozen ¨C they would still come running to join in. "Once, at 70 degrees north latitude, every place we went to was inhabited by whales," the first mate said, pointing to the surrounding ice fields, ready to make a grand speech, yet he sighed, "But now you can see nothing. Gray whales, bowhead whales, all gone ¨C seeing a few is already the favor of Lady Luck." In the 19th century, the Inuit, Yupik, and Chukchi peoples dominated the whale populations in the ocean, and it escalated over time, leading to a precipitous decline in the number of whales. It wasn''t until the appearance of Abraham Gesner that this massacre was largely brought to an end. Although to this day the whale populations haven''t shown any signs of recovery, fortunately, they have managed to survive. The reason wasn''t that Abraham Gesner led any great movement to protect the whales but because, through his mineral research, he discovered a fluid made from a combination of coal, bitumen, and oil shale ¨C he called it kerosene. That''s right, kerosene, or to speak more fundamentally, it was the discovery of petroleum that saved the lives of the whales. The largest creatures in the sea, whales were not simply viewed as food; if they were only food, humans wouldn''t have been so eagerly pursuing them. Before the widespread use of petroleum, whales were one of the world''s main energy sources. The unique aspect of these large creatures was the whale oil in their heads, used as fuel, primarily for lighting at that time. In the 1850s, the majority of Ugly Country and European households depended on whale oil for lighting at night, supplying illumination for half the world. Whale oil was rendered from the subcutaneous tissue and internal organs of whales, with the oil from the head of sperm whales providing the brightest and most stable flame. It can be said that, aside from the sun and moon, human illumination at that time almost completely depended on the whaling industry. With the outbreak of the first Industrial Revolution in the early 19th century and the proliferation of the steam engine, as well as the explosive growth of scientific and industrial knowledge, there was a craze for learning new knowledge, and the demand for indoor lighting surged accordingly. Thus, the price of whale oil also soared, making whaling a lucrative livelihood. Greed makes people crazy. At that time, capturing a whale could bring each crew member an income equivalent to half a year''s wages for a land worker. Tremendous economic benefits drove whalers to hunt whales using all kinds of cruel methods. In 1760, whalers from Ugly Country invented the technology to boil and render whale oil on the ship, turning whaling into an industry. Latterly, people slowly turned their attention to whale meat, bones, and even excrement, making full use of the whale for industrial, military, craft, and even cosmetic uses, all bearing the "mark" of whales. A blue whale weighing 120 tons has more than 40 tons of fat, yielding up to 400 barrels of whale oil. But the daily output of an oil well could reach 3000 barrels. Gesner''s new invention not only illuminated the whole world but also cut off the most important source of income for the whaling industry. Different kinds of kerosene emerged one after another, causing the whaling industry to decline rapidly; its "golden age" eventually came to an abrupt end, and the era of whale oil lighting dimmed. So in various senses, it wasn''t animal conservation, but the disappearance of profits, the emergence of the oil industry that truly allowed the world''s whales to dodge a bullet. "Thank God we can still see such beautiful creatures, and I hope our descendants can too," Several tourists at the side made the sign of the cross over their chests. After a brief prayer, everyone went back to work. ... "Heave-ho!" Bi Fang grabbed the reindeer antlers, dragging the huge creature to the side of the sled, strenuously pulling the nearly two-hundred-kilogram beast onto it. Opening the zipper and shedding his coat, Bi Fang gasped for air, rapidly dissipating the heat. The hunting went very smoothly; the reindeer indeed started running, creating a spectacular sight, but Bi Fang didn''t have any plan for a direct confrontation. After the initial ambush failed, he swiftly retreated, waiting for the Whirlwind Formation to end. Only when the reindeer had expended a lot of energy did Bi Fang jump out again, hitting two sturdy deer with Darts. Yes, two. Opportunities were scarce, and with three extra mouths to feed, Bi Fang had long been aiming for a higher target. Already drained from the chase and with blood loss, it wasn''t long before the two large deer could no longer hold up and collapsed one after the other. The surrounding reindeer initially put up a fight but eventually scattered and fled. "They are cowards after all, lacking the courage of musk oxen," Bi Fang used ropes to secure the two big deer, drove the sled, and found a large rock to drag the reindeer on top, processing the spoils of the hunt. Dexterously skinning the animals, cleaning most of the innards to reward the sled dogs, turning the stomachs into water bags, Bi Fang cooked some hot soup to make up for the missed dinner. "Remove the bones and inedible parts of the innards, and the deer skin, the remaining meat must weigh over two hundred kilograms, quite the bounty, ah, and this is for you," Bi Fang handed a clean white deer head to Goudan. Goudan bit the antlers, placing them on the ground, then stuck his head inside¡ªsurprisingly, it was a perfect fit. Compared to the massive musk ox head, obviously, the reindeer head was a bit more suitable. "Hmm, there''s another one," Bi Fang said, picking up the second deer head. Unfortunately, aside from Goudan''s hobby, the other sled dogs were indifferent, focusing on the food in front of them. [Actually, I''d rather have (dog''s head)] [Add one! I want it!] [Seriously, you guys can bring yourself to compete with a dog for things??] The live broadcast room was bustling, but in the distant Arctic, Bi Fang tightened his clothes. He felt that tonight the temperature seemed even lower, unsure if it was the cooling after briefly dissipating heat or if it was genuinely that cold. "An illusion?" Chapter 718 715 The Birth of Negative Emotions Above the snowy plains, the sled sped forward, with six strong sled dogs running through the wind. Their thick fur was coated with dry snow, which quickly disappeared into the air. The cold relentlessly invaded, limbs gradually stiffening, fingers gripping the reins growing so cold they nearly lost all sensation, coated in frost. The two dead reindeers on the sled seemed to have lost their color, covered in a thin layer of pale gray, emanating a cold and hard sheen, frozen solid like stones. Bi Fang''s senses were not mistaken, the Arctic temperature had plummeted tonight, strangely cold. He moved his stiff fingers slightly and pulled out a thermometer from his bosom. The orange-red liquid was distinctly visible, twenty, ten, zero, negative thirty, forty, fifty... The liquid column within the thermometer underwent an astonishing elasticity from the internal environment to the external environment. Bi Fang''s eyes followed the rapidly contracting liquid column, watching it shorten bit by bit, finally stabilizing at negative fifty degrees, and there was still a trend of further decrease! Such an exaggerated change in temperature left the Shuiyou agape in disbelief, a temperature extreme that ordinary people might never encounter in a lifetime! [Damn, negative fifty-three degrees?] [Isn''t that too exaggerated?] [Is another blizzard coming?] [Doesn''t seem like it] "Stop!" Bi Fang abruptly pulled the reins, halting the sled. He swiftly pulled out the musk ox skin from beneath the reindeer, unfolded it, and draped it over himself, warding off the cold wind. "It''s probably not a blizzard, just a bit windier, the temperature drop is more severe than I had anticipated, but not unexpected. Low temperatures and nightfall, this is what constitutes a true Arctic Polar Night." "My clothes can only withstand temperatures down to negative thirty degrees. Beyond that range, they can hardly provide enough warmth." The two reindeer skins, not yet tanned, were raw hides, now hard as stone slabs and utterly unusable. [In such cold weather, how about lighting a fire to warm up before continuing?] Some viewers suggested that Bi Fang takes a break to find a spot to recuperate his strength, but Bi Fang vetoed, "No, I must hurry back now. At negative fifty degrees, freezing happens in an instant, and for the gray whale, this means the ice cave surface will quickly shrink. I have to go back and see for myself to be at ease." [Sss, almost forgot about that] [Didn''t Old Fang leave a drone there, haven''t you guys watched it?] [How is the situation?] [They''re already in emergency action...] As expected... Without surprise, Bi Fang clenched the rope with his teeth, tightened the belt around his waist, secured the musk ox skin on himself, and resumed driving the sled towards the direction of the gray whale. Only when Bi Fang gripped the reins again did he realize that his fingers were even stiffer than before. He had not expected his cheeks and nose to freeze so quickly, nor had he expected to lose all feelings in his fingers in such a short time, as if they had become detached from his body, unable to even grasp a few ropes, needing to look to know whether he was holding them or not. The wires that connected his fingertips to his body seemed to have short-circuited. Bi Fang concentrated all his effort, his stiff fingers finally quivered, joints bending, making eerie, disturbing noises as if filled with icy sand. In order to avoid freezing to death, Bi Fang could only hold the reins with one hand while the other hand was thrust into his bosom, attempting to regain some warmth. The cold air But none of these mattered anymore. The fire had risen, dancing in front of his eyes with the crackling melody of the flames of life. The cold air eroded everything that held warmth. On the icy expanse, the engine''s roar continued, operating non-stop for twenty-four hours and showing no signs of freezing, still radiating residual heat. Most of the people around had disappeared, the fifty degrees below zero weather had confined the vast majority of the tourists within their rooms on the Thesus, greedily soaking up the warmth from the pipes. The ship rocked from side to side, breaking through the ice, shaking so much it felt like people''s brains were getting blended. Many began to vomit, and under such circumstances, negative emotions inevitably bubbled over. "Damn it, I never should have agreed to come, the whole thing is just too stupid!" "For the sake of three whales, I''ve ruined my trip!" "There was no need at all, if they''re extinct, it''s their fate, if they can''t adapt to the environment, they should be weeded out!" The sailor walked past, gripping the handrail in the corridor, faintly hearing the grumbling of several men through the cabin doors, along with the sound of card playing, seeming like they were in the midst of a game. There were those who rebuked the negative emotions as well. "Cut it out, when we voted, you could have disagreed, and you seemed happy enough when we were cutting through the ice. Can''t you take a little setback? Don''t tell me you didn''t imagine bragging about this to your colleagues when you agreed!" "Exactly, it''s temporary anyways, opposing now is useless, let''s just hope it ends soon. Whatever happens, it''s a rare experience." The sailor let out a sigh of relief. Although some negative feelings had surfaced, they weren''t too overwhelming and still under control. The sailor checking on the passengers'' status grabbed the handrail and started up to the higher levels, adjusting his center of gravity as the ship tilted again to advance steadily; inside the room, the men continued to argue. "What a pile of crap, the ship is swaying again, I can''t even aim straight when I pee!" "F¡¤¡¤K, so that''s why the mat is covered in urine, it''s all because of you!!!" "Stop fighting, hey, calm down, damn it, Mans, you didn''t really sit directly on it, did you?" "Damn you, you motherless cur! I''ll kick your ass with my pointed boots, and use your mother''s gravestone to practice boxing!" ... "Put more effort into it, without the sun, the temperature here won''t recover quickly, the ice will only get thicker. We must keep moving!" The first officer had returned to the ship to rest, and the second officer had once again taken over on the scene. There were only twelve people in total, seven of whom were sailors, and only five were tourists, all clad in thick coats. "If you can''t bear it, let us know in advance, we''ll bring you back!" As sailors who navigated the Arctic Ocean, they were much better adapted to the cold than the passengers and had a much stronger physique. "No need, we can hold on." "If I really can''t bear it, I''ll speak up." "Yeah, don''t underestimate us!" The few tourists clamored, their passion undimmed by the severe cold. "Alright then, let''s continue, just don''t let the ice surface freeze over!" Normally, after digging out one cave, it would be sufficient to proceed to the next, but now it was not only about digging the next one but also keeping an eye on the previous one to prevent the breath holes of the gray whales from freezing over. In face of the increased workload, the number of people working had decreased by half, all shouldering the bitter cold and working twice as hard. The ceaseless saw teeth of the electric saw were getting rather blunt. A sailor had just cut through a block of ice, but in the blink of an eye, seawater leaking through the crack fused it back together again. Irritated, he kicked out, but the sailor forgot one thing: the ice surface, constantly being wetted and refrozen by the sea, was extremely smooth. As soon as he stepped on it, the sailor felt his right leg slipping out of control, and his body violently slid toward the cave. "Watch out!" The second officer, keeping a close watch, shouted a warning, but it was already too late. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 719 716: The Dull Brain The mate''s cry of alarm drew everyone''s attention, but no one knew what had happened, for they had not yet had time to look up when they heard the terrifying sound of someone falling into the water. Someone had fallen into the water. This was everyone''s first reaction. Are they going to die? This was everyone''s second reaction. The chainsaw fell onto the ice, emitting a high-pitched clattering vibration. The sailor didn''t immediately fall into the water; he landed on his back, crashing heavily onto the ground, and then uncontrollably slid toward the ice hole under the force of gravity. The biting cold slowed everyone''s thinking, but after a brief moment of mental stagnation, someone finally thought of rescue. The mate shed his coat, preparing to jump into the water, but a long dark shadow slid out even faster. Indeed, it slid, and the mate felt that he must be hallucinating. The swiftly moving figure stretched out an arm, the individual''s height and long limbs gave a sense of graceful ease, as if an ape effortlessly reaching out, and grabbed the sailor''s arm as he lay on the edge, forcefully stopping him! "Snap out of it!" Bi Fang suddenly shouted, and under his command, everyone sobered up a bit. The mate didn''t stop his steps and hurriedly pounced forward, grabbing the sailor''s other arm, and together they pulled the sailor up. When did Mr. Fang get here? The mate''s eyes blankly swept the surroundings, spotting the sled that was still running, his brain struggling to catch up. Had he lunged from the sled? Compared to the mate''s daze, the audience erupted into cheers, as the drone captured the entire scene. Just as the sailor''s feet touched the ice, Bi Fang had arrived by sled. Seeing the break in the ice and the moment the sailor was about to slip, he yanked the reins hard, turning the sled ninety degrees. With a whip effect, the sled was flung forcefully, and Bi Fang used this momentum to leap out, skimming across the ice to the edge of the hole and catching the sailor as he fell into the sea in time. [Cool!] Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Old Fang''s reaction time is incredible, he''s got that 007 quality] [This move was so smooth!] At this moment, Bi Fang had no time to respond to the audience''s boasts, as they pulled the sailor who had fallen into the water to the shore and one by one people came to their senses, gathering around in shock. The sailor who had fallen in stared with wide eyes, his pupils shrunk to pinpoints, his hands clutched tightly onto Bi Fang and the mate. He didn''t shout, as if he had lost his voice, and even his chest didn''t rise or fall, as if his breathing had paused. His vision was completely black, not realizing what had happened until several minutes later when the cold from his lower body gradually restored his vision, and the starry night sky, dotted with white, reappeared. The blocked throat finally managed to scream, and a sharp shriek erupted over the icy plains. The mate, who had assumed the sailor had gone into sudden shock from the cold water and was preparing to administer CPR, jumped with fright upon hearing the scream. Seeing the sailor''s chest rise and fall, gasping for air, he breathed a sigh of relief. A reaction is not feared, no reaction is. Seeing that the sailor still had a reaction, the onlookers came back to their senses, moved closer, and carefully examined him. By now, the sailor''s deerskin shoes were wrapped in a layer of ice, and his thick knee-high socks were like iron armor, covering up to his calves. The laces of the deerskin shoes resembled a pile of metal rods shattered by a fierce fire, tangled in a mess. The second mate tried to tug at them with numb fingers but quickly realized the stupidity of doing so. Bi Fang, on the other hand, drew his sheath knife, plunged it into the tongue of the shoe, and slit the laces entirely. He then peeled and pulled off the entire shoe along the sides, and did the same with the other one. Bi Fang, dealing with the wet clothes, looked the sailor up and down and noticed that the clothing above his waist was not damp. "It''s not a big deal, only the lower body is soaked, the upper body is fine, the core temperature hasn''t dropped. It''s just going to be a bit uncomfortable, so we need to change clothes quickly. You should have brought spare clothes, right?" The second mate nodded and quickly had someone fetch a set of spare clothes from the ice trekker motorbike. These clothes were precisely for the event of someone falling into the water; besides that, they also had thermal gear, charcoal fire, and everything else one might need. After removing his wet clothes, the sailor wrapped himself in a thin layer of a thermal blanket. Although called a thermal blanket, it was essentially a layer of tin foil, but a critically important piece of equipment. In cold conditions, wrapping it around oneself or especially cold-sensitive areas can reflect the heat emitted by the human body, creating an insulating effect. This effect is very strong, as the blanket is windproof and retains heat. Its only flaw is that it can tear easily. Seeing that the sailor was already organizing the rescue methodically, Bi Fang stood up, gave up his place, and also provided an explanation. "In cold regions, a thermal blanket is very important. It can effectively prevent injuries or death by keeping the body temperature from dropping too low. It''s an essential supply." "Additionally, when you see a casualty wrapped in a thermal blanket, it indicates that they have been injured and received initial first aid. Also, wrapping oneself in the blanket can utilize its reflective property to help rescue personnel find their target." "However, since it is just a layer of foil, it is quite prone to tearing." A bonfire rose quickly on the icy plains, providing the sailor, who had fallen into the water, with some warmth and slowly reviving his spirits. The second mate felt a bit annoyed. If a tourist had an accident, that would be one thing, but how could a sailor have an accident? The sailor felt quite embarrassed: "At the time, I don''t know why, but my body started moving on its own, and by the time I realized it, I had already slipped." "Don''t think too much about it, it''s not your fault. Nothing serious happened, right? Moreover, under extreme cold, it is indeed true that a person''s brain can become duller," Bi Fang said, pouring boiling water into a pot and handing it to the sailor with a smile. "The sluggishness caused by the cold is different from the confusion that occurs when the core body temperature drops to a certain level, it''s a normal reaction. The colder it is, the duller the response. There are many reasons, but mainly two." "One is that when it is cold, the human demand for heat increases, which manifests as improved appetite, a preference for high sugar and high fat foods, leading to thicker blood and slower blood flow, including in the brain. This can make a person lazy and less capable of thinking." "Moreover, the cold can lead to poor circulation in the extremities, which affects brain blood supply, and dulling of tactile sensitivity is also one of the reasons. It seems trivial, but these conditions can easily make the brain sluggish, acting faster than thought, it''s not just about knowing better." The tourists around had a sudden realization. Scratching his head in embarrassment, the sailor said, "I''m really sorry for causing everyone trouble." "Forget it, it''s fine since nothing serious happened," the second mate waved his hand and didn''t dwell on it. "Take a break and then we''ll head back to the ship. If anyone else is feeling unwell, don''t try to tough it out. There''s no need to, it won''t do any of us any good." No sooner had he finished speaking than a few people exchanged glances, and then two more raised their hands¡ªtwo tourists and two sailors. "Perfect, five people to a motorbike, let''s head back quickly." Without further insistence, the group, including the sailor who had fallen into the water, gradually disappeared over the ice field. Chapter 720 717: Frozen Hands and Feet ``` Watching the five people disappear onto the ice field, Bi Fang turned his head to look at those present. Three tourists, four sailors, plus himself, this was the remaining manpower configuration. A total of eight people, among whom one needed to keep an eye on the engine and other equipment to avoid malfunctions or freezing, while also taking care of the others'' safety to prevent the kind of accident that had just happened. The remaining seven were responsible for two ice caves that were over ten square meters, preventing them from freezing in the sub-fifty-degree environment¡ªit was an extreme challenge no matter how you looked at it. Everyone felt a sense of fear, believing the task to be impossible. "Don''t just stand there, let''s continue. Don''t start cutting a second ice hole for now, focus all efforts on maintaining the one for the gray whale to breathe through," the second mate decisively gave up on one of the holes, redirecting all available hands to a single ice opening. With only seven people left, even if they couldn''t guide the gray whale to the shore, they at least had to maintain the status quo until the next shift could take over. "Just hold on a little longer, soon more people will come!" Under the second mate''s insistence, everyone finally started moving, albeit slowly. Bi Fang took a few steps and found the sledge team hurrying back. Since no clear stop command had been issued, Goudan led the pack of dogs rushing out for several hundred meters before realizing that Bi Fang was gone and quickly returned to his side. The Inuit man was right; Goudan''s intelligence was indeed rare. Ordinary sled dogs wouldn''t notice their driver suddenly missing, much less be able to return on their own. Bi Fang patted Goudan''s head and rewarded him with a piece of deer meat. On the sled, he found a piece of raw reindeer skin. Without the time for proper tanning, he used a dagger to cut three slits into it, fashioning a makeshift coat to put on. Picking up the chainsaw that the sailor had dropped on the ground, he pulled the rope and began cutting the ice. The newly frozen ice wasn''t very hard, and the sharp steel slid in easily without needing to be pressed, sending chips of ice flying. [Here comes Chainsaw Man Bi Fang!] [Do you want to be a dog too?] The extreme cold caused intense discomfort to the body. Even with cloth wrapped around his face, it still felt like it was about to crack. The only part of his body in direct contact with the air, his eyes, was abnormally dry with a strange sensation of swelling. He needed to close them from time to time, otherwise Bi Fang really worried that he might go blind from the cold. "Our skin isn''t the only thing that can freeze in extreme cold temperatures. If you''re in extremely cold, windy weather, your corneas can also freeze. The tear film that covers the cornea can make your eyesight sensitive to light, causing eyelid spasms." "However, this kind of freezing is reversible if short-term. As long as you can get out of the cold environment in time, the cornea can recover. But if your corneas are frozen for too long, it can cause permanent damage, so if possible, be sure to wear goggles." Bi Fang closed his eyes, waiting for the sensation to return before opening them again to continue cutting into the ice. Cutting the ice was more difficult than expected. Due to capillary action, seawater would seep through the cuts, which would have been fine under normal circumstances, but at fifty degrees below zero, it would freeze within seconds, reattaching the freshly cut ice to the base, thwarting any progress. Otherwise, the sailor would not have tried to kick the ice after cutting it, almost causing a tragedy. "I''ll have to cut it into smaller pieces." Bi Fang pulled up his mask, took a step back to reduce the cutting area, and started to gradually expand it, tossing the broken ice pieces into the middle of the ice hole to stir up ripples and prevent the sea from freezing over. Half an hour later, reinforcements had still not arrived. The group was beginning to tire. "Why haven''t they come? It''s been half an hour, there was plenty of time!" ``` "I can''t cut it anymore; this thing is too heavy." "If you can''t cut it, take a break. Don''t force yourself, it''s too dangerous." The second officer swallowed and also felt a soreness in his forearms. He looked up at the ice field, equally puzzled about why no one had come yet. Looking around, whether it was the freshly dug ones or those left from before, all the ice holes had frozen over, and it was impossible to tell that there had ever been a large hole here. It wasn''t until an hour later that two snowmobiles hurried over, carrying a total of eight sailors and two tourists, taking over the work from the others. Several people immediately collapsed on the ground, drinking hot water in big gulps. The second officer, shaking his arms, asked, "Why have you only just arrived?" "Sorry, one of the snowmobiles suddenly died halfway, and within half a minute, the gas tank froze solid. We couldn''t move it at all. We had to drag it back and switch to another one before we could come over," the leader explained helplessly. "Damn it!" This is the polar night in the Arctic, where mechanical vehicles risk becoming scrap metal with just a slight engine failure. Bi Fang released the chainsaw from his grip and handed it to someone else, rotating his somewhat fatigued arms. The others might get a brief rest, but he had not stopped holding the chainsaw for more than an hour. With his arms feeling a bit swollen and sore, Bi Fang returned to the sled and sat on it, resting for a while. When he felt somewhat recovered, Bi Fang went to an open space, poured out the peat soil, and used some flint to ignite a bonfire. He then took out two wooden bowls, placing two pale pink "semi-circular stones" inside them, along with some crushed ice. [What is this?] [Is Old Fang cooking stones?] [Have you seen pink stones before? (Eating melon)] [If I''m not mistaken, this should be reindeer brain (Dog''s head)] "Yes, it''s the brains of a reindeer." Bi Fang tapped the pink "semi-circular stone," which emitted a sound indistinguishable from that of a real stone. The soft reindeer brains didn''t require any special container to preserve them. Left in the natural environment for a minute or two, they would freeze just as hard as stones, and you could simply stuff them into a bag. It was also a good way to preserve them, as under normal conditions, the brains might rot and stink in less than a day, rendering them useless for tanning hides. "The musk ox skin is used for sleeping bags, which are not very convenient to use. My current clothing is not enough for the cold. The two reindeer hides need to be tanned quickly to soften, and then made into clothing to help us resist the severe cold." "The furs of these big guys have the same effect as musk ox skin, they are equally fluffy and can withstand temperatures as low as minus fifty degrees." S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The crushed ice in the wooden bowls quickly boiled, melting the pale pink stones and making their color much more conspicuous. The fine blood vessels exposed on their surface could even be seen. Crushed, the brains were spread evenly over the reindeer hides. The audience was familiar with the procedure, so Bi Fang didn''t bother to explain further. He sped up the process, continuously stretching and pulling the hide. Soon, both hides were fully tanned, and all the harder parts became soft. Only the final smoking step remained. Chapter 721 718 Success is in Sight The tanning was completed, and next came the smoking of the hides. Bi Fang fashioned the hide into the shape of a bag, extinguished the open flame, and set up a tripod over the embers. He then slipped the hide bag directly over it, with the opening facing down. "This step of smoking is very important, as its purpose is to prevent the hide from reverting to rawhide upon contact with water. Rawhide cannot be used for clothing; it becomes stiff once it loses moisture and you simply can''t wear it. That''s why I take this step very seriously every time." "I remember I told you not to use an open flame, as it easily burns the hide. After a few hours, flip it over to continue. When that''s done, it''s considered finished hide." While waiting, Bi Fang was not idle; he pulled out a reindeer stomach bag filled with liquid that had frozen into ice. This was a collection from the eyes of reindeer, not much, but very useful. "The liquid from the eyes mixed with twigs can also be used to make strong glue, and the hooves can be saved for boiling into strong glue as well. During the boiling, skimming the fat off the surface yields good bone oil, which can be used to soften leather." "I had to give up the four large hooves of the musk oxen last time to lighten the load as much as possible. This time, having improved load capacity, I decided to keep them." S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After completing the process, what followed was simply a matter of tedious work. The next day, the hide tanning was finished, and everyone was exhausted. The low temperature last night plunged everyone into the emergency activity of saving the ice hut. After finishing the hide, Bi Fang also joined in, scarcely having a moment to spare. Fortunately, with everyone''s efforts, the ice hut did not freeze over, the whales under the ice were still brimming with life, and the temperature also made a temporary climb to below minus forty degrees. Although still harsh, it was "warmer" compared to the minus fifty degrees of the previous day. Another piece of good news was that the Thesus had broken through the thick ice and began ramming again, which suddenly increased the speed of progress by a great deal. Now, with less than two miles between them, if someone had good enough eyesight, they could even make out the vague silhouettes under the starry sky! With this in mind, everyone was full of enthusiasm. The number of tourists by the ice hut also grew again, stabilizing at around thirty, ensuring a sufficient workforce. "Does anyone want to try some roasted reindeer meat?" In front of the campfire, Bi Fang held the piece of meat high up and asked the group. Reindeer meat? Whether they were cutting ice blocks or resting nearby, everyone paused upon hearing this. Bi Fang was nearby, and everyone was clear on what he had been doing. That morning, Bi Fang had roasted half a reindeer at breakfast, and they had wondered how one man and six dogs could consume so much, not realizing it was intended for them. Seeing no reaction, Bi Fang called out again, "The taste might not be so good, but does anyone want to try it?" Folks finally caught on and swarmed over with a bang. "Me! I''d like to try it!" "Let me have a taste!" "Move aside, let me see!" Though there were only a little over thirty people, they crowded around Bi Fang so tightly that there was no room to move. Having stayed on the Arctic ice field for two days, even those who were initially strangers became aware of Bi Fang''s identity and deeds. Everyone was interested in the reindeer meat roasted by the adventurer himself. Bi Fang swiftly cut the meat pieces off the reindeer, sprinkled them with salt, and handed them out to people. Half a reindeer, nearly a hundred pounds¡ªsufficient for more than thirty people, even if each person ate a pound. Besides that, no normal person could consume a pound of pure meat in a meal. And even though the cooking was skilled, reindeer meat was somewhat tougher than musk ox meat and not considered particularly delicious. It was just so-so, but the fact that wild reindeer meat could be made to taste "so-so" with only salt spoke volumes about the tremendous help provided by Bi Fang''s wilderness culinary skills. "It won''t taste good if it gets cold, don''t wait too long." Even though it had just been taken off the fire, Bi Fang couldn''t warn people about the heat, because once away from the flames, the huge temperature difference would rapidly cool down the chunks of meat. "No need to rush, there''s enough for everyone." Bi Fang, like a small barbecue vendor, skillfully sliced the meat, threaded it onto cleaned sticks, and handed them out one by one. [Wow, I''m so envious, I wish I could eat barbecue made by Master Fang himself.] [Master Fang, feed me!] [Master Fang''s wilderness barbecue, I really want to try it.] [Peter Pan has sent the host a meatball*1¡ªI''m curious about the taste of reindeer meat.] "Huh, it actually tastes surprisingly not bad!" "I didn''t eat breakfast, and I''m hungry now, it smells kind of good!" "Not bad, but a little tough." "Absolutely worth the price of admission, I never thought that an ordinary Arctic trip would be so much fun, I''m so lucky!" After the simple meal was shared, Bi Fang also fed the impatient sled dogs at his side and briefly ate himself before starting to craft clothes. "In long-term wilderness survival, making clothes and other items from things around you is a very basic skill." "Although turning animal hide into leather takes a lot of time and energy, you''ll find that the leather goods made this way are stronger and more durable than industrial leather goods." "This is one of the rare cases where wilderness products can surpass modern industrial products." Normally, items made in the wild are generally of lower quality than industrial products. For example, the soap Bi Fang made with lye and fat can''t possibly be better than what''s sold in stores, otherwise, what would be the point of the development of the chemical industry? But animal hide is different, being a natural product, it''s both stronger and more durable. As it''s a natural product, it effectively covers one''s scent, which is more conducive to approaching prey, and doesn''t make noise from friction like down jackets or technical outerwear, allowing for excellent camouflage. "When making clothes, you can use a variety of materials to sew animal hides. Animal tendons can also be used for sewing clothes, but it''s best used in drier areas." "Of course, plant fibers are also an option, but such seams are prone to splitting and need to be mended frequently. For this purpose, I chose to first use hide glue to bond the edges, then sew them, which makes them very strong." The reindeer hide had been cut into long strips, most of which were made into tubular forms to serve as trousers, simply pulled over the legs. "Pay more attention to keeping the knees warm. Otherwise, it''s easy to develop arthritis or rheumatism. We can add another layer." Over the long hide tubes, Bi Fang added a shorter tube at the knees, and finally, put on a deer hide jacket, making him suddenly swell a rounder shape. Although slightly less aesthetically pleasing, it added a bit of wildness characteristic of the wilderness. Most importantly, Bi Fang finally started to feel warm! Until the afternoon arrived, Thesus was less than five hundred meters from the gray whale, and even those with poor eyesight could now see its silhouette under the starry sky! "That''s good, let''s turn Thesus around. Next, it''s time to send the gray whale back to the ocean!" Bi Fang''s words were uplifting, and everyone began to high-five each other, laughing joyfully. Success was in sight! Chapter 722 719 Breaking Out of the Ice Plain "Twenty degrees starboard." "Twenty degrees starboard!" "Twenty to starboard!" The helmsman turned the wheel with focused precision, his movements betraying a veteran skill. The searchlight flooded the land with light. Inside the cockpit, the calls were constant, and Captain Harvey''s tone reached piercing heights to ensure every command was executed precisely. Though almost a hundred percent of ships could sail in reverse, regrettably, the route hundreds of meters behind was already frozen over. For safety reasons, the Thesus had to turn around to break free from the ice and join the gray whales in the vast ocean. Moreover, most pilots would not choose to reverse. The sea collision-avoidance rules almost always recommend decelerating or steering as measures to avoid collision, resorting to emergency brakes or reversing only when faced with urgent situations or the risk of collision¡ªit''s because such actions could damage the machinery. A correct but unnecessary decision would result in the engineering department working overtime for days and nights and facing disdain. If even the engineering department couldn''t solve the problem, the ship would have to be towed to the dockyard for repairs, where a bill of even tens of thousands of Ugly Gold would be considered cheap. In the worst-case scenario, if they were in the middle of the ocean or ice fields with no help in sight, and tugs couldn''t reach them, the over three hundred people on board could only weep. Here, a turn was essential. Harvey was well aware that turning the ship on ice was a technical maneuver, highly susceptible to capsizing or damaging the hull. He could not afford any negligence. His pupils fixed on the instruments and the ice, a rare hint of tension surfaced. From the day he stepped out of university, Harvey had embarked on long voyages, drifting through the vast oceans, dedicating his youth entirely to the sea. From second officer to chief officer, from the technical to the managerial level, and now as captain, every step was the testimony of passing time and hard work. To outsiders, the profession of a seafarer might seem glamorous¡ªsailing while touring the world. Whenever they returned with bounteous harvests and entered taverns, there would always be a large crowd gathered around to hear tales of their maritime adventures. But in reality, the seemingly beautiful sea harbors dangers everywhere, especially in the Arctic Ocean. Icebergs are alive. That was Captain Harvey''s firm belief. Sometimes 99% of one is underwater, with just a tip peeking out above the surface. Even the regular eye might grow weary of such sights, but encountering them is no laughing matter. Most of the modern nautical equipment cannot scan for objects below the waterline at the bow of the ship. You think you can pass by the tip... Moreover, icebergs unlike other fixed coastal references, move! Whether it''s the ice field or icebergs, they all move. The primary force is the wind, followed by currents. Affected by wind speed, some even reach movement speeds of up to 44 kilometers per day, capable of transferring objects or even living flora and fauna from their origin to thousands of kilometers away. Experts in this field can deduce the distribution of glaciers thousands of years ago simply by examining ocean sediments. In the still of the night, Captain Harvey often slipped into a recurring nightmare: Suddenly surrounded by icebergs on all sides with no way out, and slowly closing in on him. Whether reversing or slowing down was futile. Waking up in desperation, he''d feel utterly terrible. Later, the Thesus became an icebreaker, and such nightmares occurred less frequently, for it was now armoured, albeit one must never let their guard down. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. One could say, threats were everywhere. As captain, Harvey was always walking on thin ice, bearing the safety of the entire ship, the lives of dozens of crew members, hundreds of passengers, and their families back home. Bringing his brothers home alive was Harvey''s sole wish throughout. We did it! Nearing sixty, Harvey felt the long-missed rush of blood reignite, his heart pounding with both tension and excitement. He lifted his well-brewed coffee, attempting to ease some of the fatigue from prolonged work. The navigator beside him handed over an icebox and asked if he wanted ice cubes. Harvey laughed heartily, "Of course, add them! I love ice cubes. But, I only like those in my cup, not the ones in the ocean." As a deep-sea sailor, every voyage meant entrusting one''s life to the sea. Struggling against fierce waves and countless dangers. In the struggle between humans and Nature, the triumph of man over Nature is but a beautiful wish. Compared to the greatness of Nature, humans'' strength is truly minuscule. But regardless, one must harbor awe for Nature and remain indomitable, optimistic, and strong, to survive against all odds and create miracles! "Captain, we can see them now!" "Is that the second officer? He''s waving at us!" "Success is within reach, focus, turn the bow, one last time!" "Give it all you''ve got!" The bright lights of Thesus shone on the clearing, reminding Bi Fang of his first few days in the Arctic. It made him nostalgic for daylight, which now seemed like a very distant concept. A third of the hundred-day mission had passed, and it had been more spectacular than expected. Gathering his thoughts, Bi Fang came back to reality and did not continue digging; instead, he expanded the area of the ice cave based on the existing space, making it easier for the whale to breathe. Generally, the tactical radius for a rapid rudder turn is less than five times the length of the ship. For ships with smaller length-to-width ratios, it would be even smaller, but on the ice fields, this radius has to be extended to avoid collision of the side hull with the ice layer. The overall strength of an icebreaker is much higher than that of standard ships, but the toughest part is still the bow. Whatever can be smashed open with the bow should not be encountered by other parts of the ship to prevent displacement. By the time Thesus had completely traversed, the distance between the two was less than a hundred meters, almost as if they were right next to each other. From this distance, the gray whale could also see the huge exploration ship directly, and its rate of breathing increased noticeably, an obvious sign of emotional excitement. The three gigantic creatures were frighteningly clever. Thesus, taking a wide turn, quickly maneuvered back on its original course before the sea ice behind it could refreeze. Everyone sighed in relief. Now it was time to return the same way! The original course had indeed frozen over, but new ice, whether in terms of hardness or thickness, was no match for the old ice. In the pursuit of speed, naturally, the easiest methods were chosen. For all viewers at the same longitude, it was a night of no sleep, because tonight was the day the gray whales began to follow Thesus breaking out of the ice! The collision between steel and solid ice brutally carved out a path of life for the three behemoths. At ten past one, Thesus returned to its original track. At half-past one, Thesus had advanced a hundred meters, leaving a sufficient gap between the solid ice and the ocean. The snow on the ice field was cleared, and several small ice caves served as signal markers. Under Bi Fang''s lead, the three large creatures slowly swam under the ice, their huge, broad tails churning tens of tons of seawater, creating enough thrust to follow behind Thesus. Chapter 723 720: Permanently Fixed The Thesus Adventure wasn''t large compared to other vessels, but with its length spanning over seventy meters, it merely rolled over the ice field, leaving a gap far larger than what a dozen people could carve out in several hours of desperate effort! For the gray whale trapped in the tiny ice hole, surfacing into the ship''s path felt like striking it rich; the cramped space it had been confined to suddenly seemed vast and expansive. Breathing became much easier. Previously, the gray whales had to fluctuate vertically in the ice hole, sticking their whole heads out just for a brief breath. Now, they only needed a short ascent in the horizontal direction, expose their blowholes to take deep breaths with ease, almost as if they were back in the open sea. The only thing to watch out for was to keep the whales from getting too close to the stern, as it could injure them. For this reason, Captain Harvey deployed a few sailors to stay at the stern, ready to use sonar to drive the whales away should they approach the safety distance. Some tourists tried to get to the upper deck to watch and take photos, but the second officer cleared most of them, leaving only a few passengers who, with the help of the sailors, were able to stand securely, each group allowed to stay for only ten minutes. Those who hadn''t had their turn yet could only squeeze their faces into the narrow windows, staring at the unchanging ice fields, trying to catch a glimpse of the gray whales behind the ship, but all such attempts were in vain. Without exception, the few tourists standing on the upper deck pulled out their phones, and the sound of taking photos was incessant. Under the clear starry sky, the ice field shimmered with a faint gray light against the pitch-black waterway, as three massive gray whales emerged one by one from the sea surface. The passengers seized the moment to take pictures and uploaded them to their personal accounts. At this time, every one of the more than two hundred tourists on the ship had become a social media influencer. Merely posting a few scattered photos featuring the gray whales could earn them a flurry of likes and comments. "So envious, making friends with whales is definitely the most exciting adventure in one''s life!" "A few hundred US dollars for a ticket, I must say, even if this trip cost thousands, or tens of thousands, people would still snap up the tickets!" "My God, if I had known this journey would be so fantastic, I would never have traded my ticket in a million years!" "Trade tickets, dude, you can''t be serious?" "Yes, it''s exactly what you''re thinking (showing a refund record for the Thesus ticket). I had planned to go out for a holiday, but due to some sudden work-related issue, I had no choice but to cancel." "Your boss should be hanged." "Agreed." Almost everyone expressed their envy, and looking at the rising number of likes, everyone felt a sense of satisfaction. Any negative feelings that had emerged earlier vanished amid the sounds of envy, turning into laughter and joy. If there''s such a good thing, please let it happen again! "Be careful with the rocking, do not get close to the rails!" The sailors had to warn the passengers trying to get near the fences. With the fence height at one point four meters, it was quite unlikely for an adult to fall over, but a smartphone could. Just now, a passenger got too close to the fence and during a particularly rough collision with an ice layer, the Thesus shook so violently that their hand trembled, and the smartphone dropped into the vast sea, disappearing from sight and becoming a piece of marine litter. Despite warnings and dissuasion, this passenger couldn''t blame anyone and could only go back to their room to sulk. [Envious to tears, I also want to join such an event.] [Damn it, hit the jackpot. When I go traveling, it''s always crowded, full of people everywhere, and all I see are big butts. Why don''t I ever get this lucky?] [If I were there, I could brag about this for three years.] [You''re understating it, you could brag about it to your grandchildren.] [Great-grandchildren aren''t out of the question either] A large number of people were filled with regret. If only they could have bought the same ticket before Bi Fang set off, perhaps they could be saving gray whales with their idol right now. Not to mention there was a chance in between because Thesus had returned to port once. Even without advance notice, following later could have resulted in an encounter. Unfortunately, there are no what-ifs. Life cannot be restarted. Bi Fang hadn''t boarded Thesus. He watched from over a hundred meters away as the ship moved at a slow pace. The half reindeer he had roasted in the morning was still plentiful, and was sent into the ship''s kitchen as a show of gratitude to everyone, even though it wasn''t right. Captain Harvey received a whole reindeer head from Bi Fang. Since it couldn''t be made into a specimen in time, all that remained was the pale bones, which looked particularly ferocious but added an air of dominance and wildness. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Harvey was delighted with the gift and hung it in the very center of the captain''s cabin, where anyone who entered could see it at a glance. It was already three in the morning. Though most people on Thesus were very spirited, even excited, Bi Fang was quite tired. Bi Fang spread out the musk ox skin, planning to make do for the night here. The six sled dogs all huddled close, forming a circle. There was no need to dig a hole; simply building a snow wall was enough to block the wind and snow. He slept till noon. Thesus was no longer in sight, which meant it had made good progress. After tidying up a bit, Bi Fang had some breakfast and discovered that Thesus was only two miles from the shore, perhaps it could return to the sea this very dawn! Bi Fang''s guess was spot on. At two o''clock in the morning, a rare purple aurora flickered across the starry sky. Accompanied by a final collision, the shipping lane connected with the sea, and several pieces of broken white icebergs drifted onto the ocean, clearing the entire course. Everyone stared at the sea tensely. Until the last moment, no one knew the final outcome. After a brief silence, everyone could hear their own heartbeat in their ears. Just then, a whale leaped out of the sea. With a length of over fifteen meters and a weight of over thirty tons, the huge body soared into the air, paused briefly, then fell back along the same path, blasting the sea surface apart. The scene was so awe-inspiring, like a slow-motion shot from a movie. After the first, there was a second, third, and fourth whale¡ªno, they cycled continuously, leaping again and again. The massive bodies surged out of the sea, nearly eight meters high, as tall as a three-story building! A large mist rose from the sea, dimming the colored light. The ethereal sound of whale calls echoed over the earth, exceptionally prolonged. It was both an outpouring of being trapped for a long time and the joy of returning to the sea. Whether it was the millions of viewers in front of screens or the sailors and passengers standing on the upper deck, they had never felt so acutely the emotions contained within animal cries. They were momentarily spellbound. The dazzling Arctic lights, the "midnight sun" shining over the ice fields, the wonderful moment of the whales returning to the sea, the speed and passion of dog sledding. While people in high-rise buildings are busy, perhaps at the same moment, whales are breaching the surface off the coast of Greenland... The tourists pressed their shutters, capturing this moment forever. Chapter 724 721 The Long-Lost Scent Bi Fang, clad in deerskin, waved contentedly on the shoreline, watching the Thesus set sail toward the horizon, while a gray whale surfaced beside him, showing its back and spouting mist. Before long, the ocean returned to calm, and the whale continued to swim powerfully as if nothing had happened. Only the whale''s call echoed over the empty wilderness, a mournful and somber sound. Bi Fang had seen the "whale breach" several times before, but he''d never observed it so closely. Humans always want to "explain" every action of animals, but in the end, they cannot truly understand what whales are trying to express through such behavior. It might just want to feel the wind on the surface of the sea, or maybe it just felt like leaping up to try something new. However, the sight before everyone''s eyes left them speechless, their hearts filled with something indescribable, as if a new breath, a new train of thought, had spontaneously emerged. Perhaps it wasn''t the gigantic whale within the frame that moved the audience, but rather the unique vastness of the surrounding Nature and the realization of their own insignificance within it. Always living out one''s days among the iron-gray buildings, yet in the same moment, another kind of time is also unquestionably flowing slowly. If you could remember this in a corner of your heart every day, it would surely bring a world of difference. [When I have money, I will definitely go and see the world] [A corporate drone should look like one. Accepting fortune is your fate, just stay put in these few square meters of space.] [Ah, if only humans could live a little longer, like two hundred years, with the first fifty being our youth. That would be awesome, all the pressure would disappear just like that.] [The sorrow of a short-lived species, like plankton that only live for a day, their sole purpose being to find a mate and reproduce.] [In the cycle of life and death, I want to leave behind something else.] [Offspring, perhaps? (Dog''s head)] The audience once again started to argue about life, and Bi Fang stood up, waving one last time towards the Thesus as it disappeared. The ship vanished into the distance, and a seal that had been scared into the sea poked its head out, saw no whale around, and cautiously climbed onto an ice floe, lying comfortably on the ice and slapping its belly with glee. Another rescue completed. Bi Fang''s gaze lingered on the undulating sea surface. He let out a long sigh of relief, feeling a weight lifted from his shoulders, the cold wind somehow not feeling that cold anymore. The gray whale matter had been perfectly resolved. It was time to refocus on the days ahead; it was late November now, with still two more months to go. Driving the dog sled back to the cabin, Bi Fang further processed the reindeer meat, separating fat and lean meat to minimize potential loss. He then buried the excess deer meat in a pit in the ground. "I feel like a squirrel storing pine nuts for winter," Bi Fang said, clapping his hands to knock the snowflakes off, "Actually, we could also hang the meat in trees to achieve the same effect, but making ropes is really too cumbersome, so it''s better to just bury it here." With food, a water source, and enough fuel, Bi Fang felt that his upcoming life would be absolutely blissful. Two hunting expeditions, one musk ox, two reindeers, amassing over three hundred kilograms of meat in total. Even the most successful predators in nature, the hyena packs, couldn''t achieve such a feat, making him a true king of the wilderness! Survival of the fittest is the only way to persevere in the wild! The sun''s energy sustains all things, yet humans cannot live on photosynthesis alone. To survive, we must hunt, and to live well, we must know how to. ... December had arrived. More than a week had passed since the rescue of the Gray Whale. It was Bi Fang''s fortieth day in the Arctic wilderness, and the temperature seemed to have stabilized at minus forty degrees. Although terrifyingly cold, it wasn''t enough to make survival impossible. At least, Bi Fang had two layers of deerskin, even allowing for simple washing. Brushing off the dry snow, Bi Fang added a new batch of charcoal to the fire pit. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Initially, Bi Fang would add firewood, but he soon discovered that charcoal was more comfortable to use. Not only was the heat more stable but also, it lasted longer than firewood, thus he shifted to using charcoal exclusively. After adding the charcoal, Bi Fang covered the pit, leaving only a small vent open, and stood up to open the cabin''s small door. "Ga." At the sound, the six dogs perked up their heads and bounded over through the snow, shaking their fur and squeezing past Bi Fang''s feet into the cabin, nudging the half-open wooden door wide and entering one by one. Goudan, Fugui, and Wangcai were the first three sled dogs Bi Fang encountered. Though it went unsaid, it was clear that these three big ones had a higher status than the other three, as they immediately took the spots beside the heated kang bed, resting comfortably against the warm stones and yawning. In the beginning, Goudan tried to jump onto the kang bed, only to be pulled down by the ear by Bi Fang each time; now it was somewhat better behaved but still needed some supervision. The remaining three dogs huddled with Sanshao, occupying all other spaces in the small cabin, leaving almost nowhere for Bi Fang to step. Bi Fang sighed and turned to the drone beside him, "That''s all for today''s livestream. Recently, I''ve had a rare moment of leisure. I made quite a few tools, also polished the sled. In a couple of days, I''ll see if I can find some plants to replenish my vitamins." With that, the livestream ended. The content of the past week hadn''t been particularly novel, so Bi Fang didn''t stream for very long each day, treating it more like a routine report. The drone docked on the ground, Bi Fang took off his hat, and cautiously stepped between the dogs to reach the kang bed, using his jacket as a pillow and touching the bed with his hand. "Just right, warms the hand without being too hot." Adding charcoal to the kang bed is a skilled task. Too much and you overheat, sweating as if in a steamer; too little and you find yourself chilled by the middle of the night, cold in an odd way. Even someone with Bi Fang''s robust constitution felt a bit overwhelmed at first, but it had gotten better these last few days. In short, it wasn''t easy for the average person to get the hang of it. Bi Fang had gradually figured out the proper amount through multiple attempts, so he was able to comfortably sleep through the night. The charcoal in the fire pit glowed faintly, its heat steadily warming the entire cabin to a soporific level. As the chilling wind howled outside, one man and six dogs settled into peaceful dreams inside the cabin. Goudan''s head rested against the stone, its mouth slowly opening to let out its tongue, and its fur began to emit a faint burnt smell. In the middle of the night. The snowstorm intensified, blurring the vast landscape. High atop a hundred-meter cliff, several sharp claws stepped into the snow, leaving deep imprints. A dozen pairs of green eyes glowed ominously out of the darkness. In the air, a long-missed fragrance lingered. Chapter 725 722: Let Them Off The charcoal burned quietly, emanating sparks amidst the red and yellow flames, warm as... baking by fire! Bi Fang, lying on his heated kang bed and covered with Musk Ox Skin, sweated slightly at his temples, his back drenched with sweat, each pore in pain like being pricked with needles, as if a thorn was in his back! "Haha!" Bi Fang suddenly awoke with his back soaked in sweat. Instinctively, he reached for the wooden spear leaning against the wall, and only after grasping it did he realize he was still in the cabin and nothing had happened. Strange, had he had a nightmare? Bi Fang wondered but wasn''t affected by the nightmare. He reached to touch the heated kang bed, and its temperature wasn''t too high, the same as the past few nights. Why would he sweat so much today? Did he have a fever? Bi Fang reached to touch his forehead, but couldn''t make sense of it. Goudan was panting next to him, looking like a dead dog with no reaction at all. Just when Bi Fang thought everything was an illusion, perhaps due to him staying in the wilderness for the first time for so long and it was simply discomfort emerging from his subconscious, a slight scraping noise came from outside the cabin. Bi Fang was startled; his grip on the spear tightened, bones protruding as if a green snake was slithering through. Outside the door, there was something! ... Zheng Fahua was a diligent student and a mature college student at that. He had followed the rules through middle school, attended a standard high school, and in turn adhered strictly through high school to get into an average university, However, Zheng Fahua, heeding the advice of his family elders who had never attended university, treated it as a relaxing playground, frequently skipping classes to play games and read novels in the dormitory. Now at the end of the term, looking at the terrible scores on his past test papers, he regretted not studying sooner, clutching his textbooks for a night of desperate cramming. But even so, Zheng Fahua didn''t give up his hobbies¡ªwatching live streams. Zheng Fahua held his textbooks while the laptop fan on his desk blew vigorously, sounding almost like a torrential rain outside the window. The screen wasn''t displaying a pretty girl but a live game broadcast currently in progress. The streamer in the screen played masterfully, securing a GG. Just as Zheng Fahua exclaimed at the poor play and thought about using Lore''s Law Q, a pop-up "Continuous excitement, not to be missed" jumped onto the screen. "Master Fang streaming? What''s going on, did it freeze again?" Zheng Fahua was not only a gaming enthusiast; he was also a Wilderness Survivalist enthusiast. Ever since he''d first heard phrases like "the best in the wild," "man at the top of the food chain," and "god of hunting" from a friend, he thought they were about some famous game streamer, so he searched online. Zheng Fahua was completely drawn to Wilderness Survivalist from then on, leaving behind Shark for Wolf Fang''s embrace. He had just seen Bi Fang stop streaming at noon; considering the time difference, shouldn''t it be late evening when he woke up? Could there have been some kind of accident? Zheng Fahua kicked the upper bunk and called out, "Bro, wake up, come watch Master Fang show off!" The bunkmate above, the very culprit who had dragged him into this obsession. "Huh? Master Fang? Have we had dinner yet?" His nap-disoriented roommate fumbled for his phone under the pillow just as Zheng Fahua below him exclaimed in surprise, "Crap, wolves!" [Such a huge wolf!] Audiences swarmed into the live stream, voicing the same shock. Bi Fang clenched the spear in his hand, the weapon being his only source of a semblance of safety. He glanced at the drone, knowing the live stream had started, and lowered his voice. "For the past few days, no animals rustled at my door, making me somewhat complacent, but I didn''t expect that when they did come, they would come in big." Indeed, a pack of over twenty Arctic Wolves, how could they not be unnerving? Ordinary people, waking up to find their cabins surrounded by wolves, would probably be scared to death; fortunately, Bi Fang was no ordinary person and managed to keep his cool. Bi Fang finally understood why he, who had been sleeping soundly, suddenly broke out in a sweat as if a thorn was in his back. Beastly Instinct! This god-tier talent played its heaven-defying role! Through the observation hole in Bi Fang''s wooden wall, the audience could clearly see the pack of wolves outside. Just by the observation hole on this side, there were nine Arctic Wolves, and wolves could occasionally be seen wandering from other directions, Each of these Arctic Wolves was as big as an Alaska, but far from as docile; whether it was the sharp teeth in their wolfish grin or their sinewy limbs, everything about them screamed that they were bona fide hunting machines. In the wilderness, they contended with huge musk oxen and herds of reindeer! The Arctic Wolf was not the "delicate figure" of the Timber Wolf. In the Arctic, very few creatures could survive; common ones that were well-known included the polar bear and the Arctic Fox, flourishing in the Arctic thanks to their natural physical advantages. The Arctic Wolf was different, relying on its tenacious will and astonishing intelligence to secure a foothold for itself in the Arctic. "What to do, what to do, they are digging holes; are they eating Old Fang''s prey?" "Dammit, how can you endure this?" "Crush them!" "Don''t be so impulsive..." "Speaking of which, are Goudan and the others sleeping that soundly?" Seeing the barrage of comments, Bi Fang couldn''t help but glance at Goudan, who was still sticking out its tongue. It had to be said that domestic dogs had ultimately lost their wildness. Skilled at pulling sleds, yes, but when it came to fighting, these six dogs could never transform into a Liutou Wolf. Bi Fang quietly propped the spear against the wooden door and then went to other directions to peer through observation holes, trying to ascertain the number of wolves in the pack. The more the audience looked, the colder their hearts grew. At least twenty! "My God, isn''t that too many? Twenty?" "Why are there also little wolves?" "The Arctic environment is so harsh that Arctic Wolf packs gather in larger numbers to gain enough strength, coming together to warm each other. Here, the packs are not just a ''seven wolves'' affair, but typically in the double digits, larger families even have 20 to 30 members," Bi Fang watched for a long while, holding the spear, indecisive; he didn''t know whether to go out and drive away the large wolf pack or not. If it had been a smaller family, ten or fewer, with Bi Fang''s current strength, he would have been confident about driving them away without likely getting hurt. But when it came to more than twenty... it wasn''t so much about not being able to defeat them as it was about the high chances of accidents occurring. Like getting bitten, or something else... Bi Fang looked down at Goudan, playing dead; once the fight started, they certainly wouldn''t be able to continue sleeping, and then¡ªseveral of these six sled dogs might not make it. If he were to hide in the cabin, using the narrow terrain, he could remain undefeated, but doing so seemed to do little help to drive away the Arctic Wolves and save the reindeer and musk oxen. After all, the wolves weren''t stupid. They could just eat their food outside; why would they need to enter the house and seek trouble? "The Arctic Wolves must have discovered us by now, but I think they''re not after us¡ªjust my game." Bi Fang sighed, "Forget it, after all, the Arctic Wolf is a protected species, let them go this time." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 726 723 Time to Roll Out After Eating Your Fill Bi Fang tightly gripped the spear in his hands as faint scraping sounds and muffled swallowing noises came from outside the wooden cabin. The cold wind whistled mournfully, and the strange noises made one''s skin crawl, especially knowing that there were over twenty Arctic Wolves outside the cabin. Most people would probably have been scared stiff by now, but only Bi Fang could sit on the kang and calmly converse with his audience. Fortunately, the wooden cabin provided everyone with a sense of safety, still allowing them to joke around in the barrage of comments. The cabin, made entirely of solid wood, was quite thick. Moreover, Bi Fang''s construction skills were exquisite¡ªhe had filled many gaps with clay, and the joints were all tenon-and-mortise, giving the structure high strength. Unless the twenty wolves outside were turned into polar bears, it would be very difficult to break through. [Chickened out, Master Fang chickened out] [Even the King of the Wild is scared?] [Master Fang didn''t rush out, respect] [Say the wimpiest words with the most hateful tone] "You go. You do it." Facing the comments, Bi Fang made a powerful comeback. [Go out and it''s GG] [All fun and games, but don''t joke with your life] [Is Master Fang really that generous? Letting the Arctic Wolves eat them all?] [They can''t eat that much, right? Probably just about the same as one musk ox?] "That''s not necessarily true," Bi Fang stroked his chin. Knowing the six gluttons around him was enough to understand that, as pure carnivores and wild animals, the Arctic Wolves lived on feast or famine and would only eat more than domestic dogs. "Arctic Wolves have a thick fur coat to protect against the cold, so they''re not afraid of the cold, but during the long winter, sometimes they go a long time without catching food." "Only when summer comes, teeming with life, do they have enough food. That''s why Arctic Wolves eat more at a time, consuming over 9 kilograms of meat and bones to accumulate enough nutrients and fat. In the winter, they survive the bitter cold and hunger by relying on the fat stored in their bodies." "Over time, they''ve developed this skill, so their appetite is much larger than one might imagine." Nine kilograms of meat in one meal! Eighteen pounds! Good heavens. The audience was startled. Although many didn''t have a clear concept of how much meat that was in one meal, there were still quite a few who knew that a normal adult eating only meat might consume about one pound per meal, and perhaps a bit more if they did physical labor. Yet the Arctic Wolves, weighing less than humans, multiplied this amount by eighteen times. Anyone can do the math, twenty times nine is one hundred and eighty kilograms. If these wolf pups really went all out, two musk oxen wouldn''t be enough; they would need to throw in a bear as well. All efforts gone in a blink! Was Bi Fang that generous? Of course not! "I''ll give them at most half a musk oxen, no more." Bi Fang peered through the observation hole in the wooden cabin, watching the Arctic Wolves that had dug a big hole and were dragging out a musk ox. "Half an ox is out of my goodwill; life isn''t easy for the Arctic Wolves, with just over ten thousand left in the world. But any more would affect my survival." Half a musk oxen, about a hundred pounds of food, would be enough to satisfy the twenty wolves. After feasting, their fighting will would plummet to rock bottom, and they would choose to retreat after just a slight loss in battle. Bi Fang remarked with a sigh, "But their teeth are really in prime condition." The temperature outside was below negative forty degrees; the reindeer meat was frozen as hard as a rock, yet the group of Arctic wolves gnawed at it with glee, clearly having gone hungry for a prolonged period. Life in the Polar Region is not easy. Even Bi Fang, with his good teeth, had to soak the meat in warm water to soften it before he could eat it raw, truly deserving of being a wolf. [The natives don''t have it as good as Master Fang] [Is it that tough?] [Otherwise, why would wildlife generally have short lifespans (laughs)]] The cold weather, coupled with Bi Fang''s excellent hiding, meant the scent did not spread too much. For the moment, the Arctic wolves managed to dig out only one reindeer and did not find the rest of the supplies. All the wolves in the pack gathered around, but at this time, only the Wolf King was feeding. Even in the Arctic wolf packs, there is a strict hierarchy; the upper echelons must eat their fill before it''s the turn of those below them. "The leading male wolf is the dominant wolf within this group and naturally gets first dibs on the food. Then, the subordinate dominant wolves eat, followed by the rest in descending rank order, with no overstepping allowed. The whole process will likely go through about three rounds." The leading wolf tore at the reindeer meat, as hard as stone, with great difficulty. This wolf was noticeably larger than the others, and its appearance was quite fierce. The Arctic Wolf King indeed should not be underestimated; even on these snowy plains, there were cases where the Wolf King single-handedly took down musk oxen. "I haven''t encountered this group of Arctic wolves for more than a month; they must have roamed here," Bi Fang mused thoughtfully. Most wolf packs have their hunting grounds, but the Arctic wolves are different. The Arctic environment is too harsh. In the bitter cold of winter, animals that hibernate sleep comfortable, but Arctic wolves are constantly on the move, traveling back and forth to multiple locations over long distances for food. To catch food and expand their hunting range, they would even roam across areas exceeding 2,600 square kilometers. [Sounds really rough] [A miracle of evolution indeed] The Wolf King ate quickly, and only after it had its fill did the second batch get to eat, the number of wolves increasing significantly to seven. Once these seven had finished, it was finally the turn of the old and weak in the pack, a dozen wolves, who gathered around a reindeer to tear at it, the younger ones not even able to bite into it, gnawing at a piece of red meat on the snowy ground, licking it and eating whatever little meat they could after it melted. When the third batch had nearly finished eating, more than half of the entire reindeer had disappeared, but the satiated pack of wolves was not content. Several wolves stood up and circled the spot where Bi Fang had buried the musk oxen, clearly in search of something. "Just as I thought," he said. Bi Fang knew he shouldn''t have been optimistic; watching the wolves ready to strike again, he grabbed his weapon and pushed open the wooden door. "Gah!" Goudan lifted his head, just waking from a dream and still somewhat groggy, unaware of what had transpired, his eyes scanning his surroundings. Is it daylight already? A faint burnt smell lingered in the air, seemingly emanating from his own head, but Goudan paid it no mind¡ªit was likely a side effect of heating. Every time he lay completely against the self-heating stone, this smell would waft from his body. However, very quickly, the sled dogs present realized something was amiss, each alert and shaking off their fur. The atmosphere... was off! The sound of the wooden door opening also caught the wolves'' attention, and without exception, they all stood up and growled lowly at Bi Fang. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang shut the wooden door and licked the corner of his mouth, listening to the wolf pack in front of him. "If you''ve eaten your fill, it''s time to scram." The wolves'' response was to charge. Chapter 727 724 Taking a Spot, Will Update in Half an Hour ``` Half an hour later, the main text will be updated; please refresh the original chapter. "Buzzzz~~" The curve saw was pulled, and the thunderous sound of steel echoed across the ice field. Fine snow dust trembled slightly on the ground as the passenger, holding up the electric saw with excitement, revealed only half of his face due to the scarf, appearing somewhat eerie under the starlight. [What a chainsaw maniac] [Amazing, this uncle really has the right vibe with that chainsaw] A little boy closely following his parents saw this and fell to the ground, his eyes widened, pupils dilated, and he let out a cry, bursting into tears, frightened! The sudden wailing suppressed the sound of the chainsaw, and the tourist holding it looked a bit embarrassed. Seeing this, the audience couldn''t hold back their teasing spirits. [Damn, I knew something felt off] [Texas Chainsaw-Massacre Zhang San, I''ve decided it''s you!] Awkwardness was just a tiny gap. After a brief commotion, everyone remembered the main reason they came here, and order quickly resumed at the scene. The generator that had been warming up was finally in position, and the floodlights turned on, making the ice surface shimmer. "Don''t let the engine stop, otherwise it will certainly freeze." "Be careful, stay back." "Don''t get too close, don''t get too close!" "Put on your scarf, be careful of frostbite." The sailors were experienced; they often traveled to the Arctic and knew how to deal with the environment here. They organized the manpower smoothly without needing Bi Fang to remind them. Tourists without experience, under the guidance of the sailors, started to cut the ice in an orderly manner. Under the sharp saw teeth, snow flew around, forming an ice bridge in mid-air. "Keep warm, keep warm, do not expose any skin, be careful not to freeze off your ears! Your skin can crack as well, do not remove your scarf and face mask if you don''t want to ruin your face!" When someone tried to remove their scarf to catch their breath due to exhaustion, they were immediately stopped by the vigilant sailors. The sailors organized the task easily, after all, drilling a hole isn''t complex work; give them a direction, and these crew members could manage very well. Bi Fang relaxed and sat down on the ground, putting down his concerns. With twenty people plus modern tools, the renovation didn''t matter whether there was one more or one less, Bi Fang didn''t intervene as the sailors were handling the situation well; he was already exhausted. From spotting the whale, to confirming the route, and until the arrival of the Thesus, many didn''t realize that Bi Fang hadn''t slept for over twenty hours and was physically and mentally exhausted. But accidents always happen unexpectedly. A scream awoke Bi Fang from his slumber; he looked up abruptly, only to see a passenger covering his eyes, shouting and panicking. "I am blind, I am blind, I can''t see anything, I can''t see anything! " Bi Fang quickly got up and joined the sailors to check on him, holding down the passenger''s hands, but found it was just the eyelids that were frozen together. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Through the camera''s zoom, viewers clearly saw ice crystals all over the passenger''s eyelids, frozen shut, with the muscles above them quivering, trying to break free, but in vain. "Don''t move anymore, relax, relax, it''s just frozen, don''t be scared." The second mate handled the situation very experiencedly, "Forcing it open will only tear your eyelids, if you still want eyelids, then don''t move." The second mate was a burly man who wasn''t that comforting, but the passenger quickly calmed down under his half-threatening, half-reassuring words. ``` "It''s just a minor issue, what''s there to be scared of? Every year a few people get their eyelids frozen," the second officer said casually, then turned and shouted, "Does anyone recognize this gentleman, any family members, or friends?" The lady beside him hurriedly raised her hand, "Me, I''m his wife!" "Good, ma''am, could you please help melt the ice crystals on your husband''s eyelids by licking them?" "Lick them off?!" The lady looked shocked. The second officer glanced at a few sailors nearby with disgusted expressions and shrugged, "Yes, if you don''t want to do it, we''ll have to find someone else, but I think it''s better if you do it; otherwise, we''ll have to step in." As soon as the man heard this, he couldn''t help but picture it and started frantically calling out, "Lisa, you do it, you do it!" Lisa''s face stiffened with embarrassment, "Alright... alright then!" The second officer released the man''s hands and watched the couple lean in together with a smile on his face. Though drowsy, Bi Fang couldn''t help but laugh and moved away a bit to joke with the audience, "In places like the Arctic and Antarctic, because the eyes are relatively moist, it''s easy for eyelids to freeze if exposed to the cold air for a long time." "If you have a companion by your side at such times, having them lick it open is indeed the correct thing to do. Of course, aside from licking, you could also use your urine, which is another method, though..." [What do you mean ''though''?] [Come on, tell us] [Seriously, urine works too? What if your tongue gets frozen?] [You know how it goes (face with stuck-out tongue)] The audience''s curiosity was piqued, and they started asking questions. Bi Fang pointed to the thermos sitting on the seat of the snowmobile, "With so many people here, I don''t believe they didn''t bring any hot water." The smart audience instantly understood, oh dear, it was intentional! If there''s hot water, there''s naturally no need to lick it off. "Smaller teams usually don''t have hot water. They''re like me, carrying a water bottle and using body heat to melt the ice and snow. But of course, the melted water can''t be as warm as body temperature, so using body fluids is the fastest and most convenient option. Large teams, however, will certainly boil water." "Moreover, for small teams, even if they have hot water, it''s actually not better than licking it off directly. When you pour the water, things like your hair and clothes are unavoidably going to get wet, which can easily lead to a cold. But like I said, these issues are nothing for a large team." Bi Fang didn''t expose the truth; it was just a little joke, after all, they were a couple. After the man''s eyelids were licked open, he blinked, still in shock, but he quieted down. The people around, seeing this, took it as nothing but an overreaction and even laughed. As the second officer said, in the Arctic, such things are minor; every year there are a few tourists who get their eyelids frozen while on deck in the wind, no need for the ship''s doctor to step in, they can sort it out themselves. "Mr. Fang, would you like something to eat?" A sailor walked over, pulling out a hazelnut chocolate bar from his pocket. Bi Fang swallowed, feeling an intense temptation for the sweet at this moment, like a vampire sensing fresh blood, but in the end, he shook his head, using a tremendous amount of willpower to restrain himself. "No thanks, I''m not hungry right now. You guys continue digging according to my directions. I''m too tired, I want to rest a bit," "Alright, sweet dreams," they wished him. Chapter 728 775: Repelling the Wolf Pack Seeing Bi Fang manage to livestream and explain the situation while facing twenty Arctic wolves, all the viewers couldn''t help but laugh and cry. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Perhaps only Bi Fang could achieve this feat huh? [Somewhat Handsome] [Indeed] [Master Fang, teach me how to show off, I want to learn that] In fact, Bi Fang, who stood on top of the wooden hut, had indeed gained an unbeatable position in a certain sense. An Arctic wolf can jump two meters high from the ground, but the roof of Bi Fang''s wooden hut was sloped, and even the lowest end was over 2.2 meters high. Ordinary Arctic wolves couldn''t jump up from a standing position and had to take a run-up, but such obvious movements were easy to counter. In the tens of seconds after Bi Fang jumped onto the roof, both sides fell into a brief standoff. The Wolf King didn''t issue any more commands. In the brief quiet, the jeering viewers also calmed down once again, and the atmosphere tensed up anew. More than twenty pairs of green pupils were particularly visible against the darkness of the night, all keeping a watchful eye on Bi Fang on the roof. The drone footage was crystal clear, and everyone felt as though they were right there, with those forty or so green spots all staring at them, fear spreading in their hearts and chilling their hands and feet. Eventually, a low wolf howl broke the silence on the snowy plains, but the call was only halfway through when a short stick, with a dart head, was thrust onto the wolf''s head in a flash, abruptly cutting off what followed! Bi Fang retracted his arm and switched to a second Dart, which had no head but just the body was enough for the Wolf King to take a beating. Just kidding, watch the Wolf King issue orders with wide eyes? Bi Fang wasn''t stupid. The distance was only five or six meters, and Bi Fang''s throwing precision was terrifying. The first Dart had hit the wolf''s head directly; the fact that it didn''t crack the skull on the spot was proof of an iron head and copper body. With the commands of the Wolf King interrupted, the rest of the Arctic wolves became restless, and some even took a running start to attack, sadly, wolves leaving the ground were merely targets. Bi Fang held a long stick in his hand, and with his superior nerve reflexes and dynamic vision, it was very easy for him to accurately hit the Arctic wolves leaping in mid-air, knocking them back to the ground with each strike. The injuries inflicted might not have been serious, and the Arctic wolves that fell to the ground could catch their breath and come back up again. However, after a few rounds, the pack started to fear. The roof had a limited area, and the other side was too high, so these wolves almost instinctively chose the lower side to charge. But due to the limited space, it was nearly impossible for too many to advance at once, it was like sending them in one by one. After Bi Fang had broken the third stick, the frequency of the wolves'' attacks dropped sharply, just when everyone thought that these Arctic wolves were about to retreat, Bi Fang sensed something was amiss. Scanning the wolves below, the biggest one had seemingly vanished without trace. Where was the Wolf King? Just when everyone thought that the Wolf King had disappeared and the pack would retreat, Bi Fang suddenly felt a prickling sensation on his back and, instinctively, he flipped the long stick, his arm tracing an arc, and he smashed down hard behind him! Crack! The fourth stick broke, and the head of the Wolf King was hit so hard it twisted! The audience once again felt an empathetic headache. Except for the first one, the second and third could be said to have broken after several attacks, only the first and fourth were snapped immediately upon use. The wolf that was hit with the previously broken stick was still lying on the ground, whether alive or dead unknown. But unexpectedly, this Wolf King that was just hit off-kilter didn''t lose its fighting capacity. Worthy of the title of Wolf King! Bi Fang''s heart skipped a beat in shock as he looked at the broken wooden spike; the wolf before him was much larger than the average Arctic wolf and had a much thicker skin and flesh. To his surprise, his blow seemed to have no effect on the beast. This, however, was where Bi Fang''s assumption went astray¡ªhe was not against the Wolf King, nor did he know what was going through the mind of the Wolf King at the moment, which was almost a mushy mess, taking quite a while to react. But this was an opportunity! All the wolves had been brought down by a single swing of Bi Fang''s stick, buying the Wolf King some time! Seizing the chance, another wolf quickly sprinted across the snowy ground and leapt up. Bi Fang felt a premonition and had already sensed the incoming attack, heaving a silent sigh. The hunting wisdom of the wolf pack was almost indistinguishable from that of humans. While marveling in his mind, his hands didn''t cease to move. He drew out the fifth long stick and directly knocked down the leaping Arctic wolf, and with the other end swiftly picked off the still dazed Wolf King. If the Wolf King had truly held on, he might have indeed turned the tide. Facing two large wolves abruptly on the narrow rooftop, followed by the relentless onslaught of the pack, might have thrown Bi Fang into disarray. However, the Wolf King overestimated himself and underestimated the power of Bi Fang''s stick¡ªa single strike not only failed to hold him but also left him rigid. It''s just that sneaking attacks had little effect on Bi Fang. Seeing how easily Bi Fang dealt with the Wolf King''s ambush, the audience was once again thrilled. [This is freaking like using a "Dog Beating Stick"!] [Damn, that''s so badass] [Gotta say, it does have the flair of a Beggars'' Sect leader] After the defeat of the Wolf King, the victory of the battle was clear. Sure enough, by the time the fallen Wolf King finally recovered, and looked up at Bi Fang above it, it let out a howl, and all the Arctic wolves chose to back down. They were already full, no point in fighting to the death. A few minutes later, the pack gathered together. The lead Wolf King gave Bi Fang one final glance before disappearing into the snowstorm without looking back. Bi Fang let out a long sigh of relief and sat on the rooftop, using the long stick in his hand to poke away the sticks barring the door. The eager dogs burst forth, barking wildly in the direction where the wolves had vanished. "Enough, if you really went up, you''d pee yourself in fright." Bi Fang tapped Goudan, who was barking the loudest with his stick, finally enjoying some peace and quiet around his ears. Damn, it''s finally over. The process seemed uneventful, but only Bi Fang knew how risky it had been¡ªfighting wild beasts was completely different from brawling with humans. There was no communication; any slight mistake could lead to death, and the bloodthirsty pack would latch onto your wounds, tearing them open until the blood flowed like a river. When dealing with wild beasts, one needed a highly concentrated focus, and what followed an end was an endless fatigue, feeling completely spent. Bi Fang slumped over the eaves, his body, having been in fierce activity, quickly felt cool and his head felt muzzy after the brief heat. So exhausted, each fight felt like finishing an entire book of ''Five-Three simulations'', and it was mathematics, leaving his brain a complete mush, and all his muscles without any energy. The audience was unaware of just how bad Bi Fang''s condition was after the fact; they only knew that Bi Fang had dealt with the Arctic wolf pack! [Master Fang is awesome!] The Thesus Adventure wasn''t large compared to other ships, but at over seventy meters in length, the gap it left from rolling over the ice cap was much bigger than what a dozen people could dig out in hours of strenuous work! For the gray whale trapped in the small ice cave, reaching the shipping lane felt like sudden wealth. Its cramped space instantly became exceptionally wide. Breathing was also much easier. The gray whales used to have to bob up and down the vertical distance of the ice cave, poking their entire heads out just to get a short breath. Now, they just needed to rise briefly in the horizontal direction and expose their blowholes to breathe deeply, which was extremely satisfying, almost no different from being back in the open sea. The only thing to be cautious of was to keep the whales from getting too close to the stern of the ship, as it might cause injury. For this reason, Captain Harvey had arranged for several sailors to stay at the stern. If a gray whale approached within a safe distance, they needed to use sound waves to drive it away. Some tourists tried to come up to the upper deck to watch and take photos, but they were mostly dispersed by the first mate, leaving only a few passengers to stand firm with the help of sailors, each group only allowed to stay for ten minutes. Those who hadn''t had their turn yet could only squeeze their faces into the narrow portholes, staring at the unchanged ice cap and trying to catch a glimpse of the gray whales at the back of the ship, but it was all in vain. The few tourists standing on the upper deck without exception took out their phones, and the sound of camera shutters was incessant. Under the crystal-clear starry sky, the ice cap shone with a faint gray light, highlighting the dark shipping lane. Three huge gray whales surfaced one after the other, and the passengers took the opportunity to snap photos and post them on their personal accounts. At this moment, all two hundred tourists on board became social influencers. With just a few scattered photos capturing the gray whales, they received a torrent of likes and comments. "So envious, to become friends with a whale, this is definitely the most thrilling adventure of a lifetime!" "A few hundred US Dollars for a ticket, and I''m saying, even if this trip cost a thousand or even tens of thousands, it would still sell out!" "Oh my God, if I had known the trip would be this incredible, I would never have changed my ticket!" "Changed your ticket, buddy? No way is it what I''m thinking, right?" "Yep, it''s exactly what you''re thinking. (Shows the refund record of the Ti Xisi ticket) I was planning to go on vacation, but then, due to sudden work commitments, I had to cancel the trip." "Your boss should be hanged." "Agreed." Almost everyone expressed their envy. Watching their likes continually rise, they all felt a surge of satisfaction. The negative feelings some had earlier did indeed vanish amidst the envy, turning into laughter and joyful chatter. If there are more such wonderful things, please let it happen again! "Be careful with the bumps, don''t get too close to the railings!" The sailors had to warn passengers trying to get near the railings. At a height of 1.4 meters, it wasn''t too likely for an average adult to fall over, but a phone could. Just now, one passenger got too close to the railing, and when the Thesus hit the ice and jostled too much, their hand shook, and the phone fell into the vast ocean, disappearing and turning into a piece of marine debris. Having already issued warnings and entreaties, the passenger couldn''t blame anyone and could only return to their room to sulk. [So envious I could cry, I want to be part of such an event too.] [Damn, got lucky as hell. When I go on vacation, it''s all crowded with people everywhere, just a sea of big butts, why don''t I ever get this lucky?] [If I had gone, I could brag about this for three years.] [That''s an understatement, at least you could tell your grandchildren.] [Great-grandchildren aren''t out of the question either] A large number of people were immersed in regret, wishing they had bought the same ticket before Bi Fang set off, and now they might be able to rescue the Gray Whale with their idol. Not to mention that there was also an opportunity in between because the Thesus had returned to port once. Even without getting advance notice, following it later would have still given them a chance to meet up. Unfortunately, there are no ifs in life. Life cannot be restarted. Bi Fang didn''t board the Thesus; he watched the ship move slowly from a hundred meters away. The half of the reindeer that he had roasted in the morning was left over¡ªmuch was sent into the kitchen of the ship. Though inappropriate, it was a gesture of gratitude to the people on board. Captain Harvey also received a complete reindeer''s head from Bi Fang. Because they were unable to preserve it in time, only the pale bones remained, giving off a fierce and savage look that added an air of dominance and wildness. Harvey was very pleased with the gift and hung it in the center of the captain''s room, for anyone who entered to see at first glance. By now it was three in the morning. Though most people aboard the Thesus were quite spirited¡ªeven excited¡ªfor Bi Fang, it was already quite tiring. Bi Fang spread out the Musk Ox Skin, preparing to rough it here for the night. The six sled dogs all huddled close, sitting around. There was no need to dig a hole; simply building a wall of snow to block the wind and snow was enough. He slept until noon. The Thesus was no longer in sight, indicating that they were making good progress. After tidying up a bit, Bi Fang had some breakfast and noticed that the Thesus was only two miles from the shore¡ªperhaps it could return to the sea by dawn today! Bi Fang''s guess was spot on. At two o''clock in the morning, under the starry sky, rare Purple Northern Lights appeared. Along with the final collision, the shipping lane connected with the ocean, and several pieces of broken white ice floated onto the sea, completely clearing the passage. Everyone watched the sea surface with bated breath. Until the last moment, no one knew the final outcome. After a moment of silence, every person could hear their heartbeat in their ears. Just then, a whale leaped out of the water. With a body length of over fifteen meters and weighing over thirty tons, the huge creature soared into the air, paused for a moment, then fell back along the same path, violently breaking open the surface of the water. The scene was so stunning, like a slow-motion shot in a movie. After the first one came the second, the third, the fourth¡ªno, they kept jumping in cycles, leaping again and again. Their massive bodies burst seven or eight meters out of the water, almost as high as a three-story building! A big splash of water mist rose, blurring the colorful light. The ethereal sound of whale song echoed over the earth, particularly melodious. It was an outpouring of emotion after being trapped for so long, and also a joyous celebration of returning to the ocean. Whether it was the millions of viewers in front of the screen or the sailors and passengers standing on the upper deck, they had never felt the emotions contained in an animal''s call so clearly. They were rendered motionless for a moment. The dazzling Northern Lights, the "midnight sun" shining over the ice fields, the wonderful moment of the whales reaching the sea, the speed and passion of dog sledding. While people are busy bustling around in high-rise buildings, perhaps whales are surging out of the water near Greenland at the same time... Tourists pressed their shutters, capturing this moment forever. Chapter 729 726: Suddenly Encountering a Polar Bear Bi Fang was highly action-oriented; after a brief respite, he began his "wall" project. Actually, it was quite simple: just dig a trench around the cabin, then sprinkle it with a mixture of ice water mixed with sawdust. In extreme temperatures, this mixture would almost instantly freeze into blocks of ice, quickly forming an impenetrable wall. "Ice is a solid formed from water, and thin ice shatters like glass at the slightest touch, which is common knowledge. However, the fact that ice can be as hard as steel and as solid as concrete is something many people do not know," he explained. "In fact, it''s quite simple to achieve this, just add some sawdust," he said. "Adding sawdust to ice blocks may sound absurd, but it actually has a professional name: Pykrete, a type of composite material, similar to reinforced concrete, which is a combination of cement and steel." The audience didn''t know what Pykrete was, but as soon as Bi Fang mentioned reinforced concrete, everyone had a clear concept. [How can this Pykrete compare to concrete?] The audience was skeptical: could ice mixed with wood be as hard as concrete? "If the conditions are right, it definitely can," Bi Fang asserted, once again making a startling statement. "Pykrete is a composite material made by using approximately 14 percent by weight of sawdust or other cellulose, with 86 percent ice." "During ''World War II,'' the Allied Forces mixed wooden fibers with water and let it freeze. The wood fibers would form a woody layer, making the ice harder to melt. This modified ice was as hard as steel," he continued. "A one-inch, or 2.5-centimeter-thick ice board can support the weight of six people; an ice board 10 centimeters thick can stop bullets." "This type of ice board was invented by a man from the Central Country, Geoffrey Pyke, which is why the Allied Forces named this ice compound ''Pykrete.''" With Bi Fang''s explanation, the online friends also understood just how impressive this oddly-named composite material was and learned about its glorious history. During the two World Wars, as Germany kept sinking transport ships, the Allied Forces wanted to create a ship that couldn''t be destroyed by shells, bombs, or mines, and "Pykrete" became the ideal material for shipbuilding. Later, the Allied Forces built a small transport ship using "Pykrete" as the material, measuring 60 feet long and 30 feet wide, which sailed for several days on water at 60 degrees Fahrenheit without melting. That was at 60 degrees Fahrenheit, equivalent to 15 degrees Celsius, which is essentially the temperature of water in late spring or early summer. The fact that it could hold up for several days under such conditions was astounding. Because World War II ended, "Pykrete" ships were not continued, but they were also used as anti-tank obstacles, a sight not rare in Soviet Army textbooks from the 1940s. The Central Country also had a project during the wars called Project Habakkuk, planning to build aircraft carriers with it to counter German submarines in the Atlantic Ocean. However, when they began to construct an experimental ship in Canada, they found that composite ice materials could not support their own weight on large vessel bodies, and given disagreements in the design of the propulsion system, the construction plan was halted in 1943. Nonetheless, even so, the abandoned hull took three years to completely melt away. Of course, such actions seem rather absurd now, but a hundred years ago, people did in fact attempt it. Seeing is believing. Bi Fang lifted the stone hammer in his hand and smashed it straight down on the solidified wall. With a thud, some surface ice chips fell off, but the wall remained undamaged. [Holy crap, that''s badass] [It looks solid] The fence was constructed very quickly, and in just two days, Bi Fang had completely enclosed the wooden house, reaching a height of one meter and sixty centimeters. At such a height, polar bears would have to climb to get over, and while wolves could jump, it was enough to block their charge and allow for some degree of counterattack. In short, it was a full sense of security. Another week passed, and the wolves hadn''t returned. Bi Fang completely let down his guard, continuing to ride his bicycle and dog sled around Greenland, looking for prey, or simply enjoying the Arctic scenery. He felt the intense thrashing of the arctic char, tracked the majestic migration of reindeer, encountered various animals and environments unknown in the city, and fulfilled the audience''s every longing for Greenland. Life went on like this until late December. By then, even Bi Fang himself couldn''t quite remember how many days he had survived, possibly over sixty, or perhaps more than seventy. In any case, there was about one last month left before survival would end, and perhaps before it did, he might witness the sun rising once again. Under these circumstances, Bi Fang finally encountered another heavyweight predator of Greenland¡ªthe polar bear. Maybe "finally" is not the right word, as Bi Fang had encountered them a few times before; only they had merely glanced at each other from afar and had not come this close like they did today. "Really unlucky." S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang''s body stiffened. At this moment, he didn''t dare to move because, about twenty meters away, lay a colossal creature. At first glance, one might even mistake it for a small hill formed by packed dry snow, but then everyone saw the enormous head beneath the mound. It was a chance encounter. Bi Fang''s original target was an Arctic hare, but then unexpectedly, an Arctic fox sprang out, scaring off the hare. If it was going to be an Arctic fox, then so be it. Bi Fang didn''t mind. However, as he followed it, he ended up trailing right behind the polar bear, and by the time he realized what was happening, they were only twenty meters apart. The man and bear were almost locked in a stare-off. This bear wasn''t like the emaciated ones seen in conservation organization photos; instead, it was an unadulterated bruiser. Since it was lying down, Bi Fang couldn''t tell how long the creature was, but judging by its height, it weighed at least five hundred kilograms! The only good news, perhaps, was that his six dumb dogs hadn''t followed along. Their hunting skills were limited, and they would have only scared the prey away. Bi Fang had tied them up behind a not-too-distant ice mound, so there was no worry about them getting eaten by the bear. In summer, when food is abundant, the Arctic fox stores some of its food in its den. In winter, when the food stored in the den is depleted, the Arctic fox follows the polar bear, scavenging the leftovers from the bear''s meals. Therefore, behind a polar bear, there are always two or three Arctic foxes quietly stalking it in winter. Of course, if the polar bear is extremely hungry, it will also attack the Arctic fox. Bi Fang suspected he had stumbled upon just such a scenario. The color of the polar bear is almost the same as the snow, and under the cover of darkness, if not paying attention, it is very easy to overlook. Bi Fang had unwittingly fallen into this trap, and had it not been for a sudden alertness, he might have gotten even closer. Chapter 730 727: Reserve a Spot ..... Cough cough, I''ll have it changed before two o''clock, refresh this chapter then. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ..... Across the snowfield, the sled charged forward, six robust sled dogs ran against the wind, their thick fur coated with dry snow, quickly disappearing in the breeze. The cold incessantly attacked, limbs gradually stiffened, fingers gripping the reins nearly lost sensation, coated in frost. The two dead deer on the sled seemed to have lost their color, a faint grey-white hue coating them, exhibiting a cold, hard gloss, frozen solid like stone. Bi Fang''s senses were accurate, the Arctic''s temperature had plummeted tonight, the cold was extraordinary, he moved his stiff fingers and drew a thermometer from his bosom. The orange liquid was striking, twenty, ten, zero, minus thirty, forty, fifty... From his body''s internal to the external environment, the column of liquid inside the thermometer underwent a startling elasticity. Bi Fang''s eyes followed the rapidly contracting column of liquid, watching as it shortened bit by bit until it stabilized at minus fifty degrees, and there was still a trend for it to drop further! Such an exaggerated temperature change left the online audience with mouths agape, finding it hard to believe, an extreme temperature that most people would never encounter in their lifetime! [Holy shit, minus fifty-three degrees?] [Isn''t that a bit too excessive?] [Is another blizzard coming?] [Doesn''t look like it] "Stop!" Bi Fang abruptly pulled the reins, bringing the sled to a halt. He quickly drew out the musk ox skin from beneath the reindeer, spread it open, and draped it over himself, shielding against the cold wind. "It shouldn''t be a blizzard, just the wind''s gotten stronger, the temperature dropped more than I expected, but not surprisingly. Low temperatures plus night, this is the true Arctic polar night." "My clothes can only withstand temperatures down to minus thirty degrees. Beyond this point, it will be difficult to provide sufficient warmth." The two reindeer skins, yet to be tanned, rawhide, now were as hard as stone and utterly unusable. [In this cold weather, shouldn''t you light a fire to warm up before moving on?] A viewer suggested that Bi Fang take a break and find a place to regain his strength, but Bi Fang vetoed the idea: "No, I have to get back immediately. At a temperature of minus fifty degrees, freezing occurs in an instant, and for the gray whale, it means the area of the ice cave will rapidly shrink, I must go back and watch it myself to be at ease." [Hiss, almost forgot about that.] [Didn''t Old Fang leave a drone there, didn''t you guys see?] [How''s the situation?] [Rescue is already underway...] Exactly... Not feeling surprised in the slightest, Bi Fang bit the rope, fastened the musk ox skin around his waist with a tight knot, and resumed driving the sled towards the direction of the gray whale. Only when Bi Fang grasped the reins again did he realize his fingers were stiffer than before. Bi Fang never anticipated his cheeks and nose would freeze stiff so swiftly, or that his fingers would lose sensation so quickly, as if they had detached from his body, unable to even grasp a few ropes, necessitating a glance to ensure he was actually holding them. The wires connecting his fingertips to his body seemed to have short-circuited. Bi Fang focused all his effort, and his stiff fingers finally began to tremble, bending at the joints with a disconcerting noise, as if filled with ice sand. To prevent freezing to death, Bi Fang had to grip the reins with one hand, the other tucked inside his bosom, trying to recover some warmth. The cold air But all that was insignificant now. Fire had risen, dancing in front of his eyes to the crackling rhythm, alive with the flames of life. The cold air eroded everything that had a temperature. On the ice field, the roar of the engines still continued, running non-stop for 24 hours, and they weren''t frozen by the low temperatures, still providing some residual warmth. The number of people around had decreased significantly, with the weather reaching minus fifty degrees, most tourists were confined within the rooms of the Thesus, greedily drawing warmth from the pipes. The ship shook left and right as it broke through the ice, shaking so much that it felt like people''s brains were going to be thoroughly mixed, causing many to start vomiting. In such circumstances, negative emotions inevitably arose. "Damn it, I should never have agreed to come, this whole thing is just too stupid!" "For the sake of three whales, I''ve ruined my trip!" "It''s completely unnecessary; extinction is its fate, if it can''t adapt to the environment, it should be eliminated!" A sailor holding onto the handrail passed through the corridor, faintly hearing the complaints of several men through the doors, mingled with the sound of cards, as if they were playing a game of cards. Facing negative emotions, there were also those who contradicted them. "Enough is enough, during the voting, you were the one who cast the approving vote, and you were happy when we were cutting through the ice. Can''t you handle even a bit of setback? Don''t tell me you didn''t imagine how you would brag about this to your colleagues!" "Right, it''s just temporary, opposing it now is useless, let''s just hope this will end soon, it''s still a rare experience after all." The sailor sighed in relief; although some negative emotions had arisen, thankfully they weren''t too many and were under control. The sailor, confirming the status of passengers, grabbed the handrail and headed upward, shifting his weight in time as the ship tilted again, marching steadily upwards while the gentlemen in the rooms continued to argue. "This is absolute crap, the ship is rocking again, I can''t even aim properly when I''m peeing!" "F¡¤¡¤K, no wonder there''s urine all over the mat, it''s you!!!!" "Stop arguing, hey, cool it, damn, Mans, you didn''t just sit down on it, did you?" "Damn it, you motherless bastard! I''m going to kick your ass hard with my pointed boots, I''ll even practice boxing on your mother''s gravestone!" ... "Put your back into it, without the sun, it''s hard to recover the temperature here; the ice layer will just get thicker, we must keep moving!" The first mate had returned to the ship to rest, and the second mate took over the site again. There were only twelve people present, including seven sailors and five tourists, all wrapped in thick coats. "If you can''t stand it, just say the word, and we''ll take you back!" As sailors navigating the Arctic Ocean, they had strong adaptability to such low-temperature environments, their physiques significantly stronger than those of the passengers. "No need, we can hold on." "If I really can''t take it, I''ll bring it up." "Yeah, don''t underestimate us!" The few tourists clamored, their enthusiasm not diminished by the severe cold. "Good, then keep going, and make sure the ice doesn''t freeze over!" Normally, after digging out one cave, they only needed to dig the next one, but now they had to keep an eye on the previous one as well, to prevent it from freezing over and blocking the gray whales'' breathing holes. But faced with an even greater workload, the number of people working had halved, and everyone bore the intense cold, doing twice the work. The non-stop chainsaw teeth had become somewhat blunt. A sailor had just cut through a block of ice, but in the blink of an eye, the seawater seeping through the crack once again froze them firmly together. Annoyed, he kicked out, but the sailor forgot one thing¡ªthe ice surface, constantly washed over and frozen by saltwater, was extremely smooth. As soon as he stepped on it, the sailor felt his right foot lose control, and his entire body suddenly slid towards the cave. "Watch out!" The second mate, who had been watching the crew closely, shouted out, but it was already too late. Chapter 731 728: Light (Combined) Twenty years ago, no biologist conducting research in the Arctic would have used words like "emaciated" or "frail" to describe polar bears. In the common perception, polar bears were always the robust sovereigns of the Arctic. They had no natural predators in this land and could roam the ice caps carefree, their massive bodies making the earth tremble beneath them. When swimming in the ocean, their robust forelimb paws acted like flippers, allowing them to glide through the water with ease. Some polar bears could even migrate between land masses hundreds of kilometers apart via the ocean, spending most of their lives drifting on sea ice, only coming ashore during breeding seasons. The sea ice also provided polar bears with a stable food source¡ªseals. When seals came up onto the ice to breathe and rest, they were likely to end up as a meal for polar bears. In addition to seals, polar bears occasionally feasted on the carcasses of whales. Even if polar bears weren''t lucky enough to catch seals, the layers of fat stored beneath their skin could provide them with energy for a certain period. "This layer of fat makes them appear very robust," said Bi Fang. The physique of polar bears is entirely different from that of brown bears: they have much thicker layers of fat and larger skeletal frames to accommodate and support their bulk, resulting in very different head-to-body proportions. The differences between the two are visibly stark. Polar bears have relatively small heads, long necks, and hind legs that are slightly longer than their forelimbs, giving them a forward-leaning posture; brown bears, on the other hand, have rounder heads, short, thick necks, and limbs of similar lengths, making their bodies appear parallel to the ground. Even non-experts could easily differentiate between the two species. How could professional staff in animal protection organizations not recognize them, just because the brown bear wore a white vest? The online story of a leucistic brown bear named "Joey," mistakenly taken for a polar bear and sent to the Arctic twice, was merely a fabrication. Although there was no leucistic brown bear named "Joey" that made two trips to the Arctic, many polar bears have indeed lost their homes and been forced to venture inland in search of food. It all began to change at the turn of this century. When exploring the Arctic, people could occasionally find skeletal polar bears that looked like walking skeletons. If these polar bears couldn''t find food soon, they were doomed to starve, and their weakened bodies were no longer able to withstand the rigors of hunting; death was inevitable. The acceleration of global warming has shortened the lifespan of sea ice, making the hunting life of polar bears extremely difficult. They might face increasingly tense survival situations and higher mortality rates, and in order to secure enough food, polar bears are forced to travel farther to hunt their prey. Polar bears left the Arctic. Over the years, polar bears have been struggling with a number of unfavorable factors, and those that disappeared have shown humans that even without natural predators, they have lost this battle. "Polar bears separated from the sea ice have lost the crucial food source of seals, but in the southeastern part of Greenland, we have discovered an isolated polar bear population with a unique genetic make-up," Bi Fang revealed. "Unlike other polar bears that rely on sea ice to survive, these bears hunt year-round on the freshwater ice near marine glaciers, where the conditions of the sea ice are close to what we predict for the Arctic at the end of the 21st century," Bi Fang explained. Bi Fang went from the past to the present, and then to the future, explaining completely why the polar bears living on Greenland seem to be doing quite well. "The polar bears here might be the only ones that can survive into the future, as they are better adapted to the environment." Standing on the ice field, Bi Fang watched a giant bear in the distance making eye contact with him and revealed a slight smile. In his days roaming the snowy fields, Bi Fang had seen many creatures, which brought him a great sense of novelty. Lately, he had been observing a mother polar bear, leading her cub every day across the ice field in search of food. Watching from a distance was very amusing. The giant mother polar bear lumbered forward, while her young cub followed behind. Often distracted by other things around, it would suddenly realize that its mother had walked far ahead. Frantically, the cub would scramble to its feet and hop and run to catch up, only to be distracted again by a chunk of ice or a rock at the roadside, repeating the cycle over and over. "For many endangered animals, they only have one chance. A reduced population means they have no opportunity to make mistakes. They are not like the rabbits in Australia, where even if a virus specific to the species was developed, there is still a huge population to ensure the emergence of a group with antibodies. Not to mention many animals, plants, and microorganisms can hardly be effectively counted; most of the time it''s not even clear whether they have gone extinct." "The risk of extinction for many species might be far more serious than we imagine. For instance, the Gastric-Brooding Frog in Australia went from being discovered to completely extinct in less than a year." [If someone else has killed it and made money off it, now others have to bear the consequences. Even if we retreat ten thousand steps and it goes extinct, it won''t affect me, a person who has to pay even to enter a zoo.] [The hardships of life make people dull, sigh :-(] [Human development is like burning wood planks for warmth in a wooden cabin during winter, while also building a cement house next door. If the wooden house completely disappears before the new cement house is built, human extinction isn''t far off. But if we don''t burn those wood planks, some people won''t live to see the next day''s sun.] "Many people probably can''t comprehend the impact of the extinction of such small creatures, like the Pinta Island Tortoise or the Speckled Tortoise, which have had no effect on our lives whatsoever. The protection of animals is more out of compassion." "But in my opinion, species conservation is like playing Jenga. It''s a game of wooden blocks neatly stacked into a large rectangle, constantly removing individual blocks until the rectangle collapses. Whoever pulls out a block and causes the collapse loses." The online friends had an epiphany. "Species conservation aims to minimize the blocks being removed, to prevent our Earth''s biosphere from collapsing." Bi Fang laughed, "I have said similar things many times before; to say more would seem preachy. It''s just that this survival journey is coming to an end, and it feels like I can''t elevate the theme without saying something, reminding me of the conclusion that had to be included in the compositions I wrote in school." "So let''s start to be a bit more cheerful." The biosphere has evolved into its current state over hundreds of millions of years, where countless species have appeared and disappeared, surviving various kinds of reshuffling and staring anew. Humans are the biggest beneficiaries of this round. Of course, the extinction of one or two species can''t destroy the entire system, but their disappearance warns of significant environmental changes. Currently, humans don''t have the capability to repair the damage to the biosphere out of thin air, so avoiding further deterioration is already the best practice. Bi Fang believed that in the future, humans would definitely explore a development path that is more beneficial to themselves and also to the biosphere. As he spoke, the young polar bear, chasing too eagerly, accidentally tripped and rolled several times, with dry snow sticking to its fluffy fur. The mother polar bear finally noticed her mischievous cub, turned her head back, grabbed the cub''s neck, shook off the snow, and helped it stand up again. The two bears, large and small, continued on their way into the distance. The audience, witnessing the same scene, found it hilarious, laughing heartily. Many female fans felt their hearts melting, finding the cub too adorable. And many were still discussing the words Bi Fang had just spoken. [Not long ago, the Yangtze River dolphin went completely extinct] [I first came to know of the Yangtze River dolphin in a text called "Living Fossil"; back then it was an endangered species, and now it''s gone¡ªquite a pity] [Every species has its own unique advantages, such as artemisinin, which was found extracted from Artemisia. Every species could potentially bring huge benefits to humans. Protecting animals is not only out of a bit of kindness and morality but also for safeguarding ourselves, to leave a backup plan for unforeseen crises in the future.] [For humans, it''s the bitter fruit of environmental degradation, but that doesn''t make humans sinners. It''s survival of the fittest, natural selection. Humans destroy the environment and gradually make themselves "unfit", which is why we protect nature.] ... Mid-January. Bi Fang had been surviving in the Arctic for over ninety days, with less than a week remaining until the end. The three months of arduous survival had been Bi Fang''s longest mission to date, and his appearance had completely transformed from when he first arrived; his now longer hair, though not greasy from frequent washing, still looked somewhat unkempt. This was inevitable. Bi Fang could have trimmed it a bit, but in the cold Arctic, it was completely unnecessary. On the contrary, thick hair provided some degree of insulation. Bi Fang''s overall weight had also undergone a reduction, although he had been hunting throughout, the drop was unavoidable yet not much, still maintaining around eighty kilograms, roughly the same as before he bulked up. A give and take that resulted in no change, to everyone''s delight. This further proved Bi Fang''s survival skills were indeed among the top echelon of humanity. In a similar show in his previous life, even though the environment wasn''t as harsh as Bi Fang''s, being in a forest, almost all contestants would experience a significant drop in weight, with some even losing dozens of pounds, which was quite alarming. But this actually only indicated the inadequacy of the contestants'' capabilities because if surviving a hundred days in the Arctic guaranteed weight loss, then the Inuit people would have been long extinct. Bi Fang experienced some discomfort in the beginning, but he quickly got his survival status under control, entering a stable living environment. Transitioning from one environment to another, living as luxuriously as the natives, or even better, all demonstrated Bi Fang''s abilities. He possessed the skill to survive long-term in one of the harshest environments on Earth, and still had the capacity to support six large dogs! These dogs consumed more food than a person; in other words, Bi Fang could even support ten people all by himself! Today, like usual, Bi Fang stepped out, donning a snow-white scarf, calling to the six sled dogs, gently closing and bolting the wooden door. In the uninhabited Arctic, such precautions were unnecessary, until after an attack by a pack of Arctic wolves, Bi Fang decided it was necessary to install a bolt to prevent the sled dogs from suddenly running out. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After bolting the door, the cabin quivered slightly, and the smoked rabbits hanging on the edge shook, dropping the accumulated snow from the roof''s edge. A blizzard had passed some time ago, completely covering the cabin''s roof with snowflakes, but due to the steep slant, the snow wasn''t thick. Seeing the swinging rabbits, the sled dogs beside drooled with desire, Bi Fang looked up following their gaze and slapped his forehead. "Forgot to bring them inside." If he didn''t take them back into the cabin, who knows what might eat them by the time he returned. Gathering the smoked rabbits from the edge, Bi Fang placed them inside before setting off once more, traveling across the vast ice plains and witnessing more of the landscape. The temperature remained very low, only around minus thirty degrees, but compared to the minus sixty degrees during the recent blizzard, it was now considered "warm". Despite the monotonous grey-white environment surrounding him, Bi Fang didn''t feel lonely. On the eternal ice fields, every day new animals appeared, new things happened; every morning was fresh, each animal with its own novel story. The wind brought the seeds of stories, time allowed them to sprout. Bi Fang enjoyed such a life and didn''t find it arduous. In mid-January, it was the time when the sun was about to reinvigorate, perhaps in the next couple of days. Charcoal burned quietly, the red and yellow glows scattering sparks, warm... The warmth of a fire! Covered with a musk ox skin on the kang bed, Bi Fang''s forehead glistened with sweat, and his back exuded layers of sweat, every pore stinging like needle pricks, unbearable! "Heh-ha!" Bi Fang suddenly awoke, his back damp with sweat, and subconsciously reached for the spear leaning against the wall. It was only after grabbing it that he realized he was still in the cabin, and nothing happened. Strange, a nightmare? Bi Fang was puzzled but wasn''t affected by the nightmare. He reached out to touch the kang, which wasn''t any warmer than previous nights¡ªwondering why he sweated so much today. Am I running a fever? Bi Fang touched his forehead, but couldn''t make sense of it. Beside him, Goudan was panting, looking almost like a dead dog with no reaction at all. Just when Bi Fang thought everything was an illusion, perhaps an unease that emerged from his subconscious for the first time staying so long in the wilderness, a subtle scraping sound came from outside the cabin. Bi Fang startled, his grip on the spear tightening, his veins protruding like a creeping snake. Outside the door, there was something! ... Zheng Fahua was an earnest student and also a mature university student. He went through middle school decorously, attended an ordinary high school, and similarly went through high school in a decorous manner, eventually getting into an average university. What was different was that Zheng Fahua heeded the advice of his elders, none of whom had been to university, and treated university as a relaxing place, skipping classes every now and then, gaming and reading novels in the dormitory, to this day. Chapter 732 729: The Final Hunt People had long forgotten the feeling of the last time the sun rose above the ice sheet¡ªit felt distant, so distant that it blurred in their memory. They witnessed an entire polar night, and now witnessed the light rise again, which was truly exhilarating. In the first hall of the Wilderness Club, the crowd was bustling, with everyone standing up, eyes fixed on the screen, biting down on that streak of purple light, regardless of the pressure from people behind, resembling the majestic scene of climbing Mount Tai in the middle of the night to watch the sunrise. The number of viewers in the live broadcast kept climbing, and at some point, the promotional images had transformed into the same earth, the same starry sky, the same purple light, as if nearly ten million people were simultaneously witnessing the magnificent Arctic sunrise. In the barrage, everyone spoke their minds, their eyes filled with anticipation, nervous yet excited¡ªthey had been waiting for nearly a hundred days! Over a quarter of a year, this was the longest stream Bi Fang had ever hosted, and it was also the most thrilling one that all the viewers had ever seen. Hunting musk oxen, a whirlwind of reindeer, rescuing gray whales, snowstorms, sled dogs, polar bears, auroras, starry skies, ice sheets¡ªeverything had been eye-opening for the people. They had admired, experienced, and marveled at everything the Arctic had to offer. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Though the long night sky was romantic, true eternity lay in racing through the light. The sun, something you could simply look up to see, had never been as precious as it was at this moment, the most dazzling and valuable among the stars. Bi Fang pulled the rope, stopped in his tracks, and his eyes suddenly widened, a glint of gold lighting up the pitch-black pupils. The newborn sun rose above the horizon, sunshine sprawled across the land for miles, a vast expanse. It was only a moment, but it seemed to dispel the bitter cold, making everything less intimidating and wearisome, tempting one to sleep comfortably. The drone landed behind him, and at over one meter eighty-five tall, he appeared extremely tall, his long shadow trailing across the ice sheet. The sun cast a dazzling golden glow on Bi Fang''s shadow, too brilliant to look at directly. All his muscles were slightly moving, and even through the thick layers of clothing, it was as if they could smell the fragrance of sunlight, each cell breathing greedily, trying to extract long-missed energy. Daylight got his body back to functioning normally again, making his bones strong and resilient. People are indeed beings that need to live under the sunlight. "It''s over," Bi Fang said softly. In a few months, this place would welcome the midnight sun, with the sun that would also not set for an equally long stretch of time. This was yet another spectacle created by the rotation of the stars. In this extended season of endless daylight, owls and bats would break their habit of moving in the dark and fly about in the "white night." Plants also made full use of this beneficial yet brief growing season to quickly complete their life cycles of growth, flowering, and fruiting. Dandelion seedlings would break through the soil and soon grow vigorous and stout, then swiftly spread across the fields, budding profusely¡ªin just a day or two, they would turn into fields of gold flowers, and within a week, they would form fuzzy globes of seeds. How beautiful it was! There were still many sights to witness, more adventures to experience, and countless things yet to try. Bi Fang''s eyes were filled with vitality and hope; he spread his arms, and embraced the entire sun! ... Arctic Wilderness Survival for a hundred days. Bi Fang shouldered his backpack, dismantled the wooden hut he had painstakingly built, and erased every trace of his presence. When anyone traveling in the wilderness spotted colorful ribbons, various markers, or notches carved into trees left by those who came before, the feeling of a solo adventure they longed for would be completely dissipated. In the end, Bi Fang looked up at the sun, which had risen halfway before losing its strength. The weather was clear, and the perceived wind speed was almost the same as the day he set out. The remaining food was left exposed on the earth, waiting for the next comer to devour it completely, returning everything back to the natural cycle. The six loyal dogs, still waiting, took off once again, not heading towards Whale Bay but along the coastline towards the northwest. The terrain in that direction was open and had no wind channels, rendering hunting seals impossible even if he spotted some during a windstorm. In the final moments, Bi Fang hoped to try his luck at catching a seal, not for its meat or the kill, but just for the challenge. He wanted to mark the end of his adventure with a hunt, perfecting it as a craft. Aboard the swiftly moving sled, Bi Fang constantly stood up to look into the distance, his superior abilities allowing him to easily spot anything afar. An hour and a half later, in front of a small iceberg, Bi Fang called the excited sled dogs to a halt. He had spotted a seal, about 2 kilometers away. The audience followed the direction Bi Fang pointed, seeing only a vast expanse of white and feeling no doubt, their comments flooding in, more excited than the sled dogs themselves. They finally understood that Bi Fang indeed had the right and means to hunt seals. [What does seal taste like?] [Research station YYDS!] [So awesome, only Master Fang gets such treatment] The drone switched to a telephoto lens for a shot, then magnified the retrospective screen to 100%, where the audience finally saw what seemed to be a small black dot¡ªno wait, there seemed to be more than one! Of course, Bi Fang was certain of it, confident in his eyesight that those were seals. But right now, what he needed to do was not to guide his online friends but to secure the dogs. Lately, the six big dogs had become more rowdy, which Bi Fang suspected was due to being overfed. To avoid wasting food, these days each dog was being fed more than enough, eating till stuffed every day and visibly gaining weight, their coats sleek and shining, looking prosperous enough to fetch a high price in a dog meat market. Bi Fang used his dagger to dig a hole in the ice, securing the dog''s tether, followed by a 10-minute beat-down, essentially slamming down anyone who stood up until all the sled dogs obediently laid down on the ice. With the sled dogs settled, Bi Fang began preparing his weapon and camouflaging shield. He used two T-shaped wooden frames to hold up a piece of white fabric, forming a barrier. "This is an essential tool for Inuit hunters when hunting seals, aimed at allowing the hunter to approach the seals with better concealment, to avoid startling them. This white cloth frame is called a ''blind'' in English." Bi Fang used his dagger to dig a hole in the ice, securing the dog''s tether, followed by a 10-minute beat-down, essentially slamming down anyone who stood up until all the sled dogs obediently laid down on the ice. With the sled dogs settled, Bi Fang began preparing his weapon and camouflaging shield. He used two T-shaped wooden frames to hold up a piece of white fabric, forming a barrier. "This is an essential tool for Inuit hunters when hunting seals, aimed at allowing the hunter to approach the seals with better concealment, to avoid startling them. This white cloth frame is called a ''blind'' in English." Chapter 733 - 730: Reserving a Spot, Will Modify After 20 Minutes Chapter 733: Chapter 730: Reserving a Spot, Will Modify After 20 Minutes Bi Fang, clad in a deerskin coat, waved contentedly from the shore as the Thesus set sail toward the horizon, while nearby, a gray whale surfaced, revealing its back and spouting mist. Before long, the ocean returned to its serene state, the whale continued to swim powerfully as if nothing had happened. The lone cry of the whale echoed over the desolate plain, melancholic and profound. Bi Fang had witnessed ¡°whale breaches¡± several times, but never had he observed them from such a close distance. Humans always want to ¡°explain¡± every action of animals, yet in the end, they still cannot understand what whales truly intend to convey through such behavior. It might just want to feel the breeze on the sea surface or maybe it just felt like jumping up for no particular reason. However, the scene before their eyes left the onlookers speechless¡ªtheir hearts filled with an unexplainable something, like a surge of emotion, a thread of thought. Perhaps what moved people was not the giant whale in the frame but the unique vastness of Nature surrounding it, and the minuteness of their own existence within it. Always living day by day amongst grey buildings, yet, at the same moment, another kind of time is indeed flowing slowly. Being able to keep this in mind in a corner of one¡¯s heart during everyday life is sure to bring an immense difference. [When I have money, I¡¯ll definitely go around and have a look.] [A corporate slave should act like one, accepting your fate of good fortune and just stay put in these few square meters.] [Ah, if only people could live longer, like two hundred years, with everything before fifty being considered as youth. That would be so cool, all the pressure would vanish.] [The sorrow of short-lived species, akin to plankton that live but a day, whose sole purpose is to find a mate and then reproduce.] [Amidst birth in the morning and death in the evening, I want to leave behind something else.] S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Descendants, maybe? (Dog¡¯s head)] The audience once again started debating about life, and Bi Fang stood up and waved one last time toward the Thesus as it disappeared. The ship vanished into the distance, the seals scared into the sea poked out their heads, seeing that the whale was gone, and cautiously climbed onto the ice floes, lying on the ice, contentedly slapping their bellies. Another rescue mission was complete. Bi Fang¡¯s gaze lingered on the undulating sea, he sighed deeply, and felt a sudden relief that made even the cold wind on his body feel not so cold anymore. The matter with the gray whale was perfectly resolved; now, his attention needed to return to the days he had marked down¡ªcurrently, it¡¯s late November, and there were still two months to go. Back at the cabin on his dog-sled, Bi Fang processed the reindeer meat further, first separating fat from lean meat to deal with them separately and minimize any potential loss. Then he buried the excess reindeer meat in a pit in the ground. ¡°I feel like a squirrel storing pine nuts for winter. It¡¯s pretty much the same, considering it¡¯s already winter,¡± said Bi Fang, dusting off his hands and shaking off the snowflakes. ¡°Actually, we could hang the meat in the trees, and it would have the same effect, but making rope is really too troublesome, so let¡¯s just bury it on the spot.¡± With food, water, and enough fuel, Bi Fang thought his life would be absolutely blessed in the days to come. Two hunts, one musk ox, two reindeer, amounting to over three hundred kilograms of meat. Even the hyena packs with the highest hunting success rate in the natural world couldn¡¯t achieve such results; this was truly the king of the wild! Survival of the fittest is the unfailing rule for those who want to live in Nature! The sun¡¯s energy sustains all life, but humans can¡¯t survive through photosynthesis alone. To survive, one must hunt, and to live well, one must know how to hunt. ¡­ It was December now. More than a week had passed since the rescue of the Gray Whale, marking Bi Fang¡¯s fortieth day of wilderness survival in the Arctic. The temperature seemed to have stabilized at minus forty degrees¡ªa frightening cold, yet not deadly. Layered in two deer skins, Bi Fang could even spare a change of clothes. Brushing off the dry snow from his body, Bi Fang added the freshly made charcoal into the fire pit. In the beginning, Bi Fang had been adding firewood, but he soon found that charcoal was more comfortable to use. Not only was the heat more stable, but it also lasted longer, so he switched to using charcoal thereafter. Having added the charcoal, Bi Fang covered the pit, leaving just a small vent for airflow, and then stood up to open the cabin¡¯s door. ¡°Ga.¡± At the sound, six dogs perked up their heads and bounded through the snow towards him. They shook off their fur and squeezed by Bi Fang¡¯s feet into the cabin, pushing through the half-closed door in single file. Goudan, Fugui, and Wangcai were the first three sled dogs Bi Fang had encountered. Though it went unsaid, it was clear that these three were of much higher status than the others¡ªthey first claimed spots beside the heated brick bed, cuddling up to the warm stones and yawning. Goudan had attempted to jump onto the brick bed several times before but was pulled down each time by the ear by Bi Fang. Now a bit more behaved, he still required close attention. The remaining three dogs stayed close to Sanshao, occupying other spots in the cabin. With such a small space and six large dogs dividing up all the room except for the fire pit, there was almost no place left for Bi Fang to stand. Bi Fang sighed and turned to the unmanned drone: ¡°That¡¯s it for today¡¯s livestream. Lately, things have been relatively leisurely. I¡¯ve made quite a few tools and polished the sled. In a couple of days, I¡¯ll see if I can find some plants to replenish my vitamins.¡± With that, the livestream was turned off. The past week¡¯s content hadn¡¯t been particularly novel, so the days Bi Fang went live weren¡¯t very long. It was more like a routine report. The drone settled on the ground, and Bi Fang took off his hat, carefully stepping through the gaps left between the dogs to reach the brick bed. He took off his coat to use as a pillow and then felt the bed. ¡°Perfect, warm, but not too hot.¡± Adding charcoal to the brick bed was a technical matter. Too much and you¡¯d overheat, sweating like you¡¯re in a steamer; too little and you¡¯d be chilled to the bone in the middle of the night. Even with Bi Fang¡¯s strong constitution, it had been a bit too much to bear until things had recently improved. Over several attempts, he had come to understand the right amount to use for a comfortable night¡¯s sleep. The charcoal in the fire pit glowed a faint red, continuously radiating heat that warmed the cabin and made one drowsy. Outside, the wind howled, but inside, one man and six dogs slipped into peaceful dreams. Goudan¡¯s head rested against the stone, his mouth gradually opening to let his tongue slip out while his fur faintly smelled of being singed. In the middle of the night. The blizzard intensified, blurring the landscape. Atop a hundred-meter-high cliff, several claws stepped into the snow, leaving deep prints. A dozen pairs of green eyes glimmered in the darkness. In the air, a fragrance long-missed began to spread. Chapter 734 - 731: Cellular Level Repair Agents Upon the Arctic Ocean, the Thesus advanced steadily, cleaving waves and crushing drift ice. In the foggy bathroom. Soap created lather, cleaning every pore thoroughly. The sharp razor glided around the corner of the mouth, tipping the last bit of stubble into the trash can. The superfluous hair at the temples was removed, leaving a refreshed feeling. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang lifted his head from the basin, excess water flowing down, dripping off his jaw and rippling the surface; he relaxed completely as he placed a warm towel on his face. "Shhh~" "Comfortable." He casually threw the towel into the laundry basket, and the young man¡¯s spirited reflection reappeared in the mirror, full of vigor. The hair covering his ears was neatly trimmed; one couldn¡¯t tell he had just spent a hundred days surviving alone in the wilderness. With practice, Bi Fang had honed a passable hairdressing skill. Styling might be a bit challenging, but shaving off the excess length to keep a clean look was simple. Wrapped in a bath towel, he stepped out of the bathroom. The bedroom¡¯s underfloor heating continuously emitted warmth, keeping the room at a comfortable temperature, like an early spring¡ªfar more advanced than a traditional heated brick bed. Yet, just beyond the window was the desolate Arctic tundra, where temperatures plummeted to minus thirty degrees Celsius, a staggering fifty-degree difference from the room¡¯s warmth. The room Harvey had arranged was spacious, but it seemed a bit crowded with six dogs inside. "Awoo~~~" Goudan stood on the sofa, howling at the other sled dogs attempting to crawl up and claim it, trying to assert his dominance. Wangcai and Fugui refused to show weakness. They, too, had their eyes on the only sofa in the room, unwilling to let Goudan take that prized spot without a fight. The entire room was filled with noise until a large hand grabbed Goudan by the scruff, dragging him off the sofa¡ªhis miserable wails could sadden listeners and bring a tear to the eye. A certain someone descended mechanically, quelling all disputes. With Goudan chased off from the contested territory, Bi Fang sank into a beanbag chair, looking out at the icebergs through the porthole while the stars hung over the plains, feeling a sense of peace. After sorting all his rewards into categories, Bi Fang began to inventory his gains. He did not rush to use the Enhancement Points; upgrading advanced skills required a combination of these points. Compared to physical abilities, Bi Fang was more inclined towards the benefits granted by skill enhancements. In Wilderness Survivalist, knowledge was always key to saving one¡¯s life. Advanced Skill Upgrade Coupons were rare as well and could be used to upgrade orange skills. The only way Bi Fang could level up Wilderness Traveler was with this coupon; otherwise, progress would halt. Although the current level of lv2 was sufficient, higher is always better¡ªyou never know when it might come in handy. It was a pity that, apart from a single appearance in the store, Bi Fang had never seen a second Intermediate Skill Upgrade Coupon. This one was certainly an unexpected joy. Using the Upgrade Coupon and Enhancement Points, the effect was applied to the orange skill. Wilderness Traveler lv2¡úlv3. Accompanied by a burst of golden light, the orange skill¡¯s trunk thickened, sprouting more branches and leaves, and more derivative skills and environmental knowledge naturally emerged in Bi Fang¡¯s mind, presenting him with more choices. Bi Fang¡¯s demeanor underwent another subtle transformation; he became even more knowledgeable, covering geography, astronomy, flora, and fauna¡ªthere was nothing he wasn¡¯t familiar with. He glanced at the store, which only offered some standard equipment and small tools of little use. It just kept getting more waterlogged. They were mostly shoes, pants, clothes, little gadgets, and some weren¡¯t even professional outdoor gear ¨C just ordinary clothing. Bi Fang was disappointed, but it was within expectations. The system¡¯s task assignments had become increasingly strict, often not even allowing too much personal clothing. One could only buy normal clothes from the store, but the supply of professional attire there was dwindling, rendering many of the items rather useless. Perhaps this was another way to increase the difficulty of the tasks. Of course, that didn¡¯t mean the store had lost its significance. On the contrary, it had become even more important. For instance, Bi Fang had once obtained an Advanced Skill Enhancement Coupon and lower-level skill enhancement coupons from the store. The store had the chance to refresh and display super high-quality items. Just one successful find would be a massive gain. Bi Fang used a Store Refresh Coupon, and the blue shelves flipped, revealing new goods. He skimmed through them one by one. There was an Intermediate Skill Upgrade Coupon, which Bi Fang immediately bought and used on his Forbidden Zone Hunter skill. After using the second coupon, the shelves flipped again, revealing a low-level skill upgrade coupon and a potion. "Advanced Repair Agent?" Bi Fang was taken aback; he had never seen a potion-like product in the system store before. This was his first time, and he couldn¡¯t help feeling curious. It was well known that rarity usually equated to preciousness. Only when Bi Fang saw the price of the potion did he gasp in surprise. This thing cost sixteen thousand Wilderness Points! [Advanced Repair Agent: Repairs all physical injuries at the cellular level.] Bought it! Lacking points, Bi Fang promptly exchanged for more. One of the main purposes of founding the Wilderness Club was to provide him with enough points to avoid the embarrassment of not being able to purchase items. A cellular-level repair ¨C just reading the description, one could tell it was good stuff. The human body is a massive machine, with skin and hair serving as a fa?ade, muscles and bones forming the basic framework. This machine is constantly operating every day, but eventually, the fa?ade of the most complex machine in the world will become mottled, and its parts will loosen, starting to malfunction from time to time. Beyond natural aging, most of the wear and tear is actually produced during the operation of the machine itself. Organs like the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys, every irregular routine and unhealthy diet fundamentally inflicts wear on these delicate, independent organs, Besides the main organs, there are also damages to the body surface, scars, abrasions, all kinds. Twisted spines, inflamed tendons, pulled muscles ¨C many minor injuries, if not properly recuperated, will accumulate and become permanent wear, which are the so-called "secret injuries." When you¡¯re young, it doesn¡¯t matter much, but as you grow older, these injuries could potentially affect the overall operation of the machine and shorten life expectancy. Oh, and the joints ¨C these are the easiest parts to wear down. But since Bi Fang had enhanced them once, he didn¡¯t need to worry much about this aspect. After purchasing the repair agent, Bi Fang was somewhat surprised not to see it physically appear before him; instead, it showed up as owned in his status, ready for direct use with a click. "No physical form?" Bi Fang was puzzled, but didn¡¯t dwell on it for too long and proceeded to click use. A slight itching sensation instantly appeared all over his body, followed by a wave of coolness that spread throughout his limbs and body. Gradually, he started to heat up, experience a warm heat that didn¡¯t cause discomfort, reminiscent of the cozy feeling of being back in the womb. Bi Fang took a deep breath and suddenly felt extremely tired, as if basking in the warm sun after a full meal, making it difficult to resist an indulgent afternoon nap... Chapter 735 - 732: Sense of Balance The sun gradually sank below the horizon, the last of its afterglow scattering across the sea surface, forming a perfect circle with its reflection. Through the porthole, Bi Fang could see the originally deep blue sea turn into a sheet of bright white. What time is it? Bi Fang, who had dozed off in a daze, woke up somewhat confused; it was only when he saw the electronic clock fixed to the wall that he realized it was noon. Uh, so it actually is noon, the time when the sun is at its fiercest. Bi Fang scratched his head; decades of life experience had led him to believe it was dusk¡ªforgetting that he was in the Arctic, where it was indeed midday, even though the sun could only rise so high due to the latitude. The polar night had ended only a few days ago, and the sun was still moving towards the Tropic of Cancer. In another week, one would be able to see the full sun, and the daylight hours would significantly increase. Bi Fang glanced at the date next to the time and was relieved; only a day had passed, he had slept for just over ten hours, and no one had disturbed him. To the crew members on the Thesus, Bi Fang had survived in the Arctic without any supplies for a hundred days, and they thought he must be utterly exhausted and emotionally drained. When Bi Fang boarded the ship, their eyes were filled with awe; sleeping soundly seemed quite normal to them. But only Bi Fang knew that from the second month of his Arctic survival, he had been eating and drinking as usual. Apart from a bit of cold and lack of entertainment, his life was almost no different from normal; he was far from being at the end of his tether and could even fight on for another hundred days. As his stomach growled, Bi Fang didn¡¯t hurry to eat but focused on feeling his body instead. To say there was any clear sensation was impossible¡ªinternal injuries remained undetected during normal times, secretly becoming the crucial factor that could affect the operation of the machinery later on. Moreover, with Bi Fang¡¯s true age being just twenty-five, brimming with vitality, the kind so robust it could scare away even female ghosts, it was even less likely he would notice anything significant. But that wasn¡¯t to say there were no sensations at all. He felt completely comfortable. That was Bi Fang¡¯s sole sensation; his breathing had become deeper, and its frequency had reduced once more, requiring only a little oxygen to sustain operation. His whole body had undergone a deep clean, feeling exceptionally fresh¡ªas refreshing as inhaling mint leaves in summer or baring one¡¯s lower body in autumn to feel the breeze. The coolness was invigorating, shooting straight up to the Heavenly Spirit Cover. After tallying all his gains, Bi Fang looked at the last Balance Enhancement Coupon. The good stuff was always saved for last¡ªevery mission¡¯s guaranteed reward brought Bi Fang great surprises, and this time was no exception. Just by the name, one could tell the significance of the coupon¡¯s effect. Balance may seem insignificant, but in fact, it is one of the basic qualities of the body; nearly all human movement occurs while maintaining bodily balance. Those with poor balance could never become good athletes. Balance mainly divides into two types: static balance ability and dynamic balance ability. Static balance ability refers to the capacity to maintain the body¡¯s center of gravity in a relatively static posture. Dynamic balance ability refers to the capability to adjust and control the body¡¯s center of gravity and posture while in motion. Both involve the capacity to control the body¡¯s center of gravity on a small support surface. Individuals with good balance perform very well in sports and also have a developed sense of spatial awareness. Conversely, those with poor balance may not even control their bodies with ease. People with poor balance are prone to spatial errors¡ªsome are slow to react and thus often climb high; others are overly sensitive and afraid of any height. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They become anxious with any change in head posture, thus leading to constant uneasiness and using small movements or talking to themselves to relieve psychological stress, resulting in hyperactivity and talkativeness. Bi Fang had always believed his sense of balance was quite good; at least, sitting atop a tall building didn¡¯t instill too much fear in him. Of course, he would still get nervous, a normal reaction for most people. Eager to see what the enhancement would bring, Bi Fang rubbed his hands together and used the Balance Enhancement Coupon. The golden ticket dissolved into sifted powder and merged into his body. Bi Fang closed his eyes and carefully felt the changes in his body. The vestibular system, the somatosensory system, and the visual system working together are required for balance. These three systems convey the acceleration and spatial displacement information they sense into the central system, which analyzes and integrates this information, then sends it through the vestibular spinal tract to act on effector organs. Ultimately, muscles regulate body posture by tensing and relaxing. Because of Bi Fang¡¯s excellent neurological reflex speed, he already had a certain advantage in this. Indeed, Bi Fang felt the back of his head starting to heat up, and then the sensation spread throughout his body. Is it the cerebellum? Bi Fang guessed. The whole heating process ended quickly, and by the time he opened his eyes again, less than fifteen minutes had passed. Bi Fang got to his feet, feeling something different, yet he couldn¡¯t quite describe it. It was like he was very steady? He took a couple of steps as if it were the most natural thing to do. So effortless... Bi Fang wondered if it was just his imagination, but did he feel like he could walk steadily forward with even less effort than before? Balance is a complicated process that requires many muscles to cooperate. Could it mean that people with poor balance need to use more muscles, more strength, to neutralize the excess force to regain balance? Bi Fang had a moment of realization and was overjoyed. Just for the energy saved, the ticket was worth it! He opened the System and displayed the fully enhanced panel before himself. [Exclusive Binder: Bi Fang] [Growth Age: 25] [Height: 186.1cm] [Weight: 79.4KG] [Strength: 17] [Body: 20] [Agility: 20] [Spirit: 16] [Platinum Body, Beastly Instinct] [Status: Healthy.] [Enhancement Points: 0] [Wilderness Points: 1234 (convertible)] Orange Main Branch: Wilderness Traveler Lv3. Purple Branch: Forbidden Zone Hunter Lv2, Body Tempering Lv1. Blue Twigs: Tai Chi Traveling Dragon Lv4. Green Canopy: Culinary Mastery Lv3. Spoils of Skill: Wolves King¡¯s Sense of Smell, King Fish¡¯s Stomach, Biological Sensing. Nothing is more intoxicating than watching oneself become stronger bit by bit. Balance is a complicated process that requires many muscles to cooperate. Could it mean that people with poor balance need to use more muscles, more strength, to neutralize the excess force to regain balance? Bi Fang had a moment of realization and was overjoyed. Just for the energy saved, the ticket was worth it! Balance is a complicated process that requires many muscles to cooperate. Could it mean that people with poor balance need to use more muscles, more strength, to neutralize the excess force to regain balance? Chapter 736 - 733 What is Balance "Awesome!" "So impressive!" "Oh my God, this is just too incredible!" "Look at that strong body, I really want to get into his room tonight." On the ship¡¯s upper deck at the bow, a large crowd of tourists had gathered, chattering noisily, huddled together and refusing to leave, bursting into cheers from time to time as if they were witnessing some exciting performance. The second mate looked up at the sky. There was no magnificent sight, no aurora, no sea eagles, and nearby there were no massive glaciers or polar bears¡ªeverything was the same as usual. What could these people be crowding at the bow to see? Inside, it was spring all year round, but outside it was negative thirty degrees¡ªnot to mention the strong wind. If there wasn¡¯t any beautiful scenery to see, there was no way tourists would be out on the upper deck. Some sailors had even mixed into the crowd, behaving just like everyone else. Seeing a familiar crew member, the second mate grasped the sailor¡¯s shoulder and pulled him aside to ask, "What are you all watching? What¡¯s all the excitement about?" The sailor, annoyed at being abruptly pulled out, immediately composed himself when he saw it was the second mate and exclaimed excitedly, "It¡¯s Mr. Fang. He¡¯s standing at the bow. My goodness, it¡¯s really just too incredible!" What¡¯s so incredible about standing at the bow, could it be that he is peeing upside down? The second mate was quite puzzled. As his grip relaxed slightly, the sailor he had pulled out slipped away and squeezed back into the crowd, and then, even louder cheers erupted. The second mate couldn¡¯t contain his curiosity and squeezed his way in too. When he saw the familiar figure on the railing, he was struck dumb! "My Lord, he¡¯s actually upside down!" The rising sun bathed the deck in light, making people squint their eyes. There, on the metal railing at the bow, a young man was indeed doing a handstand! That¡¯s right, a handstand! The second mate rubbed his eyes, fearing he was hallucinating, but no matter how much he rubbed them, the scene before him remained the same, unchanged. It was Bi Fang who was gripping the railing with his bare hands! Bi Fang had used just his hands to grip the metal railing, supporting his entire body, doing a handstand on the narrow railing! Of course, he wore thin gloves, or else his hands would freeze to the railing, tearing off a layer of skin and flesh. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The tourists had cleared half a meter in radius, forming a tight half-circle at the bow, all flashlights and video recording; there were even shouts from those who were live streaming. How did he do that? The second mate was baffled. If this were in a park gripping the railing to do a handstand, it wouldn¡¯t be all that unusual. Many street fitness experts could easily do it, but this is the Thesus! A cruise ship that was in motion! To be able to stand so steadily at the most unstable part of the ship, the control of balance and core strength was indeed quite alarming. If one were to fall off accidentally, that could be lethal! Not to mention this was the Arctic Ocean; falling into the sea would cause the skin¡¯s surface temperature to plummet dramatically, making a person involuntarily gasp for air, swallow seawater, and sink due to the "cold shock response." As a survival master, Bi Fang had performed Arctic swimming in the cold winter more than once during live streams. But beyond that, there were also risks of being struck and killed by the ship or even getting sucked into the propellers. Anyone with even a slight understanding of shipping knows that when sailing, having two ships too close together is an absolute taboo. The reason is that when two ships are too close, a situation arises where the water pressure between them is lower, while the pressure from the external water flow is greater, causing the ships to be "pushed" into colliding with each other. In such a situation, if a sailor were to fall overboard, he would be carried by the water flow generated by the moving ship and crash into it, a force so immense it¡¯s almost irresistible by human strength. Once a person crashes into the ship, there are only two possible outcomes: either they are dashed against the prow and shattered to pieces, or they are drawn into the vortex of the ship¡¯s propellers. If the latter were to happen, it would truly be more horrifying than falling from an airplane because, at least with an airplane, you can shovel up the body, but if someone is sucked into the propeller vortex, they won¡¯t even leave a body behind. After all, the Thesus was a huge ship nearly 150 meters long with a gross tonnage exceeding 30,000 tons... Too terrifying. The second mate pursed his lips, his pupils reflecting Bi Fang¡¯s movements, and his heart clenched, pounding heavily. If it were anyone else performing such dangerous stunts, the second mate believed they would have already been scolded and berated by the crew. If they encountered someone with a fiery temper, it might even come to blows, but if it was Bi Fang, it inexplicably made people want to see if something unbelievable would happen. Bi Fang perched on the railing did not stop there. The second mate squeezed forward a bit, peering through the crowded group of people to see Bi Fang release his right hand, maintaining balance in a bizarre posture with only one hand in a handstand, and then, the second mate¡¯s pupils slowly tightened as he saw Bi Fang slowly release his left hand too, turning his fist into a palm, and support himself with a single palm on the railing. He seemed to still have strength to spare, as he did not strain too much to cause heavy breathing; he was very calm and highly confident. It was this confidence that allowed the onlookers to keep watching. The Thesus cleaved the waves in the ice-filled Arctic Ocean, constantly undulating. Bi Fang¡¯s body adjusted its center of gravity with the undulating bow, moving in harmony. After using the Balance Enhancement Coupon, Bi Fang stacked up the chocolate beans on the table as his first task. Will Cutbill from Yangguo Solihaer once set a new Guinness World Record by stacking five M&M chocolate beans, and Bi Fang thought that after the enhancement by the System, he should easily be able to manage this feat. But when Bi Fang thought he could easily stack seven and break the world record, reality hit him hard. Forget seven; he messed up even stacking four on numerous occasions, and only succeeded once with five. It only goes to show that the enhancement to balance provided by the System did not include this type of stacking game, only applicable to one¡¯s own body, or to put it another way, such games simply were not under the jurisdiction of balance. But to what extent had his own sense of balance been enhanced was hard to gauge. It wasn¡¯t until Bi Fang was preparing to go out for a meal and saw the heaving bow of the ship that he had a whim and the current scene unfolded. His field of vision was split in two: one half was the tumultuous ocean, and the other half was the deck stretching out before him. Standing atop it, Bi Fang felt not a trace of fear or nervousness in his heart, but immense excitement instead. It¡¯s like no one would be nervous about their ability to hold a coffee cup; that would be strange. Holding a cup is simple, isn¡¯t it? Why would you be nervous about that? Only infants might tremble and become emotionally disturbed because they don¡¯t have the strength to hold on. Only after standing on his hands for too long and feeling his blood rush to his head did Bi Fang start to feel slightly uncomfortable. He re-grasped with both hands and gently let his body fall toward the deck, landing on his feet amongst the admiring gazes of the people. "Cool!" The crowd exclaimed in admiration. Chapter 737 734: Invitation "How did you manage to do that, can you teach me?" "The way you just stood there, you looked like a meditating monk, so holy and untouchable." The second mate looked on with reverence. The rising sun shone on the bow, bathing the entire deck in pure white. Bi Fang stood at the prow, dazzlingly bathed in golden light, astonishingly steady¡ªan actual miracle. It was a pity that at the time, he had been too engrossed to take out his phone and snap a picture. With that kind of balance ability, one could certainly strike poses most people wouldn''t even dare dream of. The second mate asked earnestly, "Can you teach me?" "It''s a natural talent, you can''t learn it." "..." It had to be said that after returning to the Thesus, Bi Fang''s eyes were truly opened. The once ordinary exploration ship seemed to have undergone a makeover and had become something else entirely. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just in the areas Bi Fang saw, there was top-notch exploration equipment, including a Blueye underwater drone, kayaks, and an exploratory boat. The guests could also use the gym or the top deck to work out, enjoying the scenery through the panoramic windows. As for dining, what was once a single restaurant had now become three, providing guests with three exquisite choices: the upscale restaurant Lindstr?m, the international gourmet kitchen Fredheim, and the main dining room Aune. The most impressive addition was the science center on board, equipped with high-tech devices and learning tools¡ªa perfect place for tourists to interact face to face and deepen their understanding of their destination. In just two short months, the ship had been renovated like this, obviously a hefty investment by Hammonsra. Correspondingly, the price of a ticket had skyrocketed¡ªa high-end room costing a whopping thirty thousand euros, truly jaw-dropping. But, thinking about his future free rides, and not just any ride but the top-tier MA cabin situated on the highest eighth deck, with more than forty square meters of sprawling corner suite, private balcony, large windows, flexible furnishing, and a sofa bed, TV, mini-bar¡ªit felt extravagantly over the top. From this point of view, it was still quite delightful. The second mate took Bi Fang to the main dining room, where they looked up to see a wooden snow sled placed to the side. It was handcrafted by Bi Fang himself, and as the sailors brought the six sled dogs aboard, they also hauled up the sled. "I thought you guys would just burn it as firewood." "Burn it? Please, what age do you think we live in? We''re hybrid solar-oil-powered, not some steamboat. We also use electric heaters, not fireplaces. Do you expect it to be chopped up for firewood used in cooking stoves? I''ve heard Huaxia people seem to really like using cookstoves." The second mate rolled his eyes. "Besides, only someone with a screw loose would burn it. Isn''t it better to display it in the dining room for everyone to admire? Captain Harvey cherishes that deer head you gave him; every time I go into his cabin, I see him blowing smoke rings at it. Hell, he looks at it like it''s his lover." The two found a table to sit down at, but before the waiter could bring the menu, a familiar bark caught Bi Fang''s attention. That sound... ``` As if a black line fell upon his head, Bi Fang didn''t even need to guess. The Thesus didn''t allow pets on board; his six sled dogs were only there because Captain Harvey had pulled some strings, and their performance on the livestream had been favorably received by everyone, which was why they were allowed aboard. Therefore, the only possibility for the sounds could be Goudan and his crew. Turning around, he saw a huge husky, but at this moment, it didn''t seem to be looking for Bi Fang. Instead, it was cozily feasting on a richly juicy lamb chop next to a beautiful woman. The other sled dogs had also found their respective "dining tables," with children, men, as well as families, as if following some unspoken rule, one table for each dog. But Bi Fang wasn''t the type to cause trouble for others; he had locked all six sled dogs in his room. How did they get here? Seeing Bi Fang''s expression wasn''t right, the second officer laughed and said, "Don''t be mad, our crew let them out. They are lively and active sled dogs after all, how could we keep them in a room?" "Won''t that be very troublesome? It was already an exception that they were allowed on the ship," Bi Fang scratched his eyebrow, feeling awkward. He would prefer not to lock Goudan and the others in his room, of course, but the desire not to impose on others clearly overrode the thought of letting them roam free. Moreover, sled dogs are different from pet dogs. As working dogs, Erha retained some fierce temperament, and weren''t the playful kind one typically encounters. "No worries, we did some checking before letting them out. No one''s allergic to dogs, nor did they express strong rejections. In fact, most people actually wanted to get closer to them. If it weren''t for the fact that they belong to you, Harvey even thought of making them a permanent fixture on the ship, along with the sled and reindeer heads as a special decoration." "Okay then." At this point, Bi Fang no longer resisted, letting Goudan and the others go from table to table. He boldly ordered a whole table of dishes and feasted heartily, and although it was just Western cuisine, it nearly brought him to tears. One hundred days¡ªhe hadn''t tasted spices for one hundred days. The Arctic was a godforsaken place with barely any vegetation, let alone during the polar night when not even berries could be found. Apart from salty and grassy flavors, there was no other taste in food. The complex flavors built up from various spices and seasonings are truly humanity''s greatest invention. For that alone, it was worth devouring three big beef steaks, five small lamb chops, and a large piece of tuna belly, plus a few pieces of fruit and vegetables. Reveling in the long-missed vitamins, Bi Fang stretched out contentedly; his belly slightly protruding¡ªa rare instance of indulgence in food and drink. How comfortable. The wilderness has its charms, and human society its delights. Having experienced both, Bi Fang felt his life was fulfilled. In the following days, Bi Fang spent his time on the ship, and the headstand he performed at the bow of the Thesus went viral online, causing quite a stir. He even saw that his Arctic journey had been turned into memes. Apart from him, Goudan had the most and the funniest memes. Even the Arctic Wolf he battled was included, especially the one where a stick is shoved down its throat¡ªpaired with all kinds of text. By early February, he returned to the Svalbard Archipelago and took a plane back to his homeland, just in time for the Spring Festival. After dining with a few friends, Bi Fang ordered some lumber and built six small wooden houses in his yard for the sled dogs, simultaneously raising the height of the fence to prevent them from sneaking out one day. Considering the frequency of tasks released by the System, Bi Fang figured he wouldn''t have any tasks for a long time. Life was peaceful for quite a while until, by mid-March, Bi Fang finally found something to do. His previous migration voyage had officially started filming, and the animation samples were ready. He received a personal invitation from the production company. ``` Chapter 738 735: Arriving at the Studio Bi Fang was momentarily stunned upon receiving the invitation, before he realized that more than a year had passed and another Spring Festival had come and gone, turning his age on the panel to twenty-six. Over a year had passed since the acquisition of the intellectual property rights; indeed, it was time to show some results. "I''ve got nothing better to do, might as well go take a look," he thought. Back then, Disney spent thirty million to acquire the rights, which included an animated movie and three seasons of an animated series, as well as a series of related merchandise. This was a one-time payment for the rights, with no subsequent profit sharing involved. Given Bi Fang''s fame at the time, which was just beginning to show after four live streams in half a year, thirty million Ugly Gold was definitely a huge sum, directly providing the startup capital for Wilderness Club. Otherwise, when this project could have been launched was uncertain, if at all. It also indirectly provided Bi Fang with ample Wilderness Points. Even now, with Bi Fang''s rising popularity and the creation of a startup chain, thirty million is still not a small amount. Nowadays, Bi Fang frequently receives endorsement invitations, with promised figures on the contracts reaching billions, as if simply showing up would easily make money, but this is different from a change of events. Adapting real-life cases into films and television series is a subtle matter, and the definition of its intellectual property rights is rather vague. You can say they exist, or you can say they don''t. If one were to be a bit shameless, it would be entirely possible to ignore the so-called copyright issues, unless they involve merchandising that might affect image rights, but oftentimes this isn''t the main concern. Not all movies and anime can rely on merchandise to make money. Bi Fang opened the invitation and discovered that three plane tickets to Burbank, California, were thoughtfully attached, clearly suggesting that he could bring friends along. As for ¨¦tienne, they surely sent him one too, though it was unknown if they would run into each other. If it''s March, ¨¦tienne should have already started school, right? Bi Fang wasn''t very clear on the French educational system, but since they don''t have Spring Festival, theoretically, he should be in school. The thought of ¨¦tienne burying himself in studies made Bi Fang''s mouth turn up with a sense of pity. The date on the plane ticket was the day after next. Bi Fang put it away and started to mentally prepare himself while also checking if any of his friends were interested. As for the six large dogs at home, there was no need to worry, as someone would take care of them. "You can spank them if needed; don''t worry, they have thick skin and flesh and won''t die, especially that sneaky-looking one," Bi Fang told the auntie while pointing at Goudan. "Woof!" Suddenly, Goudan''s backside clenched, it immediately stood up from the sofa, hopped around a few times, and let out a howl. ... Three days later. "Eh? It''s just the two of us?" Yao Jun took off his sunglasses and looked around, noticing it was just him and Bi Fang. Bi Fang nodded: "Lin Chang said he isn''t very interested. If there''s a sample film, he''d take a look, but there''s no need to make the trip specially. Not everyone is as free as you are." Yao Jun showed annoyance: "What do you mean I''m that free? I''m here because of you. Otherwise, I can make or lose millions in a minute! Why would I take a plane to watch an animated movie?" Bi Fang curled his lip and said nothing. Burbank is a residential satellite city and industrial center of Los Angeles; the Magic Capital doesn''t have a direct flight there, so after landing, they still had to drive there. Since it was late, they didn''t hurry to their destination but instead found a hotel nearby to stay for the night. The next morning, Bi Fang made a call to inform the other party of their arrival, and by noon, someone was knocking on their hotel door. When he opened the door, he saw a man with a Mediterranean hairstyle and glasses, dressed like the typical office worker, and wearing a standardized smile: "Hello, Mr. Fang, I''m Benton Morgan from the company, sent to guide you through the movie production process. Are you ready to leave now?" Morgan didn''t beat around the bush as the morning call had settled this exact matter. Bi Fang nodded: "Give me a moment." After changing clothes in his bedroom, Bi Fang took Morgan next door and after knocking and seeing a sleepy Yao Jun, he let him know they were ready and then waited in the lobby for fifteen minutes. They had a brief chat about the movie''s progress before moving downstairs with Yao Jun. Once everyone was together, Morgan drove both men to the studio to observe the film production process. "Isn''t this sort of thing usually done by women?" Yao Jun murmured, prompting Bi Fang to tug at the corner of his mouth: "Have you always been this embarrassing?" S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yao Jun looked shocked: "Is that really how you see me?" "What else?" Morgan, driving the car, glanced at the rearview mirror and said with a smile, "Sorry, gentlemen, I understand Chinese. In fact, it''s because I know Chinese that the company assigned me to you. Of course, if you really need it, I could have the company send someone else." That was awkward. Yao Jun slumped in his seat and pretended to be dead. Bi Fang''s proficiency in English was unquestionable, enough for normal conversation, even being able to express botanical scientific names in English, which was exceptionally high. Yao Jun wasn''t bad either, having studied abroad in college, he could also communicate normally. Therefore, upon meeting Morgan, they had subconsciously not used Chinese and hadn''t considered this possibility. The slight hiccup aside, Morgan understood it was just a joke and didn''t mind it; once they got out of the car, they mutually decided to forget the incident. Walt Studios, founded by Walt Disney himself, is the most distinctive and oldest division of the entertainment empire. As Bi Fang and Yao Jun walked up the stairs, they could see the live-action movie department nearby and the division of Ugly Country''s three major TV networks, ABC, across the way. Walt Studios is a separate low-rise building, with a plaza in front adorned with several statues that exude a fairytale atmosphere, irresistibly inviting visitors to enter and explore. Morgan led the two around the plaza before entering the building, greeting many people along the way. The walls were adorned with a variety of colorful frames, significantly different from an ordinary office building. Just as Morgan was about to take them to where the movie was being made, Bi Fang unexpectedly ran into an acquaintance. "Long time no see, Mr. Fang, I wonder if you remember me," Brandt Palliston greeted Bi Fang with a hug. "Of course, I remember, Mr. Brandt," Bi Fang replied, smiling. With his memory, he wouldn''t forget someone he had conversed with for a few minutes. Brandt Palliston was the one who came to negotiate the rights fees back then, and now seeing him again was truly quite the mixture of feelings. Chapter 739 736 Sample After exchanging simple pleasantries, Bi Fang asked, "Are you going out now?" Bran nodded, "Yes, Morgan will take care of you, while I''m going to receive ¨¦tienne." "¨¦tienne? He''s coming too?" "We sent him an invitation as well, after all, it''s a dual lead movie. They should be getting off the plane soon, if you don''t mind, Morgan can take you on a tour of our studio first, and we''ll take a look at the sample reel when everyone has arrived." "There''s already a sample reel?" Bi Fang was surprised, he had thought they were just here to take a simple look at character designs and the plot, but to his surprise, Disney worked so fast? "Of course, we are professionals in animated movies." Knowing that an old friend was on his way made the journey seem much more relaxed. Morgan also introduced most aspects of the studio, giving Bi Fang and Yao Jun an eye-opening experience, deeply understanding the inner workings of the world''s number one animation production company. The production of an animated movie is generally divided into five stages; the first stage is project initiation. From finalizing the script, attracting investment, selecting the team, to obtaining permissions, these are the contents of the first stage. As it''s adapted from a real case and is quite adaptable, it''s not difficult to adjust the script with just some changes to the backgrounds and characters. As for investment and team selection, there''s no need to worry. With world-leading quality, there are plenty of people willing to throw their money at the company, rather the investors must consider if they are themselves qualified, so things progress swiftly. The second phase is the early creative stage, mainly divided into four parts: creative decision, art design, recording, and storyboarding. This is approximately creating what each person looks like and some fixed actions, which is what Morgan and his team have been doing recently. The next step is the main body of movie production, also known as the third stage, which involves creating the animation. The fourth stage comprises coloring, subtitles, and dubbing, which can be completed in just a month or two. The fifth stage, quite evidently, is the final marketing and distribution. "So the production process of this movie is very fast, already in the later stage of the mid-production phase, most of the movie scenes can now be presented, and there is even a sample reel available. Of course, we need to sign a confidentiality agreement before watching it." Morgan handed over two contracts, which were only one page each, with very simple content, stating that the two of them could not spoil or record anything about the movie sample reel after watching it. In short, they could not let others know about the content. This kind of confidentiality agreement appears in many places. After signing it routinely, Morgan led them into a small screening room, but they didn''t start the screening immediately, instead waiting together for ¨¦tienne''s arrival. About fifteen minutes later, a familiar figure appeared in front of everyone, it was Elvan and his son ¨¦tienne, following behind Bran! "Professor Elvan, long time no see." "Bi! It''s been a long time, I saw your Arctic trip, it''s amazing how it reflects the human survival instinct. What''s your next destination? I feel there is no environment on Earth that can challenge you anymore, is it the Mariana Trench?" "I haven''t decided yet. One hundred days is too long, I want to rest for a while now, maybe it will be the Mariana Trench?" ¨¦tienne patted Bi Fang on the shoulder, "Hey, what about me! Bi! Are you pretending not to see me?" Only then did Bi Fang shift his gaze, sizing him up and down, he raised an eyebrow, "¨¦tienne, have you grown taller again?" The journey of Goose had just begun when ¨¦tienne was about one meter seventy, perhaps even slightly less, still retaining some youthful features; but now, he definitely appeared to have surpassed one meter seventy-five, his youthfulness transitioning towards a more mature demeanor. He just seemed a bit thinner. Last year, when he visited inside the Arctic Circle to see the Goose, I had seen him, but the changes weren''t too noticeable, and I hadn''t paid much attention. Now, after half a year has passed, the changes have become quite obvious. ¨¦tienne laughed heartily, clearly very pleased with his growth. He had also started working out recently, aiming to sculpt his body to be like that of Bi Fang''s, a sight that would surely make the girls in school scream. "Now that everyone is here, let''s get started!" Morgan saw that the exchange between the two sides was just about done and proceeded to operate the equipment in the screening room. Everyone was seated in the mini-theater, the surrounding lights all turned off. Soon, the screen lit up, a familiar logo appeared, capturing everyone''s attention. Since it was only a hastily assembled rough cut, the entire movie wasn''t complete, lasting only sixty minutes and lacking both subtitles and voiceovers. It resembled a silent film, and even the storyline wasn''t very clear. Nonetheless, many elements could still be discerned, such as the transformation of identities. To turn it into a complete story, it was evident that the identities of the characters needed some alteration. Thoughts paused as the film finally began to unfold on the screen. A clump of tall grass appeared on the screen, the image seemingly still, but soon a massive hoof came crashing down, creating a deep depression in the ground. The camera panned upwards, revealing a gigantic stag with antlers, as well as... the Hunter behind it. "Hey, it''s Bi Fang!" ¨¦tienne lowered his voice, but since there was no sound in the movie, and the small theater was very quiet, everyone still heard him. Just from that image alone, everyone knew who the Hunter was. Aside from the striking resemblance, the attire of the Hunter also looked the part of a wilderness expert, donned in a camouflage adventure suit, with sturdy dark green boots on his feet, his sleeves rolled up to reveal his robust forearms and a spear in hand. Everyone knew what was about to happen next. This was a Hunt. Bi Fang felt that if this were the final cut, there would definitely be an exhilarating soundtrack at this point. "Bi Fang" on the screen leapt up and charged at the stag. After an intense struggle, the stag was eventually downed. The camerawork was very smooth; the whole Hunt, clearly tense and dangerous, was executed effortlessly by the one hunting, denoting incredible strength and skill, a Hunter of superior capability. Next, the scene changed to Bi Fang shouldering the stag, selling it to a pub owner, surrounded by patrons all erupting in admiration. Clearly, the Bi Fang in the movie was no longer a broadcaster primarily focused on adventure but a Hunter, one who makes a living by Hunting. These were two disjointed mini-stories, indicating something seemed missing in-between. After a brief blackout, a new character appeared: a middle-aged man, wearing a little red cap, draped with a torn rag, his face exaggerated, showing a worn-down look but at the same time exuding a sense of earnestness. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This time, everyone chuckled softly, only Elvan''s face slightly fell, but he did not take his somewhat comical image on the screen too seriously. Chapter 740 737: Another Invitation from Stealth Tracking In the small theater, dim luminescence illuminated everyone''s faces, revealing a spectrum of expressions. Surprise, anticipation, frustration, joy¡ªemotions were plentiful and varied. Elvan''s decadent image was passable, but ¨¦tienne found himself quite troubled when he saw his own entrance. He had actually become smaller! Perhaps to add more of a fairy-tale feel to the story, ¨¦tienne''s image in the movie had completely changed; he was only half the height of Bi Fang, looking entirely like a child. In reality, Goose, as ¨¦tienne, stood at one meter seventy, only one head shorter than Bi Fang. But in the movie, he was cut down to waist height, which understandably left him quite disheartened. Where was my handsomeness? Where was my bravery? How did I become a snot-nosed kid trailing behind Bi Fang? However, despite the dissatisfaction, this minor change made the entire movie look a bit more harmonious. As the final battle scene was hastily sketched a few times, this not-quite-a-movie movie drew to a close. Bi Fang let out a long sigh of relief, his heart leaping with excitement. Although it was called a movie, it felt more like a character introduction reel with some plot thrown in, disjointed and even sometimes out of sequence, but still sufficient for one to grasp the general idea. The overall narrative hadn''t changed, only the characters'' backgrounds had undergone slight alterations. All in all, it was above standard and definitely something to look forward to. If the movie were actually to be released, it would surely boost his popularity tremendously and bring the concept of Wilderness Survivalist to an even wider audience. This deal was a steal¡ªa complete windfall! Once everyone had finished reflecting, Morgan spoke, "This is just a rough demo put together in haste, and it''s all we have so far. Not all of the scenes shown may be used, and more animation will be added later, but the overall tone is what you''ve seen here." "Of course, if Mr. Fang or anyone has any good suggestions for changes, feel free to let us know. We will consider implementing them, as you all are the stakeholders here." Any talk of changes was just a courtesy. Knowing that the rights had been sold outright, Bi Fang was aware that he didn''t have this power; besides, he had no complaints. Only ¨¦tienne was somewhat reluctant, trying to change his portrayal back, but Morgan just smiled warmly. This image was agreed upon by the professional department. What does professional mean? Many people in the studio could be counted among the world''s top artists. One could casually run into such legendary figures who were looked up to on platforms like A-site or Instagram, each with their unique styles and creative flair¡ªthat was professionalism. Besides, making changes would mean starting over, so any ''suggestions'' were merely to be heard out. "Ah~~" ¨¦tienne was no longer the naive kid he once was; seeing Morgan smile without a word, he could only sigh in resignation and slumped back into his seat. He had accepted his fate. After all, this was a Disney animation film¡ªa dream for countless others. Thinking this, ¨¦tienne felt a bit more relieved. Seeing no objections, Morgan glanced at his watch and smiled, "It''s getting late, let''s go have our meal." There was a snack area in the studio, all free snacks and drinks. Everyone had taken some before the screening, so they weren''t very hungry. However, they were still curious about the studio''s catering. That said, a foreigner''s cafeteria is just that, after all. Even though the studio had many Asian staff, the food was predominantly Western, and while it tasted good, it wasn''t anything out of the ordinary. "Now we just wait for the movie release," Bi Fang leaned back in his chair, content inside. According to Morgan, the movie would mostly be completed by the second half of the year and the real promotion would start then, with a planned release at the end of the year. I''m truly looking forward to it. I never thought that I''d one day be on the big screen. Although it''s just a cartoon character, it''s still quite an experience. The benefits that will come with it are definitely huge. From now on, I won''t have to worry about the viewership numbers for the mainline tasks, which solves a big problem. With the purpose of this trip accomplished, Bi Fang didn''t have much else to do, and ¨¦tienne, who came for the weekend, soon left. In the following days, Bi Fang and Yao Jun wandered around Los Angeles and had fun. Just as they were preparing to leave, Bi Fang received another invitation. Yao Jun, standing by, couldn''t help but click his tongue, "Again?" Bi Fang was surprised too, but not overly shocked. As one''s importance grows, it''s natural to attract various matters. This isn''t strange at all. It''s like how the protagonist in a novel always encounters various villains wanting to kill him. Some people''s excellence cannot be hidden; they always attract attention. Opening the invitation, Yao Jun peered over to take a look. "Hunted? Wow, they''re inviting you to compete?" "You know about it?" "Of course, I don''t just watch live streams." Yao Jun said proudly. He enjoyed outdoor activities and was familiar with all related programs. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have spotted Bi Fang among hundreds of live streams at first sight. After a moment of contemplation, Bi Fang ignored Yao Jun''s self-pride and continued to read. He found it was an invitation for a TV show for him to join the second season of "Hunted." The letter detailed the show''s content and purpose, with an explicit invitation for Bi Fang to participate. 2024, Ugly Country, one of the most developed nations on Earth. This country has several of the world''s most powerful intelligence agencies, with surveillance cameras densely covering public spaces, and where extensive personal information is needed everywhere. In a high-tech society, everything one does from ATM withdrawals to supermarket shopping, phone calls, internet browsing history, texts and social media can be monitored. To disappear in a 21st-century nation has nearly become an impossible task. The surveillance society monitors everyone up to seventy times a day through CCTV, with watchful eyes that can see even more. The invitation said so much, but the real meat was in the last paragraph. "Mr. Fang, if tomorrow you had to disappear, for whatever reason, sought by the world''s finest investigators, trackers, and detectives, and with the latest technology tracking your digital footprint, could you vanish? Could you leave your old life and start anew? What would you do? Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Everyone considers you the most formidable survival expert on Earth Seeker, capable of living through the apocalypse. But believe me, the city is nothing like the wilderness. Join us! This is an unprecedented original program, where 14 ordinary individuals from Ugly Country''s society will become fugitives, with only 450 Ugly Gold in your bank account, you must evade capture for 28 days. Your pursuers will be comprised of the most remarkable investigators selected from law enforcement, military intelligence, cyber-analysis, and manual tracking. "Hunted" is a real chase, a psychological game of cat and mouse for 24 hours a day over four weeks. We look forward to your participation." Chapter 741 - 738: Ecstasy of the Double Chefs Chapter 741: Chapter 738: Ecstasy of the Double Chefs ¡°This is provocation! Naked provocation!¡± Yao Jun exclaimed beside Bi Fang, acting like an indignant monkey. Those unaware might think he had suffered some great humiliation. Seeing this, Bi Fang managed to restrain himself from rolling his eyes and said gruffly, ¡°Just say you want to join me.¡± ¡°Ah, this, uh¡­¡± Caught off guard by his intentions being seen through, Yao Jun started playing dumb again. Bi Fang laughed. Stealth tracking, upon reading the invitation, he immediately recalled what kind of show this was. In his previous life, there was the same variety show, which had only reached its second season. Clearly, it hadn¡¯t been around for long, probably a result of the butterfly effect he had caused. In this world, there was no Bear Grylls or Grandpa De, but that didn¡¯t mean there was no Wilderness Survivalist or that there were no experts. It was just that before this, no one had thought of bringing it to the big screen and successfully commercializing it. Many ideas just lack a catalyst. Bi Fang¡¯s live streams became that catalyst. In the past couple of days, all sorts of survival reality shows had sprung up like bamboo after rain. Where there¡¯s survival, there¡¯s escape, and on this basis, it wasn¡¯t hard to imagine stealth tracking emerging once more. Moreover, this show indeed had a certain appeasing effect. The content tangentially showcased the powerful capabilities of the security agencies and advanced technology, almost like a reassuring pill for the public amidst numerous terror attacks today. Bi Fang remembered that in the original program, the venue wasn¡¯t Ugly Country but Central Country. At that time, the Central Country¡¯s government was deeply troubled by KB attacks, and the public grew increasingly restless, putting immense pressure on the government. So, the government turned to TV stations and said, ¡°You¡¯re the voice of the party, help us out and tell everyone how great we are. No bad guys can escape, and everyone should be at ease; a harmonious society isn¡¯t far.¡± After receiving their mission, the TV station immediately held a meeting. They had to satisfy the old cadres and entertain the public¡ªa tough task indeed. In the past, there was Han Xin with the shame of crawling between someone¡¯s legs; today, there was Yao Jun with the humiliation of being a noob! Having made the decision, Bi Fang immediately returned the call to the ¡°Hunted¡± production team, accepted on the spot, and announced the news on his social media account to build up anticipation for the show. [What¡¯s ¡°Hunted¡±?] [Is Old Fang doing another reality show?] [We want wilderness!] [Can someone explain what ¡°Hunted¡± is?] Since ¡°Hunted¡± had only one season so far, and it was held abroad, many domestic viewers were not very familiar with the show. However, there were a few who obviously had seen it and immediately posted a video link with an explanation. [Damn, Hunter Team, fleeing, sounds cool.] [The ones fleeing are ordinary people, and Old Fang counts as ordinary? He looks more like he should be part of the Hunter Team.] [It feels like no matter which group he¡¯s in, the other side doesn¡¯t stand a chance, right?] [Seems interesting.] [Double chef fans rejoice!] Fans reacted differently, but many still expressed their anticipation. A news series claiming the government¡¯s might probably wouldn¡¯t be believed, and a gala praising anti-terrorism models likely wouldn¡¯t intimidate the foes. Ah! Why not make a reality show, play a game of cat and mouse, so within the game, the image of the cat could be established, making the mice think twice and allowing the onlookers to munch their melons in peace¡­ Thus, ¡°Hunted¡± was born. In this world, some aspects had changed¡ªit originated from Ugly Country¡ªbut the content was pretty much the same. In this show, ordinary people would act as ¡°fugitives,¡± either going solo or pairing up to hide. Then a Hunter Team would track them down. This team, made up of counter-terrorism experts, former intelligence agency investigators, and police officers, was a 30-person Hunter Team. By simulating the surveillance methods of powerful state agencies, utilizing abundant intelligence capability, and applying their expertise, they would investigate the fugitives¡¯ public information, such as online social traces and media reports. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They would search residences, examine electronic devices, question friends and family, as well as captured fugitives, and monitor phone calls, emails, and bank transactions, tapping into data from CCTV and automatic license plate recognition systems copied from the central database, to find the hideouts of the fugitives and catch them. Furthermore, the Hunters could post ¡°wanted notices¡± on social media, offering rewards to the public for information that could help capture the fugitives. Whichever side won, they could receive a handsome sum of prize money, so everyone gave it their all. Going solo or pairing up, Yao Jun certainly had his eye on this opportunity. He had long coveted Bi Fang¡¯s spotlight¡ªahem, the chance to shine¡ªand obviously couldn¡¯t let this moment pass. ¡°I was already planning to invite you as my partner; your motive is way too obvious,¡± Bi Fang sneered, shaking the invitation in his hand. He flipped to a particular section and handed it to Yao Jun. Yao Jun took it and was immediately dumbfounded. The production team of the stealth tracking show talked about the city being completely different from the wild, requesting Bi Fang¡¯s participation but added in the end that to balance the strengths of both sides, they hoped Bi Fang would form a pair and find someone unfamiliar with the field. The implication was to get Bi Fang to find an anchor, which could add an interesting element to the show. The production team even went as far as to name names, suggesting that Bi Fang could directly invite his good friend, Mr. Yao Jun, to participate. The fact that the production team was able to deliver the invitation accurately meant they had done their research and knew whom Bi Fang had brought with him to Los Angeles. Yao Jun, a flamboyant second-generation rich kid from a large conglomerate, had his life experiences picked clean. He liked outdoor sports but wasn¡¯t particularly skilled, basically someone who is enthusiastic but not adept, even sporting a ring of belly fat that could be mistaken for that of an otaku. The stealth trackers weren¡¯t stupid; Bi Fang indeed only broadcasted his ¡°Wilderness Survival¡± exploits, and his single foray into a deserted city couldn¡¯t really be counted as a true urban escape¡ªafter all, there were no people left in the city. However, his official identity was still that of a special forces soldier! Given this public identity, he was bound to have anti-surveillance awareness, and it would be impossible to catch him easily; they had to find someone to lower the overall strength. Yao Jun wasn¡¯t dumb and quickly grasped the other party¡¯s implication, incredulously saying, ¡°Am I the rookie they¡¯re thinking of?¡± With arms crossed and a smile, Bi Fang responded, ¡°Clearly, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Suddenly I don¡¯t feel like going.¡± ¡°But I¡¯ve already decided to participate.¡± Since he was free anyway, Bi Fang was quite interested in the show, although he couldn¡¯t live broadcast it¡ªit was a recorded program. If he were to live-stream while attempting urban escape, it would be game over, equivalent to wearing a bright GPS tracker; with even Bi Fang¡¯s extensive abilities, he couldn¡¯t escape that. The expression on Yao Jun¡¯s face was a struggle, his teeth clenched, and after a long deliberation, he finally squeezed out the words through gritted teeth, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± The show would start in mid-March, so Bi Fang and Yao Jun didn¡¯t need to rush off just yet¡ªthey had a week to prepare. Chapter 742 - 739: The Deluxe Hunter Team Chapter 742: Chapter 739: The Deluxe Hunter Team ¡°Tap, tap, tap.¡± In the well-ordered office, everyone was busy working with their heads down. The tapping sounds of keyboards, the hissing of printers at work, and the suppressed laughter couldn¡¯t drown out the crisp sound of high heels on the floor. A golden-haired beauty in office lady attire and black tights took quick, small steps in her heels, stirring up a fragrant breeze that tickled the noses of all the men, who couldn¡¯t help but take a deep breath, watching the blonde woman enter the manager¡¯s office. Once the door closed, everyone couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of loss, while the female staff members collectively rolled their eyes. Everyone perked up their ears; the office fell silent, with faint murmurs seeping through the cracks of the door. Moments later, the conversation ceased, and the office became lively once again¡ªonly this time, there were no whispers or low chuckles, just the unique hum of machinery at work. The manager pushed open the door, looked around satisfactorily, nodded his head, and then clapped his hands to draw everyone¡¯s attention to himself. ¡°Diana, are all the camera crew in place?¡± ¡°Ready to go, Mr. Fisk.¡± Fisk encouraged loudly, ¡°The struggle between an unbeaten Federal Investigator and the world¡¯s number one Explorer will definitely bring us an unimaginable audio-visual feast!¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Robert Clark nodded again, and although he looked calm on the surface, he was indeed looking forward to this mock apprehension. Excitement twinkled in Fisk¡¯s eyes as the photographer who followed him filmed Robert from all angles, capturing footage for an introduction segment of the show. Robert Clark. After working for 30 years with local and federal law enforcement, this Black behemoth retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as a supervising agent. He was responsible for overseeing various criminal projects of the FBI, including the Gang and Violent Crime Division. In his career, he had helped capture some of the most cunning criminals and fugitives in the country and led hundreds of operations against gang/drug/violent crimes, achieving astonishing successes in his professional life. This Black behemoth would also serve as the chairman in this operation, responsible for the apprehension plan and coordinating the action. The second person to enter the room was a mature brown-haired woman, Teresa Payton, the Chief Information Officer of this operation. The first female Chief Information Officer of the Black Palace, she was in charge of IT services for more than 3,000 members of President Bush¡¯s and the Executive Office administrations. She was also the CEO of Fortalice Solutions, a leading security consulting company, and a co-founder of Dark Cubed, a cybersecurity product company. ¡°Jerry, how is the Hunter Team doing?¡± ¡°Primed and ready.¡± ¡°And the escape group?¡± ¡°Their movements are normal.¡± ¡°Excellent,¡± Mr. Fisk nodded, sticking out his little belly, ¡°The first episode of the first season of ¡®Sneak Pursuit¡¯ achieved a viewership rating of over 4.1, meaning that another eleven million people watched our show. As all of you in the television industry are aware, this is quite a concept.¡± Many nodded to themselves, as over five million loyal viewers were already quite rare. With the advancement of technology, a noticeable phenomenon is that as smartphones and other intelligent electronic devices become commonplace, televisions are increasingly marginalized, even relegated to being mere living room ornaments. Consequently, traditional TV viewership rates have been lower year after year, and the overall industry has been in a slump. Forget about the 30 percent, 40 percent, or even 50 percent viewership rates of twenty years ago¡ªnowadays, there aren¡¯t even double-digit rates. Holding a program with over a three-point viewership rating is already leading the television industry. Therefore, ¡®Sneak Pursuit,¡¯ averaging a two-point viewership rating, is definitely a popular show, and with additional online site viewership, it also has a considerable global reputation. ¡°However, I believe the potential of ¡®Sneak Pursuit¡¯ is far from being fully tapped. The eighteen contestants of the first season were all amateurs. The fact that we attracted so many viewers was purely due to the appeal of ¡®Sneak Pursuit¡¯ itself. But what if all eighteen contestants were celebrities?¡± The viewership ratings would surely be even higher! This was almost a foregone conclusion, clear to everyone present. Mr. Fisk started placing photos one by one onto the board¡ªeach one was familiar. Some were football players, some were presenters, and others were singers or actors, each with considerable fame. Finally, an Asian face was posted on the board. People could no longer hold back and began to whisper among themselves. ¡°Is that GOD¡¤FANG?¡± ¡°My goodness, he agreed to participate in ¡®Sneak Pursuit¡¯?¡± Mr. Fisk¡¯s small round eyes paused on each worker¡¯s face, and upon seeing their expressions, a look of ¡®I thought so¡¯ triumph appeared on his face. Managing to invite Bi Fang to join ¡®Sneak Pursuit¡¯ was indeed a stroke of genius for him! This explorer, who had repeatedly performed astonishing feats, had become famous all over the world. The most important thing was that there was a certain overlap in the content of the two shows, which meant that their fans could easily convert to each other! Mr. Fisk passionately pounded the blackboard, ¡°What we have before us now is such an opportunity! An opportunity to pull the ratings of the first episode of the second season above 5! To raise the average ratings above 3!¡± At this moment, everyone held their breath, feeling a surge of excitement within. If they really could produce a show with a rating of 3, the glory would not only belong to Fisk but to every one of them, because from now on, everyone¡¯s resume could boldly state in bold font: they had been part of a team that created a phenomenal program! ¡°Then I formally announce, the second season of Stealth Pursuit, officially starts filming!¡± At Mr. Fisk¡¯s command, the restless employees sprang into action, as each dedicated photographer shouldered their professional equipment and rushed towards the main door, heading toward their targets according to the given addresses. Each group of fugitives had their dedicated photographer. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. While the photographers were not yet in position, Fisk hurried downstairs to a spacious room filled with various surveillance equipment that looked very high-end, full of technological ambiance. The Hunter Team would assemble here, and Fisk had come early to wait for these big shots in the industry. Soon, the first Hunter arrived at the spot ¨C a mature and steady-looking Black man with a bald head. ¡°It¡¯s you, Robert!¡± Robert nodded. He was not a man of many words. Facing Fisk¡¯s enthusiasm, he squeezed out, ¡°As the chairman, I need to lead by example.¡± With Teresa¡¯s presence, the entire Hunter Team would be able to access the government information database without obstacles, to investigate the fugitives¡¯ public intelligence unimpeded ¨C from social media traces on the internet to media reports, including searching residences, inspecting electronic devices, inquiring friends and relatives, monitoring phones, emails, and bank cards, to locating and copying data from CCTV and automatic license plate recognition systems from the central database. With the help of modern technology, the team would be even more formidable! Chapter 743 - 740 The Game Begins Chapter 743: Chapter 740 The Game Begins Every member of the Hunter Team is an elite within their own industry, and it goes without saying that they act with exceptional execution. Upon receiving the information, they all headed for the building, one after another pushing open the grand doors, and within half an hour, all had arrived. The photographers, who held their cameras, didn¡¯t miss a single person, capturing it all. Aside from Commissioner Robert and Intelligence Director Teresa, they particularly introduced several of the leading members. Senior Analyst, Ben Owen. A former intelligence officer from Central Country, internationally recognized as a surveillance expert. His past professional missions mainly involved gathering intelligence for high-profile anti-terrorism operations, eventually leading secret intelligence operation teams around Central Country. It¡¯s worth mentioning that Owen was also the deputy director for the Central Country version of ¡°Stealth Track.¡± Action Director, Lenny Debol. He spent over 30 years tracking down violent criminals, terrorists, and drug traffickers. As the former commander of the Ugly Country Marshals¡¯ New York and New Jersey regional fugitive task force, he managed hundreds of criminal investigators from federal, state, and local agencies. Action Guide One, Ryan Lee Phi Philips. An experienced sergeant and commander, during his tenure he supervised and directed a SWAT team composed of 20 individuals, including tactical personnel, medics, snipers, and K-9 trainers. Action Guide Two, Andrew Stumpf. He served in the Navy SEALs for over 17 years, completing multiple combat missions and hundreds of operational actions on several battlefields. His honors include 5 Bronze Star Medals and 4 Silver Star Medals, a Purple Heart, a Joint Service Commendation Medal, a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, a Valor Medal, an Army Commendation Medal, 2 Combat Action Ribbons, and a Medal of Merit from the Ugly Country General Command. After the photographer recorded all the key members, he still couldn¡¯t help but be amazed. There was no helping it, Bi Fang had the skill and the guts, but Yao Jun was honestly quite nervous. Being watched made him feel like he had already been exposed, ready to be hunted down at any moment. Just as Yao Jun was sinking into his anxiety, Bi Fang gestured to the cameraman to come over. The cameraman, who had just arrived at the hotel ten minutes before, was startled by Bi Fang¡¯s gesture, looked around, and after confirming he was being called, ambled over. The cameraman came over with a wry smile, ¡°So, I¡¯ve been found out, huh?¡± Bi Fang smiled, ¡°It¡¯s a bit difficult for an ordinary person to follow a professional. So, how about it, have you eaten yet? Would you like some?¡± The cameraman didn¡¯t refuse as he had indeed skipped lunch; carrying equipment all the way had made him very hungry. He grabbed a piece of bread and stuffed it into his mouth, mumbling, ¡°The manhunt hasn¡¯t started yet, you guys better not run off. Oh, and here¡¯s a card for you with five hundred Ugly Money in it. It¡¯s all you¡¯ll get for this month, but you can only withdraw a hundred at a time.¡± A card was presented before him, and Bi Fang glanced at it a few times before stuffing it into his bag. After lunch was done, the cameraman¡¯s phone in his pocket began to vibrate. The impressive track records of just these six commanding officers were enough to give any normal fugitive a headache. What kind of criminal would warrant such an extravagant lineup for their capture? The Joker of Gotham? In the end, a total of thirty-five Hunters arrived, all brimming with determination. A normal Hunter Team should consist of thirty people; this time they had intended to have thirty-two, with two being specifically for fieldwork, but now the number of field operatives had increased by three, all specially assigned to deal with someone. As for who that someone was, it went without saying. Before the hunt officially began, the fugitives would start the cat-and-mouse game an hour in advance. An hour later, the Hunters could begin the pursuit, knowing only the fugitive¡¯s name, photo, and last known residence. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This meant that Robert and others were unaware of who exactly comprised the fugitive team. But the first season of other versions of ¡°Stealth Track¡± included thirty members, and shoehorning in an additional five field operators had made everyone realize that the situation was anything but simple. Show Director Fisk, holding eighteen profiles of individuals, stood quietly in the corner, grinning as he watched Robert gather everyone together. There was still an hour before they would officially get the information of each fugitive, and definitely, they couldn¡¯t just sit around; he believed they should use this hour to get to know each other and integrate. The camera circled around everyone, not missing any exciting shots. Robert, ¡°Our team is outstanding. Each person has special talents, experience, and resources¡­¡± ¡­ Inside the hotel, Bi Fang and Yao Jun found a spot to enjoy the hotel¡¯s lunch for the day. After sitting down with his plate, Yao Jun looked around restlessly, perfectly illustrating what it meant to have a guilty conscience. A good week had passed since they agreed to participate in ¡°Stealth Track,¡± and the production team had not informed them when the escape would begin. Until the recording started, they had to live as normal people, unable to prepare in advance or hide in some remote mountain corner. Otherwise, with Bi Fang¡¯s survival skills, he could easily take Yao Jun and hide out in the Rocky Mountains in advance. It wouldn¡¯t just be a month¡¯s escape; they could probably manage a year, and the Hunter Team would be completely at a loss. This led to Yao Jun feeling excited and anxious every day, always on edge and fearing that he would become a ¡°fugitive¡± the next moment. Bi Fang swallowed a piece of bread and wiped his hands on a wet wipe, ¡°I think you¡¯re really cut out for this show, you look just like a fugitive right now, a perfect immersion.¡± Yao Jun didn¡¯t mind Bi Fang¡¯s teasing; he knew how thrilled he was, ¡°I¡¯ve already thought about how to spend the two hundred and fifty thousand Ugly Money.¡± ¡°You still care about that money?¡± ¡°Who doesn¡¯t like free money?¡± Confidence was brimming in Yao Jun¡¯s words, clearly certain of victory, but this confidence was not from himself, but from Bi Fang beside him. ¡°Why haven¡¯t they started yet? I¡¯ve been waiting for days.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll start soon.¡± ¡°How do you know?¡± ¡°Because the cameramen are already in place,¡± Bi Fang pointed behind Yao Jun. ¡°Where?¡± Yao Jun turned to look and quickly spotted someone carrying a large bag and quietly watching them. If Bi Fang hadn¡¯t mentioned it, Yao Jun might not have been suspicious, just assuming the person was carrying luggage, but after the reminder, he immediately realized that the bag probably contained a camera! Each fugitive is followed by a dedicated cameraman. The production teams working with the hunters and those with the fugitives are separate, to prevent the transfer of information and to provide a more realistic environment. ¡°There are nine groups in total; the cameramen probably haven¡¯t all arrived, so he¡¯s likely waiting for the command to start moving. Once everyone is in place, they will come and notify us to start escaping,¡± Bi Fang guessed. ¡°So what do we do? Do we start running now?¡± ¡°No need, we haven¡¯t even finished eating. Why the rush? Besides, did you read the rules? For the first hour after we start escaping, the Hunter Team gets our location from an hour ago, so there¡¯s no use in running ahead.¡± ¡°Then do we need to shake them off? Like you did at Dolphin Bay?¡± ¡°Cough cough, shake off the cameraman? Are you serious?¡± Bi Fang was surprised by Yao Jun¡¯s line of thought¡ªwithout the cameraman, why would they even participate in the show? Yao Jun also realized he had asked a rather foolish question and was very embarrassed. Bi Fang and the cameraman exchanged a glance. The cameraman took out his phone, glanced at the caller information, and smiled, ¡°Looks like the game has started.¡± Chapter 744 - 741 Reconnaissance Chapter 744: Chapter 741 Reconnaissance The room was bathed in a faint blue light, giving it a futuristic tech vibe. The wide, straight desks were filled with computers, which hummed softly as their fans spun up after being powered on. Every hunter had their own designated seat, with no partitions between to facilitate easy sharing of documents at a moment¡¯s notice. Only Robert, as the chief commissioner, had a private office, separated by transparent glass walls. He presided over the control center, able to see every surveillance screen, every move everyone made, exuding an air of complete control. The hunters were not strangers to each other, while many did not know each other before joining ¡°Stealth Track,¡± the production team had organized a meet-up half a month earlier for them to get acquainted. Robert¡¯s talk focused more on clarifying the team¡¯s mission and the role of each member, while also stressing the importance of being vigilant. Although this was merely a reality show, with all sorts of game-like ¡°settings¡± that wouldn¡¯t exist in reality, they still couldn¡¯t let their guard down. If they made an error, it would still be a huge blow to their abilities. Robert did not want that to happen. In thirty years, he had never let a fugitive escape, and he would not allow it in the ¡°game¡± either. Fisk, the director of ¡°Stealth Track,¡± stood in a corner, with a cameraman beside him, rotating the camera and shifting the lens toward the massive poster on the wall. At the bottom of the poster was a dark alleyway, in the middle shone a beam of light from above, reflecting two small figures. The figures, carrying backpacks and looking over their shoulders, clearly conveyed a sense of unease that perfectly matched the core theme of the program. The entire upper half of the poster bore the CBS logo of Ugly Country, one of the top five public networks there. Shows like ¡°The Big Bang Theory¡± and ¡°2 Broke Girls¡± came from their production. But what CBS excelled at the most were crime-themed shows. ¡°Criminal Minds,¡± ¡°CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,¡± ¡°Person of Interest,¡± and others were unparalleled in both quantity and quality. Naturally, ¡°Stealth Track,¡± which Fisk had masterminded, would not disappoint, and it certainly merged all the classic elements from American crime dramas. ¡°Stealth Track¡± had many versions, including Spain, Polar Bear, Holland, Denmark, and even Huaxia had purchased the rights to the program. Yet among all these versions, the Ugly Country edition was still the most outstanding. It had the most luxurious lineup, the fastest pace, the highest prize money, the largest map, and the most thrilling content. Moreover, with many celebrities joining in, and the solid performance of the first season, no one doubted that Fisk¡¯s projected ratings of a peak at 5 and an average over 3 could become a reality, even if it followed the due course¡ªit was a goal well within reach. Against the backdrop of various conversations, the focus finally settled on the simple yet richly informative ¡°Stealth Track¡± poster, pointing out the main theme¡ªan excellent choice for an opening shot. Even if these shots were eventually discarded, they still had to be filmed now. I might not use it, but you have to shoot it. ¡°Beep beep beep, beep beep beep.¡± The distinctive alarm of an electronic clock sounded, and Robert looked up. He saw Fisk raise his wrist, pointing with his stubby fingers to the wall clock, while his other hand pushed forward a stack of documents. In a falling and rising tone, he announced: ¡°One hour has passed, the prey have hidden in the caves, now it¡¯s the hunters¡¯ turn to shine!¡± ¡°Alright, attention everyone, computers, intelligence, combat, gather ¡¯round me,¡± Robert said without any superfluous words. He stood up, took the documents, and walked through the crowd, with a group of hunters he called by name following behind him. Celebrities, sports stars, hosts, actors, singers¡­ Ordinary people? Robert flipped through the data, making the unique rustling sound of paper. He recognized some of the people on it¡ªafter all, they were celebrities¡ªbut some were also very unfamiliar to him. For the public, these people were indeed stars, each with their own fan base. However, such status offered no help in evading capture. On the contrary, they would attract the attention of passersby, making them easier to apprehend. In the eyes of professional captors, these people were even less than ordinary folks. The so-called extraordinary people, at the very least, should possess a considerable degree of anti-surveillance training, like habitual escapees. Until he looked at the last two pages. Two Asians? Robert¡¯s gaze sharpened. What drew his attention was the last photograph in the file. The person in it looked very familiar, yet intuition told him that this person was important. The cross-race effect, also known as the own-race bias, is a special phenomenon in face recognition, referring specifically to the significantly better performance of individuals in recognizing and re-identifying the faces of their own race compared to those of other, unfamiliar races. Robert was not immune to this effect. Moreover, to better fit the atmosphere, the production team took pictures with extreme exposure, which looked quite different from normal photographs, so even Robert, who often needed facial recognition, did not recognize the person immediately. It wasn¡¯t until he walked up to the blackboard that Robert suddenly remembered where he had seen this face before. Time Magazine¡¯s cover! He¡¯d also seen it a few times while browsing through videos. ¡°This morning, two foreign tourists became fugitives. The first one, Jun Yao, is a second-generation rich kid. His last known location was a first-class hotel in downtown Los Angeles City.¡± People buried their heads in taking notes, and then Robert posted the second picture, ¡°The second fugitive, Fang Bi, was last seen in the same location as the first one.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± A low exclamation came from someone in the team¡ªclearly, this figure was not a minor one. Robert took a quick glance and noticed that at least one-third of the thirty hunters had a change in expression. ¡°Emily, why don¡¯t you introduce this person?¡± Robert called on a hunter. It was she who had gasped, her voice small but heard clearly by everyone. Emily composed herself and stood up: ¡°Fang Bi, a Huaxia host and the founder of the Wilderness Survivalist series. Theoretically, all related Wilderness Survival shows to date originated from him, and even the emergence of ¡®Stealth Track¡¯ has a degree of association with him.¡± ¡°Having undertaken many incredible adventure activities, he was once known as the world¡¯s number one explorer, including, but not limited to, his recent rescue of three gray whales trapped in the Arctic, the discovery of legendary hidden creatures, traversing the entire European continent¡­¡± Robert interrupted Emily: ¡°Now is not the time for a fan meeting. I¡¯m not concerned with his accomplishments in adventure. Get to the point. You know what we are most interested in. The more formidable the target, the more we have to speed up.¡± ¡°Alright, based on the verifiable records, this Huaxia host is a retired special forces member, and not just an ordinary one at that. He has studied at the Hunter Academy in Venezuela and even ranked in the top ten in its history. Just based on this identity, we must admit that he certainly has a very strong anti-surveillance capability.¡± ¡°Sounds like a tough nut to crack,¡± Senior Analyst Ben Owen frowned. No matter which country¡¯s special forces, a certain level of scouting tactics is inevitably taught, and to scout means to also know how to counter-surveillance. Intuition told Owen that, compared to the other seventeen, this one was definitely a primary focus of this capture operation. ¡°I want to know what they¡¯re planning before they think it, and what they¡¯re going to do before they act.¡± ¡°Teresa, from an intelligence perspective, what would you want to do?¡± sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 745 - 742: My Plan Is to Have No Plan Chapter 745: Chapter 742: My Plan Is to Have No Plan Every contact leaves a trace. This statement by Edmond Locard, the father of forensic science, is revered by countless criminal investigation experts as a profound truth. Perhaps in the eyes of a servant, the world is so vast, finding a place to hide wouldn¡¯t be difficult, just turn off the cell phone and play missing, but in modern society, this move is absolutely impossible. Your every phone call, each transaction from your bank account, every photo you share on social media, is quietly revealing your information. Who you are, where you are, what you are doing, and who you know. These are merely past information, but beyond that, hunters have ways to grasp the present. Just in Los Angeles alone, there are over tens of thousands of real-time surveillance cameras. Not just the present, the future cannot be avoided either. Through personality profiling, residential searches, and comprehensive analysis of your life traces, it seems like a futile attempt to mend the pen after the sheep have escaped, but in fact, these have already foreshadowed your next move. People often describe high school life as a straight line between ¡°dormitory¡ªclassroom¡ªcafeteria,¡± and that is a statistical analysis of life¡¯s trajectory. Perhaps a fugitive will occasionally deviate from this trajectory, but as long as you lie in wait along these three points, you will catch them sooner or later. And everything is inseparable from¡ªintelligence. Teresa crossed her legs and flipped open her notebook, ¡°First, we need to review the fugitive¡¯s circle of friends and relatives to determine who they might contact when they want to flee.¡± S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I apologize.¡± Emily raised her hand, ¡°For these two in Los Angeles, or rather, the entire Ugly Country, they don¡¯t seem to have any friends or relatives.¡± ¡°Not necessarily, but indeed, we can redirect our focus. How about we start from their spending records? In order to flee over a long distance, transportation is essential; otherwise, we can now narrow down the search area.¡± ¡°Excellent, I¡¯d like to hand over the cell phone, computer, and social media information to the tactical team so they can quickly relay it to the ground forces.¡± During the discussion, everyone sprang into action, rapidly initiating investigative work. From the personal history of the two individuals to their data records, and their recent activity range, two field agents were also dispatched in advance to conduct a site search at the last known locations of Bi Fang and Yao Jun. Time rewinds to one hour earlier. After the photographer announced the start of the game, Bi Fang wiped his mouth with a napkin, took the elevator back to his room with Yao Jun, and the photographer followed closely behind. He was well aware of who his subjects were and that they were definitely the most exciting part of the entire show, so he didn¡¯t dare miss a single shot. ¡°Is it really okay to take the elevator?¡± Yao Jun, looking at the surveillance camera in the top left corner of the elevator, asked in amazement. ¡°You can choose to take the stairs.¡± ¡°Emmm, elevator it is.¡± ¡°You see, problem solved.¡± As the elevator doors opened, Bi Fang swiped his card to enter the room, turned around, and said, ¡°Get back to the room, pack up within five minutes.¡± ¡°Yes sir!¡± Both were staying at the hotel; aside from a change of clothes, there wasn¡¯t much to take, and when Yao Jun was ready and left the room, Bi Fang casually turned on the service light for cleaning and left a note. Yao Jun glanced at it and discovered that the message essentially meant that any unclaimed items would belong to the finder. ¡°Brilliant!¡± With no time to pay attention to Yao Jun¡¯s flattery, Bi Fang quickly headed to the hotel lobby and handed his phone and various electronic devices to the lobby manager, asking him to keep them for a month. The lobby manager knew who Bi Fang was and what he was about to do, and agreed with a smile. ¡°To get rid of tracking, you definitely can¡¯t carry any electronic devices, but destroying or ditching them is too much of a hassle, and you would have to buy a new phone for notes. It¡¯s better to entrust them to the manager for safekeeping. As for the information inside, if the Hunters want to look, let them,¡± Bi Fang said as he operated the machine, explaining as he went along. Bi Fang, accompanied by Yao Jun, exited the hotel and quickly found a row of ATMs nearby, where he withdrew his One Hundred Ugly Gold. Although there was a total of Five Hundred Ugly Gold in the account, one could only make a withdrawal once every twenty-four hours, and the maximum amount per withdrawal was One Hundred Ugly Dollars. ¡°The bank card is registered in my name, which means every withdrawal is a voluntary exposure of my geographical location. But by taking out One Hundred right at the starting point, it¡¯s like reducing the chances of being discovered one time,¡± Bi Fang explained while operating the ATM. ¡°Escaping in Ugly Country actually has quite a few unique advantages. For example, any supermarket sells prepaid cards. They are basically anonymous bank cards, and the receipt from the supermarket won¡¯t show the card number of the purchased card, effectively cutting off a major clue almost instantly.¡± ¡°Of course, this is of no use to us because, after the game starts, the only money we can use is the bank card provided by the game show.¡± ¡°Second, there are almost no compulsory real-name identities required here. Taking long-distance trains or buses and staying in hotels can be done completely without an ID. This means buying a cross-state train ticket and then getting off at any stop can easily buy us several days, and we could even stay at a hotel.¡± ¡°Third, there is indeed a strong culture of hitchhiking here. We could seek help from strangers all along the way, continually catching short rides. Using the internet can be done at FedEx stores, just pay a little money, and it¡¯s like completely avoiding people you know.¡± The ATM in Ugly Country operated slightly differently, and it took Bi Fang a little time to withdraw the money. The sound of bills being counted could be heard from inside the machine. To the uninformed, it might seem like Bi Fang was withdrawing a large sum of money; however, in the end, the machine only spat out five twenty-dollar bills. ¡°The highest denomination for Ugly Gold is One Hundred, but the most commonly used is Twenty Dollars, so that¡¯s what the ATM dispenses,¡± Bi Fang explained as he neatly folded the bills and put them in his pocket. Twenty minutes had passed since they began, and while the process was systematic, it was not rushed. After all, this was just a game of cat and mouse. The contestants weren¡¯t actual fugitives; they didn¡¯t have the rights of fugitives but still had to fulfill the duties of one. Real fugitives would be committing theft or robbery while on the run to sustain themselves, whereas contestants weren¡¯t allowed to engage in any criminal acts. Besides, in real life, it¡¯s unlikely that a fugitive wouldn¡¯t withdraw all their cash in one go before fleeing; at least they wouldn¡¯t be forced to show their face at the bank every day due to a lack of funds. ¡°Since we¡¯re still at the starting point, there¡¯s no need for any disguises. Two Asians are already pretty conspicuous. Wearing masks and sunglasses would just make us look more suspicious.¡± Bi Fang checked the time, noting there was still over half an hour left. There was plenty of time. He counted the bills and pondered his next move. Yao Jun, who had been obediently following Bi Fang, watched the seconds tick by, feeling a bit anxious: ¡°Are you waiting for a taxi?¡± ¡°No, I haven¡¯t decided what to do next.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t plan ahead!?¡± Yao Jun was shocked. ¡°How can there be a plan for something ¡®suddenly¡¯ becoming a fugitive?¡± Chapter 746 - 743: On the Run (Two in One) Chapter 746: Chapter 743: On the Run (Two in One) In the corridor, a burly man stopped in front of a room, accompanied by several companions. Looking up, the man saw a green light above the door indicating that the room had been cleaned, and his brow furrowed. ¡°Is this the place?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ yes, sir, is there a problem?¡± The cleaning staff following behind him looked nervous. The lobby manager knew what was happening, but these ordinary employees were in the dark. These sturdy men had a brawny air about them, resembling the elite from some professional agency like the military. They had suddenly obtained room cards from the manager; could there be an issue here? Had the person who stayed here before committed a crime? The thought that she had just cleaned the room and might have destroyed evidence filled the cleaning staff with worry. ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous, we¡¯re just filming a show,¡± said Ryan Lee Phi Philips, the leading man, who had immediately noticed the cleaner¡¯s unease and smiled, pointing to the camera behind him. The cleaner was taken aback: ¡°A show?¡± Philips swiped the room key and pushed open the door, entering. A field team member behind him explained: ¡°Have you heard of ¡®Stealth Track¡¯? It¡¯s a reality show that simulates capturing criminals. Our pursuit team is out now, and the team in the room just now were the fugitives.¡± ¡°I know ¡®Stealth Track¡¯!¡± the cleaner¡¯s eyes lit up. Philips looked around the neatly tidied room and felt a bit of a challenge, but maintaining professionalism, he and the others still searched the entire room. As expected, they found no left-behind items, not even trash; it had all been bagged up and cleaned thoroughly. Finding more clues would likely require a search at the hotel¡¯s exclusive waste disposal site, which was no easy task. ¡°The second season¡¯s premiere will air next Thursday at eight in the evening. We welcome you to watch it then.¡± ¡°When did you start cleaning the room?¡± Philips cut off the conversation between the field team member and the cleaner, taking out a notepad to record. ¡°Around twelve-thirty.¡± It hadn¡¯t been long, and the cleaner remembered clearly. ¡°And when did the light requesting cleaning come on?¡± ¡°About twelve-ten, no more than half an hour for sure. We always try to fulfill the requests as fast as we can.¡± After a while, Philips shifted his territory and went to the bank behind the ATM, showing his identity and access rights, then reviewed the surveillance and noted the withdrawal times. Afterward, it was a supermarket¡­.. Logically, Philips, as the operation director, should have stayed at the base for remote command, but given the fugitives¡¯ impressive records, he had decided to take the field himself. ¡°The suspect is quite composed.¡± On his notepad, Philips meticulously recorded the movements and actions of Bi Fang and Yao Jun since the start of the capture. At twelve, the game officially began; the two men went upstairs to organize their clothes and then turned on the cleaning light, indicating a request for cleaning. Then they went downstairs, withdrew one hundred ¡°ugly cents¡± from the nearest ATM, and found a convenience store. They didn¡¯t keep the receipt, but surveillance showed they bought some bread and food. After checking the computer¡¯s records, it was revealed they spent a total of twenty-six dollars. At one o¡¯clock, the Hunter Team set out. At one-twenty, Philips¡¯s field team arrived at the hotel. At one-thirty, they gained access to the room. It¡¯s now one-thirty-five. But until 12:40, Bi Fang and Yao Jun showed no intention of avoiding the cameras; they remained calmly exposed to the surveillance. If it had been some clueless young man, Philips would not have believed it, but he absolutely refused to believe that someone who ranked in the top ten in the history of Hunter Academy would be oblivious to the most basic rule: avoid the cameras. The only explanation was that the other party was very confident and didn¡¯t mind being exposed to the cameras for an extended period. As long as you withdraw money, even if you wear a hat or a wig, the cameras beside the ATM will record you, and there are powerful facial recognition software systems that can identify you. In any case, that credit card has already been tied to the Hunter¡¯s monitoring system; the moment it is used, an alarm will be triggered, and various gas stations, bus stops, and coach stations have cameras that will capture your image. Moreover, the person in question did not carry their mobile phone with them. Philips looked at the two mobile phones inside the plastic bag, along with a laptop. The contents inside definitely needed to be investigated, but Philips had little hope that they would contain any useful information. This was also common detective knowledge. If you carry your own phone, you¡¯re practically serving yourself up on a platter¡ªmost fugitives don¡¯t bring their phones; instead, they try every means to acquire someone else¡¯s phone or buy a disposable one. However, the capturers would monitor the phones of all the fugitive¡¯s social contacts, family, and friends; any calls from infrequent contacts would raise suspicion and be followed and recorded. One could even find the number of a disposable phone on a purchased receipt from a store, enabling tracking through cell towers. Philips reported the situation truthfully. Robert nodded, ¡°Take everything back, let the data specialists check the browsing history and see if we can find some clues.¡± For two foreigners who were strangers in Los Angeles, the most effective way to escape was to search the internet for relevant information, such as metro lines and rental car company addresses, all of which required data. As a non-native, Bi Fang needed to go online to get many pieces of information, but once discovered, those pieces would surely serve as guides to his escape route. ¡°Isn¡¯t that very risky?¡± Yao Jun whispered with some unease. ¡°I¡¯ve already deleted all the browser records, deep cleaned them even.¡± Bi Fang extended his hand outside the car, carefree. This action wasn¡¯t safe nor wise, but feeling the wind slip through his fingers as he drove toward the horizon on the highway gave him a thrilling sense of pursuit of freedom. Only, the car was rented and didn¡¯t have much gas. Fortunately, there was a gas station not far from the rental agency, and Bi Fang seriously suspected that the gas station and the rental company were in cahoots. He turned the car into it, signaling to the gas station attendant. ¡°Are you joking with me? I¡¯m not an idiot!¡± Yao Jun nearly choked, ¡°Can you really get rid of it just by deleting the records? The type of data recovery that can be done by the programmers in my company!¡± It is said that unless hardware is completely shattered, data can always be recovered. That¡¯s why Yao Jun had been wary these past days of visiting any inappropriate websites, to avoid embarrassment. ¡°That¡¯s true, but data recovery takes time, and when I searched for information online, I cast a wide net. Even if they recover it, they still have to determine our real escape destination from it, which could buy us some time. I never expect to solve everything once and for all, but to throw a smoke bomb is already good enough.¡± S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang had some understanding of the caliber of the Hunter Team; they were all elites. Hence, Bi Fang was not confident enough to believe he could cover his tracks at every step. Even the cleverest schemes have their flaws, and a single person¡¯s brain can¡¯t match the combined intellect of more than thirty people, but Bi Fang was confident that each trail he left behind would require substantial time for them to discern its authenticity. ¡°Relax, just cling to my legs, and smile for the camera, make it a big grin.¡± Bi Fang closed the window and flashed an exaggerated smile at a particular camera at the gas station, causing the photographer in the backseat to shiver and immediately focus his lens on the scene, capturing every detail. Although the photographer didn¡¯t understand why Bi Fang was smiling at the camera, he found the scene rather appealing in an inexplicable way! ¡°Well, yeah.¡± Leaning back in his seat, Yao Jun thought it over and had to admit it was true. If Bi Fang couldn¡¯t escape, then he was just an extra. It would be better to stick close and take it easy, enjoying the thrill of being on the run. Hearing the latter part of Bi Fang¡¯s statement, Yao Jun glanced at the camera in the upper right corner of the gas station but didn¡¯t feel like smiling: ¡°Is this a provocation?¡± ¡°Sort of, but not really.¡± After filling up with cheap gasoline, Bi Fang used his last bit of change to pay the gas station attendant, rolled up the window, and finally relaxed his facial muscles before driving back onto the road. ¡°Forged identification documents can provide a crucial layer of cover for a ¡®fugitive,¡¯ but if the foreign government already views them as a potential security threat, their photos may already be in databases at border checkpoints or at other high-security controls.¡± ¡°Existing facial recognition software is primarily image-based, which is relatively easy to evade in reality and is not as formidable as depicted in the movies.¡± ¡°This technology uses algorithms to compare specific anchor points¡ªsuch as nose, the distance between eyes, the size of each eye, cheekbones, chin, and ear shapes¡ªin a given image database, focusing on those bone structures that are not easy to alter and have distinctive features.¡± ¡°But if those anchor points are obscured or blurred, the software becomes useless.¡± Pointing to his own features, Bi Fang emphasized several key areas. This professional explanation finally gave Yao Jun a sense of immersion. This was the thing, that sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu from crime capers! ¡°Such a fuss!¡± ¡°Oversized sunglasses and long bangs can cover the forehead, browbones, and some of the cheekbones. Lowering the brim of a hat and tilting your head down can hide your face in shadows.¡± ¡°A smile can change the shape of your eyes and push muscles above the cheekbones, which is why many countries require a neutral facial expression for passport photos.¡± Yao Jun was surprised: ¡°Is it that simple?¡± Bi Fang shook his head: ¡°It¡¯s not that simple.¡± ¡°Casinos in Las Vegas frequently use facial recognition technology to prevent cheaters from intercepting hundreds of thousands of ¡®ugly cents.¡¯ There, this technology is a constantly evolving science.¡± ¡°Social media platforms have also begun to use facial recognition to tag and categorize images, so with the drive of interests, the technology will only become more complex.¡± ¡°Today¡¯s most advanced facial recognition has already been combined with vein recognition technology to form a seamless mechanism.¡± ¡°Vein recognition captures a thermal image of the face, using the positions of facial veins and arteries as identification markers. With this type of recognition, there are far fewer tricks to play, but anyway¡­ ¡± Yao Jun¡¯s nerves tensed again: ¡°But anyway, what?¡± Bi Fang shrugged: ¡°That stuff hasn¡¯t been widely adopted, so we don¡¯t need to worry about it.¡± Seeing Bi Fang¡¯s insight, Yao Jun was thrilled: ¡°I thought you were just playing around, not caring about winning or losing.¡± ¡°Even if it¡¯s a game, I don¡¯t want to lose,¡± Bi Fang said as he dug into his pockets, only to take out some loose coins, ¡°Now we have left, let¡¯s see, oh, forty-five ¡®ugly cents.¡¯ Money really does burn a hole in your pocket.¡± Yao Jun was rather astonished, not at how little money they had left, but at the fact there was anything left at all? After all, from leaving the hotel to buying some food and tools at the supermarket they had spent twenty-six dollars. Then there was the car rental and just now gas. After all that spending, they still had some left? Is the ¡®ugly gold¡¯ that stable? ¡°What do you think, my lord?¡± ¡°One Hundred Ugly Gold in New York can get you 12 movie tickets, 20 in the Midwest, or it can feed a person 20 times at McDonald¡¯s. Buy a Gameboy plus a game cartridge. Enough for two people to eat at a fancy French restaurant. Enough for good quality 30 to 40 gallons of gasoline, oh, and one gallon is just under four liters.¡± ¡°It can even buy you two of the latest high-end smartphones, of course, provided you sign up with a service provider. Even a plain car can be rented for two hundred dollars for a whole week, and we just need this crappy car for two days. Besides, I didn¡¯t fill the tank up.¡± Obviously, you only add as much gas as you use. What if it¡¯s not all used up, because you have to abandon the plan early? That would be a loss! A hundred dollars is that valuable? Hearing Bi Fang reel off prices, Yao Jun was astounded. Inside Hunter Academy¡¯s office, Robert choreographed everything, handing over the phones and computers sent by the field teams to the tech department for data retrieval. ¡°Daniel, keep recovering data.¡± ¡°Philips, any new discoveries?¡± ¡°Found their rental car agency, I¡¯m making inquiries,¡± Philips responded, pulling out his notepad and querying the car rental owner. Initially, the car rental owner was also panicked, the visitors¡¯ demeanor suggested they were in deep trouble; could he have rented the car to the wrong kind of person? The thought alone made the owner break out in a cold sweat. This is Ugly Li Jian, after all. If some extremely dangerous criminal had rented the car, was there any hope of getting it back? When Philips asked if two Asians had come here to rent a car, the proprietor nodded eagerly, spilling everything he knew like beans from a split sack. ¡°Ah, there¡¯s no need to be nervous or worry about any losses.¡± Seeing the owner in such a state, Philips smiled, signaled the field agent to re-explain, and the owner finally eased up. ¡°So, they rented one car, didn¡¯t they? What¡¯s the license number? What model is it?¡± ¡°It is¡­¡± Philips wrote down the car model and license plate, then stepped out of the rental agency. In theory, knowing the ¡°fugitive¡¯s¡± getaway car model and license plate should be a significant breakthrough. But somehow, Philips had a hunch that it wasn¡¯t that simple. Would the other party leave such an obvious loophole? Chapter 747: 744 Chapter 747: 744 ¡°Hurry, hurry, hurry, 3LTM312!¡± ¡°Everyone, move it, I want to know where this car is within ten minutes!¡± Robert stood at the center of everyone, repeating a license plate number over and over. Without a doubt, this was the information Phillips had found and reported to Robert at the first moment possible, then faxed all the vehicle¡¯s details to the command center. Teresa pulled up the related information, signaling to the tech staff to come over for verification. This was one of the most effective means of capturing a fugitive. On the relentless flow of roads, as long as the fugitive¡¯s vehicle¡ªwhether it was a friend¡¯s, or just rented from a car dealership with someone else¡¯s information¡ªhit a road with a high-speed camera, that license plate would be locked onto by the Hunters. Even if the license plate captured by the camera was unclear, it would be easily identified by the system and recorded and alarmed by the license plate recognition system. Less than half an hour later, the command center was blaring with alarms. Everyone¡¯s attention was drawn to it, and it had to be said that this time¡¯s capture was obviously much more troublesome than the fugitives who appeared later; so far, they hadn¡¯t even caught a glimpse of a tail. Following the alarm, technicians quickly located the vehicle¡¯s address. The reflection of the blue light from the computer screen on his glasses, he read out word for word: ¡°1313 S Harbor Blvd, Anaheim, CA 92803.¡± Senior analyst Ben Owen, hearing the address, raised an eyebrow: ¡°This address sounds familiar, does anyone know what it is?¡± A technician from the command center raised his hand, hesitatingly saying, ¡°Seems like¡­ Disneyland? I took my daughter there last week.¡± Owen¡¯s eyes widened: ¡°What are they doing there?¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s easier to hide in a crowd?¡± ¡°But so far they only have One Hundred Ugly Gold and can¡¯t break the law. And the ticket for Disneyland Los Angeles is 69 Ugly Yuan apiece. Plus parking fees, that¡¯s 12 Ugly Yuan for a day. They spent 26 Ugly Knife at the supermarket; even for one person, they can¡¯t afford it. They can¡¯t get in.¡± The technician, who had just taken his daughter to Disneyland last week, narrated with ease. The enormous expense of the park was fresh in his memory. Moreover, it seemed out of place for fugitives to go to Disneyland. Would someone actually go enjoy Mickey and Minnie at the park while knowing they were ¡°wanted¡±? ¡°Regardless, let¡¯s have Phillips go check it out,¡± Robert commanded and then shifted his focus to others, ¡°Team Two, Team Three, how is your operation going?¡± The start times of the fugitives varied; Bi Fang and the others were the first group, and two hours after them, the second group set off. Robert was not only in charge of catching Bi Fang but also other fugitive teams. ¡°We have arrived at the fugitive¡¯s home. We¡¯ve found something interesting, a runaway plan chart!¡± The field agent reported with a phone wedged between his shoulder and ear while wearing gloves, continuously flipping through a calendar. It was a plain-looking calendar, but the conscientious field agent noticed pencil marks on it, though they had been erased, indentations were still left behind. Today was March 12th, but the indentations on the calendar continued through April. Knowing they were on a stealth tracking show, yet they made a plan spanning nearly a month, the implication was self-explanatory. This was an escape plan. Once they brought back the calendar, let the professionals use technical means to rub out the words, they could get the entire 28-day plan of the second group of fugitives. ¡°Excellent, bring them all back!¡± Robert ordered calmly before checking on the third team¡¯s findings. ¡°This is truly exhilarating.¡± Owen¡¯s eyes lit up in excitement; whether it was a game or not, it unquestionably got everyone involved. In fact, even experts seldom encounter such a matching of wits. Most so-called criminals were not nearly as smart as depicted in the movies. Real criminals act under extreme psychological stress, using amateurish methods and conventional logic to evade capture, often unaware of the specific models of surveillance used by police. Whereas, the representations in movies and television are created by scriptwriters, who, with ample time on their hands, have done extensive research and consulted relevant personnel, to craft fictional characters. These writers use a calm psyche, professional methods, and unconventional logic to play out the contest between the two sides, a delightfully intense experience. Modern manhunts rely on technology, not wild imagination. Bi Fang and his companions¡¯ greatest adversaries were not the many people sitting in the command center but the various instruments they operated. In today¡¯s high-tech society, the government can almost instantly access information on anyone. Ordinary people trying to evade such surveillance can¡¯t use the internet, make phone calls, go to public places, use public transport, or even send mail¡­ As soon as they make contact with the outside world, their information is exposed. Of course, this is all for the average person; only those with special talents can bypass conventional means and interact with technology without raising alarms. Those trained by professional agencies are called agents, those from the military are technical special forces, and those who commit crimes and flee are high-IQ criminals. Without a doubt, Bi Fang was such a person. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When the leader spoke, the subordinates raced around. Phillips, receiving the orders, immediately sped towards Disneyland, and only by seven in the evening did they find an ordinary sedan parked in the parking lot. They compared the license plate and model. ¡°This is it.¡± A field team member shouted. ¡°What about the surveillance? Any records?¡± Twenty minutes later, Phillips sighed. As expected, the ones who got out of the car were not the fugitive duo! The people in the command center also fell into silence. Analyst Ben Owen, biting his lip, furrowed brows, suddenly asked, ¡°Contact that car rental owner again, how many cars were rented out today? And were any rented out along with 3LTM312?¡± ¡°They switched cars!¡± Teresa grasped the key point at once. ¡°Find that car!¡± Robert immediately called the previously noted car rental owner¡¯s number, obtained all the records of cars that went out for the day, and matched the time slots one by one. It had to be between 12:40 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. This was the time frame when Bi Fang and his companion could have switched cars. Upon checking, they indeed found a clue; three cars were rented out during this period! ¡°Finally got you!¡± Chapter 748 - 725: Not a Penny in Pocket Chapter 748: Chapter 725: Not a Penny in Pocket With the information on the other two car owners, the scope narrowed once again. ¡°One of the rentals is by a family member, and it¡¯s very likely that the target is involved in a vehicle exchange with them!¡± Having received the news, Philips hurried nonstop to the location of the second car, feeling utterly dejected. He had felt like a dog being walked all day long, running from east to west, without a glimpse of a shadow. ¡°Tomorrow, I must have Andrew come out and take over for me. There should be a rotation for two operation commanders!¡± At the command center, although it was already 9:30 p.m., nobody seemed ready to rest. In a real capture operation, it was possible to go without sleep for one or two nights straight. Of course, reality TV shows weren¡¯t that serious. It just seemed like nobody would actively suggest resting before 11:00 or 12:00. ¡°How did they convince the other party?¡± ¡°Not sure, maybe the other party is a fan of the target?¡± Owen shrugged his shoulders, took a sip of his coffee, and finally relaxed a bit with the breakthrough. But when Philips, using his authority, entered the park and finally found the driver of the car 3LTM312 through mobile locating, the information he learned once again stunned him. ¡°What, you¡¯re saying the person who exchanged vehicles with you was a woman? Not two Asian men?¡± In the National Forest Park, Bi Fang and Yao Jun were sitting in the grass, gathered around a campfire. There were no surveillance cameras here, and both of them were more relaxed. The nights in mid-March were still quite cold, making it especially comfortable to sit by a campfire for warmth. ¡°So, I¡¯m not allowed to commit crimes, nor can I have fans help me? Isn¡¯t that demanding the impossible?¡± Yao Jun, sitting by the campfire, was still raving about Bi Fang¡¯s vehicle exchange operation at noon, while Bi Fang just smiled, his contributions laid deeply hidden. Exchanging vehicles was just a basic operation. Upon investigating the first car, the hunters would quickly realize this fact and then look for the second one. If the opponents were clever enough, they might anticipate this move and set off to find the two rented vehicles simultaneously. The only problem was, one of these two vehicles was indeed rented in Bi Fang¡¯s name. But of the two, he hadn¡¯t driven either. Bi Fang had performed a more complicated maneuver: a three-car exchange! The vehicle they eventually drove away in was an old second-hand car generously contributed by one of Bi Fang¡¯s fans, not worth much money, so the owner wasn¡¯t distressed about it. Moreover, all of this was done in a surveillance blind spot. Ugly Country and Huaxia are both surveillance powerhouses, with the former having about one camera for every 4.6 people, and the latter about one for every 416 people. It seems similar in theory, but the populations of the two countries are vastly different. Furthermore, the methods of camera installation are different between the two. In Huaxia, most camera installations are driven by large projects and pushed by the government to ensure citizen safety, whereas in Ugly Country, camera installations are primarily driven by fragmented market forces, with most financed by business people to ensure insurance payouts in case of theft or damage. Although official funding might have its own set of issues, on the whole, it¡¯s far superior to a bunch of businessmen. First comes the dispute over whether to install, then discussions on how the government will pay, followed by struggles over standards among various interest groups, then competition among enterprises within those groups for the orders, after that comes construction, how to execute it¡­ Add to this the resistance of many people, in certain non-essential public places, finding a blind spot in the surveillance coverage is quite easy, and conducting complex operations in these places is not at all difficult. ¡°Want some?¡± Bi Fang spread butter on the grilled bread and then stuffed it with squirrel meat to make a simple sandwich, which he passed to the photographer sitting next to him. ¡°Me?¡± The photographer considered putting down the camera and felt somewhat embarrassed. Throughout the entire process of escape and capture, the photographer should have been invisible, solving his own food problems; otherwise, if he occupied the ¡°fugitive¡¯s¡± resources, it would undoubtedly be unfair. But it was offered proactively¡­ After some thought, the photographer couldn¡¯t resist his curiosity and accepted it. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The food that Bi Fang bought in the supermarket was quite simple: just a few loaves of toast bread, butter, some basic seasonings, and two buckets of mineral water. Those were enough. He certainly didn¡¯t forget his signature skill that made him famous. Just by wandering in the forest briefly, he managed to catch three plump squirrels with traps. Squirrels are fattest in autumn, but those in spring aren¡¯t bad either. Using his wilderness cooking skills, Bi Fang expertly deboned them, roasted the bones until they were crispy, and cooked the meat until it sizzled with oil. He sprinkled a layer of salt grains before sandwiching it with toast smeared with butter and slightly burnt, creating a quite impressive taste. ¡°How did you do this?¡± Yao Jun¡¯s eyes shone as he ate. The squirrel bones blended in without feeling out of place, instead offering a unique texture, like adding crispy sheets to a stuffed egg pancake, full of flavor. ¡°Just practice and you will get there,¡± Bi Fang said with a smile. ¡°What are we doing tomorrow?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t planned it yet, but if possible, I¡¯d still like to make some extra money.¡± It¡¯s not that he couldn¡¯t survive without money, but it would indeed be too shabby. Without too much risk, Bi Fang didn¡¯t mind making his life a bit easier. Today¡¯s set of operations meant that the other side had to visit at least four locations to search for clues. By tomorrow or even the day after, they wouldn¡¯t have the time to trouble the two men. There was plenty of time. After dinner, the two returned to the car and made do for the night. By midnight, the hunters at the command center couldn¡¯t hold on any longer and left one after another to rest. Early the next morning, the capture continued. Perhaps it was Bi Fang¡¯s trickiness that shifted the focus of the command center. The hunters decided to capture the other groups first as much as possible and then concentrate their efforts to deal with Bi Fang. The members of the second group who had their calendar discovered on the first day were forced into a game of hide-and-seek. Luckily, one member of the pair had high vigilance, which prevented them from being captured just a couple of days into the program¡ªa miserable case. However, being discovered prematurely time after time also exhausted the two of them. Bi Fang continued to drive, moving away from the center of Los Angeles City as far as possible, heading for an even more remote countryside. Around noon, he found a row of ATMs by the roadside. Twenty-four hours had passed, and they could withdraw ¡°Ugly Gold¡± again. ¡°I think this is totally unnecessary.¡± Yao Jun felt that Bi Fang was taking risks. They now had enough food and water, and even a car¡ªthere was no need to withdraw money. The bank cards provided by the program team could be tracked; wherever they were used, they would be discovered. ¡°Just this one time. As long as we take out a little more money, we can go online. Then, by sending an anonymous email, we can get the money,¡± Bi Fang said, touching the two 10 ¡°ugly cents¡± and one 25 ¡°ugly cents¡± coins in his pocket, finding it truly chilly. Chapter 749 - 726: Missing Again Chapter 749: Chapter 726: Missing Again The old second-hand car drove into a secluded muddy road, with the breeze kicked up causing spiderwebs to sway, and dew silently seeping into the earth. Bi Fang turned the key and switched off the engine. The forest fell silent, and after a moment, faint sounds started to emerge again as startled animals tentatively poked their heads out. Bi Fang opened the car door and gestured to Yao Jun, ¡°You get out, walk into the forest, find a place to hide, and be careful not to be discovered by them. Wait for me here.¡± Even though they had switched cars three times, it was hard to guarantee that the Hunter Team wouldn¡¯t find them. It was not safe for Yao Jun to stay in the car alone; they needed to avoid being isolated as much as possible to prevent the possibility of being captured. After Yao Jun took a portable camera and left on his own, Bi Fang quickly camouflaged the area, erasing their footprints and trampling around to create multiple sets of misleading tracks before backtracking to his original spot. Only then did he set off toward his destination, with the cautious photographer following behind. Yao Jun hid in a place where there wasn¡¯t much to film, and it was obvious who was being tracked and filmed. During the day, many tourists visit this area, so naturally, there¡¯s a greater police presence. Hearing this, the photographer felt somewhat relieved, and then he watched as Bi Fang took off his coat and clothes, leaving only a pair of shorts. He stuffed all his clothes into his coat and rolled it into a ball. Then, he made his way to the lake and sank into the water course. The cold morning water caused goosebumps all over Bi Fang¡¯s body, and he couldn¡¯t help but shiver. Under the stimulation of the cold, his body went through a brief period of adaptation; his blood flowed faster, and after a while, when he had recovered enough, Bi Fang started swimming towards the opposite shore of the river. The lake was exceptionally wide, and conservatively estimated to be over six hundred meters. The photographer wasn¡¯t good at swimming, but watching Bi Fang swim in such cold water with one hand holding his belongings was still shocking. Twenty minutes later, Bi Fang carefully came ashore, avoiding everyone¡¯s gaze, then shook off the water from his body, wiped his hair dry with the lining, and after standing for a while until completely dry, put on his coat. All the bank cards provided by the covert tracking team were set up with a preset alarm system, which would send an alert to a specified location as soon as they were used with a magnetic reader. By now, the importance of disguising his face had diminished. Whether he covered his face or not, the other party would know it was him. Therefore, Bi Fang straightened his clothes and went directly to withdraw money. In front of the ATM there was an asphalt road; normal people would never think that Bi Fang would swim from the opposite shore of the lake five hundred meters away to withdraw money. It was another example of breaking habitual thinking. Three hours later, when the Hunter Team drove to the scene, they were once again greeted by emptiness. After surveying the surroundings, apart from the long straight road in front of the ATM that cut through the entire park, the nearest highway was also over two kilometers away from this location. It was highly possible that the other party drove through this road, an important clue! Robert immediately ordered, ¡°Investigate all the surveillance on this entire road, track the vehicles, I want to know where they went!¡± ¡°FUCK!¡± Near Los Angeles, there were many national forests, with their perimeters resembling parks, bustling with campers, adjacent highways, and a variety of shops. Bi Fang had observed the area for a long time and discovered two ATM machines next to a shop. ¡°Ugly Country is different from Huaxia. In Huaxia, you can generally only find ATM machines at bank entrances, but here they are everywhere, mainly due to systemic reasons.¡± ¡°In Huaxia, an ATM is a technical reserve, sort of like opening several more service windows, and it has little to do with systemic innovation. But in Ugly Country, ATMs play a much bigger role¡ªthey¡¯re equivalent to bank branches.¡± ¡°For a long time, many states in Ugly Country stipulated that banks could only operate as stand-alone banks, meaning a bank could only have one operating location and was not allowed to open branches elsewhere, much like the feudal lords in Medieval Europe with one lord per castle.¡± Stand-alone banks were naturally very unfavorable for risk management, and they were not user-friendly for depositors, who had their options limited to local banks only. The reasons for this model¡¯s existence were complex, but at the core of it was money. Then, the ATM emerged, bypassing these regulations; in Ugly Country, it was more than just a service window; it was a separate branch.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why even in the remote areas of a park, or hidden nooks and crannies, you can find ATMs. Of course, there¡¯s no longer a restriction on stand-alone banks now, but people have gotten used to using ATMs for their convenience, which is why there are even more of them now.¡± Changing habits is very hard, just like why Internet payments haven¡¯t taken off in Ugly Country. One main reason is the highly developed credit card system here, which has blocked the development of new things.¡± The photographer recorded everything in meticulous detail. Even he, an Ugly Country person, didn¡¯t know about this¡ªthe events happened back in the 1980s, before he was even born! Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The photographer felt that, in the end, the video cuts edited by Bi Fang would definitely have a very fast pace and perhaps even longer duration, simply because of the dense information. The other teams did not have Bi Fang¡¯s extensive knowledge or unheard-of escape techniques. In front of the two machines was a shady path, and beyond that, a large lake. This was an excellent opportunity. It was early morning, and there were not many tourists around, just one of Los Angeles¡¯ unique features¡ªhomeless people. The scruffy homeless rummaged through trash cans, trying to find some leftover food scraps from the tourists. After a while, the police will come to drive them away when they start their shift. These people couldn¡¯t afford internet access, let alone have the opportunity to meet Bi Fang, making it a quite favorable moment. ¡°Be careful,¡± Bi Fang cautioned the photographer, pointing at the large lake in front of them, ¡°I¡¯m going to swim across by myself in a bit and then withdraw money from the machine on the other side. If you want to film, you can only take a detour there by yourself, so you must be very careful.¡± The photographer looked around nervously. In Los Angeles, 16% of the homeless population have physical disabilities, and 25% suffer from severe mental illness, and many even abuse drugs. There have been tens of thousands of crimes registered at the police stations within a year, and it is said that even more are unreported, as the victims choose to suffer in silence. Having Bi Fang by his side was reassuring, but now, hearing that he had to go alone¡­ ¡°You don¡¯t need to be that afraid. If you encounter danger, just scream loudly, and I will try to get to you as fast as I can. Plus, it¡¯s daytime now, and the police will be here soon; they will be somewhat restrained.¡± Andrew Stumpf, the number two person in the action team replacing Philips, cursed loudly upon seeing the empty road surveillance footage. Chapter 750 747 We Still Have a Chance Before surveillance, three times over and then three times more. Andrew Stumpf first reviewed the footage at sixteen times speed, but came up empty-handed. He then proceeded to view it at eight times speed, and four times speed. After watching nearly two hours of footage, Stumpf finally confirmed that the target hadn''t passed through this road, and had not appeared on several nearby crossroads either. How had they come here? On foot? Had they abandoned their vehicle? It wasn''t impossible. The command center began to contemplate once again. "How many times has it been now?" Analyst Owen suddenly asked. "I''ve lost count," Teresa sighed deeply, leaning back in her chair and stretching, revealing a more pronounced body curve, feeling utterly exhausted by the chase. Dealing with professionals was like that, many technological approaches were simply of no use. When left in the dark, all they could do in their office was to be at a loss for actions. In reality, there was no Sherlock Holmes who could catch a person just by deduction. Seeing the morale of the people somewhat low, Robert, as the chairperson and the leader of the team, had to stand up and encourage everyone, "Don''t be discouraged." S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The crowd took a deep breath and quietly watched Robert. "The fugitives indeed have been lucky enough to avoid capture a few times, and they are indeed very professional. But don''t forget, we too are professionals. I believe each of you has seen it, and you all know." "To keep one''s information from being leaked, indeed various methods can be employed, but how exhausting is that endeavor?" "You must be constantly vigilant, walking on thin ice, and overcome a bunch of troubles. In the end, live like a real fugitive, a wild man. All those on the run must move through the darkness, and you understand, I mean the actual darkness, like rats in the sewer. "Anything powered by electricity must be kept at bay You have to go back to the Stone Age. Maybe for a short period, it can be done, not only by them but any one of us, as we all have enough experience and skill. But how many can truly sustain that for the long term?" Owen tugged at the corner of his mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing the encouraging demeanor Robert had towards everyone, he kept his thoughts to himself. Chairperson, have you forgotten? Our target is a Wilderness Survivalist expert. He survived for a hundred days in the Arctic, in a place where birds don''t even bother to shit! A full hundred days! But the next second, Robert''s words straightened Owen''s thoughts, as if he had seen through everything. "I know he lived in the Arctic for a hundred days, his survival skills staggeringly incredible, but I also know one thing, humans absolutely cannot detach themselves from society!" "Haven''t you all noticed something? If the suspect really wanted to escape, why would they risk withdrawing money this morning? They knew full well that the bank card had a pre-set alarm!" Owen, you are the analyst, speculate." Robert extended his hand, giving the opportunity to senior analyst Ben Owen. He trusted that with Owen''s ability, he could certainly deduce the meaning. It took Owen only a moment of thought to align with the implication of Robert''s last words: "The suspect doesn''t want to end the whole game easily by relying on their survival skills." Owen paused, returned to his desk, and began searching through files. Eventually, he found one and passed it around to everyone. "This file contains some of the experiences and deeds of our target from the past. Honestly, it''s so thrilling it could be read as a novel." "An average person would be proud to have just one of these accomplishments to boast about to their descendants, but he has managed it almost every time." "Of course, now is not the time to discuss that. From this information, we can see that our opponent has an extremely strong ability to handle situations!" "In any adverse environment, the target can accurately find the optimal solution and resolve it in a relatively relaxed manner. He has strong stress resistance, superior physical fitness, an extremely varied skill set, knowledge that''s nearly encyclopedic..." "A person like this, if they truly wanted to win, could simply lead people deep into Primeval Forest. Los Angeles has many national parks, most of which don''t have too many dangerous creatures, and at the same time, they''re completely cut off from technology." The crowd couldn''t help but nod in agreement. Junior fugitives think only of escaping. They devise escape plans, follow them step by step, ask friends for help, hide out at relatives'' or friends'' houses, and if one doesn''t work out, they move to another. Intermediate fugitives understand how to hide. They continually change locations, use disposable phones to make contact, avoid relatives and friends, and seek help from strangers; or they go camping, living far from civilized society as Wilderness Survivalists. Senior fugitives, in addition to escaping and hiding, also need to learn how to match wits and bravery with the Hunter¡ªthis is typically the level portrayed in movies and TV shows. Junior, intermediate, senior¡ªthey don''t represent the quality of the methods but rather the degree of difficulty in handling these methods for professionals, a universal rule. But if our Bi Fang were to choose the means of an intermediate fugitive, the difficulty of capturing him would skyrocket instantly, elevating him to the level of a super fugitive! With the capabilities of those present, catching him would be almost impossible. What a joke, ordinary people lost in the mountains can''t even be found by deploying troops, let alone our thirty-five-person team. If they were that capable, they might as well join a search and rescue team. So many people go missing every year, most of them wealthy, and there''s plenty of money to be made in finding them. The reason choosing Wilderness Survival is only considered an intermediate fugitive tactic is entirely due to the survivors'' lack of ability. For those fugitives, enduring a few days is possible, but one week, two weeks¡ªwho could stand it? Once supplies run out, it''s a waiting game until death, and in the end, capture is inevitable. If Bi Fang truly wanted to escape, he could have just gone straight ahead, no need to conceal anything, abandoned his car, and delved deep into the mountains. "But based on the target''s current location, he''s not doing that, so there can be only one explanation: the target doesn''t want to use his strongest abilities to solve the problem. Instead, he''s opting for a more ''spectacle-driven'' way to escape pursuit, becoming a senior fugitive!" "He''ll stay in the cities, completing his final objective in more comfortable surroundings." "To live in a civilized society as a modern person, conveniently and comfortably, also means inevitably leaking one''s privacy¡ªit''s just a matter of time!" Owen''s analysis was so spot-on and compelling that it almost made people want to applaud. In modern society, surveillance has become normalized. Cameras everywhere, various recognition devices, and the rumored but unseen "personal profiles"... Avoiding these requires a tremendous amount of effort. Compared to the first group, the remaining eight teams were practically a sight for sore eyes, evidently worn out from running around everywhere¡ªproof of this fact. The opponent''s stamina couldn''t possibly exceed that of thirty-five people; flaws would eventually show. Everyone perked up, regaining their confidence. Robert leaned forward on the table, his gaze sweeping the room, and said in a deep voice, "We still have a chance!" Chapter 751 748: Anonymous Email The dim orange light stubbornly held onto a patch of brightness, having prepared for the approaching deep night. Los Angeles is the second-largest urban area in Ugly Country, an extreme metropolis of steel, surrounded by concrete and rebar buildings, crisscrossed with alleys pooling with shadow. This place might be piled with rubbish, waterholes reeking of stench overlaying the ground, or it might hide many secrets unknown to the public, yet dangerous enough. At this moment, in an equally deep alley. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The wall at the front of the alley was covered with large, exaggerated graffiti in cold tones, and a homeless man, barely clean, was looking around nervously. Anyone normal could tell he had "ghosts" in his heart. Not too many people passed by the alley at night, and even if someone noticed, they simply walked past quickly, treating him as air. After looking around for a while, only when a noise came from within the alley, did the homeless man''s heart sink, and he finally made up his mind to enter. "The goods?" "Here... here they are." Faced with the "intimidation," the homeless man shivered all over and hurriedly reached into his pockets, pulling out a palm-sized cardboard box. The label on the box indicated it was a cellphone. Of course, that must surely be just a facade. The homeless man thought to himself. Before everything was lost, he too was a normal person, well-educated, and had watched thrilling crime movies. He believed this must be some unmentionable, dark transaction. Why did he have to stumble upon this kind of thing? The homeless man sighed deeply inside, feeling utterly unlucky. All he had wanted was to see if there was free food distribution in front of the church, and yet he ended up being "recruited" by two "sneaky" people. Although they said he could refuse, that he had a choice, Sean, who had been homeless for over a year, had already witnessed the darkness of the city and was well aware of certain unspoken rules. Countless experiences told Sean: when you encounter certain individuals, and they ask you to do something seemingly normal, you have no choice. Not to mention, something about one of the duo gave him the sense that they were not to be messed with. Having been with the homeless community for a long time, Sean had seen many dangerous characters and developed many sharp instincts. He could sense trouble from many with just a glance, but none of them could compare to the person before him now. It was not just about being dangerous, it felt more like¡ªencountering some large carnivorous animal... Better to agree obediently than wait for the coercion, to maintain some dignity. "And here''s the remaining money." "Didn''t I say, the rest is your payment. Just keep it," Bi Fang refused the change, eagerly taking the box Sean handed over and immediately opening it. Sean''s eyes widened. Am I allowed to see this without paying a price? The box was quickly unpacked, inside was a cheap-looking phone. No matter, as long as it worked. Bi Fang pressed the power button, the screen quickly lit up, and he did not notice Sean trembling slightly beside him. It was actually a cell phone! Sean had thought it would contain some contraband, but the situation seemed trickier than he had imagined. What could be in the phone? The private details of high-ranking officials? The leverage over some politician? Or something even more deeply connected to the transaction? This is far more dangerous than contraband! The former deals with the police, while the latter is life-threatening! "I always feel there''s something off about the way you''re thinking." Yao Jun draped an arm around Sean''s shoulder, stopping the trembling. He looked around and noticed that the atmosphere was indeed somewhat off, which inevitably made the other party fearful. He joked, "You don''t really think we''re engaged in some kind of illegal criminal activity, do you?" Isn''t that so? Sean forced a smile. "Relax, buddy, this is just a reality show..." Bi Fang, who was operating nearby, was startled upon hearing this. He really hadn''t noticed that point. Cell phone stores are bound to have surveillance, which can lead to exposure, so it''s necessary to ask for help, preferably from the homeless. While seeking homeless individuals to make purchases on one''s behalf, it''s essential to choose someone reliable; otherwise, if they take the money and run, you''re screwed, and you also have to be wary of getting entangled with gang members. The man before them stood out among the homeless, his clothes though shabby, were not unkempt. Faded and bleached from washing, they gloomed a ghastly white under the streetlight, signaling he was relatively trustworthy and not someone who had given up on himself. By the time Yao Jun finished explaining, Bi Fang''s operation was also finally complete. He sent an anonymous email using the new phone. Phones in the Ugly Country could be fitted with a physical SIM card, but most Ugly Country carriers operate without one, a minor detail that differs from Huaxia. Hence, phones here could be bought and used right away. Sending an anonymous email isn''t that hard. To modern hackers, password-protected email accounts and Wi-Fi connections are child''s play. These information geeks are a fusion of burglars, swindlers, and experienced creeps. To defeat them, a member of the Ugly Country Navy research lab developed an anonymous network called Tor, which can be used as a secure communication tool. Tor encrypts and relays information through a series of volunteer servers around the world, thus avoiding traceable digital forensics. By disguising the origin of the sender, the network protects the sender''s geographical location from being discovered by third parties, and the use of an anonymous email account unlinked to one''s name or identity offers additional protection. It''s well known that free Wi-Fi hotspots lack security and are vulnerable to hacking, yet they are extremely useful for those in need of anonymity. To set up an anonymous browsing session, one must divert to somewhere outside of regular modes and then access free Wi-Fi that doesn''t require a username or password. Next, you download Tails, an operating system based on Tor, which is easy to use and doesn''t save any browsing history. Once loaded, you create a brand new, completely anonymous email with Tails. After that, it''s simple. Still, this approach is not foolproof because investigators aiming to catch a culprit not only monitor the suspect''s network but also their friends and family. Bi Fang''s circle of friends is vast. Businessmen like Lin Chang are naturally not monitored as it would cause serious problems. Contacting him would be cheating, so Bi Fang wouldn''t do that. Fortunately, he also had several foreign friends, like Jerret, Mugalen, even the Disney employee he had just met, and so on. This time, Bi Fang contacted old Mugalen. Mugalen had appeared on several variety shows, and although not very famous, he was still pretty average within Bi Fang''s circle of friends. They had a good relationship, having visited each other''s homes¡ªit made him a good "money borrowing" candidate. Once the undercover tracking started, the only funds available for use were the Five Hundred Ugly Gold provided by the show. However, money borrowed from friends and family during the escape was also permissible by the rules, as long as you managed to stay hidden. "Going round in circles, I actually ended up back where I started," Bi Fang said self-deprecatingly. Chapter 752 749: 9 Out of 10 Return "What kind of junk mail?" As Mugalen was carrying his hunting shotgun, preparing for today''s hunt, he pulled out his phone and discovered an email sent by someone unknown. When he opened it, the array of colors almost blinded him. Cursing under his breath about his brain being polluted, Mugalen muttered, "Damn service providers must have sold my information again!" After saying that, Mugalen deleted the email and slipped his phone back into his pocket, humming an unnamed tune as he closed the car door. An alley in Los Angeles. Bi Fang, who sent the email, had waited for quite a while but did not receive the expected response. Yao Jun scratched his head beside him, "Are you sure this will work?" "Let''s wait a bit longer, maybe he doesn''t have his phone on him," Bi Fang hesitated but chose to continue waiting. Mugalen wasn''t his loyal dog. He wouldn''t even instantly reply to a message on QQ, let alone an email. No matter how carefully a hider conceals his tracks, there''s always the danger of security breaches in any digital information exchange. Therefore, professionals employ multiple methods to ensure the safety of their information. Using anonymous networks or fake email addresses to send encrypted messages is just the first step. Spies of the past would hide microdot photographs with information in the head of a pin; today, they embed text documents within digital images that only reveal themselves after being decompressed. Before composing a message, Bi Fang would paste an inconsequential image onto the document, then type sensitive information above or below it, changing the font color to white to further enhance security. Afterwards, the size of the image file sent serves as a decoy, masking the extra space taken up by the text. Choosing Mugalen was not only because he was an ordinary person but also because he was a former special forces operative. For such a mode of message transmission, he was expected to have his own alertness, making it more likely for him to notice. An hour later. The photographer, feeling his hands grow sore from holding the camera, set it down and took out a piece of bread from his backpack to nibble on, offering some to Sean beside him. Through Yao Jun''s persuasion and Bi Fang''s finding of Sean''s own deeds, Sean finally let go of his doubts and sat down with them. The reason they didn''t leave immediately was that the group discovered Sean had his own bank card! Though it had no money, it was an important means to get one''s hands on borrowed money. Not all homeless people are dangerous. Sean had graduated from high school as an outstanding student, then earned his Bachelor''s degree in Economics at Yale University, receiving multiple scholarships along the way. After graduation, he went into banking on Wall Street. Later, he moved to Hollywood and established his own photography and film company, achieving modest success and even buying his own property at Silver Lake. But looking at Sean now, one could tell he had encountered setbacks since then. His life, once smooth sailing, hit a snag when his partnership dissolved. Soon after, his mother was diagnosed with cancer. One blow after another took a massive toll on both his mind and body. After moving several times, he ended up living in his car. Then he lost the car too. Skyrocketing housing prices ultimately forced Sean to join the ranks of the tent dwellers, who weren''t even allowed in parks because the sprinklers would turn on periodically¡ªnot to water the plants, but to drive away the homeless. Until now, when Bi Fang and Yao Jun "drafted" him. "Dude, your life is pretty amazing," the photographer said with admiration. "That''s all in the past," Sean replied with a smile, pleasantly munching on the bread the photographer had given him. This was his first meal of the day. Luckily, Bi Fang''s duo wasn''t really into illegal activities. Things were not bad for Sean in his current situation, whether buying a phone or helping with a money transfer to complete a game, he would get his payment. Even if the Los Angeles sunshine is bright, shadows still fall at the corners of the city''s foundations. The homeless are another inescapable facet of this city, they are both a phenomenon and individuals. They tread through the city''s shadows to a different beat, while city dwellers glance sideways, and the mainstream voice remains deeply hushed. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yet, under the dome of sky, this community coexists with the fate of the city in their own way. Everyone was getting a bit bored waiting. "I think he might have seen it but didn''t think much of it, should we try again?" Another hour passed, and Yao Jun also started nibbling on toast. Without squirrel meat as filling, it was a bit dry and lacked grease. "Alright, then let''s resend it." Bi Fang thought for a moment and felt that the content might be the issue. He thumbed through his phone, pondering for a while, then logged onto Twitter. After browsing for a bit, he chose a photo of a certain well-known sexy blogger and posted it. Yao Jun choked on a mouthful of toast, his eyes wide with admiration, "You''re damn right, you''re a genius." "Cough cough." The men present couldn''t help but shift their gaze, looking down slightly. ... "Hey, a full haul!" Mugalen strung his catch on a rope and pulled it onto the truck, then took out his phone that had suddenly started vibrating, his face creased with annoyance, "What the hell, another spam mail, damn... this..." Mugalen intended to delete the email once again, and then block the sender, but this time, he hesitated for a brief moment. His eyes lingered a few times, and in those few moments, he noticed something different... Were there words under the picture? Once his attention was piqued, everything that followed was simple. Mugalen was trained and knew how to inspect properly. He soon saw the whole message. After reading the content. A scammer? No, it couldn''t be a scammer; no scammer could be this professional. He hadn''t even learned these techniques himself, but on second thought, they were incredibly useful. So it was real? After pondering, Mugalen decided to probe a bit first. Many citizens with a heightened sensitivity to their lifestyles often hope to reduce their digital footprints. So they tend to share email accounts with those they are close to. They don''t use these accounts to send and receive emails but maintain secure communication by saving and viewing drafts back and forth. This way, no suspicious internet traffic is ever generated. Mugalen wasn''t one of them; while frustrated that his information often leaked, he wasn''t at that extreme. However, he knew if what the other person said was true, that''s what he should do. After a round of simple information exchange, Mugalen finally confirmed that the other party was indeed Bi Fang. Obviously, Bi Fang now needed his help! Quite the rarity. Mugalen felt a surge of excitement and after a moment of thought, he typed on the email: "I''ve heard that you Huaxia have something called ''nine out thirteen back''?" Where the hell did you learn this stuff? Bi Fang contained his frustration internally, typed rapidly, and hit send. "Get lost! Send the money! Hurry up!" Chapter 753 750 Continuous Tasks: Water and Fire. Mugalen certainly wasn''t short on cash; after his Wilderness Survivalist skills could be monetized, he moved into a big house and drove a Ford Raptor, with plenty of spare money on hand. After a few jokes, Mugalen generously supported Bi Fang and Yao Jun with thirty thousand Ugly Knives, which was already enough for the two of them to live a happy life for a month with spendthrift abandon. Even so much cash posed another problem; how to carry it all? The ATM could only dispense $20 bills; thirty thousand dollars in twenties would make a thick stack, easily over fifteen centimeters high¡ªfar too conspicuous, unsafe even in a backpack, not only drawing the attention of various social elements but possibly even attracting the police. In Huaxia, even elementary students know to turn to the police if they lose money, but in some countries, the police might very well be the ones who run off with your wallet. As long as a person is carrying a large amount of cash, the Ugly Country police could choose to confiscate it on the grounds that it is suspected to be illicitly obtained, justifying their right to seize it. Exchanging for hundreds or fifties would make the stack considerably smaller, but one would have to withdraw them at a counter. Not to mention the risk, these denominations are indeed hard to use. The teller might even ask why you''re withdrawing so much money, what you need the large bills for, and other tricky questions. Even depositing several thousand dollars in cash at once can get you flagged; the bank might report you, and an investigation into potential money laundering or tax evasion could follow. Depositing money is already such a hassle, not to mention withdrawing it¡ªit''s like carving flesh from the bankers. In a word, big money uses credit cards, small money uses small bills. "Oh, I also have cashiers'' checks." Sean raised his hand and fished around inside his jacket, finally pulling out a checkbook. "You have that too?" Bi Fang was shocked. A vagrant with a card was one thing, quite reasonable actually, but always ready with a checkbook? Are you the reincarnation of Doraemon? Sean shrugged: "I''ve always believed I could make a comeback. These checks are leftovers from before; I couldn''t bring myself to throw them away, they remind me of my glory days." "Wait, what good are checks? Don''t you also have to exchange them at the counter?" Yao Jun, who had years of Ugly Country living experience from studying at a university overseas, still found himself outmatched in a complex country like the Ugly Country despite his time in Northern Europe. "ATMs in the Ugly Country are not only everywhere," Bi Fang paused, "some of them can even take a check directly for cash withdrawals..." "Are they really that amazing?" "Alright, the biggest problem is solved, now let''s enjoy ourselves!" Bi Fang looped his arms around the shoulders of Sean and Yao Jun and laughed heartily. ... S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the following days, the Hunter Team was plunged into utter chaos; they picked up new leads every day but always found that their quarry had managed to slip away upon reaching the destination. No one could say the Hunter Team was too weak, as when they reluctantly shifted their focus from Bi Fang''s group to other troublesome subjects... the terrifying contrast became apparent. Other fugitives, one group after another, were being "captured and brought to justice," and more of the hunters'' methods were revealed, starting with the Three-Strike Plan. Under the nearly inescapable Three-Strike Plan, Bi Fang''s resourcefulness seemed all the more remarkable. First Strike, the hunter teams monitored escapees'' entire networks of relationships. As soon as an escapee contacted someone in that network, it was akin to walking into a trap. On the third day, a contestant called their mother with a temporary phone because they were lost and was immediately located. The logic of the hunter team was simple: when seeking help, people generally turn to those they trust. This was the first contestant to be caught. Second Strike, the hunters went to the fugitives'' homes and companies, judging their characters and preferences through conversations and observations and thereby conjecturing their escape methods, narrowing the search radius. Four teams of players who were friends had opened a simulation gun store together and often organized field exercises for gun enthusiasts. The Hunter Team rapidly narrowed the search area to the suburban parks on both sides of the river. By only the sixth day, they had captured two people from the suburbs. For the final strike, the hunters took the initiative to look for the most likely suspects, beating around the bush to obtain clues. On the seventh day, they visited the friends'' houses of the fugitives to gather information, and used mobile phones to transmit the scene in real time back to headquarters. The behavioral analysis expert in front of the big screen pointed out on the spot that this friend was lying. Sure enough, the fugitives were hiding in the friend''s house. In nine days, three teams, six people, one-third of the players had been apprehended, and the time hadn''t even reached one-third of the total length. Beside the standard Three-Strike Plan, each of these experts possessed unique and formidable skills. Some could crack login passwords based only on guesses, some deciphered the entire escape plan from the fugitives'' abandoned calendars, others rapidly deduced the closeness of relationships through comments on social media... Watching the hunters work was a pleasure. Targeted, clear-cut, and methodical, they tackled one problem after another in a firm and steady manner¡ªthat''s the routine of modern criminology. The hunters employed mature tactics to cover all bases, ready with tools for every trick the fugitives tried. The opponents floundered like ants on a hot pan, panic-stricken, while the hunters methodically countered every move. It was a game of cat and mouse, not even on the same level. Professional vs. amateur, the difference was immediately apparent. But all of this was ineffective in front of Bi Fang. This man knew all the hunters'' tactics and understood even better how to deal with such measures. More intelligent, more skillful, more tightly bound. To pursue Bi Fang, the Hunter Team spared no effort¡ª Hacking into iCloud, monitoring phone calls, emails, and credit cards, consulting the central database of CCTV and automatic license plate recognition systems, posting "wanted notices" on social media, offering rewards, asking the public to provide leads to assist in the capture... But all of this was futile for Bi Fang. Bi Fang and Yao Jun were riding the train, randomly choosing stations, based solely on where the scenery looked more appealing. It was like a movie with criminals as the protagonists, where no matter what moves the opponents used, the criminals always managed to prevail in the confrontation with the police. They would brazenly show up and then swiftly vanish before the hunters caught on. Or drive rented luxury cars, recklessly spending wads of cash. On the tenth day, the fourth group of fugitives was caught. Bi Fang played a round of golf in Griffith Park, had an incredibly lucky streak with hole-in-one shots, and instantly sent out three thousand Ugly Knife red packets. He also received a ten thousand Ugly Knife reward from the course, had his name engraved on the organizer''s hole-in-one heroes list, and obtained a certificate. When the hunters arrived later, all they saw was the hero list left on the wall. On the fourteenth day, the fifth group of fugitives was captured. Bi Fang and Yao Jun visited Little Tokyo in Los Angeles and enjoyed a Japanese meal. The hunters were left with just the bill. No one knew where their money came from. Owen once suspected cheating, but the production team''s answer was that everything was in accordance with procedure. On the nineteenth day, the sixth group of fugitives was caught. Only three groups remained on the run. Two groups had hidden in rat holes, but Bi Fang and Yao Jun appeared on Sunset Boulevard. This broad thoroughfare shares its name with the black-and-white film "Sunset Boulevard," produced by Paramount Pictures Corporation in the 1950s. The real Sunset Boulevard is located on Hollywood Boulevard, runs through the city of Los Angeles, and is approximately 27 kilometers long, with palm trees stretching along the roadside accompanied by towering movie billboards. Walking on Sunset Boulevard, looking at old records displayed in the cabinets, reliving the heart-stirring melodies from years ago, one could spend a leisurely afternoon. The hunters who came here captured shards of golden sunlight. On the twenty-fourth day, the seventh group disappeared from the program''s roster. Bi Fang stood at the Getty Center, which is composed of six buildings with expansive gardens and 600 acres of untouched natural terrain. It is also one of the wealthiest art institutions in the world, housing some of the finest native Ugly Country manuscripts and old photographs, and is one of the largest collectors of such art in the country. Stepping in here, one could immediately feel like an artist. As the hunters were on their way, the drones overhead had already spotted the two men, yet Bi Fang casually spent money on souvenirs in public, oblivious to the approaching danger! What was more surprising was that, less than ten minutes before the hunters arrived by helicopter, the two men had vanished from the computer screens. On the twenty-seventh day, with only one last day of the normal game remaining, the eighth group of players also met their demise, branded with the label of failure by the hunters. Bi Fang and Yao Jun... They hadn''t gone anywhere. Yao Jun nibbled on dry bread, touched his empty pockets, and let out a silent sigh of bad luck. They were out of money. They had indeed lived lavishly for a month, but their spending was like a flowing river. The thirty thousand Ugly Knives provided by Mugalen, plus Bi Fang''s stroke of luck in sinking a hole in one ¨C although he distributed three thousand in red packets, he earned seven thousand ¨C a total of thirty-seven thousand, all spent without a penny left. With only two days left, Bi Fang couldn''t be bothered to return to the forest to hunt and decided to just while away the remaining days in an unnoticed spot. On the evening of the twenty-seventh day, the day Stealth Chase Season Two began, Bi Fang and Yao Jun sat together on an abandoned bench, conversing simply, watching the ducks land on the lake surface, creating ripples. The photographer stood behind them, capturing everything through the lens. Intuition told him that when this episode of Stealth Chase would be broadcasted, the viewership ratings would surely explode! While they were chatting and laughing, at a certain point, Bi Fang gradually lowered his voice, took a deep breath, and seemed to bring the conversation to a close as if to focus all his attention on the beautiful scenery in front of him. Yao Jun didn''t pay much attention and continued to concentrate on the bread in his hands, having his evening meal. Moments later, Bi Fang closed his eyes, and the faint blue light became even clearer. [Mission Name: A Journey of a Thousand Leagues with the Currents] [Mission Location: Nemo Point] [Mission Mode: Crossing Points] [Mission Difficulty: T5] [Mission Requirements: Only carry coverings and change of clothes.] [Main Mission One: Set up a live broadcast, with a concurrent online viewership of over six million] ``` [Main Mission Two: Cross Nemo Point in good condition.] [Main Mission Three: Build a raft on Easter Island that is capable of crossing Nemo Point.] [Side Mission: Explore on your own] Three months had passed since the System last issued a mission, but it wasn''t over yet! His gaze shifted downward, and the second mission came into view! [Mission Name: Crossing Death] [Mission Location: Sahara Desert] [Mission Mode: Crossing Dangerous Territory] [Mission Difficulty: T4] [Mission Requirements: Trek across the Sahara on foot. High-ranking System equipment and any equipment not provided by the System are prohibited.] [Main Mission One: Set up a live stream, with a consistent online viewership of over seven million.] [Side Mission: Explore on your own] [Note: The above two are joint missions with a time limit of one hundred and twenty days, and the order can be chosen.] [Note: Assistance from outside the mission can be chosen for one of the missions, limited to one person or one beast, and only one mission may choose this option.] [Guaranteed Reward: Two High-Order Skill Enhancement Coupons and one Muscle Control Ticket.] Bi Fang had never before experienced the release of two missions simultaneously. One mission was T5, and the other T4, no doubt both were extremely difficult, not to mention tackling them together. We''ll put the Sahara aside for the moment, the world''s largest desert of death, its size comparable to the entirety of Huaxia. From a satellite view, it looks like a huge and ugly scar blatantly lying on the African landscape, with an environment extremely harsh within that scar. Most regions comprise intermittent small and large basins, with many mountains and extinct volcanoes in the middle, and the ground primarily made up of gravel deserts, rocky deserts, and sand. It''s desolate, barren, unfit for biological survival, and known as a forbidden zone for life. Nemo Point might be somewhat unfamiliar, as it is a location defined by human calculation, theoretically the furthest spot on Earth''s surface from any land. In the past, when technology wasn''t advanced, scientists were unaware of this point''s existence. It was only later, with the advent of satellite technology, that a surveying engineer used computer programs to calculate the existence of Nemo Point. The geographic coordinates of Nemo Point are 48 degrees 52.6 minutes south latitude, 123 degrees 23.6 minutes west longitude. When viewed from outside Earth, the closest land to Nemo Point is three distant islands: Maewo Island in Antarctica, Motu Nui Island in the southwest corner of the Easter Islands in the northeast direction, and Ducie Island in the Pitcairn Islands to the north. Of these three islands, Ducie Island is the closest to Nemo Point but still a whole 2,688 kilometers away. If you were to draw a circle with Nemo Island as the center and a radius of 2,688 kilometers, then this circular area would rival the entire size of North America! Due to its unique geographical location, scientists have dubbed it the loneliest place on Earth because it''s entirely a forbidden zone for life, with practically no living beings reproducing here. The number of creatures that reach this place is even fewer. In terms of spatial distance, the closest humans to this place are occasionally the ones in the space station flying over at an altitude of 400 kilometers! Of course, that''s not the hardest part. Bi Fang had some experience in dealing with such extreme situations. But 120 days? Wasn''t that too short a time? The world record for trekking across the Sahara is 111 days, and that''s with supplies. Without supplies, this duration would have to be extended by at least a third! The meager 120 days provided by the System, let alone the completion of both missions together, made even one mission, the Sahara alone, impossible! ``` Chapter 754 754: 751 Transportation-related tasks, Bi Fang felt that it had been a long time since he had done this type of task, and unexpectedly, two appeared all of a sudden, throwing him into a loop. One T5, cross the Endless Cang Sea, and one T4, traverse the Blazing Flame Desert. Water and fire, two extremes ¡ª when combined, the difficulty probably exceeds T3, right? The viewer count requirements for mainline tasks had also risen too quickly, averaging six million online for one and seven million for the other, presenting Bi Fang with a rare sense of pressure. It''s not that he couldn''t reach that many people; peaking over ten million was not an issue. The key was the average online count, similar to the last survival challenge in the Arctic Ice Field for one hundred days, where there were a few boring days with little content, and the viewership even bottomed out to just over a million people. Bi Fang scratched his head, feeling the weight of a mountain pressing down on him, and his playful and up-and-coming mood suddenly vanished. He threw the wrapper into the trash can, leaned back in the chair, sighed deeply, and looked worried. Yao Jun, cheeks puffed, struggled to swallow with the help of mineral water. Seeing Bi Fang''s expression, he asked, "What happened?" The more he ate the bread, the harder it became to swallow. But due to his eating habits, Yao Jun kept stuffing more in, causing a huge lump to stick in his mouth, now completely hard to swallow, even with water, and it felt terrible. In these days, the two''s life in hiding was nothing like that of fugitives. Aside from needing to run occasionally and changing places, Yao Jun felt the days were quite nice, like being on a trip to Los Angeles, eating at restaurants every meal, driving luxury cars. They hadn''t run into any thugs or scoundrels either. With Bi Fang standing around, his overbearing aura naturally dispersed, making him seem like a Huaxia person who knew some destructive kung fu, scaring a bunch of losers till they wet their pants... Cough cough, that was an exaggeration. They hadn''t encountered any of Los Angeles''s specialties at all. Thugs have a much sharper sense than ordinary people of whom they can mess with and whom they cannot. Those without keen senses wouldn''t survive on the streets. But Yao Jun really felt that Bi Fang had a certain unique aura that could naturally intimidate the riffraff, like encountering a tiger in the jungle; no one would think it was just a big cat and want to go up and stroke it. At this moment, Bi Fang was still carefully contemplating the tasks. The world record for crossing the Sahara on foot was 111 days, and that included resupply. The fastest sailing record to the Nemo Point took 15 days, 10 hours, and 37 minutes, and that''s just one way; a round trip would take at least a month. No matter how you looked at it, there was not enough time. But the System would not set an unsolvable task. Bi Fang''s thoughts pulled up the task panel, and the detailed starting point of the task was displayed in front of him, along with a detailed task analysis. After delving deeper, he realized the extremity of this task but also that it was not impossible to complete! One hundred and twenty days, not including the time to build a raft on Easter Island! That was one point, and the second was that crossing the Sahara did not mean edge to edge! Indeed, the Sahara is vast, larger than the entirety of Huaxia, occupying nearly the entire top-left portion of the African continent. But it is not all fine-sand dunes; it consists of many parts: Western Sahara, the Central Plateau Highlands, the Eastern T¨¦n¨¦r¨¦ Desert, and the Libyan Desert. At the edges of these areas, there are countries and human activities, and although the environment is equally harsh, these are not considered danger zones. The crossing the System defines excludes most of the peripheral areas, focusing on the most central part, the heart of the Sahara, and this is the most dangerous section of the journey. Finally, checking once more, the task period was set for one hundred and twenty days, with a time limit of one hundred and forty days, which means there are twenty days of preparation time. Two days to finish the show, three days of preparation and travel, half a month to build a raft, and then begin the tasks. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There''s a chance! Bi Fang''s thoughts became agile, feeling once again that an exciting adventure challenge was awaiting him. The Arctic journey ended in January, and he participated in the stealthy trailing in between. Although it was a bit troublesome, Bi Fang did not feel much pressure; it was more like a travel experience. Considering this, he realized he hadn''t moved for a full three months, and the unwillingness for mediocrity in his bones surged once more! "Let''s go, today is the last day." Bi Fang brushed off the crumbs from his body, and the pigeons that had been waiting nearby flocked to him. "Okay, I''m coming." Having swallowed the last sip of water, Yao Jun threw the bottle into the trash can and ran over. The fugitive''s goal for covert tracking was to evade capture for a full twenty-eight days, and now it had been twenty-seven days, with just the last day remaining. In the final moments, the escapee must log into a secure website to obtain the details of their escape, then head to a designated bank, withdraw the ultimate prize of 250,000 Ugly Gold, and leave on a plane to claim victory. Bi Fang took his phone out of a bag made from four layers of aluminum foil. The quadruple foil wrapping tightly around the device effectively blocked incoming and outgoing signals. Typically, the smart society would redirect all the battery''s energy to search for signals, so single or double layers of aluminum foil could not shield it adequately. Moreover, there was an even more perfect protective case available, but it was generally not for sale to the public, only "professionals" could buy it through "professional channels." At first, the phone could be used freely because neither the purchaser nor the signal recipient had any apparent connection with Bi Fang. But as time passed, Bi Fang had to take certain measures to avoid being tracked. After logging onto the photographer''s website and obtaining the final information, the cheap phone finally fulfilled its mission. The range stipulated by the program for the escape was 100,000 square kilometers, spanning four continents; however, Bi Fang and Yao Jun had mostly moved around in Los Angeles without going too far. All the Hunters knew this was their last chance, and they surely wouldn''t relax their efforts. "They''ll be leaving by plane, so we need to mark all the airports in the Los Angeles metropolitan area on the map, then make predictions about where they might go and how they will get there," "Some are in the city, some in the suburbs, and then there''s the Los Angeles International Airport over here..." "Guys, use your imagination; we''re clueless right now." "Hey, Robert, I have an idea," Ben Owen raised his hand, drawing everyone''s attention to himself. "Speak!" When Robert silently looked at him, Owen continued, "I think we''ve overlooked something about airplanes. We only focus on the obvious airports, assuming that planes will land where everyone can reach. Does that remind you of anything?" Suddenly a Hunter spoke out, "Helicopters! And seaplanes!" "Oh my gosh, aren''t there too many helicopter fields in Los Angeles? How do we search for them?" "It doesn''t have to be a helicopter field; any open area will do." "We can look up recent helicopter rental information!" "Right, start at the source!" "Exactly." Owen nodded, but then he took a twist, "But if the opponent is Bi Fang, would things be that simple?" Everyone was taken aback again. Were there other possibilities? "Think about it, everyone. Besides airports and helicopters, where else can planes land?" Robert said, "On water." Philips, clutching his head in agony, said, "Water! Oh my, why didn''t I think of that? Seaplanes!" "They won''t go back to an airport; that''s too simple. Helicopters are also unlikely, as we can all think of that. Seaplanes, yes, seaplanes!" Teresa murmured to herself. "This move is really brilliant!" "Los Angeles is arid and lacks water, with hardly any rivers! They don''t have many options!" "The number of seaplanes is extremely limited; we can narrow it down!" "Yes, Owen, you''re a genius!" Robert gave the order: "Guys, get moving¡ªhelicopters, seaplanes; we''re going to make sure they have nowhere to run!" Chapter 755 752: Who Says No? With a target set, the entire command center buzzed into action, with phones ringing one after another and computer monitors flickering rapidly, all the information pointing towards the aviation industry throughout Los Angeles. Whether it be a regular airport, helicopters, or seaplanes that no one had thought of. If the earlier part of the show was a confrontation between the criminals and the Hunter Team, then since Bi Fang pocketed a hole-in-one and left a hero''s name on the wall, everyone''s blood pressure was at its peak. They were all holding their breath. The prestige, must be regained! "We don''t have enough field agents, we need more manpower!" "But we only have thirty-five people, what do we do?" "The command center will pull another twenty, leave ten technicians to monitor and report the situation, the rest of you, follow me tomorrow!" Robert propped his hands on the desk, surveyed everyone from his vantage point, "Let''s complete this last piece of the puzzle!" ... A black SUV parked behind a small villa-like bank. Yao Jun peeked out from the passenger side, "Is this the place?" Bi Fang glanced at the nearby street sign and doorplate, nodding without turning off the vehicle''s engine. He grabbed a backpack from behind and asked, "Ready?" S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Truth be told, it was the first time Bi Fang and Yao Jun had entered a bank in so many days. In a place like a bank, filled with surveillance, withdrawing $250,000 in Ugly Gold would be impossible to do without notice, so they had to make it fast, leaving before the Hunters could react. "Hold on." Yao Jun took several deep breaths, calming his nerves before nodding, "Ready, let''s go!" "Go!" Throwing open the car door, they dashed into the bank, with the cameraman lugging his camera in hot pursuit behind them. Upon storming into the bank, it seemed as though the area had been cleared just for them, the only person present being the teller at the counter, without a doubt, everything arranged by the show''s team. "Hello, I am Bi Fang, he is Yao Jun, we''re here to make a withdrawal." "At the corner, teller number 126." The teller, without asking anything, smiled and pushed out a key. "The corner, teller number 126, okay, thank you." They took the key, rushed to the corner and pushed open the door, seeing before them a conspicuously large cabinet, each marked with a number. "Number 126... 126, found it, here!" Yao Jun pointed to one of the cabinets, took the key Bi Fang passed to him, and opened the locker. Together they pulled out the cabinet, like extracting a steamer of freshly cooked rice. "Heavy." Yao Jun, holding the cabinet, placed it on a nearby table and exclaimed upon seeing the contents, "Wow, all of them are twenty-dollar bills!" Bi Fang''s mouth twitched a bit; $250,000, all in twenties, was the equivalent of 125 stacks of RMB 10,000! Although a twenty-dollar bill is much smaller than a hundred yuan note, 125 stacks is no small amount - lined up, it would be over a meter long. Having spent days using only tens and hundreds of dollars, the sudden sight of so much money gave the two a fleeting illusion of striking it rich. "Hurry up and pack, keep the bag open!" Stuffing the bag into Yao Jun''s arms, they quickly started ''earning'' the money. Feeling the backpack gradually fill, Yao Jun laughed, "I feel like we''re robbing a bank now." "Let''s go!" With the backpack stuffed, the cabinet returned to its place, Bi Fang handed back the key and casually extended a stack of bills, making a two-finger salute while stepping back, "Thank you, may you have a wonderful day just like us." The teller clasped hands in front of her and bowed slightly, "Borrowing your good luck words." ... "Teresa, we''ve found them! At Fiskofi Avenue, Federal Credit Union! They withdrew $250,000 in Ugly Gold!" Teresa exclaimed, "Fiskofi Avenue, Federal Credit Union! They took out $200,000!" "Give me the address, all the nearby airports, water surfaces, and helicopter pads!" "One moment..." "Did we get their license plate on camera?" "Tracking in progress, found it, they''re heading... wait, they''re going towards downtown!" "Downtown? Which downtown?" "Downtown Los Angeles, the one with the Federal Bank Building!" "Is there an airport there?" "No, sir, doesn''t seem like it, but many of the buildings there have helipads, are they planning to escape via helicopter?" In satellite city centers, there might be airports, but definitely not in downtown Los Angeles! The closest airport to downtown Los Angeles is the Los Angeles International Airport, and even that is located 24 kilometers southwest of downtown! "They''re really going to take the helicopter? But what''s with that rented seaplane?" "Damn it, it might be a coincidence, don''t worry about it too much. Catch up to them, deploy the helicopter! All the drones, take off too!" ... "I wonder if that seaplane is of any use." Bi Fang drove the car, swerving past one vehicle after another like a streak of black lightning. "I''m sure they''ve been completely thrown off course!" Yao Jun rolled down his window to the bottom and burst into laughter. At this point, whether to switch cars or not doesn''t matter; everyone is racing against time to reach their destinations. Probably none of the Hunter Team would guess that the plane chosen by Bi Fang was neither the commercial planes at the airport nor the helicopters on top of the skyscrapers, nor was it the seaplane temporarily rented on the Los Angeles River! Los Angeles is prone to earthquakes, so the number of skyscrapers here is far fewer than in some ordinary metropolitan areas, and they are consequently very scattered. If you go to one, it will be very difficult to reach another one in a short time. The real target of Bi Fang and Yao Jun was Los Angeles''s second tallest building, Eihong Tower! Through the car window, looking at the murky skyline of Los Angeles. Bi Fang''s vision was excellent, and he clearly saw the small black dots flying in the distant sky. Were they the hunters? The car slowed down. The helicopter did not come any closer and, after a while, stopped at the tallest building in Los Angeles, the Federal Bank Building, 310 meters high. "They are coming this way!" "Is it really the Federal Bank Building?" "No, they stopped, they''ve gone into Eihong Tower!" "Eihong Tower? Does Eihong Tower have a helipad?" "No, it seems like it doesn''t; you can''t land a helicopter up there!" "Damn it, what on earth are they up to!?" "Wait... Boss, I think I see..." Philips lowered his binoculars, stunned, as Robert''s outcry came through the headset from his location still at the Los Angeles River. "What do you see! Respond, Sergeant!" "A glider, I see a glider!" Philips stood on top of the Federal Bank Building, leaping up and waving his arms, "Damn it, they''re planning to leave on a glider!" Who says a glider isn''t a plane? A few hundred meters away, a tiny shadow dropped from the top of Eihong Tower like a bird free of constraints. It plummeted straight down, then miraculously took flight at a certain moment, rushing toward the expansive skyline. "It''s over." The drone footage transmitted to the phone, and Robert took off his headset. As long as the other party boarded the "plane," this pursuit was over, even if they could use a helicopter to force it to land. On the highway, all the cars rolled down their windows and stopped, leaning out to watch the glider in the sky. Newspapers fluttered in the wind, sticking to trash cans. A passerby bent down to pick one up but found everyone around him looking up. On the avenue in front of Eihong Tower, Sean, who had been notified to come, saw the glider successfully take off from high above and let out an exhilarated shout, removing his cap and waving it, laughing loudly. "Friends, you''ve done it! Friends!" The people nearby moved away from this homeless man, watching him shout as if he was out of his mind. But then, to their surprise, they discovered that the glider wasn''t leaving but circling in the sky, seemingly noticing the homeless man. "Sean, catch!" The faint voice spread from high above, followed by a small bag being thrown down. Sean didn''t understand, rushed forward to catch it but missed, as the bag hit the ground, opening partially. The bystanders'' breathing hitched, what did they see? Money! It was definitely a bag of money! At least thirty thousand dollars! Sean broke into a sweat, unsure of what to do, as he saw the wolf-like stares of those around him. "Sorry, the bag belongs to this gentleman." A police officer stepped in front of Sean, sticking out his pronounced waist pack to ward off the onlookers, then raised his cap and gave Sean a slight smile. "You must be Mr. Sean. I just got a call that someone might try to rob a moneybag belonging to a Mr. Sean in front of Eihong Tower. At first, I thought it was a prank." The officer chuckled. He had indeed thought it was a prank until the undercover tracking TV crew appeared and informed them of everything. There must be cameras pointed at him now. The policeman glanced around subtly as he added, "Oh right, he left a message." "What message?" Sean, who was picking up money, looked puzzled. The officer cleared his throat and mimicked the tone: "Thank you for your help, and also, I wish you a successful comeback." Chapter 756 756: 753 Wolf Fang Headquarters. "The upcoming live broadcast plan? Hmm, Nemo Point and the Sahara... Alright, I got it, it involves crossing... I''ll notify the relevant departments to create the cover as soon as possible. It should be online within three days." Liu Qian, the live broadcast assistant assigned to Bi Fang by Wolf Fang, was holding the phone between her shoulder and ear, scribbling down two locations on a sticky note, and casually opened the browser to search what Nemo Point was. Although she didn''t appear on-screen much, every time Bi Fang decided on the content of his broadcast, it was the assistant''s job to communicate with each department, arrange for the homepage recommendation, and the production of related poster content. Bi Fang''s status in the live broadcast realm was unique; his fame even surpassed that of celebrities, and since he was personally recruited by the vice president, no one dared to object to him having a dedicated assistant. "Nemo Point, Nemo Point..." The Sahara is familiar to anyone with a basic understanding of geography as the world''s largest desert, but when it comes to Nemo Point, most people have never heard of it. It was clear to discerning observers that the difficulty level of Bi Fang''s live broadcasts was progressively escalating, which was why he was able to attract more and more viewers time after time. Liu Qian wasn''t surprised that Bi Fang chose a legendary location like the Sahara for his next broadcast, but she had never heard of Nemo Point. A location within the Sahara? Liu Qian initially thought it was a place within the Sahara Desert, but the results of her browser search were astonishing. "Nemo Point is in the ocean?" "Yes." Bi Fang''s laughter came through the other end of the phone. Liu Qian remembered she hadn''t hung up yet and decided to ask directly, "So are these the contents for two live broadcasts? Which one will be first, Nemo Point or the Sahara?" "Strictly speaking, those are indeed two separate live broadcast contents, but from a performance standpoint, it should be regarded as one, for I plan to complete these two challenges within a 120-day limit. Roughly estimated, around forty to fifty days for Nemo Point and seventy to eighty days for the Sahara." "It sounds like another thrilling adventure journey," Liu Qian remarked. "I will arrange it as quickly as possible." "Thank you for your trouble." ... After arranging the Wolf Fang live broadcast, Bi Fang immediately rushed to Easter Island, with barely a moment''s rest, not even attending the appreciation banquet held by the stealth tracking show''s crew. Easter Island is remotely situated far from the mainland, and on the other side of Earth in South America. As a Huaxia person, setting out from home meant an inevitably long journey, and without any direct flights available, one would first have to travel through the Ugly Country or transit in Europe. Furthermore, the Resurrection Archipelago is Chilean territory, and typically a Chilean visa would be required. However, possessing a visa from the Ugly Country also allows for entry, and since he was currently in the Ugly Country, that saved Bi Fang some time. There are no direct flights from Los Angeles. One stopover was necessary and just waiting for it took an entire day. Thus, it took Bi Fang nearly two days, almost non-stop flying, to finally arrive in Santiago, Chile. Meanwhile, the relevant departments at Wolf Fang Headquarters worked overnight to finish designing the poster for the live broadcast, and it went live for promotion at eight o''clock in the morning. The poster was still above standard, a massive image that took up most of the webpage. The left side of the image depicted a deep, dark blue ocean while the right side showed the vast, fiery red desert. Beneath the immense background was a tiny figure on a small boat, setting off from the left and trailing white foam, resolutely heading towards the right. In the center was a large countdown of 120 days, yet to begin, but the meaning behind it wasn''t hard to guess. Above the poster, many people who received the push notification started sending barrage comments, speculating about the topic of this live broadcast. [Such a cool poster. Just by looking, you can tell this live broadcast won''t be simple.] [Both ocean and desert? What place is this? A dance of ice and fire? (Dog''s head)] [Big news! The big moment is here!] S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [So huge! Hnh hnh ahhhhhhh~~] [Everyone up front, your tastes are too intense. Tone it down a bit.] The reality show that Bi Fang was secretly tracking was filmed and broadcast simultaneously, with about a half-month''s delay for editing and airing. Therefore, the Ugly Country hadn''t even finished broadcasting the third episode yet, let alone in Huaxia itself. Moreover, Bi Fang hadn''t promoted it much earlier, so to many Huaxia viewers, Adventurer Bi Fang had been missing for over three months. Now that there was some news, it certainly caused a sensation. Before long, aside from those who were making jokes, nearly everyone was guessing what the content of this broadcast might be. [Taking a boat? Is it a crossing? Or like before, drifting?] [It shouldn''t be drifting, since Old Fang rarely repeats the same live broadcast content he''s done before.] [Dude, this is a case of extremes of fire and ice.] [Really splashing out this time.] After arriving in Santiago, Bi Fang immediately began processing a series of documents and proofs, a necessary procedure before each of his live broadcasts. One advantage of being famous is that many of the lengthy bureaucratic processes that are tedious for ordinary people can be expedited. This was especially the case for Bi Fang. Officials stated that if Bi Fang agreed to hold a live broadcast on Easter Island, he could have all the necessary documents lined up and delivered by the afternoon. Nemo Point is located between three islands in the South Pacific, creating a triangle: Ducie Island from the Pitcairn Islands, the Nui Atoll from the Easter Island, and Maher Island of Antarctica. The relatively closest to these is the Nui Atoll, which is also often translated as Motu Nui Island, an island belonging to Easter Island, one of the three largest islands of the archipelago, but it''s not the traditionally popular tourist destination Easter Island. However, being part of the same archipelago, the Nui Atoll is just southwest of Easter Island and not far. At worst, the boat could simply be towed over there. In regard to the officials'' proposition, Bi Fang heartily agreed. The end result was that after a series of official verifications, as long as Bi Fang didn''t murder anyone on the island or steal any statues, he could do whatever he wanted. He could cut down all the trees for his boat without any issues¡ªvirtually no restrictions. After taking various modes of transportation, Bi Fang finally set foot on the island often seen on computer wallpapers¡ªEaster Island. Dragging along his tool bags, Bi Fang plunged into the woods, picking out good quality timber. This wasn''t Bi Fang''s first ocean drift; he had found a small island in the Atlantic Ocean before. However, that island was really small, with not many trees, and the tools were quite basic. Although he managed to build a raft, it was barely functional and far from the highest standard Bi Fang could achieve; it was just about usable. This time, with fifteen days at his disposal and various tools provided by the System, though they couldn''t be used during the mission, building the raft beforehand was allowed. Chapter 757 754: Mysterious Island ``` An isolated island, desolation, mysterious statues... For many who hear of the legendary Easter Island, the impression in their minds is likely dominated by the group of massive human figures that exist there, one of the world''s most peculiar and enigmatic landscapes. Setting foot on this fertile land, Bi Fang felt a strong resonance. In the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are opposite to those in the Northern Hemisphere. While April in the Northern Hemisphere is the warm and comfortable spring, on Easter Island, it is autumn¡ªa bit chill with a continuously cooling trend, which adds a cool tone to the island. However, compared to the island''s iconic giant stone figures, Bi Fang was more concerned with whether there were trees suitable for boat-building. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jumping down from the car, Bi Fang''s feet sank into the soft soil. Weeds sprouted from the cracks, and the air was filled with the unique plant fragrance of Nature. After a group photo, the driver who was offering a free ride stepped on the gas and left without disturbing, leaving only Bi Fang alone facing Easter Island, which was like a prairie. The sea breeze swept across, bowing the grass all over the island. Taking a deep breath and exhaling the stale air from his chest, Bi Fang moved forward a few hundred meters, found a suitable spot, set down his backpack, pulled the zipper open, and took out a drone that automatically hovered in the air. A minute later, followers around the world received a push notification on their phones or computers. Three months had passed, and Bi Fang''s live stream had started! A massive wave of people flowed into the servers through the internet cables, and the sudden surge even caused a brief lag, which recovered after a few seconds. At the Langya Technology Department, an old employee calmly took a sip of coffee, placing the cup on the table as he added more servers to stabilize the connection. Only after the system was steady did he pick up his cup and take another sip, slightly squinting his eyes. He had seen such scenes many times before, so it was nothing to wonder at. It''s not that they were unprepared, it''s just impossible to prepare for. When millions of people flood in at once, anyone would be overwhelmed. The technology department used to struggle when there were only hundreds of thousands of people; now, they just let it go in peak times and balance it out by borrowing servers. Having servers on standby solely for Bi Fang felt like a loss. After all, Bi Fang spent more time not live streaming than live streaming, and leaving servers idle is not good for the machines. So apart from initial lagging at the beginning, there''s generally no issue. "Kid, learn something. Just this skill in server allocation is something you could take a lesson from," the old employee said to an intern beside him, full of a commanding air. Thinking back to when Langya was on the decline two years ago, and he almost lost his job, this moment of instructing juniors and climbing pay inspired a surge of pride. The homepage of Langya unfurled like a curtain opening, splitting gently from the center. To the left, the tumultuous relentless waves, to the right, the sand and dust swirling in the wind, and in the middle, the painting like unfolding revealed the towering figures. "On April 5, 1722, that day was the Western Easter, and it held profound significance not only for the religious but also for Jacob Roggeveen, an explorer with the Dutch West India Company, marking the very special first day. That day, the Pacific Expedition Team he led, consisting of three sailing ships, discovered another small island in the Polynesian Islands." Before the canvas fully opened, a familiar voice began to rise. "Although the island''s inhabitants call their island Rapa Nui, to the dominant Westerners of that time it didn''t matter. From then on, the world came to know this island as Easter Island, indeed, the very island I''m standing on right now." Finally, the canvas was completely unfurled, the camera panned, and a familiar figure entered the view; Bi Fang slung his backpack on again and gave the camera his familiar two-fingered salute. ``` "Hello everyone, I''m Bi Fang, a professional adventurer. Long time no see." [Missing person has returned!] [Boss Fang finally remembered his Wolf Fang password] [It''s been three months, do you know how I''ve been living these past three months!?] [Good guy, a quarter of a year without live streaming, and the moment he starts, hundreds of thousands are watching. Old Fang is the only one who gets this treatment, right?] [Wuwuwu, familiar people, familiar faces, the familiar wilderness, sorry brothers, I''m rushing to pay my respects first!] [You can''t be serious, SIR, you''re rushing over this?] [Eh, haven''t you watched "Stealth Track" broadcasted in the last two weeks? Master Fang was in it, you know.] ["Stealth Track"? What''s that?] [Hey, I think I''ve heard of it, isn''t it some kind of reality show?] [Holy shit, Old Fang, when did you join a reality show, and how did I not know?] "About a month ago, it just ended last week," Bi Fang glanced at the bullet comments and casually explained, "Domestic viewers may not know, but the international ones should have seen it. I think the finale is airing in a couple of days, right?" [Darn it, Master Fang, you don''t love us, not even a heads-up] "I did give a heads-up, it was posted once on my social updates, but it seemed like you guys didn''t pay much attention." Hearing this, many Shuiyou hurriedly scrolled through Bi Fang''s updates, from domestic to international, and back again, making sure Bi Fang hadn''t secretly started a new account without their knowledge. There really was a mention! [You call posting a status and then disappearing for a month "promotion"?] ["Heading to Los Angeles to join ''Stealth Track''. Looking forward to winning the big prize." Just eighteen words, not even a picture attached. Well done.] [I''m going to look for the resources] [Send me a copy!] Having not streamed for three months, Bi Fang and his viewers didn''t seem estranged at all, and the atmosphere in the live broadcast room quickly got lively as more and more viewers tuned in. After shaking off the mud from the bottom of his backpack, Bi Fang carried his pack and headed towards the center of Easter Island. "I know everyone is very curious about what exactly I''m streaming this time. The poster Wolf Fang put out must have confused you all, but let''s not rush; let''s continue with the topic we started earlier." Bi Fang paused, picking up from where he began his self-introduction. "This island did not arouse any interest in that Dutch explorer at the time. This small island, a little over 100 square kilometers, was formed by eruptions from three nearby volcanoes and inhabited by more than 2,000 indigenous people. The island was all grasslands, with no tall trees or any exotic treasures." "By then, over 200 years since the Age of Discovery had passed. Portugal, Spain, Central Country, Holland, and France had already plundered many colonies in Africa and America. Moreover, these colonies had long formed stable and mature blocks of interest, such as planting cash crops, trading slaves, and so on." "For the colonists, Easter Island, a small island suspended in the Pacific Ocean, served only as a stopover point and had no other purpose." "After spending a week there, killing 12 Easter Islanders including the Chieftain, and wandering around the island, the exploration team set off on a new journey." "But what they didn''t know was that this island had another name ¡ª Mysterious Island." Chapter 758 755 Its Just This Flavor Bi Fang traveled from Ugly Country all the way to the Resurrection Archipelago, a journey that took him more than two days, almost three days of traveling. From such a distant journey, it was clear¡ªEaster Island was truly an isolated island "without a village in front, and no shops behind"! The island lies 3500 kilometers to the east of Chile, 7500 kilometers to the west of Australia, 5000 kilometers to the north of Ugly Country, and 4500 kilometers to the south of Antarctica. It''s quite outrageous. This island is over 2000 kilometers from the nearest inhabited island, already about as remote as Nui Atoll, where Bi Fang was originally headed. As Bie Fang walked, he introduced the relevant history and information about Easter Island, where you could often see several meter-high gigantic human figures, carved out of stone. Occasionally, Bi Fang would stop to carefully photograph a few statues, showcasing some details. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Many people have seen and understood these enormous stone figures from images, yet from the perspective of an observer, the shapes of these statues seem somewhat na?ve. Modern humans, having been bombarded with giant buildings hundreds of meters tall and many sculptures that are ten meters, even tens of meters high, may not find these four or five-meter-high stone figures as astonishing from photographs. But for ancient people, and even modern humans looking up from below, these figures remain mysterious and formidable, commanding awe and apprehension. There are indeed hundreds of such sculptures on Easter Island. "So many giant statues stunned the explorer Rogers Wen, but in his sailing diary, he only made a brief record of these giant statues before hastily leaving Easter Island," "It wasn''t until 50 years later that another famous explorer from Central Country, Captain Cook, arrived on Easter Island and made the first measurements of these stone carvings." "Eventually, it was discovered that there were over 800 of these stone giants on Easter Island, known to the locals as ''Moai,'' with an average height of about 4 meters and a weight of over a dozen tons each. The largest one stood at 21.6 meters and weighed more than 100 tons." "Most of these stone statues are carved in the same style, with some wearing red hats made of stone. All the statues have elongated faces, elongated ears, and bodies extending to the hip region, while their eyes are made of coral and dark stone." Bi Fang reached out to touch the rough statue, and even without exerting force, he could feel its heft. Stones have their own life history, although this life history is markedly different from that of animals and plants. Whether the stones we see on the roads or in the fields, they are exposed to the sun and rain year after year, trampled by vehicles and animals, affected by microorganisms, constantly undergoing change to become something new. Humans can''t see these changes because they are minimal. Though our naked eyes can''t detect it, we are acutely aware of it. "If we could change the speed at which time passes, like shooting a movie, and capture millions of years of history, then fast-forward through it, we would witness the immense changes in nature within a few hours." "Mountains emerge from the depths of the oceans, rise to the surface and then turn into basins. Minerals appear in the scorching melted substance, then crumble into powder before becoming clay." "Countless animals and plants, within what seems like seconds, become thick layers of limestone; within minutes, people transform mines into flat land, turn ore into sheets of iron, tracks, or various machines." "In this pulsating image, everything changes at a lightning-fast speed, and finally..." Bi Fang pointed at his own nose, "I appeared in front of you all." [Cringe, I''m getting goosebumps] [What''s up with this imagery (cries while clutching head)] [This has got to be a script, definitely a script!] [Has Old Fang started writing drafts for his livestreams now?] "Ahem, what I actually mean to say is, even a stone you casually pick up from the roadside may have a history of thousands, tens of thousands, or even millions of years, but such a natural history seems to have no value to us." Bi Fang patted the statue and laughed aloud. "What''s truly valuable are these stones before us, the ones that have seen the involvement of real living beings and are rich with human history," "They bear witness to a segment of time, engaging in a dialogue with the modern world across the endless expanse of space and time, allowing us to glimpse a corner of ancient human thought and proving that they were here, they existed, they were alive." "But that''s enough introduction for now. If you''re genuinely interested, you might have a chance to come and see for yourself on the island. Let''s get started with the main event for today." Having briefly introduced the island''s wondrous sights, Bi Fang felt he had fulfilled the official recommendation requirements of Chile. After receiving their endorsement, naturally, he had to do a good job of promoting tourism. "I have only one goal for coming to this island today, and that is to find suitable timber to build an adequate wooden ship, and then use it to cross the entire South Pacific, sailing through Nemo Point." [Nemo Point, what''s Nemo Point?] [So what does this have to do with the desert anyway?] [Are there deserts on this island too?] As expected, the term "Nemo Point" baffled many viewers. They hadn''t even heard of it, let alone understand what it was. "The so-called Nemo Point is ''the oceanic pole of inaccessibility,'' and its geographic location is at 48 degrees 52.6 minutes south latitude, 123 degrees 23.6 minutes west longitude," Bi Fang explained what Nemo Point was, the three islands closest to it, and his reasons for being on Easter Island. It was then that people began to understand somewhat, though a tourist hotspot like this didn''t seem like a place with much to offer in terms of adventure. It surely couldn''t be that after a gap of three months, there would be another paddling excursion from Central Country? That would be far too disappointing for the audience. "In various travel and exploration writings, people often mention the ''ends of the earth,'' such as the Arctic and Antarctic, Mount Everest, the Sahara Desert, Siberia, and so on." "In reality, these places are much ''hotter'' than Nemo Point in terms of human presence." "Even without considering the climbers, tens of thousands of Sherpa people live at the base of Everest." "The edges of the Sahara Desert and Siberia may be sparsely populated, but they still have inhabitants." "Indeed, the South Pole and the North Pole are uninhabited, but Antarctica still has research stations, and there are quite a few cities within the Arctic Circle." "But within a radius of 3000 kilometers from Nemo Point, there is no human settlement." "The closest humans to Nemo Point might not even be on land, but in outer space. If I pass Nemo Point at the right time, the closest people to me will likely be astronauts in a space station over 300 kilometers above me." Bi Fang pointed to the azure sky above him. Many viewers couldn''t help but follow Bi Fang''s motion and look up until they saw their own ceilings and realized they were just watching a live stream. Nemo Point, a place where one can experience solitude in the absolute sense. "The first half of this live broadcast will be about constructing a seaworthy ship within fifteen days, and then I will navigate it through the loneliest point in the ocean on this planet." Bi Fang''s words were assertive and resolute. [Fucking awesome, that''s the spirit!] Chapter 759 756 Besides Here The audience in the live broadcast room was excited once again. Barrages of comments temporarily obscured the screen, flying across it so fast. However, Bi Fang had quick reflexes and good dynamic vision, allowing him to catch a few skeptical questions among them. [That''s not right, the Pacific Ocean is so vast, how can there be no ships at all?] [Indeed, it''s a bit of an exaggeration to say that the only humans are on space stations overhead. What about distant water fishing boats and cargo ships? Aren''t they manned?] Some people felt that Bi Fang was exaggerating his words and even said bluntly that streamers love to exaggerate the facts to grab attention. "Sorry to disappoint, but it''s true," said Bi Fang with an undiminished smile, pointing to the sea in front of him, "We are in the Southern Hemisphere, where the majority of the world''s shipping, which is between countries, is concentrated in the Northern Hemisphere." "Of course, that''s not to say that there''s no shipping in the Southern Hemisphere. South America, South Africa, and Australia are all in the Southern Hemisphere. Although the scale is smaller, shipping does exist. However, their shipping doesn''t pass through the South Pacific centered on Nemo Point." "Not to mention whether ships pass through here or not, those who have studied high school geography should know that there are ocean currents. Ships get a huge boost from these currents, greatly increasing their speed, achieving twice the result with half the effort. In the entire South Pacific, apart from one major ocean gyre, there are no other currents." "This leads to two situations: first, it doesn''t make sense for ships to travel this route, and there''s no destination. Distant water fishing boats are even less likely to come here to fish, because it could be said that there are almost no fish here." No fish? How is that possible? Not just a few viewers disbelieved this now; the vast majority were unwilling to accept it. Because the broadcast provided a map of Nemo Point, with nearly three thousand kilometers in proximity, it was an enormous area. To say there are no fish in such a large place? And isn''t no human presence supposed to mean no overfishing, and therefore more abundant fishery resources? "On the contrary, the surrounding rotating waters almost completely block any rich nutrients from staying here, making this a barren maritime desert!" exclaimed Bi Fang dramatically. The entire South Pacific gyre encircles this part of the ocean, much like how a typhoon traps it; all foreign materials are hindered by this layer of current, being carried off to other places, Also, with no land at all in this area, the influx of organic matter becomes even less likely. These extreme natural conditions result in a very scarce supply of nutrients, unable to support a superstructure, hence the number of living organisms is also extremely sparse, with large marine animals being almost non-existent. [Listening to this, the difficulty seems bigger now] [Then how does Old Fang plan to cross it, what will he eat for such a long time?] [Damn, isn''t this Hell mode? Worse than the desert] [By the way, why hasn''t anyone asked what Master Fang meant by the first half of his journey? Having a first half implies there is a second half. After crossing Nemo Point, does the desert refer to the Sahara next?] "Congratulations to the online friend named Little Beard from Milk Bottle Network, you''ve guessed right, although there''s no prize," said Bi Fang. Bi Fang looked around, trying to spot a small grove within his field of view. "After crossing Nemo Point, I will go to the Sahara, also on a crossing journey. This will be two consecutive live broadcasts, with the entire process from starting the crossing to trekking across the Sahara limited within a hundred and twenty days." "Before that, I have fifteen days to prepare the vessel, so I need to pick some good wood to support me throughout the crossing." After listening to Bi Fang''s plan for the next hundred and some days, the Shuiyou tapped their fingers, uncertain of what comments to type. As always, pretty awesome? Indeed, Nemo Point is an enigma to most, but the sheer impressiveness of the Sahara is well known to all. As Bi Fang said, while the perimeter is habitable, the interior is an absolute death zone where humans simply cannot survive long-term. Here, it''s all about lifeforms so altered they couldn''t possibly be more different. But keep calling it impressive seems somewhat repetitive and monotonous. Yet not to acknowledge its impressiveness would be to ignore the obvious. In short, it''s... [Absolutely outrageous] [Before Old Fang showed up, I never imagined livestreaming could be this awesome] [Huaxia''s livestreaming is the coolest] [emmm, I don''t know what to say, it feels like Master Fang is playing on an even bigger stage now] [Last time it was surviving 100 days in the Arctic, this time it''s crossing both Nemo Point and the Sahara, so thrilling] [I''m going to enjoy this again.] [But are there any trees around here? I''ve been watching Old Fang for more than ten minutes now, and there''s not even a hint of a forest!] Bi Fang was walking on grassland; nearly all of Easter Island looked like a prairie, with shrubs here and there and the occasional tall structure, but those were just the giant stone statues. It seemed there was no actual tree cover. [Hold on, Easter Island is over a hundred square kilometers according to Old Fang, pretty huge. Surely it''s not just because of the seaside winds; why are there no trees?] [Is this black soil on the ground? It looks very fertile] "This is one of the mysteries surrounding the construction of the statues," Bi Fang sighed, having foreseen this situation. He crouched down, grabbed a handful of soil. With a tight grip, it displayed excellent moldability, easily forming a ball, and that too, a black one. If a seasoned farmer were here, they''d instantly recognize that this soil was incredibly fertile, downright oily! "At present, higher education has seen little research on special types of soil, with currently three famous black soil regions in the world: the Mississippi River Basin, the black earth near the Dnieper River; China''s Songliao Basin and Sanjiang Plain, two of which are influenced by volcanic activity." "Since research on black soil is not very comprehensive yet, there are many aspects we don''t fully understand. However, existing studies suggest that volcanic activity does promote the formation of black soils, giving them distinctive advantages in terms of material origin and topography. However, we can''t generalize and claim that there''s a necessary connection between the two." "Regardless of whether it''s black soil, we can be certain that the soil here is volcanic. This type of soil is equally fertile. I''ll give you a few examples you''ll understand; do you remember my trip to Aokigahara Forest in Japan?" The audience nodded, remembering that dense forest that, despite being close to urban areas, resembled a primeval forest¡ªthe most baffling aspect being that it was also a frequent site for suicides. "That lush and mysterious vista is known as the ocean of trees, which is how Aokigahara got its name, emerging after the last major volcanic eruption in the 9th century." "Then there are the Hawaiian Islands, home to some of the greenest, most beautiful ecosystems on Earth, yet that pastoral archipelago was formed entirely by volcanic activity." "Easter Island was formed about one million years ago by a volcanic eruption, a result of volcanic sedimentation. Generally speaking, the soil on such islands is very fertile, perfectly suited for plant growth, and typically hosts very dense forests." "In the Pacific, there are several volcanic islands like Easter Island, each without exception having tall trees and lush vegetation." sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Except for, the Resurrection Archipelago." Chapter 760 757: Shipbuilding without Wood The scorching lava flowed down streets and slopes, carrying with it towering pillars of flame and billowing smoke that surged into the sky. The volcanic eruption was a tremendous disaster, destroying homes, cities, and entire civilizations, as the fiery lava swallowed everything it touched in flames. This is the volcano eruption most people imagine, one that arrives with devastation. However, Nature is balanced. Volcanoes are so fierce and destructive, yet for this very reason, they create some of the richest and most lush ecosystems in the world. These ecosystems not only survive but thrive after these violent outbursts from Earth. On the over one hundred square kilometers of Easter Island, there are three massive volcanic craters, the largest being the Rano Kau Crater with a diameter of about 1600 meters, a depth of over 200 meters, and a water depth of over 600 meters, serving as an important source of drinking water for island residents. Yet such a volcanic island is entirely a grassland, without any trees taller than 3 meters. That is also where most of Easter Island''s "mystery" originates. Because anyone who has seen the construction of the Pyramids knows that erecting giant stone statues requires a large amount of timber for transportation and for hoisting stones. However, botanists found only 47 species of herbaceous plants on the island, the rest being shrubs, which clearly were not suitable for transporting statues. So theories such as "alien involvement" came to the forefront. "Of course, that''s the explanation that marketing accounts are most eager to push," Bi Fang shrugged his shoulders. As an adventurer like himself who Wandered Around, so-called alien relics were simply absurd. "The reason there are no trees on Easter Island is entirely due to overexploitation, a prime case study of the struggle between humans and the environment during evolution." "The only difference is that in this case, the native Rapa Nui people¡ªor perhaps we can say humans¡ªwere utterly defeated, not almost, but utterly." [Humans utterly defeated?] [How did they lose, detail it] [Wild guess, deforestation leading to environmental destruction, once it surpassed a certain threshold it couldn''t be restored, resulting in a massive extinction of the island''s population] [I traveled back from an hour in the future, spot on, prophet.] "As for how they were utterly defeated, let''s not rush into that. Look over there." Bi Fang stopped in his tracks, pointing to the distance. After walking for nearly twenty minutes, he finally saw a small patch of woodland in his sight. True to prediction, the trees were short and remarkably uniform. But it didn''t matter, Bi Fang didn''t need to build a large ship; he only needed a single-person raft, and three-meter-tall trees were sufficient for that purpose. Bi Fang took out a series of tools from his backpack and placed them at his feet. There were saws, axes, and even planes, all relatively simple crafting tools, all System-made and quality assured. "I''ll use these tools before officially crossing over to improve the quality of the raft or canoe. Once out at sea, I''ll be going light." [Congratulations, Master Fang is finally using tools.] [Transitioning from the Stone Age to the Iron Age] [It''s over, Master Fang has started using modern tools, I''m officially impressed] [Fast forward to forging nuclear warheads with a hammer] [Little Bullet, Master Craftsmanship!] Easter Island was large, but there weren''t many types of trees on the island¡ªmostly palm trees, and they were all rather short. The few that were somewhat larger still seemed lacking. "For shipbuilding, the lighter and tougher the wood, the better. It should be hard and resistant to decay. Common materials like cedar and pine are good, but often people have to learn to adapt to local conditions." "On many islands, the variety of trees is quite limited, mostly like Easter Island with its many palm trees. Over time, palm trees can also be used for shipbuilding." "For example, in Thailand, many villages still retain the traditional craftsmanship of building canoes from palm trees." S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang wandered around a small grove, trying to select the most suitable trees. They didn''t need to be very long, but they had to be wide enough to accommodate at least one person. He planned to build a canoe first. However, palm trees over three meters tall were rather unimpressive... After looking around, Bi Fang felt that these trees were pitifully small. They weren''t suitable for a canoe; at most, he could chop down a panel and select a suitable section to make a raft. "Let''s wait and see, and look elsewhere." With no other choice, Bi Fang had to give up and check other places on Easter Island. "Ah, the current situation is a consequence of the initial complete defeat." Bi Fang then resumed the previous topic. The audience also perked up their ears. "Easter Island used to be forested, with lush woods." "According to the records in the Rongorongo script of the indigenous Rapa Nui people, the first settlers of Easter Island were a group of people exiled from other islands in the Polynesian Islands. Their boats carried chickens, taro, bananas, and sugar cane. There were seven leaders, and after many days of sailing, they fortuitously discovered this island." "Upon landing, they found it to be a place with densely forested areas, filled with tall palm trees, and the forest teeming with various animals. There are three volcanoes on the island, fortunately all extinct." "This seemingly rich place attracted the seven, but there was one regrettable aspect¡ªthe temperature was a bit low, so the nearby seas didn''t have coral reefs. Without coral reefs, there were no schools of fish settling nearby, and without fish, there was nothing to catch." The inhabitants of the Polynesian Islands were seafarers and didn''t have the conditions to develop agriculture, so they relied on the sea for sustenance. The absence of fish was a fatal issue, but it didn''t matter much because there were other sources of food on Easter Island, namely dolphins and seabirds. "Dolphins usually live in the open sea, which is ''deep'' not in terms of vertical depth, but in its distance from the shore, in offshore waters. Hence, places like Dolphin Bay are actually quite rare." [Dolphin Bay was criticized again] [I heard that the person in charge resigned because of the last incident] [What''s the use of resigning?] [I bet they bowed and apologized.] "Although dolphins are in the open sea, don''t forget that these first settlers of Easter Island were exiled from islands 2000 kilometers away, so sailing skills were their forte. Also, the island had many tall palm trees to build large ships." "Ropes could be made from the fiber of a kind of Tiliaceae shrub on the island, and the fruits of the large palm trees could also be eaten. Every year, the fruits that ripened were too numerous to eat, so they were fermented into wine, and the sap of the trees was sweet, usable as syrup." "After constructing the large ships, they would go out to catch dolphins, and the island''s birds, having never seen humans generation after generation, grew curious and approached when the Rapa Nui people, knives in hand, approached them." "Everything that followed was predictable." Chapter 761 758: The Destruction of an Island Seagulls, owls, parrots, these were all part of the first Easter Islanders'' diet. In addition, there were rats and seals, because this place is extremely close to Antarctica. In short, when they first arrived on the island, the diet of these islanders was a mix of meat and vegetables, mainly dolphin meat, which accounted for one third of their food. The entire societal status was very simple, belonging to the early human development stage of a nomadic hunting and gathering lifestyle. "However, after more than 400 years of worry-free living, when they had cut down much of the forests on the island, they still hadn''t realized the severity of the problem. Instead, they felt that leaving these spaces empty was too wasteful. Once physical desires were satisfied, they believed it was time to start pursuing spiritual wealth." "Thus, the islanders began to use the island''s tuff to carve giant statues. The first seven statues, about 10 meters tall, all faced the sea in unity, symbolizing the seven original leaders." "By then, the population on the island had reached over a thousand, requiring the clearing of more forests, the building of more boats to catch dolphins at sea, and the construction of more houses for people to live in." "And ever since the first seven statues were erected, for the first time a form of faith emerged on the island--those statues. As long as people had the strength, they spent it all on building statues." "The stones needed for the statues were all taken from three extinct volcanoes on the island; tuff, with its soft texture, was somewhat easier to carve." "There were no metals on the island, the best tools for working were made of obsidian, which could be found everywhere here." Bi Fang squatted down, rummaged through the bushes for a while, and pulled out a piece of black rock with serrated edges that reflected a dark light, exceptionally sharp. Surrounding the statues, the island inhabitants were divided into factions, creating statues with different ideologies, and occasionally fighting over food and other resources. The victorious faction would erect more and larger statues, and sometimes they would even topple the statues of the defeated. Toppling the opponent''s statues symbolized absolute victory. The size of the statues kept growing day by day, much like showing off one''s mansions. Yet, that wasn''t the worst of it. The real issue was that the population kept increasing. During the most frenzied period of statue construction, from 1200 to 1500 AD, the population even exceeded 10,000 people. An island of just over 100 square kilometers obviously struggled to sustain such a population under a society reliant on hunting and gathering. To make matters worse--or inevitably--the number of palm trees on the island steadily declined. Palm trees, not being crop plants, grow extremely slowly; taking two years from seed to sprout, and then another 15 years to grow into a tree over 10 meters tall. They were cut down to build boats, houses, transport statues, burn for warmth, and their seeds were consumed by rats. By 1650 AD, when the population peaked at 20,000, not a single palm tree was left on Easter Island. Apart from palm trees, several other tall tree species also disappeared during this period. The consequences were deadly. The dolphin meat, upon which people depended for survival, was gone, as there were no trees left to build new boats for deep sea dolphin hunting. But dolphin meat once made up almost half of the indigenous people''s diet. Most of the island''s bird species went extinct, as without forests, birds wouldn''t nest here, and the remaining land birds were eaten by the islanders. The shellfish and snails, once barely considered food, were quickly and completely harvested. As time went on, the island''s inhabitants could only rely entirely on agriculture; previously only a supplement to foraging, but now tubers, bananas, and sweet potatoes replaced the meat they used to consume. The only stable source of protein was chicken eggs, laid by the descendants of chickens brought by the very first ancestors to land here 1000 years ago. Had chickens not been introduced, after 1500 there might have been no stable protein supply at all. By this time, the islanders were desperately searching for something to eat. The rats that had destroyed the palm trees were eaten up, and the food supply plummeted. Resources are limited! Escape is impossible! Everyone wants to survive! S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The only thing left was the slaughter over limited resources! The daily depletion of food and the constant escalation of war led to the toppling of all the stone statues on the island, whether completed or not. The heads of the statues were knocked off, and the obsidian used to make their eyes was gouged out. As a result, many of the statues on Easter Island now stand with only their high brow bones, their eye sockets empty. Accompanying Bi Fang''s narration was a flat tone laden with despairing darkness. Many people shivered uncontrollably, their skin crawling. "This is kinda... scary." "What kind of hell on Earth is this?" "Is this why humans want to explore the universe?" "Damn, isn''t Earth just a big island? It''s just larger and has a stronger capacity to recover. If humans don''t develop space navigation technology, wouldn''t that be like the inhabitants of Easter Island without palm trees to build ships?" "Another pessimistic day." "I''m still young, I''m only eighteen, why should I have to think about the future of humanity (sob sob)" Before everyone''s eyes seemed to appear a once vibrant paradise that, due to unrestricted exploitation, saw one species after another collapse, until only humans were left on the entire island, slaughtering one another. From around 1500, when the forests began to vanish, until 1722 when the first European set foot on the island, over 200 years of food shortages and war caused the population to plummet from 20,000 to just over 2,000. The islanders were skeletal and gaunt, their social structure completely collapsed. Even cannibalism began to appear in their food pots. When the Dutch arrived at Easter Island in 1722, the guide they brought from Tahiti heard a particularly malicious curse: "The flesh of your mother is still stuck between my teeth!" Bi Fang put the piece of obsidian in his backpack and stood up again. "The people of Easter Island no longer speak of their past splendor. The worship of those statues is history to them. In the later stages of societal collapse, they started to worship something new, called the Birdman." On an ordinary day, many in the audience would have laughed at this term, but now, they couldn''t muster a laugh no matter how hard they tried. "Although the island''s trees weren''t suitable for building large ships, they were more than enough for crafting handicrafts. They carved the figure of the Birdman from a tree called Melaleuca, worshiping the great bird." The collapse of society meant the islanders could no longer recreate the glory of the towering stone statues; they could only satisfy their inner longing by carving palm-sized Birdman statues. "Perhaps their motive for worshiping the Birdman was the hope that one day they could grow wings like a bird and flee this ''island of death''." "By then, their desperation was evident, with many bird-headed human figures carved into the cliffs below the island." Chapter 762 759: There are two trees in front of the door, one is... The rise and fall of Easter Island seem extremely objective to the whole of human society, so objective that it''s almost indifferent. This isolated island became an excellent "experimental field." Before modern times, no outsiders had ever set foot on Easter Island. On this remote island, the sediments at the bottom of the ponds were completely undisturbed¡ªthe topmost layer being the closest to the present day, and the lowest layer being the farthest from it. In the nineties, the latecomers of the technological boom, after exploring and studying the distribution of plant pollen in the sediments at the bottom of the island''s ponds, coolly and clearly saw the entire course of over a thousand years. Before all such evidence, it was like sitting in front of a TV, watching the entire island transform from a lush forest into a sparse grassland. What the islanders ate was equally clear. By analyzing the island''s garbage dumps, designated for waste and skeletons, one could find the most direct evidence. To ascertain that a bone belonged to a dolphin, it wasn''t necessary to find a complete skeleton; sequencing was enough to determine the animal. It was the use of this modern technology that gradually stripped the mysterious island of its mystery, revealing it to be cursed with ill fate. With no metal, the native islanders had to make do with Stone Age tools, so for 1300 years, more advanced agricultural tools, weapons, and boats could not emerge, and expansion beyond the island was out of the question. The blind worship of the moai statues on Easter Island consumed vast resources and accelerated the complete collapse of the island''s social structure. "Perhaps one could say that once a closed ecological system begins to decline due to human consumption, there''s no chance for it to rise again, it just keeps falling, caught in a vicious cycle." Bi Fang stopped walking and looked at the stone statue beside him. "Many anthropologists, sociologists, and environmentalists are now very interested in the history of Easter Island, because they feel it may presage the future of humanity." Is this alarmism? No one knows the answer. From another perspective, if we magnify Easter Island''s area by 1000 times and increase the population by a million times, it would be comparable to Earth. If later observers also viewed it from God''s perspective, if there were intelligent life on ''Earth Island.'' Does its development also depend on critical geographical conditions that are lacking? Aren''t its natural resources limited? Isn''t it also suspended alone in the cosmic ocean? Isn''t there also no exchange of resources with other planets? Then, isn''t its future just an enlarged version of Easter Island? [Terrifying when you think about it!] [My brain can''t handle it, the doctor told me to eat, drink, and not overthink] [Such huge mental pressure isn''t something a primary student like me should bear; let sociologists worry about these things (Dog''s head)] [I''m only going to think about what to eat tonight] [I can''t polish or wax satellites, nor design planets. I can''t maintain and care for the global oceans, repair and reinforce the melting glaciers at the Arctic and Antarctic, nor renovate nuclear warheads. But it''s Thursday, Brother Fu owes me 50, I''ll eat KFC for you] "Yes, let''s leave such problems to anthropologists and sociologists to worry about. I just want to chop down a suitable tree to make a boat, that''s all." Bi Fang smiled. In fact, the disaster that befell the inhabitants of Easter Island was far from over. In 1862, eight pirate ships visited the island, capturing all the natives fit for slavery and boarding them onto ships. They took away a total of one thousand people, which was half the population. All one thousand were men, including the Chieftain himself and his children. None were spared. Moreover, at that time, the smallpox virus was rampant, and like the Indians, the natives here also had no immunity. By 1865, when a French missionary arrived on the island, he counted the population and found less than 500 people remaining on Easter Island. In the following 10 years, many of those who remained moved to Tahiti with the merchant fleets to make a living. By 1877, just 15 years after that massive slave tragedy, the population on the island was counted again, and there were only 111 people left. The population of Easter Island plummeted in this manner: from over 20,000 to over 2,000, to over 1,000, to less than 500, and finally to just 111 people. It was not until April 5, 1888, which was also Easter Sunday, that the government of Chile declared its occupation of Easter Island. What followed was continual immigration, development, and farming, until today, when an Easter Island focused on tourism presents itself before the world. An island separate from the world might not necessarily display the idyllic scenes described in "The Peach Blossom Spring": "a broad expanse of land, neat houses, fertile fields, beautiful ponds, mulberry trees, and bamboo. Paths crossed each other with chickens and dogs being heard from one family to another." More likely, it might repeat the tragedy of Easter Island. "The trees on the island now almost all arrived after the late 20th century when the tourism industry began booming. At most, they might have not been growing for thirty years, so naturally there would be no giant trees." "However, there are some trees that were transported here precisely because they were big enough..." Bi Fang stopped in his tracks, looking at the resort in front of him. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As a well-known tourist destination, Easter Island naturally has numerous luxury hotels. Many of their packages cost thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars, after all, visitors willing to spend tens of thousands on flights wouldn''t care about spending a bit more to enjoy top-notch services. If it were cheaper, this crowd might feel it wasn''t worthwhile. The reason Bi Fang stopped here was that this resort was a bit different. At its entrance stood two big trees, one a palm tree, and the other also a palm tree... Could these two be cut down? Bi Fang was somewhat tempted. Having walked around the island for a bit, it was impossible to find naturally grown large palm trees. One could only look for those which were transplanted mature trees. There was no doubt the two trees at the entrance to the resort had been transplanted. They were quite tall, at least over fifteen meters. Typically, a ten-meter palm tree would need nearly twenty years to grow, and for fifteen meters, one shouldn''t even think about it without an age of thirty years or more. Moreover, given Easter Island''s remoteness, transplanting trees here, not to mention the price of the trees themselves, would mean the transportation costs alone were extremely high, indicating that the resort did quite well. So many short trees on the island, yet only the two towering ones in front of the resort offered a refreshing sight, while also adding a touch of grandeur, much like the Welcoming Guests Pine on Mount Huang. Such fine material! Bi Fang reached out to touch the bark, rough and wide, with shady leaves and a pleasingly vigorous growth, obviously well-cared-for. Recalling what an official in Santiago had assured him, patting his chest, "Want to use the island''s trees to build a boat? No problem, cut down any you want, if it''s on the island, cut them all down, no issue!" People can''t just go back on their word, can they? Chapter 763 760: The Oldest Waterborne Vessel In front of the resort, Bi Fang rotated the axe in his hand, swung it from above, and with the momentum, brought it down. The iron axe easily cleaved through the roots, twisting it left and right, he chopped out a notch. Passersby tourists couldn''t help but stop and whisper among themselves. The tourists didn''t understand what was happening, an Asian youth suddenly ran to the entrance and started chopping down palm trees, having already felled one and was proceeding with the second, due to the axe in the individual''s hand, no one dared to approach and dissuade him, instead, they just silently gathered around to watch from a distance. "Hey, how can you cut down the trees here! They belong to the resort''s property!" Bi Fang straightened up, lowered his axe, and looked back to see a sand motorcycle racing towards him, with an old man with a white beard on it, waving his hands frantically, making it worrying that he might lose control and crash into a wall. "Be careful." Bi Fang gave a kind warning, but before he could stop him. Bang! The onlooking crowd gasped. The sand motorcycle was forcefully stopped by the wall, fortunately, the sand motorcycle wasn''t going too fast, and since both were sturdy, the white-bearded old man shook it off without much trouble, and jumped straight off the bike, showing agility that didn''t quite match his apparent age. "Stop right there, stop, young man, do you know how many years they have grown? These two trees are older than your father, they belong to the resort''s property! I''m going to call the police and have them arrest you!" S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Looking at one of the palm trees that had already fallen to the ground, the white-bearded old man was heartbroken, and he looked at Bi Fang as if he were an enemy. "It''s evident that they are indeed old, but the resort''s manager has already given them to me," Bi Fang took a couple of steps and sat on the fallen palm tree, the axe pointed downward, resting his hands on the handle, he casually remarked. It is somewhat strenuous for one person to chop a tree over fifteen meters tall with only an axe. Chopping the first tree took almost half an hour, and not a single person came out to stop it. Of course, even on Easter Island, there were people who recognized Bi Fang, after all, the tourists here come from all over the world. Once they saw him chopping trees and the drone in the sky, they immediately realized it was a live broadcast. They either asked for an autograph or took a picture with him before leaving, only a few remained to watch the commotion, and naturally, they were not going to step in and prevent it. As for those who didn''t recognize him, they were even less likely to do so. "You''re full of it!" the white-bearded old man obviously didn''t believe it and took out his cell phone intending to contact the town police. There''s a small town on Easter Island called Hanga Roa. Although it''s small in size, it has a complete infrastructure, including officials to maintain public order. "Hosley, Hosley, what are you doing! Come over here!" a man in a suit hurried over and stopped the white-bearded man. "Fils, Fils, didn''t you see, ah this, ah..." The white-bearded old man was astounded, looking at resort manager Fils coming over, not facing the scolding he had imagined but instead Fils grabbed his shoulder and dragged him aside, half pulling and half shoving. In an instant, Hosley understood everything. It turned out the kid was telling the truth! Watching the white-bearded old man walk away as if he had lost his kin, Bi Fang couldn''t help but feel a bit amused. Before cutting, Bi Fang had already communicated with the manager of the vacation resort. He only laid his hands on the trees after getting the consent from the owners of the palms, who were the authorities. Of course, the resort did not give up the trees without expecting something in return. They stipulated that if Bi Fang really succeeded in crossing Nemo Point with the canoe made from the two palm trees and it didn''t sink, then they would reclaim the boat and it would become one of the resort''s attractions. History is made by humans. Even the manager''s boss, the owner of the resort who had never heard of Bi Fang before, knew that building a vessel and crossing Nemo Point with primitive tools were unprecedented feats. Just like the Amundsen, it was an artifact worthy of inclusion in a museum. Bi Fang had no objections and when the time came, he wouldn''t need to deliver the canoe himself; he would simply provide the address to the resort, and they would send someone to fetch it. After a short rest, Bi Fang continued his work. Following the commotion earlier, the onlookers realized that the resort had allowed the cutting of the trees, and it was not an act of vandalism. They became bolder. Upon inquiry, they slowly understood the entire event and couldn''t help but feel excited. The best travel season on Easter Island is from November to March each year. Now in April, although it was a bit late, they had not expected to witness such an interesting adventure firsthand. This was way more interesting than the island''s traditional feather skirt dances! "Tree cutting is somewhat dangerous, of course, but with the right skills and attention to detail, serious consequences can be avoided." "Before cutting a tree, the first thing to clarify is your tool, are you using a knife or a saw? Different tools require slightly different methods. Small trees don''t need much attention, but you must be careful with large trees, if handled carelessly, they can fall and potentially crush someone, which is very dangerous." "Take my current axe, for example. Before you cut, you need to decide which way the tree should fall. If there are trees on the side it''s supposed to fall towards, then it might get hung up, which complicates things. You might need to deal with it a second time." "Or hitting something else isn''t good either. Once you''ve decided the direction it should fall, you can start chopping. The spot should be about 10 to 20 centimeters off the ground. Aim the axe where the tree is supposed to fall. The notch you cut should be aligned with the direction of the fall." "There''s a particular method for chopping: the first swing should be angled downward, the second swing upward, both at the same spot, alternating in this fashion. Doing so creates a notch, prevents the axe from getting stuck in a narrow gap, enhances efficiency, and forms a V-shaped cut. When you''ve cut about two-thirds of the way, stop and switch to the opposite side." Bi Fang switched sides to continue. "Switching sides when chopping ensures your safety, so the tree won''t fall on you, and it generally falls in the direction you intend." "Oh, right, besides axes, there are saws, too." "Unlike axes, saws have a thin blade, so the notch is a very small gap. Here, the technique is different again. First, just like before, decide the direction. The gap you saw should also face the way the tree will fall. How much you saw is crucial. If you saw too little, the direction will be off. Saw too much and your saw is likely to become useless." "With the narrow notch of a saw, if you cut too deep, the tree will lean and pinch the saw, getting it stuck. It''s impossible to pull out, and forcibly trying could cause the blade to break. When that happens, the saw blade can fly out, which is even more dangerous." "So, you typically saw to less than two-thirds depth. This requires experience. If you feel the saw getting tight, hard to pull, or if there is a sense of it getting caught, then you pull it out and change direction..." Bi Fang explained patiently, and once both trees were felled, the main event began. The canoe. One of the oldest means of water transportation for humans. Chapter 764 761: A Tree Makes a Boat In the age when humans had not yet become enlightened, the massive trees in forested areas grew wildly, towering into the clouds. It wasn''t until mountain floods erupted, and the large trees were knocked down and floated on the water, that humans caught in the deluge had no chance of survival, with the rapid currents and the giant boulders rushing downstream, both being lethal reapers. Only an extremely small number of lucky individuals were able to cling to trees in the water, thereby finding a slim chance to escape and crossing the river. Gradually, humans understood that massive trees could allow them to float on the surface of the water. After that, humans derived even more uses; they learned to use trees proactively to cross dangerous rivers, but employing primitive logs was still very risky¡ªthey were slippery, prone to rolling, and one could hardly stand on rolling logs for a long time; they might still encounter attacks from dangerous creatures in the river. Therefore, people learned a simpler method: tying several logs together with ropes to form a small floating area that wouldn''t roll over and was safer. However, such rafts were easily disassembled, and only those with superior skills could master a good enough method of raft-making. It was not until after a long period of river-crossing practice that a clear idea emerged: as long as one section of a log was flattened and hollowed out, it could become a sturdy, durable, and maneuverable vessel¡ªa canoe. "A single log becomes a boat; this is the origin of the development of the canoe." As the second large tree fell, Bi Fang sat on the timber, breathing slightly heavily. Using an axe to chop a massive tree with a diameter over half a meter was still very physically demanding, and just chopping the tree took over an hour. "Some records indicate that during Fuxi''s time, people mainly used rafts, and it was not until the Yellow Emperor''s era that boats appeared. In other words, rafts existed before boats. Of course, whether this statement about which came first is true or false cannot currently be verified." "Canoes have been around for at least about 7,000 years; in 2002, remnants of a canoe were unearthed at the Kuahuqiao Site in Xiaoshan, Zhejiang. The remains were over five meters long and half a meter wide, dating back approximately 8,000 to 7,000 years." Canoe remains are very rare; wooden materials buried in the ground are extremely susceptible to decay and disintegration under the action of microbes. "The original piece was made from a whole section of Masson''s pine, first charred by fire, then crafted using a stone adze. The hull was largely intact and is one of the oldest known canoes in the world." [What is a stone adze?] "A stone adze is a type of polished stone tool, rectangular with a single-edge blade, some of which have part of the upper portion ground off, known as ''shouldered stone adzes.'' Fitted with wooden handles, they could be used for chopping and digging and were a typical tool for making canoes at the time." "This tool was one of the most distinctive production tools in the vast coastal region of eastern Huaxia, including the Hemudu Site and many other sites where it was frequently unearthed. It could be used for the making and production of boats; likewise, it has been discovered in many parts of the world, becoming one of the important pieces of evidence in the discussion of early human oceanic migrations." [Historian Fang, online] [Yet another day spent on academic decadence] [Even though I don''t know what use studying it has, I''ll study it first] [Later, when chatting with friends, I can show off (laugh)] After resting for a while and regaining some strength, Bi Fang stood up, looking at the two large trees lying on the ground. The visual impact of the fallen palm trees was even more striking; these two trees were probably not just over fifteen meters, but even close to twenty meters! S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang once again swung his ax, chopping off the excess branches. "At first, the structure of canoes was extremely simple, generally consisting of obtaining a rotting, trough-shaped log and making some minor adjustments to its interior, or chopping and hollowing out a log to create a trough, then removing the side branches and limbs." "The main tools for making canoes at that time were the stone knife and stone ax. With such rudimentary tools, especially for hollowing out a trough in an entire log, the process was inevitably fraught with difficulty; therefore, the use of fire was essential during the construction of canoes." Having chopped off all the excess branches, Bi Fang dug a pit next to the two trees. The tree was too big, and he couldn''t move it alone, so he had to make the canoe on the spot. The resort manager had no objections to this, instead expressing his welcome. "Creating a canoe isn''t as simple as just using tools to carve out a groove. The wood is hard, and it''s difficult to control one''s own strength while chopping. As a result, it''s quite easy to accidentally cut too far, which would render all previous efforts wasted. If we used small tools to slowly carve away bit by bit, it would take too long." "Moreover, canoes generally emerged in the late Paleolithic period and had not yet entered the Iron Age, so the tools used were essentially stone. Carving wood with stone is incredibly inefficient." "The method used at that time was to spread wet clay over the outside of the entire log, burn the dry wood in the middle of the log into charcoal with fire, and then chip it away with stone tools. In this way, the whole log was chipped away layer by layer from the inside out with stone tools, ultimately crafting a canoe." Bi Fang dug two large pits in the nearby ground with a shovel, filling one with branches and then using a flint to start a fire, making a bonfire stand. The other was filled with water to create a pit, into which he poured soil, mixing it into mud. He also prepared to burn and then carve. "Of course, this is a more common method, but there is another less common one, unique to the indigenous people of Australia." "The method employed by the indigenous Australians is more delicate and imaginative compared to the one I just talked about." "They would first find a thick tree and use a stone knife to chap the bark at the base of the tree in a circular fashion, and then at a higher point on the trunk, the length between the upper and lower cuts depending on the desired length of the canoe. Then they would peel off the bark in whole pieces." "After peeling the bark, they would soak it in water for a few days to allow it to fully swell, then place it in the smoke from a fire to soften it. Once softened, they would fold one end of the bark." "The bark that has been roasted tends to be very elastic, so they would find two small trees growing close together and use them to clamp the folded end of the bark." "To prevent other parts from shrinking due to the folding at one end, and thus reducing the volume, short sticks could be used as support. After a few days, when the shape of the clamped bark had set, they would use a stone knife to drill holes along the edge and lash the front and back ends together with vines. And thus, a canoe was successfully created." "The bark, having soaked up much water, became very heavy. Crafting a canoe often required the combined effort of several adults to be successful." "Of course, I actually couldn''t choose this method. On one hand, I am only one person, and it would be too arduous; on the other hand, it takes too long, whether it''s soaking the bark, setting its shape, or sewing it together. All these steps require a significant time investment." "If you''re not careful and there''s a leak anywhere, then all the previous work would be wasted. The cost is too high; hence, I chose the simplest and most common method of burning." Bi Fang applied the mud to the palm tree. The crowd watched with anticipation. Chapter 765 762: Into the Water The canoe can truly be said to have blossomed all over the world. From Bolivia to Mongolia, from New Zealand to North America, one can find the origins of paddling in many places around the world. Ancient canoes have been found in the Ganges River Basin of India and the Nile River Basin of Ancient Egypt, and on the shores of the Euphrates River in Ancient Babylon, the tomb of an Arabian King was excavated, containing a small silver canoe and an oar, estimated to be six thousand years old. The Indians of North America constructed canoes out of deer skin and birch bark, while the Egyptians used papyrus and the people of Borneo used wood. In New Zealand, a war canoe exhibited by the M¨¡ori was 117 meters long and could carry more than 80 people. In North America, canoes were so prevalent that the locals, with canoes outfitted with outriggers, discovered the Polynesian Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Today, the local populace still widely uses these small boats. Even the Inuit people, living within the Arctic Circle, had their own unique canoes. They assembled a skeletal framework of driftwood and whalebone, covered it with seal skin, and stitched it with gut lines and whale fat. Their canoes were slender and lightweight, and the waterproof cover was designed to protect people from splashing waves, spray, rain, snow, and the cold. The best quality canoes could be used to hunt marine mammals, waterfowl, and caribou and were quite silent in operation. This type of skin boat is called "KAYAK," which means "man''s boat" in Eskimo language. Even in modern times, canoe enthusiasts still make traditional Eskimo canoes, but they no longer use seal skin; instead, they use synthetic fiber cloth. In the Melanesian Islands of the South Pacific, the islanders even have a special coming-of-age ritual; to become a true Melanesian man, every young man in the tribe must sail out to sea alone in a canoe and manually catch a shark. "So, crossing Nemo Point by canoe is not impossible, and one could even say it''s quite hopeful," he said. Bi Fang was holding a torch, roasting a palm tree. He would coat the parts he did not plan to carve away with wet clay, then burn the uncovered parts with fire. Once they charred, he chiseled them away with tools, which made the looser charred layer easy to remove. After repeating the process several times, he could create a relatively ideal shape. Today was the third day, and the first palm tree he was working on was already taking the shape of a canoe. By his side, a crowd had already gathered to watch. There was even an amusing incident amongst them; after cutting down the palm tree on the first day, the manager of the Adventure Resort had invited him to stay, offering the most luxurious suite, which had puzzled him until he saw the managers of several other hotels also come running over. All of them claimed that if Bi Fang would build a canoe at their place, they would present him with a VIP card and free lodging. If he agreed, someone would immediately come over to drag the two trees away. The manager of the Adventure Resort was getting anxious, but fortunately, Bi Fang didn''t accept the offer. Having cut down their palm trees, and then to go build a canoe on someone else''s property didn''t sit well with Bi Fang, so he politely declined. In the evening, Bi Fang grilled meat in front of the campfire, using spices provided complimentary by the resort, and distributed it to everyone as a small campfire party. However, since the island hardly had any game, just a richer variety of fish in the nearby ocean, a good cook can''t work without rice, so the meat was also provided by the resort. It must be said, Easter Island truly deserves its reputation as a tourist destination; no wonder so many people spend a lot of money to fly for days just to come here. Apart from the town, there is no illumination on the island, and since it is deep in the South Pacific, the starry sky is very magnificent: Bi Fang even saw nearly a hundred stars in the Orion Constellation! [Beautiful, my computer''s wallpaper used to be the statues of Easter Island, I never expected the real scene to be even more beautiful] [What a pity I have no money] [+1] "No worries, folks, crowdfund my trip and I''ll travel on your behalf. I''ll send you all a few photos (dog''s head)" Even during the day, Bi Fang wasn''t solely crafting the canoe but also took several rides around on a sand motorbike. There were a few nice sand beaches on the island with white sand, palm trees'' shadows, and the blue sea, where slopes and statues stood silently in the distance. Moreover, because Easter Island is isolated in the South Pacific, it offers extraordinary diving conditions. There is no pollution on the island and there are fewer floating organisms in the sea, so the underwater visibility is incredibly clear, sometimes reaching an astonishing 60 meters. On the fifth day, the first canoe was nearing completion, looking almost completely different from the original tree. Bi Fang crouched down, his fingers lightly running over the hull, feeling for any unevenness. "Palm trees are quite special, their outer shell fibrous layer is very tough, but the material inside is rather loose, so even without resorting to the burning method, a normal metal tool can scrape it clean." "However, roasting it does, on one hand, remove the moisture inside, saving the drying time later, and also makes the hull harder, waterproof, and lighter." "Next, it has to be roasted again to turn the entire hull black; only then will it be considered complete." After confirming the watertightness, Bi Fang lifted the hull and ran to the woods with an axe. He chopped down a tree, cut it into sections, and used them to prop open the canoe to prevent it from deforming during the next tanning process. He then placed palm leaves inside and set them completely alight. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "The amount of fuel needs some experiential judgment; you have to ensure that the palm leaves are entirely burned without igniting the hull and complete the tanning process." The small boat wasn''t too big, its length a bit over four meters but less than five. "Longer boats are harder to maneuver and more prone to capsizing in storms; a length just over four meters is just right." After a brief explanation, the flames quickly extinguished. Now significantly lighter, Bi Fang could drag the canoe by himself, tapping on the hull with his knuckles producing a solid thump. "The sound seems to indicate good quality, but it remains to be seen how it will perform in the water." To truly test the quality of a boat, one must see if it can be launched and how much weight it can carry. Laying down rollers, Bi Fang slowly dragged the canoe toward the beach. Many tourists who had gotten the news dropped what they were doing and came to the shore to see the commotion. Dragging the boat to the shore and looking at the rolling waves, Bi Fang wiped the sweat from his forehead, took a deep breath, and in the tense gaze of the crowd, pushed the hull slowly towards the seawater. The beach deformed under the advancing boat, with sand spreading out to both sides under pressure, leaving behind a long trail. The crowd''s tension mounted, with many involuntarily clenching their fists. "Here it comes, the big moment!" "It''s really big this time!" "It''s in, it''s in!" "It''s that big and went in just like that?" The bow touched the water first, followed by the hull and the stern, and buoyed by the sea, the canoe began to float bit by bit. Bi Fang let out a long breath. All went well. Cheers erupted on the shore. Chapter 766 766: 763 Chapter Appropriate The sky was clear, and a gentle breeze brushed against the face. In front of the white sandy beach, a lone canoe quietly floated on the emerald waves, swaying slightly with the sea, leaving dark trails in the water on either side of its hull. The cheering on the shore was fervent and raucous, as if a grand festival banquet had been convened on the island. [Awesome!] [Society''s Brother Fang, a boat built in five days] [Anyone else?] [Yao Jun: Within a day, I want to see a scale model appear on the club''s goods shelf!] [Sorry, this time I''m buying them all!] Everyone witnessed with their own eyes how this small boat was forged from iron and fire, step by step from a twenty-meter tall palm tree into the vessel that now lay before them. In their daily lives, they had never seen such a feat, and for most tourists on the island, it was an entirely novel sensation. Not only that, but since the arrival of Bi Fang, it seemed the number of tourists on the island had increased. The manager of Adventure Resort, Fils, and Driver Hosley, who specifically drove tourists around Easter Island, would probably be best-placed to comment on this. It was now mid-April, and the tourism season with the most tourists had been over for over half a month, so the number of guests checking in should have been decreasing. Fils had checked the occupancy records for the last couple of days and discovered that the resort''s occupancy rate was actually increasing, not decreasing! Most crucially, these were all additions from the last two days. After asking Driver Hosley, he confirmed that indeed, although April should have been a time when his workload decreased, he hadn''t felt it at all. Instead, every day he was still transporting a large number of tourists around the island for sightseeing. Looking at the surrounding hotels, while their increases weren''t as pronounced as that of Adventure Resort, they had also stopped their declining trend and seemed on the brink of experiencing a reverse youth surge. Fils understood very well the reason behind this abnormal behavior; he increasingly felt that the boss''s decision was profoundly astute. Those two trees at the entrance cost tens of thousands of dollars to transplant. Other than improving the appearance, they seemed useless, but now it appeared he had been shortsighted. What''s that Huaxia saying again? The phoenix seeks the wutong tree, it will come on its own, or something like that. Fils, who often dealt with tourists from all over the world, had a good understanding of the cultures of major countries and felt that his boss was truly wise and powerful. Delightful. On the beach. Bi Fang was barefoot, with his pants rolled up, pushing the canoe into the water, the cool sea submerging him up to his thighs. The water deepened a bit, but the canoe remained stable on the surface, no tilting, no leaks, just like a normal boat except for being a bit blackened and less appealing due to the fire. After verifying that everything was fine, Bi Fang prepared to board the canoe. The form of the canoe varied, slender, wide, or rotund, depending entirely on the needs and the tree from which it was created. Some racing boats, in pursuit of ultimate speed, were shaped like long darts and required exceptional skill to balance while moving at high speeds. But not all canoes are like that, Bi Fang couldn''t possibly construct his boat to be that troublesome, as it would make his month-long cross-ocean journey sheer torture. If a person could maintain a certain level of core strength continuously for a month to keep the boat balanced, then perhaps a question mark should be raised over their human attributes. Bi Fang needed a vessel that could move quickly and provide a resting spot, a normal boat that could advance at high speeds during the day and allow for lying down to sleep at night, without worry over small waves and wind. That''s precisely why Bi Fang needed to choose a sufficiently large palm tree, so the body of the boat was wide enough to avoid easy capsizing while offering adequate safety and buoyancy. Although it still lacked further polishing, it already looked no different from a normal small boat. Almost four meters long and over half a meter wide, in order to navigate properly at sea and prevent water ingress and capsizing, the boat''s ends were highly raised. And to prevent cracking, both ends were made from solid wood without being hollowed out, effectively avoiding the risk of brittleness leading to breakage. Even based on its design alone, it somewhat resembles a downsized Viking ship, aesthetically pleasing while being practical. If constructed normally, one palm tree could be split in half to make two canoes, but the resulting boats would be flat and less capable of dealing with winds and waves. For the current design, Bi Fang had to accept high costs of one boat per tree, fortunately, the result was satisfying. The advantage of a canoe is its integral structure, which is extremely sturdy. "The most convenient launching point for a sea canoe could be at the Aquatic Dock, before entering the boat, make sure to check all the equipment," "First, inspect if the life jacket is properly worn. If using a spray skirt, roll it up first to avoid sitting on it when entering the cockpit, and place the paddle within arm''s reach," "Always remember, when you need to add a person''s weight onto the boat, it must be placed on the centerline of the boat; otherwise, it is easy to capsize," "First press down on the back extension of the cockpit, and keep your feet near the centerline of the cockpit as well. Then lift your body, gradually shifting your weight onto your hands as you lower into the cockpit. The sequence is reversed when exiting. If using a spray skirt, it is most convenient to attach it starting from the back to the front, using both hands simultaneously," "If there is no Aquatic Dock available, look for another suitable launching spot. I chose a smooth, wave-free sandy beach, mainly because it had a gentle current and an adequate depth. Find something to lean on, like a rock on the shore," Given the current quality of the boat, Bi Fang could completely ignore these techniques and just get on the boat directly; the buoyancy of the boat was enough to support some non-standard operations. However, Bi Fang hadn''t forgotten that he was still live broadcasting. Since the first broadcast, Bi Fang always remembered his online persona and never changed. Bi Fang stepped on the sandy shore, keeping the boat next to him, then placed the temporarily made paddle on the gunwale with the other end resting on a shore rock. With one hand pressing down on the stern extension and thumb hooked around the paddle shaft and the other hand firmly pressing on the shore rock, securing the paddle end that rested on it, he created a very stable base. "Be careful not to exert too much pressure on the paddle, as it may break," S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang then perched on the edge of the cockpit, still bearing most of his weight on his feet. With his enhanced sense of balance, Bi Fang had no problem maintaining such a posture in the bobbing sea for a long time; it could even be described as somewhat leisurely. Supporting his weight with one foot and the hand on the shore rock, Bi Fang slowly lifted his other foot into the boat, followed by his entire body. Before settling down completely, he used the shore rock to moderately leverage himself to keep balanced. "The first time you get on a boat, you might not grasp the balance. If there''s a friend nearby, they can hold the boat steady, making it easier to get in," Once inside, Bi Fang lay down in the hull. The seventy centimeters of boat width adequately cradled his body while leaving some space to turn over, avoiding too much constriction, providing a rather pleasant experience. Quite comfortable. Chapter 767 764: The Courage and Wisdom of Humans Rowing a simple paddle around the sea, Bi Fang brought the boat back to shore after inspecting its quality. Then, using a plane, he smoothed out the uneven areas along the boat''s gunwale, cabin, and bottom, immediately transforming the once black hull into a milky white, elevating its aesthetics by more than just one grade. Manager Fils watched with envy. Trading a tree for a high aesthetic value canoe hand-crafted by Legendary Adventurer Bi Fang¡ªthat was indeed a hugely profitable deal. Placed at the entrance of the resort, not even prohibiting touching it, as time would go by and the hull would be covered in patina, its value would rise yet another grade; isn''t that more upscale than a tree? Maybe it wouldn''t just be one canoe. Watching Bi Fang return to the shore to start working on another palm tree, Fils eagerly handed over an opened bottle of mineral water. "Thank you." Bi Fang, who was working enthusiastically, was just feeling thirsty. He took the bottle and guzzled it down. Before he could look for a trash can, Fils had already snatched the bottle away and took care of the trash. Bi Fang: "..." If he didn''t know Fils''s real thoughts, Bi Fang would definitely find him a bit suspicious. The production method of the second canoe was the same as the first: burning first, then planing, but the finished boat''s design was completely different. At least to the viewers, it seemed so. The first canoe had both ends curled up high and appeared quite enormous, while this one was much shorter in height, about half that of the first. [Why did Old Fang make two canoes?] [Yeah, for replacement?] [How do you replace something like this, one fixed and the other one what?] [I know this! Connect the boats with iron chains to enhance the boats'' stability!] [What about Fire Attack at Red Cliffs?] Bi Fang didn''t directly answer, instead, he began talking about something else. "The Pacific Ocean has three major archipelagos. The first is Melanesia, which includes present-day New Guinea, Vanuatu, Fiji, the Solomon Islands, etc.; the second is Micronesia, which includes present-day Mariana Islands, Marshal Islands, Guam, etc.; and the last one is Polynesia." "At least 5000 years ago, ancient humans originating from the southern Huaxia region passed through our Treasure Island around 3000 BC, then came Feral Ice, roughly around 2000 BC, followed by the Indonesian Archipelago, pushing southward, and eventually split into four groups." "One group turned west and took over Madagascar around 300 BC; another moved eastward through New Guinea and settled in Melanesia; a third went north through Melanesia and settled in Micronesia; the last group continued eastward, occupying nearly all the inhabitable islands in the Pacific Ocean, and developed into the Polynesian people." "Among the four branches, the Polynesians embarked on the grandest journey. After briefly resting in Melanesia, they proceeded eastward from Fiji, first taking over Tonga and Samoa in Western Polynesia, and then discovered the Society Islands and Marquesas Islands." "From there, they split into two, with one group using the Marquesas Islands as a base to head north and occupy Hawaii, and another establishing bases in the Pitcairn Islands and Henderson Island, taking over Easter Island, the most remote island in the world. The final group, around 1200 AD, headed south and occupied New Zealand, thus concluding the Polynesians'' 4000-year colonial journey." "This migration was one of the grandest in human history. Thousands of years ago, when maritime technology was still undeveloped, these people of the South Seas managed to navigate tens of thousands of nautical miles and occupy all the livable islands of the Pacific Ocean, the world''s largest ocean." Many of the islands mentioned by Bi Fang, except for Hawaii and Easter Island, which had been heard of, were quite unfamiliar names. Yet this did not prevent the viewers from imagining that grand migration journey. A few tiny canoes drifting across the ocean, just to find a glimpse of survival opportunities. "Given the level of Polynesian technology, they never mastered the construction techniques similar to dragon-spine ships, nor did they invent navigational tools like the compass, sextant, or marine chronometer. With only this simple canoe, they conquered the South Pacific, which is simply unbelievable." "Actually, we have greatly underestimated the human desire for survival, and the courage and wisdom inspired by this desire," "At this moment, if you take out your phone and look at a world map, you''ll find that the islands within the Polynesian Triangle, aside from Hawaii and New Zealand, are practically the size of tiny dots." Bi Fang gestured with his little finger, symbolizing the size of those numerous tiny islands. "With areas so small, the resources available are certainly insufficient to support the development of human societies. So to develop, the people of Polynesia had to set their sights on the ocean." "Due to the limited accumulation of civilization, the only thing Polynesians could offer was a canoe made from a single log." "Ordinary canoes are slow and unstable, hardly capable of facing the raging waves of the South Pacific. At this point, the Polynesians came up with a simple yet explosive invention ¡ª the outrigger technology!" [So all those people in the Pacific are Chinese?] [Wow, our ancestors were so awesome!] [I think Old Fang is more likely trying to get you guys to pay attention to what he mentioned about the outrigger (Dog''s head)] The focus of interest wasn''t quite what Bi Fang imagined, but he didn''t mind and proceeded to explain. "Strictly speaking, we can indeed consider them Chinese, as all of our ancestors come from the same land," Bi Fang said with a smile. "I remember that back in the year 10, there were also 6 Polynesian warriors from the Polynesian South Island Language Group who came back ''to visit relatives''." "Back then, those 6 people sailed in an antique canoe, following the footsteps of their ancestors, from Southern Tahiti in French Polynesia in the South Pacific. They voyaged across the Pacific for 4 months, covering 16,000 nautical miles, and finally docked at the Fuzhou Mawei Passenger Wharf." [Whoa, that''s really awesome?] [Pretty strong!] [So Old Fang wasn''t the first to do this (legendary status decreases)] [No, crossing Nemo Point and crossing the Pacific are two different things... and Old Fang did it without resupply, right?] [Indeed, the two can''t be compared.] "From the islands to Huaxia, this is enough to prove a great fact, that the canoe is indeed capable of crossing the Pacific. It was a convenient mode of maritime transportation in ancient times, and our ancestors were skilled at mastering it." "Back then, canoes could take humans to any island in the Pacific, and it''s no different now, even to Nemo Point." "Ahem, I''ve gone a bit off topic, what I was actually going to introduce was the outrigger canoe." [Please continue (laughing)] Bi Fang peeled off a layer of bark and continued speaking. "Being made from a single tree, the canoes were generally quite slim, fashioned by hollowing out a single tree trunk, which made the vessel watertight and unlikely to fall apart. But a single-hulled vessel would still easily capsize in the waves." "The smart ancestors of Polynesia invented the outrigger, a structure attached to the outside of the hull, thousands of years ago. The method involved setting two wooden beams outside the hull to link the hull to the outriggers, which provided counterbalance and support." "These components were tied together with a highly flexible and durable rubber rope. This improved design of the outrigger canoe, without increasing the size of the vessel, greatly enhanced stability and the ability to resist wind and waves." "I am building two canoes to realize this structure and further evolve it into a simple, freely movable platform. For this reason, our second canoe will have a different shape." By the ninth day, the second canoe was shaped. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was only upon seeing the completely different shape of the second vessel that everyone understood the extent of the so-called changes. Chapter 768 765 Setting Out to Sea The Anakena Beach on the northern part of Easter Island is the most enchanting spot on the whole island. Aside from a row of majestic "Moai" stone giants, there is a white sand beach that forms a semicircular embrace, both long and wide, with lush green palm forests along the shore. When you climb to the highest point of the island, reaching the summit of Terevaka Mountain at an altitude of 507 meters, you can gaze far away and take in all the small and large volcanoes and surrounding stone statues, with the vast Pacific Ocean blending seamlessly into the blue sky. Not far from the mountain is the famous "Seven Samurai" stone giant viewpoint. Every evening, people walk here to watch the sunset, its glow reddening half the sky, and the huge stone statues cast eternal silhouettes. In April, autumn sets in, and there''s a chill in the air by nightfall, but this doesn''t at all deter people from flocking to Anakena Beach to witness, and even take part in, the beginning of yet another legendary adventure. "The two boats are different!" "I still prefer the first one." "I think the second one looks cooler, kind of like an aircraft carrier without the island!" "What''s an island?" "It''s that tower sticking up from the runway." "Now that you mention it, it does seem quite similar!" The beach was packed with spectators, pointing and discussing the second canoe. Unlike the first canoe, which resembled a Viking ship with its pointed ends and uniform symmetry, the second canoe was flat and elongated, with only the bow lifted and the stern resembling the end of a pencil. It did indeed look like an aircraft carrier without the island. The most crucial aspect was that the interior of the boat wasn''t very deep, and compared to the first, its capacity was much smaller. Beneath the setting sun, Bi Fang stood shirtless, wearing only a pair of broad shorts. His arm muscles bulged slightly as he stood diagonally, inching the canoe from the shore into the sea, step by step. While most tourists were wrapped in coats, Bi Fang felt no cold at all. His body was faintly sweating, reflecting a subtle glow in the sunset light, almost golden and shimmering as if he had applied oil, making him look even more robust. Many people on the shore even whistled, a sight that gave off a strong sense of a powerful physique at just a glance. Little by little, the hull entered the water, and without any surprise, it successfully floated on the surface, even more stable than the first. This time Bi Fang didn''t fuss too much; he directly got onboard, standing on the hull and stomping down, causing the sea water to ripple out in circles along both sides of the boat. After confirming the buoyancy, Bi Fang shifted his weight to the other side and plunged down hard. The whole boat instantly tilted towards the other side, sinking below the waterline, as a large amount of sea water rushed into the hull in an instant. Exclamations arose from the shore. But in the next second, everyone was stunned, as the canoe didn''t sink after being submerged by the water. Instead, it continued to float on the surface! "What''s going on?" "It didn''t sink?" "How can it not sink after it''s been flooded?" The crowd murmured among themselves, some puzzled by what they were witnessing. Only a few people understood what was happening. This was a floating log! "I see! No wonder the cabin is so shallow and the bottom so thick." "What''s the deal? Spill the details." "To put it simply, it''s more like a log than a ship. If the bottom were dug any deeper, it would sink as soon as it took on water." Many had a sudden realization. However, their guesses weren''t entirely accurate. Standing on the ship, Bi Fang maintained his balance, always managing to keep his upper body above water. Seeing the audience a bit confused, he explained. "Whether it sinks or not mainly depends on the density of the hull. Most of the wood used to make ships is of high quality and density, which ensures a certain level of hardness. Thus, they sink immediately when water gets in. The same would happen with the first canoe." "Because the density of the palm tree''s outer fibers is also high. But as I''ve said, its interior is different. The internal structure is quite loose, so you can easily hollow it out with metal tools. I used fire to speed up the process and incidentally remove moisture." "After removing some of the outer shell and leaving a sufficient amount of less dense inner layers, the entire ship''s density falls below that of seawater. This means it won''t sink even if it takes on water." "It''s more of a lifesaving device than a ship, a floating log that can drift on the sea. I''ve merely hollowed out a bit of the hull to make it look like a ship." "Storms are common at sea, and I must always be prepared for the canoe to capsize. After all, exploration isn''t about going to die for nothing. Also, only then it can serve as an external strut for the canoe. Otherwise, linking two ships together wouldn''t create a strut, nor would it ensure the stability of the canoe." As an external strut, it must be ensured not to sink easily; otherwise, it won''t serve its stabilizing role. Imagine the aircraft carrier being submerged during a torrential downpour. Naturally, the Viking as the main body wouldn''t be spared either, and it might even be dragged off course due to the sinking of the aircraft carrier. [Death comes from within] [Bullfrog, Bullfrog] [That''s really intricate, truly intricate] Bi Fang stepped on Canoe No. 2, with seawater reaching his calves, then pressed down forcefully again, and the canoe sank further until his thighs hit the bottom and pushed back. Right then, Bi Fang jumped, repeating the action several times. Driven by inertia, the canoe leapt out of the water. Seizing the opportunity, Bi Fang stepped sideways on the gunwale, shaking the seawater out of the boat, significantly increasing its buoyancy, and once again, it floated on the water''s surface. The onlookers on the shore cheered, unable to refrain from applauding. [That move was cool!] [Master Fang, teach me how to show off!] [Sparrow Rate] [How about Old Fang giving the two ships names? It''ll be easier to distinguish them that way.] [Crowdfunding for ship names] "Ship names, huh?" Bi Fang pondered a moment, deeming that Sparrow should have done so. Yet, he had no intention of letting the many netizens showcase their talent. He decided then and there, "Let''s call the first one the Viking, and the second the Aircraft Carrier!" [What a shame for my abundant talents.] Ignoring the unreasonable demands of the online friends, Bi Fang directly pulled the Viking into the water as well. Once the two ships were side by side, he laid the timber he had brought between them. The external strut is a log used to assist balance with supports on both sides. The Aircraft Carrier served the role of the floating log; at that moment, Bi Fang needed to use a strut to join them together. "The external strut is the inspiration behind modern shipbuilding for catamarans and trimarans. The greatest advantage of this method is that it increases the ship''s stability and resistance to wind and waves as much as possible without enlarging the ship''s size." "Even on the basis of the outrigger system, Polynesian people also equipped their canoes with triangular sails, which made their sailing speed superb." "Captain Cook, yes, that''s the same one I mentioned before, the second explorer from Central Country to land on the island, once described when he discovered the Polynesian people, ''Their small boats are far superior to ours in terms of speed and maneuverability.''" S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "This is also my goal for the remaining five days, aside from making some tools, to equip the boat with a sail. Then my little boat''s speed will increase another notch, otherwise relying solely on my rowing, with the already scarce resources near Nemo Point, I might exhaust myself to death." The Polynesian people, in their quest to discover and conquer new islands, modded their canoes until they were unrecognizable to their mothers. From a simple flat-bottomed boat, they evolved directly to one capable of long-distance sailing. Without involving more complex manufacturing techniques, they used skill to create a canoe capable of crossing the great ocean. "Now located on the nations of the Melanesian Islands, these ancient outrigger canoes are still widely used by the common folk, serving as the primary mode of transportation for local fishermen to go out to sea." "And such a structure can also effectively increase carrying capacity. I mentioned before about the Pacific Ocean''s Melanesian Islands, where there is a tribe that has a terrifying rite of passage: only after catching a shark with their bare hands will the Melanesian youth be recognized and respected by the tribe." "After capturing the shark, they then tie the trophies onto the outrigger and bring them back to the tribe." Bi Fang pulled out some ropes made of tree bark and began to secure the outriggers. To ensure a better fixation, he used three logs directly, and a lot of rope. The ropes were made from fine quality, tough tree bark twisted into fibers, which were then spun into thin strands. The thin strands were twisted further, repeatedly, the finer it got, the more secure it became. Bi Fang twisted it four times, as thick as a finger, so secure it was incredible¡ªunless cut with a knife, external force would hardly break it. After teaching another method of rope fixation, Bi Fang tied the three logs securely and completely connected the two canoes together. Standing on the edge of the Viking, compared to before where it might tilt, now it barely even rocked, astoundingly stable. Once a triangular sail is installed later on, it would be completely formed. As for the sailcloth, there was no need to worry, as Bi Fang had swiped a huge white sailcloth from a mall before the journey, more than enough for use. Such an item needed to be woven, which wasn''t impossible to do, but was an extremely time-consuming task; preparation was entirely impossible before the journey had started. Presumably, the System gave a glimmer of hope by lowering the difficulty level. If it came down to it, he could also look around the island for cloth that could be used¡ªeven if it were in pieces, sewing them together would suffice. The following five days were not at all relaxed for Bi Fang; he needed to make enough tools. Obsidian weapons, containers for fresh water, fishhooks, and fishing lines¡ªall these were necessary, along with sufficient food and water. Food had to be caught at sea by himself, then smoked and dried for preservation, otherwise, it could easily spoil and mold at sea. After confirming the boat was securely fixed and could sail normally, with sufficient performance, Bi Fang pulled it back to the shore to avoid being washed away by the waves at night. It was not yet completely dark, and the surrounding onlookers quickly raised their cameras, capturing everything they saw. The next day, photos of the Viking connected to the aircraft carrier appeared on major websites, and many social networks were abuzz with the news. [Two boats? Is this the beginning? Can''t wait] [It looks surprisingly good, didn''t expect Master Fang to have a talent for carpentry] [There is nothing in the universe that Master Fang can''t do!] [Can he give birth to a child?] [Pure Reinforcement] [Can anyone actually believe this is real? Do you know what he''s doing after each stream ends? Eating the boxed meals from the production team and then performing for you guys, his mouth all greasy¡ªdoes anyone really buy this?] [Indeed, even the photographers have revealed the truth. Only you brain-dead fans believe him, fooling the gullible.] [Little haters, showing your true colors, aren''t you?] [Let''s go, people in Huaxia, I''m already prepared to stay up late to watch this.] [For students, this timing is extremely unfriendly!] Bi Fang had long amassed a fanbase of over a hundred million across the world, and each of his actions always drew a massive audience to watch the spectacle. From the moment he announced this project, such a scenario was inevitable, and it couldn''t be changed. Every time the live stream ended, the internet buzzed for days on end, and even numerous news outlets would post updates online. The edited videos from B Island would see their view counts soar to unbelievable heights within just a few days, dominating the charts for at least a week before the fervor began to die down. These were the kind of terrifying figures that many celebrities could only envy, where they didn''t need to buy their way into the trending searches, and numerous media outlets even took the initiative to cover them. Last time, the gray whale rescue occurred in the early-to-mid phases of the mission, leaving Bi Fang with little time to surf the internet. By the time sixty days had passed, the online buzz about that incident had mostly faded, overshadowed by the legend of surviving a hundred days. After such surges in popularity, a new batch of fans always followed. There were those who were jealous, those who admired, those who revered, those who slandered, and those who boasted. The discussions sparked by the fans didn''t affect Bi Fang''s state of mind at that moment. Time was tight, and the tasks were heavy. He had much to do. Day Twelve. The sail assembly was completed and secured simply; the rigging ropes were arranged so that, should a storm arise, they could be stowed in the shortest time possible. The Viking had accumulated numerous tools, filling up all the space except for the sleeping area. Five obsidian tools polished to a sharp edge gleamed coldly in the sunlight, each tied-off at the end with rope. In addition, there were several short spears, a dozen coconuts, a few fishhooks, a pile of fishing lines, some wooden containers, and two freshwater collection devices. The freshwater collection devices operated on the same principle as the one he made during his first sea drift, using distillation to obtain freshwater directly from the sea, but with ample tools on hand, the devices looked exquisitely crafted and worked with better efficiency. Ropes were bound profusely to the three logs securing the Viking to the carrier; this served not only for ready replacement but also to increase friction, making it easier to walk across. Bi Fang had added three wooden planks between these three logs, creating a simple platform that expanded his living space and facilitated more operations. Near Easter Island, there are currents teeming with fish, a resource far richer than the vicinity of Nemo Point. Bi Fang''s task for today was to head out to sea and gather as much food as possible. Otherwise, once he reached Nemo Point, he might face a week without encountering any fish at all. Many tourists who had learned of Bi Fang''s activities for the day had risen early and stood atop the mountain, watching as Bi Fang pulled the two canoes into the ocean and then headed out to sea. Chapter 769 766 Capturing the Shark ``` The drone filmed from high above. The vast sunrise ascended from the sea, illuminating the entire ocean with a glittering shine, as if sprinkled with crushed diamonds. The temperature in the air gradually rose, and a growing heat dispelled the cold brought by the night, a rush of warmth surged within his chest. Bi Fang put down his oar to rest, flexing his wrists. He took off his clothes, wrapped them in a piece of cut canvas, then added another layer of clean, washed plastic film he had picked up on the island, and stuffed them into the hollow part beneath the bow of the Viking, to prevent them from getting wet. The weather in the Southern Hemisphere in April or even May was just like this, much like September to October in the Northern Hemisphere¡ªhot during the day and slightly chilly at night. By now he had already traveled some distance from Easter Island; looking back, he could only see a vague speck. Bi Fang stood up from the Viking, moved onto the platform connected to the aircraft carrier, opened the shellfish he had collected on Easter Island in the last few days, and scraped off the tender white flesh with an obsidian dagger, eating some as breakfast to replenish his strength. He then scooped out a small fish from the bark box beside him. The two fish were still alive and in quite good condition, frisking about in his hands, but in the next second, they were swiftly beheaded by a pair of large hands. Their guts were squeezed out through the severed ends and cast into the ocean. A strong stench of blood diffused into the air, and two clouds of blood burst into the azure sea, gradually spreading toward the distance with the ocean currents, diluting over time. The fish bodies were crushed into mere pulp by a stone, and thrown back into the sea, leaving only two fish heads remaining. Bi Fang tied one of the fish heads onto a spear with a thin line, and hung the other on a fishhook, dangling it from the bow. He then rinsed the blood off his hands with seawater, picked up the spear, and another strangely-shaped "tool". The reason it was considered strange-looking was that it resembled a rattle. Many halved coconut shells were strung together on a thick plant rhizome. In the past few days, Bi Fang had had the most interaction with palm trees, and many viewers had noticed that this might be the thickest central rootstalk from the palm leaves. The rootstalk, formed into a circle with coconut shells strung on it, was called a "coconut drum". "This thing is called a coconut drum," Bi Fang shook the "rattle", the coconut shells colliding to produce a dense and dull noise, and then submerged it into the sea, shaking it continuously. "Striking the surface of the water with a drum made from coconut shells can simulate the sound of a seabird thrashing about and flapping its wings after falling into the sea. Sharks are extremely sensitive to such low-frequency sounds and can sense these irregular noises from hundreds of meters away, convincing them that potential prey is nearby." [Emmm, why attract sharks, it isn''t what I''m thinking, right?] [It''s exactly what you''re thinking.] [Apart from that, I can''t think of any other reason.] [What exactly is it then?] S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Is he really going to catch sharks?] [Didn''t Old Fang say last time that shark meat doesn''t taste good, because they don''t have a urinary system and urinate through their skin, giving all the meat a urine smell?] "That''s right, although shark meat isn''t tasty and can even be somewhat toxic, sharks are the unequivocal choice if you want to catch enough prey in a short period," he confirmed. The majority of sharks weigh at least a hundred pounds. If handled properly, they could provide food for three to four weeks with no problem. A hundred pounds is a conservative estimate; it is very common to find sharks weighing a hundred kilograms, making it very possible to accumulate enough food resources with just one catch. Compared to other fish of the same size, sharks undeniably have the widest distribution and are the easiest to attract. Their extremely strong ability to capture prey is also the fatal factor that leads them onto the hook. As for whether it tastes good or not, for survival, that is definitely the last factor to be considered. Of course, after luring them in, the question of whether you can actually defeat them without any weapons is another matter. He was indeed going to catch sharks! ``` ``` The audience was taken aback; they thought that this time, Bi Fang''s journey to sea was just a simple fishing trip to gather enough food resources for the voyage. They never imagined that Bi Fang''s target would actually be sharks! [This move, it''s slick!] [Is this the fearless warrior?] [The jungle hero starts his jungle runs again today] [Charge!] Shaking the rattle in his hand, Bi Fang''s eyes were tightly fixed on the movements beneath the water. "This technique was actually created by the Melanesians, which is the tribe I mentioned before that catches sharks as a rite of passage," Bi Fang explained. "The Melanesians are a large group that includes the Solomon Islanders, Vanuatu Islanders, Fijians, and the tribal people of Papua New Guinea, all falling under this category." "They have naturally dark skin, curly hair, broad faces, and wide noses, worship totems, and are superstitious and feudal; their society is primarily tribal and clan-based, at a stage of disintegration of the primitive communal system, so Melanesians are often mistaken for Africans." "Thus, in Greek, Melanesia is also called the Island of Black People." "But that place is far more fearsome than Africa, lying deep within the South Pacific, where life is closely intertwined with nature. The diet of the locals mainly comes from the sea, and they''re born ocean hunters. Even sharks, the sovereigns of the sea, are part of their diet." The wisdom and courage of humans are admirable. Any race that has lived in a certain area for thousands of years will inevitably devise some incredible survival methods. The Polar Regions, Primeval Forest, desert, ocean, Inuit people, Amazonians, Berbers, Melanesians all do this. Each type of terrain can spur local humans into developing extreme survival capabilities, and sometimes even cause some form of mutation. The eyesight of the Maasai People, the lung capacity of the Sherpa people, the enlarged spleens of the Bajau people... Survival. As Bi Fang encountered more and more dangerous situations and witnessed more and more desperate places, this word gained more and more weight in his heart. The so-called survival isn''t just about enduring hunger, nor is it simply about eating some horrifying things relying on one''s physical constitution. Not all survival necessarily involves confrontation, relying on powerful combat skills to hunt fierce beasts and plunder resources. Fierce beasts will eventually all be killed, there will also be times when one falters, and resources will one day be depleted. Only by integrating, melding, experiencing, and adapting to the environment can one learn the true path to survival. The rattle slapped the water''s surface, causing white froth to arise. The water here is almost unpolluted; were it not for the reflections, one might even see several tens of meters beneath the water. Imagining the sharks'' attack, many viewers in the live stream couldn''t help but hold their breath. All around was silent; nothing could be heard but the splashing of coconut shells mixed with seawater. No one knew when the shark fins would appear next. ``` Chapter 770 767: Failure? On the ocean''s surface, Bi Fang continued to slap the water, but despite all the shaking, no sharks approached. [Ah, is this thing really useful?] [Are you doubting Old Fang''s abilities?] [Normal, catching fish isn''t something you can do just by using a method. It also depends on luck.] [Indeed, you can tell you''ve never fished before. You need patience for this kind of thing.] A quarter of an hour later, Bi Fang had caught two more small fish, crushed them, and threw them into the sea. Shaking the coconut drum indeed could attract the sharks from the sea, but just as the Shuiyou said, like fishing, it required a bit of luck. Life wasn''t guaranteed to give results just because you had the right method. Using a fish head as bait once again, Bi Fang''s hands never stopped moving. There were still no large figures in the sea. Instead, the scent of blood attracted a lot of small fish, and through good visibility, he could see every detail of their shapes. But Bi Fang wasn''t interested in them. Catching these small fish was a waste of time and effort compared to catching a big one at once. Finally, after half an hour of baiting and slapping, a shadow that was significantly larger than the other fish swam by and swallowed the fish head Bi Fang had just thrown out. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [It''s here, it''s here!] [It''s a shark!] [The shark is here, holy shit, it''s huge. Can we catch it?] Bi Fang lay flat, his eyes fixated on the shadow that had suddenly appeared. He was somewhat excited. "It''s a Pacific Rat Shark!" [What kind of shark is a rat shark?] [Stop fussing.] [Our Wolf Fang live streaming platform has a partnership with Qian-Du, and everyone can use it for free to search for information.] [Show off much.] "For those who aren''t familiar with sharks, including myself when I first encountered animal classification documents, the name rat shark is no doubt quite unfamiliar." "However, the species we have before us now is very renowned and could arguably be considered one of the most famous sharks, a name I believe no one is unaware of." [Great White Shark, I bet 50 cents! It has to be it!] [We have Director Spielberg to thank for this.] "That''s right, the Great White Shark. The one we have before us is a Pacific Rat Shark, with ''Pacific'' as its prefix. It''s one of the top predators of the Pacific, ferocious and fierce, resembling a smaller version of the Great White Shark in overall shape with massive killing power. Although it rarely attacks humans, it still poses a potential threat." In order to avoid the reflection of sunlight on the water''s surface, Bi Fang lay on the platform, his face almost touching the sea. Many viewers were worried the shark might suddenly leap out and take a bite. But that was a common scene only in horror movies. Although rarely employed, in the water, Bi Fang too had a certain capability of electroreception in sharks, making it impossible for a shark to launch a sneak attack. "The largest individual Pacific Rat Shark can grow up to 220 kilograms, no less formidable than the Great White Shark. This one here is not small. I estimate it weighs at least a hundred kilograms. If we can catch it, we''ll be able to take the boat back today." Shark meat contains certain toxins, mainly trimethylamine N-oxide, which can affect the human nervous system. This substance can be dissipated by exposure to the sun or by fermentation, but this requires time. It would be much easier to deal with this on shore than on a boat. Unfortunately, the rat shark before him was quite vigilant and showed no interest in approaching the boat despite eating several fish heads. However, to a big fellow weighing over a hundred kilograms, a few fish heads were just like something to pick teeth with. The sound of prey on the water''s surface was undeniably tempting for it. Seabirds might not be large, but they are delicious and plump, and difficult to catch, relying on luck and being a rare treat that sharks find hard to refuse. Bi Fang felt the time was ripe and placed the spear with the fish head into the water, where the fishy smell gradually spread. The Mouse Shark had already been attracted by the fish head, steadily approaching Bi Fang''s direction. It was a temptation it couldn''t resist, yet as it got near, it seemed to perceive something and turned away, once again distancing itself from the small boat. The viewers were itching with anticipation as the plot''s ups and downs tormented them. Bi Fang didn''t have many options in the sea, as he certainly couldn''t outswim a shark; he could only wait patiently. The small boat drifted upon the ocean while the blood from the fish head lured the shark closer to the trap with the help of the currents. After some time of hesitation, the shark finally couldn''t resist the temptation and took the bait. The Mouse Shark swam near the surface by the small boat, intending to feast on the piece of fish. In the moment it drew close to the vessel, Bi Fang fiercely swung his arm, casting a shadow. A lasso suddenly tightened around the Mouse Shark''s head! Initially, the Mouse Shark didn''t realize the problem, but once it was bounded by the rope, it immediately sensed something was wrong and struggled to break free, underestimating Bi Fang''s strength! Bi Fang crouched on the boat, pressing firmly against the hull. His agile arms bulged with clearly defined muscles, and his boundless strength traveled down the rope to the depths of the ocean, creating surges of white foam as the shark flailed. Bi Fang took quick breaths, and oxygen rapidly spread to his whole body through his bloodstream, energizing all his cells. The muscles around his waist flexed visibly, and his entire body tensed like a fully drawn bow. Under this concentrated effort, he actually managed to pull the shark out of the water! This was a shark that weighed nearly a hundred kilograms! The audience was shocked; a hundred kilograms would be difficult to lift even if it were lifeless, let alone a struggling shark. In this way, even if the shark was the overlord of the sea, once completely out of the water, it could only be slaughtered at will. [Master Fang! My male god!] [That strength, show me more!] [What kind of freak was that before?] [The cunning Zero!] [To be honest, I thought Master Fang was about to stab it to death with the spear] [Me too] But a shark is still a shark, almost the mightiest beast in the ocean. This particular Mouse Shark wasn''t large compared to its kin, and its weight also fell short of the anticipated hundred kilograms, by probably just over ninety. If rated on the shark family tree, this shark would still be considered a teenager, but its strength was definitely stronger than a grown human''s¡ªmuch stronger! Anyone who has fished knows that in water, a big fish weighing over a dozen kilograms can grapple with an adult, let alone a shark weighing more than ninety kilograms. It was already Bi Fang''s limit to be able to hoist it up even partially. After several rounds of deadlock, the shark used its powerful strength to break free, and Bi Fang had to let go, allowing the shark to return to the water. Did he fail? The audience felt disappointed; it was not that Bi Fang never slipped up, but such occasions were rare, and seeing one was quite disheartening. "Do you think I''ve failed?" The audience was taken aback. Wasn''t he? "I certainly haven''t failed." Bi Fang moved his somewhat sore wrists; just a few rounds of grappling had almost exhausted him. He stretched out his hand, pointing towards the sea. Only then did everyone notice a piece of driftwood left on the sea surface, spinning rapidly. Chapter 771 768 Victory Did the shark break free? It did not. Above the sea, the small boat bobbed with the waves. Facing such an explanation, the audience was puzzled, but following the direction of Bi Fang''s index finger, everyone saw a piece of wood. It was a log, about a dozen centimeters thick, bobbing up and down and spinning non-stop, like a fishing float that had taken a bite. Bi Fang returned to Viking, reinforcing the rope tied to the bow for the second time. As he did this, the audience noticed that there was a line connected to the floating log, with the other end tied to the protruding bow. With the bobbing log in mind, everyone suddenly understood. Even though the mouse shark had returned to the sea, the rope that Bi Fang initially looped around it had not been shaken off! Furthermore, because of the way the knot was tied, the more the shark struggled, the tighter the constraint became. "Many people must have thought the moment they saw me tie the fish head to the spear that I would immediately take action and attack with the spear, but that wasn''t the case," Bi Fang said, raising the spear in his hand¡ªthe fish head that had been on it was long gone. Had he not retracted it quickly, the spear might have been bitten off. "Using a spear, unless it kills with one strike, the shark will definitely escape. With our speed and ability, we could never catch up, and we don''t have the time to do so." Bi Fang didn''t need to waste a lot of energy on this one shark; there were others to catch. Engaging in a chase could last for days and nights. The situation in ''The Old Man and the Sea'' was quite realistic. By that time, not only might Bi Fang unwittingly have drifted far from the island, but he could also possibly have delayed the time to set out to sea. Since throwing a spear made it more likely for the mouse shark to escape, it was natural to switch to another method, using a lasso, much like cowboys capturing prey with ropes. This trick also worked on sharks. "So compared to spearing, which had a higher chance of failure, using a rope lasso was more secure. Of course, because it required close contact with the shark, it demanded higher skills and was riskier, but the benefits it brought were equally significant." "A piece of wood tied to the rope, the buoyancy of the wood would prevent the shark from diving to deeper waters. As long as it couldn''t break free from the lasso, it would be forced to fight against buoyancy forever. Maybe it could dive temporarily, but a shark''s energy is not infinite." "As a result, the shark could only wander near the surface of the sea. Since the other end of the rope was tied to the boat, it meant that the shark not only couldn''t dive but also couldn''t flee into the distance, completely falling into the hunter''s trap, unable to extricate itself." Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "For sharks that need to keep moving to obtain oxygen, being lassoed has already sealed their fate." [Master Fang is already a mature broadcaster; you should learn to make it clearer for the audience who knows nothing.] [Don''t hesitate to make it clearer.] "Don''t rush, I''m about to explain," Bi Fang said. Bi Fang stood on one foot at the bow, elbow propped on his knee, watching the rope stretch taut, constantly changing direction. "Sharks don''t have swim bladders and their body density is greater than water, so most of them must keep moving to stay within a certain water layer, or they will sink to the bottom." "Only a few species, like the nurse shark, can stay at the bottom to live, and the Pacific rat shark is not one of these." "Moreover, sharks breathe differently from other fish. Their biological structure dictates that they must swim fast at all times. Or rather, their evolutionary path demands them to swim swiftly, which is easy to understand since being a qualified predator requires it." "This evolutionary result is that a shark''s gills are covered with gill filaments, which are feather-like, and each filament has lamellae, called gill slits." "The blood vessels in the lamellae can absorb oxygen. From water that only contains 1% oxygen, sharks can extract up to 80% of the oxygen, allowing them unmatched speed in the ocean." "But this structure prevents the shark from sucking in seawater through its mouth and can only ''collide'' with the water to get it into its mouth, before relying on the blood vessels on the gills to absorb the oxygen from the water, with the excess water being expelled through the gill slits." "If the shark stops moving, or swims too slowly, water can''t filter through its gills, and the shark will suffocate from lack of oxygen." "It''s for these reasons, many experienced masters in dealing with sharks commonly use a rope snare, waiting for it to exhaust itself from lack of oxygen, before it ends up as meat on the chopping board." Using a spear, no matter what, you''re always at a spear''s distance away, but to tie a shark with a rope, that requires using your hands, and one careless move could get you bitten. Therefore, using a rope snare is often a trick reserved for the veterans. What, you ask about the novices? Sorry, novices don''t have hands. Bi Fang stood up, at this moment the driftwood on the surface of the sea was still bobbing, the rope connected to the bow was taut, and the immense force could even drag the small boat forward. The sky was somewhat gloomy, as if it was going to rain. But Bi Fang wasn''t nervous; although the skies had darkened above him, the air wasn''t stuffy, and there was no howling wind. The darkness was also quite limited, indicating that the layer of rain was thin and it wouldn''t be a heavy downpour. More than twenty minutes later, even Bi Fang marveled at the stamina of the mouse shark, when the rope at the bow finally slackened, only to quickly become taut again. If people weren''t watching closely, they might even think it was an illusion. [Damn, it''s slackening, it''s really slackening] [Grandma''s, I''ve been watching for almost half an hour, finally it''s giving in] [This shark is ridiculously enduring] [That''s normal, bro you haven''t gone deep-sea fishing off a boat, half an hour is nothing, I bet if it weren''t for suffocating speeding up the energy drain, it could last for hours, towing your boat around] "This shark is close to suffocating." Bi Fang knew the main act was here, in the next five minutes, the frequency of the slack in the rope increased. Even with the oxygen running low, the mouse shark was still trying to fight back, but Bi Fang wasn''t going to let that happen. At the sixth minute, he grabbed the rope and started to pull the shark in. This time the mouse shark no longer had the strength to resist, and the resistance felt by Bi Fang on the rope was easily half what it had been at the start! After another ten minutes of tugging, the shark was finally dragged out of the sea surface, breaking free from the water. The mmouse shark struggled more violently, but Bi Fang wouldn''t give it another chance now, picking up a stick lying nearby he delivered a heavy blow to its head. A dull thud, heavy and powerful, knocked all sense out of the shark, allowing Bi Fang to pull it easily onto the boat, never again to escape the hunter''s grasp. In this struggle between man and shark in the ocean, it was still Bi Fang who came out victorious in the end. The sky began to drizzle, and the calm sea surface rippled with countless tiny circles. Sitting on the edge of the boat, Bi Fang lifted his head to gaze at the somber sky. This was his first rain since he had come to Easter Island. Looking at the huge catch on the deck of the carrier, Bi Fang entered the Viking and after rummaging around, pulled out a large conch and blew into it as a horn. Above the desolate sea, the sound of the conch was crystalline and far-reaching. Chapter 772 769: Canoe Surfing the Great Sea The sky was drizzling, and the shoreline was bustling with people. Although they couldn''t join Bi Fang on his venture to the ocean, the island wasn''t isolated from the world, and the tourists had learned about Bi Fang''s movements through the live broadcast, waiting at the shore early on. When the familiar silhouette of the boat appeared on the horizon, a ripple of excitement stirred the air. "He''s back, he''s back, my God, his muscles look incredible!" "Did you see that? It''s a huge shark, at least a hundred kilograms!" "Nonsense, I say it''s at least two hundred kilograms!" "Two hundred kilograms? I can''t help you with that! You must be almost blind; go get your eyes checked!" On the ocean, Bi Fang was sailing the wind, slowly approaching Anakena Beach on Easter Island. As the boat touched sand, Bi Fang leaped onto the beach, pulling the bow and dragging the boat ashore before picking up a thick hemp rope from the ground, wrapping it over his shoulder, his feet sinking into the sand, his muscles tensing as the heavy boat gradually left the water. The Beast Tooth Necklace naturally hung down his broad chest, the various teeth clinking crisply against each other, making them sound more like some precious stones rather than bones. Rainwater gathered atop his muscles, trickling down along their contours. The tourists on the shore whispered among themselves but dared not approach, afraid to disturb the scene before them. The closer they got, the more profound their amazement became. The over two-meter-long shark was hanging upside down from the mast, its blood mingling with the rainwater, its mouth full of sharp teeth agape, wordlessly conveying something. The robust man hauled the rope, his rain-washed muscles interlocking like steel cables, his waist and abdomen muscles undulating as though the shark was breathing, his movements dragging the boat, the Beast Tooth Necklace tinkling around his neck. He was the very image of a mythical Hunting God! "Click." The flash lit up amid the rain, Bi Fang looked up, and a red-haired woman put down her camera, her face slightly flushed as she spoke, "I suppose you wouldn''t mind, no one could resist capturing this." "Then, please make me look handsome," Bi Fang said with a smile, turning back to look at the boat he had pulled ashore, letting go of the long rope and shouting to the crowd, "Hosley, did you bring the stuff?" "Here it comes." An old man with a white beard wormed his way out of the crowd, and the audience recognized him at once as the man who had spoken out when Bi Fang was checking out the palm trees. It was unclear how the two had become acquainted, but now Hosley pushed a large scale out from the crowd, joining Bi Fang in placing the shark on it to be weighed. "Ninety-seven kilograms!" Hosley''s white beard trembled with excitement as he shouted to the crowd, "A big one!" A roar of excitement rose from the crowd. "Incredible." "So cool!" "Let''s take a picture together!" [Envious, I want a picture too] [How on earth does Old Fang train his muscles? I don''t believe a human can develop muscles with such aesthetic beauty; even sculptures can''t match it] The presence of the Platinum Body was overpoweringly effective. The effect presented was even superior to Greek sculptures, more harmonious. After mingling with the crowd, Bi Fang brought the shark back to the resort, where he processed the entire shark in his cabin, skinning and deboning it. An extremely strong and peculiar "odor" spread throughout the room, making Hosley, who had come over to help, frown: "My God, this is so stinky, even worse than my uncle''s smelly shoes, making me feel like I''m standing in a toilet." Bi Fang held a sharp knife in his hand, skillfully peeled back the shark skin, then cut off the shark meat, and handed a rolling pin-like stick to him: "Crush all the meat into mince." "Mince?" "Yes, that way it''s easier for some of its peculiar smell and toxins to evaporate." With that said, Bi Fang had already taken up the stick and started pounding the shark meat, and Hosley couldn''t tell if it was his imagination, but with every hit, the unpleasant odor in the air seemed to intensify. Was it truly evaporating? Hosley was puzzled but did not stop his hands, following suit and pounding away. Soon, the house filled with the dull thudding sounds, creating a scene somewhat reminiscent of hand-beaten meatballs. The next day, the sun rose once again. Bi Fang laid out a layer of palm leaves on the ground and then arranged the long strips of pressed shark meat in a row, exposing them to the blazing sun to further remove any strange smells and toxins. The shark meat had undergone a simple curing process and a night of pressing to shape, so its form was now mostly set. After entrusting Hosley to watch over it to prevent dogs on the island from snatching it away, Bi Fang set out to sea to catch fish again. Before noon, he returned with another small shark weighing forty kilograms and several big fish weighing around a dozen kilograms each. All the shark was made into mince and dried into shark strips under the sun, while the big fish were smoked directly over the fire. By noon of the fourteenth day, the sun-dried shark meat, after being pressed, had become tough and firm, and it already had barely any strange odor when smelled. Bi Fang smoked it over the fire to completely remove any remaining moisture. Both sun-drying and smoking were excellent methods to extend storage time. To prevent moisture, Bi Fang had also gathered a lot of rubbish on the island¡ªmostly plastic film¡ªto neatly stack the shark meat strips, then seal them and stow them inside Viking. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Nearly two hundred kilograms of meat, after removing skins, heads, and bones and undergoing a simple dehydration treatment, had its weight reduced by half. But these one hundred kilograms of meat, akin to compressed biscuits, were more than enough to last a month. Bi Fang didn''t wait for the fifteenth day but decided to set off early. Dragging a cloth bag to the shore, Bi Fang neatly stacked all the meat and tucked it into the front and rear of Viking, covering it with a layer of planks. Inside the live broadcast room, the audience had already reached over six million early on and was still growing. The crowd of tourists on the shore had reached a peak, with nearly all the nearby hotels fully booked. These exaggerated numbers all gathered at Anakena Beach, presenting a magnificent sight. The weather was fair and sunny, and the noon sunlight warmed the skin as Bi Fang took a long breath in front of the camera. The familiar words slowly unfolded. "Looking back at the course of human evolution, if our ancestors hadn''t ventured and imagined, hadn''t had the courage to innovate and the bravery to sacrifice, humans would not have used canoes to surf the seas, to explore the infinite mysteries across the ocean." The usual opening was so familiar that almost everyone could recite the next line, but just when people thought they knew what was coming, Bi Fang took a turn. "I''ve always said that, probably ten times now, but I never thought that one day I would become the person in the opening speech." Bi Fang broke into a smile, then returned to his point. "Humans are curious, giving rise to the impulse for adventure; humans adventure, igniting the torch of civilization." "Adventure lies not only in the oceans and mountains, the deserts and swamps of nature, but also in the densely populated cities." "I am Bi Fang, a professional outdoor explorer." "Today, I''ll take you to surf the seas in a canoe! To traverse the most extreme uninhabited regions of the world!" Chapter 773 770 Sails The heavy hull dragged across the beach, with the wooden planks and gravel emitting a faint frictional noise, shattering into tiny granules of sand. The white froth lapped the shore, coming into contact with the whitewood hull, moisturizing it to a dark gray. As the resistance grew lighter, Bi Fang mustered all his strength and finally pushed the canoe into the open sea. The two connected boats floated on the surface of the water, parting the oncoming waves, as the sea flowed through the gaps of the connecting platforms. Seagulls soared along the skyline, and the waves glistened. Above the mast, the thin ropes fluttered in the wind, twisting like wild snakes. Today was a rare day with a strong wind. As an island, it wouldn''t normally have temperature differences large enough to produce sea breezes, but Easter Island was so vast that the vast sea wind charged from thousands of kilometers of open sea toward the land, majestically. For a canoe equipped with sails, it wasn''t suitable to go to sea, but the sail Bi Fang used was the Latin triangular sail; as a professional survival expert, he was meant to sail against the wind with a triangular sail! "Are you ready?" The audience responded enthusiastically, familiar opening lines already enlivening the entire venue; without further ado, a barrage of messages flooded the live stream. [Ready!] [Yes, Captain Bi Fang.] [Too quiet, how can you run a battleship with such a soft voice?] Everyone looked at Bi Fang with anticipation. Tourists on the beach stood on tiptoes, holding up their cellphones to record. The audience sent gifts and barrages of messages. Just as everyone thought the show was about to begin, Bi Fang suddenly broke into a grin, "Who lives in a big pineapple under the sea?" Everyone was taken aback, not understanding why Bi Fang suddenly blurted out such a line. But those who reacted quickly immediately responded with messages. [SpongeBob SquarePants!] [No, it''s Captain Bi Fang!] [Dirty~~~] [Too many elements] [The next line is ''rectangular and yellow, flexible and pliable!''] The sudden bantering eased the tense atmosphere, adding a touch of relaxation and pleasure. "Rectangular and yellow, flexible and pliable!" [SpongeBob SquarePants!] S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "If adventure is what you wish." [SpongeBob SquarePants!] Bi Fang, stepping on the seawater, jumped onto the platform and struck the hull with a wooden stick, creating a distinctive ''bong bong'' sound, like some unique prelude. "Then knock on the deck to clear the way for the big fish!" The canoe bobbed with the waves, Bi Fang extended his right arm, wrapping the hemp rope around it several times, and from top to bottom, pulled diagonally with force. The hemp rope and the wooden pole rubbed violently, producing an intense whipping noise. "Wha-la!" The pure white sailcloth was hoisted, and the fierce wind instantly billowed the large sail. Bi Fang, holding the ropes, jumped onto the Viking, adjusted the sail''s direction, and the entire triangular sail sliced through the wind like a blade. The sudden weight made the aircraft carrier sink sharply, and then, supported by the Viking and buoyancy, it sprang up violently, bringing up a lot of seawater. Smoothly contoured arms pulled the tactile halyards, and the cool seawater splashed on the bare chest, exhilarating and carefree. The triangular sail, full at the front and slack at the back, like an airplane''s wing, created a huge lift on the canoe, cutting through the water and accelerating forward. "Charge!" "Keep on going!" "Easter Island will record this moment!" Onshore, people were shouting, cheering, and screaming; the voices were loud but stretched and faded into the distance. The canoe''s speed increased, the cheers from behind grew fainter, and when Bi Fang turned back to look, they were barely noticeable. Bi Fang laughed heartily, constantly adjusting the sails, using the direction of the ropes on the mast to confirm the wind direction, always keeping the sailboat in the position where the lift or thrust was greatest. This was also the most challenging part for the skill of the driver. [Charge!] [I''ve watched sailing championships before, and they were damn impressive. I''ve always had a dream, which is to sail across lakes and oceans. However, I never had the chance. Watching this live stream is like fulfilling that dream indirectly (crying)] [By the way, why can it move forward against the wind...] [To the one above, you obviously didn''t do well in physics, clearly, this is basic knowledge of quantum mechanics] [I''m not highly educated, don''t try to fool me] [15 centimeters not including the head gifted to the host for a yacht*1¡ªMaster Fang is too cool!] [Bearded Baby Bottle gifted to the host Big Bone*66¡ªDamn these chest muscles, damn these biceps, damn these shark gills, absolutely licking] "This is very simple." After stabilizing, Bi Fang fixed the halyard to the mast and took a moment to glance at the barrage, "There are broadly two types of forces that the sails can utilize: direct and tangential wind." "The direct wind is easy to understand, it''s about capturing the force of the wind striking the back of the sail directly and pushing the boat forward. This is Newton''s action and reaction force." "When sailing downwind, the sails are in a ''billowed'' shape, which is the best working condition. The larger the sail area, the greater the wind thrust, hence square sails, including square rigs and Latin triangular sails, are very suitable for downwind cruising." "The principle behind it is simple; Newton''s third law concerning action and reaction." "Wind coming from the side that reflects off the back of the sail also produces thrust. No matter the angle of incidence, as long as it is from behind, it can provide a certain thrust. This is the generated tangential force that pulls the boat forward, and anyone who has studied force analysis should know this." "However, utilizing headwinds is more complicated, it involves the Coanda effect force and the Bernoulli effect force." [Sorry, I only finished elementary school, what are those two things?] [Lucky I studied fluid dynamics in college, otherwise I really wouldn''t understand (Dog''s head)] [Physics master ¡¤ Fang, online] [Teacher Fang''s class is starting kids, if you''re not good at physics, you probably don''t watch enough live streams, a beating will fix it] "According to the Coanda effect, when a gas or liquid enters tangentially to a surface, it will follow a convex surface. The laminar flow along a curved surface will continue to adhere to the same surface." "This deviation from a straight flow will produce a force on the sail along the curved surface, resulting in a force perpendicular to the sail. This force is mainly utilized in modern wing sails." After securing the halyard, Bi Fang sat inside the Viking. "Based on the Bernoulli principle, when the wind blows tangentially across both sides of the sail, the airflow on the front side passing over a curved surface then recombines with the airflow on the back side, creating a chord stream flowing backwards, which means the quick airflow on the front side of the convex surface reduces its internal pressure relative to the other side." "Bernoulli''s principle is a part of fluid mechanics, generally only covered in university specialized courses. So, it might be unfamiliar to most, but its applications are well-known. That is, the pressure difference creates a ''lift'' perpendicular to the sail¡ªsimilar to how airplane wings work." [I know this, I learned it in middle school physics (covering face)] [Finally, something familiar] [So it''s basically saying we can fly against the wind, right?] "It''s not that exaggerated. Basically, you can with side or headwinds to an extent, but directly into a headwind theoretically isn''t possible. Though complete headwinds are also rare in actual navigation." Chapter 774 771 Nemo There are many ways to reach a destination; it''s not always a matter of one or the other. There are no landforms between Easter Island and Nemo Point, just a wide expanse of ocean, but this doesn''t mean Bi Fang has to sail in a straight line. The purpose of sails is to harness various types of wind to gain a useful forward thrust. When sailing with the wind or a side wind, one only needs to adjust the sail''s direction to obtain the useful forward thrust. When encountering a side contrary wind with a small angle, it''s also possible to adjust the direction of sail to convert the side and rearward wind into side and forward force, advancing in a zigzagging course. [Indeed] [So, we''re actually not heading in the direction of Nemo Point right now?] S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Clearly, that''s the case] [It''s time to zigzag!] "Zigzagging into the wind is not exclusive to triangular or square sails; ancient and medieval square-rigged sails, as well as modern square-rigged sails, can sail under side contrary winds, though the angles are more limited." "By contrast, square sails, being hung on just one side, allow for greater adjustments to the wind direction, thus enabling sailing at greater angles." "When the side contrary wind is at such a large angle that the direct wind no longer suffices, one must consider using the tangential wind''s pulling force." "According to the Bernoulli effect, square-rigged sails, fore-and-aft sails, diagonal yard sails, and triangular sails can achieve greater pulling force, whereas square-rigged sails have almost no Bernoulli effect force." "However, the tangential pulling force is not strong compared to the forward force, and it also causes significant damage to the sails, so it is a reserved ability, only used in extreme situations." "When Lord with the Imperial Surname recaptured the Taiwan Strait, the Dutch ship Maria, a diagonal yard sail ship, set sail against the monsoon, and by the time it reached Batavia, the sails were basically ruined." "Joseph Needham once summarized the sailing angles of various sails; within 45 degrees, the ability to sail is basically dependent on side contrary winds, and headwinds, theoretically, are impossible to sail against with sails." Modern yacht racing is essentially a competition of extreme technical complexity. To achieve ultimate speed, competitors need a comprehensive understanding and control over the wind, ensuring their sails get the maximum thrust, and they also need good physical strength to handle the sails over the course of the lengthy races. [I previously thought sailing boats were just stylish, without realizing there''s so much to it] [Master Fang knows so much more.] [Who is Joseph Needham, and who is Lord with the Imperial Surname?] [Joseph Needham is a scientist from Central Country, his ''Needham''s Question'' along with ''Ben''s Question'' are among the core topics in the field of Huaxia studies] [It''s understandable not to know Joseph Needham, but not knowing Lord with the Imperial Surname is a bit ignorant] Triangular sails are more advantageous for sailing against the wind for two main reasons: First, as a type of square sail, triangular sails are asymmetric on both sides, which means they are subjected to twice the directional force compared to square sails, allowing them to sail at angles suitable for fore-and-aft sails, hence having a larger sailing range than square sails. Additionally, they can utilize the tangential wind, which naturally makes them the most suitable sail type for sailing against the wind among traditional sails. This is also why Bi Fang had triangular sails installed. "However, by the end of the Middle Ages and in modern times, Arab triangular sailboats like the Beck carried the Barbary Pirates in conquests far and wide, marking the last glory of the Latin sail, and with the advancement of European shipbuilding and gunnery technology, it declined with the fall of the Barbary Pirates at the end of the modern era." "By the 19th century, the Indian Ocean was dominated by diagonal yard sails." "By the 20th century, Arab tycoons began a flamboyant retro movement, holding dhow sporting events to preserve the heritage." With plenty of food and two desalination devices constantly distilling water, it was Bi Fang''s first time being so well-prepared for an adventure. He didn''t quite know what to do and could only give his viewers a simple introduction to the history of sailing. [I guess you haven''t fought such a well-supplied battle before, huh? (laughs)] Bi Fang laughed and pointed at the fluttering lines on the sail. "If you don''t have a wind direction indicator at the top of your mast, then tie some old cassette tape, videotape, or twine around the shroud¡ªthe rope that raises the mast. They will tell you where the wind is blowing." "However, some sailors have found tape to be too sensitive to the wind and therefore not quite suitable. If you encounter the same issue, you could try using videotape or twine." "Of course, you can also directly feel the wind direction, learn to judge the wind direction with your ears." "All you have to do is let the wind blow on your back, then slowly turn your head left and right until you feel ''balanced'' in both ears. Once you''ve found that point, you''ll know the wind direction. With this method, you don''t need your eyes to track the wind." [No wonder, I was wondering why Old Fang tied ropes on the bow. I thought it was some kind of marker.] [Another fine detail.] [Bullfrog, bullfrog!] "For centuries, the ocean has deeply attracted sailors and explorers." "In the poem ''Sea Fever,'' John Masefield said he needed ''a tall ship and a star to steer her by'' to feel the fullness of life." "But entering the world of sailing is undoubtedly challenging, with its many intricacies. In the past, an experienced sailor was an extremely valuable strategic resource." Bi Fang threaded the fishhook with a small fish and cast it into the sea. Taking advantage of not yet fully entering the South Pacific Gyre, with plenty of fish nearby, he could still enjoy the fun of fishing. Otherwise, in a couple of days, he might not have this experience anymore. Evening. Bi Fang reeled in his fishing line. Having sailed for nearly six hours, all Bi Fang could do during this time was to adjust the sail direction and check if there were any fish biting. Luckily, as it was the first day of sailing, the number of viewers in the live stream remained above six million, with peak figures even surpassing ten million. The wind on the sea had died down a lot, and the vast ocean looked utterly still, involuntarily reminding people of the destination of this voyage. The feeling was strange; despite both being sea voyages, this one seemed lonelier than the Atlantic trip, with an ineffable eeriness. [Speaking of which, why is it called Nemo Point? Is it named after its discoverer?] [It always reminds me of the clownfish from Finding Nemo.] "The origin of the name Nemo Point is quite profound. Many people might first think of the clownfish from ''Finding Nemo'' when they see ''Nemo,'' but that''s obviously not the case." "But those who have read ''Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea'' will never forget the steadfast and daring Captain Nemo, and Nemo Point is named in homage to Captain Nemo." "More aptly, in Latin, ''Nemo'' means ''no one,'' and for such a solitary location, it undoubtedly is a very fitting name." Chapter 775 772 Direction Night fell, stars trailing across the plains. The sea surface twinkled with light, the sound of water reverberating. Bi Fang lifted the wooden plank, unfolded the palm leaves, and opened the canvas bag, where pieces of shark meat patties were neatly arranged. He picked up one, its rich smoky aroma wafting through the air, occasionally intermingled with traces of fishiness. Ground into a pulp, then salted and spiced, sun-dried, and finally smoked¡ªsometimes even fried on one side. After such a complex process, ordinary people might no longer detect the distinctive smell of shark meat, but to Bi Fang''s nose, it was still there, only mostly masked by the smoky scent. It tasted nothing like shark meat; the predominating flavors were those of salt and smoke. It wasn''t unpleasant to eat, quite similar to an ordinary meat patty. However, to remove toxins and the smell of urine, such complex preparation naturally led to a loss of many nutrients. Bi Fang mixed it with the fish he caught earlier that day to eat, which made for a rather satisfying meal. "That''s all for today''s live stream. Although nothing much happened, the real challenge is yet to come; I need to stay alert." After dinner and a casual chat on the live stream, Bi Fang turned off the broadcast and lay down inside the Viking, gazing up at the starry sky. The boat''s body swayed unpredictably. The hull of the Viking was deep, so deep that lying inside and looking out, one could only see a vast expanse of stars. Although narrow, the confined space surprisingly offered a sense of security. Bi Fang rested the back of his head on his arms, with a hint of fatigue, he drifted into sleep. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The next day. The fishing line was taut as Bi Fang stood at the bow, wrestling with a large fish in the sea, sweat pouring down his temples, leaving white salty trails. The whole boat was being towed by the fish, its outline blurred under the scattered shadows of the sun, making it impossible to see what kind of fish it was. Half an hour later, unable to hold on any longer, the line snapped with a crack, and the large fish disappeared without a trace. Bi Fang slumped on the deck, panting heavily, lifted the lid of the water collection device, and downed a wooden cup of water, exhaling deeply afterwards. He stretched out his hands, covered with cracked skin and a slight numb pain, almost rubbed raw by the mighty fish. "Darn, I felt so close!" "What a pity." "I bet it was at least a Bluefin Spearfish!" "Master Fang, what kind of fish was that? Tell us!" Bi Fang shook his head, "I don''t know either. It was under the water the whole time, and the weather today was so good that the water surface was all glimmering. I couldn''t see what fish it was. It might as well have been a Blue Marlin, haha." Having sailed for a day and still encountering such a large fish was quite rare. However, Bi Fang wasn''t too disappointed, as he wasn''t fishing for food. If he caught some, great, but if not, he wouldn''t starve. "There are fewer and fewer birds in the sky." Bi Fang sat up and looked up at the sky. During the previous day, seabirds could often be seen over the sea, but now he couldn''t see any. This indicated that the direction of the canoe was correct: they were moving away from islands and landmasses. "Speaking of birds, there is a rather interesting matter concerning how Polynesian People sought islands in the vast Pacific Ocean." "For ocean voyaging, a ship alone was not enough; Polynesian People also had to resolve the issue of navigation. Although they didn''t have compasses or marine chronometers, people back then had learned to use the stars for guidance. If they couldn''t align their heading during the day, they could do it at night. However, they couldn''t predict the future; they had no way of knowing where islands or lands were." [Without Master Fang mentioning it, I wouldn''t have even been aware of this problem.] [So, it was determined by the birds?] [What does it mean to connect with the context, haha.] "That''s right, their method of finding islands was more innovative ¡ª they followed the birds!" "Polynesian People noticed that most seabirds need to nest on islands, and even when they go out to forage, they do not travel too far from the islands." "At dusk, birds always fly towards a particular direction. If you follow them, you could easily discover islands." [I bow to the wisdom of these ancients!] [That''s so clever.] [But speaking of, they use the stars to navigate at night, so what do they do during the day? If they go astray, do they just keep going wrong?] "It''s not quite like that." Bi Fang, pointing to the sun overhead, said, "If you are sensitive enough to the height of the sun, you can actually make a rough determination of direction, or you could set up a stick and observe the length of the shadow it casts. But this requires great skill on the individual''s part." "Although it will change with the seasons, the pattern of the sun''s altitude changes is constant. As long as you record the month and understand the expected altitude changes of the sun for that month." [Is that something people can actually do?] The audience was somewhat skeptical. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west, and it reaches its highest point at noon. That much was indisputable. Therefore, by comparing with the position from yesterday, you naturally could also figure out the approximate time now. But such a comparison was admittedly challenging. However, for Bi Fang, this wasn''t the case; his Memory Forest allowed him to virtually hold a photo of the sun''s highest point from yesterday and compare it with today, reducing the error margin to even within half an hour. "With the time determined, it''s easier to deduce the direction. For example, you could draw a chart, mark the time on it, and that''s the simplest sundial method for direction¡ªlook at the angle the hour hand makes with 12 o''clock, take half of that number, and it should be the approximate position of the sun." "Once you''ve grasped this concept, say it''s 8 o''clock in the morning, you lift your watch and align the 10 o''clock direction towards the sun, then the 12 o''clock direction is roughly south. I''ve actually explained this more than once." "In addition, there is wind direction. Sometimes the sea has seasonal winds, I''ve talked about this too. Then there are ocean currents; the direction of the water flow is regular, usually flowing from a high-pressure area to a low-pressure area. If you can approximately determine your location, you could deduce the direction based on the ocean current." "However, whether it''s wind direction or ocean current, both require extensive geographical knowledge and are a bit more difficult to master. I don''t recommend them as the primary methods. Moreover, currents in the South Pacific are not very useful. Remember what I said before? There is a big gyre here, and within this current vortex, it is completely still." "Wind direction, on the other hand, is easy to determine. The surface wind field in the South Pacific is very stable. I won''t say much, but at low altitudes, it''s generally the southeast trade winds in April." "If you can''t use any of the above methods, then see if there''s a piece of thin wire around, and prepare a bowl of water. This is the ultimate simple method, but since it''s on the ocean, the sway is quite significant, so the success rate and accuracy depend a lot on the timing." Bi Fang rummaged around Inside the Viking for a while and finally found a paperclip. Before setting out, Bi Fang had purposely collected some seemingly useless "junk" on Easter Island, for such an occasion. Chapter 776 773: The Sea of Deathly Silence On the platform connecting the Viking to the aircraft carrier, Bi Fang scooped up a bowl of seawater with the wooden bowl he had just emptied of water and tore off a palm leaf that had been wrapping a shark meat patty. He waited a moment until the ripples in the bowl had subsided. Bi Fang took a small piece of paperclip, rubbed it vigorously against his hair, and after a while, he placed it on the palm leaf, gently setting it into the bowl. Seconds later, everyone could clearly see the leaf in the water start to turn! After swaying side to side for a while, it eventually stopped in a certain direction. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Whoa, that''s epic, it''s a compass] [Magnetized by rubbing on the scalp, then floating it on water, it points to the Earth''s magnetic field] [Amazing, it sounds simple, but it''s not easy to think of] The whole process wasn''t complicated, and the audience understood it at a glance. "Yes, the principle is similar to a compass. As for which side points south and which north, it''s easy to tell by looking at the sun." "However, although this trick is simple and foolproof, it has significant limitations. First, it must be as steady as possible, then there can''t be too much wind, so it''s rarely used at sea. It''s more useful in dense forests, where you can find a puddle or something else. It doesn''t have to be a fine wire, any long piece of iron will do." Day three. Asuka had completely disappeared from the sky, and Bi Fang put away his fishing rod, which was empty. "It seems we''ve fully entered the current, and our speed is still quite fast." With a straight-line distance of about 2,800 kilometers, Bi Fang estimated it would take within twenty days to arrive, which meant covering 140 kilometers a day. Taking into account the wind direction and errors, it might even reach 160 or 180 kilometers. At first glance, it might seem doable at seven or eight kilometers per hour, but that calculation would have to exclude sleeping hours and various other unexpected events. The task was still quite challenging. Day five. Bi Fang languished under the canvas, continuously scorched for several days, his skin turning red and even starting to peel. Now he tried to stay covered with the canvas as much as possible. Thanks to the preparations done in advance, the materials and even the garbage on Easter Island could be utilized, greatly reducing the difficulty of the task. Bi Fang even started to wonder if the System had made a mistake, as the current situation did not seem worthy of a T4 rating at all! Since food and water were largely abundant, there was hardly any basic incentive to act. But Dugu truly felt it. Even surviving a hundred days in the Arctic did not strike him as intensely as the current experience. Deafening silence. An absolute silence. There was no sign of any life at all. In the ocean, no fish could be seen, and the sky was devoid of any birds, with nothing around but the endless ocean. Fortunately, he had the company of the audience to alleviate his boredom. Day six. Bi Fang, after hoisting the triangular sail and moving forward for several hours, stopped at noon to rest and take a glance at the number of viewers in the live stream. The number had dropped again, now down to just over three million. If other broadcasters knew what Bi Fang was thinking at that moment, they would definitely want to hit him. As he chatted idly, Bi Fang felt he couldn''t continue like this. He stood up from the boat, lifted the canvas, and this action immediately caught the attention of the viewers. [What''s happening, what''s happening? Is there some sort of issue?] [What could it be? I can tell this place is deserted, nothing ever happens here] [Indeed, this live stream feels so boring, no sense of adventure at all] [Just being able to see Master Fang is bliss, watching him pull the tackle and handle the sail, hehehe] [What a fangirl] "I''m preparing to dive and take a look, to see if there really is no sign of life near Nemo Point." Bi Fang found a piece of hemp rope and tied it around his waist. On hearing this, the somewhat dormant live stream room finally buzzed with activity. [Front row seats] [Are things finally starting to get moving?] [Speaking of which, why is the weather here so quiet, not even a storm?] "I once dived at Easter Island, and I believe everyone was deeply impressed by the water quality there." Bi Fang finished tying the rope, approached the side of the boat and looked out, the visibility was still very high. [Indeed, I''ve never seen such clean ocean water] [The water where we are is the color of muddy water, so ugly. I always thought blue water didn''t actually exist] [The pollution must be severe, right?] "Not necessarily," Bi Fang, reading the comments, denied this claim, "Many non-professionals love to attribute all environmental issues to pollution. The main reason for this isn''t pollution, but rather the comprehensive effect of complex hydrological factors." "I won''t explain in detail how this works, the most important thing now is to take a look underwater." "Since the birth of the primordial ocean, the desolate and lifeless Earth got a new face, especially after the appearance of primitive life in the sea, Earth became a bright pearl in the universe." "It is no exaggeration to say, without water there would be no life. It is just that there are always some special places, which cannot be called deserted, but in terms of biodiversity are far less rich compared to other parts of Earth." "The South Pacific, due to the presence of currents and lack of islands, almost no organic matter flows in, presenting a desolate scene." "I wonder if anyone remembers me mentioning the Sargasso Sea before, the situation there is similar, even though it''s much smaller than the South Pacific." [I remember, that time in the Atlantic] [Isn''t the Sargasso Sea in the Atlantic?] "So-called water transparency is measured by submerging a white disk with a diameter of 30 centimeters in water where sunlight cannot directly reach, lowering it vertically until it can no longer be seen." "The Sargasso Sea, near the Bermuda Islands in the North Atlantic, is recognized as the clearest sea in the world, with a transparency reaching 66.5 meters, and in some areas, up to 72 meters. On clear days, if photographic film is placed at depths exceeding 1000 meters, it can still be exposed. This is something other seas cannot hope to match." "Though not to the same extent as that, the transparency of the South Pacific is also at least over fifty meters, hence it gives a completely different impression." Having said that, Bi Fang adjusted his breathing and then jumped into the sea. The drone captured the scene from above, a white splash formed next to the Viking. The live stream automatically switched to a first-person viewpoint. As the screenful of silver bubbles dissipated, an ocean world so clear it was hard to describe unfolded before everyone''s eyes. Today was still a sunny day, which enhanced the transparent quality to its utmost, and everyone''s first impression was one of beauty. But after waiting for a moment, everyone felt an indescribable strangeness. Silence. It was too silent. During the live stream, Bi Fang''s voice served as a distraction, but once immersed in the ocean and switching to the first-person view, the sense of desolate isolation intensified. A cold chill, like a venomous snake, seemed to crawl up everyone''s back. When Bi Fang looked down into the abyss, that same snake seemed to explode its scales. Chapter 777 774 Strange Sounds What is the deep sea like? And what is the deep sea within the South Pacific like? Bi Fang still remembered the scene when he was diving in Dolphin Bay, which, although not deep sea, highlighted an even more obvious contrast precisely because it was just a shallow bay. Even within human harbors, there was a lot of biological activity, quite bustling. Countless small fish darted between the rocks, exploding into a dramatic scatter at the approach of strangers, vanishing without a trace. Only those who have personally experienced this scene could truly understand its charm, which seemed like a group of playful ocean spirits playing hide and seek with you. Different colors of algae freely spread and grew at the sea bottom, over every inch of seabed irregular coral clung, and scaly predators lay in wait. Such scenes would naturally not be present in the deep sea, where thousands of meters of water blocked out the sunlight. The pitch-black deep-sea environment might harbor life, and the mere existence of life there is a miracle not to be summarily concluded upon. The toughness contained in evolution is beyond human imagination, but what is certain is that its ecological richness cannot compare to places bathed in sunlight. Yet, with sunlight, it is still a silent death, the contrast all the more severe. It''s the clarity that makes it so genuinely terrifying. When one''s vision stretched tens or even hundreds of meters only to see emptiness, the heart could only pulse with endless palpitations. There was nothing beside you, just an endless, transparent expanse of sea water. The sunlight was so bright and warm that one would not feel cold even in the water, but the camera''s vision captured nothing. Daylight streamed through the sea surface, fracturing into beams of light that tapered off, their tips dissolving into the deep water. A dead silence. It was as if someone had configured a seascape only to cleanse it of all its bustling scenes with the push of a button, leaving behind nothing but clear, empty sea water. [I can''t breathe, can''t breathe.] [I''m going to die, going to die, going to die.] [When rowing a boat, I imagine there''s a creature beneath the water, one of its eyes bigger than the boat... then it turns and dives deeper, who knows how deep the water is... Just thinking about it, I''m about to lose my mind.] [I dare not get on a boat, swim, or go to deep places, even the sight of fish scares me... I don''t like the color blue... especially deep blue... Seeing images of whales, sharks, or the deep sea makes me feel dizzy, weak, tense(fear of death), instinctively closing my eyes or turning off the images.] [I feel nauseous, dizzy, if I went to the underwater world... that feeling... it would be unbearable...] Bi Fang''s heart thudded wildly. The further he travelled, the more landscapes he saw, and there were few scenes that could make his heart pound so violently just from sight alone. Without realizing it, Bi Fang had descended thirty meters. His lungs were further compressed, and his body''s density underwent subtle changes. Bi Fang sank without any preparation, as though slowly dropping from the sun-pierced sea surface into pitch-black fog, but it was all an illusion. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Here, sunlight could penetrate the clear sea water without obstruction, reaching hundreds, even close to a thousand meters below. Bi Fang felt the pull of Earth''s gravity, silently sinking deeper. In the first person, it was as if the audience was transported into a true sensory experience, feeling their bodies becoming more and more out of control, as if shrinking in size. In this boundless deep sea, a person is but a grain of sand. Bi Fang plummeted impassively, feeling the pressure of the sea squeezing his body, as the invisible force attempted to invade his bloodstream, setting off subtle reactions, with the sea trying to numb this arrogant fool who dared to dive alone without any protection. But by now, Bi Fang had been through these experiences countless times and was completely unaffected. His body was bombarded by the relentless waves. The audience could faintly hear the sound of bubbles gliding past me, as if the noise was that of a track athlete who had just run 1000 meters, amplified over a thousand times as they gulped down water right after a race. The view seemed unchanged, even at a depth of fifty meters, with the light still ample, everything was crystal clear. Then, deep in his mind, arrived another peculiar sensation, as if both heart and brain were hollowed out, akin to the tranquil feeling of seeing a light at the moment one is about to die. Bi Fang was enjoying this eerie atmosphere within the belly of the Earth, leaving behind a lucky imprint on the edge of death. There was clearly no danger, yet such feelings persisted. Under the sunlight, the sea appeared warm, with the air glowing a green hue, reminiscent of the cross-section of vintage glass¡ªsted with the stillness of death. Bi Fang even felt like a decaying ancient wood, encased within a massive block of glass. [Damn it, I can''t stand this immersion experience, I''m out.] [Call me when you come out, the sense of suffocation is too strong.] As the audience was engulfed by the fear of the deep sea, a declarative barrage comment caught the attention of some, and through discussion and spreading, it was noticed by even more people. [Here''s something creepy, it''s hard for life to survive at Nemo Point, but there''s a mysterious noise here.] [In the 90s, about 2011 kilometers east of Nemo Point, scientists detected a strange sound. They named this sound "Bloop".] [And this sound was louder than the ones made by Blue Whales, audible over long distances to several hydrophone arrays. It''s worth noting that Blue Whales are not only the largest animals known on Earth but also capable of producing the loudest sound of any known species.] [Therefore, scientists believed it to be a mysterious, extremely large marine creature, calculating from the sound source to the hydrophone, that this creature was at least 76 meters long.] [I know, that thing is called Cthulhu (Dog''s head).] [What an unsolved mystery of the world.] [Let me enlighten you, my lord.] [Really? That''s kind of scary.] Although some found it unimaginable, the information conveyed in the comments still sent chills down everyone''s spine. Three minutes later, as the claustrophobia was about to hit its peak, Bi Fang finally grasped the rope and swam upward, reaching the surface within half a minute. Accompanied by the sound of splashing water, Bi Fang lay on the canoe, gasping for air, and glanced at the barrage comments. "That''s fake," he said. "In 2005, scientists came out to debunk it, Brian Dunning analyzed the original Bloop sound with various sounds made by marine life and ocean phenomena and found that the so-called strange noise was actually the sound of glacier calving." "By 2012, a recording of an Antarctic glacier breaking apart also supported this theory, so the so-called mysterious sound of Nemo Point was actually caused by ice quakes resulting from breaking icebergs." Chapter 778 775 Trash Man The audience, upon learning the truth, let out a chorus of boos. Bi Fang chuckled and shook his head. No one could be certain whether there were any large creatures in Nemo Point, after all, the ocean is too vast, and humans'' understanding of the surfaces of Mars and the Moon is even far greater than our knowledge of the deep sea. But the so-called strange noises were definitely not made by any monsters. By the afternoon, Bi Fang had dived again, but the result was still fruitless, proving that the morning''s absence of findings was not a fluke. Although the two dives didn''t encounter anything, they taught the audience an impressive lesson, deepening their understanding of the so-called South Pacific Gyre. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There are still some snakes and lizards inhabiting deserts, but above Nemo Point, aside from some bacteria on the seafloor, there is almost no sign of life to be seen. "Nemo Point''s geographical location is simply too remote, and it just so happens to avoid the marine currents of the South Pacific. The water has extremely poor flow, resulting in a lack of nutrients, and it''s too far from continents for organic material to reach from land, making marine microorganisms extremely rare." "In addition, the organic-rich meltwater from the glaciers of the Arctic and Antarctic can''t reach here, leading to an extreme scarcity of organic matter, making it unable to sustain marine life, and even preventing the establishment of a deep-sea ecosystem. Only the seafloor microorganisms that rely on hydrothermal vents for survival can carve out a new world here." "However, the seafloor is at least several hundred meters down, so it''s impossible for me to dive there alone. We''ve been sailing for almost six days, well away from the continental shelf, and here the depth of the water is at least a kilometer." Bi Fang spoke with a tone of regret. [Humans have limits.] [Nonsense, humans have limits, but Master Fang does not!] [Are you saying Boss Fang is not human? (Dog''s head)] [I suggest a DNA test for Old Fang, I''ve been doubting his human composition for a long time] [Tests are done, not a drop of human blood] The seventh day. The final episode of the tracking expedition was broadcast, along with yesterday''s dive bringing some popularity back to the live stream, with the number of viewers returning to over six million. However, more people were asking about the details of Bi Fang''s escape. It wasn''t until evening that Bi Fang finally encountered an unexpected event. The sunset spread across the entire sea surface, the golden light blinding, Bi Fang squinted his eyes and suddenly stretched out his hand to point ahead, "There''s something in front." [Something?] [What thing?] [What are you?] [It''s drifting over, such a big piece! Is it a fish?] [Even if it''s a fish, floating on the surface means it''s dead, right? Must be some kind of trash.] [Damn, Earth''s pollution is too severe, right, trash even drifts over here?] [What''s the big deal, haven''t you seen the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? It''s between California and Hawaii, and has an area that''s about equal to two Ugly Countries of Texas!] In the glow of the setting sun, it was somewhat difficult to make out what the object drifting closer was, just that it was something flat, not resembling a living thing. Bi Fang picked up the paddle and steered toward the direction of the "trash." The distance between the two wasn''t very far, and after approaching to about thirty meters, Bi Fang finally made out what the object was, only to be disappointed. It really was trash! Bi Fang, after a couple of glances, lost interest, "It''s just space debris." [Trash, huh, no big deal then.] [Damn, got excited for nothing.] [I am the Great Pacific Trash Lord!] [What Kind of Trash is Space Debris] [It''s Dry Trash] With the development of human space endeavors, an increasing variety of spacecraft have been sent into space. After aiding humans in accomplishing the mission of exploring the cosmos, their recovery costs being too high, these spacecraft could only be abandoned. The abandoned spacecraft either continue to orbit as useless space debris or they burn up upon re-entry to Earth. "Over the past 40 years, Earth has received more than 5,400 tons of space debris," "During the fall, most of this debris burns up entirely in the atmosphere due to the high temperatures. A small portion that doesn''t burn up lands on the Earth''s surface. But because Earth is teeming with life, it''s very easy to inadvertently cause injuries or fatalities." "But the fall of space debris isn''t like a rocket launch; it can''t be precisely calculated to determine the landing point, so a sufficiently wide-open space is necessary." ...Suitable locations around the world... There was no need to say more, as the audience immediately understood. Isn''t Nemo Point just the perfect place? No people, not even a complete ecological chain, means no impact on humans or animals. Plus, the surrounding vast sea won''t cause fires. It''s simply a natural receiving ground. Even if something falls here, it''s inconvenient to salvage, preventing the theft of any secrets. As a result, Nemo Point became the ideal dumping ground for obsolete rockets and satellites. It wouldn''t harm the population, nor would it trigger disasters. "It''s said that to date, over 100 decommissioned spacecraft have fallen here. We''re lucky to have found some wreckage," Bi Fang retrieved a large fragment, realizing it was quite big, about the size of half a thigh and flatter in shape. It appeared to be part of a satellite''s outer shell. [So, does this thing have any value?] The audience was more concerned about this issue. This is space technology, after all! "A little, but not that much value, maybe it could be sold to a collector?" Bi Fang thought for a moment and said sincerely. If there were any high-tech value inside, countries wouldn''t be queueing up to dump their fragments here. Think about the few major countries capable of building satellites, each with vast territories. Is there really no wasteland to dispose of satellites? After disintegration and incineration in the atmosphere, there''s very little left. "I remember last month, Feral Ice fishermen discovered some huge remnants bearing Chinese characters and the flag of Huaxia Country at sea. They were pretty big, five meters long and one meter wide. After the incident, the fishermen immediately reported it." "Later, according to the Philippine Space Agency''s assessment, they found it was spacecraft debris, part of a payload fairing from a launch vehicle. But we didn''t even ask for it." The payload fairing is located at the top of the launch vehicle, designed to protect satellites and other payloads; it is usually made of materials like aluminum-magnesium alloy or carbon fiber. Although not small, it isn''t incredibly heavy. This causes the fairing remnants to float instead of sinking to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean after falling. Plus, with factors like ocean currents, it''s normal for fishermen from neighboring countries to find them. Therefore, its greatest value lies in its collectibility. Perhaps it could fetch a few thousand? Bi Fang wasn''t very familiar with the collectible value of such an item, different trades being as distinct as different mountains, but he supposed it wasn''t worth much. "Still, it''s a material and might come in handy, so it''s worth keeping just in case." "The wind is quite strong today; we need to hurry on our way and not miss this opportunity." Stashing the fragment away in Viking casually, Bi Fang assessed the wind direction and continued forward. Chapter 779 776 Storm in the Night There was no moon today, and the pitch-black waves undulated. Once inside, there were no currents in the South Pacific, but any waves indicated a not-so-small weather front, a vast ocean swept by a powerful wind. Last night the moon was more than half full, tonight it had vanished without a trace; this did not conform to the basic law of the moon''s appearance, thus something else in the sky had covered it. The only thing that could cover the moon in the sky was dark clouds. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Big winds, dark clouds, a slightly muggy air. Any experienced sailor could easily tell that a storm was about to hit. Bi Fang sat at the bow nibbling shark meat patties, sipping water from his wooden cup; he only dared to eat such an amount of food when he was well-hydrated. He had to eat; a tough battle lay ahead. The sails had been lowered early on. All around was pitch darkness, devoid of any light, impossible to determine direction. The stars were not visible, everything else was a blur, one couldn''t see one''s hand in front of one''s face. Bi Fang did not dare to bet that unfurling the sails wouldn''t blow him to some unknown place by chance, with good luck naturally like traveling thousands of miles in one night, but with bad luck, the efforts of several days might be wasted. The atmosphere was eerily quiet, so much so that even the sound of Bi Fang eating meat was not heard, as somber as the calm before a battle, or rather, the calm before the storm. Oh, no, this was the calm before the storm. [What should I do, I''m already panicking.] [Don''t panic, just hug Master Fang tightly.] [I wish to have an adventure with Master Fang, to be held in his arms and comforted softly when facing danger (heart eyes), ah, I''m dead.] [What a Mary Sue plot!] [Now is the time for fantasies, bubbles are infinite.] [Is there a possibility, I mean, a possibility, that Master Fang might consider you as emergency food (Dog''s head)?] [A case of shipwreck cannibalism, right?] [Explain, what is this?] "A classic case of a shipwreck." Bi Fang swallowed a piece of shark meat, he had always been following the barrage, "In 1884, a pleasure yacht named ''Mimosa'' set sail from Southampton of Central Country." "More than a month later, on July 5th, when the yacht sailed to the northwest of the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, it encountered a storm and sank quickly." "Four crew members escaped to the only lifeboat, the living conditions at sea were extremely harsh, with little food and water. For the first two days of drifting, they did not eat. On the third day, starving and thirsty, they opened a can of radishes they had saved during the escape and shared it." "On the fifth day, they caught a turtle and sustained themselves on it and remaining canned food. For the following eight days, there was no food or fresh water. They could only occasionally collect some rainwater with oilskin capes to survive." "On the sixteenth day, two crew members began to fall ill. On the nineteenth day, the 17-year-old crew member Richard Parker fell into a deep coma. Faced with a dire situation, the captain made a hard decision, suggesting they draw lots to decide whose death would buy life for the others." "One of the crew members refused, and the proposal to draw lots was rejected." "But the following day, they still saw no hope of rescue, so one of the crew members, Stephens, suggested sacrificing Parker at the captain''s insinuation." "After a prayer, Stephens held down the unconscious crew member as the captain plunged a knife into the man''s throat, ending his life. Subsequently, the three of them survived on the flesh and blood of the deceased crew member for four days until, fortunately, they were rescued by a passing ship." Bi Fang placed the empty wooden cup back into the slot, closed the watertight lid, and tapped it lightly with two fingers. "This is a famous maritime disaster case, basically known by all who study law, and also clearly understood by survival experts as a historic event." "I remember the judge''s words about the case verbatim." "While we refuse to acknowledge that certain inducements can serve as an excuse for crime, we must not forget the inducements in this case: the environment was so harsh, the pain so unbearable, maintaining proper judgment and good conduct was incredibly difficult." "We often force ourselves to establish standards we cannot reach, to set rules we cannot follow. Yet no person has the right to claim that inducement is a reason for exoneration, even if he himself might succumb to such inducement; nor does anyone have the right, out of sympathy for the criminal, to try to change or weaken the definition of crime." Bi Fang twisted the watertight lid, tightening it to prevent loss during the upcoming storm, then added more seawater into the barrel. This evaporation device was Bi Fang''s proud creation, polished to a smooth finish, made from a single hollowed-out tree stump, almost entirely one piece. In the bottom of the round barrel, seawater accumulated, evaporated, and then, under the inverted funnel-shaped watertight lid, condensed into the wooden cup in the center. The weather was still unbearably hot, and every day, during daylight hours, a fair amount of freshwater would accumulate, sometimes even with some to spare. Bi Fang wrapped the shark meat in palm leaves, then encased it in canvas, before pulling out a length of hemp rope from the bow, securely tying down his tools and supplies to the body of the ship, while also reinforcing the connection platform between Viking and the aircraft carrier. The hull of the aircraft carrier was not deep, but it was not empty; inside were logs and planks, secured with several turns of rope, materials reserved for unexpected circumstances. "Normal survival is extremely difficult, without sufficient knowledge, without enough ability to act. They encounter obstacles at every turn, hit a wall at every step, tread as if on thin ice. With woefully inadequate supplies, they don''t know whether what they''re doing is right, whether they''re delaying death or hastening it." "They would feel fear, it''s quite normal, truly quite normal. Everyone is afraid of death, especially a meaningless death; it could not be more ordinary." "The heart races wildly, the brain starved of oxygen, thoughts seem to freeze; even making a simple tool causes trembling hands. You want to create a fishing spear, but lack the materials, and while crafting it, mistakes happen, like cutting a finger, blood gushing forth, intense pain jolting your brain, driving you further into despair." "No food, no water, no companions, no hope." "That is the norm in survival." [What the hell is with this immersive sensation?] [Why is my empathy so intense?! (Crying)] "I''ve demonstrated many, many techniques that seem effortless, always turning danger into safety, never facing true desperation, but you have to understand one thing, that''s me, not you." "The storm is coming." Bi Fang stood up, his expression solemn. In the dark world, a branch-like lightning bolt rapidly branched across the clouds. A brief silence. An explosive boom echoed in my ears. Chapter 780 777: Waves Rising and Falling The branched lightning from the clouds was a charge of trumpet, splitting the sky so bright as daylight, even causing a white flash to streak across the live stream. It meant that the recent lightning was extremely close, perhaps even striking the nearby sea. The downpour fell abruptly, instantly shaking in the wind and rain. The drone, like a nimble hawk, shuttled through the storm, performing at its utmost, capturing everything with stability and clarity. But without night vision mode, the screen was too dark, oppressively dark. Many viewers had to get up to turn off their lights or pull the curtains to block the sunlight, their pupils fixed on the screen. Raindrops fell rapidly from the sky, even causing a slight pain when they hit the skin; heavy and fast, they splashed onto the water, even stirring up spray, creating a mist of white. Another lightning bolt took root in the clouds, and within just a dozen seconds, a fog of rain spread over the sea. The humidity in the air suddenly increased, clothes sticking to the skin, and the astonishing heat taken away by the howling wind, letting the cold creep up the spine, bringing a bone-chilling pain. Bi Fang breathed deeply, nerves tightly wound. Calm seas are what sailors hope to see the most when sailing. However, Nature was bound to change incessantly, and adverse weather could catch a ship in transit off guard. Even modern ships cannot be careless in the face of a storm, as the slightest negligence could lead to fatal danger. The advancement of technology has enabled humans to accurately control weather changes, avoiding many unnecessary risks and bad weather. The phenomenon of "a cargo ship sailing proudly through rolling clouds and high winds" was not common. [It''s too dark, too dark, can someone turn on a light] [I''m shivering now, is this normal? Can someone tell me!!] [It''s normal, because I''m shivering too!] [Damn, when the lightning lit up, I really worried something would suddenly spring up from under the sea!] In the vast Pacific Ocean, towering waves surrounded on all sides. I could see nothing, each wave eight or nine meters high, taller than a three-story building. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang clung to the rope, pressing closely against the canoe, the sea transformed into a piece of continuously trembling satin fabric. Nobody knew if their remaining spot would suddenly bulge up, then abruptly deflate, only for a big wave to surge from the front. Lightning became the only light, illuminating "small hills" on the ocean that appeared and disappeared within seconds. The "hills" piled upon each other, alternately lit and darkened by successive lightning flashes, feeling surrounded on all sides. The canoe was like a leaf bobbing on the ocean''s surface, at any moment at risk of being engulfed by a monstrous wave. The viewers'' emotions rode the world''s most thrilling roller coaster, rising and falling with the canoe. Fear, excitement, terror. A complex weave of emotions intertwined, creating a unique and powerful sensory thrill! Adrenaline secreted non-stop under the thundering lightning, the whole body entering a state of shivering as if electrified. [I can''t take it anymore, I knew older people should go to bed early and not watch this stuff] [Can we really get through this?] [If it gets smashed, it won''t be a disaster, right?] [You can choose to believe in Master Fang, or choose to believe in Master Fang.] [Just watch and be done with it, then praise Nature, revere the gods!] The movie-like epic scenes shocked to the core, no one knew how such quality was filmed. Live streaming is all about real-time, same screen! Only on such a basis, can it achieve a level of empathy that other forms of media cannot! Empathy! This is the greatest feature of live streaming, its most powerful charm! This is reality, life, the most authentic corner of the world. There were no rehearsals, no script¡ªno one knew what would happen next. The number of viewers in the live broadcast room skyrocketed, with many rushing over immediately after receiving a system prompt, easily breaking the ten million mark. Such a level of viewership was as simple as eating and drinking for Bi Fang. Despite the terrifying number of viewers, the barrage of comments was eerily minimal. Because most people were holding their breath, they simply had no time to think. Seen from high above, the world was only black and white, the black sea, and white waves. It was a very simple ink painting, yet it brewed a terrifying menace. The pitch-dark ocean hollowed out, resembling a deep abyssal maw, swallowing the canoe. Darkness is the deepest fear, with no one knowing what lies beneath the ocean. From a first-person perspective, however, wave after wave of giant waves crashed down. It was simply suffocating, and no one could imagine what Bi Fang was feeling at the moment. The magnanimity of a great hero? The bravery of an adventurer? The piety of a martyr? Or even... the common fear shared by all living beings? The audience couldn''t know, but one thing was certain: at that moment, in that place, Bi Fang was utterly fearless. Undoubtedly, this was yet another spectacular epic of a man''s struggle against nature. Bi Fang felt terrible at that moment. In the Atlantic, at least he had the tent on the lifeboat to shelter him from the wind and rain. Now, he only had a piece of canvas, which couldn''t stop the seawater at all. He could feel his entire body soaked, the fierce wind blowing, rapidly evaporating the moisture, then getting soaked again, over and over. It was like a layer of frost formed on his back, both heavy and thick. Bi Fang''s heart raced, fearing this might be a sign of hypothermia. No one knew how long the storm would last. ...¡­ Liang Yu didn''t know when he had fallen asleep last night, perhaps at three o''clock in the morning? Or maybe four o''clock, or even later? It seemed there were faint signs of dawn, so perhaps it was around five o''clock... It was too late to attend class, but fortunately, he only had one lecture in the morning with a professor who didn''t call the roll. Looking at the sun that was clearly in the afternoon sky, Liang Yu, nursing a headache, rubbed his head and after a moment of silence, suddenly jumped out of bed. "That''s right, has the storm stopped now!" Bi Fang''s live stream had been so gripping that Liang Yu had stayed up unusually late, watching until his phone ran out of battery and he couldn''t keep his eyes open any longer. Listening to the snores of his roommate at this very moment, Liang Yu knew that his roommate had definitely stayed up late to watch the broadcast just like him, probably even later. Without waking his roommate in tacit understanding, Liang Yu cautiously got out of bed and plugged in the charger. Once his phone booted up and unlocked, Liang Yu opened the live stream right away, but found that the host wasn''t broadcasting. "What''s going on?" Liang Yu was stunned; he couldn''t wait to scroll through the comment section for an answer and finally let out a sigh of relief after a long while. Thankfully, the storm had passed. It was a close call without danger. "As expected of Master Fang!" Chapter 781 778 Boiling Pot The massive sun was plummeting, its slanted rays turning the water''s surface into a sea of gold. A gentle breeze blew, swelling the sails. The canoe advanced alone in the ocean, slow and steady. A pair of pale, large hands soaked in the sea; fingertips skimmed the surface, the ripples they left spreading with distance until they vanished without a trace. In the silence, the pale and wrinkled fingertips trembled slightly, the fingers suddenly clenched and plunged downward! "Splash!" Drops of water fell like beads of gold; the lively little fish caught by the thumb struggled incessantly in his palm; unfortunately, there was no live stream running, and no one witnessed the remarkable scene. Bi Fang opened his eyes, dark circles heavy under them, the whites filled with many blood vessels; he sat up exhausted, leaning against the gunwale, looking at the struggling little fish in his hand with surprise. The motion just now was entirely subconscious; in a daze, he sensed a creature approaching and reacted instinctively. "Lucky," he muttered. Nemo Point was a biological desert indeed, but it wasn''t utterly devoid of life. Deep under Nemo Point, many bacteria and marine microorganisms that barely relied on nutrients survived, their existence wholly dependent on the thermal vents, forming an extremely simple food chain. With few human visitors and not many predators, Nemo Point became the safest and most reliable home for these marine bacteria and microorganisms. Occasionally, some small fish wandered in and could barely survive, though they were very rare. Bi Fang''s sensory abilities had heightened effects in water, reaching an astonishing range of fifty meters. Within this range, he could directly sense any creature that entered. This was a semicircular sensory field with a diameter of a hundred meters; its coverage was quite large, essentially a small radar! Yet, it had been the first time in several days of sailing that he had encountered a small fish. Perhaps the fish mistook Bi Fang''s fingers for food. Not wanting to starve, it had to take its chances even knowing something was amiss. It was like a traveler seeing an oasis in the desert, knowing the blurry light might be a mirage, but driven by a throat so parched it began to smoke, compelled to approach. Thumb and forefinger formed a circle, he gripped tightly, and the entire fish''s gills were plucked out; the little fish ceased its struggle after not too long. Bi Fang strung the fresh gills on the hook and cast them into the sea, hoping to catch another fish. The taste of shark patties was mediocre at best; after eating them for so long, the prospect of a change in flavor was welcome. The downpour from the day before had lasted a long time; Bi Fang had battled the storm all night, his muscles sore to the core. The consequence of overexertion was him falling asleep as soon as he set the sail and identified the direction, sleeping through the entire day without knowing where he now was. The fatigue was such that Bi Fang didn''t feel like moving. Excessive sleep left him groggy; his brain felt as though it was being pricked by needles, and perhaps it wasn''t just from oversleeping... Bi Fang''s brow twitched; he felt as if a grand crisis loomed over him, but he couldn''t pinpoint what it was. What could it be? An animal? Sharks? Improbable; monsters are just rumors, the food chain couldn''t support it; this wasn''t a sci-fi movie set. If it wasn''t a creature, then the second greatest danger in survival must be the climate, yet they had just gone through a storm; it seemed unlikely that another one would follow so soon. "Achoo!" Bi Fang sneezed, his worries deepening. It seemed he had caught a cold. Regardless, he decided to start the live stream first. "Here it comes!" "Front row seats!" "Ah, is that the sunset already?" The audience that flooded into the live stream immediately saw the golden sunset and felt as though it was about to end before it even started. Fortunately, Bi Fang didn''t share that thought; he held up the small fish in his hand, "Just before going live, I had some good luck and caught a small fish. It''s quite uncommon here at Nemo Point. I almost feel reluctant to eat it." "But I think it''s already dead." "Indeed," Bi Fang reluctantly agreed, "I love it, but my stomach tells me it''s time for a change of taste. I can''t argue with that, so I have to comply." Bi Fang held the obsidian dagger in his hand, skillfully slicing and gutting. "Impressive!" "Indeed, sometimes I can''t argue with my stomach either." "It''s over, I''ve been dominated by my stomach, wuwuwu..." ... On the eighth day at noon, the air was dry and hot. The temperature seemed to have risen, hotter than the previous days. Even when Bi Fang plunged his hand into the sea, he could feel a trace of warmth. However, the piercing pain at his brow became more severe, as if something was frantically writhing inside. This was certainly not a good sign. Bi Fang''s heart thudded as he looked to the sky. Clear skies as far as the eye could see. No clouds, no low pressure, even the humidity was normal, with just a bit of heat, but that was normal. Past experiences had proven his instincts never to be wrong, so if the danger was not coming from the weather, it was coming from... Bi Fang lowered his gaze towards the water below. The midday sun was strong, making the ocean crystal clear, and one could see down to depths of fifty to sixty meters without any obstruction. Suddenly, ripples spread across the ocean surface, moving in a pattern completely different from the direction of the wind. They were so subtle that one could barely notice them, but in his heightened state of alert, Bi Fang caught them. Simultaneously, an unusual scent began to permeate the air. It was a faint foul smell, yet noticeably different from common odors, more pungent, as if it could burst one''s olfactory cells, like the head of a burning match... Heated sulfur! The warm blood in his veins suddenly turned cold, and Bi Fang''s face whitened. "This is bad." "What''s bad? What''s happened?" "What''s going on, what''s going on?" His abrupt outburst left the audience clueless. "The volcano is about to erupt!" Bi Fang shouted the words, with no time for explanations. His not yet fully recovered muscles were forced back into action as he grabbed the nearby oar and began to paddle. At that moment, Bi Fang wished for another storm, even a headwind, as any wind that could swiftly carry him away was a blessing! Volcano? Eruption? The audience was confused by his abrupt words, but they quickly began to understand. Following the initial spread of ripples, wave after wave started appearing on the ocean surface. The evidence became clearer, and even the viewers not focused on the water started noticing. Just as Bi Fang had paddled just a few strokes and had not yet made much distance, more anomalies began to emerge. "What is that thing?" "Damn, a pillar?" A conspicuous "pillar" shot up from the depths of the ocean, growing frenziedly until it breached the surface, releasing a bubble that suddenly burst open, unleashing a far more intense sulfur smell into the air with a bang. One after another, these pillars appeared, sending chills down the spines of onlookers as the pillars shot up, bursting through the ocean surface. Bubbles kept rising from the entire sea, as if... It were a boiling pot! S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 782 779 A Ray of Hope "Damn it, damn it, damn it!" Bi Fang rarely cursed, but this submarine volcano eruption was too sudden! Watching the catastrophic scene unfold, a huge uproar swept through the live stream audience. At this moment, no one cared about the propriety of Bi Fang cursing in front of millions; faced with a volcanic eruption, even God wouldn''t fail to forgive such an outburst. Wrong, there were already tens of millions of viewers! Countless fans who had set up special alerts felt their phones vibrating madly, flooding the stream¡ªin just tens of seconds, the viewership doubled, and it was still soaring! This was insanity! That was the only thought in the minds of those watching the live stream at this moment. An eruption, a real eruption! Even if it was a submarine volcano, it was a shocking sight many had never seen before. The sea was like a boiling cauldron, with countless bubbles surging up before bursting, carrying grey dust, like a pot of lime water that had been boiled. Bi Fang''s canoe was like a leaf in this boiling pot, bobbing and drifting. Seeing that it was too late to evacuate, Bi Fang quickly stowed the paddle, took off his jacket, opened the waterproof cover, stuffed the garment into the freshwater conversion device, soaked it with water, and then wrapped it around his head, covering his mouth and nose. When a submarine volcano erupts in shallow waters where the pressure is low, astonishing explosions often occur. Such explosive eruptions produce a large amount of gases, most of which come from Earth''s depths¡ªsteam, carbon dioxide, and some volatile substances. Many of which are poisonous! At the moment of eruption, molten material exceeding 1000¡æ is expelled onto the surface. Water can reduce the temperature of the volcanic magma, but it cannot stop an eruption because the formation of a volcano is due to excessive internal pressure, and the seawater cannot reduce the pressure inside Earth. If the waters are too shallow, a submarine volcano could even heat the surrounding seas to 100 degrees Celsius in a short time! Bi Fang could only hope that the waters here were deep enough that he wouldn''t turn into a pot of rotten meat, but he knew the likelihood was slim. If the waters were deep enough, and the volcanic activity wasn''t too fierce, then people on the surface wouldn''t feel anything out of the ordinary. But judging from the growth of the plumes, that was already impossible. As expected. The worst had happened. After a series of continuous plumes appeared, scalding hot air began to rise, and a large amount of steam started to emerge from the sea surface. The cauldron was truly boiling. The canoe beneath Bi Fang started to heat up; he poured the last bit of water onto the canvas, wrapped his entire body with it, trying to avoid scalding from the steam as much as possible. Everywhere was shrouded in dust; it was impossible to see which way to run. When the newcomers logged into the live stream, what they saw was an apocalyptic scene. Dust was everywhere, the sea surface was covered with lime-like substances, and it was filled with bubbles¡ªsome from the growing plumes that burst, some from the boiling rise. The steam rose up, impervious to dispersal. [Holy shit, did I enter the wrong stream?] [Is the host playing ''2012''?] [It''s over, Master Fang is done for!] [Damn, how does anyone survive this?] [It''s no fault of his own!] [What to do, what to do?] [I''m stunned] The number in the live stream had bypassed fifteen million, a sea of wailing and despair. Pervasive pessimism. No one believed that Bi Fang still had any chance at this moment. All along, Bi Fang had encountered earthquakes, witnessed avalanches, even survived two ocean storms, but never had he felt as utterly hopeless as today. You could hide from an avalanche, run from an earthquake, even get through a storm, but on this boiling sea... There was nothing to hide behind! Nowhere to retreat! No place to take cover! How long could the soaked canvas last? It would only prolong the agony. Scorching heat, a pungent stench, oppressive silence! These sensations nearly choked Bi Fang for breath, the canvas began to heat up, but he steadfastly believed that he still had a chance at survival, clad in the canvas, gripping the rope, ready for battle. Bi Fang was waiting, waiting for a massive explosion. The lava erupted from the submarine volcano was rich in gas, and when the seawater burst through the lava, it would repeatedly create a sealed gas chamber, compressing the gases within the lava, causing intense submarine explosions and generating a massive amount of gas foam. The current plume of smoke was nothing more than a prelude to the impending massive eruption. This process could even trigger a tsunami! Whether it was a tsunami or just a regular wave, if he could seize this opportunity, he might be able to get far away from the center! There was still a chance! Bi Fang kept taking deep breaths, even though the air was foul and possibly still toxic after crude filtering¡ªhe needed oxygen! His heart pounded like a drum, his blood coursed like a flood. His muscles were taut, his red blood cells constantly exchanged and transported oxygen, enhancing his body''s status. The canoe under his feet was so scorching he could barely stand on it, but Bi Fang rooted himself there, constantly attuned to his surroundings. Eventually, an unprecedented trembling sensation began to emerge. Bi Fang''s spirit sharpened. It was coming! The audience was still exuding despair, but a few people suddenly noticed the anomaly. The ocean seemed to churn ceaselessly once again. If it was boiling before, it was now as if the lid had been put on and shaken vigorously! Boom! Bi Fang''s hearing went temporarily deaf, and even the viewers in front of the screen felt a jolt, followed by a huge amount of volcanic ash ejected to the surface of the sea. The surface of the sea swelled like a giant blister, and Bi Fang''s canoe was not far from the center of that blister. Bi Fang felt as if he were soaring mid-air, rising higher and higher until the entire canoe was at risk of capsizing. Too high! The canoe at that moment was like a car climbing a steep slope, but the grade was so steep that the car risked flipping over or sliding down prematurely, ultimately becoming a victim beneath the waves. Bi Fang made a split-second decision to jump onto the raft, using his weight to press it down, maintaining a precarious balance before the oncoming massive wave and rising in sync with the sea. Every time the balance was disrupted, Bi Fang managed to apply force cleverly to restore it once more. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The sea blister inflated by the explosion, and the tiny canoe on top of it, maintained a strange equilibrium! This scene gave the audience a severe sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. They were reminded of a sport, a challenge for the brave¡ªsurfing! When someone put it up on the screen, everyone realized it. Damn it, Bi Fang was surfing! Numerous people couldn''t avoid getting goosebumps at this moment. It was too intense. It was so severe that even their imaginations couldn''t support their speculations. But reality was starkly exposed. Bi Fang was, at that moment, an exceptional surfer, and the entire canoe was his surfboard! Humans have been craving to conquer nature since the day they were born. Above the boundless deep blue sea, amidst the terrifying crashing waves, standing on the summit of the waves. When we stand at the crest of a giant wave, at an unprecedented height, with waves filled with explosive energy churning below us¡ªwe finally come close to our dreams. This was a balance so impressive that even world surfing master Laird Hamilton would have to pay homage. Surpassing fear and limits. Bi Fang stepped onto a giant wave no one had ever dared! Under his feet was the ocean, a volcano, raging waves towering to the sky! No one could have imagined playing a game of the brave on top of a volcano! Finally, the wave that had built up to its peak crashed thunderously, disintegrating, endless waves spreading, surging, pounding in all directions! Chapter 783 780: Volcano Surfer! The sky was a murky gray, with dense smoke billowing. Everywhere the eyes turned, choking dust was the sight, and the sea surged like silk in the wind. The seawater boiled, scorching steam ascended into the sky, spouting, thinning, then cooled and liquefied by the surrounding environment, forming a visible mist that rapidly rolled above the sea surface, spreading and expanding. Immense thermal currents formed above the sea, alternating between cold and hot, expanding and contracting, the air began to flow violently, followed by strong winds. The fog spread even more fiercely. The entire sea was like a huge lung deep within a volcano, contracting and expanding, each expansion releasing endless poison gas. The fog was the messenger of the volcano, resembling the climax of a horror film, where you know there''s a monster in the basement, yet as you enter, the door hinge screeches shrilly, and there is no escape. Heaven and Earth are a furnace, all things are copper! A scene typical of a natural disaster. From ripples appearing on the water''s surface to the sudden swelling of the sea into a huge blister, everything happened within a mere few minutes, yet the emotions of the crowd surged time and again, stretched to an unbearable height. Everyone''s heart clenched, breathless as if on scene. Burning hot, blinding, parched, and sore. If the canvas could be lifted, one would see that Bi Fang''s skin had already turned a bright red, like a piece of copper thrown into a furnace for smelting, or like a big shrimp scalded by boiling water. Bi Fang felt he might be more like the latter, in a sorry state. Each alveolus seemed to have been scorched by flames, turned into charcoal, and finally dissipated as a dry breath, escaping from his cracked throat into the furnace. His tendons and bones trembled, unsure whether it was caused by the shaking of the sea or the body itself being stretched to the limit. A moistness in his nose, Bi Fang wiped it with his hand, staining the pure white canvas with a smear of crimson. How long had it been since he saw his own blood flow so freely. Bi Fang took a deep breath, holding all the foul smell in his throat, then turned his head and spat it out to one side, followed by a cracked smile, his parched lips immediately bleeding from the cracks. Perhaps it was the inhalation of too much hydrogen sulfide, Bi Fang''s head felt swollen but was incomparably clear, his thoughts chaotic yet lucid. What is its essence? What is its inner structure? Emperor Marcus Aurelius of ancient Rome asked the world. Play familiarizes people with their surroundings, laughter makes fear easier to control. Survival is a paradox that seems true but isn''t. Only with great self-control is there greater value¡ªbeing able to realize that no matter what you face, even Death itself, it should feel inconsequential. Recognize how precious, how miraculous life is, and know deep within that you have already achieved your dreams. Disease or any disaster¡ªwas just a gift. To survive, one must temper oneself in the "furnace" of danger, even if surrounded by the dead, continue to live with a smile. If I could scare myself once every day, I would become better. Better indeed! Blood flowed from the cracks in his lips, adding a vivid red to his pale visage. Accompanied by hearty laughter, the sea burst forth completely, as if a haze blurred the vision, like being close to an exploding bomb. From a high vantage point, the overstretched sea surface ruptured, countless eruptions, ash, and steam were ejected, dispersing in all directions. It was as if... God had squeezed a pimple on Earth. Millions of tons of majestic seawater poured down, carrying unstoppable momentum, ensnaring the currents, rushing forth. The exuberant laughter was drowned out under the giant waves. Silenced. Everyone''s eyes widened, their hearts plummeting to the depths, staring fixedly at the screen, unwilling to miss a single frame of the action. However, the disappointment did not last long. Or rather, he never disappoints! In just a few seconds, a white line burst forth from the waves, showcasing its unmatched presence to everyone! The massive waves scattered in all directions, and the wooden boat shot forth like an arrow with the wind! It was an unmistakable scene, just as everyone upon first seeing the Mona Lisa would be captivated by her smile! ``` In the midst of towering waves, Bi Fang clung tightly to the tow rope, riding the Viking as the whole of him launched forward, propelled by this massive swell toward the distant horizon! Sensibility spread without end. The wild wind blew, carrying a hearty laugh of unbridled joy! Surfing originated from the Polynesian Islands in the Pacific Ocean, where the first surfboards were made of wood and all had no fins. Europeans first witnessed surfing in 1767, recorded by sailors who had been catching dolphins in Tahiti. Later, Lieutenant James King noted the art of surfing in Captain Cook''s journal in 1777 after Captain Cook''s death. And before that, surfing had already existed in Polynesia for several centuries. Afterward, surfing rapidly developed and continued in Hawaii. Then in 1992, a big wave surfer named Laird invented a technique known as tow-in surfing. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Previously, it was impossible to catch a 10-meter wave by paddling with manpower, but being towed into the wave at high speed by a motorboat, one could successfully achieve the necessary speed for surfing. This type of surfing completely changed the dimensions of surfboards, making them smaller and lighter. By the late 1990s, surfers were riding waves over 20 meters high. What was once impossible became possible. Twenty meters, thirty meters were not out of the question¡ªthe only limit was how high Earth''s waves could go! But nobody had ever dreamed that one day humans would surf on volcanoes! No way! Impossible! Unthinkable! "This must be the greatest surfing of this century, no, in the history of mankind!" "My God..." "I don''t know what to say, but this is magical." Sea status. Currents and wind direction. Wind and sail status. Hoist the sail, raise the sail, control the sail, lean the vessel, find the wind! Balance! Everything was perceived, everything was under control! He was like a robust killer whale, sprinting through roaring waves and towering surges! The number of viewers in the live broadcast room broke through to thirty million, every single server at Wolf Fang was serving one man at this moment. The fans whirred audibly, raising concerns about their load capacity. Numerous famous video platforms around the world were providing live broadcast services. Twitch, YouTube¡ªthese global platforms were not in short supply. 18 years CS:GO finals 1 million+. 18 years E3 Microsoft conference 2.9 million+ The total views of E3 reached 97.6 million, as well as over 21.2 million indices. The Fortnite concert broke the viewing record with 1.2 million spectators. The live performance by Italian classical singer Andrea Bocelli was viewed by 2.8 million, setting a world record for the most-watched live broadcast of a classical concert. Whether it''s donations, online viewership, or the number of fans and so forth, world records are mostly held by Twitch, and the records continue to be broken, with the possibility of doubling every three years. Of course, these millions are far from the peak; there are many major events, such as League of Legends. But those are broadcasted by all major platforms and television stations together; the total number is the record, and if divided among different providers, it''s no longer recognized. The world record for viewers set was attributed to the whole event, not to any particular platform. True ten-million-follower status is only found on Twitch, not domestically¡ªthis is a question of basic volume since they are not equivalent. Although the domestic market is vast, internationally it faces the whole world and is not limited to one''s own country. As for why domestic platforms have recorded over a hundred million viewers, no one is sure. Until last year. Across the globe, no one''s live broadcast records could surpass this one person, who consistently attracted millions of viewers, easily breaking ten million at peak times, and was still growing at the terrifying pace of a million more regular viewers per broadcast. Locally, he was known as Master Fang. Internationally, he was called GOD¡¤FANG. He was the God of the Wilderness! Firm belief in his omnipotence in desolate places! ``` Chapter 784 781: After the Disaster, the Remaining Life ``` Looking back on the evolutionary course of mankind, if our ancestors had not been adventurous and imaginative, had not the courage to innovate and the willingness to sacrifice with their grand spirit and magnificent sentiments. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Who would have taken a canoe to surf the seas, to explore the endless mysteries of the ocean beyond? Oceans and mountains, deserts and swamps, the torch of adventure ignites everything it touches, burning bright enough to be seen clearly from space, a dazzling civilization! Fast, too fast. A hundred meters or several hundred meters in a second? Bi Fang''s nerves were almost snapping, everything blurred into streaks of light and shadow, reacting purely by instinct. The canoe was too heavy, too burdensome, each effort required his utmost strength just to barely Rewards were never as crucial as they were now. Electroreception sensed the currents, the wind direction, the hull. Nerve reflexes provided timely responses. Although the vision was blurred, some images could still be captured, evaded in advance. Powerful joints withstood all the pressure, bending knees, bracing against the hull. The maximum oxygen uptake made the body''s oxygen-using capability extremely powerful. The deltoid and bullet muscles pulled across the whole muscle group, struggling valiantly against the force. Adrenaline surged through the blood. Breathe, breathe, and breathe again! Strength coursed through the limbs, pulsing, flowing, and bursting forth. In the end, let balance take control of everything! Sprint, sprint, sprint! Wind, wind everywhere. Bi Fang felt he had taken flight, not on a boat beneath his feet, but on wind, a mighty wind that swept across the skies, howling over the wilderness! Nature harbors no doubts, animals and natural forces are forthright, hence survivors must be noble and humble. From the first pavilion came screams, excitement, agitation, a mix of emotions. Behind Bi Fang, explosions erupted one after another, raising waves upon waves, as volcanic ash slowly rose, spreading out, the massive mushroom cloud blooming above the sea, awe-inspiring to behold. As a backdrop, this was undoubtedly the most stunning of the century, second only to the nuclear blast trails of the last century. But for the small canoe beneath that backdrop, it wasn''t so friendly. The hardest moment had passed, but danger had not receded. Bi Fang piloted the canoe, struggling against the waves with difficulty. Offshore, under the sustained influence of the wind, wind waves are formed. When wind waves grow and leave the windy area due to inertia, they become swells, and as they approach the shore where the water depth steadily decreases, both wavelength and wave speed diminish while the wave height increases. Because of bottom friction, the waves tilt forward, turn over, and ultimately break into beautiful white surf. This results in the formation of a distinct break zone near the shore. Moreover, waves carry a massive amount of seawater to the shore and up high, where kinetic energy drops to zero before falling back, breaking through the break zone, and returning to the sea. This cycle might appear harmonious and steady, but that''s deceptive. If, at a certain moment, the breaking waves gather too much water due to some disturbance, a strong offshore current will form as it falls back to the open ocean. If the shoreline has special features, such as sand ridges or sandbars that form narrow depressions or channels between them, an offshore current is inevitable. In such cases, waves with enough energy overflow the sand ridges or sandbars, enter the depressions and rush onto the beach. These waves are extremely dangerous, with strong undertow that can drag a person straight out to sea. This might sound terrifying, but offshore currents are just the "least dangerous" of the various hazardous waves. There are also rogue waves, made up of many hidden wavelets combined. Their interior is complex, with unusual eddies. Even the best swimmers are helpless within them, just a few waves are enough to cause drowning. And of all the marine disasters, tsunamis are the undisputed, most dangerous. They are catastrophic waves caused by sudden underwater movements such as earthquakes, submarine volcano eruptions, or the sudden changes in the seabed from landslides and mudslides. ``` When the waves reach a certain height, they are no longer waves, but walls! Walls that, although made of water, are many times harder than concrete. To be caught in one is like being caught in a moving wall of concrete, easily ground into mincemeat. Of course, what Bi Fang was facing at the moment wasn''t that dangerous. It was even questionable whether it could be labeled a tsunami since tsunamis are defined by having exceptionally long wavelengths and periods, and behave like waves of the open ocean. For an individual, this submarine volcano eruption was undoubtedly a natural disaster, but on the scale of the entire South Pacific, it was really just a "ripple." Not to mention the land thousands of kilometers away would be completely unaffected. If it weren''t for Bi Fang, this volcanic eruption might only have been a blip on satellite weather records. The actual speed of a large tsunami strike is comparable to that of a jet fighter¡ªobliterated without any chance to react. In such a situation, Bi Fang would have had no chance of escape. Several minutes later, after numerous heart-stopping encounters with the waves, Bi Fang finally broke out of the danger zone completely. He had escaped the furnace! The surroundings were no longer scorching; he even had to be careful with every breath. There was no longer an explosive volcano beneath him, everything was so wonderful. The audience in the live stream cheered and leaped for joy. History had been witnessed! It was a miracle of survival, a human miracle! Rewards filled the screen. These were not monetary gifts, but tributes. Tributes to once again witness the greatness of humanity! Everyone was willing, even if it was the worst movie, they could unabashedly sell tickets at an inflated price¡ªdidn''t Bi Fang''s live stream deserve this ticket price? Thirty-six million, eight hundred and forty thousand viewers! Another piece of history! The number was still increasing, only because there had not been enough time. From the first ripples on the water''s surface to this moment of escape, not even a quarter of an hour had passed. If the time had been extended to an hour, what would the situation have been like? Of course, Bi Fang would have undoubtedly been dead. The volcanic eruption was brief, but its intensity was much higher than that of a storm! Now slightly safer, Bi Fang''s entire body sent out warnings and moans of pain. The canoe was not intact, either; many boards at the joints had broken, and one of the three key connecting columns had snapped. If he had a choice, Bi Fang would rather endure ten storms than experience another submarine volcano eruption. He rubbed his temples, still in severe pain. Watching the continuing volcanic eruptions, Bi Fang knew that it was far from over. The air was still thick with the smell of sulfur, laden with many toxic gases. Each volcanic eruption had a massive impact on the nearby surroundings. The impact on nearby wildlife would last a long time and in severe cases could lead to regional extinction of certain species. Bi Fang soaked the cloth covering his mouth and nose again. However, merely bending over almost made Bi Fang collapse on the boat. His muscles were utterly devoid of strength. He had reached his limit. Chapter 785 782: Continuous Damage "Cough, cough cough, heave, vomit!" Bi Fang leaned over the side of the boat to throw up, much like the morning after a night of heavy drinking. His stomach churned wildly, his head throbbed with pain, and his muscles and bones cried out in agony, trembling uncontrollably at the slightest exertion. No matter what he did, he could not alleviate the sensation of swelling. It felt like a python tightening around his body, squeezing his blood vessels shut with no liquid passage, turning his flesh rigid, purple, gangrenous, and on the verge of complete failure. Another wave struck, and the Viking took on some seawater. The canoe rocked violently, and Bi Fang''s chin slammed into the deck, scraping off some skin. Crack! One of the last two connecting logs broke, and half of it floated on the sea, quickly washing away to who knows where. Bi Fang grabbed hold of the remaining half, yanked it down, and pushed it aside. In the waters of Nemo Point, wood became sparser by the minute, even a broken half couldn''t be wasted as one never knew when it might come in handy. "It hurts, it hurts so much." Bi Fang opened his mouth wide, looking every bit like a centenarian, as though the air he sucked in leaked right out of his lungs. He breathed in and out as best as he could, trying to ease his condition. The damp clothes provided some protection from the toxic gases but also made breathing more difficult, exacerbating his discomfort. And yet, taking them off was not an option, for doing so could be truly fatal. "[It''s like I just ran a kilometer (Dog''s head)]" "[More like ten kilometers, with extra weight at that.]" "[Wouldn''t that kill me? (Shocked)]" "[Are we safe now?]" "[Awesome, charge, hit them till they''re dazed and confused! (Drooling)]" "[What kind of jinx is up ahead?]" "[A great sorcerer, that''s it.]" "Not yet, it''s just, just temporarily safe." Bi Fang gasped for breath, climbed up from the boat, and leaned back at the bow. The explosion had blasted him several, if not tens, of kilometers away; nevertheless, the scene of the volcanic eruption remained vividly visible in the sky. Ash clouds shrouded the sky, reaching heights of at least five hundred meters with a diameter of more than fifty meters, entirely darkening the sky for a time. Though not comparable to the twenty-kilometer-high eruption of the Tonga Volcano, this was a submarine volcano, and one could hardly imagine the extreme ferocity of the eruption if the volcano were on land without any obstructions. Bi Fang stretched out his hand, reddened as if scalded by hot water, with piercing pain tormenting his brain through the skin. Fortunately, the injury wasn''t severe, with only a few small blisters. The swathes of cold seawater had done well in protecting Bi Fang as he navigated through the steam; otherwise, he would have suffered extensive scalding and almost certainly infections, which no one could have cured. He intended to dip his hand into the sea to alleviate the pain, but unexpectedly the water was not cool and only intensified the pain. Bi Fang almost forgot that even without the volcanic eruption, it would have been a bright sunny day, with scorching heat on top of the eruption, the sea temperature was anything but low. He could only endure it, feeling quite helpless as he licked his cracked lips. The taste of blood filled his mouth; he didn''t even need to remove the towel to know that his mouth was full of wounds. It seemed that he had also had a nosebleed. Given the urgency of the situation then, it was only now that Bi Fang started to recall it. It was truly dangerous. Thankfully, it''s all over now. After taking a few breaths to ensure he could speak normally, Bi Fang pointed to the sky-reaching column of gray ash that was still billowing. "Actually, many times the danger from submarine volcanoes is not the volcanoes themselves, but the eruptive materials, volcanic ash, steam, and so on." "In explosive volcanic activity, the immense amount of energy released can be stronger than a nuclear bomb, turning solid rock and magma directly into fine particles that eventually form volcanic ash." "It possesses reactive volcanic ash properties that can fertilize soil and produce sulfur. Under normal temperatures and in the presence of water, it can also react with lime to form hydrates with hydraulic cementing properties, which when ground finely can be used as a mixing material for cement and a blending ingredient for concrete." Bi Fang said a lot but suddenly stopped, catching his breath. Clearly, he hadn''t fully recovered; speaking too much made him feel exhausted. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After a short pause, Bi Fang continued. "However, we obviously can''t collect these benefits right now, and don''t even need to talk about them. On the contrary, there are a plethora of drawbacks." "First is the damage the particles can cause to our breathing." The smaller the diameter of the particles, the deeper they can penetrate into the respiratory tract. Particles with a diameter of 10 micrometers usually deposit in the upper respiratory tract, those with 5 micrometers can reach deep into the respiratory tract, and particles smaller than 2 micrometers can penetrate 100% into the bronchioles and alveoli. Inhaled particles accumulate in the respiratory system and can trigger many diseases. Exposure to coarse particles can invade the respiratory system and induce asthma. What volcanic ash is not short of is fine particles. And since they are solid, these things are heavy and sink, "In 1991, when the Pinatubo Volcano erupted, typhoons and rain caused the wet and heavy volcanic ash to fall in densely populated areas, and approximately 200 people died under collapsed roofs, just like heavy snow can collapse a roof." "Submarine volcano eruptions actually depend on specific situations, water depth, pressure, the scale of the volcano, and various reasons. Sometimes, the volcanic ash released just disperses over the sea surface. Clearly, this was not one of those times." "Then there''s the issue of toxic gases." Volcanic eruptions involve the emission of gaseous, liquid, and solid materials from a volcano''s vent to the surface in a short amount of time. Liquid magma, solid volcanic ash, and rubble. The variety of gases is much more extensive, including steam, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and sulfur dioxide gases. In addition, they contain hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride, nitrogen, argon, methane, carbon monoxide, among others. [Sorry, I don''t really recognize them] "You don''t need to recognize all of them, just know this: the ones with sulfur and chlorine are basically all toxic." Bi Fang tried to laugh it off, but the attempt to smile only caused pain from the cracked lips and he had to suppress his expression, coughing twice. Thankfully, the wet cloth hid this awkward moment from others. The volcanic gases released during an eruption have a tremendous impact on the climate. These toxic gases, containing sulfur and chlorine, can form acid rain. When volcanic ash and gases are spewed into the high atmosphere, they can be carried by the wind to various places. These volcanic materials can block sunlight, leading to a decrease in temperature, reduced crop yields, and in severe cases, even species extinction. Furthermore, the release of large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere can lead to an increase in the Earth''s surface temperature, thereby raising ocean temperatures as well. The oxygen in the sea water would then dissipate, allowing harmful bacteria to flourish. These bacteria only need plenty of sunlight and very little oxygen to multiply rapidly, releasing hydrogen sulfide gas continuously and causing the death of large numbers of marine life, as well as increasing the methane content in the ocean. However, Nemo Point has no marine life, so there''s no danger of species extinction. "Even now, seeing such a colossal ash column still makes me feel terrified." Bi Fang looked up, his tone full of emotion. Chapter 786 783 Diamond The eruption of a volcano isn''t momentary, but continuous. And each volcano is different, some last for a short duration, others for a long time. Had the Viking been splashed with waves bringing in sea water? Bi Fang had been soaking inside for half an hour, still able to see volcanic ash being ejected. It''s just that once it reached a certain height, it was hard to go any higher unless the volcano gathered strength for a secondary eruption. Bi Fang raised his sore arm, able to move it a bit at least. If he could, he wouldn''t want to be lying here for half an hour, seemingly showing off by watching a volcano erupt so closely, but his body wouldn''t permit it. If the circumstances allowed it, Bi Fang would have fled long ago. The audience in the live streaming room had already surpassed forty million, even the download numbers for Wolf Fang surged for a moment. Bi Fang didn''t need to go online to know that this incident would definitely dominate the trending searches right now. If previous trending topics were about Bi Fang saving someone or scaring off several wolves, many people would view it with curiosity as news and not bother to expend the energy to search for an app to install. Because the cost is too high. To see Bi Fang''s live broadcast is relatively "complicated." First, you have to exit the page, then open the app website, skip through ads, wait a couple of seconds for it to load, and then search for the name of the app you just remembered, spending precious time on the download. If there''s no WIFI, you might even need to check your remaining data allowance before proceeding, and when the download finishes, the initial load can be slow; but as a main feature of Wolf Fang, once you''re in, you can see the featured cover recommendations, which saves some trouble. The whole process might not take more than three minutes, but in the fast-paced world of the internet, this represents a quite substantial "cost." Netizens are so accustomed to going through similar processes too many times that just the thought of downloading something makes them feel inherently tired. Especially for those who have no habit of watching live streams, to go out of their way to download an app just to watch something that''s already in the past seems like a dead end. Even if Bi Fang''s live stream is incredibly exciting and his presentation entirely different, employing video with rolling comments, they still wouldn''t want to move a muscle. But... Watching a volcanic eruption, especially one that''s ongoing... sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That''s somewhat badass... People want to see it. It''s the kind of hassle everyone would willingly endure just to take a look. As a result, within just a few minutes, the download numbers for Wolf Fang live streaming rocketed up the download charts in various app stores. [Is this what a volcanic eruption looks like?] [So badass.] [Why does this live stream feel different from the ones I''ve watched before, and why are the comments in a rolling comment format? What the heck is this video format''s widescreen frequency?] [Thinking about it, I''ve only seen Master Fang''s edited versions on B site before, this is my first time watching a live stream, and the experience is unexpectedly good...] [Loving this rolling comment style, love it!] [Such cinematic quality, high-class vibe!] [Do you even understand the value of Master Fang, the wilderness superstar? This is presence, this is badass, this is special! (tactically leans back)] [Weakly asking here, this is still really dangerous, right? I saw some rocks flying out earlier... pretty big ones... am I seeing things?] [No, I saw it too] Huge boulders erupted from the column of ash, smashing into the sea and causing white waves. Bi Fang, however, was not the least bit panicked, and neither were the veteran viewers in his live broadcast room. Because they had witnessed it many times before. After resting for half an hour and regaining some mobility, Bi Fang did not want to linger. The stability of the outer hull bracket, connected by only one log, was questionable. To get moving, it needed to be secured again; otherwise, if the last log broke while paddling, the Viking and the aircraft carrier would become separated. If that happened, it would truly become a canoe, and such a disaster would be devastating. By then, the losses would include not just the aircraft carrier, but also the timber and various tools on board, as well as the hope of crossing Nemo Point. Bi Fang stood up shakily, his expression rich under the face towel that the audience couldn''t see, grinning ear to ear. After untying the ropes on the aircraft carrier, Bi Fang pulled out two intact logs. Having anticipated the need for repairs from the outset, Bi Fang had prepared a sizable amount of timber that didn''t need to be trimmed and could be directly replaced due to their matching lengths. It now seemed like a measure taken in good anticipation. It was another day of admiring his own foresight. He pulled out the ropes and tied up the new logs, making knots. Bi Fang also replaced the remaining log, as it was not a time for accidents, and he could not be certain whether there was some fatal damage within the log that was not visible, which could have resulted in a "lethal strike." After repairing the outer hull bracket, Bi Fang relaid the planks. Though the planks couldn''t increase the connection strength between the two canoes, they could hold the three logs together as one unit, making it harder to break apart. For example, if something was hit, the force would be distributed to the other logs through the connected planks, thereby increasing structural strength. "If you encounter a volcanic eruption near rivers, lakes, or seas, don''t just stand there marveling at the novelty; hurry away because it''s more dangerous than what you just saw, and many of the dangers cannot be felt through the screen alone," Bi Fang said. "When a volcano erupts near a body of water, it brings out masses of scorching lava, creating columns of high-temperature steam, as you witnessed, making the entire sea boil," he continued. The audience nodded subconsciously, the scalding scene still fresh in their memory. If someone carelessly fell into it... Many shivered at the thought. It''s known that boiling is a form of execution, the agony of which goes without saying. "At such times, friends swimming within 2 to 3 kilometers of the eruption center should hurry out of the water onto a boat far from the water, the shore, or an island, and look for something to take cover under." "Because if the volcanic magma erupts violently in water, a short, intense release of magma from deep underground could disrupt the insulating layer of steam around the magma, causing a massive explosion. The explosion could throw scalding rocks, some even larger than 1 meter in diameter, thousands of meters through the air." "Not even medieval trebuchets had such exaggerated power," Bi Fang remarked. "Another danger is the sulfur-containing material released by the eruption. It can quickly react with water and oxygen to produce vast amounts of sulfur dioxide and sulfuric acid, turning the superheated surface of the water into a corrosive ''Hell''s Pool''..." "What you just saw was pyroclastics being thrown out, but it''s rare for them to travel over a kilometer. We are far enough away, so there''s no need to worry," he reassured. "We also didn''t encounter sulfuric acid; the vast ocean water diluted it to a certain extent. If it were a river or lake, then it would have been dangerous," he explained. As he laid the planks, Bi Fang educated the audience. Just as Bi Fang was about to climb the ropes, he suddenly felt a chill down his spine, and instinctively, he twisted his body to the side. A screech came from the sky and finally, with a thud, smashed onto the newly laid planks. Bi Fang, who had dodged a potential fatal headshot by instinct, was somewhat stunned. He looked at the small "stone" embedded in the planks, which had turned the surrounding wood black. Under the sunlight, it sparkled brilliantly. Moving closer, he pried it out. He weighed it in his fingers and pinched it, feeling surprised. "Is this... a diamond?" Bi Fang wondered aloud. Chapter 787 784 Moisture Wisps of blue smoke lingered. The newly laid wooden plank met its demise just like that. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A fist-sized, irregularly shaped black stone, emitting a dull glow, was stuck on the wooden plank. In its center, a transparent block at least the size of a thumb glittered in the sunlight. Bi Fang knelt on the platform, leaned over, and reached to pry it off, but he was driven back by the heat it radiated when he nearly touched it. The high temperature reacted with the wooden plank, turning the surroundings into charcoal ash, and the black hole continued to expand. Then Bi Fang saw the transparent substance in the center of the black stone shrink at a rate visible to the naked eye! Before he could take any remedial action, the wooden plank, already half-smashed by the impact, was directly burned through by the high temperature, creating a large hole. With a plop, the stone fell straight into the ocean, followed by a hissing sound similar to that of hot metal meeting cold water, a sound Bi Fang had become calloused to while in the Banna Rainforest. With violent bubbling of white bubbles, Bi Fang immediately reached out to grab the sinking stone, quickly scooped it up, and tossed it onto the wooden plank. The residual moisture evaporated swiftly, but the temperature of the stone was no longer so extreme; at least, it did not burn another hole in the wooden plank, and the semi-transparent stone on top did not continue to shrink. Bi Fang scooped some seawater and poured it over the stone to speed up its cooling; once it had cooled sufficiently, he picked it up and scrutinized it under the sunlight. Was this thing... a diamond? The audience could not forget the phrase that Bi Fang had just exclaimed. If it was true, then this diamond was unbelievably large. Even though it had shrunk a bit, it was still half the size of a finger, ridiculously large. And why would diamonds fall from the sky? [Is that really a diamond?] [It doesn''t look quite right, does it?] [Maybe because it hasn''t been cut yet?] [Purity, too low!] [When is Master Fang going to pinch a diamond with his bare hands?] After looking for a while, Bi Fang finally confirmed that this was indeed a diamond! Surviving a great disaster only to encounter fortune afterward? Could at least a higher quality one have come, though? Bi Fang, stroking the diamond, which seemed to have many impurities, was somewhat speechless. "Volcanic eruptions can indeed bring some precious metals to the surface. Diamonds are primarily made of carbon, and carbon is not rare on Earth." "Unlike the high-pressure, low-temperature conditions I mentioned before for the formation of jade, diamonds are formed under high-pressure, high-temperature conditions. Such conditions are rare on the Earth''s surface, but the mantle is full of them, fitting the diamond formation conditions perfectly. Therefore, many diamonds are formed in the mantle." [Isn''t the volcanic eruption happening in the mantle?] [Honestly, I don''t remember any of this anymore] [If I were a high school student, I might recall something, but I''m already a senior in college, all I know is to eat three meals a day] "Yes." Bi Fang nodded. "The formation of a volcanic crater is related to the structure of Earth which, according to our current understanding of Earth, is like an onion with several layers. At the very core is the Earth''s core, where the temperature exceeds 5000¡æ and the pressure is immense, causing molten objects to become solid under pressure." "Beyond the core is the mantle, covered by a rocky shell structure. Above that is the earth''s crust." "Within these materials, the temperature of the lithosphere and crust is relatively low, while the temperature of the core is relatively high, thus giving rise to thermal convection in the mantle. The ring structures of rock within the mantle and the crust are affected by the convection of heat, leading to the occurrence of disasters such as earthquakes." "Besides the extremely high temperature, the pressure in the mantle layer is also significant. Normally, mantle materials struggle to break through the restrictions of the lithosphere and crust, but in weaker areas of the crust, mantle materials can erupt onto the surface due to the pressure. This is the formation process of volcanic eruptions." "Diamonds are formed in the mantle, and magma is also from the mantle, so after diamonds form, they are carried to volcanic pipes with the magma. When the magma solidifies, it forms Kimberlite containing diamonds." "When a volcano erupts, the parent rock containing diamonds is brought to the surface, and as the parent rock breaks apart due to the action of water, it leads to the formation of alluvial diamond mines¡ªmost diamond mines were once sites of volcanic eruptions." After listening to Bi Fang''s explanation and understanding the possible origins of diamonds, the audience was dumbfounded. "[Hiss, tell me the location right now, I want to go pick up diamonds!]" "[Diamonds are just a hype, they''re really not that valuable, we can even artificially create natural diamonds now, not synthetic diamonds, I mean artificially created ''natural diamonds'']" "[We all know this already. I''ve rewatched Xiao Li''s movie about blood diamonds three times.]" "[To be honest, let''s cut the crap, just tell me if you''re picking them up or not?]" "[Pick up! Send the address! I''m going to go on a wild collection spree!]" The barrage of messages was all about demanding the location, while Bi Fang kept examining and murmuring to himself. "I didn''t expect to be so lucky as to come across a flown-out diamond. Honestly, the odds are actually very slim... " Not to mention one that hit me out of nowhere. The essence of a diamond is carbon, which will burn directly in temperatures above nine hundred degrees. Magma temperatures typically range between seven hundred and twelve hundred degrees, so it''s quite easy for diamonds to get burned up if mixed in with it. If not mixed, then it''s not at the very center of the eruption, and it wouldn''t be thrown so far. Unless it''s wrapped just right in rock and flies out before it''s completely heated. In fact, it almost sublimated just now, but fortunately, it scorched a hole through a wooden plank and fell into the sea, cooling rapidly. The burning of diamonds in high temperatures with oxygen is different from the burning of carbon; when carbon burns, it turns red and burns on the outside as it contacts oxygen. However, the burning process for a diamond is this: regardless of how high the temperature is, it remains colorless and transparent, and the outer carbon atom structure slowly disappears as it comes into contact with oxygen. As for what happens when a diamond is heated without oxygen, the inherently unstable diamond structure will transform into graphite. So, this diamond might have initially been larger, and not completely enclosed in stone, otherwise, it would have turned into a piece of graphite by now. It''s just that, while the diamond is large, after burning a bit, it''s still about the size of the first joint of a little finger, only its quality isn''t very good, with poor clarity, full of impurities. At first glance, one might not even think it''s a diamond but rather a transparent stone with relatively high clarity. In terms of value, it''s quite limited; it would be okay as a collector''s item but wouldn''t fetch a high price. "[To be honest, this is the first time I''ve heard of a volcano spewing diamonds.]" "[Why can''t I ever have that kind of luck?]" "[Let''s have a volcanic surfing event, and if you survive, you can do it too!]" "[I''ll take my surfboard and leave right now!]" Gray snow began to float down from the sky. A thin layer of ash mist covered the sea, as if a layer of lime had been sprinkled on the clean water''s surface. Ignoring the audience''s teasing and instigation to go back and pick up diamonds, Bi Fang adjusted the sail, grabbed the paddle, and began moving in the opposite direction. He wasn''t a "Contra" warrior, he didn''t have three lives. Chapter 788 785: A Huge Stir In September 1952, a submarine volcano erupted 225 nautical miles south of Tokyo, Japan. The magma that spewed from the inside accumulated in the seawater, elevating the surrounding terrain and forming a conical shape, eventually becoming an island. This kind of event is not uncommon; the youngest island in the world, Surtsey Island, was formed in this way. The explosion sent sea water hundreds of meters into the air, and a large amount of volcanic ash was ejected thousands of meters high, with the moving magma forming an island about 40 meters wide and 550 meters long. Scientists, eager to study the island''s formation process, prohibited tourists from entering, only allowing researchers wearing disinfection suits to conduct inspections there. However, Japan''s case was slightly different; the island also formed from the accumulation of magma, but it disappeared completely within a few days. This incident caught the interest of the Tokyo Fisheries Research Institute, who sent a survey ship to the volcano''s crater to take photos, measure the strength of the crater, and collect samples. At that moment, the submarine volcano erupted for the second time, engulfing the survey ship in steam and ash. When the ejecta vanished, the ship was nowhere to be seen on the surface of the sea. It turned out that curiosity not only kills the cat but can also kill people. Bi Fang certainly wouldn''t foolishly get close a second time; escaping the first time was already fortunate, a case of the smaller boat being easier to maneuver. If a normal ship had come, it would surely have been blown to pieces. "Being small has its advantages. A big wave can smash giant rocks but can''t destroy a small stone the size of a finger." The canoe, known for its structural strength, not only didn''t fall apart when struck but was actually propelled upwards, allowing Bi Fang to swiftly distance himself. With the combined forces of wind and manpower, the canoe quickly moved away, and the waves around gradually calmed down. The column of volcanic ash also gradually shrank, the only constant being the still gray sky. Under the wind''s influence, the range of volcanic ash spread tremendously, far outpacing the speed of the canoe''s advance. Bi Fang had moved away from the volcano, but the internet had not; the situation seemed to grow more intense. "Peak viewership of four thousand seven hundred sixty-three people! A total of two hundred ten million views in six hours! A new record is born! Wu Hu!" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "New downloads tallying eight million seven hundred forty-four thousand and forty-seven, and it''s still rising, oh my God!" Wolf Fang had a web version, but the webpage was crashed so many times it actually drove a massive amount of application downloads. "Unbelievable!" "Go bankrupt, Tiger Fang, Shark, to hell with you, we''re the industry leader! Hahaha!" "We are number one in the world!" The tech and operations departments erupted with howls, everyone going crazy, almost ready to jump on the desks and dance wildly. This data was terrifying; before this, if any competitor had told them they would one day have a personal streamer reach these numbers, they would have looked at them like they were fools. "Everyone, quiet down!" Just then, the supervisor entered the room, smiling and clapping to put a stop to the celebration. Everyone instinctively stopped, not out of respect for the supervisor¡ªWolf Fang wasn''t that strict internally¡ªbut because they were eager to know what kind of reward they would receive this time. In just minutes, tens of millions of viewers poured in, yet the system ensured there was hardly any lag. It was definitely a great achievement. Furthermore, with such terrifying download numbers for the Wolf Fang app, it was indeed a cause for celebration and there was sure to be a reward. And indeed, once the room quieted down a bit, the supervisor announced the good news. "This month, all salaries are doubled, and there will be an extra surprise for the year-end bonus." Just as everyone was about to cheer, the supervisor gestured for silence. "It''s not over yet, listen up, the hard fight is just beginning. With over eight hundred seventy thousand downloads, I have no doubt that it could break through nine million, even ten million, but how many can we retain?" "The real battle is ahead. What I want to know is, can we launch the new version today?" Bi Fang''s live-stream was different from the rest. This difference was not just in content but also in his unique format of streaming. The video platform style of streaming and the use of bullet comments were exclusive to Bi Fang, intended to better present his cinematic and epic visuals to the viewers. The new version, naturally, was to fully implement this mode, giving streamers the freedom to choose. Additionally, it featured a new interface and gift-giving mode, stripping away many superfluous features for a sleeker approach that barely resembled a streaming platform. What''s wrong with striving for a streaming platform without even a hint of flashy excess? It was completely against the grain! But one had to admit, doing so made the experience feel much more comfortable. The crowd looked at each other in dismay. A team leader raised his hand and, after being called on, answered, "There could be a lot of bugs, and we''re really pressed for time." "Keep a million, get half a month''s extra salary. Keep all eight million, get six months'' extra." The crowd looked at each other again, and the team leader who had just asked the question said sternly, "No problem at all! The company is my home!" "Go for it, I believe in you guys!" ... "It''s a miracle." "Impossible." "A once-in-a-lifetime event." The editor-in-chief of "Surfer" Magazine took off his glasses, rubbed his reddened eyes, repeating these words over and over again. An hour ago, the editor-in-chief had received a short video from his subordinates. The video was only ten minutes long, but it was astoundingly shocking. After confirming that it wasn''t special effects or any sort of edited montage but a real event, which was actually quite easy to confirm, he picked up his phone, browsed to a video website, or perhaps some headline news, and this man''s news was everywhere. Either the whole world had been fooled, or his own phone had been hacked¡ªwhich would be an elaborate scam just to fool a man in his forties. Even before this, the editor-in-chief had known about this young man, but had never thought their paths would cross. "SURFER" Magazine, the world''s most famous authoritative surfing publication. Photography, art, and humorous articles had cemented "SURFER"''s glory; it was a common read for all surfers and environmentalists and served as a link between sports and culture. Since 1959, its power as a publication had led surfers around the world into the realm of surfing. Every issue featured prize-winning images from the best surf photographers in the world and in-depth interviews with the most charismatic individuals at surf festivals, plus a variety of interesting surfing stories from around the world. The surfing events held annually attracted surf enthusiasts worldwide. And the next issue of the magazine was set to publish the day after tomorrow. The meaning of the video sent by his subordinate was self-explanatory. Is this surfing? The editor asked himself. A canoe, or rather an outrigger canoe, looked like a catamaran, vastly different from the traditional surfboard in appearance. Yet, the behavior was truly "surfing". The key point was, it was too shocking! Surfing on a volcano! Just thinking about that scene made the adrenaline uncontrollably pump faster, making him feel at least twenty years younger! After a moment of thought, the editor made a phone call. "Stephen, it''s me. Hold the printing of the next issue for a bit, I need to change a cover... yes, I''m sorry, I know." "Alright, thanks. The new cover will be emailed to you by 8 p.m. tonight." Hanging up the phone, the editor took a long breath. So what if there''s no surfboard? Surfing is hardly a matter so inconvenient! Chapter 789 786 Fame Spreads Far and Wide Beach House. The mailman, carrying the latest issue of the magazine, rang the doorbell and while waiting, looked up and squinted his eyes dazzled by the sun. Wave after wave broke on the shore, and groups of young people emerged from the coconut grove, carrying their surfboards, stepping on the soft, fine white sand, their laughter and chatter incessant, as the shadows of trees interlaced, casting beautiful patterns on the delicate white skin of the girls, and together with the seagulls'' cries, composed a beautiful midday scene. This is Hawaii, where there are only two seasons each year, summer and winter. It was the beginning of May, and the bustling summer had already begun. Travelers from all around the globe gathered here to enjoy the unique beauty of Hawaii. How wonderful. The mailman muttered in admiration, just as the cabin''s small door opened. After a brief exchange, he handed over the subscribed magazines and didn''t bother to close the door again. It was early in the morning, time to open up for business. The magazines were brought to the counter, their bindings cut with scissors, a swift swipe of the hand, and several magazines were laid open one by one. Without looking closely, the magazines were inserted into a nearby rack for display. However, when the last magazine was placed, its cover suddenly became very eye-catching. It was held in hand and not put on the newspaper shelf for a long while. "Isn''t the cover of ''SURFER'' always a photograph? When did they start using composite images?" Someone nearby spoke up. Looking up, it was a few tourists, the very ones the mailman had just seen coming out of the coconut grove. One of them was clearly a loyal reader of "SURFER," or rather, if you liked surfing, there wasn''t anyone who wasn''t a fan of the surfing magazine. A tourist, with permission, took the magazine from the shop owner, staring at the cover with a puzzled expression. On the cover, a grey column of volcanic ash occupied half the sky, while the other half was indeed taken up by surging, undulating blue waves. Above the waves, a dark figure leaped out, with white spray trailing behind, as if a deity. What is this, a volcanic eruption? And this wave? A tsunami, right? Asians? Asians know how to surf? The covers of surfing magazines have always pursued art and tension, but surely they wouldn''t resort to using a composite photo to fool people, right? A series of questions bubbled up inside. As a loyal reader, a hint of disdain appeared in his mind, and even more so, a sense of sorrow, a sadness that the beauty in his heart was being destroyed. A female companion covered her mouth, shocked, "You don''t know?" "Know what?" The others around were curiously peering over, and some recognized the person on the cover along with the female companion. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Wait, Wright, have you not been online at all the past two days?" "The day before yesterday and yesterday, sorry, I drank too much the day before yesterday and didn''t wake up until last night, and you know, I''m not very fond of those electronic devices." "You really are a weirdo." "Say what you will." The man shrugged his shoulders and tapped the magazine in his hand, "So, you''re not trying to tell me that this thing is real, are you?" "Mmm-hmm." Wright was dumbfounded. The same scene unfolded above many surfing sanctuaries. People flipped through the magazine over and over again, unable to put it down. "Bi Fang, a name that was quite unfamiliar to you, and even to me, until today, because he has never shown even the slightest hint of prominence in the realm of surfing. But in another realm, that of the wilderness and nature, hordes of fans love him and praise him. Not until I saw the facts for myself did I suddenly realize that there is such a deity in the world of surfing. Yes, allow me to call him a deity, because I can think of no more apt a word." A volcano, an erupting submarine volcano, spewing forth waves that were overwhelmingly turbulent and astonishingly powerful. Anyone who witnessed such a scene could feel nothing but awe, and perhaps terror, for it was a force unparalleled by human strength; a single small wave could tear everything asunder, leaving nothing behind. In 1992, Laird and Darrick, along with other big wave surfers, invented the tow-in technique. They used the speed of a motorboat to tow into the giant waves, thus achieving the velocity needed for successful surfing, making the previously impossible waves surmountable. This type of surfing completely changed the dimensions of surfboards, making them smaller and lighter. Surfers replaced their cumbersome 12-foot surfboards with sleek 7-foot ones, increasing speed and ease of manipulation. By the late 1990s, surfers were already riding waves over 20 meters in height. On January 10, 2004, Ugly Country''s Pete Cabrinha successfully rode a 21.3-meter wave at the surfing spot Jaws on the north shore of Hawaii''s Maui Island. In 2008, a storm passed through the area, creating enormous waves. Ugly Country''s Mike Parsons, off the coast of California at Cortes Bank, 160 kilometers from the shoreline, surfed a 23.4-meter wave, breaking the previous record. On November 1, 2011, Ugly Country''s Garrett McNamara challenged and conquered a wave height of 23.77 meters. Koxa, 38 years old this year, currently holds the world record for the highest wave ever surfed, at 24.38 meters, the equivalent of an 8-story building. The height of gigantic waves humans can challenge keeps increasing, but everything changed today. Volcanic surfing, a brand new path never before conceived, a brand new term. 35 meters, sorry, because there are no displacement sensors, this data is an estimate, but without a doubt, the actual height is definitely more than 35 meters, only higher, not lower. Surfing a thirty-five-meter-high mega wave on top of an erupting submarine volcano! Fluid, powerful style, muscles, and grace all perfectly combined. Clearly, this is a superb shredder, Bi Fang with his nearly perfect muscles, nearly perfect control, and his miraculous experience and technique. Every time I see his sexy bullet muscles, I am reminded of the gills of a Shark in motion. Explosively tense style and smooth lines easily define a new era. This time, the surfing encapsulated a miraculous brilliance only someone raised in the ocean could capture. Without a doubt, not just in this magazine, but within a few days, Bi Fang will almost certainly be reported by every mainstream media outlet in the world." "SURFER" Magazine is merely a microcosm, as the editor-in-chief mentioned in the end, within a few days, Bi Fang will certainly be reported by every mainstream media outlet in the world. It''s news even more explosive than the widespread fame of Goose''s journey across Europe. Everyone was talking about it, videos were forwarded over and over, news was published time and again, articles were written one after another. Social apps, media platforms, and web portals, until viewers'' eyes were calloused from seeing so much, the fervor finally began to fade a bit. If one could say that Bi Fang had become "an overnight sensation" on the world stage before, at this very moment, he was nothing short of a household name. Chapter 790 787: Relax? Impossible! Fame had further expanded, but as the main character of the incident, Bi Fang began to suffer from headaches again. Even without going online, Bi Fang could clearly realize this fact through the increase in live streaming viewers, but of course, he was not worried about the expansion of his fame. The headache was physical. Three days had passed since the volcano incident, and that same feeling of pins and needles on his back returned. The danger was far from over. Unless the volcano was in Tonga, it could not possibly affect Bi Fang, who had been traveling for three days. But what super volcano isn''t recorded in the books? Bi Fang always trusted his intuition. Now, with the familiar sensation returning, he thought hard and suddenly realized a possibility. The reason for the initial prickling sensation might not have been the volcano at all! On the day of the volcanic eruption, he might indeed have felt something was off, but at least at the beginning, it wasn''t because of the volcano. The sense of crisis had appeared a full day before the eruption of the volcano. Hundreds of kilometers away, there would be no effect. If he could sense it beforehand at that distance, even prophecy wouldn''t be that exaggerated. It could only be some other reason, and it was very likely something that had already happened, otherwise wouldn''t it turn into a "prophecy" just like the volcano? That was equally impossible. What could it be? Bi Fang sailed absentmindedly, his journey had been fraught with challenges, even though only ten days had passed. He finally understood why the mission at Nemo Point was Tier 4 level. There were no small difficulties, only a series of major challenges! Each one a matter of life and death! How laughable that he had previously believed as long as he had sufficient supplies, with nothing lacking in food or drink, the adventure was merely a matter of grinding away time, with the only difficulty being the travel. Bi Fang sighed deeply, his breath long and unending. However, this incident was different from the last volcanic eruption. In the afternoon, a fan''s comment suddenly caught his attention. It indicated the source of the current danger. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Master Fang, I checked the weather map, and there seems to be a typhoon forming over the South Pacific...] With millions of viewers in the live streaming room and a flurry of comments, Bi Fang was fortunate enough to see it. His thoughts flashed like electricity, and he suddenly understood everything. A typhoon! So it was this thing! Given his sustained sense of tension over several days, Bi Fang was almost certain, it was damn this thing! Because it hadn''t fully formed yet, but it had definitely appeared, this was what caused Bi Fang''s tension for the past three or four days! [A typhoon? Are you joking?] Once the keyword "typhoon" was mentioned, it wasn''t only Bi Fang who noticed. When one person noticed and questioned it, it was quickly seen by others who hadn''t noticed before, leading to a snowball effect. Therefore, if there was any major crisis, it would be hard to miss in the comments because thousands of viewers were helping to watch out. [Holy crap, a typhoon in May? That''s odd...] [Master Fang is in the Southern Hemisphere, right in summer, don''t we get these things during summer here too?] [This is bad, this is bad. Storms, volcanic eruptions, and now a typhoon? Master Fang, tell me, have you offended someone?] ["Wilderness Survivalist" inherently defies the natural order, and an abrupt end is actually quite normal.] [Shut your crow''s mouth!] Just as the live-stream chat was about to erupt into chaos again, Bi Fang explained, "There is indeed such a possibility, and it''s not a small one." The formation of typhoons isn''t complex, generally arising from broad expanses of ocean during the summer. During the hot summer months, the surface temperature of the sea often exceeds 26¡ãC, continually heating and evaporating the seawater, while the cold air around it constantly replenishes the center, thus forming a tropical low-pressure center. The hot air rises higher and higher, condensing when it meets the cold, resulting in the formation of massive cumulus clouds. This process releases heat, making the low-pressure center hotter and hotter, and the surrounding air pressure ever lower, exacerbating the situation. Besides an abundance of cumulus clouds, a sufficiently broad expanse of sea is also necessary for the formation of typhoons, which is why most global typhoons and hurricanes develop over the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. It''s worth mentioning that typhoons and hurricanes are essentially the same thing; the difference lies in the body of water they form over: tropical storms forming over the Pacific are called typhoons, while those that develop over the Atlantic are known as hurricanes. In addition, cumulus clouds and a vast oceanic surface are still not enough; when two different air streams meet, they form a vortex in the air which, over time, begins to rotate anticlockwise to the right in the Northern Hemisphere, influenced by the Coriolis force. A vortex flow that forms from cumulus clouds rich in water vapor grows larger and larger, and within about 3-4 days, a huge typhoon eye¡ªthe center of the typhoon¡ªdevelops. For example, when the northwest wind from the Pacific meets the southeast wind from the direction of Australia, these two airflows merge to form a vortex flow. And, coincidentally, this was exactly what Bi Fang had sensed; if things were indeed so, today might just be the day the typhoon takes shape! With increased navigation, Bi Fang''s latitude was also rising, moving further away from the equator and encountering enough Coriolis force! He should have noticed this earlier. Bi Fang recalled the time he faced a volcanic eruption and thought to himself how intense the sun was, how unusually high the water temperature seemed. At that time, he hadn''t considered this possibility. As the old saying goes, what goes to extremes must revert; with the cumulus density increasing, the spatial area formed by the vortex flow could no longer contain more clouds, and the tremendous energy needed to be released, resulting in the typhoon eye moving. By this time, the wind speed could reach 50 meters per second, wreaking havoc wherever it passed. If encountered at sea, it would undoubtedly be a disaster! It was early May, and summer wasn''t completely over. The Southern Hemisphere was still in a period of active tropical cyclones! Master Fang''s explanation alarmed the viewers. Did this mean a typhoon was actually forming? [I don''t understand...] [In short, these are the main points. Like this and like that, do you understand now?] [Wait a minute, if the center of a low-pressure area gets hotter and hotter, then the pressure should become lower and lower. Doesn''t that go against the laws of thermodynamics? Shouldn''t higher temperatures correspond to higher pressure?] [I haven''t studied thermodynamics, but I can still answer you. Your assumption is based on air molecules of the same mass. However, what really matters is the air molecules of the same volume. That''s the key point here. Do you get it now?] [You''re all experts, shivering in awe.] With the reminder, many netizens put their skills to use, quickly confirming that there was indeed a typhoon eye over the South Pacific! Such data was easy to check, requiring just a glance at the public data from the meteorological agencies of the Pacific island nations. On the afternoon of April 29th, as Tropical Cyclone Harold skimmed past the South Pacific island country of Vanuatu, its core cloud area became unusually dense and compact, and the central eye of the storm deep and well-defined. Clearly, it was a sign of gaining strength and reaching its peak under favorable water temperature conditions and atmospheric circulation. All signs suggested that another tough battle lay ahead. Chapter 791 787: Super Typhoon Stars hung low over the plain. The number of viewers in the live stream had risen from five million in the afternoon to seven million two hundred and twenty-four thousand, obviously attracted by the impending typhoon, making even the monotonous footage bearable. By now, meeting the viewership requirement for the mission was no longer an issue. Bi Fang was equally nervous, tossing and turning, unable to sleep, so he simply kept the live stream going. However, today, an unfortunate event made the situation even tougher. The food supply was running low! And there was one less freshwater collector! Bi Fang had been aware of the missing freshwater collector for a while, as this had been clear three days ago. During the volcanic surfing, apart from nearly breaking off at the joint, some supplies had fallen off the boat; it was an unavoidable incident. Although he would secure everything with hemp rope after use, it wasn''t surprising that some items were lost amidst the violent situation three days ago. Moreover, with two freshwater collectors, the efficiency was quite high, and one was meant as a spare; losing one was still manageable. But the fact that most of the food had spoiled... Bi Fang looked at the moldy shark meat cake, rubbing it over and over, as a sour and unpleasant smell wafted through the air. It was still due to the volcanic event, or perhaps it started earlier with the storm? Whether it was the storm or the volcanic eruption, the Viking''s hull had taken on water at the time. Even though the food had been stored as securely as possible, some spoilage was inevitable due to the moisture, and the recent three-day heatwave hastened the process. Bi Fang had anticipated such events. After regaining his strength initially, the first priority was to escape the range of the volcanic eruption. He rowed for most of the day, as escaping danger was more crucial than food at that moment. It was only in the evening that he opened the food packaging to inspect it, discovering some had gotten wet, with no chance to dry it out. By the next day, part of the food was already destroyed, and this process was still ongoing. The soaked food, combined with the fact that it was seawater near the volcano, likely contained some unknown bacteria. An eruption from an underwater volcano could wipe out all nearby life forms, but it might also spawn some resilient bacteria. In 2014, a scientific expedition tried to study the Tagoro Volcano 130 meters below sea level near the Canary Islands. It was Italian and Spanish scientists who dived with a robotic submarine to explore, and what they found was something very strange. They discovered an odd sight on the volcano, something that everyone saw for the first time. A very rare, extremely long white filamentous matter formed a breathtakingly beautiful covering, laying down a massive, two-thousand-square-meter carpet of giant long white hairs on the seafloor. This white filamentous microbe was later dubbed "Venus''s hair". The reason was that there had been a volcanic eruption two years prior that reshaped nine square kilometers of the seafloor. Nevertheless, Bi Fang still held a sliver of hope and tried airing out the food the next day. It wasn''t until today, when he saw green fuzz growing on the shark meat cakes, that he finally condemned them, accepting that all was lost. [What should we do? It looks like the food won''t last much longer!] [How many packets are left?] [When it rains, it pours, and we''re hit with a headwind just as the boat is slowing down.] "There are about twenty kilograms left, which should be enough if used sparingly," said Bi Fang after taking inventory of the remaining supplies. Don''t put all your eggs in one basket ¡ª anyone with a bit of common sense knows that, and Bi Fang wouldn''t pack all the food together either. Each package was basically twenty kilograms, making a total of five packages, which also meant that the contents of four packages were ruined, a quite astonishing damage rate. An adult weighing fifty kilograms would maintain their current weight by consuming 1500 to 2000 calories per day, which is roughly about eight ounces of food. Bi Fang was well-built, weighing over eighty kilograms, and coupled with the considerable physical exertion each day, he could eat a kilogram of food, more than double that amount. The voyage had lasted only ten days so far, and according to the original forty-day provision, at least thirty kilograms of food was required, which now suddenly had a one-third shortfall. Nemo Point was pitifully lacking in wildlife, a problem that couldn''t be solved by mere skill. However, Shark meatloaf itself is similar to compressed dry food, with not a trace of moisture, twenty kilograms of which could also be considered as thirty kilograms. But this exact fit, with no possibility of replenishment and no way back, made one feel a little less secure, especially facing the upcoming typhoon. [Shuiyou with a 15 cm not including head gift to the host Meat Bone*66¡ª¡ªAirdrop supplies for the host, don''t be afraid, we''re with you] [Lord Mu gifts the host Meat Bone*1000¡ª¡ªI''ll airdrop some too] After recounting the supplies, Bi Fang wrapped the remaining idle bags tightly around this last package of supplies, striving for no accidents whatsoever. If this package also got soaked and later grew mold because of the weather, then this crossing might as well be called off. Throughout the entire first half of the night, Bi Fang couldn''t sleep, all because he was on guard for the arrival of the tropical cyclone. In fact, Bi Fang was skeptical about the typhoon mentioned in the comments; he thought these people might be mistaken... Tropical cyclones, tropical storms, typhoons; most people couldn''t distinguish the difference between them. Normally, this should represent a progression: cyclones are weaker than storms, and storms are weaker than typhoons. A weak tropical cyclone is not a typhoon; it must reach a certain strength to form a typhoon. Internationally, based on the maximum wind force near the center of a tropical cyclone, they are categorized as: Tropical Depression, with a maximum wind speed of 6-7 on the Beaufort scale, which is 10.8-17.1 m/s. Tropical Storm, maximum wind speed level 8-9, 17.2-24.4 m/s. Only those stronger than storms will become typhoons, and they all have unique names. Tropical cyclones are very common in the Pacific Ocean, and during the typhoon season each year, they are numerous. Compared to this, tropical storms are less frequent, but still not rare; there were nineteen last year and twenty-three the year before last. The reason Bi Fang didn''t think it was a typhoon this time was because he felt nothing; so far, the winds and waves had been too small. Tropical cyclones occur over the tropical and subtropical ocean surfaces and are one of the most destructive weather systems in the Earth''s physical environment. Strong tropical cyclones not only bring about gales and huge waves but also often accompany torrential rains and storm surges, causing serious disasters. Indeed, some viewers had read the meteorological descriptions and said it was just a tropical cyclone, but this made Bi Fang unsure. In some places, such as the Taiwan Strait and Japan, any tropical cyclone with continuous central winds of 17.2 meters per second or stronger, including those defined by the World Meteorological Organization as tropical storms, severe tropical storms, and typhoons, are all called typhoons. In informal situations, "typhoon" even directly refers to the tropical cyclone itself. This was like the scene before Emperor Qin Shi Huang unified the measurements and standards, with almost each country having its own say... The typhoons in the South Pacific would hardly affect the northern hemisphere, hence not much meteorological data would be published, and the meteorological information the Shuiyou saw came from the monitoring stations in the Vanuatu Islands... As for why it was already named Harold, it''s because all tropical storms actually have names, not just typhoons. It wasn''t until the second half of the night when suddenly the wind picked up violently, the sea became tumultuous, even more so than during a storm, that Bi Fang realized things were not simple. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This wind... was somewhat outrageous. As it turned out, there were indeed some capable people in the comment section. [I''ve seen the meteorological satellite images, and when the tropical cyclone swept over the island nation of Vanuatu in the South Pacific, its core cloud area became abnormally dense and compact, and the central eye deep and rounded. This indicates that it''s gradually intensifying to its peak under favorable sea temperature and atmospheric circulation conditions!] [Boss! Teach me how to watch typhoons!] [It can basically be confirmed as a typhoon, meaning that the wind speed exceeds eighty, and it''s very likely a super typhoon.....] [However, the good news is that this typhoon''s path doesn''t completely pass through Nemo Point, or rather, it''s affected, but it just brushed by the edge. I don''t know where Master Fang is right now, but that should be considered good news, right?] [Front row to watch the expert!] Bi Fang naturally understood these things and knew that if the meteorological charts were truly so, then the other party''s words held truth. Having sailed for ten days, I''ve already completed more than half of the journey, at least thirteen or fourteen hundred kilometers. The distance from Nemo Point is neither near nor far. There''s a serious situation afoot. However, it isn''t entirely bad news. Bi Fang looked at the bulging sails and realized something. This time it''s actually tailwind! Cyclones in the Southern Hemisphere rotate clockwise, and Vanuatu''s location is close to Fiji. On the Mercator projection map, which is the most common world map, this country is located somewhat to the right and above Australia. That is to say, to the left of Nemo Point. Bi Fang was currently between Nemo Point and Vanuatu. The clockwise cyclone was like an invisible giant hand grabbing the canoe, hurling it fiercely towards Nemo Point, it could even be said to be a perfect match! Two hours later, dawn broke. New updates arrived. [The Ugly Country Joint Typhoon Warning Center believes that it has intensified to a strong wind speed of 70 meters/second with a wind force exceeding 17 grades, equivalent to our country''s highest standard of super typhoon!] [The report from the Central Meteorological Observatory indicates that the tropical cyclone Harold has a maximum wind force near its center of 17 grades (61 meters/second, equivalent to our country''s super typhoon level) and a central minimum air pressure of 924 hPa as of 18:00 this afternoon.] [According to the forecasts from the Fiji Meteorological Service, the Ugly Country JTWC, and even the Ugly Country GFS, the super typhoon Harold will gradually move southeastward over the next few days. Moreover, from the direction of its path, the category 16 storm Harold will be close to Waluatu around the afternoon of the 6th, and then it will begin to make landfall from west to east, subsequently heading east.] [I''ll just post the original text; Master Fang should be able to understand it...] [I don''t understand, I don''t even know where these countries are.] Bi Fang, controlling the sail on the sea, took a deep breath, "We can probably take it to mean that the typhoon is approaching us, and the next few days will become increasingly difficult!"] A category 17 super typhoon! Bi Fang remembered that there hasn''t been a typhoon this big this year. This damn thing is a "King of Winds"! It''s like a ferocious beast chasing us from behind. With this thought, Bi Fang did not dare to delay and continued to control the side of the boat at high speed. Now it can still be said to be tailwind, but once it gets close, it''ll be game over. Typhoons are enormously large water vapor cloud systems, in essence a "suction pump," with a huge impact on the weather system. Heavy rain, torrential rain, and even extreme torrential rains are common, affecting the area for over three days, which can be called "super ferocious typhoon rain." Moreover, it can easily cause tornadoes on land, which turn into water tornados over the sea. Bi Fang, with his slight build, couldn''t withstand the torment of a water tornado, could he? It''s the tyrant of the wind at sea, capable of sucking water into the high skies, forming a pillar connecting the ocean surface with the sky. And it moves while spinning, with tremendous force, causing immense damage to ships at sea and marine life, entering it is like going through a meat grinder. Better run, run fast. Bi Fang, about to be bitten by the typhoon, once again initiated the great escape technique, moving at high speed across the sea. The only concern now is whether the mast can withstand it. If lucky, this time it might not even take forty days. Thirty days would be sufficient! The ten extra days could provide a great deal of assistance and relief for the upcoming journey through the Sahara! The audience also witnessed what''s called high-intensity sailing over the following two days. Bi Fang hardly slept, or rather, he did sleep, but very little, almost only three to four hours each day, then continued on his journey day and night. The waves at sea were also growing increasingly formidable, a sight that stirred the heart. The most dangerous time, Bi Fang even saw a water tornado rise hundreds of meters away with his own eyes! The funnel-shaped clouds extending from the bottom of the cumulonimbus cloud to the sea surface and the accompanying intense whirlwind. When it reached the sea surface, it sucked up tall columns of water. What the audience saw was the tornado connected on one end to a vast expanse of dark clouds above, and at the other end plunged into the sea. The junction was a big churn of seawater, a white expanse. In the air, it was nearly wobbling like a Python! And it moved at an extremely fast speed, its roar like thunder, potent as a flock of airplanes sweeping over at low altitude. Perhaps because some parts of the vortex exceeded the speed of sound, it even generated small-amplitude shock waves. Fortunately, its duration was not long, merely a dozen minutes or so. While its destructive power was strong, its impact range was not large, and it did not pose too much danger, yet it still shocked the viewers. The junction was a big churn of seawater, a white expanse. In the air, it was nearly wobbling like a Python! And it moved at an extremely fast speed, its roar like thunder, potent as a flock of airplanes sweeping over at low altitude. Perhaps because some parts of the vortex exceeded the speed of sound, it even generated small-amplitude shock waves..... The junction was a big churn of seawater, a white expanse. In the air, it was nearly wobbling like a Python! Chapter 792 788: Forge Ahead ``` The appearance of the water tornado terrified everyone and made Bi Fang quickly raise his vigilance, or rather, his vigilance once again reached its peak. Staying fully focused was not an easy task, as mental fatigue could sometimes come faster than physical exhaustion, especially for Bi Fang who had consecutively experienced all of this. If he could, he really wanted to lie down and have a good sleep, without worrying that the wind and waves would suddenly increase, shattering the small boat, or that the remaining food would get wet from the surging seawater, becoming moldy and spoiled, leaving him with nothing. The water tornado came quickly and left quickly; menacing on its arrival, it didn''t drag or linger as it departed, which was one of its characteristics. In about a quarter of an hour, it dissipated above the sea under Bi Fang''s headache, leaving behind a faint mist. [Damn, that just scared the hell out of me] [Spinning a dragon in the water for everyone] [It''s my first time seeing a dragon sucking up water, what should I say] [Typhoons are really too fierce, they''re dangerous on land, let alone at sea, sigh, I hope Master Fang keeps it up] [Tumble dryer] The audience was equally unsettled, and it took a few minutes for the barrage of comments to start leaping up. It was too dangerous; if we had been any closer, wouldn''t we have been smashed to pieces? It was also fortunate that Bi Fang had realized the danger in advance, or else a real disaster could have occurred. With every adventure, Bi Fang felt more and more that, among all his abilities, Beastly Instinct was the most crucial. It always sent out a warning before the real danger arrived. However, repeated practice also made Bi Fang increasingly clear about the true nature of this ability. Beastly Instinct is not precognition but an amplification of subconscious vigilance feedback. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The unpredictable cannot be investigated. Beastly Instinct is not truly like sensing the autumn breeze before it stirs but sensing it early as it begins to stir. Redwood Ants have sensors that detect changes in carbon dioxide and Earth''s magnetic field; whenever an earthquake is imminent, they react in advance and no longer return to their nests. Most fish have a line-pattern on both sides of their bodies, extending from the head to the tip of the tail, a vital sensory organ adapted to aquatic life. When the ocean''s waves strike reefs and rocky shores, causing changes in water flow and vibration frequencies, the fish''s lateral line detects these changes and accurately adjusts their swimming direction to safely navigate through reefs and hazards. This lateral line can also sense low-frequency vibrations that the inner ear cannot, which is vitally important for finding food and avoiding being caught. When the Krakatoa Volcano erupted, its infrasound waves circled the Earth three times, traveling tens of thousands of kilometers, causing countless animals that can detect infrasound waves to react anxiously. Not to mention common poultry for now. Pigeons: Refusing to enter the nest, perching outside the house, suddenly startled into flight, and emptying the nest. Rats: Coming out of holes in groups during daylight, appearing bewildered like they''re intoxicated, fearless of humans, running around in panic, moving house carrying their young. Snakes: Hibernating snakes emerging from their holes, freezing stiff in the snow, increasing in numbers, clustering together. Fish: Floating in schools, swimming frantically, jumping out of the water, captive fish leaping chaotically, bumping their heads and tails until they bleed, jumping out of the tank, making noises, becoming lethargic, dying. Toads: Coming out of their holes in groups. The strange behaviors of animals before a disaster are seen by humans as a form of precognition, but in reality, there is no such thing as precognition in the world, only highly advanced detection methods. ``` All manner of animals, all manner of organs. Electromagnetic waves, infrasound, odors, vision, air pressure, humidity, wind direction, temperature, ultraviolet radiation. They can see what humans can''t see, hear what humans can''t hear, smell what humans can''t smell, feel what humans can''t feel. This is the essence of everything. But do humans really not see, not hear, not smell, not feel? Change is always there, scenery has already entered the eyes, odor molecules have already entered the nostrils, electromagnetic induction, air pressure, changes in humidity are always present. It''s just that they are too faint, not captured in the stream of thoughts, but humans'' subconscious does have a sense of them. The potential of the human brain is boundless, consider the common Iceberg Theory of the brain¡ªcould it be that what lies beneath is dormant? Of course not. Even an extra half a pound of fat has the ability to let you hold on a little longer when at the end of your tether; how much more so half a pound of brain? Hormones, digestion, heartbeat, breathing, excretion, libido, eat when hungry, sleep when tired. The subconscious processes all the vast and complex information from the body, accumulating information across layers of genetic inheritance from millions of years of human evolution. Incorporating the most important instincts and autonomous nervous system functions for human survival with the laws of the universe, meaning all the best survival intelligence humans have acquired in the past is stored in the subconscious. Therefore, as long as one knows how to develop this innate ability, there are hardly any wishes that cannot be realized. Those faint signals, invisible to the conscious mind, are well within the capabilities of the subconscious, but only those who are sensitive enough can perceive them. One may not be able to effectively identify what the danger is, but the subconscious can distinctly feel the difference, triggering an anomaly. Bi Fang could sense the approach of a wolf pack on the Arctic tundra because the stench of the predators had already wafted in through the door cracks. Being able to sense a typhoon is because the air pressure and wind direction had already undergone subtle changes. Perhaps the conscious mind is unaware, but the subconscious has detected a discordance and thus sends a warning to the human brain. The Beastly Instinct itself is to infinitely amplify this warning. Bi Fang''s enhanced senses, along with the ability to capture more information¡ªolfaction, vision, electromagnetic induction¡ªfurther aid in the capture of information, enhancing the Beastly Instinct itself. With concentrated thoughts, Bi Fang focused his mind on the Viking, continuing the struggle against the wind and waves. Strictly speaking, his current location was actually on the edge of the typhoon, and it was precisely because of this that Bi Fang could maintain forward speed. Otherwise, the wind and waves surging on the sea''s surface alone would be enough to overwhelm him, let alone moving at high speed. The power of a typhoon is too terrifying. The waves within its range could well be described as "turning rivers upside down," and any closer proximity would exponentially increase Bi Fang''s struggle for survival, preventing him from leveraging this tailwind. A mere few seconds of wind speed could break the original mast on the spot, capsize the small boat, and conjure up waves at least three meters high, with no escape. That''s not a storm lasting half a day, or a full day, but several days¡ªsomething beyond the resistance of any individual. Even if Bi Fang had enough skill, his physical strength would not permit it. Luckily, thanks to this edge of the typhoon, the sail was always billowed, and his progress could almost be described as covering a thousand miles in a day. Today''s progress was at least equivalent to two days'' worth from before. This also meant that Bi Fang was now very close to Nemo Point. At most, by tonight, he would cross Nemo Point, completing the most crucial step of this mission. Chapter 793 789 Arrival They say that the weather on the continents changes rapidly, but in fact, tropical ocean storms change even more dramatically. In early May, as a result of the shifting direct solar insolation point infusing energy into the oceans and favorable environmental conditions, several storm embryos appeared over the past few days, ultimately leading to the scenario of two storms dancing together, with both being strong typhoons. Indeed, this May, several storms have emerged in tropical oceans around the globe, but in the end, only two stood out, one being the Southern Indian Ocean storm Eronzo, and the other the South Pacific storm Harold. Especially on May 1-2, Eronzo first intensified into a category 15 severe typhoon, seizing the throne as the first severe typhoon of May. Afterward, storm Harold exploded in intensity. At 6 p.m. in May, the official broadcast reported that Harold had become another level 15 storm, with maximum wind speeds of 48 meters per second. This was the second category 15 severe typhoon globally in May, and it attracted attention, even becoming a major focus. There are two reasons for this, one being its potential for power; level 15 might not be its endpoint, and Ugly Country even predicted it would reach level 17. Moreover, according to various official forecasts, this thing was going to make landfall. However, it ultimately remained over the South Pacific, so its impact was really limited to just a few island nations. Unless one was traveling there, most people didn''t pay much attention to it. As expected, by May 6, storm Harold had undergone another change, greatly increasing in strength and setting a new record. The latest official forecast reported a maximum wind speed of 120Kt, making Harold the world''s first category 16 super typhoon that year. Specifically, in the early hours of the 6th, data from the Fiji Meteorological Service showed that the previously category 15 severe typhoon, storm Harold, had intensified one level higher, from a category 4 severe tropical cyclone to a category 5 intense tropical cyclone, which naturally also meant it was at the category 16 super typhoon level. Naturally, weather agencies from Europe and America, particularly the Ugly Country''s Joint Typhoon Warning Center JTWC, also released reports on Harold''s central pressure of 936 hPa and a maximum wind speed of 120Kt, affirming the storm''s category 16 strength once again. Now, everyone was certain, storm Harold had twice erupted in force, and as a category 5 intense tropical cyclone, its wind force had reached category 16, equivalent to a super typhoon level. As for the second reason, it''s what truly made Harold a storm noticed by people all over the world. A streamer was navigating the typhoon waters in his handcrafted single-masted sailboat, having battled through for fifteen days and nearing his destination. It sounds like a young person choosing a death-defying act in desperation for views. The only difference is, this guy has several hundred million followers, with at least five million watching his daily live broadcasts, and just five days ago, he rode a wave created by a submarine volcano, surfing the century and landing on the cover of "SUEFER". Even on TV, they are now repeatedly replaying the variety show he participated in a month ago because its ratings were so high it warranted continuous reruns. It''s said that in a short while, an animated series based on his likeness and actual production is going to be released, with an animated movie in preparation for the end of the year, which is truly exciting. Not to mention his past deeds, even just skimming through a brief introduction of a dozen lines or so, one could call it "legendary". Through this news, even those who don''t know him have come to understand that he''s not just some reckless young man seeking popularity, but a genuine survival master like Dias and Amundsen, a person who will be talked about with enjoyment for centuries to come. When one is prepared and has the strength, it''s no longer just flirting with death, but rather a spectacular adventure and challenge, a game for the brave, and a re-forging of humanity''s past glories. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. On the Viking, a lit torch was planted at the prow, swaying left and right in the strong wind. Bi Fang sat on the edge of the boat, looking up at the stars that appeared and disappeared in the night sky, holding a piece of charcoal in one hand and scribbling calculations on a wooden board. If one looked carefully, they would see that the board was filled with complex equations, just one glance at which could make one''s head spin. Ancient Polynesians lived on small islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. They had no maps and no compasses; they navigated by observing the ocean and the sky, reading the stars and the waves. The stars in the sky guided them at night, while the color of the sky and sun, the shapes of the clouds, and the direction of the surge waves guided them during the day. The surge waves would tell them that land laid ahead, and birds flying out to sea in search of food meant that islands were within reach. They could sail thousands of kilometers, from Hawaii to Tahiti Island, their intelligence was astounding. What Bi Fang was doing now was essentially the same, but his skills were even higher, not empiricist but scientific, a pinnacle of human evolution to this day. At least thousands of years ago, when the Polynesians migrated, they definitely didn''t understand what trigonometric functions were. If it weren''t for the typhoon, this place would have been cloudless with a sky dotted with twinkling stars, which would have been more convenient for calculations, but the typhoon reduced the visibility at night considerably. Fortunately, they could still see a few of the most important stars. "When I was in Northern Europe, I had calculated latitude and longitude using the sun, but this trick isn''t very useful on the sea, because our ship fluctuates, and so the length of the shadow of a stick set up vertically constantly changes. Luckily, we can still use the stars, which is a very simple method." [Put down your trigonometric functions, and we can also talk about the meaning of the word ''simple.''] [Whoo, whoo, whoo, the great mathematician is starting again. I am ashamed, I am ignorant, I will leave the live stream.] [Put down your charcoal pencil!!!] "How exactly was positioning done during the Age of Discovery? It''s actually very simple." "Zebrovsky dedicates the entire fifth chapter, ''Exploring Earth,'' of ''The History of the Circle'' to this issue." Bi Fang completely ignored the audience''s groans and started his explanation. "In 200 BC, the Ancient Greek scientist Eratosthenes began measuring the circumference of Earth." "On the summer solstice he used the length of a stick''s shadow to measure the angle of sunlight incidence, as well as the distance between Alexandria and Syene on the Tropic of Cancer, and calculated Earth''s circumference to be 216,000 stades, which is slightly less than 40,000 kilometers." "This measurement is astonishingly close to the accurate value measured today, a groundbreaking achievement." "Furthermore, Eratosthenes defined the concept of equator and tropics by measuring the path of the sun on summer solstice, winter solstice, vernal equinox, and autumnal equinox. This work provided the theoretical foundation for navigational positioning." "Eratosthenes''s work laid the groundwork for the concept of latitude and longitude." "Once the radius of a sphere is known, if one can also know the latitude and longitude of two points, it''s relatively easy to calculate the distance between them and thus plan sailing times or draft rudimentary navigational charts." "Thus, the problem of navigational positioning turns into how to determine one''s own latitude and longitude in the vast ocean." "And all of that depends on having a reference system that remains constant and unchanging." "Obviously, one can''t find such a system on the vast ocean, so we must look up to the starry sky." Bi Fang pointed towards the vast night sky, and following his finger, there was a star that shined with such a dazzling light that, even with the clouds, its presence was clearly visible to everyone. "Polaris." Chapter 794 790: Arriving at Nemo Point The Milky Way was resplendent, and even the howling winds couldn''t veil the brilliance of the stars that twinkled in the pitch-black night, guiding all who had lost their way. Following the direction of Bi Fang''s finger, the crowd was filled with longing. Someone in the Northern Hemisphere once captured a time-lapse photo of the starry sky where, due to Earth''s rotation, the stars traced concentric circles in the sky. Only the center star remained constant in the view because it was in line with the Earth''s axis of rotation. This star is known as Polaris, and it''s an old friend to many. For observers in the Northern Hemisphere, Polaris always remains still, while other stars revolve around it. Wait a minute... Observers in the Northern Hemisphere? Some audience members smacked their lips, sensing that something was amiss. After a while, someone finally realized, wasn''t Master Fang in the Southern Hemisphere? [Can you see Polaris from the Southern Hemisphere?] [I slowly type out a question mark] [Holy crap, I just got it, Old Fang is in the freaking Southern Hemisphere, how could he possibly see Polaris?] "When did I ever say this was Polaris?" Bi Fang chuckled, "I''ve never said this was Polaris." "I was just using Polaris as an example, because the underlying logic is the same. Polaris is familiar to everyone, so I thought it would be easier for you to understand." [I''m an idiot] S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Feint] [biubiubiu] [Sorry, I wouldn''t understand whichever star you used.] [So what star is this?] [So for the Southern Hemisphere, is it the South Star?] "There''s no such thing as a South Star; this star is actually the central point of the Southern Cross Constellation," "Polaris is located on the extension of Earth''s axis, at a distance so vast that Earth''s radius is negligible in comparison." "Thus, when looking at Polaris from a point on Earth, this line of sight is parallel to the Earth''s axis. Consequently, the angle between this line of sight and the horizon, which is the elevation of Polaris in the field of view, equals the latitude of that location." "That is to say, if you find Polaris in your field of view and it''s directly overhead at an elevation of 90 degrees, that means you are at a latitude of 90 degrees, standing on the North Pole." "If you find Polaris in the field of view at the horizon, an elevation of 0, it means you''re at a latitude of 0 degrees, sailing on the equator. If the elevation is 30 degrees, it means you are at 30 degrees North latitude." [We''ve talked about this last time, I remember you can use a sextant] [Master Fang, you have the sextant ready, right?] [Was that thing a sextant just now?] The audience recalled the strange contraption made of several thin sticks that Bi Fang had taken out before beginning his calculations and immediately understood its purpose. Bi Fang did not deny it. These simple tools had not been lost in the previous adventures, which was a stroke of good luck amidst misfortune. "This is the process for determining latitude, and although there is no corresponding South Star in the Southern Hemisphere, we found that the central point of the Southern Cross Constellation can approximately serve the same purpose as Polaris." "Such observations may not be very precise, but they are sufficient for navigation at sea." Bi Fang pointed to the lights in the night sky, and after close observation, the crowd noticed that this star indeed differed from Polaris; although it was bright, there were many other bright stars around it Thanks to Polaris and the Southern Cross Constellation, experienced navigators could easily determine their latitude with the help of proper measuring instruments, but measuring longitude was much more difficult. "Latitude consists of a series of parallel lines, while longitude is a series of lines that intersect at the poles." "The Earth rotates from west to east, and there are no Eastern or Western poles, so there is no such thing as an Eastern Star or Western Star." "However, navigators discovered a pattern that has nothing to do with the stars but everything to do with time." "We clearly understand the concept of time zones. For example, if it''s 2 AM in Huaxia, it''s 1 PM in Eastern Standard Time. If I know that it''s 2 AM Huaxia time, and the local time is 1 PM, then, can I deduce that my current time zone is Eastern Standard Time?" "Consequently, I can know that my longitude is the same as that of the East Coast of Ugly Country. So, the problem of measuring longitude has been transformed into a problem of measuring the time of a known location and the local time of the current location." [My head hurts too much.] [Master Fang, please stop talking, stop talking.] [Feels like high school geography class again.] [I''ve become totally confused.] Bi Fang continued with a series of analyses, his charcoal pencil never stopping, as if he was commentating and sorting out his own thoughts at the same time. "Earth completes a rotation in 24 hours, which means it rotates 360 degrees in 24 hours, 15 degrees per hour, 1 degree every 4 minutes." "If we take the port of departure as a reference point, for example, departing from London and using Greenwich Mean Time as the standard time, and the meridian where Greenwich is located as the prime meridian." "Later in the journey, if it''s 1 AM Greenwich time and 9 AM local time at a particular location, an 8-hour difference, which means the location differs from Greenwich by 8 times 15 equals 120 degrees, or that the current location is 120 degrees East longitude." "The critical issue here is, in the vast sea, how do you determine Greenwich time and local time?" [Sundial, perhaps?] [Clock?] "It''s the sundial." Sailors would use a sundial on the deck, determining time by the direction of the sun''s shadow. The rise and fall of the ship had a significant impact on the length of the shadow, but not much on the angle of its tilt. The determination of Greenwich time relied on clocks. Before departing from London, they would set the clock to Greenwich time and then never adjust it again. [It sounds a bit simpler than the calculations Old Fang made last time?] [Not sure, I can''t do either, so I''m just listening. That''s it.] [I picked up a pen in class, and since then, I''ve never understood Master Fang''s approach to solving problems.] Bi Fang shook his head again. "It sounds simple, but in reality, it''s quite difficult to implement, because this method heavily relies on an accurate and reliable clock. Without that, the results would be greatly compromised. Although the Ancient Greeks had invented the theory of longitude, due to the limitations of clockmaking technology, it wasn''t until the 18th century that navigators were able to precisely determine their longitude." "Before that, there was even a law at sea stating that any soldier who casually questioned the captain about the course could be immediately executed. Because at that time, they couldn''t determine their own course; they solely relied on the captain''s experience and intuition. They only knew their latitude but not their longitude, until later on when reliable clocks were invented." [Sigh, it was all just guesswork, wasn''t it?] [Actually, navigation doesn''t necessarily require precise knowledge of one''s latitude and longitude. Old Fang has special needs. Back then, people just needed to head in the right direction, keep pushing forward, and they had landmarks like islands along the way.] [Indeed, there are no landmarks at Nemo Point. That''s what really plays with your psyche.] "Therefore, for some time, the common method used was the lunar distance method, which involved calculating the Greenwich time by measuring the angle between the moon and a star. In addition, there were instruments like the Davis quadrant, star-leading board, and sextant¡ªall methods used to solve one''s location at the time." "That''s also why today many luxury watches have nautical editions. Because longitude measurement was inconvenient, navigators came up with an approximate method: distance measurement, also known as nautical miles..." "Many people may wonder why nautical distances aren''t measured in kilometers or miles, the usual units, but instead in nautical miles, as if to intentionally complicate matters. Navigation speed also has to be measured in knots. In fact, all of this is to facilitate location determination because the arc length of 1 nautical mile corresponds to 1 minute of the Earth''s central angle." [Hiss, is that so?] [I always felt that nautical miles were very counterintuitive when doing similar math problems. Why do they have to create a special unit for distance and speed in navigation? So that''s the reason.] [Learnt something new.] "In the north-south direction, sailing 1 nautical mile means a change of 1 minute in latitude; on the equator, sailing 1 nautical mile east-west means a change of 1 minute in longitude; if you are sailing east-west off the equator, you need to multiply by the reciprocal of the cosine of the latitude as a correction coefficient." "The speed unit ''knot'' also originates from this, with 1 knot equaling 1 nautical mile per hour." "So, as long as we know the distance we''ve sailed..." Bi Fang explained carefully, without stopping the movements of his hands. The black charcoal pencil scratched on the wooden board, leaving behind dark soot. The torch at the bow flickered in the wind, and shadows danced. The distance calculated could never be accurate; in fact, during the age of sail, a positioning accuracy of a few dozen to a hundred kilometers was sufficient. Combining and cross-referencing various methods, although not as good as GPS, they were enough for Bi Fang to accurately reach his destination. Although Nemo Point was indeed a point, it did not mean that Bi Fang had to pass exactly over this point to be considered successful in crossing. Just being nearby, this mission would already be deemed a great accomplishment. What happened next didn''t matter¡ªwhether to go back or to continue forward to the next island. Through various calculations and steps, the wooden board looked as if a large math problem had been solved, with even small sequence numbers marked. Each sequence number represented Bi Fang using a different method to calculate his position. After three sets of coordinates appeared, Bi Fang listed them out. Then, cross-verifying them, he finally took a long breath. In front of everyone, he shook the wooden board in his hand, circled a set of coordinates forcefully, then put down the charcoal pencil and lay down in the Viking, looking up at the night sky with a wistful tone. "Finally had some good luck for once." "Nemo Point is right below our feet." ``` Nemo Point...right underfoot!? The audience was astonished. Is that it? Have we arrived? Everyone had thought there was still some distance to go and never imagined the mission would be completed just like that? Bi Fang cushioned his head with his arm, feeling an indescribable sense of relaxation, in that instant, the world seemed vast and wide. And at the moment the coordinates were confirmed, the blue luminescent panel of the system finally changed, displaying a semi-complete status above Nemo Point. It was precisely when he was completely relaxed that Bi Fang''s eyelids suddenly became incredibly heavy, and for a while, he could barely keep his eyes open. The audience in the live stream, beyond a doubt, fell into cheers once again, with the barrage flying across the screen so fast that the actual picture was overshadowed, but soon, some viewers heard other sounds amidst the howling wind. When the fervor died down a bit, and the screen became clear again, countless people were dumbstruck. Bi Fang had actually fallen asleep. ... Setting aside the online excitement, which was all typical for Bi Fang, when he woke up the next day, he felt an unprecedented vitality. Even the soreness in his muscles seemed to have eased a lot. It was now the seventeenth day since Bi Fang had departed from Easter Island, and his speed could be described as incredibly fast. But Bi Fang did not let his guard down, even though the most critical part of the mission was completed, there was still a typhoon chasing from behind, and now was not the time to stop. In the meantime, Typhoon Harold, as predicted, made a strong landfall in Vanuatu, causing extremely severe disasters. Although a few strong storms typically emerge in the South Pacific during the active season of tropical cyclones every summer, it''s still relatively rare for such a powerful storm to strike a country with full force as it did this year. This might indicate that the climate pattern in the Pacific is in an unusual state. Therefore, for safety, Bi Fang chose not to return the same way, as that would possibly bring him too close to the typhoon and be too dangerous; thus, he decided to keep moving forward. Of the three closest islands to Nemo Point, Ducie Island and Easter Island are quite close to each other, while Maewo Island is too close to Antarctica. Heading to Antarctica, although escaping the typhoon, would mean a continuous drop in temperature, and Bi Fang had not brought enough cold-weather clothing. After careful consideration, Bi Fang chose to head towards the farther but more convenient South America. Not much happened along the way, and on the thirty-first day, the fish in the ocean finally began to appear in some quantities, relieving Bi Fang''s food crisis at that time. And on the thirty-fourth day, the first island appeared before Bi Fang''s eyes, signifying the perfect conclusion of this crossing. Gazing at the island close at hand, Bi Fang let go of everything, no longer paddling, no longer controlling the sails, his heart swelling with pride. Bi Fang truly became the first of his kind! The opening speech was no longer just rhetoric but everything he had experienced! "Generation after generation of humans, just like this, set off on canoes, with fishing hooks and lines, with bananas, cassava, coconuts, and other fruits, with their domesticated chickens, pigs, and dogs, with tools made of obsidian, bidding farewell to their homeland and resolutely sailing into the vast sea." "Whenever they discovered a new island, they would temporarily stop to develop it, and when the time was ripe, they would use it as a base to embark on a new journey." "We don''t know how many were swallowed by the roaring waves, how many couldn''t reach the other shore after exhausting their last food and water, how many were attacked and killed by ferocious sharks... but what is certain is that humans never succumbed, never halted their steps." "This is our story¡ªthe story of humans. No matter when or where, we should not forget that although we are fragile and small, we are also resilient and magnificent." ``` Chapter 795 791: Arriving at the Sahara (Two in One) The rope was untied and re-fastened to the bow. Bi Fang, barefoot, stepped onto the sandy land, dragging the boat ashore and stretching the rope to tie it around a large tree on the bank. The sun had already set, but the golden sands still retained the warmth of the sunlight, dispersing a hint of the autumn night''s chill. The soles of his feet rubbed against the sand, bringing a hard-to-describe sense of solidity. Rainwater will eventually fall to the ground, and travelers will have their paths home. This was a challenge that seemed unattainable, as well as a testament to humans facing their limits. For most, the closest they might get to Nemo Point would be to pick up a map or a globe, or to open mapping software and enter this mysterious coordinate: [45o52.6S, 123o23.6W] That deserted and mystic stretch of ocean might indeed allow one to truly cast aside all of the current pressures and unwind. But first, you had to ensure you could get there¡ªand survive. Bi Fang did so, and he succeeded. "My hair has grown a bit longer." Bi Fang stroked his hair, at a loss for what to say or do next. His chapped lips moved awkwardly before suddenly blurting out that remark. [It has grown a bit.] [Is Master Fang a bit bewildered?] [How does it feel?] "It feels... um..." Bi Fang pondered for a moment and then laughed, "It''s definitely satisfying, but if you ask me to do it again, I''m not so keen on the idea." Storms, volcanoes, typhoons. Gigantic waves, gales that snapped masts, scalding steam, corrosive seawater, nearly skin-peeling ultraviolet rays, a leaky boat, and the dire straits of having no water or food. His skin, which had only just paled from the polar nights of the Arctic, was once again deeply tanned; his muscles ached and felt powerless, giving the sensation that the blood in his veins had been replaced by lactic acid. His body was exhausted and struggling. But his spirit had grown stronger. 95% of people see the obstacle, while the 4% and 1% minority see the goal. Similarly, 95% of the world''s population live their lives ordinarily, only 4% reach a higher level, and a further 1% step into a different realm. The small-minded toil over describing the obstacles that hinder their progress and narrow their vision, while the strong who have direction have the confidence and determination to trample difficulties beneath their feet. Cowards never start, the weak perish on the way, and only the strong make it through. Bi Fang raised his head to look up at the starry sky; thousands of years ago, there were people who, like him, wandered across the vast ocean. Generation after generation, humans stepped onto their canoes, armed with fish hooks and lines, carrying bananas, cassava, coconuts, and other fruits, accompanied by their domesticated chickens, pigs, and dogs, bringing tools made of obsidian, and departed their homeland without looking back, heading into the vast sea. Upon discovering a new island, we would pause to develop, and when the time was ripe, we''d set forth from that base on a new expedition. "We do not know how many were swallowed by the raging waves, how many could not reach the other side even after their last food and water were gone, how many were killed by the ferocious attacks of sharks¡­ but what we can be certain of is that humans have never surrendered, humans have never stopped." "This is our story¡ªthe story of humanity. We should never forget, no matter when or where, that we are fragile and small, yet also resilient and great." "I am Bi Fang, see you next time in the Sahara." Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Master Fang is awesome!!!] ... "Without a doubt, this is the Amundsen, Dias, and Magellan of the twenty-first century." ¡ª The Pioneer. "If life is a game, how do you choose to spend your life? Do you stick to the rules and follow the steps, or do you break through boldly and take risks? What do you consider the most adventurous thing you''ve done in the years you''ve lived? What experience and feelings did it bring, and has it changed your life in any unique way?" ¡ª World News. "Those living a mediocre life can only watch indifferently, like the cold horses and farmers by the river, as the ones with melting wings fall from the highest point of the arc, as passion eventually turns into tragedy, deemed by us as futile acts, while only true heroes can feel the gap in their souls yearning for some hidden great things." ¡ª The Sun. The news of Bi Fang crossing Nemo Point flew around the world like a bird with wings, and any reputable non-specialized newspaper could not afford to ignore this news. At the same time, the honors of being the twenty-first century''s Magellan, Amundsen, and others were generously bestowed upon Bi Fang''s head. Several articles even made Bi Fang blush. "In the book ''Against the Heaven''s Adventure,'' compiled by South African author William Bolitho, the top eleven adventurers in human history are also recorded, including Emperor Alexander the Great, and the dizzying moments they created take us into the fascinating lives of these natural-born adventurers. The eleven world-class adventurers are Emperor Alexander the Great, Casanova, Columbus, Lola Montez, Fidel Castro, Charles XII of Sweden, Napoleon I, Caitlyn, Napoleon III, Isadora Duncan, and Woodrow Wilson. For the course of history, these eleven adventurers have all made significant marks in the long narrative of history; they may have only reigned over the world briefly, but they are challengers against the heaven. If William Bolitho were alive today in the twenty-first century, instead of having passed away in 1930, I believe the book would not have just eleven chapters, but a full twelve! As the author says: Adventurous stories are the most vivacious parts of individual and social history. In the concrete jungle of the twenty-first century, when discussing the most vivacious part, I think no one would forget that man, a presence so intense it''s like the blazing sun. Peaking at over forty million viewers, witnessing the eruption of a submarine volcano live, with a total viewership exceeding five hundred million, it means that nearly one in every fifteen people around the world has witnessed, knows him. If we set aside the third world, would that ratio be higher? One in ten? Or even more? Of course, this number is still increasing, and I can hardly imagine what it''s like when almost everyone on the street knows a person. And the fundamental reason for all this attention is not that he is some major movie star, or that he sings well or acts exceptionally, but stems from his groundbreaking adventures. Among those in history who have dared to adventure, Columbus''s explorations are the most easily recognized¡ªafter all, facing the merciless sea and the ever-changing conditions of navigation, Columbus''s four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean and the discovery of the New World are undoubtedly perilous journeys. However, since Zheng He''s maritime expeditions preceded that of Columbus, Columbus''s voyages do not stand out as much amongst this group of elite adventurers. In fact, these famous historical adventurers all share similarities, such as the era in which they lived, their courage to challenge the status quo, their ambition and ability to seek freedom and power, and so on. They might have employed extreme means and possessed unconventional thinking, but the brilliance they forged is undeniably acknowledged by all. What they sought was a brand of individualism imbued with the spirit of adventure, a craving for all things novel, precisely as the author states: "Everyone has an adventurer inside them and the necessity to become a member of society¡ªare two incompatible ways of living." One, is what we yearn for. The other, is what we must choose. No matter whether these eleven adventurers were pursuing freedom or power, in some sense, they all benefited society and pushed the progression of history. Without such daring individuals, the world might have become mundane and endlessly primitive. "Thanks to Mr. Fang''s appearance, the dull human beings of the twenty-first century are reminded of their ancestors'' glory and hear the call of courage once again." ¡ª Matthew Hall. Bi Fang pondered the name at the end of the article for a while, finally locating this person in his memory. A journalist from The Globe who had once traveled alongside him in Ruins City, and even earlier, had written about the Flight of the Geese. Looking through this person''s previous articles, Bi Fang was surprised to discover that this journalist seemed to have become his dedicated reporter, with almost every live broadcast being accompanied by an article full of praise, sometimes even multiple articles. Most importantly, these articles were anything but low in readership. Perhaps due to big data recommendations, the more Bi Fang searched, the more his own news flooded in. There were even a few on B Island who gained popularity as "secondhand dealers" by specializing in making videos about him. Bi Fang casually clicked on another article and started reading it with relish on the airplane. Reading such self-aggrandizing articles felt somewhat embarrassing at first, but after getting used to it, it actually felt quite nice. "To this day, we need not prove the adventurous gene in human nature, but we still cannot summarize a characteristic temperament for those who love adventure. The key lies in how we view the innate human proclivity for adventure, and how we place our restless spirit of adventure in the context of the times. Undeniably, the spirit of adventure once propelled human progress. Just like Master Fang says before the start of each live broadcast, our human ancestors broke free from the shackles of nature, great navigators shattered the limits imposed by geography, and brave aeronauts and astronauts pushed past human boundaries... Every act of adventure brought about a monumental change in the human world, crafting modern civilized society through the efforts of innumerable individuals. Yet, as the times progress, the spirit of adventure regresses. In the eyes of many today, the positive aspects of adventure are outweighed by its negative connotations, such as recklessness and radicalism. But can truly reckless and radical ''adventures'' truly be called ''adventures''? Is an adventure simply a cheap commodity, performed on a whim? Just look at Mr. Fang''s credentials: retired special forces soldier, ranked within top ten in history at Hunter Academy, holder of the highest-level Professional Hunter certificate, a true martial artist with exceptional physical strength and mindset, abundant theoretical knowledge, highly proficient in disciplines such as mathematics, geography, biology, history, astronomy, meteorology, chemistry, materials, and more. Swimming, rock climbing, hunting, trap skills¡ªhe knows them all. In terms of both body and brain, can one say he is profoundly strong, presenting a vivid contrast to those internet sensations seeking clout? If the value of the adventurous spirit is deemed valid only over a longer period, then it is bound not to have many followers. I believe that societal progress is a process of resisting human instincts; the more advanced we become, the deeper this resistance grows. It goes without saying that technology is constantly breaking through human limitations, and from an ideological perspective, people are increasingly adopting an instrumental rationality. We can imagine that in an environment of information overload, given that we possess a heightened ability to foresee risks, seeking ways to avoid them is also human nature. Moreover, the majority''s capacity to bear risks has not improved with the times. The perceived costs in their imagination are particularly high, inevitably leading these people to become cautious and rational. However, human nature is complex, and forbidding people from taking risks sometimes leads to an even more radical eruption. Many young people have experienced to varying degrees being forced to choose schools and majors they dislike, engaging in undesired jobs, marrying and having children within the so-called ''golden age.'' No matter at what stage the pressure arises, it will always be released at some point, prompting one to undertake a bold ''adventure.'' The times have not changed human nature; as long as the lure is sufficiently enticing, the human instinct for adventure will forever exist. In summary, modern adventurous spirit is no longer about heroism in the face of the unknown; rather, it has become a struggle against our own instincts. This is undoubtedly a regret, for it signifies the disappearance of something spectacular. I sorrow for being born in this era because the heroism in the adventurous spirit is nearly extinct. Yet, I am grateful to be born in this age because the heroism in the adventurous spirit is not completely gone¡ªthat stern spirit endures in figures like Master Fang, injecting a surge of adrenaline into my veins." Yellow dust fills the sky as the sun blazes fiercely. The silhouettes of two people and a camel cast long shadows on the sandstone. Two more days have passed since Bi Fang set foot on the island in South America, "Ptui." Accompanied by the sound of gritting sand, a white spit stuck to the rock and quickly evaporated under the high temperature, leaving no trace. Mugalen led a camel, glanced at Bi Fang''s smartphone screen, and couldn''t help but spit, "Is this how they blow smoke about you?" Bi Fang shook his phone, "Aren''t you envious?" "Not in the least." Bi Fang didn''t continue the small talk, "Let''s stop here then, hand over the items, and you can leave." Mugalen sullenly unloaded the items from the camel and dumped them on the ground with a thud. Besides the usual backpack, there was even a set of reins! [Note: The above two are a joint mission with a time limit of one hundred and twenty days, the sequence of which can be chosen at will.] [Note: One of the missions may choose assistance, limited to one person or one beast, with only one mission eligible for selection.] Bi Fang firmly memorized the System''s two notes in his heart; before crossing the Sahara, he would need to capture a wild camel first! Chapter 796 796: 792 Since he could obtain assistance, Bi Fang naturally intended to make careful use of it. Human or animal. Between the two, Bi Fang undoubtedly chose the latter, and had decided early on to rely on the power of the "ships of the desert" in Sahara. One of the key aspects of this mission was the deadline¡ª120 days. Whether crossing Nemo Point or traversing the Sahara, both required a long time, and the deadline of 120 days was indeed pressing. To be safe, one naturally would choose the aid that could reduce the time. In the task of crossing Nemo Point, choosing either humans or animals wouldn''t improve the actual sailing speed. Choosing humans to help could at best result in two people building a better boat, but no matter how good the boat was, there was no significant breakthrough in speed¡ªat most a ten percent increase was the limit. And choosing animals was even less to speak of¡ªa canoe carrying an animal, besides causing frustration, would accomplish nothing else. But crossing the Sahara was different. Choosing humans was equally pointless, two people, four legs, could one really carry the other and alternate marching day and night? However, if an animal were chosen, for instance, a camel, then the time to cross the Sahara would be significantly reduced! It was not comparable to a mere ten percent increase in boat speed. With the aid of typhoons in the South Pacific, the time was reduced by five days; add a camel in the Sahara, and the 120-day deadline would no longer be a pressing constraint, but rather leave some leeway. Bi Fang fundamentally enjoyed the tasks set by the System, though they were dangerous and fraught with difficulties, each success was a purification for himself, and the sense of inner fulfillment was tremendous. It was like playing those hardcore games¡ªthough the bosses were tough and might take a whole day to defeat, when the challenge was truly overcome, the sense of achievement was incomparable. If time was too pressing, one could only bury their head and push forward, inevitably missing out on a lot of fun, and the scenic beauty of the journey would disappear in the tense race against the clock. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Therefore, the current scene was explained. As for why Mugalen was here, that was a pure coincidence. In short, the guy had come out to travel with his family. Milani was due to start school next year. Bi Fang always felt that from the moment one started school, life seemed to roll forward on wheels, never to stop again. The sense of freedom of going to bask in the sun whenever the weather was nice was gone for good. One could look at ¨¦tienne and see that only during summer and winter breaks could he find some time off. On regular Saturdays and Sundays, it was impossible to travel far. On the rare occasion that spring arrived, he could only sit by the window, feeling as if the sun''s angle had risen slightly, no longer shielded by the shadow of a hand when writing, and the eyes felt much more comfortable. The simple saddle fell to the ground, kicking up a bit of dust. Bi Fang picked it up, gently patted it, shook off the sand and stones, and secured it with ropes before carrying it on his back. "You really want to catch a wild camel? Taming it won''t be easy," Mugalen said, wiping sweat and feeling skeptical. However, he had no knowledge about taming camels; it was just an instinctive feeling of difficulty. "We have to try, and it doesn''t have to be a wild camel, feral domestic camels could also work." "Wild camels, feral domestic camels..." Mugalen was somewhat dumbfounded, "Aren''t those all wild camels?" "Not the same. Wild camels are wild camels, feral domestic camels are still domestic camels, and domestic camels have no relation to wild camels." "Wait, wait, slow down, I''m not quite following," An agile Indian jungle warrior might be able to grapple with an American Lion and live a comfortable life undefeated in the forest, but that doesn''t necessarily mean he can do the same in a desolate desert. As a standout among deer hunters, Mugalen certainly had his skills, but he was clearly not very familiar with camels, creatures of the desert. The difference between wild camels and domesticated camels is a common area of misconception for most people, and if it weren''t for the absence of reproductive isolation, they could even be classified as two different species. "Wait a moment," Bi Fang didn''t hurry to explain. He took a drone out of his bag, tossed it into the air, and it flew up effortlessly, one after another, leaving Mugalen stunned. "Your drone, it reacts so quickly when hovering." "The latest models are like that." Bi Fang opened the livestream without changing his expression. Mugalen was a rough man, having little understanding of cutting-edge technology. In any case, since capturing camels was involved, he would have to explain eventually; explaining to Mugalen or explaining to millions of viewers was all the same. With the livestream starting, he could get it done in one go. No sooner had the live room opened than an influx of online viewers surged in, with the notification quickly reaching all the fans. In just five minutes, the number of viewers exceeded three million, with the momentum of increase being staggering. According to this trend, it would surpass six million in a quarter of an hour, and there might be eight million viewers within half an hour! [Front row, sofa, I''m first!] [Still the champion of staying up late today!] [It''s only three in the afternoon here, so cool, just finished afternoon tea] [Nine o''clock at night, just finished a day''s work, ready for some entertainment, perfect timing!] [Damn, it''s only been two days, and you''ve started livestreaming already?] Viewers from around the world flooded in and, despite the strange time zone differences, their enthusiasm for watching the livestream wasn''t hindered. Instead, they kept sending in the current time from their locations, as if enjoying the unique feeling of being in the same temporal space. Once the initial excitement of entering the live room had subsided a bit, everyone could see the bright sunshine over Bi Fang''s head and the vast expanse of desert sand in the distance. Clearly, not far ahead was the desert area as recognized by the public, and where Bi Fang and Mugalen, as well as the camel that Mugalen was holding, were standing, there were still some shrubs underfoot. The ground wasn''t completely fine sand but a mixture of gravel and sand. [Huo, what a big sun!] [I''m starting to feel hot already, what should I do?] [120 days, time is really tight, how many days are left now?] [Crossing Nemo Point took thirty-four days, and it ended the day before yesterday, so two more days have passed, making it thirty-seven days. That leaves eighty-three days! Go go go!] [Master Fang has been in good care these two days, directly turned into a bronze uncle lol] Bi Fang subconsciously looked at his arm; it was a bit darker, but still could be considered deep wheat-colored, not as exaggerated as the Shuiyou described. The first week of crossing Nemo Point was indeed harsh with sun exposure¡ªeven on parts like the arms, which were exposed the longest, there were some flakes¡ª but then a typhoon hit, and it was mostly overcast, significantly reducing the degree of exposure to the harsh sun. At twenty-six years old, Bi Fang was in the absolute prime of his life, with strong recovery abilities. He had deliberately shaved and got a haircut before setting off today, and besides his skin being a bit darker, it was almost impossible to tell he had been adrift at sea for over a month. "Even if I tan a bit darker, I''m still a handsome guy, okay." Bi Fang clenched his fist and said earnestly. Chapter 797 793: Thats What a Real Man Should Do The topic of skin color, being a minor interlude, quickly livened up the atmosphere in the live stream. After a pause, Bi Fang steered the conversation back on track. "Regarding the content of this live stream, I assume nobody is unclear, right?" [We know, we know, Sahara Sahara!!] [The Desert of Death!] [The huge leper spot on Earth!] As a super-desert comparable in size to the entirety of Huaxia, the Saharan fame is known to all. It lies like a vast and unsightly scar prominently across the African land, becoming a renowned zone devoid of life. Some say that only after you have faced the trials of life and death in the Sahara Desert will you truly fall in love with the oasis, with life itself. Even from this single piece of dialogue, one can glimpse the world''s cruelty and wildness. Challenging oneself, understanding the true essence of life¡ªthat''s what Bi Fang had always been doing. The audience had been eagerly anticipating this. "Indeed, before crossing Nemo Point, I had made everything very clear, "This live stream is about crossing Nemo Point and then traversing the Sahara, with a total time limit of one hundred and twenty days. Therefore, strictly speaking, our live stream has just passed one third." Bi Fang pointed to the desert and Gobi in front of him. "As you all can see, there is a desert before us, and you are not mistaken ¨C Old Mugalen and I are currently located at the northernmost point of Burkina Faso, which is also the southernmost edge of the Sahara Desert." "I have divided the desert into two levels; the first one is similar to the Gobi, which is harsh but still inhabited, with shrubs and even grass on the ground. The second level, as everyone imagines, is filled with sand dunes, a true uninhabited region." "According to the information, the Sahara is actually a very broad concept, covering almost the entire north of Africa; all of this is the Sahara Desert. However, around its perimeter is the first level of desert, and only the center constitutes the true uninhabited area, which is the second level of desert." "Our entry point this time is Burkina Faso, and not long after entering from here, we will directly reach the core area of the Sahara." "After that, our preliminary route plan is Burkina Faso ¡ú Mali ¡ú Algeria ¡ú Niger ¡ú Chad ¡ú Libya ¡ú Egypt, crossing the entire core of Sahara. Of course, in between¡ª" The Sahara Desert stretches about 4,800 kilometers from east to west, with its width varying between 1,300 and 1,900 kilometers in the north-south direction. True crossing, naturally, is from east to west, not from south to north. We avoid the frivolous challenges ¨C only to undertake the most difficult ones. The route chosen by Bi Fang, looking at the map, is roughly from the lower left corner of the Sahara penetrating into the center and then across the entire east and west, with a route length of over five thousand kilometers. "However, we have only eighty days left, and the time frame is extremely tight. So, my plan is to capture a camel before we set off." [666, Master Fang makes a move, astounding as always!] Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [I remember Old Fang once said that camels are rare, they are protected animals. Can you just capture them like that?] [Awesome, just finished watching Nemo Point, now comes a Sahara expedition, is this what happiness is?] "This involves a conceptual issue, and since Mugalen just asked me the same question, I think it''s necessary to do a bit of simple science popularization." "Wild camels, feral camels, and domestic camels are actually three different things. The first one is a protected species, indeed rare; but the latter two aren''t..." As Bi Fang continued his explanation, the audience in front of the screen gradually got a clear concept. Wild camels and domestic camels, if not for the absence of reproductive isolation, could even be considered two different species. The genetic differences between the two are as high as 3%, even greater than the 0.5% to 1.4% difference between humans and gorillas! Domestic camels that run away do indeed turn wild, but they cannot be called wild camels; the two had already diverged into two different species 800,000 years ago. However, the so-called genetic differences being larger than those between humans and chimpanzees only indicate that the two species have long diverged, but this does not mean that their kinship is more distant than that between humans and chimpanzees, as statistical calibers differ. There is reproductive isolation between humans and chimpanzees, while there is no barrier between domestic camels and wild camels, no isolation whatsoever. In areas where wild camels are found, the raising of domestic camels is not permitted, precisely to prevent genetic pollution of the wild camel population. The wild camel population is small and protected, and Bi Fang had no opinion on this. But as for feral camels, not only did Bi Fang have ideas, he had lots of them! Compared with wild camels, feral domestic camels are undoubtedly much easier to tame and are more common in the Sahara Desert, not rare creatures at all, with their numbers possibly even reaching the hundreds of thousands. Those domestic camels, estranged from their environment, reproduce generation after generation in the desert, and although their wildness is significant, deep in their genes there are still things starkly different from wild camels. Camels actually have very few natural enemies, their combat prowess is extremely high, and once they have a suitable environment, they can breed prolifically. Just look at Australia to understand, millions of feral camels have become a plague. Initially, Bi Fang truly didn''t have the intention of capturing wild camels, but instead wanted to directly buy one, or choose the one he encountered in the Qaidam Desert named Naren, a remarkable camel that survived a Naked Choke and still came back to see you. Camels that have already been tamed, or even those that have had personal contact, are undoubtedly the best choice, minimizing many accidents and shortening the adaptation period. But Bi Fang then thought that doing so would be too uninteresting. Anyone can buy a camel, just pay some money, but how could he then have the nerve to say he crossed the Sahara on his own? If he was going to do it, he wanted to do it thoroughly, truly accomplishing it all with his own abilities. Up to now since his "debut," Bi Fang really hadn''t used such large external forces, and he didn''t want this time to be an exception. Compared to the many doubts that once existed within Bi Fang, the audience was rather unsurprised by his choice; on the contrary, they found it very Bi Fang. A real man should be this way. After joining in the excitement for a while, Mugalen, the porter, quickly left, and Bi Fang wandered alone with his backpack through this semi-desert area. "Camels are called the ships of the desert because they are hardy and their humps store a large amount of fat, which can be broken down into water and energy, allowing them to go long periods without drinking or eating. However, this does not mean they don''t need water or food." "Feral camels are equally scared of humans, therefore, regions that are sparsely populated but have extensive vegetation are their favorites. We''ll search here, and we should quickly come across them." Chapter 798 794 Bite Marks Burkina Faso might sound like an obscure little country in Africa, but mention its other name, and many people might have an impression¡ªit''s known as "The Country of Honorable Gentlemen." The name of the country comes from its native language, meaning "The Country of Honorable Gentlemen." Positively speaking, despite the extremely unstable security in Africa, the people of Burkina Faso lead a self-sufficient, leisurely life. But from what Bi Fang saw along the way, poverty and hardship are the true epitomes. It is one of the poorest countries in the world, with nearly 80% of the labor force engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry, yet due to its location on the edge of the desert, with flatland that holds no moisture, the arable land is scarce and dry. Having no money leads to farming, but farming yields no significant results¡ªit''s a vicious cycle of sorts. The ground under Bi Fang''s feet was already severely desertified, with fine sand mixed into the large quantities of grit, and slopes were prone to slipping. "In this place, rain is a cause for great celebration, if a child is born when it''s raining, people believe that the child is inherently lucky, blessed by the gods, and so they generally name the child Patwa, which means rain." "Locals even build houses directly from clay, mixing it with water and then constructing walls and roofs, without worrying about the possibility of rain soaking and collapsing them." While looking for prey, Bi Fang also didn''t forget to make some commentary, lest his audience find it monotonous, but this undoubtedly exacerbated his body''s dehydration, often having to stop to sip water. Being close to the equator, Burkina Faso was already very hot by the end of May. Especially in the northernmost part where Bi Fang was, the highest average daytime temperature had exceeded thirty-seven degrees, and even light activity under the scorching sun could lead to heavy sweating. Just lifting his head, he could see the heat distorted by high temperatures, layered upon itself, denser than sea waves blown up by a typhoon. A small bunch of gravel slid down the hill, and Bi Fang, dressed in light khaki explorer gear, stepped forward, heading toward the top of the slope. Crossing the Sahara, the system only allowed the use of minimal low-level system equipment, and Bi Fang ultimately chose a set of khaki explorer gear reminiscent of Professor Indiana Jones. The color was called khaki, but it was quite pale, and under strong exposure, it even looked pure white. The quality, as always, was good¡ªconvenient and quick-drying, eliminating the embarrassment of sweat stains. Standing atop the hill, Bi Fang scoped the horizon, where the yellow earth stretched far and wide, with a few sparse, thinly spread trees that looked short and pitiful. Facing the sun, Bi Fang squinted slightly, trying to spot any traces of his prey. In another two days, it would be June, and he only intended to spend three days to obtain a sufficiently docile camel, ready to set off by the first of June at the latest. The best arrangement would be to have a catch today and spend one to two days acclimating. After all, capturing one didn''t mean he could ride it; some basic training was needed. "Most of the territory of Burkina Faso is made up of plateaus, but the average altitude is not high, at only about 300 meters, and the terrain is flat. The country''s highest peak is only 749 meters tall. However, due to the flatness of the land, this is not advantageous for our ambush of camels." Bi Fang pointed at the vast plain in front of him, scanning from left to right, sharing some basic knowledge about camels. "Camels are exceptionally large animals, with adults measuring over two meters in height, a body length of 2.8 to 3.2 meters, and a weight close to 500 kilograms, dwarfing horses and mules in terms of size." "In nature, bigger often means stronger, so without a doubt, camels are one of the land''s dominant creatures." "Though they may seem cumbersome, they are very agile, and their bodies are quite flexible. Their necks can bend into an S-shape like a cobra''s, allowing them to keep an eye on their surroundings all the time and escape quickly." "Most importantly, camels are also very fast, especially the dromedaries used in races which have explosive power. Their sprinting speed is similar to that of wolves, reaching speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour." "Once December arrives," he began, "the speed of camels further increases, because it is their mating season. During this period, camels become extremely aggressive and are constantly in a state of excitement. Their running speed reaches a new level, reportedly up to 70 kilometers per hour¡ªfaster than wild horses." [Wow, is this the power of love?] [What flows in their veins isn''t blood but the hormones of love.] [This hormone is more potent than gasoline, so powerful.] [It''s intoxicating.] "This speed also grants the camel a tremendous impact force, like a cannonball. Any animal struck by them is either killed or injured. Moreover, there''s the kicking, which is common among hoofed animals and very dangerous. Thus, capturing a camel is not an easy task; using the terrain to your advantage is the best method." Capturing some large fierce beasts often critically depends on the use of terrain. The most common strategy is to have a small mound, with each party on one side of it¡ªit provides not only a visual shield but also a degree of scent isolation. When you suddenly appear, the swiftly shortened distance can also somewhat intimidate the animal. Of course, having a headwind would make it even better. With scent and sight completely blocked and at a distance of fewer than twenty meters, Bi Fang rarely missed his mark. His record when capturing reindeer and black bears certainly proved this point. On the ground, a low bush drooped wearily, and Bi Fang squatted, lifting some of it. As the drone approached, everyone could clearly see the bite marks left on the stems of the plants. "The manner in which bark is peeled, the leftover nutshells and berry remnants, the tooth marks on tender branches, the remains of prey left by carnivorous animals, and the destroyed state of prey nests¡ªall of these can help you determine the types of animals living in the vicinity and their habits," he explained, pointing to several noticeable marks before looking up at the live broadcast device. "Many deer that nibble on tender plant stems leave characteristic tooth marks, and the edges of the peeled stems and bark will show signs of damage. The edges left by rabbits that have gnawed on bark, however, are smooth." "In the summer, the bark nibbled by deer is torn into long strips, fully exposing the wood underneath¡ªin winter, when the bark is tightly adhered, it is only gnawed into chunks, allowing one to see many clear tooth marks." "Sheep and goats also gnaw on bark. The tooth marks they leave are usually slanted, while those of deer are vertical." "Rodents often gnaw at the base of tree stems¡ªstripping the soft bark off saplings is usually the work of wild rabbits. The parts gnawed by industrious beavers look as if they''ve been chopped with a small hatchet, leaving deep marks with conical tops." "Squirrels will climb to the top of the stem to strip and gnaw the bark of tender twigs, and you''ll usually find wood chips and pieces of bark scattered at the base of the tree. But if you also find scattered nuts or pinecones below, that indicates it might be the work of nut-stealing birds." sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Near a pile of empty nutshells on the ground, one is likely to find a burrow inhabited by a rodent." [Note it down, note it down.] [Master Fang is awesome!] [Professional Hunter''s tips, saved for later.] [Why bother, think you''ll use it one day?] Bi Fang shared a wealth of information about the signs left by common herbivores, which was an eye-opener for the audience. But then he changed tack. "However, camels are different from the animals mentioned before. Their mouths are full of sharp teeth, and at first glance, one might not even consider them herbivores but rather liken them to carnivores, like tigers or leopards. That''s why the marks they leave are easily recognizable at a glance." Chapter 799 795 Siege Carnivorous animals have smaller incisors, and their canines are strong and sharp, suitable for killing and tearing prey; their molars have sharp edges. The last premolar on the upper jaw and the lower jaw''s molar meet like scissors, becoming carnassial teeth, suitable for cutting through animal bones, cartilages, and tendons. Herbivorous animals have duller teeth than carnivores. Their incisors are broad, some lack incisors altogether, but the gum area where their incisors should be is tough, acting as a substitute for incisors. Their molars are broad and their surfaces uneven. These features help in cutting and grinding plant stems and leaves. "To put it simply, the front half of an herbivorous animal''s teeth look like planks¡ªneat and aligned, yet very sharp. A bite into a clump of grass leaves a trace as if it has been cropped by a razor blade." "You''ve probably seen some horses or donkeys on the internet gaping wide to reveal teeth similar to those of humans'', looking naive and silly¡ªthat''s not photoshopped; it''s indeed the case." "But camels are different," Bi Fang pointed at the shrubbery in front of him; clearly, the bite marks were not neatly cropped as he had just described but were haphazard and uneven. "Camels have incisors that are all fangs, both upper and lower, and the first premolars on the lower jaw are also canine-shaped, which is an extremely unique exception among ruminants." People usually think that only carnivorous animals have canines, which is actually a misconception stemming from the fact that humans'' own canines are highly degenerated, almost invisible. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So, it''s easy to mistakenly assume that non-carnivorous animals have degenerated canines as well. In reality, there are herbivores with canines, albeit few. But to have six pairs of upper and lower canines, including the first premolars, and completely lack normal incisors¡ªonly camels are so unique. Even camel teeth are sometimes processed, with the crown and root junction polished, to create imitation tiger teeth for sale. Thus, grasses bitten by camels tend to be rather "sparse." "A good start, a reward within half an hour of appearing." Bi Fang stood up, brushed the sand off his shoulders, and walked towards the distance. Among domesticated herbivores, camels might be the most ferocious and frightening. The biting power of a camel''s canines is comparable to that of a leopard and has surpassed that of the spotted hyena; they can easily penetrate the human thoracic and abdominal walls, causing damage to internal organs or bones. Once they bite down hard on a person''s neck, with the four large canines sinking into the flesh, and by using the eight cone-shaped incisors to give a few violent shakes, they can tear off the person''s head. "In 2016, such an incident occurred in Northern Rajasthan''s Palodi Town," he continued. "The local temperature rose above 50 degrees Celsius. The camel''s owner had tied the camel outside without any shade or water, and then he went to visit a friend." "By the time the owner returned from his visit and tried to untie the camel''s reins, the camel suddenly flew into a rage, bit the man''s neck, shook violently, and eventually tore off his head." "In 2017, a 26-year-old man in the United Arab Emirates was bitten by a camel while feeding it, resulting in perforation of the intestines and comminuted fractures of the lumbar vertebrae." "Even this year, a camel in a zoo, aggrieved by a long time of drinking polluted water, attacked humans. According to witnesses, the attacking camel cornered two victims, flipped them over with its mouth, kicked them with its legs, and then knelt on them, crushing their ribs with its knees." [Let''s do it] [I went to Mongolia last year and rode a camel. They seemed so cute at the time (covers face)] [Indeed, I''ve ridden one too and never imagined they could be so ferocious.] "Theoretically, in domesticated animals, those with higher intelligence are less likely to harm humans." [Why does my kitty scratch me every day?] [Is it possible that the kitty isn''t fully domesticated?] [Ahh that] "Among livestock raised by humans, pigs and cows are among the more intelligent and thus rarely attack people." "On the contrary, sheep have a lower IQ and tend to attack humans more often, but because of their smaller size, many of their attacks don''t get taken seriously." "Among incidents of herbivores attacking humans, the most troublesome thing is that they usually appear meek and harmless, yet the damage occurs suddenly." "These lower-IQ animals are particularly dangerous because their behavioral logic is hard to grasp. However, camels actually have a high IQ; their danger actually stems from another trait, which is holding grudges." [Wow, another eye-opening day.] [Is this what they call a good memory?] [Camel Diary: June 13th, my master slapped me, and my anger gauge permanently increased by one.] [So what was that Naked Choke by Master Fang? (scratches head)] [Camels among themselves are different (Dog''s head).] [There are so many gnawed bushes around here, does that mean we''re getting close?] Bi Fang looked at the traces on the ground and, after pinching them, realized that this was indeed the case. The breakage of plants that had just been bitten differed completely from those that had been bitten half a day or even more than a day before in terms of freshness and wilting. The severed stems here were even oozing green sap, which clearly meant that herbivorous animals had visited within the last half-hour. The sandstorm was quite strong today, and there weren''t many footprints on the ground. After running for another quarter of an hour, Bi Fang finally found continuous clues. "The footprints are jumbled, it looks like more than one, probably three, and maybe there''s also a young camel." Bi Fang examined the footprints on the ground carefully. "Camels generally live in groups and family units during the summer. Come fall, they start forming groups of five or six, or about twenty, and sometimes even more than a hundred." "When wandering through the desert, the adult camels walk in front and behind, while the young camels are placed in the middle, often following a few fixed routes for foraging and drinking, known as ''camel tracks''." "Now that it is summer, a group of three probably indicates a normal family structure, two adult camels and one young camel." Bi Fang flexed his fingers and pulled out a rope from his backpack. Although there were three of them, he didn''t feel they were invincible. It was precisely because he was familiar with camel habits that Bi Fang was prepared. Camels were much larger than humans, but in a melee, being smaller could actually be an advantage if one could get close enough. Following the tracks on the ground, Bi Fang finally spotted three dromedary camels in the distance. Despite the open terrain that was completely unsuitable for capture. [Let''s do it. Let''s do it.] [No conditions, brother. Old Fang can''t teleport.] [What to do? If it were one, we could sneak up, but three have no blind spots in their vision, right?] [Indeed, this place is too flat.] "Don''t worry, finding them doesn''t mean we have to act right away. It''s just noon, and we have plenty of time. The sun is quite harsh today, and the camels will definitely look for a place to rest. That will be our opportunity," Just as Bi Fang was thinking of getting closer, he hadn''t walked far when he noticed something off about the three camels'' behavior. The young camel seemed particularly panicked, occasionally lifting its forehooves. Noticing this, Bi Fang narrowed his eyes and then realized that beneath the huge bodies of the camels, a dozen or so grey-brown wolves had already surrounded them in a tight circle, engaged in a tense standoff. Because the wolves'' fur color was too similar to the sandy ground, and their size was smaller compared to the camels, they were indistinguishable from the land at a distance, and Bi Fang, distracted by the camels, hadn''t noticed them at first glance! Chapter 800 796: Charge The Sahara wolf pack, having roamed for a day and a night, was unbearably hungry; yet all they could see around them were sparse shrubs, weeds, and endless yellow sand. Apart from grazing like plump lambs, the only thing they could do was dig in the soil for beetles to eat. The Sahara during the day was as hot as a griddle, with even the beetles burying themselves deep out of sight, leaving only choking dust when the wolves dug. A few Subordinate Wolves stopped and scratched their hind legs; they nipped at their fur with sharp teeth, attempting to rid themselves of the damned fleas, while their sidelong glances occasionally drifted toward the leading alpha wolf, seemingly harboring discontent but suppressing it out of respect for authority. The alpha wolf was the strongest and most intimidating in the pack, noticeably larger in size compared to the rest, and enjoyed the undivided attention of the female wolves. The fur they scratched off floated in the air, wishing they could shed their entire skin to feel some respite, yet thinking of the bone-chilling cold of the night, the loosened hair follicles firmly took root again. Blistering by day, freezing by night. This is the Sahara. Just as a few Subordinate Wolves lagged behind, covertly expressing their dissatisfaction, a deep wolf howl awakened the entire pack. The pack, small in groups, perked up immediately and moved quickly to the alpha wolf''s side, straining their eyes toward the distance. There were three camels, two large and one small. With not a single tree in sight for miles around, the towering camels cast long shadows on the ground, standing out conspicuously. Opportunity had arrived. Dust billowed as the wolf pack charged at the small camel family, their green eyes gleaming with hunger. [These wolves look kind of small] [Indeed, they seem much smaller than the ones Master Fang encountered before] [What kind of wolves are these, Desert Wolves?] The drone could automatically magnify scenes, bringing the stand-off so close it felt like it was right before the audience''s eyes, allowing them a clearer view. While the wolves surrounding the trio of camels were numerous, they seemed to be of lesser quality, feeling considerably smaller than the Arctic Wolves. Being too far away with no sufficient reference points nearby, the only thing the viewers could compare the wolves to were the camels they were attacking, which made it difficult to confirm whether it was the wolves that were too small or the camels too big. However small the wolves appeared, Bi Fang, braving the sweltering sun, counted them carefully and realized there were as many as seventeen wolves! Any animal group that exceeds five in the same space can create a significant visual impact. Just think how it feels to encounter five dogs at home suddenly; although the number might be small, it would evoke a sense of "that''s a lot" when they actually rush at you. The increase in the number of animals is not just a rise in numbers; it is precisely why Bi Fang generally disliked sociable carnivores, finding them troublesome whenever he encountered them. The sheer number of wild wolves made the charge look formidable, showing that this slightly smaller wolf pack should not be underestimated. For this reason, Bi Fang did not approach rashly; after sneaking a bit closer, he hid 200 meters away, lying low to watch how the situation unfolded. When he saw the barrage of comments, he started doing commentary for this battle on his own initiative. "That''s the Desert Wolf, also known as the African Wolf. Your intuition is correct; they are indeed smaller in size, and significantly so," he said. "I mentioned Bergmann''s Rule before, which means that among endothermic animals, individuals of the same species or closely related species living in cold environments have relatively larger body sizes." "Bergmann believed that this is because as the size of an animal increases, its relative surface area decreases, leading to a smaller ratio of heat dissipation from the surface, and therefore better retention of heat to adapt to the cold environments of high-latitude areas." "This rule is not a theorem and has many flaws, yet for mammals, over ninety percent of species conform to it. So we might easily deduce that the closer to the equator, the smaller the body size tends to be. The Desert Wolf is a prime example; they weigh less than half of an Arctic Wolf." "Although called wolves, Desert Wolves are not truly wolves, but are a distinct species within the canine family, Canidae." Bi Fang lay on the loamy ground and began to explain the origins of the Gray Wolf, providing the audience with a deeper understanding. As a social predator, Gray Wolves are found almost everywhere in the world, yet they are notably absent from the roads of Africa, for complex reasons. "Overall, ''wolf'' refers to members of the species Canis lupus, and the ancestors of Gray Wolves, including their migratory routes, have always been between the Eurasian continent and North America, never entering Africa, possibly due to migratory memory and environmental differences, which is why there are no Gray Wolves in Africa." "Even so, during the early migrations of canids, some did enter Africa, because there are still canids in Africa, with the African Wolf being one of them." [Then why call them wolves?] [Perhaps it''s just linguistic habit.] "Indeed, it is a linguistic habit. Take, for instance, the African Hyena; although they are called hyenas, they are not members of the Canidae family but belong to the Hyena family within the suborder Feliformia, neither cats nor dogs, but an independent species." S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "These are issues of translation and naming. Previous translations and namings were not rigorous enough. Hyenas looked like dogs at first glance, so people gave them a name with ''dog'' in it." There are many similar historical naming problems, such as Cheetahs not being true leopards, and American Lions not being actual lions. However, these names have already been adopted as the official terms and are widely used, so we just continue with them as they are, without making corrections." It''s precisely because they are not wolves that African Wolves have some subtle differences from wolves in their habits, such as their flexible social structure. The social organization of African Wolves is very flexible; the size of their groups fluctuates based on available food. If there is plenty of food, they can form large groups. If there is a scarcity, the numbers disperse, breaking down into smaller units. Families of African Wolves charge at camels across the land strewn with coarse sand, raising clouds of dust again and again. Strangely, they don''t rush to attack; instead, they leverage their smaller size for agility, passing by the camels multiple times as if only seeking to cause panic. And judging by the camels'' helpless reactions, this tactic is quite effective; at least on several occasions, the camels have tried to break out only to be driven back by a few wolves. "This is a common wolf pack tactic called ''Blitzkrieg.''" Bi Fang was somewhat excited; such scenes were not common. "Look how clever they are. By constantly charging, they attempt to isolate the camel family unit. If they manage to separate the young one, it is as good as dead!" The size of African Wolves varies greatly with geographic variation, being significantly larger in West and North Africa than in East Africa. In The Country of Honorable Gentlemen, located in West Africa, these African Wolves are not that small. Some of that perception might be due to the camel''s size, making the attack look even more fearsome. The smallest camel was the weakest link in the small family group. At such a young age, it had never witnessed such a scene before. It couldn''t help but consider fleeing, but it was securely guarded by two large camels, one on each side. But the large camels were also struggling. They couldn''t hold out much longer. Chapter 801 797: Picking Up Leftovers Blitzkrieg, also known as lightning war, was a tactic used by Germany during World War II, created by the famous German General Heinz Wilhelm Guderian. It fully utilized the fast advantages of aircraft, tanks, and mechanized troops, achieving victory through surprise attacks, and aimed to rapidly cut through enemy lines to reach the anticipated effect. Its core elements were speed, surprise, and concentration. It was both strategy and tactics. Strategically, it was holistic and globally coordinated; tactically, it was ingeniously unique and highly adaptable. Nature''s alpha wolf could not possibly explain the essence of this tactic to its pack by scraping a blackboard with claws, but solely through instinct, it excelled in achieving this goal, maneuvering among the camels, using its smaller size and agility to try to isolate the smallest camel. This bears an uncanny resemblance to Blitzkrieg. Although this particular camel was clearly not fully grown and quite smaller, it still weighed several hundred kilograms, enough to provide a feast for these dozen or so African wolves, sparing them from hunting for at least a few days, and possibly even helping to unite a larger wolf pack, creating a war advantage. "In 2012, also in the Sahara Desert of Africa, 12 African wolves launched a ''Blitzkrieg'' against five camels, employing a divide and conquer tactic, successfully separating a young camel from the flock." "Adult wild camels are tough to deal with, so when wolf packs hunt, they target the recently postpartum mother camels and the young calves." "The survival rate of young camels in the wild in Mengxin territory is less than 10%, precisely because they are preyed upon by packs of wolves." "Mother camels that have recently given birth must live near water sources on the edge of the desert, leaving them unable to seek refuge in the vast desert from predators, resulting in low defense capabilities and frequently becoming targets for wolves." "In such situations, when mother camels are alarmed, they lack the strength to resist and often can only abandon their young to escape, although sometimes there are instances of a camel drawing the wolves away to protect the whole herd." [Indeed, there are differences among camels.] [Animals too can be great.] Perhaps due to their nature, but as a professional, Bi Fang felt more that this was the herd instinct of these creatures coming into play. When facing danger, in order to better ensure the survival of the species, wild animals strive to minimize harm, even if it means sacrificing themselves. Bi Fang kept a close watch on the wolf pack, observing the struggle as if witnessing a highly technical, professional hunt. These animals, guided purely by instinct, had become outstanding tacticians; it was truly awe-inspiring. "Now there are more wolves, and with only three targets, there''s no reason not to attack, and the Desert Wolf is the only predator group that can pose a threat to camels." "Of course, desert lions as well, but those are in South Africa and there are only about a hundred of them; we won''t encounter them." Camels are virtually perfect creatures with powerful attacks, terrifying speed, and biting power. Their defense is just as strong with thick fur and tough skin, reminiscent of natural armor; ordinary animal teeth can hardly pierce it, unable to inflict serious harm. Moreover, camels primarily inhabit desert and gobi areas¡ªenvironments that are extremely harsh and relatively devoid of water and vegetation, some places even lacking grass. In such harsh environments, only camels can adapt, and large carnivores rarely venture there due to the lack of a supporting food chain at the lowest level; the desert is hell for them. Hence, it''s rare to find carcasses of camels that have been preyed upon in the wild, making Bi Fang all the more interested in lying down to observe. Moreover, he had no intention of interfering with this natural phenomenon and was even interested in acting as a commentator on the battlefield. "One interesting point is that African wolves are generally nocturnal, but sometimes they are also active during the day. After all, the Sahara Desert is too barren; for the sake of food, they can''t be concerned with their habits, showing a sort of corporate worker''s demeanor." [For the sake of food, it''s so realistic.] [Talking about it brings tears to my eyes.] [Continuous shifts, rotating doubles, must be overtime madness, right?] "I volunteer for work (ignore the handcuffs on my hands)." At this moment, the Desert Wolves were still trying to isolate a young camel. After just over a minute, the largest male camel started to grow restless, suddenly opened its mouth, but instead of trying to bite the Desert Wolves, it violently spewed out a large amount of yellow, viscid substance. This action came without warning, and one of the Desert Wolves couldn''t dodge in time, getting drenched from head to toe in the yellow-white sticky substance. Luckily, Bi Fang was a hundred meters away at that moment. Had he been a bit closer, perhaps he would have been able to smell that intense, soul-penetrating stench of rot. Even though he didn''t actually smell it, Bi Fang felt as if the stench were filling his nostrils, and he explained, buzzing his nose: "This is a defense mechanism of camels, by spitting out partially digested food from their stomachs, they emit a strong stench of rot to drive off enemies." "Oh! (A robust man shakes his head)" "This is a biological weapon!" "Although it''s somewhat dishonorable, the effect is very good." The Desert Wolf that got drenched couldn''t bear such an intense smell. With their keen sense of smell, the odor went straight to the brain, and the wolf immediately became dizzy. Seizing the opportunity, the camel bit the wolf''s head. By this time, two small drones had already approached the battlefield, and everyone clearly heard the sound of bones breaking. Eventually, the camel twisted its neck snake-like and violently threw the Desert Wolf aside, where it tumbled across the ground kicking up dust and sand, before lying still. This sudden turnaround seemed to signal that the battle had entered an intensely heated phase. The Desert Wolves no longer used continuous interweaving intimidation but sporadically coupled their assaults with bites or claw scratches. Several of them leaped, attempting to attack the young camel''s hindquarters, but the large camels provided good protection. "Desert Wolves are very adept at ambush tactics and like to use pack hunting to attack camels. Through fearless attacks, they exhaust the camels'' stamina, and they even adopt the hyena''s tactic of targeting the anus, attacking the camel''s vulnerabilities, rendering it defenseless." No matter how fierce the camels fought, they could not withstand the wolves'' siege. Their stamina was limited, and the pack of wolves was relentless until, finally, the young camel couldn''t take it anymore and took advantage of a breach in the defense line to run straight out! Done for! Now, without Bi Fang''s commentary, the audience knew what was going to happen next. With the young camel''s escape, the pack became thoroughly excited and ran wildly after it. Without the protection of the adult camels, the young one had no idea how to defend itself and was quickly covered in Desert Wolves, followed by its fur becoming stained red. "Too tender," sighed Bi Fang. Before the adult camels behind him could catch up, the young one had already collapsed, powerless to get back up. At this point, there was no need for a rescue. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even after the two adult camels caught up, the wolves simply scattered, not entangling themselves with them further, pacing around the camels. The young camel was already a meal on the plate, no rush for the moment. Once the adult camels had accepted reality, the alpha wolf gave the signal, and they attacked again. This time, the two camels did not stand their ground but fled towards the distance, while the pack began to enjoy the hard-earned feast, sending out excited howls of joy. "All right, it''s our turn now," said Bi Fang, getting up from the ground and following in the direction the camels had fled. Speaking of which, it might be devious, but Bi Fang was prepared to launch an attack while the camels were still recovering. "Wu Hu, ready to scrape up the leftovers" "To be honest, at first, I thought Old Fang was going to rescue the family of camels, and then in gratitude, they''d willingly submit to the reins." "Read fewer novels." Chapter 802 798 Eat and Drink What You Should The situation was better than Bi Fang had imagined. The hoof prints on the ground were clearly visible, yet became disorderly on a slope about a kilometer away. Afterwards, they diverged, splitting into two paths to the left and right. This inconspicuous little hill had split the camel team like a blade, serving to divide their paths. Adult camels aren''t afraid of wolf packs, but to protect the young camels they had no choice but to band together. Now, free of restraint and scared by the wolf pack, they scattered wildly in panic. The fear that herbivores have for carnivores is etched into their genes, and that saying isn''t wrong at all. Without a reason, they would never directly resist. Now, whichever side he chose meant Bi Fang only needed to deal with a single, exhausted camel. The chances of success greatly increased, and the danger significantly decreased. Bi Fang examined the hoof prints for a while, then spread his hands to measure their size, finally choosing to follow the larger set of prints. "Male camels are generally more robust than female camels, with more developed bones and consequently larger hoof prints. Although female camels have a gentler disposition, their endurance and strength aren''t as great as the males'', nor are their physiques as rough and sturdy. So if you''re traveling, you''ll rarely see camel drivers with female camels." "Furthermore, camels have a long gestation period, between twelve to fourteen months. During this period, their endurance and strength are even weaker, making them less favored." "So, given the choice, I would also favor the larger male camel. We need to follow these larger prints." [I feel like male camels can be very fierce.] [Damn, my assessment is, not as good as Naren.] S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [A supremely good camel, right?] "There''s no need to worry about that. Male camels are generally indistinguishable from females, except during the mating season when, under the influence of sex hormones, they exhibit fierce behavior." "Tropical camels are mostly fertile all year round, but their peak period is concentrated in the first four months of the year." "Our journey is from the end of May to August. Although it''s the hottest time in the Sahara, we''ve also avoided the male camels'' mating season, and it''s a phase when they''re recovering their energy and at their strongest." Bi Fang followed the camel''s large footprints as he pursued and talked. The temperature around him continued to rise, and by two o''clock in the afternoon, Bi Fang looked up at the yellowish sun, pursed his lips, and unsurprisingly furrowed his brow. "Phew, the sun''s radiation is strongest at noon, but the hottest time of the day is actually between 2 and 3 PM." "This is because the surface heat near the ground mainly comes from ground radiation, which in turn comes from solar radiation. The heat conversion during this period takes about two hours." "Let''s find a place to rest first." The hot weather was inherently tiring, and with Bi Fang''s energy nearly drained, he had no choice but to find a shady spot to take a break and catch his breath, all the while feeling frustrated. "It can really run; I''ve been chasing for almost an hour now." [Bravery runs out just like that.] [Your mother, there are heat waves everywhere; it''s just too clear. What''s the temperature now?] [I can''t stand the heat the most, feels like I''m going to melt.] [Scorching, way too hot.] "Probably around 42 degrees Celsius; I feel like a dehydrated gecko baking in the sun." As if to prove the truth of his words, Bi Fang, sitting on a stone, put his backpack down on the ground. The sand and dirt shifted slightly around him, revealing a shriveled little tail, which, when pulled out, turned out to indeed be a dehydrated little gecko. With a pinch of his fingers, it actually crumbled into pieces, like a leaf completely dehydrated in the winter. From the direction it seems that it was trying to hide under the rocks, but ultimately fell short and collapsed on the sandy ground, ending up roasted into a gecko jerky. [666, is this what they call ''words come true''?] [Brother Fang, I don''t want to learn wilderness survival anymore, I want to learn this] [Best performance of the game] "I''d love to teach you if you want to learn." Bi Fang opened his water bottle and took a drink, waiting for Sahara Desert''s most intense period of heat to pass. After more than half an hour, the air cooled off slightly, and Bi Fang then put on his backpack and continued on his way. This time, it was much easier, and Bi Fang even wondered if he had traveled ten kilometers before he saw the panicked male camel in his vision. Thinking back, they hadn''t been too far apart to begin with. If he hadn''t rested, he might have encountered it in another fifteen minutes. "It looks like it knows the afternoon sun is tough to endure." Bi Fang cautiously approached, then pulled a clump of grass from his backpack, complete with many scale-like flowers. He grabbed it with both hands, twisted it tight, broke it, and then smeared the plant juice over his face to mask his scent. "Camels have very keen sense of smell, so we have to use some methods to cover our own scent. Charcoal fire, plant sap, or mud can all work." "However, plants are scarce in the Sahara Desert, and most are drought-resistant and short-lived. Outside the oases, trees and shrubberies are extremely rare." "Fortunately, there are more plants around the southern edge of the desert, including shrubs and hardy grasses of the Gramineae family, and three pampas grass is the most common. It''s what we''ve been seeing the most along the way." "But one thing to keep in mind is that three pampas grass is a favored food in camel diets, and if the smell is too strong, it can attract their attention." [Camel: I smell dinner.] [I smell food.] [Thanks for the dinner, bro (biting onto Old Fang''s head)] "The plants in my hand are willow shrubs, native small shrubs of the Sahara Desert. Their leaves and flowers are dry and scaly but squeeze a little, and they still hold some moisture, which we can smear on ourselves." After wind direction assessment and scent masking, having completed these basic hunting preparations, Bi Fang crouched low, gradually approaching the camel. Whether it was because it had released a biochemical weapon and was now hollow inside, this huge male camel braved the sun, munching on three pampas grass. If they hadn''t witnessed the wolf hunt at noon with their own eyes, no one would guess it had just experienced a tragic loss. "Every moment in nature involves killing; perhaps it has been through much more than we can imagine." "Excessive emotion is energy-consuming. In the face of survival, everything is trivial, including emotions." Bi Fang explained softly. After getting within a hundred meters, he went from crouching to crawling, quietly inching closer, flat against the scorching land. "I feel like I''m lying on a sizzling griddle, oozing oil, it''s so hot, the ground temperature must be over fifty degrees." Bi Fang grimaced, but that was his last complaint. The camel was now close at hand, and after this comment, he spoke no more. The entire live broadcast room fell silent, not even a sound of the wind, just the strange, muffled noise of the sun baking the earth. Chapter 803 799 Sahara Camel Calves The earth was scorched a reddish color, the plants grew listlessly, and the air quivered and twisted like a nest of serpents, as the tall camels mechanically chewed on water-starved shrubs, such a scene seemingly persisted for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. If Nemo Point gave the impression of pure white and azure, filled with the smell of the sea, then the Sahara was a striking bright yellow, both the sky and the land alike, the smell even more so reminiscent of parched earth. In such extreme environments, it seemed that colors were so monochromatic. Bi Fang had also become a member of this vivid color scheme. He was crawling, his shoulder blades rising and falling, his muscles moving in coordination like flowing water, resembling a bright yellow tiger inching closer to the mighty camel that towered over two meters. Color, movement, atmosphere, all perfectly blended into the environment. If it weren''t for the detailed view provided by the drone, perhaps no one could discern where Bi Fang was at first glance. Bi Fang''s gaze was fixed on the grazing camel; in his hand, he clutched a rope as thick as a finger, nearly without any disturbance, he approached within thirty meters. Bi Fang began to adjust his breathing and muscle status. The air was silently inhaled, his chest heaving, a vast exchange taking place, the oxygen content in his blood steadily increasing, as if awakening from slumber. The audience''s tension also climbed at this moment, their hands and feet unconsciously clenching. Rising slowly from a prone position, Bi Fang planted his limbs on the ground, pressing low, making the final approach. Approaching prey involved many phases, from preparation to proximity, until after narrowing the gap to a certain distance, one could proceed with a more rough approach. At this range, no matter how crude the technique, detection was highly probable; it was more about luck than skill, the cost-effectiveness of crawling closer began to decline. Maintaining his status while slightly speeding up the distance, much like the preliminary run in a relay race. Now, it depended on the prey''s level of alertness¡ªless alertness naturally meant good luck for the hunter, and if not, they had exerted their best effort. Whether they could dine depended on the will of heaven. Clearly, Bi Fang''s luck was good. Adult male camels could practically be considered without natural predators; furthermore, having already endured a round of hunting, they were exhausted in body and spirit, with their vigilance at its lowest. Bi Fang had actually closed another five meters! The audience nearly held their breath, exclaiming with excitement. Too close. Close to a terrifying extent, almost as if a glaring lamp was shining directly on the camel''s head. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this point, even the camel, however thick-skinned or weary it was, sensed something amiss. Yet twenty-five meters was practically at arm''s length! Camels were fast, easily capable of exceeding forty kilometers an hour, but their weight was also substantial. The greater the mass, the larger the inertia¡ªa fact known even to middle school students. In other words, slow to start! Bi Fang charged out! The sand and gravel beneath his feet grated and shattered, nearly turning into an afterimage. The tightly drawn bowstring was finally released, as if in the moment before the camel began to flee, the distance between them had already closed within twenty meters. Bi Fang''s run carried an astonishing springiness, matched with his breath expanding and contracting, agile like a cheetah. The full tension of his body rapidly shrank the spatial dimensions, the audience couldn''t help but stand on their toes, as if they were running across the desert themselves. The chase began, yet the distance continued to close relentlessly. ``` This behemoth, weighing over half a ton and needing at least two seconds to accelerate to forty kilometers per hour, had given Bi Fang more than enough time to do too much. At the moment their speeds were even and the gap was about to widen, they were less than five meters apart. Bi Fang immediately threw the reinforced lasso in his hand, which traced an arc in the air, and just as it was about to fly over the camel''s head, he yanked it back fiercely. Due to inertia, the rope stretched taut, creating a temporary elasticity, and the air echoed with the shrill hiss of a whip cutting through it. The noose, widened by branches, was recaptured, precisely looping around the camel''s long neck! Got it! The audience erupted in cheers, barely able to restrain their joy. Bi Fang showed no elation at his success; lassoing the camel was just the beginning. The moment the camel was ensnared, a tremendous force transmitted through Bi Fang''s arm, nearly yanking him off his feet, but fortunately, he steadied himself in time. For the first few seconds, Bi Fang tried to keep pace with the camel, but he quickly gave up; it was impossible. He ended up being dragged along by the camel. In just over ten seconds, from the lassoing to being dragged, the audience''s emotions were like a roller coaster, wave after wave, irresistible. Bi Fang lay on his back, bracing himself against the ground with his feet, forming a slanted triangle with the high speed brought on by the camel. Two long tracks were dragged across the desert, with the friction between the sand and his shoe soles producing an astonishing heat, giving off a faint rubbery, burnt smell. Bi Fang wound the rope tightly around his arm, clutching the rope to slowly narrow the distance between himself and the camel. Over the vast desert, the camel ran along the Red Land. The setting sun cast long shadows as the ground shook slightly. A billowing cloud of dust rose behind man and camel, like a dragon of the land. The ground under his feet became softer, meaning there were more sands ¨C the camel was running towards the heart of the Sahara, trying to use the terrain to wear down its predator; it was their tried and true trick. The already short distance, with the shortening of the rope, was swiftly diminished until Bi Fang could clearly see the camel''s flying hooves. If one of those camel hooves, bigger than a human head, landed on his head, Bi Fang had no doubt it would burst open like a watermelon. Now was the most critical moment. Bi Fang loosened some of the rope from his arms, leaving just a small section wrapped around his hand to prevent an accident from rolling him under the camel, turning him into a pile of mush. Then Bi Fang began to adjust his posture, switching from facing head-on towards the camel to facing it with his feet. Although it was just a simple change of direction, it greatly enhanced his vision, giving him far more initiative. Next, Bi Fang began to look for an opportunity. At this point, the camel''s butt was less than a meter in front of him, bobbing up and down. For now, the camel''s legs could not kick him, but if it made a sudden stop and then kicked, it would almost certainly be a hit; he could not give it that chance, nor could he let it realize there was such an opportunity. There was no time to hesitate. Bi Fang''s leg muscles tensed up and then he swiftly leapt up from the ground, kicking directly into the camel''s butt, finally tensing his body! Man, camel, rope. The three combined like a longbow, with the man and camel as the bow arms and the rope as the bowstring, forming a stable triangle. But as Bi Fang stamped on the camel''s butt and straightened his body to forcefully pull the rope, the fragile balance was violently broken. The great bow was forcefully drawn open! [Holy shit! Awesome!] [Unbeatably strong!] The live comments were filled with exclamations. The camel''s long neck was suddenly bent sideways, its gaze forcibly shifted, and it could no longer control its balance, the massive body toppling over to one side. Boom. A huge amount of sand and stones were splattered, the air filled with stifling dust, and Bi Fang too was engulfed in it, disappearing from sight. ``` Chapter 804 800: Taming the Camel (Part 1) The bow collapsed, the string snapped. The behemoth fell from the top of the sand dune, plummeting straight down. A shadow flew out, tossed and turned nonstop, pulled by a rope. On the low sand dune, grains of sand rolled down, layer upon layer, spreading out like waves. A large number of fine sand particles were thrown into the air by the impact, forming a thin layer of yellow mist that pervaded the base of the entire hill. The camel fell in the desert, struggling to rise, twisting its snake-like head against the ground, trying to form a pivot point, but before it could move, a small mound of sand unexpectedly bulged in the middle to upper part of the dune. Under the dark red setting sun, the mound of sand surged higher, fine grains sliding down its center, eventually revealing the human form beneath the sand. "Cough, cough, cough cough cough." The sound of coughing was exceptionally clear in the silent desert. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang coughed twice, held his nostrils, choked out the sand between them, patted his head, and a large amount of fine sand flowed from his hair. Then he looked around somewhat dazedly. Clearly, Bi Fang had leaped out the moment the camel fell, avoiding being crushed and injured, but he had also rolled several times down the sand dune, consuming a fair amount of sand, leaving his head spinning. At this moment, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, then started to cheer and jump for joy over the successful hunt. Although the process seemed perilous, this camel hunting had little suspense and danger; the rhythm of the entire event was firmly in Bi Fang''s hands, orderly and controlled, providing a thrilling experience for everyone. The sight of humans, without any weapon but a rope, easily capturing a wild beast weighing over half a ton was exciting enough for countless people. One person, one rope, one camel. The desert under a ruddy sun. With tens of millions of viewers as witnesses, there was nothing cooler. [Second time around!] [The neck of the camel is its weak point (confirmed)] [If a camel charges at you, listen to me, a Naked Choke is the way to go, give it a good twist, or a lasso works too, ever seen a cowboy movie? Right, you''re the camel boy] [Epic!!!] [King of the wild, there''s no beast Master Fang can''t take down!] After being dazed for a few seconds, Bi Fang saw the camel struggling atop the dune; his brain, filled with sand, finally started to clear up. He pulled his feet out of the sand and staggered towards the camel, tripping once in the process and rolling down the slope, clearly a bit weak. "My legs are kind of numb." Bi Fang rubbed his thigh muscles, avoiding the wildly flailing limbs of the camel, and went to the head to take off his backpack. He unzipped it all the way, emptied the contents, and, taking advantage of a missed bite from the camel, slipped the backpack over its head and secured it with the straps. The camel, already frantically struggling, plunged into darkness, and its struggles intensified. Under the crimson world, Bi Fang held tight to the backpack straps to prevent it from coming loose while cautiously avoiding the camel''s hooves. The entire scene looked like something out of a movie, where the villain tries to smother a good person with a pillow in an attempt to destroy the evidence. [666, this villain vibe is killer] [Master Fang should play a villain; I''d love to watch that] [Why isn''t it moving now?] [I remember reading that, when transporting horses or something, if you blindfold them, they stay still, making it safer for transit] Sure enough, after struggling for several minutes, the camel finally quieted down like those supporting characters who succumb to asphyxiation. If it weren''t for the audience being able to see the camel''s heaving belly and its twitching limbs, they might really think it had suffocated to death. Seeing that the camel wasn''t moving anymore, Bi Fang relaxed, sat in the sand, and took deep breaths, licking his parched lips. "The vision of animals provides a lot of information about the outside world. When they cannot see their surroundings, they cannot make judgments about the environment and their actions are greatly hindered, usually leaving them with no choice but to stand still." "However, preventing animals from seeing doesn''t mean they will relax. Sometimes, it can make them even more anxious. Therefore, it is not recommended to blindfold timid animals, like zebras and sika deer, during transport. It''s better to use tranquilizers instead." "A crying child may experience a brief period of ''shocked quiescence'' after being blindfolded, but once they realize what''s going on, they become even more irritable. But this trick does indeed work." Bi Fang patted the camel''s back, but there was still no response. [Cool] [Learned another trick] [I''m not here for entertainment, I''m here to learn (certainly)] Bi Fang looked around and noticed that the light was becoming very dim. He pushed himself up the sand dune with his knees and saw the setting sun sink, the earth changing from bright yellow to crimson, soon to be swallowed by darkness. The night of the Sahara was coming. The temperature accumulated in the desert during the day had not yet dissipated, and the air was still hot and dry. Taking advantage of the last rays of the sunset, Bi Fang picked up the supplies he had dumped out of his backpack, sorting through them, and lifted the reins and a round piece of wood as he walked toward the fallen camel. "The Alashan Gobi Desert in my country is known as the ''Homeland of Camels,'' where the herdsmen have domesticated camels to serve in production and life from ancient times, and in practice, have accumulated rich techniques and experience in camel taming." "Many of the techniques I''m using now have been summarized from their practices." [Here it comes, Master Fang''s amazing experiences] [Master Fang''s breadth of experiences and skills are as varied as the training camps on Hawaii in Detective Conan] [Couldn''t this be learned from books? (Dog''s head)] [Speaking of which, Master Fang is really young. Despite being in his twenties, he''s been to more places than ninety-nine percent of people, and he knows so much. I''m envious.] [Ah, such a man, full of stories and knowledge, truly has infinite charm. Imagine having a boyfriend like this, sitting on an autumn rocking chair, listening to his past tales.] [Now for some daydreaming] "Camels are majestic and formidable, truly the kings among livestock, but their weakness is the same as cows and horses¡ªit''s the nose," Bi Fang commented casually, then paused, and shook his head, "Maybe that was a useless remark. It seems like the nose is a weak point for all mammals; being hit there hurts." "So, it''s easy to help us tame them by putting a nose peg on the camel." "The nose peg can be made of hard woods like red willow or buckthorn, shaved into shape. One end with a branch is best. If there isn''t a branch, then it should be shaped into a knob so that after it''s inserted in the camel''s nose, it can latch onto one side." "It''s important to remember that the other end must be sharp to pierce and come through the nostril, and the sharp end should be on the left side, or inside, and then carve out a groove to tie the camel''s reins to it for leading." Bi Fang pointed to the wooden ring he had just taken out. [Hiss, is it going to be pierced straight through?] [Already feeling the pain] "Actually, it won''t hurt, so no need to worry about that," Bi Fang assured. "Because under the camel''s nose, there''s a spot covered with needle-like fuzz, which is the place for piercing the nose. It''s a natural hole. No one knows which smart person discovered it." "If it weren''t for this naturally occurring hole, then piercing anywhere else would not be suitable¡ªthe nose would easily become swollen and red, and the camel would be howling in pain and even getting temperamental." "When setting the nose peg, you can use the sharpened end to pierce directly, or you can use a slightly thicker bamboo stick to puncture through the nose first, then insert the nose peg afterward." Using his backpack as a barrier, Bi Fang pressed down on the camel''s head to start the first step of taming. Chapter 805 801: Taming the Camel (Part 2) "In order to tame the camels, ancient humans thought of many methods and expended a lot of energy, finally discovering the technique of piercing their noses with a nose stick and using reins." "The nose is the most sensitive organ on an animal, rich in nerves, especially for camels with a keen sense of smell; the nose is their weak spot, so leading them by the nose makes the camel mild and compliant." "The wooden stick used in camels'' noses, called a nose stick in Mongolian, is generally made from tough woods or antlers such as red bursting wood tips, red willow, yellow elm, or sheep horns. Even if these wood-made nose sticks break, they won''t harm the camel''s nose." In the desert, Bi Fang held down the camel''s sack, shifted his backpack upwards to block the line of sight, revealing the camel''s jaw area simultaneously. The camel snorted loudly, its large canine teeth visible on its lips, appearing extremely fierce. [No wonder it could impersonate a tiger''s teeth, they''re so big] [If it bites someone, won''t it leave several blood holes? I''m kind of scared] [Watching Old Fang reach out, it feels like seeing a crocodile open its mouth at the circus] During the removal of the backpack, the camel showed some resistance, but Bi Fang firmly controlled it. "Most herbivores cannot exert much force when fully lying on the ground, mainly due to their body structure." "Bulky bodies coupled with long, thin limbs result in a high center of gravity, but they virtually have no muscles below their knees to provide sufficient strength, making it easy for us to hold them down." Bi Fang formed a rope loop, carefully passing it through the camel''s mouth, and tightened it to prevent the camel from biting people. "In the desert, some seemingly trivial wounds, if not promptly treated, might develop into desert sores, with the injured area becoming painful and swollen, potentially worsening to the point of being unable to walk..." "We must be careful to avoid sustaining any injuries." [Impressive] [This is what a man should do] [Master Fang is my idol] After Bi Fang had successfully fitted the nose ring, the first step was completed very smoothly. Just as Bi Fang had described, the camel showed little reaction to having the nose ring, as if the extra piece of wood in its nose hardly made any difference. Next came the reins. "In Mongolian, Benrenteg is the rein used for leading camels, one end fastened to the camel''s nose stick, the other held by the herdsman." "It plays an important role in camel gear, hence herdsmen strictly avoid casually tossing aside or misplacing the reins, and when not in use, they are neatly hung on the west side of the yurt." After fastening the reins, Bi Fang pulled a rope fabric package from his bag, opened it up, and it took the form of some kind of cage. "What I hold in my hands is called Daomuge, essentially a muzzle for male camels, preventing them from biting other camels or burping. In many places, colorful fabric strips are sewn onto it to make the Daomuge more vibrant." "When camels spit foam to show dominance, the colorful strips create a vivid contrast, making the male camel appear more imposing, forming a unique aesthetic taste." sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With the nose ring, muzzle, and reins in place, all the tools for leading the camel were complete. If a saddle were installed last, it would be fully ready for riding. Tools may be superficial, but riding a camel ultimately relies on the camel''s own training and temperament, and Bi Fang had merely completed a superficial project. "Next would be towing and training while lying down, but it''s getting dark now, so we should find a place to spend the night quickly or head back the way we came. However, before that, I need to help it stand up." Camels are not like elephants which, when they fall, cannot stand up at all; it just takes more effort. But without being able to see, it dares not move, and removing its blindfold would drive it crazy, so Bi Fang had to help it stand and then lead its movements. Bi Fang found another piece of cloth to replace his backpack, then used his tools to make a small shovel and began digging around the camel. "Given that we are surrounded by sandy terrain, getting the camel to stand is relatively simple; just dig out the sand beneath it, and it will naturally stand up." Clouds of sand were lifted and piled around, gradually changing the angle of the camel''s body. From lying completely flat to thirty degrees, forty degrees... By the time Bi Fang pulled the reins from a sixty-degree slope to help it up, the sky had completely darkened. It had taken a whole day just to catch this camel. A trace of coolness rose in the air. "The temperature difference between day and night in the Sahara Desert can average 42¡æ, meaning forty degrees during the day and possibly minus two degrees at night. I can already feel the chill, and I suspect the current temperature might be only eight or seven degrees and still dropping." Night had just fallen, and the temperature had dropped so rapidly. Many viewers found this quite incredible. It was a "sharp" drop indeed. "Many people think the reason for the large diurnal temperature range in deserts is because sand has a low specific heat capacity." "During the day, the top layer of sand quickly absorbs light and heat and then releases it back into the air, overheating the air and causing the temperature to soar. At night, most of the heat in the sand quickly dissipates, thereby cooling the surrounding environment." "However, this phenomenon alone doesn''t fully explain why the temperature drops so sharply at night, or is just one of the reasons, but if you experience it yourself, you know the cooling is incredibly fast." The blindfolded camel obediently followed the towing. Bi Fang deliberately extended the reins to three meters to prevent the camel from suddenly lashing out. "The main reason for the sharp change in desert temperatures is that desert air is very dry, with low rainfall and few clouds, unable to absorb the sun''s heat radiation, so the daytime temperature in the desert is very high, like in Chile''s Atacama Desert where the humidity is almost zero." "The water vapor in the air acts like a huge, invisible blanket, wrapping the heat on the ground and preventing it from escaping into the atmosphere." "Air with high humidity also requires more energy to heat up, which means that heat dissipation and cooling of the surrounding environment also takes more time." "This is the underlying reason why the diurnal temperature variation in the desert is so great." "Furthermore, because the temperature drops too quickly, people often can''t react in time, leading to hypothermia. If no warming measures are taken, it could quickly become life-threatening, which is why the cold in deserts, though not as severe as in high-latitude regions, remains deadly." "If it were a normal crossing, I might choose to find a place to rest as soon as possible, but to avoid accidents and to tame the camel early, let''s continue to travel through the night today." Under the starry sky, Bi Fang led the blindfolded camel out of the desert. Chapter 806 802: Rapid Heating (Two in One) The desert at night was no better than the desert during the day, perhaps not as scorching, nor as boundless, yet it was the peak activity time for many dangerous creatures. Wolves, scorpions, venomous snakes. The harsher the living environment, the stronger and more lethal the creatures within it are, especially against humans who lack the ability to protect themselves, displaying unquestionably deadly aggression. However, compared to the harshness of the environment, the most terrifying aspect was still the loneliness within. The more vast the heavens and the earth, the more insignificant humans appeared. The unobstructed sky revealed its entirety, intensely releasing a sense of emptiness that magnified the inner loneliness. Each person''s innermost fears hid within them, triggered by the dark night and the infinite starry river, emerging one after another. Anyone without a strong enough spirit would falter when facing this vast universe alone. Regrettably, the one who would falter was not the current Bi Fang, who time and again braved adventures, for had his heart harbored even the slightest weakness and fear, his grave would have long been overgrown with grass. The stars sprinkled across the sky, so bright they didn''t hinder travelers on their journey. Bi Fang even saw his and his camel''s shadows on the sand dunes, walking on the silvery white fine sand, which resembled bright, dry snow, felt like stepping on a thick woolen carpet. The camel, with its thick fur, naturally didn''t fear the low temperatures. Bi Fang, however, felt a chill, and in this cold, he felt the reality of his existence. The desert night was gentle, the red flames turned into silver-white fine sand, the sparkling Milky Way almost seemed like it could be blown down by the wind. No pack of wolves or venomous scorpions could frighten Bi Fang. Compared to the desert''s fiery, red-hot day, the starry night of the desert was truly gentle and moving. The valleys were full of wind, the sky full of stars, that deep blue silence carried loneliness mixed with longing. Most of the viewers in the live stream had followed from Nemo Point, where the sky was equally dazzling. However, the nature of the northern hemisphere differed from the stars of the southern hemisphere; the desert was ultimately different from the ocean. Having traversed half the Earth, from the ocean to the desert, the experience was now another flavor entirely. [Really haven''t seen such a pure sky in a long time, last time I saw it was as a child, with my grandfather...] [This sky is a luxury for everyone living in the city.] [Qaidam Desert isn''t bad either, it seems you''ve watched too few Master Fang streams (Dog''s head)] [Indeed, intensify it!!! Give Old Fang some attention!] [The departed are gone, yet the full sky''s stars leave another kind of taste.] [Damn, it''s really beautiful] "For thousands of years, we''ve been obsessed with the solemn sun, the clear moonlight, and the brilliant stars." "These mysterious celestial bodies, besides signaling the changes in time and geographical location, also nourish our endless imagination." "From the Mayans thousands of years ago, who used their naked eyes to observe the starry sky and predict the future, to now, when we''ve invented the ''Heavenly Eye,'' enabling us to take mankind''s sight to incredibly distant places." "We''ve always been trying to understand the universe, this planet we live on, and our own destinies." At some point, Bi Fang had picked up a straight wooden stick to use as a walking stick, guiding the camel while sharing the secrets of the starry sky with everyone. However, the viewers seemed to have a slightly different focus. Where did this piece of wood come from? [Damn, it''s the Divine Tree Stick!] [By the way, where did he pull that thing from?] [It''s from Master Fang''s two-dimensional butt!] [One has to admit, last season didn''t feature the Tree Stick, I miss it] "This?" Bi Fang lifted the long stick in his hand, the grip feeling surprisingly good. He pointed to the path they had passed, where footprints were still clearly visible on the gravel, "I just picked it up from beneath the sand over there, it''s hardwood, its length and feel are quite nice, felt handy, so I took it." "Perhaps it was left behind by some traveler," "Don''t pick up random things." "Monkey dung, this is monkey dung." By the predawn hours of the next day, the silvery sand had finally turned into Gobi, solid ground underfoot once more, and clumps of shrubs sporadically visible within sight. Bi Fang found a huge rock to use as a shelter, checked for venomous insects and snakes before clearing some rubble nearby, and pulled out a giant wooden peg from his backpack. He then sifted through the pile of rubble to find a suitably sized hammer stone and was about to drive the peg into the ground when the first strike split the stone into two. The grayish-white rock split neatly in half, slipped from his hands, and fell to the ground with a thud. "Rock: I''m cracked." "The game''s up, Master Fang has discovered he''s a superhuman." "A wilderness expert, terrifying as this." "Due to the significant temperature difference between day and night, the rocks on the surface of the Sahara continuously expand and contract with heat, crumbling and peeling off. The small stones and sand formed from weathering get blown by the wind into lower areas to form sand dunes, while the bigger stones remain nearby, turning into Gobi gravel patches." "Sometimes a rock that appears intact on the surface might already have many fissures inside, and it would easily break when slightly stressed. We''ll just find another piece." After rifling through the rubble, Bi Fang resumed his hammering. This time, there were no issues. The nearly half-meter long wooden stake gradually inserted into the soil, with Bi Fang occasionally pouring some water on the ground. "In the countryside, when building houses, some might have seen contractors showing off various skills to help ''save money,'' such as water tamping." "Since water penetrates everywhere, after watering, the sand, stone, and mud absorb the water and tightly integrate together, using this method to lay a foundation." "This is, of course, incorrect and not according to the standard, because once the soil loses moisture, it cannot meet the soil density requirement for backfill, and over time, there will still be issues of subsidence, but it poses no problem when used briefly." Mixed with water, Bi Fang shook the wooden post¡ªit was immovable, very firm¡ªthen he tied a brightly colored cloth to it. "Taming camels is a challenging task because once camels become agitated, even over a dozen people cannot hold them back, so we must train them to have an operant conditioning reflex." "What''s operant conditioning reflex?" "Simply understand it like conditioned reflex (facepalm)" "Do well and give rewards to stimulate, then increase the likelihood of behavior occurring, roughly like that." "All experts." "Got it, it''s camels'' PUA." "Many who raise camels start by deeply driving a vividly wrapped, red-threaded wooden stake into the ground to tether the camels." "Initially, untamed camels will continuously resist, pulling hard on the rope, trying to completely uproot the small wooden stake, which of course, is impossible. A half-meter deep nail is difficult to pull outwards." "After numerous attempts and repeated failures, the camels gradually come to believe that the wooden stake with the cloth tied to it is invincible." "At this point, casually inserting a wooden post tied with the same cloth into the ground, without going too deep, will make the camel walk around the small stick instead of trying to pull it out. This successfully creates a conditioned reflex." "In the desert, sandstorms are common. When an unexpected sandstorm arrives, some camel caravan people, to prevent their camels from getting lost, will quickly insert a wooden stick into the ground, tying one or even several camels to this small stick." "After the caravan''s owner is swept far away by the massive sandstorm, those large-bodied camels will firmly lie around the small stick, staying right there without moving." "This is PUA!!!" "To accelerate the process, we still need to incorporate some reward stages to help form a consistent cognition." Having completed all this, Bi Fang tethered the camel to the wooden stake, not by the bridle on its nose but by another rope tied to its body, and then he removed its blindfold. As some light returned to the view, after being dazed for a few seconds, the camel immediately began to struggle, but the wooden stake was firmly planted in the ground, unmoved. After waiting about a quarter of an hour, the fatigued camel lessened its struggles. Having confirmed the stability of the wooden stake, Bi Fang leaned against the rock, turned off the livestream, and took a few hours'' nap. When Bi Fang woke up again, it had already turned from early dawn to noon, and the air had become stifling hot once more, with heat waves rippling in the distance as soon as he opened his eyes. Turning on the live stream, Bi Fang waited until the number of viewers stabilized before stepping out from the shadow of a rock, his eyes squinting, and sand cascading from his body. The dromedary, towering over two meters tall, crouched in place with the wooden post still unchanged. But as Bi Fang approached, the behemoth quickly stood up and started to struggle again. Bi Fang was not discouraged, as this was all within his expectations, he rolled up the sleeves on his arms, "Today is only the first day, we still have two more days, no need to rush, and today we also need to start training it to kneel." "All camels need to be trained to lie down; first, tie its front legs with a rope, pull over its head from the spine forcefully, if the left front leg is weak, a yank or a push will make the camel kneel." "Alternatively, tie up the calves of the two hind legs with a rope, a pull will also make it lie down." "Regardless of the method, hold the camel''s reins, press the camel''s head down while shouting commands to match your actions, and make it kneel." "After getting used to kneeling, simply pressing its head inward, lightly yanking the rein, issuing commands, or making movements will make it lie down automatically." "This isn''t just for convenience in mounting after the camel kneels, it''s more about instilling a sense of obedience." S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Understood, still PUA] [Can training even be called PUA? (Dog''s head)] [Master Fang must be good at training dogs too] [I want to be Master Fang''s dog (Heart)] [Tone down the flirt, too provocative] "When a camel is one year old, tying its legs and putting on a muzzle makes it easy to tame, but if it''s an adult, it needs a noseband along with a muzzle, and training involves someone leading from the front and another driving from behind, making it easier for the camel to learn." "But we don''t have a trained camel, so we are destined to put in more effort." Using a pole, Bi Fang again covered the enormous camel''s eyes, unleashed it, and led the camel under the shadow of a massive rock to begin its training. Just as he had explained, Bi Fang tied the camel''s legs and then held down its head, pulling on the reins. When he saw the giant camel actually kneel down under his tugging, the live stream viewers immediately cheered. However, Bi Fang knew this was just the beginning. Now was the blindfold training, followed by eyes-open training, each step more complex and difficult than the last. "Training animals, especially wild ones, is a process that requires much patience, so often you should not get impatient or take it lightly; observe their small movements and be cautious of them lashing out." "Be careful if it suddenly stops, steps back, or gets temperamental, as it might tear through its nostrils and dislodge the noseband." "Like a dromedary, it often shows displeasure through stomping and running, as well as spitting and kicking. Seeing these actions means you should understand it''s time to rest." Two afternoons later, after countless times of making the camel stand up and kneel again, Bi Fang led the camel back to the post, retied the reins and removed the blindfold. Supplies were plentiful, water and food sufficient for more than three days, but the camel still needed to eat and graze. There are only two ways to make an animal obedient. One is through intimidation, whipping, frightening, and physical pain, like the tigers in circuses, but you have to be careful that it might bare its teeth at you one day. The other way is to make the animal understand what it should do, and that after it does, living is far better than surviving in the wild, a beneficial choice for survival, like a pet cat yearning for life outside the window, which will obediently return home after a month of wind and rain. As a positive-energy live streamer, Bi Fang would naturally not choose the first option, as it did not align with his moral values. "I didn''t notice before, and only now do I realize how big this camel really is, even among ordinary male camels, it''s considered large." Bi Fang, hands on his hips, watched the struggling camel carefully. "Its humps are also very plump, indicating it eats well. We don''t need to worry about food and water right now, but that doesn''t mean it doesn''t need to eat. Each successful training session should also be followed by a certain reward to make it willing to be tamed." "Being well-fed makes it rather troublesome." Bi Fang stroked his chin, contemplating that if he could not provide a better lifestyle, it would indeed hinder his efforts to tame the camel. In the afternoon. Bi Fang came to the camel carrying a bundle of colorful hay and a large number of fruits, the results of his busy afternoon. Anyone familiar with desert plants would have recognized these hays and plants. Camel thorn, camel bush, Doum palm fruit, and desert gourd. The first two, as the names suggest, are the camel''s favorite foods, and the latter two are fruits that Bi Fang had not found easily. It was also fortunate that the nearby area was still soil-bearing with relatively abundant plant life, even hosting a tree or two, otherwise, it wouldn''t have been easy to manage the diet of this big fellow. Bi Fang even handpicked the fresher parts, sweating profusely. He casually plucked a reddish-brown fruit and started chewing, its juice oozing out, emitting a sweet fragrance. "Doum palm fruits, people living in the Sahara Desert often use its peel to make molasses. I don''t know why, but it doesn''t seem very sweet to me, though it tastes okay." "And this, wild desert gourd, is a member of the watermelon family that grows extensively in the Sahara Desert." Bi Fang picked up a gourd about half the size of a head, weighing it in his hands. "Its roots, leaves, and fruit store large amounts of water all year round, making them a good source of food and water for any desert animal that can break through its skin, and its large yellow flowers are also edible." [Camel: I''ve never had such a lavish meal in my life] [Is it a last supper? (Dog''s head)] [Feeding me well before taking action, right?] [No wait, I think I heard someone say last time that watermelons in the desert are poisonous, can we really eat this?] [Come on, you actually don''t trust Master Fang? Heretic!] [I also heard that, something about not eating watermelons in the desert because they are poisonous] "That''s a different matter. The poisonous watermelons you are talking about are the medicinal melons, if you cut them open you will see that they are full of cotton-like pulp and have no water. Indeed, they are poisonous but are also used by locals to treat stomach diseases." "The one I''m holding now is called the Kaffir watermelon, originally from the African desert, grown as food in the local desert regions and even used as a water source during the dry season, also used by the natives for bathing." "Locals call it ''Chama,'' and it has been cultivated in Ancient Egypt since at least four thousand years ago. Now, it''s not just found in Africa, but in many other places, regarded as a plant, in the southern plains of Ugly Country it''s also known as pine melon and grapefruit melon." Bi Fang split the melon open, the flesh inside was white, not cottony, but like normal watermelons, fine grained and full of water, though not sweet at all, rather it was somewhat bitter. "This melon''s flesh can not only replenish water but also protect from the sun, retain moisture, and some say that one can survive in the desert for six weeks just by relying on Chama." Bi Fang grabbed a handful of this flesh, squeezed out the moisture, and smeared it directly on his face and arms, immediately feeling a cool sensation. "Medicinal melons and Kaffir watermelons indeed look very similar, almost identical, even the color of the flesh is nearly the same. But one is cottony, and the other has the same texture as a normal watermelon, making them easy to tell apart." "And actually, Kaffir watermelons are more common, but most marketers won''t speak of them, preferring to sensationalize and warn, ''if you see a desert watermelon, steer clear,'' just take it lightly, even the poisonous medicinal melons are useful and can disinfect and reduce inflammation." Camels endure rough forage, eating sparse, small-leaved, highly lignified shrubs, various coarse straws, tree branches, and dried grass that other livestock cannot, thus they can survive long-term in harsh environments such as Gobi and deserts. However, just because they can endure hardship doesn''t mean they must face it. If big meaty meals are an option, unless health prohibits it, no one really prefers to eat bran and swallow vegetables. This large bundle from Bi Fang, for the camel, was like a lavish meal for humans, even including sweet fruits, and it was treated well. It had vomited once before, and after running away, indeed it ate something, but was still feeling empty and starving, and after a few tentative tries, the camel gave up resisting and started chewing heartily. Over the next two days, Bi Fang continued with the lie-down training and fed it on schedule. For animals, other than reproduction, there''s nothing bigger than eating. As for reproduction, the camel, having just finished its breeding period two months ago, had no such worldly desires. Their relationship warmed rapidly in front of good food. Chapter 807 803: Successful Riding Plans always fall short of changes. Bi Fang had intended to be all set and ready to go by June 1st, but he underestimated the time it would take to train a camel. Although he was patient enough with the task itself, he was a bit short on time. Fortunately, the training was remarkably successful, which made Bi Fang decide to stick to it and wait a couple more days. If one could acquire a camel, it would be entirely possible to cut the traversal time down to about two months¡ªthere was still ample time. When the first day arrived, the camel''s lead-laying training had just ended. By evening, nearly three days of training allowed Bi Fang to make the camel follow his commands to lie down and move about without being blindfolded, and to a certain extent, allow physical contact. At the very least, when it was time to eat, Bi Fang could touch the camel without causing any resistance or getting kicked unexpectedly. The cost of doing this was that Bi Fang had to spend an hour each day looking for enough food to fill the camel¡ªand if it hadn''t been for a field of wild melons nearby, it really would''ve been tough. "The time to test the results has arrived." Bi Fang took deep breaths, watching the camel standing quietly in front of him with a rather solemn expression. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Aside from lead-laying training, another significant accomplishment over these three days was that the camel had developed the behavior of not resisting or running away as long as its rope was tied to a stake. "Once you''ve done enough lead-laying and suspension control, you can start trying to ride it. This is the most crucial and dangerous step," "because you don''t know how the camel will react. It might become a crazy horse, or it might turn into a fine mount; anything is possible." Hearing this, the previously effective audience watching the camel training couldn''t help but tense up again. Bi Fang ran his hand over the camel''s flank. On the first day of this action, he had to keep a close watch on the camel''s limbs, but now that was no longer necessary. As much physical contact as possible can make the animal accustomed to this behavior and not feel disgusted by it. If the technique is advanced enough, it can even make the animal enjoy it. "Anyway, seeing as I''ve fed it so much, I hope it spares me from a kick later." [Camel: Tired of big fish and meat, craving something fresh.] [To be honest, I''m getting nervous too] [Truthfully, I can''t imagine a camel turning into a crazy horse] [Western Camel Boy shines bright, let''s see how many seconds this contestant can last] Bi Fang pressed down with one hand, and the camel obediently knelt to the ground. This scene had occurred many times before, giving the crowd a bit more confidence. "The first step of riding is to have the camel lie down, gently hold the rein close to the neck, get on, and then slowly release the reins to let the camel stand up." "If you don''t train it this way from the start, the camel may develop a habit of rising abruptly, and falling from two meters high, although not usually fatal, still often leads to injuries. Plus, the camel might get frightened, and if it steps on you, that''s the end." [To be honest, you can ride in between the humps of a bactrian camel, but how do you ride a dromedary? It seems too far forward at the front, and you might easily fall off from the back.] [Indeed, I''ve never ridden one, but just thinking about it feels strange. Is it uncomfortable to ride on the hump?] "Actually, the front and back you''re talking about, or even directly on top of the hump, are all possible." "The camel''s hump is essentially a lump of fat, like our buttocks; both are very resilient. Sitting on it won''t hurt, and the carrying capacity of a dromedary is very strong¡ªa single camel can easily carry more than 150 kilograms, supporting two adults is no problem." Bi Fang stared at the camel''s back, briefly explained a few points, then gently pulled the reins to press down and pushed the camel''s head down, and then, with slight nervousness, stepped onto one side of the camel saddle. Although today was the first day of riding training, there had been preparations before. After getting somewhat acquainted, Bi Fang began by laying a long towel over the camel''s back. Gradually, he increased the weight, finally adding a saddle he had made himself, letting the camel slowly get used to the sensation of foreign, and even heavy objects, on its back. When Bi Fang stepped on the wooden stirrup, the camel snorted loudly, startling the audience in front of the screen, but the camel made no further move. Bi Fang was not one to dawdle. Since he was mentally prepared, he decided to be direct. Stepping on the stirrups, he swung himself onto the camel''s back. This time, the camel reacted, attempting to lift its front legs to stand up, but Bi Fang quickly grabbed the reins, pressed down forcefully, preventing the camel''s attempt to rise, and with just a few movements, made the camel lie down again. The constant snorting undoubtedly proved the camel''s unease at the moment, yet Bi Fang was neither impatient nor hasty. Instead, he patiently and gently lifted the camel''s neck to keep it calm. This tactic was effective, and about fifteen minutes later, the camel calmed down again. [a bit thrilling] [darn, first time watching someone tame a wild animal, and it''s a camel] [I really start to doubt if there is any skill that Master Fang doesn''t possess] [Mainly, the speed is too quick, showing results in just three days] "Wild camels and domestic camels are like wolves and dogs. Theoretically, the single-humped wild camel is extinct, but you can still see many herds of them in the Sahara. They are like wild dogs, and they have the potential to be tamed again." "Cows, sheep, horses, pigs, these were domesticated early on, and aren''t too difficult to tame. If it took a lot of time, how would the first person who tried know they could be tamed?" "It''s more about chance coincidences, plus lower taming costs. Through trial and error, humans have identified these tamer animals." Bi Fang swayed his body, pulled on the reins, and instead of pressing down on the camel''s head, he tried to get it to stand. "Wow." When a two-meter-tall behemoth stood up, and the vista suddenly elevated, even someone as composed as Bi Fang couldn''t help but shout. Not out of fear, but excitement. Over two meters high, feeling the behemoth''s breath, and the gentle swaying, that floating and rocking sensation is impossible to imagine without experiencing it firsthand. [strong unmatched!!] [Lord Mu sends the streamer a yacht*666¡ªcan this thing be kept in the Magic Capital?] [soul interrogation] [That would depend on whether the house is big enough] [Even if it''s not, you could keep it at a club!] [Goudan has a new companion now!!] [Ace Special Ops sends the streamer a spaceship*1] Bi Fang calmed his excited heart and continued, "After standing up, follow its desired direction, controlling either the nose left or right, don''t rush it or hit its head, in general, keep everything stable and adaptable." "If you can make it follow behind the camel rider, gently pulling the reins, this way is the easiest for taming, having a ''role model'' will help the camel understand its situation and the meaning of its actions." "If you see other livestock preparing to lie down, quickly make it run to one side. If you let it lie down and then come down to lead it, it''ll want to stop whenever it sees a herd from then on." Bi Fang didn''t control the direction and, as he said, let the camel walk freely. Wandering freely over the Red Land. Chapter 808 804: 77 Days June 3rd. A huge camel trod over stones on the desolate expanse of the Gobi, its back ridden by a young man clad in khaki exploration gear, who gently tugged at the reins to direct the camel''s course. The scene wasn''t particularly odd and didn''t differ much from most camel herders; only the young man''s appearance was distinctly out of place. Logically, he should have been a tourist, yet he could freely ride alone on the camel, which was quite strange. But a closer look revealed even stranger peculiarities. The equipment on the camel was very "primitive"¡ªnot in function or design, but in material, most of which were even made from woven bark. Even the poorest camel herder''s home would have at least a few carved wooden saddles, draped in leather, ornate with intricate patterns, unlike these unfashionably stark and shabby saddles. "Getting off a regular camel is rather easy: pull on the reins to halt, slide down from the neck, or dismount from the back." "A tamed camel can also be climbed onto from the neck. A camel''s back is stiff, making it less comfortable to ride than a horse, but it''s cozier and warm. In winter, riding atop a camel, with the humps blocking the wind and the body all fuzzy, you won''t feel cold at all. Their speed isn''t worse than that of horses and they don''t need to be well-fed." "It does get rather hot during the day, so it''s best to have a bamboo mat or something as a barrier." Bi Fang spoke while dismounting from the camel''s neck, sliding down smoothly, with the whole process being impressively slick. After two more days of training, Bi Fang had become adept at riding the recently domesticated camel. [666, doesn''t need to be well-fed (dog''s head)] [Camel: Just had a few good meals and this is starting?] [Just two days ago you called it sweetheart, and today it''s Mrs. Cow, oh men] [That escalated quickly, really too fast] "You can''t just say anything you like." Bi Fang, leading the camel, went directly to a melon field. "Our land here is technically still soil, so the vegetation is fairly abundant with plenty of shrubs, and you can even find a couple of trees to check for any fruit. Once we truly enter the desert areas, I won''t know what I''ll be able to eat." "So, before that, we need to stock up on as much supplies as possible. Speaking of which, we''ve almost completely harvested this melon field." With nearly a week of camel training concluded, the time had come to commence the journey across the Sahara. Bi Fang searched the ground and found that there weren''t many Desert Gourds left. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The plants didn''t grow in abundance to begin with, and with Bi Fang and the camel arriving, the rate of consumption accelerated, taking a few every day. But Bi Fang only picked the fruits; he didn''t uproot the plants, ensuring a fresh, succulent batch of sweet melons by the next day. After picking the last few melons, he loaded them onto the camel''s back. Having done this, Bi Fang looked up at the sun, gently squeezed the camel''s belly, turned around, and set off towards the north, leaving behind a slowly setting sun casting a golden glow over the land. "Humans often perceive maladjustment to external environments as adversity, likening it to a struggle." "In the past, I also thought so, but after experiencing so much, my thoughts began to change. This is not a good way to survive dangerous situations¡ªwith nature as the adversary, only you can lose." "Indeed, new environments do contain inherent dangers, and one must take preventative measures in advance, but nature is impartial to all." "Learn to adapt to every climate, learn to utilize what nature bestows upon you. Climate depends not solely on latitude; location and elevation are equally important factors." "Most desert areas were once fertile lands; some organisms survived there and adapted to the new environment." "Just like them, survivors must learn to use any shade that can protect them from the scorching sun, in order to minimize the loss of body fluids and limit daily activities. Continuously draw survival experience from travelers crossing the desert." [Survival of the fittest!] [If you can''t change nature, then learn to change yourself] [Mutation, begin!] Bi Fang closed his eyes, as if recalling some past memory. A moment later, he continued to speak. "In some deserts, such as the Sahara Desert, the Middle East deserts, the Peruvian and northern Chilean deserts as well as the Gobi Desert region of Mongolia, the temperature difference between day and night is very large. The condensation of vapor in the air at night can yield precious water." "In Namibia''s desert in South Africa, the moisture brought by the sea fog also provides the water necessary for life." "Whereas in regions like Western Australia, northern Mexico, and the southwestern part of Ugly Country in the Mojave Desert, the temperature difference between day and night are relatively small, with very little condensation of water vapor, making animal and plant life extremely scarce and survival even more difficult." "Sometimes, like in the Kalahari Desert, you''ll find sparse grasses and thorny shrubs growing. Even in the most barren environments, some life still manages to survive, but you must know how to discover it." "In the desert, you''ll encounter sandstorms with visibility falling almost to zero, necessitating tight protection to prevent sand from getting into your mouth, eyes, ears, and nose. You''ll also find dust devils, a type of desert whirlwind similar to a tornado, quite common." "Even if you come across rain¡ªwhich may only happen once in several years in some regions¡ªyou mustn''t be too pleased too soon. The rain can pour down heavily and quickly form massive floods, which are just as swiftly absorbed by the parched ground." "It may sound dangerous, but during these times, some plants will bloom briefly, and rapidly reproducing animals take this opportunity to complete their life cycles, like the spadefoot toad found in Arizona." [Another day shocked by knowledge] [Old Fang knows too much!! (Frantic waving of glow sticks)] [The first master of wilderness survival is online now, animals, tremble!!] Facing the audience''s cheers, Bi Fang smiled and shook the reins gently, urging the camel to quicken its pace a bit. Feeling the wind coursing through the air, Bi Fang reached for a felt hat hanging from a backpack alongside the camel. [Hiss, Old Fang has pulled out something strange again] [Where did that come from?] [Grass, have I entered a ''Raiders of the Lost Ark'' movie set?] "I''ve said so much, only to make you understand the true essence of survival. Don''t blame heaven and others; you need to be resourceful, for that is our humans'' most precious wealth. Then go out and discover and adapt to those lifelines in extreme environments." "Now, we have only one goal in front of us, and that is the Sahara, the most hostile, most famous, and the largest death desert in the world." "The Sahara was once an oasis, with many people thriving. But as the environment worsened, the region gradually became covered by desert, turning into one of the harshest natural conditions on Earth and one of the most inhospitable regions for life." "Our goal is to cross it within a limited time." Bi Fang put on the felt hat with a backhand flick, shielding his eyes from the glaring sunlight. His forefinger tapped the brim of the hat, casting a sharp shadow downwards, hiding his expression. "In ''Around the World in Eighty Days'', Mr. Fogg managed to travel around the world and return to London in eighty days. So I believe, we can cross the entire Sahara in seventy-seven days." Chapter 809 805: Dreams If a ranking were made of Earth''s desolate regions, there is no doubt that the Sahara would top the list with its bleak demeanor and reputation as a no-go zone for life. This is exactly why venturing there to challenge both physical and mental limits became the dream of many brave souls. But it was just a dream. From the South Pacific to the Northern Sahara, if the journey were measured by the plane''s stops, it should have started in Ghana, but Ghana was nothing more than a moving landscape outside the window for Bi Fang. There are many ways to enter the Sahara, and driving a four-wheel drive is the simplest and quickest. From Ghana to Burkina Faso, once the off-road vehicle left the city, the outlines of the dwellings were swallowed by the dust kicked up behind it. The faint light of dawn was not enough to see the road clearly, but the intense jolting of the vehicle already made one feel the vastness and continuity of the land. Watching the materials of the houses gradually change from cement and wood to colorful clay and the ground from dark green to cracked yellow felt like slowly stepping from the world of the living into the world of the dead. "In the desert, you should wear light, loose-fitting, and well-fitting clothes, with an air layer between the clothing and your body for insulation." "Long pants are better than shorts to prevent mosquito bites, and they also protect well against sunburn during the day; you need to cover both your head and feet." Bi Fang sat astride a camel, leaning against the raised saddle and hump, imparting some crucial survival knowledge to the viewers. The material for the camel saddle was just ordinary bark, yet under Bi Fang''s craft, it provided decent stability and riding experience. It was the first time he could sit tranquilly on a "vehicle" and communicate with the audience. Unexpectedly refreshing. "Don''t think it''s too hot and strip down to your birthday suit, trying to look like a beach hunk, or by the end of the day, you''ll find your skin as red as a baboon''s butt." "If you endure a few more days, you''ll get to see your skin go from peeling to slowly ulcerating, and by then, it won''t just be the red butt of a baboon but rather the shedding skin of a toad." sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You wouldn''t want to see that, it''s not only painful and disgusting, but the scars left behind are also hard to get rid of." [That kind of scares me.] [Got any pictures? I want to check it out (Dog''s head)] [Our livestream has a business cooperation with a thousand degrees, allowing free image searches. Go for it!] [Wow, that''s high-end.] "Wearing clothes not only helps prevent sunburn but also reduces the loss of bodily fluids and keeps you warm at night. Sweating at this time can effectively cool you down while also preventing mosquito bites and thorn injuries." "Don''t walk barefoot on the hot sand, or by the time it feels hot, it will already be too late." "Barefoot walking can cause the skin to blister and even lead to pus-filled infections. Also, don''t wear flat sandals, as that would expose your toes as well. If you don''t have appropriate shoes, you can makeshift a pair with cloth. Gaiters can prevent sand from entering the shoes." "Traveling in the desert involves many precautions and preparatory steps, but well, deserts are quite similar. If you''ve seen the episode on the Qaidam viewers might find some content familiar." On the red earth, Bi Fang on the camel''s back took off his hat, stuffed it with a towel, and once again drew everyone''s attention. "Like this hat, I wear it not just to look cool, although it indeed looks stylish, but it''s actually a necessary measure¡ªfirst, to shield from the sun, protect my vision and eyes, and second, to protect my head and neck." "No matter if it''s snow blindness or the harsh sun in the desert, the essence is the intense sunlight causing harm to the eyes." "Goggles or sunglasses would be particularly useful in the desert, even though goggles are primarily designed for living in polar regions, which might not be perfectly suitable." "Additionally, there''s smearing soot and wearing a strip of appropriate width in front, which can also protect the eyes from various reflective lights and the hazards of sandstorms, all of which I have mentioned before." "And lastly, this towel." Bi Fang shook the cloth stuffed into his hat, which looked very odd and somewhat out of place. "A hat with a piece of cloth attached to the back can protect the head and neck, mimicking the effect of the turbans worn by residents living in desert areas." "And you only need a piece of fabric about 120 square centimeters, a smaller piece about the size of a handkerchief, and a strip of cloth, preferably a tie, to stitch the former two together." "Use the handkerchief as the top, place the larger piece of fabric folded along the diagonal on top of the handkerchief, with the longer edge facing forward, and use the cloth strip to tie them around the head." "Lastly, it should be easy to take off, providing sun protection and insulation while being cool and protective against sandstorms. At night, laying it over your face can also provide warmth." [Just another small detail] [The sun is so intense] [To be honest, I''d like to visit the Sahara myself] [In terms of deserts, they''re all the same, one can experience it domestically as well] [I want to take a train across the entire desert] "After Burkina Faso comes Mali, then Algeria, followed by Niger, Chad, Libya, and lastly Egypt to see the Pyramids, which sums up our entire upcoming itinerary." Putting his hat back on, Bi Fang turned his back to the sun and once again shared the planned route with his audience. "The term ''Sahara'' in Arabic originally symbolized a vast barren land, later translated to mean a great desert." "According to the composition of the Earth''s surface, deserts are classified into rock deserts, gravel deserts, sand deserts, and mud deserts, though, people typically refer to all deserts simply as sand deserts." "The Sahara is also like this; although called a desert, it''s really vast, stretching from the Atlantic coast in the west to the shores of the Red Sea in the east, with nearly every type of landscape." "In its center are three major plateaus and the highest peak, Mount Koussi, standing at 3415 meters, covered with dry river valleys formed during wetter climatic periods in the past, surrounded by vast areas of rock and gravel deserts, further out lie seas of sand, with oases dotting the desert like morning stars." "Although the path we''re taking now seems like a traditional desert, it''s only because Burkina Faso is like this; once we move into Mali, we''ll encounter many different landscapes similar to rock deserts filled with rocks, great canyons, and real cliffs." "Then in Chad, it will change again, where we can see grasslands, trees, and discover Sahara''s treasures, which are very interesting things¡ªherds of wild camels, crocodiles, and some odd creatures." [Master Fang''s ''interesting'' makes me a bit scared] [Does he mean the kind of interesting where you grab a rattlesnake and force it to release venom to quench your thirst?] [A sudden appearance of a fierce man!] [This would be a good time for a song like "DEMXNS"] [To be honest, the problem isn''t the monotony but how to survive (covering face)] "This journey will broaden your horizons and break the conventional image of the desert; the Sahara is definitely not just the endless sands one might imagine." Chapter 810 806: Starting from Continental Drift... Five o''clock in the afternoon. It was the hottest time of the day, and Bi Fang and the camels were taking shelter from the heat under a rocky outcrop. "The best times for travel in a day are from four in the morning to eleven, and then from four in the afternoon until seven. You could also travel through the night, but I''ve said before that it''s the peak time for animal activity, so it''s more dangerous. Besides, in the pitch black of night, the mental strain is usually greater," "And people need to rest. We''re not camels. We can''t go on for days without eating or drinking. Nights in the Sahara are very cold, and in the cold, you want to sleep as much as possible. Overexerting yourself will just make you lose heat that you won''t get back." "Don''t worry about never waking from your sleep, unless you''re completely exhausted. Before you freeze solid, the cold will wake you up." Bi Fang sipped his water, letting his forearms hang naturally, resting on his knees, squinting as he watched the fierce sun outside the shadow; heat waves and desert were everywhere. If it was a group outing, following along with a big crowd and a caravan of camels, one would naturally see the magnificent sights of nature, liberating one''s view and spirit. But if you''re alone, wouldn''t your heart be filled with nothing but despair? Bi Fang tightened the cap on his water bottle and gestured to the vast desert before him, "Can you imagine? The Sahara, now full of sand dunes, used to be a dense forest." [I can imagine; it''s crossed my mind.] [Show some respect, Master Fang doesn''t want to see that kind of reaction.] [Italian pasta should be mixed with No. 42 concrete.] [Although I can''t believe it, I''m not an idiot. As soon as Old Fang said those words, I knew, as outrageous as it sounds, it''s true. (Dog''s head)] [Reason tells me to accept it.] The comments were always bizarre, but Bi Fang, long accustomed to them, didn''t let them interrupt his narrative. "Under the influence of the northeast trade winds, every year, the Sahara loses billions of tons of dust, the majority of which settles in the Atlantic Ocean," "Through the study of ancient sediments, scientists found that over the past several hundred thousand years, Sahara''s climate has been regularly switching between dry and wet, with a cycle of over 20,000 years." "And the ancient murals found in the Sahara Desert also confirmed this phenomenon from another angle. These murals featured many animals like horses, water buffaloes, elephants, giraffes¡ªall known to be unable to survive in the desert, especially horses." "About 40,000 to 20,000 years ago, the Sahara region was in a wet climate period with lush vegetation, crisscrossing rivers, numerous lakes, and frequent floods." "Then from 20,000 to 10,000 years ago, the climate became dry, the vegetation scarce, and rivers ran dry to become dry river valleys." "After this dry period, the climate once again shifted back to wet. Around 3,500 years BCE, there was abundant rainfall, lush vegetation, full rivers and lakes, and the water area reached its maximum." "But after that, the fierce winds returned to this land, turning the lush forests into grasslands ¨C a paradise for cattle, sheep, antelopes, giraffes, while animals like hippopotamuses, water buffaloes disappeared, and fishing and hunting ceased to exist." "After 2,000 BCE, with the intensity of the dry climate increasing, grassland animals also left the stage, rivers stopped flowing, lakes shrank, dried up, or disappeared, the vegetation withered and degraded, and the grassland turned completely into desert, forcing many of the grassland animals to leave the historical stage of the Sahara." "Until now, the Sahara has become the largest and most typical arid region in the tropics." [Why did it become like this? Is it just the climate, or something else?] [Environmental destruction?] [Not necessarily, the Sahara has been like this for a very long time.] "It isn''t environmental degradation, but rather the climate is so because of the contraction of the Tethys Sea." [What, what?] [Something I''ve never heard of before.] [Is there such a sea on Earth?] "There used to be." Bi Fang scooped up a handful of sand, letting it slide slowly through his fingers. "Due to the movement of the Earth''s tectonic plates, the continents have always been slowly shifting. 40 million years ago, the African plate wasn''t located where we see it today, but had a vast ocean to its north: the Tethys Sea." "With the moisturizing air from the ocean, Northern Africa at that time didn''t have the Sahara Desert, but rather a large oasis." "However, it was from 40 million years ago that the African plate began to move northward continuously. As time passed, it eventually collided with the European plate. This caused the closure of the Tethys Sea, and the northern part of the African plate rose due to the compression, revealing more land above the sea surface." "The shrinking of the Tethys Sea not only caused a change in the average climate of North Africa, but it also strengthened the response of the African summer monsoon to orbital variations, subsequently becoming the main factor influencing the extent of the Sahara Desert." [Something strange flew into the Heavenly Spirit Cover] [It''s like I glimpsed the truth of the world] [Crap, my brain is starting to grow] "If the shrinking of the Tethys Sea is the underlying cause, then the precession of the Earth is the direct reason why the climate of the Sahara undergoes regular switching." "The so-called precession of the Earth refers to the rotation of the Earth''s axis of rotation around the axis of the Earth''s orbit under the influence of the gravitational pull of the sun and the moon. The path of this rotation in space is conical, and it takes approximately 25,700 years to complete one cycle." "We know that the location on Earth where the sun''s rays are directly overhead receives the most solar energy, and as the angle of sunlight increases, the amount of solar energy received decreases." "The Earth''s precession changes the angle of sunlight during the same season on Earth, thereby affecting the distribution of solar energy between the seasons." "This means that the Earth''s precession causes the sunlight energy in the same region on Earth to undergo a regular fluctuation of ''from less to more, and from more to less'' in the same season, which directly affects the strength of the summer monsoon in the Sahara region." "It''s actually just about sea breezes and land breezes. If the summer monsoon is weak, the sea breeze is weak, and insufficient moist marine air enters the land, leading to gradual aridification." [Damn it, I''ve never learned any of this...] [Be confident, high school geography doesn''t teach this] [If I were still in high school, well, excuse me, even if I were in high school I couldn''t say much about this topic.] The audience was left stupefied. This was something that one might not clearly understand without specialized study, from continental drift to climate change. "How does this guy know so much?" Riding a camel and looking at his phone, Mugalen from the Egyptian Camel Team had a constipated expression. Is this something a person should know? sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang rifled through his backpack, checking his supplies. The water resource was still plentiful, and the camels carried a few desert gourds for replenishment, enough to last at least five days, but the food was getting scarce, with only a few pieces of dried fish left. The food from before was mostly what remained after catching some fish in the latter half of the crossing at Nemo Point, and after these few days, it was nearly gone. Looking up at his surroundings, the Gobi had completely turned into an endless desert. Pulling out a piece of dried fish, Bi Fang stuffed it into his mouth and chewed dryly while watching the slowly setting sun. "We need to build a shelter now. We''ll need to find some food tomorrow." Chapter 811 807 Golden Scorpion In the desert, Bi Fang used a flat stone to shovel the sand and manually dug a hole at a width that fit a person, using it as his shelter for the night. "Building a shelter, you need to avoid direct sunlight so you can rest, and also protect yourself from the wind and the cold temperatures at night." "To conserve energy and fluids, it''s best to construct your shelter during the cooler nights. Building walls with stones can keep out wind and sand, and you could use the walls of dry river beds too. But be aware of river beds that might experience sudden heavy rains or frequent intermittent flooding." "Building a tent with fabric, you should loosen and roll up the bottom edge during the day to increase air flow, and secure it with rocks at night. Don''t lie directly on the hot ground. You need to raise your sleeping area so that air can circulate underneath." "If you are a lost traveler, don''t stay in vehicles or airplanes with metal exteriors. In the blazing sun, the temperatures inside can quickly become unbearable." "But they make good materials for constructing shelters. You can support a shelter with them, build under the shade of airplane wings, or dig a large pit under a car, making full use of rock outcroppings and the cool areas in dry river beds, employing double-layer hollow methods for insulation and cooling." "The car under the sun will heat up so much it could twist you out of shape." "Exactly." "The ground temperature in the Sahara must reach sixty or seventy degrees, right?" "Frying an egg would definitely not be a problem." Casting out a handful of fine sand from the pit, Bi Fang exhaled a breath of hot air and neatly stacked the stones on the bottom. The sandy soil was naturally easy to dig but constructing a shelter in it posed the risk of collapsing and slipping, therefore it was essential to support it with sturdy beams. "It could be wood or stones, as long as the structure is solid." "Just make sure when you''re moving stones not to reach directly with your hand. First, tap it with a long stick, then flip it over to avoid disturbing any small animals that might be hiding underneath." "Many animals that live in sandy areas hide below the surface during the day because it is cool during the day and warm at night, so be careful of scorpions and such crawling onto your hands while you dig." "The more extreme the environment, the more aggressive the creatures that live under it, as they must seek opportunities to kill in one strike; otherwise, they are very likely to die of starvation." "There''s no digging tunnels in the sandy ground¡ªyou must have supportive materials. Hey, wait... We are in luck." While busily building his shelter for the night, Bi Fang stopped, levered a stone with a tree stick, exposing its shadow under the last rays of the evening sun. "What happened?" "What, what is it?" "I bet fifty cents there''s a shoe under that stone!" The sand was a dark red, perhaps an effect of the light and shadow or maybe because the opponent was too well hidden; many people glanced over and didn''t notice anything at first. Bi Fang kneeled on the ground, propped himself up on his elbows, bringing his gaze extremely close. At this moment, the audience all saw it clearly and were suddenly unnerved, for less than thirty centimeters in front of Bi Fang was an enormous Golden Scorpion! Normally, the scorpions one sees are only one to two centimeters, but the one in front of him was the size of half a palm! Its color was also very similar to the surrounding sand, almost identical, and many could not have spotted it if Bi Fang hadn''t pointed it out specifically. "We are in luck, the Israeli Golden Scorpion. This type of scorpion is semi-transparent and yellow, one of the most venomous animals in the Sahara Desert and the entire world." "They may look small and fragile, but they are extremely dangerous. Their venom is a mixture of several neurotoxins. Although the amount of venom usually isn''t enough to kill an adult, it''s absolutely lethal for children and the elderly." "Interestingly, this guy''s venom is very valuable. One gallon, which is about four liters, is worth around 40 million Ugly Gold, which is nearly 300 million Huaxia currency. It contains Scorpion Chlorotoxin, a component that helps in developing new medications for treating brain and spinal cancer cells." [???] [Damn, that''s expensive?] [That price is a bit outrageous, isn''t it?] S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Is it still possible to start farming them now?] [Wishful thinking, if it were that easy, why hasn''t anyone gotten rich from it?] "Indeed, one gallon, four liters. First of all, the process of obtaining the venom isn''t easy, and each Golden Scorpion can only produce a maximum of two milligrams at a time. That means you''d need to extract venom 2.64 million times to possibly collect one gallon of venom." [That settles it then.] [Better stick to an honest job.] Bi Fang carefully observed the Golden Scorpion, gesturing with his finger. "The male Golden Scorpions usually measure seven to eight centimeters, while females are a bit larger, about eight to ten centimeters. This one in front of us is likely a female, given its size." Bi Fang pulled out a dagger, flipped the scorpion over, and pressed down on it, then looked at its abdomen to confirm his judgement. "The abdomen of a scorpion has a pair of feather-like segmented organs. Males have more, females less. We can identify their sex by counting the number of segments on their abdomen." "Also, there are other indicators like the ratio of the trunk width to the tail segment width¡ªmales are less than 2, females more than 2; limb length¡ªmales have short, toothy limbs; females have long, smooth limbs; and finally the hardness of the reproductive cover plate¡ªmales are hard, females are soft." [Useless knowledge increased] [I bet fifty cents this will be Master Fang''s dinner tonight.] [I bet one yuan he''ll let it go because it''s a protected species.] [I''ll add a pack of spicy strips to the bet!] [Stay away from gambling, cherish life.] "Ha ha ha, someone guessed right. It is indeed going to be my dinner. This critter is widely distributed. Just from its name, the Israeli Golden Scorpion, an Asian name, yet it''s found all over Africa." "However, it''s very quick and aggressive, so if you''re not familiar with its attack methods and behaviors, I suggest using a long iron clamp for capture, just to be safe." "After all, even if you''re a well-built adult male, a bite is likely not fatal, but coupled with the Sahara environment, that likelihood becomes a certainty." Under the shining silver dagger, the Golden Scorpion struggled continuously, its golden claws clasping the blade, its long tail piercing swiftly through the air, all in vain. "Scorpion venom is a protein, which only needs high heat to denature and deactivate, so if we roast it over a fire, it will definitely be a delicacy." "Although Golden Scorpions are solitary and each digs its own burrow, they often congregate in one area, each digging a hole. We can look around some more, maybe we''ll find a few more." As the evening grew darker, Bi Fang dug up his dinner for the evening. Chapter 812 808: Hearing the Sound Alone The sunrise in the Sahara was beautiful. Choosing the highest dune to watch the sunrise, the panoramic view allowed one to clearly see the rapid color changes of the dunes, from black to red, and then from yellow to white, as if it were an animated effect rendered frame by frame. Moreover, this change in light had a power that instilled silence, the noisy human voices were suddenly suppressed, and only quietness remained between heaven and earth. It felt as if one had arrived on an alien planet. Unlike the swift sunrise, sunset was a slow process. For it was only after the sun had completely dipped below the horizon that the red glow of twilight began to steam forth. This usually lasted for half an hour, and then the world lost all its color. Bi Fang lit the campfire, which became the sole light for miles around, carving out a resolute corner in the darkness, dispelling the biting cold. The flames burned quietly, without the usual crackling sound of burning wood, indicating a completely different kind of fuel was alight. If one got closer, they would discover these were compressed little cylinders resembling biomass pellets. "Camel dung is the perfect fuel, thanks to the camel''s unique structure. Camel dung is almost completely dry and has the properties of hay, making it an excellent source of fuel." Camels had an extraordinary ability to withstand thirst, losing 30-40% of their body weight to dehydration without harm. In comparison, humans experienced dry mouth with just 2% dehydration; irritability at 5%; dehydration symptoms at 10%; confusion and possible coma at 15%; and life-threatening conditions at 20% dehydration. Such bug-like abilities were extremely rare in nature, and their existence was not without reason. Camels had many fine and convoluted tubes in their nostrils. Normally, these tubes were moistened by liquids. When the body was short of water, these tubes immediately stopped secreting liquids, and a hard skin formed on their surface to absorb the moisture from exhaled air and prevent it from being lost; during inhalation, the water trapped in the skin would be absorbed back into the body. Moreover, unlike other animals, camels did not promptly excrete the water they drank as urine. Instead, they adjusted the absorption rate of water and controlled their urination based on their environment. The dilemma of not being able to hold one''s need to urinate after drinking too much water simply did not exist for camels. Their urine was concentrated, yet they didn''t suffer from uremia; their droppings were pellet-shaped and could be burned directly after being cooled and dried a bit, without causing constipation. Even the resistance of their red blood cells to osmotic lysis was much stronger than in cattle and horses, avoiding significant biological impact during plasma dehydration due to lack of water. Additionally, there were changes in body temperature, insulation, strong renal function, and such a circulation and utilization of water within the body, which brought on their ability to endure thirst. "In fact, the dung of most herbivorous animals is excellent fuel. Even if some are not as dry as camel dung, you can crush it, spread it flat on rocks, let it dry in the sun. The whole process doesn''t take long, about an hour, and then you can get highly effective, high-quality fuel." "The key is that many herbivores'' dung doesn''t smell bad. This is related to their diet and the microbiome in their digestive tract. Being herbivores with long digestive systems and abundant and diverse gut microflora makes it less likely to have a bad smell, just like cattle and elephants." "It might even have a scent of fresh grass, which could reduce the degree of physical discomfort for many people." Any survivor with basic training would not have too strong an aversion to dung. On the contrary, the more knowledgeable one was in survival skills, the more joyful they would be upon encountering such dung. Because it indicated the presence of animals nearby. Tonight, there might be a chance for a hearty meal, or the dung could be used as fuel, bait, and so on. In the most extreme environments, one could even try to squeeze out a trace of water from it. [Geez, what devil capitalists, making them work without feeding, and still expecting them to produce!] [It''s a one-way transaction, huh (Dog''s head)] Bi Fang sat by the fire, enjoying the warmth of the flames, unwinding from the day''s fatigue, feeling sleepy. He threw six Golden Scorpions into the fire pit, which were the results of digging for a quarter of an hour. Once the exterior turned slightly crispy and charred, Bi Fang used a dagger to pick them out of the fire, wiped off the dust, and began to chew. The scorpions, fresh from the flames, were unbearably hot; although they burned his mouth, they significantly dispelled the chilling cold of the Sahara night. "In desert regions, food easily spoils and deteriorates. Any stored food, if not thoroughly dehydrated, should be consumed all at once after opening, or resealed and stored in a cool place." "Although the Sahara itself has fewer microbes due to its unique environment, they are indeed present in food. Moisture and high temperatures will cause them to multiply rapidly, leading to quick spoilage." "Moreover, excessive heat can cause loss of appetite, so there is no need to force oneself to eat during the day. High-protein foods like scorpions increase internal heat production, accelerate water loss, and digestion also requires a significant amount of water." "If you lack water, do not eat these insects. It is better to reduce food intake and consume foods that are high in water content, such as fruits and leafy vegetables." The scorpions had a nice texture; or rather, most insects tasted the same, being crispy to eat, and since the scorpions were quite sizable, Bi Fang even detected a hint of meatiness, adding a touch of oily flavor. "Locals believe that flames can drive away devils, but in my view, its most practical effect is to prevent animals from rashly approaching." With a few fruits and melons, Bi Fang filled his stomach halfway and felt sleepier. After a brief chat with the audience, he turned off the livestream and burrowed into the sandpit. Lying alone on the sand and looking up at the starry sky, he felt as if it were a blanket inlaid with crystals. Draped in it, with the fire crackling and the scent of fresh grass in the air, he fell asleep without realizing it. When Bi Fang woke again, it was the sound similar to a girl''s cry that startled him. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The livestream automatically resumed, and many viewers, for whom it was still daylight due to time differences, rushed in. They were all startled by the eerie cries. [Damn, what''s that sound?] [Is a woman in trouble?] [Is it time for Master Fang to play the hero and rescue the damsel?] "No, it''s just the howling of wolves." As an experienced survival expert, Bi Fang did not even need to compare the sounds to identify it came from an animal. "Desert Wolves are small, and their howls differ quite a bit from regular wolves; they sound like a woman''s weeping, but not quite the same. Nighttime is their peak activity period; we need to be cautious now." Bi Fang climbed out of the sandpit and just as he emerged, a collapse occurred, burying the pit halfway. This was one of the drawbacks of sandpits; while easy to create, they were also easily destroyed during entry and exit. Looking at the extinguished campfire, Bi Fang tried to reignite it. "Dawn is approaching. Let''s make a new fire and hope it serves some purpose." As the flames grew stronger, the distant wolf howls subsided, yet Bi Fang remained vigilant, waiting with the audience in the livestream. The night passed slowly in a struggle with the wolves that were heard but not seen. Only at daybreak, when the wolves ceased making noise, did the viewers finally breathe a sigh of relief. Though tired from a restless night, Bi Fang pondered, what could be more thrilling and entertaining than a night in the Sahara like this? "Since it''s dawn, let''s continue on our way." Bi Fang stood up, dusted off his behind, tidied up the traces of his presence, grabbed the camel''s reins nearby, stepped into the stirrups, mounted swiftly, and rode off into the morning light. Chapter 813 809 Sandstorm Above the desert, the towel beneath the felt hat danced with the wind. Bi Fang subconsciously opened his mouth, trying to feel a hint of coolness, but the wind that blew was like a blistering flame, which did nothing more than fill his throat, scorch his tongue, and emit a wisp of blue smoke. After more than a week of traveling, as Bi Fang ventured further, the nearby sand dunes grew taller and the rocks became rarer. Burkina Faso had already turned into a background image behind him. His current location had reached the depths of Mali. Looking around, everywhere there were towering golden hills that formed an endless sea of golden waves, quite splendid under the sunlight and flickered with infinite brilliance, like a golden ocean. "Now it''s not just food, even water resources are starting to become scarce." The drone''s camera turned to the side of the camel, where two rattlesnakes without heads hung, along with the only remaining watermelon and some doum palm fruits, and finally, a pot of water in Bi Fang''s backpack. These were all the resources left for the lone man and camel. [Master Fang is wrong, there''s actually another half ton of reserve supplies] [Can''t you just be human?] [What did Alpha do wrong to deserve this treatment from you?] Alpha. That was the name Bi Fang gave to this male camel. There was no special meaning, it was just more convenient to call out, and these past few days the camel seemed to understand its name and began to respond to it. Moreover, their relationship progressed further; in the evenings, he no longer tied the camel three meters away but kept it directly by his side. On the surface, Alpha had become indistinguishable from an ordinary domestic camel, but Bi Fang still refrained from overly intimate actions like standing behind it for extended periods or feeding it from close proximity. Nature''s creatures were varied and peculiar, and Nature had granted a clever relationship between animals; some were amiable towards Humans, others saw Humans as natural disasters, and some animals hadn''t seen Humans for a thousand years, yet could harbor natural affections. The sun was fierce, and as noon arrived, Bi Fang patted Alpha''s neck and found a place to rest to avoid the hottest part of the day. Leaning in the shade, Alpha kicked at the sand with its hoofs and chose a comfortable position to kneel down on its own. Bi Fang took some fruits and a rattlesnake from it, sliced the pre-smoked snake meat with a dagger, and stuffed it into his mouth to replenish his strength. It had to be said, Alpha''s arrival had brought significant assistance to Bi Fang. Throughout the journey, Bi Fang had saved a great deal of energy and time, no longer needing to frequently interrupt the trip for water and food. Normally, walking from Burkina Faso to the heartland of Mali, which was already off the planned route, would be extremely difficult without twenty days of travel, and during that time he would need to hunt, find water sources, and food. But with the help of the camel, this time could be reduced to less than a decade, more than doubling his speed. Today catch two rattlesnakes, tomorrow grab a handful of scorpions, the day after maybe encounter a small lizard or a jerboa. The only regret was that jerboas are an endangered species and could not be eaten, so Bi Fang gave it a warning thump on the head to let this big-eared mouse know about human cruelty before letting it go. These animals were all small, not enough to fill one''s stomach, but on the journey, being able to casually catch such creatures was indeed very convenient, indirectly speeding up the entire crossing process. "Taming and domestication are not the same, and taming and domesticating animals is a third kind altogether." "Taming" refers to subduing individual animals, that is, making them harmless to humans. It is usually used to imply a kind of friendly relationship that ultimately achieves the idea of being "able to be with humans without the desire to kill them" for certain species. "A species may be more or less suitable for domestication, but ultimately, it is an individual process." Domestication, however, means that humans have changed a species to make it easier to coexist with humans. The members of this species are now different from any wild species they came from; their instincts have been altered so that, for them, being friendly towards humans and interacting with humans becomes more natural. Jared Diamond discusses in "Guns, Germs, and Steel" what makes a species domesticable or not, including specific cases with horses and zebras. He notes that humans have completely domesticated 14 large animal species: sheep, goats, cattle, pigs, horses, Arabian camels, Bactrian camels, llamas and alpacas, donkeys, reindeer, water buffaloes, yaks, Bali cattle, and mithan. Many of these species are related. And he claims that for a species to be domesticated, it must have certain characteristics. It must be an omnivore or herbivore, able to grow rapidly, breed well in captivity, have the right temperament ¨C some animals are very antagonistic or even outright hostile to humans, such as zebras which are irritable and often bite ¨C and then be accepting of confinement, and finally, have a social structure, or hierarchy, that allows them to accept a subordinate role. This aligns with a popular theory of the moment, that we domesticate animals by playing a role in their natural hierarchy. In other words, animals let us take on an existing role that their own kind would normally assume. For example, a dog''s owner is seen as a member of the pack, much like the alpha of a wolf pack. Some believe that many of the animals we have domesticated evolved into a prolonged juvenile state, in which they respond to us as juveniles, whereas in their species, the adult animals would also respond. Zebras, though similar to horses, are nearly impossible to tame. As early as when the Boers settled in South Africa, they attempted to tame zebras, but the results were not satisfactory. These animals would panic under any additional back pressure, and to tame them, one would need generation after generation of domesticated zebras before a more docile variant could emerge, much like wheat, which might take hundreds or even more years. Horses seem to have a different genetic pathway that led to their domestication. They found themselves living in the northern latitudes where, other than humans, predatory threats were much less. Due to the Ice Age and subsequent human migration to North America, they were on the brink of extinction due to over-hunting by ancestral Indians, so their refuges shifted to the northern latitudes of Asia. Here, horses were first preserved as a food resource and then domesticated for human use. Horses established a connection with the very species that nearly drove them to extinction. "Today, the situation is just the opposite, as the global horse population exceeds 60 million while the zebra count is less than 800,000." "Nature is so wonderful." After hearing Bi Fang''s account of the differences between zebras and horses, many in the audience had a great deal of thoughts. "Awesome." "Survival of those who comply, demise of those who defy, right?" "Wondrous Nature." "When can we domesticate tigers, so we can pet big cats?" "Bro, want to pet a Northeast Tiger? They are powerful." Bi Fang chewed on the flaky snake meat, tough and leathery like an old belt, difficult to chew, and swallowing a smoky throat as if he had ingested a piece of bristly skin. "As for the notion of taming sharks, snakes, and various lizards, it''s even less likely. The reality is that most species on Earth are not tamable, and even those that are somewhat tamed cannot live close to humans without displaying behaviors that endanger both the animals and their human hosts." "Many people like to keep exotic creatures, and I''m not against it, but the premise is to take good care of them. Don''t let them escape or release them into the environment, causing an invasive species issue. Even if you really end up disliking them, the best way would be to deal with them yourself." [Word has it, the number of animals Master Fang cares for might keep growing] [To be honest, last time it was six dogs, and now it''s a camel, I think Old Fang has the potential to open a zoo] S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Looking forward to the day the wilderness zoo opens its doors] [Why doesn''t Old Fang take Goudan and the others to the club for a walk, let them run around and have fun, it would be so joyful] "I''ll consider it," Bi Fang said with a smile, not refusing the fans'' request outright. At four o''clock, as the sun began to tilt westward, the sunlight in the air was no longer as fiercely burning as at midday, and Bi Fang stood up, pulling on Alpha''s reins to continue on their way. "There are many stories passed down about this desert. It''s said that once a caravan passed through the Sahara Desert and ultimately fell victim to lack of water in this desert, despite the fact that there was a well just a hundred meters away. Perhaps they died from their own hearts of despair." "Water resources are indeed a primary concern in desert survival. If you have water, you should ration it properly." "That depends on whether you can access the essential water resources while also avoiding exposure to the intense sun, in order to keep dehydration to a minimum. A slight imbalance is permissible. For every two liters lost, at least one and a half liters should be replenished, a ratio of 4:3." "After sweating, it''s important to hydrate promptly to keep damage to a minimum and avoid wasting precious water resources." "Being low on body fluids does not reduce the amount you sweat, as sweating is one of the body''s mechanisms for cooling down, not for expelling water. Drinking too much at once, more than the body needs, can be immediately excreted, serving no benefit and could even lead to water poisoning." [Water poisoning, not naming names] [Hahaha] [That''s kind of interesting] "If you''re planning a trip through the desert and are impeded by a vehicle breakdown, you should have already identified the known oases, karez wells, or water holes along your route in your plan." "Karez wells might be deep and require buckets and ropes to draw up water. Water holes at the bottom of dry riverbeds are often seasonal, usually covered with slabs of stone or branches by those who came before. You can discover them based on this fact." "If you''re far from a known water hole, digging with all your might at the lowest point on the outer curve of a dry stream, or between sand dunes at their lowest point, may reveal water." "Of course, in the desert, the method of tracking local wildlife for water sources is worth trying. There''s a famous saying among residents of desert regions: ''Walking a pre-existing path is always wiser than forging a new one.''" [Another strange motto added] [I''ll use this in my essay] [I used Master Fang in my last essay, hahahaha] [Seriously? You can use that?] [Bravery or whatever, just force it, push it hard, a forced fit, it doesn''t work unless you force it, forcing it is safe, it may be uncomfortable with it, but you have a safety net] [Why do I feel like this is getting weirder the more I hear it] "Humans and animals often travel the same paths, which tend to meander and extend across the land." "If you come across such a path in the desert, one that is frequently traveled by humans or animals, you should definitely follow it." "Don''t take a straight path just to avoid those turns. On the paths frequently traveled by people or animals, there are usually fewer obstacles, and they often connect one shady spot to another, one water source to another." "This tactic is very useful in many environments, like how I followed the wild Baizhi oxen to find a salt mine in the rainforest, though it can entail certain risks. But remember, some desert animals do not drink water, instead they obtain sufficient moisture from their food." "You will need to have enough experience and animal identification skills." "Always keep in mind that you must conserve as much as your strength and water as possible, making the most of your time and space. Don''t exert yourself in hot weather, as sweating will lead to further loss of fluids, and you may not be guaranteed to find water. You must find a balance between losing bodily fluids and the potential for replenishment." "Depending on the environment, you might even take full advantage of water provided by cacti and various roots, and use the extreme temperature difference between day and night in the desert to condense water vapor for drinking." "Oh, now that you mention it, it seems like we never see cacti or anything like that around here." "Hisss, now that you''ve said that, I remember too. Old Fang has been walking so long and we''ve never come across any cacti. I haven''t seen any of the plants before." "That''s because there are hardly any cacti in the Sahara, no, I can''t say there aren''t any at all, just very few, given that globalization is happening, and it''s quite normal for species invasions to occur." Bi Fang scanned the vast desert surrounding them and explained. This revelation surprised everyone, since in their minds, deserts and cacti were an inseparable pair! "This is a common misconception among people; cacti are American plants, and they also can''t survive in all deserts." "Cacti are typical CAM plants, which means they have a crassulacean acid metabolism pathway. They''re mostly succulents, to put it simply, pulpy. Their leaves have degenerated into spine-like shapes, they close their stomata during the day to reduce transpiration; their stems are thick and succulent, with well-developed parenchyma cells that store lots of water; and their epidermis has a thick, hard waxy layer for protection..." "Their ability to tolerate hot, dry environments also stems from these features. Moreover, cacti have an extensive root system that can absorb precipitation during the rainy season and store it for use during the dry season, preventing them from drying out on the scorching sands." "In Mexico and the southern part of Ugly Country, there is a tropical savanna climate with clear dry and wet seasons, and the wet season is short. During the wet season, cacti absorb and store a lot of water to ensure their water supply during the dry season." "But!" Bi Fang paused, drawing everyone''s attention, "they can''t withstand cold. They struggle to survive below zero degrees." "For instance, the Taklamakan sees hot, dry summers, but the winters are cold, so it doesn''t provide the temperature conditions necessary for the wild survival of cacti, and therefore, cacti don''t grow there." "In the Middle East, the Arabian Peninsula, and the entire Sahara Desert, there''s a typical tropical desert climate. It''s scorching all year round and experiences sparse rainfall, the water conditions are too poor to support cacti''s water storage needs, plus the nighttime temperatures often drop below freezing, so there''s no distribution of cacti there." "But further south, like in Morocco, there are more cacti, even cacti forests, which are quite stunning. If you get the chance, you should go see them." "You''ve blown my mind for the whole year; I always thought cacti and deserts went hand in hand, damn, turns out that''s not always the case." "Indeed, this is the first time I''ve heard something like this..." "Kinda cool." "Master Fang knows so much." "Can I use this as a rebuttal next time someone says cacti are extremely resilient?" "Well, not really, because they''re still pretty tough (facetious)." The chat in the live stream started blowing more rainbow farts, but at that moment, Bi Fang pulled on the reins and gently sniffed the air. Just when everyone thought something was amiss, Bi Fang suddenly smiled. "A sandstorm is coming." Chapter 814 810: Dust Storm Belt "The sandstorm is coming." Though not yet visible to the eye, Alpha began to grow restless, forcing Bi Fang to control his steed with one hand on the reins and the other pressing down on his hat against the fierce wind, while his white scarf fluttered behind him. The air started to turn murky, with fine sand blowing ahead of the storm, blinding to anyone who tried to look into it. "Ah, no wonder the wind is so strong today." Bi Fang squinted, as if he had found a reason, his tone carrying a hint of sudden realization, but devoid of any panic or fear. Even the majority of the audience in the live streaming room felt the same, with only many new viewers somewhat puzzled, even perplexed. "There are many precursors to a sandstorm, like the ground exposing dry, loose sand and dust, the air turning murky, strong and persistent winds at the surface, and a continuous drop in temperature." Focusing the camera on the ground, the viewers found that yellow dust had long been swirling around. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The strong wind pressure pinned the fine sand firmly to the ground, and with the dense particles, it looked like fog constantly rolling across the surface. Bi Fang appeared to take the stage, surrounded by what seemed like dry-ice machines spewing out cold mist, only the mist was yellow. "The wind has been strong since morning, and it was very hot, hitting the skin like a blow dryer, but now, I actually feel a hint of coolness, obviously, the temperature is dropping." "There''s a certain influential relationship between the Sahara sandstorms and Atlantic hurricanes, one might even say they''re directly negatively correlated. Typically, the first half of the hurricane season is when Sahara sandstorms are most frequent." The sandstorms in the Sahara region are formed by the interaction of hot air above the desert with the dry and cold airstreams from the south. They usually occur in summer and winter, and most of the time, they move westward across the Atlantic, affecting as far as Central and South America. When Atlantic hurricanes start to set new records in frequency and intensity, the frequency of sandstorms in the Sahara Desert area tends to decrease. And when the frequency and strength of Atlantic hurricanes decline, conversely, the frequency and intensity of Sahara sandstorms rise, creating a very stark contrast. "Humans are not yet clear on the mechanism by which sandstorms affect hurricanes, but it''s speculated that it may be due to the dry airflows of sandstorms continuously descending on their journey across the Atlantic, cutting off the rising tropical cyclones." "Additionally, the larger amounts of sand and dust in the airflows of Sahara sandstorms might absorb heat and moisture, further weakening the tropical cyclones." The Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June 1 to November 30, but the tropical storms and hurricanes in the Atlantic basin mainly occur from the last few weeks of August to October, with the most intense increase in activity typically happening between August 20 and September 11. Before this, in June and July, is the most active period for the Sahara desert, which coincides with the main window Bi Fang has to cross the Sahara. Aside from the northern hemisphere''s winter each year, when land and sea thermal differences cause the southern winds of the Sahara, known locally as the "Harmattan," meaning "devil wind." In other seasons, located between the subtropical high-pressure zone at 30 degrees north latitude and the equatorial low-pressure zone, the Sahara''s general airflow direction follows the principle of moving from north to south. Further, due to the Coriolis force to the right in the northern hemisphere, the Sahara desert still usually experiences northeastern winds. This direction is precisely Bi Fang''s forward path, almost head-on, with no chance of avoidance, so they had no choice but to face it directly. For various reasons, Bi Fang was mentally prepared for the sandstorm that he might encounter during this journey, perhaps even more than once, which was why he appeared so composed upon seeing it, even a bit excited. The audience watching the screen, using Bi Fang''s descriptions and his demonstrated performance for reference, found every single one of them matched! These signs arrived much faster than the sandstorm itself, hence even before its appearance, Bi Fang already knew all about it. The sandstorm was really about to hit! Bi Fang hugged Alpha''s neck and slid down, searching for shelter to avoid the impending crisis. In less than a quarter of an hour, a rolling yellow strip indeed appeared on the horizon, bringing with it roaring noises as it approached swiftly. The audience didn''t understand why these weren''t dark clouds; there was no lightning or thunder, yet it emitted such a staggering roar. No stampede of a thousand horses could match this force, like a tumbling earth dragon, even the ground was trembling slightly. [Holy shit, it''s coming!] [Damn, so intense, the camera is shaking. It feels like I''m right there!] [I''m getting pumped, really pumped!] [Freaking incredible!] This is a sandstorm, for crying out loud! Why is everyone so calm?! Is this really something to joke about? At his workstation, disbelief filled a man''s eyes. As a company employee and a middle-aged man, Luo Yi seldom engaged in entertainment activities. He mostly spent his time reading novels and occasionally following TV series, rarely scrolling through short videos, as he always felt that doing so could disrupt his thinking. As for watching live streams, a trend that appealed to the young and fashionable, he was even less receptive to that¡ªonly having bookmarked the page after stumbling upon a news segment about a submarine volcano eruption. Today, Luo Yi had finished his work, but it was not yet time to clock out. Curious, he opened his folder, pretending to be busy with a ballpoint pen in hand while sneaking peeks at the live stream. And that''s when he saw a scene like this. Has human empathy really become this weak? This could be deadly, you know! After expressing his outrage through the chat, Luo Yi found, to his surprise, that not only did nobody agree with him, they actually began to mock him. [Mate, this is small fry.] [Newbies are always so easily shocked.] [Ever surfed on top of underwater volcanoes? Ever sailed through Atlantic storms? Ever ridden a whale on Arctic glaciers?] [To be fair, a sandstorm''s death rate is truly low compared to the crises Master Fang has encountered.] "Compared to avalanches and volcanic eruptions, the death rate from common disasters like sandstorms is not high¡ªit''s mostly the respiratory trauma they cause. Many fatalities occur due to suffocation or being injured by flying debris within the storm." "So if we take appropriate measures to protect our respiratory systems and find good shelter, we can greatly mitigate the risks. As for being buried alive, yes, it''s possible, but the chances are actually quite slim." Bi Fang, making sure the camel kneeled down, took off his felt hat and jerked the scarf from behind, wetting it with water before wrapping it over his mouth and nose. Having done all this, he pressed down on the camel''s head, lying close to the ground while trying to lower his center of gravity as much as possible to minimize exposure. "In a sandstorm, if you''re driving, you should stop right away, then remember to keep the engine facing away from the wind and close all the vents from heating systems or air conditioning." "If you''re outdoors with animals like me, let the animals turn their backs to the wind direction¡ªcamels will sit down on their own, while horses or mules will remain standing. " "If it''s a camel, then hide under it, sticking close. If it''s a horse, hold on tight, but don''t hide underneath to avoid getting trampled." "After that, just wait for the storm to pass!" With that, the mighty sandstorm finally arrived, swallowing everything in its path. And the live streaming room plunged into chaos and noise. Chapter 815 811: Victory As the sandstorm drew near, the spectators finally realized how tall it was. Initially just a yellow line on the horizon, it turned into a yellow band, then a yellow wall. By the time it was less than a hundred meters away, it had become a yellow curtain, and eventually, it completely obscured the sky. The oppressive force was overwhelming. A hammer made of sand and dust brutally struck the hearts of the spectators. The exaggerated language in the barrage of comments also significantly decreased. Joking was one thing, but the immediate presence of the storm was unavoidably worrisome. With his back to the sandstorm, Bi Fang curled up under the camel, feeling the wind above him growing stronger. The whistling of the air slicing through seemed like someone yelling into his ears, causing his eardrums to tremble incessantly as if they might burst. The sand, relentless and invasive, forced Bi Fang to tightly close his eyes. Propelled by the fierce winds, these grains of sand struck with astonishing speed. Even through clothing, one could feel their force, as if they were making tiny incisions on the body. Camels naturally had experience in combating sandstorms. Despite some initial panic, they would actually become calm when it truly mattered and sit immovably on the ground. The surrounding sand piled up, moved, then returned, settling into a strange dynamic balance. On average, a dazzling 182 million tons of sand dust flow out of the west side of the Sahara Desert each year, enough to fill 689,290 truckloads. This Saharan dust cloud constitutes the largest-scale migration event on Earth¡ªa "mineral migration" more spectacular than most animal migrations that people are familiar with. The storms of the Sahara Desert lift enormous plumes of desert dust thousands of feet above the Earth''s surface. Subsequently, these thousands of kilometers long, camel-colored dust clouds drift westward on trade winds across the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, majestically traversing much of the globe. In fact, the Saharan dust cloud continually crosses entire continents at all times. These columns, huge in volume and density, can cross entire oceans, reaching the other side of the Earth. En route, the dust falls into oceans, rainforests, and human habitations. The Saharan dust cloud, a roiling belt composed of life-sustaining minerals like iron and phosphorus, At first glance, the migration of this brown dust, although spanning continents and oceans, is still less thrilling and exciting to onlookers than the majestic animal migrations. But it fertilizes some of the most biologically diverse oases on the planet, including the lush Amazon rainforest. Phosphorus is a vital nutrient for plant growth, but rain or floods can cause the loss of phosphorus from the soil of rainforests. In rainforests like the Amazon, continuous rainfall is a common occurrence. For this reason, 22,000 tons of Saharan dust deliver sufficient phosphorus to rainforests like the Amazon every year, replacing minerals leached out by rainwashing. Despite covering his mouth and nose, Bi Fang could still feel dust entering through various unseen crevices and sticking to his respiratory tract, making him want to cough. However, coughing in a sandstorm would lead to inhaling more sand, posing a respiratory hazard, so Bi Fang had no choice but to endure. A sandstorm could last anywhere from several minutes to several hours. Even if not fatal, it was undeniably excruciating. Two hours later, the piles of sand around him grew taller. Clearly, it was now the latter phase of the storm, where the wind was not as strong, allowing the accumulation of sand. Bi Fang began to gently shake his body, shaking off the sand to avoid being buried alive. Another hour passed, and the winds and sand gradually ceased, allowing the spectators to finally see the sky once again. In the past three hours, they could barely see anything, enveloped in darkness, with only the howling wind reminding them the live broadcast hadn''t ended. The camera fell silent. No sound. No movement. The audience inevitably began to worry, but their anxiety was short-lived. The tranquil desert started to shift slightly, the sand gradually sliding until a hand suddenly shot up from the sandy mounds, and larger changes followed, as a huge sandbag bulged and then exploded. Alpha shook its body, countless particles of fine sand pouring from its fur, forming thin streams. Bi Fang followed, coughing and finally spitting out several mouthfuls of saliva, cleaning the sand grains from his mouth, feeling a trace of blood in his mouth, uncertain if his nose had been scratched by the sand or something. Seeing the camera, he smiled and shrugged, "Look, I told you it''s not a big deal, cough, ptui, ptui." "You''ve actually seen it, choosing what kind of shelter isn''t that important, it could be a huge rock or inside a car, the key is to squat on the leeward side of the shelter." "If you know a sandstorm is coming soon, don''t spend too much time looking for shelter, as finding shelter in the desert can be hard. When the sandstorm quickly approaches, you''d better spend your time preparing to face it." [Master Fang: Small scene] [I''ve been through even more thrilling things (dog''s head)] [Honestly, last time that submarine volcano caused a tsunami, then surfing it, was absolutely a world''s first] [Sulfuric Sea, hundred-degree steam, tsunami, volcano, really] [Impressive] Bi Fang, observing the terrain that looked completely different from before, was momentarily stupefied, but quickly snapped back to reality, having experienced this before, and found his bearings again. "The sandstorm appeared too quickly earlier, and there was a lot we didn''t manage to say." "There are two key points in dealing with a sandstorm, breathing and keeping your center of gravity low." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "The violent wind will lift many large pieces of debris. The lower you are, the lower the chance you''ll be hit by these objects. Of course, you should keep your hands over your head to protect your head and neck." "And the heavier sand particles stay close to the ground, while the smaller particles will float in the air, posing a danger to the respiratory system, specifically those fine sand particles." Having found the direction, Bi Fang pulled the reins, choosing not to ride but to lead Alpha across the desert. He didn''t always ride the camel, especially after just experiencing danger when the animal might still be unsettled. "Before getting close to the ground, make sure you know your bearings. When you squat down, understand the direction you are facing, knowing where you need to walk." "Do not move an inch in a sandstorm. After the sandstorm passes, the surroundings might look completely different, but you still need to know where to go next." "If you are traveling with others, proceed hand in hand, as a sandstorm can be terrifying and can easily disorient. You wouldn''t want any member of your group to be scared or get lost." "Also, one more thing to note, although it goes against common sense, sandstorms can provoke unexpected thunder strikes, but there''s no way to defend against that, it''s purely luck. Of course, the chance of it happening is very low, and the induced thunder strikes usually only cause paralysis and are not deadly." Chapter 816 812 Oasis Thunder Strike? The audience was flabbergasted. Bi Fang explained in layman''s terms, "The first field test conducted in the Western Sahara showed that when sand grains are blown and rub against each other, they generate an electric field." "When this happens, the smaller dust particles usually absorb electrons from the larger ones, thereby becoming negatively charged themselves." "As a result, dust particles are more easily blown into the higher atmosphere, while the positively charged sand grains tend to stay closer to the ground. This separation of charges creates an electric field that electrifies the dust trapped in the sand, causing it to flow more into the atmosphere, resulting in larger storms." "This sphere not only has lightning that strikes downward, but also lightning that strikes upwards." [Sheesh, that''s dangerously fascinating.] [Knowledge level up!] [How come I''ve never heard of this before?] "It''s right that you haven''t heard of it, because such events are rare. I don''t think I''ve ever heard of anyone being struck dead by lightning inside a sandstorm." [Too hellish for me.] [Never heard of it either.] [Anyway, let''s celebrate, another day racing against death!] [Master Fang has rockets behind him, right?] [Death is like the wind, always at my side, but it can never catch up to me.] Having survived the sandstorm crisis, Bi Fang continued on his way with Alpha, but this time, he chose not to control the reins and let them dangle freely. There are many ways to get water in the desert, but with camels, there''s no need to pick the complicated and slower ones. "I''ve said before that following animals is undoubtedly a way to find water sources and even food. However, this definitely does not include bringing a dog and hoping it can find water for you." "Virtually all animals have their own fixed living territories, even migratory birds do, despite their annual migrations. The routes are set." "They know where there is abundant water and grass, where there are no predators, and where they can safely rest. They almost never change, which is why Professor ¨¦tienne came to me from far away to ask for help in altering the migration route of the White-fronted Geese. If not altered, urbanization would force them into extinction along their migration routes." "Have you figured out the reason?" "Most animals know the locations of water sources, not because they are extraordinarily gifted or have antennas on their heads pointing to water sources." Bi Fang placed his hands on his temples, pointing his index fingers out and rotating them around in a comedic gesture that amused the audience. [Because they live there, they know it, right?] "That''s correct. An animal''s territory is like our house, and a water source is the house''s tap water supply. As the owner of the house, you naturally know where the taps are." "Animals get thirsty. Knowing to follow them to the tap is all you need, but if you bring a dog into unfamiliar territory, finding the tap relies purely on luck." "Almost no animal inherently has the ability to directly locate water sources, which is why they usually don''t stray far from their own territories." "If the tap in the house breaks and there is no plumber in nature, animals can only move house, but moving is not that simple and often comes with a very painful cost. Those who have seen the African Savanna''s wildlife migration will understand clearly." [Wildebeest!] [The widowmaker, African Buffalo!] [Truly shocking, every time they cross the river and then get bitten by crocodiles, ending up as dinner, or luckily slip through with the main group.] [Humans might spend a lifetime''s savings and effort to move house, animals don''t have it easy either (Dog''s head).] [Almost all, I bet Old Fang is about to mention an exception, I guess it''s Alpha.] "Smart." Bi Fang laughed and patted Alpha''s neck. "When humans are in the desert, the biggest difficulty they face is finding water. Without water, you could perish in a few hours from dehydration. But camels in the desert don''t face this issue; they can always find an oasis and drink water, making them one of the few animals that can actively seek out water sources." "This is thanks to their unusually structured nostrils. The nostrils of a camel are slanted and can open and close at will to prevent dust from entering. Inside are structures like valves, covered with olfactory cells. They can search for food, and in the arid desert, they can sense moisture from water sources that have no smell from far away." "Such nostrils allow camels to sniff out water sources more than twenty kilometers away, greatly increasing their chances of survival when crossing the desert compared to a human carrying a large pack of bottled water." "So, if you really get lost in the desert, an experienced person would not feed the camel water; instead, after a few days, they would release the reins, allowing it to move freely, and it will find water on its own." [Holy moly, this sense of smell is unbeatable!] [Still, it got caught by Master Fang (Face with Tears of Joy).] [Still, Master Fang comes out on top.] [But seriously, is this sense of smell even better than a dog''s or a bear''s? I feel like they can''t find water sources by smell alone.] "Indeed, dogs and bears can''t find water by smell, but to say that a camel''s sense of smell is stronger than theirs isn''t necessarily true." Bi Fang shook his head, puzzling the audience. "Actually, camels have fewer than 800 olfactory receptor genes which might seem like a lot, but it''s actually quite few among animals." "Normal humans have more than 1000, dogs have about 1300, and even more powerful, mice have 1500." "But whether it''s humans, dogs, or mice, none can locate water sources based on smell alone, regardless of distance. Even if it''s less than ten meters away, they can''t know there is water in front of them solely by smell." "The camel''s ability to distinguish between scents is actually far inferior to that of dogs, bears, and mice. This is related to their living environment. In the desert, they don''t need a strong ability to distinguish scents because there are not many to distinguish." "So the fact that camels have fewer olfactory receptor genes is not a problem. On the contrary, because there are fewer scents to distinguish, these olfactory receptor genes have a stronger specialization. Their sense of smell is enhanced in certain specific aspects, and when it comes to water and other plants, it is far superior to other animals!" "In the soil of vegetation, a chemical substance called ''geosmin'' is released. This unique smell, similar to the scent of freshly turned soil, can be detected by camels from afar." "Actually, we sometimes smell this scent too, like on rainy days, the ''earthy scent'' after the rain is also geosmin, which essentially is a byproduct of bacterial metabolism." After several days of drought in the summer, a heavy rain suddenly falls, washing over the earth. The leaves turn greener, the flowers redder, and even the air is filled with the fresh fragrance of soil. You take a deep breath, filled with the plant''s freshness and the unique smell of mud, the fragrance of nature. But scientists will tell you that this post-rain earthy fragrance is actually organic compounds volatilized by some fungi. It''s a "scent trap" created by bacteria to attract springtails to consume, aiding in the spread of actinobacteria spores. [Ah, this, ah, this, ah this] [I''ve always really liked the scent after it rains...] [It''s over, can''t go back now] [What''s the big deal, we don''t know how many bacteria we breathe in with every breath] A person of mediocre talent, who focuses on just one thing year after year, can also become outstanding. The natural world has an array of scents, yet these camels don''t need them. With few natural enemies, their greatest foe is only the natural environment itself, so they only need to detect a few select scents. Even though their ability to distinguish smells might be poor, they can make do. The reins hang beside Alpha''s neck; after walking under the sun for a while, it seems to take a moment for Alpha to realize something is amiss. Tilting its head, it looks at the rope next to its neck, unsure whether to continue forward and stops in place. Bi Fang didn''t ask it to stop. With a gentle squeeze of Alpha''s belly with his legs, he signaled it to keep moving. [Can you really find it? Is there water in the desert?] [Of course, there are oases] [Do oases really exist? I feel like they are just creations from TV dramas or novels. Maybe they do exist, but only a sparse few, right?] "You are mistaken about that, the Sahara Desert is indeed the largest desert, but not the driest or the most monotonous." "The so-called desert is more like a treeless land surface; the 9 million square kilometers of desert, almost the size of Huaxia, might seem like an unending expanse of yellow-orange, but the geological structures are actually quite complex." "For example, Egypt''s four major oases, if you look closely at the terrain, you''ll find that they actually lie on the same fault zone. Such topography is inherently guiding and most crucially provides a water source." "I was telling you about the cause of the Sahara''s formation just a few days ago; I wonder if you still remember." "The desertification of the Sahara was very late, and it wasn''t until before the agricultural era that the Nile Valley became uninhabitable due to the accumulation of huge layers of gravel, which were even up to 100 meters thick during the glacial period." "Hence, humans gradually migrated from the grassland areas before desertification, and where there are humans, there naturally must be rivers." Bi Fang began to correct the misconceptions of his online friends. Prosperity is hidden even amidst barrenness. "In the early days of the Egyptian civilization, the eastern deserts, Nubia, Libya, and deserts around the Nile were not so arid, there were many rivers." "Egypt''s exchange with external civilizations, ore mining, wood, and even agriculture itself heavily relied on these rivers. The modern main stream of the Nile might be the absolute center, but it''s not the only one. Even, we could say that the dry river valleys shared a position in the formation and maturation of the Egyptian civilization alongside the Mediterranean, Libya, Sinai, and Nubia." "The god Set of the Delta in Egyptian legend and Horus, the god of the Nile Valley, fought for many years, and ultimately Horus defeated Set and drove him into the desert to become the god of the desert. This clearly reflects the hierarchy between the Delta and the desert, but let''s not forget that, since the desert is mentioned alongside the Nile Delta, it shows that Egypt placed great importance on the desert." If the so-called Sahara Desert were truly worthless, a place where birds don''t even lay eggs, how could it ever have been valued? In many local myths, one can actually trace some outlines of human development. In regions with developed water systems, the locals would never worship a powerful fire god, and within their system, a fire god could never defeat a water god. "Perhaps the conditions weren''t as good, not as fertile, but in the hearts of Egyptians, the significance of the desert in culture was several dimensions higher than modern people perceive." "Even if at the time it was indeed a land covered with yellow sand, there were still quite a number of oases scattered throughout the desert, supporting not an insignificant number of humans, which is why the desert occupies a considerable position in culture." "Unfortunately, desert archaeology only began at the end of the last century. Currently, the main research has been on the dry river valleys on the eastern side of the Upper Egyptian bend, with some discoveries also on the western side, but not many." Desert archaeology is too costly, being a work inevitably destined to have a very small return on investment. Searching for unclear engravings on cliff faces or rocks over hundreds of kilometers of valleys, eating sand, holding a brush¡ªit''s a very difficult task to even think about. "So, a long time ago, the Sahara Desert actually had quite a number of oases and rivers." "To this day, many of these rivers have disappeared from the surface, but underground, unseen, they still exist, surging tirelessly, continuing to create oases." As Bi Fang had said, Underneath the Sahara Desert, there were quite a few Underground Rivers, and these water sources were relatively abundant, some even directly forming small rivers in the desert. With the supply of water from Underground Rivers, the desert could support sizable oases with various types of plants, and on a larger oasis, some animals too. Coming to such an oasis, it would be hard for humans to imagine they were still in the desert. "Kharzez Oasis is one of the more famous oases in the Sahara Desert, also formed by an Underground River. Moreover, according to surveys, many underground rivers even contain a variety of fish, allowing people to fish directly in the subterranean rivers of the Sahara." "It''s definitely one of the wonders of the Sahara Desert." [Another day steeped in both Eastern and Western learning] [Mythology researcher, Master Fang adds another profession] [It''s common mythology, but it still feels awesome] A mathematician being an expert in mathematics, dealing with various specialized problems with ease, is not unusual, but if he also exhibits a certain degree of literary knowledge, even if not at the level of a professional scholar, it will still surprise and even impress people, because this is about not just the depth of expertise, but also the breadth of knowledge. Unfortunately, things did not seem as easy as Bi Fang had thought. Alpha, released from the restraint of reins, did not change direction, but walked in a straight line. Hours went by without change, until the evening when it seemed to finally realize that it was free to roam. For this reason, Bi Fang even withstood the blistering noon sun, to prevent disrupting Alpha''s "inspiration". Already lacking enough water, an afternoon passed, and his lips were even cracking and peeling. He couldn''t even make any significant facial expressions, or else they would crack and bleed. The situation continued until eight or nine in the evening, when the moon had risen, and Bi Fang finally reaped the rewards. Within his view, on the vast expanse of land, there appeared a "dark spot". Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 817 813: Supplies Bathed in moonlight, the earth was a stark contrast of black and white. The fine grains of sand reflected the moonlight, and the surface of the desert faintly gleamed white with a solitary black spot conspicuously appearing upon this silver carpet. The enormous camels bent their long necks to drink, their heads lowered to the ink-black water that rippled with layers of dark and glossy waves. Bi Fang crouched on one knee, dipped his hand in the water, brought it to his nose for a sniff, flicked his fingers to shake off the droplets, then rubbed them dry on the sand. "No strange smell, it should be a normal water source." Today was not a full moon, and visibility was limited, so Bi Fang could not determine the water''s purity by sight alone and had to make a rough judgment using his sense of smell. "In the desert, all oasis water sources are running water; stagnant water cannot exist here for long. This region has the world''s highest water vapor evaporation rate. A 100-milliliter cup of water placed in the most ordinary glass can evaporate completely in just a few minutes." "However, even if it is running water, one should not be careless; there are large numbers of wild camels in the desert, which often defecate in water sources." "Especially along certain fixed routes, where hundreds of camels drink and rest daily, they can even directly turn the water black." "Such water wouldn''t affect camels naturally, but humans do not share the same resistance, nor can they withstand such water sources." "No strange smell and no dangerous wildlife nearby, the water is most likely safe." [Awesome, found water!] [Master Fang may just observe for fun, but when it comes to finding water sources, you need me, Alpha] [Are you even polite?] Bi Fang stood up, prodded the bushes with a tree stick to avoid any venomous insects or scorpions hiding within, then began breaking off dry branches to prepare for boiling water. This oasis was long and narrow; seen from above, it resembled a banana. It covered an area approximately the size of a football field¡ªnot too small, nor too large¡ªflanked by a narrow green belt less than three meters wide. It took Bi Fang almost half a circle to gather enough firewood. These dead plants had lost their ability to draw water and, unlike the humid climate of the rainforest, just one day in the desert would completely dehydrate them, turning them into kindling that was extremely easy to ignite¡ªa convenience among the few in the desert. From his backpack, Bi Fang removed two pieces of Flint Stone, rubbed them with one hand and a few sparks drifted onto the dry twigs. After several attempts, a ring of orange light soon ignited in the darkness. The flames drove away the cold and darkness. Bi Fang picked a thicker tree stick, held it up, and approached the water''s edge. The water clearly reflected the firelight, but its true color remained elusive. Bi Fang abandoned this train of thought and continued to boil the water. "If you haven''t found a direct water source in the desert, but have only found green plants, you can also cover the vegetation with a plastic bag, wait for the daytime transpiration, and use the day-night temperature difference to distill and obtain clean water." "In ancient times, they said a thousand miles carries no provisions, meaning that the provisions carried over a thousand miles would no longer suffice for the mules, horses, and escorts." "Carrying 50 pounds of water and sweating out 40 pounds is pointless; one should rationally distribute the load according to one''s physical condition and the length of the journey. Normally, 4000 milliliters of water is sufficient in the desert." "But well, I have Alpha; carrying three times the water supply is no problem at all. What limits us instead is the container." "Storing water demands high-quality containers and proper storage, and the best are actually animal stomachs or, if you''re more skilled, their skins." Bi Fang rifled through his backpack and extracted several dead rattlesnakes that he had encountered on the road over the past few days. Some had been eaten, leaving only their skins and stomachs, which had now become excellent materials for water storage. "Although rattlesnakes aren''t very large, their stomachs have an extraordinary ability to expand. A single snake can hold two liters of water without any problem, and it''s like a balloon, just tie a knot at the end, and it won''t leak." Bi Fang laid the snakes out on his arm one by one and brought them to the pond to begin washing and preparing them. With four snakes, plus a water bottle, he could carry nearly ten thousand milliliters of water, enough to last him a little over a week if he rationed it carefully. "It''s better not to sleep too far from the water source at night, it''s easy to run into other animals, and we can come back here tomorrow." After taking some water, Bi Fang chose not to stay and endure the entire night. Instead, he led the well-hydrated Alpha toward the southwest, not specifically seeking shelter. He dug a hole and roughed it out for the night. By early the next day, Bi Fang returned to the pond to continue boiling water, surveyed the surroundings, and even took a bath, washing away the heat and grime before starting to look for suitable plants around the oasis to weave soft baskets. Alpha nibbled on the tender shoots in the oasis, moving his mouth from side to side, making up for the losses of the past few days, and even urinated, which after being reabsorbed multiple times, was as concentrated as pus. Although it was a bit extreme for some, it still amazed many viewers. "[Seriously, has Master Fang filled them too much? It looks like they might burst.]" "[This creamy color is giving me some unpleasant associations (Dog''s head)]" "[What are you thinking? Be bold and say it!]" "[Too avant-garde.]" "[We conservatives can''t stand this.]" "[But really, isn''t it going to burst?]" sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The baskets woven from branches were hung on both sides of the camel, and Bi Fang placed the swollen snake stomachs inside, which looked like milky white balloons filled with water. It was clear enough to see the freshwater flowing inside, naturally making one worry whether they were overfilled. "Don''t worry, the snakes'' stomachs have a huge capacity to expand, and I''ve specially woven soft baskets, so they''re not likely to burst." Bi Fang pinched the baskets on both sides of the camel, made of long devalued leaves; calling them frames wouldn''t be quite right, they were more like openwork bags, securely holding the water sacks. After finishing this, Bi Fang looked back at Alpha, who was still grazing in the thicket. "[Definitely starved.]" "[Speaking of which, it''s been quite some time since Alpha ate, right? (Dog''s head)]" "[It did eat a bit, Old Fang also encountered some plants, didn''t he find two trees last time? It just doesn''t seem enough to fill up.]" "[Poor thing, even its humps are deflated quite a bit.]" A healthy adult camel, when fully fed and watered, can go without food or water for 15 to 30 consecutive days. Under normal circumstances, a camel can consume about 13 kilograms of dry matter in one meal and drink approximately 10 liters of water. In extreme situations, like returning from the desert, it can eat at least 30 kilograms of food in one go and drink up to 120 liters of water. "They eat and drink far more than their bodies need every day, which is actually a form of storage, and you can tell because their humps are full and upright." "Eating and drinking in excess lays the foundation for the camel''s future ability to endure hunger and thirst." "Following Bi Fang for so long, just as the audience said, the hump indeed isn''t as inflated as it was at the beginning; it looks somewhat listless, the peaks even a bit saggy¡ªof course, that might also be due to sitting for too long." "The fat in the hump also needs replenishment, so Bi Fang decided to wait for a day, or even two if necessary, to set off tomorrow and allow Alpha to return to peak condition as much as possible." "There''s still plenty of time, so let''s see if there''s any food to gather next." "There are a few doum palm trees in the oasis, and perhaps some fruit can be found as well." "It''s also possible to look for fish in the pond to further supplement our supplies." "Fish can''t live without water, and water just happens to be the scarcest resource in the desert, so many people might assume it''s impossible to find fish in the desert." "However, the desert isn''t entirely devoid of life; oases are commonly found in deserts, and the water in these oases may contain fish, especially in deserts with many underground rivers, such as the oasis in our country''s Taklamakan Desert, which has crucian carp and grass carp." "Besides oases, it''s also possible to find fish in the desert''s subterranean rivers, lakes, and caves." "[Oasis, lakes, subterranean rivers¡ªaren''t these all the same thing? (shivering)]" "[How dare you! How reckless! Are you questioning Master Fang? Dog''s head for protection]" "[Master Fang could never be wrong!]" "There''s still a distinction," said Bi Fang, touching his head and laughing, "Generally, a lake in the desert is an oasis, but there are exceptions." "In Northern Bahia''s Lencois Maranhenses, there''s a desert spanning 1,500 square kilometers known as the ''Desert of a Thousand Lakes.''" "Brazil is primarily known for its tropical rainforest climate, which everyone should be aware of, so it''s indeed rare to find deserts there, but the formation of this particular desert is actually strongly connected to the tropical rainforest climate." "Because Brazil receives so much rainfall, its two main rivers frequently overflow seasonally, carrying a great deal of silt that is deposited into the Atlantic Ocean, and massive sand dunes form at the mouth of the river. The dunes are blown inland by the trade winds coming off the ocean, creating the desert." "[Wow, what a paradox.]" "[Strange geographical knowledge has increased.]" Bi Fang snapped a branch off a tree and began crafting a fishing line and hook. "After the desert formed, because the average annual rainfall here reaches 1600 millimeters, once the rainy season comes, many large and small lakes form in this desert, hence the name ''Desert of a Thousand Lakes,'' but it is not an oasis because these lakes are not stable, whereas the ecology of an oasis is." "Lakes in dried-up deserts and rivers are the same, so there are a great number of fish species, earning it the achievement of the world''s most fish-abundant desert." Bi Fang worked on a section of flexible branch, fashioning it into a hook structure, and inserted it into a small tube, tying it to the fishing line and casting it into the lake. "Next are the subterranean rivers; deserts'' subterranean rivers form through various means, some due to heavy rain that can''t be stored and seeps into the ground, and others are bone dry, but because of the desert''s significant diurnal temperature variation, moisture in the air saturates and condenses at night, seeping through the desert surface into the ground, forming flowing underground water over many years in some desert regions." "The subterranean rivers of the desert have outlets but no entrances and are connected to other water systems, thus fish from these other water systems may enter them." "However, after entering the subterranean rivers, because there is no light, these fish often lose their eyesight and become blind cavefish." "The Tuareg people living in the Sahara Desert rely entirely on the desert for their existence. As humans, they naturally need water and food. The main source of their water is the underground river, while their food comes from the fish in these rivers." "Having lived in the desert for a long time, the Tuareg people can accurately locate these underground rivers. Next comes the digging; when they find water, they use insects as bait on their fishhooks to fish." [Another miracle race] [There are Sherpa people at Mount Everest, and who was it that excelled in diving? Then there are the Maasai people. We''re all humans; why are they so outstanding?] [But Master Fang trumps all of them!] [Got it, Master Fang is the ultimate being!!!] [I''ve long suspected that Old Fang isn''t human (jokingly)] "Finally, there are caves. Apart from underground rivers, oases, and lakes, the desert also contains naturally formed caves, and some of these caves have water in them. There are fish living in these watery caves." "The Death Valley in Ugly Country is a dry, uninhabited area. Inside lies the Mojave Desert, wherein lies a 130-meter-deep cave that was found to contain fish. These fish are less than 5 centimeters in length, with an estimated number of about 300, later named by scientists as Devils Hole pupfish." "As for oases, there isn''t much to say, as an oasis is a complete mini-ecosystem with invertebrates in the water and aquatic plants." "However, the size of fish in these terrains generally isn''t large. In most of these environments, the abundance of food is poor, insufficient to sustain large fish species. These small fish survive tenaciously, thanks to their smaller size and lower energy requirements." "And for this reason, we don''t need very good fishing rods; a tree stick will do." As they talked, Bi Fang pulled up a tree stick, and on it hung a small fish, no bigger than a palm, flapping its tail incessantly. "Tilapia, the most common fish in the Sahara Desert. It seems its underground is indeed extensive." [Wow, there really are fish!] [Fishing in the desert, that''s some skill] [It''s all you] [Do fish from the desert taste better?] [No, they''re just pricier] Bi Fang took it off, put it into the basket, hung fruit on the fishhook, and continued to throw it into the pool. By afternoon, Alpha had stopped eating, and Bi Fang had reaped a rich harvest, enjoying a grilled fish feast at night. The next day, Alpha continued to eat, chewing monotonously with a big mouth, seemingly never tiring, like a relentless grass-eating machine. Bi Fang felt Alpha''s hump and found it had almost completely recovered, indicating it was about time to move on. Filling the water bottle for the last time, Bi Fang pulled Alpha away from feeding, mounted its back, and continued forward. Underfoot lay the vast expanse of the desert, while overhead stretched the pure blue vastness of the sky, where the sky and the endless desert merged into a line at the distant horizon. Mali had become a backdrop, and perhaps by tomorrow or the day after, they would reach the next country. Chapter 818 814 Sahara Silver Ant In Algeria. "In spring, Thibasa was filled with deities who spoke among the scent of sunlight and wormwood, over the silver-armored sea, under the deep blue sky, upon the flower-covered ruins, amidst the sparkling light boiling within piles of rocks." "Camus''s ''The Wedding of Thibasa'' depicts this seaside Roman ancient city in a way that fills one with reveries." Bi Fang was riding on the back of a camel, his body swaying gently from side to side with the camel''s movements. From Burkina Faso to Mali, and now in Algeria, Bi Fang had crossed three countries in less than a month. "This country in the northern part of Africa is indeed mysterious, inherently insulated from the internet, and aside from business and project-based visitors, the number of tourists who visit each year is merely a few thousand." "Unlike the Instagram-famous neighbors Morocco and Egypt, Algeria keeps a low profile, and many areas even prohibit photography, making outsiders who have seen its true face even fewer." "This is mainly due to cultural reasons; it''s a very conservative country, especially in the southern regions; only with a man''s permission can photos be taken." "As for women, that''s even more impossible, as women are considered private property locally, and only with approval from husbands or fathers can photos be taken." "If you were caught while taking photographs, the police would require checking each photo, spending an hour revisiting the castles, ancient temples, Ottoman palaces, and the Carthaginian trading posts from the fourth century you captured." "If your photos included residential areas with carved balconies adorned with fluttering clothes, walls decorated with colorful ceramics, vaguely seen gardens and fountains in the alleys, and shops at the low steps cluttered with felt, tea sets, and jewelry." "Then the inspection would be extremely meticulous, afraid that you might have inadvertently captured the face of a married woman." "Perhaps only in front of the uninhabited ancient Roman ruins of Thibasa can tourists freely take photos." Among the broken walls, with a blue sea background, mixed with the odor of dried sweat, this is the most common tourist photograph in Algeria. [Wowsers, is it that serious?] [Isn''t Master Fang live-streaming alright?] [ Just avoid capturing people, Master Fang always goes where there are no people (Dog''s head graphic)] "Indeed, Algeria spans both the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean cultural spheres, faces France across the sea with lingering connections, and is praised as North Africa''s sunset haven and Europe''s backyard garden. But regretfully, this time we might not be able to see its more beautiful side," Bi Fang said, smiling. Algeria actually has a bigger presence than it has online. As the largest country in Africa and the tenth largest in the world, it is ten times the size of the Central Country, and will be an important part of Bi Fang''s journey. "However, though we are not near any cities or rural areas, we can try venturing to densely vegetated border regions, where resources are richer and there''s a chance we might encounter some large animals." Bi Fang exerted force with his legs, urging Alpha to speed up. In the evening, the sand dunes had completely disappeared, and the ground underfoot had returned to solidity, though still gravelly, it was vastly different from before. Bi Fang dismounted from Alpha and stood on a hillside looking into the distance. Under the setting sun, he was surprised to find that there was an animal gazing back at him from afar. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was a small animal, about the size of a forearm, with exceptionally large ears, staring quietly at Bi Fang, the strange visitor, from a hundred meters away, seemingly very curious. The audience also noticed this mutual gaze, which felt particularly intriguing. [What is that, a fox?] [So cute!] [It''s staring at Master Fang!] "It''s a Fennec fox." Due to facing the sun directly, the animal appeared almost as a black silhouette, yet Bi Fang recognized it based on that silhouette alone. "The Fennec fox is the national animal of Algeria, and not including the tail, its body length is only 30 to 40 centimeters, about the size of a dog, making it one of the smallest canid species in the world. However, its ears are quite long, averaging 15 centimeters, which is likely its most easily recognizable trait." "The extreme climate of intense heat during the day and freezing cold at night is not uncommon in the North African desert, and the small stature of the Fennec fox is particularly well-suited to the harsh environment of the North African desert." "Their feet are covered with thick, soft fur for insulation, which also facilitates walking on the loose sandy soil. The two large, spread-out ears act like constantly working radiators, while also assisting in detecting prey." "In water-scarce environments, they can survive long-term by foraging for easily accessible vegetation near their dwellings, adopting water-saving measures such as staying in burrows during the hot days and only going out at night." "The sun is about to set now, it''s nearly their active time. It might be because it has seldom seen humans, it''s quite curious about me, hey, look, it''s even coming closer." Bi Fang stared at the Fennec fox, reached down to touch the ground, and found a rock, no, it was actually a clod of dirt which started to crumble when lightly squeezed. Molding the clod of dirt into a suitable shape, Bi Fang quietly awaited the other''s approach. [Others see cute animals and go up to pet them, holding food; Old Fang sees cute animals and goes up to hit them, holding a rock (facepalm)] [Master Fang''s Specialty] [Is this thing also a protected animal?] "Yes, and no," Bi Fang replied. "Normally, Fennec foxes are just controlled, their population numbers fall under ''Least Concern'' on the global list of protected species, they can even be kept as pets. But, well, we are currently in Algeria..." Bi Fang didn''t need to explain any further, the audience understood. Bi Fang had just mentioned that the Fennec fox was Algeria''s national animal, naturally, it was protected within the country. However, the situation seemed a bit different from what Bi Fang anticipated. When the distance was about fifty meters or so, he heard the sharp cries of the Fennec fox, sounding urgent, with a hint of fierce timidity. Bi Fang stroked his chin, somewhat unsure. "Through frequent vocal changes, adult and young foxes emit various sounds such as squeaks, whines, or screams. The deep, loud cries which are short and repetitive are usually used for conveying messages among their own kind." As he spoke, several other Fennec foxes emerged from different directions, hurried towards the first one, and together they started barking at Bi Fang as if they were about to launch an attack. At this moment, Bi Fang dropped the clod of dirt and, scratching the back of his head, laughed loudly. "It seems I was getting ahead of myself. We''ve intruded into their territory, so they have come out to drive us away. It looks like their burrow is just around here." Bi Fang looked down and, sure enough, saw a fairly concealed burrow about ten meters away. Through the burrow, he could vaguely see some creatures moving inside. "Fennec foxes are highly socialized species, with family groups consisting of parents and offspring, numbering no more than ten. Each family unit marks their territory with urine and feces." "Most importantly, they have a strong instinct to defend their territory and protect their young, not shying away from any threats when their cubs are in danger." "Let''s just leave." [It''s over, Master Fang is disliked] [Hahahaha, I laughed so hard, Master Fang also has a day when he is disliked] [First time for everything, worth celebrating] Bi Fang had no interest in lingering to tease the Fennec Fox, and mounted Alpha to continue his journey. By then, the sun had completely set, and it was time to find a suitable shelter to rest. Almost every night, Bi Fang constructed a sand pit. It was only for one night''s sleep, so there was no need to construct the shelter too perfectly. The better the shelter, the more investment required, and for Bi Fang, building a shelter too well was not worthwhile. The sand pit was convenient and quick, and also soft to sleep in. There was nothing better than a sand pit, and this time was no exception. However, the digging tools did not seem to work as smoothly as they had the previous month. As he threw out the sand, Bi Fang''s fingers suddenly felt a sharp pain, followed by a slight tingling in the base of his thumb. It was only when he looked up that he saw what had bitten him. There were two ants, completely silvery in appearance, each about a centimeter long, one biting the tip of his index finger, the other his thumb, firmly clamping onto his flesh. Bi Fang quickly jumped out of the pit, plucking off the two ants, and couldn''t help but smirk, "It seems we''re really having an unlucky day today, getting chased away by animals every time we stop." Under the moonlight, the ants'' backs flickered with a brilliance that was truly dazzling, almost like creatures out of myth. For a moment, everyone forgot about Bi Fang''s bite, their attention captivated by these tiny ants. "Whoa, silver ants!!!" "So cool!" "What kind of ants are these, aren''t they a bit too big?" "These are Sahara Silver Ants." Bi Fang regretfully looked at the deep pit below. Each time he sought out a shelter, he was careful to check for poisonous insects and ants. Sadly, this time was an exception. Originally, the hill made by the Fennec Fox for its den had been Bi Fang''s chosen spot, but he was driven away. By the time he found another suitable spot, the sun had already set, and he couldn''t clearly see if there were any creatures there. "They are truly beautiful, the most beautiful ants I''ve ever seen." Despite being bitten, Bi Fang wasn''t angry but instead placed the ants in his palm, using the moonlight to inspect them closely. They were truly pure silver, shimmering with a soft gleam under the moonlight, unimaginable how they would sparkle under the sun. "These ants are really beautiful." "Never seen a creature so beautiful." "So majestic." "The relentless scorching sun throughout the year, along with an annual rainfall barely reaching 80mm, turn the Sahara Desert into a no-man''s land for life. If it wasn''t for the sounds of the wind, only a deadly silence could describe its desolation." "But miracles always appear in unexpected ways, even in such terrible conditions life blooms with an unyielding posture and tremendous stubbornness." "If camels represent mammals, then the Sahara Silver Ant represents the pride of the insect class." "In the Sahara Desert, one of the most lethal factors affecting survival is undoubtedly the high temperature. The bare environment allows the temperatures to easily soar to levels that virtually cause life to vanish from the surface." "After all, 50¡ãC is far beyond the ''suitable'' range." "But for the Sahara Silver Ants, this offers a perfect opportunity to venture out. In their survival philosophy, the most dangerous times are often the safest. The idea of ''thinking what others dare not think, doing what others dare not do'' earns them a slim chance of life." "And it''s not just fifty degrees; these little creatures can even move about in the searing heat of seventy degrees in the desert, truly a miracle." The surface temperature and air temperature are two different concepts. A fifty-degree air temperature in the Sahara is not uncommon, but it''s certainly not as high as seventy degrees. Seventy degrees can only be reached at the surface. Nature has heat-resistant bacteria that can withstand temperatures of a hundred degrees, but these are simple microorganisms, not animals. In a hundred-degree environment, animals would simply turn into cooked meat. But for ants living right on the ground, the surface temperature is their survival temperature. "The silver ants are covered with orderly arranged fine hairs. These aren''t cylindrical like human hair, but more like a series of prisms." "Thus, each facet can effectively reflect both visible light and near-infrared light from different angles." "Moreover, these fine hairs can radiate mid-infrared light outward to emit heat, continuously cooling down." "Besides reflecting and dissipating heat, their speed is also incredibly fast, reaching up to 0.7 meters per second. If converted to human proportion, that''s equivalent to an ultra-high speed of 450 kilometers per hour." "This high speed helps them to fight quick battles, reducing their risk of being sunbaked to death." "Damn!" "Strange new knowledge gained." "Once again witnessing nature''s miracle." "A few days ago, I was watching ''Penguins of Madagascar,'' where a line struck me deeply," "Try to keep the details." "It''s over for us 95% of the time." "What about the other 5%?" "That''s the adventure and endless glory that no other penguins have." "I choose that path." "Cool!" "Master Fang is the penguin of that five percent!" "Although I don''t have much money, following Old Fang really broadens my view, otherwise I might never see silver ants in my life." "I really want to keep a whole nest." "Deep-sea fish''s eyes help them hunt in the pitch darkness of the deep sea, bees can perceive ultraviolet light, many beetles and butterflies can change colors by altering microstructures on their wings, and fireflies communicate through bioluminescence¡­" "There are always some creatures whose abilities surprise and amaze us, compelling us to admire the tenacity and robustness of life." Though there was no material gain today, having encountered and come into close contact with two creatures he had never dealt with still filled Bi Fang with delight. Bi Fang carefully placed the ants back on the ground and watched as they sped off in a certain direction. Following their trail, Bi Fang saw more Sahara Silver Ants, like mercury exposed to air, all converging in the same direction. "It looks like we''ll have to find another spot." Chapter 819 815: The Spy "Spy?" A few men in uniform appeared atop the desert, accompanied by a herdsman leading a camel, clad in a white robe. From their mouths emerged a scenario Bi Fang had never imagined. The wind howled through the sands, its abrasive whispers rising again with an unfathomable sound. "Me?" Bi Fang exchanged bewildered looks, falling silent after receiving a nod of confirmation. Algeria was indeed beautiful, but behind that beauty lay seclusion. Bi Fang had not anticipated that the greatest challenge he''d face on this trip wasn''t the harshness of Nature but the wary villagers at the Algerian border. With fewer than a thousand tourists annually, the majority of these visitors were concentrated within the cities, and as for the rural areas beyond, it was almost impossible to see much human traffic. The population in Algeria mainly belonged to the Mediterranean type of the Europa race, which includes Arabs and Berbers. Bi Fang, with his Asian features, stood out especially with three drones hovering over his head. When a young, unfamiliar man with a typical foreign look lingers around a village, only to quickly distance himself upon spotting people, carrying equipment that seemed designed for photography... Okay, even if Algeria weren''t so insular, Bi Fang felt he looked suspicious. It was an unavoidable situation, even though Bi Fang had been very cautious to avoid populated areas. Sometimes, interactions just happened ¨C he couldn''t possibly know the location of every small village within Algeria. Bi Fang looked up at the herdsman who had arrived with the police, searched his memory quickly, and remembered seeing the herdsman from a distance. He hadn''t expected such a misunderstanding to arise. "All right, then how should I prove myself?" Bi Fang sighed. ... [Done for, this won''t end well, right?] [Should be okay, right? The live stream isn''t off yet, is it?] [Old Fang is skilled and brave. What''s there to fear?] [Hahaha, suspected of being a spy, I can''t stop laughing. Who these days doesn''t know Old Fang''s reputation?] [I still remember when Master Fang came out of Qaidam, he seemed to be under suspicion too (dog''s head), but that was within Huaxia territory, amongst our own people, so nothing serious happened.] [This moment is as timely as that one.] [Fun fact: In Algeria, you need a license to watch official television, and even for using computers, mobile phones, and other devices, as well as for live streaming. It''s not like you can just go online whenever you want, so theoretically, it''s abnormal for ordinary people to know of Old Fang.] [Mind boggled.] [Wow, are we even on the same planet?] The audience started to worry about Bi Fang''s predicament, though perhaps there was some assurance in being taken away by official authorities, so most comments were in jest. After all, being taken away on suspicion of spying seemed ludicrous, especially given the extent of Bi Fang''s fame. Such an event, perhaps, could only occur in these peculiar countries. [But why are there countries that don''t welcome tourists?] [If you''re talking about reasons, it''s mostly cultural, along with certain economic factors. Algeria is particularly rich in oil and gas resources, ranked 15th in the world for oil and 10th for natural gas. These resources account for over 97% of the nation''s export total and are the backbone of its economy.] [So unlike Morocco and such countries, they don''t rely on tourism economically. Add to that a culture somewhat resistant to outside influence, and naturally, they don''t do much promotion.] [Old Fang is good at negotiating, eh? Accused of being a spy and he hasn''t even turned off the live stream.] ``` Why hadn''t he stopped the live stream even though he was suspected of being a spy? It was due to Bi Fang''s excellent "communication" skills. As a professional live streamer, Bi Fang naturally had all his documents in order, and at the first sign of suspicion, he presented them, then explained the reasons for his visit, his purposes, and why he lingered near some villages. Of course, the most crucial aspect was Bi Fang''s extremely fluent French and Arabic. Europe''s "backyard." This phrase could be seen as a compliment, admiring the environment of Algeria, or as a derogatory term, a shame of having been a French colony. It was precisely because of the colonization that there were two common languages here: French and Arabic. Coincidentally, Bi Fang spoke both. Algerian women seldom show their faces in public, and most of the faces you see on the streets are those of "Old Arab" uncles and elder men. In recent years, Huaxia has had many infrastructure and energy projects in cooperation with the locals. When faced with an oriental face, most "Old Arab" would still politely say "hello," but the conversation often stops there as most people''s English is halting and doesn''t allow for much chat. But once you cross the language barrier and blend into the circles of Arabic or French speakers, Algerians'' demeanor changes drastically, turning chatty and friendly, they might even drag you to a matchmaking event if they get along well with you. This kind of relationship, where people are either strangers or extremely close, is basically universal. Most Huaxia people feel a sense of kinship and pride when they see a foreigner who can speak fluent Chinese. This sentiment is just more overt and apparent in Algeria. Here, people of different racial and skin color coexist, but racial discrimination is almost non-existent. Generally, they believe that anyone who speaks the same language and lives in the same area is one of their own. The boundaries between people are as narrow as the gaps between houses, they like to invite business partners home, and wedding guests might burst into song contests over a disagreement. As long as you speak the same language, there are no outsiders, only one of their own. The officer had come with a responsible, not nitpicking, attitude, and after Bi Fang showed his relevant documents and successfully used language to foster a sense of closeness, they agreed to his request not to shut down the live stream. But the agreement wasn''t unconditional; until everything was confirmed, the live stream camera had to face the ground, and other people couldn''t be filmed. Bi Fang had no objections to this, but the live stream chat room wasn''t so calm because they had learned something else. Master Fang could actually speak Arabic too!!! "What language number is this, what number!!!" "How many languages does Old Fang actually speak???" "I always thought people who are proficient in eight languages only existed in movies... old Fang has taught me a lesson in humility." "Actually, there''s a pattern in learning languages; when someone speaks more than three languages, it''s highly probable that they''ll know the fifth, sixth, seventh (Dog''s head)." "Master Fang must be at five or six by now, seriously awesome, another language genius." "How does Master Fang do it, so young and it feels like he knows everything... I''m really envious, if I had even a quarter of his abilities, I wouldn''t still be working in an office." Bi Fang initially didn''t want to show off too much, after all, the languages he knew were already impressive enough. However, compared to French, it was indeed Arabic that made the locals drop their guard a bit more, making it easier to deal with them. Seeing his cooperation, the police also relaxed, feeling this might really just be a misunderstanding. One of the leading-looking officers raised an eyebrow, and the nearby shepherd got the hint and stepped forward to take Alpha. "Wait!" But they were too close, and before Bi Fang could warn him, the shepherd had already grabbed the reins! ``` Bi Fang always remembered that Alpha wasn''t just any ordinary camel, it was a wild camel that had been tamed! Even after a mere month, under his hands, there was no issue. Bi Fang, both the captor and the tamer, had already instilled a powerful and inviolable mark in the camel''s mind. However, in someone else''s hands, there was no telling what danger might arise! Although Bi Fang remembered this, he hadn''t expected the other party to come and lead the camel away. He hadn''t gripped the reins firmly and when the other party snatched them, they slipped right out of his hands. The situation he feared most indeed happened. Almost the instant the herdsman grabbed the reins, Alpha snorted loudly and then suddenly raised its forehooves. A behemoth weighing over half a ton is inherently oppressive; as it raised its forehooves, the herdsman was momentarily so frightened that he couldn''t move, frozen in place. Luckily, Bi Fang reacted swiftly. He kicked off the ground, surged forward at high speed, and rolled the herdsman to the side. Then he quickly got up from the ground, leapt to catch the flying reins, and pulled Alpha back down to the ground as he shouted, "Sit down, sit down!" Bi Fang tugged at the reins forcefully, pulling Alpha to the ground, suppressing the signs of an uprising. Only now did the nearby police begin to draw their weapons. Bi Fang shouted loudly, "Don''t worry, don''t worry, it''s fine now, everything''s under control." Seeing the camel sit down, the police officers seemed assured of their safety and didn''t actually draw their weapons. However, the relaxed atmosphere from moments ago had completely vanished, and the scene became tense once again. Bi Fang even noticed that several police officers, who had been quite close just moments ago, had now backed away three to four meters. Clearly, they too had been frightened. At such a close range, no kind of gun would be effective. "My God, what... what''s with this camel?" The herdsman, still shaken, got up from the ground, adjusting his hat, his face showing panic, his legs trembling. If it weren''t for Bi Fang''s quick response, pushing him away the instant the camel lifted its forehooves, he might now be lying under its hooves. A half-ton camel isn''t something to joke about. A collapsed chest would be the least of his troubles. The herdsman had seen many camels, but to think this one could become violent with just a tug of the reins was a first for him. When a behemoth, whose head was as big as a human chest, became agitated, it was oppressive to people no matter whether its usual diet was grass or meat. That kind of presence could easily make a normal person''s legs go weak. It was precisely for this reason that each time a behemoth was subdued, whether easy or difficult, it would always excite a large audience. Looking at the herdsman''s frightened eyes, Bi Fang felt a bit of remorse; it was his oversight. Alpha, a wild camel just a month ago, was indeed obedient to him, but that wouldn''t necessarily be the case with others. Perhaps in another two or three months, this wouldn''t have been an issue. "What''s going on here?" "Alpha is a wild camel I captured near Mali; we''ve only been together for less than a month. If someone else tries to lead it by the reins, it might not listen as well as it does to me?" "Wild camel? Are you joking with me? Or do you think we''re idiots?" a police officer asked sharply, pointing an accusatory finger at Bi Fang. Obviously angered by the scare, he was past the point where words could smooth things over. Bi Fang shrugged. He had no evidence to present unless the other party was willing to pull out a phone and rewatch the live stream, which seemed unlikely. Whether or not there''s even a signal for normal cell phones out here was doubtful. The lead officer apologized for his subordinate''s rudeness and sized up Bi Fang, then took another look at Alpha, now kneeling, "Alpha, is that its name?" "Yes." "Then would you mind leading Alpha and coming with us? If you make any unexpected moves on the way, don''t blame us for taking necessary measures." "Of course, but I do hope this can be resolved quickly." "If there are truly no issues, it will be." Several hours later. Following the officer, Bi Fang walked from the desert into the city. As someone visiting for the first time, his gaze inevitably revealed curiosity. There was no onslaught of tourists, and entering Algeria alone felt like slipping into an isolated society. Regardless of which town he reached, the spaces between buildings were filled with the unfiltered essence of local life. The residential areas seemed capable of stopping time, much like those old French buildings in Algiers, where residents hadn''t changed for decades. Here, oil was as cheap as water, and Algeria had a good welfare system. Despite the severe class stratification, unemployed commoners receiving subsistence allowances could barely make ends meet. Though the houses were old and the living conditions not exactly advanced, since faith was greater than everything, Algerians were willing to forgo the pursuit of rapid development and continue their tranquil traditional slow life. Just by looking at those houses, Bi Fang knew that it was unlikely for an outsider to visit the community alone. Imagine old walls paired with rusty iron bars on windows, thick electric wires entangled with clotheslines, and faded childish graffiti next to a group of bearded "Old Als" smoking and chatting. Insert this scene into a movie, and you''d expect trouble to arrive soon. Without a local guide, tourists entering the neighborhood would feel like they''ve entered a labyrinth with undecipherable street signs, running amok while being suspected of peeping into people''s homes. Bi Fang, with a foreign face and led by the police, received more than one doubtful glance from the crowd on the street, all filled with suspicion. Eventually, Bi Fang was taken to the local police station. There, Bi Fang was unquestionably subjected to a series of interrogations by multiple batches of officers, and his passport was taken by the police for verification. "Would you like some tea? Or perhaps some food?" sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. One of the initial officers that took Bi Fang, the one who stopped his subordinate from being disrespectful, did indeed sit beside Bi Fang with a small tray. On it were a few sweets and a cup of mint tea. The sweets were standard, but the tea was somewhat special. The cup was almost half filled with foam "mousse" and gave off a strong scent reminiscent of menthol balm, invigorating Bi Fang''s senses. He had heard that in alcohol-prohibiting Algeria, besides the steam coffee and Arab coffee they already loved, locals would drink mint tea as if it were whiskey. If that wasn''t satisfying enough, they''d mix in some green tea, sugary water for a kick, paired with a few coconut dates and a drop of the soulful menthol balm. Turns out, it was true. "Thank you, but no need." "But you look quite thirsty," the chief said, eyeing Bi Fang''s pale lips with suspicion. "If I must give an explanation, regard me as an ascetic monk." "Like the People from Yingdu?" "Like the People from Yingdu," Bi Fang nodded. "All the resources for this journey must be gathered with my own hands, all the tools must be created with my own hands." "I think I understand why you were determined to tame a wild camel." Chapter 820 820: Type 801 6 Chapters Mural It seemed to just comfort Bi Fang''s mood, and after a brief conversation, the captain left. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang did not see him again for the rest of the day until eight in the evening. In the office, the brand-new ceiling fan worked hard, yet it could not reduce the heat even a little bit. Sitting on the chair, Bi Fang scanned the police officers in the police station. Those reading newspapers continued to do so, those drinking tea sipped their tea, and those chatting engaged in their conversations, completely forgetting about him, the "spy". Helplessly, Bi Fang had to pull aside a middle-aged officer who was about to pour himself another cup of tea, and who also was among the group of officers that had brought him in. "How long will it take to confirm my identity?" "Uh, what?" "I said, how long will it take to confirm my identity, and then let me go?" Bi Fang wondered if his Arabic was not authentic enough, but then again, it seemed unlikely since it was a System product. The middle-aged officer paused, "Uh, tomorrow, tomorrow should be fine." ¡ªI have a bad feeling about this. ¡ªIs it going to take that long? ¡ªWell, considering it''s a spy matter, maybe they are being cautious? Possibly. ¡ªI can''t feel their caution at all. Bi Fang saw the comments and shared the concerns internally, slightly furrowing his eyebrows but found it inappropriate to complain. One day was still within his acceptable range. Let''s wait and see. ... "How long will it take?" "Uh, we''re contacting Huaxia right now..." "If it''s just a phone call, I probably know it." Bi Fang sighed. ... Bi Fang was found by the police at noon, brought into the station in the afternoon, and it wasn''t until the morning of the third day that things were resolved. When he was eventually released, it was already the fourth day. During this time, he faced several rounds of interrogation by batches of police officers, and his passport was taken away for verification. However, no one knew what the efficiency of the process was. Ultimately, netizens proved reliable. They informed the Magic Capital Contact Center, whose staff immediately contacted the Huaxia Embassy in Algeria, seeking their assistance. Finally, with the help of the Huaxia Embassy, Bi Fang managed to get out of the dilemma. The whole process was mentally exhausting. Bi Fang rarely spoke ill of other countries, but this experience had truly worn him out, especially the dragging procedures and the alarmingly low efficiency in Algeria almost drove him crazy. The so-called "tomorrow" was never a real tomorrow, but a "someday in the future". If it weren''t for the embassy''s effective action, Bi Fang wondered if he would still be stuck there for another four to five days. Fortunately, he had some food supplies, or else he might have truly starved to death in the police station. "I''m finally out." After expressing his gratitude again to those from the embassy, Bi Fang stepped out of the police station, feeling as though even the air was much fresher, filled with the scent of freedom. ¡ªMaster Fang definitely didn''t expect that the longest delay after setting out would be being suspected as a spy, haha almost died laughing. ¡ªBro, aren''t you tired of saying all this at once? ¡ªWaited so many days, let''s hurry up and set off! "You''re right; we''ve wasted over three days, we need to continue our journey." "And this is a valuable experience, isn''t it? When everyone travels in the future, especially to some special countries, it''s best to be fully prepared." Being mistaken for a spy was just a minor incident during the journey. Having dealt with this matter, Bi Fang, leading Alpha, left the town and continued on the original route. Twenty days later. Leaving Algerian territory, Bi Fang crossed Niger and arrived in Libya. Such a huge span finally made fans understand what the rock desert Bi Fang initially mentioned looked like. The surroundings were no longer vast dunes, but towering rock walls with huge, oddly shaped rocks eroded by the wind, so bizarre it appeared as if they were on another planet. The wide canyons lay to the right of Bi Fang, and to his left, a brightly colored red train sped along the rails. The train heading towards the canyon was coated in red, its color curving and twisting through the yellow desert and white wilderness, hence the train also had a melodious name¡ªThe Red Lizard Express. Having faced sand for nearly a month, it was refreshing to finally see some modern technology, giving the live stream viewers a hint of long-lost human touch. Watching the train depart, Bi Fang followed the tracks. After passing through several tunnels, the surroundings suddenly became eerie, as if the Grand Canyon of Colorado had been replicated in the African desert. Inside the valley was a stream, and as the water flowed, it enlivened the nearby and distant mountains. One would assume that where there are waters, green signs of life would be visible, but this rule didn''t apply to streams with a high salt content. It was its flowing that exacerbated the continuous degradation of the local soil quality and made the already barren land even more desolate. Bi Fang rode a camel to the top of the canyon. At that moment, the gorge, like an open gate, let sunlight pour through the crevices, casting reflections on the valley''s stream akin to the glow of liquid mercury, making people briefly imagine that it contained hidden treasures. ¡ªThis canyon is freaking huge. ¡ªShould we go inside? ¡ªTo be honest, I want to check it out. Bi Fang nodded, even if the viewers didn''t suggest it, he wouldn''t miss the opportunity to enter the canyon. He led Alpha to slide step by step down from the rocks. At first, Alpha was a bit scared and reluctant, finally, Bi Fang had no choice but to get down and lead it slowly step by step. Bi Fang followed the stream and found a clean pool, dipping his hand to taste some water; he was surprised to find that the water in the pool was fresh. "Shouldn''t be a same water system, this pool is groundwater, whereas the stream we saw earlier probably came from somewhere else." Having found a water source, Bi Fang dipped his water bottle into it and watched the clear freshwater rush in. Without even taking a sip, he already felt a bit of coolness amid the scorching heat. It was mid-July, standing under the Sahara sun was enough to drive someone mad, even Alpha was dragging its hooves, showing some signs of restlessness. Bi Fang had no choice but to take it to a cooler place to rest around ten o''clock. After searching for almost an hour, Bi Fang finally found an excellent shelter a few kilometers outside the oasis. It was a huge cave, simply standing at the entrance made one feel a cooling sensation distinctly different from the outside world. Near this cave, there were other caves too, in twos and threes, totaling about a dozen. Such a large group of caves, combined with the quiet and strange environment, was somewhat frightening. [Wow, such a big cave] [Is this formed naturally? It doesn''t look like it.] [Was it dug by humans, and is it abandoned now?] [I see there are other caves nearby. This must have been a human settlement, right?] [Could there be some monsters inside?] [Lizardmen, right?] [My advice: watch less horror movies.] Entering, Bi Fang scanned around to see if any snakes or ants were hiding, then pulled Alpha inside. Facing the audience''s queries, he didn''t find them strange. "I don''t know if you''ve seen Star Wars, the planet Tatooine in the movie is desolate, cold, and barren. Skywalker was born and grew up on that planet." "Skywalker''s residence in the Star Wars movies is based on reality¡ªit''s actually the home of the indigenous Berber people of North Africa. They have lived here for thousands of years and have developed a comprehensive living system adapting to their environment." "Near Tatooine, there''s an underground village called Matmata, where the ground is dotted with about 500 big holes that look like meteorite craters." "The holes are surrounded by guardrails¡ªthat''s the underground residence of the Berber people. It takes four people two years to make one big hole ready. The diameter of an entrance is about 10 meters. Then they dig out living spaces like bedrooms and kitchens along the walls. Typically, one big hole can house five to six families. Such an architectural design allows people to experience a comfortable coolness even in desert areas." "Although we''re not sure whether this one was also built by the Berber people or why it was abandoned, the reasoning is the same. It seems to be evidence that ancient humans once lived here." Bi Fang touched the rock walls. Even on the vertical walls, there was a thin layer of gray dust. The dust on the floor was almost several millimeters thick, and stepping on it would leave a very deep footprint. Clearly, it had been a long time since anyone had visited before Bi Fang arrived today. The interior of the cave was very deep, and Bi Fang saw some wall paintings on the walls that were very simply drawn, much like children''s sketches. Due to their age and covered in a layer of dust, the images were somewhat blurred but the general content was still discernible. The paintings depicted herds of cattle and sheep, and there were also scenes of human groups hunting. The colors used were mostly red and white. After viewing a few of the paintings, Bi Fang was somewhat surprised. "These have existed for at least four thousand years." [Wow, that long?] [Really or Not] [Any evidence?] [Archaeological expert online] Bi Fang shook his head, "I''m not very familiar with archaeology, just made some judgments based on the content of the murals, which may not be accurate." "Look at the content of these murals here; there are only cattle and sheep, no elephants, no camels, which according to the climate changes in Sahara I''ve mentioned before, correspond." [Ah, what changes?] [Did I miss class again?] [I didn''t miss class, but I''ve forgotten everything (Dog''s head)] Bi Fang chuckled and didn''t mind, but he explained the climate change process in the Sahara once again, then explained the possible periods of the murals once more. "Based on the rock paintings found in the Sahara Desert and the climate changes of the Sahara, we can actually divide these different rock paintings into several periods." "The first is the buffalo period, which roughly spanned from 35,000 years ago to around 8000 BC." "The murals of this period were painted on rocks with pigments mixed with milk from some animals now extinct locally." "They included buffalo, elephants, hippopotamus, and rhinoceros, and the humans in the paintings used clubs, axes, bows, and arrows swinging clubs to hit prey but usually had no javelins; they often wore round helmets." "These rock paintings are mainly found in the southeast of Algeria, as well as within the boundaries of Chad and Libya, which is where we are now." "The second is the Ox Period, approximately from 7500 BC to 4000 BC." "During this period, the local residents began to live nomadic lives, herding cattle and sheep, and there have been discoveries of pottery and Stone Age polished stone axes, grindstones, and arrows, as well as some hunting bows and arrows." "The livestock were introduced from Asia. In later periods, some villages were found that could gather more people and livestock." "The third is the Horse Period, approximately from 3000 BC to 700 BC." "During this period, there are indications that horses, camels, and dairy cows were introduced locally, and large-scale agriculture was practiced." By this point, the audience in front of the screen had basically understood. The content of the murals neither depicted the flourishing scenery before the climate change nor the prosperity after but was in a middle state. So the described time point is also likely to be in that middle period. [] "Possibly around 1220 BC, they learned the use and forging of iron tools from the Phoenicians. A great empire alliance was established locally, spanning the entire Sahara to Egypt." "Starting from 2500 BC, the Sahara had become a large desert, similar to its current state, becoming an insurmountable barrier for the humans at the time, with only a few residents in the oases and seldom commercial interactions that traversed the desert." "Only the Nile Valley is an exception, due to its ample water sources, it became a lush area for plant growth, also one of the cradles of human civilization." "However, the Nile has several impassable waterfalls, which also created a significant barrier to commercial trade. But Egypt was still able to spread the technology of iron tools, and perhaps also the concept of kingship, to Nubia to the south and even farther south." By 500 BC, Ancient Greece and the Phoenicians began to influence this area, Greek traders developing business opportunities along the desert''s eastern border and establishing many commercial colonies along the coast of the Red Sea. Carthage, on the other hand, developed along the Atlantic coast in the western desert, but because of the treacherous Atlantic storms and insufficient markets, their exploration never extended beyond the area now known as Morocco. Centralized states were only distributed on the north and east edges of the desert; their power did not reach into the heart of the desert, so those living on the edges of the desert were often attacked by the nomadic Berber people in the desert. The most significant change in the history of the Sahara Desert came from the invading Arabs who brought camels that enabled trade routes across the desert; chieftains on the Mediterranean coast to the north transported horses and crafts to the south, while Sahel Kingdom in the south became wealthy and powerful due to exporting gold and salt. Oases in the desert became commercial centers, gradually controlled by northern chieftains. This state continued for several centuries, until Europeans invented large sailing ships, first the Portuguese who bypassed Sahara to plunder resources in Guinea, followed by other European countries, soon diminishing Sahara''s commercial value. Chapter 821 817: Frying Eggs In 1956, Henry Lote led a French expedition in the Sahara Desert and discovered 10,000 murals. The next year, he brought back replicas and photographs of the murals, which covered an area of about 11,600 square feet, to Paris, where they became a sensation that astounded the world. From the large number of ancient artifacts unearthed, it was determined that the Sahara, between 10,000 and 4,000 years ago, wasn''t a desert but a grassland¡ªa lush oasis teeming with numerous tribes or nations living on this fertile land, creating a highly developed culture. The most prominent feature of this culture was the widespread popularity of polished stone tools and the manufacture of pottery, marking a sign of productive capacity. The murals also contained Sahara script and Tifinagh characters, indicating a relatively high level of cultural development at the time. At the time, this news was undoubtedly extremely shocking and sensational; nobody could have imagined that the land, sprawling over 9 million square kilometers of golden sand, was once a dense forest and grassland. Nowadays, humans have gained a much more detailed understanding of Earth''s history, and the revelation no longer seems stirring in comparison. However, when people saw the murals depicting herds of cattle and sheep, and compared it with the desolate scene outside the cave, they still experienced a sense of astonishment and wonder. The murals'' form of expression or technique was not complex, but the content was rich and colorful. From the brushwork, a sense of rough and simple touch emerged spontaneously. Bi Fang moved closer, gently blew away the dust on the wall, and the image instantly became clearer, even the colors seemingly brightened. "Before the industrial age, pigments were a very expensive commodity." "But humans never lacked ingenuity in producing pigments, even during the Ice Age when human life was brutal and short, they still found time to create art." "In the Blombos Cave along the West African coastline, evidence of tools dating back 100,000 years was discovered: there were grindstones and stone hammers used to crush ochre pigments, as well as abalone shells used to mix animal fats and urine for body decoration, leather, and cave wall adornments." "In the Chauvet, Lascaux, and Altamira caves, the pigments used for rock paintings 1,500 to 3,500 years ago were charcoal, chalk, and crushed bone, as well as the red and yellow ochre iron ore deposits that resemble mud. They are testimonies to the early humans'' masterful skill in using colors." "However, the classic true red cannot be extracted from iron oxide minerals because their red color comes from soil and doesn''t have the noble red of a sunset or blood." "Most of the murals were made with different rocks and soils, such as red iron oxide, white kaolinite, ochre, green or blue shale acting as fuel, and some also used blood and animal fats¡ªthose in front of us are of this type." Bi Fang leaned in and took a sniff. Despite the thousands of years, he could still detect different scents, that of an injured cow, its abdomen oozing gushing blood¡ªperhaps to portray it more vividly, the painter had directly used real blood. Perhaps because so much time had passed, the blood on the murals no longer appeared red but more brown. Instead, the colors in a few other scenes were more vivid, with the red easily recognizable. Bi Fang leaned in and took another sniff. "The red color was made by grinding red rocks from the plateau into powder and adding water to paint. Because the moisture from the pigments thoroughly seeped into the rock wall, causing chemical changes over prolonged contact, they fused into one, maintaining the vividness of the images for a long time. After thousands of years, exposed to wind and weather, the colors remain bright and striking to this day." "It''s quite a remarkable phenomenon." ["Determining the type of pigments by smell, what kind of skill is that?"] ["I want to learn that."] ["Why do you want to learn everything? I won''t teach you!"] ``` [Dog''s head] On the rock wall extending for tens of meters, there were many human figures in addition to cattle and sheep. Many were valiant warriors, exuding a daunting and inviolable aura, holding spears and round shields, riding rapidly on chariots, displaying scenes of battle. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Some were wrapped in waistcloths, wearing small caps; some weren''t armed, appearing as though they were playing musical instruments; some seemed to be presenting offerings, as if welcoming the "gods" from heaven, perhaps symbolic of a ritual; some figures were depicted in dancing poses. As for further inside, it was too dim to see clearly, and Bi Fang didn''t rashly light a torch. "To be honest, I don''t know much about wall paintings, I can only match them up based on historical context and chemical pigments, trying to analyze them from a cultural perspective is beyond me." [Teacher Fang is being modest] [I only understand a tiny bit] [Look, that''s modesty from a big shot] "However, beyond their cultural value, wall paintings have a lot of other practical significance, such as for studying historical climate change. Research into historical climates, apart from natural sampling analysis, cannot do without such historical data, both serving to corroborate each other." There are generally two types of proxy evidence used in reconstructing historical climates. One is historical documentation, which can be broadly divided into records of weather, meteorological disasters, phenology, regional climate characteristics, and their impact. The other is natural proxy evidence, which currently mainly includes tree rings, ice cores, stalagmites, corals, lake and bay sediments, etc. "Research into historical climate is an important part of historical geography, especially historical physical geography, with the main goal to study the history of climate and reveal past climate change patterns, to ''use the past for contemporary application''." "Many studies now indicate: the era when humans affect the Earth''s natural evolution has arrived. When human living environments are faced with severe challenges such as global warming and frequent extreme weather events, it becomes extremely important to study climate changes in historical periods." "Alright, since there are wall paintings here, let''s not disturb them, the pigment material is very sensitive to carbon dioxide." "The wall paintings in the Altamira Cave in Spain, one of the twelve treasures of Spain, were severely damaged during the 1960s and 70s due to the influx of carbon dioxide brought in by numerous tourists." "Since then, access has been limited, and now the waiting list for visits is already three years out." "Let''s switch to another cave instead and see if there''s one with nothing at all." After one last glance at the wall paintings, Bi Fang led Alpha out of the cave and checked several other caves on the same rock wall, finding that aside from the first one, several others also had some paintings, occupying about two-thirds of the total number. In those caves without wall paintings, Bi Fang also found some other interesting things. "When you encounter a cave in the wild, don''t get excited thinking it''s an opportunity for exploration; dark and damp caves are the beloved refuge for many venomous creatures, especially in the desert where the scorching sun during the day forces animals to find shady places to cool off, with caves being their preferred choice." Without the worry of damaging the paintings, Bi Fang lit a torch, crouched down, and used the torch to attract the attention of a venomous snake in front of him. "Look, a horned viper." Bi Fang said with a smile. The desert horned viper is a snake that is quite easy for ordinary people to identify, because it has two clearly visible horns on its head. ``` At this moment, the Horned Viper was coiling behind a rock, its body blending seamlessly with the color of the pebbles, tight like a spring compressed to its utmost, clearly ready to strike. Although he had caught venomous snakes in the desert several times before, a single misstep when handling venomous creatures often spelled doom, and there is no room for error, so Bi Fang also dared not get too close. [I''ve seen it on the Animal Planet!] [All vipers are venomous, right?] [Is this today''s lunch? (Dog''s head)] [Damn, those horns, so boss!] [Indeed cool] [Are the horns made of bone? Growing on the head? That''s pretty badass] "Not exactly, unlike the hard keratin of a rhinoceros horn, the two horns on the head of a Horned Viper are extensions of normal snake scales, which means, you won''t see these two little horns on its skull," Bi Fang explained. "These horns can even fold, flattening against the top of the head as it moves through subsurface layers of sand. They also fold when touched by humans." "As a snake that lives in the desert, theoretically, the horns can protect their eyes from the harsh sunlight, preserving their vision while they slither over sand dunes." "However, it''s also possible that they use their horns to lure prey by rubbing their scales to mimic wriggling worms and other species, thereby attracting rodents and then killing them." "One of the species'' signature skills involves burying themselves in loose sand dunes with only their eyes exposed. The only thing a passing animal would see are its horns and eyes." Bi Fang brought the torch closer so that viewers could clearly see the lower half of the snake buried in the gravel. The cave was constantly exposed to wind and sun, accumulating a significant amount of gravel within a few meters of its entrance. "This type of snake is almost never found in human-inhabited areas. They have undergone careful evolution to survive in desert regions. They can store the precious moisture from their recent prey and morning dew within their scales." "It is said that in Greek mythology, Celastrus was created in the image of a Horned Viper." Celastrus is one of the lesser-known chapters in Greek mythology, a terrifying horned snake monster. Legend has it that this beast was born from Medusa''s blood spilled in the Libyan Desert, an evil head capable of regeneration. "According to the myth, Celastrus would leap out of the sand grains as it awaited travelers, sinking its fangs into them and dragging them under the sand. This beast is said to move laterally, which is attributed to Helen of Troy stepping on its back thousands of years ago during her elopement with Paris, and this is exactly how the Horned Viper moves as well." The Horned Viper is one of the four species of rattlesnakes in the world; it does not slither forward but moves directly sideways, with only two small parts of the body touching the ground, aiming to minimize contact with the scorching desert floor. Professional researchers can directly determine the number of ventral scales on the Horned Viper by the snake tracks left on the sandy ground, thus knowing its size and age. "As for its venom, I won''t say much, it''s potent, and there''s a chance of fatality if bitten. The venom destroys cell walls and the nuclei of these cells, and death is usually due to kidney failure as cells rupture, and organs can no longer function properly." [Every time it''s said how fierce and venomous the snake is, then getting so close himself, it''s rather annoying [Brilliant]] [The Snake King of South Africa, Austin Stevens, used to be on the science and education channel a lot, I remember one episode where he was bitten by a viper, forgot if it was the Horned Viper or the Gaboon Viper] [To be honest, every time Master Fang introduces venomous snakes, I''m really scared (covers face)] "And this one..." Bi Fang tried to move around to see behind the Horned Viper, but at that moment, the snake suddenly made a relatively loud rustling sound, tensing up again, which discouraged him from continuing his attempt to get a better look. Of course, he was only giving up on the idea of looking behind it, not on capturing it. Bi Fang fixed his gaze on the Horned Viper, explaining as he shook the torch in his hand. "Horned Vipers are of a calm temperament, but when faced with a threat, they coil their body into a C-shape and rub themselves as a warning to the enemy." "Because their scales are quite hard, they can create a powerful rustling noise, like that of the Saw-scaled Viper. Both adults and young of the species can make this distinctive rustling sound and posses the ability for a rapid strike, so we must be cautious." The torch, radiating high heat, firmly captured the attention of the Horned Viper, while Bi Fang held a tree stick in his other hand, quietly waiting for the right moment. As he mentioned before, catching a venomous snake is a risky affair, and Bi Fang rarely handled them directly. He usually used a tree stick to hold down the head, then swiftly decapitated the snake. Bi Fang had caught quite a few rattlesnakes using this method. "Not all snakes rely on heat sensing to hunt; usually, only those in the Viperinae subfamily do so." "Snakes like the rattlesnake, viper, desert viper, and Bamboo Viper, all have highly developed pit organs and use heat sensing as their primary means of locking onto prey." The moment soon arrived. Just as the Horned Viper could not stand it any longer and lunged out to attack, the tree stick in Bi Fang''s hand came crashing down, instantly striking the snake''s head. The blow was forceful and decisive, aimed almost not just to restrain but to crush its head, causing the Horned Viper to roll frantically on the spot, churning the sand underneath into disordered patterns. [Tree stick works wonders!] [That makes my head hurt] [That''s so accurate] Bi Fang didn''t let it suffer for too long, he stepped forward, found an opening, held down its head, and chopped it off with a knife. The rest of the body kept writhing, while he used the tree stick to flip open the snake''s head and another stick to push aside the rock it was hiding under. As the rock rolled to the side, dozens of round eggs suddenly came into view. Bi Fang flicked his hat brim and whistled. "Just as I thought, this one appears to be a female. Vipers generally lay their eggs in July and August, as do most snake species." "If I''m not mistaken about the Horned Viper, they are active in April and then lay eggs after fifty to eighty days, which would be around June or July." "We are lucky, tonight we can have fried eggs." Chapter 822 818: Gold Meteorite Holding the dead horned viper, Bi Fang found a flat rock nearby and took them to the stream in the canyon. He skillfully skinned, bled, and washed the snake. These days, the food Bi Fang had the most was rattlesnake, and he was very skilled in this process. He neatly slit the snake''s abdomen with a dagger, picked up the spinal column to start, and slid along the spine to separate the whole snake bone, leaving a soft, flat piece of snake meat, which he then washed in the water like a long, flat strip, almost unrecognizable when it came out again. The snake''s stomach was also preserved to serve as a water bottle, and for some reason a few days ago, a snake bag had burst, losing a lot of fresh water, which he now used as a supplement. [Gosh, feels pretty much like cleaning swamp eel] [Snakes and eels basically have no difference, both just have one spine, pick that out, then slice, fry with green peppers, especially delicious] [Talking about it made me a bit hungry, time for some midnight snack] [Old Fang has lunch, fans have midnight snack, is this the time difference, love it, love it] After cleaning the snake meat, Bi Fang took a "big rock" and immersed it in the water, fished it out after a while, waited for the "rock" to loosen a bit, and then peeled off the pure white snake eggs. These snake eggs were not scattered individually like chicken eggs but were bound together by an unknown substance; the joints were sandy, looking as if embedded into a stone sphere, quite peculiar. [Speanking of which, why are all the snake eggs clumped together, feels like a rock] "Because snakes are reptiles and they lay amniotic eggs, which are moist and soft on the surface. Also, during the egg-laying process, the mother snake secretes a mucus to lubricate the birth canal, thus facilitating smooth egg-laying." "The surface of the laid snake eggs will be sticky with mucus, which quickly solidifies, sticking all the eggs together through the amniotic eggs, forming a complete egg mass." "Also, since this is in a desert area, the solidification process inevitably attracts sand, making it look as if the eggs are growing on the rock. Sometimes, they can even be completely encased in sand, making them hard to find without a careful search." "It happens that snakes can be oviparous or ovoviviparous; we''re in luck that the horned viper is the former, so we can now eat its eggs." [What''s that] [Oviparous I understand, what is ovoviviparous] [Details, details] "So-called oviparous means laying eggs." "Ovoviviparous is a bit different; the snake carries eggs in its belly, but doesn''t lay them outside. Instead, the eggs hatch inside, and juveniles emerge directly, so you don''t see the eggs." "This probably relates to the different environments in which various snakes live." One by one, the pristine snake eggs were placed on the river bank after cleaning, neatly arranged side by side, each about the size of a thumb, nearly twenty of them! "Snakes living in watery areas lack a good hatching environment for laying eggs; thus, they adopt an ovoviviparous breeding strategy, letting the eggs hatch inside the mother and directly producing young snakes." "Snakes living in warmer, land-based environments with fewer predators, where egg hatching is more secure, usually lay eggs." "However, this is not absolute; it mainly depends on genetics, and some life habits have not yet been discovered by humans." Bi Fang flicked away the water droplets. Under the sun''s blazing, the water on the eggs evaporated quickly. Aimed under the sun, one could clearly see through the eggshell into the inside of the snake eggs, fortunately not spotting any developed young snakes. "The Viperidae family has both oviparous and ovoviviparous members; fortunately, the horned viper is oviparous. They hide their eggs under rocks or protect them in burrows excavated by other animals, and they will hatch in two to three months." After processing, Bi Fang brought the stone slab and food back to the cave. He then started a fire to boil water, placed the stone slab and kettle over the fire, and tossed all the washed snake eggs into the kettle. "Snake eggs are rich in proteins with a percentage as high as 60%, offering more nutritional value than chicken eggs, including a rich array of minerals, trace elements, and essential amino acids. Nutritionally, snake eggs are considered a high-nutrient substance." "However, not many people eat snake eggs for several reasons. First, unlike chickens, snakes do not lay eggs daily. Second, the value of snake eggs is not as high as that of adult snakes. Third, most people naturally harbor a fear of snakes." The water boiled, with the milky-white snake eggs gently rolling in it. Bi Fang placed the snake meat on the stone slab. Under high temperatures, the snake meat over half a meter long quickly curled up, releasing a faint aroma of its fats. "I''ve said many times, wild snake meat is likely to contain parasites, but don''t worry. As non-microorganisms, they can''t withstand temperatures of 100 degrees Celsius. You just need to patiently wait a bit longer, allowing the high heat to penetrate every cell¡ªeven if the food chars a bit, safety is far more important than taste." Normal chicken eggs just take seven to eight minutes to cook thoroughly, not even soft-boiled, but for smaller snake eggs, Bi Fang boiled them for about ten minutes, even adding water twice, showing his cautious approach¡ªthough the taste was not very good. "Proteins in eggs contain a good amount of methionine, which, after being heated for a long time, decomposes into sulfides that react with the iron in the yolks to form ferrous sulfide, which is difficult for the human body to absorb, resulting in significant nutritional loss." "So combining both factors, ten minutes is about right." Bi Fang then poured them out, let them cool slightly, picked one up, didn''t even bother to peel it, and popped it into his mouth, shell and all, then chewed and swallowed. [How is it?] [What does it taste like?] [I''ve never had snake eggs before. Are they like chicken eggs?] [How could they be the same?] [I think the best are goose eggs, boiled plain, very delicate, then dipped in a bit of soy sauce, delicious.] Bi Fang pondered for a moment, licked his lips, and said, "It''s dry, not very tasty." [What? That''s it?] [All that anticipation for nothing.] [What were you expecting? Even if it was good, it wouldn''t be your turn anyway.] "Chicken eggs boiled in water for more than 10 minutes undergo a series of chemical changes inside. The protein structure becomes tighter, making it harder to interact with the digestive enzymes in stomach acid, thus they are harder to digest, and the yolks turn very dry and crumbly." "The protein content in snake eggs is even higher, making them even more likely to get stuck in your teeth, and along with the eggshell, they just don''t taste very good." Following the snake eggs came the snake meat, which doesn''t require much discussion as it''s not different from other snake meats. With a slight bitter taste accompanied by a hint of oily fragrance, and a unique texture. However, in the wilderness, even snake meat sprinkled with a bit of salt is a rare delicacy. A single snake was enough to serve as lunch, with only one snake egg tasted and the rest packed away for dinner. The next day, the live stream had not yet started. Bi Fang drew a map on the ground, using his memory and routes to mark out approximate coordinates, which he left for the local government. Though he wasn''t sure how the locals would use it or if this site was another uncharted location with murals, those matters were beyond Bi Fang''s control. Riding on Alpha, they continued their journey, and the audience, following Bi Fang''s timeline, witnessed the surroundings transform from massive rocks back into sand dunes again, watching as numerous rocks eroded by the wind into strange shapes like "castles" and "stone mushrooms" gradually disappeared. With the wind''s caress, the flat sandy surface formed many irregular ridges, resembling waves of sand that rose and fell successively. Returning to a familiar scene, Bi Fang was not pleased at all; he still preferred facing the rocks from the previous days. "Sand dunes are mobile, driven by the force of the wind, they move around, and their speed is incredibly fast; in one day, a sand dune weighing thousands of tons can move several meters." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "The moving sand dunes in the Sahara Desert create numerous ''labyrinths'', one could easily lose direction in the desert if not careful." "Sand dunes are also aggressive expanders, moving thousands of kilometers every year, which accelerates the expansion rate of the Sahara Desert." "I have to reassess my direction periodically to confirm my route forward, which is quite troublesome." During the day, the most reliable direction guide is undoubtedly the sun, even though the prevailing winds and sand dunes serve only as secondary references. "Not to mention the quicksand." Moving sand dunes bury everything in their path under the sand, forming vast seas of sand; these seas appear flat and spectacular, yet lethal traps are hidden within. The sand of these seas is very loose, and these loose sands form various "traps." These traps are highly disguised and can easily engulf a person. The scattered skeletons in the Sahara Desert bear witness to those who perished. Camels, with their broad hooves, do not fear these features, but Bi Fang is not always sitting on Alpha''s back. Grassland, rocky desert, oasis, canyons, sand dunes. The audience has followed Bi Fang through the rich and colorful Sahara, but this is far from all it has to offer. "Crystal? No, it should be glass." In the desert, Bi Fang used a tree stick to poke the sandy ground, picking out a semi-transparent crystal. The crystal was irregular, with a faint yellow hue, resembling a natural mineral. Here was an oasis, but unlike most, the water here was not freshwater. Many flies gathered on the water''s surface, these flies able to filter the high salt content and store freshwater inside their bodies. Next to these flies, Bi Fang also spotted a few birds. Just as desert travelers can extract water by squeezing cacti, the birds get freshwater by preying on flies. This may be the birds'' only stop, having gained enough energy, perhaps they could escape the barren Sahara Desert. However, at this moment, the audience''s attention was not on this delicate ecosystem, but rather on the "stone" in Bi Fang''s hands. [What? Glass?] [Shouldn''t it be crystal or something?] [I can''t tell them apart] "No, it is indeed glass." Bi Fang held the stone against his face to make sure he was not mistaken. "Under normal conditions, natural crystal is cooler to the touch than glass; it feels slightly cold when touched with the palm or cheek, even in the heat of summer, if you lick its surface with your tongue, it will feel cold and refreshing¡ªglass doesn''t exhibit this due to its heat conductivity." "Moreover, there''s a difference in weight; crystal is a type of stone, dense and not very light." "There are also differences in refraction and hardness, I can confirm this is glass." Bi Fang tossed the stone, his tone affirmative. [How could this glass seem to be naturally formed?] "It''s not just seeming, it probably is." "In the Libyan Desert, there exists one of the world''s purest forms of natural glass, which is somewhat characteristic of it, isn''t it?" "In 1932, a British explorer named Patrick Clayton led an expedition deep into the Sahara Desert. In the Libyan Desert, Clayton found the desert scattered with yellow-green ''stones'' that were crystalline and glass-like in appearance, looking very valuable. In 1996, an Italian mineralogist named Vincenzo de Michele accidentally discovered traces of desert glass in an Egyptian museum. However, it wasn''t displayed on its own, but rather as a treasure, subtly embedded in an ancient Egyptian Pharaoh''s necklace. The scarab in the center of the Pharaoh''s necklace was made out of Libyan Desert glass." [Holy shit, people from 3000 years ago knew how to make glass?] [Are you stupid? Master Fang said it''s natural glass... obviously polished] "There are mainly four scenarios in nature for the formation of natural glass." "One is volcanic glass, created when volcanic magma erupts underwater or onto the Earth''s surface and cools quickly." "One is pseudo-basaltic glass, typically formed by frictional heat during seismic fault slips, resulting in a melting effect." "The last one is glass meteorites, formed when large extraterrestrial objects strike the Earth, melting the Earth''s surface rocks into liquid that splashes into the sky and then solidifies into glass as it cools and falls back to the ground." "Another is impact metamorphic glass, created by the metamorphism due to meteorite impacts." "Scientists discovered a huge meteorite crater in the western desert of Egypt, named Kebira." "The glass found in the Libyan Desert is most likely the product of the Kebira impact. Evidence supporting this includes a high-pressure mineral named reidite found in the glass, which is only formed during meteorite impacts." "The Egyptians called this type of glass ''Gold Meteorite,'' considered it a ceremonial treasure that brought the sun god to Earth, the most famed Libyan Gold Meteorite artifact is from the 18th dynasty of the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt, a scarab carved from Gold Meteorite worn on the chest of Pharaoh Tutankhamun." "Tutankhamun is regarded by contemporary spiritual sages as a peacefully ascended Pharaoh King." "It is rumored that the early prosperity of ancient Egypt was supported by extraterrestrials, and Gold Meteorites could help restore this connection. They could link to significant Egyptian deities, the goddess Isis and Osiris." "This thing seems quite valuable." Bi Fang held the stone up to the sun, and the stone in his hand emitted a clear yellow light. Chapter 823 819: The Limits of Humans Valuable? The audience tensed up, having initially thought it was just a piece of glass. Even though its formation was somewhat rare, it didn''t seem very valuable. But now, could it be otherwise? [If we''re talking about that, I''m definitely not sleepy anymore] [Spill it, just how valuable is it?] "Well, I''m not entirely sure myself. This piece, maybe around a thousand, ten thousand of that order?" Bi Fang sounded uncertain. He held the glass meteorite up to the sunlight for a close examination and could see that it had a good quality. Meteorites striking the desert was an extremely violent process involving a series of complex events such as high-impact collisions, high-temperature ablation, and turbulent environmental airflows. After a violent meteorite impact, the massive sand thrown up would collide with each other, and under the high temperature of ablation, the rudimentary form of the glass meteorite would be shaped by multiple impacts and strong air currents, resulting in complex textures due to meteorite impacts, other materials such as sand, and the combined effect of airflow. And these air and sand impacts on the ablated crystals were not one-time occurrences; they formed patterns that looked simple from the outside but were, in fact, intricately intersected layers. Making forgeries of such patterns was extremely difficult, which further increased the value of the glass meteorite. The piece in Bi Fang''s hand didn''t have too many noticeable bubbles or impurities inside and was quite clear; perhaps it could fetch a high price of tens of thousands on the market. Of course, its value was probably limited to that and cannot be compared to the giant emerald Bi Fang found last time. [Inflation really is getting more and more serious. Now, when I hear thousands, tens of thousands, it feels like it''s not that much (covers face)] [I bought breakfast this morning and found out that the potato pancakes downstairs went up by two bucks. It really broke my heart, wuwuwu] [Keep looking; there might be more. Since it''s all-natural, there shouldn''t be just one piece, right?] Bi Fang, finding the audience''s comments to make sense, began searching nearby to see if there were any similar natural glasses. Even though the value of the glass itself wasn''t high for Bi Fang at present, finding them was a unique pleasure, like discovering treasure in the wilderness. "In 1932, the explorer from Central Country, Patrick Clayton, decided to venture deep into the Sahara Desert in search of treasure." Bi Fang stuffed the yellow meteorite glass into his backpack and began searching for gemstones near the Oasis, while also providing some simple historical facts. By the mid-nineteenth century, with the completion of the Industrial Revolution, the major capitalist countries of the world entered the stage of monopoly capitalism and embarked on aggressive expansion abroad, which led to a wave of exploration fervor. Perhaps more precisely, since the sixteenth century, the craze for exploration never ceased and continued to escalate until before the twenty-first century. People were craving more wealth, and in pursuit of it, the rich and nobility made substantial investments, thus driving waves of navigators to emerge. Columbus and Magellan were among the best of that era. This was a more primitive and rough form of exploration, which cost many lives, but undeniably brought about tremendous value, as humans saw the whole picture of Earth for the first time. By the nineteenth century, humans had developed a concrete and detailed understanding of the world but that was limited to the surface. They could point out any location on a globe but knew nothing of certain dangerous areas, and with the completion of the Industrial Revolution, the basic conditions were provided for exploring these hazardous zones. Amundsen and Scott were prominent figures from that period. The Polar Regions, deserts, and rainforests became the desired destinations of people during that time. If Polar Regions were about extending exploration of the Earth from the 16th century, with people trying to discover what the extreme north and south were truly like, then the Sahara and rainforests represented a quest to find something different. Ancient temples, magnificent Pyramids, mysterious totems, beautiful natural mineral crystals... "Ha, another piece, still yellow, but the quality isn''t as good as the one before," Bi Fang unearthed another angular piece of glass meteorite from the sand and, after wiping it off, stowed it away. "The vastness of the deep desert might pose any danger, and few have tried to venture in. What drew people like Clayton into the heart of it was the lure of treasure hunting." "Clayton had heard of an oasis city in the desert that hid plentiful treasures. However, the expedition failed to find this city of legend; instead, they found something special." "As I''ve already said once, and you all know by now, it was Libyan Desert Glass." "At first, Clayton just thought the glass interesting and pretty, so he collected it and brought it back to Europe." "But how could one be an explorer without some real skills? This wasn''t a job one could do with just courage and boldness. Relying on his keen geological expertise, Clayton sensed something odd, which was how such exquisite glass could appear on the barren desert sands?" "Yet, due to the limits of the era''s development, he was never able to find the answer. He just spent the next two years traveling back and forth between the Sahara Desert and Europe, collecting many samples of such glass." "Two years later, Clayton carefully sealed the collected glass in a whisky bottle. Along with the glass, there was a small note inside the bottle with a record of the glass''s collection." "The bottle containing Libyan Desert Glass sat untouched for a full 50 years until 1984, when an Italian archaeologist, Giancarlo Caniro, discovered the bottle." "He, too, marveled at the beauty of the glass and the mysteriousness of its unknown origin, and the detailed collection note on the paper inspired him to form a bold idea." "A year later, Caniro organized an expedition team to retrace Clayton''s path. He wasn''t out to find the treasure Clayton had missed, but specifically to seek out the desert glass." "Then came 1996, which I''ve already mentioned when it was discovered that the gemstone on the Pharaoh''s head was also glass. From that time on, the reputation of Libyan Desert Glass began to rise, and it gradually became valuable." After searching the area extensively, Bi Fang had found only three pieces, the first of which was the best quality; the others were not so great. Altogether, maybe they were worth about thirty thousand? "The glass''s formation dates back too far, and the dunes of the Sahara Desert are constantly shifting, not to mention the meteorite glass hidden within; it wouldn''t surprise me to find them anywhere in this desert." Bi Fang happily put the three pieces of glass into his backpack, carefully separating them to prevent scratches or chips from friction. Thirty thousand, in the past, would have been a significant sum for him, and moreover, their commemorative value far exceeded their actual worth. After being disappointed with the emerald last time, this time, he could finally return with some valuable minerals, fulfilling his treasure-hunting dream. After distilling some fresh water, Bi Fang continued forward with Alpha. "After Libya comes Chad, which is the trip I''ve been looking forward to the most, the ''heart of death'' in Africa." Chad, a landlocked country in central Africa, boasts over 200 ethnic groups, a staggering number. It is mainly divided into three geographical areas: the northern desert, the central arid Sahel Region, and the southern Sudanian Savannah. Due to its vast desert area, detachment from the sea, and consistently high temperatures year-round, it is also known as the "Heart of Death in Africa." Many places here, apart from the usual camels and herders, are sparsely populated, making it one of the least visited countries in the world for tourism. The Ennedi Plateau, located in the central Sahara Desert in northeastern Chad, is not only one of the most remote and beautiful deserts in the world but also an untouched gem on Earth, not yet overrun by tourists and crowds, almost perfectly preserved. After taking a sip of water, Bi Fang reassessed his direction. Before heading to Chad, there was another place in Libya he wanted to "check in" at. That was Lake Oummai in Libya. Oummai means "Mother of Water," and it''s one of the largest oasis lakes, deeply set among the dunes deep in the Sahara. But for those brave adventurers, these weren''t reasons to stop them, they could even be seen as prerequisites for a reward, with the ultimate prize being the Sahara Desert''s oldest oasis, a surreal landscape. "The Sahara has only two permanent rivers and a few lakes, but it has a large number of underground reservoirs or aquifers." "Its permanent rivers are the Nile River and the Niger River. The Nile River originates from Central Africa, south of the Sahara, flows north through Sudan and Egypt, and finally into the Mediterranean." "The Niger River originates in West Africa, in the southwestern part of the Sahara Desert, flows northeast into Mali, then turns southeast, passes through Nigeria, and flows into the Gulf of Guinea." "It also doesn''t have many permanent lakes, only about 20 or so, and only one of them contains drinkable water, the vast and shallow Lake Chad¡ªby the name, you can tell it''s within our next destination, a lake that keeps expanding and shrinking. The other lakes are filled with undrinkable salt water." "Oummai is a standout among them, and it''s right along my route, something I have to see no matter what." [Wait a minute, if there are only about twenty, what about the oasis that Master Fang encountered before? That one didn''t seem to have a salt lake.] [Wouldn''t that be considered just a pond?] [You could only call it a pond.] "A lake is defined as a body of water surrounded by land. Although no one has ever defined how big it has to be to be considered a lake, those little oases we encountered obviously don''t count." Bi Fang explained with a smile. It''s the end of July, and the sand temperature in the Sahara Desert can exceed 70 degrees. There''s absolutely no trace of water left on the surface of the sand. Just the thought of seeing a vast lake is inevitably exciting. That night, Bi Fang made the rare choice to travel through the night. Under the starry sky, billions of tons of sand grains slid, accompanied by a buzzing sound, echoing for kilometers. Singing sand dunes, one of the characteristics of the Sahara, with endless sand collapses year after year. With some terrifying "background music," Bi Fang spotted his destination early the next morning. It was indeed vast, completely dwarfing the ones Bi Fang had encountered before. Contrary to expectations, while there was green grass around Lake Oummai, there weren''t many animals there. It wasn''t a vibrant scene; all that existed were endless flies. [Damn... What''s so good about this...] [I''m gonna throw up, this is disgusting.] [Are there always this many flies?] S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [This is the Mother of Water? I''m starting to question life.] "Hahaha, I never said Oummai was full of life. Maybe it used to be long ago, but it''s not anymore." Bi Fang rode his camel, looking out over the vast lake, his heart undecided between reflection and something more. "Oummai is a very special dead lake. Its lake water, after tens of thousands of years of high-temperature evaporation, contains high amounts of salt, plus the decaying carcasses of various animals, imbuing the lake water with a lot of toxins, making it completely undrinkable." "Most of the animals that die near this lake do so from dehydration or from being poisoned by drinking the lake water, which in turn further increases the toxicity of the lake water." "There are also 16 lakes around it, some of which occasionally dry up and disappear, while others persist in the embrace of the desert. This salt lake used to be a famous trading center for the local residents." "However, as the lake water gradually became dirtier, it was gradually abandoned." "One interesting fact is that the salt concentration in the water here is very high, even comparable to that of the Dead Sea, which makes swimming here remarkably easy." [I''m gonna be sick, who would swim in here?] [Going down to eat flies, huh?] [Since when did Master Fang become so disgusting?] The audience couldn''t handle Bi Fang''s taste for the grotesque. "Just kidding, I don''t want to eat flies either." Bi Fang shrugged and then pointed to the lake. "What a pity it''s not October, or we could see a lot of swallows here." [Swallows?] [I remember now, there were birds at the oasis Master Fang mentioned earlier.] "Yes." "All migratory birds in the world migrate at specific times each year, and their migration routes have remained unchanged for thousands of years." "Just like some fish that migrate to their birthplaces to spawn each year, no matter how long the journey or how dangerous the path, they still insist on migrating." "Swallows are one of these migratory flocks, and Europe''s swallows fly thousands of miles south to cross the Sahara Desert and spend the cold winter in Africa." "Crossing the vast desert, the biggest problem is the supply along the way. Although they have strong stamina and light bodies, the long journey of thousands of miles consumes a lot, and they need adequate food and water to replenish their energy for the successful migration." "Though there are not a few water sources in the desert, as I said, birds do not easily change their migration routes, and on their route, there is only one water source, Lake Oummai." "Direct drinking is obviously impossible; it poisoning them in minutes, and they would end up like the corpse of nearby animals." [Damn, now I know.] [Don''t say anymore, give the swallows some dignity.] [We''ve had enough tasting already.] "But we can''t overlook an important creature, and that is the omnipresent flies." "Let me enlighten you a bit here, as natural decomposers; flies filter out the toxins contained in the lake water. So, flies can replenish the swallows'' hydration and energy, as even the smallest fly leg is still meat." "After hundreds of flies are downed, the swallows fill up with energy and take off again, continuing their migration southward to their destination." The audience felt nauseated, and Bi Fang wore a mischievous smile. "If you really can''t hold on in the desert, and you can''t drink saltwater, maybe you could also try pushing human limits?" Chapter 824 820: The Struggle Between the Bird and the Snake Bi Fang, of course, couldn''t really go eat flies. With his current capabilities, apart from a deliberate demonstration, there was no need for such a "tragic" survival tactic. After seeing Umai Lake and checking in, he had essentially concluded a part of his journey. He found some food in the nearby vegetation, made some tools, and then continued on his way. He smoothly entered the territory of Chad from Libya and saw several volcanoes. Wa''an-Namus was an extinct volcano, overlooking the Sahara Desert from high above. This dead volcano appeared like a black scar on the face of the Sahara. Beneath the volcano were towering rocks, and entering them was almost like entering a maze. Occasionally, you could see a venomous snake curled on top of the stones, blending with the brown rocks, hissing and flicking its tongue at the humans who ventured in. Moreover, one visibly noticeable thing was the increasing number of birds above. Beneath the rock walls, Alpha was tied to the ground, while directly above, Bi Fang clung firmly to the rock face. With a strong grip on the edge, he exerted force and flipped his body onto a ledge, discovering a bird''s nest in a recessed area. Bi Fang stuffed the bird eggs into his chest with a smile brimming on his face. Along the way, he had already found no less than three bird nests on these rocks, which were quite nutritionally rich. "Upon reaching Chad, life wasn''t so tightly stretched as before. This place could truly be said to be a grassland. Wherever the eyes could see, there were trees, although they were quite sparse." He carefully retraced his steps, Bi Fang didn''t immediately mount the camel but instead cooked the bird eggs on the spot. Otherwise, they might get damaged in the bag, which would be a loss. After preparing simple provisions, Bi Fang untied Alpha''s ropes and resumed his journey. "Nature has an abundance of resources on which humans rely for survival. But if humans only take from nature without protecting it, they will ultimately reap the consequences." "As said in the Han Dynasty work ''Huainanzi'': The laws of the ancient kings did not fish dry a pond, nor hunt a forest to ashes." "The harmful outcomes from excessive exploitation of natural resources throughout ancient and modern times, both at home and abroad, are not uncommon." Bi Fang led Alpha by the reins, walking slowly between the canyons. "The Republic of Chad is a typical inland desert country, with over half of its territory belonging to the Sahara Desert or semi-desert. Although it is a desert country, the Republic of Chad unlike Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates lacks substantial oil resources. Chad is an agricultural and pastoral country with a very backward economic condition and its population lives in poverty. Not only is it one of the least developed countries in the world, but it has also been rated by the United Nations as the poorest country in Africa." [I always feel like Africa is very poor] [Is it possible that this isn''t just a feeling? (Dog''s head)] [I''ve heard several times about being among the poorest, they all seem to be clumped together] "Due to natural environmental constraints, economic development across the entire African continent is slow, with most countries being very poor, and Chad has the direst situation among them. Chad is not devoid of natural resources. In recent years, gold, diamonds, and iron ore have been discovered within the national boundaries of the Republic of Chad. However, due to Chad''s overall backward industrial technology level and poor economic condition, it is unable to mine on a large scale. This creates a vicious cycle: no money for resource extraction, and without extraction, there''s even less money. Chad''s poverty is also reflected in its use of electricity. Nationwide electricity coverage is only 2%. For ordinary residents, using electricity becomes a luxury. They rely on primitive methods like burning wood or animal dung for lighting." "And I just mentioned not long ago that known as the ''Dead Heart of the Sahara,'' Chad suffers from extreme water scarcity," "The country has only one water source¡ªLake Chad." "Originally, Lake Chad was shared by four countries: Chad, Niger, Nigeria, and Cameroon. But as of now, only Cameroon and Chad have access to the lake." "And this is not good news for Chad, not because the country has grown stronger and annexed more land, but because Lake Chad is disappearing." "Lake Chad is very famous in Africa, not only as Africa''s second-largest wetland but also as one of the major inflows to the Nile River." "However, the area of Lake Chad has shrunk from 330,000 square kilometers over 7,000 years ago to just 2,500 square kilometers today, half the size of Qinghai Lake." "And this situation has not stopped; Lake Chad is like being swallowed by the desert, continuing to shrink." "Without a doubt, this is terrible, especially for the poor Republic of Chad, where it is fatal." "There are many reasons why Lake Chad is drying up so quickly." "The first reason is surely the proximity of Lake Chad to the Sahara Desert, causing a high rate of natural evaporation." "As the world''s largest desert, the Sahara is also expanding continuously." "Because Lake Chad is close to the Sahara Desert, with its dry and hot climate, the water evaporates constantly, and the inflow to the lake is decreasing. The imbalance of inflow and evaporation means that the area of Lake Chad is becoming ever smaller." "Don''t underestimate Lake Chad; 5,400 years ago, it might have covered an area larger than the current world''s largest lake¡ªthe Caspian Sea." "Due to the extensive period of time, it is now impossible to calculate the exact size of Lake Chad at its peak, but it is certain to have been no less than 300,000 square kilometers, and it might even have reached or exceeded 400,000 square kilometers." "Such a vast lake naturally has many connections with the Nile, the longest river in the world, also located in Africa." "The Nile River is precisely the longest river in the world, and Lake Chad was once one of its sources." "However, due to changes in terrain, the depth of Lake Chad has decreased. In addition, long-term silt accumulation has gradually blocked the lake''s outflow channels, eventually severing its connection to the Nile River." "After being isolated, Lake Chad has become a true inland lake." "Fortunately, thanks to the filtering effect of underground infiltration, Lake Chad remains a freshwater lake to this day, even as a small inland body of water." "It doesn''t end up like its other counterparts, becoming a salty lake full of flies." "How much has it shrunk?" "What''s the current size?" "In the 1960s and 70s, scientists made a measurement, and Lake Chad was approximately 20,000 square kilometers in size then." "This is a surprising figure. In the past 5,000 plus years, Lake Chad has slowly transformed from a lake of three or four hundred thousand square kilometers, the world''s largest, to a small lake of just over 20,000 square kilometers." "But even more shocking is that Lake Chad''s shrinkage has not ceased and continues at an accelerated pace, with the lake now having only 1,500 square kilometers left." "That''s right, over the past 5,000 years, Lake Chad has shrunk by 90%, and in just the past 60 years, it has shrunk by another 90% based on what was left." "Damn, that''s, like, outrageous." "Awesome, it''s probably going to be gone in another decade, right?" "If the first reason is an objective factor that human effort cannot prevent, then the second reason must be attributed to humans themselves." "Similar to many poor countries, Chad did not restrict reproduction, and the population has increased greatly in recent years, needing to satisfy basic needs for food and warmth." "And since agriculture and livestock in the Republic of Chad are nearly non-existent, people have turned their attention to Lake Chad." "Lake Chad has not been subjected to any industrial pollution and has exceptional water quality with abundant fish resources. But even abundant resources cannot withstand uncontrolled exploitation, and thus Lake Chad''s resources have become scarcer and the environmental damage has worsened." Although Lake Chad had hardly been affected by industrial pollution, human activities still greatly harmed the environment. Originally Africa''s second-largest wetland, Lake Chad was lush with vegetation and had a high plant coverage. But because of human deforestation, its water retention capacity was compromised to some extent. Furthermore, the domestic wastewater discharged into the lake by the people living along its shores pushed Lake Chad''s capacity to purify its environment towards saturation. All of these factors led to the largest freshwater lake getting smaller and smaller, and perhaps in a few decades, it would be gone completely. Bi Fang still felt fortunate, glad that he had the chance to see this last oasis. If it were the next century, that might not be the case. Just as Bi Fang was chatting with the audience, the scene before him gradually became clearer. "We should be heading out now." "Although there is light in such canyons, it''s still very easy to get lost without direct sight of the sun." Not all canyons are like the Great Rift; the one Bi Fang was in was like a handful of pebbles scattered on the ground, densely packed, leaving only gaps between the stones. It was a rather uncommon type. The light in front of them grew brighter and just as they were about to exit the canyon, Bi Fang suddenly seized the reins. It was not that he had seen something but rather heard something unusual. The drone''s recording function was powerful, and the audience heard it too, holding their breath in anticipation. "What''s that sound?" "Sounds like birds chirping?" "Quack, quack, quack. Is it a duck?" "Not sure." Bi Fang thought about it and suspected, "It might be an ostrich. Let''s be careful and approach it." Bi Fang dismounted from Alpha. Except for putting on a show on purpose, there was no need to make survival so "miserable." After visiting Umai Lake and checking in, it was considered the end of one journey. He found some food among the nearby greenery, fashioned some tools, and then continued on the way, successfully entering Chad from Libya and seeing several volcanoes. Wa''an-Namus is an extinct volcano. Seen from above, this extinct volcano is like a black scar on the Sahara Desert. Below the volcano were towering rocks, like entering a labyrinth. You might occasionally see a venomous snake perched on top of the rocks, blending with the brown stone, hissing and flicking its tongue at any humans who entered. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And one thing visible to the naked eye was the increased number of birds overhead. Below the rocky walls, Alpha was tied to the ground, while above it, Bi Fang clung firmly to the rock face, gripping the edge with both hands, heaving himself up with a powerful push, and landing on a platform, where he found a bird''s nest in a recess. Bi Fang smiled broadly as he stuffed the eggs into his chest. Along the way, he had already found no fewer than three bird''s nests among these rocks, which was indeed nutritious. "Arriving in Chad, life''s no longer as tense as before. This place could truly be called a prairie. Wherever you look, there are basically trees in sight, though sparse." Carefully retracing his steps, Bi Fang didn''t immediately mount the camel but instead cooked the eggs right there. Otherwise, keeping them in his bag risked damaging them, and that would be a loss. After preparing simple rations, Bi Fang untied Alpha''s ropes and continued on his journey. "Nature is blessed with abundant resources on which humans rely for survival. But if humans only know how to take from nature without protecting it, they will surely suffer the consequences. Just as the Han Dynasty''s ''Huainanzi'' says, ''The laws of the ancient kings did not fish a water body dry, nor hunt a forest into extinction.'' The adverse effects of overexploiting natural resources are not rare in both ancient and modern times across the world. The Republic of Chad is a typical desert-locked country, with over half of its territory part of the Sahara Desert or semi-desert." "Except for putting on a show on purpose, there was no need to make survival so "miserable." After visiting Umai Lake and checking in, it was considered the end of one journey. He found some food among the nearby greenery, fashioned some tools, and then continued on the way, successfully entering Chad from Libya and seeing several volcanoes. Wa''an-Namus is an extinct volcano. Seen from above, this extinct volcano is like a black scar on the Sahara Desert. Below the volcano were towering rocks, like entering a labyrinth. You might occasionally see a venomous snake perched on top of the rocks, blending with the brown stone, hissing and flicking its tongue at any humans who entered. And one thing visible to the naked eye was the increased number of birds overhead. Below the rocky walls, Alpha was tied to the ground, while above it, Bi Fang clung firmly to the rock face, gripping the edge with both hands, heaving himself up with a powerful push, and landing on a platform, where he found a bird''s nest in a recess. Bi Fang smiled broadly as he stuffed the eggs into his chest. Along the way, he had already found no fewer than three bird''s nests among these rocks, which was indeed nutritious. "Arriving in Chad, life''s no longer as tense as before. This place could truly be called a prairie. Wherever you look, there are basically trees in sight, though sparse." Carefully retracing his steps, Bi Fang didn''t immediately mount the camel but instead cooked the eggs right there. Otherwise, keeping them in his bag risked damaging them, and that would be a loss. After preparing simple rations, Bi Fang untied Alpha''s ropes and continued on his journey. "Nature is blessed with abundant resources on which humans rely for survival. But if humans only know how to take from nature without protecting it, they will surely suffer the consequences. Just as the Han Dynasty''s ''Huainanzi'' says, ''The laws of the ancient kings did not fish a water body dry, nor hunt a forest into extinction.'' The adverse effects of overexploiting natural resources are not rare in both ancient and modern times across the world. The Republic of Chad is a typical desert-locked country, with over half of its territory part of the Sahara Desert or semi-desert." Chapter 825 821: Defeat Unfortunately, although the Egyptian Cobra is formidable, its opponent is not to be trifled with¡ªit''s the boss of birds¡ªthe North African Ostrich. Birds, the objects of envy for all who yearn to soar through the blue skies. On Earth, only birds truly possess the qualification to fly freely. However, not all birds are exceptional fliers, but as that famous inspirational saying goes, when God closes a door, he inevitably opens a window. "The ostrich is the largest bird among all bird species, but unfortunately, ostriches only live in Africa, their range is too narrow, otherwise, they could definitely win the title of Bird King." "They indeed cannot fly, but their combat ability on land can completely match that of a leopard!" Bi Fang crouched behind a rock, watching the bird and the snake face off, startling everyone with his comment before the fight even started. The audience was in an uproar. [Holy crap, really? A leopard?] [Master Fang, you''re not joking, right?] [Don''t these things just bury their heads in the face of danger? ????] The ostrich has a large body and a thin neck, which at a glance appear to be significant vulnerabilities. Thinking about the image of a leopard in one''s mind, wouldn''t it just bite through the neck in one go? How could this be a fight? For the majority of ordinary people, felines have always been seen as the peak of combat power in the animal kingdom; hearing Bi Fang say this was somewhat hard to accept. "You still don''t understand, leopards generally weigh between 100 to 200 kilograms, while an ostrich can weigh over 300 kilograms! That''s already a big advantage." Bigger is better, bigger is stronger. This phrase isn''t absolutely correct in nature, but it is universally applicable. The height of an ostrich can reach 1.5 meters, comparable to a 14-year-old boy. And its attack methods come from the beaks and long trampling claws. In terms of raw power, an ostrich''s lethal capacity is no less than that of hyenas or wolves. At the same time, despite its weight, the ostrich is one of the top runners in the animal kingdom. Its top running speed can reach 70 km/h, matched only by cheetahs, leopards, and gazelles, and given its strength to run this fast, its powerful legs can deliver deadly blows to its enemies. Additionally, the ostrich has a fiery temperament and often retaliates fiercely when threatened, which is different from wild animals like gazelles and zebras, making it much stronger. From this, it can be seen that the ostrich survives through its own strength. In the realm of combat power in Africa, even younger lionesses are no match for the ostrich. With its elevated stance, an ostrich can impose significant suppression on a lion it confronts. Therefore, the ostrich is also a member of the top tier in Africa''s food chain, and its strength should not be underestimated. Especially against reptiles and snakes, ostriches are like gods. Thus, as an omnivore, ostriches'' diet includes a large number of reptiles, including snakes, although actively dealing with a large cobra like this is still quite rare. Bi Fang spoke swiftly about some characteristics of ostriches, and under the enumeration of various facts, the audience had to suspend their disbelief. After all, the distance was considerable, and without any specific reference, the ostriches lacked the visual impact of size, making such doubts quite normal. [So, the cobra is destined to lose?] [I feel it''s hard to say, it might turn the tables] "Indeed, in nature there are no..." Bi Fang wanted to say something else but quickly stopped himself, warning the audience with a hushed voice, "Look, they''re fighting now!" The camera automatically zoomed in to focus, and the audience immediately stopped sending their messages. In the canyon, a bird and a snake that were previously confronting each other had now started testing each other. The ostrich''s most powerful weapon was its legs, and its testing naturally involved simple kicks. Perhaps the power was too overwhelming, as the viewers could barely see the moment it kicked, feeling only as if a few afterimages flashed by. The Egyptian cobra, clearly a subspecies, was entirely black and imposing. It faced the ostrich without losing any momentum, though it was much smaller. In response to the ostrich''s tests, it could only retreat while looking for opportunities, its pair of snake eyes fixed on the ostrich, flicking its tongue much more frequently. Though it had a pair of eyes, the cobra could not deny the fact it was nearsighted. All snakes are nearsighted; most can only see clearly up to one meter, and their eyeballs cannot move like those of most animals, which severely limits their field of vision. Moreover, there is no fovea behind a snake''s eyeball, which is the region most sensitive to vision, so snakes not only see poorly but also have a very bad ability to detect stationary objects. This applies to most snakes, and while cobras are severely nearsighted, they are comparatively better. Some snakes under the Colubridae family, either aquatic or burrowing, have even more degenerated vision. The blind snake lives underground all its life, with eyes reduced to two small black dots, possessing only a faint light-sensing ability, almost no vision. However, the cobra has a strong organ for hunting prey, the tongue, or the forked tongue. "Snakes under the Cobra family use their forked tongues to collect scent particles from the air, using these particles to pinpoint the prey''s location and species." During the brief conflict, Bi Fang spoke quickly, his voice unconsciously louder. He wasn''t worried that the ostrich and cobra might hear and get scared away. Once animals begin hunting or fighting, their attention to the surroundings is very low, especially towards stationary objects. Unless something jumps right in front of them, they''re unlikely to notice it and will assume it''s part of the natural environment. For instance, when a pack of wolves chases a fleeing gazelle, even a rabbit sitting still close by won''t draw their attention and might luckily escape. Of course, it''s another matter if it moves. After testing for tens of seconds, the battle quickly escalated. The ostrich, now much bolder, launched more frequent attacks, and this allowed the cobra to see a bit clearer. The audience held their breath. Finally, the ostrich''s attack hit the cobra''s tail, and almost instantly upon contact, the cobra''s flesh burst open, splattering a pool of blood on the nearby rocks. Is it over? Most of the viewers didn''t have much affection for snakes, so seeing the cobra lose didn''t bother them. But at this moment, a sudden twist occurred! The cobra, nearly half its body severed, suddenly leapt up and bit the ostrich''s neck, which was bending down to peck, then swiftly coiled around it! Even Bi Fang couldn''t help but exclaim in shock. This can be a counter-kill? Looking at the remaining half of the writhing snake tail on the ground, everyone felt a hint of absurdity. An ostrich killing a cobra was completely normal, even if the Egyptian Cobra''s venom was among the most potent in the world and it was extremely large. No member of the Cobra family is small and, armed with deadly poison, they held a considerable advantage. Those more venomous than it were smaller in size. Those larger than it had less potent venom. The prey of venomous snakes were generally smaller creatures; they rarely employed constriction, but that didn''t mean they couldn''t. Facing the ostrich, the severely injured cobra didn''t dare to take any chances, madly injecting venom and tightly coiling around the ostrich''s neck like a black scarf¡ªa frightfully creepy scarf. Bi Fang licked his lips, his heart pounding with excitement. Though he was just spectating, such a rare counterattack scene was extremely uncommon. Given the cobra''s vision, it was hard for it to keep up with the ostrich''s attack speed, and this strike at a vital spot was purely a fluke. As a nature explorer, Bi Fang had deep knowledge about various animals and took great joy in seeing such scenes. "The ostrich''s neck is very vulnerable, as both its bones and muscles focus on flexibility rather than strength. In contrast, its legs are incredibly powerful, with exceptionally developed muscles on the femur and fibula." "If it had been bitten on the leg, it might not have been a big deal, but since it was the neck, this ostrich probably won''t survive." "However..." "However what?" "Hurry up and tell us." Bi Fang stared at the remaining half of the snake''s body on the ground, which was by no means short, nearly a third of its original length, far surpassing the tail region. "This cobra will also struggle to survive." "If it were only the tail that was severed, it would have a decent chance to live, perhaps with some disability, but now that it''s this long, it might have damaged its internal organs, combined with infections and deterioration from the environment..." Even in animals, infections can be deadly. Almost before Bi Fang could finish speaking, the ostrich had begun to react; initially bitten, it frantically shook its head and flapped its wings, but all in vain. With the venom so close to its head, it swiftly took effect, causing the ostrich to become dizzy and eventually fall over, its massive body even kicking up a cloud of dust. The fallen cobra didn''t linger long; almost immediately after killing the ostrich and without taking any spoils, it rapidly uncoiled its body and fled towards the canyon. Only then did Bi Fang step out from behind the boulder, looking at the bloodstains on the ground and shaking his head. The blood trail wasn''t long; snake muscles are developed and capable of self-staunching bleeding. Moreover, the sandy ground also helped to stop the blood. The ostrich on the ground was still struggling and flapping its wings, but alas, it was undoubtedly a last flicker of light. Given the amount of the cobra''s venom, it was almost impossible for this enormous ostrich to survive. "An eye-opening experience." "Awesome." "I thought ostriches only buried their heads when in danger; didn''t expect them to be so fierce, though it still died (dog''s head)." S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "The notion that ostriches bury their heads is actually a myth." Bi Fang shook his head. "Many people believe that, when threatened, ostriches bury their heads in the sand to evade danger. This has even led to the proverbial ''ostrich policy,'' but this is actually incorrect." "Ostriches as a symbol of foolishness were recorded early in the ''Old Testament'': ''The wings of the ostrich wave proudly¡ªIs it the pinions and plumage of love? ... For God has not endowed her with wisdom, nor has He imparted to her understanding. When she lifts herself on high, she scorns the horse and its rider.''" "However, the earliest person to write down this rumor, clearly describing ostrich behavior, was the Roman thinker Pliny who lived from AD 23 to 79." "Pliny wrote in his natural history texts that ostriches think, when they poke their heads and necks into a bush, that their bodies are hidden as well." "Although similar, it''s quite different from burying their heads, and somehow it later morphed into the idea that ostriches bury their heads in sand." "But this is utterly impossible as birds'' nostrils are mostly located at the base of the beak, and birds such as kiwis, reliant solely on smell for foraging, have their nostrils at the tip of the beak and must forcefully expel after their beaks enter the mud in search of food to remove anything obstructing respiration." "If they buried their heads, ostriches would simply suffocate." "As for why such a rumor exists, it''s probably because the ostrich''s head appears very small compared to its body, so whenever an ostrich''s head is near the ground, it might look like it is buried in the sand. This easily leads to misconceptions." In fact, when threatened, the first thing ostriches do is¡ªrun. Though classified as birds, ostriches are completely incapable of flight. Bird skeletons are strong yet light, with long bones being hollow; all skull bones are fused, as are thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, sacral vertebrae, and those of the tail; the sacrum, also fused with the pelvic girdle. Along the ribs are hook-like projections that interlock, forming a solid thorax. Flying birds furthermore possess a keeled sternum with a triangular ridge to enlarge the surface area for pectoral muscles and wing-flapping muscles. These unique structures reduce weight and enhance the ability to fly. Clearly, ostriches are different. As the world''s largest modern birds, male ostriches generally stand over two meters tall, weigh about 150 kilograms, and their feathers are all soft. Ostrich wings have specialized, their barbs lack hooks to form complete flight-capable feathers, thus they remain on the ground. Without careful observation, one might even think they lack wings. Additionally, they have a flat sternum and undeveloped pectoral muscles, but although not suited for flight, their feathers still offer basic warmth and help dissipate heat, and they also assist in changing direction while running. Bi Fang crouched on the ground. At this moment, the ostrich lay completely still; he prodded it with a Tree stick, and it showed no reaction. It was thoroughly dead. This reassured Bi Fang enough to touch the deceased ostrich. "Many incorrect conclusions stem from insufficiently meticulous observation, and ostriches are no exception." "They have been misunderstood for over two thousand years, and although more and more people know the truth, it''s hard to counter the widespread acceptance of the phrase ''as stupid as an ostrich''." "However, having said so much, perhaps one day these sayings will transform into ''as strong as an ostrich'' too." Bi Fang chuckled, paused for a moment, and then added, "That is if ostriches still exist by then." Chapter 826 826: 822 Chapter Ostrich On the desert, Bi Fang slowly cut off the huge black and white feathered wings of the ostrich with a dagger. A feast. This ostrich was an adult, a male one at that, weighing at least two hundred kilograms. The severely injured cobra definitely couldn''t eat it all. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang had watched the bird-snake fight with the intention of scavenging. "The snake''s lower jaw is loosely connected to its skull only by ligaments. There''s a pair of square bones at the joint of its lower jaw, allowing the jaw to hinge at two points on the skull. The ligaments are tough yet flexible, allowing this structure to dislocate and expand greatly when it swallows, enabling them to open their jaws up to 150 degrees." "Moreover, the bones between the left and right sides of the lower jaw are structured into a movable joint connected by ligaments, allowing it to expand widely to the sides. Therefore, the snake''s mouth can open not just up and down but also unrestrictedly to both sides to a great extent, allowing it to swallow things much larger than its mouth." "The reason for evolving such an ability is because they cannot chew. They can only swallow sufficiently large prey in one go to meet their needs." "But for the cobra, an ostrich weighing over two hundred kilograms is too much to swallow; even some juvenile pythons would struggle. So, it all became a bargain for us." "However, I hadn''t expected the cobra to turn the tables on the ostrich. I originally thought I''d be scavenging the cobra, but I ended up with a huge windfall!" Although ostriches do eat snakes, the chances of them eating a snake entirely are very slim. Here, in the semi-desert and semi-grasslands, food chains like that of the ostrich often come with the privilege of being picky, typically not eating everything completely. A cobra is quite big, but usually, much remains uneaten. But nothing leaves more remains than an ostrich. We were in luck with this one; the two hundred plus kilograms meant we wouldn''t have to worry about food for a while. [King of scavenging!] [Despicable, too despicable!] [I thought there would be a fierce battle, but didn''t expect the ostrich to give up so quickly.] Since they cannot fly, ostrich feathers are extremely soft and feel great to the touch. Bi Fang was careful not to stain the feathers with blood, first making an incision next to the neck, then quickly draining the blood while it was warm. Without any good storage methods and all containers used for clean water, the blood and water ended up being wasted. The blood pooled in the sandpit, emitting a strong fetid odor, especially under the blazing sun. After draining the blood, Bi Fang began to dismember the ostrich, using the sharp obsidian dagger to slice through the thick skin, pulling it back to reveal the blood-red muscle tissue beneath. "In the wilderness, you should not throw away any part of the animals you hunt. Large animals not only provide fresh meat, but the remaining meat can be preserved, while other inedible parts can be used to make clothes or tools." "Moreover, we need to remove the viscera as soon as possible." Bi Fang squatted on the ground, slicing open the ostrich''s abdomen, from which a large amount of viscera poured out. He took them all out, sorting them by type; the stomach was heavy and extremely thick. Bi Fang cut open both ends of the stomach, and immediately, a large amount of sand mixed with gastric acid poured out. "Ostriches have no teeth, so they don''t chew. Their stomach is large, generally filled with sand they''ve eaten, which helps grind the food." "Therefore, the ostrich''s stomach is called a gizzard, which is very thick. The food enters the gizzard and is ground into small pieces, facilitating absorption in the intestines, which means they never truly eat their fill." Following the stomach, the long intestines extended far. "An ostrich''s intestines are 14 meters long, twice that of humans." [Boy, that bird is huge] [Such a huge bird] [No wonder it weighs over 200 kilograms, amazing] Bi Fang squatted on the ground, giving viewers a reference to perceive just how big the ostrich truly was. From the front, the ostrich''s body was nearly as tall as Bi Fang in a squatting position! "Normally, an ostrich''s height is measured in body height, similar to how horses are measured at the shoulder. If you include the head, most male ostriches are taller than humans and have a quite imposing presence with their great strength. They can carry an adult male." "It''s really thanks to the Egyptian Cobra; otherwise, I would never have had the chance to eat this ostrich." "In the wild state, there are generally considered to be four subspecies¡ªthe North African subspecies, the Somali subspecies, the Masai subspecies, and the South African subspecies. The differences between them, such as neck color and feather characteristics, are quite distinguishable. The one before us is from the North African subspecies." "The North African subspecies isn''t very numerous, unlike the South African subspecies, so it is protected. If it weren''t for its natural death under the public eye, I would never hunt it willingly." Bi Fang doesn''t touch heavily protected animals, which is widely known. On one hand, he strictly adheres to treaties; on the other, he actively maintains ecological balance, serving as an example. As a public figure, he bears the responsibility that comes with his job. It wouldn''t make sense for Bi Fang to do whatever he wanted just because he became successful through live-streaming. If this were in his home country, Bi Fang would go even further, and not touch even naturally dead protected animals, because that''s the law. You can''t open that door because then anyone could claim that an animal died naturally. Fortunately, this is abroad where, although usually you still can''t consume naturally dead protected animals, the restrictions aren''t as strong. For Bi Fang, who holds a professional hunter''s license, he is more capable of handling protected animal carcasses. Moreover, this is done in full public view. Skillfully following the ostrich''s body structure, Bi Fang disassembled all parts of the ostrich and even skinned it completely. "Ostrich feathers are soft, plush, and elegant with a nice feel. They provide excellent insulation and are the only feathers that do not carry static electricity, useful for wiping precision industrial instruments. They are top-grade material for the clothing industry. We could take these and make a nice little cape; that would be quite good." Nights in the Sahara are cold; some protective measures are still needed. After taking the ostrich meat, Bi Fang stared at a half of a cobra''s tail for a while, unsure whether to take it. In the end, he decided not to. Snakes can eat their own tails. It''s not parasites at work, but rather, after a half-filled meal, that triggers an overwhelming appetite. Searching around for food to swallow, they suddenly find their moving tail and ingest it. The intelligence of snakes is low; they don''t see their tails as part of their body. Without pain perception, they might actually swallow it. "In the wild, in vast environments, snakes generally do not exhibit the behavior of eating themselves, but in isolated, confined environments without any other distractions, they especially easily notice their own tails." "Besides voracious appetite, there are also pressures from the environment and so on..." "Dogs might chase their tails, but they mostly do it to relieve itchiness or for play." "Just now, the Cobra was seriously injured and is unlikely to survive, but nothing is absolute, and it might come back to eat its own tail." "If we take it now, we may destroy its slim chance of survival." There is plenty of ostrich meat, and with the hot Sahara weather, food spoils and deteriorates easily. It''s not worth eating a Cobra. Having gathered a significant amount of ostrich meat, Bi Fang quickly left the bloody-smelling canyon after the escape and immediately started processing the ostrich meat. To preserve it, removing the moisture was essential, and making jerky was the best method. For this reason, Bi Fang didn''t stop smoking the meat until evening. All life depends on water, and so do bacteria and microorganisms; without the conditions for bacteria and microorganisms to survive, they cannot live. Thus, charcuterie, sausages, and dried food have a long shelf life and don''t spoil easily. If it could be cured, even better. In cured food, the concentration of salt increases, pulling moisture out of the bacterial cells into the food, causing the bacteria to dehydrate and die. Therefore, the shelf life of cured products is also very long. If cured and dried, that''s the jackpot, with a shelf life of several years, even tens of years, just like ham. However, that would require a lot of salt, which Bi Fang could gather, but didn''t have on hand at the moment. But smoking was sufficient, with around one more month to succeed in crossing; there was no need to endure that long. This also meant enjoying some roasted meat. Removing moisture shouldn''t be done by baking, only smoking and drying; Bi Fang made a rack and hung the meat on it. The bonfire below wasn''t idle either, grilling the evening''s dinner. Thus, sun-drying during the day, smoking at night. In less than two days, Bi Fang had processed all the ostrich meat into dried food. On the desert, the huge plumes of black and white feathers were meticulously cut from the ostrich by Bi Fang using a dagger. A feast. This ostrich was an adult male, weighing at least over two hundred pounds. The severely injured Cobra could definitely not swallow it. Bi Fang particularly watched this bird vs. snake fight, not without the intention of scavenging. "The snake''s lower jaw is loosely connected to the skull only by ligaments, and it has a pair of quadrate bones at its jaw joints, which allow the lower jaw to articulate at two points on the skull. The ligaments are strong yet flexible, allowing the structure to dislocate and expand greatly when swallowing, enabling them to open their jaws up to 150 degrees." "Additionally, the bones between the snake''s left and right jaws form a movable joint connected by ligaments, allowing them to expand to both sides. Hence, a snake''s mouth can not only open vertically but is unrestrained laterally as well, and can expand significantly to swallow something much larger than its mouth." "This ability evolved because they cannot chew, only swallow large prey whole to satisfy their needs." "But for the Cobra, an ostrich weighing over two hundred pounds is definitely too much to swallow, even some juvenile Pythons would struggle, so it all goes to us cheaply." "However, I initially didn''t expect the Cobra to turn the tables on the ostrich; my original plan was to scavenge the Cobra, but I ended up with a much bigger windfall!" Though ostriches do eat snakes, the chances they would consume one entirely are slim. This area is part savannah, part desert and for top-of-the-food-chain creatures like ostriches, they often have the privilege of being picky and usually don''t clean their plate. A Cobra is large enough, usually leaving plenty behind. But not as much as what the ostrich would leave; struck by luck with these two hundred pounds, there''s almost no worry about food hereafter. [Scavenger King!] [Despicable, too despicable!] [Thought it would be a fierce battle, didn''t expect the bird to drop so quickly.] Unable to fly, ostrich feathers are extremely soft to the touch, and Bi Fang carefully avoided getting blood on the feathers, first making an incision near the neck, and then quickly letting the blood. Without proper storage methods, the containers were used for regular freshwater instead; this blood could only be wasted. The blood gathered in the sand pit, emitting a strong smell, especially steaming under the hot sun. After draining the blood, Bi Fang then began to butcher, using the sharp obsidian dagger, he cut through the thick skin of the ostrich, peeling it back to expose the red muscular layer beneath. "In the wilderness, no part of the animal you hunt should be discarded. Large animals not only provide fresh meat, but the leftover meat can be preserved and other inedible parts can be used for making clothes or tools." "Moreover, we must remove the internal organs quickly." Bi Fang squatted down, cutting open the ostrich''s abdomen, from which a copious amount of organs flushed out. He removed them entirely, sorting them out, with a particularly heavy, thick stomach. Bi Fang cut open both ends of the stomach, and immediately, a mass of sand mixed with gastric acid gushed out. "Ostriches don''t have teeth, so they don''t chew; their stomachs are large, generally filled with the sand and gravel they ingest, which help grind the food." "That''s why an ostrich''s stomach is known as a gizzard, very sturdy, grinding the food into small pieces for the intestines to absorb, one could say they never really feel full." Following the stomach were the exceedingly long intestines. "An ostrich''s intestines are 14 meters long, twice that of humans." [Speaking of which, this bird is huge] [Such a big bird] [No wonder it weighs over two hundred pounds, amazing] Bi Fang crouched down, and with a reference point, viewers could see how big the ostrich really was. From the front, the ostrich''s body was almost as tall as Bi Fang squatting down! "Normally, the height of an ostrich is calculated from the shoulder, just like horses. If you include the head, most male ostriches are taller than humans and quite imposing. They are also very strong and can carry an adult male." "Speaking of which, I also benefitted from the Egyptian Cobra, otherwise I would definitely not have been able to eat this ostrich." "In the wild, it''s generally considered that there are four subspecies: the North African, Somali, Masai, and South African subspecies, and they are quite distinguishable by the color of their necks and feather characteristics. The one before us is the North African subspecies." "North African subspecies are not numerous, unlike the South African subspecies, so they are protected. If it weren''t for a natural death witnessed by all, I would never actively hunt them." Chapter 827 823 Not Better Yet, Reserving a Spot I haven''t finished today''s work yet. I''ll revise this chapter before 3 a.m. Just refresh this section; there''s no need for additional payment. In the desert, the giant ostrich with its black and white feathers had its wings slowly cut off by Bi Fang with a dagger. A grand feast. This ostrich had reached adulthood and was male, weighing at least two hundred kilograms. The severely injured cobra definitely couldn''t swallow it whole. The reason Bi Fang watched the great battle between the bird and the snake was not without the intention of scavenging. "The snake''s lower jaw is loosely connected to the skull by ligaments, and it has a pair of quadrate bones at the jaw joint, allowing the lower jaw to hinge at two points on the skull. The ligaments are strong and flexible, which means that when it swallows, this structure can dislocate and expand greatly, allowing them to open their jaws to 150 degrees." "Next, the bones between the snake''s left and right lower jaws are connected by a movable joint and ligaments, allowing the jaws to open wide on either side. Therefore, a snake''s mouth can open not only up and down but also unrestricted laterally, so it can engulf prey much larger than its mouth." "The reason snakes have evolved this ability is that they cannot chew; they can only satisfy their needs by swallowing large prey whole." Snake teeth are thin and sharp, ill-suited for chewing. Animals with teeth designed for chewing have blunt teeth, while sharp teeth can''t grind food down for digestion. Snake fangs only serve to anchor the prey during capture. "But for the cobra, an ostrich weighing over two hundred kilograms is too much to swallow, even some juvenile pythons would struggle, so it all comes easy for us." Snakes evaluate before hunting if they can eat their prey. If they can''t, they don''t strike. If they do strike and can''t swallow, the snake will first open its mouth to the limit and then give up the hunt if it still can''t manage. This time, it was clearly not the cobra hunting the ostrich but rather the opposite ¨C a desperate defense. Venom has always been a tool for the weak to turn the tables against the strong, and although the chances are slim, it''s not impossible. "However, I initially had no idea that the cobra could turn the tables on the ostrich. My plan was to scavenge from the cobra, but instead, I stumbled upon a huge windfall!" Although ostriches do eat snakes, the chances of them consuming the entire thing are slim. This area is a mix of semi-desert and grassland. For top predators like ostriches, they often have the "privilege" to be picky eaters and usually don''t consume their food entirely. A cobra is large enough that normally there would be leftovers. But there wouldn''t be as much leftover from an ostrich. This was pure luck; with these extra two hundred kilograms, there''s almost no need to worry about food for quite a while. The only concern was storage. [The Scavenger King!] [Despicable, that''s just low!] [I thought it was going to be an epic battle; didn''t expect the bird to collapse so quickly.] Being unable to fly, the ostrich''s feathers were extremely soft and pleasant to touch. Bi Fang was careful not to stain the feathers with blood. First, he dug a hole next to the neck, then bled the carcass while it was still warm. Without good storage methods and all the containers reserved for clean water, the blood could only be wasted. The blood collected in a pit in the sand, emitting a strong, fishy smell that persisted under the scorching sun. After draining the blood, Bi Fang began butchering the carcass, using the sharp obsidian dagger to slice through the thick skin of the ostrich, peeling it back to reveal the red muscle tissue underneath. "In the wilderness, no part of the animal you''ve killed should be wasted. Large animals provide fresh meat, and the surplus can be preserved while parts that cannot be eaten can be used to make clothing or tools." "And we need to remove the viscera as soon as possible." Bi Fang crouched on the ground, split open the ostrich''s abdomen, and a great amount of viscera poured out. He took them all out and sorted them neatly, among which the stomach was heavy and extremely thick. Bi Fang cut open both ends of the stomach, and suddenly, a large amount of sand mixed with gastric acid flowed out. "Ostriches don''t have teeth, so they don''t chew. Their stomachs are large, and usually contain sand and stones they eat, which help grind their food." "Thus, an ostrich''s stomach is called a gizzard, which is very thick. After the food enters the gizzard, it is ground into small pieces to facilitate absorption by the intestines. One might say they never really get full." Following along, behind the stomach were the long intestines, incredibly lengthy. "An ostrich''s intestines are 14 meters long, twice that of humans." [Wow, that''s a huge bird.] [Such a big bird.] [No wonder it weighs over two hundred pounds, that''s insane.] As Bi Fang crouched on the ground, with him as a point of reference, the audience could finally comprehend just how large the ostrich was. From the front, the ostrich''s body was almost as tall as Bi Fang crouched down! "Normally, the height of an ostrich is measured from the body, like the shoulder height of a horse. If you include the head, most male ostriches are taller than humans, quite imposing indeed, and their strength is also very formidable, capable of carrying an adult male while walking." "Speaking of which, I still owe it to the Egyptian Cobra; otherwise, I would have never been able to eat this ostrich." "In the wild, it''s generally believed there are four subspecies: the North African subspecies, the Somali subspecies, the Masai subspecies, and the South African subspecies. The differences between them are quite distinct, with noticeable distinctions in neck color and feather characteristics. The one before us is the North African subspecies." "The North African subspecies isn''t numerous, unlike the South African subspecies, so they are protected. I would never actively hunt one if it were not for a natural death witnessed by everyone." It was well known that Bi Fang didn''t touch critically protected animals, partly due to strict adherence to treaties and also as a proactive measure to maintain ecological balance and set an example. As a public figure, having benefited from this profession, he had to assume the responsibility that came with it. It made no sense for Bi Fang to have prospered through livestreaming, only to then do as he pleased. If he were in his home country, Bi Fang would go further, not even touching naturally deceased protected animals due to legal regulations. It''s necessary not to open that can of worms; otherwise, next time anyone could use the excuse that the animal died naturally. Fortunately, this was abroad, and although typically one still couldn''t eat naturally deceased protected animals, the restrictions weren''t as stringent. For Bi Fang, who held a Professional Hunter''s certificate, it was even permissible to proactively handle the carcasses of protected animals. Moreover, this was witnessed by everyone openly. Skilfully following the structure of the ostrich, Bi Fang dismembered each part of the ostrich, even skinning off the complete pelt. "The ostrich feathers are soft, full, elegant, and nice to touch, with excellent insulating properties. Moreover, ostrich feathers are the only feathers that don''t carry static and can clean delicate industrial instruments; they are a prime material for the clothing industry. We can take them and craft a small cape, which would also be pretty nice." The Sahara nights are cold, so some protection is necessary. After retrieving the ostrich meat, Bi Fang stared at the severed tail of the cobra for a while, uncertain whether to take it or not. In the end, he decided to leave it behind. Snakes can eat their own tails. It''s not parasites that cause this, but a half-full stomach that leads to a heightened appetite. They look for anything they can swallow in their environment, and upon discovering a moving tail, they may end up eating it. Snakes, as creatures with low intelligence, do not recognize their tails as part of their bodies, and if they didn''t feel pain, they might genuinely attempt to eat it. "In the wild, snakes in vast environments generally do not exhibit this behavior of eating their own tails, but in isolated breeding conditions with no distractions, they are particularly prone to noticing their tails." "Besides having a voracious appetite, there are other pressures like their environment..." "Dogs too might bite their tails, but more often than not, it''s to relieve an itch or in play." "That cobra from earlier was severely wounded and unlikely to survive; however, nothing is absolute, and it might come back to eat its own tail." "If we were to take it away, we might cut off its slim chance of survival." There was already plenty of ostrich meat, and the Sahara''s hot weather meant that food spoiled easily. There was no need to risk eating a cobra. Carrying a large amount of ostrich meat, Bi Fang quickly left the blood-stained gorge and immediately began to deal with the ostrich meat once outside. To preserve it, it was necessary to remove the moisture, and making jerky was the best method. For this reason, Bi Fang did not cease his smoking work until nightfall. No life can exist without water, and the same goes for bacteria and microorganisms. Without the conditions for these organisms to survive, they too cannot live. Hence, cured meats, sausages, and dry foods have a long shelf life and don''t spoil easily. If one could cure the meat, that would be even better, as the increased concentration of salt in cured food causes the bacteria cells'' moisture to seep into the food, dehydrating and killing the bacteria. That''s why cured products also have a very long shelf-life. Such as Cured and then dried, that''s the ultimate combo, with a preservation period of years, even decades, like ham. The only hitch is that curing requires a large amount of salt, which Bi Fang could gather, but did not have on hand at the moment. Nevertheless, smoking was sufficient, and as he was likely to make it through the next month, there was no need for prolonged preservation. Plus, he could enjoy some grilled meat on the side. Removing moisture cannot be done by roasting, only by smoking and drying ¨C Bi Fang constructed a rack and hung the meat on it. The fire below wasn''t idle either, grilling dinner for that evening. It was a large ostrich leg, scored with deep cuts to facilitate flavor absorption and thorough cooking. The wood crackled intensely in the fire, and the sparks scattered in the darkness, casting a reddish glow on Bi Fang''s face. The plants in the Sahara are very dry and catch fire easily, but they burn quickly; the same burning time and intensity required much more wood. "Although this ostrich died from snake venom, I''ve always said that snake venom is mainly composed of proteins and peptides, which can be killed through high heat. Therefore, birds killed by venomous snakes, as long as they are not spoiled, are edible and can even be used to supplement protein. However, the precondition is that they must be cooked at high temperatures for a long time before we can safely consume them." Snake venom has a dual function as an anesthetic and a digestive fluid, and its chemical nature is mainly proteins. Even without heat denaturation, once proteins reach the stomach, their peptide bonds would break and denature under the action of stomach acid and digestive enzymes. The molecular spatial structure would be destroyed by gastric juice, causing them to lose activity and function, transforming into non-toxic substances. Animals killed by venomous snakes are essentially pre-digested. In theory, they could directly be safe for humans to eat, provided that there are absolutely no injuries in the person''s mouth and digestive tract. "The only thing to note is that animals killed by venomous snakes should be consumed quickly. Otherwise, they will decompose faster than those that die naturally over time." "In Africa, there is a particular tribe that used to use snake venom as a weapon during hunting. There is a highly venomous snake called the Puffy Hissing Krait that can kill a strong buffalo in a very short time. People admired its power and used it to catch buffalo, thus feasting on them without being poisoned." "However, they didn''t smear the venom on arrows; they were smarter. After catching the snakes, they would tie them up to set traps, fastening them to trees by the river. When buffaloes came to drink water, the snake would leap up and bite them. Then hunters would search for the poisoned buffalo, drag it back, cook it thoroughly, and thus wouldn''t be poisoned themselves." [666, that''s pretty slick.] [Biological Trap (Dog''s Head)] [Damn, I''m so hungry, this grilled meat smells so good.] [I''ve never had ostrich meat before, drooling drooling.] The desert has many aromatic plants, which Bi Fang had come across on his journey. Sometimes he would casually pick and dry them out; they could be dried in just one day, and with a simple rub of the hands, they turned into small flakes and powder. Mixed with the collected rock salt, it made a rather good spice blend. When salt and spices were sprinkled on, Bi Fang used the Stone Dagger to carve off a piece of the cooked surface meat, and despite the heat, he stuffed it into his mouth. He inhaled sharply and took a long time to swallow, exclaiming with satisfaction. The skin was golden and crisp, making a crunching sound under the scrape of the dagger, covered with grease. The high heat melted the salt granules, and with the spice powder collected during the travel, it released a rich and exotic fragrance. Even just watching it through the screen made one salivate. Animals that live in the wilderness over the long term, especially their legs, have well-developed muscles and not much fat, making the meat somewhat dry and tough to chew. Yet with the various treatments done by Bi Fang, there was no gamey smell, and the taste was not bad. Even if the texture was less than ideal, there was the advantage of having a large quantity. In the Sahara, resources were hard to come by, and Bi Fang had not enjoyed eating this liberally for a long time; he normally ate just enough to fill his stomach, followed by some water, barely enough to satisfy hunger. "You can''t eat too much either, being too full can make you sleepy. Normally, it wouldn''t matter, but in the wilderness, it''s a bit dangerous because you need to stay highly alert, especially when you have to keep watch at night." Chatting with the viewers while eating, Bi Fang made quick work of the food, finishing most of the entire ostrich leg, which attested to his hearty appetite. Though the meat was lean, it probably wouldn''t taste as good as jerky later on. But even so, he only ate to eighty percent full, restraining himself. Thus, by drying during the day and smoking at night, a substantial amount of water was evaporated from the meat. All the ostrich meat was turned into dried rations by Bi Fang in less than two days, now hanging on the back of Alpha. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With ostrich meat as a food supplement, there was no need to worry about resource shortage for at least a month. Besides needing to find fresh water, the pace quickened a bit. But in the semi-savannah regions, water resources were somewhat easier to find and could also be extracted using the functions of plants. Chapter 828 828: 824 Too dangerous! Seeing several crocodiles dismember a young camel in such a short time shook everyone to their core. Seeing Bi Fang less than three meters from the Heishui Riverbank, they all quickly urged him to move further away. A wise man does not stand under a crumbling wall; this three-meter distance was like walking on a knife''s edge, bone-chilling. "Relax, it''s not that dangerous." Bi Fang smiled and pointed to the distance where the Nile Crocodiles were still tearing flesh from the young camel. Despite the gruesome and brutal scene, with the twitching legs of the camel even visible on the surface of the Heishui River, around this tragic scene, several adult camels still stood quietly. They saw this scene, yet they seemed indifferent, continuing to stand in the river and drink water as if the dead weren''t their species. [What, what''s going on??] [So indifferent?] [Why don''t the crocodiles go for the large camels?] "See? Even though these adult camels stand in the water, the Nile Crocodiles don''t go after them because they know in their hearts that these big fellows aren''t ones to mess with. The relationship between the crocodiles and camels here is like that between crocodiles and hippos." Hearing Bi Fang''s analogy between crocodiles and hippos, the audience in front of the screen suddenly realized. Never eaten pork but seen pigs run, those two species are regulars in the animal world. "Hippos, though always in the water, can swim, and, more importantly, dive. Typically quiet, once they lose their tempers, they often fight, using their sharp teeth to wound each other''s thick skin. Sometimes in the river, they can get so angry they''ll overturn small boats and bite them in half." "While crocodiles have thick skin and meat, they cannot compare with a small boat; an adult hippo can bisect a large crocodile with a single bite, and a crocodile''s teeth can''t handle a hippo; whether in water or on land, a hippo is faster than a crocodile, and vastly surpasses it in strength and size." "So, in waters inhabited by hippos, crocodiles steer clear. It''s not quite accurate to say crocodiles don''t attack hippos, because if the target is a small hippo, they won''t hesitate." [The camels here are like the hippos!] "Exactly, the adult camels in the canyon are akin to the hippos of the African Savanna. They may not have the terrifying biting power of hippos, but their attack power is also formidable; one kick could likely burst a crocodile''s skull." "Additionally, have you noticed that the crocodiles here are generally smaller?" A crocodile was sunbathing on the shore, with its mouth wide open; Bi Fang dismounted from his camel, walked closer, and the viewers couldn''t help but feel anxious. Yet upon closer inspection, this crocodile seemed hardly two meters long? Compared to the nearby Alpha, it was ridiculously small and looked easily beatable. Such a large crocodile could apparently only prey on young camels. "Although I''ve been calling them Nile Crocodiles, their proper names should be West African Nile Crocodiles or even Desert Crocodiles, West African Crocodiles, really." [I see, desert butcher, Rekton (laugh)] "The West African Crocodile, also called West African Nile Crocodile or Desert Crocodile, was once considered a subspecies of the Nile Crocodile. However, a 2011 study showed through DNA molecular evidence that there''s a difference in the skulls of Nile Crocodiles and West African Crocodiles, proving the latter to be a distinct species." "However, as I''ve mentioned before, many species names become customary, and even after acknowledging the essence and changing the scientific name, the common name doesn''t usually change; it continues to be called incorrectly." After comparing sizes, Bi Fang remounted Alpha and continued along the edge of the Heishui River. "Since they are two different species, their sizes can''t be generalized." "The Nile Crocodile is Africa''s largest crocodile and its largest reptile with a body length of 2 to 6 meters. On average, the largest subspecies measures around 3.7 meters. Among them, there''s a notorious creature known as ''Gustave.''" [Gustave, sounds familiar] S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [I think I have heard of it] [No recollection at all] [Stop rambling] Seeing everyone''s interest, Bi Fang didn''t mind introducing further. "Reportedly, the world''s largest crocodile is a Nile Crocodile named Gustave; it measures over ten meters long. According to officials in Burundi, it killed nearly 300 people from 1992 to 2002." [Holy shit, how is that possible!] [Are you joking?] [That''s outrageous, right?] [Really?] [I don''t believe it] "To be honest, I can''t say for sure since I haven''t seen it with my own eyes, but this crocodile is indeed notorious, with many records stated by local officials." Bi Fang gave a bitter smile. In water, the Nile Crocodile is a ruler. On the shallows, it can even snatch prey from the mouth of the Lion, the king of the grasslands. Groups of Nile Crocodiles dominate both land and water. Generally speaking, most Nile Crocodiles live their lives not exceeding 5 meters in length and 600 kilograms in weight, but there is a select group of crocodiles, superior from the moment they hatch from their eggs. Growing rapidly after breaking out, if they mature successfully, they reach around 6 meters in size, making other crocodiles bow down before them, capable of dominating the entire river. Gustave was one of those chosen crocodiles; it was born in Burundi between Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo and lingered in the country''s largest lake, Lake Tanganyika; people named it "Gustave." Its name comes from the Swedish Emperor Gustav II, who had once conquered half of Europe, emanating authority and awe. Many locals claimed that they had seen this behemoth. According to people''s descriptions, the crocodile was particularly enormous and could easily capsize a fisherman''s boat. Gustave would silently lurk in the water and swiftly attack when prey approached. In 2004, a war broke out within Burundi. When the war ended, people suddenly remembered that they hadn''t heard any news about Gustave for a long time. In 2007, an eyewitness claimed to have seen Gustave again, but its body bore a row of bullet scars, most likely from being strafed by machine guns during the civil war. [That''s a bit outrageous...] [Don''t quite believe it] [I think it might be true, after all it''s nature, who can say for sure?] [Indeed, nature is so vast, there''s always some anomalies.] [Does Master Fang believe it?] "Me?" Bi Fang pondered for a moment, then shook his head and gave an ambiguous answer, "I don''t know if I should believe it, but maybe it really exists." Nature''s power is infinite, and there are always some elite individuals. Even though we are all humans, some people can run 100 meters in ten seconds and punch through sandbags with a single fist. If possible, he really hoped that this crocodile named Gustave existed, and that he could see it for himself. "Compared to the Nile Crocodile, the West African Crocodile seems rather insignificant. The smallest adult crocodile is only 1 meter long, averaging 1.5-2 meters. The largest male West African Crocodile measures 243.5 cm, and if you include a slightly broken tail, it''s 250 cm in total. The largest female West African Crocodile measures 209 cm." Having just heard about Gustave''s legend, the audience was still impressed by the might of the Nile Crocodile, but now hearing about the size of the West African Crocodile, they felt it was quite less majestic. "West African Crocodiles primarily feed on fish, birds, and frogs, along with small creatures like insects. This also explains why West African Crocodiles lack the ability to prey on livestock and how the natives and crocodiles coexist peacefully." "The lack of large prey in the Sahara region is key to their survival in the desert and is the fundamental reason for their smaller size." "So, it means that West African Crocodiles basically cannot prey on camels. They can only eat stray young camels. As for why the camels around are so indifferent, it''s also a natural occurrence. Apart from parents, generally no other camels would help a predated one, possibly because its parents aren''t nearby." Now, that makes sense. Everyone finally understood. "So we really don''t have to be scared of them, and crocodiles aren''t as fast as you think." Most crocodiles are extremely aggressive, being the most patient hunters. In the moment of their attack, they can burst out of the water like an arrow, appearing very impactful. But this is only a brief behavior and cannot be sustained for a long time. Crocodiles have three running styles, like a snake, like a horse, or like a rabbit. Like a snake involves crawling forward, dragging their belly while pushing forward with their legs, when in swamps and muddy riverbanks. This is also the most commonly seen posture. The second style is a high gait: this gait is effective for clearing rocks and branches and requires the most energy, as it involves lifting the massive body off the ground. The third is running: similar to a rabbit''s leap, the crocodile propels itself with its hind legs then lands on its front legs, appearing as if it''s jumping. "However, the latter two are usually seen only in young crocodiles, while the large crocodiles are mostly individuals, akin to pythons." Bi Fang casually threw a piece of ostrich meat, and the nearby crocodile didn''t stir until Bi Fang walked away; then people saw the West African Crocodile slowly move forward and swallow it. "In Ancient Egypt, people even believed that being eaten by a crocodile was a great honor, and the crocodile god Sobek carved on the walls of the Sonic Temple was considered to be modeled after the Nile Crocodile." "But as with myths, they tend to change with history. Since the 9th century AD, the Nile Crocodile has become a target of human hunting." "The Ancient Egyptians worshipped Sobek along with the Pharaoh''s fertility, protecting the associated crocodile god, but later on, Egyptians would also hunt crocodiles, viewing them as a source of protection and Pharaonic power." "This might just be one proof of social changes." Those who have studied archaeology know all about this kind of worship. In earlier times, commonly unearthed sculptures were of broad women. Because such a physique was better for childbirth, early human mortality rates were high, so naturally, they were worshipped. But entering feudal society, human productivity rapidly developed, people armed themselves, and mortality rates significantly dropped, the primitive fertility worship began to fade. The crocodile''s powerful image naturally shifted from representing fertility to embodying formidable power. "West African Crocodiles are more docile than Nile Crocodiles and were chosen by Ancient Egyptians for their spiritual rituals, including mummification." "Historically, West African Crocodiles and Nile Crocodiles inhabited the lower reaches of the Nile River in Egypt. The Ancient Greek historian Herodotus was one of the first to record and study crocodiles. Herodotus wrote that the selection of crocodiles was made by Ancient Egyptian priests." "The priests knew the differences between these two species; West African Crocodiles are smaller, more docile, and easier to capture and tame." "Herodotus also noted that some Egyptians kept crocodiles as pampered pets. In Sobek''s temple Arsinoe, a crocodile was kept confined in the temple, where it was fed and adorned with jewels in the holy pond." "When the crocodile died, it was embalmed, turned into a mummy, placed in a sarcophagus, and then buried in a sacred tomb. Many mummified specimens and even crocodile eggs have been discovered in Ancient Egyptian tombs." "Recent DNA analysis has shown that in the Thebes caves, the crocodile mummies from Cave Samoun and those from Upper Egypt all belong to this species." [Another day of learning] [I''ve learned so much I''m burnt out] Bi Fang rode a camel through much of the Blackwater River, where camels were continuously seen, and numerous broken pottery fragments were seen on the ground. [What are these fragments? Trash?] Chapter 829 825: Hold a Spot, Not Ready Yet These past two days have been too busy, with several classes ending in the eighth week, exams to prepare for, a few experimental courses to attend, and physical tests in a few days, plus a lack of inspiration, I haven''t taken any leave this month and have lost quite a bit of money. Might as well secure a spot, then refresh this chapter later; no extra points needed. It''s too dangerous! Witnessing several crocodiles dismembering a young camel in a short period of time, everyone inevitably shuddered in fear. Seeing Bi Fang less than three meters from the Heishui Riverbank, they all hurriedly urged him to move further away. A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall. This three-meter distance is like walking on a blade, with the cold gleam piercing to the bone. "Don''t worry, it''s not that dangerous." Bi Fang smiled and pointed at the Nile Crocodile still tearing flesh from the young camel in the distance. Despite the exceptionally bloody and cruel scene, where the twitching camel legs could still be seen on the surface of the Heishui River, several adult camels remained quietly standing around this tragedy. Instead of being disturbed by this scene, they simply stood in the river, lowered their heads to drink water, as if the deceased were not their own kind. [What''s going on here??] [Are they that indifferent?] [Why don''t the crocodiles attack the large camels?] "Do you see? Even though these large camels stand in the water, the Nile Crocodiles don''t attack them, because they know that these big fellows are not something they can mess with. The relationship here between the crocodiles and camels is like that of crocodiles and hippos." Hearing Bi Fang compare crocodiles and hippos, the audience in front of the screen suddenly realized. Though they hadn''t eaten pork, they had seen pigs run. These two species were common in the animal world. "Although hippos always stay in the water, they can swim and dive, are generally calm, but once they get angry, they often fight, injuring each other with their sharp teeth against the thick skin. Sometimes, when they get angry in the river, they dare to overturn small boats, even biting them in half." "Crocodiles have tough skin and flesh, but they don''t compare to a small boat. An adult hippo can bite a large crocodile in half with one bite, while a crocodile''s teeth can''t handle a hippo; a hippo''s speed in water and on land is faster than that of a crocodile; in terms of strength and size, hippos far surpass crocodiles." "Thus, in waters where hippos are present, crocodiles keep their distance. However, it''s not quite accurate to say crocodiles don''t attack hippos, because if the target is a small hippo, then it won''t hold back." [These camels here are like hippos!] "Exactly, the adult camels in the canyon are comparable to the hippos in the African Savanna. Although they don''t have the terrifying biting power of a hippo, their attacking power is also not to be underestimated. A single kick could likely smash a crocodile''s head." "Besides, have you noticed that the crocodiles here are generally smaller in size?" A crocodile was basking in the sun on the shore, its mouth wide open. Bi Fang dismounted from the camel and walked closer, causing the viewers to be on tenterhooks, but comparing the two, this crocodile seemed to be less than two meters? Compared to Alpha next to it, it seemed incredibly small and seemingly no match. Such a large crocodile could only perhaps prey on a young camel. "Although I''ve been calling them Nile Crocodiles, in reality, their name should be West African Nile Crocodile, or Desert Crocodile, West African Crocodile." [I get it, Desert Butcher Rek''Sai (laugh)] "West African Crocodile, also known as West African Nile Crocodile or Desert Crocodile, was once thought to be a subspecies of the Nile Crocodile. However, a 2011 study revealed through DNA molecular evidence testing that there are differences in the skulls between Nile Crocodiles and West African Crocodiles; West African Crocodiles are an independent species." "However, as I''ve said before, many species names have become customary. Even if we recognize their true nature and change their scientific names, the usual name may not change, continuing incorrectly as it has." After comparing the size of West African Crocodiles, Bi Fang remounted Alpha and continued walking along the Heishui River. "Since they are two different species, their sizes certainly can''t be generalized," he said. "The Nile Crocodile is the largest crocodile in Africa and the largest reptile, with a length ranging from 2 to 6 meters. The largest subspecies has an average length of 3.7 meters, and among them, there''s this infamous creature, not sure if any of you have heard about him, called ''Gustave.''" [Gustave, that sounds familiar] [Seems like I''ve heard of it] [I have no memory of it] [Get to the point] Seeing the group''s interest, Bi Fang didn''t mind elaborating. "It is said that the largest crocodile in the world is a Nile Crocodile named Gustave; its length exceeds ten meters. According to official statistics from Burundi, it allegedly killed nearly 300 people from 1992 to 2002." [Damn, how is that possible!] [What kind of joke is this?] [Is it that outrageous?] [Really?] [I don''t believe it] "Honestly, I wouldn''t believe it either if I hadn''t seen it with my own eyes. But this crocodile is indeed very famous, and many records are officially claimed by the locals." Bi Fang gave a wry smile. The Nile Crocodile is a dominant force in the water, and even on shallow banks, it can forcibly snatch prey right out of the jaws of the king of the savanna, the lion. A group of Nile Crocodiles are true amphibious rulers. Generally speaking, most Nile Crocodiles throughout their lifetime don''t exceed five meters in length or 600 kilograms in weight, but there are a select few, the chosen crocodiles, that are superior right from the egg. After breaking out of their shells, they grow rapidly. If they manage to mature successfully, they generally reach about six meters in length. Other crocodiles would bow in submission to them, dominating the entire river. Gustave was one of those chosen crocodiles. He was born in Burundi, located between Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo, hidden within the country''s largest lake, Tanganyika Lake, and was named "Gustave." His name was derived from the Swedish Emperor Gustav II, who once conquered half of Europe, exuding an aura of power and fierceness. Many locals claimed to have seen this behemoth. According to their descriptions, this massive crocodile could easily overturn fishermen''s boats. Gustave would silently lurk in the water, waiting for prey to come close before launching a swift attack. In 2004, a war broke out within Burundi. After the war ended, people suddenly remembered that they hadn''t heard any news about Gustave for a long time. In 2007, an eyewitness claimed to have seen Gustave again, but this time with a row of bullet scars, likely from a machine gun during the civil war. [That''s a bit far-fetched...] [I don''t quite believe it] [I think it could be true, after all, you never know with nature] [Indeed, nature is vast, there are always some anomalies] "Master Fang, do you believe?" "I?" Bi Fang pondered for a moment, then shook his head, giving an ambiguous answer, "I don''t know if I should believe, but perhaps they really do exist." The power of nature is infinite, with always some elite individuals. Although everyone is human, there are those who can run 100 meters in ten seconds or punch through a sandbag. If possible, he really hoped that this crocodile named Gustave existed, and then he would go to see it himself. "Compared to the Nile Crocodile, the West African Crocodile seems somewhat insignificant. The smallest adult crocodile is only 1 meter long, averaging 1.5-2 meters. The largest male West African Crocodile is 243.5 cm long, and if a bit of the tail was missing, then the total length would be 250 cm. The largest female West African Crocodile is 209 cm long." Having just heard about the legend of Gustave, the audience was still astonished by the strength of the Nile Crocodile, but now, hearing about the size of the West African Crocodile, they felt quite underwhelmed. "The West African Crocodile mainly feeds on fish, birds, and frogs, and other small creatures like insects, which explains why it lacks the ability to hunt livestock, and how the indigenous people and crocodiles coexist peacefully." "The West African Crocodile lacks the ability to hunt large prey in the Sahara area, which is key to its survival in the desert, and is also the fundamental reason for its small size." "So, the West African Crocodile can''t handle camels at all; it can only eat lone small camels. As for why the surrounding camels are so indifferent, it is also a natural norm. Apart from parents, generally no camel would extend a helping hand to a camel that has been preyed upon, perhaps because its parents are not nearby." That makes sense. They finally understood. "So, we really don''t need to fear them, and crocodiles'' speed actually isn''t as fast as you think." Most crocodiles are very fierce and are the most patient hunters. In the instant they hunt, they can spring from the water like an arrow, appearing very forceful. However, this is merely a brief act, fundamentally infeasible to maintain long-term. Crocodiles have three running postures: like a snake, like a horse, or like a rabbit. Like a snake is to creep forward, dragging its belly while pushing forward with its feet when in swamps and muddy riverbanks. This is the most commonly seen posture. The second is a high gait: This type of gait is effective for clearing rocks and branches and requires the most energy, as it involves lifting the massive body off the ground. The third is running: similar to a rabbit''s jumps, where the crocodile pushes off with its hind legs and then lands on its forelegs, appearing to be leaping. The audience imagined the scene of a crocodile hopping like a rabbit and didn''t quite know what to say. Seems, quite comical? "But the latter two are usually seen only in young crocodiles; large crocodiles are mostly ideologists, very much like pythons." "Though much smaller than the Nile Crocodile, the West African Crocodile is average within the crocodile family; it''s mediocre when compared to others, sufficient for short bursts, that is, the moment of attack. Thus, staying three meters away from the riverbank is already enough." Bi Fang casually threw a piece of ostrich meat. The nearby crocodile didn''t budge until after Bi Fang had left, then the West African Crocodile slowly came forward and swallowed it. "In Ancient Egypt, people even believed that being eaten by a crocodile was a great honor. The crocodile god Sobek carved on the Sonic Temple was thought to be based on the Nile Crocodile." "But myths like this always change with history. Since the 9th century AD, the Nile Crocodile has already become a hunting target for humans." "The Ancient Egyptians worshipped Sobek and the Pharaoh''s reproductive powers, protecting the related crocodile god, but later on, Egyptians would also hunt crocodiles, seeing them as a source of protection and Pharaoh''s power." "This perhaps is proof of social changes." Those who have studied archaeology know of the birth and death worship from ancient times, often carving sculptures of plump women. Such body types were considered better for childbirth. With high infant mortality rates in early human societies, such worship was natural but as societies entered feudal times, human productivity advanced rapidly, people armed themselves, and the death rate decreased significantly, leading to the disappearing of these primitive birth and death worships. The image of the crocodile thus naturally transitioned from a representation of fertility to a powerful emblem of authority. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "West African Crocodiles are more docile than Nile Crocodiles, selected by Ancient Egyptians for their spiritual rituals, including mummification." "From historical accounts, both West African Crocodiles and Nile Crocodiles inhabited the lower Nile region in Egypt, with Ancient Greek historian Herodotus being one of the first to record and study crocodiles, mentioning that picking crocodiles for priestly duties in Ancient Egypt was selective." "The priests were aware of the differences between the two species; the West African Crocodile being smaller, more docile, easier to capture and tame." "Herodotus also noted that some Egyptians kept crocodiles as prestigious pets. In Sobek''s Arsinoe Temple, a crocodile was kept confined, where it was fed, adorned in jewels, worshipped." "When a crocodile died, it was also treated with embalming, turned into a mummy, placed in a sarcophagus, then buried in a sacred tomb. Many such mummified specimens, even crocodile eggs, have been discovered in Ancient Egyptian tombs." "Recent DNA analysis suggests that crocodile mummies found in Thebes''s cavities, Cave Samoun, and those in Upper Egypt all belong to this species." [Another enlightening day] [Learned too much, brain burnt out] Bi Fang rode a camel across most of the Heishui River, encountering a never-ending stream of camels, and saw numerous fragments of pottery on the ground. [What are these fragments? Garbage?] [So many human traces here] [Murals and pottery, this place must have been thriving in the past, right?] Bi Fang did not comment. "In about 1840, religious Berber people and Bedouin had migrated southward from the north, replacing the indigenous Tuareg people, bringing the current name to the Oasis." "The influx of outsiders brought commercial prosperity once again, with the first European to discover this place, Rohlfs, entering Dachi by following the newly formed Sahara Trade Route." "However, the local residents were very hostile towards the foreign Europeans; Rohlfs''s exploration team was besieged by locals, nearly losing their lives." "Eventually, the exploration team fled north all the way to Benghazi. Of course, going to Chad was out of the question, but discovering Dachi was enough to boost his reputation significantly." [No wonder they opted for circumcision as a disguise, haha] [Sounds pretty dire] [That''s extremely dangerous, nearly primitive] [Not much different, honestly.] The commercial prosperity turned this oasis into an ideal water storage location, naturally leading to an abundance of practical pottery. Yet, after the year 2000, any jars that were slightly intact were either taken or smashed to pieces, and Bi Fang, visiting the place himself, only saw numerous scattered fragments, none of them whole. [Ah, hasn''t the local government protected them? They''re all antiquities] "This is a common misconception; not all antiques hold value¡ªonly those with cultural and historical significance can fetch a good price. These pottery jars are not from too long ago, and their designs are plain; mainly they are practical." "Historical value, cultural value, artistic value all are absent; they''re hardly different from rubbish, perhaps slightly better but not worth the significant cost to protect." Chapter 830 826: Gunshot Bi Fang checked in at another legendary oasis, leading Alpha through the canyon as they continued their journey eastward. The West African Crocodiles on the riverbank lay quietly, basking lazily in the warm sunshine with their mouths open, while birds with feathers of black, white, grey, and light yellow¡ªabout the size of pigeons¡ªlingered in the waters behind them. These birds were vividly colorful, standing out conspicuously from a distance. They stepped into the water, creating subtle ripples as they captured the small fish in the river. Two of them, seemingly unsatisfied, searched around for a bit and then set their sights on a nearby West African Crocodile. They hopped along the bank before suddenly jumping into its mouth, pecking away. [Ahh, what kind of birds are these, they look so pretty] [Hisss, aren''t they afraid of getting eaten by the crocodiles?] [I''ve seen this before, plover birds!] [I think I read about it in that article, they''re eating the meat scraps from the crocodile''s mouth, right? They also help clean the mouth, the two share a symbiotic relationship, so the crocodile won''t eat the bird] "Uh..." Bi Fang scratched his eyebrow, "That''s probably not true." [Ahh that] [It''s not true?] [Uh oh, we''re about to be corrected by Master Fang] "The scientific name for ''toothpick birds'' is the Egyptian Plover, and the symbiotic relationship with crocodiles you mentioned derives from a record made by an Ancient Greek writer named Herodotus, in a book called ''Histories.''" "This book chronicles the sights and sounds Herodotus encountered on his travels as well as the history of the Persian Achaemenid Empire. It is the first complete prose work to survive in the history of Western literature." "It contains a record of the so-called ''toothpick bird'' you''ve mentioned. According to Herodotus, there are Nile crocodiles that lie on the riverbank with their mouths open, allowing a bird called ''trochilus'' to fly into its mouth to remove rotten flesh and leeches." "However, from a biological perspective, crocodiles don''t need their teeth cleaned. Unlike mammals, their teeth can regenerate and be replaced if they go bad." "Each crocodile tooth consists of a functional tooth, a replacement tooth, and a tooth plate. Stem cells in the raised part of the tooth plate can develop into new, replacement teeth. It is because of this unique tooth structure that the transition from functional mature teeth to new teeth in crocodiles can proceed smoothly." "Furthermore, crocodile teeth are widely spaced and can''t trap food particles." The teeth of crocodiles are conical, and so are the gaps between them. Their main function is to capture and kill animals, and then swallow them whole, not to chew. Therefore, there are no meat scraps in their mouths, nor any pieces of meat stuck there. "Even if there are bacteria on their teeth, that''s not something a bird can handle. In other words, birds aren''t really gaining much by being in a crocodile''s mouth." "Most importantly, aside from what Herodotus witnessed over two thousand years ago, no other scientist has observed this phenomenon." "The photographs circulating online of Egyptian Plovers picking the teeth of crocodiles are actually digitally recreated based on Herodotus''s description." For years, people have believed the story of the ''toothpick bird'' without question and have hailed the friendship between the plover and the crocodile as an example of mutually beneficial symbiosis among animals. But as time has passed, more and more people have begun to question this claim, with the greatest doubt being that as more tourists visit the African continent, including numerous photographers and photography enthusiasts, if they witnessed the interesting scene of small birds entering a crocodile''s mouth, they would surely capture this precious moment. However, not a single photograph of such an event exists. Furthermore, many scientists who have been to Africa for field research have never witnessed this extraordinary phenomenon. "In the 2400 years since Herodotus''s death, only two zoologists have claimed to have seen ''toothpick birds'' entering crocodile mouths to feed, but unfortunately, their accounts lack specific times and places, and without concrete evidence, they are not convincing." "Later, to unravel this ancient mystery, a bird specialist named Mr. Howell from the Ugly Country University of California traveled to the Gambela region of Ethiopia for a two and a half month investigation." "In the lengthy two-and-a-half-month investigation, Professor Howell worked tirelessly, venturing out early and returning late. He discovered many interesting habits of the Egyptian Plover that were previously unknown. However, he never observed the plovers catching insects inside the mouths of crocodiles." "Ultimately, the biologist Thomas Howell wrote a book in 1979, generally stating that he had never witnessed such a phenomenon himself. Some authors from history claimed to have seen it, but those authors aren''t particularly reliable." "According to his research, even if the story of crocodiles and plover birds being good friends as described by Herodotus was based on truth, it was a very rare phenomenon. It definitely isn''t a primary food source for the birds, so the crocodile and the Egyptian Plover do not have a symbiotic relationship." "It shouldn''t be regarded as an example of mutual symbiosis between animals." "This belongs to individual behavior and cannot be considered a common trait of a species." "The fact that we can see plovers entering the mouths of crocodiles is also a stroke of luck." [Ahh that was hard to finally see one that''s recognizable, only to have Master Fang prove me wrong in the end.] [How difficult it is to survive in the wild. I don''t recognize any, and the one I finally know turns out to be wrong.] Bi Fang laughed heartily. [Then why doesn''t the crocodile eat the plover?] [Yeah, what''s the bird doing in the crocodile''s mouth?] "Probably picking out parasites or something," he guessed. Bi Fang studied the crocodile for a moment. "All animals have one trait in common, they stop hunting once they''re full." "Crocodiles do not lie with their mouths open when hunting; instead, they float quietly underwater, revealing only their eyes and nostrils. If they''re lying with their mouths open, it means they''re sated and won''t hunt, even if a bird hops around its mouth." "It''s like those crocodile shows where people get applause for the thrilling spectacle of sticking their hands or heads into a crocodile''s gaping mouth. Before beginning such a performance, they definitely ensure the crocodile is well-fed." "Besides, crocodiles are much slower in reaction and movement than birds; even if they tried, they wouldn''t catch them, which is why they''re lenient. However, whether they''ll eat them is not guaranteed." No sooner had he spoken than everyone heard a loud clack of teeth. Suddenly, the previously motionless West African Crocodile snapped its jaws shut. Of the two plovers, only one escaped, while the other was inevitably caught and swallowed in a few gulps. After the successful strike, the West African Crocodile quickly turned around and swam into the river, out of sight. Before long, calm returned, and nearby crocodiles acted as if nothing had happened. [Ssss, Master Fang was actually right.] [Truly, ''Man dies for wealth, as birds die for food.''] [My goodness, astonishing.] Several plovers pecked at a small fish together. As they delved deeper, the pollution level of the Blackwater River started to diminish. It was no longer black, but a pale grey, and the previously visible wild camels became scarcer, replaced by more West African Crocodiles. The dense population of crocodiles along the shore made the viewers'' scalps tingle, especially as Bi Fang walked past, nearly brushing against them, the tension peaked. [Why does it feel like there are more and more crocodiles?] [There''s hardly any place to step.] [Scared, too terrifying.] [Master Fang is really brave] "This is a normal phenomenon. Strictly speaking, the West African Crocodile and the camel don''t have much overlap in their lives. The West African Crocodile doesn''t rely on camels for food, but mainly fishes, so the fewer camels, the more crocodiles there will be, because where there are fewer camels, there are also more fish." Bi Fang looked at the river and offered a simple explanation. Excessive pollution can cause fish in the rivers to become scarce, reducing the food supply for the West African Crocodiles. Naturally, they wouldn''t approach areas where the river has turned black due to the pollution from camel feces. Such situations are not uncommon in Africa. For instance, the Mara River is one of the habitats where hippos congregate. There, during the dry season, many hippos are squeezed into small lakes. They expel 8.5 tons of feces daily, and the excessive accumulation of waste makes the environment of these small lakes very poor. It''s still manageable during the dry season because the water bodies are not large and the impact is localized. But when the rainy season comes and the waters merge into a large river, feces that have not yet been fully decomposed by microorganisms get washed away by the river water and are seen floating everywhere. [A bit disgusting] [This is heavy stuff] [I want to see it] [Pretty cool] [What a feces factory] Over time, feces accumulating at the bottom of the water and fermenting by microorganisms produce gases like methane, hydrogen sulfide, and ammonia, leading to a significant reduction in the oxygen content in the water and a large number of fish dying. When the rainy season arrives, the surface of the Mara River will be covered with many dead fish, and these suffocated fish become a rather special phenomenon. And this is a vicious cycle. The death of fish in the river exacerbates the accumulation of decaying matter, thereby overloading the river''s ability to purify itself, leading to further pollution and making it less suitable for wildlife. If it weren''t for the fact that Nile Crocodiles in there don''t rely mainly on fish for survival, like West African Crocodiles do, they would almost be extinct. However, not all animal feces are bad. If the amount is appropriate, it can actually increase the number of organisms in the river, providing nutrients. "Our location here has an appropriate level of feces, so it''s not too polluted. That''s why there''s a good number of fish, and naturally, more crocodiles as well." The tall camels disappeared from view, and even with the ground covered in crocodiles, the entire canyon seemed much emptier. Too empty, the canyon began to echo. As Bi Fang led a huge camel through, the West African Crocodiles remained motionless, but they startled a flock of birds. The birds circled in the sky for a while, waiting for Bi Fang to leave, and then returned to the ground to continue searching for their lunch in the river sand. This canyon is not made up of many tall rocks, but rather a rift valley, with cliffs on both sides rising dozens of meters high, and occasionally you can see a natural stone arch bridge overhead. Looking at the grand spectacle that resembled the gates of heaven, the audience in front of their screens were awestruck, and even Bi Fang himself felt refreshed and uplifted. "Taking in nature''s grandeur can broaden one''s horizons. If you feel tired of life, go traveling. Go to the desert, the Gobi, the grasslands, the forests, look at the starry sky, and look at the giant trees." Bi Fang took a deep breath and his eyes smiled, obviously in a very good mood. [No money though] [Master Fang should sponsor us] [Start a travel fund] [Keep dreaming] [I think Master Fang''s next step should be space. I heard rockets are commercialized now. With Master Fang''s current assets, he could probably afford a ticket, right?] [We''ll chip in; not enough, let''s pool and send Master Fang to the sky!] [Add one, let''s raise money to send Master Fang to space!] [To space!] Bi Fang joked with the audience for a moment and was about to say something when a gunshot interrupted all further words. The gunshot thundered, echoing endlessly over the canyon, and the birds that had just settled were startled into flight, overlapping in the canyon. What''s going on!? Everyone was shocked. Bi Fang''s viewers, having seen plenty of his live streams, were all too familiar with the sound. Gunshots! Why would there be gunshots? Bi Fang swallowed the rest of his words and, with an alert alpha camel that was frightened, became cautious. Animals have a natural wariness of unfamiliar and loud noises, especially herbivores, which are easily spooked. Alpha had almost jumped, but thankfully Bi Fang had pulled it down in time, and he quickly drew it under the shelter of the rock walls, pressing against the stone wall as much as possible to minimize exposure. "It''s above us." Bi Fang didn''t need to identify the direction, he knew it from the shadows of the rocks above, his expression turning sour. It''s an exaggeration to say, but with Bi Fang''s current physical condition and capabilities, he had no fear of hand-to-hand combat with anyone, but when it came to firearms, he maintained ample caution. Before Alpha had a chance to steady itself, a second gunshot sounded from above the canyon. Judging from the sound, the distance had not closed, indicating it came from the same location as the first shot. What are they shooting at? Bi Fang quickly thought and tried to discern the type of firearm from the gunshots. Different firearms have completely distinct sounds when they are fired, and many seasoned veterans can roughly identify the type of gun from the sound it makes. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The sound of a handgun firing echoes like firecrackers. The crisp and rhythmic "pop, pop" signifies an automatic rifle. The incessant "tat-tat-tat" that seems close is definitely a submachine gun. More specifically, something like the M249 SAW sounds like a blasting noise, and the MG42 is akin to the sound of scissors cutting through oilcloth trousers. But the current gunshot sounded very dull, and for a moment, Bi Fang couldn''t make out what it was. But soon, Bi Fang realized he didn''t need to think too much about it. Soon after the second shot, Bi Fang, with his head raised and eyes fixed on the canyon above, witnessed a sharp-horned animal, shaped like a large deer, falling from the cliff''s edge. His sharp dynamic vision and reflexes even allowed him to clearly see the fresh red wound on the animal''s abdomen. Regardless of whether the wound was fatal, when Bi Fang saw it falling from the several-dozen-meter-high cliff, he knew that the gazelle was done for. Chapter 831 827 Unexpected The harsh sun hung high in the sky, casting yellow-orange rays that stretched for thousands of miles. In addition to color, the light also brought scorching high temperatures, with temperatures exceeding forty-five degrees Celsius making the air twist and squirm like a serpent. The intense, fierce light left almost no corner untouched on the vast land, save for a deep, cracked canyon where the rock walls cast long shadows. Shrouded in shadows, Bi Fang huddled with Alpha, seeking cover to conceal their forms, even their breathing was greatly suppressed. The canyon was not straight and simple. The fissure had many extensions on both sides, like leaf veins expanding towards the flanks. Hiding in the shadows of one such tributary, if lucky, one could cover their presence. The live streaming room was under a heavy atmosphere, with a variety of barrage comments that would almost drown out the entire screen if not turned off. But at that moment, Bi Fang had neither the time nor the leisure to check them. Dozens of meters away from his location lay a large gazelle, over half a meter long, now lying on the ground with blood gushing beneath it, flowing along the ground towards the Blackwater River. The scent of blood spread rapidly, soon attracting the nearby crocodiles. The crocodiles lurked beneath the water''s surface, looking like segments of driftwood, swiftly approaching the riverbank. Its yellow-brown fur interspersed with white, the boundary between the two not marked by black wide stripes, and its rump having distinctive white circular patches. Most importantly, atop this gazelle''s head grew a pair of slender, pointed horns covered in extremely dense annular ridges, thin and long like two sharp spears. All characteristics considered, this was a Fine-Horned Gazelle. Bi Fang squinted with a touch of regret. Even before it had hit the ground, his excellent dynamic vision allowed him to recognize the species of this animal. An endangered species on the "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species." The Fine-Horned Gazelle was listed as endangered in the last century, with total numbers estimated to be no more than a few hundred, well below the threshold of 2,500 mature individuals, and still declining. The primary threat is uncontrolled poaching. Although the increase in human activities and desertification also contribute to the degradation of natural habitats, these impacts are negligible compared to poaching. Poaching activities on the African continent can be said to have a "long-standing history." Since the 19th century, many of the large European hunting teams that went to Africa were guilty of poaching, although some were judged and found guilty by African kings who had not granted them permission to hunt on their lands. By 1900, European colonial powers had enacted hunting bans across Africa, prohibiting most Africans from hunting. Subsequently, most forms of African hunting, including hunting for food, were also deemed poaching by colonial authorities. Therefore, commercial poaching is a problem of modern times, posing a significant and growing threat to animal populations. And it worsened with time. In the 1950s and 1960s, after World War II, with European nations too weakened to concern themselves with their overseas colonies, waves of national independence surged around the world. Many African countries achieved independence from colonial rule during this period. After independence, most African countries retained the prohibition on hunting set by European colonizers. However, poaching for food or "bushmeat" continued, and commercial poaching for profit remained all too common. The presence of such activities was partly due to the inefficiency of the new governments, but also because many administrators deliberately turned a blind eye, knowing well that violations were occurring, as many of them depended on "bushmeat" for precious protein themselves. In Africa, "bushmeat" was almost the only source of meat for the poor. Living off the land or the sea. Too impoverished to mine, they could only rely on primitive animal resources. Undeniably, those who hunted for food posed a threat to the local animal populations, but compared with those who hunted for international trade, the level of threat was incomparable. In the 1970s and 1980s, poaching in Africa reached an unprecedented and rampant scale, causing a serious crisis. Elephants and rhinoceroses, in particular, faced the risk of extinction. These two animals did not fall under the category of "bushmeat," nor did anyone consume their meat; they were hunted solely because of the international market''s fervent demand for ivory, rhino horn, and their products. The same was true for gazelles with their beautifully long horns. Nearly every gazelle had a pair of elegant, magnificent long horns. This made them particularly favored by "poachers." Cheap but sturdy motorcycles and ATVs allowed poachers to enter nearly all areas within the species'' range. After the 1980s, poaching activities subsided, but in the 2010s, following the "Arab Spring" and the subsequent decrease in control and economic hardships, poaching once again became widespread across Africa. Hunters often posted hunting pictures on social media websites, with gazelles boasting a beautiful set of horns frequently among them. At this moment, the Fine-Horned Gazelle twitched its hind legs, its belly torn open with a gaping hole, skin and flesh burst apart. Such injuries could only have been caused by human firearms; normal animal hunting could never inflict such puncture wounds. Combining the current environment, gunshot, desert, and wound, Bi Fang wouldn''t even need to doubt; he could be certain that the poachers were to blame. The hunters used homemade shotguns, hiding in ambush in the desert. If the first shot missed, they fired a second, and finally hit their mark. Unfortunately, it was not a lethal shot, and the Fine-Horned Gazelle, in its struggle, fled in panic, eventually coming to the edge of a canyon and leaping down. The whole scenario swiftly pieced itself together in Bi Fang''s mind. Bi Fang compared the gunshot he had just heard with the knowledge in his memory and, not finding a fitting match, guessed it might have been a homemade shotgun. The power of a homemade shotgun was limited; the gazelle might have been saved based on just the bullet wound had it not jumped. But what had happened had happened, and from the height of several dozen meters, even the jumping prowess of gazelles could not grant any chance of survival upon a hard landing. "Have we come across poaching again?" "It seems like it." "Damn poachers again, so pitiful." Even if Bi Fang hadn''t said a word, the viewers in the live stream weren''t fools; they figured out what had probably happened and were abuzz with discussion. "It''s been smashed to bits; even its butt is wrecked." "Why does Master Fang always encounter such things?" "If you traversed the entire Sahara Desert, maybe you''d encounter it too." "The more you travel, the more you see. Maybe you wouldn''t come across it on a simple survival mission, but the chances on a crossing mission seem high, especially in Africa." "You don''t know about it in our country, but if you go abroad, you''ll realize, damn, there are a ton of poachers. The year before last, I was in Kenya, Africa, riding a cable car, and some bastard was openly shooting from their SUV; no one in the car dared move." "Really? That brazen?" Facing an unexpected windfall from the sky, crocodiles burst out of the river as if injected with adrenaline, leaping enthusiastically towards the gazelle. Within a matter of seconds, they reached the gazelle, dismembering the still-twitching Fine-Horned Gazelle. Chunks of flesh and blood splattered, skin and flesh separated, and more blood flow into the river, attracting crocodiles from tens of meters away. It wasn''t long before the riverbank was crammed with crocodiles, even four or five piled atop one another, forming a veritable mountain of crocodiles. Those that arrived later fought and snapped at the earlier ones, vying for food. West African Crocodiles, which lived on fish, seldom had the opportunity to feast on land creatures. Bi Fang looked up. In the pale yellow sky, a large bird, too far to make out its form, circled overhead. Nobody came down. The Fine-Horned Gazelle had fallen on the same side as Bi Fang, so it was likely that the others would appear above on this side as well. Sure enough, Bi Fang soon heard the sound of a motorcycle, and the audience was no exception. "Someone''s coming!" "It''s a motorbike, they''ve come on a motorbike!" "Be careful, be careful, be careful!!" Bi Fang pressed himself against the rock face, trying to breathe as quietly as possible to better hear his surroundings. The motorcycle noise grew closer and stopped directly overhead. Then a noisy argument broke out. With the cliff exceeding twenty-five meters in height, even with Bi Fang pressed close, he couldn''t make out what they were arguing about. He knew they were arguing in Arabic and could only catch a word or two. "Two people, no, more than that, three, yes, there are three voices." Bi Fang closed his eyes, whispering information to the audience in a low voice. "They''re arguing fiercely. It''s too far to hear clearly, but it sounds like cursing... perhaps they''re cursing about losing their prey." Bi Fang looked at the Fine-Horned Gazelle''s body covered by the West African Crocodile and pondered. The gazelle''s most valuable aspect was naturally its pair of slender, pointed horns, highly aesthetic and collectible, also excellent for carving. But, the hide and meat were also valuable, now all benefiting the crocodile, turned into its stomach''s meal. It was fortunate if a pair of intact horns could be retrieved. West African Crocodiles were small and not much of a threat, but it wasn''t easy to retrieve the pair of horns from them. Moreover... Bi Fang looked at the cliff, over twenty, nearly thirty meters high. Not everyone was an all-rounder like himself, skilled in rock climbing, swimming, and hunting. It wouldn''t be easy for them to come down from there. Since they made homemade guns, they were amateurs. The poachers'' scolding wasn''t hard to understand, basically about why they chased the Fine-Horned Gazelle to the cliff, ending with its meat spoiled, losing out on the benefits. They argued for minutes as the gazelle''s body was already dismembered. When the group of crocodiles dispersed, not even one horn was to be seen, presumably taken by one of the crocodiles into the river. Seeing this, the poachers who had just calmed down broke out into another long argument, lasting about five or six minutes, with no sign of stopping, growing more heated. Then, Bi Fang''s peripheral vision caught a dark shadow falling from the top of the canyon. Accompanied by a scream. Everything abruptly ceased. !!! Bi Fang''s heart pounded fiercely, his eye twitching uncontrollably. He pressed the drone''s lens hard, swiveling it in another direction. However, the audience had still caught a glimpse of the scene, and after a moment of silence, the live chat exploded! Murder, this was blatant murder! Not just poaching, but now there was internal conflict! Such a bloody, violent scene almost caused every viewer''s thoughts to freeze. If the thrill came from hunting animals, seeing a crime scene triggered nothing but endless panic. This feeling was like a cold venomous snake creeping up your spine, chilling to the bone. Were it not for Bi Fang''s identity and proof, there''s no way his live stream could have continued. An unprecedented surge of comments flooded the chat. "Holy shit!" "Did I see that wrong!!!" "They pushed someone down!" "This is a crime, a crime!!!" Nearly all comments came with an abundance of exclamation points, as though only this could express the audience''s excitement. And it got even worse. The crocodile that had just slipped into the river erupted again, the water rippling with waves, the carnivores once more attracted by the thick scent of blood. The body of one gazelle was too small, not nearly enough for these predators to share. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The viewers couldn''t see this scene, but the sound of splashing water left them deeply unsettled. Bi Fang''s breathing nearly stopped; his ear pressed against the wall heard nothing as if the people above had vanished, frozen in eerie silence. When the noise started again, it seemed to be a question from the tone. Clearly, even the poachers could not believe what had just happened. But the response to the question wasn''t conversation or swearing, but a gunshot and another dark shadow fell, crashing heavily onto the crocodile below. Bi Fang was stunned. Alpha beside him grew restless, trying to leave, but was firmly held by Bi Fang. What... what on earth was going on? The accident could still be explained, but now? What was this? Bi Fang couldn''t fathom what had happened above; his mind was in chaos. What should he do now? With the continuous falling of two shadows, the West African Crocodiles slipped into a frenzy. The sound of the motorcycle started again; the last person was leaving! Bi Fang quickly returned to the moment, assessing the messy scene and reacting swiftly. A small drone flew up to the cliff-top, and the next moment, the audience saw the fleeing poacher. Without hesitation, the drone hurried forward and managed to capture the poacher''s face just before the motorbike vanished from sight. Caught! The chaotic scene quickly resolved. A small drone flew up to the cliff-top, and the next moment, the audience saw the fleeing poacher. Without hesitation, the drone hurried forward, and managed to capture the poacher''s face before the motorbike completely vanished from view. Chapter 832 828 Pyramids Sunlight shone in the canyon, casting shadows. This was the south side of the canyon where the poachers had also come from, and now as they fled, they were heading directly towards the sun. The sun hung high, and drones flew into the sky, borrowing the daylight''s cover, coated in a layer of gold, making it impossible for anyone to discern exactly what they were. Furthermore, frazzled by their desperate escape, the poachers didn''t realize a drone was capturing their panicked expressions and postures, which showed up starkly in the machine''s view. It must have been a crime of passion. Seeing the expression on the other''s face for just a moment, Bi Fang realized this possibility. If there had indeed been premeditation, they wouldn''t be this frantic, and the time between the two attacks wouldn''t have exceeded ten seconds. Perhaps the spark that ignited the conflict was the argument that had just occurred. No, it should be said it was the last straw that broke the camel''s back. A mere accident shouldn''t have triggered such a massive conflict. In the recent quarrel, although Bi Fang couldn''t make out exactly what the three men had said, the initial voices in the argument were only two, followed later by a third, which was why Bi Fang had initially mistaken there being only two poachers. Clearly, the third was the weaker party, and had been in that position for a while, exploding in anger today. Of course, Bi Fang knew all of this was without evidence; without understanding the true nature of the incident, these were merely his own conjectures. Dust billowed above the canyon, and the motorcycle quickly disappeared from sight; the drone also returned to Bi Fang''s side. By this time, the live stream had already erupted into chaos. No other reason needed; the scene just witnessed was too shocking, like peeling away an onion only to reveal a pitch-black core. It was chilling. Bi Fang leaned against the rock wall, slowly slid down, and finally sat on the ground, exhaling a long breath. It wasn''t because he was as frightened as the viewers. This scene hardly counted as anything major in Bi Fang''s experience, as he vividly remembered how he had died in his previous life. It was just somewhat nauseating. In the corner of his eye, he could still vaguely see the teeming crocodiles piled upon one another, crawling, ripping, and tearing. It was bloody and violent. The drone intentionally avoided that scene, and apart from Bi Fang himself, no one else could see it. This was the wilderness. Africa''s Sahara. The ends of the earth, desolate and uninhabited; wherever one looked, stretches of yellow desert sand melded into one another, and the gentle breeze was not comforting but rather brought gusts of yellow sand. On this nearly ten million square kilometers of land, most of it remains uninhabited, rife with conflict. Even in peaceful countries, due to poverty, police forces are limited and cannot cover everywhere. Completely exposed outside the law, those who come here fully reveal their evil, their primitive ambitions. Here, humans are no different from wild beasts. Only beasts seek blood, humans seek wealth. Making money is the priority; how it is made doesn''t matter; getting the money is essential. Those who can establish themselves in this desert are not to be trifled with, one more violent than the other, with fists solving issues. In this lawless land, the law is like a bystander. Without morality or rules, it''s like a return to primal society, with even money so cheap and useless. Here, only the most basic instincts of life and death, joy and evil prevail, with all the rules set by one''s own heart. Facing the burst of comments in the live stream, even Bi Fang, always skilled at communication, didn''t know what to say, The scene from less than ten minutes ago had attracted more than ten million viewers. It was akin to a scene from the dark web, truly shocking the world. Had Bi Fang been a smoker, he might have wanted one right then. After a long silence, and once the viewers had finally come to grips with reality, Bi Fang stood up. "In this world, there will always be areas unreachable by humans, not just geographically but also in the depths of every person''s soul, a space that can''t be controlled by the hand of another." [Is Master Fang going to pursue them?] [He can''t catch up, right? Not to mention the cliff is so high, a camel can''t outrun a motorcycle, and there''s also the fact that they have guns.] [We''ve got their faces on camera; just report it to the police, don''t try to play hero.] [Indeed, let the police handle it.] [Does Master Fang not have a phone? I''ll help make the call!] [By the way, where is this?] As fans of Master Fang, most of the viewers had long since grown accustomed to such heart-stopping events, quickly regaining their composure and suggesting to help call the police. Without hesitation, Bi Fang looked up at the sky, discerned his approximate latitude and longitude, and announced his location. The powerful netizens soon found the local jurisdiction and called the police about the scene they had just witnessed. With the live video as undeniable evidence, and given the large number of people involved, along with many fans directly contacting higher-level regional authorities, Millions had witnessed it, and this was no small matter. Even if Chad finds handling such a heinous crime in a desolate area challenging, it cannot easily be ignored, and a commitment was soon made. The viewers who received the responses returned one by one seeking commendation while the tense atmosphere in the live stream room dissipated. "Truly impressive," Bi Fang rarely offered such praise. By then, he had fully emerged from the canyon. Bi Fang looked back, his lips parted wordlessly, his heart''s unease sweeping clean. The sandstone eroded by winds had formed peculiar and unique shapes, and the rock art relics nestled in the overhangs were both majestic and astonishing. It was an ecological miracle: besides camels and crocodiles, many frogs also made their home in the oasis, along with numerous other animals drinking from the precious water. Camel cries echoed consistently through the rocky canyons. Many beautiful and vibrant large murals of ostriches, warriors, buffaloes, and various human figures were carved into the rocks shaped by water erosion. The rock art relics indicated that these species once thrived in the Guelta within the Sahara Desert, revealing scenes from the lives of people in bygone ages. Nearby lay some lesser-known ancient grave sites waiting to be explored. Human skulls, buried for centuries, frequently appeared among the sand and gravel. In the vast expanse of the desert, the Dachi Oasis was absolutely a delightful surprise. Regrettably, even such a remote canyon remained vulnerable to desperados who entered it, attempting to disrupt its fragile ecology. The more roads one traveled, the more experiences one had. Perhaps Bi Fang himself hadn''t noticed, but he had become increasingly steady and composed in the face of unexpected events. Chad was the penultimate stop of the journey. This grand journey was nearing its final destination¡ªEgypt. It was the most prominent nation in all of Africa, bar none. Compared to Egypt, the names of any other African countries sounded like minor, insignificant nations. Thinking of Egypt naturally brought to mind the four great ancient civilizations and the Pyramids. [Finally here, huh?] [Egypt, feels like it''s the only place in Africa with some presence] [After all, people don''t pay attention to the poor (dog''s head)] Bi Fang smiled and did not express his own opinion on some of the sensitive topics in the barrage of comments. As a celebrity, he often needed to be mindful of his words and try to minimize the expression of his opinions. Otherwise, it was easy for others to take his words out of context, something Bi Fang had experienced more than once, though it hadn''t caused any significant negative impact. If it weren''t for the fact that he earned his living through talent, it might indeed have been possible to damage some of his vitality. "The earliest civilizations of humans were born in the Nile River Basin, Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, and the Yellow River Basin, eventually evolving into the four great ancient nations." "It is widely accepted that the creators of Ancient Egyptian civilization were a blend of North African natives and Western Asian migrants, but the timeline of this integration is uncertain¡ªit''s thought to have occurred over a very long period." "The geographical position of this country is quite advantageous, with the Libyan Desert to the west, the Arabian Desert to the east, the Nubian Desert and Grand Waterfalls to the south, and the coast to the north. These natural features ensconced Ancient Egypt, protecting it from foreign attackers." "According to the traditional chronological record of dynasties, the history of Ancient Egypt encompasses 31 dynasties, in chronological order they are the Badari culture, Amratian culture¡ªalso known as Naqada I, then the Gerzean culture, also known as Naqada II, followed by the periods of the dynasties and the intermediary periods of turmoil." "During the Gerzean culture, which is about 3000 years ago, the earliest form of a state appeared in Ancient Egypt, known as a Nome, similar to the later provinces of Egypt, and during the same era, Egyptian script emerged." "In the Early Dynastic Period, Ancient Egypt, under the leadership of its rulers, established a state and unified the tribes of Ancient Egypt at the time." "In other words, a unified state of Ancient Egypt appeared in 3100 BC, which is the earliest recorded unified human civilization to date." [Wait, wasn''t the earliest unified dynasty the Qin Dynasty?] [That was the earliest unified dynasty of Huaxia, not the world''s] [I remember Egypt''s was about a thousand years earlier] [It was that impressive?] [But unity doesn''t mean cultural advancement; when it comes to civilization, our Huaxia is the real deal, the authentic ancient dynasties] [Indeed, Ancient Egypt and modern Egypt are completely different¡ªonly the name remains the same] "Among the ancient emperors who have left their mark in history, Ancient Egypt''s Menes is perhaps the earliest." "He holds a status akin to Qin Shi Huang, the founder of the First Dynasty of Ancient Egypt and the one who laid the foundations for the unification of the nation." The timeline of the First Dynasty spanned from 3200 BC to 2850 BC. The First Dynasty of Egypt was tightly situated along the narrow strip surrounding the Nile River, and the Ancient Egyptians achieved great agricultural success by managing and controlling the once-a-year flooding of the Nile. Over the 3,000-plus years of Ancient Egyptian civilization, they built massive Pyramids, temples, and obelisks, and established the most advanced medical system in the world at the time. "In the state of Ancient Egypt, the supreme ruler was known as the Pharaoh, who was seen as the son of the sun god and possessed ultimate power and status." "Below the Pharaoh was the Vizier, known in Arabic as the Vizier, as well as ministers. The Vizier and ministers were in charge of state affairs, but the Pharaoh had the final say in decisions." "The Pharaoh was also the supreme military commander of the state of Ancient Egypt, and could rule over all the local areas through local officials called Nomarchs." "Governorships could be hereditary, but they had to be approved by the Pharaoh." "As a symbol of this supreme authority, the Pharaoh held immense prestige in the state of Ancient Egypt, to the extent that later subjects could only kiss the soil beneath the Pharaoh''s feet, and it was a great honor for a noble if they were allowed to kiss the Pharaoh''s foot." [A Day of Studying History] "The Old Kingdom period of Ancient Egypt was peaceful and didn''t engage in aggression, as it had fertile lands; people were content with what they had. This era of peace and prosperity lasted nearly 1,000 years until it came to an end in 2181 BC, entering the First Intermediate Period." "The main reasons for this included egoism and social conflicts due to overburdening the population, as well as invasions by tribes from outside the desert, which led Ancient Egyptian civilization into a more war-torn Intermediate period." "Eventually, the Eleventh Dynasty rose, reuniting the state of Ancient Egypt and initiating the Middle Kingdom period." "However, the good times did not last long. With the end of the Twelfth Dynasty, the state of Ancient Egypt fell again into a situation of internal strife and external deceit, a period that is considered the Second Intermediate Period." "According to research, the main cause was the rebellion of the fallen nobility, resulting in a further weakening of the Pharaoh''s power." "Additionally, the invasions of West Asian nomadic tribes pressed Ancient Egypt hard, and it was even later ruled by the invading tribe of the Hyksos, also known as the Shepherd Kings." [Wow, the Intermediate Period means war and chaos, right?] "That''s one way to understand it." Bi Fang directly affirmed this statement. "There''s still a lot of history to come, including the New Kingdom period when the Egyptians took back their land." "The last Pharaoh of this period was Ramesses III. After him, the Pharaoh''s successors were often ineffectual." "In the 12th century BC, Ancient Egypt was greatly weakened, and surrounding barbarian tribes seized the opportunity to invade. Ultimately, during the invasions of the Libyans and Nubians, the Ancient Egyptian civilization kept declining." "By the 10th century BC, the Libyans had seized the Pharaoh''s throne, and by 670 BC, Ancient Egypt was conquered by the Assyrians." "However, the rule of the Assyrians lasted only eight years, and in 662 BC, Ancient Egypt was revitalized, and its culture rapidly developed." "In 525 BC, the Persian Empire invaded and occupied Ancient Egypt, and thereafter, the Ancient Egyptian civilization suffered a heavy blow and never recovered." S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Although around 332 BC, Egypt entered the Ptolemaic Dynasty period, and its culture reached a glamorous level, unfortunately, the Ancient Egyptian culture was heavily Hellenized at that time, and thus, the civilization of Ancient Egypt vanished in the course of history." Many in the audience felt a sense of regret upon hearing the story. It was as if they witnessed a brilliant ancient civilization being submerged in the torrents of history. "However, even though Ancient Egypt is no more, many traces of their civilization still remain." "As a symbol of their legacy, we simply cannot miss out on visiting the Pyramids." "However, even though Ancient Egypt is no more, many traces of their civilization still remain." "As a symbol of their legacy, we simply cannot miss out on visiting the Pyramids." Chapter 833 829: Ancient Path The Egypt with a history spanning thousands of years uses the Sahara Desert as a boundary line, situated in northern Africa, and is part of North Africa on the African continent. Geopolitically, it''s also considered the easternmost part of the "Middle East." In terms of both its area and population, Africa is the world''s second-largest continent, second only to Asia. Yet such a vast land has become a forgotten area in international geopolitics. When people discuss international situations, their focus is on Europe and America, the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and so on. Mention Africa, and the first impression is poverty, conflict, hunger, AIDS, Ebola... Throughout history, the majority of African countries have been colonial territories of European and American powers. After gaining independence in the 20th century, they fell into an endless cycle of poverty and conflict. To this day, Africa remains the most economically backward and conflict-ridden continent among the seven in the world. One reason Bi Fang didn''t get close to human cities was to avoid these disputes as much as possible, because once involved, even his immense powers would be of no use. However, insignificant as it may seem, Egypt was one of the early entities to enter into the advanced societal organization of a nation-state within human society. Egypt''s civilization appeared earlier than any other place in the world. By 4000 BC, this area had formed two independent kingdoms: Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt, while the legendary Yellow Emperor would not emerge for another millennium. In the midst of the desert, Bi Fang rode a camel on the ancient trade routes. This is a peculiar desert, though part of the Sahara, it is utterly different. Here, the desert is black in one place, white in another, clearly demarcated, with the Black Desert resembling the surface of Mars, and the White Desert pure as snow. It seems extraordinarily unique. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "How come this desert is colored like this?" "Both black and white, is that white part snow?" "What is this dividing line!" The audience in the live stream was astonished by the terrain that resembled an alien planet. "It''s pretty amazing, isn''t it? This is Egypt''s Black and White Desert, unlike any of the yellow deserts elsewhere in the world." Bi Fang jumped down from his camel, crouched on the ground, and picked up a handful of mixed black and white sand. He was precisely at the junction between the black and white sand, the two types mixing yet distinct at each grain. "The Black Desert on the left is located in an area of ancient submarine volcanoes; hence, it''s covered in a layer of black volcanic material, creating a black and yellow landscape." "The black material, from volcanic eruptions, ranges from coarse like rock to fine like sand, forming what we now call the Black Desert." "As for the White Desert, do you see those huge stones over there?" Bi Fang pointed to white rocks not too far away. Scattered throughout the desert, the various white rocks had very peculiar shapes. They could make one think of numerous animal figures, as if one had arrived at a massive sculpture exhibition. "Here, you can see chalky rocks that have been sculpted into strange shapes by millions of years of erosion. Some resemble camels, others mighty lions." "That''s the origin of the White Desert, a kind of metamorphic rock." "Over hundreds of years, with repeated ferocious Sahara Desert storms sweeping through, the sand grains from nearby dunes eroded these ''chalk-colored'' boulders year after year. As a result, this place ended up littered with piles of white rocks and black stones." "These ubiquitous ''white stones'' are not really rocks, but a kind of metamorphic rock formed by the continuous accumulation of marine organism remains from tens of thousands of years ago." "The vast, silent desert that lies beneath our feet was actually an ocean in prehistoric times before being covered by forests." "Until around 6000 to 8000 years ago, this wide depression west of the Nile River became a great grassland where ancient people could roam freely. Now, however, it has become one of the driest regions on Earth." The white fine sand stretches to the horizon, endless to the eye. "For Egyptians in any era, the desert has always been a hostile presence." "In the minds of ancient Egyptians, deep within the Sahara, all manner of evil spirits have always existed, stirring up sandstorms and committing all sorts of wicked deeds." "The situation is much the same today; without substantial payment, Egyptian guides and tour guides will never voluntarily take tourists into the great desert of the west for an adventure." "Don''t think that the traditionally nomadic Bedouins, normally fearless and bold, don''t exercise caution in the desert. Once they enter, they''re as careful as a new driver just getting their license." "Locals, in fact, also harbor an inexplicable fear of straying too far from the roads." [When I come here, I''m scared too] [With such a vast desert, not a single person in sight, anyone would panic] [I feel the same, even if I''m confident about the direction, walking in such a place still makes me nervous, afraid] [Has Master Fang never been afraid?] "I was once," Bi Fang admitted without evasion. Implying that he was not afraid anymore. "Humans, as social animals, have a natural fear of straying from the group, but many things become less frightening with repetition, and the more skills you possess, the more confident you become." "Just like someone just said, in the vastness of the desert, even if you are an expert at identifying direction and are absolutely certain of your direction, after walking for an hour, two hours, or even a day, two days, and seeing no change in your surroundings, even the most steadfast will slowly start to doubt themselves." "But when you''re not just an expert at identifying direction but also an expert at finding water sources, at hunting, at survival, then the panic will greatly diminish." "With sufficient capability, plus plenty of experience, gradually you won''t feel anxious anymore." [I get it, it''s about becoming a ''god'', right?] [Is Old Fang boasting about himself?] [Getting more shameless, I like it] "That''s the truth, alright," Bi Fang said, scratching his head, two months "The desert regions bordering Egypt, Chad, and Libya have five oasis areas suitable for human habitation: Bahariya Oasis, Farafra Oasis, Dakhla Oasis, Kharga Oasis, and Siwa Oasis." "Our route this time is to pass by the furthest west, Siwa Oasis, then move from north to south through the other four oasis regions to ensure ample supplies." The mission was just to cross the Sahara, and it did not specify a specific route, so naturally, Bi Fang chose the most prudent approach. Furthermore, an oasis is a treasure in the desert, and he always wanted to take a look. "Whether in ancient or modern times, this region connected by intermittent oases has always been the key lifeline for human survival in desert areas." "Nowadays, from south to north throughout the entire Egyptian territory, the Nile River flows through the entire desert region into the Mediterranean Sea. If people wish, they can take a boat and travel all the way to Cairo along the Nile." "Thousands of years ago, the Nile River wasn''t the only route connecting Upper and Lower Egypt; hundreds of kilometers west of the Nile, there was an ancient desert path running parallel to the great river." "On this ancient path, goods such as ivory, ebony, frankincense, rhino horn, leopard skins, and even giraffe tails from Sudan and Chad were continuously transported to the Mediterranean coast, and from there, they were exported to various European countries." "This desert trade route is the very one beneath our feet, which, it is said, would take about 40 days to travel by foot." The camera moved below Bi Fang, but, unfortunately, perhaps due to the passage of too much time, there were no recognizable traces of the road. Only from high above, with a drone, could you vaguely discern some outlines, but they were not clear. This road had been abandoned for over a century, and the fact that any trace of it could still be seen was remarkable. "In the 19th century, there were still large caravans that frequently used this ancient path to transport goods." "A scholar from Central Country, Wilkinson, encountered a caravan in January 1825 here that was transporting 600 African slaves. It is said that this caravan could complete the approximately 900 kilometers of the ancient desert trade route in 35 days." "It sounds slow, only thirty kilometers a day, but remember, this was a caravan, not a lone wanderer like me; their pace would definitely be slower." "French naturalist Fr¨¦d¨¦ric Cailliaud also mentioned in his writings that in 1817, there was a caravan of 16,000 people on this desert route, more than 6,000 of whom were slaves." "That size is not just a caravan; it''s practically a veritable army." "Back then, if people had to risk traveling this trade route through the vast desert, they would typically write their wills in advance and entrust their souls to Allah." [I don''t know this Allah, but I know about pearls] [Pony Pearl, right?] [How dare you! Is that something you can comment on!?] [Allah, as described in the Quran, is the name of the highest and sole reality in the universe, the one who is worthy of worship.] [He is the only ruler worshipped by Muslims worldwide, considered the creator of all things in the universe and the nurturer of the whole world. He sent many prophets to convey the truth to humans and will execute fair judgment in the afterlife, his status similar to that of God.] [Quickly, say thank you to Karl with me.] In the Agabat Valley, not far from the White and Black Desert, Bi Fang halted Alpha and found a large formation of crystalline stones in the process of formation. This was Crystal Mountain. Egypt is a world-renowned producer of crystals, and Crystal Mountain is one of those sites where vast natural crystals are exposed to the air, sparkling under the sunlight. Bi Fang picked up several nicely colored crystals from the ground and stuffed them into his backpack, also as ornaments. He also saw underground caverns where crystals grew like moss in the darkness, sprouting and forming in the rock layers, clean and shiny, alongside massive crystal columns, exposed on the surface like red corals in the sea. Leaving Crystal Mountain, Bi Fang rode on for several days before coming to the first oasis. It wasn''t large, its waters just a small pond, but the surrounding vegetation was plentiful. Even with just a little water, life was tenaciously blooming here. Even more pleasantly, Bi Fang discovered several cacti here! Such invasions of species have become commonplace in today''s globalized world. "You may have all heard this, that when walking in the desert, you can eat cactus flesh to quench your thirst." "Many cacti are indeed edible, but not all of them. There are over a thousand species of cacti, some of which are poisonous." "With so many species, most of which look very similar, even I can''t recognize them all. We need to be careful, so some tests for edibility are needed." There are mainly two ways to obtain food in the wild for survival. One is by hunting wild animals, and the other is by gathering wild plants. To hunt wild animals, one must first understand the habitat of the animal, master its living patterns, and then employ methods such as trapping, snaring, using animal clamps, and shooting to hunt it down. This required prolonged training and practice under expert guidance to truly master. By comparison, plant gathering is much simpler. Although simple, correctly gathering becomes much more difficult, which also requires a certain amount of training under expert guidance to acquire this knowledge. "I''ll introduce the simplest method for identifying whether wild plants are poisonous or non-poisonous, for use in emergency situations." "Usually, you make a small cut in the plant you have collected, add a pinch of salt, and then observe whether the original color changes; plants that change color generally should not be consumed." Bi Fang sliced a piece of cactus flesh and sprinkled a thin layer of salt on it. Salt is actually quite easy to obtain in the Sahara; most oases are brine lakes. In addition, there are many minerals that crystallize salt, which cannot be eaten directly but can be processed slightly. "Of course, this is for the most, most, most urgent moments, when if you do not eat, you are going to die. Then you can use the method I just mentioned to identify it. If not, then follow the steps I do to conduct a test." There are six steps to the test: one, sight; two, smell; three, contact; four, smear; five, chew; six, taste. "If it changes color, has a tough texture, or is brightly colored, please look elsewhere for your dinner." "Smell it. Does it give off a putrid or almond-like or pear-like odor? These are nature''s warning signs, for they indicate the presence of hydrogen cyanide. Avoid anything with these smells, of course, unless it''s an almond or pear." "The cactus in front of us looks very normal and has passed the first two tests." "Next, conduct a skin contact test. Crush the part of the plant you want to eat and rub its juices on a sensitive part of your skin: the palm, wrist, inside elbow, or armpit." "Leave it for a few hours to see if your body has any reactions." Bi Fang cut off a piece of cactus and smeared the cut part on his arm to wait for a reaction. "If your skin turns red and swollen, think about what the plant could do to your insides." "Testing is a lengthy process, but we have plenty of time. Alpha has lost a lot of condition, so I will stay here for a day and set off again tomorrow." In the evening, Bi Fang, having no abnormal reactions, began to apply the cactus on his lips, again without any stinging or swelling. "In case of any emergency, first rinse your mouth with clear water." Then Bi Fang cut off a piece the size of a thumb and chewed it, then spat it out. No adverse reactions. Lastly, he had a small taste. "Wait four to six hours to see what happens." "Do not drink any water in the meantime, as this could dilute the plant''s toxic effects and give you a false negative reaction." "Of course, do not eat any other food during this period." "If it is a team, have one person perform this task and let the others observe to ensure safety." "The whole process takes more than half a day, which is why there is a need for the salt-sprinkling method I just mentioned." "In a state of extreme hunger, it is impossible to spend hours to ensure safety." Only when the moon rose did Bi Fang confirm that the cactus in front of him was edible. He cut off a large piece for his evening meal and no longer stopped Alpha from approaching the cactus. Chapter 834 830: Spire Architecture Moonlight was resplendent. Compared to yesterday, tonight''s moon was larger, rounder, and situated above the wilderness, presenting no issues in visibility. "Is it the middle of the month?" Bi Fang, with ostrich feathers draped over his shoulders, looked up at the full moon and calculated the time. Full moons occurred on the 15th or 16th of each lunar month, so by using this knowledge, calculating the solar calendar date was easy; cross-referencing with his memory would yield the precise time. Dozens of days and nights had passed, crossing grasslands and canyons, but he inevitably returned to the desert. At first glance, the environment around seemed almost unchanged, and sometimes even Bi Fang himself found it difficult to be sure of the current date. "We set out on June the third, with seventy-seven days left; now it''s August the third, and we have sixteen days left, half a month''s time." "That''s more than enough." Based on the current pace, it would take less than ten days to reach the western bank of the Nile River, to finally see the long-awaited Pyramids, marking the end of this entire journey. [It''s going to end!] [Speaking of which, this must be the longest live-stream Master Fang has ever done, right? It''s been over three months now; it''s truly a live-stream miracle.] [Finale confetti!] Over a hundred days of uninterrupted live-streaming. From the South Pacific to the Northern Sahara, covering nearly the entire Earth, across several time zones, the content and scope were unparalleled in the history of live-streaming. Bi Fang''s cover poster had hung on the Wolf Fang homepage for several months too, half blue ocean and half yellow sand¡ªprogressing from sailing in a small boat to riding on camels, now nearing the utmost right edge of the half-buried yellow sand. [When''s the next live-stream?] [Old Fang seems to breeze through the wilderness more easily now.] [He''s like a Wilderness Survival god!] [We want to see rivers of blood!] "There won''t be rivers of blood; we are civilized in our live-streaming." Bi Fang used a knife to cut a piece off a cactus plant, peeled off the skin, and without cooking, directly chewed it in his mouth. The strong fragrance of the plant burst into his mouth with a hint of bitterness. The abundance of juices made it not at all unpalatable; instead, it gave the strange impression of eating an oddly flavored cucumber. This was the advantage of succulent plants. Even if the taste wasn''t great, the thick texture provided a great deal of satisfaction, especially in the context of Wilderness Survival. With his superior Hunting skills, Bi Fang wouldn''t reach the point of dizziness from hunger; however, he could not claim to have abundant supplies enough to be satiated with every meal. Sometimes, he would go hungry for a few meals. When it came to food that was filling in large quantities, Bi Fang naturally had a "taste compensation" mechanism, meaning that while others might not find it particularly pleasing, to him, the subject in question, it was a rare delicacy. "When eating cacti, it''s best to choose the tender parts, bright green in color. These cacti have fewer spines and are more convenient to clean, and they also taste very fresh." "Tender parts aged 15 to 35 days are most suitable; a cactus about the size of a palm is enough." "Not only do cacti taste good, but they''re also highly nutritious. Eating a piece of cactus daily can eliminate excess cholesterol and fats from our bodies, acting to invigorate blood circulation, cool down heat, and detoxify, promoting our bodies'' metabolism. In other words, it can aid in weight loss." [Weight loss? If you''re going to talk about that, then I''m not sleepy anymore.] "I''ve decided, starting from now, I''ll eat a cactus every day." "Losing weight is truly fucking hard." "Old Fang has even slimmed down after all this time. People, attach my twenty pounds of fat onto Master Fang! Beef him up a bit." "Twenty pounds? Are you kidding? If the guy next door saw this, he''d think I can''t afford to eat, can''t afford fat. What''s with the ''everyone''s the same''? This little bit, who''s it supposed to nourish, huh? Bring another twenty pounds. Twenty pounds each, take it, take the scales too, you dumbasses." "America, deduct ten points!" The succulent, as big as a palm, had its tough skin peeled away, revealing the crispy and plump flesh layer¡ªshimmering like spring water with a hint of coolness. Bi Fang took a bite, his mouth filled with frost. "Ss, that''s kind of cold." S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After swallowing the leaves, Bi Fang shivered, his ostrich feathers lightly fluttering on his shoulders. If it had been daytime, eating cacti would naturally feel cool and quenching, but now it was midnight, and the temperature had dropped below zero. "I almost forgot, in the desert, finding a cactus is certainly joyous, for it can serve both as food and a source of water. However, it belongs to the category of ''cold-natured'' food. Most people can consume it, but those with a weak spleen and stomach should eat less. Also, even if you can eat it, you should only consume a moderate amount, as overdoing it can easily lead to diarrhea." "Diarrhea is no big deal usually, just a few extra trips to the bathroom, drink some hot water, pop some pills, but in wilderness survival, it can be deadly. You might dehydrate and lose a lot of body heat; in serious cases, you might freeze to death overnight." Bi Fang was confident in his physique, so he ate three or four slices before stopping. Alpha, on the other hand, chomped down with big bites. It had been coveting the succulent since noon, but unfortunately, due to the testing Bi Fang was conducting, it had not been allowed to eat. The audience was amazed to see Alpha also eating cacti, unconcerned with the spines. "Speaking of which, if they eat poisonous plants, do animals also get poisoned?" "Ruthless Ironmouth." "Seems like I''ve never seen an animal get poisoned, though." "Camels aren''t afraid of cactus spines. The sides of their huge mouths are covered with saw-like flesh spikes, which help cut and grind the cactus spines. Chewing on cacti with these spikes feels like a massage, and there''s no way the cactus could hurt or harm the camel." "Moreover, the nerves in their mouths aren''t very sensitive, so they don''t feel much, and their otherwise soft tongue flattens out when swallowing the cactus." "For them, eating cacti is no different from humans eating apples, not only is it not difficult, but it''s actually enjoyable." As Alpha tore at the cactus, Bi Fang stepped forward and with one slice cut off the connecting part, making it easier for Alpha to eat. "As for poisonous plants, both animals and humans react the same way when they ingest them¡ªthere''s no difference." "The reason we rarely see animals dying from poisonous plants is due to their instinctive caution." "Wild animals have strong survival skills; they are not greenhouse flowers, sheltered from the world. They are wary of plants that aren''t in their diet and won''t eat unfamiliar ones." "This is similar to what I said about finding water sources; not all animals can find water by themselves. They don''t die of thirst because they live within a fixed range where they know, from generation to generation, where the water is, and it''s the same with their food sources." "It''s just that many plants in nature look similar, and some animals can still mistakenly consume the wrong ones, and they''ll react just the same." "There was an experiment once that involved throwing a piece of fruit on the ground to observe the reaction of a troop of monkeys." "The fruit wasn''t the type that would normally grow locally, and the monkey, upon seeing it, grew curious but dared not touch it¡ªuntil one monkey couldn''t resist and took a bite, only to decisively toss the apple away and flee." "After a while when nothing happened, it came back, this time taking two bites before leaving it again. This is the monkey''s method to avoid poisoning itself, and many other animals do the same." "Some animals can eat small amounts of these poisonous mushrooms and be fine, like certain special squirrels, because they''ve evolved methods to cope with the mushrooms'' toxins." [Hahaha, isn''t that similar to Master Fang?] [Got it, Master Fang = Monkey] [Not the same, Master Fang is much craftier than a monkey, he has a six-step test, while the monkey only has two] [Is this human evolution? Love it!] After eating and restoring his strength, Bi Fang exercised on the spot, warmed up, and then began constructing his shelter for the night. The journey of becoming a Wilderness Survivalist is long and arduous, requiring many preparations, among which building a shelter is of the utmost importance. Bi Fang never was careless; a good night''s sleep was just too important. A shelter was not only a place for resting and relieving fatigue at night but also a harbor for adjusting one''s mindset and relaxing the tension. In the wilderness, having a shelter versus not having one is a completely different situation. Owning a comfortable and safe shelter could greatly alleviate the tension, better utilizing wisdom and capability to overcome difficulties. Conversely, without a shelter, optimism is unwarranted; exhausted during the day, anxious and restless at night. Therefore, constructing a good shelter could fully be considered essential to surviving in the wilderness. First, he checked the surrounding environment. Bi Fang didn''t choose to build in the Oasis; there were too many bugs there. "Places close to water have too many mosquitoes and various small insects, especially at night when you''ll feel like you''re inhaling a massive amount of insects with every breath." "Wild mosquitoes are much more potent than you might think, and if you''re in the rainforest, it''s even more dangerous¡ªa real risk of malaria. As for scorpions and such, I won''t even start; we''ve had our share of them along the way." "Today we dig a pit, but now there are more plants nearby that we can use to simply construct a shelter roof." "Simple is success." "Never delude yourself with thoughts of building a perfect shelter like the ones described in books, which are practical, aesthetically pleasing, and effortless¡ªbecause that''s a fantasy." "Think about it, when you''re alone in the wilderness, from finding a suitable campsite to starting a fire could already take several hours. It gets dark early in the forest, and by then, you''ve already used up nearly half of your energy, so how can you think about aesthetics? At that time, your only option is simpler the better." "To put it bluntly, you''d be better off with a ready-made doghouse, because it would save you a lot of time. The energy you preserve could protect your safety and allow you to find food, etc." [I don''t believe it] [I have reason to doubt that Master Fang has forgotten about the wooden huts he used to build] [Do you hear yourself?] "That was a survival task, which is different from my current journey," Bi Fang picked up some dry branches and smiled, "Besides, I''ve already said, if you truly find yourselves stranded in the wilderness, don''t think to copy me completely." "You can learn the mindset of survival, as well as simple skills." "Such as how to identify directions, find food, and build traps; these are all learnable. But skills like hunting with a spear or bow and arrow need a certain level of practice before you can easily master them." "Likewise, I''ve built wooden huts and dug simple holes; the former is an advanced technique, while the latter is something everyone can learn." "Follow the established patterns if you can, avoid capriciousness in the wilderness, and to toot my own horn a bit, I can now be considered a true Survivalist, all my recommendations come from my own experience." "Following my methods will maximally conserve your energy and mental power, saving vitality for your future actions." "Avoid blind confidence and random creations. Many people think they would be heroes in a crisis, but reality is often more embarrassing than you''d expect." "Chasing after fanciful ideas not only wastes strength, but the gravest consequence could be injuring yourself. Out there alone, with uncertain food and water, once you''re injured, both your body and spirit could collapse in succession, and that''s when tragedy might strike." [Master Fang: Those who learn from me live, those who mimic me perish] [In a word, you''re all rubbish, don''t bother with flashy stuff¡ªdig a pit if you need to dig a pit, and stay safe when you must] [The harsh truth] [I am the tragedy that would happen, sob sob sob sob] With a stone shovel, Bi Fang quickly dug a pit, laid down branches, and then dug a small fire pit beside it, igniting a bonfire with the embers left from yesterday. Stream ended. Feeling the warmth of the flame, Bi Fang soon fell asleep in the darkness. The next day, as soon as Bi Fang awoke, he saw Alpha still feeding. He didn''t know whether it had slept last night or had eaten all day. For the ten days before reaching today''s Oasis, Alpha hadn''t had any effective replenishment, causing its hump to shrivel day by day. Riding on top, Bi Fang even felt uncomfortable. This behemoth, weighing over half a ton, had truly suffered plenty following him around. Sometimes, Bi Fang felt somewhat embarrassed. But it was unavoidable. He himself was full, being frugal, needing only a pound a day. For Alpha, however, it might reach thirty kilograms! An absolute black hole for food, no amount of supplies seemed enough to fill it. Fortunately, their time at this Oasis was almost over. In the following days, Bi Fang quickened his pace, traveling the ancient trade route quickly, almost reaching a new Oasis every two days. Each time they passed through an Oasis, Alpha had the chance to replenish for half a day, which ultimately puffed its hump back up. The relationship between Alpha and Bi Fang also grew increasingly affectionate. Animals are much simpler than humans; just feed them well, and you''ll earn their friendship. Thanks to ample supplies, even allocating half a day for replenishment didn''t slow Bi Fang down¡ªon the contrary, he was moving faster. Every time he led Alpha away, the camel didn''t resist. It was actually quite eager. It couldn''t wait to try some fresh plants at the next Oasis. It even became choosy, only eating tender leaves. Finally, on the ninth day, from atop a rise, Bi Fang saw a sharply angled structure. Chapter 835 831 Ancient Tomb Under the setting sun, the earth shimmered with golden brilliance. The long-standing wind and sand erosion had long stripped the Pyramids of their former glittering glory, casting a faint matt hue as if transporting people through thousands of years. "Pyramids!" "It''s the Pyramids!" "Wu Hu, Wu Hu, have we arrived?" "Yes, the Pyramids." From afar, the pyramid appeared nothing like majestic; its exterior was battered and worn, with an uneven surface. Its overall structure resembled stairs and had only two tiers, bearing no resemblance to the towering edifice that people imagined. "Humans fear time, yet time fears the Pyramids," this saying is an ancient Egyptian proverb, which undoubtedly embodies people''s hopes and longings... Bi Fang slowed down Alpha''s pace, his tone tinged with inexplicable emotion. "Nevertheless, after thousands of years, time has still left indelible marks on it." "Did you know the earliest pyramids were actually white in color?" "Eh? White? Really?" "Isn''t it supposed to be golden?" "Here comes the barrage of bizarre knowledge to attack the brain." "People have found remnants of white limestone on the top of the Giza Pyramid, and scattered around the Giza Pyramid are fragments of white limestone, leading scholars to speculate¡ªthe earliest pyramids were covered with a layer of white limestone, and the entire building appeared brilliantly white." "Following this hypothesis, it caused a sensation worldwide." "Further examination revealed that when the ancient Egyptians quarried stone, they would categorize it." "Limestone, sandstone, alabaster, and granite are of different hardnesses and are mined differently; workers would use distinct tools and carefully select the hardest limestone, cutting it into squares, with sandstone cut into large rectangular blocks." "It''s certain that the Giza Pyramid is located on a rocky area, right above a limestone quarry." "After completing the foundation construction, people began to transport limestone to cover the Pyramids with a white outer wall, which came from the Tura quarry, upstream on the Nile River." "Once all steps were completed, the towering pyramid would sparkle in white glow, radiating brilliance in the sunlight, becoming the most eye-catching building within miles." "Could there be anything more beautiful than this?" "Wow, that must have been platinum colored, right?" "Definitely like diamonds." The audience was entranced by Bi Fang''s description for a moment. "Unfortunately, in the fourteenth century, Sultan Badr al-Din Hasan of the Bahri Dynasty wanted to build a temple and fortress. Needing more stone and unwilling to waste the significant manpower to quarry anew, he set his sights on the layer of limestone covering the Egyptian pyramids, stealing away many of the white stones." "Furthermore, as time flowed, the limestone on the Pyramids eroded through the years." "After surviving tremors on the earth''s surface, the outer layer of limestone on the Pyramids finally collapsed, falling in large pieces around the area, worn down by wind and rain into the rubble we see today, leaving no trace of its original state." "Today, over eighty pyramids have been discovered in Egypt and not all of them are as spectacular as the Khufu Pyramid. The majority of them in their decaying state represents the true depiction of most pyramids¡ªbesides, even the Khufu Pyramid no longer bears its former gleaming white appearance." "What a pity." "Just like the Old Summer Palace." "There''s always something." Even if the structure before them was in ruins, it was still one of the world''s wonders, the Pyramids, signaling that this journey was nearing its end. Brimming with excitement, Bi Fang did not spur his horse to quicken the pace, letting Alpha continue at the same speed. On this journey through the Sahara, he had experienced no less than three sandstorms, and at night, he had to deal with scorpions crawling over him while he slept. As he traveled, he also had to be wary of the ever-present quicksand and venomous snakes. During the day, temperatures could soar past 45 degrees Celsius, and at night they could plummet to sub-zero conditions, a bipolar experience of fiery heat and icy cold tormenting him with hunger and thirst and never-ending states of distress. Yet now that the hope of victory was in sight, he didn''t want it to end so quickly. Bi Fang reined in Alpha and dismounted, starting to walk toward the direction of the Pyramids. Egypt is a holy land for tourists, especially for its Pyramids, but among the more than eighty Pyramids, not all of them are majestic and beautiful. They are scattered throughout the wilderness, many of them ignored and uncared for. The one before Bi Fang was the same. No tourists were nearby, it stood alone in the wilderness. The sun slowly set behind Bi Fang, gilding him with a golden edge. "Uh, wait, this seems to be a patch of quicksand." Bi Fang suddenly stopped in his tracks, looking down at his feet that were halfway sunk in, somewhat annoyed. The quicksand hidden within the desert environment was utterly unpredictable; once you started walking, you had to be prepared to be swallowed up, but for a survival expert like Bi Fang, such quicksand was mere child''s play. Bi Fang unlatched the reins, allowing Alpha to back away a couple of steps, distancing himself from the quicksand. Then, after tossing out his backpack, and positioning the tree stick behind him for support, Bi Fang began to slowly lean back, inching his way, trying to rise from the quicksand. "If you find it necessary, you can also take off your shoes, the shoes can create massive resistance when you try to pull your feet out, especially if the soles are flat and hard." "Wait, something''s not right..." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lying on top of the quicksand and preparing to wriggle his shoulder muscles, Bi Fang paused, feeling something unexpected under his feet. Underneath was not the soft grit, but something very hard. Just as Bi Fang was puzzled, a voice that he had not heard in a long time echoed in his mind. [Scanning, side quest triggered: The Lost Tomb, would you like to accept?] ''Accept!'' Bi Fang felt a surge of joy. A side quest! How long had it been since that word appeared? So long that Bi Fang''s memory had begun to blur, wondering if side quests truly existed. Almost two years had passed since he''d undertaken a countable number of side quests, and he never imagined that another would suddenly emerge. Naturally, he didn''t hesitate to choose to accept it. Looking at the name of the quest, it seemed he had stumbled upon something quite extraordinary by dumb luck... To discover ancient ruins near the Pyramids! Bi Fang remained stationary in the quicksand, with the live streaming audience still dwelling on his recent words. [What''s wrong?] [What''s up, did the quicksand sting your butt?] "No, the quicksand doesn''t sting my butt, I feel like there''s something under my feet." With the system''s prompt, Bi Fang wasn''t in a rush to extricate himself from the quicksand. Surrounding him was a wasteland, and apart from the distant Pyramid, there were no other ruins to be seen. Considering the unusual sensation beneath his feet, it was clear where the so-called ruins were. That was to be expected, if the ruins were truly above ground, it wouldn''t be Bi Fang''s turn to discover them. Bi Fang began to rise from the quicksand once more, slipping down gradually, the hard sensation beneath his feet becoming increasingly evident. Feeling carefully with his feet, it felt like a huge rock, yet it wasn''t that hard. When Bi Fang put all his weight on it and deliberately shook to accelerate his sinking, the huge rock under his feet also sank with him. The viewers'' curiosity was piqued, and they began asking what it was. [What''s that?] [Could it be a treasure trove he''s stepped on?] [Is it Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves or something?] "It''s probably a rock, very flat, but not stable. Just wait, I''ll come out first." Bi Fang stopped moving. The quicksand had already sunk to his chest, nearly engulfing him completely. Just as Bi Fang spread his hands to prepare to "swim" out slowly, the rock that had been under his feet suddenly disappeared, leaving an empty space beneath him. Immediately after, the quicksand around him, which had been still, began to flow slowly, then faster and faster, almost forming a vortex. Bi Fang, who had just half emerged, was pulled by the strong suction force of the vortex, unable to extricate himself and sinking deeper and deeper. Soon he was buried up to his chest again, and it was even more severe than before. Seeing that the sand was about to bury Bi Fang''s neck, the viewers in the live stream were completely gripped with anxiety. [Damn, damn, a stumble at the start gate!] [What''s happening to Old Fang, why is he in trouble?] [Why is the sand moving so fast?] [Is this even quicksand anymore? Are you doubting my knowledge, huh!?] Bi Fang''s heart thumped wildly, feeling the pressure around him grow and grow, crushing him so he could hardly breathe. His hands frantically grabbed at anything, but aside from the sliding sand, there was nothing to hold onto. Realizing that the situation was dire, Bi Fang quickly withdrew his right hand to try to undo the rope tied around his waist. From his chest to his neck, then to his chin, until at last only his eyes were left, and just as he was about to be completely engulfed, a large hand once again broke through the quicksand, flinging a section of the rope out. Bi Fang''s muscles tensed as one, straining together like a flying fish leaping out of the water, revealing half of his face as he yelled. "Alpha!" "Bite!" "The rope!" Alpha, who had been anxiously hopping back and forth on the shore, received the command. He saw the end of the rope on the ground, paused for a moment but quickly reacted before the rope could slide away, biting into it and then began to back away. The rope went taut, but with the help of Alpha, the beast of stabilizing forces, it started to move out of the sea of sand bit by bit. A reversal of the earlier situation during dinner occurred. Palm, arm, and finally the head, neck, and chest emerged akin to a scene of time flowing backward. Bi Fang''s forearms were as hard as rock, clinging tightly to the rope, and his slight wiggling significantly reduced the pressure around him. The remaining quicksand flowed into the depths of the earth like water, even affecting the sandy ground Alpha was standing on, scaring it into quickly backing away. Bi Fang was dragged outward, surrounded by the irritating pale-yellow dust, which from afar looked like a thin fog rising from the ground. The entire land roared like a ceaseless polishing machine, vibrating the internal sands non-stop. Not until all the dust had settled did Bi Fang lay on the ground, coughing violently and nearly retching. Tiny grains of sand floated everywhere, and he didn''t know how much he had breathed into his lungs. "It''s a good thing I trained Alpha beforehand, haha." Bi Fang, finally catching a breath, couldn''t help but laugh loudly. Humans have mishaps, as do horses have missteps. Quicksand is the most ingenious trap designed by nature. There''s an abundance of quicksand in the Sahara, dense and varied in kind, dry quicksand, wet quicksand, and more. Bi Fang had already pondered the possibility of getting trapped in a perilous situation and being unable to extricate himself, so he had trained Alpha in advance to bite and drag the rope. [Awesome!] [It''s got to be my Brother Fang!!] [Give Master Fang some attention!!] [Bearded baby bottle gives the host Spaceship*1] [Pig heart and shrimp send out a live broadcast yacht*1¡ªI''m following now!] [What''s that on the ground, is there a hole over there?] When the drifting yellow fog finally dissipated, Bi Fang cautiously approached the spot where he''d previously encountered quicksand and discovered a small hole with a diameter of less than half a meter. The hole was pitch black; you couldn''t see what was inside at all. But it was shining conspicuously on the ground, and no one could resist the urge to go in and have a look. [Holy shit, what is this thing?] [Is it a relic or a cave?] [Old Fang, you are so damn lucky, you find this kind of thing just like that, you should stop being an explorer and become a treasure hunter!] [Go in and take a look, quick, quick, quick!] The audience in the live broadcast had completely forgotten the dangerous scene just a moment ago, and all were coaxing Bi Fang to go in and have a look. "Don''t rush," Compared to the audience, Bi Fang, the professional explorer, became calm when he saw the hole on the ground. Or rather, it was Bi Fang''s professional demeanor that suppressed the impulse to go in right away. "These unfamiliar caverns, long buried underground, are very likely to contain some toxic gases as well as some flammable and explosive gases; one absolutely must not enter rashly." "I don''t know if you''ve heard of the curse of the Egyptian Pharaohs." "This claim was discovered in 1922 when Howard Carter found the tomb of Tutankhamun in Egypt." "The owner of that ancient Egyptian tomb was Tutankhamun. The inscription of the curse roughly means that whoever enters the Pharaoh''s tomb, the angel of death will come to that person." Hearing what Bi Fang said, many viewers immediately had an image in mind. After all, they had seen plenty of similar plots in movies. Many viewers got goosebumps, looking at that dark cave as if death would come the next second. Then Bi Fang changed the topic: "Of course, this curse is false, completely exaggerated by the media. The pace was suddenly increased, and later it was proven that the curse of the Egyptian Pharaohs doesn''t exist. Today, the tombs of the Egyptian Pharaohs are housed in the Egyptian National Museum." Howard Carter became famous overnight after discovering the tomb of Tutankhamun, with his backer being Lord Carnarvon. It took them 15 years to find this tomb, but Lord Carnarvon died the year after they discovered it, leading to rumors of the curse of the Egyptian Pharaohs, which grew more malevolent with each telling. Later, more and more deaths were associated with the curse of the Pharaohs, even to the point of rumors that Howard Carter had died, until Carter came out to refute the rumors, saying he was still alive and that the Pharaoh''s curse did not exist. Carter eventually lived to be 64 years old, making the rumor backfire. "Regarding the curse of the Egyptian Pharaoh, why so many people who came into contact with the Pharaoh''s tomb died young, the correct conjecture is that it has nothing to do with the Pharaoh''s curse, but it is related to the tomb." "Biological decay and deterioration in the Pharaoh''s tomb could produce pathogenic bacteria or some toxic gases." "People at the time didn''t have good preventive awareness and rushed into the relics as soon as they were discovered, so many who entered the tomb were easily infected and even died." "So, we still need to do some preparation before going in." Chapter 836 832: The Underground Mastaba The sun had set, but the world had not plunged into complete darkness. By the campfire, Bi Fang was shaving a tree stick, meticulously peeling away the layers of wood shavings, before pouring them into a cylindrical bark container. After compacting the layer of shavings, Bi Fang picked out several pieces of intact charcoal from the fire, and after they cooled, he crushed and poured them in. After multiple layers and iterations, a simple disinfectant mask was completed. The fat from the ostrich meat was rendered into grease, and Bi Fang tightly bound a piece of hemp rope around half a stick, then soaked it in the grease until the rope had absorbed enough oil, after which he inserted it into the campfire. The fire snake wound its way up, and in no time, the head of a torch was made, its flames brightening the surroundings. Bi Fang extinguished the campfire with water and approached the pitch-black cavern entrance. The light from the fire illuminated the entrance, but it made the cavern itself appear even more ominous, like a black hole that might devour anyone, inadvertently instilling fear. Bi Fang, wearing the poison mask, still did not rush in; first, he placed the torch at the entrance and waited for about a quarter of an hour, allowing it to burn deeper and deeper until the entire torch was inserted into the cave. "If it can burn, it means there''s oxygen inside, and if it doesn''t ignite violently, it means there are no flammable gases; it''s safe to take the torch inside," Bi Fang briefly explained. [Another small detail] [So detailed, incredibly detailed] [I suspect you''re cursing, and I have ample evidence (Dog''s head)] After making ample preparations, Bi Fang looked at the cave illuminated by the torch, crouched down, and inched his way in. The cave itself was not large, its diameter on the surface was even less than half a meter, making it quite difficult to enter without crouching. The orange glow lit up the passage, which was filled with thick gravel, remnants that had backfilled in. [A bit scared] [I watch too many horror movies; it feels like something''s going to jump out any moment] [The best part would be if a rattlesnake popped out right now] [Master Fang: Thank you very much] In the depths of the cavern, Bi Fang felt the incline of the passage, marking it every three meters. "The slope is about thirty degrees; we can mark our progress in meters and then calculate the depth," he said. "Now, we''ve descended about five meters, indicating that this relic is much larger than we imagined, and it''s very likely not some undiscovered pyramid." Bi Fang whispered, feeling quite hot and stuffy here, and the poison mask made his breathing labored, which left him somewhat breathless. The passage walls began to change too, no longer just gravel, but mixed with many pieces of Flint Stone, and even some large intact boulders. The size of the passage was changing as well; Bi Fang had gone from crawling on his stomach to being able to squat and explore, though squating was too tiring, so he chose to continue crawling. [Why couldn''t it be a pyramid?] [This drone signal is really good] [High-quality explorer nb] "Because all Pyramids have a set shape, the length of the square base of the Pyramid multiplied by two, then divided by the height of the Pyramid, is approximately equal to 3.14, which is ¦Ð, all in proportional relation." "From the size and depth we''ve discovered so far, if this really is a Pyramid, then the height of this relic must exceed ten meters, but since entering through the passageway, the total descent was less than five meters." "This means that this ''Pyramid'' has had more than half of it removed, a probability that is extremely, extremely slim. We can hardly imagine what it underwent to be destroyed in such a way." To the Egyptians, the Pyramids are incredibly sacred, not just as a symbol of royal power but also linked to religion and divine authority. In various wars in the West, invaders might destroy a former dynasty''s capital, but they seldom destroy churches unless the invaders are heathens. Even in the 14th century, as Bi Fang previously mentioned, Sultan Badr al-Din Hasan of the Bahri Dynasty dismantled the limestone casing stones of the Pyramids to build temples, he never thought to destabilize the entire Pyramid. The Pyramids have withstood a thousand years of erosion by wind and sand. This erosion is all-encompassing; it''s not possible for it to erode more than half completely, leaving behind only a perfect base, and besides, the wind and sand are not that fierce. Crawling down the passageway, the slope suddenly increases after about six meters down. Over just a few meters, it transforms from a gentle thirty-degree incline to an over sixty-degree steep slope. With an incline of over sixty degrees, without stairs, it''s impossible for anyone to stand. Bi Fang, pushing against the walls, began to slide down faster. This time, the depth of the slide surprised everyone. The slope grew steeper and steeper until it was almost a ninety-degree drop. Were it not for the passageway being narrow enough to brace with his legs, Bi Fang might have fallen. "Splash!" The dull sound echoed within the ruins, as large amounts of fine sand followed a figure down, pitter-pattering nonstop. In the darkness, Bi Fang holding up a torch landed on the ground, throwing up a cloud of dust which obscured his vision for a moment. [Here it comes!] [High energy ahead!] [Finally, we''re inside. That was super narrow¡ªgood thing it was slippery or entering would''ve been mega uncomfortable.] S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [King of cheeky comments] [So dark...] "Finally, we''re inside." Bi Fang, wearing a gas mask, slowly stood up from the ground, the dust not choking him. He patted the sand off his shoulders and then took off his shoes to pour out the sand. "I really got a fright just now; I had no idea the ruins were this deep." Bi Fang lifted the torch above his head and could still see the pitch-black passageway, his brief descent had taken him more than twenty meters underground. "The Sahara Desert is mainly composed of stony hamada and sandy regions. Many sand dunes exceed 180 meters in height, with an average height of about 150 meters, and the highest reaching over three hundred meters. While it''s not as deep as the sea, such a depth is more than enough to submerge a city." Holding the torch, he walked through the profound depths of the ruins. More than twenty meters below the surface, there was no other source of light. Aside from the torch in his hand, everything around was pitch black, enough to plunge any normal person into claustrophobic fear. [Damn, I can''t handle this environment.] [Every time I see someone holding a torch in this kind of darkness, I''d rather not have the torch. Being the only light in the darkness makes you stand out, and it feels even more terrifying.] [Agreed. It''s like a moth to a flame; creatures in the shadows love the light (dog''s head).] "Drip." Water droplets fell, amplified countless times in the silent environment. Bi Fang followed the sound and moved forward, touching the wall beside him and feeling the dampness on his fingertips. This relic was filled with a heavy moisture. Caressing the damp gravel at his fingertips, Bi Fang explained, "Acquiring water in the Sahara is an extremely difficult task. Without pinpointing the location precisely, digging dozens of meters may yield no water." "But our current position is quite close to the Nile River." "Geologists have studied wind-blown sediments and sedimentations produced by running water, then with the help of airplane radar, they saw images of the bedrock near the Nile River." "Combining data from space shuttle terrain surveys with ground samples, geographers have estimated that the Nile River once flooded Egypt''s Qiseba Depression, forming a gigantic lake of 42,000 square kilometers which later became an ancient river channel buried underground." "These ancient riverbeds would be periodically activated as river systems during warming climate cycles. The latest algorithmic analysis indicates that this ceased around 6500 years ago, and it''s currently buried underground again." "The research team had conducted further investigations, estimating this river extended over 520 kilometers beneath the desert." "Therefore, it might be related to an even greater ancient water system called the Tamanrasset River Valley." "But it''s not necessarily an underground water system; it could just be the Nile River seeping over here." After falling to the ground, the corridor had broadened much, fully allowing a person to walk upright, though one could touch the ceiling with an outstretched arm. The width was about a meter, making it difficult for two people to pass at the same time, but for Bi Fang alone, the size was more than sufficient. After walking about twenty meters, a corner appeared ahead. "There are no branches." Bi Fang pondered, "This should be a ''Mastaba''." [Mastaba?] [What''s that?] [Hurry up and tell us, has Master Fang found something?] Bi Fang brought the torch closer to the corridor walls, built of mud and stone, covered with strange and eerie patterns. In the darkness, they looked especially ominous. "''Mastaba'' is a transliteration from Arabic, meaning ''stone bench''. It was initially used for ancient Egyptian residential structures and later became the burial form for nobles before the Old Kingdom." "As the Pyramids later emerged, this form became the burial of commoners. Of course, when I say commoners, those who could afford such tombs were at least from a wealthy class." [Before the Pyramids?] [I thought Pyramids have been around since ancient times] "Do you really think Pyramids have always existed? They are just an evolution, with the initial foundation being the Mastaba, which is like a Pyramid without a pointed top, only with a base." The earliest Egyptian tombs were mostly made of mud and stone, shaped like a trapezoidal polyhedron with both underground burial chambers and aboveground offering rooms. The tombs generally had many rooms, not only for placing the deceased''s body but also for the bodies of attendants. Additionally, there were rooms for placing food, utensils, and clothing. As we entered the Old Kingdom Period, the kings began to use Pyramids instead of Mastabas as burial forms, and the earliest Pyramids evolved from Mastabas. "Archaeological excavations of well-preserved Mastabas from the First Dynasty revealed that at its core was a rectangular pit below the ground level. The pit was divided into five small chambers, with the largest central chamber used for storing the deceased." "The four smaller adjacent chambers were for the deceased''s belongings used in life. Above the pit were nine rows of small compartments made of mud brick in three longitudinal columns, which were then covered with sand on the outermost layer." "Look, we just turned two corners, perfectly enclosing a small room." Bi Fang continued forward, encountering the third corner, and then moving forward, he saw the handful of arrow-shaped gravel that had been left on the ground earlier. Not wanting to damage the relics, Bi Fang hadn''t etched anything on the walls as markers. Instead, he grabbed some sand in his bag and at key junctures, he sprinkled out an arrow. Seeing the arrow on the ground, the audience suddenly understood. Looking at it this way, Bi Fang had indeed circled around, and this must be the small room. "If it were a Pyramid, the interior would not form a series of small rooms like this. Instead, there would only be a few burial chambers, followed by a straight passage. It would be impossible to construct a series of small rooms inside." "However, a room this size, certainly buried here, must be an important figure." Now knowing exactly what this place was, Bi Fang was no longer so anxious and carefully observed the paintings on the walls. "Anyone who knows a little about ancient Egypt would definitely be aware of the ancient Egyptians'' beliefs." "They believed that after death, if the soul''s body was preserved intact without decay, it would resurrect and live forever in another world after three thousand years." "So from the early dynastic period, continuing through later dynasties, the Egyptians were dedicated to developing better and more complex methods of burying bodies, with the primary aim of protecting the corpse from external damage." "The earliest Egyptian burial method was to dig a simple pit in the sand where the body and personal belongings or useful items for the afterlife were placed together in the grave." "Due to contact with the dry desert, the body was naturally preserved, but still faced some potential threats." "Therefore, the Mastaba came into existence, protecting the human body from wild animals and potential thieves." "But the Mastaba did not protect the body as naturally as the sand did, and this led the Egyptians to develop the mummification system through artificial means." Early Pharaohs of Upper Egypt were buried at the Abydos royal burial site, initially in underground chambers made of mud bricks. Closely stacked tree trunks served as roofs, while the floors and walls were covered with wooden planks. Later on, they were developed to use stone as a decorative facade and paving, with a small room added to the east side adjacent to the tomb for offerings. Their mounds were sand dunes shielded by surrounding walls. Outside the low walls were arranged the graves of family members and nobility, forming the early Mastaba tombs. Bi Fang walked through the corridor, looking at the scale of this Mastaba. "Given such a large scale, this surely isn''t from early on, but quite close to the era when Pyramids were used for tombs." "This structural design might have originated from Mesopotamian thought, as that civilization was building similar structures and constructions at the same time." [Awesome, Master Fang really knows his history!] [Write a book, Master Fang, I think you can] [Want to see] [+1 to want to see] [Wait, if it''s a tomb, could there be a lot of burial items? (Dog''s head)] [Holy shit, wouldn''t that be a fortune?] [Master Fang, dig up a gold mask too!] Hearing there might be treasures, many viewers immediately got excited, all urging Bi Fang to search. Bi Fang was speechless. "Even if I found something, it couldn''t possibly belong to me. I''m not a robber." Chapter 837 833: The Figure in the Tomb Facing the audience''s requests, Bi Fang firmly refused. "I have reason to suspect Master Fang is implying something (Dog''s head)" "Master Fang is not a thief, but someone is" "Stop beating around the bush, go inside and take a look" "Boring, we don''t want treasures, we want to see bloodshed!" The flickering flame illuminated the small enclosed space. The information on the walls was extremely rich and clear, densely covered with numerous exquisitely drawn patterns. There were small figures with brown skin lined up in a row, seemingly performing some kind of ritual. Bi Fang found it overwhelming to look at. Everyone knows about the Pyramids of Ancient Egypt, but few know about their precursor, the Mastaba. Yet, this is also an essential part of visiting Egypt. This might be the first time this ancient tomb was being revealed to the world, and he was the first person to see it, accompanied by tens of millions of viewers¡ªand the numbers were still increasing. Many people were sending their awe and disbelief through their comments. Initially, the shifting sands on the ground had revealed a cave, but no one realized the exaggeration of the situation. Bi Fang had actually discovered such a hidden world underground. This was no natural cavern but a relic! A genuine ancient relic! Naturally, this once again caused a sensation on the internet. With the advancement of human technology and satellites launching into space one after another, perhaps there were still undiscovered secrets in the Primeval Forest, but deserts such as this left almost no secrets to people. A satellite photo could instantly reveal where the Pyramids were, without the need to ride camels and go through considerable hardships in search. Therefore, almost all the relics in the desert that had not been found were located underground or within some canyon crevices, making them difficult to find. This is why, entering the twenty-first century, one heard no more of explorers like Howard Carter from the Central Country, who had become famous for discovering Tutankhamun''s tomb. The difficulty in finding relics was increasing, and there were fewer explorers; such news of discoveries seemed to truly belong only to the last century, existing in history, in the movies. Unexpectedly, it had become a reality, like the movie "The Mummy" coming to life. "Mastaba is different from the Pyramids; the Pyramids are completely exposed on the surface, while Mastaba, having a ground part, is not a tall building by itself and compared to towering buildings like the Pyramids, it more resembles a bungalow." "If unlucky with its location, a few sandstorms could bury it under the ground." "Some don''t even have any above-ground parts and are completely buried underground." The discovery of this lost relic probably excited the archaeologists who studied Ancient Egyptian history the most. During the time they had entered the relic, he had already seen a large circle of people reaching out to him asking for the location of this site, with various languages in the comments¡ªif it weren''t for the System translating, some languages he wouldn''t even understand. As for the excitement of the audience, that goes without saying; they were excited about everything. Separated only by the screen, the impact was inherently less overwhelming than being present at the site. Watching through the video, one could never fully experience the profound sense of history. Footsteps echoed in the empty corridor, the light flickering with each step. Bi Fang, while examining the wall paintings, also educated the viewers about some historical aspects of Ancient Egypt. "The first pyramids were composed of layers of mastabas, where mud bricks were replaced by solid stone bricks, each layer narrower than the one below until they reached the top, which is why many pyramids appear step-like and have numerous internal chambers." [Is the pyramid outside also like this?] [I always thought that kind of pyramid had been damaged or collapsed to become step-like...] [This tomb definitely predates Djoser''s Pyramid by a short time; the details are already quite refined.] [Djoser''s Pyramid, I''ve heard of it, isn''t it the first pyramid?] As the civilization of Ancient Egypt continually advanced, the Pharaohs began to seek higher quality in various ritual ceremonies. Around 2635 BC to 2610 BC, during the reign of Pharaoh Djoser, Pharaoh Djoser ordered his vizier, Imhotep, to build him a tomb in a different form than the traditional mastaba. Imhotep was a genius who, upon receiving the Pharaoh''s command, began to deeply research and design the new tomb. In the eyes of the Ancient Egyptians, the Pharaoh was considered the son of the sun god Amun and was seen as the god''s representative and embodiment on earth. After a Pharaoh died, his soul would ascend to the heavens. Inspired by this belief, Imhotep began to design a step-shaped tomb, symbolizing the stairs to heaven for the Pharaoh after his death. Imhotep''s new tomb was built on the foundations of a mastaba but differed from traditional mastabas in that it consisted of six stacked mastabas, and instead of using mud bricks, large stones were used. Each layer of the mastaba was smaller than the one below it, forming a stepped structure. "The result was Djoser''s Pyramid, an entire tomb 62 meters high and with a base of 109 meters by 125 meters, comprising six levels, making it the first pyramid in history with a stepped shape." "Unlike many later Egyptian pyramids, all the internal spaces of the step pyramid were underground, including the large central shaft leading to the burial chamber." "The underground passageways of the step pyramid, totaling more than 6 kilometers in length, were as complex as a labyrinth, likely a result of the continual experiments needed during the construction of the new tomb." "At the same time, the walls of the underground passages were embedded with many blue bricks, symbolizing the Pharaoh''s ascent to the sky." Bi Fang walked to the end of one passage, where he saw a small set of stairs leading up to a small platform. The platform was not very high, almost the height of a desk, its purpose unknown. [I timidly ask, does being a streamer nowadays require knowledge of astronomy and geography?] [That''s right.] [You dare to be a streamer without knowing eight languages?] "Later, the Pharaohs increasingly pursued marvels, making the pyramids bigger and bigger. The overly complex subterranean structures led to too much hollow space inside, resulting in inadequate support and making them very prone to collapse." "Part of the base of Djoser''s Pyramid had indeed collapsed, so the layered pyramid evolved into a solid body, leaving only the corridors and the final burial chamber, making the overall appearance very smooth, as if of one piece." "A typical example of these solid pyramids is Khufu, the largest pyramid in the world. Until the Eiffel Tower was built in Paris in 1888, it was the tallest structure in the world." Bi Fang then walked through many more corridors, each ending with a small "desk" similar to the one he had just seen, and without exception, all were positioned to the north. Nearby some of these desks were fragments of broken wooden boats. Upon seeing these wooden boat fragments, Bi Fang realized what that small desk next to them was for. "It''s a small altar." "Ancient Egyptians regarded their homes as temporary shelters and their tombs as eternal dwellings." "During the dynastic period, Mastabas gradually increased in number, and small altars and wooden boats appeared alongside them to the north." "People believed that the dead Pharaohs would travel from east to west across the sky with the sun god on these small wooden boats every day." "This guy must have been incredibly wealthy." "The complexity of a Mastaba depended on its owner''s wealth and social status; its ground-level architecture with various small rooms represented different rooms in a palace." "There are no corridors inside." After a walk around the exterior, Bi Fang entered the interior and found the rooms were extremely small and cramped with no doors. Bi Fang was not surprised by this. There were no corridors inside Mastabas because people believed that souls could move unimpeded through physical barriers. Bi Fang also discovered a mound atop the central burial shaft, easy to imagine as having evolved from the sand heaps above pre-dynastic burial pits. "In Upper Egypt, bodies were simply wrapped in reed mats or goat skins, buried in the desert away from dwellings, covered with small mounds, and burial goods were placed around the deceased. Later, wood was used to cover these burial pits." "Although initially functional, sand heaps acquired a sort of religious significance in their development, showing up in new burial forms; perhaps the mound also symbolized ''Benben,'' the mound of creation bearing life." "Don''t mention things we can''t understand." "Benben: In Heliopolis''s creation mythology, a mound of earth rose from the primordial waters, upon which the creator god stood to create humans, gods, and the world." "Where''s my treasure, my treasure?" "The mound as a substructure made the structure unstable, so later walls were built around it and inclined outer walls were constructed outside, covered with a stair-like brick casing." Bi Fang held the torch near the sand dune, and indeed, everyone saw an outer shell made of mud bricks. Sadly, however, after a large loop, Bi Fang hadn''t seen anything of value. Though he wouldn''t take it, that didn''t mean he didn''t want to see it. The gold mask of Tutankhamun was world-famous; finding something similar would bring unparalleled glory, and many people would be green with envy. In the future, everyone visiting the museum and seeing the gold ornament would remember that it was first discovered by an explorer named Bi Fang. "However, there is still hope. The most valuable items are usually kept close to the tomb owner. Finding the burial chamber might reveal the treasure." "The burial chamber must be below." In the darkness, Bi Fang cautiously moved with his torch. Having a memory palace was another advantage; simply walking through once was enough to remember the layout of this labyrinthine tomb, ensuring no missteps. A brief exploration had already etched a clear map of the entire tomb into Bi Fang''s mind. Bi Fang, holding the torch, eventually found an entrance to the underground tomb. After tossing a stone to gauge the depth, he began descending. "How come there are no traps here?" S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Right, shouldn''t there be something like stepping on a stone slab, then a mechanism on the side shooting out a row of arrows?" "I''ve seen that, and then a rolling boulder suddenly appears and pushes everyone to keep running." "What are you all going on about?" "Uh, I can only say, you''ve watched too many movies." "Normally, in archaeology, apart from poisonous gases, mechanisms are generally not considered; they are just fictional creations." "Ah, it''s Professor Song!" "What Professor Song? I don''t remember anymore." "The history professor who appeared when Old Fang discovered a new species." Perhaps history always has its coincidences. The last discovery of an unknown realm was also in the desert and also explained by Professor Song. It seemed to be a kind of reenactment. Facing the audience''s questions, Professor Song once again provided explanations on behalf of Bi Fang. "So far, we have not found any example of ancient tombs using crossbow arrows for theft prevention, nor using fire for that purpose." "Such mechanisms are mostly imagined. The release of crossbow arrows requires tension, which, under ancient technological conditions, could not be sustained for long or precisely triggered to aim and shoot; even if they existed, metallurgy conditions wouldn''t allow it. Modern alloy steel can''t ensure no rust for a thousand years, let alone ancient times." "As for poisonous insects and venomous snakes, that''s even more impractical. How could they survive without food in the enclosed space of ancient tombs?" "The only problem, as Bi Fang mentioned before entering, is the poisonous gas, but it''s usually naturally formed deep underground, not man-made." "Synthetic chemical warfare only emerged much later, first used in World War I and quickly banned by humanity in warfare. Ancient times had no chemical weapons; alchemists might occasionally discover some gases, but couldn''t produce or use them directionally." "Ah, thank you, Professor Song." "I always thought it was real." Once more on the ground, the surroundings seemed even darker. Just as Bi Fang raised his torch, a burly human male suddenly appeared brilliantly before everyone. Everyone''s hair stood on end. Nobody expected to find a person hidden in the pitch-black underground tomb! Even Bi Fang stumbled backward in shock, but he quickly realized something was off. The man in front of him didn''t move at all, not resembling a living person. On closer inspection with the torch, everyone then realized it was just a statue embedded in a niche in the wall, merely blurred and distorted by the dim firelight, which had initially led to the mistaken identity. Calming down, Bi Fang thought for a moment, "It must be a statue of the tomb owner, usually hidden within masonry to protect it. I''m not sure why this one is exposed; it certainly gave me a fright just now." "Good thing it''s fake; I almost lost my soul there." "Fucking hell, that really scared the shit out of me just now." "Not having a flashlight is torture; this firelight is too weak, my heart can''t take it." "I''m running out of heart pills." Just when everyone thought it was merely a scare and began to relax, a sudden thud echoed from above in the tomb, sounding clear and as if it was right next to them. Chapter 838 834 We Want to See Blood Flow into a River A heavy object hit the ground. The thud echoed through the nearly still air, reverberating, shaking loose a fine dust. In the silent ancient tomb, it was as if it was being proclaimed with a loudspeaker. For Bi Fang, whose senses were extremely sharp, this sound was as impossible to ignore as looking directly into the sun. He instinctively pressed down on his torch, reducing the scope of the light and concealing himself within the darkness. The already dim space became even more blurry. The drone had to switch to night-vision mode, otherwise the audience would have been unable to see Bi Fang''s movements and expressions. "What happened, why did it suddenly become tense?" "Looks like someone else came in?" "That sound just now, it really resembled the sound of Master Fang landing the first time he came in." "Who is it, someone from Egypt?" "Could it possibly be an animal?" "Whether it''s a human or a ghost, come out for a stroll." After discovering that the sand cave truly led to an ancient tomb, Bi Fang had the viewers in the live streaming room notify the Egyptian authorities. Could it be that the official personnel have arrived? Many viewers speculated. "It may not be official personnel." Bi Fang weighed his words carefully, paused, and then decided to speak up, "Otherwise, there shouldn''t be silence now." The audience was startled at first upon hearing this. After some pondered carefully, a few quick-reacting netizens immediately explained the rationale, and everyone understood Bi Fang''s point. Right. If it were indeed official personnel, why was there no sound after their entrance? Was the other party being cautious about something? Moreover, if the officials truly did arrive, it wouldn''t just be one person, hence there should have been more than one landing sound. But after the initial sound of landing faded away, the ancient tomb once again fell into silence. As for the possibility of it being an animal... It was possible. But the likelihood was far less than that of human intrusion. The half-meter cave was not large for humans, but for the majority of animals, it was far beyond their size. The largest reptile in the desert would not enter such a large cave to forage for food. Both parties seemed to freeze in mid-air, separated by several meters of earth, both ceasing their activity simultaneously. "Red light, green light, one, two, three." "Is it a Tomb Robber following Master Fang?" "Rather than a Tomb Robber, I think it''s more like an ordinary person who saw the livestream and then rushed over to take advantage of the situation." "Indeed, the opportunity to strike it rich is right in front of us." Some truths always emerge in the midst of casual jokes. "No signal?" A young man with wavy long hair held up his phone in the pitch-black tomb, trying to catch a whisper of signal, but to no avail. The livestream paused in darkness, with a small, white, spinning circle in the center. "Why does the drone have a signal, but my phone doesn''t?" The man found it hard to believe, but before he could ponder further, a warning sound from above made him step aside, and another man, looking older, climbed straight down, assisted carefully by the first man without making any noise. The older man, upon steadying himself, immediately grabbed the wavy-haired man by the arm with the light from the phone and demanded, "Didn''t you say you would send me a message once you got down here?" The wavy-haired man lifted his phone to the man''s face, indicating his effort, and defended himself, "I wanted to, but there''s no signal on the phone." "No signal? What do we do now?" The second man sounded anxious, "Does that mean we can''t watch the livestream anymore?" While the two discussed, another sound came from above. "Move aside!" The two had just stepped back to prepare to catch the last person, only to be surprised as the individual jumped down. Thump. The dull sound of landing resonated once more in the dark channel. "Be careful!" "The noise was too loud!" "We''ve been discovered." The last person to enter the cave held up his phone, showing the other two the screen, still spinning in a circle, but this time the screen did not show pitch-blackness but displayed Bi Fang, standing still, leaning against a wall. "Jabari, you made too much noise coming down." "So what do we do now?" "Hurry up, if there''s anything valuable, take it! Take as much as you can." The audience in the livestream guessed it right. These were three ordinary people living near these Pyramids. Jabari, the wavy-haired young man, saw the news on his phone, reporting the discovery of a new ancient Egyptian tomb, and to his realization, this new tomb was actually near their village! The most exciting thing was that the tomb had just been discovered, by a broadcaster no less, and the official personnel had not yet arrived¡ªthere was only one person inside! When Ancient Egyptians were alive, they devoutly and confidently prepared for their afterlife. Every wealthy Egyptian was busy preparing their own tomb and decorating it with various items, in hopes of attaining eternal life after death. Pharaohs or nobles would even spend years, decades even, building their tombs, ordering craftsmen to sustain activities such as sailing, Hunting, feasting, along with depicting scenes that a servant ought to do¡ªall to ensure they could live as comfortably and wishfully after death as they did before. Hence, every Egyptian knew that a Pharaoh''s tomb was filled with treasures, gold everywhere; just taking one item could secure them a life without worries, no longer trapped in this remote village, no need to go to the city for work every year. Therefore, Jabari quickly found his two elder brothers and told them the fact. Without any ideological struggle, the three brothers immediately decided to have a big score here. Since they had already been discovered, there was no need for any more disguise. The three ran swiftly through the corridor, their flashlights illuminating everything ahead far superior to any torch, and leaving nothing hidden in their path. The sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the passageway, undeniably human. "Our people haven''t arrived!" "These are Tomb Robbers!" The Egyptian authorities'' notification finally caught up, and now there were no doubts among the audience. These were three mice who had broken into the tomb! "Two, no, three people." Bi Fang''s ears trembled slightly, even through several meters of earth, the tomb was incredibly silent; by slowing his breathing, he could even hear his own heartbeat. The burning torch cracked with faint sounds. He had to stop them! sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Without much thought, Bi Fang made his decision. The only reference point that could have revealed his location during his live stream was likely the pyramid on the ground. Even though there was a pyramid, the location was still quite remote; the pyramid only provided a rough area. From the discovery of the relic to now, less than half an hour had passed, and even the officials hadn''t arrived yet. If someone could approach this location, it was either by some fortunate coincidence, stumbling upon the same good luck as he did, or the person lived in one of the nearby villages, which explained the sensitivity to the location! As for the former possibility, the probability was simply too low. Without the System notifying them of nearby relics, seeing a big hole in the ground wouldn''t spur anyone to suddenly decide to come in and take a look. If they lived nearby, then things would be easy, just a few petty thieves. Egypt prohibits firearms, and compared to the rest of Africa, it can still be considered a relatively peaceful country. As the first person to discover the relic, Bi Fang naturally had a certain duty to protect it. Looking back at the hole he''d jumped down, Bi Fang took two steps back, then leaped upward, arms bracing against the passage as he climbed up bit by bit. Since they were petty thieves, they wouldn''t be able to leave the tomb as untouched as he did. To minimize damage, Bi Fang couldn''t stay in the chamber to wait, but had to strike out proactively, to nip the problem in the bud. Climbing into the chamber, relying on memory, Bi Fang quickly headed toward the source of the noise. Oddly enough, although Bi Fang was in a running position, the entire process was silent, as quiet as a cheetah. The wind in the passage pushed out to the sides, raising a large amount of dust from the ground and forming a noticeable path. Bi Fang''s footfalls landed in an extremely swift manner, from back to front, from outside to inside, with the edge hitting the ground first and then the inside of the entire sole pressing down, before instantly pushing off with force to sprint forward. This was the Fox Step running technique, impossible to achieve without extensive training, and beginners were highly prone to spraining their ankles. However, there was a downside¡ªwhile maintaining silence, it was naturally impossible to run at a very high speed. One had to give and take; at this point, Bi Fang''s speed was about twenty seconds per hundred meters, but that was still extremely fast. Many people couldn''t even manage ten seconds for fifty meters. [Damn, damn, damn, how was that done?] [Teach me, Church of Bi Fang!] [Ninjutsu, it has to be ninjutsu!] [The other guy might as well start beating a drum when he runs, the difference in strength is clear at a glance!] [We want to see blood flow like a river!!!] With the swift movement, the torch''s flame was pressed down to its smallest, flickering precariously. Bi Fang glanced at it twice before suddenly flinging the flame out with a forceful swing of his arm. A wisp of blue smoke rose, unfortunately unseen by anyone. In night-vision mode, the viewers couldn''t make out the faint smoke. The entire passage plunged into pitch blackness, with only the messy footsteps of the three intruders in the tomb remaining. Since ancient times, there have always been remarkable individuals who could see in the dark, and Bi Fang was one of them. This was not some extraordinary ability; with long-term training, normal humans could achieve it as well. But ultimately, this ability still required a certain amount of light. Twenty meters underground, not even a single beam of natural light could penetrate such a thick surface. Down here, even people with excellent night vision couldn''t make out anything clearly. But Bi Fang was able to navigate turns, backsteps, and advance precisely in complete darkness, not at all like someone in the dark. In fact, Bi Fang wasn''t relying on sight but on his memory. Having walked through the chambers once in its entirety, Bi Fang didn''t need any more light to find his way; his memory alone was precise enough to guide him. The whole labyrinth-like chamber was like a living map in his head, the length of every corridor especially clear. With his exceptional sense of distance and balance, Bi Fang''s steps were almost identical, much like a robot! Lifting a torch in the darkness could certainly illuminate the way forward, but to creatures living in darkness, it instead became an attractant. "Why is it so quiet?" "We''ve got three people, the other side is probably scared out of their wits." "Find anything valuable?" "Nothing, just some junk. Damn it, are these rotten woods worth anything?" "Talk about taking them out if you can." The eldest, also the last one to enter the cave, pinched a piece of broken wood and easily crushed it into powder. The cave was quite damp by nature, and the wood retained only its shape here; it would crumble into debris at the slightest touch. "Could there really be a curse from the Pharaoh here?" The youngest, Jabari, chattered his teeth. The flashlight beam hit the wall, creating a bright circular patch. Within that circle, the dense and complex mural seemed inexplicably sinister. One after another, the brown, abstract figures uniformly performed the same action, as if a mysterious presence was descending upon them. "That''s all a hoax to scare off tomb robbers; no one believes in that anymore." Second Brother explained briefly and, filled with hope, headed towards the next crossroad. But just as he turned, a powerfully taut arm, like a steel cable, ferociously slammed into his abdomen, like a nail gun firing steel nails. Intense pain exploded in his brain, wave after wave, increasing incessantly, threatening to tear him in half. The man''s face twisted excruciatingly, but he couldn''t make a sound. He had been hit so hard that he was winded, unable to let out any sound from his throat. The viewers watching through night vision only felt a twinge in their teeth as if they were the ones being attacked. An unconscious secretion of saliva. Even Bi Fang himself was stunned for a moment, not realizing that the opponent was so easy to take down. From the feedback of his fist, the other party was a complete amateur, without any professional training. The man''s abdomen had no muscle at all, as soft as a piece of putty. "Dier, got anything?" Dier wanted to respond, but his physiological reactions stopped him; he even wondered if he was dying. Bi Fang, knowing the other two were about to come around the corner, pressed down on the man''s chest and gently laid him on the ground. At this point, the man was like a statue, letting Bi Fang do as he pleased. Although Bi Fang''s punch had been extremely powerful, the spot he struck was the lower abdomen, right around the navel. This area, dense with nerves but lacking vital organs and merely housing intestines, provided an effective strike without easily killing someone. Bi Fang listened carefully for footsteps; they weren''t far away and had already reached the corner after the inquiry. As if by a proven formula, he delivered another punch, identical to the first. The second man collapsed onto the floor. Next to the man, Jabari blinked, looking at his two brothers convulsing on the ground. His knees nearly buckled, but then a surge of energy suddenly erupted from within him, driving him to turn and flee. Watching his retreating figure, Bi Fang clicked his tongue at the torch in his hand and hurled it forward with force. Accompanied by a dull sound, Jabari fell to the ground in defeat. The flashlight rolled to the corner of the wall. Chapter 839 835: Exhuming the Coffin for an Autopsy The shadows interlaced in the dim corridor, and one after another silhouette fell, each body colliding with the solid mud brick, emitting a dull thud akin to a slab of pork hitting the ground. The plastic flashlight was covered in sweat, rolling to the wall and gathering dust. "Hiss!" All three men hit the ground, and it was only then that Bi Fang felt the pain shooting through his knuckles. Bi Fang shook his hand and squatted down to search the fallen men. From one of them, he retrieved a thoroughly deformed and shattered phone, which was almost broken in half, and in the dim light, a complete fist print could still be faintly seen on the mangled frame. The other person had stuffed the phone in his pocket, which had caused him some trauma. [Wow, that''s a punch right on the phone, huh] [Damn, my hand hurts now] [But it''s useless, gotta lie down anyway (funny)] [That''s too cool, what an invincible smashing punch] [Hiss, a punch for each little calamari] [I once saw a boxer in a back alley face a group of people. He knocked them down like this, one punch each, knocking them out as if dazed, and they just fell. People really are different] [So, it was a little punk] [Meow King sent the host meatballs*666] [Tenth little trumpet sent the host marrow bones*2] To deal with the three calamari, Bi Fang did not even gasp for air, truly satisfying the audience. After discarding the phone, Bi Fang took two steps to reach the last fallen man, checked him, and found he had only been knocked unconscious by a torch to the back of his head. That''s the good thing about wood, it''s soft, and in an emergency, even if you can''t control your strength, it''s not easy to kill someone instantly. Looking at the torch beside him, Bi Fang did not pick it up; there were better options here. He picked up the flashlight from the corner, wiped the handle with the unconscious man''s clothing, and shone it towards the corner. Bi Fang''s punches were powerful, and normally, it would take someone ten minutes to recover. Two men lay on the ground, writhing subconsciously, making whimpering sounds. As Bi Fang approached and shone the flashlight on their faces, the sight of tears and drool shocked the audience on the screen. [My god, is it that exaggerated?] [If a professional boxer punched you in the stomach, you''d be the same, hahaha] [There''s something even more exaggerated. Master Fang''s punch might be akin to some top-tier boxers. Did he avoid vital spots? This looks hospital-worthy.] To prevent them from regaining consciousness and resisting, Bi Fang pulled out a rope from his waist, tied each man''s hands and feet, and linked them together. Then he lost interest in further exploration and decided to stay where he was and wait for the Egyptian side to send someone. About half an hour later, a group of people arrived belatedly, carrying bags both big and small, and they were accompanied by members of the nearby police station. Bi Fang, who had been informed through the comments, crawled out of the narrow passage and calmed Alpha, who was somewhat restless. In the distant sky, he saw several helicopters flying in. This clearly showed how seriously the Egyptian side was taking this. In total, there were sixteen people, three police officers, the rest were university professors, professional archaeologists, and most importantly, the Huaxia ambassador to Egypt. Looking at the team assembled alone hinted at why their arrival had been so delayed¡ªit was no small feat to gather such a group, many of whom had been summoned without adequate preparation. "Mr. Liao." "Mr. Bi!" A middle-aged man with graying temples grasped Bi Fang''s hand, his tone filled with emotion, "I''m also a viewer of yours. I''ve been following this Sahara expedition, and it''s been truly exhilarating. What''s even more unexpected is that we''ve discovered a new site. Let me introduce you, this is Professor Hasan K, he is..." Bi Fang simply ignored the fact that the man was a member of his audience and proceeded to meet the rest of the group. Having dealt with many people, he knew that such comments were merely pleasantries¡ªonly a fool would take them seriously. Meanwhile, the accompanying police led out three individuals who had attempted to break into the tomb and commit theft. The trio was firmly tied together with thick hemp ropes, forming a chain led by the leading officer. Each one was covered in dust, crestfallen, which alongside the distant pyramids, evoked a sense of ancient Egyptian slavery. Logically, it shouldn''t have been like this, but the exit itself was extremely narrow, and so they had to come out one by one, inadvertently creating this absurd scene. [This d¨¦j¨¤ vu is incredible!] [Why do I suddenly feel a bit sorry for them?] [Before stealing, didn''t they inquire who Bi Fang was? With only such meager skills, they thought to rob a tomb?] [To be honest, if it were me, I might also take the gamble. After all, risking it all might just turn a bicycle into a motorcycle.] [Indeed, as Master Fang mentioned, these tombs existed even before the pyramids, dating back thousands of years. Just taking a single item could solve one''s financial worries for life, even if it meant risking death. I think many people would want to try their luck.] Wealth enchants the heart. The pharaoh''s tombs in Egypt were typically opulent, and over the past millennia, countless tomb robbers had frenziedly excavated these sites, stealing vast amounts of ancient Egyptian artifacts. Anyone faced with an easy opportunity to get rich, which was also difficult to trace, wouldn''t remain indifferent. The reason Bi Fang remained unfazed wasn''t because he was some saint or nobleman; it was purely because... he was already very wealthy. Every quarter, the club was continuously amassing great wealth. Apart from reinvesting in expansion and improvements, it was already starting to break even. Even disregarding that, the daily tips from livestreaming were enough for Bi Fang to live a carefree life. When the granary is full, one knows what''s proper; when the food is sufficient, one knows shame. After a brief internal struggle, Bi Fang followed everyone else to the entrance of the site. A group of professors stood at the pitch-black entrance, discussing among themselves, none daring to descend¡ªnot because they feared any pharaoh''s curse or were uncurious about the contents. Those who had come weren''t just fulfilling a duty; they were all highly passionate about historical research and archaeology. It was simply unavoidable¡ªthey were mostly quite old. Time had been pressed, and before coming, everyone had hurriedly reviewed the site''s interior, knowing exactly what the situation was like. A long, narrow passage was one thing¡ªa few old bones could still scrape through, but beyond the tunnel was a steep vertical shaft that they just couldn''t handle. However, these were trivial matters to those present, who had seen much more, and they found nothing unusual about it. Some sites were directly exposed on the surface, while others, like this one, had just a small hole. This was precisely how Tutankhamun''s excavation had started, with just a set of stone steps, then slowly digging deeper. Starting from a tiny hole at the very bottom, and climbing the winding mountain roads, they eventually reached the summit. After several days of digging, Carter and his team reached the twelfth step, found the entrance, and confirmed it was a tomb built for a pharaoh king. In many cases, people had already known about the existence of certain tombs and sites, such as the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, characterized by large mounds of earth. However, many archaeological sites are less conspicuous and even hard to trace in the literature. Often, the only signs of a site on the surface might be fragments of pottery, with much more buried underground. Therefore, the discovery of many archaeological sites is quite accidental, often related to human activities such as well-digging, road construction, railway building, and reservoir repair. For example, the Terracotta Army was discovered by farmers while digging a well; the Tomb of the King of Nanyue was discovered in the 1980s during the construction of an apartment building. Next comes the archaeological exploration and investigation by archaeologists, which then require some surveying techniques and experience. Local gazetteers and other such books, in particular, can provide a lot of inspiration through their accounts of local historical developments, major historical events, and local customs. Although Egypt and Huaxia differ, the general process is much the same. Moreover, Egypt is rich in relics; the famed Valley of the Kings alone hosts the tombs of 64 pharaohs from the 17th Dynasty to the 20th Dynasty of Egypt, all situated within a valley on the west bank of the Nile River opposite Luxor City. A group of white-haired old men simultaneously turned their gaze toward Bi Fang. By then, Bi Fang had also donned more professional gear brought by these people and was the first to enter the cave, dragging several ropes. Having retraced the initial path, Bi Fang pulled the rope, signaling to those outside. Then, one by one, individuals donned carabiners and descended into the ancient tomb along the ropes. Flashlights lit up one by one, illuminating the pitch-dark tomb as bright as day. One of the younger assistants joked, "It seems we don''t need to light any candles after all." Everyone on site burst into laughter in unison, while the audience watching the screen looked confused and clueless, not understanding the joke. [What''s this all about?] [Don''t talk in riddles] [Master Fang, explain please] [What are they laughing at?] "It''s probably a jest, coming from Howard Carter, the archaeologist who discovered Tutankhamun," Bi Fang explained as he now saw the wall paintings much more clearly under the light of the flashlight. "Carter didn''t just discover Tutankhamun; he also led excavations at many pharaonic tombs." "In 1917, Howard Carter, the manager of the Nubian site at South Cairo, arrived at the Valley of the Kings." "Carter had been fascinated by ancient Egyptian civilization since he was sixteen, and after many years of study, he believed that there were still undiscovered, unheard-of pharaoh''s tombs in this frequently robbed site." "Thus, under Carter''s leadership, the team began excavation, and the archaeologists were preparing to excavate a tomb when they unexpectedly encountered a strange phenomenon¡ªthey couldn''t use flashlights for lighting and had to rely on candles." "Until one evening in 1922, Carter noticed a small round hole on a tomb door, into which he inserted a lit candle; the faint candlelight pierced the silence of millennia." "In the candlelight, Carter saw a six-foot-long staircase and immediately realized it was part of a hidden underground stairway." "Here, Carter would begin a thrilling expedition, digging all the way until he discovered a pharaoh''s tomb that had never been visited before." "That tomb was none other than that of the famed New Kingdom Pharaoh of Egypt, the 18th Pharaoh, Tutankhamun." "Of course, whether this is true or not, I don''t know. After all, a hundred years have passed since that time, and even the talk of a pharaoh''s curse has been exaggerated; who truly knows what the deal with the flashlight joke is?" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "But for professionals, especially those in the Egyptian archaeological community, it''s a well-known story." Carter held an extraordinary significance and status in the field of Egyptian archaeology, comparable to Newton and Einstein in the history of physics. [Okay.] [If you don''t have a bit of culture now, you can''t even keep up with the conversation.] [Oh Pharaoh, give me a brain as effective as Master Fang''s!] [If I were this knowledgeable in ancient and modern times, would I still be single?] "The murals are very complete." "There are no signs of damage." "The humidity is high, some areas are indistinct, but most are well-preserved; it must have been the vapor leakage caused by subsidence later, otherwise all would have blurred long ago." "We are very fortunate to have discovered it now." The scholars, full of wonder, tirelessly admired the tomb''s furnishings but restrained themselves from rashly touching anything; the others also donned gloves and began their work. Archaeological excavation and survey differ, yet both are means of obtaining physical data based on archaeological surveys. This is a complex and meticulous task that proceeds according to a defined procedure. Typically, there would be: layout¡ªremoving topsoil¡ªcleaning cultural layers layer by layer according to their stratigraphic relationships¡ªunifying strata¡ªcleaning reserved sections¡ªcompleting various records. Then the indoor organization occurs, transferring the collected physical data and records from the field back to the workstation or the digging team''s camp, systematically arranging and analyzing the unearthed artifacts'' dates and other research work, writing excavation reports, and finally, transferring the physical data to the collecting institutions. The excavated sites would also be managed according to the actual conditions, some being backfilled, others preserved in situ. Watching everyone busily engaged, the ambassador and Bi Fang also couldn''t lend a hand and chatted sporadically. Moments later, several older scholars seemed to realize something, stopped their work, and approached Bi Fang. "We''re terribly sorry; we just can''t help researching when we see these materials. Let''s go down to the tomb below and open the coffin." On hearing this, Bi Fang''s mind stirred. It suited his purposes. He himself was not much interested in these tedious explorations. What he most wanted to see was the opening of the coffin to find out what the Pharaoh actually looked like. Following the route in his memory, Bi Fang led the group forward until they reached another hole, descending by rope. Everyone landed one by one, switching on their flashlights. Bi Fang had just entered when he encountered the tomb robbers, and the torchlight was insufficient for a detailed observation of the place. Now seeing its true face, they were all startled despite being mentally prepared. In this not-so-large room, every surface was covered with murals, densely packed with thousands of pieces of furniture, utensils, statues, weapons, royal scepters, and other exquisite, finely crafted grave goods, all adorned with gold, silver, pearls, and jade - luxurious and intact. Each person''s heart pounded fiercely. This was another untouched complete tomb! And undoubtedly, the most captivating was a square pit in the very center of the room, where the anthropoid coffin almost like a black hole drew the eyes of everyone who looked its way. Chapter 840 836: Splendid "Open the sarcophagus?" Bi Fang looked surprised as he glanced around the tomb chamber, still unarranged and full of damp air, "Isn''t that a bit hasty?" Bi Fang was utterly an outsider when it came to archaeology. The reason he seemed to know everything about ancient Egyptian tombs and was an expert in the field was entirely because he excelled in the historical aspect. With the ability of a memory palace, Bi Fang could nearly transcribe more than ninety-five percent of an Egyptian history book after reading it once. Before every adventure, Bi Fang would conduct extensive research. Local flora and fauna, climate, and environment were the basics; he would also look into local customs for easier interactions with residents. And then there were myths and history. This information greatly enriched the content of Bi Fang''s livestreams, allowing him to narrate a local historical anecdote, myth, or little story about a river or fish while he fished. However, even as an amateur, Bi Fang instinctually felt that opening the sarcophagus right after entering was somewhat inappropriate; as far as he knew, some large tomb excavations could even take months to complete. "Do you mean there''s no need for any preparations?" A middle-aged man with graying temples stepped into the pit, splashing through the water, and after examining the integrity of the sarcophagus with gloved hands, shook his head. "There''s no great need. You all view the opening of the sarcophagus as too mystical. In a normal opening, if the sarcophagus itself is not an artifact but a regular coffin, many are simply pried open with a crowbar. As long as the internal arrangements are not damaged, the reason for not opening them often is just the overly complicated application process." "I''ve already opened hundreds of such sarcophagi." [Hundreds?] [Damn, this guy''s a big shot.] [A professional at opening sarcophagi, huh?] "This is Mostafa Waziri, the head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities in Egypt. He is in charge of all archaeological work this time; basically, if he says we can open it, then we can." Ambassador Liao, who was standing beside Bi Fang, whispered an introduction of the man''s identity to him. Although they had briefly met earlier, Ambassador Liao worried that Bi Fang hadn''t remembered and repeated it. "Last November, he publicly opened dozens of ancient coffins with numerous reporters present." Bi Fang was startled: "Dozens?" Was this wholesale? "Yes," nodded Ambassador Liao. "Right across from Djoser''s Pyramid, under a massive white tent, there was a press conference held, and I went there myself to watch. It was indeed astonishing." The main stage had rows of sealed sarcophagi and mummies lined up in an impressive display, exposed under the media''s flashing lights. Most unbelievable was that at the press conference, there were experts who opened the sarcophagi for examination and used an X-ray machine to scan the condition of the mummies wrapped within, all in front of the public. This move practically made Ambassador Liao''s jaw drop at the time. Rows of pharaohs'' coffins were laid out like cabbages in a market, and then opened one by one. "Between September and November, over three months, the archaeological team excavated more than a hundred sealed mummies, stone sarcophagi, masks, and over forty statues of Ptah-Seker, the chief deity of the Saqqara burial site," explained Waziri inside the pit, obviously having overheard the "whispers" between the two. Bi Fang and Ambassador Liao had no intention of hiding their conversation from him. In this enclosed space buried dozens of meters underground, even the sound of breathing could be clearly heard. [Damn, over a hundred in three months?] "Can''t they just open it on the spot? Are feelings worthless now?" "What, are there gold treasures in every ancient tomb in Egypt? Waiting online, it''s urgent." "What''s up, thinking of digging it up yourself?" The upper chamber was already somewhat damp, and the lower crypts were even more so. The air had become much heavier, the thick moisture mixed with high temperatures made breathing almost impossible. Water stains were everywhere, and almost one centimeter of water had accumulated in the square pits where the coffins were placed. "Let''s clear the area." Mostafa directed the crowd, the entire cleaning process was orderly, clearly a complete team that had worked together multiple times. Items submerged in the water were quickly rescued, each moved outdoors. The drone flew out of the cave, showing a huge white tent being rapidly erected; the helicopter that had brought people over had also flown away. Clearly, more people were expected to arrive. Several expensive gold artifacts, covered in thick dust and looking unimpressive in the underground chamber, shone brilliantly in the sunlight once moved outside and wiped clean. "Due to antiquity, most tombs are dark and damp like this," said Mostafa Waziri, handing over a stone sculpture. His words were clearly not just for the on-site audience but also the viewers in front of the drone. "The groundwater level might also have risen; often the ground is submerged in mud, and archaeologists can only search for buried artifacts by hand in the mud, ensuring nothing is missed." They had decided to open the sarcophagus immediately for a few reasons. Although opening a sarcophagus wasn''t unusual and didn''t need the careful approach many imagined, opening it as soon as they entered did indeed pose certain risks that could damage the internal objects. However, once the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities learned of the situation they decided to open the sarcophagus on-site, in front of Bi Fang. Of course, this wasn''t to promote any global image of friendship or to please Bi Fang. The real reason was that even the most foolish realized that this was an excellent opportunity for promotion. Why did they open dozens of Pharaoh''s coffins last November and have many media journalists observe and take photos on-site? What if someone accidentally smashed a gold mask or a bronze sculpture, wouldn''t that be devastatingly expensive? With so many people and the chaotic situation, such incidents were definitely possible. Ultimately, all these events aimed to attract more world tourists. Money, it''s all for money! Tourism is one of Egypt''s economic pillars. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council report, tourism accounts for 13%¨C15% of Egypt''s Gross Domestic Product, directly or indirectly creating 12% of the national employment opportunities. This amount was huge, and the dazzling tourism industry naturally relied on the Sahara Desert, and most importantly, the Pyramids in the desert. Each successful promotion represented a massive amount of interest and achievement. Bi Fang''s journey across the Sahara was not under the radar; he had reported the journey through each country he might pass, which is why Algerian authorities released him shortly after confirming his identity when they suspected him of being a spy. There was a record above. It was just that the locals'' work efficiency was somewhat slow. Furthermore, Bi Fang had used a "Wilderness Traveler" skill identity coupon and obtained two certificates from the System: a Hunter''s license, internationally recognized, allowing him to hunt most non-endangered species. ``` Secondly, there were the permits; whenever Bi Fang traveled to any corner of the world or handled related affairs, he could quickly gain local government recognition, which opened doors of convenience for him. Bi Fang''s glorious history of driving the tourism economy with each adventure had long caught the attention of Egypt''s tourism department, which had been watching him closely, just waiting for him to come to Egypt and then advertise. What nobody expected was that not only had Bi Fang arrived, he also pulled off such a grand event. And it was a fantastic one at that! Open! Vigorously open! Isn''t it just a coffin? The Pharaoh had been dead for thousands of years, and now he could still contribute to future generations, shouldn''t we feel happy about this? Therefore, the only condition for prying open the Pharaoh''s coffin was to do it in front of Bi Fang, in front of the live broadcast cameras. That''s what the notification Vaziri received said. Otherwise, given his professionalism, he wouldn''t have opened the coffin right after his arrival; at a minimum, he''d have waited a few days to get a sense of things first. Amidst everyone''s hustle and bustle, the deepest chamber of the tomb was finally cleared up. "After cleaning up the peripheral items, we come to the most important step, which is opening the coffin." Muddy water stained Vaziri''s gloves; he removed them and replaced them with a pair of brand-new white gloves. White gloves made it clear whether they were dirty or not to prevent damaging the integrity of the antiquities. "The environment here is quite damp, even the whole coffin is soaked in accumulated water, and sometimes the bodies inside have also decayed over the years." "If it''s a skeleton, it''s still fine, but some have turned into a puddle of spoiled, contaminated water due to environmental factors, and many burial goods or clothing have merged into this filth; we can only carefully clear it out bit by bit, a process you definitely don''t want to see¡ªit''s quite disgusting." Vaziri carefully bound ropes around the coffin, and then everyone worked together to lift it out of the pit, delicately transporting it to the cleared space nearby. Seeing that they were finally going to tackle this coffin, the audience in the live broadcast room was extremely excited. From the discovery of the relics until now, this was undoubtedly the most anticipated moment. The viewers hadn''t originally thought they would be able to open the coffin and see the mummy directly, because after all, it was a cultural relic and Bi Fang couldn''t act rashly. But, to everyone''s surprise, it actually happened. [The big moment is coming, the big moment is coming!] [This is bloody thrilling!] [Who else, who else! The most badass in the live streaming world, exploring relics, opening Pharaoh''s coffins!] [It might not even be a Pharaoh''s coffin, could just be an ordinary noble''s.] [I don''t hear it, I don''t hear it; for sure, there''s a Pharaoh inside this one.] [Good for you, if you''re happy.] After Vaziri and several scholars lifted the coffin out of the ground, they took out a series of tools and began tampering with the coffin. "The Ancient Egyptians had a set of intricately complex burial customs, and they believed these were the necessary steps to ensure their eternal afterlife." "These burial rites and procedures included the making of mummies, chanting curses to elevate the spirits, as well as burying them with special funerary goods they believed necessary for their life after death." "At the same time, the funeral ceremonies adopted by the Ancient Egyptians continuously evolved and developed with the succession of dynasties and the development in various areas such as economics and politics; old customs were discarded, and new practices were adopted." Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ``` "Although there have been appropriate ''reforms'' to the burial rituals of different periods, several important aspects of the burial process have still been retained, without arbitrary additions or reductions," he said. "Even though the specific details of these aspects may have changed over time, the processes involved in making the mummy, ferrying the deceased, and preparing burial goods are the most fundamental components of an Egyptian funeral and are unlikely to have changed much," he explained. "But we can make a fairly intuitive estimation of the approximate time period from these forms." Bi Fang did not rashly step forward to help. Not even when lifting the coffin earlier, where brute strength was needed, did he step forward. With such professional matters, doing nothing at all is the best approach. Vaziri, who was examining the coffin at the same time, was also explaining to the audience. For a scholar like him, there was no difference between live broadcasting and lecturing; both involved teaching people. "For example, during the Predynastic Period, ancient Egyptians dug shallow pits in the desert to bury their deceased relatives." "Back then, due to limited conditions, coffins were not used, and the dead were typically buried directly in a curled, side-lying position, but this accelerated the decay of the body." "By the end of the Predynastic Period, burials with mudbrick walls and wooden roofs began to appear; the embryonic form of the mastaba emerged, and people would use mats of straw or baskets woven from willow branches to protect the corpse. Sometimes, they would also use simple wooden or pottery caskets that were readily available." "It wasn''t until the Old Kingdom Period that coffins gradually became widely used. Although archaeologists have not yet found burial chambers of nobles or high officials from that time, we can deduce from some of the common people''s coffins that have been unearthed that most burial chambers simply used a rather basic wooden box, and even baskets woven from reeds appeared." "During the Old Kingdom Period, the practice of straight-body burial and longer coffins gradually became common, and there were two styles of coffin lids, one arched and the other flat-topped." "Nobles or high officials sometimes would envelop their wooden coffin in a stone sarcophagus, similar to what we would call ''double insurance'' today." "Coffin lids were often carved or painted with false doors to allow the deceased''s spirit to enter and exit easily." "Flat-topped coffins typically had the carved or painted image of eyes at the head of the deceased, so that the deceased could better see the rising and setting of the sun." "By this point, the burial system of ancient Egypt had largely taken shape. At the same time, the materials used for coffins became richer and more diverse, and the variety of texts and images depicted on the coffins also became more colorful." "And during this period, the time when the Pyramids appeared, we can see that this is a typical flat-topped wooden coffin." The flashlight illuminated the flat coffin lid, and everyone could clearly see there were still prominent images of eyes and depictions of the rising and falling sun. [But what about those frequently seen anthropoid coffins?] [Gotta say, I don''t understand these periods (Dog''s head).] [It''s like playing the lute to a cow.] "The anthropoid coffin appeared in the Middle Kingdom, a considerably distant era. At that time, the coffins of the Egyptian Pharaohs were a bit like nesting dolls, not just double-insured but with three layers inside and out, and each layer had to be fashioned in the image of the Pharaoh, with his name engraved upon it." Vaziri didn''t see the barrage of comments on the drone, and that response was Bi Fang''s. Soon, the coffin began to loosen. At that moment, everyone held their breath, daring not even to exhale loudly, their pupils trembling slightly, not daring to look away from the ancient coffin. Vaziri even looked up to check the drone, confirmed that the camera was focused here, then exerted force with his legs and slowly pushed open the coffin lid. A withered and decayed mummy with crossed arms appeared before everyone, reminiscent of the ancient Egyptian god Osiris. Whether it was an illusion or not, Bi Fang suddenly felt a disturbance in the stale air of the tomb. It was as if a breeze had awakened a body that had slept for a millennium and had lifted the veil of historical mystery. It made one feel as if standing on the shoulders of time, conversing with history. Chapter 841 837: Beef Flavor, Crispy Crunch Ancient Egypt had a clearly defined historical chronology starting from 664 B.C. In the third century B.C., Manetho divided Egyptian history from the great unification under Menes to the conquest by Macedon''s Alexander into thirty dynasties, upon which later historians further subdivided Ancient Egyptian history into nine periods. The first was the Predynastic Period, around 4000 to 3100 B.C. The second was the Early Dynastic Period, around 3100¨C2686 B.C., which included the first and second dynasties and saw the rise of Menes, the first Pharaoh to unify Upper and Lower Egypt. Of course, this is the most widely accepted speculation. History is too ancient, and there is not enough documentary history to prove that Menes was the first Pharaoh to unify Upper and Lower Egypt. In the study of Egyptian history, Narmer, Aha, and Scorpion King all have the potential to be the first unifier of Upper and Lower Egypt. The third was the Old Kingdom Period, approximately 2686¨C2181 B.C., encompassing the third to the sixth dynasties. It was toward the end of this period that the Pyramids appeared; prior to this, there were only Mastabas. Subsequently came the First Intermediate Period, the Middle Kingdom, the Second Intermediate Period, the New Kingdom, the Late Period, and finally the periods under Persian, Macedonian, and Roman rule. From the first to the fourth period, slave states formed and unified dynasties emerged. From the fifth to the seventh period marked the reestablishment and expansion of the unified kingdom, while the eighth and ninth periods signified the decline of the Egyptian slave state and domination by foreign rulers. But these are not the focus; the important point is that the Pyramids only appeared during the third period, the Old Kingdom Period. This means that the ancient corpse before us is at least four thousand years old. Four thousand years! What an exaggerated figure! Just standing before it, one almost feels as if they could see the era from thousands of years ago, when laborers would be made into mummies before being transported inside. "The typical burial position with arms crossed over the chest, imitating the ancient Egyptian god of the afterlife Osiris, usually used for royal family members'' burials. This suggests that this individual was very likely a member of the royal family," Vaziri observed the mummy''s posture and made his judgment. "However, this is not surprising. If he were not of noble lineage, he could not possibly possess such an abundance of burial goods. There are quite a few gold artifacts here, indicating his extraordinary status in life." Vaziri pointed his flashlight at the murals around the room, which had become very blurry due to water seepage. The flashlight beam cut through the enclosed tomb chamber and hit the wall, revealing countless dust particles dancing within the light. Everyone took deep breaths, disturbing and whirling the dust with each breath. Most of the images on the upper walls were clear, but only a small part was recognizable at this level. "The architectural style here also reflects the influence of a palace." "Menes, the first Pharaoh to unify Upper and Lower Egypt, in his tomb at Negada, built a rectangular sacrificial hall out of bricks but created vertical ridges on the exterior walls to mimic wooden columns and reed bundles, evidently intending to replicate the palace of that era." "This practice evolved from the residential architecture popular in Lower Egypt, where forms that originated from construction techniques gained aesthetic value." "Because Menes originated from Upper Egypt, his use of this style was not just for lightness and decoration, but also because as the ''king of Lower Egypt,'' Menes had to unify the architectural cultures of Upper and Lower Egypt in his tomb''s construction." Vaziri pointed to the square walls around them. The space was actually quite broad; everyone could stand up straight and hold their heads high. "The tombs mimicked residential palaces because, in the early stages, tombs were regarded as dwellings for the afterlife." "On one hand, people could only imagine the afterlife based on their daily lives; on the other hand, they could only use the most familiar architectures as a blueprint to explore the forms and styles of various other buildings." [Damn impressive.] [This must be worth a lot.] [Don''t you guys find this a bit scary?] [What''s there to be afraid of? It''s been dead for thousands of years. Wouldn''t it turn to dust if you just touched it?] [Surely not.] Bi Fang stepped forward, took a flashlight, and turned it on, shining it onto the mummy without even daring to breathe heavily. This kind of stuff from such an era, one wouldn''t dare to even touch it, let alone see it for the first time, afraid that their own breath might cause some accidental change. The drone also quickly approached, providing viewers with a clearer and more detailed perspective. The mummy was wrapped in an extremely large amount of winding sheets, completely enveloping the entire person in thick layers, only leaving the head and both hands exposed. And Bi Fang even smelled a very peculiar odor. Or rather, since entering the place, Bi Fang had been surrounded by various strange smells. Bi Fang''s sense of smell was very sharp, and outside the desert, the air was filled with a scent of earth and sand. Upon entering the tomb, there was an extremely strong smell of dampness and mold. And the deeper inside they went, the heavier the musty and damp odors became. This smell was not pleasant; in fact, it was very unpleasant, and Bi Fang was constantly tormented by it, but he had already gotten used to it. However, when the sarcophagus was opened, an even stronger scent spread out. It wasn''t unpleasant. Before modern formalin, all the most effective preservation methods had one goal in mind¡ªdehydration. Just like making ham, they tried to remove as much moisture as possible, and it would not spoil for over ten years, and the fragrance would become even more intense. Mummies were also like this, but of course, they weren''t salt-cured into ham, but rather embalmed with various fragrances. Because of the dehydration, there wouldn''t be any smell of decay. Although the basement was very damp, the coffin still effectively blocked the moisture, so that the individual inside the coffin didn''t turn into a pile of rotten liquid. "The mysterious methods used to make Egyptian mummies are numerous, but the basic steps are simple: removal of the innards, thorough drying of the body, and wrapping the desiccated corpse." "Over about 3000 years, the specific methods and quality of the preservation techniques varied, but the basic principles remained the same." "Most of the mummies we find today were made using inherited methods, from which we can affirm that the preservation techniques used in the creation of Ancient Egyptian mummies were continuously perfected until they matured." "They weren''t suddenly an epiphany that happened overnight, but rather a continuous improvement and progression of the preservative materials used, which reflect the extraordinary wisdom of a great civilization." "Like right now, with the head and hands exposed, this represents an early form of mummy making. As time went on, the body would be completely wrapped, with no bit of body tissue exposed." Vaziri explained on the side. [So, Master Fang, what does it smell like?] [Does it stink?] S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [I heard that people in Central Country used to grind mummies into powder to use as health supplements, claiming it could cure impotence.] [Holy shit, is that true?] Bi Fang shook his head. "It doesn''t stink, on the contrary, if you sniff carefully, there might even be a hint of a fragrance." [A fragrance, really?] [Has Master Fang taken bribes? I don''t believe it] [This thing has been rotting for over four thousand years, and it''s still fragrant?] "Really, I smelled something like pine resin." Vaziri raised an eyebrow. "Really?" The experts nearby also crowded around to take a sniff, but they couldn''t detect any particular odor. Vaziri didn''t doubt it though, because the preservatives used in making Egyptian mummies did indeed include pine resin. However, it stood to reason that after such a long time, there wouldn''t be any smell left, perhaps Bi Fang had a particularly keen sense of smell. "Before the pharaonic dynasties, corpses were wrapped in silk or linen and buried in the hollow tombs of the desert." "If the corpses weren''t discovered and torn apart by jackals, the hot and penetrating sand would dry out the body''s moisture, leaving the corpses looking like black-robed leather chair covers, yet still recognizable after thousands of years." "Simple sand burials were common among the farmers, but during the pharaonic eras, pharaohs and other nobles were interred in more elaborately prepared tombs." "Unfortunately, placing bodies in relatively cool, damp underground tombs made them prone to decay." "If a pharaoh wanted both a splendid resting place and a well-preserved corpse for eternal life, they needed a new method of processing bodies." "Drying could be achieved using techniques for preserving food and furs, just like curing fish or meat." "But preserving a pharaoh''s body in the same way as pickles wasn''t very aesthetically pleasing, so a mysterious process offered a better way: embalmers used natron as a desiccant in hot, dry sand or in a natron-solution place." "It''s a natural sodium compound that removes the most decay-prone organs, while the heart, thought to be the seat of thought, was left inside." [I knew this, the viscera contain too many microorganisms, removing them also aids in preservation] [Is that so?] [Awesome] Vaziri continued. "The Ancient Greek writer Herodotus left many records on the preservation of corpses, many of which reflect a late or perhaps degenerate state of embalming." "He detailed three different mummification methods, each varying in extent and cost." [So realistic, huh?] [This Herodotus sounds familiar, like I''ve heard of him somewhere] [Master Fang just talked about him not long ago, didn''t you pay attention in class? This is how you get a knock on the head!] "The first-class service involved the embalmer using an iron tool to extract the brain through the nose, then removing the viscera through an incision in the side. The body cavity was washed with palm wine and spices before being filled with spices. The body had to be laid in natron for 70 days." "After the mummification process concluded, the body was cleaned, wrapped in high-quality linen, smeared with pine resin, and placed inside an anthropoid wooden case." "If there wasn''t enough money, a cheaper, second-class service could be requested." "They would skip the steps of extracting the brain and opening the abdominal cavity, directly injecting pine resin into the abdomen through the anus, and then placing the body in natron for preservation." "After 70 days, the stopper in the anus was removed, allowing the oil and dissolved intestines to flow out. What the embalmers returned to the relatives was a body reduced to skin and bones." [Damn, isn''t that disgusting?] [It''s all about faith (facepalm)] [After all, these are ancient people from thousands of years ago, they truly believed in this stuff.] [And they had different ranks, too.] "The third rank, for the poorer individuals, could only hope for simple rinsing to clean the abdominal cavity and a 70-day soaking for preservation." "However, Herodotus'' detailed descriptions of the embalming process also contain obvious mistakes." "Other sources suggest that the embalmers used juniper oil, not cedar oil." "The entire preservation process required 70 days, of which 40 days were spent wrapping the body inside and out with bags of sodium carbonate to dehydrate it." "Sometimes embalmers adopted a simplified procedure, omitting the removal of the viscera, and substituting onions and garlic for the appropriate aromatic preservatives." "These inferior techniques and clearly deceptive actions were evident in the mummy''s wrappings, with severely incomplete viscera, broken or missing bones, and animal remains or wood chips used to fill the body." "Chemists had attempted to extract and analyze the components of ancient preservatives; some believed the preservatives were derived from cedarwood because it contains a chemical called p-methoxyphenol, absent in the oil of juniper." "By comparison, cedarwood, unlike other less commonly used preservatives, could hinder bacterial growth and effectively preserve animal tissues." "What an eye-opener." Bi Fang exclaimed in admiration. As a professional, Vaziri''s explanations were clearly more detailed than his. After all, this information about Egypt was gathered through his own research and not given by the System, so it was naturally somewhat disorganized in presentation. Vaziri passed the flashlight to the head and pointed at the mummy''s teeth with his finger, "Look at this mummy''s teeth, they''re very intact." "This also suggests his prominent status in life," Bi Fang continued. "Indeed, if it were a commoner, the teeth wouldn''t be this neat and intact." "Before introducing modern technology to determine the age of ancient organisms, we would use indirect methods, such as estimating the age of the mummy by the coffin decoration, the decedent''s name, and the grave goods, which is usually uncertain." "Sometimes the inaccuracy is because some mummies had been tampered with by tomb raiders, ending up damaged in new, mismatched coffins." "Now researchers can use CT scan three-dimensional imaging to determine the mummified figure without having to unwrap the shrouds." "This method allows scientists to detect previously unknown Egyptian burial practices, as well as the grave goods placed within the mummies." "If the tissue samples are uncontaminated or collagen is available for use, carbon-14 dating can estimate the age of the mummy, but removing impurities from the mummy material is difficult." "X-ray analysis can also provide valuable data about medical and dental diseases, estimate the age of death, and the biological changes, making modern scholars'' research more objective and rational." [Pharaoh: I never dreamed I would get a CT scan.] [I predict, within 100 years, all these researchers will die from the Pharaoh''s curse.] [I just want to know what it tastes like, whether it''s similar to beef jerky.] [I heard that Europeans used to soak mummies in honey and after they were well-soaked, they''d add it to pastries as a secret ingredient.] [Mummies were made using many aromatic preservatives, so it could be the taste of air-dried cumin beef.] [Cumin is indeed a spice.] [I made a decision that goes against our ancestors.] [Arabs checking on Ancient Egyptians'' nonexistent ancestors (Dog''s head).] "The mummy is another name for a dried corpse, and the Ancient Egyptians had their own unique system of divine worship, believing that after death one''s heart would be weighed by the gods; the soul would then enter reincarnation and finally attain eternal life in the body." "It was under the influence of this belief that the Ancient Egyptians made efforts to preserve the integrity of the body, to prevent the ''returning soul'' from being without a vessel." Cameras beside them snapped continuously at the mummy, and flashes of white light flickered incessantly in the pitch-black tomb. After one last glance that satisfied his curiosity, Bi Fang joined others at their invitation in moving the tomb''s grave goods. The variety of grave goods once again had the audience exclaiming in surprise. Until the next day, the white tent outside the cave was filled with various objects, and the number of people at the camp had also exceeded fifty; the overall progress of work had sped up significantly. The original low cave had been enlarged quite a bit, for the convenience of eventually moving the entire mummy with the coffin out completely. Time had passed too long; the mummy could only be moved horizontally. If tilted or jostled, the Pharaoh might completely fall apart. Chapter 842 838 Nile River Bi Fang rode the camel at a gallop through the desert, kicking up a storm of sand. The Pyramids shrank behind him, eventually vanishing over the horizon. Delayed by the mummy for two days, Bi Fang hadn''t forgotten the real task at hand; the system prompt for completing the crossing of the Sahara had yet to appear. The scenery gradually changed all around, from sand dunes to sandy plains, then to grasslands, where colors grew increasingly vivid and bright, as if distancing from the irritable world of endless yellow sand. Finally, the ever-filming drone in the sky captured a river flowing above the earth. Clumps of plants, resembling reeds, grew on one side of the riverbank, swaying in the wind, lush and vibrant. Summer, though scorching, was also a season brimming with vitality. Arching over a hill, Bi Fang gained a bird''s eye view of the profound and vast river from the summit¡ªthe longest river in the world. On seeing this incredibly wide river, the name reverberated in everyone''s mind simultaneously¡ªNile River! [Nile River! Nile River! Nile River!] [Go, go, go, success, truly crossed the Sahara!] [Number one in the world!!!] [This is what a world-class explorer is!!!] [Lord Mu gifts the host Spaceship *66¡ªNumber one in the world!!!] [Soar Above gifts the host Spaceship *6¡ªNumber one in the world!!!] [Fifteen Centimeters gifts the host Spaceship *1¡ªNumber one in the world!!!] Bi Fang dismounted from Alpha, slid down through the hill''s sand, stumbled a few steps, and then stopped at the riverbank. Two months, a full two months, he could distinctly feel the changes in his body, like a sponge constantly absorbing water, then being wrung out over and over again. Exhaustion, drowsiness, hunger, thirst, heat. Excitement, eagerness, satiety, moistness, shade. A complex web of emotions and physical sensations intertwined, creating a vast network of memories, trapping a ripe fruit within the forest of recollection, eventually hanging precariously until it fell from the branches into the soil below. Taking root, sprouting, branching out, unfurling leaves, it eventually grew into a towering tree, thoroughly becoming part of the forest. Bi Fang''s eyes grew increasingly bright and profound, his fatigue swept away in an instant. [Congratulations, host, for completing the task: A journey of thousands of miles, crossing death, abandoned tombs, reward calculation in progress...] [The final reward is: High-Order Skill Enhancement Coupon *2, Muscle Control Authority *1, Mitochondria Enhancement Coupon *1, Enhancement Points *3, Wilderness Points *5047.] Bi Fang revealed a joyful smile, basking in the rich harvest. But he momentarily suppressed the system prompt and refocused his attention on the river before him, a heroic spirit seeming to rise in his chest. "The northeastern part of Africa where Egypt is located is predominantly desert and gobi, with a dry climate and little rainfall, and even with today''s advanced technology, its development value is not significant." "It was the Nile River that forged the civilization of Ancient Egypt." "Sustained by the nurturing Nile River, the ancient Egyptians thrived and created a civilization unparalleled at the time." "The Nile is the longest river, but it provides limited freshwater resources, with an annual runoff of only 84 billion cubic meters, which is dwarfed by the 950 billion cubic meters annual runoff of our Yangtze River." "The amount of runoff determines the amount of basic resources¡ªfreshwater resources¡ªavailable for human production and life, while the size of the river basin directly determines the living space of human civilization." "Yet, it has a serendipitous flooding period." "The Nile regularly floods, with water levels in northern Sudan usually rising in May, reaching their peak in August, then gradually decreasing until May when the low water level period begins." "Although the floods occur regularly, the amount of water and the timing of the tide vary greatly." "The cause of this phenomenon is the seasonal torrential rains on the Ethiopian Highlands, which feed the Blue Nile and the Atbara River." The audience listened patiently. They knew that this three-month-long live broadcast was coming to an end. This might be the last live broadcast image. More than 80% of the Nile''s water is provided by the Ethiopian Highlands, with the rest coming from the lakes on the East African Plateau. When the floods arrived, they would inundate the farmlands on both banks; when the waters receded, they left behind a thick layer of silt, forming fertile soil. Four or five thousand years ago, Egyptians knew how to master the regularity of the floods and utilize the fertile land on both banks. For a long time, the Nile Valley was filled with contiguous cotton fields and fragrant rice flowers. Winding through the Sahara Desert and the Arabian Desert, the meandering Nile was like a green corridor, brimming with endless vitality. "The river carries the black earth from the East African Plateau down, only slowing down in the middle and lower reaches, forming a moist, fertile soil region." "Therefore, the ancient Egyptians needed only to scatter seeds in October, and nature itself would grant them a favor, resulting in a bountiful harvest in the following spring, and due to the hot climate, crops could yield an astonishing three harvests per year." "As recorded by the Greek Herodotus, the farmers there only needed to wait for the river to flood on its own, allowing the water to irrigate the fields before retreating back to the riverbed, then everyone would scatter seeds on their own land, letting pigs tread in the seeds; afterwards, it was just a matter of waiting for the harvest." [This is too funny.] [That Herodotus again, he has too much screen time.] [Maybe he''s being paid for appearances (dog''s head).] Bi Fang whistled, beckoning Alpha down from the hillside. The enormous Alpha looked at the steep slope, made multiple attempts, and finally, carefully stepping on the slope, slid down bit by bit to the riverbank. There, Bi Fang walked alongside the camel by the Nile, feeling the moisture hit his face, with each deep breath feeling like it moistened his lungs filled with sand. "This agricultural method, which relied on nature, was most suitable for the development level of early humans; the Egyptians in the Nile River Basin enjoyed the bounties of agriculture with ease during the primitive times, despite extremely low production technology." "With sufficient material foundation, ancient Egypt became the first to break away from the primitive tribal form on a global scale, establishing a slave-based state." "However, there are many rivers in the world, and it''s not just the Nile that floods; basically, each of the world''s four great rivers does so. But the Nile River Basin is in a typical tropical desert climate, which, although hot all year round, as long as there is water plus fertile soil, any time seeds are sown, crops naturally flourish." "Take our Yellow River as an example, although it floods regularly every summer and autumn, by the time the flood season ends, the weather has cooled and winter is so cold it even freezes." "As we all know, low temperatures are not suitable for the natural growth of crops." "By next spring and summer, when temperatures rise, the seedlings in the fields haven''t fully grown before the flood season comes again; at that time, dry land becomes rice fields, and the Loess Plateau, not being the Jiangnan Water Towns, can''t grow rice and only suffers." "Therefore, people in these areas could only find residence in the higher terrains of mountains and forests at that time, resulting in much reduced agricultural yields, lacking enough material assurance to construct relatively large and advanced state civilizations." "The tropical deserts that cover nearly all of Egypt''s territory outside the Nile River Basin also became an important factor in Egypt leading the world," he said. "Many might wonder whether tropical deserts are suitable for human habitation, which, of course, has its rationale, but exceptions arise in specific historical periods, under special environmental conditions." [Is it really that complicated?] [In the end, human development still depends on Earth being accommodating.] "It gets more complex," he continued. Bi Fang casually plucked off what looked like a reed of papyrus. "Tropical deserts have two characteristics; first, the mobility of sand ensures that it can fill in gullies but cannot build mountains, so desert regions are invariably flat. Don''t be fooled by the dunes; they may seem tall, but thirty or a hundred meters is just a small mound." S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Second, the extremely arid climate means deserts see astonishing levels of water evaporation, and sandy soils have good water-intake capacity and strong absorbance of surface water." "These two points might not seem crucial, but they''re extremely important for the formation and development of early civilization in Egypt." "With flat terrain, the Nile''s flooding could cover a larger area." "Furthermore, when the surrounding desert''s soil, enriched by the floodwaters during the flood season, gets washed by the Nile''s overflowing waters, fertile plains could potentially form." "After the Nile floods, due to the massive amounts of evaporation and the strong surface water absorption capabilities, combined with the natural characteristic of sand to erode mountains and fill in valleys, the areas around the Nile do not form large lakes or swamps post-flood." "To say the least, this might now seem a significant disadvantage due to the severe lack of natural water storage, but five to six thousand years ago, this very aspect hugely benefited the development of Egyptian civilization." Lakes and swamps have natural water storage capabilities, but are more challenging to utilize. To use them for agriculture requires humans to build dikes and dams and to dig channels for water diversion. As for swamps, they are even more difficult to convert into farmland. The Egyptians, thousands of years ago, depended heavily on the heavens for sustenance, with extremely backward technology and resource reserves, and were incapable of effectively utilizing lakes and swamps. Not to mention building dikes, they hardly knew how to use irrigation channels. They simply lacked the capability. The special geographical environment downstream of the Nile did not lend itself to forming large lakes or swamps. After the floodwaters had receded, the periphery was left with abundant water and fertile soil, making it an ideal place for rudimentary agriculture and allowing Egyptian farmers to sow and harvest to their hearts'' content. This was an advantage not possessed by many other regions. "In the middle and lower courses of the Yellow River, up until the time of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, humans were engaged in a desperate struggle against floods," he explained. "It was not until Yu the Great successfully managed the waters that we finally had sizable farmlands, able to gather enough resources to support the evolution from primitive tribes into a national civilization." "After Yu''s death, his son Qi established the Xia Dynasty, the first dynasty in Chinese history." [Yu the Great is awesome!!] [Society needs heroes like Yu!] [That''s how we do it!] Bi Fang smiled. "Huaxia faced greater survival pressures, so they had to quickly develop dike and canal technologies. Being able to use lakes turned out to be an advantage that allowed them to catch up and even surpass others later on." "The present tropical desert environment and the Nile River, where there''s hardly a good chance for humans to thrive, but times change, and a few thousand years ago, the ingenious combination of the two nurtured what was then the leading civilization of Ancient Egypt." "Expanding our view, we will find that the fundamental conditions of advanced civilizations in ancient times are strikingly similar to those of the Nile River." "Among the four great ancient civilizations, apart from Egypt, the areas of the lower reaches of the river basins of both the Tigris and Euphrates in Babylonia, and the lower reaches of the Indus River basin in India, are all combinations of large rivers and the tropical desert environment, with Huaxia being the exception." Those susceptible to great floods fled. Those that did not experience great floods did not develop higher technology. Only Huaxia was unique like a scorpion''s dung, not only did they not flee, but they also managed the floods. "Overall, due to the extreme limitations of early humans in transforming nature, the emergence and development of civilizations were highly dependent on the innate natural environment, rendering human subjective initiative incredibly small." "Under such circumstances, only where the innate environment was very suitable and humans needed only to master a few low-level farming skills to produce enough food, could a civilization emerge first." "So everything is not static, always changing." "In the early development of civilizations, this combination of tropical deserts with large rivers had obvious advantages, but as human civilization progressed, its drawbacks gradually became apparent." "The potential for development in desertified land is ultimately limited. Once human technology developed to the point where it could fully exploit more challenging areas such as marshlands, Egypt would be overtaken by the newcomers." "Among the four great ancient civilizations, Huaxia''s emergence was relatively late, but it soon surpassed the others to become the leader." "Indian civilization rose in the Indus River basin, but its center of civilization moved as the Ganges River basin was developed." "The region of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Babylonia maintained a first-rate geopolitical position in the Middle East, but this preservation largely depended on its geographic location. However, based on its own productive potential, it was left far behind by China and India." "Although Egypt was a forerunner among the four great ancient civilizations, it also experienced the most thorough decline." "As other regions were successively developed, surpassing Egypt in overall strength, and when these regions developed the geopolitical strength to expand outward, Egypt became the target of foreign conquest." "Persia, Macedon, Rome, Byzantine, Arab powers, the Ottoman Empire, all forcefully incorporated Egypt into their territories." [Sigh, the wheel of fortune turns.] [There is no empire that lasts forever.] [Is it coming to an end?] Bi Fang peeled off the outer skin of a piece of papyrus stem he had casually plucked, then used a knife to cut it into strips along its growth direction, and placed them crisscrossed. "See this ''reed'' in my hand? It''s not actually a reed, but papyrus, a plant that greatly resembles reeds and is abundantly found in the Nile Delta." "Like I''m cutting and then interleaving it, followed by beating it with a mallet to let the sap seep out, after drying, these strips will stick together permanently, and finally, using pumice to polish, it can be used as paper." "This is papyrus, the most advanced writing material in the world at that time, becoming an important document for scholars to study Ancient Egyptian civilization in later generations." "However, because papyrus is not suitable for folding into books, many papyrus sheets had to be glued together into long strips, and after being written on, rolled into a scroll." "So we often see that some of the ancient Western documents are scrolls, if it was in ancient times, perhaps my adventure this time would be recorded on such a scroll and passed down through the ages, right?" Bi Fang concluded with a small piece of knowledge and without further delay, saluted the drone rising higher and flying across the Nile with a two-finger gesture. "This story ends here for now, but it''s not really the end. I am Bi Fang, and I''ll see you next time." Accompanied by the drone flying over the Nile, passing through a small oasis, Bi Fang eventually became a speck. And disappeared from view. Chapter 843 839: Mitochondria Bi Fang rode his camel to a huge campsite. He had returned to the location where he had previously discovered the ancient tomb. Bi Fang was in no rush to go back; he still wanted to see how the tomb''s development would unfold. Walking along the Nile River, he couldn''t be sure when he would find a town, so it seemed better to catch a ride at the campsite. Vaziri and the others likely wouldn''t refuse¡ªin fact, they would probably welcome him. Sure enough, Vaziri came out of the tomb specially to greet Bi Fang on his return, and took him on a tour of the campsite under construction. A day had passed, and the construction here had already begun in full swing. Looking around, there were at least a dozen white tents erected on the sand, and these were not ordinary camping tents that claimed to be all-in-one, but rather, mobile structures similar to Mongolian yurts, supported by huge tent canvas. Two huge trucks and a water storage truck were parked outside the campsite. Equipment was being moved down from them and dust kicked up in some areas. In the center of the camp, Bi Fang also saw two white plastic barrels at least three meters high. These were devices filled with fresh water, connected below to various simple water pipes leading to each tent, providing easy access to water for use, even for showering. "There''s no need to worry about running out of water, you can even shower¡ªit''s near the closest town, less than three hundred kilometers away," Vaziri proudly said. Egypt has many relics, and they are very concentrated, mostly on the west side of the Nile River. Because the ancient Egyptians held a special reverence for the Nile River, they chose the west bank as they believed it was where the sun set, the city of the dead, where the deceased would return to life. Therefore, as they often needed to work outdoors, having these conventional tents to provide as much convenience as possible was necessary. Transportation was also very convenient; it only needed a few trucks traveling near the Nile River. Scholars and professors didn''t want to miserably eat dust in the yellow sand; obviously, they arrived as comfortably as possible. Before leaving, Bi Fang saw that the campsite was quite large, which was one of the reasons he decided to return. Otherwise, he wouldn''t be happy to squeeze into a small tent with a group of sweaty men who had been busy all day. Endurance through hardship is a virtue, but it is not necessary. Hardship is merely hardship, nothing else; contemplating hardship is what truly has value. After hundreds of billions of years of slumber, humans finally woke up on this spectacular planet. Imbued with radiant colors and bountiful life. Yet within decades, they would close their eyes again. Such rare fortunate ones won among many possibilities to be born should naturally choose the life they want. Otherwise, wouldn''t it be too sad? Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After a brief stroll around the campsite, Bi Fang told Vaziri he wanted to rest. After walking through the desert for over two months, Bi Fang was indeed very tired, and Vaziri was understanding. He immediately arranged for someone to take him to a tent that was not the largest, but had the best facilities. Bi Fang moved Alpha to a newly built shed nearby, had someone prepare some water and food for it, and then proceeded alone into the tent, where his eyes were immediately opened wide. The cylindrical structure of the tent made the interior look spacious and bright. The aluminum frame and nylon fabric were sturdy and light. The harsh sunlight penetrated the thick layer of fabric, leaving just the right amount of good visual light. A single bed was placed on one side, with a simple desk and long bench equipped with a lamp on the right, and on the left was a wooden barrel with a water faucet attached to a plastic water pipe. It was clear that the plastic pipeline connected the two large water barrels in the center of a dozen tents. The ground was bare sand, which wasn''t really a bad thing; it actually added a touch of interest. Though the furnishings were very simple, they appeared precious in the desert and could surely be considered luxurious. Bi Fang took a few steps forward and lay straight down on the bed, his body''s heat was drawn away as his bones stretched out comfortably, making stiff creaking sounds, and his solid muscles softened. After squinting his eyes shut for a while, Bi Fang jumped up from the bed, went outside the tent, and saw that Alpha had already begun eating the forage provided by the staff. Then he turned back to the room, filled the wooden barrel with water, and prepared to take a good bath. There was no hot water, nor was it needed. During the day, the weather was hot and the fresh water left outdoors had been heated to scalding temperatures; jumping in would wash him off. After bathing, Bi Fang borrowed a brand-new razor and scissors from someone and tidied up his personal appearance in front of the mirror. Even in the wilderness, Bi Fang shaved, but using a knife never got it completely clean, often leaving one or two millimeters of stubble. The same was true for his hair, which he had only cut once with a knife since Nemo Point until today. Now, with more convenient tools, Bi Fang found his head feeling instantly refreshed, his chin smooth again, numerous strands of hair falling down, and only some stubble remained on the sides of his temples, making him look revived. Having done it so many times himself, Bi Fang had already developed quite a good skill. Although there were many hairstyles he couldn''t accomplish, giving himself a neat, short haircut was not difficult. After finishing, Bi Fang rinsed off under the faucet, washing away the excess cut hair, then put on the new clothes that had just been delivered, a T-shirt, and large shorts that didn''t really demand much of a fit and were about the same when worn. Once he was all set, Bi Fang sat at the desk and opened the system panel. Two combo missions, plus a straight mission, the rewards distributed all at once were undoubtedly very generous. [The final rewards are: 2 High-Order Skill Enhancement Coupons, 1 Muscle Control Enhancement Coupon, 1 Mitochondria Enhancement Coupon, 5 Enhancement Points, 5047 Wilderness Points.] Considering the Skill Enhancement Coupons, Bi Fang decided to put them all into his Wilderness Traveler skill, fully upgrading it to an orange, max level. After a brainstorm, Bi Fang reopened his eyes, his gaze carrying a hint of joy. Wilderness Traveler was his cornerstone; this skill now could almost be said to be perfected, and as for the next higher red tier, Bi Fang hadn''t yet found a way to advance to it. If it weren''t for the System asserting its reality, Bi Fang might have suspected it was fictitious. High-Order Skill Enhancements, besides needing coupons, also required an Enhancement Point, and at this moment, Bi Fang was left with his last three points: he added one to his strength and two to his intellect. Not to mention the Wilderness Points just yet; those were mostly tossed into the store. Bi Fang shifted his gaze to the main attractions of this reward session, one Muscle Control Enhancement Coupon, and one Mitochondria Enhancement Coupon. Such enhancement coupons aimed at specific areas had always been gems among gems. Their chance of appearing in the store was so low it was infuriating; across two years, with Bi Fang frequently refreshing the store, they had never appeared. Thus, it was clear, receiving them from missions was the only way to gain these highest rewards. Muscle Control Enhancement Coupon. As the name suggested, it would increase the control over one''s muscles, allowing for more detailed micro-manipulations. Human muscles are extremely complex. The strength of muscles shows in many ways, such as Absolute Strength, Speed Strength, Endurance Strength, and Dynamic Strength. Dynamic Strength refers to the strength that can maintain more frequent movements. The epitome of Absolute Strength is the masseter muscle. In 1986, a man in Florida released a jaw pressure of 442 kilograms in just 2 seconds, setting a world record. The epitome of Dynamic Strength is the extraocular muscles. These muscles can pull the eyeball at least 10,000 times in the process of reading a book for an hour, and humans can keep reading for several hours straight. According to studies, the movement of extraocular muscles during movie watching is even more frequent than while reading, well exceeding 10,000 times per hour, and ordinary people can also watch movies for several hours. An unmeasurable champion of Absolute Strength is the uterine muscle. The intense contractions during childbirth generate the strongest force in the human body, but this force is influenced by hormones and other biochemical factors, making it unmeasurable. The heart muscle is the king of stamina because it beats from birth until death. The most powerful isolated muscle is the gluteus maximus. The gluteus maximus is the primary anti-gravity muscle that maintains human upright posture. Every upright action completed by humans requires the force of the gluteus maximus. There are also the calf soleus muscles. The calf muscles are the strongest in terms of external force, not because the calf muscles themselves can produce much strength, but because the toes serve as the fulcrum when raising the heels, utilizing the principle of a force-saving lever, exhibiting great external force. Most of the skeletal muscles in the human body pull on bones using energy-intensive levers; thus, the calf muscles, being one of the few force-saving levers, often stand out. The king of muscle functionality has to be the tongue. Rich in nerves and blood vessels, the tongue consists of eight muscles, making it a truly versatile muscle in the human body. These muscles are indeed incredible but also cannot function without skilled control. If control could be enhanced, their performance would definitely improve to a higher level. In the wilderness, this could save physical energy and provide a significant enhancement to the body itself. One clear benefit is that Bi Fang could get more muscles to work together, achieving higher bursts and attack effects. An interesting notion is that if humans could fully utilize each muscle, the total strength of the body could reach twenty-five tons. Of course, that''s a baseless claim. It''s not because the body structure can''t support it, but because it''s impossible for a person to use the force of sphincter muscles in a straight punch, which is not only morally wrong but also extremely impolite. Moreover, many of these involve energy-intensive levers. However, the fact that this idea has spread also proves that human potential is indeed higher than many people think. Using the Muscle Control Enhancement Coupon. The coupon transformed into a beam of golden light in his mind, which then shattered loudly, turning into countless fragments of golden dust flowing deep into his body. Sitting on a stool, Bi Fang quickly felt his body temperature rise, and soon he was sweating profusely, parched and tongue-tied, grabbing a water bottle next to him and guzzling it down, one bottle after another. It wasn''t until he had consumed nearly three liters of water and was about to add salt to it that his body''s changes gradually subsided, and the temperature began to decrease. Supporting his somewhat swollen brain, the freshly bathed Bi Fang had no choice but to stand under the tap and rinse off again, the streaming water falling from the thick plastic board onto the desert below, quickly evaporating. "Phew!" Bi Fang took a deep breath and promptly felt something different. His breathing deepened. Taking a few steps, he felt lighter, as if it took no effort, almost as if he were walking on clouds. Then he jumped, ran, did deep squats, backflipped, and did a one-handed handstand. One by one, movements that looked strenuous to ordinary people were performed with ease by Bi Fang. These moves weren''t challenging for Bi Fang before the enhancement, and his physical condition allowed him to do them easily, but now they were done with even more ease. And... Bi Fang did a one-handed handstand with his right hand held behind his back, deliberately destabilizing himself, yet his body made a series of tiny adjustments and didn''t move at all. "Amazing." Bi Fang muttered to himself. The combination of muscle control enhancement and enhanced balance had effects greater than the sum of their parts, like standing normally on one hand! Bi Fang even realized he hadn''t broken a sweat! It felt incredible! The expansion of his abilities was like expanding his living space¡ªthe range of actions he could perform increased significantly, providing him both physical and mental ease as if there was nothing he couldn''t do with this newfound power. Bi Fang resumed his position with both hands on the ground, then bent his arms, coordinated his waist and abdomen, and flipped upright from his handstand position. It was as unbelievable as something out of an animation. After moving his body around, Bi Fang managed to control his excitement and turned his attention to the Mitochondria Enhancement Coupon. Mitochondria¡­ Upon seeing this coupon, Bi Fang couldn''t quite believe his eyes initially. Anyone who has studied biology knows the significant role of mitochondria¡ªthey are the direct functional entities of biological activities! Mitochondria act as the cell''s energy factories, primarily consuming oxygen to "burn" three main nutrients: carbohydrates, lipids, and amino acids, to generate an energy "currency"¡ªAdenosine Triphosphate (ATP). This process is aerobic respiration. Without mitochondria, humans would not exist, as the life processes of higher organisms require a vast amount of energy, and anaerobic glycolysis produces only about 1/16 of the ATP made by aerobic oxidation. A person needs to break down an amount of ATP equivalent to their body weight every day. This ATP is not stored in the body; the total mass of ATP molecules in the human body is only around 50 grams. In fact, each ATP molecule is reused about 1,000-1,500 times a day. Such rapid energy turnover relies on the efficient work of mitochondria. But that only scratches the surface of what mitochondria do. Humans have lived up to 122 years so far, yet some animals can live over 500 years. What exactly determines the lifespan of humans? What is making us age, and what is preventing us from living indefinitely? Numerous biologists have followed one another in studying aging, attempting to unlock the secrets of longevity, and to date, many hypotheses have been put forward, among which the free radical aging theory is the most famous. Free radicals are produced during cellular reactions. Every day that humans breathe, they generate free radicals, and the more free radicals, the more they may accelerate aging. And the primary source of free radicals is the powerhouse itself¡ªmitochondria. What does its enhancement entail? For the first time, Bi Fang found himself deep in thought. Chapter 844 840: Return to the Country Regarding the origin of mitochondria, Bi Fang knew of a very interesting hypothesis. Mitochondria used to be bacterial organelles in eukaryotic cells and have an endosymbiotic relationship with humans. Simply put, a long, long time ago, mitochondria were independent organisms that, by chance, combined with humans and eventually became part of the human body. To this day, they still maintain a certain degree of "independence." Evidence of this is that mitochondria and the human genome are entirely different matters. The mitochondrial genome is 16,569 in length, encoding 37 genes, mainly related to the respiratory chain. The human nuclear genome is 3 billion in length, encoding 20-30 thousand genes, including all content. There is no homology between the two sequences. And the genomes of other tissues within the human body are all from the human nuclear genome. Modern biological classification''s gold standard is based on the genome rather than external characteristics, precisely because many past classification methods were prone to errors. Some that look different are actually the same genus, while some that look very similar are actually far apart in classification. For example, treeshrews, which look like mice, are actually close relatives of humans, while Tibetan Mastiffs and teacup dogs appear to be completely different species, the latter''s reproductive organs are not even as large as the former''s, yet there is no reproductive isolation. However, endosymbiosis is not the same as parasitism, these are two different things. Single-celled organisms need to absorb material and energy to survive. Just like "big fish eat small fish, and small fish eat shrimps," large cells also consume small cells. This process is called "phagocytosis." Phagocytosis is closely related to the fluidity of the cell membrane, where the engulfed matter is enveloped by a layer of cell membrane and brought into the cell interior, where the cell performs a series of operations to break it down and use it, then expelling it from the cell, a process called exocytosis. What if the swallowed entity is a small cell? The small cell is ingested but not digested, and it ends up living symbiotically within the large cell, and this is endosymbiosis. Some genes can be absorbed and integrated by the human body, but once integrated, they form a new system, no longer distinguishing between self and other, and obeying the expression and regulation of the entire system. To isolate mitochondria now, they can no longer revert to the original bacteria and primal life forms. This situation is actually quite common, as there are many such markers in the human genome. Just like millions of years ago, viruses that invaded the human genome changed the patterns of gene activation and deactivation in human embryonic stem cells. About 1.5 billion years ago, a large ancient prokaryote with phagocytic capabilities engulfed an aerobic, smaller, ancestral prokaryote. Engulfing is fine, but safety is important; it wouldn''t be good if the ingested organism counterattacked. The ancestral prokaryote might have had a series of stress changes to protect itself. For example, a large amount of invagination of the cell membrane formed an early endoplasmic reticulum system, thereby restricting the activity of the ingested bacteria. The early endoplasmic reticulum system further specialized, encapsulating the cell''s genetic material to form the nucleus. The ancestral prokaryote became the ancestral eukaryote. Some aerobic bacteria that were ingested not only went undigested but also gradually survived within the large, ancestral prokaryotic cell. Perhaps the aerobic bacteria thought having a home was quite nice and squatted in the ancestral cell without leaving. Being a living organism is fairly simple, why go through the trouble when you can just do whatever is comfortable? And the ancestral cell could also accept this, like raising a pet, although it had to provide food and shelter, it could gain the energy and products from glycolysis of the aerobic bacteria, which wasn''t a loss. Thus, the two types of organisms formed a mutually dependent symbiosis, which was beneficial to both parties. In this way, over the course of long-term evolution, the ingested organism transitioned from parasitism to symbiosis, ultimately resulting in mitochondria. The evidence supporting this theory mainly comes from comparing mitochondria and true bacteria, finding many similarities between them. Similar in size. They reproduce by binary fission. They have similar covalent, closed, circular DNA. Ribosome size and structure are similar, with the same sedimentation coefficient. Protein synthesis can be inhibited by antibiotics. Additionally, the endosymbiotic theory can also explain why mitochondria have double membranes, but not exactly how most people think; both layers of membranes may come from bacteria. However, this is just the most widely accepted academic hypothesis and is not conclusive. Bi Fang cast aside his complicated thoughts. Thinking more wouldn''t be of any use, as eventually, they had to be utilized. Using the enhancement ticket, the same process as before appeared in his mind. This time, the enhancement seemed more subtle compared to muscle control enhancement. Not only did his entire body not feel hot, but it felt as if he had entered the cool autumn. After everything was over, Bi Fang''s mind was filled with additional information, and he suddenly understood the direct effect of the ticket. It increased and optimized the energy supply efficiency of mitochondria, and could further enhance efficiency when the body was in crisis. Simply put, it was like going berserk. Similar to how adrenaline would be secreted in large quantities at critical moments, enhancing one''s strength, speed, and reaction, mitochondria functioned in the same manner. It was like getting a double dose of adrenaline, able to unleash even greater strength and energy. As for whether there were extra effects, such as life extension, that was unknown. Bi Fang himself was inclined to believe that such effects existed, after all, the System''s enhancements were always powerful. "Sigh." Taking a deep breath, Bi Fang felt refreshed and energized, yet his eyelids also became heavy, feeling drowsy. The sun hadn''t even set yet, but Bi Fang still chose to go to bed and sleep. In the evening, a staff member outside the tent called Bi Fang to come and eat. Groggily, Bi Fang opened his eyes, still very sleepy from his interrupted sleep, but his growling stomach voiced its protests. After a brief struggle, Bi Fang still chose to decline, indicating that he needed more rest. If he had agreed, he couldn''t just eat and return to sleep, that group of professors would definitely invite Bi Fang for a long talk, and it would be hours before he could return to bed. Bi Fang had experienced this many times and felt deeply about it. Not until the following afternoon did Bi Fang get up from bed. Waking up feeling refreshed and energized, he washed up and happened to catch lunchtime. There was no happier moment than this. After feeding some fodder to Alpha, Bi Fang set out for the dining hall. Inside the white, spacious tent, simple square dining tables were neatly arranged, with people arriving in succession. They filled their plates at the stainless steel containers and then chose seats to sit down. Bi Fang served himself double portions and chose a seat at one corner; although this was still not enough for him, a single plate couldn''t hold any more food. There was no need to trouble others to wash several plates, after all, it was free, and he could come back several times. "Mr. Fang, how was your rest?" Just as Bi Fang sat down, Vaziri also came with his plate to sit diagonally opposite him, scooping up chickpea paste and greeting him. Vaziri had indeed planned to entertain Bi Fang well the day before, but the latter hadn''t shown up. Yet even though Bi Fang didn''t come, nobody thought he was being insensitive to the context. Anyone who had trekked through the vast Sahara for more than two months would want to get a good sleep at the end. It would be stupid to insist on getting someone up for socializing, especially when it was known that before crossing the Sahara, that person had drifted at sea for over a month, which was even more understandable. "Very well, this is the most comfortable sleep I''ve had in these three months." Bi Fang gave a thumbs-up while forking a pigeon, skin, flesh, bones, and all, chewing it raw, his mouth salivating. Having been hungry for twenty-four hours, consuming such a feast was utterly satisfying, like gulping down a large glass of ice water on a scorching summer day when thirsty, or like sipping on steaming lamb broth on a cold winter day. Egypt is a typical Arab country, adhering to Islam, so it''s almost impossible to find pork or related foods, and they also don''t eat any animal organs or undercooked food, so sashimi and the like have no market in Egypt. Drunkards would also suffer pain in Egypt, since the local beverages are alcohol-free and Egyptians prohibit drinking. Despite many taboos, they cannot in the least affect the Egyptian passion for good food. The local cuisine is strong in flavor, with chili, curry, black pepper, and more as staples of most dishes, and Egyptians love rich, smoky, and smooth foods. In this regard, the tastes favor Bi Fang''s palate. Furthermore, the food here is quite abundant. With academics and government workers among them, it''s impossible for the food to be mediocre, with every kind of meat available. Seeing Bi Fang gobbling down his food, Vaziri''s smile grew even wider. Almost everyone has an inner desire to recommend their favorite things to others and to receive praise afterwards, gaining a sense of validation. At this moment, Vaziri''s heart carried that light joy. "Roasted pigeon is a dish that the groom must eat at our weddings. We stuff the pigeon''s belly with rice and fava beans, and the baked pigeon comes out tender, juicy, and fragrant." "There''s another way to prepare it, with pigeon meat, onions, tomatoes, and rice cooked together in a clay pot." Bi Fang gave a thumbs-up, swallowing a piece of pigeon wing along with the bones, and praised, "I must try this when I have time." "Our kebabs here are also excellent and very popular. They''re made from choice lamb meat brushed with seasonings of salt, pepper, olive oil, and more, then cut into small cubes and skewered on iron spikes. The roasted kebabs come out golden, shiny, incredibly aromatic, and very juicy. While eating, you can dip them in sauce." Vaziri went off to the side and came back with a plate of grilled kebabs. Bi Fang hadn''t noticed such a thing over there earlier; it seemed to be a "special treatment" given by Vaziri. For such formalities, Bi Fang has only one thing to say. Bring on more! Bi Fang did not hesitate to pick them up and gnaw away. The sheep meat was minced, seasoned with spices, then skewered and roasted, the resulting meat was fragrant and tantalizing. After eating, he could also have a bowl of Molokhia. A green, thick soup made from jute leaves, where the jute leaves are crushed and cooked together with lamb, chicken, or rabbit meat, butter, spring onions, and other ingredients. The cooked jute soup is somewhat sticky, but delicious in taste, can be flavored with garlic when eating, and paired with the kebabs, it''s excellent for counteracting greasiness. Then, under Vaziri''s amazed gaze, Bi Fang wolfed down a serving meant for several people and let out a rather inelegant belch. "I''d heard long ago that Egypt is the Land of Spices, and it truly lives up to its reputation!" "Along the way, I saw many different kinds of spices, but unfortunately there weren''t enough to collect." "That''s really too bad." Vaziri couldn''t hide his regret. The Sahara wasn''t completely barren, although most farmers and city dwellers around the world thought of it as an empty expanse, difficult to cultivate and unfit for habitation, not of much use to present-day humans. But this vast land wasn''t worthless to humans. For thousands of years, this arid land had produced something extremely valuable: spices. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Spices had numerous uses: they could be eaten, smelled, and even used to embalm mummies. Like cinnamon and star anise, they could not only be used in cooking but also to make sachets. When it came to the history of using spices, when the Pharaohs of Egypt had started using spices, the nobility of Europe were still picking berries. Observing Egyptian wall paintings revealed that the Pharaohs'' daily routine probably consisted of: holding a jar of spices today, two jars tomorrow, and then showing off to those without the next day, clearly having the time of their lives. Chemical ecologists believed that the high temperatures and dry climate were more advantageous than detrimental for the evolution of aromatic plants containing benzene-ring compounds. The scent emitted from the leaves of many aromatic plants could possibly help them withstand heat, drought, and damage from herbivorous animals. In the plants of arid climates, these fragrant and high-volatility chemical substances were more concentrated than in plants from other areas. Combined with the body odor issues of the Egyptians, the desert, under human cultivation, had become the perfect growing ground for the most potent aromatic plants in the world. So, along the way, Bi Fang had collected quite a few spice seeds, but since there were many types and only a small amount of each, he was reluctant to use them in cooking. Now, at last, he had satisfied his craving. After dinner, Vaziri and Bi Fang chatted away about the trip and also discussed the intentions for the subsequent excavation of the tomb before Vaziri left. Before leaving, he once again invited Bi Fang to the bonfire party that evening. Bi Fang had intended to decline, but upon hearing from Vaziri that there would be a roasted whole sheep that evening, he couldn''t refuse such generosity and reluctantly agreed. The next day, a content Bi Fang chose to leave by catching a ride on a truck carrying fresh water. As for Alpha, it was entrusted to another truck for transportation. Before departing, Bi Fang gifted Vaziri a Flint Stone dagger he had crafted by hand, as a token of gratitude for the past two days'' hospitality. After spending two more days in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, Bi Fang bought a plane ticket and returned home, while Alpha, because it was being shipped specially, would only arrive a day later. The moment he opened the door, Bi Fang could hear the pattering of paws on the floor. Then, a few fluffy big dogs surged down the stairs like a white flood, all rushing towards Bi Fang. Clearly, after three months apart, even with the daily feeding by the housekeeper, Fugui and Wangcai had not forgotten their old master. Next, Bi Fang found himself engulfed in a sea of Tibetan Mastiffs, struggling to breathe and faced with wet, slippery tongues everywhere. From all directions, even Bi Fang, the Wilderness Master, struggled to break free for several minutes before he felt the dogs'' enthusiasm wane somewhat. "That''s enough," Bi Fang stretched out his hand and grabbed Goudan''s snout, "Tomorrow I''ll take you guys out to the club for some fun, and you can meet some new friends along the way." With Alpha''s oversized body, it was inconvenient to keep him at home. So Bi Fang planned to house him at the club. Since it wasn''t far, he could visit often, and he figured Alpha would prefer a more open space anyway. Chapter 845 841: Master Fangs Little Zoo After a simple welcoming ceremony, Bi Fang found the bag of dog food and fed them some. "Goudan, have you gotten fatter?" Bi Fang pinched the back of its neck, brought it back after it finished eating from its own bowl and was about to steal from the others'', and weighed it. Three months had passed, and Bi Fang wasn''t quite sure if the original weight felt the same as now. Seeing that the food in the other dogs'' bowls had been eaten, the Erha that was picked up howled sadly, lowered its head dejectedly, looking listless. After roughly rubbing Dog''s head, Bi Fang put it down and played with a few other big dogs for a while. An hour later, Bi Fang packed up his luggage, then began to tend to his aquarium and terrarium. That evening, he cooked a few dishes and had a simple meal. The weather was too hot; even with the air conditioning on, the six large dogs still seemed lethargic and laid down wherever they could in the house, their fluffy fur spreading out. Bi Fang figured it might be necessary to give them a haircut. The next morning, Bi Fang took out six dog leashes, tied each one, and took the six dogs majestically to the pet store, creating an impressive scene. Seeing Fugui, who initially looked spirited, come out shaking like a sieve, Goudan also started shivering. Living in the Arctic, they had never encountered the need to have their hair cut because of hot summers. "It''s not like I shaved you bald," Bi Fang kicked Fugui at his feet playfully, finding it amusing. Shaving and trimming are different, and dogs can regulate their body temperature well. A dog, especially one with double-coated or thick fur, might feel cold if suddenly shaved completely on a hot day, and would curl up in a shady place. Bi Fang knew all this, so he didn''t let the pet store trim too short, but left more than half, effectively cooling them off without spoiling their looks too much, which actually made them look more impressive. In the end, even Erha, with the shortest-looking fur, couldn''t escape a trim. This guy, compared to an Alaska or Siberian husky, just looked to have shorter fur, but actually had three layers, which were very thick. By noon, all six large dogs had been trimmed, and when leaving, the pet store didn''t even charge Bi Fang but only asked to take a photo of him with the six dogs to display in the store. Bi Fang didn''t refuse, and then took the six silly dogs home, drove out a half-pickup truck, and prepared to head to the Wilderness Club. A regular family car or even an SUV couldn''t fit six large dogs, for which Bi Fang had to specifically buy a half-pickup truck. A half-pickup is the type with a driver''s seat in the front and a cargo bed in the back, a typical example being Ugly Country''s Ford Raptor. Then Bi Fang crammed all six dogs into the back, pressed the gas pedal, and headed for the club. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the same time, the truck transporting Alpha arrived at the privately rented hillside behind the club, and Yao Jun had been waiting there early, watching the transporters carefully lead the blindfolded Alpha down. When Bi Fang arrived, he just saw Yao Jun riding Alpha. "You really are bold," Bi Fang opened the car door and got out, "In theory, Alpha is still a wild camel. Apart from me, you''re the only other person who''s ridden it." Bi Fang was able to ride Alpha because he had personally captured and tamed it. Wild animals always submit to more powerful beings. Even tigers are no exception. Alpha was indeed very calm in front of Bi Fang, but whether it was willing to be ridden by others was still unknown. "Seems like Alpha and I are quite fated," Yao Jun replied, delighted rather than frightened, got off Alpha, and led it to Bi Fang''s side. "Well, just so you know, if you get kicked, it''s not my problem." "Too cruel, I''m your top brother!" Yao Jun secretly felt heartbroken, "Truly a waste to pour out my heart to a dog." "What''s with the top brother, want me to dance for you?" "Hold on, I want to record this." "Get lost." Bi Fang went straight to the back of the car, pulled out the pins, lowered the partition, and let six dogs out. As the six dogs jumped out of the pickup, they also lunged toward Yao Jun, licking his hands and face. On the days Bi Fang was absent, walking the dogs was mainly Yao Jun''s responsibility, and the two sides had gotten quite familiar with each other. But the dogs quickly spotted the vast land, and suddenly they ran wildly, their fur flying in the wind, elegant and lively. Even though the villa with its courtyard was large, it was still confined within a building, nowhere near as broad as the horizon they could now see. Since the area was secluded with few people around, Bi Fang let them run freely. "The ranch behind the mountain recently started housing camels together, and I''ve opened a new room in the stable to accommodate Alpha. I think the two are pretty similar, and you don''t have to worry about the diet; professionals handle that." "What about the breeding season?" Initially, Bi Fang had tamed Alpha mainly by convincing him that following the humans in front of him would be more comfortable than living alone in the desert. Since a promise was made, it certainly had to be kept. Not just food and drink, everything needed consideration. Yao Jun thought for a moment: "Maybe bring in a couple more camels? Or we could borrow some from the Desert Pavilion as needed." The entire club occupied a vast area, nearly a thousand hectares, including the club, hunting grounds, Magic Capital Aquarium, Jungle Pavilion, and Desert Pavilion. Magic Capital Aquarium was an expanded relocation of the previous one, and each had no small capacity. The Desert Pavilion had also started raising iconic desert animals like camels early on. Ah, and now there was also a ranch, further increasing its size. Given the considerable area, it wasn''t actually extravagant, especially considering Disney next door covered hundreds more. "That would work." "You''ve got it easy here, just nodding your head." "More work for the capable, plus I''m tired after each livestream." "Alright then, I should be compensated for my efforts. Did you bring me any cool stuff this time?" "I saved an ostrich feather shawl for you." "Wu Hu!" Bi Fang and Yao Jun went to the stable to briefly check Alpha''s new home, nodding in satisfaction. "Alpha doesn''t always have to stay in the stable; it can come out for walks and greet guests, which is fine. Animals need exercise." "Free activity time should not be less than ten hours daily, work hours should ideally not exceed four per day, total weekly hours should not surpass twenty-five, and each load shouldn''t exceed one hundred kilograms. Basically, ensure as much freedom and comfort as possible, don''t see it as a profit center; we don''t rely on this to make money." While discussing, Bi Fang let the stable workers take notes. Seeing such benefits, they even felt a touch of envy inside. Damn! Feasting and enjoying, plus romantic times with a female camel, is this the life of a camel winner? How come I''m not even as good as a single camel! To earn this month''s salary, several people suppressed the urge to slam their pens down and recorded each benefit of Alpha the camel. The camels in the Gobi worked incredibly hard every day because their breeders needed them to turn a profit, but not Bi Fang. He didn''t care about making a loss on Alpha; he was not short of money and could afford to keep a group without any issue. The only reason to use Alpha to receive visitors was to ensure he got enough exercise. Of course, if Alpha''s gimmick brought in more visitors, that was a bonus. After setting up Alpha, Bi Fang led a sleek black horse out of the stables, its muscles rippling like flowing water¡ªan obviously fine horse. He immediately grabbed a set of arrows and prepared to gallop through the hunting grounds with Yao Jun. As a Wilderness Traveler, Bi Fang had automatically mastered a myriad of beast taming and riding skills, surpassing anyone raised on horseback. As for Yao Jun, this playboy might not excel in much else, but he knew plenty about wooing girls and various outdoor sports. Although not a master horseman, he was no weakling. Seeing Bi Fang emerge, the six dogs running about the grass stopped, insanely panting and then turned to follow the two men. "Having ridden camels for so long, riding horses really doesn''t feel as comfortable." Bi Fang savored the experience on horseback. Although modern saddles adhered to ergonomics¡ªoffering much more comfort than the self-made ones in the wilderness¡ªthey still couldn''t match the natural fat cushions of camels. Not to mention the stability was also less. Camels walked in a manner entirely different from horses; their backs remained almost steady, which was why one could confidently transport goods on them. But horses were different; their backs moved rhythmically when they ran, and while good riders could manage, it took effort. "You really are hard to please." Yao Jun drew his bow and aimed at a rabbit eating in a bush in the distance using the optical sight on his bow arm. A rubber-tipped arrow shot out, hissing into the soil instead of hitting the rabbit or even the electromagnetic induction range. The startled rabbit bolted. Goudan and Fugui quickly chased after, but even faster was another arrow, slicing through the air and hitting the rabbit on the side, flipping it over. Before it could get up, the electromagnetic collar at its neck detected the arrow, emitted a current, and stunned the rabbit. By the time Goudan arrived, ready to carry the prey back for a reward, the collar had not stopped electrifying; it shocked Erha so hard that he yelped. "Hahaha, silly dog!" Yao Jun laughed loudly then his gaze shifted glumly toward Bi Fang''s bare bow arm, devoid of any aiming device. The disparities between people are even greater than between humans and dogs. In the end, it was Fugui who happily trotted back carrying the now non-electrifying rabbit, earning an envious look from Goudan and a bone from Bi Fang. Bi Fang, putting the stunned rabbit into a cage, asked, "Nothing serious has happened recently, right?" He believed he had made the rules of the hunting grounds as perfect as possible, but one always had to beware of accidents. The arrows all had rubber tips that, even if shooting someone, would not cause serious injury unless hitting the eye. Hitting the rabbit''s collar, the electrical discharge of the collar was also mild, only capable of stunning. Humans would only feel a slight sting if they accidentally touched it. There was even a prohibition on children under twelve entering. "No big incidents, just a few accidental injuries, but nothing serious,¡ªjust some scratches. Our medical staff handled it promptly, and no one made a fuss." "Most who come here are mentally prepared for bumps and bruises. Plus, a large number of visitors are your fans; even if someone did cause a fuss, they wouldn''t get much support or sympathy." Yao Jun smiled, clearly more aware of these matters than Bi Fang. "Besides, our operations are licensed, even if we get sued, we''ll only have to pay some money." Bi Fang nodded in agreement, no longer dwelling on these matters. He enjoyed a hunting game for a while, although many people recognized Bi Fang during it. The six sled dogs were very popular. Originally, Bi Fang was worried that the six dogs might hurt people, but he later realized he was being overly cautious. They were completely friendly. Bi Fang then went to the nearby Desert Pavilion and after showing concern for the camels'' quality and workload, he treated himself to a rabbit meat feast with his catch. These rabbits had been bred and released into the mountains; the meat was neither tough nor bland and had gained a bit of a texture from running in the mountains for some time. At least from Goudan''s reaction, it was evident that the taste was quite good. After dinner, Yao Jun suddenly remembered something, "Right, the Gambian Pouched Rats you asked me to buy for you have arrived, I''ve placed them in the Jungle Pavilion." Bi Fang was startled, "I thought you had forgotten about them." "Well, you didn''t mention it, and I didn''t remember. They''ve been here for over a month now, and one litter even has baby mice." "How many did you buy?" Bi Fang was quite surprised. "Haha, not many, thirty-four, oh, it''s almost over forty now, the visitors have responded well." "Why did you suddenly decide to get these animals?" "It might be useful someday." "Are you really going to clear mines?" Yao Jun was surprised, as Bi Fang had requested these rats trained for mine clearance, but he hadn''t really expected them to be used. Was this another conscription or what? Gambian Pouched Rats, officially called "Giant Pouched Rats," are so named because they like to store inedible food in their cheek pouches. They are known as one of the larger species of rats, native to Africa. They can grow up to 91 centimeters in length, weigh over 4 kilograms, and are even larger than domestic cats. These rats can live up to 8 years, are docile in nature, and many people keep them as pets. Most importantly, Gambian Pouched Rats have an extremely sensitive sense of smell, able to accurately detect the smell of TNT in landmines, matching the capabilities of professional mine detection dogs. Compared to other mine detection methods, Gambian Pouched Rats have unique advantages. Firstly, unlike metal detectors, they can distinguish between landmines and metal scraps, and unlike armored bulldozers, they can operate on uneven terrain. Although dogs are also mine detection specialists, they have many limitations, such as many being unable to adapt to Africa''s tropical climate; they are also overly affectionate, becoming too attached to their trainers and disobedient when handlers are switched. Compared to dogs, Gambian Pouched Rats not only cost less but also have small body sizes, with an average weight of only 1.3 kilograms, which means they are unlikely to trigger a landmine even if they accidentally step on one. Their greatest advantage is their focused work ethic. If used for mine clearance, Bi Fang would not only find them easy to carry but also efficient. "Why still worry about such things?" "Actually, many wilderness areas have unexploded landmines from past wars, like Africa''s Sudanian Savannah, the Northern Jungles, Laos¡ªplaces I might visit in the future. Being prepared early is not a bad thing." Chapter 846 842: Adding Another Member When Bi Fang and Yao Jun arrived at the Jungle Pavilion, they heard a huge commotion, as if people were cheering and applauding. Upon asking around, they found out that a rock climbing competition was taking place. Given that this was the Wilderness Club, creating a Rainforest Museum wasn''t just about stepping into a rainforest environment to see common rainforest animals. There were also many unique structures here, such as rock climbing walls. Before the construction of this rock climbing wall at the Wilderness Club, the tallest rock climbing wall in the world was located in Nevada State, Ugly Country. It was one side of the Whitney Peak Hotel, towering 164 feet, approximately 50 meters. It used the most common colored footholds, and climbers reaching the summit could overlook the entire landscape of Nevada State and even see the distant, snow-covered Nevada Mountains. It cost ten British Pounds each time. The reason for mentioning this was naturally because the rock climbing wall built by the club was even taller, reaching an impressive height of fifty-six meters. Because of its extreme height, the entire rock climbing wall broke through the Jungle Pavilion and was completely open-air. This was also to simulate the real environment''s wind and rain, and even if requested, mechanical sprinkling could be used to mimic a moist environment. There were no colored footholds on it, but instead, it was a simulated rock face with human-made marks for easier footholds. Each use cost 100 RMB, but if one could climb to the top in one go, there would be no charge. Those who registered for training could also try it for free, but it wasn''t exactly free, as the registration fee included the equipment usage. Rock climbing was a very physically demanding activity, especially if one kept climbing non-stop and added to the special conditions, not many ordinary people could do it, but it wasn''t a difficult task with a few more tries. Thus, this rock climbing wall quickly gained a reputation in the industry. Every day, people came here to challenge it, and there were often competitions held on it. Today, Bi Fang and Yao Jun just happened to be here, and apparently, two young men were betting to see who would reach the top first, but it was unclear what the wager was. Then, a large crowd began to stir beneath them, and now both men had climbed to the halfway point. Looking at the darker-colored rock face, it was clear that they had activated the ''death mode'' by pouring water on the rock face in advance. Bi Fang had originally planned to just take a quick look and leave, but before he could turn around, a loud shout from the crowd exposed him to everyone''s gaze. "Master Fang!" "Holy shit, Master Fang, where?" "Back there, under that tree!" "Damn, he''s alive!" Yao Jun quietly stepped back two paces and raised his hands, "Looks like you need to find a way to escape." Although Bi Fang''s Wilderness Club was officially wilderness-oriented, it obviously wasn''t so simple since the Ocean Pavilion had moved and merged with it. There would even be a horse track added later. Yao Jun mentioned that recently a zoo was also interested in relocating here, but it was just a preliminary interest, and even the location hadn''t been decided. Even so, it was indicative of something. The government seemed to intend to turn this area into some sort of natural recreation area. So to say that everyone here was a fan of Bi Fang, recognizing him, might not be realistic, but to say that he wouldn''t be recognized while walking in the public eye was pure nonsense. Out of ten people, at least six could recognize Bi Fang immediately, three would find him familiar, and only one might have face blindness. The crowd surged forward, and the two young men originally the subject of the bet were quickly ignored. The previous cheers for the climbers suddenly disappeared, as if even the enthusiasm for rock climbing had faded. The ground trembled slightly, causing Bi Fang''s eyebrows to twitch involuntarily. The current situation was like the migration of the wildebeest during Africa''s dry season, truly terrifying for fear he might be flung up to Tian Mountain the next second. "Finally we see the real deal!" "He looks even more handsome than on the livestream, can''t believe he isn''t using a beauty filter!" "Why does Master Fang, a man, have such good skin? What brand of cosmetics does he use?" "His muscles are so firm." "Don''t mess around, you pervert, let me do it!" In less than ten seconds, Bi Fang felt himself overwhelmed by the crowd, and then he could feel some hands groping around in the chaos. Barely escaping, the crowd started cheering again, asking Bi Fang to teach them rock climbing. Many of them were there just for the spectacle and didn''t know how to climb, so their request was understandable. Feeling the crowd''s enthusiasm, Bi Fang realized that autographs wouldn''t be enough, and he reluctantly agreed. "Alright, alright, but I really am busy." Bi Fang was pushed and shoved until he stood in front of the rock face, and as for the two young men from earlier, they had disappeared perhaps knowing that Bi Fang would overshadow them, choosing to leave to save face. In fact, as soon as Bi Fang approached the rock face, many climbers were sliding down with ropes, leaving the entire rock face empty. It felt like driving a Rolls Royce down the street, with Mazdas automatically moving aside. "Okay, do you guys have any questions?" Bi Fang buckled the safety hook, put on gloves, and didn''t show any arrogance. It wasn''t that he lacked confidence in his own abilities, but rather he was concerned about others'' lack of skills. Safety measures had to be taken when climbing here. If Bi Fang relied on his own strong abilities this time without securing a safety rope, what would happen if others tried to emulate him next time? This might be alright at someone else''s place, showing off and leaving a legend in the world, but at your own property, you naturally had to take responsibility. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Me! Me!" "Master Fang, I can grab well but just can''t execute the next move?" "Master Fang, look at me! Can we take a picture together?" In the bullet comments, names like Old Fang and Boss Fang were common, but here it was again Master Fang being called, hiding once more in reality. "Which brand of skincare does Master Fang use? Recommend one." "I don''t use cosmetics, just exercise, and you can look like me," Bi Fang smiled, "But we''d better ask questions related to rock climbing." "Master Fang, why do I need to do a dynamic kick sometimes, but my leg doesn''t reach, and my hand slips?" "I find myself increasingly enjoying climbing straight walls; once it tilts, I can''t seem to perform." "If that''s the case, then it might be that your finger strength has become a bottleneck in your rock climbing." Bi Fang listened to the question and provided a careful answer. The ones asking questions weren''t all novices; they had some basic knowledge, but there was still a long way to go to reach professional levels. "In the climbing gym, watching others move smoothly and effortlessly makes it seem easy, but when I try, I can''t perform any moves at all." "A lot of times, you think others have delicate techniques, but actually, they''re just out of strength, like weak countries can''t engage in diplomacy. If you can''t even grasp a hold, good technique won''t help." "Finger strength is definitely an important factor in advancing in rock climbing, and it''s a fundamental concept for beginners." Dressed in gear, Bi Fang leaped lightly and clung to the wall like a gecko, talking without any breathlessness, and moving left and right with extreme agility. With muscle control added to balance control, Bi Fang felt rock climbing was almost no different from walking freely on the ground. "What is finger strength?" "Do I even need to say it? By definition, finger strength is the strength of the muscles in the fingers!" "No!" Bi Fang stopped everyone from guessing the literal meaning, "Finger strength isn''t just the muscular strength of the fingers; fingers have no muscles. The movement of our fingers is controlled by the 17 muscles in the palm and 18 muscles in the arm which are connected to the fingers by tendons." Bi Fang freed one hand, removed his glove, and flexed his fingers while pressing on the muscles. "You can press the same areas and feel it for yourselves." "The superficial and deep flexors in the arms are the muscles that mainly help your fingers bend, so after climbing, although it''s the fingers that are exerting force, you feel most tired in your arms." "When grasping, the thumb''s exertion is completely different. The thumb alone has eight different muscles controlling movements at various angles. When we grip and exert force, the lumbrical and interosseous muscles are key in clutching the holds." Bi Fang turned his back and gripped a rock in a back-to-wall position, yet his body remained firmly against the wall without any instability. The crowd below exclaimed in awe. "Don''t just see muscles as lumps of flesh; inside, the muscular fibers are all different. These fibers band together and twist into a rope, becoming tense, and that''s when our muscles start exerting force." "Some muscle fibers have better endurance but not much strength, known as slow-twitch muscles." "Conversely, some fibers are very strong but get tired quickly, those are fast-twitch muscles. Within each muscle, fibers range from the strongest to the most enduring." "Speaking of enhancing muscle strength, it''s actually about boosting the strength of each muscle fiber. If you train slow-twitch muscles, your endurance improves; training fast-twitch muscles makes you stronger." "So if I turn all my slow-twitch muscles into fast-twitch muscles, will I become a strength god?" Someone in the crowd raised a question. Bi Fang shook his head, "Unfortunately, the proportion of muscle fibers in each person''s muscles is determined at birth, and fast-twitch and slow-twitch muscles don''t convert into each other through training, so everyone''s potential is different." "Some people have tendon connections further from their joints, which naturally makes them stronger. Their muscular force is applied through a longer lever arm, because torque equals force times the lever arm." "You might never become Alex Honnold, but you can become a better version of yourself." More and more people gathered around, and Bi Fang''s heart sank deeper as he spoke. With so many people, could he really just walk away after he had finished? At this point, Bi Fang had no choice but to continue, headstrong. "When you''re making a move, not all muscle fibers are involved. If you don''t need to use full strength for a move, then the strongest part of your fast-twitch muscles is just watching idly." "When you exert all your effort, although you''re already not able to hold on, your slow-twitch muscles haven''t started feeling good yet, and your brain will smartly control to use the minimal muscle fibers to complete the movement." "Every movement of muscle fibers is tense from the slowest slow-twitch muscles to the fastest fast-twitch muscles." "That''s also why bouldering increases strength faster than climbing routes, because while climbing routes you might get so tired that you can''t even grasp properly, but in reality you haven''t used your powerful fast-twitch muscles..." Yao Jun yawned under the tree. Compared to Bi Fang, his fame was much lower, although he was often cursed as a profiteer, few actually knew what he looked like. Nine o''clock at night. At the office binge-watching shows, Yao Jun received a call from Bi Fang. "Where are you? Come over, I''m out!" "Ha, you''re out? Sooner than I thought." "Hurry up, I''m dead tired. This is more exhausting than live streaming." "Hahaha, I''m on my way." By the time Bi Fang met the Gambian pouched rats it was already 9:30. Dozens of rats lived together, making quite a spectacular sight, especially these rats¡ªeach one as large as a small cat, which looked even more exaggerated, like arriving in some strange country. Seeing Bi Fang and Yao Jun approaching, these rats were not shy at all. When they saw Bi Fang open his palm revealing pieces of bread, the majority of the rats gathered around, eagerly snatching food and stuffing their cheeks full, bulging out like squirrels. Bi Fang explained as he fed them. "These rats are a bit larger than average rats and have a more sensitive sense of smell. Initially, the army managed by the Venezuelan government bred and selected a few qualified mine-detecting rats by artificial means, letting rats detect hidden landmines by smelling gunpowder, and the reward needed only a piece of banana." "Efficient mine-detecting rats can survey tens of thousands of square meters of land in a day." Yao Jun shrugged, "Anyway, I''m not keen on rats, and it''s your money being spent, so I don''t care. What''s the plan, take them all back or pick a couple? Leave the others here to interact with tourists?" "Let''s pick a couple and leave the rest here. They can interact with visitors too." Bi Fang''s eyes scrutinized and finally settled on a Gambian pouched rat lying in front of a glass showcase. Behind the glass was a venomous snake coiling around, hanging upside down on a branch. The two faced off for a long while, when suddenly the venomous snake lunged to attack but ended up hitting the glass, making a muffled sound. Interestingly, the rat on the other side of the glass showed no sign of fear; it even moved slightly closer, observing carefully. "Let''s go with this one." Bi Fang''s interest peaked, confident in his choice. Living with animals for long, realizing the existence of glass isn''t strange, but after the venomous snake on the other side of the glass made its move and it wasn''t startled at all. This situation might startle even people, let alone a rat, which shows it''s not just clever, but also bold. Bi Fang needed this kind of rat. It''s too easy to encounter dangerous situations in the wilderness, and he didn''t want a Gambian pouched rat that would panic and flee at the first sign of danger, missing afterwards. "The number of animals at home is really growing." Bi Fang sighed. Chapter 847 843 Coming to Work September 1st, early morning. Half a month had passed since the trip to Sahara, and everything had returned to its usual peace. The clamor and aridity of the desert seemed to have thoroughly turned into memories. Bi Fang, following his routine, got up and opened the curtains. Sunlight streamed in through the French windows, casting a beautiful golden layer on the floor. Next, he washed up and stepped out of his room, clapping his hands twice. The sound echoed continuously within the house, causing the dust in the air to tremble slightly. The clapping, like an alarm clock in the early morning, woke up all the sleeping creatures. Soon, the sound of paws friction against the floor responded, clear and loud, followed by similar sounds that grew more numerous, as if the whole house had been mobilized. One by one, huge sled dogs emerged from every corner of the house, barking excitedly. Simultaneously, a light-golden giant rat blended into the gray and white pack of dogs, clawing its way onto the passing Fugui. It climbed along Fugui''s long fur up to his back and quickly moved forward. When it reached Bi Fang''s side, the giant rat jumped from Fugui''s forehead, grabbed the dangling hem of his clothes, and quickly climbed onto his shoulder, sniffing carefully. As Bi Fang walked to the living room, one of the windows was pushed open, and a huge camel''s head stuck in, snorting twice. Through Alpha''s head, one could see the open fields outside. This was not where Bi Fang usually lived. Yao Jun had built several houses in between the stables and hunting grounds, surrounded by a large fenced area, serving as a place for horses and camels to roam freely. Usually, no tourists came here. Bi Fang also liked the environment here and chose to live here directly. He opened the storage cabinet, tore open a new pack of dog food, fed breakfast to the six large dogs, went outside to add some fodder for Alpha, and then returned to the kitchen to take out food from the fridge and make himself breakfast. On his shoulder, Bi Fang fed the Gambian pouched rat a slice of bread. Jerry, more than twenty centimeters long excluding the tail, rapidly gnawed at the bread. Jerry. That was the name Bi Fang had given this Gambian pouched rat. After two weeks of training, Jerry had successfully recognized his own name and had blended into the big family of Goudan and Fugui. But compared to the mischievous Goudan, who liked to run around carrying it, Jerry still preferred staying with the more docile Fugui. It was truly nice to wake up surrounded by pets, to see full WiFi signal bars on the phone when it was turned on, and to breathe fresh air upon opening the window. After breakfast, Bi Fang began his morning exercise. At noon, he checked the remaining Wilderness Points, refreshed the shop, glanced through and bought some regular items. When he moved to the fourth line, his gaze paused. "Partner Binding Coupon*1 (Max Weight 20kg), Wilderness Points 1600" He clicked for details. The content indicated that it could be used on one specific creature, and the System would consider it as one level higher than System-generated items. This meant that, even if one day System tasks prohibited carrying System equipment, the animal bound with this coupon could still be carried. Bi Fang glanced at the six big grinning dogs; none of them weighed less than twenty kilograms. The purpose of this coupon was clear. After purchasing, he used it on Jerry, and the binding coupon transformed into a powder, blending into the Gambian pouched rat''s body. There were no abnormalities. Jerry was still the same Jerry, eating and drinking as usual, furiously munching on banana chips. Compared to six large dogs that needed meat, this rat was much easier to keep, eating fruits, plants, bread, starch¡ªanything, and not picky at all. Yao Jun had some training videos of Gambian pouched rats, and Bi Fang had watched them. In the videos, if a Gambian pouched rat smelled something suspicious, it would continuously scratch the ground with its front paws. At this point, the trainer would tap a metal plate, and it would return to his side to receive a reward, taking a bite of banana or bread. After eating, the Gambian pouched rat would continue to run back and search for the next target. The video also included an introduction from the staff that said, "If you throw a stick for a dog to fetch, it gets impatient after ten times; rats are different, they will keep working as long as they need food, and a piece of banana or a few peanuts can satisfy them. Their thought process is simple, find a landmine and get food." They were truly easy to use and keep. For Bi Fang, searching for food in the wilderness presented hardly any extra burden; just tossing it the leftovers was enough. The System indeed had its biases. Bi Fang was greatly relieved; he had long sensed that the System would help solve problems, which is why he refreshed the store daily. Every time a mission was carried out, the system store tended to provide accordingly. Going to the desert, the store would frequently refresh with desert boots; to the snowfield, it would bring out frost-proof snow gear; to the mountains, gear against scraping and slipping. There''s no outdoor equipment in the world that can perfectly adapt to any environment, even products advertised for use on any terrain often can''t compare with specialized gear. From this point, one could see how special the store was. The only pity was that Jerry, having used the voucher, did not show any exceptional signs of intelligence; his expression was the same as usual. In the following days, Bi Fang kept giving Jerry special training. Training it to quickly dodge unexpected situations when together with Bi Fang yet not flee the scene. This was Bi Fang''s biggest worry; if they encountered any danger, it would be troublesome if Jerry ran away and got lost. Although Jerry was the bravest among the Gambian pouched rats, it was still just a rat in the end. Goudan was tasked with the role of intimidation; it was common to see Jerry sprint away and vanish during the sessions, and afterwards Bi Fang couldn''t find him no matter how hard he tried. This situation was not uncommon in the training of the previous week. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It wasn''t until the end of September that Bi Fang finally got Jerry to learn the habit of not running around even when encountering danger. Cicadas clung to the trees, crying desperately; nearing October, the weather was still somewhat muggy. On the lawn, Bi Fang pinned Goudan to the ground with one hand, ending the "battle," then stood up and blew a whistle. Soon, a rustling sound began in the yard, a bulky volume squashing the weeds. Jerry poked out its head cautiously, saw Bi Fang standing still, perked up its body to sniff the air molecules, and then almost turned into an afterimage as it dashed up, grabbing onto the trouser leg and quickly climbing up to rest on the shoulder. Goudan, thinking it was all a game, similarly stood on its hind legs, leaning against Bi Fang, vigorously wagging its tail trying to get a reward. "Phew, that was not easy." Seeing Jerry''s performance, Bi Fang breathed a sigh of relief and casually fed Goudan a bone biscuit. Three whole weeks! It took Bi Fang a full three weeks to establish Jerry''s current responsive behavior. To think, it took only a week to safely ride Alpha. It wasn''t that the Gambian pouched rats were dumb; rats are very smart, but their timidity is etched in their genes. Any small animals have an inherent fear of larger creatures ingrained into their bones, difficult to change easily. Being able to achieve this result in three weeks was already thanks to Jerry''s naturally bold nature; with other Gambian pouched rats, Bi Fang estimated it might take four to five weeks, or perhaps they might never learn at all. Back in the living room, Bi Fang opened a bottle of chilled soda and guzzled it down, finishing the whole bottle in one go and feeling quite content. The training had ended perfectly. Suddenly, he was back to doing nothing. It had been a month and a half since his last live stream, so it seemed a bit early to start the next one. Nemo Point combined with the Sahara would total three months. Usually, the length of the live stream would determine the rest period. They''d be about equal, but not starting the next live stream soon seemed a bit boring. Bi Fang turned on the TV and aimlessly flipped through channels. Six dogs crowded on the couch, making it a bit cramped. Bi Fang nudged Goudan at his feet to move over a bit. At 1:20 PM, Bi Fang, as usual, went to the club. Not just for walking the dogs, but also for teaching. These days, Bi Fang was personally teaching Wilderness Survival tool-making at the club, focusing only on making fire and building shelters, while also editing videos to post on his social media to keep up his online presence. Each day, the number of people coming to learn maxed out, and the scene was quite chaotic at first, eventually forcing him to limit the number of attendees per day. Entering a room at the club, Bi Fang found he was the last to arrive. It wasn''t because he was late; Bi Fang was rarely late. It was because all the students had arrived early. "It''s only one fifty now, we still have ten minutes before we start. You guys make me feel like I''m the one who''s late every time." Bi Fang felt somewhat helpless. Everyone laughed. Then there was endless picture-taking. Despite Bi Fang being about the same age or even younger than most here, everyone respected him. His various feats meant he was no longer viewed as a normal peer. Once might be a coincidence, twice lucky, thrice a darling, but four, five, six times? That was just a slap of skill in the face, and no one dared to underestimate him. "Master Fang, it''s been almost two months, when is your next live stream?" A young person shouted, immediately sparking resonance and response. "Yeah!" "Give us something definite!" "To be honest, I haven''t planned it yet. I also don''t know where I''ll go, but I definitely won''t be live streaming again before October." "That''s too slow." "Yeah, I only get to watch for a few months a year, it''s really not satisfying." "I need to adjust too." The crowd got rowdy until 2 PM, when Bi Fang calmed everyone down and started the class on time. "Controlling fire for heat and light was one of humans'' earliest great achievements." "Early humans preserved fire from natural sources. Later, they learned to actively obtain fire by wood drilling or striking flint stone." "For Wilderness Survival, fire is our life. We need fire to warm us, dry our damp clothes, disinfect water, cook food, fend off wild animals, and give us confidence." "I often feel that the sound of suitable firewood breaking should sound a bit like the crackling of flames." "Because this sound indicates that the wood is dry and dead, not green, still alive, and damp. Wood that is still alive doesn''t crack when it breaks." Bi Fang already had a pile of prepared dry and damp branches beside him, and he broke one of each, the sounds completely different. "First, lay down a layer of wood as a platform so the fuel doesn''t touch the ground, as it''s likely also damp." "While wet wood can still be used to start a fire, it''s undoubtedly more difficult. You need more initial heat. You can also use a knife to shave off the damp portions and get to the dry inside." In the evening, Bi Fang was having dinner in the staff cafeteria when he suddenly received a call from Wolf Fang assistant Liu Qian. "Is there something wrong?" "Well, no, you tell me." Bi Fang picked up a slice of meat and listened to Liu Qian while chewing. "Animal rescue center? Cheetah?" The more Liu Qian spoke on the other end of the phone, the brighter Bi Fang''s eyes shone, and he immediately agreed. "No problem, agree to it! Leave it to me!" After hanging up, Bi Fang looked thrilled. "Mr. Fang, do you have some good news?" A nearby staff member, holding a tray, sat down and asked with a smile. Everyone else also became curious. While many staff members were initially nervous around a legendary figure like Bi Fang, since he frequently came here for "free meals", everyone had gotten used to him, and they even joked around sometimes. Most understood that besides his achievements in his field, Bi Fang was just an approachable young man, similar in age to their own kids. Looking at it this way, having a young boss wasn''t entirely without benefits. He was easy to get along with and generous. Even if someone made a mistake, there wouldn''t be much blame, although there was basically not much room for advancement in mostly logistical services. But everyone wasn''t exactly graduates from prestigious universities striving for personal career goals; they were just looking for a job to get by, and the benefits here weren''t bad. Bi Fang didn''t mind sharing early, "There is good news, I have a plan for the next live stream!" Once he said that, everyone couldn''t stay seated and began to ask questions. He had just said during class that there was no plan yet, how did he have one after just a meal? "Really? Where will it be?" "It''s not abroad again, is it? I feel like there are many places in the country we haven''t explored yet, like Shennongjia, Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon, etc." "It''s not convenient domestically, right? There are too many protective animals, too many regulations." "That''s true." "It is indeed going to be abroad, and it''s Africa!" "Ah? Africa again?" Bi Fang laughed heartily. "Africa is so vast. Last time it was the deserts of North Africa, but this time it''s different, I''m going to East Africa!" "The real African Savanna!" With that, Bi Fang dumped his food into a bowl, quickly shoveled rice into his mouth, not waiting for further questions, and headed towards the exit. "If you''re interested, you can check online. I will post updates." As he finished speaking, Bi Fang turned and left the cafeteria, disappearing from view. Chapter 848 844: Teaching the Clumsy Cheetah Bi Fang quickly finished his white rice and handed his utensils over to the recycling area before dashing out of the restaurant and onto the main road. Fortunately, as a tourist area, there were plenty of taxis available; Bi Fang got into one before fans nearby recognized him and quickly headed to Wolf Fang Headquarters. Liu Qian didn''t say much on the phone, just briefly outlined the situation. All Bi Fang knew was that someone from the Kenya Wildlife Rescue Center was looking for him, not because they were in any trouble, but because there was a special matter they wanted Bi Fang to be involved in. They didn''t specify what it was, only that it related to cheetahs. To know more details, it would be better to discuss in person. Many animal conservation centers are scattered across the African Savanna, but the most famous and largest one is the Kenya Conservation Center. This place is known as the "Cradle of Humanity," where human skulls dating back over 2.5 million years have been unearthed. To protect the continuity and diversity of species, this conservation area has completely banned hunting and has become a natural paradise cherished and protected by tourists and charitable organizations worldwide. The center has done many remarkable things, arguably the most famous of which was the protection of the world''s last male northern white rhino. On March 20, 2018, Huaxia time, the last male northern white rhino on Earth, named Sudan, was euthanized by doctors in Kenya. He was once the most famous rhino in the world, as well as the last male northern white rhino. The Kenya Conservation Center went to great lengths to protect him, removing his horn artificially to prevent poaching, deploying a 40-person armed team to guard him round the clock, and providing him with the world''s best veterinary and animal care specialists. For the white rhino, death was liberation. But for humans, it was yet another species observed helplessly as it moved towards extinction. In just the past 40 years, the world has lost 90% of its rhinos, with over a thousand still falling to poachers each year. All this, just because of people''s infatuation with rhino horns. The male white rhino "Sudan" carried the last hopes of the northern white rhino population. But with his passing, only a mother and daughter remained, unable to naturally reproduce. In just a century, a species that had survived on Earth for 50 million years marched towards extinction. It''s worth noting that in 1973, when "Sudan" was born, there were still around 1,000 of his kind roaming the African Savanna, and the numbers were even larger a decade ago. They were extremely docile, never bullied the weak or challenged elephants for no reason, and unlike other rhinos, they weren''t solitary¡ªoften moving in groups of twenty or more. Unfortunately, in the last few decades, Sudan was a lone rhino, his only companions were the dozens of heavily armed soldiers. On top of this, there were many other similar occurrences, including deadly encounters with poachers. If a map marking poaching activities around the world with red dots were drawn, it would show several areas nearly covered in red, almost all of which were in Africa. This was an animal''s paradise, yet it attracted swarms of flies. Poaching activities in Kenya peaked in 2012, with over 33,000 elephants killed annually from 2010 to 2012 ¨C that is, one elephant died every 20 minutes. Since then, intense crackdowns have drastically reduced poaching, but issues surrounding illegal hunting persist. Ah, paradise for animals. Elephants, black rhinos, lion prides, cheetahs, wildebeest herds, Nile crocodiles. Bi Fang had always wanted to witness it for himself, but he just hadn''t found the right opportunity. Although he had traveled across the Sahara previously, which included areas of grassland, those were just small and narrow green belts between deserts, not the true African Savanna. Therefore, hearing that someone from Kenya had come looking for him, Bi Fang was naturally excited. Nearly two months had passed since his last livestream, and if a good opportunity presented itself, it would be great to take a trip directly to the African Savanna. Upon meeting, Bi Fang was somewhat surprised because the representative from the Kenya Wildlife Rescue Center turned out to be an Asian, not very tall, wearing glasses, and emitting a scholarly vibe. Unexpected as it might be, it was not exactly shocking. After all, the Kenya Conservation Area is so renowned, and the pressure to protect animals so great, that it has continually received donations and man-power from around the world. Many retired special forces soldiers and animal protection activists from various countries choose to come here to protect animals, so seeing someone from Huaxia was not too startling. Upon seeing Bi Fang enter, the man immediately came forward to shake hands, looking quite excited as he introduced himself. "Master Fang! I have long admired your reputation; I''m Huang Hongxiang." "Hello." Bi Fang nodded and then sat down with Huang Hongxiang on a sofa nearby. "Let''s get right to the point; I want to hear more details about what you mentioned." "Of course, no problem. That''s exactly why I''m here," Huang Hongxiang said with a hearty laugh. It was already late, Wang Yongbo had gone home, and only Liu Qian was sitting to the side, acting as an intermediary. The three of them sat in the reception room as Huang Hongxiang began to recount the entire story in detail. The key to the matter was a cheetah. At the beginning of last year, while on routine patrol on the African Savanna, staff members of the Kenya Wildlife Rescue Center happened to hear a "meow." Ordinary people might think it was just the cry of a domestic cat, but those who had worked in Kenya immediately recognized it as the call of a cheetah. Indeed, cheetahs sound almost identical to cats. The noises they make are more like piercing chirps or bubbles and compared to cat calls, they resonate with additional innocuousness. This was somewhat incongruous with their image. Just like how the bald eagle of Ugly Country has a screeching and squawking voice, and all the impressive calls of eagles are actually produced by the red-tailed variety. While the two staff members expected to encounter the graceful hunter that is the cheetah, they ended up finding only a skinned carcass, already swarming with flies. Beside the bloodied flesh, there was just one small cheetah, the very one that had uttered the sound, crying out in a milky voice. No predator plucks its prey''s fur completely clean while hunting. The instigator behind the incident was obvious at a glance. The flies on the body also indicated that the perpetrator had long since fled. The newborn cheetah clearly couldn''t survive alone on the harsh African Savanna, so the staff naturally brought it back to the rescue center to raise it. Bi Fang picked up on a keyword, "This happened last year, so it''s been about a year now, hasn''t it?" "More than that, we found it last spring, and now it''s eighteen months old¡ªit''s considered an adult." Bi Fang nodded. The life cycle of a cheetah can be divided into three stages: cubs from birth up to 18 months, sub-adult from 18 to 24 months, and the adult phase after 24 months. "Because it''s now an adult, we plan to release it back into the wild, but we''ve encountered a problem¡ªthat cheetah doesn''t know how to hunt at all." "Doesn''t know how to hunt?" Bi Fang raised an eyebrow, somewhat curious. Huang Hongxiang nodded helplessly, "Right, this guy grew up in the rescue center and became a ''giant baby.'' It does nothing but cling to the staff all day. Unless we keep raising it, its only fate would be a zoo, which is something we really don''t want to see, especially since big cats are the least suited to zoo life among felids." A baby cheetah typically weighs 240 to 300 grams, and it takes two to three days before they start crawling. Their eyes open after four to fourteen days, and they begin to eat after twenty-one to twenty-eight days. They are weaned at two months. By nine to ten months, the female cheetahs reach sexual maturity. Male cheetahs usually reach sexual maturity around fourteen months of age, so in the first few months after birth, the female ones tend to hide their cubs in the grass. It was after weaning at three months that cheetahs still follow their mothers. At this time, they learn hunting, survival, and how to escape predators from their mothers. It is only after 1 to 1.5 years that young cheetahs start living independently, with males typically setting off on their own while young females may remain with their mother. By around one year of age, they begin to hunt on their own. But it was clear from Huang Hongxiang''s words that this cheetah had not learned hunting skills after losing its mother. Contrary to what many people think, the hunting skills of many felids are not innate. Huang Hongxiang''s gaze was earnest, "All of our principles are aimed at ensuring that wild animals can live freely and without human threats in the wilderness." Bi Fang had some inkling about the other''s intent, "So the reason you sought me out is?" "We want you to retrain Harley, to help it adapt to life in the wild and become a real cheetah!" Bi Fang didn''t respond directly but instead asked, "Harley, is that the cheetah''s name? Is it a boy?" "Yes," Huang Hongxiang sighed, "In fact, we''ve done this before¡ªrescuing young wild animals and releasing them when they can live on their own. Our staff often teach them how to hunt. Most animals are quite talented and pick it up after a few tries. But Harley seems denser than most; our usual methods just don''t work." Humans, of course, cannot hunt like a felid, and our teaching methods are quite rough. But given the innate talents of animals, even without their mothers'' instruction, just observing a few times is generally enough for them to grasp the skill easily. Harley was like the poor student among the animals, needing a more advanced teacher. "So, you''ve chosen me?" "Yes." Huang Hongxiang smiled, "It may sound a bit like flattery, but I''ve watched your live streams and I admire what you do. Most crucially, your hunting is practically an art. I''ve only seen such efficient and fascinating hunting in tigers!" "Yeah, definitely charmed, it''s like brute aesthetic, especially the muscles moving, a real feast for the eyes. Every time, it reminds me of tigers or lions," Liu Qian also spoke up in praise. "Exaggerated." Bi Fang felt a bit proud inside, but he modestly spoke otherwise. However, he had his doubts about Huang Hongxiang''s words, waiting to see if Harley truly was a poor student. Bi Fang would rather believe that the Kenya Wildlife Rescue Center actually wanted to capitalize on his fame for a joint publicity stunt than the fact a felid was a poor student. Such speculation wasn''t due to Bi Fang being thick-skinned. Rather, his fame had indeed grown so large¨C with peak stable traffic of ten million fans and a global fan base of over a hundred million, all proof of his strength. His own Wilderness Club also enjoyed international fame, with hordes of foreigners visiting every day, hoping to catch a glimpse of Bi Fang. Whether it was a genuine need for help or a desire for collaborative publicity, Bi Fang himself wouldn''t refuse. The latter would be doing a good deed, after all, the Kenya Conservation Center had indeed done a lot of good, and Bi Fang was happy to be in demand. And it was a no-cost favor. For both parties, it was a process of mutual achievement. So Bi Fang didn''t hesitate, and after a brief consideration, he agreed to Huang Hongxiang''s request on the spot. This wasn''t any lucrative cooperation, just a mutual assistance without any contract demands, and there was no need to be too cautious. "Then, I''m really grateful!" Huang Hongxiang couldn''t contain his joy upon getting Bi Fang''s agreement; his face flushed slightly, and he grasped Bi Fang''s hands tightly, "Has Master Fang eaten dinner yet? If not, please allow me the honor of hosting¨C you pick the place, don''t be shy." S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You''re too polite, but as it happens, I had just finished dinner when I got the call and took a taxi over. To be able to see the African Savanna is also my dream." Hearing this, Huang Hongxiang felt a bit embarrassed, "Actually, I wished to contact Master Fang sooner, but my flight was delayed, and I''m rather impatient. I came looking for you right after landing, my apologies. In any case, once we''re in Kenya, I insist on playing host¨C Master Fang must not refuse." "No problem, once in Kenya, I do want to taste the local cuisine." "Definitely." Huang Hongxiang seemed very solemn, as if this was some significant agreement, which actually made Bi Fang a little embarrassed. After some pleasantries, Huang Hongxiang left the reception room. Seeing this, Liu Qian approached to ask, "So, shall I start working on the publicity plan for this trip?" "Yeah, now that it''s decided, the next broadcast will be from the African Savanna." The Kenya Conservation Center wasn''t just having Bi Fang come over to train a cheetah and leave, to make it interesting, they certainly had to link it with the savanna. So, the goal this time was to have Bi Fang survive in the savanna while teaching Harley hunting, as a theme for the live broadcast. After leaving Wolf Fang Headquarters, Bi Fang casually searched online for Huang Hongxiang, and quite surprisingly, he discovered something interesting. This young man, who seemed only in his twenties, had a rather impressive past, and could even be called a minor celebrity. Chapter 849 845 Departure Bi Fang flipped through Huang Hongxiang''s profile, growing more and more astonished as he did. Huang Hongxiang, 27 years old, from Changdong Shuishantou, had completed his undergraduate studies at the School of Journalism of Zhendan University and obtained his master''s degree in International Development from Columbia University. Since 2011, as a freelance journalist for the media, he had traveled to South America, Africa, and other places to investigate Huaxia''s overseas investments and also participated in undercover investigations into the illegal ivory trade. Bi Fang had never imagined that this Asian man of modest height and scholarly appearance had such a rich background. He had worked for international NGOs, pretending to be a businessman from Hong Kong with a demand for ivory to infiltrate the local African networks of the illegal ivory trade in Namibia, Mozambique, and South Africa. Just two years ago, he had collaborated with Interpol in Uganda to carry out a capture operation. While negotiating a deal with the local ivory smuggling gang, the Ugandan smugglers were caught on the spot. An Austrian documentary filmmaker had even followed and filmed the entire process, producing a documentary. However, not many people paid attention to such things, and few knew about this documentary; Bi Fang himself had not heard of it. But that was not all. In recent years, the number of Huaxia people traveling and doing business in Africa had been increasing, many of whom voluntarily participated in charitable activities for the protection of wildlife and the environment. "Zhongnan House," founded by Huang Hongxiang, was a typical example of such engagement. They provided business consulting for Chinese-funded enterprises in Africa while actively participating in wildlife conservation and other public welfare activities within the local Chinese community. Initially, Bi Fang had thought Huang Hongxiang was a staff member of the Kenya Conservation Center, but it turned out that was not the case; he was merely an intermediary who helped the Kenyan side make contact with him. Indeed, the Kenya Conservation Center thought it best to have someone from the same country with a certain level of fame persuade Bi Fang, hoping that with a shared background and language, he would be more likely to agree. And indeed, when Bi Fang saw that the person from Kenya was Huang Hongxiang, he did feel considerably more amiable. With a better understanding, he felt more at ease and began to prepare for the upcoming live streaming event. Leaving Wolf Fang Headquarters, Bi Fang headed straight to the villa, without sparing time to play with the dogs, packing his luggage and adjusting his physical condition. [System Status: Bi Fang] [Age: 25] [Height: 186.1 cm] [Weight: 83.6 KG] [Strength: 18] [Physique: 20] [Agility: 20] [Spirit: 18] [Skills: Platinum Body, Beastly Instinct, Potential Burst] [Status: Healthy.] [Enhancement Points: 0] [Wilderness Points: 1234 (convertible)] Orange Trunk: Wilderness Traveler lv5. Purple Branches: Forbidden Zone Hunter lv5, Body Tempering lv3, Tai Chi Traveling Dragon lv1. Green Canopy: Culinary Mastery lv5. Spoils of War Skills: Wolves King''s Sense of Smell, Fish King''s Stomach, Biological Sensing. The upgrade to his status panel was significant, with many skill levels having risen. Among them was the addition of the Potential Burst skill, a passive skill similar to the other two abilities listed; it was a natural reflex triggered by physical stimuli. Lastly, and most importantly, was the balanced growth across all four dimensions. Although the system''s various enhancement vouchers offered extraordinary abilities and effects, attributes were still the fundamental aspect. As a well-rounded character, Bi Fang always paid attention to synergistic growth in his attributes. At twenty points across all areas, he would rival world-class athletes in each respective field. It might seem modest, but let''s not forget, we are talking about the peak in every field! Bolt was the world''s fastest sprinter, but it would be impossible for him to beat Kipchoge in a marathon. In the same vein, Kipchoge, king of long-distance running, could never outrun Bolt in the 100 meters dash. They were each at the pinnacle of their domain, yet they couldn''t achieve the same level in an entirely different field. But, Bi Fang could! On the surface, Bi Fang didn''t display abilities that exceeded the human peak, but in reality, he had already surpassed human limits! Of course, when we speak of being a top athlete in all areas, we are mainly talking about track and field. For events like weightlifting that require a lot of muscle mass, Bi Fang still had limitations, given his physique. Even so, in terms of strength, he had reached the limit of what his body type could achieve and even surpassed it. With the system''s various bizarrely effective enhancement vouchers indirectly raising his levels of ability beyond mere performance, Bi Fang himself didn''t know just how formidable he had become. He took a few deep breaths to calm his excitement, then sat down and meditated on the spot. Even after experiencing so much, the thought of going to a new place and embarking on a new adventure still made him uncontrollably thrilled. The next day, Bi Fang returned to the club for one last class. Despite the short notice and the next class announcement already sent out, Bi Fang had no intention of leaving anyone hanging. Sure enough, today there were questions about the content and timing of his next live stream. Bi Fang disclosed his conversation from the previous day, and when he mentioned he was going to the African Savanna, there was a stir among the crowd. "So today might be the last class for a few months." But now, nobody cared whether this was the last class; they were more concerned with the greater issue at hand, and instantly numerous people whipped out their phones to begin recording. Yet before others could continue with questions, Bi Fang, looking at the face of the man who had just asked, fell into contemplation, "Didn''t I see you asking questions yesterday too?" Although Bi Fang had taught classes daily, focusing on basics like fire starting and shelter building that didn''t require consecutive sessions, it was also meant to allow more people a chance to experience them. Logically, someone who had attended once should not have returned for a second time. Scratching the back of his head, the man tried to play dumb, "Ahaha, how could that be? You must be mistaken, Master Fang, it''s my first time here!" "Impossible! Once I''ve seen someone, I remember," Bi Fang said with certainty, his memory palace ensuring he wouldn''t make such an error¡ªit was simply that he hadn''t paid attention until now. "Then it must have been my twin brother, the scoundrel, attending classes behind my back!" "Alright, alright, just stay, I''m not going to kick you out," Bi Fang responded with a laugh, causing a friendly chuckle from the audience, and the man who asked seemed a bit embarrassed. However, the commotion did not die down because of him, but instead grew more intense, the atmosphere buzzing with excitement. "African Savanna, huh? I''ve been looking forward to it for a long time." "I want to see Master Fang fight a lion!" "I want to see that too." ``` "There are rhinos, elephants, wildebeest herds, all to be seen!" "National Day is coming up, I can stay home for the holidays and watch¡ªthis is just too awesome! And isn''t it the dry season on the African savanna now? Does that mean we could also witness the great migration of animals?" "The more we talk about it, the more I want to see it." "The African Savanna, and the Amazon Rainforest, I just knew Master Fang would definitely go there one day!" "Speaking of which, is this trip to the savanna a crossing or a survival trip?" "It''s all about crossing, I guess. Feels like just going straight across the savanna to see more animals." Everyone was discussing vigorously. But Bi Fang didn''t continue to answer questions about the live stream; he didn''t reveal that he would be taking a cheetah. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "As for the content of the livestream, I won''t divulge anything this time. Wait two more days, after the Wolf Fang''s live broadcast posters are finished, you''ll know. What I can confirm is, this time it''s different from the previous livestreams. If I had to draw a connection, it would probably be most similar to the time I guided the geese on their migration." In Bi Fang''s view, teaching a cheetah to hunt and return to nature was similar to teaching geese to remember their migration routes. Boom! Wow, right after Bi Fang said that, the place exploded! Migration of the geese! It was the migration of the geese! That livestream was a key moment for Bi Fang stepping onto the international stage from Huaxia. Even after more than a year, it was still fondly talked about by people as one of the most magical in Bi Fang''s many legends. Was it to be replicated now? This instantly turned the teaching venue into a noisy scene. Even after Bi Fang started lecturing and repeatedly requested quiet, there was still an undercurrent of excitement. Many people took out their phones and posted the content they had recorded to social media. Bi Fang didn''t stop their behavior; this wasn''t a real classroom after all, and using phones didn''t matter. Besides, now that it was out, he didn''t expect to keep it under wraps. After the lecture ended that evening, before the crowd could swarm him, Bi Fang made a quick exit. After dinner, when Bi Fang wanted to spend some time on his phone, he discovered that the news about his next live broadcast location and content was already making waves online, with its popularity skyrocketing at an alarming rate. Videos of Bi Fang speaking in class were spreading rapidly online. The same was happening on foreign networks. Seeing this, Bi Fang also downloaded the video and posted it on his various social networks. With the official confirmation, fans became even more excited. In an instant, all kinds of messages popped up on Bi Fang''s social media, many people tagging him, including famous stars and public figures. "The number one fan of Master Fang has arrived. Is the next live broadcast starting soon?" "Ah, my goddess, how did you become someone else''s fan? When did this happen? How come I didn''t know?" "Goodness, Master Fang''s fan circle is that big? So many public figures have been drawn out?" "Why Africa again? Didn''t you go there last time?" "Well, isn''t that quite normal? Actually, most of the world''s wildest and most primitive places are in Africa, and since there are only seven continents on Earth, it''s not like Master Fang is only going to livestream seven times, right?" "Charge! I want to see the elephants." "Elephant, elephant, why is your nose so long?" "Similar to the goose migration? Wow, my adrenaline is already pumping." "Report: after testing, there''s not a drop of blood in the adrenaline!" Embarrassingly enough, Bi Fang often searched online for videos and content about himself and read comments. Under big data or within an information cocoon, he had developed the illusion that he dominated the internet. Everyone was discussing the same question. What exactly was Bi Fang going to do on the African savanna, and who would his partner be this time? The craziest thing was, Bi Fang even saw people opening betting pools on which animal would be his partner for the live broadcast. There was actually an option for a cheetah. Seeing this, Bi Fang could barely contain his hands. Death to all gamblers, but how can you call it gambling when you know the answer? Nonetheless, Bi Fang didn''t overdo it; he just made a modest bet of 500 yuan. A little gambling for fun. No thoughts of getting rich from this. On the third day at noon. Bi Fang met with Huang Hongxiang for the second time. This time they talked details once again, and then set the departure for tomorrow, the penultimate day of September. Timing was crucial if the live broadcast began¡ªit would coincide perfectly with Huaxia''s long holiday. Although Bi Fang''s fans came from all over the world, choosing the time when it was most convenient for his homeland was the best choice. Who else to look after if not your own people? This time, Huang Hongxiang also seized the opportunity to treat Bi Fang to a meal. Bi Fang joked, "You''re treating me now, so the meal in Kenya is still on, right?" Huang Hongxiang laughed heartily: "Of course, it counts. Master Fang, if you want to eat, it''s my honor to treat you any day." After bantering a bit, Bi Fang turned the conversation to Huang Hongxiang: "Speaking of which, I only learned about Mr. Huang''s true identity after I went back yesterday. Truly impressive." "Ah, it''s nothing," Huang Hongxiang waved his hands, "Although you, Master Fang, don''t specialize in this, your words and actions have taught people not to casually destroy nature, and to truly and sensibly protect animals. In terms of influence, what you''ve done is immeasurably greater than mine." Huang Hongxiang truly believed this. In terms of influence, a thousand, ten thousand of him couldn''t amount to Bi Fang, who had three hundred million fans worldwide. A single statement from Bi Fang about protecting animals and caring for nature could have a greater impact than a lifetime of Huang''s effort. "That''s not how it should be said." "But that''s the truth." "By the way, how did you come up with the idea of registering a business? I see your company''s profile is entirely a charitable organization." The two didn''t drink alcohol. Huang Hongxiang took a sip of tea and laughed when he heard this. "Ah, it''s simple. Originally, I wanted to register a charity directly, but the paperwork was too complicated, so I registered as a company instead." Bi Fang was surprised, not expecting such an answer. He found it amusing, and they clinked their teacups together. "I can''t wait to go to the savanna." "Too bad the plane ticket is for tomorrow." "Hahaha, keep telling me about your adventures." "There isn''t much to tell. Compared to Master Fang, it''s nothing." "Then tell me about your undercover work, how does it compare to the movies?" The host and guest were thoroughly enjoying themselves. ... The morning of September 29th. At this moment, it was eleven in the morning, and Magic City Airport was thronging with a massive flow of people, bustling with activity. Bi Fang stroked Jerry''s head and waved towards Huang Hongxiang in the distance. ``` Chapter 850 846 Arrival Bi Fang didn''t arrange for Jerry to be transported as cargo; instead, he stuffed it into an airline pet carrier and brought it directly onto the plane. Many people don''t know that pets can be carried on planes, but the procedures are quite complicated and the application is limited. First, you must apply to the airline company, and once approved, you go through the process of obtaining the necessary health certificates. Pet owners must report to the local inspection agency seven days before the pet leaves the country, providing the rabies vaccination certificate issued by the animal health supervision department above the county level, or the original and a copy of the registration certificate, along with personal proof of leaving the country. These are just the conditions at the boarding gate. The destination country or region may also have its own requirements. If the entry country or region has special requirements for entering companion animals, pet owners must also provide a rabies antibody titration test report and a microchip injection certificate. The most critical point is that you must also purchase an airline pet carrier. Animals absolutely cannot have the ability to move freely on the plane. In short, after all the various procedures and certificates are obtained, the average person may be overwhelmed by the effort involved; they would likely opt for cargo transport instead. Fortunately, Bi Fang has a special identity. Although on the surface he is just a live streamer, Bi Fang is definitely not the same as ordinary film and television stars. Setting aside influence for the moment, Bi Fang''s personal image is also outstanding¡ªnot in terms of appearance, but his actions over time, plus official background and support, mean that the airline approved his application at top speed. In the end, all Bi Fang had to do was prepare the airline carrier. As for the landing point in Kenya, the inviting party, upon hearing Bi Fang''s request, simply gave a notification and everything was arranged by the protection center. Kenya''s tourism industry is highly developed and is one of the pillars of the economy, with annual tourism revenues exceeding one-tenth of the total economy. For countries like this, they are often eager for Bi Fang to come and host a live broadcast. It''s just a shame they don''t have a well-known enough conservation area to boost their profile. So far from obstructing, the people in the tourism department would''ve loved to shovel the ground into a slope so that Bi Fang could slide directly to his destination upon landing, to let him experience what Kenyan hospitality truly feels like. Bi Fang extended a finger to tease the Gambian Pouched Rat, ensuring it wouldn''t feel fear inside the airline pet carrier, and then placed it on the seat next to him. Chu Zhaohua saw what Bi Fang was doing and, although curious, didn''t ask further questions. However, a number of people nearby recognized Bi Fang and greeted him, teeming with curiosity as to why he would bring such a large rat on board. The direct flight from the Magic Capital to Nairobi''s Capital is not cheap; a ticket in the economy class costs five thousand yuan, while business class is eleven thousand for one. The average family would never spend so much money to get a rat its own seat. Even though Bi Fang could afford it, such a formal treatment implicitly told everyone that this rat was no ordinary animal. "This will be my new partner for my live broadcasts; his name is Jerry." Bi Fang patted the cage, flashing a smile. Jerry, who was preparing to rest inside the cage, heard his name and perked up his ears sensitively, then lifted his head to see a large group of curious humans staring at him through the gaps in the iron bars. Seeing such a scene, Jerry, who had undergone stress resistance training, was not scared but instead made two calling sounds in response. There wasn''t a high probability of encountering landmines in the African Savanna this time, and theoretically, there was no need to bring Jerry, but after considering the impact on the show, Bi Fang decided to take him along anyway. It was also to practice coordination in preparation for future adventures. Hopefully, Jerry would get along well with Harley. The passengers were all quickly aboard, and the flight attendants used the intercom to tell everyone to buckle their seat belts and remain quiet. The people gathered around Jerry soon dispersed and took their seats. Bi Fang let out a long sigh and leaned back in his chair. Even a direct flight was a journey of over fifteen hours, and this one required a layover, taking a total of twenty-two hours. The scenery outside the window began to move, reaching the runway, and a faint sensation of being pushed back spread along the spine to the back of the head, bringing with it a pleasurable sense of reliance. The world gradually shrank, the people on the ground slowly turned into ant-like specks, and then, after a slight jolt, a pale mist of clouds obscured the little round window. By the time the turbulence had subsided, the plane had already ascended above the clouds. The well-trained Gambian pouched rat showed no signs of distress, and after a brief moment of alertness, it returned to a relaxed state, nestled in the corner of the pet carrier, lying down to rest. Bi Fang watched a movie he had downloaded in advance until the film finished, and the surroundings became quite quiet. Boarding at midday, this was the time when everyone got drowsy, and almost as soon as the flight took off, a handful of passengers fell asleep. Bi Fang slowly exhaled and took one last look at the clouds before putting on his eye mask. ... When the plane landed at Nairobi Airport, Bi Fang looked out the window to see zebras and giraffes running on the savanna not far from the runway below. Having flown from noon, and now arriving at the capital of Kenya after a day and night, it was still just past six in the morning here. The gentle morning light spread across the savanna, and though Bi Fang felt a bit tired after the day''s flight, his spirits involuntarily became clearer and clearer. Chu Zhaohua, sitting beside him, timely introduced, "That''s Nairobi National Park, very close to the airport, literally a neighbor, allowing many tourists to catch a glimpse of a corner of Africa''s animal paradise as soon as they arrive in Nairobi." Bi Fang nodded. With his excellent vision, he could clearly see the surging black and white stripes on the savanna. Although each zebra was hardly moving, leisurely standing on the savanna grazing, their collective presence, vast and overwhelming, created the illusion of waves rushing forward. Unfortunately, the sight didn''t last long, as the plane began to land on the runway; Bi Fang walked out of the airport and completed his registration under the guidance of Chu Zhaohua. The light of morning is the most comfortable; it feels like there''s plenty of wonderful time waiting to be squandered. The air, especially with its faint cold mist, was even more refreshing. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Kenyan customs now required all foreign visitors to leave fingerprints with both hands, and Bi Fang was no exception; once his fingerprints were recorded, a plump female officer looked up with a smile and said, "Hello, Huaxia person, here to see the animals, right?" Bi Fang was taken aback and smiled, nodding, "How did you know I''m from Huaxia?" The officer tapped her head and smiled, "Intuition." Bi Fang gave a thumbs up and simultaneously opened the pet cage. Jerry, having been cooped up in the cage for an entire day, and not being let out even during the layover, was desperate to get out; as soon as the cover began to lift, he couldn''t wait to push his way through and quickly climbed up Bi Fang''s clothes to his shoulder. A few tourists nearby exclaimed at the sight. "My goodness, that''s a huge rat!" "It seems very smart." "I''ve never seen such a well-behaved rat before, hey buddy, how about you sell that rat to me?" A black man asked aloud, and before Bi Fang could answer, his companion pulled him back, "Hey, are you crazy? Don''t you recognize who this is?" The black man was taken aback. "Who?" "He''s the adventure master from Huaxia! GOD¡¤FANG!" "whooo!" The black man looked closely at Bi Fang, and soon his mouth opened wide like a goose egg, obviously in disbelief and extremely excited. Bi Fang was naturally tall and formidable, with skin enhanced by his Platinum Body, handsome and well-defined features that even Westerners would find impressive and energetic. Furthermore, his long exposure to the wilds had given him an exceptional aura, standing out from the crowd like a crane amongst chickens. Therefore, even though initially Westerners might not recognize Easterners due to facial blindness, with a prompt reminder, they could quickly identify him. Many people noticed the commotion here, and soon more and more recognized Bi Fang, surging towards him. "Is that GOD¡¤FANG?" "My god, why has he come here?" "Don''t you know? GOD¡¤FANG''s next live stream is in Africa! Oh my, how lucky!" In the past overseas, Bi Fang could have kept a low profile thanks to facial blindness, but now with increasing fame, that trick no longer worked. As the crowd gathered around, Bi Fang tensed up. Taking advantage of the still-manageable crowd, he quickly rushed out of the airport with Chu Zhaohua, hopped into a taxi, Chu Zhaohua rapidly gave the destination, and the driver sped off. Surprisingly, just after driving for about fifteen minutes, Bi Fang encountered a traffic jam. He asked the driver and learned that traffic congestion had become a daily problem in Nairobi! "Nairobi has nearly five million inhabitants, a major city in Africa, but there are many problems with its development." "Infrastructure is weak, the public transport system is rudimentary, and urban road management is poor." "But it''s a country heavily reliant on tourism, so there are many vehicles and poor roads, making it easy to run into traffic jams." Having said that, Chu Zhaohua added another point. "Wildlife resources are the core competitive strength of the local tourism industry, but over the last 40 years, poaching has continuously degraded these resources, especially the numbers of elephants and rhinos have drastically decreased, seriously threatening the sustainability of tourism." Bi Fang fed Jerry some pine nuts and nodded while looking at the dust outside the window. Wildlife product smuggling in Kenya had a complete chain of interest, from village poachers to middlemen facilitating export, and finally to the overseas recipients¡ªa link in a chain. The issue was not so easily solved; as long as there were poor villages, there would always be those willing to assist poachers for money. In the Kenya Wildlife Service''s underground warehouse, piles of ivory could be found, mostly seized from anti-poaching and illegal trade efforts. Although he had reached the capital of Kenya, Bi Fang did not rush to the conservation center. Instead, he first went to take care of a series of formalities, and then proceeded to the real conservation center. Along the way, Bi Fang opened the Wolf Fang app, not to start a live stream but to check Wolf Fang''s designated promotional and event teasers. As soon as he opened the app, a pop-up page appeared. What caught his eye was a dynamic image in shades of yellow and green, where dry and fresh grass mixed, swaying slightly under the wind, lying low to the ground and then springing back up due to their resilience. A wild and majestic atmosphere spontaneously arose. Apart from that, there was nothing else, just a vertical column of Song typeface in the top right corner¡ªAfrican Savanna. This simple, bookmark-style design immediately struck a chord with Bi Fang. The poster designers at Wolf Fang really had some talent; every image they created hit his preferences. Moreover, this wasn''t just any poster, but an entry page. By now, everyone using Wolf Fang could recognize Bi Fang, their number one broadcaster. So, upon seeing this bookmark, they would know the final target without further introduction¡ªa simple image communicated everything to the audience without words. After clicking through, the real poster came up. A blood-red sunset dominated half of the terrain, underneath which lay a shadowed dark hillside, making the sun seem to be lifted by a mound of earth. Atop the hill glittered golden light, threading through the red and black hues. Similarly draped in golden light were several silhouetted figures. In the foreground stood a man with a tree stick and a backpack, with a slender and beautiful feline animal following, and a luxuriant baobab tree in the center. All three were silhouettes, both the man and the feline animal moving towards the right as if the cheetah was following the man. With this, the whole image consisted of only red, black, and gold colors, delivering a powerful visual impact. "Indeed, Jerry wasn''t forgotten." Bi Fang had informed Wolf Fang about Jerry''s existence, and theoretically, it shouldn''t be ignored. But as he glanced briefly, puzzled why Jerry wasn''t visible, he caught sight of a little mouse hanging upside-down from a branch under the tree canopy, curiously poking its head out before disappearing into the foliage. This was actually an animated image! However, the only thing that moved in the entire picture hid within the canopy¡ªJerry the mouse. Below the poster were all the fans'' comments. [This figure, could it be a cheetah?] [Thumbs up to Wolf Fang''s graphic designer] [Master Fang''s poster aesthetics are always spot on] [This is so beautiful, but there are so many shadows, is that silhouette a cheetah?] Bi Fang hadn''t revealed much, keeping things under wraps, so the audience was looking forward to getting a glimpse through the poster, only to be greeted by a shadowy poster, the sole color being the sunset in the sky and the golden light spread upon the land. The left shadow was clearly Bi Fang, the right one was a bit unclear, but the distinctive shape of the cheetah was too recognizable, and many animal enthusiasts guessed the target. [If it''s Africa, it must be a cheetah] [Wait, what''s that on the tree? A mouse?] [What mouse? Aren''t there just three shadows?] [Holy shit, it''s an animated poster! There''s another one hidden in the tree canopy!] [A mongoose?] [Oh my, I''m so looking forward to it!] [Can anyone tell me what this trip is all about?!] Looking at the fans'' anxiousness to know about the adventure and feeling restless, Bi Fang cheerfully put down the phone. At that moment, Bi Fang finally arrived at the Kenya Wildlife Conservation Center. Chapter 851 847: The Underground Warehouse of the Protection Center The road was narrow but straight, and from a distance, one could see the cement walls of the not-so-large conservation center. The Kenya Wildlife Service wasn''t located in the center of the savanna but rather on the outskirts of the city, at the border of the wilderness. Visible around the building were chain link fences enclosing a large area, topped with barbed wire. One could also see armed policemen guarding the fence, indicating its seriousness. Upon arriving, Bi Fang took out a drone, opened the car window, and let it fly out. Chu Zhaohua looked somewhat tense upon seeing this. "Don''t be nervous," Bi Fang smiled, then he launched the livestream, a task with which he was very familiar. Soon, everyone who had reserved a spot for this livestream quickly received a notification. An internet storm was swiftly ignited, with countless signals flooding into the already prepared servers. The air conditioning was set to the lowest temperature, the fan whirred within the coolant, stirring up streams of water. The staff, ready for action, watched as the audience smoothly entered the livestream room and let out a sigh of relief. The number in the livestream room jumped exponentially, soon surpassing three million. Although this livestream seemed urgent, having been announced less than five days prior, it did not affect the enthusiasm and excitement of Bi Fang''s fans at all. Cheetahs, like migrating geese, the African savanna¡ªthese elements, topped off with Bi Fang himself, how could one not look forward to it? [Charge, charge, charge, charge, charge!] [Sofa] [Reserved front row] [Hurry up and tell, what is the content of this livestream?] [Whoa, are they already on the savanna?] [Damn, is that a real gun?] [Mu Yu People gifted 10 Spaceships to the host¡ªIt finally starts!] [Whoa, a new tycoon!] [Damn damn damn, just started and there are already ten Spaceships, who else!!!] After a brief frenzy, the audience saw the wilderness around them and the soldiers in front of the wire fence, which shocked them, and they quickly asked where this was. "We are now at the edge of the savanna. We are heading to the Kenya Wildlife Service. Once we get there, you''ll know what we''re here for." Poor Bi Fang was still playing coy at this point, driving countless fans crazy. [Why still keep us guessing?] [I can''t take it, it''s torturing] [This is toxic, so toxic!] [Teacher Fang, give us something, I feel like ants are crawling all over me] Unfortunately, Bi Fang remained unmoved. As long as he ignored the barrage on the screen, the fans'' frenzy couldn''t affect him. As the audience eagerly awaited the truth, Chu Zhaohua directed the driver to stop at the entrance, came to the gate to verify their identities, and entered the conservation center. Taking this opportunity, Bi Fang also observed the surrounding environment. Inside each chain link enclosure, there were various animals living, making it look like they were entering a modest zoo. "What''s up with that lion?" Bi Fang''s gaze passed through the nearby wire mesh and spotted an African lion that was hovering off the ground. It was an abnormally emaciated lion, almost presenting a skin-and-bones appearance, and a horrific scar could be seen on its abdomen. [Ouch, that wound looks painful.] [Is this lion a rescue?] [So thin.] "It''s recovering." Chu Zhaohua glanced over and said, "The conservatory staff found it a month ago. At the time, it was lying on the grass, barely alive, with an almost forty-centimeter gash across its abdomen and even some of its intestines were exposed." Bi Fang looked at the wound: "Did it go hunting for a buffalo?" "Exactly." Chu Zhaohua wasn''t surprised that Bi Fang could guess, after all, at his side was GOD¡¤FANG, "The staff also inferred from the wound and traces that it was injured by a buffalo, so they sedated and brought it back for treatment. But, because it had injured its intestines, it could only eat liquid food for a long time, and got very skinny. Fortunately, it''s almost fully recovered now and should be able to gain weight back soon." Bi Fang nodded his head. Injured by a buffalo and near death, then rescued by conservatory staff¡ªsuch stories were common. It seemed uncomplicated, yet if one seriously thought about it, couldn''t this be seen as a form of unnatural intervention? After all, this lion was not hurt by humans. If it were a cheetah whose mother had been killed by humans, bringing it back and nurturing it would be understandable, but the lion was injured by a buffalo. When a lion hunts a buffalo, humans do not interfere with nature and watch the buffalo being hunted, but conversely, if the buffalo retaliates and kills the lion, why then should humans intervene? As it happened, Bi Fang faced the same situation when he chose not to intervene as a pack of wolves hunted a young camel. As expected, with his massive fan base, Bi Fang anticipated, some fans raised this question. But, about such skepticism, Bi Fang was not at all perturbed, because long ago, he also harbored considerable doubts about this issue. Isn''t this playing double standards? Only later, under the guidance of an old professor, did Bi Fang come to understand the distinction. "This is actually a form of compensative rescue action." "All our interventions, non-interventions, are just terms, but their essence all boils down to one objective¡ªbalance!" [Balance?] [Ah, this.] "What is interfering with nature?" "In a narrow sense, human interference with nature has already become severe and irreversible, continuing every moment." "Building dams changes the river flows, which for some fish species could spell disaster." "Even just constructing a concrete road has a massive impact on the earthworms underneath." "So, unless humans ceased to exist, humanity is constantly interfering with nature, and this process is unchangeable." "The most common method humans currently use to protect endangered animals is to enact relevant laws, protect endangered species, and establish nature reserves, providing them a sanctuary for propagation and survival." "And laws protecting endangered animals and the establishment of nature reserves are aimed at humans." "That is to say, laws only bind humans, not animals." For example, the Tibetan antelope has natural predators in the wild, such as packs of wolves, and the wolves hunting them is not illegal, nor do humans interfere. So, this kind of protection for endangered animals does not mean interfering with nature, but rather removes human impact, while they remain a part of nature itself. There are many similar examples, like many wildlife researchers, watching helplessly as their study subjects are hunted by predators, because that is a part of nature. Bi Fang''s words were easily understood by the audience. "Humans need to let nature return to its natural state." "Be it survival of the fittest or natural selection, all of these concepts must revert to their essence and let organisms unleash their fundamental life potential." "But ideals are beautiful, and reality is always harsh. The presence of humans, for a fragile system like nature, is too dominant. Moreover, even with established laws, there''s still a loophole in the system¡ªthose greed-fueled poachers. With poachers killing indiscriminately, allowing nature to return to its natural state becomes an impossible task. Thus, in response to poachers, wildlife conservation centers appeared as a form of compensatory intervention." At times when wildlife is critically endangered and could potentially face extinction in the wild, humans might step in to intervene to ensure the continuation of the species. For instance, the South China Tiger has functionally gone extinct in the wild due to human hunting, and the current population is descended from those captured and bred artificially. Due to the construction of dams, the breeding grounds of the Chinese sturgeon in the wild have been destroyed. To protect this species, humans carry out annual releases. "Such human interventions truly interfere with the laws of nature. However, the majority of these affected species face extinction primarily due to human actions. It''s less about humans interfering with nature and more about humans mending their own mistakes. This is what''s called compensatory intervention, which is true animal protection." Aside from this, protecting little cats and dogs fundamentally isn''t the original intent of wildlife protection but a result of human''s overflowing compassion. The two are completely different. [But African buffalo are also targets of poachers, why save only the lions?] "Good question, the reason is simple; compared to buffalo, lions are killed in greater numbers." Bi Fang snapped his fingers, "Remember what I said? ''Balance.''" "Everything humans are doing currently is to maintain balance, aiming for a balance between predators and prey without human interference." "A species going extinct should disappear naturally in nature, not be wiped out by humans." "When poachers kill many lions and few buffalo, humans need to step in to save the lions to avoid this type of human-caused imbalance." "And this assistance is not indiscriminate. If a lion is killed on the spot during hunting, this intervention wouldn''t occur. However, if it''s wounded but not dead, the intervention becomes crucial." "This is compensatory assistance, compensating those animals that have been killed in greater numbers and thus have disrupted the balance." "Sadly, even if humans exhaust their intellect to allow nature to revert to its natural state, there is a very critical problem that persists; in this constant compensation, the entire natural system is gradually deteriorating." Hearing this, the audience was stirred. Indeed, though the overall numbers of all species have been balanced, it is under a steadily declining equilibrium. Allowing nature to truly return to its natural state is still a long and challenging journey. [I kind of understand now] [So basically, the surface level aid is for lions wounded by buffalo, but essentially it''s for lions killed by hunters'' bullets, right?] [Well done, great summary and easy to understand, Master Fang explained for a laugh, to really understand one must look at netizens'' discussions.] Focusing his scattered mind, Bi Fang entered the park under the guidance of Chu Zhaohua. Greeting Bi Fang was a man dressed as a soldier; after a double-take at his shoulders, Bi Fang was surprised to discover the man actually held the rank of a general. "This is Mr. Julius Kimani, the acting director of the Kenya Wildlife Service," Chu Zhaohua introduced. Bi Fang nodded and stepped forward to shake hands with the man. The Kenya Wildlife Service was a major unit with thousands of armed personnel, essentially part of the Kenyan Armed Police, responsible for patrolling and guarding all national parks and wildlife reserves. Armed anti-poaching was one of their most important tasks. Julius smiled broadly and unexpectedly blurted out a relatively standard line of Chinese, "Mr. Bi Fang, welcome!" "You are too kind," Bi Fang responded in English. Though the official language of Kenya was supposed to be Swahili, and English was also recognized, it was slightly less widespread than Swahili. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Swahili belonged to the Bantu language family and was one of the most spoken languages in Africa, alongside Arabic and Hausa as the three major African languages. Unfortunately, over the past few days, Bi Fang had not managed to unlock the language skill and could only muster a few common greetings at most. Luckily, communicating in English was not a problem. Chu Zhaohua then introduced the second key figure, the director of the conservation center, Stephen Manequini, and a few other senior officials. Despite meeting so many significant figures, Bi Fang did not feel overly excited. Such occasions were both troublesome and difficult to manage. In fact, he was more eager to meet Harley and pet this large cat. A tour of the entire conservation center was inevitable, and Bi Fang was somewhat curious to explore. At this moment, Chu Zhaohua also took his leave as he was not personnel of the conservation center but had good relations and often collaborated with them. The primary task this time was to bring Bi Fang, and now that the task was completed, Chu Zhaohua needed to return to his own affairs. Everyone present thanked Chu Zhaohua and watched him leave. General Kimari was very pleased with Bi Fang''s arrival because the relationship between Huaxia and Kenya had always been good, not only as trade partners but also in wildlife conservation efforts. Just last week, the Huaxia government had donated 18 vehicles and some other equipment to the conservation center. At his cordial invitation, he even took Bi Fang to visit the agency''s underground warehouse. As a female officer struggled to pull open the iron door, a distinctive smell hit them. Bi Fang couldn''t help but cover his nose, the smell was indescribable, but when the light illuminated the underground warehouse, everyone''s eyes widened. "What the hell is this?" "Ivory?" "That''s way too much!" The audience in front of the live broadcast were stunned. Both small rooms were filled with ivory, which was rudely hacked from the skulls of the elephants killed by the poachers! Many pieces of ivory were still stained with blood. "Each piece of ivory is marked with the date of storage, weight, and the region where the ivory was confiscated," "Currently, Kenya has a national inventory of 132 tons of ivory and 1.5 tons of rhino horns, with 84 tons of ivory in the two rooms we visited," Lubya, the assistant director of the Kenya Wildlife Service, added, "This means that 12,000 elephants were killed. These are just what we managed to seize; much more ivory has been smuggled out." Hearing this, the audience instantly felt a surge of righteous indignation. "Poachers truly deserve to die!" Chapter 852 848 Cheetah The entire basement was permeated with a strange odor, the sight of mountains of piled ivory and rhinoceros horns was shocking. At present, the price of one kilogram of ivory on the international black market is approximately 1000 Ugly Yuan, and one kilogram of rhinoceros horn is about 60,000 Ugly Yuan. This meant that the ivory and rhinoceros horns piled up in the warehouse in front of everyone were worth more than one hundred million Ugly Yuan! One hundred million Ugly Yuan was an astronomical figure. If stored in the bank, just the interest that accrued daily would be more than enough for an ordinary person to squander in a lifetime. As the audience in the livestream heard the secretary begin to discuss the value, they all couldn''t help but be astonished. [One hundred million, I''d go buy bonds, there''s ten thousand a day in interest... impossible to spend it all] S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Ten thousand a day? That''s three hundred thousand a month!] [Actually, with one hundred million, the interest would be even higher, there are professionals managing finance, it''s not simply bonds (covers face)] [Damn, no wonder the conservation center has so many soldiers, it''s no different from a bank vault here!] [Fun fact, normal banks don''t have that much money (Dog''s head)] [Envious, I also want to strike it rich] [No wonder poachers flock to this, sigh] The sheer amount of money indeed shocked the viewers, and for a moment, the screen was filled with a continuous stream of comments and various thoughts. They toured the entire warehouse. Facing General Julius Kimani, Bi Fang spoke with great emotion, "Absolutely shocking." For African Elephants, the current era was perilous due to human greed. Their territories were continually being encroached upon by humans, and they also faced the danger of being hunted by humans. A 1979 survey report indicated that at that time, there were about 1.3 million African Elephants across Africa, but now only 500,000 remained. There were even fewer in Asia, fewer than 40,000. However, even as the number of elephants continued to decrease, conflicts between humans and them were still escalating. In Africa, conflicts between local villagers and elephants occurred almost every day. Some elephants were killed by angry villagers in retaliation after attacking their livestock. Of course, these were just minor incidents; the vast majority of elephants died due to poachers chasing after their ivory. "Indeed, that''s why we persist in battling against poachers," Julius said sadly, removing his hat. "Eventually, humans might never see an African Elephant with tusks again." [Ah, why is that?] [Nonsense, if they''re extinct, how could you still see them] "No, the reason isn''t extinction, but an artificial natural selection." Bi Fang noticed the comments and explained to the audience, while also repeating the viewers'' doubts to those present. There was no need for Bi Fang to explain personally, as the assistant director Rupee recited a piece of data directly. "In fact, we had researched previously, using a set of statistics, we discovered that without human interference, only 2%-4% of female African Elephants are born without tusks." "After severe poaching occurred, these tuskless African Elephants naturally had a higher chance of survival and naturally, their proportion in the population gradually increased." "It''s possibly for survival that in the newborn African Elephants, the proportion of those without tusks continually increases." "After comparing the relevant data, we found that in the places where poaching is most rampant, the proportion of newborn female elephants without tusks has increased to varying degrees." "In Mozambique, the proportion of tuskless female elephants has risen to 33%. In South Africa, the impact is even more severe, with 98% of the 174 female elephants in Addo Elephant National Park being tuskless." Bi Fang nodded, indicating that this was essentially the case. Perhaps even before elephants truly face extinction, elephants with tusks would no longer exist in the world. "Such selection is actually very common, for example, some elderly people in coastal areas have noticed that the fish they catch are getting smaller every year because under wildlife conservation laws, the fishing nets used cannot be too dense, allowing young fish to survive." "But every time, not only the young fish survive but also individuals with naturally small sizes due to genetics. After several rounds of selection, these groups expand rapidly, even becoming dominant." [Human actions have replaced natural selection (facepalm emoji)] [And more precise, natural selection is slow, but human selection is efficient, so you can see results within a few decades.] "The Central Government of Kenya and 47 local governments have coordinated their efforts and done a lot of work in wildlife conservation. For example, the central government funded the establishment of a special fund, local governments also contributed, compensating local tribal villages for losses incurred due to involvement in wildlife conservation after establishing national parks. Tourism, which contributes 80% of revenue from wildlife, therefore benefits will help Kenya further improve its conservation efforts." A series of clich¨¦s were uttered by several senior officials, it was unclear whether they were addressing Bi Fang or the audience in front of the live broadcast. The smell in the warehouse was indeed making Bi Fang uncomfortable. After enduring it for a few minutes, he finally couldn''t bear it anymore, sneezed several times, and promptly took the initiative to suggest that they should now meet the target of this mission. "We have finished visiting the warehouse, should we go meet Harley now? That''s essentially my main reason for coming here." People present looked at each other and suddenly laughed, leaving Bi Fang somewhat puzzled. Laughing at what? Eventually, it was Stephen Manekini, the head of the conservation center who unexpectedly stood up and issued an unexpected invitation that nobody had anticipated. "This time we invited Mr. Bi to visit the underground warehouse, not only to use your live broadcast to promote the importance of anti-poaching and wildlife conservation to global audiences but also for a second reason." Stephen turned sideways to glance at his colleagues behind him and nodded to the general before turning back and saying in a deep voice, "We want you to destroy these elephant tusks." Bi Fang raised his brows and pointed at himself, looking quite astonished. "Me?" "Yes." [What does destroying the ivory mean?] [Destroy it? How to destroy it?] [Why does Master Fang look so surprised?] [Can any knowledgeable person explain what''s going on here?] The audience was somewhat puzzled by Bi Fang''s surprised expression, as he seldom showed such emotions and was usually confident. Thus, whenever such an expression appeared, the audience was particularly curious. With such questions, some fans did not disappoint in digging out the answers. Among the millions of fans, there were always some particularly capable influencers and experts. [Because previously, ivory destruction actions were invariably conducted by the president himself. Allowing a foreigner to come, and openly just a broadcaster, is a first.] [He''s just a regular broadcaster (tactical reclining)] [Kenya was the first country in the world to publicly destroy ivory. Initially, it destroyed 12 tons in 1989, 5 tons in 2011, and 15 tons in 2015.] [The 2011 and 2015 instances involved Kenya''s current President Kenyatta setting piles of ivory on fire. The 12 tons of ivory destroyed in 1989 were also at the same location, done by Kenya''s former president, Moi.] "[Thus, from this perspective, having Master Fang handle this matter is a very special honor.]" These three operations all took place in Nairobi National Park, where they left behind one black and two white piles of ivory remains, displaying Kenya''s determination against poaching and wildlife smuggling to the world. Kenya thus became the first country to destroy confiscated ivory. Afterward, Ethiopia, Gabon, Thailand, and even Huaxia among other countries followed suit, destroying at least 240 tons of ivory. "[That''s really bold!]" "[I feel kind of stupid. Why not sell the ivory for money and then develop?]" "[Funny, some people used to think it was better to keep the ivory until a good price could be obtained, selling it to make billions in Ugly Yuan to develop the country. But the President of Kenya said at the time: ''I acknowledge that Kenya is a poor country, but we have rich heritage. Some say this action won''t work, that burning so much ivory and rhino horn will drive up market prices and will only intensify poaching. We have made no mistake, time will prove them wrong.'']" "[Awesome!!]" "[I guess it works, otherwise so many countries wouldn''t be following suit (Dog''s head)]" "[Master Fang is really making a name for himself]" "[As a spectator who has followed from the first livestream to now, witnessing this moment is really touching. It feels like being part of history, Master Fang is so cool!]" "[Here come the mom fans!]" "[Seriously dashing, the bureau chief personally came to invite]" "[Lord Mu gifted the anchor with 66 Spaceships¡ªfor Master Fang congratulations!]" "[Lin Chang gifted the anchor 666 Yachts¡ªfor Master Fang congratulations!]" Audience members, through proactive explanations, came to understand just how significant it was to invite Bi Fang to this so-called destruction ceremony. You should know, as a foreigner, this is actually a point against him, but still choosing him just says his status has reached an unprecedented level. Even the President of Kenya believed it would be better to give this opportunity to someone else. This undoubtedly made the audience feel honored as though they were invited themselves. Thus many directly sent pop-up comments asking Bi Fang to accept. Bi Fang''s decision did not disappoint the crowd, and he too felt excited about attending such a ceremony, an opportunity not everyone gets. Oh, no, he was the only one to have it thus far! Without any hesitation, he promptly accepted. The inviting officer''s smile grew even broader. "When does the ceremony begin?" "No rush, this is just a draft at the moment, there''s still a lot of preparation to do. Once Mr. Bi sends Harley back to the savanna, this ivory destruction ceremony will serve as the grand finale." "This is my honor." Bi Fang again shook hands with everyone present. Until he walked out of the underground storehouse and saw the sunlight once more, Bi Fang felt even more satisfied with the journey that hadn''t yet begun. "Alright, I know everyone is happy now, but don''t forget the most important reason we came to the conservation center." "I guess everyone has been waiting a long time and more so wants to know what this livestream will cover. But before that, allow me to introduce you to a new partner in the livestream." Bi Fang put his palms together to form a whistle shape, took a deep breath, and blew a loud whistle that echoed nonstop. Just as the audience was wondering, a rustling sound suddenly came from the bushes nearby. Quickly, a "large rodent" crawled out and upon seeing Bi Fang, hurried forward, clambered up his trousers, and finally rested securely on his shoulder. Before entering the conservation center and officially beginning the livestream, Bi Fang allowed Jerry to roam freely nearby without letting the audience see it immediately. Although there were many wild animals here, they were blocked by a wire fence, and Bi Fang wasn''t worried about any dangers they might encounter. But the viewers were a bit stunned by this scene. What is this? Where did it come from? How can a rodent get so big? Was it trained just now? "[From Goudan to Alpha, I knew this guy had a way with animals (Dog''s head)]" "[WTF, can he also train animals?]" "[Nonsense, without real skills, try taming a wild camel yourself?]" The audience wasn''t surprised by Bi Fang''s ability to train a rat so well but was quite curious about the rat''s identity. "This is my new partner," Bi Fang teased Jerry on his shoulder, smiling, "a Gambian Pouched Rat." Explaining the functions and capabilities of the Gambian Pouched Rat, the viewers were amazed to see there were rats in the world that could detect mines. Truly, the world is full of wonders. "[Damn, now that you mention it, there were rodent toys on the merchandise shelf at the club that day, and I was wondering why there was such a thing!]" "[Boss Yao is always one step ahead]" "[His goods turnover has always been good.]" "[Sure is cute, so that means it''s not just Master Fang''s solo act from now on, but he has a partner now, right?]" "Right." Bi Fang followed the staff toward the direction of Cheetah Harley, no longer keeping secrets, he stated the purpose of this mission. "I know everyone has been waiting a long time, actually the task is quite simple. The goal this time is to, while crossing the savanna, assist a cheetah named Harley, rescued by the conservation center, to reintegrate into the African Savanna and help it rewild." "[Cheetah! I knew it was this creature!]" "[The shadow on the poster was too obvious]" "[Stroking the big cat! Lionizing the cow!]" "[That''s too cool]" "[Master Fang, forever our hero!]" "[So powerful, really handsome]" Speaking of which, the staff finally brought Bi Fang to the front of the wire mesh. There, a sleek and beautifully spotted golden cheetah quietly lay on the ground resting, and even through the wire mesh, everyone could see its heaving chest and the slightly fluffy fur slightly fluttering in the breeze. The audience was mesmerized for a moment. This is the land speed king, the golden lightning! "Isn''t it beautiful?" the staff couldn''t help but admire as they turned to Bi Fang. "Absolutely." Bi Fang hundred percent agreed with the staff''s opinion. Chapter 853 849: First Impressions Are Very Important Through the iron cage, Bi Fang explained the mission objective to his audience. Since the cheetah was sleeping, he unconsciously lowered his voice a bit. Perhaps he didn''t want to wake the cheetah and leave a bad first impression. "This is our target for the mission, the staff told me its name is Harley," he said. "It is an eighteen-month-old sub-adult male cheetah. Sub-adult refers to the stage between adolescence and adulthood." "If we compare it to humans, it''s roughly between high school and college age, capable of living independently. Most cheetahs leave their parents around one year of age and live on their own." "But due to the lack of his mother''s guidance, Harley''s body is close to adulthood, yet his psychological age is quite young. He has not yet learned how to hunt." "A creature like the cheetah hardly tolerates the enclosed life of a zoo, so the best outcome for it is to return to nature." "But if released directly into the wild, in its current state, Harley would struggle to survive. So my task is to help it learn how to hunt, understand how to protect its prey, and truly integrate into the wilderness." It sounded absurd¡ªto teach a wild beast how to hunt and survive in the wilderness seemed as ridiculous as teaching fish to swim or birds to fly. But if the human in question was Bi Fang, the viewers found the whole affair quite reasonable¡ªeven rational. Because this man might indeed be a better hunter than the cheetah! Master Fang, globally recognized as the strongest and most charismatic wilderness survivalist. His miraculous journeys time after time told everyone that in the wilderness, he was the undisputed king without a crown. This wasn''t the delusion of the ignorant but the world''s acknowledgement of his prowess. Interestingly, when viewers heard that Bi Fang would teach the cheetah to hunt, some seriously discussed Bi Fang''s "teaching qualifications." [Here''s an interesting statistic: the hunting success rate of polar bears is 10%, gray wolves 14%, lions 18%, leopards 24%, tigers 27%, and cheetahs 58%. Among feline creatures, black-footed cats have the highest hunting success rate at 60%.] [Ah, is that all for tigers and lions?] [Failure is the theme song of the wilderness; success belongs only to Master Fang!] [Although Master Fang''s hunting rate has never been officially scientifically tallied, since the live-streams began, there have been very few misses. It can almost certainly be said to be over 90%, higher than that of even the most formidable African hyenas at 85%. So it does seem plausible for him to teach the cheetah.] [The most crucial thing is that normal hunters have a rather fixed range of prey, but Master Fang''s range, from small squirrels, venomous snakes, fish, to large moose, brown bears, musk oxen, is much broader than that of wild animals.] A string of data was listed, and eventually, everyone reached a unanimous conclusion. No problem at all. It should be this way. [Understood, if there were a professional title, Master Fang would at least be a senior teacher.] [That''s an understatement, at least a professor (Dog''s head)] [The conservation center found Harley a good teacher. (Laugh)] Having teased the audience during the day, they were finally in on the content of Bi Fang''s live stream. Even before the live stream had begun, the audience was already screaming with excitement. As expected, Master Fang did not disappoint as usual. Traveling across the South African Great Plains with a cheetah, teaching it to hunt, and integrating it into nature¡ªcould there be a better story? [Too cool!] [For wilderness survival, Huaxia is the coolest] [Where are the limits of Master Fang?] [Feng Yang Xianyu gifts the anchor Wolf Brush*66666¡ªjust thinking about it excites me, this livestream is going to be amazing.] [Holding on tight to Sister Hi Si, crying and not wanting to leave, gifts the anchor Meatballs*1000¡ªis this the beginning of another legend? Charge!] [Charge fiercely!] Seeing the audience''s excitement, Bi Fang struck while the iron was hot, and said to a nearby staff member, "Open the gate." "Now?" The staff member hesitated, fumbling with the keys. "Is there a problem?" Bi Fang asked. "Actually, there are some issues," Rupee, the assistant director, interjected, "Harley has been in a terrible mood these past few days." "What happened?" "Its breeder, Hamid Griffith, passed away from a heart attack four days ago while feeding Harley." "Hamid was also one of the first to discover Harley. He has been taking care of it ever since. To Harley, Hamid was like family, so these last few days, it''s been quite down and difficult for others to approach." The incident was abrupt, and it happened after Chu Zhaohua went to Huaxia; thus, even Chu Zhaohua was unaware of this event. Naturally, Bi Fang was even less likely to know. "Hamid''s passing wasn''t entirely unexpected really, given his age and his history of heart problems... It''s just that none of us thought the tragedy would happen so soon. His greatest wish before he died was to see Harley running freely on the plains, but now it''s impossible to fulfill." Upon hearing Hamid''s story, everyone fell silent. Assistant Rupee then suggested, "So our idea is for Mr. Bi to feed Harley for a few days first, so both parties get familiar before proceeding with any contact. Otherwise, there''s a risk in doing so abruptly." To Cheetah Harley, Bi Fang was a complete stranger, not to mention under the current unique circumstances. Bi Fang pondered for a moment, then nodded. Animal acclimatization cannot be rushed; they have their own thoughts and emotions. Attempting to force interaction can often lead to stiff relations. Seeing this, the director immediately extended an invitation. "Mr. Bi hasn''t eaten yet, have you? Why don''t you have a meal first?" The plane had arrived in Nairobi a little after six o''clock, and by the time he made it to the conservation center, it was already past eight in the morning. After touring and meeting the key players, it was indeed almost lunchtime. Bi Fang, amid his viewers'' howling disappointment, prepared to turn off the live stream for now and come back after dinner. [Don''t go, it''s barely been an hour, why end it already?] "Ugh, ugh, ugh, one hour, who are you trying to satisfy?" "Master Fang is strong in everything but his time is so short, no wonder he''s been single all along, alas, truly, no one is perfect." "That''s too much, I was planning on coming back and continuing this afternoon after dinner, you guys are really breaking my heart." Bi Fang felt a bit annoyed and then ignored the audience, turned off the live stream, and prepared to try some of Kenya''s specialty foods. The mission hadn''t truly started yet, and after this, it would only be eating in the wild and sleeping under the stars. After instructing the staff not to feed Harley just yet, and to wait until he came personally, Bi Fang followed everyone to the canteen. The conservation center didn''t disappoint Bi Fang; most of the funding here went into the animals and the soldiers, and, being not very plentiful, there weren''t any rare delicacies, but there was certainly enough meat supply, or else they wouldn''t have been able to maintain carnivores like lions and cheetahs. At the dinner table, Bi Fang also encountered quite a few Kenyan specialties. While it was all in Africa, compared to Egypt, the flavors here were different, with plenty of spices and no lack of good taste. In fact, Bi Fang could accept most food types, except for those with a strong creamy taste, such as cream soups. Besides that, he found everything else quite good. "Try our Kenyan sausage¡ªMutura, specially made by the chef. It''s a protein-rich meat snack that most animals here love." The chef brought a large plate of sausages to the table. Though it sounded a bit odd, Bi Fang didn''t take it as an insult; on the contrary, he found it interesting. Most of the people here spent the better part of their lives devoted to protecting animals, so such analogies were not demeaning, but rather a form of acknowledgment. Bi Fang looked at it, took a taste, and found it indeed good. It was a distinctive sausage, filled with minced meat and goat''s blood inside the goat intestines. It was boiled until nearly cooked through, and then thrown on the grill to dehydrate the meat and to give it that striking smoky flavor. Bi Fang, with his level five Green Chef Skill, tasted a few bites and deduced the preparation method. Next were various stews: beef stew, goat stew, and muscle stew, mixed with vegetables like carrots, chili peppers, peas, or potatoes. The sauce was made of a light tomato base with onions, salt, and pepper, creating a salty, spicy, and tangy flavor that was quite unique. There was also barbecued meat. Bi Fang was not shy at all, showing everyone his astonishing appetite. Even after the meal, he still managed to eat a stack of Kenyan specialty doughnuts¡ªdeep-fried dough balls, brimming with sweetness. For the average person, these would be outright carbohydrate bombs, but for Bi Fang, they were the perfect way to recharge his energy. After dinner, Bi Fang said goodbye to everyone and, accompanied by the staff, headed to Harley''s enclosure with a bag of red innards in hand. When he turned on the live stream, the prepared audience swarmed in once again, the viewer count burst through five million and kept climbing, looking at the curve, it looked like the day''s steady viewership might exceed ten million. This was quite a normal statistic; many TV shows also had the highest viewership during the first and last episodes. After a morning and a noon of brewing, the news that Bi Fang was to return the cheetah to nature had quickly spread across the entire internet and gained traction. Almost all social media platforms featured hot searches about Bi Fang and the cheetah. The wildlife protection center went so far as to post the story of Harley online, the tale of how his mother was skinned by poachers and his keeper recently died of a heart attack has long moved people''s hearts. [Here it comes!] [Damn, it''s already one in the afternoon, you''ve been eating for a whole two hours!] sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [So slow, so slow, the flowers have all wilted] "The people at the protection center are too enthusiastic, there''s nothing I can do about it," Bi Fang was quite helpless. It was necessary socializing, and it was lucky he didn''t drink, otherwise he wouldn''t have been able to continue live streaming in the afternoon. A few big guys blowing off steam could make time fly by. Everyone working there had exceptionally rich experiences. Once they started talking, they didn''t want to stop¡ªan ending in two hours was actually quite fast. Thankfully, after he finished eating, Bi Fang was no longer surrounded by a crowd of people both big and small, just followed by a few individual administrators. By this time, Harley had already woken up from his slumbers and was patrolling back and forth on the ground, showing off his graceful form even more thoroughly than what was seen in the morning. Long limbs, a thick tail, and a powerful torso perfectly defined the meaning of the "golden lightning." "I believe many people know that the cheetah is the king of land speed, and their strength lies in their velocity," "This morning, someone mentioned the hunting success rate of the cheetah, and indeed, among one kind of felids, they are unrivaled, as the saying goes ''In all martial arts, speed is unsurpassable,'' and the cheetah embodies this, evolving its body to live for speed." "A study on the Serengeti Plains'' cheetahs in 12 years found that out of 192 hunts, 114 were successful, with a high success rate of 58%. However, because of this, cheetahs are relatively fragile when it comes to head-on fights. Further study by researchers revealed that cheetahs have a 10% chance of having ''the fruits of their victory'' stolen by animals like hyenas and lions." "The survival rate of cheetah cubs is also very low, at only ten percent. And because of such a high mortality rate, cheetahs tend to have more offspring at once, with a female capable of giving birth to one to six cubs at a time, and in captivity, up to seven." "Plus, with the threat of poachers, the numbers of cheetahs on the plains have been continuously decreasing and just can''t seem to recover." [Damn, when you mentioned the survival rate of the cubs, I remembered the story about Harley just now!] [Painful, so painful.] [When I saw the part where little Harley was crying next to his dead mother and attracted Hamid and others, I almost burst into tears too] [Indeed, I just found out about it too.] "Because of the strength disparity, we really don''t need to worry too much, whether in terms of weight or strength, we humans have no reason to fear the cheetah." The cheetah is a member of the subfamily Felinae, different from lions, tigers, leopards, and American tigers, which belong to the Pantherinae subfamily, cheetahs exemplify being ''strong on the outside but dry inside''. Its claws resemble those of a dog, lacking the fleshy sheaths of other felid species, with no retractable parts, hence their footprints show claw marks. Without powerful claws and only average biting force, and quite ordinary canine teeth lengths, they are destined never to become the dominant power. There are even rumors of cheetahs faking to be honey badgers to scare off their natural enemies, even if unproven, it speaks volumes. Having said this, Bi Fang looked toward an administrator next to him: "Open the gate." This time, the administrator no longer hesitated, stepping forward to unlock the big lock on the wire netting at Bi Fang''s request. Bi Fang picked up the blood-soaked bag in his hand and smiled," "With the help of the staff, I''ve obtained the innards of a goat to feed to Harley. I hope he''ll like it and that I can leave a good first impression on him." Chapter 854 850: The Fluffed-Up Cheetah The sunlight shone on the pure white plastic bag, barely revealing the glimmer of blood from within. Bi Fang''s gaze penetrated the iron mesh, assessing the weight of the cheetah. "The cheetah is a felid carnivore and is the only species in its genus. It is divided into five subspecies and one variant species." "The largest is the North African subspecies, with adult males weighing 29-71 kilograms, averaging 45 kilograms, and adult females 21-63 kilograms, averaging 38 kilograms." "The weight of fully-grown individuals of the other four subspecies is generally below 35 kilograms. They look similar to leopards and can run at exceptionally high speeds, which is why they''re called cheetahs." "The Kenya region belongs to South Africa, and Harley, who was rescued by the staff here, is also of the South African subspecies, usually weighing only about 35 to 45 kilograms. Harley is still a subadult, with a weight of about thirty to forty, and I estimate it''s around thirty-three." The chain was pulled out, making a clanking sound. The staff member next to him was startled by these words and said subconsciously, "The checkup the day before yesterday showed it was 35 kilograms, but animal weight measurements are not very accurate, and it hasn''t eaten since then, so 33 is about right. You''re really talented; you can even discern that." Animals are different from humans¡ªthey don''t wear clothes¡ªso it''s not impossible to judge an animal''s physique at a glance. But this isn''t something just anyone can do; it requires an experienced eye and a wealth of experience, not to mention a considerable familiarity with the species, akin to how a skilled butcher can accurately cut the right weight of meat with one slice. In the staff member''s memory, only a handful of seasoned professors who specialize in cheetahs could achieve this. Moreover, carnivorous animals like those in the wild differ from humans. They can consume several kilograms of food in one meal, ensuring that they won''t starve for several days even if no prey is available. Thus, when exactly the weight is measured makes a big difference. Bi Fang''s estimate was less than two kilograms off, even within a kilogram, which shows his expertise. "A cheetah that weighs thirty kilograms poses a limited threat; we can totally treat it like a large cat." [Big cat (facepalm)] [I want to pet such a big cat too] [Only Master Fang can say such a thing, I saw a guy last time being chased by a local dog that seemed even smaller than Harley.] Feline animals indeed have formidable killing power, but size is a mountain that all creatures in nature cannot circumvent; it''s not something that can be surpassed simply through body structure. Thirty kilograms, not even forty percent of Bi Fang''s own weight. Hence, facing a completely unfamiliar cheetah, Bi Fang was not as apprehensive as the viewers thought but rather very calm. He had handled a three-hundred-kilogram brown bear; even if it was bare-handed, how could he possibly be afraid of a thirty-kilogram cheetah? But for the cheetah, things were not so simple. The sound of the sliding chain startled Harley, it turned its head, and then a tall, robust "giant" entered, with his bare forearms like twisted steel cables, adorned with curves that radiated strength. If it had just been that, it would have been fine; the protection center had many such bipedal apes. But terrifyingly, the aura of this bipedal ape was completely different from any Harley had ever seen before! Completely different! Completely different! The feeling was as if it had encountered a natural enemy, a predator far more fierce than itself standing right in front of it! After a few seconds of his little brain crashing, Harley immediately went into full alarm mode! Its golden fur uncontrollably bristled, and as Bi Fang advanced, Harley gradually retreated to the corner, void of any elegance or dominance of the speed king it once possessed. Such a posture puzzled both the staff and the audience on the side. [Wow, what''s going on here?] [Is Master Fang scaring the cheetah like that (Dog''s head)?] [I''m seriously impressed, just like my cat when it sees a dog.] "Harley doesn''t usually act like this, does he?" A staff member chuckled awkwardly, trying to call Harley over. Bi Fang pondered for a moment and roughly understood the reason, which made him chuckle. He voluntarily crouched down, reducing his height and lessening the threatening vibe. "Animals naturally fear larger unknown creatures. This is quite normal. We can crouch and tuck in our limbs to ''shrink'' our size, showing a more relaxed side to ease an animal''s vigilance." Sure enough, once Bi Fang crouched down, viewers in front of the screen noticed that the cheetah''s bristling golden hair settled down significantly. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His demeanor remained the same, but the reduction in size helped the cheetah relax a bit. Crouching down, Bi Fang slowly approached the cheetah''s feeding bowl, opened the bag, and in front of Harley, poured out the bloody sheep innards, then slowly retreated. Since Harley was overly cautious of him, Bi Fang backed off to a corner of the cage, allowing a staff member to call Harley to eat. With Bi Fang''s distance, a delayed lunch, and a familiar staff member nearby, Harley, despite still being frightened, gradually approached, facing Bi Fang and eating in the most cautious manner. "You go out and then lock the door." "Do we need some safety measures?" "No." Bi Fang shook his head and then said to the audience, "To get an animal to quickly get used to and befriend you is actually quite simple. You first need to let it adjust to your presence in space, progressively closing the distance." "It is an active and passive bilateral process. On the active side, you should strive to use resources to motivate the subject to approach you, like how many people use sausages to lure a kitten towards them. Even if the kitten just snatches it and runs, it''s progress. Do it enough times, and it''ll learn there''s no danger." "At the same time, you also need to mix in some passivity to speed up the process. For instance, we''re now in the same cage. Even though Harley doesn''t seem very willing, it has still acquiesced, which is setting up a psychological expectation for it." [So this is PUA, huh?] [What are you barking for?! How could anything related to Master Fang be PUA?] [It really is like raising a stray dog or cat.] [Damn it, I''ve been feeding the stray cat downstairs for a month now, and it still won''t let me touch it. I really wish it could vomit up all the canned food it''s eaten.] Harley dragged the feeding bowl to the corner and chewed vigorously. The drone quietly moved closer, recording the sight and sound of it eating vividly, the unique squelching noise made by the teeth colliding with the innards. [By the way, do animals like eating innards?] [Why do I remember Master Fang always tossing the innards away?] Bi Fang shook his head. "You guys remembered wrong. The innards I always throw away are the stomach and some pancreatic tissue. Organs like the heart and liver are always kept." "In fact, most predators, when food is plentiful, will prioritize eating certain organs of their prey, especially the liver area." "For example, during seasons when there are more herbivores and prey is comparatively easier to catch, some lion prides get into the habit of starting their meal from the victim''s hindquarters or abdomen, with the entrails often being the first to be eaten. The remaining muscle, skin, and bones are left for hyenas and vultures to deal with." "The reasons behind this dietary preference have no clear explanation so far, scientists speculate that this might be because animal offal is more convenient to consume, as it largely avoids bone protection, has a softer texture than muscle, and is relatively more nutritious." "Organs like the liver have a high fat content and are also rich in vitamins that the animals urgently need. This is similar to how the Inuit people rely on raw food to supplement vitamin C, something I''ve mentioned before." "Bears are similar to lions in this respect." "Every year, the salmon breeding season is a bear''s festive holiday; after catching salmon swimming upstream on the riverbank, the bear eats the fish skin and roe, leaving most of the fish for various birds." "This habit stems from the fact that salmon are so plentiful and easy to catch during this ''golden'' fishing period that lasts only a few days. Bears consume the fat-rich fish skin and roe and then turn to catch the next fish, maximizing their efficiency in accumulating fat and nutrients to get through a warm winter." "Killer whales also favor shark livers. This is partially because shark livers are large and high in fat content, and on the other hand, although sharks do not have hard bones, their skin is extremely tough, and consuming other parts of the shark would cause too much wear on the killer whale''s teeth." "Killer whales are mammals; their teeth, like those of humans, are limited and can''t regrow like those of sharks. It''s common for elderly killer whales to starve because they can''t tear through fish skin." "Some scholars even believe that younger killer whales carry out the task of hunting, while the older ones only have to come up and nibble on the fish liver, which is a tender material that their worn teeth can handle." For Wilderness Traveler at the max level, Bi Fang, these animal facts were simply off the top of his head, swarming in his mind, and he hadn''t finished listing them all even by the time the cheetah finished its meal. Harley seemed a bit unsatisfied after its lunch, as it found that today''s portion was noticeably smaller than usual. "The food I brought this time isn''t much, as the purpose is to increase feeding frequency. By feeding small amounts more often, I aim to get Harley quickly accustomed to my presence and continuously strengthen its impression of me." Bi Fang prepared a feeding schedule for Harley that involved feeding every three hours, with small amounts of offal each time while extending the companionship duration. In the cage, Harley, having finished dinner, stared at Bi Fang, pacing back and forth by the edge of the cage until Bi Fang stood up. Then the cheetah quickly retreated to the corner, breathing a sigh of relief only when it saw Bi Fang leave. "Alright, I''ll start live streaming again at 4 p.m. Oh, I almost forgot about the time difference. Everyone''s timing is different; it''s actually three hours from now." "Don''t worry, because our live stream hasn''t really begun. In two days, when Harley is familiar with my presence, I will be streaming all day long." After explaining a bit, Bi Fang turned off the live stream, locked the chain back on the cheetah, and put the cage key in his pocket. The first time, he needed the staff''s help for an "introduction" to reduce Harley''s wariness as much as possible. The next few times, he wouldn''t need them, so the staff directly gave the key to Bi Fang. Returning to his room at the conservation center, Bi Fang opened the System and began to set up the mission for this trip. Rushing out this time, he had almost forgotten to assign the System tasks. Once Bi Fang input the mission content, the complete System mission automatically organized itself, laying out the awards, difficulty, and requirements clearly. [Mission Name: Heart of Nature] [Mission Location: African Savanna] [Mission Mode: Survival Crossing] [Mission Difficulty: T1] [Mission Requirements: Only System equipment may be carried.] [Main Mission One: Set up a live stream with a consistent online audience of over eight million.] [Main Mission Two: Help Cheetah Harley learn to hunt and integrate into the wild.] [Sub-Mission: Explore on your own.] [Guaranteed Reward: Tier Two Access.] Bi Fang carefully read through the tasks, and his heart skipped a beat when he saw the last item for the reward. The so-called ''mission edit'' meant that as long as he input the content, the System would automatically assess the difficulty and then suggest the reward. Tier Two Access Fully Open? What does that mean? This kind of reward made Bi Fang involuntarily remember his adventure in Qaidam. After that, he obtained the privilege to auto-edit missions; what would this time bring? Could he even edit the rewards himself? And with the difficulty reaching T1, it might represent the peak of the T series of challenges. R, S, T. Bi Fang had already experienced three ladder levels of difficulty. He didn''t know what the next level would be. To Bi Fang, T1 seemed to have reached the pinnacle of Earth''s wilderness survival. The African Savanna isn''t as simple as it appears. Just last Thursday, Kenya''s wildlife rangers encountered a squad of poachers armed with AK-47 rifles during their routine patrol on the border of Kenya and Ushida at Mount Elgon National Park, resulting in a fierce battle. The rangers killed three poachers and seized rifles and other poaching equipment, with two other poachers fleeing in disarray. A glimpse into the situation on the African Savanna reveals the danger of walking around with a cheetah. "Overthinking is futile." Bi Fang closed the panel and stood by the window, gazing out over the vast savanna without a hint of timidity in his heart. Bi Fang was not someone who would reject his own emotions of fear. Fear is not a devastating flood or ferocious beast. It''s the most fundamental instinct for sensing danger in living creatures, a psychological mechanism evolved over time, a self-protection mechanism that has helped humans steer clear of danger and survive time and again. It''s rare and precious. But those who understand fear and are still able to face challenges are the ones who can improve. To become stronger, one must do the things they are afraid of. Continuously expanding one''s understanding of the world is the foundation for becoming more powerful. At 4 p.m., Bi Fang reopened the live stream. This time, over five million viewers poured in. Bi Fang, like before, carried a bag of offal towards the cheetah. This time, the staff stood outside the wire fence and did not accompany him inside. Bi Fang dumped the offal into a bowl and squeezed out the blood from the plastic bag. "Different from noon, this time I''ve brought deer offal for the cheetah, changing up the flavor, which will also strengthen Harley''s memory of me." Chapter 855 851: Felinae and Sociality The second meal, the third meal, the fourth meal... Over the course of the day, Bi Fang fed the cheetah four times, coming every three hours to feed it until it ended at ten o''clock at night. From sheep to deer to rabbits, they were all the cheetah''s favorite types of food, and by the fourth time, Bi Fang brought sheep blood sausages, so the staff didn''t even have to stand outside the wire mesh. The cheetah had also put aside its vigilance towards this man who was almost constantly moving in front of its eyes, simply treating him as a fierce new "breeder," just still a bit unclear as to why its feeding routine had changed so much. In the past, it only needed to eat once a day and would be full from one meal, but now that had completely changed. Early the next day, Bi Fang got up at six o''clock to continue feeding, and the sound of the dragging chain woke the resting cheetah. Harley, seeing the unexpected visitor, was alert and locked on to the edge of the wire mesh; upon seeing the person entering, it still didn''t relax its guard, but compared to the bristling fur as soon as they met yesterday, it was much calmer, merely pacing near the wire mesh. "A cheetah generally can eat 2.5 kilograms of food per day, and if it can''t catch prey for a long time, it can even consume an amount equivalent to one-fifth of its own weight in extreme conditions." "In some areas in The Middle East, tamed cheetahs hunt for hunters, and just giving them a spoon of blood is enough. I changed Harley''s food to a half kilogram each time, feeding it five times a day, frequently appearing in front of it and extending the time we spent together." "You see, today Harley is already very familiar with my presence." After each feeding, Bi Fang would stay for a while while being watched by Harley. From ten minutes the first time, to twenty minutes the second time, and an hour by the fourth time, the relationship between the two was rapidly progressing. [I get it, Master Fang is actually a Druid!] [A brilliant survival master, and also proficient in beast taming skills, no doubt] [I always fantasize about being as strong as Master Fang, so that even without money, I could travel all over the world without worrying about getting lost or starving to death] "After a night apart, today is our first feeding, so let''s just stay for half an hour. Today I brought it ostrich liver, hoping it will like it." "On the grasslands, larger cheetahs prefer to chase antelopes, and those slow, dull-witted antelopes get easily eaten." "Then there are deer, which, along with antelopes, are the cheetah''s targets. In grasslands with no antelopes in sight, cheetahs will shift their focus onto deer." "And young cheetahs, still not strong enough to eat antelopes and deer, can only chase small ostriches on the grasslands." "There are also smaller cheetahs that like to eat rabbits. I chose the food according to their preferences, which is very helpful for getting animals to approach you." After finishing the food, Harley licked the blood from the bottom of the bowl with relish, and finally licked its whiskers all around, pacing back and forth under Bi Fang''s gaze. It wasn''t until a quarter of an hour later that it chose a spot as far away from Bi Fang as possible to lie down, basking in the morning light, and yawned several times. Seeing this, Bi Fang smiled and said to the live-streaming audience, "Actually, there''s something you might not know¡ªthat of all wild felines, cheetahs are probably the most affectionate to humans." "If there are older people in the live stream, they might remember that back in the nineties, many cubs in the wildlife park of Magic Capital used to roam freely, including cheetahs." Affectionate to humans? Upon hearing this, the viewers'' curiosity was instantly piqued. [Really?] [What''s the reason behind this?] [Is a life with a cheetah in each hand going to happen?] [Old Fang talking about Magic Capital''s zoo, I actually have some memory of it. I think I was in elementary school and saw little cheetahs running around in the zoo.] [Holy shit, is that for real? Isn''t that going to drain us dry?] [Isn''t that just blissful?] [Too bad it''s not possible now.] [Spill the beans.] "There are mainly two reasons, one is because the cheetah belongs to the Felinae subfamily, and the other is because cheetahs have a social structure." "Let''s start with the first point." Bi Fang sat down in the same manner as the cheetahs, lounging lazily in the sunshine. "Kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species, those who have studied biology should be familiar with this universally acknowledged species classification, but this is just the most superficial classification. Those who specialize in biology would know that there''s another classification between family and genus called subfamily." "Subfamily is also a level in the biological classification system, with Latin taxonomic names usually ending in -inae. It is a family-level classification rank situated between family and genus." "A family can be divided into several subfamilies, each comprising a unique genus or several genera that differ from others in certain attributes within that family." "The existence of subfamilies isn''t meaningless; they help us further delineate some significant differences between animals." "Take the cat family, for instance; it''s quite a large classification that includes lions, tigers, leopards, American lions, clouded leopards, cheetahs, lynxes, wildcats, and domestic cats." "But since the cat family is a large group, it contains two subfamilies: Felinae and Pantherinae. The differences between these two species are vast!" "The most apparent difference is that members of the Felinae subfamily have retractable claws, are generally smaller in size, don''t roar, and include 12 genera; Pantherinae members also have retractable claws and are typically larger, capable of roaring, comprising 2 genera." Bi Fang''s lesson on biological classification piqued the curiosity of the audience. Lions, tigers, American lions, jaguars¡ªall well-known hunters with numerous superficial admirers¡ªare well aware that these are the cream of the crop in the cat family. However, when further divided into the Felinae and Pantherinae subfamilies, the distinctions become less clear to the uninitiated. The audience was oblivious to the differences and how they were related to cheetahs being friendly toward humans. What Bi Fang was about to explain next was crucial. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "The cheetah is actually quite a peculiar creature." "Although its name contains ''cheetah,'' it''s not a true panther and doesn''t belong to the Pantherinae subfamily; instead, it''s a member of the Felinae subfamily." "Even some years ago, the cheetah didn''t fit into either subfamily and was instead a subfamily of its own, called the Acinonychinae." "But now, that subfamily has been abolished, and the cheetah has been moved to the Felinae subfamily. Thus, in the entire cat family, there are only two subfamilies left, meaning the cheetah is categorically a big cat, truly a cat in every sense." "What I said earlier wasn''t nonsense; even disregarding their combat capabilities, from a genetic and behavioral perspective, cheetahs are indeed very close to domestic cats." "And creatures like tigers and lions, those real top-tier predators, belong to the Pantherinae subfamily. Do you understand the difference now?" [A bit confused, but I''m starting to get it.] [So you mean cheetahs are related to cats, while tigers and lions belong to another family, right?] [Man, calling it a panther when it''s not; isn''t that misleading?] "Pretty much. Cheetahs are genetically closer to slender cats, their call goes meow~meow~, they have delicate limbs, and weigh less than fifty kilograms." "Leopards, on the other hand, are true panthers. They''re fierce, with a deep, low growl¡ªgoing ''aoow aoow''¡ªthe kind of bass that cat animal enthusiasts love. They weigh between 50-100 kg, have thick legs, and sport rosette patterns, resembling ancient coins, which is why they''re also called panthers." "Cheetahs can run fast but aren''t strong, so adult humans aren''t on their food list. Hence, they''re relatively friendly to people. Of course, that doesn''t mean they''re not aggressive. Even domestic cats scratch and bite, and wild animals are fiercer." "Leopards are different. Their speed is only half that of cheetahs, but they often bully cheetahs with their overwhelming strength, are highly aggressive, and are deadly to humans." "Here''s a little aside, there''s another animal with a rather intimidating name that''s also a big cat, and that is the American Lion." "This is a big cat too, roughly the same size as the cheetah, a bit stronger in combat but only marginally so." "Contrarily, its relative which seems to hold a lower status based on its name is a member of the Pantherinae, also known as the Jaguar. This creature ranks as the third-largest feline predator in the world." "Of course, the Jaguar also has a less well-known but still somewhat indicative name of its combat prowess, called the American Tiger." [Lion: Can''t even defeat a leopard, you''re bringing shame to our family (Dog''s head)] [Learned something new] [That''s very detailed] "Of course, there''s a slight issue with my argument, but indeed, you can''t expect the beastly members of the Pantherinae to be any more sociable than a cheetah. Not one among tigers, lions, leopards, or jaguars is easy to get along with. A single slap from them could spell the end of your life." "For feline predators with an innate hunting instinct, it''s hard to resist attacking and testing out creatures weaker than themselves." "Meanwhile, the cats in the smaller Felinae subgroup have a comparatively smaller size and limited killing power. To put it bluntly, whether they are sociable or not, you wouldn''t really care much because, to creatures as massive as humans, they don''t have any special designs on us." [That hits hard] [Be a little more subtle with your words] [What about the second point?] [Yeah, what''s the second point? Hurry up and tell us.] "The second point is..." Bi Fang glanced at the time and realized that half an hour had already passed, so he unlocked the chains, stepped out of the cage, and joked. "Sorry, let''s talk about the second point with our second meal of the day, or what will I do if my goods are all taken by you guys in the coming days?" The audience was dumbfounded. [Man, you can''t just cut the story off like that!] [You''ve no sense of propriety!!!] Luckily, they only had to wait three hours. Moreover, Bi Fang did not choose to turn off the live stream and restart; instead, he fixed the drone above the wire fence, ensuring the camera was aimed at Cheetah Harley before walking away. At nine in the morning, Bi Fang reappeared in front of the camera, continued feeding, and then sat directly in the cage, resuming the morning''s topic. "This morning we talked about the differences between Felinae and Pantherinae. Now, for the second reason, that''s the cheetah''s social nature." "Here, I can''t help but mention two representative creatures, one is the tiger, a well-known solitary predator, and the other is the lion, a familiar social predator." "And of the social creatures domesticated by humans, there''s one particularly excellent example, and that is the dog, and the wolf is probably the social creature most familiar to everyone." The dog, Bi Fang would say, is the most successfully domesticated animal by humans, without any equal. And the dog''s domestication is intrinsically linked to the social nature of its ancestor, the wolf. "Remember the necessary traits for animal domestication I mentioned when taming Alpha?" "In ''Guns, Germs, and Steel'' by Jared Diamond, one point he mentions is that the species needs to have a social structure that enables them to accept a subordinate role, or in other words, a hierarchical system." "Dogs were the first animals to become familiar with humans and are recognized as the first species domesticated by humans, long before other livestock, and are the only species domesticated by humans before agriculture emerged." "[I remember this] "[That is, to animals, humans became part of their community.]" "In the process where wolves were domesticated into dogs, the most critical first step was initiated by the wolves themselves; they chose us first, not the other way around." "Due to genetic mutations, the ''safe distance'' some wolves maintained with primitive humans shortened. These special wolves dared to approach the tribal camps of primitive humans in search of food from the garbage dumps surrounding the camps." "Initially, some wolves may have followed hunters to pick up leftover food and bones. Thus, some less threatening wolves, particularly their pups, were taken in by humans and bred, starting the domestication process." "In the life of primitive people, dogs could help with hunting and serve as sentinels, while dogs received protection from humans. Most importantly, they had a relatively stable food source. Over time, each generation of increasingly docile wolves was selected by humans, and thus dogs came into being through this mutual effort." "[I know this, like humans and wheat, there is also a view that wheat domesticated humans to propagate itself all over the world.]" "[Ssss!]" "[Is that so?]" "[A bit creepy upon deep thought, huh?]" "[It''s always been mutual selection, with everyone choosing each other to survive better.]" "The social structure of wolves living in packs was a very crucial condition for domestication. Dogs'' ancestors, the wolves, had a clear social hierarchy, and each wolf had its status within the group." "Each wolf pack had a leader, who managed all of the group''s affairs, including food distribution, dispute resolution, and even reproduction." "The alpha wolf held supreme authority, and the other wolves were absolutely obedient, content with their place in the hierarchy." "Although long-term evolution has led modern wolves and modern dogs to no longer have a direct kin relationship, dogs still retain the social nature of wolf packs." "However, there is one difference: the social grouping of dogs is no longer just limited to their own kind but has expanded to include the humans who care for them." "This means that dogs have come to treat every family member as part of their pack and typically see their owner as the alpha. This allows humans to manage these animals and establish a leadership relationship with them." At this point, Bi Fang suddenly remembered something. "Oh, there''s one thing I feel I need to mention, and that''s in the dog world, kissing cheeks and mouths is a sign of submission. The kisser often has a lower status than the one receiving the kiss." "Everyone can try it, lean your cheek towards your dog, and you''ll find it''ll come over and lick you, showing that you''re the boss, as a sign of submission." "Conversely, if you lean in to kiss it, you''ll often find the dog''s expression confused." "I''ve seen many people express affection by kissing their dogs, which is fine in itself. If the owner doesn''t see a problem, then there is no problem, but over time, it can make the dog think it''s the boss." "You''ll find that it becomes more and more difficult to manage, with an increasingly short temper, especially with some larger aggressive breeds. They''re liable to cause issues when taken outside, not obeying your commands, because it sees you as the one who should be obedient." "So, even if you think kissing dogs is harmless, you should still be prepared not to let them cause trouble." "[!!!]" "[Damn, no wonder my dog has become increasingly disobedient!!!]" "[Kissing dogs... Doesn''t that feel dirty....]" "[I can''t understand.]" "[But, what does this have to do with lions and tigers?]" "Because if you look at it from the perspective of sociality, you''ll find that raising lions is actually somewhat safer than raising tigers." "The same logic applies to cheetahs." Chapter 856 852: The Old Breeders Experience Talk Lion prides have their own hierarchical structures. A typical lion pride generally consists of 1 to 6 adult male lions, 3 to 12 adult female lions, and several cubs. Most lion prides have about 15 lions, though there are also large prides comprising 30 lions, and small prides with only a few lions are not uncommon, depending on the abundance of prey in their habitat. There are even alliances like the Bad Boys Alliance, consisting of 6 male lions. The freedom of association is greater than that of wolf packs. Because of the lions'' highly social nature, their hostility is not as strong towards familiar faces they frequently encounter. If they are regularly fed, over time, they will even consider humans as part of the pride, as long as no one purposely provokes them by challenging the leader of the pride; even rough play is tolerated. On the other hand, cheetahs also have a special social structure. "Wait, are cheetahs sociable? I''ve never heard of that before." "As a child, I watched Animal World; aside from mother cheetahs with cubs, it seemed they all lived solitary lives." "I''m shocked to learn that cheetahs are sociable; it astounds my mom for a whole year." Upon hearing Bi Fang talk about the sociability of cheetahs, many viewers felt puzzled. In everyone''s mind, wolf packs and lion prides are sociable, but since when are cheetahs? The only memory is of cheetahs sprinting with prey across the savannah, never seen surrounding prey like wolf packs, right? "Some do, but unlike the wolf packs and lion prides you''ve seen, cheetahs have a more loose-knit social structure," Bi Fang reaffirmed his statement. "In cheetahs, females usually live alone, showing no territorial behavior, but the social and territorial behaviors of males vary greatly." "They form permanent groups of 2 to 4 individuals, and typically, cheetah hunting teammates are siblings. However, if there is a profit to be made, the group may also include unrelated members who accept strange cheetahs joining, especially in self-defense, to jointly drive away other predators." "Not only that, when unfamiliar cheetahs meet, they will size each other up, and only if they don''t like each other will fighting occur." "What are you looking at?" "What about it?" "Seriously, does this really exist?" "Moreover, cheetahs have few records of killing their own kind, almost no cheetah kills another of its kind, which is very rare among large felines." Compared to lion prides, where males often kill the cubs left by other males, cheetahs'' behavior is almost angelic. They do not simply kill each other to defend territory or protect food, nor do they fight violently to compete for mating rights. "It''s so tender; I''m crying." "When will cheetahs ever be free?" "Next life, remember to be born into a family with a white scale; not just cheetahs, but lions and tigers can be kept too (Dog''s head)." "Ultimately, it''s because cheetahs have high hunting efficiency but are not very strong, they know that getting injured would greatly reduce their hunting success rate." "There''s a saying about cheetahs, ''If it fails to hunt three times, it will perish,'' not sure if you have heard of it." "What does that mean?" "Never heard of it." "I think I''ve heard it was five times?" "Holy, is it literally what I am thinking?" "Yes, that''s the literal meaning, meaning if a cheetah fails to catch prey three times, its life comes to an end." Upon hearing this, many viewers were suddenly in an uproar. Why would failing three times mean death? "Although this saying is a bit absolute, the real situation isn''t much better, as while speed provides cheetahs a significant advantage, it also poses a great safety risk." "A cheetah in full sprint can reach speeds of 112 km/h, but most of the time, the speed they use in hunting is around 64 km/h; even so, cheetahs cannot run for long periods." "They are fast but have very poor stamina; exercising builds up a great deal of heat inside their bodies; if they can''t expel it promptly, they could be in danger. Therefore, cheetahs often have to stop and rest after a chase." "In some documentaries, we often see hyenas stealing prey that cheetahs had worked hard to catch, without any resistance from the cheetahs; the reason behind this is because the cheetahs need to rest." "Cheetahs, after completing a hunt, even if they have caught their prey, will not start eating immediately but choose to rest first because at that point, the cheetahs are too tired to eat." "Hyenas within the same habitat often seize this opportunity to snatch the cheetah''s prey, and the cheetah can only watch helplessly as its meal is taken away." [Damn, why are there always hyenas around in Africa?] [They are so strong yet still like to steal from others, that''s not honorable!] [This is nature, bro, who talks about honor with you? The ones who survive are the real bosses.] "Therefore, scholars studying cheetahs discovered that if a cheetah fails in three consecutive hunts, it might never have the energy to complete another hunt, putting its life in critical danger." The energy stored in the body is limited, most of which is in the form of fat, but the cheetah''s need for speed prevents it from relying on fat for significant energy storage. Three hunts are the limit before a cheetah completely depletes its energy, and if it cannot eat after these attempts, eventual death awaits. "Cheetahs have a hunting success rate of 58%, theoretically, they indeed need only two hunts to succeed once." "But reality is harsh, cheetahs face pressure from other competitors, savanna lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, brown hyenas, etc., are all eyeing them, with a 10% chance of being robbed." "The survival of cheetahs is entirely through narrow gaps, so cooperative hunting is a wise strategy for them." On the African Savanna, to carve out a niche for themselves, they need to be either strong enough or cooperate with others, and over the lengthy course of life, cheetahs have gradually developed the habit of hunting cooperatively. When they go out to search for prey, if several cheetahs meet, they will temporarily form an alliance to hunt together, and after they finish eating the prey, they quickly separate and live individually, cooperating again when the chance arises. This situation is called "temporary clustering." Cooperative hunting, undoubtedly, is a wise move, saving energy to capture prey while also somewhat preventing others from stealing the prey. Thus, it''s easy to understand why cheetahs do not attack humans; their nature is to avoid conflicts and trouble, and in interactions between humans and cheetahs, they often leave a friendly and harmless impression. Possessing both the characteristics of Felinae and sociability, they have truly become the most person-friendly "feline animals." There have been no recorded incidents of cheetahs attacking humans worldwide. In many African documentaries, you can see scenes where cheetahs peacefully coexist with people, and some even actively approach tourist vehicles for close contact. While speaking, Bi Fang stood up and sat down in the center of the cage. Now, instead of being at the corners, the distance between them was halved. This action immediately made Harley uneasy, as his body, just satiated and lying down, stood up again, circling continuously against the cage. "Cheetahs are very timid, a slight noise can scare them off." "Because they don''t have the size and weight advantage like predators such as lions and tigers. In pursuit of ultimate speed, cheetahs sacrifice many abilities typical of feline animals." "Most cheetahs have a straightforward and naive nature, so they are often bullied by other predators. Additionally, with low survival rates for cubs, the numbers of cheetahs could not expand; combined with severe poaching, this directly led to a drastic reduction in cheetah populations that is difficult to recover." "To put it in perspective, at the beginning of the 20th century, there were about 100,000 cheetahs in Africa; by 1975, zoologists once again counted only about 14,000 cheetahs; and by now, the number of cheetahs has dropped by half compared to more than 40 years ago." "Only about 7,000 cheetahs are now living in the wild." "On the black market, cheetah cubs are extremely expensive, selling for over thirty thousand Ugly Yuan each, imagine when you see a young, defenseless ''banknote'' playing in the grasslands, would you let it go?" [To be honest, if moving a hand could net two hundred thousand, it''s really hard to say (covers face)] [Seems like those Middle Eastern tycoons have quite many.] "Because cheetahs are human-friendly, humans have a long history of domesticating cheetahs. As far back as 3000 BC, the Sumerians began taming cheetahs." "In Ancient Egypt, cheetahs symbolized royal power and prestige. People domesticated cheetahs and brought them close to the Pharaoh, symbolic of protecting the throne." "Ancient Egyptians also believed that cheetahs could allow the Pharaoh''s ''soul to reincarnate''." "It can be said that historically, those who owned cheetahs were either rich or noble, which might also be a reason why some wealthy individuals still chase after cheetahs today¡ªto highlight their status and prestige." [By the way, if we want to protect an endangered species, shouldn''t we loosen restrictions on their captivity, making them popular pets so they might be removed from the danger of extinction?] Bi Fang shook his head. "This is exactly what I mentioned initially, why cheetahs are not suitable to stay in zoos. It''s not because they are kings of speed, enjoying running in the savannah, but frankly, all animals have the nature of being fed and clothed." "The fundamental reason is that cheetahs in captivity struggle to reproduce." "According to ancient records, Emperor Akbar of the Mughal Empire in India kept about 9,000 cheetahs during his reign of over forty years, but only one litter of cheetah cubs was born." The chance of reproduction one in a few thousand, as you can imagine, breeding cheetahs in captivity is almost impossible. "This is because cheetahs, like the desert cat, fishing cat, and snow leopard, have poor adaptability to changes in their environment, making it likely they won''t breed when affected by environmental changes." "Even with more advanced technology and breeding techniques today, people still cannot achieve stable reproduction of cheetahs under artificial conditions." "Therefore, in zoos around the world, lions and tigers are commonly seen, but cheetahs are very rare. In Huaxia, there are only about 10 zoos that house cheetahs, and there is almost no news of cheetah cubs being born." "That''s why Harley must learn to hunt and then return to the wild." "Actually, the reason humans cannot domesticate cheetahs is not because they are ill-tempered, but simply because they cannot reproduce. If this problem were solved, cheetahs could definitely become a more successful domesticated animal than cats, second only to dogs, alas, what a pity." Bi Fang sighed at this point. Meanwhile, Harley had been pacing around Bi Fang for a long time. Seeing that the other party was just sitting, he finally seemed to find it boring and lay down again. Seeing this, Bi Fang smiled. In less than a day and a half, he had successfully reduced their safety distance to less than ten meters, which was definitely news worth celebrating. Bi Fang was confident that within three days, he would be able to pet this big cat. Following that, Bi Fang called for a drone. "Let''s go, we won''t pause the live stream today. I''ll introduce you to a staff member who has been working here for over twenty years, and let him tell you about the attitudes of lions, tigers, cheetahs, and leopards towards their breeders, and see if cheetahs are indeed the most affectionate." "Wow, practical knowledge indeed!" "Awesome, Master Fang even combines theory with practice." "His name is Zack Sitz Barry; he used to work in a zoo and he was responsible for the breeding of all the animals in the conservation center. I got to know him while wandering around here the past few days." Then, under the eyes of the audience, Bi Fang found a staff member who was feeding lions. This staff member looked quite old, with half of his beard already white. Upon seeing Bi Fang, he threw a piece of meat through the iron net and greeted him warmly. The lion inside the net took the meat and started tearing it apart right there. Bi Fang took a few glances and then directly stated his purpose. "Oh, that''s why you came," Barry lifted his baseball cap, smiled, "Then you''ve come to the right person. I''ve bred not only tigers, lions, bears, leopards, raptors, and dogs but also during my time in the zoo, I handled animals from all over the world, including Africa, and in large numbers." "Where should we start?" "Let''s start with the tiger." "Hmm... if raised from a young age, tigers on average are more aggressive toward humans than lions because they are solitary animals by nature and generally do not bond closely with people." "However, those raised from infancy with lots of cuddles and hugs can be very gentle, but no one in our zoo raises them like that. They are all hungry and there''s no time to watch over the little ones every day." "Only a few individuals are more docile, but that''s a minority; most don''t care for human interaction. You can''t be sure when they might suddenly lash out. A 3-month-old tiger can already cause serious injuries to humans." "If you try to take away a piece of meat from a 4-month-old tiger, 80% of them will bite you." "Of course, there are also a few individuals that are gentler. I once had a tiger named Qi Qi, very gentle. If you put your hand in her mouth during feeding, she wouldn''t bite but would just silently walk away. I could even touch her paws, and she would just lightly whack me with her tail or turn around to try to scare me." "In total, of the more than 10 tigers I''ve raised, only six of them, I am sure, would not attack me." "What about lions?" "In some ways, lions are safer around humans than tigers; they are social animals, and you can become a member of their group." "Still, lions and tigers are both big cats. Big cats'' intelligence just doesn''t match up to that of dogs and bears, so you can''t predict when they might go berserk." "But overall, lions are a bit safer than tigers, especially the lionesses. Most can be touched, but there are a few male lions with really bad tempers, more fierce and brutal than tigers. Some are friendly with people, might even come up and nuzzle you with their heads then flop down to let you pet them." "I let people pet most of the lions I''ve raised without fear; I generally don''t bother the male lions as their temperaments are too poor." "In a lion''s eyes, the owner who raised it from cub to adult might be seen as a standing lion." At this, the audience could not help but laugh. "What about leopards?" "Leopards?" Barry seemed to recall unpleasant memories, then shook his head repeatedly, piquing the audience''s curiosity. "Leopards are almost impossible to bond with. These animals are extremely unstable in character, and even if raised from a cub, they pose a great danger." "They are more dangerous than lions or tigers, only smaller in size and lesser in intimidating presence. If leopards were the size of lions or tigers, it would be terrifying." "Their temperaments are incredibly brutal and neurotic, and they have a strong hostility toward humans." "You can search about India; leopards often sneak into villages to attack livestock and humans. Their behavior is quite abnormal. The few leopards I''ve raised, even after more than a year, wouldn''t let me get too close and were very prone to attacking humans. Any threatening move, and the leopard would immediately puff up." "At first, I thought I had done something wrong, so I specifically consulted several breeders. They told me that''s just the nature of leopards, very unstable." "It might be due to being oppressed by lions, tigers, and hyenas all year round, which makes them neurotic, seeing no one as a good person." "In the eyes of the leopard, there are no friends, only enemies and food." "I can kiss the tigers and lions that are well-raised up close, but never with leopards. I certainly won''t get close to them." "Even if you raise them from a young age, it''s practically useless unless you remove their teeth or sterilize them. It might help a bit, but don''t even think about it normally." [Wow, leopards are that ferocious?] [Neurotic, this description makes me a bit scared] [No wonder I''ve never seen Middle Eastern tycoons keeping leopards. They''re scared too, haha] "What about bears?" "Hmm..." Barry pondered for a moment, "Bears are very intelligent." "The black bears and brown bears I keep can turn on taps to drink water. They also drag their feeding troughs to the feeding area, and I can hand-feed some of the smarter ones. They know not to bite." "In short, it''s not really a question of whether they are affectionate or not, but that they are highly intelligent and can accurately differentiate breeders from other people." "However, one day, since bears are virtually blind, they rely heavily on their strong sense of smell and hearing, especially smell, to identify whether it is their breeder or not." "Also, everyone must be careful not to stick your hands into cages to feed bears at the zoo. No, this applies to all animals." "Many na?ve bears can''t differentiate whether it''s your hand or food. They might just chew off your hand." "If we''re talking about raising them from a young age, bears are definitely stronger than tigers because of their high intelligence. Personally, I feel it''s similar to raising a lioness from a cub." "But bears become very irritable and aggressive during their mating season." "Overall, if bears are raised from a young age, theoretically, they can be raised to be quite well-behaved, after all, bears are closely related to canines." "If we must say which is more docile, I personally feel brown bears are slightly calmer than black bears, just slightly." "Also, because bears are extremely intelligent, they often steal food from humans, making them a significant threat to people. So don''t think bears are cuddly and start petting them carelessly." "What about the cheetah then?" Finally, Bi Fang asked about the cheetah, which was the ultimate purpose of this discussion. "Ha, cheetahs, compared to the others, are just like little spirits." Barry laughed heartily. "I feel they are similar to cats, ambitious, but not too much, and if compared, not as much as dogs, probably similar to a tamed wolf." "Wolves are very sensitive and delicate animals. I once had a fat wolf that was ostracized by the pack and became depressed, losing all its fur on its tail." "I had to play with it every day for it to get better, and eventually, I mixed this pack of wolves together again." "If raised from a young age, wolves are as affectionate as dogs, but their obedience is far lower than dogs, as dogs have been domesticated while wolves have not." "If not raised from a young age, wolves are very fearful of humans and can be aggressive. They get better over time, so I think cheetahs and wolves are quite similar." "In the eyes of a wolf, a person who raises it from young is a genuine old wolf standing on two legs, both fools are clams on the same string." "Overall, wolves and cheetahs are the safest and most affectionate among these predators, but that doesn''t mean they aren''t dangerous. Golden retrievers have been known to cause serious injuries, let alone wolves." "Everyone must never think that predators are very safe. I can clearly tell you that it takes less than 10 seconds for a tiger or lion to kill a person." "Bears kill slower, sometimes even eating a person alive bit by bit." "These predators are inherently very dangerous. Don''t be deceived by their momentarily cute appearance. Alright, that''s pretty much all I know. Asking me to distinguish based on animal structure would be too hard; I only have some experience." After Barry finished speaking, he pushed the cart loaded with meat chunks and left the place. He still had to go to the next location to feed. [Just some experience] [That experience is extremely rich though] sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [So awesome, the conservation centers are full of hidden masters] [And Master Fang, really knows everything. You''re just twenty-six, and this guy must be over fifty] [Indeed, I can still watch twenty more years of live streams (laugh)] On the third morning, after his second feeding session, Bi Fang finally felt that he could start making some physical contact with Harley. Chapter 857 853: Confrontation Feeding the cheetah, Day Three. At nine o''clock in the morning, Bi Fang arrived on time at the enclosure to feed the cheetah. After two days and more than a dozen reinforced memories, the cheetah had developed a considerable recognition of its new "Breeder." Scent, appearance, physique, the animal had become thoroughly familiar with all aspects. So much so that before Bi Fang even reached the enclosure, Cheetah Harley had already stood up. Unlike its previous cautious behavior, one could tell from its constantly swinging tail that the animal was not startled but rather displaying a happy mood. Cheetah Harley was looking forward to its second meal of the day. The audience in the livestream had flocked in early, and for good reason. The night before, right after the last feeding, Bi Fang had informed them that today he would attempt to make some physical contact and simple interaction with the cheetah. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Although nothing expected happened after the first feeding at six o''clock, leaving the audience somewhat disappointed, when Bi Fang clearly stated that the contact would happen during the second feeding, the viewers who felt they had been "stood up" still showed up as promised. [Is the big moment coming?] [I woke up at three in the morning and saw nothing, now it''s six o''clock, I won''t be stood up again, right?] [Dude, where are you from with such a crazy time difference?] [Aren''t you afraid of dying suddenly from staying up like that?] [Tough guy] [To be a man, you have to be fierce!] "I had always intended to schedule the contact for the second feeding session, and I made it clear yesterday. It''s you who didn''t listen carefully." Bi Fang inserted the key into the lock, turned it twice with some effort, and unlocked it. The lock, having been exposed to wind and rain for a long time, had become a bit rusty, and it always took several tries to open it. "The reason I specifically chose the second feeding time is actually quite deliberate." After pulling out the chain, Bi Fang pushed the door open and stepped inside, while Harley''s tail wagged even faster. [Deliberate? What''s so deliberate about it?] [Definitely another little detail I don''t know.] [Hurry up and enlighten me.] Bi Fang arrived next to the food bowl, picked out the dry twigs and leaves, and wiped it down briefly before saying, "I feed Harley every three hours. After the first two feedings, its hunger would be limited for the next few sessions. But if it''s the second feeding of the day, that''s precisely when its hunger is at its peak." [Ah, why is that?] [Why would the hunger be limited?] After wiping the food bowl clean, Bi Fang poured all the meat from the bag into it. At this point, Harley''s tail was wagging so fast it nearly left an afterimage. Starving, it couldn''t wait for Bi Fang to leave so it could start eating. However, Bi Fang''s next move took Harley by surprise; he didn''t leave immediately but stayed in place. For a moment, Harley grew impatient, but Bi Fang calmly engaged in conversation with the audience. "I wonder if anyone has had this experience: if you play with your phone while eating, do you find that your appetite is somewhat smaller than usual?" ``` [Eh, I''ve never noticed.] [Really? I haven''t felt that at all.] [I guess there''s a little bit, when I eat takeout at the office, if I play with my phone while eating, sometimes I might have a bite or two of rice left over?] [Shh, hearing the person before me say that, it seems I might have a bit of that too.] ``` "One reason for this is that looking at your phone while eating can keep the brain excited, and this excitement tends to inhibit the movement of the stomach and intestines, reducing the secretion of digestive fluids and affecting the digestion and absorption of food." "However, that''s not what I''m going to talk about today. The other reason I want to discuss is that by extending the time you spend eating, you will feel full more easily." "A feeling of fullness is a sensation controlled by the hypothalamus in the human body; when we eat to a certain point, the satiety center is stimulated, sending signals to the brain that we no longer want to continue eating, and we don''t feel hungry." "But if you eat quickly, food will accumulate in the stomach in a short period of time, and the nerves in the stomach won''t have time to report to the brain, leading to overeating." "Nowadays, most people at work or school aim for quick meals, which often leads to fast eating and, consequently, overeating. However, if you''re distracted while eating, the process naturally extends, and you''re more likely to experience that feeling of fullness." "In fact, cheetahs are the same, consuming five kilograms of meat each day. Whether they eat it in five servings or in one go completely changes the impact." "By the fourth or fifth feeding, the cheetah is already not very hungry. The food is fatty inner organs, so Harley gets plenty of energy, and the brain doesn''t send strong signals to continue feeding." "But the first three feedings, especially the second, are when the cheetah''s hunger signals are at their strongest." "At this time, after a whole night of digestion and an empty stomach, plus the first meal awakening their desire to eat, it''s like opening a bag of chips, then remembering your weight. You tell yourself just a few bites will do, but once you start, it''s rare to stop before the bag is empty." [I glanced at the corn flakes beside me and sighed with relief, at least it''s not chips (Dog''s head)] [It''s me in person.] [(Annoyed to anger)!] [Starting today, diet!] Bi Fang stood by Cheetah Harley''s food bowl and didn''t move away, which made Harley hesitant to approach, pacing around four or five meters away. Many viewers watched with cold sweats. For felines, this distance is just a leap away. Especially since Bi Fang was crouching, making it difficult to exert force or dodge, the situation seemed particularly dangerous. "My goal is to get Harley to approach me voluntarily, use its appetite to boost its initiative and necessity for food while reducing the threat I pose in Harley''s eyes by adopting a crouch position that''s ineffective for quick movements." "You may have noticed that cats tend to favor people who are afraid of them or keep a distance." "It''s because they don''t feel threatened by these individuals." "For cats, humans are too large, and approaching them too quickly often overwhelms them, making them uncomfortable." "Moreover, cats conduct a scent investigation before approaching something unfamiliar. If you''re too eager to approach them, you skip this process, and the cat might perceive you as dangerous and avoid you." "It''s better to pull back to advance; cats might approach you out of curiosity." "Cheetahs are similar to domestic cats, so the techniques are alike. After two days of feeding and getting acquainted, I''ve successfully made Harley familiar with my scent, and today it''s time to see the results." The audience in the live broadcast were taken aback. [Wow, this is top-tier strategy.] [Petting a big cat, so much thought goes into it.] "Is this what you call confronting?" "Learned it, now I''m going to confront the stray cats in the neighborhood!" "Alpha: He''s so gentle, I''m crying." "Naked Choke followed by a throwing hug, a combo of moves, right?" Bi Fang chuckled, "The situation is different, Harley has been raised by humans from birth and has a foundation of affection. If we use a gentle approach, we can quickly close the distance." "But if we treat him like we would an Alpha, it would actually prolong the time it takes for us to get to know each other." In front of the feeding bowl, Bi Fang intentionally avoided timing with Harley, focusing only on Harley''s paws with a slightly distracted gaze. He even slightly shifted his body, not facing the cheetah directly. Seeing this, the initially hesitant Harley felt a boost of courage. "When not familiar with an animal, don''t keep staring at it; they see that as a threat, remember what I''ve told you before? If you encounter a wild predator, don''t panic, the first thing you do is to lock eyes with it, that''s the reason." "Staring into the eyes is a self-protective behavior, it means ''I know you''ve seen me, you''d better find another prey if you think of hunting me.''" "Among predatory animals, besides cheetahs that rely more on pursuit, most rely on surprise attacks." "While they might not fail to catch their prey head-on, the success rate of hunting drops significantly. For predators, a few failed hunts may leave them without the energy to hunt again; if they''re lucky, they might survive on carrion or berries, if unlucky, they might get injured while scavenging leftovers and possibly meet their end." "So for most predators, if their prey is aware of them, they need to reassess whether continuing the chase is worth it." "So when animals face potential attackers, if they are not confident they can win or escape, they often wait for the other to back down through eye contact." "This is why many outdoor guides will tell you to keep eye contact with a lone predator, remain vigilant, and not make sudden movements." "If the wild animal isn''t certain or desperately hungry, it''s more likely to back off ¡ª after all, there aren''t many animals that have attacked humans. The animal doesn''t know how likely it is to get hurt if it attacks you." "Some hats used in the wild have patterns in the shape of eyes painted on the back of the head with reflective paint, which can also lower the chance of being attacked by a wild predator." "But right now, our goal is to get closer to them, naturally we have to do the opposite." Crouching down, avoiding eye contact, turning sideways, and combining the familiar scent with profound memories laid the groundwork for the cheetah Harley, who had been raised by humans since birth. Driven by his hunger and tempted by food, he finally began to attempt to approach. Seeing Harley slowly move in, Bi Fang couldn''t help but breathe a sigh of relief while also ceasing to talk, avoiding any unexpected effects from his voice. Animals are different from humans. Humans have rational thinking, and therefore, personal experiences can have a significant impact on personality. On the other hand, for animals, learned experience makes up only a small part, many behaviors are instinctive, and acquired behaviors are not easily changed. Just like what the breeder said yesterday, leopards are naturally nervous and aggressive, which is not something that changes by raising one from youth. Their nature and learned experiences compared, it''s mostly the instinct that takes the lead. It''s these characteristics that make predicting animal behavior easy for humans, allowing a general behavior trend to be set for most animals. For example, cobras are aggressive, even if their opponents are much larger. Big-eared foxes are naturally timid, even if they face only a small mouse. Feline species like hunting and find it hard to resist attacking a creature with its back turned. Under such general tendencies, the right approach can work wonders. However, this rule isn''t always correct; even if acquired influences are minimal, they do have an effect and sometimes animals can be an exception. Experienced hunters never leave everything to the instinct of the animals. Fortunately, Harley wasn''t the exception. It had followed every step Bi Fang had anticipated, averting many unnecessary troubles. Under the tense gaze of the audience, Harley slowly, repeatedly, and hesitantly, reached less than a meter in front of Bi Fang. From this position, both the food bowl and Bi Fang''s throat could be hooked by the cheetah''s paw if it wanted to. Bi Fang slightly lifted his eyelids and shifted his gaze to Harley''s chest, a spot where he could clearly see the cheetah''s muscle movements to predict its possible next actions. A half-meter distance seemed to be Harley''s limit. For a while, the two were at a standoff. Even with Bi Fang crouching down, it was a bit too much pressure for Harley. If it had been another breeder making the exact same movements as Bi Fang, they might have already been in close contact with Harley, but with Bi Fang, it just wasn''t quite there. Having spent a long time in the wild interacting with various wildlife, Bi Fang''s presence was drastically different from that of ordinary people. It was a rather vague concept, but it certainly existed. Just like two people who have spent a lot of time together, one can somewhat sense whether the other is feeling down or excited, without even looking at their expressions. Especially for sensitive animals like Harley. Harley repeatedly lowered its head and then raised it again, its nose twitching slightly as it captured scent molecules, yet it couldn''t bring itself to take any further action. Outside the iron fence, a crowd had gathered unnoticed. They surrounded the scene, watching the interaction between man and beast, not even daring to swallow their saliva for fear of disturbing the tableau and undoing all the progress. Separated by the wooden bowl filled with bloody food, Bi Fang and the cheetah faced each other, the smell of blood dispersing in all directions with the wind, a difficult-to-describe atmosphere constantly evolving. In the midst of the standoff, a finger tapping at the edge of the food bowl, emitting a clear sound, broke the silence. Startled, Harley shrunk its head and leaned back, but its limbs were firmly planted on the ground without moving. Bi Fang''s index finger rested on the edge of the bowl, pushing it forward slowly but forcefully until it finally stopped after dragging about ten centimeters across the ground. This move calmed the reclining Harley, who, now looking at the food bowl so close at hand, felt an even stronger surge of curiosity and appetite. The atmosphere shifted once again. Just when everyone was on edge, the cheetah finally lowered its head and approached to sniff Bi Fang''s finger. "Here it comes!" Barry outside the fence was somewhat excited at this sight. In the world of felines, nose to nose is a form of greeting. As humans, one can extend a single finger to lightly touch a cat''s nose as a way of saying hello, then leave the finger still. If the cat approaches to sniff or even lick the finger, it indicates a willingness to interact more with people. Conversely, if it just sniffs and then retreats, it means the cat is still quite unfamiliar with humans and needs more time to accept them. The cheetah paused for a moment, as if contemplating several times, and finally extended its tongue to lick, then retracted it like lightning, focusing more of its attention on the chunks of meat. Soon, the sounds of sharp teeth chewing on flesh began. A large hand also pressed onto the cheetah''s head, gliding along the fur down to its neck. The cheetah seemed to be preoccupied with its meal, not noticing at all, with no sign of resistance. Chapter 858 854 Identity Recognition ``` The feel of a wild cheetah''s fur is drastically different from that of a common house cat. Though it looks fluffy and many people might think it''s as soft as the fat cat they have at home, they would find it quite the rush when they pet it. But in reality, when you actually stroke it, you''d find that the feel of a big cat''s fur is much rougher than that of a house cat, even rougher than a dog of the same size. It''s not that they''re born with coarser hair; the difference in softness and coarseness between wild cats and domestic cats can also be felt, mainly due to the differences in feeding. Domestic cats are well-nourished and bathe regularly, so their fur naturally tends to be softer and smoother. The nutrition of wild animals goes without saying; it''s very common for them to be hungry one moment and full the next, plus the exposure to wind and rain makes their fur dry, split, and tough. This is actually a form of protection; tough fur gives them an advantage during fights. Harley grew up in the conservation center, so there was never a worry about food¡ªsimply eating meat wasn''t enough; the breeders would specially provide a certain amount of liver to supplement vitamins. But baths were out of the question. Except for animals like elephants and hippos that enjoy water and bathe regularly, most animals, after reaching adulthood, mostly maintain a state similar to that in the wild. This also helps the animals acclimate early to a wild environment and enhance their resilience. The Kenya Conservation Center is not a zoo; most of the rescued animals are eventually returned to the wild. As such, Harley''s fur is not as soft and silky as most people imagine it to be, and some parts along the spine could even be described as stiff. However, the fur along the flanks and neck is still softer, and, thanks to a body size that dwarfs that of house cats, the feeling of stroking it is quite distinct; there''s a sense of fullness as if your entire hand is enveloped, something small animals simply cannot compare with. The audience in front of the screen expressed their envy while also rejoicing over the success of this interaction. In just three days, no, actually two and a half days, to be able to touch a stranger cheetah without it resisting was an unbelievable progress. "[Should I say it''s worthy of being called Master Fang?]" "[I''ve been feeding a stray cat for over a month downstairs, and it has never let me touch it (sob sob sob sob)]" "[Stray cat: That idiot who comes to feed me every day is so easy to fool, meow~]" "[Hahaha, laughing to death]" "[I also want to stroke a big cat sob sob sob]" As it was the first time, Bi Fang didn''t rush things. After Harley finished eating, Bi Fang withdrew his hand and didn''t linger too long in Harley''s space, leaving directly. With one successful interaction, everything that followed became much easier. In the next three feedings, even when not as hungry, Harley still chose to come forward to eat, from hesitantly at noon to naturally and calmly in the evening. The change was surprisingly quick and mysteriously fitting. After all, everyone had seen the whole process unfold. The chin, the top of the head, the back¡ªthese were the areas Bi Fang focused on. With similar physiological structures, there''s not much difference between cats and cheetahs, even their comfort zones are alike. When a cat indulges in being petted, it means it likes you; the same goes for cheetahs. By nightfall, after having its last meal, Harley didn''t leave as before but lay on the ground, allowing Bi Fang to stroke its neck. Another progress worth celebrating. With a foundation established, on the fourth and fifth days, the relationship between the two rapidly evolved, going through constant breakthroughs. By fifth day noon, Harley was ready to be active again. In fact, before the breeder who discovered Harley tragically passed away, Harley had regular activity time every day, usually roaming freely within the conservation center. The conservation center didn''t often have external visitors, and even if there were, all staff would be notified to manage the animals they were responsible for to ensure that no attacks on strangers would occur. As long as everyone was familiar with each other, even potentially dangerous animals could move around freely. If they were to go outside the conservation center, they would wear a collar. However, since Hamid Griffith passed away from a heart attack, Harley never left its thirty-square-meter space enclosed by wire mesh again, in order to create familiar conditions for Bi Fang and Harley. Today was the first time. Barry drove by on a dirt road, looking at Harley walking leisurely beside Bi Fang, and laughed, "It seems like your relationship is developing well." "Yes, it''s much more amicable than I thought it would be." "Hahaha." Barry laughed heartily, then twisted the handlebars, and the car sped out of sight, leaving behind the sight of the skinned pork on the back seat shaking up and down with the bumps in the road¡ªobviously, Barry was off to feed the animals. "[I''m envious, the animals at the conservation center eat better than I do]" "[Does the conservation center take in human trash like me? If needed, I can show my belly.]" "[Is the belly show-off in front someone pretty?]" "[Nope, pure man]" "[Crap, can you go die?]" "[If it were a pretty lady, we could negotiate (joking)]" "[It''s already the fifth, Master Fang, tell me, can I see Harley running in the savannah before the end of the National Day holiday?]" Seeing the last comment''s query, Bi Fang glanced at Harley by his feet, pondered for a moment, and ventured a timeframe. "Maybe on the seventh." "in the days we''ve spent together, I''ve found Harley to be quite intelligent. In five days, it has now begun to approximately recognize who I am." Individual recognition is not inter-individual differentiation. This is quite easy to ascertain for animals; they can clear it up after smelling a few times. But confirming identity is not so simple. In the animal world, concepts of parents, friends, children, subordinates, superiors, and equals also exist. ``` The confirmation of such an identity isn''t so easy for animals. Especially when it''s clear they are not of the same species, the effort required to make an animal perceive another as its companion is considerable. Even Bi Fang had to spend several days to give Harley a deep impression of being its new breeder and companion. Perhaps this still owes to the fact that cheetahs are sociable animals. "There''s a hypothesis about animal cognitive abilities called the social intelligence hypothesis, which posits that sociable animals need to constantly monitor their peers, predict their behavior, and respond in a timely manner to collaborate or compete for resources." "In this process, individuals with stronger cognitive abilities will benefit from these challenges, and better survive and reproduce, thereby gaining an evolutionary advantage." "Therefore, the more complex the social structure, the more it promotes the evolution of cognitive abilities." "Since it''s just a hypothesis and hasn''t been substantiated, and there are even many contradictory experiments, I''m just mentioning it for everyone to hear." Two female scientists from the Ugly Country conducted experiments to see who was smarter, lions or tigers, and the results of the two experiments contradicted each other. From the University of Miami, Natalia Borrego designed a puzzle feeding box that, if animals pulled a rope in the right direction, would open the box door and grant access to the meat inside. She used spotted hyenas and three species of big cats as experimental subjects, with 48 animals participating in the experiment, each given three attempts. The results showed that out of nine spotted hyenas, eight opened the box, 16 out of 21 lions were successful, six out of 11 leopards succeeded, and only two out of seven tigers managed to do so. This result supports the "social intelligence hypothesis"; the cooperative spotted hyenas and lions proved to be more innovative than the solitary tigers and leopards. "Being gregarious predators as well, the spotted hyenas performed better than the lions in the experiment, which may be because the social structure of spotted hyenas is more complex." "Spotted hyenas live in rigidly hierarchical clans, while lion group members have equal status." "Spotted hyenas face more challenges when managing social status and relationships than lions do." "In 2015, Natalia published her experiment as a paper with the title¡ªThe problem-solving capabilities of social carnivores surpass those of non-social carnivores." "However, as those who have conducted scientific experiments should know, testing only a small sample of four animals is of questionable representativity." "So Sarah Benson-Amram from the University of Wyoming also published her research findings as a paper in 2015. Her study was more thorough and detailed, involving 39 species across 9 families of the order Carnivora." "She also designed a puzzle feeding box, where animals could open the box door by pulling out a peg to access the food inside." "For the four animals in Natalia''s experiment, the success rate of the spotted hyenas in opening the box remained the highest in Sarah''s experiment at 40%, but the success rate of the tigers jumped to 33.3%, ranking second, with the lions and leopards falling to third and fourth." "The discrepancy between the two experimental results might be due to different experimental apparatuses; Natalia''s experiment involved pulling a rope, whereas Sarah''s required the removal of a peg, which was relatively more challenging." "Another possible reason might be individual differences, as some animals in certain zoos might have been trained and were particularly intelligent." "These two contradictory outcomes cannot prove or disprove the social intelligence hypothesis; it might be correct in some aspects but not comprehensive, so I''m just putting it out there for everyone to broaden their perspective." "But Harley is indeed quite smart, I''ll take it out to the prairie tomorrow to see how it behaves, and if all goes well, I will try my best to begin live streaming before the seventh." The period from the first to the seventh is the National Day holiday. Now, with Bi Fang''s fanbase becoming increasingly global, the domestic audience has long ceased to constitute half of the live stream room''s proportion, but it still hovers around one-third. He''s still quite considerate and tends to cater to them; if possible, he prefers to start during the holidays. [Wow, these days, without reading some papers, you''d be embarrassed to call yourself a Wilderness Survivalist.] sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Don''t be so all-around!" "That''s terrifying." "I always thought that the development of a profession was rapid and gradual until I discovered Master Fang. He just took Wilderness Survivalist to the pinnacle (facepalm)." "Indeed, Rock Climbing god, speed descending god, some extreme players, there''s always someone more awesome showing up. I believe there will be record breakers in the future, but Master Fang, to be honest, I really can''t imagine what more awesome would look like." "It''s not that serious, not that serious." Bi Fang gave a heh and squatted down to touch Harley''s ears. Walking on the pathway, Harley''s body appeared even more agile, graceful, filled with the unique charm of the feline family. Felines are recognized as charming species, and among them, if one were to choose the most beautiful, different people might have different answers. For instance, the Snow Leopard with its white fur adorned with black spots, like a spirit of the snowfields. Others may choose the Lion, with its dense mane exuding an overwhelming presence. And those who favor the Cheetah will certainly not be few in number, with slender limbs and graceful form, embodying both elegance and beauty. Being able to have such a beautiful creature follow you on a walk is definitely an experience worth recording in one''s life. Bi Fang spent over an hour with Harley at the Kenya Conservation Center to alleviate the gloom Harley felt from being confined within the wire mesh for so long. Then, they returned to the enclosure, but this time Bi Fang didn''t leave. Instead, to everyone''s surprise, he started to clean up nearby, clearing a small space. Harley sat in the shadow of the partition, sweeping the ground with its tail, yawning out of boredom. "Harley behaved well today. Tomorrow, I plan to take Harley out to the grasslands to see things, and to bridge our distance more quickly, I''m going to sleep with Harley tonight, right here in the enclosure. I''ll just find a spot and lay out a bed." "It''s just getting used to it in advance. In a couple of days, when we''re actually out in the wilderness, this will be an everyday occurrence." Bi Fang, accustomed to sleeping outdoors, had no discomfort with the idea of setting up a makeshift bed on the ground. The viewers, however, expressed their own opinions. "Damn, I want to sleep with the big cat too." "Ah, isn''t that dangerous?" "It shouldn''t be." "To be honest, cats, I feel, are truly not as reliable as dogs. Sometimes you just don''t know what they''re thinking. Maybe one second they''re playing nice, and the next second they scratch you." "This is being provoked (joking)." "Of course, I''ve considered all these things, but as I said, it''s actually about getting accustomed to it beforehand. After all, there will be more days like this in the future, sooner or later it''s all the same." "I wouldn''t make such a decision without being fairly certain." Bi Fang reassured the viewers. He knew much more about feline behavior and reactions than the viewers did, and over the days of being together, he had also gained a general understanding of Harley''s character, so he could ensure safety. Everything unfolded just as Bi Fang had predicted, with no unexpected incidents. The next morning, Bi Fang awoke to find the Cheetah curled up beside him, huddled close. Chapter 859 855 Trustworthy Companions Cheetah Harley curled up into a ball, with his back against Bi Fang''s side, his thick tail coiled around, resting under his head. If you listened carefully, you could still hear the faint purring sound. No wonder it didn''t feel cold at all. Kenya is entirely located within the tropical monsoon zone, crossing the equator, but due to its higher elevation, even in summer, the maximum temperature doesn''t surpass thirty degrees, and in winter, it doesn''t drop below ten. The climate is mild year-round, even more comfortable than Kun''s spring-like days in Huaxia, earning it the nickname "Country of Flowers" for its eternal spring. However, eternal spring is not the same as eternal summer. It was October now, with daytime temperatures over twenty degrees, Bi Fang could still stroll around in short sleeves, but at night, Kenya got quite cold, sometimes requiring some warm measures, which unconsciously made the cheetah lean in close. Seeking a heat source is both an animal''s instinct and nature. Bi Fang placed a hand on his forehead and squinted for a while longer before getting up from the ground without making a sound. The cheetah beside him had no idea, still quietly in a deep sleep. Bi Fang turned on the live stream and captured the cheetah''s sleeping position and purring sounds. [So cute, want to pet] [Want to pet? Pet and you''ll be turned into poop, the stinky kind] [Sexy kitty, showing off while asleep, live stream full fruit] [You know how to do headlines] [Hehehe, cat, big cat] [I am Hammurabi, I''m here to lay down the law] [Speaking of which, do cheetahs sleep at night too? Shouldn''t they sleep during the day and be lively at night?] The sky was faintly brightening, and if you didn''t aim the camera east, you might think it was still night, but indeed it was starting to dawn. That was why viewers had this question. "Cheetahs have a regular lifestyle, typically active at sunrise and resting at sunset, like diurnal animals, similar to humans." "On this point, cheetahs differ from other feline animals like leopards, tigers, and lions, which are mostly nocturnal and rarely hunt or don''t hunt at all during the day." "If you''ve seen them in the wildlife programs, you''ll notice they''re either lying on the ground in deep sleep or leisurely strolling during the daytime." Bi Fang gently stroked the cheetah''s head; its fuzzy ears instinctively fluttered. "The reasons for these differences haven''t been researched, but I guess it might have something to do with cheetahs'' characteristics." "Thanks to cheetahs'' efficient hunting and their speed, they don''t need to rely too much on ambushing tactics, and it''s a wise choice to avoid the active hours of other animals." "Cheetahs are vulnerable, and by hunting during the day, they face a ten percent chance of having their prey snatched away, let alone during the highly active nighttime." "In fact, the original purpose of mammals being nocturnal was simply to avoid dinosaurs." Nocturnal animals usually have developed hearing and a sense of smell, and some species have even developed special visual systems adapted to low-light environments, making it hard for them to function normally during the day. These traits are evidently selected based on daytime activity for the sake of better survival. Early mammals were mostly nocturnal, having to limit their activities to the nighttime to avoid dinosaurs active during the day. Only after the extinction of dinosaurs 60 million years ago could mammals that avoided them start moving around more during the daytime. Today, many mammals still lack key traits of daytime predators like color vision; most animals are almost colorblind, and their vision is more similar to nocturnal reptiles and birds, demonstrating the remnant traits of nocturnality. Last year, scholars from University College London and Tel Aviv University used computer algorithms to analyze data of 2415 surviving mammalian species, redrawing the activity patterns of their ancestors from millions of years ago. The analysis showed that after the extinction of dinosaurs, the ancestors of mammals increased their daytime activity, but this process was actually very slow, with a transition period lasting millions of years consisting of mixed diurnal and nocturnal activity. And the ancestors of primates, that is, the ancestors of human-like animals, were among the first mammals to switch to a daytime lifestyle. "Speaking of which, there is something quite interesting." "The process of human migration and conquest on Earth is also a history of the shrinking living spaces for wild animals." "Now, human activities occupy 50% to 70% of the Earth''s land surface, significantly reducing the activity and migration ranges of global mammals, affecting almost all terrestrial mammals of any size in all regions." "This has caused some animals to have extremely limited resources, and along with human overhunting of some animals and environmental deterioration caused by human activities, many species have become extinct." "And the impact of human activities on animals is not just spatial." "This year''s new research indicates that human activities are forcing mammals around the world to become more active at night, showing a trend toward increased nocturnality because only at night are they less likely to encounter humans." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Wow, are humans the new-age dinosaurs?] [That''s a bit outrageous] [This can change too?] The viewers were stunned, as if they had gained new insights. Bi Fang nodded and said, "Research published in Ugly Country''s ''Science'' magazine on June 14, 2018, shows that the nocturnality of wild mammals has increased by an average of 1.36 times in response to higher levels of human activity disturbance." "Regardless of which continent these animals live on, whether they are herbivores or carnivores, their nocturnality has been influenced by human activities." "For example, in Zimbabwe''s Wankie National Park, sable antelopes, which previously were active mainly during the day, now conduct about half of their activities at night." "Not only does hunting, agriculture, housing, and road construction drive animals into the night, even seemingly non-threatening human outdoor activities like hiking can disturb the life habits of wild mammals. Remember that hiker who encountered a black bear? He managed to drive it away with loud shouts. I suspect it was a female bear, and the man had trespassed into its territory." "So in the future, we might also see nocturnal cheetahs, if they don''t go extinct before then." "But now, it''s time for it to get up." With that, Bi Fang, who had just been petting the cheetah''s head, gave a tap on its forehead. Harley was instantly awakened from his sleep, opening his eyes with confusion, clearly not understanding what had happened. Bi Fang also started explaining to the audience. "In the safe environment provided by humans, Harley''s alertness became too poor, and it even developed a habit of oversleeping; these are habits that need to be corrected." "Cheetahs are diurnal animals, but their main hunting activities still take place in the early morning and dusk, which are the golden moments for hunting." "Day and night changes allow predators to better observe and monitor animals." "For animals, hunting is the main activity of the day; we can observe peak periods during dawn and dusk, indicating a dusk preference." "After dusk, cheetahs choose to rest on the grass, and males and young often roam at night. But as an alert animal, individuals often check their surroundings from observation points, such as hills, taking turns to stay alert." "Therefore, a normal cheetah typically begins foraging around five in the morning and is quite vigilant as it moves, stopping occasionally to look around to see if there is any prey that can be hunted." "But now look at Harley. Even with the morning light appearing, it shows no sign of waking up and is even still a bit drowsy." While saying so, Bi Fang tapped its head again, forcing it to wake up. Startled from its sleep by Bi Fang, Harley seemed somewhat groggy until the second chestnut hit, at which point it fully woke up, yawned, staggered to its feet from the ground, surveyed its surroundings, and finally raised its head to lean against Bi Fang, its half-closed eyes seemingly asking if it was time to eat. But immediately after, it felt someone pinch the back of its neck and gradually drag it out of its territory, walking towards the outside of the conservation center. Today, Bi Fang planned to take Harley out to the grasslands to see, and if possible, it would be time to prepare for its return to the wilderness. Watching the cheetah being dragged and leaving a trail of dirt, the audience were all dumbfounded. [How late is it there?] [Looks like it''s 5:30 in Kenya, even earlier than when I woke up in high school.] [Which high school starts that late? (Dog''s head)] [Morning reading at 5:40, waking up at 5:35 isn''t that normal? (Sly)] [Harley: Never thought I''d have to wake up early in my life.] [It''s like a cold knife to the butt, now it''s wide awake.] Being dragged along until Bi Fang met Old Barry, who had just gotten up. Bi Fang had arranged in advance to go to the grassland with Barry this morning. Although Barry was not Harley''s breeder before, he was familiar with Harley. With him around, they could ensure that any unforeseen incidents could be salvaged. Together, the two men took Harley out of the conservation area in a small vehicle, and this subadult cheetah seemed to finally wake up completely. Sitting in the back seat of the car, Harley became excited as it saw the dawn light appear on the edge of the grassland. Unfortunately, Bi Fang was holding onto the back of its neck, and Harley couldn''t run out on its own. After they had moved far away from the conservation center, Bi Fang got out of the car with Harley, and Barry watched nearby. As the daylight grew stronger, the details of the entire grassland became quite clear. However, since the conservation center was close to the outskirts of the city, though this area was vast, there were not many animals. This wasn''t necessarily a bad thing. For a novice like Harley, without animals, there were naturally no powerful enemies, and if it ran away, a certain level of safety could still be guaranteed. Bi Fang stroked the squatting cheetah, continuously touching its head, and said to the audience, "If previously Harley identified me as a breeder, now I want to see if it considers me a companion and whether it can follow me on the grasslands without running away." He looked at Barry, "Has something like this happened before when you took Harley out?" Barry nodded, "Of course, running on the vast natural plains is the instinct of all animals. The first time Hamid took Harley out, it ran like crazy, like a yellow bolt of lightning. Luckily, it came back on its own in the end. If it runs away this time, I believe the outcome will be the same." Although Bi Fang made it sound like the consequences could be severe, the closeness of Harley showed that running away was just a minor probability event. It''s just that both parties needed to trust each other further, nothing more. Old Barry, who had raised animals for decades, had already figured this out and was not worried at all. He didn''t even call for other colleagues and came to help alone. Bi Fang smiled. Actually, at heart, he wasn''t so sure in the beginning. The varieties of animals he had raised himself were only that few. White-fronted Geese were with ¨¦tienne. Goudan and the others, as the most successfully domesticated creatures by humans, didn''t have much to worry about. The wild camel Alpha, though a bit troublesome, was guaranteed by time. Only after the initial taming, a month later, did Bi Fang start to relax his vigilance and develop trust. Before that, even feeding was never done carelessly. But for Cheetah Harley, they had barely known each other for a week, and he felt uncertain. If it were like the camel and could simply be harnessed, that would be one thing, but this time, the task was predetermined to be done by letting Harley have its freedom. At every step, Bi Fang did what he could to the utmost, hoping that matters would indeed turn out as Old Barry had said. "Generally speaking, a cheetah only kills one prey at a time, and the distance they walk each day is approximately five kilometers, at most a bit over ten kilometers. Even though it''s swift, it doesn''t travel very far." "So... even if Harley ends up running off and out of sight, we don''t have to worry too much about not being able to find it." After taking a few deep breaths, Bi Fang slowly released Harley''s neck under the watchful eyes of the live stream audience. For a moment, free from the restraint around its neck, Harley seemed disbelieving, lifting its head and looking back at Bi Fang twice. Once it confirmed it was indeed free, it paused for two seconds and then stood up under the nervous watch of everyone. Harley observed its surroundings and took some steps. While the audience in the live stream was still worried, Bi Fang breathed a sigh of relief, exchanging glances with Old Barry and sharing a smile. Everyone was puzzled. Watching the cheetah sniffing around and assessing its environment, a very pleased Bi Fang explained, "Remember I said that cheetahs are very timid creatures. But after I let go, Harley didn''t immediately run away, which means this is a safe zone for it psychologically and it truly sees me as a companion, a trustworthy companion indeed." Old Barry stepped forward, reached out his hand, and shared a high-five with Bi Fang, "So your live stream starts tomorrow?" "Exactly." "I''ll be watching you guys from the conservation center." "It''d be even better if you could send some gifts." "Ha-ha!" Chapter 860 856 Teach You Something Different It was five in the morning. The sky had yet to brighten when Bi Fang got up, washed up, rolled up his sleeves, and inserted the freshly wiped hunting knife into his waistband. Jerry, who hadn''t had much to do the past few days, also crawled out of his little nest and directly burrowed into a backpack. With everything ready, Bi Fang went to the cheetah''s room, opened the iron gate, dragged the sleeping cheetah up, and with Old Barry''s help, they too took a sightseeing car and left the conservation center, heading for the savanna. Harley sat in the back seat, its fur fluttering in the breeze, facing into the wind, its eyes squeezed into slits, yawning non-stop, revealing a pair of sturdy fangs. After yesterday''s "trust" test, this time Bi Fang didn''t grab hold of Harley''s scruff and let it swing back and forth on the car. "This is good," Bi Fang said. The conservation center completely disappeared from view as Bi Fang asked Barry to stop the car, picked up his backpack, and leaped directly onto the ground, propping himself on the railing. Harley, who had just woken up from sleep, also became fully alert in the breeze and jumped down from the back seat as soon as he saw. "Look how cute it is," Barry said as he got out of the car, held Harley''s head, and gave it a good rub, followed by a barrage of kisses on its face. Not until Harley could no longer bear it and broke free did Barry laugh heartily. This separation meant that Harley was to return to the wild. Although Harley had been implanted with a tracking chip, barring any accidents, this might be their last encounter. "Cheetahs belong to the savanna, and only to the savanna. It might die from hunting in the future, or be killed by other creatures, and face all sorts of dangers. But the one thing it definitely shouldn''t do is die of old age in a zoo," Barry said. Old Barry stroked Harley''s head for one last time, feeling very sentimental. He had watched Harley grow from the size of a palm at birth to half the size of a person at eighteen months old, witnessed it go from being bottle-fed to sprouting sharp teeth capable of tearing meat. "You think you''ll meet lots and lots of female cheetahs, have lots and lots of cheetah cubs, and greatly expand your cheetah family," he mumbled to himself, his beard trembling. "I''ll leave the rest to you." After he finished speaking, Barry didn''t say any more, sighed, got back into the car, stepped on the gas, and drove off in the opposite direction. The tires rolled over the grass without leaving a trace. Harley couldn''t understand what Old Barry had said, but as he watched the car drive away, he cried out a few times. Seeing that Bi Fang gave no response, he stood up, paced back and forth for a while, and only when the car had completely disappeared from view did he squat down again. Bi Fang stroked its head and then placed the backpack on the ground, opened the zipper, and Jerry crawled up onto his shoulder from his knee. He held back the curious Harley that was beside him. Three drones automatically flew out of the pack, positioning themselves in different directions. When the initial drone flew right above, capturing the image of a man and a cheetah in full view, the live broadcast officially began! In an instant, fans of Master Fang from all over the world, across continents and countries, all received the broadcast notification. The Wolf Fang poster unfurled like a curtain. Millions of people on the internet formed a tidal wave, flooding towards the live stream, one wave after another. Day, night, early morning, midnight. On the subway, inside offices, in bedrooms, in dorms. No matter the time or place, people crawled out of their beds and sat upright, gathering their spirits and turning their attention to their small electronic screens. The wilderness was vast, and a gentle breeze whispered through it. Dawn spilled its light, and a dazzling golden glow flowed over the African Savanna in the summer. A very familiar voice came from the various speakers and earphones, so familiar that everyone immediately knew whose opening speech it was; they knew a story was about to unfold in the uninhabited wilderness. "Looking back at the course of human evolution, if our ancestors had not had the courage for adventure and imagination, the boldness to innovate and the willingness to sacrifice their grand chest and magnificent passion, humans would not have surfed the seas in canoes and explored the endless mysteries across the oceans." "Human curiosity begets the urge for adventure; human adventure ignites the torch of civilization." "Adventure isn''t solely found in nature''s oceans and mountains, deserts and swamps, but also in the densely populated cities." "I am Bi Fang, a professional outdoor explorer, and this time, we have come to Kenya." On the screen, Bi Fang squatted on the grass, stroking the cheetah from the nape of its neck down to its back with his left hand, delivering his opening speech for the live broadcast to his audience. In an instant, all the viewers were swept up in excitement. Prior to today, Bi Fang had spent six days establishing a relationship with Harley, the cheetah. Everyone knew what was going to happen in this broadcast and had been eagerly awaiting it. Now, it was finally happening. [It''s starting, it''s starting!] [Here comes the big moment!] [The African savanna, ah, since the day Old Fang started live broadcasting, I knew he''d definitely return here (dog''s head)] [Are we about to go hand-to-hand with lions? Don''t chicken out, go for it! One punch each!] [Sword Fairy Without Onions has become Emperor in the live chat!] [Odd, opening with Emperor again? There must be almost a hundred Emperors in Master Fang''s domain by now, right?] [I hereby declare that Master Fang is the world''s most awesome broadcaster. Who disagrees, who agrees?] [I agree!] [Cheetah, my cheetah, hehehe] [Jerry, my Jerry, hehehe] Bi Fang stood up, thanked everyone for their support, and then turned his gaze to the sunrise on the horizon. It was six o''clock in the morning, the sun had just risen, and the entire savannah was filled with vibrant natural light. A cool breeze blew, refreshing and delightful. "I know you all have been waiting a long time for this live stream, and have been looking forward to seeing Harley run across the savanna for a while now; fortunately, that moment has arrived." "This is Africa''s tropical savanna, lying on both the southern and northern sides of Africa''s tropical rainforest, forming a horseshoe shape around the entire rainforest from the equatorial region of the eastern highlands and the western part of Madagascar." "The entire savanna spans one-third of the total area of Africa and is the world''s largest tropical savanna region. It stretches from the Southern Hemisphere across to the Northern Hemisphere, allowing you to see the African savanna in the Northern Hemisphere in its dry season while the Southern Hemisphere is in its wet season." "And vice versa." "The main cause is that the climate of Africa''s tropical savanna in the Northern Hemisphere is controlled by the Equatorial low-pressure belt when in season, and the climate of the Southern Hemisphere''s tropical savanna is controlled by the southeast trade winds." "And when the climate of Africa''s tropical savanna in the Northern Hemisphere is controlled by the northeast trade winds, the climate of the Southern Hemisphere''s tropical savanna is again dominated by the Equatorial low-pressure belt." Bi Fang zipped up his backpack, slung it on his back, and walked across the savanna with Harley. Gambian Pouched Rat stood on Bi Fang''s shoulder, sniffing the scent molecules in the air to gauge whether the surroundings were safe. Faced with an unfamiliar environment, the cheetah, which had never strayed too far from human sight, felt the vastness and terror of nature for the first time and followed closely behind Bi Fang, not wanting to take even a single step away. In the past, there were always at least two people appearing in nature, but now, on this vast savanna, there was only one man, one leopard, and one rat. "The plants on Africa''s tropical savannas all have xerophytic characteristics, so most are grasses of the family Poaceae; their height generally ranges between 1 to 3 meters, and they have narrow, vertically growing leaves to minimize excessive transpiration of water." "That''s why we can see the entire savanna at a glance, as if we were on the ocean, able to see the open horizon at a single look." "Here, there are only sparsely scattered solitary or clumped trees, with leaves that are small and tough; some can move and orient themselves to minimize light exposure." "The bark of these trees becomes very thick, and some have large, stout trunks. This structure allows the trees to survive the dry season by storing large amounts of water to sustain life processes." "Some of the representative tree species include the Acacia Tree, Baobab Tree..." "On this savanna, the wet and dry seasons present starkly different landscapes." "During the wet season, the plants are lush and teeming with new life; come the dry season, all is withering away, leaving the land yellowed and sere. The savanna is home to many ungulate mammals, such as various antelopes, giraffes, zebras, as well as predators like lions and leopards, with termites being the most numerous of the insects." Bi Fang was advancing in a direction perpendicular to the sun. This mission was not just about helping Harley the cheetah return to the wild, but also to bring it back to the very place where it was first discovered. That place was in the northern part of the South African Great Plains, meaning Bi Fang would need to lead Harley across the entire South African Great Plains. "My current location is in Kenya, the famous ''Heart of Africa.'' I believe that anyone who likes watching wildlife programs is well familiar with this country, even to the point of knowing it like the back of their hand, thanks to the renowned Kenya Conservation Area situated here." "Not only that, but based on human skull fossils excavated here, this location is also considered the earliest cradle of humankind according to current research." "By the 7th century AD, Arab traders appeared in the coastal cities of Kenya. Zheng He, during his voyages in the Ming Dynasty, had even visited Mombasa in Kenya." "Furthermore, the Great Rift Valley is also found within Kenya; this place can definitely be described as a treasure trove." "And I don''t know if you all remember the Maasai People I''ve mentioned before¡ªthey reside here in Kenya." Bi Fang often shared intriguing facts in his livestreams; upon his reminder, many viewers suddenly recalled what he had said. [Didn''t Master Fang say Maasai People have great eyesight?] [Isn''t it the one where they hunt lions for their coming-of-age ritual?] [Why do I remember it being about hunting sharks?] [Bro, you''re mixing things up; the shark hunting thing was what Master Fang said about some Nibo-something people when he crossed Nemo Point] [It''s Melanesia (laugh-cry emoji)] [Oh right, that''s the one] Seeing the comments, Bi Fang nearly laughed out loud and explained smilingly. "There are 44 ethnic groups in Kenya, with a relatively even distribution of population among them. The Kikuyu people have the highest proportion, but the most famous are the Maasai Tribe, because of their unique adult initiation rituals and their fierce traditional values." "The adult initiation ceremony for Maasai men involves hunting down a lion." "At dawn, the warriors set out from their villages armed with spears and shields to partake in the coming-of-age ritual, and a select few, the village''s most experienced hunters, are chosen to witness the ceremony." "Hunting under the watchful eyes of these veterans is no easy feat, especially since the Maasai Tribes only allow the hunting of young, healthy male lions, avoiding female lions as well as old, weak, or sick ones, ensuring the rite of passage is completed through one''s own strength." "But as lion populations have dwindled in modern times, this custom has fallen out of practice; now, many Maasai men passionately keep cattle because ten cattle can fetch another wife." ``` [Noticing the Elements Again] [Going into Details Again] Bi Fang naturally knew what the viewers were thinking and explained without concern, "This tribe practices polygamy, Maasai boys start braiding their hair from a young age, and when a girl gets married, she needs to shave her head completely." "Moreover, the President of Kenya officially legalized polygamy in 2014." S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "At that time, there was a man from the Kanyamwa Tribe named Akuku who had 130 wives. Starting from the age of 21, he married his last wife at 79. Over fifty-eight years, his 130 wives gave birth to 210 children, which in turn produced 1800 grandchildren." [Wow] [Time to change nationalities] [Do you think you can find a girlfriend just by changing countries? (Dog''s head)] "In addition, when it comes to sprinting events, Jamaica produces famous names ¡ª everyone knows Lightning Bolt. But if you look at long-distance running, it''s definitely Kenya, which has long dominated the long-distance running championships." "These Kenyan long-distance runners are mostly from the Kalenjin People, and over 70% of the medals in long-distance running are won by athletes of this tribe." "This tribe lives at high altitudes all year round, with an amazing lung capacity. They have very small ankles and long leg bones and are relatively thin in the lower body, making them more suited for running." "Earlier on, due to a lack of material foundation and inadequate nutrition, it was difficult to show their true strength. As the economy developed and they could get enough to eat, the Kalenjin People''s talent for long-distance running fully exploded." "For long-distance running events over 800 meters, it''s mainly the Kalenjin People who are champions. Among them, the famous long-distance runner Ronoh broke four world records in less than three months." Before the official start of the livestream, Bi Fang introduced the African Savannah and also introduced Kenya. On one hand, it was necessary; on the other hand, it was a little bit of promotion for Kenya. Having been invited over and given the privilege of starting the fire to destroy ivory, Bi Fang naturally reciprocated the favor by speaking well of them and introducing them in more detail. That way, if there are similar events in other places next time, perhaps involving lions, tigers, elephants, or whatever else, they might also come to him. It''s like making a living. After finishing the background introduction, Bi Fang refocused his attention and returned to the event itself. "I think everyone is clear about the task this time, but to prevent any new viewers from being unaware, I will simply repeat it." "The task is to travel across the entire South African Great Plains, help Cheetah Harley return to its homeland, and during the journey, train its hunting skills so that a cheetah, which has grown up with humans since childhood, can successfully integrate into nature." "But let''s talk about hunting later. The first challenge we''re facing now is obtaining water resources." "It''s October now, which belongs to the summer of the Southern Hemisphere and is also the dry season on the South African Great Plains. It won''t be until about half a month later, around mid-October, that the rainy season will begin." "Although it isn''t hot in Kenya, in places with a shortage of water resources, the climate isn''t necessarily hot. As I''ve mentioned before, Antarctica is extremely cold, yet it has the least rainfall, even less than deserts, making it a white desert." "Normally, I might teach you methods such as covering plants with plastic bags to conveniently and quickly obtain water through transpiration." "Or simply finding tubers with rich juice." "But now, my teaching target is not just the audience in front of the screen, but also this cheetah beside me." Bi Fang stretched out his hand and petted the cheetah''s head. Harley was actually quite tall, with slender limbs, so his standing posture was about a meter in height, which made it easy to reach his head. "Cheetahs aren''t going to learn how to use plastic bags or identify water-rich plants." "So this time, I''m going to teach you something different." ``` Chapter 861 857: The Great Animal Migration On the savannah, Bi Fang, with Harley, headed toward the north. The sparse, withered yellow grass reached up to their thighs. If one was wearing shorts, with slightly delicate skin, a trek would inevitably leave it marked with white lines, and if luck was poor, encountering prickly plants would certainly lead to scratches, possibly even bleeding. And if those plants were poisonous, it could mean an immediate game over. At this point, the different things Bi Fang had mentioned he would teach had not yet manifested. He was simply chatting with the audience during the hike and introducing some of the vistas of the African Savanna they might encounter, as well as potential food and scenery. "Actually, the beginning of October is a pretty special time for the African savannah in the northern hemisphere. During this period, we can see a lot of things that aren''t usually visible. It''s arguably the best time." [How so?] [Isn''t it the great migration?] [I''ve been to Kenya. The migration usually starts in June or July and ends completely by September. It''s October now, how can we still see the migration?] "When it comes to the migration, it generally does start in June or July," Bi Fang acknowledged as he read the comments, but then he smiled and said, "However, the migration happens quickly, and the return is just as swift." "How the animals migrate is indeed something we missed, being a few months late, but how they return is something we can see very clearly right now. It''s perfect timing." Kenya''s geographical location is unique. It doesn''t entirely belong to the northern hemisphere nor to the southern hemisphere but straddles both, with the equator in the middle. This means that when the northernmost part of the Kenyan savannah is experiencing the dry season, with cracked earth, the southernmost part might be in the wet season, with lush water and grass. Such stark differences created one of the most stunning spectacles in nature¡ªthe great north-south migration of animals. The dry and wet seasons of the African Savanna coincide with the summer seasons of their respective hemispheres. So starting from mid-to-late May each year, the northern part of Serengeti National Park is on the brink of its dry season. During this time, the park''s vegetation gradually withers, and the lack of food becomes insufficient for the large numbers of herbivores. Additionally, the timing is quite coincidental. Spring arrives, life awakens, and it''s mating season for animals. Anyone familiar with animal documentaries would not find this statement strange. For most herbivores, their breeding seasons are concentrated between March and May. This is also true for the herbivores of the African Savannah. Survival and reproduction are innate to every species. The mating season may seem to defy the instinct for propagation. Some believe that if animals could reproduce all year round like humans, their numbers could significantly increase. However, this idea is mistaken. In reality, the mating season is not a restriction on population numbers but aims to improve the offspring''s survival rates, ultimately leading to population growth. The laws of nature are vastly different from human society, where "survival of the fittest" is an unchanging truth. In spring, when life blooms and temperatures are right, the comfortable environment provides shelter and food for animals. Most animals also choose to be active in this season and then give birth in the summer. During summer, plants are at their most abundant, and the climate is more suitable. If offspring were born in winter, they could likely die from cold or starvation without enough food. Herbivores become more active with plentiful food, which in turn makes hunting easier for carnivores, ensuring better survival for both their offspring. Mating and reproduction are enormously energy-consuming activities; some extreme animals even choose to fast completely during pregnancy, waiting for birth. After birth, most females are in a weakened state and need timely care. Just as the best steel is reserved for the edge of the blade, the same principle applies to animal reproduction. Thus, all energy must be saved up and released in spring when survival rates are highest. Of course, not all animals choose to be active in spring, and this is also related to the animal''s gestation period. For instance, deer mate in autumn. Due to deer''s long gestation period, mating in autumn perfectly times giving birth in spring, following the aforementioned pattern. The arrival of the dry season. A sudden population surge. These two factors combined severely disrupt the balance of supply and demand. To survive, herbivores must begin migrating northwest from Serengeti, in search of green pastures and water sources. As herbivores move on, carnivores follow suit, and under the influence of the food chain, almost all creatures great and small must start moving. Such a scene is quite spectacular. Millions of wildebeests, hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles make up an impressive procession from Tanzania''s Serengeti, heading north to Kenya''s Maasai Mara National Park, covering more than 3000 kilometers. Along the way, they must not only cross grasslands where lions and leopards lurk but also be wary of the ever-present hyenas and crocodiles that congregate on the narrow banks of the Mara River, with these predators ready to partake in the coming feast. The massive migration of animals across borders and through the Mara River to Maasai Mara continues until September and even into October each year. Even if some are seen now, they may just be a few small groups scattered about, hardly constituting a grand migration. [But why can we see the return journey?] [Will this live stream go on for several months, too?] Bi Fang shook his head: "Of course not. We can see the return because this massive animal migration doesn''t follow the same pattern as migratory birds, which leave in autumn and return in spring. It''s just a stay of less than a month." "Because soon, the savannas of the southern hemisphere are also about to enter the dry season." "Moreover, the Maasai Mara National Park, where the animals have migrated, covers only one-tenth the area of Serengeti." "It simply can''t support the large numbers of herbivores." "Starting from mid-October, as the African Serengeti Savannah enters the rainy season and the grass turns green under the rain, the animals that took refuge there must begin their return journey to Serengeti. This process usually lasts about a month and is generally concluded by December each year." "In December, the animals returned to their homeland, began reproducing and recuperating, gradually replenishing the numbers of their kin lost on the journey, preparing for the next year." "Out of the millions in the migrating herds, only 30% of the lucky ones managed to return to their starting point, accompanied by 400,000 newborns birthed during the perilous journey." "So, in just over ten days, we might be lucky enough to witness this staggering scene." "[Wow, if we''re unlucky, does that mean as soon as we get there, we''ll have to head back (dog''s head)]" "[Not necessarily. Everyone''s back, so there would be fewer grazing, right? Maybe it''ll be just perfect (dog''s head)]" "[So, it seems we''ll still get to see the great animal migration.]" "[Yay!]" "[No yays allowed]" Looking out, all the grass was withered and yellow, devoid of any trace of life. The ground was very hard; although it wasn''t cracked, this was also a manifestation of the lack of moisture. If there were sufficient water sources, the ground shouldn''t be as hard as concrete, but softer, capable of retaining clear footprints. But now, even the reserve''s vehicles couldn''t leave a mark as they passed, showing just how parched and tough the land had become due to the lack of water. Still, one could occasionally see animals passing through the savannah. Rustling sounds came from the grass. A brown mouse disappeared into a narrow rock cave, leaving Harley fruitlessly digging at the entrance. After walking for several hours, Bi Fang could clearly feel his lips drying out. Not having caught the mouse, Harley became impatient and began to sidle up to Bi Fang, attempting to "lie down." Cheetahs by nature dislike long-distance walks, and this was being demonstrated quite thoroughly at the moment. Faced with Bi Fang who continued to advance, Harley, after several failed attempts to lie down, quickly moved a few steps ahead, walked in front of Bi Fang, and directly lay down on the ground. Regardless of Bi Fang walking over, it refused to stand up, merely heaving its chest, calling out a few times while lying on the ground. "[Seems like it can''t walk any further]" "[It''s giving up already?]" "[Just throwing in the towel (eating watermelon)]" Bi Fang laughed, not forcing Harley, but instead looked around and happened upon a small mound, paying no mind to the cheetah beside him, and strode directly towards the mound. On the ground, Harley lifted its head to look but was blocked by the grass. After waiting for a moment without seeing Bi Fang''s figure, it stood up and only then saw Bi Fang atop the mound, hurriedly running over, and then continued to flop down on the ground. But this time, Bi Fang actually grabbed hold of the nape of its neck and dragged it up the slope. "Cheetahs mostly lie down, and during the hottest part of the day, their activity is at its lowest. They rest under the protection of large trees'' shade." "Although the weather in Kenya isn''t very hot, it doesn''t affect their preference for lying down. They also dislike long-distance expeditions, so it really is time for them to rest a bit." "However, wild cheetahs are quite timid. As they walk, they remain very alert, frequently stopping to look around and check for potential prey." "Another thing is that they have to protect themselves from other predators, usually resting at noon. During their nap, they will even get up every 6 minutes to check and see if there are any dangers around." "So, what we''re going to do now is interestingly help it develop this habit, on higher ground with better visibility, to cultivate the practice of observing first, and then resting." "Of course, one time definitely won''t work, but with enough attempts, it will eventually understand." On the hillside, Harley sat down under Bi Fang''s insistence. Out of animal instinct, it curiously surveyed its surroundings and then followed behind Bi Fang, stopping to rest under a large tree. Bi Fang cleared an area and sat down with a plop, feeling not too uncomfortable despite having walked all morning. His mouth was dry, but it was very mild and not to the point of dehydration. [Harley''s reaction is too funny] [Never been this tired in my life] [Harley: What are these bipeds doing (dog''s head emoji)] [I want to pet it] S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Someday I also want to visit the African Savannah! Maybe I''ll even run into Harley] "Don''t think I''m not afraid of cheetahs just because it doesn''t seem like it, but this doesn''t mean cheetahs don''t pose a threat to adults." Bi Fang directly grabbed Harley''s paw to compare with his own. Although cheetahs are overall slender, just by looking at their arms, they''re not much thinner. "The arms of an ordinary person are actually not much thicker than a cheetah''s forelimb. A cheetah can accelerate to 110 km/h within 3 seconds, which means it can let Bolt start 60 meters ahead in a 100-meter sprint, and the cheetah would still win." "Moreover, when a cheetah catches its prey at high speeds, it often rolls over together with the prey, so never think that its body is fragile. The bones of felines are much harder than those of humans." Bi Fang then opened Harley''s mouth, and in a reluctant state, photographed its canines. "The teeth of a cheetah are smaller than those of a leopard, but they are sharp enough. This is because a smaller head ensures higher running speeds. With a small head, the teeth are naturally smaller and, therefore, do not have the strong jaw force of a lion." "So usually, a cheetah can''t bite through the prey''s windpipe but suffocate it to death by clamping likened to pliers." "But human skin is not covered with fur and is thinner than that of wild animals, and the windpipe is smaller, the 3.5 cm protruded canines of a cheetah are enough to pierce a human''s windpipe." "Usually, a person wouldn''t die immediately after their windpipe is pierced, and would instead become more alert due to inhaling a large amount of air. However, the accompanying arterial damage to the neck could cause uncontrollable bleeding, leading to the possibility of death from excessive blood loss." "The bite force of a cheetah can reach 340 pounds, leopard 550 pounds, African lion 1050 pounds, Northeast Tiger 1100 pounds, and spotted hyena 1300 pounds." "Compared like this, it doesn''t seem very high, but if we compare it to a large breed of domestic dog, the German Shepherd, it''s quite remarkable. The bite force of a German Shepherd is 230 pounds which is around 40 kilograms, only about two-thirds that of a cheetah." "So to kill a cheetah, you first have to be able to kill a large canid." "And canids don''t have the sharp claws of feline animals. Although cheetahs'' claws are not as sharp as a leopard''s or tiger''s, they still pose a significant threat to an unclothed human." "Especially the claw under a cheetah''s thumb, which not only can retract, but is also quite long and can hook and cut the prey. Those who often watch feline documentaries should know that sometimes when a cheetah catches its prey, suddenly a cut appears on its body, and that''s the handiwork of its thumb claw." Bi Fang squeezed the cheetah''s thumb claw from its paw pad and showed it off as a reminder to the audience not to foolishly think that cheetahs in the wild are all cute and approachable. He had too many fans, and it wouldn''t surprise Bi Fang if there were some oddballs among them. During the rest, Bi Fang didn''t idle; he stripped some bark and rubbed out its fibers, making some ropes for future use. Having rested for an hour, Bi Fang set off again with Harley, who had nearly recovered, until at 3 o''clock in the afternoon, just as Harley was about to give up again, Bi Fang finally spotted a promising target. A troop of baboons. "We''ve found a water source." Chapter 862 858: The Curious Baboon Due to the drought, several baboons with black fur crouched on the large, not lush tree trunks. The flat terrain of the savanna made it too easy for Bi Fang and Harley to be spotted by the baboons in the trees. A lookout baboon puffed its cheek pouch and opened its thin, protruding mouth to emit a dry howl, warning its companions below. Called by their mates, the baboons that were playfighting on the ground quickly dispersed, jumped a few steps, climbed to the treetops, and stood on branches to observe the newcomers. Soon, one after another, black coal-like figures rolled from the ground to higher ground. In no time, the trees were densely covered with baboons. The group of baboons appeared restless as they watched the sudden appearance of a man and a leopard on the savanna, scurrying around on the rough branches. Several large trees seemed like they were covered with huge black balls of yarn, slowly writhing in the wind of the savanna. Even though the distance was too great and the sunlight blurred the view, making it not too clear, viewers could distinctly feel that "they" were being stared at by dozens of eyes, causing goosebumps on their backs. Any animal, when in large numbers, instinctively brings a sense of danger. [Is this a baboon?] [It kind of looks like it.] [I thought there were no monkeys in Africa.] [You can tell by the face that it''s a baboon.] Bi Fang squinted in the sunlight and took a moment to recognize the animal, subsequently clarifying the viewers'' doubts. "Actually, there are monkeys in Africa, and there are quite a few species, over ninety, but what we have in front of us are baboons." "The difference between baboons and monkeys is easy to recognize, starting with the environment." "Baboons mainly live in tropical rainforests or semi-arid savannas and hilly areas, which are common in Africa." "Monkeys, on the other hand, are mainly found in Asia, Africa, America, and most live in forests, not typically on savannas." "This is actually due to their different survival capabilities." "Baboons are a bit larger, especially their heads are quite robust, their lips are very pronounced, just like dogs having snouts, and their brow bones are highly raised, but their ears are very small, suitable for movement on the ground." "Monkeys don''t have such large bodies, and there are many types of monkeys. They are very agile, but they can''t compete on the harsh savannas like baboons for some of the terrestrial resources." Survival in nature is quite brutal, and weaker species can only survive in the gaps. The sky, the ocean, and the ground are the three major life layers. The forest layer, situated between the ground and the sky, represents such a gap. Baboons are stronger than the nearby monkeys, allowing them to occupy some terrestrial territory while living in the forest layer. "As for baboons, there are fewer species; currently, only five are recognized worldwide, namely the Arabian Baboon, Guinea Baboon, East African Baboon, Savanna Baboon, and Olive Baboon." "Judging by geography and appearance, without a doubt, what we see here is a group of Savanna Baboons, larger in size, second only to orangutans among primates. Despite looking only half the size of a human, they are actually very dangerous." "[I can see it now]" "[Really?]" "[I don''t believe it, those weaklings, I can take them down with one punch each]" "Some people can''t even beat the monkeys of Emei Mountain, let alone dream of defeating a group of baboons on the savanna (eating watermelon)]" "I''m serious, as primates, whether we compare humans with monkeys or baboons, there''s a difference in muscle composition, and we are not as explosive as they are." "Two-thirds of these primates'' muscle fibers are fast-twitch fibers, while ordinary humans mainly have slow-twitch fibers, which account for only half." "Fast-twitch fibers are thicker than slow-twitch fibers and are about 22% larger in volume under similar conditions, and this data comes from Schwarzenegger''s Bodybuilding Book, and their contraction speed is 2¨C3 times that of slow-twitch fibers, allowing them to generate more force." "The abundance of fast-twitch fibers gives gorillas, baboons, and monkeys a natural advantage in strength and a more robust physique, but fast-twitch fibers consume more energy and fatigue easily, nowhere near as enduring as slow-twitch fibers." "Combining measurement data and computer simulation results, some researchers believe that the muscle strength of these primates is 1.35 times that of humans of the same volume, as published in the Ugly Country''s ''Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.''" "Plus the difference in body fat percentage, the strength of a 50-kilogram adult male primate is roughly equivalent to an 80-kilogram fit human." "The evolution of humans has adjusted the proportion of different muscle fibers in our muscles, showing a unique direction of human evolution, sacrificing some strength for better endurance to better adapt to terrestrial life." "[So you just throw out papers when we disagree, huh?]" "[I just want to ask, does anyone really check the articles that Master Fang mentioned after the livestream ends? (Dog''s Head)]" "[Truly rational and well-founded]" "[I''d willingly call Master Fang a science communicator, no problem, right?]" "[Only about one meter tall, probably doesn''t weigh fifty kilograms, right?]" "Indeed, the weight of savanna baboons is usually not over thirty kilograms, but that doesn''t mean they can''t pose a threat to humans. Don''t forget, they are social animals and their numbers are quite terrifying; each group usually exceeds 30 individuals, comprising multiple males and females, a structure not comparable to that of wolf packs." "But encountering them isn''t necessarily a bad thing." While speaking, Bi Fang also took a rope coiled around his waist and licked his dry lips, then said to the camera, "The simplest way to find water, of course, is still to ask the locals, just like I tracked the wild Baizhi ox in the rainforest to find salt licks." "Most mammals drink water regularly, and herbivorous animals usually don''t stray far from water sources¡ªlike the animals in Kenya that migrate thousands of kilometers to avoid the dry season¡ªbecause they need to drink morning and evening, they can''t live without water." "Therefore, paying attention to animal tracks can lead you to water; following herbivorous animals downhill can work." "For carnivorous animals, drinking once can last them a long time, and they can obtain water when preying on other animals. So, seeing carnivorous animals doesn''t necessarily mean there''s a water source nearby, which is something to be cautious about." Bi Fang explained as he looked around and casually started digging a hole in the ground. The loam was too dry and hard, so Bi Fang used his knife to pry it, lifting up a slab of hard soil, which quickly crumbled into granular form when squeezed. With the help of tools, the hole quickly expanded. "Additionally, grain-eating birds like sparrows and pigeons also don''t stray far from water sources; they drink morning and evening." "When they fly low and straight, they are definitely seeking water." "After drinking their fill, they will rest there, flying from one tree to another, frequently resting. Paying close attention to their flight direction might lead you to water." "Of course, water birds can fly long distances for a long time without stopping for food or drink, and their appearance doesn''t necessarily indicate there is water nearby," "Falcons, eagles, and other carnivorous birds get their water from their prey, so they also can''t be used as indicators of water." "They are not indicators of water sources." "Reptiles can also sip dew and get water from small creatures they capture, thus they can survive for a long time without water." "Insects are the best indicators of water. Especially bees, which usually do not stray more than fifty meters from their hive or nest, but their drinking patterns are irregular." "Ants also can''t live without water, and a line of ants marching towards a tree is likely heading for an underground reservoir." "This kind of water storage can even be found in barren lands." "Most insects fly incessantly within a ninety-meter radius of a water source, especially those European mason bees that show off their shiny green bodies while flying." "Therefore, whether you can quickly find water by following a certain creature depends on your own judgment and knowledge of the species." "If you follow the wrong target, you might not find water for two or three days. You won''t last that long without water. After two days without a drink, you would start to feel weak and would struggle to respond to danger." [It''s all in the details] [From the world''s top wilderness survival expert] [Take note, take note] [By the way, Master Fang, what are you doing now? What''s the point of digging this hole?] [Is there groundwater here too?] "I can tell you with certainty that there''s absolutely no groundwater beneath this pit. It''s incredibly dry. I''m digging just for fun." Bi Fang cracked a joke as he dug a big hole. The audience was successfully teased and threw up lots of question marks on the screen. [Fun????] [Are you serious, Old Fang?] S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Are you kidding me?] "Isn''t it fun? Look at those baboons over there; they''re really curious." Bi Fang pointed to the baboons in the trees far away. Sure enough, upon seeing Bi Fang digging nearby, nearly all the baboons climbed to the top of the tree canopy, trying to see what Bi Fang was digging. Curiosity is a natural trait for all creatures, especially among primates. "Baboons always have a secret water source, but they won''t share it with anyone, so we need to find ways to make them reveal it." "On the African Savanna, baboons are fierce animals that aren''t fussy about food. They can find food sources in almost any environment, including insects, grubs, spiders, and scorpions," "Some baboons even kill and consume the young of gazelles, tearing and eating these herbivores'' offspring and even stealing food from the mouths of cheetahs, not discriminating between meat and vegetation." [Cheetah: So every cub thinks they can steal from me, huh?] [Done for, why does it feel like the cheetah is at the bottom of the food chain? (funny)] "Yes, in the food chain, some male baboons are not afraid of cheetahs at all; they even dare to scare away adult cheetahs because baboons'' main predators are leopards, which are fiercer and stronger than cheetahs. Baboons mainly move on land but also climb trees to sleep or forage, while leopards, being swift and good climbers, can hunt monkeys and birds in the trees, making it hard for baboons to escape their pursuit." "Although cheetahs can also climb trees, their combat abilities up there are not as good as leopards'', and they are easily bullied." "However, precisely because baboons are omnivorous like carnivores, they are not very dependent on water sources, but they have a good trait - they are especially easy to track." "Compared to birds and herbivores, once baboons start searching for water, we can easily follow them to address urgent needs." "Among herbivores, gazelles and similar animals run too fast and are too timid. When following them, you need to make sure not to be noticed." "Wildebeests and such are too dangerous." "Birds fly too fast and only give a direction, making the cost of a wrong judgment too high." "Like the wild Baizhi ox, which lives solo and moves slowly with low aggression, those creatures aren''t easy to encounter." "So while all these methods are feasible, they lack convenience compared to the others, making baboons an excellent choice." "They run slowly, and their individual strength is limited. Although they live in groups, as long as you don''t encroach on their territory, you can manage to isolate a single individual, ensuring safety." "That''s why Bi Fang initially thought that encountering this troop of baboons was a good thing." "The most crucial thing is, compared to finding water-bearing plants or other various methods, tracking animals is the easiest skill for Cheetah Harley to understand." "If you are thirsty and don''t know where the water is, just follow the baboon." "This point would later be deeply engraved in its mind." Bi Fang''s action of digging the hole was to arouse the baboons'' curiosity and isolate one from the group. Pretending to dig around for a while, Bi Fang found some plant seeds nearby, and finally pretended to pull them out of the pit, stuffing them into his pocket before leaving. "Actually, this method was invented by the indigenous Makala people of Africa; they often need to find water sources while hunting and use baboons to help them, which is almost always successful." As soon as Bi Fang disappeared, a few baboons immediately ran down from the tree toward the pit, only to find nothing. "Remember, every move we make must be visible to the baboons. Next, we''ll simply make a trap." After walking dozens of meters, Bi Fang arrived in front of a towering mound, searching around, he quickly found a small hole. "Africa is full of burrowing creatures, and on these mounds, we can find these holes, possibly abandoned, which are natural traps." Bi Fang looked around and seeing some baboons following him not far behind knew his plan had worked, knowing that their curiosity was unbearable at this moment. "These caves are usually quite hard, with narrow passages, making them a natural cage." He stuffed the plant seeds he had picked up into the hole casually and then turned and left without fuss, quickly disappearing from the baboons'' view. Baboons don''t trust humans, but they were dying to know what was inside the hole. Chapter 863 859: Despicable Outlander The noisy and vivacious olive and brown baboons were the iconic sight of the African Savanna. They were also the best group to use for finding water. After placing some plant seeds in the hole, Bi Fang pretended to walk away nonchalantly, but in reality, he was steering Harley away from the baboons'' line of sight and hiding behind a large tree. The silent drone hovered in midair, capturing everything within a hundred meters, so that every movement of the baboons was clearly visible to the audience. A baboon seated on the slope looked around, tormented by its curiosity, eager to find out what the giant two-legged ape had put in the hole. Why so mysterious, so hidden. Harley lay under the shade of the tree, panting, seeing so many baboons for the first time made it anxious. Bi Fang patted its head, comforting it while signaling it to be calm. Then, a man, a cheetah, and a rat in a backpack rested behind the tree. On the grassland, the sunlight bathed the earth, casting long shadows of the baboons. After a full ten minutes, Bi Fang had vanished without a trace. At last, Mr. "Curiosity" couldn''t stand it any longer and decided to investigate. As the first baboon took a step, moving on all fours toward the slope with rapid speed, its eyes scanning left and right, it displayed a mix of nervousness and eagerness. [Ahh, here they come, the monkeys are out!] [It''s moving, it''s moving!] [What happens next, let it take away the things?] [Is there some magical effect to the seeds?] [Definitely Old Fang placed a "lead me to water" curse on them!] At that moment, Bi Fang, observing carefully through the branches, showed a smile. "I''ve said that the seeds actually don''t have any special effect; they''re just wild melon seeds I picked up off the ground, but the baboons don''t know that. Their curiosity drives them to want to obtain them." "But the hole I chose isn''t random. It''s about the same width as a baboon''s forearm, probably left by a rodent. These animals'' burrows have one characteristic: narrow passageways but large interiors to prevent predators, such as snakes, from entering. And the drought has made the entire burrow very hard." "Through such a passage, the baboons can reach in to get the seeds, but it''s impossible for them to pull their hands out with the seeds." "When that happens, while its hand is stuck, we can go up and catch it; it''s a natural trap." [Ahh that] [I feel like my intelligence is being insulted] [Isn''t this too simplistic? Can''t they just let go and escape (facepalm)] "You are clear as onlookers and overestimate the animals'' intelligence while underestimating their stress responses." "As a baboon, when it grabs a handful of seeds but finds it can''t pull its hand out, the first thing it thinks of won''t be to let go, but extreme fear." "It will only feel that something in the hole must have bitten its hand, and out of an instinct to protect itself, it will definitely not let go to expose the soft palm of its hand." "Especially when we return after just leaving, its inner fear will intensify to the extreme, making it almost impossible to think of letting go." "Remaking a trap is troublesome and time-consuming; it''s not as useful as a natural burrow like this." "Besides, I just mentioned that this is a method invented by the indigenous Makala people of Africa, and it is definitely practical, so you all just watch," Bi Fang said. Hearing this, the previously skeptical audience suppressed their confusion. Watching the baboon getting closer and closer to the hole, they couldn''t help but hold their breath, their hearts pounding. They wanted to know if the method Bi Fang spoke of would really work. Shadows moved along the ground and then gradually reached the mid-point of the slope. As the baboon propped itself up with its hands and stepped towards the hole, stretching its neck to peek inside, it saw nothing but pitch-black darkness. In just a moment, the baboon decided to reach its hand inside to pull out whatever had been put in by its two-legged primate counterpart. As its dark hairy arm reached into the hole, the nerves of the audience were stretched to the limit. Inside the hole, where no one could see, the baboon''s palm soon touched the seeds Bi Fang had earlier placed there. Excited to have found something, it tried to pull out a handful of seeds, but a great force suddenly trapped its wrist. In an instant, its excitement vanished, replaced by the fear of being caught unexpectedly. The baboon howled as it could not pull its hand out of the hole, and at the sound of the cry, Bi Fang immediately rushed out from behind a tree. Covering tens of meters in mere moments, he arrived, pulled out a rope, and tied it around the baboon''s body. Harley, driven by his innate hunting instincts, hopped and skipped along behind Bi Fang. "The baboon''s claws are very sharp, and because they eat meat, their teeth are also very pointed, so you have to be careful when tying them up. Don''t get bitten or scratched; it could be very troublesome. A deep wound can easily get infected in the wild." "Right, and their legs too. Baboons, monkeys, and gorillas have very agile feet, almost just like hands. They can kick as well as grab, so be careful of that too." Bi Fang, holding the rope, somehow managed to thread it through the wildly struggling baboon''s body in a few moves, and with one pull, he tightened it firmly. By the time he had finished tying it up, the baboon thought of letting go, but by then it was already too late. "This is a very clever method the locals use to catch baboons. If it had known to let go sooner, it wouldn''t have been caught, but now it''s too late." [Online Game Planner Psychology] [I am Baboon] [You translate for me, I don''t understand] [Clever humans adapt and modify the design to create strategies for finding female baboons... But baboons also know humans are desperate to find water (find female baboons), so in the search for water sources (search for female baboons) they lead humans into ambushes¡ªCactus jump (Dog''s head)] [In the latest version, they fixed the bug where baboons wouldn''t let go of the seeds] [When ordinary people try to catch baboons, their arms probably get gnawed to bits] [So what exactly did Master Fang put inside as bait?] [Just reach inside and grab a handful to find out?(¡¥?¡¥?)] [Do you think I am a baboon? (Dog''s head)] Bi Fang lifted the baboon up; this particular baboon wasn''t big, its body length barely over half a meter, making it a non-adolescent among savanna baboons. Perhaps because it was indeed non-adolescent, with heavy curiosity, it''s uncertain whether the same method would have worked on an older, wiser baboon. Bi Fang carried the baboon to a nearly leafless dead tree and tied it directly to the tree. "It''s not enough just to catch a baboon; we also need to make it talk." "When the locals capture a baboon, if they want to find a water source, they drop salt blocks nearby. Instinctively, the baboon licks the salt blocks and devours them like candy." "The more they lick, the thirstier they get. In just an hour or two, once we release the ropes, the baboons will lead us to water," Bi Fang explained. "Unfortunately, we don''t have a salt lick right now. To save time, we can only find a dead tree without shade and let the baboons bake in the sun. Maybe by the afternoon, we''ll achieve our goal." [Ahh that, why do baboons like eating dry salt?] [Baboon: I need water now.] [So you''re basically curing it, right?] sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Titanic strength face.] [You could even give them a fire to warm up.] [Be human, please.] "Because animals are different from us humans, they don''t just add salt to their food. Carnivores get salt by drinking blood, and herbivores lick rock walls, but these methods barely meet their basic needs." "In fact, when we eat, in order to make our food tasty, we usually add more salt than the healthy standard, let alone animals." "Therefore, their bodies have a ''craving for salt'' due to mineral deficiencies, similar to a physiological instinct. Like how goats climb up rock walls and take the risk to lick salt from crevices, they can''t help themselves." [So, this is the method Master Fang mentioned for teaching cheetahs. Can cheetahs really learn it? (Funny)] [Harley: Are you misunderstanding my ability to comprehend?] [It''s too hard, too difficult.] [Cheetah: What a B.S. method.] [Until one day, people on the savannah discovered a cheetah that could use seeds to bait and bind baboons.] [Is this considered animal abuse? (Dog''s head)] [Wildlife protection is outraged!] [Despicable outsider!] Bi Fang laughed at the live stream comments: "Teaching Harley to bait and bind baboons and to bask in the sun eating salt licks is of course impossible, but that''s not the real point here." "The key is to follow certain animals and eventually find their water source. That''s the crucial part." "Whether it''s baking in the sun or feeding salt licks, these are the methods we use to shorten the time. They are like catalysts in a chemical experiment, speeding up the reaction. But the absence of a catalyst does not mean that the reaction doesn''t occur, it just means the end result is different." "Moreover, even though Harley may not understand or learn from what we''re doing, it can reinforce memories, deepening its recollection of tracking baboons." "As for whether it''s considered animal abuse, I can only say yes, I won''t deny that. But if it weren''t to teach Harley, I wouldn''t use this method. And I can assure you that what we''re doing here won''t cause any irreversible physical harm to the baboons." "There are at least ten different ways for me to find water on the savannah." [I believe that.] [If someone else said this, they''d be bragging. When Master Fang says this, I just think he''s being modest, he probably didn''t even bother to count. (Funny)] [Old Fang knows best.] [Is this what they call humblebragging? Love it.] [Persecution from the big brother of primates.] [Honestly, what harm could humans do?] After wrapping the rope around the tree several times to ensure it wouldn''t come loose, Bi Fang left the spot. Although the rope was made from trees and could potentially be gnawed through, it depended on who had made it; Bi Fang was quite confident in the ropes he crafted. "Next comes the long wait; it''ll probably last until tomorrow. I don''t want to move around at night." "We can''t see clearly at night. The light from the torches is limited and we could easily lose sight of our target. Plus, it''s not safe, as predators are active." Bi Fang found a shady spot with Harley and began to rest, letting time tick by. In the distance, the baboon''s own kind showed no intention of coming to help, maybe deterred by Bi Fang and the cheetah watching nearby; the baboons could only watch as their counterpart was tied under the tree, suffering under the sun''s scorch. Occasionally, the bound baboon under the tree would let out a howl. Seeing this, Bi Fang offered an explanation. "Actually, the animals of the African Savannah often come into contact with some native humans and have an idea of the level of danger that humans pose." "Like baboons, some indigenous Africans would catch them for food. Although it''s hard for ordinary people to accept this behavior since they are both primates, this is Africa." "Just like the Maasai people¡ªthree Maasai armed with spears can drive away a whole pride of lions and take their prey. Often, the animals on the Savannah walk around humans." "Unless I invade their territory or steal their resources, the Baboon King won''t easily choose to wage war against me for the loss of one companion. Of course, if I kept hanging around in their presence, that might change." Among primates, baboons are the only high-ranking monkey species that live in large groups, sometimes even forming troops of hundreds, each comprised of several families bonded together. Each family is led by the strongest, largest, and most handsome experienced male, especially the size and sharpness of the male''s canine teeth are important criteria for leadership. At the same time, baboon troops are very cohesive; the group is led by sturdy males, with specific baboons responsible for alerting the group to incoming threats. Baboons are rough in nature and often engage in group fights. Should an intruder enter their territory, the leader typically takes the lead, charging ahead with the rest following closely¡ªeach like a fierce and tenacious soldier, shouting out loud and hurling stones or using their sharp canines to bite. Being attacked by dozens of baboons could be dangerous unless you escape early; if you choose to resist, it could be perilous. As time passed, the sun began to slope westward, and before long, the baboon under the tree became listless. Bi Fang started searching for dry branches nearby to prepare for the first night''s campfire on the Savannah. A few branches were put together, one of which was notched. The dry branches were devoid of any moisture. With Bi Fang''s rapid rubbing, a wisp of blue smoke rose quickly. Accompanied by the spreading tinder and the blowing, sparks scattered until a bright bonfire rose on the Savannah. The arrival of night brought a significant drop in the surrounding temperature, and the previously listless baboon perked up a bit. When Bi Fang looked over, the baboon tilted its head and avoided his gaze, hiding behind a tree. The starry sky glittered, the burning wood snapped and crackled, and sparks fell to the earth. From the darkness in the distance, the occasional howl of baboons fighting could be heard. Bi Fang sat on a rock, feeding the fire. His backpack rested against the stone, and the curious Gambian Pouched Rat poked its head out to look around, saw the cheetah next to it retract its head, then retreated back into the bag. The tired and hungry cheetah had no spirit left for teasing; it lay down at Bi Fang''s feet, yawned, and closed its eyes. The brilliant orange flames illuminated the area, casting gently swaying shadows. Chapter 864 860: Waiting idly for gains The extinguished campfire was emitting a wisp of blue smoke. Beside it, on a dead tree, a baboon''s hands and feet were tied to the bark. Its entire body curled up into a ball, wedged between two large roots exposed on the surface of the ground, emitting a low and slow breathing sound. On the other side, leaning against the rock, a cheetah also purred softly. Bi Fang woke up from his sleep, first checking his surroundings to confirm there was no danger or traces of other animals, then he got up to prepare for the day''s activities. He collected some blackish-gray charcoal ash, then found a tree that seemed to be quite lively nearby, climbed up, and took some branches. After parting the leaves of the tree that held the branches, Bi Fang crushed one end, then rubbed it on a rock until the broken end was frayed with dense fibers. He then dipped this end in some charcoal ash and used it as a toothbrush to brush his teeth. There was a slight burning sensation in his mouth, luckily, not too intense. Normally, one should mix the charcoal ash with water to make charcoal water, then use it as toothpaste for brushing teeth; otherwise, it could irritate the mouth. If conditions were good, one could also add some aromatic plants for sterilization, but it was regrettable that currently, there wasn''t even any water to drink, let alone to make toothpaste with. After a quick rinse, spitting out the mouthful of charcoal ash, Bi Fang slung his backpack over his shoulders and woke up Harley, who was sound asleep. Lastly, he started the live stream. [Although the National Day holiday has ended and it''s back to work, I still choose to slack off and watch the live stream (dog head emoji)] [It''s reasonable, work is exchanging labor for compensation, slacking off is really making money] [Earn the boss''s money fiercely] [Is it time to find a water source today?] The baboon by the tree was also startled awake by Bi Fang''s movement and started to howl again. After calling out for a while and realizing no one paid attention to it, it gradually quieted down. At this time, Bi Fang approached it to check on the baboon''s status. [A smile of pure kindness] [Some salt, please, salt] [Subway, elderly, phone face] "Drinking water is an innate behavior, mainly triggered by two different types of thirst, one is due to an increase in blood osmotic pressure causing osmotic thirst, compelling animals to drink pure water." "Another is caused by the loss of bodily fluids leading to hypovolemic thirst, where animals seek both water and minerals¡ªusually salt¡ªto restore blood volume." "Although the reasons are different, both states have some external manifestations, such as skin laxity, which is basically universal among mammals." Bi Fang picked up the baboon, preventing it from turning its head aimlessly, to avoid getting bitten. Then he reached out and pinched its nape. "If you have a dog or cat at home, you can try pinching their nape lightly. If they''re as hydrated as humans, their skin will be firm and elastic." "But if they''re in a state of dehydration, when you pinch the skin on their nape, it will feel very slack." "Secondly, pacing back and forth; when animals feel thirsty and can''t find water to drink, they exhibit restless and anxious emotions, pacing back and forth in a certain area, often accompanied by a certain mental lethargy, and sometimes drooling." The mental lethargy couldn''t be clearly seen by everyone because the baboon had been very lethargic since being captured yesterday. However, the drooling was indeed visibly apparent. Earlier, Bi Fang had seen the baboon unconsciously licking its lips while asleep. This was also one of the signs of thirst. When thirsty, one unconsciously licks their own lips, subconsciously wetting their mouth to alleviate the feeling of thirst. Of course, this is futile and will only exacerbate the loss of water. But this doesn''t stop the animal instinct to do so. Based on various behaviors, it was almost certain that the baboon was thirsty, and to a considerable extent. "Let''s wait a bit longer, until eight or nine o''clock," said Master Fang, "At that time, the visibility is the best, it''s the hardest to lose sight of it, and the bullet can fly a bit longer." It was not yet six o''clock, and the sky had not fully brightened, so releasing the baboon at this time was not the best choice. There were no time limits on this live broadcast mission, so Bi Fang was not in a hurry. Bi Fang gathered materials nearby, reignited the campfire, and then found several straight branches and began to carve while sitting on a rock. After crafting the spearheads, he placed them in the fire to blacken. "Wood is carbonized after being burned, its molecular structure changes, thus it becomes harder," he explained, "But don''t burn it for too long. You just need to remove some moisture; burning it for too long will make it brittle due to combustion." Having crafted several spears for weapons, he then chatted with the viewers for a while. Looking at the shadows of the trees on the ground, Bi Fang confirmed the time and approached the baboon, untying the knotted rope. "It''s eight o''clock; time to get moving," he announced. "At this hour, the baboon won''t care who is following it as it seeks out its secret water source." The baboon squatting on the ground watched as the rope on the tree trunk suddenly loosened and finally fell to the earth, stirring up a bit of dust. Then its own limbs also abruptly relaxed. Initially thinking it was about to be eaten, the baboon had screamed madly, but after a short moment of confusion, it quickly understood and bolted. "Quick, quick, follow it!" Bi Fang immediately grabbed his backpack and motioned for Harley to follow. So on the vast African Savanna, one man and one cheetah began a pursuit of a monkey, during which Bi Fang also had to make sure the cheetah didn''t run too fast and catch the monkey right away. But there was a problem. After nearly twenty minutes of running, Harley was panting and struggling to keep up. The baboon''s secret water source was much farther away than Bi Fang had anticipated. The baboon using all four limbs wasn''t very fast, and it was only a slow run for the cheetah, but after a continuous twenty minutes, it couldn''t hold on any longer. Seeing this, Bi Fang didn''t hesitate much. He threaded a rope through the cheetah''s limbs, quickly secured it, and then carried the whole cheetah on his back. Harley was still a subadult and slightly smaller than a full-grown cheetah. Moreover, Bi Fang''s backpack only contained a Gambian pouched rat, an empty water bottle, preserved fire starter, some plant ash, and he was also carrying several spears. Altogether, it weighed around forty kilograms. Forty kilograms wasn''t too difficult for Bi Fang to carry, especially in moderate temperatures. Some highly capable soldiers could do the same, but in the eyes of the viewers, it was an incredibly badass feat. On the other hand, if he didn''t carry it and something unpredictable happened, that would be a different story. Just like parents wouldn''t feel safe letting their child run around alone in a supermarket. [Dog''s head, that''s badass] [Master Fang: This thing is so slow, and you even dare to call yourself ''Yellow Lightning''?] [The golden flash of Earth, right.] [Harley: Who am I, where am I, and how did I start flying?] [Footage of early humans taming wild monkey kings] [Baboon: What''s that B noise behind, damn, a cheetah, damn, a person carrying a cheetah and running!] [Standard? I want to see the unstandard!] [You know about recordings.] [In this live broadcast, I saw the design of complex tools, the formulation of comprehensive strategies, the use of other creatures, the patient waiting for the right moment, the developed sweat glands, the powerful cardiopulmonary function and muscle recruitment capability, and the full range of joint movement. Indeed, humans are the real monsters.] [Humans are endurance monsters!!!] Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [I''m really jealous of Old Fang''s physical fitness. If I had his body, I would be the brightest star in the gym.] [Let''s be honest, even if you can''t do anything else, having Master Fang''s physical fitness would already make you successful in society.] About fifteen minutes had passed. Even Bi Fang, with his endurance, was exhausted from running for so long, drenched in sweat. Having not had water for more than a day, his throat was about to smoke. Finally, the hard yellow earth became rocky ground. The baboons leaped over the rough terrain and, in a few swift movements, vanished from sight. By the time Bi Fang noticed, a modestly-sized dark cave had appeared before him. Bi Fang set Harley down, no longer in a rush to enter but instead sat at the cave entrance to rest for a good while. It was obvious why the baboons headed for this cave with such purposeful intent. The target had been found, so there was naturally no need to hurry. "Phew... inside such a rocky cave¡­ even if there isn''t a water source, the condensation of water droplets will accumulate and form puddles under the day-night cycles," Bi Fang explained to the audience, sweating profusely. "Since the surroundings are all rocks... the water won''t seep into the soil... it will just gather up." After catching his breath, Bi Fang''s tone became more fluent. "However, I believe there should be an underground river. You see, there''s barely any grass in the vicinity, and there are quite a few footprints, indicating that a number of animals frequent this place. If it was just condensation from the diurnal cycle, it wouldn''t be enough to sustain so many animals drinking." Despite being drenched in sweat and somewhat breathless, this didn''t mean Bi Fang had reached his limit. Sweating and panting are just normal physiological reactions to cool down, which happens to even the fittest people. The key is whether the legs have turned to jelly yet. So, though he appeared very tired, after sitting for just a little while, Bi Fang felt rested enough. Reigniting the preserved kindling, he made a torch, and with Harley in tow, entered the pitch-black cave. The entrance, though not large, was two meters long and one meter wide, more than enough for a person to pass through comfortably. At this moment, Bi Fang wasn''t concerned about the cave''s scenery; water was the most beautiful thing to him. Advancing less than thirty meters, a slowly flowing river appeared before everyone. At the same time, the audience also saw the fleeing baboon take a hearty drink before noticing Bi Fang entering the cave. It immediately climbed up the rock wall and disappeared without a trace. Bi Fang, a primate like himself, didn''t consider the baboon as food. His sole purpose in capturing it was to find a water source. Now that he had achieved his goal. Upon spotting the water source, Harley couldn''t wait to rush forward and drink, but Bi Fang grabbed him with the rope he had used. Before, when carrying the cheetah, Bi Fang had tied it up with a rope for convenience, which he hadn''t yet loosened. "Don''t rush to drink when you find a water source," Bi Fang had often said. "In the wilderness, you must be cautious about whether the water is safe. Moving water and stagnant water are different, and even amongst moving waters, there are variations." "Even if it''s all moving water, a large river is often not as clean as a rushing stream." "Of course, that''s not why I stopped Harley. If the baboon can drink, then many animals can, and so can Harley. Clean or dirty is only a human concern. I stopped him to guard against potential dangers in the water." "In the wilderness, you must always be aware of your position, especially when close to moving water, as it might support large animals. Most of the time, there''s no need to worry since large fish rarely attack creatures on the shore, but here in Africa, we have to be wary of possible crocodiles in the water." "This is something Harley, who has never seen a crocodile hunt, definitely doesn''t know. After a few sightings, it will learn to be cautious. For now, it''s up to me to prevent accidents." Crocodiles are abundant in African rivers. [Fuck, there are crocodiles in the underground river too?] [Master Fang, you''re not joking with me, are you?] "It''s unlikely, but not impossible, because you don''t know if this underground river connects to a surface river, or if a crocodile accustomed to holding its breath accidentally wandered in." Bi Fang lifted the torch, illuminating the surface of the water, and surveyed the bank for signs of reptile tracks. "Normally, a crocodile submerges for about 10-15 minutes at a time, but it can stay underwater for up to 30 minutes to avoid danger." "In extreme cases, most crocodiles can dive for close to two hours, and the larger the crocodile, the longer it can hold its breath." "Unlike us, who like to take a deep breath and use stored air to extend breath-holding time, crocodiles disdain such inefficient methods. Before diving, crocodiles even expel air from their lungs, relying mainly on their strong ability to regulate heart rate for breath-holding." "While diving, a crocodile''s heart rate can drop to 2-3 beats per minute, drastically reducing their oxygen consumption." "Additionally, the duration of a crocodile''s dive is also greatly affected by the water temperature. There are recorded instances of crocodiles that stayed submerged for over eight hours in nearly frozen rivers and survived." "So, it''s possible for some surface river crocodiles to enter underground rivers." "However, there are no traces nearby, so it should be safe." After checking around the bank, Bi Fang found no signs of crocodiles and allowed Harley to drink. Free from restraint at last, the thirsty Harley eagerly drank from the river. Bi Fang filled his water bottle too, and after Harley had quenched its thirst, went outside to boil the water. Afterwards, he wrapped the heated bottle in clothing and shook it vigorously to cool it down quickly. When it reached around sixty to seventy degrees, he couldn''t wait any longer and began to sip it, despite the heat. With fresh water rejuvenating his body, Bi Fang immediately felt refreshed and much better. He repeated this process until he had consumed two bottles of water, and only then did he feel fully satisfied. But now, with the water issue resolved, another problem arose. Hunger. Neither Bi Fang nor Harley had eaten since the day before. Looking around at the animal tracks nearby, Bi Fang cracked a smile, "Perhaps we could just wait for a rabbit to come to us." Chapter 865 861 Lévy Flight In front of the narrow cave entrance, Bi Fang identified the animal tracks coming and going. Some of these footprints had been there for quite some time. During the dry season, the surface of the African Savanna was hard and rarely retained footprints unless they were from a large reptile like the Komodo Dragon, whose sharp claws, under the weight of its massive body, would leave a line of small holes in the ground. Most of what the group saw at the entrance were left during the wet season. Inside the cave, however, there were fresher footprints, claw marks, and hoof prints. "No large predators." After observing for a while, Bi Fang confirmed this. He then checked the surrounding environment, confirmed that this underground river had only one entrance, and then concealed himself with Harley behind a pile of rocks, preparing to wait for their prey. Leaning against a rock, Bi Fang sat on the ground, sharpening his spear. "The quality of life for humans has significantly improved over the past few decades¡ªskyscrapers, bustling streets, beautiful nightscapes, these are no longer novelties." "The rapid development of technology has elevated our tastes in life, and things once considered luxuries are now easily attainable." "In terms of meals, we no longer just seek to satisfy hunger; we demand a higher quality of taste, we pursue ''gourmet food.''" "However, for the wild animals that also inhabit the Earth, filling their stomachs is still their primary concern." "Herbivores or omnivores are somewhat better off, with a relatively abundant food source, as long as they aren''t born in deserts or barren lands, there is always something they can eat." "The demands are higher for carnivores, which must hunt to obtain their food." "During hunting, predators need to match wits and strength with their prey, a test of both energy and physical strength, and even successful hunts do not guarantee long-term food storage, with the risk of being stolen." [Cheetah: Raises both hands in agreement] [Cheetah: That''s right] [Why tag Cheetah (Dog''s head)] [If there is discrimination, speak up, let''s all laugh together, haha] [Harley: What B-netizens] After sharpening his spear, Bi Fang carried it on his back and then looked for some strongly scented plants nearby to help camouflage his presence. Perhaps due to being close to a water source, the plants growing in the rock crevices were green, much more vibrant than the bright yellow dry grass seen earlier on the savanna. "One of our main missions on this trip to the African Savanna is to teach Harley how to hunt, so he won''t be clueless and meatless when he has to live alone on the savanna." "But different types of predators have different temperaments, tastes, and physical conditions, which naturally lead to different hunting styles; we have to demonstrate based on the animal''s characteristics." "For example, the hunting styles of lions, tigers, and wolves highlight the differences between felids and canids." "Lions and tigers have robust builds and are agile, the latter being more solitary; gray wolves are weaker and slower compared to lions and tigers, but their group living significantly enhances their hunting efficiency." "Canadian grey wolves, when hunting bison in the snow-covered wild, continuously employ encirclement and harassment tactics to throw the bison herd into chaos and attack individuals that get separated." "Cases like Gray Wolf''s, trying to sweep a sheep village single-handedly, are very rare." [This is a good example] [Old Fang is always good with examples] "Compared to wolves, as a felid, the tiger seems much more aloof, even among lions, which are popularly seen as group hunters, many males and a few females prefer to act alone." "Felids focus on ambush in hunting, emphasizing quick, fierce, and accurate. Even though the cheetah is the king of speed, outright chasing, which is costly, isn''t preferred; ambushing is the best choice." "That''s why our demonstration will focus on ambushing." "However, no matter the strategy, a prerequisite for any hunting action is first being able to find the prey; otherwise, even the most capable hunting skills are merely theoretical." "For wild animals, the most natural foraging strategies are actually just following Brownian motion and L¨¦vy flight." Brownian motion? L¨¦vy flight? As Bi Fang explained how to find prey, the sudden mention of a physics concept left many viewers puzzled. [What the heck is Brownian motion?] [Isn''t Brownian motion random? This doesn''t seem to fit with Master Fang''s usual tracking approach.] [So, can anyone tell me what L¨¦vy flight is?] [I''m not well-read, hurry up and tell me] "That''s correct, but finding tracks and figuring out directions is usually done by me¡ªa human." "For animals, mastering these concepts is really too demanding on their brains." "Most of the animals at the top of the food chain, such as lions, tigers, wolves, eagles, crocodiles, etc., primarily rely on vision to locate their prey." "Visual signals do not have a gradient difference; if you can''t see it, you can''t see it; no animal has X-ray vision." "Raptors like eagles have a broad visual field and don''t need to exert much effort in feeding, but terrestrial animals like lions and tigers must consider their foraging strategies." "Without knowing the exact location of the prey, Brownian motion is the most natural method." But before Bi Fang could finish explaining, the audience became even more confused. [I''m not sure about lions or tigers, but don''t wolves rely on smell? How did it switch to vision?] [My understanding is being greatly challenged] [Is the water in the underground river poisonous, and has Master Fang become confused?] [Are you deceiving me?] S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Suddenly, the screen was filled with doubts and questions. "Ah, actually, people know too little about the world of smells." Bi Fang scratched his head, as his audience lacked his keen sense of smell. The gap in perception made it seem like they were worlds apart. After much thought, he came up with an example he felt was appropriate. "Let''s put it this way, if there''s an alarm clock in a room on the second floor of a villa, and you''re sitting in the living room on the first floor, relying solely on your hearing, would you be able to accurately tell which room on the second floor the alarm is in?" "I think most people wouldn''t be able to, in the world of animals with a keen sense of smell, their sense of smell functions the same way our hearing is functioning right now, knowing the prey is on the second floor but not knowing in which room, plus the sense of smell is more ambiguous than hearing." "As long as you stay in one spot for a long time, you can create two potent sources of scent, which you can''t do in the world of sound." [A bit confused, but feels like I caught onto something (facepalm)] [Seems somewhat reasonable] [Not clear but impressive] "Everyone is probably familiar with Brownian motion, the perpetual irregular motion of particles suspended in a liquid or gas, a continuous random process." "In fact, Brownian motion might not seem like much, but its discovery was a major development in physics, which had a tremendous impact on human understanding of the universe." "Many creatures in nature unintentionally abide by this, animals executing Brownian motion, like coming to the second floor, randomly enter a room to search, and from a data perspective, this is still the most efficient method." "Its step length follows a normal distribution, just like random motion, both its step length and direction are discrete. Although Brownian motion and random motion are two different concepts, they each developed a different set of theories, but their mathematical essence is the same, regardless of which hunting strategy the predator uses, there''s essentially no difference in efficiency in finding prey." "But if predators really moved aimlessly like headless flies performing Brownian motion, could they really find prey effectively?" Bi Fang raised this question to the audience. And without needing an answer, he knew that the response was negative. "In mathematical terms, Brownian motion is just like the free diffusion of molecules, with molecules at unit speed having an average displacement of only the square root of t over time t." "If predators used this strategy to find prey, they might have to travel thousands of miles for success." "So there''s another mathematical concept before deciding whether the animal is on the first or second floor, which is L¨¦vy flight." "The discovery of L¨¦vy flight was made by French mathematician Benoit Mandelbrot''s mentor, Paul Pierre L¨¦vy, who first identified many random motions in life as L¨¦vy flights, including a small portion of Brownian motion." "This is a more complex concept, I won''t explain much, but everyone is familiar with one example, the flight path of flies, which actually applies L¨¦vy flight, making their motion unpredictable and helping flies evade predators and humans trying to swat their tiny heads." "L¨¦vy flight is a fractal, meaning no matter how much you magnify it, the pattern looks similar to the original." "More importantly, L¨¦vy flight is a form of random walk, meaning its path cannot be accurately predicted, just like the elusive steps of a fly." "Brownian motion has a characteristic, which is that each step''s length is concentrated in one area, plotted on a graph it forms a bell-shaped curve." "L¨¦vy flight is not like that, in a L¨¦vy flight graph, each step''s distance follows a power law." "That means, most of the steps during the motion are short, but a few are very long." [I''m not good at math, so if you say so, you''re probably right] [It''s like listening to a heavenly script again] "Damn, can''t one survive in the wilderness without knowledge of physics and math?" Most of the audience in the livestream had already been bewildered by this point. "The different properties of step lengths in L¨¦vy flight and Brownian motion directly lead to L¨¦vy flight being more efficient than Brownian motion." "In the case of taking the same number of steps or covering the same distance, displacement in L¨¦vy flight is much greater than in Brownian motion, allowing exploration of a larger space." "This is crucial for organisms that need to forage in unknown territories." "For example, marine predators such as sharks employ Brownian motion when they know there is food nearby, as Brownian motion helps ''clean up the plate''¡ªfinding and clearing hidden food in a small area." "However, when food is scarce and new territories need to be explored, marine predators abandon Brownian motion and instead adopt a L¨¦vy flight strategy." "If only you had explained it earlier, it''s all about trying your luck." "Summary: It''s all about taking chances." "I would rank Master Fang''s room alongside Schr?dinger''s cat!" "Black Buckwheat Tea gifted to the host ¨C a yacht*1¡ªthough I don''t understand, big props to Master Fang for his professionalism." Behind a rock, Bi Fang and a resting Harley scanned their surroundings, wanting to know if any prey was approaching. They continued chatting with the audience. "In 2008, a research team from Central Country and Ugly Country published a study on Nature: they equipped 55 different marine predators from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, including silk sharks, swordfish, blue marlin, yellowfin tuna, sea turtles, and penguins, with trackers and observed their movement patterns over 5700 days." "After analyzing 12 million movements, they found that most marine predators showed a preference for L¨¦vy-like movement when food was scarce." "Interestingly, the distribution of prey like krill also followed the characteristics of L¨¦vy flights." "Not only that, soil amoebas, plankton, termites, bumble bees, large land herbivores, birds, primates, and indigenous people also showed similar patterns in their foraging routes." "L¨¦vy flight seems to be a common rule for organisms to survive in environments with scarce resources." "For animals wandering the Earth, finding their next meal relies not just on luck but also on advanced mathematics." "With almost no knowledge about the distribution of prey, the efficiency of L¨¦vy flights far surpasses that of Brownian motion, which could be why they shift to L¨¦vy flight mode when trying their luck." "Therefore, biologists later proposed the L¨¦vy flight foraging hypothesis to summarize the animals'' flamboyant movements when left to fate." "However, just because wildlife relies on fate doesn''t mean Harley has to follow suit. We can help it realize that some places are more likely to encounter prey, and simply performing Brownian motion in a few fixed locations can aid its survival on the savanna." "Referee, I''m calling a foul for cheating on the other side!" "Your complaint is invalid!" "Damn awesome, you''re the first host I''ve seen who seriously discusses mathematical knowledge outdoors." "Knowing your math and science well, you wouldn''t fear walking anywhere in the world." "You think math and science can''t help you survive in the wilderness, but in reality, you simply don''t know enough and haven''t learned it thoroughly (joking)." After sitting behind the rock with Harley for half the day, finally, around noon, Bi Fang encountered his first real prey on the savanna. An ostrich! Chapter 866 862: Caught the Ostrichs Son Having quenched its thirst, the feeling of hunger surpassed the need for water and became the most pressing demand for the body. The sturdy ostrich jumped across the rocks, constantly moving toward the entrance of the underground river, its black feathers vibrating with each move. Observing the familiar route of the ostrich, it was clear this was not its first visit. Harley, who had been hungry for over a day, was eager to leap into action, its genes instilling a natural instinct for hunting. As it shuffled its paws and its shoulder muscles rippled like flowing water, Bi Fang restrained the restless cheetah and shook his head while whispering to the audience, "Don''t ambush an animal when it''s about to drink; it''s not a good opportunity." "Thirst can weaken an animal''s nerves, but once it knows it''s about to drink, its brain briefly becomes excited, and it stays highly alert to its surroundings. Attacking then would likely result in failure as it''s constantly vigilant." "Look at the ostrich''s head; it''s constantly looking around, observing its environment." Bi Fang held Harley''s head with one hand, while his other hand reached out from between the rocks, pointing towards the ostrich. The drone followed his pointing finger, and the audience could indeed see that as the ostrich approached the hole, it slowed down considerably and looked around more frequently, clearly on high alert. "An ostrich''s eyes are larger than its brain, possessing the largest eyeballs among terrestrial creatures. While it might seem unrelated, this possibly gives the ostrich excellent vision, allowing it to see clearly up to 3-5 kilometers away, so one must be cautious." "We''ll wait for it to finish drinking and come out; that''s our best chance. Animals tend to relax after drinking, their nerves become more lax, making it an ideal moment to catch them off guard." "Of course, we could also trap it inside the cave, follow it in and grab it, but it''s too dark inside, and we haven''t thoroughly explored whether there are other exits or potential dangers, so it''s best not to risk it and just wait here for it to come out." [Ostrich: I''m screwed!] [Drink up the last meal beautifully] [Drink, drink fiercely] Thus, Bi Fang and Harley, faced with the ostrich so close at hand, chose to hold back. Watching the massive ostrich slowly enter the cave. As the prey disappeared from sight, Cheetah Harley grew impatient, grabbing Bi Fang''s sleeve with its paw and gently biting. Bi Fang pulled his hand back, ignoring it. He was sure that if he had let Harley go, given its limited skills from growing up in a conservation center, it would likely have returned empty-handed. "Cheetahs are carnivorous animals that primarily hunt medium-sized ungulates, including Thomson''s gazelles, Grant''s gazelles, and impalas, though ostriches are also frequently targeted by cheetahs." "Although cheetahs are fast, they can only run for short distances, so cheetahs try to stealthily and gradually approach their prey." "Closing in to a distance of 10 to 30 meters from the prey and then capturing it." "Because cheetah''s teeth are rather short, sometimes they cannot kill their food by biting; instead, they often clamp down on the prey''s neck with their jaws like pliers, suffocating it to death." "Often it takes five to ten minutes for larger prey to die." "We''ll move closer, so Harley can strike more easily, increasing its chances." [Ah, is Old Fang going to let Harley do it alone?] [Is it reliable?] [Just one man and a cheetah, but somehow we feel more confident in the cheetah hunting than the man (eating watermelon)] "Let''s try it." He had only been hungry for a day, so his physical status was still okay, therefore Bi Fang did not have a must-win mentality towards this ostrich, he decided to let Harley try it on its own to see what its hunting talents were like. For a cheetah, it was even easier. Wild animals do not have three meals a day, whether they get meat or not largely depends on luck. Most carnivorous animals can go a week without eating and be fine, only needing to hunt daily when they have young cubs, otherwise, they typically hunt once every two days. It had only been a little over a day, not even two days. Not catching anything wouldn''t be a problem. Harley''s diet, compared to its wild counterparts, was absolutely luxurious, with even a good amount of fat on its physique, making it feel quite chubby. Complaining now was merely because it had never experienced hard times before. After spending more time surviving in the wild, this fellow would understand what cruel nature was. Bi Fang moved forward with Harley for a few meters, arriving closer to the entrance of the cave. This position was not as good as the one before; they could not conceal the figures of a man and a cheetah, but for an ambush, the element of surprise was all that was needed, once the ostrich came out and changed direction, it could not directly see them. They waited for about a quarter of an hour. Bi Fang, with his head against the rock wall, grew alert, not because he heard something from the ground, but because he saw the ostrich''s head appear in his line of sight. Harley''s breathing grew deeper, his eyes firmly locked onto the ostrich ahead. Even Jerry poked his head out of the backpack, his small black eyes staring incessantly. "Chase, pounce, tear apart, remember these? Go!" Bi Fang whispered, not knowing if the cheetah understood human language, then abruptly slapped the cheetah''s buttocks. With this slap, the cheetah, which was already in a high position, leaped out, covering a distance of tens of meters with just two touches to the ground, arriving behind the ostrich. At that moment, the ostrich had not yet reacted until Harley landed on its back, and upon the tactile feedback, the whole bird shivered, emitting a sound filled with fear. The whole process was too brief, the audience in the live broadcast couldn''t see clearly, just feeling that as soon as Bi Fang''s words had fallen, a dark shadow shot out from beside him, and after landing made another jump, reaching the back of the ostrich, what exactly happened in between was unknown. Perhaps only after watching the slow motion of the live broadcast later could the audience see clearly. Only Bi Fang, with his amazing dynamic vision and superhuman nerve reflex speed, saw everything clearly, watching the cheetah pounce on the ostrich, he clenched his fists, excited inside. Well done, ostrich meat for dinner today! But just as Bi Fang thought this, he saw the startled ostrich leap into the air in his line of sight, and following it the cheetah that had landed behind it failed to secure a grip and, brushing against the ostrich''s feathers, tumbled to the ground, rolling several times due to its own momentum. By the time it got up again, the ostrich had already escaped more than ten meters away. The two distances combined exceeded thirty meters, even Bi Fang could do nothing at that moment. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, Harley, who had rolled on the ground several times, didn''t seem to think so, perhaps feeling embarrassed, he got up from the ground and continued the furious chase. The hunting instinct engraved in its genes drove Harley to chase the fleeing ostrich recklessly. Seeing this, Bi Fang was not annoyed, it was all within his expectations, he quickly grabbed his spear and followed. Soon, the audience before the live broadcast, through the drone flying in the sky, saw the unusual triple action scene of the cheetah chasing the ostrich, Bi Fang chasing the cheetah, if not counting the Gambian Pouched Rat in Bi Fang''s backpack. However, it didn''t take long for everyone to witness the terrifying speed between the ostrich and the cheetah. On the vast African savannah, the ostrich had the lead, quickly outdistancing everything, closely followed by the cheetah, which was less than ten meters behind, seemingly lagging by only half a body length. Compared to those two, Bi Fang, who was bringing up the rear, was clearly struggling and falling further behind. In fact, the speed he was sprinting at was perhaps less than half of that of the former two. In just a few moments, the taillights of the two creatures in front had nearly disappeared from view. Only the audience could keep up with the fierce competition between the two animals through the drones flying high above. Several minutes later, Bi Fang finally saw the cheetah sitting on the ground, panting. Clearly, this was a hunt that had yielded nothing. [Well, that failed] [Not surprised at all] [So are we going hungry today too?] [You had your chance and you blew it] "It doesn''t matter, I was mentally prepared for this, it was to be expected." Panting, Bi Fang stood watching the silhouette of the cheetah behind the bushes, laughing heartily, showing no anger or frustration at not capturing any prey. At his current level, even if he truly could not catch any game, by relying on plants and beetles he could still survive, although the quality of life would decrease significantly. Bi Fang didn''t mind that, so there wasn''t much of a survival crisis for him. After numerous adventures, many events still capable of bringing a sense of crisis to Bi Fang included encountering poachers, top predators, and rare natural disasters. Yet, food scarcity and water shortages, the most basic and common hardships, hardly bothered Bi Fang anymore. This was proven both in the Arctic and at Nemo Point. "This is the savannah, not every hunt yields something, but I believe Cheetah Harley is not at all foolish. It has the hunting talent, and with more attempts, it will eventually figure it out." After a while, Bi Fang moved forward to call Harley back, but his steps halted as his gaze passed the bushes. The previously disappointed audience also widened their eyes. It wasn''t that Harley had caught the ostrich. The ostrich hadn''t been caught, but Harley had caught its eggs! Several huge ostrich eggs lay in front of Harley, their clean, thick shells glistening milky white under the sun. Harley, panting heavily, turned to look at Bi Fang and then lowered its head to lick the ostrich eggs. Bi Fang raised an eyebrow and patted his grumbling stomach. "Alright, it seems Harley is still a decent hunter. "We''ve got eggs to eat." ... Crack. Dry branches were broken and tossed into the bonfire. Inside the burning fire, an ostrich egg had a small hole knocked into it before being thrown in, and was quickly charred by the fierce flames. The other two eggs lay intact on the sandy ground nearby. "Many animals eat or abandon their own offspring, perhaps the ostrich deliberately led Harley to its nest, using its young as a decoy to shake off predators. This is actually a successful reproductive strategy." In front of the fire pit, Bi Fang was explaining to the audience why Harley was able to find the ostrich eggs. "Infanticide is quite common among animals, and we often observe this phenomenon in familiars like hamsters, cats, rabbits, and fish." "From a biological perspective, the ultimate goal of life is survival and propagation." "We cannot live forever, but as long as we have children during our lifetime, we can pass on our unique genes." "On the African Savannah, when an outsider male lion drives out the old male lion, the first thing it does is kill all the cubs, forcing the lionesses to interrupt their nursing period, so the females can re-enter breeding status, allowing the new male lion to propagate his own offspring and pass on his genes." "Sometimes, in order to reproduce, a lion will also eat its own offspring, especially if the cubs are weak, handicapped, or sick, significantly increasing the chances of the lioness committing infanticide." "For the lioness, it''s better to eat an ineffective cub quickly and get on with creating more viable offspring." "On the other hand, in addition to issues with the cubs themselves, infanticide can also occur due to external factors, such as the young being contaminated with other smells." "Many zoo incidents arise when young animals are eaten after being contaminated with human scents." "Animals don''t recognize DNA; their sense of smell is very keen." "When they smell human odor on their young, they fail to recognize it as their own and eat them." This rule is incredibly cruel, but in the animal kingdom, there are no emotions, only considerations of reproductive efficiency. Thus, to a certain extent, infanticide is a successful reproductive strategy. "Lizards, birds, snakes, and fish will eat their own eggs due to various factors, with long-tailed south lizards being the most prominent." "When the long-tailed south lizard faces a crisis, it will immediately eat all its eggs." "Better to eat them yourself than have others do it. These eggs are ''meat'' from their own body, eating this ''meat'' can better prepare them for the next round of reproduction." "No matter the animal, cannibalism ultimately serves the same purpose ¡ª to better pass on one''s genes and continue the propagation of the species." "Abandoning their young works on the same principle; for animals, sacrificing their young in exchange for their own survival is a beneficial trade, just like otters holding their young up to predator''\\s in a bid for sympathy when facing danger." [I knew this, the first time I saw this I thought someone had made it up, but it turned out to be true!] [I was genuinely shaken by this] [Cats to the rescue!] "Of course, we can''t rule out that it was just by chance, that the ostrich, in its panic, led the cheetah to its own nest." Bi Fang poked the ostrich eggs in the flames with a stick, turning them over to better absorb the heat, speeding up the process. "The shells of ostrich eggs are very thick, so we need to roast them a bit longer, and it would be even better if we had soy sauce, just pouring some sauce over the roasted eggs would be delicious." After roasting them for around fifteen minutes and checking through the small holes he had made earlier, Bi Fang felt they were about ready. Chapter 867 863: King of Speed Bi Fang used two parallel tree sticks to completely remove the ostrich egg from the fire pit. The white eggshell was slightly blackened by the flames but looked as good as new after being rubbed with sand. He poured some cold water over it to cool it slightly, then used a rock to pry open the eggshell, peeling it away bit by bit with his fingers. "Birds and mammals have different short breeding seasons. Their egg-laying period extends almost from spring to autumn, so it''s not surprising to come across any type of egg during this period." "Like domestic poultry reared by humans, they can lay eggs all year round." "Don''t ostrich eggs explode when directly roasted in a fire?" "Why would they explode?" "After all, you can''t put eggs in a microwave; I''ve been exploded before. The whole microwave was covered in broken eggs, and then my mom scolded me fiercely. I remember it vividly." "Don''t worry, it''s not very likely." Bi Fang touched the sand with his fingers, having apparently been burned. "You can''t directly heat eggs in a microwave because it converts electricity into microwaves that heat the food from the inside out." "The heat generated by the egg, trapped by the sealed shell, builds up and can''t escape, leading to an explosion." "In contrast, cooking with fire uses heat conduction to heat food from the outside in, which greatly reduces the chance of an explosion. Even if it does explode, it''s more likely to crack rather than blow apart, so many people use ovens for cooking eggs, like salt-baked eggs." "Of course, I personally just throw the eggs directly into the fire pit for convenience, like baking sweet potatoes. For safety''s sake, don''t follow my example." After pouring some cold water, the temperature of the eggshell finally dropped a little. Following the crack made by the rock, steam rushed out, indicating the immense heat contained within. The ostrich shell was very thick and hot, making it tough for Bi Fang to peel. Nearby, Harley stood up, still pacing back and forth, licking his lips eagerly. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When the eggshell was completely peeled off, the delicate milky white albumen appeared before everyone, gently steaming in the air. "This is for you." Bi Fang cut two-thirds of it, then quickly cut it into small pieces to cool it down faster and placed it on a large eggshell, handing it to Harley. Harley, who hadn''t eaten for nearly two days, lowered his head to smell it, confirmed there was no odd smell, then joyfully started licking it up. Bi Fang forked a trembling piece of egg white with his knife and took a quick taste. "How is it, tasty?" "What does it taste like?" "I heard it doesn''t taste good? That the bigger the egg, the worse it tastes?" "Nonsense, I feel the bigger the egg, the tastier it is. Goose eggs taste much better than chicken eggs." "Ah, I find goose eggs taste really fishy and the texture is quite coarse." "I feel the texture of goose eggs is very delicate... The yolk isn''t choking at all, and it''s delicious dipped in soy sauce." "Why don''t you guys fight it out?" "The taste is not bad," said Bi Fang after seeing the comments, sharing his own experience. "In terms of taste, I think it''s much more delicate than chicken eggs. The yolk isn''t as dry, and it''s delicious. However, like the comments in the bullet chat mentioned, some people don''t find goose eggs tasty, while others do. I have a good impression of goose eggs. I''m not sure why. Maybe it varies from person to person?" "From a scientific standpoint, ostrich eggs are considered the peak of all eggs, known as the ''King of Eggs.'' On one hand, they are the largest eggs, and on the other hand, the protein, calcium, and iron content in ostrich eggs is higher than in other eggs. Nutritionists call the ostrich egg ''Soft Gold'' as a top choice for dietary supplements to enhance physique and boost immunity." After sharing a few words, Bi Fang and Harley became engrossed in devouring their meal. The food rapidly entered their stomachs, reacting fiercely with the long-awaited gastric acid. The intense hunger quickly faded from their minds, revitalizing their spirits, as if they were significantly relieved. One ostrich egg weighs about three kilograms. Although the shell is thick, in comparison to the total mass, it doesn''t account for much, one egg was enough for both Bi Fang and Harley for a meal. [Pity I didn''t get to eat the meat.] [With such a big ostrich, you could eat for days, right?] [Honestly, the part where it was rolling on the ground, kinda stupid (eating melon).] [Why is the cheetah faster, but still couldn''t catch up?] "Actually, the speed of a cheetah isn''t as fast as imagined. Many sources claim that a cheetah can reach speeds of 110 kilometers per hour, some even say 120 kilometers per hour, but this isn''t accurate." Bi Fang, chewing on a yolk, swallowed and continued. "This figure didn''t appear until 1957." "Back then, cheetahs were already dubbed ''the king of speed,'' a global consensus, but nobody had actually measured the precise speed of a cheetah''s run." "Later in 1957, a photographer named Kurt Servalin designed an experiment to test the speed of a cheetah." "He set an inverted bicycle on the ground, with its wheels connected to a long, sturdy fishing line, with a bag of meat securely tied to the end." "As someone spun the wheel, it would move the meat bag, prompting the cheetah to chase after it." [Okay, why do I get a donkey and carrot d¨¦j¨¤ vu (dog''s head)?] [This is too primitive, right?] [Can the results even be accurate?] [Feels like these things aren''t very accurate, after all, if the animal was hungry, its status definitely wouldn''t be online, and if it wasn''t hungry, why would it chase the meat bag at full speed?] [Damn, makes sense, then you can''t really measure it, can you?] "Then the experiment began, with the sound of the starting gun, people began to spin the wheel at full capacity and the cheetah started chasing the meat bag, meanwhile, the stopwatch began timing. " "After the tense experiment ended, it was calculated that the average speed of the cheetah reached 71 miles per hour, which is roughly equivalent to 110 kilometers per hour." "This experimental result was later published in the newspaper, and then the whole world came to know that the speed of a cheetah had reached 110 kilometers per hour." "Even during the dissemination process, some people began to say the cheetah''s top speed was 120 kilometers per hour, and that is the true story behind the rumored 120 kilometers per hour speed." Bi Fang didn''t finish his portion of the ostrich egg; feeling somewhat unsatisfied, he still saved some and slowly fed it to Jerry. Jerry took the egg white with both hands, stuffing his mouth full, continuously refusing. Beside them, Harley pushed two intact eggs towards the fire pit, trying to nudge them in with his paws, only to be stopped by a foot that stepped in. Eating uncontrollably is essentially a waste of food. Bi Fang wouldn''t do that. He put the two eggs back into his backpack and continued explaining to the audience. "With the development of technology and deeper research into cheetahs, some scientists began to doubt whether the cheetah''s speed was as high as legend claimed." "Furthermore, the tools used in the 1957 experiments were relatively simple¡ªwheels, stopwatches, starter guns, etc.¡ªwhich could introduce significant errors, so scientists planned to use more scientific and accurate methods to measure the speed of cheetahs." "By the 21st century, researchers from the Central Country equipped 367 cheetahs with the most advanced GPS tracking systems." "After hundreds of tests on cheetah hunting actions, it was discovered that the highest speed cheetahs could reach was only 93 kilometers per hour¡ªfar less than the previously claimed 110 kilometers or 120 kilometers per hour." "It''s important to note that this is the highest value, concluded from close to four hundred cheetahs running thousands of times, and not an average or median value." "Moreover, the speed of ostriches also exceeded seventy, so the gap between the two isn''t too wide. Add to that the difference in stamina; just a few sharp turns by the ostrich, and the cheetah would no longer be able to keep up." "That''s why I always stress the necessity of ambush, cheetahs are fast, top predators in nature, but other animals aren''t too shabby either; all are top-tier, and a slight mistake can lead to failure." "After all, the entire natural world co-evolves, both sides'' speeds are like an arms race, essentially increasing in sync." "Co-evolution: In a natural habitat, two or more species, due to close ecological ties, have interdependent evolutionary trajectories. When one species evolves, the selection pressures between species change, and other species will evolve to adapt, leading to a high degree of adaptation among species." "This is what the netizen mentioned, this is co-evolution. There''s a famous Red Queen Hypothesis about this, proposed by an evolutionary biologist from the University of Chicago in 1973." "It believes in co-evolution between different species." "For instance, if cheetahs undergo genetic mutations that increase their running speed, the running speed of the antelopes they hunt will also increase." "Because antelopes that run slower due to genetic reasons will be caught by cheetahs, their genes won''t pass on to the next generation, meaning that slow-running genes will be eliminated by natural selection, leading to antelopes getting faster." "Likewise, after the speed of antelopes increases, slower cheetahs will find it harder to hunt and are more likely to starve, meaning the evolution of antelopes will also select the genes of cheetahs, making the cheetahs run faster and faster." "Wow, so that''s how it is." "I always thought cheetahs could run over a hundred." "Well, not necessarily, after all, we humans have Bolt, don''t we?" "Exactly," Bi Fang smiled, "just like the netizen said, when hungry they can''t run; when not hungry, they don''t want to run. Average speed can be known, but it''s hard to measure the maximum speed of animals since they don''t have sports competitions like humans." "So, there might actually be cheetahs capable of running a hundred kilometers per hour." "However, despite this, cheetahs still remain the fastest feline and the fastest animal on land." "The reason cheetahs can run so fast is related to their streamlined bodies, long tails, powerful hearts and lungs, and lightweight skeletons." "Come listen to Harley''s heartbeat." Bi Fang called over the drone, and the drone immediately flew to his side, also approaching Harley. Harley, curious about the big black bird-like object, reached out to swat it down, but Bi Fang held him back. In his immobilized state, the audience could hear his strong and potent heartbeat. "Pay attention to the cheetah''s exhaling and inhaling, and also note its heartbeat." "Umm, what''s up?" "I couldn''t make out anything." "Someone with knowledge, please explain." "If you put it that way, I can''t keep quiet. It''s actually very simple, just listen carefully. Did you get it?" "Are you kidding me?" "Drag him out, kill him by sunlight!" "Ha ha ha, my hint was already quite obvious. Listen, when a cheetah inhales, its heartbeat speeds up, but when it exhales, its heartbeat slows down again." "If it were humans, this would be called respiratory sinus arrhythmia, a minor heart rhythm disorder, but it''s perfectly normal for cheetahs." "This is because a cheetah''s body needs to adapt to fast sprinting, requiring a lot of energy to accelerate, the heartbeat speeds up during inhalation to help provide oxygen to the muscles for high energy, and it slows down during exhalation to allow carbon dioxide to be expelled at a normal rate." "Awesome!" "Done, why do I feel like I have the same problem?" "Watching the live stream is getting to me (heartbroken)." "What happens with arrhythmia?" "Don''t worry, it won''t really affect you; sinus arrhythmia is just a clinical sign, normal people have it too, especially when they''re tired, drinking alcohol, having coffee, or unable to sleep. Just rest more, and it''ll be fine." "Thanks, Dr. Bi." "After hearing Dr. Bi''s words, my legs aren''t sore, my back doesn''t hurt, and I can go up eight floors in one go." "You really have a way with rhymes." "skrskr." After a simple lunch, Bi Fang had replenished his water supply and continued his journey with Harley. As they moved further north, the vegetation on the surface of the earth gradually became sparser, and in many areas, the hard ground had turned into sand. "I don''t know how many days we have until the wet season starts, but it should be in these next few days." Looking around at the dry land, Bi Fang felt like all the moisture in his body was being sucked away by the ground beneath his feet. It wasn''t even that hot, yet he had such an illusion. At the same time, a small plant on the ground caught his attention. "Yesterday I showed how to track animals to find water sources. Actually, normally speaking, many plants'' roots and stems can also meet our needs. Look at this." Bi Fang crouched down and lifted a plant that looked like tree roots. It resembled a root system and lacked much branching, and its height was questionable if it even reached ten centimeters. It was truly the epitome of inconspicuousness; a normal person wouldn''t give it a second glance. But Bi Fang recognized it immediately. Meanwhile, Harley took this opportunity to lie down on the ground for a rest. "What''s this?" "Can hydrate, cactus (confident)." "Hey, you actually guessed right. This is a cactus." Bi Fang pulled out a dagger and plunged it into the soil, prying up the hard dirt pit, then continued digging. "This is a type of cactus called Audia, not a traditional cactus in the usual sense, but its roots are very bulky. In times of great thirst, many natives in Africa dig up this plant to quench their thirst." "But it''s quite hard to find, as you can tell by its appearance which is unremarkable and looks like normal tree roots." Chapter 868 864: Parasites of the Myrrh Tree Chunks of earth were thrown out, falling to the ground, the dry soil rustling and scattering countless fine grains into the air, raising a thin layer of yellow fog. Soon, a large pit had been dug out, and only then did everyone see that beneath the unassuming small roots lay an extremely huge rhizome, flat and oval, resembling an oversized curling stone. Once the top layer of hard soil had been removed, the layer below became looser. Bi Fang inserted his dagger into the ground and started digging by hand, eventually lifting the entire rhizome out of the ground. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Harley, who had been watching, got up and approached, sniffed it, but did not smell what he was expecting. He made a few noises and then lay back down on the ground, resting his head to the side to watch what Bi Fang was doing. "This thing is quite heavy, takes quite a bit of effort." Bi Fang lifted the large rhizome out, placed it on the ground, patted the dust off his hands, then drew his dagger and started carving into the rhizome, the clash of steel on wood producing a dull thudding sound. Against this dull backdrop, Bi Fang looked up at the drone and said, "I don''t know if you''ve heard of a place called Namibia." "I''ve watched ''The Legend of Namibia,'' and it left a deep impression on me with its polar bears (eating watermelon)." "The Golden Compass, right?" "Is there a chance that the movie is called ''The Legend of Narnia''?" "It''s pretty normal to remember wrong, human memory isn''t exactly reliable (though embarrassingly confident)." "As far as I recall, the fame of Namibia should be on par with Kenya, belonging to the T1 tier, just like Egypt is well-known." "Previously, from Nemo Point to South America, then by plane to the Sahara Desert, I''ve looked down through the plane''s window at Namibia, another stunningly beautiful place." "The desert there is not yellow, but a reddish color." The beauty of Namibia can be described as "breathtaking." The Namib Desert, one of the world''s oldest and most beautiful deserts, Due to its iron-rich sand, upon oxidation, the desert''s surface turns red. "This oxidized red," with changing angles of sunlight throughout the day, the most magical being at sunrise or sunset, when the slanting sun casts one side in vivid red and the other in deep ink. The striking contrast of the two colors provides a powerful emotional impact, stirring both the heart and soul, with each curved shape and shadow flickering with captivating arcs of light. Bi Fang happened to fly over at sunset, sitting by the window, gazing down at the narrow ridges of the dunes, carving out divisions of light and dark¡ªwith one side vibrant red and the other calm black. The red desert, sculpted by eighty million years of time, shimmered under the sunlight, casting enchanting colors and delicate lines. Bi Fang always regretted that his route through the Sahara didn''t include Namibia, but of course, that wasn''t his main point now. "In the Mariental Region of Namibia, there lives a primitive tribe called the Bushmen People, who have been inhabiting that land for nearly twenty thousand years." Twenty thousand years! The audience was stunned upon hearing this figure. "Is that a mistake, twenty thousand years?" "Did Master Fang misspeak? Are you sure it''s not two thousand years?" "There''s no way I could misspeak about this; because of this, the Bushmen People are considered the oldest indigenous residents." "Bushmen are also known as ''San People.'' The Central Nation Colonizers named them Bushman, which is the transliteration of the term in our language, originally meaning those who live in shrubbery. It described the status of the Bushmen''s lives, and now it has also become a universal term to address them." "As a unique group, they are the most primitive ethnic group in Africa. Most of them live in Namibia, with a minority in Botswana and Zimbabwe." "Until over 20 years ago, the Bushmen were still living in prehistoric times, almost unknown to the rest of the world." "The first knowledge about the Bushmen came from an article published in a magazine from the Ugly Country during the 1990s; a young female scholar came to a Bushmen tribe in Botswana and stayed for three months." "She indicated in an academic paper that the Bushmen were living under harsh conditions and were at risk of extinction, urging the political circles of the Ugly Country to push the Botswana government to return the jungles they occupied back to the Bushmen." "I guess the old uglies refused (Dog''s head)" "There''s no oil underground, so how could they possibly care whether you survive or not?" Seeing the comments, Bi Fang shook his head, "No, the old uglies really got involved; they directly wrote a lengthy advisory paper." "Then as soon as the Botswana heard from the old uglies, they quickly made a plan to give the jungle back to the Bushmen." "But not long after the Bushmen joyfully moved back to their original territories, geologists announced the discovery of world-shocking diamond deposits in the jungle they had just left." "!!!" "So, it wasn''t oil, it was diamonds!" "Damn, that''s too cunning." "As to whether there was any foul play, I''m not sure, but one of the most discussed topics among travelers across the African continent is the Bushmen." Under the cutting of the dagger, a large amount of debris fell from the roots, revealing the white root tissue, and everyone also saw the milky sap, clearly indicating ample water content. "They live in the most barren and desolate desert regions, as the earliest rulers of this land, living like in the Old Stone Age, surviving on hunting, gathering plant roots, stems, and wild fruits, without fixed abodes, often moving their dwellings according to the locations where they can hunt." "To get the water and food necessary for survival, Bushmen often stay in tribes during the summer, and in the winter, when water and food are insufficient, they start moving in different directions with their families in search of food and water sources. However, some Bushmen are forced to gather around the only water source during the driest season of winter." "Since they live by hunting, naturally, they have capabilities unknown to other ethnic groups, and similarly have many unique survival skills." "Like the Sherpa people and the Bajau people, Bushmen are highly tolerant of thirst, to a peculiar extent, and they are familiar with which plants are edible and can replenish water." "Just as I am digging this root now, it is indeed taken from their survival skills; otherwise, nobody could know from a small root sticking out of the ground that there is a water-filled plant below." "Bushmen cut the roots into tiny pieces and then squeeze the juice out to drink." "What you have to do, is use a stone or dagger to scrape down shavings, then grab a handful, squeeze hard, and hold your thumb toward your mouth, waiting." "Human walking encyclopedia, terrifyingly knowledgeable!" "I often wonder if a person''s brain capacity is really limited." "This kind of erudition really fascinates people." "I''ve always felt that knowledgeable boys are particularly attractive (shout)." Bi Fang wiped his hands, held the freshly cut debris in his hands, looked up, squeezed it, and a thin stream of water flowed down his thumb right into his mouth. Cool and refreshing, it had a revitalizing feel. "Tastes much better than the groundwater just now, with a unique fresh fragrance." "Actually, this type of water-rich plant is known not only to humans but also to some animals. So after digging it up, Bushmen will look for acacia trees nearby, pull out their branches, cover near the roots, then bury the roots back, and after some time, when they have grown, they reuse them." Bi Fang looked around nearby and successfully found an Acacia Tree. Using a dagger, he cut off a branch and dragged it to the rootstock, carefully burying it on top of the rootstock. "Acacia Trees are very common in Africa. They actually belong to the legume family. We also have some of their relatives in our country, like the Albizia Trees commonly found in parks, and we often see them in botanical gardens and as street trees." "Additionally, Mimosa pudica and wild mountain locust trees are also members of the Acacia family." "In the southern part of our country, there are also shrubby types of Acacia, and locals even eat their tender leaves as wild vegetables. Remember the stinky vegetables I ate in the Banna Rainforest? Those were from the Acacia family." "Of course, they are completely different in Africa." "In order to survive in the harsh local environment. As food for herbivorous animals, for millions of years, they have been coexisting with herbivorous animals through constant struggle." "As the most common type of tree on the sparse grasslands, Acacia Trees'' method is to grow thorns, and various Acacias have various kinds of thorns." "Look at this one, the leaves have hardly grown, but the thorns are already quite long. The thorns can first protect the young leaves from some animals climbing the trees, and their trunks also grow many thorns, preventing animals from climbing up." "Some Acacias, although they do not have such long thorns, have hook-shaped thorns that are also very formidable." Bi Fang inserted the branch into the ground, then adjusted its direction, and finally wrapped the entire rootstock. "Something like this." Having done all this, Bi Fang clapped his hands, "In fact, we can''t possibly come back here, so let''s just leave all these things here. Maybe someday tourists who come here will see it and make use of it." [Animals: You''re amazing, you''re above it all] [Where did my big piece of rootstock go, where did it go?] [Old Fang: My treasure? If you want it, I can give you all of it. Go find it, everything in this world is there!] [From then on, the Era of the Grasslands began!] Bi Fang continued walking north through the grasslands with Harley. As their walk deepened, the entire grassland seemed to become increasingly lively. Various kinds of hunters appeared, from insects to venomous snakes, from mammals to birds, an eye-opening experience. Stones slipped. A Puffy Hissing Krait, startled by the rustling from the tree stick, swiftly fled, causing Harley nearby to jump, almost leaping mid-air; however, Bi Fang just glanced at it without much concern, having spotted the venomous snake hidden in the pile of rocks three meters away, and had intentionally poked the stones to scare it away. At this moment, Bi Fang''s attention was more on the large tree in front of him, looking quite surprised. "Myrrh Tree." [Myrrh Tree? What''s that?] [I guess, definitely poisonous, then the poison must be particularly strong, with no cure, so it''s called a Myrrh Tree!] [Dang, feels like the truth] "No, it''s not like that. The Myrrh Tree itself is not poisonous; on the contrary, its tree resin has medicinal properties, especially great for relieving toothache." While explaining, Bi Fang walked around the large tree, looking down at the ground, occasionally squatting to dig in the soil, seemingly searching for something. "The Myrrh Tree, which includes the word ''medicine'' in its name, has its English name Myrrh derived from the Hebrew word Murr, meaning ''bitter,'' and it holds substantial significance in religious history." "In the Bible, when the Three Wise Men from the East found the six-month-old Jesus under the guidance of a comet, the three gifts they gave Jesus were gold, frankincense, and myrrh." [So Old Fang has a toothache? Or is he preparing a backup?] [Then what are you looking for?] "Not really." Bi Fang shook his head again, as he had no real need for this major herb. "Myrrh trees are not poisonous, but there is a type of beetle that likes to parasitize within them, a beetle that is of great use to us... Found it, here!" Using his terrifying experience as a Wilderness Traveler, Bi Fang quickly discovered what he was looking for underground near a myrrh tree¡ªthe cocoon of a Chrysomelidae beetle! [What''s this?] [Damn, that''s a big bug] "A poisonous insect." Bi Fang''s explanation was concise. In countries throughout Africa, Bushmen hunters usually make use of lightweight bows and arrows for their hunting activities, which means the bows and arrows are often not deadly enough to fatally wound larger prey. However, the Creator provided another lethal weapon for the Bushmen in the vast jungles¡ªarrow poison. The most commonly used poisonous bow and arrow by the Bushmen hunters originated from a unique insect¡ªthe Chrysomelidae beetle. And Chrysomelidae beetles typically parasitize the inside of the "Myrrh tree"! That''s why Bi Fang was surprised and delighted when he saw it. "These cocoons are usually hidden about 0.5 to 1 meter underground, and each cocoon generally contains one beetle larva in a bound state before pupation, these larvae can remain dormant inside the cocoon for years." "After obtaining the larvae or pupae of the Chrysomelidae beetle, Bushmen hunters can quickly locate the lymphatics in their blood system, and then squeeze the blood lymph onto the arrowhead by hand." "Sometimes, to poison a single arrow, the blood lymph of up to 10 larvae is needed." Bi Fang raised the cocoon in his hand, which was quite massive, almost occupying half of his palm, and through the sunlight, the plump insect inside could be clearly seen. "It is worth noting that the hunters only apply this poisonous liquid to the front part of the arrow shaft and not the arrow tip, with the purpose of avoiding accidental contact with the hunter''s own body and causing poisoning." Bi Fang placed the cocoon in a small compartment inside his backpack to prevent Jerry from sneakily doing mischief, meanwhile pushing away Harley who had come close out of curiosity once again. Harley, this guy, had never roamed the plains for so long and was therefore very curious about everything. "The toxic substance contained in the Chrysomelidae beetle''s blood lymph is a venomous protein, and as everyone knows, the toxicity of proteins usually diminishes over time, but the Chrysomelidae beetle''s poison is different, usually lasting for a year." "There are three main types of Chrysomelidae beetles that Bushmen hunters use to make arrow poison." "Interestingly, these three kinds of Chrysomelidae beetles are all parasitized by the Walking Leaf Beetle, hey, speak of the devil, look at this." Bi Fang found another one underground and lifting it up, pointing to a specific part of the insect within the cocoon, one could see another much smaller white insect clinging onto it. "When the former encases itself in a cocoon, the larvae of the latter take the opportunity to attach themselves to the larvae of the former and then remain dormant inside the cocoon, feeding on the host''s blood and the soft parts of its body, eventually killing the host." "But this is not a bad thing for us. The larvae of the Walking Leaf Beetle are also poisonous, even more potent than the larvae of the Chrysomelidae beetle, and many Bushmen hunters prefer to use the larvae of the Walking Leaf Beetle to poison their arrows." "Even if the targeted animal is as large as a giraffe, it usually cannot withstand the toxin, though the injured animal can often manage to flee 60 to 100 kilometers before finally slowing down and falling dead, which greatly tests the hunters'' tracking skills." Chapter 869 865 Occupying a Spot, Will Edit in the Early Morning "No ideas, can''t code, and I don''t have a leave slip either, so I''m posting a placeholder chapter to maintain perfect attendance. I''ll revise it before tomorrow; just refresh this chapter then, no need to pay extra. Chunks of earth were tossed aside and fell to the ground, the dry soil shaking off countless fine particles into the air, creating a thin haze of yellow dust. Soon, a large pit had been excavated, and it was only then that everyone saw a surprisingly huge root stalk, flat and oval, resembling an oversized curling stone, hidden beneath the unremarkable small roots. Once the layer of hard soil had been dug through, the soil underneath became loose. Seeing this, Bi Fang plunged his dagger into the ground and started digging by hand until he finally pulled the entire root stalk out of the ground. Harley, who had been watching, got up and walked over, sniffed it without detecting the scent he was expecting, called out a few times, then continued to lie down on the ground, tilting his head to watch what Bi Fang was going to do next. "This thing is pretty heavy; it takes a bit of effort." Bi Fang lifted the large root stalk out, placed it on the ground, dusted his hands off, then pulled out his dagger and began to carve into the root stalk, the hard steel striking against the wood, emitting dull thuds. Amidst the dull background noise, Bi Fang looked up at the drone and said, "I don''t know if you''ve heard of a place called Namibia." "I''ve seen the legend of Namibia, the polar bear in it left a deep impression on me (eating watermelon)" "The Golden Compass, right?" "Isn''t there a possibility that the movie is called ''The Legend of Narnia''?" "It''s pretty normal to remember wrong; human memory isn''t exactly reliable (pouting with confidence)" "In my memory, the fame of Namibia should be on par with Kenya, part of the T1 tier, just like Egypt." "Previously, from Nemo Point to South America, and then on a plane to the Sahara Desert, I looked down through the airplane window and was amazed by Namibia''s stunning beauty." "The desert there is not yellow, but a reddish color." The beauty of Namibia can be described as "breathtaking." The Namib Desert, one of the oldest and most beautiful deserts in the world, Due to the iron-rich sand, which oxidizes, the surface of the desert turns red. "Iron oxide red" changes dramatically with the angle of sunlight throughout the day, Most magical are the mornings or evenings when the sun slants across, one side bright red and dripping, the other deep and ink-like. The two distinct colors have a shocking impact, stirring both heart and soul, each curved shape and shadow sparkling with captivating flare. Bi Fang flew over at dusk, sitting at the window, looking down on the narrow sand dune ridges casting shadows, half red half black, seductive in red and serene in black. The red desert, sculpted over eighty million years, glowed under the sunlight with captivating colors and gentle curves. Bi Fang always regretted that Namibia wasn''t part of his route through the Sahara; however, the main point he wanted to discuss wasn''t this. "In the Mariental Region of Namibia, there lives a primitive tribe called the Bushmen People, who have been living on that land for nearly twenty thousand years." Twenty thousand years! The audience was stunned to hear the number. "Is there a mistake, twenty thousand years?" "Did Master Fang misspeak? Are you sure it''s not two thousand years?" "There''s no way I misspoke about something like this; it''s precisely because of this that the Bushmen People are considered to be the oldest indigenous inhabitants." "The Bushmen People are also known as ''San People.'' The Central Nation Colonizers named them Bushman. Bushman is the Chinese transliteration from that, originally meaning people who live in the bushes. This describes the living conditions of the Bushmen People and has now also become a consensual name to address them." "As a distinctive group, they are the most primitive ethnicities in Africa. Most live in Namibia, and a smaller portion resides in Botswana and Zimbabwe." "Up until more than twenty years ago, the Bushmen People were still in the prehistoric era, almost unknown to anyone." "The first awareness of the Bushmen People came from an article published in a magazine of Ugly Country, probably in the 90s. A young female scholar came to live with a tribe of the Bushmen in Botswana for three months." "In an academic paper, she pointed out that the survival conditions of the Bushmen were dire, with a risk of extinction, and urged the political circles of Ugly Country to press the Botswana government to return the jungle they occupied back to the Bushmen." "I guess Old Ugly refused (Dog''s head)" "There''s no oil underground, so why would they care if you can survive or not?" Seeing the comments, Bi Fang shook his head, "No, Old Ugly actually got involved, he directly wrote a detailed advisory paper." "After which the government of Botswana heard what Old Ugly had said, they immediately made a plan to return the jungle to the Bushmen People." "But not long after the Bushmen joyfully relocated to their original territory, geologists declared that they had found world-shocking diamond mines in the jungle they had just vacated." "!!!" "So it wasn''t oil, but diamonds!" "My goodness, that move was too damaging." "I can''t clarify if there was any foul play involved, but one of the most concerning topics among travelers in Africa is definitely about the Bushmen People." While cutting with a dagger, a lot of fragments fell from the rhizomes, exposing the white rhizome tissue, and at the same time, everyone also saw the milky sap oozing out, indicating it was full of moisture. "They live in the most barren and desolate desert areas, as the earliest overlords of this land. Like in the Old Stone Age, they subsisted by hunting and gathering the roots, stems, and wild fruits of plants, without fixed dwellings, often moving their residences according to where they could hunt game." "In order to obtain the water and food necessary for survival, the Bushmen often gather in tribes during the summer, and in the winter, when water and food can''t meet their needs, they start to migrate in different directions as families, searching for food and water sources everywhere. However, some Bushmen are forced to gather around the only water source during the driest season of winter." "Since they live by hunting, in terms of hunting, they naturally have skills that other ethnicities do not possess. Similarly, in terms of survival, they also have many unique techniques." "Like the Sherpa people and the Bajau people, the Bushmen themselves are very drought-resistant, to an almost peculiar extent, and they know exactly which plants are edible and can replenish moisture." "Like this rhizome I am digging up now, it actually comes from their survival skills; otherwise, no one could possibly know from a small root emerging from the ground that there is a moisture-replenishing plant below." "The Bushmen People would cut the rhizome into pieces and then squeeze out the juice to drink." "What you need to do is use a stone, or a dagger to scrape off shavings, then grab a handful, squeeze hard, hold your thumb towards your mouth and wait." "A walking human encyclopedia, terrifying indeed!" "I often wonder if a person''s brain capacity is really limited." [This sense of profound knowledge is truly fascinating] [I''ve always felt that knowledgeable boys are particularly charming (shouting)] Bi Fang wiped his hands and held the newly severed scraps in his palms. He tilted his head back, squeezing them lightly, allowing a thin stream of water to flow down his thumb and directly into his mouth. Cool and refreshing, it brought a sense of invigoration. "This tastes much better than the groundwater we just had, carrying a distinctive refreshing fragrance." "In fact, not only humans know about plants rich in water content; some animals are aware too. Therefore, after digging them out, the Bushmen find an Acacia Tree nearby, pull its branches out, and cover the dug-out roots. Afterwards, they rebury the roots and after some time, when they regrow, they reuse them." Bi Fang looked around and successfully found an Acacia Tree nearby. Using his dagger, he cut off some branches and dragged them to the roots, carefully burying them above the roots. "Acacias are very common in Africa; in fact, it belongs to the legume family. We have some of their relatives back home, like the Albizia Trees we often see in parks. We frequently encounter them in botanical gardens and along streets." "Furthermore, Mimosa pudica and wild mountain black locusts are also part of the Acacia family." "In the southern part of our country, there''s a bushy variety of Acacia plants. Locals also eat their young leaves as wild vegetables. Remember the smelly vegetable I ate in the Banna Rainforest? That was from the Acacia family too." "Of course, in Africa it''s completely different." "To survive in the harsh local environment. Acting as food for herbivores, over millions of years, they''ve coexisted amidst struggles with herbivores." "Being one of the most common trees in the savannah, the strategy of Acacia trees is to grow thorns, and different kinds of Acacias have various types of thorns." "Look at this one, the leaves are not fully grown yet, but the thorns are already quite long. The thorns protect the tender leaves first, preventing some animals from climbing the tree. Their trunks also grow many thorns, making it difficult for animals to climb." "There are also some Acacias without such long thorns, but they grow curved hook-like thorns which are also quite formidable." Bi Fang stuck the branches into the ground, then adjusted their direction, finally wrapping the whole rootstock. "This is roughly how it''s done." After completing all this, Bi Fang clapped his hands, "In fact, we can''t come back here, so let''s leave this here. Maybe someday tourists will see it and make use of it." [Animal: You''re amazing, you''re so lofty] [What about my huge chunk of rootstock, where did it go?] [Old Fang: My treasure, huh? If you want it, I can give you everything. Go find it, everything in this world is there!] [From now on, the era of the great plains begins!] Bi Fang continued walking north across the plains with Harley. As they delved deeper into their walk, the entire plains seemed to become livelier. Various hunters appeared, from insects to venomous snakes, from wild beasts to birds, providing an eye-opening experience. Stones slid down. A puffy hissing krait rapidly fled from the rustling of leaves caused by the stick, startling Harley nearby, who almost jumped into mid-air; however, Bi Fang only glanced at it and didn''t pay much attention, as he had noticed the venomous snake hiding among the rocks three meters away and had deliberately poked the stones to scare it off. At that moment, Bi Fang''s attention was more on the big tree in front of him, looking rather surprised. "Myrrh Tree." [Myrrh Tree? What''s that?] [I guess, it must be poisonous, with particularly strong venom, and no medicine available to treat it, that''s why it''s called a Myrrh Tree!] [Damn, feels like the truth] "No, it''s not like that, the Myrrh Tree itself is non-toxic; instead, its resin has medicinal properties, particularly good for alleviating toothache." As he explained, Bi Fang walked around the large tree, bending over to scan the ground, occasionally squatting down to dig in the soil, seemingly looking for something. "The word ''myrrh'' in Myrrh Tree, from its English name Myrrh, comes from the Hebrew word Murr, meaning ''bitter''. It has significant religious historical importance." "In the Bible, when the Three Wise Men from the East were guided by a comet and found the 6-month-old Jesus, they brought three gifts for Jesus: gold, frankincense, and myrrh." [So Old Fang has a toothache? Or is he just preparing in case?] [Then what are you looking for?] "Not really." Bi Fang shook his head again; he had no actual need for this particular tree. "The Myrrh Tree is non-toxic, but there''s a type of beetle that likes to live inside it, and these beetles are very useful to us... found it, right here!" With the horrifying experience of a Wilderness Traveler, Bi Fang quickly discovered what he was looking for near the Myrrh Tree underground ¡ª the cocoon of a Chrysomelidae beetle! [What is that?] [Holy shit, that''s a big bug] "A poisonous insect." Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang''s explanation was concise. Bushmen Hunters in various African countries usually use lightweight bows and arrows for hunting, meaning that if faced with larger prey, the arrows'' killing power is often not sufficient to fatally wound the prey. However, the creator endowed the Bushmen with another lethal weapon available in the vast jungles ¡ª arrow poisons. The most commonly used arrow poison by Bushmen Hunters comes from a unique insect ¡ª the Chrysomelidae beetle. And Chrysomelidae beetles usually parasitize inside the Myrrh Tree! That''s why Bi Fang felt surprise and excitement upon seeing it. "These cocoons are generally hidden about 0.5 to 1 meter deep underground. Each cocoon usually contains one beetle larva in a bound state prior to pupation, and these larvae can remain dormant inside the cocoon for several years." "Upon obtaining the larvae or pupae of the Chrysomelidae beetle, Bushmen Hunters can quickly locate the lymph locations in their blood systems, then squeeze the blood and lymph onto the arrowheads." "Sometimes, to poison an arrowhead, blood and lymph from up to 10 larvae are needed." Bi Fang raised the cocoon in his hand; this cocoon was very large, almost covering half of his palm. Through the sunlight, the corpulent insect inside was clearly visible. "Importantly, hunters only apply this toxic liquid on the front part of the arrow shaft, not the arrow tip, to prevent the tip from accidentally scratching their own bodies and causing poisoning." Chapter 870 866: Reserve a Spot ``` I didn''t get it right today either, so I''ll just reserve a spot first to maintain my perfect attendance. Before 4 a.m., I''ll have it fixed, just refresh this chapter and there will be no extra charge. Poison for arrows, as the name implies, is the poison hunters apply to their arrows to hunt their prey. In different regions of the world, hunters use various types of arrow poisons. Some extract it from plants, others obtain it from venomous snakes. The Indian hunters in America''s tropical rainforests like to source their poison from the brightly colored, highly toxic poison dart frog, making their trademark blow darts. The Bushman hunters of the Kalahari Desert in Africa do the same, with their most common arrow poison coming from the Chrysomelidae beetle. Bi Fang chatted with viewers while he was digging. "Actually, some ecologists believe that the hunting method of the Bushman hunters is very time-consuming and inefficient, because collecting the poisonous insects themselves entails a considerable cost in time and energy, plus there''s the need to make sure they can actually find them." "If they were able to use more powerful bows with more lethal arrows, their efficiency could be greatly increased." "As to why the Bushman hunters don''t do this, there are various explanations. One is that hunting in this way is not solely about meeting survival needs but also relates to cultural customs they revere, as well as tribal game rules and social status they must adhere to during the hunts." "Also, this toxic substance that comes from beetle larvae or pupae¡ªif injected into the muscles of mammals, it doesn''t produce toxic side effects; it''s only when it enters the animal''s bloodstream that the poison takes effect." "So during an attack, you have to draw blood; otherwise, it''s ineffective." By this time, these plump insects were being dug up one by one and placed beside him in a stone hollow. Bi Fang took a flat stone and tied it to a tree stick with some vine to serve as a makeshift shovel. He dug around under the myrrh tree, swiftly unearthing one parasite after another from the soil, placing them into a hollow in a rock. The stone hollow had already accumulated quite a few¡ªa rough count revealed about seven or eight. Under the sunlight, the thin cocoon walls were translucent, clearly showing the white, meaty bugs inside. Seeing Bi Fang digging a hole, Harley, with nothing better to do, also jumped into the pit and started to dig, but this creature was more of a nuisance, and it wasn''t long before Bi Fang chased him away. After sitting on the ground for a while, the restless Harley began to circle the myrrh tree a few times and then started digging in reverse, shoveling the unearthed soil back onto the ground. Pushing the loose soil back was much easier than digging it out directly. If Bi Fang hadn''t noticed in time, much of his hard work would have been wasted. What was even more irritating was that a group of viewers, seemingly eager for a laugh, hadn''t warned him at all. He was utterly disheartened, and so he decided to punish Harley by reducing his share of the ostrich egg that evening. Poor Harley, chased away once again, lay on the ground with nothing to do, oblivious to the punishment awaiting him. Gradually, a circle of large pits began to appear around the not-so-tall myrrh tree. Bi Fang only stopped as the sunset approached, confirming there were no more beetles nearby. Bi Fang, somewhat strenuously, filled the holes with soil, trying to restore the area to its original appearance as much as possible. Finally, he took stock of his loot. He had dug up a total of thirteen beetles, two of which were parasitized, making them enhanced versions¡ªa bountiful harvest. Bi Fang held the bugs in his palm and placed them all into a compartment of his backpack. ``` "These bugs aren''t urgent for us to use," explained Master Fang. "The venom of the Chrysomelidae beetles, although it doesn''t lose its potency easily, could still be wasted if applied too early. Any knocks or scratches might cause the venom to leak away." "Moreover, even though this poison is potent, it doesn''t act very quickly. As I''ve mentioned before, an animal that has been shot can often run 60 to 100 kilometers with an injury before it finally slows down and falls dead. This means that we can''t rely on it to save our lives in an emergency. It can only be used for hunting, for pursuit." If you were depending on this venom to save your life during an attack by a ferocious beast, you''d have died countless times already. Animals aren''t perpetual motion machines; they can''t run that far without needing several hours. By the time the poison works and it''s time to save lives, the grass on their graves might already be long grown. "We can also collect some resin from the myrrh tree, just in case we need it." [Plucking a goose as it flies by, certainly.] [Truly amazing, making use of whatever you find with a hundred percent utilization rate.] [What does wilderness survival mean, eh! (tactically leaning back)] Master Fang then made a cut in the small tree and used some leaves to catch the slowly oozing sap. "In the past, the Three Wise Men from the East brought myrrh to Jesus because it could help heal wounds, symbolizing the suffering, sacrifice, and resurrection that Jesus was about to face." "Legend has it that myrrh, like ''the blood of the Virgin Mary,'' contains the power of regeneration and can purify a tainted body and soul; the ''Old Testament'' records that women used it to cleanse their bodies, especially to deal with reproductive system infections. Warriors carried myrrh into battle since it aided in healing wounds." "The Compendium of Materia Medica also states: Myrrh can activate blood circulation, reduce inflammation, and alleviate pain. It can be used for treating wounds and adjusting female physiological functions. This aligns with ancient Western practices." "Modern science has also confirmed that it does indeed have such effects, able to cure boils, various ulcers, and venomous sores, and is also suitable for treating acne and facial herpes among other skin issues." "However, one interesting point is that some essential oils can help activate the sexual chakra and boost sexual energy, like sandalwood, patchouli, jasmine, and many others. Many middle-aged men probably know a lot about these, but myrrh is one of the few essential oils that can lower sexual energy: it cools down the body''s excessive fire and reduces excessive desires and distractions." Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Don''t slander me, though I''m middle-aged, I really don''t know any of this!] [Men, stay away from it.] [Got it, I''m going to buy sandalwood, patchouli, and jasmine essential oils.] [That''s the way to do it.] [Impressive, reverse psychology, isn''t it?] [Master Fang, my friend wants me to ask if you know any essential oils that can boost sexual energy, not that it matters much¡ªhe just wants to avoid them, cultivate his character (dog''s head).] The setting sun cast its glow, the faint golden edge drawn between the earth and the sky, dazzling to the eyes. It was only then that Master Fang noticed night was quickly approaching. He wrapped the cooled and hardened resin in the myrrh leaves and packed them away, then began to make a fire for cooking, while also setting up camp for the night. Jerry, who had been stuck in the bag all this time, sneakily crawled out and began to survey the surroundings. As Master Fang used a fire starter to kindle a blaze, he saw this scene but didn''t intervene. With sparse shrubbery around and nothing hidden from view, Master Fang didn''t see any venomous snakes or other dangers, so he let Jerry be. He has always preferred to give animals plenty of freedom; otherwise, he would feel as though he were mistreating them. Perhaps it was because he didn''t like to be constrained, longing for the vast sky and land, he also felt the same way toward pets. Inside the fire pit, broken branches were thrown in, snapping crisply¡ªa sign that they contained little moisture. Soon, the flames began to lick and spread, fuelling the fire even more. By now, night had fallen completely. Bi Fang gathered dry leaves, threw them on the ground, and spread them out. "African savannahs are brimming with ants, including army ants. The ants in the army ant genus don''t have stingers, but they have powerful and strong mandibles. Their numbers can reach up to 22 million, and you certainly wouldn''t want to be attacked by them. So when choosing a campsite, make sure to check for nearby ant nests or things that might attract ants." "Right, besides ants, there are also lots of termites here, which you should also be careful to avoid." Bi Fang stuck two wooden spears into the ground, serving as the main structure for his shelter. There was a noticeable drop in temperature over the past few days, especially at night, which necessitated the construction of a shelter to retain warmth. [This sentence sounds quite strange.] [What do you mean besides ants, there are also termites? Aren''t termites just a type of ant?] [Termites: Have I been excommunicated from the ant society?] Bi Fang paused his work and laughed, "Don''t you know? Termites aren''t ants. Actually, they are more like relatives of cockroaches." [!!!] [What the hell?] [Termites are relatives of cockroaches?] "Even though they both have the character ''ant'' in their names, termites are not a kind of ant. They differ greatly in terms of morphology, evolution, and diet." "Ants are classified under the order Hymenoptera, which have four wings, all translucent, with the upper pair larger than the lower pair." "However, most ants shed their wings when living on the ground, so we can look at bees, which are closely related to ants, to understand what the wings of Hymenoptera insects are like." "Both ants and bees have elbowed antennae, resembling the shape of ''¤¯'', and they have a distinct narrow waist, which sets them apart from termites." As he explained, the shape of the shelter on the ground began to take form. Bi Fang had done this too many times. If he only needed a shelter for warmth, he could even build one with materials in just half an hour if necessary. "Moreover, both ants and bees undergo complete metamorphosis, which means their life cycle includes egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages. The larvae are little fleshy worms completely different from the adults and must go through the pupal stage to become winged adults." "But termites are classified under the order Blattodea, also known as Isoptera, wherein all four wings are of equal size, with the upper layer thicker than the lower." "Blattodea is actually the scientific name for cockroaches, and the appearance of their larvae is similar to that of the adults. They only need to molt several times to grow wings, which classifies them as insects with incomplete metamorphosis." "In terms of the evolutionary history of insects, termites are considered an ancient and primitive insect species closely related to cockroaches. They are one of the insect world''s ancient ancestors. Meanwhile, ants only have a 60-million-year history of existence and are more closely related to bees." "The reason termites have always been considered ants is that their habits and modes of reproduction are very similar to those of ants, and their offspring are also divided into workers, soldiers, and reproductive ants. In terms of societal structure, they are indeed quite similar." As his words came to an end, Bi Fang''s shelter was also completed. The ground was covered in soft leaves and dry grass, and Harley, who had been playfully teased by Jerry, also showed no restraint, pushing aside the large rat that lay in front of his head and found a comfortable spot to lie down. Over the past few days, Jerry and Harley had become quite familiar with each other''s presence. Harley knew he couldn''t eat Jerry, and Jerry also understood that Harley wasn''t as scary as he had imagined. [My goodness, shocked for an entire year] [First time knowing about this] [Turns out, it belongs to the secrets of insects] [So it''s not a bug, another day of enlightenment.] After building the shelter, Bi Fang also patted his hands with satisfaction, meanwhile took the ostrich egg out of the fire pit, cracked it open, peeled away the shell, and shared it with the animals. At this moment, Harley perked up, moved over, and started eating with delight. Bi Fang didn''t actually give him less; it was just an internal joke. The intelligence of animals is actually quite limited. If they aren''t punished on the spot, they can''t understand what they did wrong afterwards. So when things are done and cannot be undone, any action taken is already too late. That''s why many Erhas remember the food but not the beating, and would still destroy things around the house. If you don''t catch them in the act, the memory effect is almost nil. "The area where you prepare food should ideally be some distance from your sleeping area to avoid being disturbed by the sounds of animals attracted by food at night, and also to stay away from the Tsangyang Gyatso attracted by the scent of the food." "If possible, it would be best to build a separate small tent near the cooking area to store food. Remember not to store food inside the tent where you sleep, as this is a very dangerous behavior." After finishing the second ostrich egg, Bi Fang buried the waste and the live broadcast for the day ended there. "If you''re not alone in the wilderness, then in a place away from where you sleep and cook, you can choose a spot for everyone to work together, chat, or engage in other activities." "This area will become the social hub of the entire team. Every member who spends time in this area is obligated to keep it clean and to imbue it with a sense of ceremony." "Although it may seem pointless, in the wilderness, it can provide unexpected mental strength and might become the key to survival and a pillar of support." "Alright, that''s it for today''s live stream. To be honest, I really hope it''ll rain tomorrow, so I won''t have to go through the trouble of finding a water source." After exchanging a few last words with the audience, Bi Fang turned off the live stream and added some damp firewood. Seemingly aware that the time had come, Jerry automatically crawled into the backpack. The backpack squirmed for a while, then settled down, clearly finding his own snug spot. Bi Fang made his way under the shelter and found a nice place, turning his back to the campfire, ready to rest. Still not fully content, Harley licked his lips, looked around at the quiet surroundings, and eventually chose to lie behind Bi Fang, curling up into a ball and deciding to rest in the backpack-carrying position. Perhaps Bi Fang''s words really did have an effect, as this time, the heavens were exceptionally generous. Loud thunder roared in the sky, and heavy rain poured down, once again moistening this land that had been parched for so long, signifying the end of the dry season. It''s just that the timing seemed a bit off. Chapter 871 867: Reserve a Spot Sleep schedule messed up, just marking my presence to keep the streak. Before 3 a.m., refresh this chapter, no need to spend extra money. - Mists of water vapor spread over the vast savannah, scattering the pitch-black night into a hazy blur. Not a single star could be seen in the sky, and the night, once visible, had become pitch-black. Bi Fang woke up from his sleep, his body breaking out in goosebumps from the cold. It was now autumn, and with the nighttime downpour, the temperature had dropped quite a bit, even bringing a chill. An apparent sense of heat loss must have also reached Harley, who groggily opened his eyes, then stood up, pressed close to Bi Fang, and lay down again. Only Jerry, nestled in the backpack, had his natural warm bed and didn''t feel a thing. What time is it now? Bi Fang touched his head, feeling extremely sleepy, meaning his sleep was far from enough, besides, he had no inkling it would rain before he fell asleep. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With Bi Fang''s current abilities, except for a few very special weather conditions, he could generally predict the weather accurately more than three hours in advance, with a success rate over eighty percent. Even though three hours might not seem long, it is quite an impressive figure. The atmosphere is a complicated system. Predicting rain, how much it will fall, and when, by observing clouds'' thickness and color changes. There''s also barometric pressure, humidity, and wind speed changes¡ªnone of this is child''s play. Even with modern scientific methods, using supercomputers to deduce atmospheric patterns with mathematical methods from data such as humidity, temperature, barometric pressure, wind speed, and direction measured by ground stations, radars, and satellites. Analyzing the impact of different cloud levels, forecasting experts using meteorology, dynamics, thermodynamics, and other data for comprehensive analysis, even then, the accuracy for short-term weather trends for 1-6 hours is only about 85%. Observations of Earth''s systems by humans are still incomplete, many technical challenges remain unsolved, contributing to that 15% "inaccuracy". This shows how impressive Bi Fang''s abilities are, as well as the complexity of atmospheric systems. And three hours is more than enough time for someone to do many things. A decent shelter can be built, or a safe spot found. People in the wilderness usually go to sleep early, often resting within three hours after sunset¡ªby all indications, it should be after midnight, probably around two in the morning. The only thing fortunate was that Bi Fang''s shelter was waterproof! The wet season was due to arrive in the next couple of days, and as a professional survival expert, Bi Fang certainly wouldn''t make such a rookie mistake. That is why Bi Fang insisted on building a shelter two nights in a row¡ªotherwise, in other places where it wasn''t very cold, he could just dig a hole and cover it with a few leaves to spend the night. The sky at night occasionally brightened with the flash of branched lightning, illuminating the dark curtain of night. The fire pit outside the shelter was doused by heavy rain long ago, and occasional wisps of blue smoke indicated that Bi Fang had woken up virtually as soon as the rain began. The rain quickly escalated, the large cold drops hitting his arm, causing a stinging pain. The cold stimulus completely woke him up, pushing sleep away as he restarted the live stream, readying to inform his viewers of the incoming rain. Whether in terms of the time or the amount, this rain signaled the arrival of the wet season for the northern hemisphere''s savannas and the rebirth of life. For this reason, Bi Fang felt it was worth informing his viewers via live stream. Fans from around the world who were still awake excitedly opened the live stream. [Why has he started streaming again?] [Did something happen?] [Ah, such a cute cheetah, I want to pet it] [What''s that sound? It''s so dark, seems like the sound of rain] "Yes, it''s raining." Bi Fang aimed the drone''s lens towards the sky outside his shelter¡ªin the pure black, rain droplets could be seen falling from the sky, eventually forming droplets on the lens, similar to rain on a car''s windshield when driving through a storm. From this perspective, it felt like the whole world revolved around oneself. After observing for a while, Bi Fang retracted the drone, wiping the lens briefly. "Many travelers ask when is the best time to visit Africa, but there''s no standard answer to this question. What matters is what you want to get from your trip, what you want to see." "Generally, the dry season is the best time for tourism, especially for tourists. During the dry season, animals have to gather around scarce water supplies, so you can easily spot them. You can witness them grouping together, interacting, hunting." "And the dry season roads are easier to travel, while during the wet season, roads can be interrupted by rainwater, becoming impassable." "But the wet season also has very distinct characteristics. Since it''s on the equator, the ''winter'' here isn''t cold. As long as there''s water, there will inevitably be an abundance of new life." "Thus, Africa''s wet season is brimming with life, flowers blooming vigorously, and dry-season withered shrubs sprouting anew." "Additionally, the wet season is the best time of the year for bird-watching. One of the best aspects is that this wet season is not exactly like the constant wet of the rainforests¡ªit''s not always rainy and cloudy. There''s usually rain in the mornings and evenings, with bright sunshine at noon. That''s why I usually refer to it as the ''wet season'' rather than the ''rainy season.''" "For those on a tight budget, the wet season is a good choice because this is typically the most affordable time of year for travel." Bi Fang''s words sounded like a monologue, but paired with the environment, it created a feeling of extreme tranquility. It was as if the audience was transported to the wilderness with him, listening to the raindrops hit the leaves outside the shelter, then trickle down to the tips, moistening the parched soil, and eventually absorbed by seeds blown in from who knows where. Before long, this patch of barren land would burst with life, as numerous plants push through the soil. This tranquility of nature was not an illusion. Animals get wet and can easily fall ill, so no creature would be active at this time. Insects wouldn''t chirp, nature was quiet, and felt safe, with no fear of dangerous animals suddenly emerging. Perhaps due to the excessive comfort, Bi Fang didn''t speak for tens of minutes in this environment, yet the number of viewers in the live stream kept rising, with few leaving. It wasn''t until someone pointed it out. [Wait, isn''t the great animal migration about to start?] [That''s right, didn''t Master Fang say they would return?] [Shoot, are we going to see wildebeests?] Bi Fang nodded, "That''s right, the arrival of the wet season also heralds the return of the animals, and soon we''ll be able to see herds of them running across the savannah. Maybe as early as tomorrow we''ll catch sight of some of the vanguard forces." Animals don''t have weather forecasts to consult; their decisions to migrate or not are largely based on a "feeling" passed down through generations. When it feels like the wet season is about to begin, they return. Speaking of timing, it''s rarely off by much, and some of the vanguard forces even make their way back before the wet season starts. "Alright, I only started this live stream on a whim, mainly because this rain is quite meaningful and symbolizes a change, and it''s still too early. I plan to catch up on some sleep, so let''s call it here." This evening shower was just an interlude. After finishing the stream, Bi Fang was ready to go offline once more, but the audience strongly objected. "Don''t go, Master Fang, just leave it on." "Yeah, yeah, the sound of the rain is so nice to listen to, perfect as white noise." "Indeed, just listening to this sound feels so darn comfortable." Who can resist listening to the rain amidst nature? Especially when you don''t have to tread on muddy ground or rush around doing things, just quietly staying at home and listening. Considering this, Bi Fang had to admit he was convinced by everyone and decided not to insist on shutting down the live stream. He kept the drone flying and adjusted it to a suitable angle. Half of the screen showed the roof of the shelter and half the profound sky, with the unseen but audible drizzle in between, the fire pit that had gone out in the distance, several pieces of blackened wood leaning against each other, and at the bottom right of the frame, you could see a beige backpack and half of Harley''s head. "Awesome!" "Great composition there." "Feels so good." ... The next morning, perhaps because he had indulged in some extra sleep, Bi Fang found he had overslept. The sun had already risen, and the surroundings had brightened considerably. The rain had long since stopped, but a thick fog had risen from the Earth. The dense fog spread across the savannah, which made Bi Fang abandon any immediate thoughts of setting out. He decided to wait until the fog lifted or dispersed a bit before beginning his journey. It wouldn''t take too long, with the sun climbing higher, things should clear up by nine or ten. But first, breakfast needed to be sorted out. After a simple wash-up and attending to sanitation, Bi Fang gave Harley a good dusting and woke him up. The audience in the live stream room entered one after another, and after Bi Fang greeted them, he started his work for the day. He grabbed his backpack, pulled out the still-sleeping, floppy-bodied Jerry, and took out the last ostrich egg. Then he gathered up the dead branches and leaves underneath Harley to rekindle the fire. The downpour had soaked all the nearby plants, making it hard to find easily ignitable twigs, so it made sense to just use the ones from inside the shelter. After all, he was going to leave today, and these things couldn''t be taken along. For his last ostrich egg, Bi Fang no longer chose to eat it roasted but decided to try frying it for a change in taste. The heavy rain had completely refreshed the air, and Bi Fang found a rock slab nearby that had been washed clean by the rainwater. After giving it a quick rinse, he set it on the fire. Once the entire slab was seething with heat, he cracked the ostrich egg and poured out the contents. Thanks to the high temperature, the egg white didn''t stick to the rock at all, and with a nudge from a stick, it flipped over smoothly. Bi Fang also took the opportunity to share a bit of scientific knowledge. "The ''Leidenfrost Effect'' was first discovered in 1732 by a Dutch botanist named Herman, who noted this phenomenon." "Later, in 1756, a German doctor named Leidenfrost delved deeper into the issue. Consequently, the effect was named the ''Leidenfrost Effect''." "Essentially, the effect is about a liquid that has a boiling point, like water, which normally boils at 100 degrees under standard atmospheric pressure. If this liquid comes into contact with an object whose temperature is far above the boiling point, say 400 degrees, the initial contact will cause the liquid to boil rapidly, but the boiling will then quickly halt." "This is because that part of the liquid turns into steam due to the instantaneous high heat, and the steam forms an insulating layer between the rest of the liquid and the hot object, providing an excellent thermal barrier." "That''s why if you heat a regular iron pan and then crack a raw egg into it after dry heating, the egg won''t stick to the pan." Having said that, Bi Fang flipped the ostrich egg over. [Another little detail] [I''d call Master Fang the ''King of Understanding'' of the new age (dog''s head)] [No wonder my eggs always stick to the pan] [A cooking tip indeed] Under the high heat, proteins quickly coagulated, turning the clear egg whites into a milky white with a faintly gold luster, and a light fishy smell dispersed, quickly vanishing. Watching this different method stirred Bi Fang''s appetite after two days of roasted eggs, but before he could indulge, he didn''t forget his two companions. Bi Fang took the ostrich egg from the rock with a stick and placed it in front of Harley. For the cheetah, this was a novel delicacy it had never tasted before. It sniffed at it for a long time before daring to take a bite, eating it slowly. "This one''s for you." Bi Fang tore a piece off and handed it to Jerry, who had emerged from the backpack, attracted by the smell. After distributing their shares, it was finally Bi Fang''s turn. "What a pity there''s no salt, it feels like something''s missing." After finishing breakfast, Bi Fang was left wanting more. Salt is the foremost flavor enhancer; the difference with and without it is truly remarkable. "I''ll try to find some mineral salt, or perhaps I''ll have to rely on hunting game." Eggs lacked any flavor, but meat is different, containing salts that animals accumulate from nature. Though the taste is very mild to humans, it''s better than nothing. I must secure some meat. With resolve, Bi Fang began to pack up the camp, dismantling the shelter, taking the wooden spears, then filling the fire pit and clearing the surrounding traces. By the time he''d finished, the fog had also dissipated quite a bit, at least enough to not lose direction easily. Bi Fang then continued on the road with Harley. It had rained last night, making the surroundings very muddy, and after just a few steps, their shoes were caked in mud. The soles left deep imprints in the wet earth, exuding a bit of muddy water that spun around, ensnaring any unlucky insects that fell in, struggling incessantly. In the city, this would have been an annoyance at the least, with the shoes getting dirty for no reason. But out in the wild, Bi Fang didn''t mind. He crouched down, looking at the tracks in the grass and smiled. "Before, the ground was too hard to leave footprints, especially for the smaller animals, but now it''s a different story; they can''t escape." Between several dried weeds, the small footprints exposed the recent passings of the animals clearly. Chapter 872 868: Occupy a Spot Hadn''t finished writing yet, just holding a spot to keep the streak alive. - Refresh this chapter by 3 AM to see the update. - The trace in the bush was very obvious, with a long scratch extending far into the distance. It was clearly a snake. "Snakes are very common in the wilderness, we encounter them almost every time, especially when it rains." Bi Fang squatted down and followed the track. "Snakes become highly active before, during, and after rain because their prey, like frogs and mice, come out then." "The former thrive in the moist environment, with the air''s moisture keeping their skin well hydrated, so they become active, while the latter come out to avoid the rain and escape flooding in low-lying burrows. So, snakes have a good chance of feeding then." "However, being cold-blooded, snakes only become active when the temperature is above eighteen degrees. I guess it was too cold last night, so today, once the rain stopped and the sun came out, the temperature just began to rise, and it couldn''t wait any longer, which is just when we encountered it." The wet, slippery mud formed a snake track, almost like it had an arrow pointing, guiding Bi Fang forward. Harley too bent its head to sniff around, as if it had detected something. Guided by the glaring cues, it wasn''t long before the man and the cheetah spotted the target lurking in the bushes. Another Puffy Hissing Krait! "Hey, didn''t expect to see a familiar face." Bi Fang chuckled from outside the bushes. Previously, while catching beetles under a Myrrh Tree, he had encountered one, but it was quite alert and had escaped at the slightest disturbance. At that time, Bi Fang was more focused on the Myrrh Tree, so he didn''t pursue it, never expecting to stumble upon another now. Seeing the venomous snake, Harley appeared quite tense. Not only humans, but animals also have the dread of venomous snakes embedded in their genes. This was the cheetah''s first encounter with such a snake, and its instinctual discomfort was heightened by its brown, intimidating patterns. In reality, in the animal kingdom, almost all creatures with patterns are trouble, followed by those with perms. "I didn''t get a chance to introduce it last time, but now that we''ve encountered it again, this is a Puffy Hissing Krait, commonly known as the Swollen-bellied Venomous Snake, a poisonous type of viper that is said to be the most common venomous snake in Africa, found almost everywhere on the continent." "This guy has a super strong reproductive capability, both in terms of breeding method and the number of offspring." "It produces pheromones to attract and coil around males. Once in Malindi, a female snake attracted seven males following her, and afterwards, she produced a large number of young ones, usually 50-60, and sometimes even 80 isn''t impossible." "There was a female snake from Kenya in the Czech Zoo that once had 156 baby snakes, which is currently the world record holder." Bi Fang rummaged through his memory for a moment and found a little fun fact. "Due to its widespread distribution, large numbers, along with its large size, strong venom, and tendency to bite, the Puffy Hissing Krait causes more deaths than any other African venomous snake." [Wow, so fertile!] [Damn, that''s several times more than other normal snakes] [That''s outrageous] [Laying eggs like crazy, huh?] "Not laying eggs, as it''s ovoviviparous, so the eggs hatch inside and small snakes come out directly." [To be honest, I find ovoviviparous even more disgusting than oviparous. Just thinking about it grosses me out.] [Indeed, it just squirts out a bunch of small snakes like parasites.] [Stop, big bro, just thinking about it makes me wince.] Since Bi Fang had spotted it, he naturally didn''t let it go and approached with a tree stick to attract the venomous snake''s attention. "The Puffy Hissing Krait moves fast and is quite aggressive, so one has to be careful when catching it. The attack range can be a third of its body length, and a safe distance should be at least one meter." After several probes, the Puffy Hissing Krait couldn''t hold back anymore, it struck out its head to bite but was immediately hit on the neck by the tree stick. With the principle of the lever, the speed at the end of the tree stick held by Bi Fang wasn''t slower than the snake''s attack, and the force was enormous, stunning the Puffy Hissing Krait with one strike, causing it to struggle and roll frantically on the ground. A few steps away, Harley stepped back and was flabbergasted, walking in circles, wanting to get close but not daring to. Seeing this, Bi Fang didn''t hold back and seized the right moment to strike its head again, killing the venomous snake on the spot. After finding a relatively clean puddle nearby and hastily processing the snake''s carcass, Bi Fang wrapped it up and put it into his bag. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Of course, the compartment was separated from where Jerry''s little nest was, otherwise, that little guy might freak out. "Getting a catch right after stepping out, that''s a good start." Bi Fang was in a good mood, which lightened his steps considerably. The only regret was that catching a snake wouldn''t teach Harley much. He would rather encounter some four-legged animals. And not all four-legged animals would do, like the African Buffalo, that was a bit much for Harley, even if Bi Fang managed the hunt, not much could be learned from it. One of the "Big Five" of Africa, the Widowmaker isn''t one to joke with. Thus, after much consideration, it''s best to target four-legged animals that aren''t particularly huge and are relatively common. The former suits hunting for cheetahs, the latter suits Bi Fang''s live streaming. Right now, the animals haven''t returned, so the opportunities are few, but this should change in a few more days. In the next two days, Bi Fang and the Cheetah Harley moved north while hunting some small animals, trying to find suitable targets. The frequency of rain was visibly escalating, with rain occurring once in the morning and once at night, though none as heavy as the first rain; the ground dried up rather quickly. That afternoon, Bi Fang encountered suitable four-legged animals, a herd of antelopes. "Turn-horned Antelope!" Bi Fang was quite delighted. He really came across them! [What is this, antelopes?] [Have the animals started migrating back? Is this the vanguard?] Seeing the antelopes, viewers got very excited. Did this mean a real hunt was about to start? "No, not the vanguard," said Bi Fang, stepping back a few paces to hide his figure. "Not all animals migrate; within the migration army, the main forces are wildebeest, along with zebra and antelope, but not all antelope migrate. Primarily it''s gazelles; most other antelopes do not migrate." "Animals migrate to better survive. Wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle, with their population in the millions on the savannah, simply cannot find enough food in the dry season. But it''s not the same for other animals; if these three big families leave, there will be enough food left for the others." "In front of us is the Turn-horned Antelope, which falls between migratory and non-migratory antelopes; they live a nomadic life following the grasses. If there isn''t enough food, they join the migration army, but if there''s a waterhole nearby, they might not leave." Bi Fang whispered. At this time, the drone also drew close to the Turn-horned Antelope, giving the audience a clear view of this group of creatures. The Turn-horned Antelopes were quite interesting¡ªpatches of purple and blue decorated their faces and legs, making them look as if they had been bruised. Their body and upper parts were covered with a layer of short, shiny fur, ranging in color from rusty red to brownish, with a black band stretching from the forehead to the nose tip. Although their physique resembled that of gazelles, their faces were very bovine-like, especially their horns, which, although growing from the top of their heads, spread outwards like the curved horns of an African buffalo. However, their horns had the ringed ridges typical of gazelles, hence their name. Based on size alone, they were indeed suitable hunting targets. There were five Turn-horned Antelopes in total, a normal group composition. Their numbers weren''t very large. "Turn-horned Antelopes live by following the grass, with groups ranging from a few to ten or twenty. But they don''t gather in huge herds like wildebeests; at most, there are only about a hundred or so together." Bi Fang never underestimated herbivores; the quantity was a crucial bit of data. Since there were only five in this group, the threat was limited; they were an overly suitable practice target. Harley, seemingly seeing such a large creature for the first time, was curious yet uncertain, poking his head about near Bi Fang, laying down then up, his upper body incessantly moving, seemingly eager to try yet hesitant due to his capacity. Bi Fang just pressed his head down into the grass. His fidgeting would get us discovered sooner or later. "For herd animals, we need to pick a suitable target to strike, such as the old, pregnant, or sick ones, to improve the success rate greatly." Bi Fang glanced over them one by one before suddenly pointing at one. "Look, that one in the middle has a very big belly, looks like it''s about to give birth, which makes it just about the best hunting target." Following Bi Fang''s pointing finger, the audience quickly identified the target. [Ah, what a big belly] [What''s going on, is it pregnant?] [It''s a pregnant female!] [Pregnant, sick, and old¡ªthese are the favorites of predators.] The pointed-out Turn-horned Antelope, although it was strange to say so as both male and female had horns, had a significantly large belly, clearly pregnant, which the audience understood without further explanation from Bi Fang. "Although it''s a bit cruel to say, pregnant female animals in nature are indeed quite an easy target, second only to those that are sick." In this group of five Turn-horned Antelopes, at a glance, none were hobbling or sick, all appeared vigorous, not even the old ones. For horned animals, you can generally tell their age by their horns, especially gazelles, which have many segments in their horns as they age, but Bi Fang didn''t see such a target. Under normal circumstances, even though pregnant ones are easier to catch, Bi Fang wouldn''t act, but since he needed to play the role of "teacher," he locked his target on this pregnant Turn-horned Antelope. "I need to prepare first." "Turn-horned Antelopes can sprint up to seventy kilometers per hour when startled and will jump over other antelopes to escape danger. They are considered the fastest klipspringers, so we must approach in disguise, trying to deliver a fatal blow in one strike, or else we will miss the opportunity." Bi Fang, along with Harley, slowly retreated, looking around, preparing to camouflage himself. But before they could reach a safe area, a cry from a Turn-horned Antelope shattered the tranquility of the savanna. Initially, Bi Fang thought he had been accidentally discovered, but upon looking up, he saw the group hadn''t scattered but had tightly clustered together. And the source of the cry was precisely the pregnant female Turn-horned Antelope Bi Fang had pointed out earlier. Just as everyone was wondering what was happening, Bi Fang observed her trembling legs and suddenly realized something, leaving him somehow astounded. "No way, is she giving birth now?" [Damn, she''s giving birth?] [You kidding, what timing?] [She''s giving birth now?] "No wait, it''s about that time actually," Bi Fang suddenly remembered this fact. Unlike other species, these antelopes usually give birth at the end of the dry season and have a high success rate. And now, wasn''t it just the end of the dry season? [That''s incredibly coincidental] [Awesome, you run into everything] [Impressive] [Another eye-opening day] Seeing this, Bi Fang didn''t rush but continued to retreat, and once at a safe distance, he started applying mud to his body and inserting twigs, blending himself as much as possible with the environment while also masking his scent. Meanwhile, witnessing the scene of birth across from him, he mentioned an interesting matter. "Actually, it has been discovered that there''s a unique ''role reversal'' phenomenon in the breeding behavior of Turn-horned Antelopes in Africa: the males are picky while the females are aggressively assertive." "During courtship, some male Turn-horned Antelopes are actually very passive, becoming the fervent pursuit targets of enthusiastic female antelopes; perhaps due to the females being too forward, they will reject their advances." [What the heck] [Is that true?] [My god, first I''ve heard of this] [Damn, why can''t I encounter such good things?] Unlike most gazelles, female antelopes have only one day a year to conceive, and the time they meet males is also only once a year, so they often chase and passionately treat males, unlike other animals where females are the approached ones. Thus, male Turn-horned Antelopes are very selective each year in choosing their mates, and they do not favor those overly initiative females, sometimes even getting annoyed by such partners. Some over-zealous female Turn-horned Antelopes can be very aggressive in pursuing males. To reject these advances, males would attack and fight them. "It''s said that this helps male Turn-horned Antelopes conserve their strength, maintaining enough stamina for breeding activities with a new partner, maximizing the possible number of mates." [I can confirm, humans evolved in the wrong direction (Dog''s head)] [Eating soft rice firmly (confirmed)] [I also want an assertive sister, please] [For sure] After finishing all camouflaging, Bi Fang almost blended into the environment; besides his hair color being a bit conspicuous, it didn''t matter much since animals are mostly colorblind. At the same time, the birth process of the Turn-horned Antelope finally ended, and a wet, small calf emerged onto the vast savanna, trembling as it tried to stand. Chapter 873 869: Here to Occupy a Spot Again The headache seemed to have eased a bit today, but the writing was still unfinished... I can only claim another spot to maintain perfect attendance, I''ll finish the edits before dawn, just refresh this chapter, no need to pay again. The newborn turn-horned antelope was covered in birth fluid, looking so emaciated it seemed to be all bones, its limbs like bamboo sticks, unable to even stand steadily. It appeared that the turn-horned antelope that had just given birth felt no discomfort as it turned to lick its calf clean of the sticky liquid. This was on one hand to clean its offspring''s body, and on the other to replenish its nutritional needs and speed up recovery. This is perhaps a point where humans are inferior to animals in the wilderness. A very significant trend in the evolution of humans is the increasing size of the head, while upright locomotion has led to the narrowing of the pelvis. Not to mention choosing between increasing income or decreasing expenditure, this was about encountering difficulty in both, making humans arguably the most difficult birthers among all animals. But for herbivores, they are at the relatively lower end of the food chain; predators are never far from where they live. In the wild, there are substantial dangers, often requiring animals to seek food and avoid enemies shortly after giving birth. In such situations, if childbirth causes immense pain, prolonged weakness, and even significant physical trauma to the mother, it would be extremely dangerous. The coveting of these predators necessitates that the young of herbivores must be able to stand and run soon after birth. To be born with such physical capabilities, they need a lengthy development inside the womb, hence most herbivores have a gestation period of 7 to 13 months. Thus, in comparison to these animals, human babies are essentially "premature". Over time, mothers have also developed a quick recovery ability through the process of natural selection. But no matter how quickly they recover and stand up, the opportunity before Bi Fang right now is a rare one. A newborn turn-horned antelope and an adult that hadn''t recovered its strength¡ªBi Fang didn''t even need to ambush now; a direct charge seemed sufficient to catch the two creatures. As the viewers in the livestream expressed: [Such a great opportunity] [Damn, he''s not taking the shot?] [Finally some big meat to eat!] With such a perfect opportunity, no one thought Bi Fang would fail. Nearly everyone was fantasizing about the taste of turn-horned antelope as they eagerly awaited to hear from Master Fang. However... Bi Fang glanced at Harley, who was raring to go, and a sudden idea struck him. Why not give Harley a try as well? Indeed, making mistakes often teaches more than being taught, as it accumulates experience. Of course, not all experiences are the same. Not catching up is a learning experience, catching up but not killing is experience, and catching up, not killing, and not fighting are all forms of experience. Chasing small animals, medium-sized animals, big animals, long-horned animals, armored animals¡ªall are different from one another. If one only repeatedly makes the same early mistakes, essentially nothing is learned. Only through complete practical experience can one gain truly valuable knowledge. This time was different from the last hunt for the ostrich. The calf aside, the mother who had just given birth wouldn''t pose much of a challenge for Harley in terms of sheer strength. Therefore, even if he failed, Harley could still learn quite a bit from the attempt. When it came to teaching Harley how to hunt, Bi Fang was not very concerned. The qualities of the feline species were clear: claws, sharp teeth¡ªthese tools would be mastered with time, provided they are exposed to a variety of experiences. Bi Fang had no intention of backing down, though. This time, he planned to join forces with Harley. His target had to change. Initially, he wanted to hunt a pregnant turn-horned antelope, but now it seemed better to leave these two targets to Harley and go after other adult turn-horned antelopes himself. In fact, Bi Fang wasn''t too keen on this job; from a human moral standpoint, targeting a weak and pregnant group wasn''t right. A head-on challenge suited him better than taking advantage of others'' weaknesses. With that thought, Bi Fang no longer held back Harley''s eagerness, instead allowing it to move with him, crawling toward the herd of turn-horned antelopes. Bi Fang, hanging with branches and shrubs, almost blended into the surrounding environment, holding his spear in hand, silently inching closer. Harley, on the other hand, was no fool, mimicking Bi Fang''s actions, tucking in his limbs and lying on the ground, moving bit by bit like a spotted yellow caterpillar in the grass, tiny paws pressing against the ground. Forty meters... Thirty meters. As the distance grew closer, Bi Fang''s breathing became deeper and quicker. Rapidly exchanging oxygen allowed him to unleash greater power in a short time. The tense atmosphere also affected Bi Fang himself, causing unknown reactions in his powerful body. His heart pounded like a drum, blood rushing fast, countless cells within, mitochondria silently bursting with high work efficiency. It was like a steam engine fueled with coal, flames burning fiercely. The first time capturing such large and numerous prey stirred a different emotion in Harley as well. Its leopard eyes fixed on the turn-horned antelope, constantly moving, while closely following Bi Fang''s actions, just a body length behind¡ªa commendable effort. Bi Fang opened his mouth, breathing in quickly and exhaling slowly. Even though his body was smeared with mud and earth, it didn''t look filthy but rather added a wildness to him. His bare forearms revealed muscles taut and twisting tightly, resembling intertwined steel cables, strong and powerful. Bi Fang''s sleeves were rolled up tightly to his upper arms, partly to allow for better movement and partly because direct contact with the air helped him to better perceive its flow. The forearm is considered one of the sexiest parts of a man''s body. That might sound like quite the statement, but in many polls, this area consistently rates near the top, a clear testament to its appeal. Bi Fang''s robust physique lent an overall sense of stability to his image; just standing there, he exuded a strong sense of security. His well-developed muscles filled his forearms with masculine charm, enhancing his visual appeal and firmly capturing the audience''s attention. He moved closer again; by now, the distance had broken the thirty-meter mark. If he were facing an individual organism, this distance would still be safe, but a group, with eyes all around, required extra caution. For this reason, Bi Fang became even slower in his movements. Harley was growing impatient and made a low, grumbling sound in his throat, only to be stopped by a glance from Bi Fang, who turned his head and glared at him. Harley then became quiet again, obediently crawling behind and continuing to move forward. The audience, seeing this, held their breath in tension as if their own breathing could shatter the tranquil scene. The newborn foal had already licked off the sticky film from its body, gradually stood firm on its feet, and started to walk with the assistance of its mother. This smooth birth had relaxed the other Turn-horned Antelopes, and they had scattered around the water''s edge, leisurely eating water grass, completely unaware of the slightly moving tall grass nearby. As time ticked away by the second, Bi Fang dared not delay any longer, maintaining a not-too-slow pace to ensure that the group of Turn-horned Antelopes would not scatter and run elsewhere. Fortunately, they were near a water source, and the lush, tall watergrass provided excellent cover for their sightlines. When the little Turn-horned Antelope had started running around the herd, Bi Fang had closed the distance to about twenty meters. At this distance, he was incredibly close. Clutching the Spear in his hand, Bi Fang was quite confident that he could make his mark. He glanced back at Harley. It seemed that Harley, sensing something from Bi Fang''s gaze, slightly crouched down, ready to pounce, with muscles on his scapula twitching continuously. Seeing this, Bi Fang no longer hesitated. His body, already primed for action, sprung off the ground like a released bowstring. Harley, initiating even faster, reared up almost at the same instant that Bi Fang burst forth, advancing before him and slicing through the grassland like a streak of yellow lightning. Grass debris whirled into the air, swirling in a dance. Such a great disturbance naturally alerted the Turn-horned Antelopes. Merely at the sight of the approaching size, the herbivores instinctively scattered in panic. Their large bodies, over a meter tall, sprang from the grass with seemingly no inertia, fleeing toward the distance¡ªfrom stillness to motion¡ªincredibly swiftly. But even they were not as fast as Bi Fang and the cheetah who had gotten the jump on them! As the yellow lightning cleaved its way forth, Bi Fang harnessed all his strength through his waist, arms, and into the Spear. His whole body was like an extremely flexible bullwhip being cracked, supple yet resilient, and at the moment of maximum stored energy, he thrust the spearpoint from his hands. Under tremendous force, the Spear turned into a blur and vanished from Bi Fang''s grip, slicing through the air with a piercing whistle and overtaking the pursuing cheetah, flying towards the frightened Turn-horned Antelope. Ultimate muscle control, ultimate balance, reflexes, energy burst... Years of reinforcement had honed Bi Fang''s spear-throwing accuracy to a terrifying extent; even at twenty meters, he had absolute confidence in hitting a moving Turn-horned Antelope! The sharp, wooden Spear, even without a Flint Stone tip, was harder than flesh and blood, and due to its uniformity, it flew steadier and more accurately than an ordinary spear! The spear in flight was faster than any of the animals present, and it struck its target almost before the largest turn-horned antelope could leap beyond a five-meter radius! With the dual enhancement of speed and mass, the sharp wooden spearhead sliced into the flesh like a heated steel knife through butter. The viewers'' pupils constricted, scarcely able to believe what was unfolding before their eyes. The entire spear pierced through the oblique back of the turn-horned antelope, emerging from the belly, shredding the entrails and running straight through the two hundred-pound behemoth! Scalding hot blood gushed from the wound, startling all the other turn-horned antelopes. As their lead companion was abruptly impaled by the unexpected weapon, the rest of the turn-horned antelopes, which had been sprinting in the same direction, immediately changed course, fleeing elsewhere in utter confusion. Trapped between a water source in front and Bi Fang at the rear, the turn-horned antelopes, already needing to make a right angle to escape, once again changed direction¡ªproviding Harley the perfect opportunity to attack! If Harley couldn''t catch up when the target changed direction twice in panic, it would be a disgrace to Master Fang. Harley did not disappoint Master Fang, spurred on by the vivid memory of witnessing a mother antelope give birth, it charged straight at the mother that had just delivered. With fate, terrain, and humans in alignment, a twenty-meter distance was like being spoon-fed¡ªBi Fang couldn''t fathom Harley losing now. Indeed, Harley did not let Bi Fang down, leaping in bounds, and pounced onto the turn-horned antelope, clawing into its flesh, clinging deathly tight, while instinctively trying to rip at the prey''s throat. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. During these days, whenever dealing with mammals, Bi Fang would perform "throat cutting and bleeding" for Harley to observe. After several demonstrations, Harley cleverly grasped this vulnerability, employing the technique successfully on its first hunt. It was a pity that the first attempt to bite down missed, as the turn-horned antelope deftly evaded. But weakened by maintaining a pregnancy for over ten months, and having lost much nutrition, where could the turn-horned antelope run? Fear acted as a catalyst, and under the cheetah''s assault, it stumbled and fell to the ground, presenting Harley with an excellent opportunity. Harley quickly advanced, opening its jaws to bite down on the turn-horned antelope''s neck, clamping down on its windpipe. The thick sound of gasps came from the turn-horned antelope, merging with the breaths of the cheetah, as if forming a unique signaling language. Seeing this, Bi Fang quickly approached, chose not to get closer, but stood a few meters away watching Harley''s actions, assisting in preventing the prey''s escape. Whether due to extreme exhaustion, the downed quarry continued to struggle frantically, at times nearly lifting the cheetah entirely off the ground, the most dangerous moment being when it flung Harley off and scrambled a few meters across the ground. Fortunately, Harley rose again, re-biting the neck. This was another disadvantage for the cheetah, having a small head and thus a small mouth, lacking muscle strength and biting force to sever the neck in one go, but it had to kill the prey by suffocation, which was much less efficient and often took several minutes to result in death, risking many accidents. Both parties were depleting their energy, but fortunately, fear accelerated energy consumption, as did bleeding. The struggle of the turn-horned antelope diminished more and more, and after nearly five minutes, only its legs could still twitch, incapable of standing up any longer. Only then did the cheetah release its grip, panting heavily, and even turned to look at Bi Fang as if waiting for something. Bi Fang was not stingy with his praise, stepped forward, and patted Harley on the head. "Well done." The cheetah lifted its head, matching the strokes of Master Fang''s palm. It was as though the audience had only just caught up with the scene, plunging the live broadcast into a tumultuous wave of excitement. Chapter 874 870: Reserve a Spot I''ll reserve a spot and revise it before 4 AM. --- Cheetah Harley''s first successful hunt goes without mention for now, though it was a pleasant surprise, it was not enough to shock anyone. After all, this was the graceful, swift, and efficient cheetah everyone remembered, not the one constantly digging with its back to Bi Fang. Just as a top student scoring first in their grade was no surprise anymore, failing to do so would instead turn heads, the cheetah had simply returned to its rightful place. But when Bi Fang pierced through a two-hundred-pound medium-sized Turn-horned Antelope with a single thrust, everyone in front of the screen was left completely dumbfounded. Piercing prey with a spear was not the first time for Bi Fang. In fact, since his second live broadcast, he had already achieved the feat of throwing a Dart through a wild wolf. But that was with a Dart, which utilized a simple mechanical structure, and now he had achieved such a stunning result with a simple Spear! The Dart was a frequent weapon in Bi Fang''s live streams, belonging to the heavy-hitter category, at least having the mechanics of leverage to amplify the force and effect of a throw. Making it was quite complicated, requiring a lot of whittling with a knife to create a good launcher, with careful considerations needed for the aim''s alignment and fulcrum. Not just anyone could handle it. But now, they were faced with a plain Spear, a wooden Spear without any mechanical contraptions inside! The simpler it was, the more sensational it became. Because anyone could make a wooden spear; find a long and straight stick, whittle it down with a knife, maybe heat it with fire to harden the tip. Not like the Dart, which not everyone could learn, nor successfully make or wield if they did. But who could achieve the feat of piercing through a two-hundred-kilogram behemoth with a single throw? Previously with the Dart, at least there was the false comfort of thinking, "I just can''t make the tool, but if I tried I might not be weak," but now, this visible gap in human ability brought a stronger sense of defeat. Similarly, it also highlighted Bi Fang''s indisputable prowess. Indeed, world champions could throw javelins a terrifying hundred meters, but those were industrially made to balanced standards and aimed only for distance, not precision. A spear throw from over twenty meters striking a moving target with such deadly accuracy and power, killing instantly, was not something audience members had seen often. [Master Fang... are you even human?] [Dominating within twenty meters for sure] [So brutal, so fierce, a total badass] [The speed of that spear, I didn''t even see how it was thrown at half speed, it just whooshed and the antelope was down.] [An explosive revelation, casually making a wooden spear to reign supreme on the savannah?] [I was wondering why Master Fang hasn''t been making Darts lately, this is still the African Savannah, seems like he actually never needed them] [Master Fang: I was just being considerate before, demonstrating techniques with some mechanical structures, but now I''m laying my cards on the table, no more pretense, I can wreak havoc with any ol'' stick] [Lord Mu gifts the protagonist a Spaceship*1¡ªKing of the Hunt!] [What''s with Lord Mu, going bankrupt, being stingy?] [Lord Mu gifts the protagonist a Spaceship*66¡ªJust added money to the account.] [6666] [Brother Fu V50] [Speaking of which, he''s killed two in one go, isn''t that too much to eat now?] "Shouldn''t it be three?" Bi Fang looked around and realized that the young Turn-horned Antelope, which had just been born, was nowhere to be seen; he was somewhat puzzled, "Did you guys see the little antelope just now?" [Don''t remember] [Wait, I''ll check the replay] [Seems like it ran away] [Wait, damn, it got eaten by a fish!] [Damn, I saw it too, it was a fish, a big one in the river!] [A Crocodile? Why didn''t I see it] [Not a crocodile, just a fish, not sure what kind, looked a bit like a catfish, really big mouth] [Yes, I''m watching the replay, the little one panicked and jumped into the river, was about to climb out when suddenly this big fish surged forward and dragged it back, and then it was gone] "Eaten by a fish?" Bi Fang looked astounded; his focus had been on the Turn-horned Antelope and the hunting situation of the nearby Cheetah, he indeed hadn''t paid much mind. He had thought that the young antelope he had targeted had fled with the herd, but now it seemed, according to the live stream''s comments, it had been eaten by a fish? Unable to replay the footage like his viewers, Bi Fang walked to the riverbank, studying the calm waters. The river was quite murky and barely flowed, with a very smooth surface. It was a clear and sunny day, yet not a single crocodile was out sunning itself, suggesting there were no crocodiles in the river¡ªprobably other creatures were responsible. Maybe it was a large catfish as the viewers suggested, but it wasn''t certain. "In Africa''s freshwater, besides crocodiles, there are plenty of fierce creatures, like the African Tigerfish or African Giant Catfish¡ªit could be any of them; they often ambush small animals by the shore." Bi Fang scanned the water surface for a long while, not observing anything noteworthy; he lacked x-ray vision and was just curious. Taking this opportunity, he also educated his audience about many common dangers in African rivers. "When you encounter rivers and pools in Africa, don''t let your guard down, thinking you can replenish fresh water. There are many dangers lurking in these rivers. Let''s not even mention crocodiles, which everyone understands, but take, for example, the African Tigerfish I just mentioned¡ªwith its full set of sharp teeth, it can grow up to one and a half meters in length and even hunt in pairs. It''s not to be underestimated." "Besides these big guys, there are also a lot of small creatures that are invisible to the eye, such as the Onchocerca volvulus, a well-known parasite." "In the year 2015, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine drew all the domestic audience''s attention to Professor TYY''s artemisinin, and many overlooked the fact that the Nobel Prize that year wasn''t awarded to just Professor TYY; there were three laureates." "The other two laureates were Satoshi ¨­mura from Japan and William C. Campbell from Ireland, and these two scientists were awarded for the same achievement¡ªthe discovery of an effective treatment for parasitic infections. They collaborated to isolate a novel bacterium, called Ivermectin, which significantly reduced the incidence of Onchocerca volvulus infections." "Onchocerca volvulus is a parasite that lives under human skin and can cause serious eye damage and even blindness. When it affects the eyes, patients may show symptoms such as inflammation, discharge, immobility of the eyeball, and even visible adult worms wriggling just beneath the surface of the eye." "This parasite is transmitted through the bite of blackflies, which breed in fast-flowing streams. The dark brown or black blood-sucking flies serve as the intermediate host for Onchocerca volvulus, making residents living near rivers more susceptible to this parasite. Hence, the disease caused by this worm is often referred to as River Blindness." Upon hearing this, many viewers shuddered, feeling as if their own eyes were itching and couldn''t resist the urge to rub them. The calm and murky water surface added a thick layer of mysterious terror to the African Savanna. [It made my heart skip a beat] [Is it really that scary?] [Damn, that''s so dangerous. Home is safe after all. It''s true what they say, don''t venture into the wilderness if it''s not necessary] "Hahaha, the wild isn''t that scary. You just need to be a little more cautious. But I''d still advise everyone not to enter the water in the wild lightly, as you never know if there are any strange big monsters or little critters inside that could cause terrible consequences to your body." After a brief admonition, Bi Fang glanced twice at the water surface, but in the end, he still didn''t find anything and turned to collect the spoils of this hunt. It is not uncommon for the young of terrestrial animals to be eaten by aquatic creatures. Bi Fang quickly approached the Turn-horned Antelope he had hunted, only to find a large hole in its body, through which he could faintly see the dark red viscera. The spear that had pierced it lay on the ground nearby. Even with its body impaled, the Turn-horned Antelope hadn''t died immediately but had struggled to run a distance further. The wooden spear had passed through its body and stuck in the ground, which showed the force of Bi Fang''s thrust had been substantial. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As it ran forward, the ground created some resistance and, lubricated by blood, the smooth spear fell out of the Turn-horned Antelope''s body, coated in red blood. "We must quickly collect the spoils and take them away; otherwise, it''s not safe on the African Savanna. At any moment, we might encounter other predators." Bi Fang pulled out his dagger, and instead of bleeding the animal first, he cut open its abdomen. In an instant, a mass of viscera, covered in slime and blood, slipped out. Among the many intestines, Bi Fang accurately located the stomach. A strong stench rapidly pervaded the air, almost making one vomit, but Bi Fang endured it with more pressing matters awaiting him. "Obtaining the necessary salt from the blood is a common practice among carnivores. Compared to other body parts, the blood contains a slightly higher concentration of salt. I''m going to collect the blood from these two animals as a salt supplement, and for that, we need containers¡ªnamely, their stomachs." "The stomachs are flexible, well-sealed, and don''t easily release odors, making them ideal containers. I''ve always used them this way, only before I was carrying water, and now, blood." Having finished with one, Bi Fang moved to the other animal, which had been bitten in the throat by Harley and was no longer convulsing. Using the same method, he quickly found what he needed, then cleaned up by the river. After another rinse with his own clean water, he had two clean containers. Feeling along the animal''s neck, Bi Fang found the artery''s location and made a cut. At the same time, he held the stomach underneath to catch the blood, watching as it gushed out and poured into the stomach. ``` Bi Fang soon collected two heavy bags of blood. Tying a knot, the next step was to collect meat and some useful parts. Next to him, Harley gnawed directly at the prey that had been gutted, also knowing where the best taste was, going straight for the liver, and Bi Fang did not stop him. "We can''t take the game with us; it''s too heavy, and the smell of blood is too strong. We can only choose the places with the best cost-performance ratio¡ªliver, fatty meat, tenderloin, and the like." In the wilderness, there is no talk of waste, as many animals go hungry. "Right, and the fur and brain matter, it still gets a bit cold at night. If we had two furs, that would be even better, greatly improving comfort and insulation." The body structure of mammals is almost all the same, and when it comes to butchering these animals, Bi Fang''s skill was almost at the level of an expert chef, the whole process smooth and pleasing to the eye. Now, he didn''t even need to hang the game. With a stab of his dagger, the skin separated easily from the flesh. The spine muscles clearly separated, cutting out two long strips of tenderloin, bright red and soft. Although tenderloin does not have much fat, even arguably the least, from a cost-efficiency standpoint it wasn''t really worth it. The same weight of tenderloin does not provide more energy than the meat from other parts, but you can''t beat how delicious it is! Wild animals have well-developed muscles, and if not stewed, the meat is often too tough, with tenderloin being somewhat softer in comparison, a small consolation, and a rare delicacy in the wilderness. By the time the meat had all been cut and two large pelts rolled up, Harley, too, had finished eating, his beard still dripping with blood. Bi Fang quickly left the scene with him, and not long after they left, a few coyotes arrived at the side of the two gutted turn-horned antelopes, feasting happily, but before they could eat much, a group of fiercer spotted hyenas arrived. The spotted hyenas ruthlessly drove away the small wolves and took possession of the two fresh kills, tearing into them with relish. The last to arrive, the savannah monitors, could only watch from afar as the spotted hyenas ate their fill before sneaking up to squabble with the coyotes returning to scavenge the leftovers. By evening, flies had already settled on the stinking corpses, a large number of ants and reptiles moved underneath, and vultures that had been waiting for a while flapped their wings and landed, picking out the easy-to-tear rotting flesh to enjoy their evening meal. Perhaps in three days, there would only be two piles of white bones left here. The campfire burned brightly, and two large turn-horned antelope furs were stretched over a square frame, smeared with brain matter and warm water, set on the ground, slowly being smoked. A skewer of tenderloin was threaded onto a smooth stick stripped of bark, sizzling and smoking under the flames, emitting an irresistible aroma. The wooden bowl nearby had just been taken off, waiting to cool down, the fresh water inside still bubbling and casting steamy waves of heat. The newly made wooden spears were evenly thick and neatly arranged on one side. Stones were stacked in a circle, an adequately sized pit was dug out, and the hut was constructed to form a complete roof with thick leaves spread underneath. The backpack lay on the ground, pressing down several tender shoots. The wet season had only started a few days ago, and the originally yellow African Savanna was already sprouting tender shoots. Another beautiful day. With everything packed away, Bi Fang sat by the campfire, enjoying tonight''s dinner. ``` Chapter 875 871: Reserve a Spot I''ll save a spot here, Finish editing before 3 AM, Just to prevent piracy. So busy these past couple of days, almost everyone at home has gone yang, got to wear masks even inside... --- "Ah, this is the life!" Bi Fang took a bite of meat, tenderloin nestled near the spine, often stretched, free of any sinew or fascia, making it exceptionally tender, a burst of flavor with each bite. A hint of smoky aroma lingered before his lips and teeth, dispersing the slight chill of the savanna night. The wooden bowl beside him now held water warmed to the perfect temperature. He took a sip, feeling entirely at ease, as though a breath of fresh air had traveled from his Heavenly Spirit Cover straight down to his tailbone. The cheetah, Harley, let out a meow, unfortunately, Bi Fang didn''t share any morsels of meat with it. The creature had its fill of raw food at noon; it was merely being greedy now, not warranting any attention. After finishing off the entire skewer of meat on the branch, Bi Fang felt his belly swell, a rare indulgence in good food led to overeating, and his stomach worked overtime to convert the meat into energy, continuously flowing into his limbs and body. It was somewhat cold when night had just fallen, but now he was feeling quite warm, even sweating a little. [Eat big chunks of meat, drink big sips of water (joking)] [Envious, outdoor barbecue] [That''s the real deal, going into the wilderness and not getting eaten is already a win] Under the envious gaze of his audience, who had just enjoyed an outdoor barbecue, Bi Fang came to two dry deer hides, scraping repeatedly with a small piece of wood across the skin to ensure no residual fat or subcutaneous tissue remained. This process would enhance the overall quality of the hides, achieving a softer touch in the end. Having done all that, Bi Fang added some wood to the fire, adjusted the hides to ensure they wouldn''t catch fire, then he took the wooden bowl, poured in some water and fat, ready to render some grease. The animal was a treasure from head to toe, two turn-horned antelopes greatly enriched Bi Fang''s resources, whether food or tools. Setting the wooden bowl over the fire, Bi Fang stripped off excess tissue, tied it with tree rope, and hung it above the campfire to smoke. During the day, the temperature on the African Savanna hovered around twenty degrees Celsius, and without some processing, food would easily spoil at such temperatures, becoming inedible, especially with various mosquitoes and insects on the savanna which could infect the meat with unknown viruses and parasite eggs with just one bite. "The mosquitoes in Africa are infamous, so we should try to avoid lingering by rivers or forests, and if you''re here on vacation, you can use insecticide, but remember, using it can harm the environment and increase mosquito drug resistance, so it''s best to use it as little as possible." "Also, wear light-colored, long-sleeved clothing to cover your skin as much as possible, and when camping, use mosquito nets and coils, the ones soaked in insecticide work best." "If you''re not a tourist, but a stranded traveler, actually, a long time ago, I demonstrated some techniques for this situation, like rubbing red clay. You can dig up the soil to find it, dry it simply, sterilize, and then apply it directly to your skin. For better results, add some aromatic substances or specific plants to the clay, like this one." Bi Fang pulled out a piece of branch from his backpack, the leaves were clearly left on purpose. When he took it out, the Gambian pouched rat Jerry was still hanging on the branch, evidently he had just been fiddling with the leaves, up to who knows what. [What''s this?] [Another plant I don''t recognize] [Master Fang always picks some weird stuff to keep in his backpack, could be spices, could be herbs; I''m used to it now.] It''s not every time something is picked that there''s an opportunity to explain. Many times, Bi Fang would come across some useful plants, either while explaining a certain knowledge point or completing a task. As a professional, he would instinctively pick and store them in his pouch, only recalling to explain to the audience when he needed to use them, just like now. He found this plant not far from the Turn-horned Antelope herd, shortly after collecting his spoils, he picked it and left in a hurry to leave, not having time to explain to the audience. "What I have in my hand is a section of a branch from the ''Mosquito-Repellent Tree,'' its leaves contain a substance called ''Citronellal,'' which is a natural mosquito-repelling organic compound." S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Under high temperatures, ''Citronellal'' is released from the leaves into the air, thus achieving the effect of repelling mosquitoes." "Many Africans build their houses under this kind of tree to avoid mosquitoes, and I reckon that''s what that group of Turn-horned Antelopes thought too, when they gathered near that tree." Plants that can repel mosquitoes often do more than that; they can also drive away flies, lice, or other small insects. Especially in places like the riverbank, many animals will unconsciously go to areas with fewer mosquitoes. "If you can''t find red clay or distinguish the plants, there''s one last simple method, and that is to find the dung of herbivorous animals and smear it on your body, which can achieve a similar effect, and the general African people use cow dung." Bi Fang picked a few leaves from the Mosquito-Repellent Tree, tore off the outer film, and rubbed it directly onto his skin, smearing it so that the juice came out, along with a faint fragrance in the air. Especially on his cheeks and arms, he rubbed repeatedly to make sure they were coated with enough scented substances. Now, he could finally have a good night''s sleep. The previous few nights had been cold, and Bi Fang was dressed very neatly, yet he couldn''t escape the buzzing sound in his ears. Not until the fat had also been rendered and all the work was nearly done, did Bi Fang turn off the live broadcast and, accompanied by Harley, slowly slip into dreams. Plants often have an incredibly vigorous vitality; the next morning, as Bi Fang looked out over the savanna, he could already see the thin greenery, not sure if it was due to the arrival of the wet season or because he and the leopard had gradually moved to a different area. [Morning, Master Fang, what are we doing today?] [Are we going hunting again?] "Hunting is not urgent for now; we still haven''t sorted out our spoils." After cleaning himself, Bi Fang poured out the hardened fat, mixed it with wood ash and leaves from the Mosquito-Repellent Tree, and made a bar of soap at the correct ratio. Its use was obvious¡ªfor cleaning the body. During the many days of travel, Bi Fang had yet to bathe, and he was very uncomfortable. But first, he needed a water storage container. The rivers in Africa were not safe to enter, so he had to heat water in a container for washing. Bi Fang had containers, like kettles and stomach pouches, but they were all too small for bathing and too bothersome, and the stomach pouch was currently filled with clotted blood, which was even more of a problem. "I''m planning to make a pottery jar; first, I need to see if there''s any clay nearby." [This scene seems familiar.] [I remember, a pottery was made when we did iron smelting.] [That''s why it looks so familiar.] [I''m going to check out the highlights from the past.] Bi Fang started looking around the campsite. He needed a pottery jar, not necessarily for the luxury of bathing; there were many other uses for it, so it wouldn''t go to waste. "Pottery crafting is among the earliest technologies developed in human culture, with many containers still in use today being made with natural river bed clay, combined with the simplest handcrafting and firing techniques. The containers you make yourself might be rough, but they will serve as your cooking and dining tools, and also for boiling water for baths." "In a wilderness survival environment, you can''t buy ready-made clay, but you can find many natural materials readily available around you." "Most clay is formed after granite is weathered by wind and sun, and it can be found almost anywhere; however, it''s best to dig at river bends to find clean, unstained clay, because the best clay deposits are likely to be found there." Bi Fang arrived next to yesterday''s river. This wasn''t where the hunting had taken place, and after checking for safety, he found a good spot and started digging, quickly finding clay. Bi Fang had already demonstrated the production process earlier, but considering some people might not know, he went over it again. To make pottery, a high temperature for the flame isn''t required; you don''t need a blast furnace or charcoal. Just dig a pit, and plenty of firewood will be enough. "The tricky part comes with shaping. Small pots can be handcrafted directly, but not large pots. If they''re not smooth enough, they''re prone to cracking during firing, so we have a little trick, which is to roll the clay into smooth, rounded strips and stack them, layer by layer. This can prevent explosions due to lack of smoothness to some extent." "Ah, a new method." "I haven''t learned this one!" "Another day of gaining knowledge, take notes, take notes!" "Kid, pay attention, you''ve got stuff to learn." Many viewers who had watched the iron smelting episode were also piqued with curiosity. Another brand-new trick. Just when the audience thought they had learned all of Master Fang''s tricks, he always came up with something new and novel. Bi Fang found a clean, tidy stone slab, remoistened the sun-dried clay, turned it into pottery clay, and slowly stacked it up, starting with a round clay base, forming long strips with his hands, bit by bit. "Between each layer of strips, you must join them carefully so that there are seemingly no crevices, making it seem like one whole piece." Bi Fang''s technique was, of course, good. Through the layers of kneading, the pot began taking shape, showing no signs that it had been assembled from long strips. Soon, a pot roughly the size of a common pickling jar slowly formed under Bi Fang''s hands. After a bit of sun exposure to harden the pot, Bi Fang placed it directly into the pit, filled it with dry wood, and lit a fire. The wet yellow pot, baking in the flames, quickly paled in color. By the time Bi Fang took it out, it was almost completed. "Normally, it would require several days of drying before firing, otherwise it is prone to cracking. But I''m after speed, and I have plenty of raw materials. Making one isn''t hard, so I just fired it directly. Now it seems alright." Bi Fang poured some water into it, and it was watertight. "Handicraft master!" "Craftsmen on B Island feel totally outmatched compared to Master Fang!" "When it comes to crafting, Master Fang is the real deal." "Master Fang, teach me your skills!" "I want to learn handicrafts too (Dog''s head)." "I have a feeling what you guys are talking about isn''t quite proper." "Grasping and squeezing, rolling and shaping." Now with a large container, it was finally possible to boil water. Unfortunately, it had to cool down, another long wait. So it wasn''t until the afternoon that Bi Fang soaped up and had a reasonably warm bath. Fortunately, there was no time display on the mission, so there was no rush. Bi Fang planned to continue staying there today, exploring around the camp to see if there was anything useful. Indeed, there was a find. An extremely huge and incongruent tree burst from the horizon into everyone''s sight. The trunk of this tree was very thick and short, resembling an entire loaf of bread, and up at the crown, it branched off sparsely, draped with huge nests. Brown little birds flitted in and out, making it seem like the tree crown had received a rather unflattering haircut. "Hey, I think I''ve seen this tree before." "Looks familiar, but I can''t quite name it." "I know it, it''s a baobab tree!" "Geez, I finally recognize something." "That bird''s nest is so freaking huge!" "What bird is this? I think I''ve seen it before." "Not sure, but I''ve seen it on a nature show." "It''s a baobab tree, and up there are weaver birds." Bi Fang beamed with a large smile, delighted by the scene. It''s mainly about encountering another fascinating creature. "On travels in Africa, it''s common to see a tree with large communal bird nests, which are the creations of weaver birds. They are sizeable and look similar to sparrows. They weave their pendulous, oval nests from grass stems, leaves, willow fibers, etc., hanging from tree branches. Due to their communal nature, their nests keep joining together, making for an impressive sight." "The world''s largest bird nest is located in a desert in South Africa. It is said to be 6 meters long, 4 meters wide, and 2 meters tall, housing at least 500 nesting birds, which is quite frightening. It''s like putting a hat on the tree." "That''s my darling covered in hats." "Holy, five hundred birds??" "Can all of them fit in?" "How bad must it smell inside?" "Such a novel angle." "Snake: Is this the cafeteria?" "What''s this baobab tree then? Not going to explain?" "I remember the baobab tree is quite useful, right Master Fang?" "That''s right," Bi Fang nodded. "The baobab tree is so useful; it can quench thirst and satisfy hunger for travelers. Look at its trunk, it''s thick, isn''t it?" Everyone nodded involuntarily. Bi Fang stood under the baobab tree''s crown, appearing quite small in comparison. It was so thick it seemed it would take at least ten people to encircle it. "No matter where a baobab tree grows, even though all have thick trunks, to survive through the dry season, the wood is exceptionally porous: tough on the outside but soft on the inside." "This type of wood is most efficient at storing water. During the rainy season, it uses its bulky form and soft wood to replace the root system, soaking up and storing large quantities of water." "Its woody part is like a porous sponge filled with plenty of water. When the dry season comes, to minimize water evaporation, it quickly sheds all its leaves and slowly uses the stored water." "After it has absorbed enough moisture, it sprouts leaves and produces large white flowers. It is said to store thousands of kilograms, even more, of water, truly a water tower of the wilderness." "And that''s just its hydrating function. According to reports, its fruit is also very tasty, resembling the taste of bread, which is why it is named with the word ''bread'' in it." Chapter 876 876: 872 Chapter: Holding a Spot I''ll get a spot. I''ll finish editing before 3 am. -- The Baobab Tree, scientifically known as the Baobab Tree, has a very unique shape. Its round trunk resembles a water bucket, and the huge treetop canopy has branches that twist and turn in bizarre formations, making the overall shape look like an upside-down carrot planted in the ground. It can grow very large, with a diameter that can exceed 12 meters, requiring more than 40 people to join hands to circle around it. However, most Baobab Trees are not very tall, only about 10 meters. It could be said that every part of it is valuable; if every person in Africa had a 10-meter-tall Baobab Tree, their food problems could be solved by at least half. The Baobab Tree before us does not have such an exaggerated diameter, but standing at its base, it still looks majestic, like a stone wall painted with white ash blocking our path. However, at this moment, the audience was more curious about the bread-tasting fruits that Bi Fang mentioned. [Is it really bread-flavored?] [Nature truly knows no bounds; to have such a tree is amazing.] [Short and stout, it looks so cute.] [Birds are quite smart too, with such a thick trunk, snakes can''t climb up, making it an invincible position!] Snakes can be considered predators for most birds, especially as they are fond of eggs. On grasslands where trees are scarce, every few dozen meters, there is just one Baobab Tree. Its thick trunk alone makes it impossible for snakes to coil around and climb, and there are no other trees nearby to move over from close branches. It must be said that it indeed is a great place to build nests, no wonder massive nests can accumulate. "Whether it tastes like bread, I don''t know; only tasting it will reveal the truth." Bi Fang said with a smile, shaking his head. Wilderness survival is a skill that, once mastered, can apply to many scenarios. Solving problems relies on methods and techniques, not by finding identical problems to apply set solutions, as that would never result in passing. Bi Fang was knowledgeable about various plants, as familiar as his own family, but it was knowledge, not practical experience. Bi Fang knew about many plants¡ªwhat they look like, their uses, effects, and scents¡ªbut in reality, he might never have seen some, like the Baobab Tree; he only knew it was supposed to taste like bread because of what he had learned. Now, a great opportunity for practical experience was right in front of him. Baobab Trees bear flowers and fruits in October. And it was October now. On the short branches, apart from a giant bird nest, several deep blue-colored fruits were hanging on the big tree, very large in size. It was indeed a fortunate time. "It''s lucky to encounter a Baobab Tree in the grassland. Many people in their whole lives never see one, let alone taste its fruit." No sooner said than done, Bi Fang took a rope from his waist, tied a fist-sized stone on the end, and tried throwing it onto a branch. The Baobab Tree was too large, and its trunk too smooth, making climbing unrealistic; ropes or ladders were the only options. Luckily, although the trunk was thick, the tree itself was not tall, looking like a big belly beer barrel. From a distance, it didn''t even seem like the tree was growing from the ground, but rather sticking out of a huge bellied vase, hence its nickname "Bottle Tree." After several tries, Bi Fang successfully threw the stone over a branch. After lowering and twisting the rope, Bi Fang grabbed it and started climbing directly up the trunk. Below, Harley sat down, yawned, looked around boredly, maintaining a slight vigilance. After so many days of surviving in the wilderness, Harley realized the dangers present on the prairie, including days of insufficient food, far from the comforts of his previous life. Holding the hemp rope in his hands, Bi Fang slowly made his way to the treetops. Faced with the unexpected visit of a "giant," all the weaver birds in the nest became agitated and rapidly flew out from various exits, one shadow after another swiftly passing before his eyes. Such a large number of birds frightened Jerry on his shoulder so much that he burrowed into his chest and didn''t dare to show his head. Bi Fang, quick-eyed and swift-handed, actually managed to catch one under the watchful eyes of everyone and subsequently stuffed it into his pocket. "Weaver birds are numerous; we can also look for bird eggs, stewing them for soup tonight wouldn''t be bad." [Holy shit, catching birds barehanded, that''s too badass] [This shit, I only see afterimages, how could he catch one?] [Inescapable Net, huh? (Dog''s head)] [I''m reporting, Master Fang is cheating in martial arts training!] Despite Bi Fang''s repeatedly astonishing feats, every time he performed one, it still shocked loads of people. Weaver birds belong to a social species, which is relatively rare among birds. Their nests, constructed like community apartments, unfortunately have few exits but many birds, making it impossible for them to all fly out at once. Bi Fang, having bagged one, continued to guard the entrance. As the comments suggested, if a snake really did crawl in there, it would indeed be like entering a grand cafeteria, feasting for free. With dynamic vision and nerve reflex, catching these birds as they emerged from the hole felt divinely aided, as if predestined to land right into his palm. When no more birds flew out, a total of eight weaver birds lay in Bi Fang''s bag. These birds, only slightly smaller than a pigeon, were great whether barbecued or stewed in a soup. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Dodged snakes but not Old Fang] [Weaver Birds: 6] [Want to taste what it''s like] [This nest is really big, never seen such a huge bird''s nest, really impressive] "There are so many at one exit, conservatively estimating there are over a hundred weaver birds living inside, nearly one hundred fifty, making it quite a large family." After he was done, Bi Fang didn''t forget to reach into the nest, and indeed he pulled out quite a few bird eggs. Many avian species, unlike mammals, don''t need a specific season to lay eggs; often, as long as there is food, they can lay eggs, which didn''t surprise Bi Fang. Even if they didn''t manage to get the baobab fruit, just these eight birds, coupled with a bunch of small bird eggs, was already a huge profit. It was unfortunate that they might not encounter such a great opportunity again. After zipping up his backpack to prevent the not-yet-dead weaver birds from escaping, Bi Fang moved along the branches to the ends, took down the tree stick from behind him and struck at fruit as large as papayas. It didn''t take many hits for one to break off. Under the force of gravity, the fruit naturally fell, hitting the ground and leaving a small dent. Harley beneath the tree was startled by the suddenly falling fruit, carefully stepping forward to sniff it, and before he could discern any scent, another fruit fell right beside him. Frightened, the cheetah immediately left the tree, running ten meters away. Only after Bi Fang had knocked down seven or eight fruits and called out from below the tree did it dare to approach slightly. "Cowardly." Bi Fang knocked its head, using a rope to tie the fruits together, preparing to directly hang them from his body shortly. Each of these fruits were as large as a big papaya, too big to fit in a bag, so he had to use this method. Additionally, Bi Fang collected quite a few tree leaves. "Baobab leaves contain rich vitamins and calcium, and their fresh tender leaves are a favorite vegetable among the locals. The leaves can be used in a soup or as feed for horses; after drying and pulverizing the leaves, they can be used as seasoning." "The fruits that bloom aren''t worth mentioning, as their seeds themselves can be dried and used as coffee beans." Leaves are edible too? Coffee beans? And they have so many other uses? "Not only that, Baobab Trees are hollow inside, and many people even carve a door in them and live inside." [Damn, this tree is so useful?] [Let me count, it can store water, its fruits and leaves are edible, and it can even serve as a house, it''s a treasure tree!] [That''s kind of awesome...] "Such a huge gain." Bi Fang looked at the tree before him, genuinely feeling joyful. If it weren''t for the need to continue carrying on, living directly in this Baobab Tree would completely eliminate any worry about food. The eight fruits he picked were just a small portion of the ones still hanging on the tree. Finally, Bi Fang came beside the tree, pulled out his dagger, and stuck it in, preparing to extract some water to drink. Usually, getting fresh water was troublesome, and one couldn''t drink freely, but now that he had the chance, of course, he indulged. The water stored inside the trunk was filtered by the tree itself, and there was absolutely no need to boil it for sterilization. The bark of the Baobab Tree wasn''t hard, and the dagger easily penetrated it, only then did the people understand how exaggerated the so-called "water tower" really was. Just making a small incision with the dagger caused water to burst forth continuously! Bi Fang quickly took out his canteen to catch it, and after the tree slowly self-healed and the flow of sap diminished, he drank all the water in his canteen in one go. A faint acidic taste, a thin sweetness, a rather complex flavor spread in his mouth and was not unpleasant. [How is it, what does it taste like?] [Definitely tastes like water] [Just giving it a 6] [I want to drink it too] [That''s a lot of water output, isn''t it?] [It''s a bit outrageous, wasn''t it supposed to absorb water, how does it feel like it''s hollow inside?] "Actually, it doesn''t have much flavor, too diluted, almost like plain water, but it''s not unpleasant." Bi Fang offered his verdict. If the flavor had been strong, that would have been fine, but the problem was that it was too diluted, which gave it a bit of a strange mix, but it was still okay. "When it comes to being hollow, that''s actually not bad either, since a Baobab Tree itself is filled with water, not much different from a water tower, and because of the Baobab Tree''s strong survival capabilities, carving a hole for water doesn''t endanger the life of the tree, so the local villagers can cyclically utilize the water from the Baobab Tree." "Some even make holes directly at the top of the tree, and when they run out of water, they use buckets to collect it." [That''s outrageous] [It would be great if they could be planted on a large scale] [Too bad that''s not possible, otherwise, we wouldn''t have never seen them] [Speaking of which, are Baobab fruits available in the market?] [I don''t know, but as long as you have the money, there''s nothing you can''t buy] "Alright, we''ve explored enough, let''s head back quickly." Ben thought about checking the area around the campsite, but unexpectedly came across a baobab tree and a large nest of weaver birds, which was a delightful surprise. Bi Fang couldn''t contain his excitement, thinking about quickly returning to the campsite to pack up and try the taste of the baobab fruit to see if it was as delicious as people said. Harley was equally enthusiastic. How tasty the baobab fruit was, he didn''t know, but he could clearly see the birds stuffed in Bi Fang''s backpack. He wondered what it tasted like. The little cheetah didn''t have such complex thoughts; it just thought about what it could eat today. Its brain couldn''t support too complicated thinking; before it figured it out, a large hand pressed down on it, followed by a startled cry. "Black Rhino!" The cheetah was clueless; it didn''t understand human language, but when Harley lifted his head and saw the pitch-black massive figure in the nearby bushes, its animal instinct made it involuntarily want to retreat. Bi Fang glanced at the retreating Harley, feeling very reassured, "Not bad." When danger approached, Harley still managed to sense it. Compared to Bi Fang''s actions at that moment, the audience was only left with awe. "Damn, a black rhino!" "Damn, it''s huge!" "Man, that''s too big, isn''t it?" "Black rhino armor, combine!" Bi Fang and the cheetah quietly lay down, while the drone nearby swiftly moved forward, going deeper into the bushes to capture more detailed footage. Its massive body, sharp horn, thick shoulder plate, from any aspect, it was a destroyer. If it were in a zoo, it would naturally look mighty and robust, with a hint of clumsiness, but in the wilderness, it brought a strong sense of threat, somewhat heart-racing. Not to mention its peculiarities, the rhino is currently the second largest land animal after the elephant, nearly 5 meters in length and weighing up to 6 tons. Just this ridiculous weight could crush a person with one buttock. Faced with a creature that could potentially explode and take one''s life at any moment, how could the audience not be afraid? Bi Fang, however, was very enthusiastic and happy, "To actually encounter a black rhino, our luck is really good!" For others, encountering a black rhino in the wild required caution and fear, but for him, as long as he was careful, it was a learning experience and an adventurous journey. "Old Fang, you really aren''t afraid of death, are you?" "What''s there to fear, standing before you is the king of world adventurers, the world''s top jungler, a warrior who fought a black bear with his bare hands, just a black rhino, that''s all." "My perspective was too small." "I''ll go solo." "Black rhinos used to be found in most areas south of the Sahara Desert in Africa, but now their range has shrunk to southern Africa and Kenya." "Now the entire African population of black rhinos doesn''t exceed four thousand, roughly about three thousand only, with the subspecies in West Africa already extinct. To encounter one is certainly good luck, as it''s not something you can see just anywhere." Bi Fang''s tone was slightly excited. Rhinos mostly live solitary lives, with little contact between individuals, only white rhinos live in groups of about 10, mostly avoiding humans unless searched by drones, it was already difficult to see them on the savannah. "Moreover, although it is very large, we needn''t worry too much, as rhinos are generally placid animals and don''t easily fight." "Male rhinos during mating season, and female rhinos nursing young rhinos can easily be provoked, and should not be intentionally antagonized." "Despite their bulky size, they can still move or run at a fairly fast pace, even through thorny thickets, for example, the African black rhino can reach speeds of up to 45 kilometers an hour over short distances, thus adult rhinos apart from humans have no enemies." "But this point is actually the same for all animals, an instinct to better survive." Chapter 877 873: Reserve a Spot It was time for the slot-occupying segment. Occupying a slot to ensure perfect attendance, finished before three in the morning. -- Without personal experience, it''s often hard to understand the oppressive feeling that the enormous size of a rhino can bring. Especially those sharp, long horns, a bump from those could easily skewer someone completely through, even if it didn''t split them into two halves. Because of this, Bi Fang didn''t rashly get closer. [System: "Feels like a poke would be the end."] [System: "Self-explanatory, remove the feeling."] [System: "Why do I feel it''s cute (eating a lollipop)"] [System: "What a pity, I heard there used to be rhinos in ancient Huaxia too."] [System: "Indeed there were, but it seems they became extinct around the early 20th century."] Perhaps influenced by what Bi Fang called his luck, the viewers in the live stream became very curious about the sudden appearance of the large creature, their interest peaked. "Harley is very smart; it quickly understood my body language," Bi Fang said happily, petting the cheetah''s head while the black rhino drew most of the attention. But he was also careful not to forget about the cheetah next to him. [System: "What do you mean?"] [System: "What did Harley do?"] [System: "Don''t know."] [System: "Is it because it''s perfectly cowardly? (amused)"] Bi Fang laughed, "You could say that, it being perfectly cowardly." Upon seeing the black rhino, Bi Fang''s first instinct was to shrink his body, squat down, and hide his form. When he did this, Harley instinctively grasped the meaning and made the same choice, attempting to back away. At this moment, Harley''s posture, with its butt sticking up higher, clearly wasn''t an offensive stance but one where it felt threatened and wanted to retreat, similar to a cat puffing up its fur. Bi Fang continued, "Knowing when to advance or retreat, being afraid, this is a very crucial point in wilderness survival. Don''t overestimate your strength, and live simply if you can." "I always say that feeling fear isn''t something shameful; rather, it''s a good thing, a very crucial point in the evolution of living organisms." [System: "Makes sense."] [System: "Like a combat power warning device, right?"] [System: "I especially love watching Master Fang''s live streams, not for anything else, just because he speaks so nicely, hehehe."] The arrival of the rainy season was very apparent on the savannah, or perhaps it was just that the grass up north was more lush; the bushes grew very vigorously. When Bi Fang and Harley squatted down, they could almost completely hide, showing only their heads. The black rhino did not notice the two "little guys" sneakily observing it from a short distance away. As a herbivore that chose to live alone, this was in itself proof of its strength. Its natural power also made this creature less vigilant; usually, as long as one didn''t jump around, it wouldn''t notice them. The green grass was vague and indistinct. Bi Fang whispered, "Seeing a black rhino in the wild, in terms of how to respond, it''s similar to when we encountered the Wild Baizhi Ox in the Banna Rainforest." "Cattle usually won''t attack animals shorter than themselves because they feel those shorter cannot threaten them. So, the moment you see a wild ox, you should lie down on the ground and slowly withdraw, which can often get you out of danger." S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Of course, if it has already locked onto you and sees you as a threat, that''s another matter." "The methods to deal with large animals are similar, and the same goes for rhinos. From this perspective, the strategies to handle herbivorous and carnivorous animals in the wild are quite opposite." "Do you remember what I always used to say? When you encounter a wild beast, don''t panic, and especially don''t run. They can smell your fear and bite down hard on your flesh." [System: "Yeah, I remember, I remember."] [System: "It is still my motto now."] [System: "What kind of motto needs this stuff?"] [System: "Maybe a backpacker.] "For both facing wild beasts, carnivores will see you as prey, so you need to appear threatening and make your body as large as possible to avoid being seen as prey." "In contrast, herbivores are not interested in you per se, so be careful not to threaten them and try to make your body as small as possible to avoid being seen as a predator." "These are points you need to keep in mind in the wild, and don''t mix them up, or else it could be disastrous." Bi Fang''s tone was serious and earnest. [System: "Mix it up and the whole village will feast."] [System: "I want to sit at the kids'' table."] [System: "Dumb, the kids'' table has parents, you won''t get much, you''d only get to eat chicken butts and necks, I suggest sitting at the old folks'' table, they can''t compete with you."] [System: "Clever point."] [System: "Learned from the master."] On the savannah, the black rhino nibbled on the tender branches of the bushes, its thick lips tirelessly rejecting. "White rhinos and black rhinos both feed on the grass of the African Savanna, but their eating methods are completely different." "The white rhino has a wide upper lip that can consume short grass, while the black rhino''s lips are more protruding, allowing it to pick tender branches and then break them with its front molars. It''s just a pity that white rhinos have already become extinct, and we won''t see such clear contrasting differences anymore." [System: "Such a pity."] [System: "Another beautiful species has decreased in the world."] "However, apart from grass, they also eat some fruits. Meeting one is fate, so let''s leave it a baobab fruit." "The baobab tree blossoms and then quickly bears fruit. The fruits mature during the rainy season and can hang on the tree, remaining until the dry season. They do not easily fall off, and since the shell is rather thick and hard, the rhino probably has never eaten this before. Let''s give it a taste." "Of course, don''t let it see us, it would be bad to leave a wrong impression on a human." It wasn''t easy to encounter a black rhino in the wild in Kenya. Bi Fang, curious, had watched for quite a while and before leaving, he took a baobab fruit off himself, cracked open the skin with a knife, pulled out the fruit, and placed it on the ground. The smell of the baobab fruit was very rich and after a few minutes, Moyo seemed to catch the fragrance. The black rhino, swaying leisurely, let go of the bush in its mouth and walked towards the baobab fruit. Seeing the fruit for the first time, it was obviously very curious. It lowered its head and sniffed for a long while, and finally started eating it with pleasure. Hidden behind the trees, Bi Fang watched the scene unfold and couldn''t help but feel delighted. He really enjoyed interacting with large animals, especially gentle giants like these, finding them quite adorable even though he hadn''t approached them directly, considering this act as a form of feeding. Walking back to the camp, Bi Fang put down everything he was carrying, plopped down on the ground, and laid out a string of baobab fruits tied with a rope. He picked one, cracked it open with the handle of his dagger, similar to cracking open a walnut. "The Chinese name for the ''baobab'' is directly translated from one of its English names, ''monkey-bread tree'', but its fruit is not used as bread or a staple food; it''s more of a snack. When people say it tastes like bread, they are referring to the flavor, not the texture, which is more like that of a fruit." "Meanwhile, the breadfruit, originally from the tropical regions of Asia and belonging to the Moraceae family, has large, starchy fruits that can actually fill you up. Its English name is ''breadfruit'', which literally means bread fruit." "However, many people get the baobab and the breadfruit trees mixed up, when in fact, they are distant relatives with no close connections at all, much like fish and whales." The baobab fruit is elongated and oval-shaped, gray-white in color, and about thirty centimeters long; when split in half, it measures about fifteen centimeters. Once cracked open, it''s clear that the fruit is very juicy, glowing slightly, and has a pale yellow color similar to that of cheese butter, which looks quite appetizing. Bi Fang scraped off a piece with his knife and tasted it carefully. "The flesh is juicy, slightly gelatinous, and tart. As for a bread-like flavor, I don''t really taste it." The flesh was sour, which didn''t surprise Bi Fang at all; he was mentally prepared for it. A lot of chemical processes involved in biological metabolism deal with various acids, like the famous citric acid cycle in cellular respiration. Fruits also contain these, mostly from various intermediates in metabolic processes like citric acid. As the fruits ripen, these acidic molecules are gradually metabolized; they are all organic acids. These acidic substances are initially essential for metabolic processes, and their abundance in unripe fruits naturally deters animals from eating them. So, essentially, any edible fruit in nature is likely to be sour to some degree. Not tasting the bread flavor was somewhat disappointing for Bi Fang. Bi Fang speculated, "If pushed, maybe this tartness mixed with an abundance of yeast, like in overly fermented bread, might be somewhat similar? That''s probably where the bread flavor comes from?" "Juicing it could work, adding some sugar for a sweet and sour taste." [Wow, sour bread!] [Damn, now I think I know what it tastes like.] Bi Fang didn''t discard the fruit''s outer shell. The shell also serves as a good water container and can be used as a ladle. "Although it didn''t taste great, baobab fruit has significant medicinal value. I heard that the locals, due to their prolonged use of baobab fruits, rarely suffer from stomach cancer." "Moreover, it can be used as a medicinal food, with anti-inflammatory, fever-reducing, and malaria-treating properties." "The texture might be a bit off, but it''s high in calcium and antioxidants, with three times the vitamin C content of oranges. If mixed with other grains, it can aid in weight loss, earning it the title of ''superfruit'' by many." If these descriptions seemed normal, what Bi Fang said next was somewhat shocking. "The most impressive thing is, it contains several natural hormones needed by the human body. For women, it can help balance internal secretions and enhance fertility. Locals apply it on their chest to promote secondary development." "For men, it''s almost a must-eat item for the local men in Africa, as it helps in the division and maturation of spermatogonia, thereby boosting the levels of male hormones and increasing the secretion, enhancing, you know, certain functions." "Men apply it too, and, well, where they apply it¡ªyou know what I mean¡ªfor promoting hormone secretion and secondary development, that''s roughly it. Both men and women in Africa highly regard it." Many listeners were left dumbfounded. "[Those who understand, understand]" "[Damn, where can I buy this stuff? I need ten pounds of it, not for any other reason, just to help my wife get healthier]" "[Helping my wife get healthier, plus one]" "[Bro, I trust you]" "[Already looked for it, but only found dried fruit, seems like there are no fresh ones]" Talking about other subjects didn''t really interest the audience, but as soon as it shifted to this topic, they got excited. Bi Fang didn''t say much, although his live stream was almost entirely unrestricted, it was still better to say less about things that shouldn''t be discussed. He took a piece and held it up to Harley''s mouth, but unfortunately, the animal sniffed it and turned its head away, clearly uninterested in fruit. "[Hahaha, Master Fang must be out of his mind, cheetahs are carnivores, how could they possibly eat fruit?]" "[Harley: You''re giving me this?]" "[Who says that? My cat loves fruit! Especially cantaloupe!]" "[Huh?]" "[Exactly, cheetahs are just big cats, maybe they like it?]" "[I thought cats can''t taste sweetness]" "Felines are primarily carnivores, but they can sometimes indeed be interested in fruit. I know why they like cantaloupe." Bi Fang didn''t hesitate, "Ripe cantaloupe has a unique smell, made up of volatile compounds including amino acids, fatty acids, carotenoids, and terpenoids." "These amino acids and fatty acids have smells that are quite similar to those of meat, so animals think of cantaloupe as a uniquely textured ''meat'' or include it in their range of safely edible items due to its similar smell." "And I don''t know why they would like watermelon or strawberries." "However, not all fruits are safe to feed; anything related to grapes is off-limits as they might cause acute kidney injury or kidney failure in felines." "Citrus fruits are also not suitable, like oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and tangerines. They contain citrus oil and psoralen, small amounts of which can upset a feline''s gastrointestinal system, and large amounts can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, and central nervous system depression." "There''s not much else to worry about. The baobab fruit is from the bombacaceae family, so there''s no issue, but unfortunately, Harley doesn''t quite appreciate it." Since the cheetah wasn''t interested, Bi Fang simply turned and handed it to Jerry. As a fruit enthusiast, Jerry was quite delighted. He eagerly took the piece with his little hands, stuffed it into his mouth, and kept going for more, his cheeks bulging. In this respect, Gambian pouched rats and hamsters share the same taste. Having followed Bi Fang around for a couple of days, he hadn''t gotten to eat any proper fruit, only some weird tubers that were hard and tasteless. Today, finally, he had hit the jackpot. That''s why Bi Fang climbed a tree to pick baobab fruits when there was plenty of food available; he remembered he had a little critter that hadn''t gotten to eat much good food. "During several great famines in Africa''s history, this ''natural bread'' saved thousands of lives. When people traveling across the tropical savanna were dying of thirst, finding a baobab tree meant they could extract water from its trunk to survive, which is why it''s also known as the ''tree of life''." "This tree lives very long; in the 18th century, French botanist Adanson saw some baobab trees in Africa, the oldest of which was 5500 years old, and he called it the ''Sacred Tree''." After dealing with the Weaver Birds and collecting some other spoils, it was almost dark. It seemed like not much had happened throughout the day, but it was still time-consuming. However, the gains were substantial. At least for today, there was no need to worry about food; he had gathered plenty of fruit, two tanned animal hides, a large clay pot, a block of soap, and several water dippers, fully stocked up. Chapter 878 874: Reserve a Spot Reserved a spot again. Finished editing before 3 am, just refresh this chapter. --- The rough pottery jar was blackened by the flames, and the scalding boiling water emitted copious amounts of steam, gushing out towards the mouth of the jar. Four cleaned weaver birds tumbled in the pale rolling water, with occasional flecks of oil floating above, giving a glimpse of a few slices of smoked meat mixed among them. Bi Fang took out the stomach pouch, scooped the coagulated blood blocks from within, expertly cut them into small pieces with a dagger, and poured them into the jar. Under the gentle action of the water flow, the blood blocks swiftly hardened and floated erratically. Breaking open a solid baobab fruit, Bi Fang took out the pulp and dripped the sour juice into the jar while also sprinkling in a handful of spices, most of which were dried plant powders. Beside the bonfire, there were also four weaver birds just beginning to redden on the outside. Seasoned Bi Fang took this moment to flip them over, allowing the heat to spread more evenly, while also brushing on the baobab fruit juice to infuse a richer flavor. Eight weaver birds had been caught in total during the day; half stewed, half roasted, all the freshest, which made for the most satisfying meal. Bi Fang loved eating fresh, which had its own unique taste. If it weren''t for removing moisture to preserve food, he would not have smoked the remaining majority of the turn-horned antelope meat. After doing all this, Bi Fang briefly left the camera, seemingly to get something. "Looking at this is making me hungry." "Why do I feel like I''m watching the host make dinner on Wilderness Survivalist''s channel?" "Good thing I just finished my meal bowl, hehehe." "Is this the skill of Master Fang? Having nothing and still not worrying about food or clothing, even eating better than me." "Today''s boxed lunch only had two vegetables, feeling totally drained." "Quite like Master Fang''s big cat." "Next time I''ll release you into the wild." "Too bad there''s no salt, if there were salt, I feel like it would definitely taste good." "Add one, I was on a low-fat, low-salt diet last month, felt off the whole time. Even after eating to fullness, it felt like I had nothing at all." "Who said there''s no salt?" Bi Fang, who had briefly left the camera, threw a big bundle of reeds onto the ground with a boast, pointing at the scattered big bundle of reeds on the ground, "Lo and behold, isn''t this it?" Seeing the reeds on the ground, the audience slowly typed out a question mark, puzzled. Since today had been busy with claiming spoils of the hunt and the campsite had not been moved, it was still beside the river that had been found initially. Given there was a river, there naturally would be reeds, especially in this weather that was neither cold nor hot, densely covering the riverbank. The campsite was merely a few hundred meters away from the river, a distance that was neither far nor close, allowing for avoidance of drinking predators but also convenience for collecting water and other necessities. Reeds, being of little value, could be fetched in about half an hour''s walk. Previously, the audience had thought Bi Fang had brought back so many reeds to spread on the ground as a mattress, for a more comfortable sleep at night. It seemed now that might not be the case? "Could it be that salt can be extracted from these?" "There are salts in the reeds?" "No way?" "It''s plant ash salt, remember? Master Fang made it once, don''t you remember?" "Oh, I remember now, ash salt from plants and trees, but why look for reeds, can''t regular ash do the job?" "It really doesn''t work as well." Bi Fang smiled and took a torch from the fire pit, ignited the entire patch of reeds, and let them burn. "The salt extracted from the ashes of plants and trees is potassium salt, which can be edible if done properly, but it''s only effective for a short time and cannot replenish electrolytes in the body over the long term." "We eat salt, which is fundamentally sodium salt, because we need to supplement the sodium ions in our body, not just for the salty taste." Sodium plays a significant role in the human body, promoting metabolism and acting as an electrolyte to maintain stability and balance of internal cellular hydration. Sodium also participates in muscle contraction, the operation of the nervous system, and the absorption of sugars, among other physiological phenomena. Therefore, it is necessary for the human body to maintain an adequate sodium content to achieve health and balance. "Those who have studied high school biology should know that humans have sodium ion channels, as well as potassium ion channels. Although they seem similar, sodium ions have a smaller radius and are more tightly hydrated, making it difficult to shed the outer hydration layer." "Furthermore, due to its small diameter, it cannot bind well with side chains, so sodium ions cannot pass through potassium channels. The functions of the two are irreplaceable." The dry reeds were highly flammable, and as soon as they came into contact with the torch, they erupted into a roaring blaze. The night became even brighter. The large bundles of reeds quickly turned to ashes under the flames. "So you''re saying, potassium salt only serves to make food taste better and cannot be used long-term, but reeds can help us get it right in one step, providing both the needed sodium ions and the right amount of saltiness. This type of salt is called reed salt, which is a bit of a Kenyan specialty, right?" Reed salt? A specialty? [Another unheard-of thing added to my list.] [But isn''t what''s produced still plant ash? What''s the difference?] [I can''t figure it out, I can''t figure it out.] [Can salt also be considered a specialty?] "Don''t worry, you''ll understand in a moment." "We eat meat at every meal; in fact, our bodies aren''t lacking sodium. The main point is to provide everyone with a different way of thinking, while satisfying our own cravings. I''ve been without salt for so long my mouth has started to taste bland." The amount of salt found naturally in meat is sufficient for survival; in theory, as long as prey can be caught, there''s no need to go out of one''s way to make salt in the wild. But, as Bi Fang said himself, his mouth had started to taste bland. It was sufficient, but not comfortable. That''s why salt-making was necessary. Once you decide to make salt, naturally you want to do it the best way possible; otherwise, Bi Fang would have used ordinary plant ash to make salt days ago. Bi Fang poked at the reeds with a tree stick, allowing them to come into full contact with air to hasten burning while also adding more reeds. Clearly, that one bundle wasn''t quite enough. "Kenya is one of the largest countries in Africa, with vast territories and abundant resources. Making edible salt from reeds is an ancient and quite common method passed down among people." Bi Fang narrated the method of making salt. Whenever the dry season approached and rainwater was scarce, local salt-makers would choose riverbanks where reeds were plentiful in advance. Once the reeds grew over one meter tall, they would organize the whole family to harvest. The reed stems, once harvested, were placed on large, natural rocks, where the blazing sun would drain them of moisture over three to four days. Then came the burning of the reeds, collecting the remaining ashes. Salt-makers would mix the ashes with water and use a fine sieve to filter repeatedly until most of the impurities were separated out. Finally, they would pour the remaining brownish "brine" into pots and heat it up. "After multiple boilings, a layer of yellow-brown salt crust will remain at the bottom of the pot. These are the legendary ''reed salt.''" "Typically, this process takes several days. The smoky and fiery work environment is quite torturous, the yield isn''t much, and because the production technique is very primitive, the purity of the resulting salt crust is not high, and it contains a lot of impurities. Hundreds of pounds of reeds often only produce a small packet of reed salt." "As for the taste, locals say it''s delicious and has a unique fragrance." "As for why reeds can be used to make salt, it''s actually due to the soil structure in Kenya." Reeds burn very quickly, and soon this large bundle was burnt out, leaving only a pile of black ash. Taking advantage of the small flame that remained, Bi Fang threw in the second bundle. "Nearly all of Kenya''s land is unsuitable for cultivation; the vast majority of its soil is saline-alkali. Once there is insufficient rainfall, the salt content in plants like reeds can shoot up to a level that makes salt production possible." "Locals utilize these geographic and climate conditions to make salt to support their families." "In terms of the price of reed salt, it''s quite astonishing. Processed reed salt is wrapped in tree leaves for sale. A small packet of about 200 grams can usually sell for around 130 RMB, which means a meal might need more than 1 Ugly Yuan worth of reed salt, which is quite expensive." Ordinary table salt in supermarkets generally costs just two yuan a bag. Even high-end salts with added ingredients are only five to ten yuan, and those are quite substantial packets. Compared to these salts, reed salt can definitely be considered exorbitantly priced. [Wow, it really is a special product.] [So not all reeds can be used for this, right?] [Old Fang really knows a lot.] [I looked at the map the other day, isn''t Kenya on the coast? Why don''t they just use sea salt?] "That''s right, only the reeds from saline-alkali soil can be used in this way. In other places, the efficiency of extraction is too low; it''s simply not worth it." "As for why they don''t use sea salt despite being on the coast, the explanation is quite complex. To put it simply, sea salt is even more expensive!" The second bundle of reeds also burned to ash, and Bi Fang collected all the black ash, poured it into another small clay pot, added water, and began boiling it to extract the salt. At the same time, he explained some of the reasons to the audience. The most fundamental reason is that the salt production rights in Kenya are not in the hands of the government itself! From early on, Kenya was a African nation colonized by Central Country, and for a very long time, leaving an indelible impression on the country. Even today, many Kenyans express sorrow over the death of Elizabeth II, referring to themselves as "subjects." During colonial times, due to all-round intervention, many of Kenya''s capitalist interest groups were infiltrated by people from Central Country, including salt factories. Salt production and processing not being in the hands of the government¡ªwhat serious consequences that can have is made clear by history. In Huaxia, since the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the trafficking of private salt meant beheading. The reason is simple: salt is an absolute necessity among the goods traded by common people! Control of salt can indirectly control the economy and regulate market stability. Its importance goes without saying. "In 2018, Kenya asked salt companies to pay a ''seawater usage fee'' to the Water Resources Management Authority, amounting to 2 billion shillings per year." "As a result, the salt companies strongly opposed it, believing that the government had no right to charge for seawater. But Kenya disagreed, so the price of salt skyrocketed by more than ten times, until it reached a point where no one could afford it." [Goodness me.] [That''s too tragic.] [Can you even say that? (joking)] [The Third World Is Like This] The water in the pot boiled rapidly; this pit was a different one, with more firewood inside, otherwise Bi Fang worried that his weaver birds would be burnt to a crisp before the salt could be harvested. Now, only a layer of thick yellow brine remained in the earthenware pot, and Bi Fang dipped his pinkie into it, tasting it. "The saltiness is quite strong now, but it still needs to be filtered, to precipitate it further." It was a similar process, with little variance, and this time after boiling, yellow crystals could be seen on the walls of the pot. Bi Fang wasn''t fussy; he directly scraped them off and added them into the pot stewing meat, while also sprinkling some on the roasted weaver birds. "I didn''t time it well; I should have produced the salt before roasting, but no matter, let''s eat first. Although it''s not filtered perfectly, it''s not poisonous in itself." With salt, the food finally had a real soul. Roasted weaver bird changed from reddish to dark red, their exposed claws slightly blackened, turning exceptionally crispy with a bite. Delicious! Bathed in fat, the whole roasted weaver bird turned exceptionally tender and fragrant, the salty taste with a hint of fruity acidity was irresistibly appetizing. [Ah, I''m starving to death, starving to death] [This is making my mouth water] [Decided! Tomorrow I''m having roasted pigeon!] Taking out two and placing them in the calabash ladle to cool slightly, Bi Fang handed them to the impatient Harley beside him. With spices and salt enhancing the past few days'' food, as a cheetah, Harley was eager and bit a large chunk directly, skin and meat together. The pot with stewed meat was also brought out, aromatic and inviting; the weaver birds inside became tender and fell apart easily, the skin and flesh separating effortlessly with each bite. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The smoked meat had a unique flavor, the blood cubes tender and smooth, all creating an exquisite taste. After voraciously consuming two roasted weaver birds, Harley came over, sticking his head into the pot, and before Bi Fang could shoo him away, he was hopping about from the hot steam. Bi Fang laughed heartily and didn''t skimp. Likewise, he ate two himself and gave two to Harley. Eight in total, half for each, man and cheetah alike, plus some smoked meat, they ate until they perspired profusely, and afterwards, they could enjoy the soup served in calabash ladles, a rare pleasure. By this time, the second round of reed salt had also crystallized, and Bi Fang started the third round, then lay down on the ground to digest. Finally having eaten flavorful food, the now spirited Bi Fang was glowing with health. Another wonderful evening. Bi Fang took a satisfying rest, and when the water from the third round was nearly boiled dry, he got up to prepare for filtering, but suddenly felt a bit uneasy. He looked around, but nothing seemed out of place. The scalding brine was poured into another pot, producing large clouds of steam in the process. Harley lay down beside the fire pit, using its head to nudge Jerry, whom it had been frolicking with. The wood in the fire pit crackled, the flames flickered, and beyond that, the environment became unusually quiet, as eerily silent as ever. Dark shadows swayed in the orange-yellow light, elongating. Bi Fang bowed his head, continuing to add water and stew like nothing had happened. Under the night, pairs of eyes emitting green light flitted by. Chapter 879 875: The Migrating Zebra Herd Spotted hyenas, being referred to as the "second brother of Africa", would certainly be encountered frequently on the vast savannahs. Currently, this is just the first wave; surely, more would follow. "This time there are only eight; a pot of boiling water could easily drive them away. But next time, there might be twenty or even forty. That would be dangerous; we cannot be careless." S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After resting for a while, Bi Fang got up, used water to extinguish the spreading ring of fire, and cleaned up the mess alone. Earlier, in order to block the hyenas'' attacks as much as possible, Bi Fang had kicked the flames apart, forming a fire wall, which increased the range of the flames. Although Bi Fang always cleared the surrounding area before starting a fire to avoid causing a grassland fire, the flames had clearly spread beyond the safe range and needed to be addressed quickly. [No worries, I believe no matter the number, it''s a piece of cake for Old Fang] [Harley: Old Fang and I are so fierce, slaughtering wildly on the savannah] [You handle the slaughter, I''ll handle the chaos] [Master Fang: That year, with my hands in my pockets, I knew no rivals.] [Harley: That year, an unruly youth of eighteen.] [Child, you should hold the utmost respect for the fastest hunter on the savannah] After extinguishing the final spreading embers and expanding the safe zone, Bi Fang threw all the wood into the last pit, draped himself in fur, and after ensuring there were no other dangers nearby, he closed the roof cover and ended the live broadcast with a few words. In the wilderness, only the crackling of burning dry wood and Harley''s low breaths, still unsteady from the danger, could be heard. In the cramped camp space, the cheetah paced nonstop against the wooden fence. The earlier scene of being surrounded by spotted hyenas still lingered in the cheetah''s mind, making it difficult to rest calmly. For the naturally disadvantaged cheetah, this was a common occurrence, and Bi Fang did not offer much comfort, choosing instead to let time resolve everything. Half an hour later, as Bi Fang lay on the ground, dozing off, he finally sensed the previously pacing cheetah settling down, curling up next to him. "Sleep, sleep now." ... The intense noise rolled from afar to near, expanding in waves. The ground thundered, stirring up countless dust particles among the fresh green grass; dewdrops on the tips of the grass shivered and fell to the ground, soaking it with a faint shade of brown. What a loud disturbance. Bi Fang flipped himself upright and, while turning on the live broadcast, found that Harley was already awake, his body curled up, a clear sign of alarm. After last night''s perilous situation, this guy was a bit skittish now. [What''s happening, such a loud noise] [Renovated, huh?] [Your sister''s renovation, what''s there to renovate on the savannah, giving it a middle parting?] [Could it be an earthquake?] The audience in the live broadcast also heard the deep rumbling of the earth and anxiously asked Bi Fang what had happened. Unfortunately, Bi Fang was also confused, but from experience, he felt it was probably not an earthquake. Lifting a crack in the covering above, a bit of light filtered in. Last night''s arrival of the spotted hyenas hadn''t escalated into intense conflict, but dealing with a group of predators still drained a substantial amount of energy and concentration, and he ended up sleeping until dawn. Bi Fang thought to himself, but his eyes peered through the slit towards the horizon, cautiously scanning the surroundings. That''s when he spotted a dragon-like swirl of dust approaching from afar! With the rolling of this dusty "dragon", the earth also trembled, the trailing dust uneven in height, appearing from afar like overlapping scales. "That is..." Bi Fang squinted his eyes, his gaze seeming to cut through the dust, and recognized what was thundering towards them. "A herd of zebras!?" Zebra! The number is still so large. The audience in front of the screen was momentarily stunned, immediately recalling what they had heard days ago from Bi Fang about the return migration of the great animal migration. The great migration! It truly was the great migration of the animals! "Damn, is this the animal migration?" "This is too spectacular." "Damn impressive, I thought there was an earthquake." "How many are there?" "Not sure, but there must be at least a thousand, right?" Bi Fang roughly estimated the number and said, "Definitely more than two thousand." "Zebras are very sociable and are herd animals. They forage together and groom each other''s fur, and even the older individuals are not expelled from the group to live alone." "However, the group is usually not large, at most about ten, close-knit and not loose. But this is under normal circumstances. Once they migrate, they unify from individual to a group, and the number becomes enormously exaggerated." "This is also the vanguard of all migrating animals." The migrating herds are divided into the "three armies" of front, middle, and rear. Leading the way are over 200,000 wildebeest, followed by a million wildebeest, and 500,000 gazelles bringing up the rear. This is mainly because their food ranges are different. Zebras prefer the tall new grass, the middle tender grass is just right for the wildebeest, and the short grass at the bottom is delicious for the smaller gazelles. Following the herbivores closely are groups of ferocious carnivores like African lions, cheetahs, and spotted hyenas. In the grand procession of the great migration in Africa, the wildebeest dominate in sheer numbers and are the defining species, representing the migration as a whole. But what can often be seen at the front are the zebras as the vanguard. "So that''s how it is." "Is there even an order to this?" "Damn, it''s like a reasonable distribution." The audience exclaimed in amazement, having never thought there could be so much intricacy in this small migration. Realizing the true cause of the earth-shaking tremor, Bi Fang immediately opened the top of the vehicle completely and picked up the things on the ground. "We need to hurry up and pack our things and move farther away from the zebra herd." "Ah, why''s that? Are we running away?" "Is it dangerous?" "Yes, there is danger, but not much." Bi Fang nodded. "Normally, the migration would not involve sprinting except before and after crossing a river. If such an event is occurring, it''s either because they''ve been startled or are being chased by hunters." Migrating animals wake up very early, often at the first light of dawn, and move slowly in well-organized long lines. One cannot see the beginning or the end of the line. And they all strictly maintain discipline, one following closely behind the other without causing chaos. Suddenly running across the savannah usually happens when they encounter lions or spotted hyenas. Gathering the belongings together, swiftly rolling up the animal hide on the ground and securing it, Bi Fang took everything and quickly headed off toward the distance. Just then, the zebra herd also arrived at the scene, rushing fiercely forward. Standing a hundred meters away, Bi Fang could see further in the distance, and several lionesses pounced on a limping zebra. Chapter 880 876: The Abundant Predator The pride of lions and the pack of spotted hyenas launched an attack on the zebra herd, advancing one after another, and soon made their harvest amid the vast throng of zebras. A nimble lioness pounced on a subadult zebra, climbed up on its rump by gripping it, and got a bite of the skin and flesh on its back, sending the zebra staggering. But a zebra''s size and weight are both much greater than a lioness''s, so even with its back bitten, the zebra didn''t stop. Instead, it ran forward, dragging the lioness along in a burst of life-and-death struggle. The nearby zebras were frightened and hurried away from their companion, none daring to come to its aid. Regardless of the animal, subadults have basically left their parents and live alone; their parents wouldn''t naturally appear to help. This subadult zebra was isolated and without help. Bi Fang, standing in the distance, unconsciously tensed his muscles, ready to flee while enjoying the spectacle. In those brief ten seconds or so, his distance from the zebra herd shrank a little more, only about seventy or eighty meters, almost observing face-to-face. But Bi Fang was just as reluctant to leave directly. The scene before him was too rare. A good photographer would never fail to raise their camera when climbing to the summit and seeing the sunrise. [It''s over, this zebra is toast.] [So brutal.] [Life and death are decreed by fate; wealth is in heaven. Whether or not the brothers can have a full meal depends on this very hunt.] [Old Fang really has some guts; did you raise that lion pride? Daring to film this close?] [I am the king of all beasts!! Meow~~~] [Even Harley is dumbfounded watching this. Are these really from the same family as me?] The zebra that was dragged slowed down sharply amidst the swiftly moving herd, standing out like a large boulder rising in a rushing river, parting the advancing currents and stirring up white caps on both sides. With the aid of the first lioness, the rest of the lions quickly caught up, successively pouncing on the zebra. Two of them pinned it down completely, immobilizing it on the spot, and when the third one arrived, it bit into the zebra''s neck, and with the force of inertia, flipped the large subadult zebra onto the ground. Victory was decided. The audience in front of the screen clearly knew that the zebra pinned down by the lions wouldn''t be able to make much of a splash anymore. More and more lions swarmed in, surrounding the zebra so tightly that all you could see was yellow fur; it was almost impossible to discern the stripes amid the lions crowding around. "Lions typically live in groups, with a pride consisting of about 8 to 30 members, averaging 17. This pride is not small, with over ten lions coming together; it''s impossible for the zebra to escape." Bi Fang took a glance before shifting his gaze elsewhere. The pack of spotted hyenas also had their own tactics. A few of them dove knife-like into the torrent of zebras, using the natural fear of the herbivores to successfully carve out a small current, trapping several zebras within. The stronger ones tried to break out, and the hyenas gave a few tentative attempts to deal with them. Sensing their strength, the hyenas opened up the encirclement and let them go. In the end, within the encirclement were left an old and a young zebra, completely powerless to break out. The hyena pack closed in, and under the leader''s command, they circled the zebras. This scene looked very similar to the previous attack on Bi Fang, one could say it was exactly the same. The drone got close, some sharp-eyed viewers instantly recognized two of them as old acquaintances¡ªthey were the same hyenas that had tried to attack Bi Fang last night! No doubt about it, the patchwork pattern of their fur was ample evidence! Getting scalded with boiling water doesn''t spell death for a spotted hyena with its thick fur; it doesn''t even count as a severe injury. The next day they can still participate in hunting activities, but partial fur loss is inevitable, looking like bald patches. [Lost their right to choose a mate among the hyenas.] [Wow, didn''t expect to see them again.] [I mean, weren''t there just eight last night? How come there are so many all of a sudden, there seem to be dozens here, right?] "Spotted hyenas have considerable freedom within their communal life, often roaming alone and hunting individually, feasting by themselves." "Members of their group are not often together for long periods." Bi Fang, watching the hunting scene from afar, saw the chat and explained. "Once the spotted hyenas reconvene, they can naturally act as a member of the collective, which reflects their social gregariousness." "Sometimes the reunions are large, with dozens in a group; other times, they are smaller, just a few here and there." [So that''s how it is.] [So, was there always a super large hyena clan here?] "That''s right, each clan of spotted hyenas has their own territory, generally around 20 square kilometers." "They strictly guard their territorial range and do not allow other clans of spotted hyenas to infringe. If an intrusion occurs, the two sides will face off, even resulting in conflict, but these physical fights are rare." "When a clan of hyenas chases prey onto another clan''s turf, if the other side has more numbers, this clan will yield the prey over to them. Once hyenas leave their territory by more than 1000 meters, they lose their sense of security." "We haven''t moved our camp since last night, so those eight hyenas clearly belong to the large clan of spotted hyenas we see now. It''s quite normal for them to come together when a herd of zebras is passing through." It''s not surprising to see them again, as they are part of the same group. The hyena pack corralled the two zebras, and after a simple charge from front and rear, it seemed to reach a tipping point. The entire pack surged forward, tearing simultaneously at the prey''s belly, neck, limbs, and all over the body. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ``` By the time the entire zebra herd had thundered past, the vast expanse of the savanna was left with only a few spots, sparsely dotted across the wilderness. At the center of these spots lay fallen zebras or ostriches, extending outward were the spotted hyenas, leopards, and/or lions. The passage of the zebras was naturally a carnivore''s carnival. It wasn''t just the lions and the spotted hyenas¡ªleopards also wanted a piece of the action, grabbing an ostrich that was mingled in the zebra herd. The members of the zebra community were relatively friendly towards each other and often mingled with ostriches, giraffes, gazelles, and other herbivores, sharing the same food and utilizing each other for information exchange to evade fierce predators. For leopards, zebras were too large, and hunting alone could lead to failure; hence, they targeted the less robust creatures mixed in with the zebra herd. Besides these three, there were also African wild dogs that had caught nothing, wandering outside the few spots. Not content with their empty paws, they were prepared to wait until the bigger brothers had finished eating and then scavenge the leftovers and cold scraps. These wild dogs with their large, round ears and bodies covered in black spots often weighed upwards of twenty or thirty kilograms¡ªnot a small size that would make an ordinary person flinch¡ªand their numerical advantage also made them a force not to be overlooked on the savanna. Unfortunately, in the presence of lions, spotted hyenas, and leopards, they had to restrain their claws and teeth and quietly wait for one party to finish eating the cold leftovers first. "The temperatures on the savanna are not too cold, making it difficult to preserve food, and predators'' feeding cycles are long, so they often don''t finish a meal at one time, allowing several carnivores on the food chain to contribute to its elimination." Bi Fang had intended to leave immediately, but with the big brothers of the savanna having made their kills, and the most threatening dangers removed, he wasn''t in a rush to depart any longer. "Carnivores are seldom likely to attack enemies proactively when sated, so we can say we''re in a safe status now; even if we get a bit closer, it''s fine, so long as there''s no provocation or competition for food, neither lions nor hyenas will bother with you." Under the audience''s concern, Bi Fang edged a bit closer, so close it seemed he could hear the snapping sound of hyenas breaking bones. The zebra''s screams mingled with the excited howls of the spotted hyenas, chilling to the core. [Damn, I can hear goosebumps coming on] [This is really scary] [So much blood] [Wow, what''s that guy doing, starting to disembowel already!] [Man, I feel a chill in my butt] Bi Fang laughed, "The zebra''s cries are unpleasant to begin with, much like a braying donkey, and now, facing death, they''re even more hoarse." "The spotted hyenas are no less harrowing." "On the African savanna, nightfall brings chilling howls from deep within the grasslands, which are the sounds of hyenas hunting prey or fighting each other." "Spotted hyenas can make over a dozen different sounds, and this is vital for their survival." "Being nocturnal, spotted hyenas rely on these various calls to strengthen the bonds among group members." "But almost all of these sounds are indeed peculiar, especially the intense cries they emit when finding food or during mating season, which are truly terrifying." "So much so that in some places, there are absurd legends that if hyenas appear near human settlements, they bring death with them." The hyenas that caught the zebra were gathered together, like a bunch of playful children, noisy and bustling. And constantly passing messages to each other with their ears and tails, keeping in contact with sounds, you could even discern what seemed to be "laughter." Every one of these signs proved Bi Fang''s words to be true. "The two sounds on their own are hair-raising, coupled with the overall atmosphere of the zebra''s looming death, they''re definitely terrifying." [Starting to freak out] [Truly like the Grim Reaper] [There''s blood everywhere] [Why do they love disemboweling so much?] [Didn''t Master Fang say before that they like to eat the innards, remember?] [Oh, right, now I remember] "In fact, compared to wildebeest, musk oxen, and gazelles, zebras can be said to be a very good food source." "They''re not as strong as wildebeest or musk oxen and don''t have horns on their heads, so you don''t have to worry about being gutted by a headbutt." "And compared to gazelles, which can easily reach speeds of seventy to eighty, the zebra that maxes out at fifty or sixty is much slower, bigger in size, and easier to satiate a hunger with." Bi Fang shared these insights with the viewers while observing from the sidelines. "Of course, there''s also a key point¡ªzebras have no leader!" [No leader?] [Is that true?] [Holy crap, aren''t they herd animals?] Bi Fang nodded, "Correct, as herd animals without a leader, it''s every man for himself, and no one listens to anyone else." "This is relatively rare in the animal kingdom, and it means that when danger comes, there will be no leader to organize the whole zebra herd, and all members will scatter, unable to form an effective resistance." "In other cases, like with wildebeest and musk oxen when the numbers are few, in the face of danger and unable to flee, they may form a circle under the leadership of the alpha and fight the enemy together." "A classic example is the musk oxen we encountered in the Arctic, which do just that." ``` Chapter 881 877 Harlequin Wolf The Spotted Hyena''s head was matted with blood, and a rich scent of blood wafted through the air. A flicker of light occasionally passed through the Zebra''s pitch-black gaze, inevitably making one wonder if it was really dead. Bi Fang spoke with a sense of emotion, "Up until today, the number of Zebras that humans have domesticated hasn''t exceeded thirty." "That is a considerably small number." After 1890, European colonizers accelerated their plundering in Africa, trying to domesticate the local three Zebra species¡ªPlains Zebra, Gr¨¦vy''s Zebra, and Mountain Zebra¡ªto solve the problem of common horses'' inability to adapt to the hot African regions. Unfortunately, all attempts failed. Not until they seriously trained ten Zebras for the shooting of "Zebra Race" did the locals succeed somewhat. Regrettably, despite tremendous efforts, the most professional Trainer, and a great deal of time, only two ended up being successfully tamed to be safely ridden; the rest could only manage to carry goods. "Taming Zebras is very difficult, neither Africans nor European colonizers could complete such a formidable task. This may relate not only to inherent temperamental factors but perhaps also to their social structure, which involves community living without a designated leader." [Ridiculous] [Taming is always a two-way process] [Zebra: Do I look stupid to you?] [Zebras can be damn fierce. Last time I went to the zoo, a young lady tried to touch a Zebra, and it bit off her middle finger, blood everywhere] [Really? That''s kind of scary] [Saw it with my own eyes] The hyenas tore at the Zebra, and when the Zebra''s belly was ripped open, a larger Spotted Hyena squeezed into the frenzy, making the other hyenas give way. Watching the large hyena tearing a chunk of fatty liver from the Zebra''s stomach. "It must be the leader of the Hyena Pack," Bi Fang guessed, "The social hierarchy within a hyena group is strict; during feeding, the ''matriarchal leader'' always gets the largest and best piece of meat, and this is seen as an entitlement." Hyenas are a matriarchal society where the females are about 10% heavier than the males, and they are the stronger and more dominant sex. The low-status offspring of low-ranking female hyenas are also low-status, and other female hyenas must help care for the pups. After the leader extracted the most succulent liver for her own enjoyment, the rest of the hyenas excitedly started to share the meal. Nearby, a Lion Pride''s process was no different in form, but instead of the Spotted Hyena''s matriarchal society, it was a different system altogether. The mane-bearing male Lion ate first, followed by the lionesses, and then the cubs at last. Bi Fang commented with a smile, "Don''t think the male Lions have it easy. The African Lion is the only social feline, with complex social traits. In a Lion Pride, although it''s the lionesses who are responsible for hunting and rearing the young, the male Lions also have a hefty task. They have to patrol the territory, fend off other prides, and resist intruders such as hyenas." "With the pressure of defending the territory almost entirely on the male Lions, plus constant battling, their average lifespan is several years less than that of the lionesses." At the end of the day, the Leopard didn''t have such complications; it caught an entire ostrich by itself, had no companions, hence it ate alone, barely acknowledging the circling wild dogs. Blood dripped down the Leopard''s whiskers, its demeanor fierce and savage, entirely distinct from the hyenas'' cunning and the majesty of the Lions ¡ª a completely different scene. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Leopard, not having to compete with peers, ate swiftly, filling its belly in nearly ten minutes before opting to leave. "The animal world is fiercely competitive; even the food belonging to a Lion Pride could be stolen by hyenas. To avoid unnecessary disputes, nearly every predator has developed the skill to eat rapidly. Hyenas, for instance, can usually consume an entire carcass down to the bone within half an hour." At this moment, Bi Fang was nearly thirty meters from the Lion Pride and less than twenty-five meters from the Hyena Pack, clearly hearing the crunching sounds of the animals chewing on flesh, as well as their muffled breathing. This proximity was already quite close, causing many viewers to feel their hearts race and palms sweat. After the leopard had had its fill and left, a group of African wild dogs swarmed over and overwhelmed the whole ostrich. Their feeding order was different from that of lion prides and spotted hyenas. "African wild dogs lead a close-knit communal life; they hunt together and rear their pups together. Despite their size not being an advantage on the African Savanna, they often manage to hunt down larger herbivores like antelopes, wildebeest, and zebras by relying on their group strength." "Moreover, from what we can observe, wild dogs make for a rather affectionate family, especially in their treatment of pups. If pups are present at the kill, the adult wild dogs often let the puppies eat first before eating themselves." "If the pups are far from the kill site, the adult wild dogs will eat their fill, then run home to regurgitate the meat, feeding it to the pups, the caretakers of the pups, and those wild dogs who are too old, weak, sick, or incapable of hunting." "During feeding, the wild dogs are quite considerate of each other, with a piece of meat often passing through several dogs'' stomachs." [Are they this adorable?] [I''ve always wanted to ask, why do African wild dogs look like tabby cats {Dog''s head}] [So much love] Among spotted hyenas, the female leader eats first, in lion prides, the male leader eats first, but with wild dogs, it''s the pups that get to eat first. The three drastically different feeding orders once again showcase the distinct characteristics of the animals on the African Savanna. Several notably smaller pups wobbled out from the pack and, under the protection of the adults, began tearing into the ostrich. Perhaps due to their youth, the fresh ostrich meat presented quite a challenge for their tender jaws. Seeing this, Bi Fang lay down on the grass, crawling a bit closer to them, and began to explain with great interest. "In fact, African wild dogs are quite a unique species." "In the ''African Mammals Behavior Manual'', published in 1992, there are records of sightings of a group of harlequin wolves near the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, at an altitude of 5,895 meters." "The author of this book is the renowned animal behaviorist and Assistant Professor of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University''s Museum of Comparative Zoology, Richard Estes." "In the year 2012, when this book was reprinted for its ''Twentieth Anniversary Special Edition,'' the godfather of ethology and sociobiology, E.O. Wilson, even wrote a foreword." "With such scientists endorsing it, the harlequin wolf can almost certainly be considered the ''highest-living'' member of the canine family in the world." [I don''t recognize a single one] [If it''s something Master Fang is talking about, it''s probably some sort of mega-celebrity] [What''s a harlequin wolf, is it another name for these wild dogs?] "That''s right, the name ''harlequin wolf'' can bewilder many researchers who are very familiar with African mammals in our country. But if you translate ''harlequin wolf'' into Greek or Latin, you might suddenly understand." While Bi Fang explained, automatic subtitles would appear in the live broadcast, displayed differently according to regions, greatly aiding the audience''s comprehension. This was an old feature of the system, quite useful in helping viewers from all around the world to understand at a glance. "Lycaon pictus, that''s its scientific name. ''Lycaon'' is Greek for ''like a wolf'', and ''pictus'' is Latin for ''painted''. Derived from this Latin name is one of its common English names, Painted Wolf, which is exactly where ''harlequin wolf'' comes from." "And this name, Painted Wolf, quite accurately describes the animal: it looks like a wolf, its coat is a mosaic of black, white, yellow, and orange; it''s like a smudged tricolor cat¡ªa very fitting name, yet it''s not one of the many common English names for the animal that has been widely accepted and used." [6] [I bet I''m about to be hit with a knowledge bomb!] Chapter 882 878: The Democratic System of Animals "I''ve always had a question, why do all scientific names seem to be in Latin?" "How else would you highlight Old Fang''s versatility?" "Don''t you understand the value of being proficient in eight languages? (tactically leaning back)" "Please, just learn a little bit about biological classification and you''ll know that Latin is essential." "Five years of graduate studies will tell you that all scientific names are basically in Latin or Latinized Greek; it''s an internationally accepted practice aimed at facilitating botanical communication among countries." In the livestream, several professionals offered their explanations, which were in line with what they were saying¡ªBi Fang didn''t use Latin names to show off, to display his multilingual abilities. "Knowing a bit of Latin is almost an essential skill for every zoologist and botanist." "The reason for this is that all professional species names are composed of Latin." "Everyone knows that a plant or animal might have different names in different places; to facilitate research, scientists need a universal name, and eventually the choice was the binomial nomenclature created by biologist Linnaeus, which consists of the genus name and the specific epithet, two Latin words." "The purpose of the genus name is to indicate the genus a plant or animal belongs to, while the specific epithet serves to describe the genus name, denoting the characteristics of the species." "For example, the potato we commonly see, its scientific name is solanum tuberosum, where solanum indicates it''s part of the nightshade family, and the specific epithet tuberosum means ''having tubers,'' so this name means there''s a strange kind of nightshade that has tubers underneath." "There are also species epithets like edulis, which means ''edible,'' like the ice cream bean, inga edulis, translated it means a bean that can be eaten." "There are even epithets like deliciosa, which means ''delicious,'' such as Huaxia''s Actinidia deliciosa, which is the delicious kiwifruit." " "It feels like chanting spells in Harry Potter." "Abracadabra, munching on a big melon!" "Wow, so if I know its scientific name, can I decide whether it''s edible or how good it tastes?" " "Lit!" "I like to eat kiwifruit." Bi Fang continued, "The reason for choosing Latin is not because the founders of biological taxonomy were Latin people, but due to some distinctive advantages of Latin, such as its infrequency of use." Infrequent use? That''s an advantage? Many were puzzled. Bi Fang said with a smile, "Yes, that''s an advantage. As a ''dead'' language, apart from the Vatican, Latin is not the official language of any country, nor is it the mother tongue of almost anyone." "This leads to the stability of Latin, whether in status, grammar, or even the spelling of words." "The world''s popular languages have changed many times; in ancient times, French, Italian, and Arab were popular, German had its heydays in modern times, Russian was a major language during the Cold War era, now Ugly English is most prevalent, and foreseeably, Mandarin will become hot in the future." " "Thumbs up for the hotness of Mandarin!" "With mainstream languages constantly changing, Latin appears very ''neutral,'' foreign to everyone, and learning one language allows understanding of many things. ''Lacking vitality'' becomes an advantage at this point." "Everyone knows that a vibrant language changes rapidly to keep up with the fast-developing social environment." "But how can your writing ensure that it will still be understood a thousand years from now? Cough cough, of course, this change excludes Chinese characters as pictographic scripts. We''ll discuss why that is later." Bi Fang paused for a moment, then continued. "So, for non-Chinese scripts, like Shakespeare''s original texts, modern people from Central Country actually began to encounter some comprehension difficulties, and that''s within less than four hundred years." Today you name something, tomorrow the word becomes unrecognizable to everyone. That''s the real problem with most phonetic scripts, they change too fast, and within a few hundred years, they become unintelligible to later generations. "Latin doesn''t have this problem; everything about its usage is written in ancient Roman dictionaries from a thousand years ago." "Since none of us are native Latin speakers, changing grammar or word spelling at one''s will is impossible; what it was a thousand years ago, it still is now." "Additionally, rich vocabulary is another advantage. When we learn English, if we can remember a few thousand words, we can easily pass the CET-4, but Latin has a vocabulary of up to a million words, which is more than enough to name the world''s over three hundred thousand plant species." "That''s why basically everyone who studies plant and animal taxonomy knows Latin." " "So that''s why." "Today was another day of learning." "But what about Chinese? Your explanation about Chinese is still missing, Master Fang." "Well, Chinese characters are actually more complex to explain, involving the differences between ideographic and phonetic scripts, and it goes even beyond that." Bi Fang organized his thoughts before proceeding to elaborate. If phonetic scripts like English become unintelligible after five to six hundred years, then Chinese characters as ideograms have a considerable advantage. Shakespeare''s texts are only four hundred years old and already present reading challenges to modern readers. Yet for Huaxia People, such reading obstacles would have to be pushed back over three thousand years to the Book of Documents. For foreigners who use phonetic scripts, this is nothing short of a miraculous feat. The fundamental reason lies in the differences between phonetic and ideographic scripts. The most typical phonetic script¡ªEnglish, where the sound and the writing are the same, if you can read it, you can write it. Huaxia people in the time of the Republic of China noticed this issue: Western phonetic scripts could be written as long as they were spoken, hence, high literacy rates among citizens, while Chinese characters are not necessarily writable just because they are speakable, making it hard for ordinary people to learn. Even intellectuals began calling for the reform, and even abolition, of Chinese characters, in favor of alphabetic writing. This wasn''t wrong, given the limitations of the era. Phonetic scripts have many short-term benefits; they are extremely convenient for communication, exchange, and dissemination, so much so that Ancient Egypt, which also developed pictographic scripts, abandoned their nascent system under the impact of phonetic scripts and turned to join the phonetic ranks. But phonetic scripts have drawbacks¡ªthey change too easily. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The typical example is English, which even has to be differentiated into Ugly and Central styles. It''s the same language, but due to variations in accent, in two hundred years, the spelling of some words has already begun to change distinguishably. And this is with the help of modern printing technology that helps standardize the language; one can only imagine the rapidity of changes before that. Conversely, the Chinese script, which originated from pictographs, doesn''t have such drawbacks, because the script doesn''t follow pronunciation and has become extremely stable. In the early stages, the evolution was perhaps significant, from the simplest wall paintings to a mature writing system, the changes were very rapid. But this wasn''t a change akin to phonetic transformation, it was development, from immature to mature, from complex to convenient. After the initial development ended, the established Hanzi remained virtually unchanged for thousands of years, and it''s conceivable that they won''t change much in the next several thousand or even tens of thousands of years. The descendants can absorb the wisdom of their ancestors without any barriers, one thousand years, two thousand years, three thousand years, over a span of five thousand years without any obstacles. In contrast, those who use phonetic writing systems could only read histories that date back three to four hundred years before modern archaeological skills were developed, with some histories gradually turning into myths... Even now, some scholars believe that the reason Huaxia is a non-religious country is somewhat related to its Hanzi writing system; revering ancestors but not gods. In fact, not only Huaxia but also Ancient Egypt initially developed pictographic characters. Unfortunately, Egypt''s writing was impacted by phonetic scripts before it matured and was entirely assimilated. Huaxia, on the other hand, was too far removed from the phonetic systems, separated by the Caucasus and Himalayas mountains. They fiddled with their own system until they encountered the phonetic systems when their own was already mature, a fact that''s undoubtedly fortuitous. Hanzi is not merely ideographic; there''s also an aspect of phonetics within it. One reason is that Hanzi includes phono-semantic compound characters, divided into radical (shape) and phonetic parts, with the phonetic indicating the pronunciation. These characters make up 90% of commonly used Hanzi. A second reason is the use of rebus (phonetic loan) characters, which is another phonetic phenomenon in Hanzi. This form of phonetics is completely different from that of English, French, Russian, and other languages. Therefore, in the true system of linguistic categorization, Hanzi isn''t just a simple ideographic system. It belongs to a type of logophonetic system, which is a more advanced understanding. Bi Fang didn''t elaborate further on this. But the stability of Hanzi is unquestionable. If Hanzi were used for the scientific names of flora and fauna, there really wouldn''t be any problem. However, the original biological classification system was built by foreigners; European languages relate to Latin to some extent, so for them, it was easier to learn, naturally leaving no room for Chinese. Since there were not only Huaxia people in the live stream but also quite a few foreigners, Bi Fang didn''t explain too clearly. Instead, he simply popularized the stability and uniqueness of Hanzi, which indeed surprised many viewers. [Damn, Hanzi is so awesome.] [Why would a Wilderness Survivalist streamer even research language systems?] [Is it strange for a Wilderness Survivalist to know eight languages? Isn''t that a basic Skill? (joking)] [Single roll a 6] [I don''t know about Hanzi, but it seems powerful.] [There might be some bragging here...] [Well, you can''t say there''s been no change. Like chrysanthemums used to be flowers, and now... (dog''s head)] "I''ve gotten a bit off-topic, since I just meant to introduce the Harlequin Wolf, and somehow the conversation got sidetracked. I ended up talking so much without realizing." Bi Fang scratched his temple, looking somewhat embarrassed. After all that talk, the spotted hyenas had nearly gnawed a zebra to the bone. Fortunately, the Harlequin Wolf was still there, so Bi Fang quickly brought the conversation back on track. "More often than not, both in academic circles and among the general public, the Harlequin Wolf is known as the ''African wild dog.''" "Even this casual name isn''t too far-fetched. It''s actually quite fitting." The Harlequin Wolf looks just like a "mutt." There''s nothing extraordinary about its appearance; it''s about the size of a Labrador, just more slender, with a shorter face and larger ears. In the continent of Africa, filled with fierce beasts, it''s hardly remarkable. Yet this unassuming Harlequin Wolf is one of Africa''s top predators. Every hunt bears about a sixty percent chance of success, and their prey includes various species of antelopes, warthogs, and even monumental creatures like wildebeest. "The Harlequin Wolf never hunts alone, which is extremely rare among mammalian predators. Even notoriously social animals like spotted hyenas and wolves have their solitary moments, but not the Harlequin Wolf." "According to E.O. Wilson''s evaluation, the Harlequin Wolf has the most complex social behavior of any carnivore." "They always live in groups; the smallest consists of a pair of adult wolves and their juvenile offspring, while the largest may number as many as forty to fifty." "In the larger groups, there is one leading female and male, who guide the entire pack and enjoy almost exclusive reproduction rights." "The lead couple breeds once a year, with an average of 10 pups per litter, and sometimes as many as 20¡ªthat''s the highest among all existing canid species, ensuring that just one breeding pair can sustain the whole pack''s growth." [Impressive, they''re so prolific.] [I''d call them champs of reproduction.] "Pups spend the first few weeks after birth in a den, with their mother guarding nearby, while the rest of the Harlequin Wolves bring back ''takeout'' for her sustenance." "Only when the pups become able to eat meat after a month does the mother allow other members of the pack to approach because the little guys need ''takeout'' too." "When it comes to caring for the young, Harlequin Wolves are exemplars. The food brought back from the hunt goes first to the pups." "After the pups are full, the lead couple eats, followed by the rest of the wolves." Bi Fang''s words were playful, causing the audience in front of the screen to chuckle. "But that''s not the craziest part. Believe it or not, Harlequin Wolves even have a ''democratic decision-making'' process!" [Shit, Old Fang, are you joking?] [I''m hearing things.] [I don''t believe it.] [How can they be so smart?] [That''s almost human-like.] The chat erupted with disbelief; hardly anyone believed it. Bi Fang didn''t bother to explain further but instead described the behavior of the Harlequin Wolves. "In 2017, scientists from Ugly Country, Central Country, Botswana, and Australia jointly published a paper detailing a unique behavior exhibited by Harlequin Wolf packs in the Okavango Delta of Botswana: ''sneezing'' to vote." "They observed that when Harlequin Wolves were preparing for a group hunt, they would engage in a strange ritual of sneezing one after another." "If one of the lead couple started sneezing first, then as long as more than three others followed with a sneeze, the pack would set out on the hunt." "But if the lead couple didn''t initiate and another member of the pack sneezed first, it would take a chain reaction of at least ten before they would depart." "The hunt would only commence with enough ''sneeze votes''; otherwise, it would be called off." Chapter 883 879: Dynasty Whenever a Harlequin Wolf felt hungry, it would initiate a group hunting request by sneezing. Whether its request passed depended on how many sneezes it could gather. It even evolved into a more sophisticated form¡ªdifferent ranks of spotted hyenas held different speaking rights when they sneezed. If the first hyena to sneeze was the leader of the pack, then it only needed about three more sneezes for the entire pack to assemble and start hunting. But if the first to sneeze was just an ordinary hyena, it needed the affirmation of about nine other hyenas, more than ten votes, for its hunting request to be approved. [That''s outrageous] [Is this really Earth?] [In Nature, nothing is too bizarre.] [I hereby declare that the Harlequin Wolf has become enchanted¡ªthis is a sign of impending bewitchment!] Animals holding elections was a blind spot within a blind spot for most audiences, an incredible fact that sparked a storm in their brains. It''s hard to imagine that animals could exhibit such high intelligence, and it was not just a simple one wolf, one vote. Just one word¡ªoutrageous! Bi Fang nodded, "The electoral behavior of animals is indeed quite rare in the natural world, to my knowledge, it''s less than a handful." [Hisss, a handful indicates there are other animals that do it too?] [TMI] [Unbelievable, animals becoming cunning seems more common abroad] [I knew it from the start] "Speaking in detail, African Buffaloes do it too, unlike the Harlequin Wolves'' sneezing, they use the ''directional voting method'' to decide which way to go." Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Which feeding spot is closest and where the water grass is lush is crucial for a herd of African Buffaloes, which often numbers over a thousand, directly affecting their prosperity and survival." "Therefore, an hour before the collective feeding, the adult female buffaloes in the herd start voting." "They each stand up for a minute, staring at the direction they want to go, then lie down facing that direction. Ultimately, the direction with the most buffaloes is where everyone will head to graze." [So, what happens if the number of buffaloes facing two directions is exactly the same?] [You really like to argue, don''t you?] [With that arguing talent, why not work on a construction site?] [Buffalo: Oh no, my brain is growing] [Brain overload] "Hahaha, such situations are not uncommon, actually, it''s simple¡ªthey just split into two groups to forage," Bi Fang explained about the tricky question from the audience, unphased. "African Buffaloes can''t count; they just roughly estimate the numbers, even a 55 versus 45 situation is treated like an even split, so often you''ll find votes ending up tied, and they simply split into two groups." [Smart, but not that smart (munching popcorn)] [Eye-opening] [Seems so clever] "Then there''s the Elk; they use the ''stand-up voting method.''" Bi Fang continued with another animal example. "Elk lie down to chew their cud after eating, but some elk eat quickly, digest quickly, and naturally get hungry faster, while others are slower. The fast eaters would want to move to another place to graze, but as they are herd animals, they must act together." "At that time, an elk will stand up; the hungry ones stand, and when the number of standing elk exceeds 60% of the herd, everyone will commence a new foraging venture together." "If the number of elk is insufficient, even if the leading elk stands up, this operation will not be approved." [Excessive amazement, causing some impact on my worldview] [Hearing about this is surprising and enlightening, but Old Fang''s knowledge impresses me more than the animals] [Isn''t this just Master Fang''s usual operation?] [If one day Old Fang suddenly livestreams announcing he has proven the unified field theory, then I might be truly surprised] [Compared to buffalo and elk, the voting of the Harlequin Wolf seems more complex, having even redundant votes, truly brilliant] [Now I understand what Bi Fang meant by the complex social behavior of the Harlequin Wolf, just how complex it has become] Bi Fang couldn''t help but nod. "If you have just encountered a Harlequin Wolf pack, you might not think they are very ''social.''" "Compared to the dogs or Gray Wolves we are familiar with, Harlequin Wolves have much fewer body languages, especially facial expressions, and they are not as noisy as dog packs, their vocal signals are also not rich." "However, from the research of sneeze voting, it''s not that Harlequin Wolves are poor at expressing, it''s just that we haven''t fully cracked their communication methods yet..." Bi Fang, with Harley crouched in the bushes, introduced the audience to the "three brothers" of this savanna in a unique subdued tone, ensuring he did not disturb the feeding animals with loud noises and also making sure the audience could hear what was being said. The eldest brother, the Lion, the second brother, the Spotted Hyena, and the third brother, the Harlequin Wolf, all fed within this area of less than an acre. "Many people know that Africa''s second brother is the Spotted Hyena, yet few know that the Harlequin Wolf is also the third brother of the African Savanna. Because their heads look somewhat alike, many animal editorial videos introduce Harlequin Wolves as Hyenas." "As a third brother, the Harlequin Wolves actually have greater strength in numbers than Leopards. However, perhaps due to a desire to avoid conflict, as a single ostrich leopard can''t finish eating alone, the two sides have not erupted in conflicts, and Harlequin Wolves wouldn''t want to suffer losses on their end." "It''s rare to see the ''three brothers'' gathered together like this." "There''s a theory that in the earliest version of ''The Lion King'' cartoon, Disney artists had positioned Harlequin Wolves as the villains around ''Scar,'' not the Spotted Hyenas." "The reason for changing the actor is obvious. Compared to the silent Harlequin Wolves, the Hyenas'' laughing-like calls definitely have more ''drama." "''The Lion King'' for me was sort of an African initiation. Though the storyline is the same template as ''Hamlet'', setting it among lions is the result of decades of research in animal behavior, based on numerous biological observations and descriptions of lions'' infanticidal behaviors." "It wouldn''t be too much to call it an ecological documentary." "In a sense, the Harlequin Wolf dodged a slanderous misfortune but missed a chance to become famous." Bi Fang''s tone suddenly became quite regretful. "It was only in the past couple of decades that people began to pay attention to the Harlequin Wolves. We suddenly realized these once widespread wolves are now endangered." "There are only about 6,000 Harlequin Wolves left in the world, and only a minority of them are capable of breeding." "From Algeria to South Africa, these Harlequin Wolves are trapped in nearly a hundred fragmented habitats." "To address the real survival issues, many scholars have initiated a campaign to rename the Harlequin Wolves, aiming for a wider spread of their original name rather than the nickname of wild dog." [Rename?] [No, what''s the point in that?] "Of course, it''s useful. ''African wild dog'' isn''t just our Huaxia''s name for them, many places call them that. In foreign countries, it''s African Wild Dog. This name makes many people think they are just African farm dogs." "But they are wild animals, not dogs, and the level of attention should be completely different." "Do you all remember Sir who climbed Mount Everest with me a few years ago?" "A few years ago, there was a documentary series ''Dynasty,'' consisting of five episodes with five central characters, one in each episode, including the Harlequin Wolf, and that was its first time being a protagonist, both in fiction and in ecological documentaries." "Whether it''s the main star Sir or the helm of the ''Dynasty'' series, Mike Gunton, they insisted on using Painted Wolf rather than African Wild Dog in the series, letting the public truly understand the name and meaning of this species, as well as their unique survival skills and habits." "When we know them, recognize them, understand them, the future of Africa''s top predators may become a bit brighter." Chapter 884 880 The Great River "I''m not sure about other countries, but in Huaxia, maybe the most common way the general public learns about animals is from watching nature documentaries as a child?" Bi Fang still remembered sitting in front of the TV as a kid, eagerly awaiting the start of the nature show. That anticipation sometimes even surpassed the love for cartoons. [Add One] [Like Master Fang, I used to love watching nature documentaries as a kid.] [My grandfather really enjoyed watching nature documentaries. I often visited his place when I was young, so I watched them too. Gradually, I found them pretty interesting, even more so than some cartoons.] [I wasn''t that enthusiastic, but if I saw a cartoon I didn''t like, I would switch over to the nature documentary.] [Seeing a fish lurking below the surface of the water and then suddenly shooting a jet of water from its mouth to knock an insect off a branch is, for some reason, extremely satisfying.] The feeding was nearing its end, and Bi Fang, with Harley in tow, began to retreat slowly, distancing themselves from the three brothers on the savannah. "Humans always have a curiosity about things they don''t understand; they want to know the astonishing power behind a tiger''s muscular build, the incredible might of a rhinoceros''s sharp horn, or how big fish create whirlpools in rivers." "But if you really put most people in front of a lion''s or tiger''s den or a crocodile pond in a zoo, I doubt many would feel a sense of closeness. Instinctively, they''d prefer to run as far away as possible."33667713366771 "Even if you placed them in the monkey hill or the bird aviary, I doubt many would be keen to stay. Just a barrier isn''t enough to deepen their understanding; it''s not satisfying at all." "If animals stripped of their wildness and reality in zoos are thus, what more of the real wilderness." "Distance doesn''t create beauty, but it does create a sense of safety." After retreating several dozen meters, Bi Fang stood up straight again. Having distanced himself from the big brother, the second brother, and the third brother, the trembling Harley was finally able to straighten and no longer cower. [That''s so real.] [One of the reasons I like Old Fang''s live streams is how he always encounters various strange animals, and most importantly, Old Fang describes them in great detail, making it so fascinating.] [With all three brothers together, Harley is hardly a match.] [Just shrinking behind Master Fang''s butt, that''s hilarious.] "As a child, I was interested in them, but I dared not get close." "At that time, nature documentaries provided me with an excellent window to understand them." "The Harlequin Wolf is definitely a powerhouse, but we never really pay close attention to their performance. If anyone is interested in this creature and wants to delve deeper, why not take a look at Sir''s ''Dynasty''?" [Master Fang really loves Sir''s work.] [I''ve seen ''Dynasty,'' and it''s indeed good. Or to put it another way, Sir''s documentaries are never bad. He truly deserves the title ''Father of Documentaries''; it''s like watching works of art.] [Even if these animals go extinct someday, at least there will be something to prove to future generations that they once existed.] [The theme has been elevated once again.] Bi Fang''s gaze fixed on the three savanna brothers. The hyenas tore open the old zebra, devouring the belly meat entirely, leaving behind rib bones tinged with crimson. The bloody ribs curved toward the sky, silently revealing the brutal savagery of nature. The slightly smaller juvenile zebra also had its abdomen emptied. A few unsated harlequin wolves sneaked over cautiously, nervously biting at the young zebra, trying to drag it back to their own camp. A few of the spotted hyena crowd symbolically stood and howled a few times, but they chose not to engage in the struggle, merely posturing on the spot. The harlequin wolves, scared off by the howling, crouched down after a dozen seconds and slowly returned, biting the zebra''s leg and continuing to drag it, only to be scared off again by the white hyenas, but they quickly came back. After several repetitions, the harlequin wolves finally dragged the young zebra back to their own home, placing it beside the ostrich. Many hungry harlequin wolves hurried over to feast on the chunks of flesh, tearing and biting voraciously. Zebras are enormously sized, and just one adult zebra was enough to feed a pride of lions or a clan of hyenas. But the ostrich was much smaller by comparison, a "substandard" item with its abdomen hollowed out by a leopard. It was the most numerous carcass present, leaving even the plentiful harlequin wolves somewhat unsated, so they had no choice but to compete for the remaining juvenile zebra left by the hyena clan. "Animals get ''lazier'' once they are full. Many people, influenced by certain movies or shocked by the hyenas'' gutting behavior, subjectively think they are more ferocious, but in reality, this isn''t the case." "Many reptiles and arthropods, limited by their level, mostly have only the instinct for hunting, feeding, and breeding. But as mammals reach this stage, intellectual development enables them to exhibit distinct personality characteristics." "Of course, this is much weaker compared to humans. To me, anthropomorphizing animals is quite an awkward affair. Every time I see overly anthropomorphic descriptions of animals, my big toe involuntarily curls." [Hahaha, me too] [I deeply agree.] [Stop rushing me, you want a three-bedroom apartment, right? It''s already under construction] Being brutal and fond of fighting doesn''t relate to the spotted hyena, so they usually won''t pick their food proactively and only attack when there''s a vested interest. This is the same for most animals, so when there''s enough food, even if a young zebra gets dragged away, no fierce conflict will erupt. After all, spotted hyenas won''t cure zebra meat to extend its shelf life like me; I''ve emphasized this many times already, which is also why we could be so close yet extremely safe at this time. The entire feeding process of the three brothers didn''t last more than an hour, and the once bustling and tense savanna returned to silence after that, with the three groups gradually dispersing. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The vast savanna was left with only several carcasses exposing white bones, which might ultimately end up in the stomachs of vultures. After watching one of the most authentic hunts, Bi Fang took a long breath and felt his spirits soar, a refreshing vigor flowing from the tips of his toes to the crown of his head, leaving him thoroughly invigorated. Bi Fang turned and called out, "Let''s go, there''s nothing more to see." At that moment, Harley squatted atop a small mound just over two meters high, vigilantly looking around. Upon hearing his name, he quickly jumped down from the mound and followed closely behind Bi Fang. The three great savanna groups basically represented the three most threatening carnivores in Africa, all with a sense of territory. Now all three were satiated. This area could be considered a safe zone for the next three days. Unfortunately, Bi Fang was on a mission and couldn''t stay longer. A day later. A vast river barred the way for Bi Fang and Harley. On both sides of the riverbank, huge Nile crocodiles lay by the shore, with their long, tooth-filled jaws wide open, silently waiting for thirsty prey to approach the water''s edge. Chapter 885 881 Tana River Bi Fang led Harley along the riverbank, trying to find a shallow place or a crossing on land, but after more than half an hour of walking, they still couldn''t find a suitable place to cross the river. Harley, having walked a long distance, felt somewhat fatigued and lay down on the ground, refusing to move another step. Bi Fang, seeing this, had no solution. Faced with this river filled with crocodiles, they could only think of another way to cross. "Crack." A tree trunk as thick as an arm was forcibly broken off, and when it reached a suitable length, Bi Fang bound it with lianas to other trees in parallel, forming a row. Judging from the arrangement of the wood, it was clearly a simple raft. "We can''t find a suitable place to cross directly, so if we want to continue heading north, we have no choice but to make a raft to get across," Bi Fang said. If it were any other river, Bi Fang would have chosen to swim across with Harley. But this is Africa, where the rivers teem with fierce Nile crocodiles. "In many wildlife documentaries, we often see Nile crocodiles lurking in rivers to hunt, but in fact, they only get the chance to eat animals a few times a year." "For the vast majority of Nile crocodiles, they only have two big meals a year, both related to the Great Migration of animals in East Africa." "The animals eat once when they go and once again on their return; these are the only two meals most Nile crocodiles get." [No way, just two meals?] [That''s outrageous, just two meals a year, wouldn''t they starve to death?] [I''m so scared I hurriedly wolfed down two bites of food.] "They won''t starve to death. Nile crocodiles have an extremely strong ability to endure hunger. After feasting on a zebra, they can go without food for over half a year." "During Africa''s dry season, there is little rain. To avoid these unfavorable living conditions, Nile crocodiles often dig holes in the riverbanks with their mouths and feet to hide underground in a hibernation-like state until the next rainy season arrives." "Sometimes they can dig down to 12 meters, which is the deepest known excavation performed by any animal using just their body." "So I would absolutely not dare to swim across the river. Before the major wave of animal migrations arrives, each crocodile is starving and wouldn''t let any large living creature pass." [Nile Crocodile: Brothers, we''ve got some action!] [Splash, splash splash, Crocodile: What''s that B noise?] "You should know that Nile crocodiles attack humans 275 to 745 times a year, and over 63% are fatal. Nile crocodiles involved in non-fatal attacks have an average size of about 3 meters, while those in fatal attacks average 3.5 meters. They are considered the most lethal large wild animals in Africa when it comes to attacking humans." "By comparison, from 1990 to 2006, lion fatalities in Africa are estimated to be one-eighth of those caused by Nile crocodiles." [Death roll!] [If a crocodile grabs you, they''ll tear you apart, right?] [That''s terrifying!] [How frightening!] Bi Fang bit the end of the rope, pulling it tight. His fingers weaved in and out, binding the wood together firmly. The plains had plenty of large dead trees, which were good materials for building a raft. "To make a raft, you can use bamboo, uproot small trees with their roots intact¡ªthese materials are solid and durable, immune to rot, or you could use the tops of dead tree trunks, have good buoyancy, and require less material for the same level of buoyancy." "If you have oil drums around, or objects capable of floating, that would be even better. They could all be used to support the raft to float." "If you really can''t find any wood, a piece of waterproof tarpaulin or other waterproof material can also be used to make a light, manned craft." The midday sun was somewhat intense, and as Bi Fang worked without a moment''s rest, sweat began to bead on his forehead. Droplets of sweat slid down from his temples, fell along his jawbone, and a few murky beads dropped onto the bleached dry wood, darkening it slightly. A multitude of trees of uniform thickness were laid side by side, bound firmly with ropes made from tree bark as thick as a pinky finger. By now, Bi Fang had become increasingly skilled at making ropes from fibers, able to produce within a minute a one-meter segment of bark rope as thick as a pinky with sufficient strength, which significantly hastened the completion of the entire raft. "The water system of the river in front of us is quite complex; from a geographical and directional perspective, I guess it could be part of the Tana River system or one of its tributaries." While making the raft, Bi Fang was also able to multitask, introducing the audience to information about the river before them. Just the width of the river in front of them exceeded fifty meters, and the current was not swift¡ªinattentive eyes might even think it had stopped flowing. There were a few pieces of land scattered in the middle of the river, grown over with reeds and grass as tall as a person. From a drone''s aerial view, it looked entirely like a marshland. Such breadth, plus the unknown length. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A river of this size could not possibly be some unnamed "river." As a professional survival expert, one should be familiar with the world''s famous rivers, and as the world''s number one survival expert, Bi Fang was no exception. "There are many major rivers in Africa, but in Kenya, there are only eight rivers of the size we see before us. However, based on our current direction, there are only two possibilities, which are the Tana River and the Galana River." "Both of these rivers originate from the Great Rift Valley and rush all the way down to the Indian Ocean." "Their sources are the same, and their destinations are the same, so it would be difficult to distinguish between the two rivers without knowing one''s precise location." "But we are now in the eastern part of Kenya, south of the Nyika Plateau. In this location, due to the altitude difference, the river flows very rapidly. The Galana River is just like this. The Tana River would have been the same, but because it has a greater volume and larger flow, Kenya built a dam upstream to generate electricity." "Although it''s the rainy season now, it is far from the time to release water from the dam. With the dam''s buffering, the Tana River''s flow appears much more placid, and the water quality is also relatively clear. So we can distinguish it from these two points and confirm that the river before us is the Tana River." The impact of the dam on the river''s flow rate is complex, and Bi Fang simplified it. However, one concept was clear: energy cannot appear out of nowhere. Hydroelectric power plants use the potential energy of the water flow to generate electricity, so the flow rate naturally slows down. [Not sure what to say, it''s outrageous, but since it''s Master Fang speaking, just go with the flow.] [Performing steadily, keep it up.] [Shout out to Master Fang!] [An analysis fierce as a tiger, but the viewers look amusingly befuddled.] [Got it, but not quite.] [Rolling a solo 6.] After about two hours, a wooden raft about three meters long and two meters wide was completed. "When riding the raft, make sure to securely tie all equipment to the raft or to a safety rope." "Ensure the edges of the raft are not dragging anything, otherwise, it might tear the raft on the shallows." "At the same time, we need to secure a few free ropes on the raft; when we are in the river, we should tie the ropes around ourselves, anchoring us in place, acting as safety lines." "The safety line should be long enough to allow everyone free movement but not so long as to drag in the water." "When quickly crossing through rapids with a high drop, it''s best to untie the safety line. That way, if the raft loses control, everyone can swim towards the shore." Having tied the rope around his waist, Bi Fang found a safe spot and gently pushed the raft into the river. Chapter 886 882: Driftwood on the River The moist sand was slowly pushed aside by the advancing wooden raft, leaving an obvious trace on the riverbank. The dark green river water, mixed with a good amount of sediment, turned slightly yellowish, and the waves on both sides kept spreading further away, seemingly transmitting a signal to the sovereign of the river. Harley sat on the shore, slightly opening his mouth to breathe, cautiously surveying his surroundings though his own appearance made him seem rather dumb. Out of the corner of his eye, Bi Fang noticed something moving in the grass next to him. A few stalks of grass, over two meters tall, gently swayed. Those not paying attention might have thought it was just a breeze, but a look at other areas would tell you that only one area shaking heavily was quite discordant. He guessed that the likeliest thing hiding there was a crocodile. As a poikilothermic animal, a crocodile could maintain its body temperature in line with its environment, and its metabolic level also continually changed. The advantage of this is not needing to use internal energy substances to maintain body temperature. Maintaining a body temperature above thirty degrees is a significant energy expense for normal animals. The same piece of meat could sustain a poikilothermic animal for a longer activity period, which means poikilothermics have a much slower energy consumption rate and ultimately eat less. Eating less is an incredible advantage in the harshness of nature, meaning less needed prey, less likely to starve, needing less prey means fewer hunting occasions, less likely to be killed. Consider the Nile Crocodile, which only eats a couple of times a year; its prey includes either wildebeests or zebras, none of which are easy targets. A kick from them could seriously hurt a crocodile. The proverb goes: one who often walks by the river cannot keep his paws dry. The less you wander, the longer you live. However, being poikilothermic also has its downsides; otherwise, most of the creatures at the top of the food chain would be homeothermic. If it gets too cold, the metabolic level in a poikilothermic animal drops too low, making its movements quite sluggish and clumsy, dramatically decreasing its chances of catching prey. Among poikilothermic animals, the ones topping the list that people commonly recognize are usually only crocodiles and pythons, both opportunists. They stay put in a little area where they can''t catch prey unless it comes right up to them. Therefore, in anticipation of the upcoming, semiannual self-service feast, as long as there''s sunlight, crocodiles will climb ashore to bask in the sun, storing energy like solar panels to charge up for their next actions. Bi Fang looked around, noticing that apart from some ripples near the raft, there were no other disturbances in the water, indicating that the crocodile hadn''t entered it. The audience, seeing this, grew particularly tense, possibly because Bi Fang''s consistent words and actions had left a deep impression on them, branding this sizable river in their eyes with a label of extreme danger. [Already panicking] [I feel so unsafe] [Won''t the crocodile attack the people on the raft, and there''s not even a barrier, will the raft fall apart if it comes directly onto it] [I, an elderly, can''t stand to watch this] "We still need to cross the river fast." After pushing the raft into the water, Bi Fang stepped onto it to test its buoyancy and structure. The river, over fifty meters wide and teeming with crocodiles, demanded a sturdy raft; anything less would be tantamount to joking with one''s own life. After ensuring everything was safe, Bi Fang picked up a pole and called over to Harley, who was sitting on the ground, ready to cross the river. The several exposed river islands in the current indicated that the river wasn''t very deep and the flow wasn''t fast. Compared to an oar, a pole was actually a better choice. "Poles can only be used in shallow waters, but they are the most adaptable method of handling boats under special conditions, easily overcoming narrow waters and aquatic plants." S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "That''s why domestic wooden boats usually use poles in combination with other propulsion methods. In busy Jiangnan shipping areas, oars are seldom used because they have too many limitations and must be used on open waters, which is impractical on narrow waters. For example, fishermen near lakes use oars more frequently, but there shouldn''t be too much aquatic plant life, as getting tangled up makes them difficult to use." Of course, Bi Fang had also prepared an oar. There were no bamboo or straight, slender plant stems nearby, so Bi Fang had to make a temporary pole by connecting branches and securing them with special knots. Compared to bamboo poles, such a makeshift pole was heavy and structurally unsound, essentially failing quality standards and meant for one-time use only. Because of this, extra caution was necessary; a breakage could cause significant trouble, so Bi Fang had preemptively prepared an additional rowing oar. Responding to the summon, Harley lowered his head, cautiously peered at the somewhat murky lake surface, extended a paw to test the water, and then swiftly retracted it, looking hesitant and indecisive. Bi Fang consistently monitored the underwater environment to ensure no sudden attacks occurred; he didn''t rush Harley, allowing him to assess the surroundings on his own. Such behavior, fearful and hesitant in the face of an unfamiliar environment, is very normal and even a good habit in nature. Bi Fang wouldn''t interfere with Harley''s actions, as it might impact his natural behaviors in the future. If pushed and rushed, once or twice might be no big deal, but over time, it could easily strip Harley of these good habits. "[It''s a bit like raising a small child (dog''s head)]" "[I think Harley is really smart]" "[When can everyone have one of these things?]" "[It''s still too dangerous]" After pacing back and forth on the shore for about three minutes, Harley finally made up his mind and carefully jumped onto the raft. Under the influence of gravity and inertia, the raft wobbled slightly, frightening Harley into immediately lowering his center of gravity and embedding his claws firmly into the wood until the raft stabilized again, only then slowly standing up and cautiously beginning to move. Seeing this, Bi Fang continued to wait for a while, gently guiding Harley back from the edge of the raft each time he drew too close. Once Harley stopped approaching the edge easily, Bi Fang inserted the pole into the river bed and used it to push the entire raft forward. "In shallow areas, we can control the raft with two long poles. If inexperienced, it''s best for two people to cooperate¡ªone in the front corner and another diagonally in the back. Even without any experience with poles, this method can quickly get the entire boat moving while ensuring some degree of stability." "If it''s just one person, using a pole is quite challenging, as it really requires the coordination of the entire body. Without sufficient skill, one can easily become exhausted, and a slight lack of attention might cause the boat to spin in place." As Bi Fang spoke, he kept moving, pushing the long pole and gradually heading towards the opposite bank of the river. Compared to the noise when they first entered the water, this action now undoubtedly attracted more attention from the crocodiles; just six or seven meters out, the spectators noticed many "dead logs" appearing nearby. Chapter 887 883: Holding a Pinch Only after entering the river did everyone realize that crocodiles weren''t limited to those basking in the sun on the shore. One after another, "driftwood" surfaced without warning, as if previously buried in the riverbed''s silt, and the rafts on the river stirred the currents, dispersing the sediment, conveniently allowing these large bodies to float up. The tens of millions of viewers in front of the screen all knew what this "driftwood" was, unmistakably Nile crocodiles! They were not the ones from the Egyptian desert, known as Nile crocodiles but are actually West African crocodiles, with an average length of less than one meter seventy. These were adult males with an average length of three and a half meters, and prime adults spread more than four meters long, truly terrifying behemoths! Space is three-dimensional; when length doubles, the weight increases exponentially. A West African Nile crocodile at one meter fifty might weigh barely over thirty kilograms, but a three-and-a-half-meter Nile crocodile could weigh a horrifying three hundred kilograms. Compared to doubled length, the weight had shot up tenfold! If two frenzied crocodiles truly launched an attack, just with their weight alone, they could possibly flip the entire raft. If one were to fall into the water then, it''d be out of Bi Fang''s hands. Realizing this, viewers couldn''t help but shiver with fear, and for a moment, the number of viewers and comments in the live broadcast room skyrocketed. [So many, isn''t that way too many? Just on the surface, it feels like there are dozens.] [How many crocodiles are there actually? The Great Rivers of Africa are too terrifying.] [Damn, they aren''t actually going to attack, are they?] [They all came out at once, seems too sensitive, right?] Compared to the panicked audience, Bi Fang seemed completely at ease, unfazed¡ªan old hand at this kind of scene, having experienced it far too often. The first time facing the battlefield, a new soldier might tremble, but a seasoned veteran never would. "Just judging by appearances, Nile crocodiles are covered in scales, and many would subconsciously think their sense of touch is weak, much like how skin wrapped in calluses is often less sensitive than normal skin. In fact, it''s quite the opposite. The surface of a Nile crocodile is filled with sensory organs, even more sensitive than human skin." At these words, everyone was astounded. How could the scales, which looked so thick, be more sensitive than human skin? Is this some kind of joke? "The scales of a crocodile are just a facade. We must look beyond appearances to understand their essence. In fact, more than a hundred years ago, it was discovered that crocodiles have many little black bumps on their heads, jaws, inside their mouths, and between their teeth. These little black spots, ahem, little black dots are not dirt from living in the wild for a long time, but are innate." "Even developing caimans and their embryos have these tiny black dots on their heads before their skin starts to split and scales form. Nile crocodiles go even further, developing these tiny black dots all over their bodies. People at that time considered them a unique organ." "But the exact function of these organs was largely unknown until recently, when we began to understand their purpose, which can be inferred from their name." "Those protruding black dots are unique sensors, which we call dome pressure receptors or cutaneous sensory organs, a type of sensory organ." "However, the crocodile''s cutaneous sensory organs differ entirely from sensory organs in other vertebrates. They combine the detection of touch, temperature, and chemical stimuli into one, evolving into a kind of high-tech armored skin that is much more sensitive than even our human skin." "This means crocodiles can detect changes in surface pressure waves, react to variations in water pressure, and track the movement of prey in the water. Even in darkness, they can swiftly locate their prey." "Their sensitivity to heat allows them to regulate their body temperature by alternately basking in the sun and entering cold water, while their chemical sensing abilities help them find the most suitable habitat." [That''s a bit of an exaggeration, isn''t it?] [Did you know they were this awesome?] S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [No wonder all the nearby crocodiles reacted the moment Old Fang''s raft hit the water] [A miracle of biology, the evolution of nature is truly amazing] Bi Fang nodded and said, "Indeed amazing. The sensory organs of other vertebrates cannot compare. For instance, our skin has a distributed sensing system, whereas crocodiles concentrate this distributed sensing system into a collection of micro-organs capable of multiple sensations." "More detailed papers are published in the Central Country journal ''Evolution & Development.'' If you''re interested, you might want to take a look." The audience was now somewhat accustomed to his practice of tossing out papers at the drop of a hat. This further proved Bi Fang''s professionalism, at least no other Wilderness Survivalist hosts were capable of this. Not everyone has a memory palace. "But for now, we don''t need to worry. If crocodiles were really launching an attack, you guys wouldn''t be able to see them surface. Being able to surface indicates that they temporarily have no desire to attack," he explained. Crocodiles typically float on the water''s surface, only revealing their eyes, mouths, and nostrils. It looks as though they are sunbathing, but in reality, it''s a standard action for breathing. "If a crocodile was truly planning to attack, it wouldn''t expose its body. It would quietly lurk instead. After all, who would let their enemy see them before launching a sneak attack? That''d be stupid." "Moreover, crocodiles are very sensitive to their environment and are far-sighted; they can observe their prey''s status better underwater." Crocodiles are undeniably far-sighted. At this distance of several dozen meters, they couldn''t see clearly. On the other hand, due to the different refraction rates of light in water and air, crocodiles can actually observe more clearly underwater by using their sense of touch. "Coming up to breathe now is probably because I startled them, and after observing for a bit, they just came up to breathe." "Besides, we''re on a raft. The whole target is too large for crocodiles, they won''t attack easily." Bi Fang calmly analyzed as he slowly pulled the pole out from the mud. To the crocodiles, the entire raft was too large. Perhaps the raft itself was only a little over three meters long, not even as long as some fully grown mature Nile crocodiles. Yet, Nile crocodiles don''t grow to be over two meters in width! The whole raft covered an area close to eight square meters. Add on the standing Bi Fang, with a total height over two meters, the volume was nearly 16 cubic meters. To the crocodiles'' senses, this damn thing was a monster among monsters, and a creature that could live in water at that. Perhaps it was the King of Hippos? Even ordinary hippos wouldn''t dare attack, much less the King of Hippos. That was probably what the crocodiles were thinking. [Bi Fang is too awesome, Master Fang nails it, totally getting the crocodiles'' psychology right] [This is probably the mark of a great deity] [He''s got all the crocodiles'' secrets] [Secrets? Let me have a look] Whether it was external sensors, far-sightedness, or breathing, Bi Fang showed extremely detailed knowledge of crocodiles, nailing even their psychology almost preemptively. Such foresight helped ease the audience''s tension. Humans often fear the unknown, but when you can accurately predict your opponent''s next move, fear greatly diminishes. Of course, fear can still be present. A line of crocodiles along the riverbank still looked quite frightening. Especially since all the crocodiles were motionless, if one didn''t know this was the African Savanna, many might even think they were fake. Those in the river silently surfaced beside the boat, quietly staring at the raft, and then silently sinking back down. With the movement of his pole, Bi Fang gradually rowed more than ten meters out. Just when everyone thought they could safely make it across, the water around the raft started to ripple outward, very subtly. Bi Fang''s brow furrowed. Was it a crocodile? No, if it was a crocodile appearing, the water wouldn''t behave like this. Such dense ripples looked more like vibrations occurring on the ground. Bi Fang looked up. In the distance, a thin black line on the plain was gradually thickening, clearly drawing closer and moving at quite a fast pace. Chapter 888 884 Celestial River Crossing A black line appeared on the horizon, at first inconspicuous, like an outline sketched with a black pen between heaven and earth, making the entire world suddenly clear, with distinctly drawn sketch-like boundaries. But then the black line began to thicken continuously; the fine pen didn''t stop there¡ªit smeared over the same spot repeatedly, deepening over and over. The whole river trembled ever so slightly, and the ripples around the wooden raft spread out in expanding circles, undulating without end. [What''s that noise] [What''s happening] [It''s an earthquake, run for it!] [Run your head, it looks like an animal migration is coming. They don''t seem very close, should be no danger] [Master Fang: A herd of animals? Watch me slaughter them in and out seven times!] "Swish, swish." The sound of water was incessant, as crocodiles one after another emerged from the tall reeds on the riverbank and pushed off with their four limbs to slide into the river, creating a small splash, like a pot of black dumplings being dropped in. The biannual feast had arrived! "It''s another great migration." Bi Fang recognized at a glance from the nature of the scene and the phenomenon that more migratory animals were approaching. What was coming this time? Zebras or wildebeests, or perhaps gazelles? Such a magnificent scale did not make Bi Fang too anxious. He chose a crossing point on the river where the water was shallow and the current not strong; most animals would also likely choose to cross here. Twice a year, every year, many of their companions perished here. Under the pressing threat of life and death, the animals were very experienced in selecting places to cross the river. But these guys had just appeared on the horizon, still a considerable distance from the Tana River, far enough for Bi Fang to make it to the riverside. Splashes resounded endlessly, as crocodiles entered the water at high speed, vanishing in the blink of an eye with only a tail visible, and sometimes not even that. Before this scene unfolded, the audience had no clue there were so many crocodiles hidden in the reeds, thinking there were only a few. Harley keenly noticed the disturbance, but it was now over ten meters from the riverbank. Even with its extraordinary jumping ability, without a running start, it could not surmount such a gap and would fall into the water to become a crocodile''s feast. Bi Fang pulled the pole out of the river mud, moved slowly to the front in the water, then inserted it again and used the counterforce to push the wooden raft forward. Numerous crocodiles surfaced to breathe, revealing a pair of eyes while a small area of water in front of them bubbled¡ªthey stared motionlessly at the raft floating on the river. The breathing now was different from before; before, it was a coincidence while being startled, just as humans suddenly become aware of their own breathing and the brain takes over the breathing rhythm from the brainstem. Now, however, they were adjusting their status, increasing blood oxygen levels in preparation for hunting. Bi Fang slightly hastened his moves, speeding up his progress towards the opposite bank, leaving a trail of ripples behind. By the time he had crossed a good half of the river, the "deadwood" in the entire river had become quite sparse, as if the scene that had been covered just moments ago was an illusion. The migrating group finally revealed its true form. "Wildebeests, it''s a wildebeest herd!" Bi Fang turned his head and immediately spotted the characteristic curved horns. The wildebeest, the most numerous herbivore on the African Savanna, by far, with annual migration numbers reaching a staggering one and a half million! This group, namesakes of horses but actually a species of antelope, wield the most domineering force on the entire savanna. As the wildebeest approached, their figures became increasingly clear, their facial features as chiseled and three-dimensional as sculptures, with robust and massive bodies, and strong, muscular limbs. "With faces like horses, builds like cows, and cow-like long, curved horns, they might well be described as horses with horns, a bovine-horse appearance, hence the name wildebeest." The pole in hand prodded against the riverbed, and the raft easily passed over a giant crocodile more than four meters in length. A throng of crocodiles was drawing near in their direction, making it impossible to cross the river directly; they had to find a suitable spot to disembark, lest they arrive at the bank only to be greeted by crocodiles, which could still pose a risk of an attack. Handling a crocodile alone might not be dangerous, but should there be any delay, and they happened to coincide with the wildebeest herd crossing the river, the ensuing chaos would bring serious trouble. Therefore, Bi Fang had no choice but to change his straight path, instead paddling towards a small clearing in the upper right direction. After five or six minutes, Moyo finally arrived at the opposite bank of the river, not even waiting for the front of the raft to touch ground, Harley, who had been holding back for a long time, leapt excitedly onto the shore, jumping back and forth with great excitement, and after disembarking, he did not forget to look back and shout toward Bi Fang. The raft bumped lightly against the shore, pushing up a small patch of grassland. Harley ran back, grabbed the rope on the raft with his mouth, and pulled backwards, but unfortunately, his strength was too small to be of any help. With crocodiles still menacingly present in the river and the swiftly approaching wildebeest already reaching the river edge in search of a suitable crossing point, Bi Fang could not afford to delay. He untied the rope from his waist, grabbed the end, jumped to shore, and finally pulled the raft onto land. Bi Fang made it to the opposite bank, and the wildebeest had as well, with their numbers still rising. At a distance across the river, the army of wildebeest spread out densely, an intimidating sight. The few leading at the front boasted flowing fur that glimmered gently golden under the sunlight, resplendently brilliant. Behind these golden-furred wildebeest lay a multitude colored in more shades of grey, black, and brown, which could not help but amaze onlookers. Seeing this, Bi Fang explained, "The color of wildebeest fur is not uniform, changing with age just like humans'' hair turns grey as they grow old." "But unlike us, whose hair turns white, theirs turns yellow, even golden yellow, while young wildebeest are usually greyish-brown with black noses and limbs, giving off a sense of splendor that only comes with the passage of time." "Older wildebeest are more experienced and have greater influence in deciding where to cross the river, or rather, they are the leaders who must guide the herd across." [Cool, turning golden yellow!] [Seriously, I want that too] [I wanna dye my stuff yellow] [Chicken-shit yellow] S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Beneath the adult wildebeest, one could discern a great number of young wildebeest mixed in the massive group. The young wildebeest were jostled about by the adults, teetering and tottering, adding a layer of anxious tension to the scene. "Each migration, the number of young wildebeest can reach an astonishing one-quarter of the total, but because they are small, and currently surrounded by the larger adults in the center, it''s not very noticeable from our point of view." The drone flew up high, capturing a clearer picture of the wildebeest herd''s population ratios, revealing at a glance that a significant portion of the animals were noticeably smaller in stature. Due to the arrival of the wildebeest herd, most crocodiles were swimming toward the opposite bank, which actually created a temporary safe zone for Bi Fang''s side. He looked around and found a tree of appropriate size. Cheetahs are not adept at climbing trees, but since Harley was light, Bi Fang simply picked him up and climbed up to sit on a branch for a better vantage point. By this time, the wildebeest had already hesitated by the riverbank for some time, and finally, one golden-haired wildebeest bravely took the first step into the river ahead. Chapter 889 885: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind Gazing at the river channel for a long time, the wildebeest leader finally decided to take the first step and give it a try. The water was still and clearly reflected the golden, flowing fur of the wildebeest leader as its round hoof hung in the air, slowly stepping in. "Splash!" A huge splash startled the wildebeests by the riverbank, including the leader who had just wanted to test the waters, leaving a trail of circular prints in the mud with its damp hooves. The river channel, once crowded with wildebeest, suddenly cleared, creating a semicircular space with a diameter of over ten meters. This also allowed Bi Fang in the tree and the viewers a better opportunity to observe what exactly had happened. In the space cleared by the wildebeest, a Nile Crocodile, estimated to be over four meters long, had clamped onto a young wildebeest. A successful hunt! The young wildebeest''s entire lower half, from the abdomen to the buttocks, was firmly torn by the crocodile''s sharp teeth, rendering it immobile, as only its front hooves kicked continuously. Even so, the kicks began to weaken. Having trudged a long distance, nibbling on yellowed, dry grass without any moisture, many of the wildebeests were panting with thirst, their thick tongues frequently licking their lips and nostrils, emitting low, heavy breaths. Confronted by the calm river, a number of wildebeests chose to drink a few mouthfuls of water before crossing, risking their lives. The crocodile did not hesitate to strike at this moment. This young wildebeest, only one meter in length, was too small for an adult Nile Crocodile and was easy to prey upon, even without the crocodile''s signature death roll. The crocodile raised its head high and with a fierce jerk to the side of its head. Under the force of the heavy blow, the sound of breaking bones could be heard as the young wildebeest''s body bent at an exaggerated angle, clearly having its spine snapped on the spot. Not a single wildebeest attempted to reclaim their companion; they watched indifferently as the successful Nile Crocodile took its trophy back into the river, seemingly apathetic to their companion''s death. Only a few equally formidable Nile Crocodiles approached their peer to share the meal, adding noise to the otherwise eerily silent scene. [That tail flip was cool] [The image is so clear, I''m shocked. I want to get a drone like Old Fang''s someday] [You''ll find you can''t afford it] [Million-dollar drone, check it out] Many viewers admired the crocodile''s strength, while some focused their attention on the wildebeest. [These wildebeest are so cold-blooded, not reacting at all] [Cold-blooded? This is nature. Nature is just like this; there is no thriving lushness, everything is subjective feelings imposed by humans] "Indifference is a very normal behavior," Bi Fang replied after seeing the comments. "Or rather, it''s their survival strategy, just like how we humans would actively avoid a big pit on the road instead of stepping into it." The wildebeest, able to become the largest group among large wild animals on the African Savanna and even the world, naturally had unique survival strategies. Sitting on a tree branch, Bi Fang adjusted his seating position and, facing the camera, put up two fingers: "The actions of the wildebeest herd follow two rules." "The first is to follow the leader or companions, and it''s almost a blind following." "When wildebeest cross a new area, they often line up one by one in a row. If we follow the herd, we can frequently witness a scene where, halfway through, suddenly one of them swerves to the right." As if to confirm Bi Fang''s words, the semicircle vacated due to the hunting of the young wildebeest remained unfilled, even though the crocodile had left. The wildebeest leader, originally prepared to cross the river, once again fell into a state of indecision. Many wildebeests continued to approach the river to drink, but none ventured near the recently vacated semicircle. Clearly, every other spot was equally unsafe, filled with crocodiles. Such a scene undoubtedly surprised many viewers. [It seems like it] [What''s the saying? Once bitten by a snake, one fears ropes for a decade?] Bi Fang continued: "The reason might be that the first wildebeest to do so encountered a snake or smelled a predator, and then for the next half hour, every following individual repeated the same action, curving the entire column, even if the danger there had already passed." "To us, this rule might seem foolish, but for creatures of lesser intelligence, it can ensure their safety," "The same occurs when crossing rivers. It looks foolish, yet it enables them to cross the most difficult stretches of water successfully, for the most part," Pausing for a moment, Bi Fang began his second point. "The second rule is that the movement of the group is more important than anything else." "Zoologists have witnessed the following scene near Mara: a female wildebeest, after crossing the river, realized that her calf was missing. While the other individuals continued to move forward, she considered returning to the river''s edge to search for her child." "Hearing its mother''s call, the calf responded and swam toward her but couldn''t manage to climb ashore because where the mother stood was a four-meter-high cliff. However, just fifteen meters away, there was a gentler slope." After a brief pause, Bi Fang added, "I don''t know if any of you have ever been in danger, but if you think back carefully, you''ll find that in dangerous situations, our brains are very bad at noticing changes in our environment. There might be a safe area right next to you, but when you''re seized by fear and panic, you simply can''t notice it." Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [I have never encountered danger, but I feel like what Old Fang is talking about is similar to my first public speech. I was so focused on the script and then hurried off the stage that I had no idea what reaction the audience had at the end.] [Wow, with that comparison, I can really feel it.] "Humans are like this, and even more so are instinct-driven animals. The calf instinctively chased after its mother''s direction, struggling ceaselessly at the steep slope." "If the mother wildebeest could have moved to the gentler area 15 meters away from the bank to guide her bewildered offspring, the calf might have been able to get ashore." "But the momentum of the herd''s movement was too great, and the female wildebeest, after only brief hesitation, turned back to run towards the main group, choosing abandonment." "In the end, the abandoned calf struggled in the same spot until it was exhausted, slipped back into the water, and became food for the crocodiles," The audience, upon hearing this, was mostly left speechless with an indescribable feeling. Sadness? Or anger? Nothing. Faced with her own child, the female wildebeest ultimately chose to follow the main group. These were their two main strategies: blind obedience and close following. In the face of the silent live broadcast, Bi Fang actually smiled, "The survival strategy of wildebeests, in fact, contrasts sharply with the survival laws of zebras." "Zebras usually form a family unit based on a breeding group, consisting of one leading stallion, several mares, and their offspring." "Family members have very close relationships, especially the males, who will stick closely to their progeny." "Once in the Ngorongoro Crater, a zoologist inadvertently killed a young male zebra that had strayed from the group while fitting it with a radio collar. The foal''s father began a frantic search, scouring every family group in the area for a full ten months." [Gosh, you''re killing me here.] [This contrast...] [Though it''s not as touching, it''s still a little heart-wrenching.] [Wait, did Old Fang say ''Ngorongoro'' twice?] Bi Fang shrugged, "The place is called the Ngorongoro Crater, I didn''t say it wrong; it''s an extinct volcano in the northern part of Tanzania, in the Great Rift Valley of East Africa, heralded as the ''Eden of Africa,'' and it is one of the most pristine and beautiful volcanic craters in the world." "Zebras are so persistent and their family ties so strong, yet there, their population numbers are only one-fifth of the wildebeests''." "Although wildebeests are surrounded by waiting predators from birth and their existence looks foolish, they have established the most perfect strategy to adapt to the entire ecosystem - the maximum foraging and the minimum predation, making themselves the largest kingdom on the Serengeti Plains." The vast beauty of the savanna coexists with the looming presence of predators, yet millions of wildebeests manage to survive, becoming a miracle in the world of mammals. "Many actions that seem cruel, indifferent to us, are key to the continued proliferation of the great collective." "That is why I rarely and do not like to anthropomorphize animals. It is very difficult to achieve mutual understanding of different species'' perspectives. We don''t need to understand; we just need to record as observers," As Bi Fang''s words settled, the tumultuous sound of splashing water rose again. This time it was not hunting but finally, the wildebeest took steps leading the great troop across the river. Chapter 890 886: The Sparrow Stalks Behind Due to continuous rain, the North had fostered new, fresh grasslands, spreading the fragrant scent of grass seeds across the continent with the breeze. The unique flavor deeply attracted over eight hundred thousand wildebeests originally inhabiting the south, making them converge into the largest moving group in the animal world. The migrating wildebeests rose early, usually at the break of dawn, arranging themselves in neat, long lines and moving slowly. The line seemed to have no beginning or end. They were highly disciplined, walking head to tail without any frolicking or noise, blending silently into the morning serenity of the savannah, moving slowly, only speeding up like a whipped beast when encountering hunting lions. The pace quickened and slowed. Crossing the morning, crossing midday, they reached dusk. Stepping across the plains, stepping over volcanoes, they reached the riverbanks. Arranged in a single-file line, the wildebeest troop halted at the river and, under pressure from the newcomers, automatically shifted into a square formation, still maintaining strict discipline like an army preparing for battle. The golden wildebeest leader tried his best to find a suitable crossing point but remained indecisive under the watchful eyes of the crocodiles. Now, everyone couldn''t help but hold their breath. This might have been the first time someone captured the wildebeest migration in such a vivid form. Under the same sky, while they were eating, walking, and chatting, a massive group numbering in the tens of thousands was attempting to pass a formidable barrier! The fish-scale shaped clouds in the sky gradually turned red. Bi Fang arrived by the riverside in the afternoon, finishing his raft crossing around five o''clock. As November approached, daylight in the northern hemisphere had significantly shortened. At five, the sun, like a fried egg hung in the sky, began to glow with a red rim. The silhouette of the dark trees blurred under the somber halo. Unbeknownst to when, leaden storm clouds drifted from the east, covering half the sky like a giant curtain. Under the lightning and torrential rain, the grass thrived. In the other half of the sky bathed in sunlight, the dry and withered savannah emitted a reddish-gold light. The wildebeest leader, fearing the monster in the river, dared not move forward, while newcomers still surged like tides across the vast horizon. Gradually, the disciplined square formation began to swell, its straight boundary lines bending more and closer to a circle. Wildebeests at the frontline were pushed, squeezed, and urged. It was precarious. The wildebeest leader roared, trying to control the herd, but to no avail. Facing the psychological fear of natural predators, it was too hard for the wildebeests to overcome. They would muster their strength, then weaken, and finally exhaust, the front line of the group never advancing. They were like a coin-pusher in an arcade, filled with coins, a push and collapse being only a matter of time. But what awaited the wildebeests was not the release of coins, but the long, fanged snout of the crocodile. The crocodiles with blood-red eyes awaited their grand prize, their half-year-long hunger causing their stomach acid to overflow the stones aiding their digestion, hissing as it poured. As diners, they were not friendly. The square had completely become a circle, beginning to swell outward. The entire wildebeest herd began to bawl. Coins clinked as they dropped one by one, their delightful ring echoing through the air, clear and loud. At last, the huge tower of coins had collapsed. Countless coins fell, colliding, rubbing, and tumbling in mid-air. All the sounds interwove, forming the most grating meal bell. An invisible hand madly pressing the meal bell, personally tying bright red dinner napkins around the necks of all the hungry diners. No one knew whether the first wildebeest to jump was motivated by its own bravery or by the malice of its comrades. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It all just happened. When the first wildebeest took its first step, a few daring members of the team immediately followed, and the main force took the opportunity to follow suit. The circle that had expanded to its limits seemed to have found its vent and forcibly ejected all the wildebeests, sending them plummeting into the river. To defeat these ancient creatures wearing armor and bearing sharp teeth, the wildebeests knew they had to rely on teamwork, and, with an overwhelming numerical advantage, they rushed forward in one concerted effort. When the thousands of wildebeests charged into the river, the crocodiles surely couldn''t withstand it and could only dodge. The wildebeests seemed to understand this as well, so once they had a leader, they no longer hesitated and started running. The sound of their steps was majestic, kicking up clouds of dust. The air turned murky, blending with the yellow, undulating river water, completely blurring the boundaries between them. Distant thunder mixed with the wildebeests'' roars, making it impossible to distinguish between the two. It was as if thunder had struck the vast surface of the river and exploded violently. The pupils of the spectators dilated slowly, their blood seeming to boil with the wildebeests'' roars, overwhelming them with awe. In Africa, the annual great wildlife migration not only displays the vibrant force of life but also offers a direct view of the cosmic power behind life. Such a sight also creates the matchless spectacle of the wildebeest migration. "The wildebeest migration is hailed as one of the ''Seven Natural Wonders of the World'', and behind its majestic momentum lies a poignant tragedy." "This is the animals'' struggle to survive in nature; it is nature''s harsh selection of these herbivores, making each migration a marvel." The environmental noise was so loud that even Bi Fang, sitting in a tree, could feel the ground tremble, forcing him to shout at the top of his lungs. Next to him, Harley was so frightened he wanted to climb to a higher spot on the tree, but Bi Fang grabbed his hind legs with one hand, preventing him from going up. Leopards are not as adept at climbing trees as their relatives, the cheetahs, who might fall down at any moment. Moreover, it was now their time to make a move. Bi Fang held Harley and slid down from the tree to the ground, pointing at the wildebeest herd and shouting to the drone above, "A fifty-meter dash through water is a huge drain for the wildebeests; when they finally cross the river and land on the shore, it''s when their vigilance is at its lowest." "Physical exhaustion, relaxed nerves, this is the best hunting time!" "We didn''t know where the wildebeests were going to cross the river initially, so for safety, we climbed the tree to avoid a head-on collision. Now that we''ve confirmed we can avoid their sharpest edge, we can attack from the side!" Being the party with higher mobility, a frontal charge is the worst strategy, a side sneak attack is the best. After losing many members at the start of the sprint, the wildebeests finally reached the shore with wet hooves, exhausted, and pushed by their companions from behind, they trotted at a neither fast nor slow pace. Likewise, on the riverbank, a few tens of meters away, Bi Fang wasn''t in a hurry. He walked Harley at a strolling pace, parallel in the same direction, watching more and more wildebeests make it ashore. Finally, when the young and strong wildebeests were ashore, mingled with the young ones! "Now, run!" Bi Fang led the way with Harley, running side by side with the wildebeest herd, beginning to close in! Chapter 891 887: A Successful Hunt The migration across the plains, from spring to autumn, happened year after year. The pitch-black wildebeest clustered together, creating a conspicuous wristwatch shape on the yellow-brown earth. On the opposite bank, the surging wildebeest herd formed the most substantial, most crucial soul dial of this wristwatch, while the troops of wildebeest coming and going on one side became the perfect strap of this watch. Finding an outlet, the dial''s components spurted out en masse, crossing the vast river, hurtling towards the far bank. The entire Tana River was turbid with silt and reeked of blood, as one wildebeest after another charged out of the dust, plunged into the river, then leapt from the splashes onto the shore. The billowing yellow dust trailed along the wildebeest''s fluid-like muscles, and the murky water droplets slid down the creased textures. The scene of a myriad of animals stampeding made even the earth tremble. Ravenous Nile crocodiles, driven by hunger, charged forward, with the fortunate ones capturing one of their only two substantial meals of the year, while those less lucky were trampled into mud by endless wildebeest hooves, mixed with the floating chunks of flesh, unknowingly consumed in the chaos, perhaps by pilfering small fish or by frenzied peers. But beneath this spectacular and even heroic scene lay an unnoticed fatigue and laxity. The audience, completely engrossed, was unlikely to spot this detail. Only Bi Fang, with his acute perception¡ªor rather, having expected it¡ªnoticed. The consumption of bodily energy in a state of extreme fear and full-blown activity was terrifying. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A mere fifty meters of wading, sprinting with full force, the tens of thousands of wildebeest in sight were as exhausted as after a kilometers-long escape. This was the perfect opportunity for hunting. Harley seized this moment, and as Bi Fang took the lead charging to its right front, the cheetah raised in a human-controlled environment for a year keenly felt its veins pulsating, its blood boiling, like scorching magma flowing. The air was permeated with the scent of blood, and the predator''s instincts, driven by primitive genes, were unequivocally displayed. With ears tipped with a few long hairs trembling slightly, Harley began running on the right side of the wildebeest herd, turning into a streak of yellow lightning across the vast, boundless plains. In just an instant, the agile and slender cheetah overtook Bi Fang, surged ahead, and like a sharpened knife, pierced diagonally toward the wildebeest herd. It had grasped it. That thought crossed Bi Fang''s mind, and he couldn''t help feeling pleased. Felids, after evolving for twenty-five million years, became Earth''s most successful carnivores, and even Harley, who had never seen the plains from birth to adulthood, was still able to dig out a hunting proficiency above the norm from its bodily instincts. Since setting out, some time had passed, and during this shared existence on the plains, Harley was swiftly growing under his constant guidance. It was entirely predictable that when man and cheetah finally arrived in the northernmost part of Kenya, Harley''s wildlife training would be thoroughly completed. Bi Fang''s thoughts raced much faster than a normal human''s, but likewise, a cheetah''s speed was much faster than a typical animal''s! As his thoughts whirled, the cheetah had already accelerated to match the running wildebeest''s pace and surpassed them in a breath! From Bi Fang''s start to the cheetah''s overtaking, becoming the cutting edge about to slice into the wildebeest herd, the entire process took only a few breaths, less than half a minute. Had two of the three drones not shifted their cameras to focus on Bi Fang, many might not have even processed what happened until they saw Harley charging straight into the wildebeest herd. Through the screens, countless people were amazed by this hunt. In contrast to the robust and powerful wildebeest, the slender Harley seemed too inconspicuous, especially when the wildebeest grouped together, their combined force appearing all the more daunting. The cheetah charging head-on was akin to a mantis trying to stop a chariot. Bi Fang was fully aware of the substantial strength gap between them. Cheetahs do hunt wildebeest, but most of the time, the hunting is done in groups. Given the considerable size difference, in a one-on-one battle, cheetahs are typically outmatched. But Harley wasn''t tasked with taking down adult wildebeest¡ªit was the smaller, young ones who had just learned to run that were the prime targets. Their stamina was significantly less than that of their parents, and due to their puniness, they could even be submerged by the river currents. Having just survived the head of the herd''s river crossing, these young ones barely clung to life, scarcely mustering the energy to walk. Moreover, while the wildebeest formation once held some semblance of order, it fell into complete disarray after crossing. The calves, previously shielded at the center of the herd, were now entirely exposed outside the ranks with no adult wildebeest to shield them. Against a ferocious, fully charged predator like Harley, they were but fish on a cutting board. The wildebeest''s imposing strength did nothing to halt Harley''s stride, yet it instinctively steered clear of larger beasts, opting for prey of similar size or smaller¡ªnamely the calves. This was also a training method Bi Fang used to instill in Harley the memory of preying on the old, weak, sick, and injured. Thus, in the widening pupils of the audience, the glowing screen reflected a perfect inverse of the hunt. The leading wildebeest''s mane flew back wildly as its fallen companions lay by its side. Amidst the rising dust, Earth''s most agile hunter plunged toward a wildebeest calf even smaller than itself. Having just escaped the jaws of a crocodile, this newborn wildebeest was already in a state of panic. Against the oncoming Cheetah Harley, it couldn''t muster any effective resistance and felt an overwhelming force hit from the side, followed by a savage takedown. The young wildebeest was hurled onto the muddy ground, kicking reflexively. Harley was kicked a couple of times yet was unwilling to let go of the prey within its grasp. It quickly pressed down and clutched the wildebeest''s neck, clamping down on the throat in a successful strike! At that moment, countless viewers nearly stood up to cheer. Victory was almost certain. Running, sprinting, takedown. A cakewalk! Perhaps not far from the calf were its parents, but with the threat of crocodiles behind and the inertia of the herd, they were powerless. They could only watch as their calf was taken down and separated from the herd! ["Bro, wanna buy some cheats?"] [Cheetah: "I just want to have a full meal." Wildebeest: "I just don''t want to be the meal."] [That hang time, so stable] [Got speed and also got speed for strength.] [Got speed and also got speed for combat readiness.] [Cracking up for real] [Cheetahs evolved not in an all-rounded manner, but specialized in speed¡ªa spectacle (creature) only witnessed in nature and a gift indeed] [Even at 0.5x speed, I still couldn''t outrun it] The lack of any complication took all viewers by surprise, which quickly turned to endless admiration. Chapter 892 888 The Handsomest Cat A perfect hunt! As the wildebeest crossed the river, Harley presented a spectacular performance unlike any that countless viewers had imagined before, displaying what truly characterized a cheetah''s pose! Only the cheetahs that run across the plains are the true children of the wind. [The coolest among the felines, not discussing others (joking)] [Then there''s nothing left to discuss (Dog''s head)] [Don''t want to discuss? Then let''s stop discussing altogether (flip the table)] [Lion: I think we still need to talk about others; Tiger: agrees] [Snow Leopard: Are we really not discussing anything else?] The audience who witnessed this scene were thrilled, and if they were there in person, they would definitely have stood up and clapped wildly. Praises were frantically thrown, occupying more than half of all the comments. Similarly, thanks to this Celestial River Crossing paired with the cheetah''s awakened hunting moment, the number of viewers surged tremendously, reaching a frightening 16 million simultaneous viewers. [Too cool, the king of speed!!!] [Awakened, the moment of the hunt!] [Truly a masterpiece of nature, these lines are incredibly beautiful] [The speed ceiling of terrestrial creatures] [Isn''t this shot a prototype of quick syrup?] [For those who desperately work at the factory screwing bolts to support their families] [What streaked by just now?] The atmosphere in the initially silent live-streaming room revived once more, as comments erupted like a volcano. Harley firmly clenched the wildebeest''s throat, its belly extremely swollen, indicating the incredible amount of energy it had expended. The wildebeest herd sprinted by mere meters away from it, kicking up dust that even reached Harley''s wet nostrils, although none stopped to aid their kin, all strictly following the group''s rhythm, cruelly displaying the laws of survival. To some extent, these laws also protected the exhausted Harley. The wildebeests were still crossing the river, initially going one by one in a single line. Now, the lines had grown to seven or eight and continued to expand, with the ranks growing larger. If Harley did not move soon, it could be overwhelmed by the expanding wildebeest herd, and then it would be in danger. Bi Fang made a circle with his thumb and forefinger, placing it by his mouth and blowing a very loud whistle. During the wildebeest crossing, the whole world was drowned out by the sound of their stamping, noisy and dull, only high-pitched, sharp whistles could effectively carry through. Bi Fang loudly explained to the clueless audience, "According to the conservation center, the whistle signal was the original command Hamid set for Harley." "In the past, Hamid would take the cheetahs to run on the grasslands, and sometimes when the cheetahs got too carried away and vanished, he would use the whistle to call them back. Harley is very sensitive to it." Sure enough, the piercing whistle accurately reached Harley''s ears, and it heard the command. Upon receiving the command, Harley instinctively began dragging its prey away from the wildebeest herd, toward Bi Fang. Though extremely exhausted, it gradually moved away from the increasingly large flow of wildebeests, ensuring its safety, and as Harley regained its strength, its speed also increased. Hunting the wildebeest, Bi Fang had minimized the difficulty through his timing. As a novice, although Harley was somewhat immature and his stamina was not completely depleted, Bi Fang did not step in to assist. The best way to guide the cheetah to adapt to the wild was to let it fend for itself as much as possible. Five minutes later, Harley, who had been biting onto the calf''s neck, released its mouth and lay on the ground, gasping for air. After such an extended time, the suffocated wildebeest was completely dead. For the prey that Harley had hunted alone, Bi Fang did not quickly process and take the prey, but instead stayed in the same place, quietly waiting for Harley to complete recovery. "Now our supplies are quite sufficient, and we are not lacking fur or tools, the greatest use of this wildebeest is to let Harley know which parts of the prey are the fattest, and offer the best value for consumption." "Likewise, we need Harley to move the prey to a safe area after he rests, to avoid having his food stolen. This is an important point for a cheetah." [Worker Cheetah, Mane Boss, Lion Police Officer] [Prairie Whipping Boy] [Just catch the prey; eating a bite means all the carnivores of the prairie lose (joking)] [Nature really is full of pitfalls; surviving is not easy] Bi Fang swatted a mosquito on his skin dead and flicked its body away with his finger. The riverbank was rich in water vapor, and with the continuous rain and so many animals crossing the river, this extremely comfortable environment led to a terrifying amount of mosquitoes nearby. Then under the last ray of sunset, if you looked at the sky, it kind of resembled staring at an old TV screen without signal. "Oh, if only all the blood-sucking mosquitoes died, after all, their disappearance wouldn''t have much impact on the ecosystem." With such a number, even the carefully formulated mosquito-repellent grass by Bi Fang was not so effective anymore. This rare complaint from Bi Fang while waiting for the cheetah to recover his strength sparked lively discussion among netizens. [Mosquitoes disappearing won''t affect the ecosystem?] [Dang, is that true, how is that possible?] "Ah, I just said it casually," Bi Fang touched the back of his head and laughed, "But there is some basis to it not affecting the ecosystem. An article published in ''Nature'' once stated that no species is completely dependent on mosquitoes for survival." "Biologist Olivia Judson has also advocated for the extinction of thirty types of mosquitoes, arguing that eliminating these thirty most harmful ones could save a million lives and would only reduce the mosquito family''s genetic diversity by 1%." [How is that possible, wouldn''t the predators of mosquitoes be harmed?] Bi Fang shook his head, "No, mosquitoes are not the sole food source for those creatures." S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "In addition, most plants that depend on mosquitoes for pollination can also be pollinated by other insects. Mosquitoes are not so-called ''keystone species''; no ecosystem would collapse due to the absence of mosquitoes." "The only exception might be the Arctic Tundra, but the species of mosquitoes there do not transmit diseases and can be preserved." "After the mosquitoes are eradicated, the void they leave will be filled by other organisms." "So if mosquitoes disappeared, the animals that feed on them would decrease in number, but they would not go extinct." "The plants that rely on mosquitoes for pollination would also decrease, but would not go extinct. No species exclusively depends on mosquitoes to survive, so their absence would not greatly impact the ecosystem." "The most likely scenario is that mosquitoes will be replaced by species from other groups beyond the Culicidae of the Nematocera, including Midges, Gall Midges, Moth Flies, Reticulidae, Phantom Midges, Chironomidae (Non-biting midges), Black Flies, and Sand Flies, etc." "With less competition from mosquitoes and potentially fewer predators, these groups could experience a population explosion, and the original mosquito predators might switch to eating these groups, akin to a replacement?" "This situation is still quite rare." [Dang, I''ve learned something new] [Though I''ve never heard of it, it sounds impressive] [Awesome, strange knowledge increased] [Whoa, this bit of knowledge has really shocked me.] "But like I said from the beginning, I was just speaking off the cuff, just venting¡ªexterminating mosquitoes wouldn''t really help." "According to Schermatin, eliminating mosquitoes wouldn''t impact the ecosystem much, but the ecological niche vacated by mosquitoes would quickly be filled by other similar species, some of which might also bite and suck blood." "It''s like if one villain is punished, another will pop up, and the original mosquito predators will also prey on these species, bringing the ecosystem back to a balanced state." "Okay, the cheetah has recovered enough strength now; we should hurry and leave." After briefly sharing some knowledge, Harley had regained some strength and could now perform some strenuous actions. Bi Fang got up and headed into the distance, signaling Harley to carry the prey and continue moving forward with him. Chapter 893 889: Two Worlds The cheetah struggled to drag the young wildebeest, following behind Bi Fang, inching away from the perilous wildebeest herd. The vast and stirring sound of galloping hooves gradually faded away. Tens of thousands, perhaps even exceeding six figures of wildebeest, took more than just a few minutes, or even fifteen minutes, to cross the river; half an hour was the basic drill. Few places in the world could boast such a high concentration of animal numbers like this one. Millions of herbivores migrated single-mindedly, raising dust, while cheetahs and lions lay in wait in the grass for prey, vultures circled in the sky searching for carrion, and fierce crocodiles and irritable hippos stirred restlessly in the rivers... All sorts of animals embarked on charges and hunts for the survival of their species, displaying the wild behavior of the survival of the fittest, happening every second on the African Savannah. No words or images could shock the heart more than seeing it firsthand. And it was precisely because he had seen it firsthand that Bi Fang was all the more aware of the dangers and horrors. Faced with predators starting to gather, he chose to take Harley on a wide detour to avoid them, retreating to a dense bush 300 meters away. Predators usually launched their ambushes within a hundred meters; few would charge from a distance beyond that, as the chance of a miss was too high, almost guaranteeing failure other than a waste of energy. Energy was precious in the struggle for survival in nature; not a bit could be wasted, all must be put to optimal use. Most predators that spotted prey would choose to approach slowly, launching a sprint only within fifty meters. If detected too early, they generally wouldn''t make any large moves. By retreating with Harley straight to a distance of 300 meters, Bi Fang had essentially placed them in a safe zone, especially with bushes half the height of a person providing cover. One man, one leopard, one wildebeest, completely vanished from the sight of the other wild beasts. Several hyenas and lions that had set their sights on the cheetah withdrew their attention, continuing to focus on the feast within easy reach. The sense of crisis pricking at his skin gradually dissipated, Bi Fang took out his hunting knife, ready to make the cut. A scene everyone loved to watch. Just as all the viewers in front of the screen thought the knife point would go towards the neck to bleed the young wildebeest, Bi Fang did not do so. Anyone who has seen pigs slaughtered in the countryside knows that to kill a pig, one has to tie its four legs, lift it onto the table, then kneel one leg on the pig''s body, hold the pig''s chin with one hand, pull it back hard to expose the pig''s throat, and with the other hand, thrust a sharp knife straight in. The specific location is about one centimeter to the right of the center of the throat, at the first rib, thrusting towards the heart, then lift the blade sideways to cut the neck arteries and veins, without piercing the heart. Killing the pig involves bursting major blood vessels, with the heart still contracting to squeeze out the blood. If the heart is ruptured, the blood won''t be drained cleanly and will spread inside the body, increasing the gamy smell. After doing this, flip the knife and pull it out, and the blood will gush out with the blade. This had always been Bi Fang''s method. Deer, cattle, bears, sheep all walk on four legs, and their internal organs are similar to those of pigs, with similar methods of slaughter. But this time, Bi Fang didn''t bleed the animal; instead, he directly stabbed into the chest cavity of the wildebeest, slid to the bottom in one go, and then made a cut on both sides, creating a horizontal "¹¤"-shaped incision. Inserting his fingers into the cut, Bi Fang grabbed the skin on both sides and pulled them apart with force. The blood-red chest and abdomen were laid open, and although the weather wasn''t very cold, wisps of steam could still be vaguely seen rising. Even through the screen, in completely different spaces and times, it seemed as though people could smell the strong scent of blood and stench spreading through the air. [This technique, why has it suddenly changed?] [Even blurred with mosaic, it''s still frightening] "Teacher Fang, don''t do this, I''m still eating." "My nose seems to have sniffed an illusion." "Huo, it''s still steaming hot." "Look at this large intestine, how fresh. It would be delicious to make ''Nine Turns Intestine'' (Aunt laughs)." As for the audience''s misunderstanding, Bi Fang hadn''t yet made an explanation, when Harley provided the answer directly. Facing the prey with its chest and abdomen cavities opened, as if unveiling a plate cover, the voraciously hungry Harley stood up, reaching out a paw to rummage through the organs, and quickly found the liver, which it was most familiar with and ate most often. Having found what it wanted, the cheetah lay down and devoured the food covered in blood and bits of grass. An unexpected scene, no different from the eating habits of wild animals that viewers had in mind. This was the result Bi Fang wanted. "I want to let Harley know which parts of the prey are the fattest, tastiest, and can better replenish its body''s nourishment, and also to teach it how to obtain these parts." S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I still have a fair amount of jerky left in my bag and I''m not short on food, so there''s no need to skin the prey or let its blood. My ultimate goal is for Harley to move closer to its wild state." The cheetah crouched on the ground gnawing at the liver while Bi Fang squatted on the grass, explaining to the drone''s camera. "Another small detail." "It''s really not easy." "What does being a ''child of nature'' mean (tactically leans back)?" A complete liver is quite large; for mammals, it is essentially the second-largest organ, next to the skin. However, the wildebeest was not yet mature, and the cheetah''s appetite was a bit larger, so after finishing the liver, Harley, licking its lips, did not rise from the ground but continued to rummage, seemingly still unsatisfied. Bi Fang half-squatted and took a step forward, sinking the Hunting Knife into the heart, lifting it out in front of Harley, and throwing it in front of him. Harley, startled by this sudden move, quickly got up and checked the heart for any irregularities before lowering its head to sniff it. Only after confirming it was safe did it start to gnaw on the heart. Then there were the kidneys... The young wildebeest was larger than the cheetah, but not by much, about by half as much in size. After sequentially eating the innards, Harley''s stomach was nearly filled. The previously trembling ground returned to calm, only the indelible crimson on the river''s surface and the persistent iron scent in the air proved that what had just taken place was not an illusion. Bi Fang expanded his lungs and took a deep breath, the air mixed with a bit of dust pouring in, bringing a different sensation. The horizon once again dropped below the earth. A torch dispelled the darkness, illuminating the surroundings. The entire environment shifted from noisy to silent, leaving only the indistinct sound of a beast gnawing on the bones of its prey, as if transitioning from one world to another. "Time to rest." After a day on the move, Bi Fang rarely felt some fatigue. Now he needed to find a suitable place to sleep. Chapter 894 890: Swarm of Locusts After leaving the scene where the wildebeest had been devoured, Bi Fang set up a small camp with the cheetah. It was getting late, and gathering materials was risky, so he simply dug a human-sized pit, inserted branches around it, stretched a hide over with a rope, and covered the top with leaves¡ªall done. After getting his fill, the cheetah snuggled beside the campfire, feeling the warmth while it digested its meal. With time passing, the night on the African Savanna turned from cool to cold¡ªa point worth noting. Bi Fang had a strong physique, but Wilderness Survival was different from the comfortable human societal environment, constantly battling invasions. Mosquitoes, hunger, fatigue, lack of sleep, and unbalanced nutrition were all debuffs to watch out for. Of course, for Bi Fang, these might not be severe, but they were present, and if overlooked, could result in illness. "All right, that''s it for today''s live stream. I''ll see you around six in the morning tomorrow. I hope everyone can sleep early and rise early like me, maintaining a healthy body." "Damn, six o''clock, I can''t get up that early." "My routine can''t handle this regularity." "Luckily, I''m in a different time zone, matches perfectly (Dog''s head)." "Master Fang''s stream has greatly burdened my health. I hope he takes responsibility and thinks about the viewers'' routines by extending the stream time." "You''re slapping my face with those words." "Yan Country''s map is too short." Following his usual practice, Bi Fang said a few concluding words and turned off the live stream. After ensuring the campfire was safe, he crawled into the pit to rest. Worn out and desensitized, Bi Fang quickly fell into a deep sleep. But in the middle of the night, within his dreams, Bi Fang vaguely felt the pit becoming narrower and upon reaching out, he found something furry had squeezed in. Waking up early the next morning, sure enough, it was Harley. The cheetah had curled up entirely on Bi Fang''s thighs, making his lower legs slightly numb. Bi Fang sat up, pushed the big cat away, pulled up his legs, and jumped out of the pit to start stretching his swollen, achy muscles. The cheetah pushed into the pit wasn''t quite awake, opened its eyes looking groggy, lifted its head, looked around, then lay back down like a child who enjoyed sleeping in. Indeed, that was the case. Wild animals don''t attend school, work, or need to maintain their strength through exercise. As long as they hunted successfully, aside from protecting their cubs from danger, the next two days were pretty much spent sunbathing and sleeping¡ªa far more comfortable life than that of humans. Seeing Bi Fang get up, the drone automatically rose and started the live stream. "Good morning, friends around the world." "It''s evening here." "Wuu, was just about to sleep, is the live stream starting now?" "I''ll watch for an hour (Dog''s head)." "Why not watch for exactly 17 minutes and 43 seconds?" "I''ve just woken up and I''m still on the African Savanna, with a cheetah recently out of a conservation center, embarking on a journey back to the wild..." He greeted the audience and introduced his mission and purpose to any newcomers. "Breakfast is very important every day, providing essential energy for the long journey ahead, and it is crucial to keep your body at its peak." "Also, it''s important to ensure your immediate environment is safe, checking if any venomous snakes or small insects have crept close during the night or if there are any carnivores that have emerged to hunt at dawn." "They could potentially pose a very deadly threat." Bi Fang took a small clay pot out from his backpack, retrieved some small items from it, rekindled the fire, set the pot over it, poured in water and added chunks of smoked meat to start stewing. This was a simple breakfast. Flames licked the reddish-brown clay pot. With the water not yet boiling, Bi Fang took the time to take care of his personal hygiene and began cleaning up his surrounding area. The dug-up pits were filled back in, and the cheetah that was pulled out had its eyes closed; it stood for a while before lying down again on the flat ground. The water in the clay pot bubbled, the sliced smoked meat undulating in the frothing white water, vigorously sending up rich, white steam and spreading the aroma. Unfortunately, the cheetah, having just had a big meal yesterday, wasn''t hungry at all, not even the enticing aroma could awaken it. Bi Fang ignored it, found two small branches, peeled off the bark, and crudely carved them into chopsticks. He then started to eat his breakfast, retrieving large pieces of meat. "[Eating meat so early in the morning, isn''t it greasy?]" S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "[Wilderness Survivor, don''t expect too much *Dog''s head*]" "[Having something to eat is good enough, just wonder how it tastes]" "[Looks delicious]" Each day, they got to experience the most authentic natural scenery and didn''t have to worry about food and drink; the free lifestyle truly made many viewers envious. Perhaps they did not yearn for such a rough life, but more for the freedom behind the scene and the admiration for Master Fang''s powerful capabilities. Do whatever you want, solve all difficulties. Under Bi Fang''s formidable survival skills, no hardship posed a barrier; this trait was perhaps the most precious and might be why he had become a global icon. After finishing the meat slices, Bi Fang didn''t waste the last of the soup; this stewed meat hadn''t been eyed before, and after cooling down slightly, it served as an effective way to replenish fluids. However, as Bi Fang waited for the scalding broth to cool off, a different and magnificent scene appeared on the horizon, forcing him to pause his actions. Where the magnificent morning glow should have been has been obscured by a hazy layer of gray, as if a screen had been placed between heaven and earth. The drone, noticing what Bi Fang was focused on, automatically adjusted its camera angle to capture this scene completely, immediately catching the viewers'' attention. "[What''s that? So weird]" "[Sssh, is Old Fang''s drone broken, why is it so blurry?]" "[It''s not a problem with the filming, right? Looks like something real, are those insects?]" "[If they are insects, isn''t that too many? It''s kind of scary]" Viewers reacted differently, many even pulled out tissues, breathing on their screens and wiping repeatedly, thinking their own screens were dirty, while others believed it wasn''t a problem with their device but with Bi Fang''s filming equipment. But as Bi Fang''s gaze remained fixed and his expression serious, Everyone quickly realized that this was something occurring in reality. With the gray mist growing denser, expanding almost visibly, many viewers shuddered. What was more terrifying was they felt the gray mist was approaching! Bi Fang observed for a long time, and only when a fine friction sound reached his ears did he somewhat suspiciously make a judgment. "That seems like locusts?" Chapter 895 891 Locust Plague Dark spots dense as a window screen appeared on the horizon, swelling into a massive cloud that expanded madly while slowly moving, instilling fear in the bewildered onlookers. This style was surely too eerie. Even Bi Fang, after observing with confusion, blurted out a word that caught everyone by surprise. Locusts! Upon hearing this word, countless viewers rapidly fired off comments. [Locusts? Did I hear that right? Are these locusts?] [Damn, do locusts still exist? I thought they were extinct] [The guy ahead must live in a future century, how could there be no locusts?] [It seems I''ve never seen this thing before] [Definitely seen them, but probably mistook locusts for grasshoppers or crickets] [Crickets, grasshoppers, how do you even differentiate them? I''ve never understood] [Hey hey hey, is now the time to discuss biology? That thing''s a huge swarm, it''s already a disaster right????] The refresh rate of the comments on the screen showed that the audience''s confusion was immense, and their desire to express that was incredibly strong. Moreover, if these were indeed locusts, their number was incredibly huge. From the viewer''s perspective, this could certainly be called a locust plague. They won''t eat people, will they? In many people''s eyes, locusts and piranhas were similar creatures. Once they gathered in groups, their passage left nothing behind but bare bones and skeletal remains everywhere. "A locust plague is unlikely, it''s just a large number, frightening in appearance only." Bi Fang, facing the terrifying swarm of locusts, did not move but pulled an animal hide over, preparing to shield himself when needed. [No way, this isn''t considered a lot?] [How terrifying would a real locust plague be?] "The wave we''re seeing now is rather mild, if it were severe, it wouldn''t just look like netting." "You''d see pitch black clouds, with density thousands of times what it is now, almost capable of blocking out the sun. That would be a real locust plague, leaving not a single blade of grass behind." "When they land on the ground, they''d have no place to stand and would have to rest on top of each other, forming a second or even third layer of a flesh blanket." People shuddered at the thought in their minds. That''s too horrifying, wouldn''t stepping on it just squish into a green-brown mush? "However, even encountering a locust plague, you don''t have to worry about any danger to yourselves. Locust plagues only cause great destruction to plants and crops, they don''t eat meat, so you don''t have to worry about locusts leaving you as a pile of bones, that''s impossible." "If you do encounter them, just cover up with something, be careful not to get bitten or have them hit your eyes, other than that, there''s basically no issue." As Bi Fang spoke, he grabbed the animal hide next to him, draped it over himself and covered Harley. The locust swarm seemed slow, but that was an illusion caused by their large target. In fact, locusts moved very fast, capable of covering more than 100 kilometers a day, excluding feeding and resting time, which made their speed impressive. "Kenya has always been a major disaster area for locust plagues, or rather, all of East Africa is a major disaster area." Bi Fang''s voice grew louder as the locusts approached, and the friction noise was already quite apparent. "Kenya is close to the tropics, and the climate is not cold, so locust plagues can occur at any time. I remember since last November, Kenya has monitored 75 swarms of locusts." "The largest swarm even formed a locust belt 60 kilometers long and about 40 kilometers wide, covering an area of approximately 2,000 square kilometers, with more than 100 million locusts per square kilometer!" [Damn, that''s exaggerated] S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Are you sure the unit is correct?] [That''s hundreds of billions!] Because the coverage area is so large, it is very difficult to completely eradicate the locusts all at once. They will spread everywhere. The African desert locusts not only ravage several countries in Africa but can also cross continents from East Africa to West Asia, South Asia, and Southern Europe and sometimes can even fly to South America, traversing much of Earth. With such a vast range, it''s very hard to capture them all at once. Moreover, the locusts lay eggs in the soil, so after the locusts on the surface are eliminated, the eggs in the soil hatch into new locusts after a while, forming a new wave of plagues, which is why locust plagues keep reappearing. Even within the country, it took decades of long-term, resolute, and highly organized effective management to barely control them and prevent them from swarming, and even so, outbreaks still occur occasionally, not to mention in Africa, where organization is generally lacking. During this train of thought, the locusts finally reached the group. The first to appear was a locust that landed on the ground. Bi Fang lifted a corner of the animal skin and saw it land on a blade of grass, quickly starting to devour it. Soon, one locust after another fell like raindrops, nibbling on the grass just like their predecessors. "In a real locust plague, the density of locusts is very high, reaching 5,000 per square meter, with a total weight of about 10 kilograms, and 3 million locusts per acre, totaling six tons of weight." "In usual circumstances, in arid areas, it takes two or three acres of grain fields to produce one ton of straw, and it only takes 40,000 to 50,000 locusts to eat it all within an hour." "If there''s a locust plague, it can be done in less than a minute." "The key point is, locusts consume more than their body weight each day, so they can devour the crops of an entire area in one day." Bi Fang spoke as he watched. He could still clearly feel, on his back, where the animal skin was, locusts landing but since there was no food, they hopped away. Under such meticulous, close observation, Bi Fang and the audience also saw a few locusts inserting their tails into the soil. Clearly, they were reproducing. "Normally, locusts are solitary and are severely ''socially anxious,'' avoiding physical contact with their kind, but under certain conditions, such as suitable living conditions and ample food, locusts reproduce happily, population density increases, and it becomes difficult to maintain distance from other insects." "In such cases, if their hind legs are frequently touched, their insect brains will secrete serotonin and some other pheromones, and locusts then become gregarious; the entire process only takes a few hours." "Note, only the hind legs can trigger this ''brainwashing'' effect; other parts can''t, and as for why, I''m not sure myself, it''s still being studied." "Gregarious locusts are a completely different thing, they even change their own structure, becoming more voracious and better at flying, while not better at reproducing, but the quality of the eggs improves, and the color changes from green to yellow or black." "And the odor they emit continuously attracts other locusts to join the swarm. The swarm keeps growing, and when there isn''t enough food, they begin a great migration, breeding along the way, attracting new locusts to join and, of course, consuming crops along the way." "That''s how a locust plague begins." "The number we are dealing with now isn''t very large, but as you can imagine, it might not be long before they become the ''black cloud'' I mentioned." Chapter 896 892 Eat? African locusts are enormous, with their body length alone reaching seven or eight centimeters, covering half of a palm. They fall like raindrops, and when they land on thick animal hides, they can even make a somewhat dull sound. Just hearing that incessant noise made the audience in front of the screen feel a hint of oppression. It was hard to imagine the true spectacle of the severe locust plague described by Bi Fang, which was likened to dark clouds. Bi Fang gently lifted a corner of the fur. A sliver of dawn light snuck in through the gap between the animal hide and the ground, casting shadows and vividly revealing the savage reality outside. Only then did the audience realize that the individual locusts had already formed a mass. Around the outside of the hide, large palm-sized brown locusts huddled, dense and numerous, with a few trying to squeeze into the gap, only to be flicked away by the snap of Bi Fang''s fingers. Just the first glimpse was enough to make one''s skin crawl. If it felt oppressive just a moment ago, now it was downright suffocating. Too dense, too big, too overwhelming. The horror of a locust plague lies in its ability to blanket the sky and cover the earth. The visual impact is comparable to that of an apocalyptic film. And wherever it goes, not a blade of grass remains. [I can''t take it anymore, my fear of swarms is kicking in] [I need a pair of clean eyes] [That''s disgusting] [Damn, these creatures are HUGE] [Are you sure they don''t eat people?] Harley''s body was completely coiled up; every time a locust landed on the hide and caused a slight tremor, it shuddered and leaned closer to Bi Fang, making the space under the hide even more cramped. As a cheetah, it was witnessing such a terrifying scene for the first time in its life, causing its eyes to bulge out wide and shimmer with a dark gloss. Bi Fang grasped the cheetah''s head with his large hand, pressing it to the ground, and then couldn''t help sneezing. The creature had been leaning towards him the entire time, and the long hair on its ears tickled his nostrils, making it uncomfortably itchy. "After the locust plague begins, it must be controlled. In the past, the methods to control a locust plague were rather crude. The locusts laid their eggs in the soil, so people plowed the fields. The wingless nymphs clustered on the ground, so people set fires to burn them. Later, with chemical pesticides and airplanes available, people used planes to scatter pesticides from above." "This method is still commonly used today, but it is very costly. The severity of the locust plagues in recent years may also be somewhat related to Kenya''s shortage of planes." "Moreover, in the past two years, the global climate has been increasingly warm; last year even saw the occurrence of an El Ni?o event, which resulted in a surge in locust populations here." Bi Fang organized his thoughts on the weather phenomena of the past two years. El Ni?o, which means "The Child" in Spanish, specifically refers to the phenomenon where a wide stretch of seawater in the eastern and central Equatorial Pacific exhibits a persistent abnormal warming. Last year, the El Ni?o event continued up to the end of the year. Africa is already arid, and locusts lay a huge number of eggs. With the temperature rising and heavy rainfall, the vegetation grew wildly, providing ideal conditions for the nymphs'' growth. Locusts need a dry environment to lay eggs, but after laying eggs, they secrete a gel-like substance that makes the egg sacs very waterproof, allowing them to survive the rainy season without decreasing their hatching rate. For this reason, when a great drought is followed by heavy rainfall just before locust eggs hatch, a locust plague is highly likely to occur. Without sufficient control measures, and as locusts increase in number, lay more eggs, which in turn produce more locusts¡ªit becomes like a snowball effect, ultimately becoming an intractable problem. The only thing that might limit them is a widespread reduction in vegetation, causing the locusts to starve due to lack of food. "As I mentioned earlier, desert locusts spread far and wide, leaving their mark on much of the Earth." "In fact, if it were not for the Himalayas blocking most of the locust swarms heading eastward, plus the northeast wind prevailing in Southeast Asia during the winter, and since desert locust migration mainly depends on the Indian Ocean monsoon, we too would be threatened by them." In winter, the monsoon winds would blow north from the eastern coast of India but then they would circle back, blowing in the opposite direction, and the locusts would be swept back with them. And in the summer, the wind doesn''t turn, it just blows straight down, so the locusts wouldn''t make it over even more so. "For African locusts to make it to our country, they have to fight against both wind and mountain ranges¡ªdouble barriers¡ªthat''s why we''ve been spared the trouble." Bi Fang''s tone revealed a rare note of relief. [This is terrifying] [Truly blessed by nature] [That''s incredible] [Speaking of which, can locusts be eaten? With so many of them, there wouldn''t be any food worries, right?] [Let me show you what being a foodie really means] [Indeed, raising more chickens and ducks could certainly help to some extent] [Idiot, locusts become poisonous when they swarm, don''t you know that?] [Who said you can''t eat something just because it''s poisonous? Do you even understand?] [???] "Cough, cough, let''s not be so aggressive, everyone." Netizens really can start arguing at any time, Bi Fang thought to himself with a hint of inward scorn, and he explained without any change in his expression: "Actually, both sides are correct, locusts in a plague can be eaten, and also cannot be eaten." "The one who mentioned chickens and ducks was indeed onto something, as they do have a certain utility, but the locusts that chickens and ducks eat are mostly in the nymph stage, and they prefer solitary locusts; it''s quite an effective method before the swarm forms, but once it becomes a disaster, it''s too late." "This is related to a self-defense mechanism in locusts; they know that once they switch to the gregarious phase, they''ll become easier prey for predators, so they release a chemical signal, benzonitrile, and once predators smell it, they don''t really want to eat them anymore." "Under the protection of benzonitrile, if predators still attack the locusts, the benzonitrile can transform into hydrogen cyanide." "Hydrogen cyanide, as you can tell by the cyanide in its name, is toxic and quite potent." [Then we can''t eat them, can we?] "Don''t rush, let me state the conclusion. Indeed, chickens and ducks shouldn''t eat them, but humans can; there are factual reasons for this." "When Yiseli had a locust plague, the locals actually quite enjoyed eating them. With a mesh net, they could catch a bunch, throw them into hot oil, and fry them until golden brown. The neighbor''s kid... cough, cough, that''s the situation." "It''s not that we are immune to cyanide, nor is it a matter of toxicity and dosage. A single locust from a high-density swarm could cause mild poisoning symptoms." "The real reason lies in the fact that hydrogen cyanide will volatilize and combust at high temperatures and does so very quickly. Animals won''t eat cooked food, but humans do, therefore we can use cooking methods to eliminate the poison. It''s not that we can''t eat them at all; it''s just risky as there might be some residue." "So even if you want to eat locusts, it''s best to capture those that haven''t changed color yet, because their color traits are easier to distinguish, and you need to fry or roast them thoroughly to minimize the hydrogen cyanide content." "Besides, you can''t finish them all; eating them is just a drop in the bucket." "I''ve previously mentioned the issue of locust density; a swarm of post-disaster locusts can have 3 million individuals per acre, weighing a total of six tons, which is an output of twelve thousand kilograms per acre. Rice crops nowadays don''t even yield a thousand kilograms per acre! With a tenfold difference, how could humans possibly finish eating them?" Humans mostly live in fixed residences, while locusts are completely free to roam. After capturing locusts for a few days, there''s nothing left of the crops, and the locusts quickly fly away. That is the final outcome. Eating locusts can only solve a short-term food crisis. Upon hearing this, the audience already started to sigh deeply. No one expected that, even with all of humanity''s progress to this day, we still couldn''t handle these mere locusts. And so, Bi Fang and Harley lay on the ground, waiting quietly for the locusts to pass. It wasn''t until the sun hung high that the buzzing in the sky finally dissipated, leaving everything clear to the eyes and ears. It was as if the dark cloud that had hovered over their heads had suddenly vanished. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 897 893: Unexpected Discovery Bi Fang lifted the animal hide and watched the departing swarm of locusts, heaving a sigh of relief. Even though he was clear in his mind that there was no danger, the dense gathering of locusts still managed to instill tremendous psychological pressure, especially against the backdrop of the environment, truly like dark clouds pressing down on the city about to crumble. The drone flew low, its camera focused on the land below. The nearby grasses were full of fine, precise nibbles made by sharp mouthparts, appearing as if they had been cut by a scythe, now shorter than before. It was just a grassland, yet it gave people the sense of "broken walls and ruins." The ground was no longer flat as before; it now had several small "pits." The pit holes were inconspicuous, just slightly sunken in, their edges gently raised, with elevations of no more than one millimeter. If it weren''t for Bi Fang''s exceptional memory, which allowed him to vividly contrast it with the smooth land he had seen before, perhaps he wouldn''t have even noticed. Carelessly breaking off a thin branch, Bi Fang inserted it into one of the pits without any obstacle, smoothly reaching the bottom. Locusts lay their eggs by inserting their tails into soft soil, forming a well-leveled tunnel around the tail, neither rough sand nor hard earth, ensuring the larvae would encounter no difficulties upon emerging. Using the twig to clear away the surrounding earth crumbs, digging about four or five centimeters deep, he uncovered several yellowish-gray, spindle-shaped eggs, exposing them to the air where the sticky, thick foam adhered to their surface and, in the cold wind, began to slightly tremble, drying quickly and bursting one after another. The audience was very curious; aside from a few with some professional knowledge and sufficient life experience, most had never seen such a thing and found it novel. [Is this the egg of a locust?] [Goodness, seven or eight eggs in one pit, Old Fang is standing over at least a hundred pits, right? That''s at least thousands of them, wow] [Too horrifying, the breeding speed is worthy of the insect race] [No wonder the insect race is so fearsomely powerful to become the overlord of the universe] "Phew, indeed terrifying, I wonder when this locust plague will end." He tossed the twig away, his expression forlorn. Now that the locust plague had occurred, it might not end until next year, then another vicious cycle would begin. Hearing this, the audience''s mood also inevitably sank. The wind brushed the soft fur of the cheetah''s ears, traveling toward the far distant thousands of miles away. Harley, having been lying down the entire time, couldn''t help but move his ears. With the animal hide gone and having stayed on the ground with his head buried, Harley felt a chill, which became unbearable when the wind blew. Lifting his head, he realized that the terrifying swarm of locusts had left without him noticing. The cheetah then gingerly stood up, tentatively surveying the surrounding environment until he confirmed it was safe before returning to his initially carefree state. The audience''s mood, just beginning to feel a bit gloomy, was immediately amused by Harley''s behavior. But Bi Fang didn''t see anything wrong with it; in nature, being timid is not a bad thing¡ªthe more timid, the longer you live. Don''t eat unfamiliar food unless you''re at your wit''s end. Don''t go to places you''ve never been unless absolutely necessary. These are all strengths. Of course, Bi Fang had mentioned these platitudes to his audience many times before, so he didn''t repeat them. He turned and walked to where he had previously been boiling soup, lifting the lid; there was no steam coming off, but it hadn''t cooled either, being just right. Since it was covered, the soup was not contaminated by locusts. Bi Fang looked delighted: "Lucky." He picked up the clay pot, drinking down the soup sprinkled with droplets of oil and hinting of salt. Replenished with water, it was another refreshed and energized day for Bi Fang. He washed the pot, ensuring no oily residue was left, then stuffed it back into his backpack. Lastly, calling out to the cheetah by name, man and beast resumed their journey. The arrival of the rainy season had nearly transformed the entire African Savannah. With time passing, such changes grew more and more significant¡ªthe desolation, the complete dissipation of the dry yellow. The grass on the ground was a vibrant green, and the trees were incredibly lush, the tender green leaves so delicate it made one want to pluck a few to chew, tasting their crisp fragrance. The vegetation on the savanna was incredibly resilient; during the dry season, the herbaceous plants would entirely wither, leaving only the underground part behind, and within a week of the rainy season arriving, they would sprout broad leaves lush enough to submerge one''s ankles. The bright red Maasai trees bloomed profusely. As one of the savanna''s signature plants, they would often bloom with red flowers during the dry season, each flower resembling a little bird in flight, thus attracting birds for pollination. At first glance, one might even mistake the tree to be brimming with red birds. However, with the rainy season''s arrival, the flowers began to wither, and a thin red carpet had spread across the ground, some petals crushed into the mud by enormous hoof prints. Beneath the shadows, the bright red petals were pressed to release their juice, turning brown after oxidization. The hoof prints were deep, indicating that a large creature had made them. And indeed, that was the case. Bi Fang stood on a small elevation, gazing at the distant giraffe that stood tall and majestic, splitting the incoming wind as if it were a battle flag. The collar of his neck was lifted by the breeze, and the cuffs of his beige shirt were rolled up to his upper arms, revealing the finely defined muscles of his forearms. After the arduous trek, the cheetah lay exhausted on the ground, its tail silently thumping against Bi Fang''s shoe surface, seemingly expressing its dissatisfaction, also bringing Bi Fang''s attention back. "Next to the torch trees, the tree that the giraffe is munching on is called Fragrant Flower Tea, a kind of Acacia; it has curved, hook-like thorns all over its trunk to prevent animals from eating it," "But for animals like the giraffe, with their thick skin, these thorns are completely ineffective." "Their mouths, tongues, faces, and other parts are particularly thick-skinned, just like how camels eat cacti, they are totally unfazed by such thorns." "Therefore, the giraffe eats the leaves of Fragrant Flower Tea when there are leaves, and the flowers when there are flowers, totally indifferent to the thorns. However, for some shorter animals, the Acacia''s defensive mechanism is still quite effective." "Of course, our goal is not the Fragrant Flower Tea, but the Ceylon raspberry to its right; we just have to wait for the giraffe to leave." S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang waited here precisely for the giraffe to move on. Despite the giraffe''s tall and slim appearance, seemingly fragile, it was also one of the dominant herbivores of the savanna. A full-grown giraffe weighed over a ton and stood over five meters tall. With such a stature, even without fighting skills, a collision would be formidable. Especially its kicks, which were not only wide-ranging but also packed a force that could exceed three tons, strong enough to kick someone straight through. A few minutes later. "Alright, the giraffe has left. Let''s go take a look." Bi Fang led the cheetah forward, and the group found the Ceylon raspberry he mentioned on a small tree a hundred meters to the right of the Acacia. At first glance, it looked somewhat like a loquat, but not as dense, and colored green. "There are two common types of Ceylon raspberry on the African Savannah, one called the East African Ceylon Raspberry, the other the South African Ceylon Raspberry; not much difference between them. Both have thorny stems, and their fruit is edible and quite tasty, good for eating fresh or making into jam." Bi Fang picked the fruit and stuffed it into his backpack. The cheetah beside him looked on eagerly, so Bi Fang threw one directly into its mouth. Harley contentedly hugged the fruit, licking and eating it. Though their destination was north, Bi Fang did not travel in a straight line but zigzagged instead, wandering east and west unpredictably. Sometimes he would even roam the savanna with Harley, collecting various spices and fruits like "picking up trash." Now, his backpack was stuffed with a fresh handful of Furry Throat Sheath Ovary Flower. Plants from the Lamiaceae family often have a rich fragrance, such as mint, rosemary, lavender, etc. The Furry Throat Sheath Ovary Flower was no exception, except Bi Fang picked it not for consumption or as a herb. It was because its leaves were thick and large, and could serve as toilet paper when none was available, providing a smooth and soft touch that most tissues couldn''t match. It even left a lingering fragrance on one''s hands after use. Three birds with one stone. And during such leisurely strolls across the African Savanna, Bi Fang made an unexpected discovery below a low hill. Chapter 898 894: The Giant Spider "Seems like a mine shaft?" In front of the dark entrance, Bi Fang didn''t dare to approach rashly. Faced with the unfamiliar cave, Harley was even more cautious than Bi Fang, head hung low, shoulder muscles tensed and bulging, eyes fixedly staring straight ahead, silently observing. This stance was like a car that has been ignited, though not yet accelerating, it was clearly ready, engine running, prepared to move at any moment. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The audience was also visibly excited. [Really? Is there actually a mine shaft here?] [Nonsense, have you forgotten what Master Fang mentioned before, that Kenya is rich in minerals?] [Then what kind of mine is this, could it be a gold mine?] [Gold mine, damn, wouldn''t that mean striking it rich?] [Get rich? As if it''s your turn, aren''t you dreaming? If there were really gold inside, would it still be abandoned here?] [Seems like it though.] "The edges of the cave have a lot of angles and scratches, and there are many fragments scattered around. These are obvious signs of artificial excavation." "If it were a natural cave, its edges would be quite smooth from weathering, of course, there''s also the possibility of cracks formed by landslide or rock splitting, but considering the terrain here, it''s clearly not the case." Whether the cave is man-made or natural is something that can usually be recognized at first glance. Since it was artificially created, there certainly wouldn''t be such an effort for no reason; there must be sufficient benefits hidden within to drive people to undertake such a massive project. Bi Fang offered a brief explanation, then put down his backpack to lighten his load, and started to jog backwards, with the cheetah quickly following suit. After running back some forty or fifty meters, Bi Fang looked up to encompass the surroundings in his view. A slope strewn with rocks. No, it would be more accurate to say, dozens of slopes strewn with rocks. For the surrounding ten-plus kilometers, it was no longer a flat wide savanna, but had turned into "hills" of jumbled stones like seen here. The stones, under the blazing sun, showed a distinct yellow brightness with sharp edges. From a distance, it appeared as if they were composed of pixel blocks. Interspersed among these pixelated slopes there were occasional patches of green grass, like the few remaining strands of black and gray hair on a balding man''s head. "Now look at the rocks around us." Bi Fang looked down, found a loose piece of yellow stone, dug it out, and threw it down the slope. The stone tumbled down, breaking into several pieces as it collided with other rocks midway, not very hard. Bi Fang dusted off his hands: "It''s Kimberlite rock, probably a Kimberlite mine. There might be diamonds being excavated inside." [What''s Kimberlite rock?] [I guess it has something to do with diamonds] [You''re really a genius] [It''s time for the favorite show-off moment] Bi Fang laughed: "There are two typical types of primary diamond deposits, one is the potassium-magnesium peridotite type, and the other is Kimberlite, which is the most common type in Africa." "This type of rock is very unstable. When exposed to air, it rapidly decomposes into a yellow, brittle substance known as ''yellow ground'', just like what we just saw, easily breaking into small chunks." "Opposite of yellow ground is ''blue ground''; below the weathering zone, Kimberlite rocks are dark blue-grey, much harder, and are known as blue ground, or fresh Kimberlite." The audience, after hearing the analysis and confirming that what lay before Bi Fang was indeed a mine, and potentially a diamond mine at that, became excited all at once. In recent days, the waning viewer count began an uptrend once again. "I just knew Old Fang knows everything." "When in doubt, ask Master Fang." "6666, gotta go in and check it out." "If there''s a hole, it must be drilled into, right?" "Hurry, hurry, hurry, go in and look, what if you can find something shabby?" "Don''t rush, as usual, we''ll first make a torch." Bi Fang didn''t hurry back to the mine, but searched nearby for a stick of the right size and thickness, along with some small branches and tinder, then returned to where he''d dropped his backpack, and took out two pieces of flint stone, followed by animal fat and rope. The rope, soaked in the animal fat until it absorbed enough, was then wrapped around one end of the stick. "Animal fat burns well, but it''s hard to ignite, we need to start a small bonfire first and then use the flame to light it." Several thin sticks were built into a pyramid shape, with the very top covered in a layer of tinder composed of woody fibers, finally, he struck the flint stone together. The entire process was smooth and efficient. For Bi Fang, starting a fire in the wilderness had become as simple as eating and drinking. Soon, a blazing bonfire appeared before everyone''s eyes. Bi Fang slung his backpack on again, torch in hand, and cautiously entered the cave amid the audience''s anticipation. Compared to the bright midday outside, the cave was dark, and the light almost completely disappeared after four or five meters, plunging into pitch blackness, with the only source of light being the torch in Bi Fang''s hand. In the confined and narrow space, sounds echoed and overlapped, amplified many times over, making footsteps and breathing sounds very distinct. The orange glow of the fire shone on the yellow rock, somewhat dazzling and causing one to slightly lose their sense of distance. Not only that, but as Bi Fang walked alongside the right wall and switched the torch to his left hand to check out the left wall, he discovered a huge spider quietly perched there. What was even more astonishing was that the spider was not only massive but also capable of spinning webs ¨C a cursory glance suggested the web''s diameter nearly exceeded half a person''s height! And there wasn''t just one spider; several large webs draped down, threatening to completely envelop Bi Fang, with the nearest one just shorter than an arm''s length away. This quickly startled the audience. Even Bi Fang himself was taken aback, his back breaking into a light sweat. With his strength and level, he feared little when facing head-on challenges, except perhaps tigers and lions; most of the time, he wasn''t afraid to take things The Hard Way. It was creatures like venomous snakes and spiders, the more insidious adversaries, that could easily lead to a sudden and unexpected downfall. But such a large web. Web sizes exceeding a meter are rare in nature. There were also many locusts stuck to it ¨C it was unknown whether these were part of the swarm they had encountered a few days ago. Bi Fang didn''t approach rashly; spider webs are very resilient, but they fear fire. Getting his torch close enough might bring disaster upon these spiders. Observing the palm-sized spiders not far away, Bi Fang pondered in his mind. Palm-sized spiders, webs with a diameter of one meter... "It''s the Komachi Spider, not dangerous." Bi Fang recognized it. "This giant spider species is large but non-venomous to humans, though their bites can be fierce." "Their webs usually exceed 1 meter in diameter and are very strong, capable of capturing smaller birds, bats, or lizards." Chapter 899 895: Three Holes The mine tunnel, over two meters high, was spacious enough for easy movement. Bi Fang, holding a torch, carefully avoided a huge spread of spider web, his eyes showing astonishment. The light from the fire disturbed the giant spider that had long lived in darkness, causing it to tug its white threads as it hid in the corner of the wall. "I can''t believe we encountered a Komachi Spider here, quite rare." The audience undoubtedly felt surprised upon hearing this, recalling the scene where strange fish were discovered in the Underground River in the desert. Both settings were caves, giving a strong sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. Could it be that Komachi Spiders are also very rare? Bi Fang nodded, "This spider was accidentally discovered by researchers while examining museum specimens and was subsequently cataloged." "To find a living specimen, scientific expedition teams went to South Africa several times for exploratory studies, but found nothing, leading people to worry that Komachi Spiders had gone extinct." "It wasn''t until later that a South African researcher accidentally discovered a male and two female Komachi Spiders in a park, confirming that the Komachi Spider still survives." First there were specimens, then records, such occurrences weren''t rare. Before biological science became systematic, adventurers had already left their mark around the world. Upon encountering rare and peculiar creatures by chance, people would capture them, make specimens, and regard these as trophies and talking points of their adventures. As for what species these creatures were and their uses, no one really cared. Those listening to the stories only saw them as badges of courage. Gigantic beetles, insect-eating plants, blood-red corals¡ªsuch were considered exotic treasures. Similarly, spiders capable of weaving exceptionally large webs were certainly not to be missed. Once the adventurers were dead or met with accidents, many specimens could have been lost, further treasured by descendants or donated and sold to museums. Then, one day hundreds of years later, thanks to the meticulous efforts of a certain recorder, those specimens collecting dust in museum corners could once again reappear. However, after centuries, the original species of some specimens might have already gone extinct, never to be found alive again. "I don''t know how many Komachi Spiders are left in the wild, but I''m sure they are not abundant." Bi Fang said cheerfully, "So it''s quite fortunate to see one here, we''re really lucky." S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The chances of finding something overlooked in a normal abandoned diamond mine are slim. Even if the mine owner disregarded small, high-purity fragments of diamonds, miners closing down the site wouldn''t overlook them. Unless it''s not a regularly abandoned mine or you''re lucky enough to dig up a rock wall, revealing a long-unseen diamond of considerable clarity. Hence, Bi Fang did not come in with the expectation of finding anything valuable, it was more about satisfying his and the audience''s curiosity. Seeing the rare Komachi Spider now was a delightful surprise, truly justifying this "venture." "Let''s move on," he said. Bi Fang avoided the spider web and progressed deeper into the mine. The darkness grew more profound, and instead of becoming narrower, the mine seemed even more spacious. This made the audience feel more anxious, and Bi Fang''s movements became even more cautious. "Everyone, when you are exploring or stranded in the wild and encounter a cave full of spiders, be very cautious¡ªnot because the spiders are poisonous, but because the existence of numerous spiders in a cave suggests the possibility of higher trophic level organisms." What does the possibility of higher trophic level organisms imply? Many viewers expressed confusion. "It''s simple, first, the cave has a lot of spiders, which proves it''s been abandoned for a long time as animals had occupied the mine." "Secondly, spiders are also part of the food chain, they are not on the top. Many venomous snakes like to eat arthropods. Caves are their preferred environments, and with food available, larger, more venomous species of snakes are the real threat." "As for spiders, they actually aren''t much of anything." Bi Fang held up a torch and moved forward slowly, carefully, and with caution. At the same time, he engaged in some knowledge exchange with the viewers. "It might be different from what most of you imagine, but spiders pose a very small threat to humans." "For one thing, most spiders are very wary and will avoid contact with humans. If forced, they would give a warning before attacking." "For example, the Australian Funnel-Web Spider will lift its front two or four legs as a warning. When you see this behavior, you should stay away." "So far, scientists have not found any cases of spiders proactively attacking humans, including the common species we encounter, such as the Jumping Spider, Domestic Phantom Spider, Greatwood Spider, and so on." "On the other hand, most spiders are not venomous, and even if they are, their size is too small. Even if you were bitten by a highly venomous spider, the bites are generally self-healing." "Currently, we only discovered 7 types of spider venom that can harm humans, including the venom from the Australian Funnel-Web Spider which can cause human fatality. However, as long as antivenom is administered within 15 minutes, one can be out of danger." "The venom of the remaining 6 types is currently not considered to directly cause human deaths." "For instance, the infamous highly venomous Black Widow is one of the remaining six, with a venom 15 times more potent than that of a rattlesnake''s. However, due to its small size, it''s almost never fatal." "In Ugly Country, about 2200 people get bitten by Black Widows each year, but there has yet to be an authoritative report of death. Its venom can cause muscle pain, abdominal cramps, and rapid heartbeat at most. Victims can recover without medical help unless they happen to have cardiovascular diseases." "Moreover, spiders rarely inject all their venom in one go." Spiders can precisely control the amount of venom they release, whether attacking or defending, and they don''t use up all their venom at once. Venom is a spider''s weapon to capture food; they budget its use meticulously. A larger cricket might get more venom, a tiny fruit fly less, and each meal is planned with a specific amount of venom. If a spider uses up all its venom at once, it would take weeks to replenish. This means that without their venomous weapon, the spider might starve for several weeks. Even if you squeeze the spider''s belly, it won''t release all its venom at you. "You are not spider food, and it wouldn''t want to waste its precious and limited venom on you." "Small quantity, small injection, leads to only one outcome." "Venom is not a virus, it cannot replicate itself. The amount won''t increase; injecting venom into the human body is like dropping cyanide into the ocean, you cannot kill anyone." "Of course, dropping it into the ocean is an exaggeration, but the idea is similar." "Even in last century''s Australia, there were only 13 reported deaths caused by spiders." [Disliked] ["Bite You Hard"] [Wow, is that really how it is? I''m greatly shocked.] [My fear of spiders has suddenly decreased a lot.] Along the way, Bi Fang didn''t make any special discoveries, just some symbols on the walls perhaps used by the miners in the past for communication or random doodles. Until after about thirty to forty meters, the tunnel suddenly widened. The height hadn''t changed much but the width had reached nearly ten meters. At the same time, three different tunnel openings appeared ahead. Chapter 900 896 Exploring the Cave Three cave entrances!? Which one should I choose? While the audience was strategizing for Bi Fang, he headed straight into the leftmost entrance. With just three cave entrances and time on my side, there was no need to make any tough choices. An energetic adult wants it all. When the audience heard Bi Fang explain that he would explore each in turn and there was no need to rush, they were genuinely thrilled, and the barrage of comments grew substantially. Perhaps the increase was also due to the viewers who had flocked to the stream after he had entered the cave. Bi Fang''s live streaming numbers weren''t always above ten million; often, they hovered around five million. This was a relatively stable figure, which might rise to around eight million during holidays. After all, everyone has their own life to live and cannot watch a live stream all day; managing to watch for an hour or two each day was already quite good. However, whenever there was a major event, or when exploring some strange places, and at certain key times, such as setting up camp in the evening, the platform would send out notifications. At such times, the viewership would surge to between eight and ten million. To push it any higher depended on the content. The torch, soaked in grease, burned persistently; having ventured into the cave for nearly ten minutes, the light showed no sign of dimming, so Bi Fang didn''t add anything else and continued deeper into the left passage. Harley''s body was slightly contracted, clearly frightened, following close behind Bi Fang, quick to hide when encountering spiders and even pressing fearfully against Bi Fang''s leg. To be honest, in such a dark and mysterious environment, the occasional irregular and rhythmless touch to one''s calves, even for someone as skilled and brave as Bi Fang, was enough to make anyone''s nerves tense. The left pathway was much narrower compared to the main corridor, and it sloped upwards at a slight angle, which Bi Fang, still sharp, noticed. And... Noticing something off with the air in the mine, Bi Fang propped the torch against the wall, opened his water bottle cap, dripped some water from the cap onto the pad of his index finger, rubbed it, and stretched out his hand towards the depths of the cave. "A bit of coolness on my fingertips indicates a slight breeze, but not much. This passage could possibly lead to another exit." After tightening the water bottle cap, Bi Fang picked up the torch again and continued his search in the darkness, occasionally sighting old light fixtures overhead. The facilities and structures varied completely from one mine to another¡ªopen-pit, underground, mountainous, by mineral type... If it had been a coal mine, the management of lighting and pathways would definitely be very strict, but this was a diamond mine and partly open-air, so it wasn''t as dangerous. The bulbs were old-fashioned, mostly shattered, leaving a scattering of broken glass on the ground that crunched loudly underfoot, so much so that one might wonder if they were deliberately broken during the evacuation. "With light fixtures but no specialized mine cart tracks on the ground, it''s likely that this diamond mine was of relatively small scale." Bi Fang, as he moved, unconsciously lowered his voice; his breath disturbed the air, and the flames wavered. Orange light, shadows, cobwebs in the corners, faint rustling sounds in the darkness. The tense excitement of the adventure made the audience in front of their screens unconsciously thrilled. Bi Fang and Harley continued to feel their way forward, sticking close to one side of the wall. Half an hour later, as the airflow inside the cave became more noticeable and even the flames grew fiercer, the man and the leopard finally saw some faint light ahead. [We''ve reached the end!] [Is it an exit?] [Damn, it really is an exit] [That''s insane] Bi Fang kicked a piece of Kimberley rubble out of the cave opening, sending a few strands of grass flying. Treading on broken stones to reach the mouth of the cave, everyone found that the opening was at an extremely steep angle, almost as if looking down on the prairie from above. The mine cast a vast shadow over the land, with the sun at its back. Half light, half dark. From such a height, Bi Fang could clearly see several black rhinos huddled together at the border of light and shadow, their formidable presence clearing a large "vacuum" area around them. Besides them, herds of antelopes and zebras were sparsely scattered along the edge, and in the moist mud pits, wart hogs with protruding fangs were rolling all over, their bodies caked with a thick layer of mud. There was even a pride of lions resting under a big tree. Clearly, they had just had a feast today or yesterday and were not very interested in the food before them. From the dark cave to the vast world outside, Harley squeezed past Bi Fang''s legs, eagerly taking in the same panoramic view of the land. [So pretty!] [Screenshot, got one wallpaper!] [Damn, this angle is too spectacular!] [Old Fang, can you move the drone a bit farther away, then get a shot of the mountain and people just coming out of the cave, with Harley at the side, looking towards the prairie? It would be best to have both a bottom-up and top-down perspective.] [Dang, the big shot knows how to compose, just thinking about the layout is awesome.] [Of course, Pete the photographer is a professional and a long-time fan.] "No problem." Bi Fang nodded, the drone automatically turned and quickly flew out, positioning itself promptly. The slender and soft grass rustled as it brushed against each other in the prairie wind, with rhinos, warthogs, lions, zebras... all the quintessential wildlife of the prairie meandering among it. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The prairie breeze blew from the bright side to the shadow, clearly outlining the contours of the mountain along the slope. The angle of the mountain slope was incredibly steep, at first glance resembling a sheer cliff, most of it bare, hard rock exposed to the air, with only its base covered in lush green grass. On the tawny mountain wall made of hard rock, a half-moon shaped mine hole had been artificially carved out, with a young man, dressed in an exploration suit, holding onto the rock wall with one hand as he emerged from the hole, gazing into the distance. At his feet stood a sleek and proud Cheetah. Man and cheetah, they looked as if they had been through an untold adventure, filling the onlooker with wonder. [Slurp slurp slurp] [This is the scene of my dreams!] [I want to have Master Fang''s babies!!] [showshowwei] Thanks to the drone''s multiple angles, who knows how many people at this moment pressed the screenshot button, preserving this scene in their photo galleries. Relaxing at the entrance of the cave, Bi Fang took deep breaths, the fresh air filling his lungs, expelling all the dusty remnants accumulated in the mine. After everyone had their fill of the beautiful view, Bi Fang turned around and entered the second of the three caves, only to find after some searching that the path was blocked. That left only the mine on the far right. Walking back along the elongated tunnel of the cave, a fist-sized stone suddenly fell, startling everyone. Fortunately, Bi Fang reacted quickly and managed to dodge in time, avoiding an accident. As he was adding some animal fat to the torch, boosting the flickering flame in the third cave, he had not yet stepped in when a low hissing sound came from the right side of the tunnel. Chapter 901 897 African Tree Snake The sound was extremely subtle. Had the environment not been so quiet that even the heartbeat could be felt, perhaps even Bi Fang would have overlooked it, and the audience in front of the screen heard nothing at all. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang became alert, instinctively stepping back. Just then, the hissing sound intensified, and a few audience members began to react, with Cheetah Harley''s fur bristling! But it was already too late. As the sound grew more intense and Bi Fang stepped back, from somewhere in his rear diagonal, within the reach of the torch, a rock perfectly blended with the ochre rock wall suddenly quivered. The drone quickly captured the moving object, and to the astonishment of everyone, the rock, like a finely cut apple peel, unpeeled layer by layer. It sprang from its center, lunging toward the back of Bi Fang''s neck! A snake! A venomous snake with exceptionally cunning camouflage! Like a bolt of lightning, it all happened too quickly for anyone to react. Was this Bi Fang''s first setback since he started broadcasting? What kind of snake was it? Could it be deadly? A storm of thoughts burgeoned in the minds of the audience, perhaps too quickly for even them to understand, only to stop abruptly in the next moment. A flame dragged a streak of light through the darkness, dazzling, bright, vivid. Bi Fang moved faster than the lurking venomous snake, turning sharply with his body blurring in motion. His right palm shot out lightning-fast, transforming into a sharp surgical knife, precisely slicing the attacking venomous snake at the neck! His powerful knuckles locked like a mechanical latch at the same moment. His four fingers parallelly clutched the snake''s most vulnerable neck, while the remaining thumb embedded deeply into the snake''s lower jaw, nearly crushing its head! The snake, grasped by the fingers upon its head, writhed madly in pain, its lower half automatically coiling around the arm, tightening. Shuiyou, who were watching the whole ordeal, could barely help cheering aloud. The late reaction had beaten the initial movement! Or was it the initial? The scene changed so swiftly, and the frame rate exceeded most of the audience''s capturing limit, inevitably causing confusion. But amidst the multitude of uncertainties, the sight of the venomous snake captured barehanded rendered everything else irrelevant. Just one word¡ªawesome! What had been a moment of intense danger instantly dissipated, and if not for the long snake still struggling in Bi Fang''s hand, the audience might have thought they were hallucinating from staying up late watching the live stream. Harley too was startled by the sudden appearance of the venomous snake, almost retreating to the entrance of the cave until the snake was firmly grasped, before daring to come forward and observe closely. Cold sweat streamed down Bi Fang''s back, far from the carefree demeanor everyone imagined. Everything had happened in the blink of an eye. Beastly Instinct combined with the terrestrial, 99% weakened Electroreception allowed Bi Fang''s brain to form a profile of the snake the moment its muscles twitched. Together with dynamic vision and supersensory nerves, this created the incredible scene before them. His sweat glands hadn''t even had time to react; now, realizing the danger had passed, his back was sweating profusely as if a floodgate had opened. "Phew." Letting out a long breath, Bi Fang felt a little woozy, but being young, he quickly recovered. Once his status was restored, he focused on the "trophy" in his hand. Under the immense pressure of his grip, the snake''s mouth was forced open, revealing slender, sharp fangs, combined with its rough, mottled body, looking fiercely venomous and by its appearance alone, a deadly snake. The audience too was terrified retrospectively. It really was too dangerous. No wonder Bi Fang always treated venomous snakes with great caution, seldom handling them directly, usually employing long tools. "Just now, if I had really been bitten by the snake, its mere appearance would be a disrespect to the venom." Bi Fang brought the torch closer for a more detailed examination. The snake''s body was long, and proportionally very slender. It seemed thin, yet it nearly coiled around his entire forearm. [What a long snake] [Damn, it doesn''t look thin, but it''s so long, feels weird] [It looks so creepy] [Every time Bi Fang mentions how dangerous they are and with all the manipulation, I''m almost developing a psychological shadow towards snakes] [I''m okay, I already had a psychological shadow, just deeper now (Dog''s head)] Snakes do not have a uniform size and proportion, some are short and stout, some are slender, some are both long and thick, and others have a big head with a thin body or vice versa, but lengths and thickness ratios like this one are rare. Luckily, Bi Fang was almost an encyclopedia of biology, as long as it wasn''t an unknown creature, he could basically match it to a species in his mind. Under the blurry torchlight, combining body shape, color, external appearance, and excellent camouflage, Bi Fang quickly concluded. "It''s an African Tree Snake, no wonder I didn''t notice it. These mimetic creatures are truly unpredictable." Thinking of this, Bi Fang''s calm mood was slightly disturbed, but he didn''t forget to introduce it to the viewers. "The African Tree Snake is one of Africa''s famously venomous snakes. If bitten, the blood won''t coagulate, blood will flow from all seven orifices, there will be massive internal bleeding, and the dying process is slow and painful. Only antivenom can save the victim''s life, and it''s ranked ninth on Nigel Marvin''s top ten deadliest snakes in South Africa." "Nigel Marvin might not be a familiar name to all of you, but he is also an international star host, a famed naturalist and wildlife expert. He has a famous show called ''Prehistoric Park''." "The show features Marvin as an explorer going back to prehistoric times, capturing various creatures and bringing them back to the park. It''s an old show; I wonder if any of you have seen it? It was filmed around the 2000s." [Holy shit, I think I remember it] [Damn, feels so familiar] [Childhood memories right there] [I remember watching it on a pay channel when I was a kid] [I think all the cages were made of wooden stakes] "So, even though it''s not a very precise ranking list, it still has some reference value." Bi Fang smiled, holding back Harley, who opened his mouth possibly to take a bite. He pulled the long snake away, close to the rock wall; their colors were nearly identical, especially the snake''s spots, a perfect imitation¡ªit coiled up just like a rock! "There are many colors of African Tree Snakes, including bright green, brown, and black. Some are entirely one color, while others are mottled with spots, blotches, or stripes. Hence, they are extremely adept at camouflage, blending perfectly with their surroundings." "With such camouflage skills, if you don''t observe carefully, even if you walk right past them, they can easily go unnoticed." "Confident in their ability to mimic, African Tree Snakes often use camouflage, employing an ''ambush tactic'' to capture prey." "After finding a good hiding spot, they stay hidden, always ready to strike, their ambush success rate is very high." Looking at the venomous snake so identical in color to the rock, the viewers shuddered. It already looked so similar, camouflaged excellently, plus in the dimly-lit cave environment with blurry sight, it''s no wonder if they missed it. Immobile, it becomes just another stone! "Venomous snakes seldom actively attack creatures they cannot swallow. We must have accidentally stepped into its territory, and it even made a warning sound, that ''hissing'' noise. Instinctively, I took a step back, which only brought me closer, provoking its aggression." The sound a snake makes does not come from flicking its tongue, but from a small hole in its mouth. When the air in the snake''s lungs rapidly exhales through this hole, it produces the ''hiss''. The quicker the airflow, the louder the sound. When threatened, snakes emit such sounds. Perhaps Bi Fang entered while this tree snake was napping. By the time it realized invaders were in its territory, it was too late. Bi Fang was already moving away, then the tree snake warned, but Bi Fang instinctively thought the danger was ahead and chose to step back. "In the Magical World, African Tree Snake skin is one of the key ingredients for making Compound Potion, maybe I could get some good material, but for a Muggle like me, this snake is good for nothing but filling the stomach." Bi Fang joked. Chapter 902 898: As everyone knows, videos cant be photoshopped Bi Fang''s self-mockery brought a knowing smile to the audience''s faces, filling the live stream room with a lively atmosphere. "Avada Kedavra!" "An unprecedented path" "I was wondering why ''African Tree Snake'' sounded so familiar, turns out I''d heard about it before (Dog''s head)" "Compound Potion is really something, I often get bold and innovative ideas thanks to it, haha" "I don''t know what you guys are thinking, but I can be certain it''s nothing good" Limited by their Muggle abilities, the African Tree Snake before them could only be used to satiate hunger and couldn''t be turned into the much-enjoyed Compound Potion. But even as sustenance, the snake meat was of little use to Bi Fang. In the wild, to avoid parasites, snake meat had to be cooked until nearly charred, making it taste like chewing on burnt rubber, not delicious at all. If it had been the first few days on the savanna, snake meat might have been a decent food option, but now, after several rounds of hunting, Bi Fang had more food than he could finish. He had plenty of meat and vegetables, and even fruits to serve as dessert and provide him vitamins ¨C he wasn''t lacking this little bit of meat between the teeth. However, having caught it, he couldn''t just set it free immediately. Otherwise, if the snake were witless enough not to flee after release and found somewhere nearby to coil up, and Bi Fang failed to notice when he returned from exploring the cave¡­ getting bitten again... Snakes, with their small brains and evolution directed towards saving energy as cold-blooded animals, weren''t getting any smarter¡ªdoubts about their intelligence were justifiable, and their memory was even more limited; such behavior was possible. Reluctantly, Bi Fang had to rummage through his backpack, completely wrap the snake in animal hide, tie the ends with a rope, and toss the squirming skin bag into his backpack as if that settled the matter. He would deal with the release later, after coming out. Since he hadn''t explained his actions to the audience, the people in front of the screen simply thought that Bi Fang had captured the snake alive for another purpose, possibly to extract venom, or maybe just to enjoy something fresh, so they didn''t pay it much mind. Having secured his "spoils of war," Bi Fang shouldered his backpack, not giving a second thought to the dangerous close call he just had, torch in hand, he continued deeper into the cave. What met the viewers'' eyes was still the sinister and unsettling dark passageway. Since no harm had come, it was deemed a minor issue¡ªsuch was Bi Fang''s true line of thought. But others did not feel the same way. Venomous Snake! And he caught it with his bare hands! He had caught a venomous snake in the midst of an attack with his bare hands! It would have been something if he''d simply swept it away with a stick, but to cut it off mid-attack and grab it directly by the head was the ultimate difficulty level. The impact of the scene was even more unbelievable than what you''d see on TV, and he had portrayed it as if it were nothing? "Lord Mu has given the host 66 yachts¡ªAlmost fooled there, can anyone tell me if humans can actually do that?" "Immortal Who Doesn''t Eat Scallions has given the host 1 Spaceship¡ªDon''t get the magic joke, but Master Fang''s reaction speed is insanely strong!" S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Actually, it''s not as hard as you think to do what I do. If you frequently interact with snakes and observe their attack patterns, you''ll realize their attacks can easily be predicted and aren''t as absurd as the legends say, of course, I can''t do it." "Of course, I can''t do it¡ªthat''s too real." "Hello everyone, Master Fang is my boyfriend, though we haven''t made our relationship public yet, haven''t met the parents, don''t live together, have never been blessed by friends or family, I''ve never cooked him a meal, don''t have his phone number or WeChat, but my mouth is my own, and what I say goes" The barrage of gifts was continuous, with golden ribbons fluttering on the screen. Every minute, the stream of gifts far exceeded the monthly salary of an ordinary office worker, which was truly envy-inducing. Still, envious as people could be, no one dared to covet this bowl of rice. It was too heavy; the bowl was filled with hard stones, impossible for normal people to chew without shattering their teeth. Only Bi Fang, with his iron teeth and steel jaws, could munch them with a crunchy delight. "[Did you know that in the time it takes a person to blink, a snake can strike four times?]" "[Experienced people can catch with their bare hands, but that''s when they understand the rhythm of a snake''s attack. Master Fang''s blindside move is outrageous, it must be more luck than skill.]" "[Referee! I demand a drug test for Old Fang! Now, immediately, this instant!]" "[Luck? Old Fang, someone''s slandering you. Perform again and prove your strength.]" Bi Fang wiped his nose: "There''s no shortcut to this kind of thing, it''s all about learning and practicing more." "[Roll a single six]" "[Try and you die]" "The more you practice, the more you''ll feel that being alive isn''t so bad." "[Hahahaha]" ... At the foot of the mountain, a camouflaged pickup truck hid in the shadows, quietly staying in place, its tires caked with yellow dried mud. The vehicle gave a slight shudder. "Phew, this work is really exhausting. Finally, I can go back and get some good sleep. My back''s about to be eaten alive by bugs." A black man with dreadlocks leapt into the pickup bed, clapping his hands against his body, sending up a cloud of dust. Grace lifted her hand to wave away the dust, coughing twice: "Chaman, do you remember the last time you had a bath?" "No clue, how long have we been here?" "Damn, half a month? I bet you''re already moldy." "It''s like this with our job, don''t be such a girl, you''re a thirty-six-year-old man." Chaman tossed his dreadlocks back, ignoring Grace''s sarcastic remark, leaned on the cushy backrest, making his spine fit perfectly, and then his chest puffed up and slowly deflated, repeatedly, as if exhaling all the fatigue with his breaths. "Ah, coming back to life. Speaking of which, almost got gored by a water buffalo today. Hmm, you''re watching that guy''s livestream again?" After relaxing, Chaman glanced at Grace''s phone and leaned in with interest, "Speaking of which, quite the coincidence, he seems to be on this very prairie, huh? What about it, want to avenge your ''brother''?" Grace was annoyed, "I''ve told you many times, we''re from the same family but not blood brothers." "OKOK, whatever you say, you''re just his loyal viewer." Chaman raised both hands in capitulation, "It''s just that we found a good spot with signal out in the wild, just so happened to be bored, just so happened to be watching the show when I noticed it." "Next time, I''m definitely complaining to the Boss, no way I''m going on missions with you again." Chaman laughed heartily, "How many times have you said that, but in the end it''s still us two." Grace sighed; there was nothing she could do about it. As Chaman said, though the guy was annoying to listen to, in terms of reliability, he was indeed commendable. Being annoying was negligible in comparison to dangerous situations. Chaman pulled a bottle of mineral water from under the seat, gulped it down, and exhaled, "So, tell me, what great thing did this guy do this time? Those gifts are crazy, how much is a spaceship? Sixty bucks? Seventy? If I had that kind of money, no way I''d be doing this job." Grace silently scrolled back a few minutes... Chaman stroked his chin, saying earnestly, "Can you edit a live stream like you do a photo?" Chapter 903 899: Attention The Poacher had dealt with Bi Fang before. That was a long time ago. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. While escorting the White-fronted Goose, due to the auditor''s embezzlement, Bi Fang had a skirmish with the poachers in the wilderness. Even a year later, today, the peril of that encounter was one of the few notable events in Bi Fang''s increasingly eventful life. In human society, there are two most extreme instruments of violence¡ªarms and public opinion. Let us not dwell on the latter; the former, with the advancement of Science, demonstrates such terrifying power that it''s hard for anyone who faces it to remain entirely fearless. Long before the invention of gunpowder, humans had become the undisputed top predators, thanks in no small part to the spear. There was no equal. The advent of firearms widened the gap between humans and animals to an almost comical degree. No matter how skilled you are, you''d fear a kitchen knife, let alone a genuine firearm. Fortunately, in the end, Bi Fang proved to be the craftier one and managed to send everyone present to jail. Half a year later, the trial endured to this day, with that small gang of poachers led by Legoff still quietly staying in prison, without any "big shot" paying to bail them out. Afterward, Bi Fang didn''t face any evident act of revenge, which basically matched his expectations. The cost for a major crime syndicate to exact revenge on an individual was steep, especially when the target had a certain degree of influence in the international community. In modern society, the more you do, the more mistakes you make; the less you do, the fewer mistakes you make; do nothing, make no mistakes¡ªit''s a universal truth everywhere. The poachers might swagger within their turf, but if they sought to enact international revenge, it was as if they were tired of game meat and hankering for a taste of prison food. Among poachers, there''s only talk of profit, not of loyalty. In the wilderness, there''s a high chance of encountering traces of poachers, such as killed beasts of prey or rare animals skinned for their furs. But, to actually run into them directly, the odds are very slim. Unless one side purposefully seeks out the other and also possesses ample clues and markers. Tourists who go missing in the wild without an accurate last-known location can hardly be found even with massive search parties. The wilderness isn''t just a mere adjective; it''s a vast three-dimensional space that spans tens of thousands of square kilometers, filled with mountains, rivers, and dense forests. Dropping a person in there is like a drop of water merging with the ocean. If encounters are unlikely, then Bi Fang, no matter how much he dislikes poaching, has no reason to care if there are no direct conflicts. You do your live streaming, and I catch my prey. They''re unrelated. Everyone is gathered together because of money. When the costs and rewards are disproportionate, and everything becomes an established fact, no one will look for trouble. Grace knows this well, and so does the TianusGra Corporation. Even if the one caught was his half-brother, Grace had no intention of seeking revenge; he simply paid more attention to Bi Fang, this unique wilderness live streamer. When bored, he would follow along, making him a sort of "fan." Putting aside his standing and identity, Bi Fang''s live streams were indeed captivating. Not to mention the thrilling moments, even during the mundane times, the knowledge shared was remarkably arcane¡ªnot necessary, but shocking. Moreover, strictly speaking, his brother was just an external employee of the corporation, a "temp worker" who took on minor tasks and spent more time on his own private jobs. Just by looking at the name TianusGra, one could sense its ambitious scope, when reversed, it read Gratianus. The elder son of Valentinian I, Emperor of the Western Roman Empire, crowned Augustus by his father at the age of 8, taught by the poet Decimus Magnus Ausonius. He was passionate about hunting and ultimately lost his empire because of it. Internal tasks within the corporation were mostly about providing services to tycoons with exotic hobbies, such as raising lion cubs or capturing falcons, starting from a million dollars. Simple fur and pet trades were almost always issued to small teams like Legoff''s as tasks. The team would take the job; the corporation would profit. To the corporation, Legoff was hardly significant; if he was gone, plenty were ready to replace him. The world never lacks those willing to risk it all for money. Grace, the true corporate subordinate, had come to the African Savanna this time for a reward of five million from a Middle Eastern tycoon to bring back lively lion cubs. Besides him and Chaman, there were two other vehicles, totaling eight people. "Considering we are all on the Savanna, honestly, don''t you have even the slightest desire?" Chaman joked playfully. "If you give the word, I can definitely find it within three days; you know the Savanna is like home to me." Grace didn''t doubt the truthfulness of Chaman''s words. The guy was a "local," and no one knew the African Savanna better than he did. For any task related to the Savanna, taking him along was a sure bet. Chaman, originally named Kano, was born in a remote Kenyan village and lived off hunting for generations. The hunting rifle had passed down to him. When Kano killed an elephant for the first time at the age of thirteen, there was no reluctance. As a child, Kano revered such enormous creatures as elephants, fascinated by the power they embodied, and worshipped them. But when the cutting blade was wedged in the elephant''s skull and bloody ivory was pulled out, he felt an inexplicable joy. An overwhelming sense of conquest filled his chest, perhaps, this was the so-called mission passed down to his generation. In adult African Elephants, tusks can reach up to 2 meters in length, with two-thirds protruding outside the mouth and one-third deeply embedded in the skull. To retrieve a complete tusk, poachers would either chop off the elephant''s head or slash away its nose and much of its face. In the days that followed, Kano spent his time with a rifle, with greed dictating those that fell before its cold barrel. Years later, Kano had become a seasoned poaching expert; the hunting was left to the younger members while he only needed to track down herds of elephants, plan the hunts, and contact buyers. And by then, the price of ivory had soared, and betrayals among poachers were not uncommon. Thus, finding a reliable buyer was crucial. That''s when the corporation appeared before Kano, and from that moment, the village''s Kano vanished, replaced by the poacher Chaman. "Don''t bother testing me." Grace put away his phone, twisted the key, and the engine started, "Hurry and contact the Boss; once we finish this job, let''s head back early. I''ve had enough of the dust here." The car kicked up dust and vanished into the horizon. Chapter 904 900 Shining Diamond Inside the mine. Bi Fang was carefully exploring with a torch in hand. The recent encounter was still fresh in his mind, so the speed of exploration had become even slower. The tunnel was as eerie and terrifying as ever, and the recent attack had added an element of unknown danger for everyone. But it had been half a day, and no one had seen a single shining diamond, and by now, nearly everyone had lost much hope. Facing the dim environment for a long time, with the flickering firelight, their eyes were quite fatigued. Indeed, the mine had been abandoned for who knows how many years. Looking at the equipment and the oil lamps left in the corners, it seemed like it had been abandoned for decades, and they had no idea if anyone had been there in the interim. Even if no one had, would the people who left originally have left behind any good goods? [It''s too dark, my eyes are going to go blind, maybe we should stop exploring here.] [It''s been almost three hours, and there''s nothing.] [If there really were diamonds, how would it be our turn?] "It''s true." Bi Fang himself also wanted to give up, but leaving without reaching the end felt awkward, and he had been reluctant to bring it up. The cave was already stuffy and hot, and the torch kept burning and emitting black smoke. Having come in for half a day, it was all effort with no reward, hot and tiring. "Let''s go for another fifteen minutes, and if we still can''t see the end, we''ll head back." Bi Fang raised his hand to wipe his sweat, only to find his hands were grimy, unknowingly stained with soot mixed with sweat, filthy. Raising his arm, he used the bend of his elbow to wipe the soot from his face, and Bi Fang continued forward, but this time the passage suddenly turned at a ninety-degree angle. When Bi Fang turned the corner, what appeared before everyone was no longer a labyrinth-like complex of tunnels that left them bewildered about which way to go, but a straight, columnar space. At the end of the passage, there was a semicircular platform; Bi Fang stood on it, abruptly appearing in this straight columnar space. He looked up, holding the torch high, the light illuminating up to four or five meters away, but he couldn''t see the rock at the top at all, and looking down, it was unfathomably deep. Kicking a pebble down, Bi Fang put his ear to the ground and held his breath to listen carefully. A few seconds later, the faint echo reverberated and spread through the rocks, accurately captured by Bi Fang. "About three seconds for the sound to return, so the depth is about fifty meters. The error won''t be very big." Bi Fang stood up, clearly confident in his judgment. "The platform we''re standing on was carved out a long time ago. Its stability is questionable, so as much as possible, do not get close to the edge. This applies both here and outside; if you don''t have enough experience to judge, then don''t approach cliff edges." Holding the torch, Bi Fang walked around the protruding semicircular platform and also found iron ladders distributed on both sides. Time had taken its toll, and the ladder was covered with reddish-brown rust, peeled layer after layer like a rolled pancake, completely unusable. "Let''s stop here. I really don''t feel like going down. Underneath is likely a honeycombed network of tunnels, just like a maze. I think everyone''s experienced enough." [Wait, Master Fang, look at the rock wall in front of you. Is there a diamond there?] A not very eye-catching comment in the barrage had attracted the attention of a small portion of people. [Diamonds, where are the diamonds?] [Really or not, could this be a scam?] [About half a minute ago, go back a bit, right in front, where the firelight touched, I feel there''s a raised semi-transparent stone. I''m not too sure; just saying.] For the "small" number of people in Bi Fang''s live stream, that was still an astonishing number, and under so much skepticism, the person who first posted the comment suddenly felt unsure, doubting if they''d seen wrong. The cave was indeed too dark, the range of the torchlight was limited, and with time also long, the viewers who had persisted were somewhat dazzled. However, as many viewers scrolled back to the time mentioned in the comment and observed carefully, it seemed there really was something to it? "I think I saw it too, but it felt too dark, so I didn''t pay much attention, thinking it was just a lighting effect." "I captured the image, it seems a bit translucent." "Damn, really? There''s actually something?" Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Holy, we hit the jackpot, there''s hope!" With the support, everyone suddenly gained confidence, and many urged Bi Fang to go back and check again. Just as he was about to turn around and head back in the direction he came from, Bi Fang saw the barrage of comments and stopped in his tracks. It was inevitable; the live streaming room was bustling, and ignoring it was not an option. "Is there really a diamond?" Bi Fang buried his head in his hands, wiped his fingers through his hair several times, and finally returned to the platform with a torch, extending his arm as much as possible to illuminate the opposing rock wall. It wasn''t necessary to light it up, but upon doing so, he really got a shock. Goods! There were indeed goods! A grey, translucent mineral, the size of a thumb, was obliquely embedded in the rock wall, appearing as if it had stubbornly grown out of the crevice. It was unremarkable. If not for Shuiyou pointing it out, Bi Fang would not have noticed it. Deserving of being called average Levenhook''s netizens! Moreover, alongside this stone, discovered by chance, Bi Fang gradually found several more small diamonds emerging within a distance of several or dozens of centimeters around it. This discovery instantly dazzled everyone''s eyes. "Damn damn damn damn, there really is one!" "Damn, how could you even spot that!" "My goodness, that''s the size of a thumb, right? Could it be bigger if dug out?" "How big is the largest diamond in the world?" "Stop kidding, this diamond is obviously full of impurities. There are actually plenty of large diamonds, but the rare ones are large and of high purity. This kind of stone-looking diamond is not very rare and not valuable." "But at least it proves that there are real diamonds here, maybe there are some high-quality ones missed?" The barrage exploded, flooding the live streaming room. "Haha, I told you I saw it!" "Modern-day Levenhook!" "Master 666" Bi Fang felt an uncommon stir within him. As the viewers in the live streaming room said, perhaps these diamonds were no different from stones in terms of inclusions, but at least it was a positive signal. In Ugly Country Yellowstone National Park, someone found diamonds while strolling by the road. In Sri Lanka''s Ratnapura, someone discovered raw sapphires on a riverbank. Gems found in the wild aren''t the shiny, polished states you usually see; they might just be a dull, slightly different-colored stone that only reveals its brilliant core after cutting and polishing. Without professional identification knowledge, you might just overlook it. It''s all about keen eyes and luck; actually, mostly luck. Bi Fang wasn''t lucky himself, but in the live streaming room with millions of viewers, there was always someone lucky. If not for a reminder from an online friend, he might have really missed it. Chapter 905 905: 901 Bi Fang wrapped a torch around his forearm to secure it and tied a strip of animal skin around his forehead. He also made a second torch and inserted it into a crevice between the rocks to provide light. Once everything was ready, Bi Fang began to climb down the rock wall beside the circular platform. Harley stood at the edge of the platform, peered out, and made a few swiping gestures downward with his forelimbs, but ultimately he retracted his claws and paced on the platform. Since entering the mine, the unique environment had left little room for the leopard to be of any use, so Harley''s presence was hardly felt. Watching Bi Fang get further away, Harley called out a few times. Seeing no response, he could only lie down helplessly on the ground within the circle of light, waiting for Bi Fang to come up on his own. "Whew." As he breathed, the air flowed into his lungs and spread to his limbs and body. There were no stable anchor points nearby to secure a safety rope, so he had to climb with his bare hands. Besides, the insufficient lighting made the climb even more challenging. The audience watched with hearts pounding and palms sweating. The oppressive environment, combined with the challenging movements, had even Bi Fang sweating profusely. At this moment, the usefulness of the animal skin on his forehead became evident, effectively absorbing sweat and preventing it from slipping into his eyes. This allowed him not to fuss over wiping his face, so he could focus more intently on climbing. "If you''re not a professional and don''t have adequate safety measures, please don''t try to imitate me, otherwise..." Bi Fang lay against the rock wall, took a deep breath, and continued, "Remember, a single misstep can lead to everlasting regret." Seeing such a scene, the online audience began to doubt whether those few poor-quality diamonds were worth the risks Old Fang was taking. Bi Fang paused on a protruding rock, leaning against the rock wall for a brief rest. Hearing this, he laughed and said, "My goal isn''t for money, or at least money is only a small part of the reason." Are diamonds valuable? Undoubtedly, they are valuable. If anyone says they are not, they can send them my way, and I''ll take as many as they give. Are the alleged marketing scams false then? No doubt, they are all real. Common diamonds depreciate as soon as a regular person purchases them, and second-hand ones can''t even sell for half the price. It sounds contradictory, but in fact, both statements are true and not contradictory at all. The fundamental reason is that diamonds are valuable, but not as valuable as the price tags in malls or major brand jewelry stores suggest. The existence of marketing scams doesn''t mean that diamonds are worthless. "Diamond rough is a type of mineral product, according to ''Theory and Methods of Mineral Resources Exploration,'' a mineral deposit is defined as a geologic body with economic value, and an ore is defined as a mineral or rock with economic value." "Mineral products are defined as ''economically valuable geological body extracts, sorted or purified products.'' These are widely accepted definitions, not something I''ve made up." "Since diamonds originate from mineral deposits and need to be sorted from ore, they are mineral products and hence economically valuable, by definition." "Also, according to the National Mineral Reserve Committee Office, ''Reference Manual for Mineral Industry Requirements'' and DZ/T0205-2002, the industrial grade of diamond deposits is 0.0008 grams." "I know you might not understand what that means, so let me explain it simply. It means that if you can extract more than 1 gram of diamond from 1250 tons of ore, you can cover the mining costs." "Compared to gold mines, where 1 ton of ore needs to yield 1 gram of gold to cover costs, it''s clear that the average value per unit mass of diamonds is greater than that of gold." [Swearing without exposing one''s shortcomings] [Honestly, was Old Fang a miner before?] [A gold miner, right?] [Strange knowledge has increased again] [The main thing is professionalism] "So from a cost perspective, it''s impossible for high-quality diamonds not to be valuable; mining costs alone are already quite high." "But there''s one thing to note," he said, "diamonds are not investments, they are consumables!" "This needs to be distinctly differentiated from gold, or rather, most gemstones are consumables, not investments." "This is also why the seemingly contradictory points previously mentioned can coexist, which is key." Buying things that make you look good, feel comfortable, and happy is called consumption. On the other hand, products that aim to preserve or increase in value are called investments. For most people, whether buying skincare products, cars, clothes, or jewelry, the objective is certainly not to preserve value. Those who spend thousands or tens of thousands on a diamond ring do so just like buying clothes or a car¡ªto wear them. The aim is to look good, to have face. But like clothes and cars, once they are bought, they depreciate, not being able to be liquidated like gold. Especially when reselling a diamond ring bought from a jewelry brand, you would find that a ring originally bought for 20,000 might not even fetch half that price, unlike gold, which, if the price increases, could still be sold for 20,000 or more. Unless you''re buying multi-million dollar, rare pink diamonds, then that could be considered an investment. In the foreseeable future, as long as no diamond mines with large reserves and high-quality that can be mined with existing technologies suddenly emerge, they will hold their value. But this is largely irrelevant to the average person. Moreover, with artificial diamond technology becoming increasingly advanced, Bi Fang heard that diamonds can now be grown and they look just like the natural ones, though he wasn''t sure about the authenticity; certainly, it also sped up the depreciation of diamonds. Regardless, diamonds still "have value to depreciate." After explaining this to the audience, Bi Fang continued to climb down. Everyone finally understood that terms like "lasting forever" and "worthless" were biased. With the understanding that diamonds are valuable, explaining Bi Fang''s actions at this moment wasn''t hard. Of course, he wasn''t really short of this bit of money, unless there was a diamond the size of a pigeon''s egg below. Few knew that Bi Fang had some hoarding tendencies, especially for such rare items in the wilderness. It''s like the scars on a hunter''s body, symbols of bravery. Those rare trophies were also proof that Bi Fang had been in this wilderness and served as his medals. The process of obtaining them himself was like pinning a medal on his chest. His shoes hit the ground, yet made little noise, the thick dust acting like a carpet had a perfect effect, and the kicked-up dust nearly reached his calves. Bi Fang lifted his foot, a clear imprint of the sole appeared under the torchlight. There was almost no wind in the cave, but the falling volcanic ash had accumulated over many years, causing the dust beneath to build up several millimeters thick. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Holding the torch, Bi Fang followed the curved passage between the rostrum and the rock wall for a few steps, and after turning the corner, he saw a shocking scene. Two skeletons, dressed in tattered denim work clothes, were piled together in a bizarre, overlapping manner. The skull of the bottom skeleton was shattered, with only half remaining intact, its empty eye sockets seeming to stare at the explorers who stepped onto this ground. The live stream burst into excitement like a nuclear explosion. But the two skeletons were not the main attraction. Bi Fang shifted his gaze to a side not far from the skeletons, where there was a palm-sized leather pouch, its drawstring long broken, unable to close the mouth. The pouch tilted to one side, spilling some of its contents. Under the torchlight, everyone could see clearly. The sparkling diamond fragments. Chapter 906 906: 902 Within the dark recesses of the mining tunnel, where no ceiling could be seen, a Cheetah''s claw clung to the edge of a rock platform. As it lowered its head to peer beneath it, a long shadow fell from its body. Explorers in the mine pit held torches high, driving away the surrounding darkness. At the edge of the light circle, where light and dark intermingled, two decayed skeletons, withered to white bones, were revealed. In front of the skeletons laid a leather pouch with its drawstring snapped, and a dozen broken diamonds slipped from the opening, sparkling with an exceptionally dazzling light under the illumination. Perhaps the glare was too blinding as it caused people in the dark to squint. At that moment, who knows how many viewers in front of their screens were rubbing their eyes, trying to discern if the scene before them was real or fake, actual or illusory. Bi Fang stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and pinched the snapped drawstring to lift the entire pouch. He noticed that although the pouch was only as big as a palm, it was not light in weight, clearly containing quite a few other things inside. And it was precisely this move that caused several broken diamonds to fall from the mouth of the pouch into the dust. Even though they were covered by a thick layer of dust, the rays of light they scattered could still not be concealed. Such a scene inevitably made even the worldly Bi Fang draw in a sharp breath. Could the bag be full of diamonds? It was not until this moment that the audience completely believed that the scene before them was actually happening on a corner of Earth! [Oh my god, we''re going to be rich!] [Is there a big one? Tell me if there is.] [It must be staged!] [Coach, I''m reporting this, somebody is cheating!] [Is it open just because it isn''t closed?] [Is it open just because it isn''t opened?] [Announce the location, quick! I want to pick diamonds too!] [Were all these dug out from the mine?] Bi Fang shook his head, "It''s impossible that they were dug out like this. Natural diamonds don''t take this shape." Naturally mined diamonds could not be this dazzling. Even those with high purity, if they have the same shape as ordinary stones, their degree of refraction is limited. This was also why diamond shapes are generally one of a few fixed types, with the number of facets and the angles being the same¡ªto better reflect light and make the diamond glitter and gleam under a light source. The diamonds that fell to the ground were almost all round, already cut and polished, certainly not something that could have come directly from the mine. Diamonds can''t naturally be shaped like this. Bi Fang poured all the contents of the pouch into his palm, and as he observed them clearly, the viewers in front of the screens gasped once more. The pouch actually dumped out a quantity of diamonds that couldn''t be held in one hand, and they were remarkably large in size, with the largest diameters almost all exceeding five millimeters. Even more astonishing was the uncut pink diamond among them. This pink diamond was as large as Bi Fang''s index finger! [Pink diamond!!!!] [That big?] Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [That staging is kind of ridiculous.] [Ridiculous your mom, can you stage one yourself?] [Simple rudeness, extreme pleasure.] [I''m about to explode, my scalp is tingling, is this really something that can be found while exploring?] [Explosive!] The news of the pink diamond drew in a vast crowd of onlookers, with the backstage messages coming in like a barrage. Upon seeing the pink diamond, Bi Fang couldn''t help but feel his brows twitch. He felt his veins swell suddenly, as blood surged wildly with every beat of his heart. Carat is a unit of weight for diamonds, one carat being equivalent to 0.2 grams. This pink diamond, the size of an index finger, could conservatively be estimated at upwards of 25 carats... Pink diamonds are extremely rare, and world-class pink diamonds are even rarer. Though Bi Fang was not focused on gemology, his wide-ranging knowledge allowed him to remember that a diamond between 5 and 6 carats once sold for over a million Ugly Yuan at a Christie''s auction, while those over 10 carats never went for less than twenty million Ugly Yuan. However, all auctioned pieces were cut, and diamond cutting consumes a substantial amount of material. For example, the famous Steinmetz Pink diamond had an original weight of 132.5 carats but was left with only 59.6 carats after cutting, more than half lost. The diamond he had now wasn''t perfectly shaped; after cutting, it might yield fifteen or sixteen carats, but it was still quite astonishing. Of course, the value of a diamond doesn''t solely depend on size but also on color and clarity. Regarding this, Bi Fang was somewhat clueless. He didn''t know what grade this particular diamond was, but its transparency told him it wasn''t low. The whole pink diamond had to be worth at least ten million Ugly Yuan. Perhaps all the other diamonds in the bag added together might not even equal the value of the one in his hand. Was his luck really this good? The torch was still burning, making a soft crackling sound. Bi Fang lifted his head to look at the light source glowing in the darkness and saw the Cheetah lying nearby. Then he lowered his head again, gazing at the two skeletons beside him, the most crucial being the bag of diamonds in his hand. A fifty-meter-high platform, a diamond mine, a bag of high-quality diamonds, two skeletons dead for many years. Fuck, he could brainstorm a half-hour drama from this alone! "Please write a short story of at least eight hundred words within forty minutes, themed around two corpses, a bag of diamonds, and a mine pit." "Blind guess, they''re mutually assured destruction." The news about Bi Fang finding pink diamonds quickly sparked heated discussion on Wolf Fang''s platform. It nearly instantaneously drained all the traffic and spread beyond the circles, rippling outward. It was estimated that it wouldn''t take half an hour for this to top the trending headlines of various portals. "For real? I heard the streamer found diamonds?" "True indeed." "Are you sure about the authenticity of that pink diamond?" "Lord Mu has sent the streamer 10 yachts¡ªwitnesses share." "Lin Chang has sent the streamer 10 spaceships¡ªwitnesses share." "666, add another share for witnesses." "I heard that the first pink diamond in South Africa was accidentally found by a kid." "The Eureka diamond was discovered in 1866 by a fifteen-year-old named Daniel who thought it was a pretty stone until it caught his neighbor''s attention. They thought it was a diamond and offered to buy it, but Daniel''s family refused." "Subsequently, the stone was taken to Cape Town by John Robert for certification, and it was finally verified as a diamond. It was named ''Eureka,'' meaning ''I have found it.''" Bi Fang''s live broadcast room was always filled with people from various fields of expertise. As soon as a question arose, someone would provide a highly professional answer. Sometimes even Bi Fang himself felt like he was gaining knowledge, and his memory, like Nature, would function automatically, recording every bit of information without fail. "Damn, why can''t I ever find this, really sucks to be me." "I''m grinding my teeth into dust." "Luckier than stepping in dog shit." Compared to the previous few passageways, the densely packed, hive-like collection of huge pits were truly where the diamonds had been mined. But now, with a bag of high-quality diamonds in hand, there was no need to explore the numerous surrounding tunnels. This was the most valuable thing, incomparable to the miscellaneous stones. Bi Fang poured the diamond back into the leather bag, collected all the scattered fragments from the ground into his hand, blew off the dust, and poured them into the bag as well. Then, he took out a thin rope, tied the bag''s opening, and kept it close to his side. Though the elastic band had broken, the quality of the bag itself was still very good. Bi Fang stood up, dusted off his knees, moved to the two skeletons, and smeared the remaining dust with the tip of his shoe, revealing a darker color on the rock beneath¡ªa clear sign of dried bloodstains. Seeing this, Bi Fang shook his head, wrapped the skeletons in their respective clothes, slung them on his back, and rubbed some lime on his hands, preparing to bring them out of the cave for burial. No matter what had happened initially, the bag of diamonds was undeniably connected to these two individuals. Bringing them out for burial would at least do justice to the bag of diamonds. Chapter 907 903 Settling Karma "Cough, cough, finally out." Covered in dust, Bi Fang emerged from the mine with a huge bundle on his back. His beige explorer outfit had turned gray, and his elbows and knees were stained with unidentifiable black grease. Behind him, the cheetah had somehow turned into a black panther, almost unrecognizable. Harley shook its body and a large amount of lime fell down from between its fur, accumulating on the ground in a defined circle. The rising dust made Bi Fang sneeze several times, but in a blink of an eye, he slapped his head, and sand scraped against his scalp, sliding out from between his hair, also raising a cloud of dust that made Harley sneeze a few times too. "Hahaha." Bi Fang laughed heartily as he set down the large bundle from his back. Not only his body but his mood also felt much lighter. [Refreshed and Energized] [That''s quite childish] [Bi Fang is so cute] [I suspect this is intentional revenge, I''m reporting this] [Report is invalid, punish you to clean the toilets for a week] Bi Fang twisted open his water bottle cap and took a big gulp, then poured most of the remaining water over his face, washing away all the sweat and dust. Casually wiping off the water droplets, he took deep breaths of the fresh air of the savanna, gazing at the vast expanses of heaven and earth. He didn''t return the way he came but chose the passage leading to the outside world from the original three forks and walked out through it. The whole mine exploration took at least five or six hours. Luckily, Bi Fang had discovered the mine early, finding the entrance before eight in the morning. Counting the time exploring inside, it was only around one in the afternoon now. At this time, natural light was abundant, and due to the angle of the sun, the mountains'' shadows were much narrower than when he first emerged from the cave, replaced by the brighter landscape of the vast savanna. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing the excellent natural light, Bi Fang quickly reached into his pocket, drew out a small leather pouch, opened it, and pulled out the astonishingly weighty pink diamond, holding it between his index finger and thumb. After rinsing it with the last of the water, he held it up to the sun. Instantly, a dazzling brilliance burst forth from the pink diamond, scattering a charm difficult for the world to match with the aid of the sun''s particles. Under natural light, the color of the pink diamond was undoubtedly more stunning and crystal clear, far surpassing the rough observation possible in the dark mine with only a torch as the sole source of light. Bi Fang gazed at the gem, sparkling under the sunlight, his eyes filled with amazement, "They are rare enough, precious enough, and possess an extraordinary beauty. Because of this, pink natural diamonds are known as miracles of nature. Yet, they are also the hotbeds of sin. Every precious gem is. They are the Devil''s most proud lure. On the larger and older gems, every facet symbolizes a bloody crime." [That sounds familiar, I think I''ve heard it somewhere before] [Ah, a fellow book lover!] [Behind every diamond, there are countless tales of love and hate, such beautiful diamonds should be stuffed inside a goose and sent to a ragged old professor''s house on Christmas Eve!] [What book is it?] [Sherlock Holmes, brother, haven''t you read it?] For beautiful things, humans often share a common affinity. Who doesn''t love the sight of a sparkling gem suddenly appearing among the dull dirt? Undoubtedly, at this very moment, millions of viewers have been deeply moved by the beauty unleashed by this pink diamond. [Pretty nice, it could make a pink glass knife.] [Wonder how much money you could make cutting glass with such a big diamond.] [Blind guess someone will say it''s just hyped glass (Dog''s head)] [Hasn''t Master Fang already explained it clearly, the difference between consumer goods and investment goods, jewelry is just people paying for beautiful things, only those big enough maintain their value.] "Artificial diamonds first appeared at the beginning of the last century, yet at auctions, diamonds routinely sell for more than 100 million. Their price hasn''t been impacted but has instead risen year after year. Those who spend millions on gemstones are fools, right? (dog''s head)" "In plain terms, the market for high-end gemstones doesn''t overlap with that for synthetic diamonds¡ªone is about ornaments, the other about jewelry." With the influx of numerous onlookers, the number of ironical comments from audiences had notably increased, far more than when they were still inside the cave. Bi Fang didn''t really care about this. When a scam became widely known yet did not cause much impact, it already spoke volumes. Not that many fools existed in the world, nor were smart people that rare. Besides, no matter how everyone looked at it, the pink diamond in his hand was guaranteed to fetch at least 20 million Ugly Yuan¡ªthat was an ironclad fact. It was worth 20 million Ugly Yuan, no matter what. Thinking about this, Bi Fang couldn''t help but smile. Just then, a flurry of buying requests appeared in the live stream chat, with offers ranging from a few pennies to tens of millions. The penny offers could be ignored; they were just netizens joking around. As for the serious bids, Bi Fang didn''t pay much attention. Diamonds vary widely depending on their color; just as there are no two identical roses in the world, each natural pink diamond also has a unique hue, ranging from light to deep pink. And with different colors come vastly different values. Those naming prices now, even if they appeared high, were all hoping to find a bargain. Only gem experts, or painters, could accurately identify these colors from a palette; without handling it personally, it''s impossible to make an accurate judgment. However, a few bids looked serious, the names mentioned were quite renowned, and they had provided rough color and value assessments based on the current video, mostly agreeing with each other. They estimated the value to be between thirteen to forty-four million. Yet, what everyone wanted more was to visit Kenya to see it in person. Such a pink diamond was worth taking a plane trip, even if it resulted in coming back empty-handed. It''s no exaggeration to say that the annual output of natural pink diamonds couldn''t even fill a champagne flute. In every one hundred thousand natural diamonds, there might be one natural pink diamond. What''s crucial, though, is the added value¡ªthe legend attached to it. Two identical diamonds; one mined normally from the earth, the other beloved by a king centuries ago and even causing bloody conflicts¡ªthe latter would undoubtedly be valued much higher. That is the added value. This pink diamond of Bi Fang''s... It feels a bit shameless to say, but in the world now, he seems to have become a legend-grade explorer already, proclaimed by countless media as the greatest adventurer of his age, pioneering modern forms of adventure, worthy of a place in the annals of explorer history. This pink diamond, soaked in blood, unexpectedly found during Bi Fang''s wild journey in South Africa, had a richly evocative backstory that enormously increased its value. Collectors would not mind spending a few million more on top of the value of the diamond to acquire its additional legend. So they could say, when showing off the collection, "This valuable and beautiful gemstone was once acquired by the legendary explorer Mr. Bi Fang on a chance journey, unearthed from a South African mine. Without his discovery, the diamond might have remained forever hidden from the world, buried in blood-soaked soil." Quite a story! Apparently, the news that Bi Fang had acquired a pink diamond had already spread, and numerous collectors and gem evaluators, even auction houses moved swiftly. They even made bids and attempted contact in the live broadcast, all seemingly desperate. "I''ll talk about it later; I don''t want to interrupt my savanna journey yet. If you''re really interested, you can wait for me at the conservation center, as I still have to go there for an ivory burning." After giving a uniform response, Bi Fang no longer replied and picked up two large parcels from the ground to survey the savanna, finally descending the hill to arrive under an acacia tree. In the African Savanna, besides the low grass filling one''s vision, the sparse tall trees were even more eye-catching. The acacia tree, with its umbrella-shaped canopy, yellow-barked and covered with sharp spikes, stood elegantly and gracefully, decorating the savanna like green umbrellas, also a feast for herbivorous animals like elephants. It was the most common tree across Africa''s tropical sparse savannas, silently outlining the unique exotic charm of the entire continent. Bi Fang, under the tree, used a stone and a wooden handle tied with a rope to put together a small shovel and began digging a hole under the tree. "Acacia trees carry many symbolic meanings in Africa, the most classic being ''resurrection''; mothers would plant an acacia when their child fell ill to nurture them back to health, and loved ones would bury the deceased underneath it, entrusting their final memories." "I don''t know the grievances between these two people, but since the diamond was acquired from them, burying them as the last act seems to settle their karma." Chapter 908 904: Mutual Destruction Given the high likelihood of blood vendetta between the two, they definitely couldn''t both be buried in the same pit. Once Bi Fang had huffed and puffed under the tree to dig out two deep pits and neatly arranged the skeletons inside, the sun had already set. "Phew, there''s just not enough time, feels like I hardly did anything and it''s already getting dark." The twilight cast a dark golden halo around Bi Fang as he held the stone shovel, flattening the last inch of soil and wiping the copious sweat from his brow. The evening breeze was soothing as it brushed against his skin, making it all the more comfortable. Plus, without the annoyance of mosquitoes, it was even better. Usually, mosquitoes are less during the day and more at night, but in Kenya it''s the opposite, mainly due to local temperatures. In the evening, as the temperature drops sharply, when it falls below 17¡æ, mosquitoes generally stop biting, and with no water bodies nearby, it''s hard to find them. This mirrors the low activity of mosquitoes in mid-low latitude regions where daytime temperatures are too high. Thus, even though the mosquito repellent smeared on Bi Fang''s body had been wiped off with his sweat, there was no need to worry about being covered in bites. "As evening falls, many carnivorous animals become active, we need to hurry and find a safe place to spend the night." Bi Fang placed a cross made from branches on one of the graves. While burying, he discovered one of the skeletons was wearing a cross necklace, presumably a Christian, so he conveniently made and placed a cross there, but the other had no information, no identification, so he didn''t place anything. Many viewers in front of their screens called this thoughtful. Now during the rainy season, half a month later, the barren patches of soil under the tree filled because of the added soil would be covered with green grass, and no one would know that beneath lay the bones of two bodies. "Let''s go!" Picking up his backpack, Bi Fang called out to Harley in the distance, but did not summon him back. This nearly mature cheetah, currently standing on the hillock and staring into the distance, was unlike its usual scouting left and right; it seemed to have targeted something, with its gaze fixed in one direction. Since Bi Fang had taught the cheetah multiple times to keep a lookout while resting, Harley seemed to have ingrained it into its instincts, always finding a hillock to perch on and rest whenever free, perfectly executing the watch-duty. Following the cheetah''s gaze, they spotted a small thicket. Bi Fang''s eyes saw clearer; in the thicket, he identified a big-sized rat. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. No, wait, it should be a rabbit. "A dassie rat, looks like our cheetah has targeted its hunt." Facing the fiery red sunset in the west, Bi Fang had to squint to check the target, explaining to his audience about the origin of the target like a spotter beside a sniper. With Bi Fang''s clue, the audience also spotted the creature in the thicket that looked extremely similar to a rat but was bigger than the usual rabbit. "Don''t be fooled by the dassie rat''s resemblance to a prairie dog, and even its more pointed snout; it''s not a mouse but belongs to the Hyrax family." "There are two common types of hyrax in the savannah, one is the ''Eastern Tree Hyrax'' which stays in trees during the day and comes out at night, and the other is the sun-loving ''Rock Hyrax''." "As night approaches, the fact that it''s still active makes it undoubtedly a dassie rat." "Here''s something interesting, don''t be fooled by its small size, but if you go back far enough, these creatures share a common ancestor with elephants, their skeletal and muscular structures are almost the same." "They are also distant relatives of manatees and dugongs." [???] [Kids, do you have many questions?] [If an elephant stepped on it, wouldn''t it be squashed?] "[It can''t be said that it''s not alike at all, only that it''s totally unrelated]" Shuiyou were shocked by the stark contrast in body size between the two, unable to imagine that a rabbit, almost the size of a groundhog, furry and with a pointed nose and cheeks, could possibly be related to the largest land animal, the elephant. It was truly surprising. In fact, the dassie rat shares a common ancestor with several animals. During the evolutionary process, this common ancestor evolved in different directions: one line gradually became large and adapted to an aquatic life, resulting in today''s manatees and dugongs; another became even larger, giving rise to today''s elephants; yet another line shrank, resulting in today''s dassie rat. There might be other directions not yet discovered by humans, or perhaps they have long gone extinct. "I heard from the visitor center in the Serengeti that these dassie rats are very clever, they act cute to beg for food from tourists." "But this isn''t the visitor center, dassie rats are very agile, skillful, and they enjoy living in the trees, excelling in climbing. On the other hand, I''ve said many times that, because cheetahs'' claws are semi-retractable and not suitable for gripping tree trunks, their climbing ability is quite poor. Therefore, whether Harley can catch the dassie rat remains to be seen." Having said that, Ben stopped talking and focused all his attention on the intensely focused Harley. Harley moved from laying down to standing, his gaze never straying. Unaware of the imminent danger, the dassie rat in the bushes gnawed at tender leaves. Night was approaching, and after resting all day, it was ravenous, chewing voraciously on the leaves in front of it. By this time, Harley had come down from the mound, lowering his center of gravity and silently approaching his target. Just when everyone thought a tense hunt was about to unfold again, a piercing howl echoed across the savanna. The sound was too dreadful, startling everyone. The dassie rat, deeply engrossed in eating, now realized something was wrong and in a flash disappeared into the bushes, turning into a dark shadow. When people saw it again, it was in the canopy of a tree not far away, the whole process taking no more than five seconds. Harley looked around briefly and quickly returned to Ben''s side, as if seeking some sense of security. Ben stood up, moved to the mound where Harley had been, and looked in the direction of the sound from an elevated position of about three to four meters. He saw a herd of African buffaloes, infamous as widow-makers. The herd of African buffaloes seemed somewhat agitated, with the calves being shielded in the center of the group. Of course, African buffaloes couldn''t have made such a sharp and penetrating sound. It was actually coming from a group of hyenas near the buffalo herd. It was the hyenas again. Seeing these old acquaintances once more, Shuiyou couldn''t help but remark how enemies often cross paths, and it was no wonder they''re seen everywhere in Africa. However, this time, their situation seemed dire, resembling an internal conflict, as the group surrounded and attacked a limping hyena. After zooming in, thanks to the high resolution, people could even see the attacked hyena''s opened belly, revealing pink intestines. Even its head had a big hole, with half an ear drooping, exposing the fresh red muscle tissue underneath, another hyena lunging forward to bite at this wound while the injured hyena twisted its head desperately trying to fend it off. The painful howl had no doubt come from the wounded hyena. Ben had only glanced once to understand roughly what had happened. "This group of hyenas probably hasn''t caught any prey in a long time. They attacked the group of buffaloes but failed. One of the lower-ranked hyenas got hurt, and it''s a severe injury. Look at the injured hyena''s abdomen, it''s too far for me to see clearly, but it''s almost certain it was caused by being gored by a buffalo horn." As Ben talked, one of the three drones quickly moved closer to film, allowing the audience to soon confirm this view. The shiny big hole on the side was too apparent, a wound not likely inflicted by a hyena. "Lower-ranked hyena, severely injured, long unsuccessful in hunting, the clan is now ready to turn on its own." Witnessing this scene and hearing Ben''s analysis, the audience felt nothing but horror and fear. The sky wasn''t completely dark yet, but Ben had already switched the screen to black-and-white to reduce the visual impact. What happened next was just as Ben had predicted, the scene so intense that he had to move the camera away, but the sound did not disappear, leaving viewers listening to the hyena''s agonizing cries, their skin crawling with goosebumps. Even more gruesome was that the hyena, with its enormous vitality, though its lower half was gutted and scattered, the wounded hyena still tried to rise from the ground, struggling a few times. "Let''s go, this place is no longer safe." Even Ben felt uneasy witnessing this scene, he called Harley who was nearby and quickly left the area. Chapter 909 905 Danger Bi Fang ran across the earth with the cheetah, the winds of the Howling Prairie slipping through his fingers, brushing past his ears, and surging towards the unknown distance. It could head towards the ocean, stirring up millions of tons of currents, or it could reach the desert, creating vast stretches of continuous dunes. "Whew, that was really dangerous." Bi Fang propped himself against a large tree with one arm, gasping for air. The cheetah collapsed on the ground, its lungs heaving violently. He had taken the cheetah on a steady jog for several kilometers, far away from the dangerous hyena pack, and also away from the mines. At the edge of his vision, an eagle was spreading its wings and soaring, making the sky itself seem alive. Unable to hear the piercing screams, even the viewers hiding behind screens without any danger breathed a sigh of relief. The sudden brutality among the hyenas undoubtedly peeled back a corner of Nature''s cruelty once more. The reason it felt like "once more" was because, following Bi Fang, viewers were always able to see the truths of Nature that ordinary people could hardly glimpse, and they had become used to it. Majesty and danger had always been the two most critical themes in Bi Fang''s livestreams. Warmth, freedom, beauty, strength, slaughter, savagery, and the primal nature under extreme environments¡ªthese were Nature''s most authentic labels. There''s no paradise more beautiful than Nature. Earth and rocks, sand and soil, rivers and grasslands, trees, mist and clouds, light and shadow. Those creatures flying in the skies, running on the ground, burrowing in the earth. How could plastic compare to the warmth of wood, the softness of grasslands, or the feeling of stretching your hand into the wind and slowly feeling it caress every inch of your skin? Even the most restless child could stare at a lake for a long time, waiting quietly for a large fish to disturb the placid surface with a splash. But it was also incredibly dangerous. Every action by animals was for the continuance of their genes. This was not cruelty, but ruthlessness. It was life, the merciless crushing of Nature, a kind of grand rule and order. Whenever any life fell into a predicament from which they could not extricate themselves using their own power, they would unleash unimaginable potential, performing behaviors that would be unacceptable under normal circumstances. Even humans, when faced with difficult situations, wouldn''t act much smarter than animals. Bi Fang reached for the leather pouch at his waist, still feeling a sense of unreality; such good luck really could happen to him. Night fell. Bi Fang swallowed his saliva, found a rock to sit on, took out a piece of Flint Stone with both hands, and prepared to light a bonfire. "For millions of years, humans have always been picking up things and turning them over and over in their hands, their minds conjuring up a series of actions in the hope of making them newer, more useful, or more beautiful." "Then, suddenly at some point in history, someone thought of something that had never existed before." "He simplified this complex and hard-to-understand world into a controllable mental model and then conceived a series of actions to integrate these models, thereby creating new items." "The occurrence of this situation brought profound changes to human history, as the first act of creation and invention completely altered the relationship between humans and the world, and the way humans understood the world." The flames rose, dispersing the darkness around. The black and white screen now displayed vivid orange hues, soft skin tones, and the hard brown stone. Rough branches, sharpened by cutting, were inserted into the loose soil, firmly rooted, lined up in a row. Bi Fang fed sawdust to the flames and continued, "For the first time, humans realized that they didn''t have to submit to the natural world but could live in the world of mental images and could shape our own world based on these designs and personal preferences." "This was a brand new appearance, created in one fell swoop and incomparably exquisite, like an arm growing out of the body. And so, a world now as we see it, surrounded by creations, ultimately took shape, with humans striding towards an Eden." "We''ve slightly distanced ourselves from the grand rules under which Nature operates." Half an hour later, Bi Fang lay down in the completed shelter, gazing at the starry sky through the tiny gaps above. Stars suddenly appeared in the sky, as if one could see layers of mist rising in the Milky Way Galaxy. While Bi Fang''s words plunged everyone into thought, they also couldn''t help feeling fortunate for the beauty of life at this moment. But then, Bi Fang took a sharp turn in his talk. "However, another terrible consequence followed; tools placed humans at the apex of life but also made them more dangerous." [What danger?] [Get to the point.] Bi Fang did not say directly but instead gave an example, "Chimpanzees and baboons often fight each other when they disagree. These primates are usually quite serious, and it''s not just for fun; they are absolutely capable of killing the other party. Jane Goodall, a biologist from Central Country, once recorded a troop of chimpanzees that, over some time, attempted to annihilate an adjacent group. In fact, they succeeded." With tools and the ability to throw precisely, killing another creature undeniably becomes much easier. "In fact, for those groups that killed members of their own kind, the likelihood of their extinction was greater, while a race that knew restraint and used better methods than murder to settle disputes would have a greater chance of continuing to thrive." "Although we might not know the reasons for the extinction of some species, history has indeed seen many such groups, like Homo rhodesiensis in East Africa and the Neanderthal. If they didn''t kill others of their own kind, then they would be killed by someone like us." [Wow, the dark forest law, right?] [If they aren''t of our kind, their hearts must be different; we must take them down (dog''s head).] [With a blade in hand, the urge to kill arises.] [Survival of the fittest (joking).] "Jared Diamond said in ''Guns, Germs, and Steel'': Until modern times, killing strangers was still a common way of life." "He said that in New Guinea, when two strangers first met, they would ''spend a lot of time making connections and finding reasons not to slaughter each other'', and these are all detailed in his book." "Even Diamond said that only in the last 7,500 years have humans ''begun to know how to frequently interact with strangers without the purpose of killing each other.''" [So, when humans are in desperate situations, the intensity of the violence that erupts is even more unbelievable.] [Isn''t this just modern warfare?] [Meat grinder.] [World peace is our dream!] Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Go nuclear!] [Don''t go nuclear; we want peace.] "Alright, that''s it for today''s live stream. Everyone, get some sleep." After a lengthy discussion, Bi Fang turned off the live stream. He sat by the fireside, carefully examining the large pink diamond by the light of the fire, before finally putting it back in his pocket. Hoping to bring it back intact. Chapter 910 906: The Missing Lion King "Mensa, did you see Cecil while on patrol today?" On the road approaching the conservation center, two patrol vehicles happened to meet. Barry, deeply concerned, slowed down the car and shouted over to his colleague. "Cecil, let me think... um, it seems like I didn''t see him." In the other vehicle, Mensa slowed down as Barry called out to him, furrowing his brows in thought. While replying, he noticed Barry''s unpropitious demeanor and laughed, "Ha, don''t worry, this happens all the time. Maybe it just found some hidden spot for a secret tryst with its new lover. Cecil''s always been full of vigor." Hearing Mensa''s negative reply, Barry''s worried expression didn''t ease in the slightest; instead, it became more solemn, "But I haven''t seen him for at least six days now, and counting a few days before that, it''s been a whole week." Hearing this, Mensa''s face turned serious as he realized there might be a problem. For nomadic male lions that don''t have a set territory or pride, they roam through various areas, crossing different territories and interacting with different prides. They could die in some unknown corner during a fight or while hunting. For the conservation center''s patrollers to ensure they spot them and check on their wellbeing during patrols is quite a difficult task. But Cecil wasn''t a nomadic male lion. He was a prime-aged Lion King with his own territory and pride, consisting of more than twelve adult lions¡ªan exceedingly large family. Every pride''s territory is quite well-defined; in areas abundant with prey, it could be as small as 20 square kilometers. In regions where prey is scarce, like for desert lions, territories can be established as large as 400 square kilometers. The African Savanna is certainly not barren like the desert; it''s abundantly rich in food, with just a few dozen square kilometers being enough to sustain a large pride. The Cecil family had always stayed within their territory, which had remained unchanged for generations of lions over the decades. Under such circumstances, for Cecil, the Lion King, to disappear from his own territory under the watchful eyes of the conservation center for an entire week? "It might just be a coincidence?" Mensa tried to reassure Old Barry lightly and made a suggestion, "Instead of worrying here, we should ask Dr. Lovridge. He has Cecil''s tracking data. Maybe, just as I said, Cecil''s happily lurking in some corner?" "Right, let''s go ask. Otherwise, I won''t have peace of mind." Hearing his colleague''s suggestion, Barry nodded and then parked the car at the conservation center. Together, they went looking for Dr. Lovridge. Dr. Lovridge was a scholar at the conservation center specializing in lion ecology. He had information on the locations of most territory-owning lion kings. To learn about Cecil''s current situation, the fastest method was to enquire with the doctor. Unfortunately, upon reaching the lab, they found out that Dr. Lovridge wasn''t there; he had gone to Central Country for a symposium. Thankfully, Dr. Lovridge''s research assistant, Brent Steburkan, was there. Barry promptly shared his concerns with him. Brent''s expression froze upon hearing this. Old Barry quickly asked, "What''s happened, what''s wrong?" At that moment, Brent, faced with Old Barry''s pressing questions, seemed to stutter, but he still shared the sobering news, "Cecil''s collar hasn''t had a data update for several days now." "What? Why didn''t you say something sooner!?" Barry and Mensa were both shocked, and Old Barry grabbed Brent by the collar, demanding loudly. Whether it was from embarrassment or the suffocation of being seized by the collar, Brent''s face turned beet red, and beads of sweat visibly formed on his forehead, "I... I thought it was just a problem with the collar, like a dead battery or something..." Brent hadn''t finished speaking when Old Barry interrupted him, "Bullshit, no power. Cecil''s collar was just replaced last month, how could there be a problem?" "In the wild, all sorts of bumps and knocks, who knows..." The more Brent tried to explain, the drier his mouth felt, and his heart thumped wildly, yet could not draw in enough oxygen. Large beads of sweat slid from his temples, dripping onto Old Barry''s wrinkled but at that moment, strong and forceful palms. In the end, Brent silently bowed his head, the research institute filled only with several heavy breaths that knocked on the heart over and over. It was over. At that moment, all Brent could do was pray to God that Cecil''s tracking collar had indeed just malfunctioned. Maybe it was damaged during a hunt? Although a lion hardly participates in hunting anymore after becoming the Lion King, that was only ''hardly.'' What if it was a rare exception to ''hardly''? Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Or perhaps another lion had challenged Cecil? Ideas flashed one after another in Brent''s mind, but when his gaze met the furious Old Barry again, he extinguished all hopes of luck. Zack Sitz Barry, one of the oldest employees at the conservation center. The young people here all liked to call him Old Barry. Even the most professional scholars, when assessing certain issues, liked to hear Barry''s opinions first. His extensive work experience made Old Barry familiar with every elephant herd, every lion pride on the savannah. He never mistook one for another. He could easily recognize the Lion King of each lion pride, the leader of each elephant herd. Animals that looked identical to ordinary people were like completely different people in Old Barry''s eyes. Moreover, his long experience with patrolling and feeding had given Barry a kind of remarkable intuition with animals. He could effortlessly locate the rulers of a territory, as if he had a special ability, which made many zoologists prefer him as their guide. If Old Barry said he hadn''t seen or found anything, then something extraordinary must have happened. Brent knew he''d made a grave mistake. If something really had happened to Cecil, he had no idea how his teacher would react. Only when the furious Old Barry had pressed Brent down onto the monitoring console did Brent begin frantically retrieving information. But unlike general tracking devices, the collar stored a vast amount of information. Besides basic location data, it included height, weight, heart rate, as well as the movement paths over periods of time, which greatly aided in studying animal behavior and clearly exploring their daily activities. When the last transmitted piece of information from the collar was retrieved, a region on the map was marked with a bundle of red lines, with the red lines ending abruptly at one point. "Where is this?" Mensa quickly asked, not recalling such a place within the conservation area. "It''s a pile of rocky slopes, heard it''s an abandoned old mine area." Old Barry recognized the location point on the map, identifing where Cecil had last vanished. Mensa felt a bit confused, "I don''t think I''ve ever patrolled over there?" "That''s because it''s no longer part of the conservation area, nor is it Cecil''s territory. Cecil not only left his territory, he also left the conservation area! For a full week!" Chapter 911 907: The Arrow is on the String In the northern hemisphere''s autumn, the air was laced with a hint of coolness. The Kilimanjaro Mountain Range blocked the moist monsoon blowing in from the Indian Ocean, and abundant water vapor poured back over the savanna, diminishing the heat of the day with a slight chill. Beneath the night sky, brilliant stars scattered across the clear expanse. The piercing howls of jackals rose and fell on the vast plains, while red-necked nightjars, hidden by the cloak of darkness, soared and called out to each other with cries that sounded like mournful sobs, beseeching the silent gods of the African savanna. Beyond that, the night was eerily quiet. Cecil, an eight-year-old male lion, paced along the sandstone path, his steps light and occasionally leaping over the rough ground with a bound. His paws, the size of soup plates, gripped the rocky terrain, and the quartz sand crunched crisply as it compressed and collided. Only when marking his scent on the roadside bushes did the strong Lion King pause. As the only species of feline with a mane for both sexes, Cecil''s mane, billowing in the night wind, powerfully proclaimed his unchallenged kingship over this tropical savanna. Since becoming the ruler of this territory, Cecil had spent nearly every night for the past five years patrolling his domain, marking the boundaries with his scent to maintain his sovereign status. This was also why male lions did not need to hunt; their job was to ensure the safety of their territory, grappling with intruders. His hind paws scraped powerfully against the sandy ground, and Cecil firmly underscored his "scent signature" as a conclusion to the day''s work. Just as the Lion King was shaking his fur, preparing to return to his pride, a strong and distinctive scent suddenly wafted from the darkness ahead. Elephant meat! Cecil''s nostrils flared, easily detecting the scent''s owner, his mood becoming excited. Elephant meat, such a long-lost food. On the vast and endless savanna, even a pride of lions hesitated to touch certain animals¡ªthe herds of elephants. Even the mightiest lion prides had to coexist cautiously with the largest beasts on land, bearing their hunger in painful resignation, even when famished. To feast on elephant meat, lions could only rely on luck to come across the carcass of a starved old elephant or perhaps one killed by humans. Mostly, it was the remains of elephants killed by humans; those that starved usually died near water sources, quickly consumed by crocodiles, leaving bones festooned with leeches and ants, spoiled and virtually inedible. But elephants slain by humans, save for the shattered heads, were almost entirely intact, and if lions could scare away the flock of scavenging hyenas, they could indulge in a satisfying meal. Cecil couldn''t understand why humans would kill an elephant and not eat it, but generations of experience taught him that staying away from humans was never a mistake¡ªthey were more vicious than hyenas. Having not eaten elephant meat for a long time, the scent of a dead elephant suddenly coming through the darkness was undeniably a strong lure to Cecil, who had just finished his work and become hungry. Experience told the Lion King that a free lunch had come his way. Yet this carcass seemed slightly different from those in the past, and according to the experience of this large feline, he should be cautious. There was the scent of humans on it. It could smell it. No matter how quiet humans thought they were, trying to avoid giving off scents, the animals always managed to detect the slightest traces. Clothing rustling, the mixed odors of toothpaste and body spray mingled with the smell of gun oil and plastic. Unless one abandoned everything of industrial society, standing naked and smeared with mud, these scents were so out of place in the world of wild animals'' senses, like a white snowflake drifting into a coal mine. The strong, enticing smell of blood and meat, mixed with the complex scents of industrial products, made Cecil hesitate. But the smell of elephant meat was too delicious, delicious to the extent that each one of its empty intestines was desperately shaking, sending hunger signals to its brain. Perhaps it was those humans who liked to roar around in big monsters? Cecil thought. Experience had taught Cecil that humans were terrifying, their "claws" could easily penetrate the thickest rhino skin, but it had also grown accustomed to the presence of humans. With more people authorized to enter the national park for photographic tours, the Lion King had long become used to the smell of humans, it never approached nor dared to drive them away, only waiting for the strong, unnatural scents to slowly dissipate on the savannah. It must be some people just passing through. Suspicion begot suspicion; once a suspect was identified, one tended to take the wrong information and continuously strengthen their logical chain, a mistake even the smartest humans made, let alone a starving lion. Unfortunately, this time the ones fixated on the Lion King were no longer the people Cecil was familiar with. To minimize the impact of scent and noise, preventing them from drifting over the clearing, the sneaky individuals hid on a platform built high upon the trunk of a tree downwind from the elephant carcass. An Ugly Country man crouched on the high platform, smiling involuntarily as he watched the Lion King step into the trap as planned, revealing his pearly white teeth, obviously taking great care of them. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But clearly the man had no love for nature, a powerful compound bow was strung in his hands, and his slightly smudged-fingerprint palm was pinching an arrow from the quiver, his intentions clear without a word. Palmer was an Ugly Country dentist, and for this hunt, he had spent a full three hundred thousand dollars to sort everything out, just for a few photos after the successful hunt. A sturdy guide stood to Palmer''s left, and to his right was an even more robust-looking man, sitting as if he were a bodyguard; clearly, this gun-holding individual was the safety catch of the hunting operation. For the sake of concealment and safety, they had dragged the elephant carcass onto the clearing with an off-road vehicle, then built a platform in the nearby trees and set up a camouflaged hunting tent above it for a better overhead view of the elephant''s remains. After completing the camouflage, Palmer climbed up to the platform and quietly waited for the lion to appear. Sitting motionless in this narrow hideout, having to deal with various reptiles and flies, was originally a difficult and unbearable task, but the excitement of the imminent trophy scattered all negative factors. This reminded Palmer of the memories of playing video games as a youth, holding his urine to get through levels, only now, as he aged, he had grown fond of more thrilling pursuits and had the financial means to make them a reality. With the lion drawing closer, everyone knew the wait wouldn''t last much longer. This Lion King was a prime target for hunting¡ªon the edge of a reserve, a lone lion, and already accustomed to the presence of humans. Cecil sniffed at the clearing, and finally, the allure of the elephant meat overcame its caution, it slowly approached the elephant carcass, its sharp teeth like scissors tearing through the tough, dry-tinder-like skin to expose the vivid red flesh beneath, as an even more intense scent emerged. In just a few minutes, Cecil, engrossed in feasting, didn''t notice the arrow in the hunter''s hand was already notched to the bowstring. Chapter 912 908: Its Easy to Set an Ambush at that Tree "What''s that over there? An elephant corpse, how rare." Standing on top of the hill, Bi Fang was keeping an eye on the safety of their surroundings, when he suddenly noticed a mound of flesh on the ground in the distance, which he realized upon closer inspection was the body of an elephant, with vultures circling above it in the sky. This sight surprised everyone, as many had never seen an elephant corpse before and found it quite novel. "Could it have been killed by poachers?" "It''s possible, I''ve heard that poachers in Africa are rampant." "Should we be cautious then?" "Maybe it was bitten by something?" "True, that''s also a possibility." Various speculations arose, but to know the truth, they needed to get closer and observe carefully to reach a conclusion. Thus, everyone urged Old Fang to go and check. Under normal circumstances, viewers might ask another broadcaster to be careful not to run into any trouble. But when it came to Bi Fang, his fans were well aware of his capabilities and their curiosity was aroused, immediately urging him on. Do you know the weight the title ''Master Fang'' carries? Tactical retreat. "Why not go take a look?" "Yeah, go over and check it out." "Charge forward, as a righteous person, I cannot ignore this!" Even if the viewers hadn''t requested it, Bi Fang''s style meant he was definitely going to check it out. However, considering the possibility of poachers, Bi Fang did not act recklessly. He scanned the area and found no traces around the carcass that were too apparent, nor any place around that could conceal a vehicle. "I see the body has been gnawed on, but the exposed flesh and tissues inside are already very dark in color. There are also vultures perched on it, which means quite some time has passed since the elephant died. The body is starting to decay. If this was caused by humans, it''s very likely that we won''t encounter the perpetrator anymore." "Simply put, we''re too late." After explaining, Bi Fang ran down from the hillside, with small rocks rolling down under him. Soon after quick strides, followed by a confounded cheetah, they both arrived next to the elephant carcass. As expected, a strong stench of decay hit them and was so overpowering that the cheetah covered its nose with its paw and stepped back, refusing to move forward. Bi Fang had to proceed alone. The sharp beaks of the vultures easily ripped off the softened, decaying flesh, swallowing chunks of meat and noticing the intruding enemy. The approach of a stranger made the vultures screech, but the newcomer showed no signs of backing down. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing that intimidation was useless, the vultures stepped back a few paces, grasped onto the skin and flesh, jumped behind the elephant, and continued to feed, clearly not willing to leave just yet. Bi Fang was unfazed. He crouched down, held his breath, and used the tree stick in his hand to pry open the dangling elephant skin, exposing the inner tissue. As he lifted the elephant skin, a swarm of black flies burst out, startling the viewers in front of the screen. Luckily, before a more disgusting scene unfolded, a mosaic blocked everything. Even with the blurred vision, the viewers could guess what was beneath¡ªnothing but the flies'' favorite activities: feeding and laying eggs. The recent weather hadn''t been very hot, but as long as the temperature was above fifteen degrees Celsius, it was still suitable for them to lay eggs. "Damn, I was just about to eat, now my appetite is gone." "Humans'' greatest invention, the mosaic." "You weren''t saying that last night." "How long has it been since this decayed?" "So, how did it actually die?" "Looking at the wound, it seems like it was killed by an animal; the head is also intact, probably not for ivory." "Could it be possible that it died of old age?" "Come to think of it, you rarely see elephants that died of old age." "Perhaps it was killed by poachers before it could die of old age." "They say elephants rarely die of old age; they usually starve to death before that happens, and poachers aren''t really to blame for that." Bi Fang was trying to find more clues on the elephant''s corpse while glancing at the barrage of comments, addressing the audience''s confusion. "Elephant teeth are quite special. Most mammals have only three sets of molars that grow in a way similar to bamboo shoots, and once mature, the teeth can no longer be renewed. Elephants are different, however; they lack canines, only have incisors and six sets of molars. But because their upper and lower jaws are relatively short, they can''t accommodate all six sets at once. So these six sets appear in order, like on a conveyor belt, gradually moving forward from the back of the mouth." "Such mammals are actually very rare. Among 5,500 known mammal species, fewer than ten can continuously renew their molars. Other than elephants, only three species of manatees, rock wallabies, and silvery mole rats have teeth that push forward from the back." [That sounds painful] [Losing Sanity a bit] [What''s that all about?] "Indeed, it is uncomfortable, so elephants changing their teeth are usually quite irritable." Bi Fang affirmed this statement and continued. "Since elephants live long, their sixth set of molars has to last twenty to thirty years. If they eat too much hard-to-chew food causing dental damage, it effectively shortens their lifespan." "Many wildlife rescue nonprofits, such as Wildlife SOS, feed semi-liquid food to old elephants on their sixth set of molars." "In fact, many animals starve to death because they lose all their teeth, but since elephants hardly have any natural predators, even when old, carnivores cannot provoke them easily. So, they mostly die of starvation rather than old age." Bi Fang walked around the elephant, and the vultures hopped around it as well. "Unable to find food and suffering from extreme hunger, elephants rely on drinking water to cope." "And the older an elephant gets, the more delicate it appears because its ears and trunk fade with age." "That''s why we don''t see elephants die of old age, but we do often see elephants with pinkish skin dead near water sources." [Useless knowledge enhanced] [Wow, you know all that] [Damn, sometimes when I haven''t had lunch and it''s not yet dinner time, I get so uncomfortable that I drink lots of plain water to feel better] [+1] [Suddenly, I understand (funny)] [Nature''s secrets are now an open book!] Bi Fang moved to the back of the elephant, and the vultures jumped again onto the elephant''s belly. That''s when he finally made a discovery. "It wasn''t animals; it was humans¡ªlook, there are bullet holes here." Bi Fang pushed the elephant''s head aside forcefully, revealing its neck side pressed against the ground, marked by several huge bullet holes big as bowls, confirming the human involvement. "This is a tuskless female; hence, the skull is intact." "African elephants differ from Asian elephants as both male and female African elephants have tusks, but I remember mentioning that due to selective human impact, more and more African elephants are growing without tusks." "I don''t know why those people would want to kill her." Bi Fang was puzzled. When it comes to Africa''s hottest commodities, it''s definitely ivory and rhino horns. However, rhino horns are made from epidermal keratin; they have no bony core, mainly composed of keratin. Ivory is different; it''s an extension of the elephant''s bone, with roughly one-third embedded within the skull, meaning the ivory is connected to the skull, and it is impossible to remove all of the ivory while the elephant is alive. So, while it is possible to harvest rhino horns without killing the rhino, harvesting ivory means the elephant is undoubtedly going to die. But conversely, if they''re not after the ivory, why kill the elephant? "The bite marks were added later, and at least two days have passed since." After observing the surroundings again, this time from a closer distance, Bi Fang made a different discovery and pointed towards a large tree nearby. "That tree looks like a good spot for an ambush; let''s go check it out." Chapter 913 909 Elite Group Putting oneself in the shoes of the perpetrator can sometimes make it easier to find clues. Bi Fang arrived at the base of the tree he had pointed out as a good spot for an ambush. Indeed, just as he had predicted, there were clear scratch marks on the trunk, arranged in segmental blocks. "The scraped bark proves that someone has climbed it." Many of Bi Fang''s viewers, who had followed him in his "Wander Around," could perhaps be considered experienced and knowledgeable in their own right. They knew that if it were a bear or another animal fond of scratching against trees to relieve itchiness, the marks they left would be below a certain height, and the scratches would be clearer. Sometimes the bark would be completely stripped off, revealing the white cambium layer underneath. If an animal took a particular liking to a tree, it might even scrape out the heartwood. Secondly, if it were a tree-climbing animal, like a leopard, the tracks would be even more apparent, with claw-like rather than patchy marks. Most of the audience had seen these with their own eyes while following Bi Fang and didn''t need Old Fang to explain. Many long-time fans began to enlighten the new viewers on their own. "Look, some of the patches are faint, but others are deeper with curved, smooth edges. These are the imprints of shoes." "In outdoor actions, everyone wears hard-soled shoes, not soft-soled ones geared for comfort, because in the wild, where accidents are common, safety is more important than comfort." Hard soles are heavier and sturdier, stepping on the trunk, naturally, they are more likely to scrape off the bark and leave marks. Upon closer inspection of the marks, one can deduce that they were not made by the same pair of shoes¡ªindicating that more than one person had climbed the tree. To avoid destroying the evidence, Bi Fang took off his shoes, found a side with fewer marks, and climbed more challenging direction to the treetop. There were even more traces up there. On the branches where the trunk forked, one could clearly see where ropes had been tied around. Bi Fang stroked the scraped-off bark and quickly reconstructed the scene in his mind through the evidence of the rope marks. "A platform had been constructed in the tree, overlooking the direction of the dead elephant." For hunters, a tree is an excellent ambush point. Most animals don''t climb trees, immediately eliminating many dangers, and the tree itself offers excellent concealment. From outside the tree, one can''t see inside¡ªan inappropriate analogy might be human bangs. Others can''t see the eyes of someone with bangs, as they are completely covered by hair, yet the person with bangs can easily observe the outside world with almost no interference. This is why, after closely observing the surroundings, Bi Fang immediately assessed this tree as suitable for an ambush. Only it wasn''t clear what the other party intended to do. Bi Fang jumped down from the tree and returned to the elephant''s carcass. These poachers were very cunning. To cover up their crime, they often dissected the carcasses after poaching, attracting scavengers like vultures and wild dogs to disturb the crime scene and obscure the facts. Some, poachers went as far as to gouge out the eyes of rhinoceroses, believing that if the animals saw their misdeeds, they would remember them forever. Some even held ceremonies after the poaching, hoping to morally absolve themselves of their actions. It had rained on the last two evenings, turning the soil wet and slippery, blurring many traces. The stench of decay mingled with the earthy smell, masking a multitude of complex scents. The elephant, the ambush platform... A very obvious trap. As for the trap''s intended catch, what could it be? Bi Fang instinctively felt something was amiss. For one thing, elephant hunting was against the rules¡ªthese were undoubtedly criminals, or more bluntly, poachers. But the location they had chosen was peculiar. If he remembered correctly, he and Harley had reached the edge of the Kenya Conservation Area. This was where they had first found Harley, and even Bi Fang was unsure if they were still within the protected bounds. "Many laws are regional. Once you get to the borders, there are plenty of loopholes, and many significant criminal activities could become of little consequence." "Such a high-cost enticement, specifically placed at the edge of a conservation area, indicates a strong purpose; whoever is behind this is certainly no small-time crook." "I smelled the scent of a conspiracy." "Don''t sleep too deeply tonight, the big one is coming." "The medicine is here, the medicine is here, damn it, drink, why won''t you drink?" In the face of the livestream, Bi Fang didn''t hide anything and candidly shared his conjectures with everyone, also revealing to them a corner of the poacher''s world. "Ordinary people don''t have many channels of knowledge. In fact, poachers are also ranked in a hierarchy." "The vast majority of poachers are expendables, usually those struggling on the brink of survival, with no way out, like men from tribes who can''t make a living, those with elderly mothers at home, or children who are ill. With a gun in hand, they can become competent fighters, after all, they only face a group of animals. Just one successful shot can end the fight." "These people are irrelevant in the grand scheme of the illegal trade chain. If they are caught or die, the crime organization can immediately find replacements." "Capturing these people cannot solve the whole trade chain, nor can it effectively stop poaching from happening." "Also, this group poses the least threat relatively speaking. Their weapons and equipment would be considered obsolete even in a war, not to mention systematic training. Their counter-surveillance abilities are limited, and their understanding of the law is rudimentary at best. Some don''t even realize they are committing a crime, and their methods are foolish." "After cutting off a rhino''s horn, they gouge out the rhino''s eyes because they believe that the rhino, having seen their crime, will remember them forever." "Or they perform some sort of ritual after poaching, hoping to absolve themselves morally for their crime and to alleviate discomfort." "Is that so?" "There really is a bottom rung in every profession." "Didn''t Old Fang encounter one before? I feel like they seemed pretty impressive." "It''s because I had bad luck that time and encountered another kind. And it seems my bad luck may follow me continuously." Bi Fang narrowed his eyes. The opposite of ordinary poachers were the very few elite hunters. Unlike expendables, these elites were more like private armies of the crime syndicates, with their most basic unit being ex-military personnel. They were well-organized, well-trained, well-equipped, with a strong sense of counter-surveillance. They didn''t do any messy rituals after hunting. After poaching, they knew to dissect the bodies to attract scavengers such as vultures and hunting dogs, which would disturb the crime scene and conceal the criminal facts. Alternatively, they would lure animals out of the conservation area into private territories, then procure hunting licenses to poach in an unobjectionable, legal manner. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The degree of difficulty far exceeded that of ordinary poachers. This was undoubtedly Bi Fang''s greatest worry. But even if he didn''t want to admit it, everything now pointed to him encountering such an organized and premeditated group of elites. "I just checked the insects on the elephant carcass. Although I didn''t count them precisely, combining the weather and temperature of the past few days, the time of the elephant''s death is roughly between two and three days ago, just a rough estimate," "Awesome, how can you tell?" "Forensic entomology basics, jpg" "Different kinds of insects arrive on a corpse at different times, and different species decompose the body at varying speeds. The type and number of the dominant species can be used to estimate the time of death." "Also, the development speed of the insects is relatively fixed; based on their developmental stage, you can also estimate the time of death." "That''s pretty well learned." "Without taking samples, and not knowing the differences between elephant and human body tissue, judging from the video, I feel it''s about two to three days as well." Someone replied, saving Bi Fang the effort. He wanted to flip over the elephant to check the wounds, but unfortunately, although half decayed, the remaining weight wasn''t something he could manage alone. Moreover, forcing the carcass to turn would only destroy clues. "Let''s go, we''ll look around nearby and see if there are any other clues. It has rained in the past few days, but only light rain, so some traces should still be there." Chapter 914 910 Good News and Bad News "Andria, found anything?" On the patrol vehicle, Old Barry sounded the horn, scaring away the surrounding animals, and shouted to Andria who was searching for traces in the distant bushes. After receiving the news of Cecil''s disappearance from Dr. Assistant Brent, Old Barry and Mensa immediately reported the matter to the conservation center''s administrators and repeatedly emphasized the possibility of an illegal killing. Having worked at the conservation center for decades, Old Barry''s face was essentially a heavy-weight pass throughout the center. His words drew serious attention. The administrators reported the suspected illegal hunting activity; the news went all the way to the wildlife crime office, whose senior managers immediately ordered an investigation. Among the investigators, naturally, were the discoverers Old Barry and Mensa. Furthermore, with his extensive experience handling such matters, Old Barry was sure to be involved even under normal circumstances. The Andria mentioned by Old Barry was an anti-poaching ranger who had devoted himself to wildlife protection. He had professional investigative training in wildlife crime and was an excellent former military retiree. He joined Old Barry in investigating Cecil''s disappearance case, and now the three of them were in the realm of the Lion King, Cecil, investigating the condition of the lion pride. Hearing Old Barry''s inquiry, Andria did not stand up; instead, he raised his right hand above the bushes, gesturing in a way that was visible to Old Barry. "Come over and take a look." Old Barry unfastened his seatbelt, while Mensa in the passenger seat instinctively picked up the shotgun lying on the seat, loading it with bullets. This wasn''t for dealing with animals, but to guard against any poachers that might be present. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. On the African Savannah, most animals reproduce naturally, and even the least intelligent ones know to stay away from humans after generations of hunting. In truth, the real danger came from humans themselves. When the two carefully reached the bushes, the horrifying scene in front of Andria made them swear out loud. Behind the bushes lay a shot lioness; the bullet holes in her body were particularly conspicuous. Her body had been gnawed on, the blood underneath had dried to black, hardened clumps that had saturated the soil, finishing off the newly sprouted grass wherever it flowed, leaving behind only a few unknown mushrooms. "The high salt content in the blood can cause dehydration in plants. When it seeps into the soil, it hardens, making it difficult for roots to get air. Both factors make it hard for plants to grow unless the salt is diluted with water and decomposed, then saprotrophic plants like mushrooms might grow." Andria squatted on the ground, picking up a chunk of soil with two fingers and crumbling it while explaining. He then looked up at the sky, gauging the moisture in the air, remembering the weather from the past couple of days. He wasn''t a professional mushroom grower, but one naturally sees a lot after spending enough time in the forest. For example, after an overnight rain, one might find small mushrooms sprouted on dead trees the next day. A careful observation could reveal many unique and little-known patterns. "The blood produces a lot of heat during decomposition, damaging the root system. The mushrooms must have grown after it rained. Considering the recent rain, it would take more than one dilution, so she has been dead for at least two days." The expressions of everyone present were grim; the demise of the lioness, coupled with the two-day window, confirmed that things looked grim for the Lion King, Cecil. In the wilderness, it was challenging to come across poachers in action, but finding traces they left behind was much simpler. Often, the first thing to do at the scene or upon receiving an alert was to process the crime scene. Some poaching occurrences had already been left for 8 to 10 days or longer, with the animal carcasses rotting away. It was already considered extremely fast to discover the scene within two days, but in terms of the entire poaching operation''s timeline, it was still too late. Killing animals is far too easy, a single bullet, not even ten seconds are necessary. All tragedies are irreversible, and all that can be done is to seek remedies. "Let''s start with the autopsy," Andria put on gloves, took out the appropriate tools, and skillfully made an incision at the bullet entry point, performing an on-site autopsy, which was part of the ranger''s field duties. Field processing included dissecting the animal''s carcass to study the weapons and poaching methods. Rangers were to cut open from the bullet entry point to observe the bullet path and, if necessary, remove ribs in order to retrieve the bullet. The rangers'' true mission was not actually to kill the poachers but to bring them to justice, hence special attention was required for evidence collection. If contraband and weapons could be seized at the same time, the court could impose a maximum of 45 years imprisonment, imprisonment mainly because South Africa did not have the death penalty. Without enough evidence, poaching suspects could at most be sentenced to 2-3 weeks of imprisonment or a mere 500 Rand fine. One of Andria''s proofs of his outstanding ability was his excellence in gathering evidence; the majority of poachers handled by him would die of old age in prison. Corruption had made the lion''s muscles no longer tough; the tough steel knife easily sliced through the skin and flesh layers, and the intense odor exploded like a bomb, though the people present remained unfazed, as they were accustomed to it. After a series of operations, Andria quickly obtained what he wanted and collected the physical evidence in sealed plastic bags. After taking enough photographs, the three moved toward the more central area of the lion pride''s territory. At this point, Old Barry could only pray that things hadn''t reached the worst-case scenario, the complete annihilation of the entire lion pride. The jolting patrol car rolled over the uneven grassland, carrying the three heavily burdened individuals toward the heart of the territory. Lion prides in the Kalahari Desert might occupy territories of 119-125 square kilometers, but due to the fertile land in all of Kenya''s national parks, competition for territory among lion prides was exceptionally fierce ¡ª Nairobi National Park was the utmost in internal rivalry, with prides here counting themselves lucky to secure 3 square kilometers, the largest territory barely exceeding 4 square kilometers. Cecil''s pride was not in Nairobi but was also not much larger, under five square kilometers. Moreover, with overlapping territories among different lion prides, members of a pride were almost always active in the central area, making them easy to find. However, the members of the pride would usually split into several smaller groups to spend their days, only gathering together for collective hunting or feeding. So by the time the three located all the small groups and assessed the situation of Cecil''s pride, they found one piece of good news and one piece of bad news. The good news was, indeed, things hadn''t reached the worst possible scenario; the pride hadn''t been completely wiped out, and many lionesses remained. The bad news was that all the young lion cubs of the entire pride had vanished. "Wait, come quick, there are wheel hub marks here!" Andria pointed to the indentations on the ground. Chapter 915 911: Seriously Injured "Quick, look, tire tracks!" Bi Fang saw the indentations on the ground and couldn''t help feeling the joy of finding a clue. After a careful examination of the nearby environment, he finally found some car tracks by the bushes a few hundred meters away from the elephant carcass, which hadn''t been completely destroyed by the rain. The tracks were very faint, almost disappearing, but they were definitely tire tracks. "It must be those poachers who killed the elephant," he surmised. Under Bi Fang''s direction, a drone quickly focused and magnified the image. With the help of multiple location points, the viewers in front of the screen quickly spotted the tire tracks Bi Fang was talking about, and the commentary exploded with discussion. [Did we find a clue?] [Whoa, there actually are tire tracks] [How can we be sure those were left by poachers? What if it''s just a tourist vehicle passing by?] [Agreed, it could even be the rangers of the conservation area] Many viewers expressed skepticism about the sudden appearance of the tire tracks. After all, not only poachers and rangers were present on the savannah, but there were also many tourist vehicles, and the tire impressions did not seem significantly different from those of regular vehicles. [Let Jerry come out and sniff it, see if he can follow the scent (dog''s head)] [Good grief, using a mine detector as a hunting dog?] [Doesn''t seem useful, everyone has their specialty, plus making a rat chase would be exhausting] [Good grief, are you here to make it more difficult?] [If these guys are so professional, why would they still leave tire tracks?] Bi Fang shook his head, dismissing some viewers'' opinions in the commentary. "Tourist vehicle routes are basically fixed because tourists are here to see the animals; naturally, they choose the optimal routes provided by the conservation center. Though it''s not impossible for someone to tip the driver to take a less-traveled path, it wouldn''t extend to the edge of the conservation area." The delineation of the conservation area naturally focuses on the animals'' range of activity; the border areas aren''t good spots, and poachers really are numerous on the fringes, with no guarantee of safety. To avoid exposure, using a few more bullets wouldn''t be surprising. On May 30th, Kenyan security personnel encountered five poachers at the national park boundary, two of them armed. A firefight broke out, resulting in three deaths and two escapes¡ªa piece of news that wasn''t easily forgotten. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for this group showing high training and caution, why would they still leave tire tracks? "The reason is simple, because it''s impossible to hide tire tracks in the wild." "Compared to fleeing directly, erasing tire tracks is a huge waste of time. With that effort, one could easily drive out of the conservation area and turn the game into money." "Therefore, more common and less costly counter-tracking measures involve misdirection, that is, creating a wrong direction." "For example, driving some distance forward then reversing back to the starting point, continuing in the opposite direction, or using patterns like N-shapes or X-shapes, and employing them multiple times¡ªthere are many methods." [Learning this won''t be a problem, right? (dog''s head saving life)] [Master Fang, you''ve been caught, come with us] "No, that doesn''t sound right. If they are indeed misled and return promptly, wouldn''t the cost in time and effort be somewhat similar to that of making a misdirection error? Moreover, if they choose the right direction, won''t the latecomers benefit?" Someone in the bullet chat raised objections, believing this method to be unreasonable. It wasn''t so much a question; after all, Bi Fang''s reputation was well known, and everyone understood it was best not to teach experts. However, there was still some confusion. "This tests the level of the practitioner." Bi Fang chuckled. "There is no strongest spear, nor is there a so-called strongest shield. In a certain situation, at a certain moment, there may well be a clear distinction." "For example, a highly skilled spy who has eluded capture by many for a long time might get careless during a mission and be discovered by a rookie counter-spy agent. Would you say that just because of one encounter, this rookie is better than the spy?" "There are no foolproof anti-tracking techniques, nor are there any perfectly secretive tracking methods." "For the practitioner, the learned knowledge is the same; an Acacia Tree is always called an Acacia Tree whose bark can be antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. The key is to see how flexibly it is used under specific circumstances and conditions." "If you apply it better in this situation, then you can win in this encounter." Bi Fang followed the tire tracks through the bushes, and Harley, who had previously been driven away by the smell of a dead elephant, automatically followed. "The wilderness terrain is usually inconsistent; one section might be a muddy road left from rain yesterday, leaving clear traces, followed immediately by a hard gravel road where the car barely leaves a mark, and then by a bushy area, driving through which would leave a trail of broken twigs." "This can easily lead to intermittent traces, making it hard for trackers to determine whether the disappearance of traces over a section is due to backtracking or environmental factors. It''s an enormous tracking cost because, aside from satellite imagery, you have no way to differentiate." "Take the common ''N'' shape, for example; a clever evader would make you utterly unable to find the start of the middle slant, while trackers often run out of the turning point, heading in the wrong direction." "Heighten one zhang and the devil heightens one chi!" "See who can outsmart whom." "It''s a psychological game, right?" "The difficulty of tracking, combined with misdirection, layered on top, is already enough." Professional rangers are very scarce. This is not a desirable job, given the harsh environment, meager pay, the constant risk of death, and almost complete isolation from the outside world. Therefore, against poachers, there are scarce manpower and resources; large-scale troop deployments for carpet searching are not feasible. It is merely a one-on-one, or at best, a two-on-one inefficient mode of operation without any division of forces. In a real tracking battle, being slightly misled two or three times allows the other party to escape. The tire tracks spread into the distance, under the slightly tense anticipation of the audience, Bi Fang with Harley moved forward toward the unknown enemy. The elephant had been dead for two to three days, more likely three, but this did not mean that the trapping had been successful that long ago. It might have been shorter in time, judging from the extent the tire tracks had faded, perhaps two days. If the other party had captured their target and then carelessly left, Bi Fang would have no chance to catch up. However, the hunter''s instinct told him¡ªthe other party was still on the savannah, and not too far away. Perhaps there was fate in the unseen. After relentless tracking, the next day at noon, after lunch, Bi Fang made an astonishing discovery in a sparse woodland. It was a lion, its body half-pierced by arrows, barely clinging to life. Chapter 916 912: They Are All In Cahoots It was clearly midday, yet the sparse woods were eerily quiet. There were no insect noises, no sound of wind, no rustling of dried leaves being crushed. The male lion lay on the ground, and in its lower back, a slender, straight arrow was lodged, the dark red blood oozing from the wound matting its fur together, as if painted with thick clumps of black mud. The lion''s chest rose and fell violently, each breath seeming to require all its effort, as it tried to take in as much oxygen as possible to carry the scant blood through its veins to the rest of its body. Hidden in shadow, Bi Fang made no superfluous movements. He stood silently, as if he could hear the injured lion''s struggling breaths, like those of an old, damaged bellows on the verge of collapse. Seeing this, Bi Fang did not act rashly. The exposed, glossy black shaft of the arrow left no doubt it was made of carbon fiber, and the unique shield-shaped fletching proved this was not a rudimentary product carved by a primitive tribe with a dagger but, rather, from the assembly lines of modern industrial society. The person who shot this arrow was certainly no naive tribesman unaware of the law, but a well-educated elite with a certain social status, with the financial means to pursue the minority sport of archery. At that moment, Bi Fang suddenly realized what those always hiding in the shadows had lured with the elephant carcass. A male lion. A male lion in the prime of its life. From its mane''s color and the meticulous scheming involved, it was highly likely this was the king of a lion pride. "The elephant carcass is the bait, the target being the lion, and it''s not just ordinary poaching¡ªthe culprit wants to satisfy their hunting desire to kill the lion." Bi Fang finally understood the other party''s intent. No poacher would use a flashy but impractical bow and arrow; only a hunting enthusiast who wants to pursue big game would use such cold weapons. The elephant was merely bait to set up the hunting trap. Realizing this, the live stream''s chat room erupted into an uproar. Everyone was incredulous. A brutal, illegal poaching activity was so brazenly and unashamedly unfolding before an audience of millions, and the underlying reason was simply because some elite member of society wished to satisfy their desire to hunt big game. By paying a substantial sum of money, everything could be prepared for them, and they could fire the fatal arrow themselves. In an instant, it seemed as though everyone could smell the thick, pungent scent of blood hanging in the air. [Sentence poachers to death, and I''ll see who dares to poach] [As long as there''s money to be made, any punishment is pointless. It might even lead to a situation where if poachers are discovered, they''ll kill the discoverer too. After all, it''s the death penalty either way¡ªmight as well kill another.] [Archery doesn''t count for much¡ªif you like hunting, why not fight the lion one-on-one, hand to hand!] Unfortunately, Bi Fang didn''t have time to respond to the public''s outrage. He had not forgotten that he had not followed the Lion King''s tracks here but rather the traces left by the poachers! A lion wounded by a modern weapon undoubtedly proved that the group of poachers was here, within this very forest! Many quick-thinking viewers also came to realize, after suggesting that the poachers might be nearby, the entire atmosphere in the live stream shifted. Some were nervous, some concerned, and even some were tinged with a hint of excitement. Should they go in? Should we retreat and wait for the people from the protection center to arrive? In fact, as early as yesterday when Bi Fang had discovered the elephant carcass and human traces nearby, he had already asked the audience in the live broadcast room to notify the protection center first. The final response was that they would send someone to investigate as soon as possible. But Bi Fang, worried that the poachers might succeed in their scheme, had taken the lead and pursued them. The problem now was that Bi Fang had managed to catch up to the target in just one day, while there had still been no sign of the people the protection center had said they would send. Looking at the lion''s heaving chest as it lay breathing its last, it was clear that there weren''t many options left for Bi Fang. He hid behind a tree, back pressed tightly against the trunk, retracting all his limbs to reduce the area of his body exposed, and he pressed Harley down in the bushes to prevent him from showing. The situation was somewhat unexpected, and it had become rather unlikely for Harley to leave on his own now. In fact, having undergone nearly two months of training, Harley was already capable of racing across the savannah by himself, and Bi Fang had planned to release him back into the wild within these next couple of days. But accidents were always unexpected, and unfortunately, there was no more room for regret at this moment. Perhaps every person harbors a heart with the potential for murder and arson; in Bi Fang''s emotions, there wasn''t so much fear. He grasped the Short Spear in his hand, the veins on the back of his hand slowly bulging. Adventures, he''d had too many of them. He was no longer that crudely cast iron blank, so rough that even its shape was somewhat strange, which he had been at the beginning. Each exploration in the wilderness was like a solid hammer strike on that rough iron blank. The gains were not simply the orange sparks that burst forth under the collision of high temperature and high pressure. His heart beat steadily and forcefully in his solid chest, each throb pumping an astonishing volume of blood through his veins, surging like the tide. The enemy''s situation was still unclear, but what could be certain was there were at least three of them: a guide, a planner, and finally the hunter. The odds were against him, and taking the initiative to attack first wasn''t a good choice. Moreover, it was still unknown exactly where the enemy was and how far away they might be. Thus, even though the lion was at death''s door, all Bi Fang could do was wait for the enemy to make the first move and have the audience message the protection center. Time passed second by second in calm waiting. Under the tense atmosphere, each second felt infinitely stretched. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Lion King''s breathing grew heavier. It was evident that it was struggling to rise from the ground and leave, but the excessive bleeding had pushed its strength to the limit. By now, it had no extra energy for any movement beyond breathing. Countless possible outcomes surfaced in the minds of many, speculating about what the poachers would look like when they finally appeared. In such a wait, the protection center finally responded, and the appearance of an "old acquaintance" revealed the identity of the injured lion. "Barry, are you saying that it''s the Lion King, Cecil?" Bi Fang, holding his Spear, immediately saw the bolded text in the barrage of messages. Broadcasting in the wild, he never carried a cell phone. Since there had been a precedent, Wolf Fang had set up this function in the live broadcast room, so that when a major event needed communication, it would appear as red enlarged text, like a message. The person responding from the protection center was Barry, the old breeder whom Bi Fang had met while he was building a relationship with Harley. After a few exchanges, Bi Fang immediately realized the seriousness of the situation. This group of poachers was far more than just three; there were many people. And the enemy had not only hunted the Lion King but also made off with the cubs from the entire pride! Chapter 917 913 Giants Barry spilled the beans, telling everything he currently knew without mixing in any of his own speculation, for fear of affecting Bi Fang''s judgment. Andria, on the other hand, provided more specialized details and explanations to Barry''s words. Between the two of them, one speaking and the other supplementing, they recounted everything from the disappearance of Lion King Cecil to the investigation that revealed all of Cecil''s pride''s cubs had vanished. Combining all this information with the sight of the severely injured lion before them, the onlooking audience became increasingly horrified. This majestic-looking lion was, without a doubt, the missing leader of Cecil''s pride. The adversary had taken away both the cubs and the Lion King, and had killed many lionesses, practically wiping out the entire pride! Only if the Lion King was powerful enough could the numbers of his pride prosper; otherwise, the pride would continually decline or even disappear. The lionesses within a pride are generally stable, remaining with the same pride from birth until death, though occasionally accepting new lionesses, making them the anchors of the pride. In the current situation, with the leading Lion King dead and no protector left, all the cubs lost, and many lionesses gone, the remaining few cubs would undoubtedly become the "new lions" adopted by other groups. "The adversary''s intention is very clear; they specifically wanted Lion King Cecil. I suspect it''s a preemptive hunting action commissioned by an employer. But why they would want to kill Cecil, I don''t understand, though these are just my speculations," Andria hesitated, then added. "Too specialized, I don''t understand. Is there a big shot who can explain?" "Is it that someone paid upfront and then organized the hunting?" "Ah, isn''t that always the case?" "No, it''s not. Many poachers hunt the game first and then look for buyers." In Suode Temple, Cecil was no obscure character. Many male lions have existed on this vast and boundless grassland, with the majority being homeless wanderers. Among them were naive youngsters, charming and vigorous Adventurers in their prime, and old lions driven away after defeat. These vagrants sometimes acted alone, living a desolate life, or they simply formed male support groups, acting as close brothers sharing weal and woe until one of their number conquered another pride, wandering the grasslands and tracking migrating herds of prey. As for a lion with his own tribe, he was undoubtedly one who had defeated at least one other rival male lion to claim his territory, younger, more powerful, and more charismatic than most of the roaming males. But among Lion Kings, there are also ranks. Some male lions are so capable and charming they can even control nearby prides, maintaining two "homes" at once. Furthermore, such as the Maasai Mara Grassland''s Lion King Scar, at his peak, he ruled over 5 prides for as long as 9 years, and died of illness, one of the rare Lion Kings to have a peaceful end. There were also those famous for fighting multiple opponents, like Lion King Morun, whose name means "warrior" in Maasai. He lived up to it. At eight years old, Morun once fought alone without any help, one lion against four, and emerged victorious, making a name for himself in a single battle. Or there were those who relied not on ability but on appearance, like Kalamas, the maned king of East Africa. He was not known for his record of battles, but rather for his astounding mane. Most male lions'' manes only grow around their necks, and some with sparse hair have pitifully little manes. Kalamas, on the contrary, had manes encircling not just his neck but also his belly, a feature only seen in the extinct Cape Lion. These exceptionally gifted individuals, stronger than the average Lion King, could be called "Legendary Lion Kings." They not only possessed their own tribes but even had a following of "fans" among humans. And Lion King Cecil, he was also one among these legendary Lion Kings. He could fight, Cecil had slain many a wandering male lion, with a glorious battle record, and he had once faced two opponents without falling short. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He was majestic, Cecil had an extremely handsome appearance, not only was his mane very thick, perfectly encircling his neck but it also was black, exuding a dominative air. Although not as capable in battle as Morun, nor as handsome as Kalamas, Cecil had both of their advantages. He was a well-rounded Lion King, as handsome as he was powerful, and had long been the star Lion King of this grassland. But for wild animals, individual fame is not a good thing. A famous human is a pig ripe for slaughter, and this is even more true for rare animals favored by poachers. The more famous one becomes, the higher price one can fetch. Most of the legendary Lion Kings had died at the hands of poachers, which is why Scar''s death from sickness was so precious and rare. Now, it was highly likely that a wealthy employer had set their sights on this majestic and powerful Legendary Lion King. And there could be more than one employer. Bi Fang suspected that those who wanted to hunt the Lion King and those who wanted the Lion King''s cubs might not be the same person, but it was possible that the same poaching gang was handling it. Catching cubs was clearly for the purpose of captivity, not killing. And those who like to keep male lions in captivity, from a psychological behavior standpoint, undoubtedly believe they are above lions and choose to keep lions as pets. Whereas those who wish to kill the Lion King psychologically are one notch down, they see the lion as immensely powerful, and therefore need to kill a lion to prove they are stronger, to boast of their accomplishment. The former is more like a capital owner, while the latter is a typical middle-class man. Just as a king would not personally kill a lion to prove himself, opting instead to keep it in his garden, it is the warrior who needs to prove his bravery. But those dealing with tasks from both employers, judging from the methods described by Barry, were very likely the work of the same organization. Just as Bi Fang felt he was beginning to grasp the unfolding strands of the situation, an unpleasant scent mixed with the earthy, bloody stench wafted into his nose. The smell was very distinctive, much like a strong body odor. Someone was coming! Bi Fang immediately realized this and began to breathe more slowly. Shrouded in bush camouflage, he became like a growth sprouting from a tree, inhaling and exhaling with the rhythm of the wind. The fine leaves rustled against each other, and the ground''s litter crunched and crackled beneath the weight of something heavy. It was as if some large creature was making its way through the dense shrubs and tall grasses, carving out a wide path. Hearing the noise, the lion struggled even more fiercely but to no avail, only slowly and weakly dragging a small mark across the ground. Everyone in front of the screen held their breath, not daring to make a sound, even though they knew their noise wouldn''t affect the reality unfolding before them; it was all an instinctual reaction. The drones all stayed quietly in between the branches, invisible. Bi Fang drew his dagger, looked up at the shadow above him, and after confirming there was no reflection, carefully extended it out to catch a glimpse of the comer with the help of the reflection. "Fuck, is that a giant?" Bi Fang''s slanted eyes suddenly widened. Chapter 918 914: Sneak Attack "Where''s Ved? Why hasn''t he come back yet? Does anyone know where he went?" On a modified off-road vehicle sat several burly men, each towering over six feet with shoulders spanning more than fifty centimeters. The cramped space was filled with the strong acidic smell of sweat. A cursory glance revealed that each of the brawny men had knives at their waists¡ªM9s with gray titanium blades and double-sided blood grooves, menacingly sharp. There were also Ontario Sabres, Tridents, Master Trackers... The gear wasn''t uniform, ranging from machetes to bayonets to tactical knives, but they were all standard-issue weapons in service. Protruding from the black backpacks at their feet were the dark barrels of guns. They were undeniably a gang of ruffians, but the casual sitting postures of each man made the atmosphere in the room a bit more relaxed. The mission was complete, and they would soon be leaving the barren wilderness devoid of any entertainment. Everyone seemed happy. When Sisko¡ªthe only member with a normal physique¡ªstood up to ask about the whereabouts of one of their own, the responses he got weren''t exactly serious. "No idea." "Saw him this morning." "What if someone drugged him and harvested his seed? He''s so buff, I bet those crazy women wouldn''t let him go." "Hahaha, that would be hilarious. If that really happened, I''d love to see the look on his face." A younger, somewhat na?ve new member prodded the talkative companion, asking, "What do you mean? Is this some new joke I''m not aware of?" "Ha, almost forgot, Zhuomuke, this your first time in Africa?" Guvas, with an Ontario Sabre at his waist, asked rhetorically. He clearly didn''t wait for a response and began, speaking in a low tone usually reserved for ghost stories, "In 21st-century Africa, when night falls, it''s a fiesta for the predators. And the men living on this land carry the fear of being preyed upon." Guvas paused, looked around, and saw that no one was taken in by his story¡ªthe newcomers were no exception. He felt bored and reverted to his usual monotone. "Somali men worry whether they''ll be shelled at sea tomorrow; Rwandan men keep an eye out for Hutu machetes swinging around street corners; Congolese brutes must cover their ears to avoid the whistling bullets." "As for Kenya, you better watch out for the JZ Harvesting Group. Those women intercept ''superior genes'' right in the street, lure them to secluded spots, and it wouldn''t matter if they were pretty, but they''re all wrinkly old women. They drug them, coerce them, and then...you know." At the mention of wrinkled old black faces, Zhuomuke shuddered, "What do they want with that stuff?" Guvas shrugged, "Money, of course. Beauty treatments, or whatever else¡ªwho knows?" Zhuomuke turned to Chaman, "Chaman, is that true?" As a "local," Chaman certainly had the authority to speak. He nodded, "I''ve never encountered it myself, but I''ve seen it on the news a few times. I''ve also heard from elders that some tribes along the Zambezi River would collect such things to present to the respected female chieftains." Grace let out a strange howl, "Those women wouldn''t dare target Ved. He''s the strongest among us, a giant over two meters tall, his thighs thicker than their fat waists!" "Guvas, I reckon it''s not the crazy women but you who''s got eyes for Ved. Who doesn''t know that time we went Swimming, Guvas couldn''t take his eyes off Ved, drooling all over." "To hell with that, I swear I''ll stuff your head into my farm''s cow''s dead reproductive organs!" The men sat close together, trading rowdy and crude jokes. Sisko scratched his eyebrow and raised his right hand, firing a shot outside the vehicle. The loud explosion combined with the flash of the gun managed to shut up the noisy crew inside. "I''m serious, because of a lion, he''s been out there for almost five days now." "I know about that." Zhuomuke raised his hand, always a bit scared of the man who, despite his unimposing stature, was as accurate with a gun as if by magic, "That dentist''s archery skills are garbage. Ved had everything ready in three days, using an elephant carcass as bait. But the dentist screwed up." Someone snorted in disdain, "The less accomplished people are, the more they like to do this sort of thing." "But they got it yesterday, they''ve been waiting for the lion to die. Ved said the client likes to watch the lion slowly pass away, so I guess he''s still with the client waiting for the lion to die. But I don''t know where he is right now; Ved always says very little." "It sounds just like my granny''s foot-rag, stinky and long," "Only three hundred thousand, wouldn''t be worth taking if it weren''t for the target." "We''re elites, get it? We should be spending our time on more valuable things, like those Middle Eastern tycoons, they''re not only handsome but also very generous, mainly generous." Sisko fell silent for a moment, pinching the bridge of his nose. Although their squad was strong, an overly long stay on the savannah was still a cause for concern. The longer the time, the more slips they''d make, and the higher the chance of being wanted, which meant even retirement wouldn''t spare them from a heap of trouble. "Ah," Sisko sighed deeply, "then we wait some more." "Hey, look, there''s a signal here." Guvas held up his phone high, as if that would somehow improve reception of the invisible electromagnetic waves. "No way, there''s actually a signal." "Hold on, Captain, I think I know where Sisko is." It wasn''t Grace, the livestream enthusiast, speaking but Guvas who had first discovered the signal. In fact, due to being busy with the mission, Grace had not been online for entertainment in several days. And the headline composed of key words like Kenya, poacher, and Cecil the lion had already dominated the top news spots on major portals from last night until now. Guvas had just opened the social media app and immediately spotted the headline, a sinking feeling in his gut. Likewise, the viewers in front of the screen felt a sinking sensation. There were three of them approaching: two white, one black, and among them one was terrifyingly huge. Using the reflection on the surface of his dagger, Bi Fang managed to catch a glimpse of the newcomers; just from eyeballing, he could tell one was a towering figure over two meters tall. As three-dimensional beings, humans who differ by ten centimeters in height will be significantly larger overall, if they grow proportionally. And this guy was nearly twenty centimeters taller than Bi Fang! They were utterly on different physical levels! The viewers didn''t have Bi Fang''s sharp judgment but with the livestream camera hidden in the branches, they could see everything much clearer and more directly. In their minds, this was like two different species entirely. Do poachers really come in such a conspicuously large size? No one could answer that question. But for Bi Fang, he didn''t need to know so much. He only knew one thing. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He could fight! Through the dense jungle, a figure burst forth like a tiger or leopard, and with it came a swiftly flying short spear! Chapter 919 915: Difference in Equipment Ved had served in the Navy SEALs and had been a platoon leader. The Navy SEALs, a background setting that has been overused in countless films, novels, and other forms of creative work, always seem to be mentioned whenever a formidable soldier character appears, as an endorsement of his extraordinary abilities. Despite such frequent appearances making the Navy SEALs seem clich¨¦d in various stories, causing people to think that scriptwriters really can''t come up with anything new, this also precisely proves the excellence of the unit¡ªto the extent that if another unit were substituted, the protagonist''s strength could not be explained as convincingly, thus necessitating repeatedly bringing them back into the narrative. The unit, along with the Army''s Delta Force, is considered to be one of the Ugly Country''s most powerful trump card forces and one of the most mysterious and intimidating special operation forces in the world, often ranking first in various charts. Their vision requirements for soldiers are no less stringent than those of fighter pilots, and their selection process is considered the hardest and strictest special military training in the world, with a total strength of less than two thousand people. Their selection does not have requirements for height and weight, only strict standards for physical fitness; therefore, there is no standard definition for the body type of the members, but they are usually not excessively large. Too large a body can bring stronger power, but it undoubtedly significantly reduces flexibility and agility. In speed selection, they would undoubtedly be eliminated. Giants in the Navy SEALs are almost an impossibility. But Ved achieved it. His towering stature, over two meters tall, combined with a speed agility not inferior to that of an average team member, made him a unique existence in the squad. And Ved, in a situation where the entire Navy SEALs had only 11 platoons, became the platoon leader. For ordinary people, he could be called a life form from a completely different dimension. Given such an exaggerated discrepancy, could Bi Fang fail? Of course not! Ved was incredibly large and had talents surpassing ordinary humans. Yet in front of him was a "Superhuman," with senses far beyond those of ordinary people, nerve reflexes as quick as lightning, stronger burst energy, superior explosive strength and endurance for equal muscle volume. And with the advantage of striking first, how could one fail? It was noon, and even in the woods, the lighting was still very good, but Ved could only see a blurry light and shadow from the corner of his eye. The other''s movements were too fast, like a leopard that had been lying in wait for a long time, suddenly exploding its entire spine in an instant! "Ved, be careful!" In a moment of urgency, Guvas, who had just started a live broadcast, grabbed the walkie-talkie and yelled inside the vehicle, but he had forgotten that they were long out of range for the walkie-talkie connection, and the other end couldn''t receive any sound. Ved''s scalp tingled, and sweat gushed from his back like a fountain. He had seen too many fierce beasts on this grassland, but even the fiercest lion dared not charge at an adult human. It had been too long since he''d felt the sensation of being targeted by a fierce animal. He remembered those tiger pupils he had seen through the iron net as a child¡ªjust as fierce and just as chilling. He was utterly helpless, just like a rabbit. What Navy SEALs, what platoon leader, what hunting warrior¡ªall his pride and courage now turned into cold sweat, silently slipping away through the pores. As for the guides and the main client nearby, they fared even worse; they hadn''t even seen clearly what had leapt out, thinking it was a lion or some other fierce beast that had approached for a surprise attack, causing their legs to buckle, ready to collapse to the ground. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Before the two had fully hit the ground, the thrown spear was already arriving in front of Ved''s chest. It was too fast, a guaranteed hit. Ved only felt his right shoulder as if it had been hammered by some siege equipment, the surprising pain spreading outward from the point of impact, quickly bringing him to the ground. Fortunately, he still retained a considerable amount of muscle memory from training. Being knocked down by the spear, he rolled to the side, avoiding any potential follow-up attacks. He can still move? Poacher Bi Fang was surprised by this. Something was off with this guy! Bi Fang had a clear understanding of human strength and also had enough confidence in his own skills, which was why he specifically aimed for the right shoulder rather than the larger target of the chest; otherwise, the victim might have died on the spot. Whatever the situation, if he could avoid killing, he would¡ªa principle of conduct. It wasn''t fear of killing that concerned him, but the potential impact on his live stream. Bi Fang knew well what he relied on for everything he had achieved. That spear should have pierced right through the man''s shoulder, leaving him severely crippled, yet there was no blood! It must be a stab-resistant vest! Bi Fang''s thoughts raced, and he figured it all out in the blink of an eye. The man was wearing a protection suit, and it might be a bulletproof and stab-resistant vest. There was no other explanation. In the past, due to technological limitations, bulletproof vests couldn''t resist stabbings and vice versa, and wearing both was too cumbersome and heavy, impacting mobility. But as technology had advanced, combining the two had become possible. At most, poachers would wear a bulletproof vest, which was quite remarkable, but now they were keeping up with the times, correcting the weakness against cold weapons. This just got more complicated. Bi Fang faced a dilemma. He thought it was tough enough when the man had a gun, but a stab-resistant vest too? However, he couldn''t afford to ponder on it now. Without stopping, he suddenly turned and charged towards the other two men. Even though the two men seemed incompetent, at the end of the day, they were still adult males capable of action. If they got hold of a gun, they posed a real threat. Finally, the guide and the client hit the ground and had no time to react before seeing a dark shadow charging towards them. They braced their legs and desperately scrambled backward, but it was too late. Bi Fang gripped the tree stick and smashed it down on the head of one of the black men. After a muffled groan, the victim''s eyes rolled back in an eerie display of white as his body went completely limp. The attacked Ved kept rolling until he hit a tree. Supporting himself with his left hand, he managed to sit up; big beads of sweat slid down his forehead, but he didn''t dare to wipe them off, fearing his opponent would take the opportunity to attack. Even with the protection suit, the force of the impact was real. At that moment, his right shoulder was unusable, and he couldn''t lift his arm. Since when had there been such an impressive figure among anti-poaching forces? Seeing that his client was about to be attacked, Ved couldn''t afford to think too much or worry about whether his scapula was broken. Leaning against the tree, he pulled out his handgun with his left hand and fired at the figure standing in the woods. At that moment, Bi Fang, about to strike the other person, felt the hairs on his back stand up, sensing a strong feeling of danger. Chapter 920 920: 916 Ved had muscle memory, so when he was attacked, he could roll to the side to reduce the damage. Didn''t Bi Fang have that too? Of course, he did! Not only did Bi Fang have it, but his neural responses were faster and stronger. He could even avoid the injury before it arrived by relying on his "Beastly Instinct"! Ved''s right shoulder had sustained a heavy blow, and he could not lift it to exert force, but he was still able to shoot with his left hand. As an excellent special forces soldier, being able to shoot with both hands, maintaining the same high accuracy, was a very basic skill requirement. However, just as he drew his gun and his index finger had not yet pressed the trigger, Ved suddenly realized that the target in front of him had disappeared. How could that be?! Ved''s pupils shrank to the size of pinpoints, and his heart was beating violently. No, not gone. It was too fast! Ved''s eyes rolled, and he managed to capture the target again, only to find that the other party had already jumped to the periphery of his vision, avoiding his focused discernment area. The human field of vision exceeds 120 degrees, but only about 15 degrees in the center of the image projected on the retina can be clearly discerned. Beyond this discernible field up to 30 degrees remains an effective field where one can immediately perceive the presence and movements of objects, but the discernment decreases. Beyond both the discernible and effective fields, what remains is called the sidelong glance field, commonly known as peripheral vision. Within this range, one can only sense the presence of objects or movements but can no longer clearly discern what they are. Also, the shape of the human field of vision is elliptical at the outermost part, but the sharply imaged part is more like a rectangle. Hence, the aspect ratio of televisions is never one-to-one, but either four-to-three or sixteen-to-nine. The trees on the grassland weren''t dense, and occasionally a forest would appear that could not block the sunlight as densely as a rainforest does. The midday sunlight penetrated through the tree branches, forming numerous central light pillars, where varying brightness sensitively intertwined, making the motion and shadows infinitely ambiguous. In an open space, it''s fundamentally impossible to jump completely out of someone''s field of vision, but it''s not hard to avoid the effective area. Using a camouflage highly similar to the environment and the misalignment of light and shadows, Bi Fang made a powerful burst and quickly leapt out of Ved''s rectangular field of vision, avoiding being targeted. Focus. The uncompromising pursuit of hunting targets. It is the most basic conduct of a hunter. When a hunter loses his target and focus, the outcome is predictable. Seizing the brief moment when the enemy lost sight of the target, Bi Fang launched a second attack, greeting the opponent with another powerful throw of his short spear. Ved, coming back to his senses, turned his head to try to relock onto the target, but by the time he recognized the movement, it was too late. He wanted to dodge, but he simply couldn''t. An intense pain surged from his lower limb. Ved dared not look down, fearing to lose sight of the target again. He guessed his thigh had been completely nailed to the tree. Maybe even the artery was severed? Otherwise, why would he feel so cold? sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It felt like all the warm blood had drained from his body. Ved was tall, but he wasn''t clumsy. Yet in front of this guy, who seemed to come out of nowhere, he felt like a dumb ox spinning around by a leopard. Everyone was stunned¡ªBi Fang''s fans, Old Barry from the protection center, Andria, and even Grace and others on the same grassland. Silence filled the vehicle, everyone looked at each other, not knowing what to do or what to say. The distance was too far; there was no way to get there in time to help. Ved''s strength, in a head-on collision among them, still made him the best, hardly anyone was a match for him, and he only occasionally lost one or two times against certain individuals, but mostly he still came out on top. Now, he had not lasted even two rounds in his opponent''s hands and had even sustained serious injuries. Would he have reacted differently? Bi Fang had become stronger. Grace, who was in the same vehicle, felt it even more profoundly and could acutely sense the shift in Bi Fang''s strength. His brother had fallen at the hands of this man, and though not his blood brother, he was family all the same. Grace had no interest in revenge, yet he had repeatedly watched the combat footage from before and had carefully analyzed Bi Fang''s capabilities. At that time, Grace had thought the opponent was just an exceptionally skilled elite soldier, not unlike himself. That was all, really¡ªwho would ever face off alone if encountered? If they were of the same level, why not just call in an additional person? But now, the speed, reaction, explosive power, and the ferocious and violent attacking methods that Bi Fang displayed left him with tingling scalp, thankful that it had been Ved who followed the dentist on the "Lion King" hunt, and not himself. Grace did not have a physique as robust as Ved''s; he might have been downed by the first spear. "Ved needs backup!" "Zhuomuke! You drive; I need Ved''s location, now!" "Yes!" "Grace, Guvas, Chaman, you three grab your gear and follow me to Car Two, keep up!" "Yes!" While everyone else was still dazed, only Sisko maintained calm and gave out orders and objectives. He moved through the crowded cabin toward Car Two. No one would disobey Sisko''s orders at this time. Grace, Guvas, and Chaman, carrying their backpacks, followed Sisko as they jumped off the vehicle and quickly moved to the second off-road vehicle, catching up with Car One which kicked up dust ahead. In this same vehicle, in the broad trunk, two large black bags seemed to contain something alive wriggling around. Gunshots rang through the woods. From the emergence to getting injured, everything happened so fast and fierce. This tall brother, standing at two meters thirteen, was like a small fishing boat on the high seas; one second it was sunny and victory was imminent, the next, a storm with raging winds and towering waves arrived, and capsizing happened in the blink of an eye. It was absurd that he, who carried firearms and wore a protective suit, could be turned into such a state by a man who seemed to appear out of nowhere, wielding several short spears. A primitive man? Intense pain stimulated Ved''s adrenaline to surge wildly; he fired at the unidentified person who, with a leaping dive, hid behind a tree, all bullets blocked by the thick trunk. Bi Fang leaned behind the tree, counting the bullets fired by his opponent, timing the moment for reloading. Living trees offered formidable resistance, particularly those in the growth phase, with dense structures and ample moisture. Even a rifle of significant power could not penetrate if the tree was just the diameter of a bowl. If the tree were even larger, say over fifty centimeters in diameter, even a heavy machine gun firing hundreds of bullets might just break it. Ved was aware of this too; after tentatively firing a few shots, he no longer continued shooting. With a peripheral glance at his thigh, he found his entire leg pinned to the tree by a sleek short spear, rendering him immovable. He reached out trying to break the short spear, but a severe injury to his right shoulder meant his right hand lacked the strength. Just as he thought of using his left hand, Bi Fang seized the moment to leap behind another tree using the bushes as cover. This tree was even closer to him! Chapter 921 917: The Dentist Who Got Scared Silly The woods were deathly silent. The intense smell of blood filled the air, from both lions and humans. Ved''s Adam''s apple moved visibly, his lips turned pale and chapped from the rapid loss of blood. Muddy beads of sweat trickled from his forehead, moistening the corners of his eyes. Sour and throbbing with pain. But such discomfort would be negligible to any qualified soldier; what Ved feared more was the current stalemate. He aimed his gun at the trees, not daring to move Short Spear from his leg. With only his left hand functioning, if he reached to pull out or break Short Spear, Bi Fang would be unrestrained and could take the opportunity to move in his direction, or even launch another attack. In the first attack, Ved had lost his right shoulder and arm; the second cost him his left thigh and mobility. What would happen in the third attack? But if he did not pull it out, he''d be pinned to this tree forever, facing the same inevitable end. The loss of blood from his leg made Ved feel increasingly uneasy; time was not on his side, and the longer it dragged on, the worse it became, as blood loss not only slowed his physical reactions but also clouded his thinking. Ved licked his dry lips, anxiety flooding his mind. No, there was still a chance. Just as Ved thought he had no way out, he suddenly remembered there were others present. Apart from himself, there were the guide and the client. The guide had been knocked unconscious, but the client was unscathed; Ved had been attacked the second time while trying to save him. He almost forgot this guy could still move. Though the man wasn''t very capable, the bullets fired from his gun would be no less potent. If he could just cover him with a couple of shots, Ved could break Short Spear and free himself to regain mobility. Ved''s gaze shifted to Walter Palmer in the woods, only to see Palmer slumped on the ground, his crotch soaked, a silent, stunned fool staring blankly. "FUCK!" At that moment, Ved wanted to blow the man''s brains out with a shot, even if it might get him fired; he couldn''t fathom how someone like that could want to hunt a lion to prove his courage. Utterly useless. Cursing inwardly, but Ved could not worry about that now. Seeing no one could help him and the situation temporarily held, his eyes twitched as he then, under the watchful gaze of all the viewers in the live broadcast, did something nobody expected. This burly man began to walk forward! He held his pistol against Bi Fang lurking behind a tree, then step by step, he moved his thigh, enduring the pain of Short Spear piercing him, and slowly pulled Short Spear out from his body in a crude manner! The friction of flesh against the rough handle of Short Spear was enough to make one''s teeth hurt just thinking about it. [Fuck, this is, so brutal] [My legs hurt just watching this!] [Does this guy not feel pain at all?] [He''s too strong] [Can humans even do this?] "I could hardly breathe just now; with Master Fang''s onslaught, I''ve been completely numbed," "Old Fang really gives off the vibe of a powerful antagonist." An astonishing scene terrified many to the core, leaving them in a dilemma over whether to admire the opponent''s willpower or to jest about Bi Fang being the true villain, given his overwhelming dominance. As Ved inched forward, the Short Spear was smeared with a thick layer of blood, and his gaze fixed on the large tree where Bi Fang was hiding, as if ready to pulverize Bi Fang the moment he showed his head. Using the reflection on the blade, Bi Fang, who was quietly observing everything from behind, was quite astonished. Regardless of the outcome of the battle, the adversary''s strength of will was indeed admirable. He didn''t stop the other''s action but did nothing, waiting for the adversary to struggle free. This naturally aroused the curiosity of the viewers, yet no one questioned, for amidst a fight for life and death, Bi Fang was much more of an expert than these laypeople. In truth, forcibly breaking free to regain mobility was indeed ruthless but a great test and drain on both mind and body. Moreover, the adversary had definitely released a substantial amount of adrenaline; once the hormone''s effects waned, their performance would deteriorate even further. Meanwhile, Bi Fang could relax behind the tree at ease, even slightly recovering the energy expended in the sudden attack, which in itself was a form of victory. Given the severity of the adversary''s injuries, they might collapse without any intervention, making it unnecessary for Bi Fang to continue risking an engagement. Sure enough, as Ved reached the end of the Short Spear, his complexion became paler than before, his face drenched in sweat as if he had just been fished out of water. And just as Ved moved a small step forward to finally free himself from the restraint of the Short Spear, a surge of intense pain nearly brought the sturdy man to his knees. At that moment, Bi Fang, who was hidden behind the tree, suddenly lunged to the side. He wasn''t attacking Ved while he was breaking free; instead, his instincts had suddenly sent him a warning! Ved endured the pain and took the opportunity to aim and shoot. To the audience''s shock, they suddenly realized that two shots were fired from different directions! The drone camera quickly locked on, and it was the seemingly simple-minded white man who had been sitting on the ground! Everyone had underestimated the dentist who had paid to hunt the Lion King. Indeed, he had been frightened into immobility, not from stupidity, but to avoid drawing Bi Fang''s attention and appear less threatening. Seeing his expensive Hunter also losing and in a predicament, Palmer had no choice but to stop pretending to be dead. Taking advantage of the confrontation between his enemy and Ved, he secretly reached for the guide''s pistol at his waist. If possible, he would have preferred to continue acting the fool, but Palmer knew that once he was caught, he would face decades in prison, possibly in the same cell as a group of black inmates, which was unbearable for him. Unfortunately, Palmer''s archery was poor and his shooting was worse, especially since he was facing a "Superhuman" who could sense danger in advance. The only concern was Ved, but with the trees'' cover, all Bi Fang needed to do was dodge away from Ved to avoid all attacks. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As a result, not only did Palmer miss with his shot, but he also successfully drew Bi Fang''s attention. "I surrender!" Seeing the situation, Palmer immediately threw away his pistol and lay prostrate on the ground, shouting his surrender. Unfortunately for him, Bi Fang was far from a saint. He had previously spared Palmer simply because Ved was a more significant threat. Now, without hesitation, he awarded a Short Spear as a "gift" for Palmer''s surrender. Ved only saw a Short Spear flying out from the bushes, followed by a scream, as the dentist''s hand was pinned down to the ground. The adversary''s spear-throwing was even more accurate than his shooting! A chill ran down Ved''s spine, but when he saw a dark figure charging out of the bushes toward him, he knew. He was next! Chapter 922 918 Defeat Bi Fang was able to avoid the trajectory of every bullet with precise rolls, darting behind a tree and then suddenly dashing out in the completely opposite direction. The sparse woods became his best protection. Whenever a bullet came his way, he managed to graze past it just right, giving the audience the thrill of a roller-coaster ride. On the other hand, Ved wasn''t feeling so good. He felt as if he had encountered the legendary Timber Wolf man or perhaps a fantastical creature like a "Lord of the Rings" spirit. He had never seen such a sensitive human before. The effect of inertia seemed to suddenly vanish from his opponent, who was elusive and unpredictable. The magazine could only slowly empty in the face of futile attacks. Ved, who had accompanied Palmer on this injurious hunting trip of the Lion King, wasn''t too vigilant and hadn''t carried much in the way of weapons for self-protection. He had only taken a pistol and two magazines from the car, to guard against a possible violent outbreak from the Lion King. Until then, he had been very confident in his marksmanship, even thinking that the two magazines were superfluous. It never occurred to him that he would encounter a skirmish here, and he certainly didn''t expect to be reduced to his current state by a stranger from who knows where. The opponent was a complete anomaly, as if they had activated cheat "Skill" and "X-ray vision." Avoiding bullets with their flesh was a scene straight out of fiction that had leaped into reality. Ved had always thought that with his physical condition, he was nearly at the peak that humans could achieve through training, but the opponent''s reaction speed and strength were unbelievably fast and strong. The muzzle flashed as the copper metal, carrying tremendous kinetic energy, flew out of the rifling and struck trees, causing chunks of brittle bark to splinter off. The distance between them was not great, just a few trees away; in the blink of an eye, Bi Fang had successfully closed in on Ved, who had just emptied his magazine, while Bi Fang had thrown his last Short Spear. The construction of a Short Spear is important; if you want it to hit the target, the balance must be even. Otherwise, you would need to adjust your grip at the crucial moment, causing a tiny delay. Moreover, without enough material for the spearhead, Bi Fang had only managed to make three satisfactory Short Spears while on the move. He used two on the large man before him and one on an unidentified white man. Ved swung his pistol in a throw, which was easily dodged. Both men closed in and simultaneously pulled out the knives from their waists. Bi Fang wielded his Harpoon as usual, having gotten used to its unique and sharp form over a year and a half. Ved''s was an Ontario MK3 Navy Knife, standard issue to the Ugly Country''s Navy SEALs. SEAL Team members had the freedom to choose their preferred blade, but this survival knife was standard-issue military cutlery each of them would receive. And Ved happened to like this particular one. The 15.24-centimeter stainless steel blade was the perfect gear for this elite and efficient team. The blade had a black oxide finish to withstand seawater corrosion and to eliminate reflections. Of course, its durability was most renowned. In close combat, Ved felt much more confident despite being in a crisis. Being bigger naturally meant having greater strength, yet his opponent seemed to ignore this most basic physical rule, moving faster than a normal person. However, Ved was confident in his exquisite skills, honed in combat within the ranks of the SEALs. No one among his peers was his match. But when the tips of their knives collided in a strange demeanor, Ved''s expression instantly changed. A persistent quivering sensation spread from the tip of the knife up his arm, and Ved felt as if he had swung a heavy, steel hammer against a solid steel girder. The tremor numbed his entire arm. What''s happening?! Shocked as he was, Bi Fang didn''t pause to wonder. He had actually used this move against Legoff before, which many netizens jokingly referred to as "vibrating the blade," relying on striking the tip of the blade and using leverage to transmit force to the holder''s wrist, creating massive pressure in a short time. If it had been an ordinary person, they would have likely dropped their weapon due to the pressure. Indeed, there was a skillful concurrence in the methods. Previously, there was an element of luck in his execution, but now his control had greatly improved. After two consecutive strikes, Ved''s wrist ached unbearably, nearly losing grip on his weapon. In just two rounds, Bi Fang had successfully extinguished Ved''s confidence. Bi Fang''s physical conditioning was already freakishly strong, and his skill was at the pinnacle of humanity, calling him a grandmaster would not be an overstatement. Moreover, after so many adventures and brushes with death, his psychological resilience far exceeded that of the average person. With both hardware and software fully equipped, it was only because Ved was also exceptionally gifted that he had managed to hold on until now. Otherwise, he should have been down long ago. Unable to hit with bullets, and noticeably outmatched in close combat, Ved was sweating profusely, even unable to focus, and began contemplating escape. When a person''s morale is drained, even the highest martial arts will be discounted, let alone a fight to the death. Courage prevails in a narrow passage. In just a few moves, Ved''s body bore several more scratches, and beneath his torn clothing, wounds opened by the sharp blade revealed red muscle tissue. Blood that gushed out in the following seconds filled the wounds, looking like the devil had opened several narrow, crimson eyes. The movements of both fighters were too fast and too fierce for the spectators to clearly see what was happening. They only noticed that after a few afterimages passed by, Ved''s momentum waned instantly, and his vitality visibly deteriorated at a rate visible to the naked eye, no different from a defeated rooster. Bi Fang moved too quickly, leaving Ved only able to defend, tired from the onslaught. It was just a flickering shadow, splattering like a butterfly, moving like a phantom, with tinkling clashing noises coming fast and furious from the knife edge. In a daze, the Navy knife''s chopping lost direction. The white fabric vanished in front of Ved, and the dark shadow that had entangled him disappeared as well. Startled, Ved realized that the sharp blade was already aimed at his forehead, but he could not dodge it, as if someone had grabbed his arms. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ved instinctively swung his knife to block, only to suddenly find his hand empty! In that moment, the oddly-shaped combat knife had almost severed his fingers along the handle, and to save his palm, he had released his own knife. "It''s over." Ved''s mind went blank. The dark light vanished abruptly, Bi Fang suddenly flipped his wrist and, using the hilt instead of the blade, converted a stab into a strike, slamming his fist hard onto the sturdy man''s head. An overwhelming force struck Ved''s brain, and his eyes rolled back as his consciousness blurred. No amount of resilient combat training could negate the multiple vulnerabilities inherent to the human body. The towering man, over two meters tall, stood still for a long while, then slowly fell backward, revealing Bi Fang standing in front. The heavy body hit the ground, kicking up a pall of low-lying yellow dust. Bi Fang pulled off the brushwood camouflage that had been draped over him and tossed it onto the ground, covering Ved''s face. Chapter 923 919: Defeating Monsters for Loot Rubber tires scraped against gravel, emitting a pungent, burnt odor. Two SUVs stopped urgently on the grassland, anxiously awaiting the result. Guvas held his phone high, trying to connect to the invisible electromagnetic waves in the sky. They had traveled a distance only to realize that the network was down; the live stream had frozen due to the lack of internet, and a greyscale loading circle spun ceaselessly on the screen, stuck at the moment where Bi Fang was about to clash in close combat with Ved. Helplessly, Sisko had no choice but to halt their advance and even reversed a distance. "Connected yet?" "Don''t rush, wait a bit, we might be in luck." Guvas disrupted Zhuomuke''s urging and suddenly noticed the network speed twitch from 0 to over a hundred b, his expression thrilled. The car quieted down, everyone barely daring to breathe, quietly awaiting the outcome to reveal itself. After a few breaths, the stuttering image sprang back to life, yet what appeared before everyone was no longer the alternating light and shadows of the woods, nor was it the disconnected live stream but rather Bi Fang on the screen, donning a bulletproof stab-resistant vest. The result of the battle went without saying. Sisko loosened his grip on the steering wheel, pulled a pack of cigarettes from his breast pocket, tapped it with his index finger, drew one, and lit it; soon, smoke wreathed through the interior of the car. Some of the other team members were also smoking, some chewed on beef jerky, and others blew bubble gum. "Should we still go?" Guvas asked Sisko, while queries from a team member came through the walkie-talkie. Ved''s fate was unknown, but even if he were alive, it was unlikely a big deal. After all, he had professional training, and besides, Ved had family; it wasn''t possible he would betray them. As for that dentist, with only indirect contact, there wasn''t much evidence left. Sisko remained silent for a long time, while Chaman and Grace exchanged a glance beside him. Grace suddenly spoke up, "That guy has a bag of diamonds on him, by conservative estimate, probably worth thirty million dollars." Sisko''s eyebrows rose. "Really?" On the other side, Bi Fang was panting heavily; although he wasn''t injured in the fight, it had taken a heavy toll on his stamina¡ªhe stripped the bulletproof stab-resistant vest from the robust man''s body, giving himself an equipment upgrade. He hadn''t forgotten what Old Barry had said¡ªthat the poachers numbered more than just three, and if that proved true, then another fierce battle might be ahead. As a vest, the protection suit could be adjusted to some extent, but Ved''s build was too large; even at its tightest setting, it still seemed quite loose on Bi Fang. The protection suit was quite stiff and weighed roughly three to four kilograms, which alone would hinder movement, and the size issue only exacerbated that. However, looking at the handgun on the ground, it was acceptable; the slight downsize in defense for a significant increase in protection was worth it. This time Bi Fang had the element of surprise thanks to the intelligence advantage, but it wouldn''t be so easy next time; the protection suit could save his life in a critical moment. [666, beat the boss and looted equipment] [Cheering for Master Fang] [What''s called ''badass''? This is called ''badass''!] [An unassailable level of badass that others couldn''t surpass in a lifetime; this is the world''s number one jungler, not even talking about Bear (Username), even the armed thugs are shown for you!] [Xianghan Boshanliang has become an Emperor in the live stream] [Kanmeng01 gifted 1 Spaceship to the host¡ªMaster Fang is invincible under the heavens!] [I always thought the scenarios in movies were fake, but I never imagined reality could be even more bizarre than fiction] The fight on the screen had the audience enthralled, lavishing gifts without a second thought. Spaceships alone kept flooding in; they couldn''t even see who sent them before the next wealthy viewer topped it, leaving the common folk marveling at just how many rich people there were in the world. They wished they could be the one in the forest, replacing Master Fang to face off against the vicious poacher, rendering him utterly powerless with a combo of moves. How fantastical, how cool that would be¡ªthe very epitome of manly deeds. Of course, it was just a thought. If you were really in the arena, you''d end up like the guide beside you. "HELP, HELP!" The desperate screams jolted the audience back from their exhilarating fantasies to the harsh reality, as they remembered that besides the unconscious guide and the burly man, there was another guy who was still awake. [Damn, I almost forgot about this old number six] [I have to say, Old Fang''s livestreams are the most extreme I''ve ever seen] [Ever heard of imperial privileges? (tactically leans back)] [Awesome, Old Fang is the most badass, the most positive world-class streamer I''ve seen] [Money, skill, status, and the chance to experience different cultures around the world¡ªI declare Old Fang is my dream lover!] Bi Fang wasn''t in a hurry to deal with that guy. First, he retrieved the handgun that had been used as a weapon earlier, a HK P30, quite renowned as the protagonist''s favorite main weapon in the movie series "Fast Pursuit," though it was now out of bullets. Luckily, Bi Fang found a brand-new magazine on Ved and had reloaded it. During the fight, his opponent hadn''t had the time to reload, which played right into his hands. After reloading, he found his backpack in the bushes and pulled out a rope, then tied up the burly man and the unconscious guide to a tree. Even so, Bi Fang still didn''t attend to the wailing Caucasian man. Palmer was already soaked in sweat, his face completely pale, nearly collapsed on the ground. His palms had been nailed to the floor, but he lacked Ved''s willpower to pull them out by sheer force. As Bi Fang walked past, Palmer''s voice was no longer as booming as it had been at the start, but weak and low instead. "Help me, please, help me¡­" "Don''t worry; it''s just a through-and-through wound in the palm, it didn''t hit an artery, shouldn''t be a big problem." Bi Fang answered briefly and then stepped over him, walking several tens of meters to find the seriously injured Lion King, Cecil. By this point, Cecil had stopped moving, and many viewers'' hearts were in their throats as Bi Fang frowned deeply. [Isn''t he dead, is he?] [Damn, were we too late?] [Isn''t it dangerous to get this close?] [Son of a bitch, did those shitty guys really succeed?] [Don''t panic, panic won''t help; trust in Master Fang, as long as he''s not dead, I believe Master Fang will have a way] Facing a fully wild Lion King, Bi Fang also dared not approach rashly. He could hunt the Lion King, but getting close was still very dangerous. Thankfully, he had anticipated this situation and had made a lot more preparation than just the three short spears he had crafted on the way. The audience saw Bi Fang reach into his pocket, pull out a stomach pouch, then open it and extract several dazzling pink flowers from it. [What''s that?] [Eh, I remember, it looked like Old Fang picked them on the way] [They look so pretty] Bi Fang twirled one between his fingers. The strong fragrance of the flowers spread through the woods. "Hypnotic Flower." S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 924 920: Sleep Like a Baby "This is the Hypnotic Flower." Bi Fang untied the knot on his stomach bag, unfolded it, and took out a well-preserved pink large flower from it. The drone locked onto the target and zoomed in, allowing everyone to carefully observe it. The flower had not been picked for long, and it was relatively well-preserved, with only a few areas showing signs of moisture due to the overflow of cell liquid after being pressed, making it look quite fresh. Bi Fang took out a fresh green leaf, rolled it into a funnel shape to fix it, and then plucked all the petals from the flower in his stomach bag, stacked them together, twisted them by hand, and slowly squeezed out its juice, which dripped onto the leaf. "The Hypnotic Flower is a dicotyledonous plant unique to Africa, also known as the Drunken Flower. It is dazzling in color and rich in fragrance, often growing in wild and desolate places. The key is that it has a strong hypnotic effect." "A person only needs to lick the petals with their tongue to become drowsy. Wild animals eat it and immediately lie down to sleep, even two-ton heavy rhinoceroses will collapse to the ground after consuming it." "We apply its juice on the lion''s nostrils and also could drip extra into its mouth, which can help us anesthetize it and reduce the possibility of danger." sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, it was uncertain whether the conservation center''s staff or the poacher''s accomplices would arrive first, making Bi Fang speak faster than usual and quicken his actions, undoubtedly casting a shadow of tension over everyone''s hearts. If the conservation center''s people arrive first, then all will be well; the lions will be saved, and the people will be safe. It is feared that if the poachers arrive first, the situation could become much more perilous. "South Africa has many similar plants, such as a tree called Manula, which can make wine and is known as the ''Drunken Tree.''" "African elephants love to eat this fruit. When they gorge on it and then drink some water, they become drunk, some running wildly, while more just stagger and sleep heavily, unable to wake up for a day." "There''s also the Mongolian Desert of Tanzania, where there is a type of bamboo that leaks wine, called Alcoholic Bamboo. This wine is only less than twenty-degree proof, and when new bamboo shoots are cut, the wounds secrete an alcoholic liquid with a unique fragrance. Some animals that eat the young bamboo or frequently quench their thirst with Alcoholic Bamboo''s juice accumulate a large amount of alcohol in their bodies, often becoming dizzily intoxicated." [Strange knowledge increased] [Is Old Fang preparing to perform anesthesia surgery on the lion?] [So tense] [Truly freaking exhilarating] [Racing against time] The outer surface of leaves generally has a cuticle layer, which acts to prevent loss of water, mainly composed of lipids effectively blocking the water. When the Hypnotic Flower''s juice falls on it, the two do not mix and are able to receive it almost without any loss. As plants are rich in water content, the leaf funnel soon accumulated nearly one-third of the plant juice. Bi Fang carefully took the funnel-shaped leaf filled with Hypnotic Flower juice and moved closer to the Lion King''s head. There were more secure methods, such as fixing the funnel on top of a tree stick in an indirect way to give the juice to Cecil, but that was problematic for a number of reasons, such as the Lion King suddenly waking up and potentially knocking over the funnel, ruining all the progress. The Hypnotic Flower was something Bi Fang had found on their way; if it was knocked over, it would be unclear where to find more. [A bit scared, this is wild] [Really going for it?] [My hands are already shaking, the immersion is too strong] [Nerds have what kind of immersion?] [Dude, wild dogs stay far away, but there are people who dare to approach a wild lion, only utmost respect can express my admiration] Between lions and tigers, who is the real king of predators has always been a topic of interest, but that doesn''t stop the lion from being one of the most formidable predators in nature. Even fully armed, few dared to approach a lion that was completely unfamiliar, full of hostility toward humans, and liable to attack at any moment. Let alone Bi Fang, who had nothing but an ill-fitting protection suit, which might make little difference under the lion''s bite force. Cecil lay in the plush green grass, amidst small yellow flowers swaying in the wind. An arrow was stuck in its belly, its mane, which should have been proud and flowing, was now clotted with blood, matted together, and limp. If not for the slight rise and fall of its chest indicating the lion was still breathing, someone might have thought Cecil was already dead. Perhaps before it had carelessly fled into this forest, the aging Lion King had chosen its own graveyard. A drone hovered midair, the orange sunlight stretching across the forest, casting shadows on the ground that separated a man from a lion. The air was filled with floating dust, which hung in the almost stagnant atmosphere of the quiet forest. Bi Fang held a leaf funnel, stepped over the shadows, and approached behind the Lion King. He bent slightly, raised his right hand about a meter above Cecil''s head, aimed, then turned his wrist, directing the mouth of the funnel toward the lion''s mouth and slowly poured. The pale pink murky liquid, tinged with the hue of the Hypnotic Flower, rolled on the lush leaves, quickly forming a tension-filled arc at the edge of the leaves, glistening under the forest sunlight. Everyone''s hearts pounded as if trying to leap out from their chests, venting the nervousness within. Everyone dared not breathe heavily, yet it seemed with that unnatural breathing, the tension-filled arc suddenly shattered. Droplets, pulled by an unseen force, fell and plumped up, dropping into the lion''s mouth. Was it successful? Seeing no reaction from the lion, as if the potion had truly taken effect, the audience inevitably breathed a sigh of relief. Cecil suddenly opened his eyes. The golden pupils, obscured by the dancing tree shadows, emitted such a sharp light, the signs of near death seemed like a guise. This severely injured lion was about to launch a new attack on the intruders. Everyone''s hearts nearly stopped, their hair standing on end. The lion that had seemed to be on the brink of death, lay down, then abruptly stood up. The muscles under its eyelids bulged, revealing fangs as sharp as knives, capable of slicing through the scalp of all who gazed upon them. The stagnant dust stirred, and everything seemed to spin again, too fast for anyone to react. In desperation, Bi Fang poured out all the liquid from the leaf and jumped back quickly. But in just a moment, that fierce and brutal gaze began to blur again. The muscles under the eyes, just bulged, now softened, then bulged again, repeatedly. Cecil was too tired, it had been hit by an arrow very early on, and was bleeding profusely. During the escape, the wound grew more painful, and its strength diminished, little by little, until it couldn''t even walk, struggling to even crawl. The short flare-up had drained the little energy it had gathered when it first lay on the ground. The rich fragrance spread to the tips of Cecil''s nose and mouth. Instinctively, Cecil licked its lips, bringing the heady scent into its mouth. The fragrance seemed to carry a magic that made its already weary brain even slower. Bi Fang made no extra movements, he just stood a few meters away, quietly waiting for the Hypnotic Flower to take effect. The world seemed light and airy, the pain from the wounds seemed to fade, and the ground underfoot felt like soft cotton. Before everyone, the standing Lion King suddenly staggered, appearing like a drunken big cat. The previous brutality seemed like a delusion from memory. It wasn''t long before the lion that had lashed out completely keeled over to one side, collapsed on the ground, immobile. Cecil had fallen again. Chapter 925 921 Wound Treatment "Phew." Bi Fang straightened up, wiping the sweat from his forehead with his hand, and looked at the sun through the trees, heaving a sigh of relief. All set. Cecil''s sudden eruption had really given him a scare, but fortunately, he wasn''t totally unprepared, and the effects of the Hypnotic Flower had been stronger than he anticipated. Thankfully, nothing went wrong. The live-streaming room immediately exploded with activity, for the scene before them wasn''t something one could see just by visiting the zoo a few times or going on a few savanna tours. Poachers, rescuing a severely injured lion, battle¡ªsuch thrilling footage and stories were even beyond what one could see in documentaries. [It''s like a baby sleeping.] [I was seriously frightened just now, my heart was about to burst!] [Really scary, I just realized how big it actually is] [Yeah, I never felt that way at the zoo, but compared to Old Fang, it''s really huge, almost as big as a small car] Many people were amazed by the Lion King Cecil''s enormous size. Compared to a normal lion, the Lion King as a top tier among its kind would undoubtedly be bigger. The body length of a wild African male lion can reach up to 3.6 meters, with a shoulder height of 1.2 meters, and a body weight of about 200 to 250 kilograms. Cecil''s body length had exceeded three and a half meters, and his weight was an astounding 254 kilograms, over 500 pounds. Such a heavyweight was rare among male lions and was the powerful capital that allowed him to fight one against two. The length of an average small sedan is usually around 4.8 meters, with a height between 1.4 and 1.5 meters. Compared to this, Cecil was already the size of over half a car, and when compared to a human, the difference was quite shocking. [When Cecil''s eyelid muscles tensed up just now, it really made my scalp tingle] [When Master Fang gets serious, the muscles on both sides of his cheeks also tighten, every time I see it I feel it''s particularly fierce, like there''s really a murderous aura (covering face)] [Lions, tigers, wolves, it feels like the muscles on the cheeks of these carnivores really do bulge before they attack, and then there really is a murderous aura present] [Pretty much, I never understood what ''murderous aura'' really meant in novels, until I watched Old Fang hunt a few times, I got it, there really is an imposing presence that makes you feel overwhelmed. If you''re a little faint-hearted, it''s genuinely frightening] People showed deep reverence for the imposing demeanor displayed by the lion. Even though Cecil had ultimately fallen, the fleeting glimpse of the ferocity of the wild beast had been quite shocking at close range. Many viewers subconsciously compared him with Old Fang and found the similarities striking, both exuding a full sense of deadliness. [Normally lions don''t dare to bite humans, right? When I went to Africa, the driver dared to get the car almost right next to the lions, and they didn''t react at all. Cecil must really have been pushed to the brink] [It''s humans who hurt him in this way, if it were you, you''d be desperate too] [It''s worse than being an animal!] S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Dammit, why when I took that ride, the driver said it was too dangerous to get close, and we were so far away. I zoomed my phone to the max and still couldn''t get a clear shot] "You were ripped off." Having successfully anaesthetized Cecil, Bi Fang felt quite relieved. He cautiously approached, tried touching Cecil, and after feeling a few times that he was indeed unconscious, he began to check his wounds. "Wild animals generally have lower intelligence; they usually can''t distinguish between cars and people. In their eyes, you and the car are like a steel elephant, an entity that can''t be challenged." "Of course, some primates can make the distinction, which is why no driver is willing to take you to see gorillas." "Based on this trait, many African drivers play it very wild. At first, they''ll use safety as a reason to drive on roads very far from the lions, to the point where even a 600mm telephoto lens can''t capture the details. Then they keep hinting that you can actually get closer, but they don''t want to take the risk." "That''s when you should''ve understood." Bi Fang poured clean water over the wound and simply cleaned the Lion King''s fur to make the injury more visible. "Once you''ve paid, and the driver has received his tip, he''ll drive the car right up to the lion''s face, so close that you can capture the details with just a 50mm prime lens." "Many drivers are veterans; they drive skillfully enough to approach without startling the lion or missing the angle. You just need to focus on pressing the shutter." "Lions are generally indifferent to such situations, as long as the tourists don''t get out of the vehicle, or feed them, or get close to the cubs, they are too lazy to care." "The real danger is from adult rhinos and elephants, they have the strength to toss both humans and cars. So even with a tip, drivers might not get too close." [Damn, is that really how it works?] [Add one here, I was the one who paid extra money.] [That''s such a rip-off.] [With those mining trucks that are more than ten meters high, even elephants probably wouldn''t dare to touch them.] [Even a Tyrannosaurus rex would be intimidated by that thing.] [But what if it could sweep?] [Then the lion would be a goner.] [Depends on the physique, if it''s a sports player, there should be no problem.] Many viewers who had never been to the African Savanna, and perhaps might never go, exclaimed at the novel knowledge. "Of course, that''s how it was in the past. Nowadays, many tourism companies are quite international, and this happens less and less." After inspecting, Bi Fang found some good news. The most prominent arrow wound wasn''t as deep as expected; it only seemed severe because it was scraped larger during the escape, combined with the blood groove on the arrowhead leading to excessive bleeding. That was the good news, but there was also bad news. On the other side, Bi Fang discovered another broken arrow. Without a reference for length, it was difficult to assess its depth, which was more troublesome. [Can carbon fiber also be this fragile?] "It''s not that carbon fiber is fragile, it''s an issue with the process," "Traditional pure carbon arrow shafts are made by aligning carbon fibers along the shaft''s direction and then gluing them together to form the shaft. This manufacturing process is relatively simple, but because there''s no carbon fiber reinforcement transversely along the shaft, it relies solely on the strength of the glue. Since the glue''s strength is much lower than that of the fiber chain, it is prone to bursting or internal damage." [Bone up on wherever you lack knowledge.] [Walking encyclopedia] [Master Fang, so knowledgeable. I suspect there''s nothing he doesn''t know.] Bi Fang planned to deal with the complete arrow first. He approached Palmer, only to find that the man had passed out from pain at some point and was lying motionless on the ground. No wonder it had been so quiet. Bi Fang didn''t hesitate at all; he went straight for the spear and pulled it out from the ground. It didn''t seem to matter until he pulled, and the intense pain woke Palmer once again. His wails echoed through the woods once more. Bi Fang wiped the blood off the short spear, found some rope, and just like before, tied the man to a tree, hanging him up as well. This way, the poacher couldn''t struggle free. Then Bi Fang searched the poacher''s body, found a quiver, and emptied all the arrows to further confirm their shape before returning to the Lion King''s side to treat the wound. Chapter 926 922 Army Ant Suturing Wound treatment required many preparations. Under the watchful eyes of the spectators, Bi Fang first pulled out the large earthenware jar he had prepared earlier, then, to everyone''s puzzlement, walked around the small grove, occasionally crouching down to shovel lumps of soil into it. "What''s he doing?" "Umm, gathering materials?" "Why does he need soil for treating wounds?" "You don''t get it, do you? The most important thing about treating wounds is anti-inflammation and sterilization. After treatment, wrap slightly moist soil around the patient and then throw it into the fire to bake. In just a short while, it will be possible to avoid subsequent infection from inflammation." Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "That thing you''re describing sounds like roast chicken." He scooped up soil from here and there, and soon the earthenware jar was half-filled with it. Seeing that it was about enough, Bi Fang returned to Cecil''s side, dug a pit two meters away from it, piled up some kindling, and started a fire. Only after everything was ready did Bi Fang come before Cecil and rolled up his sleeves. The main event was about to begin. The audience in front of the screen perked up with excitement. Although they didn''t understand why Bi Fang was collecting soil, he surely had his reasons, and they just had to watch. Old Barry, who was hurriedly moving toward the conservation center, felt his heart in his throat. For many of the onlookers, Cecil might have been a handsome and powerful Lion King, but at the end of the day, perhaps they hadn''t even heard of him before today, and even if he sadly passed away, they would feel no more than a tinge of regret. But Barry was different; he had known Cecil for over ten years. As Cecil grew and didn''t die young, showing his inherent talent, Barry had paid close attention to him, full of expectations. It is extremely difficult for a young lion to grow up, and even harder for one to meet a good end. Barry had witnessed too many Lion Kings being hunted, countless young lions taken away or killed by newcomers in the pride. The Ghost Shadow Lion. The largest wild Lion King in history, weighing 282 kilograms when well-fed, 253 kilograms when hungry; this was before he reached his peak, during his growing phase, with hopes of becoming the first recorded wild African male lion to break the 300-kilogram mark. But Poachers love to hunt famous lions. The Ghost Shadow Lion, hunted down in 2013. Two of the Old Sobek Lion Alliance were hunted in 2000 and 2006. Both Fabio and Tyson of the Twin Lions were killed. The entire Old Birmingham Lion Alliance fell prey to hunters. One of the Jacaranda Alliance was killed. The Old Ross Trio Lions were hunted. The Western male lion Madala, killed in 2022. Skorro''s three young lions, born in late 2014, were on the brink of their prime, known as Bicolor Pupils, Sharp Eye, and Light Skin. By mid-late 2022, the trio took over the Western pride, but Bicolor Pupils mysteriously disappeared at that time. Old Barry treasured all the Lion Kings of the plains like precious jewels, and even at his advanced age, he could clearly recall the time and place of each Lion King''s death. There were so many Lion Kings that had been hunted, none of which could be saved from the Poacher''s hands. Not a single one. ``` No, not a single one. It was as if there had been no murder case, with the police managing to stop it before the victim was killed. Cecil was an unprecedented first. Barry felt that this might be his one and only chance in life, he was so hopeful that Cecil could be saved. Bi Fang opened his water bottle, washing his hands. Cecil''s fur was clumped together by dried blood, forming solid masses that could only be trimmed away to clean around the wound. Bi Fang wiped the dagger clean and sterilized it in the flame, then let it cool before making an incision along Cecil''s wound. The scene was too bloody, so the camera did not directly point at the wound. Instead, it chose a more distant angle, only capturing Bi Fang''s upper body and his elbow, followed by the covered portion of the Lion King Cecil lying on the ground, seemingly asleep. "When dealing with arrows and knives with blood grooves, you can''t just yank them out, as it''s easy to cause secondary damage. It takes effort to remove them." Bi Fang steadied the wound and gripped the arrow, gently shaking it, extracting it bit by bit from the crevices of flesh. The entire scene resembled an unnamed unlicensed doctor performing an enigmatic flesh surgery on an oblivious patient. It was still too rushed. Even though Bi Fang had anticipated a need for treatment and prepared various items in advance, the situation was urgent and the conditions were crude; the measures taken now were only emergency treatment, just enough to stop the bleeding and prevent the wound from worsening. To really get out of danger, the people from the conservation center needed to arrive quickly and take Cecil back for further treatment. After removing an arrowhead, Bi Fang turned to retrieve two lichen-like clustered plants, crushing them and applying them to the wound. "Resurrection plant, also known as Selaginella, is unique to Africa." "Many cosmetics companies use it to advertise their products, but its medicinal value is much higher, promoting skin regeneration and treating burns and wounds," "Africans brew tea with resurrection plants to fight colds, make ointments to combat inflammation on the skin, and apply its leaves to wounds to speed up healing and even leave no scars¡ªthe effects are powerful and have been used for thousands of years." "There are many medicinal plants in nature, I picked a few of the most effective ones on the way." Following the application of the resurrection plant, Bi Fang cleaned the bloodstains again, then brought out the ceramic jar he had carried from the start, lifting its lid and tapping it gently with his knuckle. No one had seen the scene unfolding before them and had no idea what Bi Fang was about to do. Before long, everyone discovered ants of tremendous size crawling out of the jar, each larger than a fingernail, some reaching lengths of over two centimeters, nearly three¡ªlarge enough to clearly see their fierce mandibles without magnification, causing one to wonder if these were really ants. Luckily, someone knew their stuff. "[Africa, they''re so big, are those army ants?]" "[So was Old Fang digging up ants instead of dirt just now?]" "[What use are these ants?]" "[Formic acid can disinfect and sterilize, so they''re using ants for that purpose.]" And then, what Bi Fang said and did next left millions of viewers in front of the screen speechless. "It''s not to disinfect and sterilize, but to use army ants to suture the wound." Bi Fang took a sizable army ant in one hand, and with the other, he closed the slash on Cecil''s abdomen before pressing the ant to the wound. Under the zoomed-in camera, everyone clearly saw the army ant''s fierce mandibles biting down on the Lion King''s wound, while Bi Fang, with swift motion, promptly pinched off the ant''s neck, leaving behind only the head with its mandibles. Continuously tapping on the jar mouth, agitated army ants crawled out one after another, and Bi Fang''s movements were fluid¡ªplacing ant after ant on Cecil''s wound and expertly severing their bodies, making it seem as though this wasn''t his first time doing such a thing. Soon, a slightly curved line resembling the marching of centipedes appeared as the wound "stitches." ``` Chapter 927 923: A Different Kind of Surgery A life-threatening arrow injury, under Bi Fang''s unique and fluid handling, was resolved swiftly and efficiently. The crowd felt as though they were witnessing a surgery from another world, with tools unheard of. Bi Fang moved to another position to start treating the second arrow wound. "Using army ants to suture wounds is not my original idea. Many tribes living in Africa use army ants to help suture wounds, intentionally letting the ants bite into the edges of the flesh and then decapitating the ants. At this point, the jaws of the ants would clamp the skin at the edges of the wound, causing it to close," he explained. "Moreover, the size of army ants is quite large, which also enables them to be used on somewhat bigger blade-type wounds." Worker ants produced by army ants usually come in three sizes, with the largest ones being over a centimeter long, averaging about one and a half centimeters, and some mutant ones can even reach up to two centimeters, which is longer than the average human''s thumbnail. "Of course, the most crucial aspect is that army ants are widely distributed across the grasslands and are a readily available ''medical kit.'' Army ants can be found everywhere in Africa, just like the common black ants in human cities. Drop some cookie crumbs, or a few drops of a drink, and it would attract a dense swarm of them. [An ant''s life is still a life!] [One surgery, a hundred ants used up] [Ingenious idea] [Absolutely amazing] [Master Fang really knows everything. There''s nothing that can stump him!] [Damn, even formic acid can be used for sterilization and disinfection! Such an expansive way of thinking. Outstanding.] The crowd was amazed at Bi Fang''s extensive knowledge and admired his creative ideas. A normal person would never think of such a method to suture a wound. "Don''t try this at home. This method of treatment is only for emergencies, a compromise," he warned. "While it''s true that formic acid has antiseptic effects, the heads of the ants might still carry bacteria, so further treatment is needed. If you ever encounter an emergency situation, use this with caution." The second bloodied arrowhead fell to the ground, clinking against the first; despite being smeared with blood, it still uttered a sonorous metallic ring. This broken arrow was much more serious. Although it didn''t pierce any organs, it was lodged in the bone, with fragments of bone mixed into the wounded flesh. After carefully extracting the bone fragments, Bi Fang looked up and blinked, his eyes so sore that tears started to form. Concentrating intensely for an extended period was incredibly taxing. After taking a short break, Bi Fang reapplied the herbal medicine according to the previous method and finally used the jaws of the army ants to suture the wound. In all, it took over an hour to treat both wounds successfully. Bi Fang took out two chunks of wood, about as thick as a wrist, from his bosom. With a dagger, he cut along the fissures in the bark and peeled the bark off both pieces of wood. "The bark of the ''toothbrush tree,'' a specialty of Africa, is something I think you should be familiar with, as I often use it for brushing my teeth. However, I use the thin twigs for that purpose. Now, I''ve cut two sections of the trunk." "This tree''s wood is soft and porous. Once it''s in your mouth and soaked by saliva, the fibers at the tip will fray and spread out, similar to the bristles of a toothbrush, which is why we call it the ''toothbrush tree.'' "The protease secreted by the tree also has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. We could layer it under a bandage wrap, but unfortunately, we don''t have any gauze." Bi Fang inserted coarse branches, which had been smoothed out, into several holes made in the two pieces of bark, twisting the strips of bark to thread through the holes, creating what resembled an eyemask, only much larger, able to wrap entirely around the Lion King''s body. And just like that, both wounds were covered with bark by Bi Fang in an alternative method. "It''s not very secure. If Cecil suddenly wakes up and moves around, it might fall off, but it should suffice for now." Bi Fang touched Cecil''s chest, feeling his heartbeat, which had stabilized, and felt quite satisfied with it. [Is it safe now? Is it safe now? Is it safe now?] "If the wound doesn''t become infected, it''s basically safe, but the most common complication for an injury in the wild is infection, so we can never be sure." "The best scenario would still be for the conservation center''s people to come, take him back for a couple of antibiotic shots, and re-dress the wound." [I dare say this is the most miraculous surgery] [What does it mean to make do with what''s available?] [Adaptation to local conditions, Old Fang''s grip on this is rock solid] [Village chief of the Earth, there is nothing that our village chief doesn''t know.] [One word, cool. Two words, super cool!] Upon learning from Bi Fang that Cecil was out of danger, everyone couldn''t help but cheer and jump for joy. Just then, a faint rustling came from the nearby bushes. The audience, just having relaxed, tensed up again. On the other hand, Bi Fang seemed to know in advance who was coming and did not appear overly anxious. "Harley?" A yellow head dotted with black spots peeked out from the grass. It was a cheetah. But as soon as the cheetah poked out its head and saw the lion lying on the ground, it darted away in a flash. [Hahaha, even Harley is afraid of lions?] [Maybe this is a case of bloodline suppression] [Superiors dominating inferiors] "No, the one just now wasn''t Harley." Bi Fang stood up; he had been with Harley day and night and saw more clearly than the audience, so he naturally couldn''t mistake the cheetah. This revelation surprised the audience. Not Harley? "This area isn''t far from the originally planned reintroduction site for Harley. It wasn''t chosen at random." Reintroduction isn''t done lightly; there are many considerations, such as the need to first conduct strict genetic background testing and selection to ensure the reintroduced animals have a distant kinship with the original population, ensuring genetic exchange within the reintroduced species. Additionally, the gender and age composition of the population are also factors to be considered. Before setting out, Bi Fang had discussed many things with the scholars from the conservation center, and they unanimously chose this area, which has a sufficient number of other cheetah individuals. [Wait, something''s not right. Isn''t the reintroduction outside the reserve area risky?] [I remember Master Fang mentioned something about luring out the conservation center and then legally evading something.] [The place where the elephants were found was indeed outside the conservation center, but Old Fang''s current location is no longer the original crime scene, remember? Didn''t you forget they chased for another day and night?] [Oh, now I remember.] [Confused. I haven''t been online to watch the livestream for two days. What happened? It seems Old Fang made the headlines again] [I can only say, bro, you''ve missed out on a fortune] Bi Fang, looking at the restored thicket, remembered the ultimate mission of this trip to the savanna. Whether the conservation center''s people arrive first, or the poachers'' gang gets there sooner, the reintroduction task must be thoroughly completed first. But before that, there was another person waiting for him to question. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 928 924 My Dentist Palmer''s hands were tightly bound with hemp rope as thick as an index finger; his left palm had a small hole through which blood had dried to a black stain. A breeze would occasionally blow through the woods, passing through the hole and causing his palm to tremble slightly. "I can give you a lot of money, a whole lot of money, please, let me down." When Bi Fang approached Palmer, the latter seemed to sense something, slightly lifting his eyelids with breaths so faint they resembled murmuring to himself. The rope stretched over the thick tree branches and wound around the trunk, half-suspending Palmer. He knelt on the ground, his hands pulled high, his heavy head resting in the crook of his arm. Bi Fang, in reality, hadn''t hung Palmer very high, which would have suggested a "deliberate torture." It was just that the pain had caused Palmer to secrete a large amount of adrenaline in a short time to cope; now that the effects had worn off, Palmer had exhausted his body''s oxygen to the point where he didn''t even have the strength to stand, which is why he appeared as he did. Bi Fang squatted down, peering through the gap between Palmer''s arms and into his eyes. Palmer couldn''t help but squint, unsure whether it was the pain or the glaring sunlight causing his vision to fade. He could see the fine fuzz on the other person''s face but couldn''t make out the specific features, discerning only the outline of an Asian through the contours of the eyebrows and eyes. The other''s skin was too good, smooth and fair like a woman''s, even emitting a soft glow in the sunlight, not at all like someone who would be active in the wilderness. With the setting sun at their side, the sunlight streamed through the trees, staining everything with broken gold. Their shadows flowed onto the ground like ink, stretched very long, extending all the way into the bushes. "I can give you money, a whole lot of money..." Palmer still didn''t understand what all of this was about, who he had managed to offend. Seeing Bi Fang''s posture, he assumed he was after money and, worried that Bi Fang might not have heard him clearly, repeated his words. Bi Fang paid no attention to what he said. "How many of you came?" Palmer was startled by the question, his eyebrows flickering nearly imperceptibly, but he quickly regained his calm. The life-or-death crisis caused Palmer''s brain to work rapidly, unlocking unprecedented potential. Even during the SAT entrance exam, Palmer hadn''t thought as desperately about a problem as he did now, realizing a possible bold move, he even started counter-questioning, "Are you a ranger?" "Yes, you must be a ranger." As if to bolster his confidence or to clarify for the other that he had seen through his identity, Palmer repeated the statement twice. Seeing that Bi Fang did not respond, as if acknowledging by default, Palmer became more certain of his guess. It was good if Bi Fang was a ranger. It was the people of unknown origin whom he feared much more, as they carried a far greater danger; they weren''t afraid to kill for money. If he ran into a few people with loose screws, money would not be of any use; it all depended on their whims. Having hovered in gray areas for years, Palmer had seen much more than the average person. Compared to the aforementioned risks, dealing with public servants was much easier, at least they were bound by the law and restrained by their positions. "Brother, believe me, I was just passing by with my friends." Even when caught red-handed, Palmer could still lie with his eyes wide open. The audience erupted with enthusiasm in their comments upon hearing this. [666, does he think Master Fang is a fool?] [Master Fang, are you going to tolerate this?] [Go up and smack him twice with full force, even the craftiest fox will become obedient.] [That won''t do, we treat prisoners of war well nowadays; the chat is all Old Fang''s fans so it''s okay, but if it gets out, it will be enough for Old Fang to have a hard time coping.] [Either he has a problem with his IQ, or he thinks I have a problem with mine, I think it''s the former] [Is there a possibility it''s the latter (joking)] [Impossible, absolutely impossible!] Pelmer didn''t know that his words had drawn collective mockery. He even mustered some strength to spread his elbows and reveal that face with a grin meant to appease. Unfortunately, it wasn''t quite presentable, streaked with tears that had flown due to the pain, and a rough, black and white stubble, emitting an unpleasant odor from his body. Not everyone was "extraordinarily gifted" like Bi Fang, able to stay in the wilderness for ten days to half a month and still remain clean and dry. Bi Fang tilted his head, unable to suppress his laughter, and turned to speak to the drone hidden among the branches, "It seems he really takes me for a fool." "Who, who are you talking to, is there someone there?" Pelmer was perplexed by this gesture, suspecting that the other party may not be quite sane, especially since he had appeared dressed like a special forces soldier and was using a Short Spear, looking just like a primitive. Who knows if he believes in some strange deities; those primitive people backward in civilization are all like that. Of course, while he thought so, Palmer would never say it out loud. Bi Fang waved his hand, and the drone automatically flew out ¡ª in fact, there were three of them. Upon seeing this, a chill sank into Palmer''s heart. Body cameras? Are these folks in Africa playing with such advanced gadgets now? Wait a minute... Asian descent, drones, impressive skills. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In a flash, Palmer blurted out, "Are you that wilderness livestreamer?" "Oh, so I''m that famous now? I can meet fans even out here?" [Is Old Fang too unconfident about his own influence? (Dog''s head)] [What''s with being called the world''s number one Adventurer?] [The most famous and greatest Explorer in the world, bar none.] [Who wouldn''t recognize the real-life version of Professor Jones? (Eating watermelon)] Bi Fang placed a potsherd beneath his bottom to sit on like a little stool, then pulled over Palmer''s Quiver beside him, dumped out all of the Arrows, and picked one up. He then took out another intact arrowhead and compared the two, finding no differences. This Arrow had been recorded in the entire live broadcast, extracted from a Lion, and the bag of arrows had been emptied on air as well. Irrefutable evidence. Seeing this, Palmer''s face turned as unsightly as if he had swallowed a fly, whether from anger or pain, his facial muscles twitching uncontrollably, "Damn it, you have no right to do this, let me down now while you still can. I won''t say anything before then, I''ll notify my lawyer." "Don''t be so tense, you should look on the bright side," said Bi Fang cheerfully, "Though it might be hard to clear your criminal record, the good news is, I''m not some cold-blooded bandit. You''re safe for now." [Hahaha, so now he''s attacking his character too?] [That face is hilarious, I''m taking a screenshot to use as an emoticon.] [How did I never notice that Old Fang had such a mischievous side?] [666] "What''s your name?" Silence. "Where did the car you came in stop at?" Still silent. Perhaps Pelmer really did breathe a sigh of relief. As a public figure, Bi Fang couldn''t resort to vigilante justice on him. He clammed up, insisting on waiting for his lawyer and refusing to answer any questions. This indeed posed a difficulty for Bi Fang, but not for his resourceful online followers. Moreover, Bi Fang''s followers weren''t limited to within his own country; he also had many admirers overseas. The theory of six degrees of separation was vividly demonstrated here. [If I''m not mistaken, he looks like my dentist.] Chapter 929 925: Netizens Showing Off Their Skills There are always certain professions that foster a wider network of interpersonal relationships, such as lawyers, doctors, or salespeople... During their professional activities, they accumulate numerous clients and acquaintances. Similarly, this means a greater number of people come to know them. Unfortunately, Palmer was one of them. Accompanied by drones that filmed Palmer from all angles without any blind spots. "Walter James Palmer, residing in Minnesota State, Ugly Country, owns his own dental clinic." Bi Fang, reading from the live stream comments word by word, turned his head to look at Palmer again, "Is that right?" From the moment Bi Fang read out the name, Palmer''s expression dramatically changed; he turned deathly pale. Among the tens of millions of live stream viewers, there were all kinds of people. For them, finding someone with a name, address, occupation, and a Dental Association registration was all too easy. It was especially easy to locate Palmer on the Dental Association''s website. Not to mention among the fans there could be those Palmer had treated, even colleagues, friends, supervisors. The first person who recognized him, wasn''t that Palmer''s patient? "Oh, wait, there''s more, let me see..." Bi Fang glanced at the live stream comments and was surprised to find that the information had been updated. The deeper the digging, the more that surfaced. He stroked his chin, speaking neither hurriedly nor slowly. "You also have two properties in Florida, including one large villa, wait, I know dentists in Ugly Country make good money, but is it really that exaggerated?" Bi Fang didn''t know how much Palmer had spent to hunt Cecil, but it was certainly not a small sum, most likely six figures. Even if Palmer was a millionaire, he wouldn''t likely spend so much just to fulfill his hunting desires. [I''ve been to his clinic, it''s huge, fully equipped, and it''s his private clinic, lots of doctors are employed there, he''s the boss] [So powerful!] [Unbeatable] [Is this the power of Ugly Country''s netizens?] "So that''s how it is." S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi Fang suddenly understood, and continued scrolling. "Hey, turns out you have a criminal record. Back in ''06, you illegally shot a black bear outside a legal hunting zone in western Wisconsin, Ugly Country then dragged the bear''s body into the legal zone, claiming to the wildlife authorities that you had killed it there." [Wow, 6666] [Netizens are so strong to find this] [Let me check this case file, just so happens I work there, should have more details] [Unexpectedly powerful, Ugly Country netizens] [This guy is also a member of a hunting club, I saw his name on the list, not sure if it''s the same person, I''ll look through the details] [Show of skills!] [You never know what netizens behind the internet cable do for a living] The information only continued to grow, especially with the subject being a wealthy dentist with a certain social status. As fans pieced together bits and pieces, Palmer was thoroughly investigated. Palmer, now 55 years old, is an avid hunting enthusiast, passionate about archery. He''s also a member of the International Hunting Expedition Club, a club that brings together hunters from around the globe. The club''s records show he has 43 hunting records, including North American reindeer, moose, buffalo, polar bears, and pumas. These aren''t even strange; many countries allocate certain quotas for hunting, and doing so through official channels is not against the rules. But beyond these records, Palmer also had accumulated quite a few criminal cases due to his hunting activities. In 2003, he went fishing without a license in Minnesota State and was fined. In 2008, in Wisconsin, a case involving the killing of a Black Bear ended with Palmer ultimately admitting he had not told federal officials the truth about the location where the Black Bear was killed. Instead, he killed the Black Bear 64 kilometers away from the legal hunting site, leading to his probation and a fine of approximately 3000 Ugly Yuan. He was essentially a habitual offender, and judging by his actions of dragging the Black Bear into the hunting area and the extra-long distance of 64 kilometers, his intent was highly deliberate. As Bi Fang spoke more and more in detail, unbeknownst to when, Palmer''s forehead began to sweat profusely, his entire face greasy, a pity it was not rosy but whiter than a dead man. Palmer realized he had overlooked something. Being caught by the broadcaster indeed saved his life, but also exposed him directly to the scrutiny of millions of eyes. A criminal, if he changed cities, might still be able to live normally where no one recognized or knew him. But now, Palmer was doomed, his career and life utterly ruined. Bi Fang glanced at Palmer disdainfully. "I know what you''re thinking about, you''re thinking your career is over, aren''t you?" "But don''t worry, the land you are standing on belongs to Kenya and not South Africa." "The animal you poached is the most famous local star Lion King, which is also a long-term observation and research subject of Oxford University, widely reported and loved by countless people around the world." "They watched Cecil grow up, find a mate, and become the father of six healthy and adorable lion cubs." "That means, with the help of public opinion, you are facing decades of imprisonment. That is, unless you''re a centenarian, you''re most likely never getting out. You no longer have a career." It''s not that Kenya''s anti-poaching laws are stricter than South Africa''s, but that there is less "room for argument" in Kenya. Wildlife protection is usually divided into three types: national parks, national nature reserves, and private reserves. Each type of reserve operates differently. In Kenya, all three types are strictly no-hunting zones. In South Africa, private reserves have certain hunting quotas. For example, quota sales are targeted at certain non-endangered animals such as some antelope, using hunting activities to raise funds for better protection of endangered species. In plain language, this is robbing the rich to help the poor. Even lions have quotas. But the compensation algorithm in South Africa is not very good, even a star player like Ghost Shadow being sold despite obviously bringing better tourism economics. Thus, although the overall number of animals has increased, the numbers of some endangered species have actually further decreased. Additionally, breeding lions in captivity has led to rampant disease transmission, necessitating euthanasia, resulting in a mess no one accepts. Therefore, the average life happiness level of an East African Lion living in Kenya is definitely higher than that of a South African Lion. Living in Kenya, the East African Lion doesn''t have to worry about diseases spread due to captivity, nor being bizarrely sold off. As everyone knows, once there is a loophole, there will always be people exploiting it, always using it as an excuse; good turns bad, and bad gets worse. No loopholes mean no excuses. And no tedious wrangling ensues. Bi Fang and Harley were now in a private reserve; had it been in South Africa, perhaps this guy could have slipped away. But hunting a Lion King star in Kenya, whether in a private reserve or accidentally, Palmer was already nailed, no lawyer, no matter how good, could help. Unfortunately, even though Palmer was sweating profusely, he still refused to say anything, remaining silent throughout. This really annoyed the audience. "No problem, it''s best if we have information on the enemy, but it doesn''t matter if we don''t. If he won''t tell us where the car is, we''ll find it ourselves. It probably won''t be too far." After re-securing the rope knot, Bi Fang gathered all the supplies. Excluding trivial items, the equipment included one protection suit, one compound bow, twelve arrows, two pistols, and seventeen bullets. With the quiver strapped to his waist, Bi Fang slung the compound bow on his back, concealed the two pistols, and after leaving the three in the forest, he went outside to find the hidden Harley. One man and one leopard followed the tire tracks and found a parked off-road vehicle about four hundred meters away.